The Modern Nimzo-Indian 6197188376, 9786197188370

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Contents Title Page Preface 5 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 Chapter 1. Rare Continuations for White 7 Chapter 2. Sämisch System 4.a3 17 Chapter 3. Leningrad System 4.Bg5 31 Chapter 4. Romanishin System 4.g3 39 Chapter 5. The 4.f3 System 53 Chapter 6. The 4.Nf3 0-0 System 65 Chapter 7. The 4.Nf3 0-0 5.Bg5 c5 System 75 Chapter 8. Rubinstein System 4.e3 0-0 Rare Fifth Moves 93 Chapter 9. Rubinstein System 5.Nf3 or 5.Bd3 111 Chapter 10. Classical System 4.Qc2 0-0 Rare Alternatives on move 5 129 Chapter 11. Classical System 4.Qc2 0-0 5.e4 139 Chapter 12. Classical System 4.Qc2 0-0 5.a3 151 Chapter 13. Classical System 4.Qc2 0-0 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 d5 7.Bg5 165 Chapter 14. Illustrative Games 173 1. B. Abramovic – K. Sakaev, Novi Sad 2000 2. P. Svidler – V. Kramnik, Paris 2013 3. M. Bartel – B. Socko, Wroclaw 2011 4. F. Caruana – S. Karjakin, Saint Louis 2018 5. F.Caruana – K. Alekseenko, Ekaterinburg 2020 6. A. Korobov – N. Huschenbeth, Karlsruhe 2020 7. V. Topalov – Ding Liren, Wenzhou 2018 8. R. Lovkov – H. Stefansson, St Petersburg 2010 9. A. Smirnov – I. Lysyj, Cheboksary 2021 10. S. Martinovic – I. Salgado, Batumi 2019 11. L. Mkrtchian – T. Kosintseva, Nalchik 2010 12. A. Beliavsky – Y. Balashov, Minsk 1983 Index of Variations 211 2

The Modern Nimzo-Indian Igor Lysyj

Chess Stars Publishing www.chess-stars.com

Copyright © 2022 by Igor Lysyj Translation Semko Semkov Cover by Kaloyan Nachev and Semko Semkov

Bibliography Books The Great Clash (in Russian), Garry Kasparov, Moscow 2008 The Opening Revolution (in Russian), Garry Kasparov, Moscow 2007 The Nimzo-Indian Defence (in Russian), Moscow 1985 The Nimzo-Indian Defence, Michael Roiz, Quality Chess 2017 Computer Bases Correspondence Database 2020 Mega Database 2021

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Preface Let’s return to the year 2002. In those times the author of these lines was just beginning to grasp chess opening theory. Quality monographs appeared once in a while, the computer engines were a far cry from their current power, while correspondence databases were virtually unknown. That’s why my trainer Nikolai Sergeyevich Ogloblin was unable to convince his ward to take upon the NimzoIndian Defence. This opening intimidated me with its fundamentality, and the necessary knowledge looked unapproachable. Besides that I had precious card files. Hand-written cards on the Benoni, generously presented to me by my previous tutor Leonid Ivanovich Totskyi. Twenty years later. Quality books and articles cram the book shelves and internet sites, tons of games of the leading grandmasters and correspondence players add to the picture. Chess truth is just two mouse clicks away. Modern players have run into the problem of information overflow. One of the tasks of contemporary coaches is to help students extract the essence from the enormous flood of knowledge. In opening preparation it is vital to focus the student’s attention on the grains of information needed in practice, and discard the husk one could easily deal with over the board. I wrote this book for the adventurer who wants to start playing the Nimzo but is afraid of drowning in its theory. My creative task is to provide the reader with useful practical advice while sparing him unnecessary learning overhead. I hope that my work will become for you not an opening reference book but a good company. I’d like to express my sincere gratitude to the technical editor Daria Trapeznikova for the meticulous mutual work on every line of text. Igor Lysyj

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Chapter 1 Rare Continuations for White 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4

We’ll consider the main variations of the Nimzo-Indian Defence in the next chapters. But for a start, I’d like to acquaint you with continuations that you’ll rarely meet in practice. The moves 4.Qb3 (line A) and 4.Bd2 (line B) lay on a sound strategic foundation – to avoid positions with doubled pawns in the event of capturing on c3. Therefore, they deserve detailed exploration. All the other White’s possibilities we mention below are of no theoretical significance, but they will help the reader to begin mastering the strategic ideas of the Nimzo-Indian Defence. 4.e4? – this incorrect gambit counts on a possible fear of Black to eat the pawn 4...Nxe4 due to the double hit 5.Qg4. In fact, White fails to get to the g7-pawn: 5...Nxc3 6.a3 6.Qxg7? Ne4+ 7.Ke2 Qf6–+. 6...Be7 7.bxc3 (7.Qxg7? Bf6–+) 7...0-0–+, Garcia Toledo – Rocha, Mar del Plata 1969. 4.Qa4?! – this way of inviting Black to exchange his bishop for the knight is less efficient than 4.a3 (the Sämisch System, Chapter 2) since instead of capturing on c3 Black can start the standard fight for the centre: 4...c5. The exchange of the c7-pawn for the one on d4 is one of the main methods of fighting for the centre. We are going to use it practically in all the systems. 5.dxc5, Ponkratov – Quparadze, chess.com 2021.

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Or 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3, Ponkratov – Stupak, lichess.org 2020, 6...Nc6 – the knight transfer to a5 is typical for positions with doubled pawns, where we aim to attack c4. 7.Nf3 Qa5 – this forces a queen trade and achieves a difficult endgame for White. 8.Qxa5 Nxa5 9.Nd2 b6³. Following ...Ba6 and ...Rc8, the defence of the c4-pawn will be a constant headache for White. 5...Bxc3+ – it is a perfect time to saddle White with pawn weaknesses. 6.bxc3 Na6 7.Ba3 Ne4µ. Black will soon take on c5 with a tempo and will continue the attack on the surviving pawns on the c-file. 4.Nh3?! – this extravagant knight development occurred in several internet games of David Paravyan. 4...c5 – we are already familiar with this strike at the centre, but apparently David’s opponents ignored it. 5.a3 Ba5. I see no sense in bolstering White’s centre with an exchange on c3. 6.dxc5 (6.e3 Nc6³) 6...Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 Qa5³. Black regains the pawn and enjoys the better game. 4.Qd3 – White prevents the appearance of doubled pawns and is ready to attack the bishop with a3 or seize the centre with e2-e4. But the queen stand on d3 has a significant drawback. 4...c5 5.dxc5 The ambitious space takeover 5.d5? is entirely pointless as the exposed placement of the queen provides Black with a couple of tempos for piece development. 5...0-0 (The Blumenfeld-style 5...b5!? 6.dxe6 fxe6 7.cxb5 a6µ also looks excellent.) 6.Bd2 exd5 7.cxd5 d6 8.g3 b6! 9.Bg2 Ba6 10.Qc2. This occurred in the game Mikenas – Keres, Moscow 1949. It is difficult to imagine that White will complete the development after the natural 10...Re8µ. 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 leads to a good version of the line 4.Qb3, see line A). 5...Na6!

A standard solution for situations where White met ...c7-c5 by taking dxc5. Black wants to recapture 6

on c5 not with bishop but with knight. Besides, in our case the knight will land on c5 with a tempo, underlying the main drawback of the queen standing on d3. 6.a3 Nxc5 7.Qc2 Bxc3+ 8.Qxc3 0-0‰, Castaldi – Donner, Munich 1954. Black has a considerable lead in development, and he is ready to further activate his pieces after ...d7-d5. 4.Bf4 – the drawback of this development is that White does not hamper in any way the opponent’s plans. 4...c5 5.e3 5.dxc5 Na6=. I remind you once again that it is much more enjoyable to take on c5 with knight. After the pawn recapture Black will comfortably complete the development with ...b6 and ...Bb7. 5...d5. It is important to note that doubling White’s pawns is not the main strategic idea in the modern treatment of the Nimzo-Indian. It is rather a tool which we would use in specific circumstances. The simplest example is the loss of a tempo with the move a2-a3. More often Black prefers quick development and active pressure on the centre with the pawns ...c7-c5 and ...d7-d5. 6.Nf3, Milov – Landa, Ajaccio 2007. 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3, M. Gurevich – Can, Denizli 2013, 7...Qa5 8.Qb3 b6³ is another thematic strategic method. Black prepares development of the bishop on a6 with the help of the queen on a5. A possible alternative is 6.dxc5, Babujian – Ter Sahakyan, Yerevan 2012, 6...Nbd7. The knight stands better on d7 than on a6 as White cannot lead out the knight on e2 in view of the capture ...dxc4. 7.Nf3 Nxc5=. 6...cxd4 7.exd4 0-0 8.Rc1 As a rule, with a black pawn on d5 White tries to delay development of the king’s bishop in order not to lose a tempo after a possible ...dxc4. 8...b6=

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The toothless placement of the bishop on f4 affects White’s play. He cannot exchange favourably on d5, in distinction to the analogous position with a bishop on g5, which we’ll examine during the analysis of the 4.Nf3 system. Now let’s move to the main lines. A) 4.Qb3 At first glance this move looks perfect – White hits the black bishop and secures the flexibility of his pawn chain. 4...c5 5.dxc5 This is the standard and most principled White’s reaction to ...c7-c5. Let’s consider briefly the alternatives: 5.Bg5?! Nc6 6.dxc5 – see 5.dхc5. 5.a3 – the chase after the black bishop turns into a lag in development. 5...Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 cxd4 7.Qxd4 Nc6 8.Qd1 0-0 9.Nf3 d5 10.cxd5 exd5‰. The black rook is ready to take the e-file, and the d5-pawn is striving to move forth, Ilincic – Damljanovic, Nis 1995. 5.d5? – seizing space when you are undeveloped often leads to opening routs. 5...b5! 6.dxe6, Neff – Zavoronkov, Estonia 1996, 6...bxc4! 7.exf7+ Kxf7 8.Qxc4+ d5 9.Qb3 Nc6–+. White fails to finish the kingside development. Positions with a knight on f3 – 5.Nf3 0-0 and 5.e3 0-0 6.Nf3 – will be covered in Chapter 6, where we’ll be discussing safe paths for Black in the 4.Nf3 system. 8

5...Nc6

This path to equality (4...c5 5.dхc5 Nc6) was mentioned in the classical opening monograph by M. Taimanov The Nimzo-Indian Defence. The white queen on b3 (compared to the similar position with Qc2) has a major drawback – the black knight is ready to leap to e4. In practice White chooses between the risky A1) 6.Bg5?! and the solid A2) 6.Nf3. 6.Bd2 is also possible, defending against ...Nf6-e4. However, the bishop is too modestly placed on that square. 6...Bxc5 7.e3 0-0 8.Nf3 d5=. Black is ahead in development and the d5-pawn is ready to advance, Rabinovich – Romanovsky, Moscow 1925. The alternative 6.a3?! only loses a tempo. Black could proceed similarly to the line with 6.Bd2: 6...Bxc5 7.Nf3, Konovalov – A. Zhigalko, Minsk 2008, 7...d5 8.cxd5 exd5³. A1) 6.Bg5?! This is an unfortunate attempt as White will have to give up the bishop on the next turn. 6...h6 7.Bxf6 The wish to keep the bishop on the board leads to grave consequences – 7.Bh4 g5 8.Bg3 Ne4 9.e3 Bxc3+ 10.bxc3, Agdestein – Hjartarson, Reykjavik 1996, 10...Nxc5 11.Qc2 e5!. Black’s pawn structure with d6, e5 allows the nice development ...Be6, and restricts the white bishop on g3 and the 9

king’s knight. (11...d6 followed by 12...e5 is also possible.) 12.Nf3 d6³. 7...Qxf6 8.Nf3 8.Rc1 prevents doubled pawns but does not equalize. 8...Bxc5 9.e3 It is important that 9.Ne4? drops a piece to 9...Qf4–+. 9...b6

10.Nf3 After 10.Ne4 Qg6 11.Nxc5 bxc5³ it is difficult for White to finish development as the f1bishop is tied to the defence of the g2-pawn. 10...Ne5 11.Be2 Bb7 12.Qd1 Rc8 Black played too timidly in the game between the Chinese GMs Zhou Jianchao – Wei Yi, Xinghua 2016 – 12...Nxf3+ 13.Bxf3 Bxf3 14.Qxf3 Qxf3 15.gxf3 Bb4=. 13.0-0 Ke7 14.Nxe5 Qxe5³. We can evaluate the position in Black’s favour owing to the active bishop pair.

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Exercise: How should Black continue? 8...Bxc3+! Undoubtedly White’s weaknesses should overweigh the extra pawn. 8...Bxc5?! allows the opponent to get off with a whole skin: 9.Ne4 Qe7 10.Nxc5 Qxc5=. 9.Qxc3 9.bxc3?!. Preserving the queens is in Black’s favour as White is behind in development. 9...Qe7 10.Qb5 b6! – a thematic way to activate the queenside pieces. 11.cxb6 Qa3 12.Qb3 axb6 13.Nd2 Qxb3 14.Nxb3. All this happened in the game Epishin – Alekseev, St Petersburg 2021. Following 14...Ke7µ with ...Ba6 and ...Ne5 coming next, Black would have excellent chances to put pressure on the queenside weaknesses and convert his advantage. 9...Qxc3+ 10.bxc3 b6! A familiar way to finish development. 11.cxb6 axb6³ Black is on top on account of White’s pawn weaknesses, Akopian – Yudasin, Dos Hermanas 1992. A2) 6.Nf3 11

6...Ne4 The pressure on the c3-knight allows Black to gain the bishop pair advantage. 7.Bd2 Nxd2 8.Nxd2 Bxc5 9.g3 Placing the bishop on g2 should defend White against an attack on the kingside. 9.e3 0-0 10.Be2 b6 11.0-0 f5!?. Future World champion launches a well founded attack. 12.Rac1 Rb8 13.Nf3 Qf6 14.Rfd1 g5³, Norman – Alekhine, Hastings 1926. 9...b6 10.Bg2 Bb7 11.0-0 0-0= The bishop pair neutralizes the insignificant White’s spatial advantage, Khegay – Stupak, Astana 2019. B) 4.Bd2 The plan with development of the bishop on d2 has been gaining popularity lately. White prepares to meet the undermining ...c7-c5 by a2-a3 and capture on c3 with the bishop. Still, this idea is much more frequent after the inclusion of moves 4.e3 0-0 (see Chapter 8) as the immediate 4.Bd2 enables an additional, and very effective resource. 4...c5 4...0-0 is perfectly possible too, but it does not exploit the fact that White played Bd2 on move 4. White has the following options here: B1) 5.е3; B2) 5.Nf3; B3) 5.d5 and the main move B4) 5.а3. 12

B1) 5.e3 cxd4! 6.exd4 0-0 7.Bd3 7.a3 Bxc3 8.Bxc3 b6 9.Nf3 d5= is not dangerous. We’ll analyse the consequences of 7.Nf3 b6 8.Bd3 in Chapter 8. You’ll see that Black succeeds in pushing ...d7-d5 to obtain a comfortable game. 7...d5 8.cxd5 White lacks a tempo for the overly ambitious 8.c5?: 8...b6 9.a3 Bxc3 10.Bxc3 bxc5 11.dxc5. With a knight on f3 White would have had a considerable edge, but now follows 11...e5!, and the black central pawns begin to press up the white pieces. 12.b4 d4 13.Bb2 Bb7 14.f3 Nd5–+, Vl. Zakhartsov – Tsydypov, Sochi 2019. 8...exd5 9.Nge2 The threat of check with the rook forces White to discard knight development on f3. 9...Nc6 10.0-0 Bd6 11.h3 h6=, Gareev – Lenderman, Saint Louis 2019.

B2) 5.Nf3 cxd4 6.Nxd4 The knight sortie on d4 does not promise White any benefits if Black has the riposte ...Nc6 with a tempo: 6...Nc6 7.e3 13

7.Nxc6 dxc6 changes the structure in Black’s favour, if he is able to play ...e6-e5. So 8.e3 e5=, Bruzon – Antipov, Berlin 2015. 7.Nc2 Bxc3 8.Bxc3 Ne4 is safe for Black since capturing on g7 is impossible on account of ...Qa5+. 9.Qd3 Nxc3 10.Qxc3 Qa5 11.Qxa5 Nxa5 12.e3 b6=, Bryakin – Kokarev, Kazan 2021. 7...0-0 8.Be2 d5 9.cxd5 exd5 This type of isolator requires White’s dark-squared bishop to be on g5 or b2. 10.0-0 Re8 11.Rc1 11.Nxc6?! – I’d like to note that this change of the structure would favour White if his knight were on d2. With a knight on c3 Black has excellent prospects for an attack on the enemy king. 11...bxc6³.

Such pawn structure arises quite often in the closed openings, so I thought that it would be useful to analyse the Game 1 Abramovic – Sakaev, Novi Sad 2000, in the chapter “Illustrative Games”. 11...Nxd4 12.exd4 Bd7=

B3) 5.d5 Here this plan is much more sensible than after 4.Qd3 or 4.Qb3, but my observations hint that: such a reaction to ...c7-c5 in the Nimzo is dangerous for Black only in the 4.f3 system. 14

The reason is that in other versions of it White experiences problems with the defence of the d5pawn. 5...0-0 6.e3 exd5 7.cxd5 7.Nxd5 – exchanges of minor pieces favour Black as he has less space. 7...Nxd5 8.cxd5 Bxd2+ 9.Qxd2 d6 10.Bd3 Or 10.Ne2 Nd7 11.Nc3 f5!? 12.Be2 Nf6 13.0-0 Bd7„. 10...Nd7 11.Ne2 Ne5 12.0-0 Nxd3 13.Qxd3 Bd7ƒ, Ulko – Biriukov, St Petersburg 1999. 7...d6 8.Bd3 Nbd7 9.Nge2

White has to give up the e5-square or he would lose a pawn. (9.Nf3? Nb6µ) 9...Ne5 10.Bc2 Bd7„. Black has set up his pieces well, and he is ready to put his queenside pawns in motion. A similar plan is common in the Modern Benoni.

B4) 5.a3 As I wrote in the beginning of the chapter, this is the main idea of 4.Bd2. Otherwise Black will exchange on d4 and push ...d7-d5. The thematic 5.dxc5 with a bishop on d2 is a refusal of fighting for the opening advantage. That is because Black plays ...d7-d5 and obtains a position with an isolated pawn where the d2-bishop is rather clumsy. 5...Bxc5 6.Nf3 0-0 7.e3 d5=, Li Chao B – Vidit, Liaocheng 2018. 5...Bxc3 6.Bxc3 Ne4 7.Rc1 15

7.Qc2 Nxc3 8.Qxc3 cxd4 9.Qxd4 0-0 10.Nf3 Nc6 11.Qc3 b6= is unpretentious.

Exercise: How should Black continue? 7...Qh4! This double attack (Black is threatening mate on f2 and crippling White’s pawns with ...Nxc3) became possible because White had not inserted 4.e3 0-0 before leading out the bishop on d2. 8.g3 Nxc3 White has to struggle for equality. 9.gxh4 9.bxc3 Qe7 10.Bg2 0-0 11.Nh3 Nc6 12.0-0 d6 13.f4 e5³, Jakobsen – Akesson, Copenhagen 1982. 9...Nxd1 10.Rxd1 cxd4 10...d6!? leads to a more complex fight. 11.Nf3 Nc6 My game D. Bocharov – Lysyj, Barnaul 2021, was agreed drawn right here in view of the inevitable rook endgame: 16

12.Nxd4 Nxd4 13.Rxd4 b6 14.Bg2 Rb8 15.0-0 Bb7 16.Rfd1 Bxg2 17.Kxg2 Rb7=, Cardon – Bluebaum, Netherlands 2017. Conclusion We have just reviewed some rare lines of the Nimzo-Indian Defence. On the example of these continuations we got acquainted with one of the thematic methods of Black – the fight for the centre with the help of the break ...c7-c5. Our idea is to exchange on d4. In the event of dxc5 we play ...Na6 and recapture on c5 with the knight. We’ll be meeting this plan all throughout the book.

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Chapter 2. Sämisch System 4.a3 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3

This plan forces an immediate exchange of the bishop at the cost of a tempo. It was introduced in practice by the famous German player Friedrich Sämisch and bears his name. White’s dynamic possibilities still attract the attention of the elite, including the World champion himself. 4...Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 In exchange for a lag in development and crippled pawns White has obtained a pawn fist in the centre, the bishop pair advantage and prospects for an attack on the kingside in the event of short castling by Black. 5...c5 This riposte has been considered the most popular objection to the Sämisch System since the ‘80s of the previous century. Black prepares to blockade the centre before starting an attack on the c4-pawn.

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White’s only sensible plan is to achieve e2-e4 in order to obtain additional space for his pieces. Therefore, we’ll explore in detail line A) 6.f3 and line B) 6.e3. Pushing e2-e4 immediately does not work owing to 6.e4? Qa5!, and White loses material: 7.e5 Ne4 8.Bd2 Nc6 9.Nf3 Nxc3 10.Qc2 cxd4–+, Fox – Timman, Islington 1970. Schematic development 6.Nf3?! is worse than the main lines since White deprives himself of the possibility to include the f-pawn in the battle with f2-f4. 6...Nc6 7.Qc2 If 7.Qd3 d6 8.Bg5, Stocek – Gustafsson, Germany 2007, 8...h6! – it is important to shift the bishop from the c1-h6 diagonal so it could not return to d2 after an attack of the black queen from a5. 9.Bh4 e5 10.Rd1 cxd4 11.cxd4 Qa5+–+. 7...d6 8.e4 e5

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Garry Kasparov devoted a subchapter on this pawn structure – “The Portisch-Hübner ‘wall’” in his book Revolution in the 70s. I’d like to note that in the classical examples the exchange on c3 took place without an explicit invitation with a3. Thus in our case Black enjoys an extra tempo and excellent position. 9.d5 Na5! 10.Be2 h6 11.0-0 b6 12.Nd2 g5³. By advancing his kingside pawns Black has forbidden the break f2-f4. His king would feel perfectly safe in the centre or on the queenside.

A) 6.f3 In this variation it is important for Black to not rush with short castling in view of the potential pin Bg5. 6...Nc6

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It is indispensable to develop the knight to c6 as soon as possible so White could not lead out the bishop on d3 immediately after e2-e4. 7.e4 7.d5?! – this aggressive plan turns out to be unsuccessful as White is considerably lagging behind in development and fails to support the pawn advance with pieces. 7...Na5. The king is needed at the edge of the board for an attack on the c4-pawn after ...b6 and ...Ba6. 8.d6?! – continuation of the aggressive but unprepared strategy. 8...0-0 It is premature to grab material with 8...Nxc4?! 9.e4 Qa5? as in the game Fedoseev – Papin, Taganrog 2013, since after 10.Qc2² the d6-pawn is indirectly defended, and Black has to spend time on rescuing the c4-knight. 9.e4 – White needs to defend the c4-pawn. 9...Ne8! – an important method, which we’ll be meeting often on the pages of this book. After the short castling the threat of the pin Bg5 becomes extremely unpleasant. That’s why Black retreats the knight to e8 before embarking on an active plan with ...b6 and ...Ba6. 10.f4 – White hurries to come to the rescue of the “guerilla” d6.

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Exercise: How should Black exploit his lead in development? 10...b5! – the pawn sacrifice allows Black to include the c8-bishop into play with tempos. 11.cxb5 Bb7 12.e5 f6–+. After opening the f-file Black will launch an attack on the enemy king. 7...d6

White would like to finish development with Bd3 and Ne2, but the knight on c6 hampers his plans. Now theoretically interesting are the continuations A1) 8.d5, A2) 8.Ne2 and A3) 8.Be3.

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Let’s examine briefly other White’s options: The following pawn sacrifice is incorrect: 8.Bd3? cxd4 9.Bb2 dxc3 10.Bxc3, Volkov – Inarkiev, Yaroslavl 2018, 10...e5–+. 8.Nh3 e5 is also bad for White since his knight is under attack. 9.d5 Bxh3 10.dxc6 Bc8! – protecting the b7-pawn. 11.cxb7 Bxb7³, Hrzina – Komarica, corr. ICCF 2018. 8.Bg5 is premature until ...b7-b6 as 8...h6 9.Bh4 would face the unpleasant queen lunge 9...Qa5 10.Qd2 cxd4 11.Ne2! dxc3 12.Nxc3 e5³ with an extra pawn for Black.

A1) 8.d5 Na5 Everything is ready for the thematic plan 9...b6 and 10...Ba6. 9.Bd3 The pin 9.Bg5? is pointless before Black castled – 9...h6 10.Bh4 g5 11.Bg3 e5³. Black develops activity on the kingside, while his king will hide on the opposite flank. 9...b6 10.f4? It is not surprising that only this continuation has been tested in grandmaster practice (Bondarevsky – Estrin, Ivanovo 1951). White wants to develop his knight on f3 and continue the offensive in the centre. However, Black’s better development prevails once again. It was wiser to immediately bring up the knight into play: 10.Ne2 Ba6 11.0-0 – the c4-pawn is indirectly protected.

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Exercise: How should Black continue? 11...Qe7!³ – intending ...0-0-0. In the Sämisch System the black king often feels much more comfortable on the queenside, where White is unable to open up play. 10.Nh3 occurred in a correspondence game. White keeps the e2-square for the queen, but allows Black to produce doubled pawns on the h-file. 10...exd5 11.cxd5 Bxh3 12.gxh3 c4! – there is no reason to offer the opponent the possibility to play c4 and lead out the bishop on b2. 13.Bc2 Nd7 14.0-0 0-0 15.Bf4 Qf6 16.Bg3 Nb3!. Black activates the rook on the c-file at the cost of a pawn. 17.Bxb3 cxb3 18.Qxb3 Rac8 19.Rac1 Rc7ƒ. White is unable to preserve the c3-pawn, so he should struggle for equality, Tyulenko – Morozov, ICCF 2019. 10...exd5 11.cxd5 c4 The c4-pawn will help the knight to enter play. 12.Bb1 It is logical to take the bishop away in order to vacate the second rank for the rook lift Ra1-a2-e2, to defend the e4-pawn. 24

12...Bg4 13.Nf3 Nb3 14.Ra2 Bxf3 15.gxf3 Nh5 (preparing ...Qh4) 16.0-0 Nxc1 It is useful to exchange the dark-squared bishop to fight for the f4-square. 17.Qxc1 Qh4 18.f5 g6µ

Black’s knight is much stronger than the passive bishop on b1.

A2) 8.Ne2 This allows White to lead out the bishop on g5, but delays the development of the king’s bishop. 8...b6

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With a knight on e2 it is logical to promptly hit the c4-pawn. In this position White chooses between A2а) 9.Ng3, which was seen in the games of the top players of the 1960-1980s, and the more modern A2b) 9.Bg5. 9.Be3 Na5 10.Ng3 Ba6 11.Bd3 does not have an independent significance – see line A3).

A2а) 9.Ng3 0-0

Castling is appropriate as with a knight on g3 White’s bishop lacks 10.Bg5 h6 11.Bh4 owing to 11...g5. 26

10.d5 Black easily fences off the attack after the thematic piece sac 10.Bg5? h6 11.h4 cxd4 12.cxd4 hxg5 13.hxg5 Nh7 14.f4 g6 15.Qg4 f5 16.gxf6 Qxf6–+. 10...Na5 Our play against the c4-pawn is much faster than the enemy attack on the kingside. 11.Bd3 Ba6 12.Qe2

Exercise: How should Black continue? 12...Nd7! We not only escape from the pin. The threat 13...Ne5 forces White to further delay castling. 13.f4 exd5 We need to open play to use our lead in development. 14.cxd5 Bxd3 15.Qxd3 c4 A familiar way to bring the knight into play.

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16.Qf3 Nb3 17.Rb1 Re8 18.0-0 Ndc5 19.Be3 Nxe4 20.Nxe4 Qe7³ Black regains the piece and obtains an advantage due to White’s pawn weaknesses, Zakharov – Karpov, Moscow 1976.

A2b) 9.Bg5 h6 10.Bh4 Na5 Driving the knight to c1. 11.Nc1 This was the game Ipatov – Bloomer, Middleton 2018. I recommend here the novelty: 11...Bd7N

We do not let the white knight go to b3, and vacate c8 for our rook. 11...Ba6?! 12.Nb3 Nxc4? is consistent but bad due to 13.Nd2 Ne3 14.Qa4+ Qd7 15.Qxa6+–. 12.a4 This prepares the knight’s move to b3. The aggressive 12.e5? leads to a difficult position after 12...dxe5 13.dxe5 g5 14.Bf2 Nh5–+. It is not easy for White to complete the development. The quiet 12.Bd3?! e5 13.0-0 g5 14.Bf2 Nh5 15.g3 Ng7³ is not any better. Black is planning an offensive on the kingside with ...Qf6 and an advance of the h-pawn. 12...Qc7 Escaping from the pin and putting pressure on the c4 pawn. 28

13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.d5 f5! After d4-d5 our queen has no business on c7, so we prepare the f6-square. 15.exf5 exf5³ Our design is to play ...Qf6 and castle long.

A3) 8.Be3 White strives for an optimal set-up of the minor pieces Bd3 and Ne2.

8...b6 Counterplay against the c4-pawn is our key plan in the Sämisch System. 9.Bd3 Na5 Again, White has to find a solution for his g1-knight. 10.Ne2 This is the most dangerous set-up for Black in line A) – White leads the knight to g3, castles short, and storms the black king with f3-f4-f5. He commonly lacks tempos for: 29

10.f4? Bb7 11.Qf3 Rc8 – the pressure on the c4-pawn forces White to play 12.d5 0-0–+, and Black is ready to open play with ...exd5 or ...b6-b5. 10.Nh3 – 10th World champion Boris Spassky loved the Sämisch System with White and used to develop the knight on this square. 10...e5 – it looks logical to exploit the move Nh3 to put yet another pawn on a dark square. 10...Ba6 11.Qe2 Qd7 12.e5 dxe5 13.dxe5 Ng8 14.0-0², Spassky – Huebner, Bugojno 1982. 11.Nf2 Ba6

Black is planning to play 12...Nd7 and take the c4-pawn. White has no convenient way to defend it. 12.Qe2 12.0-0 Nd7 13.Qe2 cxd4 14.cxd4 Nb3³. 12...cxd4 13.cxd4 exd4³. It is impossible to take on d4 in view of 14...Nb3. 10...Ba6 11.Ng3 It is premature to push forward the f-pawn before Black castled short since he could evacuate his king to the other flank. 11.0-0 Qc7 12.f4, Kisic – Ostojic, Belgrade 2021, (for 12.Ng3 see the main line) 12...0-0-0!³. 11...Qc7 12.0-0 It is useful for White to forget about defending the c4-pawn: 12.Qe2? cxd4 13.cxd4 Bxc4 14.Rc1 b5µ. As in the note to the move 11, 12.f4 looks like a false start – 12...h5!, and the threat 13...h4 makes White’s position extremely unpleasant, while there is nobody to attack on the kingside. 13.e5 Ng4 14.Bd2 0-0-0 15.h3 Nh6µ. 30

12...0-0 This allows Black to win a pawn, but 12...0-0-0!? 13.Qe2 h5∞ also deserves attention. 13.f4!

White’s attack proves to be enough for equality. 13...Bxc4 14.f5 Bxd3 15.Qxd3 cxd4 16.cxd4 Qc4 17.Qd1 h6 We do not let the bishop go to g5. 17...e5 18.Bg5!? Qxd4+ 19.Qxd4 exd4 20.Bxf6 gxf6 21.Rad1∞ leads to an unclear endgame – in view of the threat Nh5 Black’s extra pawns turn out to be easy preys for White’s pieces. 18.Kh1 Qb3 19.Qe2 e5

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It is essential to blockade the e4-pawn. 20.Rae1 White has defended the e3-bishop and is ready to continue the attack with 21.Nh5, so I recommend to take the draw with: 20...Qc4 21.Qd1 Qb3 22.Qe2 Qc4=

B) 6.e3

This may look like a tempo loss in comparison with line A, where the white pawn reached e4 in one 32

go. In fact, it is not that simple as the pawn on e3 allows White to quickly finish the development of the kingside minor pieces on their best places with Bd3 and Ne2. 6...b6 This continuation aims to gain a tempo for the bishop’s development on b7 after Bd3. Note that 6...00 is much more popular. To give the reader an idea of the course of the fight in this variation, I annotated Game 2 Svidler – Kramnik, Paris 2013, in the chapter “Illustrative Games”. 7.Bd3 The other White’s moves are rather pointless. 7.e4 is more cunning here than on the previous move because the way to a5 is closed to the black queen. However, the inclusion of ...b6 turns out handy in the line 7...Nxe4 8.Qg4 Bb7 9.Qxg7 Qf6 10.Qxf6 Nxf6 11.f3 Nc6„. The c4-pawn will soon be attacked by our minor pieces. 7.Ne2?! Ba6 8.Ng3 d5! 9.Qf3 is too slow, Liascovich – Slipak, Buenos Aires 2003 – 9...Qc7³, and the threat 10...cхd4 forces White to start fighting for equalization. 7.Nf3 leads to a transposition after 7...Bb7 8.Bd3 – see 7.Bd3. 7...Bb7! It is not easy to perceive the advantages of the bishop’s position on b7 right away since Black’s plan envisages an attack on the c4-pawn with the help of ...Ba6. But a little later you’ll discover that temporarily placing the bishop on the long diagonal will produce an unexpected effect. 8.f3 8.Nf3 – as usual, the knight placement on f3 reduces White’s attacking potential. 8...0-0 9.0-0 9.Qc2? Bxf3! 10.gxf3 Nc6 does not work – the c4-pawn remains a tangible target for Black’s pieces, this time for the c6-knight and a8-rook – 11.d5, Izzat – Illingworth, Ballarat 2016, 11...Na5 12.e4 Nh5 13.Rg1 e5µ. The white bishops are constrained by their own doubled pawns. 9...Ne4

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Black intends to reinforce the e4-knight with the f7-pawn and then return to the siege of the c4-pawn after ...Nb8-c6-a5. He does not experience problems in any of the following variations: 10.Qc2 f5 11.Nd2 11.a4 Nc6 12.Nd2 Nxd2 13.Bxd2 Na5³, Matinian – D. Bocharov, Voronezh 2015. 11...Nxd2 12.Bxd2 Nc6 13.f3, Vranesic – Smyslov, Amsterdam 1964, 13...Rc8³; 10.Nd2 Nxd2 11.Bxd2 f5 12.d5 exd5 13.cxd5 Bxd5 14.c4 Bb7µ, Zubarev – Bylino, Yuzhny 2009; 10.Ne1 f5 11.f3

This position arose in the game Lautier – Gelfand, Biel 1997. I suggest to move the knight 11...Ng5„ so that after ...Nc6 it would be more difficult for White to carry out e3-e4 profitably.

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8...Nc6 9.Ne2 After 9.Nh3?! d6 10.Bb2, Botvinnik – Averbakh, Moscow 1957, Black will prepare ...0-0-0: 10...Qe7 11.0-0 e5 12.Nf2 0-0-0µ. 9...0-0 10.e4 10.0-0 Na5 11.e4 Ne8 – see 10.e4.

Exercise: How should Black continue? 10...Ne8! Of course after ...0-0 we have no right to allow the nasty pin Bg5. 11.0-0 11.Be3 is not the most useful move to attack the black king, but White puts pressure on the c5-pawn and wants to call ...d7-d6. 11...Ba6 – we do not really need the c5-pawn if we manage to take on c4. 12.Qa4 12.dxc5?! Ne5³, Mileika – Gipslis, Riga 1962. 12.0-0 Nd6! – the e8-knight is not always a passive observer of the events on the board. 13.dxc5 Nxc4 14.Bxc4 Bxc4 15.cxb6 axb6³, Palsson – Adorjan, Reykjavik 1988. 12...Qc8!?N – engaging the queen in advance in attacking White’s weaknesses. 13.0-0 Na5 14.dxc5 d6 15.cxb6 axb6„. Black’s knight is ready to capture on c4. 35

11...Na5 12.dxc5! Unconventional, but this is White’s best plan. Let’s consider other possibilities: 12.f4? – this is a typical but weak move, due to the position of the bishop on b7.

Exercise: How should Black continue? 12...f5! – that’s why we hurried with ...b6 and ...Bb7! in the opening! 13.Ng3 Nd6 14.exf5 exf5 15.dxc5 bxc5 16.Rb1 Qc7 17.Re1 g6 18.Bf1 Rae8–+. All White’s minor pieces are devoid of prospects, Anton Guijarro – Eljanov, Dubai 2014. Another version of the f-pawn trust is also dubious – 12.e5?! d6 13.f4 f5 14.exf6 Nxf6 15.f5 e5³. 12.Ng3 Ba6 13.f4?! – practice has shown that the plan of attack on the king does not work here. 13.Qe2? drops a pawn to 13...cxd4 14.cxd4 Nb3µ, Nakhbayeva – Demchenko, Taganrog 2014. 13.dxc5! Bxc4 14.Bxc4 Nxc4 15.Qe2 Na5 keeps the balance. 13...Bxc4 14.Bxc4 Nxc4 15.f5. White has set the threat 16.f6, as capturing on f6 with the knight would be awkward owing to the pin Bg5. 15...cxd4 (15...e5? 16.f6+–) 16.cxd4 It is impossible to mate the black king – 16.f6? Nxf6 17.Bg5 owing to 17...Ne3–+. 16...f6 17.Rf4 17.Rb1, Jobava – Wojtaszek, Khanty-Mansiysk 2011, 17...Rc8 18.Rf4 exf5 19.exf5 Ned6 20.Rh4 Qe8–+. 17...Ned6 18.Rh4. Black repulses the mating attack 19.Qh5 with the help of 18...Qe8µ. 12...bxc5 13.Bf4 36

Played in Poetsch – Leimeister, Hanau 2010. White prevents the black knight from entering play via d6. 13.Be3 Rc8 14.Ng3 f6 15.Qe2 Nd6 16.f4 f5! 17.e5 Nf7ƒ, followed by d7-d6. 13...d6 14.e5 Opening the centre favours long-ranged bishops, but Black manages to create counterplay. 14...dxe5 15.Bxe5 Ba6

16.Qc2 Nxc4 17.Rfd1 Qe7 18.Bxh7+ Kh8 19.Be4 Nxe5!? The exchange sacrifice is only temporary. 20.Bxa8 Nd6 The lack of squares for the light-squared bishop forces White to return the material. 21.f4 Or 21.Be4 f5–+. 21...Ng4 22.Bf3 Ne3 23.Qd2 Nxd1 24.Rxd1 Rd8=

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Conclusion The pawn structure with doubled pawns that arises in the Sämisch System is one of the most important for understanding the Nimzo-Indian Defence. White’s main way of fighting for the initiative is to seize space by advancing the e- and f-pawns, creating ground for an attack on the kingside. Black’s counterplay is based on pressure on the c4-pawn with ...b6, ...Ba6, ...Nb8-c6-a5. We have seen that White’s destructive potential is high enough, so I recommend you to be careful about exchanging on c3 without the “invitation” a2-a3 from White.

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Chapter 3 Leningrad System 4.Bg5 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Bg5

Mark Taimanov notes in his book on the Nimzo-Indian that the variation 4.Bg5 was named “the Leningrad System” due to the great contribution of chess players of the city on the Neva river to the development of its branches. Boris Spassky and Victor Korchnoi repeatedly resorted to this system in their practice. In addition to the obvious advantage of immediate development of the dark-squared bishop (pinning the f6-knight), the classic of Soviet chess also noted its main drawback – the bishop leaves the queenside where it is often needed to support the c3-knight. My recommendation for Black is based exactly on this motif. 4...c5 We studied in detail this undermining of the centre in Chapter 1. 5.d5 This ambitious move allows Black to put a lot of pressure on the c3-knight. But in other cases Black has a very easy game: In the variation 5.Nf3 h6 White has to trade his active bishop. 6.Bxf6 6.Bh4? g5 7.Bg3 g4 8.Ne5 Ne4! 9.Qd3 Nxg3 10.hxg3 d6 11.Nxg4 e5µ was noted by Roiz. 6...Qxf6 7.Rc1 39

7.e3 cxd4 8.exd4 Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 b6 10.Be2 0-0 11.0-0 Bb7³, Mikaelyan – Vardanian, Yerevan 2014. 7...cxd4 8.Nxd4 Nc6 9.e3 9.Nb3 0-0 10.e3 Rd8 11.a3, Grigorian – Pritchett, Decin 1978, 11...Bf8³. 9...Nxd4 10.exd4 0-0 11.Be2 d5 12.cxd5 exd5=. 5.Rc1?!. M. Roiz rightly notes in his book that this continuation has been seen many times in the games of strong players. But the early walk of White’s queen in the centre allows us to gain an advantage in development. 5...cxd4 6.Qxd4 Nc6 7.Bxf6 White had to part with the bishop anyway – 7.Qd1 h6 8.Bh4? g5 9.Bg3 Ne4µ. 7...Qxf6 8.Qxf6 gxf6 9.Nf3 b6. Here it is important to preserve the dark-squared bishop: 10.a3 Be7³. After ...Bb7, ...f5, ...Bf6 the strength of the bishop pair will become apparent. With the bishop on g5, White’s standard reactions to ...c7-c5 do not work: 5.e3? Qa5µ, and the knight is ready to bolster the pin from the e4-square; 5.dxc5?! Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Qa5 7.Bxf6 gxf6 8.Qd4 e5 9.Qe3 Na6 10.g3 Qxc5 11.Qd3, Breutigam – Wintzer, Germany 1991, 11...Qe7³. Black will place the knight on c5 and after ...d7-d6 he will bring the bishop to e6. 5...h6 I have nothing against the most fashionable treatment of this line lately – 5...d6 6.e3 exd5 7.cxd5 Nbd7 8.Bd3 Qa5„, but I want to offer you an idea which attracted me with its aggressiveness. 6.Bh4 It is surprising that in practice White tried other moves too: 6.Bd2?! – we examined this position in Chapter 1, with a black pawn on h7; 6.Bxf6?! Qxf6 7.Rc1 exd5 8.cxd5 8.Qxd5 d6³. Black will lead out his knight to c6 and the bishop to e6. 8...d6³. Our plan is to castle and bring the knight to e5. Black has an obvious advantage thanks to the bishop pair. 6...g5!? 7.Bg3 Ne4

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We talked about exactly this situation at the beginning of the chapter – the white bishop cannot help the c3-knight, and Black is ready to increase the pressure by bringing the queen to f6. Taimanov also considered this position. We’ll cover in detail line A) 8.Qd3 and line B) 8.Qc2. After 8.Be5?! 0-0³ Black is ready to push the bishop out of the centre with 9...d6, Clarke – Niephaus, Wageningen 1957. 8.Rc1?! is weaker than 8.Qd3 and 8.Qc2 because White is not attacking the knight. 8...Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 d6 10.e3 Qe7 11.Bd3 Nxg3 12.hxg3 Nd7 13.Nf3 Kd8!³.

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The idea of shifting the king to the queenside, where it will be safe thanks to the ossified structure, is standard in positions with doubled pawns.

A) 8.Qd3 The key point of this continuation is that White is ready to take on g3 with the queen after ...Nxg3. At the same time the queen occupied a square which is necessary for the light-squared bishop after e2e3. 8...Bxc3+ This forces White to make some tough decisions on the way to equality. 8...exd5 9.cxd5 f5 10.e3 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 d6„ is also quite possible. 9.bxc3 f5

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Black wants to put a pawn on d6 and bring the queen to f6, after which his position will be excellent. Therefore, White should not tolerate the presence of the knight on e4. 10.f3 10.Be5 0-0 11.f3 does not solve all the problems: 11...d6 12.fxe4 dxe5 13.Nf3 exd5 14.Qxd5+ Qxd5 15.cxd5 Nd7 16.exf5 e4 17.Nd2 Nf6ƒ. Black regains the pawn and retains some lead in development. 10...Nxg3 11.hxg3 Qf6 Our plan is to move the central pawns to dark squares, after which the f1-bishop will remain passive until the end of the game. 12.f4 This throws a spanner in the works and prepares to bring out the knight to f3. 12...g4 It is logical to pin the knight to the back rank.

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13.Kd2! White must open the centre by e2-e4. To this end the king takes over the task of protecting the c3pawn, freeing up the e1-square for the rook. 13.0-0-0?! exd5 14.cxd5 d6 15.e4 fxe4 16.Qxe4+ Kd8µ. White has to spend time on the defence of the c3-pawn. 13...d6 14.e4 Kd8! The king goes to the safest square c7. Now Black would like to exchange on e4 and d5 in order to bring the bishop to f5. It is not possible to carry out the above plan through a different move order – following 14...fxe4? 15.Qxe4 Kd8 the white bishop is the first to take the b1-h7 diagonal – 16.Bd3². 15.e5! Of course White must open the game as soon as possible. 15.dxe6? Qxe6 16.exf5 pursues the same goal, but after 16...Qf6µ Black will easily win back the pawn, while the king will protect the d6-pawn from c7. 15...dxe5 16.fxe5 Qxe5 17.dxe6+ 17.Re1 Qd6 18.dxe6 Kc7 transposes. 17...Kc7 18.Re1 Qd6

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The e6-pawn is about to fall, but thanks to the transfer of the knight to f4 White maintains the balance. 19.Ne2 Qxd3+ 20.Kxd3 Bxe6 21.Nf4 Bd7 22.Ng6 22.Nd5+?! is a blank shot owing to 22...Kd6³. 22...Rg8 23.Rxh6 Nc6=

B) 8.Qc2

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The most natural and popular continuation. White defended the c3-knight, hit the e4-knight, and is ready to meet ...f7-f5 by developing the bishop on d3 after e2-e3. 8...Qf6 It would be strange to miss the opportunity to develop the queen with a tempo before the exchanges on c3 and g3. 9.Rc1! Other continuations are much weaker and have not been tested in practice: 9.Nf3 – preparing Be5. 9...Nxc3 10.a3 The immediate 10.Be5 stumbles into 10...Ne4+ 11.Kd1 Qf5–+ threatening 12...Nxf2+. 10...Nxd5+ After Taimanov’s recommendation 10...Ba5!?, 11.Be5!= saves the day as the check 11...Ne4+? now loses to 12.b4. 11.Kd1 Nc3+ 12.Kc1! 12.Ke1 Ne4+–+. 12.bxc3 Bxc3–+. 12...Qf5! – we defend against the threat Be5 and go into an endgame with an extra pawn. 13.axb4 Qxc2+ 14.Kxc2 Ne4 15.bxc5 Na6³. 9.0-0-0 Bxc3 10.Qxe4 Bxb2+ 11.Kb1 Ba1 12.Rd2 Na6³. Black is planning to attack the rook 13...Bc3, and in the event of 14.Rc2 the knight will come in handy on b4. 46

9.Qxe4 – looks crazy, but after 9...Bxc3+ 10.Kd1 Bxb2 11.Rb1 it is not so easy for Black to complete the development.

Exercise: How should Black continue? It is necessary to find 11...d6!³ with the idea of ...Bc8-d7-a4. 9...Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 Nxg3 11.hxg3 d6

The pawn structure in this position is clearly in Black’s favour. However, he needs to solve the problem of the safety of his king. 47

I propose to transfer the king to c7, where it will not only feel comfortable, but will also take part in the defence of the d6-pawn. 12.e3?! Most of the games feature this plan with the pawn on e3, so we will analyse it more thoroughly. But in view of the difficulties that White will face after Black manoeuvres his king to c7, I recommend that he already now think about fighting for equality by: 12.Nf3 Kd8!?N 13.e4!. It is important to note that before the appearance of the black knight on d7 White can never exchange on e6 – 12.dxe6? Bxe6–+, and the black king will remain in the centre, while the knight could be developed on c6. 12.Nf3 Kd8!?N The plan to transfer the king to g7 is also possible – 12...Kf8 13.e4 e5 14.Be2 Qg7 15.Nd2 g4=. 13.e4! – the idea of 14.e5 forces Black to close the centre. (For 13.e3?! – see the main line.) 13...e5 14.Be2 Qg7 15.Nd2. White wants to play 16.Bh5 and then prepare the exchange of lightsquared bishops via g4. Black must prevent this plan! 15...g4 16.Nf1 Nd7 17.Ne3 Nf6=. Black’s position looks attractive, but unfortunately I see no prospects to improve it. 12...Kd8!?N

The standard 12...Kf8 is also quite possible, but the king on c7 would enable a pawn storm on the kingside. 13.Nf3 Kg7 14.Bd3 Nd7 15.a4 Ne5 16.Nxe5 Qxe5=, Ruos Garcus – Lyashenko, corr. 2020. 48

13.Nf3 If a pawn appears on a4, I propose to stop it with 13.a4 a5³, and the black rook, if necessary, could join the action via a6. 13.Bd3?. I think that the bishop is out of place here since now White is deprived of the possibility of putting pressure on the d6-pawn. 13...Kc7 14.Ne2 h5µ. 13...Kc7 14.Be2 White is waiting for the knight to appear on d7 in order to play 14...Nd7 15.dxe6 fxe6 16.Rd1 with counterplay against the d6-pawn. 14...g4 We kindly invite the white knight to the edge of the board.

15.Nh4 It is witty but insufficient to play 15.Nd4?! cxd4 16.cxd4 Nd7 17.Bxg4 b6 18.0-0 Bb7µ. After ...Rac8, ...Kb8 the black king will be safe. 15.Nd2 allows Black to break through the h-file – 15...h5³. 15...Rg8 49

The rook not only protected the g4-pawn, but also hinders the f2-f4 plan after White’s castling. 16.Rd1

Exercise: How should Black continue? 16...a5! Bringing along the a8-rook for the defence of the d6-pawn. 17.0-0 Or 17.Qd2 Ra6³. 17...Nd7³

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I assess this position in Black’s favour since he can continue to improve the placement of his pieces (...Ne5, ...Bd7, ...Ra6), while White is forced to play without the h4-knight and is deprived of any prospects. It is important to note that 18.f4? loses to 18...gxf3 19.Rxf3 Qg7–+, and White has no defence against the threat 20...Ne5. Conclusion In recent years the Leningrad System has almost disappeared from tournament practice at the highest level. This is connected with the fact that Black has several good opportunities to exploit the early departure of the dark-squared bishop from the queenside by organizing counterplay against the c3knight. My idea is to immediately exchange the potentially active bishop on g5 with ...h6, ...g5, ...Ne4. The exchange of two minor pieces makes it possible to neutralise White’s space advantage, which stems from 5.d5.

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Chapter 4 Romanishin System 4.g3 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.g3

The 4.g3 system has been named after the Ukrainian grandmaster Oleg Romanishin. His games have made a huge contribution to various schemes with fianchettoed bishop on g2. The advantage of 4.g3 (especially in comparison with 4.Nf3) is that Black does not have a reciprocal plan (...b6 and ...Bb7) to develop the c8-bishop on the long diagonal. On the other hand, we have the opportunity to transpose to a fairly safe version of the Catalan. I propose to use this possibility. 4...0-0 5.Bg2 5.Nf3 d5 6.Bg2 transpose to 5.Bg2. 5.Qb3?!, which occurred in the game Vaisser – Shvayger, Douglas 2015, allows Black to immediately start fighting to take over the initiative. 5...Nc6 – the d4-pawn is under attack since after ...Nxd4-Qxb4 Black would win the queen with ...Nc2+. 6.Nf3 Ne4. After doubling the pawns we would be able to exploit the early sortie of the queen to b3 since the knight will go to a5 with a tempo. 7.Bg2 b6 8.Qc2 8.0-0 Bxc3 9.bxc3 Bb7³, followed by ...Na5. 8...Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 f5 10.0-0 Bb7. Again ...Na5 is on the agenda. 11.c5!? d6„. A potential exchange of 52

the c5- and c7-pawns favours Black as the c-file will be useful to our queen’s rook. 5...d5 This position can also arise from the Catalan (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Bb4+ 5.Nc3 0-0). White’s main choices are A) 6.a3!? and B) 6.Nf3. The exchange 6.cxd5 exd5 leads to a comfortable game for Black. White’s fianchettoed bishop is bumping into the d5-pawn. In addition, Black has a clear plan for mobilization of his forces – ...c6, ...Re8, ...Bf5. 7.a3 – White attacks the bishop before the pawn appears on c6 in order to prevent a retreat to d6. We’ll consider how to oppose the plan of seizing the centre with 7.Nh3?!, f3, e4 in Illustrative Game 3 Bartel – Socko, Wroclaw 2011. 7.e3 converts to the Rubinstein System (4.e3) – 7...Re8 8.Nge2 c6, see Chapter 8. 7...Bd6 – nevertheless, the bishop can still retreat to d6!

8.Nxd5?! 8.Bxd5?! Nxd5 9.Nxd5 Bxa3³; 8.Bg5 c6 9.e4 dxe4 10.Nxe4 Be7 11.Nxf6+ Bxf6 12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.Ne2=. 8...Nxd5 9.Bxd5 Bb4+ 10.axb4 Qxd5 – the resulting position with opposite-coloured bishops is in our favour since it is not easy for White to complete the development without losses. 11.f3 Nc6 12.Kf2 Rd8 12...Qxd4+ 13.Qxd4 Nxd4ƒ, Rapport – Parligras, Hersonissos 2017. 13.e3 Nxb4³. Black is ready to carry out ...c7-c5. 6.Qb3?. This does not contribute to piece development, so it’s time for Black to open the centre. 6...c5 7.Nf3 Nc6 8.cxd5 exd5 9.a3 Ba5 10.0-0 c4 11.Qc2 h6³. Black has gained space on the 53

queenside, while White is very far from the planned e2-e4 breakthrough.

A) 6.a3!? After the appearance of the black pawn on d5 the idea of gaining the bishop pair advantage makes sense. 6...Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 dxc4

Strategically, White has achieved a lot – he has a pair of active bishops and a potentially powerful pawn centre. But he needs several tempos in order to complete the development and win back the c4pawn. Black’s task is to use this time to activate the c8-bishop. 8.Nf3 This allows Black to carry out the thematic ...c7-c5. But other continuations do not help the development of pieces and castling. 8.a4 occurred in Lekic – Lirindzakis, Anogia 2015. White is preparing for 8...c5 and plans to answer it with 9.Ba3. 8...Nc6 – I propose to temporarily forget about ...c7-c5 and develop the bishop on b7. 9.Nf3 Na5 10.0-0 It makes no sense to impede Black’s plan by 10.Ne5?! because after 10...Nd7³ White’s knight will be exchanged and the bishop will find its way to the long diagonal via d7. 10...b6 11.Ba3 Re8 12.Ne5 Bb7 13.Bxb7 Nxb7. Black has exchanged White’s main strength in this variation and does not experience any problems. 14.Nxc4 Qd5 15.Qd3 c5=.

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8.Qa4 Bd7 – the bishop is longing for the main diagonal. It is not obligatory to take it from b7. 9.Qxc4 Bc6 10.f3?! – White wants to take the centre and preserve more pieces on the board. However, he spends too many tempos. He should have moderated his ambitions and complete the development with 10.Nf3 Bd5 11.Qb5 a6 12.Qb2 Nbd7=. Black’s plan is to put his pawns on b5 and c6 and lead the knight to c4. White will need accuracy to maintain the balance. 10...Nbd7 11.e4, Nakamura – Perez Ponsa, chess.com 2017, 11...Nb6 12.Qa2 (12.Qd3 Nfd7 13.Ne2 Ba4³)

12...Ba4!. Black regroups his minor pieces aiming to push ...c7-c5 and open the c-file for the a8-rook. 13.Ne2 c5 14.0-0 Rc8³, Aymard – Kreutz, ICCF 2020. 8...c5 9.0-0 White is unable to hinder the development of Black’s pieces with 9.Ne5?! owing to 9...cxd4 10.Qxd4 (10.cxd4? Qa5+µ) 10...Qxd4 11.cxd4

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Now the typical 11...Nc6 solves all the problems. Black uses a similar method in the Catalan – 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Be7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.0-0 dxc4 7.Ne5 Nc6:

The hit on d4 forces White to take on c6. In our case we have a good version of this idea. 12.Bxc6 12.Nxc4 Nxd4ƒ, Froewis – Svane, Minsk 2017. 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.Bxc6 Rb8³. 12...bxc6ƒ, Aliferenko – Itgelt, Pardubice 2018. 9...Bd7!?

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This move stands out among the roughly equivalent alternatives 9...cxd4 and 9...Nc6 because Black immediately relieves himself of the headache of having to develop the queenside. Just for the record, Hans Niemann beat World champion Carlsen in a controversial game in Saint Louis 2022 with 9...cxd4 10.Qxd4 Nc6 11.Qxc4 e5! 12.Bg5 h6, when 13.Bxf6 is about equal. 10.Ne5 Otherwise the bishop will come to c6 and White will have to fight for equality. 10.dxc5, Oparin – Vazquez, chess.com 2020, 10...Na6 11.Be3 Rc8ƒ. 10.a4 Bc6 11.dxc5, Ponkratov – Predke, Riga 2019, 11...Bd5³. It will not be easy to keep the c5pawn after ...Nbd7 and ...Qc7.

Exercise: How should Black continue? 10...Bc6! Worse is 10...Nc6? 11.Nxc4±, and the white knight strives for d6. 11.Nxc6 Nxc6 12.dxc5 Qa5

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We attack the c5-pawn and plan to double the rooks along the d-file. 13.Bxc6 bxc6 14.Qd4 Nd5 15.Qxc4 In the event of 15.Bd2 Qa4„ the knight on d5 looks no worse than the bishop on d2, Naoum – Pavlidis, Thessaloniki 2021. 15...Qxc3 16.Qxc3 In Sulit – Neijhof, corr. ICCF 2019, a draw agreement was signed as White manages to defend the e2pawn and go into a drawn rook endgame. 16...Nxc3 17.Re1 Rab8 18.Bd2 Rb3 19.Bxc3 Rxc3=

B) 6.Nf3

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6...dxc4 We aim to develop on the next move the knight on c6 in order to prevent the appearance of the white knight on e5. 7.0-0 It does not pay off to hinder Black’s intention: 7.Ne5? Nd5 8.Bd2 8.Qc2? Nxc3 9.bxc3 Qxd4–+. 8...Nb6 9.e3 f6 10.Nf3 Nc6 11.0-0 e5µ. 7.Qa4? a5 8.0-0 Bd7 9.Qc2 Bc6µ, Sushchev – Simantsev, Kharkov 2010. 7.a3!? Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 – leads to the main position of line A 6.a3!?. 7...Nc6 As in many tabiyas of the Catalan Opening, unloading the centre does not solve the problems – 7...c5? 8.dxc5 Bxc5 9.Qxd8 Rxd8 10.Ne5!±, Vidit – Pashikian, Martuni 2016. The fianchettoed bishop puts significant pressure on Black’s queenside .

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This position has undergone serious practical testing. Since it is impossible to win back the c4-pawn, White concentrates his forces on preparing e2-e4 and getting long-term compensation for the small material deficit. Among the many possible moves, we will consider in detail B1) 8.e3, B2) 8.Bg5, B3) 8.a3, and B4) 8.Qa4. Let’s have a brief look at White’s other options: It is incorrect to sac a second pawn with 8.e4? Bxc3 9.bxc3 Nxe4 10.Qc2 as in the game Ivanisevic – Wei Yi, chess.com 2021. Black can protect the c4-pawn with the move 10...Nd6, not fearing 11.Ng5 Nf5 12.g4 h6! 13.gxf5 hxg5µ. The idea of the enigmatic move 8.Rb1 is that after the most natural Black’s response 8...Rb8, intending ...b7-b5, 9.a3 Be7 10.Qa4 Nxd4 11.Nxd4 Qxd4 12.Be3 gains in strength and White captures the a7-pawn:

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12...Qe5 13.Qxa7ƒ, Sandipan – Gustafsson, Sarajevo 2010. Therefore, I recommend responding with the useful luft 8...h6 – we deprive White of the idea Bg5 and challenge him to display the advantages of placing the rook on b1. 9.a3 Be7„. With the rook on a8 White lacks the idea Qa4, while Black is ready to send the c6-knight to b3 (...Nc6-a5-b3). I propose to meet the logical 8.Re1 in analogy to the line 8.Rb1 – 8...h6!? 9.a3 Seizing the centre with 9.e4? allows Black to switch to the plan ...Rb8 and ...b5 – 9...Rb8 10.a3 Ba5. The bishop’s retreat to this active position is possible due to the fact that with the pawn on h6 White does not have Bg5. 11.e5 Nd5 12.Bd2, Cole – Kupreichik, Aarhus 1997, 12...b5µ. 9...Be7 – the c6-knight is aiming again to reach b3. 10.e4 Na5„. 8.Qc2?! – apparently, White is rushing to vacate the d1-square for the rook. In order to keep the c4pawn, the white queen more often goes to c2 after 8.Qa4 Nd5 9.Qc2 – see line B4. 8...Nxd4 9.Nxd4 Qxd4 10.Rd1 (10.Ne4!? Be7³) 10...Qb6 11.Na4, Miladinovic – Andrejic, Kragujevac 2015, (11.Be3 Qa6³) 11...Qb5 12.Rd4 e5 13.Rxc4 Be6 14.Rxc7 Rac8³.

B1) 8.e3?! White bolsters the d4-pawn and is planning to even the material with 9.Qe2 or 9.Nd2. However, this plan proves to be overly slow. Besides, White loses the option of pinning the knight with Bc1-g5.

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8...Rb8 9.Qe2 The absence of the idea of Bc1-g5 tells in the line 9.a3 Bxc3 10.bxc3 b6³, and Black finishes development unhindered. In conjunction with 8.e3, the queen move to c2 looks illogical: 9.Qc2 b5 10.Rd1 10.a3? Bezold – Hracek, Newark 1995, 10...Bxc3 11.Qxc3 Bb7µ. 10...Qe8³. Black kept the extra pawn and prepared 11...e5, Bezold – Romanishin, Balatonbereny 1995. The schematic move 9.Nd2? not only fails to regain the pawn, but also gives Black the opportunity to carry out ...e6-e5: 9...e5! 10.d5 Na5 11.e4 b5–+, Le Goff – Arabidze, chess.com 2020. 9...b5 10.Rd1 White is ready to play 11.e4, followed up by further d4-d5. The inclusion of 10.a4? a6 only weakens the b3-square – 11.axb5 axb5 12.Rd1 Na5 13.Ne5 Bb7 14.Bxb7 Rxb7–+, Ricardi – Smyslov, Buenos Aires 1990. 10...Nd5 11.Bd2 11.Qc2? Be7 – the threat ...Nc6-b4-d3 forces White to play 12.a3, but then the knight obtains another promising route. 12...Na5–+, Gleizerov – Raetsky, Katowice 1990. 62

11...Nxc3 Despite the extra pawn, Black’s position is a little cramped, so exchanges play into our hands. 12.bxc3 12.Bxc3 Bxc3 13.bxc3 Ne7³. 12...Bd6 We retreat to d6 to enable ...e6-e5. 13.e4 e5 14.dxe5 Nxe5 15.Nxe5 Bxe5 16.f4 Bd6 17.Be3 Qe7 18.Bxa7 Bc5+ 19.Bxc5 Qxc5+ 20.Qf2, Stefanova – Forsaa, Caleta 2011.

Exercise: How should Black continue? 20...Qa3! From this square the queen attacks both White’s weaknesses and forces the opponent to reckon with the idea of ...b5-b4. 21.Qe3 Re8³ Our further plan is to transfer the bishop to c6. 63

B2) 8.Bg5

White wants to play e2-e3 after the bishop got operational space. But Black manages to gain the bishop pair advantage and solve the problem of the c8-bishop. 8...h6 9.Bxf6 Qxf6 10.e3 White defends against the threat 10...Rd8 11.e3 e5 and plans 11.Qc2. The position is too insipid after 10.Ne4 Qf5 11.Ned2 11.Qc2? Be7 12.Rac1 b5 13.b3 Bb7–+. The threat 14...Nb4 does not allow White to regain the pawn. 11.Nh4?, Ellers – Kupreichik, Muenster 1994, 11...Qb5 12.e3 Be7µ, with a double hit on b2 and h4. 11...Bxd2 12.Qxd2 e5 13.Rad1 Nxd4 14.Nxd4 exd4 15.Qxd4 c6 16.Qxc4 Qe6=, Baranowski – Risquet, ICCF 2017. 10.Rc1?! Rd8 11.e3 11.Ne4? is speculative – 11...Qf5 12.Nh4 (Or 12.Rxc4 Qxe4 13.Nh4 Qh7 14.Bxc6 bxc6 15.Rxb4 Ba6³, when the threats 16...c5 and 16...Qe4 do not allow White to coordinate his forces and take on opponent’s weaknesses.) 12...Qa5 13.a3 Be7 14.Rxc4 Qb5 15.b3 Na5 16.Rxc7, Tsydypov – Ponkratov, Barnaul 2021. This should have won the exchange after 16...Nc6µ. 11...e5

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Black is even ready to throw in a pawn to activate the c8-bishop. 12.Nxe5 Nxe5 13.dxe5 Qe7 14.Qh5 14.Nd5 Qxe5 15.Rxc4 Bd6³. 14...Bxc3 15.Rxc3? After the best 15.bxc3 c6³ Black’s queenside pawns still run smoother than their white counterparts on the opposite wing. 15...Rd2 16.Rb1 Qb4–+, Gonzalez Garcia – Tiviakov, Mallorca 2004. 10.Qa4? is bad owing to 10...a6, winning a pawn – 11.a3 Bxc3 12.bxc3 b5 13.Qc2 Rb8µ, Bednar – Michenka, Slovakia 2012. Bolstering the centre with 10.a3? Bxc3 11.bxc3 does not make the thematic 11...e5! 12.d5 Na5 13.Qa4 b6µ less effective. 10...Bxc3!? I propose to follow in the footsteps of Anish Giri and deprive White of the idea Ne4 before developing the queenside. 11.bxc3 Rb8 The presence of the white pawn on e3 makes it impossible for us to play 11...e5? 12.Nd2², Brynell – Corke, Copenhagen 2007. 12.Nd2 Na5 13.Qa4 b6

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14.Rfb1 White cannot even the material at once – 14.Nxc4?! Ba6³. 14.Qb5?, with the idea of preventing the development of the bishop on a6, is not good because of 14...Qf5! 15.a4 c6 16.Qb4 Ba6µ, Perelshteyn – Giri, Reykjavik 2017. 14...Bb7 The trade of the light-squared bishops kills the intrigue. In the event of 14...Ba6, 15.Nf3° looks good, intending Ne5. 15.Bxb7 Rxb7 16.Nxc4 Nxc4 17.Qxc4 c5=

B3) 8.a3

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White weakens the b3-square but quickly executes e2-e4. 8...Be7 It is risky to exchange on c3. A good illustration is 8...Bxc3?! 9.bxc3 Rb8 10.Bg5 h6 11.Bh4! g5 12.Nxg5 hxg5 13.Bxg5°, Salem – Inarkiev, Riyadh 2017. 9.e4 Na5 10.Be3 The white bishop is needed on e3 to protect the d4-pawn. After 10.Bf4?! Nb3 11.Rb1 c6!³

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White cannot remove the queen from d1, Knuppel – Stapinski, ICCF 2020. 10.Qe2 – in my opinion White should aim to place the queen on c2. 10...a6 Play is unclear after 10...Nb3 11.Rb1 Nxd4 12.Nxd4 Qxd4 13.Rd1 Qc5 14.e5 Nd5 15.h4 Nxc3 16.bxc3°, and it is not easy for Black to complete the development. 11.Be3 11.Bf4?! b5 12.Rad1 Bb7 13.Ne5 Nb3 14.d5 exd5 15.exd5 Bd6 16.Nc6 Qd7µ, Flom – Beliavsky, Skopje 2019. 11...b5 12.Rad1 Bb7

13.Ne5 Nb3. Our task is to prepare ...c7-c5, so on the next turn we’ll shift the queen to e8. 14.f4, P. Skatchkov – Ivanisevic, chess.com 2021, 14...Qe8 15.g4 Rd8³. White does not have enough compensation for the sacrificed pawn. The breakthrough 13.d5 does not solve the problems – 13...exd5 14.exd5 (14.e5 Ne8µ) 14...Nb3 15.Ne5 Bd6 16.Nxc4 bxc4 17.Qxc4 Rb8 18.Qxb3 Bxd5, and White cannot save the queen without losing the exchange. 19.Qa4 Bb3µ, Rogers – Buczinski, ICCF 2020. The idea of 13.Ng5 from the game Matlakov – Yemelin, St Petersburg 2009, turns out to be ineffective as Black pushes ...c7-c5 quickly – 13...Nb3 14.f4 c5µ. 10...Nb3 I suggest not to hold on to the pawn and quickly carry out ...c7-c5. 10...a6!? 11.Qc2! b5 12.Rad1 Bb7 13.d5° leads to complex play, Theodorou – J. Van Foreest, Saint Louis 2018. 68

11.Rb1 c5

12.dxc5 12.d5? exd5 13.exd5 Bf5–+. 12...Bxc5 13.Bxc5 Nxc5 Black has neutralized the strong centre and will succeed in developing the c8-bishop. However, White can easily win back the c4-pawn. 14.Ne5 In a game from the women’s World Cup White tried to activate the bishop on g2 – 14.e5?! Nd5 15.Qd4 Nxc3 16.Qxc3, Tsolakidou – Batsiashvili, Krasnaya Polyana 2021, 16...b5!. Black should have stuck to the pawn, preparing an exchange sacrifice. 17.Nd4 Ba6„ with an excellent game. 14...b6 15.Qxd8 Rxd8 16.Nc6 Rd7 17.Ne5 Rd8=, Kanter – Matlakov, Plovdiv 2012.

B4) 8.Qa4

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I have already mentioned the aim of this move – in this way White brings the rook to d1 without losing the d4-pawn. 8...Nd5! Driving the white queen back to c2. We will illustrate the insidiousness of this on the example of 8...Bd7 – see Illstrative game 4 Caruana – Karjakin, Saint Louis 2018. 9.Qc2 9.Bd2? Nb6 10.Qc2 Nxd4 11.Nxd4 Qxd4µ. 9...Be7 By retreating the bishop on e7, we prepared the b4-square for the knight in case of e2-e4. 10.Rd1 It is premature to push 10.e4? Ndb4 11.Qd1 Nd3³. Black will complete the development with ...b6 and ...Bb7, Khusnutdinov – Hambleton, chess.com 2021. 10...Rb8 We are ready to face e2-e4, so we should remember our main plan – Rb8 and b5. 11.e4 Taking control of the b4-square with 11.a3? has a typical drawback – 11...Na5µ, Ristic – Gabriel, 70

Passau 1996. It is pointless to transfer the knight to g5 – 11.Ne4? b5 12.Neg5 12.b3 Ncb4 13.Qd2 f5 14.Nc3 Nxc3 15.Qxc3 Nd5 16.Qc2 c3 17.Ne5, Lodici – Moranda, chess.com 2020, 17...Bb7. Now Black has 12...f5µ, Karpov – Piket, Monte Carlo 1994. Or 11.h4? b5 12.Ng5, Ponkratov – Potkin, Sochi 2021, 12...f5µ. After 11.Ne5?! Nxe5 12.dxe5 Black hangs on to the b5-pawn: 12...c6! 13.Ne4, Prohaszka – Bok, Saint Louis 2018 (13.e4? Nb4–+) 13...b5 14.b3 (14.Nd6 Bxd6 15.exd6 Qxd6–+) 14...Nb4 15.Qd2 Qxd2 16.Bxd2 c5³. The only viable alternative is: 11.Bd2 b5 12.b3, Dubov – Vocaturo, chess.com 2021. I recommend 12...Bd7 with the idea of freeing the c8-square for the queen. 13.bxc4 bxc4³. 11...Ncb4

We’ll exchange the d5-knight, while the other one will find a perfect stand on d3. 12.Qb1 12.Qd2 Nxc3 13.Qxc3 b5. The bishop goes to b7. 14.b3 14.a4, Lenaerts – Esipenko, Tornelo 2021, 14...Bb7³. 14.Be3, Narciso Dublan – Studer, Barbera del Valles 2020, 14...f5!³. 14...Bb7³, Dubov – Vidit, chess.com 2020. 71

12.Qe2?! Nxc3 13.bxc3 Nd3³, Khusnutdinov – Ly, chess.com 2021. 12...Nxc3 13.bxc3 Nd3 14.Qb5! Nxc1 15.Raxc1 c5 16.Qxc4 b5 17.Qe2 Qb6=

White has restored the material balance, but Black managed to activate the pieces during this time. The bishop pair advantage is a perfectly adequate compensation for White’s superior pawn centre, Spasov – Palmateer, ICCF 2018. Conclusion The Romanishin’s System allows Black to convert the game into a nice version of the Catalan Opening. White cannot easily regain the c4-pawn due to the fact that his knight is already developed on c3. He also fails to seize the centre in full comfort since after e2-e4 the knight on c6 tends to reach d3. If White plays a2-a3 first, the black knight is offered the additional route ...Nc6-a5-b3. My proposition for Black is all the more topical as the position after 7...Nc6 could arise from different openings.

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Chapter 5 The 4.f3 System 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3

The 4.f3 system is the most aggressive and double-edged method of dealing with the Nimzo-Indian Defence. In recent years it has gained popularity at the highest level – challengers for the World title Fabiano Caruana and Jan Nepomniachtchi successfully used the move 4.f3 in crucial games of important competitions. White has a clear strategic plan – to get a pawn fist in the centre after e2-e4. Unlike the Sämisch System (Chapter 2), White does not waste a tempo on a2-a3. On the other hand Black has the possibility to keep the b4-bishop and actively fight for the centre with the d- and c-pawns. Black’s main objections to 4.f3 are 4...c5 and 4...d5. I chose a variation where the pawn structure quickly becomes ossified, and the game takes on strategic character. The main advantage of this decision is the absence of long forced variants. 4...d5 5.a3 White needs to drive out the bishop from b4 in order to carry out e2-e4. Other continuations encountered in practice are much weaker: 5.e3?! 0-0 6.a3 6.Bd3?! dxc4 7.Bxc4 c5 8.a3 Ba5³, Johansen – Borresen, Kristiansund 2001.

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6...Be7 7.c5 b6 8.b4 a5 9.Rb1 c6=, and the bishop will enter play via a6. The exchange on d5 in the presence of the dark-squared bishop on the board is irrelevant since Black will take on d5 with the knight and push ...c7-c5: 5.cxd5? Nxd5 6.Qd2 6.Qd3 c5 7.Bd2 Qh4+ 8.g3 Qxd4 9.Qxd4 cxd4 10.Nxd5 Bxd2+ 11.Kxd2 exd5µ, Hallerod – Rozentalis, Stockholm 2005. 6...c5 7.e4 Nxc3 8.bxc3 Ba5³, Werbeck – Chuchelov, Eupen 1996. The plan 5.Bg5? dxc4 6.e4, Oberfrank – Nagy, Hungary 1999, does not fit with 4.f3 at all. Or 6.a3 Be7 7.e4 Nxe4–+. 6...b5 7.e5 h6 8.exf6 hxg5 9.fxg7 Rg8–+. 5.Qa4+? Nc6 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 0-0 8.cxd5, Sutkovic – Kuljasevic, Pula 2008, 8...exd5 9.e3 Bd7 10.Qc2 Na5 11.Bd3 c5³. 5...Be7 I advocate to keep the bishop on the board. 5...Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 c5 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.dxc5 Qa5 9.e4 leads to another type of position, where the theory just begins. 6.e4 The exchange on d5 does not pose any problems – 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.e4 Nxc3 8.bxc3 c5 9.Bd3 0-0 10.Ne2, Hoekstra – Kraai, San Diego 2004, 10...cxd4 11.cxd4 e5!?

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White should fight for equality – 12.Be3 12.dxe5? Nc6 13.f4 Bc5–+. 12.d5?! Bc5³. 12...exd4 13.Nxd4 Bf6 14.Be2 Qa5+ 15.Kf2 Rd8 16.Qc1 Bd7=. The knight will go to c6 on the next turn. 6...dxe4 7.fxe4 c5 This method of undermining the pawn centre gained popularity after the victory of Nikita Vitiugov over Sergei Volkov in the Superfinal of the 2017 Russian Championship. We’ll explore Evgeniy Najer’s dynamic idea A) 8.e5 and the main plan with producing a protected passed pawn on the d-file B) 8.d5.

A) 8.e5!?

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The e5-pawn will soon need defence, but at the same time it is cramping the black pieces. 8...Nfd7 9.dxc5 9.Qg4?! does not make sense because after 9...g6 White has no time for ...Bh6: 10.Nf3 cxd4 11.Qxd4 Nc6 12.Qf4 0-0 13.Be2 Qc7ƒ. In the event of 9.Nf3, Gschnitzer – Gheorghiu, chess.com 2020, 9...cxd4 10.Qxd4 Nc6 11.Qe4 Black needs to trade White’s weakness to activate his own pieces. 11...f6 Worse is 11...Nc5?! 12.Qg4². 12.exf6 Nxf6 13.Qd3 (13.Qc2 0-0³) 13...0-0 14.Bg5 Qa5!?. This forces White to fix the draw. 15.0-0-0 Or 15.Be2 Rd8 16.Qe3 e5³. 15...Bxa3 16.Bxf6. White still needs accuracy. Loses 16.bxa3? Qxa3+ 17.Kb1 Qb3+ 18.Kc1 Nb4 19.Qd2 Ne4!–+. 16...gxf6 17.bxa3 Qxa3+ 18.Kb1 Qb3+ 19.Kc1 Qa3+=. 9...Nxc5N I recommend not to give White a pawn fist on the queenside. It could cause us big trouble in the endgame. Playing 9...Nxc5, we plan to trade queens and lure White into a double-edged game after 10.Qg4. 9...Nxe5 10.Qxd8+ Bxd8 11.Be2 leads to an unclear position, Firouzja – Anand, Wijk aan Zee 2020. 10.Be3 It makes no sense for White to trade queens himself since the black bishop can get to a5 through the 76

d8-square. 10.Qxd8+?! Bxd8 11.Be3 Nb3 12.Rd1 Nd7 13.Nf3 Ba5„. 10.Qg4 is a principled continuation. 10...Nb3!

At the cost of the g7 pawn, we deprive the white king of long castling and quickly activate our pieces – 11.Qxg7 Rf8 12.Rb1 Nxc1 13.Rxc1 Bd7 – preparing to bring out the queen to b6. (13...Qb6? 14.Nb5±) 14.Nf3 Qb6„. Black is ready to complete the development and evacuate the king to the queenside. 10...Qxd1+ 11.Rxd1 a5! It is important to prevent White from seizing space with b2-b4. Our plan is to set up our pieces in the following way: ...0-0, ..Nc6, ...b6. 12.Nb5 12.Nf3 0-0 13.Be2 Nc6 14.0-0 b6=.

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Exercise: How should Black continue? 12...0-0! 13.Nc7 Ra7 14.Nb5 It is essential that White does not have time to take advantage of the c5-knight pin: 14.b4? axb4 15.axb4 Ne4 16.Bxa7 Bxb4+ 17.Ke2 Nc3+ 18.Kf3 Nxd1 19.Bxb8 Bd7 20.Ba7 Ba5 21.Nb5 b6–+, trapping the a7-bishop. 14...Ra8=

B) 8.d5

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White gets a protected passer in the centre, which will be a long-term plus for his position. 8...exd5 Now White faces a choice – which pawn structure to choose. I consider B1) 9.cxd5 and B2) 9.exd5.

B1) 9.cxd5 Taking with the c-pawn looks weaker since Black succeeds in blockading the opponent’s central pawns or putting pressure on the e4-pawn. 9...Bd6 10.Bb5+! It makes sense for White to exchange the light-squared bishop for the b8-knight in order to prevent a blockade of the central pawns. 10.Bd3 0-0 11.Nf3 Bg4 12.0-0 Nbd7 13.Bg5, Aditya – Nesterov, lichess.org 2021, 13...h6 14.Bh4 Ne5³. 10.Nf3 Nbd7 11.Bd3 0-0 12.0-0 Ng4 13.h3 Nge5„. 10...Nbd7 11.Bg5 By developing the bishop on g5, White wants to deprive Black of the option of taking on d7 with the knight after Bxd7. 11.Nf3 0-0 12.Bxd7 12.0-0?!, Mayo Casademont – Matnadze, Barcelona 2006, 12...Ne5³. 79

12...Nxd7 13.0-0 a6„. 11...0-0 12.Bxd7 The black knight was ready to jump to e5, Gheorghiu – Soltanici, Arad 2018. 12.Nf3? Ne5 12...Qc7 13.Bxd7 Nxd7³, Tabatabaei – Maghsoodloo, Tehran 2017. 13.0-0 a6 14.Be2 h6 15.Nxe5 (15.Bh4 Ng6µ) 15...Bxe5 16.Bf4 Bd4+ 17.Kh1 Re8³, and White is unable to defend e4. 12...Bxd7 13.Nf3 White exchanged the blocker-knight, but lagged behind in development. This allows us to hit the e4pawn.

13...h6 It is useful to get rid of the pin for a start. 14.Bh4 14.Bxf6?! Qxf6 15.0-0 Rae8³. 14...g5 15.Bg3 15.Nxg5? loses to 15...hxg5 16.Bxg5 Be5–+. Black can easily get rid of the pin by 17...Qb6. 15.e5? does not work either: 80

Exercise: How should Black continue? 15...Ng4!. In this way Black wins the e5-pawn or leaves the white king in the centre. (15...gxh4? 16.0-0±) 16.Bg3 (16.exd6? Re8+ 17.Kd2 gxh4–+) 16...Nxe5 17.Ne4 Bg4 18.0-0 Bxf3 19.gxf3 f5 20.Nxd6 Qxd6µ. 15...Bxg3+ 16.hxg3 Re8„

Next we’ll grab the e4-pawn.

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B2) 9.exd5 0-0

For the protected passer d5 we got comfortable squares for almost all of our pieces: the dark-squared bishop will occupy the blockading square d6, the light-squared bishop will be developed on f5 or g4, the knight will go to d7, the queen will be able to settle on c7, and the rooks will compete for the open e-file. Besides, after short castling the absence of the f-pawn may affect the safety of the white king.Let’s take a closer look at the natural development B2a) 10.Nf3 and the much more dangerous for us move B2b) 10.Be2!. 10.Bf4?! – White fails to achieve long castling. 10...Re8 11.Be2 Bg4 12.Qd2 Nh5 13.Be3? The lesser evil was 13.0-0-0 Nxf4 14.Bxg4 Bg5 15.Kb1 Ne2 16.Qc2 Nxc3+ 17.Qxc3 Nd7ƒ, but even here the white king cannot feel completely safe. 13...Bd6 14.0-0-0? 14.Bxg4 Qh4+µ; 14.g3 Nf6 15.Nf3 Nbd7 16.0-0 Qe7³.

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Exercise: How should Black continue? 14...Rxe3!, Volkov – Vitiugov, St Petersburg 2017. White resigned in view of the line 15.Bxg4 Rxc3+ 16.Qxc3 Qg5+–+. 10.Bd3!?, Amartuvshin – Nihal, chess.com 2020. White wants to develop the knight on e2 in order to leave the f-file open for the rook. At the same time it sets up a cunning trap. 10...Bd6. The minus of placing the knight on e2 is that Black does not have to worry about Nb5 since the bishop has the e5-square. 11.Nge2

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11...Bg4 The tempting 11...Ng4? loses to 12.Ne4 Bxh2 13.Nf2! Nxf2 14.Kxf2 Qf6+ 15.Ke1 Qe5 16.g3 Bxg3+ 17.Kd2 f5 18.Qf1+– followed by 19.Qh3. 12.0-0 Nbd7 13.Bf4 Bxf4 14.Rxf4 Qe7. The queen must assume the function of a blocker and clear the way for the a8-rook. 15.Qd2 Bxe2 16.Re1 Rae8 17.Rxe2 Qd6 18.Ref2 a6=. Black is planning to double the rooks on the efile. 10.Qc2 has no venom since Black will play ...g6 and will lead out the bishop to f5. 10...Re8 11.Be2 g6

12.Nf3 Bf5 13.Qd1 Ne4. The knight trade suits Black since he has less space. The f6-square could be useful for the bishop. 14.Nxe4 Bxe4 15.0-0 Nd7=.

B2a) 10.Nf3

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This harmless move order allows Black to complete the development of minor pieces without losing a tempo on ...a7-a6. 10...Bd6!? 11.Be2 With the white bishop on f1, 11.Nb5?! does not make sense because after 11...Bg4! 12.Nxd6 Qxd6 13.Be2 Bxf3 White does not have time to take on f3 with his bishop. 14.gxf3 14.Bxf3? Re8+ 15.Kf2 Nbd7µ. 14...Nh5. The f4-square is a perfect stand for the knight. 15.0-0 Nf4„. It is somewhat easier to play with Black here. 11...Bg4 12.0-0 12.Nb5?! Bxf3 13.gxf3 Nh5„ is again unsuccessful. 12...Nbd7

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With the knight on d7, the idea of Nc3-b5 is already pointless since the b8-square has been vacated for the bishop. 13.Bg5 This developing move is the most popular option. Let’s consider some alternatives. The fact that White does not have time to profitably trade light-squared bishops is very important for the assessment of the diagram position: 13.Nh4?! Bxe2 14.Qxe2 14.Nxe2?! Ng4 15.Nf3 Qe7³.

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14...Nxd5!. White is yet to prove that his compensation is sufficient to equalize. 15.Nf5 Nxc3 16.bxc3 Be5ƒ. 13.Ng5?! Bxe2 14.Qxe2 Re8 15.Qc2 h6 16.Nf3 Ne5 17.Nxe5 Bxe5³, Volkov – Turov, Hell 2019. It is more tricky to try the similar idea 13.h3 Bh5 14.Nh4!? since after the exchange on e2 the black knight cannot jump to g4. Therefore, it is necessary to retreat the bishop: 14...Bg6! 15.Nf5 Bxf5 16.Rxf5 Be5 17.Qc2 Qb6 18.Bd2 Rae8=. It makes sense to protect the b2-pawn against ...Qd8-b6 before the bishop moves to g5: 13.Qc2 Re8 14.Bg5 Bxf3 – the exchange of the knight on f3 weakens the dark squares around the white king. 15.Bxf3 (15.Rxf3? Bxh2+³) 15...h6 16.Bh4 (16.Bd2 a6=) 16...Qb8 17.g4! 17.h3 Bh2+ 18.Kh1 Bg3 – the trade of dark-squared bishops is strategically in Black’s favour. 19.Bxg3 Qxg3=. 17...Bf4 18.Rad1 g5 19.Be1 (19.Bf2 Ne5„) 19...Ne5

20.d6 Re6 21.Bd5 Rxd6 22.h3, Burgos Garbin – Junge, ICCF 2019, 22...Qf8„. Black’s chances are at least not worse. 13...h6 14.Bh4, Kirszenberg – Zanan, Budapest 2017, 14...Qb6

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Thanks to the attack on the b2 pawn, the a8-rook gets a tempo to come into play. 15.Qc2 Rae8„ Our immediate plan is to transfer the light-squared bishop to g6.

B2b) 10.Be2!

White starts the development of the kingside with the bishop in order to have the idea of Nb5 in response to ...Bd6.

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10...a6 I recommend spending a tempo on the preparation of ...Bd6. In case of the immediate: 10...Bd6?! 11.Nb5², Matlakov – Predke, Izhevsk 2019, White gets the bishop pair advantage. We’ll demonstrate the difficulties awaiting Black after 10...Re8 in the chapter “Illustrative Games” – see Game 5 Caruana – Alekseenko, Yekaterinburg 2020. 11.Nf3 11.Bf4 is pointless as the exchange of dark-squared bishops suits us quite well. 11...Bd6 12.Qd2 Bf5 13.Nf3 Re8 14.0-0 Qc7 15.Bxd6 Qxd6 16.Nh4 Bg6 17.Bd3 Bxd3 18.Qxd3 g6 19.Rae1 Nbd7=. 11...Bd6N 12.0-0 12.Bg5!? – this move gives Black the opportunity to develop the bishop on f5. 12...h6 13.Bh4 Play is equal after 13.Bxf6 Qxf6 14.Ne4 Qe7 15.Nxd6 Qxd6 16.0-0 Nd7 17.Bd3 Nf6=. 13...Bf5! 14.0-0 Nbd7

Black is ready to send the queen to b6 and bring the a8-rook to the open file. 15.Bd3 – the exchange of the light-squared bishops is strategically favourable for White, but Black manages to activate the heavy pieces in response. 15...Bxd3 16.Qxd3 Qb6 17.Rae1 Rae8 18.Qc2 Ng4 19.Nd1 Nde5„. The plan with long castling does not work – 12.Qc2 h6. It is useful to ban Bg5. 13.Bd2 Re8 14.0-0-0? It was necessary to accept equality after 14.0-0 Nbd7 15.Rae1 Ne5 16.Nxe5 Bxe5=. 14...b5! – Black is the first to launch an attack on the king. 89

15.cxb5

Exercise: How should Black continue? 15...Rxe2! 16.Nxe2 axb5‚ with a deadly attack after 17...b4. 12...h6!

It is still unprofitable for Black to develop the light-squared bishop since White will immediately exchange it. Therefore, I recommend switching to the plan with ...Re8, ...Nbd7, ...Ne5. But first we need to get rid of the potential pin. 12...Bg4? 13.Nh4 Bxe2 14.Qxe2±. 90

Or 12...Bf5?! 13.Bd3². 13.Be3 White completes the development and connects the rooks. In case of 13.Nh4 it is necessary to enable the threat of ...Nxd5 and force the h4-knight to go back. 13...Be5 (13...Nxd5? 14.Qxd5+–) 14.Nf3 14.Nf5? Bxf5 15.Rxf5 Qd6 16.h3 Nbd7µ. 14...Bd6=. The attempt to limit the scope of the c8-bishop with 13.Bd3 Re8 14.h3 allows unexpected counterplay: 14...b5!

15.cxb5 15.b3 Nbd7„, having in mind 16...Ne5. 15...c4 16.Bxc4 (16.Bc2? axb5µ) 16...Bxh3!? 17.gxh3 17.Re1 Bg4 18.Rxe8+ Qxe8 19.Qe2 Qc8„. 17...Qc8

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18.Kg2 – the h3-pawn costs more than the c4-bishop! 18.Be2 Qxh3„ is threatening 19...Bc5+. 18...Qxc4 19.Qd4 axb5°. Despite being a pawn down, Black’s position is no worse. We have a clear plan to activate the knight via the route ...Nb8-d7-c5. I propose to always stop 13.a4 by 13...b6 in order to enable the rook lift ...Ra8-a7-e7. 13...Re8 14.a5². 14.Be3 Re8 15.Qd2 Bf5 16.Bf4 Bh7! 16...Ra7?! 17.Nh4 Bh7 18.Bxd6 Qxd6 19.Bd3². 17.Rae1 Ra7!

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18.Bxd6 Qxd6 19.Bd3 Bxd3 20.Qxd3 Rxe1 21.Rxe1 Re7=. 13...Re8 14.Qd2 Bf5 Black succeeds in completing piece development and enjoys a comfortable game. 15.Bf4 15.Bd3 Bxd3 16.Qxd3 Nbd7„. 15.Rae1 Nbd7=.

15...Bh7 16.Rae1 Bxf4 17.Qxf4 Nbd7 18.Bd1 Qb6 19.Qd2 Qd6= After the exchange of the dark-squared bishops the queen becomes a good blocker. Conclusion The ambitious system 4.f3 is less common in practice than 4.Qc2 and 4.e3 since White needs to remember a large number of forced variations. From a wide range of Black’s options, we have chosen one that leads to a position with a stable pawn structure and complex piece play. In a position with a protected passed pawn on d5, it is difficult for White to avoid the strategically good for Black exchange of dark-squared bishops.

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Chapter 6 The 4.Nf3 0-0 System 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3

The 4.Nf3 system owes its popularity to the 13th World champion. Garry Kasparov’s successes in the matches of 1985-1986 against A. Karpov attracted the attention of the chess world to 4.Nf3. The main asset of the system is its flexibility – White retains the possibility to develop the dark-squared bishop on g5 or leave it on c1, while the light-squared bishop can be developed on d3 or end up on g2. White’s queen also has freedom of manoeuvring – Qb3, Qc2 or to remain on d1. The main shortcoming of the early development of the knight, as noted by Taimanov, is the fact that White does not contest the e4-square and does not threaten to seize the centre. That provides Black with a wide range of decent ways to complete the development and fight for the centre. In 2013 my attention was drawn to 4...0-0. Black’s ideas were demonstrated in the games Ipatov – Smirnov and Wojtaszek – Tkachev. 4...0-0 We can say that over the past 9 years this natural continuation has made a dizzying career from a rare dubious line to almost Black’s main weapon against 4.Nf3. White needs to decide which set-up to choose. In Chapters 6-7 we‘ll consider continuations that are typical for the 4.Nf3 system. The rest of White’s possibilities are either already familiar to us or will

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be covered in the Rubinstein System 4.e3 or the Classical System 4.Qc2. In this chapter I’ll introduce you to the consequences of A) 5.Bd2, B) 5.Qb3, and will begin with the main line C) 5.Bg5, which we’ll continue to analyse in Chapter 7. Briefly about White’s other options: 5.Qc2 – the Classical System. Chapter 10. 5.e3 – the Rubinstein System. Chapter 9. 5.g3 – the Romanishin System. Chapter 4. 5.a3?! – in the Sämisch System the knight is badly placed on f3 since it stops the f2-pawn from moving forward. 5...Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne4

It is time for White to fight for equality – 7.Nd2 The most popular continuation 7.Qc2?! allows Black to bolster the knight in the centre and start attacking White’s doubled pawns – 7...f5 8.e3 b6 9.Bd3 Ba6 10.0-0 Nc6ƒ, intending 11...Na5. 7...Nxd2 8.Bxd2 d6 9.e4 e5 10.Bd3 Nc6 11.Be3 f5 12.exf5 Bxf5=. 5.Bf4 – the bishop is much more active on g5. 5...c5 6.e3 6.Bd6? loses to 6...Ne4–+. 6...cxd4 7.exd4 d5. We have already discussed this position in Chapter 1.

A) 5.Bd2

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This calm continuation gives Black time to fianchetto the light-squared bishop and take control of the e4-square. 5...b6 6.a3 The only way to justify the development of the bishop on d2 is to try to get the bishop pair advantage. The position after 6.e3 c5 occurs much more often through the move order 4.e3 0-0 5.Bd2 b6 6.Nf3 c5, so we’ll cover it in Chapter 8. 6.g3?! – with the bishop on g2, it would be more difficult for Black to carry out the program ...c7-c5 due to the answer d4-d5. However, it is not necessary to develop the bishop on b7. 6...Ba6! 7.b3 d5 8.cxd5 exd5

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White cannot complete the development without exchanging light-squared bishops – 9.e3 (9.Bg2 Re8µ) 9...Bxf1 10.Kxf1, Melkumyan – Svane, Gjakova 2016, 10...Re8 11.Kg2 c6 12.Qc2 Qe7 13.Ne2 Bd6³. 6.Rc1 – White is waiting for the bishop to go to b7 in order to play 7.g3. 6...Bb7 7.g3 7.e3 leads to a position from the Rubinstein System – 7...c5 8.a3 Bxc3 9.Bxc3 Ne4 – Chapter 8. 7...Nc6 8.e3 occurred in Khenkin – Wojtaszek, Baden Baden 2019. Following 8.a3 Bxc3 9.Bxc3 d5 10.cxd5 Nxd5 11.Bd2 Nf6 the threat of 12...Nxd4 forces White to repeat moves – 12.Bc3 Nd5=. Now Black could prevent the development of the bishop on g2 and prepare to undermine the centre with 8...Na5, followed by ...c7-c5.

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9.b3 9.a3?! Bxc3 10.Bxc3 Nb3! 11.Rb1 c5³. 9...c5 10.dxc5 bxc5 11.Bg2 Ba6„ with the idea 12...d5. 6...Bxc3 7.Bxc3 Ne4

It is important to prevent the dark-squared bishop from retreating to a safe position. 8.Rc1 8.Qc2 Bb7 9.g3 Nxc3 10.Qxc3 c5=, Babu – Arun Prasad, New Delhi 2010. 98

8...Bb7 9.e3 9.g3 d6 10.Bg2 Nd7 11.0-0, Gomez – Wei Yi, Makati 2018, 11...Nxc3 – the bishop was ready to escape to e1, so it’s time to eat it. 12.Rxc3 a5=. 9...d6 The immediate 9...Nxc3!? 10.Rxc3 d6=, Strutinskaya – Dimitrova, Moscow 2017, is also possible. 10.Bd3 10.Be2 Nd7 11.0-0 Nxc3 11...f5?! 12.Be1², Harika – Hou Yifan, chess.com 2021. 12.Rxc3 Qe7 13.b4 a5 14.Qc2 axb4 15.axb4 Ra7„, Analiev – Kotzev, corr. ICCF 2019. 10...Nd7 11.0-0

11.b4, Grigorian – Martinez Alcantara, Tornelo 2021, 11...Nxc3 12.Rxc3 a5 13.0-0 axb4 14.axb4 Qe7=. 11...Nxc3 The castling freed the e1-square, so we must trade the bishop. 12.Rxc3 f5=

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Black plans to move the queen to f6 and then ...e6-e5.

B) 5.Qb3

5...c5 6.Bg5 The same position could arise via the move order 5.Bg5 c5 6.Qb3. White’s alternatives do not pose any problems: 6.dxc5 Na6 7.Bd2, Carlsen – So, chess24.com 2021 – White needs to place the bishop on d2 in order to avoid 7...Ne4 or 7...Qa5. 7.Bg5? Qa5 8.Bxf6 gxf6 9.Nd2 Nxc5 10.Qc2 Bxc3 11.bxc3 b6µ, Piket – Korchnoi, Harlingen 1991. 7...Bxc3. Our knight arrives on e4 in time to deprive White of the bishop pair advantage. 8.Bxc3 Nxc5 9.Qc2 Nce4=. After 6.e3?! d5 the idea of ...Nb8-c6-a5 urges White to force play. 7.cxd5 7.a3 Bxc3+ 8.Qxc3 (8.bxc3 Nc6 9.cxd5 exd5 – the positional threat 10...c4 forces the opponent to remain with a weakness on c3. 10.dxc5 Ne4³, Filipovic – Zivanovic, Obrenovac 2008) 8...cxd4 9.exd4 (9.Nxd4 – see 6.a3) 9...Nc6

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Black’s lead in development allows him to saddle the opponent with an isolated pawn. 10.Bg5 (10.c5?! Ne4 11.Qc2 e5³) 10...dxc4 11.Bxc4 Ne4 12.Bxd8 Nxc3 13.Bh4 Nd5³, Vidmar – Alekhine, Hastings 1925. 7...exd5 8.dxc5 Nc6 9.Be2 Bxc5. The queen is clumsily placed on b3. 10.0-0 a6 – preparing to lead out the bishop on e6. 11.Rd1 Be6 12.Nd4 12.Qxb7?? Na5 wins since the a6-pawn took away the b5-square from the queen. 12...Qe7ƒ, Kempinski – Kacheishvili, Plovdiv 2003. 6.a3?!, Ivanchuk – Wei Yi, Hoogeveen 2017, 6...Bxc3+ 7.Qxc3 cxd4 8.Nxd4?! leads to an unpleasant position. However, even after 8.Qxd4 Nc6, followed by further ...d6-d5, Black keeps the initiative. We studied a similar position in Chapter 1 via the move order 4.Qb3 c5 5.a3. 8...d5 – the lead in development, caused by the White’s queen manoeuvres, allows Black to push ...e6-e5 and grab space. 9.e3 e5! 10.Nf3 Re8

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11.cxd5 White loses after 11.Nxe5? Ne4 12.Qd4 Qh4 13.g3 Qh5. He fails to hide his king following 11.Be2? Nc6 12.cxd5 Nxd5 13.Qd2 e4! 14.Nd4 Qg5, and castling is impossible due to 15...Bh3. So 15.g3, Anastasian – Milov, Antalya 2004, 15...Nxd4 16.Qxd4 Bh3–+. 11...Nxd5 12.Qd2 Nc6. White has to take a worse endgame in view of the threat 13...e4. 13.e4 Nf6 14.Qxd8 Rxd8 15.Bg5 Bg4³. 6...h6 7.Bh4 7.Bxf6?! – exchanging the active bishop is an unmotivated capitulation. 7...Qxf6 8.a3 Ba5 9.e3 cxd4 10.Nxd4 Nc6 11.Rd1, Sanikidze – Mchedlishvili, Tbilisi 2015, 11...Qg6³. 7...Nc6 8.d5 This risky continuation occurred in the semi-final of the 2019 World Cup. In the event of 8.0-0-0?! Black can carry out a standard for the Nimzo tactical operation: 8...Bxc3 9.Qxc3

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Exercise: How should Black continue? 9...cxd4! 10.Nxd4 Ne4! 11.Bxd8 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Rxd8³. Deserves attention the outwardly unassuming 8.e3!? cxd4 9.Nxd4 (9.exd4 d5³) 9...Nxd4 10.exd4, and Black needs several precise moves to level the chances. 10...Be7 11.Be2 – the white bishop is ready to go to f3 following 11...b6 11.Bd3 b6 12.0-0 Bb7=, Al Ghafri – Premanath, Tornelo 2021.

Exercise:

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How should Black continue? 11...b6! 11...d5 is unfavourable with a pawn on b7 because of 12.c5 b6 13.c6 Qc7 14.Qa4². 12.Bf3 d5! – this little tactic allows us to complete the development. 12...Rb8 13.Bg3 d6 14.c5±. 13.cxd5 Loses 13.0-0? Ba6µ. After 13.Bxf6 Bxf6„ White’s d4-pawn is hanging. 13...Nxd5 14.Bxe7 14.Nxd5? exd5µ leaves White without a castle. 14...Qxe7 15.0-0 Nxc3 16.Bxa8 Ne2+ 17.Kh1 Ba6

In view of the threats 18...Rxa8 and 18...Nxd4 Black regains the exchange – 18.Qa4 Ng3+ 19.hxg3 Bxf1 20.Be4 Be2=. 8...Na5 9.Qc2 Nxc4 9...g5?!, Sanikidze – Romanov, Nuremberg 2013, leads to a difficult position after 10.Nxg5 hxg5 11.Bxg5², and it is unclear how Black could escape from the pin. 10.0-0-0 The obvious 10.e4? is losing:

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Exercise: How should Black continue? 10...Nxb2! 11.Qxb2 g5 12.Nxg5 Qa5–+. 10...Bxc3 The simplest solution. 10...b5!? leads to a double-edged game after 11.Nxb5 11.e4 Bxc3 12.Qxc3 Nxe4 13.Qc2 Nf6³. 11...Nxb2 12.Qxb2 Rb8 13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.a3 Rxb5 15.axb4 Rxb4 16.Qa1 Qb6∞. 11.Qxc3 b5

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The threat 12...g5 forces White to accept an equal endgame. 12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.Qxf6 gxf6 14.e4 Bb7 15.Bxc4 bxc4 16.dxe6 dxe6= We have followed the game Yu Yangyi – Ding Liren, Khanty-Mansiysk 2019.

C) 5.Bg5

Undoubtedly, this is the most principled option. After castling it would be more difficult for Black to get rid of the knight pin.

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5...c5 Main moves in this position are 6.e3 and 6.Rc1. We’ll talk about them in the next chapter. We have already discussed the consequences of 6.Qb3 via the move order 5.Qb3 c5 6.Bg5. 6.d5!? This pawn advance stands out among other possibilities. White’s position is worse after 6.a3?! Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 Qa5³, and in response to any reasonable defence of the c3-pawn Black will follow up with 8...Ne4, Bennett – Franklin, Islington 1968. In the event of 6.Qc2?! cxd4 7.Nxd4 h6 8.Bh4

Black chooses between a simple game after 8...Nc6 and the ambitious 8...e5 with the idea to put pressure on the c4-pawn after ...d6, ...Be6. 8...e5!? 8...Nc6 9.Nxc6 dxc6= with further ...e6-e5. 9.Nf3 9.Bxf6 Qxf6 10.Ndb5 is bad in view of the thematic gambit idea:

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Exercise: How should Black continue? 10...d5! – a white pawn on d5 would take the d5-square from the c3-knight – 11.cxd5 a6 12.Na3 b5³. 9...d6 10.e3 g5 11.Bg3 Qa5 12.Nd2 Bxc3 13.bxc3 Na6 14.Be2 Nc5³, Lybin – Pezzica, corr. ICCF 2005. After 6.dxc5 Na6 in the game Korobov – Gelfand, Yasnaya Polyana 2021, White rightly decided to return the bishop to d2: 7.Bd2 7.Nd2? Nxc5 8.e3, Ricardi – Rodriguez Vila, Santiago de Chile 2005, 8...Bxc3 9.bxc3 b6 10.Be2 Ba6µ. 7.e4?!, Petkov – Nikolova, Plovdiv 2006, 7...Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 e5³. Black regains the pawn and gets an obvious edge due to 9.Nxe5? Qa5 10.Bxf6 Qxc3+ 11.Ke2 gxf6 12.Nd3 Re8 13.f3 f5µ. 7...Nxc5 8.e3 b6 9.Be2 Bb7=. 6...exd5 7.cxd5 d6 8.e3 White must strive to develop his pieces as soon as possible as after ...Nb8-d7-b6 he will lose the d5pawn. 8.a3 Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 Nbd7 10.c4, Li Shilong – Ma Zhonghan, China 2013, 10...b5 11.cxb5 a6³. 8...h6 9.Bh4

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9...Bf5!? I suggest not to try to win a pawn but to complete the piece development. White had good prospects after 9...Nbd7 10.Bd3 Qa5 11.0-0 Bxc3 12.bxc3 Qxc3 13.e4 Re8 14.Re1°, Dubov – Nakamura, chess24.com 2020. 10.Bd3 White should not allow counterplay with ...g5, ...Ne4 – 10.Be2 g5 11.Bg3 Ne4 12.Rc1 Qf6„. 10...Bxd3 11.Qxd3 Nbd7 12.0-0 Re8

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It is necessary to defend against 13.Ne4 in the first place. Black’s further plan is connected with counterplay on the queenside in the spirit of the Modern Benoni – ...a6 and ...b5, or ...Rc8 and ...c4. 13.Ne2! White is trying to leave the b4-bishop out of work.13.Rfd1 a6 leads to an excellent position for Black, Schmidt – Heigl, Potsdam 1997, 14.a4 Rc8³. Or 13.a3 Bxc3 14.bxc3 g5 – it is essential to seize the e4-square. 15.Bg3 Ne4 16.c4 f5„. 13...g5 14.Bg3 Ne4 15.h3 The idea of this move is to prepare a very dangerous plan – Nf3-h2. We must prevent such course of events. 15...Qe7

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16.Bh2 (16.Nh2 h5„) 16...Ndf6„ After taking the e4-square Black is ready to return to the plan of counterplay on the queenside.

Conclusion In this chapter we have considered relatively rare possibilities for White after 4.Nf3 0-0. Castling is currently the most popular Black’s weapon in response to the 4.Nf3 system among elite grandmasters. White has a wide range of options on move 5, but most of them lead to transitions to other systems. The most daunting continuation for Black is 5.Bg5, since after castling it is often too risky to get rid of the pin by ...h6-g5. It is the subject of our next chapter

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Chapter 7 The 4.Nf3 0-0 5.Bg5 c5 System 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 0-0 5.Bg5 c5

In this chapter we’ll look at White’s main objections to 4...0-0 5.Bg5 c5. The natural developing move A) 6.e3 brought Kasparov a victory in the 11th game of the 1985 match against Karpov. However, Black’s good results in this direction forced White to look for new paths, and the main trend of recent years has been the rook development B) 6.Rc1.

A) 6.e3 cxd4 It is important to carry out the exchange in the centre without inserting 6...h6 7.Bh4 in order to exclude the capture on d4 by the knight, as in the game P. Smirnov – Predke, Khanty-Mansiysk 2014. We’ll examine A1) 7.Qxd4 and A2) 7.exd4. After 7.Nxd4? Qa5³ the bishop on g5 is hit, and White remains a pawn down, Al Omary – Miswadah, Riyadh 2017.

A1) 7.Qxd4 Nc6 8.Qd3 8.Qh4, Iniyan – Paszewski, Graz 2017, leads to a pleasant endgame for Black – 8...Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 h6 112

10.Bxf6 Qxf6 11.Qxf6 gxf6=. 8.Qf4 is an interesting attempt to create an attack on the black king. 8...h6 9.h4!?

The move of the flank pawn allows to maintain tension. White plans to play 0-0-0, and the h1-rook can go to h3 and prepare the sacrifice Bxh6. Therefore, Black needs to play ...e6-e5 to force White to exchange on f6. 9.Bxf6 Qxf6 10.Qxf6 gxf6 11.Rc1 Rd8 leads to a harmless endgame – we’ll bring the lightsquared bishop into play with ...b6 and ...Bb7, Shevchenko – Dragun, Warsaw 2019. 9...Bxc3+ 9...Be7? loses to 10.Bxh6 gxh6 11.Rh3+–. The immediate 9...Re8!? is worth attention, with the idea of 10...e5, Smith – Goryachkina, Caleta 2018. 10.bxc3 Re8 11.Be2 11.0-0-0 e5 12.Bxf6 exf4 13.Bxd8 fxe3 14.Bc7 e2 15.Bxe2 Rxe2=. 11...e5 12.Bxf6 exf4 13.Bxd8 Nxd8 14.exf4 Ne6

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The doubled pawns on the c-file and the white king stuck in the centre are sufficient compensation for the pawn. 15.g3 b6 16.Kd1 – the white king does not occupy the d2-square since it is necessary for the knight. 16.Kf1 Bb7³; 16.Kd2 Nc5³. 16...Bb7 17.Re1 Nc5 18.Nd2

White managed to defend against the threat of ...Ne4, but the a1-rook is still out of play. 18...Re7 19.Bf3 Bxf3+ 20.Nxf3 Rae8 21.Rxe7 Rxe7 22.Rc1 Ne4 23.Rc2 d6=.

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Black regains the pawn with 24...Rc7, Voveris – Rodler, ICCF 2017. 8...h6 9.Bh4 d5

White fails to put pressure on the d5-pawn since Black is better developed. 10.a3 In case of an exchange on d5 10.cxd5?! exd5ƒ, the plan ...g5, ...Ne4 gains in strength since the c8bishop has an open path to f5.

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After 10.Be2?! e5³ the black centre is ready to move forward. In response of 10.Rd1, Bai – Ding Liren, China 2017, it makes sense to hit the a2-pawn and the c3knight with 10...Qa5„. 10.Rc1 is a reliable continuation, but it does not exert any pressure on Black’s position. 10...dxc4 11.Qxc4 Be7. Black finishes the development without any problems, playing ...Qb6, ...Rd8.

12.a3, Voveris – Rutkus, ICCF 2017. 12.Be2 Qb6 13.Qb5 Qxb5 14.Bxb5 Bd7=. 12...Qb6 13.Qa2 Rd8 14.Be2 Nd5. Black’s position remains a little cramped, but the exchange of two minor pieces removes all questions. 15.Nxd5 Rxd5 16.Bxe7 Nxe7 17.0-0 Bd7=. 10...Bxc3+ 11.Qxc3

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Exercise: How should Black continue? 11...g5! White got the bishop pair advantage, but lagged behind in development. This circumstance can only be used by energetic play. 12.Bg3 12.Nxg5? hxg5 13.Bxg5 Ne4–+. 12...Ne4 13.Qc2, Wulfelschneider – Schumacher, ICCF 2018, 13...Qa5+ 14.Nd2 Nxd2 15.Qxd2 Qxd2+ 16.Kxd2 Na5= The threat of 17...Nb3+ forces White to transfer the game into a drawn ending.

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17.Kc3 Nxc4 18.Bxc4 dxc4=

A2) 7.exd4

7...d5 Black’s task is to create an isolated pawn by ...dxc4 only after White has spent a tempo on the development of the light-squared bishop with Be2 or Bd3. That’s why besides the developing bishop moves A2a) 8.Bd3 and A2b) 8.Be2!?, we should seriously explore moves with the heavy pieces that bolster the centre – A2c) 8.Qc2 and the main continuation A2d) 8.Rc1.

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The attempt to gain space with 8.c5?, Gahan-Salem, chess.com 2021, turns out to be unsuccessful as after 8...b6 the c5-pawn quickly disappears from the board, while the c8-bishop will be developed through a6. 9.cxb6 Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 axb6³. Getting the bishop pair advantage 8.a3?! Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 leads to some lag in development. By playing 9...Qa5, Black gets rid of the pin and attacks White’s weaknesses. 10.Qc2 Nbd7³, planning ...b6 and ...Ba6. 8.Qb3?! – the queen is badly placed on b3 due to 8...Nc6 9.Rd1 9.Be2 Be7³, Rozhkovan – Savon, Vladivostok 1995. 9...Bxc3+

Both recaptures provide our knights with tempos: 10.Qxc3 10.bxc3 Na5 11.Qb4 Nxc4 12.Bxc4 dxc4³, Buckel – Schuster, Bayern 2000. 10...Ne4 11.Bxd8 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Rxd8³, Emmenecker – Justo, France 2009. 8.cxd5 – we cannot call this exchange dangerous even though it occurred in the practice of the World champion. 8...exd5 9.Be2 h6 10.Bxf6 10.Bh4 g5 11.Bg3 Ne4 12.Rc1 Nc6 13.0-0 Be6 14.Ne5, Gavrilov – Lysyj, Sochi 2021, 14...Rc8 15.Nxc6 Rxc6=. 10...Qxf6 11.0-0 Bxc3 12.bxc3 Nc6 13.Nd2 Be6=, Carlsen – Grischuk, chess24.com 2020.

A2a) 8.Bd3 119

8...dxc4 9.Bxc4 a6!? I prefer the plan with ...a6 and ...b5 among many other possibilities because Black fights for space and prepares the comfortable b6-square for the queen. 10.0-0 After the inclusion of 9...a6 10.a4, Batsiashvili – Riazantsev, Douglas 2017, the counterplay 10...h6 11.Bh4 Qc7 12.Qd3 Nd5 13.0-0 Nf4 gains in strength as White cannot play Nc3-b5. 14.Qe3 Ng6„. 10...b5 11.Bb3 11.Bd3 is harmless since White does not have d4-d5. 11...Bb7 12.a4 12.Ne5 Be7 13.Qe2 Nbd7= Kuzubov – Ionov, Rethymnon 2003. 12...bxa4 13.Rxa4 a5 14.Ne5 h6 15.Bh4, Braun – Gross, Augsburg 2002, 15...Nbd7 16.Nxd7 Qxd7 17.Bxf6 gxf6=. 11...Nbd7

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The knight move to d7 makes 12.Ne5 pointless. 12.d5 12.Ne5 Nxe5 13.dxe5 Qxd1 14.Rfxd1 Bxc3 15.bxc3 Ne4„. 12...Nc5! 13.dxe6 Bxe6 14.Bxe6, Kondratiev – Spassky, Leningrad 1956, 14...Bxc3 We should exchange the c3-knight in order to recapture on e6 with the knight. 14...Nxe6? 15.Bxf6 gxf6 16.Nd5±. 15.Bxf7+ Rxf7 16.bxc3 Qxd1 17.Rfxd1 Nfe4 18.Be3 Na4= Black regains the pawn.

A2b) 8.Be2!?

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The trick behind this bishop development is that after 8...dxc4 White does not have to take on c4 right away. 9.0-0 a6 A useful preparatory move not only for the capture on c4 but also for the appearance of a knight on e5. In Carlsen – Ding Liren, Saint Louis 2017, White got an edge following 9...h6 10.Bh4 b6 11.Ne5!? Bxc3 12.bxc3 Bb7 13.Nxc4². 10.a4, Goldinger – Schneider, Germany 2010. 10.Ne5 h6 11.Bh4 Nbd7 12.Bxc4 12.Nxc4 b5 13.Ne3 Bb7=. 12...Nxe5 13.dxe5 Qxd1 14.Rfxd1 Bxc3 15.bxc3 Nd5=. 10...h6 11.Bh4 Nc6 12.Bxc4 Be7

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White prevented b7-b5, but the presence of a pawn on a4 allows Black to reach a balance with the set-up...Bd7, ...Re8, ...Nd5. 13.Re1 Bd7 14.Qe2 14.Qd2, Iniyan – Bogner, Krasnaya Polyana 2021, 14...Re8 15.Rad1 15.Ne5 Rc8 16.Ba2 Nb4 17.Bb3 Nbd5=, intending 18...Bc6. 15...Nd5 16.Bxd5 exd5 17.Bxe7 Nxe7=. Or 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.d5 Bxc3 16.bxc3 exd5 17.Bxd5 Qc7=. 14...Re8 15.Rad1 Nd5 15...Rc8 16.Ne5². 16.Bxd5 exd5 17.Bxe7 Nxe7=

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White would have had some advantage stayed the pawn on a2, but with the hole on b4 we cannot have any problems, Babula – S. Atalik, Germany 2000.

A2c) 8.Qc2

The queen frees the d1-square to the rook. The flip side of such a plan is the fact that the white king remains in the centre of the board for a long time. 8...h6 9.Bh4 Nc6 10.Rd1 The most consistent solution. 10.0-0-0?! Be7 11.Kb1, Roussel Roozmon – Maze, Montreal 2009, 124

looks adventurous: 11...Bd7 – after the appearance of a rook on the c-file the white queen will feel extremely uncomfortable. 12.Ne5 Rc8³. In contrast to the position with a rook on c1 and a queen on d1 (line A2c), 10.a3?! Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 does not work owing to 11...e5!

Black opens the e-file for the f8-rook and takes over the initiative: 12.dxe5 Re8 13.cxd5 Nxe5 14.0-0-0 14.Nxe5? Rxe5+ 15.Be2 Bf5 16.Qb2 Bd3, Wilson – Potrata, corr. ICCF 2018. 14...Ng6 15.Bxf6 Qxf6³; 12.cxd5, Gelbenegger – Costa, Austria 2021, 12...Qxd5 13.Bxf6 gxf6³; 12.Rd1 exd4 13.Be2 13.Nxd4 g5 14.Bg3 Re8+ 15.Be2 Qe7³. 13...g5 14.Bg3 Ne4 15.cxd5 Bf5 16.Bd3 Qxd5 17.0-0 dxc3 18.Bxe4 Bxe4 19.Qxc3 Qf5³, Sisuk – Ulbig, corr. 2018. 10...g5 11.Bg3 Ne4

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12.Bd3?! Strange as it may seem, this logical developing move leads White to difficulties. It was necessary to force the exchange of the b4-bishop for the c3-knight in order to meet ...f7-f5 by h2-h3 – see the comment on the next move. 12.a3 Bxc3+ 13.bxc3 Qa5 14.Rc1, Decroix – Laurence, Paris 2003, 14...f5 15.h3 b6„. Black is planning to lead out the bishop on a6. 12...f5 The threat 13...f4 prevents White from completing his development. 13.0-0 13.h3 is already insufficient due to 13...Nxg3 14.fxg3 Bd6!³, Moore – Olsen, ICCF 2020. Or 13.Be5 g4! 14.Nd2 Nxe5 15.dxe5, Fathallah – Heaven, Cardiff 2016, 15...Qg5³. The black queen is heading for f4. 13...Bxc3 14.bxc3 f4 15.Bxe4 dxe4 16.Qxe4

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Exercise: How should Black continue? 16...Qe7! It is important to defend against the perpetual check exactly from this square. After 16...Qf6? 17.h4 fxg3 18.fxg3° White got excellent compensation for the piece in the game Mamedyarov – Ding Liren, Huaian 2017. 17.h4 fxg3 18.hxg5 18.fxg3 gxh4µ. 18...gxf2+ 19.Rxf2 hxg5³, Ggg – Kreuzfahrtschiff, playchess.com 2007.

A2d) 8.Rc1 The most logical move – White keeps the bishop on f1 and prepares 9.a3. 8...h6 9.Bh4 The exchange on f6, as usual, favours Black. 9.Bxf6?! Qxf6 10.c5 10.cxd5?! exd5 11.Be2 Be6 12.0-0 Nc6³, Barda – Flohr, Hamburg 1930. 10.a3 Bxc3+ 11.Rxc3 dxc4 12.Bxc4 Rd8 13.0-0 Nc6 14.Rd3 Bd7=, Wedberg – Sosonko, New York 1986. 10...Nc6 127

Black manages to carry out ...e6-e5 – 11.a3 Bxc3+ 12.Rxc3 e5 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Nd4? 14.Qxd5 Re8 15.Be2 Ng6 16.Re3 Rd8 17.Qc4 Qxb2³. 14...Nc6–+, Miranda Llanes – Dzagnidze, Khanty-Mansiysk 2018. 9...Nc6

White chooses between allowing an isolator after 10.Bd3 (or 10.Be2) 10...dxc4 11.Bxc4 and the principled 10.a3. 10.a3

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Again, 10.cxd5 exd5 11.Be2 g5 12.Bg3 Ne4 is boring – see 8.cxd5. 10.c5?

Exercise: How should Black continue? 10...e5! 11.Nxe5 11.dxe5 d4 12.exf6 g5 13.Bg3 Re8+ 14.Be2 d3–+. 11...Nxe5 12.dxe5 d4 13.a3 dxc3 14.axb4 cxb2 15.Rb1 Qxd1+ 16.Kxd1 Rd8+ 17.Ke1 Rd4! 18.exf6 (18.Bg3 Rxb4–+) 18...Rxb4 19.Bd3 Rxh4 20.Rxb2 gxf6µ, Chatalbashev – Lie, Kragero 2017. 10.Bd3 dxc4 11.Bxc4 Be7. Black plans to develop the light-squared bishop and further trade darksquared bishops with the typical idea of ...Nh5.

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12.0-0 b6 13.a3 Bb7 – see Illustrative game 6 Korobov – Huschenbeth, Karlsruhe 2020. 10...Be7 11.c5! With the bishop on e7, White can finally seize space without fearing the riposte ...e6-e5. 11...Ne4 12.Bxe7 Qxe7

Black’s task is to carry out the breakthrough ...e6-e5. The games of the best chess players in the world have shown that this plan of counterplay is sufficient to equalize. 13.Be2

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13.Bb5 – with the bishop on b5 we can carry out ...e6-e5 immediately – 13...Nxc3 14.Rxc3 e5 15.0-0 15.dxe5, Gonzalez Garcia – Burg, Barcelona 2017, 15...d4 16.Rc1 (16.Nxd4?! Rd8 17.Bxc6 bxc6ƒ) 16...Nxe5 17.Nxe5 Qxe5+ 18.Qe2 Qg5 19.0-0 Bf5=. 15...Bg4 16.Bxc6 bxc6 17.dxe5 Bxf3 18.Rxf3 Qxe5=, Carlsen – Nakamura, Leuven 2016. 13...Rd8! When the bishop is on e2, we have to bolster the d5-pawn in order to enable ...e6-e5 without having to exchange on c3 first. 13...Nxc3? 14.Rxc3 e5 15.Nxe5 Nxe5 16.Re3±. 14.0-0 e5

15.Nxe5 Nxe5 16.dxe5 Nxc3 17.Rxc3 d4 18.Rc1 Qxe5 19.Bd3 Bf5 20.b4 a5 21.Re1, Wojtaszek – Kramnik, Dortmund 2018, 21...Qf6=

B) 6.Rc1

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The idea of this continuation is to prepare capturing on d4 with the knight. 6...cxd4 7.Nxd4 We discussed the consequences of 7.Qxd4 Nc6 8.Qd3 h6 9.Bh4 d5 10.e3 in line A1. 7...h6 8.Bh4 As usual, the exchange of the bishop is harmless – 8.Bxf6 Qxf6 and Black is planning to stage ...d7d5. 9.e3 9.a3 Bxc3+ 10.Rxc3 Nc6 11.e3 Rd8 12.Be2 (12.Qf3 Qe5 13.Qg3 Qf6=, Inarkiev – Karjakin, Nazran 2019) 12...d5 13.cxd5 Nxd4 14.Qxd4 Qxd4 15.exd4 Rxd5=. 9...Nc6 10.Be2 Nxd4 11.exd4 11.Qxd4?! Qxd4 12.exd4, Guseva – Garifullina, Khanty-Mansiysk 2019, 12...b6³. 11...d5 12.c5 e5 13.0-0, Jankovic – Cvitan, Stari Mikanovci 2009, 13...Bxc3 14.bxc3 Bd7=. 8...d5

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This is the most topical key position in the variation 4.Nf3 0-0. The games Wojtaszek – Tkachev and Ipatov – P. Smirnov, mentioned at the beginning of the Chapter 6, saw B1) 9.e3 and B2) 9.cxd5. In the event of 9.Bxf6?! Qxf6 10.cxd5 exd5 11.e3 Nc6= White cannot hold the blockade on d4, Garza Marco – Asis Gargatagli, Las Palmas 2017.

B1) 9.e3 e5!

The idea of opening the centre at the cost of a pawn proved to be so strong that it forced White to abandon 9.e3.

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10.Nf3 It is logical to retreat with a tempo, attacking the e5-pawn. 10.Nc2 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 dxc4 12.Qxd8 Rxd8³, Ovsejevitsch – Schoppen, Hamburg 2020. 10.Nb3 g5 11.Bg3 Nc6 12.a3 Bxc3+ 13.bxc3 dxc4 14.Qxd8 Rxd8 15.Bxc4 Ne4³, Li Chao2 – Giri, Moscow 2016. 10...d4! In Wojtaszek – Tkachiev, Legnica 2013, Black rushed to get rid of the pin – 10...g5?! 11.Bg3 d4 12.exd4 exd4 13.Nxd4 Qb6. That could have led him to difficulties after 14.a3! Bxc3+ 15.bxc3². 11.exd4 exd4 12.Qxd4 With an extra pawn and an uncastled king, it is logical to seek to trade queens. The exchange of the bishop for a knight favours Black’s – 12.Bxf6? Re8+ 13.Be2 Qxf6 14.Qxd4 Qg6 15.0-0 Nc6³. Black’s light-squared bishop will soon reach h3. 12.Nxd4

Exercise: How should Black continue? 12...Qb6! – the whole plan with ...e5 and ...d4 is holding on this important resource. It is now difficult for White to defend against 13...Rd8. 13.Nf3? 13.a3 was necessary. However, unlike the Wojtaszek – Tkachev game where this position could 134

have arisen with the inclusion of g5 and Bh4, Black can answer 13...Rd8. Here White cannot take on b4 because after ...Rxd4 the bishop will be under attack. 14.Bxf6 Qxf6 15.axb4 Rxd4 16.Qe2 Be6 17.Qe3 Nc6 18.Be2 Nxb4ƒ. Black’s position is somewhat more pleasant. 13...Rd8 14.Qc2 g5 15.Bg3 Nc6. Black plans to play 16...g4 and send the knight to d4. Therefore, White has to accept the fact that his king will remain without a castle. 16.Bd3 g4 17.Nh4, Edouard – Nakamura, Caleta 2017, 17...Re8+ 18.Kf1 Be6µ. 12...Qe7+

Black wants to trade queens on e3 and create a pawn weakness for White. 13.Be2, Barsov – Kuzmin, Tashkent 1987. After 13.Qe3 Qxe3+ 14.fxe3 Ne4° Black will exchange the b4-bishop for the c3-knight and bring the b8-knight to c5. 13...g5 14.Bg3 Nc6 15.Qe3 Qxe3 16.fxe3 Ne4 It is indispensable to double the white pawns. 17.0-0 Bxc3 18.bxc3 Bg4³

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Despite being a pawn down, Black owns the initiative. His nearest plan is to bring the rook to the open file 19...Rfe8 and force White to retreat with his bishop to e1 in view of the threat ...Nxg3 and ...Rxe3.

B2) 9.cxd5

In resent years White has not been playing anything other. 9...Qxd5!?

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As a rule, Black takes on d5 only after the insertion of 9...g5 10.Bg3. However, I discovered after 9...Qxd5!? a new, far from obvious idea, which I would like to share with the readers. The popular theory goes 9...g5 10.Bg3 Qxd5∞ – see Illustrative game 7 Topalov – Ding Liren, Wenzhou 2018. 10.Bxf6 Only this exchange could reveal the minuses of taking on d5 on move 9. 10.e3?!, Sethuraman – Riazantsev, Riyadh 2017, 10...Nbd7 – with a pawn on g7, Black is not obliged to immediately take on a2. 11.a3 Bxc3+ 12.bxc3 b6³. 10...gxf6 11.a3 White moves the a2-pawn away from the hit and begins an attack on the black king with the help of the a2-pawn. In case of 11.Qd2 Black does not exchange the bishop for a knight but plays 11...Qg5!„, followed by 12...Rd8. After 11.e3 Qxa2 White launches an attack on the black king, but it only leads to perpetual check: 12.Qg4+ 12.Bd3 Qxb2 13.0-0 (13.Ndb5? f5µ) 13...Bxc3 14.Qg4+ Kh8 15.Qf4 Kg7=. 12...Kh8 13.Qf4

Exercise: How should Black continue?

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13...Qxb2 13...Kg7?! leads to an unpleasant game after 14.Nf5+ exf5 15.Qxb4². 14.Qxh6+ Kg8 15.Bd3 Bxc3+ 16.Rxc3 Qxc3+ 17.Ke2 Qb2+ 18.Kf3 f5. The threat ...Nb8-d7-e5 urges White to force a draw – 19.Qg5+ Kh7 20.Qh5+ Kg7=. 11...Bxc3+ 12.Rxc3

12...e5!N This logical novelty is based on a queen sacrifice. Or 12...Rd8? 13.Qd2±, and Black cannot take on d4 in view of Rd3, Amartuvshin – Batchuluun, Dadal 2017. 13.Rg3+ Knight retreats do not promise any advantage. Black exchanges queens and develops according to the scheme ...Be6, ...Nd7, ...Rac8. 13.Nb3 Qxd1+ 14.Kxd1 Be6 15.e3 15.Nc5 Rc8 16.e3 Nd7=. 15...Nd7 16.Bc4 Rfc8 17.Bxe6 fxe6=. 13.Nc2 Qxd1+ 14.Kxd1 Be6 15.g3 Nd7 16.Bg2 Rac8 17.Rxc8 Rxc8=. 13...Kh7 We’ll examine B2a) 14.Qc2+ and the tempting B2b) 14.Rg7+.

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B2a) 14.Qc2+ e4

The black pawn moves forward to prevent the knight from reaching f5. 15.e3 Worse is 15.Qc3?! Be6³ with the idea of 16...Rc8. 15...Nc6 Black aims to trade knights and queens so that the king feels safe. 16.Bc4 In the case of 16.Nxc6 we take with the queen – 16...Qxc6! 17.Qxc6 bxc6 18.Bc4 Rb8 19.b3 Be6=. 16.Ne2 keeps the knights on the board, but Black has time to transfer the bishop to g6: 16...Bf5 17.Nc3 Qe6 18.Be2 Bg6 19.0-0 Rfd8=. 16.Qc3 Nxd4 17.Bc4 transposes to 16.Bc4. 16...Nxd4 17.exd4 17.Qc3 Nc2+ 18.Qxc2 Qc6=. Black is ready to go to an endgame after 19...Be6. 17...Qxd4 18.Qb3 Bd7

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The threat 19...Ba4 forces White to postpone the capture on f7. 19.0-0 19.Bxf7 Ba4 20.Qd5 Rad8³. 19...Qb6 20.Bxf7 Qxb3 21.Bxb3 Bc6=

B2b) 14.Rg7+ Kxg7 15.Nf5+ Bxf5 16.Qxd5 Nc6 White has won the queen, but fell behind in development. Black’s task is to bring the rooks to the first rank. 17.e3 White finishes development, not letting the black knight go to d4. 17.f4 Rad8 18.Qf3 Rfe8„.

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Exercise: How should Black continue? 17...Rac8! We are not interested in the d-file since the rooks will penetrate to the first rank through the c1square. 18.Qf3 It is essential that White cannot develop the bishop right away: 18.Bb5? Nb4! 19.axb4 Rfd8³. 18.Bc4 Be6 19.Qf3 Bxc4 20.Qg4+ Kh8 21.Qxc4 Nd4 22.Qd5 Rc1+ 23.Kd2 Rxh1 24.exd4 exd4 25.Qxb7 Kg7 26.Qxa7 Rd8„. 18.Be2?

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Exercise: How should Black continue? 18...Nb4 19.axb4 Rfd8 20.Qf3 Rc1+ 21.Bd1 Bc2 22.Ke2 Bxd1+ 23.Rxd1 Rcxd1³. 18...Ne7 19.Be2 Rc1+ 20.Bd1

20...Rfc8! I remind you that we need to bring both rooks to the first rank.

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21.0-0 Ra1 22.h4 22.Be2 Rcc1ƒ. 22...Rcc1 This is a draw as White cannot exchange of a pair of rooks. 23.Kh2 Be6

We free the knight from the need to protect the bishop. 24.Qxb7 Nf5 25.Qe4 Nd6 The knight is heading to c4. 26.Qd3 Nc4 27.Be2 (27.Qe2 e4„) 27...e4!

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28.Qxe4 Rxf1 29.Bxc4 Bxc4 30.Qg4+ Kf8 31.Qxc4 Rxf2=

Conclusion In this chapter we have considered White’s main objections to 4.Nf3 0-0 5.Bg5 c5. Their main difference lies in the emerging pawn structures. After 6.e3 White plans to take on d4 with a pawn, so this often results in a position with an isolator. The transition to such a structure suits Black only after White has spent a tempo on the development of the f1-bishop. It is important for us to respond to White’s space-grabbing c4-c5 with the breakthrough in the centre ...e6-e5. With 6.Rc1 White prepares to take on d4 with the knight. That results in a position with an open centre. Black can solve opening problems with the help of a queen sacrifice, which has not been seen in practice before.

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Chapter 8 Rubinstein System 4.e3 0-0 Rare Fifth Moves 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3

The 4.e3 system bears the name of the outstanding Polish maestro Akiba Rubinstein. The original idea of the author was to prepare the development of the king’s knight on e2 and push back the opponent’s dark-squared bishop. The fact that this plan is still met in the practice of the leading chess players of our day confirms the depth of Rubinstein’s strategic design. At the same time it should be noted that over the past 100 years this system has been enriched with many creative ideas. White has also developed the logical set-up Bd3, Nf3, 0-0 (the main scheme today) and the modest at first glance plan with Bd2. 4...0-0 I think this flexible continuation is the most consistent retort since after e2-e3 the white bishop will no longer reach g5 so we are not afraid of that pin. The question of which is the best way to undermine White’s centre (...c7-c5 or ...d7-d5) can be answered later, depending on the opponent’s set-up. In this chapter we’ll explore in detail A) 5.a3, B) 5.Qc2, C) 5.Bd2, and D) 5.Nge2. We’ll leave the coverage of 5.Nf3 and 5.Bd3, which aim at quick development, for the next chapter.

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A5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3

In my opinion this version of the Sämisch System provides Black with an easy game since he can carry out the ...d6 and ...e5 plan without having to worry about the pin Bg5. 6...d6 7.Bd3 White strives for his optimal piece set-up Bd3 and Ne2. Otherwise Black can blockade the c4-pawn with ...c7-c5 and start counterplay against White’s weaknesses: 7.Ne2?! c5 8.Ng3 Nc6 9.Bd3 9.e4?! Z. Polgar – Granda Zuniga, Aruba 1992, 9...d5! – White is behind in development, so it is logical to provoke a crisis in the centre. 10.e5 Ne4³. It is difficult for White to defend the pawns, since Black can bolster the knight in the centre with ...f7-f5. 9...b6 10.0-0 Ba6 11.Qe2 Rc8³, Pruyt – Van den Berg, Amsterdam 1947. 7.f3?! c5 8.Bd3 Nc6 9.Ne2 Na5 10.e4 Nd7!³ – we defend against the unpleasant pin and lead the knight to b6 to attack the c4-pawn. 7...e5 Black creates the positional threat 8...e4. 8.e4! At the cost of a pawn White completes development and activates the c1-bishop. Neglecting the idea of 8...e4 would quickly make the c4-pawn a tangible target: 146

8.Ne2?! e4 9.Bb1 9.Bc2 Be6 10.Ng3 Bxc4 11.Nxe4 Nxe4 12.Bxe4 does not change things – see 9.Bb1. 9...Be6 10.Ng3 After 10.Qb3 Nbd7 11.Nf4 Qe7³ the queen is ready to replace the bishop on e6. 10.d5? Bg4µ offers the e5- and c5-squares to our knights. 10...Bxc4 11.Nxe4 Nxe4 12.Bxe4, Shamkovich – Razuvaev, Soviet Union 1963.

This position has been well tested in practice. White is planning to play Bd3, so I consider it logical to bring the knight to a5 in order to get to the c4-square after the bishop trade, thus constraining the c1-bishop. 12...Nc6N 13.Bd3 Na5³. Other defences against ...e4 are worthless: 8.f3? e4! 9.fxe4 Nxe4. Thanks to the idea of ...Qh4+, Black manages to reinforce the knight on e4. 10.Qh5 f5 11.Ne2 Nd7µ, Ezat – Vallejo Pons, Budva 2019. 8.Qc2? Re8, and White should sacrifice a pawn in a much worse edition: 9.e4 exd4 10.cxd4 Nxe4 11.Ne2, Angelov – Sherbakov, Teteven 1991.

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11...Bf5µ – it is favourable for Black to transfer the bishop to g6. It is important that 12.f3? does not work – 12...Qh4+ 13.g3 Nxg3–+. 8...exd4 9.cxd4 9.Ne2? dxc3 10.0-0 Nfd7 11.Nxc3 Nc5 12.Bb2 Be6µ, Blohberger – Adams, Karlsruhe 2020. 9...Nxe4 10.Ne2 10.Bxe4? Re8µ. 10...Re8 11.0-0 d5= Fuderer – Simonovic, Ljubljana 1951.

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Thanks to the two bishops, White has enough compensation for equality. But obviously we can call the outcome of the opening successful for Black as his pieces easily enter play.

B) 5.Qc2

A quite possible continuation. But according to my observations, 5.Qc2 is not too coherent with 5.e3 as White could have finished kingside development and castled without losing time on queen moves. 5...c5 We aim to exchange on d4 with further ...d7-d5. 149

6.dxc5 White avoids the prospect of an isolated pawn on d4. Developing moves 6.Bd3 and 6.Nf3 allow Black to realize the idea of 5...c5: 6.Bd3 cxd4 7.exd4 d5 8.cxd5 – anticipating ...dxc4, when the light-squared bishop would land on c4 in two steps. 8...exd5 9.Nge2 Nc6 10.0-0 h6=, Winkler – Ellers, Germany 1993. 6.Nf3 cxd4 7.exd4 7.Nxd4 d5 8.cxd5 exd5 9.Bd3 Nc6

I already wrote about the characteristics of this type of position in Chapter 1, line B – 4.Bd2. 10.0-0 Re8=, Saavedra – Garcia, Pinamar 1973. 7...d5. We obtained similar positions through 4.Nf3 in chapters 6-7. 8.a3 (8.Bg5 – see Chapter 7) 8...Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 (9.Qxc3 – see Chapter 6) 9...Qc7 10.cxd5 exd5 11.Bd3, Chernyshov – Zabotin, Serpukhov 2007, 11...b6=.

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It is favourable for Black to exchange the only defender of the light squares in the enemy camp. 6.a3?! – this leads to a tangible lag in development. 6...Bxc3+ 7.Qxc3 Taking with the pawn 7.bxc3 is totally inconsistent with Qc2. 7...d6 8.Bd3 Nc6 9.Nf3 e5 10.0-0 Re8ƒ, Hejazipour – Garifullina, lichess.org 2020. 7...cxd4 8.exd4 d5 9.Nf3 – see Chapter 6. 6...Bxc5 7.Nf3 d5 The transition to a position with an isolated pawn on d5 would suit us as White has wasted a tempo on the superfluous move Qc2. 8.cxd5 Play is equal after 8.a3 dxc4 9.Bxc4 b6= since the tempting trade of knights 10.Ne4, S. Atalik – Ratkovic, Vrnjacka Banja 2021, 10...Be7 11.Nxf6+? Bxf6 12.Qe4 does not win the rook in view of 12...Ba6µ with a decisive lead in development. 8...exd5 9.Be2 Nc6 10.0-0 Be6!?„, Mendoza – Henriquez Villagra, Santa Cruz 2014.

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Black bolsters the d5-pawn and plans to develop the rook on c8, after which the white queen will feel uncomfortable on c2.

C) 5.Bd2!? This poisonous move has recently become fashionable. The position that arises after 5...d5 6.Nf3 was considered harmless for many years, but the ideas of Al. Ryazantsev breathed new life into it. In the event of 5...c5 6.a3 Bc3 7.Bc3 Ne4 White can defend the bishop with 8.Ne2.

5...b6

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I suggest to delay ...c7-c5 until the white knight appears on f3. The natural developing moves C1) 6.Bd3 and C2) 6.Nf3 deserve detailed study. Let’s briefly discuss other possibilities: 6.a3 Bxc3 7.Bxc3 Ne4 leads to a type of positions we considered in Chapter 6, line A. Let me remind you that it is important not to let the white bishop evade the exchange. 8.Qc2 Bb7 9.Nf3 Nxc3 10.Qxc3 d6 11.Be2 Nd7 12.0-0 c5 13.Rfd1 Qe7=, Mirzoev – Granda Zuniga, Pamplona 2009. 6.Nge2 – combined with 5.Bd2, Rubinstein’s plan looks a little weird since the white bishop and knight duplicate each other’s function. 6...d5 – in response to the appearance of the knight on e2 I always prefer to play ...d7-d5 and attack the c4-pawn. 7.cxd5 exd5 8.Nf4 – Black plans to carry out ...c7-c5, so it is better to place the knight on f4 to put pressure on the d5-pawn. 8.Ng3?! Re8 9.Bd3 Bf8 10.0-0, Rogers – Morrison Hinckley Island 2009, 10...c5³. 8...Bb7 9.Bd3 Re8 10.0-0 Nbd7 11.Qf3 Nf8. Black wants to trade knights following ...Ne6. 12.Nh5 N8d7=. 6.Qf3 – the attack on the rook does not cause us any trouble – we play ...d7-d5 and develop the bishop on a6. 6...d5 7.cxd5 Or 7.Bd3?! Ba6³, Manolache – Talu, Alba Iulia 2019. 7...exd5 8.Bd3 Re8 9.Nge2 Ba6 10.Nf4 c6 11.0-0 Bxd3 12.Nxd3 Bd6=. The exchange of lightsquared bishops ruled out the possibility of the e3-e4 breakthrough.

C1) 6.Bd3

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With this flexible move White retains the option of developing the knight on e2. 6...Ba6!? A rare but quite reasonable continuation. Black uses the appearance of the light-squared bishop on d3 and plans exchanges after ...d7-d5 and ...c7-c5. 6...d5 7.cxd5 exd5 8.Nf3 Bd6 with the idea of playing c7-c5 is not bad either, Grischuk – Bok, Khanty-Mansiysk 2019. 7.a3 Gaining the bishop pair advantage is the only way to pose any problems to Black. 7.Nf3 d5 8.Qe2 leads to exchanges in the centre and equalization. 8.Ne5 c5„, Khachatryan – Tomashevsky, chess.com 2021. 8...c5

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9.a3 Bxc3 10.Bxc3 cxd4 11.Bxd4 Nc6 12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.cxd5 Bxd3 14.Qxd3 Qxb2 15.Rb1 Ne5 16.Nxe5 Qxe5 17.dxe6 Qxe6=, Radovanovic – Beliavsky, Mali Losinj 2017. 9.cxd5 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 Bxc3 11.Bxc3 Qxd5 12.0-0 Nbd7=. 9.dxc5 dxc4 10.Bxc4 Bxc4 11.Qxc4 Bxc5 12.0-0 Nbd7=, Hlusevich – Panchenko, Sverdlovsk 1985. 9.0-0 cxd4 10.Nxd4, Seres – Ajay Krishna, Budapest 2021, 10...dxc4 11.Bxc4 Bxc4 12.Qxc4 Bc5=. Black plans to bring the knight from b8 to e5. 7...Bxc3 8.Bxc3 d5 9.b3 An exchange of light-squared bishops would solve all Black’s problems, so White needs to capture on c4 with a pawn. 9.cxd5 Qxd5 10.Nf3 Bxd3 11.Qxd3 Ne4 12.0-0 c5 is equal. 9...dxc4 10.bxc4 Nbd7 Black plans to organize pressure on the c4-pawn with ...c7-c5, ...Rc8. 11.Nf3 Seizing the centre leads White to disaster – 11.e4?

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Exercise: How should Black continue? 11...e5! 12.Nf3 (12.dxe5? Nc5–+) 12...exd4 13.Bxd4 Re8µ. 11...c5 12.Rc1 White does not have time to castle yet as Black is ready to increase the pressure on the c4-pawn – 12.0-0 Rc8 13.Qe2 Qc7„. 12...Rc8

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13.Bb2 The bishop’s retreat from c3 allows Black to carry out a profitable exchange operation with the help of a small tactic. 13.Qe2 Qc7 14.Bb2 Bb7 15.0-0 Rfd8 leads to a position with mutual chances. Black plans to transfer the knight to g6 and threaten an exchange on d4. 16.Rfd1 Nf8 17.Ne5 Ng6=. 13...b5! 14.0-0 14.cxb5 Bxb5 15.Bxb5 Qa5+=. 14...bxc4 15.Bxc4 Bxc4 16.Rxc4 cxd4 17.Rxd4 Rc7=

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Black’s idea is ...Qa8, ...Rfc8.

C2) 6.Nf3

6...c5 After the appearance of the knight on f3 there is no point in postponing ...c7-c5. Black wants to take on d4 and play ...d7-d5. White faces an important choice: He can continue to develop pieces – C2a) 7.Bd3 or take the last chance to gain the bishop pair advantage with C2b) 7.a3.

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After 7.d5?! Bb7³ the best fate for the d5-pawn is the exchange on e6. 7.Be2 – the bishop is clearly more passive here than on d3. 7...cxd4 8.exd4 Bb7 9.0-0 Be7 10.Ne5 Nc6 11.Bf3 d5 12.Be3 Rc8 13.cxd5 Nxe5 14.dxe5 Nxd5 15.Nxd5 Bxd5 16.Bxd5 Qxd5 17.Qxd5 exd5=, Saint Arnaud – Hernandez, corr. 2014. 7.dxc5 Bxc5 – in this pawn structure the bishop is awkwardly placed on d2. 8.Bd3 Bb7 9.0-0 d5!? – the detente in the centre leads to a position where Black needs one accurate move to equalize. The slow 9...Nc6= is not bad either. 10.cxd5 Nxd5 11.Nxd5. Otherwise the knight will retreat to f6. 11.Qe2 Nf6 12.Rfd1 Nbd7 13.Rac1 Qb8=. 11...Qxd5 12.Qc2 Qh5 13.Be4, Markus – Stukan, Belgrade 2021. Here Black needs to develop the knight 13...Nc6 and calculate the consequences of 14.b4.

Exercise: How should Black continue? 14...f5!„ 15.Bxc6? Bxc6 16.bxc5? Bxf3 17.gxf3 Rf6–+.

C2a) 7.Bd3

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7...cxd4 8.exd4 d5 While working on the book I came to the conclusion that Black should not postpone ...d7-d5. In a game against Dmitry Bocharov I preferred 8...Bb7 9.a3 Be7, and this could have led to a dangerous attack on my king after 10.Qe2! 10.0-0 d5 11.cxd5 Nxd5 12.Re1 Nd7=, D. Bocharov – I. Lysyj, Chelyabinsk 2020.

10...d5?! (10...Nc6!∞) 11.cxd5 Nxd5 11...exd5 12.0-0 Re8 13.Qd1², Bishop – Marks, ICCF 2020. 12.Qe4 g6 13.h4!‚.

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9.cxd5 9.Bg5 is not dangerous since Black has time to prepare the exchange of light-squared bishops: 9...h6 10.Bh4 Ba6 11.cxd5 Bxc3+ 12.bxc3 Bxd3 13.Qxd3 exd5 14.0-0 Nbd7=. 9...Bxc3!

It is important to force White to take on c3 with a pawn before ...exd5. 9...exd5?! 10.0-0 Bxc3 11.Bxc3². 9...Nxd5? 10.a3 Be7 11.Qc2 h6 12.Nxd5 exd5 13.0-0±, Schreiner – Donchenko, Berlin 2017. 10.bxc3 The position with an isolated pawn after 10.Bxc3? Qxd5 11.Qe2 Bb7³ favours Black since the c3bishop is very passive. 10...exd5 11.0-0 Ba6 The exchange of light-squared bishops levels the game. 12.Bxa6 Nxa6 13.Bg5 Qd6 14.Bxf6 Qxf6=, Kraft – Schneider, Germany 2010.

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Black plans to rearrange his pieces with ...Qd6, ...Nc7 and fight for the e-file with his rooks.

C2b) 7.a3 Bxc3 8.Bxc3

Exercise: How should Black continue? 8...Ne4! We should not postpone the occupation of e4!

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8...Bb7 9.Bd3 Ne4? 10.Bxe4 Bxe4 11.dxc5 bxc5 12.Qd6±, Predke – Georgiev, Biograd na Moru 2018.

This is a double attack – White is threatening 13.Qxc5 and 13.Qe5. 9.Rc1 After 9.Bd3 Nxc3 10.bxc3, Ponkratov – Vitiugov, Ufa 2021, Black can hint at the weakness of the c4-pawn by 10...Nc6!?„. 9...Bb7 10.Be2 Or 10.Bd3 Nxc3 11.Rxc3.

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The placement of the bishop on d3 allows Black to play 11...f5!? 12.0-0 d6, and the d3-square is out of reach for the white rook. 13.Qe2 Qf6„, Kishan – Graif, Budapest 2021. 10...d6 11.0-0 Nxc3 We should not leave the bishop pair – 11...Nd7?! 12.Be1², Aleksandrov – Demianjuk, Baku 2018. 12.Rxc3 Qe7=, Dzagnidze – Kosteniuk, Saint Louis 2020.

After exchanging two minor pieces Black has no problems with space. His further plan is to

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prepare...e6-e5.

D) 5.Nge2

White prepares 6.a3. This is Akiba Rubinshein’s original treatment. 5...d5 I have already mentioned that I prefer to meet the appearance of the knight on e2 with the move ...d7d5 in order to force White to spend time on defending the c4-pawn. 6.a3 6.cxd5. Obviously, this exchange does not pose any problems since it is difficult for White to activate the c1-bishop. However, you need to understand how to counter the plan g3, Bg2, f3, e4. 6...exd5 7.g3?! We’ll discuss the consequences of the insertion of 7.a3 Bd6 a little later – see 6.a3. 7.Ng3 Re8 8.Bd3 c5=. 7...Re8 8.Bg2 c6 9.0-0 9.Qc2 – if White does not let the bishop to f5, then it makes sense to prepare to meet f2-f3 by ...c6-c5. And for this it is useful to return the bishop to f8 in order to deprive White of the possibility to attack it with a2-a3 after the appearance of the black pawn on c5. 9...Bf8 10.0-0 Na6 – heading for e6. 11.a3, Iljushin – Bareev, Ekaterinburg 2002, 11...Nc7 12.f3 c5 13.Rd1 b6³. 9...Bf5!?

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I like the idea of bringing the bishop to the b1-h7 diagonal to prevent White’s only active plan. 10.f3, Degtiarev – Meier, Berlin 2015. 10.h3?!, Eingorn – Veingold, Tallinn 1980, 10...h6 11.g4 Bh7³. 10.Qb3, Aleksandrov – Durarbeyli, Baku 2008, when 10...Qb6 does not drop the b7-pawn in view of 11.Na4 Qa5 12.a3? Bd6 13.Qxb7? Qxa4 14.Qxa8 Qa6–+. 10...h6 – this way we hinder the idea ...g4, ...Bg6, ...Nf4. 11.e4?! 11.Qb3 Qb6³. 11.Bd2, Markus – Andrejic, Valjevo 2012, 11...Nbd7³.

Exercise: 166

How should Black continue? 11...Bxc3! 11...dxe4 12.fxe4 Bxe4 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Qb3∞. 12.Nxc3 dxe4 13.fxe4 Bxe4 14.Bxe4 14.Nxe4 Nxe4 15.Bxh6 gxh6 16.Qg4+ Qg5–+. 14...Nxe4 15.Bxh6

White regains the pawn but remains with an isolator on d4 and a weakened king: 15...Nf6 We do not need to grab material with 15...Nxc3 16.bxc3 gxh6? 17.Qh5°. 16.Bg5 Nbd7³. 6...Bd6 I like the retreat to this square as the bishop prevents the knight from going to f4 after 7.cxd5 exd5. Let’s consider D1) 7.cxd5, D2) 7.c5, and D3) 7.Ng3. With the bishop on d6, the appearance of the knight on f4 is unsuitable – 7.Nf4?! Bxf4 8.exf4 dxc4 9.Bxc4 Nc6. Black transfers the knight to e7 in order to immobilize the white pawns on d4 and f4. 10.Be3 b6 11.0-0 Bb7ƒ, Hernandez Casillas – Teske, Barbera del Valles 2006. 7.Qc2?! does not contribute to the development of the kingside. 7...c6 8.Ng3 e5 9.dxe5 Bxe5 10.Bd3 Be6 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.0-0 Nc6³, Aleksandrov – Navara, Minsk 2015.

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D1) 7.cxd5 exd5

This version of the Carlsbad structure is perfect for Black as the enemy bishop remained closed on c1. 8.g3?! Not the best, but the most popular and ambitious continuation – White fianchettoes the bishop to support e3-e4. We’ll analyse the consequences of the quiet move 8.Ng3 and other options in the “Illustrative Games” chapter – Game 8 Lovkov – Stefansson, St Petersburg 2010. 8...Re8 9.Bg2 c6 10.0-0 After 10.Qc2 we could prepare to lead out the bishop on f5 – 10...g6!? 11.f3 c5 12.Nb5 Bf5 13.Qd2 Bf8 14.dxc5 Bxc5 15.Nbd4 Nc6³, Meskovs – Alekseev, Stockholm 2016. 10...Bf5!? This method is already familiar to us – on the b1-h7 diagonal the bishop hinders White’s plan. 10...Na6 11.f3 c5„ is a decent option too. 11.f3

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6.cxd5 led to a similar position, but the inclusion of 6.a3 Bd6 introduces serious adjustments. 11...Nbd7 With the bishop on d6 there is no reason to fear the idea of 12.g4. 11...h6 12.e4 dxe4 13.fxe4 Bxe4 14.Rxf6 Bxg2 15.Rxd6 Qxd6 16.Kxg2 Nd7 is unclear. 12.g4 (12.Nf4 h6³) 12...Bxg4! 13.e4! 13.fxg4? is difficult for White: 13...Nxg4 14.h3 Nxe3 15.Bxe3 Rxe3 16.Qd2 Qe7µ, Avrukh – Moiseenko, Plovdiv 2010. 13...Bh5 14.e5 Nxe5 15.dxe5 Bxe5

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Black has three pawns for the piece and a strong passer. 16.Ng3 Qb6+ 17.Kh1 Bxg3 18.hxg3 d4 19.Ne2 Rad8„.

D2) 7.c5

The most principled continuation – White gains space with a tempo. 7...Be7 Black’s plan is to exchange the light-squared bishops after ...c6, ...b6, ...a5, ...Ba6. A similar pawn

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structure arises in the Queen’s Gambit after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 Nbd7 7.c5. However, in our case White’s dark-squared bishop is boxed in on c1 behind the fence of his own pawns, so Black has no problems. 8.b4 c6 White can manoeuvre the knight to g3 or to d3 via f4. Our plan remains the same. 9.Ng3 9.Nf4 Nbd7 10.Nd3 b6 11.Be2 a5 12.Bd2 12.Bb2 axb4 13.axb4 Ba6 14.0-0 Bc4 15.Qc2 Qc7=, Caruana – Anand, Leuven 2018.

12...Ne4!? – the position of the bishop on d2 offers Black an additional option. 12...Ba6 13.0-0 Qc7=, Volkov – Khairullin, Tomsk 2006. 13.Nxe4 – otherwise Black will take on d2: 13.0-0 Nxd2 14.Qxd2 bxc5 15.bxc5 e5„, Barata – Shishkov, ICCF 2017. 13...dxe4 14.Nf4 bxc5 15.bxc5 e5 16.dxe5 Nxe5 17.Qc2 Bf5 18.0-0 Nd3=, Canibal – Volek, ICCF 2016. 9...b6 10.Be2 a5 11.Bb2 11.Rb1 Nbd7 12.0-0 axb4 13.axb4 Ba6 14.Re1 Qc8 15.Qc2 Bxe2 16.Ngxe2 bxc5 17.bxc5 Qa6 18.Bd2 Rfb8=, Bareev – Kramnik, Monte Carlo 2003. 11.Bd2 Ba6 12.0-0 Nbd7 13.Qc2 Qc7 14.h3 Ra7 15.Rab1 axb4 16.axb4 Rfa8 17.Rfc1 Bxe2 18.Ngxe2 Qb7=, Yu Yangyi – Grischuk, Riga 2019.

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11...Nbd7 12.Qc2

Exercise: Is it possible to play 12...Ba6? 12...Ba6 13.Bxa6 Rxa6 14.b5 In the Queen’s Gambit with Bf4 this typical tactical idea would bring success to White. But with the bishop on b2, Black is not obliged to capture on b5. 14...Ra8! 15.bxc6 Nb8=, and Black regains the c6-pawn, Wang Hao – Lysyj, China 2015.

D3) 7.Ng3

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White continues to develop pieces and defends the c4-pawn. 7...c5 Black does not mind getting an isolator as the knight on g3 cannot blockade it. 8.dxc5 White should start the exchanges in the centre with this capture. 8.cxd5 cxd4 9.exd4 After 9.Qxd4?! exd5³, Usmanov – I. Popov, Sochi 2017, Black continues to develop with tempo due to the advanced position of the white queen. 9...exd5=, Harikrishna – Ribli, Germany 2007. 8.Be2 dxc4 9.Bxc4 cxd4 10.exd4 Nbd7 11.0-0 Nb6 12.Be2 Bd7 13.Bf3 Bc6 14.Bxc6 bxc6=, Fish – Cvek, Ohrid 2009. 8...Bxc5 9.b4 It makes sense for White to capture on d5 only if the bishop retreats to e7. 9.cxd5 exd5 leads to a level game since the d5-pawn will soon move forward. 10.Bd3 10.Be2 Nc6 11.0-0 d4=, Mulenga – Saric, lichess.org 2021. 10...Nc6 11.0-0 d4 12.Nce4 Bb6 13.exd4 13.Nxf6+ Qxf6 14.e4?! Ne5³. 13...Bxd4=, Bozinovic – Juhasz, Zalakaros 2013.

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9.Qc2 prevents the exchange of queens, but leads to a symmetrical pawn structure. 9...dxc4 10.Bxc4 b6=. 9...Be7 This is the optimal place for the bishop if White allows the transition to an endgame after ...dxc4. 9...Bb6 10.Bb2², Kuzubov – Ter Sahakyan, chess.com 2020. 10.cxd5 Surprisingly, this move is less frequent in practice than 10.Bb2. After 10...dxc4! 11.Bxc4 11.Qc2 a5 12.b5 Nbd7 13.Bxc4 b6 14.0-0 Bb7 15.Na4 Rc8 16.Qe2 Nc5 17.Rfd1 Qc7 18.Nxc5 Qxc5 19.Rac1 Qg5=, Wittenberg – Krumm, corr. 2014. 11...Qxd1+ 12.Rxd1 Nbd7 Black has no problems in the endgame. He has a clear plan at his disposal: ...Nb6 ...Bd7, ...Rc8, threatening ...Nc4. 13.Nce4 Nxe4 14.Nxe4 Nb6 15.Be2 Bd7 16.0-0 Bc6 17.f3 a6=, Caruana – Dominguez Perez, lichess.org 2020. 10...Nxd5 11.Nxd5

Exercise: How to recapture on d5? 11...Qxd5! Without queens White will not be able to attack the g7-square and the black king. 174

11...exd5?! 12.Be2 a5 13.b5 Be6 13...Bf6 14.Ra2 Be6 15.0-0 Nd7 16.Nh5². 14.Bb2 Nd7 15.Nh5². 12.Qxd5 12.Bb2 Qxd1+ 13.Rxd1 Nd7=. 12...exd5 13.Bb2 a5

The c5-square is the best outpost for the black knight. From there it could continue its raid into the enemy camp via a4 (e4) to c3. 14.bxa5 14.b5 Be6 15.Nh5 g6 16.Nf6+ Bxf6 17.Bxf6 Nd7 18.Bd4 Rfc8=, followed up by 19...Nc5. 14...Nc6= We want to take on a5 with a knight with further ...Nb3, Poghosyan – Lysyj, chess.com 2020. Conclusion In this chapter we have looked at fifth-move continuations where White is in no rush to castle short. That gives Black time to actively fight for the centre. After the transition to the Sämisch System with a pawn on e3 Black tries to carry out ...e6-e5-e4. The appearance of the knight on e2 should be met with the break ...d7-d5. 175

In response to the development of the queen on c2 with the pawn on e3 Black should play ...c7-c5, followed by ...cxd4 and ...d7-d5. In the event of Bd2 we develop the light-squared bishop first, and push ...c7-c5 only after the appearance of the knight on f3.

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Chapter 9 Rubinstein System 5.Nf3 or 5.Bd3 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0-0

In this chapter we’ll pay attention to continuations that contribute to speedy development and short castling – A) 5.Nf3 and B) 5.Bd3.

A) 5.Nf3 In recent years White has associated this move with the idea of 5...d5 6.Bd2!?. 5...Bxc3+!? This continuation makes sense due to the fact that in positions with doubled pawns the white knight is not placed well on f3 since it deprives White of the opportunity to throw the f2-pawn in the battle. Another factor that encourages the capture on c3 without an invitation from White is the position of the white pawn on e3, when White lacks the idea of the Bc1-g5 pin. 6.bxc3 d6 Black’s immediate task is to prevent the opponent from playing Bd3 and e4.

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7.Bd3 Otherwise Black will develop according to the scheme ...c5, ...Nc6, ...e5 and get an excellent game. 7.Qc2 c5 8.Be2 Nc6, Salonen – Bertaggia, ICCF 2020, 9.e4 e5=. 7...Re8

Note that in many of the games analysed below Black used a different move order – 7...e5!? 8.e4 Re8. Since the position on the diagram can also arise in line B after 5.Bd3 Re8!? 6.Nf3 Bxc3 7.bxc3 d6, I decided to be consistent and suggest a universal approach. 8.0-0 Black hopes to break through with the e6-pawn to e4. The most dangerous objection to this plan is the pawn sacrifice after 8.0-0 e5 9.e4!?. Other ways to stop the black pawn are less effective: 8.e4!? e5 – this leads, as a rule, to a transposition after 9.0-0. The other possibilities look weaker: 9.Nd2 After 9.Qc2 Nc6 the threat 10...exd4 11.xd4 Nb4 forces White to postpone castling – 10.Rb1 exd4 11.cxd4 Bf5 12.0-0 Bxe4 13.Bxe4 Rxe4=. 9...exd4 10.cxd4 Nc6 I do not recommend to take on e4 at once – 10...Nxe4?! 11.Nxe4 f5 12.0-0 fxe4 13.Bc2°. 11.d5 11.Bb2?! Nxe4 (The insertion of 10...Nc6 11.Bb2 changes the evaluation of this capture) 12.Nxe4 f5 13.0-0 fxe4 14.Bc2 Nb4³ – the inclusion of the knight in the play tips the balance in Black’s favour. 178

11...Ne5 12.Bc2 12.Be2?! Ng6 13.f3 Nf4 14.0-0 N6h5‚, intending 15...Qg5.

Exercise: How should Black continue? 12...b5!? – in this case playing in the spirit of the Volga Gambit does not sacrifice but wins a pawn. 12...c6!? 13.0-0 b5„. 13.0-0 13.cxb5? Bg4 14.f3 Nxd5–+. 13...bxc4 14.Bb2 Ba6„. White cannot do without castling also after 8.Nd2 e5.

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9.e4 – we have considered this above – see 8.e4. After 9.Qc2? Qe7 the threat ...e5-e4 is even more nasty: 10.Ne4? 10.e4 exd4 11.cxd4 Nc6 12.Qc3 d5 13.e5 dxc4 14.Bxc4 Rd8³. 10...Nxe4 11.Bxe4 – this occurred in the game Diermair – Wagner, Austria 2019, and should have led to a difficult position after 11...Qh4µ because due to the threat 12...exd4 White cannot keep the bishop in the centre. 9.0-0 e4! 10.Bc2 – White is preparing the f2-f3 break, so it is better for the bishop to remain on the b1-h7 diagonal. (10.Be2?! c5³) 10...Bg4. (We cannot allow 11.f3 exf3 12.Qxf3.)

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11.f3!?N – White aims to seize the centre. A correspondence game saw 11.Qe1 c5 12.Rb1 Nbd7 13.f3 exf3 14.Nxf3 – in this case Black needs to shift his bishop to g6 to put pressure on White’s centre. 14...b6 15.e4 Qc7 16.Bf4 Bf5

17.Nd2 Bg6=, Tieken – Hooft, ICCF 2016. 11...exf3 12.gxf3 Bh3 13.Re1 Nh5

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Black prepares to activate the queen and to use the f-pawn in the fight for the centre. 14.Kh1 Qh4 15.Rg1 f5„. 8.Bc2

This prevents the immediate ...e6-e5. However, by playing 8...Nc6 Black not only revives the threat, but also reminds White that the c4-pawn can become an object of counterplay. 9.0-0 e5 10.Nd2 Qe7„. 8...e5

182

9.e4!? At the cost of a central pawn White activates the c1-bishop and gains a lead in development. Capturing the pawn 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.Nxe5 would allow Black to get compensation thanks to White’s doubled pawns and difficulties with the activation of the c1-bishop. 10...Qe7 11.Nf3 11.f4? only weakens the e4-square – 11...Nbd7 12.Nxd7 Bxd7–+. 11...Bg4

Black has a clear plan to activate his pieces with ...Nbd7 and ...Rad8. White needs to get rid of the pin of the f3-knight. 183

12.Be2 12.h3?! Bh5 13.a4 Nbd7 14.Ba3 c5 15.Be2 Rad8 16.Qc2 Bg6 17.Qb3, Kakhbayeva – Mulenko, Paracin 2014, 17...b6³, and White’s dark-squared bishop remains without prospects. 12.Qc2!? is noteworthy, but after 12...Bxf3 13.gxf3 Nbd7° Black will transfer his knight to g6, and it will be difficult for White to neutralise the threats of the enemy knights and queen on the residence of his king. 12...c5 – Black prepares to lead out the knight to c6. 12...Ne4!? 13.Qc2 Nd7° is not bad either. 13.Nd4 cxd4 14.Bxg4 Nxg4 15.Qxg4 dxc3ƒ. White needs to work hard to exchange the c4-pawn for the passer on c3, Yordanov – Sarana, Plovdiv 2021. 9...exd4 10.cxd4 Nxe4

11.Re1 This is the most dangerous continuation. White pushes the knight away from the centre and after exchanging rooks he will occupy the e-file with the a1-rook. 11.Bxe4!? – this attempt to immediately attack the king requires a certain accuracy from Black. 11...Rxe4 12.Ng5 Re7. The threat of a queen’s sortie on h5 forces the rook to protect the f7-pawn in advance. 13.Qd3 13.Qc2 – here the queen stands no better than on d3 since it has no possibility of reaching the hfile. 13...f5 14.Bb2 Nd7 15.Qxf5 Nf6 16.Qc2 h6 17.Nf3 Bg4=. 13...f5 13...g6? 14.Ne4‚. 14.Nxh7 Kxh7 15.Bg5

184

15...Qe8 – the white queen can quickly land on h4, so it is necessary to immediately get out from under the pin. 15...Nc6? 16.d5 Ne5 17.Qg3+–. 16.Bxe7 Qxe7 17.Rae1 Qf8 – I recommend to take the c8-bishop under protection. 17...Qf7!? offers White the possibility of forcing a draw by 18.Qh3+ Kg8 19.Re4 fxe4 20.Qxc8+ Qf8 21.Qe6+=. 18.Qf3 Bd7

We defend against the threat 19.Qh5+ Kg8 20.Re8, continuing the development of the pieces. 19.Qxb7 Nc6 20.Qxc7 Rd8 – despite the material advantage, White needs to be careful, as his queen is stuck in Black’s camp and the d4-pawn needs to be defended. 185

21.Rd1 21.d5? Ne5 22.f4 Nd3 23.Re3 Nc5³. 21...f4„. We are planning to develop the initiative with ...Qf6 and ...f3. After 11.Qc2 Nf6 White considered it necessary not to let the bishop go to g4: 12.h3, Gomez Gimenez – Petruzzelli, ICCF 2020. In response, we can deny Bg5 and prepare 13...d5:

12...h6 13.Bd2 (13.Bb2?! d5³) 13...d5 14.cxd5 Nxd5 15.Ne5 Be6 16.Rab1 Nc6 17.Nxc6 bxc6 18.Qxc6 Nf6=. 11...Nf6 12.Rxe8+ Qxe8

186

12...Nxe8?! does not work as White continues developing with a tempo – 13.Bg5², Ivanchuk – Ding Liren, chess24.com 2020. Black wants to bring out the bishop on g4. Therefore, White faces a choice – to develop the bishop on g5 in order to force ...Nbd7 – A1) 13.Bg5, or to limit the scope of Black’s light-squared bishop by A2) 13.h3!?, keeping the option of developing the bishop on b2.

A1) 13.Bg5

13...Nbd7 Black is planning the set-up ...b6, ...Bb7. 14.Qa4 The queen lets the rook go to e1 and prevents ...b7-b6. 14.Qb3 h6 15.Re1 Qf8 16.Bh4 b6 17.Qa4 led to a comfortable position for Black – it is indicative that the white queen got to a4 anyway. 17...Bb7 18.Bf5, Kamenskikh – Flory, ICCF 2017. The easiest way to solve the problems is to finish the mobilization of forces. 18...Re8 19.Bxd7 19.Qxa7 Bxf3 20.Rxe8 Qxe8 21.gxf3 Nh5 22.Bg3 g6 23.Bh3 Nxg3 24.hxg3 Qd8=. 19...Rxe1+ 20.Nxe1 Qe7. Black restores the material balance with the help of this double attack. 21.f3 Qxd7 22.Qxa7 g5 23.Bg3 23.Bxg5? hxg5 24.Qxb7 Qe6µ. 23...Qc8=. 14...h6 15.Re1 Qf8 16.Bh4

187

16...a6 It is necessary to take advantage of the position of the queen on a4 and prepare ...b7-b5. 16...b6?! 17.Qc6 Ba6 18.h3². 17.h3 In response to 17.Nd2, 17...b5? is bad since after 18.Qa5 Bb7 the white knight is not under attack and the c7-pawn can be captured. But 17...g5 gains in strength as after the knight retreat White is not threatening to sacrifice on g5. 18.Bg3 Nh5=. Black will complete the development with ...Ndf6 and Bd7. 17...b5!N Black gives up a pawn in order to develop the c8-bishop and get the d5-square at full disposal of his knights.17...g5?! leads to a very dangerous position, Suihko – Wawer, ICCF 2018, 18.Nxg5 hxg5 19.Bxg5°. 18.Qc2!? White wants to take on c4 with the queen and attack the c7-pawn. 18.cxb5 Nb6 19.Qb3 Nfd5„. 18.Qa5 bxc4 19.Bxc4 Bb7„. 18...bxc4 19.Qxc4 Ra7

188

The threat of 20...Nb6 forces the white queen to retreat. 20.Qc2 It is important that White cannot play 20.Qc6? owing to 20...Nc5!µ with the idea of trapping the queen with ...Bd7. 20.Qb3 Bb7 21.Bf5 Bd5 22.Qa4 c6=. 20...Nd5= The d7-knight is ready to support its colleague in the fight for control of the d5-square.

A2) 13.h3!?

189

13...Nbd7 Black should not hurry with 13...b6?! in view of 14.d5‚. Against a bishop on b2, we must abandon the plan with ...b6 and Bb7 altogether and put instead the pawn on d5. 14.Qc2 White keeps all options open. 14.Bb2 d5! 15.c5 Nf8 16.Qc2 Ne4 17.Re1 Qd8=. 14.Bg5?! is illogical as in that case h2-h3 is a pure waste of time. 14...h6 15.Bh4 b6 16.Qa4 Bb7 17.Re1 Qf8=. 14...Nf8

The knight joins the king’s defence and frees the d7-square to the bishop. 15.Bg5 15.d5 – the downside of this move is that the c5-square becomes available to the black knight. 15...N6d7! 16.Bb2 f6 17.Re1 Qf7„. Black will complete development with ...Nc5 and ...Bd7. 15...Qd8 16.Re1 Bd7 17.d5 h6 190

18.Bf4 After 18.Bh4 Rc8„ Black is ready to carry out ...c7-c6. 18...Nh5 19.Be3 Nf6 20.Bd4 c6 21.dxc6 bxc6 22.Ba1 c5=, Lc0 – Stockfish, chess.com 2020.

Black has successfully completed the development, and the power of White’s long-range bishops is only enough for equality.

B) 5.Bd3

191

I think this continuation is more flexible since the knight can be developed on f3 or e2. 5...Re8!?

I do not want to say that this rare rook move is better than the usual play in the centre 5...d5 or 5...c5. Its main advantage is that the small amount of accumulated practical material leaves room for creativity and eliminates the need to keep in memory tons of options. The main idea of the mysterious rook move is to wait for White to define the placement of his knight and, depending on his actions, choose the pawn structure. An additional practical bonus for the reader is the fact that we have already studied the consequences of 6.Nf3 Bxc3 7.bxc3 d6 in line A). Thus we have to examine in detail B1) 6.Qc2, B2) 6.Bd2 and B3) 6.Nge2. For 6.Nf3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 d6 – see 5.Nf3. 6.a3?! – we already mentioned in the previous chapter that the transition to the Sämisch System after 4.e3 is not a good choice. 6...Bxc3+ 7.bxc3

192

Exercise: How should Black continue? 7...e5! – the black pawn is heading for e4. 8.f3, Seiler – Latib, corr. LSS 2017, 8.Ne2? e4 9.Bb1 b6 10.Ng3 Ba6 11.f3 Bxc4 12.fxe4 d6 13.Qf3 Nbd7µ, Schwarz – Babula, Slovakia 2011. 8...e4 9.fxe4 Nxe4 10.Nf3 d6 11.0-0 Bf5! – in such a structure the g6-square is optimal for the lightsquared bishop since it is important to maintain control over the e4-square. In order to make the move 11...Bf5, it is necessary to correctly assess the consequences of 12.Ne5! Nxc3 13.Qf3 Bxd3 14.Qxf7+ Kh8 15.Nxd3 Nd7³, and soon the black knights will regain control over the e4-square. 6.e4, Krasteva – Ciolacu, Mamaia 2017, 6...e5 7.dxe5 7.d5 Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 Na6„. 7...Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 Rxe5 9.f3 d6 (it is important for black to harmoniously arrange the minor pieces) 10.Ne2

193

10...Nfd7 – I propose to transfer this knight to c5 so that the rook can retreat to e8 without fearing the pin Bg5. 11.0-0 Nc5 12.Bc2 Re8 13.Nf4 Be6 – in the future the bishop will occupy the f7-square after ...f7-f6. 14.Nd5 Nbd7=. 6.Qb3 – if White leaves the knight on g1 and makes a developing move with the queen or the c1bishop, then Black should undermine the centre with the c-pawn. 6...c5 7.Nf3 d6. I think that the queen stands worse on b3 than on c2 due to the plan of ...d6 and ...e5. 8.0-0 e5

9.dxe5 dxe5 10.Rd1 Qe7. Black wants to take on c3 and develop the knight on c6. 194

11.Ne4 Nxe4 12.Bxe4. In this position the white queen would have come in handy on c2. 12...Nd7=. On the next move the knight will push the bishop out of the centre.

B1) 6.Qc2

6...c5 7.Nf3 Parnali – Matskevich, lichess.org 2021. Due to the fact that the c3-knight is already protected by the queen, it is logical to develop the knight on the most active position. 7.Nge2 d5 8.0-0 cxd4 9.exd4 dxc4 10.Bxc4 Nbd7=. Or 7.dxc5 Na6=. 7...cxd4 8.exd4 b6

195

If Black achieves to develop the bishop on b7 and carry out d7-d5, he would get an excellent position. Therefore, White needs to start active actions. 9.Bg5 9.a3 Bxc3+ 10.Qxc3 Bb7 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bh4 d5 13.0-0 dxc4 14.Bxc4 Nc6=. 9...h6 10.Bh7+ After 10.h4?! taking on g5 is not obligatory at all: 10...Bb7 11.0-0-0 Bxc3 12.bxc3 d6³. 10.Bh4 Bb7 11.Ne5 Be7 12.0-0 Nc6 13.Nxc6 Bxc6=. 10...Kf8 I do not like the the king’s retreat into the corner 10...Kh8 because after 11.h4!? we would have to reckon with the idea of Ne5. 11...d6? 12.Be4 d5 13.Ne5±. 11.Be4 d5 The attack on both bishops forces White to exchange on f6. 12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.0-0 It seems that Black is left in the cold – after the capture on e4 the rook on a8 would be defenceless, otherwise the d5-pawn would be hanging.

196

Exercise: How should Black continue? 13...dxe4! 14.Qxe4 Bd7! In response to the capture of the rook Black takes on f3 and gives a perpetual check. 15.Qxa8 15.Ne5?! Bc6 16.Nxc6 Nxc6 17.Qxc6 Qxd4³. 15...Bc6 16.Qxa7 Bxf3 17.gxf3 17.Qxb6? loses beautifully to 17...Qg6 18.Qxb4+ Kg8 19.g3 Qg4 20.Nd1!. The knight arrives in time to defend g2. 20...Qh3 21.Ne3 e5 22.d5

197

Exercise: How should Black continue? 22...Nd7! – the knight is heading for g4. 23.d6 Nf6 24.c5 e4! It is indispensable to block the white queen from the defence. 24...Ng4? is bad – 25.Qxg4 Bxg4 26.Nxg4 Qxg4 27.c6+–. 25.d7 Rf8–+. 17...Qxf3 18.Qc7 e5= The final touch – to deny the path to g3 to White’s queen. The perpetual is now inevitable.

B2) 6.Bd2 c5 Black wants to exchange on d4 and carry out d7-d5 as in the variation 4.e3 0-0 5.Bd2 from the previous chapter. In response White chooses between developing moves with the g1-knight and gaining the bishop pair advantage by 7.a3.

198

7.a3 7.Nf3 is a harmless continuation that allows Black to carry out d7-d5 comfortably. 7...cxd4 8.exd4 8.Nxd4 is connected with a small trap – 8...Nc6 9.0-0 Bourque – Olivier, Sherbrooke 2005.

9...Bf8. After the bishop retreat Black can complete the development not only by ...d7-d5 but also by leading out the bishop to b7 (the tempting 9...d5? fails to 10.Nxd5+–) 10.Rc1 (10.Nf3 d5 11.cxd5 exd5 12.h3 g6=) 10...Ne5 11.Be2 b6=. 8...d5 9.0-0 9.c5?! b6 10.a3? (10.cxb6 Qxb6³ with the idea of 11...Ba6) 10...Bxc3 11.Bxc3 bxc5 12.dxc5 e5µ. 199

9...dxc4 10.Bxc4 a6

The modest position of the d2-bishop allows Black to prepare ...b7-b5 without fearing the breakthrough d4-d5: 11.a3 After 11.a4 Nc6 12.Bg5 h6 13.Bh4 Be7= Black will solve all the problems with the already familiar from Chapter 7 method – ...Bd7 and ...Nd5. 11...Be7 – in this way Black prevents the plan Bg5 with a further d4-d5. 11...Bf8!? 12.Bg5 b5 13.Ba2 Bb7 14.d5 exd5 15.Nxd5 Nbd7=. 12.Rc1 Or 12.Ba2 b5 13.Re1 Nc6=. 12...b5 13.Ba2 Bb7 14.Bg5 Nbd7=, Dziuba – Gajewski, Warsaw 2020. 7.Nge2!? – this knight development looks more tricky because after 7...cxd4 8.exd4 d5 White has the idea of 9.c5. Thus I suggest to carry out ...d7-d5 without exchanging on d4: 7...d5 7...cxd4!? 8.exd4 (8.Nxd4 – 7.Nf3) 8...Nc6 leads to unclear play. (The difference between the position of the knight on f3 and e2 can be seen in the following variation: 8...d5 9.c5 b6?! 10.a3 Bxc3 11.Bxc3 bxc5 12.dxc5²) 9.0-0 d5 10.c5 e5 11.Nb5 (11.a3 Bxc3 12.Bxc3 e4 13.Bc2 Ne7„) 11...e4 12.Bc2 Bg4„.

200

8.a3 After 8.cxd5 exd5 9.a3 Bxc3 10.Bxc3 c4 11.Bc2 Nc6 12.0-0 Bg4„ the black bishop is heading for g6. 8...Bxc3 9.Bxc3 cxd4 10.Nxd4 10.Bxd4 Nc6 11.Bc3 transposes to the main line. The bishop pair advantage is a significant strategic factor. Black needs to restrict the c3-bishop by placing the pawn on e5. 10...e5 11.Ne2 – White shifts the knight in order to deprive Black of the idea of 11...d4. 11...b6 – the trade of light-squared bishops would be in our favour since White’s dark-squared bishop is now biting on a granite. 12.0-0 Ba6

201

13.Ng3!? 13.cxd5 Qxd5 14.Bxa6 Nxa6=. 13...Bxc4 14.Bxc4 dxc4 15.Qxd8 Rxd8 16.Bxe5 Nc6 17.Bxf6 gxf6 18.Rfd1 Ne5=.

Black’s knight lands on d3, and this compensates for the spoiled structure on the kingside. 7...Bxc3 8.Bxc3, MacGilla Samhais – Kocher, ICCF 2016.

8...cxd4 9.Bxd4

202

The appearance of an isolator after 9.exd4 d5 suits us since the bishop will be passively located on c3. Therefore, White needs to play 10.c5 Nc6 11.Ne2 Ne4! – Black is trying to exchange the knight for the c3-bishop and carry out e6-e5. 12.0-0 Nxc3 13.Nxc3 Nxd4 14.Bxh7+ Kxh7 15.Qxd4 Bd7 16.Rad1 Qf6„. Black plans to put the bishop on c6 and set the centre in motion. 9...Nc6 10.Bc3 d5

Thanks to the lead in development, Black manages to exchange the f6-knight for the c3-bishop and level the game. 11.Ne2 (11.cxd5 Nxd5=) 11...dxc4 12.Bxc4 Ne4 13.0-0 Nxc3 14.Nxc3 Qe7= Black will play ...Rd8 and transfer the c8-bishop to e8.

B3) 6.Nge2 The most logical move – White continues the development and is ready to push back the black bishop.

203

6...d5 With the pawn on d5, the knight would have been more useful on f3. This is the main point of the cunning move 5...Re8!?. 7.0-0 White can immediately push back the bishop: 7.a3 Bf8 8.0-0 Nbd7, but this will only lead to a transposition of moves – see 7.0-0. The release of tension in the centre 7.cxd5 exd5 8.0-0 Bf8 brings about a position that arose through a different move order in my Game 9 A. Smirnov – Lysyj, Cheboksary 2021. 7...Nbd7 With this natural developing move Black sacrifices the d5-pawn.In the event of 7...Bf8, as I played in the above-mentioned game, I fear 8.Qc2², Koridze – Dauletova, chess.com 2021. White’s idea is to meet 8...b6 9.cxd5 exd5 10.e4!.

204

8.cxd5 White can fight for an advantage only by accepting the sacrifice. 8.Qb3 Bd6 9.cxd5 exd5 transposes to 8.cxd5. It makes no sense to grab space on the queenside with 8.a3 Bf8 9.b4 since after 9...a5 10.b5 dxc4 11.Bxc4 Black plays ...c7-c5 anyway:

11...c5 12.bxc6 12.Na4 cxd4 13.Qxd4 b6=. 12...bxc6=. Black is ready to exchange his light-squared bishop via a6 and push ...c6-c5, Aleksandrov

205

– Dubov, Moscow 2019. In contrast to the position after 7...Bf8, 8.Qc2, Perdomo – Mareco, Villa Ballester 2003, is not so unpleasant in view of 8...dxc4! 9.Bxc4 a6 10.Rd1 10.a4 Bf8 11.Rd1 c5 12.dxc5 Qa5=. 10...b5 11.Bd3 Bb7

Black’s task is to achieve ...c7-c5. 12.a4 After 12.a3 Bf8 13.b4 e5! 14.dxe5 Rxe5„ the break ...c7-c5 is on the agenda again. 12...bxa4 13.Nxa4 c5 14.dxc5 Rc8=. 8.e4 leads to mass elimination after 8...dxe4 9.Nxe4 Nxe4 10.Bxe4, Del Rio de Angelis – Argandona Riveiro, San Sebastian 2008, 10...e5 11.dxe5 Nxe5=. In case of 8.Ng3 we transfer the game into the track of the Slav Defence with 8...c6 and aim for ...e6e5. 9.e4 e5 10.dxe5 Nxe5 11.cxd5 Bxc3 12.bxc3 Nxd3 13.Qxd3 Nxe4 14.Nxe4 Bf5=. 8...exd5 9.Qb3 9.f3!? with the idea of playing e3-e4 is well known.

206

9...Bd6N – before playing ...c7-c5, it is necessary to take the bishop out of the front line in order to deprive White of the opportunity to play a3 after ...c5. 9...c5? 10.a3 Ba5 11.dxc5 Bxc3 12.Nxc3 Nxc5 13.Bc2±, Ivanchuk – Repka, Sibenik 2016. 10.e4 c5„. 9...Bd6 10.Nxd5 Nxd5 11.Qxd5

11...Nc5! Thanks to this tactical resource (the threat is ...Bxh2+), Black gains the advantage of two bishops as compensation for the sacrificed pawn. 207

12.Qc4 This occurred in the game Kambrath – Ramirez, Merida 2019. A principled alternative to the text is the counterblow 12.Bxh7+!? Kxh7 13.Qh5+ Kg8 14.dxc5 Re5 15.Qf3 Rf5 – it is useful to drag the white knight on f4 to enable ...Qf6. 16.Nf4 16.Qe4 Re5 17.Qd4 Rd5=. 16...Rxc5

Black wants to lead out his c8-bishop to c6. The powerful bishops compensate for the minimal material shortage. Now a bishop sacrifice leads to a perpetual check – 17.Bd2!? Bxf4 18.Qxf4 Qxd2 208

19.Rad1 Qxb2 20.Rd8+ Kh7 21.Qe4+ 21.Qh4+?! Kg6 22.Rh8 Rg5³. 21...g6 22.Qe8 Qg7 23.Qe7 23.Rxc8? Rxc8 24.Qxc8 b6³. 23...b6 24.Rf8 Re5 25.Qh4+ Rh5 26.Qe7 Re5=. The attempt to develop the bishop on e3 allows counterplay – 17.e4 Qf6 18.Be3 Rg5„, and it is not easy for White to defend against 19...Bg4 19.h3 Bxh3 20.Qxh3 Bxf4=. After 17.Rd1 Bd7 18.Qxb7?! Bc6 19.Qa6 Qf6° the white bishop remains on c1, while our pieces are avidly looking at the enemy king. 17.b3 – White needs to include the c1-bishop into play. 17...Rb5! – defending against the threat Ba3 and preparing the sortie of our light-squared bishop. 18.Bb2 Qg5 19.h3 Bd7° – our plans include ...Bc6, as well as counterplay on the queenside with ...a7-a5-a4. 12...b5! Before Nxd3-Qxd3-c5 it is useful to prepare support for the advance of the pawn to c4. 13.Qc2 13.Qxb5? Ba6µ. 13...Nxd3 14.Qxd3 c5 15.Qxb5 Taking the second pawn leads to an attack on the white king – 15.Ng3 c4 16.Qe2 Bb7°. 15...Rb8 16.Qa4 cxd4 17.Nxd4 Rb6 18.Bd2 Ra6! Before sacrificing on h2, it is necessary to remove White’s queen aim at our rook on e8. 19.Qc4 19.Qb5 Rb6 20.Qa5 Bxh2+ 21.Kxh2 Qh4+ 22.Kg1 Rh6=.

209

19...Bxh2+ 20.Kxh2 Rh6+ 21.Kg1 Qh4 22.f3 Qh1+ 23.Kf2 Qh4+= The white king cannot escape from e2 owing to ...Ba6. Conclusion In this chapter we have considered the most natural developing moves for White 5.Nf3 and 5.Bd3. Our task is to wait for the g1-knight to move and only then to define the pawn structure. In response to Nf3, we are going to double the c-pawns and prepare the advance of the e-pawn. If White develops the knight on e2, then we play d7-d5. The main advantage of this approach is its versatility.

210

Chapter 10 Classical System 4.Qc2 0-0 Rare Alternatives on move 5 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2

The Classical System is a frequent guest at tournaments of all levels. The peak of its popularity came in the last decade of the 20th century and the first decade of the 21st century. Undoubtedly, the system owed this burst of popularity to the successes of Garry Kasparov. The advantages of 4.Qc2 are quite obvious – White secures himself against doubled pawns after ...Bxc3 and prepares to take the centre with e2-e4. The shadow sides of the system were succinctly described by grandmaster M. Sorokin: “It is not good to make short moves in the opening with the strongest piece, and at the same time lead it to a place where it will get hit.” Indeed, in the Classical System White quite often falls behind in development, and the advanced position of the queen allows Black to win tempos. 4...0-0 As a guideline when playing with Black I recommend the scheme, which in 2008-2009 three titans of that era, Anand, Kramnik, and Topalov, included in their repertoire almost simultaneously. Since then 4...0-0 has established itself as the main objection to the Classical System. 211

The most principled retorts to the castling are the occupation of the centre 5.e4 and the gain of the bishop pair advantage with 5.a3. We will explore these possibilities later in the book. The purpose of this chapter is to discuss other reasonable continuations. We’ll consider here A) 5.Bg5 and B) 5.Nf3. The fact that e3 and Qc2 do not fit in together was mentioned in Chapter 8. 5.Bf4 does not cause any harm since after 5...d5 6.cxd5, Riazantsev – P. Smirnov, Khanty-Mansiysk 2015, Black can take on d5 with a tempo: 6...Nxd5! 7.Bd2 c5 8.dxc5 Bxc5 9.Nf3 b6=.

A) 5.Bg5 The pin is always attractive after Black’s short castling. 5...c5

After the queen’s sortie on c2 it is logical to attack d4. 6.dxc5 White’s other options are of little interest: We analysed the consequences of knight development on f3 on move 6 or later in Chapters 6-7, where we talked about the 4.Nf3 system. Concretely for 6.Nf3 – see Chapter 6.

212

6.e3 cxd4 7.exd4 Nc6 8.Nf3 8.Rd1 d5 9.Nf3 h6 10.Bh4 – Chapter 7.

8...h6 9.Bh4 d5 – Chapter 7. It is reckless to seize space by 6.d5?! since after 6...h6 7.Bh4 exd5 8.cxd5 d6³ the black knight is ready to come for the d5-pawn following the route ...Nb8-d7-b6-d5, Li Shilong – A. Moiseenko, Moscow 2007. Gaining the bishop pair advantage with 6.a3 can result in a serious lag in development: 6...Bxc3+ 7.Qxc3 7.bxc3? looks illogical in combination with the queen on c2. 7...h6 8.Bh4 cxd4 – Black is ready to repair White’s structure in order to give a check from a5 and leave the white king without castling. Nikcevic – Farago, Rome 1990, saw further 9.cxd4 Qa5+ 10.Qd2 Qxd2+ 11.Kxd2 g5 12.Bg3 Nc6 13.e3. Now Black could have prepared the siege of the c4-pawn with 13...b6³, followed by ...Ba6, ...Rc8 and ...Na5. 7...cxd4 8.Qxd4 Nc6 9.Qc3! – White cannot allow a check from a5, Perez Rosales – Ortega Hermida, Las Palmas 2011, 9...b6„. The pawn on c4 is a nice target, and the queen will feel uncomfortable after the appearance of the rook on c8. 6...Na6 The black knight aims to get to e4 to attack the g5-bishop. So there is no need to include ...h6-Bh4. 7.a3 White forces an exchange in order to take on f6 when the queen is on c3 and go into an endgame. 213

Other moves may lead to a worse game.The plan with long castling looks risky – 7.e3 Nxc5 8.Nge2? d5 9.0-0-0 h6 10.Bh4, Yakubboev – Linster, Batumi 2018.

Exercise: How should Black continue? 10...Bd7! 11.cxd5 e5‚, and Black is ready to launch an attack on the white king with ...Rc8 and ...b5. 7.e4?! – with undeveloped pieces such loose play rarely leads to success. 7...h6 8.Bh4 After 8.Bd2 Bxc5³ Black is ready to disturb the f2-pawn with ...Ng4 and ...Qb6. 8...Bxc3+ 9.bxc3?! 9.Qxc3 g5 10.Bg3 Nxe4 11.Qa3 b6³. 9...e5 – placing the central pawns on dark squares favours Black. 10.Nf3 10.0-0-0? Nxc5 11.f4 Qb6–+, Kozul – Hjartarson, Belgrade 1989. 10...Nxc5 11.Nd2 d6³, Tukmakov – Kengis, Jurmala 1985. 7.Nf3?! Nxc5 8.Nd2 – White brought the knight to d2 to prevent Black’s knight from appearing on e4. 8...h6 9.Bh4 b6

214

Black throws the last minor piece into the battle and prevents the development of the f1-bishop by attacking the g2-pawn. 10.a3 Bxc3 11.Qxc3 Bb7. Black is planning to exploit the position of the white queen on c3 with ...Rc8 and ...d7-d5. 12.f3 d5³, Bennett – McMahon, London 2012. 7...Bxc3+ 8.Qxc3 Nxc5

Exercise: Can White play 9.f3 to deny ...Ne4?

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9...Nfe4! 10.Bxd8 Nxc3 11.Be7 Nb3! 12.Bxf8 Kxf8 13.Rd1 Nxd1 14.Kxd1 b6µ, Granda Zuniga – Polugaevsky, Zagreb 1987. 9.Bxf6 Qxf6 10.Qxf6 gxf6 This endgame is well known in practice. It is absolutely safe for Black. He has typical counterplay against the c4-pawn – ...b6, ...Ba6 and ...Rc8. 11.b4

Exercise: Where to retreat the knight? 11...Na4! The knight will join the attack on the c4-pawn from the b2-square. 12.e3 b6 13.Nf3 Ba6!„, Agafii – Korobov, Ilichevsk 2006.

B) 5.Nf3

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This variation is of great importance for us since the same position can also arise through the 4.Nf3 system – 4.Nf3 0-0 5.Qc2. 5...c5 When choosing between the two breaks ...5...d5 and 5...c5, I preferred the c-pawn since after this continuation White’s possibilities narrow down to two paths. 6.dxc5 Other continuations are much weaker or convert to already studied lines: 6.Bg5 – Chapter 6. 6.e3 – Chapter 8. 6.g3?! – with the queen on c2, the plan to fianchetto the bishop does not work. 6...cxd4 7.Nxd4 d5 8.cxd5, Eleveld – Van Wely, lichess.org 2020, 8...Qxd5, and White’s knight is forced to retreat: 9.Nf3 Qe4 10.Qd2 Qc4³. 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3!? The position after 7.Qxc3 is covered in Chapter 6. 7...Nc6 – Black is planning to place his pawns on the dark squares d6 and e5. However, in case of the principled: 8.e4, we are ready to take advantage of our lead in development and start counterplay in the centre: 8...d5! 9.e5 Ne4 10.Bd3 cxd4 11.Bxe4 11.cxd5? exd5 12.cxd4 Bg4µ, Ramirez – Delgado Ramirez, Havana 2004. 217

11...dxe4 12.Qxe4 dxc3 13.Ng5 13.0-0? f5 14.exf6 Qxf6 15.Bg5 Qf5µ, Hayrapetyan – Fendereski, Hamedan 2016. 13...g6 – White is forced to spend a tempo on defending against the threat ...Qd4. This allows Black to carry out ...f7-f5 and neutralize the attack. 14.Be3, Jovan – Lukacs, Zalakaros 2001, 14...Qa5 15.Nf3 f5 16.exf6 Qf5!? 16...e5 17.0-0 Bf5 18.Qd5+ Qxd5 19.cxd5 Nd8 20.Nxe5 Nf7= is not bad either. 17.Qh4 Qxf6 18.Ng5 h5=. We plan to finish development with ...e5 and ...Bf5. 6...Na6 We want to take on c5 with the knight and proceed with ...b6 and Bb7. White can prevent this plan with 7.g3 and 8.Bg2 – line B1) or by changing the pawn structure with 7.c6 – line B2). Other options do not pose any problems: 7.a3?! Bxc3+ 8.Qxc3 – the queen is awkward on c2. 8...Nxc5 9.e3 9.b4? Nce4 10.Qd4 d6 is difficult for White. He would not be able to defend the c4-pawn after ...e5 and ...Be6. 11.Ng5 e5 12.Qb2 a5µ, Mikenas – Keres, Tallinn 1940. 9...b6 10.Be2 Bb7 11.0-0 Rc8„. After ...d7-d5 White will be forced to go on the defensive.

7.Bd2 Nxc5 8.a3 8.e3 b6 9.Be2 Bb7 10.0-0 Nce4 11.Nxe4 Bxe4 12.Bd3 Bxd3 13.Qxd3 Bxd2 14.Nxd2 d5=, Dreev – Grischuk, Moscow 2007. 8...Bxc3 9.Bxc3 Nce4 – we deprive White of his only trump, the bishop pair. 10.e3 Nxc3 11.Qxc3 b6 12.Be2 Ba6=, Nakamura – Caruana, Tashkent 2014.

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B1) 7.g3 Nxc5 8.Bg2 Other continuations allow Black to comfortably complete the development with ...b6 and ...Bb7: 8.Bd2 b6 9.Bg2 Bb7 10.0-0 Nce4 11.Nxe4 Bxe4 12.Qa4 Bxd2 13.Nxd2 Bxg2 14.Kxg2 Qc7=, Gurevich – Georgiev, Manila 1992. 8.a3 Bxc3+ 9.Qxc3 b6 10.Bg2 Bb7 11.0-0 Rc8„, Adianto – Karpov, Cap d’Agde 1998. 8...Nce4 After 8...b6?! 9.0-0 Bb7 10.Nb5!² Black encounters problems with the bishop on b4, Boensch – Browne, Dortmund 1990. 9.0-0

In order to fight for the initiative, White must allow doubled pawns. If 9.Bd2 Nxd2 10.Nxd2 Rb8 – we solve on the spot the only problem – the development of the c8bishop. 11.0-0 b6 12.Nde4 Bb7 13.Nxf6+ Qxf6 14.Bxb7 Bxc3 15.Be4 Bxb2 16.Rab1 Bd4 17.Bxh7+ Kh8=, Korchnoi – S. Atalik, Saint Vincent 2003. 9...Bxc3!? This capture allows us to obtain a position with mutual chances without having to learn long forced variations. For those who like painstaking homework, I suggest to follow the course of the game Xiong – Caruana, Wijk aan Zee 2020, which featured 9...Nxc3. 10.bxc3 Qc7 11.Nd4 219

Attacking the e4-knight helps White to get rid of the weak c4-pawn. 11.Bf4 d6 12.Nd4 e5 13.Bxe4 exf4 14.gxf4 Qxc4=. 11...d5 12.cxd5 exd5 Counterplay against the c3-pawn balances the power of the two bishops. 13.Bf4 An additional argument in favour of capturing on c3 with the bishop is the fact that literally after one bad move White can find himself in a passive position – 13.Ba3? Re8 14.Rac1 Bd7 15.Qb2 Rac8³.

Exercise: How should Black continue? 13...Qc5„ Black plans to lead out the bishop to d7 and place the rooks on c8 and e8. This is quite enough to move on to independent creativity. If you find this information insufficient, you can study the annotations to Illustrative Game 10 Martinovic – Salgado Lopez, Batumi 2019. The point is not to be greedy – 13...Qxc3? 14.Qxc3 Nxc3 15.Rfc1 Na4, Jarmany – Jackson, Hull 2018, 16.Bd6 Rd8 17.Be7 Rd7 18.Bxf6 gxf6 19.Rab1±. Black cannot disentangle the queenside pieces without losses.

B2) 7.c6 220

With the help of this idea Alexander Morozevich won a number of outstanding games. White builds up a pawn barrier in front of the c8-bishop. 7...Nc5!? I saw this only in a couple of correspondence games. Black keeps both options to capture on c6, depending on White’s actions. If he takes on d7, the better development should allow us to win back the material soon. 8.cxd7 The downside of the other capture 8.cxb7? Bxb7 is visible to the naked eye – White has not finished his development and has to defend against the threat 9...Be4. 9.Bd2 Rb8! – preparing to plant a knight on e4. 10.e3 (10.g3 Nce4µ) 10...Nfe4 11.Be2 Bxc3 12.Bxc3 Nxc3 13.Qxc3 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 Na4–+. The attempts to develop the kingside allow Black to postpone the capture on c6 and threaten to double the pawns on the c-file: 8.e3?! Nfe4! 9.Bd2 Nxd2 10.Nxd2 dxc6³. 8.g3 Nce4 9.Bg2 dxc6 10.0-0 Nxc3 11.bxc3 Bd6=. In the event of 8.a3 or 8.Bd2 it is important to capture on c6 with the b-pawn. The plan is to push ...a7-a5-a4 and put the central pawns on d6 and e5: 8.a3 Bxc3+ 9.Qxc3 bxc6„. 8.Bd2 bxc6 9.a3 Bxc3 10.Bxc3 a5„. 221

8...Bxd7 The threats 9...Ba4 and 9...Nfe4 force White to delay the development of the kingside and spend a tempo on defending against the pin. 9.Bd2 Qb6

10.e3 10.g3? loses to 10...Ng4 11.Bg2 Nd3+ 12.Qxd3 Qxf2+ 13.Kd1 Qxg2 14.Rg1 Qxg1+ 15.Nxg1 Nf2+–+. 10...Bc6 We prepare a knight jump to e4. 11.Be2 Nfe4 12.0-0 Nxd2 13.Nxd2 After 13.Qxd2 Qa5 White is unable to avoid doubled pawns: 14.Qc2 14.Nd4 Na4 15.Nxc6 bxc6 16.Qc2 Nxc3=, Thompson – Parsons, ICCF 2011. 14...Bxc3 15.bxc3 Qc7°.

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Exercise: How should Black continue? 13...Bxc3! 14.Qxc3 After 14.bxc3 Rfd8° Black is not regaining the pawn by force, but sooner or later the weakness on c4 is bound to fall in our hands. 14...Na4 15.Qb3 Nxb2 The black knight is ready to return from the enemy camp via the a4-square. 16.c5 Qxb3 17.axb3 Rfd8= The rook rushes to the rescue of the saboteur and prepares its retreat via d3. Conclusion In this chapter we have analysed the moves 5.Bg5 and 5.Nf3. I combined these variations into one chapter since in both cases Black must undermine White’s centre with ...c7-c5 and after dxc5 send the knight along the route ...b8-a6-c5-e4. In the 5.Bg5 variation White cannot hinder our plan and is forced to move into an equal endgame. After 5.Nf3 Morozevich’s invention 7.c6 leads to more complex play. I offer in response the original idea of 7...Nc5. The pawn sacrifice allows Black to quickly activate all the pieces and get enough compensation for the material.

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Chapter 11 Classical System 4.Qc2 0-0 5.e4 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0-0 5.e4

This logical continuation has skyrocketed in popularity in the last decade. The surge is caused, first of all, by the crisis of ideas in the direction 5.a3 Bc3 6.Qc3 d5 (see chapters 12-13). And secondly, by Black’s need to fight in rather sharp and forced lines after 5.e4. I will try to trace out a comfortable route to equality for you. 5...d5 As it often happens in the Classical System, Blacks is ahead in development, so a collision in the centre is a profitable scenario for us. 6.e5 6.cxd5?! – the exchange on d5 favours Black sine the c8-bishop comes into play. 6...exd5 7.e5, Vallejo Pons – J. Van Foreest, chess.com 2019, 7...c5 8.Bd3 8.exf6? Re8+ 9.Be2 cxd4 10.a3 Ba5 11.b4 dxc3 12.bxa5 Qxf6 13.Nf3 Bf5 14.Qa4 Nc6–+. 8...c4 9.Bf5 Bxf5 10.Qxf5 Ne4 11.Nge2 f6ƒ. The central pawn sacrifice 6.Bg5?! with the idea to prepare long castling occurred in several blitz games of the Serbian grandmaster A. Indjic. It is safest for Black to decline the gift: 6...h6 224

6...dxe4 7.Nge2°, Indjic – Yilmaz, Tornelo 2020. 7.Bxf6 7.Bh4? c5 8.e5 cxd4 9.exf6 g5 10.Bg3 dxc3 11.bxc3 Qxf6µ. 7...Qxf6 8.e5 Qe7³, followed by ...c7-c5. 6...Ne4 In this position White chooses between gaining the bishop pair with A) 7.a3 and developing the kingside with B) 7.Bd3. The logical developing move 7.Nf3 c5 8.Bd3 converts to line B.

A) 7.a3 Bxc3+ 8.bxc3

White got the bishop pair advantage and fortified the centre but fell behind in development. Black needs to act energetically and organize counterplay before White got time to develop his kingside. 8...c5 We undermine White’s centre and prepare the queen sortie on a5. 9.Bd3 White continues development and plans to defend the c3-pawn after ...Qa5 with Ne2. Let’s take a look at the alternatives: White cannot disturb the e4-knight with the f2-pawn – 9.f3? since 9...Qh4+ wins the exchange after 225

10.g3 Nxg3 11.hxg3 (11.Qf2 Nf5–+) 11...Qxh1 12.Qf2 Qh5 13.Bd3. This position arose in the online game Caruana – So, lichess.org 2020. It may seem that due to the unfortunate position of the queen on h5 White has some compensation for the material. An elegant tactical strike shatters this illusion: 13...cxd4 14.cxd4 Nc6 15.g4 Nxe5! 16.Bc2 16.Be2 Nxg4 17.fxg4 Qg6–+. 16...Nxg4 17.fxg4 Qxg4 18.Ne2 e5 19.dxe5 dxc4–+. 9.Bb2? – this counts on a small trap – 9...cxd4 10.cxd4

Exercise: How should Black continue? 10...Bd7! – it is useful to develop the bishop in order to activate it through a4 after a check with the queen from a5. The tempting check 10...Qa5+? was bad in view of 11.Ke2± with the treat 12.f3, Vovk – Oleksienko, Lvov 2008. 11.Bd3 Qa5+ 12.Ke2 Ba4 13.Qc1 f5!µ, Kniest – Kalugampitiya, Tegernsee 2017. 9.Nf3?! allows Black to hit c3 with nasty pressure – 9...Qa5 10.Bd2 Nxd2 11.Qxd2 Nc6³, Mukhamedov – Akhmetova, Sterlitamak 2008. 9.Ne2 cxd4 10.Nxd4 Qa5„, Pareschi – Wosch, corr. 2017. 9...Qa5 10.Ne2 Black has no problems If White defends the c3-pawn in a different way: 10.cxd5 exd5 11.Bd2, Lauber – Lugovoi, Hamburg 2001. 11.Ne2 cxd4 – see 10.Ne2. 226

11...Nxd2 – the simplest solution is to deprive White of his long-term advantages – two bishops and more space. 12.Qxd2 f6! 13.exf6 Rxf6 14.Ne2 cxd4 15.Nxd4 Nc6=. 10.Bxe4?! dxe4 11.Bd2 Qa6. Black exchanges the e4-pawn for c4 and plans to play on the light squares. 12.Qxe4 Qxc4 13.Ne2 13.Nf3 Nd7 – we enable ...f7-f5 to defend against an attack on the kingside. 14.Ng5 f5 15.exf6 Nxf6 16.Qe2 Qxe2+ 17.Kxe2 b6³, Gladyszev – Webster, Witley 2000. 13...Bd7 14.0-0 Bc6 15.Qg4, Korovin – Kanter, Kazan 2016, 15...f5 16.exf6 Rxf6„. 10...cxd4 Due to the king stuck in the centre White cannot take on d4 and is forced to use a little trick. 11.cxd5 11.f3? dxc4 12.Bxe4 d3 13.Qb1, Rej – Timoshenko, Sydney 2007, 13...Qxe5 14.Bf4 Qa5µ. 11...exd5

12.f3! White forces us to take on c3 with the knight. 12.0-0 dxc3³. 12.Nxd4 Qxc3+ 13.Qxc3 Nxc3 14.Be3 Nd7 15.Rc1 Ne4=, Afloarei – Barnola Espelt, ICCF 2015. 12...Nxc3 13.Nxd4 227

At the cost of a pawn White stabilized his position, and the threat of 14.Bd2 forces Black to worry about the fate of the c3-knight. Other continuations are weaker: 13.Bxh7+? Kh8 14.Bd3 Nxe2+ 15.Kxe2 Nd7 16.Bd2 Qd8 17.f4 Qh4³ with the idea of ...b6, ...Nc5. 13.Bd2? Nc6 14.Nxd4 Nxd4 15.Qxc3 Qxc3 16.Bxc3 Nb3 17.Rb1 Nc5 18.Bc2 b6µ, Woodward – Kjartansson, Budapest 2004. 13...Ne4+ The black knight retreats under the attack of the f3-pawn but takes control of d2. Another discovered check leads to an unpleasant endgame – 13...Nb5+?! 14.Bd2 Nxd4 15.Bxh7+ Kh8 16.Bxa5 Nxc2+ 17.Bxc2², Karpov – Pelletier, Cap d’Agde 2013. 14.Ke2 This retreat is aimed against a queen trade. If 14.Kf1 Qc3 15.Qxc3 Nxc3

Black’s plan is to shift the knight from c3 to c4. 16.Bd2 (16.a4?! Bd7³) 16...Na4 17.Bb4 Rd8 18.Kf2 Nb2 19.Be2 Nc4=, Goldin – Grischuk, Mallorca 2004. 14...f5 14...Qc3?! is worse as White can connect the rooks: 15.Be3! Qxc2+ 16.Bxc2 Nc5 17.Nb5ƒ, Shifman – A. Moiseenko, Israel 2007. 15.e6 228

White wants to distract the rook from f8 in order to capture on e4.At the moment Black’s knight is poisoned – 15.fxe4? fxe4 16.Bb5 Bg4+ 17.Ke3 Qd8 18.h4 Qb6 19.e6 Qd6–+, and the queen gets to the white king. Taking en passant 15.exf6 Nxf6 16.Be3 promises White adequate compensation for the pawn: 16...Re8 17.Qd2 Qc7=, followed by 18...Nc6. 15.Be3 – several games featured this natural move. As long as White is not threatening to take on e4, Black can continue developing: 15...Nc6 16.Nxc6 bxc6 17.Rhc1?. As strange as it may seem, White had to defend against ...c6-c5 with the other rook: 17.Rac1! Rb8 18.Rhd1 Qxa3„. 17.Qxc6? Rb8–+. 17...Rb8µ, Vallejo Pons – Leko, Morelia/Linares 2006.

Exercise: How should Black continue? 15...Nc6! Black has no other way to develop the queenside. 16.Nxc6 bxc6 17.e7 17.Qxc6?, Krejci – Acs, Ruzomberok 2014, 17...Bxe6! 18.Qxe6+ Kh8 19.fxe4 fxe4 20.Ba6 d4–+. 17...Re8 18.Qxc6 White wins a rook, but his king remains under the fire of Black’s pieces. 18...Rxe7 229

19.Qxa8 After 19.fxe4 fxe4 20.Bc4! Bb7 21.Qb5 Qc3 22.Bxd5+ Kh8! 23.Bxb7 Qc2+ 24.Bd2 Rd8

Black wins back one of the bishops and keeps on attacking the white king – 25.Qa5 Qd3+ 26.Ke1 Rxb7 27.Qc3 Qd5„, Rawlings – Golubenko, ICCF 2014. 19...Ng3+ 20.Kd1 Qc3!? Forcing White to demonstrate an unobvious salvation – 20...Qa4+ 21.Kd2 Qa5+ 22.Kc2 Qa4+=.

230

Exercise: How should Black continue? 21.Bd2! 21.Ba6 Qd4+ 22.Kc2 Qa4+ 23.Kb1 Qxa6–+. 21...Qxa1+ 22.Bc1 Qc3 23.Bd2 Black has nothing better than a perpetual. 23...Qa1+ 24.Bc1 Qc3 25.Bd2, Wang Hao – Wei Yi, Danzhou 2019.

B) 7.Bd3 This continuation is much more unpleasant than 7.a3. White promptly completes development and castles. During this time Black must undermine the white centre and reinforce the e4-knight. 7...c5 8.Nf3 8.dxc5 is dubious since the c5-pawn will be taken with the b8-knight: 8...Nd7 9.cxd5 9.Nf3?! Ndxc5 10.0-0 Bxc3 11.bxc3 Nxd3 12.Qxd3 b6µ, Kaidanov – Kharitonov, Smolensk 1986. 9...exd5 10.Nge2 Ndxc5 11.0-0 Bf5ƒ. 231

Other alternatives lead to transpositions: 8.Nge2 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Nd7 – see 8 Nf3; 8.a3 Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 – see 7.a3; 8.cxd5 exd5 9.Nge2 9.a3 Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 Qa5 – see 7.a3. 9...cxd4 10.Nxd4 Nd7 – see 8.Nf3. 8...cxd4 9.Nxd4 Nd7

The attack on the e5-pawn forces White to postpone castling for one more move. 10.Bf4 Only this continuation is relevant in modern tournament practice. After 10.Bxe4 dxe4 11.Qxe4 Black wins back the pawn at once – 11...Qa5 12.0-0 Qxe5 13.Qh4 Nf6=, A. Onischuk – Bologan, Poikovsky 2010. 10.f4? does not work owing to 10...Ndc5µ with the threat 11...dxc4. The exchange on d5 simplifies Black’s life – 10.cxd5 exd5. Regardless of White’s choice now, Black’s game is quite easy:

232

11.Bf4 – when 10.cxd5 exd5 has been included, the plan with Bf4 is no longer effective due to the fact that Black can use his rook in the attack on the e5-pawn. 11...Re8 12.Bxe4 12.Nf3? Ndc5µ, Brhel – Manish Anto, Budapest 2021. 12...dxe4 13.Qxe4 Nf6 14.Qd3 Nd5 15.Bg3 f6 16.0-0 fxe5 17.Nxd5 Qxd5 18.Qb5 Be6 19.Qxd5 Bxd5 20.Nb5 Re7=, Kulakiewicz – Walczak, ICCF 2018. 11.e6 Ndc5 12.exf7+ Rxf7 13.0-0 Nxd3 14.Qxd3 Nxc3 15.bxc3 Bd6=, Villarreal – MacTilstra, ICCF 2017. 11.f4?! – this popular continuation hinders White’s short castling. 11...Qh4+ 12.g3 Qh3

233

It is not easy for White to complete the development because in case of Bf1-Qh6-Bg2 the black queen will move to a6, and the white king will remain in the centre. 13.Bd2 13.Bf1 Qh6 14.Bg2 Qa6!³, Ivanisevic – Gligoric, Herceg Novi 2001. 13...Bxc3 13...Nxg3? 14.Bxh7+ Kh8 15.Rg1 Qxh2 16.0-0-0+–. 14.Bxc3 Ndc5 15.Bf1, Llanos – Zarnicki, Buenos Aires 1999, 15...Qh6 16.Bg2 Qa6! 17.Bf1 Qb6 18.Bg2 Bd7 19.0-0 Rac8³, threatening 20...Na4. 10...Ndc5 It is logical to exchange the bishop on d3 to take the pressure off the e4-knight. The variations that arise after 10...Qh4!? are difficult to assess. 11.0-0 Bxc3 It is dangerous to keep the dark-squared bishop – 11...Nxd3 12.Qxd3 Nxc3?! 13.bxc3 Be7 14.Rfd1² with the threat 15.Qg3, Riazantsev – A. Onischuk, Berlin 2015. 12.bxc3 Nxd3 13.Qxd3 b6 The threat 14...Ba6 practically forces an exchange on d5. 14.cxd5 14.Nc6, Eljanov – Karjakin, Moscow 2008, is not dangerous – 14...Qc7 15.cxd5 exd5 16.Qxd5 Nxc3 17.Qf3 Ne2+ 18.Qxe2 Qxc6=. 14...Qxd5

234

This is a key position for the variation 4.Qc2 0-0 5.e4. Black wants to develop the bishop on b7 and organize pressure on the c3-pawn. White’s active plans are connected with the transfer of the knight to d6 and the shaky stand of the knight on e4. 15.Rfd1! For a start White must prepare c3-c4 and drive the black queen out of the centre. The immediate 15.c4 leads to an equal endgame following 15...Nc5 16.Qxh7+ 16.Qg3? Qxd4 17.Bh6 g6 18.Rad1 Qe4 19.f3 Qf5–+, Aleksandrov – Nesterov, St Petersburg 2019. 16...Kxh7 17.cxd5 exd5 – Black wants to develop the bishop on a6 with a tempo. 18.Rfd1 Ne6 19.Be3 Nxd4 20.Bxd4, Harvey – Roberson, Hull 2019. 20.Rxd4 Be6 – it is important to prevent White’s kingside pawns from moving. For this we should activate the rooks. 21.h3 Rfc8 22.g4 Rc3=. 20...Bd7

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Black’s rooks are eying c2. 21.h3 Rfc8 22.Rd2 (22.g4 Rc2„) 22...Rc4 23.g4 Rac8 24.f4 g6 25.Rf1 Rc2 26.Rff2 Rxd2 27.Rxd2 Rc4=, and White cannot achieve f4-f5. 15.Rad1 Bb7 16.c4 is weaker than the main line in view of 16...Qa5„, and the a2-pawn needs protection. 15...Bb7 16.c4 An unexpected attacking idea brought Alexandra Goryachkina success in the decisive game of the Higher League of the Russian Championship – 16.f3!? Nc5 17.Qe3.

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White wants to launch an offensive against the black king by pushing the h2-pawn forward. 17...Rfd8. After this move Black is insured against the jumps of the white knight and is ready to start counterplay against the c3-pawn. 17...Qc4 18.Rab1!? Rad8 19.h4 Rd7 20.h5‚, Goryachkina – Sarana, Cheboksary 2021. 18.h4 Na4 19.c4! 19.h5? Qc5 20.Rac1 Nb2 21.Re1 Ba6 22.h6 Nd3–+. 19...Qc5 – there is no point in capturing on c4 and letting the white rook on c7. 20.Nb5 – the threat 20...Nb2 forces White to trade queens. 20...Qxe3+ 21.Bxe3 Nb2 22.Rxd8+ Rxd8 23.Rc1 Ba6=. 16...Qa5! After 16...Qd7?! 17.Qa3!² White will play f2-f3 and lead the knight to d6. 17.Nb3 This is White’s most poisonous possibility – after Nb3 and Be3 the black knight will not be able to comfortably retreat to c5 from the centre. 17.f3 Nc5 18.Qe3 Rfd8 – I propose to fight for the d-file with this rook. 19.Nb3 19.Bg5 Rd7 20.Nb5? Rxd1+ 21.Rxd1 Qxa2³. If the black rook were now on f8, then white would have the move Be7 at his disposal. 19...Rxd1+ 20.Rxd1 Qxa2 21.Nxc5 bxc5 22.Qxc5 h6, Salzmann – Siebarth, ICCF 2017. 17.Nb5 Bc6 – the bishop is ready to blockade the enemy pawn after a knight trade on d6. 18.a4 237

18.Nd6 Nxd6 19.exd6 Bd7=.

Exercise: How should Black continue? 18...h6! – we are preparing to put a rook on d8. In this position the black queen will be stronger than the white rooks. 19.f3 19.Nd6 Rad8 20.Qe3 Nxd6 21.exd6 Rd7=, Packroff – Darmanto, ICCF 2017. 19...Nc5 20.Qc2 Rfd8 – when calculating 18...h6! we had to discover that 21.Bd2 does not win the game in view of 21...Rxd2 22.Qxd2 (22.Rxd2 Nb3=) 22...Qxd2 23.Rxd2 Nb3 24.Rdd1 Nxa1 25.Rxa1 a5=. 17...Qb4 17...Qa4?!, Juksta – Klabis, Vilnius 2021, 18.f3 Nc5 19.Nxc5 bxc5 20.Be3².

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Despite the opposite-coloured bishops, it will be easier for White to fight for the d-file thanks to the e5-pawn and the opportunity to put a rook on d6. 18.Be3 (18.Rac1 h6=) 18...Rfc8 It is reasonable to place this particular rook on c8 since in the line 18...Rac8 19.Rac1 h6 20.f3 Ng5 21.h4 Nh7 22.Qd7² Black has difficulties with the a7-pawn. 19.Rac1 White is ready to attack the knight with f2-f3. 19...h6 We provide the knight with an escape route because in case of 20.h4 f2-f3 will no longer be a threat due to the weakening of the g3-square. 20.f3 Ng5 21.h4 An equal endgame arose after 21.Nd4 Rd8 22.Qd2 Qxd2 23.Rxd2 Nh7 24.Kf2 Nf8=, Hill – Biedermann, ICCF 2020. 21...Nh7 22.Nd4!?

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White drove the black knight out of the centre and returned to the plan of occupying d6 with he knight. 22...Rd8 23.Qe2 Nf8 23...Rac8!? with counterplay against the c4-pawn was also possible. 24.h5

In the event of 24.Nb5!? Rxd1+ 25.Rxd1 Ng6 26.Nd6 Bc6 27.Bf2 Ne7= we could exchange the d6knight through f5 or c8. 24...Qe7! It was necessary to return the queen to the rear in order not to fear the appearance of the white knight on d6. The game course 24...Rac8?! 25.Nb5! Rxd1+ 26.Rxd1 unexpectedly faced Black with a difficult choice:

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Exercise: How should Black continue? 26...Rxc4? It was necessary to seek salvation in a pawnless endgame after 26...Qxc4 27.Qxc4 Rxc4 28.Rd8 (28.Nxa7 Bd5 29.Bxb6 g6=) 28...Rc8 29.Rxc8 Bxc8 30.Nxa7 Bd7 31.Bxb6 g6². White cannot return the a7-knight into play. 27.Nd6 Rc7, Kashlinskaya – Pogonina, Ufa 2021 28.Qf2‚. After Qg3 and Rd4 all white pieces will participate in the attack on the king. 25.Nb5 Rxd1+ 26.Rxd1 Bc6 27.Nd6 Nd7 28.f4 f6=

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Conclusion In this chapter we have considered the space grabbing move 5.e4. This continuation allows us to use the advantage in development by counterplay with d7-d5. As a result of the complications in the centre Black deprives the white king of castling in line A or manages to exchange the b8-knight for White’s light-squared bishop in line B. In both variations Black is faced with the problem of saving the e4-knight after f2-f3. In the first case, thanks to the uncastled white king, we can sacrifice the knight for an attack. In the second one we prepare its retreat with ...h7-h6.

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Chapter 12 Classical System 4.Qc2 0-0 5.a3 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0-0 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3

White has achieved a lot in strategic aspect – he has the bishop pair advantage and predominance in the centre. Black compensates that with a dynamic factor at his disposal in the form of better development. We have already encountered a similar confrontation more than once in the Classical System. 6...d5 The immediate attack on White’s centre is quite in the spirit of the position. It is a bit surprising that the idea of exchanging on c4 with further development of the bishop by way of ...b6 and ...Ba6 matured only in 2008-2009, although it first flashed in the Carlsbad tournament in 1929 in the game Rubinstein-Bogoljubow. In my opinion 7.Bg5 is the most unpleasant option in White’s disposal. We’ll consider it in the last chapter, while here we’ll discuss his other options: The exchange in the centre A) 7.cxd5 as well as the developing moves B) 7.e3 and C) 7.Nf3 deserve a detailed study. After 7.Bf4, Hess – Benjamin, chess.com 2017, Black can prepare to lead out the bishop to a6 without taking on c4 – 7...b6„, since the exchange on d5 is unfavourable for White.

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A) 7.cxd5 White wants to bring out the bishop to f4 after an exchange on d5. However, we have an intermediate move at our disposal: 7...Ne4 8.Qc2 If 8.Qb3? exd5 9.Nf3 c5 10.dxc5 Nc6 11.e3 Bf5³, Black will regain the pawn with a tempo. 8...exd5

Black plans to develop the bishop on f5 and remind White of the queen’s too many moves in the opening. 9.Bf4 Other continuations look inconsistent as White played 7.cxd5 exactly with Bf4 in mind. After 9.e3? Bf5 10.Bd3 Qg5! White loses the right to castle: 11.Kf1 The point is 11.g3 Qg6µ, and White lacks defence against the threat 12...Nxg3. 11.f3 does not help owing to 11...Qh4+, winning the exchange – 12.Kf1 Ng3+ 13.hxg3 Bxd3+ 14.Qxd3 Qxh1–+. 11...Qg6 12.Ne2 Nd2+ 13.Bxd2 Bxd3 14.Qxc7, Jedynak – Bartel, Lodz 2021, 14...Bc4–+. White is helpless against the opposite-coloured bishops attack. In case of 9.Nf3? Bf5 10.Qb3 Nc6 Black’s knight comes with a tempo to a5, from where it has 244

prospect of landing on b3. 11.e3 Na5 12.Qd1 b6 13.Bd3 c5 14.dxc5 bxc5 15.0-0, Van der Wijk – Van der Poel, Netherlands 2012, 15...Qf6µ. 9...Nc6 As a rule, in closed openings the knight is awkwardly positioned in front of the c7-pawn. However, in this particular case ...Nc6 and ...Re8 attack the d4-pawn and prevent White from completing development. 10.e3 After the naive 10.Nf3? g5 11.Bg3 g4–+ White loses the central pawn. 10...Re8 The d4-pawn is under attack, so White chooses between A1) 11.0-0-0 and A2) 11.Nf3. 11.Ne2? reliably protects the central pawn, but leaves the f1-bishop and the h1-rook in bewilderment, Kotanjian – Zhao, Moscow 2011. 11...Bf5 12.Qd1 g5 13.Bg3 Qf6µ. 11.Bd3?!N

Exercise: How should Black continue? 245

11...g5! – it is necessary to drive the bishop to g3 before capturing the d4-pawn. 11...Nxd4? 12.exd4 Ng3+ 13.Be3 Nxh1 14.Nf3 Bg4 15.0-0-0+–. 12.Be5 12.Bg3? Nxd4 13.Qxc7 Qf6–+. 12...Nxe5 13.dxe5 Rxe5³.

A1) 11.0-0-0?!

11...Re6N The idea of the rook lift along the sixth row is a product of the technological progress. But I cannot deny the reader the pleasure of studying the game where Black scrapped the 11.0-0-0 line with energetic and harmonious play after 11...Bf5. See Illustrative Game 11 Mkrtchian – T. Kosintseva, Nalchik 2010. 12.Kb1 White defends against the idea of ...Na5 and ...Rc6. 12.f3? Na5 13.Bxc7 Nb3+ 14.Kb1 Ned2+ 15.Ka2 Qd7–+. 12...a5! Black is preparing to play ...Nb4 and open the a-file. 13.f3 Nb4 14.Qe2

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The black knight is inedible – 14.axb4? Rc6 15.Qb3 a4 16.Qa3 Nf2–+. 14...Nd6!

15.Qd2 15.axb4? axb4 16.Qc2 Bd7–+. 15...Qe8 (with the idea of ...Qa4) 16.Rc1 Rg6 The threat of ...Bf5 forces a weakening. 16...Qa4? is not good because of 17.Qd1². 17.g4 Ne4!

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18.fxe4 Qxe4+ 19.Ka1 Rxg4 20.Nf3 Qxf3 21.Be2 Rg2 22.Bxf3 Rxd2 23.axb4 axb4+ 24.Kb1 b3!‚.

Even in an endgame with an extra bishop White’s king remains in danger.

A2) 11.Nf3

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11...g5!? The superior development justifies such an aggressive treatment of the opening. 12.Bg3 g4 13.Ne5 Nxe5 14.dxe5, Weber – Hoeven, ICCF 2020. The game Carlsen – Kramnik, 2009, saw further 14.Bxe5?! c5 15.Bd3 Bf5³, and the threat ...c5-c4 forces White to accept an unpleasant position with opposite-coloured bishops. 14...Bf5 15.Bd3 Nxg3 16.hxg3 Bg6 17.Bxg6 fxg6= Without minor pieces White cannot exploit the open position of the black king.

B) 7.e3 White anticipates ...dxc4, but loses the option to place the c1-bishop on an active position. 7...c5!? This continuation occurs in practice much less frequently than 7...b6, but it also promises a fullfledged game for Black. Besides, the active fight for the centre is fully in the spirit of the position. 8.dxc5 We considered variants with Nf3 in Chapter 6 – 8.Nf3?! cxd4 9.Nxd4 (9.exd4 Nc6 – Chapter 6) 9...e5 – Chapter 6. 249

8...Ne4 9.Qc2 a5!

It is important to deny b2-b4 in order to capture the c5-pawn with the b8-knight. 10.cxd5 White needs to exchange on d5 to develop the bishop on d3.The immediate 10.Bd3? fails to 10...Nxc5! 11.Bxh7+ Kh8. White does not succeed in getting the bishop back from the business trip and complete the development. 12.Bd3 e5 13.cxd5 Qxd5 14.Be2 Nc6µ. It is also preferable to lead out the knight on f3 after a preliminary exchange on d5. If 10.Nf3?! Nd7 11.cxd5 11.b3 Ndxc5 12.Rb1? Schandorff – Njili, Dresden 2008, (12.Bb2 Qb6³) 12...e5–+. 11...Ndxc5 – Black can already take on d5 with the queen. 12.Be2 (12.dxe6? Bxe6µ) 12...Qxd5 13.Bc4 Qh5³, Yasakov – Hassim, corr. 2009. If White manoeuvres the knight to g3, it makes sense to immediately take on c5 – 10.Ne2 Nxc5 11.cxd5, Pietrobono – Markovich, ICCF 2013, 11...Qxd5 12.Nc3 Qb3 13.Qxb3 Nxb3 14.Rb1 Bd7=. After the exchange on c1 the position will become absolutely equal. 10.Rb1 – the idea of b2-b4 is easy to parry with the help of 10...a4, then the b8-knight goes for the c5pawn. 11.Bd2 Na6 12.Nf3 Nxd2 13.Qxd2 dxc4 14.Bxc4 Nxc5=. 10...exd5 11.Bd3 250

After 11.Nf3 or 11.Ne2 Black can bring out the bishop to f5: 11...Bf5 12.Nd4 Bg6 13.Bd3 Nd7 14.0-0 Ndxc5 15.Bxe4 Nxe4=, Silva – Menke, ICCF 2003. 11...Nd7

12.Ne2, Heinke – Preube, corr. 2013. 12.Bxe4? dxe4 13.Ne2, Paravyan – Delgado Ramirez, lichess.org 2020, 13...Qg5 14.0-0 Nxc5³. 12...Ndxc5 13.Bxe4 Nxe4 14.f3 Nd6 15.0-0 Qb6=

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White cannot claim an advantage due to the passivity of the c1-bishop.

C) 7.Nf3

The most natural answer – White continues development, ignoring Black’s plans. 7...dxc4 8.Qxc4 White should immediately capture on c4, otherwise Black will reinforce the pawn with 8...b5 – 8.Bg5?! b5 9.a4 c6³, Golichenko – Babula, Pardubice 2009. 8...b6

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A key position for line C. White chooses between Kasparov’s original idea to bring the h1 rook into the fight with 9.h4!? – line C1) and developing moves with the c1-bishop – C2) 9.Bf4 and C3) 9.Bg5. Let’s look briefly at: 9.Qc2?! – White defends against 9...Ba6, but after the standard developing moves 9...Bb7 10.e3 Nbd7 11.Be2 c5 12.0-0 Rc8³ the queen again feels misplaced, Mangal Prasad – Sengupta, Kolkata 2019. 9.g3 Bb7 – in view of the coming appearance of the bishop on g2, it is logical to place its counterpart on the long diagonal as well. 10.Bg2 Nbd7 11.0-0 Bd5 12.Qc2 c5 13.dxc5 Nxc5=. A significant factor for the evaluation of this position is the location of the white pawn on a3 and the weakened b3-square, Fridman – Pelletier, Kallithea 2008. C1) 9.h4!? Ba6

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Before placing the bishop on b7, I would like to remove the queen from the c-file to take the pressure off the c7-pawn. 10.Qa4 If White leaves the queen on the c-file with 10.Qc2, we can take advantage of this by playing 10...c5 11.dxc5, Ding Liren – Nakamura, chess24.com 2020, 11...Nbd7 12.c6 12.cxb6? Rc8 13.Qb1 Qxb6–+. 12...Rc8 – thanks to the X-ray along the c-file, Black will soon win back the pawn by 13...Nb8 or 13...Bb7. 13.Bg5 13.Rh3 Nb8 14.Ne5 Qd5 15.Bf4 Nxc6 16.Nxc6 Qxc6 17.Qxc6 Rxc6=. 13...Bb7 14.Nd4 Ne5 15.Rd1 Qe7=. 10...Bb7 Black wants to develop the knight on d7 and carry out the thematic ...c7-c5. 11.Bf4 11.Ne5 only leads to exchanges after 11...Nc6 12.Nxc6 Qd7=. 11...Nbd7 12.Rd1 Qe7

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13.Qb4, Conde Poderoso – Alfaro de Hombre, ICCF 2020. 13.Bxc7? Nc5 14.dxc5 Qxc7³. 13...c5 14.dxc5 Qxc5=

C2) 9.Bf4

I think that it was precisely this continuation, introduced in the original game Rubinstein – Bogoljubow, that hindered the development of the 6...d5 variation for a long time. It took time for

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Black to appreciate the prospects of the following pawn sacrifice. 9...Ba6 10.Qxc7 Refusal to capture on c7 means refusal to fight for the advantage: 10.Qc2 Nbd7 – and Black carries out ...c7-c5. 11.e4, Morozevich – Kramnik, Moscow 2009. 11.Rd1 Qe7=, Shishkin – Zacurdajev, St Petersburg 2008. 11...Qc8 12.0-0-0 Bxf1 13.Rhxf1 Qb7 14.Rfe1 c5„. 10.Qa4

Exercise: How should Black continue? 10...Qd7! – it is necessary to expel the queen from a4 in order to develop the b8-knight. 11.Qxd7 After 11.Qc2 Rc8 12.Rd1 Qe8„ Black is ready to push...c7-c5. 11...Nbxd7 12.e3 12.Bxc7?! Rfc8 13.Bf4 Rc2 14.Rb1 Rac8°. Black is planning the manoeuvre ...Ba6-c4-a2. 12...Bxf1 13.Rxf1 c5=, Zhu – Le, Cap d’Agde 2010. 10...Qd5!

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We need to keep the queens on the board to hinder White’s development. Black’s immediate plan is to bring the f8-rook to c2. 11.Qc2 11.Qd6 Qf5 12.g3 Qc2 13.Qb4?! White’s best way out was not to hold on to the pawn but force an exchange of queens – 13.Rc1 Qxb2 14.Qb4 Qxb4+ 15.axb4 Nd5 16.Bd2 Nd7 17.Ra1 Bb7 18.Bg2 Rfc8=. 13...Nc6 14.Qd2 14.Qc3 Qxc3+ 15.bxc3 Rac8³. After ...Na5, followed by ...Nd5, the c3-pawn will be doomed. 14...Qb3 15.Rb1, Vodicka – Bujdak, corr. 2016, 15...Rac8ƒ.

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Black’s plan is ...Na5 and ...Rc2. 11...Rc8 12.Qb1, Likavsky – Bosiocic, Austria 2009. Or 12.Qd1?! Nc6 13.g3 13.e3? Bxf1 14.Kxf1 Na5µ, Flear – Franco Alonso, San Sebastian 2011. 13...Rd8 13...Bb7 14.Bg2 Nxd4=, Arnold – Hawkins, corr. 2017. 14.Rc1 Rac8 15.Bg2 Qe4³. White is still unable to castle. 12...Qb3 13.Nd2 Qa4 14.Qd1!

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Exercise: Assess the consequences of 14...Qxd4. 14...Qxd4! 15.Bxb8 Raxb8 16.e3 White wins a piece with the help of an elegant tactical trick, but after 16...Qxb2 17.Bxa6 Rd8

the threat 18...Ne4 forces him to repeat the moves: 18.Rb1 Qxa3 19.Ra1 Qb2=.

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C3) 9.Bg5

White continues to develop pieces and plans to use the a1-rook to put pressure on the c7-pawn. 9...Ba6 The most popular queen retreats here are C3a) 10.Qc2 and C3b) 10.Qa4. Winning a pawn does not promise an advantage – 10.Bxf6 Qxf6 11.Qxc7 Rc8 12.Qe5 Qg6 – the black queen strives to go to c2. 13.e4 Bxf1 14.Kxf1 Nd7 15.Qf4 Rc2„, Diaz Lopez – Gonzalez Aguirre, La Pobla de Lillet 2011. 10.Qc3 – in this way White fights the threat ...c7-c5. On the other hand, with the queen on c3 White lacks the idea of e2-e4. 10...h6 11.Bxf6 11.Bh4 Nbd7 12.Ne5 Nxe5 13.dxe5 Ne4 14.Bxd8 Nxc3 15.Bxc7 Rfc8 16.Bd6 Ne4=. 11...Qxf6 12.g3 12.e3 Bxf1 13.Rxf1 Rc8 14.Ke2 c5=, Loeschnauer – Flitsch, ICCF 2010. 12...c5 13.dxc5 Qxc3+ 14.bxc3 bxc5 15.Ne5 – White hinders the development of the b8-knight and prepares f3, e4. 15...Bb7 16.f3

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16...Nc6! – Black activates the knight and the rook at the cost of a pawn. 17.Nd7 Rfc8 18.Rb1 18.Nxc5 Na5 19.Nxb7 Nxb7=. The counterplay against the c3-pawn is enough for a draw. 18...Nd8=, Cossin – Palac, Drancy 2016.

C3a) 10.Qc2 White is planning 11.e4. 10...h6 11.Bh4 In case of 11.h4, Samaridis – Halkias, Thessaloniki 2019, Black continues the preparation of ...c7-c5. 11...Nbd7 12.Ne5 Bb7 13.Nxd7 Qxd7 14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.Rd1 Rac8=. 11.Bxf6 Qxf6 12.e3 Bxf1 13.Kxf1 c5=, Ivanchuk – Karjakin, Monte Carlo 2011. 11...c5

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12.dxc5 If White does not take on c5, then we’ll capture on d4 ourselves and will seek to exchange queens after ...Qc8 – 12.e4?! Bxf1 13.Kxf1 13.Rxf1?, Morozevich – Topalov, Nice 2009, 13...Nc6! 14.dxc5 bxc5 15.Qxc5 Qd3µ. 13...g5 14.Bg3 cxd4 15.Rd1 Qc8³, Severina – Kabai, Kemer 2009. 12.Rd1 cxd4 13.Nxd4? 13.e4! Bxf1 14.Rxf1 Qc8 15.Qxc8 Rxc8 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.Nxd4 Nc6=. 13...Nbd7 14.e3 Rc8 15.Qb1 Bxf1 16.Kxf1 Qc7³, M. Socko – Azarov, Warsaw 2013. 12...bxc5 Black wants to develop the knight on d7 and organize counterplay against the b2-pawn. 13.e3 13.Rd1? Qa5+ 14.Qd2 Nc6 15.Bxf6 gxf6 16.Qxa5 Nxa5³, Laznicka – Hracek, Ostrava 2009. 13.Qxc5? Nbd7 14.Qc6 Nb6 15.Rd1 Rc8 16.Rxd8 Rxc6 17.Rxf8+ Kxf8³, Zhu – Pelletier, Cap d’Agde 2010. 13...Bxf1 14.Rxf1, Ma – Motylev, Ningbo 2011, 14...Nbd7 15.Ke2 Qb6

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The play is equal.

C3b) 10.Qa4 This retreat looks the most natural since it impedes the development of the b8-knight. 10...h6 It is useful to deprive White of the idea of h2-h4 before playing ...c7-c5. 10...c5 11.dxc5 bxc5 12.h4!?, Leitao – Mareco, Santos 2010. 11.Bh4 After 11.Bxf6 Qxf6 Black also orients himself towards ...c7-c5 – 12.g3 Bb7 13.Bg2 c5 14.0-0 14.dxc5 Qxb2 15.0-0, Kotanjian – Ter Sahakyan, Yerevan 2014, 15...Bd5=. 14...Bc6 15.Qc4 Bd5 16.Qc3 Nd7=, Enchev – Georgiev, Radomir 2009. 11...c5

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12.dxc5 12.Rd1 allows Black to create a potential passer on the queenside: 12...b5! 13.Qc2 c4„, intending 14...Qa5+. 12...bxc5 Black plans to create counterplay against the b2-pawn. 13.Rc1 White brings the rook to c2 to protect the b2-pawn. After 13.Rd1 Qb6 14.Bxf6 gxf6 White does not have time to create an attack on our king since we’ll soon start active actions along the central file with ...Nc6 and ...Rd8. 15.e3 Bxf1 16.Kxf1

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Exercise: How should Black continue? 16...Nc6 (16...Qxb2?! 17.h4!‚) 17.Rb1 Rfd8 18.Ke2 Rd5 19.Rhc1 Ne5 20.Nxe5 Rxe5=, Xiong – Ding Liren, chess.com 2020. 13...Qb6 14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.Rc2 White plans to exchange light-squared bishops after e2-e3 and put pressure on the c5-pawn. 15...c4!

We cut off the queen and threaten to trap it after ...Nc6 and ...Bb5. 265

16.e3 Bb5 17.Qb4 Rc8 It is necessary to defend the c4-pawn before starting counterplay against the b2-pawn with ...Na6, ...Ba4 and ...Rab8. 18.Be2 White does not have time to win the c4-pawn: 18.Bxc4?? Bxc4 19.Rxc4 Qxb4++–. 18.Nd2? Nc6 19.Qc3 Ne5µ. 18...Na6 19.Qc3 19.Qd2 Ba4 20.Rc3 Rab8 21.0-0 Qxb2 22.Rxc4 Rxc4 23.Bxc4 Qxd2 24.Nxd2 Nc5, Bross – Lafarga Santorroman, ICCF 2016. 19...Ba4 20.Rc1 After 20.Rd2? Nc5 White loses material owing to the threat ...Ne4: 21.Qxc4 21.Qxf6 Ne4 22.Qxh6 Nxd2 23.Ng5 Rc7–+. 21...Nb3 22.Qg4+ Kh8 23.Qxa4 Nxd2 24.Nxd2 Rc1+ 25.Bd1 Rd8–+, Moksh – Santos Ruiz, Caleta 2019. 20...Rab8 21.0-0 Qxb2

White needs accurate defence. 266

22.Nd4! 22.Qxb2?! Rxb2 23.Bxc4 Nc5 24.Nd4 Ne4³, and White risks to lose the a3-pawn, Yu Yangyi – Wei Yi, chess.com 2021. 22...Bd7 23.Qa5 e5 24.Rxc4 exd4 25.Rxc8+ Bxc8 26.Bxa6 dxe3 27.fxe3 Be6=, Burmeister – Bussom, corr. ICCF 2018. Conclusion The continuation 6...d5 has been in the backyard of opening theory for a long time. However, the idea of ...d5-dxc4 is a smart positional solution, as it allows Black to develop pieces with attacks on the white queen. The pawn sacrifice that we explore in line C2 became the tactical justification of the move 6...d5 and brought this continuation to the forefront. The reliability of the plan is also supported by the fact that over the past 10 years White’s only fruitful idea has been 9.h4!? as in line C1.

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Chapter 13 Classical System 4.Qc2 0-0 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 d5 7.Bg5 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0-0 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 d5 7.Bg5

Since the natural developing moves discussed in the previous chapter do not promise an advantage, first players turned their attention to the continuation 7.Bg5. White postpones the development of the kingside in order to promptly include the a1-rook in the game. 7...h6 With this move we practically force an exchange on f6.If Black attempts to follow the plan we talked about in the previous chapter – 7...dxc4 8.Qxc4 b6, White can impede ...c7-c5 with 9.Rd1!? Ba6 10.Qa4 h6 11.Bh4 Qd7 12.Qc2 Qc6 13.Qxc6 Nxc6 14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.e3 Bxf1 16.Kxf1², Carlsen – Caruana, Stavanger 2020. 8.Bxf6 Naturally, we would not like to part with the bishop. However, with a bishop on h4 the counterblow in the centre gains in strength – 8.Bh4?! c5! 9.dxc5 – the threat ...g5, ...Ne4 and ...Qa5+ makes this capture obligatory. 9...d4 10.Qc2 – thanks to the insertion of ...h6-Bh4 White’s queen has no other retreats (10.Qg3? g5µ) 10...Qe7

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Now it is already White’s turn to fight for equality because he has problems with the development of the kingside. With the bishop on h4, e2-e3 would create a weakness. The only game on that theme saw 11.0-0-0? 11.Nf3?! e5 12.e3 dxe3 13.fxe3 Qxc5³ would not solve the problems. White should have dared 11.f4! with the idea to impede ...e6-e5 – 11...Nc6 12.Nf3 Re8„. Black prepares a break in the centre. 11...e5 12.e3 dxe3 13.fxe3, Zhai Mo – Garifullina, Moscow 2019.

Exercise: How should Black continue?

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Before developing the b8-knight to d7, Black needs to clear the c8-square for the rook – 13...Be6! 13...Qxc5 14.Bxf6 Qxe3+ 15.Kb1 gxf6 16.Rd3 Qe1+ 17.Rd1 Qh4 18.Bd3°. 14.Ne2 Nbd7 15.Nc3 Qxc5µ. 8...Qxf6 Despite the exchange of a knight for a bishop, Black still has some difficulties due to the passivity of the c8-bishop. We want to solve this problems with the break ...c7-c5 and massive elimination in the centre.

9.Nf3 Only this developing move can prevent ...c7-c5. After 9.cxd5 exd5 10.e3 c6=

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White cannot count on an advantage in the Carlsbad structure since Black will develop the lightsquared bishop on f5. We’ll talk more about this position in the notes to Illustrative Game 12 Beliavsky – Balashov, Minsk 1983. If 9.e3 dxc4 10.Bxc4 10.Qxc4 e5 11.Nf3 Nc6 – 9.Nf3. 10...c5 – Black exchanges the central pawns and finishes the development with ...Bd7, ...Nc6. 11.Nf3 cxd4 12.Qxd4 12.Nxd4 Bd7=, Zhao – Hou, Guangzhou 2010. 12...Qxd4 13.Nxd4 Bd7=, Doric – Brulic, Sibenik 2010. 9...dxc4 10.Qxc4 Nc6

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As long as ...c7-c5 is impossible, we start preparing the activation of the c8-bishop with ...e6-e5. 11.Qc3 This is the most natural way to defend against 11...e5. It is important that Black cannot just ignore the threat and continue developing – 11.e4?

Exercise: How should Black continue? 11...Rd8 12.Rd1 e5 13.d5 Bg4µ. After the exchange on f3 our knight will settle on d4, Mamedyarov – Nakamura, Stavanger 2018. 272

11.e3

Exercise: How should Black continue? 11...e5! 12.d5 12.dxe5 Nxe5 13.Nxe5 Qxe5³, Taylor – Marusenko, Hastings 2012. 12...e4. With the help of this tactical resource we get to the b2-pawn and force White to accept a perpetual check. 13.Qxe4 13.Nd2?! Ne7 14.Nxe4 Qxb2 15.Qc3 Qb6 16.Bc4, Reuker – Grigorian, Bremen 2018, 16...c6 17.dxc6 (17.d6 Nd5 18.Qd2 Re8³) 17...Qxc6 18.Bd3 Rd8ƒ. 13...Qxb2 14.Rd1 Qc3+ 15.Rd2 After 15.Nd2?! Ne5 16.Be2 Re8³ Black eats the a3-pawn as 17.Qb4 fails due to 17...Nd3+. 15...Qc1+ 16.Rd1 Qc3+ 17.Rd2=. 11.Rd1 Re8 leads to a transposition of moves. White needs to place the queen on c3 to avoid the advance of the e6-pawn to e4: 12.Qc3 – see 11.Qc3. In the event of 11.Qc5 Re8 White has to blockade the e6-pawn – 12.Ne5 Nxe5 13.dxe5 Qe7 and accept a level endgame. 14.Qxe7 Rxe7 15.h4 15.g3 Bd7 16.Bg2 Ba4 17.Rb1 c5=. 15...Bd7 16.Rh3 Bc6=, Sharpe – Bell, ICCF 2019.

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11...Re8 12.Rd1 White must prevent the appearance of a black knight on d4 after 12...e5 13.d5. 12.e3 pursues the same goal, but it should not bother us – 12...e5

13.Nxe5 (13.d5? Nd4µ) 13...Nxe5 14.dxe5 Qxe5 15.Qxe5 Rxe5=, Suleymanli – Gelfand, Riga 2021. 12.Ne5 brings about a safe position for Black after 12...Nxe5 12...Rb8!? 13.g3 Rd8„, Topalov – Ding Liren, Shamkir 2019. 13.dxe5 Qe7 14.g3 c5 15.Bg2 Rb8=. 12...e5 13.d5 White should better refrain from winning a pawn with 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Nxe5 Rxe5= 15.Qxc7? as 15...Be6 16.Qxb7 Rc8³ may be critical for him. 13...Nb8

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Black wants to exchange the d5-pawn and level the game with ...c7-c6. 14.e3 After almost any other move 14...c6 will provide Black with a comfortable game. The greedy 14.Qxc7?! leads to a worse game following 14...Na6 15.Qc3 Bf5³ followed by 16...Rac8. 14.g3 c6 15.Bg2 cxd5 16.Rxd5 Nc6 17.0-0 Be6 – this position is safe for Black. 18.Rd2 After 18.Rc5 Rad8„ we have counterplay with ...Nc6-d4. 18...Rad8, Sciallero – Renard, ICCF 2017. 14.e4 c6 15.Bc4 It is risky to create a passed pawn since it is easy to lose it quickly – 15.d6 Bg4 16.Be2 Nd7 17.0-0 Re6„. 15...cxd5 16.Bxd5 Nd7 – the knight is heading for b6 to drive out the bishop from d5. 17.0-0 Nb6

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In addition to the idea of exchanging on d5, Black has counterplay based on 18...Bg4. 18.Rfe1 18.h3 Nxd5 19.Rxd5 Be6 20.Rd2 (In the game Bindrich – Bosiocic, Austria 2017, White preferred to refrain from taking on e5 since after 20.Rxe5 Rec8 21.Qe3 Rc2 22.b4 b6° the white rook in the centre remains out of play, while our rook is ready to invade through the c-file.) 20...Qg6=. 18...Bg4 – Black is not afraid of 19.Bxb7 as he can regain the pawn with 19...Rab8 20.Bd5 Na4 21.Qc6 Nxb2 22.Qxf6 gxf6 23.Rd2, Balcazar Novoa – Loisel, ICCF 2018, 23...Bxf3 24.gxf3 Rec8=. Black wants to bring the knight to b6 and exchange it for the bishop. 14...Bg4 If 14...c6?! 15.Be2 cxd5 16.Rxd5 Nc6 17.0-0².

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Black’s position looks unpleasant due to White’s possibility to triple his heavy pieces along the c-file and put pressure on the c6-knight. 15.Be2 Nd7 Black has finally completed the development of minor pieces, and now he plans to exchange on f3 followed by ...e5-e4. 16.0-0 It is still bad to grab the pawn – 16.Qxc7? Rac8 17.Qa5 e4 18.Nd4 Bxe2

19.Nxe2

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19.Kxe2 Ne5 20.Qxa7 Ra8–+. 19...Qxb2µ. In answer to 16.e4, Xiong – Nakamura, lichess.org 2020, I suggest to bring the rook to c8 and carry out ...c7-c6. 16...Rac8 17.h3 Bh5=. 16...Bxf3 17.Bxf3 White can avoid the advance of the the e5-pawn with 17.gxf3, but with a spoiled pawn structure he can no longer claim an advantage. 17...Qd6 18.Rc1 Rac8=, Abdusattorov – Gelfand, Yasnaya Polyana 2021. 17...e4

18.Qxc7 18.Qxf6? Nxf6 19.Be2 Kf8³ leads to an unpleasant endgame. Black will put the rooks on e5 and d8. 18...exf3 19.Qxd7 fxg2 20.Rfe1 Naturally, White should not eliminate the defender of his king – 20.Kxg2? Re5–+. 20...Qxb2

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21.Rb1 In response to the advance of the passed pawn 21.d6 Qxa3 Black plans to place the e8-rook on d8 and push the a-pawn forward. 22.Qxb7 a5 23.d7 Red8=. It made sense to defend the a3-pawn in order to deprive Black of a passed pawn on the queenside – 21.Qa4!? Qf6. Black wants to blockade White’s passed pawn with the queen. 22.d6 Rad8 23.d7 Re7 24.Rd4 Qc6=. 21...Qxa3 22.Rxb7 Rf8=, Shankland – Nakamura, Saint Louis 2021. The a7-pawn is ready to start moving forward and distract White’s heavy pieces from his own passer. Conclusion The move 7.Bg5, which we have analysed in this chapter, hinders the comfortable development of black pieces. In his turn, Black can force the exchange of this bishop for a knight and get a structure typical of the classical Queen’s Gambit. Black’s only problem is the passive bishop c8. This issue is solved with the help of the ...e6-e5 breakthrough, the nuances of which were discussed in detail in this chapter.

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Chapter 14 Illustrative Games 1. B. Abramovic – K. Sakaev Novi Sad 2000 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 c5 4.Nc3 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Bb4 6.Bd2 Nc6 7.e3 0-0 8.Be2 d5 9.cxd5 exd5 10.0-0 Re8 11.Nxc6?! We discussed in Chapter 1 that such a transformation of the pawn structure with a white knight on c3 favours Black. 11...bxc6 12.Rc1 Bd6

The insufficient protection of the king is a major drawback of White’s position. Therefore, the black bishop moves to the b8-h2 diagonal, and the b-file is now open for the a8-rook. Black’s immediate task is to put pressure on the h2-pawn and provoke the h2-h3 or g2-g3 weakening. 13.Re1? As strange as it may seem, this rook move turns out to be a blunder. White should have freed the e2square for the knight: 13.Bf3! Bd7 In case of 13...Rb8 White managed to protect the pawn with his bishop and avoid weaknesses on the queenside. 14.Ne2 c5 15.Bc3∞. 280

14.Ne2 Ne4 15.Bc3 Qh4 16.g3 Qe7³. Black is slightly better due to the fact that after the exchange on c3 he will get the bishop pair advantage. However, White has avoided a direct attack on the king and has excellent chances of a successful defence. 13...Rb8 14.b3? White must keep the pawn on b2 so that Black cannot trap the c1-rook with ...Bf5 and ...Ba3. After 14.Qc2 Ng4 15.Bxg4 Bxg4 16.Ne2 c5µ Black has on his side two bishops, mobile central pawns and the prospect of an attack on the white king. 14...Bf5

The threat ...Ba3 forces the rook to retreat to the corner. 15.Ra1 Bg6 Played with the idea of bringing the h-pawn into the offensive. 16.g3 Pouring water to Black’s mill.But even after the strongest 16.Bf3 Qc7 17.h3 Qe7‚ Black transfers the queen to e5 with a dangerous attack. 16...h5 17.Bf3 h4

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Whites is defenceless against opponent’s advance. In the case of Ne2 the black knight will immediately appear on e4. 18.Bc1 hxg3 19.hxg3 Nd7

Sending the knight to d3 is the quickest way to realize the advantage. 20.Bb2 Nc5 21.Ba3 Nd3 22.Bxd6 Qxd6 23.Rf1 Qf6 23...Rxe3! 24.fxe3 Qxg3+ would have elegantly finished the game.

Black pushes the king to the h-file and brings the rook into the attack – ...Rb8-b4-h4. 282

25.Bg2 Qxe3+ 26.Kh2 Rb4–+. 24.Na4 Qg5 25.Bg2 c5 Black turns the c6-pawn into a dangerous passer, increasing White’s difficulties. 26.a3 c4 27.b4 Rbd8 28.Nc3 Bh5 29.Qc2 Re6

Black is preparing an attack on the king along the h-file. 30.e4 d4 31.Nd5 Rc8 32.Ra2 f5 33.exf5 Ree8?!

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It was not worth giving White the chance of playing f5-f6. 33...Rd6 34.f4 Qd8–+ was curtains. 34.Qd2 34.f6! would have forced Black to discover the idea of the quiet move 34...Re2 Or 34...gxf6?! 35.Qa4 intending 36.Qa6. 35.Qb1 Kh8!–+. 34...Qxf5 35.Rc2 Bf7 0-1.

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2. P. Svidler – V. Kramnik Paris 2013 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 c5 6.e3 0-0 This continuation occurs in practice much more often than 6...b6, which I suggested in Chapter 2. Therefore, it will be useful to study the key ideas of both sides. 7.Bd3 Nc6 Black develops the knight and prevents White from playing e3-e4 immediately. 8.Ne2 b6 9.e4

Exercise: How should Black continue? 9...Ne8! With castling done, it is very dangerous to ignore the threat of the Bg5 pin. For example: 9...d6 10.0-0 Ba6 11.Bg5 – the threat f4-e5 forces Black to weaken the position of the king. 11...h6 12.Bh4 g5 13.Bg3 e5 – at first glance Black has blockaded White’s centre and is ready to play Nh5.

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Exercise: How should White continue? 14.f4! – this breakthrough is possible due to the unfortunate position of the black king. 14...exf4 15.Nxf4 cxd4 16.Nh5+–, Gongora Reyes – Morales Romero, Havana 2010. 10.Be3 The reason behind this move order is to save time on 0-0 in favour of defending the c4-pawn with Be3, Ng3 and Qe2.The character of the game after 10.0-0 is different – White’s idea is to push the f2pawn forward as soon as possible and launch an attack on the black king.

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In Chapter 2 we analysed a similar position with the bishop on b7 and the white pawn on f3. The placement of the bishop on b7 allowed us to prevent the advance of the f-pawn by ...Na5. In the current position Black must immediately counterattack the c4-pawn. 10...Ba6 11.f4 f5 – Black stops the f4-pawn and restricts the mobility of the c1-bishop, regardless of some weakening of the king’s position. 12.Ng3 An important indicator of the reliability of Black’s position is the line 12.exf5 exf5 13.dxc5 bxc5 14.Be3 d6 15.Ng3 g6

Exercise: Assess the consequences of the tactical blow 16.Nxf5 16.Bxf5? gxf5 17.Qd5+ Rf7 18.Qxc6 leads White to a difficult position following 18...Bb7 19.Qa4 h5!µ with an opposite-coloured bishops attack, Salimaki – Haapasalo, Helsinki 1999. 12...g6 13.Be3 cxd4 14.cxd4

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14...d5!? – Black stops White’s centre and trades light-squared bishops. 15.cxd5 Bxd3 16.Qxd3 fxe4 17.Qxe4 Qxd5 18.Qxd5 exd5=, Jussupow – Karpov, Linares 1993. 10...Ba6 11.Ng3 Na5 12.Qe2 Rc8

13.d5 f5 The temporary pawn sacrifice allows Black to exchange the dangerous bishop on d3 and activate the a5-knight. Another possible plan is to win the c4-pawn – 13...Qh4!? 14.0-0 Nd6, Geller – Smyslov, Amsterdam/Leeuwarden 1956.

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14.exf5 exd5 15.cxd5 Bxd3 16.Qxd3 Qh4!?

Black impedes c3-c4 and seeks to exchange queens with ...Qc4. 17.0-0 Qc4 18.Rad1?! Going into an endgame favours Black since the split white pawns on the queenside become easy targets. After 18.Qc2 Black brings the a5-knight into play – 18...Nb3 19.Rae1 Nd4 20.Qd2 Nxf5, but White could keep the balance with 21.Bf4 Nxg3 22.hxg3 Nf6 23.Be5 Qxd5 24.Qxd5+ Nxd5 25.Rd1=. 18...Qxd3 19.Rxd3 Nd6 20.Bf4 Nxf5 21.Ne4 Nc4³

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22.f3 Nb2 23.Rd2 Nc4 24.Rd3 Rce8 25.a4 h6 26.h3

26...Nb2?! Black’s rush to win a pawn is pointless since his knight will be in an unfortunate position at the edge of the board. He should have played 26...g5 27.Bh2 Kh7³ with the idea of bringing the knight to g6 and preparing ...h5-g4. 27.Rd2 Nxa4 28.c4 a6 29.Rb1°

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White has cut off the knight on a4 and is ready to go Ra2. 29...Kh7 30.Ra2 Rxe4 This tactical operation leaves Black with an extra pawn. 31.fxe4 Nc3 32.Rxb6 Nxa2 33.exf5 Rxf5 34.Bd2

White’s active pieces are quite sufficient compensation for the material deficit. 34...Rf6?! Black overestimates his chances and continues to play for a win. It was simpler to bring the knight into play and go into a drawn rook endgame – 34...Nb4 35.Bxb4 cxb4 36.Rxb4 Rf4=. 35.Rb7 d6 36.Ra7 Nb4? This natural move could lead to defeat. It was necessary to leave the knight on a2 in order to prevent Bd2-c3 – 36...Kg6. If then 37.Rxa6, Black transfers the knight on d4 with a tempo – 37...Nb4 38.Ra7 Nc2=. 37.Bc3 Rg6

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Exercise: How should White continue? 38.Bxb4? 38.Kf2+– would have won, with the idea of putting the pawns on g4-h4 and prepare the break g5hxg5-h5. 38...cxb4 39.Rxa6 39.Kf2 h5 40.Rxa6 b3 41.Rb6 Rf6+ 42.Ke2 Rg6=. 39...Rf6 40.Rb6 Rf4 41.Rxb4 Kg6 42.Rb6 Rxc4 43.Rxd6+ Kf5 44.Rd7 g5 45.Rh7 Draw.

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3. M. Bartel – B. Socko Wroclaw 2011 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.g3 d5 5.Bg2 0-0 6.cxd5 exd5 7.Nh3?! The idea of developing the knight at the edge of the board is to prepare a breakthrough in the centre with f3 and e4.

Black’s task in such a pawn structure is to meet an appearance of the pawn on f3 with counterplay in the centre ...c7-c5. 7...c6?! Black had more useful developing moves, and the c7-pawn after f2-f3 should go to c5 in one step. 7...Re8 – obviously the rook belongs to e8, so this move should be made without hesitation. 8.0-0 h6 – it is useful to prevent a potential appearance of the bishop on g5. 9.Nf4 The h6-pawn turns out to be very important in the principled variation 9.f3? c5 10.a3 – a typical reaction to...c7-c5. White hopes to provoke an exchange on c3. 10...Ba5! 11.dxc5 Bxc3 12.bxc3 Qa5µ. White’s queenside pawns are weak, while counterplay with Bg5 is unavailable. 9...c6 10.f3 Na6 11.a3 Ba5 12.b4 Bb6 13.e3 Bf5³, and White cannot carry out e2-e4. 8.0-0 Re8 9.Qd3? An extremely unfortunate decision – Black will be able to win a tempo using the advanced position of 293

the queen after ...c6-c5-c4 or ...b6 and ...Ba6. A logical continuation of the game could be 9.f3 c5 10.a3! cxd4 11.axb4 dxc3 12.bxc3 Bxh3 13.Bxh3 Nc6ƒ with slightly the better game for Black due to the awkward pawn structure of the opponent. 9...a5!? Black is planning ...b5, ...Ba6 and ...b4 after retreating the bishop to f8 first. 10.a3 (10.f3 b6µ) 10...Bf8 11.f3?!

White is stubborn on carrying out e2-e4, although with the queen on d3 this ambitious plan should have been abandoned.It was necessary to forget about active play and brace up for a passive defence – 11.Nf4 Nbd7 12.Bd2³. 11...Na6?! This hinders e2-e4, but it was stronger to develop the bishop on a6 – 11...b5! 12.Qd1 Ba6 13.Re1 Nbd7µ with a further ...b4, ...c5. 12.Nf2 (12.e4? dxe4 13.fxe4 Nc5–+) 12...c5 I repeat that such counterplay in the centre is a standard plan against f3 and e4. However, in view of the position of the white queen on d3, the ...b7-b5-b4 plan again deserves attention: 12...b5!? 13.e4 b4 14.Na4 c5 15.e5 Nd7 16.f4 Nc7 17.Qd1 Ba6 18.Re1 bxa3 19.bxa3 cxd4 20.Qxd4 Bc4³. 13.Bg5 294

13...Be6?! It was stronger to defend the pawn with the knight – 13...Nc7! with the idea of ...c4, ...b5. 14.e4 dxe4 15.Ncxe4 Ne6 16.Bxf6 gxf6³. 14.Rad1? White could have revived the g2-bishop and put pressure on the d5-pawn: 14.f4! h6 15.Bxf6 Qxf6 16.Nxd5 Qxd4 17.Nc3∞. 14...h6 15.Be3? Black did not plan to exchange on d4, and White is unlikely to be able to take on c5 himself since after ...Nxc5 the knight would enter the game with a tempo. Therefore, the bishop on e3 is useless.15.Bxf6 Qxf6 16.e3µ left more chances for a successful defence. 15...Qd7 Black is preparing an offensive on the queenside with ...c4, ...b5-b4. 16.Qd2 16.dxc5 Nxc5 17.Qb5 Qc8–+.

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16...Bf5? A decisive advantage gave 16...b5 17.dxc5 Nxc5 18.Bxc5 Bxc5 19.e3 b4 20.axb4 Bxb4–+ with the idea of placing the e8-rook on c8 and creating a weakness on c3. 17.g4!? White wants to push the bishop back to e6. 17.dxc5 Nxc5 18.Nxd5 Qxd5 19.Qxd5 Nxd5 20.Bxc5 Ne3 21.Bxe3 Rxe3 22.Rd2 Rae8° was not bad either – Black has nothing more than enough compensation for the pawn. 17...Bc2 18.Rc1? White should not let the enemy bishop on b3. 18.Qxc2 Rxe3 19.f4! cxd4 20.Rxd4 Bc5 21.Rd2 d4 22.g5 hxg5 23.fxg5 Ng4 24.Nce4∞. 18...Bg6? 18...Bb3! – from b3 the bishop defends the d5-pawn and does not allow the white rook to go to d1. 19.g5 Qe6 20.gxf6 Qxe3 21.Qxe3 Rxe3µ. 19.g5 Qe6 The exchange of the f6-knight for the e3-bishop looks promising, but if White plays correctly, it should only lead to equality. However, Black has already let the advantage slip away.

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20.gxf6 Qxe3 21.Qxe3 Rxe3 22.Rfe1? The rook will be passive on e1. The correct course was 22.Rfd1 cxd4 23.Rxd4 Nc7 24.Ncd1 Ne6 25.Nxe3 Nxd4 26.Kf1 Rd8 27.f4=. 22...cxd4 23.Nxd5 Rb3 24.Nd3!? The pawn on b2 is doomed, so White seeks salvation in an endgame with opposite-coloured bishops. 24...Bxd3 25.exd3 Rxb2 26.Ne7+

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Exercise: Where should Black’s king retreat? 26...Kh8? The king would be better placed on h7 in the variation 26...Kh7 27.f4 gxf6 28.Bd5 Rd8 29.Bf7 Rd7, when the white knight cannot check from g6. Remains 26...Kh7 27.f4 gxf6 28.Be4+ Kg7! 29.Bd5 Rd8 30.Nf5+ Kg8µ. 27.f4 gxf6 28.Bd5 Rd8 29.Bxf7 Rd7 30.Ng6+ Kg7 31.Nxf8 Kxf8

Exercise: Where should White’s bishop retreat? 32.Bg6? The bishop’s retreat to h5 prevents Black from exchanging rooks – 32.Bh5 Rc7? 33.Re8+ Kg7 34.Rc7 Nc7 35.Re7+, and White wins the knight. 32...Nc7? Black misses the last chance to convert the extra pawn. By playing 32...Rc7µ, he could exchange the passive rook for an active one. 33.Kh1

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33...a4 33...Rg7!? 34.Bf5 Rb5 35.Be4°. 34.Bf5 Rg7 35.Rc4 Rgg2 35...Nb5?? loses to 36.Rc8+ Kf7 37.Rce8+–. 36.Rxc7 Rxh2+ 37.Kg1 Rbg2+ 38.Kf1 Rf2+ 39.Kg1 Rhg2+ 40.Kh1 Rh2+ Draw.

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4. F. Caruana – S. Karjakin Saint Louis 2018 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.g3 0-0 5.Bg2 d5 6.Nf3 dxc4 7.0-0 Nc6 8.Qa4

8...Bd7 I cannot call this move a mistake, but it forces Black to solve more complex problems than after my recommendation from Chapter 4 8...Nd5. 9.Bg5 White creates the threat 10.Ne4. 9...a5?! This allows White to win back the pawn and gain a long-term strategic advantage. 9...h6? 10.Bxf6 Qxf6 did not solve the problems owing to 11.Ne5! Nxe5 12.Qxb4 Nc6, Kaasen – Narayanan, chess.com 2020, 13.Qxc4±. 9...Rb8! gave Black the chance to play ...b7-b5 and suffer not for free, Matlakov – Tomashevsky, St Petersburg 2017. 10.Bxf6! White lures the black queen to f6 so as not to be afraid of Nxd4. 300

10...Qxf6 Also unpleasant for Black is 10...gxf6 11.Qc2², Chatalbashev – Janik, Warsaw 2021. The Rd1-d5 plan looks very promising, and the retreat ...Ne7 loses a pawn to Ne4. 11.a3

11...Bxc3 The other continuations encountered in practice do not equalize either: 11...Nb8 12.Qc2 Bxc3 13.Qxc3 c5 13...Bc6 14.Qxc4 Nd7 15.Rac1², Lim – Savic, Paracin 2019. 14.Qxc4 cxd4 15.Qxd4². 11...Bd6 12.Qxc4 e5, Kasimdzhanov – Batchuluun, Batumi 2018, 13.Rfd1 exd4 14.Ne4 Qe7 15.Nxd4 Nxd4 16.Qxd4±. 12.bxc3 Qd8? Black plans to meet Qxc4 by ...a4 and ...Na5, but that only aggravates his difficulties. It would have been better to place the queen on e7 to occupy the a1-rook with the defence of the a3-pawn – 12...Qe7 13.Qxc4 a4². 13.Qxc4 a4

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Exercise: How should White continue? 14.Nd2?! This move does not let the black knight go to b3. However, 14.Ne5! Nxe5 15.dxe5 Rb8 16.Rfd1 Qc8 17.Rd4± was much stronger. Black loses the battle for the d-file. 14...Na5?! Again, the lesser evil was to place the queen on e7 – 14...Qe7 15.Rfb1 Ra7². 15.Qb4 Ra7 16.Rab1 b6 17.e3?! White has a big space advantage, so it made sense to keep the bishops on the board – 17.Rfd1 Bc6 18.e4±. 17...Bc6 18.Bxc6 (18.e4!?²) 18...Nxc6 19.Qb5 Qa8

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20.c4 Rd8 21.Rfc1 e5? Black is trying to stabilize the pawn structure and get the c5-square for the knight. However, in reality the black knight cannot get there. 21...h6 22.h4 Ne7². 22.d5 Nb8 22...Na5!? 23.Qb4 h6 24.Rd1±. 23.c5!

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This break exchanges two pawns but activates White’s heavy pieces. 23...Ra5 24.Qb2 Qxd5 25.cxb6 cxb6 26.Nc4 Rc5 27.Qxb6 f6? It was more resilient to try 27...Rf8 28.Qd6 f6 29.Qxd5+ Rxd5 30.Rb4 Rc8 31.Rcb1 Nd7 32.Rxa4± with some chances to save the endgame with a pawn down. 28.Rd1 Qxd1+ 29.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 30.Kg2 1-0. Black resigned in view of 30...Rxc4 31.Qe6+.

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5. F.Caruana – K. Alekseenko Ekaterinburg 2020 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 d5 5.a3 Be7 6.e4 dxe4 7.fxe4 c5 8.d5 exd5 9.exd5 0-0 10.Be2 Re8

Compared to 10...a6, which was our recommendation in Chapter 5, Black does not strive to blockade quickly the d5-pawn with his bishop. Instead he prefers to continue development with ...Re8, ...Bg4 and ...Nbd7. 11.Nf3 Bg4 12.0-0 Nbd7 In my opinion it is premature to occupy the blockading square d6 with the bishop – 12...Bd6 while the knight is still on b8, as White can obtain the bishop pair advantage – 13.Nb5², Cheparinov – Svane, Krasnaya Polyana 2021. 13.d6!? This principled continuation leads to forced variations which Black must remember exactly.With the knight on d7, he was ready to play ...Bd6 without fearing Nb5 since the bishop could retreat to b8 – 13.h3 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 Bd6∞, Bykhovsky – Smirin, Tornelo 2020. 13...Bf8 14.h3 White should not start a knight raid to c7 before the inclusion of 14.h3 Bh5 – 14.Nb5?! Re6 15.Bf4

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Now Black can play 15...Nh5 16.Bg5, Galliamova – Girya, Moscow 2020, 16...Ndf6!³. 14...Bh5 15.Nb5 Another important direction is 15.Bf4 Qb6 16.b3!?, planning the rook lift Ra1-a2-d2, Nepomniachtchi – Karjakin, Moscow 2020.

Here I recommend to start hunting for the d6-pawn before the white rook was activated – 16...Ne4!? 17.Nd5 Qc6 18.Nh4 Bxe2 19.Qxe2 Nxd6 20.Qh5 g6 21.Qf3 f5 22.g4 Bg7∞.

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15...Re6? After the insertion of 14.h3 Bh5 Black will no longer be able to drive out the bishop from f4 and win the d6-pawn.Therefore, it is necessary to remove the other rook from under the fork and activate the e8-rook through e4 – 15...Rb8! 16.Bf4 a6 17.Nc7 Re4 18.Bg3 18.Qd2? Bxf3 19.Rxf3, Kobo – Safin, chess.com 2021, 19...Ne5 20.Bxe5 Rxe5 21.Rd1 Ne4 22.Qf4 f6µ. 18...Bxf3 19.Bxf3 Rd4 20.Qe1 Bxd6 21.Nd5 Bxg3 22.Qxg3∞, Vidit – Aronian, chess.com 2020. 16.Bf4 a6 17.Nc7 Re4 18.Bh2? The bishop retreat turns out to be a loss of a tempo. White could bring the rook to d1 and deprive Black of counterplay – 18.Qd2 Rc8 19.Rad1+–. 18...Rc8 As we’ll see later, the best place for the black rook is on b8. However, in this position it is absolutely impossible to make the right decision in an OTB game. 18...Rb8! 19.Qc2 19.g4 Bxg4 20.hxg4 Nxg4 21.Bd3 Nxh2 22.Bxe4 Nxf1 23.Qxf1 Nf6 24.Re1 Nxe4 25.Rxe4 Qxd6 26.Nd5 b5„. 19...Ne5 20.Bxe5 Bxf3 21.Bxf6 Rxe2 22.Qxe2 Bxe2 23.Bxd8 Bxf1 24.Be7 Bxc4 25.Rc1 Be6². 19.g4 This allows Black to sacrifice a piece and obtain counter-chances. 19.Qc2! was stronger, with the 307

idea of activating the a1-rook. But in order to make this move it is necessary to accurately calculate and correctly evaluate the consequences of: 19...Ne5! 20.Bxe5! Bxf3 21.Bxf6 Rxe2 22.Qxe2 Bxe2 23.Bxd8 Rxd8 23...Bxf1? 24.Be7+–. 24.Rfe1 Bxc4 25.Re8 Rxd6 26.Rae1 f5 27.Rb8±. 19...Bxg4! 19...Bg6 20.Bd3±.

20.hxg4 Nxg4 20...Rxg4+ 21.Kh1 Ne4 is no better owing to 22.Nd5 Rc6 23.Ne3! Ng3+ 24.Bxg3 Rxg3 25.Nf5 Rh3+ 26.Kg2 Rh5 27.Qd3 g6 28.Ng3 Rxd6 29.Qb3±. 21.Bd3 Nxh2 22.Bxe4 Nxf1 23.Qxf1

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23...Bxd6? This allows White to bring back the knight from c7 and launch an attack on the black king. Before capturing the pawn on d6, Black should have played 23...Nf6 to exchange a pair of minor pieces – 24.Re1 Qxd6 25.Nd5 Nxe4 26.Rxe4 b5 27.b3 bxc4 28.bxc4 Rb8². 24.Nd5 g6 Black tries to prepare an exchange of knights by ...Ne5. He could not do it right away – 24...Ne5? 25.Bxh7+ Kxh7 26.Qh3+ Kg8 27.Nxe5 Bxe5 28.Qxc8 Qxc8 29.Ne7++–. 25.Qh3 Kg7 26.Kh1 Ne5 27.Nh4! It is important to keep as many pieces on the board as possible, for an attack on the black king. 27...h5 This move weakens the g6-pawn and brings the conclusion closer. But the more stubborn 27...Rc6 28.Rg1 Bf8 29.Nf4 Rb6 30.Bd5+– should not save Black either. 28.Rg1 Bf8 29.Nf4 Ng4 30.Nxh5+ gxh5 31.Bf5 Be7 32.Bxg4 hxg4 33.Qxg4+ Bg5 34.Qh5 1-0.

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6. A. Korobov – N. Huschenbeth Karlsruhe 2020 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0-0 5.Bd3 c5 6.Nf3 d5 7.0-0 cxd4 8.exd4 dxc4 9.Bxc4 b6 10.Bg5 Bb7 11.Rc1 h6 12.Bh4 Nc6 13.a3 Be7

In Chapter 7 this position arose through a different move order from the 4.Nf3 system. Let me remind you that Black’s plan is to exchange the dark-squared bishops, so at the moment he wants to play 14...Nh5. 14.Ba2 White is preparing to carry out d4-d5, so he takes the bishop away from the ...Na5 tempo.Developing moves with heavy pieces do not hinder the implementation of Black’s plan: 14.Re1 Nh5 15.Bg3 Nxg3 16.hxg3 Bf6 17.d5 Na5 18.Ba2 Bxc3 19.Rxc3 Bxd5 20.Bxd5 Qxd5 21.Qxd5?! 21.Qc2 Rad8 22.Ne5 Qd2 23.Qxd2 Rxd2 24.b4 Nb7 25.Rc7 Nd6 26.Rxa7 Rc8=. 21...exd5³, Vachier Lagrave – So, Leuven 2018. 14.Qd3 Nh5 15.Bg3 Nxg3 16.hxg3 Bf6 17.Rfd1 Ne7=, Bartholomew – Kacheishvili, New York 2011. 14.Bg3!? has some venom. Its idea is to counter 14...Nh5? by a break in the centre – 15.d5 exd5 16.Nxd5 Nxg3 17.hxg3², Kharitonov – Paravyan, Voronezh 2014. Instead Black can insist on exchanging the bishops: 310

14...Bd6 15.Ne5 Rc8. It is logical to continue developing with a tempo – after ...Nxe5 the c4-bishop will be hanging. 16.Nxf7. This tactical blow leads to equalization, but White has nothing better. 16.Ba2 Bb8 17.Nxc6 Bxc6³. 16...Rxf7 17.Bxe6 Bxg3 18.Bxf7+ 18.hxg3 Nxd4 19.Bxc8 Bxc8 20.Nb5 Rd7 21.Nxd4 Rxd4 22.Qb3+ Rd5=. 18...Kxf7 19.Qb3+. All that occurred in the correspondence game Tseng – Fuhrwerk, ICCF 2011. Black can retreat to g6, and the threat ...Nxd4 forces White to give perpetual check: 19...Kg6 20.Qc2+ Kf7 21.Qb3+=. 14...Nh5 15.Bg3 White prefers to exchange the bishop for a knight in order to preserve the possibility of a the breakthrough d4-d5. 15.Bxe7?! Nxe7 16.Re1 Nf4³, Nechaeva – Gunina, St Petersburg 2017. 15...Nxg3 16.hxg3 Bf6 A typical solution in such positions is to prevent White from taking on d5 with the knight after d4-d5, so the bishop targets the b2-pawn. 17.d5 exd5 18.Qxd5 Capturing by bishop promises nothing either since Black easily connects the rooks and completes the mobilization of forces – 18.Bxd5 Qd7 19.Qd3 Rad8 20.Rfd1 Ne5 21.Nxe5 Bxe5=.

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18...Qxd5?! Black rushes to go into an endgame with two bishops, but does not take into account the specific features of the position.Before trading queens it was necessary to develop the rook on c8 in order to avoid the events from the game. 18...Rc8= was preferable. 19.Nxd5 Rac8 The capture on b2 leads to a dangerous position, so Black rightly settles for a damaged pawn structure. 19...Bxb2?! 20.Rxc6 Bxc6 21.Ne7+ Kh7 22.Nxc6 Bxa3 23.Nfe5². The tandem of knights and a light-squared bishop could create a dangerous attack on the king even without queens. 20.Nxf6+ gxf6

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21.Rfe1?! The rook has nothing to do on the e-file. 21.Rfd1 Rfd8 22.g4² retained the pressure, intending to bring the king to g3. An important factor is that trading rooks does not solve all the problems: 22...Rxd1+?! 23.Rxd1 Rd8 24.Rxd8+ Nxd8 25.Nd4±, and the knight is threatening to land on f5. 21...Rfd8 22.Rc4 With a couple of meaningless moves White drops the remnants of his advantage.He could try to send the knight to f5 – 22.Nh4!? Ne5 23.Nf5 Kf8 24.Rcd1, but Black manages to repel the knight from f5 after 24...Rxd1 25.Rxd1 Be4 26.Ne3 h5², and he should hold on. 22...Ba6 23.Rc3 White will not be able to increase the pressure on the c-file, so it was worth sending the rook to the kingside – 23.Rf4 Kg7 24.Bb1ƒ. 23...Kf8 24.Kh2 24.Rec1 Ne5=. 24...Nd4

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Starting a mass elimination. I will show the game to the end because of one curious moment in the rook endgame. 25.Nxd4 Rxd4 26.Rxc8+ Bxc8 27.Rc1 Be6 28.Bxe6 fxe6 29.Rc7 Rd2 30.Rxa7 Rxb2 31.f3 b5 32.g4 Kg8 33.Kg3 b4 34.axb4 Rxb4 35.Kh4 Rb5 36.Re7 Re5 37.f4 Re4 38.g3 Re3 39.f5 e5

40.Kh5 Unexpectedly, White could have set a trap – 40.g5!? hxg5+ 41.Kh5

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Exercise: How should Black continue? 41...Kf8! – it is essential to attack the rook on e7 before the appearance of the white king on f6. Loses 41...Rxg3? 42.Kg6 Kf8 43.Kxf6 Rb3 44.Rf7+! Kg8 45.Kg6+–, and Black does not have time to attack the enemy king from the side, while the pawn on g5 is a shield against an attack from the rear. 42.Ra7 Rxg3 43.Kg6 Rb3 44.Kxf6 Rb6+=. 40...Rxg3 41.Kg6 Rxg4+ 42.Kxf6 Ra4 43.Re8+ Kh7 44.Rxe5 h5 45.Kg5 Draw.

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7. V. Topalov – Ding Liren Wenzhou 2018 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 0-0 5.Bg5 c5 6.Rc1 h6 7.Bh4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 d5 9.cxd5

9...g5 Black avoids the exchange on f6 before taking on d5 with the queen. This continuation is much more common in practice than my recommendation in Chapter 7. 10.Bg3 Qxd5 11.e3 White sacrifices a couple of queenside pawns for a lead in development. 11.a3 Bxc3+ 12.bxc3 Ne4 13.f3 Nxg3 14.hxg3 Kg7= is safe for Black, Harikrishna – Kramnik, Batumi 2018. Perhaps it is worth trying 11.h4!? Ne4 12.e3∞, Inarkiev – Karjakin, Nazran 2019. 11...Qxa2 12.Bd3 After 12.Qc2 Black demonstrated a path to equalization in a recent practical game: 12...Bxc3+ 13.Qxc3 Ne4 14.Qb4 a5 15.Qb5 Bd7! 16.Qxb7 Nc6 17.Bd3 Nxg3 18.hxg3, Dragnev – Shengelia, Austria 2021, 18...Rab8 19.Qxd7 Ne5 20.Bb1 Qxb1 21.Rxb1 Nxd7=. 12...Qxb2 13.0-0 Bxc3 14.Rc2

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Worse is 14.Nb5 Ba5, and White must go to an endgame with an exchange for two pawns: 15.Rb1 15.Bd6? 15...Nc6 16.Rc2 Qb3 17.Bc4 Qa4 18.Bxf8 Kxf8 19.f4 g4–+, Sethuraman – Karjakin, chess.com 2020. 15...Qd2 16.Qxd2 Bxd2 17.Nc7 Nc6 18.Nxa8 e5ƒ. 14...Qb4 15.Nb5

Exercise: How should Black continue? 15...e5! Thus Black prevents 16.Bd6 and manages to develop the knight on c6. 16.Rxc3 The b5-knight strives to invade the enemy camp, and the white queen needs the c2 square. 16.Nxc3? Nc6 17.Qc1 17.f4? exf4 18.exf4 Bg4 19.Qd2 Rad8–+. 17...Rd8 18.Rb2 Qc5 19.Bb1 Be6³, Mamedyarov – Nakamura, chess24.com 2021. 16...Nc6 17.f4 Bg4 18.Qc2 exf4 This exchange does not spoil anything. Also good is the immediate 18...Nd5!?∞, Xiong – Santos Ruiz, Biel 2019.

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19.exf4

19...Rac8? This is too slow for a position where White is ready to create decisive threats to the black king.The correct defence was shown in an online game 3 years after the current game: 19...Nd5 20.Rb3 20.fxg5? Nxc3 21.Nxc3 Rad8 22.Kh1 Qd4 23.Bh7+ Kh8–+ Mamedyarov – Nakamura, chess24.com 2021. 20...Nd4 21.Nxd4 Qxd4+ 22.Bf2 Qg7 23.fxg5 hxg5∞. 20.Bc4 The threat Qg6+ looks tempting, but the straightforward line 20.fxg5!? Nd4 21.Qf2 Ne4! 22.Bxe4 Ne2+ 23.Kh1 Nxc3 24.Nxc3 Qxc3 25.gxh6 f5 26.Bb1± also led to a promising position. 20...Qc5+! In a difficult position the Chinese grandmaster finds the only idea that allows him to grab onto the edge of the abyss – the queen moves to f5 without fearing Bd3 in response. 21.Kh1 Qf5

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22.Bd3? It’s hard to give up on the idea of keeping the queens on the board. Still, 22.Nd6 Qxc2 23.Rxc2 Nh5 24.Nxc8 Nxg3+ 25.hxg3 Rxc8 26.Ba2± was stronger. Taking into account the weakness of f7, White has chances to convert the advantage. 22...Qd7 I have no desire to put question marks to this and subsequent decisions of the opponents in view of the extremely tense situation on the board. Retreating with the queen to the centre equalized play – 22...Qd5! since White cannot take on g5: 23.Qb1! 23.fxg5? Nb4 24.Qf2 Nxd3 25.Qxf6 Qxg5µ. 23...Nd4 24.Nc7 Qa5 25.Be1 Rxc7 26.Rc4 Qb6 27.Qxb6 axb6 28.Rxc7 Ne6 29.Rxb7 Nc5 30.Rxb6 Nd5 31.Rb5 Nxd3 32.Rxd5 Nxf4 33.Rd6 Be6=. 23.fxg5 Nb4

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24.Qf2 Nxd3 25.Qxf6 Qxb5 Ding Liren finds an excellent tactical resource, and it was almost impossible to notice the opponent’s counterblow. But to be fair, I’ll note the alternative 25...Qe6!? 26.Nc7 Qxf6 27.Rxf6 Rfd8 28.h3 Be6 29.g6 Ba2 30.gxf7+ Bxf7 31.Rxh6 Kg7 32.Rh4², and Black still needs to play very carefully, since with opposite-colored bishops an attack on the king is quite possible even without queens. 26.gxh6 Nf2+! Black sacrifices a knight to transfer the queen to g6.

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Exercise: How should White continue? 27.Rxf2 White had to deprive his opponent of the check with the queen from b1! – 27.Qxf2!! Rxc3 28.Qf6 Qxf1+ 29.Qxf1 Rc6 30.h3 Bh5 31.Qb5 Rxh6 32.Bf4 Rh7 33.Qg5+ Bg6 34.Be5 Rh5 35.Qf6 Rxe5 36.Qxe5±. White has good chances to mate the black king with the combined efforts of the battle units remaining on the board. 27...Qb1+ 28.Rf1 Qg6=

29.Rxc8 Rxc8 30.Qe7 The other continuations also lead to a draw: 30.Qxg6+!? fxg6 31.Re1 Rc6!=; 30.Qe5 Qxh6 31.h3 Bxh3 32.gxh3 Qxh3+ 33.Kg1 Qe6=. 30...Be6 31.Qxb7 Qxh6 32.Qxa7 Rc1 33.Rg1 Rxg1+ 34.Qxg1 Bd5=

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The scarce material left on the board deprives White of chances to convert the extra pawn. A few dozen moves later Black exchanged queens at the cost of the f7-pawn and demonstrated basic endgame knowledge.

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8. R. Lovkov – H. Stefansson St Petersburg 2010 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0-0 5.Nge2 d5 6.a3 Bd6 7.cxd5 exd5

8.Ng3 In Chapter 8 we examined the consequences of the most popular option 8.g3. The idea of the text move is to keep the black bishop out of f5, develop the f1-bishop on d3 and prepare f3, e4 after 00.Other continuations look weaker: 8.b4? Bf5 9.Ng3 Bg6³, Walch – Brandl, Bayern 2013. 8.Nf4? Bxf4 9.exf4 Re8+ 10.Be2 c5 11.Be3, A. Moskalenko – Giri, chess.com 2020, 11...Nc6 12.0-0 Bf5³. 8...Re8 In his turn Black can prepare to break White’s centre with ...c5 in response to f2-f3, or he can immediately carry out ...b6, ...c5. 9.Bd3

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9...c6 A knight transfer to f8 is a perfectly possible course of action.But in light of the fact that later in the game Black opted for the plan ...b6, ...c5, it was logical to implement it without losing a tempo on ...c7-c6. 9...b6!? 10.b4 10.0-0 c5 11.dxc5 bxc5 12.Bb5, Bures – Gumularz, chess.com 2021, 12...Bd7 13.Bxd7 Qxd7 14.Nxd5 Nxd5 15.Qxd5 Bxg3 16.Qxd7 Bxf2+ 17.Rxf2 Nxd7=. 10...c5 11.bxc5 bxc5 12.0-0 c4 13.Bc2 Nc6„, Ederer – Seidens, Bayern 2011. 10.Bd2 Nbd7 11.Qc2 b6!? The return to the plan with ...b6, ...c5 does not deserve criticism as White has delayed castling.Black could also continue 11...Nf8 with the idea of meeting f2-f3 by ...c6-c5. If White castled, Black could disturb the g3-knight by the advance of the h-pawn – 12.0-0 (12.f3 c5„) 12...h5„. 12.0-0 c5 13.e4!

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White has a slight advantage in development, so the breakthrough in the centre is a timely choice. 13...cxd4 13...Bxg3 14.fxg3 c4 led to a level game – 15.Be2 Nxe4 16.Nxe4 dxe4 17.Qxc4 Nf6 18.Bg5 Be6 19.Qa4 Rc8=. 14.Nxd5 Bb7 15.Nxf6+ Nxf6 16.f4 White grabs space but lets the black knight go to e3. 16.f3!? Rc8 17.Qd1 Nd7∞. 16...Rc8 17.Qb1 Ng4

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18.Nf5? This move looks perfectly natural since White denies ...Qh4. However, the further exchange on d6 turns out to be favourable for Black.It was necessary to prepare for the appearance of the black queen on h4 in a different way: 18.Qe1 Qh4 19.h3 Ne3 20.Bxe3 dxe3 21.e5 Bc5 22.Kh2∞. 18...g6 19.Nxd6 Qxd6 20.Qd1 Ne3 21.Bxe3 dxe3 22.e5 Qc5 23.Qe2 Red8 24.Rad1? More stubborn was 24.b4 Qc3 25.Rad1µ. White has chances to create an attack on the king if the black queen gets distracted by the queenside pawns.

326

Exercise: How should Black continue? 24...Rxd3? This allows White to get off with a whole skin. 24...Rd4–+ planning 25...Rcd8 would finish the game. 25.Rxd3 Ba6 26.Rfd1 Bxd3 27.Rxd3 Qc1+ 28.Rd1 Qc2 28...Rc2 29.Qd3 e2 30.Qd8+ Kg7 31.Qf6+=. 29.Qxc2 Rxc2 30.Re1 Rxb2 31.Rxe3 h5= After a long struggle with mutual mistakes the game nevertheless ended in a draw.

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9. A. Smirnov – I. Lysyj Cheboksary 2021 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0-0 5.Bd3 Re8 6.Nge2 d5 7.0-0 Bf8 8.cxd5 exd5

Once again Black’s key task is to prevent the plan with f3 and e4. This can be done by the break ...c5 after the appearance of the white pawn on f3 or by ...c6 and ...b5, threatening b5-b4. 9.Qc2 My opponent chose not the most popular, but quite logical developing move. It is pointless to play 9.f3?! at once in view of the thematic 9...c5 10.Qe1 Nc6 11.Qh4 h6³, Lomineishvili – Bojkovic, Germany 1998. With the white bishop on c1, the minority attack is rarely effective – 9.Rb1 a5 10.a3 Na6. White cannot play b2-b4, while Black is planning ...c6, ...b5. 11.f3 c5„, Kaspi – Finkel, Kfar Sava 2000. The game Kramnik – Leko, Dortmund 2001, saw 9.a3 a5 10.Kh1 Na6 11.f3 c5 12.Nf4. Now it was reasonable to make a luft with 12...h6 since grabbing a pawn 13.dxc5 Nxc5 14.Ncxd5 Nxd5 15.Nxd5 Nxd3 16.Qxd3 does not promise White an edge – 16...Be6 17.e4 Bxd5 18.exd5 Qf6°, and Black manages to win back the d5-pawn while White is completing the mobilization of forces. In my opinion, the most promising plan for White is to finish the queenside development with further f3, e4 – 9.Bd2 c6 10.Rc1 a5 11.f3. Even then 11...b5! gives enough counterplay – 12.Ng3 Ba6„, Jobava – Mareco, Doha 2016.

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9...c6 10.Bd2 It is still premature to play 10.f3?! due to 10...c5!³, providing a nice stand for the knight on c6.

10...Nbd7?! The knight should be led to e6 to put pressure on the d4-pawn in case of f3-c5. 10...a5! 11.Rad1 Na6 12.a3 b5 13.Bc1, Epishin – Belikov, Dortmund 2001, 13...Nc7„. 11.Rab1?! With the knight on d7, White could get nice play after 11.f3 c5 12.Rad1². 11...a5 12.a3 Nb6 During the game I considered it important to prepare an invasion with the knight on c4 after b2-b4. However, I could have acted in a more ambitious way – 12...b5!?„ with the idea of sending the knight to c4 a bit later. 13.b4?! White complies with my plan in vain. Oddly enough, it made sense to return the bishop to its original position 13.Bc1 with the idea of meeting ...Nc4 with the break e3-e4. 13...axb4 14.axb4 Nc4! 15.Bxc4 dxc4

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Despite the doubled pawns, we can assess the position in my favour since I have a passed pawn and the c8-bishop would be very strong in the long run. 16.b5 In case of 16.e4 b5 17.h3 h6³ further advance of the centre will produce weaknesses in White’s camp, while I could improve my position with ...Ra8-a3-b3. 16...c5 17.dxc5 Bxc5 18.Ng3? The knight is awkwardly placed on g3. It made sense to take control of the a-file – 18.Ra1 Rxa1 19.Rxa1³. 18...Be6?! Schematically played. I could have exploited the clumsy knight on g3 with 18...h5µ. 19.Rfd1?! White wrongly ignores the possibility of the queen’s invasion on d3. 19.Nce2 Qd3 20.Rfc1³ was more resilient.

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19...Bf8? I found the correct idea of trading queens only on the next turn. 19...Qd3! 20.Rbc1 Qxc2 21.Rxc2 Red8µ. 20.Nce2?! White could have prevented ...Qd3 with 20.Be1 Qc7 21.Nce2=. 20...Qd3 21.Qxd3? The d3-pawn will make the communication between White’s pieces extremely difficult. It was necessary to exchange queens on c2 – 21.Rbc1 Rec8 22.Nd4 Qxc2 23.Rxc2 Bd7³. 21...cxd3 22.Nd4 22.Nf4 Ba2 23.Rb2 Bc4–+. 22...Ba2 23.Rbc1 Nd5?! I should not have feared the appearance of the white rook on c7. 23...Ba3 24.Rc7 b6 led to a decisive advantage, with the idea of trapping the rook after 25.Be1 Bc5 26.Rxd3 Red8–+. White has no defence against the threat ...Ne8 and ...Bd5. 24.e4 Ra4 25.Ndf5 Nf6

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26.f3? White could destroy the d3-passer and put up a stubborn resistance. 26.Bc3 Nxe4 27.Nxe4 Raxe4 28.Rxd3µ. 26...Bb3 27.Re1 Bc4? Carried away by the hunt for the b5-pawn, I blundered my opponent’s counterplay. 27...Ra2! 28.Nf1 Bc2 29.Ra1 Rea8–+.

Exercise:

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How should White continue? 28.Rb1? 28.e5 Nd7 29.Nd6 Bxd6 30.exd6 Rxe1+ 31.Rxe1 Kf8 32.Re7 Bxb5 33.Nf5„ should save the game. 28...Nd7 29.Ne3 Ba2 30.Rb2 Bc5 31.Kh1 Nb6 32.Ngf1 Rc8 33.Ra1 Be6 34.Rc1 Bd4 35.Rxc8+ Nxc8 36.Rb1 Nd6 37.g4 Ra1 The exchange of rooks leaves the b5-pawn defenceless. 38.Rxa1 Bxa1 39.b6 Bd4 40.Ba5 f6 41.Ng2 41.Kg2 Kf7–+. 41...Nc4

I ate the b6-pawn and went on to convert it.

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10. S. Martinovic – I. Salgado Batumi 2019 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0-0 5.Nf3 c5 6.dxc5 Na6 7.g3 Nxc5 8.Bg2 Nce4 9.0-0 Bxc3 10.bxc3 Qc7 11.Nd4 d5 12.cxd5 exd5 13.Bf4 Qc5

We stopped at this position our study of the variation in Chapter 10. Black has clear counterplay against the c3-pawn to balance the enemy bishop pair. 14.Qb2 White plans to put one of the rooks on c1 and then play c3-c4 or exchange queens with Qb4. 14.Rac1 Bd7 15.Qb3 b6 16.f3 Nd6 17.Qb4 leads to a transposition – see 14.Qb2. 14.Be3!? is an interesting alternative. It is still dangerous for Black to take on c3 (see the note on 13.Bf4 in Chapter 10), and the retreat of the queen to c7 will lead to a position with an extra tempo for White compared to the position before 13.Bf4. 14...Re8 – the white knight’s jumps are not dangerous for now, so Black can continue the plan of pressure on the c3-pawn. 15.Rac1 Bd7 16.Qb3, Donchenko – Iturrizaga, Zurich 2019. Play is equal after 16.c4 Rac8 17.cxd5 Qxc2 18.Rxc2 Rxc2 19.Nxc2 Nxd5 20.Bxa7, Rawlings – Kitson, ICCF 2018, since Black can regain the pawn with 20...Ndc3=. White wants to transfer the knight via the route ...Nd4-e6-f4 and occupy the d4-square with the bishop. I propose to get rid of the X-ray of the e3-bishop, while indirectly protecting the b7-pawn:

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16...Qa5 17.c4 17.Qxb7?! Rab8 18.Nc6 Bxc6 19.Qxc6 Re6 20.Rb1 Rbe8 21.Qb5 Qxb5 22.Rxb5 Nxc3 23.Ra5 d4³. 17...dxc4 18.Rxc4 b5 19.Rc2 Rac8=. 14...b6 15.Rac1 In a correspondence game White developed the other rook on c1 and sought a queen trade with Qb4 – 15.Rfc1 Bd7 16.f3 Nd6 17.Qb4 Nc4 18.Qxc5 bxc5 19.Nb3 h6

The c5-pawn is untouchable due to the threat 20...g5. 335

20.h4 Rfc8 21.g4, Ludwig – Saitou, ICCF 2020. It is logical to bolster the d5-pawn and free up the d7-square for the knight. 21...Be6 22.Kf2 Nd7=. 15...Bd7

16.Nb3 In the event of 16.f3 Nd6 17.Qb4 Nc4 18.Qxc5 bxc5 19.Nb3, Nihal – Kravtsiv, Ankara 2018, Black can act by analogy with the position from the note to 15.Rfc1: 19...h6 20.h4 Rfc8 21.g4 Be6=. 16...Qc6 It is reasonable to leave the queen on the c-file. For this purpose weaker is 16...Qc4? 17.Rfd1² as the rook will get to d4 with a tempo, increasing the effect of the c3-c4 break. 17.c4 In response to 17.Nd2 Black can block the c3-c4-break with the b-pawn – 17...b5=. 17...dxc4 18.Qd4 Rac8 19.Nd2 Qc5 The exchange of queens allows Black to get rid of the pin and send the knight to e6. 20.Qxc5 Nxc5 21.Nxc4 Ne6

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In addition to taking the bishop on f4, the knight also has the prospect of going to d4. 22.Be5 22.Bd6 Nd4 23.Rfe1 Rfe8 24.e3 Be6 25.exd4 Rxc4 26.Rxc4 Bxc4 27.Rxe8+ Nxe8 28.Bb8 a6 leads to an equal game. Thanks to the vulnerability of the a2-pawn, Black manages to blockade the d4-pawn. 29.a3 Nf6=. 22...Bb5 23.Nd6 Rxc1 24.Rxc1 Bxe2 25.Nc8

It seems that White will soon regain the pawn, getting a lasting initiative thanks to the bishop pair.

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25...Nd7 Black pushes the bishop off the a1-h8 diagonal in order to send the e6-knight to f3. 26.Bd6 Re8 27.Nxa7 Nd4 28.Rc8 The correspondence game Mary – Petronijevic, ICCF 2016, did not last long after 28.Nc6 Nf3+ 29.Bxf3 Bxf3 30.Ne7+ Kh8=. Black’s task is more complex after 28.Bb7!? with the idea of freeing the g2-square for the king. 28...Nc5 – not the only one, but a clear path to equality. 29.Bxc5 bxc5 30.Rxc5

Exercise: How should Black continue? 30...Bg4! – the bishop is heading for h3 and takes c8 under control. 31.Kg2 Re7 32.Nc6 Rxb7 33.Nxd4 Ra7=. Thanks to the activity of Black’s pieces, White has no chance to move forward the a2-passer. 28...Rxc8 29.Nxc8 Nf3+

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White cannot preserve the bishop in view of 30.Kh1 Nf6„ with the threat ...Ne4. 30.Bxf3 Bxf3 Draw.

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11. L. Mkrtchian – T. Kosintseva Nalchik 2010 1.c4 Nf6 2.d4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0-0 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 d5 7.cxd5 Ne4 8.Qc2 exd5 9.Bf4 Nc6 10.e3 Re8 11.0-0-0

11...Bf5!? In Chapter 12 I recommend an idea found by modern engines, 11...Re6. However, the plan demonstrated by Tatiana Kosintseva is much more aesthetic. 12.Bd3 Rc8! Black prepares the sacrifice ...Nxd4, followed by ...c7-c5. 13.f3? The attack on the knight does not impede Black’s plan. It was indispensable to evacuate the king from the c-file: 13.Kb1! g5 The sac on d4 is still possible but not so destructive – 13...Nxd4!? 14.exd4 c5 15.Ka2! c4 16.Bxe4 Bxe4 17.Qd2 Bxg2 18.Ne2 Bxh1 19.Rxh1 Qd7∞. 14.Bg3 Bg6ƒ. Black should play ...c7-c5 anyway, so his next move will be ...Na5. 13...Nxd4 14.exd4 c5

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15.fxe4! White finds the best practical chance in a difficult position. 15.Bxe4 Bxe4 16.fxe4 cxd4 17.Nf3 Rxc2+ 18.Kxc2 Qf6–+ and 15.Kb1 c4! 16.Bxe4 dxe4–+ led to immediate defeat. White would have some chances to survive after 15.dxc5!? Rxc5 16.fxe4 Rxc2+ 17.Bxc2 Bxe4 18.Bxe4 Rxe4 19.Bg3 Qc8+ 20.Kb1 h5 21.Nf3 Re2µ. 15...dxe4 16.Bc4? White should have given up the bishop in order to prevent the opening of the c-file – 16.d5 exd3 17.Qb3 c4 18.Qc3 Qxd5 19.Nf3 Be4³. 16...cxd4 17.Kb1 Curiously, this game was not an isolated case of White’s opening disaster. 17.Ne2 d3 18.Nc3 Rxc4–+ occurred in Galojan – Michalik, Dubai 2013. 17...Be6 18.Qxe4 18.Qf2 Rxc4 19.Ne2 d3 20.Nc3 b5–+, A. Guseynov – Magalashvili, Kesan 2018. 18...Bxc4 19.Qf3 Black is winning elegantly after the pawn capture 19.Qxd4 Qxd4 20.Rxd4 Re1+ 21.Kc2 Bf1+ 341

22.Kd2 Rb1! 23.Nf3 Rxb2+ 24.Ke3 Re8+ 25.Ne5 f6–+. 19...Qb6 20.Nh3

20...d3? After this mistake the struggle flares up with renewed vigour. 20...Re2 21.Bd2 Rce8 22.Nf4 R8e3–+ was curtains. 21.Rxd3 Bxd3+ After 21...Qg6!? 22.Nf2 Rcd8 23.Rhd1 White manages to get the king out of the pin – 23...Bxd3+ 24.Nxd3 Rd7 25.Ka1µ. 22.Qxd3 Rcd8 Over the course of the next few moves Black refuses to make a luft, in vain – 22...h6!?µ. 23.Qf3

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23...Qb5? Black is trying to organize an attack on the king instead of seeking to exchange queens. 23...h6! 24.Bc1 Qg6+ 25.Ka1 Qe4µ increases Black’s edge since in the endgame she could move forward her kingside pawns. 24.Bc1 Rd3 25.Qf1 Qb3?! 25...Qd7 26.Nf4 Rd6 27.Qf3 b5³ preserved some advantage. 26.Nf4 Rdd8 27.h4 Rc8 White’s knight is much more active than it was a few moves ago, so Black should not allow the exchange of queens any more. 27...b5!? 28.Rh3 Qa4 29.Rc3 a5∞. 28.Qf2?! 28.Qd3 Qxd3+ 29.Nxd3 led to a comfortable endgame since Black cannot set the kingside pawns in motion. 28...b5 29.Rf1? White does not feel the danger. 29.Qf3= was necessary.

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Exercise: How should Black continue? 29...a5? After 29...b4! 30.axb4 a5–+ White did not have time to exchange queens, and the capture 31.bxa5 loses because the rook joins the attack – 31...Re4. 30.Qf3! Qc2+ 30...Qxf3 31.gxf3 f6 32.Bd2=. 31.Ka1 b4 32.Nd5 f6

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33.Qg4? The decisive mistake. White could have escaped with the counterattack 33.Nxf6+! gxf6 34.Qd5+ Kh8 35.Bg5! Rc6 (35...fxg5 36.Qd4+ Kg8 37.Qd5+=) 36.Qf7 Qg6 37.Bxf6+ Rxf6 38.Qxf6+ Qxf6 39.Rxf6 b3 40.Rf1=. 33...Kh8 34.Nb6 34.Nxf6 is late since Black is not obliged to take the knight – 34...b3! 35.Bg5 Rf8–+. 34...Rcd8 35.h5 h6

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36.axb4 36.Qg6!? was more resilient – 36...Re4 37.Re1 Rdd4 38.Nd7 Qc6 39.Nxf6 Qxf6 40.Rxe4 Qxg6 41.Rxd4 Qc6–+. 36...axb4 37.Qxb4 Ra8+ 38.Nxa8 Rxa8+ 39.Qa3 Rxa3+ 40.bxa3 Qxg2 0-1.

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12. A. Beliavsky – Y. Balashov Minsk 1983 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bxf6 Qxf6 8.a3 Bxc3+ 9.Qxc3 0-0 10.e3 c6

In Chapter 13 we talked about how Black has no problem developing the light-squared bishop. Using this game as an example, we’ll analyse how Black should react to the standard for the Carlsbad structure plan of minority attack. 11.Ne2 Karpov chose another set-up – 11.Nf3 Bf5 12.Be2 Nd7 13.0-0 Rfe8 14.b4. White does not have any other active plan. 14...a6 15.a4

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This position arose in Karpov – J. Polgar, Monte Carlo 1995. In anticipation of b4-b5 Black should have started counterplay on the kingside: 15...h5 16.Rfc1 16.b5? axb5 17.axb5 c5³. 16...g5!? 17.b5 axb5 18.axb5 Rxa1 19.Qxa1 g4 20.bxc6 bxc6 21.Ne1 h4„ with further ...g4-g3. 11...Re8 12.Ng3 g6 13.Bd3 h5!

Black underlines the drawbacks of the knight staying on g3 and prepares the ground for counterplay against the white king.

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14.Qc2 Nd7 15.h3 Nf8 The knight will be well placed on e6.Another regrouping of forces looks no worse either: 15...Qg5!? 16.0-0 Nf6 17.Kh2 h4 18.Ne2 Ne4„. 16.0-0 h4 17.Ne2 Ne6 18.b4 a6 19.a4 Bd7 20.Rab1 Rac8 21.Qd1 Ng5 The potential sacrifice on h3 with an attack on the king will distract White from Black’s queenside. 22.b5 axb5 23.axb5

23...c5!? Creating an isolated pawn on d5 is a possible but double-edged decision. Black could also follow a waiting strategy – 23...Kg7 24.bxc6 bxc6 25.Rb7 Qd6=, and White has no resources to put pressure on the c6-pawn. 24.dxc5 Rxc5 25.Rb4

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25...d4? I suppose Black missed the fact that he should lose a pawn after 26.Rxd4 Bxb5. Instead he should have taken advantage of the precarious position of the white king: 25...Nxh3+ 26.gxh3 Bxh3 27.Nf4 Bxf1 28.Qxf1 Ra8 29.Rd4 Qg5+ 30.Kh2 Ra2„. 26.Rxd4 The other capture is much weaker – 26.Nxd4? Nxh3+ 27.gxh3 Rg5+ 28.Kh1 Bxh3 29.Rg1 Qxf2 30.Rxg5 Rxe3„. 26...Bxh3 The correct decision from a practical point of view since it is not easy for White to calculate the consequences of 27.f4! After 26...Bxb5 27.Bxb5 Rxb5 28.Qa4± White wins the h4-pawn.

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27.Rf4? White lets the advantage slip. 27.f4! Bxg2 28.Kxg2 Rxe3 29.fxg5 Qxg5+.

Exercise: Where should White’s king retreat? 30.Kf2! 30.Kh2 Rc1!! 31.Qxc1 Rxe2+ 32.Bxe2 Qg3+=. 30...Re6 31.Rf4+–. 351

27...Bf5?! Black could leave the bishop under attack – 27...Qd6! 28.Qb1 (28.gxh3 Rd5!) 28...Rd8 29.Rd1 Rd5 30.Nd4 Ne6 31.Rxh4 Nxd4 32.exd4 Bf5 33.Bxf5 Rxf5=. 28.Nd4?! White misses the chance to win a pawn – 28.Bxf5 Rxf5 29.Qd7². 28...Rd8!

Counterplay down the d-file allows Black to maintain the balance. 29.Bxf5 Rxf5 30.Rxf5 In case of 30.Nxf5?! Rxd1 31.Nh6+ Kg7 32.Rxd1 Qe7 33.Ng4 Ne6 34.Rc4 Qg5„ Black’s queen is at least not worse than the rook pair. 30...gxf5 31.Qh5 (31.Qe2!? f4 32.Qg4 Rd5!=) 31...Qg6

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32.Qxg6+ After 32.Qxh4 Rxd4 White is not losing owing to 33.f4 Rb4=. 32...fxg6 33.Rc1 Rd7 34.Rc8+ Kg7 35.Kf1 Kf7 36.Ke2 Draw. White could have won a pawn with 36.Rh8!? Kf6 37.Rxh4,

but the resulting rook endgame is a draw since Black’s pieces are much more active – 37...Ne6 38.Nxe6 Kxe6 39.Rb4 Rd5=.

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Index of Variations Chapter 1. 11.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4

4.Qb3 (4.e4? 7; 4.Qa4?! 7; 4.Nh3?! 8; 4.Qd3 8; 4.Bf4 9) 4...c5 5.dxc5 Nc6 6.Bg5?! 10 6.Nf3 12 4.Bd2 c5 5.e3 13 5.Nf3 13 5.d5 14 5.a3 14 Chapter 2. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3

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4...Bxb4 5.bxc3 c5 6.f3 Nc6 7.e4 d6 8.d5 20 8.Ne2 21 8...b6 9.Ng3 21 9.Bg5 22 8.Be3 23 6.e3 26 Chapter 3. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Bg5

4...c5 5.d5 (5.Nf3 31; 5.Rc1?! 32; 5.dxc5?! 32) 5...h6 6.Bh4 g5!? 7.Bg3 Ne4 8.Qd3 33 8.Qc2 35

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Chapter 4. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.g3

4...0-0 5.Bg2 d5 6.a3!? 40 (6.cxd5 exd5 7.a3 40; 7.Nh3?! 179) 6.Nf3 dxc4 7.0-0 Nc6 8.e3?! 45 8.Bg5 46 8.a3 48 8.Qa4 49 Chapter 5. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3

4...d5 5.a3 Be7 6.e4 dxe4 7.fxe4 c5 8.e5!? 54 8.d5 exd5 9.cxd5 56 356

9.exd5 0-0 10.Nf3 59 10.Be2! 61 Chapter 6. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3

4...0-0 5.Bd2 66 (5.Qc2 – Ch.10; 5.e3 – Ch.9; 5.g3 – Ch.4; 5.a3?! 66) 5.Qb3 68 5.Bg5 72 Chapter 7. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 0-0 5.Bg5 c5

6.e3 cxd4 7.Qxd4 75 357

7.exd4 d5 8.Bd3 79 8.Be2!? 80 8.Qc2 81 8.Rc1 82 6.Rc1 85 6...cxd4 7.Nxd4 h6 8.Bh4 d5 9.e3 85 9.cxd5 87 Chapter 8. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3

4...0-0 5.a3 94 5.Qc2 95 5.Bd2 b6 6.Bd3 98 6.Nf3 100 6...c5 7.Bd3 101 7.a3 102 5.Nge2 103 5...d5 6.a3 Bd6 7.cxd5 105 7.c5 106 7.Ng3 107 Chapter 9. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0-0

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5.Nf3 Bxc3+!? 6.bxc3 d6 7.Bd3 Re8 111 5.Bd3 Re8!? 6.Qc2 120 (6.a3?! 119; 6.e4 120; 6.Qb3 120) 6.Bd2 122 6.Nge2 124 Chapter 10. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2

4...0-0 5.Bg5 130 5.Nf3 c5 6.dxc5 Na6 7.g3 134 7.c6 135

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Chapter 11. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0-0 5.e4

5...d5 6.e5 Ne4 7.a3 140 7.Bd3 144 Chapter 12. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0-0 5.a3

5...Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 d5 7.cxd5 151 7...Ne4 8.Qc2 exd5 9.Bf4 Nc6 10.e3 Re8 11.0-0-0?! 153 11.Nf3 154 7.e3 154 7.Nf3 dxc4 8.Qxc4 b6 9.h4!? 157 9.Bf4 158 360

9.Bg5 Ba6 10.Qc2 160 10.Qa4 161 Chapter 13. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0-0 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 d5 7.Bg5

7...h6 8.Bxf6 (8.Bh4?! 165) 8...Qxf6 9.Nf3 (9.cxd5 207) 165

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Table of Contents Title Page Preface 5 Chapter 1. Rare Continuations for White 7 Chapter 2. Sämisch System 4.a3 17 Chapter 3. Leningrad System 4.Bg5 31 Chapter 4. Romanishin System 4.g3 39 Chapter 5. The 4.f3 System 53 Chapter 6. The 4.Nf3 0-0 System 65 Chapter 7. The 4.Nf3 0-0 5.Bg5 c5 System 75 Chapter 8. Rubinstein System 4.e3 0-0 Rare Fifth Moves 93 Chapter 9. Rubinstein System 5.Nf3 or 5.Bd3 111 Chapter 10. Classical System 4.Qc2 0-0 Rare Alternatives on move 5 129 Chapter 11. Classical System 4.Qc2 0-0 5.e4 139 Chapter 12. Classical System 4.Qc2 0-0 5.a3 151 Chapter 13. Classical System 4.Qc2 0-0 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 d5 7.Bg5 165 1. B. Abramovic – K. Sakaev, Novi Sad 2000 2. P. Svidler – V. Kramnik, Paris 2013 3. M. Bartel – B. Socko, Wroclaw 2011 4. F. Caruana – S. Karjakin, Saint Louis 2018 5. F.Caruana – K. Alekseenko, Ekaterinburg 2020 6. A. Korobov – N. Huschenbeth, Karlsruhe 2020 7. V. Topalov – Ding Liren, Wenzhou 2018 8. R. Lovkov – H. Stefansson, St Petersburg 2010 9. A. Smirnov – I. Lysyj, Cheboksary 2021 10. S. Martinovic – I. Salgado, Batumi 2019 11. L. Mkrtchian – T. Kosintseva, Nalchik 2010 12. A. Beliavsky – Y. Balashov, Minsk 1983 Index of Variations 211

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3 4 5 18 39 52 73 94 112 145 177 211 224 243 268 280 285 293 300 305 310 316 323 328 334 340 347 354