The Four Knights Game (New in Chess) 9056913727, 9789056913724

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The Four Knights Game

Andrey Obodchuk

The Four Knights Game A

New Repertoire in an Old Chess Opening

New In Chess 2011

©

2011 New In Chess

Published by New In Chess, Alkmaar, The Netherlands www.newinchess.com All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval sys­ tem or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy­ ing, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission from the publisher. Cover design: Steven Boland Translation: Steve Giddins Supervisor: Peter Boel Proofreading: Rene Olthof Production: Anton Schermer Have you found any errors in this book?

Please send your remarks to editors @newinchess.com. We will collect all relevant corrections on the Errata page of our website www.newinchess.com and implement them in a possible next edition. ISBN: 9 7 8-9 0-5 6 91-3 72-4

Contents Introduction

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7

Chapter1-

The Three Knights' Opening........................ 9

Chapter 2-

The Four Knights Black avoids the main line on move 4 ................ 57

Chapter 3-

The Symmetrical Variation 1.e4 e5 2.tt.:lf3 tt.:lc6 3.tt.:lc3 tt.:lf6 4.�b5 �b4 ........... 7 3

Chapter 4-

The Metger System.............................. 97

Chapter 5-

The Rubinstein System ..........................11 3

Chapter 6-

5.�c4 in the Rubinstein.........................1 61

Chapter 7-

The Belgrade Gambit ........................... 203

Afterword............................................... 2 2 5 Bibliography............................................. 2 2 7 Index of Variations ........................................ 2 2 9 Index of Players........................................... 2 3 3

Introduction Emanuel Lasker once joked that his only contribution to opening theory was the observation that knights should be developed before bishops. The Four Knights opening illustrates this thesis in ideal fashion. Both sides first place their knights ac­ curately, and then think about what to do further. Joking aside, if such a plan is completely harmless, then how come this simple plan has attracted the interest of such serious players as Shirov, Sutovsky, Nunn, Bacrot, Rublevsky, Short, Motylev and Naer? And, incidentally, what is it that unites these players? This is clear - a cre­ ative approach to the game, and a constant willingness to enter into the battle. In recent times, computers have gone a long way towards proving the truth of the axiom that 'Chess is a draw' , steadily analysing out many complicated lines, and ending up with the assessment '00:00'. The silicon monsters have established par­ ticularly depressing dead-ends in lines such as the Petroff Defence and the Berlin Wall variation of the Ruy Lopez. But, surprisingly, things are by no means so sad in the Four Knights. Looking through recent games in the Rubinstein Variation 1 .e4 eS 2 . lbf3 lbc6 3 . lbc3 lbf6 4.�b5 lbd4 S .�c4 �cS 6 . lbe5 , one rather unexpect­ edly comes across a remarkably large number of white queen sacrifices, although whether these are correct or not is a different question. It is interesting to compare this trend, which occurs in the supposedly peaceful Four Knights, with the situation in its allegedly much sharper close relative, the Belgrade Gambit, which is highlighted in a separate chapter at the end of the book: Chapter 7. In the majority of variations of this system, which lie off the beaten track of current theory, the play results in an equal ending , unless Black plays in the style of the old masters, and fearlessly accepts all of the sacrifices ( 1 .e4 eS 2 .lbf3 lbc6 3 .lbc3 lbf6 4. d4 ed4 S . ltJdS ltJe4? ! ) . If White is prepared to play the Four Knights , he must also be ready to face vari­ ous attempts by Black to avoid this, on the third move. The first chapter of the book is devoted to these lines. It looks at the variation l .e4 eS 2 . lbf3 lbf6 3 .lbc3 �b4: White does not want to allow the Petroff Defence, but Black wants to avoid the Four Knights ! Later, we examine Black's attempts to avoid the Four Knights on move three, after 1 .e4 eS 2 . lbf3 lbc6 3 . lbc3 , the most popular method being 3 . . . g 6 . Chapter 2 looks at various rare fourth moves for Black, such a s 4 . . . �c5 , 4 . . . a6 and 4 . . . �d6 ! . The last of these was not even mentioned in John Nunn's book New Ideas in the Four Knights, published in 1 9 9 3 , since at that time there were no signifi­ cant practical examples. However, in our day, the system with 4 . . . �d6 enjoys a de­ gree of popularity that compares with the main lines. Chapter 3 and 4 are devoted to the classical l .e4 eS 2 .lbf3 lbc6 3 .lbc3 lbf6 4.�b5 .tb4, which is characterised by a complicated strategic battle, with a small advantage for White. (However, Karpov, in his best years, several times outplayed his opponents as Black in this line, showing that here, the knights are not inferior to the bishops, if they are handled by a player of the highest class.) 7

T h e F o u r Kn i g h ts Gam e

In Chapter 5 and 6 , we look at Akiba Rubinstein's immortal variation, 4 . . . tLld4. Note that after 5 .�a4 �c5 or 5 .�c4 �c5 , White is not obliged to capture on e5 , although it is in precisely these variations that we can witness the amazing adven­ tures and miracles for which we love chess. To be quite frank, it is the recent games in this variation that inspired the author to produce the present work. Chapter 7 looks at White attempts to squeeze water out of the stone that is the Belgrade Gambit - not an easy task, it must be said. Ju ly-Oc to b er 20 I 0 A n drey O b o dc hu k

8

Chapter

1

The Three Knights' Opening

This modest-sounding title actually conceals a whole series of different set-ups, be­ ginning with l.e4 e5 2.tt:lf3 tt:lf6 3.tt:lc3 (diagram left) or 2...tt:lc6 3.lLJc3 (right) , which Black can bring about by the simple expedient of not playing the most natural move, i.e. by not bringing his second knight to its most natural development square.

1.1 The Anti-Russian Gambit

In this section, we are not concerned with any form of Russophobia - it is just a question of move-orders, in which Black offers his opponent the chance to enter the Russian Game, i.e. the Petroff. White in his turn announces that he would prefer to battle in the Four Knights, and then Black declines this in­ vitation, and by means of the move 3...1tb4 , - after l.e4 e5 2.tt:lf3 lLJf6 3.lLlc3 - heads into a variation which is formally part of the Three Knights.

It should be noted that this line is not to the taste of all Russian Defence players, since, despite its outwardly unassuming character, it generally promises White a small, but stable advantage, where the main question is whether Black can make a draw or not. Maybe for this rea­ son, such leading practitioners of the Russian Game as Kramnik and Gelfand prefer in this position to go into the Four Knights. Game No 1 [C42] Munoz Pantoja,Miguel Fenollar Jorda,Manuel Andorra 2 0 I 0 ( 4)

1. 2. 3. 4.

e2-e4 tt:Jg 1 -f3 tt:Jb1 -c3 lLJf3xe5

e7-e5 tt:Jg8-f6 �f8-b4

Incidentally, this move is not forced. White, could for example go into the 9

T h e F o u r Kn i g h t s Gam e

Vienna Game with 4. .tc4. In his day, this position was played with great suc­ cess by the recently departed Bent Larsen, who many times showed that things are not so simple here. However, the Vienna is a scene from a different drama, and so we will not cover it here.

l l .�e3 with sufficient compensation for the pawn, Bialek-Tichy, Czechoslo­ vakia tt 1 9 9 3 . 5.

.tf1-e2

Also possible is S.tt::ld3 �xc3 6.dxc3 tt:lxe4 7.�e2 dS 8.0-0 �fs

An alysis d i agram

4.

...

0-0

A fairly unpopular line is: 4.. .'iVe7 S.ti:ld3 �xc3 S ... tt:lxe4 6 . ti:ld 5 +-. 6.dxc3 'itVxe4+ In the event of 6 ... tt:lxe4 7 .i.e2 the character of the battle is little different from the lines considered be­ low, with the exception of the fact that sooner or later the black queen will have to lose a tempo, to retreat from the open file.

Analysis d i agram

7.�e2 White is slightly better after 7 .'iYe2 'iYxe 2 + 8 . i.xe 2 . 7 ... 'iYxg2 s.�f3 'iVh3 9.tt:lf4 'iYfS 1 o.'iYe2+ \t>f8

10

9.�e3 The standard method of crowd­ ing the black pieces in this variation, 9.tt:lf4 c6 1 O. g4 �g6 1 L�.e3 tt:ld7 1 2.c4 dxc4, should also give White a small plus : 1 3 .'i¥d4! ?. 9...c6 IO.tt:lf4 ti:ld6 l l.b3 .!le8 12.�d4 Or 1 2 .l:te 1 tt:la6 ( 1 2 ... tt:ld7 1 3 .c4;£) 1 3 .a4 tt:lc7 1 4.c4 tt:le4 ( 1 4... dxc4 1 5 .bxc4 tt:le6 1 6.g4 .tg6 1 7.tt:lxg6 fxg 6 1 8.'ti'd3;£) 1 S .i.f3 dxc4 1 6 .bxc4 and White re­ tains a small amount of pressure. 12... tt:ld7 13.tt::lh5?! More consequent is 1 3 . c4 c S ( 1 3 ... dxc4 1 4 . .txg 7;£) 1 4. ..tb2 d4 1 5.c3 'it'gS 1 6.i.c 1 (also good is 1 6 .g3 dxc3 1 7. ..txc3 tt:le4 1 8 .�b2 .l:!.ad8 1 9.ti:ldS ;t) 1 6 ... 'ife7 1 7.cxd4! ? gS 1 8.dxc5 gxf4 1 9.cxd6 'iYxe2 2 0.�xf4 White has sufficient compensation for the piece. 13... £6 14.tt::lg3 A strange manoeuvre; the knight stands more actively on f4. 14...�g6 15.c4 dxc4 16.�xa7 .l:!.xa7 17.'ti'xd6 tt::lb6 18.'tli'c5 cxb3 19.cxb3 'iYc7 with equal play, Zelcic-Kalod, Tu­ rin ol 2 0 0 6.

Chapter I

5.

...

ttJe5-d3 d 2xc3

T h e T h re e Kn i g h t s ' O p e n i n g

.l:!.f8-e8

S...d6 seems less accurate, since it de­ prives Black of the chance to put the pawn on dS in one move. However, in this case too, the character of the battle is not changed much. For example : 6.tt::ld3 ..txc3 7.dxc3 tt::lxe4 8.0-0 ltJd7 9.f3 tt::lef6 1 O.c4 .l:!.e8 11..l:!.e1 dS 12.tLlf4 I 2 .cxdS ;l; . 12...tt::lb6 13.cxd5 ttJbxdS 14.tt::l xd5 'ifxdS 1S.ifxd5 ttJxdS 16.�d2 i.fs 17.ilt.c4 ttJb6 1 s . ..tf l �xc2 19. .l:!.ac l �a4 20. .l:!.xc7 �c6 2I..l:!.ce7 .l:!.xe7 22. .l:!.xe7 White retains a small, but stable plus in the ending, Simacek-Popchev, Olomouc 2 0 0 5 . 6. 7.

-

itb4xc3 ttJf6xe4

Analysi s d i agram

Various continuations have been tried here : e 1 O.i.e3 tUdeS?! 11. tLl xc5 ttl xeS 12.i.f3 'Yi'f6 13.�d4 'ifg6 14.�h5 White obtains a small advantage after I 4.�xc5 dxcS I S . .l:!.e i . 14...'Yi'e4?! I 4 . . .'ti'fs I S . b3 �d7= . 1S.b4 tt::le6 16 . .l:!.e1 'i:Vc6 17.'iff3 I 7 .'Yi'e 2 ;l; . 17...'iWxf3 18.�xf3 �d7 19.�e3 �c6 20.�d5 tt:lf8 If 2 0 . . . ilLxdS 2 l . cxdS ttJf8 2 2 . f3 tt::l g 6 2 3 . a4 White has a small advantage. 21.�xc6 2 I . f3 ilLxdS 2 2 . cxdS f6 = . 21... bxc6 22.a4? An oversight. After 2 2 . f3 aS 2 3 .b5 tt::ld 7 the position i s about equal. 22 .l:!.e4 23.c3 .l:!.xc4 ± Starostits-Picar t , D'Angers 2 0 0 6 ; e Practice has also seen 1 O.ilLf3 tt::ldf6 1 1..l:!.e1 �fS?!. Black plays rather defiantly. A more cautious move is I I . . . h 6 , preparing a retreat for the bishop on h 7 . For exam­ ple, 1 2 .b3 �fS I 3 .�b2 c6 I 4.'Yi'c i tt::l g S I S . .l:!.xe 8 + tt::l x e 8 I 6 .'Yi'f4 ( I 6 .ilLe2 ;l; ) I 6 . . . �xd3 I 7 . cxd3 tt::lxf3 + I 8.'ti'xf3 'tWgS I 9 .'i¥e3 (it was possi­ ble to go into a slightly better endgame after I 9 . .l:!. e i 'if d 2 2 0 .'Yi'e 2 'Yi'a S 2 l .�c i tt::l c 7 2 2 . 'ii d 2 'tWxd2 2 3 .�xd 2 ) I 9 . . . tt::l c 7 2 0 .�c3 draw, Solak-Jakovlj evi c , Herceg -Novi tt 2008. •.•

8.

0-0

Some theoreticians claim that 8 .tt::l f4 is more accurate, not allowing . . . d7 -dS . But the top players have their own the­ ory. Thus , in the game Svidler­ Gashimov, Sochi tt 2 0 0 8 , White began with 8.c4: 8...d6 9.0-0 tt::ld7Worthy of attention is 9 . . . tt::l c 6 I O .�e3 �fS I I . .l:!.e i h6 I 2 .tLlf4 tt::l f6 . I think that in this case, it would be more difficult for White to reach the ideal set-up he achieves in the game.

Il

T h e F o u r Kn i g h t s G a m e

'ifi.

� ���

�

ttJ

�

�Vi'�

• 1.1.1.

� A

k

�� �

Analysis d i agram

12.�xe4 It seems that White is only looking for a draw. A more adequate re­ action to Black's play is 1 l . g4 .tg6 ( 1 2 . . . .td7 1 3 . g 5±) 1 3 . tb f4 tbc5 1 4.tbxg6 hxg 6 1 5 .b4 tbe6 1 6 . .txb 7 .l:t.b8 1 7 . .tc6;!;. In any event, it would be easier for White to make a draw here . . . 12... .txe4 13.�g5 h6 14.�h4 g5 15.�g3 'i!Vd7 16.£3 �g6 17.'Yi'd2 b6 18.�£'2 'i!VfS 19.gd4 .l:t.e6 20.b3 l:tae8 21.�b2 tbd7 22.'Yi'c3 f6 23.tbb4 aS 24.tbd5 c6 25.tt::le3 'Yi'f4 26.tt::l g4 'it>g7 27.l:txe6 .l:he6 28. .l:r.e1 l:txe1+ 29.'i!lhe1 tbe5 30.tbxe5 3 0 .tbe3 = . 30...dxe5=i= 0-1 (80) Kuderinov-Mamedyarov, Is­ tanbul Wch-jr 100 5 . • 1 o.tt:Jf4 tbdf6 and now: A) 11.f3 tbc5 1 2 .b3 'ilVe 7 1 3 . .!:t.f2 'iV e 5 1 4 . J::i. b 1 .tf5 1 5 . 'ilV dl tbce4 1 6 .fxe4 tbxe4 1 7. 'ilVe 1 tbxf2 1 8. 'iVxf2 .ixcl 1 9 . .ibl 'iVgS lO . .!:t.fl .te4 l l .h4 'it'h6 2 2 .tbh5 f6 2 3 .tbf4 fS 24Jic l .!:t.e 7 l 5 . .ifl .tc6 l 6 . .l:t.c3 .l:t.e4 2 7 . .ic 1 .l:t.ae8 l 8 .l:t.g 3 .l:t.8 e 7 l 9 . .tdl 'ilVf6 3 0 . .ic3 'ti'h6 3 I ..I:t.g 5 g6 3 l . .id3 .l:t.e3 3 3 . .idl .l:t.3 e5 34.'t!Vg3 .te8 3 5 .tbds .!:t.f7 3 6 . .if4 .l:t.e6 3 7.jLxf5 .!:tel 3 8 .jLd3 .l:t.e6 39 . .if5 .!:tel 40.l:t.xg6 + hxg 6 4 1..�. xh6 .!:t.xfS 4l .'t!Vc3 .!:teeS 43 .tbxc7 .ic6 44.tbds 'it>h7 4S . .igs bs 46.'ifd4 �xdS 47.cxd5 .!:t.f7 48 . ..ie3 a6 49.a3 .!:t.fe 7 S O . ..if2 l:tf7 5 1 . .ig3 .!:tel S l .'ti'g4 .l:t.d l 5 3 .hS gxhS 1 - 0 Naer12

Mamedyarov, Khanty-Mansiysk blitz 10 0 5 . B ) 11.l:t.e1 b6 12.£3 tt:Jcs 13.b3 'Yi'e7 14.'t!Vd2 't!Ves 15.l:t.b1 .ib7 16.�b2 't!Vgs 17.l:t.bd1 h6 18.tt:Jds tbxds 19.cxd5 'Yi'xd2 20Jhd2 l:i.e7 21.'it>f2 1:tae8 22.c4?! This natural move is an in­ accuracy, allowing Black to strengthen his knight. If, for example, 2 2 . .!:t.dd 1 f6 ( l 2 . . .a5 2 3 .a3;!;) l 3 .b4 tba4 24 . .ia 1 White could still torture his opponent for longer, as it is hard for the black knights to find a way back. 22...a5! 23.1:tdd 1 �c8 24. .ifl �fs 25.1:txe7 1:txe7 26 . .id4 h5 27.1:te1 l:i.xe1 28.'it>xe1 a4 29.bxa4 draw, Svidler­ Gashimov, Sochi tt 10 0 8 .

8.

...

d 7-d6

• More natural is 8...d5 9.tbf4 c6 10.c4 Or 1 0 . .ie3 tbd7 ( 1 0 . . . tbd6 , preventing c 3 -c4) 1 l . c4 dxc4 1 2 . .ixc4 tbeS 1 3 .'i¥xd8 1:txd8 14 . .iel .ifs White has the bishop pair with a symmetrical pawn structure, but it isn't clear whether this is sufficient for a win: 1 5 .g4 ..td7 1 6 .f3 tbf6 1 7 . .!:t.ad 1 tbg6 1 8 .tbxg6 hxg 6 1 9 .c4 �e6 l O.b3 b6 l l .'it>f2 cS 2 2 .h4 'it>f8;!;, S. Popov-Onischuk, Leningrad jr 1 9 9 1 . 1 O...d4 11..id3 Insidious! The trivial 1 1 .l:t.e 1 tba6 n . .ifl .ifs 1 3 .f3 tbf6 1 4.l:t.xe 8 + tbxe8 1 5 . g4 ii.g 6 1 6 .tbxg6 hxg6= 1 7 .c3 does not prom­ ise anything in particular.

Chapter

1

-

T h e T h r e e Kn i g h t s ' O p en i n g

Analysis d i agram

Analysis d i agram

ll ...tt::la6 In the event of the natural 1 1 ...tt:Jcs n.�xh7+ �xh7 1 3.'ti'h5+ �g8 1 4.'ti'xc5 , then after 14...tt::la 6 1 5.'iih 5 tt::lb4 ( 1 5 ... �e6 1 6.tt::lxe6 l:l.xe6 1 7.�d2:t) 1 6.�d2 tt::lx c2 1 7.l:l.ac 1 d3 1 8.�c3 White has an advantage in devel­ opment, and the pawn on d3 is weak. 12.c3 cS 13.tt::ld5 White obtains some ad­ vantage after 1 3.cxd4 cxd4 ( 1 3 ... 'ii'xd4 1 4.�e3 'iies 1 5.l:l.e 1 �fs 1 6.tt::ld 5 tt::lb4 (nothing better is apparent) 1 7. tt::lxb4 cxb4 1 8.f3 tt::l f6 1 9.�f2 'iias 20.l:l.xe8+ tt::lxe8 2 1 .�xf5 'ifxfS 2 2.'tWe 1 aS 2 3.'ife7 l:l.c8 24.b3±) 1 4.tt::lds tt::lc 7 1 5.l:l.e 1 �fs 1 6.f3 tt::lx dS 1 7 .cxdS tt::ld 6 1 8.l:l.xe 8 + 'tWxe8 1 9.�f4:t. 13 �f5 14.f3 tt::ld6 15.�f4 1 5 .�xf5 tt::lxfS 1 6.�f4 l:l.e6 1 7.li'd2 tt::le 7 1 8.tt::lxe7+ l:l.xe7 1 9.l:l.ad 1 l:l.d7 20.l:l.fe 1 :t. 15...�e6 16.cxd4 1 6.l:l.e 1 �xdS 1 7 .l:l.xe8+ tt::lxe8 1 8.cxd5 'iixdS 1 9.il..e4 'iid 7 20.'ii'b 3 tt::ld 6 21...�.xd6 'ifxd6 2 2.l:l.d l . 16 cxd4 17.l:l.cl tt::lxc4 18.�xc4 il..xdS 19.'iixd4 1 9 .�bS l:l.e6 2 0.'ti'xd4 ha2 2 1 .'iixd8+ l:l.xd8 2 2JHd 1 l:l.xd 1 + 2 3 .l:l.xd 1 :t. 19...hc4= 20Jbc4 bS 21.'ti'xd8 draw, Baklan-Ruck, Austria tt 2 0 0 7 / 0 8 ; • Interesting is 8...b6!? 9.f3 tt:ld6 10.�f4 1 0.tt::lf4 �b 7 1 1 .l:l.e l . 10 .'iff6 ll.l:l.el �a6 12.'iicl tt::lc6 13.�g5 'ii fS 14.b3 h6 15.�h4 'iia s 16.'iid2 tt:ld4 17.�fl �b7 18.�£'2 l:l.xel 19.l:l.xel tt::le6 20.a4 'il'gs 21.'il'xg5 hxgS 22.a5

A typical picture for this vanatlon : White is pressing a little, but for the moment , he has no more than 'plus-equals'. 22...f6 23.l:l.dl �f8 24.c4 tt:lfS 25.c5 Premature. More accurate is 2 5.c3 �f7 2 6.l:l.a 1 :t. 25...bxa5 26.tt::lb2 �c6 27.l:l.al tt:lf4 2 7... tt::l fd4 2 8.�d3 �bS = . 28.l:l.xa5 l:l.e8 29.tt:lc4 2 9.b4 tt::le 2+ 3 0 . �h 1 :t. 29... tt:le2+ 30.�xe2 l:l.xe2 31.l:l.a2 �bS 32.Wfl �xc4 33.bxc4 l:l.e6 34.l:l.xa 7 J:!:c6 35.We2 3 5.g3 tt::le 7 3 6. �e2 tt::lg 6 3 7.�d4:t. 3S tt:lh4 36.�xh4 gxh4 3 7.l:!:a5 We7 38.f4 3 8 . �d3 fS 3 9 .c3 �f6 40.f4:t. 38 ... J:!:e6 + draw, Chadaev-Gorbatov, Voronezh 2 0 0 7.

•••

..•

9.

tt::ld3-f4

The quite fresh idea 9.f3 tt::lf6 1 0.�g5 ! ? will be examined in the next game.

..•

•.

9.

...

tt::le4-f6 13

T h e F o u r Kn i g h t s G a m e

• Also seen i n this position i s 9... ttlc6 IO.�e3 �fS Il .J::i.el 'iVd 7 12.�fl h6 13.f3 ttlf6 14.c4 J::i.e 7 1s.'iVd2 llae8 16.tt:ldS J::i.e6 1 7.�d3?! It is hard to un­ derstand why he wishes to get rid of his main asset, the two bishops. Any sensi­ ble move looks better, for example : 1 7 .a4 a6 ( 1 7 . . . a5 1 8 .�f2:t) 1 8 .b4:t, 1 7 .�f2 or 1 7 .b3 promise White a small, but comfortable edge. 1 7...�xd3 18.cxd3 tt:leS= 19.tt:lxf6+ J::i.xf6 20.b3 iYfs 21.d4? Hara-kiri. Equality was guaranteed after 2 1 . �f2 J::i.g 6 2 2 .1tg3 = . 21.. .tt:lxf3 + 22.gxf3 J::i. g6+ 23.'iYg2 'ii!Y xf3 0- 1 , Mij ovic-Nasri , Yerevan Wch-jr 2 0 0 7 ; • And 9 . . . tt:ld 7 1 0 . lie 1 h 6 1 1 .1tf l tt:ldf6 1 2 . f3 tt:lcS 1 3 .�e3 �fs 1 4.�d2 'iYd7 1 S . ..td4 tt:lh 7 1 6 . tt:lh 5 tt:le6 1 7 .J::i.xe6 ! fxe6 1 8 .tt:lxg 7 +- Degraeve­ Germany Teschke, Bundesliga 2007/08. 1 0. b2-b3 1 1 . 1tc1 -b2

.itc8-f5 �f5-e4?!

An unfortunate idea. If Black wanted to put this bishop on the long diagonal, then he could have done so with less loss of time. White retains a small plus after l l . . .tt:lc6 1 2 .c4 tt:le5 1 3 .J::i.e 1 t . 1 2.

c3-c4

1 2 . f3 �c6 1 3 .c4 tt:lbd7 1 4.�d2 t . 14

1 2. 1 3.

... �e2-f3

tt:l b8-d 7

1 3 . f3 .tc6 1 4.'iYd2 t . 13. 14 . 1 5.

... .itf3xe4 'iWd 1 -d5

tt:ld7-e5 tt:lf6xe4

Promising is lS.tt:lhS ttlf6 ( 1 5 . . . �h4 1 6 .tt:lxg7 ..t>xg7 1 7 .f4 f6 1 8 .fxe5 dxeS 1 9 .'iYd7+ ..t>h8 2 0 .'tWfS±) 16.f4 tt:led 7 1 7. tbxf6 + tt:lxf6 IS.J::i. e l J::i. x el + 19.'ii!Yxel t. 1 5.

.. .

'ifd8-h4

1 5 . . . tt:lc5 = . 1 6.

tt:lf4-d3

The pawn could also have been taken: 16.Ji£.xeS J::i.xeS 1 6 . . . dxe5 1 7 . 'iYxe4 'iYxf4 1 8 . 'iYxb 7 ± . 17.'fhb 7 J::i.a e8 18.g3 ± . 1 6. 1 7. 1 8.

... tt:Je5-c6 J::i.f 1 -e1 tt:le4-f6 'iVd5- b5t

Black has not managed to solve satisfac­ torily his typical problem in this varia­ tion, the poor coordination of his knights. 1 8. 1 9.

... g2-g3

J::i.e 8-b8 'iYh4-h6

Chapter 1

20. 21 .

tt:Jd3-f4 i¥b5-h5

tt:Jf6-g4

Fixing a small advantage in the end­ game. 2 1 .h3 tt::lg eS 2 2 .l::l.e 3 also prom­ ises the strategic initiative; the black knights are getting under each other's feet. 21 . 22. 23.

... tt::lf4xh5 l:re1 -e4

'ti'h6xh5 f7-f6

... f2-f4

... l::l.a 1 -e1

32 . 33.

tt:Ja5xc4=

... �d4xa 7

tt:Jc4-a3 tt:Ja3xb5

After 33 . . . We6 3 4 .tt::lg 7+ �dS =F it is Black who can play for the win. 34.

�a 7-e3

...

tt:Jg4-e5

tt:Je5-d 7 �g8-f7

Game No 2 [C42] Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter Fridman, Daniel Romania tt 2 0 09 (2)

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 1 0. 26.

tt:Jg 7-f5 �b2-d4

3 2..�. c 3 = .

34 .

24.�g2;!;. 24 . 25.

31 . 32.

T h e T h r e e Kn i g h t s ' O p en i n g

More accurate is 3 4 . �d4 ! = .

2 3 .�g2 ;!; . 2 3. 24.

-

e2-e4 tt:Jg 1 -f3 tt::l b1 -c3 tt:Jf3xe5 �f1 -e2 tt:Je5-d3 d 2xc3 0-0 f2-f3 �c1 -g5!?

e7-e5 tt:Jg8-f6 �f8- b4 0-0 l::l.f 8-e8 �b4xc3 tt:Jf6xe4 d 7-d6 tt:Je4-f6

b3-b4

There was no need to so weaken his own pawns in the endgame. A normal continuation such as 2 6 .g4 g6 2 7 .tt::lg 3 l::l.e 8 2 8 .a3 was possible. Admittedly, the small advantage White would have in this case, might not suffice for victory. 26 . 27. 28. 29. 30.

... l::l.e 4xe8 l::l.e 1 xe8 b4-b5 tt:Jh5xg 7+

l::l. b 8-e8 l::l.a 8xe8 �f7xe8 tt:Jc6-a5 �e8-f7

An interesting idea, which deserves careful attention. It turns out that it is not so easy for Black to untangle. 15

T h e F o u r Kn i g h t s Gam e

1 0.

...

h 7-h6

• The stem game of the variation was interesting : 1 O... tZ:lc6?! 11.�el !? The sharp 1 1 .f4! ?;!; also deserves attention. In this case, it is not so easy for Black to escape from the pin. 11...h6 12.�4 .itf5 13.�fl �xe1 14.'ihe1 gS Now too, the pin proves fairly unpleasant. 15.�£'2 tZ:ld 7 16.'ii'd2 �f6 1 7.�e1 tLldeS 18.f4 tL:lg4 19.fxg5 Black faces serious prob­ lems after 1 9 .tZ:lb4! , threatening to trans­ fer the knight to d 5 : 1 9 . . . tZ:lxb4 ( 1 9 . . . tZ:lxf2 2 0 .tZ:ld5 tZ:lh3+ 2 l .gxh3 'ti'g7 (2 1 . . . 'ti'd8 2 2 .lle8++-) 22.fxg5 'ti'xg5+ 2 3 .'ti'xg5+ hxg S 24.tZ:lxc7±) 2 0 .i.d4 'ti'd8 2 1 . cxb4 ;!; . 19...hxg5 20.�e3 2 0 . i.g 3 ;!; . 20... �h6 21.h3 tZ:lxe3 22.�xe3 'it>f8 22 . . . �e6=. 23. .l::!.g3 f6 24.'Yi'f2 24.tZ:lb4 �e6 (24 . . . tZ:lxb4 2 5 .cxb4 �e8 2 6 .'ti'f2±) 2 5 .tZ:lxc6 bxc6 2 6 .c4;!;. 24...�d 7 24 . . . �e6= 25.tLlb4 tL:le 7 26.�c4 c6 A. Ivanov-Dominguez Perez, Buenos Aires 2 0 0 5 (2 7 J1e3 fS=) ; • A game between two young talents saw White maintain clear pressure : 10... tLlbd 7 11.�e1 b6 12.a4 1 2 .tLlf2;!;. 12...a5 13.tZ:lf2 h6 14.�h4 tZ:lfS

1 7 .'il'd2;!;) 1 6 . . . �xe 1 + 1 7 .'ti'xe 1 �b8 1 8 .i.xf6 gxf6 1 9 .'ifd2;!;) 1 6 .g4 .td7 1 7 . .tf3 .!::txe 1 + 1 8 .'ifxe 1 �b8 1 9 .f5 tLl8h7 2 0 .tZ:le4 'ti'e8 2 1 .tLlxf6+ tZ:lxf6 2 2 . b 3 ;!; . 15... g5 16.tZ:lxf6 + 'ti'xf6 1 7.�£'2 �fS 18.'ii'd2 'ti'g6 19.�acl �adS 20.h4 f6 21.b3 White is definitely somewhat better. 2 1 . 'if d5 + .te6 2 2 .'ifb7 'iff? 2 3 .-tbs .l::!.e 7 24.�d3 ;!; . 21...'it>g 7 22.�b5 �d 7 23. .id3 'i!t'£7 24.�d4 24.hxgs hxg5 2 S .f4;!; 24...'i!t'hs 25.hxg5 hxgS The position has stabi­ lised and White's advantage is not signif­ icant . 26.g4?! 'iYh4 2 7.'t\Yf2 �h3 28.'iYg2 'i:Vxg2+ 29.'it>xg2 tZ:lg6 30.'it>g3 tZ:lf4 Jl .jlfl �xe1 32. .l::!.xe 1 .l::!.e 8 33.�xe8 3 3 .�e3 = . 33...�xe8 34.�e3 �g6=F 35.�xf4 gxf4+ 36.'it>xf4 �xc2 3 7.�c4 c6 38.'it>e3 dS 39.'it>d2 dxc4 40.'it>xc2 cxb3+ 41.'it>xb3= f5 42.'it>c4 'it>f6 43.'it>d4 bS 44.axb5 cxbS 45.c4 bxc4 46.'it>xc4 fxg4 4 7.fxg4 'it>gS Draw, D. Howell-Giri, Wijk aan Zee III 2 0 0 9 . 11.

.tg5-h4

tZ:lb8-d 7

1 1 . . . tZ:lc6 1 2 .f4;!; . 1 2.

tZ:ld 3-f2

1 2 .�e 1 ;!; . 1 2. 1 3. 1 4. 1 5.

Ana lysis d i agram

15.tLle4 Here too, there is the interesting 1 5 .f4 �f5 (it is not possible to break out at once - 1 5 . . . tZ:lg 6 ? ! 1 6 .�f3 (or 1 6.�xf6 gxf6 ( 1 6 . . . 'ifxf6 1 7 . .tf3 ±)

16

... �f1 -e1 �h4-g3 'iYd 1 -d 2

'ti'd8-e7 g 7-g5 tZ:lf6-h5 tZ:ld7-e5

C hap t e r 1

1 6.

�e2-b5

Worthy of attention is 16.f4 gxf4 1 6 . . . tt::l xg3 1 7 .hxg3 gxf4 1 8 .gxf4 tt::l c 6 1 9 .�d3 'iff8 2 0 . lhe8 'ifxe8 2 1 .f5 'iff8 2 2 . tt::l g 4± . 1 7.�xf4 tt:Jxf4 18.'ifxf4 \t>g 7 1 8 . . . 't/Vgs 1 9 . 'iYxg5 + hxgS 2 0 .tt::l e 4 'lt>g7 2 1 .tLlxgS ;!; . 19.-tbs c6 1 9 . . . �d7 20 . ..txd7 'iYxd7 2 l .l:le 3 ;!; . 20.�d3 ;!; 'iYgS 21.'iYxgS + hx gS 22.tt::le4;!; . 1 6. 1 7.

..

.

l:le8-f8

l:la 1 -d 1

White can retain hopes of an opening advantage after 1 7. ..txeS!? dxeS 18.'Yi'e3 f6 1 8 . . . c6 1 9 . .ic4± l:le8 2 0 .tt::l d 3 . 19.'ti'e4 tt::lf4 20.g3 tt::lh3+ 21.tLlxh3 �xh3 22 .i.d3!. The black king's protection is weakened, the pawn on b 7 is hanging, and g3 -g4 represents a big threat, going after the bishop on h3 . Black faces tough times. •

1 7. 1 8.

... h2xg3

tt::lh5xg3 'ti'e7-f6

The knight on eS holds Black's position together. 1 9.

't/Vd 2-d4

No advantage comes from 1 9 .f4 gxf4 2 0 .gxf4 tt::l g4 2 l ."ifd4 't1Vh4 2 2 .tt::l xg4 �xg4 2 3 .l:lb l a6 24 . .id3 l:lae8 2 5 .l:le4 �d7 2 6 . f5 l:lxe4 2 7 . .ixe4 b6=.

-

T h e T h r e e Kn i g h t s ' O p en i n g

I n this sense, i t seems logical first t o de­ fend the square g4, and only then drive away the knight: 1 9 .�e2 �e6 2 0 . f4 gxf4 2 1 .gxf4 tt::l g 6 2 2 .g3 . White has a small advantage, nevertheless. 1 9.

...

'iff6-g7

White has a large advantage in develop­ ment, but the powerful knight on eS ensures Black against unpleasantness. 20.

l:le1 -e3=

Draw. One gets the impression that if White manages to exchange the knight on e S , then the better mobilisation of the white pieces should have its say. How­ ever, after the immediate 2 0 .tt::l d 3 tt::l g 6 2 1 .'1!We4 c6 i t turns out that the white bishop is in a fairly unfortunate posi­ tion : 2 2..� a4 aS 2 3 .a3 dS 2 4.'1!We3 bS 2 5 .�b3 a4 2 6 .�a2 . Therefore, it makes sense first of all to see to this bishop, for example : 2 0 . �c4 (planning \t>d3 ) and now :

An alysi s d i agram

A) 20 . . . tt::l c 6 2 l .'ti'd2 ..td7 22 . .idS ;!; ; B ) 2 0 . . . 't/Vg6 2 l . tLl d 3 ( 2 1 .�d5 ! ?) 2 1 . . .tt::l c 6 2 2 .'1!Wf2 �e6 2 3 .�xe6 fxe6 24.'1!We2 l:lae8 2 5 .g4;!; ; C) 2 0 . . . .ifs 2 1 .�d5 �xc2 2 2 .l:lc l �g6 2 3 .�xb7 l:tab8 24.'1!Wxa 7 ;!; . I7

T h e F o u r Kn i g h t s Gam e

Or 2 0 .ita4 ..te6 2 l..�. b 3 l::tfe8 2 2 .lLld3 lLlxd3 2 3 .�xd3 a6 (23 . . . �xb3 24.cxb3 l:teS 2 S .f4;!;) 24 . .ixe6 fxe6 2 5 .g4. The pawn structure favours White and Black must fight for the draw. The idea of I O .�gS deserves further study. Game No 3 [C42J Yap Kim, Steven Nguyen An Dung Cebu City Ach 2 0 07 (3)

This game attracts attention for the fact that it contains an idea which is not common in this variation, involving opposite-side castling. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

e2-e4 tt:Jg 1 -f3 tt:Jb1 -c3 tt:Jf3xe5 tt:Je5-d3 d 2xc3

e7-e5 tt:Jg8-f6 �f8-b4 0-0 .ib4xc3

The structure reminds one of the cur­ rently popular variation of the Russian Game I .e4 eS 2 .lLlf3 lLlf6 3 .lLlxe5 d6 4.lLlf3 lLlxe4 S .lLlc3 lLlxc3 6.dxc3 �e7 7 .�e3 lLlc6 8. �d2 ..te6 9. 0-0-0. But there are some differences: White has two bishops and Black has already castled kingside, whereas in the analogous line of the Russian Defence, he quite often castles queenside. White has yet to deter­ mine the position of his own king, so the I8

question arises whether he can castle queenside and play on opposite sides? 6. 7.

... �c1 -e3

tt:Jf6xe4

From the viewpoint of the plan with queenside castling, it is less consequent to play 7.tt::lf4 l:te8 8.�e3 lLlc6 9.'ti'f3 9 .�d3 d6 I O .'tWe2 lLlcS I l . 0-0-0 lLlxd3+ I 2 .'li'xd3 lLleS =. 9... tt::lgS? In the spirit of the position was 9 . . . d5 I 0 .0-0-0 (I O.�bS tLleS =F) I O ... lLleS I I .'ife2 c6 1 2 .f3 lLlf6 ( 1 2 ... lLld6 I 3 .'iff2 lLlfS =) I 3 .�d4 'tWd6 I 4.'iff2 b6 I s .'li'g3 = . 10.1\Yhs tt:Jes 11.0-0-0 d6 12.h3 c6?! 13.tt::ld3! The knight returns to where it came from. 13... tt:Jxd3+ 14. .txd3 h6 1S.l:the1 �d 7 16.h4 lLle6 17.g4+0krugin-Malygin, Kostroma 2008. 7. 8. 9.

... �d1 -f3!? 0-0-0

d 7-d6 l:tf8-e8

9.

...

tt:J b8-c6?!

It seems the other knight move was better: 9... lLld 7 10.g4 More flexible is I O .tLlf4 lLldf6 I I .h3 �d7 I 2 .c4 with mutual chances. 1 O... tt:Jdf6 11.l:tg1 lLldS 12.l:te1 .ii£.d 7 13.gS with a roughly equal game. However, all this requires further practical tests. 1 0.

g2-g4

tt:Je4-f6

Chapter

The exchange 10...'i!kf6 ll.'ikxf6 1 1 .lLlf4 gS+ ll... ltJxf6 12.h3 doesn't give full equality: 12...h5 1 2 . . .�e6 1 3 .lLlf4:t. B.gxhs 1 3 .gs ttJds 1 4.gd2 �fs 1 S .�g2 �e4 1 6 .�xe4 l:txe4 1 7J:X de 1 .!:tae8 1 8 .c4 ttJb6 1 9 .b3 =. 13 ttJxh5 14.11gl ttJf6 15.�g2 �f5 16.lldel t •••

11.

.!:t h 1 -g1

ttJf6-d7

1 l . . .�e6 1 2 .lLlf4 ttJeS 1 3 .'ti'g2 �d 7 1 4.c4 �c6 1 S .ttJdS:t. 1 2.

�f3-g3

1 2 .g5 ttJdeS 1 3 .lLlxeS ttJxeS 1 4.'ti'f4:t. 1 2. 1 3. 1 4. 1 5.

... c3-c4 a2-a3 �e3-g5

a7-a5 a5-a4 ttJd 7-f6

... �g5-e3

h7-h6 ttJf6-e4

�g3-g2 ttJd3-f4 h2-h3 �g2-h 1 ± ttJf4-d5

'ti'd8-h4 ttJe4-f6 ttJc6-e5 ttJf6-d 7

1 S .�e2:t. 1 5. 1 6.

1 6 . .. l:ta5 ! ?. 1 7. 1 8. 1 9. 20. 21 .

1

23.

-

T h e T h r e e Kn i g h t s ' O p e n i n g

g5-g6

ttJd 7-f6

23 . . . tbxg6 24.�g5 f6 2 S .�xf6 +- . 24.g6xf7+ 'it>g8xf7 25.'ti'h 1 -g 2 ttJe5-c6 26.f2-f4 .!:te8-g8 27.c4-c5 �c8-e6 28.�f1 -c4 29.c5xd6 g 7-g6 c7xd 6 30 . .ie3-b6 'ifd8-c8 31 .ttJd5xf6 �e6xc4 32.ttJf6xg8 �c8xg8 33 . .!:td 1 xd6 �c4-e6 34.f4-f5 �e6xf5 35.'ti'g2-d5+ 'it>f7-g7 36 . .!:tg 1 -e1 'it>g 7-f8 37. .!:td6-f6+ 1 -0 'it>f8-g7 38 . .!:tf6xf5 1.2. Nihilism in the opening

Chess can be played in different ways. There are many chess players who pre­ fer less explored byways, trusting in their ability to invent something not known to the professionals, who spent day and night exploring long computer variations. In this section, we will look at a couple of examples of this rather nihilistic approach to opening prob­ lems , in the shape of the move 3 . . . d6 (after l .e4 eS 2 . tLlf3 tbc6 3 . ttJc3 ) . Its clear drawback is that White has carte blanche to choose the set-up for his pieces.

2 l .g5 hxgS (2 1 ...h5 22.lLldS±) 22 .tLldS±. 21 . 22.

... g4-g5

'ti'h4-d8 h6-h5

Game No 4 [C46] Skripchenko,Almira Ye Rongguang Groningen 199 8 (9)

1. 2. 3. 4.

e2-e4 ttJg1 -f3 ttJb1 -c3 d 2-d4

e7-e5 ttJb8-c6 d 7-d6

White could also go into one of the lines of the Steinitz Defence to the Spanish, after 4.it.b5 . Examination of this line is outside the scope of the pres19

T h e F o u r Kn i g h t s Gam e

ent book. However, 4 . . . �g4 5 .d4 trans­ poses into a position from the current game.

'tWas IS.h4! ± hS?! 1 5 . . . 'i!Yc5 ;;!; 16.eS! 0-0-0 1 6 . . .fxe5 1 7 . fxe5 dxe5 ? (> 1 7 . . . d5±) 1 8 .'ii' d 3 ! ti:Je7 ( 1 8 . . .f7 1 9 . 'i¥ d 7 + 1 9 . 'ii' f5 + +- ) g8xg 7 'it>g7-g6 1-0

Mate is unavoidable. Game No 5 [C46] Rublevsky,Sergey Kolasinski,Marek Cheliabinsk II 199 1

1. 2. 3.

e2-e4 t2J g 1 -f3 t2J b 1 -c3

e7-e5 t2J b8-c6 d 7-d6

This move usually tends to transpose into positions from other openings. 4. 5.

d2-d4 t2Jf3xd4

e5xd4

5.

...

t2Jg8-f6

-

T h e T h r e e Kn i g h t s ' O p e n i n g

After 5...g6 we reach a position, similar in spirit to the line examined in section I . 4 of the present book. But there is also a fairly significant difference : in the main variations of this line, Black quite often gets in . . . d7 -dS in one move, so the early 3 . . . d6 may turn out to be a loss of a tempo. Here is a practical ex­ ample : 6.�e3 �g7 7.'ti'd2 lbge 7 8.h4 8 . 0-0- 0 ! ?;!; . 8...h5 9.0-0-0 tbe5 10.£'3 a6 ll.�g5 f6 12.�e3 lLJ 7c6 13.lLJd5 White has easy play, Bauer-Mitrovic, Metz 2 0 0 8 . 6.

�c1 -f4

• The unpretentious 6 . tbxc6 bxc6 7 .�d3 is also perfectly possible. It reaches a position similar to the Scotch Game, with Black having not played the strongest moves: I .e4 eS 2 .lLJf3 tbc6 3 .d4 exd4 4.lLJxd4 lLJf6 s .t2Jc3 d6 ? ! (S . . . �M=) 6.tbxc6 bxc6 7 .�d3 �e7 8 . 0-0 0-0 9 . l:f.e i l:tb8 I O .b3 l:f.e8 I I .h3 lLJd7 !2 . .ie3 .tf6 I 3 .'ii' d 2 cS 14.l:f.ad i lLJeS I S . .te2 lLJd 7 !6 .lLJdS with some advantage to White, Vescovi-Pelikan, Brazil 2 0 0 0 . e Among other good plans , one may mention the transposition to a standard Philidor position, with kingside cas­ tling: 6 . .te2 .te 7 7 . 0 - 0 0-0 8 . f4 tbxd4 9 .'ii'xd4 l:te8 I O . .te3 lLJd7 I I ..af3 lLJb6 12 .'ii' d 2 �f6 I 3 .b3 �d7 14.a4 .tc6 I 5 .aS lLJd7 I 6 .a6 bxa6 I 7 .eS .txf3 18.exf6 .tb7 I 9 .fxg7 'it>xg7 2 0 .f5 White's position is significantly better, Jones-Barle, Pula 2 0 0 7 . • Finally, it is possible to transpose to the Steinitz Defence of the Spanish, where, according to current theory, White has good chances to achieve an advantage. Although examination of this line lies outside the scope of this book, we will give a couple of examples 21

T h e F o u r Kn i g h t s Gam e

from recent tournament practice : 6.�b5 .td 7 7.i.xc6 7 . 0-0 �e7 8 . ..txc6 bxc6 9 .�f3 0-0 1 0 .b3 J::!.e 8 1 1 .h3 cS l l .tt::lf s �f8 1 3 .�g5 �xfS 1 4.'li'xf5 � d 7 1 s . 'ti'f3 �e7 1 6 .J::!. a d 1 'ti'c6 1 7 .J::!.fe 1 tt::ld 7 1 8 .�f4 �f6 1 9 .tt::ld s �eS 2 0 .�g5 f6 2 l .�d2 tt::lb 6 2 2 .tt::le 3 c4 2 3 .h4 J::!.a d8 24.h5 cxb3 2 S .cxb3 dS 2 6 .'ti'g4 fS 2 7 .tt::lx f5 dxe4 2 8 .tt::lh 6+ Wf8 29 . .tb4+ 1 - 0 Guseinov-Kavacik, Istanbul 2 0 0 8 . 7...bxc6 8.'iVf3 J::!.b8 9.b3 'ife 7 1 o.o-o 'iVes tt.tt::lfs �xf5 12.exf5 Wd 7 13.�b2 J::!.e8 14.J::!.adl tt::le4 15.tt::la4 'iVa5 16.c4 h5 1 7.h4 tt::ld2 18.'ti'd3 tt:le4 19.J::!.fel tt::l c5 20.tt:Jxc5+ 'ifxeS 21.J::!.xe8 Wxe8 22Jlel + Wd 7 23.f6 g6 24.'ife4 �h6 25.'iVe 7+ Wc8 26.'iVxf7 �b 7 2 7.'ifxg6 'ifa5 28.J::!.e2 'ifxa2 29.£7 'i:Vxb3 30.J::!.e l i.d2 31.i.xh8 �xel 32.f8'it' 1 -0 , Fercec­ Barle, Pula 2 0 0 7 . 6. 7. 8.

... 'ti'd 1 -d2 0-0-0

�f8-e7 0-0

We have reached a favourable, for White, form of a position typical for the Philidor Defence. After the standard move order l .e4 eS 2 .tt::lf 3 d6 3 .d4 exd4 4.tt::lxd4 tt::lf 6 5 .tt::lc 3 �e7 6 .�f4 0 - 0 7 .'i¥d2 White must reckon with the possibilities of 7 . . . d5 8 . tt::ld b5 c 6 ! 9 .tt::lc 7 d 4 or 7 . . . c 6 8 . 0-0-0 b5 , whereas here, Black has a more restricted choice. 22

8. 9. 1 0.

... �d 2xd4 �d4-d 2

tt::l c 6xd4 �c8-e6

Probably it is even more accurate to play 1 0 .f3 tt::ld 7 1 1 .'iYe3 ! 'iYb8 1 2 .g4 tt::le 5 1 3 .h4 c6 1 4.g5 bS 1 5 .�g3 . White out­ strips his opponent in development, Volokitin-Harikrishna, Lausanne 2 0 0 5 . 1 0. 11.

.. . �c1 -b1

tt::lf6-d7 f7-f5?!

White's position is somewhat better, but there was no reason for such a ner­ vous reaction. 1 2. 1 3. 1 4. 1 5. 1 6. 1 7.

e4xf5 g2-g3 �f1 -d3 'ti'd2xd3 tt::l c 3-d5 tt::l d 5xf4

�e6xf5 tt::l d 7-b6 �f5xd 3 �e7-g5 �g5xf4

White has a small, but stable advantage. 1 7. 1 8. 1 9. 20. 21 . 22. 23. 24. 25. 26.

... 'i:Vd3-b3+ h2-h4 'ti'b3-f3 h4-h5 'it'f3-c3 h5-h6 tt::lf4-e6! tt::l e 6-g5 J::!.d 1 -d4

'iVd8- d 7 \tg8-h8 'ifd 7-f7 d6-d5 \th8-g8 c7-c6 g 7-g6 J::!.f8-e8 'il'f7-f8

Unnecessary. More accurate is 2 6 . J::!.de 1 tt::ld 7 2 7 .f4± . 26 . 27.

... f2-f4

'iYf8-f6 J::!.e 8-e7?

As a result of his inaccuracy at move 2 6 , White has fallen into a rather unpleas­ ant pin and 2 7 . . . J::!.e 2 2 8 .a3 l::!. f8 would virtually equalise. Now Sergey finds a beautiful combination.

C hap t e r

1

-

T h e T h r e e Kn i g h t s ' O p en i n g

1.3 The Romanishin Variation

28 .

.!:[d4-e4!!

d5-d4

2 8 . . .'�xc3 2 9 ..!:[xe 7 ! 'iff6 3 0 ..!:[he 1 and the black queen cannot deal with the enemy rooks. After the relatively best 30 . . . lt:Jc4 3 1 .l::r e 8+ .l:!.xe8 3 2 ..!:[xe8+ 'li'f8 3 3 . l:[xf8+ 'it>xf8 34.lt:Jxh 7 + the knight ending is winning for White. 29 .

.!:[e4xe7

The exuberance of youth! After the pro­ saic 2 9 .'if cS lt:JdS (2 9 . . ..!:[ae8 3 0 ..!:[he 1 .:l.xe4 3 I . lt:Jxe4 'iYf8 3 2 . lt:Jf6+ +- ) 3 0 . l::!.he 1 White dominates : 3 0 . . ..!:[ae8 ( 3 0 . . . .!:[xe4 3 1 .lt:Jxe4+- ) 3 1 .'iYxa7 or 3 1 .a3 , Black has no moves. 29. 30 .

d4xc3 .!:[e7-g7+

Here too, after 3 I ..!:[e 8 + .!:[xe 8 3 3 . l:[xf 8 + 'it>xf8 3 5 .lt:Jg5 the knight winning for White. 30 .

...

3 0 . .!:[he 1 ! lt:JdS 3 2 . .!:[xe 8 + 'iff8 3 4 . lt:Jxh 7 + 'it> g 8 ending should be

The Three Knights line beginning l.e4 eS 2.lt:Jf3 lt:Jc6 3.lt:Jc3 �cS, has a dubi­ ous theoretical reputation, with the tac­ tical blow 4. lt:JeS! being regarded as al­ most a refutation. This is what Grandmaster John Nunn wrote in his book on the Four Knights : 'Studying the published theoretical sources suggests that this line is very bad for Black, and this is probably the case, although White has to show some accuracy' . Admittedly, this deadly view is not shared by everyone, most notably the Grandmaster from Lvov, Oleg Romanishin. He has played this line for many years, with good results. The truth , as so often , probably lies somewhere between the two extremes. Game No 6 [C46] Pedzi.ch,Dominik Romanishin,Oleg Koszalin 1997 (5)

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

e2-e4 lt:Jg 1 -f3 tt:J b 1 -c3 tt:Jf3xe5 d 2-d4 d4xe5 f2-f4 b2xc3

e7-e5 tt:J b8-c6 �f8-c5 tt:Jc6xe5 �c5-d6 �d6xe5 i.e5xc3+

'it>g8-f8?

A mistake in return : 3 0 . . . 'iYxg 7 3 1 .hxg7 .!:[e8 3 2 .lt:Jxh7 .!:[e3 was a better defence. 31 .

.!:[h 1 -e 1

Black resigned, although 3 1 .. .'iVxg7 would still put up some resistance. 3 1 . lt:Jxh7 + ! was winning. 23

T h e F o u r Kn i g h t s Gam e

Now: • Premature is 8 . . . 'ifh4+ 9 . g 3 'ife7 1 0 .�g2 tLlf6 1 1 . 0 - 0 ( 1 1 .e5 ! ?) 1 1 . . .d6 1 2 .�a3 �g4 1 3 .'tWb 1 c5 1 4J:te 1 0-0 1 5 .e5 tLld7 1 6 .'fkxb7 dxe5 1 7 Jhe5 'iff6 1 8 . .l:re3 with advantage to White, Kobalia-Papazov, Herculane jr 1 994. • More deserving of attention, if only because it has been played by the great enthusiast of the variation, Romanishin, is: 8...'iVe7 9.�d3 dS Practice has also seen 9 . . . 'i!Yc5 ! ? 1 0 . .l:rb 1 d6 ( 1 0 . . . tt:Je7 ! ?) 1 1 ..l:rb5 'ifxc3+ 1 2 .�d2 'ifd4 1 3 .'i¥b 1 tt:Je7 1 4.c3 'i¥f6 1 5 . 0 - 0 a6 1 6 . .l:rg5 tt:Jg6 1 7 . .l:rg3 tLle7 1 8 .\t>h 1 ( 1 8 .�e3 ! ? 'i¥xc3 1 9 . .l:rc 1 ±) 1 8 . . . h6 1 9 .c4. White has a small positional advantage, which more than compensates for the pawn deficit, Vasiesiu-Mozes , Predeal tt 1 9 9 7 . 10.0-0 Principled is 1 O . e 5 and now 1 O . . . 'irh4+ 1 1 . g3 'i¥h3 1 2 .�fl 'i!Ye6 .

18 . .1hc6 .idS 19. .ia4 White has achieved some advantage in the ending. 19...c6 20.�cS He could retain the ad­ vantage by 20 . ..txa7 ! .l:ra8 2 1 . l::!.e 7 .l:rfc8 (2 1 . . . ..te6 2 2 . ..txc6 .l.:!.ac8 23 . ..tf3 .l:rxc2 2 4 . a4±) 2 2..�. b 3 c5 ( 2 2 . . . �xb 3 2 3 . axb 3 tt:Jd5 2 4 . .l:re4±) 2 3 .�xd5 tLlxd5 24 . .l:rd7 tt:Jxf4 2 5 .a4i . 20... .l:rfe8 21.�e7 �c8 22. .¥hf6 gxf6 23. ..tb3 aS 24.�ad1 �xe1+ 25Jhe1 a4 26.�xa4 �xa2 27.�b3 draw, Isonzo­ Romanishin, Bratto 2 0 0 7 . • A line regarded as dubious is 8... tt:Jf6 and now: A) 9 .�d3 d5 1 0 .e5 and now : A 1 ) 1 0 . . . tt:Je4 1 l . �xe4 dxe4 1 2 .'i!Yxd8+ \t>xd8 1 3 .�e3 f5 1 4.exf6 gxf6 1 5 .f5 �xf5 ( 1 5 . . . \t>e7=) 1 6 . 0 - 0 �e6 1 7 . .l:rxf6 .l:re8 1 8 . .l:[ d 1 + \t>c8 1 9 . a 3 b6 with an equal ending, L.Ilic-Mitkov, Skopje 1 9 9 8 ; A2) 1 O . . . ..tg4 1 1 . 'ird2 tLle4 1 2 .'li'e3 0-0 ( 1 2 .. .'i¥h4+ 1 3 . g3 'i¥h3 1 4.c4 'fk g 2 1 5 ..l:rfl 'i!Vxh2 1 6 .cxd5 tt:Jxg 3 with unclear play.) 1 3 . 0 - 0 f5 1 4. exf6 ? ! 'i¥xf6 1 5 . ..txe4 dxe4 1 6 . ..ta3 .l:rfe 8 . The game is equal , Potkin-Buturin, Pardubice 1 9 9 8 . B ) 9.eS

Analysis d i agram

A complicated battle, with non-stan­ dard strategic features , lies ahead. Possi­ ble, for example, is 1 3 .�a3 tLlh6 ! ? 1 4.�e2 .i.d7 1 5 . .l:rb 1 0 - 0 - 0 Both sides have their chances. 1 o...dxe4 11.�xe4 tt:Jf6 12.�f3 0-0 13.l:te1 jt_e6 14.�xb7 .l:ad8 1S.'iff3 'ifcS+ 16.�e3 On 1 6 . 'it>h 1 there would probably follow 1 6 . . . �d5 1 7 . .txd5 tt:Jxd5 1 8 .�d 2 f5 , and White's extra pawn does not play a large role. 16 .'ihc3 17.'ifc6 'ii'xc6 •.

24

Analysis d i agram

B 1 ) 9... tt:Je4 10. 'ifdS! f5 and now: B 1 1 ) It is surprising that, in John Nunn's book New Ideas in the Four

Chapter 1

Knights, the only game quoted in sup­

port of this variation's inadequacy is one which looks more like a coopera­ tive effort. Martorelli-Bellia, Chianciano Terme ch-ITA 1 9 8 6 : 1 O...'ti'h4+? 11.g3 tt::lx g3 12.hxg3 'ti'xg3+ 13.'it>d1 d6 14.'ili'd3? White obtains a decisive ad­ vantage with 1 4.�b5+ ! Wf8 1 5 .�d2 . 14 �g4+ 15. .i1Le2 'ti'g2? But now Black misses his chance; after 1 S . . . .ixe 2+ 1 6 .'ti'xe2 0 - 0 - 0 1 7 . e 6 l:rhe8 h e obtains good compensation for the sacrificed piece. 16J:th4 ••.

Analysis d i agram

16...'iYfl +? Black has better chances of saving the game by 1 6 . . .'ti' g 1 + 1 7 . W d 2 .ixe 2 1 8 . 'ifxe2 0 - 0 - 0 1 9 . 'ti' g 4+ 'ifxg4 2 0 Jh g 4 dxe S + 2 l .We2 exf4 2 2 . l:rxg 7 .l:r.he 8+ 2 3 . 'it>f3 l:rd 1 2 4 . �b2 l:rd2 ;t . 17.'it>d2 'iYxf4+ 18.'it>e1 jLxe2 19.�xf4 kxd3 20.cxd3 dxeS 21.�xe5 0-0-0? Why not 2 1 . . . f6 2 2 .ilxc7 l:rc8 2 3 .�g3 l:rxc3 ? White is better, but the three con­ nected passed pawns mean that Black is not quite dead yet . 22.'it>d2? It is in­ teresting to wonder what attracted John Nunn to this game ? Tempting is 2 2 . �x g 7 .l:r.hg 8 2 3 . l:rxh 7 l:rxd3 24.We2+- . 22 f6 23.�d4 l:rd7?! More natural is 2 3 . . . b 6 2 4 . l:rah 1 h 6 . One can still not b e absolutely confi­ dent that White will win . 24.l:rah1 h6 • • •

-

T h e T h r e e K n i g h t s ' O p en i n g

25.l:r4h3 'it>d8? 2 5 . . . b 6 2 6 . l:r g 3 cS 2 7 .�f2 l:re8 2 8 . l:rhg 1 l:rde 7 = or 28 . . . l:ree 7 = . 26.l:rg1 a6? 27.l:rhg3? 2 7 . l:rxg 7 .l:txg 7 2 8 . .ixf6 + +- . 27...c5? 2 7 . . . l:lh 7 , and White still has some work to do. 28. .i1Lxc5, and White soon won ; B 1 2) 1 o ...fs 11. .i1LdJ �h4+ 12.g3 'ti'h3 IJ.jLxe4 1 3 . �a3 ± . 13... fxe4 14.�a3 'ife6 15. 'ifcS 'it>d8 16.f5 b6 17.'ii' d4 1 7 . fxe 6 bxc S 1 8 . .ixc 5 ± . 17.. .'i:Yxfs 18.l:rfl with advantage to White, Leveille-Nikcevic , Paris 1 9 9 6 . B 2 ) 9...'ti'e7 10.'ti'e2 1 O . 'iff3 d 6 ( 1 0 . . . d5 1 l . �d 3 ;t ) 1 I . .ia3 0 - 0 1 2..� e 2 ;t deserves consideration. 10... tt:Jds 1I.'ife4 'ii'cs 12.c4 tt::lb4 13.�d3 'ti'c6 14.'ii' e2 tt:lxd3+ 15.cxd3 b6 16.ilb2 i!.a6 17.0-0 0-0-0 18.'i'if3 1 8 . l:rfc 1 ;t 18... l:rhe8 19. .lla c 1 dS 20.�d4 �a4 2I.ilf2 'it>b8 22.c5 'ii'a3 23JHdl d4 24.�h4 .llc 8 25.'it'd5 �xd3? 26.'ii'f3 1 -0 Votava-Buturin, Decin 1 9 9 5 . 8.

...

9.

�f1-c4

d 7-d6

• Black has fewer problems after 9.'ti'd4 tt:lf6 1 O.eS tt::l g4?! It seems that the following line suffices for equality : 1 0 . . . cS ! ? 1 l .�b5 + ( 1 1 . 'tWxd6 'ii'x d6 1 2 .exd6 'it>d7 1 3 .�c4 'it>xd6 1 4.�xf7 �fs 1 S . 'it> f2 �xc 2 = ) 1 1 . . . � d 7 25

T h e F o u r Kn i g h t s Gam e

1 2 .'iYd3 dxe S 1 3 .fxe S 0 - 0 1 4. 0 - 0 ( 1 4 . exf6 .l:!. e 8 + 1 S . e 8 ( 1 6 . . .f6 1 7 .'ti'e5 + ! ) 1 7 . fxg6 'ifxg3 + 1 8 .\t>d 1 'iYg4+ 1 9 .'>t>c 1 'iYe6 2 0 . gxf7 + 'lt>f8 2 1 .'ii' c 5 + d6 2 2 .'iVxc 7 +- . 16...�xf6 17.l::txf6 'lt>xf6 18.'ii'd4++- ; D 1 3 ) 13...d6 14.c3 g6 1 4 . . . �c5 ? 1 S .'iYgS + ! . 15.'ii'h6! 1 5 .'i¥d5 �g7 1 6 .f5 c 6 . 15...�f6 1 5 . . . �g 1 1 6 .f5 ! �xh2 1 7 .�g5 + 'lt>e8 1 8 . 0- 0 - 0 +- . 16.e5 dxe5 17.fxe5 �xeS 18 .tg5 + 'lt>e8 19.0-0-0± . •

Other continuations on move 8 also fail to promise equality to Black: D 2 ) 8 ... 4Jf6!? 9 . g 3 'ifh3 1 0 .�f4 �xf4 1 I . ti:Jxf4 'iYg4 1 2 .e5 'ti'xd 1 + 1 3 .l::t xd 1 tt:Jg4 1 4.tt:Jd5 'lt>d8 1 5 .f4±; D3) 8 ...c6 9.g3 'iYd8 9 . . . 'ti'h3 1 0 . ti:J f4 ! ? �xf4 1 l.. �xf4 'ii' g 2 1 2 . ttfl ± . 1 O.f4 Also good i s 1 0 . tt:Je3 d6 ( 1 0 . . . d5 ? 1 l .exd5 cxdS 1 2..�. b S + with the better game - R. Dautov) 1 1 . f4 �f6 1 2 . 0 - 0 tt:Je7 1 3 .'ti'h5 with the ini­ tiative. 1 O...�d6 No better is 1 O . . . �b8 1 l .ti:Je3 d6 1 2 .�d2 ti:Jf6 1 3 .'iVf3 0 - 0 1 4. 0 - 0 - 0 � c 7 1 5 .'>t>b 1 when White 's chances are clearly better. Nor can Black hope for equality after 1 O . . . �d4 1 1 .�e2 �cS 1 L �.e3 d6 (there is noth­ ing better) 1 3 .�xeS dxcS 1 4. ti:Je3 and White has the better chances. 11.ti:Je3 .tcs 12.'iYg4 g6 13.'iYf3 d6 14.�d2 tLlf6 15.0-0-0 0-0 16.f5 White's positi­ on is preferable. • Also possible is 7...d6 8.0-0 and now :

1 -

T h e T h r e e K n i g h t s ' O p en i n g

An alysis d i agram

A) 8... ti:Jf6 A 1 ) 9. .id2 Nothing much comes from this quiet move : 9...0-0 10.f4 �d4+ 11.'lt>h1 .td7 12.'ti'f3 �c6 13."t!Yg3 'iYd7 14.h3 d5 A good alterna­ tive to the text is 1 4 . . . l::t a e8 1 5 .l::t a e 1 .l:!.e7 1 6 .l::t e 2 bS with a good position for Black. 15.e5 tt:Je4 16..txe4 dxe4 17.l::tad1 'iffs 18.ti:Je2 .txb2 19.l::tb1 �bs 1 9 . . . l::t fd8 2 0 .�e3 'ti'hs 2 1 .'ti'f2 .ta3 with mutual chances. 20.l::tfe1 .txe2 2 1.l::txe2 �d4 22.l::tb e1 l::tad8 23.l::txe4 l::tfe8 with a roughly equal game, A. Kovalev-Kupreichik, Minsk ch-BLA 2 0 0 3 ; A2) 9.ti:Je2!? A logical manoeuvre, aiming to drive away the active enemy bishop : 9...d5 10.f4 �d6 11.e5 �c5+ 12.'lt>h1 tt:Jg4 13."�'e1 c6 14.b4 �b6 15.�d2;!; It would probably be useful to include the moves 1 5 . h 3 h S ( 1 S . . . ti:J e 3 1 6 .�xe3 .txe3 1 7 .'i¥g3 ± ; 1 S . . . ti:Jh6 1 6 .f5±) and only now complete development: 1 6 .�d2 g6 1 7 . a4 (it was also possible to play more sol­ idly: 1 7 .c3 followed by ti:Jd4 - White also has some advantage in this case) 1 7 . . . a6 1 8 .a5 i.a7 1 9 .ttf3 - one knight on g4 is not going to achieve anything. White has the advantage. 15...g6 Wor­ thy of consideration is 1 5 . . . 0 - 0 1 6 .'i¥g3 f6 , in order after 1 7 .h3 to have 1 7 . . .fxe5 1 8 .hxg4 e4. 16.a4 a6 17.a5 35

T h e F o u r Kn i g h t s G a m e

.Yl.a7 1 8 .c3 ti:Jh6 1 9 .ti:Jg3 1 9 .ti:Jd4;!; ikxd4 2 0 . cxd4 �fS 2 1 .l::r a 3 and Black can hardly maintain the blockade : White has plenty of resources to break through and his game is preferable. 19 .'1Wh4 20.ti:Je4 'iYxe1 21.tLld6+ We7 22.�xe1, and White retains a solid ad­ vantage , Emms-Pieper Emden , Germany tt 1 9 9 3 / 94; B) 8...'i\Yh4 9 .f4 .itd4+ 1 0 .Wh 1 �b6 1 1 ..1ib S + c6 1 2 .�e2 ti:Jf6 1 3 . f5 ± is a recommendation of the Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings.

Back to the game.

• 7... ti:Je7 s:iWhs ti:Jg6 9.0-0 �d8-h4 1 O.'ti'xh4 ti:Jxh4 11.ti:Je2

Also not bad is the manoeuvre 8.ti:Je2 c6 9.f4 i..c7 10.e5 ti:JdS 11..td2 1 1 .c4 ti:Jb4 1 2...i e4 d6 1 3 . .td2 ti:Ja6 = , Hec­ tor-Mitkov, Metz 1 9 9 2 . 11... d6 1 1 . . .�b6 ! ? 1 2 .ti:Jg3 d6 1 3 .'iYf3 dxeS 1 4.fxe5 0-0 1 5 . 0 - 0 - 0 ;t . 12.c4 ti:Je7 13.'�'c2 dxeS 14.0-0-0! �g4 15.�c3 'i¥c8 16.fxeS;!; 'i¥e6 17.h3 �xe2 18.�xe2 0-0-0 19.l::rh fl ± l::rh f8 20.Wc2 Wb8 21.�g4 'i¥xg4 22.hxg4 cS 23. ..txh7 l::rxd1 24.Wxd1 ti:Jc6 25.e6 l::rdS+ 26.We2 fxe6 27.�xg7 l::rd7 28. .1:1.£'8+ ..tds 29.�f6 Wc7 30.�xd8+ ti:Jxd8 31.�e4 tt:lf7 32.b3 Wd6 33.We3 WeS 34. ..tf3 b6 "35 .l:i.g8 tLld6 36 .l:i.g5+ Wf6 37J:tgs .l:i.h7 38. .l:i.d8 we s 39. .l:i.f8 ti:Jf7 40. .l:i.e8 tt:Jgs 41..l:i.b8 .l:i.g7 42.a4 tLlh7 43.a5 ti:Jf6 44.a6 ttJxg4+ 45.We2 tLlf6 46. .l:i.b7 .l:i.d7 47 ..ic6 .l:i.h7 48.We3 Wd6 49. ..tf3 WeS 50.g4 .l:i.h3 51.g5 tt:Jg4+ 52.We2 tLlh2 53.�c6 .l:i.xb3 54..l:i.xa7 .l:i.a3 55.g6 tt:lg4 56.g7 tLlh6 57.�b5 Wf6 ss ..l:i.b7 Wg6 59.a7 Wf6 60 .tc6 1 - 0 Shaked-Romanishin , Linares Open 1 9 9 7 . One of the few de­ feats Romanishin has suffered in this variation.

•.

Analysis d i agram

Despite the fact that the queens have disappeared from the board, White's chances are distinctly preferable : 1 1 . . .ti:Jg6 1 2 .f4 .Yid6 1 3 . .ite3 b 6 1 4.ti:Jc3 �e7 1 S .a4 aS 1 6 .�d4 i.cS 1 7 . .Yl.xcS bxcS 1 8 .ti:Jb5 Wd8 1 9 .e5 �b7 2 0 .l::r ae 1 l::r e 8 2 1 .g3 Wc8 2 2 .h4 l::r a 6 2 3 .ti:Ja3 l::r a 7 24.ti:Jbs l::r a 6 25 .ti:Ja3 l::r a 7 26 . .Jibs ti:Jf8 2 7 .f5 �dS 2 8 .�c4 .ixc4 2 9 . ti:Jxc4 Wb7 3 0 .Wg2 Wc6 3 1 .g4 l::r b 8 3 2 .b3 dS 3 3 .ti:Jd2 Wd7 3 4.tt:Jf3 l::r b4 3 5 .Wg3 l::r a 6 3 6 .ti:JgS We8 3 7 .e6 f6 3 8 .ti:Jf3 We? 3 9 .l::r e 3 l::r d 6 40 .l::r d 1 c6 4 1 .l::r c 3 c4 42 .bxc4 l::r xc4 43 .l::rxc4 dxc4 44.l::rx d6 Wxd6 4S .ti:Jd2 1 -0 , Hennigan-Lodhi, Norwich ch-GBR 1 9 94. 36

8.

0-0

•

•

•

•

8. 9.

... f2-f4

0-0

.ie5xc3

Chapter

There is also nothing wrong with: 9...�d4 + l O .h t d6 1 0 . . . �xc 3 1 l . bxc3 d S 1 2 . e 5 tt:le4 1 3 . �xe4 ( 1 3 .c4;l;; ) 1 3 . . . dxe4 1 4.'ifxd8 ? ! .!:l.xd8 1 5 .�e3 aS 1 6 . .!:1.fd 1 l:.xd 1 + 1 7 . .!:1.xd 1 �e6 1 8 .a3 hS 1 9 . .!:1.d4 .!:l.a6 2 0 . .!:I.xe4 .!:l.c6 2 l .�d2 .!:l.b6 2 2 . g 1 .!:l.b2=F Oliveira-Mitkov, Lisbon 1 9 9 9 . l l .'iff3 .!:l.e8 12.�d2 �d7 13 .!:1.ael =, Campora-Mitkov, Elgoibar 1 9 9 5 . White's position looks very pretty, but after, say, 1 3 . . . h6 it is not clear why Black should stand worse. Even so, the text is more consequential. .

1 0. 11. 1 2.

b2xc3 e4-e5 f4-f5

Logical is 1 2 .c4 fS �fS 1 4.cxd5 cxdS .ie6 1 4 . .l:!.d 1 'ife7 1 6 .'ii' e 3 and White better, but no more. 1 2.

...

1 3.

.id3xe4

d 7-d5 tt:lf6-e4

( 1 2 . . . c6 1 5 .c4;l;; ) 1 5 . cxd5 is very

1 3 .�e3 1 3 .'ii' f3 �xdS slightly

'ifd8-e7

The direct attack only leads to a draw: 1 3 . f6 'it'cS + ( 1 3 . . . 'ifxe5 1 4.fxg 7 'ii' x g 7 1 S .'it'h5 .!:l.e8 1 6 . .ih6 .ig4 1 7 .'ii'x d5 'ifxh6 1 8 .�xe4 'ii' e 3 + 1 9 . h 1 'ifxe4 2 0 .'ifxf7 + =) 1 4.h 1 lLlf2+ 1 S .l:hf2 'ifxf2 1 6 .�a3 �fS ! = .

1

1 3. 1 4. 1 5. 1 6. 1 7. 1 8. 1 9.

-

T h e T h r e e Kn i g h t s ' O p en i n g

'ifd 1 -d4 e5-e6 f5-f6 .!:l.f1 xf6 'ifd4-e5 l:.f6-f1

d5xe4 .!:l.f8-e8 f7xe6 g 7xf6 .!:l.e8-d8 .!:l.d8-d 1 +

Weaker is 1 9 .f2 ? ! .!:l.dS 2 0 .'ii' g 3 + 'if g 7 , and only White i s risking any­ thing. 1 9 ... .!:1. d 1 xf1 + 20.g 1 xf1 'ife7-g7 21 .'ife5xe4 �c8-d7 22.�c1 -e3 'ifg 7-f6+ 23 .f1 -g 1 �d 7-c6 24.'ife4-g4+ 1f2- 1f2

1.4 Kingside Fianchetto Variation 1.e4 eS 2.tt:lf3 tt:Jc6 3.tt:lc3 g6

Anyone who wishes to play the Four Knights Opening needs to be prepared for this, one of the most common lines in the Three Knights , which is charac­ terised by the fianchetto of Black's king 's bishop. It is employed most often by stronger players against weaker op­ ponents , because it generally leads to complicated, sharp positions. White must work hard to achieve an opening advantage. Practice shows that only by castling queenside, in various different forms , can White pose his opponent real problems. This does not exclude less ambitious set-ups, such as in the style of the Italian Game, with moves such as �c4, d3 , a3 and 0 - 0 . However, in this book, we will look at attempts to gain the advantage after the initial moves 1 . e4 eS 2 . tt:lf3 tt:lc6 3 . tt:lc3 g 6 4.d4 exd4 and, a s a rule, involving queenside castling. 37

T h e F o u r Kn i g h t s G a m e

It seems that 9 . . . h6 I 0 .jLh4 d5 is more accurate, which is examined later, un­ der a different move-order.

Game N o 9 [C46J Zimmermann,Julian Kurz,Alexander Germany Bundesliga 2 0 0 4 / 0 5 ( 5 )

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

e2-e4 ttJg 1 -f3 ttJb1 -c3 d 2-d4 ttJc3-d5 �c1 -g5 ttJf3xd4

1 0.

1 0.

7.

...

c7-c6

Dubious is 7...h6 8.�h4 gS 9. ..ig3 ttJxdS 1 O.exdS d6 11.�b5 + '1t>f8 12.0-0 tLle7 13J:te1 �f6 14.'ifd3 More solid is I 4.c4 '1t>g7 I 5 .'ifd3 h5 I 6 .f4, retaining an opening advantage, with­ out any sacrifices. 14...h5 15.f4?! An unnecessary pawn sacrifice. The pluses of the position could be retained by I 5 .h3 , utilizing the fact that I 5 . . . tLlxd5 is impossible due to I 6 . .l:!. e 8 + . 15 gxf4 16.�xf4 ttJxdS 17. ..id2 c6 18.�c4 �xd4+ 19.'ifxd4 'ti'b6 draw, Nouro-Rantanen, Jyvaskyla 2 0 0 6 . In principle , White could fight on : 2 0 .'iYxb6 tLlxb6 2 I .�b3 . The two bish­ ops and superior piece positioning compensate for the pawn minus. •••

8. 9.

38

ttJd5xe7 'ir'd 1 -d 2

0-0-0

e7-e5 ttJb8-c6 g 7-g6 e5xd4 �f8-g7 ttJc6-e7

ttJg8xe7 d 7-d5

0-0?!

• 10...h6 1 1.�h4 By contrast with the position after the inclusion of . . . h7 -h6 on move nine, here White has the additional resource I l . �xe 7 ! ? 'iYxe 7 1 2 . exd5 0 - 0 ! ? ( I 2 . . .cxd5 I 3 .�b5 ±) I 3 .dxc6 bxc6 I 4.c3 (it is risky to play I 4.tLlxc6 'iVb7 I 5 .tLld4 .l:!.d8 , with excellent compensa­ tion) . Admittedly, Black has some com­ pensation for the pawn. 11... g5 12.�g3 and now : A) Bad is 12 ... i.g4 13.f3 ..ihS 14.'ifb4 A good move, fixing a small, but clear advantage. Even so, the pre­ liminary I 4.exd5 'iYxd5 ( I 4 . . . tLlxd5 I 5 .tLlf5 ±) was more decisive, and only now I 5 .'iYb4 0 - 0 I 6 . c4 ( I 6 . tLlb3 �xb 2 + I 7 .'1t>xb2 'iVxd l 1 8 .'iVxe 7 t) I 6 . . . c5 ( 1 6 . . . 'iVd7 1 7 . tLl c 2 'ti' e 6 I 8 . .l:!.e i +- ) I 7 .'iVe i 'iYd7 I 8 . tLlb5 �d4 I 9 .h4± . 14 ... 'ifh6 1S.'iYxh6 axb6 16.exd5 ttJxdS 17.i.c4 0-0 18Ji:jf5 I 8 J�he I keeps the advantage. 18 �g6 19.tt:lxg7?! An oversight, logically re­ sulting from the previous move . 19... '1t>xg7 The preliminary I 9 . . . tLle3 ! . . •

Chapter

2 0 .tbe6 ! fxe6 2 I . .ixe6+ .i£7 2 2 .l:i.d3 .ixe6 2 3 .l:i.xe3 l:i.xa2 24.l:i.he i l:i.d8 2 S .b i l:Ida8= draws. 20.l:i.he1 t2lb4? 2 0 . . . t2lf4 ! . 21..id6 1 -0 , Karasev­ Gazizov, Tula ch-RUS sr 2 0 04; B) 12... dxe4 13.'i:Ve3

1 -

T h e Th ree Kni g h ts ' Opening

14...�e6 1S.�xe7 Wxe7 16.'iYa3+ There is nothing wrong with 1 6 .'ifxe4 l:i.hd8 1 7 . ttJfs + f8 1 8 . l:i.xd8 + l:i.xd8 1 9 .t2lxg 7 xg 7 2 0 .�d3 . White has slightly the better king, but Black should draw. 16...c5 17.tbxe6 fxe6 18.�c4 l:i.ad8 19.l:i.del 'Yi'c6 20.'it'b3 a6 21.£'3 bS 22. .ixe6 c4 23.'i\Ya3+ xe6 24Jhe4+ WfS 2S.h4 l:i.he8 26.hxg5 hxgS 27.'it'e3 l:i.xe4 28.fxe4+ f6 29.l:i.h5 e ? 30.e5 'iYxg2 31.'iYcS+ We8 32.b3 'i!t'dS White resigned, Morgulev-Shereshevsky, USSR 1975. • After 1 o...dxe4

Analysis d i agram

B I ) Black lost quickly in the game Szmetan-Frey, Bogota I 9 7 7 : 13..:ifdS 14.tbbs .ixb2+ IS.xb2 'i:Yxd1 16.tbc7+ ds 17.�d3 Nunn gives this move an exclamation mark, however, White also wins after I 7 .�c4 'iYd7 ( I 7 . . . 'iYxh i i 8 .'iYd4++-) I 8 .t2lxa8 t2ld5 I 9 .'i:Yxa 7 +or I 7 .�e2 'ifd7 I 8 .t2lxa8+-. 17...'iV:xh1 18.'ti'd4+ ttJds 19.'tj':xh8+ e7 20.'iYe8+ f6 21.'ti'e5+ g6 22.he4+ B 23.'iYe8+ 1-0. B2) 13... 'i:Yb6! 'This is the best move, although the position is very sharp ' John Nunn. 14.�d6 Analysis shows that White can also play more sharply: 1 4.'iYxe4! fS ( 1 4 . . . 0-0 1 S . .td3 t2lg6 1 6 .c3!) 1 S .'i:Ye2 �xd4 1 6 . l:i.xd4 'iYxd4 1 7 . �e5 'i:Yds ( 1 7 . . .'iYe4 1 8 .�xh8 does not change the essence of things : in the endgame, White's chances are superior) 1 8 .�xh8 .te6 ( 1 8 . . . 'ti'xa2 is bad: 1 9 .'i:Yh5 + d7 20.'iYxh6 'iYa 1 + (better is 20 . . . 'iYe6 2 1 .'iYxe6+ xe6 with an inferior, but probably not lost endgame) 2 1 .d2±) 1 9 .c4! .

An alysis d i agram

Nunn considers strongest 11.'iYe3 with a very promising position for White. Other lines which also look very good are 11..ic4 0-0 1 2 . l:i.he l and ll.'i:Yf4!?, intending after 1 1 . . . .ixd4 1 2 . .if6 or even 1 2 .'ifxe4, in both cases with the better chances for White. e Worthy of study is 1 O...f6 11.�f4 dxe4 12.�c4 B 1 2 . . .t2ld5 ? 1 3 .t2lbs ± 13.£'3 with good compensation for the pawn. 11.

e4xd5

f7-f6

1 1 . . . cxd5 1 2 .h4! . 1 2.

�g5-h6

A pragmatic decision, retaining the ad­ vantage, but even stronger is 1 2 . .if4 39

T h e F o u r Kn i g h t s G a m e

'i¥ x d 5 ( 1 2 . . . tLl x d 5 1 3 . .t c 4 'i¥ b 6 1 4 . �e 3 ± ) 1 3 . �b4 ! 'iY e 4 ( 1 3 . . . c5 1 4.�b3 ±) 1 4.�c4+ tLld5 ( 1 4 ... Wh8 1 5 .�d6+-) 1 5 .�d6 l:.d8 1 6 .f3 'iY e3 + 1 7 . Wb 1 , and Black has big problems. 1 2. 1 3. 1 4.

... b2-b3 �d2xh6

.td 7-c8 35.Wb4-c5 Wg5-f4 36.'it>c5-d6 l:te3-c3 37.t:Lld4-e2+ Wf4-e3 38.tLle2xc3 We3xd 2 39.tLlc3-d5 g6-g5 40.�d 6-c7 .tc8-h3 41 .'it>c7-d8 Wd2-e2 42.c6-c7 �e2xf3 43.tLld5-f6 1 -0

'i¥d8xd5 .tg7xh6

Game No 1 0 [C46] Thavandiran,Shiyam Ganguly, Surya Shekhar Guelph 2 0 0 5 (8)

1 4.

...

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 1. 8.

'iYd5-g5+

e2-e4 tLlg1 -f3 tLl b 1 -c3 d 2-d4 t:Llc3-d5 .tc1 -g5 t:Llf3xd4 t:Lld5-c3

e7-e5 t:Ll b8-c6 g 7-g6 e5xd4 �f8-g7 t:Llc6-e7 c7-c6

The resulting endgame is difficult for Black. Probably he should seek his chances with the queens on, for exam­ ple : 1 4 . . .'ti'a5 1 5 .�c4+ tLld5 1 6 . � b _I �d7 . although in any case, White s chances are superior. In the same vein, 1 4 . . . 'iVc5 ! ? was al­ ready tried in Persitz-Filip, Reykjavik 1 957. 1 5.'iVh6xg5 f6xg5 1 6 . .tf1 -c4+ 1 7.f2-f3 g5-g4 t2Je7-d5 1 8.l:th1 -e1 Wg8-g7 1 9.�c4xd5 g4xf3 20.l:te1 -e5 c6xd5 21 .g 2xf3 .tc8-h3 22.l:te5xd5 l:tf8-f7 23 .c2-c4 l:ta8-e8 24.Wc1 -d2 l:tf7-e7 25 .Wd 2-c3 l:te7-e3+ 26.Wc3- b4 .l:i.e8-e7 27.l:td 1 -d 2 Wg 7-f6 28.a2-a4 h 7-h5 29.l:td5-d6+ Wf6-g5 31 .a4-a5 h5-h4 30.c4-c5 l:f.e7- d 7 32.l:td6xd 7 �h3xd7 33.a5-a6 b7xa6 34.c5-c6

40

Another principal line in this variation. 8.

...

�d8-a5

8 h6 9 .te3 Here bad is 9 . .th4 d5 1 0 .exd5 �b6 1 1 .tLlb3 �b4+ - Nunn. Also prospectless is 9 .�f4 d5 1 0 .�d2 tLlf6 1 1 . 0-0-0 t:Llxe4 1 2 .tLlxe4 dxe4 1 3 . .tc4 tLlf5 1 4 . tLl b 3 �xd 2 + 1 5 .tLlxd2 =F Lehmann-Keres, Hamburg FRG-USSR, 1 9 6 0 . e Here, Nunn considers 9 tLlf6 the strongest, a move which, for reasons ...

.

• • •

Chapter

that are impossible to understand, has not been seen in practice at all in recent years :

1 -

T h e Th ree Kni g h ts ' Opening

( 1 2..�. xh 6 tt:'lxe4 1 3 . tt:'lxe4 dxe4 1 4 . ..ixg 7 �xg 7 1 5 . 0 - 0 - 0 ti:J f5 ) 1 2 . . . dxe4 1 3 . �xh6 tt:J fs 1 4 . i.. x g 7 �xg 7 1 5 . tt:'lxf5 + �xf5 1 6 . �e3 ;\; . 12.0-0-0 1 2 .h4 d 5 1 3 .h5 g 5 1 4.e5 ( 1 4.exd5 tt:'lexdS =) 14 . . . tt:'lg4 1 S .jg,xg4 �xg4 1 6 .f3 i..d 7 1 7 . 0 - 0 - 0 �xeS 1 8 .f4 �xd4 1 9 .�xd4 tt:Jfs 2 0 . �b l . 12...d5 13.tt:lb3 aS 14.a4 'ifc7 15.£'3 White re­ tains a small advantage (analysis) . • 9 ... d5 1 O.exd5 tt:'lxd5 11.tt:'lxd5 'i!Vxd5 12.tt:'lb5! and now :

Analysis d i agram

A) 10.'ii' e2!? 0-0 1l.f3 1 1 .0-0-0 b5 1 2 .f3 b4 1 3 .tt:'la4 'i:Wa5 1 4.b3 dS with good play for Black, Utasi-Westerinen, Havana 1 9 8 6 . l l ...d5 1 1 . . .b5 1 2 .a3 . 12.0-0-0 b6= ; B) Unconvincing is 1 O.�c4 0-0 Also equalising is 1 O . . . tt:'lxe4 1 1 .tt:'lxe4 d5 1 2 .'i!Vf3 dxc4 1 3 . tt:'lf6 + �f8 , and also the immediate 1 O . . . d5 1 l .exd5 tt:'lexd5 1 2 .tt:'lxd5 tt:'lxd5 1 3 .'i!Vf3 0 - 0 . 11.e5 A tactical oversight occurred with 1 I .'ti'f3 ? d5 1 2 .exd5 cS ! + , Gufeld-T. Petrosian , Moscow ch-URS 1 9 6 9 . 11... tt:'le8 12.'ii'd2 More solid is 1 2 . 0 - 0 , but i t still does not bring any advantage : 1 2 . . . d5 1 3 .exd6 tt:'lxd6 1 4.i..b 3 tt:'ldfS 1 5 . tt:'lxf5 tt:'lxf5 = . 12...d5 13.exd6 tt:lxd6 14.�b3 , Tarve-Keres , Parnu 1 9 7 1 , and now 14...c5 15.tt:'ldb5 tt:'lxb5 16.tt:'lxb5 'i!Vxd2+ 17.�xd2 b6 gives Black a small advantage; C) 1 o. .te2 This move has not been tried in practice. 10...0-0 Possibly better is the immediate 1 O . . . d5 1 1 .e5 tt:'ld7 (worthy of consideration is 1 1 . . .tt:'le4 ! ? 1 2 .f4 tt:'lxc3 1 3 .bxc3 0-0 1 4. 0 - 0 f6 , when Black is not worse) 1 2 . f4 0 - 0 with mutual chances. 11.'ti'd2 �h7 1 1 . . . d 5 1 2.0-0-0

Analysis d i agram

A) Practice has seen 12... .te5 1 3 .'i¥xd5 cxd5 1 4. 0 -0-0 tt:'le7 1 5 .i..x a7 i.. e 6 1 6 .a3 . White has an extra pawn and the better position, Nei-Helle, Fin­ land 1 9 6 8 ; B ) Definitely losing i s 1 2...'i!fxd1+ 13 Jhdl cxb5 14 . .ixb5+ �e7 15.�c5+ �e6 16 .ic4+ �f5 17.lld5+ �e6 18.lld6+ . Speaking purely in gen­ eral terms , without any variations, it is obvious that the black king should get 18... �f5 mated: 1 8 . . .�e7 1 9 . .1lxg6++- ; 1 8 . . . � e 5 1 9 .f4+ �fs 2 0 .�d 3 + �xf4 2 1 . 0 - 0 + �g5 2 2 . llxf7 ..if6 2 3 .lld5 + �fs 24.i..e 3 + �h4 2 5 . g 3 + �h3 2 6 Jhf5 - this joke is even stronger than Ed. Lasker-Thomas ! 19.�d3+ �e5 20.f4+ �xf4 21.0-0+! �g5 2 1 . . . �e5 2 2 . .ll e 1 + �f4 2 3 . .ll e 4+ and mate is not far away; 2 1 . . . '>t>g4 •

41

T h e F o u r K n i g h ts G a m e

2 2..� e 2 + Wh4 2 3 . g 3 + 'it>h3 24 . .l:!.f4 with mate either on h4 or fl . 22.�e3+ Wh5 2 2 . . . Wh4 2 3 . g 3 + WhS 24.�e2 + �g4 2 S . .ixg4+ Wxg4 2 6 J H4+ WgS 2 7 J Hd4+ WfS 2 8 . g4+ '>ites 2 9 .�f4# . 23.l:bf7 �f6 24.llf8 and Black cannot do anything. C) 12...'�We5 A new try. 13.tt::ld6+ Wf8 and now: C 1 ) 14.tt::l c 4 'ife7 15.�e2 .ie6 16.0-0 1 6 .�f4;;!; . 16... tLlf6 17Jii'd2 ttJds 18.�d4 �f6 19.�£'3 1 9 . llae 1 ;;!; . 19... l:.d8= 20.l:.ad1 Wg7 draw, Peter­ Demarre, Issy-les-Moulineaux 2004; C2) A clear advantage arises from the sharp 14.�c4! : C 2 1 ) 14 .. J!i'xb2 1 S . llb 1 'ifc3 + 1 6 . Wfl , and Black cannot defend all his weak points : 1 6 . . . tt::l e 7 ( 1 6 . . . �e6 1 7 .�xe6 fxe6 1 8 . lhb 7 +-) 1 7 J:tb3 'ifas 1 8 . �xf7 .ies 1 9 . tt::l c 4 'ifa6 2 0 . l:.a3 'fibs 2 1 .l:.aS ± ; C 2 2 ) 1 4... .ig4 1 S . tt::l x f7 ..txd 1 1 6 .tt::l xe5 ..txeS 1 7 .l:.xd 1 ± ; 1 S . �xe 6 'ifxe 6 C 2 3 ) 14 ...�e6 ( 1 S . . . l:.d8 1 6 .'iff3 'iix e6 1 7 .tt::l xb7 ±) 1 6.0-0. C 3 ) The simple 14.tt::l x c8 l:.xc8 15.'ti'd7 tt::le7 16.c3 also retains the ad­ vantage.

Black has also tried 9...h6 10.�f4 d5 11.0-0-0 tLlf6 12.Wb1 'ti'b6 13.£'3 o-o 14.�xh6 �xh6 15.'ii'xh6 dxe4 16.'ifg5 1 6 . fxe4! ? l:.d8 ( 1 6 . . . �g4 1 7 . .ie2 ±) 1 7 .'iff4 l:.xd4 1 8 . 'i1Vxf6 l:.xd 1 + 1 9 .tt::l xd 1 - there is no visible compen­ sation for the pawn . 16 ... tLled5 17.t2Jxd5 tLlxd5 18..ic4 exf3 19.tt::lxf3 1 9 . .ixd5 cxd S 2 0 . gxf3 ± 19...�e6 20.�b3 and White has the initiative, Sievers-Stern, Germany Bundesliga B 2 0 0 4/ 0 5 . 1 0. 11.

tt:Jd4-b3 0-0-0

'ifa5-c7

1 I ..if4 'iYd8 1 2 .'i:Vd6 tt:Jhs 1 3 .�e3 ± . 11. 1 2. 1 3.

... �g5-f4 �f4-d6

0-0 'ifc7-d8 a7-a5

After 1 3 . . . tt::l e 8 1 4.�g3 White is a bit better.

Back to the game. 1 4.

e4-e5?1

With this move, White gives away too many squares. It made sense to fix the queenside with 1 4.a4, retaining an opening advantage.

9. 42

'ifd 1 -d 2

tt:Jg8-f6

1 4. 1 5. 1 6. 1 7. 1 8.

... tt:Jb3-d4 f2-f4 e5xd6 tt:Jd4xf5

tt:Jf6-e8= b7-b5 tt:Je8xd6 tt:Je7-f5 g6xf5

Chapter

The strong dark-squared bishop more than makes up for the weakened pawns. Black takes over the initiative. 1 9.

h2-h3

1 -

T h e T h r e e Kn i g h t s ' O p e n i n g

3. 4. 5. 6.

tLl b 1 -c3 d 2-d4 tbf3xd4 �c1 -e3

7.

'ii' d 1 -d 2

g 7-g6 e5xd4 �f8-g7 tbg8-e7

Slightly more tenacious is 1 9 . 'iH2 (to block the queenside with 'ifc5 ) 1 9 . . . a4 2 0 .a3 b4 2 l .axb4 a3 2 2 . c;t>b 1 . 1 9. 20.

... g 2-g4?

a5-a4

2 0 .a3 was obligatory.

20.

...

a4-a3+

Now White 's position is untenable. 21 .g4xf5 'ti'd8-f6 22Jlh 1 -g 1 b5-b4 23.'tWd2-d4 a3xb2+ 24.c;t>c1 -b1 'i¥f6xd4 25 . .!::!. d 1 xd4 c;t>g8-h8 26 . .!::!. g 1 xg 7 c;t>h8xg 7 27. .!::!. d 4xb4 �c8-a6 28.�f1 xa6 .!::!. a 8xa6 29 . .!::!. b4-b7 .!::!.f8-d8 30.tbc3-e4 .!::!. a 6-a5 31 .tbe4-g3 32.c2-c4 c;t>g 7-f6 .!::!. a 5-a3 33.llb7-b3 .!::!. a 3xb3 34.a2xb3 .!::!. d 8-e8 0-1

Game No 1 1 [C46J Koukoufikis,Alexandros Skembris,Spyridon Korinthos Open 2 0 0 4 ( 5 )

1. 2.

e2-e4 tbg1 -f3

e7-e5 tb b8-c6

It was also possible to prevent the break d5 - 7.�c4 d6 8.'ti'd2 0-0 9.0-0-0 tbxd4 10.�xd4 �xd4 11.'iYxd4 tbc6 12.'i�Vd2 �e6 13.�xe6 1 3 .�d5 ! ? , and White is slightly better. 13...fxe6 14.f3 He should not give up the square f4; stronger is 1 4.f4, and Black still has to prove equality. 14...'i�Vf6 1S.h4 't'Vf4 16. 'tWxf4 .!::!.xf4 17.tbe2 .!::!. f7 The ending is roughly equal, Song-Rogers, Brisbane ch-AUS 2 0 0 6 . 7.

...

d 7-d5?!

'An unwarranted move ' - Nunn . Other possibilities : A) 7...0-0 8.0-0-0 Weaker is 8 .h4? ! d 5 with sufficient counterplay for Black. 8 d6 9.h4 hS 10.f3 1 0 .tbxc6 tbxc6 ( 1 0 . . . bxc6 1 l.. �c4;l;) 1 l .tbd5 ;!; . 10... t2Jxd4 11..txd4 �xd4 12.'i�Vxd4 tt::lc6 13.'�'d2 �e6 14. .te2 'i�Vf6 1S.f4 .!::!.ae8 16.fS gxfS 17.�xhS and Black's position is worse, Stertenbrink-Spassky, Germany Bundesliga 1 9 8 6 I 8 7 ; B) 7...d6 8.0-0-0 �e6 9.h4 It looks logical to flick in 9 . tbxe6 fxe6 and only now play 1 O .h4 'i�Vd7 1 1 .h5 0 - 0 - 0 •••

43

T h e F o u r Kn i g h t s G a m e

1 2 .g3 Wb8 1 3 .h6 ii.f6 1 4.f4 with some pressure for White. 9...'iYd7 1 O.hS 0-0-0 11.h6 1 1 .d 1 -e1 'it>g5-f4 47. .l:i.f2-c2 'it>f4-e3 48 . .l:i.c2-c1 'it>e3xd4 49 . .l:f.c1 -c6 .if3-e4 0-1

Game No 1 2 [C46] Niisken,Nikolas Nogly,Christoph Baden Oos tt 2 0 0 5 ( ! )

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

e2-e4 tt:l g 1 -f3 tt:l b 1 -c3 d2-d4 tt:lf3xd4 .ic1 -e3

e7-e5 tt:l b8-c6 g 7-g6 e5xd4 .if8-g7 tt:lg8-f6

Less accurate is 6...d6 7.'ifd2 tt:lf6 8.£'3 0-0 9.0-0-0 a6 1 o.tuxc6 bxc6 and now:

Analysis d i agram

1

-

T h e T h r e e Kn i g h t s ' O p e n i n g

A) 11.g4 ite6 1 2 .h4:;!; hS 1 3 .g 5 tt:ld7 1 4.�e2 :;!; ; B ) 11.eS ttldS 1 1 . . .tt:le8 1 2 . exd6 tt:lxd6 ( 1 2 . . . cxd6 1 3 .h4 'iVaS 1 4.h5 .l:i.b8 1 5 .a3 dS 1 6 . .id4:;!;) 1 3 .h4:;!; . 12.tt:lxdS cxdS 13.exd6 'it'xd6 14.'iVxdS .l:i.b8 1S.c3 �xc3 16.bxc3 'ifa3+ 1 7.'it>d2 l:rb2+ 18.'it>e 1 l:re8 :;!; ; C ) 1 1.�h6 l:re8 l l . . .�xh6 1 2 .�xh6 �e 6 = . 1 2.ihg 7 Wxg 7 13.g4 'ife 7 14.h4 'lWes 1S.�g2 The positional l S .hS gS 1 6 .h6+ �g8 1 7 . .ie2 .l:i.b8 1 8 .l:rhfl aS 1 9 . a3 ( 1 9 .f4 gxf4 2 0 . .l:i.xf4 .l:i.b4) 1 9 . . . .ie6 2 0 . f4 gxf4 2 I . l:lxf4:;!; also deserves attention. 1s...l:rbs 16.f4?! White overestimates his attacking chances. More solid is 1 6 .h5 gS 1 7 .h6+ 'it>g8 1 8 . 'it>b i ;t . 16...'ifcs 1 7.gS tt:lhs 18.fS gxfS 19.exfS 1 9 . .l:i.he l 'ti'b4 2 0 .b3 with unclear play. 19... �xfS 20.ttla4 'ii'b4 21.�xc6 l:res 22.b3 �g6 It was also possible to play to take over the initiative : 2 2 . . . tt:lg3 ! ? 2 3 . .l:i.h2 'i¥xd 2 + 2 4 . Wxd2 �e4=F . 23.'ii'xb4 l:rxb4 24.c4 tt:lf4 2S.Wb2 l:re2+ 26. Wa3 l:rb8 2 7.l:rde 1 l:rd2 28.l:rd1 l:rc2 29.ttlb2 l:rb6 30.�£'3 l:[£'2 31.l:rhfl l:rh2 32.�g4 tt:le6 33.l:rh 1 l:rg2 34.�h3 l:[£'2 3S.l:rhfl l:rh2 36.l:rh1 l:[£'2 3 7.l:rhfl l:rh2 draw, Reshetnikov-Tiurin, St Petersburg 2004.

7.

'ifd 1 -d 2

0-0 45

T h e F o u r Kn i g h t s G a m e

Practice has also tested: 7 t2lg4 8.l2lxc6 Better is 8 .�g5 f6 9 .�f4 0 - 0 (9 . . . t2lxd4 1 o . 'i'ixd4±) 1 o . tt:Jxc6 bxc6 1 1 . 0 - 0 - 0 i . 8...bxc6 9.�d4 �xd4 10.'iVxd4 'iVf6 11.�d2 d6 12.h3 tbes 13.�e2 1 3 . f4 tLld7 1 4. 0-0-0 0 - 0 1 S . g4i. 13... g5 14.'�'e3 Unnecessary caution. After 1 4.0-0-0 the pawn on f2 is indirectly defended: 1 4 . . . 'iVxf2 ? ( 1 4 . . . 'iVf4 1 S .h4 'tixd 2 + 1 6 . �xd2 g4 1 7 . f4i) 1 S . tLldS ± . Now Black equalises. 14...'Yi'f4 1S.'ifxf4 gxf4= 1 6 .f3 fS 1 7 .�d3 .l:[b8 1 8 .b3 0 - 0 1 9 . �f2 aS 2 0 . .l:[he 1 l:r.b4 2 I . .l:[ad 1 �g 7 2 2 .exf5 �xfS 2 3 .�xf5 .l:[xfS 2 4 . .l:[e4 tLl g 6 2 5 .a3 .l:[xe4 2 6 . tbxe4 cS 2 7 .tLlc3 tbes 2 8 .tLlbS .l:[f7 29 . .l:[e l �f6 30 . .l:[e4 �e6 3 I ..l:[a4 tbc6 32 . .l:[e4+ tbeS 33 . .l:[a4 tbc6 34 . .l:[e4+ tLleS draw, C. Martinez­ Lima, Sao Paulo 2 0 04. •..

8.

Makarichev. 14 fxe4 1S. .ig3 draw, Mazurok-Suschev, Chernigov 2 0 0 5 . • 8 tLlxd4 9.�xd4 d6 10.£'3 I O .h4 �e6 l l . .te2 i . 10...�e6 11.g4! A suggestion of Yurtaev. 11...c5 12. .te3 'tWaS 13.�h6! �xh6 1 3 . . . �xa2 1 4 . .txg 7 �xg 7 1 s . tbxa2 'YWxa2 1 6 .'iYc3 +- . 14.�xh6 bS!? 1 4 . . . .txa2 1 S .h4 �e6 1 6 .h5 'iYc7 (no better is 1 6 . . . �a l + 1 7 .�d2 �xb2 1 8 . .l:[b l ! 'iVa3 1 9 .hxg6 fxg 6 2 0 . g 5 tLlhS 2 I ..l:[xh5 gxhS 2 2 . g 6+-) 1 7 .lLlbS 'i¥e7 1 8 .tbxd6± . 1S . .txbS .!:i.ab8 •••

.••

0-0-0

Analysis d i agram

8.

...

.l:[f8-e8

In Nunn's opinion, the strongest move. Other continuations : e 8... t2lg4 9.�g5 f6 9 . . . �f6 I O .�xf6 'tixf6 l l .f3 'tixd4 1 2 .'iYxd4 tbxd4 1 3 . l:r.xd4 tLlf6 (no better is 1 3 . . . tLle3 1 4.tLlb5 c6 1 S .tLld6±) 1 4.e5 t2le8 1 S .tLle4± . 10.�f4 tLlxd4 l O . . . fS ? ! l l .�gS �f6 1 2 ..txf6 'iYxf6 1 3 .tLldb S ± . 11.'iYxd4 fS 12.�c4+ cJthS 13.�xc7 'tif6 14.l::td2?! 1 4 . 'iYe 2 ± 46

16.a4! Beautiful! By sacrificing a piece, White closes the b-file for good. But there were also other ways to play: 1 6 .h4! .l:!.xbS 1 7 .tbxb5 'tWxbS 1 8 .h5 .l::l b 8 1 9 .b3 'ti'd7 2 0 .e5 tLle8 ( 2 0 . . . tLldS 2 1 . f4 ! dxeS 2 2 .f5 ! +-) 2 1 .hxg6 fxg6 2 2 .exd6 lLlxd6 2 3 . .l:[he 1 ±. Here the rook is stronger than the two minor pieces. 16 a6 17Jhd6! axbS 18.e5 tbxg4! He is losing after 1 8 . . . tbe8 1 9 . tbe4, when the threats of 2 0 . tLlf6 + and 2 0 .tLlgS are impossible to meet. 19.fxg4 'tib4! 20.a5! 'tixg4? A mistake. Black had good chances to hold the position after 2 0 . . . .l:[bd8 2 l .h4 .l:[xd6 2 2 . exd6 'tixaS 2 3 .h5 'iVa i + 24.tLlb l �a7 2 S .'iVf4 - White has only a minimal advantage. •••

Chapter

21.l::l.e1 With the threat of 2 2.d2 f2 3 3 . l::l. fl +- . 29.a6 l::l.fxeS 30.l::l.xeS l::l.xeS 31.l::l. d6! +­ WgS 32.c4 Wh4 33.Wc2 Wh3 34.Wb3 Wxh2 3S.Wxb4 l::l. e 1 36.a7 l::l.a1 37.l::l. d2+ 1-0 , Makarichev-Tukmakov, Palma de Mallorca 1 9 8 9 . Back to the game.

•..

Analysi s d i agram

47

T h e F o u r Kn i g h t s G a m e

11. 'ii'eS. An unconvincing manoeu­ vre. Worthy of consideration was I l . . .d6 l 2 .l:the i l:tb8 I 3 .�b3 �e6 I 4.h4 'iVf8 by analogy with the game Wegener-Szinka, quoted below. Black gets his queen out of the x-ray from the enemy rook and prevents the exchange of dark-squared bishops , whilst prepar­ ing the manoeuvre . . . Wf6-d7 -cS . What more can one expect from a single move? Both sides have their chances. 12Jide1 d6 13.f4 'ifas 14.e5 dxeS 1S.lhe5 l:txeS 16.fxeS 'iVxeS 17.'iVd8+ tLle8 18..l:H1 �b7 Insufficient is I 8 . . . �e6 ! ? I 9 .'iYxa8 �xc4 2 0 . .if4 .ih 6 ! 2 I . �xh6 .ixfl 2 2 . 'ifxc6 ;;!; . 19.�xf7+ hs 20.'iVe7 tt:ld6 21.�b3 By continuing 2 I . 'ifxe 5 ! ? .ixe S 2 2..�. e 6 l:te8 2 3 .�d7 White retains some advantage. 21. l:te8 22.'ihe5 .ixeS 23.tLla4 cS Equality could be maintained by 2 3 . . . �a6 . 24.tLlxcS .ixg2 2S.llfl .ic6 and now instead of 2 6 .tLld3 with equality, as played in the game Abdel Megid-Van der Sterren, Lu­ cerne Wch-tt I 9 8 9 , White could have achieved a significant advantage by 2 6 .tLle6 tLle4 2 7 . .if4 ! . •.

• A more complicated fight is prom­ ised by 1 O.tbxc6 bxc6 and now: A) 11.kgS! ? .l:[b8 12.�c4 'ifd6 I 2 . . .h 6 ! ? I 3 . .ie3 ( I 3 . �xh6 dxc4 I 4 . 'ifxd8 �xh 6 + I S . Wb i l:txd8 I 6 Jhd8 + Wg 7 =) I 3 . . . 'iVe 7 I 4.�b3 dxe4 I S . l:the I with a double-edged po­ sition. 13.�b3 �a6 More natural is I 3 . . . .ie6 I 4.l:the I 'iYb4 with mutual chances. 14.exdS cS A risky idea.

.•

9.

...

This equalises.

d 7-d5

Analysis d i agram

1S.'iff4? White can obtain a serious advantage by I S .�f4 ! . A I ) Neither I S . . . 'iff8 I 6 .�xc 7 c4 I 7 . .ixb8 ( I 7 . .ia4 also keeps the ad­ vantage) I 7 . . .lhb8 ( I 7 . . . cxb3 I 8 . .ig3 , and Black has nothing) I 8 . :the I cxb3 I 9 . axb3 �h6 2 0 . f4 with the better po­ sition for White; A 2 ) Nor I S . . . 'iVd8 I 6 . lihe i c4 I 7 .�a4±; A 3 ) Nor I S . . . 'iVb6 I 6 . tLla4 'iVb4 ( I 6 ... 'iVb5 I 7 .c4±) I 7 .'ifxb4 .l:.xb4 I 8 .�d2 ± , helps. 1S...l:teS Now Black takes over the ini­ tiative. 16.h4 The problems are not solved by I 6 .�xf6 �xf6 I 7 .tLle4 l:!.xe4 I 8 .'iVxd6 cxd6 I 9 .fxe4 c4 2 0 .�a4 l:txb2 + . 1 6 l:tb4 17.'iVd2 c 4 18.a3 l:!.b8 19.�a2 tLlxdS -+ 20.tt:la4 'iVc6 21..l:.he1 'ilixa4 22 . .l:.xeS .ixeS • • .

1 0.

48

e4xd5

Chapter

23.�xd5 �xb2+ 24 .'\i;>d2 'ii'x a3 2S.'lt>el 'ifxa2 0-1 , Ganor-Berkovich, Israel tt 2 0 1 0 ; B ) l l .�h6 �e6 12. .txg7 'lt>xg7= 13.g4?! dxe4 14.'ii'e3 'ii'e7 IS.gS tt:ldS 16.'ii'd4+ 'lt>g8 17.tt:lxe4 �fS 18.tt:lf6+ tt:lxf6 19.gxf6 �e3+ 20.'ihe3 l:.xe3 21.�d3 l:.xf3 =F 22.�xf5 l:.xfS 23.l:.hfl l:.xfl 24.l:.xfl h6 25. .1:.£4 aS 26.l:.a4 lla6?! 2 6 . . . c5 2 7 .l:.c4 l:.a6 2 8 . l:.xc5 g 5 = . 27.b4 l:.b6 28.bxa5 l:.a6 29.h4 'lt>f8 30.'lt>d2 'lt>e8 3I.l:.e4+ 'lt>d7 32.l:.e7+ 'lt>d6 33.l:.xf7 'lt>e6 34.llxc7 'lt>xf6 35.'lt>c3 gS 36.hxg5+ hxgS 37.'lt>b4 g4 38.l:.c8 'lt>es 39.l:.e8+ 'lt>f4 40.1:.£'8+ 'lt>e3 41.lle8+ 'lt>f2 42.llf8+ draw, S. Soloviev-Olenin, Smolensk tt- 2 200 5 .

• N o advantage comes from IO.�bS ..td7 l l.exdS

1

-

T h e T h r e e Kn i g h t s ' O p e n i n g

Ana lysis d i agram

16..ixf6 1 6 .tt:lxe8 tt:ld5 ! ! with the idea after 1 7 .tt:lxg 7 (the least of the evils is 1 7 .'ifd3 �h6 + 1 8 .1d.d2 llxe8=F) to mate by 1 7 . . . 'iVa 1 + 1 8 . 'lt>c2 tt:lb4+ 1 9 . 'lt>b3 'i¥ a 2 + 2 0 . 'lt>xb4 llc4+ 2 I .'lt>b5 'i¥a4# . 16... llxc7 17.�xg7 l:.ce7! 18.b3 1 8 . ..tf6 lle2 1 9 .'i¥xe2 'ii' a l + -+ . IS... 'ii'al + 19.'lt>c2 'ii'a 6 20.l:.al 'ii'bs =F (analysis) .

Back to the game. 1 0. 11. 1 2.

... tt:ld4xc6 .ie3-d4

tt:lf6xd5 b7xc6

1 2.

...

.ic8-e6?1

Ana lysis d i agram

l l ...tt:lxd4 l l . . . tt:le5 1 2.. �e2 ! ;i; Nunn (± the author) . 12.�xd4 �xbS 13.tt:lxb5 'ii'xdS! 14.tt:lxc7 'ii'xa2 15.c3 l:.ac8! This is even stronger than 1 5 . . . l:.ec8 ! 1 6 . .txf6 ( 1 6 .tt:lxa8 ? tt:ld5 ! ) 1 6 . . . l:.xc 7 1 7 .�xg 7 'lt>xg 7 1 8 .'ii' d 4+ 'lt>g8 1 9 . l:.he l l:.ac8 2 0 .'ii' f6 'iVa i + 2 1 .'lt>c2 'ifa4+ 2 2 .'lt>b l l:.d7 2 3 . l:.xd7 'ifxd7 24. lle4 'ifd3 + with a draw, Malakhov - E . Geller, St Petersburg 1 9 94. -

Equalising is 1 2 . . . .ixd4 1 3 . 'i¥xd4 'if g 5 + 1 4. 'lt>b 1 'i¥e3 1 5 .'ifxe3 tt:lxe3 . 1 3. 1 4.

..td4xg 7 tt:lc3-e4

'lt> g8xg7 f7-f5?1 49

T h e F o u r Kn i g h t s G a m e

H e should not weaken himself without necessity. After 1 4 . . . �f5 Black has no particular problems. 1 5. 1 6.

1 6.

tt::l e 4-c5 .tf1 -c4

...

�e6-f7

The analysis of the previous game leads the author to the conclusion that after 7 .'iYd2 0 - 0 8 . 0 - 0 - 0 �e8 ! White has no real advantage. This forces him to seek chances in another direction. 7. 8.

... e4-e5

b7xc6

8.

...

tt::lf6-d5

tt::l d 5-e3

1 6 . . .'ifh4= . 1 7.'ifd2-c3+ 'ifd8-f6 1 8.'i\Yc3xf6+ 'ito>g7xf6 1 9.�c4xf7 'ito>f6xf7 20.�d 1 -d7+± 'ito>f7-g8 21 .�d7xc7 tt::l e3xg2 22.�h1 -d1 �e8-e1 23.�c7xc6 �a8-d8 24.tt::l c5-d3 25.f3-f4 �e3-e2 �e1 -e3 27.b4-b5 26.b2-b4 �d8-d7 'ito>g8-g7 28.a2-a4 'iti>g7-h6 29.a4-a5 �d7-d4 30.b5-b6 a7xb6 31 .a5xb6 tt::l g 2xf4 32.b6-b7 1 -0 tt::lf4xd3+ 33.�d 1 xd3

Geller's idea. Theory considers the move 8... tt::l g8 to be more solid. After that move, White has tried the follow­ ing possibilities : A) 9.f4 Considered the strongest. We will consider Black's possible options. A I ) 9... f6 and now:

Game No 1 3 [C46] Kim,Alexey Isakov,Andrey Voronezh 2 0 0 5 ( 6)

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. so

e2-e4 tt::l g 1 -f3 tt::l b 1 -c3 d2-d4 tt::lf 3xd4 �c1 -e3 tt::l d 4xc6 1?

e7-e5 tt::l b8-c6 g 7-g6 e5xd4 �f8-g7 tt::l g 8-f6

Analysi s d i agram

A 1 1 ) Interesting is 1 O.�c4 ! ? fxe5 1 1.0-0 ! ? In principle, it is also not bad to play l l .�xg8 .l::I x g8 1 2 . 0 - 0 .ta6 1 3 .�e 1 'ito>f7 and here instead of 1 4 .'i!Yf3 ? ! in Ponos-Franic, Zagreb

Chapter 1

1 9 9 7 , White should play simply 1 4 . fxe 5 .l:!. e 8 ( 1 4 . . . �xe 5 1 5 . �d4 �xd4+ 1 6 .'ir'xd4 with the initiative to White) 1 5 .�d4 �g8 1 6 .'ti'f3 when Black does not have sufficient compen­ sation for the pawn. 11. e4 White 's idea is based on the fact that the natural 1 1 . . . ds loses . . . ••

-

T h e T h r e e Kn i g h t s ' O p en i n g

A l l) N o serious problems are posed by 10.exf6 'iVxf6 ( 1 O . . . tt:lxf6=) 11.i.e2 ( 1 I .'ti'f3 tLl e 7 1 2 . 0 - 0 - 0 ;!; ) 11... tLle7 12.0-0 0-0 13.i.f3 d6 with roughly equal play, Lehtimaki-Rantanen, Fin­ land 2 0 0 8 ; A 1 3 ) 1 O.'ii'd2 f:xeS 11.fxeS Probably even stronger is 1 1 . 0 - 0 - 0 dS 1 2 .fxe5 tt:le7 ( 1 2 . . . �xe5 1 3 .l:f.e 1 ±) 1 3 .tLle4 �xeS 1 4.�d4 dxe4 1 S .i.xe5 'iVxd2 + 1 6 . .l:!.xd2 ;!; . 11...i.xeS The line 1 1 . . .'tWh4+ 1 2 . g 3 'it'b4 1 3 .a3 'i!Yxb2 14 . .l:!.a2 'tWb 7 1 5 .�c4 �xeS 1 6 . 0 - 0 dS is no improvement for Black:

An alysis d i agram

. . . on account of 1 2 . tLlxdS ! cxdS 1 3 .�xd5 �fs 1 4.�c6+ �f8 ( 1 4 . . . �d7 1 S .'i¥f3 +- ) 1 S .�cS + tLle7 ( 1 S . . . �f7 1 6 .'i!Yd5 + +- ) 1 6 .g4 'ifxd 1 1 7 . .l:!.axd 1 , and White wins back the sacrificed ma­ terial , with a decisive advantage. 12.tt:Jxe4 dS

Analysi s d i agram

13.5! Also good is 1 3 .�d4. 13...� 1 3 . . . dxc4 1 4.'iVxd8+ �xd8 1 S . .l:!.ad l + �e8 ( 1 5 . . . .td7 1 6 . fxg6 �e8 1 7 . .l:!.f7 +-) 1 6.f6 , gaining back the piece, with advantage. 14 .l:!.ill dxc4 1S. .l:!.cs± with the advantage to White. •

An alysi s d i agram

1 7 .tLlxdS ? ! (White can obtain a large advantage with the striking 1 7 . .l:!.aa 1 ! ± dxc4 1 8 . .l:.ab 1 ( 1 8 . .l:!.ae 1 +- ) 1 8 . . . 'i!Ya6 1 9 .�cS +-) 1 7 . . . cxd S 1 8 .�xdS (White gets nothing special from 1 8 . 'i!Yxd5 'iVxd S 1 9 .1txd5 .l:!.b8 2 0 . �xa 7 tt:l e 7 ! ) 1 8 . . . c 6 1 9 . �d4 .txd4+ 2 0 . 'ti'xd4 cxdS 2 1 . .l:!.e 1 + ? (better is the immediate 2 1 .'ti'xh8 with an unclear position) 2 1 . . . �f8 (2 1 . . . �f7 2 2 .'ti'xh8 'iVb6+ 2 3 .�g2 tLlf6-+) 2 2 .'ti'xh8 'ti'g7 (22 . . . 'ti'b6+ 2 3 . � g 2 �fs + ) 23 . .l:!. e 8 + �f7 24.'ti'xg 7 + �xg 7 2 5 . .l:!.b2 �f7 2 6 . .l:!.d8 tt:le7 ( 2 6 . . . tt:lf6=F) 2 7 .c3 aS 28 . .l:!.f2+ �e6 ( 2 8 . . . �g7 2 9 . .l:!.e2 .l:!.a7 30 . .l:!.xe 7 + .l:!.xe7 3 1 ..l:!.xc8 .l:!.e l + 3 2 .�f2 l:f.a 1 =) 51

The Four Knights Game

l 9 J:te l + �£7 3 0 .l:i.f2 + �e6 3 1 .l:i.el+ �f7 3 l . l:i.fl + draw, Podlesnik­ Gombach, Ljubljana 10 0 0 . 12.0-0-0 d6 13.l:i.e1 lLlf6 14.�g5 �e7 15. ..ic4 ..ie6 16.ltJe4 tbxe4 17.l:i.xe4 'iVd7 18.�f6 l:i.fS 1 9.kxe5 dxeS 20.'iVxd7+ ( l O . �e l ± ) 20 ... �xd7 21.l:i.d1+ �dS 22.�xd5 cxdS 23.l:i.xd5+ �c6 24.l:i.dxe5± Shabanov­

Vorotnikov, USSR I 9 7 7 . Al) 9../1Je7 and now :

16..tc4

There was already a tactical solution : 1 6 .c3 cS 1 7 .cxd4 tbxd4 ( 1 7 . . . cxd4 1 8 . l:!.fc l ±) 1 8 . .1xd4 cxd4 1 9 .�xd4 .l:i.d8 l O .'iYc3 ± . 1 6...c 5 1 7.a4 More accurate i s 1 7 .'i¥d3 ± 17.....ib7 18.'ifd3 ..th6? In the event of 1 8 . . . �xe4 ! ? 1 9 .'ifxe4 ltJd6 l O .�d3 tbxc4 l l .�xc4 l:i.fb8 2 2 .b3 l:i.b4 White still has to demonstrate that he has a real advantage. 19.tLlf6+ �h8 .

20.�h3+- �g7 21.g4 l:i.h8 22.gxf5 gxfS 23...th4 1 -0 , Pavasovic-Gombach,

Bled l O O l . A 2 2 ) 10.'ifd2 dS 11.exd6?! More was promised by 1 1 . 0 - 0 - 0 0 - 0 I L�el ;!; , or l l . .tcs l::te 8 1 3 . .tel lLlfS 1 4.g4 tbh4 1 5 .tLle4 �e6 1 6 . tt'lg5 with some prospects of a positional advan­ tage. 11...cxd6 12.0-0-0 0-0 13.�d4 1 3 . .tel tLlfS is also roughly equal, Hennigan-Rayner, Wrexham 1 9 9 4 .

Analysis diagram

13...�xd4 14.'iVxd4 tLlfS 15.�d2 dS

Al l ) Practice has seen 1 O ..ic4 dS ( I O . . . ltJfS I L�.f2 dS is a simple trans­ position) 11.�b3 ttJfs 12..!tf2 0-0 13.0-0 d4?! It was better to wait: 1 3 . . . l:i.e8 1 4.�f3 aS I S .l:i.fd l , when White stands a little better, but no more than that. Also interesting, although somewhat committal , is 1 3 . . . g S . •

with approximately equal chances , Maciej a-Bartel, rapid game, Warsaw 10 0 5 . A 3 ) 9 d6 10.'iYf3 tbe7 11.0-0-0 0-0 ••.

14.ltJe4± 'ii'e7 15.'ifd2 a5

Analysis diagram

Analysis diagram

52

The pressure on the d-file gives White some initiative, but the position is very complicated: A3 1 ) 12..tc5?! Too direct. 12...tLld5 13.tLlxd5 cxdS 14.exd6

Chapter 1

Analysis diagram

14...c6? The natural 1 4 . . J:tb8 gives suffi­

cient counterchances: 1 S .�d4 ( 1 S .b3 c6 - only now! Black has good counterplay for the pawn) 1 S . . . �xd4 1 6 .l::r xd4 'tWxd6 1 7 .'i:YxdS 'ir'b6=. 15.'iVa3 Now the black queen will never get to aS . White has a large advantage: 15...l:i.b8 16.c3 �g4 17J:td2

'ti'f6

18.g3

l:i.fd8

19.�g2

1 9 . .td3 ± . 19...�5 1 9 . . . �f8 2 0 .h3 �fs 2 1 .g4 �c8 2 2 .'ifxa7 bd6 2 3 .�d4 'ifh4 ( 2 3 . . . 'ifxf4 24 .l:i.fl ±) gives Black more hope. 20.l:i.e2 ..id3 21.l:i.e5 l:i.e8 n.l:i.hel l:i.xe5 23.l:i.xe5 'itd8 24.l:i.e3 ..i5 25.'it'xa7 l:i.a8 26.'it'c7 'tW£\1 27.a3 l:i.c8 28.'ii'e7 ..ie6 29.l:i.xe6 1 -0 , Janes­

Castaldo, Italy 2004; A3 2) It made sense to complete devel­ opment first: 12.�c4 .te6 1 2 . . .d5 1 3 .g4: A 3 2 1 ) 1 3 . . . ..td7 1 4 . ..ta6 f6 ( 1 4 . . . ..ic8 1 s . ..txc8 tLlxc8 1 6 . h4±) 1 S .exf6 .txf6 1 6 .tLla4±; A3 2 2 ) Or 1 3 .. .f6

-

The Three Knights ' Opening

1 4 . tLlxdS cxd S 1 S . l:i.xd5 tLlxdS 1 6 .'ti'xd5 + 'tWxdS 1 7 . -txd S + �e6 1 8 . ..txe6+ Wh8 1 9 .�c5 with a clear advantage to White. 13.�xe6 fxe6 14.'tWh3 'ifd7 1 4 . . . tLlfs 1 S . ..tf2 followed by l:i.he 1 and g2 -g4 promises White the better game. IS.l:i.hel Also good is 1 S .tLle4. Black's position is very cramped and it is diffi­ cult for him to find a useful move, for example : 1 S . . . tLldS 1 6 . l:i.he 1 tLlxe3 1 7 . 'tWxe3 dS 1 8 .tLlcS 'iff? 1 9 . g 3 ± . 15 ... l:i.ae8 16.Wb1 Black has no counterplay, and in particular, he cannot play 1 6 . . . tLldS because of 1 7 .tLlxdS cxdS 1 8 . .l:!.xdS with a clear advantage to White. A4) An alternative which has not been tried in practice, but is not with­ out some sense, is the move 9...tLlh6, after which it is logical for White to look to queenside castling after : 10.'itf3 Or 1 0 . 'i!fd2 0 - 0 1 1 . 0 -0 - 0 d6 1 2..t e 2 .te6 1 3 . ..tf3 'ti'd7 1 4.h4 ttJfs 1 5 .�f2 after which White 's position is preferable. 10...0-0 11.0-0-0 d5 12.h3 f6 13...tc5 fxeS The exchange sacrifice is a necessary step. Not playable is 1 3 . . . .l:!.e8

Analysis diagram

Analysis diagram

1 4.tLlxdS cxdS 1 S .l:i.xd5 +-; nor is 1 3 . . . l:i.f7 on account of the following sacrifice : 53

The Four Knights Game

10.'it'e2 f6 11.exf6 tt:Jxf6

Analysis diagram

1 4.�b5 ! cxbS 1 S . ti:Jxd5 +-. The other version of the sacrifice is less good: 1 3 . . . �e6 1 4.�xf8 'ifxf8 1 5 .exf6 'ifxf6 1 6 .g4 tt:Jf7 1 7 .�g2 ti:Jd6 1 8 . .l::rh e 1 .l::rb 8 1 9 .'it'g3 �f7 2 0 . .l:[ d 3 and Black's com­ pensation is inadequate. 14.�xf8 �xf8 lS.fxeS+ ti:Jfl 16. .l::rel 'it'gS+ 17.�bl �xeS 18.�d3 �g8 19.ti:Ja4± (analysis) All of this needs

practical tests. B) 9.�d4!? 'ife7 Maybe more prospects of equality are offered by 9 . . . f6 1 O . exf6 tt:Jxf6 1 1 .'ife 2 + �f7 1 2 . 0-0- 0 dS 1 3 .'it'd2 l:f.e8 1 4.�d3 �g8 1 5 .f3 . White's posi­ tion is preferable. On 9 . . . ti:Je7 the simplest of all is 1 0 .e6 0-0 1 1.. �xg 7 �xg 7 1 2 .'ifd4+ f6 1 3 . exd 7 'ifxd 7 1 4 . 'ifxd 7 �xd 7 1 5 .�c4 .l:[ae8 1 6 . 0- 0 - 0 with a comfort­ able plus in the ending.

In the game Solozhenkin-Rantanen, Finland tt 2 0 0 5 / 0 6 , there followed 1 1 . . .'ili'xe2 + 1 Lixe2 tt:Jxf6 1 3 .�f3 0 - 0 1 4. 0-0-0 aS 1 S . .l:[he 1 .l:[b8 White has emerged from the opening with a small advantage. 1 6 .�a 7 ! ? (after, for example, 1 6 .ti:Ja4 Black's game is quite unpleasant, but White is seduced by the possibility of a beautiful tactical blow) 1 6 . . Jib 7 1 7 . ..ics .l:[f7 1 8 . �xc 6 ! ? White's last move evidently made such an impression on his opponent that the latter collapsed at once. In fact, after the intermediate check 1 8 . . . �h6 + 1 9 .�b 1 dxc6 2 0 . .l:[d8 + �g7 2 1 .�d4! (weaker is 2 l . .l:[xc8 .id2 2 2 . .l:[ e 3 �xe 3 2 3 .�xe3 .l:[b4, and Black is even slightly better) 2 l . . .�f5 2 2 .g4 cS 2 3 .�xf6 + �xf6 24.gxf5 �xfS Black retains quite good drawing chances. 12.0-0-0! 'ifxe2 1 2 . . . d5 . 13.�xe2 �f714.l:.hel d6 1S ..tf3

By weakening the dark squares in the enemy camp with 1 5 . �c4+ d S 1 6 .�b3 , White could count o n a small but lasting advantage. 1S ...�d7 16.tLle4 A minimal advantage could be retained by 1 6 .h3 . 16 .l:i.he8 17.b3 aS 18.tt:Jxf6 �xf6 19.l:.xe8 :xeS 20.�b2 ..•

He should prefer 2 0 . ..ixf6 �xf6 2 1 . .l:[d4 .l:[e l + 2 2 . �d2 .l:[fl 2 3 . �e3 :e 1 + 2 4 . ..ie2 with a symbolic advan­ tage to White. 20...cS 21.�dS+ �g7 22.i.xf6+ �xf6 23.l:.d3 2 3 .�f3 = . 23 .tg4 24.h3 �e2 2S.l:.c3 gS 26.�a3 .l:i.eS 27.�c6 .l:[£5 28.£'3 �fl 29.g4 l:.f4 30J:te3 i.xh3 31.�e4 3 1 .c4 ..ig2 3 2 . ..idS = . 31...�g2 32.�a4 dS -+ and 0 - 1 (42) , •..

Analysis diagram

54

Marciano-V. Popov, St Petersburg-Paris 1 99 6 . C ) 9.�c4 �xeS

Chapter 1

Refusing the sacrifice by 9 . . . tb e 7 1 O . kf4 0 - 0 1 1 . 0 - 0 removes the break . . . f7 -f6 from the agenda and leaves White with an advantage, free of charge. 10.0-0

-

The Three Knights ' Opening

1 7 . .txa7 l:.b5 1 8 . 'ifd3 ;!;) with a strong initiative for White. 13.�xa8 'ifxa8 14.�d4 'ti'd5 15.�xe5 'ifxe5 16 � J el 'ti'f6 17.c3 Cjje7 18.'ti'a4+ c6 19.'ti'xa7 0-0 20.a4 and White has the advantage. D) Interesting is 9.'ti'e2!? tt:l e 7 1 o ..tcs d 6 1 l . exd6 cxd6 1 2. 0- 0 - 0 d5

1 3 .h4 h5 1 4. r.t>b 1 �xc3 1 5 . bxc3 �e6 1 6 .'ti'e5 'ti'b8 + 1 7 . 'ti'xb 8 + .l:i.xb 8 + 1 8 . r.t>a 1 a S 1 9 . �a 7 ;!; . The existence o f several extremely promising possibilities for White at move 9 leads one to feel that all is not well in Black's kingdom. Back to the game. Analysis diagram

The following moves do not promise Black anything good: i) 1 O . . .tt:le7 1 1 . �d4 kxd4 1 2. 'ifxd4 0 - 0 1 3 . tLl e 4 tt:l fs 1 4 . 'it' c 3 tt:l g 7 1 5 .tt:lf6 + r.t>h8 1 6 . l:.fe 1 d 5 1 7 . .l:i.ad 1 ke6 1 8 .g4 with the idea of .l:i.d 1 -d3 -h3 , and White's initiative starts to grow to serious proportions; ii) 1 O . . . r.t>f8 1 1 . f4 �f6 1 2.tLle4 d6 1 3 . 'iff3 �f5 (Black is not offered an easy life by 1 3 . . . �xb2 1 4 . .l:r.ab 1 �g 7 1 5 . f5 ) 1 4.tt:lxf6 tt:lxf6 1 5 . .td4 and White has strong pressure for the pawn. So, 1 O d5, and now instead of 1 1 . �d4?! �xd4 1 2 . 'ifxd4 tt:lf6 1 3 . .l:i.fe 1 + �e6 with a good position for Black, Barglowski-Szymczak , Polanica Zdroj 20 0 1 , White should have venture d : 11.tLlxd5! cxd5 12.�xd5 �e6 . The only sensible de­ fence. Not 1 2. . . .1:i.b8 1 3 . �xf7 + r.t>e 7 1 4 . �c 5 + .td6 1 5 . .tb3 ! tt:lf6 ( 1 5 . . . �xc5 1 6 . .1:i.e l + �e6 1 7 . .l:i.xe6+ r.tf8 1 8 .'ti'f3 + r.tg 7 1 9 . .1:i.d 1 .td6 20 .c4 - White's attack is irresistible) 1 6 . 'ifd2 ! (also good is the prosaic 1 6 . .!:i.e 1 + r.t>f8 •••

9. 1 0. 11.

tt:lc3xd5 'ifd 1 xd5 �f1 -c41?

c6xd5 .l:i.a8-b8

The inventor of the pawn sacrifice, Geller, did not manage to hold the infe­ rior endgame against Campara (Berne 1 9 8 8) : 11.�xa7 .l:i.xb2 1 2. �d4 l:.b8 1 3 . �c4 0 - 0 1 4. 0 - 0 �b7 1 5 .'ti'a5 'ti'gs 1 6 .f3 d6 1 7 . .1:i.f2 c5 1 8 . f4 'ifh4 1 9 . kc3 dxe5 20 . 'ifc 7 'ti'd8 2 1 . 'ifxd8 .l:i.bxd8 22 . fxe 5 . The passed a-pawn gives White a significant advantage. Also worthy of attention is 11.0-0-0 0-0 1 2.. � xa 7 ;!; . 11. 1 2.

0-0

0-0 kc8-b7 55

The Four Knights Game

Black does not equalise after 1 2 . . . d6 1 3. exd6 i.e6 1 4. 'ifc6 'ifxd6 ( 1 4 . . . cxd6 IS. i.xe6 fxe 6 1 6 . .l:tad l .l:txb2 1 7 . a4±) IS. 'ifxd6 cxd6 1 6 . .tb3;!;. 1 3.

'ifd5-c5?1

An inaccuracy, giving away a large part of the advantage. More accurate is 1 3. 'ifd4 d6 1 4.f4 with a healthy extra pawn. Starting with this move, White's play loses its logical thread. However, from a theoretical point of view, the important thing for us is that White obtained a clear advantage in the opening. 1 3. 1 4. 1 5.

e5xd6 'ifc5xa7

d 7-d6 c7xd6

1 5.

...

'ifd8-c81

Not only attacking the bishop, but also threatening 1 6 . . . �xg2 with perpetual check. 1 6. 1 7. 1 8.

�c4-e2 .l:tf1 -e1 .l:ta1 - d 1

'ifc8xc2 i..g 7xb2 'ifc2-c8

1 8 . . JHe8 = equalises without any par­ ticular problems. 1 9. 20.

�e3-h6 'ifa7-b6??

.l:tf8-e8

Strange things start happening. 20 .

...

.tb2-g7?

Both 20 . . . �xg2 2 1 .'iYxd6 �c6 2 2 . 'ifg3 'ife6 , and 2 0 . . . �c3 lead to an advantage for Black. 21 . 22.

�h6xg 7 .l:td 1 -c1

Wg8xg 7

This is probably a mistake in the game score, since this move simply loses in one move to 22 . . . .l:txe 2 . The move 2 2 . 'ifxd6 retains winning chances. The game score ends with 1-0.

56

Chapter 2

The Four Knights Black avoids the main line on move 4

In this chapter, we will look at Black's ways of avoiding the main line at move 4 af­ ter l .e4 eS 2 .tt::l f3 tt::l c 6 3 .tt::l c 3 tt::l f6 4.�b5 . The reputation of the variations ana­ lysed here varies from the dubious ( 4 . . . a6? - see Game 1 6) to the more or less play­ able ( 4 . . . �cS - see Game 1 4- 1 5 ; incidentally, this move was played successfully by the great Morphy ! ) to the perfectly solid ( 4 . . . �d6 ! ? - Games 1 7 - 1 9) . It is interest­ ing that the theory of the last move has only been formed in the last 1 5 - 2 0 years; one only has to recall that in John Nunn's book New Ideas in the Four Knights ( 1 9 9 3 ) this line was not mentioned at all. This i s no surprise - to respectable masters o f the last century, it looked rather strange to place one's bishop in front of one's pawns in this way. But ' tiempi cambi' , as they say!

2.1 A Nice History: 4...�c 5 The variation l .e4 eS 2 .tt::l f3 tt::l c 6 3 .tt::l c 3 tt::l f6 4 . .tbs .tcs has a nice his­ tory. Who does not remember the won­ derful game Paulsen-Morphy?

5. 6. 7.

0-0 tt::lf3xe5 tt::le 5xc6?!

0-0 l:lf8-e81?

One inaccuracy and Black takes the ini­ tiative. According to theory, White re­ tains a small advantage only with

Game No 1 4 [C48]

7.tt::lf3! tt:lxe4 8.d4 tt::lxc3 9.bxc3 �b6

Paulsen, Louis Morphy,Paul Charles New York 1 85 7 (6)

(9 . . �f8 I O .dS tt::l e S !I . tt::l x eS .l:!.xeS 1 2 .�f4;;!;) 10.dS tt::le7 11.d6;;!;. The fact that Morphy's remarkable idea has not lost its relevance is confirmed by contemporary theory. Here is a comparatively rare exampl e : 7.tt::l f3 tt:lxe4 8.tt:lxe4l:lxe4 9.d3!? l::te8 1 O.d4 ;;!; The modern treatment of the variation in action. White strives for a position in which his opponent has the minimum counterplay. 1 o ... .ifs 11.dS tt::le s 12.tt::lxeS l:lxeS 13.�f4 Worthy of con­ sideration is 1 3 . 'tl!ff3 with a small, but stable plus. 13...l:l£5 14..tg3 1 4.�e3 ;;!; .

1. 2. 3. 4.

e2-e4 tt::lg 1 -f3 tt::lb 1 -c3 �f1 -b5

.

e7-e5 tt::lb8-c6 tt::lg 8-f6 �f8-c5

14...c6 1S .tc4 bS 16 .tb3 .tb7 17.c4 •

•

Also not bad is I 7 .c3 with the idea after 1 7 . . . cxdS to reply 1 8 .�c2 with the advantage. 57

The Four Knights Game

17...bxc4 1S.�xc4 'ti'b6 19.'ti'd3 g6= 20.d6!? �g7 Equalizing is 2 0 . . . a5 fol­

lowed by . . . i.a6 . 21.l:rae1 kd4

More solid is 2 1 . . . .tf6 = . 22.b4!? 2 2 .l:!.e7 ! ± . 22...c5 23.b5 a6 24.a4 axb5 25.axb5;!; trf8 26.l:re7 'ti'dS 27.'ti'a3 'ti'cs 2S.'ti'a2± 'it>g7 29.l:rfel h5 30.h4 �aS 31.'ti'a7 �b7 32 . ..td3+- .t:r.f6 33.�e4 i.xe4 34.l:rlxe4 'tWaS 35.'ti'xaS l:rxaS 36.l:rxd7 l:ral+ 37.Wh2 l:rf5 3S.l:re2 c4 3 9.b6 l:rb5 40.b7 Wf6 41Jic7 l:rbbl 42..tf4 trhl+ 43.Wg3 l:ra3 + 44.l:re3 i.xe3 45.fxe3 1 - 0 ,

Lima-Shabalov, Boca Raton 2 0 0 8 . 7. 8.

... .ib5-c4

d 7xc6 b7-b5

1 3 .g3 'i!Vh3 1 4.f4 i.d7 1 S .i.f3 l:re7 'only' brings White a bad position) 1 2 .. .'iVh3 1 3 . .tf3 l:rh4 1 4. gxh4 .td6 mating. 11. 1 2.

... c2-c3?

tre4-e6

Better was 1 2 .d3 'ti'f6 1 3 .c3 .l:re8 1 4.d4 i.d6 with roughly equal chances. 1 2. 1 3.

... b2-b4

'i!Vd8-d3

More stubborn is 1 3 . .l:re 1 .l:rxe 1 + 1 4.'i!Vxe 1 .td7 1 S .'ti'fl 'ti'c2 1 6 .d4 .td6 with slightly better chances for Black. 1 3. 1 4. 1 5.

... a2-a4 'ti'd 1 xa4

i.c5-b6 b5xa4 i.c8-d7

Stronger is 1 S . . . .ib 7 . 1 6.

.l:ra 1 -a2?

The only defence was 1 6 .'iYa6 .

9.

1 6. 1 7.

... 'ifa4-a6

.l:ra8-e8

1 7. 1 8. 1 9. 20.

... g2xf3 �g 1 -h 1 .l:rf1 - d 1

'iVd3xf31 .l:re6-g6+ i.d7-h3

.tc4-e2

Bad is 9 .i.b3 ? .ig4 1 0 .'ife 1 b4+ . 9. 1 0.

... lbc3xe4

lbf6xe4

Immediately losing is 1 0 .i.f3 ? lbx£'2 1 1 . l:rxf2 'i!Vd4 1 2 .lbe4 ( 1 2 .'iVfl 'i!Vx£'2+ 1 3 .'ti'xf2 l:re 1 + #) 1 2 . . . l:rxe4 1 3 .�xe4 'ifxf2 + 1 4.Wh 1 i.g4 1 S . .tf3 l:re8 -+ . 1 0. 11.

... i.e2-f3

tre8xe4

More solid was 1 1 .d3 l:re6 1 2 .i.f4. However, the ambitious 1 1 .c3 ends badly : 1 1 . . .'i!Vh4 1 2 . g 3 ? ( 1 2 .d4 .td6 58

He cannot save himself by 2 0 .'ti'd3 fS ! 2 1 .'iVc4+ Wf8 2 2 .'ti'f4 .tx£'2-+ ;

Chapter

Whilst a quick mate follows after 20 . .l::!.g i .l::!. xg l + 2 l . W xg i .l::!.e l + 2 2 .'ti'fl .l::!.xfl #. 20. 21 . 22.

'it> h 1 - g 1 'it>g1 -f1

.th3-g2+ ilg2xf3+ .tf3-g2+

He could mate more rapidly with 2 2 . . . .l::!.g 2 ! 2 3 .'ti'd3 .l::!.xf2 + 2 4 . Wg i .l::!.g 2 + 2 S . 'it>h i .l::!.g i #. 23.

'it>f1 -g1

ilg 2-h3+

And here the game could have been ended at once by 2 3 . . . .te4+ 24.Wfl �fS ! 2 S .'ife2 �h3 + 2 6 . We i .l::!.g i #. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28.

'it>g 1 -h 1 't/Va6-f1 .l::!.d 1 xf1 ld.a2-a1 d2-d4

�b6xf2 �h3xf1 ld.e8-e2 .l::!.g 6-h6 ilf2-e3

2 -

The Four Knights

( in the spir it of Paulsen­ Morphy!) has also been played: 6.tt::ld3 It was also possible to take the pawn: 6 .�xc6 dxc6 7 .tt::l f3 tt::l xe4. There is nothing better. 8 .tt::l xe4 .l::!.e 8 ( 8 . . . 'ti'e7 9 .'ife2 .l::!.e 8 I O .d3 fS I l .tLlc3 'ifd8 1 2 .tLleS ±) 9 .d3 fs I 0 . 0 - 0 fxe4 I l .dxe4 with the better prospects for White. 6...�d4 7.0-0 �xc3 Interesting is 7 . . . dS ! ? 8 .exdS ( 8 .tt::l xdS tt::l xdS 9 . e xdS 'ifxdS with compens ation for the pawn) 8 . . . �g4 9 .'iYe i .l::!.e 8 . 8.dxc3

S ...0-0

tt:lxe4 9.tt:lf4 d6 lO. .l::!.el tt:Jcs ll.�e3 tt:le6 12.'ifhs tt:lxf4 13.�xf4 The two

bishops and better development give White some advantage, Jonkman-Ash­ ton, Port Erin 2 0 0 3 . 6. 7.

d2-d4 f2-f4

..tc5-d6

7.

...

tt:Je5-c6

0-1

It is amazing how, even in our times, when theory has been worked out in the smallest details, this game by the American genius still creates a strong impression. In addition, nobody in the past I S O years has come up with a better way of fighting for an opening advantage than combin ation e xchang ing the 6 .tt::l f3 xeS ! (or S .tLlf3 xeS ! ? - see Game I S below) , invented by Paulsen. Game No I S [C4 8 J Naer,Evgeny Landa,Konstantin Novokuznetsk 2 0 0 8 (3)

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

e2-e4 tt:Jg1 -f3 tt:Jb1 -c3 �f1 -b5 tt::lf3xe5!

e7-e5 tt::lb8-c6 tt:Jg8-f6 .if8-c5 tt:Jc6xe5

Best. If 7 tt::lg6 8.eS c6, Janowski­ Lasker, Cambridge Springs I 9 0 S , the piece sacrifice is interesting: 9.exd6!? 9 . ..td3 .tc7 I O .exf6 'ifxf6 I l .'ti'e2+ tt:le7 1 2 . 0 - 0 0 - 0 I 3 . ..te3 dS I 4.g4 9...cxbS Probably Black does better to refuse the sacrifice by 9 . . . 0 - 0 , but in this case, White has the better chances : I o .�e2 tt::l h4 I I . 0 - 0 tt:Jfs I 2 .'i!Yd3 tt::l xd6 1 3 .fS ;l; 10.'ife2+ 'it>f8 ll.fS tt:lh4 12.0-0. White has enormous compen­ sation for the piece. .•.

59

The Four Knights Game

Black is worse after 7...�b4 8 . fxe5 tbxe4 9 .'Yi'f3 tb xc3 I 0 . 0- 0 0-0 1 1 .bxc3 Jie 7 1 2...t c 4 'Yi'e8 , I. Almasi-S. Farago, Budapest 1 9 9 1 , 1 3 .'iVe4± . 8.

e4-e5

�d6-b4

Black obtained a bad position in the fol­ lowing g ame: 8 ... �e7 9.d5 lbb4 1O.exf6 .ixf6 ll.a3 �xc3+ 12.bxc3 tt::la6 13 .0-0 0-0 14.f5 1 4 . �e 3 i . 14.. .'iVf6 15.�e3 d6 16.Vi'g4 tt:Jcs 17.�d4± 'ifh6 18JH'3 a6 19.�e2 f6 20.�e3 It was already possible to take

the pawn: 2 0 .�xc5 dxcS 2 l .'ti'c4. 20... 'iVg6 21.'Yi'h3?! The extra pawn in

the ending is not worth much: 2 1 .'ti'xg6 hxg6 2 2...t xcS dxcS 2 3 .fxg6 . 2I. .. "iH7

22.l:tf4 'J{He] 23 .-txcS 2 3 . .l::!.e 1 i . 23 ...'{/he2+ 24..td4 .td7 25.l:th4 2 S . 'iVd 3 +. 25...h6 26J/Vg3 ..txfS 27.l:tf4 'i:Vxc2 28.l:tafl �g6 29.h4 �h7 30.'Yi'h3 l:tae8 31.h5 .te4 32.�h2 l:te7 33 .l:tlf2 'Yi'd3 3 4.'Yi'g4 �xd5 35.�xf6 l:txf6 36.l:td4 l:txf2 0 - 1 ,

The only hope of a small advantage was 10.a3 �xc3+ 1 0 . . . �a5 1 l .�e3 i , since

the move 1 1 . . . dS is impossible because of 1 2 .b4. ll.bxc3 0-0 Probably better is 1 1 . . . a6 1 2..�d3 0 - 0 , and now only the surprising 1 3 . �f2 ! ? (not 1 3 . 0 - 0 ? tbxd4) retains some sort of initiative: 1 3 . . . d6 1 4J:tb 1 l:te8 1 S .'iVf3 . 12.0-0 dS 13.f5 a6 Or 1 3 . . . tbe7 1 4 . ..td3 l:te8 1 S .�d2 �d7 1 6 . iVh S i ( 1 6 . iVf3 i) . 14.�e2 �d7 15.�d2i.

1 0. 11. 1 2.

... 0-0 b2xc3

d 7-d5 i.b4xc3 ..tc8-f5

Black has equalised completely. 1 3. 1 4. 1 5. 1 6. 1 7. 1 8.

c3-c4 c4xd5 �e3-f2 J:ta 1 -c1 'ti'd 1 -f3 i.b5-c4

0-0-0 4Jc6-b4 ttJb4xc2 'J{Hf6-g6 a7-a6

1 8.

...

'Yi'g6-d6?1

Tzermiadianos-Mastrovasilis, Athens ch-GRE 2 0 0 2 . 9.

e5xf6

9 . d 5 tbe4 1 0 . 'Yi'd3 fS ! (Nunn) 1 1 .exf6ep tb xc3 1 2 .bxc3 'ti'xf6 + . 9.

...

'ti'd8xf6

More solid is 1 8 . . . hS with mutual chances. Now the initiative is again in White 's hands. 1 9. 20.

1 0.

60

�c1 -e3

g2-g4 'ti'f3-g3

'Yi'd6-g6

White obtains the advantage after 2 0 .�g3 ! �xg4 (20 . . . 4Jxd4 2 1 .'Yi'd 1 ±) 2 1 .'Yi'c3 ..tfs 2 2 .�b3 ± .

Chapter 2

20. 21 . 22.

f4-f5 a2-a3

�f5-e4 'ifg6-b6

If 2 2 . 'iib 3 Black is definitely worse, but Naer is attracted by the idea of trapping the black knight. 22 . 23.

... l:[f1 - d 1

tt:Jc2xd4! l:rd8xd51?

After 2 3 . . . tt::l f3 + 24.�fl 'iVd6 2 5 .�e2 White is better.

24.

-

The Four Knights

2.2 The Dubious 4. a6 ..

The variation 1 .e4 eS 2 .tt::l f3 tt::l c 6 3 .�b5 tLlf6 4 . tLlc3 a6?! has been con­ sidered dubious ever since the classic game Znosko-Borovsky-Rubinstein, Ostend 1 9 0 7, but even so, it is met from time to time in the practice of strong players. Game No 1 6 [C48 ] Motylev,Alexander Kharlov,Andrey Izmir tt 2 0 0 4 (2)

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

e2-e4 tt:J g 1 -f3 �f1 -b5 tt:Jb1 -c3 .ltb5xc6

6.

tt:Jf3xe5

e7-e5 tt:Jb8-c6 tt:Jg8-f6 a7-a6?! d7xc6

l:rd 1 xd4?

The losing move. White has the advan­ tage after 24.l:re 1 ! 'i¥b2 (24 . . . tt::l f3 + 2 S .'ifxf3 +-) 2 S . .l::!.c 3 tt::l f3 + 2 6 .l:rxf3 �xf3 2 7 . 'if xf3 . White would also face no risk if he took his king out of the range of the checks by means of 24.'it>fl : 24 . . . l:rdd8 2 S .f6 ! gxf6 2 6 .'ti'g 1 'i!Vd6 2 7 .�xd4 'iff4+ 2 8 .'iYf2 . 24 .... l:rd5xd4 25.�c4xf7 l:rh8-d8 26.l:rc1 -e1 �e4-c6 27.h2-h3 'ifb6-b2 28.�f2xd4 l:rd8xd4 29.�f7-e8 �c6-d5 30 . .te8-h5 l:rd4-d2 31 .l:re1 -e8+ �c8-d7 32.l:re8-e7+ �d7xe7 33.'ifg3xc7+ �e7-f6 34.g4-g5+ �f6xf5 35.�h5-g4+ �f5-e4 36.'ifc7-e7+ 'iYb2-e5 0-1

White can perfectly well go into more positional channels by means of 6.d3 , as was played (with a small transposi­ tion of moves) by Capablanca against Janowski (New York 1 9 1 4) : 6 ... �g4 From the lofty heights of modern posi­ tional understanding, this looks prema­ ture, because the bishop will soon be exchanged off, or driven to a poor loca­ tion. Here is an example of more subtle strategy by Black: 6 . . . �d6 7 .'iYe2 'i¥e 7 8 .itd2 �d7 9 .tLld 1 (it is interesting 61

The Four Knights Game

that White plays the same moves as Capablanca) 9 . . . tLlh5 1 0 . g 3 g6 1 1 .tLle3 b5 1 2 . 0-0- 0 f6 1 3 .Wb 1 tLl g 7 1 4.h4 tLle6 1 5 .h5 0-0 - 0 - the position is still no more than equal, but Black's positio­ n is easier to play, Smagin-Ivanchuk, Pinsk 1 9 8 6 . 7.h3 .ihS 8.'ti'e2 .id6 9.0-0 'i!Ve7 1 O.tLld1 The position is equal, but in the subsequent play, the future world champion outplayed his opponent. 6. 7. 8. 9.

... tt:Jc3xe4 0-0 d2-d4

tt:Jf6xe4 'ifd8-d4 'ifd4xe5

The aforementioned game Znosko­ Borovsky-Rubinstein continued 9J:tel!? .ie6 10.d4 'i!VfS 11.�g5 Noth­ ing comes from 1 1 . tLl g 5 ? 0 - 0 - 0 1 2 .tLlxe6 fxe6 = . Now:

(better was 1 3 . c4 h6 ( 1 3 ... kb4 1 4.l:te3 ;;!;) 1 4.tLlxd6+ cxd6 1 5 . d 5 hxg 5 1 6 . dxe 6 ;;!; ) 13 ... cxd6 14.'ii' d2 h6 1S.�f4 0-0-0 Black ob­ tained good play; C) 11....td6 C 1 ) 12.g4 'ii'g6? Better is 1 2 . . . 'ifd5 . 13.f4 fS 14.tt::lxd6+ cxd6 1S.d5 with a winning position for White. C2) 80 years later, Yudasin played more convincingly against Sagalchik, Kemerovo 1 9 9 5 : 12.'ii'd2 h6 1 2 . . . 0 - 0 1 3 .tt::l x d6 cxd6 1 4.�e 7 ± . 13.�h4 gS

13.tt::lx d6+

14.tt::l x d6+! cxd6 1S .�g3± 0-0-0 16.'i!Vb4!'i¥ds 17.b3 hs 1 7 . . .f5 !? 1 8 . f4! 1 8 . . . l:the 8 1 9 . ii.f2 ± . 18.l:tad1 bS 19.'i!Va3! Wc7 20.c4 bxc4 21.bxc4 'i¥xc4 22.d5!+- .txdS 2 2 . . . cxd5

2 3 J:k1 h4 24Jhc4+ dxc4 2 5 .'ifc5 + . 23.l:te7+ 'it>c8 24..txd6 l:td7 2S.'ii' b2! l:txe7 26.'i!Vb8+ 1 -0 .

9.

...

Of similar merit is 9...'i\Yds 10.l:te1 Less is promised by 1 1 . tt::l g 5 0-0-0 1 2 .tt::l xe6 fxe 6 1 3 .'ife2 ( 1 3 .'iYg4!? is insufficient for an advan­ tag e : 1 3 . . . 'ifxd4 1 4 . 'ti'xe 6 + l:t d 7 1 5 .�g5 ii.d6) 1 3 . . . c5 = ( 1 3 . . .'ihd4? 1 4 . �g 5 +- ) 1 4 . c4 'i!Vf5 1 5 . dxc5 il.xc5 =. 11....id6 1 1 . . .h6 1 2 .�f6!? 'ti'a5 ( 1 2 . . .'iVf5 1 3 .'ti'd 3 ;;!; ) 1 3 . kh4;t.

.ie6 11.-igS

Analysis diagram

A) 11...h6 12.�h4 1 2 . 'i!Vd3 !? Yudasin 1 2 . . . Wd7 1 3 .ith4 !:::.. c4, l:tad 1 , d5 . 12...g5 13 .ig3 0-0-0 14.-ies also does not relieve Black's problems; B) In the game Sirtlanov-Obodchuk, Tiumen 1 9 9 6 , Black tried to strengthen Sagalchik's play against Yudasin, consid­ ered below: 11...ilb4!? 12.c3 �d6 The idea of the bishop manoeuvre is to ease Black's defence by preventing the white queen coming to d2 and then b4. After •

62

'ife5-f5

12.b3;!;:.

Chapter 2 - The Four Knights

1 0. 11. 1 2.

tt:Je4-g31 �c1 -f4 tt:Jg3-h51

'iVf5-d5 .tf8-d6

..•

Also good is 12..txd6 'Wxd6 13 .l:!.e1+ Another bizarre computer idea is 1 3 .'tWe 1 + .te6 ( 1 3 . . . 'tWe7 1 4.f4 'tWxe 1 1 5 . .l:!.axe l + 'lt>f8 1 6 .f5 ;!;) 1 4.tLlf5 �f8 1 S . 'iVes 0-0-0 1 6 . tt:Jxg 7 �dS 1 7 . tLl h S ;!;. 13...�e6 14.tt:Je4 't!lfds 1 S.tLlcS 0-0-0 16.tLlxe6?! Some advan­ tage could be retained by 1 6 .c3 . •

16...fxe6 17.c3 .l:!.h£'8 18.l:i.eS 'iYxeS 19.dxeS .l:!.xd1+ 20. .l:!.xd1 .l:!.f4 21.f3 .l:!.a4 22.a3 .!:!.aS 23 .f4 draw,

Khamrakulov-Radulski, La Roda 2 0 0 7 . 1 2.

...

.l:!.h8-g8

Both 1 2 . . . 0 - 0 ? 1 3 .�h 6 , and 1 2 . . . .txf4 1 3 . tt:Jxf4 'tWd6 ( 1 3 . . . 'iVfs 1 4 . .l:!.e 1 + .te6 1 5 .tLlxe6 fxe 6 1 6 . .l:!.e5 ±) 1 4 . .l:!.e l + 'lt>f8 1 S .'tWf3 ± (Motylev) are bad. 1 3.

'it'd? ( 2 2 . . . 'it>b8 2 3 . .l:!.xb7 + ! ) 2 3 . .l:!.xb7 + 'lt>e8 2 4 . .l:!.e 1 + 'lt>f8 2 S . 'ti'c 7 +- ) 2 2 .'ifxh 5 ±. 16 'Wxb4 17..l:!.b 1 'Wxc4 18. .l:!.xb7- Motylev.

b2-b3

1 4. 1 5. 1 6.

�f4xd6 tt:Jh5-g3 tt:Jg3-e4

c7xd6 'iff5-a5 'lt>e8-e7

No better was 1 6 . . . 'ifc7 1 7 .c4 1 7 . . . .tfs 1 8 .tLlg3 .tg6 1 9 . .l:!.e 1 + ± (Motylev) 1 7. 1 8. 1 9. 20. 21 .

�c8-e6 .l:!.g8-d8 c6xd5 'iYa5xb4 �b4-a5

.l:!.f1 -e1 c2-c4 d4-d5 b3-b41 c4xd5

If 2 l . . .�d7 2 2 . .l:!.b 1 'i!Va3 2 3 .tLlg 5 + 'lt>f6 ( 2 3 . . . '1t>f8 24.'i!Vh5 +-) 24.�h5 g6 2 5 .�h6 Black's position is dreadful. 22. 23.

d5xe6 'iYd1 -g4

f7xe6 1 ·0

2.3 A New Line: 4 �d61? As said, the theory of the line l.e4 eS 2.tt:Jf3 tLlc6 3.�bs tt:lf6 4.tLlc3 �d6!? has only been developed over the past 1 5 years. Once it became clear that there was no direct refutation of this rather extrava­ gant-looking move, it started to appear occasionally even at the very highest level. Even so, the great majority of very top-class players, cherishing every tempo (it is clear that the bishop will have to move from d6) are still not rushing to in­ clude this move in their repertoires. In this section, we will look at those di­ rections in which the strongest players have ventured in recent times. It is clear that the nature of this system has much in common with closed variations of the Spanish, in which plans, schemes and assessments are often more impor­ tant than concrete variations. •.•

Not 1 3 .�h6 ?? because of 1 3 . . . �h3 !

1 3.

...

'ti'd5-f5?

Black's position is worse in any event. Even so, more tenacious was 13 �e6 14.c4 'tWas 1 4 . . . 'iVfs 1 5 .�xd6 cxd6 1 6 .tLlg3±. 1S.�xd6 cxd6 16.b4! 1 6 .d5 cxdS 1 7 .b4 'ti'xb4 1 8 . cxd5 �g4 1 9 . 'ti'd3 .txhS 2 0 .'ti'xh 7 0 - 0 - 0 2 1 ..l:!.ab 1 ! 'ti'd2 (2 1 . . .'ti'g4? 2 2 .'ti'c2 + .•.

63

The Four Knights Game

Game No 1 7 [C48J

5. 6. 7.

NiHua Sangrna,Rahul Calcutta 2 0 0 9 (!)

This example shows how easily and naturally this variation can lead to Span­ ish-style positions. 1. 2. 3. 4.

e2-e4 tLlg 1 -f3 �f1 -b5 tLlb1 -c3

e7-e5 tLlb8-c6 tLlg8-f6 �f8-d6

... �b5-c4 �c4-b3

a7-a6 b7-b5 1i!.d6 -c5

By comparison with the Spanish varia­ tion 3 . . . a6 4.�a4 lLlf6 5 .d3 bS 6 .�b3 �cS 7 .tLlc3 White simply has an extra tempo - not bad for what is supposed to be a harmless opening ! 8. 9. 1 0.

a2-a4 tLlc3-d5 �c1 -e3

b5-b4 h7-h6 d 7-d6

1 O . . . �xe3 ?! 1 1 .fxe3 0-0 1 2 .'ifd2 aS 1 3 . 0 - 0 ;l; . 11.

5.

d2-d3

The plan of exchanging on c6 does not promise White much: 5.0-0 0-0 6.�xc6 bxc6?! A poor move. Probably, Black wanted to complicate the battle. Correct is 6 . . . dxc6 7 .h3 (7 .d4 tLlg4=) 7 . . . cS 8 .d3 = , although it is true that it would be very difficult to play this posi­ tion for a win as Black. 7.d4 exd4 8.'ihd4 �e78 . . . c5 9 .'i:Vc4 l:!e8 1 O . l:!e 1 �b7 1 L�.gS h6 1 2 .�h4 g S 1 3 .e S ;l; . 9.�g5 A large advantage for White re­ sults from 9 .e5 lLle8 1 0 .'ii' a 4± . 9...h6 1 0.�h4 1 0 .�xf6 �xf6 1 1 .e5 �e7 1 2 . l:!fe 1 ;!; . 10...g5 ll.�g3 d6 12.e5

0-0

Nothing is promised by 1 1 .�xc5 dxcS 1 2 .tLle3 0-0 1 3 .a5 �e7 1 4. 0 - 0 = . The standard Spanish plan o f fighting for the centre deserves attention here : 1 1 .c3 0 - 0 1 2 . 0 - 0 bxc3 . For example, 1 3 .bxc3 �xe3 1 4.lLlxe3 and White has a small initiative. 11.

...

1 2.

�e3xc5

�c8-e6

lLlh5 13 .�c4 �d7 14.exd6 cxd6 15.'ifd3 tt::lxg3 16.hxg3 l:!b8 Black is al­

Here, Ni Hua had at his disposal an in­ teresting tactical blow : 12.lLlxe5!?

ready slightly better, but it would be wrong to take this game as a model for Black's opening strategy, Zeytinoglu-M. Yilmaz, Turkey tt 2 0 1 0 .

lLlxeS 13 .d4 �xd5 14.exd5 tLleg4 15.�f4 il.a7 16.h3 1 6 .l:!e l + �f8

64

1 7 .h3 hS ! ? 1 8 .hxg4 hxg4 1 9 .c3 also leads to an interesting position, in

Chapter 2

which chances

are

about

equal .

16...t2lxf2 Here the idea of 1 6 . . . hS is

-

The Four Knights

1..

not as good: 1 7 .hxg4 hxg4 1 8 .c3 'it>f8 1 9 .f3 with somewhat better chances for White. 17Jhf2 0-0 18.'ti' d3 In the re­ sulting position, White's chances are slightly superior. 1 2. 1 3. 1 4.

tt::ld 5xf6+ �b3xe6

d6xc5 'ii'd 8xf6

Tempting is 14..tds .txd5 1 4 . . . �d7 1 S .tt::l d 2 0-0 1 6 .'ti'f3 ! ? 'ii'xf3 1 7 .tt::l xf3 .l:lae8 1 8 .�xc6 �xc6 1 9 . tt::l d 2 .l:le6 2 0 . f3 with some advantage to White in the ending : the good bishop does not fully compensate for the weakness of the queenside. 15.exd5 Ci'Je7 16. .l:!.e1 0-0 17.t2lxe5 .l:!.fe8 1 7 . . . tt::l x dS 1 8 .tt::l d 7 'tWxb2 1 9 .tt::l xf8 .l:!.xf8 2 0 .aS ;!;; does not promise Black full compensation for the exchange. 18.�£'3! 'ifxf3 19.Ci'Jxf3 t2lxd5 20.g3;!;; Black faces a difficult de­ fence for a draw. 1 4. 1 5.

... tt::lf3-d2

'iff6xe6 tt::lc6-a5

As distinct from the variation given in the note to move 1 4, here the situation is somewhat different; the black queenside pawn structure looks rather vulnerable, but attacking it is not really possible in this position. 1 6.

b2-b3

Small chances were offered by 1 6 . tt::l b 3 ! ? tt::l x b3 (more solid is 1 6 . . . tt::l b 7 1 7 .�e2 , and White is very slightly better) 1 7 .cxb3 0 - 0 1 8 .!:I.e 1 , and the weakness of cS may tell. .

1 6.

...

0-0

It is not clear where White can break through. The position is level.

1 7. 1 8. 1 9. 20. 21 . 22. 23 .

'li'd 1 -h5 f2-f4 tt::ld 2xc4 b3xc4 'ifh5xe5 f4xe5 .l:!.a1 -a3

.l:!.a8-d8 c5-c4 tt::la5xc4 b4-b3 'ii'e6xe5 b3xc2 .l:!.d8-d7

Slightly more precise is 2 3 . . . .l:!.d4 with a draw, having in mind after 24.'it>f2?! to reply 24 . . .fs 2 S .'it>e3 fxe4, and it is al­ ready White who must think about a draw. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31 . 32. 33 . 34. 35.

'it>g 1 -f2 'it>f2-e3 .l:!.f1 -c1 .l:!.a3xd3 l:td3-d5 'it>e3-e4 'it>e4-d3 'it>d3-d4 'it>d4-c3 .l:!.c1 xc2 .l:!.c2xe2 .l:!.d5-d2

f7-f5 f5xe4 e4xd3 .l:!.d 7-e7 .l:!.f8-f5 .l:!.f5-f2 .l:!.f2-f5 .l:rf5-f2 l:tf2-e2 l:te7xe5 l:te5xe2

He should have tried 3 S . l:td8 + , al­ though in this case too, the winning chances are not great. 35 ...l:te2xd 2 36.'it>c3xd2 c7-c5 37.'it>d 2-e3 'it>g8-f7 38.g2-g4 'it>f7-f6 a6-a5 39.'it>e3-f4 40.'it>f4-e4 'it>f6-e6 41 .h2-h4 65

The Four Knights Game

g 7-g6 42.�e4-f4 �e6-f6 43 .�f4-e4 �f6-e6 44.�e4-f4 �e6-f6 45.g4-g5+ h6xg5+ 46.h4xg5+ �f6-e6 47.�f4-e4 �e6-d6 112-112

In the notes to the following game, we see a plan which has become popular lately, involving the modest move d2-d3 . To preserve the Spanish bishop, White is prepared to lose a tempo. And why not, indeed; after all, the bishop on d6 will have to move again.

Game No 1 8 [C48 ] Hammer,Jon Ludvig Moradiabadi,Elshan Greece tt 2 0 I 0 (5)

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

e2-e4 ti:Jg 1 -f3 ti:Jb1 -c3 ..tf1 -b5 0-0 d2-d3

e7-e5 ti:Jb8-c6 ti:Jg8-f6 ..tf8-d6 0-0

Possible is 6 . .i:[e 1 .i:[eS 7.d3 h6 8.a3 ..tcs 9 .b4 �f8 1 o . �c4 d6 1 1 .h 3 ..te6 1 2 .ltJd5 1 2 . ..txe 6 l:he 6 1 3 .ltJdS ;!; . 1 2 ... �xd5 1 3 .exd5 ltJe7 1 4.�b5 ltJd7 1 5 .c4 ltJg6 1 6 .�e3 �c8 draw,

Panarin-Belov, Krasnoyarsk 2 0 0 7 . In the final position, Black is slightly worse, for example : 1 7 . ..ta4 Or 1 7 .d4 e4 1 8 . ltJd 2 .i:[e 7 ( 1 8 . . . f5 1 9 . �h S ;!; ) 1 9 .�a4 ti:Jf6 2 0 .f3 . 1 7 . . .a 6 1 8.d4 e4 1 9 .ltJd2 fS 2 0 .ltJb 1 '>ith 7 2 0 . . . f4 2 l .'ifg4 bS 2 2 .'iVxg6 fxe 3 2 3 .cxb5 exf2 + 24.�xf2±. 2 1 .ltJc3 fi.e 7 22 .i:[b 1 .l:[f8 2 3 .c5 ltJf6 24.'iVd2 .i:[dS and in both cases, White retains some advan­ tage.

6.

...

a 7-a6

• Quite popular is 6 ...h6 7 .a3 .i:[eS and now : A) 8.tLle2 This Spanish knight transfer does not fit too well with the idea of 7 .a3 . 8 ... tt:le7 9.ti:Jg3 It was logical to follow the example in the main game Hammer-Moradiabadi , and strengthen his position in the centre with 9 .c4 tLlg6 1 0 .h3 (the essence of things is not changed by 1 O .�e3 tLlg4 1 1 .�d2t) 1 O . . . c6 1 1 ..!ta4 �c7 1 2 .�e3 . A compli­ cated battle lies ahead, with mutual chances. 9 ... ttJg6 1 0 . .i:[e 1 c6 1 1 .�a4 .i..c 7 1 2.c3 dS Black has solved his ope­ ning problems. Degraeve-Bacrot, Pau ch-FRA 2 0 0 8 ; B ) Immediate development looks good : 8 . .!te 3 ttJg4 8 . . . �f8 9 . �c4. 9 . .i..c4 9 .�d2 ;!; . 9 ... �f8 1 O.h3 ttJxe3

1 1 .fxe3t;

C) A similar idea is 8.h3 and now:

•

66

Analysis diagram

Chapter 2

C 1 ) Worth consideration is: 8 ... lt:Jd4 9.�c4 More principled is 9 . tt:lxd4 exd4 1 o . tt:le 2 c6 1 1 . i.c4 i.cs 1 2 . tt:lf4 ( 1 2 . b4 ! ?) 1 2 . . . d 5 1 3 . exd5 cxd S 1 4.i.b3 l:les 1 S . .t d 2 'i¥ d 6 ( 1 5 . . . a 5 1 6 .'iff3 l::!. fs 1 7 . g4 l::!. g S 1 8 .tt:lg2 l:tes ( 1 8 . . . a4 1 9 . i..x gS hxg S 2 0 .�a2;!;) 1 9 . l:lae 1 l:lxe 1 2 0 .l:txe 1 a4 2 l .�a2 'i¥b6 2 L�c 1 ;!;) 1 6 .'iff3 ..td7 1 7 . l::!. ae 1 l:tae8 1 8 . l:lxe5 l:lxeS 1 9 .l:te l l:txe l + 2 0 . -txe l . The pawn weaknesses give White a small advantage. 9 ... c6 1 0.�e3 .i.cs l l ..i.a2 dS = C2) 8 ... �£'8 9.l:te l 9 . i.e3 d6 1 0 .i.c4 i.e6 1 1 .�xe6 l::!. xe6 1 2 .tLldS;!; tt:le7 1 3 .c4;!; . 9 d 6 9 . . . tt:ld4 1 0 .tt:lxd4 exd4 1 1 .tt:le2 c6 1 2 .i.c4 'it'b6 . .•.

Analysis diagram

C2 1 ) It looks good to head for posi­ tions similar to those arising from the Steinitz Defence to the Spanish, with

-

The Four Knights

1 6 .tt:le2 'ti'b6 ( 1 6 . . .'ti'a5 1 7 .i.d2;!;) 1 7 .b3 'it'xd4 1 8 .tt:lxd4 g 6 1 9 .�c l ;!; ; or 1 6 .a4 'it'c7 1 7 .tt:le2;!;. 1 6 ... dxe5 1 7 .'ifxd8 1 7 . 'i¥e3 = . 1 7 . . Jbxd8 1 8 . l:txd8 l::!.x d8 1 9 .l:td l l:txd l + 2 0 .tt:lxd l = bS 2 1 .'tt> fl �cS 22.'tt>e 2 'tt>f8 2 3 .'tt> d 3 'tt> e 7 24.c4 a6 2 5 .cxb5 2 5 .b4 .td4 2 6 .c5 = . 2 5 axb5 26.lt:Je3 g6 2 7 .tt:lg4 'tt> e 6 2 8 .f3 hS 29.lt:Je3 'tt>f6 3 0.h4 'tt>g 7 3 1 .tt:lc2 B 3 2.b3 'tt>f6 3 3 .a4 'tt>e 6 34.a5 f4 3 5 .'tt> e 2 'tt>d6 36.tt:le l ? 3 6 .b4 i.g l 3 7 .tt:le l cS •..

3 8 .bxc5 + i.xcS 3 9 .tt:ld3 i.d4 40. 'tt>d 2 'it>c6 4 1 . 'tt>c 2 'it>b7 4 2 . 'tt>b 3 'tt>a 7 (42 . . .'it>a6? 43 . 'it>b4+- ) 4 3 . tLlb4 'tt>b 7=. 3 6 ...�b4 3 7.a6 'tt>c 7 3 8.tt:ld3 .id6+ 3 9 .b4 'it>b6 40.'tt> d 2 'tt> x a6 4 1 . 'tt>c 3 'it>b6 4 2. 'tt>c 2 'tt>c 7 4 3 . d2 'tt>d 7 44.'it>e2 'tt> e 6 45 .'tt>f2 �c7 46.g3 ..tb6 + 47.'tt> g2 fxg3 48.'tt>xg3 �e3 49.'tt>h 3 'it>d6 SO.'it>g3 cS S l .bxcS+ ..txcS 5 2.£4 �d4 5 3.'tt>f3 'tt>e 6 54.fxe5 ..txeS S S .'tt> f2 �d6 5 6 .'tt> f3 ..te 7 0 - 1 , Ginsburg­ Elianov, Germany Bundesliga 2 0 0 9 I 1 0; C 2 2 ) 1 0 .� e 3 a6 l l .�c4 �e6 1 2 .i.. x e6 nxe6 1 2 . . . fxe6 1 3 . d4;!; . 1 3 .tt:ld5 draw, Ghaem Maghami­

Harikrishna, Abu Dhabi 2 0 04. In the meantime, though, Black has far from equalised. In the final position, White has a small, but clear advantage. • The move 6 ... tt:le7?! looks dubious,

1 O .d4 exd4 l l .tt:lxd4 �d7 1 2 ..tf4 lt:Jxd4 1 3 .i..xd7 Worthy of consider­ •

ation is 1 3 .'ifxd4 �xbS 1 4.tt:lxb5 ;!;. 1 3 ... tt:lxd7 1 4.'ti'xd4 lUeS

l S .l:tad l t

White's advantage bears only a sym­ bolic character. 1 S ... c6 1 6.�xe5 Too direct an attempt to make a draw. Common sense suggests that the queenside pawns should be placed on light squares and the position of the knight on c3 improved, since it cur­ rently has few prospects. For example,

Analysis diagram

67

The Four Knights Game

as it allows the blow 7 .tt::l xeS !. There are also other possibilities. After 7 .�gS c6 8 .�xf6 gxf6 9 . �a4 �b4 1 0 .tt::l h4 tt::l g 6 1 1 .tt::l fs dS 1 2 .'tWf3 = a position could arise which is similar to those exam­ ined in Chapter 4. White can also count on a small advantage after the quiet 7 .�c4 tt::l g 6 8 .h3 c6 9 .�b3 . ? ... �xeS 8.d4 d6 9.dxe5 dxeS I O.�e3 1 0 .'i!Vf3 c6 l l...�.d 3 tLl g 6 1 2 . h 3 ;!; . I O c6 ••.

l l .�c4 'fie? 1 2.£3 tt::l g 6 1 3 .'it'd2! 1 3 .a4. 1 3 ... tt::l f4 1 4.l:!.fd l �e6 I S . .tfl .l:Hd8 1 6.'ti'f2 b6 1 7.a4 l:!.xd l I S.l:!.xd l tt::l g 6 1 9 .'ti'd2 tt::l e 8 2 0 .a5 2 0 . g 3 ;!; . 2 0 tt:J f8 2 I .tt::l a4 2 1 .a6. 2 1 . . .l:!.b8 2 2 .b4 tt::l d 7 2 3 .'Yi'c3 tt::l d 6 24.'ii' d 2 tt::l e 8 2 5 .a6 f8 26.tt:lb2 ld.c8 2 7 .tt::l c4 tt::l b 8 2 8 .'ti'f2 2 8 .f4 tt::l d 7 2 9 .c3 . 28 tt::l d 7 29.'ti'd2 tt::l b 8 3 0.c3 tt::l d 7 3 1 .h3 f6 3 2.f4 e 7 3 3 .fxe5 3 3 .f5 �g 8 3 4.'i!Ve l . 3 3 tt::l xe5 34.tt::l xe5 'ti'xeS 3 5 .tf4 'ifxe4 36 . .td3 'ti'ds 3 7 . .txh7 3 7 .'ii' e l ;!; . 3 7 .'ihd2= 3 8 . lhd2 f7 and draw (6 1 ) , .••

bishop and aims to place his minor pieces on comfortable squares. 8.

...

h 7-h6

The transposition into a Spanish set-up with . . . b7 -bS with the knight on c3 has certain nuances of its own. In particular, with the rook on e8 , the square f7 can be weak. For example: 8 ... b5 9.�b3 �cS The previous statement is well illustrated by such lines as 9 . . . h6 1 0 .�e3 tt::l g 4? l l .tLlgS ! ± ; or 9 . . . �f8? l O .tt::l g S l:!.e7 I l .f4 d6 1 2 . tt:Jds ± . 1 o.tt:Jds 1 o. tt::l g s l:!.f8 = . I O h6 l l .c3 d6 1 2.d4 ( 1 2 .a4!?) In this position, more typical of the Spanish, White has some initiative. •.•

9.

�c1 -e3

.•.

..•

•

•.

Michiels-Stefanova, Antwerp 2 0 0 9 . Back t o the game. Just so. White refrains from the Spanish motif, involving the transfer of the knight via e2 to g 3 . His immediate plans involve instead moves such as h2 -h3 , 'Yi'd2 , b2 -b4, �b3 and if appro­ priate, tiJdS and c2 -c4. It will be diffi­ cult for Black to prevent this. 9. 7. 8.

�b5-a4 a2-a3

l:!.f8-e8

This 'beginners' move' is the key to the whole variation. It contains an interest­ ing idea. White does not seek a direct refutation of Black's fourth move, but secures a flight for his light-squared 68

...

�d6-f8

On 9 . . . tt::l g4 both 1 O . 'i!V e 2 tt::l x e 3 1 1 .fxe3 ;!; and simply 1 O .�d2 are good. 1 0.

tt:Jc3-d5

1 0 .�b3 ! ?. 1 0.

...

d 7-d6?!

Chapter 2

More

interesting

1 1 .exd5

Ci:Je 7

was :

1 O .. . tuxdS

1 2 .Ci:Jxe 5

1 2 .c4 b S

1 3 .�c2 Ci:Jfs 1 4.�d2 'iff6 = . 1 2 ... tt:Jxd5

-

The Four Knights

A) 1 4.f4 Ci:Jf6 1 4 . . . d6 1 S .Ci:Jxc6 bxc6 1 6 . .txc6 Ci:Jc 7 1 7 . .txa8 Ci:Jxa8 1 8 .fS ;!;. 1 5 .'iff3 dS =

interesting try is to include the light-squared bishop by means of 1 5 .f5 : A 1 ) 1 5 .'iYas 1 6 . tt:lxf7 'i!Vxa4 1 6 . . . Wxf7 1 7 . .txf6 Wxf6 1 8 .'ifhs .l:{es 1 9 .'i1Yg6+ We 7 2 0 . f6+± . 1 7.Ci:Jxh6+

An

•.

Wh8 1 8 .�xf6 gxf6 1 9.'i!i'h5 .!:i.e? 20 . .!:i.ae 1 +-; A2) 1 5 ... c5 1 6.tLlxf7 Wxfl 1 7 . .tb3 + dS 1 8.�xf6 gxf6 1 8 . . . 'ifxf6 1 9 .'ii'h 5 + Analysis diagram

White has a number of interesting pos­ sibilities , but it seems that none gives him a clear advantage: 1 3 .Ci:Jxf7? 'i!Vf6; 1 3 .'i!Vh5 g6 1 4.tLlxg6 Ci:Jf6 1 5 .'\i'fS dS 1 6.'iff3 fxg6 1 7.�xe8 Ci:Jxe8+; • 1 3 .d4 c6 1 4.c4 1 4 . 'iVf3 'iYf6 . 1 4 ... tt:Jxe3 1 5 .fxe3 f6 and now: A) 1 6 .tLlg4 hS 1 6 . . . 'iY e 7 1 7 . c5

•

•

( 1 7 .�c2 dS 1 8 .cxd5 cxdS 1 9 .'i!Vd3 =) 1 7 . . . dS 1 8 .cxd6 'i¥xd6 1 9 .�c2 �xg4 2 0 .'i!Vxg4 l:!.xe3 2 1 .'i1Yg6=. 1 7.Ci:Je5 fxeS 1 8.'iYxh5 l:!.e7 1 9.c5 dS 20.cxd6 'ifxd6 21..�b 3 + �e6 22.'iYg6 .!:i.d8 23 . .!:i.f6+-; B) 1 6 .tc2 fxeS 1 7 .dxe5 l:te6; C) 1 6 .Ci:Jg6 l:!.xe 3 1 7 .'i:Vd2 .l::te 8 •

1 8 . .!:i.ae 1 d6 1 9 .�c2 l:!.xe 1 2 0 Jhe 1 fS . 1 3 .�d4 c6 and now:

Wg 8 2 0 . �xd5 + +- ; 1 8 . . . Wxf6 1 9 . 'iYhS ;!;. 1 9 .�xdS + Black also emerges intact after 1 9 .'i!Vh5 + Wg8 2 0 .l:!.ae 1 l:!.e7 2 1 .Wh 1 (2 I ..!:i.xe7 'i!Vxe7 22...\tx dS + Wh8 2 3 .h3) 2 l . . .c4 2 2 .dxc4 dxc4 2 3 . �xc4+ Wh8 + . 1 9 ... W e 7 1 9 ... 'i!Vxd5 2 0 .'iYh5 + Wg8 2 1 .'i!Vg6+ Wh8 2 2 .'iYxe8;\;. 20.'i!Vf3 Wd6 2 1 .�xb 7 �xb7 2 2.'i!Vxb7 'it'd? 2 3 .'fif3 Wc?=F. B) 1 4.'fif3 'i\Yf6 1 S . l:!. fe 1 'ifxf3

1 6 .Ci:Jxf3 l:!.xe 1 + 1 7 . l:!.xe 1 d6=; C) 1 4.'i!Vh5 .!:i.e? Outwardly, White 's position looks very nice, but he has nothing real. Also good is 1 4 . . . 'i\Ye 7 1 5 . f4 Ci:Jf6 1 6 .'i\Yh4 cS 1 7 . �c3 ( 1 7 .l:!.ae 1 cxd4 1 8 . Ci:Jg4 Ci:Je4 1 9 . 'iVxe 7 .l:Ixe 7 2 0 .dxe4 dS =) 1 7 . . . b5 1 8 . l:!.ae 1 dS 1 9 .�b3 l'ic 7 = . 1 S . .!:i.ae 1 Ci:Jf4=. Back to the game.

•

Analysis diagram

11.

c2-c4 69

The Four Knights Game

White has emerged from the opening with a clear advantage. 11.

. ..

�c8-d 7

l l . . . �g4 1 2 .h3 �hs 1 3 .b4;!;; 1 1 . . . tt:Jg4 1 2 .�d2;!;. 1 2.

h2-h3

tt:Jc6-b8

1 2 . . . tt:Jxd5 1 3 .cxd5 ti:Je7 1 4.d4 exd4 1 5 .tt:Jxd4;!;. 1 3.

�a4-b3

1 3 .b4;!;. If White does not wish to ex­ change light-squared bishops, then 1 3 .�c2 looks more logical, not ob­ structing the path of the b-pawn. 1 3.

...

�d 7-c6?!

Black obtains good chances of equality with 1 3 . . . c5 . Then the advance f2-f4 does not promise anything: 1 4.ti:Jh2 It is probably better to play on the queenside: 1 4.�d2 ti:Jc6 1 S .�a4 l:tb8 1 6 .b4 bS 1 7 .�b3 ;!;, although the manoeuvres of the light-squared bishop create a rather clumsy impression . 1 4 ... t>xg7 1 9J:tf6 with the initia­ tive for the sacrificed material.

1 1 . f2-f4

e5xf4

The programs advise maintaining the tension by 1 I . .'i!Vd6 . However, after 1 2 .fxe5 ( 1 2 . exdS tt::l x dS 1 3 . fxeS 'ti'cS +) 1 2 .. .'ihe5 1 3 .�f4 'ti'xc3 1 4.e5 tt::l d 7 1 5 .'ii' h 5 the concentration of white forces on the kingside is becom­ ing threatening (see the note to Black's 1 O th move) . •

1 2. 1 3.

e4-e5 �c1 xf4

tt::l f6-h7

As a result, White has a small initiative. 1 3.

...

c6-c5?1

If, say, 1 3 . . . 'ife7 1 4.'ifh5 'ti'cS + 1 5 JH2 'ti'xc3 1 6 . .l::t a fl Black's extra pawn is hardly worth having , as White's pres­ sure is very strong. 1 4.

'ifd 1 -d 2

And now 1 4. 'ti'hS looks very good. It was also worth giving serious attention to 1 4 . .l::t b l .

( 1 8 . .l:i.b5 ! ?) . 1 5 . . . cxd3 1 6 .cxd3 aS 1 7.tt::l f3 .l::t a6 1 8.'1t>h2 1 8 .�e3 ! ? .l::t g 6 1 9 .'1t>h2 i . 1 8 . . .'iVe7 1 9.'ii' e 3 ? ! 1 9 .tt::l d 4 .l::t e 8 2 0 .'iVf2 with a small initiative for White. 1 9 ... .l::t e 8 20.'ti'd2 2 0 .tt::l d 4 tt::l f8 2 1 .�g3 . 2 0 ... tt::l f8 2 1 .�g3 .if5 2 2 . .ih4 'ti'd7 2 3 .g4 �g6 24.tt::l d4 .l::tb 6 2 5 .tt::l f5 .l::t e b8 2 6 . .l::t e 2 '>t> h 7 2 7 .l::t e f2 .l::t b 1 2 8 . .l::t xb l l:!:xb l 2 9 .'iVe3 2 9 .d4 tt::l e 6 3 0 .'ti'd3 .l::t a 1 � . 29 .. .tt::l e 6 3 0 .'ti'f3 'ti'a4 3 I .'ti'xd5 �x£'5 3 2 .l:!:xf5 l:!:b2 + 3 3 .�f2 'ti'xa2 34.'ife4 3 4.'ifxa2 .l::t x a2 3 5 . .l::t xf7 a4+ . 34 ... tt::l g5 3 5 .'ife3 l:!:e2 3 6 .'ti'c5 tt::l e 6 3 7.'ili'a7 'ifds 3 8 .d4 'ife4 3 9 .'1t>g3 .l::t c 2 40.'iha5 tt::l g s 0 - 1 , Keitlinghaus­ •

Mokry, Czech Republic tt 1 9 94/ 9 5 . 1 5.

h3-h4

An interesting decision. White plays for the attack. He can obtain a small advan­ tage in the ending after 1 5 .�xg 5 if xg 5 ( 1 5 . . . hxg5 1 6 . .l::t ab 1 i) 1 6 .'ti'xg5 hxg S 1 7 . .l::t ab l . 1 5. 1 6.

�f4-g3

The program 's recommendation 1 6 . . . .l:!.b8 does not insure Black against the attack: 1 7 .tt::l g 4 d4 1 8 .c4 it,d7 ( 1 8 . . . �b7 1 9 .tt::l f6+ gxf6 20.'ifxh6 'ti'd7 2 1 .exf6 'ti'c6 22 . .l::t f3 +-) 1 9 .tt::l f6+ gxf6 2 0 .'ti'xh6 fxeS 2 1 .�xe5 f6 2 2 .hf6±. 1 7. c3-c4

1 4.

tt::l h 7-g5

Unconvincing is : 14 ... c4? ! I S J:tae l It made sense to start with 1 5 . tt::l f3 ! ? , and the rook can come in later, depending on how the game develops : 1 5 . . . cxd3 1 6 .cxd3 aS 1 7 . .l::t ab 1 ! ? .l::t a 6 ? ! 1 8 . l:!.b8 ! ? 80

tt::l g 5-e6 d5-d4

Chapter

1 7.

...

f7-f5?!

Things are difficult, but this medicine is worse than the disease. It was worth considering 1 7 ... l:l.b8 1 8.lt:Jg4 White 's threats should not be underestimated. Thus, simple development by 1 8 . . . .td7 leads to immediate catastrophe after 1 9 .tt:Jf6 + �h8 ( 1 9 . . . gxf6 2 0 . 'ilfxh6 fxeS 2 l . .ixe 5 +- 2 0 . l:l.f5 ) with the threat of l:l.hS . Trying to include the rook in the defence with 1 8 ... l:l.b6 looks logical, with the idea:

3

-

The S ymmetrical Va riation

1 8. e5xf6 1 9. 'ti'd2-e2 20. tt:Jh2-g4 21 . l:l.a1 xf1

l:l.f8xf6 l:l.a8-b8 l:l.f6xf1 +

The result of Black's mistaken strategy is that all of the white pieces are in dan­ gerous proximity to the black king. 21 .

...

tt:Je6-f8

Only 2 l . . . .id7 2 2 .tLle5 l:l.b6 retained any chances of defending, trying some­ how to include some more pieces in the defence. Admittedly, even in this case, after 2 3 .lt:Jxd7 'ifxd7 24.'il:Ve4 White's positional advantage is indisputable. 22. 23. 24.

tt:Jg4-e5 tt:Je5-f7 'ilfe2-e5

l:l.b8-b6 'iYd8-d 7

24 .

...

'ilfd 7-g4

Analysis diagram

A) After 1 9.ttJf6+ gxf6 2 0 .'ilfxh6, to reply 2 0 . . .f5 2 l . l:l.xf5 lt:J g 7 2 2 .l:l.f6 'iYd7 with good chances of a successful defence; B) Similar results come from 1 9.l:l.f6 ! ? hS ! 2 0 .lt:Jh6+ gxh6 2 l .'ti'xh6 tt:Jg 7 + ; C ) I n this connection 1 9 .l:l.ab 1 ! ? looks interesting : 1 9 ... .td7 Black re­ tains chances of defending after 1 9 . . . l:l.xb l 2 0 . l:l.xb l 'il:Ve8 ! ? ( 2 0 . . . .id7 2 1 .l:l.fl ±) 2 1 .l:l.fl tt:Jd8 ! 2 2 .tLlf6 + gxf6 2 3 .'il:Vxh6 'il:Ve6 . In any event, this was better than what happened in the game. 20.l:l.xb6 axb6 2 1 .ttJf6 + with a decisive attack for White; D) Attempting to drive the rook from the sixth rank is interesting : 1 9.a4 'il:Vd7 2 0 .a5 l:l.a6 2 1 .l:!.f6 ! ? .

24 . . . l:l.c6 allows him to maintain mate­ rial equality. However, even here, Black has trouble defending. The simplest is 2 S . 'it' d s ( 2 S .'il:Ve4 ! ?) 2 5 . . . 'il:Vxd5 2 6 . cxd5 l:l.a6 27 . .ixc7 l:l.xa2 2 8 .l:l.f2 The passed d-pawn is very dangerous. 25.�g 1 -h2 l:l.b6-e6 26.'il:Ve5xc7 l:l.e6-g6 27.l:l.f1 -f3 'ti'g4-d7 28.'il:Vc7xc5 l:l.g6xg3 29.l:l.f3xg3 1 -0

81

The Four Knights Game

The following variation is somewhat unique. Its nearest relative is the line seen in Game 24, Nisipeanu-Ponomariov, where similar ideas, with colours re­ versed, are adopted by Black. But it is well-known that employing black ideas with colours reversed often fails to bring White the benefit he might expect. Such is also the case here: the manoeuvre 7 .tDe2 promises White very little, whereas the analogous knight jump by Black 7 . . . tDe7 gives him good practical results. Game No 2 3 [C49] Kozlov, Vladimir N Atalik,Suat Moscow Open 2 0 05 (4)

Use was made of GM Suat Atalik's com­ mentary. 1 . e2-e4 2. CDg1 -f3 3. CDb1 -c3 4. .if1 -b5 5 . 0-0 6. d2-d3

e7-e5 CDb8-c6 CDg8-f6 �f8-b4 0-0 d 7-d6

I have chosen this particular game to il­ lustrate the subtleties of this variation, because I believe in the opening recom­ mendations of the Turkish Grandmas­ ter, an eminent theoretician and real professional. 7.

82

CDc3-e2!?

'This symmetrical variation contains a good deal of poison, but I had learnt the lesson given to me by my game with Campara' - Atalik. 7.

...

CDc6-e7

Black has no good reason to enter a posi­ tion similar to that which arose in Game 24, Nisipeanu-Ponomariov, with re­ versed colours: 7 ..,jt,g4 8.�xc6 8 .c3 .tcs 9 .CDg3 CDhs l O .CDfs �b6 l l ..te3 (worth consideration are l l .a4 ! ? and l l . d2 gxf3 6 5 .'ifxf3 'iVd6 66.'ifg4 'iff6 draw,

Vallejo Pons-Kortchnoi , rapid match, Vera 2 0 04. • Black obtained good play after 8 ... �g4 ! ? 9 .'ti'c l ..ixc3 1 0.bxc3 ti:Jd7 l l .h3 �e6 1 2 .d4 f6 1 3 .�d2 ti:Jb6 1 4.�d3 c6= I S .'i:Ye l tbc4 1 6.�c l b S =F 1 7.g4 'ii' d 7 1 7 . . . 'ti'c7 =F . 1 8.ti:Jf5 tbxfS 1 9.gxf5 �f7 20.f4

9.

�b5-c4

Or 9 . .lta4 and now: A) After 9 ... ti:Jd7 1 0 . .tb3 h6? 1 1 .be7 'ti'xe7 1 2 .ti:Jg6 'iVgS 1 3 .ti:Jxf8 ti:Jxf8 1 4.'iVc 1 t tbe6 ? ! 1 S . �xe6 �xe6 1 6 .'ihg5 hxgS± Black does not have suf­ ficient compensation for the exchange, Girya-Alexandrov, Vladimir 2 0 0 8 ; B ) 9 . . .ti:Je8 I O.�b3 �h8 l l .f4 f6 1 2.fxe5 In the variation 1 2 .'ifhS fxgS 1 3 .fxg S Black, unlike in the very similar position reached in Adhiban-Y.Vovk (see Game 2 5 ) Black has the move 1 3 . . . tbc7 . 1 2 ...dxe5 1 3 .lte3 tt:lc7 1 4.'ii'f3 ti:Je6 1 5 .tt:le2 �c5 1 6.�h l �xe3 1 7.'ii'xe3 aS 1 8.a4 b6 1 9 . .ltc4 tbcs 2 0.d4 exd4 2 I .ti:Jxd4 �d7 2 2 .e5 fxe5 2 3 .'ifxe5 tt:lg8 24.tbhf3 (24.tLlhfS ! ?) draw, Bagirov­ •

Analysis diagram

2 0 'i¥;>h8 2 0 . . . l:tfe 8 =F . 2 1 .�h2 l:tae8 2 2 .'ifg3 l:tg8 2 2 . . . exd4 2 3 .cxd4 'i:Yd8 24.a4 b4=F . 2 3 .a4 a6 24.axb5 axb5 2 5 . l:tg l = b4 2 5 . . . exd4 2 6 .cxd4 c S = . 26.'ifh4 bxc 3 ? 2 6 . . . exd4 2 7 .cxd4 'i:Ye 7 2 8 . l:tg4 l:tgf8 2 9 . l:ta4 cS � . 2 7.l:tg4+­ l:tgf8 2 8 .fxe5 dxe5 2 9 .l:txg 7 'i¥;>xg 7 3 0 .lth6 + 1 - 0 , K. Szabo-Portisch , •..

•

Szekesfehervar ch-HUN 2 0 0 6 . Back t o the game. 86

Kortchnoi, Leningrad ch-URS 1 9 6 3 . C ) 9 ... ti:Jg6 ! ? 1 o . tt:lxg 6 hxg6 1 1 .�b3 aS = . 9.

...

d6-d5

Chapter

1 0.

�g5xf6?!

Nothing is promised by 1 O.�b 3 1 1 .f4 �cS + 1 2.d4? Better is 1 2 .�h 1 tLlg4 1 3 . fxe5 tLlf2+ 1 4Jhf2 with 'iYxf2 chances mutual e

�d6

1 2 ... 'iYxd4+ 1 3 .'i¥xd4 exd4 1 4 . ..txf6 gxf6 with advantage to Black, Apfler­

Jaschke, Bad Wiessee 2 0 0 8 . • However, it is definitely worth looking at 1 0.exd5 cxdS 1 1 ...tb3 .tg4 1 2.'1i'c 1 'ti'd6 1 3.h3 illi s 1 4.f4 e4 1 5 .dxe4 dxe4 1 6.'ti'e 1 Defending the knight on h4, in

the event of 1 7 .�6 'iYxf6 1 8 .g4, and sharpening the position. 1 6 ...h6 1 7 ..tx£6 'ii'xf6 1 8.g4 .!:tac8 ! ? A roughly equal game results from 1 8 . . . �g6 1 9 .tt:Jxg6 (interesting is 1 9 .l:td 1 �7 20.f5 Lc3 2 l .bxc3 tbc6 2 2 .l:td7 with chances for both sides) 1 9 . . . tt:Jxg6 2 0 .'1i'xe4 hc3 2 l .bxc3 '11Vx c3 . 1 9.l:td1 hc3 20.bxc3

3

-

The S ymmetrical Variation

n.l:tb 1 ± �f8 34.l:tb 7 l:tgs 3 S . .!:tf7+ �g8 3 6.l:txa7 l:txg6 3 7.l:ta5 cS 3 8 Jhc5 f5 3 9 Jhf5 l:ta6 40 .!:tf2 l:i.xa2 4 1 .c4 •

1 - 0 , Panarin-Demchenko , Bielore­ chensk 2 0 0 7 . 1 0. 11.

... ..tc4-b3

g 7xf6 a7-a5

This is even stronger than the classical 1 1 . . .'ii'd 6 1 2 .'iff3 �h8 1 3 . exd5 �xc3 1 4.bxc3 cxdS 1 S .c4 d4 1 6 .c5 '11V c 6 1 7 .'ifhs ( 1 7 .'ifxc6 tt:Jxc6 1 8 . f4 �g7 1 9 .i.a4;l;) 1 7 . . . tLl g 6 , and Black is at the very least not worse, Tarrasch-Yates, Carlsbad 1 9 2 3 .

l:txc3 2 1 .l:td6 'ti'xd6 22.'1i'xc3 �g6 2 3 .B illi 7

1 2.

Analysis diagram

The bad position of the bishop on h7 allows us to assess the position as slightly better for White. 24.'1i'e3 �h8 24 . . . 'i:Yd8 2 5 .'i¥xe4 tbc6 2 6 . tLlf3 l:te8 2 7 .'ir'c4 'ti'c7 2 8 .�g2 l:te3 2 9 .'1i'c5 and White is slightly better. 2 5 .'1i'xe4 tbc6 26.�g2 f6? ! 27 .id5 l:td8 2 8.i.xc6 bxc6 2 9 .tLlg6 + �xg6 3 0.fx.g6 �g8 3 1 .'1i'c4+ 'iVdS + 3 2 .'1i'xd5 + l:txdS •

a2-a3

Rough equality could be maintained by 1 2 .a4 tt:Jg6 1 3 .tt:Jfs �h8 1 4. �h 1 �xc3 (or 1 4 . . . �xf5 1 5 . exf5 tLle7 1 6 .'ifh5 'ir'd7 with a roughly equal game) 1 S .bxc3 dxe4 1 6 .dxe4 �xfS 1 7 .exf5 'ifxd 1 1 8 J Hxd 1 tLlh4 1 9 J:[d7 tLlxfS 2 0 .�g 1 l:tab8 2 l .�xf7 tt:Jd6 = . 1 2. 1 3. 1 4.

b2xc3 .tb3-a2

..tb4xc3 a5-a4 tt:Je7-g6

The poor position of the bishop on a2 permits the position to be assessed as slightly more pleasant for Black. How­ ever, White still has no serious cause for concern. 87

The Four Kni ghts Game

1 5. 1 6. 1 7.

'ii'd 1 -h5 'it>g 1 -h 1 d3-d4?1

'it>g8-h8 .:c:tf8-g8

Game No 2 5 [C49] Adhiban,Baskaran Vovk,Yury Vlissingen 2 0 0 9 (8)

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

e2-e4 tt:lg 1 -f3 tt:lb1 -c3 �f1 -b5 0-0 d2-d3 b2xc3 �c1 -g5

e7-e5 tt:lb8-c6 tt:lg8-f6 .tf8-b4 0-0 �b4xc3 d 7-d6 tt:lc6-e7

It seems that the white player overesti­ mated his position here. After 1 7 . g 3 tt:lxh4 1 8 .'Yi'xh4 l:i. g 4 1 9 .'Yi'h5 the bishop on a2 does not look very won­ derful, but White 's position is quite solid. f6-f51

1 7. Seizing the initiative. 1 8.

tt:lh4xf5?

White collapses surprisingly quickly. He could have retained drawing chances by 1 8 . tt:lf3 fxe4 1 9. tt:lxeS 'ife7 2 0 . f3 tt:lxe S 2 1 .'YWxe 5 + 'iYxe S 2 2 . dxe5 exf3 2 3 . l:i.xf3 .te6 2 4 . l:i.e 1 . Mind you , knowing the quality of Ponomariov 's technique, it is doubt­ ful that White could survive with such a bishop. 1 8. 1 9. 20. 21 . 22. 23.

'ii' h 5-h6 'tWh6-h4 'ifh4xd8+ e4xf5 d4xe5

9 . tt:lf3-h4

tt:lf6-e8?!

It is considered more exact to play 9 . c6 : ..

tt:lg6-f4 .:c:tg8-g6 �c8xf5 .:c:ta8xd8 .:c:tg6xg2 .:c:td8-g8

White resigned. It is painful to look at the bishop on a2 . 88

This variation is a close cousin of the one seen in the preceding game. In Nunn's opinion, the preliminary exchange on c3 is inferior to the immediate 7 . . . tt:le7 : 'In many variations, the exchange on c3 frees White's hands and weakens Black's control over the dark squares' .

Analysis diagram

Chapter

1 0.i.c4 dS 1 1 .i.b3 tbg6 1 I . . .'ti'd6 ! ? 1 2 .'iff3 h 6 (in the variation 1 2 . . . a5 1 3 .a4 dxe4 1 4.dxe4 .ig4 1 5 .'i¥g3 ..te2 1 6 .l::rfe 1 tbxe4 1 7 . 'i¥ e 3 tbxg5 1 8 .'i¥xg 5 ;!; White also retains some pressure) 1 3 . ..txf6 'ti'xf6 1 4.'ifxf6 gxf6 1 5 .f4 White retains some advantage. •

1 2.exdS cxdS 1 3 . .l:i.e 1 'i¥d6 1 4.'iff3 e4 1 S .'ifg3 'ifxg3 1 6.hxg3 tt:lxh4 1 7.gxh4 exd 3 1 8 .cxd3 �e6 1 9 .� e 3 .l:i.fe 8 20 . ..id4 tb d 7 2 1 ..l:i.e3 � fS 2 2 . .l:i.g3 It is

hard to say why White did not take the pawn : 2 2 . ..txd5 l:he3 2 3 .fxe3 �xd3 24.�xb 7 .l:i.b8 25 . .tf3 with winning chances. 22 g6 2 3 .�c2 2 3 . ..txd5 tLle5 24.�xb 7 .l:i.ab8 2 5 .�a6 .l:i.e6 26 . ..txe5 l:.xe 5 2 7 . .l:i. e 3 ± . 2 3 . . . bS 2 3 . . . l::!. e 2 24 . .l:i.c 1 l:rae 8 = . 24 . .l:i.b 1 2 4 . a4 a 6 2 5 . .l:i. e 3 retains a small advantage. 24...a6 2 S .a3 draw, Kogan-Delorme, Andorra Open 2 0 1 0 . ••.

•

3 -

The S ymmetrical Variation

Nunn. 1 9 gs 20.tLlf3 g4 2 1 .'ill' d4 2 l .e5 ! ? . 2 1 ...l:i.f7 2 2 .tLleS cS 2 3 .tLlxd7 •.•

cxd4 24 . .l:i.fl l::t xfl + 2 S .�xfl dxc3 26.tLlf6 + �f7 2 7.tt:lxg4 tt:lc6 2 8 .tLle3 bS 29.a3 b4 3 0.axb4 tbxb4 3 1 .�e2 dS 3 2.exdS exdS 3 3 .d4 �f6 34.g3 hS 3 S .h3 �gs 3 6 .h4+ �f6 3 7.�f3 �e6 3 8 .g4 hxg4+ 3 9.�xg4 tt:lc6 40.tt:Jfs tLlb4 4 1 .hS �f7 42.tLle3 tbc6 43 .h6 �g6 44.tt:lxdS tbxd4 4S.tLle3 tbxc2

draw, Marshall-Capablanca, New York m- 1 7 1 9 0 9 . B) 1 2.d4 h6 1 3 .�e3 b6? 1 4.�xe6 fxe6 1 S. 'if g4 .l:i.f6 1 6.f4 exf4 1 7 .l::t xf4 eS 1 8 . .l:i.xf6 tbxf6 1 9 .'Yi' e 6 + � h 7 2 0 . .l:i.fl 't/V£'8 2 1 ..l:i.f3 .l:i.e8 2 2 . ..txh6 �xh6 23 . .l:i.h3 1 - 0 , Nunn-Tatai , Manila

ol 1 9 9 2 . Back to the game.

1 o.�a4 tt:Jes

More reliable is 1 O . . . d5 1 1 .'iYf3 ( 1 I ...txf6 gxf6 1 2 .'fi'f3 tLlg6 1 3 .tLlf5 .ixf5 1 4.exf5 tbe7 with a solid position for Black; 1 l .f4 ! ?) 1 l . . .'ti'd6 1 2 . ..tb3 . 1 1 .�b3 �e6

1 0.

Analysis diagram

A) 1 2.�xe6 fxe6 1 3 .'ifg4 'ii'd 7 1 4.f4 exf4 1 S . .l:i.xf4 .l:i.xf4 1 6 .'ifxf4 tLlf6 1 7.�xf6 .l:i.£'8 1 8.'iYe3 .l:i.xf6 1 9.'i¥xa7 White has a sound extra pawn, 'but Marshall's technique was appalling ! ' -

.ib5-c4

�g8-h8

There is no equality from 1 O . . . ..te6 1 1 ...txe6 fxe6 1 2 .'ti'g4 'iYd7 1 3 .f4 - by analogy with the aforementioned Mar­ shall-Capablanca game - 1 3 . . . exf4 1 4 . .l:i.xf4 .l:i.xf4 1 5 .'ifxf4 tLlf6 1 6 .�xf6 .l:i.f8 1 7 .'iYe3 ± . 1 1 . 'ti'd 1 -h5 1 2. f2-f41

f7-f6

Nothing comes from 1 2 . �e3 g5 1 3 .'iYh6 tLlg7 1 4. tLlf3 d5 = . 89

The Four Kni ghts Game

1 2.

...

�c8-d7

1 2 . . . fxg S 1 3 . fxg S ± .

1 3. 1 4. 1 5. 1 6. 1 7. 1 8. 1 9. 20. 21 .

f4-f5! tt::l h 4-g6+ f5xg6 .l:!.f1 xf6 .l:!.f6xf8+ .l:!.a1 -f1 .l:!.f1 -f7 �c4xe6 c3-c4

f6xg5 tt:Je7xg6 tt:Je8-f6 h7-h6 'iYd8xf8 'iYf8-c8 �d 7-e6 �c8xe6 rbh8-g8

Black also retains drawing chances after 2 3 . .l:!.xb 7 dxe4 ( 2 3 . . . dxc4 24.h4 cxd3 2 S .cxd3 gxh4 2 6 .'iYfS 'iVxfS 2 7 .exfS a6 2 8 .Wf2) 24.'i!Yh3 g4 2 S .l!Yg3 .l:!.f8 2 6 . .l:!.b l exd3 2 7 .'i!Yxd3 'iYf6 2 8 .g 3 'iVf2 + 2 9 . rbh l l!Yf6 3 0 .'ti'dS + rbh8 3 1 .l!Ye4. 23 . 24. 25. 26. 27. 28.

... d3xe4 h2-h4 h4xg5 rbg1 -h2 rbh2-g 1

d5xe4 'i!Ye6-c4 'ifc4xe4 'iYe4-e3+ l!Ye3-f4+

It is not clear that there is any objection to the move 2 8 .rbh3 . The variation 2 8 . . . 'iYfS + 2 9 .'iYg4 �xg6 3 0 .l:hb 7 hxgS 3 l..�. e7 .l:!. e 8 3 2 J:he8+ 'iVxe8 3 3 .'ifc4+ 'iYf7 3 4.'iYe4;l; 'ii'x a2 3 S .c6 leaves White some small winning chances. In any event, the risk was small. 28 .... 'ii'f4-e3+ 29.rbg 1 - h 2 'ife3-f4+ 30.Wh2-h1 l!Yf4-f1 + 31 .rbh 1 -h2 'fif1 -f4+ 32.rbh2-g 1 1f2-1f2

22.

Games 2 6 and 2 7 deal with two related variations, starting with the manoeuvre �d7 on the eighth and ninth (after in­ cluding 8 . . . h6 9 . �h4) moves. In the author's opinion, in both cases it makes sense for White to play 9 .d3 -d4 (or 1 0 . d4, as appropriate) , with chances of an opening advantage.

.l:!.f7xc7

White retains some advantage after 2 2 .h3 .l:!.f8 ( 2 2 . . . .l:!.c8 2 3 .'iYg4 'iYxg4 24.hxg4) 23 . .l:!.xc7 dS 24.cS . 22.

...

d6-d5!?

Black seeks tactical chances in an un­ pleasant position. 23. c4-c5 90

Game No 26 [C49] Edouard,Romain Howell,David Andorra Open 2 0 0 8 ( 7 )

1. 2. 3.

e2-e4 tt::l g 1 -f3 tt::l b 1 -c3

e7-e5 tt::l b 8-c6 tt:Jg8-f6

C hapter

4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

�f1 -b5 0-0 d2-d3 �c1 -g5 b2xc3

3

-

T h e S ymmetrical Variation

�f8-b4 0-0 d 7-d6 �b4xc3 .tc8-d7

Analysis diagram

Along with the main line 8 . . . 'i¥e7 this is considered a reliable continuation. 9.

d3-d41?

Why prepare this important advance, if it can be played at once? • More popular is 9J:tb 1 a6 1 0.�a4 .l:!.b8 1 1 . .ib3 In the following game, White did not oppose his opponent's plans : 1 1 ..l:!.e 1 h6 1 2 .�h4 CiJe7 1 3 . .tb3 tLlg6 1 4 . .tg3 l:re8 1 5 .CfJd2 b S 1 6 .l:ra 1 draw, Svidler-Yakovenko, Sochi tt 2 0 0 9 . 1 1 . . .h 6 1 2 . ..th4 'ti' e 7 1 3 .l:re 1 CfJas 1 4.d4 .l:!.bd8 1 5 .h3 Or I S .'iVc i �g4

I 6 .'ii'a 3 CfJxb3 I 7 . dxe5 ! g S I 8 . exf6 'ii' xf6 I 9 . .ig 3 CiJcS 2 0 .e5 ( 2 0 .CiJeS ! ?) 20 . . . 'ti'g6 2 l .exd6 cxd6 2 2 .CfJe5 dxeS 2 3 .'iYxc5 with a small, but stable advan­ tage to White, Acs-Greenfeld , Balatonlelle 2 0 0 2 . 1 5 ... \t>h7 1 6.'ifc l gave White slightly more pleasant play in the game Short-Speelman, London m- 1 I 9 9 1 . • The game McShane-Motylev, Mos­ cow 20 I 0, proceeded very sharply: 9 . .l:!.b 1 a6 1 0.�a4 .l:!.bs l l .'iYc l h6 1 2.i.h4 CfJe7 1 3 . .ixf6 ? !

An interesting, but risky try. Equality results from 1 3 . �x d 7 CiJ xd 7 = . 1 3 ... .ixa4 1 4.CiJh4 ! ? .td7 Worse is I 4 . . . gxf6 1 S .'ti'xh6 dS I 6 . l:rbe i d4 I 7 .cxd4 exd4 I 8 . f4+- . 1 5 .f4 The most ambitious. 1 5 ... gxf6 Black must accept the challenge. Both I S . . . exf4 1 6 . 'i�Vxf4 gxf6 I 7 . 'i¥xh 6 ± and I S . . . \t>h7 1 6 . fxe 5 gxf6 1 7 . exf6 ( I 7 . l:rxf6 CiJ g 8 I 8 .CiJfS �xfS 1 9 . l:rxf5 dxe S =F) I 7 . . . CiJc6 I 8 .d4 l:rg8 I 9 .'li'e3 l:rg4 are worse. 1 6 .fxe5 \t>h7 ! I 6 . . . fxe 5 I 7 . 'li'xh6 tt::l g 6 I 8 .CfJf5 ( I 8 .CfJxg6 fxg 6 I 9 . 'li'xg 6 + =) I 8 . . . 'iYf6 ( I 8 . . . �xf5 1 9 . exf5 'li'h4 2 0 .'iVxh4 CiJxh4 2 1 . l:rb4 CiJ g 6 = ) 1 7 .exf6 If I 7 . l:rxf6 CiJ g 8 I 8 .CiJfs �xfS I 9 Jh f5 dxeS 2 0 . l:rxe5 White faces a hard fight for a draw. 1 7 ... tLlg6 ? ! After I 7 . . . CfJc6 White does not have full compensation for the piece : I 8 . d4 l:rg8 I 9 .'ife 1 ( 1 9 . 'ti'e3 l:r g 4 + ) 1 9 . . . l:r g 4 . l S . CiJ fS �xfS 1 9 .lhf5 tt:Jes 2 0.d4 tLld7 2 0 . . . CfJc4 2 1 . 'ti' fi CfJ e 3 2 2. 'iY f4 CiJxfS 2 3 .'ihfs + \t>h8 2 4 . 'ti'f4= ; 2 0 . . . CfJc6 2 I . 'ii' e 3 l:r g 8 . 2 1 . 'ti' e 3 .l:!.g8 2 2 . l:f.bfl l:.g6 2 3 .llh5 .ll xf6 24.e5 dxeS Black can play for the win after the more or less forced 2 4 . . . dxe 5 2 5 .dxe S CiJxeS 26 .ll xe 5 .l:!.xf1 + 2 7 . \t>xf1 2 8.'ti'e 1 'ii'x c2 '/z - '12. •

'ii' d 1 +

Back to the game. 9I

The Four Kni ghts Game

Black is forced to undertake this cum­ bersome manoeuvre to break the pin. We can see the benefits of the early d3 -d4. 1 4.

9 . ... 1 0. �g5-h4

h7-h6

Nothing comes from 1 O .�xf6 'i!Vxf6 1 1 .d5 tt::l b 8 1 2 . .l:f.b 1 �g4 1 3 . .l:f.e 1 �xf3 1 4.'iVxf3 'iYxf3 1 5 .gxf3 = . 1 0 . ...

'iV d8-e 7

Dubious is 1 O . . . g S ? ! 1 1 .tt::l x g5 hxgS 1 2..� x g 5 W g 7 ( 1 2 . . . exd4 1 3 . f4±) 1 3 .f4±. 11. 1 2.

.l:f.f1 -e1 .l:f.a1 -b1

.l:f.a8-d8

By comparison with the games Shorr­ Speelman and Acs-Greenfeld, quoted above, White has saved a tempo on bringing his bishop to b3 . However, it is not yet clear whether this brings him anything real.

i.b5xd7?!

Illogical. Almost any sensible move looks better, for example: 1 4.a4 ! ? c6 1 S . ..tc4 ..te6 1 6 . ..txe6 'iVxe6 1 7 .a5 with a clear advantage, or 1 4.h3 �xbS 1 5 .'i¥xb5 tt::l b d7 1 6 .'iYc6 ( 1 6 .'tWa4 ! ?) . 1 4. 1 5.

... tt::lf 3-d 2

Even so, White still has some advantage. 1 6.

tt::l d 2-f1

1 6 .f3 looks quite good, not allowing the black queen into g4, and White will follow up with, say tt::l c 4 and a4, with a comfortable plus. 1 6 . ... 1 7. i.h4-g3 1 8. f2-f3 1 9. �g3-h4

b7-b6 tt::l c 6-b8

'iVe6-g4 'ti'g4-g6 tt::l f6-h5

Some initiative could be retained by 1 9 .'ti'a6 'iVe6 ( 1 9 . . . tt::l x g3 2 0 .tt::l x g 3 with advantage to White) 2 0 .�h4. 1 9 . .. 20. 'iVd3-d2 21 . tt::lf 1 -g3 22. tt::l g 3-f5 23. .l:f.b1 -d1 24. tt::lf 5xh4 25. d4-d5 26. tt::l h 4-f5 27. c3-c4 .

1 2 . ... 1 3. 'iYd 1 -d3

tt::l b 8xd7 'tWe7-e6

tt::l h 5-f4 .l:f.d8-c8 'tWg6-e6 tt::lf4-g6 tt::l g 6xh4 tt::l d 7-f6 'tWe6-d7 Wg8-h 7 .l:f.c8-e8=

The position is equal, and it is hard for either side to improve his position. 28.

g2-g4?!

This does not lead to anything good. 92

C h a pt e r

28 . ... 29. h2-h4 30. h4-h5 31 . e4xf5 32. f5xg6+ 33. 't!Vd2-d3

3

-

The S ymmet r i c a l Va r i ati on

Game No 2 7 [C49]

tt::lf 6-g8 tt::l g 8-e7 tt:Je7xf5 g7-g6 f7xg6 .l:rf8-f6

Dzhumaev,Marat Balogh,Csaba Cappelle-la-Grande 2 0 0 9 (9)

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

e2-e4 tt::l g 1 -f3 tt::l b1 -c3 �f1 -b5 0-0 d2-d3 �c1 -g5 b2xc3 �g5-h4

e7-e5 tt::l b 8-c6 tt::l g 8-f6 �f8-b4 0-0 d 7-d6 �b4xc3 h 7-h6 �c8-d7

White 's aggressive plan has led to a situ­ ation where the weakness of the f3 pawn and the squares around the white king is more significant than the unreli­ able pawn protection of the black king. The rest of the game sees Black hold the initiative. 34 . .l:rd1 -d2 'lt>h7-g7 35.h5xg6 .l:re8-f8 36 . .l:re1 -e3 .l:rf6-f4 37. .l:rd2-h2 .l:rf8-f6 38 . .l:rh2-h3 'ii' d 7-e8 39.\t>g 1 -g2 a7-a5 40 . .l:rh3-h1 'li'e8xg6 41 . .l:rh1 -e1 �g6-f7 42 . .l:re1 - h 1 .l:rf4-d4 43.'ii' d 3-e2 .l:rf6-f4 44 . .l:rh1 -h5 .l:rd4xc4 45 . .l:rh5xe5 d6xe5 46 . .l:re3xe5 'lt>g7-f8 47. .l:re5-e6 .l:rc4-d4 48.'ii' e 2-e5 .l:rf4xg4+ 49.\t>g2-f2 .l:rd4-f4 50.'t/Ve5-h8+ .l:rg4-g8 51 .'li'h8xh6+ .l:rg8-g7 52.'ii' h 6-h8+ 'iVf7-g8 53.�h8-h6 .l:rf4-f7 54.d5-d6 'ii' g 8-h7 55.d6xc7 �h 7xc2+ 56.\t>f2-e1 'iVc2-c3+ 57.\t>e1 -d1 'ti'c3xf3+ 58.\t>d 1 -c2 .l:rf7xc7+ White resigned.

A direct relation of the variation seen in the previous game . 1 0.

d3-d4

.l:rf8-e8

Risky is 1 O ... g5 l l .tLlxg5 hxg5 ( 1 1 . . . tt::l x e4 1 2 . tt::l f3 tt::l g S 1 3 . �xg5 hxg S 1 4.�xc6 �xc6 1 S .dxeS , and White is simply better) 1 2.�xg5 and now : A) 1 2 ... tt::l xd4 1 3 .�xd7 �xd 7 + B ) 1 2 . . .'lt>g 7 1 3 .f4 'fV e 8 1 4.fx;S tt::l g4 1 5 .�f6 + 'lt>h7 1 6 .h3 tt::l h 6 1 7 .exd6 cxd6 1 8 .�d3 .l:rg8 1 9 .e 5 + +- ; C) 1 2 ... a6 1 3 .�xc6 �xc6 1 4.f4 exd4 1 S .'t!Vxd4 �xe4 1 6 .�xf6 cS 1 7 .�xe4 �xf6 1 8 . .l:rf3 .l:rfe8 1 9 .'iVxb 7 +- · D) 1 2 ... exd4 1 3 .cxd4 a 6 1 1 .�xc6 �xc6 1 s .'fVf3 �xe4 1 6 .'Yi'f4 tt::l h s 1 7 .� g4 with advantage. e

93

The Four Knights Game • 1 0 ... 1lt' e7 transposes into the varia­ tion seen in the previous game.

11.

l:f.f1 -e1

a7-a6

Here too, the attempt to break out at once leads to problems : l l . . . g S 1 2 .ti:Jxg5 hxg S 1 3 .�xg5 a 6 ( 1 3 . . .'>to>g7 1 4.l:f.e3 with an attack for White ; 1 3 . . . Wh 7 1 4 . d 5 ± ) 1 4 . �xc6 bxc 6 1 S .l:f.e3 ± . 1 2.

d4xe5

This move was used in the predecessor game Shirov-Yakovenko (see below) . In my view, the simple 1 2.�d3 ;!;; pre­ serves the initiative.

I S .f4± ; 1 4 . . . Wh7 1 S .l:f.e3 ! ?. 1 S .'ti'f3 The endgame arising after I S . . . tt:Jes 1 6 .'iYxf6 'i¥xf6 1 7 .�xf6 dxc3 1 8 .l:f.e3 tt:Jxd3 1 9 .cxd3 c2 2 0 . l:f.c l l:f.e6 2 I .l:f.g3 + 'iith 7 2 2 .l:f.h3 + 'iit g 6 2 3 .�c3 is in White's favour. 1 6.cxd4 tt:Jxd4 1 7.'iVg3 gives White sufficient compen­ sation for the pawn. For example: 1 7 ...tt:Je6 There is no other way to escape from the pin. 1 8.�4+ 'iit fti No better is 1 8 . . . 'iit h 6 1 9 .'iYe3 + 'iit g 7 2 0 .e5 dxeS 2 I .'i!Vg 3 + Wf8 2 2 .'i!Vxe5 'iit g 7 2 3 .l:f.e3 . 'iit g 7

1 9.1lt'f3 'iitg 7 20.e5 dxeS 2 1 .1lt'g3 + 'iit fti 22.'iYxe5 '1t>g7 2 3 .l:f.e3 tt::l fli 24.'iVgS + ti:Jg6 2S . .ixg6 fxg6 26.l:f.d1

Analysis diagram Analysis diagram

This move has not been met in tourna­ ment practice. It is not easy for Black to escape from the pin. Thus, it is quite dangerous to play 1 2 ... g5Maybe Black should resort to the tried and trusted Metger method with 1 2 . . .'iYe 7 , al­ though in this case, White will retain some initiative. For example, 1 3 .h3 (preventing . . . �g4) 1 3 . . . axbS (the typi­ cal 1 3 . . . ti:Jd8 1 4.'ir'd2 does not solve the problem, as 1 4 . . . ti:Je6 fails to l S .dxeS ±) 1 4.'ir'd2 , and it is still difficult for Black to escape from the pin. 1 3.tt::lxg5 ! ? Also good is 1 3 .�g3 g4 ( 1 3 . . . exd4 1 4.cxd4 g4 1 S .�h4! ;!;; ) 1 4.dS ;!;; ti:JaS 1 S .ti:Jd2 . 1 3 . . . hxg5 1 4.�xg5 exd4 1 4 . . . 'iit g 7 94

The abundance of deadly pins reminds one of the game Morphy-Duke of Brunswick. Back to the game.

1 2.

...

d6xe5

Chapte r

1 2 . . . tt:lxe5 ! ? is also sufficient for equality: 1 3 .tt:lxe5 axbS 1 4 . .txf6 ( 1 4.tt:lxd7 'ifxd7 1 S ..txf6 gxf6 1 6 . .l:J.e3 l:ra4=) 1 4 . . . 'ifxf6 1 s .tt:lxd7 'i¥e6 1 6.tt:lb6 cxb6 1 7 .'i¥d3 =. 13 . .th4xf6 1 4. 'ii' d 1 xd7 1 5. 'i¥d 7xc7

'i!Vd8xf6 a6xb5 'i¥f6-e6=

3 -

The S ymmet r i cal Va r i ation

Forcing a transition into a practically drawn rook ending. Also good was 1 7 . . . 'ifc4 1 8 .'i¥e3 - White's extra pawn promises more of a moral, than a real victory. 1 8. 1 9. 20.

'iYb6xe6 g2xf3 l:re1 -e3

tt:ld4xf3+ l:re7xe6

Or also : 2 0 . l:r ed 1 .l::r c 6 2 1 . l:r d 3 (2 1 . l:rd5 l:rxc3 2 2 . l:rxb5 .l::r xf3 2 3 . l:rxe5 l:tfxa3 is equal) 2 1 . . . l:rac8 2 2 . .l:J.b 1 .l::r x c3 2 3 . l:rxc3 l:rxc3 2 4 . l:rxb5 l:rxa3 2 S .�g2 f6 2 6 . l:rxb 7 l:rc3 2 7 .l:b2 . It is impossible to realise such an extra pawn.

1 6.

a2-a3

This does not change the assessment of the position, from that seen previously : 1 6 .h3 .l:f.e7 1 7 .'i¥b6 tt:ld4 1 8 .'iYxe6 tt:lxf3 + 1 9 . gxf3 l:rxe6 2 0 .l:teb 1 l:tf6 2 1 .�g2 l:ra3 draw, Shirov-Yakovenko, Sochi tt 2 0 0 6 . 16. 1 7.

... 'ifc7-b6

l:re8-e7 tt:lc6-d4

20 ... l:re6-c6 21 . �g 1 -f1 l:ra8-c8 22.l:ra 1 - b 1 l:rc6xc3 23.l:re3xc3 l:rc8xc3 24.l:rb1 xb5 l:rc3xa3 b7-b5 f7-f5 28.e4xf5 29.l:re7-e5 l:rf3-c3 30.l:re5xb5 l:rc3xc2 3Vit>f1 -g2 � h 7-g8 32.�g2-g3 �g8-f7 33.h2-h4 34.f2-f3 �f7-f6 l:rc2-c4 35.l:rb5-b7 h 6 - h 5 36.l:rb7-b5 37.l:rb5-a5 l:rc4-d4 Draw agreed.

95

Chapter 4

The Metger System

Games No 2 8 - 3 5 are devoted to what is regarded as the main line. The manoeuvre . . . 'iWe7 followed by . . . tLld8 and . . . tLle6 , breaking the pin of the poisonous bishop on gS , is the idea of the 1 9th century German master, Johannes Metger. Game No 2 8 [C49] Kogan,Artur Lafuente,Pablo San Sebastian 2 0 0 9 ( 7 )

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

e2-e4 tt:Jb1 -c3 tt:Jg1 -f3 �f1 -b5 0-0 d2-d3 b2xc3

e7-e5 tt:Jg8-f6 tt:Jb8-c6 �f8-b4 0-0 �b4xc3 'ti'd8-e7

1 8 .l:f.e3 ( 1 8 .'ti'f3 c6 1 9 .'ii xf6 + 'ith7 2 0 .'ti'f5 + 'ith6 2 I .'ti'f6 + = - Karpov) 1 8 . . . l:f.h8 1 9 .l:f.g3 + 'itf8 2 0 .'ii' f3 l:f.h6 2 l .tLlxf6 with good compensation for the piece. I S .'ilhh s l:f.xdS 1 9.exd5 tt:Jg7 20.'ti'h6 �fs 2 I .'ti'xf6 'ti'b6

:� •

2 2.'ti'h4 Worthy of consideration was

2 2 .'ti'gS ! ? 'iid 6 2 3 .c4 i.xc2 24.l:f.ac l , and White's chances are clearly supe­ rior. 22 .itxc2 23 .l:te7 Black's position is worse, but in the remainder of the game, Karpov defends with great mas­ tery and cold-bloodedness. 23 ... 'ii d6 ••.

A slight move-order trick. 8.

�c1 -g5

h 7-h61?

8 . . . d6 9 .l:f.e I transposes into the main line. 9. �g5-h4 1 0. l:f.f1 -e1 1 1 . d3-d4

d 7-d6 tt:Jc6-d8 �c8-g4

l l . .. tLle6 (with a small transposition) was seen in the game Speelman-Karpov, Linares 1 9 9 2 : 1 2.dxe5 ! dxeS 1 3 .tLlxeS 'ifcs 1 4 . .ixf6 'ti'xb S I S . tLl g4 hS 1 6.tLle3 gxf6 1 7.tLldS .l:f.d8 1 7 . . . 'itg7

•

24.c4 bS 2 5 .cxb5 'ir'xdS 2 6 .a4 c6 2 7.bxc6 'ti'xc6 2 8 .h3 2 8 .'ti'f4 'ii g 6 2 9 . l:f.xa 7 ± 2 8 .itg6 2 9 .l:f.e5 l:c8 3 0 . .I:!.ae l a6 3 1 .a5 tLle6 3 2 .'ii f6 tt::J £'8 3 3 .'iixc6 .l:f.xc6 34.l:.d l tLle6 3 S .h4 '>t>g7 3 6 .h5 .ith7 3 7.J:[d7 '>t>f6 3 8J:te3 jt_f5 3 9.lld5 tLlf4 40.l:l.d4 tt:Je6 4 I .J:[dS draw. •.•

1 2.

h2-h3

•

�g4xf3

Or 1 2 . . . �h5 1 3 . g4 .tg6 1 4.�d3 . White has the strategic initiative (also good is 1 4 . .l:f.b l ! ?) . 97

The Four Kni ghts Game

1 3. 1 4.

'ifd 1 xf3 l:ta1 -d1

tt:Jd8-e6 g7-g5?1

�h4-g3 h3-h4 .tb5-c4 h4xg5 .ic4-f1

tt:Je6-g7;t a7-a6 b7-b5 h6xg5 �g8-h7

1 4 . . . tbf4 ! ?. 1 5. 1 6. 17 . 1 8. 1 9.

Or 1 9 . . tt:Jfhs 2 0 . .th2 tL:lf4 2 1 .c4 with advantage to White. .

20.

c3-c4

32 .

.ic4-b3

3 2..�. d 3 ! ? . 32 . 33. 34 . 35.

... l:td4-d3 .tb3xf7+ .tf7-b3

l:tc5-e5 tt:Jf6xe4 �g6-g7 l:td8-f8

3 5 . . . tbcS retains some chances to hold. 36. .!:If1 -e1 37. .!:Ie1 -d1 38. J::[ d 3-f3

.!:lf8-e8 l:te8-f8 1 -0

b5-b4 Game No 29 [C49] Dzhmnaev,Marat Filippov,Anton Tashkent ch-UZB 2 0 0 9 ( I 0)

21 . 22. 23.

c4-c5!± c5xd6 "i¥f3-b3

�h7-g6 c7xd6

Worth considering was 2 3 .c3 ! ? bxc3 ( 2 3 . . . a5 2 4 . dxe5 dxe S 2 S J:td 5 ! ) 24."i¥xc3 ± . 23 . ... 24. 'ti'b3xb4 25. f2xg3 26. .tf1 -c4 27. 'it'b4-a3 28. �a3-d3 29. l:te1 -f1

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

e2-e4 tt:Jg1 -f3 tt:Jb1 -c3 .tf1 -b5 0-0 d2-d3 b2xc3 .tc1 -g5 l:tf1 -e1

This quite rare move appears better than its reputation. 1 0.

h2-h3

11.

g2-g4

tt:Jg7-h5 tt:Jh5xg3 l:tf8-d8 a6-a5 l:ta8-c8 V/ie7-a7

2 9 .c 3 ± . 29 . 30. 31 . 98

... "iYd3xd4 l:td 1 xd4

'ifa7xd4+ e5xd4 l:tc8-c5

e7-e5 tt:Jb8-c6 tt:Jg8-f6 .tf8-b4 0-0 .tb4xc3 d 7-d6 'tWd8-e7 .tc8-g4

.tg4-h5

Chapter • An old recommendation of Euwe's. As the present game shows , White has nothing special here. Worth consider­ ing is l l .llb 1 h6 and now: A) 1 2 .�xf6 'i!Vxf6 I 3 . .ixc6 bxc6 I 4.g4 .ig6 I S . llb7 hS I 6 .lt:Jd2 = ; B) 1 2.�h4 g S I 3 . .ig3 a 6 I 4 . .ixc6 ( I 4.ii.a4 bS I S . .ib3 tt::l a s I 6 . h4) I 4 . . . bxc6 I S .d4 ( I S .h4 ! ?) I S . . . llab8 I 6 .llb3 l::r fd8 I 7 .'i!Vd3 (White has some initiative) I 7 . . . ii.xf3 I 8 :ihf3 �g 7 I 9 .dxe5 dxeS 2 0 .'i!Vfs with a clear advantage to White. • However, the most logical move in the position seems to be l l .d4 and now: A) The pawn cannot be taken : l l . .. exd4 1 2 .g4 ii.g6 I 3 .cxd4± ; B) l l . .. �xf3 1 2 .'ti'xf3 exd4? ( 1 2 . . . a6 I 3 .ii.xc6 bxc6 I 4.llab I with the initia­ tive to White) I 3 . .ixc6 bxc6 I 4.cxd4± ; C) l l ...h6 1 2 . .ih4 a6 1 2 . . . ii.xf3 I 3 .'ti'xf3 g S I 4.�g3 exd4 I S . .ixc6 bxc6 I 6 .cxd4±. 1 3 .ia4 White gets nothing after I 3 .ii.xc6 bxc6 I 4.'i!Yd3 �xf3 ( I 4 . . . 'i!Ye6 I S .tt::l d 2) I S .'i!Yxf3 J::!. ab8 I 6 .ii.xf6 'i!Yxf6 I 7 .'i!Yxf6 gxf6 1 8 .llab 1 = . 1 3 b5 1 4.�b 3 gS Or 1 4 . . . tt::l a 5 1 S .'ti'd3 llfe 8 1 6 . a4 c6 1 7 .tt::l d 2 and White has the initiative. ( 1 7 . .ia2 ! ?) . 1 S . .ig3 llfe8 1 6 .'i!Yd3 White's position is somewhat better (analysis) . •

•••

11. 1 2.

... tt::lf3-d2

.ih5-g6

Here too, 1 2 .d4 deserves attention. 1 2 . ... 1 3. �g5-h4 1 4. f2-f4?!

h7-h6 tt::l c 6-d8

Too risky. The position is close to equal­ ity and it would have been sensible to

4

-

The Metger S ystem

acknowledge this : 1 4 . 'i!Yf3 1 S . .ixf6 'ir'xf6 1 6 .'ir'xf6 gxf6 = .

1 4. 1 5. 1 6. 1 7.

... d 3-d4 tt::l d 2-f3 e4-e5

tt::l e 6

e5xf4 tt::l d 8-e6 �g6-h7

White has no compensation for the lost material, but maybe he should have tried 1 7 .ii.d3 g S I 8 .ii.f2 llfe8 1 9 .eS . 1 7. 1 8. 1 9. 20. 21 . 22. 23. 24.

... lle1 xe5 'i!Yd 1 -e1 ii.b5-d3 c2xd3 lla1 -d1 .ih4xf6 lle5-e2

d6xe5 "ife7-a31+ 'i!Va3-b2 .ih7xd3 'ir'b2-c2 'i!Yc2xa2 g7xf6

24.llh5 tt::l g s 2 5 .tt::l x g5 fxg S 2 6 . llxh6 llae 8 + . 2 4... 'i'Va2-d5 25.tt::l f 3-h4 tt::l e 6-g5 26.'ir'e1 -f1 llf8-e8 27.lld 1 -e1 f7xe6 28.lle2xe6 lle8-e6 29.�g 1 -h2 'ir'd5-d6 30.'i!Yf1 -f2 f4-f3+ 31 .tt::l h 4-g6 c7-c5 32.�h2-h1 c5xd4 33.h3-h4 h6xg5 34.h4xg5 �g8-g7 35.'i!Yf2xf3 �g7xg6 36.�h 1 -g1 'i!Yd6-d5 37.'tWf3-h3 d4xc3 38.lle1 -e2 'ti'd5-d4+ 39.�g 1 -h 1 'i!Yd4-d5+ 0-1 99

The Four Kni ghts Game

Game No 3 0 [C49]

White 's position is clearly more prom­ ising.

Delchev,Alexander Cori Tello,Jorge Pamplona 2 0 1 0 (8)

1 . e2-e4 2. t2Jg1 -f3 3. t2Jb1 -c3 4. .tf1 -b5 5. 0-0 6. d2-d3 7. �c1 -g5 8. b2xc3 9. l::l.f 1 -e1 1 0. d 3-d4

1 7. f2-f4 e7-e5 t2Jb8-c6 t2Jg8-f6 ..tf8-b4 0-0 d 7-d6 �b4xc3 'iWd8-e7 t2Jc6-d8 a7-a6

A rare continuation. 11. 1 2. 1 3. 1 4. 1 5.

�b5-d3 �g5-d2 h2-h3 g2-g4 t2Jf3-h4:t

h 7-h6 �c8-g4 �g4-h5 �h5-g6 tLlf6-d7

Worth attention is 15 ...tLle6 1 6.tLlf5 'iWdS 1 7.'iWf3 !? Dubious is 1 7 .f4 exf4 1 8 .d5 ( 1 8 .'iWf3 tLlgs 1 9 .'iWh 1 dS=F) 1 8 . . . t2Jcs 1 9 .'iif3 l::l. e 8 2 0 .�xf4 tLlfd7 , and White is not likely to get anything worthwhile from his attack. Now Black does not have too many useful moves. 1 7 . . tLld7 1 7 . . . exd4 1 8 .cxd4 .ixfs 1 9 .exfS tLlxd4 2 0 .'iWxb7:t. 1 8.�e3 and Black has a slightly passive, but very solid position.

The move 1 7 .dS was in the spirit of the position, closing the centre and shifting the centre of the battle to the kingside : A) 1 7 . . . c6 1 8 . c4 tLl c S 1 9 . -ifl ( 1 9 . 'li;>h2 ! ? bS) 1 9 . . . b5 2 0 .'iif3 ; B) 1 7 ... �xf5 1 8 . gxf5 c6 1 9 .c4 tLlcS 2 0 . 'li;>h2 ( 2 0 . �fl ! ?) ; C) 1 7 . . tLlc5 1 8 . 'li;>h2 c6 l 9 .Ug l with the threat of gS . White's prospects are superior. .

1 7. ... 1 8. f4xe5 1 9. l::l. e 1 -f1 20. e4xf5

t2Jd8-e6 d 6xe5 .ig6xf5 t2Je6-g5

.

1 6.

t2Jh4-f5

'iWe7-f6

Black has sufficient counterplay : the weakness of the white king is notice­ able. 21 . 22. 23. 24. 25.

h3-h4 c;i;>g 1 -g2 �d2xf4 'iY d 1 -f3 .l:rf1 -h1

tt:Jg5-h3+ tLlh3-f4+ e5xf4 'iWf6xh4

2 5 .'iWxf4 tLlf6 = . 25 .

...

'ii h 4-g3+

Also adequate is 25 . . . 'iVf6 26 . .:Ih5 Jd.fe8 2 7 .gS 'iWd6 2 8 . l::l. f l = ( 2 8 . gxh 6 ? .l:re3 +) . 1 00

Chapter

26.

'iYf3xg3

27.

g4-g5

f4xg3

4

-

The Metger S ystem

6. 7. 8. 9. 1 0. 11.

d2-d3 �c1 -g5 b2xc3 .l:rf1 -e1 d3-d4 h2-h3

d 7-d6 .ib4xc3 ifd8-e7 tt:Jc6-d8 �c8-g4

11.

...

�g4-h5

The last try. After 2 7 . 'it>xg 3 it is a draw. 27. 28. 29. 30.

... .l:r h 1 -h3 .l:ra 1 -h 1 .l:r h 1 -e1

h6xg5 .l:rf8-d8 'it>g8-f8

Nothing comes from 3 0 . .l:rxg3 'it>e7 (30 .. .f6 3 1 .�c4;l;) 3 1 Jhg5 'it>f6 = . 3 0... tt:Jd 7-f6 31 . .l:rh3-h8+ tt:Jf6-g8 32 . .l:re1 -e3 .l:rd8-d6 33 . .l:rh8-h5 g5-g4 34.'it>g2xg3 tt:Jg8-h6 35.'it>g3-f4 .l:ra8-e8 36 . .l:re3-e5 .l:rd6-c6 37.c3-c4 .l:rc6-d6 38.d4-d5 b7-b6 1f2-1f2

If 3 8 . . . .l:rxe5 3 9 .'it>xe5 f6 + 4 0 . Wf4 .l:rb6+ it is White who should look for the draw. Game No 3 1 [C49] Adams,Michael Werle,}an London 2 0 0 9 ( 7 )

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

e2-e4 tt:Jg1 -f3 tt:J b 1 -c3 .if1 -b5 0-0

e7-e5 tt:J b8-c6 tt:Jg8-f6 �f8-b4 0-0

It is at the very least illogical to play 1 l . . . .ixf3 ? ! 1 2 .'ti'xf3 tlJe6 1 3 .�e3 h6 1 4.h4 tt:Jh7 1 5 . g3 'iYf6 1 6 .'iYd 1 'iYg6 1 7 .a4 tlJf6 1 8 . .id3 aS 1 9 .'ilf3 tlJg4 2 0 .�c 1 .l:rae8 2 1 ..l:rb 1 exd4 2 2 .e5 fS 2 3 .exd6 cxd6 24.cxd4 tt:Jxd4 2 5 .'iYd5 + 'iff? 2 6 .'ihf7 + Wxf7 2 7 . .l:rxb 7 + 'it>g6 28 . .l:rxe8 .l:rxe8 2 9 .Wg2 tt:Je5 3 0 .�b2 tt:Jef3 3 l ..l:rd7 tt:Je 1 + 3 2. Wfl tt:Jxd3 3 3 . �xd4 .l:r e l + 3 4 . Wg 2 tt:J c 5 3 5 . l:Ixg 7 + Wh5 3 6 . f3 tt:J e 6 3 7 .g4+ 1 - 0 , Negi-Yuldashev, Delhi 2 0 1 0 ( 6) . 1 2. 1 3.

g2-g4 d4-d5

�h5-g6

This continuation was seen in Spassky­ Gligoric , Sarajevo 1 9 8 6 . Worth consid­ ering is 1 3 . .id3 ! ? . White gets nothing from : 1 3 .tLlh4 tLle6 Weaker is 1 3 . . . h 6 ? ! 1 4.tlJf5 �xf5 1 5 .�xf6 'iYxf6 1 6 . exf5 a6 1 7 .dxe5 dxe5 1 8 .�d7 tlJc6 1 9 .'iYf3 tlJb8 2 0 . .!:!.ad 1 c6 2 1 ..l:rd2 .l:f.d8 2 2 . .l:red 1 .l:ra7 2 3 . .l:rd6 e4 draw, Lundquist-V Ragozin, correspondence 1 9 5 6 . 'An in­ comprehensible decision , since 101

The Four Kni ghts Game

24.'iWe3 .l:i.xd7 2 S .'il'xa7 simply wins' ­ Nunn. 1 4.'iWd2 On 1 4.�c 1 Black can even play 1 4 . . . �xe4 1 5 . g S tt:lxdS 1 6 . .l:i.xe4 tt:lxc3 1 7 .tt:lfS 'i¥d8 1 8 .'ifd3 tt:lxe4 1 9 .'ifxe4 exd4 with unclear play. 1 4 . . . h6 1 4 . . . �xe4 ! ? . 1 5 .tt:lf5 .iii. xfS 1 6 . .txf6 'iYxf6 1 7.exf5 t2Jf4 1 8.'1t>h2?!

Better is 1 8 . � e3 . 1 8 ...h5 1 9.'1t>g3 ? ?

21 . 22.

tt:ld2-b3;!; 'ifd 1 -d2

.l:i.c8-c7

... .l:i.a1 -a2 h3-h4 a4-a5 a5xb6 h4-h5

.l:i.f8-c8 �h7-g6 f7-f6 tt:lb7-c5 a7xb6

2 2 .a5 ! ? . 22 . 23. 24. 25. 26. 27.

Maybe he should have maintained the tension. 2 7 .tt:lxcS tt:lxcS 2 8 .�e2 at least keeps the possibility of a breakthrough. 27. 28. 29. Analysis diagram

1 9 . . . hxg4 2 0 .hxg4 'Wh6 0 - 1 , D. Abhishek-Yuldashev, Delhi 2 0 1 0 (8) .

1 3. 1 4.

... .itb5-d3

... tt:l b3-c1 c2xd 3

�g6-e8 tt:lc5xd3

Worth consideration was 2 9 . tt:lxd3 cxdS 3 0 .cxd5 tt:lcS 3 1 .'ifb4;!; . 29.

...

c6-c51

c7-c6 .l:i.a8-c8

The above-mentioned game between two of the greats went 1 4 . . . cxdS 1 S .exd5 e4? ! 1 6 .�xe4 ! .itxe4 1 7 .'ifd4, and Spassky had an extra pawn. 1 5. 1 6. 1 7. 1 8.

c3-c4 tt:lf3-d2 .itg5-h4 f2-f3

b7-b6 h 7-h6 �g6-h7

The prophylactic 1 8 .a4 tt:lb7 1 9 .tt:lb3 ;!; was worth considering. 1 8.

...

g 7-g5

More solid is 1 8 . . . tt:lb 7 , but even here, after 1 9 .tt:lb3 White's space advantage guarantees him a small advantage. 1 9. 20. 102

.ith4-f2 a2-a4

tt:lf6-d7 tt:ld8-b7

This move creates a fortress. White keeps a formal advantage, but can do nothing with it. 30.tt:lc1 -e2 tt:ld 7-f8 31 . .l:i.e 1 - b 1 .l:i.c7-b7 32.tt:le2-g3 �e8-d7 33 . .l:i.a2-a6 �e7-d8 34.�d 2-a2 .l:i.c8-b8 35 . .tf2-e1 'ifd8-c7 36.�e1 -c3 '1t>g8-f7 37.'1t>g 1 -g2 '1t>f7-e8 38 . .l:i. b 1 -b3 �d 7-c8 39.tt:lg3-f1 .tc8-d7 40.tt:lf1 -e3 .td 7-c8 41 .'1t>g2-f2 �c8-d7

Chapter

42.f2-g2 �d7-c8 43.'ifa2-b1 �c8-d7 44J:la6-a2 �d7-c8 45J:ra2-b2 e8-f7 46.g2-f2 47.f2-e2 f7-e8 e8-f7 48.e2-d2 f7-e8 49J:lb3-a3 �c8-d7 50.'ifb1-a1 e8-d8 51. .l:!.a3-a6 �d7-c8 52.tt:Je3-c2 �c8-d7 53. .l:!.b2-a2 ikd7-c8 54. .l:!.a6-a3 ikc8-d7 55. .l:!.a3-a7 .l:!.b7xa7 56 . .l:!.a2xa7 .l:!.b8-b7 57. .l:!.a7-a8+ .l:!.b7-b8 58. .l:!.a8-a3 'lll:Vc7-c8 59.tt:Jc2-e3 'ifc8-c7 60.d2-c2 'i¥c7-c8 61J:la3-a6 'iYc8-c7 62.tt:Je3-f5 �d7xf5 63.e4xf5 tt:Jf8-d7 64."tWa1-a4 .l:!.b8-b7 65 . .l:!.a6-a8+ .t:i.b7-b8 66 . .l:!.a8-a7 1f2-1f2

11.

4

-

The Metger System

�g5-h4

Not considered strongest, since by comparison with usual positions from the Metger, where the white bishop ends up on h4, here Black has saved a tempo on . . . h7 -h6 However, even here, it is not so easy for him to equalise. The main moves are 1 1 .�d2 and 1 1 . .itc 1 . 11. 12.

... tt:Jf3-d2

tt:Je6-f4 c7-c5

Practice has also seen 1 2 ... �h8 1 3 . .itfl h6 1 4.f3 gS 1 S . .itg3 .l:!.g8 1 6.tLlc4 .l:!.g7 1 7.tt:le3 hS 1 8.c4 .i1Ld7 1 9.c3 .l:!.ag8 20.tt:lfS �xfS 2 1 .exfS h4 22 .i1Lf2 g4 2 3.�xh4 •

Game No 3 2 [C49J Yuldashev,Saidali Amin,Bassem AI Ain tt 2008 (5) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

e2-e4 tt:Jg1-f3 tt:Jb1-c3 �f1-b5 0-0 d2-d3 b2xc3 �c1-g5 .l:!.f1-e1 d3-d4

e7-e5 tt:Jb8-c6 tt:Jg8-f6 �f8-b4 0-0 �b4xc3 d7-d6 "tWd8-e7 tt:Jc6-d8 tt:Jd8-e6

Analysis diagram

2 3 ... gxf3 Worth consideration is 23 . . . tt:Je4 24.fxe4 (24.�xe 7 tLlh3 + 2 5 .gxh3 gxh3 + mating) 2 4 . . . 'ifxh4 25 .g3 tLlh3 + 26.h 1 tLlfl+ 2 7 .g2 tt::lxd 1 2 8 .gxh4 tt::lxc3 29.dxe5 dxeS 3 0 .a4 with a double-edged position Kamsky. 24.'ii' x f3 .l:!.g4 2 4 . . . tt:Jxg2 2 5 .�xg2 .l:!.xg2+ 26.h 1 ± . 2S ..ig3± tLl6hS 26.�4 tt:lxf4 2 7.g3 'i!Yh4 28.l:te3 tLlhS 29.'�'£'2 exd4 3 0.cxd4 lhd4 31..l:!.ael 'i¥f6 32 . .l:!.e4 .l:!.xe4 33 . .l:!.xe4 'il:Ygs 34.'il:Yd4+ h7 3 S . .l:!.h4 .l:!.es 36.'ti'dl h6 37 ..ite2 .l:!.xe2 38.'il:Yxe2 a6 39.a4 b6 40 . .l:!.h3 'tlt'cl + 4 1 .�g2 1 -0, Kamsky-Timman, Tilburg 1 99 1 . •

103

The Four Knights Game

13. 14. 15.

�b5-f1 tt:Jd2-c4 f2-f3

h7-h6 .l:[f8-d8

15.a4!? b6 16.f3 looks more accurate.

15 .

...

b7-b6

It is worth considering 15...b5 16.tLle3 (16.tLla5 'i:Vc7!? 17.�xf6 gxf6 18.tLlb3 c4 19.tLlc1 d5 with counterplay) 16...b4, creating counterplay on the queenside. On 17.g3 there is 17...gS 18.gxf4 gxh4 with unclear conse­ quences.

16.

tt:Jc4-e3

20. 21. 22.

22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30.

g7-g5 �c8-e6

Worth attention is 18.g3 tLlh3+ (18 ... tLlg6 19.d5) 19.�xh3 .txh3 20.g4;!;;; or 18.d5 �d7 19.c4 in both cases with the initiative for White.

18. 19.

... g2-g3

'iti>g8-h7 tt:Jf4-g6

He cannot solve all his problems by 19...tLlh3+ 20.�xh3 �xh3 2l.g4 'ife8 22.tLlf5.

20.

a2-a4;!;;

20.d5!? �d7 21.c4. 104

... .l:[e1-b1 c;t;>g1-h1 �b5-d3 c3-c4 tt:Je3-f5 h2-h4 e4xf5 h4xg5

�d7-c8 .l:[a8-b8 tt:Jf6-g8 tt:Jg8-e7 .l:[d8-f8 f7-f6 tt:Je7xf5 tt:Jg6-e7

Maybe it made sense to maintain the tension for now, so as to open the h-file in more favourable circumstances: 30.g4 �d7 3I.c;t;>g2 c;t;>g7 32 ..l:[h1 .l:[h8 33 ...te3.

It is not easy for Black to untangle.

... �h4-f2 'ifd1-d2

'ife7-c7 �e6-d7

22.c4!?.

30. 31. 32.

16 . 17. 18.

... d4-d5 �f1-b5

... c;t;>h1-g2 g3-g4

h6xg5 c;t;>h7-g7

No advantage is given by 32..l:[h1 �xfS 33.�xf5 tLlxfS 34.'i:Vd3 'i:Vd7 35.g4 tLlh4+ 36.�xh4 gxh4 37..l:[xh4 .l:[h8 38..l:[ah1 = .

32. 33. 34. 35. 36.

... �f2-e3 a4-a5 a5xb6 l:rb1-h1

�c8-d7 .l:[f8-h8 c;t;>g7-f7 a7xb6 'ifc7-b7

Chapter 4

A very similar structure arose in the game Adams-Werle (see Game 31): White has a large space advantage, but it is very hard to find a point at which to break through.

37..id3-e4 l:[b8-a8 38.l:.a1-b1 'tib7-a6 39..ie4-d3 .:a8-g8 40.�g2-g3 'tia6-a8 41.'iid2-c3 .l:[h8xh1 42J:tb1 xh1 l:[g8-h8 43.'tic3-a1 'tia8xa1 44.l:[h1 xa1 :Z.h8-b8 45J:ta1-b1 tt::Je7-c8 46.l:[b1-h1 �f7-g7 47..l:[h1-a1 l:[b8-b7 48.�g3-f2 .l:[b7-a7 49J:ta1-b1 112-112 Game No 33 [C49]

lotov,Valentin Dimitrov Kravtsiv,Martyn Enschede YM 2010 (6) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.

e2-e4 tt::lg1-f3 tt::lb1-c3 ..tf1-b5 0-0 d2-d3 ..tc1-g5 b2xc3 .t:tf1-e1 d3-d4 .ig5-d2

e7-e5 tt::lb8-c6 tt::lg8-f6 ..tf8-b4 0-0 d7-d6 kb4xc3 'iid8-e7 tt::Jc6-d8 tt::ld8-e6

11. 12.

-

The Metger System

... ..tb5-c4

c7-c5

The typical 12.d5 tt::lc7 13 ...td3 prom­ ises a small space advantage, but White is seeking a livelier game.

12. 13. 14. 15. 16.

... a2-a4 tt::lf3-h41? c3xd4 .id2-g5;t

tt::J e6-c7 l:[a8-b8 c5xd4 e5xd4

The pin is rather unpleasant.

16. 17. 18.

... tt::lh4-f3 ..tg5xf6

'tie7-e5 'tie5-c5

White could go into a favourable end­ game with 18.'iixd4 tt::le6 (18...'tixd4 19.tt::lxd4±) 19...txe6 fxe6 20.'iixc5 dxcS 2I...tf4 l:[a8 22 ...td6 lle8 23..ixc5±.

18. 19.

... 'tid1xd4

g7xf6

White also keeps some advantage with queens on: 19.'tid3 ..te6 20 ...tb3 ..txb3 2l.cxb3 tt::le6 22Jhcl 'iib4 23 ..l:[c4.

19. 20. 21. 22.

... tt::lf3xd4 ..tc4-b3 l:.a1-d1

'tic5xd4 ..tc8-e6 .t:tf8-d8

This move is no weaker than the main line 11 ...tc1 . ! OS

The Four Kn ights Game

White retains unpleasant pressure in the ending. Black has to work for a draw. 22...�g8-f8 23. .!:f.e1-e3 ..te6xb3 25.e4-e5 d6-d5 24.c2xb3 .!:f.d8-d7 26.l:.e3xe5 f6xe5 27. .!:f.e5-h5 f7-f6 28. .!:f.h5-h6 .!:f.d7-f7 29.tt:ld4-f5 .!:f.b8-d8 30.g2-g3 tt:lc7-e6 31. .!:f.d1-e1 tt:le6-c7 32.tt:lf5-d4 .!:f.d8-e8 33 . .!:f.e1-c1 tt:lc7-e6 34.tt:ld4-b5 .!:f.e8-d8 35 . .!:f.c1-e1 tt:le6-c5 36.tt:lb5-d4 .!:f.d8-e8 37. .!:f.e1-d1 38.�g1-g2 a7-a5 b7-b6 39 . .!:f.h6-h5 .!:f.f7-d7 40. .!:f.h5-h6 .!:f.d7-f7 41.h2-h4 �f8-g8 42.tt:ld4-c6 tt:lc5xb3 43J::i.d1 xd5 tt:lb3-c5 44.tt:lc6xa5 .!:f.e8-e4 45.tt:la5-c6 .!:f.e4xa4 46 . .!:f.d5-d8+ �g8-g7 47. .!:f.h6-h5 .!:f.f7-d7 48. .!:f.d8xd7+ tt:lc5xd7 49 . .!:f.h5-d5 tt:ld7-c5 50.tt:lc6-d4 .!:f.a4-a2 51.�g2-f3 �g7-f7 52.tt:ld4-f5 �f7-e6 53.tt:lf5-e3 �e6-f7

Game No 3 4 [C49] Sutovsky,Emil Efimenko,Zakhar

1 06

e2-e4 tt:lg1-f3 tt:lb1-c3 ..tf1-b5 0-0 d2-d3 .ic1-g5 b2xc3 .!:f.f1-e1 d3-d4 ..tg5-d2 tt:lf3-h41?

12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.

e7-e5 tt:lb8-c6 tt:lg8-f6 ..tf8-b4 0-0 d7-d6 ..tb4xc3 'ti'd8-e7 tt:lc6-d8 tt:ld8-e6 c7-c5

... tt:lh4-f5 c3xd4 tt:lf5xd4 ..td2-f4 .!:f.a1-b1

c5xd4 'fiie7-c7 tt:le6xd4 e5xd4 'i¥c7-c5

The two bishops in an open position are sufficient compensation for the pawn, but no more than that. Chances are equal. 17.

Serbia tt 2009 (8) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.

As they say, 'One man 's meat is another man's poison' . A more solid player would prefer 1 2 .d5 tt:lc7 1 3 . ..td3 ..td7 1 4.h3 bS 1 5 .c4;!; with a small, but clear plus for at least the next 2 0 moves .

...

tt:lf6-g4

An equal position with mutual chances results from 1 7 . . . a6 1 8 . ..td3 ( 1 8 . ..ta4 bS 1 9 . ..tb3l::!.e 8=F) 1 8 . . . J:le8 = . 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23.

..tb5-d3 .!:f.b1-b5 �d3-f1 .!:f.b5-d5 c2xd3 .!:f.d5-d4

tt:lg4-e5 'i:Yc5-c7 a7-a6 d4-d3 ..tc8-e6

Seemingly an inaccuracy. 23.

...

'ti'c7-c5

Safer is 2 3 . . . .l:!.fc8 24.'i¥d2 (24.'i:Ya 1 bS=) 24 . . . b 5 = .

Chapter

24. 25. 26. 27.

'ii'd1-a1! lle1-c1 ;t llc1-b1 �f4-c1

llf8-c8 'ii'c5-a3 b7-b5

4

-

36 . 37.

... llc3-c5

38.

e4-e5?

The Metger System

b5-b4 h7-h6

Worth considering was 2 7 .'i¥b2 'ifxa2 28 .'iYxa2 .txa2 29.llb2 .te6 3 0 . .l:i.xd6;!; .

Analysis diagram

In this position, the two bishops are a more significant factor than Black's pair of passed pawns. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31.

... �c1-e3 jle3-c1 .iii.c1-e3 f2-f4?1

'ifa3-c5 'ti'c5-a3 'i!Ya3-c5 'i!Yc5-a3

Too enterprising. 3 l ..tc 1 'iY c5 3 2 . .te3 promised a repetition of moves, whilst 3 l . . .'iVxa2 3 2 .llxd6 leads to a sharp endgame, in which White's chances are probably somewhat better. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36.

... llb1-c1 'f!Ya1-c3 llc1xc3 �e3-c1 lld4xd6

llc8-c2 llc2xa2 'ifa3xc3 tt:le5-g4 a6-a5=F

This version of the ending is unpleasant for White, as Black's passed pawns are very dangerous. Worth attention was 3 6 . f5 b4 3 7 .llc7 �b3 3 8 . llxd6=F.

The wrong way. With 3 8.f5 (or 3 8 .h3 tt:lf6 3 9 .f5 tt:le8 40 . llb6 .tb3 4 1 .11i.f4=F) 3 8 . . . �b3 3 9 .e5 White would retain more chances of counterplay. Now the black pawns become unstoppable. 38...b4-b3-+ 39.h2-h3 tt:lg4-f2 40.lld6-b6 a5-a4 41.g2-g4 g7-g6 42.�c1-e3 tt:lf2-d1 43.�e3-d4 lla2-c2 b3-b2 44.llc5-b5 45...tf1-g2 lla8-d8 46.llb6-d6 lld8-c8 47.f4-f5 g6xf5 48.g4xf5 �e6-b3 49..td4xb2 llc2xb2 50.e5-e6 f7xe6 51.f5xe6 tt:ld1-e3 52.�g2-c6 llc8-f8 53.lld6-d8 lld8-c8 54.e6-e7 llf8xd8 55.llb5-e5 .tb3-f7 0-1

Game No 3 5 [C49] Acs,Peter Timman,Jan Paks 20 I 0 (7) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

e2-e4 tt:lg1-f3 tt:lb1-c3 .tf1-b5 0-0 d2-d3

e7-e5 tt:lg8-f6 tt:lb8-c6 .if8-b4 0-0 d7-d6 107

The Four Knights Game

7. 8. 9. 10. 11.

�c1-g5 b2xc3 l:rf1-e1 d3-d4 �g5-c1

�b4xc3 'iYd8-e7 tt:lc6-d8 tt:ld8-e6

tt:lg6 1 8 .tLlf3 retains a little pressure. 1 7 ...'iYxf3 1 8.tt:lxf3 gS 1 9.h4 f6 20.a4 .i.d7 draw, K. Szabo-Hammer, Cappelle­ la-Grande 2 0 1 0 (2) . In the final posi­ tion, White has some advantage. 12.

This position has been reached in prac­ tice countless hundreds of times. It is considered that White has some strate­ gic initiative, thanks to his preponder­ ance in the centre and the two, albeit for the time being , passive bishops, but in general, the position is close to equality. 11.

...

l:rf8-d8

Another popular continuation for Black is 1 1 ... c5, immediately trying to clarify the central pawn position. Here is a typi­ cal example from recent tournament practice: 1 2.�£'1 l:rd8 1 3.d5 More lively play results from 1 3 .tt:lh4 tt:le8 1 4.g3 ( 1 4.tLlf5 !? 'iYf6 1 5 .d5 tLlgS 1 6 .g4;t) 1 4 . . . exd4 1 5 .tLlf5 'ff f6 1 6 .cxd4 dS 1 7 .e5 ( 1 7 .exd5 l:rxdS 1 8 .�d3 is worth considering, after which it is not too good to play 1 8 . . . cxd4 1 9 .'iYf3 l:rd8 2 0 .g4 when White has a serious initia­ tive for the pawn) 1 7 . . .'iYxfS 1 8 . .i.d3 'iYh3 1 9 .�fl 'iYfS 2 0 . .i.d3 'iYh3 draw, Cornette-Hammer, Cappelle-la-Grande 2 0 1 0 (4) . 1 3 ... tt:l£S 1 4.g3 h6 1 S .tt::l h4 tt:l6h7 1 6.c4 'iYf6 1 7.'iYf3 White aims at maximum solidity. The natural 1 7 .�g2 10 8

.i.b5-f1 !

A solid, well-tested continuation. This

is one of the key positions in the Metger. 12.

...

h7-h6

• This is the moment to remember one of the classics : 1 2 ... tt::l fS ?! 1 3 .tt:lh4 tt::l g4? 1 3 . . . tt:lxe4? 1 4.l:rxe4 fS 1 S . .i.c4+ Wh8 1 6 .'iYh5 fxe4 1 7 . .i.g5 'iYd7 1 8 .�f7. 'and Black is defenceless against the strengthening of the attack by means of l:re 1 -e3 ' - Nunn. 1 4.g3 'ti!Yf6 1 5.£'3 tt::l h6 1 6 . ..ie3 l:re8 1 7.'it'd2± tt::l g6 1 8.tt::l g 2 .ih3 1 8 . . . 'iYxf3 1 9 . .i.e2 'iff6 2 0 .�c4 'il'e 7 2 I ..i.xh6 ± . 1 9 . .i.e2 .txg2 20.Wxg2 d5

Analysis diagram

Chapter

Out of misery. .. 2 1 .exd5 exd4 22.cxd4 tt:lfs 2 3 .�£'2 .ll ed8 24.c4 hS 25.h4 bS 26.'ifg5 'ifxgS 2 7.hxg5 h4 28 . .id3 hxg3 2 9 .�xg3 tt:lxd4 3 0 .ll a d l cS 3 1 .dxc6 tt:lxc6 3 2.�e4 .ll ac8 3 3 . .llxd8+ tt::l x d8 34.-ifs .ll a 8 3 5 . .ll e 8+ 'it>h 7 36.cxb5 f6 3 7.�c7 tt:le6 3 8 . .ll xa8 tt::l xc7 39 . .ll xa7 tt:lxbS 40 . .ll d 7 fxgS 4 1 .a4 1 -0 , Botvinnik-Reshevsky, World Champi­ onship The Hague/Moscow 1 948 ; • A line tested a number of times is 1 2 b6 1 3.tt::lh4 g6 1 3 . . . c5 1 4.tt:lfs 'ti'c7 1 5 .dS tt:lf8 1 6 .'iYf3 tt:le8 , Khamatga­ leev-Datu, Calcutta 2 0 0 1 , and now 1 7 . .igS (or 1 7 .a4 strengthening White's positional pressure) 1 7 . . .f6 1 8 . .id2 . 1 4.g3 �b 7 1 4 . . . tt:le8 1 S . .ig2 .ll b 8 1 6 .h3 tt:l8g7 1 7 .tt:lf3 f6 1 8 .tt:lh2 hS 1 9 .h4;!; with some initiative for White, A. Kuzmin-Andrianov, Moscow ch-city 1982. 1 5.�g2 tLld7 1 6.hH .ll e 8 1 7.tt:lf3 'ti!Yf6 1 8.a4 aS 1 9.tt:lh2 'i!Vg7 20 ..ie3 tt::l f6 2 1 .tt:lg4 tt:lxg4 2 2.hxg4 gS 23.'ifd2 •

..•

13. 14.

4

-

g2-g3 �f1-g2

The Metger System

tt:lf6-h7

1 4.h4 is too ambitious , after which in­ stead of the rather strange move 1 4 . . . g5? (Istratescu-Nestorovic, Bel­ grade 1 9 94) , a logical reaction is 1 4 . . . tt:lf6 with the idea of transferring this knight to the g4-square, which was weakened by White 's last move. 14. 15.

... tt:lf3xg5

tt:le6-g5 h6xg5

In the event of 1 S . . . tt:lxg S 1 6 .'ti!Yh5 tt:lh7 White 's position, with more space and the two bishops, is preferable. 16.

f2-f4

This looks too sharp. White could retain a solid plus by 1 6 .h3 tt:lf8 1 7 .�e3 . 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.

... g3xf4 .lle1-f1 'i!fd1-f3 'ii'f3xg2

g5xf4 'ife7-h4 .ic8-h3 �h3xg2 .lld8-e8

Analysis diagram

Black is condemned to passivity and White has the advantage, Grischuk­ Morozevich, Dubai rapid 2 0 0 2 ; • 1 2 tt:ld7 1 3 . g 3 tt:ldf8 1 4.�g2 cS 1 S .dS tt:lc7 1 6 .h4 �g4 1 7 .'i!fd3 'i!fd7 1 8 .'iYfl 'ti'e8 1 9 .tt:lh2 �d7 2 0 .'iYe2;!; with a space advantage for White, Istratescu-Schwartzman , Odorheiu Secuiesc 1 9 9 3 . .••

Black's position has no weaknesses and he exerts certain pressure on the white cen­ tre. He should not be seriously worse. 21. 22. 23.

�c1-d2 d4-d5 .lla1-e1

c7-c5 tt:lh7-f6 'iVh4-g4 109

The Four Knights Game

24. 25. 26. 27.

'iYg2xg4 f4-f5 .l:lf1-f3 .l:lf3-g3

tt:Jf6xg4 tt:Jg4-f6 g8-f8 f8-e71?

Timman was obviously afraid of White's plan of exerting pressure on the g 7 pawn . This is understandable: White's attack looks very dangerous. Even so, there is no win for White: 2 7 . . . b 5 2 8 . f2 .l:l e b 8 ( 2 8 . . . .l:lab 8 ) 2 9 . f3 ( 2 9 .�g5 e 7 = ) 2 9 . . Jlb6 3 0 . .l:leg l l:!.a6 3 I . .l:lxg7 .l:lxa2 3Lth6 (3 2 .h4 .l:lxc2 33 . .l:l7g2 e 7 , and only White is risking anything) 3 2 . . . e 7

32 . 33.

... f2-f3

e5xf4

33 .

...

e7-f6

He should not have great problems holding the draw after 3 3 .l:lh8: A) 34. .l:.e2 .l:lh4 3 S . .l:lg2 f6 3 6J:tg 8 .l:lxh2 3 7 . .l:ld8 (3 7 . xf4 .l:lf2 + 3 8 . e3 .l:lxc2 3 9 . .l:ld8 e S =) 3 7 . . . es 38 . .l:le8+ f6 39 . .l:lb8 eS = ; B ) 34.e5 dxeS 3 S . .l:lxe5+ d6 3 6 . .l:le2 xdS 3 7 .xf4 f6 3 8 .g4 (3 8 . .l:le7 .l:lxh2 3 9 . 1d.xb7 l:tf2+ 40.g4 .l:lxc2=) 38 . . . �c4 3 9 .h4 xc3 40 .h5 aS=; C) 34.�xf4 l::r x h2 3 5 . e 5 dxe S + 3 6 .�xe5 f6 + 3 7 . f4+ d6 3 8 . t!.e6+ �xdS 3 9 . l::r xf6 l:!.xc 2 = ; D) 34..l:le2 l:lli4 35 .c4 f6 36 . .l:lg2 es 3 7 . I:rg8 .l:lxh2 38.1d.e8+ f6 39 ..l:ld8 �eS=; E) 34 . .l:lh l .!:[h 3 + 3 S . xf4 f6 3 6 . .l:lg l .l:lxh2 3 7 . .l:lg8 .l:lf2+ 3 8 . e3 .l:lxc2 39 . .l:ld8 es 40 . .l:le8+ f6 = . .•.

Analysis diagram

3 3 . .l:l l g6 .l:lxc2 3 4 . .tgs .l:lxc3 + 3 S . e2 fg 3 6 . .txf6 fxg6 3 7 . fxg6 .l:lc2 + 3 8 . d3 .l:lxh2 3 9 . .l:lf7 + e8 40 . .l:le 7 + f8 4 I . .l:l f7 + with perpetual check. 28.

.l:lg3xg7

White has an extra pawn, but too many weaknesses. Black has excellent drawing chances. 28. 29 . 30. 31. 32.

... .l:lg7-g3 .l:lg3xg8 g1-f2 .td2xf4

.l:le8-g8 tt:Jf6-h5 .l:la8xg8+ tt:Jh5-f4!

A few chances remain after 3 2 . f3 .l:lh8 3 3 . .l:lh l tLlh3 3 4.c4 f6 - it isn't clear how White can strengthen his position. 1 10

34. 35. 36. 37. 38.

f3xf4 .l:le1-h1 �f4-e3 h2-h4 e3-f4

.l:lg8-g2 .l:lg2-f2+ .l:lf2xc2 .l:lc2xc3+

This version of the ending also looks close to a draw. However, it turns out not to be so. There are certain nuances . . . 38.

...

f6-g7

Chapter 4 Nor is there a draw after 38 ...l:l.c2 39.h5 � g7 40.h6+ 'iii>h7 4l.e5 dxe5+ 42.�xe5±.

39.

h4-h5

'if;lg7-h6

-

The Metger System

A textbook example: White to play and win.

40. 41. 42. 43. 44.

.l:rh1-d11 f5-f61 �f4-f5 e4-e5+�f5-g4

l:l.c3-c4 l:l.c4-a4 l:l.a4xa2 .l:f.a2-f2+ c5-c4

44...l:l.e2 45.e6 fxe6 46.l:l.f1! also wins for White.

45. 46.

e5-e6 e6-e7

c4·c3

Black resigned.

111

Chapter s

The Rubinstein System

This chapter deals with White's replies to 4 .. .lt::ld4! (after l .e4 e5 2.tt::l f3 tt::l f6 3.tt::l c 3 tt::l c 6 4.�b5) . Black's fourth move was popularized by Akiba Rubinstein at the be­ ginning of the last century, although it had been played since at least 1 8 7 6. Nowa­ days it is considered Black's best method of equalising.

In the search for an initiative, White has tried many moves, but none of these en­ sures him any significant advantage. The author felt it made sense to divide this chapter into two. In the first, we ana­ lyse variations which have not caused Black too much trouble in recent years , and have largely lost their topicality. 5.1 The variation 5.tt::l xd4 exd4 6.e5, traditionally considered a reliable way for White to duck out of the battle, is considered in Game 3 6 . As a main example, we have chosen the game Priborsky-Romanov, in which Black managed to overcome the drawish tendency of the variation and, with the help of a striking long king march, to win an interesting bishop ending. 5.2 The move 5.tt::l xe5! ? is not without a drop of poison, as demonstrated by the quick white win in the game Short-l' Ami (Game 3 7 ) . 5. 3 The so-called 'Anti-Rubinstein' , beginning with 5.0-0 , brought White good results in the 1 9 9 0s. In our day, this line has lost its former popularity, as reliable equalising methods have been found for Black. Nevertheless, here too there are many hidden reefs, which require accuracy from Black, if he is to avoid shipwreck (Game 3 8 , Hirscheider-Weidemann, ending with a nice white combination) . 5.4 We end this chapter with Games 3 9 -49 , dealing with the line l .e4 e5 2.tt::l f3 tt::l f6 3.tt::l c 3 tt::l c 6 4.�b5 tt::l d4 5 .ta4. Decades ago, this was considered the main means of fighting for an advantage. Motylev's striking victories over Shirov and Grischuk, at the start of the 2 0 0 0's , drew the attention of many lovers of sharp play, •

1 13

The Four Knights Game

but chess fashion changes, and in recent years, most supporters of the Four Knights have switched their attention to S . .tc4. Even so, the positions reached in this line are complicated and still little-studied, and many tactical tricks and strategic subtle­ ties remain hidden here. In No 43, Shirov-Hansen, where Black played 6 . . . 't!Va5, White did not exploit all ofhis chances in the opinion of the author. The fashionable move s . .tc4 is examined in detail in Chapter 6 .

5.1 The Variation 5.ti:Jxd4 exd4 6.e5

Game No 3 6 [C48] Priborsky,Jan Romanov,Evgeny Erevan Wch-jr 2007 (4) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

e2-e4 ti:Jg1-f3 ti:Jb1-c3 �f1-b5 ti:Jf3xd4 e4-e5

e7-e5 ti:Jb8-c6 ti:Jg8-f6 tt:Jc6-d4 e5xd4

A primitive, but very reliable way to try to kill the game. Now Black, if he wishes to play for a win, must take some strategic risk. 6. 7.

... e5xf6

d4xc3 'ti'd8xf6

It has been known for a long time that taking the pawn leads to a difficult posi­ tion: 7 ... cxd2 + 8.�xd2 'iYxf6 9.0-0 �e7 10.�c3 'iYgS l l ..l:!.e l 0-0 Defi­ nitely bad is 11 . . . 'ti'xb5 12 .'i¥g4+114

.l:!.g8 13 .'i¥h4 (this is even simpler than 1 3 . .l:!.xe 7 + �xe 7 14.'i\Ye4+ �d8 1S.'t!Vh4+ f6 16.�xf6 + �e8 17 . .l:!.e1+ Wf7 18 . .l:.e 7 + Wg6 19 . .te 5 +- ]. Shipman-Weber, New York 19 8 5 ) 1 3 . . . f6 14.'t!Ve4 'i\Ycs 1 S . .tb4 dS 1 6 . 'i\Yh4 winning. 1 2 . .l:!. e 5 'i!Vf6 1 2 . . . 'ifh4 1 3 . .l:th5 ± 1 3 .�d3 g6 1 4.'iYe2 , and Black stands badly. 8.

d2xc3

8.

...

.tf8-e7

Another way to complicate the game is 8 ... c6 9.�d3 dS 10.0-0 .td6 Black obtained a bad position after 1 O . . . .te6 l l..�. e3 �d6 12 . 't!Vhs h6 13 .f4 g6 14.'iYf3 'iYe7 1S . .l:!.ae1 .l:tg8 16.�d4 0-0-0 17 .�xa7 cS 18 . .tb6±, Husari-L. Vajda, Budapest 2 010 . l l .'t'Vhs h6 1 2 . .l:!.e l+ Probably more dangerous for Black is 12 . .te3 0-0 13 .f4, by analogy with the game Husari-Vaidya: 13 . . .'iVe6 14 . .l:tfe1 'Yi'g4 1 S . 'ti'xg4 �xg4 16.f5 . 1 2 ... .te6 1 3.�e3 0-0 14.�d4 'it'gs •

Chapter 5

1S .'ifxg 5 hxgS 16.�e5 �e 7 The game is equal, R. Martinez-Dervishi, Porto San Giorgio 2 01 0 ; e The classical way to equalise is 8 Jii'e5+ 9.'ife2 Or 9 .�e2 gcs 10 .0-0 0-0 11..�. d3 d6 (11 . . .d5=) 12 .'iff3 .l:!.b8 ? ! 13 . �f4 'iff6 14.'iYg3 �fs 15 .�g5 'iYg6 16 . .l:!.ae1 l:rfe8 17 .�d2 'iYxg 3 18 .hxg3 �g6 19 . .l:!.xe8+ .l:!.xe8 2 0 . .l:!.e1 �f8 21. �fl aS draw, Stopa­ Gareev, Mesa 2 01 0 . 9 .. .'ihe2 + 1 0.�xe2 , and the position is com­ pletely lifeless. •.

9. 10.

0-0 'iYd1-d4

0-0

... 1i.b5-d3 c3xd4

d7-d6 'iYf6xd4

-

The Rubinstein System

23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32.

�e4-f3 a2-a3 .l:!.a1 xe1 .l:!.e1xe8+ �f2-e3 b3-b4 a3xb4 h2-h4 �f3-h5 g2-g3

33.

1i.h5-g4

.l:!.b8-e8 .l:!.e7xe1 �b5-d3 �f8xe8 �d3-c2 a5xb4 �e8-d8 �d8-c8 f7-f6 �c8-b8

10 .�d3 = . 10. 11. 12.

The ending is still drawish, but White already needs to show some accuracy. For example, he could place an impene­ trable barrier before the black king with 3 3 .�e2 �a7 34.g4 gS (34 ...�b6 3 5 .g5=) 3 5 .hxg5 hxgS 36.�b5 �b6 3 7 .�d7=.

The endgame is completely equal. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22.

... c2-c3 .l:!.f1-e1 1i.d3-e4 d4-d5 �c1-e3 ge3-d4 c3xd4 b2-b3 f2-f4 �g1-f2

1i.e7-f6 �c8-e6 .l:!.a8-b8 a7-a5 ge6-d7 .l:!.f8-e8 1i.f6xd4 �g8-f8 �d7-b5 h7-h6 .l:!.e8-e7

33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40.

�e3-d2 1i.g4-f3 �d2-c3 �c3-b2 �b2-c3 1i.f3-e4 �e4-f5

�b8-a7 �c2-b3 �a7-b6 �b3-a2 �a2-c4 �b6-b5 �c4-e2 �b5-a4

This is already dangerous. The black king has crossed the board and pene­ trated the white position. 41.�f5-c8 b7-b6 42.�c8-f5 �e2-f3 43.gf5-e6 �a4-a3 115

The Four Knights Game

44.�c3-c4 �f3-e2+ 45.�c4-c3 �a3-a2 46.�e6-f7 �a2-b1 47.�f7-g6+ �b1-c1 + 48...tg6-c2 .te2-f3 49 ...tc2-b3 b6-b5 50.�b3-a2 �f3-d1 51.h4-h5 f6-f5 52.�a2-c4 b5xc4 53.�c3xc4 �d1-e2+ 0-1 5.2 The Move 5.lt:Jxe5!?

Game No 3 7 [C48] Short,Nigel 1'Am.i,Erwin Wijk

aan

Zee

II

2009 (3)

In analysing this variation, I have made use of the commentaries by V. Aveskulov (ChessZone Magazine, No 2 0 1 0) and V. Lebedev ( crestbook.com). 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

e2-e4 ti:Jg1-f3 ti:Jb1-c3 ..tf1-b5 tt:Jf3xe5

e7-e5 ti:Jg8-f6 tt:Jb8-c6 tt:Jc6-d4

a small plus in the endgame) 1 4.l:f.ac 1 ( 1 4.�d 1 b6 1 5.a3 tLlc6 1 6 ...tf4 d6 1 7.ti:Jd5 .ld.a7 =) 1 4...b6 1 5.a3 ti:Jc6 with a roughly equal game, A. Kubbel­ Grigoriev, Moscow ch-URS 1 9 2 0. 6 .tuxb5 7 .tt:JxbS d6 7 . ..dS ?! 8 .exdS ti:JxdS 9 .c4 (9.'iVf3) 9...jt,d7 (9 ...a6 1 O.cxdS axbS 1 1 .'iVe2 f6 1 2.'iVxb5 + �d8 1 3 . d6 cxd6 1 4. 'iVb 6 + �e8 1 5.'iVb5+=) 1 0.a4 f6 ? 1 l .cxd5 .Lbs l 2.axb5 fxeS 1 3.0-0 'iVcS + 1 4.�h 1 0-0-0 l S .fxeS l:f.xdS 1 6.'iVg4+ ( 1 6.d4!±) 1 6 . ..�b8 1 7.'iVf3 b6 1 8.d4 'iVxd4 1 9 ..tf4 'iVc4 2 0.e6 'iVxbS 2 l ..ld.fc 1 .ld.cS 22.b4 .ld.xc 1 + 2 3 .l:hc 1 �d6 24.�xd6 cxd6 2 5 .'iVf7 'i!Ye8 2 6.'ii' c 7 + �a8 2 7.e 7 1 - 0 , Boros­ Beinoras, Warsaw 2 0 1 0 . S.ti:Jfl 'iVxe4+ Also sufficient for equality is 8 ... c6 9.ti:Jc3 ti:Jxe4 1 0.0-0 ti:Jxc3 1 1 . dxc3 'ii d 8 1 2 ..ld.e 1 + �e7 1 3.'iYe2 �g4 1 4.h3 (slightly more accurate, although it does not change the essence of things, is 1 4.b3 � ( 1 4...'iVd7 1 5.c4;t) 1 5.'iVxf3 0-0 1 6.�e3 �f6=) 14 . . . �xf3 1 S .'iVxf3 0-0 1 6.�e3 �f6 1 7 .g4?! g6 1 8 ..l:.ad 1 l:f.e8 1 9.f5 .tes Short-Khalifman, Moscow m-2 2 0 0 1 . 9.£'2 9.'iVe2 'iVxe 2 + 1 0.�xe2 ti:JdS 1 l .c4?! a 6 1 2.cxd5 axbS with comfortable equality. 9 . . tt:Jg4+ 1 0.g3 1 0.Wg 1 'iVc6 ! ? (Bogoljubow) 1 l .a4! ? a6 1 2.ti:Jbd4 'iid 7 1 3.h3 ti:Jf6 1 4.�h2 �e7=. l O ...'iVg6! ..

.

5. ...

tt:Jd4xb5?!

An inaccuracy. The accurate path to equality is S .. .'ti'e7! 6.f4 6.ti:Jf3 tLlxbS 7.ti:Jxb5 'iVxe4+ 8.'i!Ye2 'iVxe2+ 9.�xe2 ti:JdS ! 1 0 ..ld.e 1 f6 ( 1 0...a6 1 l .ti:Jc3 t2lxc3+ 1 2 .�d3 + �e7 1 3.�xc3 d6 1 4.d4=) 1 1 .d3 �f7 1 2 ...td2 ( 1 2.c4 a6=) 1 2...a6 1 3.ti:Jc3 ti:Jb4? ! ( 1 3 ...ti:Jxc3 + leaves Black 1 16

Analysis diagram

Chapter 5

This move was first seen in the game Spielmann-Rubinstein , Baden-Baden I 925. • That game continued 1 I .'ife 2 + � d 8 12 . .:t e 1 �d7 13 .tt:ld4 tt:le3 + 14.�£'2 tt:Jxc2 I S .tt:Jxc2 'it'xc2 . White has insufficient compensation for the pawn. • Subsequent generations of theoreti­ cians concentrated chiefly on 1I .ttJh4!? and now : A) 11 .. .'ii'f6 ! ? 1 2.h3 ! g5 13.'ii' e 2+ tt:Je5 ! - 'with an excellent game for Black' - Aveskulov. 14.d4 I 4.fxe5 ? ? 'iYf4#. 1 4 . . . gxf4+ I S .�h2 �d8 16.dxe5 'ilfxh4 17.exd6 'ii' g 3+ Lebedev looked only at I 7 . . . c6 I 8 . .:tfl ! �xh3 ! I 9 . 'iYf2 ! 'iYxf2 2 0 . .:txf2 .ixg 2 ! 2 I...t xf4 cxbS 2 2 .�xg2 with chances of equality for White. 18. g1 �d7

-

The Rubinstein System

B) l l ... 'i:Yh5 ! and now :

Analysis diagram

B I ) If 12.h3 , then 12 ... 'ii'xb5 'Only equality comes from I 2 . . . tt:Jf6 ? ! I 3.'i:Yxh5 ttJxhS + I 4.�f2= ' - Lebedev. 13 .a4 I 3 .hxg4 g S ! with attack (Lebedev) : I 4.fxg5 'i!YeS + I S .�h3 'i:YxgS I 6 .d4 'ilfhs + . 13 .. .'ii'd 5 14.hxg4 h5 I 4 . . . g5 I S .'ife2 + ..te6 I 6 .fxg5 0-0-0 I 7 .d3 = (Lebedev) ; I 7 . . . �g 7 I 8 .tt:Jf3 .

Analysis diagram

It is not completely clear how White can develop, and the number of pawns does not have great significance. A I ) 19.dxc7+? cs 20.'it'f2 2 0 .tt:Jd4 ..tcs 2 l .c3 .:te8-+ ; 2 0 . �fl f3 2 l .gxf3 ..txbS 2 2 .'ifxb5 'i:Yxf3 +-+. 20 ...'i:Yxf2+ 21.�xf2 �c5+ 22.f3 �c6+ 23.xf4 ..ixb5-+ ; A2) 19.a4 �xbS 2 0 .dxc 7 + �xc7 2 I .'i:Yxb5 b 6 + ; A3 ) 19.tt:Jc3 � c 6 2 0 .dxc 7 + �xc7 2 I .'iff2 �d6 with advantage to Black.

Analysis diagram

In Lebedev's opinion , Black has the advantage here, but I do not think he has any thing special : 1 5.'i:Yf3 Or I S .'it'e2 + �e7 I 6 . g 5 �g4 I 7 .'i:Yb 5 + 'i:Yxb S I 8 . axb 5 = . 1 5 . . . 'i:Yxf3 + Or I S . . . 'i:Yc4 I 6 . gxh5 'ifxc2 I 7 . .:ta3 with unclear play. 16.gxf3 .id7 17 . .:te1 + ds 1 8 .d3 with a roughly equal game. 117

The Four Knights Game

B2) '1 2.tt::lxc7+ was refuted by Wag­ ner, back in the 1 9 2 0s' - Lebedev: 1 2 ... Wd8 and now: B2 1 ) If 1 3.tt::lxa8 , then 1 3 ... g5 ! with a strong attack - Razuvaev: 1 4.fxg5 and now : B2 1 1 ) 1 4 ... d5 ! ? 'Creative, but rather stronger is 1 4 . . .'iYxg 5 ! , as advised by the wise old books.' - Lebedev. By 'cre­ ative ' , our respected commentator means ' the first choice of Rybka ' . After 1 4 . . . d5 ! ? there follows : 1 5 .d4 Or 1 5 .d3 �d6 + 1 6 .�f4 'i¥xg5 ! 1 7 .'i¥f3 .l:!.g8 ! -+ 1 8 . �xd6 tt::l e 5 + 1 9 . W f2 tt::lx f3 2 0 . �c 7 + We7 2 1 . tt::lx f3 'i¥xg 2 + 2 2 .We3 �g4-+ - Lebedev. 1 5 ... �d6+ 1 6 ..tf4 'iVxgS 1 7.�xd6 tt::le 3 +-+ ; B2 1 2) If l 4 ... 'i¥xg5 ! 1 5 .tLlf3 1 5 .d4?? tt::le 3 + . 15 ... �g7! 1 6.'ii' g l dS 1 7.d4 1 7 .d3 �d6+ 1 8 .�f4 �xf4+ 1 9 .Wxf4 'iWf6+ 2 0 .Wg3 'i¥d6 +-+ . 1 7... �d6+ 1 8.�f4 �xf4+ 1 9.Wxf4 'ii' f6+ 20.Wg3 'iVd6+ 2 1 .Wh4 'iVf4. B22) First 1 3.h3 doesn't really help : 1 3 ... tLlf6 ! 1 4.tLlxa8 •

6. tt::lc3xb5;t 7. tt::lb5-c3

c7-c6 'iWd8-e7

Aveskulov's recommendation offered more chances of defending : 7 . . . �b4 8 .d3 0-0 9 . 0 - 0 d5;!;. The two bishops promise Black some counterplay. 8. tt::le5-f3 9. 0-01 10. d2xc3

tt::lf6xe4 tt::le4xc3

White has an enormous lead in devel­ opment. 10. ...

d7-d5

If 1 0 'ti'd8 , then l l .�gS ! f6 Or 1 l . . .�e7 1 2 .�xe 7 Wxe7 1 3 . .l:!.e 1 + Wf8 1 4.'iYd6+ Wg8 1 5 . .l:!.e7 and .l:!.ae 1 +- . n.tt::le s ! d 6 1 2 . . . fxg 5 ? 1 3 . 'ti'h5 + . 1 3.'iVh5 + g6 1 3 . . . We7 ? ? 1 4.'ii' f7#. 1 4.tt::lx g6 hxg6 1 5 .'iYxg6 + Wd7 1 6 . .txf6 ± .l:!.h6 ! ? Or 1 6 . . . .te7 1 7 . .txh8 'i¥xh8 1 8 . .l:!.ae 1 etc. 1 7.'ilff7+ �e7 18 .�g5 'i:Yf8 1 9 .'ti'xf8 i..xf8 2 0.�xh6- Lebedev. .•.

Analysis diagram

1 4 .. .'ihh 4 + ! ! 1 5 .Wxh4 tLle4 1 6.'ti'g4 �e7+ 1 7.'ti'gs �xgS + 1 8.fxg5 h6 ! 1 9.g6 fxg6 2 0 . .l:!.fl gS + 2 1 .Wh5 tLlg3 + 22.Wg6 tt::lxfl - Black has the advantage (Razuvaev) .

Back to the game. 1 18

11. .tc1-g5

'ife7-d6

No better is 1 1 . . .'i¥c5 1 2 . .l:!.e 1 + �e6 1 3 .tt::ld 4 Wd7 1 4.'it'f3 �e7 1 5 .b4 ! +- , 1 -0 , Campara-Aguilera, Osuna 1 9 9 1 . 12. .l:i.f1-e1+ 1 2 . . .Wd7 If 1 4.tt::lxf7 +- .

.tc8-e6 1 3 . tt::l e 5 +

Wc7

Chapter 5

13. tt:lf3-d4

c6-c5

Bad is 1 3 ... �e7 1 4.tt:lfS ! 1 S ..l:!.xe 7 + �f8 1 6 Jhb7 ±. 14. tt:ld4xe6 15. 'tlVd1-h5+

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

�xfS

f7xe6 g7-g6

On 1 5 ...�d7 White gets a decisive ad­ vantage after 1 6 . .l:tad 1 (Lebedev) and 1 6.c4 d4 1 7 .'t/Vf3 (Aveskulov) . 16. 'iYh5-g4 17. c3-c4!

-

The Rubinstein System

e2-e4 tt:lg1-f3 tt:lb1-c3 �f1-b5 0-0 tt:lc3xb5 tt:lb5-c3 d2-d4

e7-e5 tt:lb8-c6 tt:lg8-f6 tt:lc6-d4 tt:ld4xb5 c7-c6 d7-d6 'i!Vd8-c7

�e8-f7

9. �c1-g5

17. ...

d5-d4

Black's position is hopeless in any case. 18. 'tWg4-f3+ 19. i.g5-f6

�f7-g8 1-0

On 1 9 ... �g7 there follows 2 0.'tWxb7 ! , winning.

Here is a fresh example from contem­ porary tournament practice : 9.h3 i..e7 1 O.a4 0-0 l l .b3 A harmless plan. 1 1 .i.gS ! ? is definitely more interesting. l l .l:!.e8 1 2.�a3 ..tf8 1 3 .dxe5 dxeS 1 4 . ..txf8 .!hf8 I S .'it'd3 The game is equal. 1 5... i.e6 1 6JHdl .l:!.ad8 1 7.'tWe3 aS 1 7 ...'ti'as 1 8 . .l:!.db 1 a6 1 9 .b4 'tWc7 2 0.a5 tt:lhS = 2 1 .'iVgS tt:lf4 with the idea of 2 2 . 'ifxe5 'ti'xe S 2 3 .tt:lxe5 J:l:d2 = . •••

5.3 The 'Anti-Rubinstein'

Game No 3 8 [C48] Hirscheider,Helmut Weidemann,Uwe Germany, by correspondence 2004

In writing this section, I have made use of Hirscheider's comments on his game. I have also used extracts from games quoted in his commentary, which is notable for its thoroughness.

Analysis diagram

119

The Four Knights Game

1 8Jhd8 Playing for a draw. However, nothing comes from 1 8.tt:lgS �c8 = ei­ ther, nor is much likely from the out­ wardly more ambitious 1 8.'ifcS tt::ld 7 1 9.'ifd6 ( 1 9.'ifa 7 f6 =) 1 9 ...'ihd6 ( 1 9 ...'ifb6=) 2 0 Jhd6 �de8 21..l:Xad 1 tt::l c s 2 2.tt::l e 1 f6 2 3 .tt::l d 3 tt::lx d3 2 4.�6xd3 Wf7 =. 18 .. .l:txd8 1 9.�d 1 1 9.'ifgs tt::ld 7 2 0.'ife 7 'ifb8 2 1 .�d 1 �e8 2 2.'ifgs f6. 1 9 ... �xd 1 + 20.tt::l xd 1 h6 2 1 .tt::l b 2 tt::l d7 22.'ifa7 Wh7 23Jt:ld2 'it'b6 24.'iYxb6 tt::l xb6 2 S .tt::l bc4 .txc4 26.tt::l xc4 tt::l xc4 27.bxc4 Wg6 28.£'3?! 2 8.c5 =. 2 8 fs 28 ...b6 ! ?. 29.g3 wgs 3 0.Wf2 g6 3 1 .cS draw, Satyapragyan­ Gupta, Kuala Lumpur 2 0 1 0. •••

9 . ... 10. 'ifd1-d3

�f8-e7

'I prefer wherever possible simple de­ velopment, Sutovsky prefers to include prophylactic moves such as h3 and a4' - Hirscheider. 1 O.h3 and now :

3 2.tt::ld 2 'i¥a6 3 3.�c7 c3 3 4.bxc3 'i¥e2 3 S.tt::lc4 'ifxf2 3 6.'it'c8+ f7 3 7."ti'e6+ ( 3 7 .tt::lx d6 + ! .ixd6 3 8.'i¥e 6 + Wf8 3 9.'i!Yxd6+±) 3 7 ...Wf8 3 8.'i!Yc8 + Wf7 3 9.tt::lx d6 + �xd 6 40.'it'e 6 + Wf8 4 1 .'ii'xd6 + Wg8 42 .'it'g6 bxc3 43.d6 'i¥xc2 44.'ife6 + Wh7 4 S . 'iVfS + Wh8 46.'iff8 + Wh7 draw, Sutovsky-Nunn, Oxford 1 9 9 8 . 1 2.a3 a6 1 3 . .l::!.fd 1 .l::!.e 8 1 4.'ife3 exd4 1 S .tt::l xd4 cS 1 6.�xf6 itxf6 1 7 .tt:Jds cxd4 1 8 .tt::l xc7 dxe3 1 9 .tt:lxe8 .ixb2 2 0 . .l::!. ab 1 exf2 + 2 1 .Wxf2 i.xa3 22.d7-e6 t2Jf5-d6 t2Jd6-e4

40 . . . �f5 4 l .t2Jf2±. The position is absolutely level - a result of logical opening play by both sides. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24.

�c1-e3 �d1-b3 .I:Ie1-d1 �b3xf7+ b2-b3

t2Je8-d6 .I:If8-d8 �c4-f7 �g8xf7 g7-g6

24 . . . t2Jb5 ! ? . 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36.

g2-g4 �e3xb6 .I:Id1-d3 .I:Id3-h3 a2-a4 a4-a5 .I:Ia1-d1 e4xf5 b3-b4 g4xh5 �g1-h1 t2Jf2-e4

�c7-b6 a7xb6 �f7-e7 .I:Id8-h8 b6-b5 c6-c5 g6xf5 c5-c4 h7-h5 .I:Ia8-g8+ t2Jd6xf5 .I:Ig8-g4?

A terrible mistake in an equal ending, after which White actually should have won.

41. .I:Ih3-e3 4l..i:i.f3 ± . 41. 42. 43. 44. 45.

... h2-h3 �h1-g2 .I:Ie3-f3+ .I:If3-e3

�e6-f5 .I:Ih8-d8 �f5-f4 �f4-g5

White has winning chances after 45 .h7 �g6 46 .h8'iY .!:i.xh8 47.tLlxe5+±. 45. ... 46. .!:.e3-f3+

�g5-f4

46.h7 ! ?± . 46. ... 47. h6-h7 48. .I:If3-e3

�f4-g5 .!:i.d8-h8

48JH7! ? t2Jxc3 49 .t2Jxe5 tLla2 S O .h4+ �h6 ( S O .. . �hS S l ..l::!. fS + +- ) S l ..!:i.xb 7 +- . 48. 49 . 50. 51.

... .!:i.e3-f3+ .!:i.f3-e3 .!:i.e3-f3+

�g5-f4 �f4-g5 �g5-f4 1/2·V2

125

The Four Knights Game

Game No 40 [C48] Sulskis,Sarunas Neubauer,Martin Vienna 2008 (7)

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

e2-e4 tt:lg1-f3 �f1-b5 tt:lb1-c3 �b5-a4 tt:lf3xe5 tt:le5-d3 e4-e5 tt:lc3-d5 tt:ld5-e3

e7-e5 tt:lb8-c6 tt:lg8-f6 tt:lc6-d4 �f8-c5 0-0

�c5-b6 tt:lf6-e8 d7-d6 c7-c5

Considered sufficient for equality. 11. c2-c3

He should not let the genie out of the bottle. White's positional advantage could be secured by 1 6 . 0 - 0 .!:[b8 1 7 .a4; or the immediate 1 6 .a4. 16 ...bS ! ? A desperate attempt to break out. White does not have an easy choice : • A fairly wild game results from 1 7.f5-e6 .l:i.h3-e3 .l:i.h5-h3 51.e3-e4 52.f6-f7 .l:i.e3xe4+ 53.�e6-f5 1-0 Game No 4 1 [C48] Kornev,Alexey Nielsen,Peter Heine Warsaw Ech 2005 (8)

27. �d2-e1 Passing by a nice tactical trick : 2 7 .tt::ld 4 ! �xb2 (2 7 ... exd4 2 8.exd4 ! ±) 2 8 . .l:i.b l exd4 29.exd4 �xc3 3 0 ..l:i.xb 7 + .l:i.d7 3 1 ..l:i.xd 7 + �xd7 3 2.�xc3 ±. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31.

... .l:i.a1-b1 .l:i.b1 xb2 g2xf3 �g1-g2

�a3xb2 .l:i.d8-d1 �e2xf3 .l:[d1 xe1 + b7-b6

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

e2-e4 tt::lg1-f3 tt::lb1-c3 �f1-b5 �b5-a4 tt:Jf3xe5 tt:Je5-d3 e4-e5 tt:Jc3-d5

e7-e5 tt::lg8-f6 tt::lb8-c6 tt:Jc6-d4 �f8-c5 o-o

�c5-b6 tt::lf6-e8 c7-c61?

Yet another interesting idea, which has obtained a degree of popularity in the current century. 10. tt:Jd5-e3 11. c2-c3 12. 0-0

d7-d5 tt:Jd4-f5 f7-f6

In what follows, Black misses some good drawing chances. 32. .l:i.b2-b4

.l:i.e1-c1

3 2 ... .l:i.a 1 ! ? 3 3.a4 .t:i.a3 . 33. .l:i.b4-c4 34. f3-f4 35. .l:i.c4xf4

�e7-d6 e5xf4 .l:i.c1xc3?

3 5 ...f6 ! ?. 36. .l:i.f4xf7 .l:i.c3-a3 37..l:i.f7xg7 .l:i.a3xa2± 38.h2-h4 a7-a5 39.h4-h5 .l:i.a2-c2 40.h5-h6 .l:i.c2-c8 41.f2-f4 a5-a4 42.h6-h7 .l:i.c8-h8 43.�g2-f3 b6-b5 44.�f3-e4 �d6-c5 45.f4-f5 a4-a3 46.f5-f6 a3-a2 47..l:i.g7-a7 1 30

The critical position. 13. �a4-c2 Another line which has been tried is 1 3 . .tb3 '>t>h8 Worth consideration is 1 3 ...fxe5 ! ? 1 4.tt::lxe5 tt::lxe3 1 5 .fxe3 ( 1 5.dxe3 'iVe7 1 6.f4 tt::ld 6 with com-

Chapter

pensation for the pawn, a typical pic­ ture for this variation) I 5 . . . tt:lf6 . 14.'iYh5 tt:lh6 1 4 . . .fxe5 ! ? I S.tt:le l Good was 1 5 .itc2 , going into well-known patterns, with a loss of a tempo. l S fxeS! 16.'iYxe5 d4 1 6 . . . �c 7 ! ? . 17.tt:lc4 tt:lg4 18.'iYh5? 1 8 .'iYe2 . 18. . .g6 19.'iYh3 •..

5

-

The Rubins tein Sys tem

His better piece placement ensures Black sufficient compensation for the pawn. 16. a2-a41

a7-a5

Probably Black should play in the spirit of the game Motylev-Shomoev : 1 6 . . .fxe5 1 7 .tt:lxeS (or 1 7 .fxeS fie? 1 8 .b3 il.xeS 1 9 .tt:lxe5 'it'xeS 2 0 .fia3 .l:i.f6 2 I .itxf5 .l:i.xf5 with equality) 1 7 . . . itxc2 1 8 . 'it'xc2 � c 7 1 9 . tt:lf3 ( 1 9 .tt:ld3 tt:ld6) 1 9 . . . tt:ld6. The weak­ ness of the e3 pawn and his better de­ velopment promises Black definite compensation for the pawn. 17. b2-b3

'it'e7-e6

Analysis diagram

19 . . . .i.cs 1 9 . . . ..t c 7 2 0 . g 3 tt:lxf2 ! ; 1 9 . . . tt:lxf2 2 0 .'it'g3 il.c7 2 I .tt:le5 = . 20.'it'g3 tt:lef6 2 I .'ifh4 bS 22.tt:le3 dxe3, and Black won, Vallejo Pons­ Leko, Monaco (blind) 2 0 0 5 . The stan­ dard of play was no doubt affected by the fact that this was a blindfold game.

13. ...

'it'd 8-e7

Black played in less enterprising fashion in the following game: 1 3 . . . ..tc7 1 4.f4 tt:lxe3 1 5 .dxe3 �fS 1 6.b3 'it'e7 1 7 .'ife2 ( 1 7 . a4 ! ?) 1 7 . . . ..te4 1 8 . .i.b2 fxeS 1 9 .fxe5 ( 1 9 .tt:lxe5 hc2 2 0 .'it'xc2 heS 2 I .fxe5 .l:i.xfl + 2 2 . .l:i.xfl 'it'xeS 2 3 .'it'f2 'iff6=) 1 9 . . . .l:i.xfl + 2 0 . .l:i.xfl itxe5 2 I .tt:lxe5 'ifxeS 2 2 .'it'f2 tt:lf6= 2 3 .he4 'it'xe4 24.c4 .l:i.f8 2 5 .'it'g3 tt:le8 2 6 . .l:i.c l ?! dxc4 2 7 .bxc4 .l:i.fl 2 8 .h3 h6 2 9 .�h2 �h7 3 0 . c5 tt:lc7 3 I . .l:i.fl draw, Motylev-Shomoev, Togliatti tt 2 0 0 3 . 14. f2-f4 15. d 2xe3

tt:lf5xe3 .tc8-f5

18. .tc1-a31 White returns the pawn, in the hope of taking over the initiative after 1 8 . . . .txe3 + 1 9 .�h l .l:i.fl 2 0 .'it'e2 �a7 2 I . .l:i.ae l . Passive is 1 8 .'it'd2 fxeS 1 9 .tt:lxe5 (or 1 9 . fxe5 .txd3 2 0 . .l:i.xf8 + �xf8 2 I .'it'xd3 g 6 2 2 .ita3 + �g8 with suffi­ cient counterplay for Black) 1 9 . . . tt:ld6 20 . .td3 tt:lfl , and the weakness of e3 will have its say. 18. ... 19. �g1-h1 20. 'ifd 1-e2

:tf8-f7 g7-g6

13 1

The Four Knights Game

.i

.

..

X .l 'if .l .l . .l .l LS .t. LS LS � LS LS CiJ LS � 'i¥ LS LS

.l .t. .l

n

�

Worth consideration is 2 0 . lLlcS �xeS 2 l .�xfS �xfS (slightly better is 2 l . . . gxfS 2 2 .�xcS fxeS 2 3.fxeS �xeS 24.�f3 tt:lf6 2 S .�g 3 + �g 7 2 6.�d4 'iYe6 2 7 .�xg 7 + xg 7 2 8 .'iYhS ) 2 2 .�xcS tt:lg7 (or 2 2 ...fxeS 2 3.fxeS 'iYxeS 2 4.�xf7 xf7 2 S .'iYf3 + 'iYfs 2 6 .'iYe2 with a serious initiative for White) 2 3 .�d4 with advantage. 20. ...

tt:le8-g7?1

Missing a good chance to equalise with 20 .. . �xd3 2 l .'iYxd3 fxeS 2 2.c4 �d8 , and in this position, the two bishops are only a moral victory. 21. e5xf6 22. ttJd3-c5 23. e3-e4

Worth considering was 2 6 ...lLlfS ! ? 2 7 .�xfS 'iYxfS 2 8.�ae l �ae 8 , signifi­ cantly hampering White's realisation of his advantage. 27.�e4-d3± �e6-e3 28.�d3-c4! tt:lg7-e6 29.'1Wf3-f2 'fif7-c7 30.�a1-e1 �e3xe1 31.'iYf2xe1 32.'iYe1-e4 'iYf7-f5 'iYc7-f7 33.'iYe4xf5 g6xf5 34..t:l.f1-e1 f7-f6 g8-f7 35.g2-g4 36.g4-g5+ 1-0 Game No 42 [C48] Motylev,Alexander Carlsen, Magnus Wijk aan Zee 2007 (6)

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

e2-e4 tt:lg1-f3 tt:lb1-c3 �f1-b5 �b5-a4 tt:lf3xe5 tt:le5-d3 e4-e5

�f7xf6 'iYe6-f7

x•

.l .l .l

It was worth considering 2 3.c4. 23 . ...

d5xe4

It seems that 2 3 . . . �e8 would have equalised, since White is promised nothing by 24.eS �xc2 2 S .'iYxc2 �xf4, and Black is even better. 24. tt:lc5xe4 25. 'iYe2-f3 26. �c2xe4

�f6-e6 �f5xe4

The position has turned out in White's favour and he has a healthy extra pawn. 26. ... 132

�a8-e8

e7-e5 ttJb8-c6 tt:lg8-f6 tt:lc6-d4 �f8-c5 0-0 �c5-b6 c7-c61?

�

LS .. {jj {jj LS LS LS LS LS LS LS :a: � 'iV � A relatively new idea, a positional piece sacrifice. 9. 0-0! Accepting the sacrifice is very danger­ ous : 9.exf6 �e8+ l O.fl 'iYxf6 and now:

Chapter 5

1 1 .g3 dS 1 2 .h3 1 2.'ltig 2 l:i.e2 ! 1 3 .tt::lf4 �g4 1 4.tt::lcxe2 �f3 + 1 5 .g8-h8 �d6-c7

The start of a dubious plan. A small strategic initiative was guaranteed by a plan of playing on the other flank, with something such as 1 6 .a4 g6 1 7 .tt:lc4 'lt>g7 1 8.a5 'ti'e7 1 9 .'ti'e3. 16. 17. 18. 19. 1 40

... g2-g4?! 'lt>g1-h2 l:rf1-g1

g7-g6 'lt>h8-g7 �d8-e7 �e7-f6

39. �b5-d7! A beautiful idea, involving the sacrifice of a piece. Nothing is promised by 3 9.axb6 �xb6 40.i1i,a6 i1i,c6 = .

Chapter

39 . 40. 41. 42.

... g4xf5 .l:!.b1-g1 + .l:!.g1xg6+

43.a5-a6 �b7-c8 44..l:!.a1-g1 .l:!.h3-h8 45.tt:Je3-d5+± .l:!.d7xd5 46..l:!.g6-g7+ �e7-d8 47. .l:!.g7-g8+ .l:!.h8xg8 48..l:!.g1xg8+ �d8-e7 49.e4xd5 �c8xa6 50J:tg8-g7+ 51.f5-f6 �c7-d6 �e7-d8 52.c3-c4 �d6-f8 53..l:!.g7xa7 �a6-c8 54.�e2-f3 �f8-d6 55.�f3-e4 �d8-e8 56..l:!.a7-h7 �c8-d7 57..l:!.h7-h8+ �d6-f8 58.�e4xe5 b6-b5 1-0

The Rubinstein System

6. ...

d7-d6

Later, this move was almost wholly su­ perseded by the more resolute 6 . . . d5 (see Games 46-49) . 7. tt:Je5-f3 Practice has shown that 7 . tt:ld3 bS 8 .�b3 aS 9 .a3 dS ! favours Black. 1 0 .eS tt:le4 1 1 . 0 - 0 tbcS 1 2 . tt:lxc5 �xe S 1 3 . �h 1 ( 1 3 .tt:le2 ? ? �g4-+) 1 3 . . . 0-0 1 4.tt:le2 a4 ( 1 4 ... tt:lxb3 1 5 .cxb3 d4 1 6 .d3) 1 S .�a2 f6 ! , Adams-Kramnik, Linares 1 9 9 9 . 7. ... 8. d2-d3 9. e4xd5!

Game No 45 [C48J Rublevsky,Sergey Bacrot,Etienne World Cup, Khant y -Mansisk 2005

e2-e4 tt:lg1-f3 tt:lb1-c3 �f1-b5 �b5-a4 tt:Jf3xe5

-

f7-f5 .l:!.h7xd7 �g5-f6 �f6-e7?!

More tenacious is 4 2 . . . �f7 , although this also does not promise an easy life : 43.a6 �c8 44Jhg 1 .l:!.h8 4 S . .l:!.g 7 + �f8 46.f6 bS 47 .tt:lfs �d8 48 . .l:!. 1 g6 with the threats of �d6 and �h6 . Despite his extra piece, Black is close to zugzwang.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

S

e7-e5 tt:lb8-c6 tt:Jg8-f6 tt:Jc6-d4 c7-c6

The principled continuation. In the event of 6.d3 ?! bS 7 .�b3 tt:lxb3 8.axb3 d6 9 . 0-0 �e7 White cannot count on more than equality. However, the out­ wardly harmless 6.0-0 contains more poison than may at first appear, therefore in this book, we devote some attention to it (see Games 43 and 44) .

il.c8-g4 d6-d5

The most principled. The alternative is 9.0-0 and now :

E ' ' ' '

�

� � j_ Ci:J � Ci:J ��� ��� s: � 'iY � w Analysis diagram

• Scarcely correct is 9 ... �d6 1 O.exd5 Or 1 0 .eS �c7 ! ? 1 l .exf6 0 -0 ! ? 1 2 .tt:le2 �xf3 (no better is 1 2 . . . tt:lxf3 + 1 3 .gxf3

141

The F o u r Knights Game

�xf3 1 4. 'ti' d2 'ti'xf6 I S .lbg3 'ti'h4 1 6 .'ti'e3 - Black's compensation for the piece is insufficient) 1 3 . gxf3 lbxf3 + 1 4.'it>g2 'ti'xf6 I S .ltJg 3 ltJh4+ 1 6 .'it>h l lbf3 1 7 .c3 .l:f.ae8 1 8 .iii. c 2 - Black does not have full compensation for the piece. 1 o ... �xf3 1 1 .gxf3 0-0 1 2.dxc6 'tWas 1 3.'it>g2 bxc6 1 4.�e3 ; e Satisfactory for Black is 9 b5 1 O.�b3 b4 1 1 .lt:Jb1 dxe4 1 2.dxe4 ltJxf3+ 1 3.gxf3 'ti'xd1 1 4 .l:f.xd1 �xf3 1 5 .l:f.e 1 ltJd7 1 6.�f4 Also good is 1 6.ltJd2 ltJeS 1 7 . .l:f.e3 ?! (preferable is 1 7 .lbc4 lbxc4 1 8 .hc4 �cS 1 9.�e3 �e7 ( 1 9 . . . �d6 20.eS;!;) 20.�f4 and White is slightly better) 1 7 . . . �hS 1 8 . .:!.g3 �d6 ( 1 8 . . . 0-0-0 ! ?) 1 9.f4 ltJg6 20.ltJc4 (20.e5 .tcS + 2 I .'it>fl .l:f.d8 2 2 .c3 bxc3 2 3 .bxc3;!;) 20 . . . �4 2 l . .l:!.xg6 Le i 2 2 . .l:f.xg7 (22 .l:!.xc6=) 2 2 . . . iii.h 6 23 .ltJd6+ (23 .l:!.g3 =) 2 3 ... 'it>d7+ 24.l:!.xf7 + L£7 25 .ltJxf7 .l:f.hg8+ 26.�h l �f4 2 7 .l:!.fl .l:tg4 2 8 .h3 .l:f.h4 29.l:!.f3 .l:f.e8 30 . .l:f.d3 + 'it>c7 3 l ..l:f.d4 �e3 3 2 .l:!.xb4 l:!.g8 3 3 . .te6 .l:!.f4 34.�g4 l:!.x£7 0- 1 , V Kozlov-Turov, Moscow 2 0 0 7 . 1 6 ...�e7 1 7.ltJd2 �5 1 8.tbc4;!; 0-0 1 9.ltJa5 .l:f.ac8 20.lt:Jb7 c5 2 1 .�c4 2 I...t d6! ? hd6 2 2 .lbxd6 .l:f.c7 2 3 .eS;!;. 2 1 . ltJb6 2 I . . ..l:!.c6=. 22.�b5 c4 23.a4 bxa3 24.bxa3 c3 25.ltJa5 l:rc5 26.a4 lbxa4 2 7.ltJc6 �g5 28.�d6 .l:txb5 29.� � 30 ..l:txa4 �d2 3 1 ..l:!.xa7 g6 32 ..!:i.ea1 � 3 3 .1:!.7a4 .!::!.g5+ 34.'it>fl 'it>g8 35.l::!.c4 l:lli5 36.ltJd4 h4 3 7.lbe6 fxe6 38 .!::!.xe4 'it>£7 39.h4 'it>f6 40.'it>e2 e5 4 1 .l::!. a 5 'it>e6 42 .!::!.b 5 h6 43.f3 'it>f6 44 .!::!.c 5 'it>e6 45.'it>f2 'it>f6 46 . .:!.a4 'it>B 47 ..l:f.c6 ..t£4 48 ..1:i.aa6 .l:f.xh4 49 .!::!.£6+ \t>gs 50.l:rxg6+ \t>h5 5 l ..l:f.g2 .l:th1 52.l::tc6 .l:f.d1 53.l::txc3 .l:td2+ 54.\t>fl .l:f.d1 + 55.\t>£2 draw, Vallejo Pons-Z. Almasi, Tripoli Wch 2004; • 9 dxe4 1 0.lbxe4 Worthy of atten­ tion is I O.dxe4 �xf3 I l .gxf3 bS •.•

•

•

•.

•

•

•

•

•

.••

1 42

( 1 1 . . . 'ti'b6 ! ? 1 2.. �e3 �cS ) 1 2 .�b3 �cS 1 3 .e5 ltJd7 ! ? ( 1 3 . . . "iVd7 ? 1 4.exf6 0-0-0 1 S .'it>g2 ! +- Nunn-Kristensen, Vejle 1 9 94) 1 4 . .l:f.e l 'ti'c7 I S .f4 Black does not have sufficient compensation for the piece. 1 0 ... lbxe4 1 1 ..l:!.e 1 White gets nothing from 1 l .dxe4? ! �xf3 1 2 .gxf3 'ti'f6 1 3 .f4 'ti'g6+ 1 4. 'it>h l 0-0-0 with a good game for Black.

Analysis diagram

A) Black does not equalise after 1 1 . .. 1hf3 1 2 .gxf3 'ii' f6 1 3 Jhe4+ �e 7 1 4.f4 0-0-0 I S . .te3;!;; B) Nor has the following line proved justified: 1 1 ...B 1 2 .c3 ltJxf3 + 1 3 .gxf3 .ths 1 4.dxe4 'ifxd l I S .bd l 0-0-0 1 6.e5 gS 1 7 .'it>g2 f4 1 8.�c2 �g6 1 9.hg6 hxg6 20.e6 .te7 2 I .b3 .l:!.d3 22.c4 .l:f.e8 23 .�b2 .tb4 24 . .l:f.e4 .!::!.d 2 25 .�6 �cs 26 ..l:tfl .l:f.xa2 2 7 .bg5 .l:!.b2 2 8 ..txf4 l:txb3 29 . .l:f.dl .l:f.d8 30 . .l:f.ee l �e7 3 1 .l:txd8+ 'it>xd8 3 2.h4 .l:td3 3 3 .l:tb l b6 34.�b8 �4 3 5 .�7 'it>e7 3 6.l:txb6 .l:!.d6 3 7 .c5 l:txe6 3 8.�b8 Wf6 3 9.�d6 .l:.e2 40.l:txc6 f) 4 l .�g3 hg3 42.'it>xg3 l:k2 43 . .l:f.c8 Wf6 44.f4 l:tc3 + 4S .'it>g4 'it>e6 46.'it>g5 'it>d7 47 ..l:f.a8 l:txcS+ 48.'it>xg6 .l:tc6+ 49.'it>g7 l:tcS SO . .l:f.a4 l:tdS S l ..l:f.e4 1 -0 , Acs-Pavasovic, Neum t t 2 0 0 0 . C ) 1 1 . .. �e7 1 2 . .!::!.xe4 lbxf3 + 1 3. gxf3 �f5 1 4. .l:te5 �e6 1 4 . . . 'ti'd7 I S .'ti'e i ;!; 1 5 ..ib3 ..ixb3 1 6.axb3 0-0 1 7.'ti'e2 �d6 1 8.l::!. e4 'ti'c7 1 9.\t>g2 ! •

Chapter 5 - The Rubinstein System

10. 0-0 Mistaken is I 0. tLlxd4? �xd I I 1 .tLlxc6 tt:lxc3 (Black can win at once by I I ...bxc 6 ! I 2.�xc6+ �e7 I 3.tLlxd5 + �d6 I 4.�xa8 'ifxa8 I 5.tLle3 �h5 -+) 1 2.tLlxd 8 + tLlxa4 I 3.tLlxf7 �xf7 + , Nijboer-Fernandez Garcia, Linares zt I 995. Analysis diagram

19 £'5 ? ! 20J:te6 �xh2? ! ± 21..:te7 't!Vd6 2 2 .:ta4! 2 2.lhb 7 .:tfe 8 ! with counterplay. 22 .:tf6 2 2 ....:tf7 2 3 . .:te6 'ifc7 2 4.f4+-. 23.�g5 .:tg6 2 3 ... .:tf7 2 4..:te6 'ifb8 2 5.f4 h6 2 6.�xh 6 ! +-. 24 .:te8+ �f7 24 ....:txe8 2 5 .'ifxe8+ 'iff8 2 6.'ifxf8 + �xf8 2 7.�xh2 .:txg5 2 8 ..l:ha7 b5 2 9 ..:tc7 ! .:tg6 3 0.b4! .:td6 3 l .b3 h6 3 2.'iii g 3 g5 3 3.f4±. 25.'ife7+ 'ifxe7 2 6 . .:txe7+ �g8 27.�xh2 .l:f.xgS ? ! +- More stubborn is 2 7 ...b5 28 ..:taxa7 .:txa7 29 ..:txa 7 .:txg5 30 . .:tc7 l:l.g6 3 I .b4±. 2 8.l:l.xb7 aS 29.l:te7 cS 30.f4 l:tg4 31.£'3 .:th4+ 32.�g3 l:th1 33.J::t e s .:ta6 34 .:txf5 .:tah6 35.l:bc5 l:t 1 h2 36Jbxa5 .:t6h3+ 37.�g4 .l:lh4+ 38.�f5 h6 39.�e4 I - 0 , Motylev­ Grischuk, Moscow 2 0 0 I . •••

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.••

•

•

Back to the game. 9 . ...

ttJf6xd5

10. ...

�f8-e7

Black can perfectly well go into the line 1 0 ... tt:lxc3!? 1 1 .bxc3 tt:lxf3 + 12.gxf3 �e6 13.�b3 White has nothing better. 1 3... �d6 14.�xe6 Maybe it makes sense for White to play I 4.f4 0-0 I 5.'iff3 'iff6 I 6.�d2 .:tae8 1 7 ..:tfe i , where his advantage is not great, but he at least has an extra pawn in a quiet po­ sition. 14 ... fxe6 Worse is I 4...'ifh4 I 5.�xf7 + �xf7 I 6.f4 .l:lhe8 I 7.'iff3 ;!;. 15.'ii' e 2 'iff6 I 5 ... 0-0 I 6.'ifxe6 + �h8 I 7.'ifg4! ?;!;. 1 6 . .l:le1 I 6 ..:tb i 0-0-0=. 16 ... �d7 17 J:tb 1 b6 1 8.a4 In the event of the natural I 8.'ti'e4 .:thf8 I 9.�g2 ( I 9.f4 g5=) I 9 ..J:tf7 White has too many weaknesses to count on anything real. 1 8 ... .:the8 Also sufficient is I 8 ....:thf8 I 9.a5 'ifg6+ 2 0.�fl 'iff5 2 I .'ife4 'ifxa 5 =. 19.'ii' e 4 'ifxc3 20.�b2 'ifcs White has no particular hopes of a win here. 11. .:tf1-e1 12. ttJc3xd5

0-0

c6xd5

Another line which has been tried is 12 ... 'ii' x d5 13. .:txe7 tt:lxf3+ 14.gxf3 �xf3 15.'t!Vd2 I 5 . 'ife i 'ifd4 I 6 . .:te4 ( I 6 . 'if e 5 'ifxa4 I 7 .'iff4 'ifxf4 I 8 .�xf4 .:tfe 8 I 9 . .:tae i .:txe 7 2 0 Jh e 7 b 6=) I 6 .. Jhe8 ! I 7 .�b3 �xe4 I 8.dxe4 .:txe4 I 9 .'iffl ( I 9 .�e3 .:tg4+ 2 0.�fl 'ife4=F) I 9 ....:tfe 8 =F. 15..J:tae8 I 43

The Four Knights Game

Analysis diagram

1 6 . .tb 3 'iY d8 1 7 ..lhe 8 �xe 8 1 8 . .txf7 + 'lt>xf7 1 9.'i¥f4 + 'i¥f6 2 0.'i!Vxf6 + 'lt>xf6 2 1 .�e3 a6=, Berkes­ Gyimesi, Heviz ch-HUN 2 0 0 3 . • An obvious improvement i s 1 6.'i!Vg5 ! 'i!Vd4 1 7.�b3 h6 1 8 . .txf7+ There is no particular sense in 1 8. 'i1V fS �xe 7 1 9.'i!Vxf3 �e 1 + 2 0.'lt>g2 with a position that is hard to assess. 1 8 ... \t>hS 1 8 ...�xf7 1 9.�xe8 + 'lt>h7 2 0.'iVeS +-. 1 9.'i!Ve3 'i!Vg4+ 20.\t>fl .tg2+ Best. 2 0 ...'i!Vg2 + 2 l .'lt>e 1 'i!Vg 1 + 2 2.\t>d2+-. 2 1 .\t>e l 'i!Vb4+ 22.�d2 'i!Vxe7 2 3.�xe8 �xeS 24.'i!Vxe7 �xe7+ 2 5 .�e3 ± •

13. c2-c3

�g4xf3!?

The game Acs-Gelfand, Warsaw tt 2 0 0 3 , saw White obtain the advantage : 1 3 ...4Jxf3 + 1 4.gxf3 �hS 1 S.�eS 'i!Vd6 1 6 .d4 'i¥f6 1 7.'t!Vd3 ! ;t 'ifh4 1 8.'iYfs g6 1 9.'i¥f4 �fd8 2 0.�e 1 'iVf6 2 l .'lt>g2 gS 2 2.'t!Vg3 �g6 2 3 .'iYeS 't!VxeS 24.�xeS �f6 2 S .�xgS �xeS 2 6.�xd8 �xd4 2 7.�h4 �b6 2 8.�d l �d8 2 9.�g3 a6 3 0.�xdS bS 3 l .�b3 �f6 3 2.�eS 'lt>g7 3 3 .�xf6 + 'lt>xf6 3 4.\t>g3 l::[ g 8 3 S.'lt>f4 �e8 3 6.�d 6 + 'lt>g7 3 7.�xa6 �e2 3 8.�b6 �xfl 3 9.\t>g3 �xb2 40.�xbS �b l 4 l .�dS 'lt>f6 42.�d 1 �b2 43.c4 �b 1 44.cS �xa2 4S .�xa2 �xa2 46.�c l 'lt>e7 47 .c6 \t>d8 48.h4 'lt>c7 49.�c4 �a 1 S O.'lt>g4 �g l + S l .\t>fs �g3 S 2.'lt>f4 �g6 S 3.hS �e6 S4.\t>gs h6+ 1 44

S S.'lt>fS �d6 S 6.f4 �e6 S 7.�e4 �xc6 S 8.�e 7 + 'lt>d8 S 9.�xf7 'lt>e8 60.�f6 �c 1 6 l .�xh6 'lt>f7 6 2 .�h 7 + 'lt>g8 63.�a7 llh l 64.'lt>g6 �g l + 6 S.'lt>f6 l:!.h l 66.fS .l:.h2 6 7.�g 7 + 'lt>h8 6 8.�gS 'lt>h7 6 9 .'lt>f7 l:!.a2 7 0.�g 7 + 'lt>h6 7 1 .l:rg6+ 'iiiixhs 72 J:te6 l:!.a7 + 7 3 .�e7 �a6 74.f6 'iiii h 6 7 S .�e6 �a8 7 6.�e8 �a7 + 7 7.\t>e6 �a6 + 7 8 .\t>fs �aS + 7 9 .�eS l:!.a8 80 ..l:i.dS 'iiii h 7 8 l .�d7 + 'lt>h6 8 2.�d l 'lt>h7 8 3 .�h l + 'lt>g8 84.\t>g6 �a7 8 S.�d 1 �g 7 + 8 6.fxg7 draw, Acs-Gelfand, Warsaw tt 2 0 0 3. 14. g2xf3 15. f3-f4

4Jd4-e6

1 S.d4 �d6 ! (also good is l S ...�gS 1 6.�eS �f4 1 7 .�xf4 tLlxf4 with good compensation for the exchange) 1 6.f4 'i!Vh4=F. 15. ... 16. f4-f5

d5-d4 4Je6-c5

'Because of the weakened position of his king, White can hardly play for a win' L Kritz. I think this judgement is only partly correct, because for the moment, and indeed for the rest of the game, the white king is not actually attacked...

-

17. 18. 19. 20.

�a4-c2 'i¥d1-f3 �e1xe8+ �c1-d2

�f8-e8 �e7-f6 'ii'd8xe8

Chapter 5

Thus, White has almost completed his development, retained his extra pawn and his king is not currently under any attack, since all of Black's play is di­ rected at the queenside. 20. 21. .l:i.a1-b1

3. 4. 5. 6.

-

The Rubinstein System

tt::lb1-c3 �f1-b5 �b5-a4 tt::lf3xe5

tt::J g8-f6 tt::J c6-d4 c7-c6 d7-d51

'it'e8-b5 'i¥b5-a5

In recent years, this move has achieved great popularity, by comparison with 6 . . . d6 (see the previous game) . 22. 'itf3-d5?1 Now the draw comes about by force. After 2 2 . a4! ? tt::lxa4 ( 2 2 . . . dxc3 2 3 .bxc3 �xc3 2 4 . l::r. b 5 +- ; 2 2 . . . 'it'c7 2 3 .b4 tt::ld 7 24.c4±) 2 3 .'it'xb7 tt::lb 6 24.�b3 .l:i.f8 25 . .l:i.e 1 ± White would retain win­ ning chances. 22....l:i.a8-d8 23.b2-b4 .l:i.d8xd5 24.b4xa5 d4xc3 25.�d2-e3 �f6-d4 26.�e3xd4 .l:i.d5xd4 27..l:i.b1-b5 tt::J c5xd3 28..l:i.b5xb7 Wg8-f8 29 ..l:i.b7xa7 tt::ld3-b4 30.�c2-b3 c3-c2 31.�b3xc2 32.a5-a6 tt::J b4xc2 .l:i.d4-a4 33. .l:i.a7-c7 .l:i.a4xa6 34..l:i.c7xc2 1f2-1f2

Game No 46 [C48] Nikel Kireev Correspondence 2005

1. e2-e4 2. tt::lg1-f3

e7-e5 tt::lb8-c6

7. e4xd5 8. d5xc6

�f8-d6

Nor are things so simple after 8.tt:lf3 ! ? �g4!? Worthy o f attention i s 8 . . .'ti'e 7 9 . Wfl tt::lxf3 (if 9 . . . �g4 ! ? 1 0 .dxc6 0-0-0 1 1 .h3 �xf3 1 2 .gxf3 Black still has to show that he has sufficient com­ pensation for the sacrificed material) 1 O .'i!Vxf3 bS 1 1 .�b3 b4 1 2 .tt::le 2 �g4 1 3 . 'i¥e3 tt::l x dS 1 4 . 'iYxe 7 + Wxe 7 . 9.dxc6 bxc6 A transposition of moves occurs after 9 . . . 0-0 1 0 .d3 bxc6. 1 0.d3 0-0 1 1 .�e3 .l:i.e8 . Black has enough compensation for the sacrificed pawn. 8. ... 9. tt::J e5-c4

0-0 b7-b51?

Worthy of consideration is 9 .. . .l:i.e8+ 1 o.tt::l e 3 1 o . Wfl bxc6 with obvious compensation for the pawn. 1 o ... bxc6 1 1 .d3 1 1 . 0 - 0 ? �xh2+ 1 2 .Wxh2 tt::l g 4+ 1 3 .tt::lx g4 'ifh4+ 1 4.Wg 1 �xg4 1 5 .f3 �xf3 1 6 . .l:i.xf3 tt::lxf3 + 1 7 .gxf3 .l:i.e6 ! + 1 1 . . . �c 7 ! ? 1 2 .h3 1 2 . 0 - 0 �xh 2 + ( 1 2 . . . 'i¥d6 1 3 .f4 'iVcS probably also 145

The F o u r Knights Game

gives Black enough counterplay ) 1 3 . �xh2 tt:Jg4+ 1 4 . tt:Jxg4 'ir'h4+ 1 5 .�g 1 �xg4 1 6 .f3 ti:Jxf3 + 1 7 .l:hf3 .ixf3 1 8 .gxf3 l:i.e l + ( 1 8 . . . 'ir'g 3 + =) 1 9 .'ir'xe 1 'ifxe 1 + 2 0 .�g2 hS (it seems Black is not risking a lot) 2 1 .l:i.b 1 h4 2 2 .�f4 'ir'e6 2 3 . l:i.h 1 'ir'f6 24 . .id2 'ifg6 + 2 S .�fl l:i.e8 2 6 .ti:Je4 ( 2 6 ..l:hh4 'ir'g3 2 7 . l:i. f4 gS 2 8 . l:i.e4 'ifxf3 + 2 9 . �e 1 l:i.xe4+ 3 0 . ti:Jxe4 g4+) 2 6 ... l:i.xe4 2 7 .fxe4 'ir'g3 2 8 .�e 1 'iff3 + 2 9 .�g 1 gS 3 0 .l:i.h2 h3 3 1 . .ixc6 g4 3 2..�. d 5 'ir'd 1 3 3 .�fl 'iVf3 + 34.c.t>g 1 = . 10.

.ia4xb5

A forced draw results from 1 O .ti:JxbS itg4 1 1 .f3 .ixf3 1 2 . gxf3

The forced play is over. White has three ( ! ) extra pawns, but one cannot conclu­ sively pronounce the position in his fa­ vour. His king is chronically weak, his heavy pieces are not playing, whilst the opposite coloured bishops strengthen the black attack and add to White's headaches. 20. l:i.h1-h2 2 0 . .ie3 does not promise an easy life, eg. 2 0 . . . l:i.b8 2 1 .b3 �g4 2 2 .�g2 l:i.bS 2 3 .�g3 .ihs 2 4 . l:i.h3 l:i.fs 2 s .�g2 l:i.e6 2 6 .�h2 �xf3 and White is in trouble. 20.

Analysis diagram

1 2 . . . ti:Je4! 1 3 .ti:Jxd4 'ifh4+ 1 4.�e2 'iff2+ 1 5 .�d3 ti:JcS + 1 6 .�c3 ti:Jxa4+ 1 7 . �d3 draw, Degraeve-Koch, Auxerre ch-FRA 1 9 9 6 . 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 1 46

... tt:Jc4xd6 h2-h3 �e1-f1 �f1-g1 g2xf3 �g1-f1 h 3-h4 tt:Jc3xb5 d2-d3

ti:Jf6-g4 'ifd8xd6 l:i.f8-e8+ tt:Jg4-h2+ ti:Jh2-f3+ 'iVd6-g6+ 'ifg6-h5 tt:Jd4xb5 'ifh5xb5+ 'fkb5xc6

...

'i¥c6-g6

It is hard to judge the play of players, equipped with more powerful comput­ ers than the author. However, from the viewpoint of a carbon-based player, Black's last move looks rather abstract. I would prefer to attack something : 2 0 . . . l:i.b8 2 1 .b3 l:i.bS 2 2 . .ie3 l:i.hS , or 2 0 . . . 'iff6 2 1 .�g 1 .td.b8 2 2 .l:i.b 1 l:i.b6 2 3 .h5 �b7 . Black has counterplay, but it is a big question whether it is worth three pawns. 21. h4-h5 Not allowing the queen to hS . The po­ sition after 2 1 .�e3 'ifhS 2 2 .�g2 .ib 7 2 3 .l:i.h3 l:i.e6 24.l:i.g3 l:i.f6 does indeed look very dangerous for White.

Chapter 5

21. 22. 23. 24.

... d2 and the ending favours White ; or 1 7 .. .'iVf6 1 8 . 0-0-0 I::r ab8 ( 1 8 . . .'it'xf3 1 9 . .l:[e 1 ) 1 9 .�b3 d4 2 0 .�h6 �xh2 2 1 . .l:[h 1 with sufficient compensation for the exchange. ..

21. ...

'iV c 3

.l:[c8xc2+

.

An excellent chance. 22. 'ti'd1 xc2

...

16. .l:[g5xh5 17. f2xe3 18. .l:[h5-h3 1 8 . .l:[dS ? .tb4+ .

d4xe3 g7-g6

The simplest. However, the more fanci­ ful 2 2...�.x c2 ! ? is also worth consider­ ing : 2 2 . . . .l:[c8 2 3 . .l:[c 1 �a3 24 . .l:[h4, bringing the rook into the game : 24 . . . 'iVxc 1 2 5 .'iVxc 1 .txc 1 2 6 .Ylb3 .l:[e8 2 7 .e4 .tb2 2 8 . 'it>e3 .l:[d8 2 9 .e5 with good winning chances. 22. 23. f3-f4 24. 'iVc2-c4 25. 'iVc4-f1

'iVb2xa1 'iVa1-h1 a7-a5 'ilfh1 xf1 +

The essence of things is not changed by 2 5 . . . 'ilfc6 2 6 . .l:[f3 (closing the black queen's line of penetration - 2 6 .f5 ! ?) 2 6 . . . .l:[b8 ( 2 6 . . . .l:[c8 2 7 .'iVd 1 with an extra pawn and a stable position) 2 7 .'iVc4 (2 7 .fS ! ?) 2 7 . . . 'iVxc4 2 8 . .txc4 .l:[b2 + 2 9 .'iii> g 1 - the character of the play is not very different from what oc­ curred in the game. 151

The F o u r Kn ights Game

26. Wf2xf1 27. f4-f5

Wg8-g7

An interesting practical chance. After the 'normal' 2 7 .We2 f5 2 8 J:[g3 l:!.c8 White 's win is also problematic. 27. ... 28. �b3-c2

g6xf5 .l:rf8-c8?!

5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

�b5-a4 4::l f3xe5 d2-d3 tt:Je5-f3 g2xf3

c7-c6 d7-d5 �f8-d6 4::l d4xf3+ 0-0

In this position, other logical moves re­ quire to be analysed, for instance 9 . . . aS or 9 . . . b5 .

More drawing chances were offered by 2 8 . . . .l:rb8 ! 2 9 .�xf5 h6 followed by . . . .l:rb2 - Lebedev. 29. �c2xf5 30. Wf1-e2

.l:rc8-c1+ h7-h6?!

3 0 . . . .l:ra 1 ! ? . 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38.

�f5-e4 .l:rh3-h4 .l:rh4-g4+ h2-h3 �e4-d5 we2-d3 .l:rg4-g8 .l:rg8-a8

a5-a4 a4-a3 Wg7-f6 �d6-c7 .l:rc1-c2+ .l:rc2-f2 �c7-d6

10. �a4-b3

3 8 . e4! ?. 38...Wf6-g7 39..l:ra8-a6 �d6-b4 40..l:ra6-a7 �b4-f8 41.e3-e41+­ h6-h5 42.Wd3-e3 .l:rf2-f6 43.e4-e5 .l:rf5-f2 .l:rf6-f5 44.We3-e4 45.We4-e3 .l:rf2-f5 46.We3-e4 Wg7-g6 .l:!.f5-f2 47.e5-e6! 48.We4-e3 .l:!.f2-f1 49.We3-e2 1-0 Game No 48 [C48] Gormally,Daniel Hebden,Mark Newport 2004 (3)

1. 2. 3. 4. ! 52

e2-e4 4::l b1-c3 4::l g1-f3 �f1-b5

The position in the diagram has not been investigated very deeply and con­ ceals many surprises. In this connec­ tion, I would like to suggest a couple of ideas.

e7-e5 4::l g8-f6 4::l b8-c6 4::l c6-d4

A colourless move. White obviously fears the loss of this bishop. e White quickly fell into a bad position in the game L. Vajda-Bluvshtein, Buda­ pest 2 0 0 7 : 1 0.�e2 tt:lhS 1 0 . . . dxe4! ? l l .dxe4 'ti'e 7 1 2 .�e3 .l:!.d8 with a com­ fortable position for Black. l l .c3 �h4 1 2.�e3 fS 1 3.exd5? 1 3 .�b3 ! ? 1 3 ...f4 1 4.�c l �d7 1 5.�b3 �ae8 1 6.dxc6+ �e6 1 7JWxb7 tt:lg3 ! l S . .I:!.g l 1 8 .fxg3 fxg3 1 9 .Wd l 'i\Yxa4+ 2 0 .b3 �aS -+ ; 1 8 . �xf4 tt:lxh l -+ . 1 8 ... �xh2 -+ 1 9.c7 .Jld7 20.�e3 �xa4 2 1 .�d5+ Wh8 2 2 .�xd6 J:l.f6 2 3 .c8� l:!.xc8 24.�e5 J:l.e8 2S .�c7 g6 25 .. Jhe3 2 6 . l:!.xg3 ( 2 6 .�d8 + .l:!.e 8 -+ ) 2 6 . . . l:!.xe2+ 2 7 . Wxe2 .l:re6+ 2 8 .Wfl fxg3 -+ .

Chapter 5

Analysis diagram

26.lhg3 ! fxe3 2 7 .fxe3 l:h£'3 28.'iha7 l:tfl 2 9 .'it'd4+ �g8 30.'�d5 + �g7 3 1 .'ti'd4+ �g8 draw; • 1 0.i.g5 ! ? The author's suggestion. This move has not been seen in practice: A) 1 O ... l:te8 and now: A I ) 1 1 .'Yi'd2 h6 1 2 .i.xh6 ! ? gxh6 1 3.'Yi'xh6 �f5 1 4.0-0-0 i.g6 1 5 .l:tdg 1 'i¥c7

-

The Rubinstein System

1 7 . .ixe5 l:txe5 1 8 .'iYe3 'iVf6 Black does not have full compensation for the pawn. 1 2.�xe8 'tlfxe8 1 3 .i.xf6 gxf6 1 4.l:tg 1 + �h8 1 5 .'tlfd2 'tiffS 1 6.exd5 b5 - chances are balanced; B) 1 O ...d4?! At first glance, this simply wins a piece. 1 1 .tLle2 'li'a5 + Or l l . . . h6 1 2 . .id2 with chances for both sides; Black has compensation, but it is easier to defend in a closed position and a pawn is a pawn. 1 2.'li'd2 .ib4 In fact, he cannot win a piece: 1 2 . . . 'i¥xa4? 1 3 .ihf6 gxf6 1 4.l:tg l + �h8 1 5 .'ifh6+- . 1 3 .c3 �e 7 1 4.�xf6 i.xf6 1 5 .i.b3 dxc3 1 6.bxc3 White has a strong centre and an extra pawn, and Black does not have any obvious threats. Even so, the position still looks fairly unclear. C) 1 O ...h6 1 1 .1i.e3 This is the idea of the move 1 0 . .ig 5 . Having forced a weakening of Black's kingside, White prepares a sacrifice on h6. 1 1 ... l:te8 1 I . . . .tb4 ! ? . 1 2 .'ii' d2 1 2 . l:tg l ! ? . 1 2 ... i.h3 1 3.0-0-0 b5 1 4.1i.b3 1i.g2

Analysis diagram

A confused position results from 1 6.tt:le2 1 6 .�b l .l:f.e5 1 7 .l:txg 6 + fxg6 1 8 .l:tg l i.f8 1 9 .l:txg 6 + �g 7 2 0 .'i!Yh4 �f7 2 1 .'Yi'g 3 . 1 6 ... i.f8 1 7.'i!Yh4 b5 1 8 . .ib3 fi.e7 1 9.'ti'h6 .if'S 20.'ili'h4 Playing for a win in this position in­ volves great risk for both sides; A 2 ) 1 1 .i.xf6 'ifxf6 1 2 . tt:lxd5 'ti'xb 2 -+ ; A 3 ) 1 1 .tLlxd5 cxd5 I f l l . . .'iVa5 + 1 2 .'iYd2 'iYxd5 1 Ltxf6 'iYf5 1 4 . .id4 'iYxf3 1 5 . l:t g l g6 1 6 .'iVh6 �e5

Analysis diagram

1 5 .i.xh6 ! ? fi.x£'3 1 6 . .l:f.hg 1 tt:lg4 If 1 6 . . . g 6 1 7 .exd5 cxd5 1 8 .l:tde l b4 1 9 .tt:la4 tt:lg4 2 0 Jhe8 + 'tlfxe8 2 1.. �f4 White's position is preferable. 1 7.lhg4 .ixg4 1 8 .l:tg1 'tifh4 1 9 .£'3 'ii x h6 20.'i¥xh6 gxh6 2 1 .exd5 l:tac8 22.dxc6 .l:f.xc6 2 3 .h3 a6 24.fxg4 White has a small advantage. 15 3

The Four Kni g hts G ame • 1 0 .te3 ! ? Less subtle, but perfectly playable. 1 O l:.e8 An unclear game re­ sults from I O ....tb4 I l .a3 �xc3 + 1 2.bxc3 'ifaS 1 3 ...tb3 'ifxc3 + 1 4..td2 'ifes I S .f4 'ife7 I 6.e5. 1 I .'ifd2 b5 Or I I .....th3 1 2.l:.gi ..txh2 I 3 ..l:.hi 'ifd6 I 4.0-0-0 ..tg2 •

•••

1 0.

Analysis diagram

I S.f4! ? ..txhi I 6.l:txhi d4 I 7.l:!.xh2 tLlg4 (after I 7 ...dxe3 I 8 .fxe3 the pow­ erful centre more than compensates for White's lost exchange) I 8 ..l:tg2 tLlxe3 I 9.fxe3 dxc3 20.'ifxc3 'ifh6 2 I .'ifei White has sufficient compensation for the exchange. Chances are about equal. 1 2 ..tb3 ..th3 1 3 .l:.g1 ..txh2 1 4 .l:.h 1 'ird6 1 5 .0-0-0 ..tg2 •

•

11.

e4xd5

Black obtains good play after I I ...te3 tLlf4 1 2 ..1:.g 1 ..th3 1 3.d4 tLlg2+ 1 4.�d2 'ifh4 1 5 .eS ..tc7 followed by ...fl -f6. 11.

...

.l:.f8-e8+

•

Analysis diagram 1 6.f4 ..txh 1 1 7J:txh 1 d4 1 8 .1:1.xh2 dxe3 1 9 .fxe3 with compensation (analysis) . •

1 54

tt:Jf6-h5

It is worth considering opening the po­ sition: 1 O ... dxe4 1 1 .fxe4 Dubious is I l .dxe4 'ire? 1 2 ...te3 l:.d8 1 3 .'ire2 ..tes - the white king in the centre may become a source of problems. 1 1 . .. tLlg4 1 2.'iff3 'it'h4 1 3.d4 c5 Black has good counterplay. I 0 ....l:.e8 ! ? , maintaining the tension, also does not look bad.

It is worth considering 1 l ...cxd5 1 2.tLlxdS aS 1 3.tLlc3 l:!.e8 + I4 ...te3 a4 1 S ...tc4 ( 1 5 .�xa4 %:txa4 1 6.tLlxa4 'ii'h 4+) 1 5 ...a3 with strong counter­ play for Black. 1 2.

Back to the game.

...

..tc1 -e3

Chapter 5 12.

...

c6xd5

Interesting is 1 2 . ..ti:Jf4! ? 1 3.dxc6 bxc6 1 4.'iYd2 ( 1 4.�d2 iit.fs with a double­ edged position) 1 4 . ..tt:lg2+ 1 S . We2 �b4. Almost all White's pieces are badly placed. Black has good practical compensation for the two pawns. 13. 14.

tt:lc3xd5 tt:ld5-c3

iit.c8-e6

... �b3xe6 'lt>e1-f1 tt:lc3-e4

'ti'd8-a5 .l:!.e8xe6 'ir'a5-e5 iit.d6-e7

1 4.'iYd2 ! ?. 14. 15. 16. 17.

-

The Rubinstein System

More solid is 24.'ir'd2 or 24.tt:lc3 with a clear advantage. 24. 25.

... "'i1Vd1-f3?

'i'Vd7-c6

Now chances are equalised. One won­ ders what White was afraid of? After 2 S .'iVc2 Black cannot exploit the pin: 2S .. .f5 ( 2 S . . . tt:lf6 2 6 .f3+-) 2 6 .d5+- . 25. 26. 27.

... f4-f5 'i'Vf3xf5

28.

tt:le4xf6+

'i\Yc6xc4 g6xf5 tt:lh5-f6

In case of 17 . . .f5! ? 1 8 .tt:lxd6 "'i1Vxd6 Black has sufficient counterplay. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23.

h2-h3 .l:!.h1-g1 c2-c4 f3-f4 .l:!.g1xg6 'lt>f1-g 2

'iYe5-b5 .l:!.a8-e8 'iYb5-d7 .l:!.e6-g6 h7xg6

White has successfully coordinated his forces and the advantage is now on his side. 23.

...

b7-b6

Some chances of an advantage could have been retained by 28.tt:lc3 �a3! 29.'iVbS . 28... iit.e7xf6 29.b2-b3 'i\Yc4-e2 30. .l:!.a1-c1 'iVe2xa2 31. .l:!.c1-c8 .l:!.e8xc8 32.'iYf5xc8+ 'lt>g8-h7 33.'iYc8-f5+ 'lt>h7-g8 34.'iVf5-c8+ 112-1!2

Game No 49 [C48J Shanava,Konstantin Khenkin,Igor Dresden Ech 2007 (2)

24.

d3-d4?!

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

e2-e4 tt:lg1-f3 tt:lb1-c3 iit.f1-b5 iit.b5-a4

e7-e5 tt:lg8-f6 tt:lb8-c6 tt:lc6-d4 c7-c6 155

The Four Knights Game 6. 7. 8. 9.

tt:lf3xe5 d2-d3 tt:le5-f3 �c1-e3

d7-d5 �f8-d6 �c8-g4 d5xe4

• 12.'ii' e2 i.eS If White is allowed to castle, then his main problems will be behind him, and the extra pawn will re­ main. A) Preparing queenside castling with 13 .td2 leads to the regaining of the pawn , with an inferior positio n : 1 3 . ..tt:l d 7 1 4.'iVe3 g 5 ! ? 1 5 .0 - 0 - 0 ( 1 5.'iYxg5 'iVxg 5 1 6 .�xg5 �xf3 1 7 . .l:tfl i11.xh2 +; 1 5 .tt:le2 'ilf6 1 6 .c3 i11.xf3=F) 1 5 . . . 'iVf6; B) Nothing particularly great for White is promised by 13.i11.b3 'iVd7 14 . .l:tgl 0-0-0 White has problems with his king; C) 13 .l:tgl!? is an attempt to start concrete play. Black has a pleasant choice : C 1 ) 13...'tlhs 14. ..td2;t Interesting is 1 4. 0-0-0 �xc3 ( 1 4 ...0-0 1 5 .i.d4 or 1 5 .�b3! ?;t leaves White with an extra pawn and a good position) •

-

10.

tt:lc3xe4?I

After this, Black practically equalises. In the event of 10.dxe4 tt:lxf3+ ll.gxf3 i.hS a position arises which is difficult both to assess and to play.

•

Analysis diagram

Black definitely has compensation for the pawn: his minor pieces are better placed. The pawn on f3 is under perma­ nent attack, and it is not easy to evacu­ ate the white king. However, the assess­ ment is not all one-way; a pawn is a pawn, White has no clear weaknesses, and there are no forcing variations, leading to a black advantage. The positi­ on is rich in playing potential. I will of­ fer a fragment of my analysis. 1 56

Analysis diagram

1 5 .'iV c4 ! (a neat tactic) 1 5 . . .�e5 ( 1 5 ... 0-0 1 6 .'ifxc3 'i!Yxa4 1 7 .'i¥xf6 ..tg6 1 8 . b3 'i!Yxa 2 1 9 .'it'b 2 ;t) 1 6 . i11. x c 6 + �f8 1 7 . �xb 7 .l:t b 8 ( I 7 .. ..l:t e 8 1 8 .f4 ! , and suddenly Black is in trouble) 1 8 .'it'c5 + 'i¥xc5 1 9 . i11.x c5 + �g8 2 0 .i.xa7 and White has the ad­ vantage (see analysis diagram next col­ umn) .

Chapter S - The Rubinstein System

Analysis diagram

Analysis diagram

C2) 13 'ii' d6and now: C2 I ) The desired reorganisation by 14 .i1Ld2 followed by I S . 0-0-0 is a little too late : 14...tt::ld7 15.0-0-0 It looks better to play I S .l:lgS g6 ( I S . . . �g6 I 6 . 0 - 0 - 0 'ii' f6 I 7 .l:lxeS + 'ii' x eS I 8 .f4 'ii' h S I 9 .f3 f6 2 0 .�e3 with sufficient compensation) I 6 . .l:i.g3 ( I 6 . 0-0-0 �f6 I 7 . 'ii' e 3 'ii' x f3 I 8 .l:lxe S + tZ:lxeS I 9 .'ii' d 4 'iff6 2 0 .tLldS 0-0-0 2 I .�f4 'ifxf4+ 2 2 .tt::l xf4 l:lxd4 2 3 .l:lxd4 with a probably draw) I 6 . . . 'iVf6=F I 7 .l:lh3 bS I 8 .�b3 aS with sufficient counterplay for Black. 15 'iVf6=F 16. .i1Lg5 'ii'xf3

19.l:lxg7+ 'it>xg7 20.'ii' x f3 l:lfd8 21.�d4 'ifh6 Or 2 I . . . 'ifh4 2 2 . 'iffs -

Black has sufficient compensation for the sacrificed pawn . White 's counter­ play is fully adequate for a draw, but he can hardly count on anything more. And Black's third alternative on move I 3 : C3) 13...0-0 14 .i1Lb3 and now: C 3 I ) 14 b5 1 5.a3 Or I S .�h6 �g6 I 6 . .id2 aS I 7 .a3 �xh2 I 8 . l:l g S 'ii' c 7 I 9 . 0 - 0 - 0 .ieS 2 0 . .ie3 and Black has good play, although the position is still double-edged. 15...�xh2 16.l:lg5

17.'ii' d 2 'iVh3 18.r:i.de1 f6 19.�e3 0-0-0!? with mutual chances, in which

�e8 17 .�d2 .te5 18.0-0-0 'tii'c 7 19.'it'e3 l:lad8 20.tLle2 - chances are

Black is at least not worse ; C 2 2 ) 14.'ii'd3!? C 2 2 I ) 14 'ii'e7 I S .�d2 ( I S .�b3 ! ?) I S . . . 0-0 I 6 . 0-0-0 with chances for both sides; C2 2 2) White has slightly the more pleasant position after the exchange of queens: 14 'iVxd3 I S . cxd3 �xf3 I 6 .�d l i; C2 2 3 ) 14...'ii'c7 15.0-0-0 The most logical. I S .l:lxg 7 l:ld8 I 6 .'ii' e 2 �g6 gives Black good compensation for the sacrificed queen. 15 .i1Lxf3 16.l:ld2 I 6 .l:lxg 7 ? .ixdt=F . 16...0-0 17.�c5 �xc3 18.bxc3 'iVxh2 I 8 . . . .ixe4 I 9 .'iVd4 �g6 2 0 .�d6 with a compli­ cated battle.

balanced ; C3 2 ) 14...g6 This creates the threat of I S . . . �xc3 I 6 . bxc3 tt::l x e4 (after I 4 . . . �xh2 I S . l:lgS l:le8 I 6 . .td2 'ii' c 7 I 7 . 0 - 0 - 0 we reach a double-edged position , the outcome of which is hard to predict) . 1 5. .tg5 Also possi­ ble is I S . l:ldi 'ii' e 7 I 6 .�d4 .ixh2 I 7 . l:lh I �f4 I 8 . l:lh4 .ieS I 9 .�xeS 'ii' x e S 2 0 . l:l d 3 with equality. 15 'ii' d7 Or I S ... bS I 6 . 'iYe3 with unclear play ; dangerous is I S . .. .txh2 I 6 . l:lhi .ies I 7 . l:lxhS gxhS I 8 . f4 �xc3 + I 9 .bxc3 with good compen­ sation for the exchange for White.

•••

•

•..

•..

•..

.••

•

•..

..•

16.'ii'e3 l:lfd8

Now White has a difficult choice : I57

The Four Knights Game

sufficient compensation for the pawn) 1 S . .ih6 .ig6 1 6 . .ie3 ..txh2 I 7 .l:!.h 1 i.eS = . 14 .tb3 'ir'e7 15.'ti'd4 1 S . 'iYe2 ! ? . lS ... .te s 16.'i!Ve3 l:!.ad8 17.tt:le2! and since it is bad to take on b2 - I 7 . . . .ixb2 I 8 . .l:!.b 1 .ies I 9 .f4 .ic7 2 0 .e S ± - then after I 8 .c3 White will have good chances to take over the initiative; • Reconstructing the white king posi­ tion fails: 12.�b3 0-0 13.'iYe2 .tes and the compensation for the pawn is self-evident; • Tempting is 12.'ifd4?!, with the idea after I 2 . . . i.xf3 to reply I 3 . e S ! ? ( I 3 .l:!.g 1 ! ?) I 3 . . . itxh 1 I 4.exd6 with good compensation for the exchange. •

Analysis diagram

Bad is 1 7 .�f4 �d4 1 8 .'ir'e2 kxc3 + 1 9 .bxc3 tLlxe4+, but 1 7 .l::rg 3 ! ? is inter­ esting, with the idea of 1 7 . . . i.xg3 ? 1 8 .hxg 3 ± . After 17.tLle2 White has good chances to extinguish his oppo­ nent's initiative and retain his extra pawn (analysis) . Of course, all of this needs practical tests. Back to the analysis positiOn after 1 O.dxe4 tt::lx £'3+ ll.gxf3 .ihS:

Analysis diagram

However,

after the precise reply

12...'�c7 White, in order to avoid the Analysis diagram

Studying the variations which result from I 2 .'ife2 make one think that, since the white queen soon has to move in small steps via e2 to d3 , he should perhaps seek an alternative at move 1 2 , and determine the queen's position later: • 12.l::rgl 0-0 13 .ig5 bS 1 3 . . . �eS ! ? I 4 . 'ti'xd8 l::ra xd8 (or I 4 . . . l::rfxd 8 I S .�xf6 i.xf6 I 6 . l::rg 3 and Black has •

I 58

worst, has to go into a position in which he does not have sufficient com­ pensation for the exchange : 1 3 . 0-0-0 itxf3 I 4. ti:JdS tLlxdS I S .exdS i.xh I I 6 . l::rxh I 0-0 I 7 .dxc6 bxc6 I 8 . l::rg I g6 I 9 .h4+ ; D) 12.h4!? 0-0 13.�b3 l:!.eS 14.l:!.gl White has made all of the useful moves, trying to define the position of his queen only at the last moment. This in­ volves its risks . . . 14... 'iVc7 Unclear is I 4 . . . tLlxe4 I S .'ti'd4 ti:Jf6 I 6 . 0 - 0 - 0 . 15.�h6 g6 16.'ir'e2 .th2 17.l:!.hl Inter-

Chapter S - The Rubinstein System

esting is 1 7. 0-0-0 ! ? . 17.. Jbd8 with more than sufficient compensation for the pawn for Black.

1S... tt::lf4 16.i.xf4 ..txf4 17.0-0 'ifhS

1 7 . . . .l:tae8 1 8 .d4 'iYhS 1 9 .'ti'd3 �fs 2 0 .'i¥d 1 = . 18.d4 l::tae8 19.'ii'd3 �fS 20.iYc4=.

13. 14. 15.

Back to the game.

... g2xf3 �e3xg5

i.g4xf3 'ti'a5-f5

Now White is worse. 1S.f4 ji,xf4 16.'ii' e2! 0-0 1 6 . . . 0 - 0 - 0 1 7. 0 - 0 - 0 .l:the8 1 8 .h4 tt::l h 3 ( 1 8 . . . tt::l f3 1 9 .i.c2 = ) 1 9 . Wb 1 = . 17.0-0-0 l::tfe8 18.h4 tt:lf3 19.Wb1 allows him to hold the balance. 15.

10. 11.

... .te3xd4

...

'iff5xg5

tt::lf6xe4

Of equal ment 1s 11.dxe4 tt::lx f3+ 12.g:xf3 �hS The tempting 1 2 . . . �xf3 1 3 . 'ilfxf3 'ilfaS + 1 4.c3 'ilfxa4 leads after 1 S . .l:tg 1 .l:tg 8 ( 1 S . . . �f8 1 6 . 'iVfS ±) 1 6 .eS �xeS 17 . .l:tg4 'ii' a s 1 8 . 0-0-0 to problems for Black. 13. .l:tg1 'iff6 1 3 .. . i.xf3 ? 1 4 . 'ilfxf3 'if a S + 1 S . c 3 'ifxa4 1 6 . .l:txg7 and White i s winning. 14Ji'dS �xf3 1S.i.xc6+ 16.�xc6+ We7 17.'i!t'b7+ 18.�d4+ We6 19.'iYdS+ 20.'ilfb7+ with a draw.

11. 12. 13.

... c2-c3 �d4-e3?1

bxc6 Wf6 We7

'ti'd8-a5+ tt:Je4-g5

Equality results from 13.h4 tt::l e6 1 3 . . . �xf3 1 4. gxf3 tt::l e 6 1 S .i.e3 tt::l f4 1 6 . .l:tg 1 0-0-0 1 7 .'ti'c2;!; with the more pleasant game for White. 14.�e3 0-0 1S.�b3 Also sufficient for equality is 1 S .�c2 tt::l f4 1 6 .i.xf4 i.xf4 1 7. 0-0 .l:f.fe 8 1 8 . d4 'ilfh s 1 9 .'iVd3 i.xf3 2 0 . 'i:Vxf3 'ti'xf3 2 1 . gxf3 .l:te 2 = .

The pawn is irrelevant. The white king will not find peace and the opposite­ coloured bishops strengthen the black attack. 16.'ot>e1-f1 'ifg5-h4 17.h2-h3 0-0 18.f3-f4 i.d6xf4 19.'ti'd1-g4 'i¥h4-h6 20. .l:ta1-e1 .l:ta8-d8 21.i.a4-b3 i.f4-c1 22. .l:te1-e7 .tc1 xb2 23. .l:te7xb7 �b2xc3 24. .l:tb7xa7 'iVh6-f6 25. .l:ta7-a4 jt,c3-d4 26.'ti'g4-g3 .l:tf8-e8 27.Wf1-g2 .l:te8-e5 28.h3-h4 .l:te5-f5 29. .l:th1-f1 .l:tf5-f4 30. .l:ta4-a5 .l:tf4xh4 31. .l:ta5-g5 .l:th4-f4 32. .l:tg5-g4 .l:tf4-f5 33. .l:tg4-e4 .l:tf5-g5 34. .l:te4-g4

1 S9

The Four Knights Game .l::[g5-f5 35. .l::[g4-e4 .l::[f5-g5 36 . .l::[ e4-g4 �d4-e5 37.f2-f4 .l::[g5xg4 38."f!Vg3xg4 .2.e5-c7 39.'t!lfg4-g5 't!lff6xg5+ 40.f4xg5 .l::[ d8-d7 41. ..tb3-c4 ..tc7-d8 42. .l::[f1-f5 76 43 . .l::[f5-c5 g g �d8-b6 44 . .l::[c5-e5 �g8-f8 45.�g 2-f3 .l::[d7-e7 46 . .l::[e5xe7 �f8xe7 47.�c4-b3 �b6-d4

1 60

48�b3-a4 c6-c5 49h4-b3 50.a2-a4 �c3-d2 �d4-c3 51�b3-c4 f7-f6 52.g5xf6+ �e7xf6 53.i.c4-b5 'it>f6-g5 54.i.b5-c6 �g5-h4 55.i.c6-e4 i.d2-c3 56.�f3-e3 �h4-g3 57.�e3-e2 58.�e2-f2 c5-c4 �g3-f4 59.�f2-e2 i.c3-a5 60.�e2-d1 �f4-e3 61.f8 1 2 .'iVd4 d6 1 3 . l:i.g5 cxb2 1 4.�xb2 also looks quite unpleasant for Black. 11...0-0 Completely bad is l l . . .cxb2 ? ! 1 2 .�xb2 0-0 1 3 . 0- 0 -0 . n.'it'xc3 d6 1 2 . . .h6 1 3 .�b3 ;!;. 13.l:[gs White's chances are superior; e9 �e7 10JH�! tt:lf6 11.'it'xd4 d5 •..

7.

l:[ h1 g1

The most principled ( 1 1 . . . 0 - 0 1 2 . l:[g S ;l;) . 12.l:txd5 The only move. 12... tt::lxd5 13.tt:lxd5 and now: A) 13 �f6 14.�c5 �e5 15.�e3 c6 16.l:[dl! 1 6 . 0 - 0 - 0 'iYd6 , and Black holds. 16 .'iVd6 17 Jii'a5 'i¥b8 1 7 . . . cxd5 1 8 . l:[xd5 ± . 18.�f4! This re­ source would not have been available after 1 6 . 0 - 0 - 0 . 18 �xf4 1 8 . . . b 6 1 9 .'ti'b4 cS 2 0 . 'i\Ya4++- ; 1 8 . . . cxd5 1 9 Jhd5 +- . 19.tt::lxf4 Black is in trou­ ble, since after 19...0-0 ..•

-

The less logical 7.d3 has also been seen : 7...d6 8.l:tg1 g6 9.f4 Worth consider­ ation is 9 .tt::l a 4! ? �b4+ 1 0 .c3 �aS 1 1 .b4 �b6 1 2 .f4. 9 �e6 10.�xe6 •..

fxe6 11.fxe5 dxe5 12.�g5 l:[f8 13.'it'f3 'it'd7! 1 3 . . . 'i¥e7 1 4. 0-0-0;!;. 14.�xf6 �e7 15.'it'h3 �xf6 16.0-0-0 0-0-0

.•

•..

Pihlajasalo-Molander, Finland ch-FIN jr 1 9 9 6 . Black is in no way worse. 7.

...

tt::lf6-h5

Black's move looks very logical, but . . . • Untried in practice i s 7...0-0!? , for example : 8.d3In the event of 8 .d4? ! �xd4 (also good i s 8 . . . exd4 9 .�h6 g6 1 O . �xf8 'it'xf8 with compensation) 9 . �h6 g6 1 0 .�xf8 'i¥xf8 1 1 .'i¥d2 c6 Black has more than sufficient compen­ sation for the exchange. 8...c6 9.�h6 1 64

Analysis diagram

Chapter 6 - S . � c 4 in the Rubinstein

both the human move 2 0 .tt::l h 5 fol­ lowed by 'ifc3 or 'iYgS , and the com­ puter blow 20 . .l:!.d8 ! ! g6 2 1 .tt::l h 5 win. B) 13...0-0 14.�f4 Also worthy of study is 1 4 .i.d2 ! ? followed by �c3 and 0 - 0 - 0 . In that case White has good compensation for the exchange, and his position looks superior. A pos­ sible variation is: 1 4 . . . �e6 1 5 .�c3 f6 1 6 . tt::l x c 7 'i¥xc7 1 7 . �xe 6 + � h 8 1 8 . 0 - 0 - 0 .l:!.fd 8 1 9 . �d5 . 1 4... �d6 Possible is 1 4 . . .c6 1 S . tt::l xe 7 + 'ti'xe 7 1 6 . �d6 'i¥ d 8 ( 1 6 . . . .l:!. d 8 1 7 .'ifxg 7 + ;!;) 1 7 . 0 - 0 - 0 .l:!.e8 1 8 . .l:!. g l g 6 1 9 . e S and White has sufficient compensation for the exchange, but no more than that. 15.e5 �b4+ 1 5 . . . � e 7 1 6 . 0 - 0 - 0 c6 1 7 . tt::l x e 7 + "iYxe 7 1 8 . e 6 fxe 6 1 9 . i. d 6 'i!:Yf6 2 0 . �xf8 'i!:Yxd4 2 1 . .l:!.xd4 �xf8 2 2 .�d3 g 6 2 3 . .l:!.d8 + �f7 2 4 . f4 ± . 16.c3 �e6! 17.0-0-0 c6

9.

tt::lc3-e2

Probably it is more accurate to play 9 . tt::l b 5 dS l O .�xdS c6 l l . tt::l x d4 , reaching a position from the game. 9.

...

d7-d5

Black had the interesting tactical re­ source 9 . . . 'ife7 ! 1 0 .tt::l xd4 'ifb4+ l l .c3 'ifxc4 with sufficient counterchances. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.

�c4xd5 tt::le2xd4 .l:!.g1-g5 .l:!.g5xd5 .l:!.d5xh5 b2-b3

c7-c6 c6xd5 e5xd4 'ifd8-b6 �c8-e6

White has a healthy extra pawn and no compensation is to be seen.

Analysis diagram

15. 16. 17. 18.

�c1-b2 �b2xd4 �d4-f6

0-0?1 g7-g6 "iYb6-c7

Black resigned. 18.tt::lf6+ gxf6 19.'i!:Ye4 fS 1 9 . . . 'iVxd l +

2 0 .�xd 1 fS 2 1 . 'i!:Ye3 ..itxc4 2 2 .cxb4 with a clear advantage for White. 20.'ife2 'i!:Ye8 21.cxb4 ..txc4 22.'ifxc4

and also in this case, White certainly has sufficient compensation for the ex­ change. Back to the game.

Game No 5 1 [C48] Varga,Zoltan Zherebukh,Yaroslav

Budapest 2009 (10) 1. 2. 3.

e2-e4 tt::lg1-f3 tt::lb1-c3

e7-e5 tt::lb8-c6 tt::lg8-f6 1 65

The Four Knights Game 4. 5.

�f1-b5 �b5-c4

tt:Jc6-d4 c7-c6

l l .tt:le2 dS with good compensation for the pawn. 6. 7.

... e4xd5

d7-d5 �f8-d6

g ame aforementioned the In Nimzowitsch-Levenfish, there followed 7 . . . cxdS 8 .�bS + tt:lxbS 9 . tt:lxbS a6 1 o.'iYe2 �e 7 1 1 .tt:ld4 0-0 1 2 . 0 - 0 .l:f.e8 1 3 .tt:ldf3 'iYc7 1 4.d4 �fs 1 5 .c3 , and Black did not obtain sufficient compen­ sation for the pawn. An interesting gambit idea, first seen back in the game Nimzowitsch­ Levenfish , St Petersburg 1 9 1 3 / 1 4 . Black's poor play in that game took the idea away from public attention for a long time .. .. 6.

tt:Jf3xe5

Declining the sacrifice means giving up the fight for an opening advantage. Thus , after 6.0-0 the simple 6...tt:Jxf3+ 7.'tlfxf3 �c5 equalises (worse is 7 . . . d6 8 .d3 �e 7 9 . 'tlfg3 0-0 1 0 .�h6 tt:le8 1 1 .�e3 with a small advantage to White) . In reply to 6.d3 plans af forcing the ex­ change of the bishop on b3 for the knight d4 are considered to be a solid route to equality, for example : • 6...'tlfa5 7 .�d2 �b4 8 .�b3 tt:lxb3 9 . axb3 'iYc7 1 0 . 0 - 0 �e 7 ( I O . .. �xc3 l l .bxc3 d6 should also suffice for equality) 1 1 .h3 0-0 1 2 .tt:le2 dS and Black has comfortable play, Conquest­ Hebden, Hastings 1 9 9 6 / 9 7 ; • Or 6...b5 7 .�b3 'iYaS (also sufficient is 7 . . . tt:lxb3 8 . axb3 d6= ; or 7 . . . tt:lxf3 + 8 .'iYxf3 aS 9 .a3 d6 1 0 . 0 - 0 a4 1 1 .�a2 �e 7 =) 8 . tt:lxe5 (8 .�d2 'iYc7 9 .0-0 b4 1 l . gxf3 g S ! =F) 1 O . tt:le 2 tt:lxf3 + 8 . ..tt:lxb3 9 . cxb3 b4 1 0 . tt:lc4 'iYd8 1 66

8.

tt:Je5-f3

The complications arising after S.tt::lx.£7?! 'oir>x£7 (also good for Black is 8 . . .'iYe7 + 9 . tt:le2 ( 9 .�fl 'iYxf7 +) 9 . . . �xf7 1 O .dxc6+ �e6 1 1 .�xe6+ 'iYxe6 1 2 .d3 ( 1 2 .cxb7 .l:.ae8-+) 1 2 . . . .l:.he8 1 3 .�e3 tt:lxc6=F) are of only theoretical interest: 9.dxc6+ �f8 I O.d3 �g4 Simpler is 1 0 . . . tt:lxc6=F. Three pawns for the piece do not constitute sufficient compensa­ tion in this position. ll.f3 'tlfe7+ 12.tt:le4 tt:lxe4 13.dxe4 �c5 1 3 . . . .l:.d8 1 4.fxg4 'iYh4+ I S .�fl ( 1 5 .�d2 'iYf2 + 1 6 . 'oir>c3 �b4+ 1 7 . �xb4 tt:lxc6 + 1 8 .Wc3 'ti'f6++) I S . . . 'iff6 + leads to perpetual check. 14.cxb7 .l:l.d8 15.b8'it' 1 S .fxg4 'iYxe4+ 1 6 .�fl �e7 1 7 .�g5 + �d6 1 8 .�e2 .l:l.df8 + 1 9 .�f3 �c7 2 0 .'iYd3 tt:lxf3 2 1 .'iYxe4 tt:ld2 + 2 2 .�e2 tt:lxe4+. 15... .l:l.xb8 16.�e3! Worse is 1 6 .c3 'ir'h4+ 1 7 .�d2 'iff2 + 1 8 . d 1 �g4 + 1 1 . 'i:Vxg4 tt:Jde3 + 1 2 .fxe3 tLlxe3 + -+ . 10...'it'f6 1 1.£'3 1 I .'i:Ve5 + 'ifxe5 1 2 . tLlxe5 t2lxa 1 -+ ; 1 1 . 'i:Ve2 hxg 6 1 2 . exd5 + 'it>f8 -+ . 1 1 hxg6 12.'ii'xd5 l:thS with a decisive advantage to Black, Spangenberg­ Tkachiev, Villa Martelli 1 9 9 7 ; • After 7.exd5 0-0 8.0-0 .l:te8 9.tt:Jf3 9 .tLld3 ? �g4-+ . 9 .ig4 10.d3 Craft­ ier is 1 o.tt:Jbs tt:Jxf3 + 1 l . gxf3 �h3 1 2 .d4 �xfl 1 3 . �xfl , but here too, White's position is not all sweetness and light. 1 O .'it'd7 White's extra pawns are scant comfort for his hope­ lessly weak king. ••.

••.

••

7. ...

tt:Jf6xd5

In the game Obodchuk-Pridorozhny, Khanty-Mansiysk 2 0 1 0 , there occurred 7 0-0 and now: • 8.tt:Jf3 tt:Jg4 9.0-0 'i:Vd6 The immedi­ ate 1 O . . . c6 is more accurate, transpos­ ing into the game. 1 O.g3 1 0 .e5 ! . 1 O c6 1 1.�b3 'ifh6 12.h4 'iff6 draw.

-

5 . �c4 in the Rubinstein

White believed that after the apparently forced 1 3 . �g2 tt:Jxf3 I 4.'i:Vxf3 'ifxf3 + 1 5 . 'it>xf3 tt:Jh 2 + I 6 . �e 2 tt:Jxfl I 7 . �xfl an approximately equal ending would arise. In actual fact, White's chances are slightly superior. However, analysis shows that it is even stronger to play 13.tt:Jxd4 �xd4 ( 1 3 . . . 'ifxd4 1 4.'ife2 tt:Jes 1 5 . tt:J a4 �e 7 ( 1 5 . . . �g4 I 6 .'i:Ve3 ±) 1 6 .'it'e3 , and White is better) 14.tLle2! �xf2+ ( 1 4 . . . tt:Jxf2 1 5 . tLlxd4 tLlxd 1 1 6 . .l:txf6 gxf6 1 7 .tLlf3 �g4 1 8 . 'it>g 2 , and the black knight is trapped) 15.'it>g2, and it is hard for Black to escape the pin. White has the advantage. • 8.0-0 'it'e7 Worth consideration is 8 . . . tt:Jxd5 9 . tLlxd5 .l:te8 1 0 .tLld3 �d6 with counterplay for Black, for instance: 1 I .tLlc3 ( 1 I . .l:te 1 ? ! �xh2+ 1 2 . 'iir>x h2 'it'h4+ 1 3 . 'iir>g 1 .ltg4 1 4.f3 tLlxf3 + Black has a decisive attack) 1 1 . . . 'it'h4 1 2 .e5 �xeS I 3 .tt:Jxe5 .l:l.xe5 with the initiative for the pawn. 9.tt:Jf3 �g4 1O.d3 tt:Jd7 1 1.�e3 tt:JeS leads to varia­ tions, analogous to those examined in the next section. 8.

tt:Jc3xd5

..•

Not 8 . exd5 'it'g5 -+ . 8.

...

0-0

•••

Analysis diagram

Here 8... 'it'g5looks interesting,

Analysis diagram 175

The Four Knights Game

But after 9.tt:'lxc7+ We7 (if 9 . . . Wf8 1 O . Wfl 'ii' x e5 1 l . tt:'lxa8 'ii' x e4 1 2 .d3 'ti'h4 1 3 .i.e3 the position remains sharp, but White's chances are clearly better) 10.0-0 (the simple l O . Wfl is also good) 1 O... �h3 (or 1 0 . . .'ihe5 1 l . tt:'lxa8 ..te6 1 2 .c3 ..td6 1 3 . g 3 tt:'lc6 ( 1 3 . . . 'ii' x e4 1 4 . cxd4 lha 8 1 5 . d 3 'ii' x d4 1 6 . l::r e 1 +- ) 1 4 . .l:re 1 .l:f.xa 8 1 5 .d4, and Black i s i n a bad way) 11.tt:'ld5+ Wf8 12.tt:'le3 'it'xeS 13.c3 White beats off the attack and keeps his extra material . 9.

c2-c3

The timid 9 . 0 - 0 ? ! .l:f.e8 1 0 .tt:'ld3 �d6 1 l .tt:'le3 ( 1 l . .l:f.e l ? �xh2+ 1 2 .Wxh2 'ii h 4+ 1 3 .Wg 1 i.g4-+) 1 1 . . Jhe4 1 2 . b 3 fig s gives Black good counterplay. 9. ... 10. c3xd4 11. 0-0

.l:f.f8-e8 ..tc5xd4 l:te8xe5

Weaker is 1 1 . . . ..txe5 1 2 .d4 ..td6 (the sacrifice is incorrect: 1 2 . . . ..txh 2 + 1 3 .Wxh2 .!:txe4 1 4.tbf4 l:txf4 1 5 .i.xf4 'ii h 4+ 1 6 .Wg 1 'ii xf4 1 7 .'ii b 3 ±) 1 3 .e5 �f8 1 4.tt:'lf4, and Black does not have compensation for the pawn. 12.

d2-d3

Worse is 1 2 .tt:'lc3 'ii' h4 1 3 .d3 �e6 ( 1 3 . . . .l:f.h5 1 4.i.f4) White 's extra pawn is hardly felt. 12. ... 13. tt:Jd5-f4

c7-c6

Some chances of an advantage were still offered by the cunning 1 3 .'ii a 4 ..txf2 + 1 4. llxf2 cxd5 1 5 .i.f4 .l:f.e7 1 6 .e5 . 13.

...

1 3 .. . 'ii b 6 ! ? 1 4.a4 a5 . 1 76

b7-b6

14.

'ii d1-c2

Both 1 4 . 'ii a 4 and 1 4. tt:'le2 ! ? ..ta6 1 5 .'ii a4 were worth consideration. 14. ... 15. 'ii c2-e2

.l:te5-c5

1 5 .'ii a4! ?. 15 . 16. 17.

... ..tc1-e3 l::r a1-c1 ?I

..tc8-a6 'ii' d8-d6

After 1 7 .hd4 'iixd4 1 8 . .l:f.ac l White has good chances to realise his extra pawn. 17. 18.

... .l:f.f1xc1

l::r c5xc1 i.d4-e5

Draw. After 1 8 . . . �e5 1 9 .g3 ( 1 9 .'iid2 .l:f.d8 2 0 J:td 1 g5 2 1 .tt:'lh3 'iixd3 2 2 .hg5 'iixd2 2 3 Jhd2 .l:f.xd2 24.hd2 hb2 +) 1 9 . . . .l:f.d8 Black has fully adequate com­ pensation for the pawn. Game No 5 5 [C48] Sandipan, Chanda Klip,Hans Tromso 2010 (2)

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

e2-e4 tt:'lg1-f3 tt:'lb1-c3 �f1-b5 ..tb5-c4 tt:Jf3xe5

e7-e5 tt:Jb8-c6 tt:Jg8-f6 tt:Jc6-d4 ..tf8-c5 'ii d8-e7

Chapter 6 -

7.

8.

tt:le5-f3 �c4xd5

d 7-d5

5. � c 4

in the Rubinstein

A) 1 1 ... 'ii'xe2+ 1 2.�xe2;!; �d8 1 3 .c3 l:te8 + 1 4.tt:le3 �f6 1 5 .d4;!; - this ver­ sion of the ending seems better for White than the one arising in Sandipan-Klip; B) 1 1 . .. �f5 1 2 .'ifxe4+ �xe4 1 3.tt:lxc7+ �d7 1 4.d3 �xg2 1 5 .l:tg 1 �xc7 1 6 . .l:txg2 l:the8+ 1 7 .tot>fl f5 1 8.c3

8. ...

tt:lf6xd5

A perfectly plausible decision. Black vir­ tually forces an ending a pawn down, but with good chances of a draw. 9.

tt:lf3xd4

Little is promised by: 9.tt:lxd5 'ii'xe4+ 1 O.tt:le3 �g4?! Simpler is I O ...tt:lx£H I I .'ifxfl 'ifxfj I 2.gxfl 0-0=. 1 1 .tLlg5 'iff4 I I ...'ife5 1 2.'ifxg4 tt:lxc2+ I 3.�di tt:lxai I 4.tt:lf3 'iff6 I 5.'ir'e4+ 'ife7 I 6.'ifxe7 + he7 I 7 .b3i. 1 2.tt:lxg4 'ifxgS

�f6 White retains real winning chances : I 9.�g5 �xg5 2 0.l:txg5 g6 2 I .l:tei �d6 22..l:1g3 .l:txe l + 23.�xei f4 24.l:tgi l:te8+ 2 5.�d2 l:te5 2 6.l:tg4 g5 27 . .l:tgi l:la5 2 8.a3 �e6 29. .l:f.ei+ �f5 3 0.l:te7 �g4 3 l .�e2 h5 3 2.d4 l:td5 3 3.a4 l:td6 3 4.l:te5 a6 3 5 .d5 b5 3 6.a5 l:td8 3 7.b3 h4 3 8.h3 + �xh3 39.l:txg5 �h2 40.c4 bxc4 4 l .bxc4 h3 42.c5 �hi 43.�f3 l:[b8 44.c6 .l:f.b3 + 45.�xf4 h2 46.l:[h5 .C.c3 47.�e5 �g2 48 . .l:l.xh 2 + �xh2 49.�d6 I - 0 , Vorobiov-Hayrapetian, Gyurmi 2 0 0 8. • Rather dubious is 9 ... tt:lf4? 1 0.'Wf3 tt:lxg2+ 1 1 .'Wxg2 �xd4 1 2.tLld5

1 3.c3 tt:lc2+ 1 4.'t\bc2 'ii'xg4 1 5.0-0 0-0-0 1 6.d4 with a healthy extra pawn,

Neubauer-Neumeier, Oberwart 2004. 9. •

...

tt:ld5xc3

Apparently best. After 9 ... �xd4

1 O.tLlxdS 'ii'xe4+ 1 1 .'ii'e 2

Analysis diagram

Analysis diagram

with advantage to White: I 2 ... 'ifh4 I 3 .d3 �e5 I 4.�g5 'ii'h 5 I 5 .f4 c6 I 6.fxe5 cxd5 I 7.exd5 ..tg4 I 8 . .l:f.gi �f3 I 9.'iff2 f6 2 0.exf6 0-0 2 I .h 1 't!Yhs ( 1 2 . . . l:!. b s 1 3 . l::r g 1 'ifh4 1 4 . ..ta6 �d6 1 S . .I:.g2±) 1 3 . l:!. g 1 tt:lxf3 1 4 . l:!. g 2 ± . 11. tLlxd4 �xd1 12.tt:lc6± ; B) 9...0-0-0 10.d3 c6 Or 1 0 . . . tt:ld7

1 l..�. e 3 tt:leS 1 2 . tt:lxd4 ( 1 Ltxd4 �xd4 1 3 . tt:l b s �b 6 + ) 1 2 . . . ..txd 1 1 3 .tt:lf5 't!Yf6 1 4.l:!.axd 1 (the position arising after 1 4.�xc5 is considered in the notes to Game 64) 1 4 . . . �xe3 1 S .tt:lxe3 with a position which is diffi­ cult to assess. 11.�b3 tt:ld7 12.�e3 tt:le5

Analysis diagram

13.t2Jxd4 �xd1 14.tt:lf5 't!Yc7 15. ..txc5 �g4 16.f4 1 6 .tt:le3 b6 1 7 . ..ta3 g S =F . 1 6 .. . �xf5 17 .fxe5 �g6 18. l:!.ad1 1 8 .�d6 ! ? . 18 ... 'il'he5 19 ..txa7 with a •

situation which is far from clear.

9. ... 10. h2-h3

tt:lf6-d7

A draw results from 10.�xb7 tL,es �xd 1 12.tLlc6 1 2 . �xa8 �xd4 1 3 . tt:lxd 1 c 6 1 4 . f4 't!Yh4+ 1 5 . Wfl Wd7 1 6 .fxe5 l:!.xa8+. Yet an­ other crazy picture involving material imbalance arises after 1 2 .tt:lf5 't!Yd7 1 3 .tt:lxd 1 .!:f.b8 14 . .tds g6 1 5 .tt:lh6 . •

11.t2Jxd4

12... 't!Yf6 13.Wxd l tt:lxc6 14.tt:ld5 't!Yxf2 15. ..txc6+ Wd8 16. ..txa8 't!Yxg2 17.l:te1 Wd7 18.�b7 l:!.b8 19 . ..ta6 't!Yg4+ 20.l:.e2 't!Yg1+ = ; e Untested i s 1 O ..tf4?! c 6 11.-tg l, of­ •

fering a piece sacrifice similar to the game. Then there could follow 1 1 . . .hS 1 2 .h4 �xf3 1 3 . gxf3 't!Yf6 1 4.�b3 1 79

T h e Four Knigh ts G ame

tt:lxf3 + 1 5 . 'it>fl . White has compensa­ tion for the pawn, but the position has much play remaining. 1 0. 11.

1 2.

g2xf3

.tg4xf3 c7-c6

f3-f41?

interesting idea. The bishop does not have to retreat from d5 , since if it is captured, White gets three pawns for the piece, a powerful knight in the cen­ tre and a mobile pawn centre. But what useful move can White make? • Apart from the text, there is the tempting simple developing move

An

1 2 . ..te3 .

A) Now 1 3 ... cxd5 1 3 .tt:lxd5 'i¥d8 1 3 . . . 'i¥h4 1 4.b4± ( 1 4.tt:lc7 + ! ?) 1 4.c3 tt:le6 1 5 .d4 .tb6 1 6 . 'i¥b3 leaves White good compensation for the piece, but: B) After 1 2 .. .'i'ih4 it is hard to meet the threat of 1 3 . . . tt:lxc2 comfortably:

1 3 .tt:la4 In the variation 1 3 . 'it>fl cxd5

1 4.tt:lxd5 0-0-0 1 5 .c3 tt:le6 1 6 .d4 Af8 White is slightly worse; the poor positi­ on of his king has its say. 1 3 ... tt:lxc2+ 1 4.'ifxc2 Axe3 1 S .'ife2 .td4 1 6.Ah3 tt:les 1 7.0-0-0 'i¥f4+ , and White is def­

initely worse. • Interesting is 1 2.h4, losing a tempo, but not allowing the black queen to this square : A) 1 2 ... cxd5 1 3 .tt:lxd5 'i¥d8 1 4.c3 tt:le6 1 5 .d4 �b6 1 6 . .te3 0-0 1 7 .'i¥b3 followed by 0 - 0 - 0 . I believe White has compensation for the piece; B) White must also reckon with 1 2 ... 'i¥f6 1 3 .f4 cxd5 1 4. tt:lxd5 'i¥c6 (or 1 4 . . . 'i¥g6 1 5 .tt:lc7 + 'it>e7 1 6 .�fl .l:.ac8 I 7. tt:ld5 + �f8 with unclear play) 1 5 .c3 tt:le6 1 6 .b4 Ad6 1 7 .c4 with a fairly non-standard balance of forces, and with C) 1 2 ... tt:le5 1 3 .f4 tt:lef3 + 1 4.�fl 'i¥d7 1 5 .f5 cxdS 1 6 .tt:lxd5 with quite unclear consequences. 1 2.

1 80

'i¥e7-h4

After 1 2 . . . cxd5 1 3 .tt:lxd5 'i¥d8 1 4.c3 tt:lc6 1 5 .d4 �b6 1 6 .'i¥g4 White has full compensation for the piece, for exam­ ple: 1 6 . . . .1:. g 8 1 7 . f5 ( 1 7 . Ae3 ! ?) 1 7 . . . tt:lf6 1 8 . tt:lxf6 + 'ifxf6 1 9 .Ags 'i¥d6 2 0 . 0-0-0 and White's position looks preferable. 1 3. 1 4. 1 5.

Analysis diagram

...

tt:lc3-a4 tt:la4xc5 Ac1 -e3

c6xd5 tt:ld 7xc5 d5xe4

After 1 5 . . . tt:lce6 only Black is taking any risk: 1 6 .c3 tt:lbS 1 7 .'i¥a4 a6 1 8 . exd5 tt:lc7 1 9 .'i¥e4+ (worse is 1 9 .c4 0-0 2 0 . cxb5 tt:lxdS 2 1 . 0 - 0 - 0 axb S ) 1 9 . . . 'ife7 2 0 .'i¥xe 7 + ( 2 0 . 0-0-0 tt:ld6=F) 20 . . . �xe7 2 l .c4 tt:la7 . Black must fight for a draw.

Chapter 6 -

16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23.

�e3xd4 �d4-e3 'iYd1-g4 h3xg4 'it>e1-d2 c2xd3 llh1-h5 llh5-c5

tt:Jc5-e6 tt:Je6xf4 'iYh4xg4 tt:Jf4-g2+ e4xd3 0-0 g7-g6

5 . Jl c4

in the Ru binstein

35.llc1-c8 h7-h5 36.llc8-g8+ 'it>g6-f6 37.llg8-h8 'it>f6-g5 38.d4-d5 h5-h4 39.llh8-d8 'it>g5-f6 40.lld8-h8 'it>f6-g5 41.llh 8-d8 lle7-h7 42.d5-d6 h4-h3 1f2-112 Game No 5 7 [C48] Vallejo Pons,Fransisco Dominguez Perez,Leinier Cuernavaca 200 6 (4)

E.

The ending looks more pleasant for White : his rooks are more active, his king is in play - but this turns out to be insufficient for a win. 23. ... 24. f2xe3 25. g4xf5

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

e2-e4 tt:Jb1-c3 tt:Jg1-f3 .if1-b5 .ib5-c4 tt:Jf3xe5 tt:Je5-f3 �c4xd5 d2-d3 .ic1-e3

e7-e5 tt:Jg8-f6 tt:Jb8-c6 tt:Jc6-d4 .tf8-c5 'iYd8-e7 d7-d5 �c8-g4 0-0-0!?

tt:Jg2xe3 f7-f5

The essence of things is not changed by 2 5 .g5 .l::. a c8 ( 2 5 . . .f4?! 2 6 . e4;l;) 2 6 . llac 1 llxc5 2 7 . llxc5 llf7 2 8 .d4 lle7 2 9 .b4 'iii> f7 = . 25. ... 26. llc5xf5 27. lla1-c1

llf8xf5 g6xf5

2 7 . llfl llf8 2 8 .d4 'ltg 7 2 9 . 'it>d3 h5 3 0 .d5 'it>g6 3 1 . 'it>d4 lle8 3 2 . llf4 'it>g5 3 3 .d6 h4= . 27... lla8-f8 29.'it>e2-f3 'ftf6-g6 32.d3-d4 lle8-e4+

28.'it>d2-e2 'it>g8-g7 'it>g7-f6 30.llc1-h1 31.'it>f3-f4 llf8-d8 lld8-e8 33.llh1-c1 34.'it>f4-f3 lle4-e7

10. ...

tt:Jf6xd5

Apparently weaker is 1 O... llhe8 1 I . .tb3 This is more accurate than 1 1 . 0 - 0 lbxf3 + 1 2 . gxf3 .th3 1 3 .Wh l �xe3 1 4 .fxe3 ..txfl 1 5 . 'iY xfl lbxd5 1 6 . lbxd5 llxd5 ( 1 6 . . . 'iYh4=) 1 7 . exd5 'iYxe3 with an equal game , Obodchuk­ M usakaev, Khanty-Mansi ysk 2 0 0 9 . ll... .ix£'3 12.gxf3 ltJh5 13.f4 'ifh4 14. .ixf7 tt:Jxf4 15. .ixe8 lbxc2+ Things 18 1

The Four Kni ghts Game

are not eased after 1 5 . . . tt:lg2+ 1 6 .�d2 tt:lxe3 1 7 .fxe3 'iff2 + 1 8 . Wc l 'ifxe3 + 1 9 . Wb 1 tt:lf3 2 0 .a3 .l:txe8 2 1 .�a2 with a decisive advantage to White. 16.'ihc2 ..txe3 17. ..tbs a6 18 ..tc4 b5 19.�d5 •

Black does not have sufficient compen­ sation for the lost rook, although some tension remains in the position. 19...b4 1 9 . . . ..txf2 + 2 0 .�d 1 �e3 2 1 . l:t fl +- .

1 8 .c3 ..te3 Black has definite compen­ sation for the exchange, although White still has the better chances. 1 2 . . . l:te8 1 3 . 0-0 �xf3 1 4. gxf3 'ifh4 1 5 .f4 tt:lxc2 ( 1 5 . . . ..td6) 1 6 . ..txc5 tt:lxa 1 1 7 .f3 'ii' xf4 1 8 .'ii' xa 1 'ifg5 + 1 9 . �h l .

20.ti:Jdl?!

13. c2-c3

Analysis diagram

The most accurate is 2 0 . �d 1 +20... ..tb6 Missing an excellent chance :

2 0 . . . ..txf2 + ! ! 2 1 .�d2 (2 1 .tt:lxf2 tt:lg2+ 2 2 .�d2 'ifg5 + 2 3 . �e2 'ifh5 + with perpetual check) 2 1 . . . tt:lxd5 2 2 . �c 1 ! ( 2 2 .exd5 'iff4+ 2 3 . ..te2 .:f.e8 + , and it is Black who wins) 2 2 . . .tt:lf4 2 3 .tt:lxf2 'ifxf2 24.'ifxf2 tt:lxd3 + 2 5 . �c2 tt:lxf2 , retaining drawing chances. 21.'ifc4 tt:lxd5 22.exd5 l:te8+ 23.'iti>d2 'ifg5+ 24.'0tc2 'ifg2 25.tt:le3 J:f.xe3 26.'iti>b3 .I:Z.e2 27.l:the l 'i!ff3 28Jhe2 'ifxe2 29J:tg l 'iti>b8 30.l:txg7 'ifd l + 31.'ifc2 'ir'f3 32 .l:r.g8+ Black resigned, D. •

Howell-Dzhumabaev, Puerto Madryn Wch-jr 2 0 0 9 . 11. 12.

tt:lc3xd5

e4xd5

.:f.d8xd51 l:th8-e8

interesting alternative is 1 2 . . . ..txf3 1 3 . gxf3 tt:lf5 . After 1 4.d4 tt:lxe3 1 5 .fxe3 'ifxe3 + 1 6 . �fl ..txd4 1 7 .'ife2 'i!fg5

An

1 82

Leading to a forced draw. ' Only time, practice or, more likely, de­ tailed computer analysis, can determine whether 13.0-0 is better. The move looks very risky, but I do not see a clear refutation of it' - P. Wells. 13 ... ..txf3 Worse is 1 3 . . . tt:l xf3 + 1 4 . gxf3 �h5 1 5 . .:f.e 1 ..txe3 ( 1 5 . . . ..td6 1 6 . ..td2 'it'd? 1 7 Jh e 8 + 'ifxe8 1 8 .'ife 1 +-) 1 6 . l:txe3 'iY g 5 + 1 7 . ..tfl l:txe3 1 8 . fxe3 'iff6 1 9 . 'ife2 ..txf3 2 0 .'iff2 'ifxb2 2 1 . l:l.e 1 �xd5 2 2 . c4 ± . 14.gxf3 'ifh4 It seems that slightly more accurate is 1 4 . . . ..td6 1 5 . f4 , which after 1 5 . . . 'ifh4 trans­ poses into the main line of the analy­ sis , or 1 5 . c 3 'ifh4 ( 1 5 . . . tt:l e 2 + 1 6 . �g2 'ifh4 1 7 . l:th 1 ti:Jf4+ 1 8 . ..txf4 ..txf4 1 9 . c4 'ifg 5 + 2 0 . �fl 'iff5 2 1 . h4 ± ) 1 6 . f4 g 5 1 7 . cxd4 gxf4 1 8 . 'iff3 fxe3 1 9 .h3 'ifxd4 2 0 . fxe3 'ifxb2 2 1 .'iff2 'ifg 7 + 2 2 . �h 1 'ifh6 and Black's initiative should suffice for a draw. 15.f4 Wells does not con­ sider the quite natural move 1 5 . �g2 ! ?

Chapter 6 - 5 . �c4 in the Rubinstein

�d6 (more cunning is the computer's 1 S . . . .l:!.eS 1 6 .l::t. h 1 .l:!.xe3 1 7 .fxe3 'ifgS + 1 8 . f2 tt:Jfs 1 9 . 'if d 2 tt:Jxe3 2 0 . e 1 'tieS 2 l .c3 ! lt:Jc2 + 2 2 .d 1 lt:Jxa 1 2 3 .'ife2 with advantage to White) 1 6 . .l:Z.h 1 when it seems that White should beat off the attack. Thus, after 1 6 . . . ti:JfS (nothing better is apparent. For example, after 1 6 . . . .l:!.xe 3 1 7 .fxe3 'ifgS + 1 8 .fl ti:Jfs or 1 8 . . . 'ifxe3 1 9 .c3 lt:Jxf3 2 0 .'ife2 ti:Jd2 + ( 2 0 . . . 'iff4 2 l .'ife8#) 2 l .e 1 ti:Jf3 + 2 2 . d 1 Black's attacking resources are ex­ hausted) 1 7 .�d2 'ifhS 1 8 .h4 tt:Jxh4+ 1 9 . 'tt f l .

�d6 1 9 .�e3 'ifhS + 2 0 .'0tg2 'ifxh 2 + 2 I .f3 'ifhS + 2 2 .Wg2 'ifh2 + . • The following game was played at a moment when this book was almost written : 16...'ifh3! 17 J:tgl ti:Jf3 18J�g2 g5!

Analysis diagram

It is clear that White has fallen into his opponent's opening preparation and must already look for a way to save himself. 19.c4

Analysis diagram

Black's pieces are well-placed, but it is not clear how to continue the attack. For example : 1 9 . . . g S 2 0 . f4 g4 2 l .c4 the pin on the h-file gives White the advantage. 15 �d6 16.'tthl It must be said that in the variation given by Wells , almost all the moves by both sides are forced. Thus, White gets nothing after: A) 1 6 .c3 ? ! 'ifh3 1 7 .cxd4 g S ! 1 8 .'ife2 ( 1 8 . .l:!. e 1 gxf4 1 9 . �xf4 �xf4 2 0 Jhe8 + d7=) 1 8 . . . gxf4 1 9 .f3 fxe3 2 0 .'ifg2 'tid? 2 l ..l:Z.ae 1 fS , and Black has fully sufficient compensation for the exchange ; B) Perpetual check results after 1 6 . .ixd4 �xf4 1 7 . g 2 'if g S + 1 8 . f3 .•.

No better is 1 9 .c3 gxf4 2 0 .'ii' a 4 c6 2 l . dxc6 (not 2 l . �xf4 ti:J e 1 -+ ; 2 l .�xa7 lt:Je 1 ) 2 l . . .fxe3 2 2 .cxb 7 + d8 2 3 . fxe 3 ( 2 3 . 'ii' c 6 'Ot e 7 -+ ) 2 3 . . . ti:Jxh2 ( 2 3 . . . �xh2 ? 24.'i:fg4+-) . Going into such a position as White is no great pleasure. If he manages to find a perpetual, that will be a good result. 2 4 . 'lt g 1 'ifxe 3 + 2 S . �h 1 ti:Jf3 2 6 . 'i:faS + 'lt d ? 2 7 . 'i:fb S + 'Ot c 7 2 8 .b8'i:f+ l:!.xb 8 + . 19...gxf4 20.'i:fa4 d8

The alternative is 2 0 . . . .l:!.d8 2 1 .c5 ti:Jh4 2 2 .l::J. ag 1 lt:Jxg2 23 . .l:!.xg2 fxe3 24.cxd6 e2 2 S .'i:fe4 - White has good chances to survive. 21.c5 tLlh4 22.l:ragl �e5

But not 2 2 . . . lt:Jxg2 2 3 .cxd6 lt:Jxe 3 24.dxc 7 + xc7 2 S .'ifxf4+ , and White has the advantage. 23. ..txf4 tt:Jxg2 24.l:rxg2 'ilffl 1 83

The Fou r Kni g hts Game

Analysis diagram 2 5 .�xe5?

A catastrophe! After the accurate 25 .�g3 �xg3 (or 25 . . . �d6 ! ? 26.'ifh4+ �c8 2 7 .h3 , and Black has nothing) 26.hxg3 l:.eS (26 . . . 'ifxd5 2 7 .'ifc4=) 2 7 .d6, by the most surprising means, White has everything under control. 2 5 Jhe5 26.'ifh4+ f6 2 7 .h3 .l:!.g5 28.'ife4 'ifxh3+ 29.�g l f5 30 .I:!.xg5 fxe4 3 1 .dxe4 'ifh6 32 .:tg8 + �e7 3 3 .b4 'iff4 34 . .:tg3 'ittf6 35 .:te3 d8 leads to a

Analysis diagram

draw: 4 I .l:l.xf6 (or 4 I .tt:ldf5 tt:le3 42.g4 l:l.xf5 4 3 .l:txf5 tt:lxf5 44. tt:lxf5 'if f2 45 .h3 with perpetual check) 4 1 . . . tt:lxf6 42 .tt:ldf5 (42 .tt:lgf5 'ife5 43 .h3 tt:lh5 , and Black is even better) 4 2 . . . 'if f2 43 . e 7 + 'ifilc7 44.h3 'ii' e 1 + 4 5 . �h2 'ife5 + 46.g3 'ife2 + = . 4 I .l:l.xf6+ tt:lxf6 42.e7+ 42 .tt:ldf5 �g8 ! 43 .e7 + �h8 44.h3 tt:le8 45 .tt:lxe8 'ifxf5 46 .tt:ld6 'iifl + 47 .'1to>h2 'ii f4+ = . 42 ...'ifxe7? 42 . . . 'ifilxe 7 + . 43.tt:lde6+ �g8 44.tt:lf5

.•

1 87

The Four Kni g hts Game

Black resigned, Motylev-Shirov, Bastia rapid 20 04. It must be pointed out that this was a rapid game.

2 5 . .-tdS ! ? allows White to consolidate his position more easily. 25 .

...

26.

t2Jd5-c71?

'iff4-h4

Back to the game Vorobiov-Gerzhoy.

1 6. 1 7. 1 8.

.l:t.a 1 xd 1 tt:lf5xg7+ t2Jg7-f5

t2Je5-g6 g2 lLlh6 22.lLlfe3 .U.he8 23 . l:!.de 1 'it' g6 24.f4 'it' d6 2 5 .lLlc4 'ii' c 5 26.lLlde3 g5 2 7.£'5 h4 28 .g4 b5 29.lLld2 'ii' e 5 3 0.l:!.f3 'ii'xb2 3 1 .l:le2 c6 32.lLldl 'ii' a 1 H .l:[fl a5 34.a4 bxa4 35 ..tc4 a3 3 6.lL:lf3 9;; c 7 3 7.lLle3 'iVb2 3 8 . ..tb 3 ? a2 ! -+ 3 9 .l:lee 1 l:lxd3 40.lLlc4 'ii' c 3 4 1 .cxd3 'ii'xb3 42 .1:[c 1 'ii' x d3 4 3 .lLlxa5 .l:[xe4 44.l:!.xc 6 + 'it>b8 0 - I Naer-Shirov, ..•

•••

.

•

•

Poikovsky 2 0 0 6 . 12.

...

'ife7-f6

important alternative is 1 2 'ii'f8 and now: • 1 3.d4 �xc2 I 4.dxc5 0-0-0 I S . 0-0 l:!.xd5+ Sutovsky; • 1 3 . ..txc5 'ii' x c5 1 4.d4 I 4 . .l:.xd I 'ii'b4! I 5 .lLlxg 7 + 'it>f8 I 6 .lLlf5 'ii'xb2 I 7 .lLle2 'ii'xc2 -+ . 1 4 'ii'b 6 I 4 . . . 'ifb4 I S . .l:.xdi 'ii'xb2 + . 1 5 .1:[xd1 g6 1 6.dxe5 'ii'xb2+ , 'and White has everything hanging' - Sutovsky; • 1 3 . .1:1.xd l ..txe3 and now:

An

Analysis diagram

A difficult position to assess. The white passed pawns in the centre may become dangerous. 1 5 ... h5 1 6.�b3 Worth at­ tention was I 6 .d4! ? lLlg4 I 7 .e5 'ifb6 I 8 .�xf7 'ii'x b2 I 9.lLlcd5 lLlxe3 2 0 .fxe3 20 . . . 'ifxc2 2 I . .l:f.ci 'ife4 2 2 . .l:.f4 'ifd3 2 3 .l:!.c3 'ifd l + 24.l:tfl 'ife2 2 5 . l:!.bi (2 5 JH2 =) 2 5 . . . b6 2 6 . lLlxc7 c;t>b7 2 7 .�c4

•••

•••

•

•• i

Analysis diagram

Analysis diagram

with good prospects for White. 1 6 lL:lg4 1 7 .h3 'ii' f4 1 8.g3 I 8 .hxg4 hxg4 I 9 ..l:tfe I .l::. h I + 2 0 . c;t>xh I •••

I 90

A) 1 4.lL:lxe3 0-0-0 A I ) 'A confused position results from 1 5 .f4!?' - Sutovsky. It is interesting to continue this variation: 1 5 lL:ld7 Or I 5 . . . lLlc6 I 6 . ..txc6 bxc6 I 7 . 0-0 'ifc5 I 8 . .l:.f3 .l:.he8 I 9.lLla4 'ii'b4 2 0 .b3 . •••

C h a p ter 6

-

S . ..tc4 in the Rubinstein

Analysis diagram

Analysis diagram

It will not be easy for Black to find a break-through point, but nor is it easy for White to play for a win. 1 6.0-0 c6

3 0 .l:.bd 1 3 0 . b7 + White's pieces lack stability. 23 c6

3 4 . . . 'irxf4 3 5 .d6 g5 3 6 .b4 'irxb4 3 7 . .l:f.c7 + rJr>a8 3 8 .d7 +- .

•••

•

•

•

••

2 5 .ltJxf4 'ifxe4 2 6 .ltJxd3 'ifxd3 2 7 .axb6 'irxd4 28.�c5 'irf4 29.ltJc2

.••

Analysis diagram d4 Or 2 9 . . . .l:r.c8 3 0 .ltJb4 .l:r.e7 (3 0 ... 'ifd2 3 l .c;i;>g l .l:xc5 32 . .l:r.xc5 .l:r.d6 3 3 .l:k2 'irf4 3 4.ltJc6 + �b7 3 5 Jbc l 'iitxb6 3 6 .ltJe7 .l:r.d7 3 7 .lLlc8+ �b7 3 8 . .l:r.c6 'irb4 3 9 J:tb6+ 'irxb6 40 .ltJxb6 �xb6 4 l .'iti>fl =) 3 l .�g l 3 l .h3 (or 3 l .b7 .l:r.cc7 3 2 .h3 c;i;>xb7 3 3 .ltJxd5 'ifgS 3 4 . ltJxc7 .l:r.xc 7 3 5 . b4=) 3 1 . . . .1:lxc5 3 2 .lLla6+ 'iti>b7 3 3 .ltJxc5 + �xb6 3 4 . ltJa4+ ( 3 4.ltJd3 'ird2 3 5 . l:ta3 =) 34 . . . c;i;>b 7 3 5 .ltJc5 + = . 29

Analysis diagram 24.ltJe2 ! ! cxd5

Another crazy variation illustrates the richness of White 's resources : 24 . . . �xe2 2 5 . .l:r.xc6 'ifgS 2 6 . .l:r.xb6+ 198

•••

3 0.ltJb4 'ilh6 3 1 ..l:r.e l .l:r.c8 3 2 .l:r.a4 'irgs 3 3 .l:r.a5 •

•

Chapter 6 - 5 . � c 4 in the Rubinstein

Analysis diagram

'with a roughly equal position' - it sounds like a joke, doesn't it? B2 2 2 2) 2 l . �b8 22.a5 ti:lxd5 2 2 . . . c6 2 3 .�a2 �xe4 24.ti:lxe4 'ifxe4 2 5 .�b l 'ife8 2 6 .a6 ••

Analysis diagram 2 7 ...h5 28.h3 'if6 29.�h2 h4

Scarcely better is 2 9 . . . g5 3 0 . ti:Jb5 (3 0 . .!:f.e l 'ifc2 3 l .ti:le4 g4 32 . .!:f.ac l +t) 3 0 . . . g4 3 1 .h4 'iVd3 3 2 .�g l .l:te8 3 3 .d6 cxd6 3 4.�xd6+ �a8 3 5 .d5 .l:te2 3 6 .�c5 'ifg6 3 7 .ti:ld4 .l:.b2 3 8 .l:.d l +t (3 8 .�a3 .l:.d2 3 9 .�c5 =) . 3 0.g4

Analysis diagram

2 6 . . . bxa6 (no better is the 'logical' 2 6 . . . bs 2 7 .�fs ti:le6 2 8 .�b6 .l:td6 2 9 .�g4 g6 3 0 .ds fs 3 l .�f3 ti:lgs 3 2 . l:.xc6±) 2 7 .�f5 ti:le6 2 8 .�xe6 'ifxe6 29 . .l:txa6 and White is guaran­ teed perpetual check. 2 3.exd5 6 24.b3 24.f4 l:.e8 2 5 .l:.e l hS 2 6 .b3 �e4+ . 24 f4 2 5.ti:lc4 f3 26.g3 ..txc4 26 . . . 'iffs 2 7 .ti:le5 hS 2 8 .ti:lxd 7 + 'ifxd7 29 .l:.g l gS 3 0 .b4 �e2 3 l .b5 �xbS 3 2 .ti:lxb5 'ifxbS 3 3 .d6 cxd6 34.�xd6 + �a8 3 5 .a6 b6 3 6 .l:.ab l 'ifas 3 7 .�c7 'ifa2 3 8 .d5 'ifxf2 3 9 .�xb6 'ifd2 40 .l:.bd l 'ife2 4 1 .l:.de l 'iVb2 42.l:.b l 'it'a2 . 2 7.bxc4 •••

Analysis diagram

The engines cheerfully assess this posi­ tion as winning for Black, but the hu­ man player asks himself the question how Black can actually get at his oppo­ nent, even in principle? And there is a second question : if Black cannot achieve anything soon, can White even play for a win? 3 0 .'ifd3 and now: B2 2 2 2 1 ) 3 l .ti:Jb5 .l:.e8 3 2 .l:.c3 'ife2 3 3 .�g l 'ifh2 34.l:.cc l 34.l:.ca3 'ifd2 (34 . . . .!:f.e2 3 S . .I:.fl .l:.f7 3 6.d6 cxd6 3 7 .ti:lxd6 .l:tf6 3 8 .a6 ••

1 99

The Four Kni g hts G ame

Analysis diagram

Analysis diagram

3 8 . . . bxa6 (3 8 . . . b6 3 9 . a 7 + 'it>a8 40 . ttJ b5 l:tc6 4 1 .l:txf3 .:es 4 2...t xb6 l:f.xb6 43 .4Jc7 + �xa7 44.4Jxe8 'ifxd4 45 .c5 'ifxc5 46.4Jxg 7 ;;!; ) ) 3 5 Jhf3 'ife2 3 6.�g2 'ifxc4 3 7 .4Jc3 .!:txd5 3 8 .4Jxd5 'ifxd5 3 9 .l:[a3 and Black's winning chances are insignificant.

34.d6 cxd6 3 5 .4Ja4 .!:txa7 3 6.i.xb6 ..l:lxa4 3 7Jha4+ 'it>b 7 3 8 .c5 Wc6 3 9.cxd6+ Wxb6 40 .l:.b4+ a8 3 8.4Jxc7+ .l:lxc7 39 . .1:lxb6 .l:le8

•

•

•

••

22 .. J:te8 2 3 .a5 'it>b8 24J:td l .l:!.dd8 . 2 3 .i.b4 'it'f6 The white knights occupy very solid positions. 24.d6 Interesting is 24.a5 ?! 'ifxd4 2 5 .axb6 'ifxb4 2 6 .4Ja4

Analysis diagram 40.d6 .l:lb 7 4 1 .l:txb7 Wxb7 42.d7 l:ta8 43.i.e7 'it'b2 44.%:.d l = ;

B2 2 2 2 2) Another way i s also possi­ ble: 3 1 .Wg l .l:le8 3 l . . .'ifxc4 3 2 .a6 b6 (3 2 . . . bxa6 3 3 .4Ja2 'ifxd5 34.4Jb4 'ifa8 (34 . . . 'ifg5 3 5 .d5=) 3 5 .4Jxa6+ 'it>c8 3 6 . ..tb6 ( 3 6 .4Jxc 7 = ; 3 6 . 4Jb4=) 36 . . . ..1:lh6 3 7 .4Jc5 'ifdS 3 8 .4Jxd7 l:[c6 3 9 .4Je5 l:txb6 40.l:ta7=) 3 3 .a7+ 'it>b7 3 4.d6 bxc5 3 5 .4Je4 'ifxd4 3 6 .4Jxc5 + 'it>a8 3 7 .tt:Jxd 7 = . 3 2.a6 b6 3 3 .a7+ e7 2 8 .4Jxd3 'ifxb6 2 9 .4Jc4 'iff6 3 0 .4Jce5 , and White is in no way worse) 2 7 . tt:Jc5 ..l:lxb6 2 8 . 4Jxd3 'ifbs ( 2 8 . . . 'ifd4 29 .4Jc4 ..l:lb3 3 0 . 4Jce5 .l:f.b8 3 l ..l:!.c4 'ifxd5 3 2 .l:[a7 'ifd6 3 3 .4Jxf7 'ifb6 34 . .l:.axc 7 + 'ifxc7 3 5 .l:txc 7 + 'it>xc7

Chapter 6

3 6 .lt:Jxh8 and White should draw) 2 9 .lt:Jcs l:e8 3 0 .lt:Jfs .l:le l + 3 1J he l 'WxcS 3 2 .lt:Je3 .l:lxb2 3 3 .d6 c 6 34.l:l.ac l The probable result is a draw. 24 .'ibf2 25 .lt:Jcd5 Wb7 26.l:l.dl .te4 2 7 .l:!.d2 'it'h4 28.lt:Jxc7 ••

Analysis diagram

The analysis shows that White has enough resources to hold the balance. The author does not think it appropri­ ate to give any more lines here, show­ ing this - there are simply too many of them . . .

1 7. 1 8.

- 5 . �c4

in the Rubinstein

... g2-g3

'Wf6-h4

1 8 . .te4! lt:JxcS 1 9 ..txc2 lt:Je6 2 0 .d5 ± (Sutovsky) . 1 8.

...

'Wh4-g4?

1 8 . . . 'iVhS ! 1 9 ..txf7 'iVf3 2 0 .e6+ �c7 2 l .e7 lt:Jf4 leads to a draw. 'However, I was planning to reply 1 9 . .te4! �c7 2 0 .f4, and White continues the attack, despite the fact that the computer con­ siders the repetition .tf3 -'Wg6-.te4 unavoidable' - Sutovsky. A possible scenario for the continuation of the attack is: 20 . . .f6 2 l .lt:Jf5 lt:JxcS 22 . .txc2 .l:[ad8 23 .lt:Jxg 7 'iff7 24.lt:Jfs lt:Je6 2 S . .l:lad l fxeS 2 6 . fxe5 'Whs 27 .lt:Je4

Back to the game.

Analysis diagram

with mutual chances. 1 9. 20.

f2-f3 .td5-e4

'Wg4-h3

2 0 . .txf7 ! ?;!;; - Sutovsky. 1 5. 1 6. 1 7.

d3-d4 lt:Jf5-d6+ e4-e5

tt:Je5-d3 �e8-d7

1 7 . .txf7 lt:Jxc5 1 8 .dxc5 �c7 1 9 . .l:lac l .td3 2 0 . .l:.fe l ;!;; , and White has excellent prospects - Sutovsky.

20. 21 . 22.

... .te4xc2 �c2-f5

lt:Jd3xc5 lt:Jc5-e6 'ifh3-h5

2 2 . . .'Wh6 2 3 .lt:Jxf7 'We3 + 24.�g2 .l:[af8 2 S . .l:[ae l 'i!fd2 + 2 6 . .1:r.e2 'Wxe2+ 2 7 .lt:Jxe2 :Z.xf7 2 8 . .te4 �e7 2 9 .f4± Sutovsky. 20 1

The Four Knights Game

23. d4-d5 2 3 .�g4 'ti'g6 ( 2 3 . . . 'ifh6 2 4 . tbxf7 'We3 + +-) 24.d5 Wc7 2 5 .dxe6 fxe6 2 6 .tLle2 'iYgS 2 7 . tbf4 'iYxeS 2 8 .�ad l ± - Sutovsky. 23. ...

wd7-c7

2 3 . . . cxd5 24.tbxd5 and White is clearly better - Sutovsky.

Analysis diagram

Certainly, after 28 . . . 'i¥d2 29 .�e2 'ii'f4 3 0.�b3 hxg4 3 I .fxg4 'i¥xg4+ 3 2 .�g2 'it'd4+ 3 3 . Wh l 'ti'xe5 (3 3 . . . wb6 34.tbce4±) 34.tbf7 'ti'd4 3 5 .tbxh8 �xh8 3 6.he6 only he can play for a win.

24. g3-g4? 24.dxe6 fxe6 2 5 .tLle2 ! ! , ' and suddenly the black queen is mated' - Sutovsky. 2 5 . . . exf5 ( 2 5 . . . 'iVg 5 2 6 . tLlf4 Wb8 27 . tbxe 6 'ti'e3 + 2 8 . �f2 "ii' x eS 2 9 . �d l +-) 2 6 . tLlf4 'ti'h6 2 7 .tbf7 with a winning advantage. 24. ... 25. d5xe6?1

'ti'h5-h6

2 5 .tbxf7 'iYe3 + 2 6 .Wh l tLlf4 2 7 .d6+ Wb6 (the position is unclear Sutovsky) 2 8 . tbxh8 �xh8 2 9 .tLle4 hS 3 0 .d7 hxg4 3 l...�.x g4 Wc7 3 2 . �fd l tUd3 3 3 .e6 Wd8 3 4.tLld6 = . 25. ... 26. �f5-e4

f7xe6

2 6 .�c2 ! ? 'ti'f4 2 7 . �ae l hS 2 8 . �e4± was better for White - Sutovsky.

202

26..."ii' h6-f4 27.tt:Jd6-c4 h7-h5 28.tt:Jc3-e2 'ti'f4-g5 29.tt:Je2-d4 �h8-h6 30.f3-f4 "ii' g5xg4+ 31.r:J;; g1-h1 �a8-f8 32.tt:Jc4-e3 'iVg4-h4 33.tt:Je3-g2 'ti'h4-e7 34.�f1-d1 g7-g5 35.�a1-c1 �f8-d8 36.�d1-d3 'ife7-b4 37.�c1-d1 g5xf4 38.tt:Jg2xf4 �d8-e8 39.�e4-g6 �h6xg6 40.tbf4xg6 'ti'b4xb2 41.�d3-d2 'i¥b2-a3 42.tbg6-f4 wc7-b8 43.tt:Jf4xh5 c6-c5 44.tt:Jh5-f6 c5xd4 45.tt:Jf6xe8 'Wa3-f3+ 46.d 1 'iYa4+ 18.b3 "iYa3 19.�c3 'ii'cs 20.l:i.c 1 �b7 with a large advantage to Black (Szklarczyk-Brauer, correspondence, 1984) .15 ..id2 1S.c;i;>d 1 and now:

by 25.tLlf7+ c;i;>h7 26.tLlg5+ c;i;>h8) 2 1...'iYg4 22.'ii'xg4 fxg4 23.tLlxf8 bxc4 24.tLlxg6+ c;i;>h7 with a probable draw. 15...l:i.e8+ 16.c;i;>d1 'iYa4+ Also possible is 16 ... 'ifd5!? 17J:tc 1 ( 17.'iYd3 'iYxd6+) 17...bS with an obvious ad­ vantage to Black. 17 .b3 tLlxb3 18.�c4+ ! 'ifxc4 19.axb3 'ii'g 4+ 20.'ilt'xg4 fxg4 2l ..l:.a4 h6 22.l:i.e4 l:i.fS 23.h4 hxgS 24.h5 aS 25.�xg5 bS 26.h6 �c3 27.l:i.e3 �d4 28 .1:.e4 �a1 29.c;i;>e2 �b7 0- 1, Mishuchkov­ Malinin, corr. 1990. •

•

Back to the game.

Analysis diagram

A) 1S...'ii'ds 16.�d3 bS with the better game for Black; B) In ECO, an article by Mishuchkov, and in Nunn's book on the Four Knights, the variation 15 ... 'iY a4+? 16.b3 tLlxb3 17.axb3 'ii'xa 1 18.�c4+ c;i;>h8 19.tLlxh7 �h6 is given, when af­ ter 20.c;i;>c2 White has a decisive advan­ tage, but after 19...'ii'd4+ 20.c;i;>c2 (20.�d2 'ii' a l+ 2 1.c;i;>c2 'ir'b2+ 22.c;i;>d 1 'ii'a 1+=) 20...b5! it turns out that things are not so simple: 2 1.'iYh3 (or 2 1.tLlxf8 bxc4 22.tLlxg6+ c;i;>g8 23 .tLle7+ c;i;>f8 with unclear play; it is unlikely that White has more than a draw here. If 2 1.tLlg5 'ii'g4 22.f3 'iYhS 23.�xb5 .l:.b8 24.�c4 l:i.b6 White also has to be satisfied with perpetual check 206

13 . 14.

... tt:Jg5-f3

h7-h6 tLld4xf3

Also fine for Black is 14 ... 'iYxh4 15.tLlxh4 c;i;>£7 with slightly the better game. Here is an example from recent tournament practice: 16.�e3 Definitely best. Weaker is 16...td3? b6 17.d6 �b7 18.�c4+ tLle6 19.tLlf3 l:i.ac8 20.�b3 .txf3+ 2 1.gxf3 l::rc6 when White's po­ sition is close to critical, Bednar-Werle, Hoogeveen 2006. 16 ...f4 17.�xd4 �xd4 18.�d3 gS ?! The more cautious 18...l:i.g8!? also preserves slightly the better chances for Black. 19.tt:Jf5 �xb2 20.l:i.b1 �es 21.d6! White has good compensation for the pawn. 21...b6 22.l:i.e1 c;i;>f6 23.l:i.b5 �a6 24.l:i.exe5

Chapter 7

�xbS 25Jhb5 .tt. ac8 26.�d2 He should probably retain rooks on the board. After 26.tt::ld4 .tt.cs 27..l:!.b4 .l::r.ds 28.�d2 .l:!.xd6 (28 ... a5 !?) 29.tt::l b5 White would have more chances to fight for a win. 26...llc5= 27.a4 �e6 28.g4 fxg3 29.fxg3 h5 30.h3 llf8 31.g4 hxg4 32.hxg4 llh8 33.llxc5 bxc5 34.�c4+ �e5 35.�b5 lld8 36.�e3 �d5 37.�d3 �e5 38.�c4 �f4 39.�xc5 �xg4 40.�xd7 llxd7 41.�c6 llh7 42)2jd4 �f4 43.d7 llh8 44.t�:Je6+ �f5 45.tt::lxg5 �xg5 Draw, Slinger­ laud-De Vreugt, Amsterdam 2006. 15. 16.

'iYh4xd8+ g2xf3

�e8xd8 d7-d6

Perhaps he should grab the pawn in the variation 1 6... �d4!? 1 7.llg1 gS 1 8.f4 g4 1 9.�e3 �xb2 20..l:!.b 1 �g7. 17.

f3-f4

�c8-d7

Black would have some hopes of an ad­ vantage after 1 7... �d4!? 1 8..l:!.g 1 .l:!.g8.

-

The Belgrade Gambit

It made sense to include 2l...a5 22.a4 and only now 22....l:!.he8 23.�e3 .l:!.e4. 22.

�c1-e3

g6-g5

White would have more difficulties making a draw after 22...�b5 23..l:!.d2 aS 24.a4 �c4. 23. 24. 25.

.l:!.a1-c1 �e3xc1 �d1xe2

.l:!.c8xc1+ .l:!.e8xe2 g5xf4?!

It is illogical to relieve the opponent of his weakness and help him bring his pieces into play. Some sort of chances could be retained after 25... -ltbS+ 26.�e3 �g6. 26.

.tc1 xf4

.tg7-e5

1f2-112

Game No 61 [C47] Bednar,Jaromir Virostko,Petr Czech Republic tt 2004/0 5 (5) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

e2-e4 tt::lb1-c3 tt::lg1-f3 d2-d4 tt:Jc3-d5 itf1-c4!?

e7-e5 tt::lg8-f6 tt::lb8-c6 e5xd4 tt::lf6xe4

This move is a comparatively fresh at­ tempt to revive this old gambit.

18.

.tf1-c4?I

A poor move. Now Black takes over the initiative. He should prefer 1 8..l:!.g1 !? 18. 19. 20. 21.

�c4-b3 .l:!.h1-e1+ .l:!.e1-e2

.l:!.a8-c8 �d8-e7 �e7-f7 .l:!.h8-e8

6.

...

�f8-b4+1? 207

The Four Knights Game

This move may put the seal on the whole line with 6. �c4. A) Events work out well for White af­ ter 6...tLlc5?! 7.�gs f6 8.tLlh4 d6 9.�xf6 gxf6 10.'tWh5+ ..ti>d7 1l.'tWf5+ tLle6 12.tLlxf6+ ..ti>e7 13.tLld5+ ..ti>d7 14.'i1Vf7+ tLle7 15.tLlf6+ ..ti>c6 16.�xe6±; B) In practice, Black has also tried 6...1t..e7, when: B 1) There is no danger for Black in 7.0-0 0-0 8J�e1 White would have greater practical chances after 8.�f4!? d6 9.l:te 1 tLlf6 (possible is 9...tLlc5 1O.tLlxd4 when Black must take care, as White's piece pressure is noticeable. Even so, White does not have full com­ pensation for the sacrificed pawn: 10...tLle6 1 1.tLlxe7+ 'tWxe7 12.tLlxc6 bxc6) 10.tLlxe7+ tLlxe7 1 1.tLlxd4. The two good bishops and well-positioned pieces give almost full compensation for the pawn deficit. 8...tLlf6 9.tLlxe7+ tt:Jxe7 1O.'ifxd4 d5; B2) 7.tLlxd4 o-o s.tt:Jbs it..b4+ 9.c3 tLlxfl 10.'iYh5 tLlxh1 11.cxb4 tLlxb4?? However, after the correct 1 1...l:te8+ 12.'>fi>fl l:reS 13.'tWf3 d6

Analysis diagram

... the possibility of the opposite result would have been somewhat greater: 14.1t..f4 l:rfS 15.tLlbxc7 tt:Jes 16.'iYe4 tLlxc4 17.tLle7+ ( 17.'tWxc4 �e6+) 208

17...'>fi>f8 18.tLlxfS 'iYxc7+. However, in this case too, play has a rather confused character and it is very easy for either side to go wrong. 12 ..tgs l:re8+ 13.'iitfl l:te5 14J:tel ! brought White a quick win in Kenworthy -Van der Sterren, Ramsgate 198 1. 7.

c2-c3

White is not promised anything by 7 .tLlxb4 tLlxb4 8.0-0 8.tLlxd4 dS + 9.'iYxd4 0-0 Also possible is 9...tt:Jxc2!? 1O.'iYxg7 'ti'f6 1 1.'ti'xf6 tLlxf6 12..�.gS tLlxa 1 13 . �xf6 dxc4 14..1xh8 tLlc2- in the resulting endgame, White faces a fight for a draw. 1 0.1t..x d5 'tWxdS 11.'iYxb4 cS Even so, compared with what happens in the game, this is the lesser evil. 7. 8. 9.

0-0 a2-a3

d4xc3 0-0

If 9.'i¥c2 tLld2 10..1xd2 cxd2 1 1.tLlxb4 tLlxb4 12.'i¥xd2 tLlc6+ White's com­ pensation for the two pawns is clearly inadequate. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.

'iYd1-c2 �c1xd2 �c4-d3 �d3xh7+ �h7-f5

�b4-c5 tt:Je4-d2 c3xd2 d7-d6 ..ti>g8-h8

Chapter 7 - The Belgrade Gambit

14. 15. 16.

tt:Jf3xe5 'ti'c2xc5

tt:Jc6-e5! d6xe5

16.�xc8 'ifxdS 17.�xb7 18.'ilixc5 'iYxb2-+. 16.

...

'il:fxb7

itc8xf5

White's position is lost. The Czech mas­ ter Jaromir Bednar play s the Belgrade Gambit with admirable loyalty, which makes such a rapid fiasco in his favour­ ite opening all the more surprising. 17.tt:Jd5-e3 �f5-d3 18..l:l:t1-d1 �d3-e2 19.l:!.d1-b1 l:!.f8-e8 20.f2-f3 'ifd8-d4 21.'ifc5-c3 d2-d1'il:f+ 22. .!:!.b1xd1 �e2xd1 23.l:!.a1 xd1 'il:fd4xc3 24.b2xc3 25.l:!.d1-b1 l:!.a8-d8 .!:!.d8-d3 26.�g1-f2 b7-b6 27..!:!.b1-c1 .!:!.e8-d8 28.tt:Je3-c4 f7-f6 29.a3-a4 .!:!.d3-d1 30. .!:!.c1-c2 l:!.d1-a1 0-1 Game No 62 [C47] Almasi,Istvan Bezgodov,Alexey Balatonbereny 1996 ( 4) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

e2-e4 tt:Jg1-f3 tt:Jb1-c3 d2-d4 tt:Jc3-d5

e7-e5 tt:Jb8-c6 tt:Jg8-f6 e5xd4 �f8-e7

The most reliable reply to the Belgrade Gambit. Black simply completes his de­ velopment, ignoring his opponent's in­ trigues. 6.

�c1-f4

• The alternative is 6.�c4 0-0 6...tt:Jxe4 goes into the line with 6...tt:Jxe4, see Game 15. Black also equalised after the passive 6 d6 in the game Krnan-Bluvshtein, Edmonton 2005: 7.tt:lxd4 0-0 8.0-0 tt:JxdS 9...txdS tt:Jxd4 10.'il:fxd4 �f6 11.'tlfd3 'ife7 12.c3 c6 13.�b3 l:!.e8 14.�c2 g6 1S .�f4 �eS . 7.tt:lxd4 7.0-0. 7 tt:JxdS 8.�xdS tt:lxd4 9.'ifxd4 �f6 10.'iVd3 c6 11.�b3 dS 12.0-0 Dubious is 12.exd5?! l:!.e8+- here only White can be worse. 12...dxe4 13.'�xe4 l:!.e8 with a comfortable game for Black, Morris­ Wedberg, New York 199 1; • No more than equality is offered by 6.tt:lxd4 tt:lxdS 7.exdS tt:Jxd4 8.'ifxd4 0-0 9.�e2 �f6 10.'ifd3 d6= 11.c3 1 1.0-0 l:!.e8 12...t f3 =. 11...l:!.e8 12.�e3 �gS 13.£4 13.0-0 �xe3 14.fxe3 'it'gS IS.l:!.f4=. 13....ih6 Here the king is more vulnerable. After 13...�f6 14.0-0 �fS 1S.'il:fxf5 l:!.xe3 16.�f3 'ti'e7 Black retains a small advantage. 14.�d2 Equality could be maintained more simply by 14.�f2. 14...'Yi'f6 A good move, keeping the initiative. However, even stronger was 14...g6 with the idea of �fS, which places White in a critical position. 1S .'ii'd4 White is slightly worse but nothing too tragic has hap­ pened to him yet. After the accurate 15.g3!? �fS (IS...cS!?) 16.'it'd4 'it'g6 17.�d3 Black has nothing special. 1S ...'il:fg6 16..if3 �g4 17.�xg4 'il'xg4 White's position is simply unpleasant. 18.g3 l:!.e7 19.l:!.ae1 .!:!.ae8 20.'ifxa7 A committal move. 20.�c2!?. 20...cS ?! ..•

.••

209

The Four Knights Game

White would face greater problems af­ ter 20.. .'ti' f3!?. 21.dxc6 bxc6 22.�£'2? After the cold-blooded 22.'ii'a6 White's risky idea might have proved justified. In any event, nothing forcing for Black is apparent: 22...'iff3 23..l:thfl 'i¥g2+ 24 . .l:tf2 'i¥d5+ 25.'it>c 1 and White re­ tains his extra pawn, although of course, Black has compensation. 22....1:i.e2+ 23 .1:i.xe2 .l:i.xe2+ 24.h2 ..til.gs 42..ld.e2 .td1

Analysis diagram

43.'ii'xgS .l:t.xe2 44JWg4 .ld.d2 4S .'ifc8+ lLld8 Black has the advantage. 46.b4 .ta4 47.£3 .tc6 48.'1t>g3 g6 49.�8 '1t>h7 so:ti'f4 .ld.d7 S l .c4 lLle6 S 2.'ifes tt::ld4 S 3.'1t>f2 hS S 4.h4 '1t>g8 S S .'iff6 '1t>h7 s s ...lLlfs +. S 6.'ifes .ta4 S 7.g4 �c6 S 8.gxhS lLlxf3 S 9.hxg6+ fxg6 60.'ti'f4 lLld4 61.'ii'f6lLJB?! 6l...�e4!?. 62.hS = lLle7 63.'ifgs gxhS ? 64.'ifxhS + 64.b5± axbS 65.cxb5 .idS? 66.'ifxh5+ f8 70.axb7 lLlb8 1 -0, Van der Weide­ Winants, The Netherlands 1 996.

kingside pawns. 12 hS !? 13.l:tg1 l:te8 14.�d3 1 4.g4 hxg4 1 5.fxg4 �g6 1 6.g5 .teS=. 14...'�'d7 1S ..txB 'ifxfS 16.g4 hxg4 17.fxg4 'ti'g6 18.gS �es with an equal game, Biro-Petran, Balatonbereny 1 996. ..•

8. 9.

lLld4-b5 e4xd5

lLlf6xd5

'One of the key positions for the varia­ tion starting with S....te7'- Nunn. 9.

...

lLlc6-e5

The most solid. • Practice has also seen 9...lLlb4 10.c3

•..

7.

lLlf3xd4

0-0

Also possible is 7...lLlxdS 8.exdS tt::lxd4 9.'it'xd4 0-0 10.'ifd2 .tf6 11.0-0-0 .tfs 12.f3 The position is roughly equal, but White's play is slightly easier: he has the clear plan of advancing the

Analysis diagram

1o...a6 Black also has an interesting tac­ tical trick: 1 O...�gS 1 1 ..txg5 'ifxgS 1 2.lLlxc7 (1 2.cxb4 .l:t.e8+ 1 3 . .te2 'ir'xg2 1 4.d2 'iYxf2 with excellent compensation for the sacrificed piece) 1 2....if5 1 3.cxb4 211

The Four Knights Game

bxc6=. l l ...'ii'eS + The position arising after 1 1...'ii'e7+ 12...te2 a6 13.tt::lc3 ( 13.tt::lx c7 'iVxc7 14.dxc6 bxc6=) 13...tt::le5 14.0-0-0, Nunn assesses as in favour of White. 12..�e2 a6 13.tt:lxc7 tt::ld4 14.tt:lxa8 �g4

tt.J . Analysis diagram

13.. J:!.ac8 (it is worth considering play ­ ing in the style of the old masters: 13 ... l:i.ae8+ 14.tt::lxe8 l:i.xe8+ 15.�e2 'ifxg2 16.l:i.fl ( 16.c7-+) 1 S... 'if g4 1 6.i.xg6 'iYxg6 1 7.'iYf3 'iYf7+. 13 .tg7 14.i.c4 Worthy of attention is the more forcing 1 4..l:f.e1 + 'iii>f 8 1 S.i.c4 with the threat of 1 6.'iYxg6!. •

Analysis diagram

9 i.xd2+ 10.'ihd2 tbb6 If 1 0 ...tbe7 1 1 .0-0-0 dS 1 2.%:the1 0-0 1 3. 'ifgS f6 1 4.'iYg3 c6 1 S.i.d3 White has definite compensation for the pawn. 11 ..td3 1 1 .'iYe2+ ! ? 'iYe7 1 2.0-0-0 'iYxe2 1 3.i.xe2 dS 1 4.tbbs c;fr>dS 1 S.c4 c6 16.tbc3, and White's compensation should be enough for a draw. 11 0-0 12.0-0 1 2.0-0-0 cS 1 3.tbf3 dS+. 12 c5 13.tbf3 dS White does not have sufficient compensation for the pawn. • The most dangerous move in a prac­ tical sense is 8.tbf5. This position arose by transposition of moves in the game Bellon Lopez-Jamieson, Wijk aan Zee II 1 977, where there followed: 8...tbe7 9 . .tgs! f6 More solid is 9... dS! ? 1 0 .i.xe7 i.xe7 1 l .tbxg7+ c;fr>fS 1 2.tbhS .t:f.g8 1 3.g3 'iYd6 with good play for Black. Despite Black's loss of castling, it is the white king which looks the more vulnerable. •••

•

•••

.••

.•.

Analysis diagram

21 8

Analysis diagram

1 S...fS!? (1 S...dS 1 6.hdS±) 1 6.ltJxg6+ (1 6.ltJxfS? 'iYf6 1 7.ltJxg7 'iti>xg7 and Black is out of danger; nor does 1 6.'iYxg6? hb2+-+ work) 1 6...hxg6 1 7.'iYxg6 'iYd7 1 8..t:f.e3!? (a practically equal endgame results from 1 8.i.e6 hb2+ (there is nothing else) 1 9.'iti>xb2 'iYg7+ 20.'iYxg7+ �xg7) 18... .l:f.h6 1 9.'iYgS dS 20.hdS (worse is 20 ..t:f.he1 dxc4 2l ..l:.e8+ 'iYxe8 22.l:txe8+ xe8 23.'iYxg7 .l:.e6. The position remains complicated, and the h-pawn may be­ come dangerous, but even so, Black's chances are preferable) 20 ... .l:f.d6! ? (20 ...'iYxdS 2l ..l:.d1 hb2+ 22.xb2 l:tb6+ 23.'iti>c1 .l:.b1 + 24.xb1 'iYxd1+ 2S.�b2 'iYd4+ with perpetual check) 21 .l:.he1 .l:.xdS 22.'ifhs!? (despite the

Chapter 7- The Belgrade Gambit

absence of the bishop pair, White's threats are very dangerous. Or 22.l:te7 .l:td1+ 23..1:!.xd1 'Wxe7 24.l:!.d8+ rJ;l£7 2S.'ifhS+ rJtf6 26.'ilh4+) 22...hb2+ 23.rJtxb2 'Wg7+ 24.c3 White's initiative more than compensates for the missing piece. 14 'ifd7 15 .l:!.he 1+ rJtds 1s ...'Ot>fs? 16.'ifxg6. 16.lt::Jxg6 hxg6 17.'ifxg6 •••

•

23 .l:te6! With this beautiful blow, White forces a draw. 23 'ifxb2+! ! Not 23 ... �xe6 24..l: hd6+±. 24.�xb2 bxc4+ 25.c3 �g7+ 26.'.td2 �xe6 27..1:.Xd6+ �d7 28 .1:!.xd7+ '.txd7 29.'ii'xf5+ e8 27.'ifxb8+ 'ifd8 winning. •••

•••

•

•••

8. 9. 10. 11.

... �f1-e2 c2-c3 0-0=

'ifd8-e7+ 'ife7-e5 c7-c6

Black's extra pawn is balanced by White's slight lead in development . Chances are equal.

11. 12. 13.

... g2-g3 .l:tf1-d1

.if8-d6 0-0

...

�d6-b8

13.�d2=.

13.

It cannot be right to cut off his own rook. More solid is 13 ... �cS 14.ttJ b3 �b6=.

14.

c3-c4

14.�d3!?i.

Analysis diagram

14. 15.

... �c1-f4

lt::Jd5-f6 'ife5-e4= 21 9

The Four Knights Game

16. 17. 18.

.tf4xb8 �e2xf3 tt:Jd4-f5

'i!Ve4xf3 .l:!.a8xb8 g7-g6?1

After 18....l:!.e8 19.tLld6 .l:!.e6 20.b4 White would have sufficient compensa­ tion for the pawn, but not more. 19.

30.

...

'iitf6-g7

30...hxg5 3 1.hxg5+ 'iitg7=. 31. 32.

.tf3-g2 f2-f4

h6-h5?

32.

...

f7-f5?

.l:!.d1-d6!?

Also good is 1 9.tLld6. 19. 20. 21.

... .l:!.d6xf6 .I:i.f6xf5

g6xf5 �g8-g7

Firmly walling up his own bishop. 32... c5 33..l:!.d2 f6 would give some chance of hanging on. 33 .

.tg2-h3

33.'iiff2±. 21.

...

d7-d6?

Why leave oneself a potential weakness on d6? After 2 1 ...d5 22..l:!.f4 dxc4 23..l:!.xc4 .l:!.d8 the endgame takes on a drawish character. 22. 23. 24. 25.

.l:!.f5-a5 .l:!.a1-d1 .l:!.a5-g5+ h2-h4

a7-a6 .l:!.f8-d8 'iitg7-f6

... .l:!.d1-d4 .l:!.g5-h5 .l:!.h5-a5 g3-g4 g4-g5+

�c8-f5 h7-h6 �f5-g6 .l:!.b8-c8 .l:!.c8-c7

2S ..l:!.h5!?. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 30.'iit g2!?. 220

33.

...

.l:!.c7-f7?

'iitg1-f2 .l:!.d4xd6 'iitf2-f3 .l:!.d6xg6+

.l:!.d8-e8 .l:!.e8-e4 .l:!.f7-e7

33....l:!.e7!?. 34. 35. 36. 37.

1-0

Game No 64 [C47] Toufighi,Homayoon Lenderman,Alex Belfort jr 2005 (2) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

e2-e4 tt:Jg1-f3 tt:Jb1-c3 d2-d4 tt:Jc3-d5 e4xd5

e7-e5 tt:Jb8-c6 tt:Jg8-f6 e5xd4 tt:Jf6xd5 �f8-b4+

Chapter 7

The plan bound up with this move is not good enough for equality. The alter­ native is 6 tLlb4 7.�c4 This continua­ tion appears to pose Black the most problems. The position arising after 7.tLlxd4 tLlxdS is considered in detail in the notes to Game 17, Krnan-Bick. Therefore, here I will only point out that the most dangerous move for Black, in my opinion, is 8.t2Jf5. •.•

-

The Belgrade Gambit

10...b5 1l.d6 cxd6 12.-igs l'ixel+ 13..1he1+ �f8 14.�e7+ �g8 15.�xd6, and White's chances are pref­ erable. 1O b5 11.�b3 11.d6!? cxd6 12.'ti'xe7+ �xe7 13 . .l:i.el+ �d8 14.�xf7. 11 ... tLla6 12.d6 cxd6 13.'twxe7+ �xe7 14..l:i.e1+ �fl115.�d1 jt_b7 16.�f4 �f6 17.�xd6+ �g7 and in this rather confusing position, Black's chances are slightly better, Reef­ schlager-Gschnitzer, Germany 1989; • Weaker is 7 c6 8.0-0! cxd5 9..i.b3 More decisive is 9.'ti'xd4! intending 9 ... tt:Jxc2? (9 ... dxc4? 10 . .l:i.e1++-) 1O.'iYxd5 'ti'e7 1l.�d2 tt:Jxa 1 12 ..l:i.e1 with a decisive advantage. 9 .i.e7 1o.tt:lxd4 0-0 11.tt:lf5 tLlc6 12.'twxd5 d6 13.tt:lxe7+ tLlxe7 14.'twf3 and White has more than enough compensation for the pawn, Bednar-T. Balogh, Bratislava 2000; • He does not equalise after: 7... �e7 8.tLlxd4 Worth attention is 8.0-0 0-0 9.a3 tLla6 1 0.tLlxd4 with a noticeably better game for White. 8...0-0 9.c3 tLla6 1o.o-o tLlb8 1L�d3 1 1.tt:Jfs !? d6 12.tLlxe7+ 'twxe7 13..l:i.e1±. 11...d6 12.'ifc2 h6 13.�e3 13..if4!?. 13 tLld7 14.tLlf5 tt:le5 15.tt:lxe7+ 'twxe7 16..l:i.ae1 'twh4 17 .id4 tt:lxd3 18.'twxd3 c5 .•.

..•

•••

Analysis diagram • 7...'ii'e7+ Strongest. 8.�d2?! Clearly, White is improvising. Better is 8.�fl. keeping open the path of the bishop on cl. For example, 8.. .'ii'c5 (if 8...c6 9.tLlxd4 tLlxdS 10.�xd5 cxd5 11.tLlb5 White's chances are slightly better) 9.'twxd4 b5 (9 ... tLlxc2? 10.'twe4+; 9...'twxd4 10.t2Jxd4 �c5 1l.�e3 �xd4 12.�xd4 tt:Jxc2 13.�xg7 .l:lg8 14..l:lc1 .l:lxg7 15. .l:lxc2 leaves White a small ad­ vantage in the ending) 1O..ib3 'twxd4 11.tLlxd4 �b7 12.tLlxb5 .ia6 13.c4 tt:Jxd5 14.a4 c6! 15.g3 �c5 16.�g2 0-0 - Black is close to equality. 8 g6 There is nothing obviously wrong with con­ crete play by 8...l'ic5 9.'twe2+ !k.e7 10..l:le1 b5 1L�.b3 .ib7 12.'iYe5 tLlxd5 13.'twxg7 0-0-0 and the battle turns out in Black's favour. 9.'twe1 �g7 9...b5!?. 1 O.a3 Deserving of attention is 10.�d1 !?, opening the path of the dark-squared bishop. For example,

..•

•

•.•

Analysis diagram

19.�e3 Missing the last chance to fight for an advantage after 19.dxc6 bxc6 221

The Four Knights Game

20.'iff3 �d7 (20...d5 2I.l::te5, retain­ ing pressure) 2I.l::te4 'Yi'gs 22.h4 'iYfs 23.'ifg3 'ii'g6 24.'Yi'xg6 fxg6 25.l:!.fel. 19.....id7 20.£'3 with an equal game, Cvicela-T. Balogh, Slovakia tt 2007/08.

chances are slightly superior. 14.-ixbS J:!.b8 15.�c4 �a6 16.ttJe5 Worth atten­ tion is I6.�xa6 ttJxa6 I7.l::te7 l::txb2 I8.l::txd7 ti:Jb4 I9.ltJei with some ad­ vantage to White. 16...�xc4 17.tt:Jxc4 ttJc6 and now:

Back to the game.

Analysis diagram

7. 8. 9. 10.

�c1-d2 'ifd1-e2 �e1xd2 ..tf1xe2

'ifd8-e7+ �b4xd2+ 'ife7xe2+

The critical position of the variation. In the subsequent battle, White retains a small, but stable advantage. 10.

...

tt:Jc6-e7

The assessment of the position, as somewhat better for White, is not changed by 10 ... ttJb4 11.d6! cS Il...cxd6 12.ttJxd4 ttJc6 13.ti:Jb5 �e7 I4.l::taeI, and White's advantage takes on something real. 12 .itc4 0-0 13.l::the1 bS I3...g6 I4.ttJe5 (worthy of consideration is I4.a3 ttJc6 IS.b4!? cxb4 I6.axb4 ttJxb4 I7.ttJxd4 ttJc6 I8.ttJxc6 dxc6 (I8...bxc6 I9.l::te7±) I9.l::te7 with advantage to White) I4...�g7 IS.a3 ttJc6 I6.ttJxc6 dxc6 I7.l::te5 �fs (I7...�f6!? I8.l::txc5 l::td8 I9..!:i.eI l::txd6, and Black's chances are already preferable) I8.l::te7 bS I9.�d3 1/2-1/2 Svidler-Georg, Dortmund Open I99I. In the final position, Black's •

222

A) 18.b3 l::tfe8 19.f4 f6 20.a3 'it>f7 21.'it>d3 l::te6 22.h3 l::tc8 23.J:!.ab1 .!:i.b8 24.g4 h6 25.h4 25.l::t xe6 !? �xe6 26.�e4 g6 27.f5+ gxfS+ 28.gxf5+ �f7 29.�d5 l::te8 30.l::tdi with a small advantage for White. 25...g6 26 .!:i.xe6 �xe6 27 .!:i.e1+ 'it>dS Chances are about equal, Toufighi-Mammadov, Teheran 2006; B) 18.a3 f6 19.l::te2 l::tfe8 20.l::tae1 'it>f7 21.f4 l::te6? A mistake. Chances of a successful outcome were offered by 2I..Jhe2+ 22.l::txe2 �g6. 22.f5 Stron­ ger is 22.l::t x e6 dxe6 23.�d3±. 22...l::txe2+ 23.l::txe2 g6 with approxi­ mate equality, Rodriguez Guerrero­ Ibanez Auliana, Seville 2004; C) In actual fact, the strongest continu­ ation in this position was demonstrated in the game Polovodin-M.D. Tseitlin, Le­ ningrad I979: 18.l::te7! tt:Jxe7? More te­ nacious is I8....l:Hd8 I9.l::taei �f8 20.b3 g6. 19.dxe7 l::tfe8 20.l::te1 l::tb6 21.ti:Jxb6 axb6 22.b4! d6 23.a4 f6 24.a5 bS 25.�d3 'it>f7 26.a6 g6 27.a7 hS 28.f4 h4 29.h3 f5 30.l::te2 I-0. •

•

Chapter 7- The Belgrade Gambit

Back to the game. 11.

c7xd6

d5-d6!

11...tLlc6 12..l:i.ad1 cxd6 13.'it>c 1 dS (better is 13...b6 14..l:i.he 1 'it>d8 15.tLlxd4 tLlxd4 16..l:i.xd4 �b7 17..l:i.xd6) 15.tLlxd4 with the idea 16.tLlb5. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.

a7-a6 'it>e8-d8 g7-g6 ttJe7-c6

ttJf3xd4 �e2-f3 .l:i.h1-e1 .l:i.a1-d1 'it>d2-c1

White has a small, but clear advantage. 16.

...

'it>d8-c7

After 16...tLleS 17.�dS fS 18.tLlf3 ! tLlxf3 19.�xf3 White's advantage is clearly outlined: 19 .l:i.e8 20..lhe8+ 'it>xe8 21..l:i.xd6 'it>e7 22 . .l:i.b6 d6 n ...tds J:f.bs u.'it>d2 'it>d7 •••

small advantage in the rook ending. 30...'it>d7 31.c4 Here too, 3l. a4 was preferable, although it is now far from as effective. 31. .. 'it>c7 32.cS dxcS n.l:f.xh6 J:tdS+ 34.'it>c3 J:tds 3S .h3 f4 36.b3 J:tes 37.'it>d3 aS ?! 37...J:td5+ 38.'it>e2 c4 39.bxc4 l:taS=. 38.h4 J:tdS + 39.'it>e2 gxh4 40.J:txh4 J:td4 41.g3 The advantage is again with White. 41...a4 42.g4 42..!hf4 l:txf4 43.gxf4 a3 44.'it>d3 bS 45.f5 'it>d6 46.'it>e4 c4 47.b4= (47.bxc4 b4-+) . 42...axb3 43.axb3 J:tb4 44.l:th3 f3 + 4S .J:txf3 J:txg4 46.'it>d3 bS 47.J:tf7+ 'it>d6 48.£3 c4+ 49.'it>c3 l:l.gl S O.bxc4 J:tcl + 1/2-1/2, Vijay -Brunello, Belfort jr 2005. 17.

�f3-d5

The plan of transferring the knight to dS deserves attention: 17.tLle2 J:te8 17. ..ttJes 18.tLlc3 ttJxf3 19.gxf3 'it>d8 20.J:txd6 bS 2 1.tLld5 l:te8 22.l:txe8+ 'it>xe8 23.'it>d2± 18.tt:lf4 J:teS 19.tLldS + 'it>d8 20.tLlf6 hS 21.l:te2, and Black is very cramped. 17. 18.

... .l:re1-e3

.l:i.h8-f8

... .l:i.e3-h3

b7-b5 h7-h5

18..l:rd3!?. 18. 19. Analysis diagram

2S .l:i.b3! 'it>e7 After 25...f4 26..l:i.f3 ! gS 27. .l:i.h3+- Black's position is close to critical. 26 .l:i.e3+ 'it>f8 27.l:f.c3 .td7 28 .l:i.c7; • Strong and aesthetic is 2S .a4 'it>c7 26.a5±, fixing Black's pawns on the colour of the enemy bishop. e 2S ...tg8 h6 26.�h7? gS 27..l:i.b3 'it>e7 28..tg8 .te6 Three moves, and the lion's share of the advantage is lost. 29..1he6 'it>xe6 30.l:tb6 30.a4!? with a •

•

•

•

White cannot make any progress. The position is close to equality. 223

The Four Knights Game

20.

.l:i.d1-e1

20. .l:i.e3=. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26.

26.

... tt:Jd4xc6 �d5xc6 .l:i.e1-e7+ .l:i.h3-f3 .l:i.e7xe8 .l:i.f3xf7

...

�c8-b7 �b7xc6 d7xc6 �c7-b6 .l:i.a8-e8 .l:i.f8xe8

.l:i.e8-e6

Slightly passive, but enough for a draw.

224

Equality could be secured without any problems after 26 ... .l:i.el+ 27.�d2 .l:i.gl 28.g3 h4 !? (28 ... g5=) 29.gxh4 (29.1:tf6 gS 30..l:i.g6 .l:i.hl 31 . .l:i.xg5 l::rxh2=; 29..l:!.g7 .l:!g2 30.�e3 .l:!.xh2=) 29.. J:tg4 30.l:lh7 .l:i.g2. 27. 28.

�c1-d2 h2-h3

a6-a5

28.f4 d5 29.g3!?. 28 ... d6-d5 29. g2-g4 h5xg4 30.h3xg4 �b6-c5 31.f2-f4 a5-a4 32. g4-g5 .l:i.e6-e4 33 . .l:i.f7-f6 b5-b4 34.�d2-d3 �c5-b5 35. .l:i.f6xg6 .l:i.e4xf4 36. .l:i.g6-g8 .l:i.f4-g4 37. g5-g6 �b5-c5 38.g6-g7 .l:i.g4-g3+ 39.�d3-d2 'it>c5-d4 40.c2-c3+ b4xc3+ 41.b2xc3+ 'it>d4-c4 42. .l:i.g8-c8 .l:i.g3xg7 43 . .l:i.c8xc6+ 'it>c4-b5 44. .l:!.c6-e6 .l:i.g7-g2+ 45J:te6-e2 .l:i.g2- g1 46. .l:i.e2-e1 .l:i.g1-g4 47. .l:i.e1-e8 .l:i.g4-g2+ 1f2-1h

Afterword This book started out as a small opening booklet for my pupils. I included the most interesting games on the subject, and my own analyses and assessments, until it grew into the solid tome it has now become. At one moment, I received the latest issue of a certain chess magazine, and de­ cided to analyse the game Sutovsky-Naiditsch, Wijk aan Zee 20 10, simply because I admire Sutovsky 's creative play, and to include the results in this work. However, I just could not convince myself that White has sufficient compensation for the queen in the critical position, and so did not feel able to recommend this adventure to my pupils. The more I delved into the position, the less I understood what was going on. Time after time, the silicon monster ruthlessly denied my desperate attempts to prove that White was OK, but then, around move 30-40, it would suddenly change its mind. Eventually, after about two weeks of Sisy phian effort, I surveyed the result­ ing 30-page file of crazy variations, with all kinds of material imbalances, and I realised that it was simply impossible to make full sense of this cross-bred offspring of human and computer brains. As Goethe's Faust put it, 'Da stehe ich ein armer Tor und bin so klug, wie auch zuvor...'- 'Here now I stand, poor fool, and see I' m just as wise as formerly.' 'Yes, but you are no Sutovsky, and are rated 300 points lower' , I said to myself, bitterly. Nonetheless, I have included in this book some of the discoveries from that file. ·

Does the Four Knights give White real chances to fight for the advantage? No, of course not! But it does guarantee a lot of adventures, and adrenaline rushes, espe­ cially if both sides are disposed to a sharp fight! November 20 10 Andrey Obodchuk

225

Bibliography Here is a list of the books, magazines and material from Internet sites I used for this book: 1. Max Euwe Uchebnik shakhmatnoiigry, ( Chess Instructor) , Leningrad 1935 2. Zhurnal64 ShakhmatnoeObozrenie (Magazine64 Chess Review) 2009-20 10 3. John Nunn New Ideas in the Four Knights (Batsford, USA 1993) 4. Sahovski Informator S. Sahovski ECO 2007 6. New In Chess Yearbooks 7. ChessBase Megabase 2009 8. Correspondence Chessbase 2008 9. www.chesszone.net.ru 10. www.crestbook.com 1 1. www.chess.co.uk/twic/twic.- TWICs for 2007-201 0 12. www. chessgames.com Wherever I have used any analyses, variations or comments from these books and sites I have alway s indicated this. The author

227

Index of Variations Three Knights: Anti-Russian

1.e2-e4 e7-e5 2.tt:Jg1-f3 tt:Jg8-f6 3.tt:Jb1-c3 Af8-b4

4.lt:Jxe5 .................... 9 (Games 1-3)

Three Knights: Various

1.e2-e4 e7-e5 2.tt:Jg1-f3 tt:Jb8-c6 3.tt:Jb1-c3

3...d6 ..................... 19 (Games 4-5) 3...�c5 ... ...............23 (Games 6-8) 3...g6 4.d4 exd4 s.tt:Jds .................38 (Games 9 -10) s.lt:Jxd4 ................ 4 3 (Games 11-13) .

229

The Four Knights Game

Four Knights Opening

1.e2-e4 e7-e5 2.lLl g1-f3lLlb8-c6 3.lLlb1-c3lLJg8-f6 4. .if1-b5

4...�c5 ................... 5 7 (Games 14-15) 4...a6 .....................6 1 (Game 16) 4 ...�d6 ...................64 (Games 17-19)

Symmettical Variation

1.e2-e4 e7-e5 2.lLl g1-f3lLlb8-c6 3.lLlb1-c3lLlg8-f6 4. .if1-b5 .if8-b4 5.0-0 0-0

6.�xc6 ...................75 (Game 20) 6.d3 6 ...d6 7.hc6 ..............76 (Game 21) 7 .l:Oe2 ...............82 (Game 23) 7 .�g5 0.e7 ...........8 4 (Game 24) 6 ...hc3 7.bxc3 d6 8.�xc6 ..............78 (Game 22) 8.�g5 8 ...0.e7 ...........88 (Game 25) 8 ...�d7 ........... 9 1 (Game 26) 8 ...h6 9.�h4 ..id7 ... 9 3 (Game 27) 230

Index of Variations

Metger System

1.e2-e4 e7-e5 2.tt:Jg1-f3 tt:Jb8-c6 3.tt:Jb1-c3 tt:Jg8-f6 4...tf1-b5 ..tf8-b4 5.0-0 0-0 6.d2-d3 ..tb4xc3 7.b2xc3 d7-d6 a ..tc1-g5 'ifd8-e7 .

7...'ile7 8.i.g5 h6 9.i.h4 d6... 97 (Game 28) 9.l:te1 9...i.g4 ................ 9 8 (Game 29) 9...t2J d8 10. d4 .......... 10 0 (Game 30) 1 o...i.g4............ 1 o1 (Game 31) 10... t2Je6............ 10 3 (Games 32-35)

Rubinstein System

1.e2-e4 e7-e5 2.lt:Jg1-f3 tt:Jb8-c6 3.tt:Jb1-c3 tt:Jg8-f6 4...tf1-b5 tt:Jc6-d4

5.t2Jxd4 .................. 114 (Game 36) 5.t2Jxe5 .................. 116 (Game 37) 5.0-0 .................... 119 (Game 38) 5.i.a4 5...�c5................ 123 (Games 39-42 ) 5... c6 6.0-0 .............. 136 (Games 4 3-4 4) 6.t2Jxe5 6... d6 ........... 141 (Game 45) 6... d5 ........... 145 (Games 4 6-49) 231

The Four Knights Game

Rubinstein System with

S.i.c4

1.e2-e4 e7-e5 2. ttJg1-f3 ttJb8-c6 3. ttJb1-c3 ttJg8-f6 4.�f1-b5 ttJc6-d4 5.�b5-c4

5...ttJf3 ................... 16 1 (Game 50) 5... c6 .................... 16 5 (Game 5 1) 5... d6.................... 16 9 (Games 5 2-5 3) 5...i. c5 .................. 174 (Games 54-59)

Belgrade Gambit

1.e2-e4 e7-e5 2. ttJg1-f3 ttJb8-c6 3. ttJb1-c3 ttJg8-f6 4.d2-d4 e5xd4 5.ttJc3-d5

5...ttJxe4 20 3 (Games 6 0 -6 1) 5...i.e7 .................. 20 9 (Game 62) 5...ttJb4 .... .............. 214 (Game 63) 5... ttJxd5 ................. 220 (Game 6 4) .

232

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I ndex of games Chapter 1

The Three Knights' Opening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 .

.

Game No 1

[C42]

Munoz Pantoj a, Miguel - Fenollar Jorda ,Manuel ( 2010) . . . . 9

Game No 2

[C42]

Nisipeanu , Liviu-Dieter - Fridman, Daniel ( 2009) . . . . . . . 15

Game No 3

[C42]

Yap Kim , Steven - Nguyen An Dung ( 2007 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Game No 4

[C46 ]

Skripchenko,Almira - Ye Rongguang (1998) . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Game No 5

[C46]

Rublevsky,Sergey - Kolasinski , Marek (1991) . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Game No 6

[C46]

Pedzich , Dominik - Romanishin , Oleg (1997) . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Game No 7

[C46]

Willemze,Thomas - Romanishin , Oleg ( 2009 ) . . . . . . . . . . 28

Game No 8

[C46]

Sermek , Drazen - Romanishin , Oleg (1998) . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Game No 9

[C46]

Zimmermann ,Julian - Kurz,Alexander ( 2004/05 ) . . . . . . . 38

Game No 10 [C4 6]

Thavandiran , Shiyam - Ganguly, Surya Shekhar ( 2005 ) . . . . 40

Game No 11 [C46]

Koukoufikis,Alexandros - Skembris , Spyridon ( 2004) . . . . . 43

Game No 12 [C46]

Nusken, Nikolas - Nogly, Christoph ( 2005 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Game No 13 [C46]

Kim ,Alexey - Isakov,Andrey ( 2005 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Chapter 2

The Four Knights - Black avoids the main line on move 4 . . . . . . . . S 7

Game No 14 [C48 ]

Paulsen, Louis - Morphy,Paul Charles ( 185 7) . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Game No 15 [C48]

Naer,Evgeny - Landa , Konstantin ( 2008 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Game No 16 [C48 ]

Motylev,Alexander - Kharlov,Andrey ( 2004) . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Game No 17 [C48 ]

Ni Hua - Sangma ,Rahul ( 2009 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Game No 18 [C48]

Hammer,}on Ludvig - Moradiabadi , Elshan ( 2010) . . . . . . . 6 6

Game N o 1 9 [C48 ]

Alvarez Pedraza ,Aramis - Borisek,Jure ( 2010) . . . . . . . . . . . 70

Chapter 3

The Symmetrical Variation l .e4 eS 2.00 ttJc6 3.ttJc3 tt:lf6 4�bS i.b4

Game No 20 [C49]

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73

Michiels , Bart - Sasikiran , Krishnan (2009 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 5

Game No 21 [C49 ]

Chadaev, Nikolay - Ginzburg ,Yakov ( 2010) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 6

Game No 2 2 [C49]

Varga, Zoltan - Gagarin ,Vasily ( 2009 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

Game No 23 [C49]

Kozlov,Vladimir - Atalik, Suat (2005 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 2

Game N o 2 4 [C49]

Nisipeanu , Liviu-Dieter - Ponomariov,Ruslan ( 2010) . . . . . 84

Game No 25 [C49]

Adhiban , Baskaran - Vovk,Yury ( 2009 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

Game No 26 [C49]

Edouard,Romain - Howell, David ( 2008 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

Game No 27 [C49]

Dzhumaev, Marat - Balogh, Csaba ( 2009 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Chapter 4

The Metger System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Game No 28 [C49]

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Kogan ,Artur - Lafuente , Pablo ( 2009 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

Game No 29 [C49]

Dzhumaev, Marat - Filippov,Anton ( 2009) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

Game No 30 [C49 ]

Delchev,Alexander - Cori Tello,Jorge ( 2010) . . . . . . . . . . 100

Game No 31 [C49]

Adams , Michael - Werle,Jan ( 2009 ) . . . . . . . . .

Game No 3 2 [C49]

Yuldashev, Saidali - Amin, Bassem ( 2008 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

Game No 33 [C49]

Iotov,Valentin Dimitrov - Kravtsiv, Martyn ( 2010) . . . . . . . 1 O S

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233

The Four Knights Game

Game No 34 [C49 ]

Sutovsky, Emil - Efimenko, Zakhar ( 2009 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

Game No 35 [C49 ]

Acs , Peter - Timman ,Jan ( 2010) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

Chapter 5

The Rubinstein System

Game No 3 6 [C48 ]

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113

Priborsky.]an - Romanov,Evgeny ( 2007 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114

Game No 3 7 [C48 ]

Short , Nigel - l ' Ami , Erwin (2009) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116

Game No 38 [C48 ]

Hirscheider,Helmut - Weidemann , Uwe (2004) . . . . . . . . 119

Game No 39 [C48]

Adhiban ,Baskaran - Alexandrov,Alexey ( 2009 ) . . . . . . . . . 1 23

Game No 40 [C48 ]

Sulskis, Sarunas - Neubauer, Martin ( 2008 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . 126

Game No 41 [C48 ]

Kornev,Alexey - Nielsen ,Peter Heine ( 2005 ) . . . . . . . . . . . 13 0

Game No 42 [C48 J

Motylev,Alexander - Carlsen , Magnus (2007 ) . . . . . . . . . . 13 2

Game No 43 [C48 ]

Shirov,Alexey - Hansen, Lars Bo (1994) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135

Game No 44 [C48]

Dj urhuus,Rune - Sahl, Bj arke ( 2010) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

Game No 45 [C48]

Rublevsky, Sergey - Bacrot, Etienne ( 2005 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . 141

Game No 46 [C48]

Nikel - Kireev ( 2005 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145

Game No 47 [C48]

lvanchuk, Vasily -Caruana , Fabiano ( 2009) . . . . . . . . . . . . 147

Game No 48 [C48]

Gormally,Daniel - Hebden , Mark ( 2004) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 2

Game No 49 [C48 J

Shanava , Konstantin - Khenkin , Igor ( 2007 ) . . . . . . . . . . . 155

Chapter 6

S ..tc4 in the Rubinstein .

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161

Game No 50 [C48 ]

Bacrot,Etienne - Sargissian , Gabriel ( 2009) . . . . . . . . . . . . 161

Game No 51 [C48 J

Varga, Zoltan - Zherebukh,Yaroslav ( 2009) . . . . . . . . . . . . 165

Game No 52 [C48 ]

Rublevsky,Sergey - Bologan ,Viktor ( 2008 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . 169

Game No 53 [C48 J

Svidler,Peter - Gelfand, Boris ( 2010) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171

Game No 5 4 [C48 ]

Shirov, Alexey - Kramnik,Vladimir (1998 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 4

Game No 55 [C48 ]

Sandipan , Chanda - Klip, Hans ( 2010) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 6

Game No 5 6 [C48 ]

Rublevsky, Sergey - Onischuk ,Alexander ( 2009) . . . . . . . . 179

Game No 57 [C48 ]

Vallej o Pons, Fransisco - Dominguez Perez, Leinier ( 2006) . 181

Game No 58 [C48 ]

Vorobiov, Evgeny - Gerzhoy, Leonid ( 2010) . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 6

Game No 59 [C48 ]

Sutovsky, Emil - Naiditsch, Arkady ( 2010) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189

Chapter 7

The Belgrade Gambit

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203

Game No 60 [C47 ]

Van der Weide, Karel - Timmermans , lvo (1996) . . . . . . . . 203

Game No 61 [C47 ]

Bednar.]aromir - Virostko, Petr (2004/05 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . 207

Game No 6 2 [C47 ]

Almasi ,Istvan - Bezgodov,Alexey (199 6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209

Game No 63 [C47 ]

Krnan ,Tomas - Bick.]ohn ( 2007 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214

Game No 64 [C47 ]

Toufighi , Homayoon - Lenderman , Alex ( 2005 ) . . . . . . . . 220

23 4

Index of Players Numbers refer to pages. A

Abdel Megid Abdelnabbi Abhishek,D Acs 9 1 , 1 0 7 , 1 2 9 , 85, 1 0 1 , Adams Adamson Adhiban Aguilera Alekhine 86, Alexandrov Almasi,I Almasi,Z Altounian Alvarez Pedraza Am in Andersen Andreikin Andrianov Ani! Kumar Antonsen Apfler Aronian Ashton Atalik Avalkin

48 47 1 02 1 42 , 1 44 1 05 , 1 4 1 29 88, 1 23 1 18 79 1 23, 2 1 3 60, 209 1 42 29 70 1 03 1 64 1 72 1 09 1 63 20 87 1 73 59 82-83 1 78

B

1 33 Babulian 66, 1 4 1 , 1 6 1 , 1 73 Bacrot 86 Bagirov 13 Baklan 93 Balogh,Cs 2 2 1 -2 2 2 Balogh,T 215 Banusz 1 33 Baramidze 55 Barglowski 2 1 -2 2 Barle 52 Bartel 1 67 Baturinsky 21 Bauer 206, 2 2 1 Bednar 1 16 Beinoras 44 Beliavsky 25 Bellia

Bellon Lopez Belov Bendar Berkes Berkovich Bernstein Bezgodov,A Bezgodov,M Bezgodova ,S Bick Biolek Biro Bluvshtein Bobras Bologan Bondarevsky Borisek Boros Botvinnik Bradaric Brauer Brunello Buturin

218 66 207 1 44 49 1 74, 1 8 6 209 1 64 1 78 214 10 21 1 1 5 2 , 209 26 32 1 22 70 1 16 7 8 , I 09 28 206 223 24- 2 5

c

Campora Capablanca Carlsen Caruana Castaldo Chadaev Conquest Cori Tello Cornette Cvicela

37, 55, 83, 1 1 8 6 1 , 89 1 32, 1 72 1 48 53 1 3 , 76 1 66 1 00 1 08 222

D

Datu David,A De Ia Vega De Vreugt Degraeve Delchev Delorme Demarre

1 09 !50 212 207 1 4, 6 6 , 1 46 1 00 , 1 8 6 89 42

Demchenko Dervishi Djurhuus Dominguez Perez Drabke Dukhin Dzhumabaev Dzhumaev

87 1 1 5 , 1 24 1 39 1 6, 1 8 1 1 86 1 29 1 82 93, 98

E

Edouard Efimenko Elianov El-Taher Emelin Emms Erwich,M Evans

90 1 06 67 213 76 36 77 204

F

Farago,S Fenollar Jorda Fercec Fernandez Garcia Filippov Franic Fressinet Frey Fridman

60 9 22 1 43 98 50 1 28 39 15

G

Gagarin Ganguly Ganor Garcia , Gild Gareev Gashimov Gazizov Geenen Gelfand Geller,E Georg Gerzhoy Ghaem Maghami

78 40 49 213 1 15 1 1-12 39 29 1 44, 1 7 1 - 1 73 49 , 5 5 222 1 86 67

235

The Fou r Kni g hts Game

67 Ginsburg 76 Ginzburg 16 Giri 86 Girya 3 4- 3 5 , 44 Glek 101 Gligoric 1 63 Glukhov 1 36 Gofshtein 215 Golod 32 Golubev 52 Gombach 13 Gorbatov 1 52 Gormally 44 Granda Zuniga 91 Greenfeld 1 16 Grigoriev 1 0 9 , 1 43 , 1 7 3 Grischuk 1 64 Groenli 137 Grund 22 1 Gschnitzer 41 Gufeld 1 20 Gupta 22 Guseinov 1 24 Gustafsson 1 44 Gyimesi H

Haba Hammer Hansen, LB Harikrishna Hauchard Hayrapetian Hebden Hector Helle Hennigan Hirscheider Hort Howell,D Hrzica Husari

75 66, 1 08 1 35 22, 67 34 1 77 1 52 , 1 66, 206 36 41 36, 52 1 19 77 1 6 , 90, 1 8 2 215 1 14

I

Ibanez Auliana Ilic,L Illescas Cordoba Inarkiev Iotov Ippolito

2 36

222 24 121 1 73 l OS

1 63

Isakov Isonzo Istratescu Itkis Ivanchuk Ivanov, A. Ivanov,M.

J Jakovljevic Jamieson Janowski Jaschke Jenni Jones Jonkman Jovanovic Juarez Juneia

so

24 34, 1 0 9 32 6 2 , 1 48 , 1 7 3 16 26

II

218 59, 6 1 87 1 24, 1 3 7 2 1 , 53 59 28 212 1 63

K

10 1 03 39 1 67 97 22 80, 1 67-1 68, 1 77 208 Kenworthy 40-4 1 Keres 76 Khairullin 1 1 6, 1 2 9 Khalifman 1 09 , 1 3 7 Khamatgaleev 63 Khamrakulov 61 Kharlov 1 56 Khenkin so Kim 206 Klauner 1 76 Klip 24 Kobalia 1 46 Koch 89, 97 Kogan 21 Kolasinski 28 Korenek 30 Korneev 1 28, 1 30 Kornev 85-86, 1 3 7 Kortchnoi 1 24 Kosintseva ,N 43 Koukoufikis 35 Kovalev,A.

Kalod Kamsky Karasev Karpachev Karpov Kavacik Keitlinghaus

8 2 , 1 42 Kozlov,V 1 4 1 , 1 69 , 1 74 Kramnik Kravtsev l OS 1 42 Kristensen 209, 2 1 4 Krnan 116 Kubbel,A 12 Kuderinov 35 Kupreichik Kuraszkiewicz 1 78 Kurz 38 28 Kutuzovic Kuzmin,A 1 09 L

!'Ami Lafuente Lalic Landa Larsen Lasker Lehmann Lehtimaki Leko Lenderman Leveille Levenfish Lima Lodhi Lopez Lubienski Lugo Lundquist Luther

116 97 79 59 32 59 40 5I 131 220 25 1 66 46, 5 8 36 1 72 205 1 72 101 34

M

52 47 49 30 206 1 62 18 1 2 , 1 2 2 , 1 48 , 1 63 Mamedyarova 1 23 Mammadov 222 Marciano 54 Marshall 8 2 , 89 Martinez,C 46 Martinez,R l iS Martorelli 25

Macieja Makarichev Malakhov Malaniuk Malinin Malisauskas Malygin Mamedyarov

Index o f P laye r s

60 Mastrovasilis 46 Mazurok 204 McCormick 91 McShane 97 Metger 68, 75 Michiels 14 Mijovic 121 Mikhalevski 206 Mishuchkov 2 4 , 3 3 , 3 6- 3 7 Mitkov 21 Mitrovic 80 Mokry 1 64 Molander 33 Moldovan 66 Moradiabadi 39 Morgulev 1 09 Morozevich 57 Morphy 209 Morris 6 1 , 76, 9 1 , Motylev 1 3 1 - 1 3 2 , 1 43 , 1 7 3 , 1 84, 1 88 24 Mozes 9 Munoz Pantoja Musakaev 181 N

Naer 1 2 , 5 9 , 1 6 3 , Naiditsch Nasri 28, Navara Nebolsina Negi Nei Nestorovic Neubauer Neumeier Nguyen An Dung Ni Hua Nielsen Nijboer Nikcevic Nikolac Nikonov Nimzowitsch Nisipeanu Nogly Nouro 44, 8 9 , Nunn Niisken Nyback

1 7 3 , 1 90 1 89 14 1 23, 1 3 7 1 63 101 41 1 09 1 26, 1 7 7 1 77 18 64 1 30 1 43 25 47 205 1 66 1 5 , 84 45 38 1 2 0 , 1 42 45 71

0

6 2 , 1 64, 1 7 5 , 181 216 Ochoa de Echaguen 18 Okrugin 49 Olenin 37 Oliveira 12 Onischuk Obodchuk

p

Paakkonen Pahtz Palkovi Panarin Papazov Paulsen Pavasovic Pedzich Pelikan Peric Perlis Peter Petran Petrosian,Arm Petrosian, T Picart Pieper Emden Pihlajasalo Piket Pinkas Pitl Podlesnik Polgar,S Polovodin Ponomariov Ponos Popchev Popov,S Popov,V Popovic Portisch Potkin Priborsky Pridorozhny Prie Psakhis

26 1 23 32 66, 8 7 24 57 5 2 , 1 42 23 21 28 79 42 21 1 1 68 41 11 36 1 64 121 212 138 5 2 , 8 2 , 1 68 1 68 30, 222 84 50 11 12 54 7 1 , 79 86 24 1 14 1 75 215 215

R

Radjabov Radulski Ragozin,E

1 7 3 , 1 84 63 32

Ragozin,V 101 Rantanen 38, 5 1 , 54 20 Rausis 52 Rayner 221 Reefschlager 1 68 Remille Reshetnikov 45 Reshevsky I 09 222 Rodriguez Guerrero 43 Rogers 216 Rohde Rokhlin 78 Romanishin 2 3 -24, 2 8 , 3 0 , 3 2-3 6, 1 62 1 1 4, 1 2 9 Romanov 1 68 Roussel Roozmon 1 38 Rozentalis 62, 82, 1 1 7, Rubinstein 1 7 4, 1 8 6 2 1 , 1 22, 1 4 1 , Rublevsky 1 48 , 1 7 3 13 Ruck s

62 Sagalchik 139 Sahl 1 23 Sakaev 1 76 Sandipan 64 Sangma 161 Sargissian 75 Sasikiran 1 20 Satyapragyan 210 Savchenko,B 1 67 Schubert 1 09 Schwartzman 33 Sermek 58 Shabalov 52 Shabanov Shaked 36 1 56 Shanava 39 Shereshevsky 1 14 Shipman,] 76 Shirazi 9 5 , 1 2 3 , 1 3 5 , 1 49 , Shirov 1 7 3 - 1 74, 1 8 8 , 1 9 0 131 Shomoev 9 1 , 1 1 6 , 1 24 Short 42 Sievers II Simacek 62 Sirtlanov 43 Skembris

2 37

The Four Kni g hts Game

19 Skripchenko 212 Skrobek 207 Slingerland 34, 6 2 Smagin 1 49 Sokolov,l 11 Solak 49 Soloviev,S 54 Solozhenkin 43 Song 82 Sorokin 1 75 Spangenberg 43 , 1 0 1 , 1 3 7 Spassky 9 1 , 9 7 , 1 24 Speelman 117 Spielmann I SO Spraggett I I Starostits 6 8 , 1 24, 1 7 2 Stefanova 26 Stempin 42 Stern 43 Stertenbrink l iS Stopa 1 2 6 , 1 62 Sulskis 46 Suschev 1 0 6, 1 2 0- 1 2 1 , Sutovsky 1 3 6, 1 7 3 , 1 8 9 Svidler 1 1 - 1 2 , 9 1 , 1 7 1 , 2 2 2 86, 1 0 8 Szabo,K 205 Szczepaniec 4 7 -48 Szinka 206 Szklarczyk 39 Szmetan 55 Szymczak T

Tarrasch Tarve Tatai

238

87 41 89

Teschke Thavandiran Tichy 1 03, Timman Timmermans Tiurin Tkachiev Tomashevsky Torre 2 1 3 , 220, Toufighi Trevelyan Tseitlin,Mark Tseitlin,Mikhail Tseshkovsky Tukmakov Turov Tzermiadianos

14 40 10 1 07 203 45 1 75 1 23 32 222 29 222 75 210 47 1 42 60

22 1 7 7 , 1 86 52 25 88

Volokitin Vorobiov Vorotnikov Votava Vovk w

Weber Wedberg Wegener Wehmeier Weidemann Werle Westerinen Willemze,T Winants

1 14 209 47-48 1 62 1 19 1 0 1 , 1 05 , 206 41 28, 1 7 2 211

y u

Utasi

41

v

1 1 4, 1 5 2 8 6 , 1 3 1 , 1 42 , 1 69 , 1 8 1 48, 2 0 8 Van der Sterren 1 72 Van der Veen Van der Weide 2 0 3 - 2 04, 2 1 1 215 Van Haastert 78, 1 6 5 , 1 68 Varga,Z 24 Vasiesiu 20 Vehi Bach 21 Vescovi 223 Vijay 207 Virostko 1 27 Voitsekhovsky 1 24 Volkmann Vajda,L Vallejo Pons

Yakovenko Yap Kim Yates Ye Rongguang Yilmaz,M Yudasin Yudovich Yuldashev

9 1 , 95 18 87 1 9- 2 0 , 204 64 62 205 1 0 1 - 1 03

z

Zagoriansky Zaiats Zapolskis Zelcic Zeytinoglu Zhang Zhong Zherebukh Zimmermann Znosko-Borovsky

1 22 1 27 20 10 64 1 20 1 65 38 62

F i n a l ly ava i l a b l e i n E ng l i s h ! I l

s Langro Matthias wahiS, Karsten MilDer & Hanne

ck

'

l Th e Mdoi ndaevrina n l sca n

" I t's a n i m p ressive work a n d it is c l e a r that a lot of effort has been p u t i n . Fa n s of l . e4 d S w i l l fi n d it req u i re d rea d i ng, b u t t h e re i s a lot m o re on offe r t h a n m e re l y g u i d i n g t h e Sca n d i n a v i a n fa ithfu l ! t h ro u g h t h e i r favo u rite o p e n i ng; t h e m i d d l eg a m e w i s d o m i m p a rted s h o u l d be o f i nt e rest t o a l l p ractica l p l aye rs ."

M a rshtowe r Chess Reviews "Conta i n s a c o n c i s e re p e rtoi re fo r B l a c k ( . . ) v e ry u s efu l fo r p l aye rs w h o a re j u st ta k i n g up t h e defe n c e ( . . ) I n a l l, t h e b o o k conta i n s a n a m a z i n g a m o u nt of h igh-q u a l ity m a te r i a l , a n d i s c l e a r l y a l a b o u r of l ove by t h e a ut h o rs . I t w i l l b e t h e d e fi n ite b o o k o n t h i s o p e n i n g fo r a l o n g ti m e ."

Joe Petro l ito, Austra lasian Chess Magazine

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" H e l ps you to l e a rn t h ro u g h u n d e rsta n d i n g t h e m a te r i a l ( .

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I fee l t h i s is a book t h e c h e s s w o r l d h a s b e e n wa i ti n g for." German Federation for Correspondence Chess "Th e re a re n o va riati o n s l a b e l l e d 8 1 3 3 2 2 1 2 h e re ! ( .. ) T h e re's co m p a ratively l itt l e to m e m o r i ze, a n d w h a t s h o u l d be m e m o rized i s l a rg e l y c o n c e pt u a l ."

De n n i s Monokroussos, ChessToday " B o l oga n offe rs h i s m a te r i a l in a n a p p ro a c h t h a t co m b i n e s u s i n g a st r u ct u re b a s e d a ro u n d ' m o d e l ga m es' a n d a strict o p e n i n g b o o k . T h i s synt h e s i s works we l l with t h e Rosso l i m o t h a t i s u s u a l l y a bo u t i d e a s b u t c a n b e c o m e s h a r p a n d t h e o reti ca l ."

IM John Donaldson, jeremys i l m a n .com "An i d e a l wea p o n aga i n st the S i c i l i a n with l i tt l e t h e o ry a n d good prospects ( . . ) T h e a d d iti o n a l t ra i n i ng tests a re great."

E u ropa Rochade M agazi ne

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