Fight 1.d4 with the Tarrasch!: A Complete Black Repertoire vs. 1.d4 194985907X, 9781949859072

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Table of Contents Title page Introduction Foreword by Matthew Sadler Signs & Symbols

Tarrasch Repertoire: Part I 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.Nc3 Nc6 [D32] (A) 5.dxc5 d4 6.Na4 b6 (A1) 7.e3 bxc5 (A2) 7.g3 Bxc5 8.Bg2 Bb7 (A2a) 9.Nxc5 bxc5 10.b4 cxb4 (A2b) 9.0-0 Nf6 (A3) 7.cxb6 axb6 (A3a) 8.a3 Nf6 (A3b) 8.g3 (B) 5.Bf4 cxd4 6.Nxd4 Nf6 (B1) 7.a3 (B2) 7.cxd5 (B3) 7.e3 (B4) 7.Ndb5 (M) 5.Bg5 Be7 6.Bxe7 Ngxe7 7.dxc5 Qa5 (M1) 8.cxd5 Nxd5 (M2) 8.e3 0-0 Tarrasch Repertoire: Part II (a) 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 [D30] (A) 5.dxc5 Bxc5 (B) 5.Bf4 Nc6 2

(C) 5.Be3 c4 (D) 5.Bg5 Be7 6.Bxe7 Qxe7 7.dxc5 Nf6 (D1) 8.Nbd2 0-0 (D2) 8.Nc3 Qxc5 9.e3 Nc6 10.Be2! 0-0 11.0-0 Rd8 (D2a) 12.Nb5 Bg4 (D2b) 12.Na4 Qe7 (D2c) 12.Rc1 Qb4 (M) 5.g3 Nf6 6.Bg2 Nc6 7.0-0 Be7 (M1) 8.Nbd2 0-0 9.dxc5 Bxc5 (M2) 8.b3 Ne4 9.Bb2 Bf6 (M3) 8.e3 0-0 9.dxc5 Bxc5 (M4) 8.a3 c4 9.Nc3 0-0 (M4a) 10.Bf4 Bf5 (M4b) 10.Qc2 g6 (M4c) 10.Ne5 Na5 (M5) 8.Be3 c4 9.b3 cxb3 10.Qxb3 0-0 (M5a) 11.Bg5 h6 (M5b) 11.Nc3 Na5 (M5c) 11.Rc1 Na5 (M5d) 11.Nbd2 Na5 (M5e) 11.Ne5 Bd6 (M6) 8.dxc5 Bxc5 (M6a) 9.b3 0-0 (M6b) 9.e3 0-0 (M6c) 9.Qc2 Bb6 10.Nc3 0-0 (M6d) 9.Bg5 0-0 (M6e) 9.a3 Ne4 (M6e1) 10.Nfd2 f5 (M6e2) 10.b4 Be7 11.Bb2 Bf6 Tarrasch Repertoire: Part II (b) 3

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 [D32] Systems with an early e3 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.e3 Nf6 (A) 5.Nbd2 cxd4 (A1) 6.Nxd4 e5 7.N4f3 e4 8.Nd4 (A2) 6.exd4 dxc4 (B) 5.Bd3 dxc4 6.Bxc4 a6 (C) 5.a3 a6 (C1) 6.cxd5 exd5 (C2) 6.Nc3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 (C2a) 8.Be2 Bb7 9.0-0 Nbd7 (C2b) 8.Bd3 Bb7 9.0-0 Nbd7 (C2c) 8.Ba2 Bb7 9.0-0 Nbd7 (C3) 6.dxc5 Bxc5 7.b4 Be7 (C3a) 8.c5 a5 (C3b) 8.Nbd2 0-0 9.Bb2 b6 (C3c) 8.cxd5 Qxd5 (C3d) 8.Bb2 dxc4 (D) 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bb5+ Nc6 7.0-0 Bd6 (D1) 8.Bxc6+ bxc6 9.Qc2 Qb6 (D2) 8.dxc5 Bxc5 (D2a) 9.Ne5 Qd6 10.Qa4 0-0 (D2b) 9.a3 0-0 10.b4 Bd6 (D2c) 9.b3 0-0 10.Bb2 Bg4 (D2d) 9.Qc2 (D2d1) 9...Qb6 (D2d2) 9...Qd6 (D3) 8.Qc2 Qb6 9.dxc5 Bxh2+

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(M) 5.Nc3 Nc6 (M1) 6.Bd3 a6 (M2) 6.dxc5 Bxc5 (M3) 6.Be2 (M3a) 6...a6 (M3a1) 7.a3 dxc4 8.Bxc4 b5 (M3a2) 7.0-0 dxc4 8.Bxc4 b5 (M3a3) 7.cxd5 exd5 8.0-0 Bd6 (M3b) 6...dxc4 7.Bxc4 a6 (M4) 6.a3 a6 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.b4 Bd6 (M4a) 9.cxd5 exd5 10.Bb2 0-0 (M4b) 9.Bb2 0-0 (M4b1) 10.Rc1 dxc4 (M4b2) 10.Qc2 Qe7 11.Rd1 Rd8 (M5) 6.cxd5 exd5 7.Bb5 Bd6 8.dxc5 Bxc5 9.0-0 0-0 10.b3 (M5a) 10...Be6 (M5b) 10...a6 (M5c) 10...Bg4 Tarrasch Repertoire: Part III (a) 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 [D32] White Plays Nc3 and c4xd5 (A) 5.e4 dxe4 6.d5 f5 (A1) 7.Nh3 (A2) 7.f3 (A3) 7.Bb5+ (A4) 7.Bf4 (B) 5.Bf4 Nc6 6.dxc5 d4 (B1) 7.Na4 b5 (B2) 7.Ne4 Nf6 (C) 5.dxc5 d4 5

(C1) 6.Na4 b5 7.cxb6 axb6 (C1a) 8.Qb3 Be6 9.Qb5+ Qd7 10.Qxd7+ Nxd7 (C1b) 8.e3 Bd7 (C1c) 8.e4 Bd7 (C1d) 8.b3 b5 9.Nb2 Bb4+ (C2) 6.Ne4 Nc6 7.Nf3 Qd5 8.Nd6+ Bxd6 9.cxd6 Qxd6 (C2a) 10.e3 (C2a1) 10...Bg4 (C2a2) 10...Qb4+ (C2b) 10.g3 Nf6 11.Bg2 0-0 12.0-0 Re8 (M) 5.Nf3 Nc6 (M1) 6.Bf4 Nf6 7.e3 c4 8.Be2 Bb4 (M1a) 9.Nd2 Be6 (M1b) 9.0-0 Bxc3 10.bxc3 Ne4 (M2) 6.Bg5 Be7 7.Bxe7 Ngxe7 (M2a) 8.dxc5 d4 9.Ne4 0-0 (M2b) 8.e3 c4 (M2b1) 9.b3 b5 (M2b2) 9.Be2 0-0 10.0-0 (M2b21) 10...Rb8 (M2b22) 10...b5 (M3) 6.Be3 (M4) 6.dxc5 d4 7.Na4 Bxc5 8.Nxc5 Qa5+ (M4a) 9.Qd2 Qxc5 (M4a1) 10.Qg5 Qxg5 11.Bxg5 f6 12.Bf4 Be6 (M4a2) 10.e3 dxe3 11.Qxe3+ Qxe3+ 12.Bxe3 Nge7 13.Bc4 0-0 (M4a3) 10.a3 (M4a31) 10...Nf6 (M4a32) 10...Nge7 (M4b) 9.Bd2 Qxc5 (M4b1) 10.a3 Nf6 6

(M4b2) 10.g3 Nf6 (M4b3) 10.b4 Nxb4 (M4b4) 10.e3 dxe3 (M4b5) 10.Qa4 b5 (M4b6) 10.Rc1 Qb6 Tarrasch Repertoire: Part III (b) 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.g3 Nf6 7.Bg2 Be7 8.0-0 0-0 [D34] White Plays Nc3 and c4xd5 (A) 9.a3 c4 (B) 9.h3 Be6 (C) 9.Bf4 c4 10.Ne5 Bf5 (C1) 11.Nxc4 dxc4 (C2) 11.Nxc6 bxc6 (C3) 11.g4 Nxg4 (C4) 11.Rc1 Rc8 (D) 9.Be3 c4 10.Ne5 Qa5 (D1) 11.Bd2 Qd8 (D2) 11.Qd2 Bb4 (D3) 11.f4 Bf5 (D4) 11.h3 Bb4 (D5) 11.a3 Rd8 (D6) 11.Qc2 Re8 (D7) 11.Bg5 Be6 (E) 9.b3 Ne4 10.Bb2 Bf6 (E1) 11.e3 Bg4 (E2) 11.Rc1 Nxd4 (E3) 11.Nxe4 dxe4 12.Nd2 (E3a) 12...Bxd4 (E3b) 12...cxd4 7

(E3c) 12...Bg4 (E4) 11.Na4 cxd4 (M) 9.Bg5 (M1) 9...cxd4 (M2) 9...c4 (M2a) 10.b3 cxb3 (M2b) 10.Ne5 Be6 (M2b1) 11.Nxc4 dxc4 (M2b2) 11.h3 h6 (M2b3) 11.Bxf6 Bxf6 (M2b4) 11.Qd2 h6 (M2b5) 11.e3 Nd7 (M2b6) 11.Rc1 h6 (M2b7) 11.f4 Ng4 (M2b8) 11.Nxc6 bxc6 (M2b9) 11.b3 Qa5 Tarrasch Repertoire: Part IV (a) 2.Nf3, The Tarrasch Gambit and White’s Alternatives after 9.dxc5 Bxc5 [D34] 1.d4 d5 (A) 2.Nf3 c5 (A1) 3.g3 cxd4 (A2) 3.c4 e6 4.g3 Nc6 5.Bg2 dxc4 (A2a) 6.Na3 (A2b) 6.0-0 cxd4 (A2c) 6.Qa4 cxd4 7.Nxd4 Qxd4 8.Bxc6+ Bd7 (B) 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.g3 Nf6 7.Bg2 Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.dxc5 d4 10.Na4 Bf5 (B1) 11.Qb3 Qd7 (B2) 11.a3 b5 (B3) 11.b4 d3

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(B4) 11.Bf4 Be4 (M) 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.g3 Nf6 7.Bg2 Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.dxc5 Bxc5 (M1) 10.Qc2 d4 (M2) 10.Nb5 Ne4 (M3) 10.Qb3 d4 (M4) 10.Ne1 d4 (M5) 10.a3 Ne4 (M6) 10.b3 a6 (M7) 10.e3 Bf5 (M8) 10.Bf4 Re8 (M9) 10.Na4 Be7 (M9a) 11.Nd4 Nxd4 (M9b) 11.b3 Re8 (M9c) 11.Be3 Bg4 Tarrasch Repertoire: Part IV (b) 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.g3 Nf6 7.Bg2 Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.Bg5 d4 (A) 11.Na4 Be7 (B) 11.Ne4 Be7 (M) 11.Bxf6 Qxf6 (M1) 12.Ne4 Qe7 (M2) 12.Nd5 Qd8 Tarrasch Repertoire: Part V Anti-Tarrasch Systems 1.d4 d5 (A) 2.e4 dxe4 (B) 2.Nc3 Nf6 (B1) 3.f3 c5 (B2) 3.Qd3 c5 9

(B3) 3.Bf4 a6 (B4) 3.Bg5 Nbd7 (B4a) 4.f3 c6 (B4b) 4.Qd2 e6 (B4c) 4.Qd3 c5 (B4d) 4.e3 e6 (B4d1) 5.Qf3 c5 (B4d2) 5.f4 c5 (B4d3) 5.f3 c5 (B4d4) 5.Bd3 c5 (B4d5) 5.Nf3 c5 (B4e) 4.Nf3 e6 (C) 2.Bg5 f6 (C1) 3.Bh4 Nh6 (C2) 3.Bf4 (C2a) 3...c5 (C2b) 3...Nc6 (C3) 3.Bd2 Nc6 (D) 2.e3 c5 3.c3 Nf6 (D1) 4.dxc5 e6 (D2) 4.Bd3 Nc6 (E) 2.c3 c5 (F) 2.Bf4 c5 (F1) 3.dxc5 Nc6 (F2) 3.e3 cxd4 (F3) 3.c3 Qb6 (M) 2.Nf3 c5 (M1) 3.c3 Nf6

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(M2) 3.e3 Nf6 (M2a) 4.b3 cxd4 5.exd4 g6 (M2b) 4.dxc5 e6 (M2c) 4.Nbd2 cxd4 5.exd4 Nc6 (M2d) 4.c3 e6 Bibliography

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Fight 1.d4 with the Tarrasch! A Complete Black Repertoire vs. 1.d4 Vassilios Kotronias Foreword by Matthew Sadler

2019 Russell Enterprises, Inc. Milford, CT USA

Fight 1.d4 with the Tarrasch! A Complete Black Repertoire vs. 1.d4 By Vassilios Kotronias

© Copyright 2019 Vassilios Kotronias

ISBN: 978-1-949859-07-2 (print) ISBN: 978-1-949859-08-9 (eBook)

All Rights Reserved

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No part of this book maybe used, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any manner or form whatsoever or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the express written permission from the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

Published by: Russell Enterprises, Inc. PO Box 3131 Milford, CT 06460 USA

http://www.russell-enterprises.com [email protected]

Cover Image by Ilias Matthaiopoulos Cover design by Fierce Ponies Printed in the United States of America

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To my father Athanasios

Introduction Hello everyone! This is a book designed to present a complete repertoire against 1.d4, but before proceeding with the theory and explanations I deemed it right to write a small introduction explaining my motives behind the opening choice and providing you with some historical background. Let us start with my motives first: There are two ways to play chess openings nowadays. The first, which I will name Plan A, requires a lot of time, elaborate preparation and a quest for perfection. I have walked many times its bittersweet paths, sometimes gaining victories without playing a single move of mine, sometimes suffering defeats because of memory lapses. As they say, he who lives by the sword, dies by the sword, and there is nothing truer than this statement. The most typical opening territory where this is likely to happen is my beloved King’s Indian, where such incidents would often crop up in my games after the theory in some lines became too dense. To give you an idea of the problem, I will refer to a borderline case, which is nevertheless quite characteristic of the situations one can encounter when relying on this type of opening choice and its demanding preparation. This situation did not actually come up in one of my games, but occurred instead in a training session with a talented pupil of mine who at the moment of writing these lines is 12 years old. As many of you may know, I have written a five-volume series on the King’s Indian where the policy of exhaustive analysis was followed with devotion. In the fifth volume, titled Sämisch and the Rest, I analyzed the critical line 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.Be3 c5 7.Nge2 Nc6 8.d5 Ne5 9.Ng3 h5 10.Be2 h4 11.Nf1 e6, popularized thanks to the game Svidler-Grischuk, London Candidates 2013, where the extraordinary sacrifice 12.f4 Nxc4! took place. However, 12.f4 is not the most dangerous move. Instead, 12.Bg5!? later became later the popular line and when showing its details to one of my students, we stumbled upon the following problem: 12...exd5 12...Qb6!? as suggested by Nikolaos Ntirlis might actually be more practical. 13.Nxd5! h3 14.gxh3 Bxh3 15.Qd2 b5 16.cxb5 Bg2 17.Rg1 Nxf3+ 18.Bxf3 Bxf3 19.Ng3 Re8 20.Qd3 Bg4 This line (among many others arising after the stem move 12.Bg5!?) was included in my book, but here, after the obvious 21.Rf1, I had not realized that Black was in difficulties: After 21.Rf1, I had just given 21...Re6∞ , considering that with the king stuck in the center, White would not be able to exploit the pin on the Nf6. However look at what my student found after my suggested move of 21...Re6:

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22.h3!! Deflecting the bishop so that White can castle. But isn’t this blundering away a pawn with tempo? 22...c4! This was the only retort I could devise to keep Black breathing. My student’s intention was 22...Bxh3 23.0-0-0!! Bxf1 24.Rxf1+– with a lethal attack, as Qd3-f3 is unstoppable. From this point we started examining the position with the help of engines, reaching by force the next diagram: 23.Qa3! Bxh3 24.0-0-0!! c3! 25.bxc3 Bxf1 26.Rxf1 Rb8!

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This is a shocking position for my chess understanding. White is an exchange down and has a ruined king’s position, yet the pin on the Nf6 is so dangerous that Black is on the brink of defeat. I tried to explain to my pupil what is going on after the main tries 27.Qa6! Rb6!! 28.Qa4!! or 27.Qa4!? Kf8!? 28.Qb3!!, but I realized that I was not even able to understand the situation myself, as there are mutual zugzwangs and the penalty for any Black mistake is very high. In addition, it is not certain Black will survive. This position is one of those that it is even difficult for a machine to find out the truth, so you can imagine how difficult it was for us. The final verdict still remains unclear to me, even after sharing this analysis with a fellow GM who is very strong. It is incredibly hard to capture the essence of the position, realize what White is up to with his delicate maneuvers and find key defensive ideas upon which Black can rely. As I write these lines, I am still in complete shock, with my confidence as a GM and opening analyst shattered. However, since that incident occurred, I tried to find some defense that my human mind would understand. So, let us return to move 21 and see what I found: 21...c4!? The prelude to a more “human” defense. Still, stay seated, just in case: 22.Qa3! 22.Qxc4 Be6! is better for Black. But now what? Aren’t we forced to transpose to 21...Re6 by playing the apparently forced 22...Re6 ? 22...Nxd5!? Raised in the era of sacrifices in the grand manner by great players like Geller or Gufeld, I decided this was my only chance to obtain a position that I can understand. After 23.Bxd8 Raxd8

Black has only two bishops for the queen, and I don’t know whether there is enough compensation 16

(probably there is but I wouldn’t bet my life), but this is the only position I could recommend and try to explain to my student. Black has concrete play instead of being tied down by the pin on the Nf6. I will just give a few sample lines: 24.Rd1! I think Black will hold after 24.h3!? Bxh3 25.0-0-0 Bxf1 26.Rxf1 Nf6 27.Qxa7 (27.e5 dxe5 28.Qxa7 Ra8∞) 27...Ra8 28.Qc7 Rxa2 29.Qxc4 (29.b6 Rxb2!! 30.e5 c3!! 31.Qxc3 Rxb6 32.exf6 Bh6+=) 29...Raa8 30.Kb1 Rac8 31.Qa4 Ra8 32.Qb4 Rab8 33.Qxd6 Rxb5 34.Rxf6 Reb8 35.Rf2 Bxb2 36.Qxb8+ Rxb8 37.Rxb2 Rc8 38.Rc2 Rb8+ 39.Kc1 Rb5 40.Rc6 Rg5 41.Ne2 Re5 42.Nc3 f5=. 24...Bxd1 25.Kxd1 Nf6 26.Qa6! 26.Kc2 d5„ or 26.Kc1 d5„ both show why 26.Qa6 is needed. 26...Rd7! 27.Kc1 27.h4 Ng4 28.Rf4 (28.Kc1 c3 29.bxc3 Rc7 30.Ne2 transposes to 27.Kc1) 28...Ne5 29.h5 d5 30.hxg6 Nxg6 31.Rg4 dxe4+ 32.Ke2 Red8 33.Nxe4 Re7 34.Kf1 Bxb2 35.b6! Rd1+! 36.Ke2 Rdd7 37.Qxc4 Kg7= holds for Black. 27...Ng4 28.h4! c3 29.bxc3 Rc7 30.Ne2 Ne3 31.Rh1 31.Rg1 Nc4 32.h5 Nb6!„ sets the trap 33.hxg6?? Rxe4-+; 31.Rf2 Nc4 32.h5 gxh5 33.a4 Bh6+ 34.Kd1 Rxe4 35.Kc2 Be3 36.Rg2+ Kh7 37.a5 Re5 looks defendable too. 31...Nc4 32.b6! (32.h5 Nb6!) 32...axb6 33.h5 Bh6+!? 34.Kc2 g5 35.Nd4 g4 36.Rg1 (36.Nf5 Kh7 37.Rg1 Re5 38.Nxh6 Kxh6 39.Qa8 Kh7 40.h6 f5=) 36...Kh7 37.Nb5 Rce7²/=. I believe Black should hold here with some accurate moves. Reviewing these lines, I realized that not everyone is willing to adopt such a razor’s edge opening strategy. The tactics and the accuracy needed might appear attractive when you are an onlooker, but could scare you to death in an actual game, even if you are a vintage tactical player. For this reason, I decided to equip those who play Black, who do not have much time to prepare or simply do not wish to indulge themselves into insanely elaborate preparation, with a more classical repertoire against 1.d4, based on the solid yet active Tarrasch Defense. So let us return back to move 1 and switch to Plan B: 1...d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5! At the risk of being accused as non-objective, I will state that this move is as good as are 3...Nf6 and 3...c6. And in fact, it might be better from the practical point of view, as the weakness of the resulting isolated d-pawn is well compensated by the resulting activity of the Bc8 and control over the e4-square, two factors that contribute to concrete play with excellent chances for Black. However, it has also to be stated that in spite of these important advantages, the Tarrasch Defense has not fared well at the highest level. After reviewing the history of the opening I can attribute it to two basic reasons: (A) Its originator, German elite player and world championship challenger Dr. Siegbert Tarrasch, had actually some bad luck with his own invention. This often had to do with the fact that he was developing his bishop to the miserable e6-square rather than the active g4, depriving his position of the 17

attacking possibilities which the latter option offers. As a consequence, his results with the Tarrasch were mediocre by his own standards. (B) The opening’s foremost exponent historically, 13th world champion Garry Kasparov, failed to hold his own with the Tarrasch in two games of his first world championship match against eternal rival Anatoly Karpov. After consecutive Black losses in the seventh and ninth match games, the Tarrasch entered its modern low profile period: 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.g3 Nf6 7.Bg2 Be7 8.0-0 0-0

This can be considered as the main tabiya of the Tarrasch. Both games Garry lost started with the 3.Nf3 move order, which may in fact be a trickier way to enter the fianchetto variation as you can witness by looking at the relevant theory. However, Karpov was solely intent on reaching the diagrammed position and did not try to exploit the nuances of his move order when in fact he had the chance. Given that both games started with 3.Nf3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.g3 Nf6 6.Bg2 Be7 7.0-0 0-0?!, Anatoly Yevgenyevich could have opted for the modest but venomous idea 8.dxc5! Bxc5 9.a3!², selecting an extended fianchetto with good chances for a slight advantage. Garry could have prevented this by playing 7...Nc6 instead, when 8.dxc5 Bxc5 9.a3 is answered with 9...Ne4!=. 9.Bg5 Karpov’s favorite move. 9...cxd4 This was practically the only move played at the time but I consider it slightly inferior to the aggressive 9...c4!?=, which gives Black interesting, double edged play. However, Garry did not lose because he took on d4 here. 10.Nxd4 h6 11.Be3 Re8 12.Qb3 Na5 13.Qc2 Bg4 14.Nf5

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A critical position. Now in both games Garry played the natural 14...Rc8?! but this proves to be inaccurate. This example serves to demonstrate that his team of analysts had failed to conceive the right idea for Black which is to unveil pressure against the e2-pawn. 14...Bb4! is widely accepted as the equalizing method nowadays, as you can witness in the relevant theoretical section of the book. 15.Bd4! A strong reply by Karpov, stopping any pressure against e2. In the seventh game he won as follows: 15.Nxe7+ Rxe7 (15...Qxe7!= looks better) 16.Rad1 Qe8 17.h3 Bh5 18.Bxd5 Bg6 19.Qc1 Nxd5 20.Rxd5 Nc4 21.Bd4 Rec7! 22.b3 Nb6 23.Re5 Qd7 24.Qe3 f6 25.Rc5 Rxc5 26.Bxc5 Qxh3 27.Rd1 h5?! (27...Be8!=) 28.Rd4 Nd7 29.Bd6 Bf7 30.Nd5 Bxd5 31.Rxd5 a6 32.Bf4 Nf8 33.Qd3 Qg4? (33...Ne6!=) 34.f3?! (34.Rd6!) 34...Qg6 35.Kf2 Rc2?! (35...Qxd3=) 36.Qe3! Rc8 37.Qe7 b5? 38.Rd8 Rxd8 39.Qxd8+- Qf7 40.Bd6 g5 41.Qa8 Kg7 42.Qxa6 and 1-0, Karpov-Kasparov, Moscow (m/7) 1984. However, Black could have improved his play at several points. 15...Bc5 16.Bxc5 Rxc5 17.Ne3 Be6 18.Rad1 Qc8 19.Qa4 Rd8 20.Rd3 a6 21.Rfd1 Nc4 22.Nxc4 Rxc4 23.Qa5 Rc5 24.Qb6 Rd7 25.Rd4 Qc7 26.Qxc7 Rdxc7 27.h3 h5 28.a3 g6 29.e3 Kg7 30.Kh2 Rc4 31.Bf3 b5 32.Kg2 R7c5 33.Rxc4 Rxc4 34.Rd4 Kf8 35.Be2 Rxd4 36.exd4 Ke7 37.Na2 Bc8 38.Nb4 Kd6 39.f3 Ng8 40.h4 Nh6 41.Kf2 Nf5 42.Nc2 f6 43.Bd3 g5 44.Bxf5 Bxf5 45.Ne3 Bb1 46.b4

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And this is the famous position that ruined the reputation of the Tarrasch for several years after the match. After defusing his opponent’s slight edge Kasparov blunders: 46...gxh4? 46...Bg6= would have left White with a merely symbolic edge. Now Karpov gains serious winning chances with a brilliant unforeseen move: 47.Ng2!!²/± Making sure that the white king will enter the enemy fortress. Although the position might still be defendable according to many analyses by both humans and engines, in practice it is hard to defend and Garry went down without much fight: 47...hxg3+ 48.Kxg3 Ke6 49.Nf4+ Kf5 50.Nxh5 Ke6 51.Nf4+ Kd6 52.Kg4 Bc2 53.Kh5 Bd1 54.Kg6 Ke7 55.Nxd5+ Ke6 56.Nc7+ Kd7 57.Nxa6 Bxf3 58.Kxf6 Kd6 59.Kf5 Kd5 60.Kf4 Bh1 61.Ke3 Kc4 62.Nc5 Bc6 63.Nd3 Bg2 64.Ne5+ Kc3 65.Ng6 Kc4 66.Ne7 Bb7 67.Nf5 Bg2 68.Nd6+ Kb3 69.Nxb5 Ka4 70.Nd6 and Black threw in the towel, Karpov-Kasparov, Moscow (m/9) 1984. To set the historic record straight, Kasparov’s previous usage of the Tarrasch had been nothing short of impressive. He had notched up victories against super-grandmasters Beliavsky, Seirawan, Nikolic, Larsen, Kortchnoi and Smyslov without losing a single game. These triumphs had undoubtedly given him enough confidence to use it in his match against Karpov, but at the moment he employed it he was already 2-0 down after only six games and in a bad place psychologically. So in a sense, the Tarrasch was “unlucky” once more, as I feel that if Kasparov was in higher spirits in the two above games, the result would probably have been two draws. But let us now take a look at Kasparov’s victories with the opening at the happy period prior to the Karpov match: I decided to include all Garry’s previous Tarrasch victories in the Fianchetto Variation in notes to his game against Beliavsky, played at his Moscow candidates’ match in 1983. A remarkable feature is that most of these victories were achieved in the ending, which confirms two things: 20

(A) Tarrasch endings are most often not bad for Black, contrary to what people thought several decades ago. (B) Kasparov ranks among the greatest endgame players of all times, an opinion Botvinnik also shared. In my view he is at least equal to Capablanca, Fischer and Karpov, and perhaps only the reigning world champion Magnus Carlsen has shown more compact technique and expertise in that area of the game. 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 An important victory for Kasparov with the Tarrasch was the one achieved in his candidates’ match against Kortchnoi: 3.Nf3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.g3 Nc6 6.Bg2 Nf6 7.0-0 Be7 8.Be3 c4 9.Ne5 0-0 10.b3 cxb3 11.Qxb3 Qb6 12.Rc1 Qxb3 13.axb3 Nb4 14.Na3 a6 15.Bd2 Rb8 16.Bxb4 Bxb4 17.Nd3 Bd6 18.Nc2 Bg4 19.Kf1 Bf5 20.Nc5 Rfc8 21.Ne3 Be6 22.b4 Kf8 23.Rc2 Ke7 24.Ke1 h5 25.Rb2 Rc7 26.Nd3 Ra8 27.b5

27...a5 28.b6 Rc6 29.Rb5 a4 30.Nxd5+ Nxd5 31.Bxd5 Bxd5 32.Rxd5 Rxb6 33.Rxh5 Rb3 34.Kd2 b5 35.h4 Rc8 36.g4 a3 37.f4 Rcc3 38.Rd5 Ke6 39.Rh5 b4 40.Ra5 Rxd3+ 41.exd3 Bxf4+ 42.Ke2 Rc3 43.g5 Bc1 44.h5 b3 45.R5xa3 Bxa3 46.Rxa3 b2 47.Ra6+ Kf5 48.Rb6 Rc2+ 49.Ke3 Kxg5 50.d5 Kxh5 51.Kd4 g5 52.Rb8 g4 53.d6 Rc6 54.Ke5 Rc5+ 55.Kf6 g3 56.Rxb2 Rd5 57.Kxf7 Rxd6 58.Rd2 Kg4 59.d4 Kf5 60.Ke7 Rd5 61.Rd3 Kf4 62.Ke6 Rg5 63.d5 Rg6+ 64.Ke7 g2 65.Rd1 Ke5 66.d6 Re6+ 67.Kd7 Rxd6+ 68.Rxd6 g1=Q 69.Re6+ Kf5 70.Rd6 Qa7+ 71.Kd8 Ke5 72.Rg6 Qa5+ 73.Kd7 Qa4+ 74.Ke7 Qh4+ 75.Kf8 Qd8+ 76.Kf7 Kf5 77.Rh6 Qd7+ 78.Kf8 Kg5 and 0-1, Kortchnoi-Kasparov, London (m/6) 1983. 3...c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.g3 Nf6 7.Bg2 Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.Bg5 Bent Larsen’s double fianchetto did not save him from defeat after he reached an inferior ending in the following game against Garry: 9.b3 Ne4 10.Bb2 Bf6 11.Na4 Re8 12.Rc1 b6 13.dxc5 Bxb2 14.Nxb2 bxc5 15.Na4 Ba6 16.Re1 c4 21

17.Nh4 Qa5 18.Nf5 g6 19.Nd4 Rac8 20.h4 Ne5 21.Bh3 Rc7 22.Nc2 cxb3 23.axb3 Bc8 24.Bg2 Ng4 25.Rf1 Bd7 26.Ra1 Bxa4 27.Rxa4 Qc3 28.Bxe4 dxe4

29.e3?! 29.Ne1!=, intending to place the knight on g2, would have maintained the equilibrium. 29...Qxb3 30.Rxe4 Rxe4 31.Qd8+ Kg7 32.Qxc7 Rc4 33.Nd4! Rxc7 34.Nxb3 Rc2 35.Nd4 Ra2 36.e4 Rd2?! 36...a5! would have given Garry good winning chances. 37.Nc6 a6 38.e5 Re2 39.Ra1 Rxf2 40.Rxa6 Rc2 41.h5!? 41.e6! fxe6 42.Nd4 Rc1+ 43.Kg2 e5 44.Ne6+ Kh6 45.Kf3 Nf6 46.Ng5 Kh5! 47.Re6!= would have immediately saved the day for Larsen. 41...Kh6 42.hxg6 hxg6 43.Ra4? (43.e6!=) 43...Kg5 44.Nd4 Rc3 45.e6 Rxg3+ 46.Kh1 f5 47.e7 Re3 48.Nc6 f4 49.Ra5+? (49.Ra3!=) 49...Kh4 50.Ra8 Nf6 51.Kg2?? f3+ 52.Kf1 Kg3 53.Nd4 Ng4-+ 54.Nxf3 Rxf3+ 55.Kg1 Nh2 56.Rf8 Rc3 White resigned in Larsen-Kasparov, Niksic 1983. Thus, Kasparov was once again able to pull off an endgame win in the Tarrasch, something which was becoming his trademark at the time. Finally, after 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.Bg5 d4 11.Ne4 Be7 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.Rc1 Re8 14.Ne1 Be7 15.Nd3 Bf8 16.Qd2 a5 17.Rfd1 Bg4 18.Ndc5 Bxc5 19.Rxc5 Qe7 20.h3?

22

20...Bxe2! 21.Re1 d3 22.Qc3 Rad8 23.Nd2 Nd4 24.Qxa5 h6 25.Rc3 b6 26.Qa6 Qg5 27.Rxd3 Qg6 28.Bf1 Qxd3 29.Qxd3 Bxd3 30.Rxe8+ Rxe8 31.Bxd3 Re1+ 32.Bf1 Ra1 33.Nc4 b5 34.Nd6 Rxa2 35.Nxb5 Nxb5 36.Bxb5 Rxb2 37.Bc4 Rc2 38.Bd5 Kf8 39.h4 g6 40.Kg2 Ke7 41.Kf3 Rc7 42.Ke4 Kd6 43.Ba2 Re7+ 44.Kd4 Ra7 45.Bb3 Ke7 46.Ke4 Kf6 47.Bd5 Re7+ 48.Kf4 Re2 49.Kf3 Rd2 50.Bc4 Rd4 51.Ba2 Rd7 52.Bc4 Ke5 53.Ba2 Kd4 54.Bb1 Rc7 55.Ba2 Ra7 56.Bb1 Ra1 57.Bc2 Kc3 58.Be4 Kd2 59.Kg2 Ke1 60.Bd5 Ra7 61.f4 Ke2 62.h5 gxh5 63.Bf3+ Ke3 64.Bxh5 Ra2+ 65.Kh3 f6 66.Be8 Kf2 67.Kh4 Ra8 68.Bc6 Rg8 69.g4 Ke3 70.Kg3 f5 71.Bf3 h5 and 0-1, Garry had achieved yet another well-deserved victory with the Tarrasch, Nikolic-Kasparov, Niksic 1983. 9...cxd4 10.Nxd4 h6 11.Be3 I remember that I had once reconstructed with admiration – from the pages of Chess Informant – the following endgame grind from an equal position. I guess that Garry’s colleagues were confused at the time, not knowing whether to play for a win or not against him, and when they knew they had to play for a draw, it was already too late: 11.Bxf6 Bxf6 12.Nb3 d4 13.Ne4 Be7 14.Rc1 Qb6 15.Nec5 Rd8 16.Rc4 Bxc5 17.Nxc5 Qxb2 18.Qc2 Qxc2 19.Rxc2 Rb8 20.Rb2 Rd6 21.Rd1 b6 22.Nb3 Bb7 23.Rbd2 Rbd8 24.Kf1 Ba6 25.Bxc6 Rxc6 26.Nxd4 Rc5 27.Nb3 Rxd2 28.Rxd2 Rc7 29.Rd8+ Kh7 30.Ke1 Bc4 31.Kd2 g6 32.Nc1 Kg7 33.a3 Kf6 34.e3 Ke7 35.Rd4 Rd7 36.Kc3 Rxd4 37.Kxd4 b5 38.Nd3 Bxd3 39.Kxd3 Kd6

23

40.e4? 40.Kd4= would have held. Now Black manages to weaken White’s kingside pawn mass and create a real outside passed pawn. 40...g5!-+ 41.f4 gxf4 42.gxf4 Kc5 43.Kc3 a5 44.Kd3 h5 45.h4 b4 46.a4 f6! 47.f5 Kc6 48.Kc4 Kc7! 49.Kd3 Kd7 50.Ke3 Kc6 51.Kd3 Kc5 52.Ke3 b3 53.Kd3 Kb4 54.e5 Ka3! and 0-1, SeirawanKasparov, Niksic 1983. 11...Re8 12.Qa4 Beliavsky used this interesting move to battle Kasparov’s favorite opening weapon. However as we shall see it has a defect that will be revealed soon. Instead, 12.a3 Be6 13.Nxe6 fxe6 14.Qa4 Rc8 15.Rad1 Kh8 16.Kh1 a6 17.f4 Na5 18.f5 b5 19.Qh4 Ng8 20.Qh3 Nc4 21.Bc1 Bg5 22.fxe6 Bxc1 23.Rxc1 Ne3 24.Nxd5 Nxf1 25.Rxf1 Rf8

24

saw a tense middlegame result in another Kasparov victory a year after, this time against legendary veteran, former world champion Vassily Smyslov: 26.Nf4?! Ne7 27.Qg4? g5! 28.Qh3 Rf6 29.Nd3 Rxf1+ 30.Bxf1 Kg7 31.Qg4 Qd5+ 32.e4 Qd4 33.h4 Rf8 34.Be2 Qe3 35.Kg2 Ng6 36.h5 Ne7 37.b4 Kh7 38.Kh2 Rd8 39.e5 Rxd3 40.Bxd3 Qxd3 and 0-1, Smyslov-Kasparov, Vilnius (m/12) 1984. Let us now return to the game Beliavsky-Kasparov: 12...Bd7 13.Rad1 Nb4 14.Qb3

14...a5! 15.Rd2 a4 16.Qd1 a3! Black has driven a wedge in the enemy camp, securing serious counterplay. 25

After 17.Qb1 Bf8 18.bxa3 Rxa3 19.Qb2 Qa8 20.Nb3?! (20.Ra1!? was better) 20...Bc6! 21.Bd4 Ne4 22.Nxe4 dxe4 23.Ra1? Bd5 24.Qb1 b6! 25.e3 Nd3 26.Rd1 b5! 27.Bf1 b4 28.Bxd3 exd3 29.Qxd3 Rxa2 30.Rxa2 Qxa2 31.Nc5 Bf3 32.Ra1 Qd5 33.Qb3 Qh5 34.Nd3 Bd6 35.Ne1 Bb7 36.Rc1 Qf5 37.Rd1 Bf8 38.Qb1 Beliavsky’s flag fell in a completely lost position. For me, this is one of the most convincing Kasparov victories in the Tarrasch as he slowly applies a deadly stranglehold on his legendary opponent, which is not what one would expect to happen from a “harmless” opening. I guess that in the current era, the description “harmless” is no more a valid term for the Tarrasch, but it took a lot more effort from other esteemed players to re-establish the opening’s status after the Karpov-Kasparov setback. These esteemed players not only include super GMs Alexander Grischuk and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, but also other powerful Grandmasters like Rauf Mamedov, Matthew Sadler, Varuzhan Akobian and Stelios Halkias to name but a few. Looking at these names, one gets an idea of what it is all about: These are players who like to have a safe king, but also like dynamic, open positions, where they can put their tactical ability to good use. In addition, they are endgame connoisseurs, or at least are not averse to playing technical endings, similar to the ones we saw in Kasparov’s games. I have made a special presentation of the qualities one needs to play the Tarrasch properly under the main corpus of the book, but here I would like to restrict myself to a single remark: Under that presentation you might be surprised to witness that elaborate opening preparation is one of the qualities I consider important for one who wants to adopt the Tarrasch. And you might ask: Doesn’t that contradict the general philosophy of Plan B? Aren’t we playing the Tarrasch to avoid tons of theory and memorization? Can’t we play the Tarrasch just on strategic guidelines and good tactical feeling? The reply is certainly yes, we do. And the theory in the Tarrasch is about one-tenth of the theory one needs to play the King’s Indian at a high level. By saying that I consider paying attention to the opening’s nuances as important, I actually refer to players who are ambitious to make it to the chess elite. Given that the material here is less, I find it worthwhile for them to invest time and energy in the memorization of lines. But at the same time, I assure the average player that even without delving into the nuances so deeply, he will be able to play a decent opening and put his opponents under pressure. The structure here is not blocked, your pieces will not be suffocated because of a slight mistake, the ideas are more or less clear. And that is already a practical benefit comparing to the King’s Indian or in Indian defenses in general. Closing this introduction, I would like to mention that Tarrasch lovers need to devote time studying some classical IQP positions and how they were best treated by old or modern masters. This is necessary in order to understand mechanisms, assets and weaknesses, and drawing possibilities that sometimes even a passive defense can offer. I will end with a typical example, which I am sure most of you must be familiar with:

26

This position was reached in the famous game Flohr-Capablanca from the 1935 super tournament in Moscow. It did not arise from a Tarrasch but is very much Tarrasch-like. Black seems to be at a disadvantage because White has the fine d4-square for his pieces to operate and apparently a minor piece capable of inducing and then exploiting further weaknesses, but the plain truth is that the material is too reduced to allow White any realistic hopes of winning. This is how the game continued: 26.f4 This is not what I would have played, but it is actually a good try. More natural seems 26.h4 Bd7 27.Nf3 (27.Ne2 Ke5!=) however 27...Bg4= does not let White make headway. 26.Ne2 Ke5! 27.f3 g5 28.Nc1 Bf5 29.g4 Bg6 30.Nd3+ Bxd3 31.Kxd3 f5! 32.gxf5 Kxf5 33.Kd4 Ke6 is also a draw. Finally, 26.Nxe6 is a draw after either recapture. The most principled is 26...fxe6 27.f4 e5=. 26.f4 Bd7 27.Nf3 f6 Black gains some valuable dark-square control and improves the prospects of his bishop by putting pawns on squares of the opposite color than those upon which the bishop circulates. 28.Kd4 28.b4 Bg4 29.Nd2 Kc6 30.Kd4 Bf5= is also dead level, White cannot improve his knight. 28...a5! 29.Nd2 Bc8 I would have played 29...Bf5 but Capa decides to let White reach his maximum by placing the knight on c3. 30.Nb1 Be6 31.Nc3 Kc6 32.a3 h6 33.g3 White cannot put a pawn on a4, since then, every time the knight leaves, Black can get counterplay by playing ...b6-b5. 27

33.g4 Bxg4 34.Nxd5 Be6 35.e4 Bxd5 36.exd5+ Kd6 37.f5 a4 38.Kc4= is a drawn pawn ending.

33...h5!? This must have been a difficult move to make for Capa. Putting a pawn on a square of the same color as the bishop seems inappropriate, but as we shall see, there was method in Black’s madness. Obviously he considered that he had enough control over the important dark squares in the center and that seizing some kingside space would not harm him. That said, Black could have also marked time with 33...Kd6 as 34.g4!? leads nowhere after the principled retort 34...g5! (also possible is 34...Bxg4 35.Nxd5 Kc6 36.b4 axb4 37.axb4 Be6) 35.h3 Bf7 36.b3 Be6 37.b4 axb4 38.axb4 Bf7

and White can make no headway. Sample lines: 28

39.Ne2 ( 39.e4 dxe4 40.Nxe4+ Ke6 41.f5+ Ke7=; 39.b5 Be6=) 39...Kc6 40.Ng3 Bg6!= Black easily defends all entrance points. 34.b4 axb4 35.axb4 Kd6 36.b5 After White has resorted to this weakening move, Black can (and should!) fearlessly put his pawn on g6. 36...g6! In fact the only move! 36...Bg8? 37.f5! Bf7 38.h4 Bg8 39.Ne2 Bf7 40.Nf4 Be8 41.Nxd5 Bxb5 42.Nxb6 loses a pawn without any reason, leading to excellent winning chances for White. 37.Na4 Kc7 38.Nc3 Kd6

39.f5! A nice try by Flohr, securing the f4-square for his knight and some play. But Capa had correctly evaluated that his fortress is impossible to breach. 39...gxf5 40.Ne2 Bd7 41.Nf4 Be8! 42.Nxd5 Bxb5 43.Nxb6 Bc6 44.Nc4+ Ke6 45.Nb2 Bb5 46.Nd1 Be2 47.Nf2 Bf1 After this Black has to be ready for the pawn ending. 47...Bf3= is simpler. 48.Nd3 Bxd3 The only move now, but good enough. 49.Kxd3 Ke5 50.Ke2 Ke4 51.h3 51.Kf2 h4!= is what Capablanca had to see in advance. 51...Kd5 52.Kf3 Ke5 The players shook hands at this point. A study of this ending or similar ones is invaluable for Tarrasch devotees. In the main corpus of the 29

book you will see how knowledge that this ending is a draw permitted me to improve easily on a game I had as Black against Levon Aronian. But I guess it is time to let you dive into the intricacies of the Tarrasch and discover its merits, looking at my own findings and ideas as well as those of other players and authors. Happy reading!

Vassilios Kotronias Athens, August 2019

30

Foreword In 2013, I received an invitation that both thrilled and worried me: I was asked to take part in the London Chess Classic. Although the double-round rapid format that year wasn’t as scary as a fullblown international tournament, I would still end up playing Kramnik and Svidler with both White and Black! I faced two major problems. First, busy with work and training, I had lost track of chess during the summer months and my play was way off the required level. Second, what on earth was I going to play with Black against Kramnik? Kramnik was extremely strong anyway against my normal NimzoIndian/Queen’s Indian repertory but it was his move-orders that petrified me. Apart from 1.d4, Kramnik might start with 1.Nf3 or 1.c4, all of which might he might use to trick me out of my repertory. I must have spent a precious day sorting through my lines, despairing at the gaps Kramnik might expose, at the effort I would need to correct them, and how stupid I would look if I got caught out! My goodness, this wasn’t going to work! Racking my brains, I thought back to all the lines I had worked on previously as a professional 15 years earlier – might there be something in there that I could use? I suddenly recalled that I had faced this problem against Kramnik 15 years earlier in 1998...and I had approached it then by playing the Tarrasch! As an opening, the Tarrasch has some big advantages: (1) It can be played against pretty much anything: 1.Nf3, 1.c4, 1.g3, 1.d4. Play 1...e6, 2...d5 and 3...c5 and you are there! So that was the end of my move order fears! (2) It leads most of the time to a typical IQP pawn structure, and it is difficult for the opponent to shape the game into another course. (3) Black’s pieces naturally enjoy open lines and active posts so it’s easy to play the opening moves quickly and successfully! Too good to be true? Well there are a few minor drawbacks: (1) It isn’t advisable to use the Tarrasch all the time against weaker players you want to beat. There are quite a few equalizing lines out there that a diligent opponent could prepare if forewarned. I have used the Tarrasch mainly against the very best opponents I have faced, scoring three draws against Kramnik (including one at the London Classic!) and 1 draw against Anand along the way. (2) You must enjoy IQP positions and be prepared for the defense of any IQP endings that might arise. I was impressed that in his introduction to the opening, Vassilios already annotates the classic game Flohr-Capablanca Moscow 1935, which I studied intensively before the London Classic (Capablanca games were the other part of my training regime!) The book you are holding in front of you is exceptional! Tarrasch exponents have been blessed in the past years with some excellent works – Aagaard’s and Ntirlis’ 2011 work in particular – and this book continues this happy trend. It is both a detailed reference manual and a source of inspiration. For example, in the main line 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.g3 Nf6 7.Bg2 Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.dxc5, I was intrigued to see such interesting analysis of the unusual gambit line 9...d4 as well as the main line 9...Bxc5. I was also very impressed by the work that Vassilios put into the awkward sidelines such as 3.Nf3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5, discovering a wealth of active possibilities in quietlooking positions. I am certain that this book will become an essential tool both for experienced 31

Tarrasch players and future aficionados!

Matthew Sadler September 2019

32

Signs & Symbols M

The main line of a variation

1-0 White won 0-1 Black won ½-½ draw !

strong move

!!

excellent move

?

poor move

??

blunder

!?

interesting move

?!

dubious move

=

equal game

²

White is slightly better

³

Black is slightly better

±

White is clearly better

µ

Black is clearly better

+– White is winning –+ Black is winning +

check

‚

with an attack

ƒ

with the initiative

©

with compensation

∞

unclear

…

followed by

„

with counterplay

™

the only move

¹

better is

33

Tarrasch Repertoire: Part I 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.Nc3 [D32] 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 Here the main move is 3.Nc3. This will be the subject of Parts III and IV. However, White may often start with 3.Nf3 and after 3...c5 try to intrigue us with different development schemes. In Part I, we will deal with the following possibility: 4.Nc3!? White gets the knight out after all, but without taking on d5. This waiting mode can have some poison if we are not well prepared. Instead: 4.dxc5 Bxc5= will transpose to lines analyzed in Part II. 4.cxd5 will also be discussed later in Part II. In this line White could think of delaying or omitting the knight sortie to c3, so it can be tricky. 4.Bg5 Be7 5.Bxe7 Qxe7 6.dxc5 Nf6 is just a transposition to 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5, also discussed in Part II. 4.e3 is the main topic of Part II.

4...Nc6!? I have chosen the move order with 4...Nc6!?, sidestepping 4...Nf6 5.cxd5 exd5?!. While 5...exd5?! avoids the so called Semi-Tarrasch, it allows 6.Bg5! with a very sharp position where I do not like Black’s chances at all. So, in order to keep chances of equality after 4...Nf6 5.cxd5 we would practically be forced after all to enter the Semi-Tarrasch by playing 5...Nxd5, which is well outside our scope.

34

Another logical possibility is 4...cxd4!? 5.Nxd4 Nf6 6.cxd5 (6.Bg5 e5!? is another critical line) 6...Nxd5, with good chances for equality, but this will not be our topic here. 4...cxd4!? is covered well in The Tarrasch Defence by Aagaard and Ntirlis (Quality Chess 2011). They conclude that Black equalizes, and while I agree more or less with their assessments, I wanted to offer something that would be more “Tarrasch-like,” provided it did not jeopardize our chances. After 4...Nc6!?, play will transpose to “normal” lines examined in Parts III and IV, unless White deviates with one of the following ideas: (A) 5.dxc5, (B) 5.Bf4, and (M) 5.Bg5. 5.Bg5 This is the main line of Part I, although I have to admit the choice is rather random as it does not pose the most pressing questions to Black. That said, I do not see any way for White to get an advantage after either of the two other possibilities discussed, but perhaps 5.dxc5, examined immediately below, is the sharpest option available to White. (A) 5.dxc5 This may appear a bit too crude, but sometimes such moves can refute an opening outright. Fortunately, this is not the case here.

5...d4!? This is what I meant with the term “Tarrasch-like.” I like whenever I can to push the d-pawn into enemy territory and establish a space advantage, even if that means sometimes sacrificing a pawn. In this case, the sacrifice produces a position that should be tenable for Black, but it took me quite a while to find the right moves that justify this type of boldness. Let us check what is going on: 6.Na4! The most logical way to protect the c5-pawn. White wants to defend his extra material for as long as he can, and at the same time undermine the black center quickly enough to prevent it from becoming threatening. After 6.Ne4, the knight is less secure. I believe Black should challenge it immediately and should have no worries at all. 6...Nf6! This is my preferred continuation, although it has occurred in only three games in the Mega 35

Database. It seems logical to exchange a piece that has moved twice with one that has just entered the game. Instead, also possible is 6...f5!? 7.Nd6+ Bxd6 8.cxd6 Qxd6 9.e3 e5! (9...Qb4+ 10.Bd2 Qxb2 11.Rb1 looks risky) 10.exd4 e4.

However, after 11.Ne5! (11.c5 Qd5 12.Ne5 Nxe5 13.dxe5 Qxd1+ 14.Kxd1 Be6© seems fine for Black, as his control over the light squares guarantees serious compensation for the pawn) 11...Nxd4 12.Bd2! Qxe5 13.Bc3, White might have a minuscule edge because of his bishop pair: 13...Nf6 14.Bxd4 Qa5+ 15.Bc3 Qc7 16.Qa4+!? (16.Bxf6 gxf6= is in fact equal) 16...Kf7 17.Be2 Be6 18.Rd1 Rhe8 19.0-0 b6 20.Rd4 Rad8 21.Rfd1²/= Let us return to 6...Nf6!: 7.Bg5! Trying to maintain the tension. It may well be the only way to equality. The alternative 7.Nxf6+?! Qxf6 8.a3 a5

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looks excellent for Black, who controls more space and is about to recover his pawn. For example: 9.Qa4?! This was recommended by certain engines; the idea of course is b2-b4. However, I think it is rather eccentric and gets White in trouble. (a) Another dubious choice is 9.Bg5?! Qf5 10.e3?! (10.Qd3 e5 11.e4³) 10...e5! which should hardly be White’s ideal method of combating the Tarrasch, as his position lacks harmony and space. In the only game in which this has occurred thus far, White made things even worse for himself with the following outrageous advance: 11.g4? Whatever the idea of this move was, I fail to grasp it. Better is 11.exd4 e4

12.Bd3! (12.Qe2? Be7µ) 12...exd3 13.0-0 f6 14.Bd2³ when White’s compensation is not quite 37

enough but at least his central pawn mass can offer some glimmer of counterplay. Let us return to 11.g4?: 11...Qg6! (11...Qxg4!?) 12.h4?! Until here we have been following Babujian-Vovk, Lvov 2008; after 12...Bxg4 13.Rg1, the best for Black was 13...h5!–+ when White’s situation is hopeless. (b) 9.g3 is logical and relatively best. After 9...Bxc5 10.Bg2 0-0 11.0-0, Black gets a good position by either 11...Qe7³ (my preference) or 11...a4³. Returning to 9.Qa4?!, Black should play 9...e5! (also possible is 9...Bxc5!? 10.Bg5 [10.b4? d3 11.Rb1 Qc3+µ] 10...Qf5, but after 11.Qb5∞, the position is just a mess) when it is fair to say that White has left the safety zone. His best line seems to be 10.e3 Bxc5 11.exd4 e4! 12.Bg5 Qg6 13.Ne5 Qxg5 14.Nxc6 0-0 15.h4 Qf6 16.Qb5! bxc6 17.Qxc5 Rb8 18.b4 e3! 19.f3! axb4 20.axb4 Qg6 21.Qg5, with some chances of survival. Now let’s return to examine the best move, 7.Bg5!:

7...Be7! In this way, Black will get the bishop pair. After 7...Bxc5 8.Nxc5 Qa5+ 9.Nd2 Qxc5 10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.g3²/=, White may have slightly better practical chances, but obviously it is still a tenable position. 8.Bxf6 gxf6! 9.e3 There seems to be nothing better. 9...Qa5+! 10.Qd2 Qxd2+ 11.Kxd2 dxe3+© A very unclear position has arisen, in which engines suggest (regardless of how White recaptures on e3) making a real gambit of a pawn by continuing 12...b6!?. Black also has other ways to play, and overall I would rate his practical chances better. His bishop pair and the exposed white king should be important elements of lasting compensation.

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We will now return to 6.Na4!: Originally I was laughing at myself for dealing so seriously with an offbeat line that has been tried only once or twice, but then I realized things were in fact really serious. Actually, reaching equality (after I explored all the obvious tries) started to look like quite a chore. After some heartbreaking failures I finally decided upon 6...b6!?, sacrificing the pawn to exploit the position of the Na4. Alternatively: (a) In reply to 6.Na4!, some engines suggested 6...e5?!, but this is definitely not any good for my own taste: White should immediately strike at the center with 7.e3! when I cannot see full compensation. Instead, worse are 7.b4?! Nxb4 8.Nxe5 Bf5 9.Nd3 Nxd3+ 10.exd3 Bd7! 11.Bd2 Bc6© and 7.e4?! Bxc5 8.Nxc5 Qa5+³, Di Baggio-Zagorski, corr 2003.

After 7.e3!, I tried to make the position seen above work for Black, but I always came up short. The following lines are my analysis: 7...Bf5 Or 7...Bg4 8.Be2±; 7...Nf6 8.exd4 (8.a3?! Bg4) 8...e4 9.d5 exf3 10.dxc6 Qxd1+ 11.Kxd1±. 8.a3! It is this move, threatening to reinforce the structure with b2-b4, that gave me a lot of headaches. One engine running at a low depth was strangely focusing on 8.Qb3? which can be answered by 8...Nf6 9.Qxb7 Bd7 10.Qb3 (10.Bd2? Rb8 11.Qa6 Qc7–+) 10...Be7 11.a3 0-0 12.Qc2 dxe3 13.Bxe3 Nd4ƒ and it is clear that Black has all the trumps. 8...Qe7!? Born out of desperation. After 8...d3?! 9.b4 e4 10.Nd2 Nf6 11.Bb2 Be7 12.h3 h5 13.g3 Qd7 14.Bg2±, all inroads to the White position are sealed and I cannot see how Black can generate some play for the missing pawn. 9.b4! (9.exd4? exd4+ 10.Qe2 Bc2!µ is a line can only happen in blitz or one’s dreams) 9...0-0-0?! (9...Rd8! is a better try, but after 10.Qb3! dxe3 11.fxe3! Bg4 12.Ra2!² Black’s position does not inspire much confidence either) 10.Qb3! (not 10.e4? Bxe4 11.b5 d3 12.bxc6 Bxc6‚) 10...dxe3 11.fxe3± 39

Here I was stuck, and understandably, as Black has nothing. The position is much better for White, because 11...e4 (after 11...Bg4 12.Qb2!? e4 13.Nd4 Nh6 14.Nc3 I cannot see Black surviving against the terrible queenside pawn mass in the long run. For example, 14...Nxd4 15.exd4 Rxd4 [15...e3 16.Be2 Nf5 17.0-0±] 16.Be3 and White is gradually taking over) 12.Nd4 Nxd4 (12...Rxd4 13.exd4 Nxd4 14.Qc3+–) 13.exd4 Rxd4 is met by 14.Qg3!± (and not 14.Be3? Rd3! 15.Bxd3 exd3 16.Kd2 Nf6, when Black’s position, albeit still worse, offers possibilities of counterplay). Thus, I gave up the 6...e5?! idea. (b) 6...Bxc5

This is the first idea that comes to mind but I could not fully equalize with it. However, the move would be a decent substitute in case something was wrong with the sharp 6...b6!?. After 7.Nxc5 Qa5+ 40

8.Bd2 Qxc5 9.e3 dxe3 (9...e5 as in Granero Roca-Romeu Alfonso, Cullera 2006, should be better for White after 10.exd4 exd4 11.Bd3²) 10.Bxe3 Qb4+! (10...Qe7 11.Nd4!±) 11.Qd2, there are two possibilities for the second player: 11...Qxd2+ At first I tried 11...Nge7, but then White goes 12.0-0-0! (instead of 12.Be2?! Nf5=) 12...Qxd2+ (12...Nf5? 13.Qxb4 Nxb4 14.Bc5±) 13.Rxd2 (13.Nxd2!?² should also be good) reaching a slightly advantageous position in any case:

13...f6! (on 13...e5!? there comes 14.Ng5! 0-0 [14...Nf5 15.Bc5 b6 16.Ba3 f6 17.Ne4 Be6 18.g4! Nfd4 19.g5ƒ; 14...Bf5 15.f3²] 15.Ne4 [15.Bc5 f6 16.Ne4 b6 17.Ba3 Be6=] 15...Nf5 16.Bc5 Re8 17.g4!² with a small but nagging plus for White) 14.Nd4! Nxd4 15.Bxd4 e5 16.Bc3 Be6 17.b3 Kf7 18.Be2². Back to 11...Qxd2+: 12.Nxd2! This recapture highlights the problem with the dark squares in the black camp and secures a slight advantage. Instead, nothing much is offered from 12.Bxd2 e5= when Black intends to cramp the knight with ...f7-f6. 12...Nf6! (or 12...Nb4?! 13.0-0-0! Nxa2+ 14.Kb1 Nb4 15.Ne4© and White has tremendous compensation) 13.Be2 Nb4

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At this point, White unfortunately has 14.Bd1!² with a slight, yet enduring plus in the endgame, as 14...Nd3+?! 15.Ke2 Nxb2? 16.Bb3+– is obviously unacceptable. That said, the engines are not so pessimistic about Black’s chances as they consider the White position only slightly better, +0.30, after the correct 14...0-0. Let us now turn our attention to 6...b6!?: White has three possibilities here, and all three look logical. They are (A1) 7.e3, (A2) 7.g3 and (A3) 7.cxb6.

7.cxb6 In a practical game, I expect an ambitious player to take the pawn, and a less adventurous one to play 7.g3. However, upon polishing my notes for the purposes of this book, I discovered White has yet another possibility, namely 7.e3!?: (A1) I do not know what type of player would play 7.e3!?, but it certainly is the type of computer 42

move that keeps you constantly on your toes, if you see what I mean. In the end, however, I believe the ensuing struggle ends up with equality: 7...bxc5 8.exd4 This will lead to an imbalanced structure where White seems to have the better chances, but the stray Na4 prevents him from gaining the advantage. 8...Nxd4! The knight on c6 would be a target, so Black exchanges it. 9.Be3! (9.Nxd4 cxd4 10.Bd3 Bb4+ 11.Bd2 Qa5 12.b3 Bd7= is more than comfortable for Black)

The position after 9.Be3! provided me with one of the stiffest challenges of my career, as I was unable to fathom it with computers alone. There are both tactical and positional elements, and there were many conflicting engine evaluations, some of them completely misleading. Ultimately I decided to switch off the computer and try to find the truth on my own, with wooden equipment and, hopefully, still-functioning mind. After moving the pieces back and forth for a couple of hours, I managed to forge a human and, in my view, fully acceptable solution. So, what would you play? 9...Qa5+! Black needs to play incisively. This check is the beginning of a long sequence, but what may be said for now is that it forces a retreat of a minor piece, and each retreat will have a beneficial impact on Black’s game. If the knight retreats, Black can strike against the b2-pawn, creating tactical counterplay. If the bishop retreats, then Black has an easier game positionally, as White wants to exchange the Nd4 for the Be3 rather than the Nf3, obtaining a queenside majority which he can mobilize later on more easily if he is left with a pair of agile knights. Black’s problems would be most acute in that case, especially considering that when his bishop appears on the natural b7-square White has the simple idea to exchange it with Rf1-e1 and Bd3-e4, gaining control over the light squares. After the computer’s initial suggestion of 9...Nh6?!, intending to plant the knight on f5, White does have the required impetus to carry out the above outlined plan: 10.Bd3! This is the right choice. At first I thought White was also better after 10.Bxd4 cxd4 11.a3

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but Black has a nice pawn sacrifice: 11...g6! 12.Qxd4 Qxd4 13.Nxd4 Bg7 14.Nb5 Ke7© with excellent compensation. After 10.Bd3!, the following lines attracted my attention: 10...Bb7 11.Bxd4 cxd4 12.0-0 Qa5?! The computer’s main recommendation, trying to stop the majority from advancing; alternatively, the more cautious 12...Be7!? looks better with the benefit of hindsight, but still, after 13.c5 0-0 14.b4² White is for choice. 13.Re1! I had underestimated at the start of my inquiries this move, simply because the computer did not consider it best. But when I put my human criteria to work, I easily understood it posed the biggest threats to the defense. Instead, the engines were quite happy to analyze the tactical 13.c5!? Bxc5 14.Nxc5 Qxc5 15.Rc1 Qa5 16.b4! Qxb4 17.Rb1 Qe7 18.Qa4+ Kf8 19.Ne5! Rd8 20.Qxa7 Bd5 21.Nd7+! but after 21...Kg8! (21...Rxd7? 22.Rb8+ Rd8 23.Rxd8+ Qxd8 24.Rb1+–) 22.Rb8 g6 23.Rxd8+ Qxd8 24.Rb1 Kg7 25.Qxd4+ f6= Black has weathered the storm and holds easily. Returning to 13.Re1!, the more I looked at the position, the more disappointed I became.

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Black has a choice of being tactically or positionally worse, and that is when it dawned on me I had to search for something else. The verification: 13...Be7 After 13...Bc6 14.b3 Bxa4 15.bxa4 Bc5 16.Qb1 Qxa4 17.Re5 Qa5 18.h3 Rc8 19.Ng5 0-0 20.Bxh7+ Kh8 21.Bd3² the position looks extremely dangerous for Black but this may be his best choice. 14.Be4! The engines fail to realize this is a significantly better position for White, giving an assessment of only +0.20 in his favor. However, in human reality, things are much different. Without the services of the Bb7, White gets a wonderful blockade in the center, stopping Black’s kingside pawn majority and preparing the march of his own. After 14...Bxe4 15.Rxe4 Nf5, three moves – 16.b3±, 16.Rb1± and 16.a3± – give White much better prospects, so I gave up the idea of presenting this as a repertoire choice. After discarding the above lines, I turned my attention to the right move, 9...Qa5+!, realizing that only 10.Nc3! placed obstacles in the way of Black’s path to equality. I was happy to quickly dismiss 10.Bd2 Qc7

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as harmless, because the pressure on d4 has been reduced and White cannot take there with his favorite piece. After 11.Nxd4 (if 11.Nc3 a6 12.Bd3 Bb7 13.Be4, one fine positional idea is 13...Nc6!? =, preventing the exchange of bishops) 11...cxd4 12.Bd3, Black has an important check in 12...Qe5+!, disrupting White’s plans. For example, 13.Qe2 Qxe2+ 14.Kxe2 Bd7 15.b3 Ba3= and White’s majority is well contained. After 10.Nc3! though, I just could not see full equality by following the computer’s main suggestion of 10...Ne7?!:

White has the nice little prophylactic move 11.a3! (11.Nxd4 cxd4 12.Bxd4 Nf5© gives Black excellent compensation, as does 11.Bxd4 cxd4 12.Nxd4 Bb7©) rendering the equalizing task arduous: For example, 11...Nef5 (11...Ndf5!? 12.Bd2 Bb7 13.Bd3 Qd8 14.Bc2² may in fact be Black’s best) 46

12.Bxd4 cxd4 13.b4 Qd8 14.Ne4²/± and White maintains dangerous pressure. It was at this point that I decided to switch off all engines and tried to examine the position with an independent mind. I did set up the position after 9...Qa5+! on my board and started to move the pieces. One move that caught my eye immediately after 10.Nc3! was 10...Rb8!, with a direct threat to b2. After 11.Rb1, I could not see a good follow up, however, until I came with an idea born out of despair:

11...Be7!! A cold-blooded pawn sacrifice, designed to post the bishop on the beautiful f6-square. Shockingly (and fortunately!), it works! My original inquiries were lured in the direction of 11...Nxf3+!? 12.Qxf3 Bb7 13.Qg3 Rd8, which may not be so bad, but White retains a definite small plus with 14.Be2 Nf6 (worse is 14...Ne7 15.Bg5! f6 [15...Nf5? 16.Bxd8 Qxd8 17.Qh3±] 16.Bh5+! Kd7 17.Bf4‚ as the black king has been expelled from its headquarters) 15.Rd1! Be7 16.0-0 0-0 17.Bh6 Ne8 18.Bf4². After 11...Be7!!, White has a choice between taking or not on d4, which leads us to the following positions: 12.Nxd4 I also examined 12.Bd3 extensively, eventually preferring the rational reply 12...Nxf3+! as best. Instead, 12...Bb7?! falls short of equality after 13.Nxd4 cxd4 14.Bxd4 Nf6

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but White needs to find an accurate move here to prove that Black’s activity does not compensate for the pawn minus. The analysis below was later re-checked with the help of engines, proving the incorrectness of the sacrifice: 15.f3! The only move to give White the advantage! After the more natural 15.0-0, Black is surprisingly fine: 15...Rd8! 16.Be3 (16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.b4 [17.Qc2 Bxc3 18.bxc3 Bc6=] 17...Qe5© gives Black great compensation for the material, as his bishops are extremely powerful) 16...h5! 17.Qb3! (17.h3 Qc7 18.Ne2 h4!©; 17.f3 Qe5 18.Qe2 Ng4! 19.fxg4 hxg4 20.g3 Bc5 21.Nd5! Rxd5 22.Bxc5 Rxc5 23.Qxe5 Rxe5∞; 17.Qe2 Ng4 18.Be4 Bxe4 19.Nxe4 Qe5 20.Ng3 Nxe3 21.Qxe3 Qxe3 22.fxe3 h4 23.Ne4 f5 24.Nf2 Bc5©) 17...Bxg2 18.Kxg2 Rxd3 19.Qb5+ Qxb5 20.cxb5 Rd7 21.h3 Bd8 22.a4 Bb6 23.Bxb6 axb6 24.b4 Rc7 25.Rfc1 Ke7 26.a5 Rhc8 27.Ne2 Rxc1 28.Rxc1 Rxc1 29.Nxc1 Nd5 30.Nd3 Kd6 31.a6 Kc7 32.Ne5 f6 33.Ng6 e5 34.Kg3 Nxb4 35.Ne7 Kb8 36.Kh4 Nd3=. Returning to 15.f3!, I found nothing better for Black than 15...Rd8, when White’s exposure along the d-file and on the dark squares is only illusory after the retreat...

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16.Bf2! It is important to have the bishop protected in the upcoming complications. Instead, 16.Be3?! Ba6 17.Qc2 Nd7! 18.f4 (18.0-0 Ne5 19.Rfd1 Bc5=) 18...Nf6! 19.Be2 h5! 20.h3 Rc8 21.c5 Nd5! 22.Bxa6 Nxe3 23.Qa4+ Qxa4 24.Nxa4 Rb8 25.Rc1 Bd8! 26.Kf2 Nd5 27.Rhd1 Rh6!© produces a position in which Black’s rooks and minor pieces are well orchestrated for an onslaught against the f4-pawn, giving him full compensation. 16...Nh5 There is nothing else; 16...Ba6 17.Qc2 Nd7 18.0-0 Ne5 19.Rfd1 Nxd3 20.Rxd3 Bxc4? just loses after 21.Rxd8+ Bxd8 22.b3!+–. 17.g3 Nf6 18.0-0 0-0 19.Qe2 Nd7!? 20.Be4 Ba6 21.Nb5²/±. Black retains some practical chances for counterplay, but objectively his compensation is not enough. Let us now return to the position after 12.Bd3 Nxf3+!: 13.Qxf3 Nf6

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Here we have a parting of the ways. White may choose between castling or the ambitious 14.Qg3!?. 14.0-0 After 14.Qg3!? Rb7 15.Qxg7 Rg8 16.Qh6 the right continuation is 16...Rd7! 17.Bc2 Rxg2 18.Ba4 Qb6! 19.Qf4 Rg4 20.Qe5 Qb7! 21.Ke2 Rxc4 with full compensation for the exchange. For example, 22.b3 (22.Bxd7+ Nxd7 23.Qh8+ Nf8 24.b3 Rh4 25.Rhg1 Qb4 26.Kd2„) 22...Rxa4 23.bxa4 Qg2! 24.Rhg1 Ba6+ 25.Nb5 Qc6 26.Rgd1 Rxd1 27.Kxd1 Nd7 28.Qh8+ Nf8© and White’s exposed king and scattered pawns provide Black with enough counterplay for equality. 14...0-0 We had looked at a similar position under 11...Nxf3+!?, but actually here Black’s chances are improved by the fact he still has some pressure along the b-file and actually having the bishop on d3 instead of e2 gives him the defensive resource ...Nf6-h5 against the Qf3-g3, Be3-h6 attack. Let us check some possibilities to formulate an idea of how play might proceed from here:

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15.Bg5 (15.Bd2 is not dangerous after 15...Bb7 16.Qh3 Qb6 17.Bf4 Rbd8 18.Be5 g6=. There is also no particular reason for White to be enthusiastic about 15.Qg3 Rb7 16.Bh6 Nh5! 17.Qg4 f5 18.Qxh5 gxh6 19.Qxh6 Bf6 20.Rfd1 Rg7 21.Bf1 Qb6 22.Rd3 Bb7©, as Black has tremendous compensation for the pawn minus) Returning to 15.Bg5, after 15...Rd8 16.Qh3 g6 17.Qg3 Bb7 18.Be2 Rbc8 19.Qe5 Kg7 20.Rfd1 Rxd1+ 21.Rxd1 Rd8= the equilibrium is maintained. Let us now check the real test of 11...Be7!!, which is nothing short of accepting the pawn sacrifice with 12.Nxd4:

12...cxd4 13.Qxd4

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The great point upon which my conception was based is revealed after 13.Bxd4: 13...e5! 14.Be3 Bf5 and suddenly the Rb1 is attacked. This means White has to shed the b2-pawn or allow 15.Bd3 Rd8 16.Bxf5 Rxd1+ 17.Rxd1 Nf6 18.0-0 0-0∞ with a double-edged position in which, in my view, he has no advantage. 13...Bf6 Now we have the chance to deploy our bishop on a powerful diagonal, but that is not the end of the story. 14.Qd3!? The most testing. After 14.Qd1 Rxb2 15.Rxb2 Bxc3+ 16.Rd2 Qxa2 17.Bd3 Bxd2+ 18.Bxd2 f5 19.00 Nf6 20.Qc1 0-0 21.Qc3 Qa6 22.Ra1 Qc6 23.Rxa7 Rf7 24.Rxf7 Kxf7= Black has no problems whatsoever. 14...Rxb2 15.Rxb2 Bxc3+ 16.Rd2 Ne7 17.Bd4!

This move forces Black to relinquish pressure against d2, but he will have enough play as a result of his better development, offsetting White’s bishop pair. Black now advantageously postpones the exchange for a move: 17...Bb4! After 17...Bxd2+?! 18.Qxd2 Qc7 19.Bxg7 Rg8 20.Qc3 Nf5 21.Bf6² White is better. 18.Bxg7 After 18.a3 Bxd2+ 19.Qxd2 Qxa3 20.Bxg7 Rg8 21.Qc3 Qxc3+ 22.Bxc3 f5 23.h4 Kf7 24.h5 Nc6 25.f3 Rd8 the ending is level. 18...Rg8 19.Bb2 Bxd2+ 20.Qxd2 Qxa2 21.f3 Ba6 22.Bf6 Bxc4 23.Qxa2 Bxa2 24.Bb5+ Kf8= White will regain his pawn but Black will have enough time to bring his king to safety and the game 52

is heading towards a draw. So, 7.e3!? is the type of complicated move that can produce a feast of chess. With accurate handling, it seems that Black has nothing to fear. Let us now check line (A2), namely 7.g3:

This move has a solid positional foundation and Black needs to know a thing or two in order to equalize. Basically he has to switch to “Chigorin mode”; those who are aware of the legendary Russian’s love for the knights will soon understand what I mean. 7...Bxc5! This developing move seems best. Instead: (a) A version of Stockfish showed me that Black cannot really hope to equalize after 7...bxc5?! 8.Bg2 Bd7 9.e3! Rc8 10.0-0 Nf6 11.b3! Be7 12.exd4 Nxd4 13.Nxd4 cxd4 14.Qxd4 Bxa4 15.Qxd8+ Bxd8 16.bxa4 Rxc4 17.Rd1 0-0 18.Ba3 Re8 19.Bf1! Rxa4 20.Bb5 Rxa3 21.Bxe8 Bb6 22.Bc6 g5 (perhaps 22...h5 23.Rd2 g6 24.Kg2 Kg7, simply waiting, is more resilient, but White is better anyway) 23.Rd2 h5 24.Rb1! Rc3 25.Ba4², although it has to be admitted that such a position looks really difficult for White to win. (b) After 7...e5 8.Bg2 e4, White seems to obtain the better chances with 9.Nh4!?². Alternatively, 9.Nd2 f5 10.0-0! is also possible. By refusing to take on b6, White is inviting a transposition to a favorable position examined under 7.cxb6, which could also arise also here after 10...Nf6 11.cxb6 axb6 12.f3! Bd7! 13.fxe4 Ne5 14.b3. But more about this position later; the only thing to be said for now is that it is doubtful whether Black can hold. Let us return to our favorite move 7...Bxc5!: 8.Bg2 Bb7

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A critical juncture. White has a choice between a sharp line and one that is more solid. Those are (A2a) 9.Nxc5 bxc5 10.b4!? and (A2b) 9.0-0. (A2a) I was at first a little worried about the dynamic 9.Nxc5 bxc5 10.b4!?, but it turns out Black holds easily with 10...cxb4!=. Instead, 10...Nxb4? 11.a3 Na6 12.Qa4+± is annoying, as Black cannot interpose the queen on d7. After 10...cxb4! White has to decide whether to play an immediate a2-a3 or not; I eventually decided that 11.a3 is the most critical continuation but there is also 11.0-0 to which we best reply as follows: 11...Nge7! The point of this move is to allow Black recapture with the Queen on d4 after 12.Nxd4?!, but of course White will not play in such a manner. A better continuation is the delayed 12.a3 (12.Bb2 0-0 13.Nxd4 Qb6 14.Nxc6 Bxc6 15.e4 Rfd8 16.Qb3 a5 17.a3 Qb7= should not be a worry for us) when there is equality as follows: 12...0-0 13.axb4 Nxb4 14.Nxd4 Bxg2 15.Kxg2 Qc7 16.Qb3 a5 17.Bb2 Nf5 18.Nxf5 exf5 19.Rfd1 Qc6+ 20.Qf3 Qxc4 21.Qxf5 Qxe2 22.Bxg7 Kxg7 23.Qg5+=. Let us return to the position after 11.a3:

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11...Nf6! (this is the key move; Black should not try to hold on to the pawn) 12.axb4 0-0 13.b5 This one would worry me the most but I also paid attention to the following alternatives: (a) 13.Ba3 Ne5 14.Nxe5 Bxg2 15.Rg1 Bb7 16.Bb2 Qe7 (it is also possible to put the queen on b6) 17.Qxd4 Qxb4+ 18.Bc3 Qe7 19.Ng4 Rfc8= is hardly dangerous. (b) 13.Qa4 d3 14.0-0 Nd4 15.Nxd4 Bxg2 16.Nxe6 fxe6 17.Kxg2 dxe2 18.Re1 Qd4 19.Rxe2 Ng4 20.f4 Qxc4 21.Qc2 Qxb4 22.Qc6 Qb6 23.Qxe6+ Qxe6 24.Rxe6 Rfc8=. (c) 13.Qd2 Qb6 (13...Ne4 14.Qb2 a5 15.b5 Nb4 16.0-0 Nc3 17.Re1 Bxf3 18.Bxf3 Rc8 19.Qb3 Qc7 20.Bd2 Qxc4 21.Qxc4 Rxc4 22.Rxa5 Rc5=) 14.0-0 Ne4 15.Qb2 Rfc8 16.b5 Na5=. 13...Ne5 14.0-0 Nxc4 15.Qxd4. Here Black has a choice between 15...Nd6= or 15...Qxd4 16.Nxd4 Bxg2 17.Kxg2 Ne4=, which however looks a little more laborious. So I focused on 15...Nd6, after which there could follow 16.Rb1 (16.Bg5 Nxb5 17.Qb4 a6 18.Rad1 Qb6 19.Bxf6 gxf6 20.Qg4+ Kh8 21.Qh4 Kg7 22.e4!? [22.Qg4+=] should be answered with the “only” move 22...e5, but it is perfectly sufficient for a draw, e.g., 23.Bh3 Bc8 24.Bxc8 Raxc8 25.Qh5 Qe6=) 16...Be4! 17.Bf4 (17.Rb3 Rb8=) 17...Bxb1 18.Bxd6 Be4 19.Bxf8 Bxf3 20.Qxd8 Rxd8 21.Bxf3 Kxf8 22.Ra1 Rb8 23.Ra5 Ne8 24.Be4 Nc7 25.Bd3 Rb7 26.f4 Ke7=. We will now check line (A2b), namely 9.0-0: 9...Nf6

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10.Ne5 10.Nxc5 bxc5 11.e3 0-0 12.exd4 Nxd4 13.Nxd4 Bxg2 14.Kxg2 (14.Nxe6?! Qxd1 15.Rxd1 Bf3!³) 14...cxd4 15.Bf4 Qb6 16.Be5 Rfd8 17.Bxf6 gxf6 18.Qf3 e5= is dynamically balanced. 10...Nxe5 11.Bxb7 Rb8 12.Bg2 12.Nxc5 bxc5 13.Bg2 0-0 14.Bf4 Qd6 15.b3 Nh5 16.Bd2 Nc6 17.e3 Nf6 does not change much. 12...0-0 13.Bf4 Sharp play arises after 13.Nxc5 bxc5 14.e3!? Qd6! (14...Nxc4 15.Qc2!²) 15.exd4 cxd4 16.b3 Ng6! 17.Bb2 (17.f4 Rfd8 18.Bb2 Ne7 19.Rf2 Nf5 20.Rd2 a5 21.Rd3 a4∞) 17...e5 18.f4 Rbd8! 19.fxe5 Nxe5 20.Qd2 Rfe8 21.Rae1 (21.Rac1 d3! 22.c5 Qc7 23.b4 h6 24.Ba1 Re6! 25.Rf4 h5!∞) 21...h5! 22.h3 Re6! 23.Kh1 Rd7© 13...Qc7 We have reached an important position. Here there is a parting of the ways, with the following continuations available to White: (A2b1) 14.a3 and (A2b2) 14.b3.

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(A2b1) 14.a3 This is the line I would actually fear most as a human, as it prepares to mobilize the queenside pawns. 14...Nh5 15.b4 Be7 16.Bxe5 Qxe5 17.e4!? (17.Nb2 Nf6=) 17...g6! Black should avoid the trap 17...dxe3?! 18.f4 e2 19.fxe5 exd1=Q 20.Raxd1±. However, 17...d3!? 18.Qxd3 Rfd8 19.Qe2 g6 20.Rad1 Rxd1 21.Rxd1 Rd8 22.Rxd8+ Bxd8 23.Qd3 Be7 24.Bf3 Nf6 25.Kg2 a5 looks drawable.

In the diagrammed position there does not seem to be much wind in White’s sails as Black can strike with ...a7-a5 to achieve a good position, but the practical details are rather considerable after 18.Nb2! and require your full attention:

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(a) Originally I had only analyzed 18...a5?! 19.Nd3 Qc7 thinking Black should hold easily, but this leads to a much better coordination for White after let’s say 20.Qc2. After some elaboration I concluded that the white knight shouldn’t be allowed to come to d3 that easily. (b) This is how 18...Qc7! was found. After it White has to lose part of his coordination temporarily giving us time to build the optimal defensive formation: 19.Rc1!? A move White would not like to play as the rook will have to return to the a-file later on, but the alternatives below give us an easy ride: For example, 19.Qxd4 Rfd8 20.Qc3 Bf6 21.Qc2 Bxb2 22.Qxb2 Qxc4 23.Bf3 (23.Rfc1 Qd4 24.Qxd4 Rxd4 25.e5 Ng7 26.Rc7 a5 27.bxa5 bxa5 28.a4 Nf5 29.Ra7 Rb2 30.Rxa5 Kg7=) 23...Qd4 24.Qxd4 Rxd4 25.Rfd1 Rbd8= is a comfortable ending for Black. Another line is 19.Qc2 Rfc8! when the Nb2 can’t yet move. And if 20.Rfc1 then 20...Nf6 21.Nd3 Ng4!= prepares to challenge the knight from e5. Finally, 19.Qb3 Nf6 20.Nd3 e5 21.Rfc1 h5 22.h4 a5= is also fine for Black as the Queen on b3 prevents White from pushing c4-c5 so he will have once more to lose time. 19...a5 Only now it’s time to strike. 20.Nd3 axb4 21.axb4 e5! Shutting the Bg2 and embarking thoroughly on a dark square restriction strategy. 22.Qa4 Instead, 22.Qb3 does not threaten c4-c5, so Black goes 22...Nf6 23.Ra1 Ra8 24.Rfc1 h5 25.Ra4 Rfb8 26.Qa2 Rxa4 27.Qxa4 Nd7= with a position similar to the ones we will reach after 22.Qa4. I also looked at 22.c5 bxc5 23.bxc5 Rb5 24.c6 Ba3 25.Rc4 Bd6, which leaves the c-pawn rather weak. 22...Nf6 23.Ra1 Rfc8 24.Rfc1 The alternative 24.Qb5 Qxc4 25.Qxe5 Re8 26.Rfd1 Nd7 27.Qf4 Bxb4 28.Ra7 Rbd8 29.Bf1 Qb3 30.Nxb4 Qxb4 31.Rc1 d3 32.Bxd3 Ne5 33.Bc4 Re7 34.Rxe7 Qxe7 35.Bd5 b5= leaves things pretty much balanced. 24...Kg7 25.Qb5 Bd6 26.Ra6 h5! 27.h4 Rb7 28.f3 White cannot make progress without this weakening move as he needs to defend e4. 28...Rcb8 29.Ra2 The alternative 29.Rca1 Rc8 30.Bf1!? Rcb8! 31.Ra8 Nd7 32.Rxb8 Rxb8 will just transpose; I also analyzed the untangling 29.Qa4 when Stockfish gives us the following main line at depth 50: 29...Qe7 30.Qa3 (30.c5 bxc5 31.bxc5 Bc7 32.Qc6 Rb3 33.Bf1 R8b7=) 30...Ne8! 31.Qb2 Nc7 32.Ra2 Ne8 33.Bh3 Rc7 34.Kg2 Nf6 35.Ra6 Ne8 36.Kf2 Qf6 37.Qa3 g5!? (Black could also “stay” but under the specific circumstances this forces equality) 38.c5 Be7 39.Rxb6 Rxb6 40.cxb6 Rxc1 41.Qxc1 g4 42.Bg2 Qxb6 43.Nxe5 Qxb4=. 29...Ra7 30.Rca1 Rxa2 31.Rxa2 Kh7 32.Ra6 Another line typical for this position is 32.Bf1 Kg7 33.Be2 Rc8 34.Kf2 Qxc4 35.Qxc4 Rxc4 36.Nxe5 Rc3 37.Nd3 Nd7 38.f4 Bf8 39.Ra7 (39.e5 Nb8=) 39...Nf6=.

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32...Kg7= The engines “say” this is a positional draw. When White tries to maneuver his bishop to b3 then Black reacts with ...Nf6-h7, preparing ...g6-g5 or ...f7-f5, with counterplay. For example: 33.Bf1 (33.Bh3 Bf8! 34.Bf1 Bd6 35.Be2 Nh7! 36.Bd1 g5 37.Ra2! Rc8 38.Bb3 Rb8! 39.f4!? exf4 40.e5 Be7 41.gxf4 gxf4 42.Qd5 Bxh4 leads to complicated play) 33...Nh7 34.Kf2 (34.Be2 g5=; 34.Kg2 g5 35.hxg5 Nxg5 36.Qd5 Qc8! 37.Qxd6 Qh3+ 38.Kf2 Qh2+ 39.Bg2 Nh3+ 40.Ke1 Qg1+ 41.Bf1 Re8!=) 34...Nf6 35.Be2 Nh7 36.Bd1 f5! 37.Qa4 (37.exf5 gxf5 38.Kg2 e4 39.fxe4 fxe4 40.Nf2 Bxg3 41.Nxe4 Bf4 also gives Black counterplay) 37...fxe4 38.c5 bxc5 39.Rc6 Qe7 40.bxc5 exd3 41.cxd6 Rb2+! 42.Kg1 Qe6 43.Qa3 Ra2 44.Qb3 Qxb3 45.Bxb3 Ra8 46.Kf2 Rd8 47.Bc4 Nf6 48.Bxd3 Nd7= Let us now check (A2b2) 14.b3: 14...Nh5! This typical device relieves the pin by forcing the bishop to retreat. 15.Nxc5 bxc5 16.Bd2 Nf6 17.e3 Nc6

Thus Black has been reduced to having two knights against two bishops, but his advantage in space and strong point on d4 should not be underestimated. The engines consider this position as approximately balanced. 18.Re1 18.Qf3 threatens a massive exchange on c6 followed by e3xd4 in case Black puts a rook on c8, so it is better to defend the knight from the side: 18...Rb6! 19.Rfe1 Ra6! 20.exd4 Nxd4 21.Qc3 e5 and once more, Black stands firm. 18...Rfe8 19.exd4 Nxd4 20.Bc3 Rbd8 21.Qc1 e5

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As Black, I would be quite satisfied here, even if in general I prefer to have the bishops. Black has a great amount of space and all his pieces are splendidly placed. He can simply wait, or try to attack on the kingside by transferring his queen to f5 and then follow up with the march of the h-pawn. At the same time, it is unclear what White should do, so I would conclude that 7.g3 does not represent a great worry for us. It is now time to examine what is considered the most critical choice of all, namely (A3) 7.cxb6: 7...axb6 Black has made a real gambit of it but hopes that the strange position of the Na4 will give him just enough compensation. Here there is a major parting of the ways, with the most important lines for us being (A3a) 8.a3 and (A3b) 8.g3.

8.g3 would be the standard reaction in human chess, angling to get the king as quickly as possible 60

into safety and for this reason I promoted it to a main line. Apart from it and 8.a3 there are two more moves that deserve a mention, examined briefly below: (a) 8.e3!? is playable. After 8...Bb4+ 9.Bd2 Bxd2+ 10.Nxd2 dxe3 11.fxe3 Nge7! 12.Qb3 Bd7!© however, Black has compensation for the pawn, e.g. 13.c5 (13.Nxb6 Na5) 13...bxc5 14.Nxc5 0-0 15.Be2 Rb8 and the white queen is embarrassed. (b) 8.e4 is easier to deal with: 8...Nf6! 9.Bd3 (9.Bg5? Bb4+ 10.Nd2 Bxd2+µ) 9...Bb4+ 10.Kf1 (10.Bd2? Bxd2+ 11.Nxd2 Nb4µ) 10...Nd7©; Black has excellent control over the dark squares and after he castles, following up with Bb7, White will start to feel the consequences from the loss of his own castling privilege. We will now examine the two major options starting with (A3a) 8.a3: This is a logical reply, guarding the b4 square. Black should play 8...Nf6! (8...e5?! allows White to block the position by 9.e4! Bd7 10.Bd3 Bd6 11.0-0²) when he obtains very strong counterplay as the following lines indicate: 9.e3 The most critical. Instead: (a) 9.Qb3?! just exposes the Na4 after 9...Bd7µ. (b) I also looked at 9.b4:

Now the solution is actually different than the one I originally thought: 9...Bb7! This move probably threatens ((10.h3)) 10...e5 11.b5 e4 12.bxc6 Bxc6!, exploiting the position of the knight on a4. A long time ago, much earlier than the idea of this book was first conceived, I had placed my bets on 9...Qc7!? intending to attack the knight via a7. However, after 10.b5 (10.Bd2 Ne4!) 10...Na5 11.e3 (11.Nxd4 e5©) 11...dxe3 12.Bxe3 Nd7 13.Qc2! (13.Be2 Nxc4! 14.Qc2 [14.Rc1 Nxe3µ] 14...Rxa4! 15.Qxa4 Nxe3 16.fxe3 Qc3+ 17.Kf2 Bc5©) 13...Bb7 14.Be2! (14.Rd1 Nc5 15.Nxc5 Bxc5©) 14...Nc5 61

15.Nxc5 Bxc5 16.Qc3!² Black did not get his pawn back, but only acquired some positional compensation which the computer doubts is enough. I now think this is a correct evaluation, although it is at the same time doubtful whether White can eventually win this if Black gets a knight vs. lightsquare bishop position, and establishes his knight on c5. Returning to 9...Bb7!, in view of the idea ...e5-e4 mentioned above, it seems White must act: 10.b5 Ne7! Much better than retreating to b8, as the knight is now destined for the excellent f5-square. 11.e3 Nf5! 12.Nxd4 Nxd4 13.exd4

13...Rxa4! I am sure you expected this after seeing a diagram, right? 14.Qxa4 Qxd4 15.Ra2 Qc3+ 16.Bd2 Qe5+ 17.Be3 (17.Kd1? Ne4 18.Be1 Be7© is better for Black) 17...Bc5 18.Qb3 Ng4 Black is piling up the pressure against the hapless Be3, yet there is a drawing solution: 19.Qb2! Qe4 20.Qc2! Qe5 21.Qb2 and Black has nothing better than acquiescing to the repetition. (c) 9.g3 is a rather belated fianchetto attempt as Black is already sufficiently developed to generate queenside counterplay:

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9...Bb7 10.Bg2 (10.Bg5 b5 11.cxb5 Qa5+©) 10...b5! Thanks to this nice motif, the queen springs to life and exploits the awkward position of the Na4. 11.cxb5 Qa5+ 12.Bd2 Qxb5 13.b3 e5 14.0-0 e4∞ A very sharp position has arisen, with mutual chances. White can try to play incisively with 15.Ng5 e3 16.fxe3 Qxg5 17.exd4, but after 17...Qg6 18.Bf4 Be7 19.Rc1 Na5 20.Bxb7 Nxb7 21.Rc7 Nd8 22.Nb6 Ra6 23.Rxe7+ Kxe7 24.Qc1 Rxb6 25.Qc5+ Ke8 26.Qxb6 Nd5³, the most he should be able to get out of this position is a draw as the black knights are strong. (d) Finally, after 9.Bg5 h6!? 10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.g3, Black should use the same motif, involving the advance of the b-pawn: 11...b5! 12.cxb5 Qa5+ 13.Nd2 Qxb5 14.b3 Bb7 15.Bg2 h5 16.0-0 (16.h4 Ne5©) 16...h4

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Black obtains very concrete compensation for his pawn. A possible continuation from here is 17.Nf3 (17.Qc2 hxg3 18.fxg3 Ne5‚) 17...hxg3 18.hxg3 Rd8 19.Nb2 Ne5 20.Nxe5 Qxe5 21.Bxb7 Qh5 22.Re1 Rd5! 23.Bxd5 exd5 24.Kg2 Qh3+ 25.Kf3 Qf5² with a picturesque perpetual check. Let us now focus on the most critical choice after 8.a3 Nf6!, namely 9.e3. I think Black should play aggressively in the center by 9...e5 10.exd4 Nxd4!, reaching the following position.

Already one pawn down, Black gives up a second one, but there is method in his madness. If White takes it, the Nd4 will remain unchallenged and Black will find time to create threats by using the superior activity of his pieces. 11.Nxd4

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I found this to be White’s best. Instead 11.Nxe5 Ra5! leads to rich counterplay for Black as the following lines show:

12.c5!? In this way White cuts the Gordian Knot created by his previous move. Others would be worse. For example, 12.Nd3? is a direct blunder in view of 12...Qe7+ 13.Be3 Bg4!–+; 12.f4? allows Black to be once more the better side after 12...Rxe5+!! 13.fxe5 Bg4! 14.Qd2 Ne4 15.Qd3 Nc5!© and the massive presence of his pieces in the center more than compensates for the material losses. Actually, the computer thinks that after the inevitable exchange of pieces on c5, Black can transfer his queen to a8, with a nearly winning position. Finally, 12.Bf4?! Bd6© is at least equal for Black. 12...Bxc5 13.Be3! (13.Bd3? Be7 14.f4 Be6ƒ is much better for Black; see that awful hole on b3!) 13...0-0 14.Nxc5 bxc5 15.b4 (15.Nc4 Rb5©) At this point I found a typical human solution, although other good moves are available:

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15...Qd5! Centralization! And as usual, it pays handsome dividends! 16.bxc5! The right unit to capture, after which equality should ensue. Instead: (a) 16.Bxd4? cxd4 17.f4 loses to 17...Qe4+!! 18.Be2 (18.Qe2 Qxf4! 19.bxa5 Re8 20.g3 Qg5–+) 18...Rxe5! 19.fxe5 Ba6! 20.exf6 d3 21.Qd2 Qxg2 22.0-0-0 dxe2 23.Rde1 Qf3 24.Kb2 Qxf6+ 25.Qc3 Qf4–+ and Black’s massive pawn on e2, in conjunction with the weak enemy king, should carry the day. (b) I also looked at 16.bxa5 Qxe5 17.Rc1 Ng4©, when the onus is on White to prove equality. Returning to 16.bxc5!, Black should play 16...Nc2+! 17.Qxc2 Qxe5© when he has full compensation for the two pawns in view of ...Nd5/g4 ideas. The most probable outcome here is a draw. All the above lines suggest that White should prefer 11.Nxd4 on his 11th move, to which we now return: 11...exd4

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There is once more the threat of ...b6-b5 here, which gains valuable time for the second player. 12.b3 Bd7 Safest. There are some other speculative tries that did not satisfy me. 13.Qxd4 Bxa4 14.Qxd8+ Kxd8 15.bxa4 Bc5 16.Be2 Rxa4 In spite of the pawn deficit the position should be an easy draw for Black, because of White’s scattered queenside pawns and pressure on f2. The computer gives 17.0-0 Ke7 18.Re1 Ne4! 19.Bg5+ Kf8 20.Bh4 f5!? (20...g5!?=) 21.Bd3 Kf7 22.Bc2 (22.Bxe4 fxe4 23.Rxe4 Re8!=) 22...Rxa3 23.Rxa3 Bxa3 24.Bxe4 fxe4 25.Rxe4 Ra8= and it is soon going to be a draw in spite of White’s extra pawn as the queenside will be liquidated. (A3b) Let us now see what happens after the critical 8.g3: 8...e5 The concrete and best approach. Black will try to conquer and hold on to central space, hoping that all undermining attempts will be dealt with sufficiently.

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9.Bg2 9.Nd2 f5 10.Bg2 e4 11.0-0 is just another way to reach the main line. 9...e4 10.Nd2 f5 11.0-0 White seems much better developed and has an extra pawn. But the relative strength of his developed pieces seems inferior when we compare them to most of their counterparts that still rest on their original squares. In spite all this, Black’s next move is really shocking and is perhaps the greatest memory-marker of this first part:

11...Ra7!! This is a multi-functional move that is, however, mainly prophylactic in nature. The rook establishes 68

contact with the center and the kingside, but at the same time gets itself off the dangerous diagonal h1a8 and avoids potential knight forks on b6. I believe most players would be proud to find such a move and so would I, as actually, in spite of knowing the problems of the position, it did not cross my mind. So on this occasion, the computers’ sustained efforts were particularly helpful. To understand why this move is instrumental for Black’s well-being, one first needs to consult the lines below: After 11...Bd7?!, White reacts strongly in the center with 12.e3!! and I could not find an equalizing defense: 12...Ne5 This is not much better than the alternatives but at least puts up the trickiest resistance. Black’s position is clearly worse anyway. (a) The main point is that we cannot play 12...dxe3?:

The reason is 13.Nxe4!! fxe4 (13...Rxa4 14.Bxe3 Ne5 15.Ng5‚) 14.Bxe3 Nf6 15.Nxb6 Rb8 16.c5± and we are hopelessly exposed with the king in the center. (b) 12...Nb4 13.b3 only appears good for Black; in essence he is much worse. However, White still needs to prove that: 13...dxe3 13...d3 14.Nxe4! Bxa4 (14...fxe4 15.Qh5+ g6 16.Qe5+ Kf7 17.Qxh8+–) 15.bxa4 fxe4 16.Bxe4± is not at all inspiring, as Black’s center crumbles and even material-wise he is not better. 14.fxe3! Here this is best; instead, 14.Nxe4 Bxa4 15.Qf3 fxe4 16.Qxe4+ Be7 17.Qxa8 exf2+ 18.Kh1 Qxa8 19.Bxa8 Bd7 20.Rxf2 Nf6„ is unclear. After 14.fxe3! Black’s chances look grim: 14...Nf6 15.Bb2 Be7 (15...Ng4 16.Bd4± merely helps White) 16.Bd4 Bxa4 (16...Rb8 17.Bh3!± is a nice detail, showing that Black cannot defend all his weaknesses) 17.bxa4 Nc6 18.Bb2 Qd7 19.Nb3²/±. (c) Finally, the obvious 12...Nf6 is not a disaster, but after 13.exd4 Nxd4 14.Nc3 Bc5 15.Nb3 (15.b4!?) 15...Nxb3 16.Qxb3 0-0 17.Be3²/± I do not see much compensation for the pawn. 69

Let us return to 12...Ne5: 13.b3 dxe3 14.fxe3 Nf6 15.Bb2

15...Qc7 An attempt to improve over 15...Neg4 16.Qe2! (16.Bd4 Bxa4 17.bxa4 Bc5 18.Bxc5 bxc5 is not at all clear) 16...Bxa4 (16...Qc7 is met instructively with 17.Bh3! h5 18.Bxf6! gxf6 19.Bxg4 hxg4 20.Nc3± with a positional triumph for White) 17.bxa4 Bc5™ (On 17...Nxe3?

there follows 18.Rxf5!! Nxf5 19.Nxe4 Kf7 20.Nxf6+–, a real heavyweight blow) 18.Bxf6 Bxe3+ 19.Qxe3 Nxe3 20.Bxd8 Nxf1 21.Nxf1 Kxd8²/±, when Black has only a few chances of saving this position. 16.Qe2 Bd6 (16...Neg4 17.Bh3! transposes to 15...Neg4 above. With the text, Black tries to avoid 70

unnecessary moves and stabilize his control in the center) 17.c5! Unfortunately this move dashed all my hopes of equality when analyzing the positions starting with 11...Bd7?!. White gives back the pawn but opens up the wonderful c4-square for his pieces, keeping Black under relentless pressure. White can aspire to an advantage also with the more pedestrian 17.Nc3 0-0 18.Nb5 Qb8 19.Nxd6 Qxd6 20.a4² but 17.c5! is clearly much stronger. 17...bxc5 18.Nc4 Nxc4?! I have presented this line for instructional purposes. Black should actually restrict himself to 18...0-0 19.Nxe5 Bxe5 20.Qc4+ Kh8 21.Bxe5 Qxe5 22.Nxc5 Bc6±, but even this position is totally depressing. 19.Qxc4 The black king has been prevented from castling and Bb2xf6 is threatened. The computer’s recommendation of 19...Ng4 is answered strongly as follows:

20.Bxe4!! Bxg3 21.Bxf5 Bxh2+ 22.Kh1 Bxf5 23.Rxf5 Qc6+ 24.e4 Ra7 Threatening ...Qc6-h6 or ...Bh2-f4. 25.Qd5! Qxd5 26.exd5 Bd6 27.Nb6± With the knight coming to the wonderful c4-square, Black’s chances to save the ending are very low, so I gave up hope of equalizing in this line. Let us now move to what was my next attempt to equalize: 11...Nf6!? In this instance too, the proverbial “knights before bishops” is proven, as the move is better than 11...Bd7?!. However, the temporary weakness on the h1-a8 diagonal allows White to obtain the upper hand:

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12.f3! Principled chess helped by the presence of tactics! 12.e3?! is just illogical with e4 heavily protected, and after 12...dxe3 13.fxe3 Nb4„ we are at least equal. 12...Bd7! A very refined move, avoiding 12...e3?! 13.f4! Bd7 14.Nf3± and Black’s central pawns have been blocked on the right squares from White’s perspective, for two reasons: (a) The Bg2 is dominant on the long diagonal; and (b) White has a clear plan to attack d4 by means of a2-a3, b2-b4, followed by Bc1b2. 13.fxe4 I see nothing else for White. The only problem is that the move is...good! 13...Ne5! 14.b3 Neg4 Originally I thought that, in this position, Black enjoys sufficient counterplay. But deeper examination disclosed an obvious problem:

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15.Nf3! Logical and strong. Instead: (a) The clumsy 15.Qe1 Ne3 16.Bb2 (16.exf5 Nc2 17.Qf2 Rxa4 18.bxa4 Nxa1∞ is hardly anything for White) can be answered in many ways; One of them is 16...Bb4 17.a3 Bxd2 18.Qxd2 Nxf1 19.Rxf1 fxe4 20.Qb4 Bxa4 21.bxa4 Qd7 22.Qxb6 0-0= with a balanced game. (b) 15.Nb1 is too passive to pose problems. After 15...Bxa4 16.bxa4 Bc5! 17.exf5 d3+ 18.e3 0-0!? 19.Bxa8 Qxa8 20.Qf3 Qxa4 21.h3 Ne5 22.Qd1 Qd7! 23.Nc3 Nxc4 24.Qb3 Qf7ƒ, Black looks more than fine. After 15.Nf3!, however, things are much more difficult and I am not sure whether Black holds: 15...Bxa4 16.e5! Alternatively, 16.Nxd4!? Bc5 17.e3 Bd7 18.exf5 is a position deserving analysis, but I would not be afraid to be Black here; 16.e5! is much more dangerous. Another non-acid test is 16.bxa4 Bc5 17.exf5 d3+ 18.e3 0-0 19.Ne1 Bxe3+! (19...Nxe3 20.Bxe3 Bxe3+ 21.Kh1 d2 22.Bxa8 Qxa8+ 23.Ng2²) 20.Bxe3 Nxe3 21.Qxd3 Qxd3 22.Nxd3 Rad8 23.Nf4 Nxf1 24.Bxf1 Ra8! (24...Rd2 25.c5! bxc5 26.a5²) 25.Rb1 Rxa4 26.Rxb6 (26.Ne6 Rfa8) 26...Rxa2 27.c5 Rc2 28.c6 Rc8 29.Bb5 Ra8=. Let us now see what Black’s problem is after 16.e5!: 16...Ne4

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Black looks excellently placed, but White’s next crushes this illusion: 17.Nxd4!! This can be described as “clearing the atmosphere.” It will lead us to a position of material equality, but one in which only White enjoys winning chances. 17...Nc3 18.Qd3 Qxd4+ 19.Qxd4 Nxe2+ 20.Kh1 Nxd4 21.Bxa8 Bc6+ 22.Bxc6+ Nxc6 23.Rxf5 Bc5 24.Kg2 Rf8 25.Rxf8+ Kxf8 26.h3 Ngxe5 27.Bb2 Kf7²/±

The tactics have subsided, and it is obvious that White has the advantage. Materially speaking, there is equality in terms of pure numbers as White has R+2§s vs B+N, but White’s queenside pawns can be dangerous in the long run. There is no point in 74

analyzing this any further, as it is clear the position on the board represents a failure for Black’s strategy. Fortunately we can do better with the astonishing 11...Ra7!! to which we now return:

Upon looking at this move, I cannot help but change my rules for the better. Initially it was knights before bishops, now perhaps it can be modified into rooks before knights before bishops?! Beware, do not take anything I say for granted. Sometimes even in chess, we can win the lottery. If that happens, we have to accept what our luck has presented us with and move on without many questions. After 11...Ra7!! White has two main possibilities, (A3b1) 12.b3 and (A3b2) 12.a3. I looked at many other moves before deciding that the above two are the most critical. A sure thing is that 12.e3?! dxe3 13.fxe3 Nf6³ leaves White in a precarious position and that 12.Nxe4?! fxe4 13.Bxe4 Bd7³ simply does not work. Also awkward for White is 12.Qb3?! Bd7!ƒ when he finds his queen seriously displaced for no reason at all, as there is no threat to b6. Finally, after 12.f3?! e3 13.f4 exd2 14.Bxc6+ Bd7 15.Bxd7+ Qxd7 16.Nxb6 dxc1=Q 17.Rxc1 Qc6 18.Nd5 Nf6³ Black is also better as he exchanges White’s only trump, leaving himself a piece up for three not so important pawns. (A3b1) Let us now consider the more conservative of the two main options, namely 12.b3: 12...Nf6 13.Nb1 Trying to stop ...h7-h5-h4 and at the same time planning to transfer the knight to b5; instead, 13.Bb2 h5! 14.f3 (14.h4 is the lesser evil, but I still do not like White’s position after 14...Be7³) 14...h4! 15.fxe4 hxg3 16.hxg3 Qc7 17.Rf3 Bd6‚ is worrisome for White. 13...Bc5 14.Na3 0-0 15.Nb5 Rd7 (15...Rxa4!? 16.bxa4 Be6© is also acceptable, but there is no reason to go for this) 16.a3 Be7! 17.b4 Ba6 18.Bf4 Ng4„

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Black has strong counterplay in a double-edged position as both white knights are off-side, to use a soccer term. (A3b2) We will now have a look at the important position arising after 12.a3:

12...h5! Violating all conventional chess principles, Black moves another pawn. This is perhaps the craziest coffee-house opening position I have seen in my life, but Black’s space advantage, combined with the absence of any effective central strikes by White makes this strategy work. 13.b4 Another possibility is 13.h4 Nf6 14.b4 Ng4 15.Bb2 (15.Nxe4!? fxe4 16.Bxe4 Nce5 17.Bb2 Bd7 18.Nxb6 Qxb6 19.Bxd4 Qb8 20.Bxa7 Qxa7 21.c5 g5! is beyond my analytical control, but the engines say “0.00” ) 15...Rh6∞ with a terribly complicated struggle where White has to consider ...e4-e3 on every turn. Returning to 13.b4, the engines provide us with the following variation: 13...h4 14.Bb2 Nf6 15.c5 hxg3 16.hxg3 bxc5 17.Nxc5 Bxc5 18.Qc2 (18.Rc1 Nd7 19.bxc5 Nde5 20.Nc4 Nxc4 21.Rxc4 Ba6„) 18...d3! 19.Qxc5 dxe2 20.Qxc6+ Qd7!! 21.Qc5 exf1=Q+ 22.Nxf1 Qc7∞/=, with a double-edged position in which the chances are approximately balanced in my opinion. Here my examination of 4...Nc6!? 5.dxc5 ends, and I sincerely hope it has provided readers with many ideas not just about the Tarrasch Defense but also about the dynamics of chess overall.

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We will now proceed to a more quite line for which Black also needs to be well prepared: (B) 5.Bf4

This is a logical continuation. It develops a piece to a good square and reinforces the captures d4xc5 or simply c4xd5. Black should respond, in my opinion, with 5...cxd4! 6.Nxd4 Nf6, reaching a position from the English Opening. White has then at his disposal the following continuations: (B1) 7.a3, (B2) 7.cxd5, (B3) 7.e3 and (B4) 7.Ndb5. From the above possibilities, 7.Ndb5 is the old main line, leading to unbalanced positions. However, at the highest level, 7.e3 is the move that has been taken up nowadays and is currently the most popular. Checking these two important options will of course be my main focus, but let us start by examining the little known seventh move alternative (B1) 7.a3:

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This is a move which I think was introduced by Suba, but it appears too slow and allows Black easy equality in two ways: (B1a) 7...dxc4!? and (B1b) 7...Be7!?. 7...Be7!? is the simplest solution of the two, but 7...dxc4!? is not at all bad as we will see immediately below. (B1a) 7...dxc4!? I did not find any games with this logical capture, so I will christen it as my invention. The idea is to play concrete chess, exploiting the slowness of the a2-a3 idea. Black wins a pawn and attacks the knight on d4, so what could be more natural? 8.Nxc6! I guess this must have been Suba’s intention. White gets into trouble after 8.Ndb5?! e5! as the following variations show: After 9.Qxd8+ (instead, 9.Bg5?! is inferior, and after 9...a6! [9...Qa5 10.Bd2 Ne4!? 11.Nxe4 Qxb5 12.e3∞] 10.Qxd8+ Kxd8, it transposes to worse positions for White examined below) 9...Kxd8, losing castling in no way harms Black as this is an ending where his king is not in danger. Actually White is already worse and here the engines give 10.Rd1+!? as the best way for him to minimize the damage. Instead, the impulsive 10.0-0-0+?! has the disadvantage of leaving f2 under-protected and bringing the king into a danger zone: by playing 10...Bd7 Black already wants to evict the Nb5 and force matters, making the position very dubious for White:

11.Be3 Trying to dissuade Black from carrying out “that annoying little move”. There is no relief in 11.Bg5? a6 12.Nd5 (12.Nd6 Bxd6 13.Rxd6 Kc7 14.Rd1 Be6µ is just a clear pawn up for Black) 12...axb5! when nothing works for the first player. For example: 13.Nb6 (a) 13.Nxf6 gxf6 14.Bxf6+ Kc7 15.Bxh8 is dealt a death blow with 15...Bh6+–+. (b) 13.Bxf6+ gxf6 14.Nb6 Nd4 15.Nxa8 Bc5 16.e3 Ne6–+ is curtains as the Na8 will perish.

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After 13.Nb6, there follows 13...Nd4 14.Nxa8 Nb3+–+ and Black will encircle the white knight after ...Bf8-c5 followed by ...Kd8-c8. Returning to 11.Be3, most accurate is 11...Ng4!, forcing a concrete weakness in White’s pawn skeleton. Another possibility is 11...Kc8!? 12.g3! (12.Bg5 a6 13.Na4 axb5 14.Nb6+ Kb8 15.Bxf6 Bf5! 16.Bxe5+ Nxe5 17.Nxa8 Nd7 18.e4 Be6 19.Rxd7 Bxd7 20.Nb6 Bc6µ leads to a clear advantage for Black in view of the two bishops) 12...Bf5 13.f4 a6 14.Nd6+ Bxd6 15.Rxd6 Kc7 16.fxe5 Nxe5 17.Rxf6! gxf6 18.Nd5+ Kd6 19.Bg2 Bh3!³ and Black maintains a slight edge. 12.g3 Nxe3 13.fxe3 Bc5!

14.Kb1! (14.Bh3 Bxe3+ 15.Kb1 Nd4µ) 14...Ke7! This looks best. Instead, 14...Bxe3 15.Bg2 Bd4 16.Rhf1³ sees White back into the game as all his pieces are suddenly active. 15.Nd5+ Kf8 16.Nf6! Bf5+ 17.e4 gxf6 18.exf5³/µ. Black is clearly better, yet White maintains some chances of survival because of the opposite-color bishops. We will now return to the better 10.Rd1+!?, when play could proceed as follows: 10...Bd7 11.Be3!? (11.Bg5 a6 12.Nd5 axb5 13.Nxf6 gxf6 14.Bxf6+ Kc7 15.Bxh8 b4µ) 11...Kc8 12.Bg5?! (12.g3!³ is best, but Black keeps slightly better chances with 12...Bf5) 12...a6 13.Na4

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13...Bb4+!? 14.axb4 axb5 15.Nb6+ Kc7 16.Nxa8+ Rxa8µ At the end of the day, it is Black who smiles as the enemy queenside is vulnerable and gives him more than enough compensation for the exchange. The lesson learned from the above lines should be that placing the knight on b5 can only prove a liability for White, as then Black threatens ...a7-a6 and White’s play is very predictable. Considering that he is also a pawn down, it makes his tasks unenviable. So let us move on to the better move, 8.Nxc6!: 8...Qxd1+ 9.Nxd1!? Recapturing this way, White dreams of taking on c4 later on with the knight, by means of Nd1-e3xc4. The alternative 9.Rxd1 has also its points but is insufficient for an advantage against accurate play; in fact it could be Black is the one with some slight pressure after the obvious continuation 9...bxc6 10.e4, when it is important to remember the following move:

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10...Ba6! Black should hang on to the pawn for as long as he can, trying to provoke White into making weaknesses in his efforts to recover it. Ideally, Black would like to deploy his knight to c5 now. 11.Be2 (11.b4 Nd7 will transpose) 11...Nd7 12.b4! Bb5 This move was included in my old notes and is designed to force the play by carrying out ...a7-a5. It is quite possible that some sort of improvement exists around here. 13.0-0 a5 14.a4! (14.bxa5 Bxa3³) 14...Ba6 15.b5 cxb5 16.axb5! (16.Nxb5 Bxb5 17.axb5 Bc5³) 16...Bb7 17.b6! Bb4 18.Nb5 Nxb6

At this point, the best solution for White seems to be 19.Bd6! (19.Nc7+ Ke7 20.Nxa8 Bxa8³; 81

19.Nd6+ Bxd6 20.Rxd6 Nc8 21.Rd4 0-0³) 19...Rd8 20.Nc7+ Kd7 21.Nb5 Ke8 22.Nc7+ Kd7= and there is nothing better than a draw by repetition. Now it is time to have a look at the more refined choice available to the first player, namely 9.Nxd1!?: 9...Nd5!? 10.Bg3! Eyeing b8, to prevent counterplay. After 10.Bd2 bxc6 11.e4 Nb6 12.Ne3 Rb8 13.Rc1 Be7 14.Bc3 Bf6! 15.Bxf6 gxf6 16.Bxc4 (16.Rc2 Ba6) 16...Nxc4 17.Nxc4 Ba6 18.0-0 Bxc4 19.Rxc4 Rxb2 20.Rxc6 0-0 21.Ra6 Rb7= a level rook ending arises. 10...bxc6 11.Rc1

At first I was worried that White might have a pull here, but there is a nice way to defuse the pressure along the c-file and the b8-square: 11...Nb6 12.e4 Be7! (12...Ba6 13.Ne3²) 13.Ne3 13.Bxc4 Nxc4 14.Rxc4 c5! 15.f3 Ba6³. 13...Bf6! This is the nice point, forcing e4-e5, after which White can never be better. For example: 14.e5 Be7 15.Nxc4 After 15.Bxc4 Nxc4 16.Nxc4 Ba6 17.Kd2 Rb8 18.b4, Black has Rb5!=. 15...Nxc4 16.Bxc4 Rb8 17.b4 a5! 18.bxa5 Ra8= White’s a-pawns are weak and could soon both fall, in exchange for the pawn on c6. The game is totally level, so it seems that 7...dxc4 is a valid alternative to (B1b) 7...Be7!?, which we will now examine:

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8.e3 Best. As they say, play the obvious and think afterwards. (a) Instead, pointless is 8.Ndb5? 0-0µ. (b) It is White who has to be careful after 8.cxd5 Nxd5! 9.Nxd5 exd5 10.e3 0-0, as it is most certain that he cannot keep d4 as a base for his pieces. For example, 11.Rc1 (11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.Bd3 c5³ is slightly better for Black who intends ...c5-c4 followed by ...Be7-f6, piling on b2) 11...Nxd4 12.Qxd4 Bf6 13.Be5 (after 13.Qd2 Bf5³ the idea is ...d5-d4) 13...Bxe5 14.Qxe5 Re8 15.Qc7 (15.Qd4 Re4 16.Qd2 d4ƒ) 15...Bf5 16.Qxd8 Raxd8 17.Bb5 Re5!ƒ and although White has not departed from the drawing zone, it is evident that the threatened discovery ...d5-d4 gives Black a slight initiative. 8...0-0

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9.Be2! If 9.cxd5 Nxd5 10.Nxd5, Black can transpose to the lines discussed above by 10...exd5. There is also 10...Qxd5!? 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.Qxd5! (12.Be2 Bf6³) 12...cxd5, but in this ending he is no better, as I was inclined to think at first sight: Play could continue 13.Be5 (viable alternatives are 13.Bb5 Bb7= and 13.Bd3 Bf6 14.Rb1 e5 15.Bg3 a5!?∞) 13...f6 14.Bc3 e5!? (14...Bd7=) 15.Bd3 a5 16.0-0 and White is solid enough in spite of Black’s space advantage. One idea could at some point be f2-f4, softening Black’s impressive central duo of pawns or even b2-b4, if Black neglects to play ...a5-a4 now. That said, Black’s position is perfectly satisfactory and he runs no risk of being worse. After 9.Be2! Black can easily reach equality by 9...Nxd4 10.Qxd4 dxc4 11.Qxc4 Bd7 12.0-0 (the slightly more aggressive 12.Bc7 is not a nuisance in view of 12...Qc8=, intending ...b7-b5, or 12...Qe8 13.Qf4 Bc6=) 12...Bc6 13.Rfd1 Qb6= as in Horak-Domlatil, Hradec Kralove 1997. Therefore we can conclude that Suba’s idea is harmless. (B2) We will now check 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Nxc6 bxc6 9.Bd2

This is a quiet continuation, championed by Kortchnoi and subsequently taken up by many other strong players. White hopes to profit from his better pawn structure, but he has invested quite some time to achieve that and Black has active piece play. 9...Bb4! The most logical, initiating pressure against c3. Now White has mainly used in practice the following ideas: (B2a) 10.Qc2 and (B2b) 10.Nxd5. The latter (10.Nxd5) bears Kortchnoi’s stamp of approval, who understood many years ago that there is no way for White to exploit the weakness on c6. However, that has not prevented others from trying to do so by employing either 10.Qc2 or one of the two continuations presented immediately below: (a) 10.Rc1?! has been introduced by Andersson, but does not yield anything special. After 10...Rb8

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11.Qc2 (11.e3 Nxc3 exploits the unprotected state of the b2-pawn) 11...Qa5 (11...Nxc3!? 12.Bxc3 Qa5 transposes to Lazarev-Sutovsky below) 12.e3

12...Nxc3 (12...0-0 13.Bd3 Ba6!? could be a try to wrest the initiative) 13.bxc3 Ba3 14.Rb1 Rxb1+ 15.Qxb1 Qb6 16.Qb3 Bc5= the game was completely level and the players soon signed a peace agreement in Andersson-Sosonko, Tilburg 1982. (b) On 10.Qc1, best appears 10...0-0 11.e3 (not 11.a3?! Bxc3 12.Bxc3 Ba6ƒ and Black has the initiative) 11...Nxc3 12.Bxc3 Qa5 13.Bxb4 Qxb4+ 14.Qd2 Qb6! 15.b3 (15.0-0-0 Ba6 16.Bxa6 Qxa6 17.Kb1 h6 18.Qc2 Rfd8=) 15...Rd8 16.Qc3 Ba6=. (B2a) Let us now focus on 10.Qc2, a line that has been popular among strong players. This fact need not necessarily scare us as White has not achieved anything impressive with the queen move: 10...Qa5 Most thematic, pressurizing c3. 10...Rb8 is similar. If White now plays 11.Rc1?! (11.a3! Qa5 12.e3 transposes to RomanovZakharstov below) then 11...Nxc3 12.Bxc3

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12...Qa5! 13.b3 0-0 14.Bxb4 Rxb4 15.Qc3 c5 lands him in difficulties. Notice that White’s kingside is still undeveloped, while Black has castled and is ready to take up aggressive action. LazarevSutovsky, Valle d’ Aosta 2002, continued 16.e3?! (16.Qxc5! Rb5+ 17.Qc3 Bb7 18.Qxa5 Rxa5 19.Rc2 [19.a4!? Bd5 20.h4! Bxb3 21.Rh3 Bd5 22.Ra3 is another idea to try hold the position, however Black remains slightly better after 22...Rb8 23.f3 f5³ in view of the passive rook on a3] 19...Be4 20.Rb2 Rc8ƒ would have offered better chances of defending although White is still a bit worse) 16...Qxa2 17.Qxc5 Rxb3! 18.Bc4 (18.Qxc8?? Qa5+–+)

18...Ba6! 19.0-0 Bxc4 20.Qxc4 Rb2 21.Qc7 Qa6 22.h3 h6 23.Ra1 Ra2³ and Black eventually won. Let us return to 10.Qc2 Qa5: 11.a3 11.g3!? transposes to a type of g2-g3 Nimzo. After 11...0-0! (11...Nxc3 12.bxc3 Bc5 13.Bg2 Bd7 86

14.0-0 0-0 15.Rfd1 e5= is also possible) 12.Bg2 Ba6 13.0-0, Black can equalize with the accurate 13...Bxc3!. Instead: (a) 13...Bxe2 14.Nxd5! Bxd2 15.Ne7+ Kh8 16.Nxc6 Rac8 17.b4 Qg5 18.h4! (18.f4 Be3+ 19.Kh1 Qh5 20.Rfe1 Bf3 21.Rxe3 Rxc6 22.Bxf3 Qxf3+ 23.Rxf3 Rxc2= should not worry Black) 18...Qh6 19.a3 Bxf1 20.Rxf1 f5!? 21.Rd1 Be3! 22.fxe3 Qxe3+ 23.Kh2 Qxa3 24.Qd2!² leads to a position where White emerges slightly better after all the tactics, as the a7-pawn is weak. (b) 13...Nxc3 14.bxc3² is a typical position, very slightly better for White. After 13...Bxc3!, there is nothing better for White than 14.Bxc3 (14.bxc3 Bc4= is an improved version of the game Kramnik-Anand, wch Germany 2008) 14...Nxc3 15.bxc3 Rab8= with a completely level game. 11...Rb8!

This position has been reached in two Romanov games. As we shall see, Black has nothing to fear. 12.e3 Ba6 It is also possible to play 12...Nxc3 when the Hungarian super GM Richard Rapport has proven that Black easily keeps the balance: 13.Qc1! Ne4! (there is even 13...Nb1!? 14.Rxb1 Bxd2+ 15.Qxd2 Qb6 16.Be2 Ba6 17.0-0 Bxe2 18.Qxe2 0-0= with yet another equal position, although White might be tempted to play for something here) 14.axb4 Qf5

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15.f3 Nxd2 16.Qxd2 Qg5! 17.Bd3 Qh4+ 18.Ke2 Qxb4 19.Qxb4 Rxb4 20.Rhb1 a6= and the players soon shook hands in Ragger-Rapport, Germany 2014. Let us now focus on 12...Ba6: 13.Bxa6 13.Nxd5 Bxd2+ 14.Qxd2 Qxd2+ 15.Kxd2 Bxf1 16.Nf4 would have been better for White if he could have brought his knight to a better position, but it turns out he cannot:

16...Bb5!? 16...Ba6 17.Kc3 g5 is also good. 17.Kc3 Bringing the king to the safe c3-square looks natural. Instead: 88

(a) After 17.a4?! Ba6, the b4-square is weakened and White can easily be worse, e.g., 18.Kc3 Ke7 19.Rhd1 c5! 20.Nd3 Bxd3 21.Rxd3 Rb7 22.Ra3 (22.b3 Rhb8 23.Ra3 a5³; 22.Kc2 Rhb8 23.Ra2 Rb4 24.Rc3 c4³) 22...Rhb8³. (b) 17.Rhc1 results in equality after the continuation 17...g5 18.Nh5 Ke7 19.b4 Rhd8+ 20.Ke1 Ba4, as ...a7-a5 is unstoppable. 17...Ke7

18.a4!? (18.Rhd1 leads to a picturesque draw after 18...Ba4! 19.Rd4 Rb3+ 20.Kc2 Rb4+ 21.Kc3 Rb3+=) 18...Ba6 19.b4 e5 20.Nh3 Rhd8 21.Rhd1 Be2 22.Rxd8 Rxd8∞ Black does not have any problems here, so we may dismiss the move 13.Nxd5 as harmless. Let us now check 13.Bxa6: 13...Qxa6 14.Qa4! This is the point of Romanov’s play, going into an ending in which White hopes to profit from the weakness of Black’s queenside pawns. It turns out, however, that by employing an important nuance suggested below, Black should reach easy equality. 14...Qxa4 15.Nxa4 Bxd2+ 16.Kxd2 Rb5! 17.Kc2 17.Rhc1 Nb6! 18.Rxc6?? Rd5+–+ would be a horrible blunder. The position after 17.Kc2 occurred in the game Romanov-Zakharstov, 13th Masters Open 2009:

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Black should have now played 17...Ra5! (17...Ke7 18.e4 Nf6 was the game continuation, when White has 19.Nc3²) 18.b3 Ke7, when the weaknesses created on a3 and b3 outweigh his own ones on c6 and a7. For example, 19.Rhd1 (19.e4 Nf4 20.g3 Nh3 21.f3 [21.f4 g5„] 21...Ng5 22.Rhf1 e5!„ enables the black knight to find a happy home on the great e6-square) 19...e5! and I do not see anything better than 20.Nb2 Rc5+ 21.Nc4 Rb8=, yielding Black complete equality as he will follow up with ...Nd5-b6. Thus, 10.Qc2 does not offer White any advantage, but it has to be admitted that there are very few chances for Black to play for a win in this line. (B2b) Let us now analyze Kortchnoi’s 10.Nxd5: 10...Bxd2+ 11.Qxd2 cxd5

Black’s pawn structure has been redeemed and the only potential problem could be White’s queenside pawn majority. Could it pose a real threat to Black? I doubt it, but Black should not 90

underestimate the dangers and relax in view of the apparent simplicity of the position. Here are some lines: 12.e3! Kortchnoi’s move looks best. Atalik tried 12.b4!? against de Firmian at Lake George 2005 but after 12...Ba6! (de Firmian played 12...0-0?! and still should have equalized fairly easily) 13.a4 Bc4, the bishop is anchored on a fine square and Black should have no problems at all. For example, 14.g3 0-0 (14...Qf6 15.Rb1 0-0 16.Bg2= is given by Atalik) 15.Bg2 Qd6 16.0-0 Rab8 17.Rfb1 (17.b5 a6 18.bxa6 Qxa6 19.Rfe1 f5∞) 17...a6∞ and it is obvious that if there is any advantage, it lies with Black, as the b4-pawn can easily become a weakness. Let us return to the Kortchnoi game: 12...0-0 13.Bd3 13.b4 is definitely a candidate move here, as ...Bc8-a6 is no longer possible. I think Black should play as follows: 13...Bb7 14.Be2 Qg5 15.0-0 d4 16.g3 Rfd8 17.f4 Qf5 18.exd4 Rac8© with excellent compensation for the pawn. 13...Qb6 This is the move chosen by Black in the Kortchnoi game, but I suggest instead 13...a5! 14.0-0 Qb6, to avoid the possibility of 14.b4!?, which looks worthwhile after 13...Qb6. 14.0-0 a5! I think this is the most principled. The continuation 14...Ba6 15.Bxa6 Qxa6 16.a4 Rab8 17.b4 Qd6 18.b5² was slightly better for White in Kortchnoi-Timman, Hilversum (m/3) 1982 and Victor the Terrible eventually prevailed. 15.Rfc1 Ba6 16.Bxa6 Qxa6

Black has eased the pressure by exchanging bishops. I do not think that White has any advantage here and the engines agree with me. Play could continue as follows: 17.Rc5 Rfc8 18.Rac1 a4! Black should prevent his opponent from both controlling the c-file and having b2-b3 thrown in, as 91

then he would lack balancing counterplay along the b-file. Kharitonov gives only 18...Rxc5 19.Rxc5 Qb6?! 20.Qc3 h6 21.b3!². 19.h3 h6 20.R1c3 Rxc5 21.Rxc5 Rc8= The position is level. Having examined in some detail the alternatives we will now proceed to examine the two main moves, namely 7.e3 and 7.Ndb5, starting with the former. (B3) 7.e3 It is understandable that White would like to skip Suba’s a2-a3 and try to develop his f1bishop immediately. However, this entails the disadvantage of allowing 7...Bb4! when I think the position is equal.

I had come to this conclusion a long time ago, when chess engines were still in their infancy. Rechecking my findings from those days of distant past I cannot see any substantial changes, Black is doing just fine. Let us see why this is so by examining the options available to White. We will examine in succession (B3a) 8.cxd5?!, (B3b) 8.Nxc6, (B3c) 8.Rc1 and (B3d) 8.Be2. Of all the above possibilities 8.Be2 is the most logical developing choice, bringing White one move closer to castling. As for the first three options they are in fact harmless and White can only be worse after the first of them: (B3a) 8.cxd5?! Nxd5 9.Nxc6 bxc6 is too lackadaisical.

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White has to cope simultaneously with the pressure on f4 and c3. In the following game, he thought he was killing two birds with one stone by playing 10.Be5?! (10.a3! Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 Qa5³ was in fact the lesser evil) but after 10...f6! 11.a3 Ba5, it turned out this was not so, as the Be5 has no good square to protect the Nc3. In Barva-Antok, Hungary 2007, there followed 12.e4 fxe5 13.exd5 exd5 14.Qh5+ g6 15.Qxe5+ and now simply 15...Kf7µ is very good for Black, who is actually close to winning. (B3b) 8.Nxc6 was introduced at grandmaster level by Yaakov Murey and has since its inception been used by several strong players, but it does not strike me as a dangerous move for Black. After 8...bxc6 the path splits again, as both (B3b1) 9.Bd3 and (B3b2) 9.Qa4 are possible; most popular is 9.Qa4 with a double attack on the Bb4 and c6, trying to obtain the bishop pair and then slowly outplay Black. (B3b1) Instead, less topical is 9.Bd3 0-0 10.0-0 Bxc3! 11.bxc3 Ba6!:

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Black seeks refuge in a light-square strategy, equalizing the chances. Further proof is provided by the line 12.Qa4 (12.cxd5 Bxd3 13.Qxd3 cxd5 is fine for Black, e.g. 14.c4 Rc8 15.cxd5 Nxd5 16.Be5 Qa5=) 12...Bxc4 13.Bxc4 dxc4 14.Bg5 (easier is 14.Qxc4 Qd5 15.Qa4 Rfd8 16.Rad1 Qc5 17.Rd4 [also, after 17.c4 e5 18.Rxd8+ Rxd8 19.Bg5 Rd2 20.Qb3 h6 21.Bxf6 gxf6= Black’s control of the d-file outweighs his weakened kingside] 17...Nd5 18.Rfd1 Qb6!=) 14...Qd5 15.Bxf6 gxf6

16.Rad1 (16.Rfd1 Qb5 17.Qa3 c5³) 16...Qb5 17.Qc2! (17.Qa3 c5 18.e4 Qc6 19.f3 Rfd8³) 17...Rfd8 18.Qe4 Rd3 19.Rxd3 (19.Rb1 Qd5 20.Qg4+ Kh8 21.Qh4 Kg7) 19...cxd3 20.c4 Qb2 21.Qxd3 Qxa2 22.Qd4 a5 23.Qxf6 Qxc4= and a perpetual will be the logical outcome. (B3b2) Returning to 9.Qa4, the standard reply has been 9...Qb6 taking us to this position:

Black looks quite solid and I see no particular reason he should be even slightly worse. He has a 94

central pawn preponderance and good chances on the light squares while at the same time he is not lagging in development. The following lines serve to show the typical way to proceed for both sides, (B3b21) 10.Bd3 and (B3b22) 10.Be2 being the options Black players need to pay the most attention to: (B3b21) 10.Bd3 This is the original Murey choice from his game against Schandorff at the Berliner Sommer open, 1984. Since then it has been used by strong players like Bruzon, Melkumyan, Bluebaum and others, giving White a plus score in the database, but sometimes numbers do not tell the whole truth about a certain position or a certain variation. The truth here is that one accurate move is enough to produce an equal position and send White back to the research laboratory, a fact which Murey probably was aware of when he faced the variation for the second time. In what was probably an attempt to anticipate Black’s improvement with one of his own, he invited the following debacle: In that second game, against Palac, and probably under the hallucination that he was improving, Murey played the “criminal” novelty 10.a3?? and punishment was not long in coming: 10...Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 Qb2! and White is lost. After 12.Qxc6+ (in the game White went down after 12.Rd1 Ne4 13.Bg3 Qxc3+ 14.Ke2 0-0 15.f3 Qb2+ 16.Ke1 Nc3 17.Qb4 Qxb4 18.axb4 Nxd1 19.Kxd1 dxc4 20.Bxc4 a5–+ Murey-Palac, Kranevo 1996) Black wins with a brilliant two-rook sac: 12...Bd7 13.Qxa8+ Ke7 14.Qxh8

14...Ne4!™ 15.Bg5+! f6! 16.Qxg7+ Kd6 17.c5+ (17.Bf4+ Kc6! 18.cxd5+ Kb6!–+) 17...Kc7! 18.Bf4+ Kd8™ 19.Qf8+ Be8 20.Qxe8+ Kxe8 21.Bb5+ Qxb5 22.f3 Nxc3 23.Kf2 d4–+ and any similarity to chess is purely accidental, despite the material still being equal. So, what caused Murey to deviate from his game with Scandorff which he had won after 10.Bd3 0-0 11.0-0 Be7 12.Qc2² ? In trying to find out, I had discovered the following novelty which was later used by Volokitin: 10...Nd7! 11.Qc2 Nc5 12.Be2 0-0 13.0-0 Ba6= and Black’s activity renders the situation 95

balanced.

Just for the record, the Volokitin game continued 14.b3 dxc4 15.bxc4 Qa5 16.Ne4 Nxe4 17.Qxe4 Bc3 18.Rac1 Bf6 19.Rc2 c5 20.Rb1 (Studer-Volokitin, Novi Sad 2016) and here best is 20...e5! 21.Bg3 Rab8=. Before proceeding, I would like to point out that White can also play his bishop to e2 on his 10th move, as was played by Ukrainian GM Pavel Eljanov. However, even that does not promise an advantage, in spite of the fact this bishop move does not invite ...Nf6-d7-c5. (B3b22) The difference is that after 10.Be2, Black has 10...Ne4! 11.Rc1 0-0 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.0-0 Nxc3 14.bxc3 Bd6 15.Rb1 Qc7 16.Bxd6 Qxd6=, as in Eljanov-Grischuk, Ningbo 2011. So White should not expect to gain any advantage after 8.Nxc6 either. (B3c) A third possibility for White on move eight is 8.Rc1, but this does not really threaten a2-a3, so Black can castle: 8...0-0 9.Be2 This quiet reply practically acquiesces to a drawn outcome. Instead: 9.a3?! Bxc3+! 10.Rxc3 Ne4µ is very dangerous for White in view of the coming check on a5. After 9.cxd5 Nxd5 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Bd3

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11...Qf6!? 12.Qh5 g6 13.Qe5 Qxe5 14.Bxe5 f6!=, Black easily equalized in the recent game M.Petrosyan-Grigoryan, Yerevan 2018. 9...Bd7 Now Black is ready for liquidations in the center, leading the game into drawing channels. 10.0-0 dxc4 11.Bxc4 Nxd4 12.Qxd4 Bc6= Neither side has much to play for. (B3d) We will now switch our attention to our main line, namely 8.Be2. It has been seen in two high profile games in recent years with opening connoisseur Maxime Vachier-Lagrave easily defusing his opponents’ attempts to prove something for White.

8...Bd7!= The standard recipe. The Frenchman declares that Black wants to take on c4 with full equality. 9.Ndb5!? Trying to enliven the struggle somehow.

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After 9.0-0 dxc4 10.Bxc4 Nxd4 11.Qxd4 Bc6 12.Qe5 0-0 13.Rfd1 Qb6 14.Bh6 Qa5 15.Qg3 Nh5 16.Qg4 Bxc3 17.bxc3 Qxc3 18.Qxh5 gxh6= Black had impeccably accomplished his task of equalizing and the players decided to call it a day in Svidler-Vachier Lagrave, Palma de Mallorca 2017. 9...e5 The dynamic solution is here best. After 9...0-0, 10.a3² gains the two bishops leaving Black without a clear-cut path to equality. 10.Bg5 a6 A tactical melee now ensues, for which Black is well prepared. 11.a3

11...axb5! 12.axb4 Rxa1 13.Qxa1 dxc4 14.0-0 0-0 15.Rd1 Qe7 16.Nd5 Qe6 17.Nc7 Qe7 18.Nd5 Qe6 19.Nc7 White decides to take the draw. 19.Nxf6+ gxf6 20.Bxf6 Qxf6 21.Rxd7= is clearly more pleasant for Black, although the engines consider the position level. 19.Bxf6 gxf6 20.Qa3∞ is one way to play on, but after 20...Rc8, Black is a pawn up and White has nothing clear. By the way, the engines again give 0.00. 19...Qe7 A draw was agreed here in Nepomniachtchi-Vachier Lagrave, London 2017. Thus, the new main line starting with 7.e3 should not give much reason to worry to well-prepared black players, and although chess is inexhaustible, MVL’s performances have shown that it is getting very difficult for White to demonstrate an opening advantage. (B4) Let us now get back to the old main line, namely 7.Ndb5: 7...e5

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After this move an ending will be reached. Black will have the worse pawn structure in return for the two bishops. An additional issue will be the safety of his king, but it will most often find shelter on c7, as the b7-pawn will shift to c6, eyeing the critical squares d5 and b5. The resulting position is complicated, to be sure, so we will examine it move by move. 8.cxd5 This standard reply has been played in hundreds of games and is best. In reply to 8.Bg5?!, I see nothing wrong with the untried 8...a6!? which immediately poses very pressing questions to the first player. Instead, 8...d4 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.Nd5 Qa5+ 11.Qd2 Kd8!? 12.Qxa5+ Nxa5 13.e3! (13.Rc1?! a6 14.Nbc7 Rb8µ is worse) 13...a6, as in Kovalenko-Karjakin, Kharkov 2001, looks level after 14.Na3!? =. In the game the more impulsive 14.Nbc7 Rb8 15.b4 occurred, and now instead of Karjakin’s 15...Bxb4+³/=, the engines prefer 15...Nc6 16.b5 Bb4+ 17.Ke2 Bd6³ with a rather serious plus for Black. I had long ago analyzed the move 8...a6!? and the fruits of my analysis can be summed up as follows:

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9.cxd5 axb5 10.dxc6 Qxd1+ 11.Rxd1 bxc6 It seems to me White is facing problems here because his queenside is exposed. After 12.g3 (12.a3 b4 13.axb4 Bxb4ƒ intending ...Ra8-a2, gives Black the initiative, e.g. 14.Bd2 Be6 15.g3 Bd5! 16.Nxd5 Bxd2+ 17.Rxd2 cxd5³) 12...b4 13.Bg2 Bd7 14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.Ne4 Be7 16.a3! bxa3 17.bxa3 Rxa3 18.00³ the ball is most certainly in his court but he will probably manage to draw. Back to the popular (and best) 8.cxd5: 8...exf4 9.dxc6 9.Qa4? Bc5 10.dxc6 bxc6 11.Rd1 Qb6 12.Nd6+ Kf8 13.Qxf4 Be6µ is hardly any good for White. 9...bxc6 10.Qxd8+ Kxd8 The critical endgame has been reached. The following options are now available to White: (B4a) 11.0-0-0+, (B4b) 11.Rd1+ and (B4c) 11.Nd4.

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11.Nd4 has been the option the engines express a slight preference for, so I have made it my main line. One idea is that White’s a1-rook could be used on the c-file later on, rather than the d-file, which is its usual destination. In retreating, however, White gives up any ambition of invading d6 with his knight. Before proceeding to examine 11.Nd4 we will first examine the more obvious tries that involve checking the black king on move 11: (B4a) After 11.0-0-0+

Interesting is 11...Ke7!? which has the point of preventing the knight’s entrance to d6. In fact Black’s results after this weird king move have been very encouraging as he has scored 5/6 in the Mega Database, so I made it our basic repertoire choice. Instead, after 11...Bd7 12.Nd6!? I am less satisfied with Black’s position, although it probably still holds. For example:12...Bxd6!? The best move. (a) 12...Kc7?! 13.Nxf7 Rg8 14.Ne5 Bf5! 15.Nd3 g5 16.g3 Ne4 17.Nxe4 Bxe4 18.Rg1 Bxd3 occurred in Pelletier-Lautier, France 2004, and now 19.Rxd3! Bc5 20.Rg2!± looks difficult for Black. (b) After 12...Ke7, White keeps an edge by 13.g3! fxg3 14.hxg3². Returning to 12...Bxd6!?, after 13.Rxd6 Ng4! White has to make some concessions:

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14.Nd1 Retreating to avoid weaknesses. (a) 14.Ne4 Kc7 15.Rd4 Bf5 16.h3 Rhd8 17.Ra4 Re8 18.hxg4 Rxe4 19.Rxe4 Bxe4= is even. (b) 14.f3!? Ne3 15.Rd4 c5 16.Rxf4 f5© gives Black ample compensation because of the awkward white rook. The game Wojtkiewicz-Zvjaginsev, Tripoli 2004, continued 17.h4 (17.Rh4 Rb8 18.b3 Rb6 19.Kd2 Re6 is fine for Black) 17...Rb8! 18.b3 Rb6 19.g4 Rb4! 20.Rxb4 cxb4 21.Nd1 Nxd1 22.Kxd1 fxg4 23.fxg4 Bxg4 24.Bh3 and ½-½. After 14.Nd1, Ribli recommends 14...Kc7 15.Rd4 g5 which has led to a draw in a number of games, the following being the most recent one: 16.g3 fxg3 17.hxg3 h5 18.Bg2 Rae8 19.Bf3 f5 20.Ra4 Kb6 21.Rb4+ Kc7 22.Ra4 Kb6 23.Rb4+ ½-½, Saric-Stevic, Pozega 2018. Let us now return to the dynamic 11...Ke7!?: 12.Nd4 Forced. The point is that 12.Nd6? now fails to 12...Be6! and the knight will be expelled with advantage for Black, e.g., 13.a3 (13.Nb7 Ng4µ) 13...Rb8!µ. 12...Bd7 At this point several moves have been tried but none seems dangerous for us. In fact White should already be thinking how to secure equality.

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13.h3 This is strongest, but at the same time a strategic success for Black as White will not be able to get rid of the cramping f4-pawn in the healthy g2-g3 manner. Instead: (a) There have been no games with 13.g3?!, but this is only natural considering it allows 13...fxg3 14.Bg2!? (14.hxg3 Ng4µ) 14...gxf2 15.Bxc6 Rd8³ with the better game for Black. (b) The other attempt to break free, namely 13.e3?! fxe3 14.Re1, led to a win for the second player in the following recent high level encounter: 14...Ng4! (14...Kd8!? 15.Rxe3 Bc5³ is excellent for Black too, but less good than the game) 15.f3?! (alternatively 15.h3? Nxf2 16.Rxe3+ Kd8–+ is even worse as the black bishop will soon appear on c5 making sure that the Nf2 is not in danger but the active development 15.Ba6!³ would have given White fighting chances) 15...Nf2 16.Rg1 Kf6! 17.Nc2 Re8 18.g3 So far we have followed Mirzoev-Ponkratov, Teheran 2019. Very strong was here 18...Bf5!µ making sure that Black keeps the monstrous pawn on e3. In the game Black played the less strong 18...a5= and won after various adventures. (c) Also unimpressive is 13.Nb3?! Ng4 14.Ne4 g6³ with Black being yet again for choice. Returning to 13.h3, the following correspondence game revealed an acceptable way for White to maintain the balance:

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13...g6 14.e4! fxe3 15.fxe3 Bh6 16.Kc2 Rhe8 17.e4 Kf8 18.Bd3 Kg7 19.Rhf1 Re7 20.g4 Rf8 21.Ba6 Bg5 22.Rd3 Bh4 23.a3 Be8

24.e5! Nd5 25.Nxd5 cxd5 26.Nf3 Rc7+ 27.Rc3 Rxc3+ 28.Kxc3 Bg3 29.Kd4 Ba4 The position is level at this point and after a few more moves the players agreed to a draw, Cumming-Pezo, corr 2014. My conclusion after reviewing all the above lines is that 11.0-0-0+ Ke7!? leaves White under pressure, as he has to find quite difficult moves to prove equality. The black king is safe on e7, and the sallies of the Nf6 to g4 are a constant worry for the first player. In addition, the Bf8 is not essentially blocked, as after ...g7-g6 it will enjoy wonderful prospects. A final thing I would like to mention is that even after the best move, 13.h3, the side which has more room for improvement should be Black, as I 104

had the opportunity to understand by fighting against my engines. Therefore it is better for White to choose one of the two other continuations on move 11. (B4b) 11.Rd1+ After this check the f2-pawn is not exposed, so it makes no sense for Black to place his king on e7. Therefore, I consider the line 11...Bd7 12.Nd6 Kc7! 13.Nxf7 Rg8

as the best for Black, when his compensation for the pawn can be considered satisfactory. Looking at the diagram, we notice that his development is better and that now it is the b2-pawn that lacks the white king’s protection. These two important factors should secure him equal chances. 14.Ne5 Retreating the knight with tempo looks logical. But Black does not need to move the Bd7, as we shall see. (a) A major alternative is 14.g3 Rb8, when White does best to abandon the b2-pawn: After 15.Bg2! (15.Rd2 Bb4 16.Bg2 Bxc3 17.bxc3 Rb1+ 18.Rd1 Rxd1+ 19.Kxd1 Ng4³ is worse for White) 15...Rxb2 16.0-0 Bb4 17.Rc1 Bxc3 18.Rxc3 Re8 19.gxf4 Rexe2 20.Rfc1! (20.Ne5 Rec2³ as in Adianto-Emms, Gausdal 1992, is worse for White) 20...Ne4 21.Ra3 Nxf2 22.Rxa7+ Rb7= not much is going on. (b) The weaker 14.a3?!, on the other hand, can be answered by 14...Rb8 15.Rd2 Rb3!ƒ e.g. 16.Nd1 Bc5 17.Ne5 Bf5 18.g3 fxg3 19.hxg3 Re8 20.Nc4 Ne4 21.Bh3™ 21...Bxh3 22.Rxh3 Nxd2 23.Nxd2 Rbb8 24.Rxh7 Bd4=/³. After 14.Ne5, the following theoretical line has been established: 14...Rb8! 15.Nxd7 Nxd7

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16.g3! White has no time for 16.Rd2?! in view of 16...Ne5! 17.e3 fxe3 18.fxe3 Bb4 19.Be2 Bxc3 20.bxc3 Rb1+ 21.Rd1 Rb2 (Rubinetti-Velimirovic, Luzern ol 1982) 22.Rd2 Rgb8ƒ and his a-pawn will fall, making the resulting ending a one player show in view of Black’s tremendous Ne5. 16...Rxb2 17.Bh3 Nf6!? (17...Nc5 18.Rd2 Rxd2 19.Kxd2 Bd6 20.Rc1 Rd8 21.Ke1=) 18.0-0

An imbalanced, dynamic position in which both sides have chances has arisen: 18...Bb4!? A slightly refined move. My notes considered only 18...fxg3 19.hxg3 Bb4 20.Rc1 Rd8=. 19.Rc1 Rd8 20.gxf4!? 106

The logical reply to Black’s “omission” of taking on g3; instead, 20.Nb5+?! Kb6 21.Nc3 Bxc3 22.Rxc3 Ne4³ is better for Black, if only slightly. After 20.Bg2 Rdd2 21.gxf4 Rbc2 22.Ne4 Rxe2 23.Nxf6 gxf6 24.Rxc2 Rxc2 25.Be4 Rxa2 26.Rc1 c5 27.Bxh7 Rd2 28.h4 a5 29.h5 Rd8 30.Kg2 a4 31.h6 Rh8 32.Bc2 Rxh6 33.Bxa4 Rh8 the game was heading towards a draw in Nakamura-Kramnik, Moscow 2012. 20...Bxc3! (20...Rdd2 21.a3!?² gave White a slight plus in Rodgaard-Thybo, Denmark 2017) 21.Rxc3 Nd5= There is still some play left, but the mutual weaknesses will not allow one side or the other to get something out of this, so I think it is going to be a draw. (B4c) Let us now consider the final option, namely 11.Nd4: 11...Bd7!? I think this traditional reply is best. After the universally played 12.g3, Black has two good moves:

12...Rb8!? This move bears the stamp of approval of the strong Austrian GM Markus Ragger who used it with success against Jan Timman. There is also the good, solid 12...fxg3 13.hxg3 Bb4! which sees Black apply a different strategy, based on central play. After 14.Bg2 (also equal is 14.Bh3 Bxc3+ 15.bxc3 Bxh3 16.Rxh3 Kc7 17.Rh4 [Dyachkov-Shariyazdanov, Russia 1996] 17...Rhe8=, while 14.Rc1 can be met by 14...Rb8„. Finally, 14.0-0-0 Kc7 15.Bg2 Bxc3 16.bxc3 Rae8 is rather easier to play as Black) 14...Bxc3+ 15.bxc3 Kc7 Black has a safe king and no weakness along the c-file:

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Most logical now is 16.Nb3 Rhe8 17.Rh4 Bg4! 18.f3 Bc8 19.Kf2 a5 20.Ra4 Nd5 21.e4 Nb6 22.Rxa5 Be6!= 23.Rxa8 Rxa8 24.Nd4 Rxa2+ 25.Rxa2 Bxa2 26.Ke3 Nc4+ and a draw was agreed at this point in Lerner-Krasenkow, Germany 1998. Returning to 12...Rb8!?, after 13.0-0-0 Kc7!? 14.gxf4 Ng4 15.Ne4 Re8 16.f3 Ne3 17.Rd3 Nd5

the game is quite complicated, but Black appears to have the better long-term chances. After 18.Nb5+!? cxb5 19.Rxd5 Bc6 20.Rd2?! (20.Rf5∞) 20...f5 21.Ng3? g6 22.e4 Bh6 23.Rc2 Kb6µ, Black was dominating the board and went on to win in Timman-Ragger, Helsingor 2015. Having completed the examination of 5.Bf4 with a satisfactory outcome for Black, we will now turn our attention to line (M) 5.Bg5:

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5...Be7! 5...f6 is playable but certainly risky. 6.Bxe7 (6.cxd5 exd5 is examined under 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Bg5 Be7) 6...Ngxe7 Black has to take with the knight on e7; however when White has already developed his knight on c3, this is not bad. 7.dxc5 The only idea with some independent significance. Other moves are analyzed in another part of this book. 7...Qa5 7...d4?! 8.Nb5± is not so good for Black. In the position that has resulted, Black cannot be too ambitious. His concern should be to recover the pawn, liquidate to a symmetrical position and draw. I think the following lines demonstrate how to do it. We will examine (M1) 8.cxd5 and (M2) 8.e3. Instead, 8.a3 dxc4 9.e3 Qxc5 10.Qa4 0-0 11.Qxc4 Qxc4 12.Bxc4 Rd8= is completely harmless.

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In the diagrammed position, 8.e3 is the primary choice of the engines and a sound developing move; (M1) however, originally I was more worried about 8.cxd5 Nxd5 and here 9.Qd2!?, trying to lure Black into a position with an isolani and few pieces. (a) Instead, 9.Rc1 0-0 10.e4 (10.Qa4 Qxc5 11.e3 Rd8 12.Bb5 Bd7= is completely level, while 10.e3 Rd8 11.Qa4 Qxc5 is similarly fine for us) is risky in view of 10...Nxc3 11.Rxc3 Qxa2∞. (b) 9.Qb3 Qxc5 10.Nxd5 exd5= is a good isolated pawn position, as White is undeveloped and has little control over d4. Returning to 9.Qd2!?, I decided against the isolani, and so 9...Nxc3!? 10.Qxc3 Qxc3+ 11.bxc3 Ke7

had to be our choice, with good chances of equality as the following sample variations show: 110

12.Rb1!? 12.e4 looks easier to handle in view of 12...Bd7 13.Rb1 b6! 14.cxb6 axb6 15.Rxb6 (15.Bc4 Ra4 16.Nd2 Ne5 17.Bb3 Ra7 18.Ke2 Rc8 19.Rhc1 g5!© is a line illustrating a beautiful positional theme) 15...Rxa2 16.Bd3 Rc8 17.0-0 Na5 18.Ne5 Rxc3 19.Ra6 Rc7=. 12...Rd8 13.Nd2 (13.e4 Rd7!∞) 13...Na5 14.e3 (14.Rb5 b6!„; 14.Nb3 Nxb3 15.axb3 Bd7=) 14...Bd7=. (M2) Let us now check 8.e3: 8...0-0

9.a3 After 9.Rc1 Rd8 10.a3 dxc4 11.Qa4 Qxa4 12.Nxa4 Bd7 13.Nc3 Na5= Black stood fine in RotsteinSalaun, Cannes 1995. 9...dxc4 No isolated pawn here, thank you! 10.Bxc4 Qxc5 11.Bd3 Nothing is offered by 11.Qe2 Bd7 12.0-0 Ne5! 13.Nxe5 Qxe5 14.f4 Qc5= 11...Rd8! I do not much like 11...Qh5 12.Qc2 e5 13.0-0 Be6 14.Ne4 Rac8 15.Qa4²; the queen on h5 looks a bit strange. 12.Qc2 12.0-0 allows Black a more harmonious set up by 12...Nd5 13.Na4 (13.Nxd5 Qxd5 14.Be2 Qxd1 15.Rfxd1 Bd7=; 13.Ne4 Qe7 14.Qc2 h6 15.Rac1 Bd7=) 13...Qe7 14.Qc2 h6=

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12...Ng6 Now Black is more or less forced into this, making room for his queen on e7 in anticipation of b2-b4. 13.b4 Qe7 14.0-0 14.b5?! is fine for us after 14...Nce5! 15.Nxe5 Nxe5 16.Bxh7+ Kh8 17.Be4 f5 18.Bf3 Nxf3+ 19.gxf3 e5©. At this point Black has a choice between 14...b6= and the more typical 14...Bd7 15.Rfd1 Rac8 16.Rac1 Be8 17.Qb1, with an interesting choice of possibilities such as 17...a5, or 17...f5, or even 17...f6!? depending on the player’s style, but all of them look equal.

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Tarrasch Repertoire: Part II (a) 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 [D30] For practical reasons, I divided Part II into two sub-parts, (a) and (b). Part II(a) will deal with systems without 4.e3. 4.cxd5 This is in my opinion the most logical move, to saddle Black with an isolani right away. 4.Nc3 Nc6 was the subject of Part I. 4.dxc5 Bxc5= will transpose to lines analyzed below. 4.Bg5 Be7 5.Bxe7 Qxe7 6.dxc5 Nf6 is just a transposition to 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5. 4.e3!? is a way to play for an advantage with a minimum of risk. White will try to saddle us with a weakness on d5 later on; for the moment he concentrates on sound development. This move will be analyzed under Part II(b) as it requires a lot of elaboration. 4...exd5 Now we will proceed to examine positions without e2-e3, as well as g2-g3 systems in which White refrains from an early Nb1-c3. We will investigate, in the order they are mentioned, the following possibilities: (A) 5.dxc5, (B) 5.Bf4, (C) 5.Be3, (D) 5.Bg5!?, and (M) 5.g3. From the above options, (M) 5.g3 is the standard positional choice and has for that reason acquired a main line status; as for the moves with the c1-bishop, line (D) 5.Bg5!? stands out as a really independent and annoying try. The other two bishop moves have (at best) transpositional character. Before moving on to examine these four options, however, I will look at a few rarities for which the starting point is (A) 5.dxc5 Bxc5:

6.Qc2 This is an idea employed by Ivanchuk, designed to exploit the temporarily exposed position of 113

the bishops on c5 and c8 in order to achieve quick pressure along the d-file and on the b1-h7 diagonal. (a) Instead, 6.Nc3 Nf6 7.Bg5?! d4! 8.Na4 Bb4+ 9.Bd2 as in Grooten-Kroeze is pointless in view of the simple 9...Bxd2+ 10.Qxd2 Nc6³. (b) 6.a3

prepares an extended fianchetto with b2-b4, but such an idea does not look dangerous for many reasons. The most important ones are (a) that Black might use the pawn on b4 as a lever to create counterplay later on by means of ...a7-a5; and (b) the c4-square could turn out to be a weakness. I favor 6...Nf6 7.b4 Bd6! 8.Bb2 (8.Bg5?! a5 9.b5 Be6 10.e3 Nbd7³) 8...0-0 9.e3 (9.Nc3, as played in Reisel-Szaraz, Slovakia 2008, allows Black to highlight both points made above by 9...a5! 10.b5 Bg4 11.e3 Nbd7 12.Be2 Nb6„ and Black is at least not worse, as ...Bg4xf3 followed by ...Nb6-c4 is a realistic possibility) 9...a5 10.b5

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10...Re8!? (it looks unnecessary for Black to put his bishop on e6 here, e.g. 10...Be6 11.Be2 Nbd7 12.0-0 Qe7 13.a4 Rac8 14.Nbd2, Cummings-Daurelle, corr 2002, and although Black is certainly not worse, I feel he has not been able to drum up as much counterplay as his position deserved) 11.Be2 (Rather risky is 11.h3 Nbd7 12.Bd3 Nc5 13.0-0 Nfe4 14.Nc3 Bxh3! 15.gxh3 Re6‚ with some attack for Black, although White should hold the draw in the end according to the computers. This rook lift is thematic in the Tarrasch and we will encounter it on many occasions, especially in positions in which White has chosen the §h2/g2/f2/e3 structure for his kingside) 11...Bg4 12.0-0 Nbd7 13.h3 Bh5 14.Nc3 (14.Nbd2 Rc8∞) 14...Nc5 15.a4 Rc8∞ when Black has nice activity and he is not at all worse. Returning to 6.Qc2, I think now the best reply is 6...Qb6! posing White an immediate dilemma: To make his Bc1 passive by playing e2-e3 or resort to the main idea behind White’s sixth move, namely 7.Be3!?. (a) Instead, 6...Be7 7.Bf4 Nc6 8.Nc3 Nf6 9.e3 0-0 10.Rd1 Qa5 11.Be2 Be6 12.0-0²/= was very slightly better for White in Ivanchuk-Petrosian, Ordix rpd 2007.

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Now, instead of 12...h6 as played by Petrosian, interesting is 12...Ne4!? 13.Nxe4 (13.Qb3 g5!?) 13...dxe4 14.Qxe4 Qxa2 15.Ne5 (15.Ng5 Bxg5 16.Bxg5 h6 17.Bh4 Rae8=) 15...Qxb2 16.Nxc6 bxc6 17.Bd3 g6 18.Be5 Qb7 when I think Black should hold. (b) 6...Bb6 on the other hand allows White to show one of the main nuances of his concept which is none other than 7.Bg5!; now, because the Bc8 needs defending, Black is forced into the ugly 7...f6 8.Bf4 Ne7 9.Nc3 Nbc6 10.e3 and White has the more pleasant position, although, it has to be said, Black can try to muddy the waters by 10...g5!? 11.Bg3 h5 12.h3 Be6²/∞. 7.Be3!? I do not see any problem for Black after 7.e3 Nc6 8.Nc3 Nf6, because White has to lose time here if he wants to avoid an early liquidation in the center: 9.a3 After this, ...d5-d4 would be a blunder because of Nc3-a4. Instead, 9.Be2 d4! (9...0-0 10.0-0 Be7 11.b3! [11.a3 Be6=] 11...Be6 12.Bb2² transposes to Mchedlishvili-Novikov, Beersheba 2005, which is a position I do not like for Black as his queen seems strange on b6) 10.exd4 Nxd4 11.Nxd4 Bxd4= is completely level. Returning to 9.a3, the active deployment 9...Bd6! gives Black excellent chances; all that matters here is quick mobilization and control of e5. Play could continue 10.Be2 0-0 11.0-0

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11...Ne5! (11...Bg4 12.Ng5²) and the computer finds nothing better than repeating with 12.Nd4 Nc6 13.Nf3 Ne5=. With 7.Be3!? White prevents the Nb8 from coming out to its natural square on c6, but as we shall see this is not much of a problem for Black.

7...Nd7 8.Bxc5 Nxc5 9.e3 Ne7= Black’s isolani is compensated for by the excellent positioning of his pieces and the rather exposed white queen on c2. In contrast, the black queen looks quite useful on b6 as a consequence of the darksquare bishops’ exchange. The reason is two-fold: (a) it pressurizes b2; and (b) eyes d4, a key square in these structures. Let us see how play might unfold from here: 10.Nd4 This looks like the only way to fight for the advantage, stopping the queen from being hit by ...Bc8-f5. 117

After 10.Nc3 this is exactly what Black does: 10...Bf5! 11.Qd2 0-0 12.Be2 Ne4! 13.Qd4 (13.Nxe4 dxe4=) 13...Nxc3 14.Qxc3 Rac8 15.Qa3 Nc6 16.0-0 d4=. 10...0-0 11.Nc3 Now Black employs a different way to fight for d4, making optimum use of the position of his pieces:

11...Ne6! Suddenly, what looked as a secure base, is under siege twice. The engines find nothing better for White than 12.Qb3!? Qa5! 13.Qb5 Qc7 14.Be2 (14.Rd1 Nxd4 15.Rxd4 Be6=) 14...Nxd4 15.exd4 Be6 16.0-0 Rac8 17.Rfe1 a6 18.Qd3 Rfe8= and it is obvious to the naked eye that White has absolutely nothing. Let us now proceed to examine the development options for White’s queen bishop: (B) The rather unpopular 5.Bf4 has no independent significance and should transpose, after 5...Nc6 6.e3 c4! 7.Be2 Bb4+ 8.Nc3 Nf6, to the related Bc1-f4 positions examined under 3.Nc3. This is one of the structures in which Black can play for a win as he seizes space and obtains a queenside pawn majority. On the other hand, White has a plus score in practice, which is according to my own understanding, rather inexplicable. Should the reasons be sought in the rarity of the line which makes people underestimate it or be unprepared for it? Whatever it is, we will come back later to examine it, providing everything Black needs to face it with success. (C) Another unpopular choice which does not have much independent value is 5.Be3.

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This puts direct pressure on the c5-pawn. It should normally transpose to the so-called Gutman Variation after 5...c4!, a variation that will be discussed at the end of Part II(a). An attempt by White to quickly exploit the situation on the queenside brings no dividends: 6.b3?! It looks actually dangerous to weaken the a5-e1 diagonal with castling several moves away. In fact, the move has never been played; I added its analysis for instructional reasons. Instead: (a) The tabiya for Gutman’s line is reached after 6.g3 Nf6 7.Bg2 Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.b3. (b) 6.Nc3 Bb4 is also excellent for the second player. 6...Nc6! 6...cxb3 7.Qxb3 Nc6 8.Nc3 Bb4 is also good, but 6...Nc6! is stronger. 7.Nc3 7.bxc4 dxc4 8.Qa4? Be6µ is dangerous for White, to say the least. He loses time and invites a massive pawn wave with ...a7-a6, ...b7-b5 to storm his queenside later on, without getting anything in return. 7...Bb4 Now the bishop has to retreat, which signals something has gone wrong with White’s opening. 8.Bd2

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8...Nf6! Black should not be scared of White’s center after b3xc4 for two reasons: First and foremost, it is hard for White to mobilize it; secondly, Black’s own pawn majority can be quite dangerous. Play could proceed as follows from here: 9.bxc4 dxc4 10.e3 Be6 11.Be2 11.a4? Na5 would be a positional blunder for White, irremediably weakening b3. 11...0-0 12.0-0 Bxc3 13.Bxc3 b5„

With good chances for the second player: His queenside pawn mass has moved forwards, while White’s central one is idle as a consequence of a light-square blockade. The bishop on c3 is exposed to 120

attacks, and overall White’s bishop pair is not impressive. I would gladly take Black here. And now we come to the strongest of White’s bishop moves on his fifth turn: (D) 5.Bg5!?

This is a dangerous line. It has been used by such powerful players as Kortchnoi, Aronian, Morozevich, Seirawan and Nikolic, to name but a few. It combines fast development with undoubted strategic merits, as the exchange of bishops that will now take place will leave White with the better long-term bishop and an enhanced control over the d4-square. So is the situation somehow difficult for Black now? Does 5.Bg5!? refute the Tarrasch? Fortunately, the answer is “No”. In the short introduction to this book I wanted to mention a few things which I eventually decided to save for here, thinking this is an appropriate place to mention the qualities one needs to play the Tarrasch. I would say with a great amount of certainty they are the following: (a) Love for space and tactics (b) appetite for elaborate preparation (c) feel for piece exchanges (d) sense for the right moment to liquidate (e) knowledge of some typical rook endings The line we are about to examine, is very demanding for Black and he will need the services of at least three of the above five qualities in order to succeed. I would say they are qualities (b), (d) and (c) in order of importance, with the last one being particularly useful in case we fail to get rid of our isolated pawn. Even though in this particular line elaborate preparation alone should ensure our success in exchanging it, I cannot exclude the possibility that someone forgets the accurate moves in the opening and has to live with the isolani for the rest of the game. It is in this case that qualities (c) and (d) should come in handy, keeping the game within the drawing zone without much trouble. 121

5...Be7! This common sense move is sufficient for equality and could in fact be the only one. Without going into details I will say I do not believe in the risky 5...f6 which, however, can be analyzed as a weapon against an inferior player, or for blitz and rapid games. 6.Bxe7 This is already a critical juncture, as Black needs to make a decision which is very difficult to make even if he knows the current games among top players.

6...Qxe7! The correct recapture, recommended by my former trainer, Serbian GM Slavoljub Marjanovic. It is not easy to explain in advance why this move is strong, all the more so as the alternative reply seems to yield better chances of fighting for the d4-square. So we will wait for the opening to unfold to get a more comprehensive picture. What can be said for now is that by choosing to develop his knight on f6 rather than on e7, Black essentially makes use of his space advantage, without neglecting the e4-square which is one of his main trumps in the Tarrasch. 6...Nxe7 7.dxc5 Qa5+ is the alternative. Before proceeding to examine the ensuing positions I deemed it correct to remark that I do not like at all 7...Na6?! 8.Qd4! (8.e3 Nxc5 9.Nc3 0-0=) 8...0-0 (8...Qa5+ 9.Qc3 Qxc5 10.e3 Qxc3+ 11.Nxc3²) 9.e3 Nc6 10.Qc3 Bg4, as in Nikolic-Illescas, Barcelona 1989, because now 11.Nbd2± gives White a very clear advantage. The obvious 11...d4?! fails to 12.Nxd4 Nxd4 13.Bxa6, and idea missed by Nikolic both in the game and his Informant notes. White can respond in three ways after 7...Qa5+:

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8.Nc3 I believe this the standard and best continuation. White uses one knight to blockade the d5-pawn and the other one to attack it. (a) Instead, the following game saw White employ both knights to blockade the d4-square: After 8.Nbd2 Qxc5 9.Nb3 Qd6 10.e3 Nbc6 11.Be2 0-0 12.0-0² White kept an edge in Seirawan-Illescas, Barcelona 1989, but that is, I believe, much less of an advantage than the one he obtains after 8.Nc3. (b) 8.Qd2 Qxc5 9.Qc3 is another logical possibility. By hitting simultaneously the queen and the g7pawn White wants to force developments.

This idea has been praised by Aagaard and Ntirlis as giving White a better ending, however they seem to have missed 9...Qc6!= e.g. 10.e3 0-0 11.Be2 (11.Qxc6 Nbxc6 12.Nc3 Bg4=) 11...Qg6 12.Bd3 123

Qb6! (12...Qd6 13.Nbd2 Nbc6 14.0-0 Rd8 15.Nb3 Bf5 16.Bxf5 Nxf5 17.Rfd1 Qe7 18.Nbd4 Nfxd4 19.Nxd4 Rac8 20.Rac1 h6 21.Nxc6 Rxc6 22.Qd4 Rdc8 23.Rxc6 bxc6 24.Rc1² was better for White in Schafranietz-Kresovic, Germany 2003) 13.0-0 Nbc6 14.Nbd2 Rd8! (14...Bg4!? 15.h3 Bxf3 16.Nxf3 Rfd8 17.Rfd1 Rac8 18.Qd2²) 15.Nb3 Bg4 16.Nfd4 Rac8 17.h3 Ne5 18.Qd2 Bd7 19.Rfd1 g6 20.Rac1 Nc4 21.Qe2 Ba4!=

The final position displays an excellent set-up for fighting against the knight configuration b3/d4, highlighting that such a configuration is awkward if our bishop can land on a4. Let us return to 8.Nc3: 8...Nbc6 9.e3 Qxc5 10.Be2! (10.Bd3!? is an interesting idea, to contain the Ne7; However, then 10...Bg4! [10...0-0 11.0-0²] 11.0-0 Rd8! 12.Rc1 [12.h3 Bh5] 12...Qb4„ seems to offer counterplay. The computers give 13.h3 Bxf3 14.Qxf3 Qxb2 15.Rc2 Qa3 16.Rb1, but this does not look dangerous for Black after either 16...0-0 or 16...Rd7) 10...0-0 11.0-0 Rd8 To be honest, this position does not look so bad for Black. On the other hand, by playing in the same way as in the positions where the knight lands on f6, White will be a bit better here:

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12.Rc1!? (12.Qd2 Nf5 13.Rfd1 Be6 14.Nb5 Rac8 15.Bd3 a6 16.Bxf5 Bxf5 17.Nbd4 Be4 18.Rac1 Qd6 19.Rc3² is Speelman-Chandler, Hong Kong 1984. White’s edge looks very small) 12...Qb4 13.Rc2!² The key difference is that the rook will now be unassailable on d2. With the black knight on f6, the same maneuver does not contain any poison, as Black will reply with ...Bc8-f5 followed by ...Nf6-e4, forcing massive simplifications. The survey of quality games in which 6...Nge7 was played, has, I believe, revealed two or three ways where White can keep a slight edge with a minimum of risk. Thus, let us return to our chosen path and see what happens after the strategically correct 6...Qxe7!: 7.dxc5 Nf6 We have reached a position where White has to make a vital decision about the placement of his queen’s knight. I analyzed (D1) 8.Nbd2 and (D2) 8.Nc3.

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8.Nc3 is the move Armenian super GM Levon Aronian chose against me, and I have no doubt it is best. It is my firm belief that when White uses both knights to control d4 in the Tarrasch, that very rarely leads to an advantage for him. Such seem to be the case also here: (D1) The Seirawan method of developing the knight, namely 8.Nbd2, does have a few points, but Black should not worry much about it. After 8...0-0, we have a parting of the ways: 9.e3 This looks best. Trying to hold on to the pawn with 9.Rc1 should be met with 9...Ne4!, and White has already nothing (instead, 9...Bg4 10.Nb3 Nc6 11.Nfd4 was Salov-Arkhipov, Moscow 1986, and here best was 11...Rfc8!? 12.Nxc6 Rxc6 13.f3 Bd7 14.Qd2 a5 15.e3 a4 16.Nd4 Rxc5 17.Rxc5 Qxc5 18.Bd3 Qd6 19.0-0 g6 20.a3² with just an edge for White). For example, 10.e3 Nxc5 11.Qc2! (11.Nb3 Nxb3 12.Qxb3 Nc6! 13.Qxd5 Be6 14.Qe4 Bxa2 15.Qxe7 Nxe7 16.Bd3 Bd5 17.Ke2 Nc6=) 11...b6! 12.Bb5 Bb7 13.0-0

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13...Nba6! and by bringing his knight towards e6, Black nullifies any edge White might have had. Play could continue 14.Nd4 g6 15.a3 Nc7 16.Bc6 (16.Be2 N7e6 17.N2f3 a5 18.Qd1 Rac8=) 16...N7e6 17.N2f3 Bxc6 18.Nxc6 Qb7 19.Ncd4 Rac8= with full equality. Let us return to 9.e3: 9...Qxc5 The engines consider this immediate recapture as best. The idea is to allow Black to deploy his queen to b6, from where it controls the critical d4-square. Also possible is 9...Bg4 10.Be2 Nbd7!?, deciding to counterbalance White’s control over d4 by simply emphasizing piece activity. It is not such a bad idea, as the lack of pressure against d5 does not tie Black to its defense. After 11.0-0 (11.b4 a5 12.a3 Bxf3 13.Nxf3 axb4 14.axb4 b6=) 11...Nxc5 12.Nb3 Rac8?! (12...Nce4!∞ was the right move, or even 12...b6!?) 13.Rc1 Rc7 14.Nxc5 Rxc5 15.Rxc5 Qxc5 White had acquired a tiny edge in Seirawan-Tarjan, Jakarta 1983 and one would have expected the legendary grinder Seirawan to be the one pressing, at least for a while. However, in the remainder of the game it was GM James Tarjan who exploited his illustrious compatriot’s mistakes to inflict upon him a painful loss:

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16.Qb3?! (16.Nd4² was preferable) 16...b6 17.Nd4 Bxe2 18.Nxe2 Rc8 19.h3 g6 20.Rc1 Qf8 21.Rd1 Rc4 22.Qd3 Qb4 23.Qb1 Qc5 24.Nd4?! (24.Qd3=) 24...Ne4 25.Qd3 Rc1 26.Qf1 Rxd1 27.Qxd1 Qc4! 28.a3 Qa2 29.Qc2? (A terrible mistake by Yasser; 29.Qc1 was still equal) 29...Qa1+ 30.Kh2

30...Qe1!µ The queen penetrates with decisive effect as a pawn will be lost. After 31.f3 Qg3+ 32.Kg1 Qe1+ 33.Kh2 Qxe3 34.Nc6? (34.fxe4 Qxd4 35.exd5 Qe5+ 36.Kh1 Qxd5µ was the lesser evil) 34...Qf4+ 35.Kg1 Qe3+ 36.Kh2 Nd2! 37.Qc3 Qe2 38.h4 Nf1+ 39.Kh3 Ne3 Black had whipped up a mating attack and the end was swift: 40.Kg3 d4 41.Nxd4 Qxg2+ 0-1 What conclusions can we draw from such a game? Nothing much really, apart from the fact that Black’s position can be extremely resilient even when it is slightly worse. Seirawan’s collapse in the 128

game might look surprising, but he made an oversight at a moment he might have been under the illusion he was still pressing, and other factors, like the tough Indonesian climate may have possibly contributed to his fatigue. From a pure chess point of view, I would like to underscore only one thing I consider important: If the white knight does not land on c3 early in order to pressurize the pawn on d5, then Black can maneuver with his own knights, and in fact does not mind an exchange of light-square bishops. That happens precisely because he does not need any extra defense for d5 from his bishop; that task can be accomplished by a rook. Returning to the computer’s recommendation, 9...Qxc5, here is how the game might develop: 10.Be2 Nc6 11.0-0 Pure, logical moves one may say. But then...

...a shocking discovery awaited me when reaching this position: Out of eight games in the database, Black had scored only one draw and lost seven, something which did not comport well with my understanding of chess. Could I be so totally ignorant about the game or was this just a coincidence? Does this mean after all, that only e7 is the good square for the black queen, as in the lines we saw above? I do value statistics, but one should not follow them blindly. So I deemed it right to sit down and analyze two games between strong players to find out why Black lost. I think that the analysis presented below sheds some light on the causes: 11...Rd8 This was played in the first game I looked at and is more elastic, as we shall see. 11...Bg4, as played in the other game, is also perfectly viable. Black focuses on d4 all the same. After 12.Nb3 Qb6 13.Nfd4, however, the first inexactitude occurred: 13...Nxd4?! There is no reason to improve the Nb3 voluntarily. Better was 13...Bxe2 14.Qxe2 and now simply 14...Rac8!:

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This yields a position of complete equality as Black prepares himself well for White’s two main ideas: The first idea is to take on c6 and conquer (after ...b7xc6) the key-square c5 for his knight, leaving Black with two inflexible hanging pawns. The other idea is to seek a queen trade via the b5square and hope to outplay Black in the resulting ending. Let us now see in what way my claim of equality stands against White’s major tries: 15.Rfd1 (a) After 15.Nxc6 bxc6 16.Rac1 c5, Black has a healthy version of the so-called hanging pawns and is clearly at least equal. (b) In case of 15.Rac1, we can start the dance of the knights: 15...Ne5! 16.Nf5 Kh8 17.Nbd4 g6=. Returning to 15.Rfd1, there might follow 15...Rfd8 16.Qb5 Qxb5 17.Nxb5 g6 18.N5d4 Ne5 and Black does not have problems in the ending.

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This is a much better version of the ending the defending side got in the game as both knights are still on the board and the black pieces are the more active ones. A sample variation is 19.Rab1 Kg7 20.Ne2 b6!? 21.Nbd4 h5 22.Nf4 (22.Rbc1 Rc5! is a useful idea, showing that Black can use the move ...b7-b6 to invite a rook exchange under favorable conditions) 22...Re8 23.h3 h4= and I cannot see any progress for White. Let us return to the game now, where the rather cooperative 13...Nxd4?! was played: 14.Nxd4 Bxe2 15.Qxe2 Rac8 16.Rac1 Ne4 17.h3 Rc5 18.Nb3 Rc6 19.Nd4 Rc5 20.Rxc5 Qxc5 21.Rd1 g6 22.Qb5!² This is similar to Seirawan-Tarjan and White rightly opts for an exchange of queens rather than rooks in order to minimize Black’s counterplay. 22...Qxb5 23.Nxb5 a6 24.Nd4 Rc8

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Black does not seem too badly off, but White has a clear plan to pressurize the d5-pawn here, by putting his knight on f4 and then pushing his g-pawn. 25.f3 Nf6 26.Kf2 Kf8 27.Rd2 Ke7 28.Ne2 Rc5?! (28...h5 29.g4 hxg4 30.hxg4 g5! 31.Nd4 Ne8² followed by putting the knight on g7, seems to hold; 32.Nf5+ Ke6 33.Kg3 Rc1„ leads nowhere for White) 29.g4! h6 30.Nc3 b5 31.a3 Ke6 32.Ne2 Ke7 33.Nf4 a5? (Weakening his position without a reason; 33...Rc4! 34.h4 g5 35.hxg5 hxg5 would have held) 34.h4 g5 35.hxg5 hxg5 36.Nh3 Nh7

Now we have a similar position on the board to line 33...Rc4! above, but with the b5-pawn weak, things are much worse for Black: 37.b4! The strong GM who plays White immediately detects the slight yet important change in the pawn structure, hitting the nail on the head. White now gets a very favorable rook ending, but this is not yet 132

the end! 37...axb4 38.axb4 Rc4 39.Rxd5 Rxb4 40.Nxg5 Nxg5 41.Rxg5 Rb1 42.Re5+ Kf6? A losing error. 42...Kf8! 43.Kg3 (43.f4 b4 44.Rb5 b3 45.Kf3 b2 46.Ke4 Rg1!²) 43...b4 44.Kf4 b3 45.Rb5 b2 was the only chance, as surprisingly, White cannot push his pawns with impunity. This might have saved the game. This is I guess where quality (e) comes to the fore! 43.Rf5+ Kg6 44.f4+– White now gets his pawns as far advanced as he needs to clinch the issue. There followed 44...b4 45.Kf3 b3 46.Rg5+ Kf6 47.Rb5 Kg6 48.Rb6+ Kg7 49.g5 b2 50.Ke4 and White managed to convert the ending in spite of making some mistakes in Zhao-Wang, China 2008. So, losing this game was a consequence of several inaccuracies that had nothing to do with the position Black got from the opening. He allowed the exchange of the wrong pieces, then weakened himself too much in the ending. Even then though, there were still drawing chances! I think this speaks volumes about the inherent strength of the Tarrasch. It is actually an opening where even if you get an inferior position you will not go down than easily. Let us now return to the first game, where Black chose the more elastic 11...Rd8: 12.Nb3 Qb6 13.Rc1 After 13.Qd3 Bg4 14.Qb5 Qxb5 15.Bxb5 Bxf3 16.gxf3 Ne5 17.Be2 Rdc8= the ending is balanced. 13...a5! Black rightly senses the Nb3 is a target. 14.Nfd4

14...a4? But now she falters. It was important to insert in the set-up the move 14...Ne4!, defending the important c5-square. After 15.Nxc6 bxc6 16.Qd4 Qxd4 17.Nxd4 (17.exd4 a4 18.Nc5 Nxc5 19.Rxc5 Rb8=) 17...c5 18.Nc6 Rd6 19.Ne7+ Kf8 20.Nxc8 Rxc8= Black gets an excellent ending with a lot of space where the knight combines well with the black rooks to hold the position together. The chances would be even in that 133

case. 15.Nxc6! bxc6 16.Qd4!± Black probably underestimated this centralization, after which White gains the upper hand. Control over c5 is very important in these positions, and here it falls permanently into White’s hands. 16...Qb8 17.Nc5 a3 18.b3 Bf5 19.h3 Re8 20.Rfd1 h6 21.Bd3! White maintains an obvious advantage and she went on to win in Peng-Zhukova, Elista 1998. So we can finally draw a conclusion based on analysis and not on statistics: Black stands fine after Seirawan’s 8.Nbd2 by either 11...Bg4 or 11...Rd8. The fact Black lost many games in this line can be attributed to untimely or wrong piece exchanges or negligence in controlling the c5-square at the time hanging pawns were about to appear on the board. I think the ideas presented above will help Black improve his score in the line and I firmly believe that their implementation makes the position not only equal, but most importantly, not unpleasant for Black. (D2) Having examined in some detail the set-ups featuring Nb1-d2, it is time to return to the best move 8.Nc3, as played by Kortchnoi, Aronian and many others: 8...Qxc5 9.e3 Nc6 10.Be2! 10.Bb5 0-0 11.0-0 Bg4 is obviously harmless for Black. 10...0-0 11.0-0 Rd8

We have reached another critical tabiya for the Tarrasch. The black troops are focusing on the d4square, preparing the advance ...d5-d4 that would eliminate all danger. Obviously, if White now put a knight on d4, Black would take it immediately and obtain a completely equal position, so this is not a promising way for White to proceed. I examined three possibilities: (D2a) 12.Nb5, (D2b) 12.Na4!? and (D2c) 12.Rc1!. The last is considered to cause us the most problems, so it will be our main line. From the two other options, 134

namely 12.Nb5 and 12.Na4!?, it is the second one that contains some poison, but Black can equalize with principled play. (D2a) To start with the less challenging option, harmless is 12.Nb5 Bg4! 13.Nfd4 (certainly weaker is 13.Nbd4 Bxf3!= and White loses control over d4) 13...Bxe2 14.Qxe2 Rac8

It will take White some time to untangle the knights while trying to keep control of the d4-square: 15.Nb3 15.Rfd1 Ne4 16.Nf5 g6 leads nowhere for White. 15...Qc4!? Trying to play concretely, but there is nothing wrong with 15...Qb6 16.Rac1 Ne4 17.Rfd1 Nb4!? 18.a3 Nc6 19.Rc2 a6 20.N5d4 Ne5!= which I would describe as the “dancing knights’ strategy”; White cannot put any serious pressure on the d5-pawn and the game is level. It is largely a matter of taste which queen move Black chooses here. 16.Nc3 16.Rfe1 can be tried too, but it leads to nothing after 16...Ne4 17.N5d4 (17.f3 Ng5! is a nice point, re-routing the knight towards e6) 17...g6 18.Rad1 a6 19.f3 Nd6 20.Nxc6 bxc6 21.e4 Qb4=. 16...Qb4! 17.Rad1 (17.Qb5 Ne4 18.Qxb4 Nxb4³) 17...d4 18.Nxd4 Nxd4 19.exd4 Rxd4 20.a3 Qb6 21.Rxd4 Qxd4 22.Qb5 b6 23.g3 Qc5= The position is completely equal. (D2b) Let us now examine the interesting 12.Na4!?:

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In this manner White kicks back the enemy queen and hopes to get enough time to consolidate his control over d4. The following sequel looks like the most principled: 12...Qe7 13.Nd4 After 13.Rc1 Ne4 14.Nc3 (14.Nd4 takes us back to our 13.Nd4 main line) 14...Qb4!? (14...Be6=) 15.Nxd5!? Qa5

16.Rxc6! Rxd5 17.Qc1! Nc5! 18.e4! bxc6 19.exd5 cxd5 20.Rd1 Bb7 21.a3 Qb6 22.b4 Ne4 23.Nd4 Rc8 24.Qb2 Qf6 25.Bf1 g6= a dynamically balanced position arises. These were not the only moves for Black, but I believe they provide us with a concrete way of defusing White’s slight initiative. 13...Ne4! It is only logical that when an enemy unit moves away from the center one of our own rushes to take

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advantage of it. The knight’s centralization is designed to cramp the Na4, and perhaps even contribute to a kingside attack if White gives us the chance. Instead, possible but slightly weaker is 13...Bd7!? 14.Nc3! (14.Rc1? Nxd4 15.Qxd4 Bxa4 16.Qxa4 d4³ can only be better for Black) and White keeps his slight edge, e.g. 14...Qc5 (14...Qe5 15.Nf3) 15.Nb3 Qe7 16.Rc1 Qe5!? 17.Nd2! Qe7 18.Nf3 Qb4 19.Qd3!? Qxb2 20.Rb1 Qa3 21.Rxb7²; that said, even here I would not be afraid to have Black as the position is lively and he has counterplay. Back to 13...Ne4!: 14.Rc1 Saddling us with hanging pawns does not seem to work for White; after 14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.Rc1 c5! (15...Rd6!?) 16.f3 Nd6 17.Nxc5, Black has a variety of options: 17...Qxe3+!? (17...Nf5∞ is another key idea) 18.Rf2 d4„ is the most direct of them, when the d-pawn is not weak anymore but has advanced into enemy territory, freeing Black’s play.

A computer generated line gives us an idea of how play could continue from here: 19.Bf1 (19.Bd3 Bf5 20.Ba6 Bc8!=) 19...Nf5 20.Qd2 Qe7 21.Qf4 Ne3 22.Qe4 Qxe4 23.fxe4 Bd7 24.Rd2 Bc6 25.Ba6 Rab8= and the ending gives equal chances to the two sides. Returning to 14.Rc1, Black has a crucial decision to make. There is a choice between (a) aggression; and (b) carefully preparing an equalizing liquidation. Both of these strategies have their merits, but it is hard to say which one is better. Can you identify the candidate moves?

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14...Bd7 Yes, this harmonious developing move, defending c6 and eyeing the Na4 is our main line. However, if you found 14...Rd6!? too, then you are born to be a Tarrasch player! The rook lift combines an economical defense of the c6-point with kingside aggression, as the enemy king’s fortress is a bit bare of defenders. The computers find nothing better for White than 15.Nc5 Rg6 16.Nxe4 dxe4 17.Nxc6 bxc6 18.Re1 Bh3 19.g3 Rd8 20.Qa4 h6

with a position where the strong placement of the Bh3 and Black’s overall activity fully compensate the weakness of c6. After 21.Red1 (21.Rxc6!? Rxc6! [21...Bd7?? 22.Rc7±] 22.Qxc6 Qb4©) 21...Rgd6 22.Rxd6 Rxd6 23.Bf1 Bxf1 24.Rxf1 g6 25.Rc1 Qf6! 26.Qxe4 Rd2 27.Qf4 Qxf4 28.gxf4 Rxb2= the game is heading towards a draw. 138

Time to get back to 14...Bd7. When I started writing this book, I knew I was supposed to be the one answering questions (and there are many!) rather than the one asking them, but here I cannot help but pose a question to the readers. What is Black’s threat after 14...Bd7 ? Is there a tactical threat? Or perhaps a positional threat to eliminate d4 as a base for White’s knights by forcing the e3-pawn occupy the knight’s position?

Well, I am sure the answer will puzzle most of you a little bit, but it is actually “There are no threats”. If you could figure this out without analyzing variations (with Black supposedly on the move) then you are once more born to be a Tarrasch player. The thing here is that White does not have useful moves and will have to bring the Na4 back to the center, so Black needs just to improve his position by ...Ra8c8 and also make luft, awaiting the knight’s retreat to c3. It is only then that action needs to be taken up; until then, we only wait and see. 15.Nc3 The sooner the knight retreats, the better for White, as he has more chances to catch Black unprepared for a successful liquidation. This would have been a critical juncture for Black’s future in the Tarrasch if the move 14...Rd6!? were not available, but putting that aside, it is important for our general understanding of the opening. So, a final question, what would you play?

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15...Qb4!! This is a groundbreaking idea which involves both great calculation and a feel for the strategic demands of the Tarrasch. Here it is the right moment for liquidations to take place, or otherwise Black will have to display his tenacity for quite some time, repelling all White’s attempts to profit from the IQP. I do not think it is worth allowing this type of luxury to White for the sake of prolonging the fight, as it is for the most part he who will be calling the shots and not us. I decided, nevertheless, to present readers with an accurate account of the inferior alternative at this point, because it unveils a lot of positional and tactical ideas that might prove useful in the chess arena. The alternative that I do not like that much is 15...Nxc3 16.Rxc3 Rac8. I can now unashamedly confess that a long time ago I thought this was an accurate step in Black’s path towards equality. But I was wrong, because I kept stubbornly trying to defend in analysis a static structure instead of searching for a more dynamic solution which I felt was there. Fortunately, it recently dawned on me that the position after 15...Nxc3 is slightly worse no matter what Black does and then I discovered the fabulous 15...Qb4!!. An appetizer for the nature of problems Black experiences after 15...Nxc3 is provided to us if, instead of 16...Rac8, Black plays 16...Qf6, seeking to bail out with ...Nc6xd4: The key reply is 17.Rd3! (17.Nxc6 Bxc6=; 17.Bf3 Nxd4 18.Qxd4 Qxd4 19.exd4 Bc6=) 17...Ne5 18.Rd2 Nc4 19.Rc2²

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and, as becomes apparent from the diagrammed position, White has stabilized his control over the critical d4-square. The same motif should be applied by White in case of 16...Rac8 as well: 17.Rd3! The most accurate. It stifles any attempts to challenge White’s strongpoint and prevents Black from exchanging many pieces and trying to seize control of the c-file. My old analysis also included the following continuations, after which Black was more or less doing ok: (a) 17.Qd2 allows Black to carry out the main idea of his last move: 17...Nxd4 18.Qxd4 Rxc3 19.Qxc3 (19.bxc3 b6 20.Qxd5 [20.Rd1 Be6=] 20...Be6 21.Qe5 Rd2 22.Bc4 Qd6 23.Qxd6 Rxd6 24.Bb3 [24.Bxe6 fxe6=] 24...Kf8© looks like an easy draw) 19...Rc8 20.Qd2 Qc5

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and equality is ante portas. After 21.Bf3 Be6 22.h3 h6 23.Rd1 Qc2 24.Qd4 (24.b3 Qxd2 25.Rxd2 Kf8!=… 26.Bxd5 Rd8 27.e4 Ke7) 24...Rc4 25.Qe5 b6„ the second player’s control of the c-file nullifies White’s other pluses. (b) 17.Nxc6 is also not so critical, but it took me a great deal of effort and analysis to prove so. After 17...bxc6, hanging pawns have arisen; the question is whether White can exploit them:

18.Qa4!? This aggressive move looked like a problem initially but then I forged a solution. After the alternative 18.Qd4 Rb8 19.b3 a5! we do get counterplay, the idea being to push the pawn to a4: The sequence 20.Qc5 (instead, 20.Rd1 Qb4! [20...a4 21.bxa4!] 21.Rc5 a4 22.bxa4 Qxd4 23.Rxd4 Rb2 24.Bf1 Rxa2 25.e4 Re8 26.f3 Kf8 27.a5

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27...Ke7! 28.exd5 Kd6 29.Rc1 c5! 30.Rf4 Rxa5 31.Rxf7 Re7= is another typical line, illustrating some ideas governing these positions) 20...Qxc5 21.Rxc5 a4 22.bxa4 Rb2 23.Bd3 Rxa2 24.a5 Rb8 25.Rd1 (25.e4 Ra3!) 25...f5! 26.Bf1 Kf7 27.a6 Ke6 28.Rcc1 Rb4 is a line showing that if White is careless in the resulting ending, the position can easily become better for Black. After 29.Ra1 Rba4 30.Rab1 Kd6³

for example, White cannot invade the enemy camp with his rook because of his weak back rank and is condemned to an arduous defense. Let us return to 18.Qa4!?: 18...Rb8! (I do not see much after 18...c5 19.Qxa7 d4 20.Ra3²) 19.b3 (19.Qc2 g6! 20.Ra3 [20.Rd1 Rb6=] 20...Bf5= allows Black to coordinate everything beautifully) 19...a5!? 143

This is a strong move, possibly preparing ...Qe7-b4 and restricting the movements of the Qa4. Play could proceed as follows: 20.a3 Ra8 Also possible is 20...Be8 21.Rd1 (not 21.Qxa5 d4 22.Rd3 c5 23.Re1 Ra8 24.Qd2 Bb5 and White loses the exchange) 21...Qe5 (21...Ra8∞) 22.Rc2 Qe7„ when a double edged position has been reached. It seems that White will need to undertake risks to create something here, possibly by allowing the exchange of his b3-pawn for the one on a5. There is also of course the humbler approach of inviting a draw by repetition with 23.Rc3. 21.Rfc1

Black has arranged his forces optimally and the time has come to strike: 21...c5 22.Qf4 a4! 23.bxa4 c4 24.e4 Bxa4 25.Bf1 Qxe4 26.Qxe4 dxe4 27.Bxc4=/³ Equality should be the outcome, but Black has the marginally better position here. (c) Finally, slightly worse for White than our main line (17.Rd3!) is 17.Bf3!? Qf6!?, although even here the accurate 18.Rd3! leaves Black suffering a bit. Alternatively, 18.Bxd5!? Nxd4 19.exd4 Rxc3 20.bxc3 Bb5 21.c4 Rxd5 22.cxd5 Bxf1 leads to a very instructive and precision demanding queen ending which I couldn’t resist the temptation showing you:

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23.Qa4! A brilliant idea, designed to keep the fight going on by preventing the check on a6. Instead, 23.Kxf1 Qa6+! 24.Kg1 Qxa2 25.Qe1 Kf8 26.d6 Qe6 27.Qb4 Qd7 28.Qc5 b6 29.Qc7 Ke8 30.Qb8+ Qd8 31.Qxa7 Qxd6= leads to an obvious draw. 23...h6 24.Kxf1 Qf5! The only move, attacking d5, and preparing to infiltrate the white camp via d3; but it is only the beginning of a difficult drawing sequence for Black. 25.d6 This looks like the best winning try. Instead, 25.Qb3 Qe4! 26.Qc4 Qb1+ 27.Ke2 Qe4+ 28.Kd1 Qxg2 29.d6 Qg4+= is easier, as White cannot take his king to the queenside without dropping the d6-pawn. In the case of 25.Qe8+ Kh7 26.Qb5 a6 27.Qb3, the instructive 27...Qe4! suppresses any winning attempts as well, e.g. 28.a4 Qxd4 29.g3 b6=) 25...Qd3+ 26.Ke1

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26...b5! The cleanest method, forcing the white queen to choose a direction: 27.Qb4!? Instead, 27.Qxa7 Qc3+ 28.Ke2 Qc2+ 29.Ke3 Qc3+ 30.Ke4 Qc2+ 31.Ke5 Qe2+ 32.Kd5 Qc4+= is a line in which the b-pawn’s advance proves instrumental in constructing the perpetual. 27...Qe4+ 28.Kd2 Qxg2! 29.Qc5! A good try to pose problems. Both 29.Qxb5 Qxf2+ 30.Kc3 Qe1+ 31.Kc4 Qf1+ 32.Kc5 Qf5+ 33.d5 Qc2+= and 29.d7 Qxf2+ 30.Kc1 Qf4+ 31.Kb2 Qxh2+ 32.Kb1 Qh1+= lead to easier perpetuals. 29...Qxf2+ 30.Kc3 Qxa2 31.d7

I would have been scared to death to allow this in a game, but the computer remains unperturbed, unearthing yet another perpetual: 31...Qa1+ 32.Kd2 146

Another line demanding great accuracy is 32.Kc2 Qa2+ 33.Kd1 Qb1+ 34.Ke2 Qa2+ 35.Kd3 (35.Kf3 Qb3+) 35...Qb1+! (35...Qb3+?? 36.Qc3 Qd1+ 37.Ke3 Qg1+ 38.Kd2+–) 36.Qc2 Qf1+ 37.Ke4 Qe1+!=. 32...Qb2+ 33.Qc2!? (33.Ke3 Qb3+ 34.Kf2 Qa2+=; 33.Kd3!? Qb1+!= transposes above, to 32.Kc2) 33...Qxd4+ 34.Qd3 Qb2+ 35.Kd1 Qa1+ 36.Ke2 Qe5+ 37.Qe3 (37.Kf3 Qf6+) 37...Qxh2+ 38.Kd3 Qd6+ 39.Qd4 Qa3+! 39...Qg3+?? 40.Kc2 Qc7+ 41.Kd1 Qd8 42.Qd5!!+– is winning for White, the unanswerable threat being Qd5-c6!, and if ...Kg8-f8, then Qc6-c5+! followed by Qc5-c8. 40.Ke2

40...Qa2+ 41.Kf3 (White’s king will not find a hiding place after 41.Ke3 Qe6+ 42.Kd2 Qa2+ 43.Kc1 Qa3+= either, e.g., 44.Qb2 Qc5+ 45.Qc2 Qg1+ 46.Qd1 Qc5+) 41...Qb3+= and the queen uses the squares a2, b3 and e6 for checking. A nice geometrical motif at the end, rounding up good defensive work from Black. But was not that too laborious? My conclusion is that although the engines consider the position equal at the start of the ending, it is very tricky and Black has to master the nuances inside out, as it can prove extremely dangerous in overthe-board play. If this line was absolutely important for Black’s survival in the opening, I would have tried to memorize the details, but this is rather pointless considering that White has better ways to play the position. One of them is 18.Rd3!, to which we now return: 18...Be6! 19.Rd2 (19.b3 Ne5 20.Rd2 g6²/=) 19...Nxd4 20.Rxd4 Rc4 21.Rd2 Qe5 22.Qb3 Rc7 23.Rfd1 g6 Making the traditional luft yields an almost perfect defensive formation for us, as we will put our pawn on b6, king on g7 and defend everything with Rdd7. That said, White retains the more pleasant position and he can press on for a while without risk. Time to check the immediate (and better) 17.Rd3!:

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17...Qf6 17...Ne5 18.Rd2² does not gain much for Black. In fact, the queenside looks a bit undefended after it, and control of d4 is fully abandoned. 18.Qb3!? White has the basic plan of doubling rooks on the d-file, bringing more pressure to bear on the isolated pawn. He can also try to attack Black’s queenside and provoke weaknesses there. In principle, Black’s defense is not so easy. Much will depend on what type of exchanges take place. Ideal scenarios for Black include a removal of all major pieces, when a draw is very likely. Keeping all major pieces on board will most likely require avoiding the exchange of Black’s bishop for its counterpart, in spite of nominally being the worse bishop of the two. That is explained by the fact that it is a strong protector of the d5-pawn and slows down the offensive against it. Finally, an exchange of White’s knight for the black bishop is not so bad for Black if it takes place on e6, as strengthening the defense of the d5-pawn by ...f7xe6 will relieve the second player of his greatest burden. Coming to the merits of 18.Qb3!?, it looks to me quite logical, considering White’s primary aims: d1 is vacated for the Rf1 and b7 is attacked, inviting the weakening ...b7-b6 move. Alternatives are less scary: For example, 18.b3 g6 19.Rd2 (19.Qa1 Nxd4 20.Rxd4 Be6 21.Rxd5 Qxa1 22.Rxd8+ Rxd8 23.Rxa1 Rd2 24.Bf3 b5= gives Black full compensation) 19...Be6 20.Qb1 (20.Nxe6 fxe6∞; 20.Qa1 Nxd4 21.Rxd4 Kg7=) 20...Nxd4 21.Rxd4 Rc5= looks fine for Black, as he will gain control of the c-file as a counter-balancing strength to White’s pressure against the isolani. I also looked at 18.Bf3!?:

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This move is indeed annoying, because it lures the knight to e5. After 18...Ne5 19.Rd2 Be6 20.Be2, the right decision is to switch back to defense mode and retreat with 20...Nc6!, essentially asking White what he has achieved. I think one idea for White is 21.Qa4!? (21.Nxe6 fxe6 22.f4 [22.Qb3 Rc7=] 22...g6= is not in my view that dangerous) 21...Nxd4 22.Rxd4 a6²/= with the more pleasant position for him, but that is still a lot far from being anything serious; Black holds. After 18.Qb3!?, I do not want to delve too deeply into the details as this line is not out our main defense against 12.Na4!?.

I will just restrict myself to saying that in the next diagrammed position 18...Na5! (18...Nxd4 19.Rxd4±) 19.Qb4 b6² is tenable for Black, but obviously White can press for long and this is not what we want. 149

Now let us return to our main move 15...Qb4!!:

This move leaves the d5-pawn undefended, but the counterthreat to b2, as well as the positional threat ...Nc6xd4, give the play a semi-forced character; the only question is whether Black can emerge out of the complications unscathed. As the double exclamation mark indicates I am now more than convinced that he can, and this conclusion was formed after analyzing to considerable depth the following three major options for White: (D2b1) 16.Nb3, (D2b2) 16.Qb3!? and (D2b3) 16.Nxd5. The most natural and critical choice is obviously 16.Nxd5, as White captures a central pawn with gain of time, obtaining some dynamic possibilities in the process. However, it has to be pointed out that while plunging into the complications looks strong, at the same time Black is allowed to exchange his chief weakness for the b2-pawn. Positionally speaking this exchange favors us, so it made sense for me to check first the two other lines, where White tries to avert the trade of pawns: (D2b1) 16.Nb3 was the first idea that sprang to my mind, but not to the “mind” of the engines. White shields the pressure against the b2-pawn and stops ...Nc6xd4. The reason the silicon entities did not even consider the move became obvious to me when I confronted them with it: 16...Nxc3 17.Rxc3

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17...d4! It is always nice to make this move in the Tarrasch, especially if it is correct. Here it liquidates to a symmetrical position, leaving Black with few reasons to complain: 18.exd4 (18.Rc4 Qb6 19.Nxd4 Be6 even gives Black a slight initiative) 18...Be6 19.a3 Qb6 20.Bf3 (20.Rd3 Bc4= is also harmless) 20...Nxd4 21.Nxd4 Rxd4 22.Qc1 Rad8 23.Rc7 R4d7= and the draw is clearly in sight. (D2b2) A move that accomplishes the same functions as 16.Nb3 but in a much more aggressive manner is 16.Qb3!?

This is in fact an option the engines do like, almost as much as 16.Nxd5. I think the following idea is good for us: 151

16...Qb6! The black queen retreats to make ...Nc6xd4 possible. The original suggestion of the engines was 16...a5 and it was kept it as their first choice for such a long time that I eventually got baffled and started to analyze 16...Qb6! on my own. The reason was I did not like weakening my b5-square, and I think my human assessment was right. Let us see what is wrong with the advance of the a-pawn:

17.Ncb5! Of course! The knight leaps forward to defend his colleague on d4, and White’s set-up suddenly makes a lot of sense. I was surprised that the engines kept focusing on 17.Rfd1 instead, when Black should be able to equalize in the following manner: 17...Qxb3 18.axb3! (18.Nxb3 a4 19.Nd4 a3! 20.bxa3 [20.b3 Nb4∞ looks scary for White in view of the mounting pressure on a2] 20...Nxd4! 21.exd4 Rxa3=) 18...Nxc3 19.Rxc3 Rac8! (19...Nxd4 20.Rxd4 Be6 21.b4! axb4 22.Rxb4 Ra1+ 23.Bf1 Rd1 24.f3 d4 25.exd4 R8xd4 26.Rxb7 g5 27.Kf2² is definitely something Black should avoid) 20.Bf3∞/=. White’s pieces are well placed, but his static b-pawns are a liability that outweighs Black’s isolani, making the chances approximately even. After 17.Ncb5!, the more I looked at the black position, the less I liked it. I think Black has to settle for 17...Nxd4 (17...Nd2 18.Qxb4 axb4 19.Rfd1 Nc4 20.b3± is worse) 18.Nxd4 Qxb3 19.Nxb3 Rdc8 20.f3 a4 21.Nd4 Nd6 22.Kf2 Kf8 23.h4 Ke7 24.g4 h6 25.Rfd1², reaching the position of the diagram:

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However, this might be difficult to hold in view of the weak pawn at a4 (and possibly b5 later on, if ...b7-b5 has to be played) as well as because of the weakness of the b4-square. Stockfish gives 25...g5! as almost equal, and this is indeed the best move, but from the human point of view, I believe the position is not pleasant and I would not go in for it. So much for the bad news, but now we move on to the good news which is nothing less than 16...Qb6!. In fact, I analyzed no less than five options for White after the queen retreat, but I believe Black stands fine in all five cases, as can be witnessed below. We will look at (D2b21) 17.Qxd5, (D2b22) 17.Nxd5, (D2b23) 17.Rfd1, (D2b24) 17.Nxc6 and (D2b25) 17.Qxb6.

17.Qxb6 looks like the most natural reply and is the first choice of the engines. But the opening of the a-file should guarantee enough counterplay for Black as compensation for his ruined pawn 153

structure. Bearing this in mind, I was not worried as much about this move, as I was worried for the others. (D2b21) Thus, before checking 17.Qxb6 thoroughly, I made sure that the captures of the d5-pawn were not dangerous for us. In the first instance, after 17.Qxd5 Nf6 18.Qc4, correct is 18...Na5!: The fine point is that b7 is defended and Black will not lose his b7-pawn after taking on b2. 19.Qd3 Qxb2 20.Rfd1 Rac8 21.Nf5 Qa3 White’s initiative looks very fragile and should peter out soon. The machines give 22.Ne4 Qxd3 23.Nxf6+ gxf6 24.Bxd3 Rxc1 25.Rxc1 Nc6 26.a3 Ne5 27.Be4 Bxf5 28.Bxf5 b5= when, indeed, the drawish outcome is very near. (D2b22) In the second instance, namely 17.Nxd5, things are much more straightforward: 17...Nxd4 18.exd4 Qxd4 19.Ne7+ Kh8 20.Qxb7 Rab8 21.Qc7 Qf6 22.Nd5 Qxb2=. (D2b23) A third possibility was 17.Rfd1, but Black starts chopping wood and I think the resulting ending is easily manageable:

17...Nxd4 18.Rxd4 Qxb3 19.axb3 Be6 20.b4 Rdc8 21.Bf3 Nxc3 22.bxc3 a5 23.Kf1 axb4 24.Rxb4 Ra3 25.Rxb7 g6= (D2b24) Finally, a fourth option was 17.Nxc6 Qxb3 18.axb3 Bxc6 19.Rfd1, when it is not so difficult to discover 19...Nc5 20.Nxd5 Bxd5 21.Rxc5 Bxb3 22.Rxd8+ Rxd8 23.Rc7 Bd5 24.b4 a6= with a fully level ending. (D2b25) Thus, having concluded that all four alternatives were not dangerous, I switched my focus to 17.Qxb6: 17...axb6

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Black’s position might look much worse to the uninitiated, but the fact is we are getting rid of the blockader on d4 and this fact alone brings the game nearer to the safety zone. The temporary pressure on a2 plays a valuable role, as it prevents White from reinforcing control over the critical central square. 18.a3 (a) After 18.Ndb5 Nxc3 19.Nxc3 d4= Black is happy enough; there is not even a shred of White advantage. (b) 18.Nxc6 bxc6 19.Nxe4 dxe4 20.Bc4 Kf8 21.Rfd1 Ke7= relieves Black of his weaknesses, giving him the more pleasant ending, although objectively the position is completely equal. (c) Finally, 18.Nxd5 results in a cascade of exchanges, leading by force to a symmetrical ending: 18...Nxd4 19.exd4 Rxa2 20.Rc2

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20...Ba4! 21.Bc4! Bxc2 22.Bxa2 Nd2! 23.Rc1 (23.Re1 is also answered with 23...Bb3=, e.g. 24.Bxb3 Nxb3 25.Nxb6 Nxd4 26.Kf1 Kf8=) 23...Bb3 24.Bxb3 Nxb3 25.Rc7 Kf8 26.Nxb6 Rxd4 27.g3 Na5=. All this means that White practically has to go for the common-sense move 18.a3 if he wants to maintain some hopes of an edge: 18...Nxc3 19.Rxc3 Nxd4 20.exd4

Finally, central symmetry has arrived! She should be our goddess and guiding light in the Tarrasch or else we will have to endure strenuous positional battles. Here the position leaves a little something to be desired as our doubled b-pawns might be vulnerable to the rook shift Rc3-b3, so I made sure this is not dangerous: 20...b5! 21.Rb3 After 21.Rc5, the key defense is 21...Be8! and Black can prepare ...b5-b4 at his leisure as the b5pawn is untouchable: 22.Bxb5?? b6–+ and it is suddenly curtains. 21...Ra4! The dynamic element ensures that Black reaches an easily drawn ending here. The rest is practically forced: 22.Rd1 (22.Bxb5 Rxd4=) 22...b4! 23.axb4 (23.Rxb4 Rxb4 24.axb4 Ra8 25.Rc1 Be6= is hardly a problem either) 23...Ra2! 24.Rb1 g6 25.Bd3 (25.Ra3 Ra8 26.Rxa8+ Rxa8=) 25...Rc8 26.Kf1 Ba4 27.Rc3 Rxc3 28.bxc3 Bc2 29.Bxc2 Rxc2=. A draw is the logical conclusion. So, the crucial alternative 16.Qb3!? does not give Black many agonizing moments, but he has to be accurate in the small skirmishes that occur and make the most of his activity. The most fitting comment is that there are no winning chances for either player after 16.Qb3!?, only a blunder can tip the scales in favor of one side or the other. (D2b3) We will now return to move 16 to examine the critical 16.Nxd5:

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16...Qxb2 Restoring material equality while keeping the pressure on d4. Fortunately, the queen has a good square on a3 to flee to. 17.Rc2 17.Rb1? would be a blunder because after 17...Qxa2–+, Black wins a pawn and the game. White has no time to take on b7 as the Nd5 is hanging. 17...Qa3 18.Nb5 A crucial moment. Black needs to be careful with the handling of his queen, as otherwise he might face serious problems. The options are (D2b31) 18...Qa4, (D2b32) 18...Qa5 and (D2b33) 18...Qf8!

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18...Qf8! This is a move almost any GM would make automatically, because his instinct tells him so. The queen returns to safety and the support of the king, while keeping good control over the dark squares. After this retreat, Black can count on an even game in which his chances to play for a win are no worse than his adversary’s. After all he has a queenside pawn majority and no weaknesses, while his pieces have good mobility. Surprising as it may seem, it takes quite a while for the engines to realize what is immediately obvious to the experienced grandmaster eye. They tend to be misleading here, suggesting instead that the black queen does best to remain on the queenside. But that can have serious consequences, especially if one chooses the first of the two continuations below: (D2b31) 18...Qa4 Putting the queen on a light square is the “black sheep” of the three options available to Black. It is born out of desire to keep an eye on both the Rc2 and the Nb5, trying thus to play tactically, but neglecting the main strategic aspect of the position which is none other than controlling the dark squares, will eventually take its toll. I will let the moves explain how:

19.Nbc7! The knight is vulnerable on b5, so White withdraws it from there with a gain of time. Black’s idea is seen after 19.Bd3: 19...Nb4! 20.Bxe4 Bxb5 21.Rd2 Nxd5 22.Rxd5 Rxd5 23.Qxa4 Bxa4 24.Bxd5 Rb8 25.g3 (25.Rc1 Bc6=) 25...Kf8 26.Rb1 b6 27.Rc1 Rd8 28.e4 f5 29.f3 fxe4 30.fxe4 Ke7= and the game is level as the Black king will settle on e5. 19...Rac8 I think White’s next move deserves a diagram:

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20.Qc1! This is what you may call a multi-purpose move, as it accomplishes so many tasks. It unpins the Rc2, creates the worrying idea Rc2xc6, but most importantly, it seizes control of the dark squares that the black queen abandoned. The white queen is destined for b2, from where it will defend a2, attack b7 and enable the Rc2-c4 double attack. 20...Kh8 21.Qb2 Nd6 Allowing the black queen to flee to h4. 22.Rfc1 Bf5 23.Rc5 Qh4 24.f3² It is not inconceivable that Black may hold here, but he has lost many tempi, allowing White to build queenside pressure that can be enhanced with an advance of his a-pawn. It is obviously dangerous to enter such a line. (D2b32) The alternate way of keeping the queen on the same wing is better, but to justify it, Black needs to be a super-tactician: 18...Qa5 19.f3

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19...a6!! I do not know any player who would find this. Do you? 20.Nbc7 Nf6! 21.Qe1 Opting for an ending in which the risk would be minimal. It turns out that 21.Nxf6+ gxf6 22.Nxa8 (22.Nd5 Bf5 23.Rd2 Kg7=) 22...Bf5! 23.Qc1 Bxc2 24.Qxc2 Rxa8 is a double-edged position where the weakness of e3 provides Black with enough compensation for his own weakened kingside. For example, 25.Qb2 (after 25.Rd1 Rd8! 26.Rxd8+ Nxd8 27.Kf2 Kg7 28.f4 Ne6 29.Bf3 Qb4 I prefer Black, as the queen and knight are renowned for their ability to combine in such positions) 25...Qc5! 26.Qxb7 Rb8 27.Qxa6 Rb2 28.Qc8+ Kg7 29.Qg4+ Kf8 30.Ba6 Qxe3+ 31.Kh1 Nb4 32.Bc4 Nd3© and it is going to be a draw. Returning to 21.Qe1, Black plays 21...Nxd5 22.Qxa5 Nxa5 23.Nxd5 Be6 24.Nc7 Rac8 25.Rfc1 Bd7 26.Rc5 Nc6 27.Nd5 Be6 28.Rxc6 Rxc6 29.Ne7+ Kf8 30.Nxc6 Rc8 31.a4 Bd7 32.a5 Bxc6= and will clearly have no problems after putting his rook on d8 next. (D2b33) Let us now examine the common sense retreat 18...Qf8!:

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19.Bd3 Alternatively: (a) If the Nb5 jumps into our camp with 19.Nbc7, there is a way to expel it: 19...Rac8 20.Bd3 Ng5 21.Qh5 h6 22.h4 Ne6 23.Nxe6 Bxe6 24.Nf4 Bd7 25.Rd1 Qe7=; Black is absolutely fine here and will have his chances to play for a win, especially if the queens leave the board. (b) After 19.f3, I would rather choose the g5-square to retreat my knight, but 19...Nc5= is also perfectly possible. Here is a computer generated line after 19...Ng5: 20.Rd2 Be6 21.Nbc3 (21.Nbc7 Rac8 22.Nxe6 Nxe6=) 21...h6 22.Qb3

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22...Nb4 23.Rfd1 Nxd5 24.Nxd5 Rab8 25.Kf2 Bxd5 26.Rxd5 Rxd5 27.Qxd5 Ne6=. Once more, Black’s queen and knight look like at least an equal match for White’s queen and bishop. In reply to 19.Bd3, Black can exchange a pair of knights, relieving his position from any pressure White might have had:

19...Nd6! 20.Nxd6 Qxd6 21.Rd2 Kh8 22.Qh5 g6 This is the best defense, avoiding a weakening of the light squares. 23.Qh4 Be6! Do not get shocked by this. White cannot achieve anything by putting his knight on f6 now, so we use our chance to push back the intruder. 24.Nf4 On 24.Nf6, the dynamic (and essential) move 24...Kg7! fully complies with the dictum “The king is a strong piece, use it!” After 25.Ne4 Qe7 26.Ng5 h6 27.Nxe6+ Qxe6= the status quo has not been distorted in the least. 24...Qe7 25.Qxe7 Nxe7 26.Rfd1 Rac8 27.Nxe6 fxe6= The ending offers equal chances to the contestants. Black’s weakness on e6 is not scary as it can be protected by the king, and his queenside pawn majority is a long term asset. One might wonder if all this analysis was necessary for 12.Na4!?, a move which has in fact occurred only once in practice. I would say yes and no. If you got baffled by all the nuances accompanying 14...Bd7, then 14...Rd6!? is your move. It is a dynamic choice and will give you a good game. But if you want to understand the Tarrasch deeply, then all these nuances and strategical explanations presented above should become part of your knowledge, regardless of your choice on move 14. By delving into them you should be able to face with confidence situations that could surface elsewhere and would otherwise be out of control.

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(D2c) In any case it is time to fasten our seatbelts, as the moment has arrived to start examining the more dangerous 12.Rc1!:

By placing his rook opposite the black queen, White follows one of the old rules of the Russian Chess School. I can still recall the voice of the legendary Efim Petrovich Geller (whom I had the honor of having as a trainer for about a year) repeating frequently his favorite sentence “Ладья против ферзь!” (“The rook opposes the queen!”) in training sessions with the Greek national team, and this very sentence would characteristically occur in positions such as the one pictured above, where the rook x-rays a slightly exposed queen on an open file after just entering the game. It is hard to say whether Efim’s schooling of an ignorant young player was successful as I am still often tempted to disregard his rules, but there is little point in doubting the wisdom of the particular phrase. What common sense tells us is that the more sensitive unit (the queen) can hardly stand successfully the opposition and will, much more often than not, have to move. This allows the player that just made the rook move new or improved possibilities as he has gained time and centralized an important piece. My analysis confirmed that there is no exception to the rule here and that 12.Rc1! is indeed the best move in the position, fully in accordance with Geller’s chess philosophy. Actually, it took me several months to solve the problems posed by it (as I would often alternate hard work with complete laziness) but now I can say with certainty that a good solution exists. 12...Qb4! This is the best chance for Black. The queen steps aside from the rook’s firing line and attacks b2. It also keeps contact with the d4-square, preparing the d-pawn’s push. For a while I kept wondering whether 12...d4 was an acceptable solution, but in the end I decided against it. The thing is that after 13.Nb5 Qb6 14.Nbxd4 Qxb2 15.Rc2! (15.Qb3 Qxb3 16.axb3 Nxd4 17.Nxd4 Bg4 18.f3 Bd7 19.e4 Kf8 20.Kf2 b6 21.Rfd1 a5²/= is less strong) 15...Qa3 (15...Qb6 16.Qc1

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Bd7 17.Rb2 Qc7 18.Nxc6 Qxc6 19.Qxc6 Bxc6 20.Nd4 Bd5 21.f3² is also better for White as the Bd5 is unstable, a fact rendering Black’s queenside pawns rather weak) 16.Qc1! (16.Qb1!? Bd7 17.Rfc1!? [17.Qxb7 Rab8 18.Qc7 Rbc8 19.Qg3 Nxd4 20.Nxd4 Rxc2 21.Nxc2 Qxa2=] 17...Rab8 18.Bc4 Qe7 19.h3 g6= is not as dangerous as White would want) 16...Qxc1 17.Rfxc1

Black has been forced to enter an ending where he cannot find a full antidote to White’s activity. For example, 17...Bd7 18.a3 (18.Nxc6!? Bxc6 19.Nd4 Be4 20.Rb2² is also promising for White) 18...g6 19.h4!? a6 (19...Rac8 20.Nxc6 Rxc6 21.Rxc6 Bxc6 22.Nd4² is similar) 20.Nxc6 Bxc6 21.Nd4 Be4 22.Rc5² and it becomes evident that there is a feature in White’s favor that persists in this line:

This feature is none other than control of the c-file, which gives White a slight yet enduring advantage. The position is probably drawable, but I did not want to invest more time in it as I felt this 164

was not the most principled way of playing. So, this line can merely be recommended to those who do not have enough time to study and are satisfied with getting a tenable position, even if it is slightly worse. By playing 12...Qb4! on the other hand, we aspire to complete equality by trying to enforce the liberating advance ...d5-d4. At this point I examined four possibilities for White, but only the last of them made me really sweat: (D2c1) 13.Rc2, (D2c2) 13.Na4, (D2c3) 13.Qd2!? and (D2c4) 13.Qc2!. 13.Qc2! is a strong move played by Morozevich and I deemed it right to elevate it to a main line status. It renounces any attempts to stop ...d5-d4 and concentrates instead on securing the best possible chances for White after the advance happens. Others do not appear troublesome for us, but still, we should know one thing or two when facing them: (D2c1) 13.Rc2 Bf5 14.Rd2 does not work here because of 14...Ne4 15.Rxd5 Nxc3= (D2c2) Kortchnoi’s 13.Na4 is also not much after 13...Bg4!, which brings us at the following crossroads:

White may choose between (D2c21)14.a3 and (D2c22)14.Rc5. 14.Rc5 was Viktor’s choice in a game against Piket, seeking to restrict the mobility of the black queen. However imaginative it may be, it is not the most critical try in this position. (D2c21) A better one is 14.a3 Qe7 15.Re1!? (15.h3 Bxf3 16.Bxf3 d4 17.exd4 Nxd4= is completely level) to which Black best reacts as follows:

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15...Ne4! Planting the knight in the center in no way harms Black. On the contrary, it frees, f6 for the black queen and somewhat cramps the Na4, as we already know. Instead, 15...Rac8!? 16.h3 Bh5 17.Nc3! happened in my game against Aronian, but here, equality is no longer that easy for Black. I think I continued logically:

17...h6 (17...Ne4!? 18.Nd4 Bxe2 19.Ncxe2 Qf6 was also not bad, but still, not totally level after 20.Rf1²/=) 18.Nd4 Bxe2 19.Rxe2 Ne4 20.Rec2 Qe8!? 21.Nce2 Ne7!, but nevertheless, the accurate 22.Rc7! Nd6 23.Nf4 Rxc7 24.Rxc7 Rc8 25.Qc2 Qd8 26.Rc5 Nc4 27.Rxc8 Qxc8 28.Qc3 Nb6 29.Qb4² left me suffering a little bit in Aronian-Kotronias, Bursa 2010. From here on I started to play badly and salvaged a draw only after a rare blunder by Levon in a winning position, so I knew immediately after the game that I needed to improve my play. 166

Analyzing the position carefully with the help of computers indicated the right move 15...Ne4!, to which we now return: 16.Nd4 The critical reply. After 16.h3 Bxf3 17.Bxf3 Ne5!= Black has an easy game in view of the displaced Na4. This is an important example, I believe, because it shows that exchanges do not always accentuate the weakness of the isolated pawn; everything depends on the relative strength of the pieces that remain on the board. Here, after 18.Be2?!, Black has 18...d4! 19.exd4 Qf6! and even gets a slight initiative in view of the following brilliant tactical line: 20.Rf1 Rxd4 21.Qxd4 Nf3+ 22.gxf3 Qxd4 23.Rc4 Ng3!! 24.Rxd4 Nxe2+ 25.Kg2 Nxd4³. Returning to 16.Nd4, I am going to recommend a move the engines do not really favor, but is one I have firm belief in:

16...Bd7!? The bishop’s retreat may appear strange, but it creates the concrete idea ...Qe7-f6, threatening to liquidate on d4. For those who like exchanges, 16...Bxe2 should also do but it is more laborious: 17.Rxe2 Nxd4 18.Qxd4 Rac8 19.Rec2 Rxc2 20.Rxc2 Ng5! The knight is angling to reach e6, with an equal game, but things are not that simple. After 21.Nc3! (21.Qxa7 d4 22.Rc1 Ne4 23.exd4 Nxf2! 24.Kxf2 Re8= is a nice drawing line) 21...Ne6! 22.Qxa7 d4 23.exd4 Nxd4 24.Rc1 g6,

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Stockfish gives a mere +0.25 advantage to White at depth 49, meaning that Black has enough compensation to draw, yet I would be a bit reluctant to sacrifice the pawn in such a way as this is the type of compensation that can slip through one’s hands with the slightest error. Just for the record, the line given by Stockfish continues 25.h3 Nb3 26.Rf1 Rd2 27.Qb8+ Kg7 28.Qg3 Nd4 29.Qf4 Nb3 30.Rb1 h5 31.Qf3 Nd4 32.Qe4 Qxe4 33.Nxe4 Rc2 34.h4 f5 35.Ng5 Kf6 36.Nh3 Ne2+ 37.Kh2 b5= Let us get back to my own, non-sacrificial way of achieving equality with 16...Bd7!?: 17.Nc3

17...Qh4! 18.g3 White has to weaken himself if he wants to avoid an immediate draw. 18.Rf1 allows 18...Nxc3 19.Rxc3 Nxd4=.

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18...Qf6 19.Bf3 Ne5! Most accurate, but there are a couple of alternatives that leave Black only slightly worse: (a) 19...Nxc3 in particular should not be far from equal. After 20.Rxc3 Nxd4 21.exd4 Qd6 22.Rce3 Re8 23.Re5 Bc6 24.Qd2², the engines will tell you that White is slightly better but making something out of this looks extremely difficult after 24...a5 or 24...h6. (b) There is also 19...Nxd4 20.exd4 Bf5, but somehow I like this less in view of 21.Bxe4! dxe4 22.d5² when I believe White’s d-pawn is strong. 20.Rf1

20...Nxf3+! As I have already mentioned, the strong Tarrasch player needs to know when the time for liquidations has arrived. Here it is such a moment. After 20...Bh3 21.Bg2 Bxg2 22.Kxg2 Qg6 23.Qc2! ² Black would be slightly worse. 21.Qxf3 Qxf3! Switching to auto-pilot! Worse is 21...Qe5?! 22.Rc2! (22.Qf4 f6!∞) 22...Rac8 23.Rfc1 Bh3?! 24.g4! Ng5 25.Qe2! and Black is only creating problems for himself, although the position is rather complex. 22.Nxf3 Nxc3 23.Rxc3 Rac8 24.Rfc1 Rxc3 25.Rxc3 Rc8 26.Rxc8+ Bxc8 27.Nd4 Bd7=

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We have reached the equal ending from the classical game Flohr-Capablanca, mentioned in our introduction. This ending requires study from all players of the Tarrasch, as it is likely to occur in our games. Knowing its details adds to one’s confidence, as Black would no longer be afraid to remain with the nominally worse minor piece in the ending. In this particular case, it inspired me to forge the drawing sequence starting with 16...Bd7!?, and it is good to know there is something to transpose to which you can rely upon. This is the auto-pilot I referred to above. (D2c22) Let us now return to 14.Rc5:

Here, in Kortchnoi-Piket, Nijmegen 1993, Black played 14...Bxf3 and managed to draw. However, I prefer instead 14...Rac8! 15.a3 (15.Qc2 Qe4!) 15...Qe4 16.h3 (16.Ng5 Qf5 17.Bxg4 Nxg4 18.Nf3 Nge5! 19.Nxe5 Nxe5 20.Rxc8 Qxc8 21.Nc3 Qc4= is a position where Black has enough 170

control over d4 and is not at all worse) 16...Bxf3 17.Bxf3 Qe6„ with an excellent position for Black. White’s pieces are not well coordinated to fight against the isolani, so I consider Kortchnoi’s experiment as harmless for us. (D2c3) Finally there is also the untried but principled 13.Qd2!? which stops the d-pawn’s push. However, the queen is not so well placed on d2. This enables Black to find good counterplay, based on the ideas shown below:

After 13...Bg4! (not 13...d4? 14.Rfd1± or 13...Ne4?! 14.Nxe4 dxe4 15.Qxb4 Nxb4 16.Nd4±) 14.a3 Qa5! (14...Qe7!? 15.Nd4 Bxe2 would be nice were it not for 16.Ncxe2!² [avoiding 16.Ndxe2 Qe5!=]) 15.Nd4! (otherwise Black will take on f3 and play ...d5-d4) 15...Bxe2 16.Ndxe2 Rac8 17.Rfd1 (17.Rc2 Qb6! [threatening ...d5-d4] 18.Rd1 g6 will probably transpose) 17...g6 18.h3 Kg7 the position is approximately equal because Black can employ the typical guerilla tactics with his knights to harass White. The presence of the pawn on a3 weakens the squares b3 and c4, something that aids this type of counterplay.

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For example: 19.Rc2 Qb6! 20.b4 (a) Instead, 20.Na4 Qb5 21.Nc5 (21.Nec3 Qc4!) 21...Ne4! 22.Qd3! Qxd3 23.Nxd3 Ne7 24.Rdc1 Rxc2 25.Rxc2 Rc8 26.Rxc8 Nxc8= can only nominally be called an advantage for White; in fact the ending is pretty much balanced. (b) If, on the other hand, the queen tries to see the light of day by 20.Qd3, then 20...Ne5 21.Qd4 Qxd4 22.Nxd4 Rc5 23.Rcc1 Rdc8 24.Nde2 h5= is equal once more. 20...a5! 21.bxa5 21.Na4 Qa6 22.Nc5 Qb6 23.Rdc1 axb4 24.axb4 Rb8! 25.Nxb7 Rxb7 26.Rxc6 Qxb4 27.Qxb4 Rxb4=. 21...Qxa5 22.Qc1

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22...d4! (a positional evacuation sacrifice) 23.exd4 (23.Nxd4 Nxd4 24.exd4 Rc4=) 23...Ne7 24.Qb2 Ned5 Black enjoys full compensation for the pawn here. I believe the following sample lines will convince you: 25.Rcc1!? The most testing, according to the machines. But the blockade on d5 is something that ensures Black equality no matter what. Instead: (a) 25.Nxd5 Rxc2 26.Qxc2 Nxd5© also gives Black excellent compensation. The Nd5 dominates the Ne2. To give the readers an idea of the extent of Black compensation, the engines rate this position as only around +0.20 for White. (b) 25.Rdc1 can be answered in many ways. A good one is 25...Nxc3 26.Rxc3 Rxc3 27.Qxc3 Qb5 28.Rc2 Nd5 29.Qf3 b6©. 25...Rd7

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26.Rd3 (after 26.Nxd5 Rxc1 27.Nxc1!? Nxd5 28.Na2 h5! 29.Nb4 Qb5, the blockade persists and I do not see anything for White) 26...Rdc7 27.Rf3 h5! 28.Kh2 (28.Nxd5?! is actually dangerous in view of 28...Rxc1+ 29.Nxc1 Qe1+ 30.Kh2 Rxc1 31.Rxf6 h4!) 28...Qa6 29.Nxd5 Nxd5 30.Rxc7 Rxc7 31.Qd2 Qd6+ 32.Kg1 h4!=. Thus, the untried 13.Qd2!?, albeit a good option for White, also fails to secure an advantage. It was quite instructive for me to see how the evacuation sacrifice 22...d4! allowed all the black pieces to spring to life and use the blockade point on d5 in conjunction with a timely ...h7-h5 to secure counterplay. (D2c4) But now, it is time to return to Morozevich’s move 13.Qc2! and try to solve the problems it causes:

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13...d4! Grischuk’s reply, and the best one in the position. Black takes his chance to get rid of the isolated pawn and hopes that White’s subsequent activity can be contained. Instead, 13...h6² is too slow, and a bit out of the spirit of the way we want to handle this opening; I would not recommend it. 14.a3! This move is necessary, or else White has nothing. (a) Instead, 14.Nxd4 Nxd4 15.exd4 Be6= is completely equal. (b) Another choice leading to equality is 14.exd4 Be6 15.a3 Qb3 16.Qxb3 (16.Qd2 Bg4=) 16...Bxb3 17.Bd1 Bc4 18.Ne2 Ba6 19.Re1 Re8 20.Rc3 Nd5 21.Rc5 Nf6=. After 14.a3!, we have reached what I consider a very important position for the Tarrasch, in spite of the fact it has been played in only one game. I would say that this is one of those cases where one is tempted to analyze until the end because there is an intuitive feeling this might be a forced draw, and this feeling did not betray me here. Black has three logical queen moves at this point, and while at the beginning I thought only one of them was working, now I believe he may actually have the luxury of using ...all three of them!

We will examine in succession (D2c41) 14...Qe7!?, (D2c42) 14...Qf8 and (D2c43) 14...Qc5! To paraphrase Geller’s favorite rule, with 14...Qc5! Black enters a “ферзь против ферзь!” or, if you so wish, “queens opposing queens!” mode. In this way, he hopes to take the sting out of Nc3-b5 ideas later on. We will return soon to this option and analyze it extensively, after first checking the two other possibilities mentioned above: (D2c41) 14...Qe7!? is a move that did not seem to work fully at the beginning and the reason was that very Nc3-b5 sally I mentioned earlier. However, Black might in fact be just fine: 15.Nxd4 Nxd4 16.exd4 Rxd4 17.Nb5 Rd8

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18.Nxa7 This was played in a game between two super GMs, but objectively it is nothing at all. The critical continuation is 18.Rfe1!? Bd7 19.Bf3 Qf8 20.Qb3, as was included in my older notes. I had stopped here, considering the position as unsatisfactory for Black, because the Bf3 seems to have no opponent on the diagonal h1-a8 and White has overall the more active pieces. However, the monstrous Stockfish, remains unimpressed: after 20...Re8! 21.Rxe8 (21.Red1 is answered strongly with the rook lift 21...Re6!, yielding Black a fine position after 22.Nc7 Rb6 23.Qc3 Rc8 24.h3 Bc6 25.Nd5 Nxd5 26.Bxd5 Re8 27.Bc4 Be4 28.Rd4 Rg6=) 21...Rxe8 22.Nc7 (not 22.Nxa7?? Qc5!–+) 22...Rb8 23.Nd5 Qd6 24.h3 b6 25.Rd1 Be8= it awards White just a nominal edge, which I would describe as infinitesimal, as Black no longer has any weak points. This means that the move 14...Qe7 is after all playable for Black, as in the game mentioned above he did not have real problems. Let us see where he went wrong: 18...Bf5! 19.Qxf5 Qxe2 20.Qb5

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20...Re8?! A rather strange error, giving White the upper hand. Black should have been angling to get his queen to the d4-square, so 20...Qg4! was the most logical move to consider. After 21.Qxb7 (21.Rc4 Qe6 22.Ra4 leaves all White’s pieces on the queenside in a tangle, so it is definitely not critical) there follows 21...Rdb8 22.Qc7 Nd5 23.Qc6 Nf4 24.Rce1 g6 25.Re7 (the only way to save the piece) 25...Nh3+ 26.Kh1 Nxf2+ 27.Kg1 Nh3+= with a perpetual. In the game Black lost after some mutual errors: 21.Qxb7 Rab8 22.Qc6 Rxb2 (22...Qxb2!?) 23.Nc8! Not so difficult, but a nice move anyway, bringing the knight back to the game. 23...Re6 24.Qc7 h6 25.Nd6 Kh7 26.h3?! 26.Nc4 Rc2 27.Rxc2 Qxc2 28.Qf4² would have maintained some pressure for White. 26...Rd2?! 26...Nh5! was the move, freeing g6 for the rook. Since White cannot take on f7 with the knight, there remains 27.Nc4 as a way to allow the queen to join the defense. Then play could have continued: 27...Rg6! 28.Qh2! (28.Nxb2? Qf3³/µ) 28...Ra2 29.Ne5 Rf6 30.Rce1 Qb2∞. 27.Nf5 Rd7 28.Qb8?! 28.Qc3 Rd3 29.Qb4² was better; but White was probably playing on his opponent’s time pressure. 28...Qd3 29.Ng3 Qxa3 30.Rc8 g6 31.Kh2

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The position now looks equal and a draw would have been the correct result, but Black becomes the victim of yet another chess tragedy: 31...Qd6 32.Qa8 h5?! (the prophylactic 32...Kg7= was called for) 33.Rd1 Qe7?? 33...Qb4! 34.Rxd7 Nxd7 35.Rh8+ Kg7 36.Qg8+ Kf6 miraculously holds for Black. 34.Rxd7 Nxd7 35.Rh8+ Kg7 36.Qg8+?? White in his turn falters, but fortunately for him, this move does not throw away all his chances. 36.Nf5+! gxf5 37.Qg8+ Kf6 38.f4! would have been mate next move. What could be more beautiful?

What I like in particular in the diagrammed position is Black’s helplessness before the threatened

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disaster. His Q and R are like huge stones that prevent his king from escaping, turning the f6 square into a death trap. 36...Kf6 37.f4 Rb6?? (37...Re3! was the only move to keep the game going, but Black was probably with his flag hovering at this point) 38.Qc8! Kg7 39.Nf5+! This time White does not falter! 39...gxf5 40.Qg8+ Black resigned in Morozevich-Grischuk, Togliatti 2003. An interesting game, in spite of the many errors, but hardly a refutation of the Tarrasch! My conclusion is that my initial pessimism about 14...Qe7!? was not justified and that Black should hold with a few accurate moves the ensuing position. (D2c42) Let us now switch to the second queen move available to Black, namely 14...Qf8:

Initially I thought that retreating all the way to f8, (in order to protect the bishop on c8), was the best move. Subsequent findings indicated that White keeps a slight edge. My analysis from this position goes as follows: 15.Nxd4 15.Ne4 is not a problem here because of 15...Nxe4 16.Qxe4 Re8 17.Qd3 dxe3 18.Ng5 g6 19.fxe3 Qe7! 20.Nxf7 (20.Qc4 yields nothing more than a perpetual after 20...Bf5 21.Qh4 Qxe3+ 22.Kh1 h5 23.Bxh5 gxh5 24.Nxf7! Bg6 25.Qf6 Kh7 26.Ng5+ Kh6 27.Nf7+=) 20...Be6 21.Nh6+ Kg7 22.Ng4 Bxg4 23.Bxg4 Qxe3+ 24.Qxe3 Rxe3= with a completely level ending. 15...Nxd4 16.exd4 Rxd4 We have reached a critical juncture:

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17.Bf3! This direct bishop deployment to f3 is the only move that causes Black real difficulties. Instead, slightly weaker is 17.Nb5 Rd8 and this position is equal with precise play by Black as the following analysis demonstrates: 18.Nc7 A logical move. After 18.Bf3 Bd7, we have developed our bishop and I do not see great problems. Black seems to have in fact won a tempo over Morozevich-Grischuk (see the note to White’s 18th in that game) as the white rook is not on e1. Play could proceed as follows: 19.Qe2 (a) 19.Nc7 Rab8 transposes below. (b) 19.Qb3!? is answered satisfactorily with 19...h6! (19...Be6?! 20.Qe3±) 20.Rc7 (after 20.h3, the reply 20...a5! 21.Nc3 Rab8= levels the game because of the ideas ...b7-b5 or ...Bd7-c6; 20.Rfe1 Re8!=; 20.Bxb7 Rab8 21.Nxa7 Ne4!=) 20...a6 21.Nc3 Be6 22.Qc2

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22...Rac8! 23.Rxb7 Bd5 24.Bxd5 Nxd5 25.Qb3 (25.Rb3 a5 26.a4 Nb4©) 25...Nxc3 26.bxc3 Qe8 27.h3 Rc5©. Returning to 19.Qe2, Black only needs to seek exchanges in the proper manner to equalize the position: 19...Qe8! A strong move, allowing further liquidations to take place. 20.Qxe8+ Bxe8!? Also possible is 20...Nxe8 21.Nc3 Rac8!? (21...Nd6 22.Rfd1²; 21...Rab8 22.Rfd1 Nc7²) 22.Bxb7 (22.Rfd1 b6=) 22...Rb8 23.Bf3 Rxb2 24.Rfd1 Rbb8=. 21.Nc7 Rab8 22.Nxe8 Nxe8 23.Rfd1 Kf8! 24.g3 Rxd1+ 25.Rxd1 Ke7=. White’s advantage is symbolic. Once the black knight reaches the multi-purpose square d6, the position is practically a fortress and all winning attempts by our adversary are rendered futile. After the more accurate 18.Nc7, the draw is a bit more complicated: 18...Rb8

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19.Rfe1! After 19.Bf3, we play fearlessly 19...Bg4! 20.Bxg4 Nxg4, because the double attack 21.Qa4 does not contain any poison: 21...Ne5 22.Qxa7 Nd3 23.Rc2 Qd6! 24.Nb5 (24.g3 Nxb2 25.Rxb2 Qxc7 26.Rfb1 Qc3=; 24.Rd1 Qe5!=) 24...Qa6!? (24...Qe5 is simpler in fact) 25.a4 (25.Qxa6 bxa6= illustrates a wonderful point in our favor, as the b2 pawn falls) 25...Qxa7 26.Nxa7 Ra8 27.Nb5 (27.Rd1 Nxb2!) 27...Rxa4 28.Rd1 f6 29.Rcd2 Rb4 30.Nc3 Rbd4=. 19...Bd7 20.Bf3 Rdc8

Black has reached a more or less coordinated position with his weak b7-point defended. It is clear that White’s initiative is fading and the next move is the only try to keep some pressure alive:

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21.Qd2! Instead, 21.Qe2 Qd6! 22.Qc4 (22.Red1 Qb6 23.Nd5 Nxd5 24.Bxd5 Rxc1 25.Rxc1 Re8=) 22...Be6! 23.Qc5 Qxc5 24.Rxc5 Bg4 25.Bxg4 Nxg4 26.f3 Nf6= is much easier. 21...h6 Making luft is useful, all the more so as White does not have any big threats. I also looked at 21...Qd8!? 22.Nd5 Nxd5! (Black does not quite equalize by 22...Rxc1 23.Qxc1! Nxd5 [23...Be6 24.Nxf6+ Qxf6 25.Qc7 Qd8 26.Qe5! b5 27.g3 b4 28.Rd1 Qf8 29.Qc7 bxa3 30.bxa3±] 24.Bxd5 Rc8 25.Qe3² as White keeps annoying activity) 23.Qxd5™= which is also very close to equal, if, for example, Black makes luft now. Returning to 21...h6, after 22.b4 Bc6 23.Bxc6 Rxc7 24.Bf3 Rbc8= White has the usual symbolic advantage, but nothing more than that. Time to return to the strongest move 17.Bf3!:

As I said earlier, after this move, Black experiences some problems. The bishop is very powerful on f3, and White waits with Nc3-b5 because it was clear that this sally was helping Black develop in some positions by hitting the knight with ...Bc8-d7. I have not been able to find a forced draw here and the lines after 17.Bf3! are quite laborious for Black. See and judge for yourself: 17...h6! Black should wait. Others lead to very difficult positions: (a) To start with, the pawn sacrifice 17...Bg4?! 18.Bxb7 Rad8 19.b4± is entirely pointless as penetrating to d2 merely hits thin air. (b) A bad way to make luft is 17...g6?! because after 18.Nb5 Rd8 19.Qc3±, White seizes the dark squares and Black is completely dominated. (c) 17...a6?! is a natural move, yet after 18.Rfd1 Rxd1+ 19.Rxd1 h6 (19...Rb8 20.Ne4 Nxe4 21.Bxe4

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g6 22.Qc7±) 20.Nd5 Nxd5 21.Bxd5 Qe7 22.Qe4!± Black will lose a pawn and probably the resulting ending. (d) Finally, 17...Be6 18.Bxb7 Rb8 19.Bf3 Bb3 is a better way to lose a pawn, however after 20.Qe2²/ ± White is at least slightly better as he has no weaknesses in his skeleton and Black will find it very hard to create some counterplay for the pawn. 18.h3! Waiting tactics is White’s best choice too. (a) After 18.Rfd1 Rxd1+ 19.Rxd1 Qe7,

it is clear that the luft made by ...h7-h6 is useful as it will enable Black to develop the Bc8 without fearing the loss of the b-pawn in some lines; ...Ra8-b8 can recover the pawn if there is no weak back rank. White should probably try 20.h3!?²/= again, with a very slight edge, because the more direct 20.Ne4 Bf5 21.Qc5 Qxc5 22.Nxc5 Rc8! 23.Nxb7 Rc2 24.h3 Rxb2 25.Rd8+ Kh7 26.Ra8 Be4! (26...Rb3 27.Rxa7 Bxh3 28.a4²) 27.Rxa7 Bxf3 28.gxf3 Rb3 29.Kg2 Nh5! leads to an obvious draw. (b) Finally, there is also 18.Rfe1 a6 19.Qb3 Rd2 20.Rcd1 (20.Na4 Rb8) 20...Rxd1 21.Rxd1 Rb8² when, once more, Black is the slightly worse side but a draw is not beyond reach. After 18.h3!, Black has 18...Rd7!? and is making a fight of it. A possible continuation is 19.Rfd1! (19.Qb3 Re7=) 19...Rc7 20.Qd3 Be6 21.Ne4 Rxc1 22.Nxf6+ gxf6 23.Rxc1 Rc8 24.Qe3 Rxc1+ 25.Qxc1 b6 26.Qc7², when White has some pressure in the ending, but with perfect defense I believe Black will draw it. I was a bit puzzled when I started writing the Tarrasch book, because I had not realized that 14...Qf8 was in fact worse than Grischuk’s 14...Qe7!?. I think this must have become already evident to the readers, after comparing the lines resulting from these two moves. After 14...Qe7!?, Black achieves equality in a more or less clean manner, while after 14...Qf8, the draw is not certain and Black’s defensive task is arduous.

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However, reviewing the situation now with a clear mind, I can see there was method in Alexander’s madness. The “huge” point behind 14...Qe7!? is that Black defends b7, and so threatens to bring out the Bc8. Consequently White has to hurry to put his knight on b5, to catch Black off guard before he completes development, but in doing so gives him the chance later to hit the knight with ...Bc8-d7. So Black will actually regain the time lost with interest! And as we noticed, having the rook on e1 entailed some tactical disadvantages as Black could free himself in one of the lines by opposing rooks on the efile. (D2c43) Let us now return to my preferred move for Black, namely 14...Qc5!. I believe this is the most dynamic way to reach equality, but the complications are tremendous so I need your undivided attention:

15.b4!! White is forced to weaken himself on the queenside to avoid liquidations. On the bright side, he now gets the lever b4-b5 at some point. The move is possible because the knight on c3 cannot be captured as then Black loses his queen. Instead, after 15.Nxd4 Nxd4 16.exd4 Rxd4, there is nothing serious for White. As we shall see immediately below, his slight initiative soon dissipates. The main reason I am presenting this line in some detail is that it could actually occur much more easily in practice, after all, finding 15.b4!! is not piece of cake. 17.Qb3! (17.Nb5 Qxc2 18.Rxc2 Rd8= is equal, e.g., 19.Bf3 Bf5 and the threatened fork on d3 forces 20.Rc5 Be4 21.Bxe4 Nxe4 22.Rc7 a6 23.Nc3=; 17.Bf3 Bg4 18.Bxb7 Rb8 19.Ba6 Qg5! 20.Nd1 Qa5 21.Bc4 Rd2 22.Qc3 Qxc3 23.bxc3 Be2=) 17...Qe7

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The position is symmetrical and Black is not seriously lagging in development. If he manages to throw in ...Bc8-e6 he will be fine, so White must hurry: 18.Bc4 A natural question is: What happens after 18.Bf3 Be6 19.Qxb7 Qxb7 20.Bxb7 Rb8 21.Nb5? The answer is nothing much, as Black has 21...Rd2 22.Bc6 a5! 23.b4 axb4 24.axb4 Bb3= and because of the tangled position of the white pieces he is ensured of regaining his pawn. 18...Bf5 (not 18...Be6?! 19.Bxe6 fxe6 20.Nb5 Rd7 21.Rfe1±) 19.Rfe1 Qd7

20.Re5! White tries to keep up the pressure by threatening to win our f7-pawn. Instead, after 20.Rcd1 Rxd1 21.Rxd1, we have the typically good square e7 to flee to with the queen: 186

21...Qe7 22.Nb5 (22.Nd5 Nxd5 23.Bxd5 Re8 24.h3 b6=) 22...Bg6 23.Nd6 b6=. 20...Be4!? Upon reviewing my notes, I noticed the following little comment: “20...Rf8= could be even simpler.” As far as I can see, Stockfish does not disapprove of this move, so I am happy to announce that we have a valuable extra option at this point. The line given by the engine is 21.Rce1

21...Qc8! 22.Nd5 Kh8!? (22...Qxc4 23.Nxf6+ gxf6 24.Qxc4 Rxc4 25.Rxf5 should also be drawish in view of the line 25...Rfc8! 26.Rxf6 Rc1 27.Kf1 Rxe1+ 28.Kxe1 Rc1+ 29.Kd2 Rh1 30.h3 Rh2 31.g3 Kg7 32.Rf5 Rxh3 33.Rd5 Rh6 34.Rd7 Rb6=) 23.Ne3 Bg6 24.Re7 Re8! 25.Rxe8+ Qxe8= and I guess there is not much play left. Let us now return to 20...Be4!?: 21.Nxe4 Rxe4 22.Rxe4 Nxe4

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We have managed to exchange a lot of wood here, but White remains with the better minor piece, so we need to coordinate our forces and create a fortress. The lines that follow address this issue: 23.Rd1 (23.Bd5 Nd6 24.Rd1 Qe7 25.Qb4 Rd8 26.Qd4 b6 27.g3 Kf8= is similar) 23...Nd6!? This self-pin belongs to the category “Manageables.” It looks sensible to keep a4 under surveillance for the time being as after 23...Qc7 24.Bd5 Nd6 25.Qa4²/= White might be able to boast of a tiny edge. 24.Qd3 (24.Qg3 Rd8 25.Qh4 b6 26.g3 h6 27.Bb3 Qc7 should be a draw too) 24...Rd8 25.g3 b6 26.Qd4 Qe7 27.b4 Kf8 (27...Nb7=) 28.a4 Nb7 29.Bd5 Nd6 30.Bf3 Nb7 31.Qc3 Rxd1+ 32.Bxd1 Nd6 33.a5 Kg8 34.Bf3 g6

I tried to take the white side for a while and the best I could achieve was this. The engines remain 188

unimpressed, saying that the knight with the queen should be able to defend the position successfully, so we can dismiss this line as harmless after all. We now return to 15.b4!!: It is obvious that 15...Qxc3? 16.Qa4! Ne4 17.Rxc3 Nxc3 18.Qc2± should be avoided as Black simply does not have enough for the queen, so we are left with a choice between the two following continuations: (D2c431) 15...Qe7!? and (D2c432) 15...Qf8. 15...Qf8 is the move I did spend a lot of time upon when I started to work on the variation. The queen retreats to the king’s headquarters, and as we shall see, with the pawn on b4 this gives rise to an interesting struggle with new possibilities for both sides and many complicated variations. (D2c431) On the other hand, the extra possibility 15...Qe7!? might be of great practical value for those that do not have much time to study:

This move prevents the Nc3-e4 jump, and after 16.Nxd4 Nxd4 17.exd4 Rxd4 (17...Be6 18.Rfd1 a5 19.Qb2²; 17...a5 18.bxa5 Rxa5 19.Nb5 Bd7 20.Qc7²), we have arrived at a situation in which the pawn on b4 actually shields any attacks on our b7-pawn from the b3-square, so this is an element in Black’s favor. Let us see how play might continue form here: 18.Nb5 The engines indicate there is nothing better. After 18.Rfe1 Be6 19.Nb5 Re4!? 20.Qc7 (20.f3 Re5) 20...Qxc7 21.Nxc7 Rd8 22.Nxe6 Rxe6 23.Kf1 Rde8 Black has reached a very harmonious position and an easy draw. If all the rooks are now exchanged, he can place his pawn on b6, knight on c7 and there are no entry points into his camp. 18...Re4 This might seem a bit dangerous, but it is possible. I also looked at 18...Rd8!? 19.Rfe1 (19.Nxa7 Bd7 20.Nb5 Bxb5 21.Bxb5 Rxa3=; 19.Nc7 Rb8 20.Rfe1 Bd7 21.Bf3 Qd6 22.Rcd1 Qf8=; 19.Bf3 Bg4=) 19...Bd7 20.Bf3 Qf8 21.Nc7 Rab8 189

I came to the conclusion that White’s slight pull can be neutralized: 22.Qc4! h6 23.h3 Bf5 24.Qf4 Bg6 25.Red1 Rxd1+ 26.Rxd1 b6 27.Nb5 a5! (27...a6 28.Nc7 [28.Nd4 Rd8] 28...a5 29.Rd6 axb4 30.axb4 Qe7 31.Nd5 Nxd5 32.Bxd5 Qc7 33.Qg3 Bf5 34.b5 Re8 is not bad either) 28.Nd6 (28.Na7 Rd8 29.Rxd8 Qxd8=) 28...Rd8 29.Qe5 Ne8 30.Nc4 Rxd1+ 31.Bxd1 axb4 32.axb4 Nf6 33.Nd6 Qa8= and the draw is near. Let us now return to 18...Re4:

19.Bd3 19.Qxc8+ Rxc8 20.Rxc8+ Ne8 21.Bg4= leads to an immediate draw; 19.Bf3 Re5 is about equal. 19...Re5 20.f4! The critical move. 190

Instead, 20.Nxa7 Bh3! 21.gxh3 Rxa7 22.Qc8+ Ne8 23.Rc3 (23.Qc3 Qg5+ 24.Kh1 Qf4 25.Bb1 b5©) 23...g6 24.Qb8 b6 25.Qxb6 Rd7 26.Ba6 Nf6© gives Black powerful compensation for the pawns. 20...Re6! Planning ...Re6-c6, untangling the rook. Instead, 20...Re3? 21.Qd2 Bd7 22.Nd6! Re6 23.Nxb7 Bb5 24.Bxb5 Qxb7 25.Bd3± is just a pawn down for Black. 21.Qb2 (21.Nxa7 Bd7 22.Nb5 Re3!=) 21...Rc6 22.Qe5 Qd8 23.Rxc6 bxc6 24.Nc7 Ng4! Black has equalized, so we have a good alternative to (D2c432) 15...Qf8, which we will now examine in some depth.

16.Ne4!? A dynamic move, hoping for an attack. But it is not the only one. At this point White has plenty of alternatives which lead to interesting, full-fledged fights. (a) One such alternative is 16.b5, when Black has to play with precision: 16...dxc3 17.bxc6 Qxa3! 18.Qxc3 This is the calm way of handling things. Instead, 18.c7!? Rd7 19.Nd4 (19.Rfd1?! Qb2!³; 19.Qxc3 Qxc3 20.Rxc3 Nd5 21.Rc5 b6! 22.Rxd5 Rxd5 23.Nd4 Rc5 24.Bf3 Ba6!∞ looks risky for White as Black will get two queenside passers) 19...Qe7 20.Qxc3 Ne8 21.Nb5 a6 22.Qa5 g6= is wild and wooly.

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We have a crazy position in which Stockfish is stuck at 0.00 at depth 43, so I guess it is equal. However do not expect me to tell you what is going on, I simply cannot understand! Let us return to 18.Qxc3: 18...Qxc3 19.Rxc3 bxc6 20.Ne5 Nd5 21.Rxc6 Be6 22.Rc5 Nb4 23.Bf3 Rac8 The ending that has arisen is equal. Play could continue 24.Rb5 Nd5 25.Rd1 f6 26.g3 Nc3 27.Rxd8+ Rxd8 28.Rc5 fxe5 29.Rxc3 Bh3=. (b) Another line is 16.Nxd4 Nxd4 17.exd4, when the star move is 17...a5!, exploiting White’s b2-b4 advance to generate counterplay. I checked here the following three possibilities in my efforts to demonstrate the resilience of Black’s position: (b1)18.b5?!, (b2)18.bxa5 and (b3)18.Na4!. My findings, as you can witness immediately below, were quite satisfactory for the defending side.

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(b1) 18.b5?! Qxa3³ is a tad better for Black, e.g., 19.Na4 Be6 20.Nb6 Rab8 and the knight on b6 is not enough to cramp us. (b2) 18.bxa5 is initially favored strongly by the engines, but after some time the evaluation drops to equal: 18...Rxa5 19.Qd2 This looks most critical. Easier for us are instead 19.a4 Rxd4 20.Nb5 Rd8 21.Bf3 Bd7= and 19.Nb5 Bd7 20.a4 Rda8 21.Ra1 Bc6=; in this position Black will place his queen on d8 and knight on d5, keeping White tied to the defense of his weaknesses. Complicated play arises on the other hand after 19.Nb1!?, when Black should transfer his bishop to the long diagonal: 19...Bf5 20.Qb2 (20.Bd3 Bd7=) 20...Be4! 21.Rfd1 Bc6 22.Rc3 Rf5© (22...Nd5©). Let us get back to 19.Qd2: 19...Rxa3 20.Rb1 White wants to cramp us by playing like this. So, should pressure against b7 and a strong passed dpawn be enough to give White an advantage?

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20...Be6! No! Thanks to this temporary pawn sac Black equalizes easily. For example, 21.Rxb7 Rc8 22.Nb5 (22.Rc1?? Rcxc3 23.Rxc3 Ne4–+) 22...Ra2 23.Qd1 Rcc2 24.Bf3 Bc4 25.Na3!! Rd2 26.Nxc4 Rxd1 27.Rxd1= and a position of approximate equality has arisen on the board. (b3) 18.Na4! This one prepares to invade the weakened b6-square. After 18...axb4 19.Nb6 Rb8 20.axb4 Be6 21.Qc5 White has apparently held his pawn, but there is more into it:

21...Rd6! A multi-purpose move, coordinating everything. Slightly weaker is instead 21...Nd5 22.Nxd5 Rxd5 194

23.Qxf8+ Kxf8 24.Rfd1 Rbd8 25.Rc7². 22.Bf3 Qd8 23.Nc4 Rxd4! (23...Bxc4 24.Rxc4 b5 25.Rcc1 Rxd4 26.Rfd1 Rxd1+ 27.Rxd1 Qf8 28.Rc1²) 24.Rfd1 Rxd1+ 25.Rxd1 Qf8 26.Nd6 Bg4! 27.Bxg4 Nxg4 This position is completely equal here, in spite of the slight weakness of the b7-pawn.

For example, 28.Rc1 (28.h3 Nf6 29.Rd4 [29.Qe5 Rd8=] 29...Qe7 30.Ne4 Qxc5 31.Nxc5 b6 32.Nd7 Nxd7 33.Rxd7 Kf8 34.b5 Re8 35.Rb7 Re6=; 28.Nf5 Qxc5 29.bxc5 Kf8=) 28...Nf6 29.Qe5 Rd8! 30.Nxb7 Rb8 31.Nd6 Rxb4 32.h3 Rb8=. (c) The other way of taking on d4 is 16.exd4!? to which we best reply as follows:

16...Bg4! 195

Once more, the engines will tell you that White is better here, but looking at the position on the board, I felt Black was having a good time when I started my research. He has brought all his pieces out on active squares and d4 is sort of weak. In addition, he keeps handy the ...a7-a5 lever to create more weaknesses or open lines. Instead, 16...a5 is not so good because of 17.bxa5! (17.d5 axb4 18.dxc6 bxc3 19.c7 Rd7 20.Qxc3 Ne8=) 17...Rxa5 (17...Qxa3 18.a6 Nb4 19.Qb1 Nxa6 20.Bc4ƒ) 18.Nb5 Bg4 19.Qb2²; even worse is 16...Nxd4?! 17.Nxd4 Rxd4 18.Bf3±. 17.d5! It did not take me too long to realize that this dynamic central push is White’s only attempt to squeeze something out of the position. After 17.Qb2 Nxd4 18.Nxd4 Rxd4 19.Bxg4 Nxg4 20.Nb5 Rd7= the game is just level. I know this is a baffling comment to make every now and again, but we play the Tarrasch to equalize mostly; remember, this is not the King’s Indian. 17...Bxf3 18.Bxf3 Nd4 19.Qd3 Nxf3+

20.gxf3! The critical, albeit committal choice. For the sake of not removing the queen from the vicinity of his b4-pawn, White is prepared to weaken his king. We should keep in mind that White will be trying to beat us from this position as he is a pawn up, so he might burn some bridges in the process. After 20.Qxf3 a5, we get a lot of counterplay against d5 and b4 and the draw looks easier: 21.Rb1 Instead, 21.Ne4!? Nxd5 22.b5 is strongly answered by 22...Ne7! (22...b6?! 23.Rfd1 Ra7 24.Rc6 Rad7 25.h3 h6 26.Rd4² is a positional concession) 23.g3 (23.Rc7 b6 24.g3 h6 25.Nc3 Rac8 26.Rxc8 Rxc8 27.Rd1 Rd8 is an improved version of the above line for Black) 23...Rac8 24.Kg2 h6 25.a4 Ng6= and I cannot see anything really threatening for Black. 21...axb4 22.axb4 196

22...Rac8! The rook is preparing to plunge into the nice c4-square; worse is 22...Ra3?! 23.Rfd1±. 23.Rfd1 23.Qd3 Qd6 24.Rfd1 Ng4! 25.Qh3 Qf4„ is an instructive idea. After 23.Rfd1, the right way for Black to proceed is 23...Rc4! 24.Qd3 (24.b5 Qc5∞) 24...Rxb4 25.Rxb4 Qxb4 26.d6 Qc5! 27.Ne4 Nxe4 28.Qxe4 Qc6 29.Qe5 b5=. Obviously there is no question of a White advantage here. Let us now return to 20.gxf3!: 20...a5! Black must create more weaknesses in the enemy position. 20...Rd7 21.Rcd1² is not a clear equalizer. 21.Qd4! White took back with the g-pawn on f3 in order to be able to defend both his pawns from the d4square. We have reached a critical moment in the opening struggle:

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21...axb4! (21...Qd6 22.Rfd1 axb4 23.axb4 Nh5 24.Kh1± is better for White) 22.axb4 Ra6! That is what it all was about! The rook enters the fight in this peculiar way, eyeing not only the d5pawn but also White’s weakened kingside. 23.Kh1! Creating the possibility of pressure along the g-file presents some problems, but Black should eventually handle them. The two alternatives examined below offer Black less stiff challenges: After 23.Rfe1 Rad6 24.Re5 Nd7 25.Rg5 f5©, the white rook is misplaced on g5. I also looked at 23.Rcd1 Rad6 24.Qc4, which is met strongly by 24...Qe7! 25.Kh1 (25.Rfe1 Qd7 26.Re5 Qh3 shows the problems White faces if his king lingers on g1 too long) 25...Qe5! 26.Rd3 Qf5 27.Rfd1 Re8© and Black’s control of the e-file nullifies White’s extra pawn, all the more so as the white king remains unsafe. Back to 23.Kh1!: 23...h6 (23...Rad6? 24.Ne4±) 24.Rg1! The most difficult to deal with. After 24.Rcd1 Rad6 25.Qc4 (25.Ne4 Rxd5 26.Nxf6+ gxf6=) 25...Rc8! 26.Qd4 (26.Qb3 Re8 27.Rfe1 Rxe1+ 28.Rxe1 Qd8=) 26...Rcd8 27.Qe5 Qe8! 28.Qxe8+ Nxe8 29.Rfe1 Kf8 30.Rd4 Rb6 31.Ne4 Nc7 32.Red1 Nb5 33.Rc4 Nd6 34.Nxd6 Rbxd6 35.Rcd4 Ke7 36.Kg2 Rg6+ 37.Kf1 Rf6 38.f4 Rc8 39.Re1+ Kd7= the ending is drawn in view of White’s many weaknesses.

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24...Kh8 25.Rg3!? Preparing a brutal attack along the g-file is White’s best plan. However, I think I have managed to find a very good defense against it. Another nice motif is shown after 25.Rce1!?: 25...Re6! Preventing White from improving his rook further via e5. 26.Re3 Re7!? Preparing a rook shift to d7 if needed. Black keeps the game under control as shown by the following lines: (a) 27.Qc5 Rxe3 28.fxe3 Qxc5 29.bxc5 Rc8 30.e4 Rxc5∞ leads to an unclear ending where Black will have to use the ...g7-g5 move soon in order to control the f4-square and possibly undermine White’s pawn chain later with ...g5-g4. (b) 27.Rd1 Red7 28.Qc4 Ne8 29.Red3 Qe7 30.Qf4 Qd6 31.Qxd6 Nxd6 32.Ne4 g6 gives Black enough compensation for a draw. (c) 27.Rge1 Red7 28.Re5 is well answered with 28...Ne8! This is a strong retreat, as from e8, the knight eyes the key squares c7 (to attack d5) and d6 (or block it!). In spite of his extra pawn, White cannot achieve anything of substance: 29.Qe4 (29.Rg1 Nc7=; 29.Qc5 Nd6=; 29.Nb5 Nd6 30.Nxd6 Rxd6 31.Qc4 f6 32.Re7 Rxd5 33.Rxb7 Rd4 gives Black enough compensation to draw comfortably) 29...Nc7 30.Re7 Qxe7 31.Qxe7 Rxe7 32.Rxe7 Nxd5 33.Nxd5 Rxd5 34.Rxb7 Rf5 35.Kg2 Rf4 36.b5 Rb4 37.b6 g5=. Let us return to 25.Rg3!? now: 25...Rad6 26.Rcg1

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26...Nxd5! A shocking but strong idea. Even the computer underestimates it. 27.Rxg7 Nf6! 28.Qa7 (28.Qh4 Qxg7 29.Rxg7 Kxg7 30.Qg3+ Kf8 31.Qf4 Nd5 32.Nxd5 Rxd5 33.Qxh6+ Kg8 34.Qe3 R8d6 35.f4 b6=) 28...Qxg7 29.Rxg7 Kxg7 30.Qxb7 The engines are very optimistic for White here, but the prospect of a fortress makes the position drawish, e.g. 30...Rd3 31.Qc7 R8d4 32.Qg3+ (32.b5 Rxf3 33.b6 Rg4 34.Nd1 Rb4 35.b7 Rfb3 36.Ne3 Rxb7=) 32...Kh7 33.Qe5 Nd7

34.Qf5+!? (34.Qc7 Rxf3 35.Ne2 Rd2 36.Kg2 Rf5 37.Qc4 Kg8! 38.h4 Nf8 39.Qc8 Rd7 40.Ng3 Rf4 41.Qc1 Rxh4 42.b5 Rg4 43.Kf1 Rd5 44.Qc6 Re5 45.b6 Rg6 46.Qc7 Rb5 47.b7 Rgb6 gets White 200

nowhere) 34...Kg8 35.Ne4 Rd1+ 36.Kg2 Rxb4 37.Qg4+ Kf8 38.Qf4 Rb6 39.Ng3 Rd5 40.Nf5 Rg6+ 41.Kf1 Rf6 42.Qb4+ Rc5! 43.Ng3 Rxf3! 44.Kg2 Rf6 45.Ne4 Rff5 46.h4 h5 47.f3 Kg8 48.Nxc5 Nxc5=. This is a fortress. Let us return to 16.Ne4!?:

16...Nxe4 This looks practically forced. Instead, clearly bad is 16...Nd5? 17.Neg5 g6 18.b5+– as it loses a pawn without compensation, and I would not recommend any of the following two alternatives either: (a) 16...dxe3?! 17.Nfg5‚ gives White a dangerous attack. (b) 16...Qe7?! is also weak in view of 17.Nxf6+ Qxf6 18.b5 Bf5 19.e4 d3 20.Bxd3 Nd4 21.Nxd4 Qxd4 22.exf5 Qxd3 23.Qxd3 Rxd3 24.a4± and Black is struggling in this ending in view of his minus pawn. 17.Qxe4 Re8 18.Qd3! White has to keep the queen targeting h7. I checked just in case the following three alternatives and found nothing wrong with our position: (a) After 18.Qf4 dxe3 19.fxe3 Qe7 20.Rc3 h6 21.b5 Nd8∞ Black is not at all worse. (b) 18.Qc2 is a less accurate in view of 18...dxe3 19.Ng5 g6 20.fxe3 (20.Bc4 can be answered with either 20...Bf5„ or 20...e2„) 20...Bf5 21.Qb3 Nd4 22.exd4 Rxe2 23.g4 Qe7 24.Qxf7+ Qxf7 25.Nxf7 Kxf7=. (c) Finally, 18.Qb1 dxe3 19.Ng5 (19.fxe3 h6) 19...g6 20.fxe3 Bf5 21.e4 Qh6!? is hardly dangerous for Black. Let us return to 18.Qd3!: 18...dxe3 19.Ng5! g6 20.fxe3 Putting serious pressure on f7. Now I looked at several possibilities, but it seems to me that the only complete answer is 20...Bf5! protecting against the attack on f7 while gaining time.

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We will not look at the other options, because 20...Bf5! is positionally strong and brings about equality in a relatively smooth manner. I will only mention that 20...Qe7!? falls just short of equalizing but it contains a lot of tactical and strategic points for those who want to delve deeper into the intricacies of the position. 21.e4 After 21.Rxf5 gxf5 22.Qxf5 Qg7 23.Ne4 Nd4! 24.Nf6+ Qxf6 25.Qxf6 Nxe2+ 26.Kf1 Nxc1 27.Qg5+ the game ends in a draw. 21...Be6 Having provoked the weakening e3-e4, we now retreat. From this point play will revolve around Black’s ability to successfully utilize the dark squares, e5 in particular, as compensation for White’s space and higher piece activity. 22.Qe3! (a) I also checked 22.b5 Rad8 23.Nxe6 Rxe6 24.Qe3 Ne5 (24...Nd4!? 25.Bc4 Re7) 25.Qxa7 b6© when Black’s excellent centralization and powerful knight on e5 fully compensate for the pawn. (b) 22.Qg3 is best answered with 22...Qg7! 23.Kh1 (23.Nxe6 fxe6!=) 23...Nd4 24.Bg4 Rac8 25.Rxc8 Rxc8=. 22...Ne5! This natural move is strong, but in order to appreciate it one has to investigate first the alternatives. (a) 22...h6 loses an important tempo and lands Black in a difficult position: 23.Nxe6 Rxe6 24.Bc4 Re7 25.Bd5 Ne5 26.h3! (26.Qg3 Qg7 27.Qh4 Rd7 28.Rc2 Kh7 29.h3 Re8 30.Rcf2 Ree7=) 26...Kg7 (26...Kh7 27.Rf6 Qg7 28.Rcf1±) 27.Qd4! f6 28.Rc2 Rd7 29.Rcf2 Rd6 30.a4! a6 31.a5 Qe7 32.Rb2

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White has a clear plan to advance b4-b5 or penetrate via the c-file and this gives Black a lot of headaches. Play could proceed as follows from here: 32...Qc7!? 33.Qc5 Qd8 34.Rbb1 Rc8 35.Qe3 b5! 36.Rbc1 h5 37.Qa7+ Nd7 38.Rfd1². The position may be defendable but Black’s game is unquestionably the more difficult one. (b) 22...Qg7 looks at first like a good move, yet after the shocking 23.Ba6! Nd8 (23...bxa6 24.Rxc6±) 24.Bb5 Re7 25.Ba4! h6 26.Qc5 f6 27.Nf3 Kh7 28.h4!, Black’s position is full of weaknesses and is clearly unenviable. Let us return to 22...Ne5!: White has a choice between (D2c4321) 23.Rc5, (D2c4322) 23.Nxe6, (D2c4323) 23.Rc7, (D2c4324) 23.Qf4 and (D2c4325) 23.Qg3.

23.Qg3 is I guess the most logical human reaction: White wants to annoy us on e5, which is a key 203

point for our defence. I gave this option a main line status since it appeared to me as the most natural, so we will come back to it later, after first checking the other four possibilities: (D2c4321) To start with, 23.Rc5 is a move that has a similar motive to 23.Qg3; it is magnificently dealt with by 23...Qd6!=, although it has to be admitted that the lines are extremely hard to calculate. The point is 24.Qc3 (24.Rd1 Qb6!) 24...Ba2! 25.Qb2 b6! and Black is ready to kick back the knight with ...h7-h6 in case of a rook retreat, a fact that forces White to play incisively: 26.Rxe5!? A brilliant defensive idea is featured in the line 26.Rb5 Bc4 27.Bxc4 Nxc4 28.Qf2!? (the ending arising after 28.Nxf7 Qxh2+! 29.Kxh2 Nxb2 30.Rd5 Nc4 31.Rd7 Rxe4 32.Kg1 Ne5 33.Nxe5 Rxe5 34.Rff7 Rh5 35.a4 a6= is dead level ) 28...Rf8 29.Nxf7 Qe6 30.Nh6+ Kg7

31.Nf5+! gxf5 32.Qd4+! Kg8 33.Rbxf5 Rxf5 34.Rxf5: Black plays the astounding 34...Rf8!! 35.Rg5+ Kf7 36.Rd5 b5 37.Rxb5 (37.Qf2+ Ke8 38.Qxa7 Qb6+ 39.Qxb6 Nxb6 40.Rxb5 Rf6=) 37...Kg6!= and miraculously holds everything! After 26.Rxe5!? a logical continuation for Black is 26...Qxe5 (26...Rxe5 27.Nf3 Rxe4 28.Qxa2 Qe6! 29.Qxe6 Rxe6 30.Bc4 Re7 31.Ng5 Rf8 32.Rd1∞) 27.Qxa2 Qxg5 28.Rxf7 Qe3+! 29.Kh1 Qxe2! 30.Qxe2 Kxf7= and the game is drawish. (D2c4322) A rather colorless reaction is 23.Nxe6 Rxe6 24.Bd1 Rc6 25.Bb3 Rxc1=, but this is actually the type of position we want to get, because it conceals some slight winning chances for Black. The combination of queen and knight can perform miracles and is favored here by the fact there are weaknesses in the white camp. (D2c4323) The rook intrusion 23.Rc7 is only optically threatening, but Black has to display some expertise to prove it:

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23...b6! 24.Qc3 h6! A great move, clearing the atmosphere at the cost of a pawn. Black gets a lot of compensation in the resulting positions: 25.Qxe5 (25.Nxe6 Rxe6=) 25...hxg5 26.Qxg5 Qd6! Now the black queen springs to life with tempo and White’s queenside weaknesses will soon begin to show. I think the following is a correct line, showing exactly what Black aims at: 27.Rc3 27.Qg3 Qxg3 28.hxg3 a5! 29.b5 Rad8 30.Rb7 Rd2 31.Bf3 Ra2 32.Rxb6 Rxa3=. 27...a5! 28.Rd1 Qf8 29.b5 Rac8! 30.Rxc8 Rxc8 31.Qe3 a4! 32.e5 Qc5 33.Qxc5 Rxc5 34.Kf2 Rc3 35.Rd3 Rb3! 36.Ke1 Rb1+ 37.Kd2 Ra1=

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Black has enough activity for the pawn; White is tied up. It is important for Black to put his pawn on g5 in this position to cramp White further. (D2c4324) Finally, 23.Qf4 is a multi-purpose move that gave me a lot of headaches, but in the end equality was found: 23...Ba2!

This motif again! Black prepares ...h7-h6. 24.Bb5!? After 24.Rc2 h6!! 25.Rxa2 hxg5 26.Qxg5 a5! 27.bxa5 (27.b5 Qc5+ 28.Kh1 Rad8 29.h4 Nd3=) 27...Rxa5 28.Qg3 Rea8= there are no problems. 24...Re7 25.Rc2 a6! 26.Be2 (26.Ba4? Bc4!µ) 26...h6 27.Rxa2 hxg5 28.Qxg5 206

What White has achieved here is that the black queen’s diagonal to b4 has been blocked, but playing ...a6-a5 is not the only way to create counterplay:

28...Rc8 Once more, Black’s activity and pressure on the dark squares compensates for the pawn. This is a position that can go either way, but objectively speaking Black has an excellent game. The proof: 29.Rd2 29.h4!? is not scary in view of 29...Re6! 30.Rd2 (30.h5 Qe7 31.Qg3 Rf6©) 30...Qe7 31.Qg3 Kg7 32.h5 Rf6!, when we want to exchange a pair of rooks to accentuate the vulnerability of white’s king. After 33.Rfd1 Re6© our compensation is full, as, once more, the threat ...a6-a5 is on the cards; in case of 34.hxg6 Rxg6= Black is clearly the more appealing side although the engines say it is just equal. 29...Re6 30.Rfd1! (30.Bg4 Nxg4 31.Qxg4 Qe8©) 30...Kg7! 31.Rd8 Rxd8 32.Qxd8 Qxd8 33.Rxd8

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This ending represents White’s best chance, but Black should still draw fairly easily: 33...Rc6! 34.Rd5 (34.a4 Rc2 35.Kf1 Ra2=) 34...Nc4! Here we have to part with our wonderful knight but it is not a problem. 34...Kf6? would be a terrible mistake, allowing the exchange of the wrong piece: 35.Rc5! Rxc5 36.bxc5 a5 (36...Nd7 37.c6 bxc6 38.Bxa6+–) 37.Bb5+– 35.Bxc4 (35.Rd7 b5 36.Bxc4 bxc4 37.Rd2 a5! 38.bxa5 Rc5 39.a6 Ra5 40.Ra2 Rxa6 41.Kf2 Ra4 42.Ke3 f6 43.Kd4 g5= is a positional draw; 35.a4 Nb6! 36.Ra5 Rc2 37.Kf2 Ra2 38.e5 Nxa4! 39.Ke3 Nc3 40.Rxa2 Nxa2=) 35...Rxc4

36.e5!? (36.Rd7 Rxe4 37.Rxb7 Re1+ 38.Kf2 Ra1=) 36...Rc1+ 37.Kf2 Rc2+ 38.Kg3 Rc3+ 39.Kf4 Rxa3 40.Rd7 Kf8 41.Rxb7 Ra2= 208

(D2c4325) Time to check 23.Qg3: 23...Ba2 Again, this is the important move. We defend the Ne5 and we want to evict the Ng5 with ...h7-h6. How many times have I said that? 24.Rc2!? (after 24.Bb5 Re7 25.Rc2 a6! 26.Be2 h6! 27.Rxa2 hxg5 28.Qxg5 Rc8= we reach a familiar structure) 24...h6!

25.Bb5! Re7 26.Rxa2 hxg5 27.Qxg5 Qd8! This move yields benefits. We obtain control of the d-file and the threatened checks give Black the desired momentum; worse is instead 27...Re6 28.Rd2². 28.Ba4 Re6! We start pushing White back. 29.Qf4!? (29.Qxd8+ Rxd8 30.Bb3 Rc6 31.Bd5 Rc7 32.h3 Kg7 is equal as our blockade on e5 and control over the c-file outweigh the pawn minus. After ...b7-b6, the Bd5 will have no targets and our rooks will be free to infiltrate) 29...Qd4+ 30.Kh1 Qc3! This is a fantastic square for the queen, cramping the Ba4 by taking away b3 from it.

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31.h3 (31.Qc1 Rf6!=; 31.Rc1 Rf6! 32.Rxc3 Rxf4=; 31.Raa1 Rf8 32.Rab1 Nc4! 33.Bb3 b5 34.Rf3 Qe5©) 31...a5! 32.Rc1 Qd3 33.Rac2 Kg7! 34.Rc8 Rxc8 35.Rxc8 Qb1+ 36.Kh2 Qb2 37.Bc2 Rc6! 38.Re8 Rxc2 39.Qxe5+ Qxe5+ 40.Rxe5 a4! 41.Ra5 b5 42.Rxb5 Rc3 43.Ra5 Rxa3 44.b5 Kf6= Black’s activity guarantees the draw in this rook ending. Here our journey to the challenging variation 5.Bg5!? ends. It is an annoying system for Black, but I believe I have provided all the tools he needs in order to equalize. Obviously our winning chances are very much reduced when facing this system, so we have to be pragmatic, play the best moves and draw. There are simply no miracles here.

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Let us now proceed to have a look at fianchetto positions without a knight on c3. (M) 5.g3 Nf6 6.Bg2 Nc6 As we will see, it is wiser to play this knight move before castling. Failure to comply with this has its consequences as becomes apparent in the note below. After 6...Be7 7.0-0 0-0?! (7...Nc6 is the right move), White has the annoying 8.dxc5! Bxc5 9.a3!²

with a slight advantage. He threatens to gain space with b2-b4, but after the typical 9...a6 (designed to pull the bishop back to a7; instead, 9...Ne4 10.b4 Be7 11.Bb2 Bf6 does not equalize with the knight still on b8 in view of 12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.Qd4!²), he suddenly stops for a move and plays 10.Nc3! first. This developing move toys with two ideas: One is Bc1-g5 with pressure against d5, the other is b2-b4 followed by e2-e3, Bc1-b2, Nc3-e2!, gaining full control over d4. It turns out that Black cannot cope with both plans. For example: 10...h6 This became the main move here by virtue of preventing the unpleasant Bc1-g5, but otherwise it cannot make much of a difference as Black is worse anyway. Instead: (a) The relatively best 10...Nc6 is worse for Black after 11.b4²; another good option for White is 11.Bg5², when the standard 11...d4 12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.Ne4 Qe7 14.Nxc5 Qxc5² is less good for us with the insertion of the moves a2-a3 and ...a7-a6. (b) 10...d4?! 11.Na4 Ba7 12.b4 Nc6 13.Bb2 Bg4 14.Nc5 Bxc5 15.bxc5 is also worse for Black as the d4-pawn is too weak. Returning to 10...h6, after 11.b4 Ba7 12.e3 Nc6

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the standard maneuver 13.Ne2! Bf5 14.Bb2² leads to pressure for White in the center and on the queenside, as Black has been deprived of ...d5-d4 ideas and has also lost time with ...h7-h6. You may ask, what prevents White from playing the same early a2-a3 idea even in the position in which Black has played ...Nb8-c6 before castling? The answer is basically nothing, but as we shall see, in that case Black gets good chances with a quick knight jump to e4. But more about that later, when the crucial position arrives. 7.0-0 7.Bg5 Be7 8.dxc5 Bxc5 9.Nc3 d4 transposes to Nb1-c3 positions. 7...Be7 Here the main move in practical play is 8.Nc3 of course, but White can delay it or even omit it altogether, in order to keep the a1-h8 long diagonal open and better control over the d4-square. I examined no less than six alternative options for White: (M1) 8.Nbd2, (M2) 8.b3, (M3) 8.e3, (M4) 8.a3, (M5) 8.Be3!? and (M6) 8.dxc5. 8.dxc5 will be our main line as it is perhaps the most interesting deviation from standard play. White stops ...c5-c4 ideas once and for all and hopes to establish control of the center, setting his sights right away on the d4-square. Most of the alternatives are slier and don’t present us with acute problems: (M1) 8.Nbd2

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This looks a bit clumsy but obviously it is not such a bad move. White wants to take on c5 and then play Nd2-b3-d4, placing his knight on a fine central square. However, the problem with such a strategy is that White does not apply immediate pressure on the center, thus allowing Black to configure his pieces on optimal positions without any difficulties. Let us check briefly how things can move on from here: 8...0-0 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.Nb3 After 10.a3, Black should not hesitate to stifle b2-b4 with 10...a5, preventing White from getting access to the important c5-square. The statistics are on our side here, one example being 11.Nb3 Bb6 12.Nbd4 Re8 13.Bf4 Nxd4 14.Nxd4 Bg4 15.h3 Bd7 16.Bg5 Rc8 17.e3 h6 18.Bxf6 Qxf6= with equality, Bundgaard-Jorgensen, Denmark 1975. 10...Bb6 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.Qd2 Re8 14.Rac1 Bg4 15.h3 Bf5³

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Black had an excellent game in Pieper Emden-Libeau, Germany 1992. I cannot see how the move 8.Nbd2 can be threatening for us. (M2) 8.b3 is a move dictated by the desire to control d4 as quickly as possible with the queen’s bishop, but Black can exploit the situation to obtain equality with the following typical maneuver: 8...Ne4 9.Bb2 Bf6

By placing our bishop on f6 we have neutralized White’s pressure on the long diagonal before it has even started. White has various moves here, but no advantage. 10.Na3 This is the move that has been played most, but putting the knight at the edge of the board has its drawbacks. For example, it leaves the Ne4 unchallenged and the c3-square becomes slightly weak too. Alternatively: (a) 10.Nc3 allows a liquidation in the center, leading to a drawish position: After 10...Nxd4 11.Nxd4 Bxd4 12.Qc2 (12.Nxe4 Bxb2 13.Rb1 dxe4³ can be dangerous only for White) 12...Bxc3 13.Bxc3 0-0 14.Bxe4 dxe4 15.Qxe4= a draw was agreed in Akopian-Dorfman, Barcelona 1992. (b) 10.e3 Bg4 11.h3 Bxf3 12.Bxf3 0-0 13.Bxe4 dxe4 14.Nc3 cxd4 15.Nxe4 Be5= was level in Ivanisevic-Tadic, Belgrade 2003. (c) Possible is 10.Nbd2, with the idea that if Black now takes with the pawn on d4, White will reply with 11.Nxe4 dxe4 12.Nd2, regaining the material and hoping to obtain some pressure against the remaining isolani. However, Black can fall in with his opponent’s plans, as they do not look so scary; for the sake of completeness I analysed both (c1) 10...Bf5 and (c2) 10...cxd4!?.

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10...cxd4!? would be my preference in a tournament game as I believe the resulting IQP on d4 is more of a strength than a weakness; on the other hand, Tarrasch expert Nino Batsiashvili has used successfully 10...Bf5 against strong opposition, so I thought it deserves serious consideration as well. (c1) After 10...Bf5 there is a parting of the ways: We will examine both (c11) 11.Nxe4?! and (c12) 11.e3!?, which is given by the machines as best. (c11) 11.Nxe4?! is weak; after 11...dxe4! 12.Nd2 Bxd4 13.Bxd4 Qxd4 White is facing a tough choice: 14.e3 Instead, 14.Nxe4 Bxe4 15.Qxd4 Nxd4 16.Bxe4 does not work because of 16...Nxe2+ 17.Kg2 0-0-0³ and Black defends his b7-pawn. One important detail here is 18.Rfe1 Nd4 19.Rac1 b6 20.b4

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20...Rhe8! 21.bxc5 b5!³ and Black’s prospects are bright as he has a potential passed pawn on the queenside while the c5-pawn is weak and only shields the black king from attacks. Returning to 14.e3, after 14...Qd3 15.Qc1 0-0-0! 16.Rd1 Rhe8! 17.Nc4 (17.Qxc5?? succumbs to 17...Bg4–+) 17...Qxd1+ 18.Qxd1 Rxd1+ 19.Rxd1 Kc7 20.Nd6 Rd8 21.Nb5+ Kb6 22.Rxd8 Nxd8 23.Nd6 Bg6 24.Nxe4 Kb5! 25.a3 Bxe4 26.Bxe4 c4³/µ Black had a significant advantage in the ending which she eventually converted to a full point in Svane-Batsiashvili, Douglas 2017. (c12) After the better 11.e3!?, the most logical continuation is 11...0-0 12.Ne5 Bxe5 13.dxe5 Qe7 14.Nxe4 dxe4 15.Qd6 Rad8 16.Qxe7 Nxe7 17.Rfd1 b6 18.Rd6 Nc8 19.Rdd1 Ne7= with a likely repetition. (c2) Let us now check my favorite move 10...cxd4!?: after 11.Nxe4 dxe4 12.Nd2 0-0 13.Nxe4 Be7,

Black’s game hardly looks any inferior to me. After all, the pawn on d4 cramps White to some extent and he has free play for his pieces. Play could continue as follows: 14.Qd3 In case of 14.Rc1 Qb6 15.Nd2 Rd8 16.a3 Qb5 17.Nc4, simplest is 17...Be6= and Black is doing fine; instead, 17...Qh5 allowed White to create some play with 18.e4 Bg4 19.f3∞ in Gausel-Thomas, Recklinghausen 1999. 14...Qb6 15.Nd2 Rd8 16.Rfd1!? White should try to develop and avoid making weaknesses because Black’s spatial advantage would allow him to access them easily, as in the following example: 16.Nc4 Qb5 17.a4?! Qh5 18.Bf3 Bg4 19.Bxg4 Qxg4 20.Kg2 Qe6 21.Qf3 Rd5! 22.Rad1 Rad8µ

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Black was better in Novikov-Bagirov, Moscow 2000, in view of White’s weak b3-pawn and worse king position. It is noteworthy that the exchange of light-square bishops that took place three moves ago contributes significantly to the emergence of these two factors. After 16.Rfd1!? Black should continue 16...Be6 17.Nc4 Qb5∞, with at least equal chances in my view. (d) One final alternative is the harmless 10.h3 which prevents ...Bc8-g4 but is certainly quite slow. After 10...0-0 11.e3 Bf5 (I also like 11...b6³) 12.Ne5 cxd4 13.Nxc6 bxc6 14.Bxd4 c5 15.Bxf6 Qxf6 16.Nd2 Nc3, White was already struggling to prove equality in Malakhov-Grischuk, Lausanne 2000. We will now return to have a look at 10.Na3: 10...0-0 11.Nc2 Re8

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12.Qc1 Trying to get rid of the pin is in my view the most logical continuation. Instead, 12.e3 can be met in a variety of ways. I like most 12...h6 13.Qc1 b6³. 12...b6! 13.dxc5 bxc5 We are now threatening ...Ne4-c3. 14.Ne3 Nd4!³ Black’s activity guarantees him the slightly better chances. In this line, the weakness of the c3-square is apparent. Therefore we can conclude that 8.b3 is harmless and gives White equality at most. (M3) 8.e3 is not a bad move, but it has no independent character and will mostly transpose to other known lines. After 8...0-0 9.dxc5 (9.b3?! fails to 9...cxd4 10.exd4 [10.Nxd4? Nxd4 11.Qxd4 Ne4µ] 10...Bg4 11.h3 Bh5³) 9...Bxc5 10.Nc3 (On 10.b3,

a simple solution is 10...d4 11.exd4 Nxd4 12.Ba3 Bxa3 13.Nxa3 Nc6!=) 10...Re8 11.b3 Bg4 we have transposed to a line of the normal fianchetto system with the knight developed on c3. This position is examined later on in the book, reached with the move order 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.g3 Nf6 7.Bg2 Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.b3. (M4) 8.a3 is the kind of move that invites ...c5-c4, getting rid of the isolani and acquiring some positional gains, such as a queenside pawn majority and control over the b3-square. We should not miss our chance to get all these benefits: After 8...c4! 9.Nc3 (9.b3 cxb3 10.Qxb3 0-0 11.Bg5 Na5 12.Qa2, as in Arkell N.-Rowan, Birmingham 2016, looks balanced after 12...Be6=, intending ...Nf6-e4) 9...0-0

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we have reached the main position of this line. As you must surely have noticed, the knight in the diagram position already stands on c3, so one could argue that this line does not belong here. The reason for including it into PART II(a) has to do with the fact that 8.a3 has a clean plan to play d4xc5 followed by b2-b4 as soon as possible, obtaining the best version of an extended QB fianchetto with the long diagonal still unblocked. Of course after 8...c4! that was never going to happen, but in any case I deemed it right to explain the reasoning behind my classification, as I often do for main lines and sidelines. Returning to pure analysis, it has to be pointed out that the benefits Black has acquired with his eighth move do not come entirely free of charge, as relaxing the central pressure invites White to attack on the kingside and the center, by using as a spearhead the move Nf3-e5. To battle White’s strategic plan, we have to use our trumps which are a queenside pawn majority and good control over the light squares. In the position after 9...0-0 I am going to examine the following possibilities: (M4a) 10.Bf4, (M4b) 10.Qc2 and (M4c) 10.Ne5. 10.Ne5 looks like the most logical move, freeing the f-pawn’s way and opening up the diagonal for the Bg2 to target the d5 pawn. The idea Ne5xc6 followed by e2-e4 is also in the air after it, so it gives us immediately some concrete issues to consider. I don’t think that the alternatives below are as much pressing: (M4a) I would not like 10.Bf4 so much from White’s point of view, because after 10...Bf5 Black grabs the important light squares and looks fine. For example, 11.Ne5 Rc8 12.e3 Ne4 13.Nxe4 Bxe4 14.Bxe4 dxe4 15.Nxc6 bxc6! 16.h4 Qd5 17.Qa4 a5 18.Rac1 h6! and White has problems with the Bf4. (M4b) 10.Qc2 stops ...Bc8-f5 but now White cannot play Nf3-e5. I think that renewing the idea of the bishop sortie to f5 will equalize here, so I recommend 10...g6 11.Bg5 Bf5 12.Qd1 Re8 with what looks like an interesting struggle. For example, 13.Ne5 Rc8! 14.Rc1 Nxe5 15.dxe5 Ne4 16.Be3 Nxc3

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17.Rxc3 Be6 18.Rc2 Qc7∞. (M4c) Coming to the main line 10.Ne5, Black can either try to exploit the weakness of b3, or simply continue his development and rely on centralization. Both options are good, but I guess you already know my preference for concrete play when it comes to the Tarrasch: 10...Na5 This results in more or less forced play. Instead, the engines slightly prefer 10...Be6 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.f4 Ne7∞; we will encounter similar positions in the main lines of the Tarrasch, examined later in this book. 11.Bg5 Nb3 12.Rb1 12.Ra2!? looks clumsy but it is not completely out of the question. After 12...Be6 13.f4 Ng4!∞, very dynamic positions arise in which Black will lose his central pawn but will get compensation as a result of the misplaced Ra2 and the weakness of the e3-square. I will give just one line generated with the help of the computers: 14.Nxg4 Bxg4 15.h3 Bf5 16.Bxe7 Qxe7 17.Nxd5 Qe6 18.g4 Be4 19.Nc7 Qc6 20.Bxe4 Qxe4 21.Nxa8 Rxa8 22.Qe1 Qe3+ 23.Qf2 Qxh3 24.Qf3 Qh4© 12...Bf5

13.e4! Thanks to this thrust, White avoids losing an exchange and balanced play results. There might follow: 13...Nxe4 14.Bxe4 Bxe4 15.Bxe7 Qxe7 16.Nxe4 f6! The only move, but good enough for equality. 17.Nxc4! This is a slight improvement over 17.Nc5 Nxc5 18.dxc5 Qxe5 19.Re1 Qf5³, as played in PengBerelowitsch, Vlaardingen 2005. 220

17...dxc4 18.Re1 Qc7 19.d5 Rad8„ The game remains tense, but completely equal according to the machines. We will now examine the fifth and last alternative to our main line 8.dxc5. (M5) This is none other than 8.Be3!?, an idea first played by Mark Taimanov but mostly popularized by Lev Gutman. White tempts the c-pawn to move forward, trusting that after b2-b3, ...c4xb3, Qd1xb3 he will develop an initiative by utilizing the pressure on d5 and b7. According to my research Black should be doing fine, but he should be careful, as we shall see. The good thing is the positions are imbalanced and there are chances for us to play for a win provided we are well prepared. 8...c4 9.b3 9.Ne5 0-0 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.b3 is considered by Aagaard and Ntirlis as an important alternative but I cannot see what is so important about it. White has exchanged the pride of his position (the Ne5) and can never be better. One recent example is 11...cxb3 12.axb3 Qb6 13.Nc3 Bf5 14.Bf4 h6 15.h3 Rfe8 16.g4 Bg6 and Black stood excellently in Glud-Barbero Sendic, Escaldes 2016. 9...cxb3 10.Qxb3 (10.axb3?! 0-0 11.Nc3 Bf5 12.Ne5 Nb4 13.Bg5 Rc8 14.Qd2 is pointless, and now, in Garcia-Amado, Buenos Aires 1977, Black could have gained a slight initiative by playing 14...a5!³) 10...0-0

This is the tabiya of the Gutman Variation. White has the following choice: (M5a) 11.Bg5, (M5b) 11.Nc3, (M5c) 11.Rc1, (M5d) 11.Nbd2 and (M5e) 11.Ne5. 11.Ne5 is the most common move in practice. White unleashes the Bg2, defends against ...Nc6-a5-c4 and prepares to create pressure in various ways. The other four alternatives are less impressive: (M5a) 11.Bg5 is a logical move that has a very good percentage in the database, however it has been achieved against mostly weak opposition. After 11...h6 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.e3 Na5 14.Qd3 Be6 15.Ne5?! (15.Nc3 Rc8 16.Rfc1 [16.Rab1 Qd7!³] 16...Qd7 looks balanced) 15...Rc8 16.f4 221

as played in Gutman-Wolf, Bundesliga 1991, Black should have played 16...Qc7!„, preventing the knight’s natural development to c3 and obtaining considerable counterplay. (M5b) 11.Nc3 was one of the first moves tried by Gutman. Now the universally adopted and best move for Black is 11...Na5 when White has at his disposal the following options: (M5b1) 12.Qd1, (M5b2) 12.Qb1 and (M5b3) 12.Qc2.

12.Qc2 is the obvious reply, but not the best. Better is 12.Qb1, as explained below. However I kept 12.Qc2 as a main line due to laziness, as I did not want to distort the flow of text as it was in my original notes. (M5b1) The third option 12.Qd1, as played in Hanssen-Brynell, Copenhagen 2006 is rather weak as it fails to press b7 and control f5. Black should play an immediate 12...Bf5³ enjoying the more 222

comfortable game. (M5b2) After 12.Qb1, I like 12...a6, trying to induce a weakness on b3. Alternatively, 12...Be6 13.Ng5 Rc8 14.Qd3 Nc4 15.Rab1 Qd7 16.Nxe6 fxe6 17.Bg5 a6 18.Bxf6 Bxf6², as in Fauland-Koenig, Austria 1991, produces the usual type of position that engines consider better for White. And they are right! After 12...a6, the most principled reply for White seems to be 13.Ne5, losing no time in trying to build a bind with a push of the f-pawn. Instead, 13.a4!? h6! 14.Ne5 Be6 15.f4 Rc8

finds Black well placed to meet 16.f5, as 16...Bxf5 17.Qxf5 Rxc3 18.Bd2 Rb3! 19.Ng4! Nxg4 20.Bxa5 Ne3! 21.Bxd8 Nxf5 22.Bxd5 Rb2 23.Bxe7 Nxe7 24.Bf3 Nf5 25.Rab1 Rxb1 26.Rxb1 b5 produces an easily drawn position. Let us return to 13.Ne5: After it, we have reached a very double-edged position which I believe is critical for the evaluation of the Gutman Variation.

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When I analyze such positions, I always get excited because I sense that in the ensuing tactics, Black can make something out of his active pieces and level the play or, perhaps, get the better chances by a miraculous idea. In those moments, somehow automatically, I manage to put aside such considerations like “Oh, we have three pawn islands and White has only two, so we can never equalize” or “ If the Tarrasch was a good opening all top players would be playing it” and many other negative thoughts. The truth is that to play the Tarrasch you need to prepare a lot, know endings, see tactics, be tenacious but, above all, believe it works. Otherwise, you cannot find the delicate truths concealed in it. The diagrammed position is a striking case where hard work and belief in the Tarrasch’s merits enabled me to find an equalizing solution. It was definitely not easy to refute and abolish my initial choice of (M5b21) 13...b5?! in favor of the correct (M5b22) 13...Be6!. 13...Be6! is the strongest move, preparing both ...b7-b5 and ...Ra8-c8. To find it, one has to be aware of two things: (a) the importance of developing to the maximum before attacking; and (b) the importance of detecting or observing slight changes in the position when they happen. I must say I do believe myself to be a careful observer of opening nuances, and that I also believe in the importance of preparation before concrete action. Still, in the present case, I forgot about both of them and the only move I originally considered was the ill-timed 13...b5?!, which is analyzed below. That happened because we people get carried away sometime by impulsive thoughts. After 13...b5?!, Black cannot reinforce his position in time and he ends up worse. The resource that enabled me to retract my mistaken thoughts, was not actually the fact that I suddenly remembered those two things mentioned above, which I had forgotten when I looked at the position for the first time; it was only my belief that the Tarrasch works, and that a solution had to exist. After some painstaking analysis, I finally found the right solution. (M5b21) Let us first see why 13...b5?! is weaker:

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Black has obtained space on the queenside and should be angling to play quickly ...Bc8-e6 and ...Ra8-c8, which calls for a quick reaction: 14.Bd2! Eyeing the Na5 and preparing either e2-e4 or a2-a4. It turns out that Black cannot meet both ideas in a reliable way. The other moves were satisfactory for Black. For example: (a) After 14.Bg5 Be6∞ Black stands great. (b) 14.Qd3 defends the Nc3 in advance, leaving us with a dilemma: 14...Be6! We should resist temptation to believe in ghosts and make unnatural moves. The meek 14...Bb7 was my initial human reaction, avoiding placing the bishop on the sensible e6square, however Stockfish would “bury” me positionally as follows:

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15.Rfb1! Nc4 16.a4 Nxe3 17.Qxe3 b4 18.a5! Bd6 19.Na2 Qxa5 20.Nxb4 Qc7 21.Nbd3² I do not like the position at all, in spite of our passed a-pawn; the knights are dangerous creatures in such situations, with so many strong points available and juicy pawn weaknesses to attack. Returning to 14...Be6!, after 15.f4 b4 16.f5 Bc8! (16...bxc3 17.fxe6 fxe6 18.Qxc3±) 17.Na4 Re8 Black’s position is good according to the engines, in spite of losing time. For example, 18.Rac1 Ne4 19.Bf4 Ra7∞ and a very complicated, tough fight, lies ahead. Let us now check the best move for White, namely 14.Bd2!: 14...Be6

15.a4! Striking at the point where Black is weaker. After 15.e4 Nc4 16.Nxc4 dxc4 17.d5 Bc5 18.Qb2 Bd7 19.e5 b4! 20.exf6 Qxf6 21.Rab1 bxc3 226

22.Bxc3 Qg6 23.Qd2 Rab8 24.Rxb8 Rxb8 25.Qf4 Bd6 26.Be5 Bxe5 27.Qxe5 Qb6 the position is balanced. 15...b4 16.Na2 Black’s far advanced pawn is doomed. By utilizing some tricks, Black manages to avoid material losses, but the resulting position is strategically unenviable: 16...Rb8 17.Nxb4 Qe8 18.Qe1 Nb3 19.Nxa6 Rc8 20.Nc5! Nxa1 21.Qxa1 Bf5 22.Rc1 Ne4 23.Bb4 Bd6 24.Ned3 Rc7 25.Qa2 Qa8 26.a5² (M5b22) Let us now see why 13...Be6! works:

14.Na4 Looking at the position, I realized that the annoying Nf3-g5 move had eclipsed and this was a slight change I had not observed earlier. So I started focusing on the two other ways of harassing the bishop. One of them was 14.f4 but I refuted this quickly with 14...Rc8 15.Qd3 (15.Na4 Nc4µ) 15...Bb4³. It was more difficult to refute 14.Na4 though: 14...b5 15.Nc5

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15...Qc8!! This appears rather shocking, but perhaps not really when you realize that it makes no sense for White to give up the impressive Nc5 for the Be6. Black is not worried about Rf1-c1, because he can always shield the file with ...Na5-c4. There remains only 16.a4, but Stockfish provides a radical solution: 16...Bxc5 17.dxc5 Rb8 18.axb5 Rxb5 19.Qd1 Ne4 20.Rc1 Nb3= and Black’s activity on the light squares balances the game, e.g. 21.Rc2 Nexc5 22.Bxd5 (22.Bxc5 Rxc5=) 22...Bxd5 23.Qxd5 Ne6 24.Qxb5 axb5 25.Rxc8 Rxc8 26.Rb1 Nbd4. (M5b3) Let us now have a quick look at 12.Qc2.

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12...a6! Again, this typical move does the trick. Rushing in with 12...Nc4 could be slightly worse for Black after 13.Bc1!²; instead, weaker are 13.Ng5 g6 and 13.Ne5!? Nxe3 14.fxe3 Be6 15.Rab1 Rb8∞ when Black has a very solid position and it is difficult for White to exploit the weakness of the d5-pawn. After 12...a6!?, the logical follow up is 13.Ne5 (13.Bf4 Bg4∞) 13...Be6 14.f4 Rc8 15.f5 Bd7„ when Black’s chances in my view are hardly inferior. White has overextended himself and has potentially weak squares in his camp. (M5c) 11.Rc1 is an interesting idea and a specialty of Epishin; the move is intended to add punch to the move Nf3-e5. I think the best reaction for Black is 11...Na5! 12.Qd3 Ne4 (Also deserving attention is 12...Nc4, and now both 13.Bf4 and 13.Nc3 require analysis) 13.Nc3 Nxc3 (13...Bf5 14.g4!²) 14.Rxc3 Be6= (M5d) 11.Nbd2

This move covers c4 in anticipation of ...Nc6-a5, but fails to press d5 and thus allows Black to reposition his other knight. This position has been contested between two Tarrasch experts: in the game Bezgodov-Potkin, Petroff Memorial 2000, play proceeded 11...Na5 12.Qd3 Ne8!? 13.Bf4 (13.Nb3 Nc4 14.Ne5 Be6 looks acceptable for Black, but needs more elaboration) and now Tsesarsky rightly recommends the brave 13...g5!?

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14.Be3 Nd6 15.Qc3 (15.Rfc1 Bf5 16.Qc3 Rc8 17.Qb2 Rxc1+ 18.Rxc1 Be6 19.Ne5 Qb6! 20.Qxb6 axb6„ looks very nice for Black) 15...b6 16.Ne5 Be6„ when Black’s finely coordinated pieces give him excellent chances. In fact I believe Black to be already better at this point. (M5e) It is now time to focus on the main continuation 11.Ne5: 11...Bd6!? I like this move of Jelen more than Kasparov’s 11...Qb6?!, when 12.Rc1! left him worse in his candidates match against Kortchnoi. With 11...Bd6!? we put pressure on the Ne5 straight away, tempting White to weaken himself.

In this position White has three logical continuations: (M5e1) 12.Nc3, (M5e2) 12.Nxc6 and (M5e3) 12.f4, the most critical move by far.

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(M5e1) Black keeps everything under control after 12.Nc3 Nxe5 13.dxe5 Bxe5 14.Rad1 Bxc3 15.Qxc3 Be6 16.Bd4 b6 17.f4 (17.e3 Qe7 18.Bxf6 Qxf6 19.Qxf6 gxf6 20.Bxd5 Rac8=) 17...Rc8 18.Qb2 Re8 19.Rd2 (19.h3?! Bf5³) 19...Qe7= (M5e2) 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.Nc3 has been tried by my good friend GM Dusan Rajkovic. Other 13th moves also fail to make an impression on Black’s position: (a) 13.Bg5 is logical, to get rid of the black knight, yet after 13...h6 14.Bxf6 Qxf6 15.e3 Rb8! Black gets enough initiative via the b-file in return for the weaker pawn structure: 16.Qa4 (16.Qc2 Rb6) 16...Rb6 17.Nc3 (17.Nd2 Ra6 18.Qc2 Bf5 19.Qc3 Rb8ƒ) 17...Ra6! 18.Qd1 (18.Qc2 Bf5³) 18...Bb4 19.Qb3 (19.Ne2 Ra3!) 19...Rb6 20.Na4 Rb5=. (b) 13.Qc2 Bg4! 14.Bg5 (14.h3 Bh5 15.Nc3 [15.Bg5 h6 16.Bxf6 Qxf6 17.e3 Rfc8=] 15...Bg6 16.Qa4 h6∞) 14...h6 15.Bxf6 Qxf6 16.e3 Rfc8 17.Nc3 Rab8 produces a similar situation: 18.Rfb1 Bf5 19.Rxb8 Rxb8 20.Qa4 Rb6 21.Qxa7 Rb2„. (c) 13.Rc1 has been recommended by Tsesarsky and analyzed a lot by Aagaard and Ntirlis. They give a great deal of analysis to support their preference of 13...Rb8, but I prefer the simpler and probably stronger 13...Bd7³, with the plan of ...Nf6-g4. The white queen needs to go to d3 in any case, so there is no reason to help it by playing 13...Rb8. Just for the record, after 13...Rb8 14.Qd3 Rb6 15.Nc3 Ng4, they offer the strange move 16.Bf4? which is a blunder because of 16...Bxf4 17.gxf4 Qf6 with an attack for Black, but much stronger is of course 16.Bd2 with an equal position. (d) Finally, best of all seems 13.Qa4!? Bg4 14.Nc3 h6!∞ when White can bail out by 15.Bd2 Qd7 16.e4 dxe4 17.Nxe4 Nxe4 18.Bxe4 Rac8 19.Rfc1 c5 20.Qxd7 Bxd7=. In reply to 13.Nc3, played in Rajkovic-Estremera Panos, Leon 1988, Black could have now continued 13...Rb8! 14.Qa4 (14.Qc2 Rb4!³ is slightly better for Black, e.g. 15.Qd3 h6 16.Rab1 Qa5 17.Bf4 Bxf4 18.Rxb4 Qxb4 19.gxf4 g6!? [19...Bf5=] 20.Rb1 Qd6 21.Qd2 Kg7 22.e3 Re8 with some chances to press, perhaps by employing the idea ...g6-g5 after the bishop arrives on f5) 14...Rb4 15.Qxa7 Ng4 16.Nd1 (16.Rfb1 Nxe3 17.fxe3 Rc4µ; 16.Bd2 Bb8!) 16...Re8© with excellent compensation for the material. (M5e3) Let us now return on move 12 to examine the stronger 12.f4:

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12...Bf5! Strangely Black has only a half-point out of three in the database with this move, but I cannot believe he is worse here. We first control the d3-square and only then we will push back the white queen. Instead, 12...Na5 13.Qd3 b6 14.Bd2 Nc4 15.Nc3 Nxd2 16.Qxd2 Bb7², as in Klimov-Lastin, Russian Cup 2003, looks a bit better for White. 13.Nc3 (13.Qxb7 Nb4!) 13...Na5 14.Qb2 Black seems fine in the complications arising after 14.Qa4: 14...Rc8 15.Rac1 a6 16.Nxd5 Nxd5 (16...Bxe5 17.Ne7+ Qxe7 18.dxe5 Ng4 19.Bb6 Nc6 20.Bc5 Qc7 21.h3²) 17.Rxc8 Bxc8

18.Nxf7! Kxf7!? (18...Rxf7 19.Bxd5 b5 20.Qc2 Bh3 21.Rc1 Qd7„) 19.Bxd5+ Be6 (19...Ke7 232

20.f5∞) 20.Bxe6+ Kxe6³. 14...Rc8 15.Bf2 My feeling here is Black should not be worse in view of his hold on the light squares. The engines suggest 15...b5!?„ which actually makes a very good impression. Thus we may conclude that White has nothing special in the Gutman Variation, but it nevertheless remains a respectable line where Black needs to know a thing or two in order to equalize. (M6) We will now switch our attention to the absolute main line of Part II(a) which is the calm but dangerous 8.dxc5: 8...Bxc5 Here we will examine the following options: (M6a) 9.b3, (M6b) 9.e3, (M6c) 9.Qc2!?, (M6d) 9.Bg5 and (M6e) 9.a3!?.

9.a3!? will be our main line; it is a popular and venomous move, the importance of which was first pointed out by Aagaard and Ntirlis in their book on the Tarrasch. The idea is to develop the bishop on the long diagonal with tempo, grab control of the d4-square and slowly outplay Black by virtue of having a more active position than in the main lines of the Fianchetto Variation where White plays d4xc5 and b2-b3 (or vice versa). Before proceeding to examine 9.a3!? though, we will go through the procedure of looking at the lesser options White has at this point and try to establish equality against each one of them: (M6a) 9.b3 0-0 will lead to the main lines of the Fianchetto Variation if White now plays 10.Nc3 or 10.Bb2. There is one other idea though: 10.Ba3 Designed to get rid of the strong Bc5, but slightly artificial. Play could continue as follows: 10...Bxa3 (10...Qe7 11.Bxc5 Qxc5 12.Qc1²) 11.Nxa3

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11...Bg4! The most accurate. Weaker is 11...Bf5 12.Nc2 Qd7 13.Ncd4 Bh3 14.Rc1². 12.h3 Instead, 12.Nc2 Qd7 13.Ne3 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 Rad8 15.Nc2 d4 16.Ne1 Rfe8 17.Nd3 Nd5= gives Black a typically good position. 12...Bf5 13.Nb5 Qd7 14.Kh2 Rac8 15.Nbd4 Be4 The bishop has been anchored on e4 and we have nothing to fear; after 16.Rc1 Rfe8 17.Qd2 h6= Black’s position is perfectly solid. (M6b) As has been mentioned already under 8.e3, 9.e3 0-0 10.b3 Re8 11.Nc3 Bg4 is also analyzed under the main lines of the Fianchetto Variation. (M6c) 9.Qc2!?

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This is a tricky move, attempting to confuse Black, for if he retreats his bishop to e7, then White can apply quick pressure along the d-file and we will have no counterplay. The bishop must retreat to b6 of course here, keeping f2 under pressure and the d4-square well protected: 9...Bb6 10.Nc3 0-0 11.Bg5 This is the critical move. Instead: (a) 11.Rd1 h6 12.Na4 Re8! 13.Nxb6 Qxb6 14.b3 Bg4„ looks excellent for Black, as the exposed position of the white queen along the c-file is beginning to show. (b) 11.Na4 does not impress cause it removes the pressure from the d5-pawn, which means that Bc1g5 is not a threat any longer. After 11...Re8! 12.Nxb6 (12.Bg5 Ba5!=) 12...Qxb6 13.Bg5 Ng4 14.Bf4 (14.h3 Nge5 15.Nxe5 Rxe5 16.Qd2 h6 17.Bf4 Re8 18.Qxd5 Qxb2 is equal) 14...h6 15.b3 Be6 16.Rad1 Rad8 17.h3 Nf6

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a typical structure arises where White’s control over d4 is practically non-existent and this fact even neutralizes his proud pair of bishops. For example, 18.e3 (18.Be3 d4 19.Nxd4 Nxd4 20.Qb2 Nxe2+ 21.Qxe2 Qa5 22.Rxd8 Rxd8 23.Rc1 Nd5 24.Qd2 Qxd2 25.Bxd2 b6 26.Be1 f6= is also completely level according to the engines) 18...Ne4 19.Qb2 Qa6 20.b4 Qb6 21.Be5 f6 22.Bc3 Bf7! 23.a3 a5 24.Rb1 Nxc3 25.Qxc3 axb4 26.axb4 Bg6 27.Rbc1 d4 28.Nxd4 Nxd4 29.exd4 Rxd4 and the job has been done! It is time to look at the best move 11.Bg5: 11...Be6

Forced, but not bad. I do not much like developing my bishop to the clumsy e6-square in the Tarrasch, but here White does not control d4 very well and the bishop is out of reach from White’s pieces, two factors that outweigh this slight inconvenience. After 11...Be6 we are at the crossroads with 236

White having a choice between (M6c1) 12.Rad1 and (M6c2) 12.Na4 which has (not long ago) been a choice of the Polish super GM Radoslav Wojtaszek. (M6c1) 12.Rad1 is answered strongly with 12...h6, and thanks to the placement of the enemy queen on c2 the pawn on d5 is untouchable. After 13.Bh4!? Qe7, we are at a critical juncture: 14.Qc1 White has to improve the position of his queen. Instead: (a) Nothing is offered by 14.e4 dxe4 15.Nxe4 Bf5!=. (b) After 14.Qa4 Rfd8! 15.Qf4 (15.e4 d4³) I found the interesting novelty 15...d4!?

This seems to equalize the chances. For example, 16.Na4 (on 16.Ne4, the brilliant exchange sac 16...Nd5! 17.Bxe7 Nxf4 18.Bxd8 Nxe2+ 19.Kh1 Rxd8³ gives Black at least a slight advantage) 16...Bxa2 17.Nd2 Bd5 and it is clear that Black is not worse. Returning to 14.Qc1, the pin on the Nf6 only looks awkward; there is more than one ways out: 14...Rac8! 14...Rfd8 is also possible, but why not force matters? 15.Qf4 15.e4 d4 16.Nd5 Bxd5 17.exd5 Nb4 18.Qb1 d3 19.a3 Nbxd5 20.Rxd3 g5³. 15...Bd8! 16.Bxf6 Instead, 16.e4 dxe4 17.Nxe4

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17...Qc7! 18.Qxc7 (18.Rxd8!? Qxf4 19.Nxf6+ Qxf6=) 18...Rxc7 19.Bxf6 Bxf6 20.Nxf6+ gxf6 21.a3 Kg7 22.Rd6 Re8= is a completely equal ending in spite of the doubled pawns, Black’s idea being to exchange a pair of rooks “correctly” with ...Re8-e7-d7. 16...Qxf6 17.Qa4 Ba5 18.Nxd5 Qxb2= Black has extricated himself from the pin and the game is fully balanced. (M6c2) We will now return back to move 12 in order to examine 12.Na4:

12...h6 13.Nxb6 axb6 14.Bxf6 Qxf6 15.Qb3 Ra6 16.Rfd1! 16.Rac1?! d4 17.Qb5 Rxa2 18.Rc2 d3! 19.exd3 Bg4 was worse for White in Wojtaszek-Mamedov, Shamkir 2018. 238

16...d4 17.Qb5 Bxa2!? This looks risky, but a pawn is a pawn! 18.b3 After 18.Nd2, the powerful reply 18...Re8 creates the idea ...Ra6-a5! and is also not worse for Black. For example, 19.b3 Ra5 20.Qd3 Nb4 21.Qc4 Nc6 22.Re1 Rc5 23.Qa4 Ra5=. 18...d3! 19.Qxd3 Ra5 Normally White would have been better in such a structure, but here the tactics associated with the weakness of the b3-pawn and White’s exposure in the open lines make the position equal. A logical continuation is 20.Rac1 Qe6 21.Rc3 Rc5=. We can safely conclude after all these lines that 9.Qc2 does not pose a theoretical problem to Black. However, this is definitely a variation you should well commit to memory as the lines are sharp and the slightest slip can lead to disaster. Bad news for old people, good news for youngsters thirsty for knowledge! (M6d) Finally, there is 9.Bg5; after 9...0-0, it will probably transpose to our 3.Nc3 main lines if White plays 10.Nc3, but he has some other options worth looking at:

10.Ne1!? This is an elastic choice, targeting d5 and keeping options for the Nb1. Here I found an interesting idea, which, I hope, is correct, but first we will look at other white moves on move 10: (a) 10.Qc2 Bb6! transposes to 9.Qc2 which has been satisfactorily met above. (b) 10.Bxf6 Qxf6 11.Qxd5?! (11.Nc3 d4 would transpose again to the main lines of the Fianchetto Variation) 11...Qxb2 12.Nbd2 Be7 13.Rab1 Qa3³ is excellent for Black. (c) 10.Qb3 has been very adequately dealt with by Geller: 239

10...d4! 11.Nbd2 Re8 12.Rac1 Bb6= and Black had at least equalized in Sveshnikov-Geller, Sochi 1986. After the logical 13.Rfe1 Black would have probably continued with 13...Be6 14.Qa3 Bd5 with a very finely coordinated position, abounding in centralization. (d) Finally, 10.Nbd2 is harmless. A principled way of playing is 10...Re8 11.e3 (11.Nb3 Bb6 12.Rc1 h6= was equal in Poley-Cioara, Salongernas 2005) 11...Bb6 12.Nb3 h6 13.Bxf6 Qxf6= as in DjurovicFranic, Zagreb 2009. Back to 10.Ne1!?:

10...Bd4!? My novelty, putting immediate pressure on b2 and hoping to ruin White’s pawn structure when he

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gets the knight out on c3. 10...d4 11.Nd2 Be7 12.Nd3 leads to a position where White can play Bg5xf6 at his leisure, and Black must work hard to find useful moves in order to avoid losing a tempo with ...h7-h6. When we compare this with the main line 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.g3 Nf6 7.Bg2 Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.Bg5 d4 11.Ne4 Be7 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.Ne1, we easily understand the difference. White had to take immediately on f6 there and Black can follow up with 13...Be7 with a very harmonious position. 11.Nc3 The alternative 11.Nd3 h6 12.Bxf6 Qxf6 looks fine for Black, e.g. 13.Nc3 (13.Qb3 Bg4!; 13.Qd2 Bf5 14.Nc3 Bxc3=) 13...Bxc3 14.bxc3 Qxc3 15.Bxd5 Rd8=. 11...Bxc3 12.bxc3 h6 13.Bxf6 (otherwise Black will get good play on the light squares) 13...Qxf6 14.Rc1

14...Re8!? This is the main point of my idea, to focus on active development and pressure against the e2-pawn, disregarding material considerations. Instead, 14...Rd8 15.Nd3 Bf5 16.Nf4 d4 (16...Be4 17.f3) 17.cxd4 Nxd4 18.e3 Nc6 (18...Ne6 19.Nd5ƒ is better for White) 19.Qb3² leads to uncomfortable pressure against our queenside. 15.Bxd5 15.Nd3 is about equal after either 15...d4!?= or the more complicated 15...Bg4 16.Nf4 Rad8 with the following choice for White: (a) 17.h3 Bf5 18.Qb3 Be4 19.Bxe4 dxe4 20.Qxb7 Rd2 21.Rcd1 Rxd1 22.Rxd1 e3 23.fxe3 Rxe3 24.Kh1 Ne7! 25.Rd3 Rxd3 26.exd3 Nf5 27.Qa8+ Kh7 28.Qe4 g6©. (b) 17.Nxd5! Qe5 18.Re1 Bxe2 19.Qc2 Qg5! 20.h4 Qg4 21.Ne3 Rxe3 22.fxe3 Bf3© and we have 241

good compensation for the exchange. 15...Be6! Now we develop quickly and White’s pawn weaknesses begin to show.

16.e4 (16.c4 Rad8 17.Ng2 Nb4∞; 16.Bxe6 Qxe6 17.Rc2 Ne5 18.Nf3 Rad8 19.Rd2 Rxd2 20.Qxd2 Nc4 21.Qd4 Nb6=) 16...Rad8 17.c4 Bh3! 18.Ng2 Rxe4! 19.Bxe4 Rxd1 20.Rfxd1 Nd4„/³. I think the black queen at least equals the enemy rooks in this position as there are split pawns on the queenside and the light squares around the white king are vulnerable. (M6e) Now it is time to check the final line of Part II (a), the poisonous 9.a3!?. To Nikos and Jacob’s credit they suggested the right move back in 2011:

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9...Ne4! This is designed to take the sting out of b2-b4 by retreating the bishop to e7. It is instrumental in this position to have ...Nb8-c6 played instead of castling, as control of d4 proves important. After 9...Ne4!, we are at the crossroads once again, with White having to make an important choice between (M6e1) 10.Nfd2!? and (M6e2) 10.b4. 10.b4 was chosen to be our main line as it bears the stamp of approval of no less a player than former world champion Vladimir Kramnik, but as you can see immediately below the alternative also presents some challenges. (M6e1) 10.Nfd2!? This is an interesting idea; it was analyzed to some depth by Aagaard and Ntirlis who recommended the following line: 10...f5! 11.Nc3!? Going to an ending with 11.Nxe4 dxe4 12.Qxd8+ Nxd8 13.Nc3 Be6 has its points but Black should be fine:

14.Nb5 (14.Bf4, as played in Buhmann-Krassowizkij, Germany 2015, looks level after 14...Bb3=; 14.g4 g6!=) 14...0-0 15.Be3!? Bxe3 16.fxe3 g6 17.g4! fxg4 18.Bxe4 Bc4 19.Nd4 Re8 20.Rf4 Ne6 21.Rxg4 Nxd4 22.exd4 Bxe2 23.Rf4 Ba6 24.Bd5+ Kh8= 11...Be6 12.Nb3 Bb6 13.Na4 d4 This is an important juncture; Black needs to tread with care as his position is a bit loose. I looked at (M6e11) 14.Qc2 and (M6e12) 14.Nd2.

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(M6e11) The logical (and as yet untried) 14.Qc2!? is sharp, preparing to invade c5 with the knights. We can equalize in the end, but it has to be stressed that we need to find a string of accurate moves here: 14...0-0! Aagaard and Ntirlis offer 14...Bd5 instead, but that leads to an inferior position for Black after 15.Nxb6 Qxb6 16.Nc5! Qxc5 17.Qxc5 Nxc5 18.Bxd5 0-0-0 19.Bc4! Na5 20.Ba2 Nab3 21.Bg5 Nxa1 22.Bxd8 Kxd8 23.Rxa1 Kc7 24.Rc1. 15.Nbc5 Nxc5 16.Nxc5 Bxc5 17.Qxc5 Rc8 18.Bf4! (18.Rd1 a6 19.Bxc6 Rxc6 20.Qe5 Qd6 21.Qxd6 Rxd6 22.Bf4 Rd5 23.Rac1 Rfd8 24.Rc7 d3= is much easier) 18...Na5! 19.Qxa7 Ra8 20.Qc5 Nb3 21.Qe5 Ra6! 22.Rad1 (22.Rae1 Bc4 23.Qc7 Qxc7 24.Bxc7 Nd2 25.Rc1 Bxe2 26.Bd5+ Kh8 27.Rfe1 Bf3 gives Black sufficient counterplay) 22...Bc4 23.Rc1!? This interesting exchange sacrifice requires inspired defending from Black: 23...Nxc1 24.Rxc1 Re6 25.Qc5 Ba2! 26.Be5 Rf7!=. The final position is equal provided Black focuses on exchanging bishops via d5. (M6e12) 14.Nd2 is the only continuation that has been seen in practice. After 14...Nxd2 Black will place his bishop on d5 soon, with rough equality. For example: 15.Bxd2 Instead, 15.Qxd2 0-0 (15...Bd5 16.Bxd5 Qxd5 17.b4 0-0 18.Qa2!² was slightly better for White in Houska-Batsiashvili, Germany 2014) 16.b4 Rf7!= is simply excellent for Black. 15...0-0 15...Bd5?! was mentioned in the Aagaard & Ntirlis book, but it is an unfortunate move order because of 16.Nxb6 axb6 17.e4! fxe4 18.Qh5+ Bf7 19.Qb5². 16.Rc1 Bd5 17.Bg5 (Ju-Zhukova, Khanty-Mansiysk 2012) 17...Qd7!=. 244

(M6e2) Back to 10.b4: 10...Be7 11.Bb2 Bf6 Opposing bishops on the long diagonal comfortably equalizes.

12.Bxf6 The only try; 12.Nd4 Qb6= should be equal after 13.e3!. Instead, 13.Nxc6?! occurred in Iturrizaga Bonelli-Jackson, London 2017, and here for some reason Black refrained from 13...Bxb2 14.Ra2 Bf6³; if 15.Qxd5?!, then 15...Nxf2 16.Rxf2 Be6 17.Qe4 Rc8µ makes White’s situation almost critical. Returning to 13.e3!, after 13...Nxd4 14.Bxd4 Bxd4 15.Qxd4 Qxd4 16.exd4 Be6 (StefanovaBatsiashvili, Plovdiv 2014) the machine gives 17.Re1 (17.Rc1 Kd7 18.Nc3 Nxc3= was the colorless game continuation) 17...Rc8 18.Bxe4 dxe4 19.Nd2 f5 20.f3

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20...Rd8 21.fxe4 0-0 22.d5 (22.exf5 Bxf5 23.Nb3 b6=) 22...Bf7 23.exf5 Rxd5 24.Nc4 Rxf5 25.Nd6 Rf6 26.Nxf7 (26.Nxb7 Bd5 27.Nc5 Rf2 28.Ne4 Rc2³) 26...R6xf7=. 12...Qxf6

13.Qxd5!? Kramnik’s entertaining attempt to create something out of nothing. After 13.Ra2 0-0 14.Rc2 (14.b5 is perhaps better, but even so, 14...Ne7 15.Qd4 Qxd4 16.Nxd4 Nf5 17.Nb3 Nfd6= is nothing special for White) 14...Be6 15.b5 Ne5 16.Nd4 (Li-Georgiadis, Tromsø 2014) 16...Ng4!„ Black’s counterplay secures equal chances. 13...Be6 14.Qxe4 Qxa1 15.b5 Nd8 16.Qb4 Qf6 17.Nd4 Qe7 18.Nd2 Qxb4 19.axb4 246

White’s positional exchange sacrifice has yielded an ending where he enjoys enough activity for the material. But I am afraid that is where it all ends for White as Black is super solid. 19...Rc8 20.Ra1 b6 21.Rxa7 Rc1+ 22.Nf1 0-0 23.Ra6 So far, Kramnik-Sadler, London 2014. Here Black could have obtained the better side of a draw by 23...Rc4 24.e3 Rxb4 25.Rxb6 Rb2=

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Tarrasch Repertoire: Part II (b) 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 [D32] Systems with an early e3 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 Time has come to deal with the systems involving an early e2-e3, which are the exclusive subject of Part II(b). 4.e3!? This is a way to play for an advantage with a minimum of risk. White will try to saddle us with a weakness on d5 later on; for the moment he concentrates on sound development. 4...Nf6

This is an important position for our repertoire. There are several continuations for White here that we will examine methodically. Putting aside the feeble 5.dxc5?! which will (at best) transpose to positions examined subsequently after the obvious 5...Bxc5=, White has the following moves at his disposal: (A) 5.Nbd2?!, (B) 5.Bd3, (C) 5.a3, (D) 5.cxd5 and (M) 5.Nc3. 5.Nc3 obeys to the dictum “Knights before bishops” and was the main line in the classification I had made in my original notes. I kept it as our main line, but 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bb5+!? is also very interesting for positional reasons that will be explained in due course. But let us check White’s fifth move options one by one, starting from those that are less dangerous for us: (A) 5.Nbd2?!

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This is a move that cannot be recommended for White. If we realize that this position can arise from the Slav Defense with White on the move and that Black is still fine, then it is obvious that there is something wrong with it. I think it is most logical to take now on d4 in order to saddle White with an isolani, as the Nd2 is not particularly well placed for it: After 5...cxd4! White has the following possibilities: (A1) 6.Nxd4 and (A2) 6.exd4. (A1) After 6.Nxd4, trying to avoid the isolani and play a calm symmetrical position, Black should play 6...e5! Then, the forcing sequence 7.N4f3 e4 8.Nd4

yields a dynamic position, when I like 8...Bc5!? most, preparing to bring the king to safety and only then start active operations. Also possible is Gareyev’s 8...Nc6, but Black has to be content with a draw arising after 9.Qa4! 249

(9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.Bb5+ Bd7³ was excellent for Black in Costigan-Gareyev, chess.com 2017) 9...Bd7 10.cxd5! Nb4 11.Bb5 Nbxd5 12.0-0 a6 13.Bxd7+ Qxd7 14.Qxd7+ Kxd7 15.Rd1 Rc8 16.Ne2 (16.N4b3 Ke6 17.Nd4+ Kd7= is the same) 16...Ke6 17.Nd4+=. If Black chooses 8...Bc5!? the position is not as easy for White as in the above variation; in fact we can already aspire to a complicated middlegame with good chances of ultimate success:

For example, 9.cxd5 0-0 10.Bc4 (10.N2b3 Bb6³) 10...Nbd7! (this brave move is better than 10...Bxd4!? 11.exd4 Nbd7 12.0-0 Nb6 13.Bb3 Nbxd5 14.h3 [14.Nb1 h6 15.Nc3 Bg4∞] 14...h6 15.Re1 Bf5 16.Nc4= when White also gets his place in the sun) and it seems that White’s intended shot does not work:

11.0-0 Acquiescing to a slightly worse position is the lesser evil. 250

11.Ne6?! looks initially impressive, but after 11...fxe6 12.dxe6 Kh8 13.exd7 Bxd7 14.0-0 Qe8!© Black gets tremendous compensation in the form of a powerful kingside attack. I know that it may sound a bit exaggerated, but if I had this as White in a game, I would feel that my position is already beyond salvation. Computers find nothing better than 15.b4 (15.Nb3 Be7 16.Be2 Qg6 17.Bd2 Bh3 18.g3 Bxf1 19.Qxf1 Ng4 20.Bxg4 Qxg4 21.Bc3 Rad8 looks lost) 15...Bxb4 16.Rb1 a5 17.a3 Bd6 18.f4 exf3 19.Nxf3 Bc5 20.Qe2 b6µ, but even here White is close to total paralysis and I cannot imagine him surviving in the long run. Returning to 11.0-0, after 11...Ne5 12.Qc2 Nxc4 13.Nxc4 (13.Qxc4 Qe7³) 13...Qxd5 14.b3 Bxd4 15.exd4 Be6 16.Bb2 Rfd8 17.Ne3 Qg5³, the position is better for Black, but I expect White to hold it with careful play. (A2) We will now examine 6.exd4:

Here, the rather awkward position of the Nd2 inspired me to recommend the following way of playing: 6...dxc4!? I like this, to avoid c4-c5 ideas. To be sure, 6...Nc6 7.c5 is not better for White, but he would be able to create a scrappy position after that. With 6...dxc4!?, we actually hope to get a slight advantage, exploiting the inappropriate (for an IQP position) placement of White’s Nd2. Normally this piece should be on c3 to control the d5-square, but here it will end up on the much weaker square c4. 7.Nxc4 (after 7.Bxc4 Nc6, White is already struggling for equality) 7...Nc6 Most flexible, but Black’s position already enjoys the luxury of several good moves. For example, 7...Bb4+ 8.Bd2 Bxd2+ 9.Qxd2 Nc6 is also possible. In a three-piece IQP position, White lacks serious attacking chances and the d-pawn is more likely to become a weakness.

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8.Be2 After 8.a3 Be7 9.Be3 0-0 10.Bd3 b6 11.0-0 Bb7∞ Black has gotten what he wanted, with an excellent position to play for a win. The next three moves can be ...Ra8-c8, ...Nf6-d5 and ...Be7-f6, possibly followed by ...g7-g6 and ...Bf6-g7, completing an artificial fianchetto and enabling the typical maneuver ...Nc6-e7-f5. White is not worse, because he controls more space, but the position is more pleasant for the second player.

8...Bb4+! With the white bishop passively standing on e2, it makes sense to for Black to exchange the dark-square bishops. 9.Bd2 Bxd2+ 10.Qxd2 0-0 11.0-0 b6=/³ Black has comfortably equalized, and perhaps a bit more than that, because the Nc6 can maneuver to g6 or f5 more easily in absence of the Be7 . To the observant eye, it seems that it is suddenly White who is playing the Tarrasch, meaning that a reversal of roles has occurred: Now it will be White and not Black who will have to be careful to maintain the equilibrium! (B) With 5.Bd3, White gives up the fight for the tempo, and we should of course profit from this. It should be met by 5...dxc4 6.Bxc4 a6 7.0-0 (7.a4 is possible too and is the best move order for those who want to include this move in their set-up) 7...Nc6 (7...b5 8.Be2 Bb7 9.a4 b4= is also approximately balanced as Black has kept the option of developing his knight to d7) reaching a quite typical position where Black enjoys good play:

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From here, almost everything will transpose to positions analyzed later. For example: 8.a4!? (instead, 8.Nc3 b5 9.Bd3 Bb7 10.a4 b4 11.Ne4 Nxe4 12.Bxe4 Qc7= is analyzed under the move order 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Be2 a6 7.0-0 dxc4 8.Bxc4 b5 9.Bd3 Bb7 10.a4 b4 11.Ne4 Nxe4 12.Bxe4 Qc7, while 8.a3 b5 9.Ba2 Bb7 10.Nc3 Qc7= is analyzed under 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Be2 a6 7.a3 dxc4 8.Bxc4 b5 9.Ba2 Bb7 10.00 Qc7) 8...Be7 9.Qe2?! This is not so good, but is the only move I could think of with some independent character. The idea is to bring the rook to d1 or play d4xc5 without allowing the exchange of queens; instead, 9.Nc3 transposes after 9...0-0 to the positions analyzed under the 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Be2 dxc4! 7.Bxc4 a6 8.a4 move order. 9...cxd4! The pawn should be taken to put a stop to White’s ideas. 10.Rd1

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10...e5 After this, the game will unavoidably peter out to a draw. If you are all out for a win, then 10...Na5!? is your move. After 11.b3 (11.Ba2 Bd7 12.Rxd4 0-0 13.Nc3 Qc7 14.Rd1 b5 15.axb5 axb5 16.Bb1 Nb3 17.Rxa8 Rxa8 18.Bc2 Nxc1 19.Rxc1 Qb6³ is slightly better for Black) 11...Bd7 12.exd4 Rc8 13.Bb2 0-0 14.Ne5 Qc7 15.h3 Rfd8 16.Nd2 Be8∞/³ the position is complicated but I believe Black’s chances to be at least equal because of the long-term weaknesses on b3 and d4. Back to 10...e5: 11.exd4 exd4 12.Nbd2 0-0

13.h3!= The position is completely equal and was given up as a draw in Cordova-Iturrizaga Bonelli, Sabadell 2011. Less clear is 13.Nb3 Bg4! 14.Be3 Bxf3 15.gxf3! (15.Qxf3 Qc7! 16.Nxd4 Ne5 17.Qg3 Nh5 18.Qh3 Nxc4 19.Rac1 Nf4 20.Bxf4 Qxf4 21.Rxc4 Rad8³) 15...Qc7 16.Nxd4 Bd6 17.Nxc6 bxc6 18.Rd4!∞ in view of the mutual weaknesses. Thus, we may conclude that 5.Bd3 in conjunction with 9.Qe2 constitutes no threat for Black. We move on to examine the next lines. (C) One popular line is 5.a3:

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This begins a well-known fight for a tempo. White wants to tempt his opponent take on c4 before the Bf1 has already moved. 5...a6! Following suit is a tested and reliable tactic. By copying his opponent’s move, we put the onus on him once again. At this point White has at his disposal the following continuations: (C1) 6.cxd5, (C2) 6.Nc3 and (C3) 6.dxc5. For those interested in statistical details, 6.dxc5 is the most usual choice in practice, designed to gain space by b2-b4. (C1) After 6.cxd5, we reply 6...exd5! and we are ready to transpose to lines examined later on in Part II (b). This can happen after 7.Nc3 or 7.Be2. An independent try is the immediate 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.b4, but as one may guess, surrendering the tempo cannot bring White any advantage: 8...Ba7! 9.Bb2 Nc6 10.Be2 0-0 11.0-0

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An important position. For those who are not acquainted with such structures, White would like to play the moves Nb1-d2-b3, Ra1-c1 here, firmly blocking the d5-pawn and then trying to exchange one knight and settle on d4 and/or c5. However, when the knight leaps to d2, Black can push ...d5-d4, getting rid of the isolani and solving all his problems. This means that White will have to precede Nb1-d2 with a move like Qd1-d3, and the best way to anticipate this is provided by the following reply: 11...Re8! This is an excellent, useful move, waiting for the opponent to show his intentions. There is no rush for the development of the Bc8, because it would allow White to develop the Nb1 on a more active square than d2. Weaker is 11...Bg4?! 12.Nc3!, and suddenly it is obvious that Black has been deprived of ...d5-d4 in view of Nf3xd4. This means that he is reduced to a rather passive stance, waiting for White to carry out the typical b4-b5 advance which would create further weaknesses and unleash the Bb2. For example:

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12...Rc8?! This is not actually the best reply; I have presented it for instructional purposes to show how virulent White’s play can be. Better is instead 12...Qd6!, preparing to set-up immediately a battery on the diagonal b8-h2 in order to annoy White. In that case, 13.b5?! (13.h3² is best) is rather premature because of 13...Bxf3 14.Bxf3 Ne5= and Black is doing fine. Returning to 12...Rc8?!, after 13.b5! axb5 14.Nxb5 Bb8 15.Bxf6! Qxf6 16.Qxd5 Black did not have enough for the pawn in Markus-Marjanovic, Kavala 2009. White has won an important central pawn and his kingside structure is quite solid, preventing any attacks:

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Perhaps best would have now been 16...Rfd8!? (rather naive is 16...Qh6?! 17.h3 Ne5?! 18.Rfd1± as played in the game) 17.Qe4 Bf5 18.Qh4 Qb2 19.Bc4 Ne5 20.Nxe5 Bxe5 21.Ra2 Bf6! 22.Rxb2 Bxh4 23.Be2 Bf6 24.Rb4! (24.Nd4?! Bxd4 25.exd4 Rxd4 26.Rxb7 g6©) 24...Rd2 but even in that case White gets a long lasting minimal edge by 25.Bg4!². It is strange that Marjanovic, who has a lot of experience with the Tarrasch, allowed his opponent to carry out this rather obvious and typical idea. Let us now return to 11...Re8! and examine the options at White’s disposal. I analyzed to some serious depth (C1a) 12.Nd4, (C1b) 12.Nbd2, (C1c) 12.Qc2, (C1d) 12.h3 and (C1e) 12.Qd3!?.

Our main line 12.Qd3!? is actually a move that has never been tried, and yet is the more testing one. Its point is rather obvious: White wishes to develop without allowing ...d5-d4. Black has an easy ride after the alternatives: (C1a) The most common has been 12.Nd4, however in that case the simple 12...Bd7! asks White what is his next move. For example, 13.Nxc6 Bxc6 14.Bf3 (14.Bd4 Bxd4 15.Qxd4 Re4 16.Qd2 d4=) 14...Rc8= and White cannot develop his knight without allowing ...d5-d4. (C1b) 12.Nbd2 allows Black to carry out that very liquidation by 12...d4 13.exd4 Nxd4 14.Nxd4 Bxd4 15.Bxd4 Qxd4 16.Nc4 when there are two equally strong ways to keep the position is absolute balance:

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16...Qa7!? This principled move, keeping b6 defended, was the only one included in my notes. Looking at the Mega Database, I found out the simpler 16...Qxd1 17.Bxd1 Be6 18.Nd6 Re7 19.Bf3 Bd5 20.Bxd5 Nxd5 and a draw was agreed in this sterile position in Braun-Hoffmann, Nuremberg 2010. My analysis after 16...Qa7!? ran as follows: 17.Bf3 Be6 18.Ne3 (18.Na5 Rad8 19.Qc1 Bd5 20.Bxd5 is completely equal after both 20...Rxd5= and 20...Nxd5=) 18...Rad8=. Black can be satisfied with the result the opening as the position is completely level; on the other hand, as often happens in the Tarrasch when White is cautious, there may not be any winning chances left. You would of course be right in asking: Is this an opening in which White’s position is so solid that he runs no risks of losing at all? I would say no. First of all, there are several positions in which the structure allows us to play for the win without any problem. But even in the calmer variations, winning chances are not White’s exclusive private property for three reasons: (a) The first could simply be his ignorance on how to handle quiet positions. (b) The second involves a must-win situation where White will have to sharpen a quiet position with whatever consequences this may have for him and (c) The third one (and it often happens, believe me) is getting baffled by existing theory and seeking to infuse life in the game by playing “something else”. This “something else” will more often than not be not so good for White and we should be alert to grasp the opportunities it will offer us. For example, in the position we are now examining, White could be tempted to make one of the following two nonstandard moves in an attempt to create some play: (C1c) The first one is 12.Qc2, preparing to bring the rook on d1 in order to press our isolani.

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This move is, by the way, not dismissed by the machines. A weaker player can easily make such a move. But in this case Black can venture 12...Bg4! with chances to obtain the initiative. I will give a few lines that confirm this: I looked at (C1c1) 13.Bxa6?, (C1c2) 13.b5?!, (C1c3) 13.Nc3! and (C1c4) 13.Rd1?. 13.Rd1? is actually a typical mistake, weakening f2, but once again I promoted the line for instructional purposes. That said, Black has the more pleasant position after the other moves too: (C1c1) The greedy 13.Bxa6? bxa6 14.Qxc6 Re6–+ is just bad: after taking on f3 followed by ...Nf6h5, Black will have a lethal attack. (C1c2) 13.b5?! axb5 14.Nc3 is not something one would find easily, but besides that, it does not equalize fully. After 14...d4 15.Nxb5 dxe3 16.Nxa7 Rxa7 17.fxe3 Rxe3 18.Bc4 Ra5 19.Qf2 Qe7 20.Rfe1 Rxe1+ 21.Rxe1 Qc5 22.Qxc5 Rxc5³ Black has kept his extra pawn and has marginally the better chances. (C1c3) Switching to the pragmatic 13.Nc3! is best, but someone who played Qd1-c2 one move ago, will most probably not go for it. After 13...d4 14.exd4! (14.Rad1 Qc7!³) 14...Nxd4 (14...Qc7!? 15.d5 Nd4 16.Nxd4 Bxd4© is an attempt to mix things up) 15.Nxd4 Qxd4 16.h3 Bxe2 17.Nxe2 Qe4 18.Qxe4 Nxe4 19.Bd4 Nd2 20.Rfd1 Nb3 21.Rab1 Nxd4 22.Nxd4 Black keeps a tiny edge in practical play but objectively the position is a draw. (C1c4) Let us now see how Black can punish his opponent for 13.Rd1?:

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13...Ne4 Of course the knight leaps forward, eyeing the weakened f2-square. Sacrifices are already in the air. 14.Rd3 The best defense, but it cannot stave off defeat. Instead,14.Nbd2? Nxf2! 15.Kxf2 Rxe3 16.Kf1 loses brilliantly to 16...Qb8! 17.Re1 Qf4! and White is defenseless against ...Ra8-e8. It is amazing that the best way to win for Black involves two or three quiet moves, and this underscores the helplessness of the white king, which can only watch the enemy troops gathering outside its castle for the final assault. 14...Bf5 15.Qb3 Nxf2! 16.Rxd5 Qc8 17.Qc3 f6 18.Bc4 Kh8 19.Kxf2 Rxe3 20.Qxe3 Bxe3+ 21.Kxe3

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21...Bxb1! 22.Rxb1 Qg4!–+ The Bc4 cannot return to f1 because of the check on e6, so g2 will fall and White’s position collapses. This is an example of a typical sacrificial attack in the Tarrasch if White neglects the defense of his f2/e3 pawn construction. (C1d) The second move that yields Black good opportunities to play for a win is the lazy 12.h3, preventing a move (...Bc8-g4) which, as we have already seen, is not actually that good with the white queen still on d1. After 12...Bf5 13.Bd3 (13.Nd4 Bxd4 14.Bxd4 Ne4 15.Bb2 Qg5! 16.Bg4 Be6! 17.Nc3 Nd6!? gives Black interesting positional play on the light squares) 13...Ne4 14.Nc3 Rc8 the position is complicated enough to make me feel happy in spite of the engines’ completely flat evaluation. For example, 15.Rc1 Bb8 16.Bc2 Nxc3 17.Bxc3 Be4 18.Re1 Qd6 19.Bxe4 dxe4 20.Qxd6 Bxd6 21.Nd2 f5= and the ending is equal, but there is still some play left as we have the theoretically better bishop. (C1e) Let us now return to our main move, the untried 12.Qd3!?.

Here I think we can change the course of the game with the following interesting idea: 12...Ng4!? Suddenly ...Ng4xe3! is threatened. This forces 13.Kh1, and now Black has a wide choice, but 13...Qd6! fulfils my criteria of being both good enough and complicated enough. Let us check the alternatives first: (a) 13...d4 is interesting but White can defend without many problems: 14.Bxd4 (also possible is 14.exd4!? g6 15.h3! [15.d5 Bf5 16.Qd1 Rxe2! 17.Qxe2 Qxd5 18.Nc3 Bd3 19.Nxd5 Bxe2=] 15...Bf5 16.Qd2!? Nf6 17.d5! and White has at least equality) 14...Nxd4 15.exd4! (15.Nxd4 Qf6 16.Bxg4 Bxg4© gives Black strong compensation) 15...Qf6 16.Nc3 (16.h3?! Bf5 17.Qd2 Rad8!! 18.hxg4? Bxg4µ gives Black very dangerous attacking chances) 16...Bf5 17.Qd2 Rad8 18.Rad1 Qh6 19.Qxh6 262

Nxh6 20.Rd2². Our compensation is obvious, but still, we will have to work more for the draw here. (b) Exchanging pieces by 13...Nce5!? 14.Bxe5 Nxe5 15.Nxe5 Rxe5 is fairly acceptable:

In this position Black has the two bishops and the white king is not so well placed on h1, making f2 and his first rank more vulnerable than usual, so our compensation for the weakness of d5 is nothing short of concrete. After 16.Nc3! (16.Nd2 Bf5 17.Qb3 Rc8³) 16...Bf5 17.Qd2 d4 18.Rfd1! Re8 19.exd4 Rc8 20.Rac1 I do not see anything to trouble us, provided we make a couple of prudent moves: 20...Qf6 21.Kg1 h6!=. Let us now see how the game should logically unfold after the best move, 13...Qd6!:

14.Nbd2! 263

14.Nc3!? is also possible; White seems to hold after 14...Nce5! (14...d4!? 15.exd4 Nxd4 16.Ne4! Rxe4! 17.Qxe4 Nxf3 18.Qe8+ Qf8 19.Qxf8+ Kxf8 20.Bxf3 Nxf2+ 21.Rxf2 Bxf2 22.Be5=) 15.Nxe5 Rxe5 16.Bxg4 Bxg4 17.Ne2!:

However, the strong reply 17...d4!∞ pours oil on the fire, giving Black what he wants, an open position for his bishops and a king to attack. This is vintage Tarrasch, and it obviously White who is risking more here. 14...Bb8 (a) 14...Nxe3? 15.fxe3 Rxe3 overlooks the clever reply 16.Nc4!+–. (b) I also looked at 14...Qh6!? 15.Qxd5! Nxf2+!? (a nice sacrifice for long-term compensation), concluding that after 16.Rxf2 Bxe3 17.Raf1! (17.Rff1?! Be6 18.Qd3 Rad8 19.Qc3 Bf4 20.Bc1 Bg4 21.Rf2 Nd4‚ gives Black a powerful attack) 17...Be6 18.Qe4! Rad8© Black has enough compensation but no more than that. 15.h3 Nge5 16.Bxe5 Nxe5 17.Nxe5 Rxe5 18.Nf3 Bf5 19.Qb3 Re8 20.Bd3 Be4

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21.Bxe4 dxe4 22.Rad1 Qc7 23.Rc1 Qe7 24.Nd4 g6 25.Rfd1 Be5 26.Rc5 Kg7 27.Kg1 Rad8 28.Rd5= The position is approximately equal, but not completely drawish. That said, it has to be admitted that there are few chances for either side to go wrong. (C2) Another move is 6.Nc3, when we can simply play 6...Nc6, transposing to 5.Nc3. Thus, the particular move order has no independent significance, unless we want to be more flexible by 6...dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5:

Black intends to develop the knight to the more natural square d7 and this seems to yield at least equal play, too. White basically has three moves in the diagrammed position: (C2a) 8.Be2, (C2b) 8.Bd3 and (C2c) 8.Ba2. (C2a) 8.Be2 does not have much point with the knight on c3, as the undermining a2-a4 will always 265

be met with the tempo and space gaining ...b5-b4. After 8...Bb7 9.0-0 Nbd7= we have an excellent position with equal chances. (C2b) 8.Bd3 Bb7 9.0-0 Nbd7 10.Qe2 is a logical deployment of White’s forces, when Black can try to fight for the tempo by 10...Rc8 11.Rd1 Qc7, making all the useful moves before developing the Bf8.

Then 12.e4!? (12.Bd2 Bd6 13.Rac1 Qb8³ favors Black) 12...cxd4 13.Nxd4 Bc5 14.Be3 is best met by 14...0-0!= averting sacrificial possibilities on b5. Instead, 14...Ne5!? allows White too much play: 15.Ncxb5! The most annoying possibility for us. The alternative 15.Bxb5+!? axb5 16.Ndxb5 Qb8 17.Bxc5 Rxc5 18.Nd6+ is also interesting, but here Black has more than enough resources to counter White’s offensive: 18...Ke7 19.f4! (19.Rac1? Rd8 20.Nxb7 [20.Qe3 Rc6µ] 20...Qxb7µ , as in Chon-Garma, Manila 2001 looks bad for White) 19...Ng6

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20.Qe3 (20.Qf2 Rc6 21.e5, as in Stojanovski-Hector Copenhagen 1997, transposes to 20.Qe3 after 21...Ng4! 22.Qd4 Ba8) 20...Rc6 21.e5 Ng4! 22.Qd4 Ba8 23.h3 Nh6 24.Qb4!? Qxb4 25.axb4 Rc7 26.Ndb5 Rb7 27.Nd6 and if Black wants, this position is at least a draw by 27...Rc7=. Let us now return to 15.Ncxb5!: 15...axb5 16.Bxb5+! The only move. 16.Nxb5? fails to 16...Qb8 17.Bxc5 Rxc5 18.b4 (18.Nd6+ Ke7µ) 18...Rc6µ. 16...Kf8

17.b4! White has no time to lose. He should push his pawns as quickly as possible and exchange the active 267

Rc8. Instead, 17.Rac1?! Neg4! 18.Nxe6+ fxe6 19.Bxc5+ Kf7 20.g3 Qe5µ is excellent for Black who is suddenly the one attacking. 17...Be7 (17...Neg4?? would be a blunder here in view of 18.Nxe6+ fxe6 19.Bxc5+ Kf7 20.Bd6±) 18.Rac1 Qb8 19.f3∞. White has compensation for the material, although probably no more. Still, I would find it slightly uncomfortable to defend this position in a game, all the more so since White’s pawns can become dangerous at a later stage, so I considered it correct to avoid making this my main line. Back to my preferred choice of 14...0-0!:

15.Rac1 Black’s only fear in such a position is to be left with a bishop on b7 which has no prospects, ending up “biting on granite.” By “granite”, we mean of course the solid construction §f3/§e4, which hampers the bishop’s activity and also takes away the key d5-square from the black knights. White’s dream in this structure is to establish the above construction, subsequently exchange dark-square bishops and ultimately stifle Black on the queenside. However, here he is a long way from achieving all this, and the game we will follow shows how Black can achieve good counterplay: 15...Qb8 The standard reaction. However, 15...Ne5! 16.f3 Qb6!? was also possible. Then the following tactical operation produces highly imbalanced play:

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17.Bxb5! axb5 18.b4 Bxd4 19.Bxd4 Qc7 20.Qxb5 Nfd7 21.Nd5?! Qxc1 22.Ne7+ Kh8 23.Rxc1 Rxc1+ 24.Kf2 Bc6 25.Nxc6 Rc2+! (25...Nxc6?? 26.Bxg7+!+–) 26.Kg3 Nxc6 27.Bc5! Rxc5!! 28.bxc5 Nde5 29.f4 Nd4! 30.Qb6 Nec6 31.a4 g6 32.a5 Rb8 33.Qc7 Kg7³/µ. I guess you are puzzled by the fact I attached an exclamation point to 17.Bxb5, and yet White ends up worse in this long line. But the blame should be put on White’s 21st move, which goes to extreme lengths when the first player should be trying to treat his sacrifice in a more positional manner. Instead of 21.Nd5?!, better is 21.Be3 Bc6 22.Qe2∞, preparing to push the queenside pawns, with complicated play. 16.Nf3?! 16.Nb3 was probably the better way to seek the exchange of bishops, although after 16...Bd6 17.g3 Ne5 18.f3 Rfd8∞ Black has nothing to fear.

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16...Bxe3 16...Bd6! 17.Bd4 Ng4!³ gives Black a small plus. 17.Qxe3 Rfd8 18.h3 So far we have followed Benedde-Wiechmann, Bayern 2010; Black has played quite normal chess and now the most accurate move was 18...Nc5 with complete equality, e.g. 19.Bc2 Rxd1+ 20.Rxd1 h6=. It is clear from these lines that 8.Bd3 hardly represents a threat for Black. (C2c) Let us now check 8.Ba2:

8...Bb7 9.0-0 Nbd7 White’s play has been dictated by the desire to play in the center. So, here the most obvious question 270

is what happens after 10.d5, trying to strike before Black has castled and consolidated. As we shall see, though, the answer to this question will not be so encouraging for White, after all, his position seems to lack the necessary firepower to make such an advance work. Consequently, it is not surprising that the two main alternatives to the above option have been played more often. We will examine in succession (C2c1) 10.Re1, (C2c2) 10.Qe2 and (C2c3) 10.d5. (C2c1) 10.Re1, does not create a dangerous impression, but the fact a great player like Kozul has used it repeatedly convinced me to take a closer look at it. After 10...Be7 11.e4 cxd4 12.Nxd4 Ne5! 13.Bf4 Ng6 14.Bg3 0-0 Kozul has played 15.e5 twice and his opponents responded with 15...Nd5= (although the engines recommend 15...Nh5!? as possibly slightly better for Black, and I think their recommendation should be seriously taken into consideration). After 15...Nd5, Kozul continued with 16.Bxd5 Bxd5 17.Qg4 on both occasions, reaching this position:

In all honesty, and with all due respect to a great competitor with whom I have exchanged a lot of blows on the chessboard, I cannot see what is White is up to here. Black has more light-square control, his bishop on e7 is better than its counterpart on g3, and overall, Black’s position makes a fine aesthetic impression. After 17...Rc8! (17...Bb7?! 18.Rad1 Qb6 19.h4! Rfd8 20.h5 Nf8∞ is not as good, although even here White did not look any better in Kozul-Charbonneau, Mallorca 2004) 18.Rad1 Rc4!³/= 19.Nxd5? (19.Qe2! Qa8! 20.Nxd5 Qxd5 21.Nf5 Qc6 22.Nd6 Rc2 23.Rd2 Rxd2 24.Qxd2 Rd8 would have been much better, when White would have nearly equalized) 19...Qxd5 20.b3 Rc3 21.h4

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21...h5!! 22.Qxh5 Rxg3! 23.fxg3 Bc5 24.Kh1 Bxd4 25.Qg4 Rd8µ/–+ Black obtained a winning advantage in Kozul-Stevic, Zagreb 2004. My conclusion is that Black’s play is natural and easy in this line. (C2c2) Of all White’s options on his 10th move, 10.Qe2 seems to make the best impression. It prepares both e3-e4 and Rf1-d1. After 10...Bd6 (10...Qb6 11.dxc5!? seems to give White some pull) there is the following choice: (C2c21) 11.e4 and (C2c22) 11.Rd1. 11.Rd1 is the most conservative of White’s two possibilities at this point, but at the same time it is probably the best one, if only by a small margin. (C2c21) Instead, the more aggressive 11.e4 cxd4 12.Nxd4 0-0 13.Rd1! (13.Kh1?! Rc8 14.f4?! Rxc3! 15.bxc3 Nxe4 16.Qe1 Ndf6µ was already much better for Black in Yilmaz-Robson, Istanbul 2012) should be equal after either of the following configurations by Black:

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13...Bc7 It is also possible to play 13...Qc7 14.g3 Rac8! 15.Be3! (15.Ndxb5?? loses to 15...axb5 16.Nxb5 Ba6!) 15...Qb8! (15...Nxe4? 16.Nxe4 Bxe4 17.Nxe6! fxe6 18.Bxe6+ Kh8 19.Rac1 Bf3 20.Rxc7 Bxe2 21.Rxc8 Bxd1 22.Bxd7±) 16.f3 Ne5 17.Rac1 h6 18.Kg2 and here Black can borrow a resource from the Hedgehog to create strong play along the diagonals a8-h1 and b8-h2: 18...g5!

This threatens ...g5-g4 after some further preparation. Such a move, often in conjunction with an exchange sac on c3, could lead to a powerful attack on the long white diagonal as it liquidates the defensive structure §f3/ §e4 . The engines find nothing better than 19.Bf2 Rc7 20.h3 Rd8=, but this is obviously an excellent position for Black who has many plans, perhaps the most logical of them being to double rooks on the d-file followed by moving the Bd6 to either c7 or f8 in order to unleash their 273

strength.

If White tries to anticipate this plan with 21.Nb3, Black can in the very least force a draw with 21...Nxf3!? 22.Qxf3 Rxc3! 23.Qxc3 Nxe4 24.Qe3 Nxg3+ 25.Kg1 Bf4 26.Qb6 Ne2+ 27.Kf1 Rxd1+ 28.Rxd1 Ng3+ 29.Kg1 (29.Bxg3?? Bg2+–+) 29...Ne2+=. A wonderful tactical idea! Returning to 13...Bc7, there might follow 14.Be3 (14.Nxe6? fxe6 15.Bxe6+ Kh8–+ leaves White unable to exploit the temporary pressure along the d-file) 14...Qe7 15.f3 Rfd8 16.Nb3 h6 17.Rac1 Rac8=. In this position, Black could try to provoke the move g2-g3 by ...Nf6-h5, then return to f6 and build the formation Ne5/§g5 which can be annoying for White, as we witnessed in the line just above. (C2c22) Time to check 11.Rd1:

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11...Qc7! With this move we practically stop e3-e4, because after ...c5xd4, White will not be able to take on d4 with the knight. 12.dxc5 White changes course, but this is obviously not dangerous for us. On the other hand, 12.e4?! cxd4 13.Rxd4 Ne5 14.g3 0-0³/µ is much worse for White. 12...Nxc5 13.b4 Ncd7 14.Bb2 Rc8 15.Rac1 Qb8=

Black has managed to configure excellently his queenside pieces and is no worse at all. Play could continue as follows: 16.h3 0-0 17.Bb1 Rfd8 18.Nd2 h6 19.Nce4 Rxc1 20.Nxf6+ Nxf6 21.Rxc1 Bh2+ 22.Kh1 Be5 23.Nb3 Bd5 24.Nc5 Bc4 25.Qc2 Bxb2 26.Qxb2 Rd5!? 27.Kg1 (27.Nxa6? Qd8µ) 27...Qd8 28.Bc2 Nd7 29.Nb3 (29.Nxa6 Qc8=) 29...Ne5. At this point a draw was agreed in Velilla Velasco-Van der Hoeven, corr. 2010. (C2c3) Let us now return to the rather premature 10.d5:

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10...exd5 11.Nxd5 Be7! After this move, indicating that he is not afraid to part with his dark-square bishop, Black has the better development and a queenside pawn majority, factors that should land White in difficulties. The following analysis seems to confirm this assessment: 12.e4 Most logical, to free the Bc1 for active operations. (a) Worse is 12.Re1?!, supporting a move that could be played immediately. After 12...0-0 (12...Nxd5 13.Bxd5 Bxd5 14.Qxd5 0-0 15.e4 Nf6 16.Qf5 Qc8 17.Bg5 h6 18.Bh4 Qxf5 19.exf5 Rfe8³ is also good, as in Kraai-Seirawan, Seattle 2002) 13.e4 the thematic advance 13...c4!³ prepares to take on d5 and follow up with ...Nd7-c5.

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This position looks fantastic for the second player as the Ba2 is badly cramped and both the d3- and b3-squares have become weak. If 14.Nxe7+ Qxe7 15.Bd2 Nc5 16.Bb4, Black has many options but the engines consider the capture 16...Nfxe4µ as best. From the human viewpoint, 16...Qc7µ is safer and should also suffice for a considerable advantage. (b) 12.Nxe7 is more logical than 12.Re1?!, and more of a test of Black’s idea. The point is revealed after 12...Qxe7 13.Nh4!?, when the planned invasion on f5 gives Black some problems to solve.

13...g6! It requires some courage from Black to fight for the advantage. Instead: 13...Qe4!? is a common sense solution, which White best answers with 14.Qf3! Qxf3 15.Nxf3=. 13...0-0 is also possible, yet after 14.f3 g6 15.e4 c4 16.b3 Qc5+ 17.Kh1 Qh5 18.Qe1 Rae8 19.Bb2∞ the position is merely unclear and can go either way. With 13...g6!, we refuse to “castle into it,” at least for the time being, focusing instead on immediately exploiting White’s weaknesses on the light squares and the awkward placement of the Nh4. 14.e4! c4! (not 14...Nxe4? 15.f3!, and suddenly the tables are turned) 15.f3 Nc5

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Our strategy is beginning to take shape; White is already facing problems. After 16.b3 (16.Bh6 Nfd7! 17.g3 0-0-0 18.Qc2 Ne5 19.b3 cxb3 20.Bxb3 Kb8³ is a line showing we can be flexible with castling) 16...Rd8 17.Qc2 cxb3 18.Bxb3 Nfd7 19.Bb2 Nxb3 20.Qxb3 0-0 21.g3 Ne5 the weakness of the d3and c4-squares is glaring and gives White serious headaches. For example, 22.Rad1 (22.Qb4 Qe6!³; 22.Qc3 f6³) 22...Nc4 23.Bc1 (23.Bc3 Qc5+ 24.Kh1 Ne3ƒ) 23...Qc5+ 24.Kh1 a5ƒ and Black is beginning to gain inches on the queenside while White has no hopes of attack on the other wing. We will now focus on 12.e4:

12...0-0 13.Bf4!? This is the best I could find, but the White position remains worse anyway. Inferior is 13.Nxe7+ Qxe7 14.Bf4 Nxe4 15.Re1 Rad8!? 16.Ng5 Qf6 17.Qc1? (17.Qg4 Ne5 18.Nxe4 Nxg4 19.Nxf6+ 278

Nxf6³ was better) 17...Rde8! 18.Nxe4 Rxe4 19.Rxe4 Bxe4 20.Qd2 c4µ and Black was close to winning in Milanovic-Halkias, Kavala 2007.

13...Nxd5 14.Bxd5 Bxd5 15.exd5 (15.Qxd5 c4!ƒ …16.Nd4 Nb6 17.Qxd8 Rfxd8 18.Nc6 Re8 19.Nxe7+ Rxe7 20.f3 Rd7µ offers no relief) 15...c4³ Here, I believe, both in the practical and theoretical sense, Black has the better chances. The d-pawn is more of a weakness than a strength, and White’s queenside is vulnerable. An attempt to get rid of the weakness on b2 by 16.b3 should be answered with 16...cxb3 17.Qxb3 Nc5 18.Qd1 Bd6 19.Rc1 Rc8 20.Be5 f6 21.Bxd6 Qxd6, and White is obviously struggling. (C3) We will now try to shed some light on the positions arising after 6.dxc5: 6...Bxc5 7.b4 After 7.Nc3 we can simply play 7...Nc6= or 7...dxc4 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Bxc4 b5=. 7...Be7 This retreat is logical when the knight has not yet been developed on c6. Black might subsequently attack the a3/b4 duo with ...a6-a5 in order to secure the c5-square for the Nb8, and for this purpose it is best to have the bishop on e7.

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I examined four continuations for White in the diagrammed position: (C3a) 8.c5?, (C3b) 8.Nbd2, (C3c) 8.cxd5 and (C3d) 8.Bb2. 8.Bb2 will be our main line by a random choice as it is no better or worse than 8.Nbd2 or 8.cxd5, the other two playable options examined below. (C3a) It is certainly better, however, than 8.c5?, a move that has been played only a couple of times and there is good reason for that. Black should react with 8...a5!, undermining White’s chain and winning a pawn. There is not real compensation for White after 9.Bb2 axb4 10.axb4 Rxa1 11.Bxa1 b6! 12.Bb5+ Bd7 13.Bxd7+ Qxd7 14.cxb6 Qb5 15.Bc3 Bxb4 16.Nd4 Bxc3+ 17.Nxc3 Qxb6 18.Qa4+ Nfd7 19.0-0 0-0 20.Rb1 Qc5µ, so we can safely conclude that 8.c5 is unsound. (C3b) A move designed to avoid the exchange of queens that occurs after 8.Bb2 is 8.Nbd2; it is harmless, to be sure, but we should not be completely relaxed. After 8...0-0 9.Bb2, Black only needs to use an accurate move order to make his ...a6-a5 idea work:

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9...b6! That’s it! Black should fortify his control over c6 before resorting to ...a6-a5. Worse is instead 9...a5 10.b5 Nbd7 11.Be2 b6?! 12.Nd4! Bb7 13.Nc6 Qe8 (13...Bxc6 14.bxc6 Nc5 15.0-0²) 14.cxd5 Nxd5 15.Nxe7+ Qxe7 16.Nc4 Rfd8 17.0-0 Rac8 18.Re1² and White’s two bishops gave him a lasting edge in Broeker-Gil, corr 2014. 10.Be2 10.cxd5 Nxd5 11.Nc4 b5 12.Ncd2 a5 13.Bxb5 axb4 14.axb4 was the continuation in MikhalevskiSmith, Stockholm 2015, and is of course completely harmless for Black. Now Smith took on a1 which is certainly equal, but even more accurate is 14...Ba6= according to the engines. 10...Bb7 11.0-0

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11...a5! Black finally has the chance to play his idea under the best possible conditions. 12.b5 Nbd7 13.Nd4 Rc8 14.Rc1 Nc5 (14...Ne5!? was interesting because White cannot take on e6 with impunity as the a3-pawn is also hanging) 15.cxd5 So far we have been following Abbasov-Haslinger, Seville 2011. Now Black took on d5 with the bishop and eventually won, but my favorite recapture is 15...Nxd5!= to avoid any Be2-f3 ideas and allow our bishop to come to f6. The position would be quite balanced in that case, because the Nd5 acts as a shield on the h1-a8 diagonal, keeping our only weakness, namely c6, inaccessible to the opponent. (C3c) Finally, one more possibility worth noting is 8.cxd5, against which I decided to offer 8...Qxd5= as a simple equalizing solution.

Sample lines follow: 9.Bd3!? (a) 9.Qxd5 Nxd5 10.e4 (10.Bb2 0-0=) 10...Nf6 (10...Bf6?! 11.Ra2²) 11.Nc3 0-0 12.Bb2 a5! 13.b5 Nbd7∞ is fine for Black. (b) 9.Nbd2 is adequately met by 9...b5! 10.Bb2 Bb7 11.Nb3 Qxd1+ 12.Rxd1 Bd5 13.Na5 Nbd7! (13...0-0 14.Ne5 Rc8 15.f3!²) 14.Bd3 Bd8!=. After 9.Bd3!? White will gain a tempo on our queen, yet our position remains satisfactory: 9...0-0 10.Nc3 Qd6

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I do not see any real difficulties for Black as we will also harass the Bd3 by putting our rook on d8, regaining the time lost: 11.0-0 (a) White gains nothing from 11.Qc2 Rd8 12.Be2 b5=, or (b) 11.Ra2 b5 12.Rd2 Qc7 13.Bb2 Bb7 14.0-0 Nbd7 15.Ne4!? (15.Qb1 Bxf3 16.gxf3 Ne5³) 15...Rfd8=. After 11.0-0 there comes 11...Rd8 12.Be2 Qxd1 13.Rxd1 Rxd1+= with simple equality. (C3d) Let us return to our main line 8.Bb2:

8...dxc4! It makes sense to clarify the situation here, as these symmetrical endings can never offer White 283

anything tangible. 9.Qxd8+ Bxd8 10.Bxc4 b5 11.Bd3 Bb7= A sterile position has been reached. White’s only plan is to wait for ...a blunder from Black! After 12.Nbd2 Nbd7 13.Ke2 (if 13.Rc1, as in Donchenko-Malevinsky,Yerevan 1977, Black should probably prefer 13...0-0 14.0-0 Bb6 15.Rc2 Rfc8, initiating massive liquidations) 13...0-0 14.Rhc1 (Nikolaidis-Galopoulos, Athens 2012) I recommend the simple

14...Be7 15.Rc7 Rfb8, preparing to evict the white rook, with equality. For example, 16.Ne5 (16.e4 Bd8 17.Rc2 Rc8 18.Rac1 Rxc2 19.Rxc2 Rc8 20.Rxc8 Bxc8 21.e5 Nd5 22.g3 Bb7 23.Ne4 N5b6=) 16...Nxe5 17.Bxe5 Bd8 18.Rc2 Rc8 and in my view there is nothing left to play for. Thus, 5.a3 offers nothing special to White, as was expected for such a slow move. We now proceed to examine the two main continuations 5.cxd5 and 5.Nc3. (D) 5.cxd5 This is an important continuation. White does not care about tempo-gaining nuances, he wants to develop quickly and castle. 5...exd5 6.Bb5+!?

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This check is really dangerous and its use by Carlsen and Grischuk supports my opinion. White opts for a slight advantage with a minimum of risk in a position where he could torture his opponent for ages after 6...Bd7. Instead, 6.Nc3 transposes to 5.Nc3 which is the main line of Part II (b). 6...Nc6!? This is my suggestion, and I came to appreciate it mainly by using the method of elimination. After 6...Bd7?! 7.Bxd7+ Nbxd7 8.dxc5 Nxc5 9.0-0 Be7 10.Nc3 0-0 11.b3 I do not see any counterplay on the horizon and the position is unpleasant, at least for my own taste. Compared to IQP positions we have witnessed in Part II (a), here there is less control over d4 and what is even more annoying is the fact we cannot fight to increase it. The game Grischuk-Carlsen, Biel 2007, continued as follows: 11...Nce4 12.Ne2 Rc8 Black can deviate with 12...Qa5, with an idea of trading bishops on a3 is possible, but still White keeps an edge. His control over d4 cannot be shaken. Witness the following example: 13.Bb2 Ba3 14.Bxa3 Qxa3 15.Qc1 Qa6 16.Qb2 Rac8 17.Nfd4 Rc7 18.Rac1 Rfc8

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Black’s situation here compares unfavorably with the one we had encountered in Part II (a), under the particular mover order(to the line) 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 Be7 6.Bxe7 Qxe7 7.dxc5 Nf6 8.Nbd2 0-0 9.Rc1 Ne4 10.e3 Nxc5 11.Qc2 b6 12.Bb5 Bb7 13.0-0 Nba6 14.Nd4 g6 15.a3 Nc7 16.Bc6 N7e6 17.N2f3 Bxc6 18.Nxc6 Qb7 19.Ncd4 Rac8. There Black was fine, because of the following reasons: (a) he had more control over d4 (b) had already made luft (c) his queen was better placed, supporting d5 (d) White’s queenside pawn formation was not optimal (e) the white queen was not impressively placed, as it is here on b2 and (f) the knight configuration Nf3/Nd4 was less elastic that the Ne2/Nd4 one we have here. White could have tried to obtain something similar to what is pictured in the diagram by 20.b3, but then 20...Ne4 21.Qb2 Nxd4 22.Nxd4 Rc5! would have invited an exchange of rooks only on Black’s terms, a motif I am especially fond of. So, do remember it; it might be the only way to completely equalize in such a type of structure. In our present position, the “usual suspect” – none other than Levon Aronian – continues methodically to trade all rooks and achieve the same Q+2N vs Q+2N endgame he had achieved against yours truly in Part II (a): 19.a4!? Qb6 20.Nb5 Rxc1 21.Rxc1 Rxc1+ 22.Qxc1 g6 23.f3 Nc5 24.Qc3 a6 25.Nbd4 Qd6

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So far we have followed Aronian-Caruana, Stavanger 2015. Here both 26.g4!?² and 26.a5² would have fixed the structure favorably for White, starting a grind. The position is of course defendable for Black but I think there is no point in entering such positions if there is something better. Let us now see what happened in Grischuk-Carlsen, after 12...Rc8: 13.Bb2 Qd7 14.Ne5 Qd6 15.f3 Nc5 16.Qd2 Ne6 17.Rfd1 Rfd8 18.Nd3

18...Ne8!? Carlsen realizes he must seek the exchange of dark-square bishops after all. 19.Ndf4 Nxf4 20.Nxf4 Bf6 21.Rac1 Rxc1 22.Qxc1 Bxb2 23.Qxb2 Nf6 24.Rd4 Qc5 25.Qd2 h6 26.h3²

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White has achieved a slight edge once more, and I think Grischuk may have even had something better along the way. In any case, the opening made such an impact on Carlsen that he later on used the same line as White against Polgar. Let us return to 6...Nc6!?: 7.0-0 7.Ne5 Qc7 8.Qa4 Bd7 9.Nxd7 Qxd7 10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.0-0 0-0 12.Nd2 a6 13.Bxc6 Qxc6 14.Qxc6 bxc6 15.b3 a5 16.Bb2 Nd7 17.Rac1 Rfb8= looks like a balanced endgame. 7...Bd6 At this point 8.dxc5 Bxc5 9.Nc3 would transpose to the 5.Nc3 main line analyzed later, but with the chosen move order, White can postpone the development of the knight to acquire benefits by pressing on the c-file. I analysed the following moves: (D1) 8.Bxc6+, (D2) 8.dxc5 and (D3) 8.Qc2!?.

8.Qc2!? is the most cunning continuation of all, designed to force our queen to the slightly awkward square b6. Let us first look at the alternatives to understand why they are not dangerous for Black: (D1) After 8.Bxc6+ bxc6 9.Qc2 (9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.Qc2 Qd6 11.b3 0-0= transposes to 8.dxc5 Bxc5 9.Qc2 Qd6!) 9...Qb6 10.b3 several sources consider White to have a clear plus but this is not true: There should follow 10...cxd4! 11.exd4 0-0 12.Ba3 Bxa3 13.Nxa3 Bg4! and Black was fine after the further 14.Ne5 Qxd4 15.Nxc6 Qb6= in N.Pert-Law, Birmingham 1999.

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However, I decided to delve into this position deeper in order to show that the further course of the game can be extremely tricky: 16.h3 Bd7 17.Ne5 Be6 18.Qb2 This was the logical game continuation, when we have an interesting situation on the board. What would you play?

18...Rac8! The correct strategy here is not to push the d-pawn as it will end up weak. Black should focus on the c-file and the c3-square. In the game there followed 18...Rfd8?! 19.Nc2 d4?!, which looks principled, but it is flawed. The dpawn will now be lured deep into the white camp, ending up an easy prey for the enemy pieces: 20.Rfd1 Qc5! 21.Nf3 d3 and now White missed 22.Nce1!! which leaves the overly advanced d3-pawn on the verge of extinction. 289

Instead, the game witnessed an exchange of mistakes by the two players: After 22.Ncd4?, Black replied with 22...Bf5? and was tortured for over 90 moves before drawing, when he could have punished White’s misguided knight sortie with 22...Bd5!, putting the cavalry into an uncomfortable bind.

Black would have then been the pressing side, e.g. 23.Rac1 Qb6 24.Rxd3 (24.Rc3 Be4³) 24...Bxf3 25.gxf3 and now either 25...Nh5„ or 25...Rd5 would give him very strong counterplay and excellent attacking chances on the kingside. Returning to 22.Nce1!!, after 22...Bf5 23.Rac1 Qb6 24.Ne5 Rd5!™ 25.N1xd3 Rad8 26.Nc6! R8d7 27.Qa3! Bxd3 28.Ne7+ Rxe7 29.Qxe7 h6 30.Rc7 Bg6 31.Rxd5 Nxd5 32.Qd8+ Kh7 33.Rd7! Qxd8 34.Rxd8± it is clear that the ending holds little promise of survival for Black. I like these lines very much because they show how imperceptible details can change the course of the game and lead to an advantage for one side or the other, but the principal conclusion is that pushing the d-pawn is a gamble that will not pay off, as White has too many pieces that can cope with the intruder. Let us now check the right move 18...Rac8!: 19.Nc2 Ne4 20.Nd4 h6 21.Rac1 Rfe8

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White has impressive knights but that is where it all ends; in fact, they cannot achieve anything substantial. The engines find nothing better than 22.Nxe6 Qxe6 23.Nf3 Rxc1 24.Rxc1 Rc8=, reaching a position in which Black does not have any problems. The game should be drawn.

(back to the text)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 Be7 6.Bxe7 Qxe7 7.dxc5 Nf6 8.Nbd2 0-0 9.Rc1 Ne4 10.e3 Nxc5 11.Qc2 b6 12.Bb5 Bb7 13.0-0 Nba6 14.Nd4 g6 15.a3 Nc7 16.Bc6 N7e6 17.N2f3 Bxc6 18.Nxc6 Qb7 19.Ncd4 Rac8 20.b3 Ne4 21.Qb2 Nxd4 22.Nxd4 Rc5!

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(D2) Another possibility is 8.dxc5, but this gives Black the chance to put his queen on d6, satisfactorily defending his sensitive points along the c-file. After 8...Bxc5, I looked at the following continuations: (D2a) 9.Ne5?!, (D2b) 9.a3, (D2c) 9.b3 and (D2d) 9.Qc2!?. White should normally be expected to proceed with 9.Qc2!?, as the other moves are at best transpositions to lines we will see later on: (D2a) 9.Ne5?! is premature. One example is 9...Qd6 10.Qa4 0-0! (Koziak-Novikov, Alushta 1999) when Black is already better:

11.Nd3 A sad necessity. White realizes that he cannot go on with the planned pawn grab; after 11.Nxc6?! bxc6 12.Bxc6? Ng4–+ Black wins without much effort. 11...Bb6 12.b3?! (12.Nc3 Rd8!ƒ was also unpleasant, but it was a better try) 12...Ng4! Novikov did not find this, but it was the strongest and most clear-cut continuation. Its main point is that after 13.Qf4 Qd8µ, there is the threat of ...Bb6-c7, leading to a very dangerous black attack. White can stave off the immediate threats only by allowing a bad weakening of his kingside with 14.Qg3 Bc7 15.f4µ as the more natural alternative 14.h3? loses nicely as follows: 14...Bc7 15.Qa4

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15...Nh2! 16.Rd1 Bxh3! 17.gxh3 Qg5+ 18.Kh1 Qh5 and further resistance is futile. (D2b) A better attempt than 9.Ne5?! is 9.a3 0-0 10.b4 Bd6 11.Bb2, which certainly has its points. White avoids developing the knight on c3 in order not to weaken his c4-square. Normally, when the knight goes to c3 and the bishop retreats to e2, we should adopt the set up with ...Bc8-e6, ...Qd8-e7, intending ...Nc6-e5 with counterplay, but what to do here?

In chess, we should try to work with tabiyas, so I suggest we try to transpose to the position we want by playing 11...a6 12.Be2 Qe7!?; this leaves White only one possibility to deviate, 13.Nbd2, which is what we will focus upon here. Instead, 13.b5?! axb5 14.Bxb5 Rd8 should be simply bad for White as he has lost too much time, while 13.Nc3 Be6! transposes to what we want, examined under the move order 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.a3 a6 293

7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.b4 Bd6 9.cxd5 exd5 10.Bb2 0-0 11.Be2 Be6 12.0-0 Qe7, when the exactly same position has been reached one move earlier. After 13.Nbd2, I suggest the following typical deployment of the black forces:

13...Rd8 14.Rc1 Ne4 15.Nd4 (15.Nb3 Bg4! [15...Qe6!? 16.Nfd4 Qh6„] 16.Nfd4 Qh4„) 15...Nxd4! I would say that this is a memory marker. It is not that often that we make this exchange voluntarily, but here there is a reason. Instead, trying to complicate matters with 15...Ne5 runs into 16.f4!, when Black must be prepared to sacrifice a pawn: 16...Nxd2 17.Qxd2 Nc4 18.Bxc4 dxc4 19.Rxc4²; I was not sure we had enough compensation here, so I was essentially “forced” by the circumstances to find 15...Nxd4!: 16.Bxd4 Bf5

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However strange it may seem, there is approximate equality on the board. Normally such a position would be better for White, but here the construction §a3/ §b4 invites ...a6-a5 with counterplay. Let us see what would happen in case White tries to stop us from carrying out our plan: 17.Nb3? Of course this move is bad; it is just presented for instructional reasons. Instead, 17.Nxe4! dxe4 18.Qb3 a5! 19.bxa5 (19.Bc5 Be6 20.Bxd6 Qxd6 21.Qb1 axb4 22.Rfd1 Qf8 23.axb4 f5=) 19...Rxa5 20.a4 Rda8 (20...Be6!?) 21.Bb5 Bd7 22.Bxd7 Qxd7 23.Rfd1 Rg5 24.g3 Rh5„ is the critical continuation, when Black has counterplay against the white king and is close to equal. Back to 17.Nb3?:

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17...Bxh2+! A Greek cannot write a chess book without offering a Greek gift! 18.Kxh2 Qh4+ 19.Kg1 Rd6µ All of a sudden Black has a powerful attack, giving him good winning chances. There is nothing better than 20.Bh5 Rh6 21.f3 Ng5 22.Be5 Rxh5 23.Bf4, which somehow keeps White in the game, but being a pawn down and still under attack makes his chances of survival minimal. (D2c) Finally, 9.b3 is a logical move, but at the same time, not too dangerous. After 9...0-0 10.Bb2 Bg4 11.Be2?! (11.Nc3! Rc8 12.Rc1 Bd6 13.Be2 Bb8 is a transposition to the 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.cxd5 exd5 7.Bb5 main line) 11...Qe7! (now Black can put his queen on e7, a significant gain) 12.Nc3 Rad8! 13.Nb5 Ne4, we have on the board a position in which White seems to be the side with the more difficult moves to make:

14.Rc1! Aleksej Aleksandrov’s move is the best in the position. After the voluntary retreat 14.Nbd4, the powerful rook lift 14...Rd6!‚ gives Black a strong attacking position. For example, 15.h3 Bc8 (15...Bxh3 16.gxh3 Rg6+ 17.Kh1 Nxd4 18.Bxd4 Bd6 is interesting, but should yield no more than a draw) 16.Nxc6 bxc6 17.Rc1 Bb6! (17...Bxh3 18.gxh3 Rg6+ 19.Kh1 Bd6 20.Qe1 Qe6 21.Ng1 Rh6 22.f4 Rxh3+ 23.Nxh3 Qxh3+ 24.Kg1 Bb4 25.Qxb4 Qg3+= results in only a draw) 18.Bd3 c5 19.Ne5 f6 20.Nf3 f5 21.Be5 Re6 22.Bh2 Bb7ƒ. The shift of focus from the kingside to the center has not changed the assessment; Black is still the attacking side with the better chances for success. Let us return to the position after Aleksandrov’s 14.Rc1!:

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14...Bxf3!? A simple and good solution, leading to equality. Instead of finding the best way to anticipate 15.Nfd4, which is what White intends, Black just eliminates the knight. Or, if we want to say it more politely, cuts the Gordian Knot. Alternatively: (a) 14...Rfe8 was Tiviakov’s choice against Aleksandrov, but it is not that good in view of 15.Nfd4 Nxd4 (after 15...Bxe2 16.Qxe2 White intends Nd4-f5, and this poses some problems to Black, e.g. 16...Qd7 [16...a6 17.Nf5 Qg5 18.Nbd4²] 17.f3 Bxd4 18.Nxd4 Ng5 19.Rcd1²) 16.Nxd4 Be6 17.Nxe6 fxe6 18.Bd3 and White held the advantage in Aleksandrov-Tiviakov, Batumi 1999. (b) A better way to anticipate White’s intentions is 14...Bb6! 15.Nfd4 (15.Ba3 Nb4 16.Nfd4 Bxe2 17.Qxe2 a5„ is excellent for Black, who intends ...Rf8-e8 followed by ...Qe7-g5) 15...Bxe2 16.Qxe2 Qd7! 17.Nc2! f5 18.g3 Qf7„ and I like Black’s chances in this position very much as he has the right set of pieces to create counterplay. We will now check 14...Bxf3!?: 15.Bxf3

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15...Ng5!? This is the idea. Black puts pressure on f3 and d4 at the same time. After the knight retreat, the following three options are the ones that we do need to consider seriously: (D2c1) 16.Be2, (D2c2) 16.Bg4 and (D2c3) 16.Bxd5. (D2c1) 16.Be2 is something one could describe as a blitz automatic reaction, but then 16...Ne6„ is clearly excellent for Black. (D2c2) 16.Bg4 leads to some brilliant tactical play: 16...f5 17.Be2 f4 18.exf4 (18.Rxc5 Qxc5 19.Ba3 Nb4³) 18...Rxf4

19.Rxc5! Qxc5 20.Ba3! Qb6 (20...Nb4 21.Bc1∞) 21.Bd6! Rxd6! (21...Rf7 22.Qxd5±) 22.Nxd6 298

Ne7 (22...Nd4 23.Nb5!!∞) 23.Nc8!! Nxc8 24.Qc1 Nh3+! 25.gxh3 Rf8 26.Bg4 Ne7 27.Qe1∞ A tremendous line, typical of the rich tactical play that is often concealed in the e2-e3 systems of the Tarrasch. (D2c3) Taking the pawn by 16.Bxd5 is of course the critical test. We should continue as follows: 16...Nb4 17.Nc3 b6 A quiet move, protecting the Bc5 and preparing to regain the pawn. The computer gives 18.h4 Ne6 19.g3 Nc7 20.e4 Ncxd5 21.exd5 Qf6! 22.Na4 (22.a3 Nxd5 23.Na4 Qf5 24.Nxc5? Ne3!–+) 22...Qf5 23.Nxc5 Rxd5 24.g4! Qc8 25.Nd3 Qd7 26.Ne5 Rxd1 27.Nxd7 Rxd7 28.Ba3 Nd3! 29.Bxf8 Nxc1 30.Rxc1 Kxf8= and after a complicated fight, a completely drawish ending has arisen. An engrossing line, full of small tactical nuances. (D2d) We will now examine 9.Qc2, a move which there is a high probability of facing after 8.dxc5 Bxc5. Black has a choice between (D2d1) 9...Qb6?! and (D2d2) 9...Qd6!.

9...Qd6! This is the right square for the queen, and correctly presented as the best line in my old notes, something that I am proud of. You know, it was not so easy to conceive such things even for grandmasters 20-25 years ago and actually it is not so easy even today, in spite of the great flow of information and the improvement of computers. We will return to this correct move after first seeing what is wrong with the alternative. (D2d1) I do not like at all 9...Qb6?!, although it has occurred in a respectable number of games. As I said before, statistics do not say the absolute truth about a certain position, nor will they play the game for you. After 10.Bxc6+ Black seems to face an unpleasant task regardless of how he recaptures: 10...Qxc6 This has been played slightly more than the alternative below.

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After 10...bxc6 11.Nc3 Be7 (11...Qc7 can be answered with either 12.b3² or 12.e4!?) White can adopt two different strategies against the hanging pawns. He can either try to settle with his pieces in front of them or break them up with a quick e3-e4. I think Black’s position is unpleasant in both cases.

A sample variation is 12.b3 (12.e4 0-0 13.Be3² is the more enterprising method) 12...c5 13.Na4 Qa5 14.Bb2 0-0 15.Bc3 Qb5 16.Rad1 c4 17.Be5 Be6 18.Nc3 Qc5 19.Bd4 cxb3 20.axb3 Qc6 21.Rc1 Rfc8 22.Qb2² and I would definitely take White in view of his bind on the long dark diagonal and Black’s lack of serious counterplay. Returning to 10...Qxc6, I believe it should be answered with the flexible 11.b3! which guarantees White an edge. The positional threat is Bc1-a3, exchanging the dark-square bishops. Instead, 11.Nd4 Qd6 12.Nb5 Qe7∞ and 11.Ne5 Qd6 12.Qa4+ Nd7 13.Nd3 0-0„ are weaker, with playable positions for the second player in both cases. After 11.b3!, I searched extensively but did not find much for Black. The problem in such a situation is that White has a very concrete plan while Black does not, and relying on piece activity alone will not solve the problem as the adversary’s activity is actually not inferior. The only thing we can do, apparently, is try to minimize the damage by placing our pieces on the best squares available and avoiding the creation of further weaknesses.

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11...0-0 Castling seems natural. Instead, 11...Bg4 12.Ne5 Qd6 13.Nd3! Rc8 14.Nxc5 Rxc5 15.Qd2! Qc7 16.Na3± is much better for White as the white bishop will have no opponent on the long diagonal. 12.Ba3! Achieving a small strategic victory by trading off the important Bc5. (a) Weaker is 12.Bb2 Ne4! 13.Nc3 (13.Bd4 Bd6; 13.Ne5 Qb6∞) 13...Bf5 and Black’s activity guarantees counterplay as the following variations show:

14.Na4 301

After 14.Rfd1 Rfd8 15.Rac1 Rac8 I could not find anything convincing for White. Black seems to maintain equality here, e.g. 16.Qe2 (16.Nd4 Bxd4 17.Rxd4 Nxc3! [17...Qa6 18.Qd1 Nxc3 19.Bxc3² … 19...Qxa2?? 20.Ra4+–] 18.Qxc3 Qxc3 19.Rxc3 Rxc3 20.Bxc3 Bb1= is of course completely level) 16...Nxc3 17.Bxc3 Qg6! 18.Bd4 (18.Nh4 Bg4) 18...Be7, and the well placed black pieces should be capable of holding the draw. This is a position in which White cannot take with impunity on a7, as 19.Bxa7? runs into 19...Bc2! 20.Ne5 Qf5³/µ and White is struggling to avoid loss of material. Another possibility I looked at was 14.Nxe4 Bxe4 15.Qc3 f6 16.Rac1 Rfc8 17.Nd4 Qd7= when the final position is fairly level. Returning to 14.Na4, it is obvious after 14...Be7 15.Qxc6 bxc6 16.Nd4 Bd7 17.f3 Nc5 18.Ba3 Nxa4 19.Bxe7 Rfe8 20.Bd6 c5 21.bxa4 cxd4 22.exd4 Bxa4= that play has been exhausted and a draw can already be signed. (b) Another move I looked at was 12.Nbd2, which transposes to a game between GM Ioannis Papaioannou and former Greek prodigy IM Aggelos Vouldis.

In that game, there followed 12...Ng4 13.Qc3 Qd6?! 14.Bb2 f6 15.Rac1², and although Black ultimately won, he was worse at this stage in Papaioannou-Vouldis, Athens 2001. It seems, however, that going into an ending with 13...Bd6! would have been Black’s best, as an ending is not unfavorable for him so long as he carefully prevents the exchange of dark-square bishops. For example, 14.Bb2 Qxc3 15.Bxc3 Be6 16.h3 Rfc8 17.Rac1 Nh6 18.Bb2 a5 19.Nd4 Nf5 20.Nxe6 (20.N2f3 Nxd4 21.Nxd4 Bd7=) 20...fxe6 21.Nf3 h6 22.g4 Ne7 23.Nd4 Be5= and the game is level. However, after 12.Ba3!, the position is no longer balanced:

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12...Bxa3 13.Nxa3 It may sound ridiculous, but this natural move is a novelty. It is so natural that one cannot claim to have found such a move. On the other hand, it is simply strong and puts Black under lasting pressure. White should avoid the temptation to exchange queens as the hanging pawns are not weak after 13.Qxc6?! bxc6 14.Nxa3 Be6!. For example: 15.Rac1 Instead, 15.Rfc1 Rfc8 16.Ne5 c5 17.Nd3 Nd7 18.Rc3 c4! 19.bxc4 (19.Rac1 Nb6 20.Nf4 d4! ) 19...dxc4 20.Nf4 Nb6 21.Nxe6 fxe6 22.Rac1 Rc5 23.Kf1 Rac8= is also fine for Black. Returning to 15.Rac1, a logical continuation is 15...Rfc8 16.Ne5 c5 17.f3 a5 18.Nb5 Kf8 19.Nd6 Rc7 20.Nd3 Nd7 21.e4 d4 22.f4 Ke7 23.e5 g6 24.Rfd1 Rb8 25.Ne4 Rbc8 26.Nd6 Rb8= and White had no advantage in Baklanov-Loinjak, corr 2008. 13...Qa6!? I had also looked at 13...Qb6 14.Rac1 Bg4 15.Nd4 Rac8 16.Qb2², when White will redeploy the Na3 to c3 via b1, and Black has absolutely no counterplay.

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14.Nb1! It is best to play this, bringing the knight immediately into play. Instead, 14.Qb2 Bf5 15.Rfc1 Rac8 16.Nd4 Bd3 17.h3² is also good enough, but White will probably have to allow the exchange of the Na3 for the Bd3, a fact that reduces his winning chances. 14...Bg4 (14...Be6 15.Nc3²) 15.Nd4 Rac8 16.Qb2 Qd3!? 17.Nd2! (17.Qd2 Qxd2 18.Nxd2 Ne4²) 17...Qg6 18.Kh1²

Black has struggled well to annoy White but I cannot see him equalizing in the end. White has all the right pieces to apply long-term pressure, in particular the queen can cooperate excellently with her knights to attack weaknesses and generate threats. I decided this cannot be a repertoire choice for us.

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(D2d2) Let us turn our attention to the best move, namely 9...Qd6!: I analyzed no less than five options for White here: (D2d21) 10.Nc3, (D2d22) 10.a3, (D2d23) 10.Bxc6+, (D2d24) 10.b3 and (D2d25) 10.Bd2.

10.Bd2 is, somewhat surprisingly, a clumsy looking reply that belongs to the top two choices of the engines. What is even more frightening, is the fact it has a 5/5 clean score in the database, one of its victims being the theoretically well prepared Bulgarian GM Ivan Cheparinov, so I deemed it right to make it our main line. When I see such moves step into the spotlight, I cannot help but start grumbling about how chess has changed, but I guess this is an illness of all GMs of my era which I will have to live with. So I will keep the grumbling and try to redress the balance, if only theoretically, by showing you one or two ways to equalize after 10.Bd2. (D2d21) Before doing that however, I felt it was necessary to shed some light on other options, tested or untested, seen in practice: 10.Nc3 This belongs to the category of the untested ones, which is rather understandable; apparently, it makes little sense in the eyes of most players to mix Qd1-c2 and Nb1-c3 in the present position, all the more so as White’s move order was designed to generate pressure on the c-file and the long dark diagonal by keeping the c3-square vacant. However, after 10...0-0 11.Na4 Bb6! (not 11...Bb4? 12.a3 Ba5 13.Bxc6 bxc6 14.Bd2! Bxd2 15.Nxd2± with a clear positional advantage for White) 12.Nxb6 axb6, we get a rather strange imbalance on the board, worth discussing:

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White has a pair of bishops and two perfect pawn islands. Black has more space and pressure on the light squares, but also three pawn islands, featuring doubled and isolated pawns. In addition, Black’s rooks enjoy more freedom of action and his Nf6 has a good square on e4 to settle on, yet it is not immediately obvious if this activity can counterbalance White’s static advantages. I studied this position in some depth as I felt intrigued by its rare features and the final verdict is that Black stands very well, but he has to be a vintage Tarrasch player to understand the dynamics. The path splits into (D2d211) 13.Be2 and (D2d212) 13.b3, which looks like the most natural option and is in fact the best move. As you will see, however, most analysis is devoted to the former option because it gave me the opportunity to display, in the best possible way, the eternal fight of elements. (D2d211) 13.Be2 allows Black to unleash the full potential of his position as follows: 13...Ne4! An attempt to seize the initiative. Instead, 13...Bg4 14.Bd2! (14.h3 Bxf3 15.Bxf3 Ne5 16.Be2 Ne4∞ is very promising for Black as his knights are restricting White’s movements) 14...d4 15.Rfd1 Qe7! 16.h3 Bh5 17.Qc4 Rac8! 18.exd4 Nxd4 19.Qxd4 Qxe2 20.Re1 Qb5! 21.Re5 Qa6 22.Qe3 Rce8 23.Bb4 Rxe5 24.Nxe5 Re8 25.Qd4 Qb5 26.Bc3 Qc5 27.g4 Nd5! 28.Qxc5 bxc5 29.Rd1 Nxc3 30.bxc3 f6= is also good, with complete equality. 14.Rd1 It seems natural to bring the rook into the center, opposite the weak d5-pawn. (a) After 14.Bd2, Black has the following stunning response:

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14...Bh3!! As shocking as it is beautiful. Not only is the bishop immune on h3, it also creates the threat of ...Bh3xg2!. 15.Bd3 After long reflection, the engines give this move as best. Instead, 15.Ne1?! Bf5³ gives away space in the center; 15.Rfc1 Qg6 16.Bf1 Bg4„ is at least equal for Black. After 15.Bd3, the computer-generated line continues as follows: 15...Bg4 16.Nd4 Nxd4 17.exd4 Rfc8 18.Bc3 Nxc3 19.bxc3 Ra3 20.Bxh7+ Kh8 21.Bf5 Raxc3 22.Qb1 Bxf5 23.Qxf5 Kg8=. There is still of course some play left in the final position, but the engines give a completely equal (0.00) evaluation. (b) 14.Qb3 is a logical move, getting the queen off the perilous b1-h7 diagonal and attacking the b6pawn. I left this one for my readers. Can you determine what Black plays here?

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14...Re8!! A brilliant reply, showing how deep the Tarrasch can be. If you found and accurately calculated this move, then you are probably already a player of 2700+ caliber. If not, do not get disappointed; just try to learn from it. Black’s main idea, involves, as we shall see, the rook lift ...Re8-e6-g6(h6) in its most primitive form. But in this case, the move is as much crude as it is hard to find and follow up correctly. It is not easy to make such a decision over the board by relying on intuition alone; variations have to be calculated. Imagine that I discovered 14...Re8!! in a moment of rather rare inspiration, as I wanted to resist the decentralization 14...Na5, which loses control over d4, yet I could not make it work without the help of engines, in spite of having a great amount of time at my disposal: 15.Qxb6!? This may look risky, but it is the first and most critical possibility we have to calculate, as it wins a juicy pawn. I tried to analyze the position without the help of computers and without moving the pieces, and as you will see below, I failed: 15...Re6! 16.Qb3 It looks most natural to hurry with this move to bring the queen back to the defense. It is a human reaction, but as we shall see, is not the best. Once more I have presented the move for instructional purposes. Instead, the computer defense 16.Nd2! Rh6 17.f4 Nc5! leaves White walking a tightrope, but he can survive with 18.Nb3! Nd4 19.Qxc5 Nxe2+ 20.Kf2 Qf6! 21.Kxe2 Rxh2 22.Rg1! Bg4+ 23.Kf2 Qh4+ 24.Kf1 Rxg2 25.Rxg2 Qh1+ 26.Kf2 Qh4+ 27.Kf1=. The question is, can such a line be worked out from the beginning? The answer is, certainly not. I would say that Black needs to calculate until 17...Nc5!, then evaluate that the white queen is somehow trapped on the queenside and decide this is good for him, in conjunction with the unhealthy state of White’s kingside. 308

The position after 16.Qb3, however, is something less chaotic and we can calculate to a greater depth:

16...Rh6! Threatening 17...Bg4 18.g3 Qd7! followed by ...Bg4xf3 and ...Qd7-h3. I do not think one has to be a GM or an IM to calculate so far; this geometry is not that difficult. 17.Rd1 The only move. And here, to finish his calculations successfully, Black finally needs to find something special: 17...Be6! This may appear to be natural, but I just could not approve of it when I started my calculations in the position after 15.Qxb6!?. The reason was I did not see a follow-up to this move, as my mind was stuck on using ...Bg4 at all costs in order to attack. However, I forgot one important thing: Black can first bring his rook to d8, renewing the idea ...Bg4!, when White would be helpless. The computer finds nothing better than 18.Bd2 (18.Qxb7? Rb8 19.Qa6 Bg4–+) and here there is a fantastic final detail:

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18...g5!! Suddenly the idea ...g5-g4 springs out of nowhere to shock White! Who said that the Tarrasch is a boring opening? Instead, 18...Bg4?! 19.Be1! is the idea of 18.Bd2, giving White a few chances to hold after 19...Ng5 20.Qxd5 Nxf3+ 21.Bxf3 Qxh2+ 22.Kf1 Qh1+ 23.Ke2 Qxg2 24.Qf5!. 19.g3 Bg4!–+ Now this wins as there is no defense to ...Qd6-g6-h5. So 16.Qb3? in fact loses, and we can at the end of the road safely attach a question mark to it, but Black needs to calculate really well to achieve victory, which once more reminds us how important keen tactical eyesight in the Tarrasch is. I am sure many people would ask me if that is the only line Black needs to calculate after 14...Re8!! and I know that by answering “No” I will not satisfy them, but this is the nature of the struggle in the e2-e3 systems; usually the tactical ideas will have a lot of branches. Here, for example, instead of going pawn grabbing with 15.Qxb6!?, White can play 15.Rd1, attacking both b6 and d5, and Black needs to find another important point that makes his idea work, namely 15...Bg4!. The “magic” of this move is revealed after 16.Rxd5! (16.Qxd5?! Qf6! gives Black the initiative) 16...Be6! 17.Rxd6 Bxb3 18.Rd7 Nc5! 19.Rd6 Ne4=. I have rarely seen such a perpetual attack on a rook placed in the middle of the board, but here it did not appear by chance. It was a direct consequence of Black’s activity along the a-file, as it is the pin of the a2-pawn that made it possible. So, tactics, tactics, tactics is all you need to play this variation of the Tarrasch properly. I know it is easier said than done, but at least there are some typical mechanisms to inspire us, such as a rook lift, a demolition of the complex §f2/§e3 with sacrifices, etc. Without being able to use these mechanisms, one is simply bound to fail. Let us now resume our analysis by looking at the 14.Rd1 option:

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14...Qg6! Black tries to use the opposition of queens on the b1-h7 diagonal to accelerate his initiative. After 15.Ne1 Bf5 16.Nd3! Nc5 17.Qc3 d4! 18.exd4 Nxd3 19.Bxd3 Nxd4! 20.Qxd4 Rfd8 21.Qf4 Bxd3 22.Be3 b5=, Black has managed to get rid of his weakness and a completely level position has arisen. So we can conclude that 13.Be2 Ne4! is a very rich battlefield with chances for both sides, and that these chances are approximately balanced. (D2d212) Let us now return to 13.b3: 13...Bg4

This development is natural and strong here, as it fights for control of d4 and threatens to ruin White’s kingside structure as well. 311

14.Be2 This move looks safest, avoiding any turbulence a damaged pawn structure may cause. After 14.Bb2, Black has a choice: 14...Ne4; this looks like the most double-edged possibility. Alternatively, 14...Bxf3!? 15.gxf3 Qe6 is not bad either; for example, 16.Rfd1 Rfd8 17.Qe2 Nd7! 18.f4 Nc5 19.Qf3 Qf5 20.Qg2

20...d4! 21.Bxc6 bxc6 22.Rxd4 Ne6 23.Rxd8+ Rxd8 24.Rc1 (24.Qxc6 Qg4+ 25.Qg2 Rd1+=) 24...Rd2 25.Be5 f6 26.Bc3 Rxa2 27.Qxc6 h6© and rest assured, White’s vulnerable king will prevent him from utilizing the extra pawn. A possible continuation after 14...Ne4 is 15.Qd1 f5!„ with good counterplay for Black in a very sharp position. We will now switch our focus back to 14.Be2:

312

14...Rfc8! 15.Qd1 Bxf3! Black has to rely on the dynamic element, so Chigorin comes to help Tarrasch! We need to control d4 and prevent the Bc1 coming out on b2, so the bishop must sacrifice itself for the Nf3. 16.Bxf3 Qe5! 17.Bd2 Ne4 18.a4 Rd8 19.Rc1 h6 20.Qc2 Rd6 21.Rfd1 Rad8= The second player has reached a harmonious configuration and, clearly, the outcome of the opening is not unfavorable for him. I sincerely do hope these lines broadened your understanding of the Tarrasch. (D2d22) 10.a3 is another untried suggestion of the engines that deserves a mention. White resorts to the typical idea of an extended fianchetto for his queen’s bishop. Black can continue as follows: 10...00 11.b4 Bb6 12.Bb2 Bd7 (by threatening ...Nc6xb4, we want to force the knight to c3) 13.Nc3 Rfd8 14.Rfd1 Rac8 15.Be2

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15...Ne5!? Unveiling some pressure on the c-file where the queen stands. 16.Qb3 Nxf3+ 17.Bxf3 d4! This is strong and principled. White will be nominally better in a drawish position, but as long as it is a draw, we do not care. 18.Nd5! 18.exd4?! Ng4! 19.Bxg4 Bxg4 20.Rd3 Bxd4³ is better for Black; 18.Ne2? Ng4!µ is even worse. 18...Nxd5 19.Bxd5 Be6 20.Bxe6 Qxe6 21.Qxe6 fxe6 22.Bxd4 Bxd4 23.Rxd4 Rxd4 24.exd4 Kf7 25.Kf1 Kf6 26.Ke2 Rc2+ 27.Ke3 Ke7 The ending is completely equal because of the weakness of White’s a-pawn. For example, 28.Rd1 Kd6 29.Rd2 Rc3+ 30.Rd3 Rc2 31.h4 Kd5 32.h5 b5!= … 33.a4 Kc4! 34.axb5 Rxf2! (D2d23) The most “classical” choice in the position after Black’s ninth move is perhaps 10.Bxc6+ bxc6 11.b3! (instead, 11.Nc3 Bg4!?³ may be very slightly better for Black, but just in case, also good seems 11...0-0 12.e4 dxe4 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Qxe4, Eingorn-Kindermann, Polanica Zdroj 1984, 14...Qe6!? 15.Qc2 Qf5 16.Qxf5 Bxf5 17.Be3 Bxe3 18.fxe3 Rfe8=) 11...0-0 12.Bb2

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I believe there are several good ways for Black to handle the situation with his hanging pawns. We will check (D2d231) 12...Bb6 and (D2d232) 12...Nd7!? The latter is an interesting human idea, stopping pressure along the long diagonal. I discovered it a long time ago, so I had to polish a bit my rusty notes to make it work, but I think that even today it stands up to analytical scrutiny. It remains untried though. (D2d231) For those who prefer to follow the beaten paths, the approved alternative 12...Bb6 should also do. After all, Bb2-e5 is not such a terrible positional threat. For example: 13.Be5 13.Nbd2 Re8 14.Rac1 c5 15.Rfd1 Bb7, as in Lenderman-Huschenbeth, Greensboro 2018, is about equal after 16.b4! cxb4 17.Nc4 Qe7 18.Nxb6 axb6 19.Bxf6 Qxf6 20.Qb1 h6=. 13...Qe6 14.Nc3 14.Qb2 is well handled by 14...Ba6 (the less complicated 14...Nh5= should also be possible) 15.Rc1 (15.Re1 c5 16.Bxf6 Qxf6 17.Qxf6 gxf6 18.Nc3 Rfd8∞)

315

15...Ne4! 16.Nc3! (16.Bxg7? Nxf2!–+) 16...f6 17.Bg3 c5∞. 14...Ne4! My piece of advice is keep this knight whenever you can; it is better to exchange it for the one on c3 rather than for the bishop as the white knights are agile pieces that can take advantage of our hanging pawns. Instead, 14...Ba6 15.Rfd1 Rac8 16.Rac1 Rfe8 17.Bxf6 Qxf6 18.Na4² was better for White in Cabezas Ayala-Dolezal, Merida 2008. 15.Rac1 f6 16.Bg3 Nxc3 17.Qxc3 c5 18.b4! cxb4 19.Qxb4 Ba6 20.Rfd1 Rfc8 21.h3 Rc4 22.Qa3 Rxc1 23.Rxc1 Bc4 24.Nd2 Rc8= Black has obtained comfortable equality here. The Bg3 is not threatening on its present diagonal and our weaknesses are well protected by our bishops. (D2d232) We will now return to my 12...Nd7!? novelty:

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13.Nc3 (a) When I discovered 12...Nd7!?, I had first of all to make sure a move like 13.e4 would not harm Black. After 13...Ba6 14.Rd1 Qg6 15.Nc3 Rfe8 16.Rac1 dxe4 17.Nxe4 Rxe4 18.Rxd7 Bxf2+! 19.Qxf2 Re2 20.Rcd1 h6 21.Nh4 Rxf2 22.Nxg6 Rxb2 23.Rd8+ Rxd8 24.Rxd8+ Kh7 25.Nf8+=, a draw occurs. There are other possibilities of course, but in general Black is doing well. (b) I also checked the rather committal 13.Rc1!? which stifles the Ra1 for the sake of immediately pressurizing Black on the c-file. After 13...Bb7 14.Nc3 Rac8 15.Na4 Bb6 16.Nd4 g6 17.Nxb6 axb6,

we are, nevertheless, doing fine in spite of the weakness on the long diagonal. For example: 18.e4 (18.a4 c5 19.Nb5 Qe6=; 18.Qc3 f6=) 18...dxe4 19.Qxe4 Nf6 20.Qh4 Nd5 21.Nf3 f6 and the strong Nd5 nullifies any threats. If 22.Nd2, then 22...Qf4 23.Qxf4 Nxf4 24.Rd1 c5 25.Nc4! Rc6!= defends 317

Black’s position sufficiently. Back to 13.Nc3: 13...Bb7 14.Rfd1 Rfe8 (14...Qe7 15.e4²)

15.Rac1 (a) The logical 15.Ne2 Rac8= leaves Black without problems. He will defend against invasions on f5 with ...g7-g6 and then on the long diagonal with ...f7-f6. (b) Interesting is 15.e4 Qe6! (15...Qg6 16.Rac1 Qh5∞) 16.exd5 cxd5 when Black successfully copes with the knight jumps: The important one is 17.Ng5! (instead, 17.Nb5 Qb6 18.Nbd4 Nf6 19.Rac1 Rac8³ is better for Black because the outpost on e4 is tremendous, while White’s knights have merely a defensive role) 17...Qg6 18.Qxg6 hxg6 19.Nxd5 Rad8!, when Black’s two bishops offer him sufficient compensation for the pawn on the wide open board:

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For example: 20.Nc3 (20.Nf4 Nf8!©) 20...f6 21.Nf3 Bxf3 22.gxf3 Ne5 23.Kg2 Nd3 24.Ne4 Be7 25.Bc3 f5 26.Ng3 Kf7 27.Ne2 Bf6 28.Bxf6 Kxf6 29.Kf1 Rh8 30.Kg1 g5=; it is evident this line yields at least equality to the second player because the white kingside is too weak, and that offsets the pawn. (c) Finally, there is 15.Na4 which conceals a positional trap: 15...Bb6! This principled retreat is the way to side-step it. Do not fall for 15...Bb4 16.Rac1 Rac8

17.a3!! Bxa3 18.Bxa3 Qxa3 19.b4!²/∞. White gets tremendous positional compensation for his pawn and our queen is at risk, so it is clear that from the practical point of view, this line is not advisable. After the correct 15...Bb6!, there is not much going on, e.g. 16.Rac1 c5 17.Qf5!? g6! (not 17...Qe6 18.Qxe6 fxe6 19.Ne5 Nxe5 20.Bxe5 Rac8 21.h4 and White has a bind in the ending) 18.Qh3 h5 319

19.Ne1 Bc6 20.Nxb6 axb6 21.a4 Re4 22.Nd3 Rae8 23.Qg3 Qxg3 24.hxg3 Ra8 25.Bc3 (25.Nf4 Rb4³) 25...g5=. Time to check 15.Rac1:

15...Rac8! This is important, stopping 16.Na4 Bb6 17.Bd4, seizing control of c5. 16.Ne2 (16.Na4 Bb6 17.Nxb6 axb6 18.e4 f6! 19.exd5 cxd5 20.Qd2 Ne5 21.Nd4 Ng4„ gives Black ample counterchances on the light squares) 16...Bb6 17.Ng3 f6∞ Black has defended successfully against all White’s positional threats. The position is balanced, but full of play. Succumbing to the temptation to play 18.e4 gives Black rather the easier play after 18...Ne5 19.Nd4 g6 20.exd5 cxd5 21.Qd2 Ba6 22.Rxc8 Rxc8 23.Nde2 Nd3 24.Bd4 f5 25.Bxb6 axb6! (25...Qxb6 26.Nf4 Nxf4 27.Qxf4 d4 28.h4²) 26.Nd4 Qf4 27.Qxf4 Nxf4= although White should of course keep the balance. Thus, 12...Nd7!? is a useful alternative to the more straightforward 12...Bb6, its only disadvantage being that it abandons control of the e4-square. As we have seen, however, carrying out e3-e4 does not offer anything special to the first player; the black pieces are well placed to meet it. Overall, play seems balanced after 10.Bxc6+ and I do not expect this evaluation to ever change. (D2d24) Finally, 10.b3 0-0 should transpose to the line above after 11.Bxc6, for 11.Bb2 Bg4! does not give White any time for Bb5xc6:

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12.Rc1 A weird engine invention, but it should not worry us. (a) Instead, 12.Bxc6 Bxf3 13.gxf3 Qxc6 14.Nc3 is an immediate draw if Black wants by 14...d4 15.Na4 Qxf3=. (b) Bringing the knight out to d2 represents a success for Black: 12.Nbd2 Nb4 13.Qb1 (13.Qc3 Qb6) 13...Bh5„. 12...Bb6 13.Bxc6 (13.Ba3 Nb4∞) 13...Bxf3 14.gxf3 Rfc8 15.Qf5 Rxc6 16.Rxc6 bxc6 17.Bxf6 gxf6 18.Nc3 Qe5= Play is once more absolutely balanced. (D2d25) Let us now finally focus on our main line, the non-classical and successful 10.Bd2:

10...Bb6! 321

I do not know why this has never been played, but it looks good to me. If White intends to increase the pressure on the c-file, we should anticipate it with a move that is less committal for us. (a) Instead, weaker is 10...0-0 11.Rc1 Ne4 12.Nc3! when White exploits our temporary weakness on the c-file to carry out favorable exchanges: After 12...Nxd2 13.Qxd2 Be6 14.Qc2! (14.Bxc6 bxc6 15.Na4, as in Perez-Palao, Isla Guitart 1994, is less impressive in view of 15...Bb6 16.b4 Bc7 17.g3 Rfb8 with a rather unclear position) 14...Bb6 15.Na4 Rfc8 16.Nxb6 axb6 17.Qd2² White keeps a small advantage and although it is a containable one, I would not recommend this position to Black. (b) 10...Bd7 is the less flexible option of defending ourselves along the c-file. Why confine the bishop to d7 if White has not yet attacked c6? Isn’t it better to keep the option of developing it to more aggressive squares later on? These were the thoughts that unavoidably crossed my mind when I saw this move occur in three games and collect nothing better than 0/3, yet I decided to take a deeper look at it because I felt that White’s 10.Bd2 did not deserve to be ...less clumsy than 10...Bd7. In other words, I could not believe that the insertion of these two bishop moves in the position should favor White. You can find the results of my research below and judge if I was right or wrong:

11.Bc3! Were it not for this move White’s play would make no sense at all, but now he is ready to fight for the dark squares in the center and obtain the advantage. 11...Ne4 The critical reply, that leads us to the crossroads: 12.Bxc6! The best move. Instead, the colorless 12.Bd4 happened in Koneru-Cheparinov, Wijk aan Zee 2006. Now Black could have bailed out with 12...Bxd4 13.Nxd4 (13.Bxc6 Bf6 14.Bxd7+ Qxd7= is excellent for Black) 13...Nxd4 (13...0-0!?) 14.Bxd7+ Qxd7 15.exd4 0-0= when the symmetrical position offers few chances for a win for either side. 12.Bd3!? is more difficult to meet than Koneru’s choice, but I found a way to equalize: 322

12...Qe7! It is imperative to defend e4 and not help White develop. The g7-pawn is of minor importance here; what is important is the open lines and the relative strength of the pieces. 13.Bxg7!? I know what you will say, this is dangerous. But then again, it is just analysis and in any case it is the only real test of 12...Qe7!. Instead, 13.Nbd2 can be answered by either 13...f5!? or the more prudent 13...Nxc3! 14.bxc3 h6∞; in both cases I would be quite happy to have Black. 13...Rg8 14.Bc3 0-0-0! I also checked 14...Bh3!? but the text should be enough if followed up precisely. Witness the following lines: 15.Kh1 The alternative 15.g3!?, is strongly answered by 15...Bxe3! …16.fxe3? (16.Bxe4! dxe4=) 16...Nxg3 17.hxg3 Qxe3+ 18.Kh2 Rxg3!–+. 15...Kb8 16.Nbd2 Rde8! Black’s pieces are so tremendously active that he does not need to hurry. The most important thing is to fortify his monstrous knight on e4.

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Play will most likely continue as follows: 17.Rad1 Bf5 18.Ne1 Qh4! 19.Bxe4 dxe4 20.g3 Qh3 21.Ng2 Bg4! (21...Bd6 22.Nh4! is not clear) 22.Nf4 Bxd1 23.Rxd1 Qf5=/³ and the extra exchange makes Black at least equal, although White has his chances too. Returning to 12.Bxc6!, I started to realize developments were becoming forced, as taking on c6 with the bishop would be positionally bad in view of 13.Bd4!²/± with dark-square domination for White. This left nothing better than 12...bxc6 13.Bxg7! (Who wouldn’t underestimate this?) 13...Rg8 14.Be5 Qg6 15.Nh4! Qh6 16.Bg3 Nxg3 17.fxg3! Bxe3+ 18.Kh1, reaching the following position:

It was this position that made me actually believe that 10...Bd7 had been refuted. Black may have a nice advantage of the two bishops, but he has four pawn islands opposed to White’s two, the f5-square is a glaring hole and Black’s king does not seem to have a good place to hide. On, the contrary, the 324

white king is excellently shielded by the mass of pawns in front of him, and consequently his pieces are free to take up drastic action, or so I thought. Disappointed to see that my original evaluation of 10.Bd2 Bd7 as being no better for White was collapsing, I left for a walk, letting the engines find out the best way to crush Black. Imagine my surprise when I returned and saw that the silicon “truthseekers” were showing the position to be equal at a quite decent depth: 18...Kf8!! Contrary to what I believed, it was the kingside where the black king had to hide, despite the fact his pawn cover there makes a bad aesthetic impression. The king move also prepares to bring the a8-rook quickly to the e8-square and keeps the f7-pawn defended. 19.Nc3 It turns out that what I mostly feared, namely 19.Nf5 Bxf5 20.Qxf5, was not the end of the world. Black can continue with 20...Qg6 21.Qf3 Re8 22.Na3 Bd4 23.Nc2 Bxb2 24.Rab1 Be5 25.Rb7 Kg7! 26.Ne3 Kh8 27.Rxa7, and now one out of several ways to equalize is 27...Bxg3!?=. 19...Re8 20.Rae1 Kg7 21.Na4 Re7!

Black defends f7 and prepares to double rooks on the e-file. The position might appear easier for a human in a practical game, but computers remain unimpressed! 22.Qc3+ There is also the immediate 22.Nc5 Bc8 23.Nd3 Rge8 24.Rf3 Kg8 25.Ref1 Bd4 26.Rf4 Bg7 27.b4 Re2 and Black is more or less fine. 22...d4 23.Qc2 Rge8 24.Nc5 Bc8 25.Nd3 (25.Nf5+ Bxf5 26.Rxf5 [26.Qxf5 Qg6³] 26...Re5 27.Ref1 Rxf5 28.Qxf5 Qg6 29.Nd3 Qxf5 30.Rxf5 Bh6 is no better for White either) 25...Bg5 26.Rxe7 Rxe7 27.Nf3 Qf6=. 325

Black holds. At the end of the day I was happy that my initial evaluation was right (although no one can be sure 100%; this is up to readers and future researchers to judge), but also skeptical about other aspects of my chess knowledge. How could I underestimate the bishop pair so much? Rethinking the whole issue, I find it logical that Black holds after all, as I had underestimated two or three factors: (a) the construction §c6/§d5 in cooperation with the bishops keeps the white pieces at bay by controlling many important central squares. (b) the Kh1, which is safe in a middlegame position, would be limited and out of play for a long time if an endgame were to be reached; and last but not least (c) the anchored Be3 interferes with the communication of the white pieces inside their own camp and it is not easy to expel it. Those things said, I find it much easier for Black to play the position after 10...Bb6!, to which we will now return. The path after 10...Bd7 was narrow, and if in a narrow line a weakness is found, then it is as good as dead and buried.

11.Bc3 This is the only logical continuation here. 11.Rc1 is a shot in empty space, because after 11...Bd7, Black defends c6 easily and White is left with a strange rook on c1. 11...0-0 12.Rd1 Rd8 13.Nbd2 Qe7 Black has achieved a perfect Tarrasch configuration with great control over d4. After 14.Bd3 d4! 15.Nxd4 Nxd4 16.exd4 Bxd4 17.Bxd4 Rxd4 18.Nf3 Rd6 19.Re1 Be6 20.Ng5 h6 21.Nxe6 Rxe6 22.Rxe6 Qxe6 23.Qc7 b6 24.Rc1 Ne8 25.Qc2 Qe5= White’s advantage is, as we already know, nominal, and Black should draw easily. 326

If I had to recap in a few lines what we have seen to this point in the variation 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bb5+!?, I would say that it is a semi-tactical struggle with several strategic nuances in which Black has a fair share of the chances. Do not be misled by the fact most of our lines end in equality. This is happening because in a theoretical work that has to be the routine: White attacks perfectly, Black counters perfectly, a draw ensues. But praxis is much different: it is quite likely White will play much worse than perfectly in a tournament game and if Black is well prepared he will have good chances to play for a win. Speaking more specifically about our opening strategy in this line, the “secret” of our success in getting equal or promising positions so far was avoiding wrong exchanges and obtaining a harmonious piece configuration, whether it was an IQP position or a position with hanging pawns. An instrumental detail was avoiding at all costs ending up with a Qb6/Bc5 configuration in the hanging pawn formation, as that would allow White to develop a quick and efficient initiative on the dark squares, by exploiting those pieces’ unfortunate positions. But now the moment of truth has arrived and a natural enough question arises. (D3) What can we do after the super-refined 8.Qc2!?, when White attacks c5 immediately and Black does not avail of the d6-square for his queen? Aren’t we now forced to acquiesce to the aforementioned undesirable configuration? Fortunately the answer is no, and is provided by the analysis presented below:

8...Qb6 9.dxc5! This is of course the critical move. Instead, 9.Bxc6+ bxc6 10.dxc5 Qxc5!= is an important detail, when Black avoids placing his pieces the way White would like. After 11.Qxc5 Bxc5 12.b3 one logical continuation is 12...Ba6 13.Rd1 (Danner-Barlocco, Arco 2010) 13...Rc8!? 14.Nd4 g6 15.Ba3

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15...Be7! 16.Bxe7 Kxe7 17.a4 c5 18.Nb5 Bxb5 19.axb5 Rc7 20.Nc3 Rd8=. Let us now return to the critical 9.dxc5! and try to fight, once more, statistics with pure analysis: 9...Bxh2+! This brilliant move by Chandler seems to be the solution. It has been wrongly asserted that White now gets an edge. 10.Nxh2 Qxb5

This is a crucial position for our repertoire but I believe Black is completely fine. GM Mark Hebden has won three games from here against strong opposition and this fact has deterred other players from taking up the line, but analysis proves that there is no need to discard the position as it is essentially 328

sound. Black’s inferiority on the dark squares is compensated for by the strange placement of the Nh2 and the weakness of the c5-pawn. Play might continue as follows: 11.Na3 The critical move. (a) After 11.a4 Qc4 12.Na3 Qxc2 13.Nxc2 Ne4 14.b4 a5! 15.b5 Nb4³ White’s queenside crumbles and he is going to lose a pawn. Maybe it is still a draw but the onus will be on him to prove that. (b) 11.b3 0-0 looks fine for Black, e.g. 12.Bb2 Ne4 13.Bd4 Nb4 14.Qb2 Nd3 15.Nc3 (15.Qe2 Bd7³; 15.Qc2 Nb4=) 15...Qc6 16.Qe2 Ndxc5 17.Rac1 Nxc3 18.Rxc3 Qa6 19.Qh5 Ne4=. Returning to 11.Na3 we are at an important crossroads with Black having a choice between (D3a) 11...Qa6!? and (D3b) 11...Qb4!. 11...Qb4! is Murray Chandler’s treatment and is the safest for Black, keeping the game both equal and interesting. (D3a) On the other hand, 11...Qa6!? is riskier but not refuted. White has a strong double pawn sacrifice to annoy us but I have not been able to find an advantage for him in the complications that follow:

12.b4! Best according to the engines, and obviously a difficult move to meet if you are not acquainted with its nuances. But objectively, it seems to me there is nothing more than a draw for White after it. Instead: (a) 12.Rb1?! threatens b2-b4-b5 but misplaces the rook, allowing us to take advantage of it by 12...Ne7!µ and Black is clearly the better side. (b) 12.Nf3 is also fine for Black after 12...0-0 13.Nd4 (13.Rb1 Nb4) 13...Bd7 14.Nab5! (14.Nxc6 Qxc6µ) 14...Nxd4 15.Nxd4 Ne4³; White has a weaker king because of the missing h2-pawn and has not achieved much on the queenside, so Black enjoys a slight advantage. (c) 12.Bd2 0-0 13.Bc3 is given as slightly better by Khenkin, but I have to disagree: 13...Ne4 14.f3 329

(14.Rad1 Be6³; 14.Bd4 Bf5ƒ) 14...Nxc3 15.Qxc3 Rd8!„ and Black is more than fine, as 16.Nc2 is answered by 16...Qc4!³. (d) I also looked at 12.Rd1 0-0 13.b3 Ne4! 14.Rxd5 f5!„ and Black will soon recover his pawn with an equal game. (e) Finally, 12.b3 Be6 looks very slow for White, e.g. 13.Rd1 (13.Bb2 Ne4³) 13...Ne4 14.f3 and now there is the following picturesque draw if Black wants to put an abrupt end to the game: 14...Nb4 15.Qb2 Ng3 16.Kf2!? (16.Qf2?? Ne2+ 17.Kh1 Nxc1–+; 16.Rd2 d4!? 17.Qxd4? Ne2+ 18.Rxe2 Qxe2 19.Qxb4 0-0-0–+)

16...Nh1+! 17.Kg1 Ng3=. Let us now return to 12.b4!: 12...Nxb4 13.Qb3 Nd3 14.Nb5! Nxc5! Analyzing this position back in 2009, I had found it to be defendable for Black. The main line begins with 15.Nc7+! (15.Qb2 Kd8 16.a4 Bd7 17.Qe5 Bxb5 18.axb5 Qe6∞ is not worse for Black) 15...Kd7 16.Qb4 Kxc7 17.Qxc5+ Qc6:

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This was the starting point of many a sleepless night in my career as a Tarrasch analyst, where I was trying to ensure that White has no more than a draw. I had been forced by the sharp nature of the position to examine exhaustively (D3a1) 18.Qd4 and (D3a2) 18.Qe7+; 18.Qe7+ was actually the trickier of the two possibilities as White moves around with his queen, trying to lure us in a wrong decision regarding the placement of our own. There is a rule of thumb governing this position and it is nothing less than chasing White’s queen mercilessly until he signs a peace agreement. For practical purposes this means that there are several corresponding squares for the positions of the two queens, showing where the black one should stand to defend properly against the raids of its opposite number, viz.: WQBQ e7 d7 c5 c6 e5 d6 c3 c6 d3 a6 a3 d6 b3 b6 c2 c6 e2 a4 Finally, there are two retreat squares for the white queen where we should not try to challenge it, but play instead ...b7-b6. These squares are d4 and b2. The reason for this last (and very important) detail, is that challenging the white queen from b6 would block our b-pawn and prevent our king from reaching the safety of the b7-square after ...b7-b6. 331

When the white queen is on d4 it will flee to h4 and we will not have the chance to unblock the bpawn with tempo by attacking it again, while in the alternative case in which the queens oppose each other on b2 and b6 respectively, it will flee to e2. In this position, we need our own queen to reach a4 and block White’s offensive, but that is not possible. We can still unblock our b-pawn by playing ...Qb6-a6, but then White gets access to the kingside by Qe2-f3! and our queen is misplaced for defensive purposes. We will now see how Black’s defensive scheme takes shape starting with the immediate 18.Qd4, and then we will turn our attention back to 18.Qe7+: (D3a1) 18.Qd4 b6! 19.Bb2 Ba6 This looks like the most natural, shielding the c-file. There is also the sharp 19...Kb7 20.a4 (20.Rfc1!? Qd6! 21.a4 Bd7 22.a5 Rac8!=) 20...Qc4! 21.Qe5 Re8 22.Qg5 Ne4 23.Qxg7 Be6 24.a5 Rac8 25.axb6 axb6 26.Bd4 Rg8 27.Qxh7 and here there is a fantastic motif available:

27...Nd2! 28.Rfd1 Qc2! 29.Qh4 Nb3 30.Rab1 Qe4! and Black eloquently exchanges queens, as 31.Qxe4 dxe4= allows him to defend the Nb3. After 19...Ba6, a likely continuation is 20.Rfc1 Bc4 21.a4 a5!?∞. (D3a2) We now return to 18.Qe7+: 18...Qd7 19.Qe5+ Qd6 Of course, this is the only move. For some unknown reason, Black played 19...Kd8?? here in a correspondence game, five years after I had made my original analysis. Seeing 19...Kd8??, I was at first shocked, thinking that Black must have found something bad for us after 19...Qd6, which would incidentally demolish the whole line, as 19...Kd8?? cannot be described as a serious alternative. I could not find what it was, however. Just in case, I put the position after 19...Qd6 to Stockfish, letting it analyze up to depth 48 and the evaluation was still a flat 0.00. So Black’s choice was probably 332

either a mouse slip, or a desperate attempt to play for a win, which under the circumstances is equivalent to suicide: 20.Bb2 Qe7 21.Qg5 Rg8 22.Bxf6 Qxf6 23.Qxd5+ Ke8 24.Rac1 Qd8 25.Qb5+ Qd7 26.Qc4 Qe6 27.Qc7 Bd7 28.Nf3 Qb6 29.Qf4 g5 30.Nxg5! Qg6 31.Rc5 h6

32.Rd1! hxg5 33.Qc7 Bg4 34.Qxb7 Kf8 35.Rc6 Qf5 36.Qxa8+ Kg7 37.Qxa7 and Black resigned in Jean-Moya Quintero, corr 2014. 20.Qc3+!? This one looks like the trickiest try. (a) After 20.Qg5, Black has the dynamic reply 20...Ne4! 21.Qxg7 Bd7 22.Bb2 Rhg8 23.Rfc1+ Kb6!! 24.Qd4+ Ka6 25.a4 b6 26.Ba3 Qg6µ, when his king is surprisingly safe and it is White’s king which falls under a strong attack; (b) 20.Qd4 should be answered once more by 20...b6! (not 20...Qb6? 21.Qh4±) e.g. 21.a4 Ba6 22.Ba3 Qe6

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23.Rfb1!? (23.Rfc1+ Kb7 24.a5 Rhc8 looks at least equal for Black) 23...Ne4 24.Nf3! (24.a5 Qf6!µ forces the queens off) 24...Bc4 25.a5 Qf6! 26.Ne5!! Qxf2+ 27.Kh2 Qh4+=. 20...Qc6 We need to keep chasing the enemy queen; we can play for a win only if White decides first to do so. 21.Qd3 This is not the only move; there are actually several other possibilities for White at this point: (a) After 21.Qb2, we need to play 21...b6! (instead, 21...Qb6?! 22.Qe2! Qa6 23.Qf3! is dangerous for us, as has been already been pointed out above). A possible continuation after 21...b6! is 22.Bd2 Ba6 23.Rfc1 Bc4 24.Nf3 Ne4³ with the slightly better chances for Black, albeit in a complicated position. (b) 21.Qb3 Qb6 22.Qc2+ Qc6 23.Qe2 is similar to our main line. (c) 21.Qa3 Qd6= could lead to a draw by repetition if White wants.

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21...Qa6! An important memory marker! We are strictly following our scheme of defense, avoiding losing control of the important a3-square, which is what would happen after 21...Qc4?! 22.Qa3!± when White suddenly finds an avenue to penetrate. After 21...Qa6!, the struggle is reaching its climax, and White must decide whether he will allow a repetition or play for a win by adopting one of the following two ideas: 22.Qc2+ 22.Qd4 is an attempt to get a better version of the positions with the queen on d4 as the black queen is a bit awkward on a6. However, after 22...Be6 23.Bb2 b6 24.a4 Kb7 25.a5 b5 26.Rfb1 Rac8 27.Qd3 b4! 28.Qd2 Ne4 29.Qxb4+ Ka8 30.Nf3 f6, Black’s king is absolutely safe on a8 and his extra pawn might prove of some use later on. 22...Qc6 23.Qe2

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A key position. The queen has escaped the perpetual threat of an exchange and White is ready to attack. Here I borrowed a motif often seen in the French Winawer or the Nimzo-Indian to equalize the chances: 23...Qa4! Stifling the annoying a-pawn’s march, keeping contact with the kingside and taking the a3- and c2squares away from the white bishop and queen respectively. What more could one ask from a move? 24.Bb2 The most natural try, but not the only one. At this point I would like to bring to your attention a brilliant idea occurring after 24.Qf3, a move threatening Qf3-g3+: 24...Be6 Defending the rook on h8, and preparing ...b7-b6. 25.Qg3+ What now?

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25...Kc6!! I found this move on my own, and I am very proud of it. The idea is to play ...b7-b6 followed by ...Kb7 at all costs, even at the expense of a tempo. It seems that White cannot prevent this possibility. For example: 26.Nf3 (26.Bb2 b6 27.Rfc1+ Kb7 28.Rc7+ Ka6 29.Bxf6 gxf6 30.Nf3 Rhg8 31.Qd6 Rac8³ is clearly not worse for Black) 26...b6 27.Nd4+ Kb7 28.Nxe6 fxe6 29.Qxg7+ Nd7=

Observe how beautifully the queen operates from a4, not only making it possible to save the Nf6 from the enemy’s attack, but also creating the prospect of a counterattack on the kingside. We will end our analysis of this fascinating line by reverting to 24.Bb2: 24...b6 25.Rac1+ Kb7 26.Be5! Ne8! 337

The only defense, but sufficient. Black will now add emphasis to the quick exchange of a pair of rooks, after which White’s initiative dissipates:

27.Rfd1 Be6 28.Nf3 Rc8 29.Rxc8 Bxc8 30.Rxd5 White has regained one pawn, but now our pieces will spring to life. One possible conclusion is the following: 30...Nc7 31.Rd4 Qb5 32.Qc2 Ne6 33.a4 Qe8 34.Rd6 Ka8 35.a5 bxa5 36.Nd4 Nxd4 37.Bxd4 Qb5 38.e4 a4 39.Rd5 Qb3 40.Qc1 Ba6 41.Ra5 (41.Qc7 Qb1+ 42.Kh2 Qb8=; 41.Rd7 Bb7=) 41...Rd8 42.Qa1 Qd3 43.Rxa4 Rd6= with a status quo according to the machines. Thus, we have already found a way to equalize after 8.Qc2!? Qb6 9.dxc5! Bxh2!+ 10.Nxh2 Qxb5 11.Na3, but it was a rather laborious one. I have a friend who says all the time “If you are systematic, nothing is difficult,” but I guess not every person is like him. This is how life is, a small “if” can make a big difference. In this particular case I presented all this work mostly because the line starting with 11...Qa6!? concealed very interesting chess ideas, and only to a lesser extent for its theoretical or practical value, although it certainly has some. (D3b) Chandler’s 11...Qb4! has all the ingredients to take the sting out of White’s opening play and now we return to examine it in some detail:

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12.Bd2 Qe4 (12...Qh4? 13.Bc3±) 13.Bc3 This is the move Mark Hebden employed in his game against Chandler. In a subsequent game against Cooper, he went for 13.f3 Qe7 14.Nb5 0-0 15.Rfe1 Bd7 16.Rac1 b6 17.Nd4, which hardly strikes me as particularly dangerous; Black seems to have comfortably equalized here. After 17...Rfc8 18.Nf1 Ne5 19.Bb4 a5 20.Ba3 Qd8 21.Qc3 bxc5 22.Bxc5 Nc4 23.Ba3 (HebdenCooper, Coventry 2015) Black could have crowned his excellent opening play as follows:

23...Rab8! 24.Qd3 h6! 25.Nd2 (25.Re2 Nh5 26.g4 Nf6 27.Rec2 Nh7!ƒ) 25...Nxb2 26.Rxc8 Qxc8 27.Qc2 Qxc2 28.Nxc2 Rc8 29.Nd4 Nd3³ with an extra pawn and some winning chances. Back to the stem game’s 13.Bc3: 13...Qxc2 14.Nxc2 Ne4! 339

An excellent move by Chandler who calculated that White cannot take the g7-pawn with impunity. Here we have reached a last branching point with White having the following continuations: (D3b1) 15.Bxg7, (D3b2) 15.Rfd1 and (D3b3) 15.Bd4. The latter was Hebden’s choice in the game against Chandler. (D3b1) After 15.Bxg7 Rg8 16.Bc3, the right follow up is 16...Bh3 17.Ne1 0-0-0 18.Nhf3 (after 18.Kh1, 18...d4!= to be followed by ...Bh3-e6-c4 does the trick) 18...Rde8! 19.Kh2 Bg4 20.Nd2 Re5 21.Nxe4 Rh5+ 22.Kg1 dxe4 23.f3 exf3 24.Nxf3 Rxc5 25.Kf2 Re8= and the game is equal. (D3b2) 15.Rfd1 f6! is also equal. After 16.Bd4, Black places his pieces as in the following line: 16...h5 17.f3 Ng5 18.Bc3 Ne7! 19.Nd4 Bd7 20.Nf1 h4 21.b4 Kf7 22.a4 a6 23.b5 Ne6! 24.Nxe6 Kxe6= and the position is at least equal for him. (D3b3) Returning to 15.Bd4, it would have led to a tiny plus for Black had he now found the correct 15...f6!³/= in Hebden-Chandler, England 1998. Instead, the weaker 15...Nxd4?! 16.exd4 a5 allowed White to get rid of his worst piece and fix his pawn structure, a surprisingly poor decision from a player of Chandler’s caliber. After 17.f3 Nf6 18.Rfe1+ Be6 19.a3 a4 20.Nb4 h5 21.Re5 0-0-0 22.Rae1 Ng8 23.f4 Ne7 24.Nf3

it is clear that White had won the strategic battle and he impeccably carried out the technical phase: 24...h4 25.Ng5 Ng6 26.R5e3 Rd7 27.f5! Bxf5 28.Rf1 Be6 29.Nxe6 Re8 30.Nxd5! Rxd5 31.Nc7!! Rxe3 32.Nxd5 Rb3 33.Rxf7 h3 34.Rxg7 Nh4 35.Nb6+ Kd8 36.d5 hxg2 37.Rg8+ Ke7 38.d6+ Kf7 39.Rg4 Rh3 and Black simultaneously resigned as 40.d7 wins easily. Returning to the right move 15...f6!, it is not clear what White should do. For example, the queenside advance starting with 16.b4 is always harmless after something like 16...Kf7 17.b5 (17.Rfc1 Bd7) 17...Ne7 and it is apparent that both b5 and c5 are becoming weak. The undermining process ...Bc8-d7, ...a7-a6 is always there and the Nh2 is too far away from these pawns to help them. Therefore we may conclude that Black has two good ways to achieve equality in the line starting with 340

8.Qc2!? Qb6 9.dxc5! Bxh2+! and Chandler’s way, in particular, allows us to play for a win. Black’s 04 score in this line has merely been a product of bad choices in the middlegame and Hebden’s masterly exploitation of them, and is theoretically totally undeserved. So, statistics do not always tell us the truth. Do not blindly believe them!

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(M) Let us now proceed to the other important position of the e2-e3 systems arising after 5.Nc3: 5...Nc6 5...cxd4 6.exd4 Bb4! transposes to a Nimzo-Indian/Caro Kann structure which is perfectly acceptable for Black. It is quite likely, however, that White will enter the e2-e3 variation with the move order 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.Nc3!? Nc6 of Part I, so I decided to omit it. After 5...Nc6, White has an important choice to make. There are five logical continuations at his disposal: (M1) 6.Bd3, (M2) 6.dxc5, (M3) 6.Be2, (M4) 6.a3!? and (M5) 6.cxd5!.

6.cxd5! would be my automatic preference in the diagram, so I designated it a main line. After this move, a critical position is reached, where, of course, both recaptures on d5 should be playable, but the vintage Tarrasch choice of 6...exd5 will be our choice. Instead, the sixth move alternatives do not offer White any advantage, but we will cover them for the sake of completeness: (M1) 6.Bd3 a6 will transpose to 6.Be2 unless White tries the unnatural 7.cxd5 exd5, when the bishop is not so well placed on d3 in this structure. My old analysis ran as follows from this position: 8.h3 (8.0-0 can be answered with either 8...Bg4= or the riskier 8...c4!? 9.Bc2 Bb4 10.e4 Bxc3 11.bxc3 Nxe4∞)

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8...Bd6 8...c4!? 9.Bc2 b5! (9...Bb4 10.0-0 0-0 11.Ne5 Qc7 12.f4 b5 13.Qf3 happened in Tolush-Teschner, Hastings 1954 and should have led to unclear play after 13...Ne7!? 14.g4 Bxc3 15.bxc3 Ne4!∞) 10.0-0 Be7 11.e4 dxe4 12.Nxe4 0-0, as played in Getman-Moiseenko, Taganrog 2019, may be even better. 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.0-0 0-0= There is no reason White should be better here; his lack of control over d4 makes sure we are fine. (M2) After 6.dxc5 Bxc5, White can transpose to positions analyzed below by 7.cxd5= (or 7.a3 a6 8.b4 Bd6=). (M3) 6.Be2 seeks to take the game into the channels of a QG/Caro-Kann Panov position after 6...cxd4 7.exd4 Be7, which is nevertheless a very acceptable course for Black. However, my notes included two other perfectly good options, namely (M3a) 6...a6!? and (M3b) 6...dxc4!, with my slight preference being (as it is clear from the punctuation signs attached) for the second one; 6...dxc4! is the move I like most because Black has won the battle for the tempo, so I think he should take advantage of it by making the Be2 move again. (M3a) That said, the alternative 6...a6!?

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is also excellent; then White has a choice between (M3a1) 7.a3, (M3a2) 7.0-0 and (M3a3) 7.cxd5! which is the best move for him, saddling us with our usual isolani. Instead, the (surprisingly) relatively often played 7.a4?! is designed to prevent ...d5xc4 followed by ...b7-b5, but it is very weakening. After 7...Bd6! 8.0-0 0-0 9.b3 b6 10.Bb2 Bb7³, Black has the more conveniently placed pieces. Certainly weak is 7.dxc5?! Bxc5, and we have developed optimally, without losing a tempo with our bishop. There should follow 8.cxd5 exd5 9.0-0 0-0= and we must be at least equal, having gained a tempo over 7.cxd5. (M3a1) 7.a3 is certainly more logical than 7.a4?!, but of course White cannot hope to get an advantage with such a move. After 7...dxc4 8.Bxc4 b5, there are two options for White: (M3a11) 9.Ba2 and (M3a12) 9.Bd3.

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(M3a11) 9.Ba2 Bb7 10.0-0 appears clumsy, when Black may continue the “tempo” strategy with 10...Qc7!? (instead, the standard 10...cxd4 11.exd4 Be7 12.d5 exd5 13.Nxd5 Nxd5 14.Bxd5 0-0 15.Be3 Na5= leads to the usual sterile equality) as 11.d5 exd5 12.Nxd5 Nxd5 13.Bxd5 does not look any better for White: For example, 13...Rd8!? (13...Be7 14.e4 0-0∞ has also been played) 14.e4 Ne7!? 15.Re1 Nxd5 16.exd5+ Be7 and we have reached a position where it is easier for White to go wrong:

17.Qe2! White should try to make castling for his opponent as difficult as possible. Instead, much weaker is 17.Bg5? f6 18.Bh4 0-0 19.Qe2 Bd6 20.Rad1 Qf7 21.a4 Rfe8–+ and White had simply lost his d-pawn without getting anything in return in Simonian-Ernst, Groningen 2013. 17...Bxd5!? 345

I also looked at 17...Rxd5 18.Bf4 Qd7, planning ...f7-f6, however White gets some nasty counterplay with 19.a4! b4 20.Rac1! (20.Ne5?! Qe6µ; 20.Nd2?! g5!µ; 20.Ng5 Kf8µ; 20.Rad1 Rxd1 21.Rxd1 Qe6µ) 20...f6 21.Nd2

when the use of the c4-square is of great help to him. It is actually Black who is making the draw here: 21...g5!! (21...Kf7? 22.Nc4±) 22.Nc4! (22.Qh5+ Kf8³; 22.Be3 0-0³) 22...gxf4 23.Nb6 Rg5! 24.Nxd7 Rxg2+ 25.Kf1 Rg1+! 26.Kxg1 Rg8+ 27.Kf1 Bg2+= and a picturesque perpetual has been created. Let us now return to the more logical 17...Bxd5!?, which, incidentally, prepares to shield against the e-file pressure by ...Bd5-e6: 18.a4! Again, this is White’s only source of counterplay, but it proves sufficient. There might follow 18...Qb7 (18...f6!? 19.axb5 axb5 20.Qxb5+ Qc6=) 19.axb5 axb5

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20.Ra5! (20.Bf4?! Be6³; 20.b4?! Rd7³) 20...Bc4 21.Qe5 f6 22.Qxc5 Rd1! 23.Qe3 Rxe1+ 24.Nxe1 Qc8 25.Ra7 Qe6 26.Ra8+ Bd8 27.Qxe6+ Bxe6 28.Nc2 0-0 29.Nd4 Bd7= and a drawn position has arisen once more. (M3a12) Let us now return to 9.Bd3: 9...cxd4 10.exd4 Bb7 11.0-0 Be7=

We have reached a position in which, as theory and practice have shown, the possibility of ...b5-b4 will give Black excellent play. The point is that after White takes on b4, we will re-take with the knight and enhance our control over d5. However that is not the only possibility for Black, there are several viable methods of creating play. I deemed it right to stop here as the position is rather easy for us and proceed instead to analyse some more critical stuff: (M3a2) An important alternative to 7.cxd5! is 7.0-0, when I think we should expand on the queenside 347

by 7...dxc4 8.Bxc4 b5; admittedly, it is not so nice to have the knight on c6 in such a position, but on the other hand, White has lost time with the light-square bishop and we should be able to make up for the slight inconvenience. White is faced with a difficult choice at this point: (M3a21) 9.Bd3 and (M3a22) 9.Bb3.

9.Bb3 has been a regular guest in grandmaster practice, but I somehow feel it is not the most natural square for the bishop. In fact, the only reason for making it my main line was its popularity. (M3a21) A more logical continuation in my opinion is 9.Bd3 Bb7 10.a4!? (I believe this is the only way to try to exploit the inflexible placement of the Nc6, but as we shall see there are still some prospects for this knight) 10...b4 11.Ne4

when we have reached the following parting of the ways: (M3a211) 11...Qd5!?, (M3a212) 348

11...Nxe4 and (M3a213) 11...Na5!?. 11...Nxe4 was the main choice in my old notes, but I am not certain anymore it is better than the alternatives. (M3a211) 11...Qd5!?, as suggested by several engines, looks like a move designed for the brave, but as far as I can see it is quite tenable: 12.Nxf6+ (12.Qc2?! cxd4 13.Nxf6+ gxf6 14.Be4? d3µ does not work for White) 12...gxf6 and here if I were White I would probably go for 13.Re1!. This sly move looks best, as White threatens e3-e4 followed by d4-d5 with a deeper idea in mind. That idea is to push back the black queen from her hegemonic position and then calmly develop. Instead, 13.e4 Qd7 14.d5!? exd5 15.Bf4! (weaker is 15.exd5 Qxd5 16.Be4 Qxd1 17.Rxd1 Na5 18.Bxb7 Nxb7 19.Re1+ Kd7!∞ and the ending is anything but clear; it may well in fact be better for Black) 15...Bd6 16.exd5 Bxf4 17.dxc6 Bxc6 18.Re1+ Kf8∞ looks unclear as well, with White enjoying just about enough compensation for the pawn. Most likely some ending will soon arise in which White will recover his pawn and the game will move towards a draw. Let us now briefly examine 13.Re1!:

13...Qd7! The queen retreats in anticipation of White’s threat to advance, so the little rook move has achieved its goal. That said, worse would be 13...cxd4 14.exd4 f5? because of 15.Bc2!±, and the threat Bc2-b3 wreaks havoc in Black’s ranks. 14.b3 Rd8 15.Bb2∞ White has the more aggressive position but the truth is that anything can happen as Black has his counterplay down the d-and g-files. (M3a212) So 11...Qd5!? is a fighting alternative to my calmer former main line 11...Nxe4, which we will now return to examine: 12.Bxe4 Qc7! This is a natural yet strong move found by GM Slavoljub Marjanovic. It seems to me that by utilizing 349

the ...Nc6-a5 idea, which this move enables, Black gets a very playable position with equal chances. 13.a5! A logical reaction from White, designed to stop Black from cramping his queenside in the abovementioned way. But there are several alternatives at this point which I decided to present below, as I deemed it important for us to know how to react to inferior moves: (a) First of all, 13.b3?! creates a weakness that White should avoid. Then 13...Na5! (13...cxd4? 14.Bb2! dxe3 15.Rc1 Qb6 16.Ng5 exf2+ 17.Kh1 Rc8 18.Nxf7 Kxf7 19.Qd7+ Ne7 20.Bxb7± unnecessarily gives White an attack) 14.Bxb7 Qxb7 leaves Black in excellent shape, with a juicy target on b3 to pile on.

For example: 15.Bb2 (a1) Also worse for White is 15.Qd3 Be7 16.Bb2 (16.dxc5 0-0 17.e4 Bxc5³ …18.e5? Rfd8 19.Qb1 Qd5 20.Ng5 Qd3–+) 16...0-0 17.Rac1 Rfd8³ as there is an unpleasant threat of the Black queen coming to d5. (a2) Similarly, Black is slightly better after 15.dxc5 Bxc5 16.Bb2 0-0³. Returning to 15.Bb2, after 15...c4! 16.bxc4 Nxc4 17.Qb3 Nxb2 18.Qxb2 Black had obtained a dream position in Murshed-Marjanovic, Bela Crkva 1983. Now the simple 18...Be7³ would have preserved his advantage. (b) Another move that gives Black the upper hand, if only slightly, is 13.Bd2: after 13...Na5! 14.Bxb7 Qxb7 15.Rc1 Rc8³/=, the Bd2 is awkwardly placed and b3 remains weak, so it is evident that White will have to struggle for the draw. (c) 13.Qc2 is the most useful move if White wants to allow ...Nc6-a5.

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This vacates d1 for the Rf1, attacks c5 and keeps the b3-square in relatively good shape. Still all those facts are not enough to give White chances for an advantage: After 13...Na5! 14.Rd1 Rc8 (14...c4 15.Bxb7 Qxb7 16.e4∞ creates an unclear position if Black needs it) 15.dxc5 (15.d5? f5!µ gives Black a clear advantage) 15...Bxc5 16.Bd2 g6 (16...f5!? 17.Bxb7 Qxb7 18.Be1 0-0 19.Rd3! Qe4 20.Qe2 f4 21.Ng5 Qe5 22.Nf3 leads to a repetition) 17.Rac1 Qb8 18.Bxb7 Qxb7 19.Be1 0-0= the game is theoretically balanced, but once again, in practice it is White who has to be more careful. (d) Finally, Black is hardly in danger after 13.dxc5 Bxc5 14.Qc2 (14.Ng5 Be7 15.Qh5 g6³) 14...Be7 15.b3

15...f5! 16.Bd3 Rc8 17.Qe2 (17.Bb2 Na5³) 17...Na5 18.Nd4 Qb6³, as he has both a6 and e6 well 351

protected and is ready to castle. With 19.Qh5+? g6 20.Qh6 e5!! 21.Nxf5 Qc6!–+ White only succeeds in turning a slightly worse position into a lost one as his knight falls. After 13.a5!, Black must go ahead with his development: 13...Be7 14.dxc5 0-0 White is a pawn up but this is only temporary. Black will soon get it back as both a5 and c5 are weak. As we will see, White will be able to build slight pressure on the c-file after we recover the pawn, but it will again be temporary; a few accurate moves by Black should be enough to defuse it. 15.Bd2! 15.Nd4 Nxd4 16.Bxb7 Ne2+ 17.Qxe2 Qxb7 18.b3 Rac8 19.Bb2 Rxc5=. 15...Nxa5 16.Bxb7 Nxb7 17.Bxb4 a5!? Designed to drive the bishop to a3, but it might be unnecessary. Revisiting my analysis for this book, I decided that 17...Bxc5 is also possible, as withdrawing the bishop to c3 should give White nothing special after all: 18.Bc3 Rfd8 19.Qe2 Qc6 20.Nd4 Qb6 21.Ra4 Bf8 22.Rfa1 e5 23.Nf3 (23.Rxa6 exd4!) 23...Nc5∞. 18.Ba3 (18.Bc3 Nxc5 19.Nd2 Rfc8 20.Qg4 Bf8 is hardly a problem for Black) 18...Nxc5 19.Rc1 Rac8

This position looks on the surface threatening but I could not find for White a way to exploit the pin: After 20.Rc4!? (20.Qe2 Qb7= is easier as Black is all set for ...h7-h6 followed by ...Nf6-e4) 20...Qb7 21.Qc2 Rc7 White has the following possibilities at his disposal: 22.Qc3!? This is the only move to pose a few problems. (a) If 22.Rc1 Rfc8 23.h3 (nothing is offered by 23.Qd1 h6 24.Ne5 Bf6=, while 23.Qc3 at this point hardly works because of 23...Na6!) 23...h6 24.Nd2 (24.Qd1 Ne4 25.Rxc7 Rxc7=) 24...Na6 25.Bxe7

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Rxc4 26.Nxc4 Qxe7= the game is completely level, as Black has easily managed to break the pin. (b) Another idea is 22.b4!?. However, after 22...Na6!? 23.b5 Rxc4 24.Qxc4 Nb4 25.Bxb4 Bxb4 26.Nd4 Rd8 27.Rc1 g6 28.h3 Ba3 29.Rc2 Bf8 the game also looks equal. Returning to 22.Qc3!?, I can remember I was a bit worried around here when I looked at the line for the very first time but then I realized that the following clever reply magnificently solves Black’s problems:

22...Qb6! Holding everything and preparing ...Nf6-e4, according to circumstance; if there was any danger at all, it is now proven illusory. For example: 23.Nd2 (23.Rc1 Ne4 24.Qd4 Qxd4 25.Nxd4 Rxc4 26.Rxc4 Bxa3 27.bxa3 Rb8= is of course not an issue) 23...Rfc8 24.Rc1 The last important moment in this piece of analysis has arrived. Now Black should first use the precious moment to make luft because White’s back rank is weak: 24...h6! 25.h3 (please notice the following two instructive ways of unpinning: the first one is 25.b3 Rd8!=; and the second one 25.Nb3 Bf6!) ... and then follow up with 25...Qb5!: This is a very nice geometrical motif; the queen is heading to e8, to defend the Be7 and thus allow ...Nc5-a6!. White cannot stop our maneuver, and after 26.Qc2 Qe8! 27.b3 Na6 28.Bxe7 Qxe7 29.Qc3 Rxc4 30.Nxc4 the game is equal after either 30...Qb4= or 30...Qc5=. If you find all this too difficult, remember there is also the more uncompromising 11...Qd5!? which we looked at right before 11...Nxe4. But if 11...Nxe4 is too tricky and 11...Qd5!? too risky, then I have a third alternative for you, less laborious and less risky: (M3a213) It was tested in the game Caballon Castellares-Morozov, corr 2016, which continued 11...Na5!? 12.Nxc5 Bxc5 13.dxc5 Bxf3 14.Qxf3 (14.gxf3 Nd7 15.Bd2 Nxc5 16.Bxb4 Nxd3 17.Bxa5 Qg5+ 18.Kh1 Nxf2+ 19.Rxf2 Qxa5∞ does not seem any worse for Black) 14...Nb3 15.Ra2 0-0 16.Bc4 353

Na5 17.Be2 Nb3 18.Qf4 a5 19.Qc4 Qd5 20.Qxd5 Nxd5 21.e4 Nf6 22.c6 Rac8 23.Bb5 Nxe4∞ and Black eventually won. The choice is yours! (M3a22) We will now return to briefly examine the move 9.Bb3. As I said, I do not believe in this move so much and I think that the simple 9...Bb7 should give Black a good game. For example, 10.Qe2 Be7 11.dxc5

11...0-0! (11...Bxc5 12.e4 is unclear but I believe we can do better than that) 12.e4 Qc7! and I rate Black’s chances as slightly better. For example, 13.Rd1 (13.Bg5 Ng4!³; 13.e5 Nd7³) 13...Bxc5 14.Be3 (14.e5? Ng4µ) 14...Bxe3 15.Qxe3 Na5³ and the Bb3 has merely become a target for Black’s pieces. Thus, 9.Bb3 seems to give us a pleasant game without any risk provided we follow this small piece of analysis. (M3a3) Let us now resume the examination of 7.cxd5!: With this move, White enters a vintage Tarrasch structure, hoping to put us under pressure, be it an IQP position or a position with hanging pawns. We will soon have to make an important decision here, choosing between relinquishing the fight for the tempo, or playing ...c5xd4 in order to avoid it. 7...exd5 8.0-0

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8...Bd6!? Surrendering the tempo for the sake of free piece play looks the more appealing option to me. Instead, 8...cxd4 9.exd4 Be7! (9...Bd6!? 10.Bg5 Be6 11.Re1 0-0 12.Qd2² looks slightly better for White) 10.Ne5 0-0 is not my kind of position, but objectively speaking White has very little here. For example, 11.Bf3 Bf5 12.Nxc6 (or else Black plays ...Ra8-c8) 12...bxc6 13.Bf4 (13.Re1 Rb8 14.Na4 Ne4 15.Bf4 Bd6 16.Bxd6 Qxd6 17.b3 Rfe8 looks a bit more pleasant for White but the engines think it is equal) 13...Ne4 and I believe with some more prudent moves Black will reach complete equality. 9.dxc5 Bxc5

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This position is important for the understanding of the Tarrasch Defense in general. White will try to stop Black from playing ...d5-d4 by fianchettoing his queen’s bishop; the only question is whether he should choose a normal fianchetto with b2-b3 or an extended one with a2-a3 and b2-b4. I am more impressed by the latter option, but we will of course consider both (M3a31) 10.b3 and (M3a32) 10.a3. (M3a31) 10.b3 is the most usual choice, but a harmless one in my opinion. Play typically continues as follows: 10...0-0 11.Bb2 Ba7! and Black is getting himself ready either for ...d5-d4 or play on the b8-h2 diagonal. White will of course try to stop him and dominate developments in the center, but his modest configuration does not leave much hope for an advantage. I looked at (M3a311) 12.Na4, (M3a312) 12.Qc2 and (M3a313) 12.Rc1.

Of all the above options, 12.Rc1 looks like the most logical, preparing Nc3-a4, with good control over d4 and c5, or the more brutal Rc1-c2-d2. At the same time, White keeps the pressure on d5, not allowing the move ...Nf6-e4. Thus Black is in need of a similarly strong move to counter White’s plans without making any concessions. I know some will ask, but is not 12.Rc1 allowing ...d5-d4, with complete equality? The answer is no, and I will immediately explain why. To do that, I will allow myself the liberty of retracting 12.Rc1 and giving Black the move: So, let’s suppose Black had a chance to move again and play ((12.h3)) 12...d4 here. I do not think anyone will doubt that we would get a position of full equality on the board then, after the forced sequence 13.Nxd4 Nxd4 14.exd4 Bxd4 15.Bf3 Rb8 16.Rc1 Be6=, as Black has defended his only weak point, b7, and is overall excellently centralized. But being a tempo down on this sequence (and that is what happens when White has inserted in advance Ra1-c1 in his set-up) has catastrophic consequences for Black as in the very last position, his bishop would be still on c8, allowing the killing shot 17.Ba3! Re8 18.Nd5!± with complete domination. 356

Knowing this, we understand that Black has to change course and use other elements of his position to achieve equality, but more about this later, when we will come back to examine 12.Rc1. For the time being we will take a look at White’s other 12th move options. (M3a311) The most natural move at White’s disposal seems to be 12.Na4, as then he does not have to reckon with ...d5-d4 any longer. To this we should react as follows: 12...Ne4 Knight goes out, knight goes in! We have encountered this motif already and we will continued to do so in the rest of the book as using the e4 square for our knight is an essential component of Black’s strategy in the Tarrasch. 13.Rc1 The immediate 13.Nd4 should also be answered with the typical 13...Qg5, inviting transposition to 13.Rc1 Re8 14.Nd4. In the following game White decided to stop Black’s attack at the cost of weakening himself with 14.f4?!, but that only led to a worse position for him: 14...Qe7 15.Kh1? (15.Bf3 was called for) 15...Bd7 16.Rc1 (Polak-Weinzettl, Vienna 1998) and here by putting his rooks on d8 and e8, Black would have gotten a large advantage. Instead he resorted to the double-edged exchange sacrifice 16...Rac8 17.Nxc6 bxc6?! 18.Bxa6 Bxe3© and won after various adventures. 13...Re8

A typical position for this line. Seeing the rook on e8, I cannot help but start thinking of the typical rook lifts we have encountered in other lines, but such moves have of course to be well calculated because they usually leave burning bridges behind. White has to make a fundamental decision here, to allow the Black queen join the attack via g5 or not. 14.Nd4 357

White goes for it, but to be honest I do not like this idea so much. Instead: (a) 14.Nc3 looks like an admission of opening failure, leaving Black with a pleasant choice between 14...Nf6= or 14...Be6∞. (b) One crazy computer line goes 14.Kh1 Re6 15.Nc3 Rd6 16.Ba3 Bc5 17.Bxc5 Nxc5 18.Nd4 Qh4 19.Nf3 Qd8=; there is some sense in the moves of course, but they hardly look forced. (c) Finally, 14.Re1 Qd6 15.Nc3 led after 15...Nxf2! 16.Kxf2 Rxe3 17.Kf1

17...Qc5!? 18.Ne4! Rxf3+ 19.Bxf3 Qg1+ 20.Ke2 Qe3+ 21.Kf1 to a picturesque draw in SimaginPietzsch, Polanica Zdroj 1968. Let us now return to 14.Nd4: 14...Qg5! Undoubtedly the best move, grabbing the space given away by White. The first player is already under a dangerous attack, and practical results have not been encouraging for him. 15.Nxc6?! After this, White’s position becomes critical. 15.Kh1 looks rather forced “and whatever will be, will be.” Black can play at least 15...Qh4 16.Kg1 Qg5 with a draw, but it is not clear whether he has anything better than that. 15...bxc6 16.Bd4 Bh3 17.Bf3 Bxd4?! Inaccurate; the immediate 17...Re6!‚ gives Black a very dangerous attack. 18.Qxd4 Re6

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This position has been reached in two games, and on both occasions White blundered. 19.Nc5!! is now forced, and he saves his bacon as we will see below. (a) Instead, in the first game White played 19.Rc2? and lost after 19...Rg6 20.Bxe4 dxe4 21.f4 exf3 22.Rxf3 Rd8! 23.Qa1 Bxg2 24.Rg3 Qh5 25.Kxg2 Rxg3+ 26.hxg3 Rd1–+ in Renet-Conquest, Clichy 2001. (b) In the second game, White fell for 19.Kh1? Rg6! and Black wins a lot of material as the bishop is immune:

20.g3 (20.gxh3 Qg1+! would have been a gracious way to lose) 20...Bxf1 21.Bxe4 dxe4 22.Rxf1 Qf5 23.Rd1 h5 and Black went on to exploit his large material advantage in Ostergaard-Mathioulakis, Porto Carras 2018. 359

Returning to 19.Nc5!!, after 19...Nxc5 20.Rxc5 Rf6, White saves himself with the calm 21.Qd1 (21.Be4!?) 21...Rg6 22.Qc2! Bxg2 23.h4!= and a perpetual will soon ensue. (M3a312) Seeing that 12.Na4 gets White nowhere, I started looking at moves that would prepare a siege or a methodical blockade of the d5-pawn. It was unavoidable that 12.Qc2 would be first to cross my mind, however after 12...Qe7 13.Rad1 (13.Ng5 g6) 13...Rd8, we reach a position where Black is doing fine.

For example: 14.h3 (a) Instead, 14.Rd2 Bg4! was excellent for Black in Ottosen-Ostergaard, Hillerod 2007, as ...Bg4xf3 followed by ...d5-d4 is unstoppable. (b) After 14.Rfe1 h6, Black prepares to bring his bishop to e6, the Ra8 to c8 and carry out ...d5-d4. Play could continue as follows: 15.h3 This is designed to stop ...Bc8-g4 ideas. Instead, after 15.Qb1 Bg4! 16.h3 Bh5 17.Nh4!

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Black has the brilliant retort 17...Qb4!! (not 17...Bxe2?, Morchiashvili-Gulten, Konya 2018, 18.Nf5! Qf8 19.Nxe2± and White suddenly gets a terrible bind) 18.g3 (18.Bxh5 Qxh4 19.Bf3 d4=; 18.Nf5 Bg6³) 18...d4! 19.exd4 Bxd4 20.Bxh5 Nxh5= and the position is completely equal. 15...Be6 16.Qb1 Rac8= The position has been levelled; wherever White puts the Be2 (to prepare Nc3-e2), it does not make any difference, Black will play ...d5-d4 next move. Let us return to 14.h3: 14...h6 15.Rd2 Be6 16.Rfd1

16...Rd7! Black prepares a doubling on the d-file as well. White has absolutely nothing, e.g. 17.Bd3 Rad8!? 361

(17...d4!= was an immediate draw) 18.Ne2 Nb4 19.Qb1?! (19.Qc3!! Nxa2 20.Qa5 Nb4 21.Bxf6 gxf6 22.Nfd4 Bxd4 23.Nxd4 Nc6 24.Nxc6 bxc6= with equality, was the cleanest response) 19...Nxd3 20.Qxd3 Ne4 21.Rc2 Bf5 22.Ned4 Bg6=. The game was objectively equal in Bischoff-Lobron, Beersheba 1985, but the powerful bishops make Black’s position a bit more pleasant. (M3a313) After all the above variations, I had to switch to the second attempt to block the d5-pawn, which features the maneuver Ra1-c1-c2-d2. This brings us to 12.Rc1, our main line:

12...Re8! Black gets ready to transpose to the 12.Na4 line in case White plays 13.Na4 now. We already know that 12...d4 would be bad. 13.Rc2 If White changes his mind at this point and plays 13.Qd3, then 13...d4= is already equal. However, I would rather play for the win with 13...Be6 14.Rfd1 Qe7 15.Bf1 Rad8 16.Ne2 Bg4³; the game Podzielny-Lau, Germany 1982, continued 17.Ned4 Nb4! 18.Qb1 Ne4 19.a3 Nc6 20.Re1

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20...Bxf3! 21.Nxf3 Nxf2! (demolition of the §f2/§e3 structure!) 22.Kxf2 Bxe3+ 23.Rxe3 Qxe3+ 24.Kg3 Rd6 (24...Qxb3! 25.h3³ would have been slightly better for Black in a complicated position) 25.Re1? (25.h3!∞ was called for) 25...Rg6+ 26.Qxg6 hxg6 27.Rxe3 Rxe3 28.b4 Rb3 and White resigned as the loss of a piece is unavoidable. Back to 13.Rc2: 13...Qe7 14.Rd2 Be6 15.Qb1 I felt around here that White is finally close to achieving something harmonious. Fortunately we can easily outsmart him. Instead, the decentralizing 15.Ng5 Rad8 (15...Bf5= should be also good) 16.Nxe6 fxe6 gains the two bishops but loses a lot of time. After 17.g3 (17.Qc1 Qf7 18.Rdd1 Qg6 19.h3 Rf8 20.Bd3 Qg5 21.Ne2 e5∞ was unclear in Todorov-Arsovic, Golden Sands 2014) 17...Bb6 18.Bf3 Ba5 19.Bg2 Qf7„ Black has enough counterplay. 15...Rad8 16.Rfd1

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16...Ng4! A brilliant idea, preventing Nf3-g5 jumps and preparing a demolition. After 17.Bd3 (17.h3? Nxf2 18.Kxf2 Bf5 19.Qxf5 Qxe3+ 20.Kg3 Bb8+–+ is curtains) 17...d4! 18.exd4 Nxd4 19.Nxd4 Rxd4 20.Bxh7+ Kh8 21.Rxd4 the amazing point was illustrated:

21...Qh4!! Black is a whole rook down, but suddenly White has pieces hanging everywhere! His strategy triumphed in the following correspondence game: 22.Ne4 Bxd4 23.Bxd4 Qxh2+ 24.Kf1 Bd7! 25.Ng3 Bc6 26.Be4 Bxe4 27.Nxe4 Qh1+ 28.Ke2 Qxg2 29.Kd2 Rxe4 30.Kc3 Kg8 31.Qc2 Qf3+ 32.Qd3 Rf4 33.Qxf3 Rxf3+ 34.Kd2 Rf5µ 35.Rg1 Rf4 36.Be3 Nxe3 37.Kxe3 Rf6 38.Rd1 g6 39.Rd7 Rb6 40.f4 364

Kg7 41.Kf3 Kf6 42.Rc7 Rb5 43.Kg3 Rb4 44.Rc8 Kf5 45.Rc5+ Ke4 46.Re5+ Kd3 47.f5 Rb5 48.Re7 gxf5 49.Rc7 b6 50.Rc6 Rb4 51.Kf3 a5 52.Kg2 f4 53.Rc7 b5 54.Kf3 a4 55.Rxf7 axb3 56.axb3 Kc3 57.Rc7+ Kxb3 58.Rb7 and at the same time White resigned in Aymard-Pajak, corr 2014. A fantastic feat! (M3a32) After all these impressive ideas, I felt we were safe in the line 10.b3 and switched my attention to the extended fianchetto positions starting with 10.a3. Things are a bit more difficult for us here, but equality is eventually within our reach: 10...0-0 11.b4

We have arrived at a memory marker position. Here, I think we should maintain control of d4 by 11...Ba7!, which should ultimately yield balanced chances. The point is that after 11...Bd6!? 12.Bb2 Be6, we are well placed to meet b4-b5, but I do not see what to do if White plays simply 13.Rc1! (instead, weaker are 13.b5?! Na5„ and 13.Nd4 Ne5 14.f4 Nc4 15.Bxc4 dxc4 16.Nxe6 fxe6 17.Qf3 Qe7=) 13...Qe7 14.Na4! (14.b5?! Na5„) 14...Ne4 15.Nd4²

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White has nicely settled on our dark squares and is ready to take up queenside action. I deemed it correct to scare you away from this position as the only thing I could come up with was 15...a5!? (instead, 15...Nxd4 16.Qxd4 Qg5 17.f4! Qh6 18.Bd3 Rad8 19.Nc5± was worse for Black in PeraltaStopa, Montcada 2015) 16.Nxc6! (16.b5 Nxd4 17.Qxd4 f5= is equal because of that weakness on a3) 16...bxc6 17.Rxc6 axb4 18.axb4 Bd7, but that is still far from a draw after 19.Rxd6! (19.Ra6 Bxh2+ 20.Kxh2 Rxa6 21.Bxa6 Qxb4 22.Qxd5 Bxa4 23.Bd4 Re8=) 19...Qxd6 20.Qd4 Nf6 21.Nc5© as White’s fantastic activity more than compensates for the sacrificed exchange. Let us now focus on the best move, 11...Ba7!: I looked at (M3a321) 12.Bb2 and (M3a322) 12.b5!?.

12.b5!? will be our main line as it is the only move to pose any danger. White makes the Nc3 and the Bc1 active pieces and opens an avenue towards the b7-pawn. 366

(M3a321) Instead, the alternative 12.Bb2 d4! seems to lead to easy equality, as my analysis shows: After 13.exd4 Nxd4 14.Nxd4 Bxd4 15.Bf3 Rb8 there is a large number of draws in my database and only one win for White, a fact illustrating the solidity of Black’s position. 16.Re1 I could think only of this move as slightly annoying for us, because it introduces the idea Re1-e2-d2. (a) Instead, 16.Qd2 was played in the majority of the games, but after 16...Be5!= the game is heading rapidly towards a draw. One example is 17.Qxd8 (17.Qe3?! Re8³; 17.Qg5?! Bxh2+³) 17...Rxd8 18.Rfd1 Rxd1+ 19.Nxd1 Bxb2 20.Nxb2 h5 21.h3 g5 22.Rc1 g4 23.hxg4 hxg4 24.Be2 Be6 25.Na4 Re8 26.Nc5 Bd5 27.Bc4 Bc6 28.Rd1 Kg7= and the players soon shook hands in Berg-Sher, Aarhus 1993. (b) 16.Rc1 Be6 17.Na4 Bxb2 18.Nxb2 h6= is also equal of course. 16...b5 17.Re2

This position looks simple and equal, but I analyzed it, just in case, to make sure that no accident awaits us in the open lines: 17...Bb6! The most accurate. (a) There is no point in giving White the bishop with 17...Bxc3 18.Bxc3 Bb7 19.Rd2². (b) If you insist on torturing yourself, the line 17...Rb6?! 18.Rd2 Rd6 proves to be an even better try: 19.Nd5! Ooops! 19...Bxb2 20.Nxf6+ Qxf6 21.Rxd6 Bxa1 22.Rxf6 Bxf6 23.Qd6± and White is of course much better. 18.Qe1 There are many alternatives all of which lead to nothing: 18.Rc1 Bb7=; 18.Rd2 Qe7=; 18.Qc2 Be6 19.Ne4 Nxe4 20.Bxe4 Rc8! 21.Bxh7+ Kh8 22.Qd3 Qg5 23.Re5 Qh4 24.Bf5 Rfd8 25.Qe2 Qxf2+=

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18...Be6! I like this move best. Instead, 18...Bb7 19.Rd1 Qc8 20.Bxb7 Rxb7 21.Rd6 Qf5 22.h3² might give White a reason or two to play on. 19.Rd1 Qc7 20.Ne4 Nxe4 21.Bxe4 Rbd8 22.Rxd8 Rxd8 23.Bf5! h6 24.Bxe6 fxe6 25.h3 (25.Rxe6?? Qc2–+) 25...Qf7 26.Kh1 Qf5= White is only symbolically better, the weakness of e6 being counterbalanced by the weakness of a3. My computer shows a 0.00 evaluation and there is no reason to doubt it. (M3a322) We will now return to the more critical 12.b5!?: 12...axb5 13.Nxb5 Bb8 14.Bb2 Ne4

Here, unlike the Markus-Marjanovic game witnessed earlier, we are in time to avoid Bb2xf6. 368

Admittedly, we have more pawn islands, but all our pieces are well placed and the Ra8 is functional on its original square. In addition, the slight weakening of the c4-square might come to the fore later on. 15.Rc1 Vacating d1 by 15.Qb3!? is logical, yet 15...Na5! (15...Be6 16.Rfd1 Qe7 17.g3!? [17.Nbd4 Bd6 is fine for Black] 17...f6 18.Nfd4 Bf7 is the other option, but I feel White is getting slightly the better of it here) 16.Qa2 Bg4! (instead, the passive 16...Be6?! allowed White to get an edge in Ornstein-Petursson, Reykjavic 1981) 17.Nbd4! (17.h3? Bxh3! 18.gxh3 Ra6‚ is a line where we see a different rook lift give Black a dangerous attack) 17...Qd6

seems to give Black rich counterplay. For example, 18.Rfd1 Re8 19.h3 Bxh3! 20.gxh3 Qg6+ 21.Kf1 Qh5 22.Bb5!∞ with huge complications which are very hard to fathom, even for a machine. Returning to the more conservative 15.Rc1, one good line of play for us is 15...Re8!? (15...Bg4 16.h3²) 16.Nc3! (16.h3 Re6! 17.Bd3! Qd7! 18.Bxe4 dxe4 19.Qxd7 Bxd7 20.Rfd1 Re7= was equal in Kaptsan-Gentes, Winnipeg 1999, and in fact a draw was agreed at this point) 16...Ra5!

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This produces the final crossroads for the 6...a6!? variation: 17.Nxe4 There is probably nothing better for White. The only other possibility I could think of was 17.Qb3, but then the following tactical operation yields a drawish ending: 17...Bg4! 18.Rfd1! Bxf3 19.Bxf3 Bxh2+! 20.Kf1 Qh4 21.Bxe4 dxe4 22.Qxb7

22...Rf5! 23.Rd2 Bg3 24.Nxe4 Qxe4 25.Qxc6 Qxe3 26.Bd4 Qe7 27.Bc5 Qe6 28.Qxe6 fxe6 29.Rc4 Bh4 30.Bb4 Be7 31.Rd7 Bxb4 32.axb4 Rf7 33.Rxf7 Kxf7 34.Ke2 Rb8 35.Kd3 Kf6! 36.Kc3 g5 37.Rc5 h5 38.b5 e5 39.Kb4 e4 40.Rc6+ Ke5 41.b6 h4 42.Kc5 g4=. After 17.Nxe4, there follows 17...dxe4 18.Qxd8 Rxd8 19.Nd4 Bd7 20.Rfd1 370

20...Rd5! 21.Nb3 (21.Bc4 Rd6 22.Nb5 Rxd1+ 23.Rxd1 Be6=) 21...Rxd1+ 22.Rxd1 Bc8 23.Rxd8+ Nxd8= It is worth observing how instrumental the Ra5’s contribution to the equalizing process is in both variations, in the first one from f5 and in the second one from the d5-square. This is an opening in which we have to use our rooks well, is it not? (M3b) We will now consider the more clear-cut option of 6...dxc4!: 7.Bxc4 a6 8.a4!?

This is the only move to make a difference. Instead, 8.0-0 b5 would transpose to positions already examined and they are good for us. Playing 8.a4!? White denies Black vital queenside space, but on the other hand creates a big hole on b4 that might be exploited later on. The following analysis illustrates that Black is in excellent shape here, and was actually my reason for preferring 6...dxc4! slightly over 371

6...a6!?: 8...Be7 9.0-0 0-0 10.b3 An attempt to develop the Bc1 right away. Instead: (a) 10.Qe2? cxd4 11.Rd1 e5 12.exd4 exd4µ cannot be serious for White, although there are a number of games played. (b) 10.Qd3 also does not make much sense in view of 10...Qc7 11.Rd1 Rd8³; Turna-Privara, Slovakia 2013, continued 12.Qe2 b6 13.h3 Bb7 14.d5 exd5 15.Nxd5? (15.Bxd5! Nb4 16.Bxb7 Rxd1+ 17.Qxd1 Qxb7 18.Qe2³ was imperative, with just a slight edge for Black) 15...Nxd5 16.Bxd5 Bf6 17.e4 Nd4! 18.Nxd4 Bxd5 19.exd5 Bxd4 20.Qf3 Qb7 21.Bg5 Rxd5µ and Black was cruising to victory with a good extra pawn. (c) After 10.h3, Black may relinquish the pressure on d4:

10...Qc7!? Another playable possibility is 10...Bd7 11.Qe2 cxd4 12.exd4 Nb4 13.Ne5 Bc6 14.Rd1 Rc8 15.Nxc6 Rxc6 16.Bf4 Nfd5 17.Be5 (Ehlvest-Melkumyan, Berlin 2015) and here I would have preferred to clarify matters with 17...Nxc3 18.bxc3 Nd5=. 11.Qe2 Rd8 12.Rd1 b6! Now White is a tempo up on Turna-Privara above, but that only helps him get an equal position. 13.d5! 13.Bd3?! Bb7 14.dxc5 was played in Sämisch-Wolf, Karlsbad 1923 and now simply 14...Bxc5³ would have been excellent for Black. In the game, Black chose the more double-edged 14...bxc5!? and still stood very well. 13...exd5 14.Bxd5 Nxd5 15.Nxd5 Qb7 16.e4 Be6 17.Bf4 372

17...Rd7! 18.Rd2 Bf8 19.Rad1 Re8!„ After a very well played opening, chances were balanced in Tibensky-Saric, Mitropa Cup 2007. (d) 10.dxc5 Qxd1 11.Rxd1 Bxc5 is a completely equal ending, but even so both sides have to be careful: 12.Nd4!? (12.Bd2 Bd7 13.Be1 Rfd8= was level in Lilienthal-Kotov, Moscow 1952) 12...Bd7 (12...Nxd4 13.exd4 Ba7=) 13.Nb3 Bb4 14.Bd2 Rac8 15.Be2 Ne5?! (15...Rfd8! 16.Bf3 Be8 17.Ne2 Be7= was simple and good) 16.Ne4! Be7 17.Nxf6+ Bxf6 18.Bb4²/=; White had by now achieved a microscopic edge in Yusupov-Sabuk, Wroclaw 2014 and went on to win. Needless to say, every position requires super-focus when you play such a strong technician like Artur! Let us now return to my main line 10.b3: 10...cxd4 11.exd4

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11...Qa5!? This looks like an interesting possibility in my view. We evacuate d8 for our rook and the queen obtains the possibility of going to h5 in some cases. Instead, 11...Nb4 12.Ne5 (12.Bb2?! b6 13.Qe2 Bb7 14.Rad1 Nfd5 15.Ne5 Nf4 16.Qg4 Nbd5 17.Nxd5 Nxd5 18.Rfe1 Bb4! 19.Re2?! Rc8³ 20.f4?! Rc7 21.f5? h5! 22.Qxh5 Nf4 23.Qg4 Nxe2+ 24.Qxe2 exf5–+ led to a disaster for White in JanowskiLasker, wch 1910, but of course White’s play was very risky) 12...Bd7 13.Bb2 Bc6 14.Qd2 takes us to the famous game Petrosian-Guimard, Gothenburg 1955.

Tigran Vartanovic Petrosian is one of the greatest positional players of all times, and this single game made me understand how great he was. The opening does not seem to offer White anything special. If anyone is slightly better, it is Black in view of his excellent control over d5. I could have stopped here and claimed Black has the more pleasant position, but I could not help showing you the whole game, even though this is only an opening book: 14...Nbd5?! Objectively this is not an error, but it produces the type of position the ninth world champion excelled at. He only needed a slight weakness to work upon, something that was often imperceptible to lesser mortals. “Give me a lever, and I will move the earth” was Petrosian’s motto, and this game exemplifies it in a most striking manner. If Guimard knew what was awaiting him, he would have played instead 14...Rc8 15.Rac1 Nbd5 16.Nxc6 Rxc6 17.Nd1 Qd7 18.g3 Rfc8 19.Ne3 g6 keeping an infinitesimal edge without any weaknesses. 15.Nxc6! bxc6

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16.Na2!∞ The knight’s Odyssey begins. Petrosian has gotten what he needed to show his expertise, two broken queenside pawns. Of course, Black has many strongpoints and two excellent knights, but in this “battle of advantages,” the “Iron Tigran” was probably the greatest of all time. See and judge for yourself: 16...Qb8 17.Nc1 The knight is heading to d3, from where it can jump to the nice square e5 or c5 to attack Black’s weaknesses. For quite some time, Guimard masterly keeps it at bay: 17...Bb4 18.Qc2 Bd6 19.g3 Rd8 20.Qe2 Nb4 So, no d3 for the knight. What’s next? 21.Rd1 Nfd5 22.Qe4 Be7 23.Ne2 Bf6

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24.Kg2! Give me the g1-square please! 24...a5?! Another imperceptible mistake which does not change the evaluation of the position but makes the pawn vulnerable to an as yet unseen maneuver; 24...Ra7! was better, discouraging 25.Ng1 because of 25...Rad7 26.Nf3 c5³ with the slightly better position for Black. Instead of 25.Ng1, White would have to play 25.h4! and then follow up with Rd1-d2 to defend against the pressure on d4, with an unclear game. 25.Ng1! Qb7 26.Nf3 Rab8 27.Rac1 h6 28.Kg1 Nb6 29.Be2 N6d5

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30.Nd2! The knight defends the b3-pawn and could be heading to c4 sometime soon. But White is not in a hurry, given the chance he would intensify his position with h2-h4 first. To avert both possibilities, Guimard played a logical move: 30...Bg5! 31.Rc5! The careless 31.h4? would have lost the pawn on b3 after 31...Bxd2 32.Rxd2 Na2!³. 31...Be7 Draw?

32.Rxa5! It has wrongly been asserted that Petrosian was just a boring defensive player who paid attention only to repelling threats before they even appeared. In fact he was also one of the best tactical players of all times, taking advantage of the slightest possibility – when that possibility appeared – to create his own play. Here the rook jumps into the jungle of the enemy camp where it will apparently be trapped, but Petrosian has seen deeper: 32...Na2 33.Bd3 g6 34.Qf3 Qc7? Black accepts the gift but seals his own fate. Better was 34...Bb4! 35.Ra6! (35.Rc5 Nac3 36.Ra1 Nxa4! 37.Rxa4 Bxd2³) 35...Bxd2 36.Rxd2 Qc7!∞, keeping the Bb2 shut in with an unclear position. Now Petrosian is allowed to unleash his great attacking potential:

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35.Rc5! Bxc5 36.dxc5 Nab4 37.Bc4± The position has clarified. White has two bishops, a pawn for the exchange, and no opponent on the long dark diagonal. In the next few moves Black tries in vain to keep the white pieces away from his king: 37...f5 38.Re1 Qe7 39.Qe2 Re8 40.Nf3 That knight again, only this time it does not indulge in delicate maneuver; here it is a blunt attacker, preparing to sacrifice itself for glory. 40...Kh7 41.Qe5 Qc7 42.Qe2 Qe7

43.h4! 378

The h-pawn will be used as a battering ram to break Black’s defense. From now on we enter the execution phase in which Petrosian displays amazing accuracy: 43...Nf6 44.Bxe6 Ne4 45.Nd4 Rbd8 46.h5! Tearing apart Black’s flimsy fortress, but this move demanded fantastic calculation. 46...Rxd4 47.hxg6+ Kxg6

48.Bxf5+! Kxf5 49.Qh5+ Ke6 50.Qg4+ Kd5 51.Qf5+ Qe5 52.Qd7+ Kxc5 53.Rc1+ Nc3 54.Rxc3+ Kb6 55.a5+! Kxa5 (55...Ka6 56.Rxc6+! Nxc6 57.Qxc6+ Kxa5 58.Bc3+ was equally crushing) 56.Qa7+ Kb5 57.Qb7+ Ka5

The stage has been set for a brilliant finish. Can you find what Petrosian played? 379

58.Rc1! Rd1+ 59.Rxd1 Qxb2 60.Qa7+ Na6 61.b4+!! Putting the last nail in Black’s coffin. After 61...Kxb4 62.Qb6+, the legendary Argentinian player Carlos Guimard, who was only an IM at the time, decided he had had enough. I sincerely hope this game was a pleasant break for you from the rather dry theoretical course of this book, and of course I would have liked to show you more games like this. But we would probably run out of paper in that case, in spite of my publisher’s reassurance that paper is not a problem. Let us return to the more clear-cut 11...Qa5!?:

12.Bb2 It seems that no matter what White does he will end up slightly worse here: (a) 12.Ne2 Rd8 13.Bd2 Qb6!? (13...Bb4=) 14.a5 Qa7³, as in Bogut-Mikac, Pula 1996, is excellent for Black. (b) 12.Bd2 allows 12...Bb4³. 12...Rd8 13.Qd3 On other moves, Black can continue with ...Bc8-d7-e8. 13...Qh5!? Now this extra idea is even stronger. 14.Ne4 (14.Ne2 Nd5³) 14...b6³/= This looks excellent for Black and is perhaps slightly better for him; the queen is not in danger and the Bb2 cuts an inglorious figure.

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(M4) We will now examine 6.a3!?, a move I would like to treat symmetrically: 6...a6 7.dxc5 7.cxd5 exd5 8.Be2 can be answered by both 8...Bd6= which will transpose to 6.Be2 positions and 8...cxd4!? 9.Nxd4 (9.exd4 h6=) 9...Bd6=. 7...Bxc5

8.b4! White should not play 8.cxd5 when he has surrendered the tempo as that gives Black an easy game. 8...Bd6 This is best here, to keep contact with the e5-square and the kingside. White has two main options now, namely (M4a) 9.cxd5 and (M4b) 9.Bb2!?. I decided that 9.Bb2!? should be our main line as it prepares the natural follow up Qd1-c2, Ra1-d1, and tries to avoid surrendering the tempo at all costs. In other words, it seemed to me like the most principled continuation. (M4a) The other possibility is 9.cxd5 exd5 10.Bb2 0-0 11.Be2. This is a position I would normally not like, but if we compare the moves carefully, we have won a tempo over the line(to the line) 6.Be2 a6 7.cxd5 exd5 8.0-0 Bd6 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.a3 0-0 11.b4 Bd6 (11...Ba7! is the equalizer in that move order) 12.Bb2, as there we had to move our bishop twice to capture c5. This means our position must be acceptable here, despite the lack of control over d4.

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To my mind, 11...Be6! is now the continuation that makes the most sense, to be ready to fight against b4-b5 ideas by solidifying d5. I consider Black’s chances fully equal after it. Witness the following examples from grandmaster practice: 12.0-0 Qe7! This is the move I like best. Viswanathan Anand is a fan of 12...a5, here or on the next move. At this particular moment it allows Black to retreat his bishop to e7 after 13.Nb5. However, after 13...Be7 14.bxa5 Nxa5 15.Nfd4! (15.Qb1 Ne4 16.Bd3 Bf5= looks fine for Black) 15...Bd7, as played in Caruana-Anand, Paris 2018, White can claim a slight edge with 16.Rc1². To be honest, I do not see much counterplay for Black here.

13.Rc1 382

13.b5?! Na5 does not make any sense with the bishop on d6. 13...Rfd8! The right rook to put on d8; the other one should remain on the queenside where all the fighting takes place. A further remark is that I believe Black can play the position without touching his a-pawn, at least for the time being. Vishy on the other hand has tried ...a6-a5 here, too: 13...a5!? For some reason I have a feeling this move does not quite equalize, although it worked well in the following game against a very strong opponent. See and judge for yourselves: 14.Nb5 Bb8 15.bxa5 Nxa5 16.Bxf6 Qxf6 17.Nc7 Bxc7 18.Rxc7 Rac8 19.Rxc8 Rxc8 20.Nd4 The computers think 20.Qa4 Qc3! 21.Nd4 Nc6 22.Nxe6 fxe6 23.Bg4!? was a better try. I am inclined to agree with them as the bishop looks strong and our pawn formation is a bit loose. White may not have more than a slight plus but the position is unpleasant for Black. 20...Nc4 21.Nxe6 fxe6 22.e4 d4= Now it’s equal. There followed 23.Bxc4 Rxc4 24.Qb3 Rc7 25.f4 h6 26.f5 Re7 27.fxe6 Qxe6 and the players shook hands in Svidler-Anand, Wijk aan Zee 2018. Let us return to my preferred move 13...Rfd8!: 14.Qc2 White tries to open d1 for his f1-rook. (a) Instead, 14.Nd4 Ne5„ is fine here for Black; the extra tempo is particularly useful in the fight for c4. (b) 14.Na4!?

This is probably the move that scared Anand away from 13...Rfd8!, but I cannot see any real problems after 14...Ne4! for Black. For example, 15.Nd4 (15.Qd3 Bf5 16.Qb3 Be6 17.Nb6 Rab8 18.Rfd1 d4 19.Bc4 dxe3 20.Qxe3 Bxc4 21.Nxc4 Bc7 22.Re1 Re8 23.Qb3 Qe6= was equal in 383

D.Fischer-Loeffler, corr 2016) 15...Nxd4 16.Qxd4 f6 17.Qd3 (Guimard-Agdamus, Santos Lugares 1977) 17...b5 18.Nc3 Be5=. Let us now return to 14.Qc2: 14...Rac8 15.Qb1

15...b5! A very strong positional idea, stifling b4-b5 once and for all. It also intensifies Black’s hold over the c4-square. 16.Rfd1 h6 17.g3?! (the wrong luft; 17.h3= was safer) 17...Bb8 18.Rd2 Ba7 19.Nd1 Ne4 20.Rdc2 Qd7 21.Ne5 Nxe5 22.Bxe5 Rxc2 (even 22...Rc4!?³ was possible here, as White could hardly give up the Be2 for this rook. Black would then be slightly better) 23.Qxc2 Nd6!„

It is apparent that Black, who is none other than Evgeny Vladimirov, a great connoisseur of classical

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chess, has handled the position in very good style. His last move highlights the weakness of the c4square and the a3-pawn, as well as White’s overall weakness on the light squares. Still, White could have kept the position equal here if his sense of danger did not desert him: 24.Nb2?! 24.Bxd6! Qxd6 25.Qc7 would have exchanged Black’s most dangerous pieces, maintaining the equilibrium. 24...d4! Black plays our beloved Tarrasch move under very good conditions here as the knight can leap to f5 after the exchanges on d4. 25.Bxd4? (25.Bxd6 Qxd6 26.e4³ was imperative, with chances to resist. White forgot or underestimated the defensive strength of a blockade on the d3-square) 25...Bxd4 26.exd4 Nf5µ

Suddenly White’s position collapses. Black’s pieces are too strong once the position has opened up, and at the same time the white king is exposed. 27.Qe4 Nxd4 28.Bf1 Bg4 29.Nd3? Nf3+ 30.Kh1 Nd2 31.Qf4 Nxf1 32.Ne5 Qd5+ 33.Kg1 Bh3 At this point White resigned in Rotstein-Vladimirov, Helsinki 1992. A model exploitation of White’s inaccuracies by an opening expert. (M4b) Let us now check 9.Bb2: 9...0-0! I experimented with an attempt to liquidate immediately by means of 9...dxc4 10.Bxc4 0-0 11.0-0 Ne5 12.Nxe5 Bxe5, but the engines “think” that after 13.f4!? (13.Qxd8 Rxd8 14.Rfd1 Bd7 is perfect for Black) 13...Qxd1 14.Raxd1 (14.Rfxd1 Bb8 15.Be2 Ba7 16.Kf2 e5 17.fxe5 Ng4+ 18.Bxg4 Bxg4∞) 14...Bb8 15.Be2! White is slightly better. However, I am not so sure they are right, e.g. 15...Ba7 16.Kf2! e5 17.fxe5 Ng4+ 18.Bxg4 Bxg4 and Black has possibilities of counterplay because of the ...f7f6 idea. 385

In any event, 9...0-0! is safer, and White has a choice of (M4b1) 10.Rc1 and (M4b2) 10.Qc2

10.Qc2 comes with the idea of developing the rook to d1. I decided this looks like the most natural plan and so I made it our main line. (M4b1) 10.Rc1 is, according to Mikhalevski, an old line which was popular in the first quarter of the 20th century with the first game dating back to 1907. White is not in a hurry with the development of the kingside and waits for Black to play ...d5xc4, so as not to lose a tempo for the development of the light-square bishop. 10...dxc4 I like the liquidation here. 10...a5?! is the modern way to deal with the position. What I do not like here is that after 11.b5! Ne5 there is 12.c5!, a suggestion of Mikhalevski that deserves serious attention. For example, 12...Nxf3+ 13.gxf3! Bxc5 (13...Bc7?! 14.b6 Bb8 15.Nb5 e5 16.Rg1 Re8, Saeed-Khader, Dubai 2015, is nearly winning for White after 17.f4!±, e.g. 17...exf4? 18.Nc7!) 14.Nxd5 Nxd5 15.Rxc5²/±. White has the two bishops, an open g-file and his king is not endangered. It was more than obvious to me that this could not be our repertoire choice even if the position was defendable. Let me return to the classical 10...dxc4: 11.Bxc4

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Now Black has equality in many ways but I think one example is enough: 11...b5 12.Bd3 Bb7 13.Ne4 Be5!? This untried move suits my taste well and is quite strong. 14.Nxe5 14.Nxf6+ Bxf6 15.Bxf6 Qxf6 16.0-0 (16.Be4?! Rfd8³, e.g. 17.Qc2? Nxb4!–+) 16...Rfd8 17.Qc2 Rac8 18.Qb1 g6 (18...Ne5!?) 19.Be4 Qg7 20.Rfd1 Rxd1+ 21.Rxd1 f5=. 14...Nxe5

15.Nxf6+

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After 15.Bxe5 Nxe4 16.Qg4 Nf6 17.Qd4 Ne8! 18.Qxd8 Rxd8 19.Bf1 f6 20.Bd4 Nd6 21.f3 Bd5 22.Kf2 Rd7= White’s bishop pair hardly matters. 15...gxf6! Strongest. That said, 15...Qxf6!? 16.Bxh7+ Kxh7 17.Qh5+ Qh6 18.Qxh6+ Kxh6 19.Bxe5 f6 20.Bf4+ g5 21.Bd6 Rfc8 22.0-0 Rxc1 23.Rxc1 g4 24.Rc7 Bd5 25.Bc5 Kg6 26.Re7 Kf5² is surely a draw with correct defense by Black. 16.Bb1 Qxd1+ 17.Kxd1 (17.Rxd1 Kg7=) 17...Kg7 18.Bxe5 fxe5 19.e4

I was initially a bit worried here as I was afraid about the prospects of the Bb7, but then I found the following strong reply: 19...f5! 20.Rc7+ White gets also nothing after 20.Rc5 Bxe4 21.Bxe4 fxe4 22.Ke2 Rf5=. 20...Rf7 21.Rxf7+ Kxf7 22.Ke2 Kf6 23.Rc1 Another equality arises after 23.Rd1 Bxe4 24.Bxe4 fxe4 25.Rd7 h5 26.Ke3 a5=. 23...Bxe4 24.Bxe4 fxe4 25.Ke3 Kf5 26.Rc7 Rd8 27.Rf7+ Kg6 28.Re7 Kf5 29.g4+ Kxg4 30.Kxe4 h5 31.Rxe6 Rd2=. Thus, we may conclude that 10.Rc1 poses no threats for Black. (M4b2) Let us now check the alternative plan with 10.Qc2: 10...Qe7! 11.Rd1 Rd8! Black resists the temptation to take on c4 and continues to play useful moves. 12.Be2 There is nothing better. A symmetric position will now arise, where Black has fair chances. 12...dxc4 13.Bxc4 b5 14.Bd3 Ne5 388

Not the only way. As Black, Kramnik adopted a different course and scored a notable victory over Anand in the following game: 14...Bb7!? 15.Ne4 Nxe4 16.Bxe4 Rac8 17.Qb1? A clear error. That said, 17.Bxh7+ Kh8 18.Qb1 Nxb4 19.axb4 Bxb4+ 20.Ke2 f5 21.Bxf5 exf5 22.Qxf5 Rf8 23.Qh3+ Kg8 24.Rd7 Rc2+ 25.Kf1 was a mess in the older game Fuller-Lindberg, Copenhagen 1984, which White also lost. After 17.Qb1? the punishment was not long in coming:

17...f5! 18.Bd3 a5! 19.bxa5 Nxa5 20.0-0 Nc4µ 21.Be2? Be4 22.Qa1 Nxb2 23.Qxb2 b4! 24.axb4 Rc2 25.Qb3 Rxe2 26.Nd4 Bd5 27.Qd3 Qh4 and 0-1, Anand-Kramnik, London 2013. Although this was a rapid game it nevertheless remains a very smooth enterprise by the great Vlad. 15.Nxe5 Bxe5 16.f4 Bxc3+ 17.Bxc3?! This does not feel right. 17.Qxc3 Bb7 18.0-0 Rac8 19.Qe1= is preferable. 17...Bb7 18.0-0 Rac8 19.Qb2 Ng4! Now Black is even very slightly better. 20.Bd4 We have been following Ibragimov-Filippov, Las Vegas 2002. Now most accurate was 20...Rxd4! 21.exd4 (21.Qxd4?? Qh4–+) 21...Ne3 22.Rc1 Nxf1 23.Rxc8+ Bxc8³. Thus 6.a3!? a6, in spite of producing some interesting positions, offers White no advantage at all. (M5) We will now move on to examine the absolute main line of Part II (b) which is 6.cxd5!: 6...exd5 7.Bb5!

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The point, developing and fighting for control of d4. Instead 7.Be2 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bd6 9.0-0 0-0 10.b3 Be5 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.Bb2 Bc7!„ is balanced. Now it is not so easy for Black to equalize. After extensive reflection on the position and examination of several games, I came to the conclusion that we must accept the tempo loss and play 7...Bd6 as most of the great masters in the past, including Kasparov himself, have done with Black. Initially, I wanted to adopt 7...cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bd7 which Kramnik had used as Black in a rapid game against Kasparov.

However, I did not like the following line: 9.0-0 Instead, 9.Nf3 Bb4!? 10.0-0 Bxc3 11.bxc3 0-0 12.c4 a6 13.cxd5 axb5 14.dxc6 bxc6 15.Qc2 Qe7 390

16.Bb2 h6 17.Rfd1 Rfd8 18.Bd4 Be8= was fine for Black in the game Gelashvili-Mamedov, Baku 2008. 9...Bd6 10.Nf3! 10.e4!? Nxe4 11.Nxe4 dxe4 12.Nxc6 Bxc6 13.Bxc6+ bxc6 14.Qa4 0-0 15.Qxe4 Qf6 16.Rb1 Rfe8 17.Qc2, as in Jakubiec-Olszewski, Krakow 2005, does not constitute a threat because of 17...Bc7! 18.Be3 Bb6=. 10...a6 It was at this point where I started realizing the position might not be so easy for us: 11.Bxc6! This move, played by Ruban, leads to a static position for Black. Instead, the innocuous 11.Be2?! Be6 12.a3 0-0 13.b4 Qe7 14.Bb2³ was played in KasparovKramnik, Moscow rapid 1996, but this is actually the same position as in Rotstein-Vladimirov examined under 6.a3 a6 7.dxc5 with Black being a whole tempo up as he is to move. Therefore, it is not surprising that Kramnik went on to win the game. After 11.Bxc6!, I have found nothing better than 11...Bxc6 (11...bxc6 12.e4 Bb4 13.exd5 0-0, as in Carlsen-Grischuk, chess.com 2017, seems better for White after 14.dxc6 Bxc6 15.Bg5²) 12.b3 0-0 13.Bb2 Qe7 14.Qd4²/= with a position first reached in Ruban-Kharlov, Novosibirsk 1995.

While this position may be objectively equal, I think it is easier to play with White. Perhaps Black should have skipped ...Qd8-e7 in favor of the more elastic ...Rf8-e8 on the previous move. In any case, the character of the game does not change and I’d rather be White even in that case. Returning to my choice of 7...Bd6, play universally continues 8.dxc5 Bxc5 9.0-0 0-0 10.b3. Here there is a major decision to make: We have a choice between (M5a) 10...Be6, (M5b) 10...a6

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and (M5c) 10...Bg4!.

10...Bg4! is the most human, if not best. It is always logical to fight for the d4-square. But let’s have a look at the alternatives first: (M5a) 10...Be6 has been played by Botvinnik, but it is considered a bit passive. After 11.Bb2 Qe7 12.Ne2!? (one of the main points of having e2 free) 12...Rac8, White has achieved his primary object of firmly blockading the d5-pawn, but things are probably not as bad as they look for Black. At this point White has the following choice:

13.a3 Petrosian’s prophylactic move. The idea is to prevent the move ...Bc5-a3, although I am not so sure this plan always equalizes for Black. Instead: 392

(a) 13.Nf4 Rfd8 14.Rc1 Ba3! 15.Bxa3 (15.Qe2?! Bg4) 15...Qxa3 16.Bxc6 bxc6 is close to equal. This is a key idea to remember. After an early Ra1-c1, the idea ...Bc5-a3 works because White cannot reinforce his dark squares after the exchange. (b) 13.h3!? Ba3 14.Qb1 (14.Qc1 Bd6 15.Qb1 h6∞) 14...h6 15.Bd3 Rfd8 16.Rd1²/= might be a tiny edge for White, as far as I can see. After having lured the White queen to b1, Black should now go back with 16...Bd6 and hope to gradually equalize after 17.Bf5 a6 18.Ned4 Nxd4 19.Nxd4 Bc5. 13...Rfd8 14.Ned4 Bg4 (14...Ne4 15.Nxe6 fxe6 16.Bd3²) 15.Be2 Ne4

This position was reached in Petrosian-Botvinnik, Moscow (m/11) 1963. White could have now played 16.Nxc6 (instead, 16.Qd3 Bd6 17.g3 Nc5 18.Qb1 Ne4 19.Qd3 Nc5 20.Qd1 Ne6 21.Re1 Bc5 22.Nxc6 bxc6= was equal in the game) 16...bxc6 17.b4 Bd6 18.Rc1 with a tiny plus according to the commentators. However, the engines do not agree with this assessment, considering the position equal after 18...c5 or 18...a5. Thus, Botvinnik’s play looks like a good reserve choice if something is wrong with the main line (hopefully not!). (M5b) 10...a6 has been recommended by Garry Kasparov and given several tests in international tournaments. After 11.Bxc6! bxc6 we get a very typical position on the board where plans are easily defined by the pawn structure.

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White would like to block and attack our hanging pawns, aided perhaps by his pressure on the long diagonal. Black’s focus should be on how to avoid wrong piece exchanges and counter-attack on the kingside. In the diagrammed position the following three continuations merit serious attention: (M5b1) 12.Na4, (M5b2) 12.h3 and (M5b3) 12.Bb2!. (M5b1) Originally I thought that 12.Na4 is premature, yet it does not look bad after all. After 12...Bd6 13.Bb2! (instead, 13.Qd4?!, as in Djuric-Ristic, Vrnjacka Banja 1978, seems to lack point because of 13...Ne4 14.Bb2 f6 15.Nd2 Ng5!= and Black is at least equal as the queen’s position on d4 does not help White much) 13...Bg4 14.Rc1 Rc8

we have arrived at a position where attack and defense balance each other: 15.h3 394

This is an important little move, to enable the queen’s transfer to h4 in some lines. (a) Instead, 15.Qd3 Re8!?„ leads to positions where the Na4 might end up a distant observer of the fight. An even more concrete way to meet the demands of the situation is 15...Bxf3 16.gxf3 Nh5!? starting play on the kingside immediately. For example, 17.Qf5 g6 18.Qh3 Re8 19.Kh1 Ng7 20.Rfd1 Be5= and Black will have enough play on this wing to divert White’s attention from exploiting his weaknesses on the queenside. (b) 15.Qd4 Re8„ illustrates why White needs the move h2-h3, as his queen cannot flee to h4 here. Maybe he is still not worse but it is obvious that the position is rather unpleasant for him. Let us now check 15.h3: 15...Bh5 16.Qd4 Re8 (I would seriously consider 16...Bxf3!? 17.gxf3 Re8!= here, as it is in Black’s interests to exchange dark-square bishops in order to obtain freer access to White’s kingside) 17.Qh4! Bxf3

18.Bxf6! Now White has the chance to play this intermediate move, ruining Black’s kingside and remaining with the better minor piece. 18...gxf6 19.gxf3 Kh8 20.Rfd1 Rg8+ 21.Kf1 Rg6 22.Qd4 Qd7² White had a slight initiative in Prencipe-Cavalcannoti, corr 2015, but Black managed to draw without many problems. In any case, the improvement 16...Bxf3!? renders the position absolutely balanced, and the important thing to learn from all this is that an exchange of dark-square bishops helps Black access White’s weakened kingside when the §f2/§f3/§e3 structure arises. (M5b2) 12.h3 is designed to stop the annoying pin by ...Bc8-g4, but of course loses some time that Black should be able to use.

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After 12...Bd6 13.Bb2 c5 14.Qd3 Bb7 15.Rfd1 h6 the computer thinks it is best for White to bail out with 16.Nxd5 Nxd5 17.e4 Nf4 18.Qxd6 Qxd6 19.Rxd6 Bxe4 20.Nd2! Bb7 (20...Bxg2? 21.Be5±) 21.f3 (21.Rd7? Bxg2) 21...Rfe8 22.Rf1 a5 23.Rf2 a4=. (M5b3) We will now return to move 12 to examine the better 12.Bb2!: 12...Bg4 13.Rc1 Bd6 14.Ne2 Unlike in the lines above, the knight is heading towards the kingside, to stop any potential threats there. By unpinning the Nf3, it also creates the idea Nf3-e5. And if Black takes on f3, then it may even aid White to attack along the g-file. The position has been a topic of discussion at top level chess, with White obtaining a good score in practice after the usual continuation 14...Rc8 15.Ne5!. However, there is a little played move that might interest us here:

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14...c5!? This is a very refined pawn sacrifice. Black gives up his vital d-pawn and hopes he will get enough compensation in the form of piece activity. 15.Bxf6 This is of course the critical move. It has never appeared in practice, but it is most natural for White to accept the gift, all the more so as the remaining black queenside pawns will be weak. (a) Instead, 15.Ne5 Bh5 16.Nd3 Qe7 allows Black to configure his pieces optimally and ...d5-d4 is already a threat. After 17.Bxf6 Qxf6 18.Nxc5 Qe7 19.b4 d4! 20.e4 a5 21.a3 axb4 22.axb4 Ra2 23.Rc2 Rxc2 24.Qxc2 Bxe2 25.Qxe2 Bxc5 26.bxc5 Qxc5= the game peters out to equality. (b) 15.Ng3 Bxg3 16.hxg3 Ne4= is excellent for Black as his hanging pawns are not weak anymore. After 17.Qe1 Be6 18.Nd2 Nxd2 19.Qxd2 c4 20.f3 Qc7 21.g4 f6 22.Rfd1 Rfd8 23.Bc3 Qe7 24.Kf2 h6 25.Bb4 Qe8 26.Ba5 Rdb8 27.bxc4 the players agreed to a draw in Konstantinov-Santamaria Perez, corr 2014. 15...Qxf6

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16.Nc3!? After 16.Qxd5, it turns out that 16...Rad8 17.Qe4 h5! gives Black enough compensation as ...Rf8-e8 is threatened and there is no way for White to hold everything. For example, 18.Nf4 Rfe8 19.Qa4 Bxf3 20.gxf3 h4 21.Rfd1 Bxf4 22.Rxd8 Bxh2+ 23.Kxh2 Rxd8 24.Kg2 Rd4! 25.Qe8+ Kh7 26.exd4 Qg5+ 27.Kh3 Qf5+ 28.Kxh4 Qf4+ 29.Kh3 Qxf3+ 30.Kh4 Qf4+= and perpetual check ends the struggle. 16...Qh6 17.h3

17...Bxh3! After this strong pseudo-sac, it is obvious that White cannot aspire to an advantage. Play could continue 18.Qxd5 Bg4 19.Rfd1 Rad8 20.Qc4 Qg6 21.Rxd6! Rxd6 22.Ne5 Qg5 23.Ne4! (23.Nxg4 398

Rd4!³) 23...Qxe5 24.Nxd6 Qxd6 25.Qxg4 Qd2 26.Qd1 Qxa2 27.Rxc5=. I have to admit I did not invest much time in Kasparov’s variation, so any conclusion made would entail some risk. On the basis of the evidence presented above, Black does not seem worse, so do your homework and perhaps you will have a good extra weapon added to your arsenal. (M5c) Time to return to our main line 10...Bg4!: 11.Bb2 Rc8 12.Rc1 Bd6 13.Be2 13.h3 Bh5 14.Be2 Bb8 15.Nh4 will transpose. 13...Bb8

This position can be considered as a tabyia for the Tarrasch with e2-e3. Black has configured his pieces harmoniously in order to create pressure against h2, but of course he is still a long way from creating any threats. Now White has a choice between two main continuations: (M5c1) 14.Nb5 and (M5c2) 14.h3!; the idea of the latter is to force the Bg4 to relinquish control of f5. Instead, the little played 14.Re1 deserves attention too, since it has been played by Petrosian: 14...Re8 15.g3 (15.Nd4 h5!? is also good for Black) 15...h5!? This is an interesting move, defending the Bg4 in anticipation of Nf3-d4(h4) ideas. 16.Na4 Qe7 17.Nh4?! 17.Bxf6 Qxf6 18.Qxd5 Red8! (18...Rcd8 19.Qg5²) 19.Qe4 (19.Qg5? Qxg5 20.Nxg5 Bxe2 21.Rxe2 Nd4!–+) 19...Re8= would have been safer.

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In the position after the inaccurate 17.Nh4?!, Black can (and should) play 17...Be5!³, as his primary concern should be to keep knights rather than bishops in the position, to attack White with success on the kingside. That move seems to offer Black at least slightly better chances. Instead, 17...Ne5 18.Rxc8 Rxc8 19.Nc3 Qb4 20.Qd4 was the continuation in Petrosian-Ivanovic, Bar 1980, and now Black should have accomplished his strategic objective by 20...Qxd4 21.exd4 Nc6 … 22.Bxg4 hxg4 23.Nf5 Kh7!=. Let us now return to the two main continuations: (M5c1) 14.Nb5

This is the main alternative to 14.h3. It was adequately met by Kasparov against Sunye Neto: 14...Ne4!

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When making this move, Black needs to be always on his guard for Nf3-d4, as it is the standard way to untangle the kingside and carry out useful piece exchanges. Actually this idea was possible here, but it would not have brought White any advantage. 15.Nbd4 This was played against Kasparov. (a) In case of 15.Nfd4, Black has a choice between 15...Bd7∞ or the more forcing 15...Qh4! 16.f4 Bxe2 17.Qxe2 Ne7!= with equality as White’s weakness on e3 is no less important than the weakness of the d5-pawn. (b) 15.h3 is also possible, but it yields no advantage after 15...Bxf3 16.Bxf3 a6 17.Nd4 Qd6 18.Re1 Ne5 (18...Qh2+!? 19.Kf1 Ne5 20.Rxc8 Rxc8 21.Bxe4 dxe4 22.Nf5 Rf8!) 19.Rxc8 Rxc8 20.Kf1 g6=. 15...Re8! 16.h3 Bxf3 17.Nxf3 Qd6 18.Qd3

We have reached the critical opening moment of the game Sunye Neto-Kasparov, Graz 1981. Black has set up a scary battery on the diagonal b8-h2, and his next move was directed towards immediately exploiting it. However, it has to be pointed out that Black’s attack is actually less dangerous than it seems as White has a strong bishop pair and an escape route for his king via f1 and e2 in case the Nf3 gets exchanged for the Ne4. So Black has to treat the position with care here to avoid ending up worse: 18...Ng5?! Following the proverb “Strike while the iron is hot.” But in this case the proverb does not apply. If we gave this position to “Iron Tigran” I am sure he would have played the prophylactic 18...a6! 19.Rfd1 Rcd8=, when Black is equal as White has less space and no active plan to use his bishop pair. This small but correct variation is actually our repertoire choice as in the game Black lands into difficulties. 19.Rfd1 Rcd8! (19...d4? would have failed: 20.Kf1! Nxf3 21.Bxf3 Qh2 22.Bxc6±) 20.Kf1?! Tthe Brazilian could have exploited Kasparov’s omission of the prophylactic ...a7-a6 with 20.Qb5!±. 401

However he was probably intimidated by the look of 20...a6 21.Qxb7 Na5 with a really very sharp situation on the board:

Supposing that no one would put the queen on a8, White would have to enter the crazy looking 22.Qxa6 Nxf3+ 23.Kf1! when he ends up a piece down but the position is better for him! After 23...Nh2+ 24.Ke1! Black has to give back the piece in order to avoid the exchange of queens, so Garry would have had to switch to swindling mode with 24...Qe7 25.Qxa5 Qg5 26.g4 h5± with only a few chances of saving the game. White’s reluctance in entering the complications gave Kasparov a second chance: 20...Ne4 21.a3 (21.Qb5! Qe6! 22.Qxb7 Nxf2 23.Re1 Ne4 24.Bb5 Na5 25.Qa6² might have been slightly better for White) 21...a6! Now Black is back on track. In the remainder of the game Garry produced some of the most amazing fireworks of his chess career:

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22.Qc2 Ba7 23.Bd3 Qe7 24.Re1 Rd6 No self-respecting Tarrasch player would miss this rook lift! 25.b4 Re6 26.b5 axb5 27.Bxb5 h6 28.Rcd1 Rd8 29.Qb3 Qd6 30.a4 Bc5!= 31.Re2 b6!? 32.Kg1! Ne7!? 33.Nd4 Rg6 34.Bd3 Qd7!

This is a position that exemplifies well Black’s strategy in the Tarrasch: Active pieces, harmonious concentration of forces on the kingside, a wellprotected d5-pawn and a safe king. The position remains equal, to be sure, but now Black’s play is easier. 35.Kh1?! 35.f3! would have provoked a crisis for which White was not badly prepared: 35...Ng3 36.Rc2! 403

(36.Bxg6 Bxd4! 37.Red2 Bxb2 38.Bxf7+ Kxf7 39.Rxb2∞) 36...Nef5 37.Re1 Bxd4 38.exd4 Rc6!! 39.Bb5 Re6! 40.Qb4 Qd6 41.Qd2 Qe7 42.Rxe6 Qxe6 43.Rc6∞. 35...Nf5! Typical Tarrasch play. Black challenges the enemy control over d4 and continues to gather pieces in the neighborhood of the white monarch, eyeing the particularly sensitive h4-square. At this point, facing increasing pressure, White faltered:

36.Bxe4? Relieving Black of his d5-weakness and giving up a precious bishop is hardly good strategy. White should have continued playing around the isolani with 36.Bb5! Qc8 37.Nf3 Qe6 38.Be5∞. 36...dxe4 37.Red2 Nh4!µ In view of the timid exchange on e4, Black already has a very strong attack. In the game, Sunye Neto played a natural enough follow-up in time pressure, which was however, equivalent to a complete collapse. However, even the right choice would have given White only faint hopes of survival: 38.Ne6?? 38.f4µ was forced, averting an immediate catastrophe. Now Garry’s fireworks begin. 38...Qxd2 39.Rxd2 Rxd2 40.Nf4 Rg5! 41.Kg1

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I will present the remainder without any commentary as the final combination speaks for itself. It is one of the games that made Garry famous around the globe for his uncompromising attacking style as it was published in many newspapers and magazines: 41...Nf3+! 42.Kf1 Bxe3!! 43.fxe3 Rdxg2! 44.Qc3! Rh2 45.Ne2 Kh7! 46.Qc8 Rh1+ 47.Kf2 Nd2! 0-1 A classic! (M5c2) Let us go back to 14.h3!, a move that worried me the most back in 2009-2010 when I was analyzing the Tarrasch a lot: 14...Bh5 15.Nh4!

15...Bg6! This was the move I had prepared at the time. The Armenian player Grigoryan played it eight years later as Black against Fressinet and it is the best move. Everyone had been playing 15...Qd6 instead, 405

but this rather helps White. For example: 16.g3 Bg6 This is rather imperative. After 16...Bxe2?! 17.Nxe2, Black has kept the wrong minor pieces on board. If 17...Rfd8 18.Nd4 Ne5 19.Rxc8 Rxc8,

then White can (and must) play 20.f4!, unleashing strong pressure on the long diagonal and against the d5 pawn. Instead, a practical example between strong GMs did not see White get the most out of his promising position. The continuation was: 20.Ndf3? Qe6 21.Ng5 Qd7 22.f4 Ng6 23.Nxg6 hxg6 24.Qd3 a6 25.Bd4 Ne4! 26.Nxe4 dxe4 27.Qxe4 Qxh3 28.Qg2 Qg4 29.Qf3 Qh3= With equality in Zvjaginsev-Lutz, Essen 2002. After 20.f4!, however, things look bleak for Black as my short analysis reveals: 20...Ned7 Worse are instead 20...Nc6 21.Nhf5± and 20...Ng6 21.Ndf5 Qe6 22.Bxf6 gxf6 23.Nh6+ Kf8 24.N4f5±, with a very clear White plus in either case. 21.Nhf5 Qf8 22.g4‚ Here my older notes were claiming a strong attacking position for White. Re-checking this position with modern engines the evaluation remained unchanged, so we may discard 16...Bxe2?! as a highly unpromising continuation for Black. Returning to 16...Bg6, after 17.Nxg6! I could not find equality for Black. Instead, 17.Nb5 Qe6 18.Bxf6 Qxf6 19.Nxg6 hxg6 is Seirawan-deFirmian, Key West 1994, and now 20.Qxd5!? (20.Bg4 Rcd8 21.Nd4 happened in the game, and here inexplicably Black refrained from 406

the obvious 21...Nxd4=) 20...Qb2 21.Bc4 a6 22.Nd4 Nxd4! (22...Rcd8 23.Rc2! Qa3 24.Qe4 Nxd4 25.exd4 b5 26.Be2²) 23.Qxd4 Qxd4 24.exd4 Rcd8 25.Rfd1 Rfe8² is close to a draw. After 17.Nxg6!, the automatic follow up 17...hxg6 18.Bf3² leads to a small but permanent plus for White who has regrouped his bishop on the long diagonal. With my move (or Grigoryan’s, if you like) 15...Bg6!, Black is trying to get an improved version of the game Seirawan-deFirmian by not allowing White to relocate the Be2 on the long diagonal and by harassing him constantly with the possibility of ...d5-d4. However Grigoryan did not actually use this idea, as you will see below.

16.Nxg6 The most logical and obvious. That said, 16.Nb5 is also critical, to maintain control of d4. Then we continue as follows: 16...Ne4 17.Nxg6 hxg6 18.Bg4 If 18.g3 a6 19.Nd4 Bxg3! 20.Nxc6 (20.fxg3 Qg5∞) then 20...Qh4!= equalises. This variation serves once more to underline that the position is tactical in nature. 18...f5 19.Be2 Kh7! 20.Bd3 a6 21.Nd4 Qd6 22.Nf3 Kg8 23.h4 Rce8„ Planning ...f5-f4 or ...g6-g5; Black’s attacking chances compensate for his weaknesses. 16...hxg6 17.Bf3 d4! The essence of my idea. The point is I do not want to play 17...Qd6 so as not to let the bishop have a retreat after 18.g3², reaching the same position as in the note to Seirawan-deFirmian above. Grigoryan did play 17...Qd6 however in the game Fressinet-Grigoryan Barcelona 2017, and he had to endure a slightly worse position for several moves before the game was eventually drawn. 18.exd4 Nxd4

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White seems to have a slight initiative but we should be able to draw comfortably: 19.g3! Nothing is offered by 19.Bxb7?! Qc7 20.g3 (20.f4? Rcd8 21.Na4 [21.Nd5 Qxb7 22.Nxf6+ gxf6 23.Bxd4 a5µ] 21...Qxb7 22.Bxd4 Qe4 23.Rc4 Bxf4 24.Nc3 Be3+ 25.Kh1 Qh4³) 20...Qxb7 21.Qxd4 Rcd8!

when White is suffering in view of the awkward position of his queen and the weakening of the light squares around the king. For example: 22.Qh4?! Safer is 22.Qc4 Rd2 23.Ba3 Re8 24.Rcd1 Rxd1 25.Nxd1 Qd7 26.Kg2 (26.Kh2?? Re4 27.Qa6 Rh4– 408

+) 26...Qb7+ 27.Kg1=. 22...Rd2 23.Ba1 (23.Ba3 Re8 24.Qg5 Rd3 25.Rfd1 Re5 26.Qh4 Rxd1+ 27.Rxd1 Qf3‚) 23...Re8ƒ. After 19.g3!, I analyzed the following lines: 19...Nxf3+ 20.Qxf3 Rc6 20...Qd7 21.Kg2 Qc6 22.Rfe1 Qxf3+ 23.Kxf3 Rcd8 24.Rcd1² is preferable for White. 21.Rfd1

21...Qe7 This is not the only move to equalize. After 21...Qa5!?, I first looked at 22.Na4 Rxc1 23.Rxc1 Rd8! 24.Qxb7 (24.Bxf6 gxf6 25.Qxf6 [25.Qxb7? Bxg3! 26.fxg3 Qg5–+] 25...Be5 26.Qe7 Qd2 gives Black excellent compensation for the pawn) 24...Qf5© when Black has many threats and clearly full compensation. A second line showing Black’s compensation after 21...Qa5!? was provided by the engines: 22.a3!? a6! 23.Kg2 (23.b4 Qh5=) 23...Be5 24.b4 Qc7 25.Nd5 Nxd5 26.Bxe5 Qxe5 27.Rxd5 Qc7 28.Rxc6 Qxc6 29.Re5 Qc7=. 22.Nd5 Nxd5 23.Qxd5 Rxc1 24.Bxc1 Now one last accurate move is needed to deal with White’s slight pressure:

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24...Bc7! 25.Bg5! (25.Qxb7 Qe2 26.Rf1 Bb6 27.a4 Rd8=) 25...Qe2 26.Rd2 Qe1+ 27.Kg2 Bb6 28.Qf3 (28.Qxb7 f6 29.Bf4 g5 30.Qd5+ Kh8 31.Bd6? Rd8µ) 28...Re8 29.Bf4 f6 30.h4 Kh7=. I hope I have done enough to convince you that Black stands fine in the e2-e3 systems. Editor’s note: Shortly before this book went to press, the author played this line, through 20....Rc6. Then, instead of 21.Rfd1, Argentine grandmaster Fernando Peralta chose 21.Ne4 Nxe4 22.Qxe4 Re8 23.Qd4 Qxd4= and a draw was agreed, Peralta-Kotronias, Chania 2019. Peralta is a great expert on the e2-e3 systems against the Tarrasch, so achieving a draw in such an easy way can be considered a success for Black’s strategy.

(back to the text)

6.Be2 a6 7.cxd5 exd5 8.0-0 Bd6 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.a3 0-0 11.b4 Bd6 (11...Ba7! is the equalizer in that move order) 12.Bb2

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Tarrasch Repertoire: Part III (a) 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 [D32] White Plays Nc3 and c4xd5 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 Here we are again, entering the very important Part III. We will divide it into two sections, Part III (a) and Part III (b). Part III(a) provides an analysis of all non-g3 positions in which White develops his knight early on c3 and follows up with c4xd5. In the past, people used to think that the only real test of the Tarrasch are those lines where White does play g2-g3, but the trend has changed a bit, in spite of the fact g2-g3 structures still remain a formidable weapon against the Tarrasch. It has revived and popularized such systems as the one that will be the main line of this Part III(a), namely 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.dxc5!?. This particular variation was brought to the attention of players and theoreticians mainly by GM Jacob Aagaard and his co-author Nikos Ntirlis in their book The Tarrasch Defence. Their joint effort not only revealed its dynamic potential but also provided remedies against it. 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5

At this point almost everyone plays 5.Nf3 but there are some rarities that I felt obliged to cover in a theoretical work, presented right below. We will examine in succession (A) 5.e4, (B) 5.Bf4, (C) 5.dxc5 before finally reverting to our main line (M) 5.Nf3. (A) 5.e4 is of course rather premature central activity. When I see such a move, I never think of how to equalize as I know immediately it is an essentially dubious or at best double-edged choice; instead, I merely try to figure out how we can play for a win after it. In the present case, my preferred method of playing for a win involves capturing the offered pawn by 5...dxe4 and then trying to hold on to it:

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6.d5! Instead, Mamedyarov has experimented on a few occasions with 6.Bc4?, but it seems pointless after 6...cxd4 7.Qb3 Nf6! 8.Bxf7+ Ke7, as the following variations show: 9.Bf4 After 9.Nb5? Nc6 10.Bd2 a6 11.Na3 a5 12.Rc1 (Mamedyarov-Genba, Pardubice 2008) 12...a4 13.Qc4 Qb6–+ the game is essentially over. 9...Nc6 10.Bc4 Na5 11.Qb4+ Ke8 12.Qb5+ Nc6! 13.0-0-0 Bd7 14.Nge2 (14.Nxe4!? Nxe4 15.Qd5 Qe7 16.Re1 Nb4 17.Qxd4 Rc8 18.Rxe4 Be6 19.b3 b5 20.Qe3 Nd5!–+) 14...dxc3 15.Nxc3 Be7 16.Rhe1 Qb6 17.Qg5 Qb4 18.Bb3 Na5–+. This is where White’s fun ends, as he is badly lost here. 6...f5!? Simply asking White what he intends next. At this point I analyzed several moves for White but only one seems to maintain chances for equality. We will look at (A1) 7.Nh3?!, (A2) 7.f3?!, (A3) 7.Bb5+! and (A4) 7.Bf4?!.

Our main line 7.Bf4?! is in fact a committal move, playing into Black’s hands. It helps us develop the kingside and bring our king quickly to safety. So, this option is not the best for White; I just present it as a main line only for instructional reasons. (A1) 7.Nh3?! is also not that good, because after 7...Bd6! Black is getting ready to castle quickly and consolidate his extra pawn. Instead, 7...a6?! 8.Bf4! (8.f3?! Nf6 9.Bg5?! [9.fxe4 Bd6!ƒ] 9...Bd6 10.fxe4 0-0µ is inaccurate and leaves Black substantially better, e.g. 11.Bd3 h6 12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.Nf2 f4 14.Be2 Nd7‚ and the second player enjoyed complete dominion on the dark squares, eventually winning in Burn-Janowski, Ostend 1905) 8...Bd6 is answered with 9.Qa4+! Bd7 10.Qb3 Bc8 11.Qa4+= and we have to allow a draw. 412

After 7...Bd6! I cannot see equality for White:

For example, the natural 8.Bb5+?! is, as we shall see, a move after which White’s position can quickly become much worse. 8.Nb5! Nf6 9.Bc4 0-0 10.Nxd6 Qxd6 11.Bf4 Qd7 12.Qb3 h6 13.0-0 b6 14.Bb5 Qf7 15.Bd6 a6! 16.Be2 Re8 17.Nf4 is the line White has to find in order to stay into the game, however I still consider Black’s chances superior after 17...a5!³, giving back the pawn to contest the light squares.

This will happen after ...Bc8-a6, when, as a consequence of the exchange of bishops, Black will free his pieces and remain with the healthier position overall. Returning to 8.Bb5+?!, after 8...Nd7! 9.Nf4 Ngf6 10.Ne6 Qe7µ White’s pressure is only illusory; in 413

fact his position is ready to collapse once Black plays ...a7-a6. (A2) 7.f3?! is an attempt to break our proud §f5/§e4 structure, but it is time consuming and weakens the dark squares. We should take advantage of this by 7...Nf6 8.fxe4 Bd6 9.Nf3 fxe4 10.Bb5+ Bd7 11.Bxd7+ Nbxd7 12.Ng5

12...Qb8! 13.Ne6 Bxh2 14.Nxg7+ Kd8 15.Ne6+ Kc8 16.Bg5 Qg3+ 17.Kd2 Re8³ when our chances are better, yet White nevertheless maintains some drawing chances. (A3) Finally, correct is 7.Bb5+!, a logical move with which White has a dismal score in the database, rather undeservedly. Black can defend against the check in two ways and they should both be good, but I am not sure he can claim an advantage: 7...Bd7 This has been played in all games. (a) 7...Kf7 would be dangerous here as the d5-pawn has not been firmly blocked yet. After 8.Nh3 h6 (8...Nf6?? 9.Ng5+ Kg8 10.d6+–) 9.0-0ƒ, intending f2-f3, White gets a strong initiative. (b) 7...Nd7!? is not that bad however. After 8.Bf4 a6 9.Be2 Nb6 10.d6 Be6 11.f3 Nf6 12.fxe4 fxe4 13.Nh3 Nbd5! 14.0-0 Bxd6

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15.Nxe4! Nxe4 16.Qa4+ Qd7 17.Qxe4 Bxf4 18.Nxf4 Nxf4 19.Qxf4 Qd4+ 20.Qxd4 cxd4 21.Rae1 0-0-0 22.Bxa6 Bxa2 23.Bd3 g6 24.Re7 Bd5 25.b4!© White has just about enough for the pawn, but it would be hard to find all this in a practical game. 8.Nh3! The only move to keep chances of equality, trying to exploit the weakness of e6 and keeping alive the f2-f3 option. 8...Nf6! This untried move is best. Instead 8...Bxb5?! is a dubious choice as one can witness by consulting the following game: 9.Nxb5 Qa5+?! 9...Nf6 10.Qa4 Nbd7 11.Bf4 h6 12.Nc7+ Kf7 13.Nxa8 Qxa8∞ had to be tried although of course giving up an exchange early like this does not suit everyone’s style. 10.Nc3 Na6 11.f3! Nf6 12.0-0 Be7 13.Ng5 0-0 14.d6 Bd8 15.Qb3+ c4 16.Qxc4+ Kh8 17.Nf7+ Rxf7 18.Qxf7 Bb6+ 19.Kh1 e3 So far, Black had been comprehensively outplayed in Oskam-Euwe, Rotterdam 1920. By playing the energetic 20.Rd1! Rd8 21.d7 Qe5 22.Bxe3!! Bxe3 23.Nd5 Bc5 24.Nxf6 Qxf6 25.Qe8+ Qf8 26.Qxf8+ Bxf8 27.Rac1 Nc5 28.b4 Ne6 29.Re1+– White would have beaten the future world champion. 9.0-0! This is the best move. White needs to place his bets on fast development. Instead, 9.Ng5?! Bxb5 10.Nxb5

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10...Qd7! 11.Ne6 Na6µ is simply a failure for White as the following moves easily prove: 12.a4 Kf7! 13.Ng5+ Kg8 14.d6 c4 15.Qe2 Rc8 16.Nxa7 Rc5 17.Be3 Rd5 18.Qxc4 h6 and the retreat signal has sounded. 9...Bd6! We need to be careful, too. Initially I investigated 9...Bxb5!?, as I did not want to get stuck with a bishop on d7, preventing the harmonious development of the Nb8 on that square. However, after 10.Nxb5 a6 11.Nc3 Bd6 12.f3 0-0 13.Ng5 Qe7 14.Ne6 Nbd7! 15.fxe4 fxe4 16.Nxf8 Rxf8 17.Bf4 White may have a tiny edge. 10.Bf4! Qe7 11.f3! 0-0! 11...a6!? prevents the bishop from settling on c4. However, in that case White can create tension with the following imaginative idea:

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12.Bd3!? Crude and effective, although it would be rather hard for someone to find it and properly evaluate its consequences. Instead, the more human 12.Be2 0-0 13.Qe1 b5 14.fxe4 Re8! 15.Qg3 Bxf4 16.Nxf4 Qe5 17.exf5 b4 18.Nd1 Bxf5 19.Ne6 Qxg3 20.hxg3 Bxe6 21.dxe6 Nc6 22.Rc1 Ne5 23.Re1 Kf8= leads to a rather pleasant equality for Black. After 12.Bd3!?, there can follow 12...c4!? 13.Be2 0-0 14.Bxc4 b5 15.Bb3 b4 16.Ne2 Bb5

17.Nd4!! Bxf1 18.Nxf5 Bc5+ 19.Kxf1 Qe8 20.Nd6 Bxd6 21.Bxd6 Qb5+ 22.Qe2 Qxe2+ 23.Kxe2© with some initiative for White in the ending. I decided against this, so our repertoire choice should be 11...0-0! to which we will now return: 417

12.Bc4© White does have enough compensation here, however the position is more demanding for him. One possible line is 12...Na6!? 13.fxe4 (13.Qe2 Rfe8 14.Rae1 Qf8 15.Ng5!? Bxf4 16.d6+ Kh8 17.Nf7+ Kg8 18.Ng5+=) 13...fxe4

14.Qe1! Bxh3 15.Qg3! Ne8 16.Qxh3 Kh8 17.Be3 Nf6 18.Rae1 Nc7 19.Bg5 Qe5 20.Bxf6 Rxf6 21.Rxf6 Qxf6 22.Nxe4 Qd4+ 23.Qe3 Qxe3+ 24.Rxe3 Be5=. (A4) We will now check the popular but flawed 7.Bf4?!: 7...Bd6 8.Bb5+ On 8.Nh3, Marjanovic gives 8...a6 as a possible improvement, but this is weak because after 9.Qa4+! Bd7 10.Qb3=, when we have transposed to 7.Nh3?! a6?! 8.Bf4!. However, I do not understand what the problem is with 8...Nf6! 9.Bb5+ Kf7!µ, when Black has everything under control and the extra pawn should count in the long run. This should normally transpose to our main line if White now plays 10.Bc4. There have been several games in this position in which White checked instead on g5, but that is pointless as the following example shows: 10.Ng5+ Kg6 11.Nh3 (11.Qd2?? Bxf4 12.Qxf4 Nh5 13.Qe5 Qxg5–+) 11...a6 12.Be2 h6 13.Be3 (ScammonSmyth, corr 1999) and now of course safest and best is 13...Kh7 14.Nf4 Qe7 15.Qc2 Nbd7 when White does not have any compensation for the pawn. Let us return to 8.Bb5+: 8...Kf7! Now the check proves to be a shot in empty space as Black can flee with his king to safety without any problems. The attack on f4 gains time for our development. 9.Nh3 Nf6 10.Bc4 a6 11.a4 h6!

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White has a plus score from this position, but the engines consider it clearly bad for him. I will present a couple of examples: 12.f3 The human reaction. 12.0-0 g5 13.Bxd6 Qxd6 14.f4 g4 15.Nf2 Nbd7 16.Qe2 was definitely better for Black in BachAsendorf, Germany 2006, but still he needed to be accurate. White intended Nf2-d1-e3 with some sort of game, so it was important to react with the incisive 16...Nb6 17.Nfd1 Nxc4 18.Qxc4 g3! 19.hxg3 (19.h3 Bd7 20.Ne3 b5!µ) 19...Ng4 20.Qe2 h5 21.Ne3 Nxe3 22.Qxe3 Bd7µ and Black actually has the initiative on both flanks! A nice counter-sacrifice in order to wrest the initiative. 12...exf3! 12...g5?! 13.Bxd6 Qxd6 14.fxe4 fxe4 15.0-0 Kg7 16.Ne2! was less clear in Balashov-Grigorian, USSR 1967 and White actually prevailed. Black need not (and should not) create a weak pawn on e4 in this position. 13.Qxf3 Re8+ 14.Be2

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So far we have followed Bronstein-Marjanovic, Kirovakan 1978. Now best seems 14...g5! … 15.Nxg5+?! (15.Bxd6 Qxd6µ is the lesser evil, but White’s position remains unenviable) 15...hxg5 16.Bxg5 Nbd7 17.Qxf5 Re5! and White is completely lost. Thus, we may conclude that the line 5.e4 can be only good if Black is not well prepared, and will lead at best to a laborious equality for White after the correct 7.Bb5+!. All the other lines, including Mamedyarov’s risky 6.Bc4? look at the moment busted. (B) With 5.Bf4 White most likely intends a transposition to 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Bf4, however he might also be planning one of the three deviations listed below: 5...Nc6 6.dxc5 This does not look thematic but it may just be playable. Better are, however, the two options analyzed below: (a) 6.e4!?

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This is an untried experimental move by Stockfish here. After 6...Nf6!? (instead, 6...dxe4 7.Nb5 Qa5+ 8.Qd2 Qxd2+ 9.Kxd2 Kd8 10.d5 Nd4 11.Nc7 Rb8 12.Nb5 looks like a draw; 6...cxd4 7.Nxd5 Bd6 8.Bxd6 Qxd6 9.Ne2= is another balanced position) 7.Bb5! (7.Nb5?! Qa5+ 8.Bd2 Qb6 9.Bf4 Bg4! 10.f3 Rc8 11.fxg4 cxd4!µ is a mess that favors Black) 7...Nxe4 8.Nxe4 dxe4 9.Ne2

9...Bd7 (9...cxd4 10.Qxd4 Qxd4 11.Nxd4 a6 12.Bxc6+ bxc6 13.Nxc6 Bd7 14.Ne5 Be6 15.0-0 Be7 16.Rfe1 f5 17.Nc6 Bf6 18.Be5=) 10.0-0 a6 11.Ba4 Nb4 12.dxc5 Bxc5 13.Nc3 Bxa4 14.Qxa4+ b5 15.Qb3 Nd3 16.Nxe4 Nxf4 17.Nxc5 0-0 18.Qf3 Qd4 19.Rad1 Qxc5 20.Qxf4= the result is plain equality. I have not been able to find a way mix things up here, so perhaps players who want to avoid this drawish possibility could try 5...Nf6!?. (b) 6.e3 421

Now I prefer in fact 6...cxd4!?, as 6...c4 might be trickier with the knight still on g1: 7.a3 Nf6 8.Nge2!?² and White seems to have a slight edge. After the forced recapture 7.exd4 there could follow 7...Bd6 8.Bxd6 (8.Qd2 Nf6 9.Bb5 0-0 10.Nge2 Ne4 11.Nxe4 dxe4 12.Bxd6 Qxd6 13.0-0 Bd7 14.Rfd1 Rad8∞) 8...Qxd6 9.Bb5 Nge7 10.Nge2 Bg4 11.0-0 0-0= with rather sterile equality. So unless we want to risk the trickier 6...c4 this particular move order can be considered as a drawing weapon in White’s arsenal. Let us return to 6.dxc5: 6...d4

We have a typical situation on the board where the space-gaining ...d5-d4 gives Black good compensation for the pawn. An additional factor in his favor is here the position of the Bf4 which is away from the sensitive white queenside and might be exposed to a ...Ng8-f6-d5 attack later on. 422

As things stand, the chances are balanced, but White has to choose the right square for the knight: I looked as deeply as I could at both (B1) 7.Na4 and (B2) 7.Ne4?!. From the punctuation, it becomes obvious that 7.Ne4?! is the wrong side, but once more I promoted the worst possibility to be our main line for instructional purposes. Normally people are reluctant to put their knight on the rim if they are lagging in development, but here the presence of the knight on c6 means that its counterpart on a4 is not as vulnerable to the 1...b5 2.cxb6 axb6 idea. The point is that White will have an important tempo to play a2-a3, defending against the very dangerous check on b4, because with the knight on c6, the advance ...b6-b5 can be answered with Ra1-c1 followed by Na4-c5. (B1) So, let us check a couple of lines after 7.Na4: 7...b5! This nevertheless remains the critical reaction, opening up play against the stray knight, as well as lines in general. It is important to note here that the pawn on d4 cramps White, making his as yet uncastled king the more vulnerable of the two. The other logical reaction, namely 7...Nf6, gives White enough time to consolidate with 8.g3!?; for example, 8...Bxc5 9.Nxc5 Qa5+ 10.Qd2 Qxc5 11.Rc1 Qb6 12.Bg2 0-0 13.Bg5 Ne5 14.Bf4 (14.Bxf6?! Qxf6 15.Qxd4? Bf5µ) 14...Nc6 15.Bg5=. 8.cxb6 axb6 9.a3

Black’s compensation is evident, but it seems that White remains inside the equality zone. That said, he is of course the one who has to find the more difficult moves from now on. 9...Bd7! Keeping the Na4 as a potential target. After 9...b5 10.Rc1 Nge7 11.Nc5 Nd5 12.g3 Bxc5 13.Rxc5 Nxf4 14.gxf4 Qb6 15.Rc1 0-0 16.Bg2 Bb7 17.Nf3 Rad8 18.0-0 White has survived. Black has good 423

play with 18...d3! 19.exd3 Nd4 20.Nxd4 Bxg2 21.Kxg2 Qg6+ 22.Kh1 Rxd4 23.Qe2 Rxf4 24.Rc5 Qd6 25.Rfc1 Qd7© but it amounts only to equality. 10.Rc1 10.b4?! is designed to free the knight but it creates a fragile §a3/§b4 construction that will give White lots of concern in the future. For example: 10...Nf6 Alternatively, 10...Nxb4!? 11.axb4 Bxb4+ 12.Bd2 Bxd2+ 13.Qxd2 b5³ is also possible. It was hard for me to decide which line was the more promising for Black. 11.Nf3 Ne7! 12.Nb2 Ned5 13.Qxd4! Or 13.Bd2? Ne4µ and the glaring weakness of the c3-square adds to White’s troubles; 13.Qxd4! keeps White into the game but I believe we do keep an edge, nevertheless. 13...Bxb4+ 14.Bd2 Bc5 15.Qc4 Bxa3 16.Qb3 Bb4 17.Rxa8 Bxd2+ 18.Nxd2 Qxa8 19.e3 0-0 20.Be2 Be6 21.0-0! Nf4 22.Bf3! Bxb3 23.Bxa8 Ne2+ 24.Kh1 Rxa8 25.Nxb3 g6³ White might be able to hold here but the ending is more pleasant for Black. Returning to 10.Rc1, Black has a nice way to add fuel to his initiative with a motif borrowed from a variation of the Budapest Defense:

10...g5! A strong move, hitting a piece that is committed to controlling the c7-square. In the case of 10...Nb4, unveiling an attack against the Na4, White holds by utilizing that very square: 11.Bc7! Bxa4 12.Bxd8 Bxd1 13.Kxd1 Rxd8 14.axb4 Nf6 15.Nh3 Bxb4 16.Nf4 d3! 17.Nxd3 Ne4 18.Kc2 0-0 19.e3 Rc8+ 20.Kd1 Rcd8 21.Kc2=. 11.Bg3 h5! 12.h4 Nf6 13.Nf3 Ne4 424

14.e3! The only way for White to extricate himself is develop the kingside at any cost. Black continues to have the initiative, but the game is basically equal as my analysis shows: 14...Nxg3 15.fxg3 Bd6 16.Bb5 Bxg3+ 17.Kf1 Rc8 18.hxg5 0-0 19.Rxh5 Ne5! 20.Bxd7 Qxd7 21.Ra1!! A brilliant (and forced) move, in order to keep the first rank safe! 21...Qb5+ 22.Kg1 dxe3 23.Nd4 Qd3 24.Qxd3 Nxd3© The ending is complicated, but should ultimately be a draw. (B2) Let us now return to the worst of the two choices at White’s disposal, namely 7.Ne4?!

7...Nf6! It is common and good practice to exchange a piece that has moved two or three times with a piece

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that just makes its entry into the game, and such is the case here. No matter which piece the Ne4 chooses to be exchanged for, White will be worse as he has lost time and will not be able to keep his extra pawn. 8.Nd6+ I initially thought that 8.Bg5, as played in Juhasz-Bokros, Paks 1998, was a better try, but then I discovered that instead of 8...Be7?! which merely let to an unclear position in the game, Black has the dynamic 8...Bf5! with a huge initiative.

For example, 9.Ng3 (9.Nxf6+?! gxf6 10.Bd2 Bxc5 11.Nf3 0-0 12.Rc1 Bb6µ) 9...Bg6 10.e4 dxe3 11.Qxd8+ Rxd8 12.Bxe3 Nd5 13.Rc1 Be7 14.Bc4 Nxe3 15.fxe3 Bf6 16.b3 Nb4 17.N1e2 Nxa2ƒ and it is more than obvious that White is struggling. 8...Bxd6 9.cxd6 0-0 10.Nf3 Nd5! Exploiting the bishop’s position on f4 to improve the Nf6 and start creating threats. 11.Qd2 11.Bg3?! Qb6 12.Qd2 Nf6!µ looks awful for the first player, the idea being ...Nf6-e4. 11...Nxf4 12.Qxf4 Re8 13.Rd1 Probably the only move, to enable through Rd1-d2 the defense of White’s weak e2- and b2-pawns.

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13...Qa5+! 14.Rd2 Qc5! 15.Kd1 Be6 16.Nxd4 Bxa2 17.e3 Rad8 18.Nxc6 Qxc6 19.Ke1 Qc1+ (19...Re6!?µ) 20.Rd1 Qxb2µ Black has recovered his pawn and keeps a raging initiative as the white king has lost the castling privilege. We can safely conclude that Black can is at least equal after 5.Bf4 Nc6 6.dxc5. Overall, the 5.Bf4 move fails to impress. (C) Now we will examine the rather premature 5.dxc5 recapture, which I believe, Black should be happy to meet in a game. It should offer him a good initiative with very active and straightforward piece play in return for the small material investment of a pawn, and for this reason top players with the exception of Serbian GM Ivanisevic have refused to include it into their repertoire. After the strong and logical reply 5...d4, it seems to me that the position should cause concern only to White, although objectively he is not worse; we will look at (C1) 6.Na4 and (C2) 6.Ne4!?. 6.Ne4!? has in fact been played by Ivanisevic, and in this case the knight centralization appears best. (C1) After the more common 6.Na4, Black should make a real gambit of the pawn with 6...b5! 7.cxb6 axb6 with a position where he already threatens to win the knight by ...b7-b5.

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The fact that there is no knight on c6 additionally encourages early ...Bc8-d7 ideas and leads to very concrete play that seems to offer the second player the easier game. White has a choice between (C1a) 8.Qb3?, (C1b) 8.e3, (C1c) 8.e4!? and (C1d) 8.b3. 8.b3 is designed to secure the knight immediately by providing it with a retreat square on b2 and is consequently the most natural try. However, as we shall see, this move may not be best. Instead: (C1a) 8.Qb3? is a bad move which, unsurprisingly, has a 0/2 score in the database. Black wins material immediately with 8...Be6 9.Qb5+ Qd7 10.Qxd7+ Nxd7 11.b3 b5 12.Nb2 Bb4+ 13.Bd2 Bxd2+ 14.Kxd2 Nc5–+. Perhaps there is something even better for us, but this line was included in my notes and in any case looks pretty convincing. (C1b) 8.e3 allows the Bc8 to play a valuable role: 8...Bd7!? Instead, 8...Bb4+ 9.Bd2 Bxd2+ 10.Qxd2 Rxa4 11.Bb5+ Bd7 12.Bxa4 Bxa4 13.Qxd4 Qxd4 14.exd4 is in fact the line liked most by the computers, however I do not believe we have any winning chances after 14...Nf6 15.Ne2 Kd7 16.Nc3 Re8+ 17.Kf1 Bc2 18.f3 Nc6 (18...b5 19.Re1 b4 20.Rxe8=) 19.Re1! Rxe1+ 20.Kxe1 Nxd4 21.Kf2=. 9.b3 b5! Showing that our aspirations are high. Only equality results from 9...Bb4+ 10.Bd2 dxe3! 11.fxe3 Qh4+ 12.g3 Qe4 13.Bxb4 Qxb4+ 14.Qd2 Qxd2+ 15.Kxd2 Bc6 16.e4 Nd7 17.Nc3 Ngf6 18.Bg2 Nc5 19.Nh3 Nfxe4+=. 10.Nb2 Bb4+ 11.Bd2

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11...dxe3! It is this typical shot that gives us the slightly better game. After 12.Bxb4! (12.fxe3 Ba3 13.Nd3 Nf6 14.Nf3 0-0 15.Be2 Nc6 16.0-0 Qb6³) 12...Qh4 13.Nd3 exf2+ 14.Nxf2 Qxb4+ 15.Qd2 Nc6 16.Nf3 Black is a bit more comfortable, but White should hold if he is careful, after all he does not have any striking weaknesses. Sample lines follow: 16...Nf6 The most natural developing move, controlling e4. There is also 16...Nge7!? 17.Nd3 Qxd2+ 18.Kxd2 b4!? 19.Nde5! f6! 20.Nxd7 Kxd7 21.Kc2 Kc7 22.Bb5 Rhd8 23.Kb2 Ra5 24.Bxc6 Nxc6 25.Rhc1 Kb6 26.a4 bxa3+ 27.Rxa3 Rxa3 28.Kxa3 Rd3 29.Kb2 Re3 30.Rc3 Re2+ 31.Rc2 Re7=. 17.Bd3 0-0 18.0-0 Qxd2 19.Nxd2 Nb4 20.Bb1

429

Initially I thought that here we are close to achieving something, but White can slowly untangle. There might follow 20...Rfd8 (20...Ra3!? 21.Nde4 Nxe4 22.Nxe4 Rfa8 23.Nc3 Rc8 is answered with the shockingly strong computer move 24.Bf5!!=, but this is a line showing that actually things are not that easy for White) 21.a3 Bc6 22.Nde4 Nxe4 23.Bxe4 Bxe4 24.Nxe4 Nc2 25.Ra2 Nxa3 26.b4!

and because of the weakness of the b5-pawn, the draw is near, e.g. 26...Nc4 27.Rxa8 Rxa8 28.Rf5 Ra1+ (28...Rb8 29.Nc3 Ne3 30.Rc5 Nc2 31.Nd5©) 29.Kf2 Na3 (29...Rf1+ 30.Kxf1 Ne3+ 31.Ke2 Nxf5 32.Kd3©) 30.Nc3 g6 31.Rc5 Rc1 32.g4!©. The conclusion to be drawn from all this is that although the position is close to equal for White after 8.e3, in practice there are chances for him to go wrong and we should be alert to grasp the slightest opportunity if he gives us one. Besides, even if we ultimately fail to achieve victory, it is always nice to 430

press from a position of strength, after all we are Black and our primary aim is to equalize. (C1c) Since in the above line the tension §e3 versus §d4 seemed to work in Black’s favor, if only slightly, it is natural enough for White to stop ...b6-b5 by playing 8.e4!? instead. This could actually be the best continuation for White after 6.Na4.

Here I recommend the following way of playing: 8...Bd7! This was also recommended by Aagaard and Ntirlis and is the best move. 9.b3 b5 10.Nb2 Nf6 11.Bd3 Bb4+ 12.Bd2 Ba3 13.Qb1 13.Bc1!? Qa5+ 14.Bd2 Qb6 15.Bc1 is essentially a silent draw offer. After 15...Bb4+ 16.Bd2 the only way to avoid the draw is by playing 16...Nc6 (16...Ba3=) 17.Bxb4 Nxb4 18.Qd2 Rxa2 19.Rxa2 Nxa2 20.Ne2 0-0 21.Nd1 Nc3 22.Ndxc3 dxc3 23.Qxc3 Re8 24.Qb4 Bc6 25.0-0 Nxe4 26.Nd4 Bd7= which is drawish anyway. 13...Nc6! The clean and sound method, to put the pressure immediately on the d3 blockader. Black may venture 13...0-0 14.Ne2 Nc6 15.0-0 Ng4 if he wants, which won nicely for him after 16.Nd1 Nge5 17.f4 Nxd3 18.Qxd3 Bc8 19.Nf2 b4 20.Rab1 Ba6 21.Qf3 d3 22.Ng3 Nd4 23.Qg4 Rc8 24.Nh5 g6 25.f5 Kh8 26.Bh6 Rg8 27.fxg6 Rxg6 28.Bg7+ Kg8 29.Qh3 d2 30.Ng4 Rxg7 31.Ngf6+ Kf8 32.Nxg7

431

32...Qxf6! 33.Qxc8+ Bxc8 34.Rxf6 Ne2+ 35.Kh1 Bc1 36.Rd6 Kxg7 37.Rb2 d1=Q+ 38.Rxd1 Bxb2 39.Rd2 Bd4 40.Rxe2 Kf6 41.Rc2 Be6–+ in Triay Moll-Boucher, corr 2014. However, White’s play is susceptible to improvement at several points, so I prefer my crystal clear solution. 14.Ne2! 14.Bxb5? 0-0 gives us winning chances as we are already threatening to take on e4, and after 15.f3 Ne5µ it is clear White has wasted valuable time, a fact which he will come to regret. 14...Ne5 15.Nd1 Qe7! 16.0-0! 16.f3? Bb4!µ is an important detail in Black’s favor, giving him a dangerous initiative. 16...Nxd3 17.Qxd3 Qxe4 18.Qxd4 Qxd4 19.Nxd4 0-0

432

20.Bc1 (20.Nc2 Bd6 21.Bb4 offers White nothing after the simple 21...Be5 22.Bxf8 Bxa1=) 20...Bxc1 21.Rxc1 Rxa2 22.Nc3 Rb2 23.Ncxb5 Bxb5 24.Nxb5 Rxb3= A peace treaty can already be signed. So in this line we do not have that much if White possesses some theoretical knowledge, but it is nice to know that our position is sound and he has a couple of chances to go wrong. (C1d) Let us now return to 8.b3:

Black gets a strong initiative here by entering the obvious 8...b5!? 9.Nb2 when we should be happy enough to have prevented e2-e4 by White. Here is how things might move on from this point: 9...Bb4+! I heavily favor this check. 9...Nf6 is of course also possible with an excellent position for Black, but it gives White a respite he might use to reduce the pressure. I will mention the most important lines after it: 10.e4!? Untried, but as we know, thematic. Instead: (a) 10.e3?! is analyzed extensively by Aagaard and Ntirlis, who have focused on the line 10...Nc6 11.Nf3 Bb4+ 12.Bd2 Bxd2+ 13.Qxd2 Ne4µ in their book. One main point which I would like to quote from this analysis is 14.Qc1 Qa5+ 15.Nd2 0-0 16.Bd3 Nxf2! 17.Kxf2 dxe3+ 18.Kxe3 Qb6+ 19.Ke2 Re8+ when Black should win. (b) 10.Nf3 looks difficult for White after the incisive 10...Bb4+ 11.Bd2 Bxd2+ 12.Qxd2 (on 12.Nxd2? there follows 12...0-0µ and I do not see how the white kingside can be developed) 12...Nc6ƒ when the possibility ...Nf6-e4 causes distress in White’s ranks. One example from here went 13.Nd3?! (13.g3! Ne4 14.Qc2 Qa5+ 15.b4! Qxb4+ 16.Nd2 Nc3 17.Bg2 would have reduced the damage to a minimum, e.g. 17...Ra6 18.Nb3 0-0 19.0-0 Qd6 20.Rfe1 b4 21.Qd3 Qf6 22.Bxc6 Rxc6 23.Qxd4 Qe7 433

24.e4 Rd8 25.Qe3 Ba6³) 13...Ne4 14.Qc1? (14.Qf4 f5 15.b4 was the only try) 14...Qa5+ 15.Nd2 0-0 16.a3 Nc3 17.b4 Qd8 18.Nb1 Qf6–+ and White’s situation was already hopeless in Mair-Giesemann, corr 2010. (c) Finally, 10.Nd3 is certainly an argument in favor of 9...Bb4+!, however after 10...Ne4 11.g3! (11.Nf3 Na6!³) 11...Bb7 12.Nf3 Qc7!? 13.Bg2 Qc3+ 14.Nd2 Qxa1 15.Nxe4 Be7 Black still keeps a small edge. Returning to 10.e4!?, Black should play 10...Nbd7! 11.f3 Bb4+ 12.Bd2 Bc3 with some initiative:

For example, 13.Nd3!? Bxa1 14.Qxa1 0-0 15.Ne2 Re8 16.Qxd4 (16.Nxd4? Nxe4 17.fxe4 Rxe4+µ) 16...Rxa2 17.Nb4 Ra8 18.Ng3 Nf8 19.Qe3 Ng6 20.Kf2 h5!?ƒ. We will now turn our attention to the more direct 9...Bb4+!: 10.Bd2

434

10...Bc3! This strong idea, not mentioned in this particular position by Aagaard and Ntirlis, puts White’s opening under pressure. The point is to prevent the knight from coming to d3, which lets the first player somehow consolidate. 11.Qc2 (11.Bxc3 dxc3 12.Qxd8+ Kxd8 13.Nd3 Nc6 14.Nf3 Nge7³ is a tremendous ending for Black, after putting his king on b6 and bishop on f5, he will be better; the far advanced c-pawn causes White a lot of headaches) 11...Nf6!

White’s prospects look bleak: For example, 12.Bxc3 (12.e3 0-0 should transpose as 13.Nf3?! Nc6 14.Bxc3 dxc3 15.Qxc3 Ne4!µ leads to an even worse situation for White) 12...dxc3 13.Qxc3 0-0 14.e3 Ne4 15.Qd4 Qe7!‚ looks tough for him and even if there is a defense it will be almost impossible to find it in a practical game. 435

Thus, 8.b3 has rather undeservedly been the main line after 6.Na4; White’s task is anything but easy after it. (C2) We will now switch the focus of our attention to the slightly better choice 6.Ne4!?: 6...Nc6

7.Nf3 There is also 7.e3 Nf6 8.Bd3 Nxe4!? (8...Bf5 9.Nxf6+ Qxf6 10.e4 Bd7 11.Nf3 Bxc5 12.0-0 0-0∞ is another quite acceptable way, as in Koziel-Dalar, corr 2008) 9.Bxe4 Bxc5 10.Nf3 and here we are at a branching point: 10...Bg4 This is the move if you want to stick tight to material equality. It is also possible to play 10...Qb6!? 11.Bxc6+ Qxc6 12.exd4 Qe6+ 13.Qe2 (13.Be3 Bb4+ 14.Nd2 is similarly equal after 14...Qa6 [14...0-0 15.0-0 Bd7 16.Qb3 Qxb3 17.Nxb3 Bc6 18.a3 Be7©] 15.a3 Be7 16.Qe2 b6 17.Qxa6 Bxa6 18.f3 0-0 19.Rc1 Rfd8 20.Kf2 Rd7 21.Rhd1 Re8 22.Nc4 f6 23.h4 Red8 24.Re1 Kf7 25.Nd2 Re8 26.Ne4 Bb7=) 13...Qxe2+ 14.Kxe2 Bd6 15.Rd1 0-0 16.Kf1 Rd8 17.Be3 b6 18.Rdc1 Bb7 19.Ne5 Bd5= with a balanced ending. After 10...Bg4, there might follow 11.h3 Bh5 12.Qc2 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 Qd6 14.0-0 0-0 15.Rd1 Qe5! 16.Bxc6 bxc6 17.exd4 Bxd4 18.Qxc6 Rfd8 19.Bd2 Bxb2=. Back to 7.Nf3: 7...Qd5! This move should be our preference. There is no point in entering 7...Bf5!? 8.Ng3 Bg6

436

9.h4!? h6 10.h5 Bh7 11.e4! Bxc5 12.Bd3, when the Bh7 looks out of play. After 12...Bd6!? (an attempt to enliven it by creating a weakness on e4) 13.0-0 Bxg3 14.fxg3 Nge7 15.Bf4! (15.g4?! f6 16.Bf4 Qd7 17.Nd2?! 0-0 18.Qf3 Kh8³ was better for Black in Ivanisevic-Zelcic, Cannes 2006) 15...0-0 16.Qd2 Kh8 17.b4 a6 18.Rac1² White has the better game in view of his space advantage and two bishops. If 18...Ng8 (to regroup that awkwardly placed knight on e7 and defend h6), White gets a chance to advance his g-pawn under better circumstances: 19.g4 f6 20.a4 Qe7 21.Bc4! Rad8 22.b5 axb5 23.axb5 Ne5 24.Bd5ƒ and the first player maintains a nagging edge. Let us check our main move 7...Qd5!: 8.Nd6+ 8.Ng3 is not any dangerous here, but we need to make an accurate move, taking the sting out of e2e4: 8...Nf6! That’s it! With e4 protected we are ready to take on c5 now. The engines find nothing better for White than 9.e4! anyway, when 9...Nxe4 10.Qe2 f5 11.Ng5 Bxc5 12.N3xe4 fxe4 13.Qxe4+ Qxe4+ 14.Nxe4 Be7 15.Bf4 Bf5 16.f3 Bxe4 17.fxe4 Rf8 18.g3 g5 19.Bd2 00-0 20.Bh3+ Kc7 21.Bf5 Ne5= looks equal as our stronghold on e5 outweighs the bishop pair. 8...Bxd6 9.cxd6 Qxd6=

437

Results have been mixed from this position, a fact indicating that chances are approximately balanced. White enjoys the two bishops and a position without weaknesses, Black has more space and the freer development. It is decision time for White here as he has to choose between the more direct (C2a) 10.e3 or the patient (C2b) 10.g3. 10.g3 was chosen to be my main line as I have come to the conclusion it may offer White slightly better practical chances than the 10.e3 alternative. (C2a) After 10.e3, Black has two equally good continuations, namely (C2a1) 10...Bg4!? and (C2a2) 10...Qb4+; the choice is a matter of taste. Aagaard and Ntirlis prefer 10...Qb4+, to which they attach an exclamation sign. (C2a1) I, on the other hand, prefer 10...Bg4!? because I want to make sure that the bishop goes to e2 before checking: 11.Be2 11.exd4 Qb4+ 12.Bd2 Qxb2 is the type of complicated position I would like to play against a lower rated opponent, although even here the engines say that 13.d5 Bxf3 14.gxf3 Nd4 15.Rc1 Ne7 16.Be3 Qb4+= is a draw. Instead of taking the perpetual, however, I would go for 16...Ndf5!? 17.Qa4+ Kf8∞ and switch to “whatever will be, will be” mode; after all, Black’s knights should be a decent match for the enemy bishops in this position with so many weaknesses in the white camp. 11...Qb4+ 12.Bd2 Qxb2

438

13.Nxd4!? A cautious and strong approach. 13.exd4 Nf6 14.0-0 0-0∞ is the position I am angling for, hoping to profit from my control over d5 to slowly outplay a weaker opponent. 13...Bxe2 14.Nxe2 Rd8 15.Rb1 Qxa2 16.Nc3 Qe6 17.Rxb7 Nf6 18.0-0 0-0 19.Qe2 Ng4∞. The engines give this as a tiny 0.15 advantage to White, but I am sure we can live with that as the position is not yet a complete draw. Black has a passed a-pawn and his knights have good light squares to jump to, so we can consider this a fully playable option. (C2a2) Let us now return to the line given by Aagaard and Ntirlis, namely 10...Qb4+: 11.Bd2 Qxb2 12.Rb1 For some reason they do not even mention this logical rook move, but for me it would be an annoying possibility coupled with White’s next: 12...Qxa2 13.Nxd4 Nxd4 14.exd4

439

Here we do not have any chance to play for a win, but we can still draw with the following accurate sequence: 14...Ne7! 15.Bb5+ Nc6 16.Bb4! Bf5 (16...Bg4 should also be a draw but the text is more natural) 17.Rb3 (17.Rc1 Qb2=) 17...0-0-0! 18.Bxc6 bxc6 19.0-0 Bc2! 20.Qf3 Bxb3 21.Qxc6+ Kb8 22.Qb5+=. Draw. But a GM would not be satisfied with this if there were a way to play on, something that only 10...Bg4!? accomplishes. So, if you face 10.e3 in a practical game I suggest you play the optimistic 10...Bg4!? and fight for the full point! (C2b) We will now analyze 10.g3: 10...Nf6 11.Bg2 0-0 12.0-0

12...Re8!

440

A simple novelty, maintaining excellent chances for Black by keeping the e-file open and putting the e5-square fully under control. The point of defending the e5-square twice is to prevent the idea Bc1-f4 followed by Nf3-e5 unleashing the Bg2. If White now attacked our queen with 13.Bf4, it has a nice square on b4 to which to flee, incidentally gaining time by a counter-attack against the b2-pawn. Instead 12...Be6 has been played twice and recommended by Jacob and Nikos, but I would be slightly worried about 13.b3 Rad8 (13...Rfd8 14.Bb2 a5 was played in Radenic-Tica, Kastel Stafilic 2014, and here 15.Qd3!² intending either Rf1-d1 or the liquidating e2-e3 gives White hope of some advantage) 14.Bb2² with some sort of slight pressure for White who wants to follow up with Qd1-c2 and Ra1-d1. It is nothing special, but I consider 12...Re8! more accurate in any case. 13.a3 Preparing to kick the queen away from d6 by Bc1-f4, but without allowing it go to the b4-square. Instead: (a) With the e-file open, 13.b3?! is much less strong in view of 13...Bf5³ and Black has chances to be better as the white queen lacks good squares for its development. (b) 13.e3?! d3!³ is also good for Black; the d3-pawn is strong. (c) Finally, 13.Bf4 Qb4 14.e3 reaffirms that chess is a world of blows and counter-blows and at the end it is a draw: 14...dxe3 15.Bxe3 Qxb2 16.Nd4 Rd8 17.Bxc6 bxc6 18.Qa4 Re8 19.Rfc1 Be6 20.Nxe6 Rxe6 21.Rab1 Qe2 22.Rxc6 Rxe3 23.fxe3 Qxe3+ 24.Kg2 Qe2+=. 13...Bf5

14.b4 14.Bf4 would now be excellent for us because of 14...Qd7 (intending ...Bf5-h3) 15.Re1 h6 16.b4 a6³/= and control of the light squares makes Black at least equal. 14...Rad8 15.Bb2 441

(a) 15.e3 can be answered with 15...d3!?∞ (or 15...dxe3 16.Bxe3 Nd5 17.b5„). (b) 15.b5?! is even premature in view of 15...Ne5 16.Bb2 Nxf3+ 17.Bxf3 Ne4³. 15...a6 16.Re1 Be4= We have reached a configuration that is typically fine for Black. It can be safely concluded that 5.dxc5 poses no theoretical or practical problems to the defending side.

442

(M) Time has come to check our absolute main line 5.Nf3: 5...Nc6

This is the main tabiya of the Tarrasch Defense, with many thousands of games to be found in large databases and a long history. The two most popular moves in the diagrammed position, namely 6.g3 and 6.e3, will not be the topic of the present section, as, to put it literally, each one of them constitutes a “world of its own.” We have already discussed 6.e3 in Part II and we will discuss 6.g3 in the concluding parts of this book, but for now we will center our attention on the most important sixth move alternatives. We will consider (M1) 6.Bf4, (M2) 6.Bg5, (M3) 6.Be3 and (M4) 6.dxc5!?. Our main line 6.dxc5!? is an interesting move thought by many to refute the Tarrasch, but this opinion is obviously an exaggeration based on engine evaluations made at a reasonable (but not great enough) depth. The thing here is that computers see that they grab a pawn as early as on move 6, and that in order to recover it Black has to give up his powerful dark-square bishop, a fact the computer immediately thinks is in White’s favor. Fortunately it is not so as there are several counterbalancing factors. However, in the moves that follow the pawn’s recovery, the engines will fail repeatedly to assess the position properly for many reasons: They might “visualize” for example, several moves in advance, that White will end up with an extra pawn in a rook ending where all the pawns lie on the kingside, failing to recognize what many of us humans know, that this ending is most often an easy draw. My experience has taught me that to analyze this variation properly you will either need the services of a supercomputer (when I am sure the result will be a draw), or a combined effort of a human hand and computer software, where the human hand will correct the misevaluations of an engine running in good but not inconceivable depths. My hard work in this line convinced me that the position is equal and that Black may even have his own chances to play for a win if White overpresses, but more about this later, when the moment comes to present to you my analysis. For the moment we will focus on other sixth moves alternatives for White, most of which are rather unpopular but still require some basic knowledge from Black in order to meet them successfully: 443

(M1) The first one is 6.Bf4. Basically it is the three options of developing the queen’s bishop that we will have a look at before proceeding to examine 6.dxc5!?, and 6.Bf4 can be considered as the most obvious of them. It does not feel like a very dangerous system, and yet, as far as I can see, White has a plus score in the database, so we should treat it seriously. 6...Nf6 7.e3 I cannot see any other meaningful move in this position; it is obvious that White must develop his king’s bishop. After 7.e3, Black has a decision to make with his c-pawn: (a) either play the solid but passive 7...cxd4; or (b) go for the aggressive 7...c4!?, avoiding an isolated pawn and obtaining a queenside pawn majority at some cost in time. Needless to say, I chose to offer as a repertoire choice the second option, because I like to create an imbalance whenever the resulting position is tenable for us. Here I do not see any reason to avoid this imbalance but of course we will have to tread carefully as our choice is committal. 7...c4!?

I think that it is obvious even to the uninitiated that ...c5-c4 introduces the prospect of a light-square strategy as the Bf8 can be now developed to b4. After reaching that square, it will most probably be given up for the Nc3, enhancing our control over e4 and the diagonal h7-b1, two factors that subsequently we should try to make use of. Putting a knight on e4 to pressurize c3 will be a good idea, perhaps followed by seizing the diagonal h7-b1 with ...Bc8-f5. That would create ideal conditions for an advance of our queenside pawn majority. White of course will not remain idle. He will try to exchange the Ne4 and strike at the center with f2-f3 and e3-e4, to open up play for his bishops. But I think I have said too much about the plans, let us allow the moves speak too: 8.Be2

444

This has been played in the majority of the games. Very strong players like Harikrishna, Rakhmanov, V. Georgiev, Tkachiev, Savchenko and Gareyev have all chosen this move when they were confronted with this position, so I will conclude that it is the best choice and make it our main line. For the sake of completeness we will look at two other options as well: (a) Evgeny Agrest’s 8.a3!? deserves mention, because it tries to stop our main strategic idea. However, there is a loss of time involved, as well as a weakening of White’s queenside, two factors that should help us get a good position.

8...Qb6 This is the move included in my older notes and I was happy to see that new and stronger engines do not disapprove of it. We are immediately putting pressure on the weak spot created in the white camp in the hope of forcing some sort of concession from our opponent. 9.Qc1 This is the most logical reaction. Instead: (a1) 9.Qb1?! would be weak because of 9...Bf5! and White has nothing better than 10.Bc7! Bxb1 11.Bxb6 axb6 (11...Bf5 12.Bc7 Be7 13.h3 h5∞) 12.Rxb1 Ra5! 13.Nd2 b5 14.g4 b4 15.axb4 Bxb4„ when I believe Black has the freer game. (a2) 9.Qd2?! is also rather dubious, a possible continuation being 9...Bf5 10.Be2 Be7 11.Ne5 Rd8 12.g4 Ne4 13.Qd1 Nxc3 14.bxc3 Be6 15.Rb1 Qa6³. (a3) Finally, 9.b4?! Nxb4! merely loses a pawn, for which I cannot see much compensation. Let us now return to 9.Qc1: 9...Be7 10.Be2 0-0 11.0-0 Bf5

445

I think Black is not at all worse here, White’s position makes a clumsy appearance to me. After 12.Nh4 (12.Ne5 Na5!³; 12.h3 h6!³; 12.Bg5 Rfd8³) 12...Be6 13.Qc2 Ne4„ White should probably play 14.Nxe4 dxe4 15.d5 Bxd5 16.Nf5 with some compensation for the pawn in an unclear position, but obviously does not have anything more than that. (b) Another move that has been tried on several occasions is 8.Ne5 but then 8...Bb4 is business as usual for Black. For example, 9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.Qa4 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 0-0 12.Be2 (12.Bg5?! Qb6!ƒ) 12...Ne4 13.Qa3 (Yatneva-Burtasova, Serpukhov 2002) and here 13...g5! 14.Be5 f6 15.Bg3 Bf5³ is more than satisfactory for the second player. Let us now return to 8.Be2: 8...Bb4 Black continues with his plan. Here we have reached an important crossroads: We will look at (M1a) 9.Nd2 and (M1b) 9.0-0, which is the most popular continuation. (M1a) 9.Nd2

446

has been Harikrishna’s choice against Ivan Sokolov, so we should try to shed some light on it. The move has a logical positional foundation as it is designed to prevent occupation of e4 by the Nf6 and at the same time unblocks White’s pawn majority with the aim of mobilizing it at an opportune moment. 9...Be6!? Here we need to somewhat adjust our strategy and anticipate the idea Bf4-g5 which would be possible after a move like 9...Bf5. Instead: (a) Sokolov played 9...Qa5 which is another move I do not like that much. (b) One option that is apparently viable is 9...0-0. Black allows White to carry out his Bf4-g5 threat. After 10.Bg5! (10.a3 Bxc3 11.bxc3 Bf5 12.g4 Bg6 13.h4 Qa5 14.Qc1 Rfe8 15.g5 Nh5 16.Bh2 Ne7 17.0-0 Nf5 18.Qd1 Qxc3 19.Rc1 Qb2 20.Rb1 Qc3= is equal according to the machines) 10...Be6 11.Bf3 Be7 12.0-0 (Jojua-Arutinian, Istanbul 2007) the most logical seems 12...Rc8! in order to be ready for White’s undermining b2-b3 idea.

447

For example, 13.b3 Na5! 14.bxc4 Nxc4 15.Bxf6! (worse is 15.Nxc4 Rxc4 16.Ne2 Ne4 17.Bxe4 dxe4 18.Bxe7 Qxe7 19.Nf4 b5= and Black looks fine) 15...Bxf6 16.Nxc4 Rxc4 17.Qb3 Qd6! 18.Be2 Rb4! 19.Qd1 (19.Qa3 Qb6 20.Bf3 Rd8 21.Rab1 Be7=) 19...Be7 20.a3 Rb6 21.Na4 Rc6 22.Nc5 Bf5 23.Nxb7 Qc7 24.Nc5 Bxc5 25.dxc5 Rxc5=. However what I do not like about this line is that it is rather laborious and we get that weakness on d5 which is usually hard to defend after the Bg5xf6 idea. With 9...Be6!? we try to avoid all this, so let us return to it and see what might happen: 10.Bg5 The logical follow up to 9.Nd2. After 10.a3 Ba5 11.Rc1, we can prevent Bf4-g5 once and for all with 11...h6!, getting a very good position. For example, 12.0-0 0-0 13.Bg3 (13.b4 Bc7³; 13.b3 Bxc3! 14.Rxc3 b5!³)

13...Qe7! 14.Bh4 g5! 15.Bg3 Bxc3! 16.bxc3 Bf5³ and our light-square strategy has been a success, 448

Black has achieved everything he was aiming for in this line. Let us return to 10.Bg5: 10...h6! An important point. Having defended d5, we invite White to take on f6. 11.Bh4! 11.Bxf6 Qxf6 12.Bf3 0-0! is perfectly safe for Black as 13.Nxd5 Bxd5 14.Bxd5 fails to 14...Nxd4!³. 11...0-0 12.0-0 (12.Qc2 Rb8 13.0-0 b5ƒ is better for Black) 12...g5 12...Re8!? is also good and probably a slightly better way of playing. Then 13.Bf3?! allowed Black to carry out the ...g7-g5 idea under perfect circumstances in the following game:

13...g5! 14.Bg3 Bxc3 15.bxc3 Bf5 16.Qc1 b5 17.Bd1 a5 18.a3 Qd7 19.h4 g4 20.Bf4 Nh5 21.Bxh6 So far Paprocki-Golubka, Police 2018; here Black would have had the upper hand with 21...Qe6 22.Bg5 f6³. 13.Bg3 Re8 14.a3 Bxc3 15.bxc3 Bf5∞ Black has an excellent position and can follow up with ...Re8-e6 followed by ...Qd8-e7, keeping a safe blockade on both wings. Although it is unclear whether he has the advantage, he obviously has the more pleasant position as it is very hard for White to undertake anything constructive. Thus we may conclude that Harikrishna’s 9.Nd2 is an interesting try, but insufficient for an advantage against the solid 9...Be6!?. (M1b) We will now return to 9.0-0: 9...Bxc3! 10.bxc3 Ne4 I consider the last two moves as imperative for Black, nothing else would work. Now we have reached a critical juncture where White needs to find the right piece to defend his c3-pawn. There is a choice between the moves (M1b1) 11.Qc2?! and (M1b2) 11.Rc1!.

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11.Rc1! is the correct reaction and will be our main line. It is no surprise that GM Stewart Conquest, a big fan of Bf4 systems, has realized that the queen should not be placed on c2 as it does not have any future on the queenside. Although Stewart was not the first to play 11.Rc1!, he is certainly the most prominent player to have done so. (M1b1) After 11.Qc2?! Black has a relatively bad score in the database because most players have failed to notice the best plan: 11...g5! A powerful move played first played by Kallas in 1955; subsequently IM Georgios Makropoulos imitated his example. Black obtains vital kingside space and prepares to gain more time by developing his bishop on f5. 12.Be5?! This only helps Black to have his pawn on f6, where it is quite useful. Better is 12.Bg3 although after 12...Bf5 13.Qb2 Qb6!„ play is similar and Black is still excellently placed overall. This position occurred in Toma-Stefan, Calimanesti 2014, and now relatively best for White was 14.Qa3 Qa5 15.Qxa5 Nxa5 16.Rac1 with chances to gradually equalize. 12...f6 13.Bg3 Bf5 14.Qb2

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14...Qb6! A key move, seeking to exchange queens under excellent circumstances for Black. This is in fact something White cannot avoid. 15.Qa3 At this point, 15...Qa6!? as played in Popov-Makropoulos, Plovdiv 1981, was good enough for equality, but ever better is 15...Qa5!³ or 15...h5!? 16.h3 Qa5!³, in both cases with a clear advantage for Black. (M1b2) We will now return to the best move 11.Rc1!: 11...0-0! The wisest choice. 11...g5?! is dangerous here: 12.Be5! f6 13.Bg3 h5 (13...Qa5? is bad: 14.Nd2! Nxc3 15.Bh5+ Ke7 16.Qf3+–) 14.h4 g4 15.Nd2 Nxg3 16.fxg3 f5 and now White has the following brilliant idea:

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17.e4! fxe4?! (17...b5² should be the only chance, but the black position does not inspire much confidence) 18.Bxc4!! Qd6 (not 18...dxc4?! 19.Nxe4+– with a tremendous attack for the material) 19.Bb3!‚ and White will soon have a very strong attack without any material investments as c3-c4 looks unstoppable. After 11...0-0! play should logically proceed as follows: 12.Nd2 Nxd2 13.Qxd2 Bf5 14.f3 14.Qb2 Qd7 15.f3 a6 16.Qb6 is not dangerous for us, because after 16...Rfe8, the position of the queen on b6 does not offer White anything special. For example, 17.Rf2 Rac8 18.Bf1 h6 19.Rb2 Re7„ and Black can combine defense of b7 with pressure against e3. 14...b5

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15.Rfe1 15.e4!? dxe4 16.d5 Na5∞ was an interesting possibility but not better for White as the following moves indicate: 17.d6 Qd7 18.fxe4 Bxe4 19.Rce1 Rae8 20.Qd4 Nc6 21.Qc5 a6 22.a4 Qf5 23.Qxf5 Bxf5 24.axb5 axb5 25.d7 Bxd7 26.Bd6 g6 27.Bxf8 Kxf8=. 15...Re8 16.Bf1 We have followed Conquest-Oms Fuentes, Pamplona 2006.

At this point, 16...Bg6!∞, a solid prophylactic move, would have secured good chances for Black. For example, 17.e4 dxe4 (17...a6!? is not out of the question; it is not clear how White continues from here) 18.d5 Ne5 19.fxe4 Qb6+ 20.Be3 Qa6 21.Bf4 (21.Bd4 Qa3∞) 21...Qb6+= Thus, the variation 6.Bf4 should not trouble us much, as the advance of the pawn to c4 on move seven is a reliable positional antidote. (M2) We will now turn our attention to the bishop’s development on g5: 6.Bg5 Be7 7.Bxe7 This move order forces Black to capture on e7 with the Ng8 but in the present situation this does not bother us at all as White cannot take on c5 with impunity. There is a parting of the ways after 7...Ngxe7: (M2a) 8.dxc5 and (M2b) 8.e3.

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8.e3, preparing d4xc5, looks like the most human reaction. (M2a) The main point is that 8.dxc5 d4 9.Ne4 0-0 10.g3 Qd5 11.Ned2 Qxc5 12.Bg2 Be6! 13.0-0 Qb6 (also possible is 13...Rfd8 14.Rc1 [14.Ne1 Qb6 15.Nd3 Nb4!= is a recommendation by Aagaard and Ntirlis] 14...Qb6 as played in Mamedyarov-Korsunski, Novi Sad 2016, and here after Mamedyarov’s 15.b3, Black should have answered with 15...h6 16.Nc4 Qa6 17.Nfe5 [17.a4 Rac8 is also fine for Black who can follow with ...b7-b5] 17...Nxe5 18.Nxe5 Qxa2 19.Bxb7 Rab8 20.Ra1 Qxb3 21.Qxb3 Bxb3 22.Rxa7 Nc8 23.Bxc8 Rbxc8=) leads to positions where White is at most equal.

For example: 14.Ng5!? Trying to create something out of nothing.

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(a) Instead, the clumsy 14.Nb3?! Rfd8 leads to an excellent game for Black who has kept the right pieces on board and pushed his pawn to d4. The knight on b3 makes a bad impression in this position. After 15.Ne1 Rac8 16.Nd3 Nb4! 17.Nxb4 Qxb4 18.Qd3?! (18.Rc1 Nc6³) 18...Bc4 19.Qf3 Nc6! 20.Rfc1 a5! 21.Qh5 g6 22.Qg5 Bxe2 23.Bxc6 bxc6 24.Nxa5 h6! 25.Qe5 Black had completely outplayed his famous opponent in Browne-Vera Gonzalez, Linares 1992 and now 25...d3µ would have consolidated a very big advantage (in the game, Black won after 25...Bf3³). (b) 14.Qa4 leaves us with a pleasant choice: 14...Qxb2 This is sufficient for equality. For the most ambitious players there is 14...Rfd8 15.Nc4 Qc5 16.Rac1 a5! 17.Ne1 Qh5 18.Bf3 Qg5 19.Qd1™ 19...Bh3 20.Ng2 Ng6= with another great position:

Black’s chances are clearly not inferior and White should probably rush to trade queens by 21.Qd2 Qxd2 22.Nxd2 although even then Black retains dynamic play. For example, 22...a4 23.Bxc6 bxc6 24.Rxc6 f6 25.Rfc1 Rab8 26.b3 d3 27.e4 axb3 28.axb3 Ra8©. After 14...Qxb2, a repetition will follow: 15.Rfb1 Qc3 16.Rc1 Qb2=. Returning to 14.Ng5!?, Black has several continuations, yet the most principled one appears to be 14...Bg4 15.h3 Bd7 16.Qc2 Bf5 17.Qb3 Qa6 18.Qc4 Qb6 19.Nge4 (19.Qb3=) 19...Be6 (19...Rfd8 20.Qc5 Qc7 21.Rac1 Qd7∞) 20.Qc5 h6∞ (20...f5∞). (M2b) We will now focus on 8.e3: 8...c4 Now Black does not even get an isolated pawn. Once again, the position with the pawn on c4 proves to be a reliable solution for us, and with the darksquare bishops exchanged there is relative clarity as to the respective plans of each side: White will try to create play with b2-b3 or e3-e4 while Black will try to stop him and at the same time further his plan of a queenside expansion.

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In the position in the diagram White has basically a choice between (M2b1) 9.b3 and (M2b2) 9.Be2, the latter being the main move in practice. Instead, inferior is 9.g3 0-0 10.Bg2 Bf5 11.0-0 h6!³ and Black stands excellently, having a clear plan to advance on the queenside and controlling the important d3-square. (M2b1) Switching to the most serious alternative to our main continuation, namely 9.b3 b5!, we soon come to realize it leaves Black in excellent shape, the following variations being the proof: 10.bxc4 It seems there is nothing better than this. Having said “A” White should also say “B.” The point is that by exchanging b-pawns, White has absorbed most of the energy of Black’s queenside pawn mass and hopes that the open b-file will not be much of a factor in Black’s favor. Instead, 10.a3 was played in a recent game between strong players, but rather looks like an admission of failure of White’s strategy. The Azeri GM Rauf Mamedov, who is a regular Tarrasch practitioner, now replied 10...Qa5!? with the aim of clarifying the situation on the queenside, and this proves to be a strong enough possibility to tip the scales in Black’s favor. After 11.b4 Qb6 12.Be2 a5 13.0-0 0-0 14.Qc1 Bf5 15.Qb2 Ra6 16.Nh4 Be6 17.Rfb1 axb4 18.axb4 Rfa8 19.Rxa6 Qxa6 20.Bd1 Nc8! 21.Bc2 Nd6³/µ Black had a clear advantage in Esipenko-Mamedov, Skopje 2018. Impressive opening play by a powerful theoretician. 10...bxc4 11.Be2 0-0 12.0-0 Qa5 13.Rc1 Bf5=/³

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This structure is perhaps very slightly better for Black as the Bf5 severely hampers the movements of the white pieces. Black has invasion possibilities down the b-file and on the weak d3-square, so White must act quickly. 14.Ne5 Played by Serbian opening connoisseur Srdjan Cvetkovic, but not the only move. In fact, the two alternatives below may offer better chances of equalization. (a) The decentralizing 14.Nh4!? is actually not bad for White if after 14...Be6 he follows it up with the correct 15.g3!„, preparing to bring the knight to the good f4-square, with some counterplay. Instead, the rather hyper-aggressive 15.f4 f6 16.f5 Bf7 17.Rf3?! is what happened in GeorgesFlueckiger, Switzerland 1997, and now simply 17...Nb4µ would have proven Black’s superiority. (b) Another idea for White is 14.Nd2 and here the reply 14...Rfd8! is good enough, minimizing the effect of a possible e3-e4. Let us return to 14.Ne5: 14...Rfd8

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15.g4?! This is probably too much here. White wants to evict the bishop from the diagonal h7-b1 but he does not employ the right method. Better was 15.f4! Rab8 16.Nxc6 Nxc6 and only now 17.g4∞. 15...Be6 15...Nxe5! 16.dxe5 Bc8 17.f4 Rb8³ would have given Black the upper hand in the resulting complicated struggle. White is weak on d4 and e3 and ...h7-h5 is already in the cards. 16.Nxc6 Nxc6 17.Qd2 Rab8 18.Rb1 f6= In this approximately balanced position, a draw was agreed in Cvetkovic-Miljanic, Kladovo 1991. With a pair of rooks gone, White will feel more safe and the advance e3-e4 will also gain strength. (M2b2) Let us return to 9.Be2: 9...0-0 10.0-0 The untried 10.a4?! Qb6 11.Qd2 Na5 12.Bd1 Bf5 (12...Bg4 13.0-0 Bxf3 14.gxf3„ is doubleedged) 13.0-0 Rad8³ looks more comfortable for Black. After 10.0-0, we have reached a position that is very comfortable for Black and it seems to me that White does not have a clear plan. It is actually the second player who is dictating the play here, but still he has to be precise to keep White contained. I looked at both (M2b21) 10...Rb8 and (M2b22) 10...b5!?.

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In my view, 10...b5!? (Nunn’s move) is a clear solution so I deemed it right to make it our main line. The logic behind it is to divert White from the e3-e4 idea and create a similar position to those we have seen above, where Black enjoys slight pressure thanks to his protected passed pawn on c4. (M2b21) That said, the main alternative 10...Rb8 is also good enough. White should play 11.b3! as far as I can see, because slower play will allow us to storm the queenside, sooner or later: (a) For example, 11.Ne5?! Nxe5 12.dxe5 Be6 makes the position easy for Black as White cannot put his knight on d4 with impunity:

I searched a bit here, but I could not find anything better than 13.Qd2 for White. Even so he cannot equalize; Black’s armada is too strong. The following sample variations illustrate what would happen after other moves: 459

Weak are both 13.Nb5?! Qb6µ and 13.Bf3?! b5µ, while 13.f4?! Nf5 14.Rf3 b5 15.Qd2 b4 16.Nd1 f6µ was awful for White in Chepukaitis-Shaposhnikov, St. Petersburg 2000. A logical continuation after 13.Qd2 is 13...b5 14.a4 a6 15.axb5 axb5 16.Bd1 b4 17.Ne2³, but still I prefer Black as his queenside pawns are very scary. (b) Also inferior is 11.e4?! because it weakens d4 and that is enough to give Black the better game: 11...b5!

Please, do notice how well are the black knights placed for White’s advance. The one on e7 can jump to f5 later on, to put the d4-pawn under siege. 12.a4 (12.Rc1 dxe4 13.Nxe4 Bg4³; 12.h3 dxe4 13.Nxe4 Bf5³) 12...a6 13.Re1 Bg4ƒ White is clearly under heavy pressure. This line shows how easy it is to lose at chess by making “active” moves. (c) Finally, 11.a4!? does have an idea, but it is too weakening. The idea is to follow up with b2-b3, breaking up the cramping pawn mass, but if we play well, White will never be able to carry it out. 11...Na5! It is important to stop the liquidation White intends, even at the cost of decentralizing the knight. After 11...a6?! 12.b3! (12.Ne5?! Be6 [12...Na5!?] 13.Nxc6? bxc6 14.Qd2 a5 15.f3 Rb4 16.Na2 Rb7 17.Rab1 Qb6 18.Rfd1 Qa7 19.e4 Rfb8µ is hardly inspiring and led to winning pressure for Black along the b-file in Wang Yue-Akobian, Beijing 2008) 12...b5 13.axb5 axb5 14.bxc4 bxc4 15.Qd2∞

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White would get the position we are trying to avoid, although even here Black is probably not worse. However, the situation is undoubtedly more pleasant for the first player as his rooks have found space to operate and the black queen lacks the nice a5-square. Let us return to the superior 11...Na5!: 12.Nd2 Qb6 13.Qb1 Rd8!

This powerful possibility crushes any illusions White might have had that this position could be better for him. With the d5-pawn protected, ...Bc8-f5 becomes an annoying threat. I cannot see anything better for the first player than 14.Bd1 Bf5 15.Bc2 Bxc2 16.Qxc2 but now the time has come for him to pay the price for the weakening of the b4 square: 16...Nec6! 17.Rab1 Nb4 18.Qf5 Rbc8!=/³. This position is, if anything, slightly better for Black, so we may conclude that the immediate 10...Rb8 should be answered with 11.b3! after all, which we will now return to examine: 11...b5 461

12.bxc4 bxc4 For those of you willing to start a double-edged fight, there is also the untried 12...dxc4!?∞ which seems to throw the game into complete chaos. However, if you decide to enter such a position, please be at least a little prepared for it!

13.e4 I see nothing better for White than this, a move that should lead to complete equality. Play will most likely continue as follows: 13...dxe4 14.Nxe4 Qd5 15.Nc3 Qa5 16.Rc1 Be6 17.d5 Nxd5 18.Nxd5 Bxd5 19.Bxc4 Bxf3 20.Qxf3 Ne5=. (M2b22) Time to return to the aggressive 10...b5!?: 11.Ne5 I have made this my main line since it is supposed to give White a slight advantage according to the Informant. Instead: (a) 11.a3?! is passive and hands over the initiative to Black: 11...Rb8 12.Re1 (12.Nd2 a5ƒ) 12...h6 13.Ne5 Nxe5 14.dxe5 Be6³. (b) Actually it may already be time for White to bail out by 11.Nxb5!? Rb8 12.Nc3 Rxb2 13.Qc1! (13.Na4 Rb8 14.Qd2 h6 15.Rab1 Bf5 16.Rxb8 Qxb8³) 13...Rb8 14.e4 dxe4 15.Nxe4 Nxd4 16.Nxd4 Qxd4 17.Qxc4 Rb4 18.Qxd4 Rxd4= as in Dunis-Mindeguia Guruceaga, France 2006. Let us now examine 11.Ne5:

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11...Rb8!? One of the several ways to meet White’s last. Alternatively: (a) Possible is 11...b4 12.Nxc6 Nxc6 13.Na4 Bf5∞. (b) 11...Nxe5!? has been considered bad because Nunn lost a game with it, but this opinion is debatable: 12.dxe5 Rb8 13.a4 a6!? Denying White an easy way to post his knight on d4. Instead, 13...b4?! 14.Nb5 Nc6 (14...Bd7!? 15.Nd4! [15.Nd6 Be6 16.e4 c3 17.bxc3 b3] 15...Nc6 16.f4²) 15.f4² Qb6?! 16.Qxd5!± Qxe3+ 17.Rf2 Na5 18.Nd6 Qb6 19.Qf3 Bd7 20.f5 Qd4 21.Qg3 f6 22.Rd1! Qxe5 23.Qxe5 fxe5 24.Nxc4 Bxa4 25.Ra1+– led to a Black disaster in Sveshnikov-Nunn, Hastings 1977. 14.axb5 axb5 15.b4! Be6„ The position is double-edged as White has his weaknesses as well. After 11...Rb8!?, a logical continuation is 12.Nxc6 (12.Bf3?! Nxe5 13.dxe5 Be6³) 12...Nxc6 13.Bf3 Be6

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14.Qd2 (14.Ne2 Bf5 15.Nf4 g5!? 16.Nh5 Bg6³) 14...Qd6∞ when Black is certainly not in an inferior position and his play looks easier. Thus, the variation starting with 6.Bg5 leads at most to some complicated fights for White; there is no hope of an advantage for him. In fact it is Black the one who has the better opportunities to play for a win in most of the cases. (M3) Finally, I would like to mention that there is a third possibility for the development of the Bc1, namely 6.Be3. This will transpose to 6.g3 after 6...c4 7.g3 Nf6 8.Bg2 Be7 9.0-0 0-0, reaching a position examined in Part III (b).

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(M4) And now the big moment of Part III(a) has arrived, as we are about to dive into the complexities of 6.dxc5!?. So, take a deep breath and follow me! 6...d4! Only this move makes sense, and if this had not equalized, nothing would. Fortunately, it does. 7.Na4 Bxc5 8.Nxc5 Qa5+

This is a position that undoubtedly the authors of The Tarrasch Defence, Jacob and Nikos, “wasted” a lot of time analyzing before publishing their book. I know this because at that period Jacob asked me a few questions about the diagrammed tabiya that I was not able to answer convincingly, mostly because of chess laziness. Besides, my notes were rather incomplete in this line, so I could not switch to the auto-pilot and send him a file that would contain a definite solution. We exchanged some views via email and then I did not look at the variation for a few weeks as I had more pressing life issues to solve. But you know how the mind of a chess player is: if there is some problem in one of his openings (and the Tarrasch was one of my openings at the time) then this very problem keeps twisting around in his head, until it eventually haunts him. This is what happened in this case too, and because I could not tolerate the situation any longer, I decided to get rid of the spell by working on the line non-stop for around 10 days. What a life... But in the end I was rewarded as I had managed to forge two or three different ways to reach playable positions. My Tarrasch was perfect again, or at least so I thought. Later on, Jacob and Nikos published their book and they offered a good equalizing solution based on lengthy analysis, so I guess that most of you, Tarrasch devotees already have a good weapon against this annoying variation. The purpose of the analysis presented below is to arm you with as many weapons as possible by examining not only “good” but also “evil” solutions. We will look deeply at (M4a) 9.Qd2!? and (M4b) 9.Bd2. 9.Bd2 is the most natural way of continuing, furthering development. However it has the serious disadvantage of shielding White’s own pressure against the d4 pawn. I could not decide whether it is 465

stronger or worse than the alternative, so I finally chose to keep things as they were in my original notes. Thus, it will be our main line. (M4a) 9.Qd2!? is the interesting preference of the engines, and the line that gave the most problems to Aagaard and Ntirlis. However it is an exaggeration to say that this move can be battled successfully in only one way, as they imply with their comments in the book. This is the Tarrasch and not some scrappy King’s Indian where you need every piece of the puzzle in order to find the solution, relying on “only moves” for the survival of the whole opening. That said, there is a wealth of material here as well, as the lines are complicated and the positions demanding, because we have to fight the opponent’s bishop pair. After 9...Qxc5 White has the following possibilities: (M4a1) 10.Qg5, (M4a2) 10.e3 and (M4a3) 10.a3!?.

10.a3!? is clearly the most powerful option and will be our main line. According to Jacob, this little pawn move was proposed by Christoph Tiemann at the ChessPublishing forum. White intends b2-b4 followed by a quick siege of the d4-pawn after he develops his bishop on b2. It would be unrealistic for Black to try to hold on to the pawn, so what he has to do is develop his kingside quickly to seek (after the pawn is lost) compensation in open lines. Jacob revealed in his Tarrasch book that they considered the move dangerous and that Nikos had to work a lot to find an equalizing solution. He even made the comment “...imagine having to play against 10.a3 for the first time, without having months in advance to analyze it.” I fully agree with Jacob that the position is dangerous if one is not familiar with its nuances, but I disagree that one would have to work months to find a solution if he analyzed it from scratch. Then we would have to stop playing chess. To be honest, I think that both he and Nikos were affected by the depressing computer evaluations that gave White a large advantage. This initially led to exaggerated pessimism and possibly diverted them from the right path, until they were re-directed to it later by either questioning those evaluations and working with a real board, or consulting engines working on 466

more powerful hardware. As far as I am concerned, I cannot imagine giving this position to a young Fischer, Tal, Kasparov or Carlsen without the computer’s services and not having them find a complete answer in two or three days. No way. This is a classical structure that a human can concur with the machine, because there are not many pieces and the center is dissolving. All you need is obstinacy and a clear head. So much for some enlightenment on the process of finding the truth in this or similar positions, or at least what I am thinking about it. And now I will switch back to pure (and hopefully not poor) analysis, but there are some other moves waiting to be analyzed before the critical 10.a3!?: (M4a1) The first of them is 10.Qg5, a move someone could consider logical on the basis that White has the two bishops, so he should be happy to go into an ending. However, in the Tarrasch an ending can be good for Black, even if the opponent has two bishops, and the same happens here:

I think Black is absolutely fine despite still having an isolated pawn after 10...Qxg5 (10...Qb4+!? is another possibility if you would like to explore it) 11.Bxg5 f6 12.Bf4 Be6= because that pawn cramps White and all the black minor pieces cooperate beautifully. For example, 13.b4!? (or else Black will develop quickly and gain further space) 13...Nxb4! (slightly worse is 13...Nge7 14.b5 Nb4 15.Nxd4 Rd8 16.e3 Rxd4 17.exd4 Nc2+ 18.Kd2 Nxa1 19.Be2!²) 14.Nxd4 Rd8! 15.e3 (15.0-0-0 Bxa2 16.e4 Ne7 17.Kb2 Nbc6 18.Bb5 Bf7=) 15...Rxd4 16.exd4 Nc2+ 17.Kd2 Nxa1 18.Bd3 Ne7 19.Rxa1 Kf7= and the roles are reversed: Black has saddled White with an isolani and has the wonderful d5-base for his knight. (M4a2) A second, slightly stronger way to seek the exchange of queens is 10.e3. This is the move I would expect most people to play, especially in amateur chess, hoping to apply pressure in a symmetrical ending. However, that is not going to happen: 10...dxe3 11.Qxe3+ Qxe3+ 12.Bxe3 Nge7 13.Bc4 0-0 14.0-0 White has prevented his opponent from posting a knight on d5 and anticipates ...Bc8-e6 which would 467

allow him to get a slight structural advantage by taking on e6, but I think there is no need to acquiesce to his plans:

14...h6!? My research indicates that this is a very useful move, denying White the possibility to maneuver his knight to e4. What I like most about it is that it makes Black’s position comfortable and easy to play. Chandler has tried 14...Bg4, but after 15.Ng5! h6 16.f3!? (Black hardly has any worries after 16.Ne4 Rfd8 17.Rfe1 Nf5 18.Bf4 Nfd4 19.Rac1 Be6 20.Kf1 Nb4 21.Nd6 Nxa2 22.Bxa2 Bxa2 23.Nxb7 Rd5 24.Nd6 Rd8 25.Nc8 R5d7 26.Ne7+ Kh7 27.Nc6 Nxc6 28.Rxc6 Rd4 29.Bg3 Rd2 30.Be5 R8d7 ½-½, Knaak-Chandler, Germany 1996) 16...Bf5 17.Ne4 White has established the knight on e4 and freed d1 for his rooks, two good achievements.

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Although this position might still be equal after 17...Rfd8 18.Rfd1 b6 (18...Ne5 19.Bb3²) 19.Rac1 Be6 20.Bxe6 fxe6 21.a3 Rxd1+ 22.Rxd1 Nd5 23.Bf2 Nce7= I nevertheless consider 14...h6!? more accurate. So, let us see what White can do after 14...h6!?: 15.Bc5 Well, actually not much! Also others fail to make an impact on Black’s position: (a) 15.Nd2 Rd8=. (b) 15.Nd4 Nxd4 16.Bxd4 Rd8 17.Rfd1 (17.Bc5 Nd5 18.Rfd1 Be6=) 17...Be6 18.Bxe6 fxe6 19.Rac1 Rd5= is also equal.

This is a structure to remember as the “weak” pawn on e6 creates an unassailable post for the knight on d5, securing complete equality. (c) 15.Rfd1 Bg4 16.Rac1 Rfe8=. (d) 15.Rfe1!? requires some accuracy: 15...Rd8! 16.Bc5 (16.h3 Nd5 17.Bd2 Be6 18.Rac1 Nc7 19.Bf4 Nd5 20.Bg3 Ndb4! 21.Bxe6 fxe6 22.Rc4 Nxa2 23.Rxe6 Nab4 24.Rg4 Kh7= was equal in Offenborn-Minte, corr 2014) 16...Nd5 17.Bb5 (17.Bxd5 Rxd5 18.Re8+ Kh7 19.Be3 b6=)

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17...Bd7! (17...Ndb4!? 18.Bxb4 Nxb4 19.Re4 Nd5? 20.Rd1 Be6 21.Red4±) 18.Rad1 Bg4! 19.a3 a6 20.Bc4 (20.Bxc6 bxc6 21.Rd3 Nf4„) and here both 20...Nf4= or 20...Be6= should be sufficient. The key for a proper defense is the d5-square and the light squares in the center in general. After 15.Bc5, Black follows the same strategy: 15...Rd8 16.Rfd1 Be6! 17.Bxe6 fxe6 18.Bxe7 Nxe7 19.Kf1 Rac8=. Thus, White cannot hope for anything substantial by going into an ending. Some might think this contradicts the logic of chess as White has the two bishops, but the knights are not bad pieces if they do not have weaknesses to defend or passed pawns to cope with. One very important factor in our favor is that White’s strong bishop, the light-square one, can be chased around mercilessly by our own bishop, until it finally succumbs to exchange. And then White will no longer have two bishops, while our two knights are at least an equal match for White’s remaining bishop and knight. (M4a3) So, let us now come to the move that poses the most problems for Black, namely 10.a3!?: After it, there is a choice between (M4a31) 10...Nf6 and (M4a32) 10...Nge7.

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10...Nge7 I have kept this as my main line as I have no reason to doubt it equalizes, but Black has an equally interesting alternative in 10...Nf6, which is analyzed below. It is a bit surprising for me that Aagaard and Ntirlis failed to reach the same conclusion as I, that 10...Nf6 is also playable, but probably they steered clear from it because of computer evaluations. (M4a31) After 10...Nf6 11.b4, the strongest move for Black is 11...Qe7!, retreating to a typical square for the black queen in the Tarrasch. However, this possibility passed unnoticed by Jacob and Nikos and my guess is that this happened because the move does not rank for quite a while among the first two engine choices. For example, Stockfish starts to realize it is playable only when it reaches depth 29, and starts to give evaluations that humans would consider acceptable for Black only after reaching depth 55! By the way, with the term “acceptable,” I mean evaluations that vary from 0.00 till +0.30 for White at most, and the fact chess authors tend to exhaustively analyze nowadays positions which exceed this evaluation limit has to do more with the disbelief of people that such an opening position can be good than anything else. But let us return to pure chess thinking, putting my thoughts about engines aside. For me, the explanation that 11...Qe7! is valid lies in the fact the black queen needs for the time being to avoid close contact with the enemy. Such close contact is undesirable as a pawn is about to be lost and Black needs to gather energy in order to counter-attack. This amount of energy cannot be gathered when there is a danger of the queen being exchanged or chased around. By withdrawing it behind the lines, Black makes sure that such a development of events is prevented. Instead of looking at 11...Qe7!, Jacob and Nikos looked briefly at other queen moves which do not fulfil this important requirement. These moves are 11...Qd5?!, 11...Qb6?! and 11...Qf5?! and, unsurprisingly, all of them were found to be unsatisfactory. Thus, Jacob and Nikos condemned 10...Nf6 on the basis of wrong evidence, as the most important move 11...Qe7! was not considered and not 471

analyzed. So let us now see why 11...Qe7! works. In the position arising after it White has a very wide choice but only three moves are really good. We will consider in succession (M4a311) 12.Qg5?, (M4a312) 12.g3, (M4a313) 12.Qd3, (M4a314) 12.Qb2, (M4a315) 12.Bb2, (M4a316) 12.Nxd4!? and (M4a317) 12.b5!.

12.b5! is an enterprising choice and the most testing. White wants to take on d4 without allowing an exchange of knights. Alternatively: (M4a311) 12.Qg5? is a sally after which White can be seriously worse. All Black has to do is play 12...0-0 (12...Bg4ƒ is also good) 13.b5 Na5 14.Nxd4 Rd8 15.Bb2 Nc4µ, obtaining a huge initiative in the open lines. White’s position is clearly unenviable after these moves. (M4a312) 12.g3 is a quiet move that does not threaten anything, so Black can improve his position with 12...0-0 13.Bg2 Ne4 14.Qd3 Nc3= when he is at least equal in my view. (M4a313) 12.Qd3 is an attempt to restore coordination among the white forces and avoid being hit by ...Nf6-e4. However the loss of time shows after 12...0-0 13.b5 Ne5 14.Nxe5 Qxe5 15.Bb2 Rd8 16.e3 Bf5 17.Bxd4 Qe6 18.Qc4 Nd5© and Black has full compensation for his missing pawn. (M4a314) 12.Qb2 is a choice that looks more harmonious than 12.Qd3, but I love the solution I found. After 12...0-0! 13.b5 (13.Bg5? is very bad for White after 13...Bg4µ, threatening ...Bg4xf3 followed by ...Nc6-e5) 13...Ne5 14.Nxe5 Qxe5 15.Be3 Rd8 16.Rd1 the pawn on d4 looks lost but we have a powerful counter:

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16...Bd7! In this way we will keep material equality and even chances. The point is White cannot play 17.a4?? (17.Bxd4 Qxb5= is required) in view of 17...dxe3! 18.Qxe5 exf2+ 19.Kd2 Be6+ 20.Kc2 Rac8+–+. (M4a315) The possibilities listed above were rather easy to handle. Now we will move on to examine the three best options for White, starting with 12.Bb2; I believe this is a move a human would like as it combines development with the win of a pawn. However, 12...Ne4 improves the Black knight with tempo and yields an approximately balanced game:

I analyzed three moves in the diagrammed position: 13.Qd1!?

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This retreat is my favorite for White. (a) After 13.Qd3 0-0, it is not easy for White to win the pawn without allowing considerable counterplay, and Black might be already enjoying a slight initiative. For example, 14.Rd1 (14.Nxd4? Nxb4!; 14.b5? Nc5 15.Qd1 Bf5!)

14...Bf5 (there is certainly an argument for 14...Nxb4!? 15.axb4 Qxb4+ 16.Rd2 [16.Nd2? Nc3!] 16...Nxd2 17.Qxd2 a5 18.Nxd4 Qxd2+ 19.Kxd2 b5©) 15.Nxd4 Ne5 16.Qb3 Bd7 17.g3 Qe8! (a key move, as the threat ...Bd7-a4 forces White to surrender the c5-square) 18.b5 Rc8 19.Bg2 Nc5 20.Qe3 Nc4 21.Qxe8 Rfxe8 22.Bc1 Black has an excellent game here:

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There might follow 22...Nd6 23.Bf3 Bxb5!? 24.Bf4 Nd3+ 25.Rxd3 Bxd3 26.Bxd6 Rcd8 27.Bc5 b6 28.Nc6 Bc2 29.Nxd8 Rxd8 30.e3 bxc5 31.Ke2 Bd3+ 32.Kd2 Be4+ 33.Ke2=. (b) Another queen move I looked at was 13.Qf4!? when the engines give the following line ending in a draw: 13...0-0 14.Rd1 (14.Rc1 Rd8 15.b5 Nc5! …16.Rxc5? Qxc5 17.bxc6 bxc6ƒ) 14...Rd8 15.Nxd4 Nxb4! 16.axb4 Qxb4+ 17.Rd2 Nxd2 18.Qxd2

18...Rxd4! 19.Bxd4 Qb1+ 20.Qd1 Qb4+=. Let us now return to our main move 13.Qd1!?: 13...0-0 This is the move favored by the engines, based on an interesting breakthrough in the center. I analyzed without computer help the following more human idea: 13...Be6 14.Nxd4 (14.b5 Na5 15.Nxd4? Qf6!–+ is a ... thematic blunder!) 14...Qf6 15.f3 0-0-0 (Black should avoid 15...Qh4+? 16.g3 Nxg3 17.hxg3 Qxh1 18.Nxc6 bxc6 19.Qd6‚ when it seems to me that the position is quite dangerous for him) 16.fxe4 Nxd4 17.Rc1+ Kb8 18.Qd2 Qh4+ 19.g3 Qxe4 20.Qf4+ Qxf4 21.gxf4 f6 22.Rg1 Rhg8=. White has the two bishops but Black’s better pawn structure ensures equality. If he were allowed to put his knight on f5 and bishop on e4, he would actually be close to winning, but I guess that can be prevented. The computer’s 13...0-0 is actually quite remarkable: 14.b5

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14...Rd8! The brilliant point, threatening d4-d3 which cannot be stopped. After 15.bxc6 d3 16.Qc1 d2+ 17.Nxd2 Nxd2 18.c7! Rd6 19.Qc3 f6 White’s pawn on the seventh looks quite dangerous, but the machines say Black can surround it: 20.a4!? 20.Bc1 Ne4! 21.Qb4 a5 22.Qb3+ Be6 23.Qxb7 Rc8 24.Bf4 (not 24.Qxe4?? Rd1+!–+) 24...Rd5! looks tough for White in spite of the 0.00 computer garnish. 20...Rd7 21.Rc1 a5! 22.g4 Nxf1 23.Kxf1 Ra6 24.f3 Rc6 25.Qb3+ Qe6 26.Qxe6+ Rxe6 27.Ke1 Kf7 28.Rg1 Ree7=. The c7-pawn falls and the resulting position should be a draw. (M4a316) We will now continue by examining another major option for White, namely 12.Nxd4!?; Black should play 12...Nxd4 13.Qxd4 0-0 when we have reached the position in the next diagram:

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White is a pawn up but his development has been neglected for the sake of winning that pawn. Black should try to use this fact and develop his counterplay, which will often require the use of small tactics. The d-file can be used as a means of launching an attack against the white king and Black should always have in mind such ideas as ...b7-b6 followed by ...Bc8-a6, or even ...a7-a5, according to circumstance, the latter being an attempt to make use of the Ra8 on its original square and turn b4 into a weak point. White has various tries to seek consolidation but will not obtain an advantage if we employ properly the guerilla tactics this position offers us. I looked at (M4a3161) 14.Bg5, (M4a3162) 14.Bb2, (M4a3163) 14.Qc5!? and (M4a3164) 14.f3; The latter became my main line by virtue of being a multipurpose move, giving the king a flight square on f2 and taking away e4 from the black knight. White would like to play e2-e4 after it, if given the chance. But let us check the options one by one in the order given above: (M4a3161) The first question I asked myself was what would I do if White plays 14.Bg5 here, but then I realized this does not help at all the development of White’s kingside and that the doubling of pawns is not something to be afraid of in a position where time and dynamics matter. After 14...Rd8 White needs to keep control over the e5-square:

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15.Qb2 (a) 15.Qc5 Qe6 16.Qe3 a5! 17.Qxe6 (17.b5 Qf5³) 17...Bxe6 18.b5 Rd5 19.Bxf6 gxf6© gives us excellent compensation for the pawn. (b) 15.Qf4 can be met in several ways, one of them being 15...a5„. After 15.Qb2, we get enough play as follows: 15...a5! 16.bxa5! (16.b5 Bf5³ is better for us because ...Ra8-c8-c2 is the threat and a3 and b5 are both temporarily weak, a fact that facilitates our counterplay) 16...Bf5 17.f3 Rxa5©. It is time to stop and evaluate the situation here: White has to cover a lot of invasion points and a3 is weak. His uncastled king also gives him serious reasons for concern as he cannot flee to f2 that easily with several tactics lurking in the background. Probably White will have to play something like g2-g3 followed by Bg5xf6 and then Ke1-f2, but even in that case we maintain the more pleasant position, as a3 will fall and it will still take some additional time for White to bring out the kingside pieces. I guess we need not analyze any further from this position, as it is obvious that Black has a strong initiative. (M4a3162) 14.Bb2 is of course an important possibility, but our play is relatively easy: 14...Rd8! 15.Qf4 This is the best square for the white queen. On 15.Qe5, we will reply 15...Qd7 16.f3 (16.Qc3 Qd6) 16...Qd2+ 17.Kf2 landing in the position of the following diagram:

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Here Black has several possibilities but there is one I like most: 17...Be6!? Simplicity! Playing in such a way we want to tie our opponent down to the defense of e2. There is also 17...Bf5 for the more adventurous. 18.g3 After 18.Rc1 a5 19.bxa5 Rxa5 20.Qc3 Qxc3 21.Rxc3 Rd2 22.Bc1 Ra2 23.g4 Nd5© Black is clearly not worse, and both sides can aspire to win this very complicated ending. After 18.g3, it is time for a memory marker:

18...Re8! We should not deviate from our plan of putting e2 under pressure. 479

Instead, 18...Rac8?! 19.Bg2 Rd5 20.Rhd1 Qxd1 21.Rxd1 Rxd1 22.Qe3! is wrong, as suddenly White is much, much better. After 18...Re8!, I cannot see how White can play for the advantage, as we are very well placed and with a clear focus. There might follow 19.Qd4 Rad8 20.Qxd2 Rxd2 21.Bxf6 gxf6 22.Rc1 b6 23.Rc3 Ra2 24.h4 h5 25.Re3 Bd7 26.Rxe8+ Bxe8 27.Bg2 Bb5 28.Re1 Rxa3= and Black’s chances in the ending are by no means worse. Let us now return to 15.Qf4:

15...a5! Of course! There is no time to think of the pawn structure here, all we want is to open lines and get at the enemy king which has lingered too long in the center. Black has very good chances already. For example: 16.e3 This one looks logical but cuts off the queen from the defense of d2. Alternatives are presented below, but they are not scary. (a) 16.b5 Qc5! looks excellent for us, a nice point being 17.Bxf6 gxf6 18.Qxf6 Rd4!µ. (b) 16.bxa5 practically acquiesces to a draw after 16...Rxa5 17.g3 Rf5! 18.Qb4 Qe8 19.Bxf6 (19.Bg2 Rb5 20.Qc3 Bg4 21.0-0 Rc8=) 19...Rxf6 20.Bg2 b6 21.Qc4 Bd7 22.Rb1 Bf5 23.e4 Rc6 24.Qb4 Bxe4 25.Bxe4 f5 26.0-0 Qxe4= but the position already offers very little to White in any case. Returning to 16.e3, after 16...Qd7 17.Qd4 Qe7! (17...axb4!? 18.Qxb4 [18.Qxd7 Bxd7 19.axb4 Rxa1+ 20.Bxa1 Rc8=] 18...Qd5!? is another possibility but I feel White could be slightly better here) 18.Qe5 Qd7 19.Qc3 Qg4!„ our queen escapes to the open plains of the kingside and I would definitely prefer to be Black here, in spite of the modest +0.10 computer evaluation in White’s favor. (M4a3163) We will now check a third possibility for White, namely 14.Qc5!?. The idea of this move 480

is to dislodge our queen from e7 and disrupt the coordination of our forces, but after the typical 14...Qd7! we have no problems.

Play could continue as follows: 15.Qc3 (What is good for us now, is that after 15.Bb2 Rd8 16.Qc2, we can play 16...a5! safe in the thought that b4-b5 has been prevented. The position is balanced after 17.f3 axb4 18.axb4 Rxa1+ 19.Bxa1 Qd6 20.Qc3 b5 21.Kf2 Be6 22.g3 Bc4=) 15...Rd8 16.f3 a5! 17.bxa5 Ra6! 18.Bd2 Rd6 19.Ra2 Rc6 20.Qb3 Rd6 21.Qb4

21...Qc6 22.Kf2 Be6 23.Rb2 Rd4 24.Qc3 Rc4 25.Qb3 Rf4 26.Qb6 Ne4+ 27.Ke1 (27.Ke3?? Qd5!– +) 27...Qxb6 28.axb6 Nxd2 29.Rxd2 Rxd2 30.Kxd2 Rd4+ 31.Kc3 Rc4+ 32.Kb2 Rc6 33.e4 Rxb6+ 34.Kc2 Rb3 35.Bd3 Rxa3=. (M4a3164) We will now switch our attention to the computer’s top choice, namely 14.f3: 481

14...Rd8 15.Qc5 Again, a move to disrupt our coordination, but the evaluation will not change. Instead: (a) 15.Qh4?? Qe5–+ would of course be terrible. (b) However, 15.Qb2 deserves a mention. We should play 15...Bd7!, intending to target the c2-square with ...Ra8-c8 and ...Bd7-a4, an idea that gives Black excellent chances. For example, 16.Bg5 Rac8 17.Rc1 (17.Rd1 h6 18.Bxf6 gxf6 19.Kf2 Ba4©) 17...h6! 18.Rxc8 Rxc8 19.Bd2 Ba4 20.Qd4 a6 21.e4 Rd8 22.Qe3 (22.Qc5 Qd7 23.Qe3 Qe6„)

22...Qe6! 23.Be2 Qa2 24.Qc3 Rd6!„. Let us return to 15.Qc5: 15...Qd7 16.Bg5 This is what I would play as White. However, there are 482

some other moves as well: (a) After 16.e4 Qd1+ 17.Kf2, the shocking 17...Bf5!! threatens to take on e4 and prepares ...Ra8-c8 at the same time. White does not seem to have much choice here, the computer considers 18.Rg1 more or less to be his only move. That seems to lead after 18...Bxe4 19.Be2 Qa4= to rough equality. (b) 16.Qc2 seems to transpose to 16.Bf4 below after 16...b6 17.Bf4. (b1) 17.e4 Bb7 18.Be2 Rac8 19.Qb2 Nxe4 20.fxe4 Bxe4 21.Ra2 Qf5 22.Rf1 Qe6© would instead be risky, although the engines claim the position to be equal in spite of Black’s dangerous compensation. (b2) Perhaps a calmer choice like 17.e3!? is a better way to deviate, although even then Black has a fine way to reach equality. Can you figure out what he plays?

17...a5!! 18.Be2 Though it flies in the face of my understanding of chess, 18.b5 does not give White the advantage. After 18...Bb7 19.Be2 Rac8 20.Qb2, Black still has the shocking 20...Ne4!!, even if the knight takes nothing on e4! The position is completely equal and I suggest that you analyze the complications after 21.fxe4 Bxe4 22.Qe5 as a means of exercising yourself in tactics. If White does not take the knight and plays 21.0-0 instead, then 21...Nc3 22.Re1 Qd6© gives Black full compensation. (c) Finally, there is also 16.Bf4 b6 17.Qc2 a5 18.bxa5 Rxa5 19.e4 Qd4 20.Rd1 Qxd1+ 21.Qxd1 Rxd1+ 22.Kxd1 Rxa3 23.Bc4 Ra1+ 24.Bc1 Ba6= …...Nf6-d7-c5, if White retreats his bishop on b3. We will now check the more obvious 16.Bg5: 16...b6 17.Qc3 Ba6 We should put the bishop on a6 here, to make it hard for White to castle. 18.e4 (18.Bxf6 gxf6 19.Qxf6 leaves White two pawns up, but with a lost position after 19...Qd2+ 20.Kf2 Re8!–+) 18...Bxf1 19.Rxf1 Rac8 20.Qb2

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20...h6! This may be disappointing for your chess aesthetics, but we need to get control of the dark squares. 21.Bxf6 gxf6 22.Kf2! When working on the line I felt as if I was been challenged around here; I knew that the position is equal according to Stockfish, but the engine, switched to one-variation display mode, was recommending 22.Kf2! instead of 22.Rf2 which looked to me like the more natural response, intending Rf2-e2. Fortunately it seems I have not forgotten chess completely as I managed to find out what happens after some meditation. The solution is 22.Rf2 Qd6! 23.g3 Qd3 and White cannot play his rook to e2 as f3 hangs. But what is really beautiful is that 24.Qxf6?? is answered once more with the brilliant interference 24...Rd4! and Black wins as the check on c3 will be lethal. Returning to 22.Kf2!, after 22...Qd2+ 23.Qxd2 Rxd2+ 24.Kg3 Rcc2 25.Rg1 Ra2 the ending is equal in spite of Black’s ruined kingside, because “all rook endings are drawn.” For example, 26.Kg4 (26.Rad1 Rxd1 27.Rxd1 Rxa3 28.b5 Kg7 29.h4 Ra2=) 26...Rxa1 27.Rxa1 Rxg2+ 28.Kf5 Kg7 29.h4 b5 30.Rd1 Rh2 31.Rg1+ Kf8 32.Kxf6 Rxh4 33.Rf1 (33.e5?? Rf4#) 33...Rh3=. Thus, the line with 12.Nxd4!? produces a very tense struggle where Black can hold his own, and White has to be careful most of the time as his exposed king is a factor that can easily tip the scales in our favor with the slightest imprecision. (M4a317) Let us now return to the most important line after 11...Qe7!, namely 12.b5!: 12...Ne4!

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This is a very important move to remember, because if we do not, we are simply lost. The black knight enters the fight with a gain of tempo and in some positions will use the key c5-square that White’s last move abandoned. 13.Qf4! The only move to give us some trouble. If White is not already familiar with it, he will not find it that easily. (a) He will most likely play 13.Qc2 Na5 14.Nxd4 instead, when 14...Nxf2! 15.Kxf2 Qf6+ 16.Ke1 (16.Ke3? Be6!!µ …17.Nxe6? fxe6–+) 16...Qxd4 17.Bb2

17...Bf5! 18.Bxd4 Bxc2 19.Bxg7 Rg8 20.Bh6 a6! 21.bxa6 Rxa6 22.Bf4 Be4 23.Rg1 Nc4 24.g4 Rxa3 25.Rxa3 Nxa3 26.Rg3 Nc2+ 27.Kf2 b5„ is an elegant and adequate solution. 485

(b) Nor is 13.Qd1 Na5 particularly dangerous. For example, 14.Qxd4 Instead, the alternative 14.Nxd4 Qf6 15.Be3 gives Black compensation after either 15...Be6© or 15...0-0© 14...Nb3! 15.Qxg7 Rf8 The game is now merely unclear; there are chances for either side to play for the full point as the following brief analysis demonstrates: 16.g3 Another possibility is 16.Bh6 Nxa1 17.Qxa1 Rg8 18.g3 Qc5 19.Qe5+ Qxe5 20.Nxe5 f6 21.Bg2 Bf5 22.Nc4 Rd8 23.0-0 Nc3∞ 16...Qc5! 17.Be3 Qc3+! 18.Qxc3 Nxc3

And the knights said, “Checkmate.” And the rook said, “If you take my life, you will both perish.” 19.Bd2 Nxa1 20.Bxc3 Nc2+ 21.Kd2 Nxa3 22.Bb4 Nxb5 23.e3 Bd7 24.Bxb5 Bxb5 And the rook’s prophecy was fulfilled, but the position was again equal: 25.Nd4 Bd7 26.Bxf8 Kxf8=. Let us now return to 13.Qf4!: 13...Nc5! A clever move, threatening a fork on d3 and disrupting White’s plans. Here we are at a branching point once more as White has a choice between (M4a3171) 14.Qg3 and (M4a3172) 14.e3!; the latter is the calm recommendation of the engines and will be our main line as it poses Black some slight problems. (M4a3171) I first looked at the adventurous 14.Qg3 Na5 when Black looked fine to me: 15.Nxd4 There is also 15.Qxg7 Nd3+! 16.Kd1 (16.Kd2?! Nb3+ 17.Kxd3?? Bf5+–+ leads to a quick mate)

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16...Nxf2+ 17.Ke1 Nd3+ 18.Kd1 Nf2+ 19.Ke1 Nd3² and the game ends in a draw. 15...0-0

An interesting position has arisen on the board. It is a clear battle of dynamics here: White’s two bishops and his extra pawn versus Black’s better development and agile knights which hope to exploit light-square weaknesses on the queenside. 16.Bb2 This is not the most testing, I just made it my main line because it looks more natural and there is a higher probability of meeting it in a game. More solid is in fact 16.e3 Qf6 17.Qf4!? when I feel we should focus on the light squares rather than exchange queens: 17...Qg6!? (17...Qxf4 18.exf4 Nab3 19.Nxb3 Nxb3 20.Rb1 Nxc1 21.Rxc1 Bf5 22.f3 Rfc8 23.Rxc8+ Rxc8²/=) 18.Bb2 Ne6! 19.Qg3 Nxd4 20.Bxd4 Bf5 21.Rd1 Rfc8 22.Qxg6 hxg6 23.Bd3 Nb3! 24.Ke2 (24.0-0 Nxd4 25.exd4 Rc3!©) 24...b6 25.a4! Rc7! 26.Bxf5 gxf5 27.Kf3! (27.Kd3? Rac8µ) 27...Rc2 28.Rhg1 Rd8 29.g4 Rd5!© Let us now return to 16.Bb2: 16...Qf6! This is the key move, pinning the Nd4 and threatening all sorts of knight invasions. After 17.e3, Black has easy equality, so please take a look first at the following alternatives: (a) 17.Rd1 Nc4 18.Ba1 Ne4 19.Qf3 Qe7∞ looks marvelous for Black, but of course White has good chances as well. (b) Another interesting possibility is 17.Qc3!? b6 18.Qf3

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18...Qg6!! 19.Qg3 (19.Qxa8?! Bb7 20.Qxa7 Nc4 21.Bc3 Ra8 22.Qxa8+ Bxa8ƒ) 19...Rd8 20.Qxg6 hxg6 21.Rd1 (21.e3 Na4 22.Bc1 Bf5 23.Bd2 Rxd4 24.Bxa5 Rd5 25.Bb4 Nb2=) 21...Nc4 22.Bc1 a6 23.e3 axb5 24.Nxb5 Rxd1+ 25.Kxd1 Ne5 26.f3 Ba6 27.Nd4 Ned3 28.Kd2 Nxc1 29.Bxa6 N1b3+ 30.Nxb3 Nxb3+ 31.Kc3 Nc5 32.Bc4 Rxa3+=. Let’s now return to 17.e3, although it is not as fascinating as the above variations: 17...Na4 18.Rb1 Nxb2 19.Rxb2 Be6 This is best and will lead to sterile equality; 19...Qe7 20.Rb4 Qc5 21.Bd3 Qc1+ 22.Ke2 Qxa3 23.Qh4 g6 24.Rhb1 Be6 25.Nxe6 Qa2+ 26.Kf1 Qxe6² is another possibility, but I do not trust it as much.

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20.Bd3 Also colorless is 20.Qf4 Qxf4 21.exf4 Bc4 22.Nf5 Rfe8+ 23.Ne3 Rac8 24.Be2 Bxe2 25.Kxe2 Rc3 26.Rd1 Nc4 27.Rb4 Nxe3 28.Re4 Kf8 29.Rxe3 Rxa3 30.Rd7 Raxe3+ 31.fxe3 Re7 32.Rd1 Rc7=. 20...Nb3! This is the idea of 19...Be6!, forcing a drawn rook ending. 21.Qf3 Nxd4 22.Qxf6 gxf6 23.exd4 Rfd8 24.Rd2 (24.Rb4 a5=) 24...Rac8 25.0-0 Rc3 26.Ra1 Bc4 27.Bxc4 Rxc4=. Black regains his pawn and it will be an easy draw. (M4a3172) Back to the 14.e3! main line: 14...Na5! Again, this is the square for the knight; I briefly looked at 14...dxe3 15.Bxe3 Nd8 16.Bc4² but White keeps a slight edge here, so I quickly returned to 14...Na5!.

15.Nxd4! After 15.Qxd4 Nab3 16.Qxg7 Rf8 17.Bd2 Nxa1 18.Qxa1 Nb3 19.Qb2 Nxd2 20.Nxd2 Be6 21.Bc4 0-0-0 22.0-0 Kb8 23.Bxe6 fxe6 24.Ne4 Rc8 White looks a bit more comfortable, but the engines say 0.00; an interesting, unbalanced position in any case. 15...Nab3 The point. Massive simplifications now occur. 16.Nxb3 16.Rb1?? g5!–+ does not happen every day, but who knows... 16...Nxb3 17.Rb1 Nxc1

489

18.Bc4!! As you can witness, in this variation one has to find one good move after another. White’s last is the only way to keep some mild pressure. Instead, 18.Rxc1 Qxa3 19.Qe5+ Be6 20.Qc3 Qxc3+ 21.Rxc3 a5=/³ is at least equal for Black. 18...Be6! 19.Rxc1 White should avoid 19.Bxe6?? Nd3+–+ and 19.0-0?? Na2–+ 19...Qxa3 20.0-0 Bxc4 21.Rxc4 21.Qxc4 0-0 22.Qc7 (22.Ra1 Qe7 23.Rfc1 Rfd8=) 22...b6 23.Rfd1 Qb2 24.Rb1 Qf6= is completely equal. 21...0-0

490

Thus, we have reached a quasi major-piece ending with a very slight initiative for White and this is the best position he can get after 11...Qe7!. To play this position successfully Black need only possess some basic rook ending knowledge and that’s it; the game should end as a relatively simple draw. It is important for Black to place his kingside pawns correctly if a R+4§s vs R+3§s arises, with no queenside pawns left. 22.Rc7! Placing the rook on the seventh is an engine recommendation that is both natural and best, to fix Black’s queenside. After 22.h4, the reply 22...a5?! should be avoided in view of 23.Qe4! and White will get some pressure. Instead, the right choice for Black is to seek centralization by 22...Qb3! 23.Rb4 Qd5= when he is absolutely fine. 22...b6 In this important position, White must decide which luft to make, but we should not have a problem as there is a remedy for every choice. 23.h3 This was the main suggestion of my engine. But it is hardly critical. (a) I also looked at 23.Qc4 a5! 24.bxa6 Qxa6, reaching the position in the following diagram.

491

White now has nothing better than to exchange on a6: 25.Qxa6 Rxa6 The engines will always rate this as around +0.40/+0.50, but it is a relatively easy draw for Black. After 26.h4, for example, all you need to do is create the formation §f7/§g6/§h5 and exchange one pair of rooks; then losing the b-pawn really does not matter as the position is a theoretical draw. The way to achieve this aim is simple: 26...Rfa8 27.Rb7 h5 28.Rb1 Ra1 29.R7xb6 Rxb1+ 30.Rxb1 g6=. If you ask me how exactly is this a draw, I will tell you to open a book on endings and study it. You will need this information in any case in your chess life. But for now, I can give you a rule of thumb: To make progress White needs to move the pawns g2, f2, e3 one rank up and bring his king to f4. When this happens, we should be prepared in advance to have our own king on g7 and put pressure on White from the rear by putting our rook on g2. This will always prevent tactics based on a nasty breakthrough with e5-e6. However there are a few more details to master, so consulting an endgame manual will be necessary. (b) Another possibility for White is 23.Rfc1; then 23...Qb3 24.Qc4 Qxc4 25.R1xc4 a5 26.bxa6 Rxa6 27.h4 (27.g4 b5) 27...b5 28.Rb4 (28.Rd4 Rb6 29.Rb4 h5 30.Rc5 g6 is the same) 28...Ra4! 29.Rxa4 bxa4 30.Ra7 h5 31.Rxa4 g6= leads again to the same theoretical ending. (c) 23.g3 can be answered with 23...Qb3 24.Qe5 (24.Qf3 Qxb5 25.Rxf7 Rad8=) 24...Rae8 25.Qf5 g6 26.Qd7 Rd8 27.Qc6 Rd5 28.Rxa7 Qxb5 29.Qxb5 Rxb5 30.Rd1 h5 31.h4 (31.Rd4 g5!? 32.h3 Kg7 33.Kg2 Rc8 34.Rdd7 Rf5 35.e4 Rf6 36.e5 Rf5 37.e6 Re8! is a nice idea to know; 31.Rb7 Rc8= … 32.Rdd7 Rf5 33.e4 Rf6 34.e5 Rf5 35.f4 g5 36.e6 gxf4 37.e7 Kg7 38.Rd8 Rc1+=) 31...Re8 32.Rdd7 Rf5=. Let us return to 23.h3:

492

23...Qb3 24.Qe5 Rae8 25.Qg5 h6 26.Qf5 g6 27.Qf4 Qxb5 28.Rxa7 h5 From now on we start chasing the enemy queen and then a rook. 29.Rd1 Qe5 30.Qxe5 Rxe5 31.Rb7 Re6 32.Rb1 (32.Rdd7 Rf6 33.f3 Re8 34.e4 h4 35.Rd5 Ra8 is another drawing formation) 32...Rc8 33.R7xb6 Rxb6 34.Rxb6

34...h4!? By cramping White’s pawns like this we ensure once more it is a draw. It is not necessary, but it works. There might follow 35.Rb4 Rc1+ 36.Kh2 Rf1 37.f3 Re1 38.Rxh4 Rxe3=. (M4a32) Thus, 10...Nf6 followed by the untried 11...Qe7! proves to be a stiff test for White’s strategy and provides a second reliable solution as an alternative to Aagaard and Ntirlis’ 10...Nge7 to 493

which we will now return: 11.b4

11...Qb6! This is the move Aagaard and Ntirlis analyzed heavily and based their whole Tarrasch repertoire upon. However, if studying all the theory that follows seems to be intimidating or you are searching for something to surprise your opponents, I have a third solution for you, which, however, has to be scrutinized further. This is in fact 11...Qh5, a move that has been barely tested. If 10...Nf6/11...Qe7! and 10...Nge7/11...Qb6! can be described as “good” solutions, then 10...Nge7/11...Qh5 is your “evil” or “bad” one. There are two basic aspects of this solution that I do not like: (a) it can allow a queen trade under circumstances not favorable for Black; and (b) the queen can end up exposed on h5. On the other hand, I do not see for the moment a convincing refutation, so I think you can use this move, at least in faster time controls. Let us quickly check 11...Qh5: 12.Nxd4 The position is rich in possibilities, so this is most certainly not the only move. Alternatively: (a) 12.Qg5 Qxg5 13.Bxg5 is more pressing here than it would have been with the pawn on b2. After 13...f6 14.Bf4 Black has both 14...Bg4 and 14...a6 and, although I am not so enthusiastic about these positions, they might be just playable; at least the computer does not see something overwhelming for White. (b) Another move is 12.Bb2 but then 12...0-0 13.Rc1 Rd8 14.g3! (14.Rc5 Qg4!? 15.b5 Na5! 16.Qb4 b6 17.Rg5 Qe4∞ looks unclear) 14...Rd5!? looks just about defensible.

494

Instead, after 14...a6?!, there is unfortunately 15.Rc5! (15.Bg2 Bh3 16.Rc5 Qxc5! 17.bxc5 Bxg2 18.Rg1 Bxf3 19.exf3∞ is at least fun for Black) 15...Bf5 16.h3! (16.Nh4 b6!; 16.Bg2 b6 17.Rc1 d3„) 16...Qg6 17.Bg2 Be4 18.0-0² with a position where I definitely prefer White, as d4 is chronically weak and he has much better pieces. Let us now return to 14...Rd5!?: 15.Nh4! (15.Bg2 Bh3³) 15...Be6 (15...Ng6 16.Nxg6 hxg6 17.Bg2 Re5 18.h3 Bd7 19.g4 Qh6 20.Qxh6 gxh6 21.e4!²) 16.Bg2 Rb5 17.0-0 a5² Black still needs to do some work here to equalize; I believe a draw should be possible with perfect play. A further remark is that this position is probably the best I have found at the moment for White, so if it can be held, Black should be able to hold overall. Let us now return to 12.Nxd4: 12...0-0 13.Nxc6 Nxc6

14.Bb2 After 14.Qg5 Qxg5 15.Bxg5 a5, we should be able to make a fight of it. As I have repeatedly pointed out, endings are not as bad for Black in the Tarrasch as people tend to think. 14...Rd8 15.Qc3 Qg6 16.b5 This is the move that should make Black most worried, but I think there is a defense. Instead, 16.Rc1 Be6 17.Qg3 a5 18.Qxg6 hxg6 19.bxa5 Nxa5 20.e3 Nb3 21.Rc3 Ra5 22.Be2 b6 23.f3 Rc5 24.Rd3 Rdc8 25.Bd1 Rb5 26.Bxb3 Rxb3 27.Rxb3 Bxb3 28.0-0 g5 29.Bd4 b5 30.Rb1 Bc4² proved defensible for Black in Ortiz-Nichols, corr 2015. Also, 16.Qg3 Bg4 17.h3 Qc2 18.Qc3 Nd4 19.Rc1 Bf5! 20.f3 Rac8 21.Qxc2 Rxc2 22.Rxc2 Nxc2+ 23.Kf2 Rd1 24.g4 Rb1 is a fun idea that should hold for Black. 16...Ne7 17.g3 Nf5

495

18.e3 To guard the d4-square. It is also possible to try to do without this move, but I do not think White gets anything serious in the end as the following short analysis illustrates: 18.Qb4 a5 19.Qf4 Qe6! The key is to access the weakened b3-square. 20.Bg2 Qb3 21.Qc1 Black holds after 21.Rb1 Nd4 22.Be4 Nc2+ 23.Bxc2 Qxc2 24.0-0 Bh3 25.Qg5 Qg6 26.Qxg6 hxg6²; White does not have real winning chances in these opposite color bishop positions. 21...Be6! 22.Bxb7 Rab8 23.Bc6 Rdc8 24.Qd2 After the alternative 24.a4 Ne7 25.Qc3 Qxc3+ 26.Bxc3 Nxc6² the resulting position should also be defensible for Black. 24...Ne7 25.Be4 Nothing much changes after 25.Be5 Nxc6 26.bxc6 Qb1+ 27.Rxb1 Rxb1+ 28.Qd1 Rxd1+ 29.Kxd1 Rxc6 30.Kd2 Rb6 31.Rc1 Rb3². 25...Qxb5 26.Rb1 Ba2 27.Rc1 Rd8 28.Bd4 Bb1! 29.Bxb1 Qxb1 30.0-0 Qe4 31.Rfd1 Nf5 32.Rc4 (32.e3 Rxd4!=) 32...h5². And it should be a draw after exercising a little bit of care; Black’s pressure on the light squares compensates for the pawn. Let us now return to 18.e3: 18...Be6 19.Be2 Rac8 20.Qb4

496

20...h5! This is the key move here; Black needs to create play on the kingside and the main idea is to allow the knight reach g4, having first made sure that the opponent will never evict it with h2-h3 21.0-0 h4 22.Be5 hxg3 23.hxg3 Nh6!„ Threatening ...Nh6-g4 with counterplay. Black is close to equality now and the truth is that White has to tread with care in view of his slightly weak king position. So this line is a way to play for tricks and try to confuse your opponents and you often need to be prepared to play some opposite-color bishop endings a pawn down that should be eventually drawable. I would not use it in a serious game, but I would use it in faster time controls, as I said earlier. Considering that it does have some surprise value, it could also be some sort of weapon at weekend tournaments or at club level. Let us now return to Nikos and Jacob’s 11...Qb6!: 12.Bb2 0-0! Fast development is a key factor in the Tarrasch. Do not search for anything else in this position; it simply does not exist. 13.Bxd4 Nxd4 14.Qxd4 Nc6! At this point White has only two serious possibilities, namely (M4a321) 15.Qc5!? and (M4a322) 15.Qb2!

497

15.Qb2! is the main choice and the move Jacob was worried about when he was writing The Tarrasch Defence with Nikos, quite rightly so. As I mentioned earlier, he had sent a couple of emails to me asking if I had something in mind, but your lazy author had not at the time discovered anything helpful for Black. He only did so later, perhaps at the same time Jacob and Nikos were forging the solution they subsequently presented in their book. White’s idea is simple enough: he does not want to exchange queens and give us counterplay down the a-file. Instead, he retreats the queen on a bright diagonal and wants to complete development and consolidate his extra pawn. We will return soon to this important possibility, after first analyzing the only alternative of some essence: (M4a321) After 15.Qc5!?, Jacob and Nikos analyze in some depth the ambitious 15...Qxc5„ which should be excellent for Black. For the analysis on this position, you are advised to consult The Tarrasch Defence. My notes only take 15...Be6 up to the present day, which is, however, a simple and good way to equalize according to the following analysis:

498

16.e3 There is no need to worry about 16.Ng5 because of 16...Qxc5 17.bxc5 Nd4 18.Nxe6 fxe6 19.Rc1 Rac8 20.e3 Nb3=; 16.Rc1 Rfc8„ is more than fine for Black. 16...Qxc5 17.bxc5 Na5 18.Nd4 Rac8 19.Rc1 Rfd8= Black’s idea is to follow up with ...Rd8-d5 and win back his pawn. There is no way White can stop him, so the opening can be considered a success for Black. (M4a322) We will now return to 15.Qb2!: 15...a5! 16.b5 a4! This is the essence of their idea, making both a3 and b5 weak, and enabling ...Nc6-a5-b3. The move also gives our queen a valuable checking square on a5, that could be used later on to deprive White from castling.

499

17.e3 Na5 This is the starting point of some long analysis in The Tarrasch Defence that was eventually confirmed as correct, mostly in correspondence games. White has at his disposal the following possibilities: (M4a3221) 18.Be2, (M4a3222) 18.Nd4, (M4a3223) 18.Qd4 and (M4a3224) 18.Rd1. The best move for White seems to be 18.Rd1, postponing the bishop’s development in order to place it on c4 after the black knight has jumped to b3. Jacob and Nikos do not mention this move at all in their book, focusing instead on the three other options. Let us have a quick look at them: (M4a3221) 18.Be2 is pretty straightforward, but so is Black’s reaction: 18...Nb3 19.Rd1 Qa5+ 20.Kf1 Be6 White has lost the castling privilege and Black controls the important d4-square, so there is no question of an advantage for White. The second player’s loss in the following game had nothing to do with the opening: 21.h4 An understandable human reaction. Instead, 21.Nd4 Nxd4 22.Rxd4 Rfd8 23.f3 Rxd4 24.Qxd4 Rd8 25.Qe4 Qc3 26.Kf2 Qxa3 27.Qxb7 g6 28.b6 Qb2 29.Qa6 Rd2 30.Re1 Kg7 31.b7 Qb4= is correct, and the deep analysis by Jacob and Nikos was subsequently tested in a correspondence game: 32.Kf1 (32.h3 Rb2 33.b8=Q Qxb8 34.Qxa4 Bxh3! is also a draw) 32...Rb2 33.Qa7 a3 34.b8=Q Qxb8 35.Qxa3 Rb3 36.Qa1+ and a draw was agreed in Ruzin-Wilson, corr 2012, because after 36...f6 a pawn (either the one on e3 or the one on h2) has to fall, making the position completely barren. Let us check 21.h4 now:

500

21...Rfd8! It is important to exchange a pair of rooks before White consolidates. Black wants to get access to the d2-square. 22.Nd4 22.Rxd8+ Rxd8 23.g3 Nd2+! 24.Kg2 Bc4!! 25.Bxc4 Nxc4= is a variation that demonstrates the importance of having separated White’s a- and b-pawns, as now one of them falls. The position is equal. 22...Nxd4 23.exd4 Rac8 24.Kg1?! (24.h5= was called for, to activate the rook via h4) 24...Qc3! 25.Qxc3 Rxc3 26.Bf3 So far, Urkedal-Jelen, Pula 2013. Black has played excellently up to this point and now it was high time to stop all White counterplay by 26...Bd5!µ; after playing this move, Black would have been the only one with winning chances. (M4a3222) 18.Nd4 Rd8 19.Rd1 (19.Be2 Nb3 20.Nxb3 axb3 21.Qxb3 Qa5+ 22.Kf1 Be6 23.Bc4 Bxc4+ 24.Qxc4 Rac8 25.Qb4 Qxb4 26.axb4 Rd5= is equal according to Aagaard and Ntirlis) 19...Nc6= is a position that claims five pages in The Tarrasch Defence and indeed 19...Nc6 is a good move, challenging White’s d4-stronghold and leading to equal chances. The analysis in the book shows some endgame ideas with a pawn down which an amateur may find useful and a grandmaster trivial, but in any case, it makes no sense to reproduce them here as I am not the “copy/paste” type of author unless it is absolutely necessary for an opening’s survival. Besides, there is probably more than one good way to play the position, as shown by the move 19...Qg6!?: 20.Qc2 Instead, 20.f3 Nb3 21.Bc4 Be6 22.Bxb3 axb3 23.0-0 h5 24.Kh1 Ra5 25.h3 Rda8 26.Ra1

501

26...Qf6! 27.Rfc1 Rxb5 28.Rc3 Rb6 29.Rb1 Rc8 30.Rxc8+ Bxc8 31.Qc1 Be6 32.Qc7 Bd5= is a nice variation; I particularly like the move 26...Qf6!, exploiting the overloading of the Nd4 and the Qb2. 20...Qxc2 21.Nxc2 Be6 22.Rxd8+ Rxd8 23.Nd4 Nb3 24.Nxe6 fxe6 25.Bc4 Kf7 26.Bxb3 axb3 27.Ke2 Rc8 This ending is completely equal. For example, 28.Kd3 Rc2 29.Rb1 Rxf2 30.Rxb3 Ke7 31.Kc4 b6 32.a4 Ra2 (32...Rxg2 33.a5 Rxh2 also draws) 33.Kb4 Rxg2 34.a5 bxa5+ 35.Kxa5 Rxh2! 36.b6 Ra2+ 37.Kb5 Kd7=. Returning for the sake of completeness to 19...Nc6, here is the latest correspondence game in which Black was successful using it: 20.Be2 Qa5+ 21.Rd2 Nxd4 22.exd4 Be6 23.0-0 Rac8 24.Rc1 Rxc1+ 25.Qxc1 g6 26.h4 h5

502

Black has solid compensation in view of White’s many weaknesses. The concluding moves were 27.Kh2 Rd7 28.g3 Qb6 29.Qc3 Bd5 30.Qd3 Qd6 31.Bf3 Bxf3 32.Qxf3 Qd5 33.Qe2 Rd6 34.Qe7 and ½-½, Karpenko-Kerr, corr 2015. (M4a3223) Finally, there is also 18.Qd4, which is aesthetically the most annoying move for Black as it wants to disrupt the normal flow of his moves. After the forced 18...Qc7, the latest correspondence game continued from this position as follows: 19.b6 (a) 19.Qe5 is a move analyzed by Aagaard and Ntirlis, when both 19...Qc2© and 19...Qxe5 20.Nxe5 Be6 21.Be2 Rfc8 22.0-0 Rc2 23.Rfe1 g6© give Black full compensation; the choice is yours. (b) 19.Qb4 has also been analyzed by them and tested successfully in Lebedev-Soltau, corr 2014, which concluded 19...Rd8 20.Be2 Nb3 21.Rd1 Rxd1+ 22.Bxd1 Qa5 23.Bxb3 axb3 24.Qxa5 Rxa5 25.Kd2 Rxa3 26.Kc3 Kf8 27.Nd4 Ke7 28.Rf1 Be6 29.Nxe6 Kxe6 30.Kb4 Ra2 31.Kxb3 Re2 32.g4 Kd6 33.Kb4 Kc7 34.h4 and ½-½. Let us return to 19.b6: 19...Qe7 20.Qxa4 Be6

503

Black’s compensation for his two-pawn deficit is more than apparent. It is quite unlikely White can achieve anything from here as our pieces are very active and White’s pawns on the queenside are bound to fall. 21.Qb4 Qf6 22.Qd4 Qe7 23.Qh4 Qxh4 24.Nxh4 Rfd8 25.Be2 Nb3 26.Rb1 Rxa3 27.0-0 Ra2 28.Rfe1 Rdd2

29.Bf3 g5 30.Nf5 Rxf2 31.Nd4 Rfb2 32.Bxb7 Nd2 33.Rxb2 A typically accurate correspondence game, characteristic for our computer era, was drawn at this point in Kireev-Kochan, corr 2017. (M4a3224) We now return to the best move 18.Rd1, after which Black needs to find an important finesse in order to equalize: 18...Nb3 19.Bc4 Qa5+ 20.Nd2 504

20...Bg4! This is a very strong move, forcing the weakening of e3 and making the position an obvious draw. Less convincing is 20...Rd8 21.Bxb3 axb3 22.0-0 Be6 23.Nxb3 Qxb5 24.Rb1 Bd5 25.f3 Bc6 26.Rfe1². 21.f3 Be6 22.Bxe6 fxe6 23.0-0 Qxb5 24.Rb1 (24.Ne4 Rad8= is of course equal) 24...Qe2! The point; this intrusion secures the draw. 25.Nxb3 Qxe3+ 26.Qf2 Qxf2+ 27.Kxf2 axb3 28.Rxb3= The game was shortly drawn in Beilin-Giesemann, corr 2015. Thus, dear chess readers, you are now armed with two different main systems to fight against the move 9.Qd2!?. I believe each system has its pros and cons and they are of approximately the same practical value. I think that the system with 10...Nf6 and 11...Qe7! can be very confusing for your opponents if you have studied its nuances well, as the 11...Qe7! move has never been played. However, even if they find all the best moves, they can at best reach a rook ending where there are no real winning chances. Do study this ending sufficiently as it will be in general helpful in your career as players, not only for your Tarrasch Repertoire. The older system by Aagaard and Ntirlis is also excellent and correspondence games have proven its value repeatedly. Nothing really new is going on there. Its usage should offer you a comfortable draw and even winning chances if White overpresses. Always remember that correspondence chess is much different than games in tournaments as humans are likely to err, as happened in the game UrkedalJelen.

505

(M4b) I believe I have said (and done) enough for the move 9.Qd2!?, so it is time to switch to the more natural 9.Bd2 now: 9...Qxc5 I consider this position as an important tabiya, as much as the position after 9.Qd2!? already examined above and the positions arising in the main g2-g3 lines!

Now White’s strongest option is quickly developing with 10.Rc1! and will thus deservedly be the ultimate main line of this Part III (a). Other moves are actually not that hard to meet, but we will examine for the sake of completeness all possibilities that were included in my notes. These are: (M4b1) 10.a3, (M4b2) 10.g3, (M4b3)10.b4!?, (M4b4)10.e3, (M4b5) 10.Qa4 and of course (M4b6) 10.Rc1!. (M4b1) 10.a3 does not fit well with the move Bc1xd2, as the pressure against the d4-pawn has been blocked and White will need too much time to generate play against it. After 10...Nf6, the follow up 11.b4 Qh5!? 12.Rc1 0-0 13.Rc5 Qg6 allowed Black too much lead in development for the sake of chasing a mere pawn in one of the rare games where 10.a3 was tried:

506

14.b5 Expelling the pawn’s defender, but as we shall see the pawn cannot be won with impunity. However, there is probably nothing better at this point. Instead, 14.Rg5?! Qe4 15.b5 h6! merely makes matters worse for White as the following variations show: 16.Rg3 The rook is badly placed here, but the alternatives are no remedy either, merely for tactical reasons. (a) For example, 16.Rxg7+? Kxg7 17.bxc6 bxc6 18.Nxd4 (18.Qc1 Rh8 19.Bf4 Ba6 20.Be5 Rae8 21.Bxd4 Bxe2 22.Bxf6+ Kg6 23.Bxh8 Bxf3+µ) 18...Rd8–+ leads to a position where White has no compensation for the exchange. (b) 16.Rc5 Nd7! 17.Rc1 Nce5ƒ is unacceptable. Returning to 16.Rg3, a principled line of play is 16...Ne7!, intending to make use of the fine square on f5 for the knight, when White is in big difficulties:

507

17.Bxh6 (I also looked at 17.Bb4 Rd8µ and 17.Nxd4 Qxd4 18.Rxg7+ Kh8 19.Rg3 Bf5µ) 17...Nf5 18.Bg5! The only chance. Instead, 18.Bc1? Nxg3 19.hxg3 Bg4 20.Nxd4 should be met by utmost centralization: 20...Rad8! (20...Rfd8?! 21.Bb2 Rac8 allows White to reduce the damage by 22.f3³ rather than the awful 22.Qd2?? Qb1+, which led to an abrupt finish in Skyva-Pacl, Karvina 1986) 21.Bb2 Rfe8–+ and Black’s position leaves nothing to be desired. Returning to 18.Bg5!, there is 18...Nd5ƒ with a very strong initiative for Black, but I also very much like 18...Nxg3 19.hxg3 Bg4 20.Rh4 Qg6 21.Bxf6 gxf6µ. Let us now see what happens after 14.b5:

508

14...Ne4! When this comes with a gain of tempo, it is rarely bad. 15.Rc1! (15.Rc4? Nxd2! 16.Nxd2 Ne5 17.Rxd4 a6 18.Re4 Qf6³ is better for Black) 15...Ne7 16.g3! (a) A bad mistake would be 16.Nxd4? Qf6 17.Nf3 Rd8–+. (b) 16.Bb4 Re8 17.Bxe7 (17.Qxd4 Nf5µ) 17...Rxe7 18.Qxd4 Bg4µ gives Black a powerful attack. 16...Nd5 17.Bg2 (17.Nxd4? is still a serious error in view of 17...Qf6 18.Nf3 Re8–+) 17...Qb6 18.00 Re8 19.Qc2 Bd7 20.a4 Rac8= Black has the fine c3-square for his knights but the position is nonetheless balanced. (M4b2) 10.g3 is a logical way to develop in the Tarrasch, but here it wastes a tempo when White should be trying to do something fast! 10...Nf6

11.Bg2 Vacillating with 11.a3?! cannot be good: 11...0-0 12.Bg2 Qb5!? 13.0-0 (13.b4 d3!?ƒ) 13...Qxb2 14.Rb1 Qa2 and Black has won a pawn while the queen easily escapes. 11...0-0 12.0-0 The main element in the position is control of the light squares so Black should keep the knights and avoid exchanging one of them for the awkward Bd2. 12...Re8!? This looks like the best move; after it, the Bd2 is embarrassed for a good square. Instead, 12...Ne4?! 13.Bf4! (13.Rc1 Qb6 14.Ne1 Re8 15.Nd3 h6„ is good for Black) 13...Re8 should be avoided, because the following nice little move liquidates our strong §d4 and gives White an 509

initiative in the symmetrical position that ensues: 14.e3!².

13.e3 I also looked at 13.b4 Qb6 (13...Qh5!?„) 14.a4 a6 15.b5 axb5 16.axb5 Rxa1 17.Qxa1 Qxb5 18.Nxd4 Nxd4 19.Qxd4 Qxe2=. 13...Bg4= Black is absolutely fine. (M4b3) 10.b4!? is an aggressive move indicated by the engines and given several tests in tournament practice but with precise play Black can hold his own: 10...Nxb4 11.Rc1 Now the queen cannot go to the b-file because of Rc1-b1, so Black’s next is more or less forced. 11...Qd6

510

This is the tabiya for this sub-variation. The position is purely tactical but White seems to have nothing special: 12.e3!? Played in the huge majority of the games. Instead, 12.Rc4 is designed to recover the pawn but feels a bit awkward. After 12...Nc6 13.Nxd4 Nge7 14.e3 0-0 15.Be2 Qg6 16.0-0 (Radovanovic-Brenjo, Kragujevac 2015) I prefer 16...Bh3 17.Bf3 Rfd8=. 12...Ne7 13.Nxd4 0-0 White has two possibilities at this point, but no advantage: 14.Nb5 The main move, leading to a drawish ending. 14.Bc4 is also equal, e.g. 14...Nbc6 15.Bc3 Ne5 16.Be2 Qg6 17.0-0 Bh3 18.Bf3 Rab8 19.Kh1 and ½-½, Van Unen-Gerola, corr 2015. 14...Nd3+ 15.Bxd3 Qxd3 16.Nc7

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16...Qg6!? 16...Rb8 17.Bb4 Qe4 18.Qd4 Qxg2 19.Bxe7 Qxh1+ 20.Kd2 Qg2 21.Bxf8 Bh3², as played inTimkoDimov, corr 2016, is not as good. 17.0-0 Bh3 18.Qf3 Bg4 19.Qg3 Rac8 20.Bb4 Qe4 White has nothing here. He can win a pawn but the resulting position is an easy draw for Black. 21.Qf4 This is the best try. Both 21.Bc5 Nf5 22.Qf4 Qxf4 23.exf4 Be2 24.Bxf8 Bxf1 25.Kxf1 Rxf8 26.Rd1 Ne7 27.Rd7 Nc6= and 21.Bxe7 Qxe7 22.Nd5 Qd8= are totally harmless for Black. 21...Qxf4 22.exf4 Rfd8! 23.Bxe7 Rd7 Black recovers his piece. White will be left with an extra doubled pawn, but because of his stranded knight, he has no chances to make anything out of it: 24.Nb5 After 24.Rfe1 h6 25.f3 Bf5 26.Nb5 Rxc1 27.Rxc1 Rxe7 28.Nxa7 Re2 29.a3, the cool 29...Rb2!= keeps the knight trapped and yields a draw as well. 24...Rxc1 25.Rxc1 Rxe7

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26.f3 26.h3 will not change history: 26...Be6 27.Nxa7 h5 28.a3 Rd7 29.Nb5 h4 30.Rc8+ Kh7 31.Rc7 Rd1+ 32.Kh2 Rd2 33.f3 f6 34.Nc3 Rb2 35.Nd1 Ra2 36.Rxb7 Rxa3=. 26...Be6 27.Nxa7 h5 28.Rc2 Rd7 29.Nb5 Rd5 30.Nc7 Rd1+ 31.Kf2 Bd7 32.h4 g6 33.Kg3 Kg7= A draw was soon agreed upon in Bartsch-Tedesco, corr 2016. (M4b4) 10.e3 should lead to completely drawish symmetrical positions after 10...dxe3! which is good when you play a strong player, and sheer misery when you play a weaker one. But what can we do? Occasionally we have to take life as it comes. 11.Bxe3 Qb4+ 12.Qd2 Qxd2+ 13.Nxd2 (13.Bxd2 Be6!=) 13...Nge7! This natural move, eyeing two good squares (d5, f5) is by far the best. Instead, 13...Be6 14.Ne4 0-0-0 15.Rc1ƒ was a move into the danger zone in Pyhala-Leito, Helsinki 1996. 14.Bb5 14.Bc4 0-0 15.0-0 Nf5 16.Bc5 (16.Ne4 Re8=) 16...Rd8 17.Nf3 b6 18.Ba3 Nfd4= and ½-½, BousiosPandavos, Athens 2000, illustrates how barren the position is. This and the next game are also quoted by Jacob and Nikos as model equalizing efforts and I have nothing much to remark here. 14...0-0 15.0-0 Bf5 16.Nb3 Rfd8 17.Rfd1 Bc2 18.Rxd8+ Rxd8 19.Nc5 b6 20.Rc1

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This position occurred in Grünfeld-Tarrasch,Teplitz Schoenau 1922, and here I like most 20...Bg6 21.Nb3 f6=. My idea is to bring the bishop to e8, with full equality. (M4b5) Finally, 10.Qa4 is a weird move threatening b2-b4-b5, but Black can nip this idea in the bud with Nikos and Jacob’s 10...b5! (The reason this has to be played immediately becomes apparent after 10...Nge7 11.b4! b5 12.bxc5 bxa4 13.e3 dxe3 14.Bxe3 0-0 15.Be2 Nd5 16.Rc1 Rb8 17.0-0 Rb2 18.Bc4 Be6 19.a3²/= when White may have a very slight edge) 11.Qd1 (11.b4 is the main recommendation for White in The Tarrasch Defence but I see no point in it now as the black queen can flee somewhere and then the c4-square would be a weakness) 11...Nf6 12.g3 Be6 13.Bg2 0-0 14.0-0 Qb6 15.Rc1 Rac8=; Black has a good position. This line clearly represents no danger for him. (M4b6) Let us return to the natural and best 10.Rc1!: 10...Qb6

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11.e3! The white bishops are asking for the game to be opened up and this is the only consequent continuation. Moves trying to defend the b2-pawn would be outside the spirit of the variation. (a) Instead, weak is 11.Qb3?! Qxb3 12.axb3 Be6 13.b4 a6 14.e4 dxe3 15.Bxe3 Nxb4 16.Rc7 Nd5 17.Rxb7 Nxe3 18.fxe3 Nf6 19.Bd3 Bd5 20.Rb6 Ke7³ and Black’s better pawn structure gives him slightly the better of it. (b) The time consuming 11.Qc2 allows Black to develop quickly by 11...Nge7!„, e.g. 12.e4 Bg4∞. (c) Finally, there is 11.b4 Nf6 12.Qa4:

This can be met either with the intriguing 12...Ne4∞ or with the human and realistic 12...a6!? 13.Ne5 515

Qb5 14.Qxb5 axb5 15.Nxc6 bxc6 16.Rxc6 0-0 17.Rd6 Ne4 18.Rxd4 Rxa2ƒ which may in fact be even better. Returning to 11.e3!, we encounter two worthwhile options for us. These are (M4b61) 11...Nf6 and (M4b62) 11...dxe3!?. Accepting the challenge with the latter option looks like a risky choice, and in fact it is. However, my analysis indicates Black can weather the storm, so I decided to award it a main line status. (M4b61) The more solid option is 11...Nf6, of course.

Now there is a parting of the ways: 12.Bc4 Natural enough. Alternatively, the following moves can also be considered: (a) 12.Qa4 0-0 13.Nxd4 Qxb2 14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.Qc2 Qxc2 16.Rxc2 Bf5 17.Rc5 Be6 18.Bc4 Ne4 19.Rxc6 Rac8 20.Rxc8 Rxc8 21.Bxe6 fxe6 22.f3 Rb8 23.Bc1 Nc3 24.0-0 Ne2+ 25.Kf2 Nxc1 26.Rxc1 Rb2+ 27.Kg3 Rxa2 28.Rc7 Kf8 29.h4 h5 was level in Dutra-Avchinikov, corr 2016. (b) 12.exd4 has been played by Krasenkow and Timman, but hardly looks critical to me. 12...0-0

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13.Bc4 Instead, 13.Be2 Bg4 14.0-0 is Krasenkow-Carlstedt, Jurmala 2016, and here I can hardly understand why Black did not play 14...Qxb2! 15.h3 Bh5=/³ which is at least equal for him. 13...Re8+ 14.Be3 At this point Black had a powerful strategic solution in Timman-Dale, Wijk aan Zee 2015: 14...Be6! White cannot play d4-d5, so Black exchanges light-square bishops. This is in fact much more important than recovering the sacrificed pawn immediately, which is what Black did in the game by taking on b2. The computer gives 15.b3 Qb4+! 16.Qd2 (16.Kf1 Qa3³) 16...Ne4 17.Qxb4 Nxb4 18.a3 Bxc4 19.Rxc4 Nd5© with total domination on the light squares and complete equality. Let us now return to 12.Bc4:

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12...dxe3!? This incisive move was recommended in The Tarrasch Defence. It essentially cuts the Gordian Knot in a position that required drastic measures. Instead, after 12...0-0 13.0-0, Black is facing a tough choice regarding the development of his queen’s bishop. I finally decided the best place for it is g4, even if it does not completely equalize: 13...Bg4 On 13...Be6 White should lose no time in damaging the enemy pawn structure by 14.Bxe6!² and although, generally speaking, Black should have been fine in the resulting position after 14...fxe6 15.exd4 Qxb2, the nuance 16.Qa4! is sufficient to embitter his life:

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16...Qb6 I found nothing better for Black here. 16...b5 17.Qc2 Qxc2 18.Rxc2 Rfc8 19.Rfc1 Ne7 20.Ng5² loses a pawn and Black will have to struggle hard for a draw in the ensuing ending. 17.Rfe1 Rae8 18.Rb1 Qc7 19.Qb3! The final point, again forcing an opening up of the game to White’s benefit. 19...Qd7 20.Qxb7 Nxd4 21.Ne5!ƒ Black is struggling as the White minor pieces are superior to their Black counterparts and the a7pawn is weak. Let us now examine 13...Bg4: 14.exd4 Rad8 (14...Nxd4!? 15.Be3 Bxf3²) 15.Bc3! White gives back the pawn, but on his own terms. He is angling for a symmetrical position with two bishops against two knights or bishop against knight. Instead, the d4-pawn is the wrong pawn to keep: 15.Be3?! allows Black to equalize by 15...Qxb2 (15...Bxf3 16.Qxf3 Nxd4 17.Qd1 Rd7=) 16.Rb1 Qc3 17.Be2 Bxf3 18.Bxf3 Nxd4 19.Rxb7 a5= After the correct 15.Bc3!, however, we cannot completely equalize with Black:

The best I could find is 15...Ne5!? (15...Bxf3 16.Qxf3 Nxd4 17.Qf4²; 15...Rfe8 16.Re1 Rxe1+ 17.Qxe1 Bxf3 18.gxf3 Nxd4 19.Bxd4 Qxd4 20.Qe7 Kh8 21.Bxf7²) 16.Be2 Nxf3+!? 17.Bxf3 Bxf3 18.Qxf3 Nd5©/² when we have permanently given up the pawn but the blockade on d5 means that there is a 90% probability that this game will be drawn. However there still some torture in this position, so taking on e3 as proposed by Aagaard and Ntirlis is better. 13.Bxe3 Qb4+ 14.Qd2 14.Bd2 Qe7+ 15.Be2 0-0 16.0-0 requires some attention. I think the best move is 16...Be6 when 17.Re1 Qd6 18.a3 h6 19.h3 Rad8 20.Be3 Bd5 21.Bb5 Qb8 22.Nd4 a6 23.Bxc6 Bxc6 24.Nxc6 Rxd1 519

25.Nxb8 Rxe1+ 26.Rxe1 Rxb8= was totally balanced in Wukits-Kerr, corr 2015. 14...Qxd2+ 15.Kxd2 0-0 16.Rhd1

16...Be6!? As we already know, this is not a bad idea. 16...Ng4 is the other main move, recommended by Aagaard and Ntirlis, but it could be a bit worse for White after 17.Ke2!² intending to answer 17...Re8 with 18.Bb5!. Instead, 17.h3 Nxe3 18.Kxe3 Re8+ 19.Kf4 Be6 20.Bxe6 Rxe6 21.Rd7 b6 22.Ng5 Re7 23.Rd5 Nb4 24.Rd4 Na6 25.Rcd1 h6 26.Ne4 Nc7= was equal in W.Fischer-Kerr, corr 2016. 17.Bxe6 fxe6 18.Ke2

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18...Nd5?! Only here Black errs, losing control of the e4-square. She should have played 18...Rac8!= as 19.Ng5 Rfe8 20.Rd6 fails to achieve anything in view of 20...h6!. 19.Ng5! Rfe8 20.a3 Rad8 21.Ne4 h6 22.b4² White had a very slight plus which he eventually converted into a full point in Short-Gara, Caleta 2016. However, as we have seen, Black’s position is in general very solid in this type of ending. I could have stopped here and refrained from presenting you the following crazy lines. But I have never been a man to shy away from danger at the board, so why should I do it in analysis? The thing here is that there are players who do not like endings that much and if they could avoid them, they would do it even if there was some risk involved. With the word “risk” I do not mean something that is unreasonable or outrageous of course. For me risk in chess means also struggling to avoid slight concessions even if that requires that the position becomes sharper. Of course, sometimes you have to pay a high price for that, the equivalent of which in the present case would be that the whole line suddenly gets buried by an engine or a brilliant mind somewhere around the globe. But that is evolution, is not it? Even if that happens, I feel safe in the knowledge that the back-up line presented above is probably not worse for Black, and life in the Tarrasch will simply go on. (M4b62) So let us go back to 11...dxe3!? and hope it works: 12.Bxe3 Qxb2

This is a position I have spent a lot of time looking at. Black has a very bad score from here in the database, but this is what often happens with positions where one side has the initiative and the theory has not been forged yet. Humans usually defend badly when they are completely on their own, or at least this is what my experience has taught me, and this happens even to players who have acquired a high status in the Elo ranking system. 521

There are two main problems for us in this position, and they have a name: They are Mr. f7 and Mr. h7. White has the right minor pieces to attack them, namely two bishops, a knight and a queen, and our own development is inferior. On the other hand, we have a pawn more, no structural weaknesses, and our remaining bishop is the right one for defensive purposes as it circulates on the light squares. I was curious to see whether these factors can tip the scales in favor of one side or the other, and this curiosity produced the following analysis: 13.Bc4 This initiates pressure on f7, so from now on we must be very careful. The good thing is that the alternatives are not at all worrying: Weak are both 13.Nd4? Qb4+µ and 13.Bc5?! Bg4 14.Qe2+ Qxe2+ 15.Bxe2 Nge7 16.0-0 0-0 17.Bxe7 Rfe8 18.Bb5 Rxe7 19.Bxc6 bxc6 20.Rxc6 Rd8³. The relatively better 13.Bd3!? is countered by bringing quickly our a-rook to d8: 13...Be6! 14.0-0 (14.Nd4 Qb4+ 15.Kf1 Nge7 16.Nxe6 fxe6∞) 14...Rd8

15.Ng5! Nge7 16.Nxe6 fxe6 17.Rb1 Qxa2! 18.Rxb7 0-0 19.Bg5 Qd5 20.Bxe7 Nxe7 21.Rxe7 Qxd3 22.Qe1 Qf5 23.Rxa7 Rd5 24.Qa1 Qe5=. 13...Nge7 Quick development is imperative, otherwise we will not make it, says logic. That said, the disruptive 13...Qb4+, the only other move to have been tried, remains unrefuted. The computers like 14.Nd2 after it, so I invested most of my energy trying to find out what happens if White chooses this knight move. Instead, 14.Kf1!? Be6! 15.Bxe6 fxe6 16.Ng5 Qb5+ (16...Rd8 17.Qh5+ g6 18.Qe2© looks difficult for Black but his position might be defensible here too) 17.Kg1 Qd5 18.Qh5+ g6 19.Qh3 Rd8= is 522

equal. We now return to 14.Nd2: 14...Nge7 15.0-0 15.Bc5 has been played twice and on both occasions Black missed the right move, 15...Qb2!, which seems to take us back to 15.0-0. 15...0-0 16.Bc5 A critical position; here, after the correct 16...Qb2!, I cannot see anything clear for White:

For example, 17.Re1!? (17.Ne4 looks equal after 17...Bf5 18.Nd6 b6 19.Nxf5 bxc5 20.Nxe7+ Nxe7 21.Qd6 Nf5 22.Qxc5 g6=) 17...Rd8!? 18.Rc2 (incredibly, there seems to be nothing for White after 18.Bxe7 Rxd2 19.Bxf7+ Kxf7 20.Qf3+ Bf5! 21.Qxf5+ Kg8 22.Bg5 Rd6 23.Qc5 Qd4 24.Qb5 Rd7= or 18.Qh5 Be6 19.Bxe6 fxe6 20.Ne4 h6 21.Qg4 Nf5=) 18...Qf6 19.Bxe7 Nxe7 20.Ne4 Qb6

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21.Qh5 Qg6 22.Qh4 Kf8!! 23.Bb3 Rd4 24.Rc7 Bd7 25.Rxb7 Re8∞. These lines are really amazing, and if I have not made any mistake, Black has a brilliant second way to defend his position. How to remember all this, is another question... Back to 13...Nge7: 14.Ng5! I am not Tolush, and I want this position to work for Black, but exclaiming “Forward, Kazimirovich!” should be the order of the day here. Instead, 14.0-0 0-0 produces another situation where Black has a catastrophic score (0/3) but the computer remains unperturbed, giving a 0.00 evaluation. It has to be stressed though that all three White players had higher ratings than their opponents and Black had to defend, which, as we know, is hardly the quality that characterizes lowly rated opponents. I will make my main line the top recommendation of the computers for White and the human choices are included in the paragraphs below, right under our main move: 15.Rc2 (a) Instead, 15.Qa4 happened in Baryshpolets-Garcia Guerrero, Merida 2015, and now, somewhat surprisingly, Black did not retreat his queen to safety by 15...Qf6 which I presume every normal GM or IM would do. After this move the game is totally balanced and the machines decide to force a repetition with 16.Rfe1 h6 17.Bc5 Rd8 18.Bb6 Rf8 19.Bc5=. (b) If I were Black, I would be mostly worried about 15.Nd4, cutting off the queen’s retreat, but the following game saw Black find the right solution:

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15...Bf5! 16.Nxf5 Nxf5 17.Bc5 Thus far, Radovanovic-Pecelj, Novi Sad 2015. Here, for some unknown reason, Black did not play the logical 17...Rfd8³ followed by retreating his queen to f6, which would have given him a slight edge. Let us now check the computer variation 15.Rc2: 15...Qf6 16.Bg5 Qf5 17.Re1 Ng6 18.Rce2 h6 19.Bc1 Qh5 Black has coordinated himself. A small tactical skirmish now follows, after which the computer says it is equal:

20.Ba3 Bg4! 21.Bxf8 Bxf3 22.Bxf7+! Kxf8 23.gxf3 Qg5+ 24.Kh1 Nf4 25.Rg1 Qf6 26.Bd5 Rd8 27.Rd2 Qd6 28.Qa1 Rd7 525

An impressive situation of dynamic equality has arisen. The engine repeats with 29.Rgd1 (29.Bxc6 Qxc6 30.Rg3 Nh5=) 29...Qg6 30.Rg1=. 14...0-0! We are continuing to walk a tightrope, but that is the style here. When I made all this analysis, there was no game in this position, now there is just one. A correspondence game that Black lost, but more about this later. 15.Qh5! Bf5! 16.Bxf7+ 16.Nxf7 Na5!= leaves White nothing better than to take a perpetual. Sorry, it had to exist somewhere! 16...Kh8 17.0-0

This is the important position for this line. I re-checked my old analysis with modern engines and I have not found anything conclusive. For me, this position merits a ∞, but I have to admit my analysis was not as exhaustive as in other parts of this book. 17...h6!? This was the move I had found at the time and it still seems best. In the above-mentioned correspondence game, Black retreated with 17...Qf6 because he wanted to prevent Ng5-e6, gaining the bishop pair. But this is bad, because it allows 18.f4! h6 19.g4! and White gains dangerous attacking momentum. After 19...Bxg4 20.Qxg4 Rxf7 21.Nxf7+ Qxf7 22.f5! White went on to win in HoffmeyerSerka, corr 2016. So, is the line buried? Well, actually the answer is a resounding “No!”: By keeping our queen on b2 temporarily, we can prevent this f2-f4, g2-g4 idea, as I had already found out in 2010. And what about this Ng5-e6 invasion, you may ask. Are we going to be left with two knights against 526

two powerful bishops? The answer is again “No!” The kingside pieces can defend against this threat economically by themselves; they do not need the queen’s assistance. In trying to defend the Black position I have looked at no less than six continuations for White after 17...h6!?: They are (M4b621) 18.g4, (M4b622) 18.Rfd1, (M4b623) 18.Rfe1, (M4b624) 18.Bb3, (M4b625) 18.f4!? and (M4b626) 18.Ne6!. The last move is the top choice of the silicon monsters and I think the most venomous, so we will look at it after first disposing of the alternatives: (M4b621) 18.g4 looks scary but Black can defend:

18...Bd3 19.Rfd1 Or 19.Ne6 Qf6! 20.Nxf8 Rxf8 21.Bc4 Bxf1 22.Bxf1 Nd4 23.Kh1 Nf3 24.Bg2 b6„ and the strong knight on f3 provides Black with enough resources to draw. 19...Rad8! Obviously, this is not a position for people with heart or blood pressure problems, unless they keep on centralizing without looking at the details. 20.Bb3 20.Ne6 Rd5! 21.Nxf8? (21.g5? Be2–+; 21.Ng5!∞) 21...Rxh5 22.Bxh5 Bc2!ƒ even turns out good for Black. 20...Bg6 21.Rxd8 Rxd8 22.Nf7+ Kh7 23.Qh4 (23.Qh3 Rd3„) 23...Bxf7 24.Bxf7 Rf8∞. Here, despite surrendering the bishop pair, the position is unclear as White has weakened himself and the Black pieces are very active. (M4b622) 18.Rfd1 gives Black a much needed respite to bring the queen back to the defense: 527

18...Qf6 19.Bb3 Bg6 20.Qh3

and here best is 20...Rae8! when I do not see anything special for White. For example: 21.Nf3 The main point is that now 21.g4 is adequately met by 21...Na5∞/=. 21.f4 Nf5 22.Bc5 Nfd4! 23.Bc4 b5 24.Bf1 Qxf4! allows Black to launch a dangerous counterattack, e.g. 25.Bxf8 Rxf8 26.Nf3 Qe3+ 27.Kh1 Nxf3 28.gxf3 Rxf3 29.Qc8+ Kh7 30.Bg2 Rf2‚. 21...Be4! 22.Nh4 Bh7! (22...Ne5 23.Bd4) 23.Qg4 Here, Black should be able to gradually offset White’s slight initiative by 23...Rd8=. (M4b623) A similar defense occurs after 18.Rfe1: 18...Qf6 19.Bb3 Bg6 20.Qh3 Rae8 21.Rcd1 Nf5 22.Ne6 Nxe3 23.Qxe3 Rf7 and White is even getting into trouble. (M4b624) 18.Bb3

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This is a move I discovered only in recent years, but Black still seems fine after 18...Bg6 19.Qh3 Qf6 20.g4 Na5 21.Be6 Nac6 22.Bc4 Ne5 23.Bb3 Bd3 24.Rfe1 Nf5! 25.gxf5 Bxf5 26.Qh5 Bg6 27.Qh4 Bh7 28.f4

28...Qxg5+! 29.Qxg5 Nf3+ 30.Kf2 Nxg5=. (M4b625) Finally, 18.f4!? Rad8 19.g4 (19.Rce1 Nd4 20.Rf2 Qb4 21.Bd2 Qc5 22.g4 Bh7 23.Re5 Qc7 24.Bb4 Nec6 25.Bxf8 Nxe5 26.fxe5 Qc1+ 27.Kg2 Rxf8 28.Nxh7 Qc6+ 29.Kg3 Qc3+=) can be answered by 19...Rd3 20.Rce1 Bd7∞. (M4b626) Back to the most critical 18.Ne6!:

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18...Bg4! This was my discovery! The only other defense is 18...Bxe6, but it leads to two knights against two bishops. And this position is no exception to the rule about the superiority of the bishops over knights, as 18...Bxe6 19.Bxe6 Qf6 20.Bb3² looks indeed difficult for Black. 19.Qxg4 Rxf7 20.Rb1 Qxa2 21.Rxb7 Ne5 22.Qh3 Qd5!! By employing the strategy of centralization, Black has acquired a game of sorts. Now White should continue 23.Rc7! (23.Rxa7 Rxa7 24.Bxa7 Rf6!µ; 23.Bxh6 gxh6 24.Qxh6+ Kg8 25.Rfb1 Qd6! 26.h4 Re8∞) 23...N5c6 (23...Kg8!?) 24.Rc1 a5! 25.g3!? (25.Bxh6 gxh6 26.Qxh6+ Rh7 27.Qf6+ Kg8= is equal, as White achieves the draw by 28.R7xc6)

530

but then 25...Kg8 gives good chances to hold. The main line runs: 26.Bxh6! Equality arises after 26.R1xc6 Nxc6 27.Rxf7 Qd1+ (27...Kxf7 28.Nc7 Qe4 29.Nxa8 Ne5 30.Qc8 a4 31.Nb6 a3=) 28.Kg2 Qd5+=. 26...Ne5! 26...gxh6? 27.Qg4++– to be followed by R1xc6! is lethal. 27.Ng5 gxh6 28.Nxf7 Nf3+ 29.Kf1 Kxf7 30.Qxh6 Nd2+ 31.Ke2 Qf3+ 32.Ke1 Qe4+ 33.Qe3 Nf3+ 34.Ke2 Nd4+ 35.Kd1 Qxe3 36.fxe3 Nb5 37.R7c5 Nd6∞

Here the engines consider the position as equal, but of course it has to be scrutinized further as 531

defending might be difficult for a human. Those were the days! Now it is time to close this Part III (a). I hope I will be excused for any mistakes this last piece of analysis may contain, but for the moment I cannot see any. I was proud back in those times to have found all these ideas aided by engines which were not that strong. I had to guide the process by continually applying concepts such as centralization and flexibility. I hope you had a good time looking at my findings, but even if there is a flaw somewhere, Ntirlis’ and Aagaard’s line is a solid back up. We will soon be in the main g2-g3 systems, so stay cool!

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Tarrasch Repertoire: Part III (b) 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.g3 [D34] White Plays Nc3 and c4xd5 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.g3

The time has come to enter the realm of the g2-g3 variation, White’s most popular system against the Tarrasch. It could not be otherwise I think. By placing his bishop on g2, White reveals his intention of piling upon the d5-target and combines aggression with safety as his king will be securely defended behind his fianchettoed bishop. Thus, the solution is both practical and sound and for this reason it continues to attract the interest of the majority of 1.d4 players, regardless of their playing strength. Before getting into the specifics I would like to point out that in the remaining pages of this book we are going to witness a positional war, with Black’s main weapons being activity and control of the e4square. I believe these factors are enough to outweigh the potential weakness of the d-pawn, but of course the theoretical debate continues and many nuances are found constantly, setting new tasks for both sides. As you will see, my treatment involves, whenever possible, the modern way of playing the Tarrasch which is nothing less than injecting life to our winning chances with the advance ...c5-c4. This move has the advantage of avoiding a typical isolani and creating imbalances that we can try to exploit with good opening preparation. My feeling is that Black obtains equality in all lines, but that is of course for the readers to judge and tournament practice to confirm. 6...Nf6 7.Bg2 Be7 8.0-0 0-0

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We have reached the first branching point of Part III (b). We will examine (A) 9.a3, (B) 9.h3, (C) 9.Bf4, (D) 9.Be3, (E) 9.b3!? and (M) 9.Bg5 9.Bg5 is considered as one of the three main lines nowadays and will be the main topic of this Part III (b). The two other important options are 9.b3!?, which is also examined here, and 9.dxc5, which is examined in Part IV. 9.Bg5 was for a long time the absolute main line of the Tarrasch, as it refused to cede Black space in the center. Black players would usually take on d4, and then, after kicking the bishop by ...h7-h6, they would develop their rook to the good square e8, preparing to retreat the Be7 to f8 and unleash pressure on the e-file. But White seemed nevertheless to keep some slight edge in the resulting positions. Or, perhaps, we should say, the easier game. That is a direct consequence of keeping the d5-pawn blocked where it stands now, and not letting it advance one square further, as in the former case actually the Bg2 can participate in its siege. In the past few years the trend was reversed though: The absolute main line is now 9.dxc5. This happened because the revolutionary treatment of 9.Bg5 with 9...c4!? deprived White players of the feeling of security they had when our d-pawn was firmly blocked with a knight on d4. Of course, releasing the central tension allowed White players to initiate kingside activity themselves, but these were positions where both sides had winning chances, not just White. And I think the secret for success with Black is to enter such positions whenever we can afford to. Before diving into the really complicated waters of 9.Bg5, there are a few other moves we should check as well, and these moves are also associated with the development of the queen’s bishop. As I have previously mentioned, 9.b3 has also acquired a main line status through the course of history, so we will begin by examining less popular options. (A) To start with, 9.a3 has the clear plan of taking on c5 and following up with b2-b4, obtaining an extended version of a queenside fianchetto. However, that will never happen. With 9...c4!= we 534

immediately transpose to a position analyzed in Part II (a) where Black enjoyed excellent chances. (B) 9.h3 does have some point, as it prevents Black once and for all from playing the typical move ...Bc8-g4. It also prepares to play Bc1-e3 under more favorable conditions. However there is a loss of time involved that Black can try to exploit:.

9...Be6!? This is a move that makes a lot of sense in the diagrammed position, but it is of course not the only one. (a) Instead, I do not much like 9...cxd4 10.Nxd4 Qb6 as proposed by older versions of engines, because White has 11.Nxc6!? (11.e3 Rd8= looks fine for Black) 11...bxc6 12.b3! (12.Qc2 allows 12...Qc5!„) preparing the typical siege of our hanging pawns.

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For example, 12...Bf5 (after 12...Be6 13.Be3 Qb7 14.Na4² we are also under slight pressure) 13.Be3 Qb7 14.Bd4!² and the move h2-h3 proves useful, as Black can no longer find play on the light squares in front of the white king’s castled position. Instead, the immediate 14.g4!? would allow us serious counterplay after 14...Be6 15.Qc2 Qc8 16.Rad1 by utilizing the lever 16...h5!„. 14.Bd4! is a sly move that keeps Black guessing about White’s intentions. (b) However, 9...Ne4, as played by Mamedyarov, looks at least as good as 9...Be6!? After 10.dxc5 Bxc5, the threat to take the g3-pawn prevents a capture on d5, leading to a fully balanced game.

For example, 11.Bf4 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Bf5 13.Nd2 (13.Nd4 Be4=) 13...Re8 14.g4 Bg6 15.e3 Bb6 16.Qb3 Re7! 17.Rfd1 Rd7 18.a4 Rc8„ and Black had an excellent position in Nakamura-Mamedyarov, St. Louis 2018. Let us now return to 9...Be6!?: 10.Be3 An attempt to get a position with attacking chances after Black plays ...c5-c4. After 10.dxc5, the moves h2-h3 and ...Bc8-e6 have been inserted, so it makes sense to go for the typical Tarrasch gambit: 10...d4!? 11.Na4 Qd7

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Here the best move for White is the computer’s recommendation of 12.b4!?, creating a very tense struggle. It is one of those situations in which you should act quickly or else you will get smothered. Instead, after 12.Kh2?! Rad8 13.Ne1 as in the old game Ernst-Michel, Bad Oeynhausen 1939, Black can acquire typical compensation by 13...Bd5!³ when White finds it difficult to live with a knight on the rim. For example, 14.Nd3 (14.a3 Qe6! 15.Bxd5 Nxd5 16.Nf3 Rfe8 17.Qd3 h6 18.Bd2 Bf6 19.Rfe1 h5ƒ is also very dangerous for White) 14...Bxg2 15.Kxg2 Rfe8 16.b4

16...b5! 17.cxb6 axb6 18.Qb3 (18.Nxb6? Qb7 19.Na4 Nxb4+ 20.Kh2 Nbd5 21.Bb2 Qa7 22.Rc1 Ne4µ is a typically unenviable situation for White with the Na4 badly stranded and a terrible hole on c3) 18...Nd5 19.Bd2 Bf6 20.Rfe1

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20...Na7! 21.Rad1 Qb7 22.Kh2 Nb5 23.Nf4 Nxf4 24.Bxf4 Qa6ƒ and Black’s annoying pressure persists. After 12.b4!?, I found the following path to equality: 12...Nxb4 13.Rb1 Nc6 14.Nxd4! Qxd4! 15.Rxb7 Nd5! 16.Qxd4 Nxd4 17.Bxd5 Nxe2+ 18.Kh2 Bxd5 19.Rxe7 Nd4! 20.Nc3 (20.g4 Bc6 21.Nc3 Ne6! 22.Ne2 Rfd8 23.Nf4 Nxc5 24.Be3 Nd3 25.Nxd3 Rxd3 26.Rc1 Rd7!=) 20...Bc6! 21.Rd1 Ne6

and here, as a result of his bad e7-rook, White cannot make use of the extra pawn. Best seems 22.Nd5 (or 22.Bf4 Nxc5 23.Be3 Na4! 24.Nxa4 Bxa4 25.Rd4 Bb5! 26.a4 Bc6 27.Rc4 Bd5 28.Rc5 Bb3 29.a5 a6= and the position is completely level) 22...Rad8 23.Rxe6 (23.Ne3 Rxd1 24.Nxd1 Ra8 25.Bf4 Nxc5 26.Rc7 Bf3!=) 23...Rxd5 24.Rxd5 fxe6 25.Rd2 538

but after the clever 25...Rf5! the game should be drawn: 26.Rc2 (26.Ba3 Rd5 27.Re2 Rd1 28.g4 g5!=) 26...Be4=. We will now check the typical 10.Be3, trying to make use of the pawn on h3: 10...c4! 11.Ne5 Qc8! It turns out that Black is perfectly placed to meet any attack on the kingside here. 12.Kh2 (The alternative 12.g4 h5! 13.g5 Ne4 14.Nxe4 dxe4³ is perhaps slightly better for Black already) 12...Rd8!

Completing a very harmonious configuration. Black has defended himself excellently in the center and on the kingside and can now start thinking of initiating his own play on the other flank. 13.f4 539

This is logical, but probably not the strongest option available to White. (a) 13.b3 Bb4„ hardly works for White. (b) 13.Bg5!? was played in Goldin-Shmuter, Rishon Le Ziyyon 1996. It is an interesting idea, to avoid locking the bishop behind the pawns after White plays f2-f4. After 13...h6 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.f4 Bxe5 16.fxe5 (16.dxe5 d4„) Black used a nice tactical idea in order to mobilize his queenside: 16...b5! This pawn is practically immune. 17.a3! After 17.Nxb5 Qb8 18.Nd6 Qxb2 19.e3 (19.e4? dxe4 20.d5 Qxe5–+) 19...Rab8³ the resulting structure is worse for White as he has no real attack while Black’s passed c-pawn might prove itself a factor later on. 17...Rb8 18.e3 b4 19.axb4 (19.Na4 bxa3 20.Rxa3 [20.bxa3 Na5³] 20...Rb5∞) 19...Nxb4 20.Rxa7 Nd3 21.Qh5 (21.e4? dxe4 22.d5 Rxd5 23.Nxd5 Bxd5 24.Qh5 Rb7³) 21...Rd7©

Black has good compensation for the pawn here. GM Alexander Goldin may have been under the impression that his position was better, or may have been playing for a win at all costs. Whatever it was, it eventually tipped the scales in Black’s favor: 22.Ra2 (22.Rxd7 Qxd7 23.Rb1=) 22...Nb4 (22...Qd8!?) 23.Ra5 Qd8 24.Rb5 (24.Rfa1 Nc2³) 24...Rxb5 25.Nxb5 Nd3 26.b3!? (26.Nd6!?) 26...Qa5! 27.bxc4 dxc4

540

By now it is obvious that White has risked too much in his attempts to break down the remarkably solid Black position and here he blundered: 28.Nd6?? Missing the x-ray on the fifth rank. 28.Rf6! was the way to achieve the draw, as the rook is immune because of mate. After 28...Qxb5 29.Rxe6 fxe6 30.Qe8+ Kh7 31.Be4+ g6 32.Qxg6+ Kh8 33.Qxh6+ Kg8 34.Qxe6+ Kf8 35.Qf6+=, the game should end in perpetual check. 28...Rxd6–+ And Alexander resigned after a few more moves. (c) 13.Rc1!? is an engine recommendation, probably with some Petrosian-like prophylactic idea that I fail to grasp. Whatever it is, I think we can “punish” it with 13...Ne8!?= preventing the Goldin plan. I think Black stands well in this case. Let us now return to 13.f4:

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13...Bf5!? (13...h5! looks good and simple to me, but Black does not want to weaken his king) 14.g4! Be4 15.Nxe4 Nxe4 16.Nxc4! dxc4 17.Bxe4 Qe6! Curiously, White’s bishops are skewered along the e-file. To defend them, White has to lose his dpawn, after which the position becomes a simple draw:

18.Qc2 Nxd4 19.Bxh7+ Kf8 20.Qe4 Qb6 21.Rad1 (21.b4 Bf6!; 21.Rac1!? Qxb2 22.Rf2 Rd7 23.Bf5 Nxf5 24.Qxf5 Rd6 [to stop Qf5-h7] 25.Rxc4 Qxa2 26.Rc8+ Rxc8 27.Qxc8+ Rd8 28.Qxb7 a5 was unclear) 21...Bc5 22.Bxd4= A well played game was agreed drawn at this point in Martinez Martin-Gallardo Garcia, Mondariz 2006. Thus, we have at least two good options after 9.h3!? and I think it is fair to say that the move is 542

hardly dangerous for us, particularly after Mamedyarov’s 9...Ne4. I used the older 9...Be6!? as my main line in order to demonstrate several typical motifs in the Tarrasch, but trusting the Azeri super GM looks like the most clear-cut and elegant solution to our opening problems. Now we will continue with the examination of the two less dangerous for us moves of White’s queen bishop, 9.Bf4 and 9.Be3. (C) 9.Bf4 It is not that easy to describe the idea of this move, as it neither fights for d4, nor attacks anything. I think it is not at all critical, but of course we have to play something. 9...c4!? This may not appear so natural here, but on the other hand it is combative and avoids the isolated pawn. Additionally, the Bf4 stands in the way of the f-pawn so it will be difficult for White to start attacking with Nf3-e5, f2-f4, etc. For those skeptical of the move 9...c4!?, there is an alternative that might lead to Part IV: 9...h6 10.Rc1 (10.dxc5 Bxc5 gives Black wider choice and is also analyzed in Part IV) 10...Re8! 11.dxc5 Bxc5 12.Nb5 Bb6 13.Nd6 Re7= This position holds no problems for Black as you can easily realize by consulting the relevant sub-section of Part IV. We will now focus on the combative 9...c4!?:

10.Ne5 White must play this in any case. There is very little meaning in anything else. 10.b3 for example, can be answered with the as yet untried 10...Ne4!? 11.Nxe4 dxe4 12.Nd2 f5 13.Nxc4 Be6!? 14.e3 g5 15.Bd6! (15.Be5? b5µ) 15...Bxd6 16.d5 Bxg3 17.dxc6 Bc7 18.cxb7 Rb8 19.f3 Rxb7 20.fxe4 Qxd1 21.Raxd1 f4 22.e5 Rb5 23.exf4 gxf4 24.Rd4 Bxc4=. 10...Bf5 543

Controlling e4. Black has to constantly watch out for the breaks b2-b3 or e2-e4 from now on. Also, he must watch out for tactics involving Ne5xc4. I looked at the following possibilities for White: (C1) 11.Nxc4?!, (C2) 11.Nxc6, (C3) 11.g4 and (C4) 11.Rc1.

The thematic 11.Rc1 will be our main line; it is designed to add punch to various ideas such as g3g4!?, Ne5xc4 or b2-b3. Let us first check though how the three other options can be met: (C1) 11.Nxc4?! dxc4 12.d5 is met by 12...g5! 13.dxc6 (13.Bxg5 Nxd5µ) 13...gxf4 14.cxb7 Rb8³ and White does not have enough for the piece. (C2) After 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.b3 Qa5! 13.Na4 (13.Bd2 Bb4∞), I was at first rather confused as to which move to choose as there are a lot of appealing choices.

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I finally decided that 13...Rfd8! should be best, to keep b8 or c8 for the other rook. Instead: (a) 13...Qb5 14.bxc4 Qxc4 15.Rc1 Qa6∞ should be possible; the weakness on c6 is something we have to live with in several lines of the Tarrasch. Here we have good control over the light squares and pressure on a2 and e2 to compensate for it. (b) 13...cxb3 14.axb3 Qb5„ is fine, saddling White with a weakness on b3 to compensate for our own on c6. This is the type of solution that is most of the time quite reliable, as Black does not need to calculate anything special after it; the game becomes too positional. (c) And now we come to the more dynamic solutions; the engines suggest 13...Rad8!? which leads us to a crossroads: 14.Bg5 This is not a better move, I just present it to show how the position can go wrong for White if he gets careless. Complicated (and more critical) is instead 14.bxc4 dxc4 15.Rc1 Be6 16.Bxc6 Ba3! 17.Rb1 Bh3! 18.Bg2 Bxg2 19.Kxg2 Rfe8

This is a variation demonstrating how the bad placement of the Na4 along with the Bf4’s slightly exposed position can give us compensation for the pawn. The machine already considers it necessary for White to give up his extra material with 20.Qc2, and after 20...Rxd4 21.Rfd1 Rxd1 22.Rxd1 Rc8 23.Rd4 Nd5, the retreat 24.Bd2 provokes a crisis that should lead to equality: 24...c3 25.Qb3! (25.Be1?? allows Black to win with 25...Nb4 26.Qb3 c2–+) 25...cxd2 26.Rxd5 Qb4 27.Qxb4 Bxb4 28.a3 Bxa3 29.Rxd2 g6=. There is still some play in this ending but the silicon entities already give their favorite 0.00 evaluation. Returning to 14.Bg5, after 14...h6! 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 White needs to display accuracy:

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16.Rc1! On 16.Nc5?!, both 16...c3!?ƒ and 16...Qa3∞ seem to offer Black better chances. The immediate 16.e3?! allows 16...Be7³, leaving White seriously embarrassed by the black bishops. The main point of 16.Rc1! is to gain a tempo compared to the variation 16.e3?! above, which is what happens after 16...Bg5: 17.e3 Be7 18.bxc4 Ba3 19.Rc3 Bb4 20.Rc1= and neither side has a reason to avoid the draw. Let us now check my 13...Rfd8!:

My main point here is that after 14.bxc4 (14.Bg5?! h6 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.Rc1 Rab8³ is simply bad for White now) 14...dxc4 15.Bxc6?! (15.Rc1 Qa6 looks pretty harmonious for us, e.g. 16.Bg5 Rab8„, but 546

this is in any case the lesser evil for White) 15...Rac8 16.Bb7

we have the strong move 16...Bd7! e.g. 17.Nb2 c3 18.Nd3 Ba4ƒ and suddenly White is in trouble. Overall, the positions that 11.Nxc6 produces should not worry us. It is more than obvious from the above analysis that Black has a lot of counterplay and it is White who has to be the more careful. (C3) Finally there’s the immediate 11.g4. It should be met with the clear-cut 11...Nxg4 12.Nxd5 Ngxe5!. Instead, 12...Bd6?! 13.e4! (13.Nxc4 Bxf4 14.Nxf4 Qh4 15.h3 Nh2! 16.Kxh2 Qxf4+©) 13...Bxe5 14.Bxe5! Ngxe5 (14...Ncxe5? 15.exf5! [15.dxe5? Bxe4!! gives Black the advantage] 15...Qh4 16.h3 Nxf2 17.Rxf2 Nd3 18.Rf1 Qxd4+ 19.Kh2± is interesting but not correct) 15.dxe5 Be6 16.f4 Qa5 17.Qe2² is better for White in view of the imposing central pawn mass. After 12...Ngxe5! there should follow 13.dxe5 Rc8 14.Rc1 b5 and we have transposed to 11.Rc1. (C4) Let us now examine 11.Rc1: 11...Rc8! A useful move. If we want to play ...b7-b5, the Nc6 must be protected.

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After 11...Rc8!, Black can look to the future with confidence, in spite of White’s success in two games contested between the legendary players Kan and Khachaturov back in 1955. 12.h3! Played by Kan in the second game. (a) Previously he had experimented with 12.Nxc4?! dxc4 13.d5 g5 14.dxc6 gxf4 15.cxb7 Rb8 16.Qxd8 in Kan-Khachaturov, Moscow 1955, but after the correct recapture 16...Rfxd8!, Black would have been fine, e.g. 17.Rfd1?! Rxd1+ 18.Rxd1 fxg3 19.hxg3 Kf8 20.Bc6 Bb4! 21.Rd4 Bxc3 22.bxc3 Be6µ. (b) 12.g4!? is interesting. I think 12...Nxg4 13.Nxd5 (worse is 13.Nxg4?! Bxg4 14.Nxd5 b5³ …15.b3?! [15.Nxe7+ Qxe7³] 15...Ba3!) 13...Ngxe5 14.dxe5 b5

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15.a4!? (15.e4 Be6 16.Qh5 [16.Bg3 Nb4] 16...Nb4„ looks fine for Black) 15...a6 16.Nxe7+ Qxe7 17.Qd6 Qe6!? 18.Rfd1 Bg4 19.f3 Bh3„ leaves Black in a good position in that case, although certainly White has his chances too, in spite of our fine control over the light squares. (c) Finally, 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.Bg5 (13.b3?! Ba3! 14.bxc4 Bxc1 15.Bxc1 dxc4³ is at least slightly worse for White) 13...h6 (13...Re8 may be even better) 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.b3 cxb3 16.axb3 Be7! 17.Na4 Ba3 18.Ra1 Qd6= is about equal despite the weakness on c6. We can put our bishop on b4 and then continue with ...h6-h5-h4 to create some play on the kingside. Let us return to 12.h3!:

12...h6! This is a great memory marker, giving our bishop a fine retreat square on h7. Instead 12...Qa5?! is not good, because after 13.g4! Be6 14.e3 Rfd8 White has the brilliant reply 15.Bg5! b5 16.a3± and we are stuck on the queenside while White is ready to attack us on the other wing by a march of the fpawn. 13.g4 Bh7 14.Nxc4! This is a strong move and certainly not everyone is able to find it. Many players will follow just with 14.e3 giving us the chance for 14...a6, or 14...Nb4 with very nice play for Black. 14...dxc4 15.d5 Qb6! 16.dxc6 bxc6 17.Qa4

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We have been following the second Kan-Khachaturov game, again played in Moscow in 1955. In the past, my chess understanding was so low that I had considered Black’s position to be inferior, but now I see that 17...Qxb2!, a bold move Khachaturov failed to play, gives the second player an excellent game. There will follow 18.Qxc4 Qb4 19.Na4 c5!! 20.Be3 Rfe8! 21.Rfd1 Be4!„ and the black bishop has sprung to life, while Black’s c-pawn is not that weak.

For example, 22.Bf3! (22.Bxe4 Nxe4 23.Rd7 Rcd8 24.Qxb4 [24.Rxa7?? Qb8µ … ...Be7-g5] 24...cxb4 25.Rxd8 Rxd8 26.Kg2 a5 27.Rc4 Nd2 28.Rc7 Bf6 29.Nc5 Bg5 30.Bxg5 hxg5 31.Ra7 Rc8 32.Nd3 Nc4=) 22...Qb7 23.Kg2 Bf8 24.Nc3! Bc6 25.Rb1 Qe7 26.a4 Ne4 27.Nxe4 Bxe4 28.Rb3 Qe6 29.Qxe6 Rxe6 30.Rc3 Bxf3+ 31.Kxf3 Rf6+ 32.Kg3 c4 33.Rd7 a6 34.Bd4 Rfc6 35.Rb7 Rd6=. Overall, I am satisfied with Black’s chances in the 9.Bf4 c4!? variation, even if putting the pawn on 550

c4 burns some bridges. After all, the resulting lines are complex and give us chances to play for a win and not everyone will play as strongly as Kan in his second game with Khachaturov. Remember that people nowadays are not very well acquainted with classical old games. (D) Now the time has arrived to look at 9.Be3, a move which is in a way reminiscent of the Gutman Variation.

The bishop looks clumsy here, but actually the d4-pawn will be better defended after ...c5-c4 and the path for the f-pawn will be clear after Ne5, unlike in the 9.Bf4 c4!? variation. Nevertheless, we play 9...c4! anyway, because we want to get lively and unbalanced positions, and the move is thematic in any case. 10.Ne5 10.b3 cxb3= takes us after either recapture back to the Gutman Variation, examined under Part II (a). 10...Qa5! Ivanchuk understood more than 30 years ago that this could be a very good move! I was stunned when analyzing the position, because originally I felt that Black should equalize in many ways, but it is actually only this queen move, and perhaps 10...Bf5!? below, that accomplish the task. Marjanovic and Espig had also used the move 10...Qa5! earlier, so some credit has to go to them as well. The main idea is to stop b2-b3 and vacate d8 for the rooks, but there are many other points that we will see as our analysis unfolds. Instead: (a) 10...h6 is Kasparov’s old treatment, but after 11.b3! I cannot see equality on the horizon:

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For example: 11...Qa5 The alternative 11...Bb4 is answered strongly by 12.Na4! while 11...cxb3, as given by Nikitin, is best answered by 12.Qxb3! Na5 13.Qc2 Be6 14.Rab1 Rc8 15.Qd3 b6 as in Faiss-Shishmarev, St Petersburg 1992. Here 16.f4‚ would have rendered Black’s situation difficult, although of course chances of a successful resistance exist. After 11...Qa5 White responds with the natural 12.Qc2² and is not obvious to me what Black can do next, e.g. 12...Bb4 13.Rfc1 Ba3 14.Rd1 Bb4 15.Na4! and White has some pressure. (b) Returning to Black’s 10th, a logical reply is 10...Be6

but then 11.Nxc4! dxc4 12.d5 Nxd5 13.Nxd5 has for years been known as a steady slight plus for 552

White and I have not been able to challenge this evaluation. One recent game continued 13...Rc8 (Izoria-Sheng, chess.com 2018) and here it is not clear to me why Zviad refrained from 14.Nf4 Qxd1! (14...Bf5 15.Qa4 a6 16.Rad1± looks much better for White) 15.Rfxd1 Bf6 16.Nxe6 fxe6 17.Rac1 b5 18.Rd6² when it is hard to find full equality for Black. (c) 10...Bf5!? will be our alternate way to fight for equality. There are two moves that I analyzed here:

11.Bg5 This has been the most popular move in the position. 11.b3!? tortured me for a while until I found the solution: 11...Bb4!? 12.Na4 cxb3! 13.Qxb3 Qe7 14.Nd3 (14.Nc3!? Bxc3 15.Qxc3 Rac8 16.Qb2 Ne4=) 14...Rfd8! 15.Nxb4 Qxb4 16.Nc3 h6=. Returning to 11.Bg5, we can first of all play 11...Be6= which transposes to our 9.Bg5 c4!? main line with an extra move for each side, but this is not the only way to continue. Another logical possibility is 11...Rc8, keeping the Bf5 on its active position. After 12.e3 Nd7! 13.Nxc6 bxc6 14.Bxe7 Qxe7 15.Qa4 Nf6 16.b3 Bd3 17.Rfe1

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17...h5! 18.bxc4 dxc4! 19.Bxc6 Rb8©, the anchored bishop on d3 interferes with the communication of White’s pieces and gives Black attacking chances in return for the pawn. I think the verdict “unclear” would be the most suitable for such a situation and I would not mind taking either side here, as both armies have reasonable chances to aspire to victory. Let us now go back to 10...Qa5!: 11.Bg5! This is the move that has been played the most and it is a very natural reaction. But there are a lot of other moves here and I decided to have a look at them. We will look at (D1) 11.Bd2, (D2) 11.Qd2, (D3) 11.f4, (D4) 11.h3, (D5) 11.a3!?, (D6) 11.Qc2 before reverting to the above mentioned main line (D7) 11.Bg5!. (D1) 11.Bd2 has transpositional tendencies. It will transpose after 11...Qd8! 12.Bf4 (12.Bg5 Be6! transposes to the 9.Bg5 line) 12...Bf5 to the 9.Bf4 line. (D2) 11.Qd2 is not so critical. Ivanchuk has dealt with it in the following manner:

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11...Bb4 (actually I think 11...Rd8!? 12.Bg5 h6 [12...Bf5!?] 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.f4 Be7= is a respectable alternative, while 14...Bf5 15.e3 Ne7„ may be even better) 12.Qc2 Re8 13.Rad1 h6 14.a3 Bxc3 15.bxc3?! It is probably better for White to recapture with the queen on c3, maintaining equality. The text move was played in Romanishin-Ivanchuk, Moscow 1987 and is characteristic of Romanishin’s aggressive style, but it should not have worked. Vassily could have simply taken the pawn by 15...Qxa3!³ with a complicated position where Black has the better chances. (D3) A third option is 11.f4, after which we can apply a Nimzowitschian strategy:

11...Bf5

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The plan is ...Be7-b4xc3, to get a complete hold over the light squares. 12.a3 Rac8 13.h3 h5! 14.Bf2 Rfd8 15.e3 Qb6! This is a strong novelty I found. It improves on 15...g6? which is clearly bad and invites a kingside attack. After 16.g4 hxg4 17.hxg4 Nxe5 18.gxf5! Nd3 19.fxg6 fxg6, as happened in Sher-Lalic S. Hastings 1993, the most convincing for White is 20.Bh4! Nxb2 21.Qd2 Nd3 22.Rab1± with a considerable advantage. Let us now return to my 15...Qb6!:

16.Ra2 The bold try 16.g4?! hxg4 17.hxg4 Nxe5³ is now better for Black, as there is no pawn on g6 for White to capture after 18.gxf5 Nd3. I also looked at 16.Qe2, which is perhaps objectively strongest. Then Black can play 16...Nxe5 17.fxe5 Bd3 18.Qd1 Ne4 19.Qxh5 Nxc3 20.bxc3 Qb3 with even chances in a dynamic position, a sample line being 21.e4!? dxe4 22.e6 fxe6 23.Rae1 Qxc3 24.Bxe4 Bxe4 25.Rxe4 Qxa3 26.Rxe6 Rc6=/ ∞. 16...Bf8³ I think we are fine here in view of the badly placed Ra2. (D4) 11.h3 is played in anticipation of a move of the Bc8. In this case, we should not provoke White by moving it immediately: 11...Bb4!? I think this is the most principled reaction. Instead, 11...Rd8 12.a3!? Nxe5?! (12...Qc7!= …13.Bf4 Qb6! was the right choice, but I guess that was hard to find; 12...Bd6 13.Bd2 Nxd4 14.Nxd5 Qa6 15.Nxf6+ gxf6∞ was also possible) 13.dxe5 556

Ne4 14.Bd4 Be6 15.Qc2 Nc5 16.Rad1 Nb3 17.e3

is a slight advantage for White. This is what we do not want to allow in this type of position. White’s kingside pawn mass looks very threatening and I cannot see much counterplay. After 17...f6? (17...Nxd4! 18.exd4 g6 19.f4 f5² was the only way to keep some control over proceedings) 18.Ne2! Nxd4 19.Nxd4 Bf7 20.Nf5 Bf8 21.exf6 gxf6 22.Rd4± White had achieved complete domination and went on to win in Buturin-Kobal, Rodatychi 2006. Back to 11...Bb4!?: 12.Qc2

White wants to bring a rook to d1 and then move the Be3 to f4 or g5 and slowly build his kingside attack.

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12...Re8! It is logical to have the d-pawn over-protected, but even more logical is to prepare the capture on c3 under the best conditions. After 12...Rd8 13.Rad1! (13.f4 Ne8!=) 13...Bxc3 14.Qxc3! (14.bxc3 Ne4! 15.Rc1 Qa6!?= looks like something we should be happy with) 14...Qxc3 15.bxc3 Ne4 16.Rc1² White is slightly better in the ending. 13.Rfd1! After 13.Rad1 Bxc3! 14.bxc3! (14.Qxc3 Qxc3 15.bxc3 Nxe5 16.dxe5 Rxe5³) 14...Ne4= both c3 and e5 are under attack and there is not a shred of an advantage for White. 13...h6! Stopping the bishop from coming to g5. The opening phase is reaching its climax here and I cannot see an advantage for White. Instead, 13...Bxc3?! 14.bxc3 Ne4 does not work so well here, because after 15.Nxc4 Qxc3 16.Bxe4 Qxc2 17.Bxc2 dxc4 White has the right rook on d1 and can play either 18.Rab1² or 18.Ba4². 14.a3 Bxc3 15.bxc3 Qd8! (Now Black wants to take on e5 as the Nf6 is protected) 16.Bf4

16...Nh5! (16...Na5 17.g4² gives White an attack) 17.e3 Ne7! 18.g4 Nxf4 19.exf4 f6 20.Ng6 Nxg6 21.Qxg6 Be6=. I think that the positional nuances of this line are well worth studying deeper and it was a real pleasure for me to work them out. (D5) Given that Black’s blockading strategy is based on ...Be7-b4, White may start with 11.a3!? trying to nip it in the bud. Then 11...Rd8!? (11...Bf5?! 12.b4!² is a point to remember!) is another position into which we need to delve deeper:

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12.Qc2 This is of course very logical, stopping the bishop from coming to f5. Alternatively: (a) 12.f4?! is now weak because of 12...Bf5³. (b) 12.b4!? may look very strong to the uninitiated, however after the accurate 12...Qc7! (12...cxb3 13.Qxb3² is not advisable) 13.Bf4 Qb6! the position deserves the 0.00 evaluation according to the engines, which give 14.Na4 (14.Rb1 Bf5 15.Na4 Qb5= only postpones the repetition)

14...Qa6 (14...Qb5?! is riskier in view of 15.Nxf7! Kxf7 16.Bc7, threatening to win the queen with Na4-c3 followed by b4-b5) 15.Nc5 Qb6 16.Na4= as a logical conclusion. I know this may sound disappointing for the fans of the ...c5-c4 idea, but here and there draws exist in its lines too, and what 559

can we do? We have to accept them... (c) 12.h3 transposes to Buturin-Kobal analyzed above. Let us now return to 12.Qc2: 12...Bd6! This is good now, striking at the e5-square before a rook comes to d1. 13.f4

White’s initiative looks threatening, but here the move 13...Ne7!∞ illustrates another blockading motif, when Black is fine. (D6) Finally, 11.Qc2 is another idea, to control f5 and prepare b2-b3. Marjanovic and Espig both had this position as Black and I think they failed to find the best move in the particular situation, namely 11...Re8! (11...Rd8 12.b3² is what they both chose). Returning to 11...Re8!, I cannot see any advantage for White, even after the most logical 12.Rad1. Instead: (a) 12.b3 Bb4! is my main point, pressurizing c3 and e5 simultaneously, while (b) 12.a3 Bd6! 13.Nxc6 (13.f4 Ne7! is business as usual) 13...bxc6 14.Bg5 Be7! 15.e4 dxe4 16.Nxe4 Nxe4 17.Bxe7 Rxe7 18.Bxe4 Bh3=, intending ...Ra8-e8, is just fine for Black. After 12.Rad1, there comes the typical equalizing maneuver 12...Bb4! 13.Bg5 Bxc3 14.bxc3 Ne4=. (D7) We will now focus on the best move, namely 11.Bg5!:

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This move puts the pressure on the d5-square right away, so we have to make an immediate decision on how to protect it. 11...Be6 This looks like a solid choice here; 11...Rd8 12.e3 h6 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.f4 Ne7= is also possible. After 11...Be6 I checked the following options for White: (D7a) 12.e4, (D7b) 12.Qd2 and (D7c) 12.e3. A brief account of my analysis is presented below: (D7a) The liquidation 12.e4 dxe4 13.Nxc6 bxc6 14.Nxe4 Qd8! 15.Nxf6+ Bxf6 16.Bxf6 Qxf6 17.Bxc6 Rab8!= hardly worries us. The ensuing position is at least equal for Black who has great pressure on the d- and b-files. (D7b) 12.Qd2 had been played by “Iron Tigran,” but it does not seem to be anything threatening for us. After 12...Rad8! 13.Kh1? (13.Rad1 Nxe5 14.dxe5 d4 15.exf6 dxc3 16.Qxc3 Qxg5 17.fxe7 Qxe7 18.a4= was called for) 13...Nxe5! 14.dxe5 d4 15.exf6 dxc3 16.Qxc3 Qxg5 17.fxe7 Qxe7 18.b3 b5 19.bxc4 Bxc4 20.Rfe1 Qf6!! 21.Qxf6 gxf6 22.a3 Rd2 23.Bf3 Rfd8 24.Kg2, as played in PetrosianAronin, Moscow 1959, Black could have kept a clear plus against his illustrious opponent by playing the obvious 24...a5µ. (D7c) 12.e3 looks best: 12...h6 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.f4 14.Ng4 Be7 15.f4 f6! 16.f5 Bf7 17.a3 Rad8∞ is great for us. We only have to be careful enough to terminate the white knight once it reaches f4 via the maneuver Ng4-f2-h3-f4, by having in advance placed our dark-square bishop on d6. 14...Ne7 An important position for the evaluation of 11.Bg5! has been reached. There are several ideas here for White. We will consider (D7c1) 15.e4?, (D7c2) 15.a4, (D7c3) 15.g4!? and (D7c4) 15.Qc2!.

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(D7c1) 15.e4? just plays into Black’s hands after 15...dxe4 16.Nxe4 Rad8!³; Black does not mind doubling his kingside pawns in such situations as long as he gets strong pressure against d4. (D7c2) 15.a4 is merely unclear after 15...Rad8 16.Qc2 Bf5 17.Qf2 Bxe5∞. (D7c3) 15.g4!? is logical, starting a pawn storm directly. White’s idea is to transfer the queen to g3, push h2-h4 and g4-g5, and mate us. Let us check if he can do it: 15...Rad8 16.Qe1! White should not resort to attacking gestures with the pawns before organizing his own play. (a) 16.f5?! Bc8 17.Qe1 Qc7 18.Qg3 Rfe8 19.Rad1 was the continuation in Klimek-Guetschow, Schleswig Holstein 1991, but here Black (after having played the best moves so far) misplayed it with the positionally horrible 19...Qb6?², blocking his own counter-attack. He had to play instead 19...b5! 20.a3 (20.Nxb5 Qb6³) 20...Qb6 21.Ne2 Qd6! when White cannot maintain control of e5 anymore and is forced into the unappealing 22.Nf4 Bxe5 23.dxe5 Qxe5 24.f6 gxf6 25.Nh5 Qxg3 26.Nxf6+ Kh8 27.hxg3 Rf8³. (b) 16.Qf3?! is a worse method to carry out the queen transfer because it allows 16...b5 17.a3 Qb6³. 16...Qc7! 16...Bxe5 17.fxe5 Bxg4? loses material to 18.Qh4+–. 17.Qg3

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This can be considered as a thematic sequence so far. A possible continuation from here is: 17...b5! I am not certain about the extent of our compensation after 17...Bxe5!? 18.dxe5! (18.fxe5 f6„ looks fine for Black) 18...Qb6 19.f5 Qxb2 20.Rac1 Nc6 21.fxe6 fxe6 22.Rfd1∞. 18.a3 a6! After 18...Qb8 19.h4 h5 20.g5 Bxe5 21.fxe5 a5 22.Ne2 Bf5 23.Nf4 g6 24.Bf3 the position is also unclear, but White seems to have some initiative in view of the plan of a bishop sac on h5. 19.Rf2! After 19.h4?! Bxe5! 20.dxe5 (20.fxe5 f6³) 20...d4 21.exd4 Rxd4 22.f5 Bc8³ Black is better as White is getting nowhere with his attack.

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19...Bxe5! 20.dxe5 d4 21.exd4 Rxd4 22.f5 Bc8 23.Re1 Here White has not played the weakening h2-h4, so the position is balanced. After 23...Rfd8 24.Rfe2 Bb7 25.e6 Qxg3 26.exf7+ Kf8 27.hxg3 Bxg2 28.Kxg2 Rd2= the engines give their favorite 0.00 evaluation and who can claim anything else? (D7c4) Let us now return to our main line 15.Qc2!, which is, by the way, a move that remains untried. I believe Black here needs to exercise caution as the danger of falling under some kind of bind is real:

15...Bf5! Weaker are instead:

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(a) 15...g6?! 16.e4² … 16...dxe4 17.Nxe4 Bg7 18.Nc5ƒ, or (b) 15...Rad8?! 16.f5 Bc8 17.Ng4! and Black is left without counterplay, e.g. 17...Qa6 (planning ...b7-b5-b4) 18.Rf2! (18.a4 h5! 19.Nxf6+ Qxf6= is too slow) 18...b5 19.b4! h5 20.Nxf6+ Qxf6 21.Raf1 a6 22.Qe2‚ (22.Rf4‚). After 15...Bf5, there may follow 16.e4 (16.Qf2 Bxe5 17.dxe5 [17.fxe5 Bd3 18.Rfe1 f6ƒ] 17...Rad8 18.Rfd1 Bd3∞ is quite tenable for Black with ...f7-f6 in the air) 16...dxe4 17.Nxe4 Qb6„ with sufficient counterplay. Thus 9.Be3 c4! seems to work for Black, although there were several pitfalls along the way for us to avoid. (E) The time has now arrived to move on to the main lines. We are going to start our journey with the move 9.b3!?

In this variation, White is keen on posting his c1-bishop on the long diagonal as quickly as possible, controlling the important d4-square. He will then follow up with d4xc5 and try to exchange as many pieces as possible in order to exploit the weakness of either the isolated d5-pawn or that one of the hanging c- and d-pawns that Black could be saddled with in the process. The play is very positional in character here, but Black should be absolutely fine. I think it is important to point out that the fianchetto of White’s c1-bishop looks very aesthetic, but as a matter of fact it incurs a potential weakness of the a3- and c3-squares and Black’s counterplay is often associated with this. 9...Ne4 This is one of the two lines I am recommending here. The other one, namely 9...Re8!? 10.Bb2 Bg4 will transpose to the one of the two variations I recommend for Black against 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.b3 if White now plays the standard and most natural 11.dxc5. Instead, White can try to keep some tension by 11.Rc1!?, a sly move which creates indirect pressure on c5 and tries to avoid giving us easy moves. 565

At first, I was a bit puzzled here as the obvious ...Bg4xf3 actually leads to an advantage for White as the reader can quickly verify even without engine help. However, we do have in fact an easy way of playing the position by resorting to a light-square strategy that is not at all uncommon in the Tarrasch. The correct 11...cxd4! 12.Nxd4 Qd7 13.Qd3 Rac8! (Not 13...Bh3 14.Rfd1² and White is somewhat better prepared for the fight in the center) leads to a position where Black is by no means worse as he has tremendous activity:

14.Nxc6 This looks more natural, but it just fails to achieve something. On the other hand, 14.Rfd1 allows 14...Nxd4 15.Qxd4 Bc5 16.Qd3 Bf5 17.e4 (Perevertkin-Soltau, corr 2012) and here the simplest solution is 17...Bg4 18.Rd2 dxe4 19.Qxd7 Nxd7 20.Nxe4 (20.Bxe4 566

b6 21.Kg2 Nf6=) 20...Be7 21.Ra1 b6= with a completely balanced ending. After 14.Nxc6, the logical follow up 14...bxc6 15.e4 Nxe4 16.Nxe4 dxe4 17.Qxd7 Bxd7 18.Bxe4 Bf6= leaves the position once again equal because opposite-color bishops will arise. Thus, 11.Rc1!? allows Black relatively easy equality. We will now focus on 9...Ne4. This is designed to bring the Be7 to f6, neutralizing White’s pressure on the long dark diagonal before it even starts. The struggle will revolve around control of d4 from now on, and Black’s main trump in this fight will be the fact White will have to displace his knight on a4 in order to keep control of it.

10.Bb2 Bf6 A critical position, with White having two main moves. But we will examine four possibilities in total and these are (E1) 11.e3, (E2) 11.Rc1, (E3) 11.Nxe4 and (E4) 11.Na4!. 11.Na4! is most critical as it puts c5 under pressure and will therefore be our main line. The other main move is 11.Nxe4, but I think it is less dangerous. But first of all let us examine two lesser known and rather harmless continuations: (E1) The first one is 11.e3, which allows Black an easy game after 11...Bg4, pressurizing d4. I was surprised to see that legendary GM Predrag Nikolic employed it not long ago and I decided to investigate if there was any particular reason for that. My investigation can be summed up in one word: “Nope.” After 12.Ne2 Qa5! (threatening to take on f3 and follow up with ...Ne4-d2), White has two possibilities but no advantage:

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13.Ne5!? This is the more substantive choice. Instead: 13.Re1 is perhaps not that bad, but the statistics are against White on this occasion and we can safely say that Black has the more easy game after it. My solution though, is a move that has never been played, namely 13...cxd4!. I have discovered that Black will be slightly better after this move, regardless how White recaptures. 14.exd4 I think this is what almost everyone would play. People are very fond of material nowadays, and perhaps, rightly so. Instead, White may be able sacrifice the exchange for some activity here with 14.Nfxd4!? Nxd4 15.Bxd4

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15...Nc3! 16.Qd2 Bxe2 17.Bxf6 gxf6 18.Rxe2 Nxe2+ 19.Qxe2, but after the correct reaction 19...d4! ³ I feel that Black has good chances of winning the resulting position in a practical game. Let us return to 14.exd4: 14...h5!? This move makes sense in this particular structure, gaining space on the kingside. To win symmetrical positions you need space; this is one of the most important axioms in chess. 15.a3 Qb6 16.Qd3 Rad8³/= Black’s edge is a tiny one, but it exists. He has a better dark-square bishop and White’s light squares on the queenside are a bit weak. Normally it should be a draw, but it is White who has to make it here. Let us now turn our attention to the better move 13.Ne5!?: 13...Bxe5! The best answer. Instead, 13...Bxe2 is a practical position but why leave White with two bishops? After 14.Qxe2 cxd4 15.exd4² White had an edge in Nikolic-Drazic, Jahorina 2018. I do not think this position is worth repeating for Black. 14.dxe5 Qd2! Well, this actually does not come as a surprise, for what could be more natural than attacking two pieces in the white camp? It is a good solution for the inconvenience Black was experiencing because of the threat f2-f3.

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15.Qxd2 Practically forced. 15.f3? is an awful choice and it is really shocking White won with it in the only game in which it was employed. After 15...Qxb2 16.fxg4 (Gunina-Zhukova, Batumi 2012), Black only had to play 16...Rad8–+ and White’s situation would have been hopeless. The problem when you have such a position is not just losing a pawn, but mainly that your structure is so bad that there are no reasonable moves to avoid a total collapse. 15...Nxd2 Now the knight escapes from f3 and Black has to solve only a few technicalities in order to obtain an excellent position. I think that the following line demonstrates how to accomplish this task flawlessly: 16.Rfd1 Nf3+ 17.Kh1 Ng5 18.h4! (18.f4 Bxe2 19.Rd2 is given as 0.00 by the engines but I would take Black after 19...Bf3!)

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18...Nh3! A very refined move. Now White must give up the Bg2 for the black knight, leaving the light squares exposed. 19.Bxh3 Bxh3 20.Rxd5 Bg4! 21.Ng1 Rfd8 22.e4 Nb4! The position is heading towards a draw. After 23.Rxc5 b6! 24.Rc7 Na6 25.Rc4 Rd2 26.Bd4 b5 27.Be3 Rxf2 28.Bxf2 bxc4 29.Kg2 Nb4 30.bxc4 Nc6 31.e6 (31.Nf3 Rb8©) 31...Bxe6 32.Nf3 f6 33.Rc1 Bf7= White’s pawns are vulnerable and it is just a matter of time before Black re-establishes material equality. (E2) The second possibility that fails to impress is 11.Rc1 and I think we even have chances of advantage against this one: 11...Nxd4 12.Nxd4!? Instead, 12.Na4 b5!³ leads to a better game for Black, e.g. 13.Nxd4 Bxd4 14.Bxd4 cxd4 and our knight will invade the c3-square. 12...Bxd4 13.Nxd5!? (13.e3?! Bxc3 14.Bxc3 Be6 15.Bxe4 dxe4 16.Qh5 Qd5µ was clearly a failure for White in Rey-Ageichenko, Olomouc 2011) 13...Bxb2 14.Rc2

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White attacks two pieces now and hopes to restore material balance. However we can keep a small edge here: 14...Nxf2!? Ruining White’s kingside structure. Instead, 14...Bh3 15.Rxb2 Bxg2 16.Kxg2 Qg5 17.Nf4 Rad8 18.Qc1 Nf6 was tried in Ulker-Fister, corr 2002, but I think this not worse for White after either 19.h4= or 19.Nd3=. 15.Rxf2 Be5 16.e3! Be6! 17.Rcd2!? (17.Rxc5 b6 18.Rcc2 Qg5³) 17...Qe8!? 17...Qg5 18.Nf4 Qe7 19.Nxe6 fxe6 20.Qc2 Rxf2 21.Rxf2 Rb8 22.Qe4© is close to equal. But we want more. After 17...Qe8!? Black is fighting for the advantage and quite successfully at that, as I cannot see White fully equalizing in either of the following two lines:

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18.Nf4 (The other move is 18.Qc2, but after 18...b6 19.Qe4 f6 20.Nf4 Rb8 21.Nxe6 Qxe6³ Black keeps an edge) 18...Rb8 19.Nd3 Bc3 20.Rc2 Bb4 21.Nxc5 b6³. To achieve a draw White will have to sweat. (E3) We will now get on with the examination of White’s two main moves, starting with 11.Nxe4. The aim of this move is to remove all obstacles on the diagonal h1-a8 for the Bg2 and focus on attacking Black’s queenside with it. Black has a wide (and good) choice which divides basically in choosing to remain with an isolani or not: 11...dxe4 12.Nd2

We are at the crossroads once more; I looked at (E3a) 12...Bxd4, (E3b) 12...cxd4 and (E3c) 12...Bg4!?. 12...Bg4!? has been played by Tarrasch specialists Varuzhan Akobian and Stelios Halkias and is the vintage Tarrasch solution. However, the other ways of playing are by no means worse. I remember that Stelios analyzed a lot these positions after his games against Stryjecki and Skembris, and while not all of his conclusions were correct, his analysis shed a lot of light on the problems Black has to deal with. The main point of the move 12...Bg4!? is to actually stick with the isolani and pressurize the e2-pawn in order to hamper White’s movements. Later on, if kicked away with h2-h3, the black bishop might carry out the maneuver ...Bg4-h5-g6-e4, seeking to be exchanged for White’s fianchettoed bishop. This is good strategy as it will weaken the white king and enable Black’s queenside to feel more secure. But we will see the ideas for both sides in action as the analysis unfolds. We will start our treatment of the variation by first looking at the most obvious option which is the immediate capture of the d4pawn with the Bf6: (E3a) 12...Bxd4 573

A continuation Halkias chose in his games against Skembris and has been played in numerous other encounters. After 13.Bxd4, I think the most clear-cut solution for Black is to take with the knight on d4, avoiding the isolani: 13...Nxd4! Instead, the alternative 13...cxd4 14.Nxe4 Qe7 15.Rc1 has mostly been linked with the bishop sortie to g4, but it is also possible to post the bishop on f5 which looks like the better plan. Let us see a few examples:

15...Bg4 I am not a fan of this move, but it is playable. The difference from 12...Bg4!? is that here White cannot push the bishop back to h5 but the merits of h2-h3 are anyway debatable as it helps us accomplish the ...Bh5-g6-e4 maneuver. My preference goes actually to 15...Bf5 at this point, when the standard continuation 16.Nc5 Rac8 17.Qd2 Rfe8, as played in three high profile games, gives Black the prospect of equalizing within the next few moves.

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18.Qf4 This is what Tal and Tregubov played. A couple of rook moves are the other tries: (a) 18.Rfd1 is a move my computer indicates as possible, but then the bold 18...Qxe2 19.Nxb7 (19.Qxe2 Rxe2 20.Nxb7? Bc2 is bad for White) 19...Qxd2 20.Rxd2 Nd8! equalizes by exploiting White’s weak back rank: 21.Rcd1 Rc2 22.Rxc2 Bxc2 23.Rd2 Re1+ 24.Bf1 Bxb3 25.axb3 Nxb7=. (b) 18.Rfe1 allows Black to demonstrate his main idea in its purest form: 18...b6 19.Nd3 Be4=. I can understand someone will argue that this is slightly better for White because the move ...b7-b6 has weakened the knight’s position on c6 and that consequently Black is more vulnerable along the cfile than usual, but the engines do not care about that and they actually proceed to exchange knights and a pair of rooks and then hold the position by just staying in place:

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20.Rc2 The engines’ preference for White, and a logical one. White defends e2 and prepares to double rooks along the c-file. GM Mestel chose 20.Qf4!? against Nunn many years ago, when they both were among the best players in the world. Nunn’s reply was instructive: 20...f5!? Anchoring the bishop and not letting White achieve an exchange on his own terms. That said, there is probably also nothing wrong with 20...Bxg2 21.Kxg2 h6 22.Rc2 Qe6 23.Rec1 (23.h4 Rcd8! 24.Qf3 [24.Rec1 Ne7! 25.b4 Nd5! 26.Qxd4 Qf5©] 24...Ne5 25.Nxe5 Qxe5 26.Rec1 Re7 27.Rc8 Rde8=) 23...g5! 24.Qf3 Ne5 25.Nxe5 Rxc2 26.Rxc2 Qxe5=. 20...f5!? 21.h4 At this point, in Mestel-Nunn, London 1984, Black should have strengthened his position with either 21...Qe6= or 21...h6= when it is not clear what White can do further; the position remains in perfect balance. Let us now check how the engines react to their own move, 20.Rc2: 20...Bxg2 21.Kxg2 Ne5 They say, “When you have an isolani, avoid exchanges”. But here the pawn has advanced to d4, so the e2-pawn is also weak. The engines think that all Black has to do is keep a queen and rook on the board to keep pressure on it and the position will be a draw. Beware, by the way: I said “queen and rook,” not “a couple of major pieces.” The thing here is that the queen is agile and an expert in guerilla tactics, something that the rooks are not good at. So do not go into a double-rook ending in such structures unless you have a very concrete variation in mind. 22.Rxc8 Rxc8 23.Rd1 h6 24.Nxe5 Qxe5 25.Qd3 Re8 26.Rd2 g6 27.Kf1 Qd5 28.Kg1 Qc5 29.Rc2 Qe5 30.a4 Kg7 576

As you can see, Black “stays” and White does not have any real means of improving his position. I think the only try involves advancing the b-pawn at this point: 31.b4 h5 32.h4 Re7 33.Rd2 Qe4= Even this is possible now, as the pawns on a4 and b4 would be vulnerable after a queen trade on e4. The position is a complete draw. Let us now check Tal’s 18.Qf4: 18...Bg6 As it turns out, after this calm retreat the d4-pawn is not in danger. 19.a3 This is designed to defend the b4-square. Instead: (a) 19.Bxc6 Rxc6 20.Qxd4 Qxe2 21.Nxb7 Rxc1 22.Rxc1 h5 gives Black sufficient play for the pawn. (b) Tal played 19.Rfd1 in the distant glorious past and won after 19...b6? 20.Na6!± in Tal-Pachman, Sarajevo 1966. However Black had an excellent reply in 19...Nb4! 20.Nxb7 Rxc1 21.Rxc1 d3! 22.e3 d2 23.Rd1 Rc8 24.Rxd2 Rc1+ 25.Bf1 Bd3 26.Rxd3 Nxd3 27.Qb8+ Qf8 28.Qxa7 Ne1= and it is going to be a draw. A nice variation, demonstrating perfectly our d-pawn’s lust to advance. Let us return to 19.a3 now:

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19...a5!? Black just prevents any expansion by White and intends to calmly make luft on the next move, letting his opponent show if he has something. 20.h4 h6 21.Rfe1 Ne5 Not strictly necessary; 21...Red8= reduces White’s winning chances to nothing. 22.Qxd4 b6 23.Na4 The refined possibility 23.Na6!² would have maintained an edge at this point. 23...Rxc1 24.Rxc1 Qxa3 25.Ra1 Qxb3 26.Nxb6 Qb4 27.e3 Nd3 28.h5 Bxh5 29.Qxd3 Qxb6 30.Qf5 And the players shook hands in Tregubov-Magerramov, Montpellier 1998. I believe that the analysis included above serves to explain well many ideas in the IQP positions and demonstrates that 15...Bf5 is a very good idea. We will now return to check 15...Bg4: 16.Re1 Rad8 This move fits well with ...Bc8-g4 and it creates the threat ...d4-d3. 17.Qd2! 17.Nc5 d3! 18.Nxd3 Nd4 19.f3?! (¹19.Kh1) 19...Qe3+ 20.Kh1 Bf5© is correctly evaluated by Stelios as excellent compensation, and is perhaps already better for Black. A glance at the diagram below should be enough vindication of his assessment.

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So let us return now to the better 17.Qd2! – what do you think Black should play now? 17...Be6! This is probably the only correct move, but if you do not know it, you will not find it easily. It is a difficult decision to abandon the pressure on e2 and return back, but after placing the bishop on d5, Black will have an optimal opposition of bishops on the long diagonal, neutralizing White’s pressure. Still, as we shall see, Black falls a bit short of carrying out his plan under ideal circumstances. Instead, Stelios twice played 17...Ne5?! against Skembris, but this should be worse because of 18.f4!, when Black’s position is toothless. It is bad for the knight to retreat to g6, so it must return empty-handed to c6. This is what in fact happened in the following game: 18...Nc6 19.Nc5 Rd6 20.b4 Re8 21.h3 Bc8 22.b5 Nb8 While we cannot say that Black has a lost position, White was clearly dictating the play in Baron Isanta-Cuadras Avellana, Spain 1999. Baron Isanta misplayed the rest and lost, but after 23.Red1!ƒ he would have had very good chances of bringing home the full point himself. Let us return to 17...Be6! now:

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18.Qg5!! This very strong reply explains my preference for 15...Bf5. The white knight has not been diverted to c5, so it enables this annoying move, seeking to exchange queens. Since Black cannot avoid the exchange, White achieves a small positional victory. 18...Qxg5 19.Nxg5 Bd5 20.Red1 Bxg2 21.Kxg2 Rfe8 22.Kf1 f6 23.Nf3 Kf7²/= Black should be able to hold but in general I dislike this ending. If the knights are somehow exchanged, the d4 pawn will be very weak. In any case, I think it is important for Black to play ...g7-g5 in the next couple of moves to gain kingside space and avoid be driven into complete passivity. Let us now return to our main continuation 13...Nxd4!: 14.e3!? An attempt to play for a bind on the long diagonal; 14.Nxe4 Bg4= transposes to Stryjecki-Halkias, examined under 12...Bg4!?. 14...Nf3+ 15.Nxf3 exf3

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16.Qxf3!? Instead, 16.Qxd8 Rxd8 17.Bxf3 Rb8! (17...Bh3 18.Rfd1²) 18.Rfd1 Rd7!! 19.Rxd7 Bxd7 20.Rd1 Be8= was just equal in Siger-Todorova, corr 2007 and a draw was agreed at this point. 16...Rb8!? 16...Qe7 17.Rfd1 Rb8 18.Rd2 b6 19.Rad1 Be6 20.Bf1 g6 21.h4 Rfd8 22.Qf4 Rbc8 23.Bd3 Rd7 24.Be2 Rxd2 25.Rxd2 Rd8 26.Rxd8+ Qxd8 27.h5 is also possible and a draw was signed in Dominguez-Pere, corr 2000. 17.Qf4! Be6 18.Qa4!? a5! 19.Rfd1 Qc7 20.Qb5 b6 21.Rd3 Rfd8 22.Rad1 Rxd3 23.Rxd3 Rd8 24.Bd5! Bxd5 25.Rxd5 White has optically the better position, however after 25...g6 26.Rxd8+ Qxd8 27.Qc6 Kg7 28.Kg2= the engines again indicate 0.00. To lose this will require a great blunder by Black. Thus, we have found 12...Bxd4 to equalize both with and without accepting an isolani; the choice is merely a matter of taste. (E3b) Before proceeding to our 12...Bg4!? main line, I will mention briefly a transpositional solution that accepts an isolani in the center immediately and seems to have been rather unjustly neglected. This is 12...cxd4 13.Nxe4 Be7:

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Now we have a three-piece IQP set-up that has, according to my knowledge, been tested only in three games. We have already analyzed this position under Part II (a), in the systems with a kingside fianchetto without an early Nb1-c3, in the 8.b3 variation. There we checked the moves 14.Rc1 and 14.Qd3, and here I would like to add the following knight maneuver available to White: 14.Nd2 Be6 15.Nf3 Bf6 16.Qd3 Qb6 17.e3 dxe3 18.Bxf6 exf2+ 19.Rxf2 gxf6 20.Qc3 Nb4 21.Qxf6 Nd3 22.Qg5+ Kh8 23.Qf6+=. Not all is forced of course, but this is a logical variation, so I deemed it right to bring it to the readers’ attention. (E3c) Time to check 12...Bg4!?, after which I looked at two possibilities for White: (E3c1) 13.h3! and (E3c2) 13.Nxe4.

13.Nxe4 is actually not a problem for Black. I just turned it into a main line in order to demonstrate 582

Stelios Halkias’ interesting ideas from his game against Stryjecki. (E3c1) Superior is 13.h3! Bh5 and only now 14.Nxe4, preventing Black’s idea in that game. Then we reach the following position almost by force: 14...Bxd4 15.Bxd4 cxd4 16.Rc1 Qe7 17.Re1 Rac8! 18.Qd2 Rfd8 19.Nc5 (19.Qg5!? Qxg5 20.Nxg5 h6! 21.Nf3 Bg6!=, … ...d4-d3) 19...Bg6

This is the most important position after 12...Bg4!?. White has his eyes set on c6 and b7, and would like to increase the pressure against this defensive construction by pushing his b-pawn, but Black has every prospect of equalizing as the following lines show: 20.b4!? Thematic, but in the end it is proven harmless. Instead: (a) Equality also results from 20.Nd3 as we employ the typical 20...Be4=, neutralizing the Bg2. It is true that our rooks are not optimally placed after the exchange, however we should be able to regroup them without too many problems as the following line shows: 21.Bxe4 Qxe4 22.Rc2 h6 23.Rec1 a6 24.Qf4 Much worse would be instead 24.Nc5 Qe7 25.Nxa6?, falling into the trap 25...d3!–+ with a lethal entrance of the Nc6 to the d4-square. 24...Qe7 25.b4 White needs to set his queenside pawns in motion to achieve something. Now, the time has come for us to bring our rooks to better squares:

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25...Rd5! 26.Rb2 Rcd8 27.a4 R5d6! This is good chess! The rook steps back in order to attack White from the e6- or f6-square. The position is equal, e.g. 28.b5 axb5 29.axb5 g5! 30.Qf3 Ne5 31.Qe4 Re6 32.Nc5 Nc4 33.Nxe6 Nxb2 34.Nc5 Qxe4 35.Nxe4 f5 36.Nd2 d3 37.e3 b6=. (b) Interesting is 20.e3!? dxe3 (20...d3!? 21.Rc3 Ne5!∞) 21.Qxe3 Qxe3 22.fxe3!? (22.Rxe3 b6 23.Na6 [23.Nb7 Nb4=] 23...Nd4 24.Rxc8 Rxc8 25.Re7 Rc1+ 26.Kh2 h5„) 22...Nb4 23.Bxb7 Nxa2 24.Rc4 Rb8 25.Ra4 Nc3 26.Rxa7 Rd2 27.Bf3 h5©, when Black gets enough compensation for the pawn according to the machines. After 20.b4!? there comes 20...b6 and Black maintains the balance. Witness the following examples:

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21.Na6!? (a) More incisive is 21.Nb7 Qxb7 22.b5 Qe7 23.Rxc6 (23.bxc6 Be4=) 23...Rc7 24.a4 Rcd7 25.a5 bxa5 26.Qxa5 as in Yuan-Xu, Hangzhou 2018, and here the logical exchange of light-square bishops keeps it completely level: 26...Be4!=. (b) 21.Nd3 is a more human decision, however even then the standard 21...Be4= produces equality. 21...Ne5! 22.Rxc8 Rxc8 23.f4?! This is risky.White should have preferred 23.Rc1=. 23...Nc4 24.Qxd4 Ne3 The position is already better for Black. After 25.Bf3? (25.Qe5!? Qxe5 26.fxe5 Rc2 27.a4 Nxg2 28.Kxg2 h5³) 25...f6?! (25...Bf5!µ) 26.Qb2? (26.b5!? Nc2 27.Qd5+ Kf8ƒ)

26...Nc2 27.Rd1 Qe3+ 28.Kh1 Qf2 29.Qb3+ Bf7–+ he went on to win in in Wojtkiewicz-Akobian, San Francisco 2002. (E3c2) Back to 13.Nxe4, the move played in Stryjecki-Halkias: 13...Bxd4 14.Bxd4 Nxd4 Now Black can take with the knight on d4. 15.f3! Bf5 16.e3! Stelios considered that after this move White is better, while the resulting position is in my opinion just equal. Let us see why. 16...Bxe4! The point. 16...Ne6? 17.Nd6 Bg6 18.f4± is bad. 17.exd4 Bc6! 18.dxc5 White has won a pawn, but otherwise Black is better overall because White is weak on the dark 585

squares. In addition the pawn on c5 is overextended and could turn out to be weak. Black could have now exploited these factors by playing the accurate 18...Qa5!= when he would have had excellent compensation for the material. Instead, 18...Qf6!? is the move Stelios played against Stryjecki and it is also strong. Curiously, Stelios did not believe in his conception at all, even though he played the opening in excellent fashion and later won the game. This is how the game went: 19.Qc2 (19.Qd6 Qc3!) 19...Rfe8 20.Rad1 (20.Rae1?! Bb5!„; 20.Rfe1!? Re6!?„) 20...Re3! 21.Rfe1

21...Rc3!? 22.Qf2 h5!? 23.Rc1 (23.f4!?∞) 23...Rd8 24.f4?! This is ill-timed now that Black controls the d-file. 24...Rcd3!³ and Black won a long struggle in Stryjecki-Halkias, European Jr. ch, Patra 1999. Let us examine 18...Qa5!: 19.Qc2 I also checked 19.Qc1 Rad8 20.a3 Rd3 21.b4 Qd8 22.Qc4 Rd4=. 19...Rad8! 20.Rad1 20.Rfd1 Rfe8 21.Qf2 g6! is also fine for Black, as the idea ...Re8-e5 has suddenly appeared in the picture and it is enough for equality. After 22.f4 (22.Rd6 Re2!; 22.h4 Bb5! 23.Rxd8 Rxd8©) 22...Bxg2 23.Kxg2 Qb5! 24.Kg1 Rd3! 25.Rxd3 (25.Rac1 Ree3!) 25...Qxd3 26.Re1 Rxe1+ 27.Qxe1 Qd4+ 28.Qf2 Qd1+ 29.Kg2 Qd5+ 30.Kf1 Qd1+ 31.Qe1 Qc2= there is no way for White to avoid the draw. 20...Rfe8! 21.Rd6

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21...g6! 22.Qf2 Rxd6 23.cxd6 Qd5! 24.Qxa7 Bb5 25.Ra1 Qxd6© Black’s initiative fully compensates for the pawn. I think that after all these lines you should never lose against 13.Nxe4. (E4) Let us delve into the intricacies of the more popular 11.Na4! now: 11...cxd4 My preferred choice here. 11...b6 is probably also good but it is much more complicated and difficult to handle. 11...cxd4 is simpler and Black obtains sufficient activity for his isolani. 12.Nxd4 Bd7 13.Rc1! This is a move played in 90% of the cases, so it is the move to be prepared for. The rook observes the all-important c5-square, which is the square the Na4 should use to get back into play. (a) A rare alternative is 13.e3, possibly with the idea Nd4-e2. I decided to nip that idea in the bud by offering 13...Nxd4!? 14.Bxd4 Bb5! 15.Re1 Rc8, when Black controls all the important squares on the board and has equalized. The engines find nothing better than relinquishing d4 by 16.Rc1 Rxc1 17.Qxc1 Bxd4 18.exd4= when I think we need not continue the opening discussion any further, as it is clear that the position is simple and drawish. (b) I also experimented with the untried 13.Nxc6 Bxc6 14.Bd4

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in an effort to understand the position, as it looked to me like a very appealing human decision. However, Black gets easy play after it. For example: 14...Re8 15.Rc1 h5!? This move is justified here, as the White kingside is a bit bare of defenders. It is also good in the strategic sense, because the exchange ...h5-h4xg3 will make the Ne4 unassailable. That said, 15...Rc8 is certainly possible and also keeps the game equal. 16.e3 h4 It is also possible to play 16...Bb5!? 17.Re1 Bxa4 18.bxa4 h4 19.Re2 hxg3 20.hxg3 Bxd4 21.Qxd4 Qg5„. 17.Nc3 Bxd4 17...Qe7 followed by ...Ra8-d8 should also be equal, but I like the more active deployment of the black queen on the g5-square. 18.Qxd4 Qg5! 19.Rfd1 Rad8! The position is level, a possible continuation being 20.Rc2 (20.Nxe4 dxe4 21.Qxa7 hxg3 22.hxg3 Ra8 23.Qc5 Qxc5 24.Rxc5 Rxa2=) 20...a6 21.a4 Rd7= and Black holds firm. After 13.Rc1! we have reached an important juncture. I like most the flexible queen move that follows:

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13...Qe7!? Not only allowing the black rooks a wide choice of squares, but also observing the critical c5-point. Instead, 13...Nxd4 14.Bxd4 Bxa4 15.bxa4² would be slightly better for White. I also checked 13...Re8, but eventually rejected it because of 14.Nc5! Nxd4 15.Bxd4² with a solid edge for White. After 13...Qe7!? I analyzed the following options: (E4a) 14.e3, (E4b) 14.Nb5!? and (E4c) 14.Nxc6. 14.Nxc6 is is a logical move played by GM Grigory Serper, vacating the d4 square for the Bb2, but Black’s position proves resistant to all kind of ideas, straightforward or not. Serper’s continuation clearly belongs to the straightforward ones. It was the main line in my old notes and I decided to keep it so in spite of analyzing the position further since then. But let us first look at the other options: (E4a) I initially considered the conservative option 14.e3 Rac8 but did not see anything of great concern for Black. Timman’s 15.Ne2!? looked like the most interesting continuation for White, but I found an antidote. Instead, 15.Nxc6 Bxc6 16.Bxf6 (16.Bd4 Bxa4 17.Rxc8 Rxc8 18.bxa4 h6 19.Bxe4 dxe4 20.Bxa7 Qb4=) 16...Qxf6 17.Nc5 Rfe8= leaves, I think, Black in good shape. 15...Bxb2 16.Nxb2

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This is a position in which we need to exercise some care. 16...Rfd8! 16...Be6 was played by Sosonko against Timman, but if you know me already, you realize I have been searching for a vintage Tarrasch move instead. The thing is I hate to put my bishop on e6 in a pure IQP position because it feels passive. I think ...Rf8-d8 keeps options for the Bd7 and is a better move. Just for your information, the above-mentioned game continued 17.Nd3 Rfd8 18.Ndf4 Qf6 19.h4 h6 20.Nxe6 Qxe6 21.Nd4² and Black was a bit worse but eventually managed to draw in TimmanSosonko, Amsterdam 1974. 17.h3 If White takes the pawn by 17.Qxd5 then we have the strong counter 17...Ng5! with a good initiative.

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For example, 18.Qc5 Qf6 19.Nd3 Nf3+ 20.Bxf3 Qxf3 21.Nef4 b6 22.Qd5 Qxd5 23.Nxd5 Bh3 24.Rxc6 Rxc6 25.Ne7+ Kf8 26.Nxc6 Rxd3 27.Ra1 Rc3©. After 17.Na4 Bf5! the bishop is much more active than in Timman-Sosonko. The computer gives 18.Nd4 Nxd4 19.Qxd4 b6 20.f3 Nf6 21.Rxc8 Rxc8 22.Nc3 Qc5=. Let us return to 17.h3: 17...Nf6! Our plan should be to play ...h7-h6 and put our bishop on the good f5-square here. It seems White has nothing. For example, 18.Na4 (18.Nf4 Bf5=; 18.Nd3 Bf5=) 18...h6 19.Nac3 Bf5 20.Nd4 Be4! 21.Qd2 Bxg2 22.Kxg2 Ne4 23.Qb2 Nxc3 24.Rxc3 Nxd4 25.Rxc8 Rxc8 26.Qxd4 Qe4+ 27.Qxe4 dxe4 28.Rd1 Rc2=. (E4b) The newer finding of mine 14.Nb5!? is answered strongly by 14...Nb4! 15.Bxf6 (15.Rc7 Qe8!) 15...Nxf6 16.Nbc3 Rad8 and it is obvious that the white knights are uncoordinated. After 17.a3 Na6= the position is equal. (E4c) Let us return to Serper’s choice of 14.Nxc6: 14...Bxc6 15.Bd4 Rfc8! 16.Qd3

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This position looks approximately balanced. I have a slight improvement for Black over an existing game here: 16...Bxd4!? 16...h6 17.Rfd1 Bxd4 18.Qxd4 Qa3 19.Bh3 Re8 20.Rc2 is Serper-Graf, Tashkent 1992. Here Black missed the typical idea 20...Ng5! 21.Bg2 Ne6„. 17.Qxd4 Qa3 Using the weakness of a3-square to gain powerful counterplay. I like this incisive way of playing, proving that ...h7-h6, as played in the game above, was not necessary. 18.Rc2 Bxa4 19.Rxc8+ Rxc8 20.Qxa7 Qxa2 21.bxa4 Qb3!=. Here our examination of the variation 9.b3!? Ne4 10.Bb2 Bf6 comes to an end. I hope you have grasped the handling of an IQP position from the lines presented above, and how a misplaced white knight can jeopardize White’s chances for an advantage. And do not forget, there is a second solution to be seen under the 9.dxc5 treatment.

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(M) At this point the reasonable alternatives to 9.Bg5 have been exhausted, so we will now move on to analyze this topical continuation which is the main line of Part III (b): We will look briefly at (M1) 9...cxd4 before diving into the complexities of our main choice (M2) 9...c4!?.

9...c4!? is our standard choice. I am not a 9...cxd4 expert and I do not aspire to become one in a week or two. However, I felt obliged to present in a few pages some critical positions of this older alternative which has by no means been refuted. There is nothing like a deep analysis here, nor an exhaustive presentation of all the lines. To describe exactly what it is, I will tell you how it was formed. I said to myself, “Fine, let’s have a look at 9...cxd4 and find out if it is reliable.” I studied some of the main lines and I was asking myself at certain points questions from the perspective of both sides. How does White get an advantage here, what is Black’s best defense there, etc. On first inspection, I have not found any serious advantage for White, regardless of how surprising this may seem. Just more easy positions to play, which one could label as ², but in fact they are very close or within the equality zone. But let me stop speaking, and allow moves to do so instead, garnished with some hopefully not so incomplete thoughts of mine that took place during the above process: (M1) 9...cxd4 10.Nxd4 h6 11.Be3 Re8

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This is where it all starts. There is more than a dozen playable moves here, I just picked up the three most popular ones. These are (M1a) 12.Qb3, (M1b) 12.Qa4 and (M1c) 12.Rc1. 12.Rc1 is the most popular choice by a wide margin, so I deemed it right to make it my main line. (M1a) Instead, 12.Qb3 Na5 13.Qc2 Bg4

is another tabiya. White wants to put pressure quickly against d5. 14.Rad1 A nice harmonious move. After 14.Nf5 Bb4! Black’s activity seems to ensure equality. Witness the following game where the super GM Georg Meier is held to a draw by a lower rated opponent: 15.Bd4 Bxc3 16.Bxc3 Rxe2 17.Qd3 Re8 18.Ne3 Be6 19.Qb5 b6 20.b4 Nb7 21.Bxf6 Qxf6 22.Nxd5 Bxd5 23.Bxd5 (23.Qxd5!? is 594

perhaps a bit more accurate, but nothing like an advantage) 23...Nd6 24.Qa4 Rad8 25.Rae1 (25.Qxa7 Nb5! 26.Qb7 Nc3! 27.Bg2 Re2=) 25...Re5 26.Rxe5 Qxe5 27.Rd1 Qe7 28.Bb3 Nc8=. We know that this position is a draw. And so it was in Meier-Müller, Germany 2016. Back to 14.Rad1: 14...Bb4?! This looks like an error. Why not 14...Qc8!? here? No Nf5, no Ndb5, hmm, it looks good. We also vacate d8 for the rook, just in case.

15.Ndb5! Not exactly curtains, but it is already difficult for Black. 15...Bxc3 16.Nxc3 Rc8 17.Rfe1 Rxe3 18.fxe3 Qe7 19.Qd3± White had a serious advantage in Tarlev-Ginsburg, Germany 2016 which he eventually converted into the full point. However the opening does not seem to offer him anything real. (M1b) We looked at 12.Qb3; Black has 12...Na5 then. What about 12.Qa4, is not it a more clever move? Now 12...Na5 does not come with tempo, so perhaps we have to find something else. 12...Bd7!? Akobian is a Tarrasch expert and this is what he played against Holt in 2017. I found in the database a catastrophic score for Black here, but still the engines are not that impressed by White’s position, giving approximate equality. There must be some reason for that, I thought. Maybe the position is just unpleasant for humans? Fine, let me then check a correspondence game. Here it is: (M1b1) 13.Rfd1 Bc5!? 14.Ne6! fxe6 15.Bxc5 b6 16.Ba3 (16.Be3 Rc8 looks awkward for White) 16...Ne5 17.Qb3 Rc8 18.e4 Kh8 19.Rac1 Bc6

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Around here I thought that White has two far-ranging bishops, but the one on a3 strikes thin air, so Black’s position cannot be bad. And when I thought of that, the evaluation suddenly dropped from +0.20 to near 0.00. Let us see a few more moves: 20.Ne2 Qd7 21.Qb4 Bb5! 22.Rxc8 Rxc8 23.Nd4 Ba6 24.Qd6 Qxd6 25.Bxd6 Nd3 26.e5 Ne4= The game was balanced in Lafarga Santorroman-Nielsen, corr 2009. Perfect opening play by Black. (M1b2) Fine, I thought. Maybe statistics are wrong, but they cannot be that inaccurate. Let me go back at 12.Qa4 Bd7!? and check the Holt-Akobian game: 13.Rac1 Interesting. Holt must have been prepared, after all he is playing one of the biggest Tarrasch experts in the world. But in what way does this improve on the previous game if Black still goes 13...Bc5!? here? The answer is not so hard to find. It simply does not improve it at all, so Varuzhan should have played this instead of 13...Na5?! which was his choice in the game. After the rather forced sequence 14.Ne6 fxe6 15.Bxc5 b6, the only difference I can see is that the Qa4 has a nice clean retreat on d1, but I still do not see where the Bc5 goes. I left this position for about a half-hour to the engines, yet the evaluation was approximately 0.00. So no advantage for White here either! (M1b3) Inevitably I thought I was nearing a conclusion for the 12.Qa4 Bd7!? position, so I returned once more to it. There was one move I had forgotten to look at, namely 13.Nxd5!?

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I decided to check a game between two esteemed American players once more: 13...Nxd5 14.Bxd5 Nb4 15.Qb3 Nxd5 16.Qxd5 Bh3 17.Qxd8 Raxd8 18.Rfd1 Bf6 19.Rd2 Bg4= This looks fairly balanced. After 20.Rad1 Bxd4 21.Rxd4 Rxd4 22.Rxd4 Bxe2 a handshake soon followed in Kaidanov-Robson, St. Louis 2011.So it seems that 12.Qa4 Bd7!? is fine for Black. Or at least not as bad as statistics indicate. (M1c) So the time had come for me to look quickly at 12.Rc1:

12...Bf8 Well, this what you may call a tabiya. Approximately a thousand games! I actually happen to really trust Anatoly Karpov and Boris Gelfand in this type of position, so when I saw they had both used the 597

following little pawn push, I made it immediately my main line, hoping it would help me find my way amidst a big crowd: 13.a3!? Upon seeing such a move we unavoidably ask ourselves, what is the idea here? Isn’t this very slow? I decided that in order to solve this puzzle, I would have to pretend that it is White’s turn to play in the position after 13.a3!?. Thus, unashamedly, I gave myself the move and realized that White’s plan is 14.Qb3! Na5 15.Qa2! with strong pressure on d5 and a clear advantage. (a) At the same time I was getting besieged by several other moves that the computer was suggesting, played or unplayed. The list was topped by the untried 13.Qd3 actually, and with a high evaluation in White’s favor.

Panic. Yes, that is the word for all professionals when we see such a move on our screen, apparently crushing the human wisdom of decades. I decided to stop thinking about 13.a3!? and try to defend against the newly created monster that was rearing its ugly head. I tried knight moves; I tried 13...a6. Nothing worked. Knight moves were ruining my control over d4; 13...a6 seemed to lose time. Then I was lucky to remember that Garry did not mind occasionally putting his bishop on e6, as the resulting structure after Nd4xe6, ...f7xe6 is not clearly in White’s favor. Out of despair, I tried this and it seemed to work: 13...Be6 14.Rfd1 (14.h3 Qd7 15.Nxe6 fxe6 16.f4 Rad8∞) 14...Qd7 15.Qb5 a6 16.Qb3 Na5 17.Qa4 Qxa4 18.Nxa4 Nc4 19.Nxe6 fxe6 20.Bd4 Rac8 21.b3 Na5!? Not so bad. Black seems more or less fine and there is also 21...Nd6 with an excellent hold over e4. (b) That one was close, I thought. And when I say close, I mean close to refuting the entire 9...cxd4 line. On the bright side it rang a bell, that probably 13.Qc2 is a move that should be met in the same way. I looked up in the database and found three games with 13...Be6 in which Black had actually done 598

well, so I decided to test it with the computer. The engines produced the line 14.h3 a6 15.Rfd1 Rc8 with a satisfactory evaluation for the second player even after what seemed to scare me a bit:

16.Nxc6 bxc6 17.Bd4 Nd7 18.e4 dxe4 19.Nxe4 Bd5 That is what you may call a tiny edge for White as the computer gives +0.20-0.25 evaluations, but in practice, these are easily defused, especially in GM practice. So I turned my attention to another line which had been known to me since my youth: (c) 13.Nxc6 bxc6 The hanging pawns variation. Maybe a bit unpleasant in practice, but here the computers were relatively happy to be Black:

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14.Bd4 Instead, 14.Na4 Bd7 15.Bc5 Bxc5 16.Nxc5 Bg4 17.Re1 Qa5 18.h3 Bf5 19.a3 Rab8 20.Nb3 Qa6 21.Nd4 Bd7 22.Qd2 Ne4 23.Bxe4 dxe4 24.e3 Rb6 25.Rc5 Bxh3 26.Qc3 Qd3 27.b4 was a well played draw in Blessing-Andersen, corr 2014. 14...Nh7!? Why not? White wants to play Nc3-a4 followed by Be3-c5, so let’s hurry! 15.Na4 Bg4 16.Re1 Bb4! 17.Bc3 Bf8!? 18.a3 Ng5„ I was happy here; Black has counterplay. So, no refutation yet. But wait a second: (d) I suddenly saw in my ChessBase tree the move 13.Na4!? and this was somehow a rude awakening. According to Aagaard and Ntirlis this line was a threat to Black’s system and at first I thought so too, after checking the only move they analyzed, namely 13...Bd7. This is a clumsy move that allows 14.Nc5, gaining the bishop pair under favorable circumstances.

13...Ne5! Phew. Fortunately we have this, and it is a game again! The following encounter between two opening connoisseurs verifies that Black stands well: 14.Nb5 Nc6 15.Bc5 Bg4! The bishop goes to my favorite square, heheh!. 16.Re1 Bxc5 17.Nxc5 Qb6 18.Nd6 Re7 19.h3 Bh5 20.Qd2 Bg6 21.Na4 Qb4 22.Qxb4 Nxb4 23.a3 Nc2 24.Red1 So far, Nyback-Ehlvest, Harjumaa 2010. Here Jaan should have played it safe with 24...Rd8=. Time to return to the Karpov/Gelfand scheme that 13.a3!? introduces:

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13...Be6 14.Nxe6 Not sure that is forced, just a line. As I said I am not well acquainted with these structures. 14...fxe6 15.Kh1 Qd7 16.f4

I remember I had once seen a similar diagram in the Informant. Perhaps it was a Kasparov game? Again, not sure. 16...Rad8 17.Qa4 (17.Bg1!? is also possible) 17...e5 18.fxe5 Rxe5 19.Bf4 Ree8²/=. I am not exactly aware what is going on here, but my aesthetics tell me to choose White. He has a bishop pair and a weakness on d5 to pile up on, or he may even blast the position open with e2-e4. That said, this is hardly a refutation of the 9...cxd4 line. I understand this presentation is incomplete, and it is not meant to be the repertoire. I do hope, however, that it gave you an idea of how a GM can prepare a line quickly which he is unfamiliar with and helped you understand one or two extra things about the Tarrasch IQP position. (M2) Time to return to our main move 9...c4!?: White has a choice between (M2a) 10.b3 and (M2b) 10.Ne5.

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10.Ne5 is the undisputed main line with hundreds of games in the databases. (M2a) 10.b3 is also possible with the bishop on g5. After 10...cxb3! there is a parting of the ways: We will look at both (M2a1) 11.Qxb3 and (M2a2) 11.axb3!. 11.axb3! is in my opinion the best move, and one that Indian super GM Krishnan Sasikiran employed against me. White wants to control the c4-square and hopes to obtain a very solid structure with pressure against d5 after a subsequent Bg5xf6. (M2a1) Instead, the alternative 11.Qxb3 Na5! does not look threatening for us as the following variations reveal:

12.Qc2 602

I also looked at 12.Qb5, a move with which White has very good score, but it is surprising that the correct reply 12...Be6! has been played only on two occasions. Play could proceed as follows: 13.Rac1 This was the main move in my notes more than ten years ago. It looks most natural of course to put the a1-rook on c1, but the alternative is also possible: (a) For example, 13.Rfc1 Rc8 14.Nd1 (14.Ne5 a6 15.Qd3 Nc4„ looks instead quite tenable for Black, as is 14.Bxf6 Bxf6=) 14...a6 15.Rxc8 Bxc8 16.Qd3 Be6=. (b) Another possibility is 13.a4 Rc8, when White should rush to bring his queen to d3 with equality. Instead, the mistaken 14.Rfc1?! allowed Black to set up the possibility of a knight fork on b3 with 14...Rc4!, and White seemed to be struggling in the following game:

15.Bxf6! gxf6!? (15...Bxf6=) 16.Nd2 Rxd4 17.Nb3 Nxb3 18.Qxb3 Qd7 19.Rd1 Rb4 20.Qa2 d4 21.Nd5 So far we have followed the game Ipatov-Kobese, Istanbul 2012. It was high time for Black to now play 21...Rd8 22.e4 dxe3 23.fxe3 Kg7³/µ, when it is uncertain whether White could have saved himself. Returning to 13.Rac1, after 13...a6 14.Qb1 b5 15.e4 dxe4 16.Nxe4 Nc4 the game is dynamically balanced and two options that prove it are 17.d5!?= and 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.Rfd1=. After 12.Qc2, Black plays similarly: 12...Be6 13.Ne5 Rc8 14.Qd3 h6 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.f4 Bxe5 17.fxe5 Nc4= Our knight is strong on c4 and we have the option of developing our queen to d7 or a5 with counterplay. (M2a2) Returning to 11.axb3!, we need to understand one important strategic point in order to 603

equalize:

11...Bf5! With this human move we want to keep on the board three pieces instead of two, thus reducing the pressure on our d-pawn as the game unfolds. (a) We cannot accomplish this with the computer move 11...Be6 because White can achieve a minimal plus after 12.Ne5 Rc8 13.Nxc6 Rxc6 14.Qd3 h6 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.e3 a6 17.Rfc1 Qc7 18.Ne2 Rc8 19.h4 Qd8 (so far Kirov-Grigoriou, Balkaniad 1977), with 20.Rxc6 Rxc6 21.Nf4²; this is one typical situation I want to avoid, although the resulting position is probably still drawable. (b) 11...h6 also does not reach our objective. After 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.e3 Bf5 14.Ne1 Nb4 15.Na2! Be7 16.Nxb4 Bxb4 17.Nd3 Bxd3 18.Qxd3 Qd7 19.Rfc1², the second unpleasant situation occurred in Neverov-Egin, Krasnodar 1997.

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Here perhaps things are less difficult for Black than in Kirov-Grigoriou, as there is only one minor piece left for either side, but Black is weak on d5 and White’s b3-weakness is inaccessible to his opponent, so Black will still have to struggle for the draw. Returning to 11...Bf5!, we have to face the following White options: (M2a21) 12.Bxf6 and (M2a22) 12.Ne5. (M2a21) My comment for the first one of the two above mentioned possibilities in my older notes was as follows: “We should of course examine the voluntary exchange on f6, as it is within White’s objectives.” And indeed it is so, as White is inching closer to entirely depriving Black from knights, making his position static: 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.e3 Rc8! This is the simplest and best move order for Black. My game against Sasikiran continued 13...Nb4?!, settling rather prematurely with the knight on b4. This could have been met by 14.Na2! which is something we are not yet that well prepared for. Instead Sasi went for 14.Qd2?! allowing me to arrange my pieces the way I wanted to and after 14...a5 15.Rfc1 Rc8 16.Ne1 Be7 17.Na4 Qd6= Black drew comfortably in Sasikirian-Kotronias, Bursa 2010. Let us now check the best move 13...Rc8!: 14.Qd2 a5! 15.Rfc1 Nb4!= We have transposed to my game with Sasikiran with the correct method and Black is just fine. (M2a22) 12.Ne5 Nb4! is the second option for White and again we are at the crossroads. I looked at three moves here: (M2a221) 13.Na2, (M2a222) 13.Bxf6!? and (M2a223) 13.Qd2. 13.Qd2 is the most natural choice, but it is not the most testing. Once more I kept it as a main line out of laziness, as I did not want to distort the order in my notes. (M2a221) Chasing our knight with 13.Na2 does not accomplish anything here in view of 13...Nxa2 14.Rxa2 Ne4= and we have kept the right pieces on the board. 605

(M2a222) The computers object to my strategy with the primitive 13.Bxf6!? Bxf6 with the following interesting parting of the ways: (M2a2221) 14.Na2, (M2a2222) 14.e3!? and (M2a2223) 14.e4.

14.e4 is so far the only move tried in practice. But such a liquidation is structurally not dangerous for us. (M2a2221) Instead, 14.Na2 Nc6!= is fine for Black. Once more, we refuse to agree to exchanges on White’s terms. (M2a2222) I would be a little more worried about 14.e3!? Rc8 (14...a5!?) 15.Na2, but I think equality is still within our range: 15...Nxa2 16.Rxa2 a6 17.Nd3 Instead, 17.Qd2 Be4! 18.Bxe4 dxe4 19.Nc4 h5! 20.Rc1 g6 21.Qd1 Qd5 22.Rac2 Rb8! 23.Qd2 Be7 24.Qa5 Qxa5 25.Nxa5 Bb4 26.Nc4 Rfd8 27.Kf1 Kg7 28.Ke2 Rd5= is equal. 17...Be7 18.Nf4 18.b4 Bxd3 19.Qxd3 Bxb4 20.Qb3 a5= is less worrying. After 18.Nf4 White has been left with the right pieces to maintain pressure, but our light-square bishop is more actively deployed than in Kirov-Grigoriou and that saves us:

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18...Be4! This is the typical device, when the position seems after all equal. For example: 19.Bxe4 (19.f3 Bf5 [In fact I like the sharper 19...Bg6!? 20.e4 dxe4 21.fxe4 Bg5! when both 22.Kh1 Re8! 23.Nxg6 hxg6 24.e5 Re7!„ and 22.Raf2 Re8 23.Nxg6 Be3!∞ offer Black counterplay] 20.e4 Be6 21.Nxe6 fxe6= is easier for Black) 19...dxe4 20.Qb1! g5! 21.Nh5 Qd5 22.g4! At this point Black needs a few exact moves.

22...Qe6! A memory marker. Black wants to force h2-h3, so that ...f7-f5 will be stronger; instead, 22...f5 607

23.Ng3! is better for White. 23.Qd1!? 23.h3 f5 24.Ng3 fxg4 is fine for us, because we will take the pawn on h3 after the exchanges on e4. What remains is 25.hxg4, but then 25...Rf3! 26.Nf5 Rf8„ gives Black fine counter-attacking chances. Chess is a difficult game! 23...Bd6 24.Ra5 b5! 25.d5 Qe5 26.Ng3 Ra8 27.Qa1 Qxa1 28.Rfxa1 Bxg3 29.hxg3 Rfd8 30.Rxa6 Rxa6 31.Rxa6 Rxd5 32.Rb6 Kg7 33.Kf1 f6 34.Ke2 Kf7 35.b4 Kg6 36.f3 Or 36.Re6 Re5=. After 36.f3, a likely continuation is 36...exf3+ 37.Kxf3 Rd1! 38.Rxb5 Rf1+ 39.Ke2 Rg1 40.Kf2 Rb1=, …...h7-h5 with equality. (M2a2223) The above line featured very important variations, underscoring some brilliant points in this utterly strategic struggle. We will now return to 14.e4:

14...dxe4 This may appear forced at first sight, but Black has a refined and more creative alternative if he wants to play for a win. 14...Be6!? Why not? The computers do not initially like it, but the move is really intriguing! The following very sharp lines give us an idea of how wild play can become: 15.exd5 Nxd5 16.Ne4 Be7 17.Nc5 Bxc5 18.dxc5 Qc7! 19.Qd4 a5! Separating White’s b3- and c5-pawns from each other. 20.Nc4 Rfd8 21.Nd6 Nb4 22.Qh4 Rdb8 23.Rae1 Bxb3 24.Re5 According to Brainstormfish 24.Re3!? is more critical, leading to huge complications: 24...Be6 608

25.Qh5 Rf8 26.Bxb7 Rad8 27.Be4 g6 28.Qg5 a4 29.h4 Na6 30.Nb7 Rd4 31.Bf3 Kg7 32.Ra3 f6 33.Qe3 Qe5 34.c6 Nc7 35.Qxe5 fxe5 36.Nc5 Bf5 37.Rfa1 Rc4 38.Nxa4 Ra8 39.Nb6 Rxa3 40.Rxa3 Rc1+ 41.Kg2 e4 42.Ra7 Rxc6 43.Nd5 Kh6 44.Nxc7 exf3+=. 24...h6 25.Qg4 After 25.Rh5!? Be6 26.g4 Nd3! 27.g5 Qxc5 28.Ne4 Qe5 29.gxh6 Qf4! 30.Qe7! Re8 31.Qg5 g6 32.Nf6+ Kh8 33.Nxe8 Rxe8 34.Qxf4 Nxf4 35.Rxa5 Nxg2 36.Kxg2 b5! 37.Rfa1 Bc4 38.Kg3 Kh7= the complications fizzle out to a draw. 25...Rf8 26.Bxb7 Rab8

Chaos has arisen on the board here as well; both sides have to tread with extreme care. 27.Rfe1 27.Be4 Nc6 28.Rh5 Be6 29.Nf5 g6 30.Rxh6 Bxf5 31.Bxf5 Ne5! 32.Qh3 Nf3+ 33.Kh1 (33.Kg2 Qc6!) 33...Qe5! 34.Bxg6 fxg6 35.Rxg6+ Kf7 36.Qh7+ Ke8 37.Rd1 Nd2!! 38.Rd6! Rxf2! 39.Qg6+ Ke7 40.R6xd2 Rxd2 41.Qh7+ Ke8 42.Qg8+ Ke7= is also very dynamic; a fantastic line. 27...Be6 28.Qf3 Nc2 29.Rd1 Nb4 30.Be4 a4 31.Qh5 Qe7 32.f4 Qf6 33.Qf3 Bb3 34.Rd2 Na6 35.Qc3 a3 36.Nf5 Rfe8 37.Rd6 Re6 38.Nd4 Nxc5 39.Rdxe6 Bxe6 40.Rxc5 a2 41.Kg2 g6 42.Ra5 Rd8 43.Ra4 Rc8 44.Qb2= Here a draw was agreed in Sigurdsson-Noskov, corr 2012. A very intense fight. Let us return to the more pedestrian 14...dxe4: 15.Nxe4 Bxe4 16.Bxe4 The position is totally level and Black has two ways to proceed.

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After 16...Qd6= or even 16...Bxe5!? 17.dxe5 Qb6 18.Qd6 Nc6 19.e6 fxe6 20.Qxe6+ Kh8= it is clear that White’s slight initiative will be defused. I would like to elaborate a bit more on 16...Qd6 because it has been tested in correspondence chess: 17.Qf3 Rae8 18.Rfd1 Bxe5! The inexplicable 18...b5?? 19.Rxa7 Bxe5 20.dxe5 Qxe5 21.Rdd7 Qe6 22.Rab7+– occurred in CadeStruzka, corr 2016. 19.dxe5 Qxe5 20.Bxb7 a5 21.Bd5!? Nxd5 22.Rxa5

22...Qf6! Making White’s extra pawn worthless. It is not easy to evaluate the consequences of such a defensive 610

method immediately so I have added a few more lines: 23.Qxd5 Re2 24.Rf1 (24.Qf5 Qb6 25.Rb5 Rxf2!=) 24...g6 25.h4 (25.Ra4 Rb2 26.Rf4 Qe6 27.Qxe6 fxe6 28.Rb4 Rf3=) 25...Rd8 26.Ra8 Rxa8 27.Qxa8+ Kg7 28.Qd5 Rb2 29.Qd3 h5 30.Qe3 Qe6 31.Qxe6 fxe6 32.Re1 Rxb3 33.Rxe6=.

We all know this rook ending is completely equal. But the engines cannot evaluate it properly unless they are running on a super-computer. This affects their previous evaluations as well. So you have to be careful and analyze by hand when you see the prospect of such an ending arising, as believing the engines blindly could misguide you. (M2a223) Let us return to 13.Qd2: 13...a5 14.Rfc1 Not 14.Na2 yet because of 14...Ne4ƒ. 14...Rc8!= Keeping up the momentum. The position is even because 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.Na2? is not good in view of 16...Nc2µ. So we may conclude that Black is fine in the 10.b3 variation by keeping the right set of pieces. It is in his interest to keep three minor pieces on the board in general, as then his d5-weakness is inaccessible to his opponent. In case White gets a B+N vs. B+B position, it is important to have the bishop actively deployed on f5 to meet Nf4 ideas with ...Bf5-e4. A very complex strategic tussle indeed. (M2b) We will now focus on the standard move 10.Ne5 which aspires to a kingside attack. But White’s play can be more universal according to circumstance, so we need to keep a watchful eye on both sides of the board. 10...Be6

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A very important tabiya for our treatment of the Tarrasch. White has a wide choice here. I looked at (M2b1) 11.Nxc4, (M2b2) 11.h3, (M2b3) 11.Bxf6, (M2b4) 11.Qd2, (M2b5) 11.e3!?, (M2b6) 11.Rc1, (M2b7) 11.f4!?, (M2b8) 11.Nxc6 and (M2b9) 11.b3. Our main line 11.b3 is a natural and critical attempt, trying to break open the queenside. However, many of the other tries are also interesting, and some of them can be dangerous enough as they are associated with the plan of a kingside attack I mentioned above: (M2b1) To start with, 11.Nxc4 is a combination that will lead at best to equality for White, but I thought it is wise to present a few lines: 11...dxc4 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.d5 Qb6! Black may gain the upper hand here if White is not careful.

612

14.Na4? This has been the most usual practical try but it is clearly inadequate in my opinion. I present it as a main line just to show how easily White can go wrong. (a) Another insufficient reaction is 14.dxe6? Qxb2 15.exf7+ Kh8 16.Bxc6 bxc6 17.Ne4 Qxa1 18.Qxa1 Bxa1 19.Rxa1 Rxf7 20.Rc1 Rb7!–+ when Black is close to winning. (b) 14.Qc1 is not so bad, yet after 14...Bd7!? 15.dxc6 Bxc6³ Black keeps chances of a slight edge. This is normal considering he has a queenside pawn majority and B vs. N. (c) 14.dxc6! has been played only once and yet is the best choice. After 14...bxc6 (14...Qxb2 15.cxb7 Rab8 16.Na4 Qxa1 17.Qxa1 Bxa1 18.Rxa1 Rfd8 19.Rc1© gives White enough for the exchange) 15.Qc2 Rab8 16.Rab1 Rfd8 17.Ne4 Be7 Black eventually won in Gecovski-Kacakovski, Struga 2014, but at this point the position is approximately equal. After 14.Na4? Black should continue 14...Qa5 15.dxc6 (15.dxe6 Rad8 16.Qc2 Nd4 17.Qe4 Rfe8–+)

15...Rad8! 16.Qc2 Rd2 17.Qc1 bxc6–+. Black had a winning position in Kiese-Haag, Wiesbaden 2014. (M2b2) 11.h3 is a useful waiting move but Black can equalize with 11...h6!. Then 12.Bxf6!? is the critical move. (a) Instead, nothing is offered by 12.Bf4 Qb6! 13.b3 (13.Na4?! Qa6³; 13.Qd2 Rad8 14.Rad1 Bf5 15.g4 Bh7∞) 13...cxb3 14.Nxc6 Qxc6 15.Qxb3 Rac8 16.Rac1 Qd7=. (b) 12.Be3 is met with the usual restriction strategy: 12...Qc8! 13.Kh2 (13.g4 h5„) 13...Rd8 14.f4 h5∞, transposing to a position I recommended after 9.h3 Be6 10.Be3 for Black at the beginning of Part III (b). After 12.Bxf6, the automatic recapture 12...Bxf6 leads us to a juncture that demonstrates some 613

typical ideas for both sides.

13.f4! This has never been played but looks like the most pressing for us. Instead, 13.Nxc6?! bxc6 can only be better for Black as White is not well prepared to play a successful b2-b3, e.g., 14.Na4 (14.b3 cxb3 15.axb3 c5³; 14.e3 was played in Just-Hartung, Halberstadt 2016, but here simply 14...Rb8 15.Na4 Be7³ looks better for Black, similarly to 14.Na4) 14...Rb8 15.b3 and here both 15...Be7³ and 15...Rb4³ offer us a pleasant position. Let us return to 13.f4!: 13...Bxe5! Clear-cut. When the pawn is on h6, it is perhaps not so good for us to rely on ...g7-g6 setups. 14.fxe5 The structure from the game Goldin-Shmuter again makes its appearance. However here our queen is on d8 and this gives us an extra possibility:

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14...Qg5! Exploiting the looseness in White’s pawn formation to create unpleasant threats. 15.Kh2!? 15.Rf3 is a clumsy square for the rook, and after 15...Rad8 16.e3 f6! 17.exf6 Rxf6=, we are just fine. Perhaps there are other ways to play too, but I found this to be the most principled. 15...Qe3! 16.Nb5 a6 17.Rf3 Qg5 18.Nc3 Rad8 19.Rf4 Qe7 20.Qd2 f6!= Just in time! The same motif comes once more to free our position and steer the game to equality.

A possible continuation is 21.Raf1 fxe5 22.Nxd5 Qd6 23.Rxf8+ Rxf8 24.dxe5 Qxe5 25.Rxf8+ Kxf8 26.Nf4 Bf7 27.Bxc6 bxc6 28.Qc3 Qe4=. 615

(M2b3) The unprovoked 11.Bxf6 Bxf6 12.f4 can be met with 12...g6! as Black’s kingside structure is intact; instead, 12...Qb6 13.e3 Qxb2? 14.Nxd5± is weaker. Then 13.e3 Bg7 14.b3 cxb3 15.Qxb3 Na5 16.Qb5 (16.Qb4 Re8 17.Rac1 Rc8„) 16...a6 17.Qe2 Rc8 18.Na4 f6 19.Nd3 Re8 20.Nac5 Bf7„ is perhaps even slightly better for Black as White has a chronic weakness on e3 for which his only compensation is some speculative f4-f5 ideas. (M2b4) 11.Qd2 is Razuvaev’s move; White reinforces both plans: b2-b3, as well as Bg5xf6 to be followed by f2-f4.

11...h6 I think this is logical, to force White declare his intentions. However, White is now able to set up the usual bind by Bg5xf6 and f2-f4. 11...Ne8!? is also very logical and has been played by the legendary GM Smbat Lputian against Razuvaev. The game went as follows: 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.Bxe7 Qxe7 14.f3 After 14.e4!?, the centralizing 14...Rd8∞ requires analysis, but a quick look at the position indicates that together with 14...dxe4 15.Nxe4 Bd5∞ they constitute reasonable answers. 14...Nc7 15.e4 So far, Razuvaev-Lputian, Riga 1985; here I recommend 15...Rad8 16.f4 f6=. This could be a backup idea in case something goes wrong with 11...h6. After 11...h6, we have yet another parting of the ways: 12.Bxf6 Others do not worry me: (a) 12.Be3 Bb4!„ is fine for Black. The main idea is ...Be6-f5 followed by ...Nf6-e4. (b) 12.Bf4 can be met by 12...Qc8∞ or 12...Bb4!?„, in both cases with an excellent game for Black. 12...Bxf6 616

Now White has at his disposal the following choice: (M2b41) 13.Nxc6 and (M2b42) 13.f4!. I made 13.f4! our main line as the kingside attack plan should not, of course, be underestimated. This is similar to what we got in the 11.h3 variation, but Qd1-d2 looks like a more useful move than h2-h3. I am sure this must have been Razuvaev’s intention and is the most dangerous plan in the position. (M2b41) The other plan, starting with the undermining 13.Nxc6 bxc6 14.b3, is also interesting, as the queen proves again useful on d2, by protecting the Nc3. After 14...Rb8!

I analyzed the following possibilities: 15.Na4! The refined choice. Instead, 15.bxc4 dxc4 allows Black to unveil pressure on d4, when he should be fine. For example, 16.Rfd1 (16.e3 c5 17.d5 Qa5 18.Rac1 Bf5 19.e4 Bd7³ is excellent for Black as the bishop gets a powerful square on d4 behind White’s central pawns) 16...c5 17.d5 Bg4! 18.Rac1 Re8 19.Ne4 Rb2 20.Rc2

617

20...c3! 21.Nxc3 Rxc2! (21...Bg5 22.Rxb2!? Bxd2 23.Rdxd2²) 22.Qxc2 Bxc3 23.Qxc3 Bxe2 24.Re1 c4 25.h4 Bd3 26.Rxe8+ Qxe8 27.d6 Qd7=; this is a fine line, illustrating typical means of counterplay for us. The position after 15.Na4! was worrisome for me for quite some time, until I found one typically Kotronias-like concrete solution: 15...Rb5! This should be best. The idea is to challenge the Qd2 from the a5-square in some lines. (a) Instead, 15...cxb3 16.axb3 Rxb3 17.Nc5 Rb5 18.Rxa7 Qb8 19.Ra2² is pleasant for White. (b) I analyzed the position resulting after 15...Be7 16.bxc4 Bb4!? (16...dxc4 17.Bxc6 Qd6 18.Be4 Qa3 19.Qc2 Rb4 20.Nc3 Rb2 21.Qc1 Rfb8 22.Bd5²) 17.Nc3! Qa5 18.Rfc1 for a long time without reaching something really acceptable for us; White is probably slightly better. I present some lines:

618

18...Ba3 Trying to harass the Rc1; instead, after 18...Qa3 19.Qc2² I found nothing special for Black. Another alternative to 18...Ba3, namely 18...dxc4 19.Bxc6 Rfd8, is perhaps more interesting, but White has the very precise moves 20.Bf3!?² or 20.e3², leaving us in both cases struggling for compensation. Alternatively: Weaker are both 20.d5 Bxc3 21.Qxc3 Qxc3 22.Rxc3 Bxd5 23.Bxd5 Rxd5 24.Rxc4 Rd2 25.Re4 Rbb2= and 20.Bg2 Bxc3! 21.Rxc3 Rb3! 22.Rac1

22...Qxc3!! 23.Rxc3 Rxd4! 24.Qe1 Rxc3 25.e3 Rdd3 26.Be4 Rc2 27.Qb1! Rcd2 28.Bxd3 cxd3 29.Qb8+ Kh7=. 619

This last variation is one of the finest tactical ideas I have discovered in the Tarrasch, which, however, is eventually proven theoretically irrelevant as White has the two fine consolidating moves mentioned above. After the most appealing of the two, namely 20.Bf3!?, the best I could find for Black was 20...Bf5 21.e4 Bg6 22.Rc2 f5!? 23.Re1 fxe4 24.Bxe4 Qb6², but we are still struggling. Let us return to 18...Ba3: 19.Rc2 Bb4 Trying for a repetition. Unfortunately there is nothing after 19...Bf5 20.e4 dxe4 21.Bxe4 Rfd8 22.Rd1 Bg4 23.Ne2!² and White is rock solid.

20.a3! But White does not go for it! After 20.Qc1 Ba3 21.Qe1?! Rfc8 he would have had serious problems, whereas now Black is more or less forced to enter the following unappetizing line: 20...dxc4 21.Bxc6 Rfd8 22.d5! 22.e3 Bxa3! 23.d5 Bh3 24.Rca2 (24.Qd4 Rb3 25.Qxc4 Rdb8! 26.Rd1 Bf5! 27.e4 Bg4! 28.Rf1 [28.Re1 Bb2] 28...Bh3 29.Rd1 Bg4=) 24...Rb3 25.Nb1 Rxb1+ 26.Rxb1 Qxd2 27.Rxd2 Bf5 28.Ra1 c3 29.Rd4 Bb2 30.Re1 c2 31.Rc4 a5! 32.e4 Bxe4 33.Rexe4 c1=R+ 34.Rxc1 Bxc1= is just a draw. 22...Rb6™ 23.Qc1 Bxc3 24.Rxc3 Bxd5 25.Bxd5 Qxd5 26.Rxc4 a5 27.e3 Rbd6 28.Qc2²/± Black’s compensation is probably insufficient for a draw. I want to disclose at this point that I was getting very baffled and pessimistic after analyzing all the above lines as I did not expect Razuvaev’s move to lead to so many problems for Black after a normal move like 11...h6. On the other hand, I did not want to have only Lputian’s line as a solution because it is good to have as many viable options as possible in one’s repertoire. Eventually the 15...Rb5! solution was forged:

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16.bxc4 Certainly the only critical move. (a) 16.e3 Qa5 17.Qxa5 (17.Qc2 Rc8= is excellent for Black) 17...Rxa5 18.Nc3 (18.Rfc1 Rb8³; 18.Rac1 Be7³) 18...cxb3 19.axb3 Rxa1 20.Rxa1 Rb8³ is at least equal for Black. (b) 16.Rac1 Qa5³ is also good for us. 16...Qa5! This is the trick behind placing the rook on b5. Luckily this uncovers also a weak side of the move Qd1-d2 as the queen now finds herself unprotected. 17.Rad1! Best according to the engines. Instead: (a) 17.Qxa5 Rxa5 18.cxd5 cxd5 19.Nc5 Bxd4 20.Nb3 Bxa1 21.Nxa5 Bc3³ can be a bit better for us. (b) 17.Nc3 Rb4! 18.Rad1 Rc8!? (18...Bxd4!? 19.cxd5 Bxc3 20.Qxc3 cxd5=) 19.a3! (19.e3 dxc4 20.Rc1 Qa3³) 19...Qxa3 20.Ra1 Qb2 21.Qxb2 Rxb2 22.cxd5 cxd5= is level. (c) Finally, 17.Rfd1?! is less good on account of 17...Qxd2 18.Rxd2 Rb4 19.Nc5 Rxc4 20.Nxe6 fxe6³/= with a tiny edge for Black. After 17.Rad1! our pawn structure will be damaged but this is counterbalanced by piece activity: 17...dxc4 18.Nc3 (18.Bxc6? Qxa4–+)

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18...Rb6! 19.Nd5 Qxd2 20.Nxf6+ gxf6 21.Rxd2 Rfb8 The position is at least equal, a sample line being 22.Rc1 Kf8 23.e3 (23.Rdc2 Ke7 24.e4 Rb1=) 23...Ke7„. We would like to place our king on d6 and pawn on f5 here, and I think there is no question of a white advantage. The c4-pawn can be defended sufficiently from the b4 or a4 square by a rook. (M2b42) I was relieved to find a good defense against the plan with b2-b3 and then I switched my attention to the principled 13.f4!:

13...Ne7! This is the best plan of defense. Having the queen on d2 does not represent a big gain for White as it 622

does not control f5. (a) After 13...Bxe5 14.fxe5 the position is a much worse version of the game Goldin-Shmuter we have already checked. There Black had already his queen on c8 and rook on d8, a set-up enabling him to meet e2-e3 and Nc3-e2 with an immediate ...Be6-f5, accessing d3. The white queen was also on the worse square d1. Now White is excellently placed and we are under attack. The following lines illustrate that the position is rather unpleasant for Black: 14...b5 Instead, the alternative 14...Qd7!? 15.e3 Ne7 16.Ne2! (16.e4 Rad8 17.Rad1 b5∞) 16...Bh3 (16...Bf5 17.Nf4 Rad8 18.Rf2²; 16...Ng6 17.a4²) 17.Bxh3 Qxh3 looks like a better chance, still after 18.Nf4 Qd7 19.Rf2² White has attacking chances. 15.e3! 15.e4?! opens an unnecessary war front in the center and Black is at least equal after 15...dxe4 16.Bxe4 Qb6 17.Bxc6 Qxc6 18.d5 Qb6+. 15...Rb8 Nothing was really satisfying me at this point although the engines give their favorite 0.00. I also looked at 15...Qa5? 16.b4!± and 15...Qd7!? 16.Ne2 Bh3 17.Bxh3 Qxh3 18.Nf4 Qd7 19.Qe2‚. 16.Ne2!

This is the position I do not like, as the knight on f4 is fantastic and gives rise to many attacking ideas. Our problem is that if we start pushing on the queenside, we might quickly weaken ourselves too much and lose the battle even there. 16...b4 Dangerous is 16...Qa5?! 17.Qc1 (17.Qd1!?) 17...Ne7 (17...Nb4 18.Nf4) 18.Nf4 b4 19.a3! b3 20.Ne2!²; the knight is redirected to the fine blockading square c3 and the weakness on d5 is glaring. 623

With 16...Qg5 17.Nf4 Rfd8 18.Qf2! (18.b4 a5„) 18...Rd7 19.h4 Qd8 (19...Qe7? 20.g4 b4 21.Qg3±) 20.Rad1 b4 Black creates another defensive set up, yet after 21.Qf3 Kh8 (21...b3 22.a3 c3 23.bxc3 b2 24.Nxe6 fxe6 25.Qg4 Qe8 26.e4±) 22.Rf2! a5 23.Rdf1 a4 24.Qd1²

White’s attacking chances on the kingside still looked frightening for me. Finally, 16...Qe7 17.Nf4 Rfd8 18.Qe2 (18.Rad1 Rb7 19.Qe2ƒ) 18...a5 19.Rad1 a4 20.a3ƒ illustrates that the queen is not so well placed on e7 as e3-e4 becomes a threat. Let us return to 16...b4: 17.Nf4 Qd7 I thought this was the best set up for Black, however 18.Rf2!² convinced me I will not play this position. White has a simple plan of massing troops on the kingside and in spite of the 0.00 evaluation given by the computers, there is always the chance of some unforeseen sacrificial idea that could tip the scales in his favor. (b) Playable but worse is 13...Qb6 14.e3 Ne7 15.b3!? (15.f5 Bxf5 16.Nxd5 Nxd5 17.Rxf5 Qe6 18.Raf1 Rad8„) 15...cxb3 16.axb3², as the queen might be hit by Nc3-a4. Let us return to 13...Ne7!: Our plan is to play ...Qd8-a5 followed by ...Ra8-d8, blocking that scary kingside pawn mass of White’s in two steps: first stopping e4 once and for all and then gradually restricting an advance of the g- and f-pawns.

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However in this particular position White has his queen on d2 already and he might try to stop us by 14.Rad1!. Other moves allow us more than satisfactory play as the following lines indicate: (a) 14.e4 is critical, but we get play against d4: 14...dxe4 Also possible is the cautious 14...Bxe5!? 15.fxe5 Qd7 16.Rad1 Rad8= and Black stood fine in ZhuEdouard, Doha 2014. The point is that whenever White takes on d5 Black will recapture with the bishop, keeping a good control of the position. 15.Bxe4!? Fighting for control of the critical d5- and f5-squares. After 15.Nxe4, correct is 15...Qb6! and White has no advantage as the pressure on d4 keeps him occupied:

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For example, 16.Qf2 (16.Nxf6+ gxf6 17.f5! Nxf5 18.Nxc4 Qxd4+ 19.Qxd4 Nxd4 20.b3 a5= is a way to bail out) 16...Rad8! 17.Rad1 (17.Rfd1 Nf5 18.Nc5 Nxd4!³ shows a major idea of putting the a8-rook on d8) 17...Bd5 (17...Nf5? does not work here because of 18.d5!) 18.Rfe1 Nf5 19.Bh3 (19.Nxf6+ Qxf6 20.Bxd5 Rxd5 21.g4 Ne7 22.Nxc4 Rfd8© allows Black sufficient compensation because of the exposed white king; I like it when White overextends this way!) 19...Bxe4 20.Rxe4 Nd6 21.Re2 Rfe8 22.Bg2 Nb5„; Black has strong counterplay as d4 is attacked and ...c4-c3 threatened. Returning to 15.Bxe4!? a logical retort is 15...Qb6! 16.Na4 Qb5 17.Nc5 Rad8„ and it is clear to me that we cannot be worse here, the following lines offering some proof:

18.Rad1 (18.Nxb7? Bd5! 19.Nc5 Nc6 20.a4 Qb6 21.a5 Qb5µ leaves White in dire straits as his center is crumbling; 18.Nxe6 fxe6 19.Qf2 Qb4 gives Black equality but no more than that) 18...Bxe5 626

19.fxe5 Nc6 20.Qe3 Nxd4 21.Nxb7 Nf5!= Black emerges at least equal from the complications. So we can safely conclude that 14.e4, albeit sharp, is hardly the way to gain any advantage and that White has to resort to slower means. What could these be apart from 14.Rad1! ? Inevitably I switched to the following two ideas: (b) 14.Kh1 A useful preparatory move. But Black can continue with the usual recipe: 14...Qa5!

15.b4!? This was my attempt to infuse some life in the position some ten years ago. But Black has an easy way to meet it. Instead, after 15.e3 b5 16.a3 as in Paunovic-Gonzalez Trigal, Arteixo 2015, the right rook should be 16...Rad8 with a good game for Black, e.g., 17.f5 Bxf5 18.Rxf5 Nxf5 19.Nc6 Qa6 20.Nxd8 Rxd8 21.Nxd5 Qe6=. 15...Qc7! A cool retreat showing the futility of my idea. Black still insists on ...Ra8-d8; b2-b4 merely gave him a protected passed pawn. That said, the position is not worse for the first player. 16.Rac1 Rad8 17.e3 Bf5=

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White has managed to blockade the queen’s wing but in the meantime Black has defended his center and transferred the bishop to the nice diagonal h7-b1. I think we are close to a standstill here as the computer shows 0.00 and I cannot see anything constructive for either side. For example, 18.h3?! can be answered with 18...Qb6 19.a3 (19.g4?! Bxe5) 19...Bxe5 20.fxe5 Qg6 21.Kh2 f6=/³. (c) 14.e3 is perhaps the move most people would play. After 14...Qa5 15.Rad1 Rad8 16.b3!? (this is less dangerous for us now that the white rook has left the a-file) 16...cxb3 17.axb3

I recommend 17...Bxe5!? 18.fxe5 Qb4∞. Back to 14.Rad1!: 14...Bxe5! Now this is much more interesting than it was on move 13.

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14...Qb6 is a bit clumsy here and White does best exploit it by not playing e2-e4. After 15.e3! Rad8 16.b3!², the position is better for the first player who has such ideas as Nc3-a4-c5 in his arsenal as a result of the placement of our queen. 15.fxe5 (15.dxe5 Qb6+ 16.e3 Bg4 17.Rc1 Rad8 18.h3 Be6 19.Qf2 Nf5 20.Rfe1 Nxe3 21.Rxe3 d4= is not a problem for Black) 15...Qd7!

Black is ready for both e2-e4 and e2-e3 followed by Nc3-e2-f4. After 16.e3 b5 17.Ne2 Bh3! 18.Bxh3 Qxh3 19.Nf4 Qd7∞ he has won an important tempo over 13...Bxe5, as White wasted a move on the useless Ra1-d1. This makes the position unclear. I can only say “Phew!” at the end, as the Razuvaev Variation was rich in positional content by play on both sides of the board and that exhausted me as an analyst. GM Yury Razuvaev was a really nice person with some opening ideas that were very vibrant in spite of the fact he seemed like a calm 1.d4 player most of the time. Undoubtedly he will be remembered for both his kindness and his high chess quality. (M2b5) We will now come to a very serious quasi-waiting move, 11.e3!?:

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This is a very functional move in the f2-f4 set-ups, waiting for us to play ...h7-h6. Then White will take on f6 and follow up with f2-f4 obtaining an optimal position for this formation, as we have lost the fight for the tempo. Aagaard and Ntirlis have demonstrated that 11...h6 is nevertheless viable, but as I mentioned elsewhere, I am not the copy-paste type of author, so I will stick to the continuation that existed in my notes as I have found nothing wrong with it. The only disadvantage of 11.e3!? is that it commits the e-pawn rather early, “losing” dynamic e2-e4 ideas in the process. So I think we can now try 11...Nd7!, avoiding the exchange of the Bg5 for our knight and challenging White’s powerful e5-base at the same time. White has two replies after this move: (M2b51) 12.Bxe7 and (M2b52) 12.Nxc6. The latter is the main white choice. I have lost a game in this line to GM Ahmed Adly, but that was hardly a result of the opening. (M2b51) The former continuation, 12.Bxe7 Nxe7, looks much less challenging, and Black can face the future with certain confidence after it. I analyzed two moves here: (M2b511) 13.b3!? and (M2b512) 13.f4.

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13.f4 feels actually the less dangerous of the two options in view of the obvious reply 13...f6, but for some strange reason it has acquired a main line status with several games in the database. (M2b511) I think that 13.b3!? is in fact a better idea, but Black nevertheless keeps a good position with 13...Nxe5 14.dxe5 Qa5!, attacking the Nc3 and preparing to centralize with ...Rf8-d8. White has three main responses but I cannot see any advantage for him in the resulting positions in spite of the nice d4-square he has obtained as a base for his pieces:

15.Qe1 If he is going to move the queen then, this is the better square, threatening Nc3xd5. (a) Worse is instead 15.Qd2?! Rfd8 16.Rfd1 Nc6 17.Ne2 Qxd2 18.Rxd2 Nxe5³ and Black was 631

already slightly better in Hertneck-Breutigam, Germany 2004. (b) 15.Ne2!? is interesting, going for the d4-square right away. Ideally, White would like to put his knight on d4, advance his kingside pawn armada and mate us. Fortunately, he will not be the only one making moves: 15...Nc6 16.Nf4 Instead, 16.Nd4 Nxe5 17.Qh5 Qc7 18.f4 Nd3 19.Bxd5 Bxd5 20.Qxd5 Rfe8 21.Qxc4 Qxc4 22.bxc4 Rxe3= is a nominally better ending for Black as a result of his better pawn structure.

16...Nxe5! An easy and strong way of continuing. Instead, 16...Rad8 17.Nxe6 fxe6 18.bxc4 dxc4 19.Qg4, Schmidt-Doering, Germany 1998, is probably a bit better for White after 19...Nxe5! 20.Qxe6+ Kh8 21.Rad1!, but it is hard to make a definite assessment because Black’s c-pawn is rather strong. 17.Bxd5 This leads to a forced draw; 17.Nxd5 Rad8 18.e4 Rfe8 19.Qd4 b5= is fine for Black. 17...Bxd5 18.Qxd5 Qxd5 19.Nxd5 cxb3 20.axb3 Nf3+ 21.Kg2 Nd2 22.Rfd1 Nxb3 23.Ra3 Nc5 24.Nc7 Rac8 25.Nd5= A draw by repetition is the correct result. After 15.Qe1 Black avails of the powerful retort 15...Rfd8! and should be at least equal. The following classical game demonstrates the potential of Black’s position: 16.bxc4?! (16.Rc1!?∞) 16...dxc4 17.f4 Rd3 18.Ne4? (18.Rc1 Nf5 19.Rf3 was forced)

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18...Qa3!µ 19.Ng5 Rxe3 20.Qb1 Bf5 21.Qxb7 Rf8 22.Rae1 Rxe1 23.Rxe1 c3 24.Qf3 Rc8 25.g4 Qc5+ 26.Kh1 c2 27.Rc1 Bxg4! 28.Qb3 Qc4 29.Ne4 Qe2 30.Nc3 Rxc3 and 0-1, Polugaevsky-Pfleger, Montilla 1975. (M2b512) We now return to 13.f4: 13...f6 14.Nxd7! (14.f5? Nxf5 15.Rxf5 does not work because of 15...Nxe5µ) 14...Qxd7

White is on the verge of becoming worse, so he must tread with precision here: 15.Qa4! A powerful equalizing resource. 15.b3?! is just fine for Black after either 15...b5!?³ or 15...Rac8!? 16.b4 (Ernst-Halkias, Hengelo 633

1999) 16...Rcd8³. The point is that if White continues now 17.Qa4, Black replies 17...Qxa4 18.Nxa4 Bf5 19.Nc3 Bd3 20.Rfe1 f5 with a very comfortable position. After 15.Qa4! the following variation demonstrates that the position remains equal: 15...Qd6! (15...Rfd8 is less strong because White keeps a more flexible queenside after the queen trade) 16.a3!? a6 17.Qb4 Rfd8! 18.Qxd6 Rxd6 19.a4=. (M2b52) We will now return to 12.Nxc6: 12...bxc6 13.Bxe7 Qxe7

Black has a very stable position with his d-pawn solidly reinforced. However, we are a bit weak on the dark squares and the undermining idea b2-b3 could be annoying at several points, so utmost precision is required: I looked at (M2b521) 14.e4, (M2b522) 14.Na4, (M2b523) 14.Qa4!?, (M2b524) 14.Qc2, (M2b525) 14.Re1 and (M2b526) 14.b3. 14.b3 has been played by Kiril Georgiev, Adly, and many other strong players, and is certainly the most principled move at White’s disposal. However, there is a plethora of choices for White here as can be witnessed above, and this is one of the lines in the Tarrasch where exact knowledge is required. Let us have a careful look at the options available to the first player by following the order of the above list: (M2b521) Moving the e-pawn again to allow it finally reach e4 should not be too dangerous for us: After 14.e4 dxe4 15.Bxe4 Qd6 16.Bxc6!? (otherwise we will stabilize d5) 16...Qxc6 17.d5 Qc7! 18.dxe6 fxe6

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we obtain satisfactory counterplay (in spite of having four pawn islands) because of the weaknesses at d3 and f3 in the white camp. For example, 19.Qe2 (the alternative 19.Qg4 Rae8 20.Qe4 Ne5 21.Rad1 Nf3+= is also fine for Black) 19...Ne5 20.f4 (20.Rad1 Nf3+ 21.Kg2 e5 22.Nd5 Qc5∞) 20...Qb6+=. (M2b522) 14.Na4 is rather premature. After 14...Rab8 15.Qc2 Rb4 16.b3 Rfb8=

Black has organized himself very well on the queenside and White’s problem is that the Na4 does not have any prospects. The continuation 17.Rfd1?! (17.Rfc1 c5= would have been balanced) 17...g6! 18.Qc1 Qd6 (18...Bf5³) 19.Rd2 Bf5 20.Nc3 cxb3 21.axb3 Rxb3µ saw Varuzhan eventually punishing White’s planless play in Stefansson-Akobian, Lubbock 2008. (M2b523) 14.Qa4!? is an important move. White grants his queen access to Black’s queenside pawn 635

weaknesses and intends to carry our b2-b3 only afterwards. 14...Rfc8 15.Rfe1! The critical idea according to the engines. It is designed to carry out b2-b3 under the best possible conditions. Instead, 15.Qa5 Rcb8!= is not any dangerous for Black as his queen obtains access to the b4-square to challenge its counterpart. 15.b3 has been tried by GM Mikhalevski, but after 15...a5 16.bxc4 Nb6 17.Qc2 Nxc4 18.Na4 Rab8 19.Nc5 Rb2 20.Qc3 Rcb8 21.Rfc1 Qf6 22.Nd3 Rd2 23.Rd1 Rxd1+ 24.Rxd1, it was more than apparent that Black had played a perfect opening in Mikhalevski-Citak, Baku 2009, denying his famous opponent the slightest edge. The Turkish player now made a somewhat conservative luft with ...g7-g6 which was not at all bad, but the dynamic 24...h5! would have made it obvious that if anyone is pressing, it is Black. Let us return to the best move 15.Rfe1!, which occurred in the game C. Hansen-Naumann, Bundeliga 2003.

It seems to me that Black should have now kept his Nd7 flexible: 15...a5! There is no need to allow the white queen to settle on a5. In the game Naumann played 15...Nb6?! something that the Danish GM could have exploited with 16.Qa5!?² when I cannot see full equality. But even after Hansen’s retreat 16.Qc2², White was better as the knight is displaced on b6 as long as White does not play b2-b3. This is a very important remark for all those who want to play this position. 16.Qc2!? This is the most tricky reply after 15...a5!. Naumann might have been afraid of 16.e4, but then 16...Qd8! 17.Qc2 (instead, 17.exd5 cxd5 is 636

excellent for Black as his knight will go to f6 and not the bad square b6; White cannot take the pawn on d5 because he loses a piece after ...Nd7-b6) 17...Nf6! 18.e5 Nd7 19.b3 (19.f4 g6³) 19...cxb3 20.axb3 Rab8„ is hardly any worse for Black.

16...Rab8! Again, keeping the Nd7 flexible is the key. 16...Qd6?! is dubious, because after 17.e4, Black enters a positional zugzwang: (a) the knight cannot go to f6 and force a decision in the center; (b) it is dubious to take on e4, because the queen will be hit with Nc3xe4; and (c) playing the knight to b6 makes it inactive. Out of all these options the lesser evil is possibility (c), but then this is what happens: 17...Nb6 18.h3 Qd7 19.Kh2 and Black is left without play. White can slowly prepare a doubling of rooks on the e-file. However after 16...Rab8! all this is avoided: 17.Rad1 (a) 17.e4

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is answered with 17...dxe4!, exploiting the advantage of not having the queen on d6. Black is fine then. For example, 18.Nxe4 Bd5!= … 19.Re2! Nf6 20.Rae1 Qd8! 21.Nd2 Bxg2 22.Kxg2 c5! 23.dxc5 Rxc5 24.Re5 Rbc8 25.Rxc5 Rxc5 26.Kg1 Qc8! 27.Rc1 h5!„. (b) 17.b3 allows 17...Nb6=. 17...Nf6! Everything has been settled now; Black has achieved perfect coordination. After 18.Na4 Qb4= the position is level. I think this is all you need to know about the dangerous move 14.Qa4!?; you are now armed perfectly to fight against it. However we have not yet finished with the alternatives to our main line: (M2b524) Another move, which is merely an echo of the above variation is 14.Qc2, reinforcing both e3-e4 and b2-b3. I guess that by now you already know the answer: 14...Rab8! 15.e4 Nf6! 16.e5 Nd7 17.f4 g6∞ Again, White has nothing. (M2b525) Finally, there is the natural 14.Re1:

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This threatens e3-e4. We should play 14...Rab8! and here there is a parting of the ways: 15.Rb1 (a) After 15.e4 dxe4 16.Bxe4 Rxb2 17.Bxc6 Qf6 18.Ne4 Qf5∞ the position is unclear as the white pieces are not coordinating well. (b) 15.Qa4!? Rxb2 16.Qxc6 Nb6 17.Qc5! Qxc5 18.dxc5 Nd7 19.c6 Ne5 20.Rab1 Rc2 21.Rec1 Rxc1+ 22.Rxc1 Nxc6 23.Nxd5 Rb8 24.Nc7 Bd7 25.Bf1 Ne5 26.Bxc4 Rb2= leads to equality. (c) Finally, 15.Qc2 also has some similarities to 14.Qa4!?. There White resorted to the Qd1-a4-c2 maneuver while here White plays a combination of Rf1-e1 and a direct Qd1-c2. How to react?

15...Qb4! 639

I like this, getting the queen out of the e-file with tempo; 15...Rb4!? is another idea in Akobian style, preparing to double the rooks, but I want to kill any inconvenience e3-e4 might entail. 16.b3!? That’s rude, computers! That said, after 16.Rab1 g6! 17.b3 Bf5 18.e4 dxe4 19.Bxe4 cxb3 20.axb3 Bxe4 21.Nxe4 Rfd8! 22.Qxc6 Qxd4 23.Rbd1 Ne5! White has nothing. 16...cxb3 17.axb3 Qxb3 18.Qd3 Qb7 19.Qa6 Rfc8 20.Qxa7 Qxa7 21.Rxa7 g5!=. In this position with limited material the weakness of c6 does not matter much. We have good activity and the c4-square is in our hands, so it should be a draw. For example, 22.Bf1 Rb2 23.Rc1 Nb6 24.Ba6 Rb8 25.Rc7 Ra8 26.Be2 Rc8 27.Rxc8+ Bxc8 and there is not much White can do to create any play; the position is an easy draw. Returning to 15.Rb1, we can play 15...Nb6 as the consequences of e3-e4 are no longer frightening.

Play could continue 16.b3, as in Peek-Henrichs, Vlissingen 2005 (instead 16.e4 Qd7= … 17.Qd2 Rfd8 18.exd5 Nxd5!„ leaves Black well placed) and here most accurate is 16...h6= when White has simply nothing. For example, 17.Bf1 Rfd8 18.bxc4 dxc4 19.Qc1 Rbc8 and ...c6-c5 looks unstoppable. (M2b526) We will now focus on the more straightforward 14.b3: 14...Nb6

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This position has occurred in more than 60 games in the Mega Database and while I think Black should be fine, the score is in White’s favor. Let us check how things might evolve from here: 15.Rc1 This has been played by Kiril Georgiev against Halkias. The alternatives are not dangerous. For example: (a) Quick attempts to attack c6 fail: 15.bxc4 Nxc4 16.Qa4 Instead, after 16.Na4 Rab8 17.Nc5 Rb2 (17...Rb6 18.Re1 Rfb8 19.e4 Qf6„ is a nice variation) 18.Qa4 (18.Nd3 Rd2 19.Qb3 Bg4! 20.Rfe1!? Qf6„ was excellent for Black in A.Petrosian-Egin, Tallinn 1988) the fine reply 18...Rfb8!!„ sets the brilliant trap 19.Qxc6??

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19...Nxe3!! 20.fxe3 Bh3!–+. Back to 16.Qa4: 16...Rab8! 17.Rfb1 This looks like the most natural rook to bring to b1; that is because it vacates f1 for the bishop. Alternatively, after 17.Qxc6 Rfc8! 18.Qa6 (18.Nxd5 Qd8–+) 18...Nxe3³ Black regains the pawn with a better position, while 17.Rab1 should be answered by 17...Qa3! 18.Rb3 (18.Qxa3 Nxa3 19.Rxb8 Rxb8 20.Rc1 Kf8 21.Na4 Bf5³) 18...Qxa4 19.Nxa4 Nd2 20.Rxb8 Rxb8 21.Rc1 Rb4 22.Nc5 Bf5=. Let us return to 17.Rfb1:

17...Rbc8!? At first sight a strange computer suggestion, but the more I looked at it, the more I liked it. Black defends c6 and possibly prepares a run of his h-pawn. And as they say, he who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day. Black may evict the Rb1 with ...Be6-f5 and return with his rook to the b-file later. One line is 18.Qb4 (18.Qd1 Bf5 19.Rc1 Rb8∞ shows how the proverb can be vindicated) 18...Qf6 19.Na4 h5! 20.Nc5 h4 21.Rb3 Bg4 22.Rc1 hxg3 23.hxg3 Rfe8= with a typically great position for Black in the Tarrasch where activity compensates for the weakness of the c6-pawn. (b) 15.Qc2 is what Ahmed Adly played against me. After 15...Rab8 16.Rfc1 Rfc8 17.bxc4 Nxc4 18.Na4, I made the more passive luft like Citak did with 18...g6?! (18...h5!= had to be preferred) but even so I did not have any real problems: 19.Bf1 Rb4 20.Nc5 Qf6 21.Qc3 Rcb8 22.Bxc4 Rxc4 23.Qd2 Bh3 24.Nd3 g5=, Adly-Kotronias, Bursa 2010. I later blundered and lost the game but at this moment Black is doing fine. Let us return to 15.Rc1 now: 15...Rab8 16.Re1

642

This position arose in the game Kir.Georgiev-Halkias, Panormo 2001. Here I think White’s real threat has not been understood. It is not e3-e4 in my opinion, because that weakens the d-pawn. The advance e3-e4 is in general good when Black’s pieces are not harmoniously placed and mostly when b2-b3 has not been played. I think White’s main plan here is Nc3-e2-f4, and it is a very dangerous one, in conjunction with the retreat Bg2-f1, targeting our c4-pawn. We have to anticipate this plan in the best manner, and for this reason the move 16...Rfe8! is best. Then play could continue as follows: 17.Ne2 Most critical. After 17.Bf1 h6! 18.bxc4 Nxc4 19.Na4 Nb2 20.Nxb2 Rxb2 21.Rxc6 Reb8„ the game is equal as we have made luft and we will soon recover our pawn.

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17...Bg4! A strong move, to force a loosening of White’s kingside. 18.Qc2!? According to Brainstormfish, this is better than the moves listed below. However, Black is still fine. (a) Instead, after 18.h3 Bf5 19.Nf4 Be4! 20.Bf1 (20.Bxe4 Qxe4=; 20.f3 Bf5 21.e4 g5! 22.Ne2 Bg6 23.Qd2 f6∞ is a nice idea) 20...Qa3 21.Qd2 h6∞ the position is unclear. Black has pressure on a2 and b3, and this ties White up. Black should consider ...c6-c5 only when the white knight cannot reach d4 or White has resorted to some extravagance with his kingside pawn structure. (b) 18.Qd2 Qa3 is fine also for Black. 18...Qf6 19.h3 Bf5 Black should fulfil two tasks: Make luft and exchange bishops on the e4 square. This seems to be the correct way of playing the position. For example: 20.Qd2 20.Qc3 h6 21.Nf4 Be4 22.Bxe4 (22.f3 Bxf3 23.Bxf3 g5∞) 22...Rxe4 23.Kg2 Rbe8 24.f3 R4e7 25.bxc4 Nxc4 26.e4 Rb7 27.Re2 Rb6 28.Rcc2 Qd6 29.h4 a5 30.Qd3 Rbb8∞. 20...h6 21.Nf4 Be4= This completes my analysis of this critical variation and now we will proceed to look at more white possibilities.

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(M2b6) The next option we are going to look at is 11.Rc1. This move does not fit well with the bind, so we can now play 11...h6!? 12.Bxf6! (12.Bf4?! Qa5 is excellent for Black) 12...Bxf6 and at this juncture White has a choice between two plans. These are initiated by the moves (M2b61) 13.f4 or (M2b62) 13.Nxc6!?.

According to my way of thinking, in the new situation that has arisen, 13.Nxc6!? is best, aiming for pressure along the c-file. (M2b61) After 13.f4 Bxe5! 14.fxe5 b5! (my novelty), it turns out that Ra1-c1 is the least useful move White could have played in this set up. For example: 15.e3 15.Qd2 is perhaps better, not inviting the black knight to enter d3, yet after 15...Rb8!? (15...b4 16.Na4∞) 16.a3! (16.Rcd1?! b4 17.Na4 Qa5 18.b3 [18.Nc5 c3µ] 18...c3 19.Qc2 Bg4! is at least equal for Black) 16...a5 17.e3 b4 18.axb4 axb4 19.Ne2 (or 19.Na4 Rb5!³ and Black is ready to sac an exchange on c5) Black has enough counterplay.

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Now probably best is the pawn sac 19...c3!. That said, 19...Na5!? 20.Qc2 Qd7 21.Nf4 Nb3 22.Rcd1 Rbc8 also looks good enough for a draw, e.g. 23.h3! Bf5 24.Qf2 Be6! 25.Qc2! (or 25.e4!? dxe4 26.Bxe4 [26.d5 Bf5³ is risky] 26...Rce8!? 27.Kh2 c3 28.d5! Bf5 29.e6 fxe6 30.dxe6 Qxd1 31.Rxd1 Bxe4 32.bxc3 bxc3 33.Re1 Nd2 34.Re3 Rb8 and Black must be at least equal) 25...Bf5=. 20.bxc3 Na5 21.Qd3 b3

Now White should bail out by 22.Nf4 (22.Rb1 Qc8!) 22...b2 23.Rb1 Nc4 24.e4! dxe4 25.Qe2 Qb6! 26.Nxe6 Qxe6 27.Bxe4 Rb3! 28.Bh7+ Kh8 29.Bf5 Qd5 30.Be4 Qe6 31.Bd3 Rxc3 32.Bxc4 Qxc4=. Let us now return to 15.e3: 15...Rb8! 646

This is a position that has a good probability to appear after 11.Rc1. At this point I looked at many moves for White, but Black can come up with something against each and every one of them. I will not explain plans, I think you will understand the position better by looking at the variations below: 16.Ne2 I think this is the most principled follow up of e2-e3 on the previous move. Other include: (a) 16.Rf4 Nb4 17.Bf1 f6! 18.a3 Nc6 19.exf6 Rxf6=; (b) 16.Qh5 Nb4ƒ; (c) 16.Qf3 Ne7 17.Qe2 b4 18.Na4 Rc8 … 19.Nc5 Rxc5 20.dxc5 Qc7µ; (d) 16.Rc2 Nb4 17.Rd2 Nd3„; and (e) 16.Qd2 Nb4 17.Rb1 Nd3 18.a3 a5 19.Ne2 b4 20.axb4 Rxb4µ 16...Bg4!

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It turns out we can give up this precious bishop here as our remaining minor piece is strong enough. 17.Qd2 (17.Bf3 Bxf3 18.Rxf3 Nb4 19.Nf4 Nxa2 20.Ra1 Nb4 21.Rxa7 Nc6 22.Ra6 Qc8 23.Ra1 Qd7³ is at least equal for us) 17...Bxe2 18.Qxe2 Nb4 19.Rcd1 a5 20.e4 (20.b3 Qd7) 20...dxe4 21.Bxe4 Nd3„ Black’s counterplay is strong, making the position approximately even. (M2b62) Let us turn our attention to the more positional 13.Nxc6!?: 13...bxc6 14.b3!

Again, White has a good score from this position, and, again, I will say that Black is fine. 14...cxb3 Black must accept a weakness on c6; 14...Rc8 15.bxc4 dxc4 16.e3 Qa5 17.Qc2! (17.Qa4 Qxa4 18.Nxa4 Be7„) 17...Rfd8 18.Rfd1 Be7 19.Ne2!² gives White a slight initiative. 648

15.axb3 Qd7! It is a bit shocking for me that this has never been played. It is the first move I would think of. 16.Na4 Be7 It turns out that White has nothing here; two bishops outweigh a single weakness. Actually the pawn on b3 is weak as well.

17.Nc5 17.Qc2 Rfb8 18.Qxc6 Qxc6 19.Rxc6 Rxb3 20.Nc5 Rc3 21.Ra1 a5 22.Nxe6 Rxc6 23.Bxd5 Rxe6 24.Bxa8 Rxe2 25.Rxa5 Rd2 26.d5 Bf6 27.Rb5 Bd4 28.d6 Bxf2+ 29.Kf1 Bxg3 30.hxg3 Rxd6= is also not better for White. 17...Bxc5 18.Rxc5 Rfb8 19.Qc2 Rb6 Combining defense with attack. 20.Rc1 Rab8 21.Rxc6 21.e3 Rxb3 22.Rxc6 a5„ 21...Rxc6 22.Qxc6 Qxc6 23.Rxc6 a5!? 24.Ra6 Rxb3= Thus we have a lot of chances in the positions arising after 11.Rc1 and I would say it is one of the lines we can play for a win as much as White. (M2b7) The time has come for us to look at 11.f4!?: This is rightly considered as one of the main lines. Now we can avoid the bind by playing 11...Ng4! when a complicated position arises, with chances for both sides. I looked at four continuations here: (M2b71) 12.f5, (M2b72) 12.Nxc6, (M2b73) 12.Bxe7 and (M2b74) 12.Nxg4.

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Praxis has shown that 12.Nxg4 is is almost certainly best and for this reason it will be our main line. We will first check briefly the other options available to White and then we will be back to examine this critical move in some depth: (M2b71) 12.f5 leads to a forced draw: 12...Ncxe5 13.Bxe7 Qxe7 14.fxe6 fxe6 15.dxe5 Qc5+ 16.Kh1 Rxf1+ 17.Qxf1 Nf2+ 18.Kg1 Nh3+ and a draw was agreed in Farkas-Dupsky, Szeged 1998. (M2b72) 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.Qd2! (13.Bxe7?! Qxe7 14.Qd2 Bf5 15.h3 Qe3+ [15...Ne3!µ is stronger] 16.Qxe3 Nxe3 17.Rf3 Nxg2 18.Kxg2 Rfb8³ was better for Black in Euler-Seitaj, Bundesliga 1993).

13...f6! 14.f5! Bxf5 15.Rxf5 fxg5 16.Rxf8+ Bxf8 17.e4 Bb4 18.exd5 cxd5 19.Bf3 Nf6 20.Qxg5 Bxc3 21.bxc3 Qa5 22.Rb1 h6 23.Qe5 Re8 24.Rb8 Rxb8 25.Qxb8+ Kf7= leads to equality.

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(M2b73) 12.Bxe7 Nxe7 13.Qd2 is harmless. After 13...Nh6!? I like Black’s chances a lot, but the alternatives are also very good: (a) Comparing with what we already know from 11.Qd2 positions, 13...Nxe5 14.fxe5 Qd7∞, as played in Summermatter-Balashov, Lenk op.1991, is also a very acceptable way of continuing for Black. (b) Also good and the engines’ first choice is 13...f6 14.Nxg4 Bxg4 when 15.b3!? (15.e4 dxe4 16.Bxe4 Qb6!∞ as in Fioramonti-Miljanic, Mitropa-Cup 1990 is at least equal for Black) 15...cxb3 16.Rfb1 Qd7 17.Rxb3 Rfc8 18.a4 Rc7 19.a5 Rac8„ was fine for the second player in KrysztofiakMiton, Warsaw 2011. Let us now check the little known 13...Nh6!?:

After 14.e4! (14.h3?! f6 15.Nf3 Nhf5 16.g4 Nd6 17.f5 Bf7 18.Qf4 b5!³ was quite nice for Black in Onischuk-Graf, Alushta 1994) 14...dxe4 15.Bxe4 f6 16.Nf3 Qd7 17.d5 Bf7!= the chances were approximately level in Farago-Motwani, Vienna op 1991. The game continued 18.Rad1 Rad8 19.Qd4 Nhf5! 20.Qxa7 Nd6 21.Bc2 Nb5 22.Nxb5 Qxb5 23.Nd4 Qxb2 24.Rf2 and a draw was agreed in this equal position. (M2b74) Back to 12.Nxg4: 12...Bxg4

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13.Bxd5! The only move to pose a few problems. Instead: (a) 13.Nxd5?! has been played four times, and on every occasion, Black failed to find 13...f6! (13...Bxg5 14.fxg5 Qxg5 15.Rf4 Rad8 16.Qd2² occurred in these games) 14.Bh4 (14.Ne3 Bd7 will transpose) 14...g5! as pointed out later on by Golod. After 15.h3 (15.Ne3 Bd7 16.Bxg5 [16.fxg5 fxg5 17.Rxf8+ Bxf8µ] 16...fxg5 17.Nxc4³ gives White three pawns for the piece, but they do not fully compensate for it)

15...Bd7! 16.Nxe7+ Qxe7 17.d5 Nb4! 18.fxg5 Qe3+ 19.Kh2 fxg5 20.Qc1 Qxc1³/µ the ending is worse for White and I would be surprised if he could salvage a draw.

652

(b) 13.h3 Be6 is about equal. After 14.Bxe7 (14.e4!? Bxg5! [14...dxe4!? 15.d5 Qb6+ 16.Kh2 Rad8 17.f5 Bc8 18.f6 is unclear] 15.fxg5 Ne7³/= was excellent for Black in Erwich-Kilian, Germany 2008) 14...Nxe7 15.g4 f5 16.g5 Qd7 17.b3, as in Blees-Peek, Dieren 1986, Black should have played

17...b5!, not fearing 18.bxc4 bxc4 19.Na4?! in view of 19...Nc6 20.Nc5 Qd6³ and the white knight is actually cut off on c5. Now we return to examine the critical 13.Bxd5!: 13...Bxg5 14.fxg5 Qxg5 This is a position I analyzed for several days, eventually concluding that Black stands well. It is quite a difficult position to handle if you do not know the nuances, but if you do know them, it can be very rewarding. Let us take a look at my analysis:

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15.Rf4! Played in the huge majority of the games and widely believed to be the best move. I also checked the rare 15.Bxc4 just in case. After 15...Qe3+ 16.Kg2 Qxd4 17.Qxd4 Nxd4 18.Rad1! (18.Rf4 Nc2 19.Rc1 Ne3+ 20.Kf2 Nxc4 21.Rxc4 Be6 22.Rc7 Rab8 23.e4 f5 24.e5 f4 is a balanced ending) 18...Nc2 19.Rd3 (19.Nd5 Be6=) 19...Rae8 20.e4 Nb4 21.Rd2 Nc6 22.Bd5 Ne5!?= the machine says it is equal. 15...Be6! The best move, played by strong GMs Smbat Lputian and Stelios Halkias. The Bd5 has to be challenged right away. After 15...Rad8 16.Qd2² White is better. After 15...Be6! we have on the board an important tabiya that has been tested both in tournament practice and correspondence chess, and found to be fully reliable for Black. It is obvious that whatever chances for an advantage White has lie in keeping his strong bishop, and for this reason the two main moves are 16.Bg2 and 16.Be4.

16.Bg2 I have made this my main line as it is the move to which I have devoted a lot of time. (a) Instead, 16.e4?! Nb4 is better for Black because of the weakness of the d3-square. (b) 16.Bxc6 bxc6 17.Qa4 is practically untried, with only one game in the database. After 17...c5! (17...Qd8!? is another interesting move to look at, its main point being 18.Qxc6 g5!„) 18.Qa5 h6 19.Qxc5 Qxc5 20.dxc5 Rfc8 21.Na4, as played in Poleshchuk-Hernandez Munoz, corr 2007, I like 21...Rab8 22.Rc1 Rb4 23.b3 a5 24.Kf2 g5 25.Rd4 Kf8=. (c) 16.Be4 has received tests in correspondence chess with Black proving complete equality. The following two examples show how to do it:

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16...Ne7 Controlling d5 and preparing to harass the Rf4 from g6. 17.Qa4! This is the best choice. White wants to prevent any queenside expansion with it. After 17.e3 Rab8 (preparing ...b7-b5-b4) 18.a4 (18.d5 Rfd8=) 18...a6 19.a5 (19.d5 Rfd8=) 19...b5 20.axb6 Rxb6 21.Qe2 (21.d5 Bd7) 21...Rfb8 22.Ra2 h5 23.Bg2 Ng6 24.Rf1 h4∞ we get a very doubleedged position on the board. It is hard to say who is better here; it is probably dynamically balanced. 17...Ng6 This leads to some type of static structure but correspondence player Soltau is confident of Black’s chances. 18.Bxg6 hxg6 19.Rd1 Rfd8 20.Qb4 b6

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This critical position occurred in two of Soltau’s games. He drew both times by exploiting the rather awkward placement of the White queen: 21.Rd2 Instead, 21.e4 a5! 22.Qa4 (22.Qb5 Qxb5 23.Nxb5 Bd7³) 22...Rab8 23.Rd2 Rdc8 24.Qb5 Qd8 25.Qe5 b5 26.d5 Bh3 27.Rdf2 f6 28.Rxf6! gxf6 29.Rxf6 Qe8 30.Qg5 Rb7 31.Rxg6+ Qxg6 32.Qxg6+ Rg7 33.Qh6 Rh7 34.Qg5+ Rg7 35.Qc1 Rf7 36.Qg5+ and ½-½ is the impressive game Bern-Soltau, corr 2008. 21.a4!? is a move I would seriously consider, to give breathing space to my queen. However, even in that case 21...Rac8 22.e4 Bh3 23.Qb5 Qxb5 24.axb5 g5 25.Rf2 Ra8 26.Rfd2 a6 27.bxa6 Rxa6= leads to equality. Let us return to 21.Rd2: 21...Rac8 22.e4 Bh3 23.e5 Qh5∞ This position is extremely complicated and requires deep preparation for anyone who is going to enter it, irrespectively of color.

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After 24.Qa3 Rc7 25.Qa4 Bf5 26.h4 Bd3 27.Qd1 Qxd1+ 28.Rxd1 Rcd7 29.d5 b5 30.a3 a5 31.b4! axb4 32.axb4 Rxd5! 33.Nxd5 Rxd5 34.Kf2 g5 35.hxg5 Rxe5 36.Re1 Rxg5 37.Re8+ Kh7 38.Rc8 f6 39.Rc5 Re5= Black easily held the ending in Brugger-Soltau, corr 2011. Brilliant chess. We’ll now return to our main line 16.Bg2: 16...Rad8 17.d5 (a) 17.e3?! Nb4 18.Ne4 Qe7 19.Nf2 f5!³ is passive, and Black had obtained an edge against his illustrious opponent in Gurevich-Reyhan, Izmir 2003. (b) The prophylactic 17.Kh1 has been the most usual try, yet after 17...Ne7! Black stands fine as the following analysis shows: 18.Qg1 I do not believe in White’s compensation after 18.e4 Ng6 19.Qd2 (Agdestein-Lie, Tromsøe 2007) due to 19...Nxf4 20.gxf4 Qh6 21.d5 Bh3³; the remaining choice, namely 18.Bxb7 Ng6 19.Rf1 Qe3³, is also excellent for Black. 18...b5! 19.a3 a5 (19...Ng6!?; 19...a6!?) 20.e4 b4 21.Na4 Ng6 22.Rff1 Bg4 23.axb4 axb4„ This position held good counterplay for Black in Shulman-Miton, Lindsborg 2004. 17...Ne7

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18.e4 This has been almost exclusively played. 18.Rd4!? b5! 19.Qc1! (19.Qd2 Qxd2 20.Rxd2 b4 21.Na4 Nxd5 22.Rad1 c3 23.bxc3 bxc3 24.Nxc3 Nxc3 25.Rxd8 Nxd1 26.Rxd1=) 19...Qxc1+ (19...Qf6!? 20.Rf4 Bf5∞ could in fact be the best choice) 20.Rxc1 Bd7 is an ending requiring analysis. 18...Ng6 Black had excellent counterplay in Bacrot-Halkias, Istanbul 2003. After 19.Rf2 Bd7 20.Qd4 Ne5 21.Qxa7

we have reached the crucial moment of that game: 658

21...Nd3 21...Qh6!? 22.Bf3 Nd3 23.Re2 b6 would have been very good for Stelios. 22.Re2 22.Rff1!? Qe5 23.Qb6 Ra8!© is also tough for White. 22...Qe5 23.Qb6 Bg4 24.Rd2 Rd6 25.Qe3 f5 26.Rf1 Rdf6

Here Etienne panicked with 27.d6? (27.a4 h6∞ would have yielded unclear play) 27...Rxd6 28.h3 Bh5 29.Qg5 and now 29...Be8µ would have given Stelios a clear edge. For example, 30.Rxf5 Rxf5 31.Qxf5 Qxg3 32.Qc8 Kf8 33.Qb8 Kf7 34.Kh1 Bd7 35.Qc7 Kg6 36.Nd5 b5µ. Overall 11.f4!? is a very dynamic line and Black enjoys a fair share of the chances. (M2b8) With 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.b3, White signals his intention to play for a minimal advantage. After the principled 12...Qa5

659

there are the following options available to White: (M2b81) 13.Rc1, (M2b82) 13.Bd2, (M2b83) 13.Qc2, (M2b84) 13.Qd2 and (M2b85) 13.Na4. 13.Na4 became a main line by virtue of being the most natural choice as it goes for the c5-square immediately. However, the other continuations are also very interesting: (M2b81) 13.Rc1 is a logical move, keeping the d-pawn protected in order to meet 13...Rad8 with 14.bxc4 dxc4 15.Ne4. Konstantin Lerner has played it, so it deserves attention. Probably he intended, in reply to 13...Ba3, to sac the exchange by 14.Bxf6. 13...Rac8! Indicated by the machines after some thinking. (a) 13...cxb3?! 14.axb3 Rab8 15.Na4± plays into White’s hands. (b) 13...Ba3?! 14.Bxf6 Bxc1 is equal according to the engines, although after 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 (15...Qxc3 16.Bxf8 Kxf8 17.Qxc1±) 16.Qxc1 cxb3 17.axb3² I certainly prefer White; after all he has a pawn for the exchange, better structure and our king is weak. (c) The relatively unknown player Weinzettl came up with 13...Rfd8!? and drew against Lerner at the Graz open in 1995. His idea to post the rooks at d8 and c8 and opt for ...c6-c5 was correct, his move order incorrect. As he played, Lerner could have tried 14.bxc4!? (14.Na4 Rac8 is a transposition to 13...Rac8 and leads us back to that game) 14...dxc4 15.Ne4² when I think he would have been slightly better. 14.Na4 This will be our main line. However there are other options worth examining. (a) 14.bxc4 dxc4

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is also critical and now Stockfish considers as best the following logical queen move: 15.Qd2!? Instead, 15.Ne4 Nxe4 16.Bxe7 Rfe8 17.Bxe4 Rxe7= is equal, demonstrating a fine point of 13...Rac8!. I also analyzed intensely the following thematic continuation: 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.e3 Be7 17.Qa4 Qxa4 18.Nxa4 Rfd8= Here the position is also equal. It will be difficult for the white rooks to find proper squares to avoid being harassed by the black bishops in White’s attempt to stop ...c6-c5 and win the pawn on c4. For example, 19.Rfd1 g6! and I just cannot see progress for White; the key is to terminate the white knight before it becomes dangerous. Sample lines follow:

661

20.Rc3!? 20.Rc2 Bg4!= is a typical rook harassment as the rook cannot go to b1 with impunity. I think this is a very instructive piece of information to keep in mind. 20.Bf3 Rc7! 21.Kg2 (21.Rc2 Ba3=) 21...Ba3 22.Rc2 Kg7 is a classical situation where we wait to “kill” the knight. After 23.Nb2 Bxb2 (23...Bf5!? 24.e4 Bxb2 25.Rxb2 Be6 26.Rc2 f5 27.e5 Bd5=) 24.Rxb2 f5= we are threatening ...Be6-d5 and 25.Kf1 Bd5 26.Be2 c5„ allows us to break free. Attacking the pawn by 20.Bf1 allows 20...Ba3 21.Rc2 c5 22.d5 Rxd5 23.Rxd5 Bxd5 24.Nc3 Bf3 25.Bxc4 Rd8 26.Be2 Bc6=. Let us return to 20.Rc3!?: 20...Bb4! I feel that we should not give White a respite. After 20...Rc7?! White should prefer 21.Nb2!±, while 21.Rb1 Kg7 22.Bf1 c5 23.dxc5 Bxc5 24.Bxc4 Bd4! 25.exd4 Rxc4 26.Rxc4 Bxc4 27.Nc3², … 27...Rxd4 28.Rb4, also gives him the advantage. 20...Kg7!? might be possible, but then again why not prefer a clear solution when it exists? 21.Rc2 Ba3! Imprisoning the knight again. It should not be allowed to flee to the b2-square, as the variation 21...Kg7?! 22.Nb2 c3 23.Na4± clearly illustrates. 22.Nc3 After 22.Nb2 Bf5 23.e4 Bg4 24.f3 Be6 we have achieved a weakening of the d4-square that should lead to a trivial draw:

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25.Kf1 (25.Kf2 Rxd4! 26.Rxd4 Bc5³; 25.Na4 Bf8! 26.Bf1 Bg7 27.Bxc4 Rxd4 28.Rxd4 Bxd4+=) 25...Bxb2 26.Rxb2 Rb8 27.Rc2 c3 (27...f5„) 28.Rxc3 Rb2 29.Rxc6 Bd7 30.Rcc1 Ba4 31.Rb1 Rxa2 32.Ra1 Bb5+ 33.Kg1 Rxd4=. Back to 22.Nc3: 22...Kg7 (22...Bb4 is also good) 23.Rb1 (23.Ne2 g5=; 23.h4 h6 24.Bf3 g5 25.hxg5 hxg5 26.g4 f5 27.gxf5 Bxf5 28.e4 Be6„) 23...Rc7 24.Bf3 Bf5 25.Be4 Be6=. White has reached his maximum, but his knight or bishop cannot reach a decent square to pressurize c4. Let us return to 15.Qd2!?; after it we should play 15...Rfd8 with the following likely continuations:

16.Rfd1 663

Equality arises after 16.Rc2 h6 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.Ne4 (18.e3 c5 19.d5 Bxc3 20.Qxc3 Qxc3 21.Rxc3 Bxd5 22.Bxd5 Rxd5 23.Rxc4 Rd2 24.a4 Rc6=) 18...Qxd2 19.Nxf6+ gxf6 20.Rxd2 c3= … 21.Rd3 Bxa2 22.Rc1 c5!=. 16...Qa6! 17.e4 This weakens the d4-pawn; 17.e3= is safer. 17...h6 18.Bf4?! Bc5 19.Ne2 Bxd4 20.Nxd4 c5 21.Be5? cxd4 22.Bxd4 c3!! 23.Rxc3 Qa4 24.Rxc8 (Panov-Liamtsau, corr 2013) 24...Bxc8!–+

The reader is advised to investigate how this position wins for Black, all the more so as the win was overlooked in a correspondence game! (b) Other 14th move options for White also do not offer anything special. For example 14.Qd2 Rfd8=, or (c) 14.Qc2 h6 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.e3 cxb3 (16...c5 17.Nxd5 cxd4 18.bxc4 dxe3 19.Nxe3²; 16...Rfd8 17.bxc4 dxc4∞) 17.axb3 c5 18.Nxd5 cxd4 19.Nxf6+ gxf6 20.Qd3 dxe3 21.Qxe3 Rxc1 22.Rxc1 Qg5 23.f4 Qb5=. Let us go back to 14.Na4: 14...Rfd8

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15.Qc2 Now we are back to the Lerner game. (a) Romanishin played riskily in his game against Braun at the Hockenheim tournament of 2006 with 15.Bd2 Qa6 16.b4?! Bf5 17.a3 Ne4 18.Be1 and was rewarded after the inaccurate 18...Rb8?!. Instead, 18...Nd6!³ prevents f2-f3 and e2-e4 and looks just bad for White, e.g. 19.f3? Nb5µ. After Black’s inaccuracy there followed 19.f3 Nd6 20.e4∞ when White had obtained an unclear position. (b) 15.Bxf6 gxf6! (15...Bxf6?! 16.Nc5 Qxa2 17.bxc4! [17.Nxe6 fxe6=] 17...dxc4 18.Rc2!±) 16.Qc2 will also transpose to the Lerner-Weinzettle game, but White has two additional tries: 16.e3 Ba3 17.Ra1 c5„ or 16.bxc4!? dxc4 17.Nc3 Ba3 18.Rc2 Bb4 19.Ne4 Kg7 20.e3 c5! 21.Qf3 cxd4 22.Qxf6+ Kg8 23.exd4 Bf8 with a mess that should probably end in a draw. We return to 15.Qc2: 15...c5 Weizettl employes the main idea that was also used by Halkias in his game with Skembris.

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16.Nxc5 Bxc5 17.dxc5 Qxc5 18.Bxf6 gxf6 19.Rfd1 Qa3 Very clear-cut play; it turns out White has nothing. 20.Qd2 cxb3 21.axb3 Rxc1 22.Rxc1 Rb8! 23.h4 Qxb3 24.Bf3 Qb2 25.Rc2 Qe5 26.Ra2 Rb1+ 27.Kg2 Ra1 28.Rxa1 Qxa1 29.h5 Kg7 30.Bxd5 Here a draw was agreed in Lerner-Weinzettl, Graz 1995. (M2b82) 13.Bd2 should be answered with the following typical retreat: 13...Qa6! 13...Bb4 is also possible as we will see later. After 13...Qa6! the resulting position is good for us. For example: 14.bxc4 Qxc4 15.Qa4 Qxa4 16.Nxa4 Ne4= The knight is heading towards c4 and the game is level. (M2b83) Halkias, Haritakis and Vouldis have analyzed 13.Qc2 Rad8!? extensively, considering the position playable.

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The diagram occurred in several of Stelios’ games and he was in general successful. After 13...Rad8!? there are four options for White: (M2b831) 14.e3, (M2b832) 14.Rfd1!?, (M2b833) 14.Rad1!? and (M2b834) 14.Na4!. 14.Na4! is the best move, played by GM Spyros Skembris; we will return to it after first disposing of the alternatives: (M2b831) 14.e3 allows Black to carry out the thematic 14...c5! as analyzed by Halkias and Haritakis. Then 15.bxc4 (15.dxc5!? Qxc5³) 15...cxd4! (15...dxc4?! 16.d5! Nxd5 17.Bxd5 Bxg5 18.Bxe6 fxe6 19.Ne4²) 16.Nxd5! (16.exd4 dxc4³; 16.cxd5 Nxd5 17.Bxe7 Nxe7 18.exd4 Rxd4= … 19.Rfd1?! Rc4!µ; 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.cxd5 dxc3 18.dxe6 fxe6³) 16...Nxd5 17.cxd5

17...d3! 18.Qc4 (18.Qb3 Bxd5 19.Bxd5 Bxg5 is similar; 18.Qd1 Bxg5 19.dxe6 fxe6³ is better for 667

Black as the passed pawn here is very strong) 18...Bxd5 19.Bxd5 Bxg5 20.e4 d2 21.Rad1 Rb8∞ should be about equal. (M2b832) 14.Rfd1!? was played by Khenkin against Stelios, but should not bother Black: The incisive 14...h6!

produces the following crossroads, where apparently both directions lead to equality: 15.Bd2! 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.Na4!? (16.bxc4 dxc4 17.e3 c5! 18.Ne4 Be7³) 16...Bg4! is Stelios’ idea and is excellent for Black as the following lines show: 17.bxc4 17.h3 Bh5 18.Qd2! (18.bxc4? Bg6–+) 18...Qxd2 (18...Qb5!? 19.Re1 Be7 20.Nc3 Qa5, as in K.Arkell-Halkias, Gausdal 2002, is also very good for Black) 19.Rxd2 Rb8 20.e3 was the continuation of Kozul-Halkias, Ohrid 2001, and is nothing short of equal after 20...Be7 21.bxc4 Rb4 22.Nb2 Rfb8=. 17...dxc4 At this point White has to find an unbelievable “only” move to stay in the game:

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18.e3!! Instead, the obvious 18.Qxc4 is close to losing after 18...Qb5! (18...Bxe2 19.Qxe2 Qxa4=) 19.Qxc6 Qxe2! 20.Nc3 Qe8!!³/µ. The amazing power of the bishops in full swing! 18...Bxd1 19.Rxd1© Here White probably has enough compensation to draw. Incredible! Let us return to 15.Bd2!: 15...Qa6 16.Be1 c5 Blasting the center open and ensuring equality.

After 17.bxc4 cxd4 18.Nxd5 Nxd5 19.cxd5 Bxd5 20.Bxd5 Rxd5 21.Qe4 Rd7 22.Bc3 Bf6 23.Bxd4 Rfd8 24.e3 Bxd4 25.Rxd4 Rxd4 26.exd4 Qa4 it is obvious we are heading towards a draw. 669

(M2b833) 14.Rad1!? should be answered as follows: 14...h6! 15.Bxf6! The safe way, leading to a draw. 15.Bd2 Qa6∞ leads to good chances for Black. 15...Bxf6 16.e3 c5 17.bxc4 dxc4 18.d5 Qxc3 19.Qxc3 Bxc3 20.dxe6 fxe6= (M2b834) Back to 14.Na4!: 14...c5! I could find nothing better than this thematic treatment by Stelios, but it is enough. However, probably equally good is 14...h6 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.e3 Be7 17.bxc4 dxc4 18.Rfd1 (18.Bxc6 Rc8! is fine for Black who will push the pawn to c3 in case the bishop retreats) 18...Qa6!, intending to plant our bishop on a3. Then 19.Nb2! (19.Bf1 Ba3!; 19.Rab1 Ba3!) 19...Ba3! 20.Bf1 Bxb2 21.Qxb2 c5 22.dxc5 Qa5 leads to even chances as Black regains his pawn. Let us go back to 14...c5!:

15.Nxc5 15.dxc5 Bxc5 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.Rad1 is not better for White because of 17...Be7, and we want to put our rooks on c8 and d8, to exploit the bad position of the Na4. Then 18.Rd4 (18.e3 Rc8 19.Bxd5!? cxb3! 20.Qxb3 Bh3=) 18...f5 19.Rfd1 Bf6 20.Rf4 Be5 21.Rxf5 Bxf5 22.Qxf5 Rfe8 is just dangerous for White because of the bad Na4. 15...Bxc5 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.dxc5 Qxc5 Stelios believes that from this point on in his game against Skembris, the two players played the best moves and the result was logically a draw. I agree with this conclusion. 18.Rac1 Rc8 19.Rfd1 (19.Qc3 d4 20.Qf3 Qe5 21.bxc4 Rxc4 can only be worse for White) 19...Rfd8

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20.Qd2 20.e3 d4 21.Rxd4 Rxd4 22.b4 Rd1+ 23.Rxd1 Qxb4 24.Be4 c3 is dangerous for White but engines show 0.00. 20...Kg7! 21.Qf4 (21.Qd4?? Qxd4 22.Rxd4 cxb3–+; 21.e3 Bg4!; 21.b4 Qd6 22.e3 Bg4„) 21...Qa5 22.Rc2 d4! 23.bxc4 Rxc4 24.Rxc4 Bxc4 25.Bf3 Be6! 26.Qd2 (26.Rxd4 Bh3!µ) 26...Qxa2 27.Qxa2 Bxa2 28.Ra1 Bd5 29.Bxd5 Rxd5 30.Rxa7 d3= And draw was agreed in Skembris-Halkias, Athens 1998; this looks like a really well played game. (M2b84) 13.Qd2 Rad8 will transpose to the 11.b3 main line. (M2b85) Let us now examine the immediate 13.Na4: 13...Rab8!? The best move according to IM Aggelos Vouldis, and I think he is right. 14.bxc4 It is important for White to capture immediately, to deny Black the ...Rb8-b4 resource. (a) The point of having the rook on b8 is to reply to b3xc4 with ...Rb8-b4 among others. So in the position after 14.e3!? we are better poised than in the other lines:

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14...Bf5! We deny White the c2-square for his queen and stop ideas of gaining tempi for a queenside initiative by hitting our bishop by Bg5xf6 and Na4-c5. 15.bxc4 I do not see anything better for White here, but now we can use our standard idea: 15...Rb4! 16.Nc5 Rxc4 17.Qf3 Bc8 18.Bxf6 Bxf6 (18...Bxc5! is also excellent) 19.Rac1 Rxc1 20.Rxc1 Qxa2= The position is quite equal. (b) 14.Bxf6 is possible, but we have enough resources to meet it: 14...Bxf6 15.e3 Instead, 15.Nc5!? is answered by 15...Bf5™ 16.bxc4 dxc4 with Black getting satisfactory counterplay as the following analysis indicates:

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17.Rc1!? This looks best. After 17.e3?!, we can play 17...Be7!³; 17.e4?! succumbs to 17...Rfd8!µ, e.g. 18.Rb1™ 18...Rxb1 19.Qxb1 Bc8 20.e5 Bxe5 21.dxe5 Qxc5µ. On 17.Rc1!? there follows 17...Qxa2 18.e4 Bc8 19.e5 Be7 20.Bxc6 Rd8 21.Qf3 Bxc5 22.dxc5 Be6 23.Be4 Qa5 24.Qe3 Rb5!„ with a double-edged position which I believe to be approximately equal. Let us get back to 15.e3: 15...Bf5! Again, this typical move. 16.bxc4 There is nothing else here, otherwise White could easily be worse. For example, 16.Qe1 is well answered as follows:

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16...Qb4!? 17.Qxb4 Rxb4 18.Rfc1 Be7 19.Nc5 Bxc5 20.dxc5 Rfb8! 21.Bf1 Be6 22.bxc4 dxc4 23.a3 Ra4 24.Bg2 Ra5 25.Bxc6 Rxc5 26.Ba4 c3 27.Kf1 Rb2 28.Ke1 g5!µ and Black triumphed in OnischukHalkias, Panormo 2001. 16.Nc5 Be7 17.Qf3 (17.bxc4 Bxc5³) 17...g6³ is also better for Black. Back to 16.bxc4: 16...Rb4! Thanks to this resource, Black is able to take on c4 with the rook and obtain excellent chances. Witness the following game:

17.Nc5 Rxc4 18.Nb3?! (18.Qf3! g6! [18...Bc8 19.Rfc1 Rxc1+ 20.Rxc1 Qd2 21.Qd1²] 19.g4 Rxc5 20.gxf5 would have led to approximate equality; now White’s game gradually goes downhill) 18...Qa3

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19.Qf3 Bd3 20.Rfe1 Be7 21.Bf1 Be4 22.Qg4 Rc2³ and Black won in Grivas-Halkias, Panormo 2001. (c) Finally, 14.Qc2!? takes away the important resource ...Be6-f5 from Black but loses some time; perhaps Black can play 14...g6!?∞ anyway. Instead, 14...Rfc8!? 15.Bf4! (15.bxc4 Rb4 16.Nb2 Qb6 17.Rab1 Rb8 18.cxd5 cxd5 19.Na4 Qxd4 is equal) 15...Rb7 16.bxc4 Rb4 (16...dxc4!?) 17.Nb2

is equal after the accurate 17...Qa3! which as far as I can see in the database has never been played. I do not know if the move has been suggested anywhere, so with some reservation I will call it my novelty. Instead, 17...Qb6?! 18.c5! (18.Rab1 dxc4 19.Na4 Qa5 20.Rxb4 Bxb4 21.Bc1 Nd5 22.a3 Bf8 23.Bd2 Qa6 24.Ra1 as in Bareev-Grischuk, Wijk aan Zee 2002, looks level after 24...Rb8=) occurred in Schubert-Bach (!), Germany 1998; The two bearers of the great musicians’ names seem to have played better than the two super GMs in their game, but this should not surprise us much in this era of improved chess understanding: After 18.c5! the best defense for Black seems to be 18...Qb7! (18...Qb5 19.Rab1! [19.Nd3 Rxd4 20.Rab1 Qa6∞ was unclear in Schubert-Bach] 19...Rxd4 20.Be5² is better for White) 19.Rab1 Rxd4 20.Be5 Rb4 21.Nd3 Rxb1 22.Rxb1 Qd7², reaching the position of the diagram below:

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This position is aesthetically pleasant for White and I deemed it appropriate to find something better than this. Returning to the better 17...Qa3!, there might follow 18.Bc1 dxc4 19.Nxc4 Rxc4 20.Bxa3 Rxc2 21.Bxe7 Rxe2 22.a4 Bd5 23.Bxf6 gxf6 24.Rfc1 Rb8 25.Bxd5 cxd5 26.Rab1 Rxb1 27.Rxb1 Ra2 28.Rb5 Rxa4 29.Rxd5 a5= with a barren rook ending. Let us now go back to 14.bxc4: 14...dxc4 14...Rb4?! does not work with the bishop on e6 because of 15.cxd5!²

15.Bd2 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.Nc5 Bg4! 17.h3!? (17.Ne4 Rb2 is better for Black) 17...Rfd8 18.Ne4 Bxd4 19.hxg4 676

Bxf2+∞ is very unclear but I would gladly take Black. 15...Qa6! In my opinion the strongest move. 15...Qd8?! was given by Vouldis who presented a lot of analysis to justify it. Alas, he missed 16.Qc2!², when Black cannot play 16...Qxd4 because of 17.Bf4± and he must lose an exchange to avoid losing his queen. 16.Qc2 Rfd8 17.e3! (17.Rab1 Rb5 18.e3 Bf5 19.e4 Bg6 20.Be3 Ra5 21.Nc3 Nd5„ allows Black counterplay) 17...h6 18.Rfb1

18...Rb5! 19.Rd1 (19.Nc3 Bf5 20.e4 Rxb1+ 21.Rxb1 Bg6 22.Be3 Nd5„ is similar to the line just given above) 19...Nd5!? 20.Bf1 (20.a3 Rb3 21.Nb2 Nb6„) 20...Nb4 21.Bxb4 Rxb4 22.Nc3 Qa3= I think Black has leveled the game. (M2b9) Now we will proceed to examine the immediate 11.b3 which is the ultimate main line of Part III (b): 11...Qa5 Again, the standard move. Now there is a parting of the ways: (M2b91) 12.Rc1, (M2b92) 12.Bd2!?, (M2b93) 12.Na4 and (M2b94) 12.Qd2!. (M2b91) 12.Rc1 Rac8! 13.bxc4 (13.Nxc6 bxc6 transposes to Lerner-Weinzettl, featured under 11.Nxc6) 13...dxc4 leaves White with nothing better than 14.Nxc6 bxc6, also analyzed under the above-mentioned game. (M2b92) I also looked at 12.Bd2!? This move is really interesting. 12...Bb4!? I do not believe this has been refuted. As far as I can see, the only problem is that it allows some 677

draws. Another possibility is 12...Qb6, but White gets a slight advantage as follows:

13.e3! I found this to be the most annoying continuation for us. (a) Weaker is instead 13.Nxc6 Qxc6=. (b) I also checked 13.bxc4!? Qxd4 14.cxd5 Nxd5 15.Nxc6 bxc6 coming to the conclusion that Black holds. For example: 16.Rc1 In case of 16.Nxd5, the reply 16...cxd5! grants Black an excellent outpost on c4 for his Rooks and allows full equality, a sample line being 17.Be3 Qc4 18.Bd4 Rfc8 19.Qd2 Qc2! 20.Qe3 (20.Rfd1 Qxd2 21.Rxd2 a5 22.Bf3 Rc4 23.Be3 Ra4 24.Rc1 h6=) 20...Bc5 21.Rfd1 Bxd4 22.Rxd4 Rc5=; control of the c-file in conjunction with pressure against a2 nullifies the weakness of d5. Returning to 16.Rc1, the logical continuation is 16...Nxc3 17.Bxc3 Qxd1 18.Rfxd1 Rad8=, which is nothing to really worry us. For example, after 19.Rxd8 Rxd8 20.Bf3 (20.Bxc6 Rc8=) 20...c5= White cannot aspire to any advantage; 20...Rb8= is also quite level. Back to 13.e3!: 13...cxb3 14.Qxb3! Qxb3 15.axb3 Rfc8 16.Nd3!

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This ending is unpleasant for Black, e.g. 16...Nb4 (16...h6 17.Nf4 Bb4 18.Rfd1 Bxc3 19.Bxc3 g5 20.Nxe6 fxe6 21.Bf1 Kf7²) 17.Nf4 a6 18.Rac1 h6 19.e4 dxe4 20.Nxe4 Nfd5 21.Nxd5 Nxd5 22.Nc5 a5 23.Rfd1 Ra7 24.Bf3² Let us return to 12...Bb4!?: 13.Nxc6 bxc6 14.Qc2 c5!? It seems this has been wrongly condemned. 15.a3 cxb3 16.Qb2! Bxc3 17.Bxc3 Every source says this is better for White. But the computers have a different opinion.

17...Qb6! The assumption that Black is worse has its roots in the game Bareev-Lputian, Kharkov 1985, which 679

continued 17...Qa4? 18.dxc5 Rfc8 19.Bd4 Nd7 20.Rac1 f6 21.Rfd1 Rab8 22.Rd3 Rc7 23.h4 Bf7 24.Rcc3± and White was dominating the play. But we can do better! 18.dxc5 Qxc5 19.Bxf6 It turns out that Black is not at all worse after 19.Bb4 Qb6 20.Bxf8 Rxf8 21.Rac1 a5 22.Rfd1 h6 23.Rd2 Qb7 24.a4 Ne4 25.Rd4 Rb8 26.e3 Qe7 27.Bxe4 dxe4 28.Rxe4 Qf6! 29.Rb1 Rc8= because of his monstrous pawn on b3. 19...gxf6 20.Qxb3 The choice of a 3100-rated machine; 20.Rac1 Qb6 21.Qxf6 b2= should lead to a draw by perpetual check. 20.Qxf6 Rfc8= is similarly ok for Black. 20...Rac8 21.Rfd1 d4 22.Qd3 Rfd8

In the following fight of monsters, there was no winner. The game is balanced: 23.Be4 h6 24.Rab1 Qe5 25.f4 Qc5 26.Rb5 Qf8 27.Qf3 Rc5 28.Rxc5 Qxc5 29.Bd3 Kg7 30.Kf2 f5 31.Qb7 Qxa3 32.Qc7 Rd5 33.Rb1 Qa5 34.Qb8 Rc5 35.Qd6 Rd5 36.Qb8 Rc5 37.Qd6 Rd5 38.Qe7 Rc5 39.Rb8 Rc1 40.Kg2 Qe1 41.Kh3 Qf2 42.Qd8 Kg6 43.Rb5 Kg7 44.Rb8 Kg6 45.Rb5 Rg1 46.Qg8+ Kf6 47.Qh8+ Kg6 48.Qg8+ Kf6 49.Qh8+ Kg6 50.Qg8+ ½-½ Xiphos 0.2.2 64-bit-Booot 6.1 64-bit, CCRL 2018. (M2b93) Another main choice is 12.Na4. Then 12...Rac8 13.bxc4 (the critical reply) 13...Nxd4!? was the continuation in Rogozenko-Bach, Hamburg 1999. 13...dxc4 was initially liked by IM Aggelos Vouldis. He gave 14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.Bxf6 (15.Bd2 Qd8„) 15...Bxf6 as the critical continuation, which was subsequently tested in several games. I get the impression though that White is a bit better after 16.Nc5.

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So, let me return to my preferred 13...Nxd4!?: After 14.cxd5! (14.Qxd4?! Qxa4 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.Bxd5 Rfd8 17.e4 b5³) 14...Bxd5! the game reached a critical position:

15.Qxd4! This is what Rogozenko played. Weaker instead are: (a) 15.Bxd5? Qxd5 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.Ng4 Nxe2+! 18.Qxe2 Bxa1 19.Rxa1 Qc4–+ and (b) 15.e4? Bxe4 16.Bxe4 (16.Qxd4 Rfd8 17.Qe3 Bxg2 18.Kxg2 Qxa4–+; 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.Nd7 Bxg2 18.Nxf6+ gxf6 19.Kxg2 Qd5+–+) 16...Nxe4! 17.Bxe7 Qxe5 18.Bxf8 Kxf8–+ e.g. 19.Re1 Qd5 with multiple and unanswerable threats. (c) Finally, 15.Bxf6? Bxf6 16.Nd7 has a similar fate after 16...Bxg2 17.Nxf6+ gxf6 18.Kxg2 (18.Qxd4 Bxf1 19.Rxf1 Qe5–+) 18...Nc2–+ After 15.Qxd4! Black failed to find the best move 15...Rcd8! in Rogozenco-Bach, but as we shall see after first examining the alternatives listed below, it was found in a subsequent game. (a) Weaker is, instead, 15...Rfd8?! 16.Qf4±, but (b) 15...Bxg2!? 16.Kxg2 Rcd8 17.Qb2™ (17.Qf4 Nd5µ) 17...h6! (17...Qxa4 18.Qxb7±; 17...Rd5 18.Nf3 Qxa4 19.Qxb7 Qe4 20.Bxf6 Bxf6 21.Rad1±) 18.Bf4 (18.Be3 Qxa4 19.Qxb7 Nd5 20.Nc6 Nxe3+ 21.fxe3 Qe4+ 22.Rf3 Rde8 23.Nxe7+ Rxe7) 18...Qxa4 19.Qxb7 Nd5 20.Nc6 Nxf4+ 21.gxf4 Bf6 22.Nxd8 Bxa1 23.Rxa1 Rxd8 24.Qf3 Rd4 25.e3 Rd2 26.a3 Qc2© appears to be playable. After the correct 15...Rcd8!, this is what may happen:

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16.Bxf6 (16.Nxf7? Rxf7! 17.Qh4 Bxg2 18.Kxg2 Rd5 19.Be3 g5!–+; 16.Qb2 Qxa4 17.Rad1 Bxg2 18.Rxd8 Rxd8 19.Kxg2 Qa5 20.Nf3 b6 21.Qb3 h6 22.Bf4 Qd5 23.Rc1 Bc5 24.Qxd5 Rxd5 25.Ne1 g5 26.Bb8 Rd2 27.Nd3= was Ly-Solomon, North Geelong 2012) 16...Bxf6 17.Qc5 Qxa4 18.Bxd5

18...b6! 19.Qc6 (19.Bb3 bxc5 20.Bxa4 Bxe5=) 19...Qxc6 20.Nxc6 Rxd5 21.Rad1 (21.Rfd1 Rc5 22.Rac1 Rc8=) 21...Rc5 22.Nxa7 Rc2 23.e3 Ra8 24.Rd7 Rxa2 25.Rc1 h6 26.Rcc7 Rb2∞ (M2b94) Let us now go back to 12.Qd2!: 12...Rad8! Thanks to this brilliant move, the Tarrasch lives on. White should basically choose between (M2b941) 13.Nxc6 and (M2b942) 13.bxc4 at this point. 682

13.bxc4 The most logical reply, yet the alternative requires elaboration too. But let us dispose of a weak move first: 13.Rfd1? as played originally in Wang Rui-Sadorra, Singapore open 2004, should be dismissed in view of 13...Nxe5! 14.dxe5 d4! 15.exf6 dxc3 16.Qc2 as played in the game. Here Black failed to find the best continuation, but do not worry, it was subsequently found by our Tarrasch hero Stelios Halkias: 16...Rxd1+! 17.Rxd1 cxb3 18.axb3 Bxf6 19.Bxf6 gxf6 20.Rc1 Rd8 21.h4 Qc5 22.Kh2 Rc8 23.Bxb7 Qxf2+ 24.Kh1 Rb8 25.Qe4 Kh8 26.Rg1 c2 27.Rc1 Qxg3 28.Qd4 Qh3+ and 0-1, Harika-Halkias, Caleta 2010. (M2b941) 13.Nxc6 bxc6 is the other important position and now White has: (M2b9411) 14.e3, (M2b9412) 14.Rfd1, (M2b9413) 14.Na4, (M2b9414) 14.bxc4.

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14.bxc4 was randomly chosen as a main line here; it leads to equality, but the alternatives are no better or worse. Let us have a look at them first: (M2b9411) 14.e3 c5„ is excellent for Black. (M2b9412) 14.Rfd1 Bb4 15.Bxf6 (15.Rdc1 Ba3 16.Rc2 Bf5 17.Bxf6 gxf6 18.e4 will transpose; 15.Rac1 c5! 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.bxc4 cxd4 18.Qxd4 Bxc3 19.Qxc3 Qxc3 20.Rxc3 dxc4„ leads to a typical ending that is very good, if not better for Black) 15...gxf6 16.Rdc1 Ba3 17.Rc2 (17.Rd1 Bb4) 17...Bf5 18.e4 dxe4 is considered by Schandorff as good for White, but there is no advantage:

19.Qe3!? The best I could find for the first player.

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Instead Schandorff gave 19.Bxe4, but after 19...Bb4! 20.Bxf5 Qxf5 21.bxc4 Rfe8 22.Rb1 (White deemed it better to bail out with 22.Rb2!? Qa5 23.Rb3 Bxc3 24.Qxc3 Qxc3 25.Rxc3 Rxd4= in Sacripanti-Repanic, corr 2016) 22...a5ƒ Black’s excellently centralized heavy pieces in conjunction with the dangerous pin render the white position problematic. The other alternative, namely 19.bxc4, is answered by 19...Bc5! 20.Nxe4 Qxd2 21.Rxd2 Bxd4! (21...Rxd4 22.Nxf6+ Kg7 23.Nh5+ Kh6 24.Rxd4 Bxd4 25.Rd1 Rd8 26.Bf3²) 22.Rad1

22...Bg4! 23.Rxd4!? Bxd1 24.Nd6 Be2 25.Bxc6 Rb8 26.Be4 Rb2 27.c5 Rxa2 28.c6 Ra1+ 29.Kg2 Rc1 30.Nf5 a5 and Black is at least equal. After 19.Qe3!? play becomes sharp: 19...Qb6! 20.Ne2 c5! and here White has the following choice:

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21.bxc4 Suggested by the engines. (a) Instead 21.d5 Rxd5 22.Rxc4 Bb2∞ is at least not worse for Black, who is structurally worse but has two bishops and an extra pawn. (b) 21.Qf4 Bg6 also offers White nothing special: 22.Rxc4 (22.Bxe4 Rfe8! 23.Bxg6 hxg6 24.dxc5 Bxc5 25.bxc4 Qc6³) 22...cxd4 (22...f5!?) 23.Bxe4 Rfe8 (23...d3 24.Nc3 d2 25.Rd1∞) 24.Bxg6 hxg6„ The engines originally think highly of 21.bxc4, yet after 21...cxd4 22.Qxa3 d3 23.c5 (23.Rb2 dxe2 24.Rxe2 Rd3„, e.g. 25.Qb2 Qxb2 26.Rxb2 Rc3=) 23...Qb5 24.Qb2 Rb8! they are forced to change their mind:

25.Qxb5 (25.Nd4 Qd7!) 25...Rxb5 26.Rd2 dxe2 27.Rxe2 Rxc5 28.Bxe4 Re8= (M2b9413) Finally, 14.Na4 is a logical move, opting for the ending.

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14...Qxd2 15.Bxd2 cxb3 16.axb3 Rb8 16...Ne4 17.Ba5 (17.Bf4!?) 17...Rb8 18.Rfb1 Bf5 19.f3 Ng5 20.Rb2 Ne6 21.e3 Rb5 22.b4 Bd3 23.Rc1 Rfb8 24.Rxc6 g6 25.Rd2 Bxb4 26.Bxb4 Rxb4 27.Nc3 Bc4 28.f4 Rd8 29.Bf1 Bb3 30.Na2 Rb7 31.Rb2 Rdb8 32.Nc3 Rb6 33.Rxb6 Rxb6 34.Rb1 Nc7 35.Bd3 and ½-½ was Brodsky-Ikonnikov, Le Touquet 2007. 17.Rfc1 Rfc8

18.Nc5 Bxc5 19.dxc5 (19.Rxc5 Rxb3 20.Rxa7 Ne4 21.Bxe4 dxe4=) 19...Rxb3 20.Rxa7 Ne4„ Black has enough counterplay to secure a draw. (M2b9414) Let us go back to 14.bxc4: 14...dxc4 687

Here the queen is exposed on the d-file to the Rd8’s direct pressure so White should have nothing at all. The following analysis verifies this:

15.Bxc6 Of course the first question is what happens if White takes the pawn. However, as we shall see, we are fine. (a) Alternatively, 15.Rad1!? Qa6 (15...h6 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.Ne4 Qxd2 18.Nxf6+ gxf6 19.Rxd2 c3 20.Rd3 Bxa2²; 15...Bb4 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.Rc1 Rd6!? looks quite interesting) 16.Qc2 h6 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.e3 Rb8 19.Rb1 Be7 20.Ne2 Bd6∞ is a typical position with good play for Black. (b) 15.Rfd1 Qa6 16.e4

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This was tested in the following correspondence game: 16...h6 17.Bf4 (17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.Qe3 Bg4³) 17...Bc5 18.Ne2 Bxd4! 19.Nxd4 c5 20.Be3 cxd4 21.Bxd4 Rd7 22.Qc3 Rfd8 23.Rd2 Qc6 24.Re1 Ne8 25.Be3 Rxd2 26.Bxd2 Nc7 27.Qa5 Rd7 28.Rb1 Kh7³ and Black went on to win in Bredenhof-Vecek, corr 2012. Let us check 15.Bxc6 now: 15...Bb4! 16.Rac1 (16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.Rac1 Qb6=)

16...Qb6! 16...Rd6 17.Bxf6 gxf6 as in M.Gurevich-Galdunts, Gonfreville 2006, does not look so convincing. 17.d5 Rxd5! 18.Bxd5 Nxd5 19.Be3 Qb7! 20.Bd4 20.Rb1 Nxc3 21.Qxc3 a5 is also equal, e.g. 22.f3 Qe7 23.Qe5 f6 24.Qe4 Rc8 25.Rfc1 c3 26.Kf2 Qf7 27.Rxb4 axb4 28.Qxb4 Bxa2 29.Rxc3 Rxc3 30.Qxc3 h5 and well, White can play on in vain for a 100 moves but nothing will be achieved. 20...Nxc3 21.Bxc3 Bh3 22.f3 Qb6+=. A draw is in sight. (M2b942) Back to 13.bxc4:

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13...Nxd4!! After this move it is a draw. 14.cxd5! (a) 14.Qxd4 dxc4 15.Qe3 allows Black to display his main idea, namely 15...Bc5! 16.Qf3 Bd4! forking the white knights. Then 17.Bxf6 gxf6 18.Nxc4 Qxc3 19.Qxc3 Bxc3 can only be better for Black. (b) 14.Nxd5 Qxd2 15.Nxe7+ Kh8 16.Bxd2 Nxe2+ 17.Kh1 Rxd2 18.Bxb7 Re8 19.N7c6 Bh3!µ is better for Black. The continuation 20.Nxf7+ Kg8 21.Ng5 Bxf1 22.Rxf1 Rxa2 23.Nf3 a5 24.Nce5 a4 25.c5 Nc3 26.Ba6 Kf8 27.Bc4 Rb2 28.Bd3 Nce4 29.Kg2 Nxc5 30.Ra1 Ra8 31.Nc4 Nxd3 saw Black cash the full point in Dalakian-Bach, Hamburg 2009. 14...Bb4! 15.Bxf6 gxf6 16.Qxd4 Bxc3

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We have reached the last crossroads in Part III (b): 17.Nc4!? 17.Qh4 Bxd5 18.Ng4 (18.Qxf6 Bxg2 19.Qg5+ Kh8=; 18.Bxd5 Qxd5 19.Ng4 Qg5 20.Rac1 Qxh4 21.gxh4 Be5∞) 18...Bxg2 19.Kxg2 Bxa1 20.Rxa1 Rd6 21.Nxf6+ Kg7 22.Nh5+ Kg8 23.Rd1 Rfd8 24.Qg4+ Kf8 left White struggling to draw in Aleksandrov-Zamruk, Minsk 2007. 17...Bxd4 18.Nxa5 Bxa1 19.dxe6 Bc3 20.e7 Bxa5 21.exd8=Q 21.Bxb7 Rd2 22.exf8=Q+ Kxf8= 21...Rxd8 22.Rb1 b6 23.Rc1 This is Sargissian-Halkias, Aix les Bains 2011, and of course the result was a draw. The simplest way to handle the ending is 23...Rd2=.

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Tarrasch Repertoire: Part IV (a) 2.Nf3, The Tarrasch Gambit and White’s Alternatives after 9.dxc5!? Bxc5 [D34] I guess the last section of Part III (b) must have been pretty baffling for most of you dear readers, but this is life, and this is chess. Sometimes to make an opening work, authors simply have no choice but to give lines, lines, lines. And even lines without explanations in some cases, as no matter how much strategy is important in chess, the core of our beloved game is tactics. Without tactical mastery and tactical justification of your strategy you will not be successful at chess, even more so in the Tarrasch which is by nature a tactical opening. I have to admit that while writing some sections of this book I have been baffled myself, in particular the last section of Part III (b). This happened because there were many nuances in the Nd4xc6, ...b7xc6 positions. Black’s main issue was placing his rooks correctly in each White configuration and it is somehow perplexing to seek and explain in the limited space of a book the reason for every different reaction of ours to those configurations. I would recommend that if you fail to understand everything in such cases, you should make a table of all possible white moves and Black’s reactions to them and memorize it. You should memorize at least the first black move against each white option, because it is usually the first move that carries the greatest weight. I think that making this table will actually help you understand the position much better; it is mainly the overview that helps us understand things better. Fortunately in Part IV, which we are now entering, things will be a bit more straightforward. The isolani positions are relatively simpler than those positions where Black plays ...c5-c4 and here we will get good isolani positions with maximum activity for our pieces and limited white control over the d4square. In fact, in some of the positions that will be examined in Part IV, the d-pawn will actually be pushed to d4, cramping the enemy and giving us a space advantage, as we shall see. Part IV has been divided in two sections, Part IV (a) and Part IV (b). Part IV (a) will deal with every white possibility after 9.dxc5 Bxc5, except the absolute main line of this book, namely 10.Bg5. This important bishop move will be the exclusive topic of Part IV (b). From my point of view, I must say that I found Part IV of this book as the most interesting to write, perhaps because I liked the space Black controlled, and the freedom enjoyed by his pieces. That does not mean however that the positions are not critical; what I am trying to say is that here we can rely more on general principles, more than in Part III (b) for example. I hope you will enjoy studying these vintage Tarrasch positions as much as I did. 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Most people will play this, going for a standard Tarrasch with a N on c3. However, there are some nuances in the 2.Nf3 move order that need to be discussed. So the material of Part III (b) demanded a slightly different classification which will be as follows: (A) 2.Nf3

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With this move order White might opt for a favorable Fianchetto Tarrasch version by delaying Nb1c3, c4xd5, but we can transpose to a good Catalan as we will see below. (B) 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.g3 Nf6 7.Bg2 Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.dxc5!? d4?! This is the so-called Tarrasch Gambit and not really our repertoire choice; however I decided to look at it as it illustrates many typical Tarrasch motifs. (M) 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.g3 Nf6 7.Bg2 Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.dxc5!? Bxc5! This will be the main line of Part IV (a), dealing with all white tries except 10.Bg5. So, let us get down to work and see how we can resist White’s efforts to obtain the advantage: (A) 2.Nf3 toys with the idea of idea of playing c2-c4 or not, so we should force White to declare his intentions by 2...c5. Then, moves like 3.c3 or 3.e3 will transpose to lines examined in Part V, but here we will deal with a special move order which involves both c2-c4 and g2-g3 but does not include the early moves Nb1-c3 and c4xd5 in White’s set-up. The idea behind this particular sequence is to employ the tempo saved by the omission of Nb1-c3 to take on c5 quickly and cause Black some inconvenience with an early a2-a3. In his effort to achieve the desired set-up White should be accurate with his move order too; I looked at (A1) 3.g3 and (A2) 3.c4!. 3.c4! This is the best move here. (A1) Instead, 3.g3

is something I would regard as an opportunity for us to play for a win. After 3...cxd4 4.Bg2! (4.Nxd4?! e5 5.Nb3 Nc6 6.Bg2 Be6 7.0-0 Be7! has long been known to give Black at least a slight edge, one typical example being 8.f4 [8.e4 Nf6 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Bd2 0-0 11.Nc3 Nb6!³] 8...exf4 9.Bxf4 Nf6 10.Nc3 0-0 11.Kh1 Rc8³/µ and Black had all the trumps in HarikaMuzychuk, Beijing 2012) my recommendation is 4...Qa5+!?, trying to avoid a Grünfeld with colors 693

reversed and an extra tempo for White.

5.c3!? This pawn sacrifice looks like the best possibility for White, but I am not sure how many of your opponents will know or find this move. Besides, tournament practice indicates that the resulting positions are easier to play with Black, as he has a plus score after 5.c3!? in the Mega Database. (a) One move that I surely do not like for White is 5.Kf1?!; this has been played by GM Ivan Sokolov once and also by my good friend Serbian GM Zlatko Ilincic, but I find the move extravagant and rather unjustified as it gives up castling without having any concrete compensation in the form of open lines or development. Here is how I would like Black to proceed in this case: 5...Nf6 6.Nxd4

6...e5! 694

Albeit rarely played, this is the obvious and correct move. Who said that taking space with gain of time is bad? 7.Nb3 Qc7! I find it hard to believe, but a strong player like Chandler failed to retreat his queen to this fine square in a game against Csom, preferring instead the more clumsy withdrawal to b6. I see no reason for us to imitate him, as c7 is a good and natural option that keeps the b-pawn unblocked, controls c4 and supports e5. I think that all these factors should suffice to give us a plus.

8.f4! Effecting a breach in Black’s proud pawn center is the only way for White to stay in the game. After the more static 8.Nc3?! d4 9.Ne4 Nxe4 10.Bxe4 a5 11.a4 f5 12.Bd5 Nc6 13.Nd2 f4!?µ White’s game goes downhill rapidly. 8...Bd6 9.Nc3 0-0 10.Nb5 Qb6 11.Nxd6 Qxd6 12.c4! Re8 13.cxd5 e4 14.Qd4 b6 15.h3 Bb7 16.Kg1 Na6 17.Bd2 Nc7 18.Kh2 a5 19.Rhd1 Ncxd5³

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We have more space and the white queen is badly placed, as she lacks good retreats. I do not think we need to discuss this any further, as it is obvious that Black is better and, besides, there should be other advantageous ways of treating the position along the sequence of moves that led us here. (b) 5.Nbd2?! is equally unappealing from White’s perspective, because after this he can wave goodbye to his pawn forever without achieving any serious activity in return: After 5...Nc6 6.0-0 e5

I have been unable to unearth a shred of counterplay for the first player. 7.Nb3 Instead, 7.a3 Nf6 8.b4, as in Kowalczyk-Tomczak, Wroclaw 2017, is best answered by 8...Qc7µ to be followed by ...Bf8-d6, when I fail to see White’s compensation.

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7...Qd8 8.Ne1 a5 9.a4 We have followed Tran-Senador, Ho Chi Minh City 2011. Here most convincing is 9...h5!µ when White not only is a pawn down but could soon be facing a dangerous attack as well. (c) Finally, 5.Nfd2 does not impress either, in spite of being slightly better than 5.Nbd2. After 5...Nc6 6.0-0 Qd8 7.c3 dxc3 8.Nxc3 e6 9.Nf3 Be7 10.Qb3 Nf6 11.Rd1 Qb6! 12.Qxb6 axb6 13.Bf4 00 14.a3 Bc5³/µ White’s compensation for the pawn is very, very dubious, e.g., 15.b4?! Be7 16.Bc7 Bd7! 17.Bxb6 Rfc8!. Let us now return to 5.c3!?: 5...dxc3 6.Nxc3 Nf6 7.0-0 e6

This is the critical position for the evaluation of White’s opening idea. It seems that the position is balanced but he needs to tread with precision: 8.Bd2! This modest bishop move looks best. GM Vazquez Igarza has played 8.Bg5?! here, but this move is hardly good. After 8...Be7 9.Nd4, as played in Vazquez Igarza-Godart, Caleta 2017, the incisive 9...h6! takes the sting out of any e2-e4 ideas which are White’s only trump in the position. I cannot see equality in that case for the first player. Perhaps his best option is 10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.e4, but then, the accurate 11...Qb6 12.Nb3 dxe4 13.Nxe4 Be7 14.Qh5 Nc6 15.Rfd1 0-0 16.Nd6 Qb4!³/µ denies White real compensation. 8...Be7 9.e4 dxe4 10.Nxe4 Qd8 11.Ne5

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We have arrived at an important moment. Black must also be careful as the following example shows. 11...Nd5! I think that this strong idea of mine equalizes the chances. Instead, the weaker 11...Nbd7? occurred in Jirka-Cernousek, Svetla nad Sazavou 1998, but beware, this move is a blunder. White missed the tactical shot 12.Nxf7! which would have given him a winning position after 12...Kxf7 13.Ng5+ Kg8 14.Nxe6 Qb6 15.Re1 Nf8 16.Nf4 Bc5 17.Qe2+–. 12.Nc3 0-0 13.Rc1 Nc6 14.Nxd5 exd5 15.Nxc6 bxc6 16.Rxc6

16...d4!

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I think that this strong human idea equalizes, in typical Tarrasch fashion. When I tried this move against the computer it took it a lot of time to realize there is nothing for White. In the end it was drawn in the following manner: 17.Qh5 (a) Originally the silicon monster gave an optimistic +0.40 evaluation in White’s favor after 17.Bf4. However in that case, the simple variation 17...Bb7 18.Rc4 Bxg2 19.Rxd4 Qa5 20.Kxg2 Qxa2= forces it to eventually adjust the assessment to the modest 0.00. (b) 17.Rc1 is another harmless move. After 17...Rb8 18.Re1! (18.b3?! Ba3³) 18...Ba6 19.b3 Ba3 20.Rb1 Bd3 21.Bg5 Qxg5 22.Qxd3 Bb4 23.Re4 Bc3 24.h4 Qc5 25.Bf1 Rbe8 26.Rxe8 Rxe8 27.Qf3 g6 28.Bc4 Qe7 29.h5 Kg7=, another 0.00 evaluation is reached. Returning to 17.Qh5, after 17...Bb7 18.Be4 g6 19.Rxg6+ hxg6 20.Bxg6 fxg6 21.Qxg6+ Kh8 22.Qh6+= the game ends in a perpetual check. (A2) Let us return to 3.c4!: 3...e6 4.g3 This introduces the idea I referred to in the comment after 2...c5. 4...Nc6 Of course, we can also play an immediate 4...dxc4 here. 5.Bg2

One could easily argue that I it would have been better for me to analyze this position under Part I or Part II (a), but I have preferred to keep it here because, rightly or wrongly, this was the structure in my original notes. 5...dxc4! In this manner we transpose to a form of Catalan that is very comfortable for Black. This is the 699

weakness of this particular move order for White. What our opponents hope for is 5...Nf6 6.0-0 Be7 7.dxc5!? 0-0 (7...Bxc5?! 8.a3! displays White’s idea in its purest form, as 8...0-0?! 9.b4 Bb6 10.Bb2 Qe7 11.Nbd2 Rd8, reached in Matlakov-Ginsburg, Skopje 2015, is better for White after the simple move 12.Qc2±) and here there are a few options White may employ to seek a slight edge such as 8.cxd5!? for example, hoping for 8...exd5?! (8...Qxd5² is preferable) 9.Be3!±. I believe there is no reason to allow him have such aspirations.

In the diagrammed position White has a choice between the following moves: (A2a) 6.Na3, (A2b) 6.0-0 and (A2c) 6.Qa4!. 6.Qa4! had to be our main line here; it seems to me that White should already be thinking about equality and this is the best move to achieve it. Witness the following examples if you consider my comment exaggerated and I believe you will be convinced: (A2a) 6.Na3 The very strong young Russian player Ponkratov has played this move recently, but it does not seem to end up well for White: 6...cxd4 7.Nxc4 Bc5 8.0-0 Nge7! The most harmonious development. Instead, 8...Nf6 9.Bf4 0-0∞ transposes to an unclear Catalan position which has been contested in practical play several times. Here we can take advantage of the fact our knight is not yet on f6 to develop it to a better square. 9.a3 a5 10.Qc2 0-0 11.Rd1 f6 12.e3 12.Bd2! Bd7 13.Nxa5!! Nxa5 14.b4 d3 15.exd3 Bxf2+ 16.Kxf2 Nac6 17.d4 is the only way to equalize for White, but even so I prefer Black after 17...Nd5„ in the ensuing dynamic position. 12...e5³

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Now Black has time to support d4, which is what he was angling for when he played ...f7-f6.

13.Ncxe5?? A rare blunder for a player of Ponkratov’s class, but the position was already worse for him; 13.exd4 Bxd4 14.Be3 Bg4µ leaves White struggling. 13...fxe5 14.Ng5 (14.Qxc5 Bg4–+ is simply curtains) 14...Ng6 15.h4 Ba7 16.Qc4+ Kh8 17.Nf7+ Rxf7 18.Qxf7 Bg4 19.f3 Qd7 20.Qxd7 Bxd7 Black had an overwhelming advantage and went on to win in Ponkratov-Vokhidov, St. Petersburg 2018. (A2b) 6.0-0 cxd4 can be similar to Ponkratov-Vokhidov above if White now plays 7.Nbd2! which seems to be his best chance. (A2b1) Instead, the common 7.Qa4?! looks rather pointless after 7...Bd7 8.Qxc4 e5!

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I cannot see much for the first player and I believe that his ½/4 score in the database reflects the situation on the board: 9.e3 This is apparently the best try according to the computer. Instead, 9.Ng5? is a clear error because of the as yet untried 9...Qe7! when White can no longer intensify his attack against f7 and will be pushed back. For example, 10.Na3 (10.Bd5 Nd8 11.f4 Rc8 12.Qb3 Nf6 13.Bg2 e4 14.Nd2 Bc6 15.Qc4 Qd7! 16.Bh3 Ng4 17.Bxg4 Qxg4 18.Qxd4 Ne6 19.Nxe6 fxe6! 20.Nb3 Be7 21.Be3 h5!µ is another line illustrating that White’s strategy is a complete failure) 10...Rc8 11.f4 h6 12.Nf3 e4 13.Nxd4

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13...Qc5! 14.Rd1 Nxd4 15.Qxd4 Qxd4+ 16.Rxd4 Bc5 17.Be3 Bxd4 18.Bxd4 Nf6 19.Bxf6 gxf6 20.Bxe4 Bc6µ and White does not have compensation for the exchange. Let us now return to 9.e3: 9...Rc8 10.Qb3! Worse is 10.Qe2 Be7 11.exd4 exd4 12.Nbd2 Nf6 13.Nb3 0-0 14.Nfxd4 Nxd4 15.Nxd4 Bc5 16.Be3 Qb6 17.Nb3 Bxe3 18.Qxe3 Qxe3 19.fxe3 b6³ with the better structure for Black as well as some winning chances.

10...Bc5! This is my strong novelty over 10...Be6 11.Qa4 Qd7?! (11...Bd7!) 12.exd4 e4 13.d5! Nb4 14.Qxd7+ Bxd7 15.Ne5 f5 16.Nc3 Nf6 17.Rd1 Bd6 18.Nxd7 Nxd7 19.Bh3„ when the position was merely unclear in De Oliveira-Tyrlik, corr 2008. 11.exd4 Bxd4! 12.Nc3 Nge7 13.Nxd4 Nxd4 14.Qxb7 Rc7 15.Qe4 Ng6

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16.Qa8!? Qxa8 17.Bxa8 0-0 18.Be4 Be6³ Black maintains the initiative because of his much better placed pieces and light square control. White’s bishop pair ensures him of some drawing chances, but he will still have to work hard for equality. (A2b2) Returning to 7.Nbd2!, the “human” 7...Bc5! will take us to Ponkratov-Vokhidov, but there is also 7...Qd5!? which makes a good impression if Black is only intent on equalizing, e.g. 8.Qc2 d3 9.exd3 Qxd3 10.Qxc4 Qxc4 11.Nxc4 Nf6 12.Rd1 Be7 13.Nfe5 Nxe5 14.Nxe5 0-0 15.Nc4 h6 16.a4 Nd5 17.Ne3 Rd8 18.a5 a6 19.Nxd5 exd5 20.Rxd5 Be6 21.Rxd8+ Rxd8 22.Be3 Rd7=. (A2c) We will now return to 6.Qa4!: 6...cxd4 7.Nxd4 Qxd4 8.Bxc6+ Bd7

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9.Be3! The only correct move! After 9.Bxd7+? Qxd7 10.Qxc4 Rc8 11.Qf4 Bd6 12.Qd2 Bb4 13.Nc3 Qc6 14.0-0 Nf6 15.Qg5 Bxc3 16.bxc3 0-0µ Black had the advantage in Bindrich-Vokhidov, St. Petersburg 2018, and he went on to win. What is astonishing though, is that his opening expertise clearly surpassed that of seasoned grandmasters, because it is really a weird situation for a 2600 player like Bindrich to get the following position with White after 16 moves, even if that was only a blitz game:

It seems that young Vokhidov has done his homework on this particular line! 9...Bxc6 10.Qxc6+ Qd7! This is my preference, avoiding making any weaknesses. After 10...bxc6 11.Bxd4 Bb4+ Black is also fine, but has to exercise some caution: 12.Kf1! On 12.Nc3 f6 13.a3, as played in Georgescu-Fier, Eforie Nord 2010, best is 13...c5! 14.axb4 cxd4 15.Nb5 Kf7 16.Kd2 (16.Nd6+ Kg6=) 16...Ne7 17.Rhc1 c3+ 18.bxc3 dxc3+ 19.Rxc3 Rhd8+ 20.Rd3 Rxd3+ 21.Kxd3 Nc6 22.Kc4 a5=. 12...f6! 12...Nf6!? is also possible, and after 13.Kg2 Black has to go for 13...0-0-0! with good chances to equalize, but I have found our task to be laborious in this ending. 13.Kg2 Ne7 14.Rc1 c5 15.Be3 Nd5 16.Rxc4 Nxe3+ 17.fxe3 Ke7 18.Kf3 Rhc8 19.Nc3 Bxc3 20.Rxc3 Rab8 21.b3 h5= Black held the ending without too many problems in Armani-Engelhard, corr 2016. 705

Let us return to 10...Qd7!: 11.Qxc4

11...Nf6 12.0-0 a6 13.Qb3 Be7 14.Rd1 Black also stands very well after 14.Nc3 b5 15.Rfd1 Qb7 16.a4 b4 17.a5 h5 18.h4 0-0 19.Na4 Rad8! (19...Ng4 20.Bb6 Rac8 21.Qd3²) 20.Bb6 Rxd1+ 21.Qxd1 Rc8=. 14...Qb5!! This is the memory marker for this line. After other moves, the queen would be subject to further harassment and we would end up worse. Now the equalizing process is smooth. 15.Qxb5+ axb5 16.Rc1 (16.Nc3 b4 17.Nb5 0-0 18.a4 bxa3 19.bxa3 Rfc8=)

16...h5! 706

In all positions that can arise from here, having a luft prepared is good, and the text accomplishes that graciously. 17.Nd2 Inviting Black to demonstrate his idea. Alternatively: (a) 17.Rc7? Nd5 18.Rxb7 0-0-0µ is disastrous for White. (b) 17.h3?! h4 18.g4 Nd5 19.Bd4 Nf4µ is also bad for the first player, the weakening of the f4-square brings him serious troubles. (c) 17.Nc3 b4 18.Nb5 0-0 19.Rc7 Nd5 20.Rxb7 Rfb8 21.Rxb8+ Rxb8 22.Nd4 Bf6= is a complete draw as White cannot untangle. (d) 17.a3 Nd5 18.Bd4 0-0 19.Nc3 Nxc3 20.Rxc3 b4= allows Black to exchange his weakness and leads to a trivial draw. (e) Finally, 17.h4 Nd5 18.Bd4 0-0 19.Nc3 Nxc3 20.Rxc3 Rfd8 21.Rc7 Rxd4 22.Rxe7 Rd2 is a position in which the luft comes in handy, as White does not have any tactics based on our back rank. The game is completely drawn as 23.Rxb7 Rxb2 24.a4 Ra5 25.Rc1 Rxa4 26.Rc8+ Kh7 27.Rxf7 Rxe2 28.Rcc7 Rg4 29.Rc5 b4= shows. 17...Kd7!= With the knight on d2, this fine king move is made possible. We will follow up with ...Rh8-c8 enjoying a fair share of the chances.

I think this continuation convincingly demonstrates that White has nil chances to obtain an advantage in the line in which he omits Nb1-c3 and c4xd5. We will now proceed to examine the main topics of Part IV: 2.c4 2...e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.g3 Nf6 7.Bg2 Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.dxc5!? 707

In the opinion of many players, this is an annoying continuation as Black will no longer have the chance to unbalance the play by ...c5-c4, but I think that if someone is annoyed to have this position on board he should not be playing the Tarrasch. As I said earlier, White does not have very good control over d4 here and obtaining it will not be easy without making concessions. Meanwhile, Black’s prospects in the center and especially down the e-file look bright, so I have no reason to believe Black should be worse here and my analysis verified this opinion. As I have already mentioned in the start of Part IV (a) here the material splits into the rather dubious (B) 9...d4?! and (M) 9...Bxc5! which will be our repertoire choice. 9...Bxc5! First and foremost, we should regain our pawn, as these are crude times where romantic gambits are not easily justified. (B) That said, I have not found a convincing refutation of 9...d4?! and perhaps there is not one, but in any case it was difficult for me to recommend this line to Black players. They will have to struggle on trying to prove compensation and in this fight White appears to have the better practical chances. 10.Na4! 10.Nb5 Bxc5 11.b4 (11.Qc2 Qe7=) 11...Bxb4 12.Bb2 d3 13.exd3 looks equal after 13...Qa5! 14.a4 a6 15.Nbd4 Nxd4 16.Nxd4 Re8 17.Nb3 Qd8 18.a5 Rb8 19.Qf3 Qd6=. 10...Bf5 We have arrived at the key crossroads for the so-called Tarrasch Gambit: I analysed (B1) 11.Qb3?!, (B2) 11.a3, (B3) 11.b4!? and (B4) 11.Bf4.

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11.Bf4 is the move Aagaard and Ntirlis gave as a refutation of the line in their Tarrasch book. I am not sure that their move can be a refutation of the line though; in fact the bishop does not seem to belong on the f4-square. (B1) The only thing I am sure of is what White should not play: 11.Qb3?! Blocking the b-pawn like this is hardly going to work. 11...Qd7 12.Rd1 So far this is Samuel-Tica, Durban 2014, and here I have an easy and good novelty for Black: 12...Be6! 13.Qb5 Rad8„ Black has real compensation for the gambit pawn as both the Na4 and the white queen are displaced. (B2) A move used by the majority of top players is the natural 11.a3, preparing to defend the c5pawn by b2-b4 and enable the Na4’s retreat to b2. However, I will not agree with the way Black players have treated this poisonous little move.

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11...b5!? This is my recommendation for those who wish to venture the gambit. It has been played in only two games where Black lost, but I believe it deserved a better fate. My plan is to clarify the atmosphere on the queenside and reach a position where I can play for a blockade on the light squares. I do not believe that much in the popular alternatives 11...Ne4 and 11...Be4. 12.cxb6 axb6 Here we are at the crossroads again. I have to admit that in the beginning I only wished to present readers with some information on the gambit and nothing more, but then I gradually noticed it resisted attempts of a direct refutation, as in the variations given right below: 13.b4 I concluded that this is best for White. (a) Instead 13.Nh4 Be4! 14.f3 Bd5 15.Nf5 Be6 16.Nxe7+ Qxe7!∞ looks unclear. (b) Another logical continuation is 13.Bd2, planning to bring the rook quickly to c1.

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After 13...b5 14.Rc1 Rxa4 15.Rxc6 Be4 16.Rc1 Qd5 17.Bh3!? (intending Nf3-g5) 17...h6! (17...d3 18.Bg2! is an interesting point) 18.Ne1 Qh5 19.Bg2 Rc4 20.b3 Rcc8 21.Rxc8 Rxc8 22.Bc1 Bxg2 23.Nxg2 Ne4! 24.Qxd4 Qxe2 25.Nf4 Qf3 it seemed to me, however, that Black has just enough counterplay to draw. A sample line: 26.b4 Rd8 27.Qe3 Qxe3 28.Bxe3 g5 29.Ne2 (29.Re1!? f5©) 29...Bf6 30.Kg2 Rd3 31.Rc1 Rxa3 32.Rc8+ Kh7 33.Rb8 Ra2! 34.Nc1 Rc2 35.Nd3 Nd6 36.Bc5 Ne4 37.Rxb5 Rd2 38.Ne1 Re2! 39.Nf3 (39.Kf1 Rd2©) 39...g4 40.Nh4 Bxh4 41.gxh4 f5!©. (c) Finally, I also looked at 13.Bg5 h6 14.Nh4 Bd7 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.Rc1 Bxh4 17.Bxc6 Bxc6 18.Rxc6 b5„ concluding that Black is no worse. Let us return to 13.b4: 13...b5 14.Nc5 Bxc5 15.bxc5 Be4!

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This is the position that suited well my aesthetics for Black: He has control of the light squares, White’s queenside pawns are broken up, and the one on c5 actually hampers his own activity. The engines were pessimistic about Black’s chances, but I kept confronting them with typical human moves and in the end they “agreed” that this might be tenable for the second player: 16.Qb3 16.Bg5 is nothing to worry about as after 16...h6 17.Bxf6 Qxf6 18.Ne1 Bxg2 19.Nxg2 Rfd8 20.Nf4 Qe7 21.Nd3 Ne5 Black wins the c5-pawn and should ultimately be fine. 16...h6 17.Rd1 It seems logical to target the d-pawn, however the alternatives are no less interesting: (a) 17.Qxb5 Ra5! 18.Qb3 Rxc5 19.Bd2 Qa8!© is the standard configuration on which I have been pinning all my hopes for Black’s survival in this particular line and it seems to work. (b) After 17.Bb2 I embarked on the same plan: 17...Ra4! 18.e3 Qa8!! 19.exd4 Na5 20.Qd1 Nc4 21.Bc3 Nd5 22.Bb4 Rd8!©

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Just take a look at this diagram. It is a beautiful sight of coordination of the black pieces. Here actually the engines discovered a brilliant idea to break the bind with a piece sacrifice, but I believe Black survives in the end: 23.Re1!! Nxb4 24.axb4 Rxa1 25.Qxa1 Bxf3 26.Qxa8 Bxa8 27.c6 (after 27.d5 the cool 27...Kf8! forces White to push his pawn to c6 anyway, with a transposition) 27...Kf8 28.d5 Re8 29.Ra1 Ke7 30.Ra7+ Kd6 31.Rd7+ Ke5 32.c7 Rc8 33.f4+ Kd4

34.Rd8 Rxc7 35.d6 (35.Rxa8 Kc3=) 35...Rc6!! 36.d7 Rd6 37.Bxa8 Nb6 38.Bg2 Rxd7 39.Rb8 Rd6 40.Bf1 Kc3 41.Bxb5 Kxb4 42.Be8 f5=. Let us return to 17.Rd1: 17...Nd7! 18.Bd2! (18.Bb2? Nxc5! 19.Qxb5 Ra5 20.Qc4 Bd5 21.Qc2 Bb3µ is a variation featuring a series of blows at the end of which an exchange falls) 18...Re8! Black’s compensation persists. 713

Sample lines: 19.Qb2 19.Qxb5 Qf6! 20.Re1 Rab8 21.Qc4 Nde5 22.Nxe5 Nxe5 23.Qa2! (23.Qa4 Ra8 24.Qb4 Rab8 25.Qxb8 Rxb8 26.Bxe4 Ng4 27.f3 Re8!„) 23...Bxg2 24.Kxg2 Rbd8 25.Bf4 Ng4!„ gives Black strong counterplay and should lead to a draw after correct play by both sides. 19...Ra4 Once more, this is a configuration that pays dividends. 20.Bb4 Qa8 21.Rac1 Nf8! Black is fine. The engines suggest 22.Rxd4 Nxd4 23.Qxd4 as a possible continuation for White, but then the re-grouping 23...Ng6 24.Bf1 Ne7! seems to keep the balance. Thus, Black has succeeded in repelling the first wave of attack, but I believe you will agree with me if I say, “That was close!” Let us now check another, at least equally dangerous possibility for the defense: (B3) 11.b4!? Why lose time? This is a logical reaction from White and could be his best chance.

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11...d3 There is nothing else for Black here, which is an omen that perhaps things are not so good. I checked three continuations for White, namely (B3a) 12.b5, (B3b) 12.Ba3!? and (B3c)12.e3!. Before presenting you the analysis I would like to state that 12.e3! is the move that creates the most problems for Black and puts the whole Tarrasch Gambit under a cloud. (B3a) I would also be a little bit worried after 12.b5 dxe2 13.Qxe2 Bd3 14.Qb2 Bxf1 15.Bxf1 Na5 16.Bf4 Qd5 17.Qe2!, however the following very fine rook move defends: 17...Rac8!! 18.Qxe7 Rfe8 19.Qd6 Qxf3 20.Qd1 Qe4 21.Rc1 Red8 22.Qc2 Qb4! 23.Bg5 Rd5 24.Rb1 Qe4 25.Qxe4 Nxe4 26.Be3 Nxc5! 27.Nxc5 Rdxc5 28.Bxc5 Rxc5=. In the final position, 29.Rd1 can be met by 29...Rc8! 30.Bh3 Re8 31.Rc1 Kf8 and Black has defended against invasions to his second rank. (B3b) 12.Ba3!? is another dangerous exchange sacrifice. Ekaterina Kovalevskaya who is an expert on the Tarrasch Gambit did not find the correct antidote in the following game: 12...dxe2 13.Qxe2 Bd3 14.Qb2 Bxf1 15.Rxf1

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So far so good, but here Black incorrectly pushes the b-pawn two squares: 15...b5?! 15...b6! 16.b5 Na5 17.c6 Nc4 18.Bxe7 Qxe7 19.Qc2 Ne5 20.Nd4 g6 21.Nc3 Qc5 22.Nce2 Qxc2 23.Nxc2 Kg7 should hold. 16.Nc3? 16.Ne5! Nxe5 17.Qxe5 Rc8 18.Nc3± would have been strong, creating an initiative thanks to the threat Rf1-d1. Perhaps Black can still defend, but the position is difficult. 16...a5„ Now Black was back on track in Zhu-Kovalevskaya, Shenzhen 2011. I believe we will see more of this interesting exchange sacrifice in the future. (B3c) Let us now return to 12.e3!: 12...Nxb4

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13.Rb1! This move creates a lot of problems for the gambit, and I am not 100% sure they can be solved. Instead, 13.Nd4 Be4 14.Bxe4 Nxe4 15.Rb1, as played in Chatalbashev-Sokolov, Jakarta 2012, can be answered by 15...Qa5!? 16.Bd2 Nxd2 17.Qxd2 Qxa4 18.Rxb4 Qd7! 19.Nb3 (19.Rc4 Rfc8 20.Rfc1 Qd5 21.Nb3 Bf6 22.e4 Qd7 seems fine for Black) 19...Rfd8! (19...Bf6?! 20.Rb1 Rac8 21.Nd4 Rxc5 22.Rxb7 Qd5 23.R7b3 h5 24.Rxd3 Qe4 25.h3²) 20.Rc1 (20.Rd4 Qf5 21.Rd1 Bxc5 22.Rxd3 Qxd3 23.Qxd3 Rxd3 24.Rxd3 Bb6=) 20...h5!„ and Black has more or less equalized. 13...Nc6 14.Rxb7 Qc8 15.Nd4! Be4 16.Bxe4 Nxe4 17.Rb3 d2! 18.Bxd2 Rd8

This position is in my view critical for Black’s survival in the gambit. Actually it renders the whole 717

line impractical because Black is still a pawn down and has no realistic chances of attack. So all that is left is to soldier through the technical phase that is about to start. Perhaps it can be done, but this is one of those situations where one novelty can bring down a whole line and it would be misleading to assert that the ensuing positions are a draw by force. Judge for yourself: 19.Bc3!? From the two bishop moves available to White, this one looks like the most dangerous to meet. 19.Bc1 also looks scary after 19...Bf6 20.Qc2! Nxd4 21.exd4 Rxd4 22.c6 Rxa4 23.c7 Nc3 24.Rxc3 Bxc3 25.Qxc3 Qg4

Would you tolerate such a pawn on the seventh? I am not sure. The computer does not go beyond a +0.45 evaluation for White at a considerable depth, which is probably a sign there is no win for him, yet this sight alone would be enough to deter me from taking up the gambit in my own games. Just for theoretical purposes, here are a couple of lines: 26.h3!? (26.Bb2 Rc4 27.Qe5 Re4 28.Qd5 Ree8 29.Bc3 Rac8 30.Ba5 Qg6 31.Rd1 Qc2 32.Kg2 Rxc7 33.Bxc7 Qxc7 34.Qd7 Qb8² looks defendable. It seems that putting the bishop on a5 eases Black’s task) 26...Qc4 27.Qf3 Re8 28.Bf4 Qe4 29.Qxe4 Raxe4 30.Kg2 Rc4 31.Rd1 f6 32.Rd7 h5!² With some reserved optimism, I will say it is a draw as I cannot see a way for White to bring his king to the queenside. Let us return to 19.Bc3!?: 19...Bxc5! I think that objectively this is Black’s only hope of drawing. After 19...Nxc3?! 20.Rxc3 Qa6 Black created a gem in the following game by exploiting White’s inaccurate 21.Re1?!: 21...Bf6 22.Rd3 Rac8 23.Rd2 Ne5 24.Rf1 Nc4 25.Rd3 h5! 26.h4

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26...Bxh4!! 27.gxh4 Ne5 28.Rc3 Rc6!! 29.Kh1 Nf3!! 30.Rd3 Rg6 31.c6 Ne5 32.c7 Re8 33.Nc5 Qf6 34.Qxh5 Nxd3 35.Ne4 Qe7 36.Ng5 Rh6 37.Nf5 Rxh5 38.Nxe7+ Kf8 39.Nf5 g6 40.Nd6 Rxh4+ 41.Kg2 Rg4+ 42.Kf3 Rxg5 43.Nxe8 Rc5 44.Rd1 Kxe8 45.Rxd3 Rxc7 and a half-point had been salvaged in the most brilliant of manners in Szabo M.-Martin Gonzalez, corr 2014. However White can play better on his 21st move; in fact both 21.Qb3 and 21.Rd3 should give him the advantage, so I cannot approve of 19...Nxc3?!. 20.Nxc5 Nxc5 21.Rb1 (21.Rb2!? Nxd4 22.Bxd4 Ne6 23.Rd2 h6²/± is another position of concern) 21...Nxd4 22.Bxd4 Qa6 23.Qf3 (23.Qc2!? Ne6 24.Rfd1 Rac8 25.Qf5 h6²) 23...Ne6 24.a3!²/±

Can this be held? I really do not know, but I would say it is a 50-50 case. The Tarrasch Gambit practitioners should be aware that this is where their line really comes close to refutation, and although 719

I would not be surprised if a long sequence of moves secures a draw in a correspondence game, I do not see any reason for us to play like this in tournament chess. (B4) So, I am afraid that this second wave is the one that is hard to endure. As for 11.Bf4, considered to be a refutation of the gambit by Aagaard and Ntirlis, I have to say (or perhaps my analysis says) that things are not as easy as they thought. Of the three main lines against the gambit, this is the one in which Black gets really good attacking play, so let us get an idea of how things might move on from here: 11...Be4 12.Rc1! (12.b4?! b5! 13.cxb6 axb6 14.a3 b5 15.Nc5 Bxc5 16.bxc5 Qd5 17.Bd6 Rfe8 18.Re1 h6= was excellent for Black in Moiseenko-Iuldachev, Turin 2006, and Black went on to win.)

12...h6! Dismissed by Jacob and Nikos, but as we shall see, this move is fully playable. 13.a3!? This is the move that has been the most common in practice. (a) After 13.e3 g5! 14.Bd6 b5! the point of Black’s 12th is visible. (b) The untried 13.b4 is the refutation of the Tarrasch Gambit according to the authors of The Tarrasch Defence, however after 13...Nxb4 14.Qb3 Nc6

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I cannot see one: 15.Qxb7 After 15.Rfd1 Rc8! 16.Nc3 Na5 17.Qa4 Bc6 18.Qxd4 Qxd4 19.Nxd4 Bxg2 20.Kxg2 Bxc5 21.Ncb5 a6 22.Nd6 Bxd6 23.Bxd6 Rxc1 24.Rxc1 Rd8 25.Nf5 Nc6 26.Rc2 h5= the ending is approximately balanced. 15...Re8! Not 15...Qa5?! 16.Nb2 Rab8? (16...Qxa2 17.Nc4²) 17.Bxb8 Rxb8 18.Nc4 Rxb7 (18...Qa4? 19.Qc7 Nd5 20.Qd7+– does not work with the white rook on f1) 19.Nxa5 Nxa5 20.Nxd4 Rc7 21.c6 Ba3 22.Nb5! Bxc1 23.Nxc7 Bb2 24.Bxe4! (24.Ne8 Bxc6 25.Nxf6+ gxf6=) 24...Nxe4 25.Rb1 Be5 26.Nd5 Nxc6 27.Rc1 Na5 28.Rc8+ Kh7 29.Re8 Nc6 30.Ne7 Nd4 31.e3 Nf3+ 32.Kg2 Ne1+ 33.Kf1 Nf3 34.Nc6± and Black has to fight for his life, with few chances of success.

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16.Qa6! 16.Rfd1!? Qa5! 17.Nb2 Rab8 18.Bxb8 Rxb8 19.Nc4 Qa4 20.Qc7 Nd5 21.Qd7 Rd8= is equal because the retreat of the white queen to g4 or h3 would allow 22...Nc3–+, hitting the Nc4 and the Rd1 simultaneously. 16...Qd7 17.Nb2 Nd5 18.Bd2 Rac8© This is playable, as far as I can see. For example, 19.Qa3 (19.Ne5 Nxe5 20.Bxe4 Bxc5=) 19...Qf5! 20.Nc4 Nb6! 21.Nd6 Bxd6 22.cxd6 Qf6! 23.Nh4 Bxg2 24.Kxg2 Qe6 25.Nf3 Red8 26.Qb3 Qxd6=. Let us return to 13.a3!?: 13...g5! Ekaterina Kovalevskaya has played this move twice, and I think it is a good one. 14.Bd2 14.Bd6? b5! leads to the loss of a piece for White, for which his compensation would be quite questionable. So the bishop has to return to its camp. 14...Qd5

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I believe that in this position powerful centralization and more space gives Black excellent compensation for the pawn. Here is how play might continue from here: 15.b4 (15.h4 Ng4! should be also fine for Black) 15...Rad8 16.Nb2 Also possible is 16.h4 gxh4 17.Nxh4 Bxg2 18.Nxg2 Qf5! 19.Nb2 Rfe8 20.Nd3 Ne4 21.b5 Ne5 22.Nxe5 Qxe5:

Black’s position looks fine, because of the weakness of the c3-square which allows him to shield the c-file. There might follow 23.c6 bxc6 24.bxc6 Nc3 25.Bxc3 dxc3 26.Qb3 Bf6 27.Ne3 Qc5 28.c7! Qxc7 29.Nd5 Qe5 30.Nxf6+ Qxf6 31.Qxc3 Qxc3 32.Rxc3 Rxe2=. 16...Ne5 17.Re1

723

If 17.Ne1 Bxg2 18.Nxg2 Qe6! 19.Nd3, as played in Kaufman-Schneider, Internet 2011, I like 19...Nc4! 20.a4 Nxd2 21.Qxd2 Ne4 22.Qc2 Rfe8„ with an excellent game for Black. 17.Bh1!? is an engine move that can be answered with 17...Rfe8 18.Nxe5 Bxh1 19.Nf3 Bxf3 20.exf3 b6„. 17...Rfe8 18.Nd3 Nxf3+ 19.Bxf3 So far we have followed Ilic-Jovanovic, Zrenjanin 2018. At this point by retreating 19...Bf8© Black gets a very playable position with good compensation for the missing pawn. He has a safer king, pressure on the light squares and White’s queenside pawn majority is for the time being inactive. Thus, the line recommended in The Tarrasch Defence does not seem to be a refutation of the gambit, but is rather the easier one for Black to play. Summing up, I would not play the Tarrasch Gambit in serious games because I think there is a solution missing in the line 11.b4!? d3 12.e3!, and as far as I can see finding such a solution could be out of reach even for the finest correspondence players or engines. Perhaps such a solution simply does not exist.

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(M) So, I recommend that we stick to the approved solution of 9...Bxc5! even if there is much more theory involved, and use the gambit only in games with faster time controls when it is more likely for our opponent to make mistakes or forget something. I understand chess is a practical game but this is a theoretical manual and 9...Bxc5! is the best move, so let us now fully focus on it: I looked at (M1) 10.Qc2, (M2) 10.Nb5, (M3) 10.Qb3, (M4) 10.Ne1, (M5) 10.a3!?, (M6) 10.b3!?, (M7) 10.e3, (M8) 10.Bf4 and (M9) 10.Na4!?. Our main line 10.Na4!? is the famous Réti Variation. White’s plan is associated with pressure on the c-file and the c5-square in particular. So the bishop will go to e3, the rook to c1 and White will be ready to exchange dark-square bishops via c5 or cause us discomfort by invading c5 with his knight, according to circumstance. He may also try to unlock the c-file by Nf3-d4 at some point, which we can avoid by letting him take on c6 and saddle us with hanging pawns. Then his strategy will revolve around blockading the squares in front of the pawns and using them as bases or transfer points to attack on both sides of the board, but mostly on the queenside where there will be more weaknesses on the menu. A simple plan, but it can prove quite poisonous if we neglect our counterplay. And what is our counterplay, you may ask. Upon which elements is it based? Essentially there are two candidate formations we can use. The first involves putting our knight on e4 and bishop on f6, but I cannot see any real prospects for Black after that. White will pressurize us quickly on c6 by Ra1-c1 and Nf3-d4, and that will result in a lot of problems. The correct configuration involves the active moves ...Bc8-g4 and ...Rf8-e8, backed up with ...Qd8d7. This is logical if we consider that Nc3-a4 abandons the defense of the e2-pawn, so we should pile upon it with our forces. The queen move will help expand our influence on the light squares, defend c6 and bring the a8-rook into play on d8. I think that the above set-up should equalize the chances, but in general it will be difficult for us to play for a win in this line, as White’s position is one of the most solid he can adopt against the Tarrasch. But more about this later, when we come to the specifics of the Réti Variation. For the time being, we will focus on the alternatives, and as we saw above, they are not few. (M1) 10.Qc2 is rather pointless at this particular moment because Black is not obliged to withdraw his bishop to b6, transposing to a position analyzed in Part II (a). Although that position was perfectly satisfactory for Black I think we can do better here: 10...d4!? Why not? The move is natural and strong and has a good record of 2½/3 in the database. 11.Na4 The most logical. After 11.Nb5 Qb6 12.Nc7! (12.Na3?! Nb4µ was just bad for White in Morales Mendoza-Zapata Campos, Lima 2000) 12...Rb8 13.Bf4 Rd8 14.Ng5 d3 15.exd3 Bd6! 16.Nd5! Nxd5 17.Bxd5 Bxf4 18.Bxf7+ Kf8 19.gxf4 Bf5 20.Bh5 g6 21.Qc4 Rd7 22.Ne6+ Bxe6 23.Qxe6 Re7 24.Qf6+ Rf7 25.Qd6+ Kg7 26.Bf3 Rd8= the position is equal in many ways and in fact it is White who has to make the most accurate moves in spite of his two extra pawns.

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11...Be7

12.Rd1 12.a3?! occurred in Drasko-Contin, Cutro 2004, but I think it is a dubious experiment by Milan. After 12...Qd5!³, intending ...Bc8-f5, Black has the better game. 12...Be6 12...Bg4 also looks good. After 13.a3?! (13.h3 Bh5 14.Bf4= was a better try) 13...Rc8 14.Qd3? Qa5!–+ White was already lost in Lang-Barthel, Mehlingen 1997. 13.Nc5 Bd5 14.Nd3 (14.e4 Bxc5 15.exd5 Qxd5 16.Nh4 Nb4! 17.Qa4 Ne4 18.a3 Nc6 19.b4 Bb6 20.b5 Nd8 21.Bb2 Ne6³ is also fine for Black and perhaps he already has a tiny edge) 14...Qb6 15.Bf4 Rfe8 16.Nfe5 Rac8=

726

The position remains in perfect balance, and Black’s d-pawn is now more of a strength than a weakness. After 17.Bxd5 Nxd5 18.Qb3!? Qxb3 19.axb3 a6 20.Nxc6 Rxc6 21.Be5 Nb4 22.Ra4 Nxd3 23.Rxd3 Bf8 24.Bxd4 Rxe2 25.Bc3 the draw is near. (M2) 10.Nb5 is the type of move that we should be happy to see. By focusing entirely on the d4square, White neglects all other aspects of the position and takes up a purely defensive stance. After 10...Ne4 we are already threatening ...Qd8-b6 with a double attack on b5 and f2, so playing 11.Nbd4 (11.e3 Bg4³ is already slightly better for Black) 11...Bb6 12.Be3 looks imperative from the first player’s point of view. However, after adopting this formation White does not seem to have an active plan.

An example from this position went as follows: 727

12...Qf6! I like this move, because it prevents Nd4-c2 ideas. 13.Qd3 Bg4 14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.Bd4 So far Arngrimsson-Steingrimsson, Reykjavik 2015. Here Black misplaced his queen by putting it on h6, whereas the powerful retort 15...Qe7! would have offered him at least equal chances by allowing the queen control the important e5-square. For example: 16.Ne5 c5 17.Bc3! (17.Nxg4? cxd4µ) 17...Nxc3 18.Nxg4 Nxe2+ 19.Kh1 c4 20.Qxd5 Rad8³/= and Black’s more harmonious position and centralization give him a tiny edge. (M3) 10.Qb3 is a rare move that prepares to pile upon the d-pawn by bringing quickly a rook on d1. I believe it should not worry us at all. The most natural reaction seems to be strongest in this case: 10...d4 11.Na4 Bd6 12.Rd1 Qa5!

The only move, but a very good one. It turns out that the d-pawn is immune. 13.Nc3! It would not be an exaggeration to state at this point that the knight retreat is required if White wants to keep clear equality without complications. The alternatives are dangerous: First of all, 13.Nxd4?! runs into 13...Nxd4 14.Rxd4 Qe1+ 15.Bf1 Ne4!! 16.Be3 Qxa1 17.Rd1 Be6 18.Rxa1 Bxb3 19.axb3 Rfe8µ with a clear advantage for Black who has an exchange more and no weaknesses. Another move is 13.Bg5, when Black should dynamically react with 13...Be6! 14.Qxb7 Rfc8 placing both the queen and the Na4 under relentless pressure. White’s only way out of this is 15.Nxd4! Nxd4 16.Rxd4 Rab8 17.Qf3 Be5 18.Bd2! Qb5 19.Rh4

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However now Black has the nice shot 19...Bg4! 20.Rxg4 Nxg4 21.Qxg4 Rc4³/=, restoring material equality while maintaining slight pressure. Let us now check 13.Nc3: 13...Bc5 14.Nd5 Nxd5 15.Qxd5 Be6 16.Qh5 Rad8 17.Bd2 Qb6 18.Ng5 (18.b4!? Be7! is not a problem for Black either) 18...Bf5 19.Ne4 Bxe4 20.Bxe4 g6 21.Qf3

White is apparently slightly better because of his bishop pair, but in this case appearances are deceiving. The powerful shot that follows fully unleashes the dynamism of the black position, leading to complete equality: 21...d3! 22.Bxc6 I also looked at 22.e3, but Black just grabs the pawn: 22...Qxb2! 23.Rac1 Be7! 24.Bd5 Bb4 25.Rb1

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Qc2 26.Bxc6 Bxd2 27.Bd5 Ba5 28.Qe4 Rd7 29.Qxd3 Qxd3 30.Rxd3 Rfd8 31.e4 b6=. 22...dxe2 23.Qxe2 Qxc6 24.Bc3 Rde8= We may conclude that Black has an easy ride in the 10.Qb3 variation. (M4) 10.Ne1 does not contain any poison when Black can avoid the exchange of his Nf6 for the Bc1. After 10...d4 11.Nd3 Be7 12.Ne4 Nxe4 13.Bxe4 Re8 14.Bf3 Bf8 15.a3 Be6 16.Nf4 Bf5 17.b4 a6 18.Bb2 Be4 Black may even have a slight edge. (M5) 10.a3!? is an interesting move, preparing the extended fianchetto. We need to be accurate here:

10...Ne4! I do not have anything really important to add to modern theory here, because this move, recommended by Aagaard and Ntirlis in their Tarrasch book, has been extensively tested at top level chess and proven itself best. Black sacrifices a pawn to prevent the extended fianchetto, placing his bets in some endings in which White’s ruined queenside formation offers him compensation for his material investment. At the moment of writing these lines, Black’s compensation seems fully sufficient to me, but Black players need to study the details carefully. After all, a pawn is always a pawn, and the onus is on the side who sacrifices the pawn to display activity worthy of the equality sign. I looked at (M5a) 11.Qxd5 and (M5b) 11.Nxd5. 11.Nxd5 Accepting the gift is the critical continuation. White can also opt for a symmetrical position by taking with his queen on d5, but it seems that Black can easily defuse the pressure in that case and soon reach the safe harbor of a draw: (M5a) After 11.Qxd5 Nxc3 12.Qxc5 Nxe2+ 13.Kh1 Nxc1 14.Raxc1 Qf6!

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Black has only a slight minus score from this position in practice (3½/8) and this seems to be a direct consequence of the ability to swiftly develop his queenside by gaining time with attacks on b2 and the Nf3. Obviously, the critical continuation is now 15.b4 and this has indeed been played in the majority of the games, but there are a couple of other choices: (a) The first one is 15.Qc3 Qxc3 16.Rxc3 as in Hawkins-Sadler, England 2014, and we should meet it with 16...Rd8 17.b4 h6=, preparing to develop the bishop on e6 with complete equality. (b) The other is 15.Rc3 as in Tokarev-Bezgodova, Kazan 2010. I think it has to be addressed actively with 15...h6! 16.b4 (16.Nd2 Re8 17.Ne4 has been proven to strike thin air after 17...Qg6 18.Re3 Re5! 19.Qc1 Bf5 20.Nc5 Rxe3 21.Qxe3 b6=) 16...Bg4, the fine point being 17.b5 Rac8! … 18.bxc6 Rxc6 19.Qb4 Rxc3 20.Qxg4 Rxa3=/∞. Let us now switch our attention to the main move 15.b4: 15...Bg4

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16.Qc3! Here White gets a better version of the line starting with 15.Qc3 as we have already developed our bishop on g4 and the first player hopes it will turn out to be a liability on that square. Instead 16.Ng5 Rad8 17.Ne4 Qg6 18.f3 Bf5 19.b5 Nd4 20.Qxa7 Nxf3! 21.Nc3 Nd2!= was very reliable for Black in Merry-Webb, England 2015, and he went on to win in the tactical battle that ensued. I present the whole game as it is quite interesting: 22.Rf4 Be6 23.Qxb7? 23.a4 Qd3 24.Ne4= was called for. 23...Qd3 23...Rc8! 24.Bc6 Nb3!µ was even stronger, coming with the knight towards a5. 24.Qe7 Rc8 25.Bc6?? 25.Qb4 Qe3 26.b6!= would have held. 25...Qe3!–+ All of a sudden it is curtains as White cannot adequately meet the threat ...Nd2-b3.

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After 26.Qb4 Rfd8! (26...g5 27.Rf6 Rfe8! also wins) 27.Rg1 Rd3 28.Ne4 (28.Nd1 is answered with the lethal centralization 28...Qe5–+, threatening a catastrophe on the long diagonal that cannot be averted, e.g. 29.Bg2 Bd5 30.Nf2 Bxg2+ 31.Kxg2 Qd5+ 32.Kh3 Nf3–+) 28...h6 29.Qc5 Nxe4 30.Qxe3 Rxe3 31.Ra1 Ng5 32.Rd4 Re2 33.h4 Rxc6 34.hxg5 Rcc2 35.b6 Rh2+ 36.Kg1 Rcg2+ 37.Kf1 Bh3 White resigned. Let us return to 16.Qc3!: 16...Qxc3 17.Rxc3

17...Rad8 This one looks like the most convincing. There is also 17...h6!? 18.Nd2 Rac8 19.Rfc1 Rcd8 with yet another splitting point: 733

20.Nf1!? Instead, Black is not at all worse after 20.Ne4 a5! 21.bxa5 Nxa5=. Another possibility is 20.Nb3 Ne5 21.h3! (21.Bxb7 Nd3 22.Rf1 Be2³) 21...Bf5 22.Bxb7 Bxh3∞ with an unclear position. Returning to 20.Nf1!?, a logical continuation is 20...Be2 21.Ne3! (21.Bxc6 bxc6 22.Kg2 Bb5=) 21...a6 22.Nd5 Rd6, when Black should ultimately be also fine. 18.h3 After 18.Re1 Rd7 19.b5 Bxf3 20.Bxf3 Nd4 21.Rd1 b6 22.a4= a draw was agreed in Korobov-L’Ami, Wijk aan Zee 2018, as there is nothing to play for. 18...Be6 19.Ng5 Bd5 20.Ne4 b6 21.Rfc1 Nd4 22.Rd1 Bxe4 23.Bxe4 Rfe8 24.Bb7

This position is equal after 24...Kf8= or 24...g6=; White’s bishop vs. knight advantage is as we already know symbolic in these types of positions, as there are no weaknesses to attack or entry points for the white pieces. (M5b) We will now return to our main line 11.Nxd5: 11...Be6 12.Nc3 Universally played. Instead, 12.Ne3 should be answered with 12...f5!, a recommendation of Aagaard and Ntirlis. After 13.Qxd8 (13.b4 will transpose after 13...Bb6, while 13...Qf6!? 14.Bb2! Qxb2 15.bxc5 Nc3 16.Qc2 Nxe2+ 17.Kh1 Qxc2 18.Nxc2 Bb3 19.Nb4 Na5 20.Rfe1 Rfe8 21.Bf1! Nc3 22.Nd4 Bf7 23.Rxe8+ Rxe8 24.Rc1 Ne4 25.f3 Nd2 26.Bb5! Re5 27.Rd1 Ndc4 28.Nxf5! h6 29.Bxc4 Bxc4 30.g4 Rxc5 31.Rd8+ Kh7 32.Rd7 Be6! 33.Rxg7+ Kh8= does not look bad for Black either) 13...Raxd8 14.b4 Bb6 15.Bb2 734

the only move is 15...g5!, but it is a strong one. Black prepares to displace the Ne3 and invade the key c4-square with his bishop. After the further 16.Rad1 f4 17.Rxd8 Rxd8 18.gxf4 gxf4 19.Nd1 Bc4 20.Nc3 Nxc3 21.Bxc3 Bxe2 22.Rc1 h6 23.Nh4 Nd4 24.Bxb7 Bg4 25.Bxd4 Rxd4 26.Bf3 Rd2! 27.Bxg4 Bxf2+ 28.Kg2 Bxh4+ 29.Kh3 Bf2= a drawish opposite-color bishop ending has been reached. 12...Nxc3 13.bxc3 Qxd1 It feels best to exchange queens immediately. After 13...Re8!? 14.Qa4 Bd5 15.Bf4! (15.Rd1 Rxe2! 16.c4 Rxf2 is fine for Black as shown by 17.cxd5 Ne5! 18.Nd4 Rxg2+! 19.Kxg2 Qxd5+ 20.Kh3 Nc4 21.Re1 Qxd4= or 17.Rxd5? Ra2+!–+) 15...Qe7 16.Rad1 Rad8 17.Rfe1 h6! 18.Nd4 Bxg2 19.Kxg2 Bxd4 20.cxd4 Qe4+ 21.f3 Rxd4 22.Qxd4 Qxd4 23.Rxd4 Nxd4= the position is also fine for Black, however. Generally speaking, these positions should provide the excellent tactician with good chances to exercise his ability as White’s weak queenside pawns and squares b3, c4 should be the joy of those specializing in guerilla tactics. 14.Rxd1 Rad8

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This position can be considered a tabiya for the 10.a3!? line. Ideally, White would like to bring his knight to d4 and ease all the pressure, but that is difficult to achieve. Let us witness his efforts to achieve an advantage through checking some games or untried possibilities. I looked at (M5b1) 15.Rxd8, (M5b2) 15.Re1!?, (M5b3) 15.Bb2 and (M5b4) 15.Bf4. 15.Bf4 was chosen to be my main line by virtue of being the move that claims the most common appearance in practice. It has the disadvantage though of giving immediately back the extra pawn. Alternatively: (M5b1) 15.Rxd8 Rxd8 16.Bf4 f6 17.h4 should not be underestimated.

This was the continuation in Juhasz-Krykun, Budapest 2016, and is a serious try. White’s idea is e2736

e3 followed by Nf3-d4 and Black will have no compensation if this is achieved. I like the following way of playing for Black: 17...h6! Preparing ...g7-g5, to stop e2-e3. Instead: (a) Aagaard and Ntirlis give 17...Bc4 18.Rb1 Bb6 19.e3 Ne7? 20.Nd4 Nd5, with the evaluation that Black has adequate compensation, but this is totally bad after 21.Kh2± as Black has removed the pressure from the a3-pawn and the b3-square and allowed the white knight a commanding position in the center. (b) 17...b6?! 18.e3 Na5 19.Nd4 Bf7 20.a4± was similarly bad for Black in the above mentioned game Juhasz-Krykun. 18.Nd2! White has nothing else, but now our knight can leap to a5. 18...Na5 19.Ne4 Bf8 The point, leading to a forced exchange of the rooks.

20.Bc7 Nb3 21.Bxd8 Nxa1 22.a4 Nb3 23.Bc7 White has no time for 23.a5?? because of 23...f5–+ and the Ne4 falls. 23...b6! Fixing a4 as a weakness, and now more simplification is bound to take place. 24.Kf1 24.Nd6 Bxd6 (24...Nc5 25.Bc6 Bb3 26.Nc8 Nxa4 27.Bxa4 Bxa4 28.Nxa7 b5 29.Nc6 Bc5²) 25.Bxd6 Nc1 26.Kf1 Na2 27.Bb8 Nxc3 28.Bxa7 Nxa4 29.Bc6 Bb3= is similar to 24.Kf1.

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24...Kf7 Black threatens ...Kf7-e8-d7, so White must give the check on d6. 25.Nd6+ Bxd6 26.Bxd6 Nd2+ 27.Ke1 Nb1 28.Bb8 Nxc3 29.Bxa7 Nxa4 30.Bc6 Bb3 31.h5 31.Kd2 Ke6 32.Bb8 Nc5 33.Bc7 Ba4! 34.Bg2 b5 35.Bb6 Nd7 36.Ba5 f5= is also equal. 31...Ke6 32.g4 Kd6 33.Bxa4 Bxa4 34.Bxb6 Ke6= White’s extra pawn is worthless for winning purposes. A thematic and, I think, correct line. (M5b2) 15.Re1!? is an attempt to keep material on the board, but it gives us time to improve our pieces. After 15...Na5 16.a4 Nb3 17.Rb1 b6 18.e3 Rfe8!

19.Nd4 (19.Bf1 Bd5 20.Be2 Nxc1 21.Rexc1 Be4 22.Ra1 Bxf3 23.Bxf3 Rd2 24.Rd1 Red8 25.Rxd2 Rxd2 26.a5 Kf8= is a position where the engines will keep on telling you White has an edge but it is of course completely drawn) we have the fine equalizing shot 19...Nxd4 20.cxd4 Bf5! forcing once more a drawish opposite-color bishop ending: 21.e4 Bxd4 22.Bg5 f6 23.Bxf6 Bxf6 24.exf5 Rxe1+ 25.Rxe1 Kf8 26.Bc6 Rd2 27.Bb5 Bd4 28.Re2 Rxe2 29.Bxe2 Ke7=. (M5b3) 15.Bb2 has been played by Etienne Bacrot, but looks like a clumsy move that does not get White anywhere. After 15...Na5 16.Nd4 Bb3!? I believe White is already getting into trouble:

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17.Re1 17.Nxb3 Nxb3 18.Rxd8 Rxd8 19.Rb1 b5 20.Bc6 a6© is a line given by Aagaard and Ntirlis in their book and their assessment was confirmed in the following game: 21.Bb7 Rd6 22.Kg2 a5 23.e3 a4 24.Bf3 Nd2 25.Ra1 Nxf3 26.Kxf3 Rd2 27.Rb1 Rc2 28.g4? (28.c4!= was forced) 28...f6 29.h4 Kf7 30.Ke4 Rxf2 31.Bc1 Rg2 32.g5 fxg5 33.Rxb5 gxh4 34.Rxc5 g5 35.Rc6 Kg7 and 0-1, Markus-Necula, corr 2013. 17...Ba4 18.e3 Nc4 19.Bc1 b5 20.f4 Bb6! 21.Rb1 Ba5 22.Rb4!? Bxb4 23.axb4 Thus far we have followed Bacrot-Delchev, Plovdiv 2012. Here Alexander could have put pressure on the French super GM with 23...Rfe8³, as 24.e4 a5! 25.Nc6 Rd6ƒ is good for the second player. (M5b4) Let us now return to our main line 15.Bf4: 15...Rxd1+ 16.Rxd1 Bxa3

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Thus, Black has recovered his pawn and has to endure only a little bit of pressure to reach full equality. This is accomplished as follows: 17.Rb1 After 17.Nd4 Nxd4 18.cxd4 b5 19.Bc6 Bc4 20.d5 the following forcing play yields a draw: 20...Bxe2 21.Re1 g5! 22.Bxg5 Bc4 23.Bf4 Rd8 24.Be3 Bf8 25.Rd1 and ½-½, Terreaux-Cumming, corr 2012. The draw in the final position is explained by the sequence 25...Bd6 (25...a6 26.Bg5 Rd6 27.Bf4 a5 28.Bxd6 Bxd6 29.Rb1 Bd3! 30.Rxb5 Bxb5 31.Bxb5 h6= is the more human way to do it) 26.Bxa7 b4 27.Bd4 b3 28.Bb2 Rb8 29.Rd2 Ba6 30.Bd7 Ra8 31.Bg4 Bc4 32.Rd4 Ra2 33.Rxc4 Rxb2 34.Rc6 Be5 35.Rb6 Rxf2=. 17...b6 18.Ng5 A critical juncture.

18...Rc8! 740

Already mentioned by Aagaard and Ntirlis in 2011, and the only fully equalizing method. The following example shows what happens when you do not study high level theoretical manuals: 18...Bd7? This is bad because it allows White to ruin Black’s coordination. 19.Rd1! Be8 20.Be4! A great shot, but I guess not too difficult for GM Denis Yevseev. 20...g6 21.Nf3 Kg7 22.Ra1 Bc5 23.Ne5± White has played pure and powerful moves, exploiting the bad placement of the Be8 to win a pawn. He went on to convert his advantage in Yevseev-Lizak, Schwarzach 2015. After 18...Rc8! Black’s troubles are already behind him as the following analysis included in my notes reveals: 19.Be4 h6 20.Nxe6 fxe6 21.Ra1

21...Bb2 22.Ra6 Bxc3 23.Kg2 Bd4 24.e3 Bf6 25.Bd6 g5 26.h3 Kf7 27.Bxc6 Rxc6 28.Rxa7+ Kg6 29.Bb8 h5 30.g4 hxg4 31.hxg4 Rc4 32.Kf3 e5 33.Rb7 e4+= So we may conclude that 10.a3!? is a variation that contains some poison, but the remedy has been provided by Jacob and Nikos. I think my analysis corrects whatever mistakes their original analysis included, arming Black with all he needs to counter this line efficiently. (M6) We will now have a look at the more restrained way of fianchettoing White’s queen bishop: 10.b3!? Commenting on this established continuation, I would say it is a method of development that is used mostly by people who do not like a direct theoretical confrontation and would like to outplay us slowly. It has its points, but, to be honest, there are more dangerous systems for Black in the Tarrasch and I would feel quite comfortable if I had to face this move in one of my games. 741

10...a6!? This is one of the two moves I am going to analyze. It is no better or worse than the alternative, I just made it randomly my main line. The idea is to add firepower to the advance ...d5-d4 by providing the Bc5 with a retreat square on a7. Instead: (M6a) 10...Re8 is the alternative, and the first option we are going to look at. Our strategy here is different: Black increases his influence in the center and prepares to retreat his bishop to f8. The Bc8 will most certainly be developed on g4, preparing to generate pressure on the light squares by ...Qd8d7. Black’s scheme resembles the one we are going to use against the Réti system, but it has to be pointed out that White’s queen bishop is more flexibly placed here as it controls the long diagonal and targets the Nf6 which is the chief defender of the d5-pawn. 11.Bb2! I believe it makes most sense to bring the rook quickly to c1, therefore I made this my main line for White. (a) 11.e3 is a move that is almost non-existent in tournament practice in this specific position, but its idea is to retreat the Nc3 to e2 and obtain control over the d4-square, so we should look at it. I suggest that we nip White’s idea in the bud as follows:

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11...Bg4!? 12.h3 A logical try, stopping both ...Qd8-d7 and ...Nc6-e5. 12...Bxf3!? Because of White’s retarded development, this move is possible. Black aims at a symmetrical structure in which the opponent’s winning chances will be close to nil. 13.Bxf3 d4 14.Na4 Bb6 15.Nxb6 This is the critical reply. Instead 15.Bxc6 bxc6 16.Nxb6 axb6 17.Qxd4 Ne4© gives Black full compensation for his pawn. 15...Qxb6 16.exd4 16.Bxc6 Qxc6 17.exd4 leads to a drawish structure after 17...Rad8 18.Re1 Rxe1+ 19.Qxe1 Qf3 20.Bb2 Re8 21.Qc3 Qe4 22.d5! Qxd5 23.Re1 Rxe1+ 24.Qxe1 h5=. 16...Nxd4 17.Bb2 Nxf3+ 18.Qxf3 Ne4 19.h4 Re7 20.Kg2 Rae8= White has nominally the better game because of the bishop but Black has no weaknesses and is well centralized, so I think the outcome should be a draw. (b) 11.Na4 is a move that commits the knight too early and for this reason I believe it is harmless for Black. After 11...Bf8 12.Bb2 Ne4 13.Rc1 Bg4

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14.Nd4 (14.h3 Bh5!) 14...Nxd4 15.Bxd4 b5! the game seems to be heading once more towards a draw as the following line shows: 16.f3 After 16.Nb2, as in Grigoriadis-Graeffe, Skopje 2014, I like the aggressive 16...Ng5„ with an excellent game for Black. For example, 17.f3 Bf5 18.Nd3 Ba3 19.Rc3 Ne6 20.Bf2 d4 21.Rc6 Qe7 22.Qd2 Nc5 23.Nxc5 Bxc5 24.Bxd4 Qxe2 25.Qxe2 Bxd4+ 26.Qf2 Bxf2+ 27.Rxf2 Re1+ 28.Rf1 Re2=. 16...bxa4 17.fxg4 axb3 18.axb3 Rc8 19.e3 Rxc1 20.Qxc1 Qd7 21.Qa1 Qxg4 22.Qxa7 Qe6 23.Bh3 Qe7= We will now check the best move 11.Bb2!: 11...Bg4 12.Rc1 Bf8 Here the path splits; White has a choice between (M6a1) 13.Nb5 and (M6a2) 13.h3!?.

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13.h3!? is considered to be the strongest move for White, played by GMs Giri, Volkov and other famous players. However, it seems to me that with best play Black should be able to claim equality. (M6a1) The alternative is 13.Nb5, threatening to take on f6. It is a very logical move, making use of the fact White did not move his knight to a4 earlier on. I recommend the following line of play for us: 13...Rc8 14.h3 Bh5 15.e3 (15.Bxf6 Qxf6 16.Qxd5 is not anything special for White because of 16...Bg6© and Black has dangerous compensation for the missing pawn) 15...Ne4 and we have reached an important juncture:

16.Nbd4! 16.a3 is the computer’s invention, to which I think we should reply 16...Bc5!? (it makes sense to

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cover the d4-square now) 17.Nbd4 Nxd4 18.Bxd4 Bxa3 19.Rxc8 Qxc8 20.Bxa7 Qc6 21.g4 Bg6 22.Qa1 Bf8 23.Ne5 Qd6 24.Bd4 h5!?∞; this position is unclear. Black would like to take on g4 or retreat his bishop to h7, planning ...f7-f6, especially in case White goes 25.f4. 16...Qb6! The best move, simply asking White what he intends next. Our idea should be to place our bishop on f7 and a rook on d8, anticipating a Ne2-f4 maneuver, but for tactical reasons it is worse to start with ...f7-f6 or ...Qd8-a5. (a) Instead, weaker is 16...Qa5?! because of 17.a3! (17.Nxc6?! bxc6 18.a3, as in BudnikovVysochin, Mukachevo 2018, is excellent for Black after 18...f6 19.b4 Qb6 20.Bd4 Qa6=) 17...Nxd4 18.Qxd4 Qb5 (not 18...Bxf3?! 19.b4! Qb6 20.Bxf3 Qxd4 21.Bxd4 Nd2 22.Bg4!± with a sizeable advantage for White) 19.Nd2! and the pressure against b3 does not compensate fully for the weakness of the isolani. For example, 19...Bg6 20.Nxe4! dxe4 21.b4 a5 22.Rxc8 Rxc8 23.bxa5 Qxa5 24.Qd7 Qc7 25.Rd1² and White retains some edge as his bishops are better and e4 a bit weak. That said, a draw is to be expected here, too, with perfect defense from Black. (b) 16...f6 might be tenable: 17.Ne2 Bf7 18.Nf4 Qa5 19.a3 Bd6!?² but still I see no reason to venture this when 16...Qb6! solves Black’s problems in a smooth manner. Let us return to 16...Qb6!:

17.Qe2 The engines cannot find anything better, but this already represents a small victory for Black as the white knight is not going to f4. 17.Ne2 Rcd8 18.Nf4 is answered with the brilliant 18...d4! 19.Nxh5 dxe3 20.Qc2 Nb4 21.Qc4 exf2+ 22.Kh2 Nd3 23.Bd4 Rxd4 24.Qxd4 Qxd4 25.Nxd4 Nxc1 26.Rxc1 Nd2 27.Rd1 Bb4 28.Nc2 f1=Q 29.Rxf1 Nxf1+ 30.Bxf1 Bd6∞ when Black is definitely not worse. 746

17...Qa5! Only now is this good, because White can no longer play a2-a3 with impunity! 18.g4 Bg6 19.Rfd1

19...a6!? Black changes plans because White has weakened his kingside; 19...f6 is also possible of course. 20.a3 Nxd4 21.Nxd4 Rxc1 22.Rxc1 Qd8 23.Rd1 h6 24.Nf5 Qd7 25.Bxe4 Rxe4 26.Qf3 Qb5∞ Anything can happen here, the position is extremely unclear. (M6a2) Let us now return to the immediate 13.h3!?: 13...Bh5! The right square; we try to keep contact with the above variations just in case White plays 14.Nb5. I do not like much 13...Bf5 14.Nb5 Qb6 (14...Rc8 15.e3 a6 16.Nbd4 Be4 17.Ne2² is also slightly better for White) 15.Nbd4 Be4 because of 16.Nxc6 bxc6 17.Bxf6 gxf6 18.Nh4 Bg6 19.Nxg6 hxg6 20.h4!² and White has a risk-free slight advantage because of his safer king. 14.e3

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Intending Nc3-e2-f4, and apparently we are stuck here, as we cannot move the Nf6 to e4. What now? 14...Ne4!! Anyway! This little known move surrenders the d5-pawn but maintains the balance of power because the reaction that follows White’s gain of material is in this case a strong one. 15.Nxe4 My computer eventually decided on this peaceful path after analyzing the position at a considerable depth. But I guess you are more anxious to know what happens if White takes our d5-pawn: 15.Nxd5 Qa5! 16.Nf4 Qxa2! Here it is! We plunge without hesitation to win back the pawn as the attack on the Bb2 outweighs the attack on the Bh5. 17.Nd3 Qa6 The queen returns to safety. The computers say that White is a little better here, but I do not think this is true if you analyze the position deeper. After 18.g4

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I checked two lines: 18...Bg6!? My own invention, intending a discovery on the Nd3. Instead, 18...Rad8 19.Nd4 Bg6 20.Nf4 Nb4 21.Rc4 Qb6 22.Nxg6 Qxg6 23.Qe2 leaves White with a bishop pair and a strong knight on d4. On the other hand, Black also has also squares for his knights and no weaknesses. A correspondence game continued 23...Qb6 (23...b5! 24.Rc7 a6 25.Rd1 Qb6 26.Rcc1 Nc5 27.h4 Na2 28.Ra1 Nb4 29.Rab1 Ne6 30.Qf3 Nxd4 31.Bxd4 Qe6 32.Qf5 g6 33.Qxe6 Rxe6 34.Bc3 Rxd1+ 35.Rxd1 Rd6 36.Rb1 Rd7 37.Be1 Be7 38.g5 h6 39.Kf1 hxg5 40.hxg5 Kf8 41.Be4 Nd5 42.Ra1 b4²/= looks defendable and is my preference) 24.Rd1 g6 25.Nc2 Rxd1+ 26.Qxd1

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26...Nxf2!? 27.Qd4! Qxd4 28.Bxd4 Nbd3 29.Bf1²/± with a better position for White, which Black held after a long struggle in Jacobs-Thompson, corr 2012. I think we should be able to do better than that, so let us return to my move 18...Bg6!? : 19.Nd4 Ng3! The point, ruining White’s pawn structure and leading to a dynamic ending in which I do not think White is better. 20.fxg3 Qxd3 21.Qxd3 Bxd3 22.Nxc6 Bxf1 23.Kxf1 Rxe3 24.Nd4 Rd8 25.Bxb7 Rxg3 26.Bg2 Rd3

I do not see any problems for Black here, and the good thing is that the line so far looks forced. There might follow 27.Nc6 Rd1+ 28.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 29.Ke2 Rb1 30.Bd4 Rxb3 31.Ne5 Be7 32.Bxa7 h5!= with complete equality. Returning to the more pedestrian 15.Nxe4, after 15...dxe4 16.Qxd8 Rexd8 17.Nd4 Nxd4 18.Bxd4 Bf3! we are killing the prospects of the Bg2 and the game also looks level.

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The fight could continue as follows: 19.Rc7 (19.a4 b6 20.Rc6 Rac8 21.Rfc1 Rxc6 22.Rxc6 Bd6 23.a5 bxa5 24.Ra6 Bb4 25.Rxa7 h5=) 19...b6 20.Rfc1 Bd6 21.R7c4 (21.Rb7 h5=) 21...h5 22.a4 f6 23.Bxf3 exf3 24.R1c3 Re8 25.e4 Rxe4 26.Rxf3 h4=. (M6b) Thus, the move 10...Re8 leads to a good outcome for us after some complications, but there is also the move 10...a6!?, aiming to advance the isolani to d4 as has been remarked earlier on. Here is what may happen in that case: We will look at (M6b1) 11.Bb2 and (M6b2) 11.e3.

11.e3 This is the critical move, trying to stop our plan. (M6b1) 11.Bb2 d4 12.Na4 Ba7 13.Rc1 Re8 has been tested a lot in correspondence play with a

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verdict of equality. We enjoy great activity and the position is quite complicated, two factors that enable us to play for the win, especially if White is a bit unprepared. Here is how play could proceed from here:

14.Rxc6!? This is the kind of move one can expect, after all White gets a pawn and some pressure for the exchange. (a) Instead, 14.Nc5, as in Nester-Miknevicius, Palanga 2015, is best answered with 14...Qe7 15.Bxd4 Nxd4 16.Qxd4 Be6 17.b4 Bxa2= and the fight lies ahead, but Black most certainly does not start with any disadvantage. (b) 14.a3 Bg4 15.h3 Bh5 16.g4 Bg6 17.Nc5 happened in Helis-Soltau, Karvina 2006, and here my preference goes to 17...Qe7 (17...Ne4 18.b4 Nxc5 19.bxc5 Qc7 20.Nxd4 Rad8 21.Qd2 h5 22.f4 hxg4 23.hxg4 Nxd4 24.Bxd4 Qd7 25.e3 Qxg4 26.Qd1 Qh4=) 18.b4 h5!? 19.Nxd4 Nxd4 20.Bxd4 hxg4∞. After the exchange sac, play is likely to continue 14...bxc6 15.Nxd4 Bg4 16.Bxc6 Bxd4 17.Qxd4 Rxe2

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18.Qc4! h5™ 19.Bxf6 gxf6 20.Bxa8 Qxa8 21.Nb6 Qf3 22.Qd5 Rxa2 23.Qxf3 Bxf3 24.Nc4 Kg7³. (M6b2) Let us now return to 11.e3: 11...d4! This underestimated move seems to equalize with some effort. Otherwise White would blockade us on d4 and enjoy the slightly better game. Now the first player can try (M6b21) 12.exd4 or (M6b22) 12.Na4!. 12.Na4! is the critical move and will be our main line; however the alternative does not lack interesting points: (M6b21) On 12.exd4 Nxd4 13.Bb2 Bg4 14.Na4 Nxf3+ 15.Bxf3 Qxd1 16.Bxd1 Bxd1 17.Rfxd1!? (17.Raxd1 Be7 18.Rfe1 Bb4 19.Re2 Rfd8 20.Rxd8+ Rxd8 21.Bxf6 gxf6 22.Nb6 f5= holds well for Black; I do not see anything really scary for us) we reply with a real star move that holds everything together:

753

17...Ne4! I would not be able to find such a move; I guess only computers and Carlsen can. 18.Nxc5 Nxc5 It turns out that White cannot exploit the temporary inconvenience on the a3-f8 diagonal, so the game should gradually peter out to a draw: 19.Ba3 (a) Less worrisome is 19.Bd4 Ne4 20.Be3 Nf6 21.Kg2 Rac8 22.Rd2 Rfe8 23.Kf3 h5=. (b) 19.Rd6 was my first idea, but the computer repels all threats by 19...Rfd8 20.Rad1 (20.Rb6 Rd7=) 20...Rxd6 21.Rxd6 Rc8 22.Bd4 Kf8 23.Kg2 Ne6 24.Be3 h5=. (c) Finally, 19.Rd5!? Ne6 20.Rd7 b5 21.Rc1 h6 22.Kg2 Rfd8 23.Rxd8+ Rxd8 24.Rc2 a5 25.h4 Kh7 26.Bc1 Kg6 27.Bd2 a4 28.bxa4 bxa4 29.Bb4 Kf5 30.Rc6 Ra8=, to be followed by ...h6-h5, looks also like rather straightforward equality. 19...Rfc8 20.Bxc5 (20.Rd5 Ne6 21.f4?! Rc2 starts to get dangerous for White) 20...Rxc5 21.Rac1 Rxc1 22.Rxc1 Kf8 23.Rc7 Rb8 24.Kg2 b6

754

At first I thought this is an ending difficult for Black to hold, but in fact things are easy. Witness the following variations: 25.a3 (25.b4?! b5 26.Rc6 Ra8 27.Rb6 Ke8 28.h4 Ra7 29.h5 h6, intending ...Ke8d7 is immediately equal) 25...a5! 26.h4 h5 Black is now waiting for the white king to appear in the center in order to start checking it and force it away from the f-pawn. White cannot make any progress without giving it up, so the following line is more or less forced:

27.Kf1 (27.Kf3 Rd8=) 27...g6 28.Ke2 (28.b4 Re8 29.Rc6 axb4 30.axb4 Re6 31.Rxe6 fxe6= is an equal K+§ ending; 28.a4 Re8 29.Rc6 Re6 30.Rxe6 fxe6= is similar) 28...Re8+! 29.Kd3 Rd8+ 30.Kc3 Rd1 31.Rb7 Rf1 32.Rxb6 Rxf2=. It is hard to think of this position being anything else than a draw, so we may conclude that White has 755

nothing after 12.exd4. (M6b22) We will now return to 12.Na4!: 12...Ba7 13.exd4 Nxd4 14.Bb2! This is the only critical continuation. After 14.Nxd4 Bxd4 15.Bb2 Bxb2 16.Qxd8 (16.Nxb2 Rb8 will transpose) 16...Rxd8 17.Nxb2 Rb8 18.Rfd1 Rxd1+ 19.Rxd1 Bg4!

there is nothing for White: 20.Rd2 (a major point is 20.Rd6 Kf8! 21.Rb6 [21.Nd3 b6=] 21...Re8!= and the rook invasion on e2 or e1 will equalize the chances easily) 20...Kf8 21.Nc4 Be6 22.Nb6 Ke7 23.Rc2 g5 24.Kf1 h6 25.h3 Ne8 26.Nd5+ Kf8=. So let us see what happens after 14.Bb2!: 14...Nb5! This is the interesting idea I found here, containing the Na4 and taking a3 away from the Bb2. The main disadvantage of the move is leaving control of e5 to White, but I think this is something we can handle.

756

15.Qc2!? The machine found this move after operating at a good depth, and it has a lot of dangerous ideas we need to address. Instead: (a) 15.Rc1 does not make much sense in view of 15...Qxd1 16.Rfxd1 Ne4„. (b) 15.Ne5 Qe7! was my main point, preparing to develop the bishop on e6 and slowly absorb the pressure on b7. After 16.Nd3 Be6 17.Rc1 Rad8 18.Qe2 Nd4 19.Bxd4 Rxd4 20.Nac5 Rfd8 21.Bf3 R4d6 22.Nf4 Rd2 23.Qe5 Nd7 24.Nxd7 R2xd7 25.Nxe6 Qxe6 26.Qxe6 fxe6= there is no reason to be dissatisfied with Black’s position. (c) White can exchange queens first with 15.Qxd8 Rxd8 and only then try to invade e5, but we should still be fine: 16.Rac1!? (16.Ne5 Nd4!) 16...Ne4 17.Ne5 Nbd6 18.Rcd1 Re8 19.Nc3 Bf5 20.g4 Nxc3 21.Bxc3 Ne4 22.Bb2

757

22...Nxf2! 23.Rxf2 Rad8! 24.Rxd8 Rxd8 25.Kf1 Bxf2 26.gxf5 b5=. (d) Finally, I also looked at the chaotic 15.b4, after which I think the following lines provide us with an idea of how Black can reach equality: 15...Qxd1 16.Rfxd1 Ne4 17.Nc5! This is the critical move. Instead 17.Nd4 is strongly answered with 17...Bg4! 18.Bxe4 Bxd1 19.Rxd1 Rfd8 20.Nc5 a5 21.Kf1 (21.Bxb7 Rab8 22.Bf3 Nxd4 23.Rxd4 Rxd4 24.Bxd4 Rxb4 25.Be3 Rc4 26.Nb3 Bxe3 27.fxe3 Ra4 28.Nc1 Rc4 29.Nd3 Rc3 30.Ne1 Rxe3 31.Kf2 Rc3∞) 21...axb4 22.Nxb7 Nc3 23.Bxc3 bxc3 24.Nxd8 Rxd8 25.a4 Rxd4 26.Rxd4 Bxd4 27.a5 Kf8 28.Ke2 g6 29.a6 Ke7 30.f3 Bg1 31.Kd3 f5 32.Bd5 Kd6 33.Bg8 Kc6=. Let us return to 17.Nc5!: 17...Nxc5 18.bxc5 Bxc5 19.Rac1 Be7

758

A critical juncture. If you ask me, when I see such a position I always look for a way to return the extra pawn in order to bail out. Experience has taught me that we need to be pragmatic in such situations. 20.Ne5 20.a4!? is the move that tortured me a bit until I found the nice retreat 20...Na7!, preparing to shield the c-file. After 21.Ne5 Bf6 22.Rc7 Bxe5 23.Bxe5 Nc6 24.Bd6! (24.Bf4 Re8 25.Bd5 Nd8=) 24...Rd8 25.Bd5 Bg4! 26.Bxf7+ Kh8 27.Rd5 Rac8 28.Rxc8 Rxc8 29.Rd3 Rd8 30.Re3 g6!

a very sharp ending arises on the board: 31.Bf4 Instead, 31.Ba3 Rd2 32.Kg2 Kg7 33.Bc4 Bd1 34.Re8 h5 sees Black angling to get his g-pawn to g4 to create his own mating net. The engines employ this motif against 35.Bf8+ Kh7 36.Rc8 by resorting to 36...g5! 37.Rc7+ Kg6 38.Rxb7 g4! in order to claim equality: 39.Kf1 Bf3 40.Rb1 a5 41.Re1 Nd4=. After 31.Bf4 a logical continuation is the following: 31...Kg7 32.Bc4 Rd4 33.Rc3 Kf6 34.Bxa6 bxa6 35.Rxc6+ Ke7 36.f3 Bd7 37.Bg5+ Ke8 38.Rxa6 Rxa4=; this should be a draw sooner or later, White’s extra pawn does not mean much. Returning to 20.Ne5, Black once more has to seek as many exchanges as possible:

759

20...Rd8 21.Rxd8+ Bxd8 22.a4 Nd6 23.Ba3 Be7 24.Rc7 Bf8 White has reached his maximum; he will win back a pawn or even go one up but in view of the reduced material he cannot win. For example, 25.Bxd6 Bxd6 26.Rxf7 Bxe5 27.Bd5 g6 28.Rf5+ Kg7 29.Rxe5 Kf8!=. The draw is a matter of time. The time has come to check the dangerous 15.Qc2!?: 15...Bg4

16.Qc4! This is the devilish idea of the machine. It is very hard for a human to see it in advance, but luckily Black is not worse. 760

Instead we would be more than happy to see the blunder 16.Ng5? tip the scales in our favor after either 16...Nd4µ or 16...Rc8µ. 16...Be6 17.Qf4! (after 17.Qh4 Ng4 18.h3 [18.Ng5? h6µ] 18...Qxh4 19.Nxh4 Nxf2! 20.Rxf2 Rac8 21.Kf1 Bxf2 22.Kxf2 Rc2+ 23.Kg1 Rd8 24.Be4 Re2 25.Bxb7 Rd3 26.Bf3 Red2© the threat is ...g7-g5 and White will not be able to hang on to his material advantage; the game is heading towards a draw) 17...Rc8! 18.Rad1 Qc7!

I analyzed this position for quite a while with the help of engines. It is a dynamically balanced one as the following summary shows: 19.Qh4 (19.Be5 Qe7=) 19...Qe7 20.Ng5 (20.Rfe1 Rc2=) 20...h6 21.Nxe6 fxe6 Black has counterplay against f2 here. In spite of his bishop pair and the weakness on e6, White does not seem able to obtain an advantage: 22.Kh1 22.Rd2 Rcd8! 23.Rxd8 Rxd8 24.Bxf6 Qxf6 25.Qxf6 gxf6 26.Bxb7 Rd2 27.Bxa6 Nd6 28.Nc3 Rc2! 29.Nb5 Nxb5 30.Bxb5 Rxa2 31.Bc4 Kf7 32.Kg2 Ke7 is clearly a draw. 22...Rc2 Here arose the last branching point of my investigation: 23.Qf4 After 23.Rc1 Rfc8 24.Qf4 (24.Bxf6?! Qxf6 25.Qxf6 gxf6 26.Rxc2 Rxc2 27.Bxb7 Nd6 is now better for Black) 24...h5! Black is getting ready to jump to g4, and in fact 25.Bf3 does not prevent it: 25...Ng4! 26.Bxg4 hxg4 27.Qxg4 Rxc1 28.Bxc1 Rc2 29.Bb2 Qd7! Somewhat surprisingly Black has great compensation here as a couple of lines given below show:

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30.f3 Equality arises too after 30.Rd1 Qc6+ 31.f3 Rxh2+! 32.Kxh2 Qc2+ 33.Rd2 Qxd2+ 34.Kh3 Qh6+ 35.Qh4 Qe3 36.Qh5 Nd4=. 30...Rd2 31.Re1 Bd4 32.Bxd4 Nxd4 33.Nc5 Qc6 34.Ne4 Rxa2 35.Qh5 Nxf3!! 36.Qxf3 Qc2 37.Kg1 Qxh2+ 38.Kf1 Qh3+=. Back to 23.Qf4: 23...Rf7 24.Rc1 Rxc1 25.Bxc1 Nd6 26.Ba3 Nfe4 27.Bxd6 Rxf4 28.Bxe7 Nxf2+ 29.Kg1 Nd3+=. And eternal checks will seal one more immensely complicated piece of analysis. I know what is on the tip of your tongue; do not say it. We should rather go on with our next line. (M7) Intrigued by my move order demon, I asked myself why not 10.e3 here, preparing to meet ...a7a6 with Nc3-e2 ? Then I was surprised to see that there are several games in the database. I think that the standard 10...Re8!? should be fine, but the engines also like as a bonus the following idea: 10...Bf5 After this logical developing move White has three continuations. I looked at (M7a) 11.Ne2, (M7b) 11.a3 and (M7c) 11.b3. (M7a) 11.Ne2 is best answered with 11...Re8!, avoiding 11...Be4!? 12.Bd2, as played in SherbelGawarecki, East Lansing 1991, which may be a tad better for White. The point is seen after 12.b3 Ne4 13.Bb2 Nxf2 14.Rxf2 Bxe3© with wild positions, difficult to judge, which the engines evaluate as equal. (M7b) 11.a3 a5 12.Ne2 Re8 13.b3 Ne4 14.Bb2 Nxf2 15.Rxf2 Bxe3© is similar. (M7c) Let us now focus on 11.b3:

762

11...Nb4!? Not a typical idea. However, 11...Rc8 12.Ne2! (12.Bb2 Nb4 13.Na4 Be7 14.a3 Bc2 15.Qd2 Nd3 16.Nc3 Nxb2 17.Qxc2 Na4! 18.bxa4 Ne4 19.Nd4 Nxc3 20.Rfc1 Bf6=) 12...Re8 13.Bb2 Qe7 14.Ned4 Nxd4 15.Nxd4 Be4 16.Bh3² looks better for White. 12.a3 Nd3 13.b4 Bb6

Our chances are not bad here. White has weakened his c4-square and although it is not that important, it nevertheless gives us some play. For example, 14.Na4 Rc8 15.Nxb6 Qxb6 16.Qe2 Rc4 17.Bb2 Nxb2 18.Qxb2 Qc7 19.Nd4 Bd7 20.Rfc1 Rc8 21.Rxc4 dxc4 22.Qc3 a6 23.a4 b5 24.axb5 axb5 25.Ra5 Qd6=. 763

(M8) 10.Bf4 is a move praised by Aagaard and Ntirlis. White wants to bring his rook to c1 without allowing the move ...d5-d4, which is what happens after 10.Bg5, examined in Part IV (b). 10...Re8 This is the best move. I see no reason to resort to ...h7-h6 immediately, although it is by no means a weak choice. (a) 10...d4? is probably the only way Black can get a worse position, because after 11.Na4 Be7 12.Ne5 Bd7 13.Nxc6 Bxc6 14.Bxc6 bxc6 15.Be5± he gets the worst type of hanging pawns and a loss of material seems unavoidable. (b) Aagaard and Ntirlis spend a lot of space analyzing 10...h6 11.Rc1 (11.Na4 Be7 12.Rc1 Be6 13.Nd4 is something they do not like for Black offering instead 11...Bd6, but I believe they are wrong as the simple 13...Nxd4 14.Qxd4 b6= gives the second player a good position) 11...Re8, their main point being that 12.Nb5 Bb6 13.Nd6 Re7 leads White nowhere. This is indeed so, e.g. 14.Nxc8 (14.e3 g5 15.Nxc8 Rxc8 16.Nxg5 hxg5 17.Bxg5 Re8 18.Qf3 Kg7= should be no more than a draw for White) 14...Rxc8 15.b4!? Ne4 16.a3 Qe8 17.Rc2 Rd8=. 11.Rc1 (11.Nb5 Nh5! 12.Bg5 Qd7 13.Rc1 Bb6 14.Nc3 h6 15.Bd2 Nf6 16.Na4 d4 17.Nxb6 axb6 18.a3 Ne4 19.Bb4 Qd8=) 11...Bb6 12.Qd3 d4 13.Na4 h6

I have not found any games with this position, but it seems that Black is in excellent shape. Play could continue 14.Nxb6 (14.Rfd1 g5 15.Nxb6 axb6 16.Bd2 Ne4 17.h4 Bf5 18.Qb5 Nd6 19.Qb3 Be6 20.Qd3 Bf5= leads to a draw) 14...axb6 15.b4!? Nxb4 16.Qxd4 Qxd4 17.Nxd4 Rxa2 18.Be5 Ng4 19.Bc7 Nc6 20.Nb5 Rb2 21.Nc3 (21.Nd6 Nd4 22.Nxe8 Nxe2+ 23.Kh1 Nxc1 24.Rxc1 Nxf2+ 25.Kg1 Nh3+ 26.Bxh3 Bxh3=) 21...b5 22.Rb1 Rc2 23.Nxb5 Rexe2 24.Bxc6 Nxf2! 25.Rxf2 Rxf2 26.Be4 Rb2 27.Rxb2 Rxb2 28.Nd6 Be6=. (M9) We will now focus on the Réti Variation:

764

10.Na4!? Be7 An important juncture for our Tarrasch repertoire. White has (M9a) 11.Nd4, (M9b) 11.b3 and (M9c) 11.Be3. 11.Be3 has been the main move in both theory and practice. The two alternatives analyzed immediately below should not be underestimated though: (M9a) 11.Nd4

is a move I would like to meet with 11...Nxd4!. They say that positions with three minor pieces favor White in the IQP, but here both the Na4 and the Qd4 seem displaced, and that will allow Black enough time to equalize. Instead, the alternative 11...Bg4 12.h3 Bd7?! (12...Be6! 13.Nxe6 fxe6 14.Be3 b6 15.Nc3 Rc8 16.Bf4 Kh8∞ is in my opinion better) 13.Be3 Ne5 is a recommendation by Aagaard and Ntirlis I cannot agree with, because after 14.Nc3 Rc8 15.Qb3 Nc4 16.Bg5 Na5 17.Qd1 Nc4 18.b3! Ne3 19.Bxe3 Rxc3 20.Qd2 Qc7 21.Bf4 Qc5 22.Rac1 Rc8 23.Rxc3 Qxc3 24.Qxc3 Rxc3 White gets a slight advantage in the ending with either 25.Rd1² or 25.Be5². 12.Qxd4 Be6

765

White will now have to re-organize his troops and that allows us the time necessary to build up a good position. 13.Nc5 After 13.Nc3 we can play 13...Rc8!, because the a7-pawn is not really en prise. There might follow 14.Bg5 (14.Qxa7 d4 15.Ne4 Bc4!³ gives us more than enough compensation for the pawn because of the pressure against e2) 14...Qa5 15.Rfd1 Rfd8 16.Bd2 Rc4 17.Qd3 Qb6 18.b3 Rcc8 19.Rac1 (19.Na4 Qc6 20.Rac1 Qd7 21.Rxc8 Rxc8 22.Nc3 Bf5=) 19...Ng4 20.e3

and here a nice little tactical skirmish balances things completely: 20...d4! 21.Nd5 Rxc1! 22.Nxe7+ Kf8 23.Bxc1 Nxf2!! 24.Qxh7 (24.Ba3 Nxd3 25.Nd5+ Qc5 26.Bxc5+ Nxc5 27.Rxd4 Rc8³) 24...Nxd1 25.Nf5 Bxf5 26.Ba3+ Rd6 27.Qxf5 dxe3 28.Bxd6+ Qxd6 29.Qc8+ Ke7 30.Qxb7+ Kf6=. 766

13...Bg4 Only now is this good. A likely continuation is 14.Re1 b6 15.Nd3 Rc8 16.Qa4

16...Qd7!? 17.Qxd7 Bxd7 18.Be3 Rc2 19.Rac1 Rfc8 20.Rxc2 Rxc2 21.Rc1 Rxc1+ 22.Bxc1 Bd6=; in a three-minor piece ending without rooks the isolani is not really a burden for Black. (M9b) 11.b3 can be answered by 11...Re8 12.Bb2 Ne4 (also possible is 12...Bg4 13.Rc1 Ne4 14.Nd4 Nxd4 15.Bxd4 [15.Qxd4 Bf6 16.Qd3 Bxb2 17.Nxb2 Be6 18.Nd1 Qa5 19.Ne3 Rad8=] as in Damljanovic-Miljanic, Kladovo 1990, but here the best move is 15...Bf5!= anyway, so why not develop the bishop to f5 immediately?) 13.Rc1 Bf5! 14.e3 h6 15.Qe2 (15.Nd4 Nxd4 16.Qxd4 Bf6 17.Qb4 Bxb2 18.Nxb2 Qf6 is excellent for Black) 15...Bf6 16.Rfd1 Rc8

767

with a position where the bad placement of the Na4 and the Qe2 means that White has nothing. After 17.Nc5 Nxc5 18.Rxc5 Be4 19.a3 Bxb2 20.Qxb2 Bxf3 21.Bxf3 Ne5 22.Rdxd5 Nxf3+ 23.Kg2 Black is at least equal with either 23...Nh4+= or 23...Ne1+ 24.Kf1 Rxc5 25.Rxd8 Rxd8 26.Kxe1 b5©. (M9c) 11.Be3 Bg4 After this move we have entered the Réti Variation main line. Now you should expect the move 12.Rc1 to happen in 90% of your games, but there are also a couple of alternatives, so we will look in total at three continuations: (M9c1) 12.h3, (M9c2) 12.Bc5 and of course (M9c3) 12.Rc1. (M9c1) The most obvious question I would expect someone to ask me is what are we going to do if White plays 12.h3 at this point? If I knew nothing about the Tarrasch I would answer that of course we retreat the bishop to h5, but chess has advanced too much for this automatic reaction to be good. In fact the right move is 12...Bxf3! in spite of the fact it does not enjoy such a good score in practice. I can understand that many of you will raise an eyebrow hearing this, so let me try to briefly explain the situation: The main point is that after 12...Bh5?!, we are no longer actually threatening to seize the light squares with ...Qd8-d7, so White’s hands are free to launch queenside play. He will continue with 13.Rc1 Re8 14.Nd4! (14.Nc5 Bxc5 15.Bxc5 Qd7 16.Re1 Rac8 is actually nothing special for White, as we have good control over the light squares and he cannot easily unlock our position; for example, 17.g4 Bg6 18.Nh4 Ne4 19.Nxg6 hxg6„ and in spite of having the bishop pair White is no better as we control more space and his kingside has become a bit weak) and after 14...Qd7, the following position arises on the board:

768

Here White’s plan should be to take on c6 and follow up by occupying c5, preferably with the bishop. An exchange of dark-square bishops would be fine from White’s perspective because he would be left with the more agile piece for exploiting weaknesses, the knight. It is kind of shocking for me that no one so far has played the preparatory move 15.Re1! which is a first step towards achieving White’s aim by defending e2. Instead, practice has focused on 15.Nxc6 bxc6 16.Re1 which is less dangerous for us, and Black is already not worse because he has at his disposal the idea 16...Bb4 17.Bd2 Bd6 18.Nc5 Qe7=, coordinating everything. I have also looked at other moves for White, without success. One of them was 16.Qd2 but then 16...Rab8 17.a3 Bd6 threatens ...Nf6-e4, leading by force to equality after 18.Nc5 Bxc5 19.Rxc5 Ne4 20.Bxe4 Rxe4 21.Kh2 Qe8=. Nor would 16.g4 Bg6 17.Nc5 achieve anything special after 17...Bxc5 18.Bxc5 h5 19.f3 hxg4 20.hxg4 Qe6 21.Re1 Nd7 22.Bf2 a5„. Finally, 16.Bc5 allows 16...Bd8! and Black gains valuable time by attacking e2, rendering the position unclear. However, after 15.Re1! Black’s task is difficult because White is ready to carry out the Nd4xc6, B(N)-c5 idea under the best conditions; the move 15...Bb4 no longer has the same effect as a result of the strong retreat 16.Nc3!:

769

16...Bxc3 I guess that in the early years of the Kasparov era, the sac 16...Rxe3!? 17.fxe3 Qe7 accompanied with the “∞” sign in the Informant would have been enough to scare White players away from a move like 15.Re1!, but perhaps not nowadays. I think it is just a matter of time before someone finds and uses this move in practical play and I am afraid that after something like 18.Kh2 Bg6 19.Qb3 Na5 20.Nxd5 Nxd5 21.Qxd5 Rd8 22.Qf3 Bxe1 23.Rxe1 Qb4 24.Rc1 h6 25.b3² White’s initiative leaves us struggling to equalize, which is something I do not want to happen. However, also after 16...Bxc3, there is nothing like clear equality in sight: After 17.Rxc3 Ne4 18.Ra3! Nd6 19.Nxc6 bxc6 20.Bc5 Ne4 21.Ra5! Qb7 22.Bd4² White has not been left with the ideal piece for exploiting weaknesses, but the Bd4 is not a bad piece either, and Black will need to struggle in order to achieve equality. Having witnessed why 12...Bh5?! is dubious, I guess it is now about time to see why 12...Bxf3! is correct: 13.Bxf3

770

13...Qd7! This calm developing move, gaining a tempo on the h3-pawn, is the best one. They say press whilst the iron is hot, but I guess it is not hot enough here to fully justify 13...d4 14.Bxc6 dxe3 15.Bxb7 Rb8 16.Qxd8 Rfxd8 17.Bf3 exf2+ 18.Kxf2² when White is slightly better. However, even this is probably sufficient a for a laborious draw, a sample line being 18...h5 19.Rad1 g5 20.Rxd8+ Rxd8 21.Rc1 g4 22.hxg4 hxg4 23.Bc6 Bd6„ and the pressure against g3 hampers White’s winning attempts. 14.Bg2 The only move to have been tried. A weird Stockfish try is 14.h4, which gives us the following line: 14...Rfd8 15.Nc5 Bxc5 16.Bxc5 d4 17.Qb3 b6 18.Bxc6 Qxc6 19.Be7 Rd7=. 14...d4 15.Bg5

771

15...Ne4! 15...Qf5 16.Bxf6 Qxf6 17.Rc1 Rad8 18.Qb3² gave White the advantage in Kovalyov-Leveille, Montreal 2012. 16.Bxe4 Bxg5 We have gotten a better version of the Kovalyov game here, as we control c1 and White will have to weaken himself to evict the Bg5. 17.h4! 17.Bg2 Rfe8 18.Re1 Qf5 19.h4 Bh6 is an excellent position for Black, as the Bh6 hampers White’s movements. A nice variation is 20.Bxc6 bxc6 21.Qxd4 Re4 22.Qd3 Be3!!=. 17...Be7 18.Rc1 Rac8

772

This is an important juncture, although the position has never been reached in practice. 19.Bxc6! The critical move, aspiring to saddle us with hanging pawns and then press us for ages; 19.e3 Rfd8 20.exd4 Nxd4 21.Rxc8 Qxc8 22.Nc3 Bb4= is completely equal of course. 19...Rxc6 20.Rxc6 Qxc6! With this fine human idea, I kind of shocked the computer, although I had not calculated all the consequences. White has to take on d4 and then we start guerilla tactics: 21.Qxd4 Qc2!

This was my plan; the white queen is overloaded and I felt there should be something here. 773

22.Qd1 One fine point is revealed after 22.e3 Rd8 23.Qxa7 Bxh4!=; 22.e4 Bf6 23.Qxa7 Qxe4 24.Nc3 Qb4= is also equal. 22...Qg6! 23.Qd3 23.Qd7 Bxh4 24.Qxb7 Qc2! 25.Qxa7 Qxe2© is also fine for Black who wants to pull the bishop to f6 and advance his h-pawn; 23.Kh2 Rd8 24.Qb3 Qh5!=. 23...Qg4 24.Nc3 Bxh4 25.Kg2 Bf6 26.Nd5 Qe6 The game is level, a sample line being 27.e4 (after 27.Rc1 Rd8= the position is equal but it is also possible to venture 27...Be5 28.f4 Bxb2 29.Rc7 Re8 30.Rxb7 Ba3∞) 27...Rc8 28.f4 h5 29.e5 Rc5 30.Rd1 Bd8 31.Qe4 Qc8„. Thus, the chances are balanced after 12.h3 but things were not as easy for Black as one might have originally thought. (M9c2) 12.Bc5 is the other possibility I want to bring to your attention. Here Black obtains a great game by means of 12...Bxc5 13.Nxc5 Qa5 14.Nb3 Qb6 15.h3 Bh5 16.Nh4 Rfd8 17.Rc1 a5 18.g4 Bg6 19.Nxg6 hxg6 20.a4 Rac8=. We will now return to examine our main line: (M9c3) 12.Rc1 Re8

This is out tabiya for the Réti System against the Tarrasch. The best move for White seems again to be 13.h3!? but there are also some alternatives to look at. My analysis included the following options: (M9c31) 13.Nd4, (M9c32) 13.Nc5!?, (M9c33) 13.Nc3, (M9c34) 13.Re1 and of course (M9c35) 13.h3!?. (M9c31) 13.Nd4 allows us to put our queen on d7, which is something we should consider as a gain.

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After 13...Qd7 there are three options for the first player: (M9c311) 14.Nxc6, (M9c312) 14.f3 and the most natural reaction of all (M9c313) 14.Nc5, which will be our main line. (M9c311) The easiest for us is 14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.Bd4 (15.Re1 Bh3 16.Bc5 Bd8„) 15...Rac8 16.f3, when Black should be perfectly fine after 16...Bh3= but the alternative 16...Bf5!? offers even richer play: 17.g4 Bg6 18.e3 We have followed Fridman-Bao, Neustadt an der Weinstrasse 2018. Here the German GM would have faced quite a few problems after the correct 18...Qe6!³, when Black intends to transfer his knight to d7 with the better game. This is a typical idea to remember in this structure. (M9c312) 14.f3 a tricky move pointed out by Aagaard and Ntirlis, the idea being that Black cannot now put his bishop on h3 with impunity. They provided an excellent solution here, which was later tested successfully in a high profile game:

14...Bf5! 14...Bh3 15.Nxc6! Bxg2 (15...bxc6 16.Bxh3 Qxh3 17.Rxc6² leaves Black with insufficient compensation for the pawn, although there is still play in the position after 17...h5∞) 16.Ne5 Qf5 17.Kxg2 Qxe5 18.Bd4² is the position White wants to lure us into. 15.Nxc6 15.Nxf5 Qxf5 16.Bf2 d4 17.Qb3 Rab8= is offered by Aagaard and Ntirlis as leading to approximate equality. 15...bxc6 16.Bd4 Qb7!? 16...Rac8! transposes to the Fridman game, but Black decides to go his own way. 17.e3 Nd7

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Black has completed the typical maneuver of the knight to d7 and stands fine. After 18.Rf2 Rac8= chances were even in Inarkiev-Moranda, Wroclaw 2014. (M9c313) Let us return to 14.Nc5: 14...Bxc5 15.Rxc5

15...Nxd4 15...Bh3 16.Nxc6 bxc6 17.Qa4² offers White chances of an edge. 16.Qxd4 Bxe2 17.Rfc1 White has compensation for the pawn but no more. After 17...Qf5 18.h3 h5 19.Rc7 Bf3 20.Qf4 Qxf4 21.Bxf4 Bxg2 22.Kxg2 b6 23.Be3 Re4 24.Rd1 Rc4 25.Rb7 Rc2 26.Bd4 Ne4 27.Rd7, as played in Dreev-Yemelin, Tallinn 2009, the most accurate is 27...Re8! 28.Rxd5 (28.Rxa7 h4 29.gxh4 Re6‚) and here both 28...Re6= and 28...Re7= will do. (M9c32) 13.Nc5!? is convincingly dealt with by 13...Qb6! when White has a repetition but again, nothing serious if he decides to continue. After 14.Nb3 (14.Ne6 Qa5 15.Bd2 Qb6 16.Be3 Qa5 17.Bd2 Qb6= was shortly drawn in Papp-Perunovic, Dubai 2015) 14...Qa6 Black attacks a2 and also eyes from a distance the e2-pawn with the resulting position looking fine for him. For example: 15.a3 Rac8 16.Re1

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16...b6! There were games where Black allowed an invasion to c5 but I do not think he should allow this. 17.Nbd4 Nxd4 18.Bxd4 So far Baryshpolets-Moranda, Kazan 2013; here I like the following important sequence: 18...Rxc1! 19.Qxc1 Qa4! It is imperative to prevent the maneuver Nf3-e5-d3 because it is the only way White can obtain an edge. 20.b4 20.Qd1 Qxd1 21.Rxd1 Rc8 is equal as the variation 22.h3 Bd7 23.Ne5 Ba4 24.Re1 Ne4 25.Nd3 Bd6 shows. 20...Bf5 21.Qb2 a5= White has to acquiesce to the liquidation of the queenside as 22.Bc3 Rc8„ also offers him nothing; I think this is an important piece of analysis to commit to memory, as the equalizing method is not so trivial. (M9c33) 13.Nc3 is the kind of move I would be happy to see. Going back and forth with the knight does not seem quite right from White’s point of view, does it? 13...Qd7 14.Qa4 This is the point, preparing Rf1-d1, but I think we are ready for that:

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14...Bd8! A very strong maneuver here. The point is seen after 15.Rfd1?! (15.Rcd1 Ba5!∞ is a better choice, but still good for Black) when finally the Kasparovian sac 15...Rxe3! 16.fxe3 Bb6³ is good for Black and even gives him the advantage. (M9c34) Finally, there is also 13.Re1 Bb4 14.Bd2 Bf8= when Black is ready to play ...d5-d4 and he has no problems at all. (M9c35) Let us return to 13.h3!?: 13...Bxf3 Once more, this is our preferred method. 14.Bxf3 Qd7

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Here we have reached the final branching point for this Part IV (a). White must choose the way to defend his h-pawn. I looked at (M9c351) 15.Kg2 and (M9c352) 15.Bg2. 15.Bg2 is the move I would expect a human to play, so I made it our main line. The alternative is more computeresque: (M9c351) After 15.Kg2 Rad8 Black has excellent centralization and the Bf3 feels a little bit too clumsy for my own taste. The following continuations are possible: 16.Qc2!? One of the two queen moves that prepare Rf1-d1. (a) Instead, 16.Qb3 d4 17.Rfd1 Nd5 18.Bd2 Ne5 19.Ba5 b6 20.Bxd5 Qxd5+ 21.Qxd5 Rxd5 22.Be1 Rd7 23.f4 Ng6 24.Bf2 Red8 25.Rc2 happened in Bars-Boucher, corr 2014, and here I like 25...f5= best. (b) 16.Nc5 Bxc5 17.Bxc5 Ne4∞ is a typically good position for the knights. For example, 18.e3 Qe6 19.Bd4 Ng5„. Lets return to the slightly more critical 16.Qc2!?: 16...d4 17.Rfd1 Nd5 18.Bd2 Ne5 19.Nc5 Bxc5 20.Qxc5 Nxf3 21.exf3 d3

22.Rc4!? The most dangerous try, intending the pin from the d4 square. Weaker is 22.Qxa7 Re2 23.Qd4 h5©. 22...Nb6! 23.Rh4 h6 24.Qh5 24.Bc3 Na4 25.Qxa7 Nxc3 26.bxc3 Ra8=. 24...Qd5 25.Qxd5 Rxd5 26.Re4 Rc8 27.Bc3 Nc4=. (M9c352) Let us now focus to the more natural 15.Bg2: 15...Rad8 16.Nc5 Bxc5 17.Bxc5 Ne4 779

Once again 2B vs 2N, once again White has nothing. For example: 18.e3 18.Bd4 Qf5 19.e3 allows the very nice and typical maneuver 19...Ng5! 20.Kh2 Ne6 21.Bc3 d4 22.exd4 Nexd4 23.Bxd4 Nxd4 with equality in Timson-Donnelly, corr 2014. 18...Qf5 19.Qg4 19.b3 h5 20.Bd4 Rd6 21.h4 Nxd4 22.Qxd4 b6 demonstrates the kind of position Black is aiming at, perhaps getting ready for ...g7-g5„. 19...Qf6 20.Ba3 Ne5 21.Qe2 Nc4 22.Bb4 Qxb2 23.Qxb2 Nxb2 24.Rc7 Nd3 25.Rxb7 Rb8= Black held comfortably in Bok-Batsiashvili, Wijk aan Zee 2016. Overall, I am very satisfied with Black’s chances in the Réti Variation, although there were one or two positions which looked a bit difficult for us. But this is a good system for White and that was expected to happen, I think.

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Tarrasch Repertoire: Part IV (b) 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.g3 Nf6 7.Bg2 Be7 8.0-0 00 9.dxc5!? Bxc5! 10.Bg5!? [D34] 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.g3 Nf6 7.Bg2 Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.dxc5!? Bxc5! 10.Bg5!?

This move is as much principled as the Réti system and perhaps even more, so it has become the absolute main line of this book. White’s plan is to lure the d-pawn forward, then take on f6 and start a light-square strategy based on the powerful Bg2. White’s bishop will be pointing directly at our queenside and with the services of other pieces such as his queen’s rook and knights White hopes to build slowly a bind. Let us see if this can happen: 10...d4 Do not ask me if other moves are possible here as my plan is to follow a thematic course and besides, the text has served Black players well. As for my use of the term “thematic” I think it is fully justified, for what could be more thematic than gaining space in the center with tempo and also restricting White’s options? I think nothing, so we will follow the beaten path with devotion, accepting all the pain and wisdom the theory can offers us and improving here and there whenever that is necessary. The process will be as usual a bit painstaking, but I am sure that since you have made it this far you will be curious to see how this Part IV (b) is like and will not close the book with a look of despair on your face. 11.Bxf6 This was the main line in the past and I will keep it so, mostly to pay respect to the great players who contributed much to it theoretically and thereby created some beautiful games. It is the vintage Tarrasch treatment as White starts his light square campaign, but this does not mean that it is necessarily the 781

most tricky or dangerous method of play. We will examine three moves in total, namely (A) 11.Na4, (B) 11.Ne4!? and (M) 11.Bxf6. (A) One move you should not expect to see too often in your games is the decentralizing 11.Na4, which is however not as bad as its low popularity suggests. White simply wants to settle with his knight on the c5-square and avoids exchanging his Bg5 for the time being. I presume 11...Be7 is forced and good, and now White has almost exclusively used the move 12.Rc1 which takes us to our next diagram:

I do not know if White is threatening an exchange sac on c6 here, but in any case the following clean solution makes sure this will never happen: 12...h6 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.Nc5 This has been played in the majority of games and is designed to impede Black’s development. Instead: (a) If White plays more slowly with 14.a3, then Black can even skip the move ...Ra8-b8: 14...Bf5!? 15.Nc5 Qe7 16.Qa4 Rab8 Well, perhaps not entirely. But at least White played the move Qd1-a4 to force it, and now the queen will be pushed back with a gain of time: 17.Rfe1 b5 18.Qd1 Rfc8 19.b4 a5„ It is a complicated fight, where Black’s chances are by no means worse. (b) 14.Nd2 Rb8 15.Nc5 Re8 16.Re1

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is a typical configuration for both sides, as seen in Larsen-Kortchnoi, Bad Homburg 1998. Here “Victor the Terrible” should have played 16...g6, preparing first and foremost a retreat for his bishop to the nice square g7, and secondly a maneuver of the Ng6 to e7, if needed. For example: 17.Ndb3 Ne7 18.e4!? dxe3 19.Rxe3 Bxb2 20.Rb1 Qxd1+ 21.Rxd1 Kg7!? 21...Kf8 22.Nd7+ Bxd7 23.Rxd7 Nf5= is also possible. 22.Nd7 (22.Rde1? Kf8µ) 22...Rd8! 23.Red3 Unclear play arises after 23.Rxe7 Ba3 24.Rxf7+ Kxf7 25.Bd5+ Ke7 26.Nxb8 Be6 27.Bf3 Rxb8∞. 23...Rxd7 24.Rxd7 Bxd7 25.Rxd7 Kf8 26.Rxb7 Rxb7 27.Bxb7=. Returning to 14.Nc5, there might follow 14...Rb8 15.a3 Qb6!? with another parting of the ways: 16.Nd2 Instead, 16.Na4 Qb5 17.b4

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17...b6! 18.Nb2 Bb7 19.Nd2 Rfe8 20.Nd3 Nd8! 21.Re1 Bxg2 22.Kxg2 Ne6 23.Qc2 Qf5„ is also excellent for Black. 16...Ne5 17.Nde4 Rd8 Black has reached a harmonious set-up as the queen protects the Bf6 and the Rd8 the d-pawn. After 18.Nd3 Nxd3 19.Nxf6+ Qxf6 20.exd3 Qb6 21.Qd2 Be6 22.Be4 Rbc8 23.Rxc8 Rxc8 24.Rc1 Rxc1+ 25.Qxc1= Black is fully equal, a possible conclusion being 25...Qb3 26.Qf4 f5! 27.Bxf5 Bxf5 28.Qxf5 Qxb2 29.Qe6+ Kh8 30.Qc8+ Kh7 31.Qf5+, with a perpetual. (B) Let us now switch our attention to 11.Ne4!?, a continuation that contains more poison than 11.Na4. White’s idea is 11...Be7 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 and now 13.b4!, hoping to get an initiative after the trade of his b-pawn for our d-pawn. Other 13th moves lead to much less worrisome positions for us but for the sake of completeness we will examine (B1) 13.Qd2, (B2) 13.Rc1, (B3) 13.Ne1 and (B4) 13.Nxf6+!? before finally arriving on the extremely delicate territory of (B5) 13.b4! : (B1) To start with, 13.Qd2

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does not offer White any advantage, as after 13...Be7! (13...g6!? is an idea offered by Aagaard and Ntirlis as leading to equality but I prefer to go my way) 14.Rfd1 Black has two good moves: (B1a) 14...Qb6 and (B1b) 14...Bg4!?. 14...Bg4!? is the established continuation, but I deemed it right to follow my policy of offering as much choice as I can whenever that does not jeopardize our chances: (B1a) There is nothing wrong with the untried 14...Qb6 15.Nxd4 Rd8, e.g. 16.Nxc6!? (16.e3 is obviously harmless because of the simple 16...Nxd4 17.exd4 Bg4 18.f3 Be6 19.Qf2 Rd7 20.Nc5 Rxd4 21.Nxe6 Rxd1+ 22.Rxd1 Qxe6=) 16...Rxd2 17.Nxe7+ Kf8 18.Rxd2 Kxe7 19.Rad1 Be6

and White has enough compensation for the queen but no more. There might follow 20.Ng5 Qb5 21.Nxe6 fxe6 22.Rc2 Qb6 23.Rcd2 Qb5=. (B1b) Let us now check 14...Bg4!?: 15.Qf4 785

White has other moves too at this point but they do not lead to an advantage: (a) A bad mistake would be 15.h3?? Bxf3 16.Bxf3 f5–+ and a piece is gone. (b) 15.Nxd4?! allows us a minimal edge after 15...Nxd4 16.Qxd4 Bxe2 17.Qxd8 Rfxd8³. (c) 15.Qd3 has been played by Rausis and is a logical choice. After 15...Qb6! 16.Rab1?! (16.h3! Bxf3 17.Bxf3 Rad8 18.Nd2! Qxb2 19.Qb3! Qxb3 20.Nxb3 d3! 21.exd3 Ne5 22.Bxb7 Nxd3= keeps it equal) Black could have gotten the advantage in Rausis-Lang, Winterthur 2011, as follows: 16...Rad8! 17.a3 a5 18.Ned2 Rfe8³; Black is at least slightly better as White’s b2-b4 idea has been stifled and ...Bg4-h5-g6 is threatened. (d) Finally 15.Rac1!? is a worthy alternative to 15.Qf4, simply giving the knight access to c5 before anything else. We need some precision here: 15...h6!?

A good move, designed to anticipate Qd2-f4 followed by b2-b4!. 16.Qf4!? This still remains the critical choice. 16.Nc5 is not dangerous because of 16...Bxc5 17.Rxc5 Qe7 18.Rdc1 Rad8 19.b4 d3! 20.exd3 Qf6!, a very typical idea in the Tarrasch structures. The engines find nothing better for White than to liquidate with 21.Qc3 Qxc3 22.R1xc3 Nxb4 23.Ne5 Bf5 24.Bxb7 Nxd3 25.Nxd3 Bxd3 26.Bd5 Bg6 27.h4 Rfe8 28.Kf1 Re7=. 16...Be6 17.b4! This idea would give White a dangerous initiative if the black pawn were still on h7, but as things stand Black is able to meet it comfortably:

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17...g5!! Not 17...Bxb4?! 18.Rxc6! bxc6 19.Rxd4 Qb8 20.Rxb4! Qxf4! 21.gxf4 Rfb8! 22.Rxb8+ Rxb8 23.Nc3² and White has some winning chances. 18.Qd2 Bxb4 The point. Black is able to take with tempo on b4 as the white queen has no other retreat square apart from d2. The position remains tense but Black keeps everything under control: 19.Qb2 Be7 20.Qxb7! (20.Nxd4 Nxd4 21.Rxd4 Qb6 22.Qa1 Rfd8 23.Rxd8+ Rxd8 24.Nf6+ Bxf6 25.Qxf6 Bxa2 26.Qxb6 axb6³ can only be better for Black) 20...Bd5! Centralization is a good thing, especially when it is the only solution! 21.Nxd4!! Nxd4 22.Qb2! White will recover his piece now, but in the process Black exchanges queens leading the game to an unavoidable draw:

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22...Qb6! 23.Qxd4 Qxd4 24.Rxd4 Be6! White is temporarily a pawn up but the two bishops give Black powerful compensation. There might follow 25.Rc7 Bd8 26.Rc6 (26.Rb7 Bb6©) 26...Rb8 27.Rd1 (27.h3 Bb6 28.Rd2 Rfd8 29.Rdc2 Rbc8 30.Rxc8 Rxc8 31.Rxc8+ Bxc8©) 27...Rb2 28.Nc5 Bxa2 29.Bf3 Kg7 30.Rd7 Bb6 31.Na4 (31.Ne6+ Bxe6 32.Rxe6 Rc2=) 31...Rb4 32.Nc3 Bb3 33.Nd5 Rc4 34.Nxb6 Rxc6 35.Bxc6 axb6 36.Rb7 Bc4 37.e4 Ra8 38.h3 Ra1+ 39.Kh2 Ra2 40.Kg2 Rb2=. A very instructive variation, rich in tactical motifs. Let us now return to 15.Qf4: 15...Bh5 This looks good here, keeping the pressure on e2. We have reached another branching point with White having a choice between (B1b1) 16.g4 and (B1b2) 16.Rac1.

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16.Rac1 will be our main line because it is a logical developing move, preparing Ne4-c5 and undoubtedly the most pressing method of proceeding. (B1b1) That said, there is certainly a case for 16.g4, shielding the pressure against e2 and preparing to lay siege on the d4-pawn. Black has two good replies: 16...Bxg4!? A radical and perfectly playable solution. There is of course nothing wrong with the more pedestrian 16...Bg6, as played in an old game between the legendary players Valery Salov and Smbat Lputian. However Black needs to proceed with caution there: 17.Ne5 Played by Salov. I prefer 17.e3!?, but it is just a matter of taste as nothing will lead to an advantage for White. Black equalizes by 17...d3 18.Ne1 Qb6 19.Nxd3 Rad8 20.b4 f5! (not 20...Nxb4 21.Nxb4 Qxb4 22.Rdb1 Qa3 23.Rxb7²) 21.Nc3 Nxb4 22.Nxb4 Qxb4 23.Rxd8 Rxd8 24.Nd5 Qxf4 25.Nxe7+ Kf7 26.exf4 Kxe7 27.Re1+ Kf7 28.gxf5 Bxf5 29.Bxb7 Bh3=. Let us now return to Salov’s choice and see the most accurate way of meeting it:

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17...Rc8! The right reaction; 17...Re8?! 18.Nxc6 bxc6 19.Ng3! Qb8, as played in Salov-Lputian, Lvov 1984, is not as convincing because of 20.Qxd4! Bf6 21.Qa4!±. 18.e3 18.Nxg6 fxg6∞ will give Black strong counterplay when his queen arrives on b6. 18...Bxe4= This position is equal as no matter how White recaptures on e4 Black will take on e5 and follow with ...Be7-f6, obtaining sufficient counterplay. Returning to 16...Bxg4!?, I think this is our best chance to play for a win, as the position arising after 17.Qxg4 f5 18.Qf4 fxe4 19.Qxe4 Bf6∞ is obviously more unbalanced and “spicy” than the previous possibilities. (B1b2) Let us now return to the more principled 16.Rac1: 16...Qb6 This is the typical reaction of course, and now White has two interesting possibilities:

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17.Ne5!? It is also possible to play 17.Nd6 when the knight could be threatening to sacrifice itself on b7, but also eyes the f5-square. I think the best solution for Black is 17...Rad8! (17...Bxd6 18.Qxd6 Qxb2 19.Qc5! Bxf3 20.Rc2! Qb6 21.Bxf3 Qxc5 22.Rxc5 Rfc8 23.Bxc6 Rxc6 24.Rxc6 bxc6 25.Rxd4 Kf8 26.Rd7² still leaves some issues to be addressed as our pieces are passive in this rook ending) 18.Nxb7 (18.Nf5!? Bf6 19.g4 Bg6 20.g5 Bxf5 21.gxf6 Bg6 22.Rd2 Rfe8 23.fxg7∞ is one of those unclear positions that Tarrasch fans should definitely enjoy playing) 18...Qxb7 19.Ne5 Bd6 20.Qh4! Bxe5 21.Qxh5 Qxb2 22.Bxc6 d3!= with complete equality. 17...Bxe2! There is no real risk involved in this capture, despite the apparent inconvenience of the knight fork on d7. 18.Rd2 Ba6

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19.Nd7 After 19.Nxc6 bxc6 20.Qe5 Rfe8 21.Qxd4 (21.Rxd4?? Bg5 22.Qxg5 Qxd4–+) 21...Bb4! White is forced to liquidate into an equal ending where our queenside formation is straightened out: 22.Qxb6 (22.Rdd1 Rad8 23.Qxb6 axb6=) 22...axb6 23.Nc3 (23.Rd4 Bf8 24.Rxc6?! f5 25.Nd2 Re1+ 26.Nf1 Rae8ƒ gives us a dangerous initiative) 23...Re6 24.h4 Rae8 25.Bf3 g6=. 19...Qa5 20.Nxf8 Rxf8

Here the bishop pair and the strong d-pawn offer good compensation for the exchange. Also, White’s pieces are not that well coordinated; in fact, he is the one who has to be careful. 21.h4!

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21.a3? f5! 22.Ng5 h6µ loses material for White. 21...h6 22.Rxc6! 22.a3? is again bad because of 22...f5 23.Nc5 g5! 24.Nb3 gxf4 25.Nxa5 Nxa5 26.Rxd4 fxg3 27.fxg3 Nc6µ and only Black has winning chances; 22.Rdd1 Be2 23.Re1 d3 24.a3 Qb6³. 22...bxc6 23.Rxd4 Qxa2 24.Ra4! Qb1+ 25.Kh2 Qd3 26.Qe5 Qb5!= After this accurate move, the position is actually down to skin and bones as the queen exchange will not leave either side with anything to play for. So we may conclude that 13.Qd2 is a non-critical continuation for Black. (B2) 13.Rc1 is another move we should not be afraid of as now we can attack the knight with 13...Re8!, forcing a decision.

14.Ne1 This is Shirov’s idea, preparing to transfer the knight to the fine blockading square d3. (a) 14.Nc5 Qb6 15.Nd3 Bf5! 16.Nd2 Bg5 17.Nc4 (17.h4 Bh6³; 17.Re1 g6³) 17...Qc7! 18.f4 Bf6 19.Qd2 (19.Nce5 Bxe5 20.Nxe5 Qb6³) 19...Qe7 20.Bf3 g6„ is the passive treatment; Black is clearly not worse. (b) Another choice is 14.Nxf6+ Qxf6 15.b4 which is similar to the 13.b4! idea with ...Rf8-e8, Ra1-c1 thrown in.

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The insertion of these moves seems to favor Black after 15...a6!, e.g. 16.a4 Bg4 17.h3 (17.b5 axb5 18.axb5 Ne5=) 17...Bxf3 18.Bxf3 Nxb4 19.Bxb7 Rad8 20.Qd2 Qb6 21.Bg2 Nd5= and we prepare to settle with the knight on c3, after which the position is fully equal. 14...Bf5! This is a good move, forcing developments; 14...Rb8?! is relatively passive and after 15.Nd3 Bf5 16.Nec5 Ne5 17.Bxb7ƒ White had a slight pull in Shirov-Kupreichik, Daugavpils 1989. 15.Nc5 Qb6 Once again we have reached a parting of the ways. We will look at (B2a) 16.Nxb7!? and (B2b) 16.Ned3. (B2a) 16.Nxb7!? is perhaps more critical, however after 16...Nb4! we reach a sharp position where Black should be fine:

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17.Qa4!? I found this nice idea to improve White’s play, intending the not-so-obvious maneuver Rc1-c5-b5. (a) Instead, 17.a4?! Rab8 18.a5 Qa6 19.Qa4 does not work for White because of 19...Be7µ. (b) 17.a3 is answered splendidly with 17...Na2! 18.Rc6 Qxb7 19.Rxf6 Be4 20.Rf4 Bxg2 21.Nxg2 Qxb2 22.Qxd4 Nc3=. (c) 17.Nc5 is answered with the rather easy to find 17...Nxa2 18.Na4 Qd8 19.Ra1 Nb4 20.Bxa8 Qxa8© and Black’s compensation for the exchange is of course at least sufficient. (d) Finally, 17.Nd3 is the only move tried in practice, when 17...Rac8 claims a 2/2 score for Black in the Mega Database. However, it seems to me that the position is just equal after 18.Rxc8 Rxc8 19.Nbc5! (instead, 19.Nf4? g5 20.Nd3, as in Gofshtein-Graf, Manila 1992, is just hopeless for White after 20...Be7–+) as White miraculously gets his knight out by exploiting Black’s weak back rank.

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For example, 19...Rxc5 20.Qa4! (this has been mentioned by Aagaard and Ntirlis as well) 20...Kf8 21.Qxb4 (21.Nxb4?? Ra5! 22.Qb3 Be6–+) 21...Qxb4 22.Nxb4 Rc4 23.Nd3 Rc2 24.Bf3 Rd2 25.Rc1 Bxd3 26.exd3 Rxd3=. Let us now return to my move 17.Qa4!?: 17...d3! I think this incisive solution gives Black equality, but it may well be the only way to achieve it. There might follow 18.Nxd3 Nxd3 19.exd3 Bxb2 20.Rc5 Bxd3 21.Rd1 Ba6 22.Qd7 Bxb7 23.Rb5 Qf6 24.Qxb7 Bd4 25.Qf3=. (B2b) Let us now return to 16.Ned3: 16...Rac8! Thus Black has succeeded in deploying the rook actively, defending the c6-knight. 17.a3 Bg5! 18.Rc4 18.f4 Be7 19.b4 a5 20.bxa5 Nxa5 21.Qa4! Bf8 22.Bf3 Qd8 23.Qb5 b6= looks balanced. 18...Qb5 19.b3 Be7 20.Qc1 Na5!? 21.Rb4 Bxd3 22.Rxb5 Bxb5 23.b4 We have been following Nikolic-Grischuk, France 2003. Here best seems 23...Bxe2 24.Bh3! Rcd8 25.bxa5 Bxc5 26.Qxc5 d3 27.Qc7!= and White should hold but of course the burden is on him. Thus, Shirov’s idea leaves us in good shape as well. (B3) 13.Ne1 Re8 will transpose to Shirov’s line if White now plays 14.Rc1, and I cannot see any really substantial deviation. The computer gives 14.Nd3 Bf5 15.Ndc5!? (15.Nec5 Qb6 will most likely transpose to Nikolic-Grischuk) 15...Rb8 16.Nxf6+ (16.Rc1 Be7³) 16...Qxf6 17.Rc1 but I guess Black cannot be worse after 17...h5!?„. (B4) Finally, 13.Nxf6+!? Qxf6 14.Qd2 seems to be a worse idea than 13.b4! as now Black has time to organize himself: 796

14...Bg4 This looks natural and strong here, and I cannot see any problems for Black. For example, 15.h3 Bh5 16.b4 a6 17.a4 Rfd8! 18.g4 Bg6 19.b5 axb5 20.axb5 Rxa1 21.Rxa1 d3 22.Rd1 Ne5 23.Nxe5 Qxe5 24.exd3 Qxb5 25.d4 h5=. (B5) The time has come to check the strong idea 13.b4!: 13...Nxb4! 14.Nxf6+ Qxf6

This is an important position for our Tarrasch repertoire. We have to struggle a bit to nullify White’s slight initiative here, as the Bg2 targets our queenside and makes his game easier. We will examine both recaptures on d4: (B5a) 15.Nxd4 and (B5b) 15.Qxd4; I have no doubts that the latter is the best move here. 797

(B5a) Instead, Aagaard and Ntirlis think too highly of 15.Nxd4 Rd8 16.Qa4!?, which is an idea they first discovered and analyzed extensively (in passing, I would like to mention that they also tend to analyze excessively in their book a simple position like 16.e3 Nc6 17.Bxc6 bxc6 18.Rc1 Bh3 19.Re1 Rd5∞ where it is obvious to the naked eye that Black is calling the shots). After 16...a5 they kept attaching a lot of exclamation marks in their analysis to the moves of both sides but the plain truth is that the position is not too difficult for Black, even after the best continuation 17.e3 which is, unsurprisingly, the only move tried in practice since then. Instead, 17.Rad1 Bd7 18.Qb3 Rab8 19.a3 Na6 20.Qc3 Rbc8= … 21.Qxa5? Rc5µ is another variation they offer, but I guess 20...Rbc8 is not the only move for Black. There is also 20...Qe5!?, for example, with an equal position. Returning to 17.e3, we should of course respond 17...Bd7, and here White has a choice of queen moves: (B5a1) 18.Qb3 and (B5a2) 18.Qa3!?.

18.Qa3!? is the move that has been played most and was the main line in The Tarrasch Defence; it will also be our main line here. The plan is to prevent the consolidating ...Ra8-b8. (B5a1) More natural appears instead 18.Qb3, but after 18...Rab8 Black has an easy game: 19.Rac1 I found four games with this move in my database. This looks like the best idea because it stops the aggressive luft ...h7-h5!?. After 19.Rab1 practice has only seen Ntirlis and Aagaard’s 19...Nc6 but why not create luft first? I prefer 19...h5!? when it seems to me that Black does not have any problems. For example: 20.Rfc1 Instead, 20.a3 Nc6= is now stronger than before.

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The same applies to 20.h4 Nc6 21.Nxc6 Bxc6 22.Bxc6 (22.Qb6 Bxg2 23.Kxg2 Qxb6 24.Rxb6 Rd2=) 22...Qxc6 23.Qb5 Qd5 24.a4 b6 25.Rfc1 Qxb5 26.Rxb5 g6= when Black does not lose a pawn as a result of having first provided his king with some air. Let us return to 20.Rfc1: 20...Bf5! 21.Nxf5 Qxf5„

The position is double-edged because we have a safer king. A sample computer line goes 22.Rd1 g6 23.Bf1 Nc6 24.Bd3 Qf6 25.Qb6 Qf3 26.Qb5 h4 27.Be2 Qe4=. Returning to 19. Rac1, Jacob and Nikos give 19...h6 20.Rfd1 Nc6 21.Nxc6 Bxc6 22.Qb6 Bxg2 23.Qxf6 gxf6= as equal, to which I would like to add the slight refinement 23...Rxd1+!? 24.Rxd1 gxf6 25.Kxg2 b5 26.Rd6 Kg7 27.Ra6 a4 28.Ra5 Kg6=. This makes things even easier for Black; White has absolutely nothing. (B5a2) Let us now check 18.Qa3!?: After 18...Nc6 19.Rad1 our two esteemed Tarrasch authors give a great deal of analysis to prove that 19...b6!? equalizes, and indeed they succeed. But I find all this unpractical when there is a simpler solution:

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19...h5! Luft, anyone? 20.h3 (a) 20.Nxc6 Bxc6 21.Rxd8+ Qxd8 22.Bxc6 bxc6 is hardly annoying when we control the d-file and also threaten ...h5-h4. White must play 23.Qa4 Qd5 24.Rd1 but then 24...Qf3 25.Rc1 Rd8! 26.Qxa5 Rd5 27.Qa4 Rd2 28.Rf1 Qd5 29.a3 g6© is easy and absolutely sufficient compensation for Black. (b) 20.Nb5 is more than good for Black after either 20...Bg4„ or 20...h4„. (c) Finally, 20.h4 makes some sense, to avoid having the pawn on the vulnerable h3-square. Then Black can play 20...Bg4 21.Bxc6 Bxd1 22.Bxb7 Ra7 23.Bg2 Rxd4 24.exd4 Qxd4= which is a variation Aagaard & Ntirlis analyzed with the pawns standing on h2 and h7, but I think it is much better for Black to have his back rank problems solved. The computer gives a 0.00 evaluation at this point. 20...Nxd4! I think we have to believe Stockfish when it says at depth 56 that this exchange is totally equal. 21.Rxd4 Be6 22.Rfd1 g6

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I cannot see any problems for Black here, although a bit of caution is still required. Play could continue as follows: 23.Bxb7 23.R1d2 Kg7= is equal once again, although this is perhaps the most testing continuation for Black. After 24.Qc5 Rxd4 25.exd4! White has a passed d-pawn, but the good thing is we can place our bishop on the fine square f5 where it is unassailable and helps Black counter-attack: 25...Bf5 26.Bxb7 Rb8 27.Bg2

27...Qe6! I think that for us humans, this is the most clear-cut solution, preparing a direct invasion to White’s back rank. The position is completely equal, e.g. 28.Rd1 (28.Kh2 Qe1 29.Qe5+ Qxe5 30.dxe5 a4=) 28...Qe2 29.Rf1 Rb5 30.Qc6 Rb2 31.a3 (31.a4 Qd3= … 32.d5? Qd4µ) 31...Rb3 32.Qc5 h4 33.g4 Bxg4 801

34.hxg4 h3 35.Bd5 h2+ 36.Kxh2 Qxf1 37.Bxb3 Qxf2+=. Let us return to 23.Bxb7 now: 23...Rxd4 24.Rxd4!? 24.exd4 Rd8 25.Kg2 Rxd4 26.Rxd4 Qxd4 27.Qxa5 Bxh3+! 28.Kxh3 Qd7+ 29.Kh2 Qxb7= is a nice tactical solution showing the vulnerability of the pawn on h3.

24...Rd8 The only move, but not so hard to find. As a result of the temporary weaknesses on a2 and h3 White is unable to keep his extra pawn and the game fizzles out to a draw: 25.Qxa5 (25.Rxd8+ Qxd8 26.Qb2 Bxh3=) 25...Rxd4 26.exd4 Qxd4= One of the two pawns has to fall, making the game completely equal. (B5b) We will now focus on the more testing 15.Qxd4: 15...Qe7! 15...Nc6?! 16.Qxf6 gxf6 looks better for White after 17.Nd2! Bf5 18.Ne4 Bxe4 19.Bxe4± as the bishop is dominant and Black has a lot of weaknesses. White went on to win in Beikert-Strohhaeker, Germany 2014. After 15...Qe7! White has several queen moves but only one keeps chances of an advantage: I looked at (B5b1) 16.Qe5, (B5b2) 16.Qf4 and (B5b3) 16.Qb2!.

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16.Qb2! is the move that clearly stands out according to both theory and practice; White has to keep control of the long diagonal and avoid an exchange of queens. Instead: (B5b1) I do not like 16.Qe5 Qxe5 17.Nxe5 Re8! 18.Rfd1 Bf5! for the first player as whatever initiative he had is soon bound to dissipate: 19.f4 (a) White achieves nothing after 19.Bxb7 Rab8 20.Nc4!? (20.e4 Bh3 21.a3 Nc2 22.Ra2 Rxb7 23.Rxc2 Rbe7 24.f4 f6 25.Nc6 Rxe4=) 20...Rxe2 21.Nd6 Be6 22.a3 Na2 23.Bf3 Rc2=, as played in Gonzalez Barcina-Kutlu, corr 2015. (b) 19.e4 shuts out the Bg2 and left Black without problems after 19...Be6 20.a3 Nc2 21.Rab1 Nxa3 22.Rxb7 a5= in Rogozenko-Kopylov, Hamburg 2000. (c) Finally, 19.Nf3 should be answered with one of the following two moves:

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19...Nc6 This calm retreat should suffice; more tactical is 19...Nc2!? 20.Rac1 Rad8 21.Rxd8 Rxd8 22.e3 (22.Nh4 Nd4 23.Kf1 Bg4 24.e3 Nc6=) 22...Rc8! 23.Ne5 Rc5! 24.g4! (24.e4 Be6 25.Nd3 Rc3³) 24...Be6 25.Nd3 Rc4 26.Nb2 Rc8 27.Bxb7 Rb8 28.Rxc2 Rxb7©. 20.Nh4 Be6 21.Bxc6 bxc6 22.Rd2 Rad8 23.Rc2 g6 24.f3 Rd4 25.Ng2 Rc4 26.Rac1 Ra4=. Returning to 19.f4, Black has to play incisively and steer the game towards a draw:

19...f6! 20.Nc4 Rxe2! 21.Bxb7 Rb8 22.Nd6 Bc2 23.Rd4 Rd8! 24.a3 Re7 25.Bf3 Nd3 26.Nf5 Red7 27.Rxd7 Rxd7 28.Bg4 Rc7 29.Nd4 Ba4 30.Bf5 Nc5 31.Rc1 Na6 32.Rb1 g6 33.Bd3 Nc5 34.Rc1 Rd7 35.Rxc5 Rxd4= and it was drawn after some more uneventful moves in Heinsohn-Mandviwala, corr 804

2014. (B5b2) 16.Qf4 resulted in a quick draw after 16...Nc6 17.e3 Rd8 18.Rab1 Be6 19.Nd4 Nxd4 20.exd4 Qd6 21.Qxd6 Rxd6 22.d5 Bxd5 23.Bxd5 Rxd5 24.Rxb7 and ½-½, in Pavlicek-Thompson, corr 2015. (B5b3) Back to 16.Qb2!: 16...Nc6

I had a feeling this position can be tricky for Black in practical play, so I examined it thoroughly. The following lines are evidence that he can equalize with some effort: I looked at (B5b31) 17.Rad1, (B5b32) 17.Rfd1, (B5b33) 17.Nh4!? and (B5b34) 17.Rab1!?. 17.Rab1!? is a favorite of the Swedish GM Johan Hellsten and perhaps the most dangerous move for us. It will be our main line, but we need to be aware that the alternatives could contain some poison too: (B5b31) 17.Rad1 led to equality after 17...Rb8 18.Nd4 Nxd4 19.Rxd4 Be6 20.Rfd1 b6 21.Qd2 Rbc8 22.Be4 Rc5= in Kushch-Ginsburg, Kherson 1990. (B5b32) After 17.Rfd1 the key move is again 17...Rb8!, defending b7 before developing the bishop. The computer continues with 18.e3 and now the correct move is 18...Be6!, preparing ...Rf8-d8 with equality. Instead, 18...Bg4, as played in Halkias-Ehrke, Tegernsee 2018, is not that good in view of 19.h3 Bxf3 (19...Be6! had to be played even here, restricting White’s edge to a minimum) 20.Bxf3 Ne5 21.Bd5 Rfd8 22.Qb3 Nd7 23.Rd4 Nc5 24.Qa3 b6 25.Rad1² and Stelios went on to win after some additional mistakes by his opponent:

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This is the type of position we need to avoid as White can start advancing his a- and h-pawns to weaken our queenside and our king, and we will soon find ourselves facing a long and arduous defense without any winning chances. Let us now check how play might proceed after 18...Be6!: 19.Ne1 Preparing Nd3-f4 looks like the only idea for White, but we will be in time with a good reply. Instead, the computers are originally enthusiastic about 19.Nd4 Nxd4 20.exd4, but we have a good blockading square on d6 and we should have no problems at all after 20...Qd6 21.d5 Bd7 22.a4 a5=; an attempt by White to lift the blockade by 23.Qa3 (23.Bf1 Rfc8 24.Bb5 Bxb5 25.Qxb5 Rc5= does not work for him either) allows 23...Qxa3 24.Rxa3 b5 25.axb5 Rxb5 26.Rda1 Ra8 27.d6 Rab8 28.Rxa5 Rxa5 29.Rxa5 Rb1+ 30.Bf1 g6 31.Kg2 Bc6+ 32.f3 Rd1=. 19...Rfd8! The key move! We need to oppose bishops on d5 before White puts his knight on f4. 20.Nd3 Bd5 21.Bxd5 Rxd5 22.Nf4 Rc5 23.Rac1 Rxc1 24.Qxc1 Rd8= The position is completely equal and I would dare say that in practical play Black might even have the better chances because of his queenside pawn majority. (B5b33) Finally, there is 17.Nh4!?, trying to prevent us from placing our rook on b8. Here is how play can continue in that case: 17...Rd8! Do not fall for 17...Be6?! 18.Rab1! Na5 19.Qb5 Qa3 20.Nf5² with some initiative for White. My analysis indicates that even this is holdable for Black, but there is no reason to allow it. After 17...Rd8! White has nothing, as 18.Rab1 can be answered with the following brilliant move:

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18...a5!! Who would have thought 20-30 years ago that such a move was logical? Apparently no one, and even nowadays it looks scary for most common mortals. On the other hand, this is how computers are slowly yet radically changing our perception of chess, by discovering ways of play that we would have otherwise thought at best paradoxical. Arriving at the explanation of the move, it is nothing less than threatening to push the pawn all the way to a3 to fix a2 as a target. If White prevents this happening by playing a2-a3, then the maneuver ...Nc6-a5-b3 is possible, shielding the b-file. It has to be pointed out however, that all this works because the Nh4 is far from the theater of action, otherwise the whole operation would be unthinkable. The most human continuation after 18...a5!! is 19.Rfc1 (19.Rfd1 Be6=) 19...a4 20.a3 Na5 (20...h6 21.Bxc6 bxc6 22.Rxc6 Bg4© is also possible) 21.Qb4 Qxe2 22.Qxa4 Be6 23.Qb4 h6= with a balance of power. (B5b34) Let us return to Hellsten’s 17.Rab1!?:

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17...Rb8! This move, also recommended by Jacob and Nikos, should do the trick. That said, 17...Bf5!? 18.e4! Bc8 does not look entirely paranoid, as shutting the Bg2 is a gain for Black. However, White maintains the better chances if he directs his knight to d5 with 19.Ne1! (19.Nh4 g6 20.f4 Rd8 21.e5 Be6∞ is merely unclear) 19...Rd8 20.Nc2! b6 21.Ne3 Be6 22.Nd5² and I think for both practical and theoretical purposes we should avoid this position. 18.Nh4 Hellsten’s choice and the only move played so far; it is a typical way of unleashing pressure on the long diagonal. Instead, 18.Rfc1 looked initially more dangerous to me, until I discovered that 18...Bf5! now works: For example, 19.e4 Bd7 20.Nd4! (20.Ne1 is not a real worry here because of 20...Rfc8 21.Nd3 a5 22.Nf4 b5 23.Nd5 Qd8 24.Bf1 Qe8! 25.f4 Qxe4 26.Bg2 Qe8 27.Qf2 Qd8 28.Rd1 Bf5=)

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20...Ne5 21.Qe2!? (21.Rc7 Qd6∞; 21.Qc3 Rfc8 22.Qa5 a6=) 21...Rfc8 22.h3 Rxc1+ 23.Rxc1 Qb4 24.Qd1 (24.Rd1 Ba4=) 24...Rc8∞. 18...Ne5! This is a good move here, eyeing c4. Black has already reached equality as the following lines show: 19.Rfd1 Hellsten played this move the second time he was confronted with the line. After 19.Rfc1, I like the aggressive 19...b5!?= with at least equal chances for Black (that said, 19...b6 20.Rc3 Be6=, as in Hellsten-Frolik, Mlada Boleslav 1995, looks also equal). For example, 20.Qb4 Qxb4 21.Rxb4 a5 22.Re4 Ng6 23.Nxg6 hxg6„. Returning to 19.Rfd1, we have once more a choice regarding the advance of our b-pawn:

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19...b6 Actually we can play again 19...b5!?, as 20.Bd5 a6 21.Qd4 Ng4 22.Qf4 should be equal after 22...Qf6!=. 20.Rd5 20.Rbc1!? Re8 21.a4 g6 22.h3 Ba6 23.Bd5 Qf6 24.Qa2= would have also been equal. 20...Re8! This is an obvious improvement over the game below. Weaker is 20...f6?! because Black will have problems with his e6-square after an exchange of lightsquare bishops takes place. After 21.Rd4! Be6 22.Rbd1 (Hellsten-Leito, Hallsberg 1996), Black should try to reduce the damage with 22...g6 23.Bd5 Bxd5 24.Rxd5 Rbd8 25.Ng2 Rxd5 26.Rxd5 Rc8 27.h3²/=. 21.Rbd1 g6= The position looks excellent for Black, so in spite of Hellsten’s efforts the Tarrasch holds firm in this line too!

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(M) We will now focus on the ultimate main line 11.Bxf6 Qxf6: There is a parting of the ways here; we will look at (M1) 12.Ne4!? and (M2) 12.Nd5. 12.Nd5 is the so-called Timman Variation. White adds emphasis on the light squares, hoping to tire us by playing around the d4-pawn. His strategy will involve a lot of knight maneuvering and possibly a queenside expansion at some point. Our own source of counterplay will be the traditional pressure on the e-file, but in the process we should be careful to avoid piece exchanges that do not favor us. If the concentration of forces permits, an attack against the white king is not unthinkable and sometimes such an attack will require the push of our h-pawn to weaken his pawn cover. Last but not least, we should always keep an eye on the ...d4-d3 sacrifice as a means of freeing squares for our pieces. After all, it is our duty to prove that this pawn is not a dead point in the center but rather a cramping unit for the opponent, with kamikaze potential that waits to be unleashed should the circumstances allow. (M1) That was a brief outline of what both sides aim at in the Timman Variation but we will return to the details later as there is one other important variation we should first look at. This variation leaves just a couple of minor pieces on the board and is in a way the alter ego of the line 11.Ne4 Be7 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.Nxf6+, only this time the black queen will end up on c5 rather than on f6. The basic position arises after 12.Ne4!? Qe7 13.Nxc5 Qxc5 and here White has several continuations upon which we will try to shed some light: We will look at (M1a) 14.Qd2, (M1b) 14.Nd2, (M1c) 14.Ne1 and (M1d) 14.Rc1.

Our main line 14.Rc1 is the most common move in the diagrammed position; it gains a tempo on the black queen and develops a rook to an open file, but one could argue that the queen will go to b6 anyway in most cases, so it is not certain that White gains anything substantial by hitting it right away. Well, one bonus possibility is that White will be able to develop his queen on c2 now, preventing thus ...Bc8-f5, but is that so important? Somehow I do not really believe it. The main problem with 14.Rc1 is that it “loses” the b2-b4 idea, which the option examined immediately below introduces: 811

(M1a) That option is 14.Qd2 which is a popular idea too, with many games in my database. I would say that b2-b4 is a sort of semi-threat already, so Black should not react lightly. 14...Rd8! This is the best reply, exactly because b2-b4 is stopped. For the time being the rook may appear a bit passive on the d-file, but it may later switch to activity by using Black’s third rank. Strangely enough, Aagaard and Ntirlis give only 14...Bg4?!, failing to notice the strength of 15.b4! which is exactly what White aims for when playing 14.Qd2. All I can see is a long and arduous defense ahead of us after 15...Qb6 16.a4 Bxf3 17.Bxf3 Qxb4 18.Qxb4 Nxb4 19.a5 Rab8 20.Rfb1 Na6 21.Rxb7 Rxb7 22.Bxb7 Nc5 23.Bd5 Rd8 24.Bc4² as White has kept the right pieces for this type of ending and has the better pawn structure.

Some could suggest that in the position of the diagram, Black’s resources are not exhausted and he maintains drawing chances, but it is hardly recommendable to a player at any level, even to the very best of defenders. Perhaps a computer can draw this position but for a human this task is onerous, so let us get on with 14...Rd8! ☺: There is a further division here with White having a choice between (M1a1) 15.Rfd1 and (M1a2) 15.Rac1!?. 15.Rac1!? Played by Tigran Vartanovich Petrosian, this belated attack on the queen seems to me more critical than it was one move ago, as by now Black has committed to ...Rf8-d8. As things stand, it poses Black an important dilemma: Where should the queen retreat, to b6 or e7? I have to admit that the correct answer here is hard to find even for the best of grandmasters, and even Petrosian’s opponent, the famous Yakov Estrin, failed to solve the puzzle. Each move has its pros and cons and submitting the answer right away would not have much instructive value. (M1a1) So, before proceeding to show you my favorite solution I will try to give you an idea about 812

the mechanisms in the position by looking at some computer lines after the alternative 15.Rfd1:

15...h6! A useful retort, guarding g5 and making luft. It turns out that White cannot get an advantage by pushing b2-b4. 16.Ne1 This is the best move Stockfish could find at depth 46. (a) I played some games against the computer by employing the obvious 16.b4, but it would not take the pawn. It kept confronting me with the weird 16...Qc4!?, after which Black threatens to take the pawn on his own terms by pushing ...d4-d3 first!

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Let us check some lines after 16...Qc4!?: 17.Qb2 Instead, 17.Rac1 does not achieve anything for White as now the a2-pawn will be hanging after the queen trade: 17...Qxb4! 18.Qxb4 Nxb4 19.Rxd4 Rxd4 20.Nxd4 Nxa2 21.Rc7 Nb4 22.Bxb7 Bxb7 23.Rxb7 a5= and if someone has to be careful, that would be White. The apparently solidifying 17.a3 gives Black a lever for counterplay: 17...a5! 18.bxa5 (18.Rac1 Qb5 19.Rc5 Qb6 20.Ne5 Nxe5 21.Rxe5 axb4 22.Qxb4 Qxb4 23.axb4 Ra4 24.Rb5 Ra2 25.Bf3 Rb2=) 18...Rxa5= and Black will stand excellently after placing his queen on a6. Returning to 17.Qb2, Black unveils his idea:

17...d3! 18.b5 dxe2 Just in time! 19.Rxd8+ Nxd8 20.Ne5 Qc7 21.Qxe2 a6 22.Qb2 axb5 23.Qxb5 Qe7 24.a4 Ne6 25.Re1 Nd4 26.Qc4 Nc6 27.Qc3 Nxe5 28.Qxe5 Qxe5 29.Rxe5 Bd7 30.a5 Bc6=. (b) But you are entitled to ask, why not 16.Rac1 after Black has played ...h7-h6, what did Black gain by it? Well, to be honest, both 16...Qb6 and 16...Qe7 should be of equal value, but from the human perspective I would like to retreat my queen to e7 in order to pressurize the e2-pawn and enable the maneuver ...Bc8-f5-e4. Thus, 16...Qe7!= is the best by our humble human standards and I would like to stress that again White gains nothing by pushing b2-b4 since with the a-rook on c1, the a2-pawn hangs after the queen trade. As for the 16.Ne1 Stockfish move, once more we retreat to e7: 16...Qe7! 17.Nd3

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17...Be6! Preventing Ra1-c1 and intending ...Be6-d5; 17...Bf5 18.Rac1 Be4 is less good as our queen lands on e4 after the exchange: 19.Bxe4 Qxe4 20.b4²/= with a tiny pull for White. 18.Nf4 (18.b4 Bd5 19.Bxd5 Rxd5= is what we want to achieve and is excellent for Black) 18...Rd6! This multi-purpose Spassky-type of move completely equalizes. We defend both e6 and c6 and are now ready to bring the a-rook into play. 19.b4 Rad8 20.Rac1 Ne5 21.Nxe6 Rxe6

22.Bh3 Ra6!? 23.f4 Ng6= The machine says it is equal but I guess this is the type of position where every result is possible. 815

(M1a2) We will now return to Petrosian’s 15.Rac1!?: 15...Qe7?! This is an incorrect reply when the pawn is still on h7. The queen had to return to b6 on this occasion, not so much in order to keep b2 under pressure, but mostly to avoid being harassed! After 15...Qb6! the point is that 16.Rfd1 is answered with 16...Be6! and the pawn on a2 hangs, so White must play the modest 17.b3 h6 18.Ne1 when he has no advantage at all after 18...Bd5!=; an instructive detail indeed. Let me now explain why I did not like Estrin’s 15...Qe7?!: 16.a3 This is what Tigran played and it is also good enough as White intends b2-b4, so the idea mentioned below will not run away. My problem now and on the next moves is 16.Qg5!?, as I do not like to weaken my king with ...f7-f6 in these positions, but here it is more or less forced. After 16...f6 17.Qb5 a6 18.Qb6 Be6 19.Rfd1 Rd6²/= the engines say it is equal and it may indeed be so, but for me the ideal position would have been with the pawn on h6 instead of f6. As things stand, White will always have a little bit of something to annoy us on the light squares. 16...a5

17.Rfe1?! Here we can see that hyper-prophylaxis can be a blessing and a curse. I do not want to imagine what stratospheric heights Petrosian would have reached if he had studied ...less Nimzowitch! 17.Qg5! was again the move, as after 17...f6 18.Qd2! (18.Qc5 Qxc5 19.Rxc5 d3 20.exd3 Rxd3=) 18...Bf5 19.Rfd1 Be4 20.Ne1 Bxg2 21.Kxg2² White gets that small middlegame initiative he would not have with the pawn still on f7. 17...Bf5?! Well, obviously Estrin did not understand the position at all. If he had, he would have undoubtedly 816

played 17...h6!= after which complete equality reigns on the board.

18.Qg5! Finally Tigran hits upon the right idea. White will now be better, and I guess you have probably already understood that this advantage is bigger in a middlegame rather than an ending. 18...Qe6? 18...Qxg5 19.Nxg5 d3 20.exd3 Bxd3² was forced. Now Black gradually gets outplayed. 19.Qf4 Bg6 20.Nh4 Ne5 21.Nxg6 hxg6 22.Be4? An atypical inexactitude from a player of Petrosian’s class; 22.Bxb7? was also not good because of 22...Rab8 23.Be4 Rxb2 24.Rc5 Re8=, but 22.Red1!± would have put Black on the ropes. 22...Rd7!= Now the position is equal again, but Petrosian won by exploiting his opponent’s further errors: 23.Red1 Re8 24.Rc2 Qb3 25.Qc1 b6 26.Rcd2 Red8 27.Qc2

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27...a4?! (27...Qe6=) 28.Qxb3 axb3 29.Rc1² b5 30.Bd3 Rd5 31.Rc7 Rb8 32.Rd1 Nd7? 33.Be4 Rd6 34.Rd3+- f5 35.Bg2 Ne5 36.Rxb3 d3 37.exd3 Nxd3 38.Bf1 Ne5 39.Rc5 Nd7 40.Rbxb5 Re8 41.Rd5 and 1-0, Petrosian-Estrin, Moscow 1951. So I guess all is good for us after 14.Qd2, but to be honest, I had not expected when I started the book that this position would need such a detailed analysis. Fortunately the next two knight moves require less effort from us: (M1b) The least natural of those two moves is 14.Nd2, as one would normally expect the knight to head towards d3 in this structure.

After 14...Be6 (14...Bg4!? also appears to be good enough: 15.Nb3 Qb6 [15...Qh5=] 16.Bxc6 bxc6 17.Qxd4 Bxe2 18.Rfc1 Bf3 19.Qxb6 axb6 20.Nd4 Bd5 21.Nxc6 Bxa2= was equal in Roesch-Stettler, 818

Chemnitz-Leipzig 1992) 15.Nb3 Qb6= the Nb3 is dominated and Black looks fine. (M1c) 14.Ne1 is best answered with 14...Re8 15.Nd3 Qb6 16.Qd2 Bf5 17.Rac1 h6!? (I see no reason to rush with the exchange 17...Be4, although it is of course possible; we can take our time to make luft first, as White threatens nothing) 18.Rc4 (18.Nc5 d3! 19.Nxd3 Nd4 20.Rfe1 Rad8© is of course excellent for Black) 18...Be4 19.Rfc1 Bxg2 20.Kxg2 Re7 21.Nf4 Re5= and a balance has been reached. Looking at the diagram below, we can see what it is all about in the Tarrasch: A fight of elements, as White has the better pawn structure (two pawn islands against Black’s three) but Black has pressure on the e-file and the safer king as a result of the exchange of White’s fianchettoed bishop. This is a typical situation we have encountered many times in the pages of this book and the careful reader should have already understood how to handle such positions with Black. Here in fact we have one of the most ideal piece set-ups for the defense that should soon force a standstill:

For example, 22.h4 Rae8 23.b4 a5 24.a3 axb4 25.axb4 g6 and I find it very hard to invent something that would breathe life into this position. (M1d) Let us now resume our look at 14.Rc1: 14...Qb6 15.Qc2

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That is supposed to be the idea, preventing ...Bc8-f5, but after our simple reply White is left without targets: 15...h6 16.b3 Not much changes after 16.Rfd1 Be6 17.b3 (17.Qc5 Qxb2 18.Nxd4 Nxd4 19.Qxd4 Qxe2= was completely level in the computer game Cyron-Gull Bit, CCRL 2013)

17...a5! 18.Rd2 Rfd8 19.Qd1 (19.h4 Rd7 20.Ne1 Nb4 21.Qb2 Rad8=) 19...Rd7 20.h3 Rad8 21.Kh2 Bd5= with complete equality in Djuric-Caposciutti, Saint Vincent 1998. 16...Be6 17.Qc5 d3! That kamikaze again! 820

18.exd3 Rfd8 19.Rfd1 Nb4= White is bound to lose his extra pawn and the draw will be unavoidable. We will now focus on the Timman Variation: (M2) 12.Nd5 Qd8 Aagaard and Ntirlis also recommend 12...Qf5 (as a back-up line) but this is where my version of unorthodoxy ends; no, I will not close the diagonal of my Bc8, thanks!

We have reached the first major crossroads, with the most popular option being 13.Nd2. There are two more knight moves, analyzed below: (a) 13.Nf4 White’s main idea is that he defends e2 with this knight, so the other one may maneuver towards c5 to put Black under siege on the long white diagonal. White’s plan will also include the moves Ra1-c1 and a2-a3, b2-b4 of course. Let us see if this can work:

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13...Re8 14.Rc1 Bb6 15.a3 Bg4 This is a typical configuration for our pieces in this line. With our last move, we invite White to weaken his castled position with h2-h3. 16.b4 (16.h3 Bf5 17.b4 Be4= is excellent for us) 16...h6! 17.h3 I do not see anything else for White at this point. He has to push our bishop back to start his knight maneuvers. 17...Bf5 18.Nd2 Qd7 19.Nb3

19...Be4! Once more, this is our way to defuse the pressure. Make sure that this equalizing maneuver becomes 822

part and parcel of your arsenal in the Tarrasch, as its omission can often lead to trouble. A possible continuation after 19...Be4! is 20.Bxe4 Rxe4 21.Nc5 Bxc5 22.Rxc5 Re5 23.Qc2 Rae8 24.Rxe5 Rxe5 25.Rc1 a6 26.Kg2 g5 27.Nd3 Re7 28.Nc5 Qd5+ 29.Kg1 Kg7 30.Nxb7 Nxb4 31.axb4 Rxb7=. (b) The other knight move is 13.Ne1, preparing to attack the Bc5 without retreating the Nd5 from the center. After 13...Re8 14.Nd3 Bf8 15.Rc1 (15.a3 Bf5 16.N5b4?! Bxb4 17.Nxb4 Nxb4 18.axb4=/³ was, if anything, slightly better for Black in Speelman-King, Bunratty 1997 but a draw was agreed at this point) 15...Bf5 16.Re1 Be4 17.Bxe4 Rxe4 18.N3f4 Re5 19.Qb3 Rb8 20.h4 Qd7

it is not hard to diagnose that the white knights are only visually beautiful and that White will sooner or later need to play e2-e4 to extricate the one on d5, which is something the computer does immediately: 21.e4 dxe3 22.Rxe3 Rxe3 23.Qxe3 Qe8=. We will now continue by analyzing the main move 13.Nd2: 13...Re8 14.Rc1 You will face this obvious (and best) continuation 90% of the time. (a) If White plays 14.Nb3 then we should dominate the knight by 14...Bb6, obtaining a fully playable position. For example, 15.Rc1 Bf5 16.Nxb6 axb6 17.Bxc6 bxc6 18.Nxd4 Bg4! 19.Rxc6 Bh3 20.Re1 Qd5 21.f3

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21...Re4!! 22.Rd6 Qxd6 23.fxe4 Qb4 24.b3 h6 25.Kf2 Rxa2© (b) 14.Re1 is pointless in view of 14...Bf8 15.a3 (15.Rc1 Bf5=) 15...Bf5 16.b4 g6! 17.Rc1 Bh6 and the pressure on the h6-c1 diagonal is annoying for White. The engines find nothing better than to play 18.b5! Na5 19.Nc7 Bxd2 20.Qxd2 Nb3 21.Qb2 Nxc1 22.Nxe8 Rc8 23.Rxc1 Rxc1+ 24.Qxc1 Qxe8= when it is obvious that the game is dead level. 14...Bf8! The old main line is 14...Bb6 but I find it unnatural to commit the bishop to this square if White has not first committed his own knight to b3. There is a lot of analysis here and Black is supposed to equalize but I thought it impractical to go for an obscure solution when there is a clear cut one. After 14...Bf8! there is only a limited amount of games between strong players, but the position is excellent for Black: The material divides basically into (M2a) 15.Nf4, (M2b) 15.Nc4 and (M2c) 15.Nb3.

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Our main line 15.Nb3 is designed to stop ...Bc8-f5. Alternatively: (M2a) After 15.Nf4 the typical reaction 15...Bg4! gives White serious problems to solve as the kamikaze attack with ...d4-d3 is already in the air. Let us check a few lines: 16.Bf3 Played by Tony Miles. (a) Instead, 16.Rxc6? is bad for White because of 16...d3!µ. (b) 16.h3 Bf5 means that the knight can no longer return to d5, as then we have the typical ...Bxh3! shot. This suggests we can prepare the bishop’s entrance into play via h6: 17.Re1 (After 17.Nb3, there is always the auto-pilot solution 17...Be4=) 17...Rb8! 18.a3 g6=. (c) Finally, 16.Re1 is easily dealt with by 16...d3 (16...Rc8= is also possible) 17.Nxd3 Bxe2 18.Rxe2 Qxd3 19.Rxe8 Rxe8

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20.Bxc6 (20.Nc4 Qxd1+ 21.Rxd1 Rd8=) 20...bxc6 21.Nc4 (21.Nf1 Qa6 22.a3 [22.Qb3 Re2„] 22...Qb5= is fine for Black) 21...Qd5 22.b3 h5 and Black has enough activity to compensate for his compromised queenside structure. Let us return to Miles’ 16.Bf3: 16...Bxf3 17.Nxf3 Bd6 18.Nd3 (18.Nxd4?! Bxf4 19.Nxc6 Qxd1 20.Rcxd1 bxc6 21.gxf4 Rxe2³) 18...Qd7 19.a3 Re4! This type of position is perfect for Black as the exchange of light-square bishops takes the sting out of White’s queenside play and adds venom to our own kingside attack. Objectively the chances are equal, but in practice Black has the better chances:

20.Re1 (20.b4 Rae8 21.Rc2 h6=) 20...Rae8 21.Rc2

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(a) 21.Rc5 should leave us unimpressed, as 21...Qe7 22.Rd5 h6 23.Nd2 (23.b4?! Qe6 24.Rb5 b6µ leaves the rook stranded) 23...Rxe2 24.Rxe2 Qxe2 25.Qxe2 Rxe2 26.Nf3 Re6= is yet another complete equality. (b) After 21.b4 h6!? we prepare a knight transfer to e7 and White has to be careful as c3 has been weakened. There might follow 22.Nd2 R4e6! 23.Nc4 b5! 24.Nxd6 Qxd6 25.Qd2 Ne5 26.Nxe5 Rxe5 27.Qd3 a6 28.Rc2 Qd7=. We will now check 21.Rc2:

21...h6!= I feel this is excellent for Black; instead, 21...h5 was played in Miles-Lautier, Biel 1992. It is also perfectly logical, but it allows the nuance 22.Rc5!? (22.b4?! h4 23.b5 happened in the above mentioned game, but here the improvement 23...Ne7!³ offered by Aagaard and Ntirlis secures Black the better play) 22...Bxc5 (22...h4 23.Rh5!² is White’s idea, clarifying the situation on the kingside and offering him a slight edge) 23.Nxc5 Qf5 24.Nxe4 Qxe4 25.h4²/=. Returning to 21...h6!, I spent a lot of time with this position and the more I looked at it, the less I liked White’s game. For example: 22.b4 (a) 22.Qb1?! h5!‚ is now strong for Black. (b) 22.Nc1 is excellent for us after 22...Bc7„; there is also a draw if we want it by 22...h5 23.Qd3 h4

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24.Ng5! Rg4 25.Qh7+ Kf8 26.Nf3 hxg3 27.hxg3 Bxg3 28.fxg3 Rxg3+ 29.Kh2 Rg6 30.Qh8+ Ke7 31.Qh4+ Kf8=. 22...a5 23.b5 Ne7 24.Nd2 Re6=/³ Black has the lion’s share of the practical chances, although the engines will keep kibitzing that the evaluation is 0.00 in their own invisible world. (M2b) 15.Nc4 seems slightly better for Black after 15...Bg4!³, with the typical idea ...g7-g6. Instead, 15...Bf5 16.Nf4 Be4 17.Bxe4 Rxe4 18.Qd3 Re8 19.a3 was Milov-Galdunts, Ajaccio 2004, and here 19...g6!„ is again excellent for Black as the idea ...Bf8-h6 is hard to meet. (M2c) Let us return to 15.Nb3: 15...Be6!? This is a strong improvement over 15...Bg4 16.Re1 Re5 17.Nf4 when White enjoyed some pressure in Timman-Gligoric, Bugojno 1978. 16.Nf4 Qb6!?

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17.Nxe6 After 17.Bxc6 Bxb3 18.Qxb3 Qxb3 19.axb3 bxc6 I analyzed the position to a draw: 20.Rxc6 (20.Rc2 c5 21.Nd3 Reb8! 22.Ra1 Rxb3 23.Nxc5 Bxc5 24.Rxc5 g6 25.Rc2 d3=) 20...g5! 21.Nd3 Rxe2 22.Rd1 Rb8 23.Rc4 Re7! (not 23...Re6?! 24.b4 Reb6 25.Ra1±) 24.Rxd4 (24.b4 Reb7 25.Rxd4 Bxb4=) 24...Rxb3 25.h4 h6 26.hxg5 hxg5 27.Rd8 Kg7= and Black is safe. 17...Rxe6 18.Bd5 (a) 18.Bxc6 bxc6 19.Rc2 c5 20.Qd3 (20.Nd2 Qa6) 20...Rae8³ is better for Black who is ready for ...h7-h5. (b) 18.Rc2 is given as White’s best by Aagaard and Ntirlis with a verdict of equality. The latest correspondence game continued from this position as follows: 18...Rae8 19.Nc1 d3 20.Nxd3 Nd4 21.Nf4 Nxc2 22.Nxe6 (22.Qxc2? Rd6 23.Bd5 g6 24.e4 Bh6 25.Ne2 Rd7 26.Nc3 Kh8µ was an incorrect exchange sacrifice in Taylor-Sharpe, corr 2015) 22...Qxe6 23.Qxc2 Qxe2 24.Qb3 b6 25.Bd5= and the players agreed a draw in Stracey-Thompson, corr 2016. 18...Re5! A strong and obvious improvement offered by Jacob and Nikos over the following game: 18...Rd6?! This is passive. After 19.Bxc6 bxc6 20.Rc4 Rad8 21.Qc2 g6 22.Rd1² White applied the grinding process with success in Reinderman-Witt, Bossum 2010.

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19.Bf3 There is also nothing after other moves: (a) 19.Bc4 plans the regrouping Nf3-d2, Bc4-b3. However, after 19...Re7!³ the idea is nipped in the bud and Black has the better game. (b) Perhaps more critical is 19.Bxc6 bxc6 20.Nd2, yet we are fine as follows: 20...Re6! 21.Nc4 Qb5! 22.Qd3 Rae8 23.Rc2 Re4!?„ This is great for us, preparing to follow up with ...h7-h5-h4. Another possibility is 23...Qh5 24.Qxd4 (24.Qf3 Qxf3 25.exf3 Bb4! is equal, with ...Bb4-e1 ideas) 24...Rxe2 25.Rxe2 Qxe2=. 19...Rd8 20.Rc2 d3! Just in time, before White has the opportunity to consolidate with Rc2-d2. 21.exd3 Nb4 22.Rd2 Nxa2 23.d4 Rb5 24.Nc5 Rxb2 25.Nxb7 Black is equal here, after either 25...Rd7= or 25...Nc3=

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Tarrasch Repertoire: Part V Anti-Tarrasch Systems Part V will deal with the Anti-Tarrasch systems. I am using this term to describe systems in which White omits c2-c4 at the early stages in the name of solidity or in the name of central aggression by different means. Most of these systems are no longer the off-beat lines they were in the past and even top players have included them in their repertoire in the hope of catching their opponents unprepared. In this final section of the book we will explore all these alternative treatments of 1.d4 d5 by White. I hope that the lines provided will leave you armed with a complete and sound repertoire against the allmighty 1.d4. 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 This is the most flexible option, as often happens with knight moves. It can be the prelude to a normal Tarrasch or to the so-called Colle System. But there are many other options to look at before returning to it. We will look at (A) 2.e4?!, (B) 2.Nc3, (C) 2.Bg5, (D) 2.e3, (E) 2.c3, (F) 2.Bf4 before finally focusing on (M) 2.Nf3. (A) 2.e4?! is the famous (but dubious) Blackmar-Diemer Gambit. It has been used by several generations to stun the opponent and achieve quick victories but its merits have almost vanished in this non-romantic computer era. In my book The Safest Scandinavian, written with the invaluable help of Semko Semkov, I was satisfied to give a practical guide towards equality but here I will go for more. This entire book on the Tarrasch was written while listening to the music of my favorite composer D.J. Okawari and listening to perfection makes you seek nothing else but perfection ☺. 2...dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3

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A critical moment in my view. Here, in The Safest Scandinavian, I recommended 4...Bf5!? but I have come to the conclusion since then that it is better for Black to take on f3 immediately to prevent the white queen from reaching that square: 4...exf3! 5.Nxf3 g6! And this completes a very sound set-up in which our king will be well defended and we will have every right to hope for an advantage. I believe the following lines provide enough proof: 6.Bc4 This introduces castling short. The alternative strategy of going for long castling and hoping for Dragon-like attacks has its adherents too, but it should not worry us too much. (a) For example, 6.Bg5 Bg7 7.Qd2 (7.Bc4 0-0 8.Qe2 Nc6 9.0-0-0 Bg4 10.Kb1 Bxf3 11.Qxf3 Nxd4 12.Qxb7 Qd6µ is also better for Black) 7...0-0 8.0-0-0 and in this position Black seems to have at least two good options:

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8...c6 I think this is the most solid one and at the same time the most annoying for White. Also good is 8...c5 9.d5 a6! 10.Bh6 Nbd7 11.Bxg7 Kxg7 12.Rg1 b5 13.g4 Nb6 14.g5 Nh5 15.Ne4 Bf5! 16.Nxc5 Qd6 17.Qd4+ Kg8 18.Nh4 Rac8! 19.Nxf5 gxf5 20.Nd3 Nxd5 21.Rg2 Rfd8 22.Rgd2 Qc7µ and Black was cruising to victory in Leisebein-Scherer, corr 2014. White can try to improve earlier on, but I do not think the assessment will significantly change. 9.Bh6 Bg4! It is good strategy to “kill” this knight as it deprives White of a useful attacking piece.

10.Be2 833

The extravagant 10.h4 Nbd7 11.h5 does not give White a real attack: 11...Nxh5 12.Be2 Qc7 13.Kb1 Rad8 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.Qg5 Bxf3 16.Bxf3 h6 17.Qh4 Qf4! 18.Bxh5 Qxh4 19.Rxh4 gxh5 20.Rxh5 Nf6 21.Re5 Rfe8µ and this ending should be slowly but surely winning for Black. 10...Nbd7 11.h3 Bxf3!? I like this practical decision here. However, it is also possible to play 11...Be6 12.h4 Bxh6 13.Qxh6 Ng4 14.Qd2 h5 15.Rhf1 Bd5 16.Rde1 Rc8 17.Ng5 Ndf6µ as in Leisebein-Quednau, corr 2014. White’s attack has been stopped dead in its tracks and Black’s extra pawn should count in the long run. 12.Bxf3 Nb6 13.Bxg7 Kxg7 14.g4

At this point it is clear that Black enjoys an advantage without risk after either 14...Qd6µ or 14...Nfd5 15.Nxd5 cxd5 16.Be2 h6 17.Bd3 Qd6 18.h4 Nc4 19.Bxc4 dxc4 20.Qc3 Qf4+ 21.Kb1 Rac8 22.d5+ Kg8µ as it is impossible for White to open lines against the black king. (b) 6.Bf4 is similarly harmless for us; after 6...Bg7 7.Qd2 0-0 8.0-0-0 c6 9.h4 (9.Bh6 Bg4 is simply a transposition to 6.Bg5), Black can block any kingside activity with 9...h5µ, obtaining what should be in the long run a winning advantage. Let us return to 6.Bc4: 6...Bg7 7.0-0 0-0

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8.Bf4 The queen shift 8.Qe1 is strongly answered by 8...Nc6! 9.Qh4 Bg4! 10.Be3 e6!, preparing the knight maneuver ...Nc6-e7-f5. In the following game, White tried to prevent it by drastic means only to end up quickly lost: 11.Ne5 Bf5 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.h3 Nd5 14.Bg5

14...Bxd4+! 15.Kh1 Bf6 16.Ne4 Bxg5 17.Nxg5 h5 18.Rae1 Qd6! 19.g4 f6 20.gxf5 fxg5 21.Qxg5 exf5–+ Black is two pawns up and he is not in the slightest danger of being mated, which is White’s chief desire in the Blackmar-Diemer. The remainder was:

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22.Rf2 Rae8! 23.Rxe8 Rxe8 24.Rxf5 Rf8 25.Re5 Rf2 26.Bb3 Kf7! 27.a4 Qf6 28.Bxd5+ cxd5 29.Qxf6+ Kxf6 30.Rxd5 Rxc2 31.b4 Rc4 32.Ra5 Rxb4 33.Rxa7 Rc4 34.Kg2 Kg5 35.Ra6 c6 36.Rb6 Rc2+ 37.Kg1 Kh4 38.a5 g5 39.Rb4+ Kxh3 40.Rb3+ Kh4 and 0-1, Leisebein-Krause, corr 2014. 8...Bg4 Again, the key should be to get rid of the potentially dangerous Nf3. 9.Qd2 Nc6 10.Rad1 Bxf3 11.Rxf3

11...e5!? 12.dxe5 Qxd2 13.Rxd2 Nh5 14.Rd7 Na5 15.Bd3?! I presume the only real chances of resistance was with 15.Bxf7+ Rxf7 16.Rxf7 Kxf7 17.Bc1+ Ke6 18.g4 Rf8 19.Rxf8 Bxf8 20.gxh5 gxh5 21.Kg2 Kxe5 22.Kg3 Kf5µ but here too, White is considerably suffering. 15...Nxf4 16.Rxf4 Bxe5 17.Re4 Rae8 18.Nd5 Bxb2µ The opposite-color bishops did not save White in the computer game Hannibal-Andscacs Bit, CCRL 2017. While I cannot yet say that the gambit is dead and buried, it is obvious that at the moment White is struggling to prove equality and according to my research he does not seem to be even close to achieving it. The ball is clearly in his court. (B) 2.Nc3 This introduces the famous Veresov System. White reveals his intention to omit c2-c4 and play instead for space in the center and on the kingside. I think that with principled chess we should be able to keep him at bay: 2...Nf6

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The main tabiya of the Veresov. White has now tried several moves: We will look at (B1) 3.f3?!, (B2) 3.Qd3?!, (B3) 3.Bf4 and (B4) 3.Bg5. 3.Bg5 is the most popular treatment. But lately the alternative placement of the bishop to the f4square has gained ground. The explanation is that White finds it harder and harder to achieve anything in the main line. (B1) Before proceeding to examine these two main moves, we will take a look at a couple of off-beat alternatives. The first one is 3.f3?!, a move we should be happy to see. In his effort to carry out e2-e4, White weakens his dark squares and the punishment is swift: 3...c5! 4.e4 dxe4

5.d5 837

The most popular move in practice. After 5.dxc5 Qxd1+ 6.Kxd1 Bf5 7.g4 Bg6 8.g5 Nfd7 9.Nxe4 Nc6 10.Be3 Nde5 11.Be2 0-0-0+ 12.Ke1 Nd4 13.Bxd4 Rxd4ƒ Black has a huge positional advantage which more than compensates the temporary loss of a pawn. 5...exf3 6.Nxf3 a6! A simple and strong reply, preventing annoying checks on b5. 7.a4 g6! (7...Nbd7?!, as in Spice-Houdini Bit, CCRL 2012, looks more clumsy in view of 8.Bc4 and White has some sort of game) 8.Bc4 Bg7 9.0-0 0-0 10.Bf4 So far we have followed Jarecki-Leisebein, corr 2012.

At this point, 10...Ne8!µ is the best solution. In general White’s compensation is very hard to detect if he is deprived of d5-d6 ideas, which is exactly what the text accomplishes. Play could continue 11.Ne4 Bf5! 12.Nfd2 (12.Nxc5? Qc8–+) 12...Bxb2 13.Rb1 Bd4+ 14.Kh1 b5! 15.axb5 axb5 16.Bxb5 Nc7 and White has to fight for his life as he is still a pawn down with almost nothing to show for it. (B2) 3.Qd3?! is another unreliable choice for White, which I believe is best answered as follows: 3...c5 4.dxc5 Nc6 5.a3 d4 6.Ne4 Nxe4 7.Qxe4 g6 8.Qd3 Bg7 9.e4 0-0 10.f4 e5 11.Nf3 Qe7 12.Bd2 Re8 13.0-0-0 exf4 14.Bxf4 Qxc5 15.Kb1 a6µ Black had the more harmonious development in Spirin-Landes, corr 2015 and he went on to win. (B3) Let us now check the recently popular 3.Bf4

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3...a6! This move has a two-fold idea: It prevents Nc3-b5, a move that would force our knight to the awkward square a6, and at the same time it prepares a queenside expansion. At this moment we are once more at the crossroads: White has a choice between (B3a) 4.f3?, (B3b) 4.Qd2?!, (B3c) 4.Nf3 and (B3d) 4.e3!?. 4.e3!? is the more elastic option and is considered best. Black seems to obtain the upper hand in case any of the alternatives is chosen: (B3a) You can be sure that many players will go for 4.f3? here, but this is playing into our hands: After 4...c5! 5.e3 (instead, 5.e4? cxd4 6.Qxd4 Nc6 7.Qa4, as in Nygren-Subramanian, Sweden 2017, is swiftly punished by 7...Bd7!–+) 5...e6 6.Nge2 b5 7.Qd2 Nc6 8.a3 Qb6 9.Bg3 Be7 10.Bf2 Bb7µ Black had gained valuable queenside space in Ilic-Jovanovic, Mingara 2000, rendering White’s situation already critical. (B3b) Another plausible continuation that is good only in appearance is 4.Qd2?!. Again Black will expand on the queenside and again White will be worse: After 4...e6 5.e3 (5.f3? c5 6.e3 b5µ) 5...c5 6.Nf3 b5ƒ it is very hard for me to suggest anything constructive for the first player as he has neglected the space element without having anything concrete to show for it. (B3c) Finally, 4.Nf3 e6 5.e3

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This deprives White of the valuable option of a kingside expansion. Black should have at least a slight edge here as the following lines indicate: 5...c5! I like this move best, discouraging White from bringing his bishop out to d3. Also possible is 5...b5!? 6.Bd3 Nbd7 7.0-0 Bb7 8.Ne2 c5 9.c3 Be7 10.Ng3 0-0 11.Bc2 a5 12.Ne5 b4„ and Black had enough counterplay on the queenside in Walczak-Feco, corr 2016. 6.a3 A specialty of GM Baadur Jobava, but I have the impression that White is already worse regardless of what he does. The fact that this line has been played by such players like Jobava, Rapport and Bortnyk does not necessarily mean that the resulting positions are good for the first player, as these GMs are mostly known for their originality and not for their objective approach to chess. Instead, 6.Bd3?! (6.Ne5?! Nfd7!³ is another important point) 6...c4! 7.Be2 b5 is also advantageous for Black, and perhaps even more so. I do not regard White’s control over the e5-square as sufficient compensation for the loss of so much time and space on the queen’s wing, especially considering that the knight can always be challenged when it reaches e5.

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Let us see how the game could unfold from here: 8.a3 Played by Lugovskoy. Perhaps a better way to continue is 8.0-0 Be7 9.Nb1! Bb7 10.c3 0-0 11.h3 Nbd7 12.a4 Bc6 13.a5 b4 14.Nbd2 Qc8³ with just an edge for Black. The a5-pawn might turn to be a problem for White in the future, but for the moment an ending is far away. 8...Bb7 9.Ne5 Bd6!? Also possible is 9...Nc6 10.0-0 Bd6 11.Nxc6 Bxc6 12.Bxd6 Qxd6 with an edge for Black in Lugovskoy-A.Zaitsev, Tula 2017. In that game White made matters worse with 13.f4? (13.b4!³ was required) 13...0-0 14.Rf3 a5 15.Rh3 b4 16.Nb1 and here 16...Rfb8! 17.g4 Ne8–+ would have given Black a winning advantage as White has no real kingside attack and his queenside is a wreck. 10.Ng4 After 10.0-0, my idea is 10...Qc7! 11.Bg3 Nc6! … 12.f4? Ne7µ. 10...Bxf4 11.exf4 Nc6 12.Qd2 0-0 13.0-0 Ne8! 14.Ne5 Nd6 15.Bg4 Re8 16.Rfe1 a5³ Black has the better structure and is expanding on the queenside; the position is obviously more pleasant for him. Let us now return to Jobava’s 6.a3: 6...b5

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7.Ne5 This is the only sensible way to make something out of White’s set-up. Instead, 7.Bd3?! Bb7 (7...c4³) 8.0-0 Nbd7 9.Re1?! Be7 10.Ne5 0-0 11.Nxd7 Nxd7 12.Qh5?! f5 13.h3 Rc8µ was pointless play by Baadur, allowing Black an indisputable advantage in Jobava-Carlsen, Doha 2016. The world champion went on to win the game, albeit not without inaccuracies. 7...Bb7 8.Qf3 White is also worse after 8.Nd3 c4 9.Ne5 Nbd7 10.Be2 Nxe5 11.Bxe5, as played in BromannPedersen, Denmark 2019. Black had to play simply 11...Nd7 12.Bg3 Be7 13.0-0 0-0 14.Nb1 a5 15.Nd2 b4³ with the usual situation: Black has progressed a lot on the queenside and White has achieved a big nothing on the other wing. Let us return to 8.Qf3:

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8...Nbd7 Also possible is 8...Nc6 9.Nxc6 Bxc6 10.Be2 Be7 11.dxc5 Bxc5 12.Qg3 0-0 13.Be5 Ne8 14.0-0 Qe7 15.Rad1 f6 16.Bd4 Bd6 17.Qh3 e5 18.Bb6 Qb7 19.Ba5 f5 20.f4 exf4 21.exf4 Nf6³. 9.Be2 Nxe5 10.dxe5 After 10.Bxe5 Nd7 11.Bg3 (11.Qg3 Nxe5 12.dxe5 h5 13.h4 Qc7 14.0-0 Rh6µ; 11.Qf4 Nxe5 12.Qxe5 Qd6 13.Qxd6 Bxd6µ) 11...h5 12.h4 g6µ I cannot see any point in White’s set-up. 10...Nd7 11.Qg3 Qc7

12.h4!? 843

I could not think of any other way to improve White’s play, although he should be still worse, nevertheless. The plan with ...h7-h6, ...g7-g5 has to be prevented. Instead, castling is suicidal: 12.0-0? h6! (12...g6?!, as in Bortnyk-Inarkiev, Riadh 2017, lets the advantage slip in view of 13.e4! dxe4 [13...d4? 14.Nd5!±] 14.Qe3 Bg7 15.Nxe4=) 13.h4 (13.Qh3 Be7–+) 13...g5! 14.hxg5 hxg5 15.Bxg5 d4–+ and Black has a winning attack. After 12.h4!? Black is spoilt for choice but he is probably no more than slightly better: 12...0-0-0!? (12...g6 13.e4! dxe4 14.0-0 Bg7 15.Rfd1 b4 16.axb4 cxb4 17.Na4 0-0 18.c3 Bc6 19.cxb4 Bxa4 20.Rxa4 Qc2 21.b3 Bxe5 22.Bxe5 Nxe5 23.Qxe5 Qxe2³) 13.Bf3 Nb6 14.0-0

14...h6 15.h5 g6! 16.hxg6 Rg8 17.Qh3 Rxg6 18.b3 Be7 19.Rfd1 Kb8³ It is apparent that Black is the one calling the shots in this complicated position: His king is safer and has a clear plan to attack on the kingside. It is quite possible that ...h6-h5 is a threat already, so White should try to contain Black with a move like 20.Qh5!?, followed by Nc3-e2 and Kg1-f1, but his chances remain unimpressive as e5 is essentially weak. (B3d) I think that the line starting with 4.Nf3 has been overall proven passive, so let us get on with the best option for White, namely 4.e3!?: 4...e6 5.g4!?

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This is the point, playing to expand on the kingside immediately and setting us some tricky problems. 5...Bb4! In my view the best reply, although it has a bad score in practice. (a) Also possible is 5...h6!? 6.h4 b5!? 7.Qf3 b4 8.Nce2 Nbd7 9.g5 Ne4 10.gxh6 gxh6 11.Ng3 Bb7 12.0-0-0 c5 13.Nxe4 dxe4 14.Qg3 cxd4 15.Rxd4 when White has been sufficiently slowed down and we have a counter-attack: 15...b3! 16.Bc4 (16.axb3 Qa5 17.Ne2 e5∞) 16...bxa2 17.Bxa2 Qa5 18.Bxe6!! 0-0-0 19.Bh3 Bc5 20.Ne2 Bxd4 21.Nxd4 Qa1+ 22.Kd2 Qa5+ 23.Ke2 Bd5∞. (b) On the other hand, inferior is 5...c5?! 6.g5 Nfd7 7.Nf3 Nc6 8.a3 b5 9.h4²

and White’s attack looks faster. After 9...Bb7 10.h5 Nb6, as played in Carlsen-Caruana, Stavanger 845

2017, the world champion should have preferred the typical Keres attack move 11.Rh3!‚ intending g5g6. It is nice to see a Sicilian echo spice up the Veresov; you do not come across such ideas very often nowadays. Let us return to 5...Bb4!: 6.Nge2! The best move, but after it the advance g4-g5 loses its sting as the Nf6 can flee to h5. I also looked at 6.Bg2 0-0 7.h4 c5 8.dxc5 Bxc5 9.g5 Nfd7 10.Nf3 Nc6 11.0-0 e5 12.Bg3 e4 13.Nd2 Nb6„ when Black’s excellent development and safe king mean that he is at least equal. After 6.Nge2! we are at a tricky crossroads; Black has a choice between (B3d1) 6...c5?!, (B3d2) 6...Ne4!? and (B3d3) 6...0-0!. Before proceeding to analyse those moves it is worth pointing out that 6...Nxg4?! 7.Rg1 Nf6 (7...h5!?) 8.Rxg7 Nh5 9.Rg1 Nxf4 10.Nxf4 gives White a strong kingside initiative.

(B3d1) It is imperative not to play 6...c5?!, allowing the exchange of the dark-square bishop. After 7.a3 cxd4? (7...Bxc3+ 8.Nxc3 cxd4 9.exd4 Nc6²/± would have reduced the damage, although White remains considerably better) 8.axb4 dxc3 9.Nxc3 0-0 10.g5 Nfd7 11.h4 Nb6 12.Bd3 Nc6 13.Qh5 g6 14.Qh6 e5 15.h5 Qe7 16.hxg6 fxg6 17.Bxg6+– Black was the victim of a pure energy crush in Alekseenko-Kokarev, St. Petersburg 2017. (B3d2) Possible, but still weaker than 6...0-0!, is 6...Ne4!? 7.Bg2 Nxc3 8.Nxc3 Nd7 9.Qd3 (9.Qf3!?) 9...c5 10.dxc5 as in Rodriguez Vila-Rodi, Rio de Janeiro 2018. For example, 10...0-0 11.0-00 Nxc5 12.Qd4 Qa5 13.a3 Bxc3 14.Qxc3 Qxc3 15.bxc3² and with c3-c4 looming, White is better. (B3d3) Let us now focus on the best move 6...0-0!: 7.g5 7.a3 Be7 8.g5!? (8.Ng3 c5 9.g5 Ne8 10.h4 Nc6³ is better for Black) 8...Nh5 9.h4! Nxf4 10.Nxf4 c5! 11.Bd3! c4 12.Bxh7+! Kxh7 13.Qh5+ Kg8 14.g6 fxg6 15.Nxg6 Rf5 16.Qh8+ Kf7 17.Qh7 Nc6 846

18.Rg1 Qg8 19.Nh8+= leads to a perpetual. 7...Nh5! This is the main point of our strategy, halting the pawn storm. White has to be very inventive from here onwards to keep the pressure on Black, something especially difficult in a practical game if he does not understand the position deeply: 8.Be5! Nc6 9.h4 f6!? 9...Nxe5 10.dxe5 g6 11.f4∞ is another way to play; White intends Ke1-f2, Bf1-g2-f3, so he has some easy moves ahead of him. I prefer to deny him that possibility. 10.Bh2! An impressive idea found by Stockfish, but Black remains fine. Taking on f6 instead would activate our Nh5, giving us easy play.

10...fxg5 11.hxg5 Qxg5 12.Bxc7 Rf7 13.f4! Qg4 14.Be5 Bxc3+ 15.bxc3 Bd7 16.Qd2 Ng3 17.Nxg3 Qxg3+ 18.Qf2 Qxf2+ 19.Kxf2 Nxe5 20.dxe5 Rc8 21.c4! dxc4 22.Rd1 Ba4 23.Bh3 Re7 24.Rd6 Kf7 25.c3 Bc6∞ Black has a pawn more, but White has undeniably some compensation. The ending holds chances for both sides. Thus, 3.Bf4 has widened White’s arsenal of weapons in the Veresov, but my research indicates that we have nothing to fear. I believe that it is important though for Black to keep an eye on developments in this line, as I expect the focus to remain on it for quite a while. After all, Carlsen has employed it once successfully and the world champion’s preferences are always closely followed by the chess public. (B4) We will now switch our attention to the old main line 3.Bg5: 3...Nbd7! 847

The b8-knight develops harmoniously, defending its colleague on f6 and preventing doubled pawns. At this point White has a variety of options, most of which are not good or dangerous for us. However, I looked at everything that appeared tenable just for the sake of completeness. We will examine in the order they are listed the moves (B4a) 4.f3?!, (B4b) 4.Qd2?!, (B4c) 4.Qd3, (B4d) 4.e3 and (B4e) 4.Nf3. It is most likely that you will face 4.Nf3 or 4.e3 in your games. Ambitious players may try one of the following riskier (and probably inadequate) ideas: (B4a) 4.f3?! This looks unsound; White prepares e2-e4 but in doing so he weakness his dark squares. I think the old 4...c6! provides us with a very trustworthy solution, and I would dare say that Black already has an advantage after either (B4a1) 5.e4 or (B4a2) 5.Qd2.

5.Qd2 is a move my good friend GM Igor Miladinovic has played at least once as far as I am able to determine, but the evaluation does not change, Black remains in the driver’s seat. I made it randomly our main line, a fact underlining that I do not believe at all in White’s position. (B4a1) Instead, the older choice 5.e4 dxe4 6.fxe4?! (6.Qd2 h6 7.Be3 exf3 8.Nxf3 Nb6 9.Bd3 [al Khelaifi-Zhu, Doha 2013] 9...g6³ could be White’s last chance to retain a respectable position, but Black is certainly better) 6...e5!, takes us to the position of the following diagram:

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White’s fragile center crumbles and he has to resort to tactical play to justify the weakening of his dark squares. As practice has shown, Black comes out significantly better from the complications: 7.dxe5 After 7.Nf3, Sergei Shipov’s 7...h6! is the most accurate way to proceed as every bishop retreat has its shortcomings. For example: 8.Bh4 Instead, 8.Be3 Bb4! 9.Qd3 Qa5 10.0-0-0 0-0 11.Nd2 (after 11.Kb1 Bxc3 12.bxc3 Nb6 13.Bd2 Ng4 14.c4 Qa4 15.Nxe5 Nf2–+ White’s position was unenviable in Van Doorn-Claridge, corr 2007) 11...Ng4 12.Nb3 Qc7 13.Bg1 exd4 14.Qxd4 a5µ leaves White with an unsafe king and a weak e5square. 8...Qb6 9.Qd2 exd4 10.Nxd4 So far Zhang-Shipov, ICC 2002; now, according to Stockfish, Black should fearlessly grab the pawn: 10...Qxb2! 11.Rb1 Qa3 12.Be2 Bb4 13.Rb3 Qa5! This is, unfortunately for White, a bad echo of a Sicilian Najdorf Poisoned Pawn line.

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14.a3 14.0-0 0-0 15.Rf5 Bxc3 16.Rxc3 Nxe4 17.Rxa5 Nxd2–+ does not save White as the Nd2 has a way out of the enemy camp. 14...Bxc3 15.Qxc3 Qxc3+ 16.Rxc3 0-0 17.0-0 Nxe4 18.Re3 Ndf6 19.Bd3 Ng5–+ White is two pawns down without anything to show for them and victory is just a matter of technique for Black. Let us return to 7.dxe5: 7...Qa5! Pinning the e5-pawn and the Nc3, after which White seems to have a rich choice of ...evils. I looked at: (B4a11) 8.Nf3?, (B4a12) 8.Bxf6?, (B4a13) 8.Bd2 and (B4a14) 8.exf6.

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8.exf6 became my main line on the grounds that at least White tries to get a pawn in return for his miserable position. Instead: (B4a11) 8.Nf3? Nxe4 9.Bd2 Nxd2 10.Qxd2 Nxe5 11.0-0-0 Nxf3 12.gxf3 Be7–+ is definitely bad and White had nothing for the pawn in Llewellyn-Kratochvil, corr 2012. (B4a12) 8.Bxf6? gxf6 9.e6!? (Hopeless is 9.exf6? Ba3 10.Qc1, Zakharov-Plokhotniuk, Lagan 2019, 10...Ne5!–+) is a position I can still recall as being the subject of a heated discussion in older Veresov manuals, but a powerful 21st-century idea has taken the wind out of White’s sails:

9...Ne5!! One exclamation point for the pawn sacrifice, and a second one for the harmony this move entails. As far as I can see this “momentum choice” is far superior to the older 9...fxe6 and it is no exaggeration to 851

say that White is completely lost after it. The proof: 10.exf7+ Kxf7 11.Nf3 (or 11.Qh5+ Kg7 12.Qh4 Bb4 13.Qg3+ Kf7 14.0-0-0 Be6–+ and White’s days are numbered as the black attack is too much to withstand) 11...Ba3! Nice geometry. The queen will coordinate everything from e5. 12.Nxe5+ Qxe5

13.Bc4+ There is no salvation to be found in 13.Qc1 either: After 13...Be6 14.Bd3 Rag8 15.g3 (15.0-0? Bd6 16.Qh6 Rg6 17.Qh4 Rhg8–+) 15...h5! 16.bxa3 Qxc3+ 17.Kf2 Rg5! 18.Qf4 Qd4+ 19.Qe3 Qxe3+ 20.Kxe3 Ra5µ White’s crippled pawn structure will be an easy prey for Black’s coordinated pieces. 13...Kg7 14.Qc1 Bc5 15.Bd3 So far we have followed Berger-Morcin, corr 2012. Here Black played 15...b5µ/–+ and eventually prevailed as the bishop pair gives him tremendous compensation for the pawn. It is clear to me that the last word has been said in this variation, I cannot see White recovering from the terrible blow 9...Ne5!!. (B4a13) 8.Bd2 was a move chosen by Igor Miladinovic when he reached this position as White, but if such a charismatic player cannot find anything better than this passive bishop retreat, it means that the whole line is virtually unplayable. After 8...Nxe5 9.Nf3 Qc7 10.Bd3 ( Miladinovic-Geenen, Geneva 2004) a simple continuation is 10...Bd6 11.Qe2 Be6 12.0-0-0 0-0µ

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White must suffer in this position without prospects; the Ne5 is simply too strong. I expect Black to win here by an advance of his queenside pawns as White has no counterplay. (B4a14) Let us now check 8.exf6: 8...Qxg5 9.fxg7 Bxg7 10.Qd2 (10.Nf3 Qe3+µ) 10...Qxd2+! Black should not oppose the idea of an ending as the white king will be exposed and his queenside vulnerable. 11.Kxd2 Nc5 12.Bd3 Be6 13.Nf3 0-0-0

14.Ke2 No relief is offered by 14.Rad1 Bxc3+! 15.Kxc3 Na4+ 16.Kd2 Nxb2 17.Rb1 Nxd3 18.cxd3 Rhg8 853

19.g3 f5µ; White’s position is close to falling apart. 14...b5 15.a3 a5 16.h3 Rhe8µ Black went on to win in Alburt-Tal, USSR 1972. It is a tribute to the Latvian genius that he had found the right way of play for Black almost 50 years ago without the help of engines. It was clearly a warning to Veresov players that this line can only bring them grief, so they better put it aside. (B4a2) Back to 5.Qd2: 5...h6 6.Bf4 After 6.Bh4 e5! 7.dxe5 (7.e3 b5µ) 7...Nxe5 8.0-0-0 (8.e4? Nxe4!–+) 8...Nc4 9.Qd4 Qa5! 10.Bxf6 Bc5! 11.Qh4 Be3+ 12.Kb1 gxf6 13.Qxf6 Rg8 14.Ka1 Be6 15.Nb1 d4–+ a young Levon Aronian had to suffer one of the most painful defeats in his brilliant chess career in Aronian-Fressinet, Verdun 1995.

6...Nh5! 6...b5!?³ is also possible, but the text is clearer. 7.Be3?! White is also worse after 7.Be5!, but it was undoubtedly a better option. For example: 7...f6 8.Bg3 Nxg3 9.hxg3 e5 10.e3 Bd6!? After 10...Nb6 11.0-0-0 Bd7, White can reduce the damage by 12.Qd3! Qe7 13.e4 exd4 14.Qxd4 c5 15.Qd2 d4 16.Nd5 Nxd5 17.exd5 0-0-0 18.Bd3 Qd6 19.Ne2 Kb8 20.Nf4 Qc7 21.Bg6 Bd6 22.Ne6³. 11.0-0-0 Qa5ƒ

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Black has a strong initiative here, a sample line being 12.Bd3 b5! 13.Kb1 Rb8! 14.g4 (14.Bg6+ Kd8 15.Nge2 Nb6 16.b3 Bd7µ) 14...Nb6‚. However I am not sure about the extent of Black’s advantage as White maintains defensive resources and this is the type of position in which a slight mistake can change the course of events, which is unlikely to happen after 7.Be3?!. Returning to 7.Be3?!, it was evident after 7...e5! 8.g4? (8.Bf2µ) 8...Nhf6 9.0-0-0? Nb6 10.b3 that White was going to have a bad day at the office in Miladinovic-Romanishin, Rome 2005:

10...Nc4! Already decisive. 11.bxc4 Ba3+ 12.Kb1 Qb6+ 13.Nb5 dxc4! 14.Ka1 Qxb5 15.Rb1 Qa4 16.Bf2 c3!? 17.Qxc3 Be6

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18.d5 Nxd5 19.Qb3 Qa5 20.c4 Bb4! 21.Rc1 Nb6 22.e3 0-0-0–+ And Black soon won; a powerful display by Oleg! So we may conclude that with 4.f3?!, White risks too much as he weakens the dark squares and Black has a clear way to an advantage by following the example of legendary players Tal and Romanishin. Let us now move on to check some queen moves for White: (B4b) 4.Qd2?! This is a tad better than 4.f3?!, but it still does not contribute much to White’s cause as it is obvious that castling long will be extremely dangerous for the first player. After 4...e6 there is a choice of pawn moves:

5.e3 Apparently the least weakening; at the same time however, an admission that White has no great aspirations. Instead, 5.f3 invites the typical reaction 5...c5! which should already be second nature to us in this type of position: When you see a weak e3-square, just strike! 6.e4?! Refusing to accept reality. That said, even a down-to earth approach with 6.e3 seems insufficient to keep the balance: For example, 6...a6 7.0-0-0 (7.a4 b6 8.Nh3 Bb7 9.Be2 h6 10.Bh4 Bd6µ) 7...h6 8.Bxf6 Qxf6 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.e4 d4 11.Nce2 e5 12.f4 0-0 13.Nf3 and a draw was agreed at this point in Lajthajm-Ozer, Novi Sad 2016 but objectively the position is much worse for White, after for example 13...b5µ. Returning to 6.e4?!, Black should be able to gain the advantage as follows: 6...cxd4 7.Qxd4 Bc5 8.Qd2 dxe4 9.0-0-0 Qa5 10.Bc4 ( Gude-Ponkratov, Pavlodar 2012 ) 10...0-0 11.Nxe4

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11...Bb4! 12.c3 Be7 13.Qe2 b5! 14.Bxb5 Rb8µ and Black’s attacking chances are much more significant than White’s extra pawn. We will now turn our attention back to 5.e3: 5...a6! 6.Be2 h6 7.Bh4 b5 8.Nf3 Bd6 9.a3 c5³ I do not see any reason to analyze further as I am satisfied with Black’s position: We have the customary space advantage on the queenside and White does not even control e5, so the chances should be at least slightly better for us. Thus, the move 4.Qd2?! proves to be yet another disappointment for White: He might not even be able to claim equality after it! This is good news for Black as White did not play any unnatural moves, so it is quite likely that in an actual game we will have a chance to obtain an edge effortlessly by exploiting the fact that the black position plays itself. In contrast, White’s “special opening” demands “special moves,” and believe me, there are not many players who are able to fulfil this task without slips. (B4c) We will now turn our attention to another queen move for White, namely 4.Qd3: 4...c5! Here the queen went to an unnatural square, so an immediate ...c7-c5 is justified. An additional reason to recommend the text is that a player like Karjakin has recently used it, and quite successfully at that. Once more it is already doubtful whether White can equalize; I looked at (B4c1) 5.0-0-0?!, (B4c2) 5.dxc5?! and (B4c3) 5.e4!?.

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5.e4!? is the best I could find for White, however as we will see it leads to simplifications and a more pleasant ending for us. (B4c1) Alternatively, 5.0-0-0?! c4! 6.Qg3 Qa5 7.e4 b5! gives Black the initiative as the following lines indicate: 8.Kb1 dxe4 9.Bxf6 exf6!? An improvement over 9...gxf6 10.Nxe4 Bb7 11.Nc5! Nxc5 12.dxc5 Rc8 13.Be2! Qc7 (NakamuraKarjakin, Baku 2014), when the following brilliant idea, missed by Naka, produces an unclear position: 14.b4!! a5 15.a3 axb4 16.axb4 f5 17.Qxc7 Rxc7 18.Bf3 Bg7 19.Bxb7 Rxb7 20.Ne2 Ra7 21.c3 0-0 22.Rd2 Rfa8 23.Rc1!∞ White has organized himself in time and the ending is very double-edged. 10.Nxe4 Bb7

858

11.Be2 It is already difficult to give White good advice. For example, 11.d5 succumbs to 11...Bxd5! 12.Nd6+ Bxd6 13.Qxd6 Be6 14.Be2 Qb6 15.Qxb6 Nxb6 16.Bf3 Rd8 17.Ne2 0-0 18.Nd4 Bd7 19.Rhe1 h6µ and with a safe extra pawn Black is ready to start the grinding process. 11...Bxe4 12.Qe3 f5 13.f3 Be7 14.fxe4 0-0 15.exf5 Rfe8µ In spite of apparent material equality, White’s situation is critical as the presence of opposite-color bishops on the board favors the attacking side. After 16.Qd2 Bb4! 17.c3 Bd6 18.Nf3 Rab8 19.Rde1 Rec8 20.a3 Nf6 21.Bd1

21...Bxa3!! 22.bxa3 Nd5 23.Re5 Qxa3 24.Qb2 Nxc3+ 25.Kc1 Qa5 26.f6 gxf6 27.Rh5 Ne4 28.Rf1 859

c3 29.Qb1 c2 30.Bxc2 Qa3+ 31.Qb2 Qe3+ White threw in the towel in Krongraf-Rallabandi, corr 2016. A wonderfully planned and executed attack. (B4c2) 5.dxc5?! is another move that fails to reach equality. After the rare 5...Nxc5!! 6.Qb5+ (6.Qd4 Ne6µ) 6...Nfd7 7.Nxd5 a6 8.Qc4 b5 9.Qh4 Bb7 the exposed position of the white pieces offers Black what is probably an already decisive advantage:

For example, 10.Rd1 (10.0-0-0 Bxd5 11.Rxd5 Qa5–+; 10.Nb4 Qc7–+) 10...h6 11.Be3 Qc8 12.Qf4 Ne6 13.Qf5 g6 14.Qd3 Bg7 15.c3 Nec5 16.Qc2 e6 17.Nb4 0-0µ and Black’s huge advantage in development makes the white position unenviable. (B4c3) Let us return to the move 5.e4!? which is apparently the lesser evil for White: 5...cxd4 6.Bxf6 Nxf6 7.Qxd4 dxe4

860

8.Bb5+ Even here it is easy for White to go wrong. Worse is 8.Qe5?! a6 9.Rd1 Bd7! (avoiding the trap 9...Qb6? 10.Bb5+!! Bd7 11.Nd5 Nxd5 12.Bxd7+ Kxd7 13.Qxd5+ Kc7 14.Qxf7± which led to a winning advantage for White in Anurag-Jumabayev, Baku 2013) 10.Nxe4 Nxe4 11.Qxe4 Qa5+ 12.c3 Bc6 13.Qf4

13...g5! 14.Qd4 Rg8 15.Nf3 Bg7µ and with two razor sharp bishops on an open board Black went on to prevail in Schneider-Steingrimsson, Germany 2005. 8...Bd7 9.Bxd7+ Qxd7 10.Qxd7+ Kxd7 11.0-0-0+ Kc6 12.Re1 e5 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Rxe4 Bd6=/³ Black keeps a very slight edge but with proper play the position is defendable for White; thus, 4.Qd3 861

is tenable but hardly a good advertisement for White’s system either.

862

(B4d) The time has come to examine the main alternative to 4.Nf3, namely 4.e3: 4...e6 After this natural reply yet another branching point has been reached. White may choose from the following continuations: (B4d1) 5.Qf3?!, (B4d2) 5.f4?!, (B4d3) 5.f3?!, (B4d4) 5.Bd3 and (B4d5) 5.Nf3.

5.Nf3 seems best because it does not weaken White’s position and at the same time it avoids placing the bishop on the sensitive square d3 where it invites a push of our c-pawn. We will return to examine it after first disposing of the weaker options: (B4d1) Nigel Short has experimented with the rather eccentric 5.Qf3?!, hoping to build up an attack after castling long, but the truth is that this move only leads to an attack... for Black! After 5...c5! 6.0-00 a6 7.Nge2 Qa5 8.Bxf6 (8.Kb1 b5 9.Nf4 Bb7 10.Bxf6 Nxf6 11.dxc5 b4µ is also assessed by the engines as heavily in Black’s favor) 8...Nxf6 9.g4 b5 10.g5 Nd7 11.Nf4

863

Black needs to find one accurate move to put White on the ropes: 11...c4! Here it is! Instead, 11...cxd4? 12.Ncxd5! exd5 13.Qxd5 Ra7 14.Bh3 Be7?? (14...Rc7∞) 15.Qxd4 0-0 16.Nh5!+– f6 17.Be6+ Kh8 18.Qxa7 Bc5 19.Qa8 Ne5 20.gxf6 gxf6 21.Qg2 Ng6 22.Qc6 Bb4 23.Kb1 1-0 produced a rare miniature at this level in Short-Giri, Amsterdam 2010. After 11...c4! it is hard to see a salvation for White, e.g. 12.e4 b4 13.Ncxd5!? (13.exd5 Bb7µ) 13...exd5! (13...c3 14.Bc4 exd5 15.Nxd5 Ra7 16.e5 Nb6 17.Nxb6 Qxb6 18.Rhe1µ/∞) 14.Nxd5 Qxa2! 15.Nc7+ Kd8 16.Nxa8 Bd6µ … 17.e5? c3 18.bxc3 Bb7! 19.Qxb7 bxc3–+. (B4d2) Another move that deserves the ?! sign seems to be 5.f4?!: After 5...c5 6.Nf3 Qa5! Black was already putting dangerous pressure on the Nc3 in Feygin-Van Kampen, Belgium 2012, and the computers consider White’s reaction in the game more or less forced: 7.Bxf6 Nxf6 8.Bb5+ Bd7 9.Bxd7+ Nxd7 10.0-0 Be7

864

11.Qe1?! So far White has defended well, but here he commits an inaccuracy. Better was 11.Ne5 Nf6!? (after 11...Nxe5 12.fxe5 0-0 13.Qd3³, preparing the maneuver Nc3-e2-f4, White also reduces Black’s edge) 12.Qe2 0-0 13.Nd1!³, bringing more forces to the kingside and preparing to defend the center by c2c3. Putting the queen on e1 does not have any particular merit. 11...Qb6! 12.Rb1 0-0 13.Ne2 Qa6µ Black held a considerable advantage at this point and went on to win. (B4d3) 5.f3?! c5 6.Nh3 is an eccentric idea that fails to convince in spite of its use by Granda Zuniga. After 6...h6! 7.Bh4 a6! 8.Be2 b5µ White’s kingside configuration appears senseless to me. (B4d4) 5.Bd3 entails the usual problem of inviting the attack ...c7-c5-c4. After 5...c5 Black has the much easier task:

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6.Nf3 6.a3?! Be7 7.Nf3 is traditionally well-met by 7...a6 8.0-0 (8.dxc5 Nxc5 9.0-0 0-0 10.b4 Nxd3 11.cxd3 a5 12.b5 a4!³ can only be worse for White) 8...0-0 9.Ne5 Nxe5 10.dxe5 Nd7 11.Bxe7 Qxe7 12.f4 b5³ … 13.Qh5 g6 14.Qh6 f6 15.Rf3?! Qg7 16.Qh3 Re8 17.Raf1 Bb7µ. 6...c4!? 7.Be2 Bb4

We have on the board a well-known position in which Black enjoys the better practical chances. 8.0-0 With this move White essentially offers a gambit. (a) After 8.e4?! h6! 9.Bxf6 Nxf6 10.Nd2 Bxc3 11.bxc3 Qa5 12.e5 Nd7 13.Nb1 Nb6³, as in 866

Antoshin-Bronstein, USSR 1963, Black has an excellent French-type position. (b) 8.Nd2 will most probably transpose to 8.0-0. 8...Bxc3 9.bxc3 Qa5 10.Nd2™ 10...Qxc3

White has some compensation for the pawn, but in a practical game Black’s play is easier as his pawn formation is super solid and it is difficult for the first player to open up lines. I once lost this position as White against Vishy Anand and since then almost no-one has been successful, as proven by a disappointing score for White in the Mega Database. 11.a4 This is the move I played and the best one according to the engines; instead 11.Bf4?! proved to be pointless after 11...0-0 12.Bd6 Re8 13.g4 h6 14.a3 Qa5 15.f4 c3! 16.Nb3 Qb6 17.Bb4 Qc7 18.a4 a5 19.Ba3 Ne4 20.Bd3 Ndf6µ in Munster-Minnebo, Namur 2006. 11...0-0! Vishy played 11...b6!? and won a good game against me, but there is no reason for Black to hurry as White is not really threatening an immediate a4-a5. For example, 12.a5 (instead, 12.Qc1 b6 13.Bf4 [13.Bf3, as in Maksimovic-Stojanovic, Zlatibor 2008, looks worse for White after the accurate 13...Re8!³] 13...Qb4 14.c3 Qe7³ is also slightly better for Black who is ready to free his position with ...e6-e5) 12...h6!?

867

13.Bh4 (13.Bf4 e5µ) 13...b5! 14.axb6 a5!ƒ and Black’s strong passed pawn offers him the initiative. (B4d5) My conclusion is that White is merely struggling to prove equality after 5.Bd3, so let us return to the more elastic 5.Nf3: 5...c5 White’s problem in this type of structure is the placement of the Nc3. If the knight were instead on d2 there would even be some slight chances of an edge for the first player, but in the present situation it merely blocks the c2-pawn, preventing it from solidifying the center without performing any constructive role. Apart from Bf1-d3 which has already been examined, there are two other bishop moves here for White, but in either case we seem to have the slightly more pleasant game.

6.Be2

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(a) 6.e4 aspires to transpose to a French Rubinstein a tempo down in the hope of equalizing, but Black has a safe way to keep a slight edge: 6...h6! 7.Bxf6 Nxf6 8.exd5 Nxd5 9.Nxd5 Qxd5 10.Bb5+ Bd7 11.Bxd7+ Qxd7 12.c3 cxd4 13.Qxd4 Qxd4 14.Nxd4 Bc5=/³. (b) 6.Bb5!? has been a popular move in practice. However, after 6...a6 7.Bxd7+ Bxd7 8.0-0 Be7 9.Ne5 Rc8³ Black retains a slight advantage in spite of the impressively placed Ne5.

For the moment the Bd7 seems to be clumsily placed, but there is the possibility of untangling (after ...0-0) with the typical moves ...h7-h6, ...Bd7-e8 and ...Nf6-e4. This is a general plan of course and the reader is advised to explore its details by playing this position in consultation games or with a computer. Back to 6.Be2: 6...Be7 7.0-0 0-0 8.Ne5 I have the impression that this position is White’s best chance to maintain equality on the board. The problem is of course that neither the Be2 nor the Nc3 is optimally placed, but on the other hand he did not waste time carrying out unrealistic plans and kept a slight lead in development. (a) Before examining this natural move, it is good to know that the less straightforward alternatives can only tip the scales in Black’s favor. For example: 8.Qd2 This has been the choice of GM Konstantin Chernyshov who is a very strong practical player, but still, I cannot see any particular purpose behind the queen’s placement on d2. In the following high profile game he could have easily been worse:

869

8...a6! 9.a4 b6 10.Ne5 There is hardly any other way to proceed. 10...Nxe5 11.dxe5 Nd7 12.Bxe7 Qxe7 13.f4 Bb7 14.Bf3 Rad8 15.Qf2 f6! This is the typical way to challenge White in the center in similar structures and in the great majority of cases it leads to very fine play for Black. Such is the case here, too. 16.Qh4 Rf7 16...Rfe8!µ would have been more accurate, granting Black a serious advantage, but there is nothing wrong with the game continuation. 17.exf6 Nxf6 18.Rae1 e5 19.e4! d4 20.fxe5 Qxe5 21.Nd5 Rd6 22.Be2

870

22...g6? This is a good example as it serves to show that such structures can be tricky if we are not careful. A slight slip can often turn an advantageous position into a worse one. Black had to play 22...Bxd5! 23.exd5 Qe3+! 24.Qf2 (24.Kh1 g5!–+ is a very important point Black had to foresee) 24...Nxd5 25.Bf3 Qxf2+ 26.Rxf2 Ne3 27.c3 Re7µ with what seems to be a winning ending for him. After his choice in the game the tables are turned: 23.Bc4!+– Shocking as it may seem, Black is suddenly lost. He failed to block the diagonal a2-g8 on the previous move and now has to pay the penalty. 23...Kg7 24.Nf4 g5 24...Rf8 25.Nd3 is also curtains. 25.Nh5++– This effectively finishes the fight. 25...Nxh5 26.Rxf7+ Kg6 27.Qg4 d3 28.Qf5+ Qxf5 29.exf5+ Kh6 30.Rxb7 dxc2 31.Bb3 Black resigned at this point in Chernyshov-Jumabayev, Khanty-Mansiysk 2008. (b) 8.a4 is a way to anticipate the ...b7-b6 idea but Black can still play it: 8...b6 9.a5

9...bxa5! 10.Nd2 cxd4 11.exd4 Bb7 12.Nb3 Bb4 13.Bd3?! (13.Qd3∞) 13...Bc6 14.Ra2 h6 15.Bh4 Bxc3 16.bxc3 a4 17.Nd2 Qa5µ Black was already in full control in Dydyshko-Sadler, Pula 1997, and went on to convert his advantage.

871

Let us return to the more direct 8.Ne5: 8...Nxe5 (8...h6!? might be a useful insertion at this point) 9.dxe5 Nd7 10.Bxe7 Qxe7 11.f4

11...f6! Striking at the center immediately looks principled and strong. Instead, 11...b6?! happened in LiebertUhlmann, Zinnowitz 1966, but it is tactically flawed. White could have obtained an edge with 12.Nb5! Ba6 13.a4 Rad8 14.c4! dxc4 15.Qc2 Nb8 16.Bf3 Rd3 17.Be4². 12.e4! This enterprising idea keeps the game level; 12.exf6 Nxf6 13.Bf3 Bd7 14.e4 (14.Qe1 b5³) 14...d4 15.e5 dxc3 16.exf6 Rxf6 17.bxc3 Bb5 18.Be2 Rd8 19.Qe1 Bc6 20.Rd1= is a tad better for Black. 12...d4 13.exf6 Nxf6 14.e5 dxc3 15.exf6 Qxf6 16.bxc3 Qxc3

872

17.Qd6! I could not find anything after this strong move; White obtains enough play for his pawn. A logical conclusion is 17...b6 18.Rad1 Qe3+ 19.Rf2 Bb7 20.Rd3 Qc1+ 21.Rd1 Qe3= with a repetition. Instead, risky is 21...Qb2 22.Qxe6+ Kh8 23.Qe7 Bc6 24.f5∞ when White has restored the material balance and keeps active pieces. Thus, we may conclude that the 4.e3 line gives Black in general the easier game in spite of the fact that in the very last line we saw White can probably maintain the balance. (B4e) Let us now switch our attention to 4.Nf3, which keeps the option of advancing the e-pawn two squares: 4...e6!

873

5.e4 The critical continuation. After 5.e3 c5 we have a transposition to 4.e3. (a) Instead, 5.Qd3?! looks dubious after 5...Be7 6.Bxf6 (6.0-0-0?? Ng4 7.Be3 0-0 8.h3 Nxe3 9.Qxe3 c5–+ is resignable for White who will have to face a lethal queenside pawn storm soon) 6...Nxf6 7.e4 dxe4 (7...c6!? 8.Be2 Qb6 9.Rb1 dxe4 10.Nxe4 Nxe4 11.Qxe4 Qa5+ 12.c3 Qxa2 13.0-0 Qd5³ is another interesting possibility, when I doubt that White has enough for the pawn) 8.Nxe4 0-0, when I feel we should be better regardless of White’s choice of castling:

9.0-0-0 It feels more natural to go long, but the computer has its objections. It proposes instead the less optimistic 9.Be2 b6 10.Ne5 Bb7 11.Bf3, although even here after 11...Nd5 12.0-0 f6 13.Nc4 g5! (a 874

remarkable move) 14.h3 Nf4 15.Qb3 Bd5 16.Ned2 Qd7 17.Bxd5 Qxd5 18.Ne3 Qxb3 19.Nxb3 Rad8³ the resulting ending is more promising for Black. 9...Qd5! A natural but at the same time strong move, highlighting the temporary weakness of the a2-pawn. 10.Nc3 Qa5 11.Nd2 Rd8 12.Nb3 Qg5+ 12...Qb6!ƒ was stronger. 13.Kb1 So far we have followed Nguyen-Berczes, Budapest 2005. Here it seems that Black should play 13...a5! 14.h4 Qg6 15.Qf3 a4 16.Nc5 a3 17.b3 Nd5 18.h5 Qh6 19.Be2 c6µ with a complicated, yet better position for him. After reviewing the above lines it became clear to me that 5.Qd3?! represents a problem only for White. (b) A move often to be seen at club level is 5.Ne5?!, which violates classical rules by moving the same piece twice in the opening. A possible continuation is 5...Bb4 6.Nd3 Be7 7.e3 b6 8.Be2 0-0 9.0-0 Bb7³. Let us now focus on the critical continuation 5.e4: 5...h6!

In the position in the diagram, White must part with his two bishops or allow Black win a pawn, so the dilemma posed by Black’s last is rather unpleasant for him. We will examine both (B4e1) 6.Bxf6 and (B4e2) 6.Bh4. 6.Bh4 is the main old continuation but the modern treatment is to take on f6. And actually it is the best one, in spite of being completely harmless. (B4e1) After 6.Bxf6 Nxf6 there are several methods to proceed for White, but the bishop pair is a major asset and I expect us to have a pleasant game. Witness the following lines:

875

7.e5 Played by Spanish GM Vallejo Pons, this is the most popular move in tournament practice. (a) Instead, 7.Qe2?! looks rather clumsy and after 7...Be7! (7...dxe4 8.Nxe4 Nxe4 9.Qxe4 Qd5 10.Bd3=) 8.e5 Nd7 9.0-0-0 a6 10.h4 c5µ, as played in Yermolinsky-Kaidanov, New York 1993, Black’s chances are preferable. (b) 7.Bd3 should be answered by 7...Bb4! and Black has the better chances:

For example, 8.exd5 Nxd5 9.0-0 (9.Qd2 c5µ) 9...Nxc3 10.bxc3 Bxc3 11.Rb1 (Hoi-Hellers, Copenhagen 1991) and here the engines recommend the daring 11...c5!? as the best way for Black to obtain an advantage. However I am not sure this would be my choice in over the board play. Hellers’ 11...c6 looks in fact like a safer option. The result was an unclear game after 12.Bc4 b5 13.Qd3 Ba5?!∞, but it has to be said that around here Ferdinand faltered. Much stronger was instead 13...b4!µ and Black should be seriously better as the Bc3 hampers White’s movements. Returning to 11...c5!?, after 12.Bb5+ Ke7! 13.Rb3! Bxd4 14.Nxd4 Qxd4 15.Qf3 Qe5 16.Rd1 a6µ there is not a miracle for White and the position should be worse for him. But in a game between humans, Black might find it hard to bring his pieces out and his king’s position is a bit unsafe, which are good reasons for preferring the way the Swedish GM played. I will now return to Vallejo’s 7.e5: 7...Nd7

876

8.Ne2!? This is White’s idea, preparing to support the center with c2-c3. There is however a certain loss of time involved. 8...c5 9.c3 Be7 9...cxd4!? 10.Nexd4= looks fine for White, but is of course a decent alternative for us. 10.a3 Qb6 11.Qd2 Nb8!? An interesting way to coordinate the pieces. After 12.dxc5 Bxc5 13.Nf4 Nc6 14.Bd3 Bd7 15.0-0 Be7! 16.Nh5 0-0-0 17.Rfe1 Kb8 18.b4, as played in Vallejo Pons-Sargissian, Ohrid 2009, a good continuation for Black seems to be 18...Bc8 19.Bf1 Qc7„, preparing ...f7-f6 with even chances. (B4e2) Let us now conclude our examination of the Veresov by having a look at 6.Bh4: 6...g5! 7.Bg3 Nxe4 8.Nxe4 dxe4

877

We have reached a final major branching point, with White having a choice of knight moves. We will examine (B4e21) 9.Nd2?! and (B4e22) 9.Ne5. Our main line 9.Ne5 appears to be the lesser evil for White; I had not realized in the past that White is suffering here but now I know this is very much so. (B4e21) More popular is in fact 9.Nd2?! which, coincidentally, had been the choice of Veresov himself. I recommend 9...f5! when White is struggling to find compensation and I am not sure he is going to get it as Black’s kingside pawn mass makes a healthy impression.

For example: 10.Bc4 Instead, 10.h4 f4! 11.Bh2 Nf6 12.c3 (12.Bg1 Rg8 13.hxg5 hxg5 14.Nxe4 Nxe4 15.Qh5+ Ke7

878

16.Qh7+ Bg7 17.Qxe4 Qxd4 18.Qxd4 Bxd4 19.0-0-0 Rh8!µ) 12...Qd5! 13.Bc4 Qf5 14.Qe2 Bd7 15.00-0 0-0-0µ left White with zero compensation for the pawn in Aponte Castillo-Tovio, Cartagena 2016. 10...Nf6 11.Be5 Bd6 12.Qe2 Bd7 13.0-0-0 Qe7 14.f3 exf3 15.Qxf3 0-0-0

16.Ba6 c6 17.Be2 (17.Bxf6 Qxf6 18.Ne4 Qe7 19.Nxd6+ Qxd6 20.Bc4 Rhe8µ) 17...Bxe5 18.dxe5 Nd5 19.Nc4 Kb8 20.Nd6 g4 21.Qb3 Bc8 22.Rhe1 Rhf8µ White’s play does not seem to outweigh the pawn; Black should eventually prevail. (B4e22) Let us return to the better 9.Ne5: 9...Bg7 Played by super GM Dmitri Jakovenko, this move was the only one included in my notes when I started writing the book. However, I now see that 9...h5!³/µ is (at least) a worthy alternative and perhaps the best possibility available to Black. The idea is to gain space on the kingside and turn the Bg3 into a passive piece.

879

The following correspondence game indicates that White has chances to hold, but the position is tough for him: 10.h4 Nxe5 11.dxe5 (11.Bxe5 f6 12.Bg3 g4µ is inferior, as Black’s kingside pawn structure becomes mobile) 11...Bd7 12.Qd4 g4 13.Qxe4 Bc6 14.Qc4 White has restored material equality but is suffering from worse piece activity. The rest can be described as “grim determination”: 14...Qd7 15.Rd1 Bd5 16.Qb5 Qxb5 17.Bxb5+ c6 18.Bf1 0-0-0 19.Rg1 Bb4+ 20.c3 Be7 21.a3 a6 22.Be2 b5 23.f3 Rdg8 24.Kf1 Bd8 25.a4 Bc7 26.Rb1 Bb3 27.axb5 axb5 28.Bf4 Kb7 29.g3 Bb6 30.Rh1 Bd5 31.Kg2 Bc7 32.Kf2 Rf8 33.Rhf1 f6 34.exf6 gxf3 35.Bxf3 Rxf6 36.Bxd5 e5 37.Bf3 exf4 38.gxf4 Rxf4 39.Rbe1 Rxh4 40.Re7 Rh6 41.Rd1 Rh2+ 42.Ke3 Kb6 43.Rdd7 Bd6 44.Rb7+ Kc5 45.Rh7 Re6+ 46.Kd3 Rxb2 47.Rxh5+ Re5 48.Rh6 Rf5 49.Be4 Rg5 50.Rf7 Rh2 At this point a draw was agreed in Bagger-Penafiel Lopez, corr 2013. A heroic effort from White but that certainly does not make the position recommendable for him. 10.h4! Given the chance White should play this move, preventing Black from gaining space on the kingside; 10.Qe2 Nxe5 11.dxe5 Qd5!³/µ is in Black’s favor.

880

10...Nxe5! This is the best move; Jakovenko’s 10...c5!? does not seem to fulfil expectations after the correct answer 11.Qh5! (instead, 11.c3? cxd4 12.cxd4 Nxe5 13.dxe5 Bd7µ was good for Black in PogromskyJakovenko, Sochi 2017): For example, 11...Nxe5 12.Bxe5 Bxe5 13.dxe5 Qd4 14.c3 Qxe5 15.hxg5 Ke7 16.gxh6 Qxh5 17.Rxh5 Bd7=. 11.Bxe5! The best reply. 11.dxe5?! Qxd1+ 12.Rxd1 Bd7 13.hxg5 hxg5 14.Rxh8+ Bxh8 was Scherf-Peters, corr 1992, and here Peters gave 15.Ke2 Bg7 16.Ke3 Bc6 17.c3 a5µ as slightly better for Black but the truth is that Black is close to winning. 11...Bxe5 12.dxe5

881

12...Bd7!? It makes sense to keep the queens on as White’s king is the more vulnerable of the two. 13.Qd4! This centralizing move seems to keep White’s chances of equality intact. The alternatives are worse: (a) 13.Qd2?! gxh4 14.Qb4 Bc6 15.Bb5 Qd5 16.Bxc6+ bxc6³ is better for Black according to Nunn. (b) 13.Qg4?! Qe7 14.0-0-0 (14.Qxe4 Bc6µ) 14...0-0-0 15.Qxe4 Bc6 16.Rxd8+ Rxd8 17.Qe3 gxh4³/ µ was significantly better for Black in Reynolds-Nunn, London 1987, and Black went on to win. After 13.Qd4! Dr. John Nunn considered the position as better for Black but the engines disagree. It seems that the chances are merely balanced after 13...Bc6 14.Qxd8+ Rxd8 15.hxg5 Rd5 16.Rxh6 Rg8! (Nunn’s 16...Rxh6?! 17.gxh6 Rxe5 could in fact be dangerous for the second player after 18.g4!± as Black will have to drop f7 in order to capture the vicious h-pawn) 17.g6 Rxg6 18.Rxg6 fxg6 19.Ke2 Rxe5 20.Ke3=:

882

Black has emerged with an extra pawn but it is doubled and meaningless and White should draw easily. Thus, the Veresov, albeit containing some tricky ideas in a few lines, does not pose a theoretical threat to Black. By carefully studying the above material you should be able to understand how to defuse it and you will usually have advantageous positions in tournament practice. Even in the unlikely case White is superbly prepared he will not be able to achieve anything more than equality, but the resulting balances here are not as dry as in other lines included in this book. This is the kind of opening Black can always find a way to play for a win, and the more you search, the more chances you will find. With this optimistic comment I will end my examination of the Veresov and I will proceed to examine the Trompovsky. (C) 2.Bg5 This move has more point when Black has played 1...Nf6, as in that case White has the positional idea to take on f6 and inflict a weakness upon our pawn formation. In the present situation it only pins the e7-pawn trying to hinder Black’s development, but that is just a minor problem we can solve in many ways. I chose a radical one:

883

2...f6!? Let’s adopt a Veresov strategy with colors reversed! If White allows us to play the move ...f7-f6 with gain of time, why not? The good thing here is we do not have yet our knight on c6, so we can decide according to the specific situation to bring it out there or not. After the dilemma posed by our last move White has a choice of bishop retreats. I analysed (C1) 3.Bh4, (C2) 3.Bf4 and (C3) 3.Bd2!?. 3.Bd2!? Returning the bishop to safety out of the reach of Black’s pieces and pawns would have been my intuitive decision as White, so I made it my main line. However, White’s two other options are active alternatives we should definitely not underestimate: (C1) 3.Bh4 After this move, the bishop loses contact with the queenside and I believe Black should be slightly better. However, in practice this would not be so easy to prove, so I present in some detail my analysis: 3...Nh6!

884

The knight is heading towards f5 to attack the stray bishop. Soon enough, in cooperation with Black’s c-pawn, it will generate pressure on the sensitive d4-square, as we shall see. 4.c4!? We already know from our Veresov experience that this is a logical reaction to ...f7-f6, in the very same manner ...c7-c5 was a logical reaction to f2-f3, with colors reversed. However, the fact that White’s queen’s bishop has deserted its homeland has altered the circumstances considerably, leaving the corresponding squares on the queenside a bit bare. In addition, it would be a serious omission not to point out that Black enjoys two extra advantages compared to the similar situations with colors reversed: (a) He has carried out ...f7-f6 with tempo; and (b) he has the privilege of not having his c-pawn blocked by a knight, as was the case in the Veresov, a fact that allows him to pay White with the same coin in the center. But more about this position later, as there are a couple of alternatives we need to investigate first: (C1a) The first one is the mild 4.e3, through which White hopes to exploit the “weakening” caused by ...f7-f6 without the use of pawns. After 4...Nf5, we have a branching point with the following two options for White:

885

5.Bg3 White has tried to play without this move in his effort to accelerate the pace of the game. However, the result does not seem to vindicate such a strategy: 5.Bd3 h5! This is the great point, forcing White to part with his valuable light square bishop. Instead, 5...Nxh4 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qxh4 Bg7 8.Ne2∞ leaves White with the right bishop for attacking purposes and the position is merely unclear. 6.Bxf5 Bxf5 7.f3 Nc6 8.Nc3 e6 9.Nge2 g5 10.Bf2 Qd7 11.e4 Bg6 12.0-0 0-0-0 13.a3 Qh7!µ And Black had a clear advantage in Luanja-Grover, Port Elizabeth 2018. Returning to 5.Bg3, we are about to witness how ...f7-f6 comes in handy in this type of structure: 5...h5! The bishop is almost trapped as it cannot go to f4. Moving the h-pawn would allow us to ruin the enemy pawn structure, so White is suddenly forced to go for wild complications. However, starting mild and ending up wild after only a couple of moves is usually a bad omen for the side that has to change its strategy: 6.Be2 h4 7.Bh5+ Kd7 8.Bf4

886

8...g5 9.e4 dxe4 10.d5 So far we have followed Bromann-Gretarsson, Reykjavik 2017. It is clear that White has gone astray, so what remains for us to do is find the most accurate way to increase our advantage. I think the mission is accomplished wonderfully with 10...e6!µ, focusing on development and king safety, making the white position look silly. I can safely conclude that White is close to lost here, and we will move on to examine the second fourth-move alternative: (C1b) That is none other than 4.f3, which gives the white bishop a safe retreat square on f2 at the cost of further weakening the dark squares. My feeling originally was that White should be worse here; that said, I tried to convince the computer by numerous ideas and several hours of moving back and forth, but it resisted all my efforts to prove an advantage for Black. My conclusion at the moment of writing these lines is that we have the better practical chances and easier play, but objectively the position might be balanced, as the following lines demonstrate: 4...c5! 5.dxc5! e6 6.Bf2 Nd7

887

7.e4! Bxc5 8.Bxc5 Nxc5 9.Qd4 b6!? I also looked at 9...Qc7 10.Nc3 dxe4 11.Nxe4 Nxe4 12.Qxe4 Bd7 13.0-0-0 0-0-0 14.Qe3 Qa5 15.Bc4 Nf5 16.Qf2 Qe5 17.Nh3! Qe3+ 18.Rd2 Qxf2 19.Nxf2 e5=; Black has a tiny edge that the computer will nullify rather easily, but in a game between humans the second player should be the favorite. 10.exd5! After 10.b4 Nb7 11.Bb5+ Bd7 12.Ba6 Nd6 13.Ne2 0-0 14.Nbc3 Bc8 15.Bd3 dxe4 16.Nxe4 Nhf5 17.Qb2 Bb7 18.Nxd6 Nxd6 19.Rd1 Rc8 20.0-0 Qc7 21.Rfe1 e5³ our chances for an advantage are much more realistic. 10...Nf5 11.Qd2 Qxd5 12.Qxd5 exd5 13.Nc3 d4 14.Nb5 Kf7

888

Upon reaching this position I was sure that Black has a sizeable advantage, but in fact White is able to neutralize our pull with accurate play: 15.b4 Ne6 16.Bd3 Bd7 17.a4 Nf4 18.Ne2! Nxd3+ 19.cxd3 a5! 19...Bxb5 20.axb5 h5 21.Ra6 Rhd8 22.Kd2∞. 20.Nexd4 Rhd8 21.Nxf5 Bxf5 22.bxa5 Rxa5 23.Kf2 Rxd3 24.Rhd1 Rxd1 25.Rxd1 Rxa4 26.g4 Bg6 27.Rd6 h5 28.h3 Rb4 29.Rxb6 Rb2+ 30.Ke3 Rb3+ 31.Kf2 Kf8 32.Rb7=. (C1c) Let us now return to the critical position after 4.c4!?:

4...Nf5! I do not like 4...c5?! 5.cxd5 Nf5 6.dxc5! Qa5+ 7.Nc3 Nxh4 8.a3 g5 9.b4 Qd8∞/± when White had 889

tremendous compensation for the piece in the computer game Texel 1.07-Deep Shredder 13, CCRL 2017. Black eventually won but his position looks both impractical and suspect, making me think that I would certainly take White if offered the choice. 5.Bg3 c5! Now this move seems principled and well timed.

I looked at two possibilities for White in the position in the diagram: 6.e3 Apparently best. Instead, 6.dxc5?! was dismissed easily in view of 6...d4! 7.Bxb8 Rxb8 8.b4 e5 9.g3 a5 10.a3 b6 11.Qa4+ Kf7 12.c6 b5! 13.cxb5 Qd5 14.Nf3 e4 15.Nfd2 e3 16.Nf3 axb4µ. 6...cxd4 7.exd4 dxc4 Another good choice for us is 7...Nc6 8.Nf3 Qa5+!? 9.Nc3 e5 10.cxd5 Ncxd4 11.Bd3 Bb4³. 8.Nf3! White is much worse after 8.d5?! e5 9.Bxc4 h5µ. 8...Nc6 9.Nc3 (9.Bxc4? Nfxd4!µ) 9...Na5! (9...Ncxd4 10.Bxc4©) 10.Be2 (10.Bf4?! e6 11.g4 Bd6µ) 10...e6 11.0-0 Be7

890

12.d5!? Trying to complicate the issue. Instead, 12.Bxc4? Nxc4 13.Qa4+ Bd7 14.Qxc4 Rc8 15.Qb3 Qb6!µ leads to an excellent ending for Black in view of his bishop pair and possibility of gaining more space on the kingside. 12...0-0 13.Nd4 e5 14.Nxf5 Bxf5 15.f4!? Bc5+! The position becomes close to equal after 15...e4 16.Bf2 Bg6 17.f5! Bxf5 18.Bg3 Bc5+ 19.Kh1 Qd7 20.d6 b6 21.Qd5+ Be6 22.Qxe4. 16.Kh1 Bd4 17.Qd2 Qd7 18.Bf2 Bxf2 19.Rxf2 White has defended well but Black retains a few chances of eventual success by either 19...Rae8³ or 19...e4∞. Overall it seems to me that 3.Bh4, albeit certainly acceptable, gives Black good possibilities to play for a win as the bishop is somewhat exposed at the edge of the board, offering us valuable tempi for development and play in the center. In some cases the bishop itself will end up as our main target of attack, forcing White to resort to material or positional concessions in order to keep the game going. There are of course a couple of lines where White comes very close to equality but even in those lines we have the better practical chances and I guess this is what we want. We will now switch our attention to the retreats where the bishop keeps contact with the white queenside: (C2) 3.Bf4 This is in my view what most people will play and I believe it provides us with an excellent opportunity to apply a reversed Veresov strategy. I analysed both (C2a) 3...c5 and the vintage Veresov idea (C2b) 3...Nc6!.

891

I think that 3...Nc6! clearly deserves to be our main line. It introduces the strategic threat ...e7-e5, gaining control of the center. The position of the Bf4 helps us, because such an advance, if accomplished, will come again with tempo, as did 2...f6!?. (C2a) The alternative 3...c5 is also good but it does not quite suit my style because of the reply 4.Bxb8! which is an exchange I would not like to let happen. The explanation is that in this position the Nb8 is a strong piece, probably stronger than the Bf4, because it helps attack the center with ...e7-e5 and thus adds dynamism to the black position, while the Bf4 is merely a target. One could argue that White exchanges a piece that has moved three times for one that has not moved at all, but it is important to note that we have only made pawn moves so far, so we do not really lead in development. As for the quality of the ...f7-f6 move, it becomes debatable in the absence of the Bf4 because it was designed to restrict this very bishop, apart from helping to conquer the center. The remaining white bishop, on the other hand, is a piece that can profit from the light-square weaknesses ...f7-f6 entails, so we may conclude that by playing Bf4xb8 White carries out a successful exchange. The shortcomings of omitting Bf4xb8 will sooner or later become felt after other moves, as the following lines show: For example, 4.c3?! Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6 6.Bc1 cxd4! 7.cxd4 e5µ or 4.e3 Nc6 5.Bb5 cxd4 6.exd4 a6 7.Ba4 b5 8.Bb3 e6 9.c3 Bd6 10.Bxd6 Qxd6 11.Qg4 g6 12.Qf3 Kf7 13.Nd2 Nge7 14.Ne2 Kg7 15.0-0 e5³, in both cases with some advantage for Black. To put things straight I am not saying that after 4.Bxb8! White gains the advantage, I am only saying that he rids himself of a piece that is a burden for him, making his life easier. The following lines serve to explain how play could continue: 4...Rxb8

892

5.e3! Worse would be 5.Nc3 e6 6.e4 (6.e3 a6 7.Nf3 b5! 8.g3 Bd6 9.Bg2 b4 10.Ne2 cxd4 11.Nfxd4 Ne7 12.Nf4 Kf7 13.0-0 Bd7µ sees White slowly lose ground on all parts of the board) 6...dxe4 7.dxc5 (7.d5 also fails after 7...exd5 8.Nxd5 Bd6 9.Qd2 Ne7 10.Nc3 Bf5 11.Bb5+ Nc6 12.Qd5 Be5³/µ) 7...Qxd1+ 8.Rxd1 f5 9.f3 Bxc5 10.fxe4 Nf6 11.exf5 exf5 12.Bb5+ Kf7 13.Nf3 g6µ and the two bishops give Black a clear advantage in this ending. 5...cxd4! 5...c4!? 6.b3 b5 7.a4 a6 8.axb5 axb5 9.bxc4 bxc4 10.g3 e6 11.Bg2 Bd6 12.Nc3 Ne7 13.Nge2∞ is another possibility. 6.Qxd4! 6.exd4 e6 7.c4 Bb4+ 8.Nc3 Ne7 9.Bd3 dxc4 10.Bxc4 b5 11.Bb3 0-0 12.Nf3 a5 13.a3 Bxc3+ 14.bxc3 Nd5³ looks like a good version of a typical Caro/Nimzo structure for us, with hanging pawns which can be potentially exploited. 6...e5

893

7.Qa4+! 7.Qxa7 Bd7µ puts the queen’s future in jeopardy. 7...Kf7 8.Nc3! b5!! A brilliant pawn sacrifice, giving Black the initiative. Weaker is 8...a6 9.Nxd5!. 9.Bxb5 a6 10.Bc6 Ne7! 11.0-0-0 This is a position I analyzed a lot, but could not find an advantage for Black. Sample lines follow:

11...Nxc6!? White is not worse after 11...Be6 12.Nxd5 Nxd5 13.Bxd5 Bxd5 14.e4 Rb4 15.Rxd5 Qxd5 16.Qxb4

894

Qxa2 17.Qb3+ Qxb3 18.cxb3 Bc5 19.Nf3 Rb8 20.Kc2 Rb4 21.Nd2 Bxf2 22.Nc4=. Another line is 11...Qb6!? 12.Be8+ Kg8 13.Bd7! Bxd7 14.Qxd7 Rb7 15.Qa4 Qxb2+ 16.Kd2 Qb4 17.Qxb4 Rxb4 18.Nge2 d4 19.exd4 exd4 20.Ne4 Nc6 21.Rb1 Ra4 22.Rb6 Ne5 23.Rb7 Nc4+ 24.Kd3 Ne5+=. 12.Qxc6 Bb7 13.Qa4 Be7 14.Nge2 Qd6 15.Qa5 Rhc8 16.Rxd5! Bxd5 17.Qxd5+ Qe6! 18.e4 Rc6 19.Rd1 Rbc8 20.Qd3∞

White has full compensation for the exchange in this imbalanced position. My conclusion is that White does not stand badly strategically after 3...c5 4.Bxb8! as he is left with the right pieces to harass us and create timely tensions. Black is certainly not worse, but the resulting positions are tricky and full of guerilla tactics. (C2b) So after some meditation I came up with the reversed Veresov solution, namely 3...Nc6!: 4.Nf3 White prevents ...e7-e5 but now we can make use of ...f7-f6 in a different manner:

895

4...g5! 5.Bg3 h5! Gaining vital space on the kingside. 6.h3! Weaker is 6.h4?! g4 7.Ng1 Nh6 8.e3 Nf5 and the clumsy Bg3 lands White in trouble. For example: 9.Bd3 (9.Ne2 e5 10.dxe5 fxe5 11.e4 dxe4 12.Qxd8+ Kxd8 13.Nbc3 e3 14.0-0-0+ Bd7µ) 9...Nxg3! 10.Bg6+ Kd7 11.fxg3 e6 12.c4

12...Ne7! An improvement over 12...f5?! 13.cxd5 Ne7 14.dxe6+ Kxe6 15.Qb3+ Qd5 16.Qxd5+! (16.e4? Qxb3 17.Bxf5+ Kf6 18.axb3 Bxf5 19.exf5 Nxf5 20.Ne2 Re8 21.Rf1 Kg6 22.Kf2 Rxe2+ 23.Kxe2 Nxg3+ 896

24.Kf2 Nxf1 25.Kxf1 Bg7 26.Rxa7 Bxd4 27.Rxb7 Rf8+ 28.Ke2 Rf2+ 29.Kd3 Bb6–+ did not allow White to survive in Bonin-Sarkar, Colonie 2008) 16...Nxd5 17.e4 Ne3 18.Bxf5+ Ke7 19.Bxc8 Rxc8 20.Nc3!∞ when White will have lots of compensation after losing the exchange. 13.Bc2 Not much changes after 13.Bd3 dxc4 14.Bxc4 Nf5µ; I wouldn’t exactly be thrilled to have such positions as White because the kingside structure borders on a nightmare. 13...dxc4 14.Ne2 Nd5 15.Qd2 c6 16.Nbc3 b5µ Black’s extra pawn and better position overall should tip the scales in his favor. 6...Nh6 7.Nc3

7...Bf5! The next step after gaining space is to fortify control over whatever squares were weakened in the process and the text achieves it in prefect fashion. Also possible is 7...Nf5!? but it allows White to create waves with the dynamic pawn sacrifice 8.e4! dxe4 9.Nxe4 Ncxd4 10.Bd3 Nc6 11.c3

897

after which Black needs to be careful: 11...Bh6?! Tempting but wrong. I would have preferred 11...e6 12.Qe2 Qe7, preparing to hide the king on the queenside: After 13.0-0 Nxg3 14.fxg3 Bd7 15.b4! 0-0-0 16.Rad1! (16.Ba6 Qg7 17.Nc5 Bxc5+ 18.bxc5 Kb8 is unclear because Black can defend himself by utilizing the ...b7-b6 resource) 16...g4 17.Nh4 Qg7 18.Ng6 f5! 19.Nxh8 fxe4

White has a draw by 20.Ba6! Qxh8 21.Bxb7+ Kxb7 22.Qb5+ Kc8 23.Qa6+ Kb8 24.Qb5+= but that is the best he can achieve. 12.Qc2!

898

Now the black king has to stay on the kingside and White will slowly build up an attack. After 12...Kf8 13.Rd1 Kg7 14.b4 a6 15.Bh2 Nd6 16.0-0 e5 17.Rfe1 Rf8 18.a4 Qe8

the walls came crashing down as follows in Kruse-Lafarga Santorroman, corr 2007: 19.Nexg5! Bxg5 20.b5! axb5 21.axb5 Nxb5 22.Bxb5 Bh6 23.Nxe5! fxe5 24.Bxc6 bxc6 25.Bxe5+ Kg8 26.Bf4 Bf5 27.Qb3+ Qf7 28.Qxf7+ Kxf7 29.Bxh6+–; White easily won the ending. Returning to the safer 7...Bf5!, it guarantees that such accidents are not bound to happen: 8.Nb5

8...Kf7! 9.Bxc7 Qc8 10.Bh2 Nb4 11.Rc1 Nxa2 12.Nc7 Nxc1 13.Qxc1 e6 14.Nxa8 Qxa8 15.e3 Qc8 16.c3 Kg7 17.Be2 Be7 18.0-0 Nf7= 899

Black has the freer game in the final position, but of course there is nothing essentially wrong with White’s set-up, so the engines give their beloved 0.00 evaluation. Thus, the retreat 3.Bf4 allows us an excellent game after both 3...c5 and 3...Nc6!, the latter being my choice for reasons already explained. Although we do not seem to have the advantage our game runs smoothly and in practice it is easier for White to go wrong. (C3) We will now check the last option, namely 3.Bd2!?: 3...Nc6 Once again the Veresov set-up is good as it comes with some gains of time and space. 4.e3 e5 5.Bb5

5...Qd6! It is important not to put the queen on the awkward d7-square. After 5...exd4 6.exd4 Bf5 7.Ne2 Nge7 (7...Qd7 8.0-0 Bd6? 9.c4±) 8.c3 Qd7 9.Na3 0-0-0 10.0-0 Kb8 11.Nc2² White’s prospects are preferable. 6.a3! Weak is 6.Ne2?! a6 7.Ba4 Be6 8.0-0 0-0-0 9.c3 h5 10.b4 Nh6µ when Black’s attacking chances on the kingside are aided by the queen’s presence on the d6-square and are much more realistic than White’s chances to attack on the other wing. 6...Bd7

900

7.Bxc6! This is the point, seeking consolation in concrete play on the dark squares to neutralize our space advantage. 7...Qxc6 8.dxe5! After 8.Bb4 Ne7 9.Nc3 0-0-0 10.Nf3 e4 11.Nd2 h5 12.Qe2 Kb8 13.0-0-0 Qe6µ White was worse in Gaborit-Valles, Vaujany 2018. 8...fxe5 8...0-0-0 9.Nf3² is less good for us. 9.Qh5+ Kd8 10.Qxe5 Qxc2 11.Ne2 Nf6∞/³

901

Both sides have their chances in this complicated position. I prefer Black slightly, mainly in view of his bishop pair, but my evaluation could be subjective as White has his trumps too. Here my analysis of the Trompovsky ends. I believe I looked at enough ideas and motifs to have you armed well for the ensuing fight and my analysis makes it clear that White has no advantage.

902

We will now proceed to examine more Anti-Tarrasch systems: (D) 2.e3 This would normally transpose to the Colle, but here we will examine it as a prelude to the Stonewall formation. 2...c5 3.c3 3.c4 brings us back to the Tarrasch after 3...e6!= or to the Caro Kann (Panov Variation) after 3...cxd4!? 4.exd4 Nf6=. 3...Nf6

Basically White players love to play the Stonewall against formations that involve an early ...e7-e6, as that makes our queen bishop passive and gives them more chances of an attack after they traditionally settle with their knight on e5. To avoid falling in with their plans I have chosen to resist playing an early ...e7-e6 here. That however leaves the c5 pawn en prise, so Black needs to have a solution handy in case White decides to take it. As you will witness below, I made sure you are provided with such a solution. After 3...Nf6 we will look at the following moves: (D1) 4.dxc5!? and (D2) 4.Bd3. Instead, 4.Nf3 e6 leads us to the Colle System examined later. Before proceeding I would like to remark that 4.Bd3 became our main line by virtue of being the most logical way to enter the Stonewall formation. (D1) A critical alternative is 4.dxc5!? e6 5.b4 a5!

903

We have reached an important juncture: 6.Nd2 My analysis indicates that White has no advantage after other moves as well, but here we should remember a thing or two as we are temporarily a pawn down: After 6.Qb3 b6! 7.cxb6 Qxb6 8.b5 a4 9.Qc2 a3 10.Nf3 Nbd7 11.Be2 Bd6 12.Qb3 Nc5 13.Qc2 (hoping for a repetition) 13...Nce4

the weaknesses on the queenside give us enough play for the pawn. Sample lines follow: 14.Nbd2 After 14.0-0 Bb7 15.Nd4 Qc7 16.Kh1 Bxh2 17.Bxa3 Be5 18.Qb2 Rxa3! 19.b6 Qe7 20.Qxa3 Bd6 904

21.Qa4+ Nd7 22.Nf3 0-0 Black gets powerful attacking chances in return for the exchange. 14...Nxf2!? This is not strictly necessary, but it is useful to know we have a draw at hand. The position peters out to a perpetual check after 15.Kxf2 Ng4+ 16.Ke1 Nxe3 17.Qd3 Nxg2+ 18.Kf1 Ne3+ 19.Ke1=. Returning to our 6.Nd2 main line, it is evident that after 6...axb4 7.cxb4 b6

Black will soon regain his pawn with a good position. Play could continue as follows: 8.cxb6 Bxb4 9.Rb1! Qxb6 10.a3 Bxd2+ 11.Bxd2 Qa7 12.Bb4 Bd7 13.Bd3 Nc6 14.Ne2 Nxb4 15.axb4 0-0 16.0-0 e5 17.Qd2 Rfb8 18.Rfd1 Rb6 19.Nc3 Qb7= with equality. (D2) Let us now return to 4.Bd3: 4...Nc6 5.f4?! This rather weak move will be our main line here and is examined under line (D2b) below; insisting on a Stonewall formation strategy seems dubious with the Bc8 still open, but believe me, Stonewall players will never change their habits for the sake of computer evaluations. Instead: (D2a) Objectively stronger is 5.Nf3 Bg4! when Black enjoys the freer game but probably no advantage: 6.0-0

905

(a) Looking in the Mega Database I found one game where super GM Evgeny Tomashevsky played an immediate 6.Nbd2 here, but this merely allows Black an extra possibility: 6...e5!? (the standard 6...e6= will transpose to 6.0-0) 7.dxe5 Nxe5 8.Bb5+ Ned7

I cannot see how this can be advantageous for White. After 9.0-0 (safer is 9.h3 Bh5 10.Be2 Be7 11.00 0-0 12.c4 dxc4 13.Nxc4 Qc7=) 9...Bd6 10.h3 Bh5 11.e4?! dxe4 12.Nxe4 Nxe4 13.Qd5 Bxf3! (13...Bg6 14.Ng5!²) 14.gxf3 0-0 15.fxe4 Nf6 16.Qf5 Qb6

906

White’s loose kingside means that he can only be worse, a sample line being 17.Ba4 Qa6! 18.Bc2 Qe2 19.e5 Qxe5 20.Qxe5 Bxe5 21.Re1 Rfe8 22.Be3 Rac8³. (b) 6.h3 Bh5 7.Nbd2 (7.g4? Bg6µ) 7...e6= is also equal. Back to 6.0-0: 6...e6 7.Nbd2 Bd6 8.h3 Bh5 9.dxc5 Bxc5

10.b4!? It is important for White to grab some queenside space while the possibility is still there. After 10.e4?! 0-0 11.exd5 exd5 12.Nb3 Bb6 13.Bf4 Re8³, as played in Mamedjarova-Popov, Baku 2018, Black has a perfect French on the board, guaranteeing him at least equal chances. 10...Bd6 11.Bb2 0-0 12.a3 907

White is ready for c3-c4 but we can nip that idea in the bud. 12...Ne5 Also possible is 12...a5!? 13.Be2 Rc8∞. 13.Be2 Nxf3+ (13...Bxf3!? 14.Nxf3 Rc8∞) 14.Nxf3 a5!=

The game is level, but in practice Black will feel happier in view of the clumsy Bb2. In an actual game it is quite likely that White will retreat his knight to d2 to defend the weak e4- and c4-squares, which should be ³, but the strongest option is 15.c4! with equality, a move I am not sure the average player can find that easily. (D2b) Let us now return to the over-ambitious 5.f4?!, which is what the Stonewall routineer is expected to play: 5...Bg4 6.Nf3 e6 7.0-0 Bd6

908

Black has achieved all he could wish for in the opening here as his minor pieces are optimally placed and he has no weaknesses. To land in complete happiness he only needs to trade lightsquare bishops, after which the entire white position will look like a glaring weakness in view of the hole on e4. 8.Qe1 On 8.Nbd2?!, do not miss your chance to play 8...cxd4! which forces White to recapture with the cpawn on d4. After 9.cxd4 0-0 10.a3 Rc8 11.Qb3 Na5 12.Qa2 Bf5µ Black was cruising to victory in Lomantsov-Iskusnyh, Novokuznetsk 2010. Another way of developing that is not going to bring White any glory is 8.b3 0-0 9.Ba3 Qe7µ. 8...Bf5! 9.Be2 Qb6 White is struggling to find a decent plan here. There might follow 10.Kh1 (10.Ne5? cxd4 11.exd4 Nxe5 12.fxe5 Bxe5–+) 10...h6 11.Ne5 (the anti-positional 11.a4 c4! 12.Ne5 Na5 13.Nd2 Ne4µ left Black in complete control in Sotsky-Kamsky, Novi Sad 2016)

909

11...g5!? (not strictly necessary, but good enough) 12.Nd2 cxd4 13.exd4 Qc7³ and it is clear that Black has all the chances. Thus, the Stonewall will not bring White any joy. Just do not forget to keep your Bc8 open when you play these guys! (E) To conclude Part V, we will now proceed to examine the London and Colle systems. In combating them I always like to use the ...c7-c5 lever in my set-up, so I was curious to see what happens if White tries to prevent this option by employing the particular move order 2.c3:

2...c5 This still has to be the automatic reaction anyway. The following lines show that White gains nothing by taking on c5 and trying to hold on to the extra pawn: 910

3.dxc5 Nf6 4.b4 a5 5.Bb2 After 5.a3 b6 6.cxb6 e5!? 7.Nf3 Nbd7 8.bxa5 Rxa5 the game will soon be level: 9.e3 Bd6 10.c4 Nxb6 11.Bd2 Ra8 12.cxd5 Nbxd5 13.Bb5+ Bd7 14.Bxd7+ Qxd7 15.Nc3 0-0 16.0-0 e4 17.Nd4 Bxa3 18.Qb3 Bc5 19.Rxa8 Rxa8=. Readers are advised to study carefully this sequence. 5...b6!

It is important to leave White with a weakness on c3, so taking on b4 first should be avoided. 6.cxb6 Qxb6 7.a3 Ba6 8.Nd2 Nbd7 9.e3! Bxf1 10.Nxf1 g6! Only this move secures complete equality. By fianchettoing our bishop we will have a safe king and direct pressure against the c-pawn. 11.Nf3 Bg7 12.N1d2 0-0 13.0-0 Rfc8 14.Rb1! (14.Qb3 Rab8 gives Black good compensation as ...Nd7-c5-e4 is threatened; 14.Qe2 Ne4!? 15.Nxe4 dxe4 16.Nd4 Ne5 is also excellent for Black) 14...Qa6!

911

We are at a juncture once more; our light-square compensation ensures that we will not be worse as the following lines show: 15.Nd4 The strongest move according to the computer. (a) 15.Nb3 a4 16.Na5 (16.Nbd2 Nb6) 16...Nb6= is hardly frightening. (b) I also looked at 15.Re1 e6 16.h3 Nb6 17.b5 Qb7! 18.a4 Nfd7 19.Ra1 Nc5 20.Qc2 Rab8!„ when Black prepares to sacrifice two pieces for a rook on a4 and stands at least equal. 15...Ne5! We should resist the temptation to play 15...a4?!, because after 16.c4! dxc4 17.Ne2² White has blocked us well on c3 and stands slightly better. 16.b5 Qd6 17.a4

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White has an extra pawn and a protected passed one at that, however he does not have an advantage. Black can easily generate play against his opponent’s weaknesses and keep the game level: 17...e6 18.Qc2 Rc7 The start of a maneuvering phase. 19.N4f3 (19.e4 Qb6„) 19...Nfd7! 20.Nxe5 Bxe5 21.g3 Nb6 22.c4 Rac8 It is also possible to play 22...Bxb2 23.Qxb2 dxc4! 24.Ne4 c3 25.Qxc3 (25.Nxc3 Qe5) 25...Rxc3 26.Nxd6 Nxa4 27.b6 Rb8 28.b7 Rc6 29.Rfc1 Nc3=. 23.Rfc1 Bxb2 24.Qxb2 Nxa4 25.Qa1 Nb6 26.Rd1 Nxc4 27.b6 Nxd2 28.Rxd2 Rb7 29.Qxa5 Rcb8 30.Rdb2 e5= Thus, the game is equal after 2.c3 c5 3.dxc5, but some memorization has to be done here as it is important to find a concrete sequence of moves to obtain full compensation for the pawn. (F) We will now proceed to examine the vintage London and Colle positions: 2.Bf4 This move introduces the London System, a trendy opening that bears the stamp of approval of world champion Magnus Carlsen. White’s idea is to establish control over e5 and subsequently use it to develop his kingside aspirations. Our strategy will be to avoid an early ...e7-e6 as that leads to the kind of position White would like to play. 2...c5 Striking at the center is principled and strong; White now has three options: (F1) 3.dxc5, (F2) 3.e3 and (F3) 3.c3.

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3.c3 This symmetrical reaction is the move one will most likely encounter in practice, so I made it our main line here. Instead: (F1) If White surrenders the center with 3.dxc5, our game flows naturally: 3...Nc6 4.Nf3 On 4.e4 Nf6 5.e5!? (5.exd5?! Nxd5 6.Bg3 Bf5 7.c3 e6 8.Nd2 Bxc5 9.Ngf3, as played in Bu-Ding, Shenzhen 2016, is just bad for White after 9...h5! 10.Nb3 Bb6 11.h3 h4 12.Bh2 Bc7µ in view of the weakness of the f4-square) 5...Ne4 6.Nd2 Nxc5 7.Nb3, I like 7...Ne6!? 8.Bg3 g6 9.Nf3 Bh6 10.Bd3 00 11.0-0 Nf4 12.Bb5 Nh5 13.Bxc6 bxc6 14.Qd4 Nxg3 15.hxg3 Bg7„ and Black’s two bishops should outweigh the weakness of the c5-square. 4...e6 5.c4 Bxc5 6.e3 Nf6

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The diagrammed position looks rather dry and drawish, but it is not unlikely that somehow play can be stirred up. Our chances to play for a win merely lie in the 7.Nc3 continuation, as in that case we can pin the knight and try to unbalance the play. Instead, there is obviously not much to be found after 7.cxd5 Nxd5=. It is also possible for Black to deviate on the 7th move with 7...Qxd5 8.Nc3 Qxd1+ 9.Rxd1 Bb4 10.Ne5 Nd5 11.Bb5 Nxc3 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.Bxc6+ Ke7 14.bxc3 Bxc3+ 15.Ke2 Ba6+ 16.Kf3 Rad8=; in both cases, however, we have symmetrical structures on the board and not much is going on. Returning to 7.Nc3, after 7...Bb4! 8.Qc2 Qa5 9.Bd3 Bd7 10.0-0 Bxc3 11.Qxc3?! (11.bxc3! e5!∞ had to be preferred) 11...Qxc3 12.bxc3 dxc4 13.Bxc4 Ne4³ Black got the type of ending he wanted and gradually outplayed his opponent in Hasangatin-Rodshtein, Sochi 2018. (F2) 3.e3 will be played by those London practitioners who are really ambitious and despise symmetry. I then like 3...cxd4 4.exd4 Nc6 which brings us to a major crossroads: (F2a) 5.Nf3 or (F2b) 5.c3.

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5.c3 will be our main line; after this solid move we will have the chance to stun our opponents with a rare idea, but the alternative 5.Nf3 allows us to pin the knight and obtain an excellent version of an Exchange Caro Kann: (F2a) Play could go 5.Nf3 Bg4! 6.c3 e6, when I cannot see any advantage for White after either of the three logical options available. These are (F2a1) 7.Qb3, (F2a2) 7.Bd3 and (F2a3) 7.Nbd2.

7.Nbd2 looks like a common sense move, so I promoted it to be our main line. Instead: (F2a1) 7.Qb3 Qd7 8.Nbd2 Nge7! 9.h3 Bh5 10.Bb5!? (10.Bh2 a6 11.Be2 Nc8 12.Ne5 Nxe5 13.Bxh5 Nc6 14.Nf3 Be7 15.Ne5 Nxe5 16.dxe5 0-0 17.0-0 b5 18.a4 Nb6³ was better for Black in Korobov-Ivanchuk, Doha 2016) 10...f6! 11.0-0 a6 12.Bd3 Bg6 13.Bxg6+ hxg6 14.Bh2 Kf7 15.Rae1 g5∞ is, I think, a position that deserves a diagram: 916

Black is not really weak on the e-file. He can meet a doubling of the white rooks by playing ...Ra8-e8 followed by ...Ne7-c8, with a good position. (F2a2) 7.Bd3 allows Black to develop flexibly by means of 7...Bd6 8.Bxd6 Qxd6 9.0-0 Nge7!? 10.Re1 Bf5 11.Bf1 h6 12.Nbd2 0-0 13.Nb3 Qc7 14.Nc5 a5 15.Rc1 Rfd8 16.Bd3 b6 17.Bxf5 Nxf5= with an easy game. (F2a3) Let us get back to 7.Nbd2: 7...Bd6 8.Bg3 Nge7 9.Bd3 Bf5 10.Be2 Ng6 11.Qb3 Rb8 12.a4

12...h5! An idea worth remembering, fully justifying the development of the knight to e7 instead of f6. Black is targeting the sensitive f4-square.

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13.Bxd6 Qxd6 14.0-0 Nf4 15.Rfe1 h4 16.Bf1 f6 17.c4 Kf7 18.g3 hxg3 19.fxg3 Nh3+ 20.Kg2 So far Kamsky-Khismatullin, Moscow 2017. Here Denis should have played 20...g5!µ when Black is clearly in the driver’s seat as the white king is suffering. One idea could be to follow up with ...g5-g4, Nf3-h4, and ...Rh8xh4!?, but there are many other attacking options as well, making White’s position highly problematic. Since Gata made natural moves and still ended up worse, I imagine that we should be happy with the possibilities the structure offers us. (F2b) We will now return to 5.c3: 5...f6!?

This move may appear a bit shocking in this position but Dutch IM Kevlishvili has shown that it is fully viable. 6.Nf3 The alternative is 6.Bb5, but after 6...e6 7.Nd2 Nge7 8.Ne2 g6 9.h4 a6 10.Ba4 (10.Bxc6+ Nxc6 11.Bg3 e5 12.dxe5 fxe5 13.Nf3 Bg7 14.Qb3 Na5= could lead to a draw if the queen starts oscillating between b3 and b4) 10...Bg7 11.h5! g5 12.h6 Bf8 13.Bh2! Ng6 14.Bc2 e5 15.Ng3 Be6 16.dxe5 fxe5 17.Qh5 Be7! 18.Nf5 0-0! 19.Nxe7+ Qxe7 20.Bxg6 hxg6 21.Qxg6+ Kh8 Black has good compensation for the material regardless of where White chooses to castle. This line was worked out with the help of Stockfish at depth 46 and I re-checked it several times with other engines and myself, concluding that it is perfectly reliable. 6...g5! Given the chance, Black expands on the kingside even with a semi-open center. This may appear dangerous to the uninitiated, but I believe we have nothing to fear. 7.Be3

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7...Bf5 Black rushes to cover the light-square weaknesses his last move created and this is a perfectly natural and logical reaction. Another possibility is 7...e6!? 8.Bd3 Nge7 9.Qe2 Qc7 10.Na3 a6 11.Nc2 Bd7∞ with what appears to be a complicated position, but I have to admit that I did not study it deeply as 7...Bf5 has been the only move tried so far in practice and looks sufficient for equality. 8.c4!? This untried idea is in fact my attempt to improve White’s play. After the slower 8.Nbd2?! Qd7 9.Nb3 e6 Black has no problems at all and was soon dictating the play in the following game:

10.Bd3 Bxd3 11.Qxd3 Bd6 12.a3 Nge7³ 13.c4? dxc4 14.Qxc4 Nd5 15.0-0 b6 16.Rac1 Rc8 17.Nfd2

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Nce7 18.Qe2 Kf7 19.Ne4 Rxc1 20.Rxc1 Ng6 21.Qb5 Rd8 22.Qxd7+ Rxd7µ and White eventually drew in Van Foreest -Kevlishvili, Skopje 2018, but at this moment the position on the board is most certainly disappointing for the first player. 8...e6 9.cxd5 Bb4+ 10.Nc3 Qxd5 11.Be2 Nge7 12.0-0 Qd7

This is according to the engines the critical position in this line. I analyzed three possibilities for White here: 13.Rc1 (a) The first idea I looked at was the evacuation sacrifice 13.d5!? concluding that Black does not have any real problems after it: I trust most the reply 13...exd5!? (also possible is 13...Nxd5 14.Nxd5 Qxd5 15.Qa4 Qa5 16.Qb3 0-0 17.Rac1 [17.Bc4 Rfe8] 17...Qd5 18.Bc4 Qd7 19.Bb5 Bd6 20.Rfd1 Rfd8∞) 14.Nd4 Bxc3 15.bxc3 (15.Bh5+ Bg6 16.bxc3 0-0 17.f4 gxf4 18.Rxf4 Ne5∞ gives White some compensation for the pawn, but nothing more) 15...Nxd4 16.Bh5+ Bg6 17.Bxd4 0-0

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18.f4 b6 19.Bxg6 (19.fxg5 fxg5 20.Qe2 Rxf1+ 21.Rxf1 Rf8=) 19...Nxg6 20.f5 Ne5 21.Bxe5 fxe5 22.f6 Kh8 23.Qh5 Rf7 24.Qxg5 Qd6 25.Rae1 d4=. (b) If 13.a3, we should resist the temptation to take on c3. Correct is 13...Bd6! (13...Bxc3 14.bxc3 0-0 15.Nd2 Rad8 16.Nb3² gives White easy play as he has fortified his center and can start contemplating c3-c4, depriving us from controlling key light squares in the center and on the queenside) 14.Nd2 0-0 15.Nde4 Rad8 16.Qb3 Nd5! when the blockade on d5 should serve us well:

For example, 17.Nxd6 (nothing is offered by 17.Ng3 Bxg3 18.hxg3 Nce7 19.g4 Bg6 20.Bb5 Qd6 21.Bc4 Rf7= and 17.Nxd5 Bxe4 18.Nc3 Bg6= is also fine for Black) 17...Qxd6 18.Bf3 (18.Qxb7 Rb8 19.Qa6 Rb6 20.Qa4 Nxe3 21.fxe3 Rxb2 22.Rac1 Ne7 23.e4 Bg6„ looks balanced) 18...Qd7 19.Rac1 Nce7 20.Rfe1 Rc8 21.h3 Rfd8 22.a4 Kg7 23.a5 h6= and neither side has any real chance to progress. 921

Returning to 13.Rc1, here are some sample lines on how play might proceed: 13...0-0 14.Qa4 I made this my main line although there is nothing really forcing here; by keeping control of d5, Black balances the play quite easily. (a) For example, as we already know, the correct answer to 14.a3 is 14...Bd6!, refusing to fortify the white center by taking on c3.

Then 15.h4!? (15.Nd2 Rad8 16.Nde4 Bg6 17.Qb3 Nf5∞ … 18.Rfd1 Kh8 looks just fine for Black) 15...h6 16.d5 gets rid of the isolani but does not obtain anything tangible as the line 16...exd5 17.Nxd5 Rad8! 18.Nxe7+ Qxe7 19.Qb3+ Kg7 20.Rfe1! Be4! 21.Nd4 Nxd4 22.Bxd4 Bh2+ 23.Kxh2 Rxd4= demonstrates. (b) Another line the computer rates as equal is 14.Qb3 Rad8 15.Rfd1 Kg7 16.Ne1 Bd6 17.Nd3 Na5=. Let us return to 14.Qa4:

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14...Rfd8! This is perhaps the best choice here; 14...Nd5!? 15.Nxd5 exd5 16.Rxc6 Bd6 17.Bb5 bxc6 18.Bxc6 Qe6 19.Bxa8 Rxa8 20.Rc1² is also viable, but as they say, a pawn is a pawn. 15.Nd2 Rac8 16.Nb3 a6 17.Rfd1 Nd5 18.Nxd5 exd5 19.Nc5 Bxc5 20.Rxc5 Ne7 21.Qa3

White has the two bishops, but Black has good control over the light squares, a fact making his position ultra-safe. Play might proceed 21...Kg7 (perhaps more forcing is 21...Rxc5!? 22.dxc5 Nc6 23.Bf3 Qe6 24.Qb3 d4 25.Qxe6+ Bxe6 26.Bxc6 bxc6 27.Rxd4 Rxd4 28.Bxd4 Bxa2 29.Bxf6 g4= with a completely equal opposite-color bishop ending) 22.h3 Be4 23.b4 Bg6 24.Rdc1 Rxc5 25.Rxc5 Rc8 26.Qb3 Rxc5 27.bxc5 Nc6 28.Bf3 Ne7=.

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(F3) Let us now examine the move 3.c3: 3...Qb6! This is logical and strong, attacking the b2-pawn that the bishop sortie to f4 has weakened. At the same time Black also puts d4 under pressure.

4.Nf3!? Easy equality arises after 4.Qb3 Qxb3 5.axb3 cxd4 6.Nf3!? Nc6! 7.Nxd4 Nxd4 8.cxd4 e6 9.Nc3 Bd7=. 4...Nc6! The tempting 4...Qxb2?! 5.Nbd2 c4 6.e4 e6 7.Be2 Nf6 8.0-0 Be7 9.Re1 0-0 10.exd5 exd5

looks dangerous in view of 11.Bxc4!. After 11...Nc6! (11...dxc4? 12.Rxe7 Nc6 13.Nxc4 Qxc3 924

14.Rc1 Qxc1 15.Bxc1 Nxe7 16.Ba3 Nfd5 17.Qe1 Be6 18.Ng5 Bf5 19.g4! Bg6 20.h4± gives White a powerful initiative) 12.Rb1 Qxc3 13.Bb5 Be6 14.Nb3 White has at least a draw in view of the precarious position of the black queen and I really would not like to explore the position further when it is obvious that only White can press. After 4...Nc6! I did some digging but could not unearth any really dangerous idea for Black. See for yourselves: 5.Qb3 This is usually an automatic reaction in this type of structure, but it is not the only way to play. (a) An alternative is 5.Qc2 cxd4 6.cxd4, when we should not take the pawn:

Correct is 6...Bg4! (6...Nxd4? 7.Nxd4 Qxd4 8.e3 Qb4+ 9.Nc3 a6 10.a3 Qa5 11.Qa4+! Qxa4 12.Nxa4± is a trap we need to avoid) 7.Nc3 (7.Ne5?! Nxe5 8.Bxe5, as played in Brenner-Slavin, corr 2010, is slightly better for Black after 8...f6 9.Bg3 e5 10.e3 exd4 11.exd4 Qe6+ 12.Be2 Bxe2 13.Qxe2 Bb4+ 14.Nc3 Kf7 15.Qxe6+ Kxe6 16.0-0 Bxc3 17.bxc3 Ne7³) 7...Bxf3 8.gxf3 e6 9.e3 Nf6 10.Be2 Rc8 11.Na4 Qd8 12.Qb3 Qd7 13.Rc1 Be7 14.Nc5 Bxc5 15.Rxc5 0-0 16.0-0 Nh5 17.Bg3 f5 18.f4 Nf6= with a position where the black knights are clearly not inferior to the white bishops. (b) The restrained 5.Nbd2 cxd4 6.cxd4 Nf6

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is already a strategic success for Black as the white knight did not land on the annoying c3-square. The following variations demonstrate the resilience of our position: 7.e3 This is the logical reply. Instead: A bad mistake would be 7.Nb3?? e5 8.dxe5 Ne4 9.e3 Bb4+ 10.Nbd2 (10.Nfd2 Na5–+) 10...Bg4 and White can safely resign. 7.Qb3? fails to 7...Qxb3 8.axb3 (8.Nxb3 Nb4µ) 8...e6³. Let us check now 7.e3: 7...Nh5! 8.Bg3 Nxg3 9.hxg3 h6 10.Qb3 e6 11.Qxb6 axb6 12.Bb5 Bd7³/= A typical ending for a queen’s pawn opening has arisen. Black enjoys a nominal advantage in view of the bishop pair, but the logical outcome should be a draw. The time has come for us to have a look at the standard 5.Qb3: 5...Qxb3 6.axb3 cxd4 7.Nxd4 This looks like the safest recapture. After 7.cxd4 Bf5 8.e3 e6 9.Bb5 Nge7 10.Nc3 a6 11.Bd6 Rc8 12.Be2 Ng6 13.Bxf8 Nxf8 14.0-0 Nd7³/= Black has a minuscule edge in view of his better pawn structure. 7...Nxd4 8.cxd4 Bd7 9.Nc3 e6 At this point White has to make a fundamental decision about the future of his dark-square bishop. The path splits into (F3a) 10.Bd2 and (F3b) 10.e3.

926

10.e3 is the most natural choice of the two and what I would play if I were White. That said, it is also the more double edged continuation. (F3a) Pulling the bishop back with 10.Bd2 is a classical way to defend the weakened b4-square and perhaps organize Nc3-a4, b3-b4, Na4-c5 later on. Let us see how Black should react: 10...Ne7!? An interesting move, preparing to bring the knight to c6 to stop White’s idea. 11.e3 Nc6 12.Bd3?! A mistake; the bishop should have gone to e2, with balanced chances. 12...Nb4! This obvious move guarantees at least a slight plus for Black, as the bishop has to retreat to the clumsy square b1. Instead, 12...Bb4 13.Ke2 Ke7 14.Rhc1 Rhc8= was equal in Bagheri-Vladimirov, Beirut 2000, but later Black won exploiting his endgame experience and White’s mistakes. Returning to 12...Nb4!, there might follow 13.Bb1 b6 14.f3 h5 15.Kf2 a5 16.Na2 Nc6 17.Bd3 h4³ and Black is at least slightly better as White has weaknesses on b2, b3 and h2. (F3b) We will now check 10.e3: 10...Ne7 11.Be2 White can play 11.Nb5 but the bishop pair does not award him the advantage here as his queenside pawn structure is a major handicap. There could follow 11...Bxb5 12.Bxb5+ Kd8! 13.Bd6 Nc8

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14.Bc5!? (14.Bxf8 Rxf8 15.h4 h5∞) 14...Bxc5 15.dxc5 a6 16.Kd2 Kc7 17.b4 h5 18.Be2 Na7 19.h4 g6 20.Kc3 Nc6 21.Rhc1 Rhd8=. 11...Nc6 12.0-0 Bb4 13.Rfd1 0-0 14.e4!? This drastic move might lead to a quick peaceful conclusion as follows: 14...dxe4 15.Nxe4 Rfd8 16.Bc7 Rdc8 17.Bd6 Rd8 18.Bc7=. My general feeling is that the London System can be dangerous only for the uninitiated and I believe that the material offered above will give you the confidence to fight on equal terms and (why not?) score a lot of points when facing it. But we have not finished with its examination yet as there is one more branch of it to be discussed under the 2.Nf3 move order.

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(M) We will now check 2.Nf3: 2...c5! 3.e3 With this move White declares his intention to enter a quite developing scheme known as the Colle System. It will be the topic of line (M2) -see a few pages later. Instead: 3.c4 e6 takes us back to the Tarrasch. (M1) 3.c3 Nf6 4.Bf4 Qb6! is the second branch of the London system I referred to above.

In the diagrammed position, White has the following options: 5.Qb3 By far the most popular move. The other main possibility is 5.Qc2 which I would like to meet on this particular occasion with 5...g6!?, preparing to contest the b1-h7 diagonal. After 6.e3 (6.Nbd2?! cxd4 7.cxd4 Nc6 8.e3 Nh5!³ is excellent for Black) 6...Nc6 7.h3 Bg7 8.Nbd2 0-0 9.Be2 we can discard our original idea in favor of 9...Nd7!? 10.0-0

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10...e5 11.dxe5 Ndxe5 12.Nxe5 Nxe5= when Black’s freedom of movement in the center gives him comfortable equality. The following game shows that we can even aspire to an advantage if White treats the position routinely: 13.e4?! dxe4 14.Nxe4 Bf5 15.Bxe5?! Bxe5 16.Bg4 Bxe4 17.Qxe4 Rae8 18.Qc2 Qf6 19.Rae1 h5 20.Bd1 (Laznicka-Nisipeanu, Germany 2019) 20...h4!³. Let us now focus on 5.Qb3: 5...Nc6

This is an important, final tabiya for the London System with many games played and good results for Black. The opposing queens on the b-file suggests that an ending is ante portas, but rather surprisingly, this rarely happens as no-one wants to open the a-file for his opponent. I analyzed the following possibilities: (M1a) 6.Nbd2, (M1b) 6.dxc5 and (M1c) 6.e3. 930

To give you an idea of the popularity the London enjoys at the moment, the position after 6.e3 has been reached in nearly 3000 games in the Mega Database and a large portion of these games is relatively recent! Justified or not, this high popularity suggests that we should have handy a good answer here. But let us take one step at a time: (M1a) 6.Nbd2 is, as we already know a concession, and now Black can go to the ending without fear: After 6...Qxb3 7.Nxb3 there is a choice of good lines.

I prefer the more combative 7...c4!? (also possible is 7...cxd4 8.Nbxd4 Bd7 9.g3 Nxd4 10.Nxd4 e6 11.Bg2 Be7 12.0-0 0-0 13.a4 Rfc8=) 8.Nbd2 e6 9.a4!? (9.e4 dxe4 10.Ne5 Nd5„; 9.Ne5 Nh5 10.Be3 Bd6 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.b3 Ba3! 13.Rb1 cxb3 14.axb3 a5∞) 9...Nh5! 10.Bc7 Kd7 11.Bg3 Nxg3 12.hxg3 Kc7 13.e4 (13.Ng5? f6³) 13...Bd7 14.Be2 h6

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15.Nf1!? (15.exd5 exd5 16.Nf1 Bd6 17.Ne3 Ne7=) 15...dxe4! 16.N3d2 f5 17.Nxc4 Rd8 18.a5 g6 19.Nfe3 Bg7 20.a6 b6 21.d5 exd5 22.Nxd5+ Kb8 23.0-0-0 Rhf8 24.Nf4 g5 25.Ng6 Rfe8 26.Rd6 Kc7 27.Rhd1 Bc8 28.Na3 Rxd6 29.Nb5+ Kb8 30.Nxd6 Re6=. (M1b) 6.dxc5 has been played by Gata Kamsky and Teimour Radjabov so I deemed it right to have a look at it. After 6...Qxc5 7.Nbd2 e6 8.e3 I like 8...Bd6 (8...Nh5!? 9.Bc7 Qe7 10.Be5 f6 11.Bg3 Nxg3 12.hxg3 Bd7∞ is another viable option)

9.Bxd6 (9.Qb5 0-0 10.Qxc5 [10.a4 a6 11.Qxc5 Bxc5=] 10...Bxc5 11.h3 Re8 12.Nb3 Bb6 13.Ne5 Nd7 14.Nxd7 Bxd7 15.Bd6, as in Beran-Elent, corr 2007, looks a bit better for Black after 15...Red8³) 9...Qxd6 10.Be2 0-0 11.c4 d4 12.Nxd4 Nxd4 13.exd4 Qxd4 14.Rd1 Bd7 15.0-0 Bc6 16.Nf3 Qc5 17.Qc3 (Burghoff-Betzelt, corr 2006) 17...a5 18.Ne5 Rfd8=. (M1c) We will now turn our attention back to 6.e3: 6...c4! Designed to tempt White to exchange queens on our own terms.

932

7.Qc2 After 7.Qxb6?! axb6 8.Na3 (8.Nbd2? b5 9.Be2 e6 10.0-0 b4 11.Bg5 b5µ was better for Black in Mehmeti-Pelletier, Heraklio 2017) Black has the fine move 8...Na7!, controlling the important b5square with at least equal chances.

Here are a couple of examples from this position: 9.Bc7!? This is probably White’s best try, choosing to play concretely before Black stabilizes his queenside superiority. Instead, worse are 9.Nc2?! Bf5 10.Nb4 e6 11.a3 h5µ and 9.Ne5?! Bf5 10.f3 e6ƒ, as in Bandl-Loeffler, corr 2013.

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9...Bf5! 10.Bxb6 e6 11.Bc5 The point, exchanging the dangerous Bf8.

Black remains slightly better but White managed to hold after 11...Bxc5 12.dxc5 Ne4 13.Nh4 Bg6 14.f3 Nxc5 15.e4 0-0-0 16.Nxg6 hxg6 17.exd5 exd5 18.Be2 b5 19.b3 g5 20.Nc2 Nc6 21.0-0³ in Oliveira-Yordanova, corr 2009. Let us return to 7.Qc2: 7...Bf5! This is the major point of Black’s previous move, forcing a further retreat. 8.Qc1 8.Qxf5?? Qxb2–+ is of course hardly an option for White. After 8.Qc1 we have reached yet another branching point with Black having two equally good options at his disposal: (M1c1) 8...Nh5 and (M1c2) 8...e6. If you ask me, 8...e6 is the move I would prefer in a serious game because it fulfils my classical standards. But then again, I might be wrong: (M1c1) For example, 8...Nh5 9.Bg3 Nxg3 10.hxg3 g6 11.Nbd2 Bg7 12.e4 dxe4 13.Ng5! (instead, 13.Nxc4?! Qc7 14.Nfd2 h5 15.Qd1 Bh6 16.Qe2 0-0-0 17.Ne3 e5 18.d5 Bxe3 19.Qxe3 Rxd5 20.Bc4 Rdd8 21.Nxe4 Bxe4 22.Qxe4 f5 23.Qe3, as in Blatny-Hracek, Czechia 2011, looks much worse for White after 23...f4µ) 13...h6 14.Ngxe4 Na5 15.Be2 e5 16.dxe5 Bxe5 17.g4 Be6 18.Nf3 Bg7³/= and if someone has a slight edge, that one is Black. (M1c2) Back to 8...e6: 9.Nbd2 Be7

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My belief is that Black is slightly better here but of course he has to tread with caution. 10.Be2 0-0 11.h3 Rfc8 12.0-0 After 12.g4, the right choice is 12...Bg6! (instead, 12...Bd3?! 13.Bxd3 cxd3 14.0-0 Ne4 15.Ne1 Qb5 16.f3 Nd6 17.a4 Qa6 18.Bxd6 Bxd6 19.Qb1± merely lost a pawn in Bachmann-Baron, Biel 2016) 13.Kf1! (13.Nh4 Bd3µ) 13...h6! 14.Kg2 Qd8 15.Bd1 b5 16.Bc2 Bxc2 17.Qxc2 b4 18.g5 Nh5 19.gxh6 Nxf4+ 20.exf4

20...Bd6!! (20...g6 21.h4±) 21.f5 (21.Ng5 g6 22.h4 Rc7 23.Ndf3 Bxf4µ) 21...Qf6 22.fxe6 fxe6 23.hxg7 e5 24.dxe5 Bxe5³/=. 12...h6 13.Bd1 935

This is designed to exchange bishops via c2, but is this not a strategically favorable exchange for Black? 13...Qd8 14.Bc2 b5 15.Re1 b4 16.e4 dxe4 17.Nxe4 So far we have followed the game Radjabov-Ragger, Dubai 2014. Here it seems to me that 17...Nd5! (17...Nxe4 18.Bxe4 Bxe4 19.Rxe4 Qd5, as played in the game, was also better for Black) 18.Bd2 Qc7 19.Ng3 Bxc2 20.Qxc2 Rab8 21.Ne4 a5³ would have given Black a small but permanent plus. Thus, this branch of the London System is also quite pleasant for us and I would dare say we have good chances for the advantage in its main lines. (M2) We will now focus on 3.e3: 3...Nf6 4.c3 This welcomes us to the standard Colle structure. Sidelines look inferior or harmless, but I decided nevertheless to examine as many options as I could for the sake of completeness. Thus, we will also analyse (M2a) 4.b3, (M2b) 4.dxc5 and (M2c) 4.Nbd2 before finally returning to our main line (M2d) 4.c3. (M2a) 4.b3

This is an attempt to avoid theoretical discussions. However, after 4...cxd4 5.exd4 g6!? Black’s chances looks slightly better. For example, 6.Bb5+!? (6.Bb2 Bg7 7.Nbd2 0-0 8.Bd3 Nc6 9.a3 Nh5 10.0-0 Nf4 11.Bb5 Bg4 12.h3 Bh5 13.Bxc6 bxc6 14.Re1 c5 15.Qc1 c4!? 16.Re3 Rc8 17.Qe1 was a very inspired performance by Black in Mamedyarov-Aronian, Leuven 2018, and here most accurate would have been 17...Re8µ) 6...Bd7 7.Bxd7+ (7.Bd3 Nc6 8.c3 Bg7 9.h3 0-0 10.Nbd2, as played in Stefanova-Muzychuk, Beijing 2014, gives Black a clear plus after 10...Nh5! 11.0-0 e5µ) 7...Nbxd7 8.0-0 Bg7 9.Nbd2 0-0 10.Bb2

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10...b5!? 11.Re1 e6 12.c3 (12.a4? b4 13.c4 bxc3 14.Bxc3 Qc7 15.Rc1 Rfc8µ ½-½ was Zido-Perhacs, Slovakia 2014, however Black enjoys a clear advantage in the final position) 12...Qb6 13.Qe2 a5 14.a4 bxa4 15.Rxa4 Rfb8³ and Black has annoying queenside pressure. (M2b) 4.dxc5 wins a pawn only temporarily as Black should be able to recover it rather easily after 4...e6. Play could continue as follows: 5.b4 Perhaps safer is 5.a3 Bxc5 6.c4, when the reply 6...a6 transposes to Part II (b). Of course, it is also possible to play 6...0-0 with approximate equality: 7.Nc3 Inferior is 7.cxd5 Qxd5 8.Qc2?! (8.Qxd5 Nxd5 9.Bd2 Rd8 10.Nc3=)

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8...b6! 9.Nc3 Qh5 10.Ne4 Be7 11.Bd3 (11.Nxf6+! Bxf6 12.Qe4 Qd5=) 11...Ba6! 12.Nxf6+? (12.Ng3 Qd5 13.Bxa6 Nxa6 14.b4 Rfc8 15.Qe2 Nc7³) 12...Bxf6µ and White was already teetering on the edge of a precipice in Heydarli-Kotov, Moscow 2012. 7...dxc4 8.Bxc4 Qxd1+ 9.Kxd1 a6 10.b4 Be7 11.Ke2 b5 12.Bd3 Bb7 13.Bb2 Nbd7 14.Rhd1 Rfc8 15.Rac1 Nb6 16.Nb1 Nfd5 17.Bd4 Nc4 18.Nfd2 Nxd2 19.Nxd2 Rxc1 20.Rxc1 a5 21.Bxb5 axb4 22.axb4 Bxb4 After so many exchanges in only 22 moves the players saw nothing better than agreeing to a draw in So-Nakamura, Paris 2018. We’ll now focus on 5.b4: 5...a5 This move ensures the recovery of the pawn, leading to sharp play. 6.c3 axb4 7.cxb4 b6 8.a4 bxc5 9.b5

This type of position is in general considered better for the side with the central pawns, but of course White has two passers that can become quite dangerous in the middlegame or the ending. The following move is an interesting practical decision as it surrenders control of d4, but at the same time creates a dangerous pawn phalanx and prevents the Bf1 from coming out to its natural square d3. 9...c4!? 10.Be2 Nbd7 11.0-0 Bb4! Blocking the pawns. The following game illustrates that it is White who has to be more careful from now on: 12.Bd2 Qa5 13.Qc2 0-0 14.Nc3 Qc7

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15.Rfb1? This move plays into Black’s hands. It was better for White to choose one of the two moves below: (a) 15.Ne4!? exchanges some pieces and contests the dark squares, which seems to be good strategy in the present situation. Play could continue 15...Ba5 (15...dxe4? 16.Bxb4 exf3 17.Bxf3 Nd5 18.Bxf8 Nxf8 19.Rfc1 Bd7 20.Rab1+– is hopeless for Black) 16.Nxf6+ Nxf6 17.Bxa5 Rxa5 18.Qc3 Ne4 19.Qb4 Bd7 20.Rfc1 Rfa8

21.Bxc4! dxc4 22.Rxc4 Qb7 23.Rxe4 Rxb5 24.Qe1 Qxe4 25.axb5 Bxb5= and the complications have produced a dead drawn ending. (b) If White wants to calculate less, then he can execute the same idea by first playing 15.Nd4. After 939

15...Bb7 16.Ne4 Bxd2 17.Nxf6+ Nxf6 18.Qxd2 Ne4 19.Qb4 Qa5 the position is rather complicated but I have a feeling White should not be worse. 15...Ba5! Now White will not be able to exchange this bishop and Black proves the superiority of his position: 16.e4 Bb7 17.exd5 exd5 18.Be3 Rfe8 19.Bd4 Nc5µ

20.Ra2 Ne6 21.Be5 Qc5 22.Bxf6 gxf6 23.Bf1 f5! 24.Nd1 f4 Black had a winning position in So-Carlsen, chess.com 2017. (M2c) 4.Nbd2 can be answered with 4...cxd4 5.exd4 Nc6 with an Exchange Caro-Kann formation on the board. I believe this is a good version for Black as the bishop is on c1 here:

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6.Bb5 A recent choice of Magnus Carlsen that has some dynamic element in it, but White can also play more classically as the reader may witness: (a) 6.Bd3 Bg4 7.c3 Qc7 will transpose to Aronian-Anand below. (b) 6.c3 Qc7 7.Bd3 (7.Be2 Bg4 8.0-0 e6= is hardly any critical of course) 7...Bg4 leads to a position where Black has developed his pieces on the best possible squares and can hardly be worse. However, this is a popular White choice so let us have a closer look:

8.Nf1 Untangling. Instead, 8.Qa4!? was the continuation in Jakovenko-Abasov, Batumi 2018, but then I think 8...Nd7! 9.0-0 e6= is a good reply. White cannot play his knight to e5 with impunity, because after 10.Ne5?! Ndxe5 11.dxe5 Bh5³ he is only risking to be positionally worse. 8.0-0 is on the other hand the most natural continuation, leading to equal play. I will present here some practical examples arising from it, which I believe will help you grasp the essence of the position. After 8...e6 9.Re1 Bd6 10.Nf1 0-0! (10...Bh5 11.Ng3 Bg6 12.Nf5²) we have reached the crossroads once more:

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11.Bg5 The alternative 11.Ng3 Rae8! 12.Bg5 happened in Ristic-Meszaros, Dortmund 1988. Here I recommend 12...Ne4!? (risky but tenable is 12...Nh5!? 13.Nxh5 Bxh2+ 14.Nxh2! Bxd1 15.Raxd1 f6 16.Be3 Qf7∞) 13.Nxe4 dxe4 14.Rxe4 f5 15.Rxg4 fxg4 16.Nd2 Bxh2+ 17.Kh1 Bf4 18.Qxg4 Bxg5 19.Qxg5 Rf6 20.Nf3 Ref8∞ with a sharp situation where Black does not seem to be any worse. 11...Bh5!? We do not have to retreat the knight from f6; that said, 11...Nd7 12.Bh4 Bh5 13.Bg3 Rae8 14.Bxd6 Qxd6 15.Ng3 Bxf3 16.Qxf3 g6= was also equal in Gilbert-Lemutov, corr 2014 and in fact a draw was agreed at this point. 12.Bh4 Preparing to exchange dark-square bishops via g3. After 12.Ng3 Bg6 13.Qe2 (13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.Nh4 f5³) 13...a6 14.Rad1 Rfc8 15.Bxg6 hxg6 16.Nf1 b5 17.a3 Na5 18.Bh4 Nh5 19.Bg3 Nxg3 20.hxg3 Nc4 21.Ne3 a5 22.Nxc4 Qxc4 23.Qe3 b4 24.axb4 axb4 25.Ng5 Rf8 26.Ra1 Qc6 27.g4 Rxa1 28.Rxa1 Ra8 29.Rxa8+ Qxa8 30.g3 bxc3 a draw was agreed in Pheby-Galliano, corr 2014; that was a correct game, illustrating well the strategies of both sides.

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12...Rae8 12...Bg6 13.Bg3 Bxd3 14.Bxd6 Qxd6 15.Qxd3∞, as played in Valet-Kierzek, Magdeburg 2016, is also possible. 13.Bg3 e5! This is the fine point behind 12...Rae8. Black enters an optimal IQP position here, as White will not have good control over the d4-square. 14.dxe5 Nxe5 15.Bxe5 Rxe5 16.Rxe5 Bxe5 17.Be2 (17.Ng3 Bxf3 18.Qxf3 g6 19.Re1 Re8³ is even better for Black) 17...Bd6 18.Nd4 Bxe2 19.Qxe2 Re8= The material has been very much reduced and a draw is almost a certainty. Let us return to 8.Nf1:

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8...e6 Another possibility is the sharper 8...0-0-0!? 9.Bb5 e5 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.dxe5 Bxf3 12.Qxf3 Qxe5+ 13.Be3 Bc5 14.0-0-0 Bxe3+ 15.Nxe3 Rhe8 16.h4 Kb7 17.Rhe1 Qe4 18.Qg3 Qg6=. 9.Ng3 Nh5 10.0-0 Bd6 11.Re1 This natural move may not actually be the best. Instead, 11.h3?! Nxg3 12.fxg3 Bxf3 13.Qxf3 Bxg3 14.Qh5 g6³ leaves White a pawn down for rather insufficient compensation, but 11.a4! is interesting. After 11...Nf4! (11...a6?! 12.h3 Bxf3 13.Qxf3 Nxg3 14.fxg3 Bxg3 15.Bg5 h6 16.Bd2∞ gives White full compensation for the pawn as castling queenside would be extremely risky for Black with ...a7-a6 played) 12.Bxf4 Bxf4 13.h3 Bxf3 14.Qxf3 g6= an equal position arises, and this is probably the best White can get. 11...Nxg3 12.hxg3

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12...Bh5 This is a logical retreat, but Black can actually go wild here. Better is 12...h5! 13.Be2 0-0-0 14.Ng5 Bxe2 15.Qxe2 h4 16.g4 Qd7 17.Nh3 Rhe8 18.g5 e5 19.dxe5 Bxe5 20.Be3 d4 21.cxd4 Bxd4 22.Rad1 Qf5³. 13.a4 Bg6 14.Bf1!? 0-0 15.Bd3! Curiously, the bishop returns to d3 after Black has castled short, as attacking prospects have reappeared in the horizon. 15...Rfe8 16.Bxg6 hxg6 17.Ng5 Qd7 18.Qg4 f6 19.Nh3

19...Kf7?! 945

An instructive mistake. 19...g5! 20.f4 gxf4 21.Nxf4 Qf7= would have kept the balance. Now Black’s game takes a turn for the worse: 20.Bf4! Bf8 21.Re2 Ne7? 22.Qf3+– White had a winning position and went on to convert it into a full point in Aronian-Anand, Paris 2018. Let us now return to Carlsen’s choice of 6.Bb5: 6...Qb6 A good answer, forcing developments.

7.c4 Continuing in energetic style. After 7.a4, Stockfish gives us the following line at depth 49: 7...Bd7 8.0-0 Nxd4 9.Bxd7+ Nxd7 10.c4 Nxf3+ 11.Qxf3 Rd8 12.cxd5 Ne5 13.Qe4 Qd6 14.Re1 f6 15.Nc4 Nxc4 16.Qxc4 Qxd5 17.Qg4 Qd7 18.Qf3 Qd5=. 7...dxc4 8.a4 a6 9.Nxc4 Qc7 10.Bxc6+ Qxc6 11.Nce5 Qd5 12.0-0

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12...Bg4!? An interesting choice. Black can afford to give up the powerful bishop for the knight here, as his queen is dominant in the center, preventing its opposite number from creating threats. By developing his bishop to g4 Black neutralizes the idea Nf3-g5 and breaks any momentum White might have had. 13.Nxg4 Nxg4 14.a5 Nf6 15.Bg5 e6 16.Ne5 Be7 17.Bxf6 gxf6

18.Ng4?! This impulsive knight move is dubious. Correct is 18.Qa4+ Qb5 19.Nd3 0-0-0 20.Qxb5 axb5 21.a6 Kb8 22.axb7 Kxb7 23.Ra5 Rxd4 24.Rxb5+ Kc6 25.Rb3 Rhd8 26.Rc1+ Kd7=. 18...0-0-0! 947

With this move Black fights for the advantage. Instead, 18...Rd8 19.Ra4 Qb5 20.b3 f5 21.Ne3 f4 22.Nc4 Bf6 23.Nb6 Qf5 24.d5∞ was merely unclear in Carlsen-Donchenko, Porto Carras 2018. The game was later drawn after mutual mistakes. After 18...0-0-0! my silicon staff gives 19.Ne3 Qxd4 20.Qh5 Rhf8 21.Rfd1 Qb4 22.Rxd8+ Bxd8 23.Qxh7 Qxb2 24.Rb1 Qd4 25.Qc2+ Bc7 26.g3 Rd8³ Admittedly White keeps good drawing chances, but playing like this Black could have given the world champion a scare. I cannot say that the line 4.Nbd2 has been exhausted after my small survey, but my impression is that White’s plan does not have much firepower. The chances are approximately balanced and there is certain room for improvisation for Black players. (M2d) Back to 4.c3: 4...e6 4...cxd4 5.exd4 Nc6 6.Ne5!? a6 7.Bd3 g6 8.0-0 Bg7 was tried in Kramnik-Caruana, Paris 2018. I think that 9.Nxc6!? bxc6 10.Bf4² gives White some slight chances for an edge, so I dismissed this possibility. 5.Nbd2 Nbd7! We should develop our knight on the nice square d7 here, as we do not want to allow White easy play in the center. With the knight developed on c6, Black cannot control the e4-square well and White will carry out the primitive plan Bf1-d3, 0-0, d4xc5, e3-e4 more or less smoothly, obtaining some play. I think it is best for us to deny him that possibility by the flexible piece arrangement that the text move introduces. 6.Bd3 b6

7.0-0 I do not believe that much in the set-up that includes the move Qd1-e2, in spite of Kramnik’s use of it 948

against Ding Liren. That game continued 7.Qe2 Bb7 8.0-0 Be7 9.b3 0-0 10.Bb2 Rc8 11.Rac1 Bd6 12.c4 cxd4 13.exd4 Qe7 14.Ne5

and here it seems to me that Black has at least two good lines: 14...Ba3!? This is what Ding played in the game and it is principled enough as it removes the chief protector of the d4-pawn. My intuition, on the other hand, tells me that 14...g6 is also viable, keeping all four minor pieces on the board and introducing the idea ...Nf6-h5. After 15.f4 (15.Qe3 Nh5) 15...Nh5 16.Qe3 (16.g3 f5 17.Ndf3 Nhf6=) 16...Rfd8

I believe Black has excellent chances in the ensuing fight. Sample lines follow: 949

17.Rce1 (17.cxd5 Rxc1 18.Rxc1 Bxd5 19.Ne4 Bxe4 [19...Ndf6 20.Nxd6 Qxd6 21.g4 Ng7∞] 20.Bxe4 Ndf6! 21.Nc6 Qd7 22.Ne5 Qe7= might lead to a draw by repetition) 17...Ng7! Having overprotected the f5-square Black has secured himself against dangerous attacks on the kingside. 18.Qf2 (18.Ndf3 Bb4 19.Re2 Nf5 20.Bxf5 exf5³) 18...f5!?∞ This position is thoroughly unclear as e4 becomes as much strong a base for a black knight as e5 for a white one. Black can play for the win on even terms here. Let us return to Ding’s choice of 14...Ba3!? : 15.Bxa3 Qxa3 16.f4 g6

17.Rcd1!? This is my attempt to improve on Kramnik’s play. In the game there followed 17.Ndf3 dxc4! 18.bxc4 Qd6 19.Qe3 Bxf3!? 20.Nxf3 Rfd8 21.Rcd1 Nb8! and Black had the slightly better chances already (Kramnik-Ding, Wijk aan Zee 2019). Volodya was saved later on by an oversight of his opponent in a completely winning position. The point of 17.Rcd1!? is to avoid an exchange of the Bb7 for a white knight, because, as we saw in the above game, every minor piece that leaves the board makes Black’s task of exploiting the hanging pawns easier and leaves White with fewer attacking chances. 17...dxc4 (17...Qxa2 is possible, yet after 18.Qe3 a5 19.f5! exf5 20.Bxf5 gxf5 21.Rxf5 Qc2 22.Rdf1 White has certain compensation for the sacrificed piece) 18.bxc4

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18...Nb8!? An echo of Ding’s play. After 19.Qf2 Nc6 20.Ndf3 Rcd8 21.Nxc6 Bxc6 22.Ne5 Bb7 23.Rfe1 Kg7∞ I believe that chances are about even in this complicated position. We will now focus on the better 7.0-0: 7...Bb7 8.Ne5! White gets ready to switch to a Stonewall formation, which is pretty logical as our queen’s bishop is not outside the pawn structure. Instead, pointless is 8.Re1 in view of 8...Ne4!³. 8...g6!? This is a memory marker for our treatment of the Colle System. Black will fianchetto his king’s bishop fortifying the f5-square and making direct attacks on his king impossible. The bishop might also play a role in central affairs from g7, but for the time being our motto is safety. Weaker are, at least from my own human point of view, 8...Bd6 9.f4 0-0 10.Qf3 Ne8 11.Qh3 f5 12.g4² and 8...Nxe5 9.dxe5 Nd7 10.f4². 9.f4! After 9.Nxd7 Qxd7 10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.Qe2 0-0 12.e4 e5!³ I prefer Black. Instead, 12...dxe4= followed by a handshake was an abrupt finish to the game Bricard-Sokolov, France 2000. 9...Bg7

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10.a4! Denied a kingside attack, White should seek to gain space on the queenside and this is the right way to do it. Weak is 10.b4?! c4! 11.Bc2 b5 12.a4 a6 13.Qf3 0-0 14.a5 Qe7 15.Nxd7 Qxd7 (15...Nxd7 16.g4 f5³ … 17.g5 e5!) 16.Rf2 Ne8!= and Black was at least equal in Bruno-Korneev, Brescia 2009. 10...a5! Worse is 10...0-0 11.b4 c4 12.Bc2 a6 13.b5! axb5 14.Ba3 b4 15.Bxb4±, as in Straeter-Miles, Muenster 1993; 10...a6 11.b3 0-0 12.Ba3 Qc7 13.Qe1² is also better for White. 11.b3 0-0 12.Ba3 Rc8

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By putting the pawn on a5, we achieved two important aims: (a) the pawn is not hanging, so the Ra8 could immediately come to the c-file; and (b) White was prevented from gaining more queenside space. The weakening of the b5-square is of course a problem, but not as big as I thought at the beginning. 13.Qe2 Ne8! And this nice move explains why: The knight is directed to d6, to cover b5 and eliminate the problem. 14.c4 Nd6 15.cxd5 exd5 16.Rac1 Re8

This is a position in which the weakness of c5 is counter-balanced by the weakness on e3. Just review the following lines and you will (finally) be fully armed to meet 1.d4 ! 17.Rfe1 I also looked at 17.Ndf3 Nxe5 18.fxe5 Ne4∞ and 17.Rfd1 Qe7 18.Ndf3 Nxe5! 19.fxe5 Ne4 20.Bb5 Red8 21.Nd2 Ng5!∞, in both cases with tenable positions for us. 17...Qe7 18.h3 Qe6! 19.Qf2 White gains no advantage from 19.Nxd7 Qxd7 20.dxc5 bxc5 21.Bxc5 Rxc5 22.Rxc5 Bd4 23.exd4 Rxe2 24.Rxe2 Qd8„. 19...Nxe5! We should avoid 19...cxd4 20.exd4 Nf6 21.Rxc8 Bxc8 22.Ndf3 Nfe4 23.Qc2 f6 24.Qc7!!±. 20.fxe5 Ne4 21.Bxe4!? (21.Nxe4 dxe4 22.Bc4 Bd5=) 21...dxe4 22.Nc4 Red8 23.Nd6 Rc7 24.Qh4 Rb8 25.Nxb7 Rcxb7 26.Qxe4 Qxb3 27.Ra1 Bf8!!

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A shockingly strong move! It turns out that White cannot advance his d-pawn without weakening himself. 28.Reb1 28.d5 Rd7 29.d6 Re8³ is a line verifying the above remark. 28...Qc3 29.Rc1 29.d5 Bh6 30.Re1 Re7! is also excellent for Black. 29...Qb3 30.dxc5 bxc5 31.Bxc5 Bxc5 32.Rxc5 Rb4 33.Qf3 Rxa4 34.Rxa5 Rxa5 35.Rxa5 Qc3= Here our examination of the Anti-Tarrasch systems has come to an end. Black appears solid overall, with good chances to play for a win in many of those systems. At this point it is time to end this book by thanking my readers for making it to the last page. I hope that your patience will pay off and bring you many wins and artistic achievements with the Tarrasch. Stay cool, play strong!

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Bibliography Aagaard, Jacob & Ntirlis, Nikolaos, Grandmaster Repertoire 10: The Tarrasch Defence (Quality Chess 2011) Chess Informant ChessBase Keilhack, Harald, Die Tarrasch-Verteidigung (Schachverlag Kania 2003)

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