The Modernized Grivas Sicilian [1 ed.] 9464201398, 9789464201390

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Table of Contents Title page Key to symbols Foreword The Sicilian Defense History of the Opening Efstratios Grivas Introduction The Variation Statistical Overview Why is it the ‘Grivas Sicilian’? Why play the ‘Grivas Sicilian’ History Top GS Breakdown of Chapters Contributors - Helpers Lady Godiva My Big Love Lady Godiva Sound or Not Chapter 1 - Move By Move Variation A - Medusa B32-B33 Medusa under the Microscope Variation A1 - Medusa - 5.? Variation A2 - Medusa - 5.Ne2 Variation A3 - Medusa - 5.Nf5 Variation A4 - Medusa - 5.Be3 Variation A5 - Medusa - 5.Nf3 Variation A6 - Medusa - 5.c3 Variation A7 - Medusa - 5.Nxc6 2

Variation A8 - Medusa - 5.Nb5 Variation A81 - Medusa - 5...a6 Variation A811 - Medusa - 6...Qa5+ Variation A812 - Medusa - 6...Qd8 Variation A82 - Medusa - 5...Nf6 Conclusion Variation B - Eros B32 Eros under the Microscope Variation B1 - Eros - 6.f3 Variation B2 - Eros - 6.Be3 Variation B3 - Eros - 6.Bd3 Variation B31 - Eros - 6...e6 Variation B32 - Eros - 6...d5 Conclusion Variation C - Cyclopes B45 Cyclopes under the Microscope Variation C1 - Cyclopes - 7...Bb4 Variation C11 - Cyclopes - 8...Qa6 Variation C12 - Cyclopes - 8...d5 Variation C121 - Cyclopes - 10.bxc3 Variation C122 - Cyclopes - 10.exd5 Conclusion Variation D - Poseidon B33 Poseidon under the Microscope Variation D1 - Poseidon - 7...Bb4 Variation D2 - Poseidon - 7...Be7 Variation D21 - Poseidon - 8.Be2 Variation D22 - Poseidon - 8.Qd2 Variation D23 - Poseidon - 8.Bd3 Conclusion Variation E - Hestia B33

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Hestia under the Microscope Variation E1 - Hestia - 8.? Variation E2 - Hestia - 8.Be3 (Be2) Variation E21 - Hestia - 12.Qe1 Variation E22 - Hestia - 12.Bf3 Variation E3 - Hestia - 8.Be3 (Bd3) Variation E31 - Hestia - 13.Kh1 Variation E32 - Hestia - 13.Rae1 Variation E4 - Hestia - 8.Bd3 (Bd2) Variation E41 - Hestia - 13.Qe2 Variation E42 - Hestia - 13.Qf3 Conclusion Variation F - Hera B33 Hera under the Microscope Variation F1 - Hera - 9...? Variation F2 - Hera - 9...Bxc3 Variation F3 - Hera - 9...Be7 Variation F31 - Hera - 10.g4 Variation F32 - Hera - 10.e5 Variation F33 - Hera - 10.0-0-0 Variation F331 - Hera - 11.exd5 Variation F332 - Hera - 11.e5 Conclusion Variation G - Fates B33 Fates under the Microscope Variation G1 - Fates - 8.? Variation G11 - Fates - 8...Bxc3 Variation G12 - Fates - 8...0-0 Conclusion Variation H - Teiresias B33 Teiresias under the Microscope

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Variation H1 - Teiresias - 7...? Variation H2 - Teiresias - 7...a6 Variation H21 - Teiresias - 8.Be3 Variation H22 - Teiresias - 8.0-0 Variation H3 - Teiresias - 7...Bb4 Variation H31 - Teiresias - 11.e5 Variation H32 - Teiresias - 11.Qh5 Conclusion Variation I - Hermes B33 Hermes under the Microscope Variation I1 - Hermes - 9...? Variation I11 - Hermes - 10.a5 Variation I12 - Hermes - 10.Be3 Variation I121 - Hermes - 12.Qe2 Variation I122 - Hermes - 12.g4 Variation I123 - Hermes - 12.Kh1 Variation I124 - Hermes - 12.Qf3 Conclusion Variation J - Apollo B33 Apollo under the Microscope Variation J1 - Apollo - 11.Bd2 Variation J11 - Apollo - 12.Qe2 Variation J12 - Apollo - 12.Qf3 Conclusion Variation K - Dionysus B33 Dionysus under the Microscope Variation K1 - Dionysus - 8.? Variation K2 - Dionysus - 9.? Variation K21 - Dionysus - 12.h3 Variation K22 - Dionysus - 12.f5 Variation K23 - Dionysus - 12.Kh1 Conclusion 5

Variation L - Athena B33 Athena under the Microscope Variation L1 - Athena - 10.Qe2 Variation L2 - Athena - 11.0-0 Variation L3 - Athena - 11.0-0-0 Variation L31 - Athena - 13...Bb7 Variation L32 - Athena - 13...Nb6 Conclusion Variation M - Zeus B33-B88 Zeus under the Microscope Variation M1 - Zeus - 10.Qf3 Variation M11 - Zeus - 11.0-0 Variation M111 - Zeus - 12.Kh1 Variation M112 - Zeus - 12.Nd4 Variation M113 - Zeus - 12.Rae1 Variation M1131 - Zeus - 12...Nb4 Variation M1132 - Zeus - 12...Nd7 Variation M1133 - Zeus - 12...Rb8 Variation M1134 - Zeus - 12...b5 Variation M114 - Zeus - 12.g4 Variation M1141 - Zeus - 14...Re8 Variation M1142 - Zeus - 14...Nb4 Variation M1143 - Zeus - 14...g6 Variation M1144 - Zeus - 14...Bb7 Variation M12 - Zeus - 11.0-0-0 Variation M121 - Zeus - 12...Nb4 Variation M1211 - Zeus - 16.Nd4 Variation M1212 - Zeus - 16.Rhf1 Variation M1213 - Zeus - 16.Rhg1 Variation M122 - Zeus - 12...Nd7 Conclusion

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Chapter 2 - Typical Middlegame Strategy Minasian Artashes : Grivas Efstratios Cela Altin : Grivas Efstratios Kofidis Andreas : Grivas Efstratios Kuzmin Gennadi : Grivas Efstratios Nunn John : Grivas Efstratios Kalesis Nikolaos : Grivas Efstratios Anagnostopoulos Dimitrios : Grivas Efstratios Bellia Fabrizio : Grivas Efstratios Kotronias Vasilios : Grivas Efstratios Vouldis Angelos : Grivas Efstratios Vouldis Angelos : Grivas Efstratios Hector Jonny : Grivas Efstratios Motylev Alexander : Polgar Judit Svidler Peter : Polgar Judit Dominguez Perez Leinier : Polgar Judit Dominguez Perez Leinier : Polgar Judit Kotronias Vasilios : Haznedaroglu Kivanc Carlsen Magnus : Gelfand Boris Movsesian Sergei : Grivas Efstratios Chapter 3 - Endgame Technique Ermenkov Evgenij : Grivas Efstratios Kotronias Vasilios : Grivas Efstratios Perdek Miroslaw : Grivas Efstratios Alexakis Dimitrios : Grivas Efstratios Dervishi Erald : Grivas Efstratios Pandavos Panayotis : Grivas Efstratios Krajina Davor : Grivas Efstratios Chapter 4 - Tactical Motifs

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The Modernized Grivas Sicilian by Efstratios Grivas Thinkers Publishing 2022

www.thinkerspublishing.com First edition 2022 by Thinkers Publishing Copyright © 2022 Efstratios Grivas All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission from the publisher. All sales or enquiries should be directed to Thinkers Publishing, 9850 Landegem, Belgium. Email: [email protected] Website: www.thinkerspublishing.com

Managing Editor: Daniël Vanheirzeele Typesetting: Primož Žerdin, Primož Riegler Proofreading: Bob Holliman Cover Design: Iwan Kerkhof Graphic Artist: Philippe Tonnard Production: Itagraf ISBN: 9789464201390 D/2021/13730/23

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Key to symbols !

a good move

?

a weak move

!! an excellent move ?? a blunder !? an interesing move ?! a dubious move ™ only move = equality ∞ unclear position ° with compensation for the sacrificed material ²

White stands slightly better

³

Black stands slightly better

± White has a serious advantage µ Black has a serious advantage +– White has a decisive advantage –+ Black has a decisive advantage ‚ with an attack ƒ

with initiative

„ with counterplay … with the idea of ¹ better is N novelty + check #

mate

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Foreword The Sicilian Defense The Sicilian Defense is an opening that commences with the moves 1.e4 c5. The Sicilian Defense is the most popular and best-scoring response to White’s first move 1.e4. For example, 1.d4, is a statistically more successful opening for White because of the high success rate of the Sicilian Defense against 1.e4. New In Chess stated in its 2000 Yearbook that of the games in its database, White scored 56.1% in 296,200 games beginning 1.d4, but 54.1% in 349,855 games beginning 1.e4, mainly because the Sicilian Defense held White to a 52.3% score in 145,996 games. 17% of all games between GMs and 25% of the games in the Chess Informant Database, begin with the Sicilian Defense Almost one quarter of all games use the Sicilian Defense. Grandmaster John Nunn attributes the Sicilian Defenses’ popularity to its combative nature since in many lines Black is playing not just for equality, but for the advantage. The drawback is that White often obtains an early initiative thus Black has to take care not to fall victim to a quick attack. Grandmaster Jonathan Rowson considered why the Sicilian Defense is the most successful response to 1.e4, even though 1...c5, develops no pieces and the pawn on c5 controls only d4 and b4. J.Rowson writes: ‘To my mind there is quite a straightforward explanation. In order to profit from the initiative granted by the first move, White has to make use of his opportunity to do something before Black has an equal number of opportunities of his own.’ However, to do this he has to make ‘contact’ with the black position. The first point of contact usually comes in the form of a pawn exchange which leads to the opening of the position. The thought behind 1...c5 is this: ‘OK, I’ll let you open the position, and develop your pieces aggressively, but at a price - you have to give me one of your center pawns.’ (Jonathan Rowson, Chess for Zebras: Thinking Differently About Black and White). By advancing the c-pawn two squares Black asserts control over the d4-square and begins the fight for the center of the board. The move resembles 1...e5, the next most common response to 1.e4, in that respect. Unlike 1...e5, 1...c5 breaks the symmetry of the position which strongly influences both players’ future actions. White, having pushed a kingside pawn, tends to hold the initiative on that side of the board. However, 1...c5 does little for Black’s development, unlike moves such as 1...e5, 1...g6, or 1...Nc6, which either develop a minor piece or prepare to do so. In many variations of the Sicilian Defense, Black makes a number of further pawn moves in the opening (for example, ...d6, ...e6, ...a6, and ...b5). Consequently, White often obtains a substantial lead in development and dangerous attacking chances. Meanwhile, advancing a queenside pawn has given Black a spatial advantage there and provides a 10

basis for future operations on that flank. Often, Black’s c5-pawn is traded for White’s d4-pawn in the early stages of the game granting Black a central pawn majority. The pawn trade also opens the c-file for Black who can place a rook or queen on that file to support the queenside counterplay.

History of the Opening The earliest recorded notes on the Sicilian Defense date back to the late 16th century by the Italian chess players Giulio Polerio and Gioachino Greco. As it was already mentioned above, the Sicilian Defense was analyzed by Giulio Polerio in his 1594 manuscript on chess, though he did not use the term Sicilian Defense. It was later the subject of analysis by leading players of the day Alessandro Salvio (1604), Don Pietro Carrera (c. 1617), and Gioachino Greco (1623), and later Conte Carlo Francesco Cozio (c. 1740). The great French player and theoretician André Danican Philidor opined of the Sicilian Defense in 1777, ‘This way of opening the game... is absolutely defensive, and very far from being the best... but it is a very good one to try the strength of an adversary with whose skill you are unacquainted.’ In 1813, the English master Jacob Henry Sarratt effectively standardized his English translation of the name of this opening as the Sicilian Defense, referring to an old Italian manuscript that used the phrase, ‘il gioco siciliano’ (The Sicilian Game). The Sicilian Defense was fairly popular for much of the nineteenth century as Louis-Charles Mahé de La Bourdonnais, Adolf Anderssen, Howard Staunton, Louis Paulsen, and Carl Jaenisch all played it with some consistency. In the ninth edition of Modern Chess Openings, Walter Korn noted that the Sicilian ‘received three of its earliest practical tests, and a big boost in popularity, in the 1834 MacDonnell [sic]-La Bourdonnais match, 1843 Staunton-St. Amant match, and the 1851 London Tournament’. Staunton wrote of the Sicilian Defense, ‘In the opinion of Jaenisch and the German Handbuch, with which I coincide, this is the best possible reply to 1.P-K4, (1.e4 in algebraic notation) ‘as it renders the formation of a center impracticable for White and prevents every attack.’ The opening fell out of favour in the later part of the 19th century when some of the world’s leading players rejected it. Paul Morphy, the world’s best player in the late 1850s, decried ‘that pernicious fondness for the Sicilian Defense... extending from about 1843 to some time after 1851.’ Wilhelm Steinitz, the first FIDE World Champion, also disliked the Sicilian Defense and rejected it in favour of 1...e5. The death of the opening’s two greatest proponents, Staunton in 1874 and Anderssen in 1879 also contributed to its decline. It has been said that ‘these losses almost dealt a knockout blow to the Sicilian because it took a long time to find such important figures to carry the Sicilian’s standard.’ George H. D. Gossip, in The Chess Player’s Manual, first published in 1874, wrote: ‘Of late years... 11

discoveries have been made which have the effect of considerably strengthening White’s attack, and the Sicilian Defense is now considered by most modern authorities to be a comparatively weak mode of play.’ Freeborough and Ranken, in their treatise Chess Openings: Ancient and Modern (1889, 1896), wrote that the Sicilian Defense ‘had at one time the reputation of being the best reply to 1.P-K4, but this has not been confirmed by popular practice. Several eminent players have, however, held to the opinion that it is quite trustworthy.’ The Sicilian Defense continued to be shunned by most leading players at the start of the 20th century, as 1...e5 held center stage. J.R.Capablanca, FIDE World Champion from 1921 to 1927, famously denounced it as an opening where ‘Black’s game is full of holes.’ Similarly, James Mason wrote: ‘Fairly tried and found wanting, the Sicilian has now scarcely any standing as a first-class defense... [It] is too defensive. There are too many holes created in the Pawn line. Command of the field, especially in the center, is too readily given over to the invading force.’ Siegbert Tarrasch wrote that 1...c5 ‘is certainly not strictly correct, for it does nothing toward development and merely attempts to render difficult the building up of a center by the first player... The Sicilian Defense is excellent for a strong player who is prepared to take risks to force a win against an inferior opponent. Against best play, however, it is bound to fail.’ The Sicilian Defense was not seen even once in the 75 games played at the great St. Petersburg 1914 tournament. However, some leading players such as Emanuel Lasker (FIDE World Champion from 1894 to 1921), Frank Marshall, Savielly Tartakower, Aaron Nimzowitsch, and later Max Euwe (FIDE World Champion from 1935 to 1937) played the Sicilian Defense. Even J.R.Capablanca and S. Tarrasch, despite their critical comments, occasionally played the opening. It was played six times (out of 110 games) at New York 1924. The following year, the authors of Modern Chess Openings (4th edition) wrote: ‘The Sicilian has claims to be considered as the best of the irregular defenses to 1.P-K4 at Black’s disposal, and has been practised with satisfactory results by the leading players of the day.’ In this period Black’s approach was usually slow and positional, and the all-out attacks by White that became common after World War II had not yet been developed. The fortunes of the Sicilian Defense were further revived in the 1940s and 1950s by players such as Isaac Boleslavsky, Alexander Kotov, and Miguel Najdorf. Reuben Fine, one of the world’s leading players during this time period, wrote of the Sicilian in 1948, ‘Black gives up control of the center, neglects his development, and often submits to horribly cramped positions. How can it be good? Yet, the brilliant wins by White are matched by equally brilliant wins by Black; time and again the Black structure has been able to take everything and come back for more.’ Later, Bent Larsen, Ljubomir Ljubojević, Lev Polugaevsky, Leonid Stein, Mark Taimanov and Mikhail Tal all made extensive contributions to the theory and practice of the defense. 12

Through the efforts of World Champions Bobby Fischer and Garry Kasparov, the Sicilian Defense became recognised as the defense that offered Black the most winning chances against 1.e4. Both these great players favoured sharp, aggressive play and employed the Sicilian Defense almost exclusively throughout their careers, burnishing the defense’s present reputation. Today, most leading GMs include the Sicilian Defense in their opening repertoire. In 1990, the authors of Modern Chess Openings (13th edition) noted that ‘in the twentieth century the Sicilian has become the most played and most analyzed opening at both the club and master levels.’ In 1965, in the 10th edition of that book, Grandmaster Larry Evans observed that: ‘The Sicilian is Black’s most dynamic, asymmetrical reply to 1.P-K4. It produces the psychological and tension factors which denote the best in modern play and gives notice of a fierce fight on the very first move.’

Note that the research on the played games is up to the end of December 2020.

Efstratios Grivas Sharjah, January 2021

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Curriculum Vitae Efstratios Grivas Efstratios Grivas (30.03.1966) is a highly experienced chess trainer and chess author. The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has awarded him the titles of International Grandmaster, FIDE Senior Trainer, International Arbiter and International Organizer. His main successes over the board are Silver Medal (3rd Board) 1998 Olympiad, Gold Medal (3rd Board) 1989 European Team Championship, and 4th place World Junior Championship U20 1985. He has also won 5 Balkan Medals (2 Gold - 1 Silver - 2 Bronze) and 3 times winner of the international ‘Acropolis’ Tournament. He has also finished first 28 times in the Greek Individual & Team Championships as well as winning various international tournaments. He has been awarded six FIDE Medals in the Annual FIDE Awards (Winner of the FIDE Boleslavsky Medal 2009 & 2015 (best author) - Winner of the FIDE Euwe Medal 2011 & 2012 & 2017 (best junior trainer) - Winner of the FIDE Razuvaev Medal 2014 (Trainers’ Education) and has been a professional Lecturer at FIDE Seminars for Training & Certifying Trainers. In the period 2009-2018 he served as the Secretary of the FIDE Trainers’ Commission. He founded the Grivas International Chess Academy (Athens) in 2012 and has served as the Technical Director of the Sharjah International Chess Academy (Sharjah) since 2019. He has published a large number of Books & DVDs in Arabic, English, French, Greek, Iranian, Italian, Mongolian, Spanish & Turkish. His 109 books/editions can be indexed in the following categories: Beginners (10), DVDs & E-Books (6), Endgame (5), History (19), Middlegame & Endgame (14), Opening (10), Plan (8), Strategy (7), Strategy Series (20), and Trainers’ Education (10). And his publishers & languages are: Apollon Ektipotiki (Greek), Chess Evolution (English), ChessBase (English), ChessCastle (English), Everyman Chess (English), FIDE (English & French), Gambit Publications (English), Grivas Chess International Academy (English & Greek), IChess (English), Kaissa Chess Center (Greek), Kedros Publishers (Greek), Klitharitmos Publishers (Greek), La Casa del Ajedrez (Spanish), Mongolian Chess Federation (Mongolian), New In Chess (English), Prisma (Italian), Russell Enterprises (English), Sabah Chess Academy (English), Sharjah Cultural & Chess Club (Arabic & English), Skyfos Ekdotiki (Greek), Soheil Hooshdaran Chess Academy (Iranian), Thinkers Publishing (English) and Turkiye Santranc Federasyonu (Turkish).

www.GrivasChess.com 14

SD B33 - The Grivas Sicilian Introduction The Variation A number of systems in the labyrinth of the Sicilian Defense involve the idea of increasing central pressure by playing ...Qb6. The main object of this early queen move is to decentralise the strongly placed white knight on the d4 square. The most direct way to apply this idea is the ‘Grivas Sicilian’, which arises after the moves: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6

In this way Black immediately achieves his goal of decentralization of the white knight but this comes at a price. It will cost a future tempo as the black queen is exposed and will have to retreat in order to free the b7-pawn to advance and to seek safety. On the other hand, when the black queen later retreats to c7, Black argues that the white knight was better placed on d4, so no damage has been done. In most of the games, sooner or later, White brings the knight back to d4 essentially giving Black an extra tempo! The work in front of you is the fruit of several years of both practical experience and theoretical research. I tried to describe the known lines of the variation, giving my assessments as clearly and 15

responsibly as possible, and generally to create a useful guide. I must clarify that I took the liberty of changing the move order of many games. In this way it was possible to form an acceptable guide, avoiding confusion with the multitude of transpositions (or mistakes) that have occurred. Of’ course, the way you reach a certain position is important, but most important is to examine how you want to proceed. True value comes from knowing what to keep and what to throw away.

Statistical Overview The system is classified under ECO (Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings) code B33. Various transpositions can arise and are classified under ECO codes B32, B42, B60, B64, B65 and B82. The readers using NicBase codes should locate the variation under the SI-34.1 key. A quick research on the ChessBase MegaBase reveals an interesting statistic: Black scores a good 55.3% based on approximately 8.550 games! Well, I do not know a lot of systems where White scores so poorly (44.7%) and this simply verifies the validity of the system! When comes to my official games, the score is even better for Black: 68.2% based on 143 games! Well, experience is quite helpful!

Why is it the ‘Grivas Sicilian’? I started playing this system regularly more than 35 years ago. During all these years I managed to play it in approximately 150 official games and numerous blitz and rapid games. At the same time, I was analyzing the variation and trying to systematize the various possibilities and transpositions. This means that I have already spent a good portion of my life with this variation! In my opinion, I became an expert in it and have offered a lot of new ideas and ways of handling the positions arising from this system. As the variation had no official name, GM John Nunn decided to baptize it with mine, as he thought that I am the Grandmaster who loves, believes, played and analyzed it more than any other in the world. I went even further, giving names to each of the sub-variations of the system. For this purpose, I used names from the ancient Greek Mythology, in a way explained in each chapter and this method, in my opinion, suits my purpose well. I hope that the reader will ‘excuse’ me for taking the liberty to assign nomenclature in the way described above and will understand and accept my point of view. It is not important who played a system first, and where. The most important is who made it wellknown and popular - Alexander Alekhine.

Why play the ‘Grivas Sicilian’ Many things in chess theory, as in life, are relative and a matter of taste. Actually, there are no ‘good’ 16

or ‘bad’ openings. There are openings that you know and understand, and openings that you do not know and do not understand. This variation offers a lot of possibilities, new ideas and practical benefits that cannot be underestimated in modern chess. Playing Black can either be fun or a disaster! My opinion is that a serious chess player should master strong weapons against any of White’s first moves and try to be a true specialist in these. He should choose lively variations that not only offer fair chances of winning, but also the possibility of learning new things from every game. Dull positions, where the maximum possible result would be a draw, are not my cup of tea. Playing the 4...Qb6 variation is an invitation to a real fight. The main object is to achieve the symbol oo, which means ‘unclear position’. Then it does not matter which color your pieces are. For a player with general knowledge of various Sicilian Defense schemes, it will be much easier to understand the main ideas and variations described in this work. In practice there are unlimited possibilities of transpositions, and an experienced adherent of this variation can make good use of them. The result will be of great value, as the opponent will be directed to less familiar ground where he may easily be outplayed. I do not claim that the ‘Grivas Sicilian’ is a super-strong weapon or that someone can score massively with the black pieces using it. But I do claim that by using this variation you will achieve perfectly playable positions in which, thanks to your deep knowledge, you can achieve your goals. I do not claim that everything written in this work is 100% safe and correct. As in every theory book, assessments can easily be changed in the future and at any time. But I do claim that I wrote the work in all honesty, and I presented everything I know. Of’ course, as I already mentioned, there will inevitably be a number of controversial assessments in a variation like this due to the many unclear positions it leads to. So, there is plenty of ‘food for thought’, double-checking and judgment. As complex theoretical systems never die, the reader can always discover new roads, new ideas and new moves. Above all, he can be creative.

History The history of the variation is partly unknown. The first official game where the system with 4...Qb6, was seen for the first time was back in 1881, in Berlin, between M.Chigorin and L.Paulsen. Of course, this game was a disaster for the variation, but we have to admit that Luis Paulsen was not familiar with the subtleties of the system and played it mostly as a surprise weapon. Michael Chigorin played excellently, and the variation did not pass the ‘exam’ Chigorin Mikhail Ivanovich Paulsen Louis B47 Berlin 1881 17

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.a3 Be7 8.Be2 0-0 9.0-0 a6 10.Qd3 Qc7 11.f4 d6 12.Qg3 Bd7 13.Be3 Rad8 14.Nd2 d5 15.e5 Ne8 16.Nf3 f5 17.Qf2 Qb8 18.Bb6 Rc8 19.Bd3 Nc7 20.Ne2 Na8 21.Be3 Na5 22.b3 b5 23.h4 Nb7 24.b4 Qc7 25.Ned4 Nd8

26.g4 fxg4 27.Ng5 Bxg5 28.hxg5 g6 29.Kg2 Rb8 30.Rh1 Rf7 31.Rh6 Rg7 32.Rah1 Nf7 33.R6h4 Rf8 34.Qg3 Nd8 35.Qxg4 Nb6 36.Rxh7 Rxh7 37.Rxh7 Rf7 38.Rh6 Nc4 39.Rxg6+ Kf8 40.Bf2 Bc8 41.Qh4 Ke7 42.Rg8 Kd7 43.g6 Re7

44.Qxe7+! 18

44...Kxe7 45.Bh4+ Kd7 46.Rg7++–. 1–0 In the early seventies GM Eduard Gufeld along with many Yugoslavian players played it quite often, but the variation never really attracted serious attention. Later, GM Vladimir Akopian and GM Bojan Kurajica provided good examples of the vitality of the variation, playing it regularly and achieving excellent results with it. Even the best player of the world, GM Garry Kasparov, played it once, although this was a blitz game against the German GM Roland Schmaltz. The game contains a lot of mistakes (no time to be accurate!) and has just a historical and statistical value. Schmaltz Roland Kasparov Garry B33 Internet 1998 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 Qc7 8.0-0 a6 9.f4 d6 10.Qf3 Be7 11.Bd2 b5 12.a3 0-0 13.Rae1 Bb7 14.Qh3 b4 15.axb4 Nxb4

16.e5 Nxd3 17.exf6 Nxe1 18.fxe7 Bxg2 19.exf8=Q+ Rxf8 20.Qg3 Bxf1 21.Bxe1 Bc4 22.Nd2 Bb5 23.Nde4 Bc6 24.Nf6+ Kh8 25.Qh4 h6 26.Bf2 Qe7 27.Nfe4 f6 28.Qh5 e5 29.fxe5 fxe5 30.Qg6 Qd7 31.Qxd6 Qxd6 32.Nxd6 Kh7 33.Nc4 Rf5 34.Bg3 e4 35.Ne3 Rf3 36.Bf2 g5 37.Ne2 Rf7 38.Nd4 Bd7 39.b4 Bh3 40.c4 Kg6 41.c5 h5 42.c6 h4 43.Nc4 Kh5 44.Nd6 Rf4 45.Ne2 Rf6 46.Nxe4 Rxc6 47.Bc5 Re6 48.N2c3 Bf5 49.Nd6 Bd3 50.Kf2 g4 51.Nd5 Re2+ 52.Kg1 Re1+ 53.Kf2 Rf1+ 54.Ke3 Rf3+ 55.Kd2 g3 56.hxg3 h3 57.Bg1 Bb5 58.Nf4+ Kg4 59.Nxh3 Kxh3 60.Nxb5 axb5 19

61.Bc5 Kxg3

62.Ke2 Kg4 63.Kd2 Ra3 64.Ke2 Kf4 65.Kd2 Ke4 66.Kc2 Kd5 67.Kb2 Rd3 68.Kc2 Kc4 69.Kb2 Rd2+ 70.Kc1 Kc3 71.Be7 Rd3 72.Bf6+ Kxb4 73.Kc2 Kc4 74.Be7 b4? 75.Bxb4! Kxb4 76.Kxd3 1/2-1/2 Among others top chess players there are some games of GM Vladimir Kramnik, although I must mention that he didn’t play the system regularly.

Top GS My research on top players (who have employed this variation regularly) returned the following result, which I call the Top GS (in alphabetical order): Andreikin Dmitry (Russia - g), Akopian Vladimir (Armenia - g), Alekseenko Kirill (Russia - g), Alekseev Evgeny (Russia - g), Anastasian Ashot (Armenia - g), Arzumanian Georgy (Armenia - m), Avshalumov Alex (Russia - m), Balashov Yuri (Russia - g), Barlov Dragan (Serbia - g), Bellon Lopez Juan (Spain - g), Boensch Uwe (Germany - g), Cabrilo Goran (Serbia - g), Chirila Ioan (Romania g), Damjanovic Vladimir (Serbia - f), Danailov Silvio (Bulgaria - m), Djukic Zeljko (Serbia - m), Dobrov Vladimir (Russia - g), Efimov Igor (Italy - g), Fedorov Alexei (Belarus - g), Gasanov Eldar (Ukraine - g), Golod Vitali (Israel - g), Gostisa Leon (Slovenia - m), Grabics Monica (Hungary - wg), Grivas Efstratios (Greece - g), Gufeld Eduard (Russia - g), Hamdouchi Hicham (France - g), Haznedaroglu Kivanc (Turkey - g), Ilic Zoran (Serbia - m), Illner Achim (Germany - f), Ipatov Alexander (Spain - g), Kamsky Gata (USA - g), Kapnisis Spyridon (Greece - m), Karasev Vladimir (Russia - m), Knezevic Bojan (Serbia - m), Kocovski Ivan (FYROM - f), Korneev Oleg (Spain - g), Kononenko Dmitry (Ukraine - g), Korobov Anton (Ukraine - g), Kozul Zdenko (Croatia - g), Kurajica Bojan (Bosnia - g), Kurnosov Igor (Russia - g), Kveinys Aloyzas (Lithuania - g), Lagarde Maxim 20

(France - g), Lucke Norbert (Germany - m), Martinovic Slobodan (Serbia - g), Mihok Oliver (Hungary - g), Milov Vadim (Israel - g), Morozevich Alexander (Russia - g), Movsesian Sergei (Armenia - g), Nadanian Ashot (Armenia - m), Naiditsch Arkadij (Azerbaijan - g), Nyzhnyk Illya (Ukraine - g), Panno Oscar (Argentina - g), Pap Misa (Serbia - g), Petrov Marijan (Bulgaria - m), Pichot Alan (Argentina - g), Polgar Judit (Hungary - g), Rosen Willy (Germany - f), Scherbakov Ruslan (Russia - g), Skembris Spyridon (Greece - g), Terekhov Andrey (Germany/Russia - f), Urday Henry (Peru - g), Vavra Pavel (Czech Republic - m), Vidit Santosh Gujrathi (India - g), Vokac Marek (Czech Republic - g), Wirthensohn Heinz (Switzerland - m), Yegiazarian Arsen (Armenia - g), Yermolinsky Alex (USA - g). Games of the above-mentioned players with our subject must be taken seriously into account and serve as instructive examples.

Breakdown of Chapters • Variation A (Medusa) deals with White’s entire 5th move deviations from the main continuation 5.Nb3. • Variation B (Eros) deals with White’s entire 6th move deviations from the main continuation 6.Nc3. • Variation C (Cyclops) deals with the Fianchetto system (7.g3). • Variation D (Poseidon) deals with all of White’s lines where the move Bg5 is played, starting with 7.Bg5. • Variation E (Hestia) deals with all of White’s lines where the move a3 is played, starting with 7.a3. • Variation F (Hera) deals with the very interesting setup involving 7.Qe2 and long castling. • Variation G (Fates) deals with a rare line starting with 7.Be2. • Variation H (Teiresias) deals with the Black’s 7th move deviations from the main move 7...d6. • Variation I (Hermes) deals with all of White’s lines involving the move a4, starting with 9.a4. • Variation J (Apollo) deals with all of White’s lines where the move Bd2 is played, starting with 11.Bd2. • Variation K (Dionysus) deals with the straightforward and sharp 8.f4. • Variation L (Athena) deals with the white queen’s placement on e2, commencing with 10.Qe2. In this line White can castle to either side, each option resulting in different types of middlegames. • Variation M (Zeus) deals with the white queen’s placement on f3, commencing with 10.Qf3. As in the previous chapter, also in this line White can castle to either side, resulting in different types of middlegame. This is actually the most popular variation of the system and the one that leads to the sharpest positions and the most unclear assessments. The reader should analyse it carefully and understand it in depth, in order to have a fair share of success. 21

Contributors - Helpers During all the years that I have played and analyzed the variation, there were certain people who offered me great help. These were: Nikolai Andrianov (Russia - m), Suat Atalik (Turkey - g), Kivanc Haznedaroglu (Turkey - g), Spyridon Skembris (Greece - g), Andrey Terekhov (Germany/Russia - f) and Antonios Vragoteris (Greece - f). Significant help for preparation of this work was provided by a team of people who checked, analyzed and offered me their ideas and their general opinions. These were: Nikolaos Gavrilakis (Greece - m), Spyridon Kapnisis (Greece - m), Sotirios Logothetis (Greece), Anastasios Michailidis (Greece), Ioannis Simeonidis (Greece - f), Andreas Tzermiadianos (Greece - m) and Robert Zysk (Germany - m). I would like to thank all these chess players for their trust and their valuable help.

www.ChessBomb.com This is the famous Grivas Sicilian with 4...Qb6, rightly named after the famous trainer Efstratios Grivas who deeply explored it in the early 90s. The main idea of this early queen move 4...Qb6 is to decentralise the strongly placed white knight on the d4-square. In this way Black immediately achieves his goal.

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Lady Godiva My Big Love Many chess players fall in ‘love’ with certain openings. The reasons are unknown and it’s not really of any great value to deeply research it. After all life is all about choices and preferences... In my chess life I fell in love with a certain opening - a Sicilian branch - which is identified by the moves 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6

This affair even started at a very early stage of my chess life; just some months after I learned the moves of the game. And for the wrong reasons! I had just finished reading a survey on isolated pawns and as I was playing the Sicilian Defense, I became afraid that after the moves 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4, White threats 5.Nxc6, either destroying my possibilities of castling after 5...dxc6 or leaving me with a weak isolated pawn on a7 after 5...bxc6. Yes, I was young and naive, but this is why I played 4...Qb6, so that I could recapture on c6 with my queen!! Maybe it is not so bad to be naive after all... So, here is my first ever game with my ‘love’, just for the record: Klebetsanis Kiriakos Grivas Efstratios B32 Athens 1979 23

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Be3 Qxb2 6.Nb3 Qe5 7.N1d2 Nf6 8.f4 Qc3 9.Kf2 Ng4+ 10.Qxg4 d5 11.Qd1 d4 12.Bxd4 Nxd4 1/2-1/2 A very bad game indeed, but please forgive me that I was not much more than a beginner - even GMs are at a certain point of their chess life! After some years I found this variation to be quite interesting and I inserted it in my openings arsenal. It served me well as I played it in approximately 150 official games (and numerous other games), scoring well over 70% which is an extremely good figure for the black pieces. I always called it the ‘Qb6 Sicilian’, until 2004, when I agreed to write an opening book about it. GM John Nunn thought that it deserved to be called the ‘Grivas Sicilian’ and from that time this name was adopted. Keep in mind that I was not the first to play it, but I am the one who loves, believes, played, and analyzed it more than any other in the world. I went even further, giving names to each of the sub-variations of the system. For this purpose, I used names from ancient Greek Mythology!

Lady Godiva Lady Godiva by John Collier, c. 1897 Herbert Art Gallery and Museum

Imagine my surprise when some years later I discovered that some sources were calling it the ‘Godiva’ variation. But what the heck is ‘Godiva’ I wondered. A quick search in Wikipedia revealed the following ‘truth’: Godiva (old English: Godgifu), known as Lady Godiva, was an 11th-century Anglo-Saxon noblewoman who, according to a legend dating back at least to the 13th century, rode naked through the streets of Coventry in order to gain a remission of the oppressive taxation imposed by her husband on his tenants. Lady Godiva was the wife of Leofric, Earl of Mercia. They had one proved son Aelfgar, Earl of Mercia. Lady Godiva’s name occurs in charters and the Domesday survey, though the spelling varies. The Old English name Godgifu or Godgyfu meant ‘gift of God’; Godiva was the Latinized version. The legend of the nude ride is first recorded in the 13th century, in the Flores Haustorium and the adaptation of it by Roger of Wendover; despite its considerable age, it is not regarded as plausible by modern historians, nor mentioned in the two centuries intervening between Godiva’s death and its first appearance, while her generous donations to the church receive various mentions. 24

According to the typical version of the story, Lady Godiva took pity on the people of Coventry, who were suffering grievously (maybe here we find a root for my surname - Grivas...) under her husband’s oppressive taxation. Lady Godiva appealed again and again to her husband, who obstinately refused to remit the tolls. At last, weary of her entreaties, he said he would grant her request if she would strip naked and ride through the streets of the town. Lady Godiva took him at his word and, after issuing a proclamation that all persons should stay indoors and shut their windows, she rode through the town, clothed only in her long hair. Just one person in the town, a tailor ever afterwards known as Peeping Tom, disobeyed her proclamation in one of the most famous instances of voyeurism. In the story, Tom bores a hole in his shutters so that he might see Godiva pass and is struck blind. In the end, Godiva’s husband keeps his word and abolishes the onerous taxes. The famous Godiva Chocolatier is named after Lady Godiva and features a stylized rendition of her ride as its logo. Now, compare the above diagram (the black queen and the black knight standing together in front of their army) with the painting (a noble woman and her knight out in the village streets). I really liked this story and I do not care if you call the variation either ‘Godiva’ or ‘Grivas Sicilian’, please do what makes you feel better! More to the point now! As I was an expert in this variation, I tried to teach it to my trainees. But very few of them took the risk of playing a rather razor-style opening where any result is possible and sometimes in a quick and cruel way. But of course, I never insist, as it is not nice for a trainer to try to force his own ‘loves’ on his trainees - keep that in mind - the Mysterious Mr. X would certainly disagree!

Sound or Not My general advice is not to ‘play’ the ‘Grivas Sicilian’! You need a lot of general and concrete knowledge; you need to be a mature player before all. I have noticed that it is easier to play it with White as the moves and plans (attack!) are easier to find and to play. The variation is sound and offers rich possibilities allowing Black to play for a win as well.

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Chapter 1 - Move By Move Variation A - Medusa B32-B33 The next diagram ‘identifies’ the turning point of the Medusa variations which after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6

includes everything else than the ‘usual’ 5.Nb3. Although 5.Nb3, has always been the main continuation, some alternatives come into consideration. These alternatives seem mostly innocent, but they require sufficient knowledge from Black to avoid been tricked. These lines are mostly played to avoid home preparation, but even though they are successful from time to time, in the long run they have to be discarded in favour of more dangerous lines. I have to admit that the A8 line is the most interesting of all, although it doesn’t seem to promise White any advantage. But before we go on, let’s see why I named the variation after the ugliest creature of ancient Olympus’ Mountain. Nomenclature Medusa under the Microscope Medusa was an ugly creature, daughter of Phorkys and Keto, the children of Gaia (Earth) and Okeanos (Ocean). She was one of the three sisters known as the Gorgons. The other two sisters were Sthenno and Euryale. Medusa was the only mortal of the three and used to be very beautiful. She lived far up north, where the sun didn’t shine. 26

Being very curious, she wanted to see the sun, and thus asked the Goddess Athena for permission to visit the south. Athena refused, but then Medusa got angry and dared to claim that Athena hadn’t given her permission because she was jealous of her beauty. Athena was angered and punished her by turning her hair into snakes and placed a curse on her, making her so ugly that whoever looked into her eyes would turn into stone. Medusa was a dangerous creature but if you knew how to handle her she was harmless. Now let us look at the above diagram and review White’s alternatives to 5.Nb3.

Variation A1 - Medusa - 5.? 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6

5.Nc3? Of course we have come across the same blunder by the ‘alternative’ 5.Bd3? Nxd4 (5...Qxd4 0–1 Joksimovic,L-Kocovski,I Boskovic 2004) 6.Be3 Qxb2 7.Nd2 Nc6 8.Nc4 Qc3+ 9.Bd2 Qf6–+ Henriques,S-Almeida,J Benedita 1998. 5...Qxd4 5...Nxd4, will also do the job: 6.Be3 e5 (6...Nxc2+? 7.Qxc2± De la Pena Lleranti,A-Rey Farina,A Ferrol 2002) 7.Nd5 Qa5+ 8.c3 Ne6–+. 6.Bd3 6.Qxd4 Nxd4 7.Bd3 a6 8.Nd5 Ne6–+ Dimitrov,V-Veselinov,S Sofia 2007. 27

6...Qb6 Or 6...e6 7.Be3 Qb4 8.0-0 a6 9.a3 Qa5 10.Kh1 Nf6 11.f4 d6 12.b4 Qc7–+ Hoegy,K-Iwanziw,N Heusenstamm 2009. 7.0-0 7.Nd5 Qd8 8.Bf4 d6 9.0-0 e6 10.Ne3 Nf6 11.Bg5 Be7–+ Kamara,A-Kigigha,B Monrovia 2017. 7...e6 8.a3 a6 9.Rb1 Nf6 10.Be3 Qc7 11.f4 d6

And Black wins as in Biszof,H-Pazdziora,M Rewal 2006.

Variation A2 - Medusa - 5.Ne2 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Ne2

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A very passive move, allowing Black to obtain an excellent position without much trouble. 5...Nf6 5...e6, is possible as well: 6.Nbc3 Nf6 7.h3 Bb4 (7...d5 8.Be3 Bc5³) 8.Be3 Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 (9.Nxc3 Qxb2 10.Nb5 (10.Bd2 0-0 11.Bd3 d5³) 10...Nxe4µ) 9...Qa5³ Sanchez Antunez,A-Pedraza Fernandez,M Malaga 2012. 6.Ng3 After 6.Nbc3? Ng4! White faces problems! 6...e6 Interesting is the active 6...h5!?, but it remains untested. 7.Be2 d5

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And Black has already the slightly better prospects, as in Fehr,R-Ilic,Z Bern 1990.

Variation A3 - Medusa - 5.Nf5 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nf5

This does not seem like a ‘natural’ move and I could even call it a mistake. Anyway, Black should react actively. 5...d5

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The alternatives: 5...Nf6 6.Nc3 d6 (6...Nxe4!? 7.Nxe4 Qa5+ 8.Bd2 Qxf5 9.Bd3 Qe5 10.0-0 d5° Butti,E-Bassan,R Buenos Aires 2009) 7.Bd3 g6 8.Ne3 Bg7 9.0-0 0-0= Preuschoff,M-Rosen,W Germany 2005, and 5...a6 6.Be3

6...Qd8? (6...Qxb2 7.Nd2 Qc3µ) 7.Nd4? (7.Nc3 Nf6 8.Bc4±) 7...Nf6 8.Nc3 e5 9.Nf5 d5 10.exd5 Nb4= Shabalov,A-Yermolinsky,A North Bay 1994 are not bad for Black either, while 5...e6 6.Nd6+ Bxd6 7.Qxd6 Nf6 8.Bd3 Qb4+, is just equal. 6.exd5 Not of course 6.Be3? Qxb2–+, but possible is 6.Qxd5 Nf6 7.Qd3 Nxe4 (7...Bxf5!? 8.exf5 Rd8 9.Qb5 Qc7°) 8.Qxe4 Qa5+ 9.Bd2 Qxf5=. 6...Bxf5 7.dxc6 Qxc6 8.Nc3 a6

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And Black has achieved an excellent Sicilian Defense middlegame.

Variation A4 - Medusa - 5.Be3 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Be3

An aggressive but not fully correct idea. By sacrificing the b pawn, White tries to grab the initiative. Compared to similar Sicilian lines, this one is not an easy case for White. 5...Qxb2

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It seems that Black can also go for 5...Nf6? 6.Nc3 a) 6...Ng4?! 7.Nd5! (7.Qxg4? Qxb2 8.Nb3 Qxc3+ 9.Bd2 Qxc2µ) 7...Nxe3 (7...Qa5+ 8.Bd2 Qd8 9.Nb5 1–0 Neelakantan,N-Nagendra,R India 1988) 8.fxe3! (8.Nxb6? Nxd1 9.Nxa8 Nxb2 10.Nc7+ Kd8 11.Ncb5

11...Nxd4 (11...e5 12.Nxc6+ dxc6 13.Rb1 cxb5 14.Rxb2 a6° Muslija,I-Martic,Z Pula 1996) 12.Nxd4 Na4° Vitolinsh,A-Akopian,V Daugavpils 1989) 8...Qa5+ (8...Qd8 9.Nb5+–; 8...Qxb2 9.Nc7+ Kd8 10.Nxa8 Qc3+ 11.Kf2+–) 9.b4! Nxb4 10.Nb3 Qa3 (10...Nxc2+ 11.Kf2) 11.Nc7+ Kd8 12.Nxa8

12...g6 (12...Nc6 13.Qd2 g6 14.Bb5 Bg7 15.c3 d6 16.0-0 Rf8 17.Rad1 Bd7 18.c4 Kc8 19.c5+– Zaitsev,I-Torbin,K Moscow 2000) 13.c3 Nc6 14.Bb5 Bg7 15.0-0 Ne5 16.Kh1 b6 17.Qd4+– 33

Areshchenko,A-Arzumanian,G Kramatorsk 2003. b) 6...a6

7.Nxc6 (7.Nb3 Qc7 8.Nd5 Qe5 9.Nb6 Rb8 10.Bd3 d5 11.f4 Qxb2 12.Bc1 Qc3+ 13.Bd2 Qb2 14.Bc1 Qc3+ 15.Bd2 Qb2 16.exd5 Bg4 17.Nc4 Qxb3 18.axb3 Bxd1 19.dxc6 Bg4 20.cxb7 Rxb7 21.Rxa6+– Hansen,M-Olesen,M Copenhagen 1990) 7...Qxc6 8.e5 Ne4 9.Nxe4 Qxe4 10.Qd4 Qxd4 11.Bxd4 e6 12.g3±. c) 6...Qxb2 c1) 7.Ncb5?! Qb4+ (7...Kd8?

8.a3! (8.Rb1 Qxa2 9.Ra1 Qb2 10.Nxc6+ bxc6 11.Bd4 Qxa1 12.Qxa1 cxb5 13.Qa5++–) 8...Ne5 34

9.Ne6+ fxe6 10.Bd4+–) 8.Bd2 Qa4 9.Nc7+ Kd8 10.Nxc6+ (10.Nxa8!? Nxd4 (10...Qxd4? 11.Ba5+ b6 12.Qxd4 Nxd4 13.Nxb6 Nxc2+ 14.Kd2 axb6 (14...Nxa1 15.Nxc8+ Kxc8 16.Ba6+ Kb8 17.Rb1+ Ka8 18.Bc7+–) 15.Bxb6+ Ke8 16.Kxc2 Nxe4 17.a4+–) 11.Bd3 b6µ) 10...Kxc7 Votava,JVoloshin,L Czech Republic 1999. c2) 7.Nde2?

7...Nb4! (7...Qb4 8.Rb1 Qa5 9.Qd3 e6 10.Rb5 Qd8µ Schweinberger,J-Frech,J Schwarzach 2001) 8.Rc1 e5µ. c3) 7.Ndb5 Qb4

When he seems to hold. But this is not the case: 35

c31) 8.Bd3 Qa5 9.Rb1 (9.Bd2 Qd8 10.a4 e6 11.0-0 Be7 12.f4 a6 13.Na3 d5 14.e5 Nd7 15.Qg4 g6 16.Ne2 Nc5µ Dobias,R-Petrik,S Bratislava 1994) 9...e6 10.Bd2 (10.0-0 Be7 11.f4 d6 12.Kh1 0-0µ Sime,D-McInally,P Grangemouth 2000) 10...Qd8∞ Judewicz,A-Piscicelli,D Mar del Plata 1995. c32) 8.Rb1 Qa5

9.Qd2 (9.Bd2 Qd8 10.Nd5 Nxd5 11.exd5 a6 12.Na3 Ne5 13.f4 e6µ Schroeder,C-Deisz,A ICCF 1990) 9...e6 (9...a6? 10.Bb6! Nxe4 11.Nc7+ Kd8 12.Nxa8+ Qxb6 13.Nxb6 Nxd2 14.Kxd2+– Danker,F-Stock,U Schwabstedt 1994) 10.Bc4 Be7 11.0-0 0-0³ Swiercz,D-Gajewski,G Warsaw 2005. c33) 8.Qd2 Qa5 9.Nd5 Qxd2+ (9...Nxd5? 10.Qxa5 Nxa5 11.exd5+– Ngo Trung Tin-Ninh Cong Quyen Ho Chi Minh City 2005) 10.Kxd2 Kd8 11.Nb6 Rb8∞ Lapinski,K-Krysztofiak,M Kolobrzeg 2007. c34) 8.Bd2!

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8...Rb8 (8...Qa5 9.Nd5+– Kirk,J-Smith,J Dos Hermanas 2004; 8...Nxe4 9.a3 Nxc3 10.axb4 Nxd1 11.Nc7+ Kd8 12.Nxa8+– Rada Equiza,M-Vavra,P Brno 2006; 8...Kd8 9.Rb1

9...Qa5 (9...Qc5 10.Be2 d6 11.Be3 Qe5 12.f4 Qe6 13.Nd4± Popov,I-Torbin,K Sochi 2015) 10.Bc4 e6 11.0-0+–) 9.Rb1! (9.e5? Ne4 (9...Nxe5!?) 10.e6 fxe6 11.Rb1 Nxc3 12.Nc7+ Kd8 13.Nxe6+ dxe6 14.Bxc3+ Qd6–+ Huckaby,M-Milovanovic,R Dallas 1999) 9...Qa5 10.e5! (10.Nd5 Qa4 11.Nbc7+ (11.Nb4!±) 11...Kd8 12.Nc3 Qd4∞ Lastin,A-Kononenko,D Dagomys 2009) 10...Nxe5 11.Qe2 d6 12.f4+–. Also 5...Nxd4?

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Is out of the spirit of the variation: 6.Bxd4 (6.Qxd4 Qxd4 7.Bxd4 Nf6 8.Bd3?! (8.Nc3!) 8...d6 9.0-0 e5 10.Be3 d5= Keleti,D-Tar,B Budapest 2010) 6...Qc7 7.Nc3 e6 8.Bd3±. 6.Nb3

Another critical line is 6.Nxc6, where it seems that Black can grab the exchange: a) 6...bxc6 a1) 7.Bd4 Qb4+ (7...Qb8 8.Nc3 (8.e5 d6 9.f4 Nh6 10.Na3 Qb4+ 11.c3 Qxa3 0–1 Aksakal,BSadikhov,U Konya 2016) 8...Nf6 9.Rb1 Qc7 10.Bc4 d6³ Kylasa,A-Blakeman,C Internet 2020) 8.c3 Qa5 9.Nd2 38

9...Qc7 (9...d6 10.e5 d5 11.Bd3 Nh6 12.Qf3 e6 13.0-0 Ba6 14.Nb3 Qa3 15.c4 Be7∞ Badmatsyrenov,O-Namgilov,S Ulan Ude 2006) 10.Bc4 c5 11.Be3 e6 12.0-0° Pieris,T-Toh,T Asia 1989. a2) 7.Bc4 e5 8.Nd2 Nf6 9.0-0 Be7 10.f4 exf4 11.Bxf4 d5³ Stonehouse,T-Aptekar,L Auckland 1977. a3) 7.Nd2 d6 (7...Qb8!? 8.Rb1 Qc7 9.Bd3 e5 10.0-0 Nf6 11.f4 d6 Reppen,E-Tsifanskaya,L Plovdiv 2010, seems also fine for Black; 7...Nf6 8.Rb1 Qe5 9.f4 Qc7 10.c4 d6³ Argandona R.,I-Starostits,I San Sebastian 2019; 7...Qc3 8.Rb1 Nf6 9.Bd3 e6 10.0-0 d5 11.Rb3° Le Corre,B-Wirig,A Luxembourg 2016) 8.Rb1 Qc3 9.Bd3 Nf6 10.0-0° Van der Wiel,J-Kouatly,B Cannes 1990. b) 6...dxc6!

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7.Bd4 (7.Nd2 Nf6 8.Nc4 Qc3+ 9.Bd2 Qd4 10.f3 g6³ Bako,I-Reck,J Erlangen 2020) 7...Qb4+ 8.Nc3 Nf6 9.Rb1 Qa5 10.e5 Nd5 11.Bc4 e6µ Heuer,V-Gusev,Y Novgorod 1961. c) 6...Qxa1 7.Bd4! (7.Nxa7 Qxa2 8.Nb5 Qa5+ 9.N1c3 e6 (9...g6 10.Bd2 Kd8 11.Bf4 Bg7 12.Bc7+ Qxc7 13.Nxc7 Bxc3+ 14.Ke2 Kxc7 15.Qd5 Bf6–+ Mostertman,X-Decoster,S Hengelo 2005) 10.Bc4 Bb4 11.Bd4 Ne7–+; 7.Nb4? e6 0–1 Estevez,C-Acevedo,J Columbia 2009) 7...Qxa2

8.Nc3! (8.Nb4? Qa5 9.Qd2 e5–+ Mader,K-Bier,R Internet 2008) 8...Qe6! 9.Nxa7 (9.Ne5 Qd6 (9...a6? 10.Bc4 d6 11.Bxe6 dxe5 12.Bxc8 exd4 13.Bxb7 Rb8 14.Bc6+ Kd8 15.Qxd4+ Kc7 16.Qd7+ Kb6 17.Na4+ Ka5 18.Qc7+ 1–0 Moeller,R-Bartels,J Hanerau 2015) 10.Nb5 Qb8 11.Nxf7!°) 9...Nf6 (9...Rxa7 10.Bxa7 Nf6 11.Qd4 Sahl,S-Orlova,Y Khanty-Mansiysk 2010) 10.Nab5°.

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So, probably the most secure is the old b) line. 6.Nd2?, is one of these ‘quick’ blitz moves (or we might call them mouse slips?) that can be good for a bullet game but not anything more and they are just losing a piece after 6...Nxd4: a) 7.Bxd4 Qxd4 8.Bd3 (8.Rc1 e6 (8...Nf6 9.c3 Qe5 10.Bd3 e6 11.0-0 Be7 12.Re1 0-0–+ Grossman,D-Szentgyorgyi,S Budapest 2013) 9.c3 Qf6 10.Bc4 Bc5 11.0-0 Ne7 12.Nb3 Bb6 13.Rc2 0-0

14.Re1 Ng6 15.Bb5 a6 16.Bxd7 Rd8 17.Rd2 Bxd7 18.Rxd7 Bxf2+ 0–1 Skof,S-Stern,U Nova Gorica 2019; 8.Nf3 Qxe4+ 9.Be2 g6 10.0-0 Bg7 11.Qd3 Qxd3 12.Bxd3 Bxa1 0–1 Nunez Villavicencio,JAbdulrahman,A Al Ain 2013) 8...Qd6–+ Bellahcene,M-Tsirekidze,N Batumi 2010. b) 7.Nb3 Nxc2+ 8.Qxc2 Qxc2 9.Rc1 Qxe4 10.Rc3 e6 11.f3 Qb4–+ Shreyas,S-Grivas,E Dubai 2019. c) 7.Nc4 Nxc2+ 8.Kd2 Qxa1 9.Qxa1 Nxa1–+ Burg,N-Grieb,L Oberhof 2010. 6.Nb5?, is bad as well: 6...Qxa1 (6...Kd8? 7.N1c3 a6 8.Rb1 Marcziter,A-Guntermann,E Internet 2020) 7.Nc7+ Kd8 8.Nxa8 Qe5 9.Qd5

41

9...Qb8 (9...e6? 10.Qxe5 Nxe5 11.Bg5+? (11.Bxa7²) 11...Be7 12.Bxe7+ Nxe7–+ Stubben,UBecker,E Wesel Undeloh 2016) 10.Qxf7 Nh6–+. 6...Qe5 The threat 7.c3 and 8.Bc1 is strong so the main alternative is 6...Nf6 (6...Qf6 7.Bd3 e6 8.0-0° Obrusnik,M-Dutkowski,W Raciborz 2008) 6...Nf6 7.Bd3 (7.c3? Nxe4 8.Bc1? Qxf2#) 7...d5

a) 8.Bc1?! Qe5 9.f4 Qc7 10.e5 Bg4 11.Qd2 Ne4–+ Sulskis,S-Kanep,M Finland 2009. b) 8.c3?! Bg4 (8...dxe4 9.Bb5 Bg4µ) 9.f3?! (9.Qd2 Qxd2+ 10.N1xd2µ) 9...Qxg2 10.Rf1 dxe4–+ Liebscher,H-Rosen,W Eckernfoerde 2010. 42

c) 8.Bd2 Nxe4 9.Bxe4 Qe5 10.0-0 Qxe4µ Da Silva,A-Ribeiro,L Porto Alegre 2018. d) 8.N1d2

8...e5 (8...Nxe4 9.Nxe4 dxe4 10.Bxe4 Qc3+ 11.Bd2 Qc4 Florescu,C-Tsyhanchuk,S Internet 2020) 9.0-0 Bg4 10.f3 Be6µ. 7.N1d2 Alternatives are: a) 7.Bd3

43

a1) 7...Nf6 8.0-0 (8.f4 Qc7 9.c4 d6 10.Nc3 Qd8 11.Be2 g6 12.0-0 Bg7³ Harutjunyan,G-Alekseev,E Minsk 2015) 8...e6 9.f4 Qc7 10.c4 (10.Nc3 d6³ Suta,A-Cop,J Otocec 2015) 10...d6 11.Nc3 Be7 (11...b6 12.Rc1 Qb8 13.Nd5!?° Reis,L-Rodriguez Lopez,R Ourense 2007) 12.Rc1 Qd8 13.c5!? (13.Qf3 0-0 14.Rcd1 e5³ Sulskis,S-Yegiazarian,A Kolkata 2002) 13...dxc5 14.e5

14...Nd5 (14...Nd7!? 15.Be4 0-0 16.Qe2 f5 17.Bxc6 bxc6 18.Na4°) 15.Nxd5 exd5 16.Bxc5 0-0 17.Bxe7 Qxe7 18.Bb5 Nb4 19.Rf2 a6 20.Bf1 Bf5³ Sulskis,S-Kanep,M Tallinn 2010. a2) 7...g5 8.0-0 Bg7 9.N1d2 Qc7 10.Rc1° Almasi,Z-Dobrov,V Riadh 2017. a3) 7...g6!? 8.0-0 Bg7 9.Qd2 Qb8 10.Nc3 Nf6³. a4) 7...e6 8.0-0 (8.N1d2

44

8...Nf6 (8...Bb4?! 9.0-0 Bc3 10.Nf3 Qf6 11.Rb1² Conte,K-Dutra,L Florianopolis 2018) 9.0-0 Be7 10.Re1 Qc7 11.Nf3 d6 12.h3 0-0 13.Qd2 a6µ So,B-Le Minh Hoang Da Nang 2008) 8...Qb8 9.c4 d6 10.Nc3 Nf6 11.f4 Be7 12.Rc1 b6!³ Cao Sang-Chirila,I Plovdiv 2008. b) 7.Qf3?! Nf6 8.Bd3

8...Qc7 (8...d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.0-0 e6 11.N1d2 Bd6µ Lobo,P-Martins,N Luso 2016) 9.0-0 d6 (9...e6 10.Nc3 a6 11.Bg5? Ne5 12.Qf4 Qxc3–+ Vsetulova,V-Garska,L Kouty nad Desnou 2015) 10.Nc3 Ne5 11.Bb5+ Bd7 12.Bxd7+ Nfxd7–+ Habinski,D-Guntermann,E Internet 2020. 7...Nf6 Black can also continue with 7...e6 8.f4 Qc7 9.e5?! d6 10.Nd4 dxe5 11.Nb5 Qd8 12.Qf3 a6 13.Nc3 Nge7–+ Cifuentes Goncalves,L-Martinez,R Dos Hermanas 2003, or 7...Qc7 8.f4 d6 9.Bd3 Nf6 10.h3 e6 11.0-0 Be7µ Kalogiannidis,I-Gor,O Akhisar Manisa 2009. 8.f4 8.Bc4 Nxe4 9.0-0 e6µ Lacinova,J-Boskova,L Plzen 1993. 8...Qc3 The proposal of IM Zoran Ilic, 8...Qc7, looks like a fair alternative as the white knights have no access to the valuable squares b5 and d5. 9.Bd3

45

Wrong would be the optimistic 9.Kf2?, due to 9...d5–+ (9...Ng4+? 10.Qxg4 d5 11.Qd1 (11.Qf3!+–) 11...d4∞ Klebetsanis,K-Grivas,E Athens 1979). 9...d5 Alternatives give White compensation: a) 9...Nb4 10.Qe2 Nxc2+ 11.Bxc2 Qxc2 12.Nd4 Qc7 13.0-0° Kang Mei Yin-Stefany,J Czech Republic 1996. b) 9...d6 10.Qf3 (10.0-0!°) 10...Ng4 11.Bg1 Be6 12.Bb5 Qxf3 13.gxf3 Nf6 14.Na5 Bd7µ Pruijssers,R-Erenburg,S Cappelle la Grande 2006. c) 9...Nxe4!? 10.0-0 Nxd2 11.Bxd2 Qf6 12.f5 d6 13.Bc4°. 10.e5 Forced, as after 10.0-0 Bg4 11.Qc1 dxe4 12.Nxe4 Nxe4 13.Bxe4 e6, Black should be happy. 10...Ng4 10...Bg4!? 11.Qb1 Nd7 12.Kf2 e6³. 11.Bc5 h5 Untested but quite good seems to be the aggressive 11...g5!? 12.h3 e6! 13.Bg1 (13.Bxf8 Ne3 14.Qe2 Nd4–+) 13...Nh6 14.Bh2 a5µ. 12.0-0 e6 13.Bxf8 Kxf8

46

And, although I still prefer Black, White has some compensation, as in Vitolinsh,A-Zaichik,G Moscow 1983.

Variation A5 - Medusa - 5.Nf3 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nf3

A passive retreat, blocking the important f-pawn. Black faces no problems at all. 5...Nf6 6.Bd3

47

Or 6.Nc3 e6 7.Be3 (7.Bc4 Bb4 8.Qd3 0-0 9.0-0 Qc7 10.Nb5 Qb8 11.c3 Be7 12.Nbd4 a6 13.Bb3 d6 14.Bg5 Qc7∞ Konicek,P-Vavra,P Chrudim 1993; 7.Be2 Bc5 8.0-0 0-0 9.b3 Ng4∞ Lapkova,MSadlova,I Svetla nad Sazavou 1996; 7.Rb1 Bc5 8.Qe2 Ng4 9.Nd1 0-0µ Loewe,L-Konrad,J Lingen 2005; 7.a3 Bc5 8.Qe2 Ng4µ Terzis,F-Kolomvakis,S Ermioni 2006; 7.Na4 Qa5+ 8.c3? b5–+ Vignette,J-Buscara,S France 2008) 7...Qc7 (7...Qxb2! 8.Bd2 Qb6³, although untested, seems quite good) 8.Be2 Bb4³ Presno Ruiz,E-Strejc,J Rimavska Sobota 1992. 6...d5 Black has many options at his disposal and if he doesn’t like the final position in this line he should search for another with: a) 6...e5 7.0-0 Bc5 8.h3 d6 9.Nc3 0-0 10.Na4 Qc7 11.Nxc5 dxc5 12.Bg5 c4 13.Bxc4 Nxe4= Wikman,B-Komzak,F Segovia 1990. b) 6...e6

48

7.Nc3 (7.0-0 d6 8.Nbd2 Be7 9.Nc4 Qc7 10.h3 0-0 11.c3 b5 12.Ne3 Rb8 13.b3= Lalovic,SKnezevic,B Nis 1994) 7...Be7 (7...Bb4 8.Bd2 0-0 9.0-0² Kubankova,I-Markova,K Usti nad Labem 1996; 7...Bc5 8.0-0 Ng4 9.Qe2² Padayachy Neddy,S-Garcia Martinez,F Warsaw 1991; 7...d6 8.0-0 a6 9.Be3 (9.Na4 Qa5 10.c4 b5 11.Nc3 b4 12.Ne2 Be7 13.Ned4 Bb7∞ Londyn,R-Vokoun,J Prague 2005) 9...Qc7 10.a3 (10.Nd4 Be7 11.f4 (11.Be2 0-0 12.f4 Rb8 13.Qe1 Nxd4 14.Bxd4 b5= Iskandarov,M-Yudin,I Kemer 2007) 11...0-0 12.Qf3 Bd7= Maringer,W-Metaxasz,V Balatonlelle 2006) 10...Be7 11.Qd2 0-0 12.Rfd1 b5= Anchipolovskaya,D-Len,I Tel Aviv 2002; 7...a6 8.Qe2 d6 9.0-0 Qc7 10.Be3 Ng4 11.Bd2 Be7 12.Nd4 Nge5 13.Nxc6 bxc6= Mikkelsen,N-Aagaard,J Copenhagen 2006)

8.0-0 (8.Bd2 Nb4 9.0-0 Nxd3 10.cxd3 0-0 11.Rb1∞ Zhumataev,N-Sayakbaev,B Bishkek 2019) 8...d6 49

9.b3 (9.Qe1 Ng4 10.a4 0-0 11.Bd2 Qd8 12.Rd1 a6= Caruso,A-Csom,I Porto 2000; 9.Be3 Qc7 10.Nb5 Qb8 11.c4 0-0 12.a3 b6 13.Qe2 Bb7 14.Bf4 Nd7 15.b4 a6 16.Nc3 Nce5= Borosova,ZMolnar,P Slovakia 2005; 9.Nb5

9...a6 (9...Nxe4!³) 10.Be3 Qd8 11.Nbd4 Qc7 12.c3 0-0= Fischer,T-Lehmann,H Germany 2007; 9.a3 a6 10.b4 0-0 11.Na4 Qc7 12.c4 Ng4 13.Bg5 Nge5 14.Be3 Nd7 15.Rc1 b6 16.Bb1 Bb7 17.Qd2 Rfd8∞ Kyaw,M-Nguyen,D Yangon 2015) 9...0-0 10.Bb2 a6 11.Na4 (11.Re1 Qc7 12.Qe2 b5 13.e5 dxe5 14.Nxe5 Nxe5 15.Qxe5 Bd6³ Bacon,J-Cochet,C Rochefort 1998) 11...Qc7 12.c4 b6 13.Qe2 Bb7 14.e5 dxe5 15.Nxe5 Nb4 16.Bd4 Nxd3 17.Qxd3 Ne4 18.Rfe1 Nc5 ½-½ L’Ami,EGoloshchapov,A Hoogeveen 2004. c) 6...d6 7.h3

50

7...g6 (7...e6 8.0-0 Be7 9.a3 a6 (9...0-0 10.Nc3 a6 11.Rb1 Bd7 12.Be3 Qc7 13.Re1 b5= Balazs,TMolnar,I Hungary 1994) 10.b4 0-0 11.Bb2 Qc7 12.c4 b6 13.Nc3 Bb7= Metral,J-Marchand,F France 1993) 8.c4 Bg7 9.Nc3 0-0 10.0-0 Nd7 11.Nd5 Qd8= ½-½ Sokolov,A-Hamdouchi,H Clichy 2010. 7.exd5 Nxd5 8.0-0

8...g6 Or 8...Qc7 9.b3 e6 10.Bb2 Be7 11.Nc3 Nxc3 12.Bxc3 0-0 13.Re1 Rd8 14.Ne5 Nxe5 15.Bxe5 Bd6 16.Bxd6 Rxd6 17.Qh5 g6 18.Qe5 Bd7= Karklins,A-Ciaffone,R USA 1996. 51

9.Bc4 Nf6 10.Be3 Qc7 11.Nc3 Bg7 12.Nb5 Qb8 13.Qc1 0-0 14.Re1 Ng4∞

Rigo,J-Lorenz,S Berlin West 1989.

Variation A6 - Medusa - 5.c3 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.c3

White tries to reinforce the position of the d4–knight, but loses the valuable c3 square for his other knight.

52

5...Nf6 Black has at his disposal two alternatives: a) 5...e5?!

a1) 6.Nb3 Nf6 7.Be3 Qd8 (7...Qc7 8.Bd3 (8.Bc4 Be7 9.N1d2 0-0∞ Csordas,P-Ronai,A Hungary 2016) 8...a6= Diaz,M-Orozco,Y Barquisi-meto 2001) 8.N1d2 d5= Friedrich,H-Schoenemann,K Darmstadt 1994. a2) 6.Nxc6 dxc6 (6...bxc6 7.Bd3 Nf6

8.0-0 (8.Qe2 Be7 9.Be3 Qc7 10.Nd2 0-0 11.0-0 d5³ Chalupecky,V-Vybiral,Z Tabor 2009; 8.Nd2 53

d5 9.exd5 cxd5 10.Qb3 Qc7 11.Bb5+ Bd7 12.Qa4 Bc5 13.Bxd7+ Nxd7³ Khaled,A-Tareq,A Abu Dhabi 1995) 8...Be7 9.b3 d5³ Domogalski,M-Lehmann,H Bochum 1997; 6...Qxc6 7.Bd3 Nf6 8.Nd2 d5 9.exd5 Qxd5= Kainz,M-Schwab,J Vienna 1998) 7.Bc4 (7.Qb3 Qxb3 8.axb3 Nf6 9.f3 Bc5∞ Kania,W-Kaminski,L Warsaw 2017) 7...Nf6 8.Nd2 Bc5 9.0-0 Bg4 10.Qb3 Qxb3 11.Bxb3 Be2 12.Re1 Bd3= Abela,D-Tabone,G Malta 1996. a3) 6.Nf3 d6 7.Nbd2 Nf6 8.Nc4 Qc7 9.Bd3 Be6 10.Ne3 h6= Konttinen,T-Matilainen,M Vantaa 1993. a4) 6.Nb5!

6...Bc5 (6...a6? 7.Nd6+ Bxd6 8.Qxd6 Nf6 9.Bd3 (9.Nd2? Ng4! 10.f3? Qf2+ 11.Kd1 Ne3# 0–1 Galeffi-Amoroso,C ICCF 1973) 9...Qd8 10.Nd2±) 7.Be3 (7.Qd2 Nf6 8.f3 0-0µ; 7.Nd6+ Ke7 8.Nxc8+ Rxc8 9.Qf3 Nf6 10.Nd2±) 7...Bxe3 8.fxe3 and White is on top despite the loss of a pawn. b) 5...d6

54

b1) 6.Qb3 Qc7 7.Be3 Nf6 8.f3 e6 9.Bb5 Bd7 10.0-0 d5= Mueller,P-Rabiega,R Spree 1997. b2) 6.Be2 Nf6 7.Qc2 (7.Bf3?! g6 8.0-0 Bg7 9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.a4 0-0 11.a5 Qc7µ Breiter,JGuenther,T Bad Woerishofen 2003; 7.Qd3 e5 (7...a6 8.0-0 e6 9.Rd1 Be7 10.Qc2 0-0 11.Be3 Qc7∞ Lukasik,Z-Rejniak,Z Kouty nad Desnou 2017) 8.Nb3 Be6 9.Be3 Qc7 10.0-0 Be7∞ Chen,YKuruppu,S Internet 2020) 7...e5! (7...Nxd4 8.cxd4 Qxd4 9.Nc3 a6 10.Be3 Qb4 11.0-0 e6 12.a3 Qa5 13.Na4° Mesa,F-Gomez,L Medellin 2000) 8.Nf3 d5=. b3) 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.Bd3 Nf6 8.0-0 g6

9.Nd2 (9.Qc2 Bg7 10.Be3 Qc7 11.Nd2 0-0= Stevandic,D-Vujic Katanic,B Becici 1994) 9...Ba6 10.Nb3 Bxd3 11.Qxd3 Bg7= Chalupecky,V-Pechacek,S Czech Republic 2002. 55

b4) 6.Na3 Nf6 7.Bd3 Nxd4 (7...g6 8.Be3 Qc7 9.f4 Bg7∞) 8.cxd4 Bd7 9.0-0² Della Morte,GSadikhov,U Internet 2019. b5) 6.Nb5 a6 7.Be3 Qd8 8.Nd4 Nf6 9.Nd2 Ng4 10.Nc4 Nxe3 11.Nxe3 g6∞ Csepeli,M-Ronai,A Balatonlelle 2015. b6) 6.Bb5 Nf6 7.Nd2 Bd7 8.Nc4 Qc7 9.Qe2 e5∞ Palovics,L-Vitalyos,M Hungary 2015. b7) 6.Bc4 Nf6 7.f3 g6 8.Nxc6 bxc6 9.Qb3

9...e6 (9...Qxb3 10.Bxb3 Ba6∞ Yang,P-Zhang,J Al Ain 2013) 10.Qxb6 axb6 11.Be3 d5³. b8) 6.Be3 Nf6! (6...Qc7 7.c4 Nf6 8.Nc3 e6 9.Be2 Be7 10.0-0 0-0 11.Nc2 Bd7 12.f3∞ Zuidema,CRee,H Leeuwarden 1969; 6...Qxb2!?

56

7.Nd2 (7.Nb3 Be6 8.N1d2 Nf6³) 7...Qxc3 8.Bb5 Qa5!°) 7.Ne6 Qa5 (7...Qxb2!? 8.Nc7+ Kd8 9.Nxa8 Qxa1 10.Qb3 Ng4 11.Bd3° is interesting and untested) 8.Nxf8 Nxe4 9.Nxh7 (9.b4 Qc7 10.Bd3 Nf6 11.Nxh7 Nxh7∞ Bronstein,D-Vasiukov,E Vilnius 1975) 9...Rxh7 10.Nd2=. 6.Bd3

Other continuations are also no problem for Black: a) 6.f3 a1) 6...e6 7.Qb3 (7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.Bd3 d5 9.Nd2 Bd6 10.Qe2 Qc7³ Malika,H-Fuchs,J Batumi 2018) 7...Bc5 8.Qxb6 Bxb6 9.Nxc6 bxc6= Angermann,I-Imbierowicz,D Duisburg 2006. 57

a2) 6...e5

7.Nb5 (7.Nf5? d5! (7...Qc7 8.Na3 a6 9.Nc4 d5µ Schett,F-Abraham,H Seefeld 2008) 8.Nd2 Bxf5 9.exf5 Bc5–+) 7...Nd8 (7...Bc5 8.Nd6+ Kf8 9.Na3±) 8.Qd3 (8.b4 a6 9.N5a3 Qc7 10.Be3 b5∞ Goryainov,M-Nadyrshin,K Astrakhan 2013) 8...Bc5 9.Qe2 a6 10.N5a3 0-0∞ Lominadze,GLamblin,A Al Ain 2013. a3) 6...d5 7.exd5 (7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.exd5 cxd5 9.Bd3 e6³ Kohanov,B-Davydov,S Perm 2007) 7...Nxd5 (7...Nxd4 8.Qxd4 Qxd4 9.cxd4 Nxd5 10.Bb5+ Bd7 11.Bxd7+ Kxd7³ Roos,B-Bolovan,C IECG 1999) 8.Nxc6 (8.Bc4 Nf6

9.Nxc6 (9.Qe2 Nxd4 10.cxd4 Qxd4 11.Be3 Qe5 12.Nc3 e6 13.0-0 Be7 14.f4° Kohanov,B58

Koroev,A Perm 2007) 9...bxc6 10.Qb3 e6 11.Nd2 Qe3+ 12.Be2 Qe5 13.Nc4 Qc7 14.0-0 Nd5 15.Kh1 Ba6 16.g3 h5³ Kohanov,B-Kushka,A Perm 2007); 8.Na3 Nxd4 9.Qxd4 Qxd4 10.cxd4 Bd7 11.Bd2 g6 12.Bc4 Nb6 13.Bb3 Bg7³ Kohanov,B-Terentjev,V Perm 2006) 8...bxc6

9.Na3 (9.Qc2 e6 10.Nd2 Be7∞ Brettner,S-Paehtz,W Internet 2020) 9...Ne3 10.Bxe3 Qxe3+ 11.Qe2 Qxe2+ 12.Bxe2 e6 13.Nc4 ½-½ Jaesche,T-Tischer,J Finsterbergen 2008. b) 6.Qd3?! e6 (6...e5!? 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.Be2 Be7 9.0-0 0-0 10.Nd2 d5µ Goh Weng Keong,I-Bhave,K Singapore 2008; 6...d6 7.Nd2 a6 8.Nc4 Qc7 9.a4 Ne5 10.Nxe5 dxe5 11.Nf3 Bd7 12.Be3 Bc6 13.Nd2 Rd8= Burak,I-Glushko,A Kiev 2010) 7.Nd2

7...Be7 (7...a6 8.N2b3 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Be2 Be7 11.0-0 0-0= Hess,P-Svoboda,V Sec 2007; 7...d5 59

8.g3? (8.exd5 Nxd5 9.Nc4 Qc7 10.Be3 Be7 11.Rd1 0-0³ Reichelt,M-Hamkar,M Walldorf 2017) 8...Nxd4 9.cxd4 dxe4 10.Nxe4 Nxe4 11.Qxe4 Bb4+ 12.Kd1 Bd7–+ Kucukbey,A-Posedaru,B Szeged 2008) 8.Nc4 Qd8 9.Bg5 d5 10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.exd5 Nxd4 12.cxd4 Qxd5µ Badicioiu,VSevastian,I Ploiesti 2007. c) 6.Nxc6

c1) 6...dxc6 7.Bd3 (7.Qc2 e5 (7...g6 8.Be3 Qc7 9.Be2 Bg7= Bukovcak,J-Petrakovic,K Slovakia 1998) 8.Be3 Bc5 9.Bxc5 Qxc5 10.Be2 (10.b4 Qe7 11.Be2 0-0 12.0-0 Be6 13.Nd2 Rfd8= Filippov,A-Volodin,I Nabereznye Chelny 2010) 10...Be6 (10...a5 11.0-0 Be6 12.Nd2 0-0 13.h3 Nd7= Andersson,D-Petrov,M Umel 1997) 11.Nd2 a5 12.a4 0-0 13.0-0 Rfd8³ Llorente Gonzalez,JFernandez Diez,A Oviedo 2008; 7.e5?! Ng4 8.Qe2 Qa5 9.Bf4 Be6 10.h3 g5 11.Bg3 Nh6µ) 7...e5 (7...Ng4 8.Qc2= Ramirez Loaiza,J-Echeverry Ramirez,M Bogota 2004) 8.0-0 Be6 9.Nd2 Rd8= Gara,T-Szekeres,T Hungary 2001 & Loginova,T-Markelova,L Moscow 2011. c2) 6...Qxc6 7.f3 (7.e5 Nd5 8.Be2 e6=) 7...e5 8.Bg5 Be7= Johannesson,O-Fridgeirsson,H Reykjavik 2009. c3) 6...bxc6

60

c31) 7.Bd3 e6 8.0-0 Be7 (8...d5 9.e5 Nd7 10.Qe2 a5 11.Be3 Bc5 12.Bxc5 Nxc5µ Schumacher,PHugaert,A W. Buetgenbach 2004) 9.Qc2 h6 (9...e5 10.Be3 Qc7 11.Nd2 0-0 12.b4 a6= Karasz,JSkacel,T Czech Republic 1996) 10.Nd2 0-0 11.Nf3 Ba6 12.c4 d5= Yakhina,S-Tiunova,A Izhevsk 2009. c32) 7.Qc2 d5 8.Be3 Qc7 9.Bd3 e5 10.Nd2 Bd6= Mulbagal,S-Decoster,S Hengelo 2004. c33) 7.e5 Nd5

8.c4 (8.Nd2 g6 9.Nc4 Qc7 10.Qe2 Ba6 11.Qe4= Callejo Hernanz,J-Tereso Martin,A Majadahonda 2004) 8...Nc7 9.Nc3 g6 10.Bd3 Bg7 11.Qe2=. 6...d5 61

The most active. Accepting the pawn sacrifice is possible, but dangerous: 6...Nxd4 7.cxd4 Qxd4 8.Nc3 (8.Qb3 e6 9.Be3 Qb4+ 10.Nc3 Qxb3 11.axb3 Bb4 12.Rxa7 Rxa7 13.Bxa7 d5= Petrov,A-Dimov,I Sofia 2011) 8...Ng4 9.0-0 Ne5 10.Be2 Qxd1 11.Rxd1° Kun,S-Skomorokhin,R Szekszard 1994. Solid is 6...d6 7.h3 e6 8.0-0 Be7= Berdullas Guerra,J-Danailov,S Oviedo 1992 and 6...e6 7.Nb3 d6 8.Be3 Qc7 9.N1d2 a6 10.0-0 Be7 11.f4 0-0= Ulker,T-Sitorus,T Kayseri 2010. 7.exd5 Nxd5 White got the initiative after 7...Nxd4?! 8.cxd4 Nxd5 9.Nc3! Nxc3 10.bxc3± Balaskas,P-Grivas,E Corfu 1996. 8.Nxc6 bxc6 9.0-0 g6 10.c4 Nf6=

62

Bronstein,D-Hansen,S Denmark 1991.

Variation A7 - Medusa - 5.Nxc6 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nxc6

This early exchange strengthens Black’s centre. White aims to develop quietly and naturally, avoiding any direct fight in the opening. There is room though for further investigations. In particular the lines starting with 6.Nd2, after either pawn recaptures, seem quite interesting. 5...bxc6 63

The main continuation, although Black gets a playable position with every one of the ‘forced’ moves: a) 5...Qxc6 a1) 6.Bd3 Nf6 (6...e6 7.0-0 Nf6 8.Qe2 a6 9.Nd2 d6 10.Nf3² Simon,K-Biskopics,B Zalakaros 1998; 6...a6 7.c4 e6 8.0-0 Bc5 9.Nd2 d6 10.Nb3 Ba7 11.Bg5² Mietzner,T-Helm,L Germany 2000)

7.Nc3 (7.Qe2 e5 8.0-0 Qb6 9.c4 Bc5 10.Nc3² Lescan,M-Vincelj,L Krapina 2016) 7...e6 8.a3 a6 9.Bg5 Be7 10.0-0 h6 11.Bh4 b5 12.Qe2 Bb7= Beneded B,D-Schreiber,E Zaragoza 1994. a2) 6.Nc3 a21) 6...a6

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7.Bd3 (7.Be2 g6 (7...d6 8.0-0 e6 9.Rb1 Nf6 10.Bd3 Be7= Skupnjak,I-Lorincz,L Subotica 2007) 8.Bd2 Bg7 9.0-0 e6 10.f4 Ne7 11.e5 0-0 12.Bf3 d5= Bauer,C-Fostel,G Vienna 2003; 7.Bf4 e6 8.e5 f6 9.a3 Be7 10.Qg4 g6 11.Be2 fxe5 12.Bxe5 Nf6∞ Suket,M-Szalay,I Hungary 2008) 7...e6 a211) 8.0-0

8...Ne7 (8...d6 9.Be3 Nf6 10.h3 b5 11.a3 Bb7 12.Qe2 Qc7 13.f4 Be7∞ Soldan,J-Konyves,A Drienica 2020) 9.Qe2 Ng6 10.f4 Bc5+ 11.Kh1 d6 12.Be3² Kinez,I-Vukelic,T Pula 1999. a212) 8.a4 Bb4 9.Bd2 Nf6 10.Qe2 h5 11.0-0 b6 12.f3 d6 13.Rfe1 h4 14.Kh1 Nh5∞ Gorlin,YStiri,A Oropesa del Mar 1999. a213) 8.Bd2 b5 9.a3 Bb7 10.Qe2 Be7 11.f3 65

11...h5 12.Rf1 Rc8 13.e5 Qc7 14.Be4 Bxe4 15.Qxe4 d5 16.exd6 Bxd6 17.f4 Nf6 18.Qe2 0-0³ Papadopoulou,V-Botsari,A Korinthos 1998. a22) 6...e5?! 7.a3 Nf6 8.Qf3± Martin,B-Muscariello,J Provence 2003. a23) 6...e6 a231) 7.Bd3

7...b6 (7...Bb4 8.Bd2 Nf6 9.Qf3 b6 10.0-0 Bb7 11.Rfe1² Kokolus,A-Chlebana,D Slovakia 2018) 8.Be3 Bb7 9.Bf4 Bb4= Ros,J-Skaza,N Murska Sobota 2007. a232) 7.a3 Bc5 8.b4 Bxf2+ 9.Kxf2 Qxc3 10.Be3 Nf6 11.Bd3 b6 12.Qf3 Bb7µ Markovics,DSzalay,I Hungary 2016. 66

a233) 7.Bb5 Qc7 (7...Qb6 8.Qe2 Bb4 9.Qc4 Qa5 10.Bd2∞ Busch,F-Reis,N Bad Homburg 2009) 8.0-0 a6 (8...Bd6 9.Be3 a6 10.Be2 Bxh2+ 11.Kh1 Be5 12.Bd4 Bxd4 13.Qxd4° Van Harten,MVan Blitterswijk,M Rijswijk 2008) 9.Bd3 Nf6

10.Kh1 (10.Qe2 d6 11.f4 Be7 12.Be3 b5∞ Fidlin,S-Biastoch,B Walldorf 2017) 10...Be7 11.f4 d6 12.Be3 b5 13.a3 0-0 14.Qf3 Re8∞ Kasalo,M-Ristic,E Brezovica 1988. b) 5...dxc6 b1) 6.Bd3 e5

b11) 7.0-0 Nf6 (7...Bc5 8.Kh1 Bd7 9.Bc4 Nf6 10.Nc3 Bd4 11.Bg5 Bxc3 12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.bxc3∞ Do Hoang Minh,T-Nguyen Quynh L. Vung Tau 2004) 8.Nc3 (8.Nd2 Bg4 (8...Be6!) 9.Qe1 Be7 67

(9...Qc7 10.Nc4 Be6 11.Ne3 Be7 12.Qe2 0-0 13.b3 a5 14.a4 Bc5∞ Maneluk,D-Bryakin,M Moscow 2020) 10.Nc4 Qc7 11.Qc3 Nd7 12.Ne3 Be6 13.Nd5 Qd8 14.Nxe7 Qxe7 15.Be3² Sandalakis,N-Hatzakis,G Iraklion 2007) 8...Be7

9.Kh1 (9.Rb1 0-0 10.h3 Be6 11.Be3 Qc7∞ Tomic,D-Kane,R Djenovici 2018) 9...0-0 10.f4?! (10.h3 Be6 11.f4 exf4 12.Bxf4 Qxb2 13.Be5 Nd7µ Morales F.,M-Tsyhanchuk,S Internet 2020) 10...exf4 11.Rxf4 Bd6 12.Rf1 Qc7µ Duchrow,S-Otto,M Germany 1995. b12) 7.Qh5 Qc7 8.0-0 Nf6 9.Qe2 Be7 10.f4 Ng4 11.Kh1 Bc5 12.Nc3 h5 13.Na4 Bd6 14.f5∞ Riera Morilla,E-Hernandez Funes,R Linares 2007. b13) 7.Nd2

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7...Nf6 (7...Be6 8.Nc4? Bxc4 9.Bxc4 Qb4+–+ Pieri,E-Peschardt,S Copenhagen 2007) 8.Nc4 Qc7 9.b3 Bb4+ 10.Bd2 Bxd2+ 11.Qxd2 0-0 12.0-0 Be6= Rodriguez Lorenzo,Y-Rosso Lizza,P Isla Bonita 2004. b2) 6.Nd2

6...Nf6 (6...e5!? 7.Nc4 Qc7 8.f4 exf4 9.e5 Be6 10.Bxf4 Bc5∞; 6...Qc7 7.Nc4 Be6∞, according to IM Robert Zysk) 7.Nc4 (7.e5 Ng4 8.Qe2 Qa5 9.f4 Nh6 10.c3 Be6∞) 7...Qc7 8.e5 Nd5 9.Qe2 Be6 10.Bd2 g6∞ Gocheva,R-Giaidzi,A Kavala 1990. b3) 6.Nc3 e5 7.Bc4 (7.Rb1 Be6 8.Be3 Qc7 9.a3 Nf6 10.f3 Be7 11.Bd3 0-0 12.0-0 Rfd8= Capion,JPeschardt,S Ballerup 2009; 7.Be2 Be6 8.0-0 Rd8 9.Qe1 Ne7 10.b3 Ng6 11.Be3 Qc7= Jang,K-Pg,L Jakarta 2011) 7...Nf6 8.h3 (8.0-0 Be7 9.Bb3 0-0 10.Be3 Qc7 11.h3 b5 12.a3 a5∞ Bowers,DBlakeman,C Internet 2020) 8...Bb4

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9.Bd2 (9.Qf3? 0-0 (9...Qd4!µ) 10.0-0 Be6 11.Bxe6 fxe6 12.Qe2 Rad8 13.Bd2∞ Nyuli,L-Makay,M Budapest 2019) 9...Bd7 10.Qe2 0-0 11.0-0-0 Qc7 12.g4 b5 13.Bb3 a5∞ Antal,A-Mester,A Hungary 2007. 6.Bd3

White’s alternatives are: a) 6.c4 (aiming to control more space and central squares) 6...e5 (6...Nf6 7.Nc3 d6 8.Be2 e5 9.0-0 Be7 10.Qc2 0-0 11.Be3 Qc7 12.Rac1 Be6= Anglada Lobarte,J-Danailov,S Zaragoza 1992) 7.Nc3 Nf6 (7...Bc5 8.Qf3 Nf6 9.Be2 d6 10.h3 Be6 11.0-0 Bd4∞ Ortega Gonzalez,J-Garcia Roman,J

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Malaga 2010) 8.Bd3

8...Be7 (8...Bc5 9.Qc2 Bd4 10.0-0 d6 11.b3 h5 12.Bb2∞ Dobschat,B-Postojev,A Bad Mergentheim 2003) 9.0-0 d6 10.b3 0-0 11.Be3 Qb7= Dervishi,E-Grivas,E Katerini 1993 - see the analyzed game in the Endgame Technique chapter. b) 6.Nc3 e5 (6...e6 7.Bd3 Nf6 8.Rb1 Be7 9.0-0 0-0 10.e5 Nd5 11.Nxd5 exd5 12.Kh1 Ba6 13.f4 Bxd3 14.Qxd3 d6 15.exd6 Bxd6= Chetina,E-Tiunova,A Izhevsk 2009) 7.Bc4 Nf6 8.0-0 (8.a3 Be7 9.0-0 0-0= Saltis,P-Grivas,E Karditsa 1995) 8...Be7

9.Rb1 (9.Be3? Qxb2 10.Qd3 Qb7 11.f4 d6 12.fxe5 dxe5 13.Bg5 Qd7µ Navarrete Espi,S-Nikolov,R Albena 2011) 9...0-0 10.Be3 Qc7 11.f3 Rd8 12.Bb3 Bb7∞ Uta,A-Endress,A Pardubice 2009. 71

c) 6.Nd2 (trying to exploit Black’s backward development and the exposed black queen) 6...d5 (6...e5?! 7.Nc4 Qc7 8.f4! d6 (8...exf4 9.e5±) 9.fxe5 dxe5 10.Qh5 Nf6 11.Qxe5+ Qxe5 12.Nxe5 Nxe4 13.Nxc6±; 6...d6 7.Nc4 Qc7 8.f4 Nf6 9.e5 Nd7 10.Qe2 dxe5 11.fxe5 e6 12.Bf4 Ba6∞; 6...c5 7.Nc4 Qc7 8.Be2 Bb7 9.Bf3²) 7.c4

7...e6 (risky is 7...d4 8.c5 Qxc5 9.Nb3 Qb4+ 10.Bd2 Qd6 11.Rc1 (11.f4!?) 11...e5 12.Na5 Bd7 13.Bd3 Nf6 14.0-0 Be7 15.f4 and White has certain compensation for the sacrificed pawn. Of course, both sides can deviate earlier, but in general White’s lead in development should not be underestimated) 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.exd5 exd5 10.Bd3 Nf6 11.0-0 Be7 12.Re1 Be6 13.Nb3 0-0 14.Be3². According to IM Robert Zysk, set-ups with 5.Nxc6 and 6.Nd2, offer some prospects for players playing White that are not deterred by Medusa’s ugly and extremely lethal looking! d) 6.b3

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6...Nf6 (6...Qb4+?! 7.Nd2 Nf6 8.Bd3 e6 9.Bb2 Be7 10.0-0² Vlasenko,K-Janev,B Golden Sands 2011; 6...e6 7.Bb2 Bc5 8.Qd2 f6 (8...Nf6!∞) 9.Nc3 Qc7 10.Be2 Ne7 11.f4 0-0 12.0-0-0 d5∞ Hommer,J-Krause,M Magdeburg 2014) 7.Bd3 g6 8.Bb2 Bg7 9.0-0 (9.Nc3 0-0 10.0-0∞ Mamatov,MMinko,V St Petersburg 2018) 9...d5=. e) 6.Bc4 Nf6 (6...Qb4+ 7.Nd2 e6 8.a3 Qb6 9.0-0 d5 10.exd5 cxd5 11.Be2 Nf6∞ Ramadan,EBangha,O Hungary 2017) 7.Nc3 d6 8.0-0 g6 9.Bb3 (9.Rb1 Bg7 10.Re1 Qc7 11.Bf4 e5 12.Bg5 0-0 13.Qf3 Bg4 14.Qg3 Be6∞ Juvan,J-Nikolic,S Sentjur 2013) 9...Bg7 10.Be3 Qc7 11.f3 (11.h3 0-0 12.f4 a5 13.a4 Rb8 14.Rb1 Rb4³ Rolinek,F-Malcanek,J Tabor 2013) 11...0-0= Stergar,L-Zozulia,A Goch 2010. 6...e5

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The principal move although it seems that Black can try a different pawn formation: a) 6...d6 7.Nc3 Nf6 8.0-0 e6 (8...g6 9.Kh1 Bg7 10.f4 0-0 11.Qe1 (11.Rb1 Ng4³ Sheine,J-Jones,C New York 1986; 11.f5 Nd7 12.Qe1 Ne5 13.Qg3 Rb8∞ Rubinstein Salzedo,S-Ugarte S.,C Internet 2009) 11...Bd7∞ Navarrete Espi,S-Ghvamberia,N Albena 2011) 9.Ne2 (9.Rb1 Be7 10.Be3 Qc7= Gokkaya,E-Stoyanov,I Kemer 2009) 9...Be7 10.Ng3 0-0 11.b3 a5= Perenyi,B-Grunberg,H Leipzig 1988. b) 6...g6 7.Qe2 (7.0-0 Bg7 8.c3 d6 9.Nd2 Nf6 10.Nc4 Qc7 11.Bf4 Nh5 12.Bd2 0-0∞ Guidi Garcia,W-Eman Sardinas,J Carabobo 2019) 7...Bg7 8.Nd2 d6 9.0-0 Nf6 10.Kh1 0-0 11.Nc4 Qc7= Geronimi,P-Vilaisarn,A Bastia 2011. 7.0-0 Or 7.Nd2 Nf6 8.Qe2 Be7 9.f4 d6 10.Nc4 Qc7 11.Bd2 Be6 (11...0-0 12.0-0 Bg4 13.Qe1 Be6∞) 12.Na5?! (12.fxe5 dxe5 13.0-0 0-0=) 12...Rb8 (12...exf4! 13.Nb3 g5³) 13.f5 Bc8 14.Nc4∞ Fedoseev,V-Erdogdu,M Minsk 2017. 7...Nf6

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8.Nd2 Other possible continuations are: a) 8.Nc3 Be7 a1) 9.Rb1 0-0 10.Be3 (10.Bg5?! h6 11.Bxf6 Bxf6 12.Bc4 Be7 13.Qe2 Bb7 14.Rfd1 Rad8³ Marchis,A-Posedaru,B Satu Mare 2011) 10...Qc7 11.f4

11...exf4 (11...d5? 12.exd5 Ng4 13.Qe2 Nxe3 14.Qxe3± Vorontsov,P-Zsiltzova Lisenko,L Kiev 2009) 12.Bxf4 d6 13.h3 Be6 14.Qe2 Nd7∞ Perez G.,N-Kurajica,B Tenerife 2019.

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a2) 9.a3 0-0 10.Rb1 d5 11.exd5 cxd5 12.Bg5 Bb7³ Dalvi,S-Grivas,E Dubai 2019. a3) 9.Na4 Qc7 10.c4 d6 11.b4 0-0 12.Rb1 Be6 13.Nc3 Rfd8 14.Qe2 d5= Rosen,W-Middendorf,F Germany 1988. b) 8.Kh1

8...d6 (8...d5!? 9.Nc3 d4 10.Ne2 Bd6 11.c3 c5 12.b4∞) 9.f4 Be7 10.Qe1 exf4 11.Rxf4 0-0∞ Ramirez Rus,F-Martinez Martinez,M Cullera 2004. c) 8.b3 d5 (8...Be7 9.Bb2 d6 10.Nd2 Be6 11.Qe2 0-0= Degraeve,J-Golod,V Germany 2008; 8...Qc7 9.Nd2 Be7 10.Nf3 0-0∞ Vallespin Morales,A-Minguela M.,B De los Reyes 2019) 9.Nd2 (9.exd5 cxd5 10.c4 e4! 11.Re1 Bc5 12.Be3 Bxe3 13.Rxe3 Ng4 14.Re2 0-0µ Santos,A-Damous,F Fortaleza 2010) 9...Bg4

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10.Qe1 Bd6 11.h3 Bd7 12.Bb2 0-0 13.Qe2 Rfe8 14.Rac1 a5 15.a4 Rad8∞ Maslak,K-Golod,V Dos Hermanas 2004. 8...Be7 Black has tried to be smart with 8...Qc7 9.Nc4

a) 9...Bc5 10.Bg5 d6 (10...Be7?! 11.f4 h6 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.fxe5 Bxe5 14.Qh5 Bd4+ (14...d6 15.Nxe5 dxe5 16.Bc4± Zhigalko,A-Vavra,P Pardubice 2000) 15.Kh1 g6 16.Qh4 d6 17.e5!+–; 10...h6 11.Bxf6 (11.Bh4 g5 12.Bg3 d6 13.c3 a5∞ Mencos,C-Orozco Lopez,L Medellin 2009) 11...gxf6 12.Ne3 d6 13.Qf3±) 11.Bxf6 gxf6 12.Qf3 Ke7 13.Ne3 Rg8! 14.Rae1 Rg5 15.h4 Rg7 16.c3 a5∞

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Ficco,C-Della Corte,A Napoli 2007. b) 9...d5?! 10.exd5 cxd5 11.Nxe5! Qxe5 12.Re1 Ne4

13.Bb5+! (A suggested novelty. Wrong is the immediate 13.f3? Bc5+ 14.Be3 Bxe3+ 15.Rxe3 0-0 16.fxe4 f5!µ Voloshin,L-Golod,V Pardubice 2002) 13...Bd7 14.Bxd7+ Kxd7 15.f3 Bc5+ 16.Be3 Bxe3+ 17.Rxe3 Ke7 18.c4! (18.fxe4? dxe4∞) 18...Qxb2 19.Re2 (19.fxe4 Qb6 20.Qe1 dxc4 21.Rb1 Qc6 22.Qb4+ Ke6∞) 19...Qb6+ 20.Kh1 dxc4 21.Rxe4+ Kf8 22.Rb1 Qc6 23.Rc1±. 9.Nc4 9.b3 0-0 10.Bb2 d6 11.Nc4 Qc7= Mauro,A-Skembris,S Cesenatico 2007, or 9.Qe2 d6 10.b3 Bg4 11.Nf3 h6 12.a4 0-0 13.h3 Be6= Kofidis,A-Grivas,E Xanthi 1991. 9...Qc7 10.f4 d6 11.fxe5 dxe5 12.Qf3 12.Bd2!? 0-0 13.Ba5 Qb8 14.Bc3 Nd7∞. 12...0-0 12...Be6?! 13.Qg3!² Borosova,Z-Tsifanskaya,L Szombathely 2003. 13.Qg3 Re8!∞

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Hector,J-Grivas,E Katerini 1992 - see the analyzed game in the Middlegame Strategy chapter.

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Variation A8 - Medusa - 5.Nb5 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb5

This is the main alternative to 5.Nb3. It has recently enjoyed a respectable theoretical status and many players playing with the white pieces have included it in their repertoire. Black has at his disposal two main choices: 5...a6 and 5...Nf6. R Variation A81 - Medusa - 5...a6 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb5 a6

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6.Be3 White gains nothing after 6.N5c3 e6 (6...Nf6 7.Na3 e6 8.Nc4 Qc7 9.Bg5 Nxe4 10.Nxe4 d5= Uurtsaikh,U-Beinenson,K Vung Tau 2008) a) 7.Nd2 Bc5 8.Qe2 Qc7 9.Nb3 Be7 10.f4 d6 11.Be3 b5 12.a3 Nf6 13.Qf3 Rb8 14.Bd3 0-0∞ Pegoraro,N-Zoldan,M Bratto 2006. b) 7.Be2 Nf6 8.0-0 Be7 9.Qd3 (9.Bf3 0-0 10.Nd2 Qc7 11.Nb3 b5 12.Be3 Bb7 13.Re1 Ne5µ

Turkova,K-Kourousis,E Prague 2014; 9.Nd2 Qc7 10.a4 d5 (10...0-0 11.f4 d6∞) 11.exd5 exd5 12.Nb3 0-0 13.Nxd5 Nxd5 14.Qxd5 Nb4 15.Qe4 Nxc2 16.Bf4 Qc6= Santopietro,G-Aguero Arce,M 81

Madariaga 2014) 9...d5 10.exd5 Nb4 11.Qd1 Nbxd5 12.Nxd5 Nxd5 13.c4 Nf6 14.Nc3 Bd7= Rantanen,Y-Seeman,T Jyvaskyla 2010. c) 7.b3 Bb4 8.Bd2 Nf6 9.Bd3 Ne5³ Krongold,B-Pinto,E Sao Paulo 2014. d) 7.Bd3 Nf6 (7...Qc7 8.0-0 b5 9.a3 Nf6 10.Bg5 Be7 11.Nd2 Rb8 12.Qe2 d6= Danilovic,MKnezevic,B Budva 1996) 8.0-0 Be7 9.Nd2 0-0 10.Kh1 d5 11.exd5 exd5 12.Nb3 Rd8 13.Bf4 Bg4 14.Qe1 Rac8= Dvoirys,S-Lastin,A Perm 1997. After the text Black has two main replies: 6...Qa5+ and 6...Qd8. § Variation A811 - Medusa - 6...Qa5+ 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb5 a6 6.Be3 Qa5+

Somehow the text looks a little bit dubious. The exposed queen will help White accelerate his development. 7.N5c3 Not that good is 7.Bd2?! Qd8 8.N5c3 (8.N5a3 e6 9.Bd3 Nf6 10.0-0 Be7 11.Re1 d6 12.Nc3 0-0³ Vassallo,M-Iduate,G Montevideo 2019) a) 8...b5 9.Be2 Nf6 10.Bf3 Rb8 11.Bf4 d6 12.0-0 Bb7 13.Re1 e6 14.Nd2 Be7= Acarbay,AKhurtsidze,N Kemer 2007. b) 8...e6

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9.a4 (9.Bc4 b5 10.Bb3 Qh4 11.0-0 Bb7∞ Ferrer Mygina,J-Queirolo Perez,M Palmanova 2015) 9...d6 10.Na3 b6 11.Bd3 Nf6 12.0-0 Qc7 13.Bf4 Ne5∞ Kovacs,B-Dekany,L Hungary 2015. c) 8...Nf6 9.Bd3 e6 10.0-0 b5 (10...Be7 11.Ne2 0-0 12.Nbc3 b5³ Ochowicz,J-Garbowski,J Szklarska Poreba 2019) 11.Re1 Ne5³ Nemeth,M-Grabics,M Koszeg 2000. 7...e6 Dubious seems to be 7...Nf6?! 8.Nd2! (8.f3 e6 9.Be2 d5 10.0-0 d4 (10...Bc5!?³) 11.Bxd4 (11.Bf2? dxc3 12.Nxc3 Bc5–+ Ozsarilar,O-Sumer,G Kemer-Antalya 2011) 11...Qb4! (11...Nxd4 12.Qxd4 Bc5 13.Bb5+±) 12.Bxf6 Qxb2 13.Nd5 gxf6 14.Nc7+ Ke7 15.Nxa8 Qxa1³) 8...b5 a) 9.Nb3 Qc7 (9...Qd8 10.Nd5 Rb8 11.Nxf6+ gxf6 12.Qh5² Tomiello,L-Alvarez Angel,N Guayaquil 2019)

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10.Nd5! (10.Be2?! e6 11.a3 Bb7 (11...Be7 12.0-0 0-0 13.f4 d6 14.Qe1 Bb7∞ Louka,M-Skembris,S Loutraki 2015) 12.0-0 d6 13.f4 Be7 14.Bf3 0-0∞ Binnendijk,F-Glasbeek,S Enschede 2009, transposes to the Hestia Variation) 10...Nxd5 11.exd5 Ne5 12.d6!². b) 9.a4! b4 10.Nc4 Qc7

11.Nd5! Nxd5 12.exd5 Ne5 13.Bb6 (13.d6 exd6 14.Nb6 Rb8 15.Nd5 (15.Qe2 Rxb6 16.Bxb6 Qxb6 17.f4 f6µ Amellal,S-Carmona Huertas,J Benidorm 2017) 15...Qc6 16.f4 Bb7 17.fxe5 Qxd5 18.Qxd5 Bxd5 19.0-0-0 Be4 20.exd6 Rc8 21.Bd3 Bxd3 22.Rxd3± Ros Alonso,J-Ghelani,D Barbera del Valles 2018) 13...Qb8 14.Qd4 (14.a5 Nxc4 15.Bxc4 Qe5+ 16.Qe2 Qxe2+ 17.Kxe2² Franco V.,A-Orozco L.,L Ibague 2013) 14...Nxc4 15.Bxc4

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15...a5 (15...h5 16.d6 e6 17.0-0-0± Schuermans,R-Peyrin,J Chambery 2007) 16.d6 e6 17.0-0-0 Ba6 18.Bb3 Rg8 19.Rhe1 Qb7 20.Bd5 Qc8 21.Bxe6 1–0 Martinez,A-Hosdurga,C London 2018.

8.Nd2 Alternatives are: a) 8.Bd3 a1) 8...Nf6 9.0-0 Be7 (9...b5 10.Nd2 d6 11.a4 b4 12.Nc4 Qc7 13.Ne2² Kadlec,D-Bechyne,J Kadan 2014) 10.Nd2 Qc7 11.f4 d6 12.a4 0-0 13.Qf3 Nb4∞ Fiszer,B-Karykowska,A Szczyrk 2017.

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a2) 8...b5 9.Nd2 Qc7

10.f4 (10.0-0 Nf6 11.f4∞ Yudasin,L-Polgar,J Madrid 1992) 10...d6 11.0-0 Nf6 12.Qf3 Bb7 13.Qh3 (13.Rae1 Nb4 14.Qg3∞ Drei,A-Borgo,G Reggio Emilia 1999) 13...Be7 14.Rae1 Nb4 15.a3 Nxd3 16.cxd3= Repkova,E-Zhelnin,V Pardubice 1992. a3) 8...d5 9.Nd2 Bb4 10.0-0 Nf6 11.Nb3 Qc7∞ Coutinho,S-Lucena,L Brasilia 2014. b) 8.a3 Nf6 9.Nd2 b5

10.a4 (10.f4 d6 11.Bd3 Be7 12.0-0 0-0 13.Qf3 e5 14.Nb3 Qc7 15.Nd5 Nxd5 16.exd5 exf4 17.Bxf4 Ne5= Rodrigues,A-Fuentes,A Buenos Aires 1992) 10...b4 11.Nc4 Qc7∞ Tulwin,M-Gajewski,G Warsaw 2009. 86

c) 8.Be2 b5 9.Nd2 Nf6 (9...Bb4? 10.a4! (10.Ncb1? Nf6 11.c3 Be7 12.0-0 0-0 13.f4 Bb7³ Joo,GGrabics,M Hungary 2003) 10...Bxc3 11.axb5 Bxd2+ 12.Bxd2 Qb6 13.bxc6 Qxc6 14.0-0±) 10.0-0

10...Qc7 (10...Be7 11.f4 d6 (11...b4? 12.Nc4 Qc7 13.e5? (13.Nd5!±) 13...bxc3³ Bazaj B.,SGrabics,M Pula 2001) 12.Bf3 Qc7, transposes) 11.f4 (11.Re1 Bd6 12.h3 Bh2+ 13.Kh1 Be5∞ Krstic,S-Vasiukov,E Marianske Lazne 2016; 11.a3 Bb7 12.f4 d6 13.Qe1 Be7 14.Qf2 0-0∞ Karavaeva,N-Shurunov,A Izhevsk 2014) 11...d6 12.Bf3 Be7

13.a4 (13.g4 Nd7 14.g5 Nc5 15.a3 Rb8 16.b4 Nd7 17.Ne2 Nb6 18.Kh1 Bb7∞ Panarin,M-Petrov,A Volgodonsk 2007) 13...b4 14.Ne2 Rb8 15.Nb3 e5 16.a5 0-0 17.f5∞ ½-½ Almasi,I-Csom,I Zalakaros 1995.

87

8...b5

White was better after 8...Bb4 9.Nc4 Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 Qxc3+ 11.Bd2 Qd4 12.c3! Qf6 (12...Qxe4+ 13.Be3 Qd5 14.Qg4± Ruszin,A-Mak,B Hungary 2006) 13.Qh5 Nge7 14.Nd6+ Kf8 15.Rd1± Donchev,D-Teo Kok S. Thessaloniki 1988, or after 8...Nf6 9.Nc4 Qc7 (9...Qd8 10.Bb6 Qe7 11.e5+– Pick,M-Kliffken,J Magdeburg 2019) 10.Bb6 Qb8 11.Be2 Bb4 12.0-0 0-0 13.Bf3 Ne5 14.Nxe5 Qxe5 15.Bd4 Qc7 16.e5± Volokitin,A-Areshchenko,A Kiev 1999. But interesting and probably preferable is 8...Qc7!

a) 9.Bd3 Nf6 10.a4 (10.0-0 h5 11.h3 b5 12.Re1 Bb7 13.a4 b4 14.Ne2 Ne5∞ Zvan,Z-Sedlak,N Murska Sobota 2007) 10...Ne5 11.a5 Bc5 12.Bxc5 Qxc5 13.Be2 d6 14.Nb3 Qc7∞ Kryvoruchko,Y88

Zeng,C Al Ain 2015. b) 9.Nc4 b5 10.Nb6 Rb8 11.Nxc8 Rxc8 12.a4 b4 13.Nb1 Ra8 14.Nd2 Nf6 15.f4 d5∞ Lugo,BArmas,A Cuba 1988. c) 9.Na4 b5 10.Nb6 Rb8 11.Nxc8 Qxc8

12.Be2 (12.a4 Nf6 13.axb5 axb5 14.Be2 Be7 15.0-0 0-0 16.f4 Rd8 17.c3 d5∞ Shevelev,A-Babula,V Jerusalem 2015) 12...Nf6 13.f4 d5 14.e5 Nd7 15.Nb3 g5 16.0-0 gxf4 17.Bxf4 Bg7∞ Frank,ABabula,V Pardubice 2020. 9.a4! Unchallenging is 9.a3 d6 10.g3 Bb7 11.Bg2 Qc7 12.0-0 Nf6 13.Qe2 Be7 14.f4 0-0= Bisco,IPlachetka,T Trencin 1991. 9...b4 10.Nc4 Qc7

89

11.Nd5! This typical knight sacrifice is the best way for White to utilize his opening advantage. In the game Arnason,J-Avshalumov,A Belgrade 1988, Black faced no problems after the naive 11.Nb1?! a5 12.Nb6 Rb8 13.Nxc8 Rxc8 14.Nd2 Nf6 15.Ba6 Ra8 16.Bb5 Be7 17.0-0 0-0, or 11.Ne2 Bb7 12.Bf4 e5 13.Be3 Nf6∞ Perenyi,B-Peric,S Nagykanizsa 1988. 11...exd5 12.exd5

12...Nd8 90

Alternatives are also not very helpful: a) 12...d6 13.dxc6 Qxc6 14.Nb6 Rb8 15.Nxc8 Rxc8 16.Qe2 Be7 17.Qxa6+– Zakurdjaeva,IRantanen,T Tallinn 1997. b) 12...Nf6 13.Qe2 (13.dxc6 Qxc6 14.Be2 d5 15.Nb6± Antok,D-Molnar,I Hungary 2001) 13...Be7 14.d6 Qb8 15.Bc5+– Thoren,P-Petrov,M Umel 1997. c) 12...Bb7 13.dxc6 Bxc6 14.Qe2± Gerhardt,F-Paehtz,W Germany 1998. 13.Qe2! 13.Bb6 Qb7 14.Qe2+ Ne6 15.dxe6 dxe6 16.Qd3 Bd7 17.Be2± Shytaj,L-Sax,G Bratto 2004. 13...d6 13...Ne6 14.dxe6 fxe6 15.Nb6± Jurlina,R-Vatter,H Baden 2002. 14.Bb6+ Qe7 15.Nxd6+ Kd7

16.Ne4! Bb7 16...Nf6? 17.Qb5+! axb5 18.Bxb5+ Nc6 19.Bxc6#. 17.0-0-0 f5 18.Nc5+ Ke8 19.d6+– Qxe2 20.Bxe2 Nf6 21.Bxd8 Bxg2 22.Bxf6 Bxh1 23.Bh5+ g6 24.Bxh8

91

1–0 Ehlvest,J-Smirin,I Moscow 1992. § Variation A812 - Medusa - 6...Qd8 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb5 a6 6.Be3 Qd8

‘Modest’ but secure. 7.N5c3 White has the following alternatives at his disposal:

92

a) 7.N5a3 a1) 7...Nf6 8.Nc4 (8.Nc3 e6 9.Nc4 b5 10.Nb6 (10.e5?! bxc4 11.exf6 d5 12.fxg7 Bxg7³ Igler,SDekany,L Hungary 2008) 10...Rb8 11.Nxc8 Qxc8=) 8...d6 9.Bb6 Qd7 10.Nc3 e6 11.Qe2² De Paiva,P-Pereira,G Laranjeiras 2012. a2) 7...b5 8.c4 b4 9.Nc2 Nf6

10.Nd2 (10.g4 d6 11.Be2 Bb7 12.Nd2 g6 13.h4 h5∞ Arandjelovic,A-Zufic,M V. Gorica 2013) 10...Bb7 (10...d6 11.Nxb4! (11.Be2 Bb7 12.0-0 g6 13.f4 Bg7 14.Bf3 Nd7∞ Poprukailo,I-Idelchik,L Soviet Union 1967) 11...Nxb4 12.Qa4+ Bd7 13.Qxb4 Ng4°) 11.f4 d6 12.Qf3 g6 13.0-0-0 Bg7 14.e5 dxe5 15.fxe5 Nd7 16.e6 fxe6∞ Gurevich,I-Polgar,J New York 1992. b) 7.Nd4

93

7...e5 (7...e6 8.Nc3 Nf6 9.g3 d6 10.Bg2 Bd7 11.0-0 Be7 12.Qe2 0-0 13.Rad1 Qc7∞ Kupreichik,VArzumanian,G Tula 2004, or 7...Nf6 8.Nc3 d6 9.f3 Nxd4 10.Qxd4 g6 11.0-0-0 Bg7 12.Qd2 Qa5∞ Kobalia,M-Bistric,F Neum 2002) b1) 8.Nb3 Nf6 (8...d6 9.Nc3 Be6 10.Be2 h6 11.0-0 Be7 12.f4 exf4 13.Bxf4² Krieger,H-Daebel,H Freudenstadt 2015) 9.Bg5 (9.Nc3?! Bb4

10.Qd3 (10.f3 d5 11.exd5 Nxd5 12.Bd2 Nxc3 13.Bxc3 Bxc3+ 14.bxc3 0-0 15.Bd3 Qg5µ Dreisler,T-Caceres,C Copenhagen 2010) 10...d5µ Rath,M-Grivas,E Munich 1987) 9...Bb4+! 10.N1d2 d5 11.Bxf6 gxf6 12.c3 Be7∞ Doggers,P-Brodsky,M Hoogeveen 2004. b2) 8.Nf5 Nf6 9.Nc3 d5 10.exd5 Nb4 11.Ng3 Nbxd5³ Shabalov,A-Yermolinsky,A North Bay 94

1994. b3) 8.Nxc6 bxc6 9.Bc4 Nf6 10.Nc3 Bb4∞ Corredor G.,A-La Pena Redo,T Madrid 2008 & Perez Aleman,P-Kurajica,B Las Palmas 2011. b4) 8.Ne2 Nf6

9.Nbc3 (9.Nec3 Bb4 10.a3 Ba5 11.Bc4 b5 12.Bb3∞ Orekhov,V-Balashov,Y Lesnoj Gorodok 2009) 9...d5 (9...Bb4 10.a3 Ba5 11.b4 Bb6 12.Bxb6 Qxb6 13.Qd6 Qd8 14.Ng3 Qe7 15.Nf5² Valerga,DPichot,A Villa Martelli 2013; 9...Ng4!? 10.Qd2 Nxe3 11.Qxe3 Qa5∞) 10.Nxd5 Nxe4 (10...Nxd5 11.exd5 Nb4 12.Nc3 Bf5 13.Rc1 Rc8 14.Qd2 Bc5 15.a3± Kwiatkowski,F-Zhou,Y Great Yarmouth 2007) 11.f3 Nc5 12.Nec3 Be6∞. b5) 8.Nf3 Nf6

95

b51) 9.Bc4 Qa5+ 10.Nbd2 Nxe4 11.0-0 Nxd2 12.Bxd2 Qc5 13.Qe2 Be7∞ Svicevic,RKovacevic,P Tivat 1995. b52) 9.Nbd2 Ng4 (9...d5!³) 10.Qe2 Nxe3 11.Qxe3 Be7∞ Rafalski,K-Graczyk,P Wloclawek 2016. b53) 9.Bg5 Be7 (9...Bc5 10.Bd3 h6 11.Bxf6 Qxf6 12.Nc3 Ne7=) 10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.Nc3 0-0∞ Fragiadakis,E-Kolomvakis,S Iraklion 2014. b54) 9.Nc3 Bb4

10.Bc4 (10.Bg5 0-0 11.Bc4 h6 12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.0-0 Bxc3 14.bxc3 d6= Perez Tores,J-Bover de la Cruz,P Granada 2009) 10...0-0 11.Qd3 d5 (11...Bxc3+ 12.bxc3 d6, or 12...Qc7, transposes to the next chapter) 12.Bxd5 Nxd5 13.Qxd5 (13.exd5 Ne7 14.0-0-0 Bf5 15.Qc4 Bxc3 16.bxc3 b5°) 96

13...Bxc3+ 14.bxc3 Be6 15.Qxd8 Rfxd8 16.0-0 Rac8= ½-½ Micic,S-Ilic,Z Novi Becej 1994. 7...e6

8.Be2 In this position White has tried several moves: a) 8.g3 Nf6 9.Bg2 Be7 (9...Bb4 10.0-0 0-0 11.f4 d6 12.Kh1 Re8 13.Bg1 d5∞ Rodriguez Cespedes,AAlvarez,J Colon 1993; 9...Qc7 10.0-0 Ne5 11.Nd2 Neg4 12.Bf4 e5 13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.exd5 d6∞ Yeo,M-Corkett,A Eastleigh 2005)

97

10.0-0 0-0 11.a4 Qc7 12.Na3 Rb8∞ Cuasnicu,O-Panno,O Buenos Aires 1988. b) 8.a4 Nf6 9.Be2 (9.a5?! Bb4 10.Bb6 Qe7³ Mehta,P-Priyadharshan,K Nagpur 2008; 9.Bc4 Be7 10.0-0 0-0 11.f4 Qc7 12.Nd2 d6 13.Qf3 Rb8 14.Kh1 Re8∞ Malisauskas,V-Epishin,V Podolsk 1989) 9...Be7 (9...d5 10.exd5 exd5 11.Bf3 Be6 12.0-0 Be7 13.Na3 0-0= Sievert,B-Grivas,E Munich 1987) 10.0-0 0-0 11.Nd2 (11.f4 d5³) 11...d5 12.exd5 Nxd5 13.Nxd5 exd5=. c) 8.f4 d6 9.Nd2 Nf6

10.Qf3 (10.Nc4 b5 11.Nb6 Rb8 12.Nxc8 Rxc8 13.Bd3 d5! (13...Be7 14.a4 b4 15.Ne2 a5∞ Hanley,C-Smith,A Port Erin 2005) 14.exd5 Nxd5 15.Nxd5 Qxd5 16.0-0 Nb4³) 10...Be7 11.Bd3 b5? (11...Qc7 12.0-0 0-0∞) 12.0-0? (12.e5!±) 12...Bb7 13.Rae1 Qc7∞ Repkova,E-Grabics,M Krk 2004. d) 8.Nd2 b5

98

9.a4 (9.Be2 Nf6 (9...Bb4?! 10.0-0 Nge7 11.a4 Bxc3 12.bxc3 bxa4 13.c4 0-0 14.c5 f5 15.f3 f4 16.Bf2 Ng6 17.Nc4± Somorai,Z-Varga,I Hungary 2005) 10.0-0 d6 11.f4 Be7 12.Bf3 Qc7 (12...Bb7∞) 13.g4 Nd7∞ Zatulovskaya,T-Erenska Barlo,H Palma de Mallorca 1989) 9...b4 10.Ne2 (10.Nd5? - in the current situation this typical sacrifice is not good enough - 10...exd5 11.exd5 Nce7 (11...Na5 12.Qe2 Qe7 13.d6 Qe6 14.Qh5 Nc6 15.Bc4 Qg6 16.Qe2 Bxd6–+ Fahnenschmidt,G-Guenther,T Bad Woerishofen 2000) 12.Qe2 Nxd5! 13.Bc5+ Be7 14.Nc4 Ngf6 15.Nd6+ Kf8–+ Ehlvest,JYermolinsky,A San Francisco 2000) 10...Nf6 11.Nf4 Bb7∞ Berthelot,Y-Lupu,M Cannes 1995. e) 8.Na4

e1) 8...Nf6 9.Nb6 Rb8 10.Nc3 Bb4∞ Hegeler,A-Jahn,O Hamburg 1990.

99

e2) 8...Bb4+ 9.c3 (9.Nd2 d5 (9...Ba5 10.Qg4 Nf6 11.Qxg7 Rg8 12.Qh6 Rg6 13.Qh3 e5!° Tomic,BKurajica,B Banja Vrucica 2009) 10.c3 Ba5 11.Qg4 Nf6 12.Qxg7 Rg8 13.Qh6 Rg6 14.Qh4 d4 15.Bg5 b5 16.Nc5 dxc3 17.bxc3 Bxc3 18.Rc1 Qd4µ Dabo Peranic,R-Kurajica,B Pula 2001) 9...Ba5 10.Qg4 Nf6 11.Qxg7 Rg8 12.Qh6 Rg6 13.Qh4 Rg4 14.Qh6 Rg6 15.Qh4 Rg4 16.Qh6 ½–½ Ascic,P-Kurajica,B Rabac 2003. e3) 8...b5 9.Nb6 Rb8 10.Nxc8 Qxc8

11.Bf4 (11.g3 Nf6 12.Bg2 Qc7 13.0-0 Be7 14.f4 d6 15.Qe2 0-0 16.c3 Rfe8 17.Nd2 d5∞ Revesz,ZMetaxasz,V Budapest 2006) 11...e5 12.Be3 Nf6 13.Bd3 d5 14.exd5 Nxd5 15.0-0 Nxe3 16.fxe3 Bc5= Kaidanov,G-Yermolinsky,A Asheville 1992. 8...Nf6

100

Although the text is supposed to be the main line, playable is 8...b5 9.f4 Bb7 (9...b4 10.Na4 Rb8 11.Bf3 Qa5 12.b3 Nf6 13.Nd2 d5 14.exd5 exd5 15.0-0 Be7 16.Nc4!± Gross,S-Bakalar,P Czech Republic 1998) 10.0-0 Be7 11.Bf3 d6 12.Nd2 Nf6 13.Qe1 0-0 14.Qg3 Kh8 (14...Nd7 15.Nb3 Qc7∞ Moreno Alcaraz,J-Alvarez Albiol,V Padron 2016) 15.Qh3 Rc8 16.g4 d5∞ Hendriks,W-Ilic,Z Sas van Gent 1994. 9.0-0 Black was more than fine after 9.f4 d5!

10.exd5 (10.e5?! Nd7 11.Bf3 g5! 12.fxg5 Ndxe5µ 13.Bxd5?! exd5 14.Nxd5 Bg4!–+ Rogers,I-

101

Karpman,V Belgrade 1988) 10...exd5 (10...Nxd5 11.Nxd5 Qxd5 12.Qxd5 exd5 13.c3 Bd6 14.Bf3 Ne7∞ Pastor Pons,P-Epishin,V San Sebastian 2015) 11.Bf3 Be6∞. 9...Be7 Or: a) 9...b5 a1) 10.a3 d6 11.Nd2 Be7 12.f4 Bb7

13.Kh1 (13.Nb3 0-0 14.Bf3 Rc8 15.Qd2 Nd7 16.Rad1 Nb6∞ Dev Kumar J,E-Priyadharshan,K Chakradharpur 2009; 13.Qe1 0-0 14.Qg3 Nd7 (14...d5 15.Rad1 d4 16.Nb3 Qb6 17.Nxd4 Bc5 18.Qf2± Hase,P-Svoboda,Z Prague 1996) 15.Rad1 Qc7∞) 13...0-0 14.Bf3 Qc7= Koursaris,NDelithanasis,D Athens 2004. a2) 10.Nd2 Bb7 11.f4 d6 12.Bf3 Qc7

102

13.Nb3 (13.Qe1 Be7 14.Qg3 h5 (14...0-0, is fine) 15.e5∞ Sysoykina,L-Markelova,L Ivanovo 2011) 13...Be7 14.Qe2 0-0 15.Rad1 Rfe8= Khakimov,T-Gazizov,R Samara 2002. b) 9...d6 10.a4 Be7 11.Na3 Rb8 12.f4 0-0 13.Bf3 Qc7 14.Qe2 Re8∞ Malmdin,N-Cramling,P Vasteras 2016. 10.f4 d6

11.Bf3 11.Nd2 0-0 12.a4 d5! (12...Qc7 13.Nc4 Nd7 14.a5± Bodrogi,L-Kiss,P Budapest 2013) 13.e5 d4³. 103

11...Qc7 11...0-0 12.a4 Qc7 13.Qe2 Bd7 14.Na3 Nb4!? (14...Na5 15.Qf2 Nc4 16.Nxc4 Qxc4∞ Kohanov,BDavydov,S Perm 2007) 15.Nc4 d5∞. 12.Nd2 Nd7 13.Nb3 b5 14.a3 Bb7 15.Qd3 0-0=

Medeuf,Y-Ravot,S Le G. Bornand 2003. R Variation A82 - Medusa - 5...Nf6 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb5 Nf6

104

6.Be3 The most critical line. Alternatives are: a) 6.N1c3 a6 a1) 7.Be3? Qa5 8.Na3 (8.Nd4 Nxe4 9.Nxc6 dxc6 10.Bd3 Nxc3 11.Qd2 e5–+ Sokolovsky,VLukovnikov,A Voronezh 2008)

8...Nxe4! (8...b5 9.Bd3 e6 10.Nab1 b4 11.Ne2 d5 12.Nd2 Bb7 ½–½ Howell,J-Vokac,M Lazne Bohdanec 1995) 9.Nc4 Nxc3 10.Qd2 Ne4!µ. a2) 7.Nd5? Nxd5 8.exd5 axb5 9.dxc6 bxc6µ Buchmann,P-Rabiega,R Travemuende 2005. 105

a3) 7.Na3 a31) 7...Qd8 8.Be3 (8.Nd5 b5 9.Nxf6+ gxf6 10.c4 b4 11.Nc2∞ Laubsch,B-Vokac,M Pardubice 2008) 8...b5 9.Nd5 Rb8 10.Nxf6+ gxf6 11.Bd3 (11.Be2 Bg7 12.c3 f5∞ Maki,V-Karner,H Finland 1988; 11.c3 Bb7 12.Nc2 Ne5 13.f4 Nc4 14.Bxc4 bxc4 15.Qd4 d5 16.exd5 Qxd5 17.0-0-0 Qxd4 18.Rxd4 Rc8 19.Rhd1 e6∞ Rieping,H-Dimitrov,D Pardubice 2018)

11...d5 (11...e6 12.0-0 Ne5 13.Be2 Bb7 14.f4 Ng6 15.Bd3 Rg8∞ Kotronias,V-Ilic,Z Lenk 1990) 12.exd5 Qxd5 13.0-0 Ne5 14.Be2 Bb7 15.Qxd5 Bxd5 16.Nb1 Rg8 17.f3 Rc8 18.Nc3 Bb7 19.Rac1 Nc4= Bryson,D-Motwani,P Hamilton 2004. a32) 7...Qc7 8.f4 e5 9.Nd5 Nxd5 10.exd5 Bxa3 11.bxa3 Nd4 12.Bd3 exf4 13.0-0° Orlowski,AOkoniewski,A Polanica Zdroj 2009. a33) 7...e6

106

8.Nc4 (8.Bd3 Qc7! 9.Nc4 b5 10.Ne3 Bb7 11.0-0 Be7 12.f4 d6 13.Qe1 0-0³ Zheliandinov,VGufeld,E Leningrad 1971; 8.g3? Bxa3 (8...Bc5! 9.Qd2 Ng4 10.Nd1 Nd4 11.Bg2 Ne5–+) 9.bxa3 Qc5 10.Bb2 b5 11.Bg2 Bb7 12.Rb1 Na5 13.0-0 e5 14.Kh1 0-0µ Shabalov,A-Anastasian,A Podolsk 1990) 8...Qc7 9.Be3 (9.Ne3 Bb4 10.Bd3 0-0 11.0-0 Ne5 12.Bd2∞ Wong Meng KongSkembris,S Thessaloniki 1988; 9.a4 Bb4 10.Qf3 d5

11.Nd2 (11.Bf4? e5 12.exd5 Nd4 (12...Bg4!–+) 13.Qd1 Nxc2+ 14.Qxc2 exf4µ Mukhin,EKasantsev,A Tula 2004) 11...0-0 12.Be2 Ne5 13.Qg3 d4 14.Na2 Nxe4 15.Qf4 Nd3+ 0–1 Bonafede,A-Andreikin,D Iraklion 2002) 9...b5 10.Nb6 (10.Nd2 Bb7 11.f4 d5 12.exd5 exd5 13.Nb3 Rd8µ Kitchen,P-Hibbitt,A West Bromwich 2006) 10...Rb8 11.Nxc8 Rxc8 12.a3 (12.Bd3 Ne5 13.Qe2 Bb4 14.Bd2 Nc4 15.Bxc4 Qxc4 16.Qxc4 Rxc4 17.f3 d5³ Dencsi,T-Horvath,A 107

Hungary 2004) 12...Bd6 (12...Na5 13.f3 Be7 14.Bd3 Nc4∞ Digesh,S-Kobese,W Turin 2006)

13.Qd2 (13.Bxb5? axb5 14.Nxb5 Qa5+ 15.c3 Qxb5 16.Qxd6 Nxe4 17.Qf4 Qxb2 18.0-0 Nxc3 19.Qd6 Nd5 20.Rac1 Qb8 21.Qc5 Nce7 0–1 Arnold,L-Illner,A Schoeneck 1997) 13...Be5 14.f3 00³. b) 6.N5c3 e6 7.Be2 (7.Bd3 Be7 (7...d6 8.0-0 a6 9.b3 Be7 10.Be3 Qc7 11.f3 b5³ Katsogridakis,SGrivas,E Georgioupoli 2002) 8.Be3 Qc7 9.f4 d6 10.Qf3 a6 11.0-0 0-0 12.Qh3 b5 13.Kh1 b4 14.Ne2 e5³ Britton,R-Conquest,S Guernsey 1991)

7...Be7 (7...a6 8.a3 Qc7 9.Be3 b5 10.f4 d6 11.0-0 Be7 12.Nd2 0-0 13.g4 d5 14.exd5 Nxd5 15.Nxd5 exd5 16.Nb3 Re8³ Stisis,Y-Golod,V Tel Aviv 2001) 8.0-0 0-0 9.Nd2 d5 10.exd5 exd5 11.Nb3 d4 108

12.Nb5 Rd8∞ Rantanen,Y-Akopian,V Palma de Mallorca 1989. c) 6.Nd2 d6 7.Nc4 Qd8 8.Nc3 g6 9.Be2 Bg7 10.0-0 0-0∞ Kacharava,N-Blomqvist,E Batumi 2019. 6...Qd8

Weaker is 6...Qa5+?! 7.Qd2! Qd8 (7...Qxd2+ 8.Nxd2 Kd8 9.Bc4±; 7...Nb4 8.N1c3! (8.c3 Nc6 9.f3 a6= Blanchard,G-Clarac,J Paris 1999) 8...a6 9.Nd4±) 8.f3 (8.N1c3 a6 9.Nd4 e5 10.Nb3 Bb4 11.Bd3 d5³ Gress,A-Tabatt,H Stennweiler 2014) 8...a6 9.Nd4 e6 10.Nc3 d6 11.a4² Jeremejev,A-Taenaev,T Estonia 2003. 7.N1c3 Other moves do not interfere with Black’s development: a) 7.f3 a6 8.N5c3

109

8...e6 (8...b5 9.a4 b4 10.Nd5 Rb8 11.Nd2 Na5 12.Nc4 Nxd5 13.Qxd5 Nxc4 14.Bxc4 e6 15.Qd3 Qa5 16.0-0 Bc5 17.Bxc5 Qxc5+ 18.Kh1= Marholev,D-Skembris,S France 2006) 9.Na4 (9.a4 d5 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Nxd5 exd5 12.Bd3 Bd6 13.0-0 0-0 14.Nd2 Qf6µ Pukkila,M-Tissir,M Mallorca 2004) 9...d5

10.Nb6 Rb8 11.exd5 Nxd5 12.Bf2 Be7 13.Nxd5 exd5 14.Nd2 0-0³ Van Riemsdijk,H-Panno,O Mar del Plata 1999. b) 7.N5c3

110

7...e6 (7...d6 8.Be2 g6 9.0-0 Bg7 10.f4 (10.Nd2 0-0= Shalynykh,V-Volodin,I Perm 2007) 10...0-0 11.a4 Bd7 12.Na3 Rc8 13.Nc4 Na5 14.Nd2 Qc7 15.g4 Be6∞ Ginzburg,M-Puyou,G Olavarria 2001) 8.f4 d6 9.Be2 Be7 10.0-0 a6 11.Bf3 0-0 12.a4 Qc7 13.Qe2 Bd7∞ Kohanov,B-Davydov,S Perm 2007. c) 7.Nd2

7...a6 (7...g6 8.c4 Bg7 9.Nc3 0-0 10.Be2 e6 11.0-0 d5 12.exd5 exd5 13.cxd5 Nxd5 14.Nxd5 Qxd5 ½–½ Georgiev,K-Grivas,E Xanthi 1991; 7...d6 8.Be2 g6 9.c4 Bg7 10.0-0 0-0 11.a3 Bd7 12.f3= Bochis,J-Doric,N Schwarzach 2009; 7...d5 8.Nb3 (8.exd5 Nxd5 9.Nc4 e6 10.Bd2 Bc5 11.Ne3 Qb6³ Shalynykh,V-Volodin,I Perm 2006) 8...a6 9.exd5 axb5 10.dxc6 Qxd1+ 11.Kxd1 bxc6= Ninov,NConquest,S San Sebastian 2006) 8.Nc4 (8.Nc3 d6 9.Be2 g6 10.0-0 Bg7 11.Nc4 Be6 12.Bb6 Qc8 13.f4 0-0∞ Pershina,E-Vshivtsev,V Perm 2009) 8...axb5 9.Bb6 bxc4 10.Bxd8 111

10...Kxd8 (10...Nxd8 11.e5 Ng8 (11...Ne4 12.Bxc4 e6 13.c3 Be7 14.Qc2 f5 15.exf6 Nxf6 16.h3 00∞ Antal,G-Berkes,F Paks 1995) 12.Bxc4 Nc6 13.f4 e6 14.0-0 Bc5+ 15.Kh1 Nge7 16.c3 (16.Qg4 Nf5 17.Bd3 h5 18.Qh3 Ne3 19.Rf3 Ng4∞ Nezar,M-Valenti,G Budapest 2001) 16...Nf5 17.Rf3 h5∞ Niegovich,J-Fuentes,A Olivos 1993) 11.Bxc4 Nxe4 12.Bxf7 e6 13.Bxe6 Bc5∞ Yeo,M-Mendez Ataria,E Havana 1994. 7...a6

8.Nd4

112

The alternative is 8.Na3 e6 (8...b5 9.Nd5, transposes to the 6.N1c3 line above) 9.Nc4 Bb4 (9...b5 10.Nb6 Rb8 11.Nxc8 Rxc8 12.Bd3 Qc7 13.f4 d5∞ Dolezal,C-Flores,D Buenos Aires 2019) 10.Nd6+ Ke7 11.Nxc8+ Rxc8 12.Bd3 d5³ Kovalev,A-Karasev,V St Petersburg 1996. 8...e5

Lately Black has tried more ‘solid’ continuations, such as: a) 8...e6 9.Nxc6 (9.f4 Bb4 10.Bd3 e5 11.fxe5 Nxe5 12.0-0 d6 13.Kh1 Bxc3 14.bxc3 h6 15.Nf3 Nfg4 16.Bd4 0-0∞ Almasi,Z-Laznicka,V Paks 2010; 9.Qd2 Bb4 10.f3 d5 11.a3 Qa5 12.Nb3 Bxc3 13.bxc3 Qc7∞ Robson,R-Laznicka,V Paks 2010; 9.Bd3 Qc7 10.0-0 Be7 11.Kh1 0-0 12.f4 d6 13.Qf3 Nb4∞ Yemelin,V-Golod,V Beersheba 1988) 9...bxc6

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10.Bd3 d5 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bh4 Rb8∞ Grawe,C-Emms,J Dresden 2018. b) 8...d6 9.Be2 e6 10.0-0 (10.Qd2 Be7 11.f4 0-0 12.0-0-0 Nd7 13.Bf3 Qc7 14.Kb1 Nxd4 15.Qxd4 b5∞ Pavlovic,M-Shchekachev,A Pamplona 2010) 10...Be7 11.f4 0-0 (11...e5 12.Nb3 exf4 13.Bxf4 Qb6+ 14.Kh1 Ne5∞ Filev,G-Sapareva,M Sofia 2010) 12.Kh1 Qc7 13.Qe1 Nxd4 14.Bxd4 b5∞ Odeev,H-Petrov,M Bled 2002. c) 8...d5

9.exd5 (9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.exd5 cxd5 11.Bd4 e6 12.Bd3 (12.g3 Be7 13.Bg2 0-0 14.0-0 Qc7∞ Lopez Rayo,S-Perez,D Ibague 2018) 12...Bd6= Bordos,J-Barabas,T Eger 1999) 9...Nxd5 10.Nxc6 (10.Nxd5 Qxd5 11.Nf3 (11.c3 e5= Quinones Mena,J-Gonzalez,C Santiago de Chile 2007) 114

11...Qa5+ (11...e6 12.c3 b5 13.Be2 Bb7 14.0-0 Rd8 15.Qc2± Pham T Hai,Y-Le T Thuy,H Vietnam 2002) 12.Qd2 Qxd2+ 13.Bxd2 e5 14.Bc4 f6 15.0-0-0 Bc5 16.Rhf1 Ke7= Milosevic,S-Tadic,B Kragujevac 2009) 10...bxc6 11.Nxd5 (11.Bc4 e6 12.Bd4 c5 13.Be5 Bb7∞) 11...Qxd5∞. 9.Nf5

White has several alternatives here: a) 9.Nxc6 bxc6 (9...dxc6 10.Qxd8+ Kxd8 11.0-0-0+ Ke8= Narr,I-Pastowski,W Erfurt 2008) 10.Bc4 (10.a3 d5 (10...Qc7 11.Bc4 Be7 12.0-0 0-0∞ Olafsson,O-Larsen,A Copenhagen 2007) 11.exd5 cxd5 12.Bg5 Bb7 13.Qf3 Qb6 14.Bxf6 Qxf6 15.Qxf6 gxf6µ Kuruwitage,Y-Priyadharshan,K Akhisar M.

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2009)

10...Bb4 (10...Be7?! 11.0-0 d6 12.Qe2 0-0 13.Rfd1² Ivanchuk,V-Grivas,E Iraklion 2004; 10...d6 11.h3 Be6 12.Bb3 Be7 13.0-0 0-0 14.Qe2 Re8∞ Gabriel,J-Carow,J Boeblingen 2018) 11.Qd3 0-0 12.Rd1 Qe7 13.Bg5 h6 14.Bxf6 Qxf6= Paramos,R-Kurajica,B La Coruna 1995. b) 9.Nb3 Bb4 10.Bc4 (10.f3

10...d5 (10...Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 d5 12.Bd3 dxe4 13.Bxe4 Nxe4 14.Qxd8+ Nxd8³ Nikolovski,NDimov,D Skopje 2009) 11.exd5 Nxd5 12.Bd2 Nxc3 13.Bxc3 Bxc3+ 14.bxc3 0-0µ Dreisler,TCaceres,C Copenhagen 2010; 10.a3 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 0-0 12.f3 d5³ Gazic,J-Gutman,L Moehnesee 2005) 10...Nxe4 (10...d6 11.0-0 Bxc3 12.bxc3 Be6 13.Bxe6 fxe6 14.c4 0-0 15.Bc1 Qc7³ ½–½ 116

Hague,B-Papin,V Tauranga 2020; 10...0-0 11.0-0

11...Bxc3 (11...b5!? 12.Bd5 Nxd5 13.Qxd5 Qc7 14.Rad1 d6= Papp,L-Papp,C Szeged 1998) 12.bxc3 Nxe4 13.Qd3 Nf6 14.Rfd1 d5! 15.Bxd5 Nxd5 16.Qxd5 Qxd5 17.Rxd5 Be6³ Ivanchuk,V-Grivas,E Iraklion 2004) 11.Qd5 (11.Bxf7+ Kxf7 12.Qd5+ Ke8 13.Qxe4 d5µ) 11...Nd6³. c) 9.Nf3 Bb4

10.Bc4 (10.Bg5 0-0 11.Bc4 h6 12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.0-0 Bxc3 14.bxc3 d6= Perez Tores,J-Bover de la Cruz,P Granada 2009) 10...0-0 (10...d6 11.Qd3 Bxc3+ 12.bxc3 Be6 13.Bb3 d5 14.Ng5 Nxe4 15.Nxe4 dxe4 16.Qxe4 Qe7∞ Hrisanthopoulos,D-Grivas,E Agios Ioannis 2018) 11.Qd3 Qc7 (11...d5, transposes to the game Micic,S-Ilic,Z Novi Becej 1994) 12.0-0 (12.Bg5 Na5 13.Bb3 Nxb3 117

14.axb3 d5! 15.Bxf6 dxe4³) 12...Bxc3 13.bxc3 Na5 14.Bb3

14...Nxb3! (14...d6 15.Rad1 Bg4 16.Bg5 Ne8 17.h3 Be6 18.Nh4 Rc8∞ Ivanchuk,V-Grivas,E Iraklion 2004) 15.axb3 d5! 16.Nd2 dxe4 17.Nxe4 Nxe4 18.Qxe4 Qxc3³. d) 9.Nde2 - probably best but still Black can feel happy with the outcome but he must still be precise: d1) 9...d5?! 10.Nxd5!

10...Nxe4 (10...Nxd5? 11.exd5 Nb4 12.Nc3 Bf5 13.Rc1 Rc8 14.Qd2± Kwiatkowski,F-Zhou,Y Great Yarmouth 2007) 11.Ng3 (11.Bb6? Bc5!) 11...Nc5 12.Qd2² Ivanchuk,V-Grivas,E Iraklion 2004. d2) 9...Bb4 10.a3 Ba5 (10...Be7 11.f3 d6 12.Qd2 b5 13.g4 h6 14.Ng3∞ Losev,A-Kushka,A Perm 118

2007) 11.b4 Bb6 12.Bxb6 Qxb6 13.Qd6 Qa7 14.g3 Ng4 15.Nd1 Qb8 16.Qd2 0-0∞ Ivanchuk,VGrivas,E Iraklion 2004. d3) 9...Ng4!? 10.Qd2 Nxe3

11.Qxe3 (11.fxe3 Bc5 12.Ng3 d6 13.Nd5 Ne7!∞) 11...Qa5∞. d4) 9...Qa5!? 10.f3? (10.a3!∞) 10...d5 11.exd5 Nb4 12.Bd2 Bf5µ Subramanian,S-Harshbarger,R Aspen 1968. d5) 9...Be7?! 10.Nd5! (10.Ng3 0-0 11.Bc4 Bb4 12.0-0 Bxc3 13.bxc3 d6 14.f3 Na5 15.Bb3 Qc7= Kuehn,P-Assmann,H Dresden 2004) 10...Nxe4

11.Ng3 (11.Bb6?! Bc5!³) 11...Qa5+ 12.c3 Nf6 13.Nb6° Dervishi,E-Tzoumbas,A Varna 1994. 119

d6) 9...b5 10.f3 (10.a3 d5 11.Nxd5 (11.exd5 Ne7∞) 11...Nxe4 12.Ng3 Be6=)

10...d5 (10...Bb7!? 11.Ng3 Bb4∞) 11.Nxd5 (11.exd5 Nb4³) 11...Nxd5 12.exd5 (12.Qxd5 Qc7! (12...Qxd5? 13.exd5 Nb4 14.0-0-0 Nxa2+ 15.Kb1 Nb4 16.Nc3±) 13.Nc3 Be6 14.Qd2 Rd8 15.Bd3 Na5°) 12...Nb4 13.Nc3 Bf5 (13...Bb7?! 14.a4!±) 14.Rc1 Rc8!°. 9...d5!

10.Nxd5 10.exd5, is not much for White: 10...Nb4 (10...Bxf5 11.dxc6 bxc6 12.Bd3 (12.Qxd8+ Kxd8 13.Rd1+ 120

Kc7∞ Nguyen,T-Nguyen,H Chiangmai 2013) 12...Bxd3 13.Qxd3 Qxd3 14.cxd3 Bb4 15.Kd2 0-0∞ Baisynov,I-Dzhaparov,M Karakol 2017) 11.Ng3 Nbxd5 12.Nxd5 Nxd5= Wist,A-Volodin,I Germany 2014. 10...Nxd5 Or 10...Bxf5 11.Nxf6+ Qxf6 12.exf5 Qxf5 13.Bb6 Be7 14.Bd3 e4 15.Be2 Bd8∞ Mikic,IPapashvili,T Batumi 2014. 11.exd5 Nb4

12.a3! 12.g4? g6 (12...Qxd5, seems fine for Black) 13.a3 Nxd5 14.Bg2 Be6µ Yemelin,V-Avrukh,B Beersheba 1998. 12...Nxd5 12...Qxd5? 13.Nxg7+ Bxg7 14.axb4±. 13.Qf3 A suggested novelty to 13.c4 Nxe3 14.Qxd8+ Kxd8 15.Nxe3 Bc5 16.0-0-0+ Bd7 17.Bd3 Rc8³ Perez Tores,J-Komljenovic,D Lorca 2015. 13...Bxf5 14.Qxf5 Qc7 15.Rd1 g6 16.Qe4 Nxe3 17.Qa4+ Qc6 18.Qxc6+ bxc6 19.fxe3=

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With equal chances, in an opposite-coloured ending. Conclusion Over the past few years many games were played following the footsteps of the Medusa variations. This happened because many (sitting behind the white pieces) low-rated players are unwilling to enter the labyrinths of the main lines (no wonder why they are low-rated...), going for less analyzed but rather harmless continuations. The main conclusion is that Black faces nearly no problems, but he should always do his homework! Also, the A8 variation looks like a serious one and cannot be underestimated.

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Variation B - Eros B32 The starting point of the next diagram ‘identifies’ the turning point of the Eros variations which after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6

Includes everything but 6.Nc3. Although 6.Nc3, has always been the main continuation, some alternatives come into consideration and need to be examined. These alternatives seem mostly innocent, but they require sufficient knowledge from Black to avoid been tricked. These lines are mostly played to avoid home preparation, but even though they are successful from time to time, in the long run they have to be discarded in favour of more challenging lines. But before we go on, let’s see why I named the variation after one of the most loved semi-Gods of ancient Olympus’ Mountain. Nomenclature Eros under the Microscope Eros was the son of Aphrodite. He was the God of Love and in particular, erotic romantic love. He was often represented blindfolded because love is often blind! His ‘weapon’ was his bow and arrows (or darts). In either case the tips had been magically treated to induce either uncontrollable love or insurmountable disinterest in the first person seen by Eros’s victim after the wound. Chess players tend to ‘fall in love’ with less known theoretical branches, in order to avoid being out 123

prepared. This is often a ‘blind’ and mostly a wrong attitude. But let us see each of the sub-lines mentioned above in detail.

Variation B1 - Eros - 6.f3 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.f3

The text loses precious time and seriously weakens the g1-a7 diagonal, but White hopes that it will be possible to construct a ‘Hedgehog’ formation, strengthening the center. The move cannot be recommended. 6...e6 Instead, Black has tried the following alternatives: a) 6...a5 a1) 7.c3 e6 8.N1d2 d5 9.exd5

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9...exd5 (9...Qe3+ 10.Qe2 Nxd5 11.Ne4 Qxe2+ 12.Bxe2 a4∞ Santos Filho,T-Rosa,L Brazil 1998) 10.Qe2+ Be7 11.Qf2 Bd8!µ. a2) 7.c4? a4 8.N3d2 e6 9.Nc3 Bc5!–+. a3) 7.a4 e6 8.Bb5 (8.Nc3 Bb4 9.Bd2 0-0 10.Bb5 d5³) 8...d5 9.exd5 Nxd5= Smolka,M-Byrka,J Polanica Zdroj 2009. b) 6...g6

b1) 7.Na3 Bg7 8.Nc4 Qc7 9.Be2 0-0 10.0-0 Rd8 11.Ne3 e6!³ (Shamaev,L-Bastrikov,G Leningrad 1938) and ...d5. This kind of ‘Dragon Sicilian’ cannot possibly be in White’s favour. b2) 7.c4 d6 8.Nc3 Bg7 (8...e6? 9.Nb5! Qd8 10.Bf4± San D.,J-Mariano,K T. City 2014) 9.Nd5 125

(9.Qe2!? 0-0 10.Be3 Qc7 11.Qf2 Ne5∞) 9...Nxd5 10.cxd5 Nd4 11.Nxd4 (11.Bd3 0-0 12.Nxd4 Bxd4 13.Qe2 Bd7µ Baier,R-Lerch,P Berlin 2009) 11...Bxd4 12.Bb5+ Kf8 13.Bh6+ Bg7 14.Bxg7+ Kxg7∞. b3) 7.Nc3 Bg7 8.Bg5! (8.Bd2 d6 9.Na4 Qc7³ Schierling,E-Bank,M Schleswig Holstein 1989) 8...00 9.Bxf6 Qe3+ 10.Be2 Bxf6 11.Nd5 Qg5 12.Nxf6+ Qxf6 13.c3 d6 14.0-0 Qf4=. 7.Nc3

White cannot afford to ‘waste’ any more moves neglecting development: a) 7.a3?! d5 8.exd5 Nxd5 9.Bd3 Be7 10.c4 Ne3 11.Bxe3 Qxe3+ 12.Qe2 Bh4+ 13.g3 Qxe2+ 14.Bxe2 Bf6 15.Nc3 Bxc3+ 16.bxc3 e5³ Eliseev,A-Ballo,E St Petersburg 1999. b) 7.N1d2?! d5! 8.Bd3 Bd6

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9.c3 (9.exd5 exd5 10.Qe2+ Kd8! 11.Qf2 Re8+ 12.Kf1 Nb4µ) 9...0-0 10.Qe2 Bd7 11.Qf2 Qc7 12.g3 Ne5 13.Bc2 dxe4 14.Nxe4 Nxe4 15.Bxe4 f5 16.Bc2 Bc6 17.Nd4 Bc5–+ Luque Castells,JJankovic,A Sitges 2003. c) 7.c4

c1) 7...d5 8.exd5 exd5 9.cxd5 Bb4+ 10.Nc3 Ne7 (10...0-0 11.dxc6 Re8+ 12.Be2 bxc6 13.Kf1° Merenyi,G-Bordos,J Hungary 2004) 11.Bc4 0-0µ. c2) 7...d6 8.Nc3 a6 9.Bf4 Qc7 10.Be2 Be7 11.0-0 0-0= Che Quoc Huu-Le Minh Hoang Ho Chi Minh City 2005. c3) 7...Be7 8.Nc3 (8.Be2 0-0 9.Nc3 a6 10.Qd2 Qc7 11.Qf4 Bd6 12.Qh4 Ne5∞ Garma,J-Dubois,E 127

Aix les Bains 2009) 8...0-0 (8...a6 9.a3 d6 10.Na4 Qa7 11.Qd3 Rb8 12.Be3 b6 13.Qd2 Bd7∞ Mythri,M-Cera,D Delhi 2019) 9.Qe2 Qc7 10.Be3 Rd8 11.g4 d5∞ Farago,S-Csirik,A Budapest 2008. c4) 7...a5

8.a4 Bb4+ 9.Nc3 0-0 10.Qd3 d5 11.Be3 Qc7³ Reis,V-Martins,C Rio de Janeiro 2013. c5) 7...Bb4+ c51) 8.Nc3

8...0-0 (8...d5!, transposes; 8...a6?! 9.Bg5 d6 10.Qd2∞ Kalies,G-Guenther,A Germany 2006) 9.Bg5 d5! (9...Be7 10.Qd2 a6 11.Be2 Rd8 12.Be3² Ozsakallioglu,A-Uregen,R Antalya 2018) 128

10.cxd5 exd5 11.exd5 (11.Bxf6 gxf6 12.exd5 Rd8 13.Bc4 Be6µ) 11...Re8+ 12.Be2 Nxd5! (12...Ne5?! Metev,M-Dimov,I Sofia 2011) 13.Qxd5 Be6 14.Qb5 Bxb3 15.Qxb6 axb6µ. c52) 8.Bd2

8...d5! (8...0-0 9.Nc3 d6 10.Be2 Bd7 11.a3 Bxc3 12.Bxc3∞ Yakovlev,Y-De Luna B.,A St Petersburg 2004) 9.cxd5 exd5 10.exd5 Nxd5µ. d) 7.c3?! Be7 8.Qe2 0-0 9.Be3 Qc7 10.N1d2 d5 11.Bc5 Bxc5 12.Nxc5 b6µ Dietz,C-Reh,R Sebnitz 2007. e) 7.Na3 d5 8.exd5 exd5 9.Qe2+ Be6 10.Qb5!? (10.Be3 d4! 11.Bd2 Bxa3 12.bxa3 0-0µ Bokros,IHovanecz,L Hungary 2009) 10...Bb4+ (10...Qc7!? 11.Qa4 Be7 12.Bf4 Qd7³) 11.c3 Bxa3 12.Qxb6 axb6 13.bxa3 0-0³. 7...a6

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Less precise is 7...Be7?! 8.Bf4 (8.Qe2 d5 (8...0-0 9.Be3 Qc7 10.0-0-0 a6 11.g4 b5∞ Wawrzyniak,WDebowska,M Szczyrk 2014) 9.exd5 exd5 10.Qb5 Qd8 11.Bf4 0-0 12.0-0-0 a6 13.Qd3 Be6 14.Nd4 Nxd4 15.Qxd4 b5³ Engel,R-Hartmann,J Willingen 2015)

8...e5 (8...d5!? 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxd5 exd5 11.Qxd5 Be6 12.Qb5 0-0°) 9.Bg3 d6 10.Qd2 a6 11.Bf2 Qc7 12.Nd5² Pieri,T-Gravagna,P France 2000, but 7...Bb4 8.Bd2 0-0 (8...d5 9.exd5 (9.Bd3 0-0 10.a3 Bxc3 11.Bxc3 dxe4 12.fxe4 e5³ Kraljevic,I-Bulatovic,D Podgorica 2018) 9...Nxd5 10.Nxd5 exd5 11.Bxb4 Qxb4+ 12.c3 Qh4+ 13.g3 Qf6∞) 9.a3 Be7 10.Qe2

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10...Qc7 (10...d5!) 11.0-0-0 a6 12.g4 b5∞ Shushpanova,N-Kushka,A St Petersburg 2008, is also what Black opts for. 8.a3 Other options are: a) 8.Qe2 Qc7 9.Be3 Be7 10.0-0-0 d6 11.g4 b5 12.g5 Nd7 13.f4∞ Ceccarini,M-Frigieri,F Lodi 2005, is a tempo-down variation of the ‘Athena’ variation (White played f3 and after f4). b) 8.Bf4

8...Ne7 (8...d5!? 9.exd5 Nb4∞; 8...Bb4 9.Bd6 Ne7 10.Bxb4 Qxb4 11.Qd2²) 9.Qd2 d5 10.0-0-0 Ng6 131

11.Bg5 Be7 12.exd5 Nxd5 13.Nxd5 exd5 14.Bxe7 Nxe7 15.Qg5 Qg6 16.Qxg6 hxg6 17.Bd3² Dal Zotto,L-Tsifanskaya,L Prague 2014. 8...d6

8...Qc7 9.Be3 b5 10.Be2 Ne5 11.0-0 Bb7∞ Ibik,H-Darban,M Ankara 2018, is typical and quite possible. 9.Bg5 Qc7 10.Qd2 b5 11.Nd4 Nxd4 12.Qxd4 Rb8!? An interesting pawn sacrifice. 12...Be7 13.Be2 0-0 14.0-0-0 Rd8, is fine for Black. 13.Bd2 13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.Qxf6 Rg8°, as Black threats ...Bg7, and/or ...b4. 13...Be7 14.g4 0-0

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With a nice position for Black as in Kranjec,T-Kozul,Z Ljubljana 2004.

Variation B2 - Eros - 6.Be3 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Be3

This early aggression just loses a pawn for inadequate compensation. But Black must be rather careful. 6...Qb4+

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If Black does not feel like entering complications, 6...Qc7 7.Nc3 (7.N1d2 e6 8.Be2 Be7 9.0-0 0-0 10.c3 b6 11.f3 d5 12.exd5 Nxd5, was fine for Black in Zimmermann,B-Raczeck,A Stralsund 1998) 7...e6, will transpose to the main lines. 7.N1d2 Or: a) 7.c3 Qxe4 8.N1d2

8...Qe5 (the queen should retreat to c7: 8...Qd5?! 9.Qc2 (9.f3 Qd6 10.Be2 Qc7 11.0-0 d6 12.Bf2 g6µ Sebensky,J-Ambros,J Slovakia 2003) 9...e6 10.h3 Be7 11.0-0-0°, gave White more compensation than he deserved in Staleliunaite,D-Kalvyte,V Panevezys 1995, or 8...Qg4 9.f3 Qa4 10.Nd4 Qxd1+ 11.Rxd1 Nd5 12.Bf2 g6 13.N2b3 a6³ Joba,A-Lintner,I Lubovna 2013) 9.Nf3 Qb8 (9...Qc7³) 10.Bc4 e6 11.Qe2 Be7 12.Bg5 0-0µ and White has no compensation for the pawn: 13.Bh4 d5 14.Bb5 a6 15.Bxc6 bxc6 16.Ne5 Qc7 17.Bg3 Qb6 18.Na5? Qxa5 19.Nxc6 Qc5 0–1 Bailo Ballarin,ETemprano,L Zaragoza 1991. b) 7.Nc3 Nxe4

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b1) 8.Qd3 Nxc3 9.bxc3 (9.a3 Ne5 10.axb4 Nxd3+ 11.Bxd3 Nd5³) 9...Qg4 10.Be2 (10.h3 Qg6 11.Nd4 Qxd3 12.Bxd3 Nxd4 13.cxd4 d5µ Moula,Z-Fanouraki,N Volos 1996) 10...Qg6 11.0-0-0 Qxd3 12.Rxd3 d6 13.c4 Ne5µ Nemeth,J-Ingram,B Melbourne 2002. b2) 8.a3 Nxc3 9.Qd2

9...Ne4! (My suggestion. White had some compensation after 9...Qg4 10.Qxc3 e6 11.h3 Qg6 12.00-0 Be7 13.Bd3 f5 14.g4° Srdanovic,J-Ribicic,M Omis 2003) 10.Qxb4 (10.axb4 Nxd2 11.Bxd2 d5³) 10...Nxb4 11.axb4 e5! (11...a6 12.f3 Nf6 13.c4 d6 14.Bd3 Be6 15.Na5 0-0-0 16.Bb6° Tarleva,V-Kostrikina,A Internet 2020) 12.b5 (12.c3 a6µ) 12...Bb4+ 13.Nd2 (13.Kd1 d5! 14.Rxa7 Rxa7 15.Bxa7 d4 16.Ke2 Be6; 13.Ke2 d5 14.Rxa7 Rxa7 15.Bxa7 Bd7µ; 13.c3 Nxc3 14.bxc3 Bxc3+ 15.Bd2 Bxa1 16.Nxa1 d5µ) 13...Bxd2+ 14.Bxd2 Nxd2 15.Kxd2 d5µ, as Black has an extra 135

pawn without any real compensation for White. c) 7.Qd2 Nxe4 8.Qxb4 Nxb4 9.Na3 a6 10.0-0-0 e6

11.Nc4 (11.Be2 Nxa2+ 12.Kb1 Nac3+–+ Andreev,D-Stoinov,J Sofia 2008) 11...Nxa2+ 12.Kb1 Nac3+ 13.bxc3 Nxc3+ 14.Kc1 Nxd1 15.Kxd1 b5µ Spaho,S-Kurajica,B Zenica 2013. 7...Nxe4

Black must take the pawn. In the game Aguirre,A-Echeverry Ramirez,M Bogota 2004, he lost some tempi after 7...Qd6? 8.Bd3 Qc7 9.0-0 e6 10.f4±.

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8.c3 The main alternatives are: a) 8.a3 Qa4 a1) 9.Bc4 Nxd2 10.Nxd2 e6 11.0-0 d5 12.Bb3 Qa5 13.Re1 Be7 14.Nf3 0-0µ Guerra Figueira,HCabello Fernandez,F Candas 1992. a2) 9.Qg4 d5 10.Qh4 e5µ 11.f3? Be7 12.Qh5 Nf6 13.Qg5 Ng4 14.Qxg7 Bf6–+ Santiago Perez,JJimenez Alonso,J Dos Hermanas 2001. a3) 9.Nb1

9...e6! (9...g6?! 10.f3 Nd6 11.Nc3 Qh4+ 12.g3 Qh5 13.Nd5° Kendi,S-Ambros,J Slovakia 2003) 10.Bd3 Ne5 11.Bd4 Nxd3+ 12.cxd3 Nf6 13.Nc3 Qa6µ. a4) 9.Nf3 e6 10.Bd3 d5 11.Qe2 a6 12.Bb6 Be7 13.0-0 0-0µ Turtiainen,T-Pudas,T Helsinki 2006. a5) 9.Bd3 Nxd2 10.Qxd2

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10...d6 (10...Qg4 11.f3 Qh4+ 12.g3 Qf6 13.0-0-0° Vas,P-Lind,J Vadso 2008; 10...e6 11.0-0 d6 12.Qe2 a6 13.f4 Be7 14.f5° Goldsby,A-Riverol,J Internet 2018) 11.f4 e5 12.0-0 Be7³ Efimov,ADordzhieva,D Astrakhan 2013. a6) 9.Nc5 Nxc5 10.Bxc5 Qa5 11.Be3 g6 12.b4 Qc7µ Bangha,O-Barsi,B Budapest 2015. b) 8.Bd3 Nxd2 9.Bxd2

9...Qh4 (9...Qd6!? 10.0-0 e6 11.Bc3 Ne5 12.Nd4 Nxd3 13.Qxd3 Be7³) 10.0-0 (10.Qe2 e6 11.g3 Qd8 12.0-0-0 Bb4³ Karlson,V-Zakharov,D Zhukovsky 2014) 10...e6 11.f4 Nb4 12.Be2 Nd5 13.Rf3 Qd8 14.c4 Nf6 15.f5° Klimentov,R-Kharmunova,N Voronezh 2009. 8...Qa4 138

9.Bd3 Nothing different was achieved with: a) 9.Nxe4 Qxe4 10.Nc5 (10.Qd2 d6 11.0-0-0 Bf5 12.Bd3 Qxd3 13.Qxd3 Bxd3 14.Rxd3 0-0-0µ Grimm,B-Dekany,L Hungary 2015) 10...Qe5 11.Bd3 e6 12.Ne4 Be7 13.0-0 0-0µ Kosina,JBoskova,L Svetla nad Sazavou 1999. b) 9.f3 Nxd2 10.Qxd2 g6 11.h4 Bg7 12.h5 d6 13.Be2 Be6µ Delai,P-Bassan,R Villa Martelli 2008. c) 9.Qg4? d5 10.Qh4

10...Nxc3! 11.Qh5 g6 12.Qf3 Ne4–+ Ulusoy,N-Beinenson,K Batumi 2010. 139

d) 9.Bb5 Qxb5 10.Nxe4 d6 11.Ng3 e5 12.a4 Qc4 13.Nd2 Qe6 14.f3 f5µ Reyes Lopez,A-Kurajica,B Tenerife 2016. 9...Nxd2 9...Nf6 10.0-0 d6 11.Qe2 Qg4 12.f3 Qd7 13.Rad1 g6 14.Rfe1 Bg7³ Madera,S-Koukolik,A Prague 1993, is also not bad. 10.Qxd2 d6

Black can also opt for: a) 10...e6 11.f4 Be7 12.Nc5 Qa5 13.b4 Qc7µ Kele,J-Bors,T Hungary 2005. b) 10...Ne5 11.Bc2 (11.Be2 Qc6 12.0-0°) 11...Nc4 12.Qc1 (12.Nd4 Qa6 13.Bd3 Nxd2 14.Bxa6 bxa6 15.Bxd2 Bb7µ Kamenov,F-Hristov,H Sofia 2015) 12...Qc6! (12...Nxe3? 13.Qxe3 Qg4 14.0-0 Qe6 15.Qg3 d6 16.Rfe1 Qf6 17.Rad1± Vega,E-Duran Vega,S Moravia 2008) 13.0-0 e5µ. c) 10...d5 11.0-0 e6 12.Qe2 Qh4 13.f4 Bd6 14.g3 Qe7 15.f5 exf5 16.Rae1 0-0µ Sieber,F-Kushka,A Magdeburg 2019. 11.Nd4 Alternatives are: a) 11.0-0 Bd7 (11...g6? 12.Nd4 Nxd4 13.Bxd4 Rg8 14.Rfe1° Zacharias,C-Jordan,J Hamburg 2001; 11...Ne5 12.Be2 Bd7 13.Rfd1 a6 14.Bf4 Nc4³ Veiga,J-Kharitonov,I Maribor 2012) 12.f4 g6 13.Nd4 Bg7 14.Nxc6 Bxc6 15.f5 Be5µ Falke,K-Rosen,W Bad Homburg 2000. b) 11.Qe2 a6 12.f4 g6 13.0-0 Bg7 14.f5 Ne5 15.Rf4 Qd7µ Kalik,J-Zsiltzova Lisenko,L Iraklion 140

2008. 11...Bd7 12.0-0 e6 13.f4 Be7 14.Rad1 a6 15.Bb1 Qa5

And White has very little compensation for the sacrificed pawn as in Petersons,H-Ingram,B Mingara 2000.

Variation B3 - Eros - 6.Bd3 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Bd3

141

White retains the possibility of a well-timed c4, but Black should face no problems if he reacts at the right moment with the typical...d5 advance. Although 6...g6 7.0-0 Bg7 8.Be3 Qc7 9.Nc3 0-0 10.h3 d6 11.f4 a6 12.a4 b6 13.Qe2 Nb4 14.Nd2 Nd7 15.Nc4 Nc5, proved to be playable in the game Pavlovic,B-Kurajica,B Bor 1983, we shall focus on two main continuations for Black: 6...e6 and 6...d5. R Variation B31 - Eros - 6...e6 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Bd3 e6

A flexible continuation, preserving ...d5 for later. 7.0-0 Or: a) 7.Be3 Qc7 8.f4 d6 (8...d5 9.e5 Nd7 10.N1d2 a6 11.0-0 Be7 12.Qh5 g6 13.Qh6² Nagy,GBokros,A Zalakaros 2011)

142

9.N1d2 (9.Qf3 Be7 10.N1d2 a6 11.a4 b6 12.0-0 Rb8 13.c3 0-0 14.g4 Re8 15.g5 Nd7 16.Nd4 Bb7∞ Prein,M-Siepelt,H Bad Neustadt 1990; 9.c4 Nb4 10.Nc3 Nxd3+ 11.Qxd3 Bd7 12.Rc1 a6 13.0-0 Rc8 14.Nd2 Be7 15.b3 0-0∞ Lakos,N-Farkas,G Hungary 1999; 9.0-0 a6 10.a4 b6 11.N1d2 Be7 12.Qe2 00∞ Nagy,G-Sofranov,V Vidin 2007; 9.Nc3, transposes to the Athena variation) 9...Be7 10.0-0 0-0 11.h3 Bd7 12.Qe1 Nb4 13.Qf2 b6 14.Nd4 Nxd3 15.cxd3 Rac8∞ Lukasiewicz,A-Chekhova Kostina,T Bydgoszcz 1990. b) 7.c4 is premature: b1) 7...d5, solves Black’s problems, but no more: 8.exd5 exd5 9.0-0 Be6 (9...dxc4 10.Bxc4 Bb4 11.Qe2+ Ne7 12.a3

143

12...Bg4 (12...Bd6 13.Be3 Qc7 14.Nc3!±) 13.Bb5+ Kf8 (13...Bd7? 14.Bxd7+ Nxd7 15.axb4+– Gumustas,I-Dincer,T Kusadasi 2004) 14.Qd3 Bd6∞) 10.Qe2 Be7 11.Nc3 dxc4 12.Bxc4 Bxc4 13.Qxc4 Qb4 14.Qxb4 Nxb4= Arias,L-Golod,V San Salvador 2003. b2) 7...Bb4+ 8.Bd2 (8.Nc3 0-0 9.0-0 Bxc3 10.bxc3 d6 11.Ba3 Rd8∞ Shabalov,A-Wang,R Calgary 2012) 8...Ne5

9.Bxb4 (9.Qc2 Nfg4 10.0-0 Qd6! 0–1 Jaenig,R-Jurkovic,A Bozen 1998; 9.Bc3 Qd6 (9...Nfg4! 10.0-0 Bxc3 11.Nxc3 Qd6 12.f4 Qxd3µ) 10.Nc1∞ Bubis,L-Smits,O Offenbach 2005) 9...Qxb4+ 10.Nc3

10...0-0 (10...Nxc4? 11.a3+– Karjakin,S-Nepomniachtchi,I Internet 2017) 11.0-0 d6∞. 144

b3) 7...Ne5

b31) 8.0-0?! Qd6! (8...d6 9.Nc3 Nxd3 10.Qxd3 a6 11.Kh1 Be7 12.Be3 Qc7 13.f4 0-0∞ Yanayt,E-Peters,J Los Angeles 2003) 9.Bf4 (9.Bc2 Nxc4 10.Qxd6 Bxd6µ Stadzisz,C-Bocca,D Indaial 2004; 9.Be2 Nxe4µ) 9...Qxd3 10.Bxe5 Qxd1 11.Rxd1 Nxe4µ Meijers,V-Milov,V Linares 2001. b32) 8.Nc3 Nfg4 (8...Bb4 9.f4 (9.Qe2 0-0 10.Be3 Qc6 11.f3 d5µ Kraemer,M-Vavra,P Pardubice 2006) 9...Bxc3+ (9...Nfg4 10.c5 Nxd3+ (10...Bxc5? 11.fxe5 Bf2+ 12.Kf1 Bg1 13.Qe2± Olmo Vega,D-Aabling Thomsen,J San Sebastian 2006) 11.Qxd3 Qc6 12.Bd2 b6∞) 10.bxc3 Nxd3+ 11.Qxd3

145

11...Qc6! (11...0-0 12.Ba3²) 12.Nd2 b6³) 9.0-0 Qd6 10.f4 Qxd3 (10...Nxd3 11.Qxg4 Qb6+ 12.c5! (12.Kh1 Nf2+ 13.Rxf2 Qxf2µ) 12...Bxc5+ 13.Kh1 0-0 14.Nxc5 Qxc5 15.Qg3°) 11.fxe5 Qxd1 12.Rxd1 Nxe5 13.Nb5 Rb8 14.Nxa7 b6 15.Bf4 f6∞. 7...Be7

Alternatives are: a) 7...d5 8.Nc3! (8.exd5 Nxd5, transposes to 7.exd5) a1) 8...d4 9.Ne2 Bd7 (9...e5 10.c3 dxc3 11.Nxc3 Bg4 12.Nd5!±) 10.a4 a6 11.a5 Qa7 12.Bg5² Dekan,H-Karasev,V Kamena Vourla 2012. a2) 8...Be7 9.exd5! (9.Re1 d4 10.Ne2 e5∞ Travkina,A-Manelis,V Voronezh 2012) 9...exd5 10.Re1 0-0 11.Bf4². a3) 8...dxe4 9.Nxe4

146

a31) 9...Nxe4?! 10.Bxe4 Be7 (10...Qc7 11.Be3 Bd6 12.g3² Nessi,D-Zakharova,D Cagliari 2018) 11.Be3 Qc7 12.Qh5 (12.c3 Bd7 13.Qc2² Kiss,Z-Ruszin,A Hungary 2012) 12...Bf6 13.c3± Nilsson,S-Schneider,V Marianske L. 2008. a32) 9...Be7 10.Nxf6+ (10.c3 0-0 11.Nxf6+ Bxf6 12.Qc2 g6 13.Bh6 Rd8 14.Nd2 Ne5 15.Be2 Bd7 16.Ne4 Be7∞ Zuriel,M-Burijovich,L Carlos Paz 2003; 10.Bf4 e5 11.Be3 Qc7 12.Nxf6+ Bxf6 13.Qh5 Be7 14.f4 g6 15.Qh6 Bf8 16.Qh4 Be7 17.Qg3 Bd6∞ Bae,T-Makoli,P Kallithea 2008) 10...Bxf6 11.Qh5

11...Bd7 (11...Ne5 12.Be3 Qd8 13.Bb5+ Bd7 14.Rad1± Ayza Ballester,J-Gonzalez Arribas,V Cala Mendia 2001) 12.c3 0-0-0 13.Be3 Qc7 14.Be4± Lamoureux,I-Fevre,M France 2008.

147

b) 7...a6

b1) 8.a4 d6 (8...Qc7 9.a5 Bb4 10.Bd2 d6 11.Bxb4 Nxb4 12.N1d2 Bd7∞ Aguero J.,L-Cordova,E Badalona 2016) 9.a5 Qc7 10.Be3, is possible as well as in Zielinski,S-Wierzbicka,W Gdansk 2011. b2) 8.Be3 Qc7 9.N1d2 d5 10.Bg5 Be7 11.Bxf6 Bxf6 12.exd5 exd5 13.Re1+ Kf8∞ Tsydypov,ZMatlakov,M St Petersburg 2011. b3) 8.Qe2 d6 9.Nc3 Be7 10.a4 Della Morte,P-Cordova,E Oaxtepec 2016, transposes to the Hermes variation. b4) 8.N1d2 Qc7 (8...d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nc4 Qc7 11.a4 b6 12.Be4 Nf6 13.Bf3² Carli,C-Blum,G Arco 1998) 9.a4 b6 10.Nc4 d6 11.Be3 Nd7 12.a5² Pribeanu,M-Wassin,S Izola 2009. b5) 8.c4 d6 (8...Qc7 9.Nc3² Gergacz,A-Moradiabadi,E Internet 2018) 9.Nc3 Be7 10.Be3 Qc7 (10...Qd8 11.Qe2² Amador G.,I-Kurajica,B Vecindario 2020) 11.Rc1 Ne5 12.f4 Nxd3 13.Qxd3 0-0 14.Bd4² Dragun,K-Cyborowski,L Poland 2016. 8.c4

148

Again, White can deviate here: a) 8.Kh1, is just a ‘wasted’ tempo: 8...d5 9.exd5 (9.Nc3 0-0 10.Be3 Qd8 11.exd5 exd5∞ Dang,HNguyen,D Hanoi 2020) 9...exd5 (9...Nxd5!?) 10.Nc3 0-0 11.Bf4 Be6 12.Nb5 Rac8 13.Be3 Qd8 14.Nc5 a6∞ Zelcic,R-Petrov,M Metz 2002. b) 8.Qe2 Qc7 9.N1d2 a6 10.f4 d6 11.Nf3∞ Becerra,J– Bischoff,K. Havana 1998. c) 8.Nc3 a6 9.Be3 Qc7 10.f4 d6 11.Qf3 0-0 Azarov,S-Korobov,A Internet 2020, transposes to the Athena variation. 8...d5!

149

This is objectively the best continuation. Alternatives are: a) 8...d6, is fully playable, but a bit passive: 9.Nc3 0-0 (9...Qc7 10.Bf4 b6 11.Rc1 Qd7 12.Qe2 Bb7 13.Rfd1² Rechlis,G-Maryasin,B Israel 1997) 10.Be3 Qc7 (10...Qd8 11.f4 b6 12.Qf3 Bb7 13.Rad1 Qc7 14.Qh3 Rad8 15.Bb1 g6 16.f5 exf5 17.exf5 Ne5∞ Turzo,A-D’Innocente,S Budapest 2006)

11.Rc1 (11.f4 Bd7 12.a3 Rac8∞ Ravic,N-Bogosavljevic,B Zlatibor 2007) 11...Ne5 12.Be2 b6 (12...a6 13.Nd4 b6 14.b3 Re8 15.f4 Ned7 16.Bf3 Bb7 17.Re1 Rac8∞ Shirov,A-Granda Z.,J Groningen 1997) 13.f4 Ned7 (13...Ng6 14.Nd4

14...a6 (14...Bb7 15.Bd3 Qd7 16.Qf3 Rfe8 17.Rcd1 Rad8 18.Qh3² Dominguez Aguilar,GNurmamedov,A Batumi 2018) 15.g4 h6 16.f5 Ne5∞ Galliamova,A-Portisch,L Marbella 1999) 14.Bf3 150

(14.g4 Bb7 15.Nd2 Nc5 16.Qc2 h6 17.b4 Ncd7 18.Nb5 Qb8 19.Nd4² Vescovi,G-Panno,O Buenos Aires 2000) 14...Bb7 15.Nb5 Qb8∞ Vuilleumier,A-Bujisho,B Bastia 2009. b) 8...Ne5 9.Nc3

b1) 9...a6 b11) 10.Bf4 d6 (10...Qc7 11.h3 d6 12.Rc1 b6 13.Be2 Bb7 14.Nd2 0-0= Bruned,Y-Rodriguez Lopez,R Andorra 2003) 11.Rc1 Nfd7 (11...Qc7 12.Bg3 Bd7 13.Be2 h5 14.h3 h4 15.Bh2= Glatt,GGrabics,M Hungary 2002) 12.Be3 Qc7 13.f4 Nxd3 14.Qxd3 b6 15.Bd4 0-0 16.Rf3 Bb7 17.Rh3 Rfd8 18.Nd2 Bf6∞ Filguth,R-Van Riemsdijk,H Lone Pine 1978. b12) 10.Be2 d6

151

11.Be3 (11.Bf4 Qc7 12.Qd4 Nfd7 13.Rfd1 b6 14.Bg3 0-0 15.f4 Nc6 16.Qd2 Nc5 17.Bf3 Bb7= Brodsky,M-Ostrowski,L Riga 1995) 11...Qc7 12.Rc1 b6 13.f4 Ned7 14.Bf3 Bb7 15.Qe2 (15.Nd4 0-0² Pinero Rodriguez,C-Montilla Reyes,J Caracas 2014) 15...0-0 16.Nd4² Milos,GMorozevich,A Internet 2000. b13) 10.c5! Qc7 11.Bf4 d6 12.cxd6 Bxd6 13.Rc1 Qb8 14.Bg3². b2) 9...0-0?! 10.c5 Qc6 11.Bf4 d6 12.Bc2 b6 13.cxd6 Bxd6 14.Nd4 Qe8 15.Ndb5 Bb8 16.Nd6 Bxd6 17.Qxd6 Ng6 18.e5± Okrugin,S-Gasanov,E St Petersburg 2002. b3) 9...Nxd3?! 10.Qxd3 d6 11.Bf4! a6 12.Rad1 e5 13.c5! dxc5 14.Bxe5± Efimenko,ZArzumanian,G Kramatorsk 2003. b4) 9...d6

10.Be3 Qc7 11.Be2 transposes to the above mentioned game Shirov,A-Granda Zuniga,J Groningen 1997. Also, 11.Rc1, transposes to the a-line given above. 9.cxd5

152

Again, White has a choice: a) 9.Nc3?!

a1) 9...dxe4, is good for equality: 10.Nxe4 0-0 11.Nc3 (11.Be3 Qc7 12.Qe2 e5 13.h3= Kovanova,B-Ivakhinova,I Ekaterinburg 2013) 11...Rd8 12.Qe2 Bd7= Cunha Pereira,S-Borges,G Indaial 2004. a2) 9...d4! 10.c5 Qd8

153

11.Nb5 (11.e5!? Nxe5 12.Bb5+ Bd7 13.Qxd4 Bxb5 14.Qxd8+ Rxd8 15.Nxb5 Nd3³) 11...0-0 12.Bg5 e5 13.Rc1 (13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.Nd6 Be7³ Garcia Roman,D-Alvarez Ibarra,R Cullera 2005)

13...Be6! (13...Ne8 14.Bd2 Be6 15.f4 exf4 16.Bxf4 a6 17.Na3 Bg5∞ Brooks,M-Epishin,V New York 1989) 14.Nd6 (14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.Nd6 Bg5 16.Rb1 b6µ Kholmov,R-Golod,V Pardubice 2002; 14.Nd2 Nd7 15.Bxe7 Qxe7 16.Nc7 Nxc5µ Tobing,D-Hoang,C Ho Chi Minh City 2019) 14...Bxd6 15.cxd6 Qxd6 16.Bxf6 gxf6µ. b) 9.exd5 exd5

154

10.cxd5 (10.c5 Bxc5 11.Nxc5 Qxc5 12.Nc3 0-0 13.Bg5 Qd6 14.Bxf6 Qxf6 15.Nxd5 Qxb2∞ Stisis,Y-Golod,V Israel 1996; 10.Nc3 dxc4 11.Bxc4 0-0 12.h3 Bf5 13.Be3 Qb4∞ Jenni,F-Ramesh,R Bled 2002) 10...Nxd5 11.Re1 (11.Bxh7?! Be6 12.Be4 0-0-0³) 11...Be6 12.Nc3 Nxc3 13.bxc3 0-0=. 9...exd5

10.Nc3 10.Be3, doesn’t give White anything as well: 10...Qc7 11.exd5 Nxd5 12.Bc5 Be6 13.Na3 (13.Bxe7 Qxe7! (13...Ncxe7 14.Nd4 Bd7 15.Na3 0-0 16.Re1 Qf4= Wehmeier,S-Illner,A Germany 2008) 155

14.Qf3 0-0³) 13...0-0 14.Nb5 Qd7 (14...Qf4 15.Bxe7 Ndxe7∞ Dworakowska,J-Arakhamia Grant,K Leon 2001) 15.Rc1 Nf4 16.Bc4 Qxd1 17.Rfxd1 Rfd8=. 10...dxe4

Worst is 10...Be6?! 11.exd5 Nxd5 12.Nxd5 Bxd5, see the analyzed game Svidler,P-Polgar,J KhantyMansiysk 2011, in the Middlegame Strategy chapter. 11.Nxe4 0-0 12.Qe2 Nd4 Or 12...Rd8!? 13.Be3 Qc7 14.Nxf6+ Bxf6 15.Rfd1 Qe5=. 13.Nxd4 Qxd4

156

And Black is fine as in Timoshenko,G-Epishin,V Tbilisi 1989. R Variation B32 - Eros - 6...d5 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Bd3 d5

Black is going for a straightford assault in the centre, as the absence of the usual suspect, the c3– knight, is evident. 7.exd5 White can also opt for: 157

a) 7.Nc3 dxe4 8.Nxe4 Nxe4 9.Bxe4

a1) 9...Qb4+!? 10.Nd2 g6 (10...e5 11.0-0 Be7 12.Qh5 Be6 13.Bxc6+ bxc6 14.Qxe5 0-0° Murariu,A-Telea,S Eforie Nord 2014) 11.0-0 Bg7 12.c3 Qd6 13.Qe2 Be6 14.Qb5 Qc7 15.Nf3 0-0= Hovanecz,L-Karrer,P Eger 2004. a2) 9...g6 a21) 10.Be3?!

10...Qc7?! (10...Qb4+! 11.Nd2 Qxb2µ) 11.Bxc6+ (11.Nd4 Bg7 12.Nxc6 bxc6∞ Tomczak,JStopa,J Koszalin 2005) 11...Qxc6 12.Qd4 f6 13.0-0 e5 (13...Bg7?! 14.Qb4! (14.c4 0-0 15.Rac1 Be6∞ Sidiropoulos,N-Souleidis,G Rio Achaea 2018) 14...b6 15.Nd4 Qd7 16.Qc4± Moiseenko,A158

Yakovich,Y Sochi 2004) 14.Qh4 Bg7∞. a22) 10.0-0 Bg7

11.Qe2 (11.c3 0-0 12.Be3 Qc7 13.Qf3 f5∞ Aslanov,S-Arslanov,S Moscow 2015) 11...0-0 12.c3∞ ½–½ Manik,M-Sherbakov,R Presov 2000. b) 7.Be3 b1) 7...Qd8 8.Nc3 (8.N1d2 e5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.0-0 Be7 11.Re1 0-0 12.Bc5 Nf4³ Sidiropoulos,LSkembris,S Achaia 2013) 8...e5 9.Bg5 Bb4 10.0-0 Bxc3 11.bxc3 dxe4 12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.Bxe4 0-0³ Jost,U-Nowicki,H Ruhrgebiet 2003. b2) 7...Qc7 8.Nc3 dxe4 9.Nxe4 Nd5 10.0-0∞ Borsavolgyi,T-Vavra,P Bekescsaba 1995. b3) 7...Bg4 8.Qd2 Qc7 9.Nc3 dxe4 10.Nxe4 Nxe4 11.Bxe4² Smirnov,A-Louie,R Cammeray 2013. b4) 7...d4

159

8.Nxd4! (8.Bg5?! h6! 9.Bxf6 exf6 10.N1d2 Be7³) 8...Qxb2 9.Nxc6! bxc6 (9...Qxa1? 10.Bd4 Qxa2 11.Nc3 Qe6 12.Nxa7±) 10.Nd2 Ng4∞. 7...Nxd5 8.0-0

8...e5 This is probably best. Black has two other alternatives at his disposal: a) 8...e6 (a logical but passive continuation) a1) 9.Re1 Be7 10.N1d2 (10.a3 0-0 11.c4 Nf6 12.Nc3= Toshev,V-Stoyanov,I Sofia 2007) 10...Bd7 160

11.c4 Nf6 12.a3 a5∞ Burden,J-Waldowski,P USA 1989. a2) 9.N1d2

9...Be7 (9...Qc7 10.Ne4 Be7 (10...Nf4?! 11.Bb5 a6 12.Bxc6+ bxc6 13.Qf3² Nietsch,H-Lippert,T Guben 2000) 11.Qh5 0-0=) a21) 10.Nc4 Qc7 11.Qg4 Bf6 12.Qg3 Qxg3 13.hxg3 0-0= Cardoso Garcia,S-Terron El.,F Malaga 2002. a22) 10.Nf3 Qc7 11.Re1 b6 12.Nbd4 Nxd4 13.Nxd4 0-0 14.c3 ½–½ Ofstad,P-Saevareid,O Gausdal 2008. a23) 10.Qg4 g6 (10...Bd7?! 11.Qxg7± Leskiewicz,I-Kanarkiewicz,M Poronin 2020; 10...0-0? 11.Nc4 Qc7 12.Bh6 Bf6 13.Qe4±) 11.Qg3 Qc7 12.Qxc7 Nxc7 13.Nc4². a24) 10.Ne4 Ne5 11.Be2 0-0 12.Bd2 Qc7 13.Nc3 Nxc3 14.Bxc3 Rd8 15.Qe1 Ng6= Barbitskij,AKarasev,V St Petersburg 1999. a3) 9.Bc4 Nf6 (9...Qd8?! 10.Qe2 Nb6 11.Bd3 g6 12.Rd1 Qe7 13.Be3² Cuartas,J-Bellon Lopez,J Santa Clara 2001) 10.Nc3 a6 11.Bg5 Be7 12.Bxf6

161

12...Bxf6 (12...gxf6 13.Kh1 f5 14.Qe2 Qc7 15.Rfe1 0-0 16.Bd3 Bf6∞ Stiri,A-Managadze,N Kallithea 2002) 13.Qe2 0-0∞. a4) 9.Bd2 Qc7 10.Nc3 Nf6 11.Re1 Be7 12.Qf3 0-0 13.Rad1 Nb4∞ Jelecevic,I-Kurajica,B Prijedor 2015. a5) 9.c4 Nf6 10.Nc3 (10.Be3 Qc7

11.Nc3 (11.N1d2 Bd6 12.h3 0-0 13.f4 Nb4 14.Be2 Rd8= Devangi,P-Anuprita,P Hyderabad 2007) 11...Be7 (11...a6 12.f4 Be7 13.Qe2 0-0 14.Rad1 Re8 15.g4!± Pon,N-Pujari,R Pune 2007) 12.f4 b6 13.Qe2²) 10...Be7 (10...Qc7 11.Re1 Be7 12.a3 0-0 13.Bg5 Rd8∞ Cawdery,D-Schreiner,P Graz 2017) 162

a51) 11.c5 Qc7 (11...Qd8?! 12.Qe2 0-0 13.Rd1 Qc7 14.Nb5 Qb8 15.Bg5± Onischuk,AAntoniewski,R Koszalin 1999) 12.Nb5 (12.Qf3 0-0 13.Bf4 e5 14.Bg5 Bg4 15.Qg3 Qd7∞ Arzumanian,G-Gasanov,E Tula 2004) 12...Qb8 13.Bg5 0-0 14.Qe2 Qe5 15.Qxe5 Nxe5 16.Be2 Bd7 17.Rac1 Rfd8= Kosintseva,N-Kurnosov,I Vladimir 2002. a52) 11.Be3 Qc7

12.Rc1 (12.Nb5 Qb8 13.Qe2 0-0 14.Rad1 e5 15.h3 (15.f3 h6 16.Bb1 b6∞ Khanin,S-Alekseev,E St Petersburg 2013) 15...e4∞ Lujan,M-Burijovich,L Villa Martelli 2006) 12...0-0 13.Qe2 Rd8 14.Rfd1 Bd7 15.g3 (15.Nb5 Qb8 16.Bb1 a6! (16...Nb4 17.Nc3 Na6 18.a3 Qe5 19.f4± Coll Ortega,J-Vila Gonzalez,D Granada 2009) 17.Nc3 Qc7∞) 15...Be8 16.Bf4 e5 17.Bg5

163

17...Nb4 (17...Nd4? 18.Nxd4 Rxd4 19.Nd5 Nxd5 20.cxd5 Qd6 21.Bxe7 Qxe7 22.Bxh7!++– Kokarev,D-Karasev,V St Petersburg 2001) 18.Bb1 Rxd1+ 19.Rxd1 Rd8 20.Rxd8 Bxd8². a53) 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bh4 0-0 13.Qe2 (13.Kh1 Rd8 14.Qe2 Nd4 15.Nxd4 Qxd4³ Sliwicka,AChirila,I Internet 2020) 13...Nd4 14.Nxd4 Qxd4 15.Bg3 Bd7 16.Rad1 Qb6∞ 17.Bh4 Bc6 18.Bb1 Rfd8 19.b3 ½-½ Phillips,R-Mueller,L Bled 2002. a54) 11.Qe2! Qc7 (11...0-0

12.Bf4 (12.Bg5 Bd7 13.Rad1² Kuzmin,G-Gufeld,E Riga 1975) 12...Bd7 (12...Re8 13.Nb5 e5 14.Be3 Qd8 15.Rad1 Bd7 16.Bf5 a6 17.Bxd7 Nxd7 18.Nc3 Qc8 19.Nd5± Velcheva,MKourousis,E Athens 2008; 12...Nd4 13.Nxd4 Qxd4 14.Be5 Qc5 15.Rad1± Riff,J-Schlosser,P 164

Drancy 2016) 13.Rad1² Vogt,L-Ilic,Z Bern 1990) 12.Bg5 (12.Nb5 Qb8 13.Re1 a6 14.N5d4 Nxd4 15.Nxd4 0-0 16.Bg5 h6 17.Bh4 Rd8∞ Thipsay,B-Sadhu,S Bangkok 2014) 12...0-0 (12...Bd7

13.Nb5 (13.Rac1 Qe5 14.Be3 0-0 15.Qf3 Rfc8 16.Rfd1 Be8 17.Bf4± De la Riva Aguado,OBarlov,D Alcobendas 1994) 13...Qe5 14.Be3±) 13.Rfe1 (13.Rac1 a6 14.Rfd1 Rd8 15.Na4= Hansen,E-Fedorowicz,J Calgary 2009) 13...a6 14.Rad1² Dervishi,E-Sax,G Bratto 2004. b) 8...g6

This is Efim Geller’s recommendation. Now White can choose between: b1) 9.c4 Nf6 (9...Ndb4 10.Be4 Bg7 (10...Bf5?! 11.Bxf5 gxf5 12.Nc3 e6 13.Nb5 Qd8 14.Qh5± Hoelzl,F-Felsberger,A Austria 1989) 11.a3 Na6 12.Be3 Qc7 13.Nc3 0-0 14.Rc1² Rogovski,V165

Zubarev,A Kharkov 2007) 10.Nc3

10...Bg7 (10...Bg4?! 11.Be3?! (11.Nd5! Bxd1 12.Nxb6 axb6 13.Rxd1²) 11...Qxe3 12.fxe3 Bxd1 13.Raxd1 0-0-0= Moen,A-Jankovic,A Rethymnon 2011) 11.Bg5 (11.Bf4 0-0 12.Nb5 Bg4!∞ Genba,V-Gasanov,E Pardubice 2008; 11.Be3 Qc7 12.Nd5 Qd8 13.Be2 0-0∞ Kostenko,PNoritsyn,N Istanbul 2012) 11...0-0 (11...Nb4 12.c5 Qc7 13.Bb5+ Bd7 14.a3 Nbd5 15.Nxd5 Nxd5 16.Qxd5 Bxb5∞ Szabo,K-Gonda,L Torokbalint 2004)

12.c5 (12.Nd5 Qd8 13.Nxf6+ exf6 14.Be3 f5³ Dervishi,E-Ferster,F Istanbul 2012) 12...Qd8=. b2) 9.Be4 Nf6 10.Be3 Qc7 11.Bxc6+?! (11.Bf3 Bg7 12.Nc3 0-0=) 11...bxc6 12.h3 Bg7 13.Nc3 00³ Nemcova,K-Vavra,P Liberec 2006. 166

b3) 9.Bxg6?! hxg6 10.Qxd5 Bg7°. b4) 9.Bc4 Nf6

10.Nc3 (10.Bg5 Bg7 11.Nc3 0-0 12.Qe2 Bg4³ Srbis,J-Kurajica,B Bol 2014) 10...Bg7 11.Nb5 0-0 12.Bf4 Bg4 13.Qc1 (13.Qe1 Nd5 14.Bxd5 Qxb5 15.c4 Qb6∞ Nemeth,M-Markus,R Zalakaros 2017) 13...Rfc8 (13...Nd5!? 14.Bxd5 Qxb5 15.c4 Qb6=) 14.h3 Nb4 15.Be3 Qd8 16.Nc5 Bf5 17.Rd1 Qe8∞ Zelcic,R-Jankovic,A M. Bistrica 2011. b5) 9.c3 Bg7 10.Qf3³ ½–½ Karacsonyi,G-Geher,K Balatonlelle 2019. b6) 9.Qf3 Be6 10.c4 Nf6 11.Bf4 Bg7 12.Nc3 0-0=

13.Nb5?! Rac8 14.Bc7 Rxc7 15.c5 Ne5! 16.cxb6 Nxf3+ 17.gxf3 Rd7 18.Nc5 Rxd3 19.Nxd3 Bc4 167

(19...axb6 ½-½ Rajkovic,D-Gufeld,E Skopje 1971) 20.Nc7 axb6 21.Rfd1µ. 9.Bc4

White has tried alternatives as well: a) 9.c4 Ndb4 10.Be3 (10.Nc3 Be6 11.Be3 Qa6!= 12.Nd5?! Bxd5 13.cxd5 Qxd3 14.Qxd3 Nxd3 15.dxc6 bxc6µ Mortensen,H-Hansen,S Copenhagen 1992) 10...Qd8 11.Be4 Qxd1 12.Rxd1 f5! (12...Be6?! 13.Na3 f5 14.Bd5! Kf7 15.Nb5±) 13.Bxc6+ bxc6 14.Na3

14...e4! (14...Na6 15.Na5 Bd7 16.Nc2 f4 17.Bd2 0-0-0∞ Sax,G-Andonov,B Warsaw 1987) 15.Nd4 (15.Bc5 Nd3 16.Bxf8 Rxf8 17.Rd2 Rb8³) 15...a5³. 168

b) 9.Qf3 Be6 (9...Nf6 10.Nc3 Be7 11.Be3² Grosdemange,D-Taddei,B Vandoeuvre 2008) 10.Nc3 Nxc3 (10...0-0-0!?) 11.bxc3 Qc7=. c) 9.Qe2

9...Be6 (9...Be7 10.c4 Nf6 11.Be3 Qc7 12.Nc3 Nb4 (12...Bg4 13.f3 Be6 14.Nb5 Qb8 15.Nc5 Bc8 16.Rfd1 0-0 17.Ne4 Nxe4 18.Bxe4 Be6 19.Bd5± Feher,A-Szabo,B Budapest 2010) 13.Nb5 Qb8 14.Bc5 Bxc5 15.Nxc5 a6 16.Nc3 Qc7∞) 10.Bd2 Bb4!=. d) 9.a3!?, with the idea 10.c4 has not yet been tested 9...Be6 10.c4 Nf6=. 9...Nf6

169

10.Nc3 10.Be3 Qc7 11.Nc3 Be7 (11...a6 12.Bg5 Be7 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.Nd5 Qd8 15.Qf3 0-0 16.Nxf6+ Qxf6 17.Qxf6 gxf6 18.Rfd1 Bf5 19.c3 Rad8 20.Nc5 Bc8 21.Kf1² Foo,B-Van Eijk,S Vlissingen 2009) 12.Nb5 Qb8, transposes below. 10...Be7 The only ‘acceptable’ move. Poor is 10...Bg4?!

11.Qe1 Bb4 12.Be3 Qc7 13.Nb5 Qb8 14.c3 Be7 15.h3 Bf5 16.f4!² Stiri,A-Vragoteris,A Patras 2002, or 10...a6?! 11.Bg5! Be7 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.Nd5 (13.Ne4 Be7 14.Nd6+ Bxd6 15.Qxd6 Bf5 16.c3²) 13...Qd8 14.Qf3 0-0 15.Rad1 Be6 16.c3±. 11.Be3 Qc7 Better than 11...Qd8?! 12.Qxd8+ Bxd8 13.Nb5 0-0 14.Bc5².

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12.Nb5 After 12.Qe2, Black faces no problems as well: 12...0-0 (12...Bg4? 13.f3 Bf5 (Schendstock,B-Van der Weide,P Emmen 1966) 14.g4!±) 13.Rad1 Bg4 (13...a6=) 14.f3 Bh5

15.Bf2 (15.g4!? Bg6 16.g5 Nh5 17.Nd5²) 15...Rad8 16.a3 a6= Fischer,J-L’Heritier,B Caen 2011. Also, not much is 12.h3 0-0 13.Qe2 a6 14.a4 Nb4 15.a5 Bd7∞ Rozman,M-Di Benedetto,D Porto Carras 2018. 12...Qb8 13.Bc5 0-0 14.Bxe7 Nxe7 15.Qd6 171

According to L. Ftacnik White stands slightly better, but I think that this is not the case: 15...Qxd6! 15...Nc6 16.Rfd1 Bg4 17.f3 Bf5 18.c3². 16.Nxd6 Nf5 17.Rad1 17.Nxc8?! Rfxc8 18.Nd2 Ne4! 19.Bxf7+ Kxf7 20.Nxe4 Rxc2³. 17...Nxd6 18.Rxd6 Bf5=

172

With an equal game. Conclusion During the last years many games were played following the footsteps of the Eros variations. This happened because many (sitting behind the white pieces) low-rated players are unwilling to enter the labyrinths of the main lines, exactly as in the previous sub-chapter, going for less analyzed but rather harmless continuations. The main conclusion is that Black faces nearly no problems, but he should have done his homework, especially in the b3 line.

173

Variation C - Cyclopes B45 The Cyclopes variation arises after the moves 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.g3

But before we go on, let’s see why I named the variation after the famous giant-fighters of ancient Greek mythology. Nomenclature Cyclopes under the Microscope The Cyclopes were gigantic one-eyed monsters. The most famous of them was Polyphemus, the Cyclopes blinded by Odysseus (Ulysses). Hesiod mentions only three, Arges (thunderbolt), Steropes (lightning), and Brontes (thunder), obviously storm semi-Gods. They were born to Gaea (earth) and Uranus (sky) and they were also the first smiths. When Cronus came to power he imprisoned the Cyclopes in Tartarus, but they were released by Zeus and fought with him against the Titans. As a reward for their release the Cyclopes gave Zeus their weapons of lighting and thunder. They continued as his workers at Mount Olympus, forging his thunderbolts. Arges was killed by Hermes while he guarded Io for Hera, and Apollo killed at least one of the Cyclopes as retribution for Zeus killing his son Aesculapius. The development of the f1-bishop to g2 (fianchetto) reminds one of ‘one eye looking at the center’. The fianchetto variation is quite playable, though not very ambitious. But it must be noted that a lot of transposing lines are on the cards. 174

Many games have started with a different move order: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.g3 Qb6 7.Nb3, which is classified under the B45 ECO code. Returning to our subject we must point out that White’s main idea is (as said) to develop his f1bishop on the long diagonal, controlling the center and especially the d5-square. His light-squared bishop will not be anymore ‘exposed’ on d3, but it will apply pressure down the h1-a8 diagonal (if this can be achieved). In many lines White gets doubled c-pawns and in general a weak queenside pawn structure. But on the other hand, he can use the bishop-pair and pressure along the b-file. His compensation, although not a long-term one, cannot be underestimated. Black could easily face serious problems if he is not well prepared for this somehow ‘unpleasant’ continuation.

Variation C1 - Cyclopes - 7...Bb4 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.g3 Bb4

Black’s most principled move, trying to achieve ...d5 as quickly as possible. Of course, Black can try some standard setups with (keep in mind that there exist various transpositions): a) 7...Be7 (in general the text is not advisable as White is now a tempo up in a classical ‘Sicilian Scheveningen’ set-up) 8.Bg2 0-0 9.0-0 d6 10.Be3 Qc7 11.f4 a6 12.a4 b6 13.g4!

175

and White is on the top, as in Stellwagen,D-Sprenger,J Netherlands 2009: 13...Re8 14.g5 Nd7 15.Rf3 Na5?! 16.Rh3 g6?! 17.Qe1 Nc4 18.Qh4 Nf8 19.Bd4 Qd8 20.Bf6 h5 21.e5 1–0. b) 7...a6 8.Bg2

8...d6 (8...Be7 9.0-0 d6 10.a4 Qc7 11.a5 (11.f4!?, transposes to a)) 11...Ne5 (11...Nd7?! 12.Be3 b5?! 13.axb6 Nxb6 14.Nb5! axb5 15.Bxb6 Qb8 16.Rxa8 Qxa8 17.Bc7! e5 18.Bxd6 Be6 19.Nc5 Bc4 20.Bxe7 1–0 Miralles,G-Landenbergue,C Le Port Marly 2009) 12.f4 Nc4 13.Qe2 e5 14.f5 Bd7 15.g4 h6 16.h4 b5 17.axb6 Qxb6+ 18.Rf2 Rc8

176

19.Bf3 a5 20.g5 hxg5 21.hxg5 Nh7 22.Nd5² Pavlov,S-Zsiltzova Lisenko,L Kiev 2009) 9.a4 Qc7 10.a5 Ne5 11.0-0 Bd7 12.f4 Nc4 13.Qe2 Bb5 (13...e5 14.f5 Be7, transposes to the above game) 14.Nxb5 axb5 15.Kh1 e5 16.Nd2 Be7 17.b3 Rxa5 18.Rxa5 Nxa5 19.Qxb5+² Stellwagen,DMaiwald,J Germany 2009. c) 7...h5!?

An interesting and unexplored line, aiming to ‘win’ the g4–square. c1) 8.h3 a6 9.Bf4 (9.Bg2 Qc7 10.0-0 d6 11.a4 Ne5 12.a5 Bd7 13.f4 Nc4 14.Qe2 Rc8∞ Wen,YDobrov,V Internet 2020) 9...Bb4 10.Bg2 d5! (10...Ne7?! 11.0-0 Ng6 12.Be3 Qc7 13.Na4 h4 14.Nb6± Pancevski,F-Popov,V Skopje 2007) 11.exd5 Nxd5 12.Bxd5 exd5∞. 177

c2) 8.Be3 Qc7 9.Bg2 h4 10.f4

10...d6 (10...Bb4! 11.Qd3 d5∞) 11.g4 a6 12.g5± Kakabayaev,M-Atabayev,Y Moscow 2016. c3) 8.Bg2 h4 9.0-0 hxg3 10.hxg3 d6 11.Be3 Qc7 12.Nd4 Bd7 13.Ndb5 Qb8∞ Borsavolgyi,T-Papp Zoltan,C Hungary 1997. In nearly all of the above cases we have rich ideas and plans with unclear middlegames. 8.Bg2

The immediate 8.Be3 is possible: a) 8...Qd8 9.Bg2 (9.Bd2 d5 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Ne4 0-0 12.Bg2 (12.Bxb4?! Ndxb4 13.a3 Qxd1+ 178

14.Kxd1 Rd8+ 15.Kc1 Nd5³ Atlas,V-Nunn,J Germany 1996)

12...f5!? (12...b6 13.c4 (13.0-0 Ba6 14.Re1 Rc8 15.Rc1 Be7∞ Atlas,V-Lautier,J Yerevan 1996) 13...Ba6 14.a3 Bxd2+ 15.Nbxd2 Ne5∞ Atlas,V-Sermek,D Ptuj 1995) 13.Bxb4 Ncxb4 14.a3 Nc6 15.Nec5 Qf6∞) 9...d5

10.Bd2 (10.0-0 Bxc3 11.bxc3 (11.exd5 Nxd5 12.bxc3 Nxe3 13.Bxc6+ bxc6 14.Qxd8+ Kxd8 15.fxe3 Ke7³ Wu,H-Yoos,J Victoria 2001) 11...0-0 (11...Nxe4 12.c4 0-0 13.cxd5 exd5 14.c4°) 12.exd5 Nxd5 13.Bc5 Re8 14.Qd2 Qf6∞) 10...d4 11.Ne2 e5 12.0-0 0-0= Spangenberg,H-Pierrot,J Buenos Aires 1998. b) 8...Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 Qc7 10.Bg2 d5 11.Bf4 (11.0-0, transposes to c)) 11...e5 12.exd5 exf4 13.dxc6 0179

0∞ Atlas,V-Balinov,I Austria 2005. c) 8...Qc7 9.Bg2 d5 (9...Ne5 10.0-0 Bxc3 11.bxc3 d6 12.Kh1 h5 13.h3 Bd7∞ Wierzbicka,WMajdan,J Polanica Zdroj 2008, or 9...0-0 10.0-0 a6 11.f4 d5 12.exd5 Rd8∞ Vit,D-Metaxasz,V Budapest 2009) 10.0-0 (10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Bxd5 exd5 12.Qxd5 Bxc3+ 13.bxc3 Be6= Kuznetsov,VKononenko,D Pardubice 2007, or 10.f3?! dxe4 11.fxe4 Bxc3+ 12.bxc3 0-0 13.0-0 Ne5 14.Qe2 b6µ Avgousti,P-Grivas,E Limmasol 1997) 10...Bxc3 11.bxc3

11...0-0! (as nearly always in this variation, declining the pawn is the best choice: 11...Nxe4 12.c4 dxc4 (12...0-0?! 13.cxd5 Nc3 14.d6! Nxd1 15.dxc7 Nxe3 16.fxe3± Yudasina,I-Kocovski,I Novi Sad 1989) 13.Bxe4 cxb3 14.axb3 0-0 15.Ra4!° Seitaj,I-Grivas,E Xanthi 1991) 12.exd5 (12.f3 Rd8 13.Qe2 h6 14.Rad1 e5³ Chahrani,L-Ahmed,A Cairo 2003) 12...Nxd5 13.Bxd5 exd5

180

14.Qxd5 (14.Bf4?! Qd8 15.Qd3 Qf6 16.Qxd5 Qxc3 17.Qc5 Qxc5 18.Nxc5 Nd4µ Akopian,APeters,J Los Angeles 1995) 14...Bh3 (14...Be6 15.Qh5 Rad8=) 15.Rfe1 Rad8 16.Qh5 Qc8 17.Nd4 Ne7° Ferreira,J-Pinho,J Portugal 2003. Now Black has two main choices: 8...Qa6 and 8...d5. R Variation C11 - Cyclopes - 8...Qa6 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.g3 Bb4 8.Bg2 Qa6

With the text Black tries to prevent castling and hopes to exchange queens. 181

9.Bd2 White’s alternatives are many: a) 9.Qe2?! Qxe2+ 10.Kxe2 Bxc3 11.bxc3 b6 (11...d5!? 12.Nd2 b6³) 12.Rd1 Ba6+ 13.Ke1 Rc8³ Kosanski,S-Sermek,D Radenci 1998. b) 9.Bg5 h6!? (9...d6 10.Bd2! e5 11.a3 Bxc3 12.Bxc3 0-0!∞ Melnikov,D-Yemelin,V St Petersburg 2009) 10.Bxf6 gxf6

11.Qf3 (11.Bf1 Qb6 12.Bg2 h5 13.h4 Ne5 14.0-0 Bxc3 15.bxc3 d6³ Qin Kanying-Filippov,V Shanghai 2000) 11...Ke7 12.0-0-0 d6∞ Gonzalez de la Torre,S-Cifuentes Parada,R Elgoibar 2003. c) 9.Bf4?! d5 (9...0-0? 10.Bd6 Bxd6 11.Qxd6 Ne8 12.Qd2± Dubinski,M-Zurkowski,A Leba 2006) 10.exd5 Nxd5³. d) 9.Be3?!

182

9...d5 (9...0-0 10.Qd3 Qxd3 11.cxd3 d5 12.0-0 dxe4 13.dxe4 Ng4 (13...e5? 14.Nd5 Nxd5 15.exd5± Bednikova,S-Sirkova,D Plovdiv 2009) 14.Bd2 Rd8 15.Rfd1 Bd7=) 10.exd5 Nxd5³. e) 9.Bf1?! Qa4! (9...Qb6 10.Bg2 Qa6=) 10.Bd3 (10.Bg2 Nxe4 11.Qg4 Nxc3 12.Qxg7 Nxa2+ 13.c3 Rf8 14.cxb4 Qxb4+ 15.Bd2 Qxb3 16.Bh6 Qb4+ 17.Kf1 (17.Kd1? Qd6+ 18.Ke1 Nab4–+) 17...d5 18.Rxa2 Bd7 19.Qxf8+ Qxf8 20.Bxf8 Kxf8 21.Ke2 a5³)

10...Nxe4! 11.Qg4! (11.Bxe4? Bxc3+ 12.bxc3 Qxe4+ 13.Kd2 Ne5–+) 11...Nxc3 12.Qxg7 Nxa2+ 13.c3 Rf8 14.cxb4 Qxb4+ 15.Bd2 Qxb3 16.Bh6 Qb4+ 17.Kd1 d5 (17...b6 18.Qxf8+ Qxf8 19.Bxf8 Kxf8 20.Rxa2 a5∞ Lintchevski,D-Andreikin,D Dagomys 2009) 18.Rxa2 e5 19.Qxf8+ Qxf8 20.Bxf8 Kxf8³.

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f) 9.f4

9...d5 (9...e5 10.Bd2 0-0 11.a3 Bxc3 12.Bxc3 d6 13.Qxd6 Bg4 14.Qd3 Qb6° Gochev,MKanmazalp,O Golden Sands 2013) 10.e5 Ne4 11.Bxe4 dxe4 12.Bd2 Bxc3 13.Bxc3 b6 14.Nd2 e3 15.Ne4 0-0 16.Nd6 Ne7 17.Bd4 Nf5 18.Nxf5 exf5 19.c3 Be6∞. g) 9.Qd3 g1) 9...Qxd3 10.cxd3

10...d5 (10...b6 11.0-0 Ba6 12.Rd1 Rc8 13.d4 Bxc3 14.bxc3 d5= Shytaj,L-Kuljasevic,D Khalkidiki 2003; 10...a6 11.0-0 0-0 12.a3 Be7 13.Be3 d6 14.Na4 Nd7 15.Rac1² Smolik,J-Jasny,S Pardubice 2020; 10...0-0 11.0-0 a5 12.a4 b6 13.e5 Ne8 14.Nd4 Bb7 15.Ndb5² Tuma,J-Rabatin,J Czech 184

Republic 2014) 11.0-0 (11.a3 Bxc3+ 12.bxc3 dxe4 13.dxe4 e5 14.Bg5 h6 15.Bxf6 gxf6 16.0-0-0 Be6= Chauca,J-Di Berardino,D Rio de Janeiro 2008) 11...dxe4 (11...0-0?! 12.Bg5 d4 13.Nb5² Tuma,J-Litwak,A Olomouc 2006) 12.dxe4 0-0 13.f4 Bxc3 14.bxc3 e5 15.Rd1 Bg4 16.Rd2∞ ½-½ Bezgodov,A-Kiselev,S Moscow 1994. g2) 9...b6 10.a3 (10.Bf4 Qxd3 11.cxd3 Ba6 12.Ke2 (12.e5?! Nd5 13.Bxd5 exd5 14.Ke2 Bxc3 15.bxc3 0-0³; 12.0-0-0 Rc8 13.a3 Bxc3 14.bxc3 Ng4 15.Rd2 Nce5 16.Bxe5 Nxe5 17.Kc2 g5∞ Gasik,A-Bernadskiy,V Warsaw 2014) 12...Rc8 13.a3 Be7 14.h3 0-0∞ Felgaer,R-Gongora Reyes,M Santa Clara 2001) 10...Qxd3 11.cxd3

11...Bxc3+ (11...Be7 12.e5 Ng4 13.d4 Bb7 14.h3 Nh6 15.Bxh6 gxh6 16.0-0²) 12.bxc3 Ne5 13.Kd2 Ba6 14.c4 Rc8 15.Nd4 Nfg4! 16.f4! Nxd3 17.Kxd3 Nf2+ (17...Rxc4?! 18.Be3! (18.Bb2?! Nf2+ 19.Ke3 Nxh1∞ Stupavski,Z-Katov,L Plovdiv 2007) 18...Ke7 19.Kd2±) 18.Kd2 Nxh1 19.Bxh1 Rxc4 20.Bb2²

185

Felgaer,R-Milos,G Buenos Aires 2001, and White seems to be somewhat better in a complicated position. 9...0-0 The most natural continuation. Less ‘accurate’ are: a) 9...d6?! 10.a3 Bxc3 11.Bxc3 Ne5 12.Qe2 (12.Qd4!) 12...Qxe2+ 13.Kxe2 Bd7 14.Rhd1 Bb5+ 15.Ke1 0-0-0 16.Nd4² Fressinet,L-Skripchenko,A Paris 2003. b) 9...d5?! 10.a3

10...Bxc3 (10...Be7 11.exd5 (11.Be3 Nxe4 12.Nxe4 dxe4 13.Bxe4² Tahbaz,A-Sharbaf,M Teheran 186

2015) 11...exd5 12.Be3 d4 13.Nxd4 0-0 14.Qe2± Baklan,V-Legde,G Germany 2019) 11.Bxc3 dxe4 (11...Nxe4?! 12.Bxe4 dxe4 13.Qg4± Jevtic,M-Roganovic,M Subotica 2008) 12.Qd6±. c) 9...b6?! 10.a3 Be7 11.e5 (11.Bf1 Qb7 12.Qe2 d5 13.e5 Nd7 14.f4 Nc5∞ Alarcon Morales,ESandoval M.,C Mexico City 2014) 11...Ng8 12.a4!±. 10.a3! Be7

Best! 10...Bxc3?! 11.Bxc3 e5 12.Qd6 Qb6 13.0-0² Heidenfeld,M-Rochev,Y Dun Laoghaire 2010. 11.f4 The most active. 11.Qe2 Qxe2+ 12.Nxe2 d6 (12...Rd8 13.0-0-0 d6∞ Durarbeyli,V-Vuelban,V Rome 2011) 13.0-0 Ne5 14.Bc3 Bd7= Popescu,D-Nisipeanu,L Timisu de Sus 1998 and 11.Be3 Ne5

187

12.Bf1 (12.h3 Nc4 13.Bc1 Na5 14.Nxa5 Qxa5 15.0-0 d6= Laubsch,B-Hahn,M Kassel 2010; 12.Qe2 Qxe2+ 13.Nxe2 Nc4∞ Santos,J-Butvilas,A Corum 2019) 12...Nc4 13.Qd4 d5 14.exd5 exd5 15.Nxd5 Nxd5 16.Bxc4 Nxe3 17.fxe3 Qg6°

Ottenburg,R-Pahlen,H IECG 2001, cannot be bad for Black. 11...d5 11...d6 12.Be3 Na5 13.Nxa5 Qxa5 14.0-0 Bd7∞ Prasca Sosa,R-Gongora Reyes,M Havana 2005, is not bad either 12.e5 188

12.exd5?! exd5 13.Nxd5 Nxd5 14.Bxd5 Bf6³. 12...Nd7 13.Be3 b6

14.Nd4 Not much was achieved either with 14.Bf1 Qb7 15.Bg2 Nc5 (15...Qa6=) 16.Nd4 Bd7 17.0-0 Rac8= Pogats,J-Bilek,I Budapest 1964. 14...Nxd4 15.Bxd4 Or 15.Qxd4 Bc5 16.Qd2 Bb7 17.Bd4 Rac8 18.Ne2 Bc6 (18...Nb8!? 19.b4 Bxd4 20.Nxd4 Qa4∞) 19.b4∞ ½-½ Nikolenko,O-Yakovich,Y Sochi 2006. 15...Qc4 Black can also opt for 15...Bc5

189

16.b4! Qc4! 17.bxc5 bxc5 18.Nxd5! exd5 19.Be3 Bb7 20.Rb1 Bc6 21.Qd3² Reutsky,S-Belikov,V Alushta 2005, or for 15...Re8!? 16.Qd2 Nc5 17.0-0-0 Na4∞. 16.Qd2 Ba6 17.0-0-0

17...Bc5! The text seems better than 17...b5 18.f5! (18.Bf1 Qc6 19.Na2 Bb7 20.Qa5 Rfc8 21.Bd3 Nc5³ Garcia Pantoja,R-Aguero Jimenez,L Havana 2010) 18...b4 19.axb4 Bxb4 20.f6².

190

18.Qe3 Bxd4 19.Rxd4 Qc7 20.Rhd1 Rac8 21.R1d2∞

Baklan,V-Perunovic,M Baile Govora 2017. R Variation C12 - Cyclopes - 8...d5 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.g3 Bb4 8.Bg2 d5

A natural central assault. 9.0-0

191

Other tries do not promise much: a) 9.Bd2!? dxe4 (9...d4 10.Ne2 e5 11.0-0 Bxd2 12.Qxd2 a5 13.c3 a4 14.Nbc1= Gorin,LGladyszev,O Tula 1998) 10.Nxe4 Nxe4 11.Bxe4

11...0-0! (11...Bxd2+ 12.Qxd2 0-0 13.0-0-0² Xie Jun-Jahn,O Novi Sad 1990) 12.0-0 Bxd2 13.Qxd2 e5=. b) 9.Nd2?! d4 (9...0-0 10.0-0 Rd8 11.exd5 exd5 12.Ne2 d4 13.Nb3 Bg4 14.h3 Bf5³ Bjornsson,SStein,B Gausdal 1992) 10.Ne2 e5 11.0-0 Be6µ. c) 9.exd5

9...Nxd5 (9...exd5?! 10.Be3 (10.0-0 Bxc3 11.bxc3 Be6 12.Ba3² Solomunovic,I-Glicenstein,A Nice 192

2002) 10...Qc7 11.0-0 Bxc3 12.bxc3 0-0 13.Nd4² Chalupa,I-Palek,M Czech Republic 2007) c1) 10.0-0 Nxc3 11.bxc3 Bxc3 (11...Be7 12.c4 0-0 13.c5 Bxc5 14.Nxc5 Qxc5 15.Be3 Qe7 16.Rb1° Hernandez Gonzalez,W-Miranda Mesa,E Havana 2018) 12.Rb1 (12.Be3 Qd8 13.Bxc6+?! bxc6 14.Qxd8+ Kxd8 15.Rad1+ Kc7µ Sailer,D-Mihok,O Budapest 2007; 12.Ba3

12...Bb4 (12...Bxa1 13.Qxa1 f6µ) 13.Bb2 0-0 14.a4 Rd8³ Maurizzi,M-Loiseau,Q Chartres 2020) 12...0-0 13.Be3 Qc7 14.Nc5 Rb8∞ Sanchez Enriquez,O-Echavarria,J San Jose 2009. White has some compensation for the pawn, but in end maybe it will not be proved enough. c2) 10.Bxd5 exd5 c21) 11.Qxd5

193

11...Be6 (11...Bxc3+ 12.bxc3 0-0, transposes below; 11...Bh3 12.Be3 Qa6° Toro Castaneda,EArango,A Medellin 2016) 12.Qg5 (12.Qe4 0-0 13.0-0 Bxc3 14.bxc3 Qb5 15.Bf4 Bf5° 16.a4? Qxf1+ 0–1 Corredor Sanchez,F-Morales,J Palmira 2017) 12...Qa6 13.Bd2 0-0 (13...Bxb3 14.cxb3 0-0 15.0-0-0 Rac8° Salazar Gould,M-Alvarez Angel,N Medellin 2019) 14.0-0-0 h6 15.Qf4 Bxc3 16.Bxc3 Qxa2³ Shkuran,D-Areshchenko,A Kiev 1999. c22) 11.Bd2 0-0 12.0-0 Rd8 13.Na4 Qb5 14.Bxb4 Qxa4 15.Bd2 Bg4³ Truviano,S-Lemos,D Mendoza 2004. c23) 11.0-0 Bxc3 12.bxc3 0-0 (12...Be6 13.Ba3 (13.Be3 Qc7 14.Nd4 ½-½ Pergel,L-Bokros,A Hungary 1998) 13...0-0-0 14.Rb1 Qa6∞ Hoolt,S-Mihok,O Budapest 2006) 13.Qxd5 Bh3 14.Be3 Qc7 15.Bf4 Rad8 16.Bxc7 Rxd5 17.Rad1 Rxd1 18.Rxd1 Rc8 ½–½ Djingarova,E-Lanzani,M Genova 2000 - at most White can only hope for a draw. c3) 10.Bd2 c31) 10...Bxc3!? 11.bxc3 0-0

194

12.c4 (12.0-0 Nde7 (12...Rd8 13.c4 Nde7 14.Qe2 e5° Vokhidov,S-Shkapenko,P Internet 2020) 13.Qh5 e5∞ Sanchez,V-Echavarria,J Cali 2001) 12...Nde7 13.0-0 e5 14.c5 Qa6 15.f4 Be6 16.fxe5 Rad8 17.Qe1 Ng6 18.Bc3 Rfe8 19.Qe3 h6 20.Rfe1 Bd5³ Bykhovsky,A-Razuvaev,Y Porto San Giorgio 1999. c32) 10...Nxc3 11.bxc3 (11.Bxc3?! Bxc3+ 12.bxc3 0-0 13.0-0 Qc7 14.Qh5 b6 15.Rae1 Bb7µ Sitnikov,A-Arzumanian,G Serpukhov 2003)

11...Be7 (11...Bd6!? 12.0-0 0-0 13.Be3 Qc7 14.Nd4 Nxd4 15.cxd4 Bd7 16.Rc1 Bb5 17.Re1 Rac8³ Fesenko,V-Kozirev,A Cheliabinsk 2009) 12.0-0 (12.c4?! 0-0 13.0-0 Bf6 14.c5 Qa6 15.c3 Rd8µ Ostojic,P-Cifuentes Parada,R Amsterdam 1995) 12...0-0 (12...e5 13.a4 0-0 14.a5 Qc7 15.a6 b6³ Kiroski,T-Pap,M Veliko Gradiste 2016) 195

13.Qe2 (13.Rb1 Qc7 14.Nd4 Rd8 15.Nxc6 bxc6 16.Qe2 Qa5! 17.Rfd1 Ba6 18.Qe1 Qa4³ Stoinev,M-Kovalev,A Berlin 1992; 13.Be3 Qc7 14.Qh5 Bd7 15.Rad1 Rfd8 16.c4 Be8 17.c5 Rxd1 18.Rxd1 Rd8 19.Rxd8 Qxd8 20.Qe2 e5³ ½–½ Deac,B-Fedorov,A Calimanesti Caciulata 2016) 13...Bd7 14.Rab1 Qc7

15.Nd4 (15.Rfe1 Rad8 16.Nd4 Qc8 17.Bf4 Nxd4 18.cxd4 Bc6³ Inkiov,V-Lukov,V Varna 1983; 15.Be3 Rfe8 16.Rfd1 Rad8 17.Qc4 Rc8³ Mahdi,K-Simic,R Vienna 1990) 15...e5! (15...a6?! 16.Bf4 Qc8 17.Rfd1 Rd8 18.Qc4 Nxd4 19.Rxd4 Qxc4 20.Rxc4 Bb5 21.Rc7 Bd6 22.Bxd6 Rxd6 23.c4 Bc6 24.Bxc6 Rxc6 25.Rxc6 bxc6 26.Rb6² Praud,J-Alet,J France 1989) 16.Nxc6 Bxc6 17.Bxc6 bxc6³. 9...Bxc3 196

Of course, Black always has some alternatives: a) 9...dxe4 10.Nxe4 Nxe4 11.Bxe4 0-0 12.c3 (12.Bg5 Be7 13.Bxe7 Nxe7 14.Qd4 Qxd4 15.Nxd4 e5 16.Nb5 Bd7 17.Nd6 Bc6 18.Rfd1 Bxe4 19.Nxe4 Rfd8 ½-½ Tarlev,K-Arzumanian,G Kharkov 2003; 12.c4 Be7 13.Bd2 Rd8 14.Qc2 h6∞ Morawietz,D-Martinovic,S Germany 1996) 12...Be7 13.Be3 Qc7 14.Qe2 Rd8 15.a4 e5 16.Rfd1 Be6 17.Bc2 Rxd1+ ½-½ Koneru,H-Bakre,T Visakhapatnam 2004. b) 9...Nxe4 10.Nxe4 dxe4

11.Qg4 (11.Bxe4, transposes to a)) 11...g6 (11...Bf8?! 12.Qxe4 Be7 13.Be3 Qc7 14.Nd4 Bd7 15.Rad1 a6 16.Bf4 Qb6 17.Nb3 Rd8 (½-½ Fressinet,L-Vaisser,A Vichy 2000) 18.c4!±) 12.Qxe4 0-0 13.Bh6 Re8 14.Rad1 e5 15.c3 Be7 16.Qe2 Be6 17.Bd5 Bxd5 18.Rxd5 Rad8= Markovic,M-Ostojic,P 197

Pula 1981. c) 9...d4

c1) 10.Ne2?! e5 11.c3 (11.Bg5 Bg4 (11...Be6 12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.c3 dxc3 14.Nxc3 Bxc3 15.bxc3 Na5 16.Rb1 Nxb3 17.axb3 Rc8= Bruzon Bautista,L-Leon Hoyos,M Santo Domingo 2007) 12.h3 Bxe2 13.Qxe2 Be7 14.Kh1 Rc8= Weimann,M-Poulsen,I Werther 2007) 11...dxc3 12.Nxc3 Bxc3 13.bxc3 0-0 14.Bg5 (14.Rb1 h6 15.h3 Qc7 16.Qe2 Re8 17.Be3 b6= Deepan Chakkravarthy,J-Xie,G Canberra 2009; 14.Be3 Qc7 15.h3 b6 16.Bg5 Ne8 17.Qf3 Be6 18.Rfd1 Nd6³ Cmor,N-Boscolo,F Maribor 2012) 14...Bg4 15.Qc1 Nd7 16.Be3 Qc7 17.f4 f6 18.f5 Na5= Spiess,G-Womacka,M Germany 2006. c2) 10.e5! c21) 10...Nd7 11.Ne2 Ndxe5 12.Nexd4 0-0 13.c3 Be7 14.Qe2 (14.Be3 Nxd4 15.Qxd4 Qxd4 16.Nxd4 Bd7 17.Rad1² Romero Holmes,A-Bellon Lopez,J Ceuta 1993) 14...Nxd4 (14...a6?! 15.Be3 Qc7 16.Bf4 Bd6 17.Rad1 Rd8 18.Nxc6 Nxc6 19.Bxd6 Rxd6 20.Rxd6 Qxd6 21.Rd1 Qe7 22.Qd3± Ivanov,A-Yoos,J Sioux Falls 1998; 14...Bd7 15.Be3 Qd8 16.Rfd1 Qc8 17.Nb5± Gilea,L-Parligras,M Sarata Monteoru 2012) 15.cxd4 (15.Nxd4 Nc6 16.Be3²) 15...Nc6 16.Rd1 Nb4 17.d5!² Campora,D-Kurajica,B Bor 1983. c22) 10...dxc3 11.exf6 gxf6 12.Qf3 Be7 13.Qxc3 Bd7 14.Bh6 Rg8 15.Rad1² Fauland,A-Titz,H Austria 2001. c23) 10...Nxe5!

198

11.Nxd4 0-0 (11...Bxc3 12.bxc3 0-0 13.Ba3 Re8 14.Qe2 Nc6 15.Nxc6 bxc6 16.Rfb1² Stodola,JVavra,P Prague 1994) 12.Ne4 Nxe4 13.Bxe4 Nd7 14.c3 Bc5 15.Nb3 Be7 16.Be3 Qc7= Raetsky,A-Womacka,M Seefeld 2000. And once again White is at a crossroad and can choose in-between 10.bxc3 and 10.exd5. § Variation C121 - Cyclopes - 10.bxc3 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.g3 Bb4 8.Bg2 d5 9.0-0 Bxc3 10.bxc3

199

10...Nxe4 This move leads to sharp complications. Although not better, simpler is 10...0-0, which transposes to the next chapter. 11.c4 An interesting alternative is 11.Qg4 Bd7 (11...g6!?, should be safer) 12.Qxg7 0-0-0 13.c4 Rhg8 14.Qb2 (14.Qh6 Ne5! (14...dxc4 15.Bxe4 cxb3 16.axb3±) 15.cxd5 exd5 16.Qxb6 axb6 17.Bf4²) 14...Nxg3!? (14...h5!? 15.cxd5 exd5 16.Be3 Qc7∞ 17.Bf4?

17...Qxf4! 18.gxf4 Bh3 19.c3 (19.f3? Rxg2+ 20.Kh1 Rg1+!! 21.Kxg1 Rg8+ 22.Kh1 Bg2+ 23.Kg1 Bxf3+ 24.Qg7 Rxg7#) 19...Rxg2+! (19...Bxg2? 20.Rfe1 Bh3+=) 20.Kh1 Rdg8µ) 15.hxg3 Rxg3° Ivanov,A-Gufeld,E Soviet Union 1983. A bit risky (for both sides!) seems to be 11.Bxe4 dxe4 12.Qg4 g6 (12...Bd7!? 13.Qxg7 0-0-0∞

200

with the idea ...Ne5–f3) 13.Qxe4 0-0 14.Bh6 Re8 15.Qh4 Ne7∞. 11...0-0 Black can try 11...Ne7!? 12.cxd5 exd5 13.c4 Be6 14.Be3 Pavlovic,D-Djukic,Z Svrljig 1994, where White has compensation for the pawn, but the position is unclear.

12.Be3 Qd8 The proposal of GM Spyridon Kapnisis 12...Qa6!?, seems to give Black a nice game, but it has not been tested in practice. 201

13.Re1 We have transposed to 8.Be3. 13...Nf6 14.cxd5 Nxd5 15.Bc5 Re8 16.c4 Nb6 17.Qc2 e5

With an active position for White as compensation for the sacrificed pawn, Campora,D-Akopian,V Dos Hermanas 1992. § Variation C122 - Cyclopes - 10.exd5 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.g3 Bb4 8.Bg2 d5 9.0-0 Bxc3 10.exd5

202

The most chosen reply for White. 10...Nxd5 11.bxc3 0-0

Now White has the bishop pair and some pressure on the queenside and Black has the much better pawn structure. Note that 11...Nxc3? 12.Qg4±, is out of the question. 12.c4 After 12.Bxd5?! exd5 13.Qxd5 Be6, only Black has chances to prevail, so White rightly refrains from it. 203

12...Nde7 13.c5 Immediately asking the black queen to retreat. Alternatives were not that helpful: a) 13.Re1 Rd8 14.Qe2 Nf5 (14...e5!? 15.Be3 Qc7=) 15.Bb2 Bd7 (15...Nfd4 16.Nxd4 Nxd4 17.Bxd4 Rxd4 18.Rad1∞) 16.c5 Qc7 17.Be4² ½-½ Barczay,L-Horvath,T Zalaegerszeg 1979. b) 13.Ba3 Qa6 14.Bc5 Re8 15.Qd3 e5 16.Rfe1 Be6= Marinkovic,I-Stojanovic,M Nis 1993. c) 13.Bb2 e5 14.Qh5 Bf5 15.Qe2 f6 16.Rfd1 Rfd8 17.c5 Qc7 18.Rxd8+ Rxd8 19.Rd1 Rxd1+ 20.Qxd1 Qd7³ Velasquez,M-Echavarria,J Dos Hermanas 2004. d) 13.Qe2 e5 14.a4

14...Re8 (14...Bf5!? 15.a5 Qc7 16.a6 b6∞) 15.a5 Qc7 16.a6∞ Guseinov,G-Heberla,B Sharjah 2016. 13...Qa6 This ‘looks better’ than retreating down the open d-file, where the queen will be harassed. Unclear positions (where Black is not standing badly) arise after: a) 13...Qd8 a1) 14.Qh5 e5 15.Bb2 f6 (15...Bf5!) 16.f4 exf4 17.Rxf4 Be6 18.Rd1 Qe8 19.Qe2 Ng6 20.Re4 Nge5∞ Al Modiahki,M-Lomineishvili,M Fuerth 2000. a2) 14.Bb2

204

14...Bd7 (14...Qxd1 15.Raxd1 e5=) 15.Qh5 Qc7 16.Rad1 Rad8 17.Rd6 Bc8 18.Rfd1 Nf5 19.Rxd8 Rxd8 20.Be4 Rxd1+ 21.Qxd1 f6= Baklan,V-Timoshenko,G Poltava 2006. a3) 14.Bg5 f6 15.Bc1 e5 16.f4 Qxd1 17.Rxd1 Bg4 18.Rd6 Rae8∞ Franco Valencia,A-Echavarria,J Medellin 2018. a4) 14.Qe2 e5 15.Bb2 f6 16.Rad1 Qc7 17.Be4 Bf5 18.Rd6 Rad8 19.Rfd1 Bxe4 20.Qxe4 Qc8 ½-½ Tosic,M-Damljanovic,B Vrnjacka Banja 1984. b) 13...Qb4?!, is not advisable: 14.Re1 Qc3

15.Rb1 Rd8 16.Qe2 e5 17.Bb2 Qb4 18.Bxe5 Bg4 19.Qf1± Savchenko,B-Gasanov,E St Petersburg 2005. 205

14.Bb2 14.Re1?! Rd8 15.Bd2 e5 16.Bf1 Qa4 Fominyh,A-Gavrilov,A St Petersburg 2001, was already better for Black. 14...e5!

15.Re1 White must put pressure on the black pawns. The alternative 15.f4?!, didn’t help after 15...Be6 16.Qe1 Bd5 17.fxe5 Bxg2 18.Kxg2 Qc4 19.Rf2 Rad8 20.Qe2 Qd5+ 21.Kg1 Ng6 22.Re1 Rfe8 23.Qe4 Ngxe5 24.Qxd5 Rxd5µ Szmetan,J-Panno,O Buenos Aires 1995. 15...f6 Also possible is 15...Rd8 16.Qh5 f6! (16...Qc4 17.Bxe5 Bf5 18.Bd6 Bg6 19.Qe2 Qxe2 20.Rxe2 Nf5 21.Rd2± Kosanski,S-Doric,N Tucepi 1996) 17.Be4 h6 18.f4

206

18...Be6 (18...exf4? 19.Bxf6 gxf6 20.Bxc6+–) 19.fxe5 fxe5 20.Bxe5 Bf7 21.Bh7+ Kxh7 22.Qxf7 Nxe5 23.Rxe5 Nc6∞, but the text is more ‘ambitious’ for Black. 16.Qd3! 16.a4?! Be6! (16...Rd8 17.Bf1 Rxd1 18.Rexd1 b5 19.axb5 Qb7 20.bxc6 Nxc6 21.Rd6° Smirnov,IKononenko,D Evpatoria 2007) 17.Re4 Rad8 18.Qe1 b6 (18...Bd5? 19.Bf1+–) 19.cxb6 axb6 20.a5 bxa5 21.Nxa5 Bd5³. 16...Qxd3 17.cxd3

207

17...a5! Is a strong novelty trying to harass the b3-knight. The alternatives 17...Bg4?! 18.d4 exd4 19.h3 Bh5 20.Nxd4 Rfd8 21.Nb5 Rd2 22.Bc3 Rd7 23.Nd6± Kekelidze,M-Khairallah,F Beirut 2009 and 17...Nb4?! 18.Rad1 Nf5 19.d4 exd4 20.Nxd4 Nxd4 21.Bxd4 Nc6 22.Be3 Bf5 23.Rd6± Balogh,CPierrot,J Budapest 2001, can only favour White due to his bishop pair and strong pressure on the queenside. 18.d4

Black is on the right track after 18.a4 Be6 19.Nd4 Nxd4 20.Bxd4 Rad8 21.Be3 Nc6 22.Rab1 Rf7∞. 18...a4 19.d5 White can try to seek compensation after the interesting 19.Nd2 Rd8 20.Nc4 Nxd4 21.Rac1 Nec6∞. 19...axb3 20.dxc6 bxc6 Black is doing badly after the inaccurate 20...Rxa2? 21.Rxa2 bxa2 22.cxb7 Bxb7 23.Bxb7 Rb8 24.c6 Nxc6 25.Bxc6 Rxb2 26.Be4±. 21.axb3 Rxa1 22.Rxa1 Rd8

208

With equal chances. Conclusion The fianchetto line is quite interesting and Black should have done his homework in order to equalize and then seek his fair share of success. There are not many important games played lately which could change the evaluation of the variation, but the evaluation of certain positions has changed! And now we can be assured that Black is not facing particular problems if he has done his homework!

209

Variation D - Poseidon B33 The Poseidon variation arises after the moves 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bg5

But before we go on, let’s see why I named the variation after one of the Olympus Mountain ancient Gods. Nomenclature Poseidon under the Microscope God of the sea, protector of all waters, Poseidon was the brother of Zeus. After the overthrow of their Father Cronus, he drew lots with Zeus and Hades, his other brother, to split the world. His luck was to become lord of the sea. He was widely worshipped by seamen and married Amphitrite, granddaughter of the Titan Oceanus. At one point he desired Demeter. To put him off, Demeter asked him to create the most beautiful animal that the world had ever seen. So, in order to impress her, Poseidon created the first horse. In some accounts his first attempts were unsuccessful, and he created a variety of other animals in the process. By the time the horse was created, his passion for Demeter had cooled off. His weapon was the trident, which can shake the earth and shatter any object. He was second only to Zeus in power amongst the Gods, but he had a difficult and quarrelsome personality. He was greedy and had a series of disputes with other gods when he tried to take over their cities. The development of the white bishop to g5 reminds one of a trident, spearing the black knight on f6. 210

So, returning to our subject, we must point out that Bg5 is a frequent move in all Sicilian schemes. White wants to ‘pin’ the f6-knight, increasing the force of a future e5 advance. On the other hand, Black has many resources, starting from this early point. We will examine each of these moves separately:

Variation D1 - Poseidon - 7...Bb4 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bg5

A strange way to play Bg5 was seen in the game Dastan,B-Ghvamberia,N Albena 2011: 7.Be3 Qc7 8.f3 Bb4 9.Bg5 h6 10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.Qd2 a6 12.a3 Be7 13.Ne2 b5³. 7...Bb4 A natural and ‘justified’ response. 8.Bxf6 Of course, White has at his disposal some other options as well: a) 8.Bd3

211

a1) 8...Qc7 9.Bd2 a6 10.0-0 Be7 11.f4 d6 12.Qf3 Tulajdan,V-Goeth,J Prague 1964, transposes to the Apollo variation. a2) 8...Nxe4? 9.Bxe4 d5 10.Be3 Qc7 11.Bf3+– Portulez,R-Roche Simon,M Zaragoza 1998. a3) 8...Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 d6 (9...h6!? 10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.0-0 d6, is also playable) 10.0-0 Ne5 (10...e5? 11.Nd2 Be6 12.Qf3 Ke7 13.Nc4 Qc7 14.Ne3± Basso,F-Gravagna,P France 2001) 11.Nd4 a6 12.Kh1 Qc5 13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.f4 Nxd3 15.Qxd3 Bd7∞

Krebs,D-Blaskowski,J Bochum 1978. a4) 8...d6 9.Qd2 Bd7 10.a3 Bxc3 11.Qxc3 Ne5 12.0-0 Rc8 13.Qb4 Qxb4 14.axb4 a6= Gollain,MNemirovski,S France 2005. 212

a5) 8...d5 9.0-0 Bxc3 10.bxc3 Nxe4 11.Bxe4 dxe4 12.Qe2 h6³ Berelowitsch,D-Burian,S Oberhof 2013. a6) 8...h6 9.Bxf6 (9.Bd2 0-0 10.a3 (10.0-0 d5 11.exd5 exd5∞) 10...Bxc3 11.Bxc3 e5 12.Qf3 (12.0-0 d5) 12...Rd8 13.Bc4 d6 14.0-0 (14.Bd2? Nd4µ) 14...Be6 15.Bxe6 fxe6=) 9...gxf6 10.Qf3 (10.Qd2 Ne5 (10...Rg8!?, Petelin,A-Karasev,V Leningrad 1991) 11.a3 Be7 12.Be2 h5∞) 10...Ke7! 11.0-0 a6 12.Qg3 Bd6 13.Qh4 (13.Qg7 Qd8!) 13...Ne5∞ Vouldis,A-Grivas,E Komotini 1992 - see the analyzed game in the Middlegame Strategy chapter. b) 8.Qf3 Bxc3+ (8...Ne5 9.Qg3 d6 10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.Qg7 Rf8 12.Qxf6 Bd7 13.Be2 Rc8∞; 8...Ke7? 9.0-0-0 h6 10.Be3± Simon,A-Langner,J Sec 2004) 9.bxc3 Ne5 10.Qg3 d6∞. 8...gxf6

9.Qf3 Again White is on crossroads: a) 9.Qd2 a6 10.a3 Be7 11.0-0-0 (11.Be2 h5 12.f4 h4 13.0-0-0 Qf2 14.Bg4 Qxd2+ 15.Rxd2 Rg8∞ Costa,E-Cunha,M Sao Paulo 2014) 11...d6

213

12.f4 (12.h4 Bd7 13.g4 h6 14.f4 0-0-0 15.Bd3 Kb8 16.Rhe1 Bc8= 17.Nd5?! exd5 18.exd5 Ne5 19.fxe5 fxe5³ Zaroufis,M-Grivas,E Nea Makri 1991) 12...Bd7 13.Kb1 (13.Be2 h5 14.Rhf1 0-0-0 15.Rf3 Rdg8 16.Bf1 h4 (16...Kb8 17.Ne2 Rc8∞ Milosevic,G-Karpman,V Bela Crkva 1989) 17.Kb1 Kb8∞ Zahn,A-Fuchs,J Bad Wiessee 2015) 13...0-0-0 14.Na4 Qa7 15.c4 Kb8 16.Nc3 Qb6 17.Ka2 Rhg8 18.g3 h5∞ Pandavos,P-Grivas,E Athens 1997. b) 9.Be2

9...d6 (9...Qc7?! 10.0-0 Bxc3 11.bxc3 b6 12.Nd4 a6 (12...Nxd4!? 13.cxd4 Bb7 14.Qd3²) 13.Nxc6! Qxc6 14.Qd4 Ke7 (14...e5? 15.Qe3 Bb7 16.f3 d6 (16...Qc5 17.Qxc5 bxc5 18.Rfb1 Bc6 19.Bxa6!±) 17.Rab1 b5 18.c4!±) 15.Rab1 Rb8 16.Rb4±) 10.0-0 Bxc3 11.bxc3 Ke7 12.c4∞ Nemeth,J-Czebe,A Budapest 1997. 214

c) 9.Qd3 Ne5 10.Qg3

10...Qc6! (10...Bxc3+?! 11.Qxc3 Qc6 12.Qxc6 Nxc6 13.0-0-0² Grinenwald,P-Oger,C Elancourt 2004) 11.Nd2 Kf8 12.Be2 Rg8 13.Qh3 Kg7∞. 9...Be7 Worst is 9...Bxc3+?! 10.Qxc3 Qb4 (½-½ Wiesinger,J-Hofmann,B Wattens 1996) 11.Qxb4 Nxb4 12.Nd4², or 9...Ke7?!

10.0-0-0 (10.a3 Ne5 11.Qg3 Bxc3+ 12.Qxc3 Rg8 13.h3 d6 14.0-0-0 Bd7 15.f4 Rac8³ Snihur,ALisiecki,R Borowice 2012) 10...Ne5 (10...Bxc3?! 11.Qxc3 Qxf2 12.g3 Qb6 13.Be2 Ne5 14.Rhf1 d6 215

15.Qd2!± Wagman,S-Wohl,A Arco 2006) 11.Qg3

11...Bxc3 (11...d6 12.Nd4 Kf8 13.f4²) 12.Qxc3 Qxf2 (12...Ng4 13.Be2! Nxf2 14.Rhf1 Nxe4 15.Qf3 f5 16.g4±) 13.Nd4! (13.g3 Qf3! (13...Qb6 14.Be2 d6 15.Rhf1 Bd7 16.Qd2 Rhg8 17.Qf4 Rg6 18.Bh5±) 14.Qb4+ Ke8 15.Bb5 a6 16.Bd3 Qe3+ 17.Kb1 Rg8∞) 13...d6 14.Qc7+ Bd7 15.Bb5 Rhd8 16.Qxb7±. 10.Be2

No problem for Black is 10.Qg3 Kf8! (10...d6 11.Qg7 Rf8 12.Qxh7± Grabics,M-Kerek,C Hungary 1995) 11.Qh4 h5 (11...Rg8 12.Qxh7 a5! 13.Qh6+ Ke8 14.Qe3 Qxe3+ 15.fxe3 a4 16.Nd4 a3 17.0-0216

0 axb2+ 18.Kxb2 Ne5°) 12.0-0-0 a5 13.a3 a4 14.Nd2 Qc5 15.Kb1 (15.f4?! b5! 16.Bxb5 (16.Nxb5 Rb8µ) 16...Rb8 17.Bxc6 Qxc3!–+) 15...Rg8∞. 10...d6 11.0-0

11...h5 A principle move (and a suggested novelty) stopping a future Qh5 or Bh5, although after 11...Bd7 12.Qh5 Nb4 (12...0-0-0?! 13.a4! Rdg8 14.a5± Novak,Z-Papacek,S Karvina 1989) 13.Rac1 Rc8, nothing is clear-cut. 12.a4 a6 13.a5 Qc7 14.Qe3 Bd7 15.Na4 0-0-0 16.Nb6+ Kb8∞

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Black should be satisfied with the outcome.

Variation D2 - Poseidon - 7...Be7 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bg5 Be7

This looks a little bit more passive than 7...Bb4, but transpositions can force this. An interesting alternative is 7...a6 8.Qf3 (8.Qd2 Qc7 Dominguez P.,L-Polgar,J Khanty-Mansiysk 2011 - see the analyzed game in the Middlegame Strategy chapter) 8...Be7 9.Qg3 d6 10.0-0-0 (grabbing a pawn with 10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.Qxd6 Bxc3+ 12.bxc3 Qd8, is what would make Black happy

218

in the endgame to come, as she would have clear targets on the c-file) 10...0-0

11.Kb1. By transposition 11.Be2, was seen in an old game: 11...Rd8 12.Bh6 Bf8 13.h4 Qc7 14.h5 Kh8∞ Matanovic,A-Fuderer,A Belgrade 1952. For more info now, see the analyzed game Dominguez Perez,L-Polgar,J Khanty-Mansiysk 2011, in the Middlegame Strategy chapter. Now White can choose in-between 8.Be2, 8.Qd2 and 8.Bd3. R Variation D21 - Poseidon - 8.Be2 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bg5 Be7 8.Be2

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This looks like a passive set-up, but it is mainly transposing to lines of the Apollo variation. 8...a6 I must mention that usually the variation currently under examination arises by transposition which explains its significance. Now Black can play the strong 8...Ng4!

9.Bxg4 Bxg5³. Another unadvisable option is 8...h6?! 9.Be3 Qc7 10.f4 d6 11.0-0 a6 12.a4 Bouaziz,S-Csom,I Nice 1974. Black’s extra move ...h6 is not positive at all, as it weakens the kingside. 9.0-0

220

9.Qd2 does not frighten Black: 9...Qc7 10.h4 b5 11.a3= Pavit,S-Luu Quang Dao Vung Tau 2008. 9...d6 Black should refrain from 9...Qc7 10.f4 h6 11.Bxf6 gxf6 12.Bh5² Maki,V-Silva Sanchez,C La Valetta 1980, but fully playable is 9...0-0 10.Kh1 Qc7 11.f4 d6 12.Bf3 Rb8 13.Qd2 b5∞ Kruml,DManik,M Litomysl 1994. 10.a4 Qc7 11.a5

11...Bd7 221

Black’s alternatives are: a) 11...Ne5 12.Be3 Nc4 13.Bxc4 Qxc4 14.Ra4 Qc6 15.f4 0-0 16.Qd3² Rohit,G-Neelotpal,D Mumbai 2003. b) 11...b5?! 12.axb6 Qxb6 13.Be3 Qc7 14.f4± Platzgummer,F-Straub,P See-feld 2004. c) 11...0-0 c1) 12.Re1 b5 13.axb6 Qxb6 14.Bf1 Rd8 15.Ra4 Nb4 16.Na5 Bd7∞ Garcia,G-Ilic,Z Saint John 1988. c2) 12.Qd2 Bd7 (12...b5 13.axb6 Qxb6 14.Be3 Qc7 15.f4 Rd8 16.Bf3 Rb8∞ Guimaraes,DLabussiere,Y Goiania 2019) 13.Rfd1 Rac8 (13...Kh8 14.f3 Ne5 15.Na4 Bxa4 16.Rxa4 Rac8 17.c3² Goldie,T-Hofmann,C Cham 2014) 14.f3 Qb8∞. c3) 12.Be3 Bd7 (12...e5? 13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.exd5 Nb8 15.Bb6 Qd7 16.c4± Friedman,A-Bartell,T Internet 2009) 13.f4 (13.Bb6 Qb8 14.Qd2 Nb4 (14...Rc8 15.f4 Be8 16.f5² Jakovenko,DMorozevich,A Moscow 2009) 15.f4 Rc8 16.Kh1 Be8, is transposing to the Apollo variation) 13...Nb4 Nikolaidis,I-Grivas,E Nikaia 2004 - this is transposing to the Apollo variation. 12.Be3 12.f4 looks natural, although White’s bishop seems to be somehow misplaced on g5. 12...0-0 13.Rf3 Rfe8 and Black should feel fine as he has achieved a perfect Sicilian set-up.

12...Rc8 13.f4 Nb4 Black is not in a hurry to castle (kingside), although 13...0-0 14.Bf3 e5 15.Nd5 (15.Bb6 Qb8 16.f5

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Nb4 17.g4 h6 18.h4 Nh7∞ Suta,A-Jelecevic,I Hum na Sutli 2018) 15...Nxd5 16.exd5 Nb8 17.c3 Bb5 18.Re1 Nd7∞ Schreiner,P-Kleiser,G Jenbach 2009, or 13...Qb8 14.Bf3 Nb4 15.Nd4 g6 16.Rf2 0-0∞ Andersen,M-Das,A Calvia 2007, also satisfies him. 14.Bf3

14...Bc6 Possible is 14...e5 15.Qd2 (15.g4 Bc6) 15...Qc4∞ Fossan,E-Sjursen,H Bergen 1997, or 14...0-0 15.g4 (15.Qd2 e5 16.f5 d5! 17.Bb6 Qb8³ Pirklova,H-Klement,L Czech Republic 2012) 15...d5 16.e5 Ne4?! (16...Ne8 17.Bb6 Qb8∞) 17.Nxe4 dxe4 18.Bxe4 Bb5 19.Rf2 Rfd8 20.Qf3 Nd5 21.Bd4± Vasova,MWozniak,M Khanty-Mansiysk 2015. 15.Rf2 0-0

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16.Bb6 The main alternative is 16.Qe1 d5 17.e5 Nd7 18.Bd4 g6 (18...Bb5!? 19.Nxb5 (19.f5?! Bc4³ Kummerow,H-Orth,R Bochum 1992) 19...axb5 20.Qf1 Nc5!∞) 19.Qe3 Bb5

a) 20.g4?! Nc6?! (20...Bc4! 21.Nc1 Nc6µ) 21.Nxb5 axb5 22.Re2 Nxd4 23.Nxd4 Bc5 24.c3 b4∞ Kaminski,M-Cebalo,M Polanica Zdroj 1992. b) 20.f5 gxf5 21.Bxd5 Kh8 (21...Nxd5 22.Nxd5 exd5 23.e6 fxe6 24.Qxe6+ Rf7 25.Rxf5°) 22.Bf3 (22.Qh6?! Rg8³ Pedersen,J-Cebalo,M Copenhagen 1991) 22...Bc6=. c) 20.Nxb5 axb5 21.c3 Nc6 224

22.g4 (22.Be2 b4∞) 22...b4 23.Rd1 bxc3 (23...Rfe8 24.Be2 Nxa5 25.Nxa5 Qxa5 26.f5 Nc5 27.Rdf1 Ne4 28.fxe6 fxe6 29.Rf7 Bg5 30.Qh3 h6∞ Apicella,M-Cebalo,M Cannes 1994) 24.bxc3 Rfe8= Fercec,N-Cebalo,M Pula 1994. 16...Qb8

17.Qd4 Other White’s tries are 17.g4 d5 18.e5 Ne4∞ Reschun,S-Tschurl,M Oberwart 1994 and 17.Nd4 Be8 (17...d5!? 18.Nxc6 bxc6∞ Maus,S-Cebalo,M Oberwart 1994) 18.f5 e5 19.Nb3 Nd7 (19...Rc4?! 225

20.Nd2 Rc6 21.Nf1 d5 22.exd5 Rxb6 23.axb6 Bc5 24.Ne4 Bxb6 25.Nxf6+ gxf6 26.Be4 Qa7 27.Qg4+ Kh8 28.Qh4 Bxf2+ 29.Qxf2 Qxf2+ 30.Kxf2 Bb5 31.Rd1± Garcia,G-Gutierrez Castillo,J Bogota 1986) 20.Be3 b5 21.Nd5 Nxd5 22.exd5 Nf6∞ Juarez-Gutierrez Asousados 1986. 17...d5 18.e5 Nd7

19.Ba7 White cannot really afford surrendering his dark squared bishop: a) 19.Bd1 Nxb6 20.Qxb6 Bd7 21.Rd2 Rc4³ Djurhuus,R-Djouadi,M Gausdal 1986. b) 19.Kh1 Nxb6 20.Qxb6 Rfd8 21.Rd2 d4µ Brueggler,R-Knobel,M Zuerich 1991. c) 19.Nc5? Nxb6 20.axb6 Be8? (20...Bb5 21.Nb3 Bc4–+) 21.Nb3 Rc4µ Falkowski,W-Litterst,R Halle 2000. 19...Qa8 20.Qe3

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20...Bb5 21.Nxb5 axb5 22.c3 Nc6 23.Bd4 g6 Black needs this move in order to stop an eventual f5 advance: 23...Qb8 24.Re1 Rfe8? (24...g6)

25.f5! exf5 26.e6 Nf6 27.exf7+ Kxf7 28.Bxd5++– Mortensen,E-Csom,I Esbjerg 1981. 24.Be2 b4∞

227

Plachetka,J-Jansa,V Prague 1989. R Variation D22 - Poseidon - 8.Qd2 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bg5 Be7 8.Qd2

White opts for a sharp line with opposite castling. 8...0-0 9.0-0-0 Continuations like 9.Be2 a6 10.0-0 Qc7 11.f4 d6 12.Rad1 Rd8∞ Timmerman,G-Martinovic,S Dieren

228

1985, or 9.f3 d5!? (9...a5!? Zielinski,M-Panchev,P Karl-Marx-Stadt 1990) 10.exd5 Rd8∞, are what Black should wish for! 9...Rd8

Black should avoid 9...Ng4?! 10.Bxe7 Nxe7, due to 11.f3! (11.h3? Nxf2 12.Na4 Qc6 13.Qxf2 Qxa4 14.Rd4 Qc6³ Wynarczyk,R-George,I Exmouth 2003) 11...Ne3 12.Na4 Qc6 13.Qxe3 Qxa4 14.Qc5! Nc6 15.a3 b6 16.Bb5!± Klovans,J-Kveinys,A Riga 1986. The untested 9...a5!? 10.Be3 Qd8 11.a3 Ng4∞, deserves attention. After the popular 9...a6, a position often reached from the Richter-Rauzer has come about. With the text move Black is preparing the immediate ...d5 thrust. 10.Qe1

229

The main alternatives are 10.Nd4 Nxd4 (10...d5? 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.e5±) 11.Qxd4 Qxd4 12.Rxd4 h6 13.Bh4 d6=; and 10.Kb1 d5 11.Bxf6 Bxf6 12.exd5 Bxc3 (12...a5!? 13.a4 Nb4 14.d6 Be5 15.Nb5 Bd7∞) 13.Qxc3 exd5 14.Qc5 Be6 15.Qxb6 axb6 16.Nd4 (16.Bb5 d4=) 16...Ra4=. 10...d6 Also possible is 10...d5

11.e5 (11.exd5 Nxd5 12.Bxe7 Ncxe7=) 11...Ng4 12.Bxe7 Nxe7 13.Nd4 Nc6 14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.h3 Nh6∞. 11.f4 a6 12.Kb1 Qc7 13.Bd3 b5∞ 230

And a fierce fight is on as in Ismagambetov,A-Alekseev,E Khanty-Mansiysk 2007. R Variation D23 - Poseidon - 8.Bd3 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bg5 Be7 8.Bd3

8...a6 Bad seems to be 8...Ne5?! 9.0-0 h5 10.Be3 Qc7 11.f4 Neg4 (11...Nxd3 12.cxd3 b6 13.Rc1±) 12.Qf3 g5 13.h3 Nxe3 14.Qxe3 g4 15.e5± Noa,J-Chigorin,M London 1883, but quite playable is the direct 231

8...d6 9.0-0 0-0

a) 10.Qe2 Bd7 (10...h6?!, is usually not an advisable move in this system: 11.Be3! Qc7 12.f4 a6 13.g4 Nh7 14.Qf2! (14.Rf3 b5 15.Rh3 b4 16.Na4 Rb8 17.c3 Bd7∞ Arakhamia Grant,K-Hracek,Z Oakham 1990) 14...b5 15.h4 Nf6 ½-½ Hracek,Z-Ehlvest,J Pula 1997, although White’s position seems to be more ‘attractive’) 11.Rae1 a6 12.Kh1 Ne5 13.f4 Nxd3 14.cxd3 Rfe8 15.e5 Nd5 16.Nxd5 exd5 17.Bxe7 Rxe7 18.Qe3 Qxe3 19.Rxe3 dxe5 20.fxe5 f6= Haba,P-Walek,M Czech Republic 2007. b) 10.a4

10...Qc7 (10...Qd8 11.Qe2 a6 12.a5 Re8 13.Rfd1 Qc7= Gufeld,E-Petrushin,A Leipzig 1980) 11.a5 Bd7 (11...Rd8 12.Qe2 d5 13.exd5 Nxd5 14.Nxd5 Rxd5 15.Bxe7 Qxe7 16.Be4 Rd8 17.a6² Antal,G232

Gross,S Austria 2004) 12.Qe2 a6= Lukin,A-Anikaev,Y Cheliabinsk 1975. c) 10.Qd2

10...a6 (10...Ne5 11.Rae1 Rd8 12.Kh1 h6 13.Be3 Qc7 14.Nb5 Qb8 15.f4 Nxd3 16.cxd3 Bd7∞ Vokhidov,S-Alekseev,E St Petersburg 2017) 11.Rae1 Qc7 (11...Qd8 12.Re3 e5 13.f4?! exf4 14.Rxf4 Ne5³ Lefebvre,H-Stojanovic,D Cappelle la Grande 2014) 12.Re3 b5 (12...Re8 13.Rg3 Ne5 14.f4 Nxd3 15.cxd3² Narayanan,S-Bartakke,A Pune 2013) 13.Rg3 Ne5 14.f4 Nxd3 15.cxd3∞ Hou,YYu,Y Xinghua 2013. d) 10.Qf3 Ne5 11.Qg3 Nh5 12.Qh4 Bxg5 13.Qxg5 Nf6 14.Rad1 Bd7 15.Kh1 Bc6∞ Marko,PKrawiec,G Iwonicz 2015. e) 10.Kh1 Bd7

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White can choose from: e1) 11.a3 a5 (11...Ne5!?) 12.Be3 Qc7 13.f4 a4 14.Nd2 Na5 15.Nb5 Qb8 16.c4 Rc8 17.Nc3 b6∞ Bronstein,D-Vasiukov,E Moscow 1961. e2) 11.Be3 Qc7 12.f4 Nb4 13.Qf3 Rac8 14.Rae1 Nxd3 15.cxd3 b5∞ Sobura,H-Kovalev,A Berlin East 1989. e3) 11.f4 h6!

12.Bh4 (12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.Bc4 Nd4µ) 12...Nxe4 13.Nxe4 (13.Bxe4 Bxh4 14.Qxd6 Rfd8 15.Qc5 Be7³) 13...Bxh4 14.Nxd6 Be7 (14...Nb4 15.Be4 Bc6³ Puhm,A-Spassov,L Nice 1974) 15.Nc4 Qc7 16.c3 Rad8 17.Qh5 f5³ Hallenberg,S-Kallio,H Vaasa 1997. 234

e4) 11.Qe1

11...Ng4 (11...Ne5!?) 12.Bd2?! (12.Bxe7 Nxe7 13.Rd1 Ng6=) 12...Bh4?! (12...Nb4!³) 13.Kg1∞ Xie Jun-Portisch,L Marbella 1999. 9.0-0 d6 The premature 9...h6?! 10.Be3, is in White’s favour. This move should be played only after White has already played f4. 10.Kh1

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The main continuation. Alternatives are: a) 10.Qe2 a1) 10...h6?! 11.Be3! (11.Bd2 Qc7 (11...g5?

12.a4 a5 13.Nb5 Bd7 14.Rad1± Westerinen,H-Vasiukov,E Arvier 2006) 12.f4 b5 13.Rae1 b4 14.Nd1 a5 15.e5 Nd7 16.exd6 Bxd6∞ Jansa,V-Sakaev,K Gausdal 1992; 11.Bh4 g5 12.Bg3 h5 13.h3 g4 14.h4 Nd7 15.Qd2 Nce5∞ Smikovski,I-Sakaev,K St Petersburg 1995), transposing to the above game Hracek,Z-Ehlvest,J Pula 1997. a2) 10...Qc7 11.a4 h6 12.Be3 b6 13.f4 Bb7 14.Rac1 h5 15.Qf2 Bd8 16.h3² Haba,P-Mrva,M Czech Republic 2005. a3) 10...0-0 11.Rae1

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11...Qc7 (11...Nb4 12.Kh1 Qd8 13.f4 Nxd3 14.Qxd3 b5∞ Pacher,M-Petrov,M Zagreb 2011) 12.f4 h6 13.Bh4∞ Pinter,E-Mrva,M Piestany 2004. b) 10.a4

This is a positional continuation, gaining space on the queenside. While it may not have any connection with the idea of Bg5 it does seem interesting. 10...Qc7 (10...Bd7!? 11.Qe2 Ne5 12.a5 Qc7∞ Kobyliansky,I-Shishkin,V Evpatoria 2007; 10...Na5?! 11.Be3 (11.Nxa5 Qxa5 12.Bd2² Ivanovic,B-Plachetka,J Stara Pazova 1988) 11...Qc7 12.Nxa5 Qxa5 13.f4 0-0 14.Qe1² Mista,ASharapov,E Ostroda 2006) 11.a5

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11...Bd7 (11...0-0 12.Qe2 Nb4 13.Be3 Bd7 14.Bb6 Qb8 15.Bd4 Nxd3 16.cxd3 e5 17.Be3 Be6= Kelson,R-Minev,N USA 1987) 12.Qe2 Nb4 13.Bd2 0-0 14.Nb5 Bxb5 15.Bxb4 Bxd3 16.cxd3 Rfc8= Petrik,T-Najer,E Dresden 2007. c) 10.Be3?! Qc7 11.Na4?! Nd7 12.f4 b5 13.Nc3 Pasti,A-Trent,L Internet 2019, is a typical internet blitz game, one of these that sooner or later will destroy our game. 10...0-0 Black can delay castling with 10...Qc7 11.f4 (11.a4 b6 12.f4 0-0 (12...Bb7 13.f5!² Kindermann,SLiberzon,V Beersheba 1984) 13.Qe2, can transpose to the main line)

238

a) 11...0-0, can transpose to the main line. b) 11...h6 12.Bh4!

12...Bd7 (12...Nxe4? 13.Nxe4 Bxh4 14.Qg4!± Karasev,V-Kashljak,A St P. 2003; 12...b5 13.Qe2 b4 14.Nd1 a5∞ Priborsky,J-Poetz,F Austria 2015) 13.Bg3!² Mednis,E-Gulko,B Sombor 1974.

c) 11...Bd7 12.Qe2 (12.Qf3 h6 13.Bh4 g5 14.Bg3 gxf4 15.Bxf4 0-0-0 16.Nd2 h5∞ Timoscenko,GGulko,B Kishinev 1975) 12...h6 13.Bh4 0-0 (13...g5? 14.Bg3 gxf4 15.Rxf4 Ne5 16.Raf1 Ng8 17.R4f2

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17...f6 (17...Rh7 18.Bxe5 dxe5 19.Qg4± Allwermann,C-Solomunovic,I Boeblingen 1998) 18.Qh5+ Kf8 19.Ne2 Rh7 20.Nf4+– Byrne,R-Benjamin,J Berkeley 1984; 13...Nxe4!? 14.Qxe4 Bxh4 15.f5°) 14.Rae1 Rae8∞. d) 11...b5 d1) 12.Qe2 b4 (12...0-0, transposes; 12...Bb7 13.Rae1

13...b4 (13...h6 14.Bh4 g5 15.Bg3 gxf4 16.Rxf4 Nd7 17.Qh5 Nde5 18.Rf2 0-0-0∞ Stojanovski,DKosteniuk,A Wijk aan Zee 2000) 14.Na4 Nd7 15.Bxe7 Nxe7∞ Pokojowczyk,J-Popovic,P Polanica Z. 1982) 13.Nd1 0-0 14.Ne3 Bb7∞ Kett,T-Williams,L Cardiff 2008. d2) 12.Qf3 Bb7 13.a3 0-0 (13...0-0-0!? 14.Bh4 h6 15.Bg3 g5 16.f5 h5∞ Ribeiro,F-Vitor,A Portugal 240

1994), transposes. d3) 12.Bxf6!?

12...Bxf6 (12...gxf6?! 13.f5 b4 14.Ne2 a5 15.Nbd4± Maciejewski,M-Mochalov,E Katowice 1993) 13.Bxb5 (otherwise 12.Bxf6, has no meaning) 13...axb5 (13...Bxc3!? 14.Bxc6+ Qxc6 15.bxc3 0-0 (15...Qxe4? 16.Qxd6 Bb7 17.Rf2±) 16.Qd3 Bb7 17.Rae1 a5°) 14.Nxb5 Qb6 15.Nxd6+ Kf8 16.e5 Be7°. d4) 12.a3 Bb7 13.Qe1 h6 14.Bh4 g5 15.Bg3 Nh5 16.f5 0-0 17.Be2 Nf6∞ Ferreira,J-Terao,J Cordeiropolis 2015. 11.f4 Qc7 An interesting alternative is 11...h6!?

241

a) 12.Bh4?! Nxe4 13.Bxe7 (13.Bxe4 Bxh4 14.Qxd6 Be7 15.Qd3 Rd8³ Zubov,O-Paragua,M Alushta 2004; 13.Nxe4 Bxh4

14.Nxd6 (14.Qh5?! Be7 15.Rf3 f5 16.Ng5 Bd7–+ Stypka,M-Twardon,M Lubniewice 1994) 14...Nb4 (14...Be7 15.Nxc8 Raxc8 16.c3 Bf6³ Heberla,B-Gajewski,G Khalkidiki 2003) 15.Nc4 (15.c3 Nxd3 16.Qxd3 Rd8 17.Rad1 Bd7³ Maciejewski,M-Gajewski,G Polanica Zdroj 2005) 15...Qc7 16.Ne5 (16.Be2?! Rd8 17.Qc1 b5 18.Ne3 Bb7µ Gasik,A-Dobrowolski,P Wroclaw 2008) 16...Nxd3 (16...Rd8 17.Qh5 Nxd3 18.cxd3 Bf6 19.Rac1 Qe7∞ De Souza,R-De Oliveira,L Foz do Iguacu 2012) 17.Qxd3 b5 18.c3 Bb7³ Socko,B-Twardon,M Lubniewice 1994) 13...Nxc3 14.Bh7+!

242

14...Kh8! (14...Kxh7? 15.Qd3+ Ne4 16.Bxf8 d5 17.Bc5 Qb5 18.Be3±) 15.Qxd6 Re8 16.bxc3 Kxh7 17.Qd3+ Kg8 18.Bc5 Qd8∞. b) 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.Qh5! (13.Qf3 Qc7 14.Rae1 b5µ Hund,B-Chiburdanidze,M Luzern 1982) 13...Qc7 (13...Nb4!? 14.e5 Nxd3 15.cxd3 dxe5 16.fxe5 Be7 17.Rf3 Bd7 18.Raf1 (18.Rg3?! Qf2!µ) 18...Be8∞) 14.Rae1 (14.g4

14...b5 (14...Bxc3!? 15.bxc3 Ne7∞) 15.e5 dxe5 16.g5 g6 17.gxf6! gxh5 18.Rg1+ Kh8 19.Rg7 Qb6 20.Rh7+ Kg8 21.Rg7+ Kh8 22.Rh7+ Kg8 ½-½ Gufeld,E-Zaichik,G Daugavpils 1978) 14...b5 15.Re3 b4 16.Nd1 Ne7 17.Rg3 Kh8 18.Nd2 Bb7 19.Nf3 Ng8 20.b3 a5∞ Byrne,R-Fedorowicz,J Mentor 1977.

243

12.Qe2 As usual, the main alternative is 12.Qf3

12...b5 (12...Re8?! 13.Rae1, was good for White in Diamant,A-Palao,M Cali 2007) 13.Rae1 (13.e5? dxe5 14.fxe5 Nxe5! 15.Qxa8 Bb7 16.Qxf8+ (16.Qa7 Bxg2+; 16.Nxb5 Qc6) 16...Kxf8µ) 13...h6 14.Bh4 b4∞. 12...b5 Also possible is 12...b6 13.Rae1 Nd7! 14.Qh5 Bxg5 15.Qxg5 Nb4 16.Re3 Qd8= Ivanovic,BChiburdanidze,M Vinkovci 1982. 13.Rae1

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This is a key position for the system with 7.Bg5. 13...Nd7 Reducing the tension in the centre is the best solution. Alternatives are: a) 13...b4?! 14.Nd5! (14.Nd1 a5 15.c3 Re8 16.Nd4 Bb7∞ Pokiakis,G-Managadze,N Achaia 2012) 14...exd5 (14...Nxd5 15.exd5 Bxg5 16.fxg5 Ne5 17.Rf4!±) 15.exd5

15...Nxd5 (15...Bg4 16.Qe3 Nxd5 17.Qe4 g6 18.Qxd5 Be6, transposes) 16.Qe4 g6 17.Qxd5 Be6 18.Qe4 (18.Rxe6!? fxe6 19.Qxe6+°) 18...Bf5?! (18...Bxg5 19.fxg5 Bxb3 20.axb3 Ne5 21.Qxb4 Nxd3 22.cxd3 Rab8°) 19.Qc4 Bxd3 20.cxd3 Bxg5 21.fxg5± Wang Zili-Gostisa,L Belgrade 1988. 245

b) 13...Nb4?!

14.e5! dxe5 (14...Nfd5?! 15.Bxe7 Qxe7 16.Qe4! (16.Ne4² Van der W.,J-Benjamin,J Wijk aan Zee 1989) 16...g6 17.a3 Nxd3 18.Nxd5 exd5 19.Qxd3±) 15.fxe5 Nfd5 16.Bxe7 (16.Nxd5 Nxd5 17.Qe4 g6 18.Bf6 Bb7∞) 16...Qxe7 17.Ne4 Nxd3 18.cxd3 Bb7 19.Nbc5² Van der Wiel,J-Benjamin,J Wijk aan Zee 1989. c) 13...h6

14.Bh4 (14.e5? dxe5 15.fxe5 Qxe5 16.Qxe5 Nxe5 17.Rxe5 hxg5 18.Rxg5 Rd8µ Draghici,G-Ivanov,J Seville 2004; 14.Bxh6 gxh6 15.e5 dxe5 16.fxe5° Klima,L-Fedorov,A Czech Republic 2012) 14...b4 (14...Nxe4? 15.Nxb5 (15.Qxe4! f5 16.Nd5±) 15...axb5 16.Bxe7 Re8 246

17.Qxe4! (17.Bh4?! d5! (17...f5?! 18.Bxb5 Rxa2 19.Qc4± Loos,R-Cukrowski,F Warsaw 2014) 18.Bxe4 dxe4 19.Qxe4 Rxa2³ Lombardy,W-Shapiro,D Columbus 1977) 17...f5 18.Bxd6±) 15.Nd1 Nd7 16.Bxe7 Nxe7 17.Ne3 e5 18.f5 Nf6∞ Kaminski,M-Petrienko,V Katowice 1992. d) 13...Bb7

14.Qf3 (14.a3?! b4 15.axb4 Nxb4 16.Ra1 (16.e5 Ne8 (16...dxe5! 17.fxe5 Nfd5³) 17.Bxe7 Qxe7 18.Na5² Khabarov,S-Ageichenko,G Moscow 2012) 16...h6 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.Na5 Rab8 19.Nxb7 Rxb7 20.Nd1 Nxd3 21.Qxd3 Bxb2 22.Rxa6³ Kuzmin,G-Kurajica,B Lyon 1994) 14...Nb4 15.Qh3 Nxd3 16.cxd3 Rac8∞ Yudasin,L-Smirin,I Moscow 1994.

247

14.Bxe7 Nxe7 15.e5 15.a4, has been tried here: 15...bxa4 (15...b4!? 16.Nd1 a5 17.Ne3 Bb7∞) 16.Nxa4 Bb7 17.Ra1 e5 18.Nc3 exf4 19.Bxa6 Bxa6 20.Rxa6 Rxa6 21.Qxa6 Ng6∞ Meszaros,M-Abergel,T Brno 2006. 15...Bb7 A suggested novelty to 15...Ng6 16.Qf3 Rb8 17.exd6 Qxd6 18.Ne4 Qc7 19.Nd4 Nc5 20.Nxc5 Qxc5 21.c3 Bb7∞ Kaminski,M-Grivas,E Moscow 1994, which was also fine for Black. 16.exd6 Qxd6 17.Na5 17.f5 Nxf5 18.Na5 Bd5 19.Bxf5 exf5 20.Rd1 Nb6 21.Rxf5 Qc7=. 17...Bd5 18.f5 Nc5∞

248

And Black’s chances are by no way worse. Conclusion The Poseidon variation is quite a valid Sicilian system for White. Black has enough resources to preserve the balance, having his fair share of success. Black had always found ways for counterplay and finally I think that he faces no real problems. As the reader can point out, not much new stuff was played during the last years with the Poseidon variation - it seems that the White players do not follow it.

249

Variation E - Hestia B33 The Hestia variation is identified after the placement of White’s rook pawn on a3, at any moment, but usually after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.a3

But before we go on, let’s see why I named the variation after one of the Goddess of the ancient Greek Mythology. Nomenclature Hestia under the Microscope Hestia was Zeus’ sister. She was a virgin Goddess and didn’t have a distinctive personality. She played no particular part in the myths. She was the Goddess of the Hearth; the symbol of the house around which a newborn child was carried before it was received into the family. Each city had a public hearth dedicated to Hestia, where the fire was never allowed to go out. Of all the Olympians she was the mildest, most upright and most charitable. With the move 7.a3, White tries to secure his ‘house’, avoiding any possible dangers with ...Bb4 or with ...b5-b4 chasing the strong c3-knight away.

Variation E1 - Hestia - 8.? 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.a3

250

White’s idea is to prevent a possible ...Bb4, or ...Nb4. If White wants to play a3 it is better to do so on the 7th move before Be3 is played. The point is that then, if Black doesn’t play precisely, White can achieve an advantage with Bf4. On the other hand, there are negative sides: White cannot castle long anymore and Black can create quick counterplay with ...b5-b4, opening up the queenside. 7...Qc7! One of the very few lines where Black ‘should’ retreat his queen early! Other continuations seem to favour White, although things are far from easy: a) 7...d6?!

251

8.Bf4! (the main point of the Hestia variation - all other tries transpose to the main continuation) a1) 8...Qd8 9.Qd2 h6 10.0-0-0 e5 11.Be3± Lopez M.,J-Spraggett,K Seville 2007. a2) 8...e5 9.Bg5 Be7 10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.Nd5 Qd8 12.Qh5 (12.g3 f5 13.exf5 Bxf5 14.Bg2 0-0 15.0-0 Qd7 16.Nd2 Kh8 17.Nc4 Rad8 18.c3² Helm,L-Karteri,O Khalkidiki 2002) 12...Be6 13.Bc4 0-0 14.0-0 Kh8 15.f4 Rg8 16.f5± De la Villa Garcia,J-Bellon Lopez,J Vendrell 1993. a3) 8...Ne5

9.Be3! (9.Bxe5? dxe5 10.Bb5+ Bd7 11.Bxd7+ Nxd7 12.0-0 Be7³ Vanderbeeken,M-Flear,C Cannes 2007) 9...Qc7 10.f4

10...Nc6 (10...Nc4 11.Nb5! Qc6 12.Bxc4 Qxc4 13.Qd3±; 10...Ned7 11.g4 h6 12.Bg2 a6 13.Qe2 252

Be7 14.0-0-0± Milov,L-Vokac,M Germany 2004; 10...Ng6 11.Bb5+ Bd7 12.Bxd7+ Qxd7 13.Qf3±) with an extra tempo for White compared to the ‘ordinary’ lines. 11.Bd3 (11.g4 a6 12.g5 Nd7 13.h4± Lopez Martinez,J-Pankov,G Plovdiv 2008) 11...Be7 12.0-0 a6 13.Qf3 0-0

14.Rae1 (14.Nd4?! Nxd4 15.Bxd4 e5∞ Luther,T-Thorhallsson,T Reykjavik 2004) 14...b5² Moreira,J-Pinho,J Portugal 2003. b) 7...Ne7?! 8.Be3 Qd8 9.Be2 d5 10.e5 Nd7 11.f4 Nf5 12.Bf2± Cheparinov,I-Sokolin,L Dos Hermanas 2003. c) 7...a6?! 8.Bf4!

c1) 8...d5?! 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxd5 exd5 11.Qxd5 Be6 12.Qe4± Zakic,S-Djukic,Z Kladovo 1991. 253

c2) 8...e5 9.Be3 (9.Bg5 Be7 10.Be2! (10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.Nd5 (11.Be2 Qd8 12.Bg4 d6 13.Bxc8 Rxc8 14.Qd3 Ne7 15.0-0 Bg5 16.Rad1 Rc6² Ocnarescu,V-Chirila,I Predeal 2007) 11...Qd8 12.Nd2 b5 13.a4 Rb8 14.axb5 axb5 15.Bd3 (15.c3 0-0 16.Bd3 b4 17.Nc4 Be7 18.0-0 bxc3 19.bxc3 Bc5= Barua,D-Gofshtein,L Dieren 2007) 15...0-0 16.0-0² Sion Castro,M-Bellon Lopez,J Cala Galdana 1994; 10.Bc4 0-0 11.0-0 Qd8

12.a4 d6 (12...Nxe4 13.Nxe4 Bxg5 14.Nd6 Be7 15.Qd5 Bxd6 16.Qxd6 Qe7 17.Rad1°) 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.Qe2 Be6 15.Nd5 Rc8 16.c3 Bg5 17.Rfd1 Ne7 18.Nxe7+ Bxe7 19.Bd5 Qb6 20.Qc2 Kh8= Szabo,Z-Pinter,J Hungary 2001) 10...0-0 11.0-0 Qd8 12.Qd3 Ne8 13.Be3 d6 14.Nd5 Be6 15.Bb6± Wahls,M-Boensch,U Dortmund 1990) 9...Qd8 (9...Qc7

10.Be2 (10.Bd3 b5 11.Qd2² Senigagliesi,E-Giobbi,C Porto Sant Elpidio 2007) 10...d6 11.g4 h6 254

12.h4 Be6 13.Rg1 Nd7 14.Qd2 0-0-0 15.0-0-0 Na5 16.Nxa5 Qxa5 17.Kb1² Clemente L.,RWassin,S Dadaj 2008) 10.Be2 (10.Bd3 d5 11.Bg5 dxe4 12.Nxe4 Be7= Khovrina,N-Sedova,E Dagomys 2009) 10...d6 11.g4 h6 12.h4 Be6 13.Bf3 Be7 14.Nd5 Bxd5 15.exd5 Na5 16.Nd2² Lopez Martinez,J-Zhang Pengxiang Merida 2005. c3) 8...Ne7!? 9.Be3 (9.Qd2 Ng6 10.Be3 Qc7 11.0-0-0 b5 12.Kb1 Bb7 13.f3 Rc8∞ Smith,AKobese,W Gibraltar 2006; 9.e5 Nfd5 10.Nxd5 Nxd5 11.Bg3 h5 12.h4 Ne3 13.Qd2 Nxf1 14.Rxf1∞ Novik,M-Karasev,V Novosibirsk 1989) 9...Qc7

10.Bd3 (10.Bc5 d5! (10...b6 11.Bd6 Qc6 12.Qd3 Bb7 13.f3 Ng6 14.Bxf8 Kxf8 15.0-0-0² Huerga Leache,M-Rodriguez Lopez,R Vila de Marin 2005) 11.exd5 Nexd5 12.Nxd5 Nxd5=) 10...d5 11.0-0 dxe4 12.Nxe4 Ned5 13.Nxf6+ Nxf6 14.Nd2² (14.Qf3 Be7 15.Bd4 0-0 16.Rae1 Bd7∞ Enders,PLazarev,V Meisdorf 1996). d) 7...Be7!? 8.Bf4! 0-0

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d1) 9.Bd6 Ng4 (9...a6 10.Be2 Ne8 11.Bxe7 Nxe7 12.Qd4 Qc7 13.0-0 d6 14.Rfd1 Bd7 15.Nd2 Nc6∞ Dutreeuw,M-Kritz,L Iraklion 2007; 9...e5 10.Bc4² Gonzalez de la Torre,S-Martin Duque,J Linares 2019; 9...a5 10.a4 Bxd6 11.Qxd6 Ne8 12.Qg3 f5 13.exf5 Rxf5 14.Bd3² Zapata Charles,SVillegas,F Santiago de Chile 2016; 9...Ne8 10.Bxe7 Nxe7 11.Bd3 a6 12.0-0 Qc7 13.f4² Petrov,MMohammad,F Prague 2016) 10.Bg3 (10.Qxg4?! Bxd6 11.Bd3 Ne5³) 10...Nge5 11.Be2 (11.f4 Qe3+ (11...Ng6 12.Qd2 (12.Bf2 Qc7 13.g3 a6 14.Bg2 d6 15.0-0² Hofer,E-Lobanov,S Innsbruck 2018) 12...d6 13.0-0-0²) 12.Be2 Ng6 (12...Nc4? 13.Bf2+–; 12...Ng4 13.Nd2 f5 14.Nc4 Qd4 15.Bxg4 Qxc4 16.Be2²) 13.Qd3 Qxd3 14.Bxd3²

Topalov,V-Morozevich,A Dortmund 2001) 11...d6 12.Qd2 Rd8 13.0-0-0 Bd7 14.f4 Ng6 15.h4± Nielsen,V-Hansen,S Copenhagen 2019. 256

d2) 9.Bd3 d6 10.0-0 a6 11.Na4 Qc7 12.c4 b6 13.Rc1 Nd7 14.Nd2 Nc5 15.Bb1 Ne5∞ Todorov,KNikolov,M Primorsko 2018. d3) 9.e5! Ne8

10.Bd3 (10.Qg4? f6 11.Bd3 fxe5 12.Be3 Qd8µ Kowalczyk,A-Krasnodebska,M Chotowa 2009) d31) 10...Qc7 11.Qe2 (11.Qh5 g6 12.Qe2 f6 13.exf6 Qxf4 14.fxe7 Nxe7 15.g3 Qf6 16.f4² Georgiadis,N-Pavlidis,A Kocaeli 2013) 11...a6 12.Rd1! (12.h4 d6 (12...f6?! 13.Qe4² Donegani,HSommerbauer,N Hallein 1988) 13.exd6 Bxd6 14.Bxd6 Nxd6∞) 12...g6 13.0-0². d32) 10...a6 11.0-0 Qc7 12.Re1 g6 13.Qd2 d6 14.exd6 Bxd6 15.Bxd6 Qxd6 16.Rad1± Ljubojevic,L-Panno,O Vina del Mar 1988. d33) 10...f5

257

11.0-0! (11.Be3 Qd8 12.f4 d6 13.exd6 Nxd6 14.Qe2 Bf6 15.0-0 Qc7 16.Rad1 b6∞ Sambursky,VKremenietsky,A Tula 2004) 11...d6 12.exd6 Bxd6 13.Bxd6 Nxd6 14.Qe2². d34) 10...Qd8 11.Bg3! (11.Ne4 f6∞ Jeanjean,D-Vedmediuc,S Salon de Provence 2016) 11...f6 12.f4². d35) 10...f6 11.exf6 (11.Be3 Qc7 12.exf6 Nxf6 13.0-0 d5 14.Nb5 Qd8 15.f4 e5∞ Comp Rebel 6– Rohde,M Boston 1994; 11.Qh5?

11...g6 12.Bxg6 hxg6 13.Qxg6+ Ng7µ Powierski,E-Carow,J Magdeburg 2014; 11.Na4 Qd8 12.exf6 Bxf6 13.Qd2 d5³ Skaperdas,K-Skembris,S Anogia 2013) 11...Nxf6 12.0-0 d5

258

13.Bg3 (13.Qd2 e5 14.Bg5 Be6 15.Na4 Qc7 16.Nac5 Bf7³ Vorontsov,N-Zubarev,A Nabereznye Chelny 2007) 13...Bd7 14.Na4 Qd8 15.Nac5² Enders,P-Avshalumov,A Budapest 1989. Before we go on with the ‘main’ options and barring 8.Be3 d6 9.g3 Be7 10.Bg2 0-0 11.0-0 a6 12.f4 b5 13.Qe2 Bb7 14.f5 Ne5 15.Rae1 Nc4∞ Pregl,W-Maryasin,B Feffernitz 2011, we should pay attention to a proposal by WGM Y. Dembo: 8.Bg5

8...Be7

259

8...a6, transposes after 9.f4 (9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.Qh5 Bd6! (10...Qe5!?) 11.0-0-0 b5 12.Kb1 Be5∞; 9.Be2 b5 10.f4 Nxe4! 11.Nxe4 h6 12.Nf6+ gxf6 13.Bxf6 Rg8∞ Duessler,S-Kopylov,L Germany 2015) 9...Be7 (9...d6 10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.Qh5² Klundt,K-Rosen,W Eckernfoerde 2010; 9...h6 10.Bxf6 gxf6

11.g3 (11.Qf3 b5 12.Bd3 Qb6 13.a4 bxa4 14.Rxa4 Nb4 15.Na5 Rb8∞ Aguera Naredo,J-Ipatov,A Reykjavik 2012; 11.Qd2 b5 12.Be2 h5 13.0-0 h4 14.Kh1 Bb7 15.Rad1∞ Garcia Ramos,M-Rojas Keim,L La Roda 2012) 11...b5 12.Bg2 Bb7 13.0-0 h5 14.h4 0-0-0 15.Kh2 Kb8 16.Qe2 Na5 17.Nxa5 Qxa5 18.a4 b4 19.Nd1 Bc5 20.Nf2 d5∞ ½–½ Gonzalez de la Torre,S-Pap,M Elgoibar 2015) to the 10.e5 line. 9.f4 Best. 9.Qd2 a6 10.f3 b5 11.0-0-0 Ne5 12.Qd4 Bb7 13.Kb1∞ ½–½ Desanjose Candalija,E-Roig Aguilar,A Cullera 2006, or 9.g4?

260

9...Nxe4 10.Bxe7 Nxc3 (10...Qf4!? 11.Bc5 Nxc3 12.Qd3 Na4µ) 11.Qd6 Qxd6 12.Bxd6 Ne4 13.Bf4 d5µ Docampo Garcia,D-Villar Perez,S Mondariz 2009. 9...a6 Here Black can think of: a) 9...0-0!?

10.Qd2 (10.e5 Nd5 11.Nxd5 exd5 12.Bxe7 Nxe7 13.Bd3 d6 14.exd6 Qxd6 15.Qf3 Qe6+! 16.Be2 Qf6=) 10...a6 (10...d5!? 11.exd5 (11.e5 Ne4 (11...Nd7 12.Bxe7 Nxe7 13.Be2 a6∞) 12.Nxe4 dxe4 13.Bxe7 Nxe7 14.0-0-0 b6∞) 11...Nxd5 12.Nxd5 exd5 13.0-0-0 Bxg5 14.fxg5 Re8∞) 11.e5 261

11...Nd5 (11...Ne8 12.Bxe7 Nxe7 13.0-0-0 (13.Bd3 d6 14.exd6 Nxd6 15.0-0 b5 16.Qf2 Bb7= Martinez Torho,J-Roig Aguilar,A Cullera 2006) 13...f6 14.exf6 Nxf6 15.g3 b5 16.Bg2 Rb8 (16...Bb7 17.Bxb7 Qxb7 18.Nc5±) 17.Qd6²) 12.Nxd5 exd5 13.Bxe7 Nxe7 14.0-0-0 d6 15.exd6 Qxd6∞. b) 9...h6!?

b1) 10.Bxf6 Bxf6 (10...gxf6 11.Qd2 (11.g3 h5 12.h4 a6 13.Be2 Na5 14.Nxa5 Qxa5 15.0-0 b5 16.Kh2 Bb7 17.e5 fxe5 18.fxe5 b4 19.axb4 Qxe5³ Fernandez Bo.,P-Kurajica,B Linares 2016) 11...a6 12.0-0-0 b5 13.Kb1 Bb7 14.Nd5 exd5 15.exd5 Qd6 16.dxc6 Qxd2 17.Rxd2 Bxc6 18.Nd4 00-0 19.a4² ½-½ Bruned,B-Roos,M Dresden 2007) 11.e5 Be7 12.Nb5 Qb6∞. b2) 10.Nb5!? Qb8 11.Bxf6 Bxf6 12.Nd6+ Ke7 262

13.e5 (13.Nxc8+? Rxc8 14.e5 Nxe5 15.fxe5 Qxe5+ 16.Qe2 Qxb2–+) 13...Nxe5 14.fxe5 Bxe5 15.Nxc8+ Rxc8 16.Bb5 Qc7 17.c3 Bxh2 18.Qf3 Bg3+∞. c) 9...d6 10.Nb5 (10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.Qf3 a6 12.0-0-0 b5 13.Nd4 Bd7 14.g3 Nxd4 15.Rxd4 Qc5∞ Golding,A-Davtyan,A Prague 2016) 10...Qd8 11.Bxf6 gxf6 12.Qh5 a6 13.N5d4

13...Nxd4 (13...Bd7 14.0-0-0 Rc8 15.Be2 (15.f5 Nxd4 16.Nxd4 Qa5∞) 15...Qc7∞) 14.Nxd4 Qb6 15.0-0-0 Qc5?! (15...Bd7 16.f5 e5∞) 16.f5 0-0? 17.Rd3 Rd8 18.Qh6 1–0 Maki Uuro,M-Pudas,T Helsinki 2012. 10.e5

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10.Bd3, transposes to the Poseidon variation (Bg5 set-ups), where the move a3 is useless. 10...Nxe5!? If Black doesn’t feel like sacrificing a piece he should opt for 10...Nd5 11.Nxd5 exd5 12.Bxe7 Nxe7 13.Bd3 d6 14.exd6 Qxd6 15.Qf3 Bf5 (15...0-0!? 16.0-0-0 Bd7) 16.Bxf5 Nxf5 17.0-0-0 Ne7 18.Nd4 0-0 19.Kb1², with a passive but defendable position. 11.Bxf6 Bxf6 12.fxe5 Bxe5 13.Qd3!

264

13...Bxh2 Black must take the third pawn. If 13...b5?, then 14.Nd4 Bb7 15.0-0-0 Rc8 16.Kb1 0-0 17.h4±. 14.0-0-0 h6 15.Kb1 Or 15.Be2 d5 16.Bh5 0-0 17.Kb1 Be5 18.Nd4 b5 19.Nce2 Rb8 20.Qe3 Bd7∞ Hristodoulou,PIpatov,A Paleochora 2011. 15...d5 It seems that Black is in trouble after the natural 15...b5, when Y. Dembo rightly analyses: 16.Nd4 Bf4 17.Nf5!

17...0-0 (17...exf5 18.Re1+ Kd8 (18...Kf8 19.Nd5 Qd6 20.Qxf5 Bg3 21.Re7 Qg6 22.Qf3 Bb7 23.Bd3±; 18...Be5 19.Nd5! Qd6 20.Qg3 f6 21.Qxg7 Rf8 22.Be2 Bb7 23.Nc7+! Qxc7 24.Bh5+ Kd8 25.Qxf8#) 19.Nd5 Qd6 20.Qxf5 Bg3 21.Qg5+! f6 22.Qxg7 Qxd5 23.Qxh8+ Kc7 24.Re3 Qd1+ 25.Ka2 Be5 26.Rxe5 fxe5 27.Qxe5++–) 18.Nd5! exd5 19.g3

265

19...Bg5 (19...Be5 20.Ne7+ Kh8 21.Qf5 d6 22.Qg5+–) 20.Qd4 Bf6 (20...f6 21.Qxd5+ Kh8 22.Qxa8+–) 21.Qxf6! (21.Nxh6+ gxh6 22.Qxf6+–) 21...gxf6 22.Rd4+–. Black is also in trouble after 15...Be5 16.Rh5 d5 17.Re1 Bxc3 18.bxc3 Kf8 (18...0-0 19.g4±) 19.Qd4 Bd7 20.Bd3±. 16.Na4 Bf4! 16...b5? 17.Nb6! Rb8 18.Nxc8 Rxc8 19.Nc5! Qxc5 20.Rxh2 0-0 21.g4±. 17.Qd4 0-0 18.Nb6 Rb8∞

266

A rather unclear position. As there is a complete absence of games played no easy conclusions can be made. Now let’s return to White’s potential 8th moves. His options are chartered according to his preferred bishops’ set-up: 8.Be3 (Be2), 8.Be3 (Bd3) and 8.Bd3 (Bd2).

Variation E2 - Hestia - 8.Be3 (Be2) 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.a3 Qc7 8.Be3

8...d6 9.f4 This is considered to be the main continuation. Alternatives are 9.f3 a6 10.Qd2 (10.Na4 Nd7 11.c4 b6 12.Nc3 Be7 13.Rc1 Qb8 14.Be2 0-0 15.0-0∞ Sergeeva,V-Kostrikina,A Moscow 2008; 10.a4 Be7 11.a5 0-0 12.Na4 d5! 13.Nb6 Rb8 14.exd5 Nxd5 15.Nxd5 exd5 16.Be2 Bd6³ Tenenev,E-Rabiega,R Dresden 2002) 10...b5 11.Nd4 Be7 12.g4 0-0 13.g5 Nd7 14.Nxc6 Qxc6 15.f4 Rb8 16.Rg1 Nb6∞

267

Papastavropoulos,A-Grivas,E Athens 1995 and 9.a4 a6 10.Be2 Be7 11.0-0 b6 12.f4 0-0 Lobzhanidze,D-Grivas,E Athens 1996 & Radjabov,T-Stellwagen,D Wijk aan Zee 2009, which gives White an ‘inferior’ version of the Hermes variation. 9...a6 10.Be2 Instead of this normal move, White has tried to be more active with an early kingside pawn push: 10.g4

a) 10...h6 a1) 11.Bg2 b5 (11...g6?! 12.Qe2 Bg7 13.0-0-0 0-0 14.h4 h5 15.Bf3² Makarichev,S-Vasiukov,E 268

Soviet Union 1978) 12.Qf3 Bb7 13.0-0∞ Vuckovic,A-Sax,G Deizisau 2002. a2) 11.Qf3 Rb8 12.0-0-0 b5 13.h4

13...h5! (13...b4?! 14.axb4 Nxb4 15.g5 hxg5 16.hxg5 Rxh1 17.Qxh1± Porkolab,S-Metaxasz,V Budapest 2012) 14.g5 Ng4 15.Bg1 b4∞. a3) 11.Qe2 Be7 12.0-0-0 b5 13.Bg2 Rb8 14.h4 h5!∞ Rudd,J-Gormally,D Torquay 2013. b) 10...d5 11.e5 Nd7 12.g5 g6 13.h4 h5 14.Bg2 b5 15.Ne2 Bb7 16.Nbd4 ½–½ Inkiov,V-Razuvaev,Y Porto San Giorgio 1998. c) 10...Be7 11.g5 Nd7

269

12.a4 (12.h4 b5 13.h5 (13.Qe2 Nb6 14.Rd1 Bb7∞ Kalatozishvili,G-Reshko,A Baku 1964) 13...Bb7 14.Qf3 (14.Qe2 Nc5 (14...h6!? 15.gxh6 gxh6 16.0-0-0 0-0-0∞) 15.Bg2 b4 16.axb4 Nxb3 17.cxb3 Nxb4 18.Rc1² Neustroev,V-Plenkovic,Z Djenovici 2019) 14...Nc5 15.Nd4 Nxd4 16.Bxd4 e5∞ Vandenbussche,T-Maes,J Gent 2003; 12.Qd2

12...b5 (12...0-0 13.h4 b5 14.f5 Nde5∞ Polyviou,P-Giannakoulopoulos,S Patra 2001) 13.f5 Nde5 14.0-0-0 b4∞ Soto Diaz,J-Garcia Roman,J San Pedro del Pinatar 2010) 12...b6 13.Nd4 Nxd4 14.Bxd4 0-0∞ Dukaczewski,P-Giffard,N Torcy 1991. d) 10...b5 d1) 11.Qe2 Rb8 12.Bg2 Be7 13.h4

270

13...h5 (13...b4 14.axb4 Nxb4 15.g5 Nd7 (15...Ng4!? 16.Bg1 e5 17.f5 d5∞) 16.h5 Nb6 17.Na5 00∞ Vallejo Pons,F-Kozul,Z Ohrid 2001) 14.g5 Ng4 15.Bg1 b4 16.axb4 Nxb4∞ Kayar,E-Kurajica,B Istanbul 2003. d2) 11.Bg2 Bb7 (11...h5!?) 12.g5 Nd7 13.0-0 Nb6 14.Nd2 Na5 15.Kh1 Nbc4 16.Nxc4 Nxc4 17.Bc1 g6∞ Wang,Y-Nguyen,D K. Lumpur 2011. d3) 11.g5 Nd7

d31) 12.Bg2 Nb6 (12...Be7 13.0-0 (13.Qe2 Nb6 14.Nd2 b4 15.axb4 Nxb4∞ Al Tarbosh,WPhillips,R Istanbul 2012) 13...Nb6 (13...Bb7 14.Qe2 0-0 15.Qh5 (15.h3 Rfe8 16.Qf2 Bf8 17.h4 Rac8∞ Yilmaz,T-Hansen,S Budapest 1992) 15...g6 16.Qh6 Rfe8 17.Rf3 Bf8 18.Qh4∞ Zieher,HVan Mil,J Copenhagen 1982) 14.Nd2 Bb7 15.Qh5 g6 16.Qh3∞ Yilmaz,T-Kurajica,B Pula 1997) 13.Bxb6 (13.Nd2 g6 14.f5 Ne5 15.Qe2∞ Jakubowski,K-Fedorov,A Czech Republic 2013) 13...Qxb6

271

14.Qd3 (14.Qd2 Be7 15.h4 Rb8 16.0-0-0 b4 17.axb4 Nxb4∞ Pingitzer, H-Palac,M Oberwart 2012) 14...Bb7 15.0-0-0 b4 16.axb4 Nxb4 17.Qd4 Qxd4 18.Rxd4 Nc6∞ Martinez Bejarano,ARios,C Cochabamba 2013. d32) 12.Qf3 Be7 13.Be2 b4 14.axb4 Nxb4 15.Rc1 Bb7 16.0-0 0-0∞ Jahr,U-Luecke,N Porz 1989. d33) 12.Qd2 Rb8 13.Nd4 Bb7∞ Pokazanjev,N-Alekseev,E Olginka 2011. d34) 12.h4 Bb7

13.h5 (13.Qe2 Na5 14.Nxa5 Qxa5 15.Bd2 Rc8 16.Rd1 Qc7∞ Dastan,B-Czebe,A Budapest 2012; 13.Bg2 Nb6 14.Qe2 Nc4 15.Bc1 Qb6 16.Nd1 Rc8 17.c3 N6a5 18.Nxa5 Nxa5∞ Gretarsson,HPiasetski,L Reykjavik 2019) 13...Nb6 14.Qf3∞ Stefansson,H-Karlsson,M Akureyri 2019. 272

10.Qe2, is another story: 10...Be7 11.g4 b5 12.0-0-0 Nd7 13.g5 Rb8 14.f5 Nde5∞ Panagiotakopoulos,G-Grivas,E Athens 2012. 10...b5 Black cannot manage without this standard advance. The game Chigorin,M-Paulsen,L, Berlin 1881 continued with 10...Bd7 11.0-0 Be7 12.Qe1 0-0 13.Qg3 Rad8 14.Nd2 d5?! 15.e5 Ne8 16.Nf3². Playable is 10...Be7 11.0-0 0-0 12.Bf3 (12.Kh1 b5 13.Bf3 Rb8 14.Qe2 b4∞ Madduri,S-Grivas,E Sharjah 2019) 12...Rb8 (12...b5, transposes) 13.a4?! b6 14.g4 Nd7 15.g5 Nc5 16.Bg2 b5 17.axb5 axb5 18.Nxc5 dxc5 19.e5 Rd8 20.Qh5 Nd4³ ½-½ Pioch,T-Faqiry,R Wiesbaden 2011. 11.0-0 Alternatives like 11.Qd3?! Be7 12.g4 0-0 13.g5 Nd7 14.h4 b4 15.axb4 Nxb4 16.Qd2 Bb7 17.Bd3 d5!³ Papastavropoulos,A-Grivas,E Kalavrita 1997, or 11.Qd2 Be7 12.0-0-0 0-0 13.Bf3 Rd8 14.g4 b4³ Baramidze,D-Khenkin,I Altenkirchen 2005, are not advisable for White. 11...Be7

In the Hestia variation it is important to delay the move ...Bb7. The black bishop on c8 defends the e6–square and leaves the b-file open for the a8–rook. White gained the advantage after 11...Bb7 12.f5! exf5 13.a4 b4 14.Nd5 Nxd5 15.exd5 Ne5 16.Rf4 Be7 17.Rxb4 0-0 18.Na5² Janosevic,D-Korchnoi,V Belgrade 1964. A critical position. White must choose in-between 12.Qe1 and 12.Bf3. The continuations 12.Qd2 0-0 13.Rad1 Rb8 (13...Bb7 14.Bf3 Rac8 15.Qf2 b4 16.axb4 Nxb4 17.Nd4 273

d5 18.e5 Ne4∞ Maidanova,I-Markelova,L St Petersburg 2011) 14.Bf3 b4 15.axb4 Nxb4∞ Bil,A-De Paula,G Sao Paulo 2005 and 12.Nd2?! 0-0 13.g4 Nd7 14.g5 Re8 15.Bd3 b4 16.Ne2 Bb7 17.Ng3 Bf8 18.Nh5 bxa3 19.bxa3 Ne7 20.Qg4 Ng6 21.Rf3 d5µ Adams,Ma-Kurajica,B Eupen 1997, are not promising for White. R Variation E21 - Hestia - 12.Qe1 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.a3 Qc7 8.Be3 d6 9.f4 a6 10.Be2 b5 11.0-0 Be7 12.Qe1

White tries to organize an attack against the black king with the help of the maneuver Qe1–g3. 12...0-0 The usual try, although 12...Nd7 13.g4 Nb6 14.Rd1 Nc4 15.Bc1 Bd7! 16.Qg3 Rc8 17.g5 0-0 18.Bg4 Rfe8 also proved acceptable in Sideris,N-Grivas,E Corfu 1988. Also possible is 12...Bb7 13.Qg3 0-0 14.f5 Kh8∞ Frey,A-Klundt,K Nuernberg 2011. 13.Qg3 Kh8 Standard prophylaxis against the threats f5 and Bh6. An alternative is 13...Re8

274

14.Rae1 (14.f5 Kh8 (14...Ne5 15.Bg5 Kh8 16.Nd2 Bb7∞ Korbovljanovic,N-Zlatanovic,J Vrnjacka Banja 2008) 15.Nd4 Nxd4 16.Bxd4 e5 17.Be3 Bb7 18.Bd3 Bc6 19.Bg5 b4∞ Fougler-Ilic,Z Lesneven 1989) 14...b4 (14...Rb8!?) 15.axb4 Nxb4 16.Nd4∞ ½-½ Vass,V-Fekete,I Hungary 2007. 14.Nd4

Black was fine after the alternatives: a) 14.Kh1 b4 15.axb4 Nxb4 16.Nd4 e5 17.fxe5 dxe5 18.Rac1 Na2! 19.Nxa2 Nxe4 20.Qe1 (20.Qf3 exd4 21.Bxd4 (21.Qxe4 dxe3 22.Qxa8 Bb7 23.Qxf8+ Bxf8µ) 21...Bb7 22.Nc3 f5=) 20...exd4 21.Bxd4 Bb7= Herrera,I-Alvarez,J Colon 1993.

275

b) 14.Qh3

14...b4 (14...Rb8!?) 15.axb4 Nxb4 16.Rac1 Bb7 17.Bf3 Nd7 18.g4 Nb6 19.Na5 Nc4 20.Nxc4 Qxc4∞ Baecker,R-Senff,M Germany 1994. c) 14.Bf3 Rb8 (14...Bb7 15.Nd4 (15.Rae1 b4 16.axb4 Nxb4 17.Qf2 Nd7 18.Nd4 Rac8∞ Budimir,BAvdic,A Bosanska Krupa 2018) 15...Nd7!? (15...Rae8?! 16.Rad1 Nxd4 17.Bxd4 e5 18.fxe5 dxe5 19.Bxe5 Bc5+ 20.Bd4 Bxd4+ 21.Rxd4 Qc5 22.Qd6± Coutinho,R-Carvalho,J Petropolis 2000) 16.Rad1 Bf6∞) 15.Rad1

15...b4 (15...Bb7 16.Nd4 b4 17.axb4 Nxb4∞ Ledezma Borregales,D-Marichal Gonzalez,A Barquisimeto 2012) 16.axb4 Nxb4∞. 276

d) 14.Rad1

14...b4 (14...Bb7 15.Bf3 Nd7 16.Qh3 b4 17.axb4 Nxb4∞ Bratkovic,J-Riegler,P Celje 2014) 15.axb4 Nxb4 16.Rd2 Rb8 (16...Bb7 17.Bf3 Rac8 (17...e5 18.Kh1 Rfc8 19.Qf2 Bc6 20.Ra1 Rab8∞ Mullick,R-Yagupov,I Olomouc 2018) 18.Qf2 Ba8 19.Rfd1 Rb8 20.Ba7 Rb7∞ ½–½ Risteski,E-Filip,L Skopje 2019) 17.Nd4

17...Na2!? (17...d5 18.e5 (18.exd5?! Nfxd5 19.Nxd5 Nxd5 20.c3 Bf6 21.Bd3 h6³ Kind,V-Byhan,G Leutersdorf 2001) 18...Ne4 19.Nxe4 dxe4 20.Bf2∞; 17...Bb7 18.Bf3 g6 19.Rfd1 Rfd8 20.Qh3 d5 21.e5 Ne4 22.Nxe4 dxe4 23.Be2 Nd5∞ Dahlhaus,F-Rosen,W Dresden 2009) 18.Nxa2 Nxe4 19.Qe1 Nxd2 20.Qxd2 Rxb2∞.

277

14...Bb7

15.Rad1 Here White has also tried: a) 15.Bd3 Rac8 (15...b4 16.axb4 (16.Nxc6?! bxc3 17.Nxe7

17...cxb2! (17...Qxe7?! Jarmula,L-Wilk,M Warsaw 2010) 18.Rab1 Bxe4 19.Bd4 Bxd3 20.Qxd3 Qxe7³) 16...Nxb4∞) 16.Nxc6 Bxc6∞ 17.e5?! dxe5 18.fxe5 Nh5 19.Qh3 Qxe5 20.Kh1 g6 21.Bh6 Ng7 22.Rae1 Qc7 23.Bf4 Bd6 24.Qh6 e5 25.Re3 f5 26.Rh3 Ne6 27.Bxe5+ Bxe5 28.Re1 Nf4 0–1 278

Lloret Ramis,J-Danailov,S Benidorm 1992. b) 15.Nxc6 Bxc6 16.Bd4 Rad8 17.Bf3

17...Rg8! 18.Rad1 Nd7 19.Bh5 Rdf8 20.e5 dxe5 21.fxe5 f6!∞ Plat,V-Movsesian,S Minsk 2017. 15...Rac8 A natural suggested novelty. The continuation 15...Rg8?! 16.Bd3 e5 17.Nf5 exf4 18.Bxf4 Nh5 19.Qh3 Nxf4 20.Rxf4² seems inferior, Jakovljevic,V-Djukic,Z Kopaonik 1992, but 15...Na5!?, is perfectly playable: 16.e5 dxe5 17.fxe5 Nd5 18.Nxd5 Bxd5 19.Nf5 exf5 20.Rxd5 Qxc2 21.Rd2 Qb3 22.Rxf5 Nc4 23.Bxc4 Qxc4∞. 16.Bf3 Na5∞

279

Black should be fine as he has achieved a perfectly sound and complicated position. R Variation E22 - Hestia - 12.Bf3 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.a3 Qc7 8.Be3 d6 9.f4 a6 10.Be2 b5 11.0-0 Be7 12.Bf3

12...0-0 Black has tried to delay castling with 12...Rb8, which, as it has been already mentioned, is the back280

bone of Black’s most precious idea in this system. White has tried a large number of moves here: a) 13.Ne2 0-0 14.c3

14...Bb7 (14...Rd8 15.Ned4 e5 16.Nxc6 Qxc6 17.Qc2 Ng4 18.Bxg4 Bxg4 19.Rae1 Rdc8 20.Qf2 Be6 21.Nd2 f6∞ Nikoloski,K-Djordjevic,D Skopje 2017) 15.Qe1 e5= Sedy,P-Arzumanian,G Pardubice 2006. b) 13.Kh1 0-0 b1) 14.Qe1 b4 (14...Re8 15.Qf2 Bb7 16.Rad1 Bf8 17.Qg3 Nd7∞ Mandarin,V-Francois,G France 2003)

15.axb4 (15.Nb1 e5 16.f5 Rd8 17.N1d2 bxa3 18.bxa3 d5³ Przybylski,W-Djordjevic,D Internet 281

2020) 15...Nxb4 16.Qd2 Re8 17.Nd4 Bb7 18.e5 dxe5 19.fxe5 Nd7 20.Bxb7 Qxb7 21.Bf4 Nb6 22.Nce2 Rbc8∞ Remes,R-Obsivac,J Ostrava 2009. b2) 14.g4 Nd7 (14...Re8 15.g5 Nd7 16.Bg2 Bf8 17.Qh5 g6 18.Qh4 Bg7∞ Zhukov,V-Petrova,O Maykop 2008) 15.g5 g6 16.h4 Re8 17.h5 Bf8 18.hxg6 hxg6 19.Kg2 b4 20.axb4 Nxb4∞ Enkin,MPaschall,W Marlboro 2002. c) 13.Nd4 Nxd4 14.Qxd4 e5 15.Qd2

15...0-0 (15...exf4!? 16.Bxf4 0-0∞) 16.f5 Bb7 17.g4 h6 (17...d5 18.exd5 e4 19.Nxe4 Nxd5 20.Bd4 Rbd8 21.c3² Bejaoui,A-Gutman,L Werther 2005) 18.Rad1 Rfd8∞. d) 13.Qd2 0-0 14.g4 (14.Rad1 Nd7

282

15.Qf2 (15.Nd4 Nxd4 16.Bxd4 Nb6∞ Seuss,O-Jakobsen,O Bad Zwischenahn 2008) 15...b4 16.axb4 Nxb4 17.Kh1 Bf6∞ Roskar,R-Avrukh,B Ljubljana 1998; 14.Rfd1 b4 15.axb4 Nxb4 16.Nd4 Re8 17.Rdc1 Bf8 18.Kh1 e5∞ Lyubavin,V-Petrova,O Maykop 2008) 14...Nd7 15.Nd4 Nxd4 16.Bxd4 Bb7 17.Qf2 e5³ Agayn,V-Grivas,E Athens 1995. e) 13.g4

13...0-0 (13...h6 14.Qd2 g5∞ Vlasov,V-Balashov,Y Tambov 2016) 14.Bg2 Re8 15.g5 Nd7 16.Rf3 (16.Qh5 g6 (16...Bf8 17.Rf3 g6 18.Qh4 Nb6 19.Raf1 Nc4 20.Bc1 b4∞ Martin Perez,F-Roeder,M Corte Ingles 1998) 17.Qh6 Bf8 18.Qh4 b4 19.axb4 Nxb4 20.Qf2 Nb6 21.Na5 Bd7 22.Rfc1 Nc4∞ ½-½ Parrini,D-Mrdja,M Porto San Giorgio 2009) 16...b4 17.axb4

283

17...Nxb4 (17...Rxb4!? 18.Rh3 g6∞) 18.Rh3 g6 (18...Nf8 19.Rc1 Bd7 20.Rg3 Rec8 21.Nd4 Nc6∞ Navarro,S-Frank,P Fuegen 2006) 19.Qe2 Bf8 20.Qf2 Bg7 21.Rd1 f6! (21...Nb6? 22.e5! dxe5 23.Qh4 Nd7 24.Qxh7+ Kf8 25.Ne4 Nd5 26.fxe5 Nxe3 27.Nf6 Ke7 28.Rxe3 Qxc2 29.Red3 Nxe5 30.Nd4 Qc5 31.Rc3 Qb6 32.Qxg7 Rf8 33.Nh7 1–0 Pandavos,P-Grivas,E Karditsa 1994) 22.gxf6 Nxf6∞. f) 13.Qe2 0-0

f1) 14.Kh1 Re8 (14...b4 15.axb4 Nxb4 16.Rfd1 Re8 17.Qf2 e5 18.f5 d5∞ Tsartsitalidis,T-Grivas,E Korinthos 1997; 14...Nd7 15.Rad1 Nb6 16.Nd4 Nxd4 17.Bxd4 Nc4∞ Martinez,C-Morales,J Cali 2016) 15.g4 Bf8 16.g5 Nd7 17.Rf2 Nc5 18.Nd4 Bb7∞ Maciejewski,W-Kuzin,E Poznan 2004. f2) 14.Rad1

284

14...b4 (14...Re8 15.Qf2 Nd7 (15...b4 16.axb4 Rxb4 17.e5!² Putzbach,G-Hawranke,D Pinneberg 1993) 16.Rd2 Nb6 17.Bxb6 Qxb6 18.Qxb6 Rxb6= Kuzevanova,E-Gasanov,E St Petersburg 2010) 15.axb4 Nxb4 16.g4 Nd7 17.g5 Nb6 18.Nd4 Nc4 19.Bc1 Re8∞ Kordonowski,F-Lehmann,H Germany 1997. f3) 14.Rfd1 b4 15.axb4 Rxb4 16.Qe1 a5∞ Wood,R-Van der Weide,P Sinaia 1965. f4) 14.g4 Nd7 15.g5 Re8 16.h4 Bf8 17.Qg2 Nb6 18.Rae1 Nc4 19.Bc1 a5∞ Ivic,M-Kurajica,B Bol 2015. f5) 14.Qf2

f51) 14...b4 15.Na4 (15.axb4 Nxb4 16.Kh1 (16.Nc1 Bb7 17.Rd1 d5 18.e5 Ne4 19.Bxe4 dxe4 20.Nb3 Nd5= Gaudron,F-Guillet,M France 1996) 16...e5 17.Nc1 exf4 18.Bxf4 Be6= Sobhani,FMomeni,H Iran 1995) 15...e5!? (15...Bb7 16.Bb6 Qd7 17.Rfd1 bxa3 18.Rxa3² Charochkina,DGirya,O Dagomys 2004) 16.f5 Bb7 17.Nb6 Bd8∞. f52) 14...Rd8 15.g4 Nd7 16.g5 Nb6 17.Nd2

285

17...b4 (17...d5!? 18.exd5 Nxd5 19.Nxd5 exd5 20.c3 d4 21.cxd4 Nxd4∞) 18.Ne2 bxa3 19.Rxa3 d5∞ Kushagra,M-Raetsky,A Abu Dhabi 2018. f53) 14...Nd7 15.Rae1 (15.Qg3 Nb6 16.f5?! Bf6³ Furman,L-Peters,J Los Angeles 2007; 15.Nd2 Bf6 16.Nd1 a5 17.g4 g6∞ Tarhon,B-Smith,G England 2012) 15...Bf6∞. g) 13.e5 dxe5 14.Bxc6+ Qxc6 15.fxe5 Bb7

16.Rf2 (16.Qf3 Qxf3 17.gxf3 Nd7³ Mueller,F-Rosen,W Essen 2003) 16...Nd5 17.Nxd5 Qxd5 18.Nc5∞ Dimba,J-Mueller,L Windhoek 2014. h) 13.Rc1 0-0 14.Ne2 Na5 15.Nxa5 Qxa5∞ Kamenov,V-Stoynov,Y Sunny Beach 2013. i) 13.Qd3 0-0 14.Rfd1 Nd7 15.Qe2 Nb6 16.Nd4 Nc4 17.Nxc6 Qxc6∞ Florea,D-Posedaru,B Baile 286

Olanesti 2013. j) 13.a4 b4 14.Ne2 0-0 15.a5 Nd7 16.Ned4 Bb7 17.Qe2 Nc5∞ Havlik,J-Palek,M Czech Republic 2013. k) 13.Qe1 0-0 (13...b4 14.axb4 Nxb4 15.Qf2 e5 16.f5 d5∞ Prassas,G-Grivas,E Athens 1998) 14.Qg3 b4 15.axb4 Nxb4

16.Rf2?! (16.Qf2 e5∞) 16...Nxc2 17.Rxc2 Rxb3 18.e5 dxe5 19.fxe5 Bc5 20.Bxc5 Qxc5+ 21.Kh1 Nd7µ Jelica,M-Grabics,M Rijeka 2004. Another option could be 12...Bb7 13.Qe1

13...h5?! (13...0-0, transposes to the main lines) 14.h3! (14.Qf2 Rc8 15.h3 h4 16.Rae1 Nd7 17.Nd4∞ 287

Letay,G-Szekeres,R Hungary 2006; 14.Qe2 Rc8∞ Karjakin,S-Gaynutdinov,K Alushta 2000; 14.Kh1 g6 15.Rd1 Rc8 16.Bg1 b4 17.Na4 bxa3 18.bxa3∞ Pirttimaki,T-Payen,A Helsinki 2000) 14...g6 15.Rd1 0-0-0 16.Qf2 Nd7 17.a4± Kiss,L-Sinkovics,P Hungary 1991. 13.Qe1

Alternatively: a) 13.Rf2 Bb7 (13...Rb8!? 14.g4 Rd8 15.g5 Nd7 16.h4 Nc5 17.h5 Na4∞ Boogaard,S-Lalic,B Utrecht 2018) 14.Rd2 Rfd8 15.Qe1 Nd7 16.Qf2 Rab8 17.Rad1 Ba8 18.Kh1 Bf8∞ Georgiou,I-Grivas,E Athens 1988. b) 13.Qe2 Bb7 (13...Rb8, transposes to 12...Rb8)

288

b1) 14.Rad1 Rfd8 (14...Nd7 15.Qf2 Rac8 16.Qg3 Kh8∞ Alexakis,D-Grivas,E Athens 1987) 15.Qf2 Nd7 16.Nd4 Nxd4 17.Bxd4 Bf6 18.Kh1 Bxd4 19.Qxd4 Nb6∞ Czech,D-Endress,A Germany 2010. b2) 14.Rfd1 Rab8 15.Qf2 Ba8 16.g4 Nd7 17.Ne2 b4∞ Pienski,O-Carlier,B Baden-Baden 1991. b3) 14.Kh1 Rfe8 15.g4 Nd7

16.Bg2 (16.Qg2 Nb6 17.Rae1 Nc4 18.Bc1 Rac8∞ Fernandez Andrade,A-Villar Perez,S Ourense 2007) 16...Nb6 17.Rad1 Nc4 18.Bc1 Rac8 19.g5 N6a5∞ Papathanasiou,P-Managadze,N Nikea 2003. b4) 14.Rae1 Rac8 15.g4 Nd7 16.Qf2 Na5 17.Nxa5 Qxa5 18.g5 b4 19.axb4 Qxb4∞ Meissner,FKlundt,K Berlin 2011. 289

b5) 14.g4 Nd7 15.g5 Rfe8 16.h4 Nb6∞

Robin,S-Kanep,M Cappelle la Grande 2011. c) 13.g4 Rb8, transposes to 12...Rb8. d) 13.Qd2 Re8 14.Qf2 Nd7 15.Rad1 Bb7 16.g4 Bf8 17.Rd2 Na5 18.Nxa5 Qxa5 19.h3 Rac8= Kapr,K-Fartmann,O Berlin 2011. 13...Rb8

This idea suits Black’s needs perfectly. The usual alternative is 13...Bb7 14.Qg3 b4 (14...Nd7 15.Bd2 Bf6 16.Kh1 b4 17.axb4 Nxb4 18.Rfc1 Rab8∞ Makka,E-Grivas,E Athens 1998; 14...Kh8 15.Rad1 290

Rad8 16.Kh1 b4 17.axb4 Nxb4 18.Qf2 Rc8∞ Heidrich,M-Rabiega,R Dudweiler 1996) 15.axb4 Nxb4 16.Nd4 (16.Rf2 d5 (16...Rac8 17.f5² Adam,O-Grabics,M Budapest 2001; 16...e5 17.Na5² Fadin,EKasantsev,A Voronezh 2010) 17.exd5 Nbxd5 18.Bd4∞)

16...Kh8 (16...d5?! 17.e5! (17.exd5? Nfxd5 18.Nxd5 Nxd5 19.Bxd5 Bxd5³ Kubis,I-Banas,J Stare Mesto 2009) 17...Ne4 18.Bxe4 dxe4 19.f5±) 17.Rf2 d5∞. 14.g4

Or: a) 14.Rd1 Nd7 15.Ne2 (15.Kh1 Nb6 16.Nd4 Bd7∞ Zatonskih,A-Arzumanian,G Kharkov 1999) 291

15...Nb6 16.c3 Nc4 17.Bc1 a5 (17...e5!?) 18.Ned4 e5 19.Nxc6 Qxc6∞ Fontes,C-Carvalho,J Petropolis 2000. b) 14.Ne2 Bb7 15.Rc1 Ba8 16.Ned4 Nxd4 17.Bxd4 e5³ Ileana,G-Fedorov,A Alba Iulia 2017. 14...b4 The alternative is the typical 14...Nd7

15.g5 (15.Qg3 Na5 (15...Nb6! 16.Nd2 Bf6) 16.Nxa5 Qxa5 17.g5 b4∞ Sukandar,I-Luong Nhat L. Thailand 2005) 15...Nb6 16.Rd1 Nc4 17.Bc1 b4 18.axb4 Nxb4∞ Grichkevitch,G-Grivas,E Iraklion 1995. 15.axb4 Nxb4 16.Qf2 d5! Better than 16...Bb7 17.Bb6² Janska,J-Ivanovic,M Marianske Lazne 2014. 17.e5 Nd7 18.g5 Nb6

292

Seidel,M-Schoeller,W Bayern 1998. Black has a good game in a complicated position.

293

Variation E3 - Hestia - 8.Be3 (Bd3) 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.a3 Qc7 8.Be3 d6 9.Bd3

A more active placement of White’s light-squared bishop ultimately targeting the black king. But every set-up does not have only positive sides but negative as well and here the d3-bishop can be a target of the black c6-knight (...Nxb4xd3). 9...a6 10.0-0 White has tried to be more active with the immediate 10.f4 Be7 11.Qf3 b5 12.g4 Nd7 13.g5

294

a) 13...Bb7 14.Qh3 0-0 15.0-0 a1) 15...b4? 16.Nd5! (16.Ne2 bxa3 17.bxa3 Rfe8∞ Lederman,L-Roiz,M Beersheba 1998) 16...Qd8 17.axb4±. a2) 15...g6? 16.f5 exf5 17.exf5 Rfe8 18.fxg6 fxg6

19.Rf7 1–0 Cheparinov,I-Wright,W Dos Hermanas 2003, or 19.Nd5! Qc8 20.Na5!±. a3) 15...Rae8 16.e5 (16.Rf3 g6∞) 16...g6 17.Nd5? exd5 18.e6 fxe6 19.Bxg6 hxg6 20.Qxe6+ Kg7 21.f5 Nde5 22.f6+ Bxf6 23.gxf6+ Kh8–+ Axarlian,C-Mussanti,D Buenos Aires 2019. a4) 15...Rfe8 16.f5

295

16...exf5 (16...Bf8? 17.fxe6 fxe6 18.e5± Andriasian,S-Bulmaga,I Kusadasi 2006) 17.Nd5 Qd8 18.Qxf5 (18.exf5? Bxg5µ) 18...Nce5 19.h4 Bf8 20.Bd4 g6 21.Qf4 Bxd5 22.exd5 Bg7∞ Schweber,S-Rubinetti,J Mar del Plata 1968. b) 13...0-0, transposes to 14.0-0, as White should avoid 14.h4?! b4 15.Ne2 bxa3 16.bxa3 Rb8! 17.00? Nce5!–+ Anand,V-Kramnik,V Mainz 2001. 10...Be7

A serious alternative is the immediate 10...b5 11.f4 Rb8 (11...Bb7!? 12.g4?! (12.Qf3 b4 13.axb4 Nxb4 14.Qg3 Be7 15.Nd4 (15.Qxg7? Rg8 16.Qh6 d5!³) 15...0-0 16.Kh1 Rab8∞ Postny,E-

296

Andreikin,D Internet 2020) 12...h5 13.h3 hxg4 14.hxg4 g5³ Aravindh,C-Akshayraj,K Mumbai 2011) 12.Qf3 b4

a) 13.Ne2 bxa3 (13...e5 14.a4 Na5 15.Nxa5 Qxa5 16.Nc1 Qc7 17.a5 Be7∞ Marjanovic,SKurajica,B Yugoslavia 1979) 14.bxa3 Be7 15.Ng3 (15.Ned4 Bb7∞ Nemes,G-Gimadeev,A Zalaegerszeg 1988) 15...0-0 16.Nh5 g6 17.Nxf6+ Bxf6 18.Rad1 Na5∞ ½–½ Bacso,G-Metaxasz,V Budapest 2006. b) 13.axb4 Nxb4 14.Qe2 (14.e5 Nd7 15.Bd4 Nxd3 16.Qxd3 dxe5 17.fxe5 Be7∞ Ivic,M-Kurajica,B Bol 2011; 14.Na5 Nd7 15.Qe2 Be7 16.Bd4 0-0∞ Kevlishvili,R-Blanco Fernandez,A Merida 2019) 14...Nxd3 15.Qxd3 Be7 16.Ra4 0-0∞ Jelica,M-Videnova,I Rijeka 2009. 11.f4 0-0

297

Black has an interesting alternative plan here to delay castling with 11...b5: a) 12.Qf3 a1) 12...Bb7

a11) 13.Qg3 h5 (13...0-0 14.f5! (14.Rae1 b4 15.Nd1 bxa3 16.bxa3 e5 17.Nc3 exf4 18.Qxf4 Ne5∞ Brunello,M-Juhasz,B Internet 2020) 14...Kh8 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.Qh3∞ Endress,A-Mihok,O Szeged 2008) 14.h3 g6 15.Qf2 Rc8 16.Rad1 Qb8∞ Sai,S-Iskusnyh,S Chennai 2004. a12) 13.Nd4 0-0

298

14.Qh3 (14.Qg3 Nd7 15.f5 Nxd4 16.Bxd4 e5 17.Be3∞ Grodzicki,T-Kirsz,K Przysiek 2006; 14.Nce2 Na5! (14...e5 15.Nf5 Rfe8 16.Qg3² Spyrou,P-Pavlidis,A Aghia Pelagia 2004) 15.b3 g6∞) 14...Nxd4 (14...Rfe8 15.Nxc6 Bxc6 16.Bd4 e5 17.fxe5 dxe5 18.Be3 Qb7∞ Aripov,I-Le Minh Hoang Vung Tau 2008) 15.Bxd4 e5∞ Tsartsitalidis,T-Karagiannis,A Ano Liosia 1996. a13) 13.Qh3 b4 14.axb4 Nxb4 15.Na5 Bc8

16.Qg3 (16.Nc4 Nxd3 17.cxd3 0-0 18.Nb6 Rb8 19.Nxc8 Qxc8= Mozaliov,S-Balashov,Y Moscow 1996; 16.Qf3 Rb8 17.Qe2 0-0 18.Kh1 Nd7∞ Schreiber,E-Kurajica,B Zaragoza 1994) 16...0-0 17.Nc4 d5 18.exd5 exd5 19.Ne5 Nxd3 20.Nxd3 (20.cxd3!? Re8∞) 20...Ne4! (20...Bf5 21.Bd4∞ Bxd3? 22.Nxd5 Qxc2 23.Nxe7+ Kh8 24.Rac1 Qb3 25.Rc3 Qe6 26.Qxd3 1–0 Barua,DToth,A Canberra 2010) 21.Nxe4 dxe4 22.Bd4 f6 23.Nf2 Bb7³. 299

a14) 13.Kh1

13...0-0 14.Rae1 Rfe8 15.Qg3 Kh8 16.e5 dxe5 17.fxe5 Qxe5 18.Bf4 Qh5 19.Ne4 Rad8³ Rusonik,M-Hansen,S Internet 2020. a15) 13.g4 0-0 (13...g5!?

is untested but looks sufficient and Black should prefer it; 13...h6 14.h3?! g5 15.f5 h5!µ Hakobyan,A-Sargsyan,S Yerevan 2015) 14.g5 (14.Qh3 Nd7 15.f5∞ Wieczorek,O-Swiercz,D Kolobrzeg 2003) 14...Nd7 15.Qh5 (15.Qh3, transposes to 10.f4, analysis) 15...Rfe8 (15...g6 16.Qh4 Rfe8 17.Rf3 b4 18.Rh3 h5 19.Ne2 Bf8 20.Ng3 Bg7³ Kostitsina,L-Toropov,P Izhevsk 2010; 15...Rac8 16.Rf3 Rfe8 17.Rh3 Nf8 18.Rf1 b4 19.Nd1 bxa3 20.bxa3∞ Zyrianov,A-Lievano,L 300

e-mail 2000) 16.Rf3 g6 17.Qh6 Bf8 18.Qh4

18...Bg7 (18...b4 19.axb4 Nxb4 20.Bd4 e5 21.fxe5 Nxe5 22.Rh3 h5∞ Lais,T-Koerber,T Mittelfranken 2007) 19.Rh3 Nf8 20.Rf1 b4 21.axb4 Nxb4∞ Schmitt-Van Wely,L Kuppenheim 2005. a2) 12...Rb8

a21) 13.g4 0-0 14.Ne2 Re8 15.Rae1 Bf8 16.Rf2 b4∞ Kivimaki,K-Keso,E Jyvaskyla 2019. a22) 13.Rad1 0-0 14.Qg3 b4 15.axb4 Nxb4 16.e5

301

16...dxe5 (16...Ne8 17.Bd4 d5 18.Qf3 Nxd3 19.Rxd3² Norena,D-Seguel Perez,G Cali 2016) 17.fxe5 Nh5 18.Qh3 Nxd3 19.Rxd3 Qxe5 (19...g6!? 20.Bh6 Ng7∞) 20.g4 Rxb3 21.cxb3 Nf6°. a23) 13.Rae1 0-0 14.Qg3 (14.g4 b4 15.axb4 Nxb4³ Manzano Gomez,V-Morales,J Internet 2020; 14.Qh3 b4 15.axb4 Nxb4 16.Bd2 Nxd3 17.Qxd3 Nd7³ Chachashvili,Z-Golod,V Ramat Gan 2019; 14.Ne2 Bb7 15.Qh3 Rfe8 16.Rf3 Bf8 17.Qh4 Ne7 18.Nd2 Ng6 19.Qh3 d5∞ Kotronias,VSolomunovic,I Divcibare 2018)

14...b4 (14...Re8 15.e5 Nd7 16.Qh3 Nf8 17.exd6 Bxd6 18.Ne4 Be7∞ De Los Santos N.,E-Reyes Capellan,E Santo Domingo 2017) 15.axb4 (15.Ne2 bxa3 16.bxa3 Kh8 (16...e5!∞) 17.Ned4 e5 18.Nxc6 exf4 19.Qxf4 Qxc6 20.Nd4 Qc7 21.Nf5² Wacker,F-Oberhofer,C Osnabrueck 2018) 15...Nxb4 16.Bd4 Nxd3 17.Qxd3∞ Bharath,S-Cardoso Cardoso,J Internet 2020. 302

b) 12.Kh1 and now Black should delay castling no longer, as 12...b4?, is met by 13.axb4 Nxb4 14.Qd2 d5 15.e5 Nd7

16.Nb5 Qb8 17.N5d4 Nb6 18.Na5 Qc7 19.Be2± Luther,T-Grivas,E Corfu 1991. 12.Qf3

12.Qe2, is harmless as the e-file is ‘closed’ by the e3-bishop making the e5 advance impossible. Here are some examples after 12...b5 in which Black can be more than satisfied with the position: a) 13.Rad1 Rb8 (13...Bb7 14.h3 Rac8 15.g4 b4 16.Na4 Nd7∞ Meissner,S-Piskaykin,B Internet 2020) 14.g4 b4 15.axb4 Nxb4 16.g5 Nd7∞ Gorse,G-Van der Weide,P Hastings 1966. 303

b) 13.Nd4 Bb7

14.g4 (14.Nf3 Rac8 15.Rac1∞ Gergacz,D-Porubszky A.,M Hungary 2009) 14...Nd7 15.g5 Nxd4 16.Bxd4 e5 17.Be3 exf4 18.Bxf4 Ne5∞ Baldursson,H-Vidarsson,J Reykjavik 2000. c) 13.Kh1 c1) 13...b4 14.axb4 Nxb4

15.Ra5 (15.Ra4 Rb8! (15...d5 16.exd5 Nfxd5 17.Nxd5 Nxd5 18.Bd4 Bf6 19.Be5 Bxe5 20.fxe5² Hamalainen,S-Daniilidis,A Arnhem 1988) 16.Rf3 Nxd3 17.Qxd3 Bb7∞) 15...Nxd3 16.Qxd3 Bb7 17.Rfa1 Rac8 18.R5a4 d5!∞ Alexandrou,T-Grivas,E Thessaloniki 1988. c2) 13...Bb7 304

c21) 14.h3 Rac8 (14...e5?!

15.f5 (15.Nd5!) 15...Na5 16.Nxa5 Qxa5∞ Camacho,D-Duarte,D Vila Nova de Gaia 2018) 15.Rad1 Nd7∞. c22) 14.Bg1 Rac8 15.Rae1 b4 16.Na4 bxa3 17.Nb6 Rb8 18.bxa3 Nd7 19.Nc4 Rfe8 20.Ncd2 Bf8∞ Akhmetov,A-Aligozhin,Z A.2012. c23) 14.Rae1 b4 (14...Rac8 15.Nd4 Na5 16.Bc1 Nc4³ Haring,V-Vykouk,J Mamaia 2017) 15.axb4 Nxb4 16.Bc1 e5 17.fxe5 dxe5 18.Rf3 Nxd3 19.cxd3 Rad8= Alexakis,D-Grivas,E Athens 1992. 12...b5

305

This position offers a lot of possibilities, now 13.Kh1 and 13.Rae1 seem best. Other tries are: a) 13.Nd4 Nxd4 (13...Bd7 14.Kh1 Rab8 15.Nxc6 Bxc6 16.Qh3 e5! (16...g6?! 17.f5± Anand,VEpishin,V Belgrade 1988) 17.fxe5 dxe5 18.Qg3 Nh5 19.Qh3 g6∞) 14.Bxd4 e5

15.Be3 (15.fxe5 dxe5 16.Qg3 Bc5 17.Bxc5 Qxc5+ 18.Kh1 Qe7 19.Qf3 Bb7∞ Orujov,S-Gasanov,E Baku 2010) 15...Bb7 (15...exf4 16.Bxf4 Be6 17.Rae1 Rfe8 18.e5 dxe5 19.Bxe5 Qb6+ 20.Kh1∞ Kanmazalp,O-Svoboda,V Herceg Novi 2006) 16.Rae1 (16.Nd5 Bxd5 17.exd5 Rfe8∞ 18.Kh1? e4 19.Bxe4 Nxe4 20.Qxe4 Bf6 21.Qd3 Bxb2µ Mares,V-Vodicka,V Czech Republic 2000) 16...Rac8 (16...Rad8 17.Kh1 exf4 18.Bxf4 Nd7 19.Nd5 Bxd5 20.exd5 Bf6 21.c3 Ne5 22.Bxe5 Bxe5=

306

Ermenkov,E-Grivas,E Kallithea 2008 - see the analyzed game in the Endgame Technique chapter) 17.Kh1 Qd7∞ Krajina,D-Grivas,E Vinkovci 1989 - see the analyzed game in the Endgame Technique chapter. b) 13.Qh3

b1) 13...b4 14.axb4 (14.Ne2 e5 15.f5 bxa3 16.bxa3 d5 17.exd5 Nxd5³ Terentjev,VBikmukhametov,A Perm 2006) 14...e5! (14...Nxb4?! 15.e5! (15.Nd4 Nxd3∞ Castiglioni,G-Van der Weide,P Ybbs 1968) 15...dxe5 16.fxe5 Qxe5 17.Bd4 Qh5 18.Qxh5 Nxh5 19.Be4 Rb8 20.Ba7 Bd7 21.Bxb8 Rxb8 22.Rfd1² Striebich,R-Schulze,U Haslach im Kinzigtal 2010) 15.f5 Nxb4∞. b2) 13...e5?! 14.f5 Bb7

307

15.g4 (15.Nd5 Qd8 16.Nd2±) 15...b4? 16.axb4 (16.Nd5+–) 16...Nxb4 17.g5 Nd7 18.f6 Bd8 19.fxg7 Kxg7 20.g6 Nf6 21.Bh6+ Kg8 22.Bxf8 Qb6+ 23.Kh1 Bc8 24.Qh6 Ne8 25.Qxh7+ Kxf8 26.Qxf7# 1–0 Wu,S-Jin,P Da Qing 2019. b3) 13...Bb7 14.Rae1 b4 15.axb4 Nxb4 16.e5 dxe5 17.fxe5 Nxd3 (17...Qxe5 18.Bd4 Qh5µ) 18.exf6 Nxe1 19.fxe7 Bxg2 20.exf8=Q+ Rxf8 21.Qh4 Bxf1 22.Qxe1 Bh3³ Nozdrachev,V-Korobov,A St Petersburg 2018. b4) 13...g6 14.Rae1 b4 15.axb4 Nxb4 16.e5 Nfd5 17.Nxd5 exd5 18.Qh6 Nxd3 19.cxd3∞ Quparadze,G-Babayan,A Poti 2015. b5) 13...Nd7 14.Rf3 Re8 15.Raf1 b4 16.e5

16...Nf8 (16...g6 17.exd6 Bxd6 18.Ne4 Be7∞) 17.exd6 Bxd6 18.Ne4 Be7∞ Vandoros,D-Grivas,E Athens 1988. c) 13.g4

308

13...b4 (13...Bb7, transposes to lines given above) 14.axb4 (14.Ne2 d5 (14...bxa3! 15.bxa3 d5∞) 15.e5 Ne4 16.Ng3 Nxg3 17.Qxg3 Bb7∞ Tork,M-Moh Abdel,Z Cairo 1996) 14...Nxb4 15.g5 Nd7

16.Nd4 (16.f5?! Ne5 17.Qe2 exf5 (17...f6!µ) 18.exf5∞ Frolik,E-Illner,A Germany 2004) 16...Rb8 17.Rf2 Re8 18.f5 Ne5 19.Qe2 exf5 20.Nxf5 Bf8∞ Sammalvuo,T-Grivas,E Moscow 1994. d) 13.e5? dxe5 14.fxe5 Nxe5! 15.Qxa8 Neg4 16.Rf4 (16.Rxf6 Bb7 17.Rf4 Bxa8 18.Rxg4 f5µ) 16...Nxe3 17.Qf3

309

17...Nc4 (17...Nf5 18.Bxf5 exf5 19.Rd4 Bd6 20.h3 g6µ Aguera Naredo,J-Danailov,S Candas 1992) 18.Rf1 Nxb2 19.a4 Bb7 20.Ne4 (20.Qh3 Nxd3 21.Qxd3 Rc8–+ Delekta,P-Ilic,Z Cappelle la Grande 1992) 20...Nxd3 21.Nxf6+ Bxf6 22.Qxd3 Rd8 23.Qe2 Bd5 24.axb5 axb5 25.Rd1 Qxf4 0–1 Zhang,X-Li Shilong Hefei 2010. R Variation E31 - Hestia - 13.Kh1 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.a3 Qc7 8.Be3 d6 9.Bd3 a6 10.00 Be7 11.f4 0-0 12.Qf3 b5 13.Kh1

310

13...Rb8 The usual way for Black but he can also opt for: a) 13...b4 14.axb4 Nxb4 15.e5 (15.Bd4 Bb7 (15...e5 16.fxe5 dxe5 17.Qg3 Ng4 18.Be2 Qd8∞) 16.Na5 Rab8 (16...Rfd8!?) 17.Nxb7 Qxb7 18.Qh3 h6 19.Qg3 ½-½ Ponomariov,R-Ivanchuk,V Sochi 2006) 15...Bb7

16.Qh3 (16.Qg3!? dxe5 17.fxe5 Nh5 18.Qh3 Nxd3 19.cxd3 g6 20.Na5∞) 16...dxe5 17.fxe5 Qxe5 18.Ra5! Qd6! (18...Nxd3?! 19.Rxe5 Nxe5 20.Bc5 Ng6 21.Bxe7 Nxe7 22.Nc5² Timman,JKurajica,B Reggio Emilia 1984; 18...Bd5? 19.Nxd5 exd5 (19...Nbxd5? 20.Rxf6!) 20.Bd4 Qh5 (20...Qe6 21.Bf5 Qe2 22.Raa1!± Robson,R-Ehlvest,J Philadelphia 2011) 21.Bxf6 Qxh3 22.Bxe7 Qg4 23.h3±) 19.Bc5 (19.Bxh7+ Nxh7 20.Rh5 e5! (20...Bxg2+ 21.Kxg2 e5 22.Kh1 Qg6 23.Rg1 Qxc2 24.Rg2 Qd3 25.Nc1 Qf1+ 26.Bg1+–) 21.Bc5 (21.Rxh7? Bxg2+! 22.Kxg2 Qg6+

311

23.Bg5! Qxh7 24.Qxh7+ Kxh7 25.Bxe7 Nxc2 26.Bxf8 Ne3+ 27.Kf2 Nxf1³) 21...Qg6 22.Bxe7 Nxc2 (22...Bxg2+? 23.Qxg2 Qxh5 24.Bxb4±) 23.Bxf8 (23.Rxe5!? Rae8 (23...Rfe8 24.Nc5 Bc6 25.Nd3 Nd4 26.Nf4 Qc2 27.Nfd5²) 24.Nc5 Bc8 25.Qh4 f6 26.Re4 Rf7∞) 23...Ne3 24.Rg1

24...Nxg2! (24...Ng4? 25.Bc5) 25.Rxg2 Rxf8 26.Rxe5 Qc2 27.Ne2 Rd8 28.Kg1 Bxg2 29.Kxg2 Rd3 30.Re3 Rxb3 31.Rxb3 Qxe2+=) 19...Qd8! (19...Qc7? 20.Bxb4 Bxb4 21.Rxf6+–) 20.Bxe7 (20.Bxb4? Bxb4 21.Rxf6 g6!µ) 20...Qxe7 21.Bxh7+ Nxh7 22.Rh5 f5 23.Rxh7 Qg5∞. b) 13...Bb7

312

b1) 14.Nd4 Rac8 (14...b4? 15.Nxc6 Bxc6 16.axb4± Turgut,A-Quesada Perez,Y Philadelphia 2019) 15.Qg3 Rfe8 16.Nxc6 Bxc6∞ Zverev,L-Tsyhanchuk,S Internet 2020. b2) 14.Qg3 Kh8 15.Nd4 Na5∞ Saurabh,A-Janzakov,A Al Ain 2013. b3) 14.Qh3 b31) 14...e5? 15.Nd5!± Barrios,B-Alvarez Angel,N Pereira 2019. b32) 14...Rfe8 15.Rae1 (15.Nd4 Nxd4 16.Bxd4 e5 17.Be3 Qc8∞ Kele,K-Fancsy,I Hungary 2016)

15...b4 (15...Nd7?! 16.e5² Spitzl,V-Tsyhanchuk,S Internet 2020) 16.Na4 (16.Ne2 bxa3 17.bxa3 e5 18.Ng3 Bf8∞ Remete,E-Mihok,O Hungary 2006) 16...Nd7∞ Kilian,R-Mainka,G Germany 1988. 313

b33) 14...Rad8 15.Nd4 (15.Rae1 b4 (15...Qb8 16.e5∞ Souleidis,G-Mochalov,E Katowice 1993) 16.axb4 Nxb4∞) 15...Nxd4 16.Bxd4 e5 17.Be3 exf4 18.Rxf4∞ Mithrakanth,P-Psakhis,L Kolkata 1988. 14.Rae1

As usual, alternatives do exist: a) 14.Qg3 b4 (14...Kh8 15.Nd4 Bd7 16.Nf3 b4 17.axb4 Nxb4 18.Bd4 Qb7 19.e5 Nh5 (19...dxe5 20.Bxe5 Rbd8∞ Blodstein,A-Golod,V Givataim 2003) 20.Qg4 Nxd3 21.cxd3 dxe5 22.fxe5 (22.Nxe5 Nf6 23.Qg3 Be8∞) 22...g6∞) 15.axb4 Nxb4 16.Rad1 Nxd3 17.Rxd3 a5³ Aakanksha,H-Juhasz,B Internet 2020. b) 14.Qh3 b4 (14...Rd8!? Kyriazis,D-Anastasian,A Aegina 1993) 15.axb4 Nxb4∞ Martin Gonzalez,A-Carlier,B Seville 1987. 14...b4

314

15.Ne2 15.axb4 Nxb4 16.Bd2 Nxd3 17.Qxd3 Bb7∞. 15...bxa3 16.bxa3 e5 Or 16...Bb7 17.Qh3 e5 18.Ng3 exf4 19.Bxf4 Ne5∞ Karjakin,S-Gasanov,E Kramatorsk 2002. 17.f5 Na5 Also not bad is 17...d5 18.exd5 (18.Ng3?! Rd8 (18...d4!? 19.Bc1 a5) 19.Bc1 a5³ Bresciani,NAagaard,J Bratto 2007) 18...e4 19.Bxe4 Ne5 20.Bf4! Nxf3 21.Bxc7 Nxe1 22.Bxb8 Nxe4 23.Rxe1 Bxa3 24.Ned4 Bb7 25.c4 Rxb8 26.Rxe4 a5 27.Nxa5 Bxd5 28.Re1 Ba8=. 18.Nd2 Bb7 19.Rb1 Bc6

315

Black has a satisfactory game as in Pandavos,P-Grivas,E Athens 2000 - see the analyzed game in the Endgame Technique chapter. R Variation E32 - Hestia - 13.Rae1 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.a3 Qc7 8.Be3 d6 9.Bd3 a6 10.00 Be7 11.f4 0-0 12.Qf3 b5 13.Rae1

13...Rb8

316

Black’s alternatives are not bad either: a) 13...Bb7 14.Qh3 (14.Qg3 Rfe8 15.f5 exf5 16.exf5 Ne5∞ Sehitogullari,H-Karlsson,M Kemer 2009) a1) 14...Rfe8

15.f5 (15.Ne2 Nd7 16.g4 Bf8∞ Nolte,R-Perez,R Manila 1995; 15.Kh1 Bf8 16.Qg3 Nd7∞ Tepe,EOzcan,I Antalya 2020) 15...exf5 16.Qxf5 Ne5 17.h3 Rac8∞ Thipsay,P-Vasiukov,E New Delhi 1987. a2) 14...g6?! 15.f5 exf5 16.exf5 (16.Bh6 Ng4 17.Nd5 Qb8 18.exf5 Qa7+ 19.Kh1 Nxh6 20.Qxh6 gxf5 21.Bxf5 1–0 Valentine,B-Ross,S England 2014) 16...Ne5

17.Bd4 (17.Bh6 Rfe8 18.fxg6 hxg6∞ Paredes Galan,E-Ruiz,G Ponferrada 1997) 17...Bc8 18.Qg3² 317

Banas,J-Szentgyorgyi,S Nove Zamky 2010. a3) 14...Rad8 15.Nd4 g6 16.Nf3 d5 17.exd5 exd5∞ Izoria,Z-Mamian,T Rimavska Sobota 1996. a4) 14...b4 a41) 15.axb4 Nxb4

16.Nd4 (16.e5? dxe5 17.fxe5 Qxe5 18.Rxf6 Nxd3–+; 16.g4?! Nd7 17.g5 Rfe8 18.f5 exf5 19.exf5 Nxd3 20.cxd3 Bxg5 21.Bxg5 Qb6+µ Sam,G-Peters,J Ontario 2016) 16...Nxd3 (16...Nd7 17.Kh1 Nc5 (17...Bf6 18.f5 Bxd4 (18...e5! 19.Nf3 Nc5∞) 19.Bxd4 e5∞ Nikitenko,M-Martirosyan,H Internet 2020) 18.Rd1 Ncxd3 19.cxd3 Bf6∞ Vuruna,M-Ilic,Z Tivat 1995; 16...Rfe8 17.Kh1 Bf8 18.Bg1 Nd7 19.Be2 Rab8∞ Bergsson,S-Hansen,S Reykjavik 2016) 17.cxd3

318

17...Rfe8 (17...g6 18.Nf3 h5 19.Kh1 Ng4 20.Bg1 Bf6 21.Qg3² Faisal,A-Lee,S Tagaytay City 2013) 18.Nf3 (18.Rf2 Bf8 19.g4 Nd7 20.Nf3 d5 21.e5 Nc5∞ Sapale,S-Suasnabar,J Barcelona 2016) 18...Rac8 19.g4 Nd7 20.g5 Bf8∞ Peters,J-Fedorowicz,J Berkeley 1984. a42) 15.Ne2 bxa3 16.bxa3 a5 17.Nbd4 Nxd4 18.Nxd4 d5 (18...e5 19.Nf5 Bc8 20.Nxe7+ Qxe7 21.Qh4² Sikula,V-Arzumanian,G Alushta 2001) 19.Nb5 Qc8 20.e5 Ne4∞. a43) 15.Nd5? exd5 16.exd5

16...Nb8 (16...Bc8! 17.Qh4 Nb8µ) 17.Bd4 Bc8 18.Rxe7? (18.Qe3 Bd8 19.axb4°) 18...Qxe7 19.Bxf6 Qa7+–+ Bogdanos,A-Grivas,E Kavala 1991. a44) 15.Na4 Nd7 16.e5 g6 17.exd6 Bxd6 18.Nac5 bxa3 19.bxa3 Nxc5 20.Nxc5 Ne7 21.Nxb7 Qxb7∞ Tishin,P-Newerovski,G Tula 2003. b) 13...Nd7!? 14.Qh3 Re8 15.e5 Nf8 16.exd6 Bxd6 17.Ne4 Be7 18.c4 (18.Nbc5 Rd8! (18...b4!? Dedes,N-Grivas,E Khania 1987) 19.b4 (19.Qf3 Nd4)

319

19...Nd4∞) 18...bxc4 (18...Rd8!? 19.Be2 bxc4 20.Bxc4 Na5 21.Nxa5 Qxa5=) 19.Bxc4 Nd4 20.Rc1 Nxb3 21.Bxb3 Qb8 22.Nc5 a5 23.Ba4 Rd8 24.Qf3 Bxc5 25.Rxc5 Bd7 26.Bxd7 Nxd7 27.Rc2 Qb3 28.Qe2 Nf6³ Mastrovasilis,D-Grivas,E Khalkidiki 2002. c) 13...b4 14.axb4 (14.Nb1 Bb7 15.c3 a5 16.Nd4 bxa3 17.Nxa3 Nxd4 18.Bxd4 e5∞ Glaser,HLliorente,J ICCF 1991) 14...Nxb4

15.e5 (15.Nd4 Rb8 16.Bc1 Rd8 17.g4 d5³ Ahmadzada,A-Abasov,N Al Ain 2014) 15...Bb7 (15...Nfd5 16.Nxd5 exd5 17.Bd4∞ Robson,R-De Firmian,N Philadelphia 2011; 15...Nxd3 16.exf6 Nxe1 17.Qxa8 Bb7 18.Qa7 Qc6 19.Rf2 Bd8∞) 16.Qg3 (16.exf6 Bxf3 17.fxe7 Rfb8 18.e8=Q+ Rxe8 19.Rxf3 Nxd3 20.cxd3 Reb8µ) 16...Nh5 17.Qh3 g6∞.

320

14.Qg3

Black does not mind any of these: a) 14.Ne2 Re8 (14...Bb7 15.Qh3 Rfe8 16.Rf3 Bf8 17.Qh4 Ne7 18.Nd2 Ng6 19.Qh3 d5∞ Kotronias,V-Solomunovic,I Divcibare 2018) 15.g4 Nd7 16.g5 Bf8 17.h4 g6 18.Ng3 Bg7 19.c3 Bb7∞ Christensen,B-Thorhallsson,T Copenhagen 2007. b) 14.Nd1 Bb7 15.Nf2 Nd7 16.Qh3 g6 17.g4 Bf6∞ Wang,J-Bagheri,T Kemer 2007. c) 14.Kh1, transposes to 13.Kh1. d) 14.Qh3 b4 15.axb4 Nxb4 16.Bd2 Nxd3 17.Qxd3 Nd7 18.Kh1 Bf6³ Chachashvili,Z-Golod,V Ramat Gan 2019. e) 14.Nd4 b4 15.Nxc6 Qxc6 16.axb4 Rxb4 17.Bc1 Bb7= Kalugin,S-Bilan,D Voronezh 2016. 14...b4

321

15.axb4 White can also opt for 15.Ne2 bxa3 16.bxa3 e5 (16...Kh8 17.Ned4 e5 18.Nxc6 exf4 19.Qxf4 Qxc6 20.Nd4 Qc7 21.Nf5² Wacker,F-Oberhofer,C Osnabrueck 2018) 17.fxe5?! (17.f5 Kh8 18.Qf3 Rd8∞) 17...Nxe5 18.Nbd4 Nh5 19.Qf2 Ng4 20.Qf3 d5µ Voronov,Y-Alexeev,A Alushta 2005. 15...Nxb4

15...Rxb4 16.Bd2 Rd8∞ Fogarasi,T-Hansen,S Budapest 1992.

322

16.Bd4 White’s only move: a) 16.e5? Nxd3 17.exf6 Bxf6µ Schut,H-Djordjevic,D Internet 2020. b) 16.Nc1? Nxd3 17.Nxd3 Bb7 (17...Rxb2! 18.Nxb2 Qxc3 19.Nd1 Qc4 20.Nf2 Nxe4 21.Nxe4 Qxe4³) 18.e5 Nd5 19.Nxd5 Bxd5 20.f5

20...f6? 21.Bh6 Bd8 22.exd6 Qa7+ 23.Kh1 exf5 24.Re7 Rf7 25.Rxa7 Rxa7 1–0 Pietryk,J-Gryga,D Riga 2018. 16...Nxd3 17.Qxd3 Rb4! A suggested novelty over 17...e5 18.fxe5! (18.Be3?! Be6³ Bharath,S-Cardoso Cardoso,J Internet 2020) 18...dxe5 19.Qg3 Bd6 20.Rxf6 exd4 21.Qxd6 Qxd6 22.Rxd6 dxc3 23.bxc3². 18.Kh1 Bb7∞

323

Black’s chances seem to be at least equal.

Variation E4 - Hestia - 8.Bd3 (Bd2) 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.a3 Qc7 8.Bd3 d6 9.0-0 a6 10.f4 Be7 11.Bd2

The placement of the dark-squared bishop on d2 and not on the e-file, will help White to achieve the e5 advance under more favorable circumstances. 11...0-0 324

Black can also delay castling by 11...b5 12.Qf3 Bb7 13.Rae1 b4 14.Nd1 (14.Ne2 bxa3 15.bxa3 d5 16.exd5 Nxd5 17.Qh3 Nf6∞ Jusic,Z-Sandhoefner,F Austria 2015; 14.axb4 Nxb4 15.Nb5 axb5 16.Bxb4 0-0 17.Kh1 Ra2∞ Maenhout,T-Motwani,P Aalst 2005) 14...bxa3 15.bxa3 a5 16.a4 0-0 17.Nc3 Nb4 18.Nb5 Qd7∞ Satyapragyan,S-Sherbakov,R Raipur 2002. 12.Kh1 This is the most popular move, protecting the king from nasty checks down the g1-a7 diagonal. The immediate 12.Qf3 b5 13.Rae1 Bb7 14.Qh3 b4! 15.axb4 Nxb4∞ was tested in Schmaltz,RKasparov,G Internet 1998, which continued with the mistaken advance 16.e5?! Nxd3 17.exf6 Nxe1 18.fxe7 Bxg2 19.exf8=Q+ Rxf8 20.Qg3 Bxf1 21.Bxe1 Bc4µ. 12...b5

Now White has two main continuations in 13.Qe2 and 13.Qf3. It must be noted here that 13.a4 is just losing time (White played a3 and then a4): 13...b4 14.Ne2 (14.Na2 a5 15.Qe1 Ba6 16.Bxa6 Rxa6 17.c3 bxc3 18.Nxc3 Rc8 19.Nb5 Qd8 20.Rc1 d5∞ Mertens,PIgonin,P Germany 2008) 14...e5

325

(14...Bb7 15.Ng3 a5 16.Qe2 d5 17.e5 Nd7 18.Qh5 g6 19.Qh3 Ba6 20.Be3 Bxd3 21.cxd3∞ Kuzmin,G-Bocharov,D Moscow 2002) 15.Qe1 Rb8 16.Ng3 exf4 17.Bxf4 Ne5∞ Kanarkiewicz,MZakoscielna,K Koszalin 2009. R Variation E41 - Hestia - 13.Qe2 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.a3 Qc7 8.Bd3 d6 9.0-0 a6 10.f4 Be7 11.Bd2 0-0 12.Kh1 b5 13.Qe2

13...Bb7 326

Probably the ‘main’ and acceptable alternative is the ‘usual’ 13...Rb8 14.Rae1 b4 15.axb4 (15.Nd1 bxa3 16.bxa3 a5 17.a4 Nb4 18.Nd4 Nxd3 19.cxd3 Ba6∞ Holusova,T-Plischki,S Stare Mesto 2005) 15...Nxb4

a) 16.e5?! a1) 16...Ne8?! 17.Nb5! axb5 18.Bxb4 dxe5 19.Bxe7 (19.fxe5!? Bxb4 20.Qe4 f5 21.exf6 Nxf6 22.Qxb4²) 19...Qxe7 20.Qxe5 Nd6 21.Nd4 Bd7 22.Rf3² Nc4? 23.Bxh7+! Kxh7 24.Qh5+ Kg8 25.Nf5 1–0 Popovic,P-Martinovic,S Caorle 1982. a2) 16...Nd7?!

17.Nb5! axb5 18.Bxb4 Nc5 19.exd6 Bxd6 20.Bxc5 Bxc5 21.Bxh7+ Kxh7 22.Qh5+ Kg8 23.Nxc5± 327

Nikolenko,O-Egiazarian,A Ashkhabad 1990. a3) 16...Nfd5 17.Nxd5 Nxd5 18.Rf3 g6 19.Ref1 Nb4∞ Lupulescu,C-Chirila,I Predeal 2006. a4) 16...dxe5! 17.fxe5 Nd7 18.Bf4 Nxd3 19.Qxd3 Rb4³. b) 16.Nb5!

16...axb5 (16...Rxb5!? 17.Bxb5 Nxc2 18.Ba5 Qb8 19.Qxc2 Qxb5°) 17.Bxb4 e5 (17...d5? 18.Bxe7 Qxe7 19.e5! (19.exd5 Nxd5 20.Bxh7+ Kxh7 21.Qh5+ Kg8 22.Qxd5 Bb7°) 19...Ne4 20.Bxe4 dxe4 21.Nd2± Wan,Y-Pacis,A Manila 2008) 18.Bxb5! (18.Nd2 Bg4 19.Qf2 Be6 20.c3 Ng4 21.Qg3 exf4 22.Qxf4 Ne5∞ Santo Roman,M-Kouatly,B Lyon 1988; 18.Qe3 Be6 19.fxe5 dxe5 20.Nc5 Qc6 21.Nxe6 Qxe6 22.Bc3 Nd7 23.Qe2 Qc6 24.Ra1 b4 25.Bd2 Nc5∞ Remmel,T-Maryasin,B Antwerp 1998; 18.Ra1 Be6 19.Na5 exf4 20.Rxf4 Nd7∞ Ly,M-Wohl,A Brisbane 2005)

328

18...Bg4! (18...Nxe4 19.Ba5 Qb7 20.Bd3 (20.Bc4 d5! 21.Bxd5 Qxd5 22.Qxe4 Qxe4 23.Rxe4 Bb7 24.Rxe5 Bf6 25.Re3 Bxb2 26.Bc3 Bxc3 27.Rxc3 Rfe8°) 20...f5 21.fxe5 dxe5 22.Bxe4 Qxe4 23.Qxe4 fxe4 24.Rxf8+ Kxf8 25.Bc3 Bb7 26.Bxe5 Rc8 27.c3 Ra8!°) 19.Qd3 Bd7 20.Bxd7 (20.c4 Rfe8!°) 20...Rxb4 21.Bb5 d5!°. 14.Rae1

14...b4 This must be a bit better than 14...Nd7 15.Qh5 Rfe8 16.Qh3 g6 17.f5 Bf6 18.Be2² Timoshenko,G329

Rotstein,A Livigno 2011. 15.axb4 Or 15.Nd1 a5 16.a4 Nd7 17.Ne3 Rfe8∞ Novik,M-Alekseev,E St Petersburg 2013. 15...Nxb4

16.Nb5 The best try as 16.e5 dxe5 (16...Ne8 17.Nb5 axb5 18.Bxb4 dxe5 19.Bxe7 Qxe7 20.fxe5 Ra2 21.Nd4 Rxb2 22.Nxb5 g6= Santo Roman,M-Simic,R Montpellier 1988) 17.fxe5 Nxd3 18.Qxd3 Nd5, should be more than fine for Black and 16.Nd4 Nxd3 17.cxd3 Nd7 18.f5 Bf6 19.Be3 Rae8 20.Qh5 g6, should not satisfy White as in Schumi,M-Lutz,C Budapest 1989. 16...axb5 17.Bxb4

330

17...e5 17...d5, seems playable as well: 18.Bxe7 Qxe7 19.e5 (19.exd5 Bxd5 20.Nd4 b4∞ Andrada Andrada,L-Garcia Paolicchi,R Sanxenxo 2003) 19...Ne4! 20.Bxb5 (20.Bxe4 dxe4 21.Nd2 (21.Qxb5? Ba6–+) 21...Ra4! 22.b3 Rd4 23.c3 Rd3 24.Nxe4 Bxe4 25.Qxe4 Rxc3³) 20...Ra2 21.Rb1 Qb4°. 18.Qd2 Alternatives are: a) 18.Ra1 Rxa1 19.Rxa1 Bc6 (19...Ra8!? 20.Rxa8+ Bxa8∞) 20.Qe3 Ng4 21.Qg3 h5 22.h3 Nf6 23.Qe3 Ra8 24.Rxa8+ Bxa8 25.c3 h4∞ Collas,D-Bauer,C Cap d’Agde 2006. b) 18.c3 b1) 18...Rfb8 19.Nd2 (19.Bxb5 Nxe4 20.fxe5 dxe5

331

21.Bxe7 (21.Bd3 Nf6 22.Qxe5 Qxe5 23.Rxe5 Bxb4 24.cxb4 Bd5= Bernadskiy,V-Martirosyan,H Yerevan 2015) 21...Qxe7 22.Bd3 Nf6 23.Qxe5 Qxe5 24.Rxe5 Bd5=) 19...Bc6∞ Popovic,PBarlov,D Sibenik 1986. b2) 18...Ra2 19.fxe5 (19.Bxb5 Nxe4 20.fxe5 dxe5 21.Bd3 Bxb4 22.cxb4 Nf6∞) 19...dxe5 20.Bxe7 Qxe7∞ 21.Bxb5?! Nxe4 22.Bd3 Nf6 (22...Nxc3 23.Qc2 Na4 24.Bxh7+ Kh8 25.Be4 Rxb2 26.Qd3 Kg8 27.Bh7+=) 23.Bc4! (23.Qxe5? Bxg2+ (23...Qxe5! 24.Rxe5 Rxb2–+) 24.Kxg2

24...Qb7+? (24...Rxb2+ 25.Kg1 Qxe5 26.Rxe5 Rxb3µ) 25.Kg1 Qxb3 26.Rxf6! 1–0 Horvath,GBiskopics,M Hungary 2004) 23...Rfa8 24.Nd4 Ba6∞. c) 18.Bxb5 Nxe4 19.Bd3 f5!? (19...d5 20.Bxe7 Qxe7 21.fxe5 332

21...Rab8! (21...Rac8 22.Na5 Ba8 23.Bxe4 dxe4 24.Nc4 Qc5 25.b3² Popovic,P-Ilic,Z Saint John 1988) 22.Bb5 Rfc8 23.Nd4 Qxe5∞) 20.fxe5 dxe5 21.Bxe7 Qxe7 22.Bxe4 Bxe4 23.Nd2 Bb7! 24.Qxe5 Bxg2+! 25.Kxg2 Qg5+ 26.Kh1 Qxd2=. d) 18.Nd2 Ra2 19.Ba3

19...b4 (19...exf4!? 20.Rxf4 b4 21.Bxb4 Rxb2 22.e5 dxe5 23.Bxe7 Qxe7 24.Nc4 Rb4 25.Qxe5=) 20.Bxb4 (20.Bc4?! Rxa3 21.bxa3 bxa3 22.Bb3 Ra8µ Schroeder,J-Chrobak,F Korbach 2008) 20...Rxb2=. e) 18.f5 Rfc8 19.c3 d5! 20.Bxe7 Qxe7 21.exd5 Bxd5 22.Nd2 Ra2³ Cukrowski,F-Mammadov,V Bialystok 2016. 333

18...Rab8 18...Bc6 19.Na5 Be8 20.Qc3 Qb6 21.Nb3 (21.fxe5 Ng4 22.Nb3 Nxe5∞) 21...Ng4 22.Qd2 Ra4 23.h3 Nf2+ 24.Rxf2 Rxb4 25.Qxb4 Qxf2∞ Stratil,L-Kocovski,I Gdynia 1988.

19.Qc3 19.fxe5 dxe5 20.Bxe7 Qxe7 21.Qe3 Rfc8∞ ½–½ Gallagher,J-Avshalumov,A Baku 1988. 19...Rfc8

334

½–½ Berescu,A-Sax,G Hungary 2008. Black stands fine in an unclear position. R Variation E42 - Hestia - 13.Qf3 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.a3 Qc7 8.Bd3 d6 9.0-0 a6 10.f4 Be7 11.Bd2 0-0 12.Kh1 b5 13.Qf3

13...Bb7 14.Qh3 The only logical alternative is 14.Rae1 a) 14...Rfd8 15.Qh3

335

15...b4 (15...h6 16.f5! exf5?! 17.Nd5 Nxd5 18.exd5 Ne5 19.Ba5 Qb8 20.Bxd8± Orak,L-Solic,K Bol 2011) 16.Nd1 (16.axb4 Nxb4 17.Nb5 axb5 18.Bxb4 d5 19.Bxe7 Qxe7 20.e5 Ne4 21.f5 (21.Bxe4 dxe4 22.Qe3 Rac8³ Nestorovic,L-Pap,M Valjevo 2012) 21...exf5 22.Qxf5 g6∞ Alsina L.,D-Asis Gargatagli,H Barcelona 2012) 16...bxa3 17.bxa3 a5∞ Maki,V-Alekseev,E Kemer 2007. b) 14...Rad8 15.Qh3

15...Rfe8 (15...b4?! 16.axb4 Nxb4 17.Nb5 axb5 18.Bxb4±; 15...g6?! 16.f5± Klundt,K-Rosen,W Halle 2004; 15...Rd7? 16.Nd5! exd5 17.exd5 Nb8 18.Bc3 h6 19.Rxe7! Nxd5 20.Bxg7! Kxg7 21.Qg4+ Kf6 22.Qh4+ Kg7 23.Qg4+ Kf6 24.Re2 Ne7 25.Qh4+ Kg7 26.f5 f6 27.Nd4 Bd5 28.Ne6+ Bxe6 29.fxe6 Rdd8 30.Qg4+ Kh8 31.Qh5 Kg7 32.Qg4+ Kh8 33.Qh5 Kg7 34.Re3 Rh8 35.Qf7# 1–0 Geenen,M-Goossens,E Belgium 1992) 16.Nd1 (16.Ne2 336

This position is analysed in the Apollo variation - see games Thipsay,P-Grivas,E Manila 1992 and Thipsay,P-Zhang Zhong Jodhpur 2003) 16...Nd7 17.Ne3 Bf8 18.Bc3 Nc5∞ Karpchuk,EArzumanian,G Alushta 1999. c) 14...Rfe8 15.Qg3 g6 16.f5 Ne5 17.fxe6 fxe6 18.Nd4 Bd8 19.Qh3 Nxd3 20.cxd3 Qd7∞ Kofidis,AManagadze,N Ikaros 1999. d) 14...g6 15.Qh3 b4

16.Nd1 (16.axb4 Nxb4 17.f5 (17.Nb5 axb5 18.Bxb4 d5 19.Bxe7 Qxe7 20.e5 Ne4 21.Qe3 Rfc8∞ Prediger,R-Lederle,V Rosenheim 2014) 17...Nxd3 18.Qxd3 Nd7∞) 16...bxa3 17.bxa3 a5∞ Cid,MPanno,O Acasusso 1991.

337

e) 14...b4 e1) 15.Nd1 bxa3 16.bxa3

16...a5!? (16...d5 17.exd5 (17.e5?! Ne4³) 17...Nxd5 18.Qh3 (18.Ne3 Bxa3!? Prentos,K-Grivas,E Poros 1998 (18...Nxe3!? 19.Qxe3 Bxa3)) 18...g6 19.c4 (19.f5 exf5 20.Bxf5 Ne5∞ Mussanti,DFlores,D Buenos Aires 2013) 19...Nf6 20.Bc3∞ Pandavos,P-Grivas,E Corfu 1993) 17.Qh3 (17.Bc3 e5 18.Ne3 exf4 19.Nf5 Ne5 20.Nxe7+ Qxe7 21.Qxf4∞ Cramling,P-Chiburdanidze,M Luzern 1982) 17...e5 (17...a4!? 18.Nc1 Nd7∞) 18.fxe5 dxe5∞ Li,H-Zhao Jun Singapore 2008. e2) 15.Ne2 bxa3 16.bxa3

16...a5 (16...d5!? 17.exd5 (17.e5?! Ne4³) 17...Nxd5∞) 17.Qh3 e5 18.Bc3 a4 19.Nd2 Qc8 20.Qxc8 338

Rfxc8 21.Nc4 Nd7∞ Herrera,I-Yegiazarian,A Linares 1999. e3) 15.axb4 Nxb4 16.Nb5 (16.Nd4 Nxd3 17.cxd3 Rab8∞ Zvara,P-Vokac,M Prague 1994) 16...axb5 17.Bxb4 Ra2 (17...e5?!

18.Bc3! (18.fxe5?! dxe5 19.Bd2 (19.Bxe7 Qxe7 20.Bxb5 Ra2 21.Bd3 Rxb2³ Agopov,M-Kanep,M Finland 2016) 19...Ra4 20.Bc3 Bd6³ Tvarijonas,P-Van Eijk,S St Lorrain 2010) 18...Ra4 19.fxe5 dxe5 20.Qg3²; 17...Ra4!? 18.c3 Ra2 19.Re2 e5 20.fxe5 dxe5 21.Bxe7 Qxe7∞ 22.Bxb5 Nxe4! (½-½ Pandavos,P-Grivas,E Ikaria 1995) 23.Rxe4 Rxb2 24.Bc4 Qa3

25.Qe3 (25.Nc1? Rb1 26.Bd3 Rxc1–+ Arnason,J-Gostisa,L Belgrade 1988) 25...Bxe4 26.Qxe4 Rxb3 27.Bxb3 Qxb3 28.Qxe5=; 17...d5 18.Bxe7 dxe4 19.Bxe4 Bxe4 20.Rxe4 Qxe7 21.Re5 Rac8³ 339

Womacka,M-Ambartsumova,K Internet 2019) 18.Qh3 (18.Qg3? Rxb2 19.e5

19...dxe5 (19...Nh5 20.Qg4 g6³ Petrov,A-Korobkov,P Novoshachtinsk 2007) 20.Bxe7 Qxe7 21.fxe5 Nd5µ; 18.Nd4 Rxb2 19.Ba3 Ra2 20.Nxb5 Qd7 21.Qh3 Bc6 22.Bxd6 Bxb5 23.Bxb5 Qxd6 24.e5 Qd5 25.Bd3 g6 26.exf6 Bxf6³ Kravtsiv,M-Alekseev,E Jerusalem 2015) 18...e5 19.Bc3 b4 20.Bxb4 Rxb2 21.fxe5 dxe5 22.Bxe7 Qxe7∞ Klundt,K-Cabrilo,G Germany 1992. 14...b4

The most active. Black has also tried: a) 14...Rfe8 15.Rae1 g6 16.f5 exf5 17.exf5 Ne5∞ Kovacevic,A-Grujic,Z Kragujevac 2009. 340

b) 14...Qd7 15.Rae1 e5 16.f5∞ Velcheva,M-Le Thanh Tu Turin 2006. 15.axb4 Retreating the knight is not as good: a) 15.Ne2 bxa3 (good as well is 15...a5 16.a4 Ba6 17.Be3 e5 18.Bg1 Rfe8∞ De Firmian,N-Oll,L Newark 1995) 16.Rxa3 (16.bxa3 e5

17.Nc3 (17.Ng3 Bc8 18.f5 a5 19.Nh5 a4 20.Nc1 Nd4∞ Camilleri,H-Grivas,E Zouberi 1993) 17...exf4 (17...Nb8 18.Rae1 Nbd7 19.Nd5 Nxd5 20.exd5 g6∞ Schmid,H-Rosen,W Halle 2007) 18.Rxf4 Ne5 19.Nd4 Bc8∞) 16...e5 17.Raa1 (17.Ra4 exf4 18.Bxf4 Ne5 19.Nc3 Rfe8 20.Nd4 g6 21.Bg5 Nfg4∞ Izso,D-Mihok,O Budapest 2014) 17...exf4 18.Rxf4 Ne5 19.Nbd4 Ng6∞ Hammar,BMatthews,S Mona 2009. b) 15.Nd1 bxa3 16.Rxa3 a5 (16...d5 17.exd5 exd5 18.Ne3∞ Zelcic,R-Kurajica,B Solin 1996) 17.Bc3 Ba6 18.Ne3 Bxd3 19.cxd3 Rfb8∞ Zelcic,R-Nadanian,A Cannes 1997. 15...Nxb4

341

16.e5 Or: a) 16.Nd4 Rfe8 17.Nce2 Nxd3 18.cxd3 Rac8 19.Ba5 Qd7 20.Bc3 Rc5∞ Groszpeter,A-Mihok,O Hungary 2010. b) 16.Na5 Nxd3 17.cxd3 Rac8 (17...Rab8!? 18.Rfc1 Qd7∞) 18.f5 exf5 19.Qxf5 Ba8 20.Nc4 Bb7 (20...g6?! 21.Qf3!±; 20...Qb7?! 21.Bg5? (21.Be3±) 21...Rc5 0–1 Belotti,B-Sanchez Almeyra,J Biel 1992) 21.Na5=. 16...dxe5 17.fxe5 Qxe5

342

18.Ra5! 18.Rxf6? Nxd3! 19.Rff1 Nxb2µ. 18...Qd6! This is Black’s only move because 18...Nxd3? 19.Rxe5 Nxe5 20.Na5± Sharif,M-Ilic,Z Cannes 1989, or 18...Bd5? 19.Nxd5 exd5 20.Rxf6 Nxd3 21.Rf5+–, favours White. After the text White has failed to achieve a promising attack: 19.Bxh7+ 19.Nb5? axb5 20.Bxb4 Qxb4 21.Rxf6 Be4!–+. 19...Nxh7 20.Rh5

343

20...e5! 21.Rxh7 Bxg2+! 22.Kxg2 Or 22.Qxg2? Kxh7 23.Rg1 g6 24.Ne4 Qb6 25.Bc3 Nc6–+ Geenen,M-Kishnev,S Belgium 1997. 22...Qg6+ 23.Bg5! Qxh7! 23...f6? 24.Rh5 Qxc2+ 25.Nd2±. 24.Bxe7!

This suggested novelty is a much better try than 24.Qxh7+? Kxh7 25.Bxe7 Nxc2 26.Kg3 (26.Bxf8 344

Ne3+ 27.Kf2 Nxf1µ) 26...Rfb8µ Schmaltz,R-Kishnev,S Altensteig 1993. 24...Qxc2+ 24...Qxh3+ 25.Kxh3 Rfb8 26.Bd6 Rb6 27.Bxb4 Rxb4 28.Nd5 Rb7=. 25.Rf2! 25.Kh1 Rfe8! (25...Qxb3? 26.Bf6! Qc4 27.Rf3 Qc6 28.Qg3+–) 26.Na1 Qd3 27.Qg2 (27.Rf3 Qc4 28.b3 Qd4 29.Qh5 Rxe7 30.Rh3 f6 31.Qh8+ Kf7 32.Qxa8 Qf2 33.Qg2 Qe1+ 34.Qg1 Qxg1+ 35.Kxg1 f5³) 27...Rab8³. 25...Qxb3 25...Qg6+!?, is an alternative winning try: 26.Kh1 Nd3 27.Rg2 Rfb8 28.Qd7 Qe6 (28...Nf2+ 29.Rxf2 (29.Kg1? Qd3µ) 29...Rxb3 30.Bd6 Rxc3 (30...Rb6 31.Bxe5 Qc6+ 32.Qxc6 Rxc6=) 31.bxc3 Qe4+=) 29.Qxe6 fxe6 30.Nc5 Nxb2 31.Bd6 Rb6 32.Bxe5 Ra7=. 26.Bf6!

26...Nd5! 27.Bxg7! Kxg7 28.Qg4+ With a perpetual check! Conclusion Although White seems to be safer than other lines, the move 7.a3, offers Black good counterplay on the queenside. 345

White’s positions have been improved in recent years but probably cannot give more than equality. Further, a large number of games have been played with the Hestia variation, but without big success for White...

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Variation F - Hera B33 The Hera variation arises after the moves 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Qe2

But before we go on let’s see why I named the variation after this Goddess of Mount Olympus. Nomenclature Hera under the Microscope Hera was Zeus’ wife and sister. She was raised by the Titans Ocean and Tethys. Hera was the supreme Goddess, Goddess of marriage and childbirth, and took special care of married women. Hera’s marriage with Zeus was founded in strife and continued accordingly. Zeus courted her unsuccessfully. He then turned to trickery, changing himself into a dishevelled cuckoo. Hera felt sorry for the bird and held it to her breast to warm it. Zeus then resumed his normal form and taking advantage of the surprise he gained, raped her. She then married him to cover her shame. Her sacred animals were the cow and the peacock, and her favorite city was Argos. The early 7.Qe2, fits perfectly with the intentions of Hera, those of ruling the game. Returning to our subject we must point out that White’s main idea is to quickly castle long and then effectively advance his kingside pawns. His light-squared bishop will not be anymore ‘exposed’ on d3, but it will apply pressure down the h1-a8 diagonal (if this can be achieved). Black could easily face serious problems if he is not well prepared for this somehow ‘unpleasant’ continuation. 347

But I must note that lately the Hera variation became a fashionable project for players with White and many games have been played and many players as well have stated that this particular variation can be the refutation of the ‘Grivas Sicilian’. This opinion is supported by some false analysis and wrong evaluations or suggested variations that have been spread around the internet. Well, that’s good news for players with the black pieces!

Variation F1 - Hera - 9...? 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Qe2

7...Bb4 The main line and in my opinion best. Alternatives lead to a more complex game and the types of positions that arise resemble the ‘Keres Attack’ schemes, but in a more favorable form for White. Perhaps Black’s play may be improved in several variations, White could claim a more pleasant position in the following examples. Keep in mind that there do exist various transpositions: a) 7...d6

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8.g4 (8.g3 Be7 9.Bg2 a6 10.a4 Nd7 11.0-0 Qc7 12.Be3 b6 13.Nd4 Bb7 14.Nxc6 0-0 15.Bd4 ½-½ Adams,M-Morozevich,A Istanbul 2000; 8.Bf4 a6 9.0-0-0 Qc7 10.Qd2 Ne5 11.Bg3 Be7 12.f4 Nc6 13.Kb1 0-0 14.Bd3 b5 15.e5 dxe5 16.fxe5 Nh5 17.Rde1 ½-½ Vorobiov,E-Haznedaroglu,K Paleohora 2009) 8...h6 (8...a6 9.g5 (9.Bd2 Qc7 10.0-0-0 Nd7 11.f4 b5 12.g5 Nc5 13.Nxc5 dxc5 14.Be3² Movsesian,S-Kozul,Z Sarajevo 2002; 9.Be3 Qc7 10.0-0-0 b5 11.f3 Nd7 12.Qf2 Rb8 13.g5² Fedorov,A-Chirila,I Plovdiv 2008) 9...Nd7

10.Be3 (10.h4 Qc7 11.h5 b5 12.Rh3 Nc5∞ Grandelius,N-Movsesian,S Legnica 2013) 10...Qc7 11.00-0 b5 and now either 12.h4² Grischuk,A-Smirin,I New Delhi-Tehran 2000, or either 12.f4 Be7 (12...Bb7 13.h4 b4 14.Na4 Be7 15.Kb1 Rc8 16.Bg2 Na5∞ Kollars,D-Movsesian,S Internet 2017) 13.h4 Nb6 14.Qf2 Rb8 15.Kb1 Na4 16.Ne2 Bb7 17.Ng3² Balogh,C-Zhang Pengxiang Moscow 349

2006)

9.h4 a6 10.Be3 Qc7 11.0-0-0² Socko,B-Maryasin,B Caleta 2009. b) 7...Be7

8.e5 (8.Be3 Qc7 9.0-0-0, merely transposes) 8...Nd5 9.Nxd5 exd5 10.Bf4 (10.Bd2 0-0 11.0-0-0 d6 12.Be3 Qc7 13.exd6 Bxd6 14.Rxd5 (14.Qh5 Be6 15.Bd3 g6 16.Qh6 d4!µ Dahlhaus,F-Rosen,W G. 2001) 14...Be6! (14...Nb4? 15.Rxd6 Qxd6 16.Bc5 Qf4+ 17.Qe3!± Gajsin,E-Fedorov,A Kazan 2013) 15.Rd2 a5°) 10...Qb4+ 11.Bd2 Qe4 12.Qxe4 dxe4 13.Bc3 0-0 14.0-0-0 Re8 15.Kb1 Bb4 16.Bxb4 Nxb4 17.Rd4 Nc6 18.Rxe4 d5 19.Re1 Rxe5 20.Bb5² Zontakh,A-Damjanovic,V Belgrade 1993. c) 7...Qc7 8.g4 h6 350

9.Bd2 (9.h4 a6 10.Rh3 (10.Bg2 g6 11.Be3 d6 12.f4 h5 13.g5 Ng4 14.Bg1 b5∞ Bok,B-Inarkiev,E Moscow 2015) 10...h5 11.g5 Ng4 12.f3 Nge5 13.f4 Ng4 14.Bg2 d6 15.Bd2 g6 16.0-0-0² Horvath,JCsom,I Hungary 1998) 9...a6 (9...d6 10.Bg2 b6 11.h4 Ne5 12.g5 hxg5 13.hxg5 Rxh1+ 14.Bxh1 Nfd7 15.0-0-0 Nc4 16.g6²

Van den Doel,E-Seeman,T Kusadasi 2006) 10.f4 d6 11.Bg2 b5 (11...b6?! 12.0-0-0 Bb7 13.h4 0-0-0 14.g5 Nd7 15.g6 Nc5 16.f5± Ivanov,A-Akopian,V New York 1994) 12.0-0-0 Bb7 (12...Rb8 13.h4 h5 14.e5 dxe5 15.g5 Ng4 16.f5 Bb4∞ Preotu,R-Kamsky,G Rockville 2016) 13.Bf3 Be7 14.h4² Ye Jiangchuan-Anastasian,A Beijing 1991. d) 7...a6 8.g4 h6 9.Bg2 d6 10.f4 Be7

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11.Be3 (11.h4 Qc7 (11...h5 12.g5 Ng4 13.Bf3 Qc7°) 12.Be3 b5 13.0-0-0 Bb7 (13...h5! 14.g5 Ng4 15.Bg1∞) 14.g5± Antok,D-Farkas,G Hungary 2009) 11...Qc7 12.0-0-0 (12.a4 Na5 13.Nxa5 Qxa5 14.0-0∞ Feldtmann,T-Isserman,R Germany 2012) 12...g6 13.Kb1 b5

14.e5!± Korneev,O-Anastasian,A Linares 1996. e) 7...Nd4? 8.Nxd4 Qxd4 9.Nb5! Qb6 10.Be3 Qa5+ 11.Bd2 Qb6 12.Bf4!± Siklosi,Z-Zapolskis,A Kecskemet 1992. 8.Bd2

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Of course any other continuation as 8.a3?! Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 Qc7 (9...0-0 10.Be3 Qc7 11.f3 d5µ Bazhenov,A-Snetkov,I Ulan Ude 2014) 10.f4 d5 11.e5 Ne4 Jakovenko,D-Zhang Pengxiang Nizhnij Novgorod 2007, leaves Black rather happy. 8...0-0 Postponing castling can be an interesting option if Black avoids the first three alternatives: a) 8...a6?! 9.a3! (9.0-0-0?! 0-0 10.g4 d5 11.exd5 exd5∞ Hermansson,E-Fridgeirsson,D Reykjavik 2008)

9...Be7 (9...Bxc3 10.Bxc3 d6 11.0-0-0 Qc7 12.g4 h6 13.f4± Martorell Aguado,J-Garcia Marin,G 353

Barcelona 2014) 10.e5 (10.0-0-0 Qc7 11.g4 d6 12.Bg2 b5 13.f4 Nd7 14.g5 Nc5 15.Nxc5 dxc5 16.Be3² Peng,J-Montilla Reyes,J Istanbul 2012) 10...Ng8 11.0-0-0 Qc7 12.f4± Firat,B-Sofranov,V Sibenik 2007. b) 8...Nd4?! 9.Nxd4 Qxd4 10.0-0-0 Bxc3 11.Bxc3 Qxe4

12.Qxe4 (12.Qd2 d5 (12...Qa4 13.Qg5 Ne4 14.Qxg7 Rf8 15.Rd4 Qc6 16.Rc4 Qd5 17.Bb4 d6 18.Rxe4 Qxe4 19.Bb5+ Bd7 20.Bxd6 0-0-0 21.Bxd7+ Kxd7 22.Bxf8 Qf4+ 23.Kb1 Kc8 24.Be7 Re8 25.Qc3+ Kb8 26.Rd1 Qa4 27.Qe5+ Ka8 28.Qc7 1–0 Zherebukh,Y-Kovalchuk,V Alushta 2007) 13.f3 Qa4 14.Qg5 Bd7 15.Qxg7 1–0 Almiron,A-Iduate,G Montevideo 2013) 12...Nxe4 13.Bxg7 Rg8 14.Bd4±. c) 8...e5?! 9.0-0-0 (9.Nd5 Bxd2+ 10.Qxd2 Qd8 11.Nxf6+ Qxf6 12.0-0-0 0-0 13.Qd6² Smirnov,AIzzat,K Cammeray 2018) 9...0-0

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10.Nd5! (10.a3 Bxc3 11.Bxc3² Szabo,K-Gara,A Hungary 2006) 10...Bxd2+ 11.Rxd2 Nxd5 12.exd5 Na5 13.Qxe5±. d) 8...a5!? 9.a3 (9.e5 Nd5 10.Nxd5 exd5∞) 9...Bxc3 (9...Be7 10.e5 Ng8 11.Nb5 a4 12.Be3 Qd8 13.Nd2± Tomczak,J-Lagarde,M Internet 2020) 10.Bxc3 e5 (10...a4 11.Nd2 Qc5 12.0-0-0² Boer,LBoer,J Miskolc 1999) 11.0-0-0 0-0

12.g4 (12.Rd6 Qc7 13.Rxf6!? gxf6 14.Qg4+ Kh8 15.Qh4 Qd8∞ He,A-Nguyen,D Internet 2020) 12...a4 13.g5 Ng4 14.Qxg4 axb3 15.Qe2 bxc2 16.Kxc2 d6∞ Kantans,T-Starostits,I Riga 2020. e) 8...d6!? e1) 9.g4 h6 355

10.0-0-0 (10.Bg2 e5 11.h3 Be6∞ Dahlhaus,F-Rosen,W Hattingen 2005) 10...e5 11.Be3 Qd8 12.f3 Bxc3 13.bxc3 Be6 14.Bc5± Dastan,B-Kurajica,B Izmir 2016. e2) 9.0-0-0 e5 (9...0-0?! 10.a3 Bxc3 11.Bxc3 Ne8 12.f4± Yagupov,I-Karasev,V St Petersburg 2000) transposes. e3) 9.a3 Bxc3 10.Bxc3 e5 11.0-0-0 (11.f3 ½-½ Khruschiov,A-Vlasenko,M Peterhof 2006) 11...Qc7 (11...Be6 is an untested idea of Spyridon Kapnisis: 12.Rxd6 Bxb3 13.cxb3 Nd4 (13...0-0!?°) 14.Rxb6 Nxe2+ 15.Bxe2 axb6 16.Bxe5°)

e31) 12.Nd2 0-0 13.Nc4 Rd8 14.f3 Be6 15.Ne3 Rac8 (15...Rab8!? 16.Qd2 d5 17.exd5 Nxd5 18.Nxd5 Rxd5 19.Bd3 b5 20.Qe2 a5 21.Bxh7+ Kxh7 22.Qe4+ f5 0–1 Jacoby,G-Souleidis,G 356

Hamburg 2006) 16.h4 d5 17.exd5 Nxd5 18.Nxd5 Bxd5∞ Hagen,B-Fercec,N Pula 2018. e32) 12.f3 Be6

13.Qd2 (13.Qe1 0-0 14.Kb1 Rad8 15.Na5 Ne7 16.Nb3 Nc6 17.Na5 Ne7 18.Nb3 Nc6 19.Na5 ½–½ Maltsevskaya,A-Korobkov,P Moscow 2018) 13...Rd8 (13...d5 14.exd5 Nxd5 15.Nc5 0-0 16.Nxe6 fxe6 17.Bc4 Rad8 18.Rhe1²) 14.Na5! 0-0 15.Nxc6 Qxc6 16.Be2 Rd7∞ Lintchevski,DMalinin,Y New Ladoga 2006. e33) 12.Kb1 Be6 13.f3 0-0= Simic,D-Knezevic,B Petrovac 2004. 9.a3

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Although the text is supposed to be ‘forced’, there are two other interesting and mostly unexplored possibilities which lead to rich and unclear positions: a) 9.e5 a1) 9...Bxc3

a11) 10.bxc3 Ne8 (10...Nd5 11.c4 Nde7 12.g3 (12.Qe4 f5 (12...Qc7!? 13.f4 d5³) 13.exf6 Rxf6?! (13...d5 14.cxd5 exd5 15.Qe3 Rxf6 16.Qxb6 axb6∞) 14.c5 Qc7 15.Bd3² Mazi,L-Kurajica,B Sarajevo 2010) 12...Qc7 13.Bc3 b6 14.Bg2 Ba6³ Loncar,R-Kurajica,B Makarska Tucepi 1995 & Balogh,C-Mihok,O Austria 2010) 11.0-0-0 Qc7 12.f4 d6∞ Battulga,N-Nguyen,D Zaozhuang 2012. a12) 10.Bxc3 Nd5 11.Bd2 a5! 12.c4

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12...Nde7 (12...Ndb4 13.Be3 Qc7 14.a3 Na6 15.f4 d6 16.exd6 Qxd6 17.Qd2² Shyam,SKamsky,G Sitges 2016) 13.Be3 Qd8 14.f4 a4 (14...b6 15.Qf2 Rb8 16.a3 (16.c5?! a4! (16...b5 17.a3 Nd5 18.Nd4 Nxe3 19.Qxe3 Nxd4 20.Qxd4 Bb7 21.b4 f6!∞) 17.Nd4 bxc5 18.Nxc6 dxc6 19.Bxc5 Qa5+ 20.Kd1 Rd8+–+) 16...Nf5 17.Bd3 f6!∞) 15.Nd4 a3∞ Jacoby,G-Lindinger,M Hamburg 2006. a2) 9...Ne8 10.a3 Be7

11.0-0-0 (11.Qe4 d5 12.exd6 Nxd6 13.Qf3 Ne5 14.Qg3 Bf6 15.0-0-0∞ Girard,R-Linskiy,O Quebec 1996) 11...f6 (11...d5, or 11...d6, or, finally 11...a6 12.f4 Qc7 13.g3 b5 14.Bg2 Rb8 15.Ne4 a5 (15...b4!? 16.a4 Na5 17.Kb1 Nc4 18.Be3 Nxe3 19.Qxe3 d6 20.exd6 Nxd6 21.Nxd6 Bxd6=) 16.Be3 a4 17.Nd4 Nxd4 18.Rxd4² Ivanchuk,V-Polgar,J Mexico City 2010, are playable options and can transpose to other lines of this variation)

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a21) 12.Be3 Qc7 13.exf6 Bxf6!? (13...Nxf6 14.f4 d5 15.g3 Bd7 16.Bh3 Rae8 17.Kb1² Suarez Real,A-Golod,V Internet 2005) 14.Bc5 (14.Nb5 Qe5∞; 14.Qd2 d5 15.Nb5 Qb8 16.f4 a6 17.N5d4 Nd6∞ Marjanovic,A-Pavlidis,A Skopje 2015) 14...Rf7 (14...Qf4+ 15.Kb1 Bxc3 16.Bxf8 Qxf8°) 15.Ne4

15...d5! (15...Be5 16.Ng5 Bf4+ 17.Be3 Rf8 18.g3 Bxe3+ 19.Qxe3 h6 20.Ne4² Sharafiev,AArestanov,T Karaganda 2015) 16.Nxf6+ Nxf6³. a22) 12.exf6 Bxf6 (12...Nxf6 13.g4 Na5 14.Nxa5 Qxa5 15.g5 Nd5 16.Rg1 Nxc3 17.Bxc3² Zakargaev,M-Arutjunian,B Moscow 2007) 13.Ne4 d5 14.Be3 Qc7 15.Nxf6+ Nxf6 16.g4

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16...Bd7 (16...b5 17.g5 Ne4 18.Bg2 Nd6 19.g6 h6 20.Kb1² Yang,C-Zamengo,F Durban 2014; 16...Ne5! 17.f3 Bd7∞) 17.Bg2 Rac8 18.h3 b6 19.Kb1 Be8 20.h4 h5 21.Bg5 Nxg4 22.Qxe6+ Bf7 23.Qe2² Eggleston,D-Quesada Perez,Y Barcelona 2018. a3) 9...Nd5 10.Nxd5

a31) 10...exd5 11.0-0-0 d6 (11...a5 12.Be3 Qc7 13.a3 Be7 14.Rxd5 Nxe5 15.f4 Nc6 16.g4² Tabatabaei,M-Darini,P Teheran 2017) 12.Be3 (12.exd6 Bxd6 13.Bc3 Rd8 14.Nd4 Bb4 15.Qd2 Nxd4 16.Qxd4 Bxc3 17.Qxc3 Qxf2 18.Bd3 Be6³ Iwanow,A-Dragun,K Karpacz 2013) 12...d4! (12...Qc7?! 13.a3!± Sprenger,J-Thorhallsson,T Fuegen 2006) 13.Nxd4 (13.Bxd4 Nxd4 14.Rxd4 dxe5 15.Qxe5 Be6° Nepomniachtchi,I-Haznedaroglu,K Budva 2009) 13...dxe5

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14.Nxc6 (14.Ne6? Qa5 15.Nxf8 Qxa2 16.c3 Bf5–+) 14...Qxc6 15.Qc4! Qxc4 16.Bxc4 Bf5 17.c3². a32) 10...Bxd2+ 11.Qxd2 exd5 12.0-0-0

a321) 12...Nxe5 13.Qxd5 Ng4 (13...d6 14.Qxd6 Ng4 15.Qxb6 axb6 16.Rd2 Rxa2 17.Kb1 Ra7 18.Bc4²) 14.Bc4 d6 15.Rhe1 Ne5 16.Nd4² Kokarev,D-Gabrielian,A Ulan Ude 2009. a322) 12...Re8! 13.Qxd5 (13.Kb1 Rxe5 14.f4 Re3 15.g4 d6 16.h3 Bd7∞ Motylev,A-Kanep,M Khanty Mansiysk 2010) 13...Rxe5 14.Qd6 Re6 15.Qc5 Qc7 16.g3 d6 17.Qc3 Bd7 18.Kb1 Rc8 19.h4 Ree8∞ Pushkarev,D-Liascovich,L Internet 2020. b) 9.0-0-0 362

9...d5! (best by test! Black should avoid 9...Be7 10.e5 (10.g4 d5 11.g5 Nxe4 12.Nxe4 dxe4 13.Qxe4 e5∞ Lopez Silva,H-Bachmann Schiavo,A Asuncion 2009) 10...Nd5 11.Nxd5 exd5 12.Bc3², or 9...Rd8?! 10.a3 Be7 11.g4 d6 12.h4 a6 13.h5 Qc7 14.g5± Widmer,S-Sakelsek,T Zug 2005) b1) 10.Be3

10...Qd8! (10...d4?! 11.Na4 Qc7 12.Nxd4 Nxe4 13.Nxc6 Qxc6 14.Qb5 Qxb5 15.Bxb5 Nd6 16.Be2 Nf5 17.Bc5 Bxc5 18.Nxc5± Bartels,H-Skembris,S Bad Woerishofen 2007) 11.exd5 exd5 12.Qd3 (12.Nb5?! a6 13.N5d4 Re8³) 12...Ne5 13.Qd4

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13...Nc6 (13...Bxc3!? 14.Qxc3 Re8 15.Kb1 Bg4 16.f3 Rc8 17.Qd2 Bf5 18.Nd4 Bg6∞) 14.Qd3=. b2) 10.e5 Bxc3! - see the analyzed game Carlsen,M-Gelfand,B Internet 2020, in the Middlegame Strategy chapter. b3) 10.exd5 exd5 (as the white knight on c3 needs to be protected, 10...Nxd5?! 11.Nxd5 exd5 12.Be3!² (12.g3 Bf5 13.Be3 d4 14.Nxd4 Nxd4 15.Rxd4 Rac8 16.Rc4 Qa5 17.c3 Qxa2 18.Rxb4 Rfd8 19.Bd4 a5 20.Rb5 Qb1+ 21.Kd2 Rxd4+ 22.cxd4 Qc1# 0–1 He,A-Gelfand,B Internet 2020; or 12.Qb5

12...Bxd2+! (12...Bf5?! 13.Qxb6 axb6 14.a3 Be7 15.Bc3² Mishra,A-Gelfand,B Internet 2020) 13.Rxd2 Qc7∞) Hansen,A-Chirila,I Herceg Novi 2006, should be out of the question) 11.Be3 364

(11.a3?! Bxc3 12.Bxc3 Re8 (12...Ne4?! 13.Bd4 Nxd4 14.Nxd4 Bd7∞ Nepomniachtchi,I-Golod,V Natanya 2009) 13.Qb5 Qxf2µ; 11.Na4 Qc7 12.Kb1 Bf5 13.Bxb4 Nxb4 14.Nd4 Bg6³ Antolak,JCordova,E Internet 2020) 11...Qd8 12.Qd3 Be6!? (12...Ne5, transposes to the previous note)

13.a3 (13.Be2 Rc8 14.Bg5 Bxc3 (14...Re8! 15.Kb1 h6³) 15.bxc3 Qe7³ Guliyev,N-Rusev,R Issy les Moulineaux 2011) 13...Ne5 14.Qd4 Nc6 (14...Bxc3!?, is an ambitious try to break the repetition: 15.Qxc3 Neg4 16.Bd4 (16.f3 Rc8 17.Qd2 Nxe3 18.Qxe3∞ Szajbely,Z-Gara,A Budapest 2011) 16...Rc8 17.Qf3 Ne4 18.h3 Qc7 19.c3 Ne5∞) 15.Qd3 Ne5 16.Qd4 Nc6 ½-½ Gyimesi,Z-Horvath,J Hungary 1998. And now, in this position, Black’s main moves are limited to two: 9...Bxc3 and 9...Be7.

Variation F2 - Hera - 9...Bxc3 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Qe2 Bb4 8.Bd2 0-0 9.a3 Bxc3

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This is mostly used in order to avoid a long theoretical battle, but it is also a perfectly playable option. Black eliminates the basic controller of the d5-square, planning to continue with ...e5 and then ...d5. The b3-knight is a bit out of play thus helping Black to acheive his mission. Although not attractive at first look, it can be quite dangerous. 10.Bxc3 e5 11.0-0-0 The alternative is 11.Rd1?! Re8! (11...Rd8 12.Rd6 (12.f3?! d5 13.Qb5 dxe4 14.Qxb6 Rxd1+ 15.Kxd1 axb6µ Mastrapovic,V-Knezevic,B Nis 1996) 12...Qc7 13.Rxf6 gxf6 14.Qg4+ Kh8 15.Qh4 Qd6∞) 12.g4 d5!, is only good for Black. 11...Re8

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Black’s hand is ‘nearly’ forced, although the last two alternatives deserve attention: a) 11...d6? 12.Rxd6 Nd4 (12...Be6? 13.Ba5 Qxb3 14.cxb3 Nxa5 15.Qe3 Nxb3+ 16.Kb1+– Frisk,EBouaraba,M Stockholm 2010) 13.Bxd4 (13.Rxd4 exd4 14.Bxd4 Qc6 15.e5±, looks even more convincing) 13...Qxd6 14.Bc5 Qc7 15.Bxf8 Kxf8± Ivanov,A-Yermolinsky,A Seattle 2000. b) 11...Rd8? b1) 12.h3?! d6 (12...d5!? 13.exd5 Nxd5 14.Bxe5 Bf5°) 13.f4 (13.g4 Be6 14.g5 Ne8 15.Nd2 Rac8 16.Bg2 Nc7³ Makka,I-Milliet,S Athens 2005) 13...Be6 14.Nd2 Rac8 15.f5 Ba2 16.Qb5 Qc7µ

Prasad,D-Milov,V Biel 2001. b2) 12.Bd2?! d5 13.exd5 Nxd5 14.Qf3 Be6 15.Bc4 Nd4∞ Anka,E-Kritz,L Las Vegas 2006. 367

b3) 12.g4 d5 13.exd5 Nxd5 14.Bxe5 Bxg4 15.Qxg4 Nxe5³ Lopez Rayo,S-Alvarez Angel,N Tolima 2020. b4) 12.Qe1 d6 13.Bc4 Qc7 14.f4 Bg4 15.Rd3 Nd4³ Munguntuul,B-Li,B Tianjin 2020. b5) 12.Rd6!

The refutation! White intents to sac on f6 and Black cannot stop him! 12...Qc7 (12...Nd4? 13.Rxd4 exd4 14.Ba5+–) 13.Rxf6! gxf6 14.Qg4+

b51) 14...Kf8 15.Qh4 d6 (15...Ke7 16.f4 d6 17.Be2± Pichot,A-Cao,S Ho Chi Minh City 2019) 16.Qxf6 Be6 17.f4 Ke8 18.fxe5 Qe7 (18...dxe5 19.Bb5± Calzetta Ruiz,M-Milliet,S Chisinau 2005) 19.exd6 (19.Qxe7+ Kxe7 20.exd6+ Rxd6 21.Nc5² Kanmazalp,O-Kurajica,B Izmir 2016) 368

19...Qxf6 20.Bxf6 Rxd6 21.e5±. b52) 14...Kh8 15.Qh4

b521) 15...d6 16.Qxf6+ Kg8 17.Qg5+ Kh8 18.f4 Qe7 (18...Be6 19.fxe5 Nxe5 20.Nd4 Re8 21.Bb5± Pruijssers,R-Van der Wiel,J Hilversum 2008) 19.Qxe7 Nxe7 20.fxe5 dxe5 21.Bxe5+ Kg8 22.Bf6 Bg4 23.Bb5± Nijboer,F-Piket,J Amsterdam 2001. b522) 15...Kg7 16.Bd2 h5 17.g4 Qd6 18.Rg1+– Istratescu,A-Petrov,M Porto Rio 2014. b523) 15...Qd6 16.f4 (16.Bc4 Rg8 17.g4 Qe7 18.f4± Huschenbeth,N-Golod,V Hamburg 2008) 16...Qe7 (16...Re8 17.Bb5 Qe6 18.Rd1 d6 19.f5 Qe7 20.Bb4 Qf8 21.Rd3 Nxb4 22.axb4 Rd8 23.Qxf6+ 1–0 Sax,G-Farkas,T Hungary 2004) 17.Bb5

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b5231) 17...d6 18.Bxc6 bxc6 19.fxe5 dxe5 20.Bb4! (20.Rf1?! Rg8 21.Qxf6+ Qxf6 22.Rxf6 Rxg2 23.Bxe5 Kg8 24.Nc5 Be6∞ Pinol F.,F-Schaufelberger,H Baden 2004) 20...c5 21.Nxc5 a5 22.Nd7! Qxd7 23.Qxf6+ Kg8 24.Qg5+ Kh8 25.Qxe5+ f6 26.Qxf6+ Kg8 27.Qg5+ Kf7 28.Rf1+ 1–0 Leviczki,T-Mihok,O Budapest 2007. b5232) 17...Rg8 18.Bxc6

18...bxc6 (18...dxc6 19.Bb4 c5 20.Bxc5 Qe6 21.f5 Qc6 22.Rd1± Paljusaj,E-Kurajica,B Zadar 2012) 19.Bxe5 Rg6 20.Bc3 Kg8 21.f5 Rg5 22.Re1± Dann,M-Kozul,Z Sitges 2017. b5233) 17...Re8 18.Rd1 d6 19.Na5 Bd7 20.Nxb7 Nd4 21.Rxd4 Bxb5 22.Nxd6 exd4 23.Bxd4 Qxd6 24.Bxf6+ Qxf6 25.Qxf6+ Kg8 26.Qg5+ Kf8 27.Qxb5 Rxe4 28.Qc5+ Kg8 29.b4

370

29...Re2 (29...h6 30.Qc6 Re1+ 31.Kb2 Rd8 32.Qxh6 Rd2 33.Qg5+ Kf8 34.Qc5+ 1–0 Adams,M-Knezevic,B France 1997) 30.Kb2 a6 31.Qc6 Rd8 32.Qxa6 Rxg2 33.h3 Rh2 34.Qf6 1–0 Kononenko,D-Neverov,V Pardubice 2013. c) 11...Qc7!? 12.g4 d6 13.g5

13...Nd7 (13...Ne8 14.h4 Be6 15.Kb1 (15.Nd2 a6 16.Nc4 b5 17.Ne3² Chetina,E-Tiunova,A Izhevsk 2010) 15...Rb8 16.f4 exf4 17.Nd4 Nxd4 18.Bxd4 b5 19.Qd2² Mrdja,M-Wohl,A Cutro 2006) 14.Qe3 (14.h4 Nb6 15.h5 Na4 16.Bd2 Be6∞ Albistur,D-Aguilar Melian,A Internet 2020) 14...Nb6∞ Chebotarev,O-Shaposhnikov,E Tomsk 2006. d) 11...a5

371

d1) 12.Rd6 Qd8! (12...a4?! 13.Nd2 Qc5 14.Rxf6 gxf6 15.Qg4+ Kh8 16.Qh4 Kg7 17.Nc4±; 12...Ne8 13.Rd3 Qc7 14.Rg3 f5 15.Qc4+² Nikologorsky,M-Murtazin,B Moscow 2020) 13.f4 Qe7∞. d2) 12.f4 d5 13.Rxd5 Nxd5 14.exd5 Nd4 15.Qxe5 Nxb3+ 16.cxb3 f6 17.Qe4°. d3) 12.f3?! Rd8 (12...a4?! 13.Nd2 d5 14.exd5 Nxd5 15.Nc4 Qc5 16.Bxe5 Nxe5 17.Qxe5± Kukelko,A-Vykouk,J New Delhi 2019)

13.Qb5 Qc7 14.Nc5 (14.Be1 a4 15.Nd2 d5 16.exd5 Rxd5–+ Leko,P-Atabayev,Y Doha 2016) 14...b6 15.Na4 Rb8

16.b3 (16.Kb1 d6 17.Be1 Nd4µ Vallejo Pons,F-Minko,V Riadh 2017) 16...d6 17.Bb2 Be6µ 372

Setyaki,A-Korneev,O Rome 2018. d4) 12.g4! a4 13.Nd2 (13.g5 Ng4 14.Qxg4 axb3 15.Qg3 bxc2∞ Videnova,I-Ivanov,J Albena 2009) 13...d5

14.exd5 (14.g5 Nxe4 15.Nxe4 dxe4 16.Qxe4 Qxf2 17.Bd3 g6 18.Bxe5²) 14...Nxd5 15.Nc4 Nxc3 16.Nxb6 Nxe2+ 17.Bxe2 Ra5 18.c3 Be6 19.Rd6 (19.Rhe1 e4 20.h3 Ne5 21.Rd4² Mazur,S-Plat,V Teplice 2019) 19...e4 20.h4 Re8 21.Rhd1² Caruana,F-Chirila,I San Francisco 2019. e) 11...Ne8!? (this is an interesting alternative with ideas like ...d6 and ...Be6. Though relatively slow it deserves attention as White cannot exploit the weak d5-square as his knight is on b3!) 12.f4 (12.Nd2 Qc7 13.Nc4 b5?! (13...d6²) 14.Ne3 Rb8 15.Nd5± Szabo,K-Gara,A Hungary 2006) 12...exf4

373

13.Nd4!? (13.g3 f3 (13...fxg3!? 14.hxg3 d6 15.Qh5 h6° 16.Bxg7? Qe3+) 14.Qxf3 d6² Rigopoulos Tsigkos,A-Kourousis,E Iraklion 2009) 13...Ne7 14.Nf5 Nxf5 15.exf5 Nf6 16.Bd4 Qc6 17.Qf2². 12.g4

Alternatives are: a) 12.f3 a1) 12...d6?! 13.Rxd6! (13.Qd2?! Be6 14.Na5 (14.Qxd6? Bxb3 15.cxb3 Rad8–+) 14...Rad8∞) 13...Nd4 14.Rxd4 exd4 15.Bxd4 (15.Nxd4 Bd7 16.Qd2 a5 17.Bd3± Kokarev,D-Smirnov,A St Petersburg 2017) 15...Qc6 16.Qb5 Qxb5 17.Bxb5± Georgiadis,I-Zubarev,A Rethymnon 2010. 374

a2) 12...a5?!

13.Qb5! (13.Kb1 a4 14.Nc1 Rd8 15.Na2 d5∞ Jones,W-Rendle,T Hastings 2013) 13...Qc7 14.Nd2 d6 15.Nc4± Niemi,K-Keso,E Helsinki 2019. a3) 12...Rd8! a31) 13.Rd6 Qc7 14.Qd2 Ne8 15.Rd5 d6 16.Na5 Ne7³. a32) 13.g4 d6

14.Qe1 (14.Kb1 Be6 15.Qb5 Qc7 16.Na5 Nxa5 17.Bxa5 b6 18.Bd2 d5µ Yilmaz,G-Safarli,E Kocaeli 2017) 14...Be6 15.Na5 Rac8³ Szabo,K-Antal,G Hungary 2019.

375

a33) 13.Qb5! Qc7 14.Na5 (14.g4 a6 15.Qc5 d6 16.Ba5 Qb8 17.Qb6 Be6 18.Bd2 d5³ Adamson,R-Ipatov,A Saint Louis 2013) 14...a6 15.Qc4 d6 16.Bb4² Van Haastert,E-Safarli,E Porto Carras 2018. b) 12.Qe1 Qc7 13.Na5 Nxa5 14.Bxa5 b6 15.Bc3 (15.Bb4 Bb7 16.Bd6 Qc6 17.f3 Rac8 18.Rd2 Re6 19.Qd1 a5µ) 15...Bb7 16.f3 d5³. c) 12.Kb1

12...Qc7 (12...d6?! 13.Rxd6 Nd4 14.Rxd4² Geher,K-Kokeny,N Hungary 2019) 13.g4 d5 14.exd5 Bxg4 15.f3 Nd4! 16.Bxd4 exd4 17.Qf2 (17.Qg2 Bf5 18.Nxd4 Bg6∞ Poetz,F-Mihok,O Oberwart 2010)

376

17...Bf5! (17...Qf4?! 18.Be2 (18.Bg2 Bf5 19.Qxd4 Bxc2+ 20.Kxc2 Qf5+ 21.Qd3 Re2+ 22.Kb1 Qxd3+ 23.Rxd3 Rxg2² Turgut,A-Chirila,I Philadelphia 2019) 18...Bh5 19.Rxd4 Qe3 20.Qxe3 Rxe3 21.Bd1 Bxf3 22.Bxf3 Rxf3 23.Re1 Kf8 24.Na5²) 18.Nxd4 Qb6 19.Bc4 Bg6 20.Bb3 Red8!∞. 12...d5! 13.exd5

13...Bxg4 White’s chances should be considered better after the inaccurate 13...Nd4?! 14.Nxd4 exd4 15.Bxd4 Qd6 16.Qd2. 14.f3 Nd4! 15.Nxd4 15.Bxd4?! exd4 16.Qf2 Bh5 17.Nxd4 Nxd5³ He,A-Chirila,I Las Vegas 2019. 15...exd4 16.Bxd4

377

16...Rxe2 Best, as 16...Qd6? 17.Qf2 Qf4+ 18.Rd2 Bxf3 19.Bxf6 Re4 (19...Qxf6 20.Bg2 Bxg2 21.Qxf6 gxf6 22.Rxg2+±) 20.Bg2 Re2 21.Qd4 Re4 22.Rf1!± proved bad in the game Sorokin,M-Karasev,V Blagoveshchensk 1988. 17.Bxb6 Rxc2+! 18.Kxc2 Bxf3 19.Bd4 Here the game Amonatov,F-Arzumanian,G Tula 2004 was agreed drawn (½-½). 19...Bxh1 20.Bxf6 gxf6 21.Bc4 Bf3 22.Rd4 Rd8 23.d6 f5=

378

Although Black might suffer a bit, this ending must end into a draw.

379

Variation F3 - Hera - 9...Be7 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Qe2 Bb4 8.Bd2 0-0 9.a3 Be7

This is the most played continuation by Black. And now White can choose in-between 10.g4, 10.e5 and 10.0-0-0. It must be noted that White has also tried the ‘innocent’ 10.g3 d5 (10...a5?! 11.Be3 Qc7 12.Bg2 a4 13.Nd2 Na5 14.0-0 Rd8 15.Nxa4 Qxc2 16.Nb6 Rb8 17.Qb5 Nc6 18.Rfc1 Na7 19.Qe5 d6 20.Qd4 e5 21.Qb4 Qd3 22.Bf1 Nc6 23.Qa4 1–0 Calzetta Ruiz,M-Viikmaa,K Internet 2020)

380

a) 11.Bg2 d4 12.Na4 (12.Nd1 e5 13.Nc1 d3! 14.Qxd3 Rd8 15.Qc3 Bh3!µ Huschenbeth,N-Khenkin,I Osterburg 2012) 12...Qc7 13.Nac5 b6 (13...e5!³) 14.Na6 Qd7 15.Nb4 Bb7 16.Nd3∞ Leon Hoyos,M-Seeman,T Tromsoe 2014. b) 11.exd5 exd5 12.Qb5 Qc7 13.Bf4 Bd6 14.Bxd6 Re8+ 15.Be2 Qxd6 16.0-0-0 a6³ Sahoo,USoumya,S Nagpur 2008. c) 11.e5 Nd7 12.f4

12...Qc7 (12...d4!? 13.Na4 Qc7 14.Bg2 Nb6 15.Nxb6 Qxb6 16.0-0-0 a5 17.Be1 a4 18.Nd2 Rd8 19.Bf2 Bd7∞; 12...a6 13.0-0-0 Qc7∞) 13.Nb5 Qb8 14.N5d4 Nc5 (14...a5!? 15.Nb5 b6 16.0-0-0 Nc5 17.Qe3 Ba6∞) 15.Be3 Nxb3 16.Nxb3∞ Danin,A-Klundt,K Nuernberg 2011. 381

R Variation F31 - Hera - 10.g4 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Qe2 Bb4 8.Bd2 0-0 9.a3 Be7 10.g4

An aggressive but ultimately harmless continuation although Black must react carefully. 10...d5! 11.g5 White’s hand is also somewhat forced: 11.e5?!, is bad in view of 11...Nd7 12.f4 Bh4+ 13.Kd1 Be7³

and 11.exd5 Nxd5 (11...exd5? 12.g5±) 12.Nxd5 exd5 13.0-0-0 d4 (13...Bf6 14.g5 Nd4 15.Qe3 382

Nxb3+ 16.Qxb3 Qxb3 17.cxb3 Be7 18.Bg2 Be6 19.Be3 Rfd8³ Wnek,F-Dryja,S Krakow 2018)

Is perfect for Black, as White’s 11th move has been proved meanless: 14.Rg1 (14.Bg2 Be6 15.Bxc6 Bxb3 16.Be4 Rac8³ Buttner,N-Burijovich,L Villa Martelli 2006) 14...Be6 15.Qb5 Qc7 16.Nc5 Bd5 17.Nd3 Rfd8³ Kulaots,K-Zubarev,A Kharkov 2003. Also 11.0-0-0?!, seems to be suspicious: 11...d4 12.Na2 Rd8 13.f3 e5 14.Qb5 Qc7µ Seegert,KAagaard,J Odense 2011. 11...Nxe4 12.Nxe4 dxe4 13.Qxe4

383

13...e5! A liberating move which helps Black to conclude his development. 14.Bd3 Other tries are: a) 14.h4 a1) 14...Be6 15.Be3 Qd8! 16.Rd1 Qc8 17.Bd3 g6 18.h5 Bf5

19.Qh4 (19.Qc4 gxh5 20.Rxh5 Rd8 21.Rxh7 Bxh7 22.Bxh7+ Kxh7 (22...Kg7? 23.Rxd8 Qxd8 24.Qh4 Qd6 25.Bc5 Qe6 26.Bxe7 Nxe7 27.Nc5 Qc6 28.Be4 Rh8 29.Qxh8+ Kxh8 30.Bxc6 bxc6 31.Nd7+–) 23.Qxf7+ Kh8 24.Qh5+=) 19...Qe6 (19...Bxd3 20.Rxd3 gxh5 21.Qxh5 Qf5∞) 20.Bc4 Qc8 21.Bd3 Qe6 22.Nd2 Rad8 23.hxg6 Bxg6 24.Bxg6 Qxg6∞ Simutowe,A-Haznedaroglu,K Panevezys 2008. a2) 14...Nd4?! 15.Nxd4 Qxd4 16.Qxd4 exd4 17.0-0-0 Bf5 18.Bf4 Bc5 19.Bg2² Abdulov,OKhurtsidze,N Canakkale 2010. a3) 14...g6! 15.Bh3

384

a31) 15...Rd8 16.0-0-0 (16.h5 Rxd2!°) 16...Bxh3 17.Rxh3 Qxf2 (17...Rac8? 18.h5 Nd4 19.Nxd4 Qxd4 20.Qxd4 Rxd4 21.hxg6 fxg6 22.Rdh1± Poulet,P-Filip,L Vaujany 2015) 18.Rf3 Qg2 19.Rdf1 Nd4∞. a32) 15...Nd4 16.Nxd4 Qxd4 17.Qxd4 exd4 18.0-0-0 Bxh3 19.Rxh3 f6 20.gxf6 Bxf6 21.h5² Vovsha,E-Neimer,V South Padre Island 2014. a33) 15...Bxh3 16.Rxh3 Rad8 17.h5

17...Rd7!? (17...Nd4? 18.Ba5 Qe6 19.Bxd8 Rxd8 20.Rc3²; 17...Rxd2!? 18.Nxd2 Bxg5 19.Nc4 Qb5°) 18.Qg4 Rxd2! 19.Nxd2 Qxb2 20.Rb1 Qxc2°. b) 14.Be3 Qc7 385

b1) 15.h4 Rd8 (15...g6 16.Bh3 Bxh3 17.Rxh3 Qd7 18.Qh1 Rfd8 19.h5∞ Bacon,N-Kanep,M Cappelle la Grande 2013) 16.h5 Be6 17.Bd3 Rxd3! 18.Qxd3 Rd8 19.Qc3 Qd7° Beukema,SBauer,C Maastricht 2016. b2) 15.Bg2 g6 16.0-0 Bf5 17.Qc4 Rac8 18.Rfd1 b6 19.Rd2 Nd8 20.Qxc7 Rxc7³ Dragomirescu,RChirila,I Internet 2020. 14...g6

15.Be3 White has various here: a) 15.0-0-0?! Bf5 16.Qg2 (16.Qe2 Bxd3 17.Qxd3 Qxf2! (17...Rfd8?! 18.Qg3∞ Schoorl,R-Zhu Chen Amsterdam 2005) 18.Qe4 Qf5µ) 16...Bxd3?! (16...Be6! 17.Be3 Nd4µ) 17.Be3 Qb5 18.Rxd3 Rfd8 19.Rhd1 Rxd3 20.Rxd3 Rd8=. b) 15.Qe3 Nd4 16.Nxd4 Bc5 17.Qe2 exd4 18.b4 Bd6 19.0-0 Bh3 20.Rfe1 Qc7³ Pogorelskikh,SPershin,D Sochi 2018. 15...Qc7

386

16.0-0-0 White can also think about 16.Qg2 Be6 Kalesis,N-Grivas,E Iraklion 1992 - see the analyzed game in the Middlegame Strategy chapter. Another way to go is by 16.Qf3?! Be6 17.Nd2

17...Nd4! (17...Qa5 18.c3 e4 19.Bxe4 Bxg5 20.Bxg5 Qxg5 21.h4 Qb5³ Fong,Y-Fedorov,A Batumi 2018) 18.Bxd4 exd4 19.Rg1 f6µ. 16...Bf5 387

16...Rd8, is not bad either 17.h4 Bf5 18.Qc4

18...Bxd3 (18...Be6!? 19.Qc3 Rac8∞) 19.Rxd3 Rxd3 20.Qxd3 Rd8 21.Qe4 Qd7∞ Bolzoni,VMueller,L Kemer 2007. 17.Qh4 17.Qg2, might be a more ‘accurate’ continuation: 17...Bxd3 18.Rxd3 Rac8 (18...Rfd8 19.Rhd1 Rxd3 20.Rxd3 Rd8 21.Rd5 Qc8 22.Rxd8+ Qxd8 23.h4= Strugnell,C-Kholopov,A Senta 2012) 19.f3 b5 20.Rhd1 Rfd8 21.Rxd8+ Nxd8 22.Rd3 Ne6∞ Aakanksha,H-Badelka,O Tarvisio 2017. 17...Bxd3 17...Rac8!?, seems quite interesting:

388

18.Kb1 (18.Bxf5?! gxf5 19.Kb1 Rfd8³) 18...Bxd3 19.Rxd3 Na5! 20.Rc1! (20.Rc3?! Nc4³ Setyaki,AArab,A Batumi 2018; 20.Nxa5? Qxc2+–+) 20...Nc4 21.Nd2 Nxe3 22.Rxe3 Rfd8∞. 18.Rxd3 Rfd8=

With an equal position, as in Balinov,I-Golod,V Vienna 1998. R Variation F32 - Hera - 10.e5 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Qe2 Bb4 8.Bd2 0-0 9.a3 Be7 10.e5 389

White stops Black’s ...d5 and castles next. 10...Nd5 Interesting is the alternative 10...Ne8 11.0-0-0 (11.Qe4 d5 12.exd6 Nxd6 13.Qf3 Ne5 14.Qg3 Bf6 15.0-0-0∞ Girard,R-Linskiy,O Quebec 1996 was seen in previous analysis; 11.Be3 Qc7 12.Bf4

12...a6! (12...f6 13.exf6 Qxf4 14.fxe7 Nxe7 15.g3² Struik,T-Koster,R Schagen 2003) 13.Qe3 d6 14.exd6 Bxd6 15.Bxd6 Nxd6 16.Bd3 e5=) a) 11...f6 12.exf6 (12.Be3 Qc7 13.exf6 Nxf6 14.f4² Suarez Real,A-Golod,V Internet 2005; 12.f4 fxe5 13.fxe5 390

13...Qc7! (13...Rf5 14.g4 Rxe5 15.Qg2° Ivanov,S-Yashmetov,M St Petersburg 2016) 14.Re1 Rf5³) 12...Bxf6 (12...Nxf6 13.g4² Zakargaev,M-Arutjunian,B Moscow 2007) 13.Ne4 d5 14.Be3 Qc7 15.Nxf6+ Nxf6 16.g4 Bd7∞ Eggleston,D-Quesada Perez,Y Barcelona 2018. b) 11...d6 12.Be3 Qc7 13.exd6 Nxd6 14.Bf4 a6 15.g3 b6! (15...Rd8 16.Bg2

16...Na5 (16...Bd7 17.Nc5± Be8? 18.Nxe6 fxe6 19.Qxe6+ Bf7 20.Nd5!+– Sakelsek,T-Rodriguez Lopez,R Campillos 2007) 17.Nxa5 (17.Rhe1?! Nxb3+ (17...Nac4? 18.Nd5! Qd7 19.Bxd6 Nxd6 20.Nc5 Qe8 21.Nc7 1–0 Rapport,R-Metaxasz,V Budapest 2007) 18.cxb3 Bd7=) 17...Qxa5 18.Rd3 Nf5 19.Rhd1 Rxd3 20.Rxd3±) 16.Bg2 Bb7 17.Rd3 Rad8 18.Rhd1². c) 11...Qc7 12.f4 391

12...a6 (12...d6 13.Nb5 (13.exd6 Nxd6 14.g4 a5∞ Zherebukh,Y-Kononenko,D Pardubice 2007) 13...Qb8 14.N5d4 Bd7 15.Nf3 d5 16.h4 a5 17.Be3² Perez C.,M-Pereira,R Carcavelos 2019) c1) 13.h4 d6 14.exd6 Nxd6 15.Ne4 b5∞ Park,E-Dang,A Weifang 2019. c2) 13.Ne4

13...d6 (13...b5 14.Qh5 d6 15.Bd3 dxe5 16.Ng5 h6 17.Nh7 Nf6 18.Nxf6+ Bxf6∞ Bjornsson,SVidit,S Reykjavik 2017) 14.exd6 Nxd6 15.g3 b5 16.Bg2 Nxe4 17.Bxe4 Bb7 18.Bc3∞ ½–½ Spasov,V-Kurajica,B Moscow 1994. c3) 13.g3 b5 14.Bg2 Rb8 15.Ne4 a5 16.Be3 a4 17.Nd4 Nxd4 18.Rxd4 b4 19.axb4 Bxb4 20.Qc4 a3 21.bxa3 Bxa3+ 22.Kd2∞ Obad,A-Tratar,M Sarajevo 2018. 392

d) 11...d5

12.exd6 (12.f4, leads to a position which is examined below via 10.0-0-0 d5 11.e5 Ne8 12.f4, move order) 12...Nxd6 13.Bf4 Rd8 14.g3 Nf5 15.Bg2 Bd7 16.Qe4 Be8= Brandenburg,D-Van Eijk,S Vlissingen 2008. 11.Nxd5

Some years ago, only the text move was being considered, but nowadays alternatives to this have come to the fore: a) 11.g3 (an idea of GM Alexander Ivanov, planning kingside castling among others) 11...d6 12.Na4 393

(12.exd6 Bxd6 13.Bg2 Be5! (13...Nxc3?! 14.Bxc3 e5 15.0-0-0 Qc7 16.Bxc6 (16.Rhe1 Be6 17.Bxc6 Qxc6 18.Na5² Bittencourt,J-Fier,A Rio de Janeiro 2009; 16.Bd5

16...Qe7 (16...Re8 17.Qd3 Bf8 18.Rhe1² Bharathi,R-Soumya,S Bhubaneswar 2011) 17.Bxc6 bxc6 18.Na5 Bc7 19.Nxc6 Qe6 20.Qe4± Paragua,M-Annageldyev,O Alushta 2004) 16...bxc6 17.Qd3 Be7 18.Rhe1 f6 19.Qc4+ Kh8 20.Ba5 Qb7 21.Bb4² Bobras,P-Haznedaroglu,K Pardubice 2007) 14.Na4 (14.0-0 Nxc3 15.bxc3 Qc7 16.Rfe1 Bd6 17.Nd4 Nxd4 18.cxd4 Qxc2 19.Rec1 Qa4 20.Rab1 Rb8 21.Bb4 Bxb4 22.axb4° Zdebskaja,N-Petrov,M Tromsoe 2010) 14...Qc7 15.0-0 Nd4 (15...Bd7 16.Rfe1 Bf6=) 16.Nxd4 Bxd4 17.Qe4 Bf6 18.c4 Nb6= Ivanov,A-Perelshteyn,E Seattle 2003) 12...Qc7 13.exd6 Bxd6 14.Bg2

14...Ne5 (14...Be5, transposes to the previous note) 15.Nc3 Bd7 16.0-0 Nxc3 (16...Rfe8!? 17.Nd4 a6 394

18.Nxd5 exd5 19.Bc3 Bg4 20.Qd2 Rad8∞) 17.Bxc3 Bc6 18.Bxe5 Bxe5 19.Bxc6 bxc6 20.c3= Ivanov,A-Kriventsov,S Seattle 2003. b) 11.0-0-0 d6 12.exd6 Bxd6

And now, as White wishes to impede the development of the c8-bishop, avoiding 13.Nxd5, which transposes to 11.Nxd5, he can choose between: b1) 13.Nb5 b11) 13...Bf4?! 14.c4 Bxd2+ 15.Rxd2 Nc7 (15...Nf6 16.c5 Qa6 17.Nd6 Qa4 18.Qc4 Qxc4+ 19.Bxc4² Chan We Xuan,T-Nadanian,A Singapore 2010) 16.c5 Qxb5 17.Qxb5 Nxb5 18.Bxb5± Kotenko,P-Arzumanian,G Kharkov 2003. b12) 13...Bc5

395

14.c4 (14.Nxc5 Qxc5 15.c4²) 14...Bxf2 15.cxd5 exd5 16.Bc3 Bf5 17.N5d4 Nxd4 18.Nxd4 Qh6+ 19.Qd2 Be3 20.Nxf5 Bxd2+ 21.Rxd2 Qg5∞ Pap,M-Petrov,M Anogia 2012. b13) 13...Bb8 14.c4 a6 15.cxd5 exd5 16.Be3 Qxb5 17.Qxb5 axb5 18.Bxb5² Tan,W-Nguyen,D Ho Chi Minh City 2012. b14) 13...Be5 14.c4 a6! 15.cxd5 exd5 16.Be3 Qxb5 17.Qxb5 axb5 18.Bxb5 Be6

19.Kb1 (19.Rhe1 Na5 20.Nxa5 Rxa5 21.Bd3 Raa8 ½–½ Eggleston,D-Petrov,M Brighton 2013) 19...Rfc8 20.Bd4 Bf5+ 21.Bd3 Bg4 22.f3 Nxd4 23.Nxd4 Bxd4 24.fxg4 Be3= Motylev,A-Kunte,A Calcutta 2002. b2) 13.g3 Be5! (13...Nxc3?! 14.Bxc3, transposes to the above mentioned game Paragua,M396

Annageldyev,O Alushta 2004 and it is not recommended)

14.Nxd5 (14.Na4 Qc7 15.Kb1 b6 (15...a5 16.f4 Bf6 17.Qe4 Rb8 18.Bd3 g6 19.c4 Nb6 20.Bc3 e5 21.Nxb6 Qxb6° Wang Pin-Zhang Pengxiang Beijing 2001) 16.f4 Bf6 17.c4 Ba6∞) 14...exd5 15.f4 Bf6 16.g4 (16.Qd3 Rd8 17.Bg2 a5 18.Be3 d4 19.Bf2 Bg4 20.Rde1 g6³ Michelle,C-Soumya,S Jalgaon 2012) 16...g6 (16...Bd7!? 17.Qf3 Rfc8∞) 17.Qf3 a5∞ Adams,M-Yermolinsky,A New Delhi/Teheran 2000. 11...exd5

12.0-0-0 d6 397

12...d4?! 13.Bf4±, is already out of the question, as in Lakat,G-Metaxasz,V Budapest 2007. 13.exd6 Bxd6

Black has a central isolated pawn, but his compensation lies in his harmonious development and possibilities of an attack along the c-file. From this, practically forced position, White has two main options regarding placement of his bishop: 14.Bc3 Alternatives are: a) 14.Qh5, is not much of a problem: 14...Ne5 15.Be3 Qc7 16.Bd3 g6! (16...Nxd3+ 17.Rxd3 Be6= Van der Wiel,J-Clemens,A Groningen 2008) 17.Qe2 Bg4 18.f3 Bd7³. b) 14.Be3 Qc7

398

b1) 15.Rxd5 Be6 16.Rd1 Rac8° Yanushevsky,N-Shablinsky,M Bulgaria 1999. b2) 15.Nd4 Nxd4 16.Bxd4 (16.Rxd4 Be6! (16...Rd8 17.Qd2 Be5 18.Bf4 Bf5 19.Bxe5 Qxe5 20.Bc4 Rac8 21.Bb3² Setyaki,A-Alekseenko,K Pardubice 2014) 17.Qd2 Bc5³) 16...Bf5 17.Qd2 Bf4³ Dragun,K-Gajewski,G Warsaw 2009. b3) 15.g3 Ne5! (15...Bf5 16.Bg2 Rac8 17.Rd2² Savicevic,V-Solomunovic,I Kraljevo 2015) 16.Bg2 (16.Nd4 a6 17.Bg2 Bg4 18.f3 Bd7∞) 16...Bg4 17.f3 Bd7! 18.f4 (18.Bc5 Bxc5 (18...Nc4 19.Bxd6 Nxd6∞) 19.Nxc5 Qxc5 20.Qxe5 Rac8 21.Rd2 Ba4 22.c3 Bb3∞) 18...Bg4 19.Qf2 Nc4 20.Rxd5 (20.Bxd5? Nxe3 21.Qxe3 Rfe8µ) 20...Rfe8°. b4) 15.Qd2

399

15...Be6! (15...Bf5 16.Bd3 (16.Qxd5 Be5 (16...Bxc2 17.Qxd6 Qxd6 18.Rxd6 Bxb3 19.Be2²) 17.Bd3 Rad8 18.Qb5 Bxd3 19.Rxd3 Rxd3 20.Qxd3 Bf6 21.f4±) 16...Bxd3 17.Qxd3 Rac8 18.Kb1² Rosner,J-Gschnitzer,O Germany 2014) 16.Kb1 Rac8∞. b5) 15.Kb1 b51) 15...Be6 16.Bc5 (16.Nd4

16...Nxd4! (16...a6?! 17.Nxe6 (17.f3 Ne5 18.Nxe6 fxe6 19.Bd4∞ Szabo,K-Chirila,I Baia Sprie 2012) 17...fxe6 18.g3²; 16...Be5?! 17.Nb5?! (17.Nxe6! fxe6 18.g3²) 17...Qe7 18.Qd2 d4!µ Sokolov,I-Grivas,E Internet 2020) 17.Bxd4 Rac8∞) 16...Rfd8 17.Bxd6 Rxd6 18.Nd4 Nxd4 19.Rxd4 Bf5 20.Qd2 Qc5 21.Rf4 d4= Short,N-Gufeld,E Dortmund 1983. b52) 15...Re8 16.Rxd5 Be6 17.Rd2

400

17...Bxb3 (17...Bf4!? 18.Qf3 Bxe3 19.fxe3 Rad8°) 18.cxb3 Bf4 19.Rd3 Rad8 20.Qc2 Bxe3 21.fxe3 g6² ½–½ Papp,P-Kanep,M Cappelle la Grande 2013. 14...Be6 The pawn sacrifice 14...Bf5?!

didn’t turn out well for Black: 15.Rxd5 Rfe8 (15...Bf4+ 16.Kb1 Bg6 17.Rb5² Gonzalez Ochoa,YMiranda Mesa,E Havana 2018) 16.Qd2± Anka,E-Goldin,A Las Vegas 2001. But playable is 14...Qc7 15.Kb1 Be6 16.Nd4 Nxd4 17.Bxd4 Rfc8 (17...Bf5?! 18.Qd2 Rfc8 19.Bd3 Bxd3 20.Qxd3² Wyss,J-Landenbergue,C Leukerbad 2007) 18.Qd2 Bf4 19.Qd3= Savicevic,V401

Djuric,S Yugoslavia 2002. 15.Qd2

Almost forced as the attempt to develop the f1–bishop on the long diagonal immediately with 15.g3?!, fails to 15...Rac8 16.Bg2 Na5! (16...d4? 17.Nxd4 Nxd4 18.Bxd4 Qb3 19.Bxg7! (19.Be4? Rfd8 20.Qd3 Qa2 21.Bxh7+ Kh8 22.Be4 Bc5 23.Qc3 Qa1+ 24.Kd2 Rxd4+–+ Ivanov,A-Gufeld,E Los Angeles 2000) 19...Bxa3 20.Rd3 Qb5 21.Bf6±) 17.Bxa5 (17.Nxa5 Rxc3 18.bxc3 Bxa3+ 19.Kd2 Qxa5µ) 17...Qxb3 18.Kb1 Qa4!µ. 15...Qc7 15...Rac8 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.Qg5+=. 16.g3 Be5

402

16...Rfe8∞, or 16...Rac8, are fully playable alternatives but Black must be aware about the drawing concept of the later move: 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.Qg5+=. 17.Bxe5 Logical and popular. Besides the text White has tried: a) 17.Bg2 Rac8 a1) 18.f4

18...d4! 19.fxe5 dxc3 20.Qxc3 Nxe5 (20...Bxb3 21.Qxb3 Nxe5 22.Bd5²) 21.Qxc7 Rxc7=. a2) 18.Bxe5 Qxe5 (An interesting alternative and novelty is 18...Nxe5 403

19.Nd4 Nc4 20.Qc3 Qd7 21.Kb1 Rfe8∞. It seems that Black gets reasonable counterplay, but the variation has to be tested in practice.) 19.Nd4 Qf6! (19...Nxd4?! 20.Qxd4 Qf5 21.c3² Klinger,JWirthensohn,H Graz 1984; 19...Bg4 20.f3 Bh5∞) 20.Rhe1 Bg4 21.f3 Bd7∞. b) 17.f4 Bxc3 (17...d4!?

18.Bxd4 (18.fxe5 dxc3 19.Qxc3 Qxe5=) 18...Nxd4 (18...Bxd4 19.Nxd4 Bg4 20.Re1 Rfd8 21.Nb5 Qb6 22.Bd3 a6 23.Nc3 Nd4 24.Qe3²) 19.Nxd4 Bxd4 20.Qxd4 Rfd8 21.Qc3 Rxd1+ 22.Kxd1 Qxc3 (22...Qb6 23.Bd3²) 23.bxc3 Rc8 24.Kd2 Kf8=) 18.Qxc3 Rac8 19.Bd3 Bg4 20.Rd2 Rfd8= Anka,EPortisch,L Hungary 2001. 17...Qxe5 404

The suggested novelty 17...Nxe5

looks like a quite good alternative as we have seen above: 18.Bg2 Rac8 19.Nd4 Nc4 20.Qc3 Qd7 21.Kb1 Rfe8∞. 18.Bb5 18.Bg2, transposes to the previous line. 18...Rac8 Black should avoid something like 18...Qf6 19.Rhe1 a6 20.Bxc6 bxc6 21.Qd4 Qh6+ 22.Kb1 Rab8 23.Nc5². 19.Rhe1 Qf6 20.Kb1

405

20...Bg4 Alternatives are not helpful: 20...Bf5?! 21.Bxc6 bxc6 22.Qd4 Qg6 23.Qc5! (23.Rd2 Rb8 24.Nc5 Rb5∞) 23...Rb8 24.Nd4±, or 20...Ne5 21.Qd4 Bf5 22.Bd3². 21.Rc1 21.Be2 Bxe2 22.Qxe2 (22.Rxe2 d4!∞) 22...d4∞. 21...Rfd8 22.Bxc6 bxc6∞

406

Cramling,P-Wirthensohn,H Zuerich 1984. R Variation F33 - Hera - 10.0-0-0 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Qe2 Bb4 8.Bd2 0-0 9.a3 Be7 10.0-0-0

The straightford and natural way to continue. 10...d5 In my opinion Black’s principal move. Alternatives such as 10...d6 11.g4 a6 12.g5 Nd7 13.h4 Qc7 14.f4 b5 15.Kb1 b4 16.axb4 Nxb4 17.f5!² Anand,V-Kramnik,V Mainz 2001, or 10...a6 11.g4 Qc7 12.g5 Ne8 13.Rg1 b5 14.Rg3² Neverov,V-Lazarev,V Sautron 2001 & Kindinova,E-Kharmunova,N Suzdal 2009, or, finally, 10...Qc7 11.g3 a6 12.f4 d6 13.Bg2 Re8 14.g4² Nagy,Z-Metaxasz,V Budapest 2003, worked out well for the first player. 10...Nd4?, is simply bad: 11.Nxd4 Qxd4 12.f4 Qb6 13.e5± Shlauzer,A-Kozhevnikov,E Berdsk 2010. From this position White has opted for two main continuations: 11.exd5 and 11.e5. § Variation F331 - Hera - 11.exd5 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Qe2 Bb4 8.Bd2 0-0 9.a3 Be7 10.0-0-0 d5 11.exd5

407

The ‘old’ way to handle the position. White gets a somewhat better pawn structure in return for active play of his opponent. 11...Nxd5 Exchanging the knights in general weakens the effect of the g4-g5 push. White was a bit better after 11...exd5 12.Be3 Qc7 13.f3 a6 14.Qf2 b5 15.Bc5 b4 16.axb4 Nxb4 17.Bxe7 Qxe7 18.Qc5 Qxc5 19.Nxc5 Be6

20.Rd4² Rudolf,H-Kurajica,B Rethymnon 2003. 12.Nxd5 408

Also possible is 12.g3 a) 12...Nxc3 13.Bxc3 e5 14.Bg2 Be6 (14...Re8!? 15.Rhe1 Bf5∞)

15.f4 (15.Bxc6 Qxc6 16.Qxe5 Bf6 17.Qc5 Qxc5 18.Nxc5 Bxc3 19.bxc3 Bg4 20.Rd3 b6°; 15.Bd5 Bxd5 16.Rxd5 Rac8 (16...Bf6 17.Nc5²) 17.Rb5 Qa6 18.Re1 (18.Bxe5 Rfe8 19.Re1 Bf8° Kudrin,SAzarov,S Dayton 2016) 18...Rfe8 19.Kb1 Bf8 20.Rd5 Qxe2 21.Rxe2 f6∞ Pichot,A-Azarov,S Moscow 2016) 15...Rac8 16.Bd5 Bxd5 17.Rxd5 Nd4 18.Nxd4 exd4 19.Rxd4 Bxa3∞ Panarin,MFomichenko,E Krasnodar 2005. b) 12...Bf6 13.Ne4

13...Bd4 (13...e5 14.Qb5 (14.Nxf6+ Nxf6 15.Bg5 Bg4 16.f3 Be6 17.Bxf6 gxf6 18.Qe4 f5 19.Qh4 409

Qe3+ 20.Kb1∞ Mista,A-Pichot,A Internet 2017) 14...Rd8 15.Nxf6+ Nxf6 16.Qxb6 axb6 17.Bg2 Bg4 18.Rde1 Be6 19.Bc3 Bd5= Kobo,O-Mista,A Minsk 2017) 14.Nxd4 Nxd4 15.Qc4 Nf3 16.Bg2 Nxd2 17.Rxd2 Bd7∞ Zawadzka,J-Korobov,A Minsk 2017. 12...exd5

13.Be3 White has played others moves as well: a) 13.Qf3 Bf6 14.Be3 (14.Qxd5 Qxf2 15.Bd3 Ne5³) 14...d4! 15.Bf4 Be6 16.Bd3 Rac8∞ Gofshtein,L-Grivas,E Panormos 2001. b) 13.Bc3 Be6

410

b1) 14.Qf3 Rac8 15.Qg3 (15.Nd4 Nxd4 16.Bxd4 Bc5 17.Bxc5 (17.Qe3 Bxd4 18.Rxd4 (18.Qxd4? Rxc2+!–+) 18...Bf5 19.Bd3 Rfe8 20.Qf4 Bxd3 21.Rxd3 Qg6 22.Qf3 d4 23.Rhd1 Rc6∞) 17...Qxc5 18.Bd3 b5∞) 15...g6

16.h4 (16.Nd4?! Bf6!µ; 16.Be2 Rfd8 17.Nd4 Nxd4 18.Bxd4 Bc5 19.Qe5 Bxd4 20.Rxd4 Qb3 21.Bd3 Qa2µ Huschenbeth,N-Antoniewski,R Austria 2012) 16...Rfd8 - see the analyzed game Motylev,A-Polgar,J Khalkidiki 2002 (Middlegame Strategy chapter). b2) 14.Nd4 b21) 14...Nxd4 15.Bxd4 Qc6 (15...Bc5 16.Qe3 Rfc8=) 16.Qf3 Bc5 17.Bxc5 Qxc5 18.Bd3= Bindrich,F-Chirila,I Balatonlelle 2006. 411

b22) 14...Bg5+ 15.Kb1 Bf6

16.Nxc6 (16.Qd2 Rac8 (16...Nxd4?! 17.Bxd4 Bxd4 18.Qxd4 Qxd4 19.Rxd4 Rac8 20.Kc1 Rfd8 21.Bd3² Hoffmann,M-Paschall,W Budapest 2005) 17.Nxc6 Bxc3 18.Qxc3 bxc6³; 16.Qe3 Rfe8 17.Nxe6 Qxe3 18.fxe3 fxe6= Turgut,A-Gelfand,B Internet 2020) 16...Bxc3 17.Ne7+ Kh8 18.Qb5 Bd4 19.Nxd5 Qxb5 20.Bxb5 Bxf2 21.Nc7 Rad8=. b23) 14...Bf6

15.Nxc6 (15.Qd2 Rfc8 16.Nxe6 (16.Nxc6? Bxc3 17.Qxc3 bxc6µ Rjabzev,K-Papin,V Taganrog 2013) 16...Bxc3 17.Qxc3 fxe6∞) 15...Bg5+ 16.Kb1 bxc6∞.

412

13...Qc7

14.g4 This looks like the most dangerous continuation but there are others! a) 14.Qd2?! Bf5 (14...Be6 15.Nd4 Bf6 16.Kb1 Rac8 17.Rc1 a6 18.Be2 Ne5 19.Bg5 Nc4 20.Bxc4 Bxd4 21.Qxd4 dxc4 ½–½ Sadhwani,R-Kanep,M Internet 2019) 15.Nd4 Nxd4 16.Bxd4 Bg5! 17.Be3 Bxe3 18.fxe3 Rfe8³ Sanchez Aller,F-Gonzalez Arribas,V Cala Mendia 2001. b) 14.Rxd5?! Be6 15.Rd1

413

15...Rfd8 (15...Rac8 16.Kb1 Rfd8 (16...Bf6° 17.g4? Ne5µ Holinka,H-Starostits,I Berlin 2019) 17.Rc1 Bf6³ Peiris,T-Mueller,L Dresden 2008) 16.Nd4 Nxd4 17.Bxd4 Rac8³ Tirto-Nadanian,A Kuala Lumpur 2006. c) 14.Qh5 c1) 14...Be6 15.Nd4

15...Bf6 (15...Nxd4 16.Bxd4 Bf6 17.Bxf6 Qf4+ 18.Rd2 Qxf6 19.Bd3 g6 20.Qh6 Rfc8 21.h4 Rc7 22.Qg5 Kg7 23.f4 h6 24.Qxf6+ Kxf6= Mijovic,S-Haznedaroglu,K Antalya 2009) 16.Nxe6 (16.Kb1 g6 17.Qf3 Bg7 18.Qg3 Be5 19.Qh4 Rac8 20.Bd3 Bg7 21.Rhe1 Rfe8 22.Nb5 Qd7 23.Bf4 Bg4 24.f3 Rxe1 25.Qxe1 Be6 26.Qg3 a6 ½–½ Harutjunyan,G-Korneev,O Teheran 2016) 16...fxe6 17.Qg4 Qe5∞ Haszon,D-Bors,T Hungary 2008. c2) 14...g6! 15.Qh6 Ne5 16.Be2 Re8 17.Kb1 Bf5 18.Nd4 Rac8 19.Rd2 Ng4 20.Bxg4 Bxg4∞. d) 14.Kb1

414

14...Be6 (14...Bf6 15.Qd2 Bf5 16.Bd3 Bxd3 17.Qxd3∞ Giri,A-Gelfand,B Monaco 2011; 14...Rd8 15.g3 Bf6 16.Bf4 Qb6 17.Rxd5 Be6 18.Rxd8+ Rxd8 19.Be3 Qc7 20.Bg2 Qe5 0–1 Paramzina,ABeinenson,K Prague 2012) 15.f4 (15.h4 Rac8 16.Bg5 Bd6 17.Qd2 d4³ Rodionova,D-Dordzhieva,D Ekaterinburg 2013) 15...Bf6 16.Qf2 d4 (16...Rfe8 17.Bb5 Bf5∞) 17.Nxd4 Rad8° Perez,M-Pichot,A Buenos Aires 2012. e) 14.g3

e1) 14...Ne5 15.h3 (15.Bf4 Bd6 16.Bg2 Bg4 17.f3 Be6 18.Nd4 Bd7∞) 15...Nc4 16.Bf4 Bd6=. e2) 14...Bf5 15.Bg2 (15.Bf4 Bd6 16.Bxd6 Qxd6 17.Bg2 Rac8 18.Bxd5 Qg6 19.c3 Rfe8 20.Qb5 Ne5µ Kourkoulos-Arditis,S-Nikolov,M Paleochora 2016) 15...Rac8 16.Rxd5 (16.Bf4? Qb6 17.Rxd5 415

(17.Rd2 Bf6 18.Bxd5 Na5 19.Qf3 Rfd8–+)

17...Bxc2! 18.Qxc2 Na5 19.Nxa5 (19.Nc5 Bxc5 20.Kb1 Bxa3 21.Qd2 Bxb2! 22.Rd6 (22.Qxb2 Qg6+ 23.Ka1 Nc4–+) 22...Qc5 23.Qxb2 Qf5+ 24.Ka1 Nc4–+) 19...Rxc2+ 20.Kxc2 Qxf2+ 21.Rd2 Qc5+ 22.Kb1 Qxa5 23.Rc1 b5 24.Rd7 Bf6

25.Bd6? (25.Bd2 Qb6 26.Bd5 h6µ) 25...Qd2! 26.Rc2 Qd1+ 27.Rc1 Qd3+ 28.Rc2 Re8 29.Bc6 Re1+ 0–1 Robson,R-Yermolinsky,A Saint Louis 2010) 16...Be6 17.Rb5 (17.Bf4? Bxd5! (17...Qb6 18.Rb5 Qa6 19.Re1² Zarubitski,V-Badelka,O Minsk 2017) 18.Bxc7 Bxg2 19.Rg1 Bd5µ)

416

17...a6! (17...Nb4!? 18.axb4 (18.Nc5 Bd5 (18...Nxc2 19.Qxc2 b6 20.Be4 Bxc5 21.Bxc5²) 19.Bxd5 Nxd5 20.Nb3°) 18...Bxb3 19.Bc5 Rfe8 20.Qe3 Bxc5 21.Qxb3 Bb6 22.Qd3²) 18.Rb6 Bf6°. e3) 14...Be6 15.Bg2 (15.Nd4 Nxd4 16.Bxd4 Rac8 17.c3∞ Della Morte,P-Kholopov,A Sant Adria de Besos 2019)

15...Bf6 (15...Rfd8 16.Kb1 (16.f4 Rac8 17.Rd2 Bf6∞ Jarocka,L-Juhasz,J Mumbai 2019) 16...Bf6 17.Nd4 Bxd4 (17...Qb6 18.c3 Bxd4 19.Bxd4² Monnisha,G-Yagupov,I Moscow 2018) 18.Bxd4 Bf5∞) 16.Bf4 Qb6 17.Bxd5 Nd4 18.Rxd4 Bxd4 19.Bxe6 fxe6 20.Nxd4 Qxd4 21.Qxe6+ Kh8 22.Be3 Qa4∞ Harsha,B-Nikolov,M Paleochora 2017. f) 14.Nd4 Bf6 417

f1) 15.Qd2 Bxd4 (15...Na5 16.Bf4 Qb6 17.Qb4 Qxb4 18.axb4 Nc6 19.Nb5 Be6 20.Nc7 Rad8 21.Nxe6 fxe6 22.b5 Ne7 23.g3∞ Dorst,J-Middelhoff,C Saarbruecken 2015) 16.Bxd4 Bf5 17.Be3 Rac8³. f2) 15.Nxc6 bxc6 16.Bd4 Bxd4 17.Rxd4 Be6 18.Qd2 c5µ Golubov,S-Papin,V Taganrog 2013. f3) 15.Kb1 Bxd4 16.Bxd4 Bf5 17.Be3 d4 18.Bxd4 Nxd4 19.Rxd4 Rac8µ Carnicelli,V-Azarov,S Internet 2020. g) 14.h3

14...Rd8 15.g4 Ne5 16.Kb1 Nc4 17.Bc1 a5 18.Nd4 Bf6 19.a4 Bd7 20.g5 Bxd4 21.Rxd4 Bf5 22.Qd1 Qb6 23.Bxc4 dxc4 24.Be3 Rxd4 25.Qxd4 Qb3 26.Rc1 c3 ½–½ Zude,A-Carow,J Frankfurt 2019. 418

14...Ne5!

Best by test and a bit better than 14...Rd8?! 15.Bg2 Be6 16.Kb1 Rac8 17.f4 d4 18.Nxd4! (18.Bc1?! d3 19.Rxd3 Rxd3 20.Qxd3 Bxg4³ Movsesian,S-Grivas,E Panormos 2001 - see the analyzed game in Middlegame Strategy chapter) 18...Nxd4

19.Bxd4 (19.Rxd4 Rxd4 20.Bxd4 Qxf4 21.Qe4 (21.Be4 Rd8 22.c3 Bxg4 23.Bxh7+ Kxh7 24.Qxe7 Be6 25.Rg1 Qf5+ 26.Ka1 Rxd4 27.cxd4 Qd5 28.Kb1 Qe4+ 29.Ka1 Qd5 30.Kb1 Qe4+ 31.Ka1 Qd5 ½–½ Kalinichev,A-Sevdimaliyev,U Tula 2014) 21...Qxg4 22.Qxg4 Bxg4 23.Bxb7 Rc7=) 19...Qxf4 20.Bxb7 Qxg4! 21.Qxg4 Bxg4 22.Bxc8 Bxd1 23.Rxd1 Bf6! 24.c3 Bxd4 25.Rxd4 Rxc8 26.Rd7². 14...f5, is a bit too much: 15.h3 (15.Bg2 fxg4 16.Bxd5+ Kh8 17.Nd4 Bf6 18.Nxc6 bxc6³ 419

Konyves,A-Czebe,A Drienica 2020) 15...f4 16.Bd2². 15.h3 Nc4 16.Bd4 Be6

17.Bg2 Or 17.Kb1 Rfc8 18.Rd3 b5 19.Bg2 a5∞ Kanep,M-Khairallah,F Dresden 2008, although I prefer Black. 17...Rfc8 18.Rhe1 Bf8 18...Qf4+ 19.Kb1 Bxa3 20.Bc3 a5∞, is a fair alternative. 19.Bc3 Nxa3 20.Bxd5 Bxd5 21.Rxd5 b5!∞

420

Konguvel,P-Sherbakov,R Calcutta 2002. Black’s threats seem to be more dangerous than White’s. § Variation F332 - Hera - 11.e5 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Qe2 Bb4 8.Bd2 0-0 9.a3 Be7 10.0-0-0 d5 11.e5

11...Ne8! As Black intends to continue with ...f6 and recapture with his bishop, allowing his knight to come to

421

d6, he should avoid 11...Nd7?! 12.f4 Nc5 (12...a6 13.Be3 Qc7 14.Qh5 Rd8 15.Bd3² Valli,FKanep,M Jyvaskyla 2011) 13.Nxc5 Qxc5

14.Qf3 (14.Be1 Bd7 15.h4 (15.Bf2 Qa5∞ Tikkanen,H-Kamsky,G Stockholm 2016) 15...Rfc8 16.Na4 Nd4 17.Nxc5 Nxe2+ 18.Bxe2 Bxc5= Van Delft,M-Neverov,V Dieren 2010) 14...Bd7 15.Bd3 (15.Na4? Qxc2+! 16.Kxc2 Nd4+ 17.Kb1 Nxf3 18.Nc3 Nxd2+ 19.Rxd2 Rac8µ Miron,L-Filip,L Arad 2017) 15...Rac8 16.Na4∞ (16.Be3!²) Rathanvel,V-Tukhaev,A New Delhi 2018. This French type pawn structure seems to serve White better. 12.f4

422

Of course, White’s options can vary: a) 12.Be3 Qc7 13.f4 f6 (13...Na5?! 14.Kb1 Nc4 15.Bd4 Bd7 16.f5² Georgiadis,I-Ornithopoulos,N Paleochora 2011) 14.exf6 (14.Nb5 Qb8 15.exf6 Nxf6 (15...Bxf6, transposes) 16.N5d4 (16.g3 e5 17.fxe5 Bg4 18.Qg2 Qxe5µ De Filomeno,S-Ladva,O Athens 2012) 16...e5 17.fxe5 Qxe5∞ Vokarev,S-Golod,V Plovdiv 2008) 14...Bxf6 15.Nb5 Qb8 16.g3 a6 17.N5d4 Nd6 (17...e5!? 18.fxe5 Bxe5 19.Bg2 Nf6 20.Rhe1 Re8²/∞)

18.Bg2 (18.Nxc6?! bxc6 19.Bd4³ Paravyan,D-Alekseenko,K Al Ain 2013; 18.Qf3 Qc7 19.Bd3 Nc4 20.Rhe1 Nxe3 21.Qxe3 Re8∞ Hernandez Gonzalez,W-Miranda Mesa,E Villa Clara 2020) 18...Re8∞ Szostko,J-Grela,K Suchedniow 2016. b) 12.g3

423

A proposal by U. Tuncer. b1) 12...f6 13.Be3 Qc7 14.exf6 Bxf6 15.Bc5 Nd6 16.Bh3 Nd8 (16...Bxc3 17.Bxe6+ Kh8 18.Bxc8 Bxb2+ 19.Kxb2 Nc4+ 20.Kc1 Rfxc8 21.Rxd5 Nb6 22.Rd3 Ne5°; 16...Re8? 17.Bxd6 Qxd6 18.Nxd5±) 17.Bxd6 Qxd6 18.Ne4 Qb6 19.Nxf6+ Rxf6 20.f4². b2) 12...Qc7

13.Bf4 (13.f4 f6, transposes above) 13...a6 14.Bg2 g5!? (14...b5) 15.Be3 Qxe5 16.h4° Korneev,OCarow,J Deizisau 2015. b3) 12...d4 b31) 13.Nb5 Nc7 14.Nxc7 (14.N5xd4 Nxd4 15.Nxd4 Bxa3! 16.Nb3 Be7∞) 14...Qxc7 15.Bg2 424

Rd8 16.Bxc6 Qxc6 17.Bb4 Bxb4 18.axb4

18...Bd7 (18...Qa4 19.Qc4 b6 20.Rxd4 Rxd4 21.Qxd4 Bb7 22.Rd1 h6°) 19.Rhe1 Qb6 20.Rxd4 Ba4°. b32) 13.Na4 Qc7 14.f4 b6 15.Be1! Bb7 16.Rg1 Rd8 17.Bf2 d3 (17...Rd5 18.Bg2 d3 19.Rxd3 Rxd3 20.Qxd3 Nxe5 21.fxe5 Bxg2 22.Rxg2 Qc6 23.Rg1 Qxa4 24.Rd1²) 18.Rxd3 Ba6 19.Qe4 Bxd3 20.Bxd3 g6 21.Nc3 Ng7 22.Be2 f6 23.Nb5 Qd7 24.Rd1 Qc8∞. 12...f6

425

13.exf6 13.Be3 Qd8 (13...Qc7, transposes above) 14.exf6 Bxf6 15.Ne4 Be7 16.g3 b6 17.Qg2 Nc7∞ Wyss,JBauer,C Switzerland 2015. 13...Bxf6 14.g3 14.Qh5, is not good: 14...Nd4! 15.Nxd4 Bxd4 16.Bd3 Nf6 17.Qh4 Bd7³ Motycakova,M-Fuchs,J Stary Smokovec 2018. 14...Nd6

15.Bh3 White has also tried: a) 15.Be3 Qc7 16.Nb5 (16.Qd2 Rd8= Mamedov,N-Grivas,E Bursa 2009) 16...Nxb5 17.Qxb5 Kh8 (17...Bd7 18.Nc5 Bd4 19.Rxd4? (19.Qe2!²) 19...Nxd4 20.Qxd7 Qxc5 21.Qa4 e5µ Beinenson,KBadelka,O Minsk 2018) 18.Qe2 e5!∞ Kozlitin,O-Fedorov,A Voronezh 2015. b) 15.Kb1

426

15...Nc4 (15...Nd4! 16.Nxd4 Bxd4 17.Na4 Qc6 18.Bb4 Bf6∞) 16.Qe1 Nxd2+ 17.Qxd2 Ne7 18.Bh3 Bd7 (18...a5 19.Bg4 g6 20.Rhe1 Nf5²) 19.Rhe1 (19.Ne4±) 19...Rac8 20.Ne4± Abasov,N-Arab,A Sharjah 2014. 15...Re8 16.Be3 White can also opt for 16.Kb1 Bd7 (16...Nd4 17.Nxd4 Bxd4∞)

17.Na4 Qc7 18.Nac5 Nd4 19.Nxd4 Qxc5 20.Nb3 Qc7 21.Bc1 Rac8 22.g4 Nc4 23.Qg2 Ba4 24.Rd3µ ½–½ Petrisor,A-Posedaru,B Cap Aurora 2016, or 16.Qd3 Nc4 17.Rhe1∞ Abdil,H-Fercec,N Bosnjaci 2013.

427

16...Qd8 16...d4, is fine as well: 17.Bf2 e5 18.Bxc8 Raxc8∞ Zufic,M-Kurajica,B Rabac 2003. 17.Qd3 Nc4∞

Kanep,M-Seeman,T Rakvere 2009. An unclear position, where Black seems to be fairly active. Conclusion A fashionable variation where White has tried to create new ways to handle the opening. 428

Nevertheless, Black has several resources and a well prepared player can come out on top in no time. In general, we can see many new and interesting games played the last years with the Hera Variation. White has tried to be creative, but Black has always found counterplay and finally I think that he faces no real problem.

429

Variation G - Fates B33 The starting point of the next diagram ‘identifies’ the turning point of the Fates variation, which comes after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Be2

In any case this is a line that should not be adopted by White so quickly as it allows Black an easy game after the obvious 7...Bb4. But before we go on, let’s see why I named the variation after some of the most feared creatures of ancient Greek Mythology. Nomenclature Fates under the Microscope The Fates had the subtle but awesome power of deciding a man’s destiny. They assigned a man to good or evil. Their most obvious task was determining how long a man lives. There were three Fates: Clotho the spinner, who spanned the thread of life; Lachesis the measurer, who chose the lot one had in life and determined how long it would be and Atropos the inevitable, who with her shears would cut the thread of life resulting in death. The Fates were old and predated the Gods. It is not entirely clear how far their power extended. It is possible that they determined the fate of the Gods as well. In any case, not even the most powerful beings in earth (or above it!) were willing to trifle with them. With the 7.Be2 White is challenging his fate as Black can choose between transposing into lines of the Be2/Be3 system with 7...d6 (not advisable), or simply accepting the challenge with 7...Bb4. 430

Now we will examine each of the above lines in detail.

Variation G1 - Fates - 8.? 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Be2

It must be mentioned that it is imprecise for White to play the text so early, before Black has committed himself to the development of his dark-squared bishop. The reason for this is the possibility of the...Bb4 pin which has been proved effective in practice. 7...Bb4 The natural follow up. 7...d6 8.Be3 Qc7 9.f4 a6, could be another try by Black, but it is not as attractive as the text! 8.0-0

431

Probably the only ‘logical’ response. White has several alternatives that are just as good but not anything special: a) 8.Be3 (you can also check the Dionysus variation for this set-up) 8...Qc7 (8...Bxc3+!? 9.bxc3 Qc7∞ Centeno,O-Rojas,M Puerto Tirol 2004) a1) 9.0-0 Bxc3 10.bxc3 Nxe4 11.Qd3 (11.Bf3 Nxc3 12.Qd2 Ne5µ Solak,D-Zitin,Y Paris 1994; 11.Bd3 Nf6 12.Bc5 b6 13.Ba3 Bb7µ Levrand,R-Zhigalko,A Zuerich 2017) 11...d5

12.c4 (12.Nc5 Nd6 (12...Nxc5?! 13.Bxc5 Bd7° Gutierrez,S-Ferreira,O Asuncion 2008 (13...b6 14.Ba3 Bb7 15.c4° Morris Suzuki,S-Hansen,S Internet 2020)) 13.a4 0-0µ) 12...Nb4 13.Qd4 e5µ Reutsky,S-Lelekova,O St Petersburg 2007. 432

a2) 9.Nd2 Bxc3 10.bxc3

10...d5 (10...0-0 11.c4 d6 12.0-0 b6 13.Bg5 Nd7 14.Nb1 Bb7 15.Nc3 a6 16.Qd2 f6 17.Be3 Na5³ Secheli,G-Golod,V Satu Mare 1994) 11.Bf3 (11.0-0 0-0 12.Bc5 Rd8 13.exd5 Nxd5µ Jelica,MFridman,D Leiden 2015) 11...0-0 (11...Ne5 12.0-0 Nxf3+ 13.Qxf3 Qxc3 14.exd5 Nxd5 15.Ne4° Ohanyan,E-Cardoso Cardoso,J Internet 2020; 11...Qe5 12.exd5 Nxd5 13.Bxd5 exd5³ Martynyuk,ELobanov,S St Petersburg 2017) 12.0-0 Rd8³. a3) 9.Bd3 d5 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Bd2 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Qe5+

13.Qe2 (13.Kf1 Bxc3 14.Bxc3 Qxc3µ Azarov,S-Durarbayli,V Internet 2019) 13...Bxc3 14.Qxe5 (14.Rd1 Qxe2+ 15.Kxe2 Bxd2 16.Rxd2 Ke7µ Arig,B-Lvova,Y Vung Tau 2008) 14...Bxe5 15.Rd1 433

0-0 16.0-0 b6µ Straubinger,D-Horvath,J Hungary 2007. a4) 9.f3 d5 10.0-0 (10.Bg5 Qe5 11.Bxf6 Qxf6³ Broz,J-Vondra,Z Karlovy Vary 2009; 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Bd2 Nxc3 12.Bxc3 Bxc3+ 13.bxc3 0-0µ Markelova,L-Fastova,T Sochi 2007) 10...Bxc3 11.bxc3

a41) 11...0-0 12.Bg5 (12.Qe1 b6 13.Qh4 Ne7 14.exd5 Nf5 15.Qf2 Nxe3 16.Qxe3 Nxd5 17.Qf2 Qxc3 18.Bd3 Bb7 0–1 Saiz Rodriguez,D-Borges Matos,J Havana 2018) 12...Qe5 13.f4! (13.Qd2 dxe4 14.Bxf6 Qxf6 15.fxe4 Qe5 16.Qe3 b6µ Toczek,G-Woda,J Rzeszow 1988) 13...Qxe4 14.Bxf6 gxf6 (14...Qe3+ 15.Kh1 gxf6 16.Bd3±) 15.Rf3! (15.Bd3 Qe3+ 16.Kh1± Chukhlantseva,A-Tiunova,A Izhevsk 2009) 15...Ne7 16.Nd4+–. a42) 11...b6 12.Nd4 Bb7 13.Nb5 Qe7 14.e5 (14.Bc1!±) 14...Nxe5 15.Bf4° Battesti,SHamdouchi,H Ajaccio 2012. a43) 11...dxe4! 12.fxe4 0-0 (12...Nxe4 13.Qd3 f5 14.Nc5° (14.Bh5+ g6 15.Bf3 Ne5 16.Qd4 Nxf3+ 17.gxf3 e5µ Sztokbant,B-Godzwon,I Internet 2020)) 13.Bd3 Ne5³. a5) 9.Bf3

434

a51) 9...Ne5 10.0-0 (10.Bd4 Nxf3+ 11.Qxf3 e5 12.Be3 Bxc3+ 13.bxc3 Qxc3+µ Lopez Rayo,SAmirkul,A Batumi 2016; 10.Qd4 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 b6 12.Be2 Bb7 13.f4 Neg4 14.Bxg4 Nxg4 15.00 0-0 16.Bc1 e5µ Kiefer,D-Khenkin,I Wiesbaden 2014) 10...Bxc3 (10...Nxf3+ 11.Qxf3 Bxc3 12.bxc3

12...Qxc3 (12...d5 13.exd5 Nxd5 14.Bc5 b6 (14...Ne7 15.Rad1±) 15.c4 Bb7 16.cxd5 Bxd5 17.Qc3 bxc5 18.Qxg7 0-0-0∞) 13.Rad1 0-0 14.Rd3° Guimaraes,D-Hansen,S Internet 2020) 11.bxc3 b6³. a52) 9...0-0 10.0-0

435

10...Bxc3 (10...a6?! 11.a3?! Bxc3 12.bxc3 d6³ Buiza Prieto,E-Dimitrova,A Porto Carras 2015) 11.bxc3 b6 12.g4 Ne5 13.g5 Nxf3+ 14.Qxf3 Ne8 15.Bc1 Bb7µ Lanc,A-Borik,O Vrbno pod Pradedem 1965. a53) 9...b6 10.0-0 Ba6 11.Re1 Ne5 12.Bd4 d6 13.a3 Bc5 14.Be2∞ Garcia Ruiz,A-Ayats Llobera,G Sitges 2020. a6) 9.Qd3 d5 10.0-0 (10.0-0-0 Bxc3 11.Qxc3 0-0 12.exd5 Nxd5=; 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Bd2 Nxc3 12.Bxc3 Bxc3+ 13.Qxc3= Vidruska,R-Hansen,S Internet 2020) 10...Bxc3 11.Qxc3

11...0-0 (11...e5 12.exd5 Nxd5 13.Qd2 Nxe3 14.Qxe3 0-0 15.c3 Be6= Pokorna,R-Peters,J Los Angeles 2005) 12.exd5 Nxd5 13.Qd2=. 436

b) 8.Qd3 b1) 8...d5 9.0-0 (9.exd5 Nxd5 10.0-0 Nxc3 11.bxc3 Be7 12.Qg3± Vinogradov,V-Yakkimaienen,V Petrozavodsk 2008; 9.Qg3 Nxe4 10.Qxg7 Qxf2+ 11.Kd1 Qf6µ Manrique Ochoa,F-Minaya Molano,J Bogota 2019) 9...Bxc3 10.Qxc3 dxe4

11.Qg3 0-0 12.Bh6 Ne8 13.Be3 Qc7 14.Bc5± Zaitsev,I-Chiburdanidze,M Moscow 1982. b2) 8...Ne5 9.Qg3 Nxe4 10.Qxe5 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 Qxf2+ 12.Kd1 Qxg2 13.Rf1 (13.Re1 Nf2+ 14.Kd2 Ne4+ 15.Kd1=) 13...d6 14.Bb5+ (14.Qd4? e5 15.Qe3 Bg4µ Jovcic,M-Kurajica,B Titovo Uzice 1978) 14...Kd8 15.Qd4 e5∞ Kountz,J-Postojev,A Germany 2004. b3) 8...0-0

437

9.Be3 (9.Bg5 Ne5µ) 9...Qc7 10.Bd2 (10.Bg5 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 Qe5³) 10...d5 11.exd5 Bxc3 12.Bxc3 Nxd5 13.0-0-0 Nxc3 14.Qxc3 e5∞. c) 8.Nd2 0-0 9.0-0 d5 10.exd5 exd5 (10...Nxd5 11.Nxd5 exd5 12.c3 Bd6 13.Nb3 Be6= Panfilii,LLamblin,A Maribor 2012) 11.Nf3 Bxc3 12.bxc3 Qc5³ Mohanty,K-Swaminathan,S Chennai 2009. d) 8.Bf3

d1) 8...0-0 9.0-0 Bxc3 (9...Ne5 10.Bg5 Be7 11.Be2 d6 (11...h6 12.Be3 Qd8 13.f4 Nc6 14.e5± Seps,M-Reust,E Scuol 2001) 12.Be3 Qc7 13.f4 Nc4 14.Bxc4 Qxc4 15.Qd3= Remizov,YDimitrova,A Moscow 2015) 10.bxc3 Ne5 (10...Rd8 11.Qd6 Ne8 12.Qg3 d6 13.Be2² Olenichev,DNyzhnyk,I Alushta 2007) 11.Ba3 Re8= Niks,Y-Arutjunian,B Moscow 2007. d2) 8...Ne5 9.0-0

438

9...Bxc3 (9...a6 10.Be3 Qc7 11.Na4 Nc4 (11...0-0 12.a3 Be7 13.Nb6 Rb8= Thompson,E-Mueller,L Dresden 2008) 12.Bc5 Bxc5 13.Naxc5 d6 14.Nd3 e5 15.Nd2 Be6= Mangiaterra,R-Perez Cascella,J Rosario 2001) 10.bxc3

10...Qc7 (10...Nxf3+? 11.Qxf3 d5 12.exd5 Nxd5 13.Be3? (13.Qg3!±) 13...Nxe3 14.fxe3 0-0µ Dubos,J-Baron,R St Quentin 2002; 10...0-0 11.Bg5 Qc7 12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.Be2 b6 14.f4 Ng6∞) 11.Ba3

439

11...Nc4 (11...b6 12.Qd4 d5∞) 12.Bc5 (12.Bc1 d6 13.Bg5 Nd7∞) 12...b6 13.e5 Nxe5 14.Bxa8 bxc5°. e) 8.f3 d5 9.Bd2 dxe4 10.Nxe4 Nxe4 (10...Be7 11.Bc3 Nd5 12.Bd4 Nxd4 13.Qxd4 Qxd4 14.Nxd4 0-0³ Blanchard,H-Gravagna,P France 2009) 11.fxe4 0-0µ Contreras R,W-Guzman Lozano,C Bogota 2013. f) 8.Bd3 d5 (8...Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 e5 10.Be3 Qc7 11.Qf3² Garic,M-Nikolic,A Porec 2004; 8...Be7, transposes to the main lines) 9.Bd2 (9.0-0

9...Bxc3 (9...0-0 10.Be3 Qd8 11.exd5 exd5=) 10.bxc3 dxe4 11.Be2 0-0 12.Be3 Qc7µ Maroslavac,ISaric,K Sibenik 2016; 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Bd2 Nxc3 11.Bxc3 Bxc3+ 12.bxc3 Bd7³ Hamzic,A-Rosic,S 440

Bosnjaci 2016) 9...0-0 (9...Bxc3 10.Bxc3 dxe4 11.Bxf6 exd3 12.Bxg7 Rg8 13.Bc3 Rxg2 14.Qf3∞ Patel,Y-Gulden,E Antalya 2013) 10.exd5 exd5 11.0-0 Re8∞

So, after 8.0-0, Black can choose in-between 8...Bxc3 and 8...0-0. R Variation G11 - Fates - 8...Bxc3 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Be2 Bb4 8.0-0 Bxc3

Another treatment (but not a recommended one) of the position is 8...a6 9.Be3 (9.Bd3 Be7 10.Be3 Qc7 11.f4 d6 12.Qf3, as in Balogh,V-Gouret,T Budapest 2000, transposes to the main lines. 9.Na4 441

Qc7 10.a3 Bd6³ Pereira,A-Barbosa,P Guimaraes 2004) 9...Qc7 10.f3 (10.Qd3 Ne5 11.Qd4 Nc6 12.Qd3 Ne5 13.Qd4 Nc6 ½-½ Porubszky Angyalosine,M-Szobi,G Hungary 1999) 10...b6 11.Qd2 h5 12.Rad1 Be7 13.Kh1 Bb7 14.Na4 b5 15.Nac5 Bc8∞ Li Ruofan-Zhang Zhong Beijing 1997. 9.bxc3 Nxe4 Black can also think about 9...0-0 10.Be3 Qd8 (10...Qc7 11.Bc5 Re8 (11...Rd8 12.Bd6 Qb6 13.e5±) 12.Bd6 Qb6 13.e5±) 11.Bd3 d5=.

10.Bf3 Other moves are: a) 10.Bd3 Nf6 (10...d5 11.Qg4 g6 12.Bxe4 dxe4 13.Qxe4²) 11.Ba3 (11.Bg5 Ne5 12.Be2 d6 13.Rb1 Qc7 14.Qd4 Ned7 15.Rbd1 d5³ Ebosse,K-Arab,A Casablanca 2019) 11...Qc7 (11...Ne7 12.Rb1 a6 13.Re1 d5 14.Qd2 Qd8 15.Nd4 0-0 16.Qg5° Schilling,R-Bindrich,O Neukieritzsch 1968)

442

12.Qd2 (12.Qf3 d5 13.Rfe1 Bd7 14.Rab1° Ranieri,F-Hera,I Porto San Giorgio 2009; 12.Re1 b6 (12...d5 13.Nd4 Nxd4 14.cxd4 Bd7 15.Qd2 Bc6 16.f3° Gonzalez Rodriguez,A-Obregon,C Antofagasta 2017) 13.Bb5 Bb7 14.Bd6 Qc8 15.Qd2° Esaabadi Javad,T-Golafroozi,S Teheran 2005) 12...b6 13.Rfe1 Ng4 14.f4° Simic,D-Gostisa,L Vrhnika 1995. b) 10.Qd3 d5

11.Ba3 (11.Be3 Qc7 12.Nc5 Nxc5 (12...Nd6!µ) 13.Bxc5 Bd7 14.f4° Gutierrez,S-Ferreira,O Asuncion 2008) 11...Ne5 12.Qh3 Bd7 13.Qh4 Ng6 14.Qg4 Rc8 15.Bd3 h5 16.Qf3 Nh4 17.Qh3 e5 18.Qe3 Qxe3 0–1 Muslija,I-Bogut,Z Pula 1997. 10...Nf6 443

Possible is 10...Nxc3 11.Qd2 (11.Qd3 Nb5 12.c4 Nbd4 13.Bxc6 Nxc6 14.Qg3° Daianu,CVedmediuc,S Arad 2012) 11...Nb5 12.Bb2 0-0 13.Bxc6 Qxc6 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.Qg5+ Kh8 16.Qf6+ Kg8 17.Qg5+ Kh8 18.Qf6+ Kg8 19.Qg5+ ½–½ Sluka,R-Antoniewski,R Czech Republic 2005. 11.Ba3 Ne5 12.Re1 Nc4 13.Bc5 Qc7 14.Qe2 d6 15.Qxc4 dxc5

16.Qxc5 Or 16.Rad1 Rb8 17.Nxc5 0-0 18.Qd4 b6 19.Ne4 Nxe4 20.Bxe4 Bb7³ Sanguineti,R-Agdamus,J Villa Gesell 1971. 444

16...Qxc5 17.Nxc5 Rb8 18.Rab1 b6

Armanda,I-Cheparinov,I Bol 2013. Black definitely has the better ending. R Variation G12 - Fates - 8...0-0 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Be2 Bb4 8.0-0 0-0

9.Qd3 Some other white responses are: 445

a) 9.Be3 Qc7 a1) 10.Nb5 Qb8 11.c3 (11.a3 Be7 12.Nc3 d6 (12...b5 13.Bxb5 Nxe4 14.Bxc6 Nxc3 15.Qd3 Ne2+ 16.Qxe2 dxc6= Averbakh,Y-Gufeld,E Leningrad 1963) 13.f4 b6 14.Qe1∞ Rother,C-Wachinger,G Kirchseeon 1989) 11...Be7 12.Qc2

12...d5 (12...d6 13.f4 a6 14.N5d4 Bd7 15.Bd3 Qc7= Rodrigo Yanguas,M-Mekhitarian,K Parla 2008) 13.exd5 Nxd5∞ Fernandez Losada,D-Garrido Dominguez,J Madrid 2008. a2) 10.f3 d5 11.exd5 Nxd5 (11...Bxc3? 12.d6 Qd8 13.bxc3 Nd5 14.Bf2 Nxc3 15.Qd2± Altgelt,AEfimov,I Budapest 1990) 12.Nxd5 exd5 13.Bf2 Re8=. a3) 10.Bc5 Bxc5 11.Nxc5

446

The exchange of the dark-squared bishops is in Black’s favour, but on the other hand the white pawn chain has not been damaged. Examples are below: a31) 11...Rd8 12.Nd3 Nd4 13.e5 Ne8 14.f4 Nf5 15.Qd2 d6 16.Kh1 Bd7= Sadatnajafi,MSherbakov,R Dubai 2002. a32) 11...Re8 12.Nb5 Qb6

13.Na4 (13.Qd6!±) 13...Qa5 14.c3∞ Volokitin,A-Kveinys,A Swidnica 1998. a33) 11...a6 12.Nb3 (12.f4? Qb6µ) 12...b5 13.a3 Rd8 14.f4 d5³. b) 9.Bf3 Ne5 10.Bg5 Be7 11.Be3 Nxf3+ 12.gxf3 (12.Qxf3 Qc7 13.Nd4 d6∞) 12...Qc7 13.f4 d6 14.Kh1 a6 15.a4 b6∞ Snetkov,I-Samdanov,S Ulan Ude 2013. 9...Bxc3

447

Here again Black has a choice: a) 9...a6, is a bit out of the question here: 10.Bg5 (10.Be3 Qc7 11.f4 (11.Bc5 Rd8 12.Qe3 Bxc5 13.Nxc5 d5 14.exd5 Nxd5 15.Nxd5 Rxd5 ½-½ Balkiewicz,E-Stec,E Polanica Zdroj 1999) 11...Be7 12.e5 Nb4 13.Qd2 Nfd5 14.Nxd5 Nxd5 15.Bd4± Benedetti,F-Sibilio,M Rome 1986)

10...Be7 (10...Ne5 11.Qg3± Mazzoleni,J-Pelikan,J Buenos Aires 1972) 11.Rad1 Qc7 12.f4 d5 13.e5 Nd7 14.Bxe7 Nxe7 15.Qh3² Wagman,S-Peric,S Balatonbereny 1988. b) 9...Ne5 10.Qg3 Bxc3 11.bxc3 d6 12.Nd2 (12.Bd3! Ng6 13.Bg5²) 12...Qc6 13.Qe3 b6 14.Ba3 Bb7³ Malakhov,I-Eynullayev,A Moscow 2020. c) 9...Qc7 10.f4 (10.Bg5 Bxc3 11.bxc3 Qe5 12.Bxf6 Qxf6∞) 10...Bxc3 11.bxc3 d5 12.e5 Ne4 448

13.Bf3 b6 14.Ba3 Re8 15.Bxe4 dxe4 16.Qxe4 Bb7°

Rocha,S-Damaso,R Lisbon 2013. 10.bxc3 d5 11.exd5 exd5 11...Nxd5, is interesting:

12.c4 Nde7 13.c5 Qb4 (13...Qd8 14.Qc3 e5 15.Bc4 Kh8 16.Bg5 f6 17.Rad1 Qe8 18.Bc1 Nf5 19.f4 Be6∞ Kayumov,S-Straub,P Dubai 2001) 14.c4 Rd8 15.Qc2 Qa4 16.f4∞ Htun Htun Than-Ye Jiangchuan Yangon 1999.

449

12.Bf4 Re8

Black already stands well, White has to be careful. 13.Rab1 Alternatives are 13.Bf3 Ne5 14.Bxe5 Rxe5 15.Qd4 Qxd4 16.Nxd4 Bg4 17.Bxg4 Nxg4 18.Rfb1 Re7 19.Rb5 Nf6 20.Rab1 Rae8 21.f3 b6 22.Kf2 Rc8 23.R1b3 Rec7 24.a4 Rxc3 25.R5b4 R3c4 26.Rb2µ ½½ Del Rio Angelis,S-Herraiz Hidalgo,H Leon 2006 and 13.Nd4 Ne5 14.Qb5 Qxb5 15.Nxb5 Ng6 16.Be3 Re7 17.Rfe1 Bd7= Hase,J-Rubinetti,J Buenos Aires 1969. 13...Ne4 Also playable is 13...Ne5

450

14.Qd4 Nc6 (14...Qxd4 15.Nxd4 b6 16.Nb5 Ng6 17.Be3 Ba6 18.Rfe1 Re7= Fischer,R-Benko,P Stockholm 1962) 15.Qxb6 axb6 16.Bd3 Ne4 17.Rfe1 Be6 18.Nc1 Nxc3 19.Rxb6= Yurtaev,LKarasev,V Leningrad 1989. 14.Nd2 A suggested novelty to 14.c4?! Nb4 15.Qf3 Qf6³ Zelcic,R-Kurajica,B Vinkovci 1995. 14...Qa5

With an unclear position, where Black should feel fine and ready! 451

Conclusion The variation is not too difficult for Black thus White should avoid it in general. The games from this past year confirm this evaluation.

452

Variation H - Teiresias B33 The starting point of the next diagram ‘identifies’ the turning point of the Teiresias variation which comes after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 and it is indicated when Black doesn’t go for 7...d6:

But before we go on, let’s see why I named the variation after one of the most ‘respected’ figures of the ancient Greek Mythology: Nomenclature Teiresias under the Microscope Teiresias was a famous prophet from the town of Thebes. He accidentally came across Athena while she was bathing so she blinded him. After his mother pleaded, Athena gave Teiresias the gift of prophecy to compensate for his blindness. Among his prophecies were a warning to Pentheus to recognize and honor Dionysus when he first appeared in Thebes and a prediction of the greatness of Hercules. He revealed to Oedipus that he had unknowingly murdered his own father and finally he advised Odysseus on how to placate Poseidon. Black could easily get ‘blinded’ by the ‘beauty’ of side-lines. But he should not deviate from the main lines as the prophecy will prove annoying for him. But let us examine each of these the ‘sub-lines’.

Variation H1 - Teiresias - 7...? 453

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3

In my opinion the proper handling of the variation lays in the move 7...d6 Nearly all roads lead to Rome (the basic position with ...d6, ...a6 and ...Be7), but Black should be careful not to mishandle the position. Thus, as 7...d5?! 8.exd5 (8.Be3 Qd8 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxd5 exd5 11.Qh5 Be6 12.Nd4 Nxd4 13.Bxd4± Nemeth,G-Haselbach,D Hungary 2018) 8...exd5 (8...Nxd5 9.Nxd5 exd5 10.0-0

454

10...Be7 (10...Be6 11.Bf4 Be7 12.Qh5 Qb4 13.Qf3 0-0 14.Qg3² Ruiz Castillo,J-Leon Magallanes,I Cali 2012) 11.Qh5 Be6 12.Bd2 g6 13.Qh6² Lopez Martinez,J-Khamrakulov,I Ayamonte 2007) 9.0-0 Be7 10.Bg5 (10.Be3 Qd8 11.h3 0-0 12.a3 Be6 13.Re1 a6 14.Nd4 Nxd4 15.Bxd4² Tsydypov,ZBadelka,O St Petersburg 2016) 10...Be6 11.a4², gives White a pleasant positional advantage. Black’s options are 7...a6 and 7...Bb4.

Variation H2 - Teiresias - 7...a6 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 a6

In case of the premature 8.f4, Black can react with 8...d5! 9.e5 (9.exd5?!, is weak since White has already moved his f-pawn) 9...Nd7, and now: a) 10.Qf3?! Nc5 11.Bd2 Nxd3+ 12.cxd3 Nb4 13.Ke2 Nxa2 14.Nxa2 Qxb3 15.Nc3 Bd7 16.f5 Rc8 0–1 Vehi Bach,V-Bellon Lopez,J Platja d’Aro 1994. b) 10.Qg4?! a5! (10...Nc5 11.Nxc5 Qxc5 12.a3 g6 13.Nd1 Nd4 14.Ne3 Bd7 15.0-0 Bb5∞ Robson,R-Kamsky,G Saint Louis 2017) 11.a4

455

11...Qb4! 12.0-0 Ncxe5 13.Qe2 Nxd3 14.Qxd3 Nc5 15.Qg3 Nxb3 16.cxb3 Bc5+ 17.Kh1 0-0–+ Wahls,M-Polgar,J Munich 1991. c) 10.a3 Be7 11.Qh5 g6 12.Qh6 Bf8 13.Qh3 Bg7 (13...Nc5!? 14.Nxc5 Bxc5∞) 14.Be3 Qc7 15.Ne2 b6 16.0-0 Bb7 17.Kh1 Ne7∞ Jovcic,M-Ilic,Z Tivat 1995. Now White has either 8.Be3 or 8.0-0. R Variation H21 - Teiresias - 8.Be3 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 a6 8.Be3

456

8...Qc7 9.Na4

White immediately takes full control of the b6 square as Black cannot play ...Nd7, and free his cpawn. Other moves simply transpose to other variations. 9...b5 Black can also go for: a) 9...d5 10.Nb6 Rb8 11.exd5 exd5 12.Nxc8 Rxc8 13.0-0 (13.Nd4 Bc5 14.Nf5 Bxe3 15.Nxe3 0-0= Bojkovic,N-Cramling,P Belgrade 1996) 13...Bd6 14.g3 0-0 15.Re1² Klovans,J-Kirilov,V Riga 1970. b) 9...Ne5 10.Nb6 Rb8 11.h3

457

11...Bb4+ (11...Qc6 12.0-0 d6 13.f4 Ned7 14.Nxc8 Rxc8 15.Nd4± Petrov,A-Skiba,A Volgodonsk 2007) 12.c3 Nxd3+ 13.Qxd3 Be7 14.0-0 0-0 15.Rfd1 Rd8 16.a4 d6 17.c4² Rade,M-Kurajica,B Sibenik 2016. c) 9...Be7 10.Nb6 (10.f4 b5 11.Nb6 Rb8 12.Nxc8 Qxc8 13.a3 d6 14.Qf3² Firaru,R-Sandu,M Mamaia 2019) 10...Rb8

11.f4! (11.Qe2 0-0 12.f4 d5 13.e5 Nd7 14.Nxd7 Bxd7 15.0-0 f6 16.Qh5² ½-½ Matkovic,T-Horvath,J Solin 1994; 11.0-0 0-0 12.c4 Ne5 13.f3 d6 14.Be2 Nfd7 15.Nxc8 Rbxc8 16.Rc1 Qb8 17.Nd4² Nielsen,A-Kvon,A Helsingor 2017) 11...d6 12.Qf3 0-0 13.c3 Nd7 14.Qf2 Bd8 15.Nxc8 Rxc8 16.00± Santo Roman,M-Vragoteris,A Athens 1992.

458

10.Nb6 Rb8 11.Nxc8

11...Rxc8 Or 11...Qxc8 12.0-0 (12.a4 d5 13.axb5 axb5 14.exd5 Nxd5 15.0-0 Bd6 16.Nd4 Nxe3 17.fxe3 Nxd4 18.exd4 0-0 19.Ra7² Petrov,A-Ljavdansky,V St Petersburg 1999) 12...Be7 13.Nd4² Dineley,RWebster,A Birmingham 2001. 12.a4

Alternatives are: 459

a) 12.0-0 d5 (12...Qe5?! 13.f4! Qxb2 14.a4 e5 15.axb5 axb5 16.Rb1 Qa3 17.Bxb5 exf4 18.Bxf4 Qa7+ 19.Kh1 Be7 20.e5 Ne4 21.Qf3 Nc5 22.Bxc6 Rxc6 23.Ra1 Ra6 24.Be3 1–0 Gara,TMetaxasz,V Balatonlelle 2004; 12...d6?! 13.a4 Rb8 14.axb5 axb5 15.Qe2 b4 16.Bb5 Nd7 17.Ra6 Nd8 18.Ra7 Nb7 19.Na5 Qxa5 20.Rxa5 Nxa5 21.Ra1 Nb7 22.Ra7 1–0 Compton,A-Musson,A Birmingham 2000) 13.exd5 Nxd5

14.a4! (14.Bd2?! Bd6 15.Kh1 Ne5³ Traore,B-Arab,A Bamako 2018) 14...bxa4! (14...Nxe3 15.fxe3 Bd6 16.axb5 Bxh2+ 17.Kh1± Lakat,G-Metaxasz,V Budapest 2008) 15.Rxa4 Ncb4 16.Nd4 Bd6 17.h3 Nxd3 18.Qxd3 0-0 19.c3². b) 12.a3?! Ne5 (12...Qe5?! 13.f4 Qb8 14.0-0± Nagy,L-Klinkan,E Hartberg 2004) 13.Qe2 d5³. 12...Be7

460

Interesting is 12...bxa4 13.Rxa4 Nb4 14.0-0 Be7 15.Nd4 (15.f3 0-0 16.c3 Nxd3 17.Qxd3 Qb7 18.c4 Rb8 19.Nc5 (19.Nd4! Qxb2 20.e5 Ne8 21.Rxa6²) 19...Qxb2 20.Nxd7? Rfd8 21.Nxf6+ gxf6 22.Bc1 Rxd3 23.Bxb2 Rxb2 24.Rxa6 Rdd2 0–1 Traskovetskaja,D-Kozlovsky,A Tomsk 2012) 15...0-0 16.c3 Nxd3 17.Qxd3². 13.axb5 axb5

14.0-0 14.Nd4 Nxd4 15.Bxd4 Bc5! 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.0-0 b4 18.Kh1 Ke7= Vukovic,Z-Djukic,Z Herceg N. 461

2001, looks OK. 14...0-0 15.Nd4 15.f4 Ra8 16.Rxa8 Rxa8 17.c3². 15...Nxd4 15...b4 16.Nxc6 Qxc6 17.Ra6 Qc7². 16.Bxd4 Rb8 17.Qe2 e5 18.Ra7 Qd6 19.Be3 Qc6 20.Bg5²

Kapnisis,S-Skembris,S Thessaloniki 2006. R Variation H22 - Teiresias - 8.0-0 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 a6 8.0-0

462

8...Be7 9.a4

All other continuations will transpose to other sub-variations with Bd3 and 0-0. 9...Qc7 10.Be3 An alternative is 10.a5, where Black should transpose to the 9.a4 line (Hermes variation) and avoid 10...Bb4?! (10...Nb4?! 11.Be3 d5 12.Bb6 Qb8 13.Nc5 0-0 14.Re1 Bd6 15.h3 Bc7 16.Ra4± Rohde,M-Kuijf,M Beersheba 1987) 11.Bd2! (11.Qe2 d6 12.Bd2 0-0 13.f4 Bd7 14.Na4 Bxd2 15.Qxd2 Ne7 16.Nb6 Rad8 17.Rae1² Klovans,J-Rosen,W Bad Liebenzell 1996) 11...0-0 (11...Bxa5?! 463

12.Nxa5 Nxa5 13.Nd5 exd5 14.Bxa5 b6 15.Bc3± Pap,M-Chirila,I Bucharest 2006; 11...d6

12.Qe1 (12.Qf3 0-0 13.Rfd1 Bd7 14.Ne2 Bxd2 15.Rxd2 b5 16.axb6 Qxb6 17.Nc3 Ne5= Green,WSmithers,S ICCF 2001; 12.Ne2 d5 13.exd5 exd5 14.Ng3 Bxd2 15.Qxd2 0-0 16.Rfe1 Be6 17.Qg5 Rfe8 18.Nh5 Nxh5 19.Qxh5 g6 20.Qh6 Rac8 21.f4 Ne7 (½–½ Volesky,K-Klasmeier,J Nordrheinwestfalen 2012) 22.c3²) 12...0-0 13.Nb5²) 12.Na4 Bxa5 (12...Bxd2 13.Qxd2 d5 14.Nb6 Rb8 15.exd5 exd5 16.h3² Mihok,O-Jia,H Kecskemet 2013) 13.Nxa5 Nxa5

14.e5 (14.Bb4!? d6 15.e5 dxe5 16.Bd6 Qd8 17.Bxf8±) 14...Nd5 15.Bxa5 (15.c4 Nxc4 16.Rc1 b5 17.b3 (17.Qh5? g6 18.Qe2 Qxe5 19.Bxc4 Qxe2 20.Bxe2 bxa4µ Bochnicka,V-Alvarez A.,N Corum 2019) 17...bxa4 18.bxc4 Ne7 19.Bb4² Re8 20.Bxe7?! Rxe7 21.Bxh7+ Kxh7 22.Qh5+ Kg8 23.Rc3 Qc5 24.Rh3 f5 25.Qh8+ Kf7 26.Qh5+ Kg8 27.Re1 Bb7 28.Qh8+ Kf7 29.Qh5+ Kg8 30.Qh7+ Kf7 464

31.Qh5+ ½-½ Pavlidis,A-Papin,V Rijeka 2010) 15...Qxa5 16.Be4 Re8 17.Bxd5 Qxd5 18.Qxd5 exd5 19.Nb6 Rb8 20.Rfe1². 10...0-0 Interesting is 10...d5!? 11.exd5 exd5 12.Be2 Be6 13.a5 0-0 14.Bb6 Qd7 15.Re1² Polugaevsky,LAverkin,O Moscow 1969.

11.f4 Or 11.a5 d5?! (11...d6, transposes) 12.Bb6 Qb8 (12...Qf4 13.exd5 exd5 14.Ra4 (14.Ne2 Qh4 15.Bc7 Nb4 16.Nbd4 Nxd3 17.Qxd3 Qe4 18.Nf4 Bc5 19.Nb3² Petrova,O-Kharmunova,N Smolensk 2008) 14...Nb4 15.Re1 Bd6 16.g3 Qg4 17.Be2 Qg6 18.Bc5± Scholz,C-Chuchelov,V Berlin 1995) 13.exd5 exd5 14.Re1 Bb4 15.Nd4² Del Pilar,R-Sevillano,E Agoura Hills 2007. 11...d6

465

We have arrived at positions examined in the Hermes variation.

Variation H3 - Teiresias - 7...Bb4 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 Bb4

This early pin is seldom played in practice except by IM Vladimir Karasev who is a specialist in this line. Black hopes to ruin White’s pawn structure (after ...Bxc3) while benefiting in the long run from the blocked character of the position. But the surrender of the dark-squared bishop weakens the defense of his kingside.

466

8.0-0 Main alternatives for White are: a) 8.Be3 (this variation mostly arises via the 8.0-0 0-0 9.Be3, move order) 8...Qc7 9.0-0 (9.f4, transposes to the Dionysus variation) a1) 9...a6?!

10.Na4! b5 11.Nb6 Rb8 12.Nxc8 Qxc8 (12...Rxc8 13.a4 Rb8 14.Nc5 Bxc5 15.Bxc5 Ne5 16.Bd4 Nxd3 ½–½ Hagen,A-Bjorgvik,J Gausdal 2006] 17.cxd3±) 13.a4 (13.f4 d5 14.e5 Nd7 15.c3± Serrano Fuentes,M-De Nacimiento Montano,A Spain 2008) 13...Be7 14.axb5 axb5 15.Qe2 0-0 16.Nd4± Loureiro,A-Agdamus,J Vitoria 2002. a2) 9...0-0?! 10.Nb5! Qb8

467

a21) 11.f4 a6 (11...d5 12.e5 Ne4 13.a3 Be7 14.Bxe4 dxe4 15.Bc5± Macovei,A-Minko,V Kavala 2017; 11...Be7 12.e5 Nd5 13.Bc5 Bxc5+ 14.Nxc5± Eggink,R-Kanarek,M Lazy 2012) 12.N5d4 Be7 (12...Nxd4?! 13.Bxd4 Be7 14.e5 Ne8 15.Qh5 g6 16.Qh6 f5 17.exf6 Bxf6 18.f5!+– Gheorghiu,F-Forintos,G Monte Carlo 1968)

13.e5! (13.Qe2?! d6 14.Rae1 Nxd4 15.Nxd4 e5 16.fxe5 dxe5 17.Nf5 Bxf5 18.Rxf5 Qc7= Kotronias,V-Grivas,E Komotini 1992; 13.Qf3 d6 14.Rae1 e5 15.Nxc6 bxc6 16.fxe5 dxe5 17.Bc1 Be6 18.Nd2 ½–½ Sadhwani,R-Muthaiah,A Rajahmundry 2016) 13...Nd5 14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.Bd4 f5 16.c4 Nb4 17.Be2± Arykin,A-Karasev,V St Petersburg 2002. a22) 11.c3 Be7

468

12.f4 (12.N5d4 d5 13.exd5 Nxd5 14.Re1 Nxe3 15.Rxe3= Kaaber Hansen,J-Hoj,P Copenhagen 2004) 12...e5 (12...d6 13.g4 e5 14.f5 a6 15.g5² Mueller,M-Schafranietz,S Germany 2001) 13.f5 a6 14.Na3 b5∞ Jeziorny,J-Dabrowski,T Wloclawek 2013. a23) 11.a3 Be7 12.f4 a6 (12...e5 13.c4 exf4 14.Bxf4 Ne5

15.c5 (15.Bxe5!? Qxe5 16.Rf5 Qb8 17.e5±) 15...b6 16.Bxe5 Qxe5 17.Rf5 Qb8 18.e5± Asrian,KKarasev,V St Petersburg 1997) 13.Nc3 (13.N5d4 d6 14.Qe2 Qc7 15.h3 b5∞ Nguyen,T-Luong,N Hue 2005) 13...d6 14.Qf3 Qc7 15.Rae1² Littlewood,J-Karasev,V Rowy 2000. a3) 9...Bxc3! (probably the only move!) 10.bxc3

469

a31) 10...0-0 11.f4 d6 (11...d5 12.e5 Ne4 13.Bxe4 dxe4 14.Nc5 Ne7 15.Nxe4 Nd5 16.Bd4± Silva,J-Rengifo Astudillo,C Bogota 2018) 12.Nd4 e5! 13.Nb5 (13.Nxc6 Qxc6 14.f5 Nxe4 15.f6 Nxf6 16.Rxf6 gxf6 17.Qh5 e4 18.Bd4 Re8 19.Bb5 Re5 0–1 Lukas,M-Tan,M Vlissingen 2010; 13.Nf5?! Bxf5 14.exf5 e4 15.Be2 Ne7 16.g4 Ned5 17.Bd4 Nxc3–+ Moskovets,K-Karasev,V St Petersburg 2000) 13...Qe7 14.c4 Ng4 15.Bd2 exf4= Hohelj,S-Kishnev,S Muenster 1993. a32) 10...d6 11.Bg5 Nd7 12.Nd4 Nxd4 13.cxd4 e5 14.Qh5 0-0 15.f4 f6 16.Bh4² Efstathiou,DGrivas,E Kavala 1991. a33) 10...d5

11.exd5 (11.Bc5 b6 12.Ba3 Bb7 13.Nd4 Nxd4 14.cxd4 dxe4 15.Bb5+ Bc6µ Bellaiche,A470

Gorovets,A Khalkidiki 2003) 11...Nxd5 12.Bc5 b6 13.Ba3 Bb7 14.c4 Nf4 15.Be4 Rd8

16.Qe1 (16.Qg4 f5 (16...Ng6 17.Rfe1∞ Panchanathan,M-Zhao Jun Richardson 2007) 17.Bxf5 exf5 18.Rfe1+ Kf7 19.Qxf5+ Kg8µ Bilic,V-Kurajica,B Neum 2011) 16...Nd4! 17.Nxd4 Rxd4 18.Bxb7 Qxb7 19.f3 Rxc4 20.Rd1

20...b5! (20...Ng6? 21.Rf2± Emiroglu,C-Terentjev,V Kemer 2009; 20...f6?!∞ Bernard,J-Payen,A Le Touquet 2001) 21.c3 Nd5µ. b) 8.Bd2 b1) 8...a6 9.Qe2 Qc7 10.f4 (10.g4 d5 (10...0-0 11.g5 Ne8 12.f4 Be7 13.0-0-0 Nb4 14.Kb1 Nxd3 15.cxd3± Mrdja,M-Straub,P Genova 2001) 11.g5 dxe4 12.gxf6 exd3 13.fxg7 Rg8 14.Qxd3²) 10...d6 471

11.a3 Bxc3 12.Bxc3 e5 13.f5 b6 14.0-0-0 Bb7

15.g4 h6 16.h4² Song,R-Nyzhnyk,I Batumi 2006. b2) 8...Ne5?! 9.0-0 Nxd3 10.cxd3 d5 11.exd5 0-0 12.Be3 Qd8 13.dxe6 Bxe6± Nowak,L-Zavarsky,J Ruzomberok 2019. b3) 8...0-0 b31) 9.a3

b311) 9...Be7 10.0-0 (10.Be3 Qc7 11.f4 a6 12.e5 Ne8 13.Qh5± Gibicar,D-Kabisch,T Ditzingen 2015) 10...d6 (10...d5 11.exd5 (11.Be3 Qd8 12.Re1 d4 13.e5 dxe3 14.exf6 exf2+ 15.Kxf2 Bxf6µ Lange,M-Bilecen,S Willingen 2018) 11...exd5 12.Bf4 Be6 13.Re1²; 10...Qc7 11.f4 d6 12.Qf3 a6 472

13.Rae1 b5 14.e5 Nd7 15.Qh3 g6 16.exd6 Bxd6 17.Ne4 Re8 18.f5 gxf5 19.Nxd6 Qxd6 20.Bxf5 Nf8 21.Bxh7+ Nxh7 22.Rxf7 Nf8 23.Ref1 Ne7 24.Rxf8+ 1–0 Sawlin,L-Vuckovic,Z Willingen 2017; 10...a6 11.Be3 Qc7 12.f4 d6 13.Qf3 b5, transposes to Athena or Zeus v.) 11.Kh1 a6 12.f4 e5 13.f5²

13...Rd8? 14.Nd5! Nxd5 15.exd5 Nd4 16.Ba5+– Maltsevskaya,A-Laylo,D Internet 2020. b312) 9...Bxc3 10.Bxc3 e5 11.0-0 (11.Bd2 d5 12.exd5 Nxd5 13.0-0 Be6= Kislov,S-Koziak,V Voronezh 1998) 11...d6 (11...Rd8 12.Qf3 d5 13.exd5 Rxd5 14.Rfe1 Be6 15.Nd2² Gomez G.,CCuartas,J Montcada 2016)

12.Bd2 (12.Qe2 Bg4 13.Qe1 Be6 14.Na5 Ne7 15.Qe2 Ng6∞ Bjerring,K-Gaponenko,L Istanbul 473

2002; 12.Kh1 Be6 13.f4 Rfe8 14.Nd2 Bg4 15.Qc1∞ Gabrielian,A-Lukovnikov,A Voronezh 2003; 12.Nd2 Be6 13.Re1 Rad8 14.Nc4 Qc7 15.Qe2∞ Bracker,F-Cuartas,J Barcelona 2012) 12...Bg4 13.Qe1 Be6 14.Be3 Qc7

15.h3 (15.c4 Nh5 16.Rc1 g6 17.Qd1 b6 18.Be2 Ng7 19.Qd3² Juhnke,J-Rosen,W Radebeul 2019) 15...Bxb3 16.cxb3 d5 17.exd5 Nxd5 18.Bg5 Nf4= Chuprikov,D-Karasev,V Simferopol 1989. b32) 9.f4 Bxc3 (9...e5!?, looks fine for Black) 10.Bxc3 Qe3+ 11.Qe2 Qxe2+ (11...Qxf4 12.Rf1°) 12.Kxe2 e5 13.fxe5 Ng4 14.Nd4² Brunner,L-Boensch,U Dortmund 1990. b33) 9.0-0 b331) 9...d5 10.exd5 exd5 (10...Bxc3?! 11.dxc6 Bxd2 12.cxb7 Bxb7 13.Qxd2± Suetin,AReshko,A Moscow 1966)

474

11.a3! (11.Be3 Qd8 12.Ne2 (12.Nb5 a6 13.N5d4 Qc7 14.h3 Ne5∞ Erdogdu,M-Kurajica,B Petrovac 2015) 12...Bg4 13.c3 Bd6 14.h3 Bh5= Ribshtein,N-Botvinnik,I Tel Aviv 1997; 11.Na4 Qc7 12.Bxb4 Nxb4 13.Qd2= Cadelago,E-Rolles,M Argentina 2001) 11...Be7 (11...Bd6 12.h3 Be6 13.Bg5 Be5 14.Na4 Qd8 15.f4 Bc7 16.Nac5² Alvarez Dominguez,H-Arauco C.,A Guayaquil 2019) 12.Bf4

12...Be6 (12...Bg4² 13.Qd2 (13.Nxd5!) 13...Qd8 14.Rfe1² Hermanowicz,D-Dubinski,M Wroclaw 2003) 13.Na4 Qd8 14.Nac5² Stean,M-Raaste,E Nice 1974; b332) 9...Ne5?! 10.Qe2 (10.Qe1 Nxd3 11.cxd3 Be7 12.Qe3= Netzer,J-Berger,H Salzburg 2004; 10.Be2 Nc6 11.Be3 Qc7∞ Charbonneau,P-Khamrakulov,I Yerevan 1999) 10...a6 11.Kh1 Qc7

475

12.f4 Nxd3 13.cxd3 Be7 14.Rac1± Paganelli,R-Jashari,E Geneve 1995; b333) 9...a6

10.h3 (10.Kh1 Qc7 11.f4 d6 12.a3 Bxc3 13.Bxc3 e5 14.Qf3 b5∞ Vuelban,V-Di Benedetto,D Cutro 2018) 10...Be7 11.Be3 Qc7 12.a3 b5 13.f4 d6 14.g4 Bb7∞ Kshatriya,N-Alvarez Albiol,V Barbera del Valles 2019. b334) 9...Bxc3 10.Bxc3 e5

476

11.Kh1 (11.Qf3 d6 12.Nd2 Bg4 13.Qg3 Be6 14.Kh1 Rac8= Grunina,N-Karasev,V St Petersburg 2000) 11...d6 12.Qe2 (12.h3 Qc7 13.f4 a6 14.fxe5 dxe5 15.Nd2 b5∞ Borazjani,A-Kowsarinia,A Shiraz 2017) 12...Re8 (12...a5 13.a4 Be6 14.f4 Bxb3 15.cxb3 Nd4∞ Suarez Uriel,A-Ibarra Jerez,J Linares 2020) 13.f4 Be6 14.f5 Bxb3 15.axb3

15...d5 (15...Rad8 16.Bc4 a6 17.Be1 Nd4 18.Qd3² Polugaevsky,L-Reshko,A Moscow 1966) 16.exd5 Nd4 17.Bxd4 exd4 18.Qd2 Nxd5∞ and the position offers equal chances according to IM S. Kapnisis. 8...Bxc3

477

Again the best. On 8...0-0 9.Be3 (9.Na4 Qc7 10.c4 d5 11.exd5 exd5 12.cxd5 Ne7 13.Nc3 Rd8 14.Nb5 Qe5 15.Qe2 ½-½ Horvath,J-Boensch,U Budapest 1989) 9...Qd8 (9...Qc7 10.Nb5!²) 10.f4 (10.Bg5 Bxc3 11.bxc3 h6 12.Bh4 e5∞ Almeida Junior,A-Liascovich,L Internet 2020) 10...Bxc3 (10...e5?! 11.Qf3?! (11.Nd5!±) 11...Bxc3 12.bxc3 d5 13.exd5 Qxd5 14.fxe5 Qxf3 15.Rxf3 Nxe5 16.Rff1 Re8³ Skrzypinski,M-Barburzynska,M Wroclaw 2010) 11.bxc3 e5 12.c4 (IM Spyridon Kapnisis suggests 12.fxe5! Nxe5 13.Bg5 Qb6+ 14.Nd4±) 12...exf4 13.Bxf4 d6 14.Kh1 Ng4 15.Be2 Nge5 16.Nd4 Qe7 17.Rb1 Nxd4 ½-½ Gruenfeld,Y-Svidler,P Haifa 1995. 9.bxc3 0-0

Black should not defer castling as the alternatives seem suspect: a) 9...e5?! 10.Ba3 Qc7 11.Bb5 Ne7 12.Bd6 Qb6 13.Qd3± Conquest,S-Giffard,N Clichy 1991. b) 9...d6 10.Ba3 (10.Kh1 h6 11.Ba3 Qc7 12.f4 b6 13.Nd4 a6 14.Nxc6 Qxc6 15.e5 Bb7 16.Qe2 Ne4 ½-½ Tringov,G-Kouatly,B Bulgaria 1985; 10.c4 0-0 11.Bg5 (11.Be3 Qc7 12.f4 Re8 (12...b6 13.a4 Bb7 14.Bd2 Rfe8∞ Vega Gutierrez,S-Martin Duque,J Los Cancajos 2020) 13.Qf3 b6∞ Mavrich,LBrunetti,F Villa Carlos Paz 2004) 11...Nd7 12.Qh5 e5 13.Rae1 Nd8 14.Be3 Qc7 15.f4∞ Renet,OKouatly,B Ales 1984) 10...Qc7

478

b1) 11.Re1 0-0 12.Nd4! (12.e5 dxe5 13.Bxf8 Kxf8°) 12...Rd8 13.Nb5 Qa5 14.Bxd6 Ne8 (14...a6 15.e5 axb5 16.exf6 Rxd6 17.Bxh7+ Kxh7 18.Qh5+ Kg8 19.Qg5 Kf8 20.fxg7+ 1–0 Graef,HLeban,S Bayern 1999) 15.e5

15...Nxd6! (15...a6? 16.Bxh7+! Kxh7 17.Qh5+ Kg8 18.Re3 f6 19.Rh3 axb5 20.Qh8+ Kf7 21.Qf8+ Kg6 22.exf6 Nxf6 23.Rg3+ Kf5 24.Qxg7 e5 25.Rf3+ Ke4 26.Qxf6 Bg4 27.Rd3 1–0 Ernst,TKouatly,B Thessaloniki 1984) 16.Nxd6 Nxe5 17.Bxh7+ Kxh7 18.Qh5+ Kg8

479

19.Rxe5 (19.Nxf7? Nf3+! 20.Qxf3 Rf8µ) 19...Qc7 20.Ne4 f6! 21.Rc5² (21.Nxf6+ gxf6 22.Re3 Qh7∞). b2) 11.e5?! Nxe5? (11...dxe5! 12.Qd2 e4 13.Bb5 Bd7∞) 12.Bb5+ (12.Bxd6?

12...Qxc3? (12...Qxd6 13.Bb5+ Ke7) 13.Bb5+ (13.Nd4!+–) 13...Bd7 14.Qe2± Greenberg,HSchulz,W Winnipeg 1999) 12...Ke7 13.Re1 Nc6 14.c4²/∞/=. b3) 11.Bc4! Nxe4 12.Re1±. b4) 11.f4 e5 12.f5 b6 13.Bb5 Ke7 14.Qe2 a6 15.Bd3² Radulov,I-Andonov,B Warsaw 1987. c) 9...a6?! 10.Be3 (10.Ba3±) 10...Qc7 11.Rb1² Kokosi,D-Balazs,S Miercurea Ciuc 2004.

480

d) 9...d5?! 10.exd5 Nxd5

11.Qg4 (11.Bb2 0-0 12.Qh5 Nf6 13.Qg5 h6 14.Qg3² Gworys,G-Hasterok,M Szczyrk 2017) 11...Bd7 (11...g6 12.Ba3 h5 13.Qg3 Nde7 14.Qg5 Qc7 15.Nd4 Bd7 16.Nb5 Qd8 17.Nd6+ Kf8 18.Qf6 Rh7 19.Nxf7 1–0 Li Shilong-Booth,J Dos Hermanas 2004) 12.Qxg7 (12.c4 Nde7 13.Qxg7 0-0-0 14.Qf6± Ly,M-Loh,Z Cammeray 2015) 12...0-0-0 13.Bxh7 Nxc3 14.Qxc3 Rxh7± Korensky,S-Lukovnikov,A Tambov 2009. 10.Bg5

Nothing serious for White was achieved with 10.Nd4 Nxd4 11.Be3 Ne2+ 12.Qxe2 Qc7 13.f4 d6

481

14.Qe1 Bd7 15.Qh4 Qxc3 16.e5 Ne4 17.Rab1 Bc6 18.exd6 f5 19.Rb3 Qa5 20.Bxe4 Bxe4 21.Bd4 Qd2 ½-½ Prie,E-Mullon,J Creon 2002. 10...Ne8

In this critical position of the 7...Bb4 system two main lines have emerged: 11.e5 and 11.Qh5. Alternatives do not seem to help much, although they must not be underestimated: a) 11.c4 a1) 11...f6 12.Bf4 Qd8 13.c5 b6 14.Rb1 bxc5 15.Nxc5 Qe7

482

16.Na6 (16.Be3!?) 16...d6 17.Qd2 Ne5 18.Qa5² Nataf,I-Bricard,E France 2003. a2) 11...e5 12.Nc1 d6 13.Ne2 Bg4 14.Be3 Bxe2 15.Qxe2 Qa5 16.Rab1 b6 17.a4 Nc7 18.Kh1 Ne6∞ Edouard,R-Flear,C France 2007. a3) 11...d6 12.c5 (12.Be3 Qc7

13.f4 (13.c5 e5 14.f4 b6 15.cxd6 Nxd6 16.f5 f6= Kobese,W-Ziska,H Hastings 2005) 13...b6 14.Rf3 f5 15.exf5 exf5 16.Nd4 Nxd4 17.Bxd4 Nf6 18.Rg3 Be6 19.Bxf5 Bxf5 20.Bxf6 Bg6 21.Bb2 Qc5+ 22.Bd4 Qxc4= Vitiugov,N-Karasev,V St Petersburg 2001)

483

12...Qc7! (12...dxc5 13.Be3 Nd4 14.e5 Nxb3 15.cxb3 Qc7 16.Rc1 b6 17.b4± Murillo,ACharpentier,W Costa Rica 1996) 13.Bb5 e5 14.Qd3 dxc5 15.Nxc5 Nd4 16.Nb3 Ne6 17.Be3 Nd6= Klovans,J-Karasev,V Leningrad 1989. b) 11.Nd4 f6 12.Be3 Qa5 13.Qe1

13...Ne5 (13...Ne7!? 14.f4 Nd6²; 13...b6!? 14.a4 Bb7²) 14.f4 Nxd3 15.cxd3 d6 16.f5 e5 17.Nb3 Qa6 18.c4 Bd7² Saltaev,M-Karasev,V Azov 1991. c) 11.Kh1 Qc7 (11...f6 12.Be3 Qc7 13.f4 b6 14.Nd4 (14.Qe1 Bb7 15.Rd1 Ne7∞ Kugelmann,WRosen,W Thessaloniki 2011) 14...Nxd4 (14...Nd6!

484

15.Qh5 Nxd4 16.cxd4 Bb7=) 15.cxd4 Bb7 16.e5² Hodgson,J-Phillips,O London 2010) 12.f4 f6 13.Bh4 b6 14.Qh5 Bb7

15.Rae1 Rf7 16.Re3 Ne7 17.c4 Rc8∞ Wedberg,T-Boensch,U Stockholm 1989. d) 11.Be3 Qc7 12.f4 b6 13.Qf3 Bb7 14.Rae1 Nd6 15.Qh3 f5 (15...e5!?) 16.e5 Ne4 17.Bc1 Ne7∞ Le Roy,B-Olivier,J Chambery 2002. R Variation H31 - Teiresias - 11.e5 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 Bb4 8.0-0 Bxc3 9.bxc3 0-0 10.Bg5 Ne8 11.e5 485

An interesting and somewhat unpleasant continuation. Black is obliged to sacrifice the exchange. 11...Nxe5 11...f5, is not that pleasant after 12.exf6 Nxf6 (12...gxf6 13.Bh6 Rf7 14.Qg4+ Ng7 15.Qh4±) 13.Qd2 Qc7 14.Nd4². 12.Be7 Nf6 13.Bxf8 13.Bc5 Qc7 14.Bd6 Qxc3 15.Re1 Nxd3 16.cxd3 Qc6 17.Bxf8 Kxf8°. 13...Kxf8

486

Black’s compensation for the exchange lays in one pawn plus the better pawn structure. Although White’s chances seem to be better, Black has excellent compensation for the invested material. 14.Be2 Or 14.c4 d6 15.Qd2 a5 16.a4 Qc7 (16...Bd7 17.Rfe1 Qb4 18.Qxb4 axb4 19.a5±) 17.Rfd1 b6 18.Be2 Ke7 19.f4 Nc6 20.Bf3 Bb7

21.Rab1² Matulovic,M-Kovacevic,P Belgrade 1989. 14...Qc7 15.Qd4 b6 16.f4 Nc6 17.Qd3 Bb7 18.Nd4 Ne7 19.Nb5 Qc5+ 20.Qd4 Qc6 21.Bf3 Qxb5 22.Bxb7 Rb8∞ 487

Totsky,L-Karasev,V Moscow 1992. R Variation H32 - Teiresias - 11.Qh5 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 Bb4 8.0-0 Bxc3 9.bxc3 0-0 10.Bg5 Ne8 11.Qh5

11...f6 Somewhat worse is 11...g6?! 12.Qh4 f6 13.Be3 Qc7 (13...Qd8 14.c4 b6 15.a4 d6 16.f4² Suetin,A488

Faibisovich,V Kaliningrad 1972) 14.f4 d6 15.Nd4² Hagarova,Z-Michenka,J Slovakia 2009 and dangerous is 11...e5 12.Bc4 d6 13.Rad1 Qc7 14.f4 (14.Rd3 Ne7 15.Nd2 Ng6 16.Rd1∞ Gutenev,APiskun,A Moscow 2011) 14...Be6 (14...h6 15.Bxh6 gxh6 16.Qxh6+–; 14...exf4 15.Rxf4 Ne5 16.Bd5²)

15.Bd5 Bxd5 (15...exf4 16.Rxf4 Bxd5 17.exd5 Ne5 18.Rh4±) 16.exd5² Gurevich,I-Yermolinsky,A New York 1993. 11...d6, seems not to be that bad: 12.Rae1 e5 13.Bc4 Qc7 14.f4 Be6∞ Firat,B-Szabo,B Iasi 2011. 12.Be3 Qc7 13.f4

489

13...d6 Alternatives are: a) 13...Ne7?! 14.f5 e5 15.c4 b6 16.Rf3 Rf7 17.c5 Bb7 18.Rh3 h6 19.Qg4 Kf8 20.c4 d6 21.cxd6 Qxd6 22.Rd1² Kindermann,S-Boensch,U Munich 1990. b) 13...g6?! 14.Qh6 Nd8 (14...d6 15.Rf3 Qg7 16.Qh4 Bd7 17.Rg3 Kh8 18.Nd4 Nxd4 19.cxd4 f5 20.Rb1² Semeniuk,A-Karasev,V Orel 1992)

15.Rf3 Nf7 16.Qh4 Kg7 17.g4 d6 18.g5 fxg5 19.fxg5 e5² Orlov,V-Karasev,V St Petersburg 1997. 14.Rf3 White can also try 14.Rad1 f5 15.exf5 exf5 16.Qh3 Be6 (16...Nf6!? 17.Bxf5 Bxf5 18.Qxf5 Rae8 19.Qd3 Qf7°) 17.Rfe1 Qf7∞ Kuzmin,A-Karasev,V Blagoveshchensk 1988, or 14.e5 f5 15.exd6 Nxd6 16.Bc5 Na5 17.Bd4 Nac4 18.Rae1² Gruzmann,B-Rosen,W Niederhausen 2016.

490

14...f5! 15.exf5 Nf6 16.Qh4 16.Qh3 exf5 17.Bxf5 Bxf5 18.Qxf5 Rae8°. 16...exf5 17.Rh3 h6 18.Kh1 Qf7∞

With a complicated position as in the game Sznapik,A-Boensch,U Stara Zagora 1990. Conclusion Although not a main line, this variation deserves more attention than it has till today. 491

It is rare that White would be fully prepared for it and it gives Black interesting, dynamic play. The last years’ games just confirmed this evaluation.

492

Variation I - Hermes B33 The starting point of the next diagram identifies the turning point of the Hermes variation, which comes after the initial moves 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.0-0 a6, when White tries an expansion on the queenside with 9.a4

But before we go on, let’s see why I named the variation after one of the most known Gods of the ancient Greek Mythology: Nomenclature Hermes under the Microscope Hermes was the son of Zeus and Maia and was Zeus’ messenger. He was the fastest of all the Gods, wore winged sandals, a winged hat and carried a magic wand. Hermes was the God of thieves and commerce, as well as the guide for the dead who were travelling to the underworld. He invented the lyre, the pipes, the musical scale, astronomy, weights and measures, boxing, gymnastics, and the care of olive trees. White’s early aggression on the queenside is delivering a ‘message’ to the black camp. Black is obliged to accept it and live with it.

Variation I1 - Hermes - 9...? 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.0-0 a6

493

Black here has tried to live without an early ...a6, by 8...Be7 9.Be3 Qc7 10.f4 b6 11.a4 (11.Nd4 Bb7 12.Ncb5 Qd7 13.Qf3 Nb4∞ Bjornsson,S-Fedorchuk,S Reykjavik 2013; 11.Qf3 Bb7 12.Kh1 0-0 13.a3 Rad8 14.Qh3 Rfe8 15.Rae1² Szabo,G-Shishkin,V Bucharest 2012; 11.a3 Bb7 12.Qe1 Rd8 13.Qg3 g6 14.Rae1² Orozco,L-Jimenez Fraga,P Sabadell 2012) 11...0-0 12.Qf3 Bb7

13.Nb5 (13.g4 Nd7 14.g5 Nb4 15.Nd4∞ Kryvoruchko,Y-Kononenko,D Kharkov 2007; 13.Qh3 Nb4 (13...Rfe8 14.Rae1 Nb4 15.Bd2 Nxd3 16.cxd3 e5∞ Kalashnikov,K-Ogloblin,N Smolensk 2000) 14.a5 e5∞ Manik,M-Mrva,M Slovakia 2004) 13...Qb8 14.c3 e5∞ Kamsky,G-Gelfand,B Kazan 2011. It seems that White should refrain from playing a4, before Black plays ...a6. 9.a4

494

This is another system where White tries to limit Black’s activity on the queenside. On the other hand, the b4-square becomes ‘weak’. While there are various transpositions I have tried to include all the material in the main lines. 9...Qc7 This seems to be the most precise move, asking White to show his hand. An alternative is 9...Na5 10.Be3 Qc7 11.Nxa5 (11.Nd2 g6 (11...Be7) 12.f4 Bg7 13.Kh1 0-0 14.Qf3 b6 15.f5 Bb7 16.Qh3 Rae8∞ Klovans,J-Kononenko,D Pardubice 2010) 11...Qxa5

12.f4 (12.Qd2 Be7 13.Rfb1 Ng4 14.Bd4 0-0 15.b4 Qh5 16.h3 Ne5 17.Be2 Qh4 18.f4 Ng6 19.Be3∞

495

Ptacnikova,L-Epstein,E Elista 1998) 12...Be7 13.Qe1 (13.Qf3!?, is an untested but maybe better alternative) 13...Bd7 (13...Nd7 14.Kh1 Bf6 15.Nd5 Qxe1 16.Nxf6+ gxf6 17.Raxe1 Nc5 18.Bd4 Nxd3 19.cxd3 e5 20.Bf2² Palac,M-Kozul,Z Celje 2003; 13...Ng4 14.Bd2 (14.Bd4 Qb4 15.Ne2 Qxe1 16.Raxe1 0-0 17.h3 Nf6 18.a5²) 14...Qc5+ 15.Kh1² Trapl,J-Bakalar,P Czech Republic 1997) 14.Kh1 h5!?∞ Palac,M-Milov,V Geneve 2004, although I prefer White’s position. Unfortunate would be 9...Qd8?!

10.a5 Be7 11.Be3 0-0 12.f4 e5 13.Bb6± Wittmann,W-Dvoirys,S Oberwart 2004. Now White has two possibilities 10.a5 and 10.Be3. R Variation I11 - Hermes - 10.a5 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.0-0 a6 9.a4 Qc7 10.a5

496

A logical follow-up, dominating b6. 10...Be7 The direct and committal reaction on the queenside with 10...b6?!, or 10...b5?!, is unadvisable (and should be!), but lately has come into fashion: 11.axb6 Qxb6 a) 12.Kh1 Be7 13.f4

a1) 13...Nb4 14.Na5 (14.Nd2 Nxd3 15.cxd3 Qc7 16.Qe2 0-0 17.Nc4 Rb8 18.e5 Ne8 19.Rf3 d5 20.Nd2 f6 21.d4 Rb4 22.Qd3 a5∞ ½-½ Joshi,G-Webster,A Kolkata 2000; 14.Bb5+!? Bd7 15.Bxd7+ Nxd7 16.Qe2²) 14...d5 15.e5 Nd7 16.Rf3 Nxd3 17.cxd3 0-0 18.Be3² Smirin,I497

Maryasin,B Nabereznye Chelny 1988. a2) 13...0-0

a21) 14.Qf3 Nb4 (14...Bb7 15.Bd2 Qc7 16.Qe2 Nb4 17.Nb5 axb5 18.Bxb4 Ra4 19.c3 e5 20.Rae1 Ra2 21.Qc2 ½-½ Kovalev,A-Solomon,K Budapest 2010) 15.Be3 (15.e5 Bb7 16.Be3 Qc7 17.Qh3 dxe5 18.fxe5 Qxe5 19.Ra5 Qc7? (19...Qd6!∞; 19...Nxd3 20.Rxe5 Nxe5 21.Bc5 Ng6 22.Bxe7 Nxe7 23.Nc5 Bc6 24.Rxf6 gxf6 25.N5e4 Bxe4 26.Nxe4 Rfd8 27.Nxf6+ Kg7 28.Nh5+ Kf8∞ Timman,J-Kurajica,B Reggio Emilia 1984. This line transposes from 7.a3 in the Hestia variation) 20.Bxh7+! Nxh7 21.Rh5 Qc6 22.Rf3 f5 23.Rxh7 e5 24.Rg3 Bf6 25.Qh5 1–0 Fedorov,A-Filip,L Eforie Nord 2010)

498

15...Qc7 (15...Qb8 16.e5 dxe5 17.fxe5 Nfd5 18.Nxd5 exd5 ½-½ Blomqvist,E-Berg,E Kungsor 2009) 16.Bd4 Bb7 17.Na5 Rab8 18.Nxb7 Qxb7 19.Qh3² Ponomariov,R-Ivanchuk,V Sochi 2006. a22) 14.Na4 Qc7 15.c3 Rb8 16.Bc2 Rd8 17.Qe2 Rb5 18.Be3 e5∞ Suetin,A-Rosen,W Gladenbach 1999. a23) 14.Qe2 Nb4 (14...a5 15.Be3 Qc7 16.Nb5² Carlsen,M-Van Wely,L Schagen 2006)

15.Be3 (15.Na5 Nxd3 16.cxd3 Bd7 (16...Rb8 17.Be3!± Qxb2? 18.Nc6 Qxc3 19.Nxb8+– Topalov,V-Kocovski,I Star Dojran 1991) 17.Qe3 (17.Be3 Qb4 18.Nc4 Bb5∞) 17...Qb4 18.Bd2∞ Delchev,A-Galego,L Andorra 2006) 15...Qb8 (15...Qc7! 16.Ra4 Rb8∞, looks fine for Black) 16.Na5 Qc7 (16...Bd8 17.Ra3 Bb6 18.Bxb6 Qxb6 19.e5± Mainka,R-Beilfuss,W Liechtenstein 1993; 16...Bd7 17.g4 e5 18.f5 d5 19.Nxd5 Nfxd5 20.exd5 Nxd5 21.Be4 Nxe3 22.Qxe3² Gross,DHellsten,J Germany 2001) 17.Bf2 Bd7∞ Navara,D-Grischuk,A Sochi 2008. a3) 13...h5 14.Qe2 Ng4

499

15.Bd2 (15.Nd1 Bf6 16.Ne3 Nd4 17.Nxd4 Nxe3 18.Bxe3 Bxd4 19.Bxd4 Qxd4 20.c3! (20.f5 a5 21.Bc4± Zorko,J-Pavlic,L Kranj 2001) 20...Qc5 21.f5±) 15...Bb7 16.Na4 (16.Rae1?! Bf6 17.Na4 Qc7 18.Bc3∞ Giri,A-Werle,J Germany 2008) 16...Qa7 (16...Qc7 17.c3±) 17.Na5 Nd4 18.Qe1 Rb8 19.c3 Nc6 20.Nxb7 Rxb7 21.b4± Wohlfart,P-Kuhn,C Germany 2002. b) 12.Be3! Qc7 (12...Qb7 13.f4 Be7 14.Qf3 0-0 15.Ra4± Zhao,Z-Ly,M Brisbane 2005; 12...Qb8 13.Na4 (13.Na5± ½-½ Popovic,P-Djuric,S Vrnjacka Banja 1998) 13...Nd7 14.f4± Ogleznev,ANyzhnyk,I Kiev 2007)

13.Qe2 (13.f4 Be7 14.Qe2 Nb4 15.Bb5+± Bjarnason,S-Skousen,N Lyngby 1990; 13.Ra4 Be7 14.Qe2 Nb8 15.Rc4± Estay Torreblanca,O-Rojas Sepulveda,E Talcahuano 2012) 13...Nb8 (13...Nb4 14.Bb5+ Nd7 15.Ra4 a5 16.Rfa1+–; 13...Qb7 14.Ra4 Ne5 15.Na5 Qc7 16.Nc4 Nxd3 17.Qxd3± 500

Wehmeier,S-Kulaots,K Barcelona 2013; 13...a5 14.f4 Be7 15.Nd4 Bd7 16.Ndb5± Grela,KCukrowski,F Wroclaw 2012)

14.Bd4 (14.Nb5 Qd8 15.Qf3 Bb7 16.Na5±) 14...e5 15.Be3 Be7 16.Bb5+ Bd7 17.Bxd7+ Qxd7 18.Na5 0-0 19.Nc4± Mikhalchishin,A-Luecke,N Dortmund 1992. Also, on the immediate 10...Nb4, White should answer with 11.Be3 which transposes and not with 11.Re1 Bd7 12.Be3 Rc8∞ Gonzalez,J-Urday Caceres,H Santiago de Chile 1999. Finally Black has no time for consolidation of the queenside with 10...Bd7?! 11.Be3

11...Rc8 (11...Nb4 12.Bb6 Qb8 13.f4 Be7 14.f5² Khayrullin,D-Pridorozhni,A Moscow 2020) 12.Na4! (12.Bb6 Qb8 13.f4 Be7 14.g4 h6 15.g5 hxg5 16.fxg5 d5 17.Rf2 Nxe4 18.Bxe4 dxe4∞ 501

Yatsishin,I-Gimadeev,A Zakopane 2000) 12...Ne5 13.Nb6 Rd8 14.f4± Kononenko,D-Szekeres,R Iraklion 2004, or 10...Nd7?!

11.Be3 (11.f4 Be7 12.Be3 0-0 13.Na4 Re8 (13...Rb8 14.c3 Re8 15.Nb6± Saldano Dayer,H-Reales Murto,M Lorca 2005) 14.Qf3 Nb4 15.Nb6 Nxb6 16.Bxb6² Deshpande,A-Priyadharshan,K Sort 2009; 11.Bf4 Be7 12.Qd2 0-0 13.Rfd1² b5?! 14.axb6 Qxb6 15.Be2± Larsen,B-Polgar,J Buenos Aires 1992) 11...Nc5 (11...Be7) 12.Nxc5 dxc5 13.Na4 Nxa5 14.b4 Nc6 15.bxc5 Be7 16.f4 0-0 17.Nb6 Rb8 18.Qe1± Sveshnikov,E-Sermek,D Nova Gorica 1998. 11.Be3

502

11.Qe2 poses no problem for Black 11...0-0 12.Rd1 (12.Be3, or 12.f4, transposes, although Black should now avoid 12...b5?! 13.axb6 Qxb6+ 14.Be3± Ramondino,R-Sibilio,M Rome 2005) 12...Nb4 13.Bf4 e5 14.Be3 Bg4 15.f3 Be6 16.Bb6 Qc6 17.Kh1 Rfe8 18.Nd2 Bf8 19.Be3 h6∞ Nikolaidis,KGrivas,E Athens 1993. White can also try 11.f4 0-0 12.Qf3 (12.Be3, transposes to 10.Be3) 12...b5?! (12...Nb4, again transposes) 13.axb6 Qxb6+ 14.Be3 Qb7

15.Ra4!± Zhao,Z-Ly,M Brisbane 2005, as mentioned above, and not 15.e5?! dxe5 16.Nc5 Qc7∞ Cigan,S-Ilic,Z Brezovica 1988. 11...0-0 A serious and very interesting alternative is the immediate 11...Nb4

503

12.f4 (12.Na4 Bd7 13.Nb6 Rb8 14.c4² Miranda M.,E-Diaz Murgada,R Havana 2014; 12.Qd2 d5, seems solid) 12...e5 (12...0-0, transposes) 13.Na4 (13.Bb6 Qb8 14.Be2 exf4 15.Rxf4 0-0 16.Qd2²) 13...Be6 14.Nb6 Rd8 15.c4 (15.f5? Bxb3 16.cxb3 d5!µ) 15...Ng4! 16.Bc1 exf4 17.Bxf4² Rodriguez Cespedes,A-Kouatly,B Toluca 1982. 12.f4

Modest was 12.Bb6 Qb8 13.Nd2 Nb4 14.Qe2 d5 15.exd5 Nbxd5 16.Nxd5 Nxd5 17.Nc4 Bd7 18.Ne5 Be8= Ziatdinov,R-Akopian,V Niksic 1991, or the 12.h3 Bd7 13.Qe2 Rfc8 (13...Rac8!) 14.Nd4 Ne5 15.f4 Nc4 16.Bxc4 Qxc4= Priborsky,I-Adler,V Prague 2005.

504

12...Nb4!

Forced and good. After 12...Bd7?! 13.Ra4!, Black cannot manoeuvre with ...Nb4 and ...Bc6. Note that not much is 13.Na4 Rab8 14.Bb6 Qc8∞ Bonnet,E-Van Elst,A Bescanon 1999, or 13.Bb6 Qb8 14.Qe2 Be8?! (14...Bd8 15.Na4 e5 16.f5 Nb4∞) 15.Bf2 Bd8?! 16.Kh1 Bc7 17.Bh4 Nd7 18.f5± Kuzmin,GSalinnikov,D Alushta 2000, or, finally, 13.g4

13...d5 (13...Ne8 14.Rf3 f6 15.Rh3 Nb4 16.f5² Stojcevski,Z-Petrov,G Struga 2011; 13...Be8? 14.g5 Nd7 15.f5 Nce5 16.Nd4 Nc5 17.f6 Bd8 18.Qh5 gxf6 19.gxf6 Kh8 20.Kh1 Rg8 21.Rf4 Ncd7 22.Qxh7+ 1–0 Salem,A-Grivas,E Dubai 2016) 14.e5 Ne8 15.Qf3 g6 16.Bb6 Qb8 17.Rae1 Ng7 505

18.Qh3 f5² Schroeder,J-Naiditsch,Y Deizisau 2015. 12...Nd7?!

is passive. After 13.Na4, we have a transposition to the 10...Nd7 analysis, but also 13.Qh5 Bf6 14.Qh3 g6 15.f5± Brendel,O-Goldstern,F Switzerland 2007, or 13.Rf3 b5 14.axb6 Nxb6 15.Rg3 g6 16.Qg4² Martemianov,I-Podgursky,S Kishinev 2009, look like attractive alternatives. 13.Bb6

White’s alternatives are many: a) 13.Na4 Bd7 14.Nb6 Rad8!? (14...Rab8 (½–½ Ho,M-Ilic,Z San Francisco 2003) 506

15.Qd2 (15.Bd4 Kh8?! (15...Bc6!?, with ideas like ...e5, or ...d5, or even the immediate 15...e5, seem fine for Black) 16.e5 Ne8 17.f5± Khait,A-Nadanian,A Czestochowa 1992) 15...Nxd3 16.cxd3 Bc6 17.Rac1 Nd7 18.Nd4² ½–½ Toth,A-Horvath,J Hungary 2005) a1) 15.Nxd7 Nxd7 (15...Rxd7 16.c3 Nxd3 17.Qxd3 d5 18.e5 Ne4 19.Bd4 Qc4 20.Qd1 f6∞ Fakhrutdinov,T-Petrov,M Internet 2019) 16.c3 Nxd3 17.Qxd3 Rc8 18.Rfd1 Nf6 19.Nd2 d5∞ Hoffmann,J-Vuckovic,Z Braunschweig 2019. a2) 15.Qd2

15...d5! (15...Nxd3?! 16.cxd3 e5 17.fxe5 dxe5 18.Rxf6! Bxf6 19.Nd5 Qc6 20.Rc1± Navara,DBabula,V Kouty nad Desnou 2012) 16.e5 Ne4 17.Qe2 Nc5∞. 507

a3) 15.Bd2 d5 (15...Nxd3 16.cxd3 e5∞) 16.Bxb4 Bxb4 17.e5 Ne4 18.Bxe4 dxe4 19.Qd4 Be7 20.Qxe4 Bb5°. b) 13.Be2 b1) 13...d5

14.Bb6 (14.e5 Ne4 (14...Nd7 15.Nd4 b6 16.axb6 Nxb6∞ Narva,M-Petrova,K Baku 2016) 15.Rf3 f5 16.exf6 Bxf6∞ Meister,Y-Sirigos,N Balatonbereny 1994) 14...Qb8 (14...Qc6 15.e5± Lutz,ASarangerel,V Elista 1998) 15.e5 Nd7 16.Na4 (16.Be3 f6 17.Nd4 Nc5∞ Garcia Lopez,F-Vallespin Morales,A San Sebastian 2016) 16...Nxb6 17.Nxb6 Qa7 18.Kh1² Behling,H-Gmuer,A ICCF 2001. b2) 13...Bd7 14.Bb6 Qb8

508

15.Qd2 (15.Bf3 Bc6 (15...e5 16.fxe5 dxe5 17.Nc5 Qc8 18.Nxd7 Qxd7 19.Na4 Qxd1 20.Bxd1= ½– ½ Groszpeter,A-Szabo,B Hungary 2015) 16.Qd2 d5 17.e5 Ne4 18.Bxe4 dxe4 19.Rae1 Nd5 20.Nxe4 Nxb6 21.axb6 Qd8° Silva,J-Ontiveros Acuna,M Erandio 2019) 15...Rc8! (15...Bc6?! 16.Na4! Bxa4 17.Rxa4 Nc6 18.Bf3±) 16.Kh1 (16.Bf3 Bc6 (16...e5!?, looks like the best option and Black stands fine) 17.f5 exf5 18.exf5 Nd7 19.Rae1 Bf8 20.Bd4 Ne5∞ Rytshagov,M-Grivas,E Aegina 1994)

16...Be8 (16...Bc6!? 17.Bf3 (17.Nd1?! d5! 18.c3 Nxe4 19.Qc1 Bb5–+) 17...d5∞) 17.Bf3 Nd7 18.Bg1 b5 19.axb6 (½–½ Nikolaidis,I-Grivas,E Nikea 2004) 19...Nxb6 20.Nd4 Nc4 21.Qc1 Bf6∞. c) 13.Qe2

509

13...e5! (13...Bd7?! 14.Bb6 Qb8 15.e5!² Tsanas,A-Kapnisis,S Athens 2004; 13...Nd7?! 14.Ra4! (14.Na2 Nxa2 15.Rxa2 Nc5 (15...Nb8?! 16.Bb6 Qd7 17.Raa1² Kazantsev,N-Kozyrin,A Voronezh 2014) 16.Nxc5 dxc5 17.Raa1 Bd7∞) 14...Nxd3 15.cxd3² Vogt,L-Kuzmin,G Zinnowitz 1971) 14.Na4 (14.Ra4 Nxd3 15.Qxd3 exf4 (15...Be6 16.f5 Bxb3 17.cxb3 h6∞) 16.Rc4 Qd8 17.Bxf4 Be6=) 14...Be6 15.Nb6 Rae8 16.c4 exf4∞ Garbett,P-Krylov,S Turin 2006. d) 13.Kh1

13...Bd7 (13...Nd7 14.Ra4 Nxd3 15.cxd3 b5 16.axb6 Nxb6∞ Castrillon Gomez,M-Chirivi Castiblanco,J Cali 2014) 14.Bb6 (14.Rf3 Rac8 15.Rh3 g6 (15...e5!, or 15...Nxd3 16.cxd3 e5, seem also fine) 16.Qf3 e5 17.f5 d5³ Semenova,I-Areshchenko,A Sudak 2002) 14...Qb8

510

15.Qf3 (15.Be2 Bc6 16.Bf3 d5 (16...Nd7 17.Be3 Nc5∞) 17.e5 Nd7 18.Be3 b6 19.Ne2 Bb5∞ Mamadshoev,M-Anastasian,A Azov 1991) 15...e5 16.Nd2 exf4 17.Qxf4 Be6= Garcia,G-Grivas,E Manila 1992. e) 13.Qe1

e1) 13...Bd7!? 14.Bb6 Qb8 15.e5 dxe5 16.fxe5 Nfd5 (16...Nxd3 17.cxd3 Ng4 18.d4 Bc6, or 16...Ng4 17.Bxh7+ (17.Bd4 Nxd3 18.cxd3 f6!³) 17...Kxh7 18.Qe4+ g6 19.Qxg4 Qxe5, are interesting options) 17.Bd4 (17.Nxd5 Nxd5 18.Bd4 Nb4!∞) 17...Nxd3! (17...Nxc3?! 18.bxc3! (18.Bxc3 Nxd3 19.cxd3 Bc6) 18...Nc6 19.Nd2!²) 18.cxd3 Nb4∞. e2) 13...e5?! 14.Nb5! (14.Ra4?! Nxd3 15.cxd3 Be6 16.Nd2 exf4= Frolov,A-Akopian,V Jurmala 1989) 14...axb5 15.Qxb4 d5

511

16.Bc5 Bxc5+ 17.Qxc5 Qxc5+ 18.Nxc5 exf4 (18...Nxe4?! 19.Nxe4 dxe4 20.Bxe4 exf4 21.Rxf4±) 19.exd5 (19.Rxf4 b6!∞; 19.e5 Ng4∞) 19...Nxd5 20.Be4 (20.Bxb5 g5∞) 20...Ne3 21.Rxf4². 13...Qb8 14.Ra4 Nxd3 Not bad also seems to be 14...d5 15.e5 Nd7 16.Be3 b5∞. 15.cxd3 Bd7 16.Ra1 Bc6 16...e5!, as usual... 17.Qd2 Nd7

512

And Black was fine as in Zorko,J-Ushenina,A Ljubljana 2005. R Variation I12 - Hermes - 10.Be3 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.0-0 a6 9.a4 Qc7 10.Be3

Clearly the best position for White’s dark-squared bishop. 10.Bd2, is similar to the main line, but the white bishop is inferiorly placed on d2: 10...b6 11.f4 Be7

513

a) 12.Qe2 0-0 (12...Nd7 13.Rae1 Nc5 14.Nxc5 bxc5 15.f5² Gallego Martinez,R-Delchev,A Andorra 1996) 13.Rae1 (13.Rf3 Re8 (13...Bb7 14.Rh3 g6 15.g4 Nb4∞ Bednorz,A-Lingnau,C Porz 1990) 14.Re1 Nb4 15.e5 Nxd3 16.cxd3 Nd7∞ Dworakowska,J-Hamdouchi,H Caleta 2005) 13...Nb4 14.e5 dxe5 (14...Ne8!? 15.Nb5 axb5 16.Bxb4 Rxa4 17.c3 dxe5 18.Bxb5 Rxb4 19.cxb4 exf4° Tatar Kis,SKutuzovic,B Harkany 1996) 15.fxe5 Nd7 16.Be4 (16.Rf3 Nxd3 17.cxd3 Nc5µ Friedman,AMartinovic,S Groningen 1995) 16...Bb7∞. b) 12.Qf3 Bb7 b1) 13.Qh3 Nb4 (13...0-0 14.Rae1 Nb4∞ 15.e5?! Nxd3 16.exf6 Nxe1 17.fxe7 Bxg2µ) 14.a5 d5 15.axb6 Qxb6+ 16.Be3 Qc7 17.e5 Ne4 18.f5 exf5 19.Qxf5 0-0∞ Velimirovic,D-Barlov,D Vrsac 1987. b2) 13.Kh1 0-0 14.Qh3 Nb4 15.f5 e5∞ Soltis,A-Ilic,Z Belgrade 1988. b3) 13.Ne2 0-0 14.a5 b5 15.Ng3 Rfe8 16.Nh5 g6∞ Grove,M-Roe,S London 2013. b4) 13.a5

514

13...bxa5 (13...b5!?) 14.Ne2 d5 15.e5 Ne4∞ Gluszko,M-Bacallao Alonso,Y Barcelona 2011. b5) 13.Rae1 0-0 (13...g6 14.Qh3 Nb4 15.Nd4 Nxd3 16.cxd3 Qd7 17.Nf3 b5∞ Sztokbant,BFerreira,J Florianopolis 2016) 14.Qh3 (14.Qg3 g6 (14...Nb4!? 15.f5 Kh8∞) 15.Kh1 Rac8 16.Qh3 Nb4∞ Klundt,K-Englert,F Bayern 2007) 14...Nb4 (14...g6?! 15.f5 exf5 16.exf5 Ne5 17.Bg5± Hou,Y-Csajka,F Zuerich 2009; 14...Rfe8 15.g4 Nb4 16.g5 Nd7 17.f5 exf5 18.exf5

18...Nxd3 (18...Ne5 19.g6 h6 20.Bxh6! Nbxd3 21.Bxg7 Kxg7 22.Qh7+ Kf6 23.Qh4+ Kg7 24.f6+ Bxf6 25.Qxf6+ Kg8 26.gxf7+ Qxf7 27.Qxf7+ Nxf7 28.cxd3²) 19.g6 Nf6∞ Veres,A-Plischki,S Ostrava 2009)

515

15.Nd4 (15.Nb5 axb5 16.Bxb4 bxa4 17.e5 dxe5 18.Bxe7 Qxe7 19.fxe5 Nh5!∞) 15...Nxd3 16.cxd3 Rac8∞. 10...b6

A move that sooner or later Black will have to play, in order to develop his light-squared bishop. Nevertheless, interesting is 10...Be7 11.f4 Nb4 12.Qe2 e5 13.h3 Be6∞ Papastavropoulos,A-Grivas,E Athens 2012. 11.f4

516

White cannot really do without this move. In the game Exarhos,D-Grivas,E Karditsa 1995 Black got an excellent position after the passive 11.Qd2 Be7 12.h3 0-0 13.Ne2 Ne5 14.f4 Nxd3 15.cxd3 e5 16.Rac1 Qb7 17.Rc2 Be6³. 11...Be7

Now, as 12.h3 Bb7 (12...0-0 13.Qd2 Rb8 14.Rfd1 Rd8 15.Qf2 Nd7 16.Be2 Nc5 17.Nd4 Bb7∞ Panagiotopoulos,O-Grivas,E Athens 1997) 13.Qe2 (13.Qd2 0-0 14.Qf2 Nd7∞ Koc,U-Can,I Konya 2018) 13...0-0 (13...Nb4 14.a5 b5 15.Nd4 0-0∞ Vorobyova,V-Altshul,R St Petersburg 2014) 14.Nd2 Nb4 15.Qf2 Nd7 16.Nc4 Nc5³ Sharify,A-Mahjoob,M Vishakapatnam 2008, was no problem for Black, White should choose in-between 12.Qe2, 12.g4, 12.Kh1 and 12.Qf3. § Variation I121 - Hermes - 12.Qe2 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.0-0 a6 9.a4 Qc7 10.Be3 b6 11.f4 Be7 12.Qe2

517

12...0-0 Another option is 12...Bb7 a) 13.Nd2 d5?! (13...0-0 14.Nc4 Nd7∞) 14.e5?! (14.exd5 exd5 15.Nb3 0-0 16.Qf2!²) 14...Nd7 15.Nf3 g6 16.Qf2 Nc5∞ Gurevich,I-Polgar,J Hastings 1992. b) 13.g4 h6 14.Rac1

14...g5! 15.fxg5 hxg5 16.Qf2 (16.Bxg5 Nxg4 17.Qxg4 Ne5 18.Qg3 Rg8 19.h4 f6∞) 16...Bd8 17.Qg3 Ne5 18.h3 Nfd7∞ Sulyok,B-Varga,K Balatonlelle 2009.

518

c) 13.h3 0-0 14.Rad1 Nb4 15.Bf2 Rac8 16.Rfe1 d5 17.e5 Ne4³ Kozlowski,M-Luberanski,J Szklarska Poreba 2020. d) 13.Rae1 0-0 (13...Nd7 14.f5 Nde5 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.Qh5+² Iliev,M-Gentner,M Wiesbaden 2018) 14.Nd2 Nb4∞. e) 13.Qf2 Nd7 (13...Bd8 14.Qg3 0-0 15.Rad1 Nb4∞ Blazek,M-Banas,J Slovakia 2018)

14.Rae1 (14.Qg3 h5 (14...Bf6∞) 15.f5 Nde5 16.fxe6 fxe6 17.Nd4 (17.Qxg7 0-0-0 18.Qg3 Rdg8°) 17...Nxd4 18.Bxd4 Bf6∞ Klaasen,C-Kobese,W Cape Town 2015) 14...0-0 (14...Nb4 15.f5 0-0 16.Qg3 Bf6 17.fxe6 fxe6 18.Nd4 Rae8∞ Matis,T-Kalavannan,K Rymanow Zdroj 2017) 15.Qg3 (15.Kh1 Nb4∞ 16.e5?! dxe5 17.fxe5 Nxd3 18.cxd3 Qxe5 19.Bxb6 Qd6µ Bozinovic,B-Kurajica,B Las Palmas 2016) 15...Kh8 16.Qh3 Nb4∞ Bulmaga,I-Ivakhinova,I St Petersburg 2009. 13.g4

519

13.f5?!, is premature: 13...exf5 14.exf5 d5 15.Bg5 Nb4 16.Rf4 Re8 17.Qf3 Nxd3 18.cxd3 Bb7³ Papastavropoulos,A-Vasiukov,E Athens 1989, while not much also is 13.Kh1 Bb7 (13...Re8 14.Rae1 Nb4 15.Rf3 Nd7∞ Padmini,R-Gusain,H Bhiwani 2010) 14.Nd4 (14.Rae1 Nb4 15.Nd4 Rac8 16.Bd2 Qd7 17.Rf3 g6 18.Rff1 d5³ Casaschi,P-Radovanovic,J London 2013) 14...Nb4 15.Bg1

15...Nd7 (15...Rac8 16.Rf3 g6 17.Raf1 Nd7 18.Rg3 Bf6∞ Pandavos,P-Grivas,E Rhodes 1993) 16.Rf3 Bf6 17.Rh3 g6∞ Mithrakanth,P-Anand,V New Delhi 1987, or, finally, 13.Rae1 Bb7 14.Rf3 Rfe8 15.Qf2 Nd7 16.Rh3 Nb4∞ Naroditsky,D-Ehlvest,J Saint Louis 2011. 13...d5

520

An interesting idea, although the alternative 13...Nd7 14.g5, is not bad either: a) 14...Re8 15.f5 Nde5 16.f6 (16.Rf2 Bf8 17.Raf1 d5?! (17...Nb4∞) 18.fxe6 fxe6 19.exd5 Nxd3 20.Qxd3± Firouzja,A-Heineccius,A Internet 2019) 16...Bf8 17.Rf4 g6 18.Rh4 Nb4∞ Mannion,SKrylov,S Elista 1998. b) 14...Bb7 15.h4 Nb4 16.h5 Nxd3 17.cxd3 Rac8 18.Rac1∞ ½–½ Tsiros,F-Kalogiannidis,I Peristeri 2010. c) 14...Nb4 15.f5

15...Qd8! (15...Bb7? 16.fxe6! (16.f6? gxf6 17.gxf6 Bxf6 18.Bh6 Kh8! 19.Bxf8 Rxf8µ Smith,SKane,R Edinburgh 2019) 16...fxe6 17.Qg4 Rxf1+ 18.Rxf1 Nf8 19.Nd4±; 15...exf5? 16.exf5 Nxd3 521

17.Nd5! (17.cxd3? Bb7∞ Nemcova,K-Solic,K Rijeka 2010) 17...Qd8 18.f6!±) 16.Qg2 Nxd3 17.cxd3 Kh8 18.Nd4 Ne5∞. 14.e5

Or 14.g5 dxe4! (14...Nxe4 15.Nxe4 dxe4 16.Bxe4² Doeres,H-Kraeussling,A Bad Neustadt 1992) 15.Nxe4 Nd5³. 14...Nd7 15.Rf3 Or 15.g5 g6 16.Nd4 Nxd4 17.Bxd4 Bc5 18.Qe3 Bxd4 19.Qxd4 Qc5 20.Ne2 a5 21.c3 Ba6∞ Lalic,KLoncar,R Podturen 2019. 15...g6 16.Rh3 Nc5∞

522

Salzmann,J-Razuvaev,Y Dortmund 1995. Black has a good and active position. § Variation I122 - Hermes - 12.g4 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.0-0 a6 9.a4 Qc7 10.Be3 b6 11.f4 Be7 12.g4

12...h6!? White can save an important tempo as he can play Qh5 in one move (and not Qf3 and Qh5 later) if 523

Black continues with the natural 12...0-0?! 13.g5 Nd7 14.Qh5. In practice Black mostly chooses 12...Nd7 13.g5 (13.Qe2 Nb4 14.Bd4 e5∞ Theodoulidis,TSkembris,S Katerini 1993) a) 13...Bb7?!

14.f5! (14.Qe2?! Nb4 15.Nd4∞ Asztalos,V-Dolgener,T Hungary 2011; 14.Qg4 Nb4 15.Nd4 Nxd3 16.cxd3 Nc5 17.Rfd1 0-0∞ Cioara,A-Hrbolka,L Pardubice 1998) 14...Nde5 15.fxe6 (15.Qh5 ½-½ Kolker-Nadanian,A Soviet Union 1991. A premature decision, as White has the more pleasant position) 15...fxe6 16.Qh5+ g6 17.Qh3± Maki,V-Fercec,N Kallithea 2008. b) 13...0-0?!

524

14.Qh5 (14.f5 Re8 15.Qh5 g6 16.Qh3² Ladva,O-Kaczur,F Mureck 2009) 14...g6 (14...Nb4 15.Rf3 Re8 16.Rh3 Nf8 17.Rf1² Mach,P-Strejc,J Svetla nad Sazavou 1999) 15.Qh6 Re8 16.Rf3 Bf8 17.Qh4

17...Qd8 (17...Bg7 18.Raf1 Bb7 19.Rh3± Fenner,M-Schwarz,T Werther 1999) 18.Rh3² Hoehn,JBeilfuss,W Germany 1994. c) 13...Nc5!? (a very interesting continuation) 14.Nxc5 dxc5 15.Rf2 Bb7 16.Qh5 g6 17.Qh3 Nb4 18.Bf1 0-0-0∞ Csjernyik,J-Susedik,I Slovakia 2002. Black can also try the less explored 12...Nb4!? 13.Qf3 Bb7 14.Qh3 d5 15.e5 Ne4∞ Ivakhinova,IAbashev,D Ulan Ude 2006. 13.g5

525

Alternatives are not easy to find as White has committed himself to the early g4 push. 13.Qf3 Nd7 (13...g5?! 14.e5! dxe5 15.fxg5 hxg5 16.Ne4±; 13...Bb7 14.Qh3 h5!?∞) 14.Nd4 Bb7∞ looks fine for Black. Maybe White should try 13.Qe2 Nb4 14.h3 Nd7, with a complicated Sicilian middlegame. 13...hxg5 14.fxg5 Nd7

And Black’s position is attractive, as in Zigouris,H-Grivas,E Katerini 1992. § Variation I123 - Hermes - 12.Kh1

526

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.0-0 a6 9.a4 Qc7 10.Be3 b6 11.f4 Be7 12.Kh1

This is actually a useless move, at least under the present circumstances. 12...0-0 Also playable is 12...Bb7

a) 13.Qe2 Nb4 (13...0-0, transposes to the main line) 14.Bg1 e5 15.fxe5 dxe5 16.Qf2 Nxd3 17.cxd3 Bd8 18.Rac1 Qe7 19.Qg3 0-0∞ Barros,R-De Avila,L Medellin 2010.

527

b) 13.Qe1 Nd7 (13...0-0 14.Qg3 d5 (14...Nb4) 15.e5 Nd7 16.f5 Ncxe5 17.Bh6 Bf6∞ Rios,C-Bassan Noriega,R Medellin 2009) 14.Qf2 Nc5 15.a5 Nxd3 16.cxd3 bxa5 17.Nxa5 Nxa5 18.Bb6 Qd7 19.Bxa5 0-0= Roos,J-Postojev,A Hockenheim 2010. c) 13.Nd2

13...Nb4 (13...d5!? 14.e5 (14.exd5 exd5 15.Nb3 0-0=) 14...Nd7 15.Nb3 0-0=) 14.Nc4 Nd7 15.Qg4 Bf6 16.f5∞ Perez Felipe,M-Gonzalez Marrero,J Los Llanos 2004. d) 13.Rf3 Rc8 (13...h5!?

14.Qg1 Bd8 15.Qe1 Ng4 16.Bg1 Ne7 17.Nd2 g5∞ Slovak,K-Domogaev,S Pardubice 2018) 14.Rg3 g6 15.Qg1 Bd8 16.Nd2 Nb4∞ Slovak,K-Riha,V Kouty nad Desnou 2019. 528

e) 13.f5 exf5 (13...Ne5 14.fxe6 fxe6 15.Nd4 Bc8 (15...Qc8!? 16.Qe2 0-0∞) 16.Nf3 0-0 17.Nxe5 dxe5 18.Qe2 Bc5 19.Bxc5 Qxc5 20.Bc4 Ra7∞ Vignesh,N-Akopian,V Abu Dhabi 2015) 14.Rxf5 Ne5 15.Qe2 g6 16.Rff1 0-0∞ Geronimi,P-Koziak,V Calvi 2009. 13.Qe2

Alternatives are: a) 13.Rf3 g6 (13...Nb4 14.Rh3 e5 15.Rg3 Kh8∞ Burovic,I-Kocovski,I Kladovo 1991) 14.Rg3 Re8 15.f5 Bf8 (15...Ne5!∞) 16.fxg6 fxg6 17.Qg1 Rb8 18.Rf1 Bg7 19.Rgf3∞ Bhend,E-Pikula,D Winterthur 2006. b) 13.Nd2 Re8 14.Nc4 Nd7 15.Qf3 Nb4∞ Sislian,H-Lindinger,M Germany 2005. c) 13.g4

529

13...Nb4 (13...Bb7 14.g5 Nd7 15.Qh5 Rfe8 16.Rf3 g6 17.Qh6 Bf8 (17...Rad8?! 18.Rh3 Nf8 19.Kg1! ± Atri Sangari,J-Ghadimi,M Hamburg 2005) 18.Qh4 Bg7 19.Rh3 Nf8 20.Nd2 Nb4∞ Yakimenko,AFomichenko,E Anapa 2006; 13...d5!? 14.e5 Nd7 15.Ne2 Nc5∞) 14.g5 Nd7 15.Rf3 Bb7

16.Nd4 (16.Rh3 g6! (16...Rfd8 17.Kg1 Nxd3 18.cxd3 d5∞ Szmyd,A-Kwiatkowski,W Jastrzebia Gora 2015) 17.Kg1 d5³) 16...g6∞ Ugulin,S-Doric,N Porec 2007. d) 13.Qf3 Bb7 (13...Rb8 14.Rae1 Nb4 15.Nd4 ½-½ Gurevich,V-Golod,V Berlin 1997; 13...Nb4 14.Rac1 e5 15.Nd2 Rb8 16.Be2 Ng4 17.Nc4 exf4 18.Bxf4 Ne5∞ Mosesov,D-Vovk,Y Lvov 2018) 14.Nd4 (14.Rae1 Rfe8 15.Qg3 Rac8

530

16.Bg1 (16.Qh3 Nb4 17.Nd4 Nxd3 18.cxd3 Bf8 19.Rc1 Qd8∞ Reyes Rios,J-Kaushik,B Neos Marmaras 2012) 16...Nb4∞ Peng Xiaomin-Juswanto,D Shenyang 1999) 14...Rfe8 15.Rae1 Nb4 16.Qg3 Nxd3 17.cxd3 Qd8∞ Ueter,H-Van der Wiel,J Germany 2008. e) 13.Nd4 Bb7 14.Nxc6 Bxc6 15.Qe2 Qb7 16.Bd4 Nd7 17.Rae1 Nc5∞ Couso,L-Welin,T Sweden 2002. f) 13.Qe1

13...Re8 (13...Nb4 14.Qg3 d5 15.e5 Nh5 16.Qh3 g6 17.Nd4 Nxd3 18.cxd3 Ng7 19.Rac1 Qd7∞ Lane,P-Naugle,K North Carolina 1990) 14.Qg3 Bf8 (14...Bb7!?; 14...Nb4!?) 15.Rae1∞ Visakh,NKozganbayev,E Chennai 2011. 531

13...Bb7

14.Nd4 White blundered horribly with 14.e5? dxe5 15.fxe5 Nxe5 16.Bf4 Bd6 17.Rad1 Nxd3 18.Bxd6 Qxd6 19.Rxd3 Qe7µ Tidemann Andersen,L-Tuft,O Sandefjord 2003. Another solid alternative is 14.Rae1 Nb4 (14...Rfe8 15.Bf2?! Nd7 16.Bg3 Nb4³ Kulkarni,CPriyadharshan,K Sort 2009; 14...Nd7 15.Qf2?! Nb4 16.Bd4 e5³ Antok,D-Szieberth,A Hungary 2003; 14...Rfc8 15.Bc1?! Nb4 16.Qf2 e5 17.fxe5 dxe5 18.Bg5 Nxd3 19.cxd3 Rd8µ Forgach,A-Mueller,A Erlensee 2007; 14...g6 15.f5 Ne5 16.Bh6 Rfe8 17.fxe6 fxe6 18.Nd4 Qd7∞ Salai,L-Bakalar,P Brno 1990)

532

15.Bg1 (15.Nd4 Nxd3 16.cxd3 Qd7 17.b4 Rfc8 18.Rc1 Rc7 19.b5 a5∞ Edelman,D-Cabrilo,G New York 1990) 15...Nxd3 (15...Nd7 16.Nd2 Bf6 17.Nc4 Bxc3 18.bxc3 Nxd3 19.Qxd3 d5µ Exizoglou,D-Perunovic,M Skopje 2015) 16.cxd3 Rac8= Forgacs,A-Paksa,R Hungary 2009. Finally, White can also opt for 14.Rf3 Nb4 15.Rh3

15...g6 (15...Rfc8! 16.Rf1 Nxd3 17.cxd3 b5!∞) 16.Rf1 Rfe8 17.f5 (17.Nd4 e5 18.fxe5 dxe5 19.Nf3 Bc8∞ Mikheev,A-Rychagov,A Internet 2020) 17...Nxd3 18.cxd3² Sachdev,T-Girinath,P Kolkata 2000. 14...Nb4

533

15.Bg1 The ‘active’ 15.f5?!, quickly backfired: 15...e5 16.Nf3 d5 17.Bg5 Rfe8µ (17...d4µ) Perez Pardo,JUrday Caceres,H Benasque 1993. Losing a tempo with 15.Qf3, didn’t help: 15...Nd7 16.f5 e5 17.Nb3 Nf6 18.Nd2 d5 19.exd5 Nbxd5 20.Nce4 Rad8 21.Nxf6+ Nxf6 22.Ne4 Kh8µ Areshchenko,A-Shtyrenkov,V Alushta 2002. Finally 15.Rad1 Rfe8 16.Bf2 Rac8∞

17.e5?! Nxd3 18.cxd3 Nd5 19.Nxd5 Bxd5µ Huebner,W-Rooze,J Rogaska Slatina 2012.

534

15...Rac8 Also possible is 15...Nd7 16.Rf3 (16.h3 Bf6 17.Rad1 Nc5 18.f5 e5µ Vujacic,B-Knezevic,B Tivat 1995) 16...Bf6 17.Rh3 g6∞ Mithrakanth,P-Anand,V New Delhi 1987. 16.Rf3 g6 17.Raf1 Nd7 18.Rg3 Bf6

With an even game as in Pandavos,P-Grivas,E Rhodes 1993. § Variation I124 - Hermes - 12.Qf3 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.0-0 a6 9.a4 Qc7 10.Be3 b6 11.f4 Be7 12.Qf3

535

12...0-0 Black can also opt for: a) 12...Bb7, mainly has a transpositional character. Examples in which the main line was avoided:

a1) 13.Qg3 h5?! (13...0-0, is more reliable) 14.Rae1 Ng4 15.Bc1 Qd8 16.Re2 Na5 17.h3 Nxb3 18.cxb3± Morales,C-Armas,J Sagua la Grande 1989. a2) 13.h3 Nb4 14.Nd4 0-0 15.Rae1 Rac8 16.Qf2 d5!∞ Pranav,V-Karthikeyan,M Chennai 2019. a3) 13.Rae1 Nb4 14.Qg3

536

14...g6 (14...h5 15.h3 g6 16.Nd4 h4 17.Qf2 Nd7∞ Cubas,J-Avrukh,B Turin 2006; 14...0-0 15.Nd4 Rfe8 16.e5 Nfd5 17.Nxd5 Bxd5 18.f5 Bf8∞ Echevers,I-Larrea,M Montevideo 2002) 15.Bd4∞ Sade,D-Juhasz,J Bratislava 2019. a4) 13.f5 exf5 (13...Ne5!? 14.Qh3 exf5 15.Qxf5 0-0∞) 14.Qxf5 Ne5 15.h3 0-0 16.Qf2 Nfd7∞ Eggleston,D-Praggnanandhaa,R Stockholm 2018. a5) 13.Qh3 Nb4 (13...h5?! 14.Kh1 Ng4 15.Bg1 Bf6 16.Be2 g6 17.Rad1 Nb4 18.Nd2² Mantau,JFartmann,B Bargteheide 2011)

14.Kh1 Nd7 15.Bd4 e5 16.Be3 0-0∞ Chuprov,D-Shutukov,S Khanty-Mansiysk 2009. b) 12...h5?! 537

13.e5 (13.Rae1 Nb4 14.Nd2 Ng4 15.Nc4 Nxe3 16.Nxe3 Bb7 17.Qh3 Rh6 18.f5 Bg5 19.Qg3 Bf6± ½–½ Svane,R-Carow,J Oberhof 2010) 13...Ng4 14.Be4 d5 15.Bxd5 exd5 16.Nxd5 Qb7 17.Bxb6± Marchadour,E-Leconte,M Chartres 2017. c) 12...Nd7 13.Qg3 Bf6 14.Kh1 (14.e5!? dxe5 15.f5°) 14...Nb4 15.Nd4 Nc5 16.Rad1 Bd7∞ Purgar,I-Videnova,I Rijeka 2009. d) 12...Rb8 13.Qg3

13...h5?! (13...0-0, transposes below) 14.h3 h4 15.Qe1 Nd7 16.Nd4 Bf6 17.Nf3 Bb7 18.Rd1² Pogorelskikh,S-Sargsyan,A Sochi 2019. 13.Rae1 538

An interesting and complicated position, where White has also tried: a) 13.e5? (this attempt to exploit the weakness of the h1-a8 diagonal is impatient and ultimately mistaken) 13...dxe5 14.fxe5 Nxe5! 15.Qxa8 Bb7 16.Qa7 Neg4!

17.Bf4 (17.Rxf6 Qxh2+ 18.Kf1 Nxe3+ (18...Qxg2+ 19.Ke1 Bxf6–+) 19.Ke2 Qxg2+ 20.Rf2 Bf3+ 21.Kxe3 Bg5+ 22.Kd4 Qxf2+ 23.Kc4 b5+ 24.Nxb5 axb5+ 25.axb5 Qh4+ 26.Qd4 Bd5+ 27.Kc5 Rc8+ 28.Kb6 Bd8+ 0–1 Vorobjov,P-Kanep,M Tartu 2010) 17...Qc6 18.Rf3 Ra8 19.Qxa8+ Bxa8–+ Belov,V-Kurnosov,I Alushta 2000. b) 13.a5 bxa5 (13...b5 14.Bb6 Qb7 15.Qh3 g6 16.Rae1∞ Ducic,B-Dezan,P France 1988) 14.e5 dxe5 15.fxe5

539

15...Nd7 (15...Nxe5 16.Qxa8 Neg4 17.Rf4 Nxe3³ Campora,D-Wirthensohn,H Biel 1983) 16.Qh3 (16.Qg3 Ndxe5 17.Be4 Bb7 18.Bh6 g6³) 16...g6 17.Bh6

17...Ncxe5!? 18.Bxf8 Bxf8° Santo Roman,M-Benjamin,J Cannes 1992. c) 13.g4 c1) 13...d5 14.e5 Nd7 15.Qh3 g6 16.Rf3 Re8 (16...Bb7? 17.Qh6 Rfe8 18.Rh3 Nf8 19.Rf1 d4 20.Ne4 Qd8 21.g5 Nxe5 22.Bxd4 Bxe4 23.Bxe5 1–0 De Jong,M-Bark,E Amsterdam 2004) 17.Qh6 Bf8 18.Qh4 Be7=. c2) 13...Nd7 14.g5

14...Nb4 (14...Bb7 15.Qh3 Nb4 16.Nd4 Rfe8 17.f5 exf5 18.exf5 Nxd3 19.cxd3 Ne5 20.f6 Bf8∞ 540

Alexandrov,A-Arzumanian,G Voronezh 2000; 14...Re8 15.h4 (15.Nd4 Nb4 16.Nde2 Bb7 17.Qh3 Nc5∞ Owczarzak,J-Gajewski,G Dzwirzyno 2004) 15...Bb7 16.h5 Nb4∞ Dervishi,E-Georgiev,V Ankara 1993) 15.Qh5

15...g6 (15...Re8 16.Rf3 g6 17.Qh4 Nxd3 18.cxd3 Bb7 (18...Nc5 19.Nd2 Bb7 20.Bd4 e5∞ Schaefer,M-Chuchelov,V Porz 1992) 19.Rc1 Qd8 20.Rh3 h5∞ Roskar,R-Doric,N Ptuj 2007) 16.Qh6 Re8 17.Rf3 Bf8 18.Qh4 Bg7 19.Raf1 f5∞ Philippe,C-Horvath,J Val Thorens 2006. 13...Bb7 13...Nd7!? 14.Qh3 Nb4 15.f5 Ne5 16.Qg3 Kh8∞ Sandalakis,N-Dimopoulos,D Peristeri 2010. 14.Qh3 Nb4

541

A standard response in the 9.a4 line, exchanging White’s important attacking bishop. The other moves are: a) 14...Rfe8 a1) 15.Kh1 Nb4 16.Nd4 Nd7 (16...Bf8 17.Nf3 e5 18.fxe5 dxe5 19.Nh4 Bc8∞ Moiseev,VSchlueter,W Vienna 1991) 17.f5 (17.Bd2 Bf6 18.Nf3 Nc5µ Fernandez Aguado,J-Urday Caceres,H Ponferrada 1992) 17...e5 18.Nf3 f6∞ Sedina,E-Tsifanskaya,L Elista 1998. a2) 15.g4 Nb4 16.Nd4

16...d5 (16...Nd7 17.g5 Bf8 18.f5∞ Akishev,A-Yakunin,A Novosibirsk 2010) 17.e5 Ne4∞ Wang Yu A-Yu Shaoteng Hefei 2010. 542

b) 14...g6 15.f5 (15.Kh1 Nb4 16.Nd4 e5 17.fxe5 dxe5µ Sziva,E-Erenska,H Jajce 1990) 15...exf5 16.exf5 Ne5 17.Bh6 Rfe8 (17...Nfg4 18.Bxf8 Rxf8 19.Rxe5 Nxe5 20.f6 Bd8 21.Qh6 Bxf6 22.Rxf6 Ng4 23.Qf4± Qe7? 24.Rxd6 1–0 Krause,B-Fartmann,B Bargteheide 2014) 18.Bg5 Nfg4 (18...Qd8?

19.Qh4 (19.Nd4 Nfg4 20.Bxe7 Qxe7± Bakre,T-Sandipan,C Kolkata 1999) 19...Kg7 20.Qh6+ Kg8 21.fxg6 hxg6 22.Rxe5+– Braslavsky,A-Arzumanian,G Yalta 1996) 19.Bxe7 Qxe7 20.fxg6 hxg6∞ Tokarski,B-Kanarek,M Koszalin 2008. c) 14...Rad8 15.f5 exf5 16.Nd5 (16.Qxf5 Ne5∞) 16...Nxd5 17.exd5 Ne5 18.Qxf5∞ Savereide,DChiburdanidze,M Thes-saloniki 1984. 15.Nd4

543

Of course, in such a position, both sides have many options: a) 15.e5?! dxe5 16.fxe5 Nxd3! (16...Qxe5 17.Bxb6 (17.Rxf6 Nxd3–+) 17...Qh5 18.Qxh5 Nxh5 19.Bc5 (19.Be2 Nf6 20.Na5 Bd5 21.Bd1 Rfc8 22.Rf2 Nd7∞ ½-½ Stewart,N-Richter,W Germany 1999) 19...Nxd3 20.cxd3 Rfe8 21.Bxe7 Rxe7= Brodsky,M-Akopian,V Soviet Union 1987) 17.exf6 (17.cxd3 Nd5³)

17...Nxe1 18.fxe7 Bxg2 19.exf8=Q+ Rxf8 20.Qh4 Bxf1 21.Qxe1 Bc4µ. b) 15.f5?!

544

15...e5 16.g4 d5 17.g5 d4 18.gxf6 Bxf6 19.Nxd4 exd4 20.Bf4 Qd7 21.Ne2 Rac8µ Szczepinski,MGajewski,G Poraj 2003. c) 15.Bd4 e5 16.fxe5 (16.Be3 Rad8 17.Nd2 d5!∞ Mnatsakanian,E-Akopian,V Soviet Union 1987) 16...dxe5 17.Qg3 Nd7 18.Be3 Kh8∞ Urday Caceres,H-Panno,O Mar del Plata 1988. d) 15.Bd2 Nxd3 16.cxd3

16...b5 17.Rc1 Qd7 18.Na5 bxa4 19.Ra1= Vlaovic,D-Kocovski,I Novi Sad 1989. e) 15.Rf3 Nxd3 (15...e5!? 16.f5 d5∞) 16.cxd3 Nd7∞ Rohde,M-Michna,M DESC 2001. f) 15.Nd2 Nd7 (15...Rfe8 16.Rf3 g6 17.Rg3 Rad8 18.Bf2 Bf8 19.Qh4 Be7 20.Qh3 Bf8 21.Qh4 Bg7 22.Nc4∞ ½-½ Chandler,M-Benjamin,J Cannes 1992) 16.f5 exf5 17.exf5 Rfe8∞ Fazulyanov,S545

Gnusarev,P Cheliabinsk 2008. 15...Rad8

Also possible is 15...Nxd3 16.cxd3 Rfe8 (16...Rac8!?) 17.Rc1 Qd7 18.g4 Qd8∞ Pirisi,G-Movic,S Bad Woerishofen 1988, or the immediate 15...Rfe8 16.Kh1, which transposes above. 16.Kh1 16.Nf3 e5∞ 17.Ng5? h6 18.Nf3 exf4 19.Bxf4 Bc8µ Casa,A-Ilic,Z Nice 1988. 16...Rfe8 Interesting is 16...d5!? 17.e5 Ne4 18.Bg1 Bc5∞ Wang Zili-Gufeld,E Beijing 1996. 17.Bf2 Nd7

546

Black has achieved what he wants, a complicated position with even chances, as in Grujic,Z-Ilic,Z Novi Becej 1994. Conclusion With 9.a4, White stops Black’s expansion on the queenside by the eventual and thematic ...b5, but on the other hand the weakening of the b4-square easily allows Black another thematic move ...Nb4. Black scores well and in general his play is easy and sufficient enough to claim a nice position. Nothing really new was added in the last years and my opinion is that this is not a variation to be afraid of.

547

Variation J - Apollo B33 The starting point of the next diagram identifies the turning point of the Apollo variation, which comes after the placement of White’s dark-squared bishop on d2 after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.0-0 a6 9.Kh1 Be7 10.f4 Qc7 11.Bd2

But before we go on, let’s see why I named the variation after one of the most known Gods of the ancient Greek Mythology: Nomenclature Apollo under the Microscope Apollo was the son of Zeus and Leto, and his twin sister was Artemis. He was the God of music (he played a golden lyre), and was called the Archer shooting with a silver bow. He was also the God of healing, the one who taught medicine to mankind, the God of light and the God of truth, who cannot tell a lie. One of Apollo’s more important daily tasks was to harness his chariot with four horses and drive the Sun across the sky. He was famous for his oracle at Delphi and people travelled to it from all over the ancient Greek world to learn about the future. His tree was the laurel; the crow was his bird and the dolphin his animal. The 11.Bd2 variation is a ‘gentle’ one, mainly seeking for the ‘truth’, instead of ‘brutally’ chasing the black queen away with the continuation Be3.

548

Variation J1 - Apollo - 11.Bd2 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6

8.0-0 Here there is an interesting and unexplored possibility for White, that of castling long instead of the usual text, via the move order 8.f4 a6 9.Qf3 Be7 10.g4 Qc7 11.g5 Nd7 12.Bd2 (12.Be3, transposes to the Zeus variation) 12...b5 13.0-0-0 Nc5 14.Kb1 (14.Nxc5 dxc5 15.e5 Bb7 16.Be4 Nd4 17.Qg2 0-00∞)

549

14...b4! (14...Nxd3!? 15.cxd3 (15.Qxd3 b4 16.Na4 a5 17.Be3 Ba6∞) 15...0-0 (15...Bb7 16.Rc1 Qd7 17.h4²) 16.Rc1 Qb7∞; 14...Bd7 15.Rhe1

15...Nxb3?! (15...Nxd3 16.cxd3 0-0 17.Rc1 Qa7²) 16.axb3 0-0 17.e5 Rfc8? 18.Bxh7+! Kxh7 19.Qh5+ Kg8 20.Re3 Bxg5 21.fxg5 Nxe5 22.Rh3 Ng6 23.Rf1 e5 24.Qh7+ Kf8 25.Rh6 Bf5 26.Rxf5 gxh6 27.Qxg6 1–0 Pavlovic,M-Grivas,E Athens 1995) 15.Ne2 Nxd3 16.cxd3 a5 17.Nbd4 Nxd4 18.Nxd4 Bb7 19.Be3 d5 20.e5 0-0∞. Still, this requires more examples before a conclusion can be reached. 8...a6

550

This is the ‘correct’ move order for Black, as he cannot ‘afford’ the move ...Qc7, before White has played Kh1. The following examples prove this ‘rule’: 8...Qc7 9.f4 (9.Nb5!? Qd7 10.c4² Oll,L Kurajica,B Cap d’Agde 1994) 9...a6 a) 10.a4, transposes to the Hermes v. b) 10.Qe2 Be7 11.Bd2 b5

b1) 12.a3 Rb8 (12...Bb7 13.Kh1 0-0 14.Rae1 Nd7 15.Rf3 g6 16.Rh3 Nc5 17.Nxc5 dxc5 18.Qe3 Rfd8∞ Hecht,C-Carow,J Neustadt an der Weinstrasse 2019) 13.Kh1 0-0 (13...Bd7?! 14.Rae1 b4 15.axb4 Nxb4 16.e5± Corbalan Gomez,J-Galego,L Lisbon 2019) 14.Rae1 b4 15.axb4 Nxb4∞. b2) 12.Rae1 b4 (12...Bb7 13.Kh1 h5 14.f5 e5 15.Bg5² Karacsonyi,G-Baski,B Balatonlelle 2019) 13.Nd1 a5 (13...e5?! 14.Ne3 Be6 15.f5 Bxb3 16.axb3² Timofeev,A-Wassin,S Khanty Mansiysk 2010; 13...g6 14.c3 0-0 15.Ne3 a5 16.Nd4 Nxd4 17.cxd4 Qa7∞ Fressinet,L-Pikula,D Biel 2006; 13...Bb7 14.Nf2 a5 15.c3 e5 16.c4 a4 17.Nc1 exf4 18.Bxf4 0-0∞ Fedorov,A-Svidler,P Turin 2006) 14.c3

551

14...Ba6 (14...e5 15.Ne3 a4 16.Nc1 a3 17.bxa3 Rxa3 18.cxb4 Nd4 19.Qd1 0-0 20.Nb3 Be6 21.Bb1 Nxb3 22.axb3 Bxb3 23.Qe2 Be6 ½-½ Predojevic,B-Avrukh,B Germany 2007) 15.Bxa6 Qb6+ 16.Nc5 d5! 17.exd5 Bxc5+ 18.Kh1 Qxa6 19.dxc6 0-0= Baramidze,D-Ivanov,V Bad Zwesten 2005. c) 10.Qf3 Be7 (10...b5 11.a3 Bb7 12.Bd2 g6!? 13.Kh1 Bg7 14.a4 b4 15.Ne2 0-0∞ Agopov,MYemelin,V Berlin 2009) 11.Bd2 (11.Be3, transposes to the Zeus variation)

c1) 11...b5 12.e5 Nd7 (12...dxe5 13.fxe5 Qa7+ 14.Be3 Nxe5 15.Qg3 Qb8 16.Bf4 Qa7+ 17.Be3 Qb8 18.Bf4 ½–½ Werle,J-Brodsky,M Hoogeveen 1999)

552

13.exd6 Bxd6 14.Ne4 (14.Kh1 Bb7 (14...Nf6 15.Ne4 Nxe4 16.Bxe4 Bb7 17.Na5! Nxa5 18.Bxa5±) 15.Ne4 Be7 16.Bc3² Patrelakis,E-Yordanov,L Internet 2020) 14...Be7 15.Bc3 Bb7 16.Qh5 Nf6 17.Nxf6+ gxf6 18.Rae1 0-0-0 19.Kh1∞ Sutovsky,E-Smirin,I Netanya 2009. c2) 11...h5 12.Rae1

12...Bd7 (12...g6?! 13.Kh1 Bd7 14.e5 dxe5 15.fxe5 Ng4 16.Qxf7+ Kd8 17.Qg7 Re8 18.Bxg6 Ncxe5 19.Bxe8 Nd3 20.Qxe7+ 1–0 Grabinsky,A-Fogarasi,T Budapest 2020) 13.e5 (13.Kh1 Ng4 14.h3 0-0-0 15.Nd1∞ ½–½ Moldovan,D-Toma Andreica,A Brasov 2004) 13...Ng4

553

14.exd6 (14.h3?! Qb6+ 15.Be3 Nxe3 16.Qxe3 Qxe3+ 17.Rxe3 dxe5 18.fxe5 h4³ Rodshtein,TMovsesian,S Pardubice 2020) 14...Qxd6 15.Ne4 Qc7 16.Bc3 0-0-0∞. c3) 11...Nd7 12.Ne2 Bf6 13.Bc3 Bxc3 14.Nxc3 b5 15.Rae1 Nb4 16.Kh1 Bb7 17.Qg3 Nxd3 18.cxd3 0-0∞ Lanc,A-Kratochvil,J Czech Republic 2018. c4) 11...0-0 12.Rae1 (12.g4 Re8 13.g5 Nd7 14.h4 b5 15.h5 Bb7 16.Qh3∞ Philippe,G-Nikolov,M Cappelle la Grande 2018) 12...Nb4

13.e5 (13.g4 Nxd3 14.cxd3 b5 15.Rc1 Qb8 16.g5 Nd7∞ Videki,S-Frank,J Budapest 1994) 13...Nxd3 14.cxd3 Nd7 (14...dxe5 15.fxe5 Ne8 (15...Nd5 16.Qg3 (16.Nxd5 exd5 17.Qxd5 Be6 18.Qe4 Rfd8 19.Bc3 Qd7°) 16...Kh8 17.Nxd5 exd5 18.Rc1 Qd8 19.Qe3 (19.Ba5 b6 20.Bc3∞ 554

Tirard,H-Doncea,V Guingamp 2010) 19...Be6 20.Qd4 Rc8 21.Rxc8 Qxc8 22.Bb4² Kudrin,SCarlier,B Brussels 1987; 15...Nd7 16.Qg3

16...Kh8 (16...f5! 17.Ne2 a5 18.Nf4 Ra6∞) 17.d4 Nb6 18.Bg5 Bxg5 19.Qxg5 Bd7 20.Re3 Qd8 21.Qh5 Be8 22.Rh3 h6 23.Rf6 1–0 Landenbergue,C-Martinovic,S Geneve 1992) 16.d4 f6 17.Qe4 Bd7∞) 15.Qg3 (15.d4 Nb6 16.Rc1 Qd8∞) 15...Qd8∞ Malik,J-Stocek,J Ostrava 2018. 9.Kh1 Be7 10.f4 Qc7

11.Bd2

555

It is not necessary to drive the black queen away as Black will ultimately be forced to retreat his queen voluntarily. Thus, in this variation White continues with the useful prophylactic move Kh1, which enables the active advance f4, and develops his dark-squared bishop on d2. The d2-bishop indirectly controls the important b4 square and, moreover, it assists with the e5 advance (after Rae1) as it is not blocking the e-file. Before examining the text, it is useful to mention some examples where White did not develop his dark-squared bishop early: a) 11.Qe1 b5

12.a4 (12.Qg3 b4 13.Ne2 0-0 14.Nbd4 Nxd4 15.Nxd4∞ Kosmac,B-Gombac,J Rogaska Slatina 1998; 12.Ne2 Bb7 13.Ned4 Nd7 14.Nxc6 Bxc6 15.Nd4 Bb7∞ Cerny,D-Stastny,J Czech Republic 2018) 12...b4 13.Nd1 0-0 14.a5 e5∞ Kuzmin,G-Grivas,E Cappelle la Grande 1995 - see the analyzed game in the Middlegame Strategy chapter. b) 11.Qf3

556

b1) 11...0-0, will transpose to the Apollo or the Zeus variations, as not good now is 12.Qh3?! Nb4 13.f5 Nxd3 14.cxd3 b5 15.a3 exf5 16.exf5 Bb7 17.Bg5 Rae8 18.Rf4 Nd7³ Kourtesis,G-Grivas,E Athens 1993. b2) 11...b5?!

12.e5! (12.Nd1?! b4 13.e5 Nd5 14.Ne3 Nxe3 15.exd6 Bxd6 16.Bxe3 0-0 17.Nc5 f5 18.Rae1² Nikolaidis,K-Grivas,E Iraklion 1993) 12...Nd7 13.exd6 Bxd6 14.Bxb5! Bb7 (14...axb5? 15.Nxb5+–) 15.Bd3 Nce5 16.Qe2 (16.fxe5 Bxf3 17.exd6 Bxg2+ 18.Kxg2 Qxd6 19.Bf4 Qb6∞ Kofidis,S-Anastasian,A Athens 1993) 16...Nxd3 17.cxd3 0-0 18.Be3±. b3) 11...Nb4 12.Qg3 557

12...Nh5 (12...0-0 13.Bd2 e5 14.f5 Kh8 15.Bg5 Bd7∞ Sunjaikin,B-Salinnikov,D Ufa 2004) 13.Qf3 Nf6 14.Bd2 Nxd3 (14...d5 15.e5 Nd7 16.Be2!² Matulovic,M-Klaric,Z Vinkovci 1982; 14...Bd7 15.Rae1 0-0 16.Nb5 Bxb5 17.Bxb4 d5 18.Bxe7 dxe4 19.Bxe4 Qxe7 20.Bd3 Bxd3 21.Qxd3 Rfd8= Astengo,C-Borgo,G Arco 2002)

15.cxd3 0-0 (15...Bd7 16.Rac1 Qd8 17.e5 Bc6 18.Qg3 Nh5 19.Qh3 g6 20.Nd4 Ng7 21.Nxc6 bxc6 22.Ne4± Hommeles,T-Wirig,A Belgium 2008) 16.Rac1 Qd8 17.g4 Nd7 18.g5 b5 (18...b6 19.h4 Bb7 20.Nd4 Re8 21.f5 Ne5 22.Qg3 exf5 23.Nxf5 Bf8∞ Videki,S-Csom,I Zalakaros 1995) 19.Ne2

558

19...d5 (19...e5!? 20.Na5 exf4 21.Nc6 Qe8 22.Qxf4 Nc5∞) 20.e5 b4∞ Campelo,L-Galego,L Sao Caetano do Sul 2009. If White tries to confuse Black with another move order via 11.Qe2, the later should respond with the natural 11...b5 12.a4 b4 13.Nd1 Bb7 14.Nf2 a5 15.Bd2 Rc8∞ Firat,B-Wieczorek,O Albena 2011. 11...b5

The most active, as the policy of waiting with castling is usually best (if it is possible of course!). The alternative is 11...b6 12.Qe2 0-0 13.Rae1 Bb7 (13...Nd7 14.Rf3 (14.Nd5! exd5 15.exd5 Nce5 16.fxe5 Nxe5 17.Bc3²) 14...g6 15.f5 Nde5 16.Rh3 Bf6 17.Bh6 Re8 18.fxe6 fxe6∞ Mahjoob,M-Wu 559

Wenjin Kolkata 2001) 14.a3 (14.Rf3 g6 15.Rh3 Rfe8 16.e5 Nd7 17.exd6 Bxd6 18.Ne4 Bxf4 19.Bxf4 Qxf4 20.Rf1 Qe5³ Saenz Narciso,M-Kovacevic,S Collado Villalba 2003) 14...g6 15.Rf3 Rfe8 16.Rh3 Bf8 17.Qf2 Bg7 18.Qh4 Rf8∞ Zapata,A-Gurevich,I St Martin 1993. It must be mentioned that in this line there are no continuations in which White at any moment employs the prophylactic move a3. These variations are analyzed in the Hestia variation. Now, depending on the future placement of the white queen, the variations divide: 12.Qe2 and 12.Qf3. R Variation J11 - Apollo - 12.Qe2 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.0-0 a6 9.Kh1 Be7 10.f4 Qc7 11.Bd2 b5 12.Qe2

With the text White wants to make the e5 advance more forceful. 12...0-0 12...Bb7 13.Rae1 (13.a4 b4 14.Nd1 0-0 15.a5 Rfe8 16.Nf2 Bf8 17.Ng4 Nxg4 18.Qxg4 ½-½ Pfrommer,C-Schaufelberger,H Waldshut 2002) 13...0-0, transposes below. 13.Rae1 b4 I think that is best by test! Black has tried some other continuations as well: a) 13...Nd7?!

560

14.Nd5! (14.Rf3 g6 (14...Nb4? 15.Nxb5! (15.Rh3? Nxd3 16.cxd3 Re8∞ Popovic,P-Kurajica,B Novi Sad 1984) 15...axb5 16.Bxb4 Rxa2 17.e5 Nc5 18.exd6 Bxd6 19.Nxc5 Bxc5 20.Bxh7+ Kxh7 21.Rc3±) 15.Qf2 Bb7 16.Rh3 Nb4∞ Vujakovic,B-Djukic,Z Zlatibor 1989) 14...exd5 15.exd5 Nce5 16.fxe5 Nxe5

17.Nd4! (17.Bc3 Bb7 (17...Bf6? 18.Rxf6 Bg4 19.Qe4 Nxd3 20.cxd3+– Tremblay,S-Hua Lefong Montreal 1998) 18.Be4²) 17...Bb7 18.Nc6! (18.Qe4?! g6∞ Baskin,R-Hartung,S Frankfurt 2011) 18...Bxc6 19.dxc6 Qxc6 20.Be4 d5 21.Bxh7+ Kxh7 22.Qxe5 Rae8 23.Qf5+ Kg8 24.Bc3². b) 13...Bb7

561

b1) 14.Rf3 g6 15.Rh3 b4 16.Nd1 a5! (16...e5?! 17.f5 Rfe8 18.Rf1± Okay,I-Gor,O Kayseri 2010; 16...d5 17.e5 Ne4 18.Bxe4 dxe4 19.Nf2 Rfd8 20.c3 Na5° Stebbings,A-Fokin,S Caleta 2010) 17.c3 Rfc8³. b2) 14.e5 b21) 14...Nd7 15.exd6 Bxd6 16.Ne4 Be7 17.Qh5 f5 (17...h6? 18.f5 exf5 19.Qxf5 g6 20.Qh3± Schroeder,J-Faqiry,R Bad Homburg 2013; 17...g6 18.Qh6

18...f5 (18...Rfe8? 19.Ng5 Nf8 20.Bc3 e5 21.Nxf7!+– Berescu,A-Sava,C Bucharest 2007) 19.Ng5 Bxg5 20.Qxg5 Rae8 21.Re3 (21.Qg3!?²) 21...e5∞ Schneider,I-Bierkens,P New York 2003) 18.Ng5 Bxg5 19.Qxg5 Rf6!∞. 562

b22) 14...dxe5 15.fxe5 Nd7 16.Bf4

16...Nb4 (16...g6 17.Be4 b4∞ Thinius,M-Hoffmann,M Germany 2010) 17.Ne4 (17.Be4 Bxe4 18.Qxe4 Nxc2 (18...Rad8!? 19.a3 Nc6 20.Re3 Rfe8∞) 19.Rc1 (19.Qxc2 b4 20.Re3 Rfc8 21.Rh3 Nf8=) 19...Nb4

20.Nxb5 (20.a3?! Qc4! 21.Qb7 Qc6 22.Qxc6 Nxc6µ Szalanczy,E-Navarovszky,L Budapest 1992) 20...Qb6 21.N5d4 Rac8=) 17...Nxd3 18.cxd3 Qb6 19.Be3 Qd8 20.Bd4 Kh8 21.Rf4 Rc8∞ Dvoirys,S-Akopian,V Cheliabinsk 1991. c) 13...Re8 14.e5 Nd7 15.exd6 Qxd6 (15...Bxd6 16.Ne4 Bf8 17.Ng5 Nf6 (17...g6? 18.f5 (18.Nxf7+–) 18...Nde5 19.fxg6 hxg6 20.Bf4+– Gareyev,T-Goh,W Internet 2005) 18.Bc3 h6 19.Bxf6 563

gxf6 20.Ne4 Bg7 21.Ng3±) 16.Ne4 Qc7 17.Rf3 f5 18.Ng5 Bxg5 19.fxg5

19...g6! (19...Bb7? 20.Re3± Oliveira,M-Gomes,H Luso 2014) 20.Rh3 e5∞. d) 13...g6?!

14.e5 (14.Nd1 Re8 15.Nf2 Bf8 16.e5 Nd7 17.exd6 Bxd6 18.f5± Hecht,C-Kolthoff,S Werther 2015; 14.a3 Bb7 15.Rf3 Rfe8 16.Ref1 Bf8 17.Nd1 d5∞ Alzate,D-Sirias Martinez,D Mallorca 2004) 14...Nh5 15.Rf3 (15.g4!? Ng7 16.f5²) 15...dxe5 16.fxe5 b4∞ Petrik,T-Arancibia Guzman,E Turin 2006. 14.Nd1

564

White’s alternatives lays on 14.Nb1 e5 15.f5 Bb7 (15...Rd8!? 16.Qf3 h6∞) 16.c4 a5! (16...bxc3 17.Nxc3= Jonsson,M-Petrov,M Malmo 2004) 17.Be3 Nd7 18.a4 Nc5 19.Nxc5 dxc5 20.f6 Bxf6 21.Rxf6 gxf6 22.Bxc5 Ne7 23.Be3 Kh8³, or in 14.e5?! bxc3 15.exf6 Bxf6 16.Bxc3 Bxc3 17.bxc3³ Pekun,C-Vucenovic,D Thessaloniki 2011. 14...a5

The expansion on the queenside is the logical follow-up, although Black has tried: a) 14...Bb7 15.Nf2 e5 16.f5 a5 17.Be3 (17.Bg5 a4 18.Bxf6 Bxf6 19.Nd2 Nd4µ Pourkashiyan,ASwati,G Sharjah 2014) 17...a4 18.Nd2

565

18...Nd4 19.Bxd4 exd4 20.Nh3 Rfe8 21.Nf4 Bf8∞ Jedryczka,K-Brustkern,J Olomouc 2001. b) 14...Re8 15.Ne3 a5 16.c3 Bb7 17.Ng4 Nxg4 18.Qxg4 Bf8 (18...Bf6!?) 19.Nd4∞ ½-½ Budai,DFusthy,Z Hungary 2003. c) 14...e5

15.Ne3! (15.f5 a5 16.Ne3 a4 (16...Nd4?! 17.Nxd4 exd4 18.Ng4 (18.Nc4! Ba6 19.Bf4²) 18...Re8 19.Nxf6+ Bxf6 20.Qh5 Ba6∞ Stiri,A-Kapnisis,S Litohoro 2006) 17.Nc1 Bb7 18.Ng4 Nd4 19.Nxf6+ Bxf6 20.Qd1 Qc5³ Parrini,D-Ciampi,V Rome 2007) 15...exf4 16.Nd5 Nxd5 17.exd5 Ne5 18.Bxb4² Nowak,L-Cukrowski,F Szczawno Zdroj 2018. d) 14...Nd7 15.Ne3 566

15...a5 (15...Bf6 16.Nc4 (16.e5!? dxe5 17.Ng4°) 16...a5∞ Albrecht,G-Eltigani,O Balatonlelle 2009) 16.Nd5 exd5 17.exd5 Nce5∞. 15.c3 15.c4?! a4 16.Nc1 Bb7 17.Qe3 Nd7³. 15...e5 Possible and flexible is 15...Bb7 16.Nd4 (16.e5?! dxe5 17.fxe5 Nd7 18.Bf4 Rad8 19.Bc2 Nb6³) 16...Nxd4 17.cxd4 d5 18.e5 Ne4∞. 16.Ne3 Not much for White is 16.f5 d5 (16...a4 17.Nc1 Rb8³) 17.exd5 Nxd5 18.Ne3 Nf6∞.

567

16...a4 A suggested novelty to 16...exf4 17.Rxf4 Ne5 18.Nf5 Re8 19.Nbd4 Bf8∞ Saltaev,M-Todorov,O Cappelle la Grande 1995. 17.Nc1 exf4 18.Rxf4 bxc3 19.Bxc3 Ne5

And Black has achieved a nice position to play from. R Variation J12 - Apollo - 12.Qf3

568

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.0-0 a6 9.Kh1 Be7 10.f4 Qc7 11.Bd2 b5 12.Qf3

This is a more active continuation as White can attack with Qh3 or Qg3 and create some threats sooner than in the 12.Qe2 variation. 12...0-0 13.Rae1 A bad move is 13.e5? dxe5 14.fxe5

14...Nxe5! 15.Bf4 (15.Qxa8? Bb7 16.Qa7 Bxg2+–+) 15...Nxf3 (15...Bd6? 16.Qxa8 (16.Nxb5? axb5 17.Qxa8 Nxd3 18.Bxd6 Qxd6 19.cxd3 Ng4 20.g3 Bd7 21.Qa7 Bc6+ 22.Kg1 Qd5 0–1 Pilgaard,K569

Bistric,F Pula 2002) 16...Bb7 17.Nxb5 axb5 18.Qa5±) 16.Bxc7 Nh4µ Kofidis,A-Grivas,E Volos 1996 and 13.a3, is transposing to the Hestia variation. 13...b4 The principal continuation. One of the few variations in the...Qb6 system, where the straightforward pawn advance in the queenside is a good idea. Black also intends to exchange the dangerous d3bishop with...Ba6. 13...Bb7, is the ‘old’ line: a) 14.Qg3 b4 15.Nd1 a5

16.Nf2 (16.e5 Nh5 (16...Nd7 17.f5 Ncxe5 18.fxe6 fxe6 19.Bxh7+ Kxh7 20.Qh3+ Bh4! 21.Qxh4+ Kg8∞) 17.Qe3 g6 18.Nf2 dxe5 (18...a4!? 19.Nc1 a3 20.b3 Ng7∞) 19.fxe5 a4 (19...Nxe5? 20.Qxe5 Bd6 21.Qd4+– Kojovic,D-Djukic,Z Nis 1994) 20.Nc5 Nxe5 21.Bxb4 Nxd3 22.Nfxd3 Bd5°) 16...e5 (16...a4 17.Nc1 e5 18.f5 Kh8 19.Ne2 Ba6∞ Thipsay,P-Kunte,A Nagpur 1999) 17.f5

570

17...Rfd8 (17...Kh8!?) 18.Bh6 Bf8 19.Bg5 Be7 20.Bxf6 Bxf6 21.Ng4 Qe7 (21...Kf8? 22.Nd2± Marinkovic,I-Djukic,Z Kladovo 1994) 22.Nd2 a4∞. b) 14.Qh3 b1) 14...Rfe8?

15.e5! (15.a4 bxa4 16.Nxa4 Rab8 17.Bc3∞ Movsesian,S-Fancsy,I Dos Hermanas 2004) 15...dxe5 16.fxe5 Nxe5 17.Rxe5 Qxe5 18.Rxf6 Bxg2+ (18...Bxf6? 19.Qxh7+ Kf8 20.Nd5!+–) 19.Kxg2 Bxf6 20.Qxh7+ Kf8 21.Ne4 Ke7 22.Bb4+ Kd7 23.Nxf6+ (23.Nbc5+? Kc6∞ Ashley,M-Shapiro,D New York 2000) 23...Qxf6 24.Nc5+± Gara,T-Tan,Z Tromsoe 2014. b2) 14...Rfd8 15.Ne2 (15.a4 Nb4 16.axb5 Nxd3 17.cxd3 axb5∞ Movsesian,S-Azarov,S Czech 571

Republic 2015)

15...e5 (15...d5?! 16.e5 Ne4 17.Nc3 Nb4 18.Nxe4 dxe4 19.Bxe4 Bxe4 20.Rxe4 Nxa2 (20...a5 21.c3 Nd3 22.f5± Zelcic,R-Kozul,Z Otocac 2010) 21.Ba5 (21.c3 b4 22.c4 a5∞) 21...Qxc2 22.Bxd8 Rxd8°) 16.Ng3 Bc8∞. b3) 14...g6

15.f5! (15.a4 b4 16.Nd1 d5 17.e5 Ne4 (17...Nd7 18.Ne3² Voronin,A-Nyudleev,D Anapa 2009) 18.Bc1 Rae8 19.Nf2 f5∞ Sosa,T-Pichot,A Mar del Plata 2014; 15.e5? dxe5 16.fxe5 Nd7 17.Bf4 Ncxe5µ Klundt,K-Mainka,G Germany 1990; 15.Nd1

572

15...Rfe8 (15...b4 16.f5 (16.Ne3 a5 17.f5 a4 18.Nc1² Ipek,E-Can,I Konya 2018) 16...gxf5 (16...Bc8 17.Bh6± Chinguun,S-Kashkarov,M Pardubice 2017) 17.exf5 e5 18.Re4!± Varacalli,F-Ocantos,M Buenos Aires 2017) 16.Ne3 Rac8∞) 15...exf5 (15...Qd7 16.Bg5² Nemcova,K-Abdulla,K Tbilisi 2011; 15...b4 16.fxg6 hxg6 17.Ne2 Ne5 18.Ng3 a5 19.Nd4 Nh7∞ Muhammad,L-Bitoon,R Jakarta 2012) 16.exf5 Ne5 17.fxg6 fxg6 (17...hxg6 18.Nd4∞ Pogoskin,R-Gerasimov,A Zelenograd 2013) 18.Bf4 Rf7 19.Bxe5 dxe5 20.Qe6 Raf8 21.Nd2 Kg7³ Nemcova,K-Kernazhitsky,L Tatranske Zruby 2016. b4) 14...b4

15.Nd1 (15.e5?! dxe5 16.fxe5 Nxe5 17.Bf4 Bd6 18.Bxe5 Bxe5 19.Rxf6 g6 (19...h6 20.Rxh6 gxh6 21.Qxh6 f6³) 20.Ne4 Bxe4 21.Bxe4 Bxf6 22.Qf3? (22.Bxa8 Qxc2 23.Qf3 Qxb2∞) 22...Qe5 0–1 573

Schulte,F-Sabirov,R Magdeburg 2014) 15...Rad8 (15...d5?! 16.exd5 exd5 17.Ne3² Groszpeter,AVokac,M Krynica 1998)

16.c3 (16.Nf2 e5 17.fxe5 dxe5 18.Ng4 Nxg4 19.Qxg4 Rd6∞ Womacka,M-Rotstein,A Seefeld 2000; 16.Ne3 g6 (16...a5!∞) 17.Ng4 Nxg4 18.Qxg4 a5 19.f5² Gross,S-Vokac,M Plzen 2000) 16...a5 17.cxb4 Nxb4 18.Bxb4 axb4 19.e5 dxe5 20.fxe5

20...Rxd3 (20...Nh5!? 21.Be2 g6 22.Bxh5 gxh5 23.Qxh5 Qc2³) 21.Qxd3 Rd8 22.Qg3 Ne4° Rimawi,B-Korobov,A Amman 2006. b5) 14...e5?

574

15.Nd5 Qd8 (15...Qc8 16.Qg3 (16.Qxc8 Raxc8 17.Nxe7+ Nxe7 18.Bb4±) 16...Bd8 17.fxe5 Nxd5 18.exd5 (18.Bh6 g6 19.exd5+–) 18...Nxe5

19.Rxe5! (19.Bf5? Qc4 20.Rf4 Qc7∞ Koscielski,J-Rotstein,A Herne 2003) 19...dxe5 20.Bh6 g6 21.Bxf8 Kxf8 22.Qxe5+–) 16.fxe5 (16.c4? bxc4 17.Bxc4∞ Shast,V-Kovalchuk,V Alushta 2002) 16...dxe5 17.Bg5 Ne8 18.Be3±. b6) 14...Rad8

575

This is supposed to be the ‘main line’. b61) 15.f5 b4 (15...exf5? 16.Nd5 Nxd5 17.exd5 Ne5 18.Ba5± Womacka,M-Geher,K Vaujany 2019) 16.Nd1 exf5 17.Qxf5 (17.exf5 a5 18.c3 Rfe8∞) 17...d5 18.Bf4 Qb6∞ Kolomensky,VKurnosov,I Orsk 2001. b62) 15.a4

15...b4 (15...bxa4!? 16.Nxa4 Rfe8∞ Rojicek,V-Svoboda,V Czech Republic 2006) 16.Nd1 d5 17.e5 Ne4 18.Ne3 (18.Nf2 Na5 19.Nxa5 Qxa5 20.b3 (20.f5? exf5 21.Qxf5 g6µ) 20...Nxf2+ (20...f5 21.exf6 Rxf6 22.Ng4 Rg6∞ Lobron,E-Gufeld,E Dortmund 1983) 21.Rxf2 g6= according to Gyula Sax) 18.Bxe4? dxe4 19.Rxe4 Nb8µ) 18...Kh8 (18...Na5? 19.Nxa5 Qxa5 20.f5±) 19.Ng4 576

19...f5! 20.exf6 gxf6 21.f5 Nxd2! (21...e5?! 22.Bh6 Rg8 23.Qh4 Ng5 24.Nc5∞ Sax,GWirthensohn,H Graz 1984) 22.Nxd2 e5∞. b63) 15.Re3 b4 16.Ne2 e5 17.Rg3 Kh8 18.fxe5 Nxe5∞ Mohebbi,M-Khakpoor,A Iran 1996. b64) 15.e5? dxe5 16.fxe5 Nxe5 17.Bf4 Bd6 18.Bxe5 Bxe5 19.Rxf6 Rxd3–+. b65) 15.Nd1 d5 16.e5 Ne4 17.Nf2∞ Lin,C-Wan,Y China 2017. b66) 15.a3! (this is transposing to the Hestia variation) 15...Rfe8 16.Ne2

16...e5! (16...Bf8 17.Ned4² Thipsay,P-Grivas,E Manila 1992) 17.Nc3 Qc8 18.f5 d5 19.Nxd5 Nxd5 20.exd5 Rxd5 21.Qh5 Bf6 22.Re3 e4! 23.Bxe4 Rde5! (23...Rdd8 24.Rfe1² Thipsay,P-Zhang Zhong Jodhpur 2003) 24.Qf3 Rxe4 25.Rxe4 Ne5 26.Rfe1 Rd8 27.Qf4 Bxe4 28.Qxe4 Qc4°. 577

14.Nd1 The alternative is 14.Ne2 a5 (14...Bb7 15.Ned4 (15.Qh3 Rfd8 16.c4 e5 17.f5 a5³ Menvielle Lacourrelle,A-Urday Caceres,H Mesa 1992) 15...Nxd4 16.Nxd4 d5 17.e5 Ne4 18.Be3 Bc5 19.Ne2 a5∞ Schall,D-Petrov,M Selestat 2006)

a) 15.Nbd4 Ba6 16.c4 bxc3 17.Bxc3 Bxd3 18.Qxd3 Nb4 19.Qb1 Rfc8 20.a3 Nc6 21.Nxc6 Qxc6 22.Nd4 Qb7= Prentos,K-Grivas,E Athens 1996. b) 15.Ned4

15...Nxd4 (15...e5! 16.Nxc6 Qxc6∞) 16.Nxd4 Ba6 17.e5 dxe5 18.fxe5 Bxd3 (18...Nd5? 19.Bxh7+! Kxh7 20.Qh5+ Kg8 21.Rf3±) 19.exf6 Bxf1 20.fxe7 Bxg2+ 21.Qxg2 Qxe7 22.c3² (22.Nc6 Qb7! 578

(22...Qd7? 23.Bh6+– Zelcic,R-Kozul,Z Opatija 2012) 23.Bh6 f6³) Wittmann,W-Kozul,Z Austria 2012. c) 15.Qg3 d5 16.e5 Ne4 17.Qh3 Ba6 18.Be3 a4³ Delgado Ramirez,N-Vera Gonzalez Quevedo,R Luque 2012. d) 15.e5

15...dxe5 (15...Nd7 16.Nbd4 Nxd4 17.Nxd4²) 16.fxe5 Nd5 17.Qe4 g6 18.Ned4 Nxd4 19.Nxd4 Ba6∞. 14...a5

579

14...Nd7 15.c3 a5 16.Nd4 Nc5 17.Bb5 Bd7 18.Bxc6 Bxc6 19.cxb4 axb4 20.Nxc6 Qxc6 21.Bxb4 Rxa2 Buenermann,V-Chuchelov,V Cologne 1993, or 14...Bd7 15.Qg3 a5 16.e5 Nh5 17.Qe3 g6 18.Nf2 f5 Qin,Z-Noritsyn,N Montreal 2012, look also fine for Black. 15.c4 15.c3, should transpose, but Black went wrong in the game Saltaev,M-Grivas,E Komotini 1993 with 15...a4 16.Nd4

16...Nxd4 (16...bxc3 17.Bxc3 Bb7∞) 17.cxd4 d5? 18.e5 Nd7 (18...Ne4? 19.Rxe4!+–) 19.f5 Ba6 20.f6! gxf6 21.Bxh7+ 1–0. Also White has tried 15.Be3 Ba6 16.Nf2 Rfd8∞ Schmaltz,R-Kapnisis,S Athens 2004 and 15.e5 a) 15...Nd5 16.c4 bxc3 17.Nxc3 a4 18.Qe4 g6 19.Nd4 Nxd4 20.Nxd5 exd5 21.Qxd4 dxe5 22.fxe5 Be6= Matulovic,M-Martinovic,S Smederevska Palanka 1982. b) 15...dxe5 16.fxe5 Nd7

580

17.Bf4 (17.Qh3 g6 18.Bh6 Ndxe5! (18...Re8? 19.Rxf7! Kxf7 20.Qxe6+ Kxe6 21.Bc4+ Kf5 22.Ne3+ Ke4 23.Nf1+ Kf5 24.Ng3+ Kg4 25.Re4#) 19.Bxf8 Bxf8³) 17...Ba6! (17...a4? 18.Nd2 Nc5

19.Bxh7+! Kxh7 20.Qh5+ Kg8 21.Re3 Qd8 22.Rg3 Nxe5 23.Bxe5 f6 24.Qg6 Rf7 25.Rh3 Bd6 26.Qh7+ Kf8 27.Qh8+ Ke7 28.Qxd8+ Kxd8 29.Bxd6 1–0 Kurajica,B-Van der Weide,P Islington 1968) 18.Bxa6 Rxa6³. c) 15...Nd7 16.exd6 (16.Nf2 a4?! (16...dxe5! 17.fxe5 a4³) 17.Nc1?! (17.Nd4! Nxd4 18.Qe4 g6 19.Qxd4∞) 17...Nc5³ Trenchev,J-Petrov,M Borovetz 2002) 16...Bxd6 17.a4 Ba6 18.Bxa6 Rxa6 19.Ne3∞. 15...bxc3 581

16.Bxc3 16.Nxc3, is possible: 16...a4 17.Nc1 Ba6∞. 16...a4 16...Nb4!?, can be tried in the future: 17.Bb1 Ba6 18.Rf2 Rac8∞. 17.Nd4 17.Nd2!?, can be proven dangerous if Black takes it easy: 17...Nd7 (17...Ba6 18.Bxa6 Rxa6 19.Ne3 Rd8∞; 17...d5 18.exd5 exd5 (18...Nxd5? 19.Bxh7+! Kxh7 20.Qh5+ Kg8

582

21.Bxg7! Kxg7 22.Qg4+ Kh8 23.Rf3 Nxf4 24.Rh3+ Nxh3 25.Qxh3+ Kg7 26.Qg4+ Bg5 27.Qxg5+ Kh8 28.Re4 f5 29.Rh4+ Qh7 30.Rxh7+ Kxh7 31.Qh4+ Kg7 32.Qg3+ Kf7 33.Qc7+ Ne7 34.Nc4+–) 19.Ne3 Nb4 20.Bb1²) 18.Ne3 Nc5 19.Bb1 Ba6∞. 17...Nxd4 18.Bxd4 Ba6 19.Nc3 Qb7 19...e5!? 20.Bf2 Bxd3 21.Qxd3 Rfc8∞.

And Black was fine (½-½) in the game Almasi,Z-Grivas,E Kopavogur 1994. Conclusion

583

With exact knowledge Black can successfully handle White’s preference for the placement of his dark-squared bishop on d2. Nothing really important was added in the last years and my opinion is that Black’s chances are encouraging.

584

Variation K - Dionysus B33 The Dionysus variation arises after the moves 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Be3 Qc7

But before we go on, let’s see why I named the variation after this ancient God of Mount Olympus. Nomenclature Dionysus under the Microscope Dionysus was the God of fertility and wine, and later was considered a patron of the arts. He invented wine and spread the art of tending grapes. He had a dual nature. On the one hand bringing joy and divine ecstasy, on the other brutal, thoughtless rage thereby reflecting both sides of wine’s nature. If he chose to Dionysus could drive a man mad. No normal fetters could restrain him or his followers. Dionysus was the son of Zeus and Semele. He was the only God to have a mortal parent. His birth by Zeus alone conferred immortality upon him. The 8.f4 variation has a dual nature. It brings joy by its activity, but on the other hand problems could arise by the ruined pawn structure it entails. So, after 8.f4 we have the basic position of the Dionysus variation. White aims to control more space without developing the f1-bishop too early on d3, perhaps even hoping to place it on g2. But before examining the 8.f4 line it is useful to mention some other (than the ‘usual’ 8.Bd3) sideline 8th moves White has tried, although they are not fully recommended. 585

Variation K1 - Dionysus - 8.? 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Be3 Qc7

The Dionysus variation starts with 8.f4, but before we fully examine it, it is useful to go after some real sidelines! a) 8.Nd4

8...a6 (8...Be7 9.Ndb5 Qb8 10.Be2 a6 11.Nd4 b5 12.f3 0-0, is also fine for Black, as in Chenska,KOkoniewski,A Polanica Zdroj 2009) 9.Be2 (9.a3, transposes to the 7.a3 variation; 9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.a3 586

(10.Bd3 d5 11.0-0 Rb8 12.Rb1 Bb4 13.f3 0-0³ Sampaio,C-Baptista,A Guimaraes 2017) 10...Rb8 11.Rb1 d5³ Mendez,R-Pinal,N Santo Domingo 2015) 9...Bb4! (9...Be7 10.f4 d6 11.0-0 0-0 12.Kh1 Bd7 13.Qe1 b5 14.a3 Nxd4 15.Bxd4 Bc6 and Black is playing a main ‘Scheveningen Sicilian Defense’ with an extra tempo, as in the game Doghri,N-Grivas,E Yerevan 1996) 10.Bd3 (10.Qd2? Nxe4–+ Butorac,L-Tomulic,T Rijeka 2010) 10...0-0 11.0-0³ Marquardt,P-Quaschner,M Willingen 2006. b) 8.Qf3

8...Bb4 (8...Be7 9.0-0-0 0-0 10.g4 d6 11.Qg3 a6 12.h4 b5∞ Szollosy,G-Kiss,A Hungary 2004; 8...a6 9.0-0-0 (playable is 9.Be2 Bb4 10.Bd2 0-0 11.0-0-0 b6 12.Bf4 Ne5∞ Strong,C-Scherfke,F ICCF 1998) 9...d6 (9...Bb4!, is the usual good and to the point move in these sidelines. Then I believe that it is only White that can face problems...) 10.Be2 h5 11.Qh3 b5 and Black is doing fine, as in Gazis,EGrivas,E Khania 1987) b1) 9.Bd2

587

9...0-0 (9...a6 10.Bd3 0-0 11.0-0-0 b5∞ Davidenko,H-Kostrikina,A Voronezh 2010) 10.0-0-0 (10.a3 Bxc3 11.Bxc3 e5 12.h3 d6 13.0-0-0 Be6³ Guezennec,F-Bauer,C Internet 2020) 10...a6 11.Kb1 b5 12.Bd3 Bb7 13.Qg3 Qxg3 14.hxg3= Fischer,D-Nikolov,M Tegernsee 2017. b2) 9.0-0-0 Bxc3 10.bxc3

10...d5 (10...b6 11.Bf4 e5 12.Bh6∞ Rieper,J-Roehr,T Osnabrueck 2018) 11.exd5 Nxd5 12.Bc5 Bd7 13.c4 Qf4+ 14.Qxf4 Nxf4 15.Bd6 Ng6 16.Nc5 0-0-0∞ Freitag,M-Ennsberger,U Austria 2019. c) 8.g4

588

8...Bb4 (8...d6 9.g5 (9.Bg2 a6 10.Qe2 b5 11.0-0-0 Rb8 12.g5 Nd7 13.f4 Be7 14.h4∞ Terletsky,ODjordjevic,D Internet 2020) 9...Nd7 10.Qe2 a6 11.f4 b5∞ Siekanska,I-Pilarska,C Bydgoszcz 1990; 8...h6 9.Bg2 Ne5 10.h3 a6 11.Qe2 Ng6 12.0-0-0² Dobrovoljc,V-Movsesian,S Pardubice 2019) 9.f3 (9.Bg2 d5 10.g5 Nxe4 11.Bxe4 dxe4 12.Qg4 Ne5 13.Qxe4 Bxc3+ 14.bxc3 Qxc3+ 15.Ke2 Bd7–+ Gur,E-Khamrakulov,I Ano Liosia 2001; 9.Bd2

9...h6 (9...0-0 10.f3 d5, is perfectly playable) 10.a3 Be7 11.f4 d6 12.Qf3 a6 13.0-0-0 g5 14.fxg5 Ne5 15.Qg3 hxg5 16.h3 Rg8³ Koumoutsakos,A-Grivas,E Thessaloniki 1989; 9.Bd3 d5 10.Bc5 dxe4 11.Bxb4 exd3µ Alvarez,C-Hormazabal Figueroa,C Guayaquil 2019) 9...d5 10.g5 Nh5 11.exd5 exd5∞ Babazada,K-Dobrov,V Internet 2019. d) 8.Be2 Bb4!, transposes to the Fates variation. 589

e) 8.f3

8...Bb4 (again a much more effective move than the passive 8...a6, or 8...Be7) e1) 9.Bd2 a6 (9...0-0 10.Bd3 d5 11.0-0 dxe4 12.fxe4 Ne5³ Aguilar,M-Panno,O Mendoza 2003; 9...d5 10.exd5 exd5 11.Nb5 Qe7+ 12.Qe2 Bxd2+ 13.Nxd2 Be6³ Al Hageri,B-Epishin,V San Sebastian 2015) 10.Qe2 0-0 11.a3 Be7 12.g4 b5 13.f4 b4 14.axb4 Nxb4 15.Rc1 d5³ Papapostolou,C-Vasiukov,E Arco 2001. e2) 9.Bc5

9...Bxc5 (9...Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 d5 11.Bd3∞ Reichelt,F-Tuzi,B Hofheim 2019) 10.Nxc5 a6 11.Qd2 d6 (11...b6 12.Nb3 Bb7 13.0-0-0 0-0 14.g4 Rfd8∞ Erseki,T-Ronai,A Budapest 2015) 12.Nb3 0-0 13.0590

0-0 (13.Bd3 b5 14.0-0 b4 15.Ne2 d5= Sukhotin,I-Novikov,A Krasnoyarsk 2016) 13...Rd8 14.g4 d5!

15.Qe3 dxe4 16.Rxd8+ Nxd8 17.Nxe4 Nd5 18.Qd2 Bd7 19.Bd3 Bb5³ Papastavropoulos,AGrivas,E Aegina 1994. e3) 9.a3 Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 d5

11.exd5 (11.Bd3 0-0 12.Nd2 Ne5µ Whittet,A-Gor,O Akhisar Manisa 2009) 11...Nxd5 12.Bd2 0-0 13.Bd3 Ne5µ Goettin,G-Cuartas,J Sitges 2008. e4) 9.Qe2 d5 10.0-0-0 Bxc3 11.bxc3 0-0 12.exd5 Nxd5 13.Bd2 e5µ Zubov,A-Arzumanian,G Kharkov 2005. e5) 9.Qd2 d5 591

10.a3 (10.0-0-0 0-0 11.a3 Bxc3 12.Qxc3 dxe4 13.fxe4 Nxe4 14.Qe1 Nf6³ Sammour H.,JKononenko,D Internet 2009; 10.Bd3 dxe4 (10...e5 11.a3 Bxc3 12.bxc3 dxe4 13.fxe4 Ng4∞ Raineri,V-Efimov,I Correggio 2007) 11.fxe4

11...Ng4³) 10...Bxc3 11.Qxc3 dxe4 12.fxe4 (12.Bc5? b6!µ)

592

e51) 12...Qe5 13.Qxe5 Nxe5 14.Bd4 (14.Nc5 0-0 15.Bd4 Nc6 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.0-0-0 b6= Gallar Tamayo,A-Perez Leiva,J Pinar del Rio 2019) 14...Nfd7 15.Bb5 0-0 16.0-0-0 a6 17.Bxd7 Nxd7 18.Nc5 Nxc5 19.Bxc5 Re8 20.Bb6 e5= Plenkovic,Z-Kurajica,B Split 2005. e52) 12...0-0 13.Bd3

13...Ng4! (13...e5? 14.0-0 Nd7 15.Rf3 f6 16.g4 g5 17.Raf1± Hallope,A-Bapst,V Cholet 2009; 13...Qe5 14.Bd2! Qh5 15.0-0 Ng4 16.h3 Nge5∞ Nunn,J-Grivas,E Athens 1991) 14.Bc5 (14.Bd2 b6 15.Be2 Nf6 16.Bf3 Bb7 17.0-0-0 Rac8³ Bratkovic,J-Alekseev,E Budva 2019) 14...Rd8 15.0-00 b6 16.h3 (16.Bg1 Bb7 (16...Nge5 17.Nd4 Nxd3+ 18.Rxd3 Bb7³ Bozanic,I-Kurajica,B Split 2005) 17.Kb1 Nge5 18.Bf2 Nxd3 19.cxd3 e5µ Tesik,C-Szabo,B Zalakaros 2010) 16...Nge5

593

17.Be3?! (17.Bd4 Nxd3+ 18.Rxd3 Ba6 19.Rd2 f6³) 17...Nxd3+ 18.cxd3 (18.Rxd3 Ba6 19.Rxd8+ Rxd8³) 18...Ba6 (18...Bb7 19.Kb1 Rac8µ Kaplan,S-Golod,V Ashdod 2004) 19.Kb1 Rac8µ Prie,EGiffard,N Epinal 1989. f) 8.Nb5 Qb8

f1) 9.f3 d5 (9...a6 10.N5d4 (10.Nc3 Bb4 11.Bd2 0-0 12.a3 Be7 13.Be3 b5 14.Qd2 b4 (14...d5!³) 15.axb4 Bxb4∞ Arendt,H-Rosen,W Germany 1995) 10...d5 11.exd5 Nxd5 12.Bf2 Bd6 13.Nxc6 bxc6 14.Qd4 0-0³ Dreckmann,F-Rosen,W Essen 2000) 10.Bd3 (10.Be2?! dxe4 11.0-0 a6µ Shvedova,A-Martynyuk,E Internet 2020) 10...a6 11.N5d4 Nxd4 12.Bxd4 e5³ Medina,E-Coro,L Villa Martelli 2018.

594

f2) 9.Bc5?! Bxc5 10.Nxc5

10...b6 (10...d5 11.exd5 Qe5+ (11...exd5 12.Be2 0-0 13.0-0 Bf5= Fernandes,J-Santos Filho,T Brazil 1998) 12.Qe2∞ Radics,N-Mezei,S Dunaujvaros 2013) 11.Nd6+ Ke7 12.Nxc8+ Rxc8 13.Na6 Qe5µ O’Neill,T-Hibbitt,A Sunningdale 2007. f3) 9.Bd3 a6 (9...d5 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.0-0 a6 12.N5d4 Ne5 13.Qe2 Bd6= Koursaris,N-Dochev,D Nikea 2004; 9...Be7 10.Qd2 d5 11.exd5 Nxd5∞ Grah,M-Meireles,A Mureck 2007) 10.Nc3 (10.N5d4

10...Be7 (10...Nxd4 11.Bxd4 e5 12.Bc3 Be7 13.0-0 d6 14.Kh1 0-0 15.f4 b5∞ Stock,L-Madl,I Turin 2006) 11.Qe2 Qc7 12.g4 d5 13.Nxc6 bxc6∞ Tsanov,M-Dimitrov,P Sunny Beach 2009) 10...Be7 595

(10...Bb4 11.0-0 0-0 12.f4 Bxc3 13.bxc3 d5 14.e5 Ne4 15.Bxe4 dxe4 16.Nc5 Na5 17.Nxe4 Nc4 18.Bc5± Priyanka,K-Kostrikina,A Internet 2020) 11.0-0 b5 12.f4 d6∞

Leonardy,B-Cavailles,E Internet 2020.

Variation K2 - Dionysus - 9.? 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Be3 Qc7 8.f4

8...Bb4

596

Here the pin is more sensible than in the 7.Bd3 Bb4 variation as White has already placed his bishop on e3 thus having ‘forfeited’ the possibility of Bg5 or Bd2. Another playable continuation starts with 8...d6. After 9.g4, we have a position that in practice is most often reached by a different move order: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 4...Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bg5 Qb6 7.Nb3 e6 8.Bf4 Ne5 9.Be3 Qc7 10.f4 Nc6 11.g4 (Sicilian Defense - Sozin Attack). I feel that this is too ‘passive’ of an alternative for ‘Grivas Sicilian’ players, so I would concentrate only on the text. 9.Bd3 The most popular continuation. Alternatives are: a) 9.Qf3 d5 a1) 10.Bd3 dxe4 11.Bxe4 Nxe4 12.Qxe4 0-0 13.0-0 Bxc3 14.bxc3 Ne7 15.Bc5 Re8 16.Rf3 Bd7³ Kresojevic,V-Efimov,I Badenweiler 1990. a2) 10.e5 Ne4 11.Bd2 Nxd2 12.Nxd2

12...Bd7 (12...b6 13.Bb5 Bb7 14.0-0 0-0³ Derakhshani,D-Blakeman,C Internet 2020) 13.a3 (13.Nb5 Qb6 14.c3 Be7 15.Nb3 Nxe5 16.fxe5 Bxb5µ Derakhshani,B-Naiditsch,A Zuerich 2015) 13...Nd4 14.Qd3 Bc5 15.Nf3 Nxf3+ 16.Qxf3 Rc8µ Nestorovic,K-Antolak,J Rymanow Zdroj 2017. a3) 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Bd2

597

11...Nxc3!? (11...Bxc3 12.bxc3 0-0∞ Teng Hua,A-Kushka,A Kemer 2007) 12.bxc3 Bd6 (12...Be7 13.Bd3 Bf6 14.0-0 0-0³ Gedeus,S-Araujo Sanchez,J La Vega 2019) 13.Bd3 Bd7³. b) 9.e5 b1) 9...Ne4 10.Qd3 Nxc3 11.bxc3 Nxe5! (11...Be7 12.Rd1 0-0 13.Be2 f6 14.0-0 fxe5 15.fxe5 Nxe5 16.Rxf8+ Bxf8 17.Qd4 d6 18.Bf4 Nd7∞ Alahakoon,I-Lazarev,V New Delhi 2015) 12.fxe5 Bxc3+

13.Kf2 (13.Kd1 Bxa1 14.Nxa1 Qxe5µ Herbrechtsmeier,C-Lobron,E Germany 1979) 13...Bxa1 14.Nxa1 Qxe5 15.Be2 0-0³ Varnusz,E-Polgar,I Budapest 1965. b2) 9...Nd5 10.Bd2

598

10...Nxc3 (10...Bxc3 11.bxc3 g5 12.g3 h5 13.Bg2 Nde7 14.Nd4 gxf4 15.gxf4 Nxd4 16.cxd4 Nf5 17.c3∞ Luukkonen,T-Sassi,P Oulu 2005) 11.bxc3 Be7 12.Qg4 (12.Nd4 Nxd4 13.cxd4 Bh4+ 14.Ke2 b6 15.Ke3 h5 16.g3 Bb7 17.Rg1 Be7³ Terzi,A-Purygin,A Sochi 2017) 12...g6 13.h4 (13.Bd3 d6 14.exd6 Bxd6 15.0-0 0-0 (15...Bd7 16.c4 0-0-0 17.c5 Be7 18.Bc3 h5 19.Qe2∞ Salles,LKanmazalp,O Cappelle la Grande 2014) 16.c4 Nb4³) 13...h5 14.Qg3 d6 15.exd6 Bxd6 16.Bd3 0-0³ Tichonov,J-Pechacek,S Nymburk 1997. c) 9.Qd3 d5

c1) 10.0-0-0 Bxc3 11.Qxc3 0-0 (11...dxe4 12.Bc5 (12.Nd4 0-0 13.Nxc6 Qxc6 14.Qxc6 bxc6 15.g3°) 12...Qxf4+ 13.Kb1 Qe5 14.Nd4 Nd5 15.Qa3° Jelecevic,I-Kurajica,B Sibenik 2010) 12.e5 Ne4 13.Qe1 a5 14.a3 (14.Bd3 Nb4 15.Kb1 Bd7 16.Bxe4 dxe4 17.Nd4 Rfc8∞ Rummel,Z599

Metaxasz,V Budapest 2006) 14...b6 15.Bd3 Ba6 16.Bxe4 dxe4∞ Arribas Lopez,A-Gallego Jimenez,V Madrid 2014. c2) 10.e5 Ne4

11.Nd2 (11.Bd2 Nxd2 12.Nxd2 a6 13.a3 Be7 14.Qg3 0-0³ Podlesnik,B-Djekovic,Z Bar 2007) 11...Bxc3 12.bxc3 Nxd2 13.Qxd2 Na5³ Chakeeva,A-Lyan,A Astana 2012. 9...Bxc3+ A weaker option is 9...d5, an exception in the 4...Qb6 Sicilian Defense. In this particular position this thematic idea only gives Black problems. After the obvious 10.e5, Black has tried: a) 10...d4 (a dubious pawn sacrifice) 11.Nxd4

600

11...Nxd4 (11...Nd5 12.Ndb5 Qe7 13.Bd2 0-0 (13...Nxc3 14.Nxc3 Bc5 15.Qg4 g6 16.Ne4 h5 17.Qg3+– Wrtal,A-Ennsberger,U Passau 1997; 13...a6 14.Nxd5 exd5 15.Bxb4 Qxb4+ 16.c3 Qa5 17.Nd6+ Kf8 18.Qh5 Qc7 19.0-0+– Vasilevich,I-Dorofeeva,A Sochi 2004) 14.Nxd5 exd5 15.0-0 Bc5+ 16.Kh1 a6 17.Nc3± Tverskaya,J-Bazhina,E Moscow 1986) 12.Bxd4 Nd5 13.0-0

13...Nxc3 (13...Bxc3 14.bxc3 Bd7 15.Qe1± Walter,G-Nehmert,U Berlin 2015) 14.bxc3 Ba5 (14...Be7 15.Qf3± Farkas,T-Papp Zoltan,C Szeged 1998) 15.Qg4 g6 16.Qf3 (16.Bb5+ Bd7 17.Bxd7+ Qxd7 18.Rad1± Kovacevic,V-Barnier,A Geneve 1990) 16...Bd7 17.Be4 Bc6 18.Bxc6+ bxc6 19.Rfb1 0-0 20.Qe3±. b) 10...Nd7 11.0-0

601

White has achieved an excellent ‘French Defense’ pawn structure: 11...a6 12.Ne2 Na5 (12...Be7 13.c3 f5 14.Ned4 Nxd4 15.cxd4 Nb8 16.Rc1 Nc6± ½-½ Vasiljevic,B-Savchenko,S Tuzla 1990; 12...0-0 13.c3² Kotsur,P-Schaufelberger,H Lausanne 2001) 13.c3 Be7 14.Nxa5 Qxa5 15.Nd4 g6 16.a4 Qc7 17.Qe1 b6 18.b4± Babula,M-Palek,M Karvina 1986. c) 10...Ne4 11.Bxe4! dxe4

c1) 12.0-0 Bxc3 13.bxc3 b6 14.Nd2 (14.Qg4 0-0! (14...f5 15.exf6 gxf6 16.Nd4 Nxd4 17.Bxd4± Moroder,T-Nicevski,R Porto San Giorgio 1996) 15.Nd2 Ne7 16.Nxe4 Bb7 (16...Nf5 17.Rae1 Bb7 18.Bd4 Bxe4 19.Rxe4 Qc6 20.Qf3 h5∞ Goransson,B-Burehall,A Gothenburg 1964) 17.Nd6 Qxc3 18.Qe2 Nf5 19.Nxf5 exf5³ Kilian,R-Rosen,W Ruhrgebiet 1996) 14...Ba6 (14...Ne7 15.Nxe4 Nf5 16.Nd6+ Nxd6 17.exd6 Qc6 602

18.Rf3 (18.Qf3 Bb7 19.Qxc6+ Bxc6 20.a4 Kd7 21.Rfd1 Rhc8 22.a5 bxa5 23.Rxa5 Bd5 24.Bc5 Rcb8 25.Rda1 a6 26.Rxa6 Rxa6 27.Rxa6 Ra8 28.Rxa8 Bxa8= Mescher,M-Davidovic,A Canberra 1990) 18...0-0 19.Rg3 f6 20.Qd3 Bb7 21.Rd1² Solak,D-Knezevic,B Cetinje 1993)

15.Rf2 (15.Nxe4 Bxf1 16.Nd6+ Kf8 17.Qxf1° Birkendorf,A-Rosen,W Ruhrgebiet 1999) 15...0-0-0 16.Qe1 (16.Qg4 Ne7 17.Nxe4 Nf5 18.Bd4 h5 19.Qh3 Bb7∞ Groetz,H-Paschall,W Budapest 2004) 16...f5 (16...Ne7 17.Nxe4± Elis,V-Illner,A Germany 1991) 17.exf6 gxf6 18.Nxe4 f5 19.Ng5 Rde8 20.Nf3² as in Szabo,L-Gufeld,E Tallinn 1969. c2) 12.Nd2!? Bxc3 13.bxc3

603

13...0-0 (13...Ne7 14.Nxe4 Nf5 15.Bd4 b6 16.0-0² Murawski,G-Laszewicz,P Wisla 1998) 14.Nxe4 Rd8 15.Qh5 Na5 16.0-0² Stangl,A-Goehler,A Germany 1995. 10.bxc3

10...d6 Another possible plan starts with 10...b6 11.0-0 Bb7 (11...a6 12.Nd2 d5 13.e5 Nd7 14.c4 d4 15.Bf2 Nc5 16.Qg4 Bb7∞ Arencibia R. W-Anastasian,A Luzern 1993)

604

a) 12.Qe1 Ne7 13.Bd4 (13.Bd2 0-0 14.c4 d6∞) 13...Qc6 14.Nd2 Nf5 15.Qe2 Nxd4 16.cxd4 Qc3 17.Nb3 Rc8 18.Rf3 0-0 19.Re1 a5∞ Omariev,M-Gabrielian,A Moscow 2008. b) 12.Bc1 d6 13.Qe1 e5 14.f5 Nb8 15.c4 Nbd7 16.Qe2 Qc6 17.Re1 Rc8 18.Kh1 Ba6 19.Nd2 Nc5 20.Ba3 h6µ Stelzer,H-Luecke,N Porz 1994. c) 12.f5

12...exf5 (12...Ne5! 13.Qe1 0-0³) 13.Rxf5 d6 (13...Ne5 14.Bf4 d6 15.Bb5+²) 14.Bh6 gxh6 15.Rxf6 0-0-0 (15...Ke7? 16.Rxh6 Ne5 17.Nd4± Lobanov,S-Pavlidis,A Tallinn 2016) 16.a4 Rhg8∞. d) 12.Qe2 d6

605

13.Bf2 (13.Rae1 0-0 14.Bd2 d5³ Svrtan,Z-Fercec,N Hum na Sutli 2014) 13...Ne7 14.c4 Ng6 15.Be1 0-0 16.Bc3∞ ½-½ Mnatsakanian,E-Gufeld,E Tbilisi 1983. 11.0-0

11...e5! Best by test! Black should not be in hurry to castle: 11...0-0 12.Rf3 (12.g4!? e5! 13.f5 d5 14.g5 Nxe4 15.Bxe4 dxe4µ Orak,L-Kozul,Z Sibenik 2006; 12.c4 b6 13.Qf3 e5 14.f5∞ Gudovskis,K-Starostits,I Riga 606

2020) 12...Bd7 13.Rg3 Kh8 14.Qd2 Rg8 15.Rf1² Jinova,L-Markova,K Chrudim 1993. Interesting is 11...b6!?

a) 12.Qf3 0-0 (12...Bb7 13.Qg3 0-0 (13...Rg8 14.a4 Ne7 15.Nd2 d5 16.e5 Ne4 17.Qe1² Draskovic,L-Horvath,C Amantea 2014) 14.Rae1 Kh8 15.Nd4² Movileanu,D-Zhigalko,A Padova 2015) 13.g4 Bb7 14.g5 Nd7 15.Qh5 Rfe8 (15...Na5! 16.Nxa5 bxa5∞) 16.Rf3 Ne7 17.Rh3 Nf8 18.c4² Caruana,F-Zhang Pengxiang Merida 2008. b) 12.Nd4 Bb7 13.Nb5 (13.Qe2 0-0 14.Bf2 e5 15.Nf5 Bc8 16.Bh4∞ Travkina,A-Ambartsumova,K Sochi 2017; 13.e5? dxe5 14.Nb5 Qe7 15.fxe5 Nxe5µ Zupancic,U-Tratar,M Ptuj 2015) 13...Qe7 14.Nxd6+ Qxd6 15.e5 Qe7 16.exf6

607

16...gxf6 (16...Qxf6!? 17.Qe1 0-0∞) 17.Be4 f5 18.Bf3∞ Slingerland,F-Van der Wiel,J Leiden 2008. c) 12.f5 Ne5 13.fxe6 fxe6 14.Qe1 0-0 15.Bd4 Bb7µ Brilej,J-Mazi,L Portoroz 2016. d) 12.Qe2 0-0 13.Rae1 e5 14.f5 d5!∞ Metz,H-Schaufelberger,H Germany 2002.

Both sides have a lot of weakness, so the situation is sensitive, thus requiring deep understanding and precise play. Generally, Black should not be in hurry to castle. As 12.fxe5 Nxe5! (12...dxe5 13.Qe1 (13.Qf3 h6 14.Bc4² Sousa,A-Damaso,R Portimao 2019) 13...Ne7 14.Bg5² Kantans,T-Fedorov,A Jurmala 2016) 13.Bg5 (13.Nd4 a6 14.Qe1 0-0 15.Bg5 Nfd7 (15...Ne8 16.Kh1 f6 17.Bf4 Bd7 18.a4 Rc8 19.Ra3∞ Goganov,A-Alekseev,E St Petersburg 2015) 16.Nf5 f6 17.Ne7+ Kh8 18.Nd5 Qd8∞) 13...Bg4 14.Qd2 Nfd7, is harmless, White should choose in-between 12.h3, 12.f5 and 12.Kh1. We will examine each of these moves separately. R Variation K21 - Dionysus - 12.h3 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Be3 Qc7 8.f4 Bb4 9.Bd3 Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 d6 11.0-0 e5 12.h3

608

A slow way, which cannot pose any real problems to Black, nevertheless it cannot be underestimated. 12...b6 The unthematic 12...exf4 13.Bxf4 Ne5 14.Qe1 (14.Bd2 Nfd7 15.Qe1 0-0 16.Qg3 Nc5 17.Nxc5 Qxc5+ 18.Kh1 Be6³ Outomuro Nieves,R-Rodriguez Lopez,R Ourense 2007; 14.Bh6!? Rg8 15.Bg5∞) 14...Nfd7 15.Rd1 Ng6 (15...0-0!?) 16.Bh2 0-0 17.Nd4 Nde5 18.Nf5∞ Schmitt,TSchaufelberger,H Waldshut 2002, looks quite playable but Black should probably avoid early castling: 12...0-0 13.Qe1 (13.f5 b6 (13...d5? 14.exd5 Nxd5

15.f6! g6 16.Qe1 Nxe3 17.Qxe3 Qb6 18.Nc5 Kh8 19.Rab1 Qa5 20.Ne4 Nd8 21.Qh6 1–0

609

Kurayan,R-Gerard,N Espalion 2018) 14.Bg5 Qe7 15.Qe2 Bb7 16.Ba6 Bxa6 17.Qxa6 Rfd8 18.Rad1 Rac8 19.Rd3 Rc7∞ ½–½ Lumiste,R-Chukavin,K Narva 2016)

13...exf4 14.Bxf4 Be6 15.Nd4² Miskulin,D-Bellon Lopez,J Stockholm 2003. 13.c4 Or 13.a4 Be6 (13...Bb7!? 14.Qf3 0-0³) 14.f5 Bd7 15.Qe1 h6 16.c4 a5 17.Qf2 Rb8 18.Nd2 Nb4 19.Nb1∞ Kantane,A-Lopez Martinez,J Minsk 2017. 13...Bb7

610

14.fxe5 White has to go with this capture. The alternative 14.Nd2 Nb8 15.Qf3 Nbd7 16.Rab1 Bc6 17.Rfe1 Nc5 18.g4 exf4 19.Qxf4 Ne6 20.Qg3 Nd7 21.Bf1 Ne5µ Demetrakis,M-Grivas,E Limassol 1997, or 14.Qe1 Nb8 15.Bd2 Nbd7 16.Rd1 0-0 17.f5 Ba6µ Daifas,I-Grivas,E Athens 1997, didn’t made White happy. 14...Nxe5 15.Nd4

15...0-0!? A suggested novelty. 15...Bc8?!, wasn’t satisfactory for Black after 16.Qe1 0-0 17.Nb5 Qc6

611

18.Rxf6! gxf6 19.Qg3+ Ng6 20.Bd4 Rd8 21.Rf1 Be6 22.Bxf6 Rd7 23.Nd4 Qc5 24.Qe3 Qh5 25.Be2 1–0 in Tosic,M-Ilic,Z Nis 1997. The position (after 15...0-0!?) is unclear, as now the exchange sacrifice is not that strong: 16.Rxf6?! (16.Qe2 Nxe4µ) 16...gxf6 17.Qh5 Kh8 18.Qh4 (18.Rf1 Rg8 19.Rxf6 Rg6³) 18...Qd8³

and Black should be happy. R Variation K22 - Dionysus - 12.f5 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Be3 Qc7 8.f4 Bb4 9.Bd3 Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 d6 11.0-0 e5 12.f5 612

White blocks the center, preparing a kingside attack (with g4, h4 or Bg5), so Black is obliged to delay castling. 12...h6! I think that it is too early for opening the center: 12...d5 13.exd5 (13.Qf3 dxe4 (13...0-0? 14.exd5 e4 15.Bxe4 Ne5 16.Qf4+– Mekhitarian,K-Van E.,S Barcelona 2008) 14.Bxe4 Nxe4 15.Qxe4 g6!∞) 13...Nxd5

14.Bc5 (14.Qf3!? Nxe3 15.Qxe3 f6 16.Rad1 0-0 17.Nc5²) 14...b6 (14...Bd7 15.Bc4 Nf6 16.Bd6± May,J-Mueller,E Karlsruhe 2003) 15.Qf3 Nxc3 16.Ba3°.

613

13.Qf3 Other moves are: a) 13.c4 b6 14.a4 Bb7 15.Qe1 Nb8 16.Bf2 Nbd7 17.a5 0-0³ Munguntuul,B-Movsesian,S Douglas 2019. b) 13.h3 b6 14.a4 Bb7 15.Qe1 Nb8 16.a5 Nbd7³ Lodoev,A-Pridorozhni,A Khanty-Mansiysk 2019. 13...b6 13...Bd7?!, is out of the usual way: 14.c4 Nb4 15.a3 Nxd3 16.cxd3 Ba4 17.Nd2² Fejzullahu,AMiralles,G Switzerland 2012.

14.Qg3 The main alternatives are: a) 14.g4 Bb7 15.h4 h5 16.g5 Ng4 17.Bc1 Nb8! 18.Ba3 Nd7∞ Teodoro,E-Ciaffone,R North Bay 1996. b) 14.c4 Nb8! 15.Rfd1 Nbd7 16.a4 a5 17.Nd2 Bb7∞ Radulov,I-Vragoteris,A Kavala 1991. c) 14.a4 Bb7 15.Bf2 Nb8! 16.a5 Nbd7 17.c4 0-0∞ Jukic,B-Sale,S Biograd 2018. 14...Kf8!

614

Black is losing his right to castle, but this is the only sufficient move for him as White cannot take advantage of the black king’s position (at least not immediately). 15.Qf3 Or 15.c4 Bb7 16.Qh4 (16.Bd2 Nb8 17.Bb4 Nbd7 (17...Na6!?) 18.Qe1³ ½-½ Andrijevic,M-Ilic,Z Zlatibor 1989) 16...Nb8 17.Nd2 Nbd7 18.Rfe1 Nc5 19.Bf2 Ke7 20.h3 g5 21.fxg6 fxg6 22.Qg3 g5³

Denisov,D-Vlasenko,M Rybinsk 2001. Another line starts with the regrouping of the darksquared bishop on the a3–f8 diagonal: 15.Bc1 Nb8 16.Ba3 (16.a4 Nbd7 17.a5 Bb7 18.axb6 axb6µ Rogers,I-Avshalumov,A Belgrade 1988) 615

16...Nbd7 17.Rae1 Nc5 18.Qh4 Bb7 19.c4 Qe7³ Cela,A-Grivas,E Kalavrita 1997 -see the analyzed game in the Middlegame Strategy chapter. 15...Bb7 16.g4

16...Nb8! The usual regrouping of the c6-knight. Black will place his knight on d7, protecting his f6-knight and the b6-pawn (which might be attacked after a4-a5), while thinking of a well-timed ...Nc5 and attack the white e4-pawn! What else can Black ask for? 616

17.c4 Hardly satisfactory is 17.h4? d5!µ. White must keep the d5-square under control. 17...Nbd7 18.a4

18...Nc5 18...Qc6!? 19.Nd2 a5∞, or 18...a5, are good alternatives. 19.Nxc5 bxc5 20.h4 h5! 20...Bc6 21.g5 hxg5 22.hxg5 Nd7 23.Kf2, might give White some play. 21.g5 Ng4

617

And the position is unclear. White has a worse pawn structure but Black has a somewhat worse king. R Variation K23 - Dionysus - 12.Kh1 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Be3 Qc7 8.f4 Bb4 9.Bd3 Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 d6 11.0-0 e5 12.Kh1

This prophylactic move is probably White’s best try. 12...Ng4!

618

As White has not yet blocked the centre, 12...h6?!, turned out to be a bad idea: 13.Qe1 b6 14.fxe5 dxe5 15.Qg3 Kf8 16.Nd4 Nh5 17.Qg6 exd4 18.cxd4 Nf6

19.Rxf6! gxf6 20.Qxf6 Rg8 21.Bf4 Qd7 22.Bd6+ Ke8 23.Bb5 Bb7 24.d5 Rc8 25.Rd1 a6 26.dxc6 Bxc6 27.Rd5 1–0 Vouldis,A-Grivas,E Rhodes 1993 - see the analyzed game in the Middlegame Strategy chapter. 13.Bg1 13.Bd2 exf4 14.Bxf4 0-0 15.Nd4 Nge5∞, is a possible alternative. 13...exf4 14.Rxf4 Nge5 15.Nd4

619

15...0-0 Playable is 15...Ng6 16.Rf1 0-0∞, as in Berrocal Farina,J-Cuartas,J Barbera del Valles 2006, or 15...a6 16.Nf5 0-0 17.Ne3 Be6 18.Nd5 Bxd5 19.exd5 Ne7∞ Brantjes,Y-Overeem,M Leiden 2015. 16.Nf5 Looks like the best try. White has gone for 16.Qh5 Ng6! 17.Rf3 Nce5 18.Rg3 Nf4 (18...Qxc3!? 19.Rf1 Qc7 20.Nf5°) 19.Qg5 Ne6 20.Nxe6?! (20.Qd2 Nc5 21.Nf3 Ng6∞) 20...fxe6 21.Bd4 b6³ Liss,E-Grivas,E Rishon Le Ziyyon 1993 and for 16.Qd2 f6 17.Rff1 Qe7 18.Rab1 b6 19.Bb5 Na5 20.Nf5 Bxf5 21.exf5 Rac8³ Gikas,V-Grivas,E Khania 1995, without much success. 16...f6 16...Be6!?, is a novelty waiting to be played! Black looks like doing OK: 17.Qe1 (17.Qd2 f6 18.a4 Bxf5 19.exf5 Rad8³) 17...Ne7 18.Bd4 f6³. 17.Bb5! Transferring the bishop to a better square on b3. 17...Rd8 18.Ba4 Bxf5 18...Be6!? 19.Bb3 Nc4∞. 19.Bb3+ Kh8 620

A suggested novelty to 19...Be6? 20.Bxe6+ Kf8 21.Qh5 Ke7 22.Bd5± Istratescu,A-Atalik,S Bucharest 1995. 20.exf5 d5∞

Black is doing fine. As I have already mentioned, 16...Be6!?, should be tested, where I feel that Black’s position is sound. Conclusion As you can see little new ideas have been played during the last years with the Dionysus variation. Black has found ways to obtain counterplay without difficulties.

621

Variation L - Athena B33 The starting point of the next diagram identifies the turning point of the Athena variation, which appears after the placement of the white queen on e2: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.Be3 Qc7 9.f4 a6 10.Qe2

But before we go on, let’s see why I named the variation after one of the most known and respected Goddess of the ancient Greek Mythology. Nomenclature Athena under the Microscope Athena was the Greek virgin Goddess of reason, intelligence, arts, and literature. Athena was the daughter of Zeus. She sprang full grown in armory from his forehead and thus had no mother. She was fierce and brave in battle but only in defensive wars. She invented the bridle which permitted man to tame horses, the trumpet, flute, pot, rake, plow, yoke, ship, and the chariot. She was the embodiment of wisdom, reason, and purity. She was Zeus’s favorite child and was allowed to use his weapons, including his thunderbolt. Her favorite city was Athens, her tree - the olive and her bird - the owl. Athena gives her name to this variation as Zeus’s favorite child having a lot in common with the lines of the ‘Zeus’ variation (10.Qf3). Compared to the 10.Qf3 line, this one seems to be ‘virgin’ territory. 622

Variation L1 - Athena - 10.Qe2 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.Be3 Qc7 9.f4 a6 10.Qe2

This is supposed to be more ‘innocent’ compared to 10.Qf3, as now White does not have at his disposal the important option of Qh3. On the other hand, on e2 the queen applies more pressure on the e-file, while preserving the Qh5 possibility for a later stage. If White instead plays 10.0-0 Be7 (10...b5?! 11.Qf3! Be7 (11...Bb7) 12.e5!±), then the possibility of 11.Na4!?

623

Comes to mind. Now Black can continue with 11...Nd7 (11...b5 12.Nb6 Rb8 13.Nxc8 Qxc8 14.Qe2 (14.c3²) 14...Ra8 15.Rf2 0-0 16.g4 e5 17.f5 d5∞ Fedorov,A-Kotov,V St Petersburg 2000) 12.c4 b6 (12...0-0 13.Rc1 b6 14.Nc3 Nc5 15.Bb1 Bb7 16.Nd4 (16.Qh5 g6 17.Qh3∞ Loskutov,O-Neverov,V St Petersburg 1999) 16...Rac8∞ Borawski,J-Olhovik,A Bialystok 2014) 13.Nd4 (13.Qd2 Nc5 14.Naxc5 bxc5 15.e5 dxe5 16.Bxc5

16...Bxc5+! (16...0-0?! 17.Bxe7 Qxe7 18.Be4 Bb7 19.Bxc6 Bxc6 20.fxe5± Rubil,M-Baturina,A Sv Filip i Jakov 2009) 17.Nxc5 f5∞; 13.Rc1 Nc5 14.Naxc5 bxc5 15.Bd2 Bf6 16.Bc3 Bxc3 17.Rxc3 a5∞ Bala,K-Soumya,S Mapusa 2014)

13...Bf6 (13...Nb4 14.Be2²) 14.Nxc6 Qxc6 15.Rc1 Bb7 16.b4 0-0 17.Rf2∞ Pupo,E-Urday Caceres,H Matanzas 1992. 624

It should be mentioned that the moves 10.Qe2 and 10.Qf3, seem to be the most promising. Another placement of the white queen was seen in Beliavsky,A-Gufeld,E Sukhumi 1972: 10.g4 b5 11.g5 Nd7 12.Qd2

12...Bb7 (12...Nc5 13.0-0-0 Nxd3+ 14.Qxd3 Be7 15.Kb1 Bb7 16.Rhf1 0-0∞ Jukes,S-Petrov,M Cardiff 2019) 13.0-0-0 Nc5 (13...Be7 14.Kb1 0-0-0 15.h4 Nc5 16.Rhf1² Sramek,V-Stinka,J Kouty nad Desnou 2020. 13...Rc8 and 13...Nb6, are fair alternatives) 14.Qf2 Nxd3+ (14...Nb4?! 15.Nxc5 dxc5 16.Be2²) 15.Rxd3 b4 16.Bb6 Qb8 17.Na4 a5∞. 10...Be7

625

Some games without an early ...Be7, have been played, via another move order, although these plans by Black are not advisable: 10...b5 11.0-0-0 (11.g4 h6 12.a4 (12.0-0-0!?) 12...b4 13.Nd1 d5! 14.Nf2 Bb7 15.0-0-0 Na5 16.Nxa5 Qxa5∞ Mokry,K-Polgar,J Brno 1991) a) 11...Bb7

12.Kb1 (12.g4 g6 (12...Nb4!?; 12...Na5 13.g5 Nxb3+ 14.axb3 Nd7 15.Bd4 Nc5 16.Kb1 0-0-0 17.h4² Balla,T-Czebe,A Backa Palanka 2020) 13.g5 Nd7 14.h4 Nb6 15.h5² Zinchenko,YArzumanian,G Alushta 2005) 12...Nb4 (12...h5 13.Rhe1 Be7 14.g3 Nb4 15.Bg1 Nd7∞ Watzka,HKurajica,B Mali Losinj 2019) 13.g4 Nd7 14.Qd2 Nxd3 15.cxd3 Be7∞ Meier,P-Mueller,L Turin 2006. b) 11...Nb4 12.Kb1

626

12...Nd7 (12...Bd7 13.Rc1 e5 14.h3 Be7 15.g4 exf4 16.Bxf4 Be6 17.Nd4² Bologan,V-Kurajica,B Las Palmas 1993) 13.a3 Nc6 (13...Nxd3 14.cxd3 Nc5∞) 14.e5 d5 15.Nd4 g6 16.g4 b4 17.axb4 Bxb4 18.Na2 Be7 19.h4² Epure,C-Chirila,I Predeal 2006. c) 11...Rb8 12.Kb1 Nd7 13.g4 Nb6 14.Qf2 Na4∞ Palac,M-Knezevic,B Cannes 1996. d) 11...Nd7 12.Kb1 (12.g4 Nb4 13.Kb1 Nc6 14.Qf2 ½–½ Galkin,A-Papaioannou,I Plovdiv 2008; 12.Rhe1 Be7 13.Nd5 exd5 14.exd5

14...Nde5?! (14...Nce5! 15.fxe5 Nxe5 16.h3 0-0∞) 15.dxc6 Bg4 16.Qf2 Nxc6 17.Rd2 Be6 18.Bb6 Qc8 19.Nd4 0-0 20.Nxc6 Qxc6 21.f5 Bg5 22.Be3 Bxe3 23.Rxe3 Bc4 24.f6± Velimirovic,DDamjanovic,V Belgrade 1993) 12...Be7 13.g4 (13.Rhf1 Nb6 14.e5 d5 15.Qf2 Nc4 16.Bc5 Bd7 627

17.Rde1 b4 18.Na4 0-0 19.Nd2 Nxd2+ 20.Qxd2 Rfe8 21.Qf2 d4 22.Bd6 Bxd6 23.exd6 Qxd6 24.Nb6 Rab8∞ ½–½ Pavlovic,M-Cabrilo,G Budva 2002) 13...Nb6 14.Rhe1 Na4 15.Bd2∞ Nevednichy,V-Grivas,E Debrecen 1992. In this position after 10...Be7, we have two continuations depending on which side White castles: 11.0-0 and 11.0-0-0.

Variation L2 - Athena - 11.0-0 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.Be3 Qc7 9.f4 a6 10.Qe2 Be7 11.0-0

11...b5 Black should delay castling as long as possible as the g4 advance is not advisable when Black has not played ...0-0. An alternative (dubious) try for Black was seen in Dobias,R-Jakubek,P Bratislava 1993: 11...Nd7 12.Rad1 Bf6?! 13.Kh1?! (13.e5! dxe5 14.f5±) 13...b5?! (13...0-0!) 14.Bxb5! axb5 15.Nxb5 Qb8 16.Nxd6+±. The main alternative is 11...0-0 12.g4

628

a) 12...b5 13.g5 Nd7 (13...Ne8 14.Qh5 g6 15.Qh6 f6 16.Nd4 fxg5 17.Nxc6 Qxc6 18.fxg5 b4 19.Ne2 e5∞ Bjeloglav,M-Azaric,G Vrnjacka Banja 2005) 14.f5 (14.Nd4?! Nc5 15.Rf2 b4µ Toth,LMakk,R Hungary 2007) 14...Nce5 15.Nd4 b4 (15...Nb6?! 16.f6± Berry,J-Ballard,J Stillwater 2009) 16.Nd1 exf5 17.exf5 Re8∞. b) 12...Qd8 13.g5 Nd7 14.Qg2 Nb4 15.f5 Kh8∞ Kuzmin,G-Polgar,I Oerebro 1966. c) 12...Nd7 13.g5 b5 (13...f6?! 14.Qg4 Nd8 15.g6± Nguyen,L-Sahithi Varshini,M Pocos de Caldas 2017) 14.a3 Nc5∞. d) 12...Re8 13.g5 Nd7

d1) 14.Rf3 g6 (14...Nb4!? 15.Raf1 Nf8 (15...b5, seems quite fine) 16.f5!? exf5 17.Bc4 (17.exf5 629

Bxg5∞) 17...b5 18.Bd5° Hava,R-Martin,R Spain 1989) 15.Raf1 b5 16.Rh3 b4∞ Rodriguez Cespedes,A-Carlier,B Amsterdam 1987. d2) 14.Qh5 g6 15.Qh6 Bf8 16.Qh4 Delgado C.,M-Garcia,E San Felipe 1999, transposes to the Zeus variation. d3) 14.Qf2 g6 15.Qh4

15...f6!? (15...b5 16.Rf3 Nb4, transposes to the Zeus variation) 16.f5 (16.Bc4 Bd8∞) 16...fxg5 17.Bxg5 Bxg5 18.Qxg5 Nde5∞ 19.Rf2 Qb6 20.Raf1? Nf3+ 0–1 Sanchez Naranjo,J-Vallejo Diaz,J Madrid 2010. 12.Rae1

630

This could be considered something like a main line, although I feel that other continuations are playable as well: a) 12.Bf2?! Bb7 13.Bg3 b4 14.Nd1 a5 15.c4 bxc3 (15...a4 16.Nd2 0-0³) 16.Nxc3 a4 17.Nb5 Qb8 18.Nd2 (18.N3d4 Nxd4 19.Nxd4 0-0 20.Rac1 Rc8∞) 18...Nb4 19.Bc4 0-0 20.a3 Na6 21.e5 dxe5∞ ½-½ Peng,D-Fedorowicz,J Calgary 2009. b) 12.a4 b4 (12...bxa4?! 13.Rxa4 a5 14.Rfa1±)

b1) 13.Nb1 Bb7 (13...0-0 14.N1d2 e5 15.f5 d5∞ Matanovic,A-Masic,L Vrsac 1969) 14.N1d2 a5 15.Kh1 0-0 16.Qf3 (16.Nc4 d5 17.Bb6 Qb8 18.exd5 Nxd5∞ Kuipers,S-Korobov,A Wijk aan Zee 2019)

631

16...Ba6∞ Lagarde,M-Iwanesko,A Saint Affrique 2009. b2) 13.Nb5?! axb5 14.axb5 Rxa1 15.Rxa1 Nb8 16.Ra7 Qd8 17.b6 0-0µ Ziolkowski,D-Sosnicki,M Bydgoszcz 1999. b3) 13.Na2 0-0 14.c3 bxc3 15.Nxc3 Rb8 16.Nd4 Nxd4 17.Bxd4 e5∞ Kana,P-Vybiral,Z Ostrava 2018. b4) 13.Nd1 0-0 (13...e5 14.f5 Bb7 (14...d5?! 15.exd5 Nxd5 16.Bc4 Nb6 17.a5 Nxc4 18.Qxc4 0-0 19.Bb6 Qb7 20.Ne3± Zozulia,A-Czakon,J Polanica Zdroj 2001) 15.a5 Nb8 16.Nd2 d5 17.Bb6 Qc6 18.exd5 Qxd5 19.Ne3 Qc6 20.Nec4 Nbd7∞ Friedel,J-Goldin,A Minneapolis 2005; 13...Na5 14.Nd2 Bb7 15.b3∞ Haring,V-Lintner,I Stara Lubovna 2014)

632

14.g4 (14.Nf2 Bb7 15.a5 Rfe8 16.Bb6 Qb8∞ Jasny,S-Plischki,S Stare Mesto 2018) 14...d5 (14...e5!? 15.f5 (15.g5 Ng4 16.f5 Nxe3 17.Qxe3 Qd8 (17...Qa7!?=) 18.h4 f6∞) 15...d5 16.exd5 Nxd5 17.Be4 Nf6 18.Nf2 Bb7∞) 15.e5

15...Ne4 (15...Nd7!?) 16.Bxe4 (16.Nf2 Nxf2 17.Qxf2 d4!? (17...f6!? 18.Bb6 Qb8 19.exf6 Bxf6∞) 18.Nxd4 Nxd4 19.Bxd4 Bb7°) 16...dxe4 17.a5 (17.Nf2 Na5! 18.Nxa5 Qxa5 19.Nxe4 Bb7°) 17...Nb8! 18.Bb6 Qc6 19.Ne3 (19.Nd4?! Qb7 20.Nf2 Nd7 21.Qxe4 Nxb6 22.axb6 Bc5µ) 19...Nd7 20.Bd4 f6! 21.exf6 Nxf6 22.Be5 Nd5∞ Becker,M-Grivas,E Primorsko 1989. c) 12.Kh1 Bb7 13.Rae1 0-0

c1) 14.a3 (reflections from the Hestia variation) 14...Rfe8 (14...Rac8 15.Nd4 Na5 16.Bc1 Nc4∞ 633

Haring,V-Vykouk,J Mamaia 2017) 15.Nd4 Rac8 (15...Nxd4 16.Bxd4 e5 17.Be3 Nd7 18.Qf2 exf4 19.Bxf4 Bf6 20.Qg3 Be5= Gamer,T-Tresch,R Germany 2000) 16.Nxc6 Bxc6∞ Walek,MZapolskis,A Frydek Mistek 2003. c2) 14.Bd2 b4 15.Nd1 a5 16.c3 e5

17.Ne3 (17.f5 bxc3 18.Bxc3 Nb4µ Chinguun,S-Battulga,N Ulaanbaatar 2016; 17.Bc1 Rfe8 18.Qc2 Qd8 19.Qf2 d5µ Mertens,P-Hampel,F Hannover 2012) 17...a4 18.Nd5 (18.Nc1 exf4 19.Nf5 bxc3³ Zsirai,P-Ezsol,M Hungary 2013) 18...Nxd5 19.exd5 axb3 20.dxc6 Qxc6 21.axb3 Ra2³ Seemann,SKickert,G Rotenburg 2009. c3) 14.Rf3 Rfe8 15.Rh3 Nb4 (15...Bf8? 16.e5 dxe5

634

17.Bxh7+! (17.fxe5?! Qxe5∞ Socko,B-Kveinys,A Cappelle la Grande 1998) 17...Nxh7 18.Qh5 f5 19.Qxh7+ Kf7 20.Rh6!+–) 16.a3 Nxd3 17.cxd3 e5∞. d) 12.Rad1 d1) 12...Bb7

13.Kh1 (13.Nd4 0-0 14.Rf3 b4∞ Widowitz,J-Pilaj,H St Veit 2006; 13.a3 h6 (13...0-0!; 13...Rc8 14.Nd4 Na5 15.Bf2∞ Carroll,P-Abdulla,M Dublin 2020) 14.Nd4 Nd7 15.f5 Nxd4 16.Bxd4 e5 17.Be3∞ Pecinka,O-Chromik,T Kouty nad Desnou 2009) 13...h5 (13...0-0) 14.Nd4 Nxd4 15.Bxd4 h4 16.Kg1 h3 17.g3 b4 18.Nb1 e5³ Morais,V-Strikovic,A Barreiro 2001. d2) 12...h5 13.h3 h4 14.Bf2 Rb8 15.Rde1 Bb7 16.Nd4∞ Capitelli,P-Bottino,A Internet 2006. d3) 12...b4 13.Nb1 0-0 14.N1d2 a5 15.Nc4 Rb8∞ Richard,E-Mullon,J St Chely d’Aubrac 2010. e) 12.a3

635

This transposes to the Hestia variation: 12...0-0 (12...Bb7 13.Kh1 Rc8 14.Rad1 0-0∞ Butler,KMurray,D Dublin 2010; 12...h5 13.Rae1 Bb7 14.Bf2 Ng4 15.Bg3 Qb6+ 16.Kh1∞ Guller,A-Singh,R Dresden 2008) 13.Rae1 Bb7 14.Bc1 e5 15.Kh1 Rfe8 (15...exf4!? 16.Bxf4 Ne5=) 16.Nd5 Qd8 17.Nxe7+ Qxe7 18.c3 Qe6 19.Qd1 ½-½ Rudnitzki,S-Rueger,E Germany 2005. f) 12.Rac1 Bb7 (12...0-0 13.g4 Nd7 14.a3 Bf6∞ Costa,P-Langner,D Cuiaba 2014) 13.a4 b4 14.Na2 0-0 15.c3 bxc3 16.Nxc3 Qd8 17.Rfd1 Nb4∞ Royset,J-Vik Hansen,R Narvik 1998. 12...0-0

Once more Black can delay castling by 12...Bb7, when it seems that White could transpose to the

636

Hestia variation with 13.a3 0-0 (13...Rc8 14.Nd4 Nxd4 15.Bxd4 e5 16.Be3 0-0 17.Qf3 Qd7∞ Trkaljanov,V-Smirnovas,J Zakopane 2000; 13...b4 14.Na4 Nd7 15.f5 exf5 16.Rxf5 bxa3 17.bxa3 Nce5∞ Grundherr,M-Dobosz,H Bayern 1998) transposes to the lines of this variation. Other moves are: a) 13.Bd2 Nd7 14.Kh1 0-0 15.Qh5 (15.Nd5 exd5 16.exd5 Nce5 17.fxe5 Nxe5∞) 15...g6 16.Qh3 Rfe8 (16...Nb4?! 17.Nxb5 axb5 18.Bxb4 Rxa2 19.Nd4 Nc5 20.Nxb5 Qb6 21.Ba3 Qa5? 22.b4 1–0 Tatar Kis,S-Domotor,J Zalakaros 2001) 17.f5 Bf6∞. b) 13.Bf2 Nd7 14.Kh1 (14.Nd5 exd5 15.exd5 Nce5 16.fxe5 Nxe5∞) 14...Rc8 15.Bg3 Bf6 16.e5 dxe5 17.f5° Stevanec,L-Vorobyov,Y Bled 2001. c) 13.Nd2 0-0 14.Nf3 Nb4 15.Kh1 Rac8 16.a3 Nxd3 17.cxd3 Nd7 18.Rc1 Qb8∞ Petras,MKarlsson,M Kemer 2009. 13.g4

Alternatives are: a) 13.Kh1 Nb4 (13...b4 14.Na4 Rb8 15.c4 bxc3 16.Nxc3 Nb4∞ Levrand,R-Skembris,S Burgdorf 2020) 14.a3 Nxd3 15.cxd3 Bb7 16.Rc1 Qd8 17.Nd4 Qd7 (17...Rc8!?) 18.g4 g6 19.g5 Ne8 20.Qg4 Rd8 21.Nf3 f5∞ Tsomis,D-Tzoumbas,A Athens 1994. b) 13.Bf2 g6 (13...Bb7, with...Nb4 to follow, is fine for Black) 14.Qf3 Bb7 15.Qh3 Nb4∞ 16.e5?! Nxd3 17.cxd3 Nd5 18.Bd4 Nxc3 19.Bxc3 dxe5 20.Re3 Bd5 (20...Qb6!µ) 21.Bxe5 Bd6? (21...Qb6µ)

637

22.Qxh7+! Kxh7 23.Rh3+ 1–0 Van Riesen,K-Hawranke,D Pinneberg 2000. 13...Nd7 14.g5 Re8

With an unclear position as in Edouard,R-Chirila,I Herceg Novi 2006.

Variation L3 - Athena - 11.0-0-0 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.Be3 Qc7 9.f4 a6 10.Qe2 Be7 11.0-0-0

638

11...b5 In this variation Black’s main idea consists of ...Nb4, ...Nd7-b6/c5 and ...Bb7. White must be ready to answer ...Nb4xd3 with cxd3, as then he can use the opening of the c-file with Rc1. 12.g4 White has tried to do without this move: a) 12.Kb1 Nd7 13.Rhf1 a1) 13...Bb7 with...Nc5 to follow, also seems playable for Black. a2) 13...Nb4 14.Rc1

639

14...Nc5 (14...0-0! 15.a3 Nxd3 16.cxd3 Qd8∞) 15.e5! Bd7? (15...Ncxd3 16.cxd3 Nc6 17.Ne4²) 16.Bd4? (16.exd6 Bxd6 17.Bxc5 Bxc5 18.Be4±) 16...d5 (16...Nbxd3 17.cxd3 Nxb3 18.axb3 Bc6 19.Qg4 Rg8 20.Ne4±) 17.f5 Nxb3 18.cxb3 Nc6 19.fxe6 Bxe6 20.Nxb5 axb5 21.Rxc6 Qa5 22.Ra6!!+– Rogic,D-Martic,Z Pula 1996; the decisive factor was the overloaded black pieces on the queenside. a3) 13...Nb6 14.e5

14...d5 (14...dxe5!? 15.fxe5 0-0 (15...Qxe5? 16.Be4+–) 16.Nd4 Nb4∞) 15.Qf2 Nc4 16.Bc5 Bd7 17.Rde1 (17.f5!?) 17...b4 18.Na4² Pavlovic,M-Cabrilo,G Budva 2002. b) 12.Rhe1 Nd7 (12...0-0; 12...Bb7) 13.Nd5!? exd5 14.exd5 640

14...Nce5 (14...Nb4 15.Bd4 Nxd5 16.Be4 N7b6∞; 14...Nde5 15.dxc6 Bg4 16.Qf2 Nxc6 17.Rd2± Velimirovic,D-Damjanovic,V Belgrade 1993) 15.fxe5 (15.Bd4 Bf6 16.fxe5 Nxe5 17.Kb1 0-0 18.Rf1 Qe7∞) 15...Nxe5∞. c) 12.Qf3 Bb7 13.Kb1 Rc8∞ Parizot,J-Charbau,Y Ardennes 2001. 12...Nd7!

This flexible move order can easily confuse White. 12...b4?!, is superficial: 13.Na4 Nd7 (13...Rb8 14.Kb1 g6 15.Rhg1 Bd7 16.Qf2 Bd8 17.g5 Nh5 18.e5 dxe5 19.Nac5 Bc8 20.fxe5± Abramovic,B-Damljanovic,B Belgrade 1984) 14.g5 Bb7 (14...0-0 641

15.h4 Na7 16.Qf2 Qc6 17.Bxa7 Qxa4 18.Kb1 Qc6 19.Be3 a5 20.g6!± Cruz Alvarez de Ron,DGonzalez de la Torre,S Ortiguera 2003) 15.Kb1 Na5 16.Nb6! (16.Nxa5 Qxa5 17.b3∞ Van den Heever,D-Rocha,S Khanty-Mansiysk 2010) 16...Nxb6 17.Nxa5±. 13.Kb1

White should be careful as: a) 13.g5?! a1) 13...Nc5 a11) 14.Kb1 b4 15.Nd5 exd5 16.exd5 Nxd3³ Sambuev,B-Hebert,J Gatineau 2015. a12) 14.Rhe1 Nxd3+ 15.Rxd3

642

15...0-0 (15...Nb4 16.Rd2²; 15...b4?! 16.Nd5! exd5 17.exd5 Bf5 18.Rd2±) 16.Bd2 Nb4 17.Rh3 g6∞ Russell,C-Deeth,S Portland 2014. a13) 14.Nxc5 dxc5 15.e5 c4 (15...Bb7 16.Be4 (16.Qf2 Nb4 17.Rhe1 0-0-0 18.Bf1 Nd5∞ Pulpan,J-Cukrowski,F Czech Republic 2012) 16...b4 17.Na4 Na5 18.Bxb7 Nxb7 19.h4 Qc6 20.b3² Leyva,R-Blanco Gramajo,C Cuba 1997) 16.Be4 Bb7 17.Qg2 Rb8 18.Bf3 Na5 19.Ne4² Demidowicz,M-Majdan,J Krakow 2008. a2) 13...b4

14.Nb1 (14.Na4!²) 14...a5 15.N1d2 0-0 16.Rhg1 a4 17.Nd4 Nxd4 18.Bxd4 e5³ Nogin,VKursova,M St Petersburg 2004.

643

a3) 13...Bb7 14.Rhe1 (14.Kb1 Rc8 15.h4 Nb4 16.Qf2 d5∞ Papakonstantinou,D-Khubukshanov,E Belgrade 2019) 14...Nb4 15.Kb1 Nxd3 16.Qxd3 (16.Rxd3 b4³ Bartolomaeus,C-Popovics,A Germany 2013) 16...b4 17.Ne2 0-0³ Sakir,R-Ozer,O Konya 2018. a4) 13...Nb4! 14.Kb1 (14.Rhg1 Nxd3+ 15.Qxd3 b4 16.Nb1 a5 17.Nd4 Nc5 18.Qb5+ Bd7 19.Qc4 Qb7µ Abramovic,B-Fishbein,A New York 1990)

14...Nxd3! (14...Bb7 15.a3 (15.Rc1 Nc5 16.Nd4 0-0∞ Roseneck,J-Oberhofer,C Wuerzburg 2019) 15...Nxd3 16.cxd3 g6 (16...0-0 17.Rc1 Nc5∞) 17.Rc1 Nc5 18.Nd4∞ Todorovic,G-Bosic,T Novi Sad 1988) 15.Qxd3 (15.cxd3? b4 16.Na4 Qc6, is winning for Black as he has covered b6 with 12...Nd7) 15...b4 16.Ne2 0-0 17.h4 a5³ is not advisable. Another ‘bad’ continuation for White is 13.h4?! Nb4! (13...Nc5 14.Nxc5 dxc5 15.e5 Bb7 16.Be4∞ Hempel,R-Kevorkyan,M ICCF 1995; 13...Bb7 14.Qf2 Rc8 15.Kb1 Nb4 16.Rc1 Bf6 17.Bd2∞ Margaritis,I-Sidiropoulos,N Athens 2008) 14.Kb1

644

14...Nxd3 15.Qxd3 b4 16.Ne2 0-0 17.g5 a5³. Now (after 13.Kb1) Black can choose in-between: 13...Bb7 and 13...Nb6. R Variation L31 - Athena - 13...Bb7 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.Be3 Qc7 9.f4 a6 10.Qe2 Be7 11.0-0-0 b5 12.g4 Nd7 13.Kb1 Bb7

14.g5 645

Alternatives: a) 14.Qf2 Nb4 (14...Na5!? 15.Rhe1 b4 16.Na4 Nc4 17.Bxc4 Qxc4 18.Na5 Qb5 19.Nxb7 Qxb7∞ Istvandi,L-Fusthy,Z Hungary 2002) a1) 15.Rhf1 Rc8 16.g5

a11) 16...0-0 17.f5 Nxd3 (17...Ne5?! 18.Bb6 Qd7 19.f6± Inarkiev,E-Gasanov,E Alushta 2002) 18.cxd3 b4 19.Ne2 exf5! (19...Ne5 20.f6! (20.Ng3 Ng4 21.Qe2 Nxe3! (21...Qc2+ 22.Qxc2 Rxc2 23.Bd2! (23.Bg1? Rg2µ Yoos,J-Orlov,G Vancouver 2002) 23...Rxd2 24.Rxd2 Bxg5 25.Re2²) 22.Qxe3 Bd8!∞) 20...Ng4 21.Qf4 Qc2+ 22.Ka1 Qxe2 23.Rfe1! (23.fxe7? Nxe3µ Tringov,GCabrilo,G Prokuplje 1987) 23...Qg2 24.fxe7+–) 20.exf5 (20.Qxf5 Ne5 21.Nf4 g6 22.Qh3 a5³) 20...Ne5 21.f6 Ng4 22.Qf4 Nxe3 23.Qxe3 gxf6∞. a12) 16...Nc5?

646

17.Nxc5 dxc5 18.f5 (18.Be2!? Nxc2 19.Kxc2 b4 20.Na4 Bxe4+ 21.Kc1 Bc6 22.b3 c4°) 18...Nxd3 (18...c4? 19.Be2 (19.fxe6! cxd3 20.Qxf7++–) 19...e5 20.a3+– Martin D.,J-Cruz M.,J Madrid 2009) 19.Rxd3±. a13) 16...Nxd3 17.cxd3 b4

18.Na4 (18.Ne2 d5 19.f5 e5∞, might be a more solid way to continue the fight) 18...Qc6 19.Nb6 Nxb6 20.Bxb6 0-0 21.Na5 Qd7 22.Qd4 Ba8∞ Almasi,Z-Kurajica,B Moscow 1994. a2) 15.Bd4 e5 (15...Nxd3! 16.cxd3 0-0∞) 16.Be3 exf4 17.Bxf4 Rc8 18.g5 Ne5∞ Leon Hoyos,MMartin del Campo,R Merida 2003. a3) 15.Rhg1 Rc8 (15...0-0!? 16.g5 647

16...Nxd3 (16...Rfc8 17.f5 Nxd3 18.cxd3 b4 19.Na4 exf5 20.exf5 Qc6 21.Nb6 Nxb6 22.Bxb6 Qf3∞ Goloshchapov,A-Zhang Pengxiang Hoogeveen 2004) 17.cxd3 Rac8 18.a3 Rfe8 19.f5 exf5 20.exf5 Bf8∞) 16.g5 Nxd3 17.cxd3 Nc5 18.Nxc5 dxc5 19.f5 0-0 (19...c4?! 20.f6 gxf6 21.gxf6 Bf8?! 22.dxc4 b4 23.Na4 b3 24.axb3 Bxe4+ 25.Ka2 Bb4 26.Bb6 Qe5 27.Qe3 h5 28.Bd4 Qf5 29.Rdf1 1–0 Van der Wiel,J-Grivas,E Wijk aan Zee 2008) 20.f6 Bd6 21.fxg7 Kxg7∞. b) 14.Rhg1

14...Nc5 (14...Nb4! 15.Rc1 Nc5 16.g5 0-0∞) 15.Nxc5 (15.Rc1 b4 16.Nd1 (16.Nxc5 dxc5 17.Na4 Nd4³) 16...a5∞ Djukic,N-Pankov,G Budva 2009) 15...dxc5 16.Qf2 Nd4 17.g5 0-0∞. c) 14.Rhe1 0-0 15.g5 b4 (15...Nb4, is the usual ‘suspect’ and a good one: 16.Rc1 Rfc8 (16...Nc5?! 648

17.f5! as in Zawadzka,J-Haznedaroglu,K Athens 2007 - see below) 17.a3 Nxd3 18.cxd3 Nc5∞) 16.Na4 Na7 17.Qf2 Nc8∞ Konguvel,P-Sareen,V Nagpur 2002. d) 14.Rhf1 Nc5?! (14...Nb4! 15.Qf2 Rc8 16.g5, transposes above and probably should be followed) 15.g5

15...Na4 (15...Na5 16.Nxc5! (16.Bd4? Naxb3! (16...0-0?! 17.Nxa5 Qxa5 18.Qh5² Konguvel,PAnnageldyev,O Kolkata 2001) 17.axb3 Nxd3 18.Rxd3 b4 19.Na4 0-0∞) 16...dxc5 17.f5!±) 16.Nxa4 bxa4 17.Nd2 Nb4

18.f5! (18.Bd4? 0-0 19.Nc4 d5∞ Kengis,E-Akopian,V Manila 1992) 18...a3 19.fxe6 fxe6 20.Qf3±. 14...Nb4 649

The main alternative for Black is 14...Nc5?!, when 15.Rhf1! (15.Rhg1 Nxd3 (15...b4?! 16.Nd5! exd5 17.exd5 Nxd3 (17...Na5 18.Nxa5 Qxa5 19.Rge1±) 18.dxc6 Bxc6 19.Qxd3 0-0 20.Nd4± Velimirovic,D-Djukic,Z Svetozarevo 1990) 16.cxd3 Rc8 17.f5 Qd7∞), transposes to the note above.

15.Rc1 A logical approach - White can initiate mutual play over the c-file. All other tries transposes to the above lines. 15...Nc5 16.Rhe1 In the ‘old’ times 16.Rhg1, was the main try, but nowadays the computer engines have found good ways for Black to create dangerous counterplay keeping him in the game:

650

16...Rc8 (16...0-0 17.f5 (17.Rg3 Rfe8∞ Vehi Bach,V-Chalmeta Torredemer,J Barcelona 1995) 17...exf5 18.exf5 Nbxd3! 19.cxd3 Rfe8∞) 17.h4

17...Nbxd3! (17...Nxb3 18.cxb3 Nxd3 19.Qxd3² Lanka,Z-Erwich,M Groningen 2002) 18.cxd3 Nxb3 19.axb3 Qd7∞ Lanka,Z-Sawadkuhi,M Hamburg 2005. Another way to go is by 16.Nd4 0-0 17.h4 d5 18.e5 Ne4∞ Roseneck,J-Oberhofer,C Wuerzburg 2019. Usually in similar cases Black should delay castling as long as it is possible. Therefore he should go for 16...Rc8!

651

A suggested novelty. In the game Zawadzka,J-Haznedaroglu,K Athens 2007 16...0-0, was tried, when after 17.f5, Black ‘missed’ 17...exf5! (17...Nbxd3 18.cxd3 Nxb3 (18...exf5? 19.Nd5! Bxd5 20.exd5±) 19.axb3 Qd7

20.f6! gxf6 21.gxf6 Bxf6 22.Bh6± and White won later on; 17...Rfc8?! 18.Nxc5 dxc5 19.fxe6 fxe6 20.Qg4±) 18.exf5 Nbxd3! (18...Rfe8?! 19.Nxc5 dxc5 20.Be4 Bxe4 21.Nxe4 Bf8 22.Qg2 Nd5 23.Rcd1! (23.Nf6+ Nxf6 24.gxf6 Qe5∞) 23...Nxe3 24.Rxe3 Qf4 25.Rde1! Red8 26.Qh3± Ra7 27.Rg1 Rad7?

28.Qxh7+!! Kxh7 29.Rh3+ Kg8 30.Nf6+ gxf6 31.gxf6+ Bg7 32.Rxg7+ Kf8 33.Rh8#) 19.cxd3 Rfe8 (19...Nxb3?! 20.axb3 Qd7 21.f6 gxf6 22.gxf6 Bxf6 23.Qf2±) 20.f6 Bf8 21.Nd4 Qd7∞.

652

17.f5 17.Nxc5?! dxc5 18.Qf3 Nxd3 19.cxd3 0-0³. 17...Nbxd3 18.cxd3 Nxb3 19.axb3 Qd7 20.Rf1 g6!

With an unclear position. R Variation L32 - Athena - 13...Nb6 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.Be3 Qc7 9.f4 a6 10.Qe2 Be7 11.0-0-0 b5 12.g4 Nd7 13.Kb1 Nb6

653

This is a logical idea, preparing an assault on the queenside. Moves like ...Bb7 or ...0-0 can wait for the proper moment. Also, Black retains the option of ...Bd7, which now does not block the b-file and at the same time overprotects the valuable e6–square. 14.Rc1 An interesting and useful move, getting ready for the opening of the c-file and at the same time vacating a square for the c3-knight on d1. Alternatives are: a) 14.Bxb5?! axb5 15.Nxb5 Qb8 16.Bxb6 Qxb6 17.Nxd6+ Bxd6 18.Rxd6 0-0³. b) 14.Qf2 Rb8 (14...Na4? 15.Nxa4 (15.Ne2 Bb7 16.g5 Rc8 17.Rhg1 d5 18.e5 g6∞ Konguvel,PJakubowski,K Barcelona 2016) 15...bxa4 16.Nd2± - see the analyzed game Anagnostopoulos,DGrivas,E Athens 1995 in the Middlegame Strategy chapter) 15.g5 Bd7 16.h4 Nc4 17.Bc1 Nb4 18.h5 Nxd3 19.cxd3 Na5 20.Nxa5 Qxa5∞ Das,S-Savchenko,B Madurai 2019. c) 14.Rhe1

654

14...Na4 (14...0-0!? 15.g5 Na4, is an interesting alternative, proposed by A.Ipatov) c1) 15.Bd2 c11) 15...Bf6?! 16.e5! (16.Nxa4 bxa4 17.Nc1 Rb8∞) 16...dxe5 17.Be4±. c12) 15...0-0?!

16.Nd5! exd5 17.exd5 Re8 (17...Bf6?! 18.dxc6 Nxb2 19.g5 Nxd3 20.Qxd3 Bd8 21.Qf3±; 17...Bh4?! 18.dxc6 Bxe1 19.Rxe1 Qxc6 20.Na5 Qb6 21.Qe4±) 18.dxc6 Nxb2! 19.Ba5 Qa7 20.Rc1±. c13) 15...Nxc3+ 16.Bxc3 e5 17.f5 h6 (17...b4 18.Bd2 a5 19.Be3 a4 20.Nd2 a3 21.b3²) 18.Rg1 Bg5 (18...b4 19.Be1 a5 20.Bf2 a4 21.Nd2 Na5 22.Bb5+ Bd7 23.h4 a3 24.Bxd7+ Qxd7 25.b3 Qc6 655

26.Qd3²) 19.Be1

19...Bb7 (19...Qe7?! 20.h4! Bxh4 21.Bxh4 Qxh4 22.Bxb5 axb5 23.Qxb5 Bd7 24.Rxd6±) 20.h4 Bf4 21.c3² Nevednichy,V-Grivas,E Debrecen 1992. c2) 15.Nxa4 bxa4 16.Nd2 (16.Nd4 Nxd4 17.Bxd4 e5∞) 16...0-0∞. c3) 15.Nd5! exd5 16.exd5 Nb4 17.Bd4

17...0-0 (17...Kf8 18.Be4!°) 18.Qxe7 Qxe7 19.Rxe7 Nxd5 20.Ree1 Nxf4 (20...f5?! 21.c4!²) 21.Be4 Bxg4 (21...d5?! 22.Bf3! Be6 23.Bf2 Rac8 24.Nd4 Nc5 25.Nf5° Velimirovic,D-Grivas,E Athens 2000) 22.Bxa8 (22.Rg1 h5 23.Bxa8 Rxa8°) 22...Bxd1 23.Bb7 Bg4 24.Bxa6 Bd7∞.

656

14...Na4 14...Bd7!?, is quite interesting. Black prefers to wait until the right moment for ...Na4 and ...Nb4. Also, it must be mentioned that it is very important for Black to place a knight on e5 after a possible f5 by White. After 15.g5 0-0, chances seem to be equal in this unclear position. Black is ready for 16.f5 Na4∞.

15.Nd1 15.Nxa4 bxa4 16.Nd2 (16.Nd4?! Nxd4 17.Bxd4 e5³) 16...a3 17.b3 Nb4∞, should be great for Black, while; 15.Bd2 Nxc3+ 16.Bxc3 e5∞, looks like a better version than above. 15...Nb4 Black can also think of 15...0-0 16.c4 b4

657

17.g5 (17.c5 Nxc5 18.Nxc5 dxc5 19.Bxc5 Bb7 (19...Qxf4³) 20.Qe3 Bxc5 21.Rxc5 e5! 22.f5 Qe7∞) 17...Nc5 18.Nf2∞, but not for 15...Na5?! 16.Nxa5 (16.Nd4 Nc4∞) 16...Qxa5 17.g5 Bb7 18.Rf1 Nc5 19.f5². 16.g5 0-0 17.Nd4 17.f5 exf5 18.exf5 Re8 19.f6 Bf8∞. 17...Re8 18.Qd2 Nc6 18...d5!? 19.e5 Bb7∞, is quite interesting. 19.f5 Ne5

658

With an unclear position, as in Cela,A-Grivas,E Athens 1995. Conclusion More or less, it seems that Black can be satisfied with unclear positions, full of chances for both sides. The placement of the white queen on e2 doesn’t seem to be so dangerous.

659

Variation M - Zeus B33-B88 Here is the main line which I called the Zeus variation. The starting point of the next diagram identifies the turning point of the Zeus variation, which comes after the following moves: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.Be3 Qc7 9.f4 a6 10.Qf3 Be7

In this position White can castle on both sides, thus determining the two main lines of the present variation. But before we go on, let’s see why I named the variation after the top God, the God of Gods, of the ancient Greek Mythology. Nomenclature Zeus under the Microscope Zeus was the God of the sky and ruler of the Olympian Gods. Zeus overthrew his father, Cronus, and then drew lots with his brothers Poseidon and Hades. Zeus won the draw and became the supreme ruler of the Gods. He was the lord of the sky, and his weapon was the thunderbolt, which he hurled at those who displeased him. He was married to Hera but was famous for his many affairs. He was also known to punish those that lie or break oaths. He was the rain God and the cloud gatherer, who wielded the terrible thunderbolt. His breastplate was the aegis, his bird - the eagle and his tree - the oak. He was represented as the God of justice and mercy, the protector of the weak and the punisher of the wicked. The main and the most critical line of the ...Qb6 variation had to be named after the supreme ancient 660

Greek God.

Variation M1 - Zeus - 10.Qf3 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.Be3 Qc7 9.f4 a6 10.Qf3

The white queen’s placement on f3 is more aggressive, as it introduces the extra attacking possibility Qh3, or pressure along the h1-a8 diagonal. 10...Be7

661

An alternative move is 10...b5. After 11.0-0, he can choose: a) 11...Be7?!

12.e5! (12.a3 Bb7 13.Rad1 h5 14.h3 Rd8 15.Ne2 h4 16.c3 d5∞ Alekseenko,K-Mollema,T Internet 2020) 12...Nd7 (12...dxe5? 13.fxe5 Nxe5 14.Qxa8 Neg4 15.Bf4 Qb6+ 16.Kh1+– Bege,MSzentgyorgyi,S Budapest 2013) 13.exd6 (13.Qg3 g6 14.exd6 Bxd6 15.Rad1² Terletsky,OAmbartsumova,K Internet 2020) 13...Bxd6

662

14.Bxb5 (14.Na5 Nxa5 15.Qxa8 0-0 16.Qf3± Rodrigues,L-Kerr,G Sao Caetano do Sul 1999; 14.Ne4 Be7 15.a4 b4 16.f5± Vereb,G-Kiss,P Budapest 2012) 14...Bb7 (14...axb5? 15.Nxb5+–) 15.Bd3 Nce5 16.Qe2 (16.fxe5 Bxf3 17.exd6 Qxd6 18.gxf3 0-0 19.f4± Nikitenko,M-Kharmunova,N St Petersburg 2017) 16...Nxd3 17.Qxd3± Andres Gonzalez,I-Petrov,M San Sebastian 2006. b) 11...Bb7

12.a4 (12.Qh3 Be7 13.g4 (13.Kh1 h5 14.Rae1 Rc8 15.Bg1 g6∞ Shanava,K-Fedorov,A Dubai 2010) 13...b4 (13...h5!? 14.g5 Ng4 15.Bd2 d5∞ Doss,J-Fedorowicz,J Philadelphia 2000) 14.Na4 d5 15.e5 Nd7∞ Hautot,S-Horvath,A Rethymnon 2003) 12...b4 13.Ne2 Be7 14.a5 (14.g4 h6 15.Ng3 Nd7 16.Qf2 Na5∞ Janik,I-Azarov,S Katowice 2017) 14...0-0 (14...Rc8 15.g4 h6

663

16.Qh3!² (16.Ng3 g5 17.Qe2 gxf4 18.Rxf4 Ne5∞ Quirhuayo Chumbe,G-Cordova,E Lima 2018); 14...h5 15.Bb6 Qd7 16.Rad1 g6 17.c4² Streiter,G-Scheffknecht,P Austria 2015) 15.Qh3² Atakisi,UArzumanian,G Kharkov 2006. c) 11...b4?! 12.Na4! (12.Nd1 Bb7 13.Nf2 Be7 14.Qh3 0-0 15.g4² Alekseenko,K-Savitskiy,S St Petersburg 2015) 12...Rb8 13.Rac1! Be7 14.c4 Bb7 15.c5 d5 16.e5 Nd7 17.Qh3± Kofidis,A-Grivas,E Athens 1996. Now, after 10...Be7, White can castle on both sides, thus determining the two main lines of the present variation: 11.0-0 and 11.0-0-0. R Variation M11 - Zeus - 11.0-0 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.Be3 Qc7 9.f4 a6 10.Qf3 Be7 11.0-0

664

11...0-0 This is the most natural and accurate continuation. Black has also tried: a) 11...b5?! 12.e5!±, as indicated in the previous variation (by transposition). b) 11...Nb4?! (this move can safely be played only after Rae1) 12.Rac1! b1) 12...Bd7 13.a3 Nxd3 14.cxd3

14...Qb8 (14...Bc6 15.Nd4 Qd7 16.g4 g6 17.g5 Nh5 18.f5± Inarkiev,E-Shaposhnikov,E Irkutsk 665

2010) 15.Na5!? (15.Nd4 h5 16.h3² Moroz,A-Zvonitsky,V Kharkov 1984; 15.e5?! dxe5 16.fxe5 Qxe5 17.Bf4 Qh5 18.Qxb7 0-0∞ Berthelot,Y-Wirig,A France 2009) 15...0-0 16.b4². b2) 12...0-0 13.a3 Nxd3 14.cxd3 Qd8 15.e5 dxe5 16.fxe5 Nd7 17.d4² Minasian,A-Kurajica,B Yerevan 1996. c) 11...Bd7?! 12.a3 (12.Na4 0-0 13.Nb6 Rad8 14.c3² Kostro,J-Gufeld,E Tbilisi 1969; 12.g4 0-0 13.g5 Ne8 14.f5²) 12...Rc8 (12...0-0

13.g4 (13.Rad1 b5 14.Qh3² Piroska,I-Pallag,G Balatonalmadi 2008) 13...g6 14.Qh3± Dueckstein,ANikolic,S Sarajevo 1967) 13.g4 (13.Na4 b5 14.Nb6 Rb8 15.Nxd7 Nxd7 16.c3² Minev,N-Olafsson,F Havana 1966; 13.Rae1 0-0 14.g4² Kleo,P-Damogalad,I Jakarta 2011) 13...h6 14.Rf2² Furnevall,MHibbitt,A Bristol 2004. d) 11...Nd7?! (usually this move occurs as a transpositional try, but White can try something good with his 13th move) 12.Rae1 b5

666

13.e5! (13.Ne2 Bb7 14.Ned4 0-0 15.Qh3 Rfe8 16.Nxc6 Bxc6∞ Dragun,K-Stoyanov,I Herceg Novi 2008; 13.Nd4 Bb7 14.Nxc6 Bxc6 15.Bd4 Bf6 16.Bxf6 Nxf6 17.Qg3 0-0∞ Mortensen,E-Larsen,B Espoo 1989; 13.a3 0-0, transposes to the Hestia variation, while; 13.g4 0-0, transposes to the M113 variation) 13...dxe5 14.Be4 Bb7 15.f5!² De Weerd,W-Karteri,O Korinthos 2000. Now we will examine the following: 12.Kh1, 12.Nd4, 12.Rae1 and 12.g4. § Variation M111 - Zeus - 12.Kh1 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.Be3 Qc7 9.f4 a6 10.Qf3 Be7 11.0-0 0-0 12.Kh1

667

12...b5 As already mentioned Black has to wait for White’s Rae1, before playing ...Nb4. However, because White ‘wasted’ a tempo with 12.Kh1, a lot of games have continued with 12...Nb4

a) 13.a3 Nxd3 14.cxd3 a1) 14...Bd7 15.Rac1 Qb8 (15...Qd8 16.Nd4 Bc6 17.Qg3 Kh8 18.Rc2² ½-½ Kreiman,BYermolinsky,A Key West 1994) 16.Nd4 b5 17.g4 g6 18.f5 b4 19.axb4 Qxb4 20.Rc2² Lau,RGruenberg,H Germany 1992. a2) 14...b5 15.Rac1 Qd7 668

16.Nd4 (16.Qg3 Bb7 17.f5 Kh8 18.fxe6 fxe6 19.Nd4 Rae8 20.Qh3 Bc8 21.Nf3 e5 22.Qxd7 Bxd7 23.Bg5 Be6 24.Nh4∞ ½-½ Muratovic,E-Boskovic,D Zenica 2003) 16...Bb7 17.Qh3 Rfc8 18.Rf3 (18.Nf3?! a5!³ Chocenko,D-Frank,P Fuegen 2006) 18...Bf8 19.Rg3∞ Kotronias,V-Haznedaroglu,K Athens 2007 - see the analyzed game in the Middlegame Strategy chapter. b) 13.Rae1

b1) 13...Nxd3 14.cxd3 b5 15.Qg3 (15.Rc1 Qb8 16.Nd4 Bb7 17.Qh3 Re8∞ Dineley,R-Spivack,S Birmingham 2002) 15...Bb7 16.f5∞ Dragun,K-Mihok,O Guben 2008. b2) 13...Re8 14.Qg3 Nd7 15.f5 Bf6 16.fxe6 fxe6 17.Bd4 Bxd4 18.Nxd4 Ne5 19.Re2 Qe7∞ Delabaca,R-Mihok,O Budapest 2006. 669

b3) 13...b5 14.e5 Bb7 15.Qg3 b31) 15...Nd7 16.f5 dxe5

17.Bh6 (17.fxe6 fxe6 18.Bxh7+ Kxh7 19.Qh3+ Kg6 20.Qg4+ Kh7=) 17...Bf6 18.Ne4 Bxe4 19.Bxe4 Rae8 20.fxe6 fxe6∞ Berescu,A-Chirila,I Predeal 2006. b32) 15...Nh5! 16.Qg4 (½-½ Timoshenko,G-Haznedaroglu,K Kala-maria 2008) 16...g6! (16...Nxd3 17.cxd3 g6∞ Wittmann,W-Gostisa,L Aosta 1988) 17.Bd4 Rad8³. c) 13.Rad1 Bd7 14.Qg3 Kh8 15.f5 exf5 16.exf5

16...Bc6 (16...Rae8!? 17.Nd4 h6 18.Qh3 Kh7∞) 17.a3 Nxd3 18.Rxd3 Rad8∞ Mihopoulos,KSourlatzis,D Athens 2005. 670

d) 13.Nd2 Nxd3 14.cxd3 b5 15.Rac1 Qb8 16.Nb3 Bd7 17.g4 b4 18.Ne2 Bb5∞ Alvarado,R-Vallee,G Barquisimeto 2001. e) 13.Rac1 b5 (13...Nd7?! 14.Nd4 Nc5 15.Be2!² Kostromin,M-Baklanova,T Alushta 2011; 13...Nxd3 14.cxd3 Qd7

15.Na5! (15.d4 b5 16.a3 Bb7 17.Na5 Rac8 18.Nxb7 Qxb7= Garofalo,M-Miceli,C Cutro 2008) 15...Bd8 16.b4²) 14.a3 (½-½ Kunte,A-Sherbakov,R Kolkata 2002) 14...Nxd3 15.cxd3 Qd7 16.Qg3 (16.Na5 e5 17.d4 Bd8 18.dxe5 dxe5 19.b4 Bxa5 20.bxa5 exf4 21.Bxf4 Bb7∞) 16...Bb7 17.f5 Kh8∞ Muratovic,E-Boskovic,D Zenica 2003. 13.Rae1

671

Other continuations are: a) 13.Qh3 b4 (13...g6 14.g4 Re8 15.f5 Ne5 16.g5 Nfg4 17.f6 Nxe3 18.Qxe3 Bf8∞ Rasmussen,BGentes,K Winnipeg 1998) 14.Ne2 e5 15.f5 d5 (15...a5 16.Ng3 d5 17.exd5 Nxd5 18.Nh5∞ Zuriel,MDella Morte,P Vicente Lopez 2005) 16.Nd2 Rd8 17.Ng3

17...Nd4 (17...b3 18.Nxb3 Nb4 19.Nh5 Nxh5 20.Qxh5 Bb7° Abdumalik,Z-Tan,Z Doha 2016) 18.Bxd4 dxe4 19.Bxe4 Nxe4 20.Ndxe4 Rxd4³ Britton,R-Conquest,S Guernsey 1991. b) 13.a3 Rb8, transposes to the Hestia variation. c) 13.Rad1 Bb7 14.Qh3 Nb4 15.Nd4 Nxd3 (15...d5?! 16.e5 Ne4 17.Bxe4 dxe4 18.Nxe6± Yudasin,L-Nikolaev,S Moscow 1992) 16.cxd3 Rfe8∞ Petrakis,I-Giannakoulopoulos,S Iraklion 2001. 672

d) 13.a4 b4 14.Ne2 (14.Nd1 Bb7 15.a5∞ Demianjuk,A-Gabrielian,A Voronezh 2009)

14...Bb7 (½–½ Sedlak,N-Cabrilo,G Herceg Novi 2001; 14...Nd7 15.Qh3 g6 16.Rad1 Bf6 17.Bc1 Nb6∞ Nagy,E-Metaxasz,V Balatonlelle 2018; 14...a5 15.Ned4 Nxd4 16.Nxd4 Bb7∞ Laverde,LValderrama Quiceno,E Medellin 2015; 14...e5 15.f5 Bb7 16.a5 Rfe8 17.Bb6 Qc8∞ Skaperdas,KMoutousis,K Peristeri 2015) 15.Qh3 e5 (15...Rad8 16.a5 Qb8 17.Bb6 Rde8 18.Rae1 Qa8 19.Bf2 e5∞ Zajic,M-Bauer,C Batumi 2019) 16.Ng3 Rfe8 17.Rae1 Bc8 18.Nf5 Bf8∞ Womacka,M-Cabrilo,G Germany 1992. 13...Bb7

673

It is more in the spirit of the variation to delay the ...b4 advance, as the placement of the knight on b4 (to keep the d3–bishop under control) is a better plan. But 13...b4 14.Nd1 a5 (14...Bb7 15.Bf2 a5 16.Qh3 g6 17.Ne3 Rfe8∞ Jones,A-Suzuki,T Novi Sad 1990) 15.Nf2 e5 16.f5 Bb7∞ Kaiumov,D-Kurnosov,I Alushta 2002, looks playable as well. 14.Qh3 White has also tried: a) 14.h3 Rac8 (14...b4 15.Na4 Nd7∞ Mela,B-Fuentes Vasallo,E Buenos Aires 2000) 15.Bg1 Rfe8 16.Bh2 Nd7∞ Shanava,K-Zhang Zhong Manila 2008. b) 14.Qg3

14...Nb4 (14...Kh8 15.Qh3 Nb4 16.Nd4 Rad8 17.a3 Nxd3 18.cxd3 Nd7∞ Riehle,M-Bauer,C Leukerbad 2019) 15.Nd4 Kh8∞ 16.e5?! Nh5! (16...Nd7 17.f5 Nxd3 18.cxd3∞ Abramov,AShutukov,S Khanty-Mansiysk 2010) 17.Qh3 Nxd3 18.cxd3 dxe5 19.fxe5 Qxe5µ. 14...Nb4 Playing the c6-knight to b4, chasing the white light-squared bishop, is a standard method in the ‘Grivas Sicilian’. Black gets the bishop pair and stops any attacking ideas against h7. Here the interesting 14...b4!? 15.e5 dxe5 16.fxe5 Nxe5 17.Bf4 Nxd3 18.Bxc7 Nxe1 19.Rxe1 bxc3 20.bxc3, leads to a position where Black’s compensation is not bad due to the weekend white pawn structure, as in Savanovic,A-Djukic,Z Kladovo 1994. 15.Nd4

674

White has also tried: a) 15.a3 Nxd3 16.cxd3 e5 (16...a5 17.Nd4 b4 18.Ncb5 Qd7 19.a4 Rfc8∞ Timofeev,AAreshchenko,A Oropesa del Mar 1999; 16...Rab8 17.f5 exf5 18.Nd4° Prizant,J-Torbin,K Rybinsk 2001; 16...Rac8 17.f5 Qd7 18.fxe6 fxe6 19.Nd4 e5 20.Rxf6 Qxh3 21.Rxf8+ Rxf8 22.gxh3 exd4 23.Bxd4 Rf3° Hollan,P-Haznedaroglu,K Internet 2018) 17.g4 exf4 18.Rxf4 Nd7∞. b) 15.Bd4

15...e5 (15...Rac8!? 16.a3 Nxd3 17.cxd3 e5∞) 16.fxe5 dxe5 17.Qg3 Nxd3 18.cxd3 Nd7∞ Wegener,D-Souleidis,G Germany 2009. c) 15.f5?! e5 16.Bg5 (16.Qg3 Kh8 17.Bd2 Nxd3 18.cxd3 b4 19.Nd1 a5³ Nolsoe,E-Samuelsen,C 675

Torshavn 2013) 16...Nxd3 17.Qxd3 (17.cxd3 b4 18.Nd1 d5³) 17...b4 18.Bxf6 Bxf6 19.Nd1 (19.Nd5 Bxd5 20.exd5 Rfc8 21.Re2 a5µ) 19...Rfc8 20.c3 a5µ Grela,K-Ispiryan,Z Porec 2015. 15...Rac8

Also playable are: a) 15...Nd7 16.Bg1 Bf6 17.Rc1 Rac8 18.a3 Nxd3 19.cxd3 Nc5∞ Resika,N-Toth,A Paks 2001. b) 15...g6 16.f5 Nxd3 (16...gxf5?! 17.exf5 e5 18.Bh6 Kh8 19.Bxf8 Rxf8 20.Nf3± Pritchett,CLarge,P Brighton 1980) 17.cxd3 b4 18.Nce2². c) 15...Nxd3 16.cxd3 b4 17.Na4 Rac8∞, followed by ...Qa5. d) 15...d5 16.e5 Ne4

676

17.Bxe4 (17.Nce2 g6 (17...Nxd3?! 18.cxd3 Nc5 19.Bd2² Tsyn,I-Axelrod,A Netanya 2019) 18.a3 Nc6∞) 17...dxe4 18.a3 Nc6∞ Ivanovic,B-Kocovski,I Dojran 1992. 16.a3 Nxd3 17.cxd3 Rfe8

Black can also think of 17...Qd8 18.Rf3 Nd7 19.Rd1 Bf6 20.Rg3 Re8∞ Belikov,V-Akopian,V St Petersburg 1993, or 17...Qd7 18.Qg3 Rfe8 19.f5 e5 20.Nf3∞ Saveliev,A-Serov,M St Petersburg 2013. 18.Bg1

677

Interesting is 18.Rf3 Nd7 19.Rg3 Nc5 (19...Bf8 20.Rf1 Qd8 21.f5² Azarov,S-Korobov,A Internet 2020; 19...Bf6 20.f5 Ne5∞) 20.f5 Bf6∞. 18...Bf8

With a complicated position, as in Kolomensky,V-Gasanov,E Kharkov 2004. § Variation M112 - Zeus - 12.Nd4 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.Be3 Qc7 9.f4 a6 10.Qf3 Be7 11.0-0 0-0 12.Nd4

678

It seems better for White to play this move only after Black has played ...Nb4. 12...Nxd4 Although the text move looks best, Black can also try 12...Bd7

a) 13.Rad1 e5 (13...Nxd4! 14.Bxd4 e5∞, is logical) 14.Nf5 Bxf5 15.exf5 exf4 16.Qxf4 Ne5 17.Be2² Maringer,W-Metaxasz,V Balatonlelle 2006. b) 13.f5 b5 14.Qg3 Nxd4 15.Bxd4∞ Kaszas,S-Pogats,J Budapest 2006. c) 13.Nce2 e5 14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.fxe5 dxe5 16.h3 Be6 17.b3 a5∞ Tsyn,I-Guz,A Netanya 2019.

679

d) 13.Rae1 b5 14.Nxc6 Bxc6 15.Qh3

15...b4! (15...g6? 16.f5² Naran Erdene,N-Badelka,O Porto Carras 2015) 16.e5 dxe5 17.fxe5 Qxe5 18.Rxf6 g6 19.Rff1 bxc3 20.b3 Bc5µ. e) 13.Qg3 e1) 13...Ne8 14.f5 Nxd4 15.Bxd4 Bf6 16.Bxf6 Nxf6 17.fxe6 fxe6∞ Cremer,J-Vavra,P Pardubice 2014. e2) 13...Kh8

14.Nxc6 (14.e5?! dxe5 15.Nxc6 exf4 16.Rxf4 (16.Bxf4 Qb6+ 17.Be3 Bc5µ) 16...Bxc6µ Kaneyama,M-Kuzevanova,E St Petersburg 2010) 14...Bxc6 15.Bd4 (15.e5?! dxe5 (15...Nd5 16.Qh3 680

g6 17.Nxd5 Bxd5 18.Bd4 Kg8∞ Slezakova,G-Halkova,E Valtice 1991) 16.fxe5 Nh5 17.Qh3 Qxe5µ) 15...b5 16.e5 dxe5 17.Bxe5 Qb7∞ Mangini,J-Stahlberg,G Helsinki 1952. e3) 13...Nh5 14.Qh3

14...Nxf4! (14...g6 15.Nxc6 bxc6 16.f5² Starosta,M-Trisha,K Internet 2020) 15.Rxf4 (15.Bxf4 Nxd4 16.e5 Nf5!µ) 15...e5 16.Nf5 exf4 17.Nd5 Qd8 18.Bb6 Qe8 (18...Bxf5 19.exf5 Qd7 20.Qh5°) 19.Nc7 (19.e5 Kh8 20.Nc7 Qd8 21.Nd5 Qe8=) 19...Bxf5 20.Qxf5 Qc8 21.Nxa8 Qxf5 22.exf5 Rxa8 23.Rd1°. 13.Bxd4 e5

681

The typical Sicilian breakthrough. 14.fxe5 14.Be3, is a major alternative: a) 14...Ng4? 15.Nd5 Qd8 16.Bb6± Bello Filgueira,J-Santos M. M.,J Burgas 1999. b) 14...exf4? 15.Qxf4! Be6 16.Nd5! (16.a4 Nd7 17.Nd5 Bxd5 18.exd5 Ne5∞ Valentine,B-Mercs,P West Bromwich 2005; 16.Rad1 Ng4 17.Nd5 Bxd5

18.Qxg4 (18.exd5 Nxe3 19.Qxe3 g6 20.c3 f5∞) 18...Be6 19.Qg3 Rac8∞ Eidenberger,O-Ewart,B Radebeul 2016) 16...Bxd5 17.exd5± Nakhapetian,P-Papin,V Dagomys 2004 & Vetter,U-Suermann,U ICCF 2000. c) 14...b5

682

15.Nd5 (15.a3 Bb7 16.g4 (16.fxe5 dxe5 17.Ne2 Ne8 18.Ng3 Bc5 19.Rae1 g6 20.Qf2 Rc8∞ Lengyel,B-Gross,D Budapest 1998; 16.Nd5 Bxd5 17.exd5 Rfe8= Mares,V-Vodicka,V Czech Republic 1999) 16...Nd7 17.Nd5 Bxd5 18.exd5 exf4 19.Qxf4 Bf6 20.c3 Be5 21.Qf3 g6∞ Mangini,JBauza,L Rio de Janeiro 1952) 15...Nxd5 16.exd5

16...Bd7 (16...Bb7?! 17.a4! (17.Kh1 f5 18.fxe5 dxe5 19.Bxf5± Rabello,D-Batista,J Rio de Janeiro 2004) 17...bxa4 18.fxe5 dxe5 19.Rxa4±) 17.f5 Bf6=. d) 14...Bg4!? 15.Qg3 exf4 16.Qxf4 (16.Bxf4 Qb6+ (16...Bh5) 17.Be3 Qxb2 18.Bd4 Qb4 19.Bxf6 Bxf6 20.Qxg4 Qxc3µ Starczewska,M-Gasik,R Poraj 1997) 16...Bh5∞. 14...dxe5 15.Qg3 683

15.Be3 Be6 16.Kh1 Rfd8, looks more than fine for Black.

15...Be6 15...Bc5, is also playable: 16.Bxc5 Qxc5+ 17.Kh1 Qe7 (17...Ne8? 18.Nd5 f6 19.b4± Marinkovic,SColovic,D Cacak 1991) 18.Bc4 (18.Qh4 Be6 19.Rf3 Nd5 20.Qxe7 Nxe7 21.Re3 Rfd8³ Astengo,CAranovitch,E Cannes 2007) 18...b5 19.Nd5 Nxd5 20.Bxd5

20...Bb7 (20...Rb8 21.Rad1 Rb6 22.Rf3 Rg6 23.Qf2 Be6= Marinkovic,S-Knezevic,B Subotica 1992) 21.Rad1 Bxd5 22.Rxd5 f6 23.Rfd1 Rad8 24.h3 h6 25.Qb3 Kh7= Hudson,J-Krystall,D Chicago 1973.

684

16.Kh1 White cannot capture the black e-pawn: 16.Bxe5? Qc5+ 17.Kh1 Nh5–+, or 16.Qxe5?! Bd6 17.Qg5 Bxh2+ 18.Kh1 h6 19.Qc5 Nd7 20.Qxc7 Bxc7 21.Nd5 Be5³. 16...Nd7 16...Bd6

17.Be3 Be7 (17...Nh5!? 18.Qh4 g6∞) 18.Bd4, leads to a draw. 17.Be3 Or 17.Nd5 Bxd5 18.exd5 Bd6 19.Bc3 g6∞.

685

17...g6!? A good suggested novelty to 17...Kh8 18.Nd5 Qd8 19.Rad1 Rc8 20.c4² Kosanovic,G-Damjanovic,V Tivat 1995. OK is 17...Nf6 18.Bh6 Nh5 19.Qf3 Nf6=. 18.Rad1 Nc5∞

The position offers mutual chances and Black should feel happy with that.

686

§ Variation M113 - Zeus - 12.Rae1 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.Be3 Qc7 9.f4 a6 10.Qf3 Be7 11.0-0 0-0 12.Rae1

A typical and good move, which completes White’s development. Here Black must decide between 12...Nb4, 12...Nd7, 12...Rb8 and 12...b5. Note that 12...Re8 13.g4 Nd7 14.g5 Bf8 15.Qf2 (15.Qh5 g6 16.Qh4 b5 (16...Nb4 17.Rf3 b5 18.Ref1 Nxd3 19.cxd3² Tuma,J-Svoboda,V Sec u Chrudimi 2008) 17.Rf3 Qd8!∞ Maslak,K-Vavra,P Pardubice 2000; 15.Nd4 g6 16.Qf2 b5 17.Nxc6 Qxc6 18.f5∞ Stoilov,A-Nikolov,M Plovdiv 2004) 15...b5

687

16.Ne2 Nb4 17.Ned4 Bb7 18.Bd2 Nxd3 19.cxd3 Rac8 20.Re3 g6 21.Rh3 Bg7 ½–½ Abramov,VMadorsky,F Riazan 2007, usually transposes to the 12...b5 lines. § Variation M1131 - Zeus - 12...Nb4 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.Be3 Qc7 9.f4 a6 10.Qf3 Be7 11.0-0 0-0 12.Rae1 Nb4

A fully playable and reasonable alternative if Black wants to avoid other sharp lines. The drawback is that it allows the recentralization of the b3-knight.

688

13.a3 White has many alternatives at this point: a) 13.Qg3 a1) 13...Kh8

14.Qh3 (14.a3!? Nxd3 15.cxd3∞) 14...e5 15.f5 d5 16.exd5 Nbxd5 17.Nxd5 Nxd5∞ So,WParagua,M Kuala Lumpur 2006. a2) 13...g6 14.f5 Nxd3 (14...Nd7 15.Nd4 Ne5 16.f6± Malik,J-Kernazhitsky,L Litomysl 2016) 15.cxd3 Bd7

689

16.Bh6 Rfe8 17.fxg6 fxg6 18.d4∞ Sedina,E-Ristic,N Palermo 2000. a3) 13...Nxd3 14.cxd3

14...b5 (14...Kh8 15.Bd4 Qd8 16.e5 Ne8 17.Qf2 b5∞ Fuellgrabe,T-Blaskowski,J Ruhrgebiet 1999; 14...Re8 15.e5 Nd7 16.d4 Nb6 17.Rc1 Qd8∞ Shuqja,K-Mroz,L Bratislava 2019) 15.f5 Kh8 16.Rc1 Qd7 17.fxe6 fxe6∞ Wittmann,W-Grabics,M Balatonlelle 2003. a4) 13...e5 14.f5 Kh8 15.Qf3 b5 16.g4 d5 17.g5 d4 18.gxf6 Bxf6 19.Nxd4 exd4 20.Bf4 Qb6∞ Schaefer,M-Knezevic,B Sofia 1994. a5) 13...Nd7 14.Bd4 e5

15.Nd5! (15.fxe5 Nxe5 16.Nd5 Nxd5 17.exd5² Lagumina,S-Rajkovic,D Caorle 1982) 15...Nxd5 690

16.exd5 f5 17.c4². a6) 13...b5 14.e5 Nfd5 15.Bd4 g6 16.Nxd5 Nxd5 17.c3². a7) 13...Bd7 14.e5 (14.f5 Kh8 15.Kh1 b5∞ Brinck Claussen,B-Haznedaroglu,K Rethymnon 2009) 14...Nfd5 15.f5! (15.Nxd5 Nxd5 16.Bd4 g6 17.c4 Nb4 18.exd6 Bxd6∞ Horvath,L-Porubszky Angyalosine,M Zalakaros 2009) 15...exf5 16.Bh6 g6 17.Bxf5 (17.Bxf8 Kxf8°) 17...Bxf5 18.Rxf5 Nxc3 19.bxc3±. b) 13.g4

b1) 13...g6

14.f5! Nd7 (14...exf5? 15.gxf5? (15.exf5!±) 15...Bd7 16.Nd4 Nxd3 17.cxd3² Todorovic,G691

Krivokapic,M Vrnjacka Banja 2006) 15.Qh3 Qd8∞. b2) 13...Rb8 14.g5 Nd7 15.Qh5 Nxd3 16.cxd3 g6 17.Qh6 Re8∞ Makropoulou,M-Fanouraki,N Volos 1996. b3) 13...Nd7

14.g5 (14.Nd4 b5 (14...Nc5!? 15.Rd1 (15.Be2 e5 16.fxe5 dxe5 17.Qg3 Bd8!³) 15...Ncxd3 16.cxd3 Bd7=) 15.g5∞ Havlikova,K-Terekhov,A Marianske Lazne 2009) 14...Re8 15.Bd4 (15.Qh5 Bf8 16.Rf3 g6∞ Asrian,K-Anastasian,A Yerevan 1995) 15...Nc6 (15...Bf8 16.Qh5 e5 17.Nd5 Nxd5 18.exd5 g6∞ Marcus,J-Van der Weide,P Leeuwarden 1970) 16.Be3 Bf8∞ ½-½ Kuporosov,VVokac,M Lazne Bohdanec 1994. b4) 13...Nxd3 14.cxd3 b5

692

15.Rc1 (15.g5 Nd7 16.Qh5 g6 17.Qh6 Re8 18.Rf3 Bf8 19.Qh4 Bb7 20.Rh3 h5 21.gxh6 Kh7 22.f5 exf5 23.exf5 Ne5∞ Rosebrock,T-Graf,S Lenk 2012) 15...Qb8 16.Na5 Bb7 17.Ne2 Rc8 18.Rxc8+ Qxc8 19.Rc1 Qd7 20.g5 Ne8 21.Nxb7 (½-½ Berek,G-Molnar,P Slovakia 2008) 21...Qxb7 22.f5 exf5 23.Qxf5 d5!°. b5) 13...b5 14.g5 Nd7, transposes to 12...Nd7 line. c) 13.Nd4

13...Re8 (13...b5 14.a3 Nxd3 15.cxd3 Bb7 16.f5 e5 17.Nde2 Rfd8 18.Rc1 Qd7∞ Maestro,E-Dotta,G Montevideo 2020) 14.a3 (14.g4 b5 15.g5 Nd7 16.Qh3 Bf8∞ Gavric,D-Kurajica,B Banja Luka 1983) 14...Nxd3 15.cxd3 b5 16.Rc1 Qb7 17.f5 e5 18.Nb3 a5∞ Purtov,A-Sherbakov,R Omsk 2001. 693

d) 13.f5 Bd7 (13...Nc6 14.Kh1 Nd7 15.g4 Nde5 16.Qg3 b5 17.Nd4 Nxd4 18.Bxd4 Bb7∞ Kaeser,UGawehns,K Germany 1993) 14.Qh3 Rae8 15.Nd4 e5 16.Nf3 d5 17.exd5 Nfxd5 18.Nxd5 Nxd5 19.Ng5 Bxg5 20.Bxg5 f6∞ Holmsgaard,H-Petrov,M Pardubice 2001. e) 13.Qh3

13...Nxd3 (13...b5? 14.e5! dxe5 15.fxe5 Qxe5 16.Bd4 Qh5 17.Qxh5 Nxh5 18.Be4 Bd7 19.Bxa8 Rxa8 20.Bc5± Petrov,M-Kalesis,N Nikea 2002) 14.cxd3 b5 15.Rc1 Qd8 16.Nd4 Bb7 17.g4 Rc8∞ Westerinen,H-Kosten,A London 1988. f) 13.Kh1 Nxd3 (13...Re8 14.Qg3 Nd7 15.f5 Bf6 16.fxe6 fxe6 17.Bd4 Bxd4 18.Nxd4 Ne5∞ Delabaca,R-Mihok,O Budapest 2006) 14.cxd3 b5 (14...Bd7!?) 15.Rc1 Qb8 16.Nd4 Bb7 17.Qh3 Re8∞ Dineley,R-Spivack,S Birmingham 2002. g) 13.Bd2 Nxd3 14.cxd3 Nd7 15.Rc1 Qb8 16.Nd4 Bf6 17.Be3 Nc5∞ Malinovsky,K-Vykouk,J Ostrava 2018. 13...Nxd3 14.cxd3 A quite interesting position for the 12...Nb4 system. White has more space and Black the bishop pair.

694

14...Bd7 The other options are: a) 14...b5 15.Rc1 (15.e5 Bb7 16.exf6 (16.Qg3 dxe5 17.fxe5 Nh5 18.Qh3 g6∞) 16...Bxf3 17.fxe7 Qxe7 18.Rxf3 b4! 19.axb4 Qb7³) 15...Qb8 (15...Qd7

16.e5 (16.Na5! e5 17.d4²) 16...Bb7 17.exf6 Bxf3 18.fxe7 Rfb8 19.Rxf3 b4 20.axb4 Rxb4³ Kravtsiv,M-Zhornik,N Lvov 2007) 16.Na5 Bd7 17.Na2?! (17.b4²) 17...Bd8 18.Nc6 Bxc6 19.Rxc6∞ Moldovan,D-Kiselev,S Bucharest 1997. b) 14...Rb8 15.Rc1 Qd8 16.Ba7 (16.e5!? Nd7 17.d4∞) 16...Ra8 17.Bf2 Bd7∞ Berek,G-Metaxasz,V 695

Budapest 2005. c) 14...e5 15.Rc1 Qd8 16.h3 Be6∞ Pranav,S-Safarli,E Dhaka 2019. 15.g4

15.Rc1, is supposed to be the main continuation: a) 15...Qd8!? a1) 16.Kh1 Rc8 17.Nd4 Ne8 (17...e5 18.Nc2 (18.Nf5 Bxf5 19.exf5 Qd7=) 18...exf4 19.Bxf4 Bg4 20.Qf2 Be6 21.Ne3 Qd7= Franzoni,G-Gallagher,J Switzerland 1996) 18.f5 Bf6 19.Rc2 Nc7∞ Lutz,C-Martinovic,S Groningen 1995. a2) 16.Nd4 e5 17.Nf5 Bxf5 18.exf5 Qd7 19.Nd5 Bd8 20.g4 Re8∞ Duca,A-Chirila,I Eforie Nord 2008. a3) 16.Nd2 Bc6 17.d4

696

17...b5 (17...Nxe4? 18.Ndxe4 f5 19.Qh3! (19.d5? exd5 20.Nxd5 Bxd5 21.Nf6+ Bxf6 22.Qxd5+ Kh8= Marincas,V-Chirila,I Amara 2007) 19...fxe4 20.Qxe6+ Kh8 21.d5±) 18.d5 Bb7∞. a4) 16.g4 e5!? (16...Bc6 17.Nd4 Rc8?! (17...Nd7! 18.b4 e5 19.Nf5 exf4 20.Bxf4 Ne5 21.Qg3 Bg5∞)

18.b4! Nd7 19.a4² Gergacz,A-Grivas,E Kallithea 2008) 17.f5 (17.g5?! Ng4 18.Nd5 Nxe3 19.Qxe3 exf4 20.Nxe7+ Qxe7 21.Qxf4 f5³) 17...h6∞. b) 15...Qb8 16.g4! (16.d4 d5 17.e5 Ne4 18.Nxe4 dxe4 19.Qxe4 Bc6 20.Qc2 Qd8∞ Kuporosov,VSalinnikov,D St Petersburg 2001; 16.Na5 Bd8 17.b4 b6 18.Nb3 Be7∞ Keres,P-Smyslov,V Bled/Zagreb/Belgrade 1959) 16...Bc6 697

17.Nd4 (17.g5 Nd7 18.d4 Qd8?! (18...d5!? 19.exd5 exd5 20.Na5 (20.Nxd5 Bd8 21.f5 Qd6 22.Rxc6 bxc6³) 20...Bd8 21.Nxc6 bxc6∞) 19.d5 exd5 20.exd5 Bb5 21.Nxb5 axb5 22.Nd4± Skaperdas,KGrivas,E Athens 2003) 17...Nd7 (17...Rc8 18.f5 e5 19.Nxc6 bxc6 20.g5 Ne8 21.f6 Bf8 22.fxg7 Bxg7 23.Qxf7+ Kh8 24.Qe7 Kg8 25.Rf2 Rc7 26.Qe6+ Kh8 27.Rcf1 1–0 Kostromin,M-Fedotov,N Voronezh 2015) 18.g5 g6 (18...Bd8 19.Nd1!±) 19.Qh3 Qd8 20.Kh1². 15...Bc6 15...Rac8 16.Rc1 Qd8, looks playable. 16.Nd4 Nd7 17.g5 17.b4 Bf6 18.Rc1 Bxd4! 19.Bxd4 e5∞.

698

17...Rfe8! 17...Nc5 18.Qd1 Rac8 19.b4 Nd7 20.Qh5². 18.Qh3 Bf8 19.f5 exf5 20.Nxf5 20.exf5 Ne5 21.Rd1 Rac8∞. 20...Ne5 21.Bd4 Re6!

With a complicated position (Black will double rooks on the e-file), as in Shanava,K-Grivas,E 699

Kocaeli 2008.

700

§ Variation M1132 - Zeus - 12...Nd7 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.Be3 Qc7 9.f4 a6 10.Qf3 Be7 11.0-0 0-0 12.Rae1 Nd7

An interesting and flexible line which retains all of Black’s active options (...b5, ...Nb4), while stopping White’s e5 advance. 13.g4 13.a3 b5, transposes to the Hestia v.. 13...b5 14.g5

701

14...Bb7 Lately Black has tried to keep the c8-bishop on its initial square as long as possible thus effectively controlling the h3-c8 diagonal and the e6-square. The alternatives are: a) 14...Nb4 15.Qh5

a1) 15...Nxd3 16.cxd3 b4 17.Nd1 (17.Ne2 Nc5 18.Rf3 (18.Rc1 Qd7! 19.f5 (19.Rf3 g6 (19...Nxd3 20.Rh3 h6 21.Rf1 Nxf4 22.Nxf4 Bxg5 23.Rg3±) 20.Qh6 f5 21.Rh3 Rf7∞) 19...exf5 20.exf5

702

20...f6! 21.Nxc5 dxc5 22.g6 hxg6 23.fxg6 Qh3∞) 18...Nxd3 19.Rh3 h6 20.Bd4! e5 21.Rxd3 exd4 22.Nexd4±) 17...f5 18.Nf2 (18.Rf3 g6 19.Qh6 fxe4 20.dxe4 Rf7 21.Nf2 Bf8 22.Qh4 Bb7∞ Ogleznev,A-Carmaciu,C Bucharest 2008; 18.exf5 Bb7!? (18...exf5∞) 19.f6 Nxf6 20.gxf6 Rxf6°) 18...g6 19.Qe2 Qb7 20.Rc1 a5∞ Dabetic,R-Knezevic,B Igalo 1994. a2) 15...g6 a21) 16.Qh6 Nxd3 (16...f5? 17.exf5 exf5 18.Bd4! Rf7 19.Bxf5! Bf8 (19...gxf5 20.g6+–) 20.Re8 Bb7 21.Be6! Rxe8 22.Bxf7+ Kxf7 23.Qxh7++–) 17.cxd3 Re8∞. a22) 16.Qh4 (this is a quite dangerous line...)

a221) 16...f5? 17.exf5 exf5 18.a3! Nxd3 19.Nd5! Qd8 20.Bb6!+–. 703

a222) 16...Re8 17.Rf3 Nxd3 a2221) 18.Rh3 h5 19.cxd3 Bf8 20.Nd4 b4 21.Nce2

21...Nc5! (21...e5? 22.Rc1 Nc5 23.Nf5 Bxf5 24.exf5± Cucarella Montell,A-Sanchez Ruesga,H Zornotza 2014. Now extreme complications can be met after the text) 22.Ng3! (22.Bf2 Bg7 23.Ng3 e5 24.Ndf5 (24.Nxh5 gxh5 25.Nf5 Bxf5 26.exf5 Qc8–+) 24...Bxf5 25.Nxf5 Ne6³) 22...Nxd3 23.Nxh5 (23.f5 exf5 24.Nxh5 gxh5 25.Qxh5 Bg7 26.Nxf5 Bxf5 27.exf5 Nf4, transposes below) 23...gxh5 24.Qxh5 Bg7 25.f5 exf5 26.Nxf5 Bxf5 27.exf5 (it looks like Black is busted, but this is not the case as it happens quite often in the ‘Grivas Sicilian’; Black’s resources are unlimited!)

704

27...Nf4! 28.Qh7+ Kf8 29.f6 Nxh3+ 30.Qxh3 Rxe3 31.fxg7+ (31.Qxe3 Bh8 32.Qe7+ Qxe7 33.Rxe7 Kg8 34.Kf2 Rf8 35.h4 Kh7 36.h5 Bxf6 37.gxf6 Kh6=) 31...Kxg7 32.Qxe3 Qc5=. a2222) 18.cxd3

18...h5! (18...b4 19.Ne2 h5 (19...Nf8? 20.Rc1 Qd7 21.Na5 (21.Qh6²) 21...d5 22.Nc6 dxe4 23.dxe4 Bb7 24.Ne5! (24.Nxe7+ Rxe7∞ Bollengier,A-Korobov,A Sautron 2003) 24...Qa4 25.Ng4+–)

20.Ng3 Bf8 21.Nxh5 gxh5 22.Qxh5 Bg7 23.Rc1±; 18...Bb7 19.Ne2 (19.Qh6 Bf8 20.Qh4 Be7=; 19.Bd4 h5 (19...b4? 20.Qxh7+! Kxh7 21.Rh3+ Kg8 22.Rh8#) 20.Ne2 e5 21.fxe5 Nxe5 22.Bxe5 dxe5 23.Ref1 Rf8µ Hunt,H-Saevareid,O Gausdal 2004) 19...Rac8 20.Rh3 Nf8 (20...h5 705

21.Ng3 Kg7 22.f5 exf5 23.Rc1! Qd8 24.exf5 Rxc1+ 25.Nxc1±) 21.Ng3 Bd8 22.Rf1±) 19.Rc1 Qd8∞. a223) 16...Nxd3! 17.cxd3 b4

18.f5 (18.Nd1?! f5 19.Nf2 a5 20.exf5 exf5 21.Bd4 Rf7 22.Re3 Bb7 23.Rc1 Qd8³ Tsekouras,TGrivas,E Iraklion 2004) 18...Re8!? (18...bxc3 19.f6 Bxf6 20.gxf6 cxb2 21.Re2!²) 19.fxe6 fxe6 20.Ne2 (20.Rf7? h5–+) 20...e5∞. b) 14...Re8

b1) 15.Qh3 g6 16.Rf3 Nb4 17.Ref1 Nxd3! (17...Bb7?! 18.Bd4 f5? 19.exf5 (19.Qxh7+ Kxh7 20.Rh3+ Kg8 21.Rh8+ Kf7=) 19...exf5 20.Bxf5! gxf5 21.g6+– Kalevic,S-Knezevic,B Subotica 706

1992) 18.cxd3 b4∞. b2) 15.Qh5 (15.Nd4 Nxd4 16.Bxd4 Bb7 17.f5 Ne5 18.Qg3 b4∞ Kivipelto,K-Kanep,M Jyvaskyla 2011; 15.Qg3 Bf8 16.Qh4 g6∞ Bacrot,E-Gelfand,B Albert 2002) 15...g6

16.Qh6 (16.Qh3 Bf8 17.Nd1 Nb4∞ Domanyek,E-Posedaru,B Predeal 2006; 16.Qh4 b4 17.Nd1∞ Muller,W-Grivas,E Munich 1987) 16...Bf8 17.Qh4 Bg7 (17...b4 18.Ne2 Bg7∞ Bronnikova,EKursova,M Budva 2003) 18.Rf3 Qd8 19.Rh3 Nf8∞

Yagupov,I-Kharitonov,A Spasskoe 1996. This is an important alternative to the 12.Rae1 variation which deserves more attention. 15.Qh5 707

Other moves causes fewer problems for Black: a) 15.Qh3 Nb4 a1) 16.a3?! Nxd3 17.cxd3 Nc5 18.Nc1 d5 (18...f5!? 19.Bd2 Rac8³) 19.exd5 Rad8 (19...exd5 20.N3e2 Rae8 21.Nd4 Bd6∞) 20.d4 Na4 21.Nxa4 bxa4 22.dxe6 Qc6 23.exf7+ Rxf7 24.Nd3 Bxg5! 25.Ne5 Qh1+ 26.Kf2 Qe4 27.Nxf7? (27.Kg3! Bf6 28.Nxf7 Kxf7 29.Qh5+ Kg8°) 27...Bh4+ 28.Ke2 Qc2+ 29.Bd2 Kxf7 0–1 Roese,O-Luecke,N Germany 1992. a2) 16.Nd4 Rae8 17.Rf3 Bd8 18.Qh4 g6 (18...Nxd3! 19.cxd3 g6³) 19.Rh3 h5 20.Be2 Kg7∞ 21.f5 Rh8 22.a3 Nc6 23.Rf1 Nde5 24.Qf2?! Nxd4 25.Bxd4 exf5 26.exf5 Bxg5 27.Qg3 Bf6 28.fxg6 fxg6 29.Bxh5 Rxh5 30.Rxf6 Kxf6 0–1 Berndt,S-Grivas,E Dortmund 1992. a3) 16.f5 Nxd3 17.cxd3 exf5 18.exf5

708

a31) 18...Rfe8 19.Ne4 (19.Nd4 Bf8 20.g6 Nf6∞ Sanz Alonso,F-Andrade,L Barreiro 2001) 19...Ne5 20.f6 (20.Rc1?! Qd7 21.Qg3 Bf8 (21...Nxd3!µ) 22.Bb6 Rac8µ Murko,V-Arzumanian,G Alushta 2002) 20...Bxe4 21.dxe4 Bf8 22.Rf4 Qc8 23.Qh5 Ng6 (23...g6!? 24.Qd1 Qh3³) 24.Rg4 gxf6∞ Efimenko,Z-Arzumanian,G Alushta 2000. a32) 18...Rae8

19.Nd4 (19.f6?! gxf6 20.gxf6 Bxf6 21.Rxf6 Nxf6 22.Qg3+ Kh8 23.Bd4 Rxe1+ 24.Qxe1 Rg8+–+; 19.g6 hxg6 (19...Nf6 20.gxh7+ Nxh7 21.Ne4 Bxe4 22.dxe4 Bf6 23.Qg2 Re7∞) 20.fxg6 fxg6 21.Qe6+ Kh7 22.Qh3+=) 19...Bd8! (opening the e-file and preparing the transfer of the d8–bishop to the g1–a7 diagonal) 20.a3 Ne5 21.f6 gxf6 22.gxf6

709

22...Kh8 (22...Qc8!? 23.Nf5 Kh8 24.Bh6 Bxf6 25.Bxf8 Rxf8°) 23.Bh6 Qc5 24.Bg7+ Kg8 25.Nce2 Qd5 26.Nf5 Ng4! 27.Nh6+ Nxh6 28.Bxh6 Bb6+ 29.d4 Bxd4+ 30.Nxd4 Qxd4+ 31.Be3 Qd3 32.Qg3+ Qg6 33.Bh6 Rxe1 34.Rxe1 Rc8 35.Re7 Bd5 36.Ra7 Be4 ½-½ Ulibin,M-Akopian,V Soviet Union 1986. a33) 18...Ne5 19.d4 (19.f6 gxf6 20.gxf6 Kh8 21.Bh6 Rg8+ 22.Bg7+ Rxg7+ 23.fxg7+ Kxg7°)

19...Nc4? (19...Nd3∞) 20.g6?! (20.f6!±) 20...fxg6 21.fxg6 hxg6 22.Qe6+ Kh7 ½-½ Lovik,L-Van Eijk,S Gibraltar 2009. b) 15.Qg4 g6 (15...Nb4 16.Rf3 Nxd3 17.cxd3 b4∞) 16.Rf3 f5 (16...Nb4!) 17.gxf6 Rxf6 18.Rg3 Nf8 19.Nd4 Nxd4 20.Bxd4 e5 21.Be3 exf4 22.Bxf4 Ne6∞ Majeric,Z-Farkas,G Hungary 2003. 710

15...Rfe8 Alternatives are: a) 15...Nb4?

16.Rf3 (16.a3?! Nxd3 17.cxd3 Nc5 18.Nc1 f5µ Kuporosov,V-Gufeld,E Kislovodsk 1982) 16...Nxd3 (16...g6 17.Qh6 f5 18.exf5 exf5 19.Rh3 Rf7 20.Bd4 Nf8 (20...Qc6 21.Qxg6+ Kf8 22.Be4+–) 21.Bxf5!± Chandler,M-Gufeld,E Dortmund 1983) 17.cxd3? - see the analyzed game Nunn,J-Grivas,E Athens 1991, in the Middlegame Strategy chapter. b) 15...g6! 16.Qh4 (16.Qh3 Rfe8∞) 16...Nb4 17.Rf3 Nxd3 18.cxd3 f5³ Tuma,J-Kourousis,E Prague 2013. 16.Rf3

711

16...g6 The only way. Bad is 16...Nb4? 17.Rh3 Nf8 18.Nd4 (18.Rf1!?) 18...Nxd3 19.cxd3 e5 20.Nf5± d5 21.Nxg7 exf4 22.Nf5 Bd6 23.Bd4 Be5 24.Bxe5 Rxe5 25.Qh6 Rxf5 26.exf5 Qc5+ 27.Kf1 Bc8 28.Re8 Bxf5 29.Rxa8 d4 30.Ne4 Bxh3+ 31.Qxh3 Qc1+ 32.Kg2 Qxb2+ 33.Kf3 1–0 Kadric,DNguyen,D Istanbul 2012. 17.Qh6 Bf8 18.Qh4

18...Qd8! 712

An important retreat, strengthening Black’s defense. Alternatives are: a) 18...Nb4 19.Rh3 h6 20.gxh6 Nxd3 (20...Kh7 21.Nd4 Nxd3 22.cxd3² Kosintseva,T-Torbin,K Essentuki 2003; 20...Rac8 21.Rf1 Nxd3 22.cxd3 b4 23.Nd1 (23.Ne2!?) 23...Be7 24.Qg3 Bf6 25.Nd4 Kh8∞ Dervishi,E-Grivas,E Ano Liosia 1996) 21.cxd3 b4 22.Nd1 Rac8∞ Anagnostopoulos,DGrivas,E Athens 1996. b) 18...Be7? 19.Rh3 h5

20.Be2! Bf8 21.Bxh5 Bg7 (21...gxh5 22.Qxh5 Bg7 23.f5+–) 22.Bxg6 fxg6 23.Qh7+ Kf7 24.f5 gxf5 25.exf5 Nce5 26.Nd4 1–0 Velasquez Ojeda,C-Pinto,M Maipu 2003. c) 18...Bg7? 19.Rh3 Nf8 20.f5 Bxc3 (20...Ne5 21.f6 Bh8 22.Bd4 Nxd3 23.cxd3 Rac8 24.a3± Moroz,A-Korobov,A Pardubice 2004)

713

21.f6! h5 22.gxh6! (22.bxc3 e5 23.Be2 Bc8 24.Rg3∞ Cabezas Ayala,I-Moreno Carnero,J Navalmoral 2000) 22...Nh7 23.bxc3±. 19.Rh3

19...h5 Not bad, but even better is 19...h6! - see notes below. 20.Ne2?!

714

As the endgame after 20.gxh6 Qxh4 21.Rxh4 Kh7 22.Rh3 Rac8

The position seems nice for Black, White’s attack through the h-file is not that easy anymore. The position is unclear and offers equal chances. It must be mentioned that Black should play 19...h6!, with the same ideas, but the latter is more accurate as it avoids future sacrifices on h5. Now White should go with 20.f5!, when Black should be very careful: a) 20...b4? 21.Ne2 Nce5 (21...Nde5 22.Nf4 Nxd3 23.cxd3 exf5 24.exf5 Ne5 25.Nxh5+–) 22.Nf4 Bg7 23.fxg6 fxg6 24.Nxg6!+–. b) 20...Nb4? 21.Be2 exf5 22.Bxh5! Bg7 23.Bxg6 (23.exf5 Nxc2 24.fxg6 f5∞) 23...fxg6 24.Qh7++–. c) 20...Nce5!

715

21.Be2 exf5 22.exf5 Bg7 23.Rf1 (23.Bxh5? gxh5 24.Qxh5 Nc4 25.Qh7+ Kf8 26.f6 Nxf6 27.gxf6 Qxf6 28.Rf1 Qxf1+ 29.Kxf1 Nxe3+µ) 23...Nc4∞. 20...d5?! 20...Nb4! 21.f5 exf5 22.exf5 Nxd3 23.cxd3 Bh6!? 24.Bd2 Qb6+³, is far better. 21.Ng3 dxe4 22.Nxh5 gxh5 23.Qxh5 Bg7 24.Bxe4 Qc7

With a very complicated position, as in Kofidis,A-Grivas,E Athens 2000. § Variation M1133 - Zeus - 12...Rb8 716

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.Be3 Qc7 9.f4 a6 10.Qf3 Be7 11.0-0 0-0 12.Rae1 Rb8

Black avoids the ‘threat’ 13.e5, by removing the rook from the h1-a8 diagonal. But this rook move has more point when White has already played a3. 13.g4 The most common and dangerous continuation. With the text move White looks to achieve a good version of the g4–advance, where ...Rb8, isn’t that useful. Alternatives are: a) 13.Qg3

717

a1) 13...b5 14.e5 (14.Nd4 Bb7 15.Nxc6 Bxc6 16.e5 dxe5 17.fxe5 Nh5 18.Qh3 g6 19.Bh6 Rfd8 20.Ne4

20...Qxe5 (20...Bxe4!? 21.Rxe4 Ng7∞) 21.Nf6+ Qxf6 22.Rxf6 Bxf6 23.g4 Ng7° 24.Bf4 ½-½ Maze,S-Vachier Lagrave,M Paris 2003) 14...dxe5 15.fxe5 Nh5 (15...Nxe5? 16.Bd4+–) 16.Qf3 g6∞ Arakhamia Grant,K-Gurevich,I Hastings 1993. a2) 13...Kh8 14.Kh1 (14.Nd4 Bd7 (14...Nxd4?! 15.Bxd4 Ne8?! 16.e5± Cao,K-Schuller,J Stillwater 2009) 15.Nxc6 Bxc6 16.Bd4 Rbd8∞) 14...b5 15.e5

718

15...dxe5 (15...Nh5?! 16.Qh3² Pulkkinen,K-Henriksson,C Finland 1993) 16.fxe5 Nd7∞. a3) 13...e5?! 14.Nd5 Nxd5 15.exd5 Nb4 16.Kh1 (16.fxe5 dxe5 17.Bd2!²) 16...Nxd3 17.cxd3 f6∞ Yuan,Y-Doubleday,W Ottawa 2013. a4) 13...Nd7!? 14.Qh3 Nb4 15.a3 Nxd3 16.cxd3∞ Repkova,E-Svidler,P Groningen 1993. b) 13.Bd2

13...e5?! (13...b5! 14.g4 b4 15.Ne2 a5∞) 14.f5?! (14.Nd5!²) Koziol,K-Adamczewski,M Walbrzych 2013. c) 13.Qh3 e5 (13...b5, should be the natural follow-up) 14.f5 Nb4 15.g4 d5 16.g5 d4 (16...Nxe4 17.Bxe4 dxe4 18.Qg3±) 17.gxf6 Bxf6 18.Nxd4 exd4 19.Bf4± Kwiatkowski,W-Kanarkiewicz,M 719

Szczyrk 2013. 13...Nd7

The alternative is 13...b5 14.g5 Nd7 15.Qh5 g6 16.Qh6 Re8 17.Rf3 Bf8 18.Qh4 Nb4 (18...Qd8!? 19.Rh3 h5∞ Zhang,H-Doubleday,W Sault Ste Marie 2017) 19.Rh3 (19.Bd4 e5!∞ Bonev,TSofranov,V Teteven 2008) 19...h6 20.gxh6 Kh7 21.Nd4 (21.f5!

21...Be7 22.Qg3, looks promising...) 21...Be7 22.Qf2 Nxd3 23.cxd3 Nc5∞ Nolte,R-Pacis,A Manila 2008. 14.g5 Re8 15.Qh5 g6 720

15...Bf8 16.Rf3 g6 17.Qh4 Bg7 18.Rh3 Nf8∞ Prediger,R-Davidovic,A Nuremberg 1989, is similar. 16.Qh6 Bf8 17.Qh4

Spisak,C-Gajewski,G Lubniewice 2005 & Bonev,T-Sofranov,V Teteven 2008. This is a very similar position with the one in the previous chapter with 12...Nd7 the only differences are the moves ...b5/...Rb8. But still Black seems to be doing OK. § Variation M1134 - Zeus - 12...b5 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.Be3 Qc7 9.f4 a6 10.Qf3 Be7 11.0-0 0-0 12.Rae1 b5

721

For many years this was considered the main line; then it developed a dubious reputation and now its trust has been restored! 13.e5 This is supposed to be dangerous. Other White tries are: a) 13.g4 Nd7 14.g5 (14.Qh3, is not dangerous: 14...Nb4 15.g5 Nxd3 16.cxd3 b4 17.Ne2 Qc2³ Elnasri,M-Kigigha,B Istanbul 2012), transposes to the 12...Nd7 line. b) 13.a3, transposes to the Hestia variation. c) 13.Qh3 e5!? (13...Rd8 14.g4 b4 15.Ne2 Nd7 16.g5 a5 17.Ng3 a4 18.Nd2 g6∞ Waitzkin,JOlesen,M New York 1993; 13...g6 14.g4 b4 15.Nd1 Re8 16.Nf2 a5 17.g5 Nh5 18.Ng4 Bf8∞ Mikheeva,A-Fastova,T Dagomys 2009; 13...Nb4? 14.e5! dxe5 15.fxe5 Qxe5 16.Bd4 Qh5 17.Qxh5 Nxh5 18.Be4 Bd7 19.Bxa8 Rxa8 20.Bc5± Petrov,M-Kalesis,N Nikea 2002; 13...Qd8 14.g4 e5 15.f5 Nd7 16.Nd5± Alonso,S-Fiora,E Montevideo 2019; 13...Re8 14.Bd2 g6 15.a3 Nd7∞ Nemeth,MMihok,O Hungary 2012) 14.f5 Nb4 15.g4 d5 16.g5

722

16...d4! (16...Nxe4 17.Nxd5 Nxd5 18.Bxe4² Payen,A-Wauters,A Cannes 1989) 17.gxf6 Bxf6 18.a3 Nxd3 19.Nd5 Qd6 20.Nxf6+ Qxf6 21.cxd3 dxe3 22.Qxe3=. d) 13.Bf2 b4 (13...Bb7!? 14.Qh3 Nb4 15.a3 Nxd3 16.cxd3 Rac8= Prandstetter,E-Bakalar,P Karvina 1988) 14.Nd1 e5!? (14...Bb7 15.Qh3 e5 16.Bh4 Nd7 (16...exf4!? 17.Bxf6 Bc8∞) 17.Ne3 Bxh4 18.Qxh4 Qd8 19.Qxd8 Raxd8 20.Nc4² Matulovic,M-Chiburdanidze,M Vinkovci 1982) 15.Ne3 (15.f5 a5∞) 15...exf4

16.Nd5 (16.Qxf4 Ne5∞) 16...Nxd5 17.exd5 Ne5 18.Qxf4 (18.Rxe5? dxe5 19.d6 Bxd6 20.Qxa8 Bb7–+) 18...Bb7∞. e) 13.Qg3 b4 (13...Nd7 14.Qh3 Nb4 15.Rc1 Qb8 16.Nd4 Nc5 17.Be2 Bf6∞ Ivanov,LS-Jorczik,J 723

Sibenik 2007; 13...Kh8 14.Kh1 Bb7

15.Nd4 (15.e5?! dxe5 16.fxe5 Qxe5 (16...Nd7!? 17.Nd4 Nc5³) 17.Bf4 (17.Qh4 Qh5 18.Qxh5 Nxh5 19.Nc5 Nd8) 17...Qh5 18.Be2 Qg6µ) 15...Nb4 (15...Rae8 16.Nxc6 Bxc6 17.e5 Nd7 18.Qh3 g6∞ Mukhametov,E-Nadanian,A Czestochowa 1991) 16.a3 Nxd3 17.cxd3 Nd7 18.Rc1 Qd8 19.b4 Rc8∞ Palac,M-Sax,G Pula 1995) e1) 14.Na4 Rb8

15.e5 (15.c4 bxc3 16.Nxc3 Rb4 17.Kh1 Bb7 18.Bd2 g6∞ Kravtsiv,M-Korobov,A Alushta 2006) 15...Nd5 16.Bd2 g6 17.c4 bxc3 18.Nxc3 Nxc3 19.Bxc3 dxe5 20.fxe5 Nb4 21.Bb1 Bd7∞ Ankerst,M-Grivas,E Dortmund 1992. 724

e2) 14.Nb1 Bb7 15.N1d2 Kh8 16.Nf3 e5 17.fxe5 Nxe5 18.Nxe5 dxe5∞ 19.Nd4? Nh5 20.Qh3 exd4 21.Bxd4 Bc5 22.Bxc5 Qxc5+ 23.Kh1 g6 0–1 Kitze,A-Carow,J Hannover 2014. e3) 14.Nd1 a5 (14...Bd7 15.Nf2 Rfe8 16.Bc1 e5∞ Schink,B-Solic,K Rogaska Slatina 2009) 15.Nf2 a4 16.Nd4 Nxd4 17.Bxd4

17...e5 (17...Nh5!? 18.Qg4 e5 19.Qxh5 exd4∞) 18.fxe5 Nh5 19.Qf3 (19.exd6 Nxg3 20.dxc7 Nxf1 21.Rxf1 Be6³) 19...dxe5 20.Qxh5 exd4 21.e5 g6 22.Qe2³ ½-½ Gruenfeld,Y-Grivas,E Novi Sad 1990. f) 13.Kh1 (it must be noted that with this move White transposes to various variations; I will try to give a few examples)

725

f1) 13...Nd7 14.Qh3 Nb4 15.Bd2 Nxd3 16.cxd3 Nc5 17.Rc1 Nxb3 18.axb3 Qd8 19.Ne2 Bb7 20.Nd4= ½–½ Tatar Kis,S-Izsak,G Hungary 2008. f2) 13...b4

14.Nd1 (14.Ne2 a5 15.Ng3 a4 16.Nd2 Ba6 17.Nh5 Nxh5 18.Qxh5 Bf6³ Vandoros,D-Grivas,E Athens 1995) 14...a5 (14...Bb7 15.Bf2 a5 16.Qh3 g6 17.Ne3 Rfe8∞ Jones,A-Suzuki,T Novi Sad 1990) 15.Nf2 e5 16.f5 Bb7∞ Kaiumov,D-Kurnosov,I Alushta 2002. f3) 13...Bb7 14.Qh3

14...Nb4 (14...b4 15.e5 dxe5 16.fxe5 Nxe5 17.Bf4 Nxd3 18.Bxc7 Nxe1 19.Rxe1 bxc3 20.bxc3 Rac8 21.Be5 Bd5° Savanovic,A-Djukic,Z Kladovo 1994; 14...Rfe8 15.Nd4 Nb4 16.Bf2 Nd7 17.a3 726

Nxd3 18.cxd3 Nc5 19.Rc1 Rac8 20.b4 Na4 21.Nde2 Qd7∞ Kalegin,E-Narciso Dublan,M Salou 2009) f31) 15.Nd4

15...Rac8 (15...Nd7 16.Bg1 Bf6 17.Rc1 Rac8 18.a3 Nxd3 19.cxd3 Nc5∞ Resika,N-Toth,A Paks 2001; 15...g6 16.f5 gxf5!? (16...Nxd3 17.cxd3 b4 18.Nce2 exf5 19.exf5 Nd5∞) 17.exf5 e5 18.Bh6 Kh8 19.Bxf8 Rxf8 20.Nf3 Rg8° Pritchett,C-Large,P Brighton 1980) 16.a3 Nxd3 17.cxd3 Qd8 18.Rf3 Nd7 19.Rd1 Bf6∞ Belikov,V-Akopian,V St Petersburg 1993. f32) 15.a3 Nxd3 16.cxd3

16...Rab8 (16...a5 17.Nd4 b4 18.Ncb5 Qd7 19.a4 Rfc8∞ Timofeev,A-Areshchenko,A Oropesa del 727

Mar 1999) 17.f5∞ Prizant,J-Torbin,K Rybinsk 2001. f33) 15.f5 e5 16.Bg5 Nxd3 17.Qxd3 b4 18.Bxf6 Bxf6 19.Nd1 Rfc8 20.c3 a5µ Grela,K-Ispiryan,Z Porec 2015. f34) 15.Bd4 e5 16.fxe5 dxe5 17.Qg3 Nxd3 18.cxd3 Nd7 19.Be3∞ Wegener,D-Souleidis,G Germany 2009. g) 13.Nd4

13...Bb7 (13...Nxd4 14.Bxd4 e5 (14...Bb7!) 15.Be3∞ Farid,F-Ladva,O Athens 2012) 14.Nde2 (14.Nxc6 Bxc6 15.Qh3 e5∞ Van Dael,S-Nikolov,M Cappelle la Grande 2019) 14...Nb4∞. 13...dxe5

728

Black is more or less obliged to go for it. Bad is 13...Nd7? 14.exd6! (14.Qh3?! g6 (14...f5 15.exf6 Nxf6 16.Nd4 Nxd4 17.Bxd4 g6 18.Rxe6! d5 19.Kh1 b4 20.Qe3 Bxe6 21.Qxe6+ Rf7 22.Bxf6 bxc3 23.Be5 Qc5 24.f5 gxf5 25.Rxf5 Raf8 26.Rf3 1–0 Kasimdzhanov,R-Schreiner,P Germany 2019) 15.exd6 Bxd6 16.f5 exf5 17.Nd5 Qd8 18.Rxf5

18...f6! 19.Rff1 Nde5∞ Kofidis,A-Grivas,E Ilioupolis 1995) 14...Qxd6 (14...Bxd6?

729

15.Bxb5! Bb7 (15...axb5 16.Nxb5 Qb8 17.Qxc6 Ra6 18.Qc4! Rxa2 19.Nxd6 Qxd6 20.Rd1! Qb8 21.Nc5 Ra7 22.b4±) 16.Bd3±, loses a pawn without much compensation)

a) 15.Na5? Nxa5! 16.Qxa8 Bb7 (16...b4? 17.Nb5! axb5 18.Qxa5+–) 17.Qa7 b4 18.Rd1 (18.Ne4!? Qc7! (18...Qc6 19.Rf3! (19.Re2? f5 20.Ng5 Ra8 21.Qd4 Bc5 22.Bxf5 exf5 23.Qd3 Nf6µ) 19...f5 20.Bf2 fxe4 21.Bxe4 Qc7 22.Bxb7 Nc5 23.Rxe6 Naxb7 24.Re2³) 19.Bf2 f5³; 18.Nb5 Qc6 19.Rf2 Ra8 20.Nd4 Qc8–+; 18.Be4 Ra8 19.Rd1 Rxa7 20.Rxd6 Bxd6 21.Bxa7 bxc3 22.Bxb7 Nxb7³)

730

18...Qc7! (18...bxc3? 19.Bxh7+ Kxh7 20.Rxd6 Bxd6 21.Qd4 Bc5 22.Qd3+ Kg8 23.Bxc5 Nxc5 24.Qxc3+–) 19.Bxa6! Ra8 (19...bxc3!? 20.Bxb7 Nc5 21.b4 Nc6 22.Qa3 Nxb7 23.Rb1³) 20.Nb5 Qxc2!µ Nadanian,A-Palevic,M ICCF 1992. b) 15.Ne4?! Qc7 16.Qh3 (16.Qh5 f5! 17.Ng5 Nf6∞ Percze,J-Baklanov,V ICCF 2002) 16...f5!

17.Nec5 (17.Ng5 Bxg5 18.fxg5 Nde5 19.Bf4 Qb6+ (19...Qa7+!? 20.Kh1 (20.Be3 Qc7=) 20...Nxd3 21.Qxd3 Rd8 22.Qc3 Ne7∞) 20.Kh1 Nxd3! (20...Ng6 21.Bd6! (21.c4 Nxf4 22.Rxf4∞ Dobosz,LPurc,S Krynica 1998) 21...Rf7 22.Qf3²) 21.Qxd3 Nb4 22.Qg3 Rf7 23.c3 Nd5 24.Be5²) 17...Nxc5 18.Bxc5 Bxc5+ 19.Nxc5 e5 20.fxe5 Nxe5 21.b4

731

21...Ng4 (21...Qd6!? 22.a3 Nxd3 23.Qxd3 Qxd3 24.Nxd3 Ra7=) 22.Be2 Nf6 (½-½ Pilgaard,KGrivas,E Budapest 2001) 23.Qc3 Kh8 24.Bf3 Ra7∞ Filev,G-Videnova,I Plovdiv 2009. c) 15.Be4! (the idea that changed the evaluation of the variation) 15...Bb7 16.f5!

16...b4 (16...exf5 17.Qxf5 g6 18.Qh3 Qe6 19.Qh6 (19.Rxf7 Qxh3 20.Rxf8+ Rxf8 21.gxh3±) 19...Nde5 20.Bd5 (20.Nc5 Qc8 21.Nd5+–) 20...Qc8 21.Bc5 Ng4 22.Qf4 1–0 Dervishi,E-Grivas,E Ikaria 1997) 17.Rd1 Qc7 18.fxe6 fxe6 19.Qh3 (19.Bxh7+ Kxh7 20.Qh3+ Kg8 21.Qxe6+ Kh8 22.Qh3+ Kg8 23.Rxd7 Qe5∞) 19...Rxf1+ 20.Rxf1 Nf8 21.Ne2±. 13...Ne8, is passive, as the knight has little perspective here: 14.f5 (14.Nd4 Nxd4 15.Bxd4 Bb7 16.Qh3² Socko,B-Bielczyk,J Hlohovec 1993; 14.Qh3 g6 15.f5 Nxe5 16.Bh6 exf5 17.Bxf8 Bxf8³ 732

Ermolaev,E-Shurunov,A Izhevsk 2014) 14...Rb8 15.fxe6 Bxe6 16.exd6 Bxd6 17.Nc5?! (17.Qe4! g6 18.Nc5²) 17...Ne5 18.Qe4 f5∞ Kravtsiv,M-Kononenko,D Alushta 2006. 14.fxe5

14...Nd7 Years ago, it was thought that Black can capture the pawn with 14...Nxe5?, as White ‘couldn’t’ take the black rook with 15.Qxa8, due to 15...Neg4. But then, back in 1992, White found the refutation: a) 16.Rf4? Nxe3 17.Qf3

733

17...Nc4 (17...Ned5 18.Nxd5 Nxd5µ) 18.Rf1 Nxb2 19.Ne4 (19.a4 Bb7 20.Qh3 Nxd3 21.Qxd3 Rc8µ Delekta,F-Ilic,Z Capelle la Grande 1992) 19...Nxd3 20.cxd3 Nxe4 21.dxe4 e5µ Meszaros,MVokac,M Ostrava 2005. b) 16.Rf2?

16...Bb7 (16...Nxf2! 17.Bxf2 Ng4 18.Qf3 Qxh2+ 19.Kf1 Nxf2 20.Qxf2 Bh4 21.g3 Qxg3 22.Qxg3 Bxg3µ) 17.Qa7 Qxh2+ 18.Kf1 Nh5∞ Sebag,M-Khismatullin,D Plovdiv 2008. c) 16.g3! Bb7 (16...Nxe3 17.Rxe3 Qb6 18.Qf3 Bb7 19.Qe2 Ng4 20.Qxg4 Qxe3+ 21.Rf2 Bd8 22.Kf1! (22.Nd1? Qe1+ 23.Rf1 Bb6+ 24.Nf2? Bxf2# 0–1 Ocnarescu,V-Chirila,I Eforie Nord 2008) 22...Bb6 23.Nd1±) 17.Qa7 Qc6

734

18.Be4! (18.Ne4!, wins as well) 18...Nxe4 19.Na5 Qc5 (19...Qc7 20.Qxb7 Qxb7 21.Nxb7 Nxc3 22.bxc3 Nxe3 23.Rxe3 Rb8 24.Na5 Bc5 25.Kf2+–) 20.Bxc5 Bxc5+ 21.Qxc5 Nxc5 22.b4 1–0 Luecke,N-Grivas,E Dortmund 1992. 15.Bf4 Seems like the best. Other tries are: a) 15.Qh3 g6 16.Bh6 Ncxe5 (16...Bb7 17.Be4 Ncxe5 18.Bxb7 Qxb7 19.Bxf8 Rxf8° Holzke,FBischoff,K Germany 2005; 16...Rd8

17.Be4! (17.Qf3?! Ndxe5 18.Rxe5 Nxe5 19.Qxa8 Ng4–+; 17.Rxf7? Kxf7 18.Rf1+ Ke8 19.Qxe6 Nf6! 20.Qxf6 Bxf6 21.exf6 Kf7 22.Ne4 Rd5 23.c4 Rf5 24.Re1 Ne5 25.c5 Nxd3–+ Zakic,SLuecke,N Miskolc 1990) 17...Ndxe5 18.Bf4

735

18...f6! (18...Qb6+ 19.Be3=) 19.Kh1 Ra7∞) 17.Bxf8 Bxf8 18.Ne4 (18.Be4 Rb8 19.Kh1 Bg7 20.Ne2 Nf6° Baskin,R-Carow,J Hofheim 2014) 18...Bg7° 19.Ng5 h6? 20.Nxf7 Qa7+ 21.Kh1 Nxf7 22.Rxf7 Qb6 1–0 Remizov,Y-Kholopov,A Cheliabinsk 2019. b) 15.Qe4 g6 16.Bf4 Bb7 17.Qe2 Bh4 18.g3 Be7∞ Dann,M-Jorczik,J Willingen 2007. 15...b4

Or a) 15...Bb7 16.Qg3 g6! (16...Nb4 17.Bh6 g6 18.Be4² Li Shilong-Bischoff,K Wijk aan Zee 2006; 16...Rfc8? 17.Nd5! exd5 18.e6 Qd8 (18...Qb6+ 19.Be3 d4 20.Rxf7 Bf6 21.Rxg7+ Bxg7 22.Bh6+–) 736

19.exf7+ Kh8 20.Bxh7+–) 17.Kh1

17...Rfe8?! (17...Rad8!? 18.a3 Ba8∞) 18.Ne4?! (18.Nd5!? Qd8 19.Nxe7+ Nxe7 20.Bh6²) 18...Ncxe5 19.Ng5° f6? 20.Nxh7! g5 21.Nxg5 fxg5 22.Bxg5 1–0 Neiksans,A-Tronenkovs,V Riga 2006. b) 15...Ndxe5? 16.Rxe5 Nxe5 17.Bxe5 Qxe5 18.Qxa8 Bd6 19.g3 Qe3+ 20.Rf2+– Braun,CBischoff,K Saarbruecken 2015. 16.Nd1 White would certainly prefer to centralize his knight, but 16.Ne4? Ndxe5, leads nowhere: 17.Qh3 (17.Bxe5? Nxe5 (17...Qxe5? 18.Nf6+ Qxf6 19.Qxc6+–) 18.Nf6+ Bxf6 19.Qxa8 Qb6+ 20.Kh1 Nxd3 (20...Bb7? 21.Bxh7++–) 21.cxd3 Bb7–+; 17.Qg3

737

17...f5! (17...f6³) 18.Nec5 Bd6µ) 17...f5 18.Nec5 Bd6µ. Interesting is 16.Nd5!? exd5 17.e6 Qb7! (17...Nde5? 18.exf7+! (18.Bxh7+? Kxh7 19.Qh5+ Kg8 20.exf7+ Rxf7 21.Qxf7+ Nxf7 22.Bxc7 Bd7³) 18...Rxf7 19.Qxd5 Qd8 20.Be4²) 18.exd7 Qxd7 19.Kh1°, but I would prefer Black... 16...Bb7

Or 16...a5 17.Qg3 g6 (17...Kh8 18.Qh3 g6 19.Ne3 a4 20.Nd2 Ncxe5∞) 18.Nf2 a4! (18...Qd8? 19.Bh6 Re8 20.Ng4 a4 21.Qf3 f5 22.exf6 Nxf6 23.Nxf6+ Bxf6 24.Nd2 Bd4+ 25.Kh1 Bd7 26.Ne4 Be5 27.Qf7+ 1–0 Parligras,M-Posedaru,B Predeal 2006) 19.Nd2 Nd4 20.Ng4 Kh8∞. 738

17.Qg3

17...g6 17...Rfd8!?, is playable as well: 18.Ne3 Nf8 (18...Nc5? 19.Bxh7+! (19.Ng4 Nxd3 20.cxd3 Kh8 21.Rc1 Rac8=; 19.Nc4 Nxd3 (19...Nxb3 20.axb3 Bc5+ 21.Kh1 Nd4 22.Nd6±; 19...Rd5 20.Nxc5 Bxc5+ 21.Kh1 Bd4 22.Nd6 Bxb2 23.Bc4²) 20.cxd3 Nd4∞) 19...Kxh7 20.Ng4+–) 19.Nc4 Ng6 20.Bxg6

20...fxg6! (20...hxg6 21.Nd6² Ganguly,S-Ramesh,R Mumbai 2003) 21.Qh3 (21.Nd6 Na5! 22.Nxa5 (22.Rf2 Bd5) 22...Qxa5∞) 21...Nd4 22.Nxd4 Qxc4 (22...Rxd4 23.Qxe6+ Kh8 24.Nd6 Bd5°) 739

23.Qxe6+ Qxe6 24.Nxe6 Rdc8 25.Rf2 Rc6 26.Nd4 Rc4 27.Rd2 Bc5 28.Be3 Rd8 29.Red1 Re8 30.e6 Rxe6=. 17...a5!?, can be interesting: 18.Ne3 (18.Bh6 g6 19.Bxf8 Rxf8°) 18...g6 19.Ng4 a4 20.Nd2 Nd4 21.Bh6 a3 22.b3 Nf5 23.Bxf5 exf5 24.Rxf5 Qxc2 25.Rf2 Bc5 26.Be3 Qc3∞. 18.Nf2

18...a5 A suggested novelty to 18...Qd8? 19.Bh6! (19.Qh3 h5 20.Re3 Kg7 21.Be4 Rh8∞ Lutz,C-Smirin,I Saint Vincent 2000) 19...a5 20.Bxf8 Bxf8 21.Ng4±. 19.Ng4 a4 20.Nd2 Nd4

740

An unclear position, which should satisfy Black.

741

§ Variation M114 - Zeus - 12.g4 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.Be3 Qc7 9.f4 a6 10.Qf3 Be7 11.0-0 0-0 12.g4

A straightforwad and aggressive continuation, recommended in a lot of sources, such as ‘Beating the Sicilian 3’ (J.Nunn and J.Gallagher). 12...b5 Alternatives: a) 12...Re8 13.g5 Nd7 a1) 14.Rad1 b5 15.Ne2 (15.Rf2 Bf8 16.h4 Rb8 17.h5 Nb4 18.Qg3 Bb7∞ Shamkovich,L-Ilic,Z Saint John 1988) 15...Bb7 16.Ned4 Nb4 17.a3 Nxd3 18.cxd3 Nc5∞ Sverrisson,N-Karlsson,M Reykjavik 2010. a2) 14.Nd4 b5 15.Nxc6 Qxc6 16.Rf2 b4 17.Ne2 Bf8 18.h4 Bb7 19.Nd4 Qc7∞ Kett,T-Sands,D Cardiff 2010. a3) 14.Qh3

742

a31) 14...Bf8 15.e5 (15.Rf3 g6 16.Qh4 Nb4 (16...Bg7!? 17.Rh3 Nf8∞; 16...b5 17.Rh3 h5 18.gxh6 Kh7 19.Nd2 Be7 20.Qg3² Gil Ojeda,J-Meneses Gonzalez,K Lanzarote 2019) 17.a3 Nxd3 18.cxd3 b5∞ Gomez,J-Pacis,A Manila 2006) 15...g6 16.exd6 Qxd6 17.Ne4 Qc7 18.Rad1 Bg7 19.c3∞ Lengyel,B-Turzo,A Budapest 2010. a32) 14...Nf8?! 15.f5 Ne5 16.Nd4² Gallagher,J-Ilic,Z Zuerich 1989. a33) 14...g6

15.Rae1 (15.Rf2 Bf8 16.Raf1 Bg7 17.Qg3 b5∞ Chinasamy,D-Rodier,D Reunion 2005) 15...b5 16.a3 Bf8 17.Qg3 Bb7 18.h4∞ Moussard,J-Nyzhnyk,I Moscow 2008. a34) 14...Nb4 (this is more in the spirit of the position and should be preferred) 15.Rac1 Nc5 743

16.Be2 d5 17.e5 b6∞. a4) 14.Qh5 Nb4 (14...g6 15.Qh6 Bf8 16.Qh4 b5 17.Rf3, transposes to 12...Nd7 line: 17...Bb7

18.Raf1 Nb4 19.Rh3 h5 20.gxh6 Kh7 21.a3 Nxd3 22.cxd3 Be7 23.Qf2 Nc5∞ Mendoza,S-Mejia,C Boracay Island 2012, while 14...Nf8 15.f5 Ne5 16.f6 Bd8 17.Nd4± Hawelko,M-Sznapik,A Slupsk 1988, is not to be recommended) 15.Rf3 g6 16.Qh6 Bf8 17.Qh4

17...Bg7 (17...Qd8 18.Qf2 f6 19.h4 b5∞ Ciobanu,A-Lupu,M Odorheiu Secuiesc 1993) 18.Raf1 (18.Rh3!?) 18...Nxd3 (18...Qd8 19.Rh3 Nf8 20.e5! (20.f5? Nxd3 21.cxd3 exf5µ Delgado Crespo,M-Santa T.,J Varadero 2000) 20...Nxd3 21.cxd3 dxe5 22.fxe5±; 18...Nf8 19.a3 Nxd3 20.cxd3 b5 21.Nd4 Bb7∞ Babiy,O-Chirila,I Internet 2020) 19.cxd3 744

19...b5 (19...Nf8 20.Rc1 Qd8∞ Bednarski,J-Van der Weide,P Amsterdam 1970; 19...f5 20.gxf6 Bxf6 21.Qh6 Bg7 22.Qh4 Nf8 23.f5 exf5 24.Nd5 Qf7 25.Nb6 Rb8 26.Nxc8 Rbxc8 27.exf5 gxf5 28.Rxf5 Qe6 29.Bd4 Ng6∞ Delgado Crespo,M-Larduet Despaigne,C Cienfuegos 1997) 20.Rh3 Nf8∞. a5) 14.f5!? Nde5 (14...Nce5 15.Qg3 Kh8 16.g6 Nf6∞) 15.Qg3 Bf8∞ Bezgodov,A-Kozlov,O Perm 1997. a6) 14.e5 Nf8 15.Qh5 dxe5 16.Rf3 g6 17.Qh6

17...f5 18.gxf6 Bxf6∞ Hakobyan,A-Chirila,I Saint Louis 2019. a7) 14.h4 Bf8 15.f5 Nde5 16.Qg3 Nb4 17.Rad1 b5 18.h5 Nbxd3 19.cxd3 b4∞ Hjartarson,J745

Chirila,I Internet 2017. a8) 14.Kh1 b5 15.Qh5 g6 16.Qh6 Bf8 17.Qh4 b4 18.Ne2 Bg7 19.Rf3 Bb7∞ Lobanov,S-Salgado Lopez,I Wroclaw 2014. a9) 14.a4 b6 15.Rad1 Bb7 16.Qh3 Nb4

17.Nd4 Bf8 18.f5 exf5 19.Nxf5∞ Perez Hernandez,R-Anzivino,A Caracas 2014. a10) 14.Qg3 g6 15.Rae1 Bf8 16.Qh4 b5 17.Rf3 Qd8 18.Rh3

18...h5 (18...h6!?) 19.Ne2 (19.Be2 Bg7 20.Bxh5 gxh5 21.Qxh5° Maslak,K-Vavra,P Pardubice 2000) 19...Bg7 20.Ng3 Nf6 (20...Bxb2 21.Nxh5 gxh5 22.Qxh5 Bg7 23.f5 exf5 24.exf5 f6 25.Qh7+ Kf8 26.g6 Rxe3 27.Rhxe3 Nde5∞) 21.Be2 Ng4? (21...Nb4∞) 22.Bxg4 hxg4 23.Qxg4 Bxb2 746

24.e5+– Votava,J-Vokac,M Ostrava 2010. b) 12...Nb4 13.g5 Nd7 14.Qh5 g6 15.Qh6

15...Re8 (15...b5, transposes elsewhere: 16.Rf3, below (and 16.Rae1, in the 12...Nd7 line)) 16.Rad1 b5 17.a3 Nxd3 18.Rxd3 Bf8 (18...f5! 19.exf5 Bf8 20.Qh3 exf5∞) 19.Qh4 Bb7 20.Bd4² Mainka,GMartinovic,S Dortmund 1988. c) 12...d5 13.e5 (13.g5 dxe4 14.Nxe4 Nxe4 (14...Nd5!?) 15.Bxe4 g6 16.h4 Bd7∞ Csolig,RSzamoskozi,G Budapest 2000) 13...Nd7 14.Qh3 g6 15.Rae1

15...Rd8 (15...b5 16.Rf3 f6 17.Qh6 Ndxe5!? 18.fxe5 Nxe5 19.Rh3 Bd6° Geller,E-Gufeld,E Moscow 1969) 16.Ne2∞ Janosevic,D-Kelecevic,N Sarajevo 1968. 747

13.g5 Or 13.Rae1 and then: 13...b4 (13...g6 14.g5 Nh5 15.Ne2 f6 16.Ng3 Nxg3 17.Qxg3 fxg5 18.fxg5 e5= Dervishi,E-Bellon L.,J Bern 1996. 13...Nb4, transposes to the 12...Nb4 line and 13...Nd7, to the 12...Nd7 line) 14.Ne2 d5 15.e5 Ne4∞ Videki,S-Varga,Z Harkany 1993. White has also tried the tricky 13.Qh3, threatening e5 and g5. Black has to be very cautious: 13...Nd7! (13...h6?! 14.g5 hxg5 15.fxg5 Nh7 (15...Ne8!?) 16.e5 g6 17.exd6 Qxd6

18.Ne4± Popovic,P-Appel,R Germany 2007; 13...g6 14.g5 Nh5 15.f5 b4 16.Ne2 (16.Na4 exf5 17.exf5∞ Knezevic,B-Barlov,D Belgrade 1998) 16...exf5 17.exf5 Ng7 18.Ng3 d5∞ Shevelev,ARoiz,M Beersheba 1998; 13...e5?! 14.Nd5 Qd8 15.f5² Herbrechtsmeier,C-Blaskowski,J Austria 2005; 13...b4?

748

14.e5! dxe5 15.g5 Nh5 16.Bxh7+ Kxh7 17.Qxh5+ Kg8 18.Rf3 Bxg5 19.fxg5 Ne7 20.Ne4 f5 21.gxf6 Nf5 22.Rh3 1–0 Knezevic,B-Kurajica,B Zaragoza 1996; 13...Nb4? 14.e5! dxe5 15.fxe5 Qxe5 16.Bf4! Bc5+ 17.Kg2 Bb7+ 18.Kg3+–)

14.e5 (14.Nd5 exd5 15.exd5 Nf6 16.dxc6 Qxc6 (16...h5 17.Qg2 hxg4 18.Nd4 d5 19.f5±; 16...Bxg4 17.Bxh7+ Nxh7 18.Qxg4 Qxc6 19.Nd4 Qe4∞) 17.Nd4 Qb7∞) 14...g6 15.exd6 Qxd6 16.Ne4 Qc7 17.f5 exf5 18.gxf5

749

18...Nf6 (18...Nde5 19.Qg3 f6 20.Nd4 Bd7∞ 21.c3 Rf7 22.Kh1 Re8 23.Bc2 Nxd4 24.Bxd4 Bc6 25.fxg6 hxg6 26.Kg1 Kg7 27.Ng5 Bd6 28.Nxf7 Qxf7 29.Rxf6 Qxf6 30.Rf1 Qe6 31.Bf5 Qf6 32.Bc2 Qe6 33.Bf5 Qf6 34.Bc2 ½–½ Anagnostopoulos,D-Grivas,E Athens 1998) 19.Bh6 Rd8 20.Qg2 Qb6+ 21.Kh1 Ne5 22.fxg6 hxg6 23.Nxf6+ Bxf6∞

24.Be4 Ra7 25.Rxf6 Qxf6 26.Bg5 Qd6 27.Bxd8 Qxd8 28.c3 Qh4 29.Bd5 Bh3 30.Qg3 Qxg3 31.hxg3 Rd7 32.Bg2 Bg4 33.a4 bxa4 34.Nd4 Nc4 35.Rxa4 Nxb2 36.Rxa6 Nd1 37.Ra3 Re7 38.c4 Re1+ 39.Kh2 Ne3 40.c5 Nxg2 41.Kxg2 Rd1 42.Ra4 Rc1 ½-½ Brankovic,D-Grivas,E Athens 1999. 13...Nd7

750

Black faced serious problems after the inflexible 13...Ne8?! 14.Qg3 (14.Qh5 g6 15.Qh6 f5 16.exf5 gxf5 17.Nd4 Nd8 18.Rae1± Fischer,R-Saidy,A New York 1966) 14...Nb4 15.Rac1 g6 16.Be2 f5 17.exf5 Rxf5 18.Nd4 Rf7 19.f5± Doros,R-Ostovic,M Iasi 2011. 14.Qh5 The most enterprising plan. The alternative 14.Rad1 Nb4 15.Nd4 Re8 16.Rf2 Bf8 17.Bf1 Bb7 18.Bg2 Nc6 19.a3, was fine for Black in Fuellgrabe,T-Illner,A Germany 1996. Now Black can choose in-between 14...Re8, 14...Nb4, 14...g6 and 14...Bb7. Note that in line 14...Nb4, only lines without an early...g6 are discussed.For...Re8 with...g6, see 12.Rae1 lines. § Variation M1141 - Zeus - 14...Re8 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.Be3 Qc7 9.f4 a6 10.Qf3 Be7 11.0-0 0-0 12.g4 b5 13.g5 Nd7 14.Qh5 Re8

751

This line seems to be a difficult one for Black. The set-up without ...g6, ...Bf8-g7, is not entirely reliable, and avoiding ...g6 seems to lead to difficulties. The ...Nf8 maneuver is a good defensive idea, but the absence of a centralized black knight is a negative factor. 15.Rf3 Nb4 Black has also tried: a) 15...Bb7

16.Rh3 Nf8 17.Rf1 b4 18.Nd1 g6 19.Qh4 (19.Qh6!±) 19...a5 20.f5 exf5?! (20...h5!? 21.f6∞) 21.exf5± Stebbings,A-Plaskett,J London 1993. 752

b) 15...Nf8

16.e5 (16.Raf1 Bd7 17.e5! (17.Nd1 Rac8 18.a3 Red8 19.Nf2 Be8∞ Safonov,A-Chernyshov,M Voronezh 2010) 17...g6 18.exd6 Qxd6 19.Qh6±) 16...g6 17.exd6 Qxd6 18.Qh6 f5 19.gxf6 Bxf6 20.Ne4 Qd8 21.Nxf6+ Qxf6 22.Be4± Nekrasov,M-Fomichenko,E Krasnodar 1996. 16.Bd4

16.f5!? g6 17.Qh4 Nxd3 18.cxd3 Ne5 19.Rh3 h5 20.f6 Bf8 21.Bd4∞ Namyslo,H-Johansson,I ICCF 2001. 16...Nxd3 753

A natural, novelty. A typical blunder is 16...g6? 17.Qxh7+! Kxh7 18.Rh3+ Kg8 19.Rh8#. Also bad is 16...e5? 17.fxe5 Nxe5 18.Bxe5 g6 19.Qxh7+! (19.Rxf7? Qa7+ 20.Bd4 gxh5 ½-½ Schaefer,M-Luecke,N Muenster 1992) 19...Kxh7 20.Rxf7+ Kg8 21.Rg7+ Kf8 22.Rf1+ Bf5 23.Rxg6 Reb8 24.Rxf5+ Ke8 25.Bd4+–. 17.cxd3 Bb7 18.Raf1

White is active and his position preferable. § Variation M1142 - Zeus - 14...Nb4 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.Be3 Qc7 9.f4 a6 10.Qf3 Be7 11.0-0 0-0 12.g4 b5 13.g5 Nd7 14.Qh5 Nb4

754

The black knight controls the d5–square and, if necessary, can eliminate the d3–bishop or help the ...f5 advance. 15.Rf3 In my opinion 15.f5!?

is a interesting alternative for White, although so far there have been no practical examples: 15...Nxd3 16.cxd3 Qd8! (16...b4? 17.f6!+–) 17.Nd4 Ne5∞. 15...g6

755

A passive alternative is 15...Re8 16.Rh3 Nf8 17.Rf1 Nxd3 18.cxd3 b4 19.Nd1 d5 20.f5! (20.e5∞ Petrosian,T-Zhang Pengxiang Tiayuan 2005) 20...exf5 21.exf5 Bd6 22.Bd4². 16.Qh6

16...f5! This is the base of Black’s active defense and can be met in a lot of similar positions. 17.exf5 Black got the upper hand in Bellia,F-Grivas,E Vinkovci 1989 after 17.gxf6?! Rxf6 18.Rg3 (18.Nd4 Nc5!∞) 18...Nf8

756

19.Nd4 (19.e5? dxe5 20.fxe5 Rf7 21.Be4 Bb7µ) 19...Nxd3 20.cxd3 Bd7 - see the analyzed game in the Middlegame Strategy chapter. 17...exf5 18.Rh3 Nothing is achieved by 18.a3 Nxd3 19.Nd5 (19.Rh3 Rf7 20.Nd5? Qxc2–+) 19...Qd8 20.cxd3 (20.Bd4?! N3e5!–+; 20.Nxe7+ Qxe7 21.cxd3 Bb7³) 20...Bb7 21.Bd4 Rf7∞, or 18.Nd4 Rf7∞. 18...Rf7 19.Bd4 The aggressive idea 19.Bxf5? gxf5 20.g6 Rg7µ, can only be good for Black. 19...Nf8 Interesting is 19...Ne5!? 20.fxe5 dxe5 21.Bf2 Qd8! 22.Rd1 Bxg5 23.Bh4 (23.Bc4 Qxd1+ 24.Nxd1 Bxh6 25.Bxf7+ Kxf7 26.Rxh6 Kg8!∞ (26...Kg7 27.Rh3 Be6 28.Rc3²)) 23...Qb6+ 24.Bf2 Qf6 25.Bh4, although it only leads to a draw. 20.Re1

757

20...Nxd3! A suggested novelty. 20...Bb7?, would be criminal: 21.Bxf5!± Chandler,M-Gufeld,E Dortmund 1983. 21.Nd5 Forced. 21.cxd3?! Bb7³. 21...Qb7 22.Rxe7 Rxe7! But not 22...Qxd5? 23.Qg7+!+–. 23.Nxe7+ 23.Nf6+? Kf7–+. 23...Qxe7 24.Re3 Be6 25.cxd3 Re8

758

With an equal position. § Variation M1143 - Zeus - 14...g6 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.Be3 Qc7 9.f4 a6 10.Qf3 Be7 11.0-0 0-0 12.g4 b5 13.g5 Nd7 14.Qh5 g6

A direct way to solve the problems with White’s attack down the h-file. 15.Qh6

759

The other move is 15.Qh4, when Black can choose: a) 15...Nb4 16.f5 (16.Rf3? f5 17.exf5 exf5 18.Rh3 Rf7 19.Bd4 Bb7 20.Re1 (20.Qh6? Ne5!–+) 20...Qc6 21.Qg3 Nxd3 22.cxd3 a5µ) 16...Re8 17.fxe6 fxe6

18.Nd4 (18.Rf7 h5 19.Raf1 Ne5 20.Qf2 Bd7³) 18...Ne5 19.Be2 Nbc6∞. b) 15...b4 16.Ne2 f6 17.Nbd4 Nxd4 18.Nxd4 Nc5 19.Qh6?! (19.f5!) 19...Nxd3 20.cxd3 Bd7? (20...fxg5!³) 21.f5! exf5 22.exf5 Bxf5 23.Rxf5! 1–0 Palomo,F-Seguel,G Cumana 2014. c) 15...Re8 16.Rf3 Nb4 (16...h5 17.Ne2 Bf8 18.Ng3 Bg7 19.Nxh5 gxh5 20.Qxh5 Nf8³ David,AKnezevic,B France 1997; 16...b4 17.Rh3 h5 18.Ne2 Bf8 19.Ng3 Bg7 20.Be2 Ne7∞ Schoeneberg,MMalich,B Weimar 1968) 17.Rh3 Nf8 18.Rf1

760

18...Bd8 (18...Nxd3!? 19.cxd3 b4∞) 19.e5 Bb7 20.exd6 Qxd6 21.Be4 Nd5 22.Bc5 Bb6 23.Qf2 Bxc5 (23...Nxf4? 24.Rf3+–) 24.Nxc5 Bc6 25.Bg2 Nxf4 (25...Nxc3 26.Rxc3 Bxg2 27.Qxg2 Rec8=) 26.Qxf4 Qxc5+ 27.Rf2

27...Re7? (27...Ra7! 28.b4 Qb6 29.Qd6 Rc8 30.Ne4 Rd8 31.Nf6+ Kg7 32.Qe5 Rd1+ 33.Bf1 Qd4 34.Ne8+=) 28.b4 Qb6 29.Qd6 Rc7 30.Ne4 Nd7 31.Qf4 Rf8 32.Nf6+ Nxf6 33.gxf6 1–0 Klimov,SHaznedaroglu,K Panevezys 2008. 15...Re8

Dangerous is 15...f6, although Black seems to hold:

761

a) 16.Ne2 Rf7 (16...fxg5 17.f5 Nde5 18.fxg6 hxg6 19.Bxg5 Bd7∞) 17.Nbd4 Nxd4 18.Nxd4 Nc5 19.f5 Bf8 20.Qh4∞ ½-½ Ulibin,M-Akopian,V Soviet Union 1986. b) 16.Nd4 b1) 16...Nc5 17.f5 Ne5 18.fxe6

18...Nxe6? (18...Bb7 19.Nd5 Bxd5 20.exd5 fxg5 21.Nc6!²) 19.Nd5 Qd8 20.Nxe6 Bxe6 21.Bb6 Qd7 22.gxf6 Bd8 23.Ne7+ Kf7 24.Bd4 Bc4 25.Bxc4+ bxc4 26.Qxh7+ Ke8 27.Bxe5 dxe5 28.Qxg6+ Rf7 29.Rad1 Bb6+ 30.Kh1 Bd4 31.c3 Rb8 32.cxd4 exd4 33.Qg8+ Rf8 34.f7+ 1–0 Knezevic,B-Zivic,D Kladovo 1994. b2) 16...Nxd4 17.Bxd4 b21) 17...d5?

762

18.f5! (18.exd5? Bc5 19.Bxc5 Nxc5! (19...Qxc5+? 20.Rf2 exd5 21.Bxg6 hxg6 22.Qxg6+ Kh8 23.Qh6+ (23.Re1 Ra7 24.b4 Qxb4 25.Qh6+ (½-½ Schaefer,M-Kohlweyer,B Germany 1992) 25...Kg8 26.Re3+–) 23...Kg8 24.g6 Qe7 25.g7+–) 20.dxe6 Bxe6°) 18...Bc5 19.Bxc5 Qxc5+ 20.Kh1+– Camacho Penate,G-Otero,E Pinar del Rio 1997. b22) 17...Rf7!

18.f5 Ne5! (18...Bf8? 19.Qh3± Ulibin,M-Akopian,V Soviet Union 1988) 19.Bxe5 Bf8 20.Qh3 Qc5+ 21.Kh1 Qxe5∞. Out of the point seems 15...Nb6?! 16.f5 Re8? (16...Rd8 17.Rf3 Bf8 18.Qh4±) 17.fxg6? (17.Rf3? Bf8∞ Winslow,E-Olte,G Chicago 1973) 17...fxg6 18.Rf7!+–. 763

16.Rf3

The usual way to strength the attack. 16.f5?! is not much after 16...Nde5 (16...Bf8 17.Qh3 (17.Qh4 Nde5∞) 17...b4 18.Ne2 exf5 19.exf5 Nce5∞ Kholmov,R-Torbin,K Bor 2000) 17.fxg6 (17.Qh4 Nb4) 17...fxg6 (17...hxg6? 18.Rxf7!+–) 18.Rf4? (18.Be2 Bd7³) 18...Bd7? (18...Qd8!–+) 19.Rh4? Nf3+–+ Perus,D-Tratar,M Bled 1999. 16...Bf8 16...b4? 17.Rh3 Nf8 18.f5+–, is curtains! 17.Qh4

764

17...Qd8 A typical move that, as already explained, aims for a nice endgame after 18.Rh3 h5 19.gxh6 Qxh4 20.Rxh4 Bb7. But here we have an important and dynamic position that requires a concrete approach by both sides. Although this idea is quite interesting, it seems that Black also has some alternative ways to go: a) 17...Bb7?! 18.Rh3 (18.Raf1 Nb4 19.Rh3 h5 20.gxh6 Kh7 21.a3 Nxd3 22.cxd3 Be7 23.Qf2 Nc5∞ Mendoza,S-Mejia,C Boracay Island 2012) 18...h6 (18...h5 19.Be2 (19.gxh6, transposes) 19...Bg7 20.Rf1 Ne7∞ Pincher,D-Torbin,K Rybinsk 2000) 19.gxh6 Kh7

765

20.Rf1 (20.f5!?, is also strong) 20...Be7 21.Qf2 Rg8 22.Nd2 Nb4 (22...b4 23.Ne2 f5 24.Nf3± Rodriguez,A-Esplana,C Lima 1998) 23.Nf3² Markovic,Z-Martinovic,S Niksic 1997. b) 17...Bg7

b1) 18.Raf1 b11) 18...Nf8?! 19.e5! d5 (19...dxe5 20.Ne4 Nd4 21.Nxd4 exd4 22.Nf6+ Bxf6 23.gxf6 Qd8 24.Be4 Ra7 25.Rd1 Rd7 26.Bf2 e5 27.Bc6 Bb7 28.fxe5 h5 29.Rf5!±) 20.Ne2 (20.Bc5 Ne7 21.Nd1 Bb7 22.Nf2 Nf5 23.Bxf5 exf5² Galstian,B-Evdokimov,A Oropesa del Mar 1999) 20...Nb4 21.Bc5 Nxd3 22.cxd3±. b12) 18...Nb4 19.Rh3 h5 20.gxh6 Bf6 21.Qf2 (21.Bd4? Bxd4+? (21...e5! 22.h7+ Kh8 23.fxe5 Bxh4 24.exd6+ Ne5! 25.dxc7 Bxh3–+) 22.Nxd4 Qb6 23.Qf2 Nf6 24.Rg3 Nh5 25.f5!+– Vouldis,A-Grivas,E Athens 1997) 21...Bb7 22.Bd4±. b13) 18...Bb7 19.f5 (19.Rh3 Nf8 20.f5, transposes)

766

19...Bxc3! (19...b4 20.f6 Bh8 21.Nd1 Nce5 22.Rh3± Martin Gonzalez,A-Garcia Ilundain,D Spain 1993) 20.bxc3 exf5 21.exf5 Nce5 22.Rh3 Nf8 (22...Qc6? 23.Qxh7+ Kf8 24.Rg3 Ng4 25.Rff3 Rxe3 26.Nd4 Re1+ 27.Bf1 Rxf1+ 28.Kxf1 Qc4+ 29.Rd3 Be4 30.Qh8+ Ke7 31.f6+ Ndxf6 32.gxf6+ Nxf6 33.Qh4±) 23.Nd4 Bd5 24.f6 h5 25.gxh6 Kh7∞. b2) 18.f5

18...b4 (18...exf5? 19.Rh3 Nf8 20.Nd5±; 18...Bxc3! 19.fxe6 fxe6 20.bxc3 Nce5³) 19.f6 bxc3 (19...Bf8 20.Ne2 (20.Rh3 h5?! (20...h6 21.Ne2±) 21.gxh6 (21.Be2!+–) 21...Kh7 (21...bxc3!µ) 22.Ne2± Garcia Andrinal,A-Aguilar Sevilla,D Cordoba 2006) 20...Nce5 21.Rh3 h6 22.gxh6 Kh7 23.Ned4 Nc5∞) 20.fxg7 cxb2 21.Rd1 Nde5 22.Rh3 Kxg7 23.Qxh7+ Kf8∞.

767

b3) 18.a3

18...b4! (18...Nf8 19.Raf1² Szczep-kowska,K-Vasilevich,I Moscow 2013) 19.axb4 Nxb4∞. b4) 18.Rh3 Nf8 19.f5 (19.Rf1?! Nb4 20.Qf2∞ Klovans,J-Rosen,W Bad Zwischenahn 2008) b41) 19...Bxc3 20.f6! h5! (20...Bxf6? 21.gxf6 h5 22.Qf4 e5 23.Qh6 Ne6 24.Kh1 (24.Rxh5 gxh5 25.Nd4! Ncxd4 26.Kf2+–) 24...Qd8 25.Rf1 1–0 Akopian,V-Prakash,G Mamaia 1991) 21.gxh6 Kh7 22.bxc3 Ne5∞. b42) 19...exf5? 20.Nd5! Qb7 21.exf5 Nd4 22.Bxd4 Qxd5 Bxg7 Bb7 24.Rg3+–. b43) 19...b4!

768

20.f6 (20.Ne2 exf5 21.exf5 Bxf5 22.Bxf5 gxf5³) 20...bxc3 21.fxg7 Kxg7 22.bxc3 e5∞ Longson,A-Collas,S West Bromwich 2004. c) 17...b4!?

c1) 18.Ne2 Bg7 (18...Bb7?! 19.Raf1 Nc5 20.Rh3± Donayre,B-Suasnabar,J Lima 2013) 19.Rh3 Nf8 20.Rb1 (20.f5?! exf5 21.exf5 Bxf5 22.Bxf5 gxf5³ Semenova,I-Petrova,O Voronezh 2009) 20...a5∞. c2) 18.Nd1 Bg7 19.Nf2 Qd8! (19...f5∞ Gullaksen,E-Mochalov,E Debrecen 1992) 20.Rh3 h5∞ 21.f5?! exf5 22.exf5 Nde5³ Martin,A-Elguezabal,V Alicante 1989. c3) 18.Rh3 h5 (18...h6 19.Ne2 Bb7 20.Rf1 a5 21.gxh6 Be7 22.Qg3 Kh7 23.f5± Kadric,D-Palac,M 2013) 19.Ne2

769

c31) 19...a5 20.f5 (20.Ng3 Bg7 (20...Ba6? 21.Bxa6 Rxa6 22.Nxh5 gxh5 23.Qxh5± Ulibin,MRuban,V Kursk 1987) 21.Be2 (21.Nxh5!? gxh5 22.Qxh5 a4³) 21...a4 22.Nd2 a3–+ Rojas,L-Rios Escobar,A Santiago de C. 2005) 20...exf5 21.exf5 Nce5∞. c32) 19...Bg7 20.c3 (20.Ng3?! a5 21.Rf1 a4µ Schurade,M-Boriss,M E. Germany 1989; 20.Rf1?! Bxb2µ Ulibin,M-Kirov,N Cappelle la G. 1996) 20...a5 21.Rc1 Ba6 22.Bxa6 Rxa6∞. 18.Rh3

Another important crossroad: a) 18.f5 a1) 18...Nce5 19.Rh3 h5 (19...h6!? 20.fxg6 fxg6 21.Rf1 Bb7 22.Ne2²) 20.Be2 (20.f6 d5? (20...Nxd3 21.cxd3 b4 22.Ne2 e5³) 21.Be2! 1–0 Martin Gonzalez,A-Faber,M France 2008) 20...exf5 21.exf5 Bg7

770

22.Nd4 (22.f6? Nxf6 23.gxf6 Bxf6 24.Qg3 Nc4µ) 22...Bb7 23.Rf1±. a2) 18...Nde5! 19.Rh3 h5 20.fxg6 fxg6 21.Be2 Re7∞ Payen,A-Akopian,V Aguadilla 1989. b) 18.Raf1 Bb7 19.Rh3 h6 (19...h5, is more to the point)

b1) 20.Qg3 hxg5 21.e5 Bg7 (21...gxf4? 22.Bxg6! Bh6 (22...fxg3 23.Bxf7+ Kg7 24.Bh6+ Kh7 25.Bxf8+ Qh4 26.Rxh4#) 23.Rxf4 1–0 Mihalichenko,V-Arzumanian,G Kharkov 2003) 22.exd6 g4 23.Qxg4 Nb4∞. b2) 20.Nd4

771

20...Nxd4 (20...b4!? 21.Nxc6 Bxc6 22.Ne2 Bb5 23.f5 Ne5 24.fxg6 fxg6∞) 21.Bxd4 e5 22.fxe5! (22.Be3 exf4 23.Bxf4∞ Ponomariov,R-Akopian,V Moscow 2002) 22...Nxe5 23.gxh6 Qxh4 24.Rxh4 Be7 25.Rh3 Bc8 26.Rg3 Be6 27.Nd5 Bh4 28.Nc7². b3) 20.f5 Nce5 21.fxg6 fxg6 22.gxh6 Qxh4 23.Rxh4 Rac8∞. c) 18.Qf2 Bb7 19.h4 f5 20.exf5 exf5 21.Rh3 Bg7∞ Vouldis,A-Grivas,E Kalavrita 1998. 18...h5 19.Ne2 Another option is 19.Rf1

19...Nb4! (19...Bb7?! 20.Ne2?! (20.f5!±) 20...Nb4 21.Ng3∞ Dengler,P-Kraeussling,A Bayern 1995) 772

20.f5 exf5 21.exf5 Nxd3 22.cxd3 Bb7 23.Nd2! Qc7 24.Nce4 Qc6∞. 19...Bg7 19...Nb4!?, deserves attention. 20.c3

20...b4! 21.Nbd4 21.Ned4 Ne7! 22.cxb4 e5³; 21.Rd1 a5∞. 21...bxc3! An excellent tactical solution. 22.bxc3 After 22.Nxc6, Black has excellent compensation: 22...cxb2 23.Rf1 (23.Rb1? Qc7 24.Ncd4 e5!µ) 23...Qc7 24.Ncd4 Rb8 25.Bb1 a5°. 22...Qc7

773

With a fine position for Black as in Markidis,K-Grivas,E Athens 1998. § Variation M1144 - Zeus - 14...Bb7 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.Be3 Qc7 9.f4 a6 10.Qf3 Be7 11.0-0 0-0 12.g4 b5 13.g5 Nd7 14.Qh5 Bb7

Black forgets about ...Re8, trying to employ the ...f5 advance. This is the latest fashion in the variation and a very complicated one. 15.Rf3 774

An alternative is 15.f5 Nce5 16.Rf4 (16.Nd4 b4 17.Nce2 exf5 18.exf5 Nxd3 19.cxd3 Rfe8∞; 16.fxe6 fxe6 17.Qh3 Rxf1+ 18.Rxf1 Nf8∞) 16...b4!? (16...Qd8?! 17.f6!± Honfi,K-Paoli,E Bari 1970)

17.f6 (17.Ne2 exf5 18.exf5 g6 19.Qh6 Rfe8∞) 17...Bxf6 18.gxf6 Nxf6 (18...bxc3 19.Qg5 Ng6 20.fxg7 Kxg7 21.Rh4 Kg8 22.bxc3 Nde5³) 19.Rxf6 bxc3³. 15...g6 15...Rfe8?!, is rather inconsistent: 16.Rh3 Nf8 17.Rf1

a) 17...b4 18.Nd1 g6 19.Qh4 (19.Qh6!+–) 19...a5 20.f5 (20.Nf2!±) 20...exf5?! (20...h5!? 21.f6∞) 21.exf5± Stebbings,A-Plaskett,H London 1993. 775

b) 17...Qd7 18.f5! (18.Nd4 Nxd4 19.Bxd4 e5 20.Be3 (20.fxe5 dxe5 21.Be3 Bb4∞) 20...g6? (20...exf4 21.Bxf4∞) 21.Qh6 Bd8 22.f5 b4 23.f6 Ne6 24.Qxh7+ 1–0 Roman,F-Imbert,S La Plata 1992) 18...Ne5 19.f6 Bd8 20.a3+–. c) 17...g6 18.Qh6 Rad8 19.Nd4 Nxd4 20.Bxd4 e5 21.Be3+– Gorbacz,F-Blaszkiewicz,M Ustron 2008. 16.Qh6 f5!

The critical position, where Black’s main defense/counter-attack relies on an extraordinary sacrifice involving ...Ne5, with which Black wants to take advantage of the h1-a8 diagonal by lining up his queen and bishop by ...Qd5 and ...Bb7. As 17.gxf6?! Nxf6, is more than fine for Black, White must make wise choices. 17.exf5 White’s other main option is 17.a4!? Nb4! 18.axb5 Nxd3 19.cxd3 fxe4!

776

a) 20.Nxe4?! Qc2 (20...axb5 21.Rxa8 Bxa8 22.Nd4 Bd5∞) 21.Nd4 Qxd3µ. b) 20.dxe4 axb5 b1) 21.Rxa8 Rxa8 (21...Bxa8!?

22.Qh3 Rf7 23.Qxe6 Nf8 24.Qh3 b4 25.Nd5 Qc2 26.Nd2 Bxd5 27.exd5 Qxb2∞) 22.Rh3 (22.Nd4 Qc4!µ) 22...Nf8 23.f5 exf5 24.Bd4 Bd8 25.exf5 gxf5 26.Nxb5 Ra1+! 27.Nxa1 Qc1+=. b2) 21.Rc1 Nc5!? (21...Rf7!? 22.Qh3 (22.Nxb5 Qb8 23.Nc3 Ne5µ) 22...Qc4 23.Nd4 Nc5∞) 22.Nxb5 Qb6

777

b21) 23.Nxd6? Bxd6! (23...Qxb3? 24.Bd4+–) 24.Nxc5 Bxc5 (24...Rac8! 25.b4 Qxb4 26.Nxb7 Rxc1+ 27.Bxc1 Qxb7 28.Qh3 Qxe4µ) 25.Bxc5 (25.Rxc5 Bxe4!µ) 25...Qxb2 26.Re1 (26.Rcf1 Rf7 27.Qh3 Qc2!µ) 26...Bxe4!

27.Rf2 (27.Rxe4? Qb1+ (27...Qc1+!? 28.Kg2 Qxc5µ) 28.Rf1 Qxe4 29.Bxf8 Qe3+! (29...Rxf8 30.Qh3!=) 30.Rf2 Rxf8 31.Qh4 e5µ) 27...Qc3 28.Rxe4 Qxc5 29.Qh3 Ra6 30.Qf3 Qf5=. b22) 23.f5! exf5 24.Bd4 Rf7 25.exf5 Qc6 26.fxg6 Qxf3 27.gxf7+ Qxf7 28.Nxc5 dxc5 29.Rf1

778

29...Qg6 30.Qxg6+ hxg6 31.Bf6 Bf8 32.Nc7 Ra4°. c) 20.Nd4 Nc5 21.dxe4 (21.Nxe4 Qd7!µ; 21.b4? exf3 22.bxc5 Qxc5–+) 21...axb5! 22.Rxa8 Rxa8 23.Ndxb5 Qd7 24.Bxc5 Ra1+ 25.Kg2 dxc5∞. 17...exf5

18.Nd5 A logical move. If 18.Nd4? Nxd4 19.Bxd4, then 19...Ne5!, is strong, while; 18.Rh3 Rf7 19.Nd4 Nxd4 20.Bxd4 Ne5! 21.fxe5 dxe5 22.Be3 Qc6 23.Kf2 f4 24.Bd2 Qg2+ 25.Ke1 Bxg5 26.Bf1 Qg4 779

0–1 Fong,Y-Grivas,E Kuala Lumpur 2015, doesn’t make difference! 18...Qd8

19.Nd4 Again, there are many options: a) 19.Rh3 Rf7 20.Nxe7+ (20.Nd4? Bf8µ; 20.Bf1! Bf8 21.Qh4 Ne7∞) 20...Rxe7 21.Nd4 Nxd4 22.Bxd4 Qc7!µ. b) 19.c4 Rf7 b1) 20.Rd1

780

20...Nde5! 21.fxe5 Nxe5 22.Be2 bxc4 23.Nc1 f4µ. b2) 20.cxb5 Nce5! (20...Bf8 21.Qh3 (21.bxc6 Bxc6!∞) 21...Nce5 (21...axb5 22.Bxb5 Nce5! 23.fxe5 Bxd5 24.e6 Bxe6µ) 22.fxe5 Bxd5 (22...Nxe5? 23.Be4!±) 23.e6 Bxe6 24.bxa6 Ne5 25.Be2 Bc4! 26.Bxc4 Nxc4 27.Bd4 Rxa6µ) 21.fxe5 Nxe5 22.Be4 fxe4 23.Nxe7+ Qxe7 24.Rxf7 Qxf7–+. b3) 20.Rh3 Nce5 21.fxe5 Nxe5

22.Bxf5! (22.Nxe7+? Rxe7 23.Be2 (23.Bxf5 gxf5 24.g6 Rg7µ) 23...Ng4 24.Bxg4 fxg4 25.Rg3 bxc4–+) 22...gxf5 23.Nd4 bxc4 24.Qe6 f4! (24...Bc8 25.Qxf7+ Nxf7 26.Nc6 Bxg5 27.Nxd8 Bxd8 28.Rg3+ Kf8 29.Bd4²)

781

25.Bxf4 (some long and quite scary variations can be seen after 25.Nf5, but all lead to a draw: 25...Bxg5 26.Nxd6 Qd7 27.Qxe5 Qg4+ 28.Rg3 fxg3 29.Nxf7 gxh2+ 30.Kxh2 Qh5+ 31.Kg2 (31.Kg1 Bxe3+ 32.Nxe3 Qxf7 33.Nf5 Qg6+ 34.Kf2 Qg2+ 35.Ke3 Qf3+ 36.Kd4 Rd8+ 37.Nd6 Qe4+=) 31...Qxf7 32.Qxg5+ Qg7=) 25...Bc8 26.Nxe7+ Qxe7 27.Qxe7 Rxe7 28.Re3 Bd7 29.Bxe5 Rxe5 30.Rxe5 dxe5 31.Nf3 Rb8 32.Nxe5 Be6 33.b3 cxb3 34.axb3 Rb5 35.Nf3 Bg4 36.Nd2 Rxg5 37.Ne4 Rg6 38.Kf2 Kf7 39.Nc5 Bc8 40.Ra4 ½–½ Khrolenko,V-Prevenios,M ICCF 2008. b4) 20.Rf2 Na5 21.Nxa5 Qxa5 22.Qh3 Bxd5 23.cxd5 Rc8∞. c) 19.a4!? Rf7! 20.axb5 (20.Nxe7+! Nxe7! 21.Rh3 Nc5³)

20...Nce5! (20...Bf8 21.Qh3 (21.bxc6 Bxc6 22.Qh4 Bxd5 23.Qf2∞) 21...Nce5! 22.fxe5 Bxd5 782

(22...Nxe5? 23.Be4!±) 23.e6! Bxe6 24.bxa6 Ne5 25.Nd4 (25.Be2!? Qc8! 26.Nd4 Bc4³) 25...Bd5 26.Be2 (26.Rff1 Nxd3 27.cxd3 Bg7 28.a7 Re7 29.Bf2 Rexa7µ) 26...Nxf3+ 27.Bxf3 Bxf3

28.Qxf3 (28.Nxf3 Qc8! 29.a7 Qxc2µ) 28...f4!µ) 21.fxe5 Bxd5 22.e6 Bxe6 23.bxa6 Ne5µ. 19...Nxd4 19...Nc5? 20.Rh3 (20.Nxf5 Rxf5 21.Bxf5 Bf8 22.Qh4±) 20...Rf7 21.Nxc6 Bxc6 22.Bd4+–. 20.Bxd4

783

20...Ne5 Possible is 20...Rf7 - see the analyzed game Kofidis,A-Grivas,E Athens 2000, in the Middlegame Strategy chapter. 21.Rh3 Bad is 21.Nxe7+ Qxe7 22.Re3 (22.fxe5 Bxf3 23.exd6 Qd7µ) 22...Qe6!µ, or 21.fxe5 Bxg5 22.Nf6+ Qxf6 23.exf6 Bxh6µ. 21...Rf7

22.Bxf5! A suggested novelty. White should not be greedy: 22.fxe5? dxe5 23.Nxe7+ Rxe7 24.Bc3 Qd5 25.Rg3 Qh1+ 26.Kf2 Qxa1 27.Rg1 Qxa2 28.h4 Qd5 29.h5 b4 30.hxg6 bxc3 31.gxh7+ Rxh7 32.Qg6+ Rg7 33.Qb6 Qd4+ 0–1 Khachiyan,M-Grivas,E Internet 2008. Playable is 22.c4 Bf8 (22...bxc4

784

23.Bxc4 (23.fxe5? Bxg5) 23...Nxc4 24.Qxg6+ Kf8 25.Rxh7 Rxh7 26.Qxf5+ (26.Qxh7 Bxd5 27.Qxf5+ Bf7 28.Qh7 Ke8 29.Re1 Qc8! 30.Kf2 Qb7 31.g6 Qd5 32.gxf7+ Qxf7 33.Rxe7+ Qxe7 34.Qg8+ Qf8 35.Qe6+=) 26...Rf7 27.Qh3! Ke8 28.Qh8+ Kd7 29.Qh3+ Kc6 (29...Ke8=) 30.Qe6 Qd7 31.Qxf7 Qg4+ 32.Kf2

32...Rf8! 33.Nxe7+ Kd7 34.Qxf8 Qg2+=) 23.Qh4 (23.Nf6+ Qxf6 24.gxf6 Bxh6 25.fxe5 dxe5 26.Bxe5

785

26...Re8! 27.Bd4 Rd7∞) 23...Bxd5 24.cxd5 Nxd3 25.Rxd3 Qc7³. 22...gxf5 23.fxe5 dxe5 24.g6

24...Qxd5! 25.gxf7+ Kxf7 25...Qxf7? 26.Rg3++–. 26.Qxh7+ Ke6 27.Rh6+ Interesting is 27.Qg6+ Bf6 28.Bc3 (28.Be3 Rc8 (28...f4? 29.Bxf4! exf4 30.Re1++–; 28...Qe4 29.Re1 786

Rh8 30.Rxh8 Qh1+ 31.Kf2 Qf3+=)

29.Rc1 Rc7°) 28...Qc5+ (28...Qh1+ 29.Kf2 Qxa1 30.Rh7 Rf8 31.Rxb7 Qd1!=) 29.Kf1 Qc4+ 30.Kg1=. 27...Bf6 28.Rxf6+! Kxf6 29.Bxe5+ 29.Qh6+=. 29...Qxe5 29...Kxe5? 30.Re1++–. 30.Qxb7 Rh8 31.Qg2 Qxb2 32.Rd1?! 32.Qc6+=. 32...Qc3!³

787

The analysis is huge and shows how dynamic Black’s position is.

788

R Variation M12 - Zeus - 11.0-0-0 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Be3 Qc7 8.Bd3 d6 9.f4 a6 10.Qf3 Be7 11.0-0-0

The white queenside castle variation begins here! After 11.g4, Black should continue with or 11...b5 (or 11...Nd7, or 11...Nb4, or 11...g5!? 12.e5 (12.fxg5 Ne5 13.Qg3 Nfxg4 14.Bd2 b5∞; 12.0-0-0 gxf4 13.Qxf4 Nd7 14.Rhf1 Nde5 15.g5 b5 16.Kb1 Bb7 17.h4 0-0-0∞ Boskovic,D-Svoboda,V Pardubice 2008) 12...dxe5 13.fxg5 Nd5

789

14.Ne4 (14.Nxd5 exd5 15.Qxd5 Bxg4 16.Qg2 Be6 17.0-0-0 Nb4 18.Kb1 Nxd3 19.Rxd3 0-0∞; 14.0-0-0 Ncb4 15.Rhf1 Rf8 (15...0-0 16.Qe4±) 16.Nxd5 exd5 17.Bxh7 Be6°) 14...Ncb4!∞ (14...Bd7 15.c3 0-0-0 16.Bc5∞ Flis,J-Yegiazarian,A Czestochowa 1992)) when White must still decide between 12.0-0, or 12.0-0-0. 11...b5

If Black wishes to avoid 12.e5!?, then he can use the move order 11...Nb4 12.Kb1 b5, or 11...Nd7 12.g4 b5, depending on which continuation he wishes to employ - see the breaking of the variations. 11...b6, is nothing special for Black: 12.g4 Nd7 13.g5 Nc5 14.Kb1 Bd7 15.h4 Qb7 16.Be2!± Kavalek,L-Huebner,R Buenos Aires 1978. 12.e5

790

White has tried to postpone this good move: 12.Kb1 Nb4 13.Rc1 0-0 14.Rhf1 Bb7 15.Qh3 e5 16.a3 Nxd3 17.cxd3 Qd8 18.g4 a5 19.g5 Nd7 20.Nd5 Bxd5 21.exd5 a4 22.Nd2 exf4 23.Bxf4 b4 24.Ka2 bxa3 25.bxa3 Bxg5 26.Ne4 Bxf4 27.Rxf4 Rb8 28.Rc6 Ne5 29.Qg2 Nxc6 30.Nf6+ Kh8 31.Qh3 h6 32.Qf5 Qxf6 0–1 Tsarouhas,V-Grivas,E Athens 1997. 12.g4, is White’s main move, and now the two main moves are 12...Nd7 and 12...Nb4, as other moves are not fully satisfactory (except c): a) 12...Bb7 13.Kb1

13...Na5?! (13...Nb4 14.g5 Nd7, is transposing to 12...Nb4; 13...h6!? 14.Rhe1 g5 15.h3 gxf4 16.Bxf4 Ne5 17.Bxe5 dxe5 18.Rf1 0-0-0∞ Janev,P-Georgiev,K Primorsko 2020) 14.Nxa5 Qxa5 15.g5 Nd7 791

16.a3 (16.Rhg1 Rc8 17.Qf2 b4 18.Ne2 Nc5∞ Popovych,O-Diesen,M New York 1979; 16.h4 0-0-0 17.h5± Mossakowski,F-Taskovits,I Szekszard 1994; 16.Qh3 b4 17.Ne2 d5 18.g6!± Swiercz,DLaurusas,T Warsaw 2011) 16...0-0-0 17.Qf2 Kb8 18.Bd4 e5 19.fxe5 dxe5 20.Ba7+ Ka8 21.Nd5± King,D-Wirthenson,H Bern 1988. b) 12...0-0?! 13.g5 Nd7 14.e5 dxe5

15.f5 (15.Be4 Bb7 16.f5! g6 17.f6 Bb4 18.h4± Hellers,F-Djukic,Z Malmo 1988) 15...Nd4 16.Nxd4 exd4 17.f6± Beckemeier,W-Daverkausen,B Germany 1990. c) 12...h6!? 13.Rhg1 Nd7 14.Qf2! Bb7 15.Kb1

15...Bf6!? (15...Rc8 16.h4 Na5 17.g5 hxg5 18.hxg5 b4 19.Na4 Nc4 20.g6!± Tiviakov,S-Tong 792

Yuanming Singapore 1990) 16.e5!? dxe5 17.Bxb5 (17.g5 hxg5 18.fxg5 Be7 19.Rgf1 Rf8∞) 17...exf4! (17...0-0? 18.g5 hxg5 19.fxg5± Estrin,Y-Kopylov,I Omsk 1973) 18.Bxf4 Qb6 19.Be3 Qc7 20.Bxc6 Bxc6 21.Bd4 Rb8∞. 12...dxe5 Black’s ‘compensation’ for accepting the opening of the center is pressure on the weak e5-pawn. His position would be quite bad after the naive 12...Nd7? 13.exd6 Bxd6 14.Na5! (14.Bxb5 Bb7²) 14...Ndb8 15.Be4 (15.Bxb5, as well) 15...Bd7 16.Qf2±. 13.fxe5 13.Na5, is not a problem: 13...Bd7 (13...Nxa5!? 14.Qxa8 0-0°) 14.fxe5 Qxa5 15.exf6 Bxf6 16.Ne4 (16.Be4? Rc8µ) 16...Be7∞. 13...Nd7

14.Be4 The main alternative is 14.Qg3 a) 14...0-0!? 15.Bh6 (15.Be4 b4 16.Bh6 g6 17.Bxf8 Bxf8 18.Ne2 Bb7 19.Kb1 Rc8 20.Ned4 Ncxe5°)

793

15...g6 (15...Qxe5?! 16.Bf4 Qh5 17.Be4±) 16.Bxf8 Bxf8 17.h4 b4°. b) 14...Ncxe5? 15.Be4 Rb8 16.Qxg7 Bf6 17.Qg3±. c) 14...b4?!, only helps White to transfer more pieces in the centre: 15.Ne4 (15.Qxg7 Qxe5 16.Qxe5 Ncxe5∞)

c1) 15...Ncxe5 16.Qxg7 (16.Kb1 g6 17.Rhe1!? (17.Bd4 f6∞) 17...Bb7 18.Bf4 f6 19.Ng5! fxg5 (19...Bd5?!

794

20.Qh3! (20.Be4?! Rc8 21.Bxd5 exd5 22.Nd4 fxg5 23.Bxe5 Nxe5 24.Qxe5 Qxe5 25.Rxe5 Rf8 26.Rde1 Rf7 27.Rxd5 Kf8∞) 20...Nf8 21.Bxe5 fxe5 22.Qh6±) 20.Bxe5 Nxe5 21.Rxe5 (21.Qxe5?! Qxe5 22.Rxe5 Bxg2 23.Rxe6 Rf8 24.Bxa6 Ra7!³) 21...0-0! (21...Bd5?! 22.Nd4 0-0 23.Nxe6 Bxe6 24.Rxe6 Qxg3 25.hxg3 Bc5 26.Bxa6²) 22.Rxe6 Qxg3 23.hxg3 Bf6 24.Bc4 Kh8∞) 16...Nxd3+ 17.Rxd3 Qe5

18.Qg4! (18.Qxe5 Nxe5 19.Rd4 Rg8³) 18...Bb7 19.Rxd7! Kxd7 20.Nbc5+ Kc8 21.Nxb7 f5 (21...Kxb7 22.Qf3+–) 22.Nbd6+ Bxd6 23.Nxd6+ Qxd6 24.Qc4+ Qc7 25.Qxe6+ Kb7 26.Qxf5±. c2) 15...0-0 16.Ng5! (16.Bf4?! Ncxe5 17.Kb1 f6 18.Nd4 Qb6µ) 16...Bxg5 (16...g6 17.h4 Ndxe5 18.Kb1°) 17.Bxg5 Ndxe5 18.Be4 (18.Bxh7+ Kxh7 19.Bf6 gxf6 20.Qh4+ Kg8 21.Qg3+=) 18...f6

795

19.Rhf1! (19.Bxf6 Rxf6 20.Bxc6 Qxc6 (20...Rg6 21.Qxg6 Nxg6 22.Bxa8±; 20...Ra7 21.Be4±) 21.Rd8+ Rf8 22.Rxf8+ Kxf8 23.Qxe5 Bd7 24.Nc5 Rc8 25.Nxd7+ Qxd7 26.Re1±) 19...fxg5 (19...Qe7 20.Be3

20...Rd8 (20...Rf7 21.Bc5 Qe8 22.Na5 Bd7 23.Nb7±) 21.Bc5 Qe8 22.Bxb4 Rxd1+ 23.Rxd1 Ra7 24.Bc3 Rd7 25.Rf1±) 20.Bxh7+! (20.Rxf8+? Kxf8 21.Bxc6 Qxc6 22.Qxe5 Qxg2∞) 20...Kxh7 21.Rxf8 Kg6 22.h4! Qe7 23.Rh8 Qf6 24.Nd2 Nd4 25.Qe3+–. d) 14...g6!? 15.Rhe1 (15.Be4 Bb7 16.Rxd7 Qxd7, transposes below) 15...Bb7 16.Bf4 0-0∞. 14...Bb7

796

15.Bf4 White has tried other moves as well: a) An idea of my former students GM Mert Erdogdu and IM Umut Atakisi is 15.Rxd7!? Qxd7 a1) 16.Rd1?! Qc7µ. a2) 16.Qg3 a21) 16...Qc7!? 17.Qxg7 0-0-0

18.Qxf7 (18.Bf4?! Kb8µ) 18...Qxe5 19.Bf4 Qf6 20.Qxf6 Bxf6 21.Nc5 Bxc3 22.bxc3 Na5=. 797

a22) 16...0-0?! 17.Bh6 (17.Qh3 g6 18.Nd5 Nxe5 19.Nc5 Qxd5 20.Bxd5 Bxd5∞) 17...g6 18.h4 and White’s attack is serious... a23) 16...0-0-0? 17.Bb6 f5 18.Rd1 Qe8 19.Bxd8 Bxd8 20.Nc5 fxe4 21.N3xe4+–. a24) 16...g6 17.Rd1 Qc7

18.Nc5 Rd8 19.Nxb7 Qxb7 20.Qf3 Rxd1+ 21.Nxd1 Kd7 22.Qxf7 Nd8 23.Qg7 Qxe4 24.Qxh8 Qxg2 25.Qxh7 Nc6=. a3) 16.Nc5 Bxc5 17.Bxc5 Nxe5 (17...0-0-0? 18.Rd1 Qc7 19.Bd6 Qb6 20.Qxf7+–) 18.Qe2 Nc4 (18...Nc6 19.Rd1 Qc7 20.Bd6 Qb6 21.Qg4°) 19.Rd1 Qc7 20.Bxb7 Qxb7 21.Ne4 Rc8! 22.Bd4 (22.Qxc4 bxc4 23.Nd6+ Kd7 24.Nxb7+ Kc6 25.Nd6 Kxc5 26.Nxc8 Rxc8 27.Rd7 Rf8=)

798

22...f5 (22...0-0 23.Nf6+ Kh8 24.Qd3 g6 25.Nxh7+ e5 26.Nxf8 exd4 27.Qxd4+ Kg8 28.Nd7²; 22...e5 23.Bxe5 Kf8 24.Bc3±) 23.Nc5 Rxc5 24.Qxe6+ Qe7 25.Qxe7+ Kxe7 26.Bxc5+ Ke6=. b) 15.Rhf1? Ncxe5 16.Qg3 Bxe4

17.Nxe4 (17.Qxg7 0-0-0 18.Nxe4 Rhg8 19.Qh6 (19.Qxh7? Rh8 20.Qg7 Rdg8 21.Rxd7 Nxd7–+) 19...Rxg2µ) 17...Rc8 18.Rf2 0-0µ. c) 15.Qg3 g6

c1) 16.Rhf1 0-0 (16...Rc8?! 17.Qf4?! (17.Rxd7! Qxd7 18.Nc5°) 17...0-0 18.Qh6 b4! (18...Rfe8? 19.Rxf7! Kxf7 20.Qxh7+ Kf8 21.Bh6# Michalko,P-Boztuna,M Kemer 2007) 19.Rf3 Ncxe5 20.Rh3 Nf6–+) 17.Kb1 Rac8 (17...Ncxe5? 18.Rxd7±) 18.Bf4 b4∞. 799

c2) 16.Rhe1, is analyzed above. c3) 16.Rd2 0-0-0 17.Rhd1 (17.Bf4?! g5!µ) 17...Ndxe5 18.Bf4 Rxd2 19.Rxd2

19...g5! 20.Bxc6 gxf4 21.Qg7 (21.Bxb7+ Kxb7 22.Qg7 Rc8!µ) 21...Rf8 (21...Rd8 22.Rxd8+ Bxd8 23.Bxb7+ Kxb7 24.Qxh7 Qc4³) 22.Bxb7+ Kxb7 23.Qxh7 Kb8!³. 15...Rc8 15...0-0-0 16.Rd6! g5! 17.Bg3 Ndxe5 18.Rxc6 Bxc6 19.Bxe5 Qxe5 20.Bxc6 Qf4+ 21.Qxf4 gxf4 22.Bf3 Kc7 23.a4².

800

16.Rd2 16.Qg3? g5!µ. 16...Nb6!? The game Sa,A-Gavrilakis,N ICCF 2006 continued with 16...b4 17.Na4! (17.Ne2?! g5 (17...Na5!? 18.Bxb7 Nxb7 19.Rhd1 0-0∞) 18.Bg3 h5 (18...Ncxe5? 19.Bxb7 Nxf3 20.Bxc7 Rxc7 21.Bxf3 g4 22.Bxg4 Bg5 23.Ned4±) 19.Rf1 (19.Rhd1 Ndxe5 20.Qe3 Nc4! 21.Qf2 Qb6µ)

19...Ndxe5 20.Qe3 Nc4 21.Qf2 N6e5 22.Bxb7 Qxb7 23.Na5 Nxa5 24.Bxe5 0-0³) 17...Na5!? 18.Nxa5 (18.Bxb7 Nxb7 19.Rhd1 0-0 20.Kb1 Ndc5∞; 18.Rhd1 Bxe4 19.Qxe4 Nxb3+ 20.axb3 Nc5 21.Nxc5 Bxc5 22.Rd7 Qa5 23.Kb1 0-0∞) 18...Bxe4 19.Qxe4 Qxa5 20.Rxd7 (20.b3? Nc5 21.Nxc5 Bxc5∞) 20...Qxa4 (20...Kxd7? 21.Qb7+ Qc7 22.Nb6++–)

801

21.Rhd1 (21.Rxe7+ Kxe7 22.Qb7+ Qd7 23.Qxb4+ Ke8 24.Rd1 Qc6 25.c3 h6 26.g3 Qc5 27.Qb7 g5 28.Bd2 Kf8³; 21.Rb7 Bc5 22.Kb1 0-0∞) 21...0-0!? (21...Bc5 22.Kb1 0-0=) 22.Kb1 (22.Rxe7 Qxa2 23.Red7 (23.Be3 b3 24.c4 Qa4 25.Rd4 Qa1+ 26.Qb1 Qa4 27.Qd3 Qa1+=) 23...b3!? (23...Qa1+ 24.Kd2 Qxb2 25.Ke1 a5 26.R7d2 f6°) 24.c4 Qa1+ 25.Kd2 (25.Qb1? Qa4!–+) 25...Qxb2+ 26.Ke1 Qa2 27.Bd2 b2°) 22...Rcd8 (22...Rfd8? 23.Rxd8+ Bxd8 (23...Rxd8? 24.Rxd8+ Bxd8 25.a3 a5 26.Qa8+–) 24.Qc4 Rb8 25.Rd6 a5 26.Rc6 Be7 27.b3 Qb5 28.Qxb5 Rxb5 29.Rc8+ Bf8 30.c4 bxc3 31.Bc1 c2+ 32.Kxc2 Rc5+ 33.Rxc5 Bxc5 34.Kd3±) 23.Rxd8 Bxd8∞

24.Rd6 a5 25.c4 b3 26.axb3 Qxb3 27.Rd3 Qa4 28.b3 Qb4 29.Bd2 Qc5 30.Qd4 Qc8 31.Rg3 f5 32.Rd3 Bc7 33.Qd7 Bxe5 34.Bxa5 Bxh2 35.Bc3 Qxd7 36.Rxd7 Rf7 37.Rd8+ Rf8 38.Rd7 Rf7 ½-½.

802

17.Rhd1 0-0∞

With an extremely complicated position and mutual chances of success and failure! Well, Black should be happy to have achieved it! Now going back after White’s 12.g4, Black my choose between 12...Nb4 and 12...Nd7. § Variation M121 - Zeus - 12...Nb4 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Be3 Qc7 8.Bd3 d6 9.f4 a6 10.Qf3 Be7 11.0-0-0 b5 12.g4 Nb4

803

After this move Black is almost forced to castle kingside entering a complicated battle. 13.Kb1 White must avoid Rxd3 in almost all cases of Black playing ...Nxd3. He should instead be prepared for cxd3 which reinforces the center and avoids any future conflicts on the c2-pawn. Sometimes White can even use the c- file by playing Rc1. So, Black would be more than fine after: 13.g5?! Nxd3+ 14.Rxd3 (14.cxd3 b4!³) 14...Nd7 15.Bd4 (15.a3 Bb7 16.Rhd1 Rc8 17.Qf2 0-0∞ 18.f5?! Ne5 19.f6 Nxd3+ 20.Rxd3 Bd8 21.Qh4 Re8 22.Nd2 e5 23.Nf1 d5 24.exd5 Qd7 25.Nd2 Rxc3 26.bxc3 Bxd5 27.c4 bxc4 28.Qxc4 Bxc4 29.Rxd7 Be6 30.Ra7µ ½–½ Cawdery,D-Arab,A Oran 2017)

804

15...b4! (15...0-0? 16.Qh5 Re8

17.Rg1! e5?! (17...Nf8 18.f5±) 18.Nd5 Qd8 19.Rh3 Nf8 20.Bb6 Qd7 21.f5 Bb7 22.Nf6+ 1–0 Vouldis,A-Grivas,E Athens 1996) 16.Bxg7 (16.Ne2 e5µ) 16...Rg8 17.Bd4 bxc3 18.Rxc3 Qb7³. 13...Bb7

805

Or a) Possible is the ‘premature’ 13...Nxd3!? 14.cxd3 b4 15.Ne2 a5 16.g5 Nd7 17.Rc1 Qb7 18.h4 (18.Rhd1 0-0 19.Nbd4 Re8 20.h4 Nc5 21.h5 Qd7∞ Van der Weide,K-Khairallah,F Dieren 2007; 18.Ng3

18...g6 (18...a4!? 19.Nd2 (19.Nd4 Nc5 20.Rhd1 Qa6 21.Nh5 0-0³ Hapala,E-Gara,T Balatonszarszo 2017) 19...0-0∞) 19.h4 a4 20.Nd2 Qa6 21.Nc4 Bb7 22.Bd4 Rf8 23.Rhe1 Rc8∞ Borisek,J-Kozul,Z Nova Gorica 2006; 18.Qh3?! g6?! (18...e5!) 19.Qg3 a4 20.Nd2 Qb5 21.Bf2 Ba6 22.Nc4 0-0 23.Nd4 Qb7∞ Dussart,F-Knezevic,B Argenteuil 1997) 18...a4 19.Nd2 Qa6 20.Bd4 e5 806

21.Bf2 (21.fxe5?! dxe5 22.Bf2 0-0³ Antoniou,A-Haznedaroglu,K Iraklion 2007) 21...Qb5 22.Nc4 Bb7∞. b) 13...Nd7 14.g5 Nb6?!, is imprecise as after 15.a3 Nxd3 16.cxd3, the ...b4 advance is difficult to be achieved. c) 13...d5?!, was popular several years ago but this is actually a weak move and should be avoided: c1) 14.e5?! Nd7 15.Rhe1 (15.Qf2 Rb8 16.Rhg1 Nb6 17.a3 Nc6 18.Bc5 Nc4 19.Bxe7 Qxe7 20.Ne2 a5

21.Nbd4 Bd7 22.Nxc6 Bxc6 23.Nd4 Bd7 24.Nb3 0-0 25.g5 g6 26.Qc5∞ ½-½ Matulovic,MGrivas,E Ankara 1995, or 15.g5 Nb6 16.Qf2 Na4 17.Ne2 Bd7 18.Ned4 Rc8 19.f5 exf5 20.Bxf5 807

Bxf5 21.Qxf5 0-0∞ Tsarouhas,V-Grivas,E Athens 1995) 15...Nb6 16.f5 Na4 17.Bd4 Nc6 18.fxe6 Nxc3+ 19.Bxc3 Bxe6 20.Nd4∞ ½-½ Hjartarson,J-Agdestein,S Tilburg 1989. c2) 14.exd5?!

14...Bb7! (14...Nbxd5?! 15.Nxd5 Nxd5 16.Be4 Bb7 17.Bc1 (17.Bd4!±) 17...0-0 18.g5² Vouldis,AGrivas,E Athens 1996) 15.Bd4 Nbxd5³. c3) 14.Bd4?! Bb7 (14...Nxd3 15.cxd3 0-0 16.h4 Bb7 17.Rc1 Qd8 18.g5 Nd7 19.h5 b4∞ Plomann,M-Michna,M ICCF 2000; 14...dxe4?! 15.Nxe4 Bb7 16.Be5 Qc8 17.Bxf6 gxf6 18.f5 Nxd3 19.Rxd3² De Groot,A-Soberano,J England 1999) 15.Be5 (15.e5 Nd7 16.a3 Nc6∞) 15...Qb6 16.g5 dxe4 17.Nxe4 Nxe4 18.Bxe4 Bxe4 19.Qxe4 0-0∞. c4) 14.g5!

808

14...dxe4 (14...Nxe4 15.Nxe4 Nxd3 (15...dxe4?! 16.Bxe4 Rb8 17.Bd4+– Angelis,M-Makris,N Khania 1995) 16.cxd3 dxe4 17.dxe4±) 15.Nxe4 Nfd5

16.Bd4! Qxf4 17.Qh5! Nxd3 (17...g6 18.Qh6 Bf8 19.Qh3 e5 20.Qg2 Be7 (20...exd4 21.Nf6+ Kd8 22.Nxd5 Qg4 23.Qe4 Qxe4 24.Bxe4±) 21.Bc5 Bxc5 22.Nbxc5 0-0 23.Rhf1 Qg4 24.Qf2±) 18.cxd3 Ne3 (18...g6 19.Qh6 Bf8 20.Qh3! (20.Bg7? f5!∞) 20...e5 21.Qg2+–) 19.Rde1 Nf5 (19...Qg4 20.Qxg4 Nxg4 21.h3 f5 22.Nec5+–) 20.Rhf1 Qh4 21.Qf3 0-0 22.Bf2 Qxh2 23.Rh1 Qc7 24.Nd4 Rd8 25.Nxf5 exf5 26.Rxh7! Bb4 27.Nf6+! 1–0 Cela,A-Grivas,E Athens 1997. d) A fair alternative is to try to keep the c8-bishop on its initial square retaining control of the e6square, with 13...Rb8 14.g5 Nd7

809

15.Qh3 (15.a3?! Nxd3 16.cxd3 b4µ; 15.Rc1 Nb6 16.a3 Nc6!∞ and ...b4) 15...Nb6∞, with ideas such as 16...Na4, or 16...Nc4. As there are no examples, this idea (although quite interesting) should be tested in practice. 14.g5

14...Nd7 In practice there have been some games were Black has played ...Bb7 early on instead of ...Be7, via the ‘Najdorf Sicilian’ move order 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 2...d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f4 e6 7.Qf3 810

Qb6 8.Nb3 Qc7 9.g4 b5 10.g5 Nfd7 11.Be3 Bb7 12.0-0-0 Nc6 13.Bd3 Nc5. Now 14.Nxc5, is ineffective due to the presence of bishop on b7, so White preferred 14.Kb1 Nb4?! (14...0-0-0 15.Qh3 Kb8 16.g6? fxg6 17.Nxc5 dxc5 18.Qxe6 Bc8! 19.Qb3 c4µ)

15.Qh3! Nbxd3 16.cxd3 b4 (16...Nxb3 17.axb3 g6 18.Rc1 Qe7 19.Bd4 e5 20.fxe5 dxe5 21.Nd5!±) 17.Ne2 Nxd3 18.Rxd3 Bxe4 19.Rd1 Rc8 20.Ka1 Bf5 21.Qf1 Bxd3 22.Rxd3 Be7 23.f5, assuming the initiative in the game Kindermann,S-Stohl,I Hamburg 1995. Another try without the early ...Be7, was seen in the game Lukov,V-Cabrilo,G Varna 1983, via the move order 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.Be3 Qc7 9.f4 a6 10.g4 b5 11.g5 Nd7 12.Qf3 Nc5 (12...Be7, transposes to the main lines) 13.0-0-0?! (13.Nxc5 dxc5 14.e5!) 13...b4 14.Ne2 Nxd3+ 15.Rxd3 Bb7 16.Ng3 a5 17.Nd4 ½–½, although Black could continue. 15.Qh3

811

A logical and multi-purpose continuation. The white queen moves away from the h1-a8 diagonal, strengthening the pressure on the kingside and on the e6-square while threatening 16.g6. Alternatives: a) 15.a3 Nxd3 16.cxd3 Nc5 17.Nd4 g6 18.Qe2 e5 19.Nf3 exf4 20.Bxf4 Ne6∞ Guedon,S-Ilic,Z Clermont Ferrand 1989. b) 15.Rhf1 b1) 15...Rc8

b11) 16.a3 Nxd3 17.cxd3 0-0 18.Nd4 d5! (18...g6?! 19.Qh3 e5 (19...Rfe8? 20.Nxe6!+–) 20.Nde2 exf4 (20...d5 21.d4! exd4 22.Bxd4 dxe4 23.f5+–) 21.Nxf4 Qd8 22.Ncd5 Nc5 23.Nf6+ Bxf6 812

24.gxf6+– Kasioumis,V-Vokac,M Prague 2020) 19.Rc1 (19.e5 Bxa3µ) 19...dxe4 20.Nxe4 Qb8∞. b12) 16.Bd4

16...Nxd3 (16...0-0 17.f5 exf5 18.Qxf5 Ne5∞ Papadopoulos,A-Petrov,M Rethymnon 2014) 17.cxd3 b4 18.Ne2 0-0∞ Veiga,J-Grigoryan,K Lisbon 2020. b13) 16.Qf2 Nxd3 17.cxd3 b4 18.Na4 (18.Ne2 0-0 (18...Nc5 19.Nxc5 dxc5 20.f5² Haast,APaehtz,E Mulhouse 2017) 19.Ng3 d5!∞) 18...Qc6 19.Nb6 Nxb6 20.Bxb6 0-0 21.Na5 Qd7∞ Almasi,Z-Kurajica,B Moscow 1994. b2) 15...Nxd3 16.cxd3

16...Nc5 (16...b4!? 17.Ne2 a5 (17...0-0∞) 18.Qh3 a4 19.Nbd4 Nc5∞ Van Blitterswijk,S813

Dolgener,T Budapest 2000) 17.f5!? (17.Nd4 b4∞ Yoos,J-Stanford,M Victoria 2002) 17...exf5 18.Qxf5 0-0 19.Nd4 (19.Nd5 Bxd5 20.Qxd5 Nxb3

21.axb3 (21.Rxf7!? Rxf7 22.Qxa8+ Qd8 23.Qxd8+ Bxd8 24.axb3 Rf3 25.Re1 Rh3 26.Re2 Kf7°) 21...Rac8 22.Rc1 Qd7 23.Qf5 Qe6= ½-½ Brenjo,S-Barlov,D Valjevo 2011) 19...Rac8 20.Nd5 Bxd5 21.Qxd5². b3) 15...0-0

16.h4 (16.Qh5?! Rac8 17.Rf3? Nxd3 18.Rh3 h6 (18...Bxe4!–+) 19.Rxd3 Bxe4µ Wallace,J-Bellon Lopez,J Osterskars 1995) 16...Rac8 - see the analyzed game Kotronias,V-Grivas,E Zouberi 1993, in the Middlegame Strategy chapter. 814

c) 15.f5 Ne5 16.Qf4 exf5 17.Qxf5 0-0

18.h4 (18.Nd4 Bc8 (18...Nbxd3 19.cxd3 g6∞) 19.Qf1 Re8 20.a3 Nbxd3 21.Nd5 Qb7 22.cxd3 Be6 23.Qg2 Bxd5 24.exd5 b4³ Favaloro,A-Zamengo,F Tarvisio 2014) 18...Rac8 19.h5 Nbxd3 20.cxd3 b4 (20...Qd7!? 21.Qxd7 Nxd7 22.Nd4 Rfe8=) 21.Nd5 Bxd5 22.exd5 Rfe8! (22...Qc2+ 23.Ka1 Qe2 24.Bf4 Qf3 25.g6² Loeffler,M-Grivas,E Cannes 1995) 23.Nd4 Qb7 24.g6 Qxd5 25.gxh7+ Kh8∞. d) 15.Rhe1

15...0-0-0 (15...0-0!, looks fine; 15...Rc8 16.Qf2 0-0 17.h4 Rfe8 18.h5 Bf8 19.g6 fxg6 20.hxg6 h6 21.a3 Nxd3 22.cxd3 Nc5 23.Nd4∞ Leskur,D-Solomunovic,I Rijeka 2011) 16.Qf2 Nc5 (16...Kb8 17.Bf1 Rc8 (17...Nc5 18.Bd4 Na4 19.a3± Tolnai,T-Peric,S Balatonbereny 1988) 18.a3 Nc6 19.Bxb5 815

axb5 20.Nxb5 Qd8 21.Nxd6 Bxd6 22.Rxd6± Horvath,G-Emodi,B Hungary 2000) 17.Nxc5 dxc5 18.a3?! (18.Be2!∞) 18...Nxd3 19.cxd3 Kb8 20.e5 Ka8∞ 21.Ne4? Rxd3!µ Walter,K-Luecke,N Germany 1990. e) 15.Rc1 Nc5 16.Rhg1

16...Nxb3 (16...0-0, with ideas such as..Nbxd3 and...Rfc8, is a fair alternative) 17.axb3 Rc8 18.h4 Qa5 19.Rcd1 d5 (19...0-0!?) 20.exd5 Rxc3!? (20...Bxd5! 21.Qe2 0-0³) 21.bxc3 Qa2+ 22.Kc1 Bxd5! (22...Nxd3+?! 23.Rxd3 Bxd5 24.Rxd5! (24.Qe2? Bxb3µ) 24...exd5 25.f5±; 22...Nxd5?!∞ Davanos,Th-Grivas,E Athens 2004) 23.Qe2 Nxd3+ 24.Qxd3 0-0°. f) 15.h4

816

Suggested by FM Ioannis Simeonidis. f1) 15...0-0 16.h5 f5 17.gxf6 Bxf6 18.Qg4 Rfe8∞ Jessel,S-Zubarev,A Cappelle la Grande 2006. f2) 15...d5 16.Bd4 (16.exd5 Nxd3 17.cxd3 b4 18.Ne4 Bxd5 19.Bd4 0-0∞ Lebzak,YKhubukshanov,E Cheliabinsk 2020) 16...0-0 17.Rc1∞ Sanchez Almeyra,J-Quatrini,A Mar del Plata 1995. f3) 15...Nxd3 16.cxd3

16...Nc5!? (16...0-0 17.g6 fxg6 18.Qh3 Rf6 19.Rc1 Qd8 20.h5° Savchenko,D-Gorny,M Germany 2019) 17.Rc1 Qd8 (17...Rc8!? 18.Ne2 Qd7∞) 18.Nxc5 dxc5 19.Rhd1∞. f4) 15...Nc5?! 16.Nxc5 dxc5 17.Be2 0-0 18.h5 Nc6 19.g6 fxg6 20.hxg6 h6 21.Qh3 Bc8 22.f5 b4 23.Bxh6 Bf6 24.Bg5 1–0 Flores Quillas,D-Tsyhanchuk,S Internet 2020. f5) 15...0-0-0 16.a3 Nxd3 17.cxd3 Nc5 18.Nd4 Kb8∞ Fernandez Guillen,E-Hansen,E Internet 2020. f6) 15...Rc8 16.Rhe1 (16.Nd4

817

16...d5!?∞ (16...Nxd3 17.cxd3 b4 18.Nce2 Nc5∞ Fedorchuk,S-Nikolov,M Khania 2019) 17.g6?! hxg6 18.h5 dxe4 19.Bxe4 Bxe4 20.Nxe4 gxh5µ Kadziolka,B-Boros,D Warsaw 2010; 16.Rc1 Nc5 17.Nxc5 dxc5 18.h5 Nxd3 19.cxd3 f5!∞) 16...0-0 17.Nd4 d5 18.e5 Nxd3 19.cxd3 b4 20.Nce2 Nc5 21.h5 a5∞ Guliyev,N-Khairallah,F Paris 2007. g) 15.Rhg1

g1) 15...0-0 16.Rg3 Nxd3 17.cxd3 f5 (17...b4! 18.Ne2 Rfc8³) 18.gxf6 Bxf6∞ Yu,Y-Korobov,A Hengshui 2019. g2) 15...Nc5 16.f5 (16.Nxc5 dxc5 17.Be2²) 16...Nbxd3 17.cxd3 exf5 18.Qxf5 Nxb3 19.axb3 Rc8 20.Rgf1 0-0∞ Rios P.,A-Ivanov,I Philadelphia 1992. 818

g3) 15...Rc8 16.a3 Nxd3 17.cxd3 d5 (17...0-0!? 18.h4 Nc5∞) 18.Rc1 Qb8∞ Vega Gutierrez,BKorneev,O La Laguna 2009. 15...0-0

In my opinion the best, although Black has also chosen: a) 15...Nxd3 16.cxd3 a1) 16...Nc5!? 17.g6 (17.Nd4 b4 18.Nce2 Nxd3 (18...Rc8! 19.Rc1 Qd7³) 19.g6? (19.Rxd3 Bxe4 20.Rhd1 0-0∞) 19...Nc5µ Jankov,J-Rusev,R Shumen 1997) 17...fxg6 (17...Nxb3 18.gxf7+ Kxf7 19.axb3 Bf6 20.Rc1 Qd7 21.Rhf1± Berek,G-Bokros,A Hungary 2017)

819

18.Bxc5 (18.Nxc5 dxc5 19.Qxe6 Rd8 (19...Qc6 20.Qb3 Qd7 21.Rhe1 Rd8 22.Ka1 Bc6∞ Almasi,ZSalgado Lopez,I Tromsoe 2014) 20.Rhg1 Qc6∞ Kravtsiv,M-Akopian,V Berlin 2015) 18...dxc5 19.Qxe6 Qd6 20.Qxd6 Bxd6 21.Na5 Bc8∞ Korneev,O-Garcia Roman,J Roquetas de Mar 2010. a2) 16...b4 17.Ne2

a21) 17...e5?! 18.Ng3! (18.Rhf1 a5 19.Rc1 Qd8 20.Nd2 exf4 21.Nxf4 0-0∞ Solak,D-Bachmann,A Tromsoe 2014) 18...exf4 19.Rc1 Qd8

20.Nf5 fxe3 (20...g6 21.Bd4 gxf5 22.Bxh8 fxe4 23.Rhe1±) 21.Nxg7+ Kf8 22.Ne6+ fxe6 23.Rcf1+ Bf6 24.Nd4 Nc5 25.Rxf6+ Kg8 26.Rhf1 Qe7 27.g6 Nxe4 28.dxe4 e5 29.Qg2 1–0 Solak,D-Benidze,D Kocaeli 2014. 820

a22) 17...d5?! 18.Rc1 Qd8 19.g6 fxg6 20.Ned4 Nf8 21.e5 Qd7 22.Na5± Revo,T-Beinenson,K Minsk 2013. a23) 17...0-0 18.Rhg1 Rfc8

a231) 19.Ned4 e5 (19...Nc5 20.Nxc5 dxc5 21.g6 hxg6 22.Nxe6± Horvath,A-Tolnai,T Balatonlelle 2001; 19...Nf8 20.f5 e5 21.f6 exd4 22.Nxd4 Ng6 23.fxe7 Qxe7 24.Nf5 Qe6 25.Bd4 Ne5 26.Qg3± Matsuura,E-Supi,L Florianopolis 2015) 20.Ne6 (20.Nf5 Bf8∞) 20...fxe6 21.Qxe6+ Kh8 22.Qxe7 Re8 23.Qf7 Rf8 24.Qh5 exf4 25.Rc1± Qd8 26.Bd4 Ne5∞. a232) 19.Nbd4 e5 (19...Nc5 20.f5 exf5 21.exf5 g6 22.Rg4 Re8 23.Nf4 Qd7 24.Rdg1± Perunovic,M-Pap,M Kragujevac 2013) 20.Nf5 Bf8 21.Rc1 Qd8∞ Boros,D-Chirila,I Princeton 2012. a3) 16...0-0 a31) 17.Rhf1

821

17...Nc5! (17...b4 18.Ne2 d5 19.f5 dxe4 20.fxe6 (20.f6!±) 20...exd3 21.Ned4 Ne5 22.exf7+? Rxf7µ Olarte Parra,J-Orozco,L Bogota 2013) 18.f5 exf5 19.exf5 Rfe8∞. a32) 17.Rhg1 Rac8 (17...Rfc8 18.Rc1 b4 19.Nd5 Qd8 20.Nxe7+ Qxe7 21.Na5² Oleksienko,MNyzhnyk,I Lvov 2008) 18.Rc1 Nc5 19.Bd4 Qd7 20.Bf6 Rfe8∞ Almasi,Z-Ricardi,P Buenos Aires 1996. b) 15...Nc5

b1) 16.Rhf1 Nbxd3 17.cxd3 b4 18.Ne2 Nxd3 (18...Nxb3!? 19.axb3 Qd7∞) 19.Rxd3 Bxe4 20.Bd4 Qc4 21.Nec1 0-0 22.Qe3 Bxd3+ 23.Nxd3 a5∞ Polgar,S-Saltaev,M Debrecen 1990. b2) 16.Nxc5 dxc5 17.g6 fxg6 (17...Nxd3 18.gxf7+ Kxf7 19.cxd3 b4 20.Ne2 Rad8 21.f5 e5 22.Rhg1 822

Bf6 23.Bg5 Bxg5 24.Qh5+ Kf8 25.Qxg5 Rd6 26.Ng3 Qe7 27.Qe3 Rc6 28.Nh5 g6 29.Qh6+ Ke8 1–0 Tiviakov,S-De Firmian,N Oslo 2011)

18.Be2 (18.Qxe6 Bc8 19.Nd5 Nxd5 20.Qxd5 Bb7 21.Qe6 Bc8=) 18...Nxc2 (18...Bc8 19.Bg4 Qc6 20.Qg2°) 19.Kxc2 b4 20.Bc4 bxc3 21.Qxe6 Rf8∞. b3) 16.g6 fxg6 17.Nxc5 dxc5 18.Qxe6 (18.Be2

18...Bf6? (18...Nxc2!, as above) 19.Qxe6+ Qe7 20.Qxe7+ Bxe7 21.a3 Nc6 22.Nd5± Cori Quispe,K-Tapie Amione,P Mexico City 2020) 18...Bc8 19.Nd5 (19.Qe5 Qxe5 20.fxe5 Bg4 21.Be2 Bxe2 22.Nxe2 Nc6∞ Darbanvaighani,M-Moradi,B Mashad 2003) 19...Nxd5 20.Qxd5 Bb7 21.Qe6 Bc8=. 823

c) 15...g6?!

16.Rhf1 (16.Rhe1 0-0 17.f5 exf5 18.exf5 Nxd3 19.cxd3 Rfe8 20.Rc1± Vega Gutierrez,B-Oms Pallisse,J Palma de Mallorca 2009) 16...Nxd3 (16...0-0-0? 17.f5 gxf5 18.exf5 e5 19.f6 Bf8 20.Bf5+– Grosar,A-Gostisa,L Maribor 1990; 16...Rc8 17.Rd2 Nxd3 18.cxd3 Nc5 19.Nxc5 dxc5 20.f5 Qd7 21.fxg6 (½-½ Beulen,M-Ravikumar,V Dieren 1990) 21...fxg6 22.d4±) 17.cxd3 b4 18.Ne2 Rc8 19.Rc1±. d) 15...Rc8?!

16.g6! (16.Rd2 0-0 17.Rg1 Nxd3 18.cxd3 Rfe8 19.Nd4 b4 20.Nce2 Nc5∞ Petelin,A-Kuzmin,G St Petersburg 1993; 16.Nd4 0-0 17.f5 exf5 18.Nxf5 Rfe8 (18...Ne5? 19.Bb6!± Petrov,M-Todorov,O 824

Bulgaria 1994) 19.Rc1 Bf8∞) 16...Nxd3 17.cxd3 Bf6 (17...b4 18.Qxh7 Rf8 19.gxf7+ Rxf7 20.Qh8+ Bf8 21.Na4 Bc6 22.Rc1 Qb8 23.Rxc6 Rxc6 24.Nd4± Sargissyan,S-Sadhu,S Voronezh 2015) 18.gxf7+ Kxf7 19.Rc1 Qd8 20.Rhg1± Fernandez Guillen,E-Linares Napoles,O Havana 2018. We know return to 15...0-0

This is the key position for this variation. A complicated and tense battle is on the way where much depends on which way the king will move. White will try to create threats against the black king with the use of a kingside pawn advance, supported mainly by the heavy pieces. Black must defend against this plan, trying at the same time to create his own threats on the queenside. In general, exchanges of heavy pieces favors Black, as a possible attack is restrained and the endgames seem to be better for him due to his potential bishop pair (after ...Nxd3). White’s main tries are 16.Nd4, 16.Rhf1 and 16.Rhg1.

825

§ Variation M1211 - Zeus - 16.Nd4 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Be3 Qc7 8.Bd3 d6 9.f4 a6 10.Qf3 Be7 11.0-0-0 b5 12.g4 Nb4 13.Kb1 Bb7 14.g5 Nd7 15.Qh3 0-0 16.Nd4

White gets his knight back in the center and to the attack on the black king. 16...Nxd3 A suggested novelty. Black has also played 16...Rfe8 17.f5 (17.Rhg1 Nxd3 18.cxd3 b4 19.Nce2 g6 20.f5 exf5 21.exf5 Ne5∞) 17...exf5 18.g6!? (18.Nxf5 Ne5∞) 18...hxg6 19.exf5

826

19...Nxd3! (19...g5? 20.Rhg1! Nxd3 21.Bxg5! (½-½ Vouldis,A-Grivas,E Komotini 1993; 21.cxd3? Bf6 22.Rc1 Qa5 23.Nb3 Qd8µ) 21...Nf2 (21...Bxg5? 22.Rxg5 N3e5 23.Rh5 Kf8 24.Rh8+ Ke7 25.f6+ Nxf6 26.Nf5+ Kd8 27.Nxd6+–) 22.Qg3! (22.Qh4? Nxd1 23.Bxe7 Nxc3+ 24.bxc3 Rxe7 25.Qxe7 Qxc3 26.Rxg7+ Kxg7 27.Ne6+=) 22...Nh1 (22...Nxd1? 23.Bxe7 Nxc3+ 24.bxc3 g6 25.fxg6 f6 26.Bxd6+–)

23.Qh4! (23.Rxh1? Bxg5 24.Qxg5 f6 (24...Qd8 25.Rhg1 Qxg5 26.Rxg5 f6 27.Rg3 Nc5=) 25.Qg3 Bxh1 26.Rxh1 Nc5 27.Nd5 Qf7 28.Rg1 Re4µ) 23...Bf8 24.f6 g6 25.Rd3 Nf2 26.Qxf2 Ne5 27.Rh3 Bc8 28.Rh4±) 20.fxg6

827

20...fxg6 (20...Nf6!? 21.gxf7+ Kxf7 22.Rhg1 Nc5 (22...Ne5 23.Ne6+–) 23.Qg3 Bf8 24.Nf5 Rxe3 25.Qg6+ Kg8 26.Nh6+ Kh8 27.Nf7+=) 21.Qe6+ Kh7 22.Qh3+ Bh4 23.Qxh4+ Kg8 24.Rhg1 Nxb2 25.Rxg6 Nxd1 26.Rxg7+=. 17.cxd3 b4 17...Rac8 18.Rc1 Nc5, is also possible. 18.Nce2 Nc5!

This is an untested position, yet fairly logical from Black’s point of view. Black has created quick 828

counterplay via the open c-file and if White tries something like 18...Rfc8 19.Nxe6 fxe6 (19...Qc2+?! 20.Ka1 Qxe2? 21.Nd4+–) 20.Qxe6+ Kf8 21.Qf5+ Kg8=. 19.Rc1 Qd7∞

The heavy pieces will be exchanged down the c-file which is not in White’s favour. § Variation M1212 - Zeus - 16.Rhf1 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Be3 Qc7 8.Bd3 d6 9.f4 a6 10.Qf3 Be7 11.0-0-0 b5 12.g4 Nb4 13.Kb1 Bb7 14.g5 Nd7 15.Qh3 0-0 16.Rhf1

829

White removes his rook from h1, planning f5. 16...Rfc8 Not 16...Rfe8?! 17.f5 exf5 (17...Bf8 18.fxe6 fxe6 19.Nd4 Nc5 20.g6±) 18.exf5 Nxd3 19.Rxd3

19...Ne5 (19...Nf8? 20.f6 Bd8 21.Nd4 Bc8 22.Qf3 Rb8 23.fxg7 Kxg7 24.Nd5 Qb7 25.Nc6 1–0 Sax,G-Urday Caceres,H Manila 1992) 20.Nd5 Bxd5 21.Rxd5², but interesting is 16...Nxd3!? 17.cxd3 b4 18.Ne2 Nc5 (18...Rfc8!? 19.Ned4 (19.Rc1 Qd8∞) 19...e5∞; 18...Rac8 19.Ned4 Nc5 20.f5

830

20...e5 (20...exf5? 21.Nxc5 dxc5 22.Nxf5±) 21.Nxc5 exd4 22.g6 hxg6 23.fxg6 fxg6 24.Bxd4 Rxf1 25.Rxf1 dxc5 26.Qe6+=) 19.f5 (19.Rc1 Rac8 20.f5 exf5 21.exf5 Qd7∞) 19...exf5 (19...Nxd3?!

20.g6! h6 21.Ng3 Rac8 22.Rxd3 Qc2+ 23.Ka1 Qxd3 24.Bxh6 fxg6 25.Bxg7 Qxf1+ 26.Qxf1 Kxg7 27.Nd4±) 20.exf5 Nxb3 (20...Qd7? 21.Na5! Bd5 (21...b3 22.a3 Rfe8 23.Nxb7 Qxb7 24.f6 Bf8 25.fxg7 Bxg7 26.Nd4 Na4 27.Rd2±) 22.Nf4 Bxa2+ 23.Kxa2 Qa4+ 24.Kb1 b3 (24...Qxa5 25.Nd5 Bd8 26.g6+–) 25.Nc4 Qa2+ 26.Kc1 Bxg5 27.Kd2 Bxf4 28.Rxf4 d5 29.Rg4 dxc4 30.Rxg7+ Kxg7 31.Qh6+ 1–0 Korneev,O-Landenbergue,C Elgoibar 2006) 21.g6 (21.axb3 Qd7!? (21...Bd5 22.f6 Bxb3 23.Nd4 Bxd1 24.fxe7 Rfe8 25.Rxd1 g6∞) 22.Bd4 f6∞) 21...hxg6 (21...h6? 22.Bxh6! (22.axb3 Bf6 23.Nd4 fxg6 24.fxg6 Rae8∞) 22...fxg6

831

23.fxg6! (23.Bxg7 Kxg7 24.Nf4 Bc8 25.Nh5+ Kf7 26.fxg6+ Kxg6 27.Qg2+ Kxh5 28.Rxf8 Bxf8 29.Rg1 Nd2+ 30.Ka1 Nb3+=

31.axb3? Qa5+ 32.Kb1 Qf5µ) 23...gxh6 24.Qe6+ Kh8 25.Rf7+–) 22.fxg6 fxg6 23.Qe6+ Kh7=. 17.Nd4 Technically a novelty. The other try is the usual 17.f5 exf5! (17...Nxd3?!

832

18.fxe6 (18.g6 hxg6 19.fxg6 Bf6 20.cxd3±) 18...Nxb2 19.exf7+ Kh8 20.g6 Nf8 21.Bd4 Nxg6 (21...Nxd1 22.Qh6!+–; 21...Nc4 22.Rf5!+–) 22.Rf5 Nh4 23.Rg1 Nxf5 24.Qxf5+– Vehi Bach,VAnastasian,A Groningen 1993) 18.exf5 (18.Qxf5 Ne5∞) 18...Nxd3 19.cxd3 (19.g6 Nf6!∞)

19...Ne5! (19...b4?! 20.g6! (20.Ne4 Ne5!∞; 20.Na4? Qc2+ 21.Ka1 Bg2!–+) 20...Nf6 21.Ne4! hxg6 22.fxg6 fxg6 23.Qe6+ Kh8 24.Nxf6 Bxf6 25.Bd4±) 20.Rc1 (20.f6 b4!³) 20...Qd7

833

With an excellent position for Black, according to a joint analysis with IM Nikolai Andrianov.

17...Nxd3 Black should avoid 17...e5?

834

18.Ne6! (18.Nf5? Bf8 19.Rg1 (19.Nh6+? gxh6 20.gxh6 Kh8!µ) 19...g6 20.Nh6+ Bxh6 21.gxh6 Nxd3 22.cxd3 b4∞) 18...Qa5 19.a3 Nxd3 20.Rxd3! b4 21.Rd5!±. 18.cxd3 18.Nxe6 fxe6 19.Qxe6+ Kh8 20.Qxe7 Re8 21.Qf7 Rf8, is good for Black. 18...b4 19.Nce2 e5∞

This is the suggestion of FM Ioannis Simeonidis. The position is rather complicated, with chances for both sides so Black should be happy. 835

§ Variation M1213 - Zeus - 16.Rhg1 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Be3 Qc7 8.Bd3 d6 9.f4 a6 10.Qf3 Be7 11.0-0-0 b5 12.g4 Nb4 13.Kb1 Bb7 14.g5 Nd7 15.Qh3 0-0 16.Rhg1

White adopts the same idea as in the previous chapter, but he also thinks of Rg4-h4 and stops ...Bg2 in some variations. A difficult position for both sides but Black must be on the alert more often than White. 16...Nxd3! Accurate. Black has played: a) 16...Rfc8? 17.f5! (17.Rd2? - see the analyzed game Minasian,A-Grivas,E Ankara 1995, in the Middlegame Strategy chapter) 17...exf5 (17...Nxd3

836

18.g6! hxg6 19.fxg6 Bf6 20.cxd3 (20.gxf7+ Kxf7 21.cxd3 Rh8 22.Qg2 b4 23.Rdf1± Sargissyan,SMalakhov,I St Petersburg 2014) 20...b4 21.Na4 (21.gxf7+! Kxf7 22.Nd4±) 21...Qc2+ 22.Ka1 Qc6 23.gxf7+ Kf8 (23...Kxf7 24.Nd4!+–) 24.Bg5 Bxg5 25.Rxg5 1–0 Simmelink,J-Bergqvist,M ICCF 1999) 18.exf5 (18.g6 hxg6 19.exf5±) 18...Nxd3

19.g6! (19.cxd3?! Ne5 20.Nd4 Qd7! (20...Bf8 21.Nce2 Re8 22.Rg3 Rac8 23.Nf4 b4 24.g6 fxg6 25.fxg6 Nxg6 26.Rxg6 hxg6 27.Nxg6 Rxe3 28.Qxe3± Kotronias,V-Grivas,E Athens 1995) 21.Ne4 Bxe4 22.dxe4 g6∞) 19...hxg6 20.fxg6 fxg6 21.Qe6+ Kf8 22.Rxd3 Nf6 23.Rxg6±. b) 16...Rfe8

837

b1) 17.Rg3 Rac8 18.Rc1 Qd8 (18...Nxd3! 19.cxd3 Qd8∞) 19.f5 exf5 20.exf5 Nxd3 21.cxd3 Ne5∞ Kummerow,H-Vehi Bach,V Biel 1997. b2) 17.f5!? exf5 18.exf5 Nxd3 (18...g6?! 19.Be2±) 19.Rxd3! (19.cxd3, transposes to the main line below) 19...Ne5 20.Nd5 Bxd5 21.Rxd5². b3) 17.Nd4 Nxd3 18.cxd3 e5 19.Nf5

19...b4!? (19...exf4 20.Bxf4 Ne5 21.Ne3 (21.Rc1 Qd8 22.Nd5 Bxd5 23.exd5 Bf8∞) 21...Qc8! (21...Ng6? 22.Ncd5 Qd8 23.Qg3 Bf8 24.h4± Vouldis,A-Grivas,E Athens 1995) 22.Qg3 Qe6 23.Ncd5 Bd8 (23...Rac8 24.Nf6+! Bxf6 25.gxf6 Qxf6 26.Nf5±) 24.h4 Rc8∞) 20.Ne2 Rac8 21.Rc1 Qd8 22.Rxc8 Bxc8∞. 838

c) 16...Rac8?

17.f5! (17.Nd4 Nxd3 18.cxd3 Rfe8 19.f5 exf5 20.exf5 Ne5 21.g6 hxg6 22.fxg6 Nxg6 23.Rxg6 fxg6 24.Qe6+ Kh7 25.Qh3+ Kg8 26.Qe6+ Kh7 27.Qh3+ Kg8 28.Qe6+ ½–½ Bagi,M-Bokros,A Hungary 2013) 17...exf5 18.exf5 Nxd3 19.cxd3 (19.Rxd3 Ne5 20.f6 Rfe8! 21.fxe7 b4³) 19...b4 (19...Rfe8 20.g6!±) 20.Ne4 d5 (20...Bxe4 21.dxe4 Rfe8 22.g6±) 21.Rc1 Qd8 22.Nec5 Nxc5 23.Nxc5 Bxc5 24.Bxc5± Wolff,P-Akopian,V Adelaide 1988. 17.cxd3

17...b4! 839

I think that this is probably the best although the a line is not that bad: a) 17...Rfc8 18.Rc1! (18.f5 exf5 19.exf5 Ne5 20.Nd4 (20.g6 hxg6 21.fxg6 Nxg6 22.Rxg6 fxg6 23.Qe6+=; 20.f6 Bf8 (20...b4!?) 21.fxg7 Bxg7 22.Nd4 b4∞) 20...g6∞) 18...Nc5 19.Nxc5 dxc5 20.f5 Qd7 21.f6 Bf8 22.Ka1 b4∞ Frisk,E-Niemi,M Stockholm 2007. b) 17...Rfe8

b1) 18.f5 exf5 19.exf5 Ne5 (19...g6 20.fxg6 hxg6 21.Rdf1 Ne5∞ 22.d4 Qd7 23.Qg3 Nc4 24.Bc1 Bf8 25.Re1 b4 26.Nd1 a5 27.Nd2 Qf5+ 28.Ka1 Qc2 29.Nxc4 Qxc1# 0–1 Sargissyan,S-Lagarde,M Lille 2014) 20.Ne4 Bxe4 21.dxe4². b2) 18.Rc1 Qd8 19.f5 exf5 20.exf5 Ne5∞ Kristjansson,B-Grunberg,H ICCF 1990. b3) 18.Nd4 e5 19.Nf5 exf4 20.Bxf4 Ne5 21.Ne3 Qc8, transposes to the above game Vouldis,AGrivas,E Athens 1995. c) 17...Rac8? 18.f5 (18.Rc1 Nc5 19.Bd4 Qd7 20.Bf6 Rfe8∞ Almasi,Z-Ricardi,P Buenos Aires 1996) 18...exf5 19.exf5±, transposes to the above game Wolff,P-Akopian,V Adelaide 1988. 18.Ne2

840

18...Rfe8! A logical set-up and a suggested novelty. Other moves are: a) 18...Rac8? 19.f5 (19.Rc1 Nc5 20.f5 exf5 21.exf5 Qd7∞) 19...exf5 20.exf5 Qc2+ (20...Rfe8 21.g6! fxg6 22.fxg6 h6 23.Rc1 Qd8 24.Bxh6±) 21.Ka1 Qxe2 22.Nd4 Bg2 23.Qg3 Qh5 24.Qxg2±. b) 18...Rfc8!?, seems playable: 19.Ned4 (19.f5 exf5 20.exf5 Ne5 21.Nbd4 g6∞; 19.Nbd4 e5 20.Nf5 Bf8 21.Rc1 Qd8 22.Rg4 g6³ Boros,D-Chirila,I Princeton 2012) 19...e5 (19...Nc5? 20.Nxc5 dxc5 21.g6! hxg6 22.Nxe6! Qd7 23.f5 Bf6

841

24.Rxg6! Bxe4 25.Rxf6 fxe6 26.fxe6 Qd5 27.Rh6 gxh6 28.Rg1+ Kf8 29.Qxh6+ 1–0 Horvath,ATolnai,T Balatonlelle 2001; 19...Nf8 20.f5 e5 21.f6± Matsuura,E-Supi,L Florianopolis 2015) 20.Nf5 Bf8∞ 21.Nh6+ gxh6 22.gxh6+ Kh8 23.Qg3 Bxh6 24.Rc1 (24.fxe5 Qc2+–+) 24...Qd8 25.fxe5 Qf8 26.e6 Rxc1+ 27.Bxc1 fxe6 28.Bxh6 Qxh6 29.Na5 Bxe4 30.dxe4 Nf6 31.Qxd6 Qe3∞. c) 18...Nc5?

c1) 19.g6? hxg6 20.f5 exf5 21.exf5 Bc8µ. c2) 19.Rc1 c21) 19...Rac8 20.f5! (20.g6?! hxg6 21.f5 exf5 22.exf5 Qd7µ, is what Black is looking for. White could think of 20.Rg4, but this leads only to a draw after 20...Qd8 21.Rh4 h6 22.Rxh6 gxh6 23.Qxh6 Nxb3 24.g6 Rxc1+ 25.Nxc1 fxg6 26.Qxg6+=) 20...exf5 21.exf5 Qd7

842

22.Rc4! (a reflection of 20.Rg4. White has an advantage) 22...Nxb3 23.Rh4 Qb5 24.Rd1! (24.Nf4 Qc4! 25.axb3 Qxb3 26.Rxh7 Qc2+=) 24...Qc6 25.axb3 Qf3 (25...Qc2+? 26.Ka2 Bg2 27.Qxg2 Qxd1 28.Qh3+–) 26.Rxh7 Qxh3 27.Rxh3 Rfe8 28.Rg1 Bd5 29.Rg4 Bd8 30.Rgh4 Kf8 31.Rxb4±. c22) 19...Qd7! 20.Nxc5 dxc5 21.Bxc5 Bxc5 22.Rxc5 Rfd8 23.Rc4

23...a5 (23...b3 24.axb3 Qxd3+ 25.Qxd3 Rxd3 26.Nc3²) 24.Rd4 Qb5 25.Qe3 Ba6 26.Rd1 a4 27.h4 a3 28.b3 g6 29.Rd2 (29.Qd2? e5! 30.fxe5 Rxd4 31.Nxd4 Qxe5 32.Qxb4 Rc8µ) 29...Rab8°. c3) 19.f5! exf5 20.exf5

843

20...Qd7 (20...Nxb3 21.axb3 (21.f6 Nc5³) 21...Bd5 22.Nd4 Rfc8 (22...Rfe8 23.Rg4 g6 24.Rc1 Qd7 25.Rh4 h5 26.fxg6 Qxh3 27.gxf7+ Bxf7 28.Rxh3±) 23.Rdf1 g6 24.Rf4±) 21.Nbd4 (21.Bd4 f6 (21...Rfe8 22.Bxg7 Bc8 23.Rdf1+–) 22.gxf6! (22.g6 h6 23.Na5 Rfe8∞) 22...Bxf6 23.Bxf6 Rxf6 24.Nbd4 Raf8 25.Nf4±) 21...Rfc8 22.Rg4 Bd5 23.b3 Nxb3 24.axb3 Bxb3 25.Nxb3 Qa4 26.Nec1 Rc3

27.Rc4! Rxb3+ 28.Nxb3 Qxb3+ 29.Kc1 d5 30.g6 h6 31.gxf7+ Kh7 32.Rc6 Bf6 33.Kd2 Rf8 34.Qh5 Qb2+ 35.Ke1 Qe5 36.Re6 1–0 Robson,R-Chirila,I Richardson 2012. 19.Nbd4

844

19.f5 exf5 20.exf5 Ne5 21.f6 Bf8∞ and 19.Ned4!? e5 (19...a5?

20.g6 hxg6 21.Nxe6 fxe6 22.Qxe6+ Kf8 23.Rc1 Qd8 24.Rxg6 Bf6 25.Qh3 Rxe4 (25...Qe7 26.Bd4 Bxe4 27.Qh8+ Kf7 28.Rxg7+ Bxg7 29.Qxg7+ Ke6 30.f5+ Kd5 31.dxe4+ Qxe4+ 32.Ka1±) 26.Bd4 Rxd4 27.Nxd4 Bxd4 28.Rxd6 Nf6 29.Rxd8+ Rxd8 30.Qh8+ Ng8 31.Qh5±) 20.Nf5 exf4 (20...a5!?) 21.Rc1 Qd8 22.Bxf4 Ne5 23.Qg3 Kh8 24.Nd2 (24.Bxe5? dxe5 25.Qxe5 Qxd3+µ; 24.Nc5 Bc8 25.h4 Bf8 26.h5

26...Ra7 (26...Bxf5 27.exf5 dxc5 28.Bxe5 Qd7 29.f6 Rad8 30.g6 fxg6 31.hxg6 Qxd3+ 32.Qxd3 Rxd3 33.Rce1+–) 27.Nb3 Rc7 28.Rxc7 Qxc7 29.g6 fxg6 30.hxg6 Nxg6 31.Nxd6 Rd8∞) 24...Bf8 25.Bxe5 (25.d4 Qd7!! 26.dxe5 Bxe4+ 27.Nxe4 Qxf5 28.Rce1 d5∞) 25...dxe5 (25...Rxe5 26.Rgf1 Re6 27.h4±) 26.Nc4 Qb8∞, are interesting alternatives. 845

19...e5 20.Nf5 Rac8

And this unclear position transposes to the analysis above (16...Rfe8). § Variation M122 - Zeus - 12...Nd7 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Be3 Qc7 8.Bd3 d6 9.f4 a6 10.Qf3 Be7 11.0-0-0 b5 12.g4 Nd7

A more solid continuation, where Black retains the option to castle short or long (mostly with ...Bd7 instead of the usual ...Bb7 as the e6-square gets better protection) and proceeds to ‘attack’ the c3846

knight with ...Nb6-a4. On the other hand, I must admit that Black loses time with this maneuver, and it is not clear that this is a better try than the MI1 lines. In the game Tsarouhas,V-Grivas,E Athens 1998, Black had delayed ...Be7 via the move order 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.Be3 Qc7 9.f4 a6 10.Qf3 b5 11.0-0-0 Nd7 12.Kb1 Nb6 and was successful after the optimistic 13.Rhe1 Na4 14.Nd5?!

14...exd5 15.exd5 Ne7 16.c4 bxc4 17.Rc1 c3 18.Bd4 Bb7 19.Bxc3 Nxc3+ 20.Rxc3 Qb6 21.Nd2 Qd4 22.Rc7 Bxd5 23.Qh3 Be6 24.f5 Bc8 25.Qf3 Rb8 26.Nb3 Qb4 27.Re2 Kd8 28.Rc4 Qb7 29.f6 Qxf3 30.fxe7+ Bxe7 31.gxf3 Bd7 32.Nd4 Rb6 33.b3 Bf6 34.Bf5 Bxd4 35.Bxd7 Kxd7 36.Rxd4 Re8 37.Rxe8 Kxe8 38.Kc2 Kd7 39.Kd3 Rb5 40.Rg4 g6 41.Rh4 h5 42.Ra4 a5 43.h4 Ke6 44.Re4+ Kf5 45.Rd4 d5 46.Kc3 g5 47.a4 Rc5+ 48.Kd3 gxh4 49.Rxh4 Kg5 50.b4 Rc1 51.Rd4 axb4 52.Rxd5+ f5 53.Rb5 h4 54.Rxb4 h3 55.Rb2 Kf4 0–1, or 12.g4 Nb6 13.g5 Na4 14.Ne2 Nb4 15.Kb1 Bb7 16.Qh3 Nc5 17.Bd2 Ncxd3 0–1 Wallner,J-Petrov,M Vienna 2011. 13.g5 13.Qf2!?, is interesting: 13...Rb8 (13...Bb7 14.Kb1 b4 15.Na4 0-0 16.g5 Rfc8 17.Nb6 Nxb6 18.Bxb6 Qb8 19.h4 a5∞ Mosquera,M-Escobar Forero,A Cartagena 2007; 13...Nb4 14.Kb1 Bb7 15.Rhg1 Rc8 16.g5 Nxd3 17.cxd3 Nc5 18.Nxc5 dxc5∞ Van der Wiel,J-Grivas,E Wijk aan Zee 2008) 14.g5 Nb6

847

15.Kb1 (15.Bxb5!? axb5 16.Nxb5 Qb7 (16...Qd8 17.Nxd6+ Bxd6 18.Bc5 Nc4 19.Bxd6 Nxd6 20.Qc5 Bb7∞) 17.Bxb6 Qxb6 18.Qxb6 Rxb6 19.Nxd6+ Bxd6 20.Rxd6 Ke7 21.Rhd1 Rd8∞) 15...Na4 (15...Nc4!?) 16.Ne2 Nb4 (16...Na5 17.Nxa5 Qxa5 18.Nd4 Qc7 19.f5 Nc5 20.Rhf1± Nowak,L-Weichhold,P Rewal 2013) 17.f5∞ Aitbayev,A-Chirila,I Vung Tau 2008. 13...Nb6

Or: a) 13...Nb4 14.Kb1 Nxd3 (14...0-0, transposes to the...Nb4 lines) 15.cxd3 a1) 15...Nc5 16.Nd4 (16.Rc1! Bb7∞) 16...b4 17.Nce2 a5 18.Rhg1 Ba6³ Tsarouhas,V-Petrov,M 848

Thessaloniki 2018. a2) 15...Bb7 16.Qh3

16...Nc5 17.g6 fxg6 18.Nxc5 dxc5 19.Qxe6 Qc6 (19...Rd8! 20.Rhg1 Qc6∞) 20.Qb3 Qd7 21.Rhe1 Rd8 22.Ka1 Bc6∞ Almasi,Z-Salgado L.,I Tromsoe 2014. a3) 15...b4 16.Ne2 a5 17.Rc1 Qb7 a31) 18.Qh3 g6 19.Qg3 a4 20.Nd2 Qb5 21.Bf2 Ba6∞ Dussart,F-Knezevic,B Argenteuil 1997. a32) 18.Ng3 a4 (18...g6 19.h4 a4 20.Nd2

20...Qa6 (20...Qb5 21.Nc4 h5 22.gxh6± Almasi,Z-Fedorchuk,S Bol 2014) 21.Nc4 Bb7∞ 849

Borisek,J-Kozul,Z Nova Gorica 2006) 19.Nd2 Qb5 20.Bd4 0-0∞ Almasi,Z-Tissir,M Abu Dhabi 2015. a33) 18.h4 a4 (18...Qa6 19.Bd4 0-0 20.Ng3 Qb5 21.f5 Ba6 22.Rcd1 a4∞ Vovk,A-Kulaots,K Fagernes 2015) 19.Nd2 a3 20.b3 d5 21.Bd4 0-0 22.h5 Qb5∞ Erenburg,S-Chirila,I Saint Louis 2019. b) 13...Bb7

b1) 14.Qh3 b4 (14...Nb4 15.g6 (15.Kb1 0-0, transposes to...Nd7 lines) 15...f5 16.Nd4 Nc5∞ Jorgensen,B-Hansen,S Lyngby 1990) 15.Ne2 b11) 15...0-0-0

850

16.Kb1 (16.Qg3 Nc5 17.Nxc5 dxc5 18.Qf2 Na5 19.Ng3 Nc6 20.Ne2 Na5∞ ½-½ Liang JinrongGonzales,J Greenhills 1989) 16...Kb8 17.Rc1 Nc5 18.Rhd1 h6∞ Meszaros,M-Petenyi,T Banska Stiavnica 2012. b12) 15...g6?! 16.Rhf1 a5 17.f5 a4? 18.fxe6 fxe6 19.Nbd4+– Arenas Vanegas,D-Orozco Lopez,L Bogota 2013. b13) 15...0-0 16.Kb1 Nc5 17.f5 Nxd3 18.cxd3 exf5 19.exf5 Ne5∞ Nowak,L-Cyborowski,L Szczawno Zdroj 2018. b2) 14.Kb1 Nb4, should transpose to variations analyzed in the ...Nd7 lines. It must be mentioned that 14...Nc5

15.h4 (15.Qh3 Nxb3 16.axb3 Nb4 17.Rhg1 Nxd3 18.cxd3 Qd7∞ Dovliatov,S-Yegiazarian,A Batumi 2002) 15...Nb4 (15...0-0-0 16.Rhe1 (16.Qf2 h6 17.e5 Nxd3 18.cxd3 Qd7 (18...dxe5 19.Bb6 Qb8 20.f5!±) 19.Bb6 Rdf8 20.exd6 Bxd6 21.Ne4² Fercec,N-Kuzmin,G Pula 1994) 16...Kb8 17.Qf2² Guliyev,N-Santo Roman,M Sautron 2004; 15...b4 16.Ne2 a5 17.Nxc5 dxc5 18.Qf2² Rakowiecki,T-Figiel,M Jachranka 1987; 15...h6 16.Qf2 Nxd3 17.cxd3 Qd7 18.Rhg1 hxg5 19.hxg5² Guliyev,N-Sadikhov,U Cappelle la Grande 2020)

851

16.Nxc5! (16.Bd4 Nbxd3 (16...Nxb3 17.axb3 e5 18.Be3 Rc8 19.f5 Nxd3 20.cxd3 b4 21.Na4 Qc2+ 22.Ka2∞ Kerek,K-Sztupak,Z Hungary 1997) 17.cxd3 Nxb3 18.axb3 e5 19.Be3 exf4 20.Bxf4 Qd7 21.h5 0-0 22.Rde1 f5∞ Ernst,T-Astrom,R Haninge 1997; 16.f5 Nxb3 17.axb3 exf5 18.Qxf5 0-0∞ Sieiro Gonzalez,L-Bellon Lopez,J Cienfuegos 1997) 16...dxc5 17.Be2 Nc6 18.f5², is pleasant for White. c) 13...0-0? (premature) 14.e5 dxe5

15.f5± (a typical breakthrough; 15.Be4 Ndb8 16.f5 exf5 17.Bxf5 Bxf5 18.Qxf5 Qc8 19.Qe4 Nd7 20.Nd5° Hemstapat,A-Sadoughian Zadeh,F Vancouver 2018) 15...Nd4?! 16.Nxd4 exd4 17.f6+– Beckemeier,W-Daverkausen,B Germany 1990.

852

d) 13...b4 14.Ne2 a5 15.Nbd4 Nxd4 16.Nxd4² Magem Badals,J-Sarmiento Alfonso,B Las Palmas 1989. e) 13...Nc5

14.Nxc5! dxc5 15.e5 (15.Nd5?! exd5 16.exd5 Na5 17.d6 Bb7 18.Be4 (18.Qe2 Bxd6 19.Bxc5+ Kf8µ) 18...Bxd6–+) 15...Bb7 16.Be4² Tiviakov,S-Anastasian,A Frunze 1989. White’s maneuver with Nxc5 and e5 is possible only when the moves Kb1 and ...Bb7 have not been interpolated. 14.Kb1

853

This is the most popular continuation. Alternatives: a) 14.Qf2 Na4 (14...Rb8!?) 15.Ne2 Nb4 16.Kb1 Bd7 a1) 17.f5 Rc8 (17...0-0-0 18.f6 gxf6 19.gxf6 Bf8 20.a3 Nc6 21.Rhg1²; 17...e5 18.Rc1² Hovhannisyan,R-Chirila,I Kemer 2007) 18.Rc1 d5∞. a2) 17.Ng3

17...0-0! (17...a5?! 18.Nh5 0-0 (18...Rg8 19.f5 Nxb2? 20.Kxb2 a4 21.Nc1+– Panic,N-Chirila,I Obrenovac 2008) 19.f5 exf5 20.exf5 f6 21.g6±) 18.f5 f6!∞. b) 14.h4 Na4

854

b1) 15.Bd2 Bd7 16.Rhe1 Nb4 17.Kb1 Nxd3 18.Qxd3 (18.cxd3 Nc5 19.Nxc5 dxc5 20.f5 Qb7 (20...b4? 21.Nd5! exd5 22.exd5+–) 21.f6 gxf6 22.gxf6 Bf8∞) 18...0-0 (18...Rc8 19.f5 Qc4∞ Angelis,M-Grivas,E Ano Liosia 1992) 19.f5 Rfc8∞. b2) 15.Ne2 Bd7 (15...Bb7!? 16.Ned4 Nb4 17.Kb1∞ Bokros,A-Michenka,J Slovakia 2009) 16.Kb1 Nb4 (16...0-0-0 17.Rc1

17...Kb8! (17...Qb7 18.c4 Kb8 19.cxb5 axb5 20.e5 d5 (20...Nb4 21.Qxb7+ Kxb7 22.exd6 Bxd6 23.Be4+ Nd5 24.Bd4± Van der Weide,K-Spraggett,K Seville 2007) 21.Ned4± ½-½ Loder,WTerekhov,A Munich 2009) 18.c4 b4 19.Qf2 Bc8²) 17.Rc1

17...Nc5!? (17...Rc8?! 18.Bd2! Nxd3 19.cxd3 Qb6 20.Rxc8+ Bxc8 21.Rc1 Bd7 22.Ba5±) 18.Ned4 855

Nxb3 19.Nxb3 a5 (19...0-0?! 20.Be2 d5 21.e5±) 20.Nd4 a4 21.a3 Nxd3 22.cxd3 Qb7∞. c) 14.Nd4 Bd7 15.Nxc6 Bxc6 16.f5 b4? (16...exf5!? 17.Qxf5 0-0∞) 17.Ne2? (17.fxe6 fxe6 18.Ne2±) 17...exf5 18.Qxf5 Nd7 19.Rhf1 Ne5 20.Nd4 0-0 21.Kb1 a5 22.h4 a4 23.h5? (23.Nxc6 Qxc6 24.Bd4 g6 25.Qf4 f6!∞) 23...a3? (23...Bd7 24.Qf4 a3µ) 24.b3? (24.Nxc6 Qxc6 25.b3∞) 24...Bd7! 0–1 Antoniou,A-Grivas,E Limassol 1997. 14...Na4

Black has not been very successful with other moves, but as the sample is small, we can’t be sure: a) 14...Rb8 15.h4 Nc4 (15...Bd7 16.h5 b4 17.Ne2 a5 18.g6 fxg6 19.h6 Bf6 20.e5 dxe5 21.hxg7 Bxg7 22.Rxh7 1–0 Soria Delgado,K-Gabriel Vargas,C Holguin 2018) 16.Bc1 0-0 17.h5² Tolnai,TVragoteris,A Katerini 1992. b) 14...b4 15.Ne2 e5 16.f5 a5 17.f6± Urday Caceres,H-Bellon Lopez,J Benasque 1993. c) 14...Bd7 15.h4 b4 16.Ne2 a5 17.Nbd4 Nxd4 18.Bxd4 e5 19.Bxb6 Qxb6 20.Bc4 (20.Rdf1 0-0 Rios Parra,A-Bakre,T Roque Saenz Pena 1997)

856

20...Rc8 21.Bd5 exf4 22.Nxf4± Pogorelskikh,S-Nechaev,O Sochi 2019. 15.Ne2

Of course, White has some other options as well: a) 15.Bd2 Nxc3+ 16.Bxc3 e5 (as now the c3–knight is gone, Black is able to weaken the d5–square) a1) 17.h4 b4 18.Bd2

857

18...a5! (18...exf4?! 19.Qxf4 Be6 20.h5² Cela,A-Grivas,E Ikaria 1997) 19.f5 (19.Be3 a4 20.Nd2 exf4 21.Bxf4 0-0 22.h5 Ne5 23.Qg3 Be6³) 19...a4 20.Nc1 Nd4 21.Qf2 b3 22.cxb3 axb3 23.Nxb3 (23.a3 Ba6∞) 23...Nxb3 24.axb3 Qb7 25.b4 Bd7 26.Rhe1 0-0!°. a2) 17.a3 Rb8 18.h4 b4 19.axb4 Nxb4 20.f5 a5∞. a3) 17.Bd2 exf4 (17...b4 18.f5 a5 19.Be3 a4 20.Nd2 a3 21.f6 gxf6 22.gxf6 Bd8 23.Bb5±) 18.Bxf4 0-0 19.h4 Be6 (½-½ Shirov,A-Grivas,E Rethymnon 2003) 20.h5

20...Rac8!? (20...Ne5?! 21.Qg3 Bxb3 22.axb3 Rac8 23.Rh2±; 20...Nb4?! 21.c3 Nxd3 (21...Nxa2 22.Bc2 b4 23.Kxa2 a5 24.Kb1 a4 25.Nd4 b3 26.Bd3+–) 22.Rxd3²) 21.Qe3

858

21...Ne5 (21...Nb4?! 22.h6 Nxd3 (22...g6 23.Qd4+–) 23.cxd3 g6 24.Rc1±) 22.Nd4 Qc5∞. b) 15.Nxa4! bxa4

16.Nd4 (for 16.Nd2!, see the analyzed game Anagnostopoulos,D-Grivas,E Athens 1995, in the Middlegame S. chapter) 16...Bd7 (16...Nxd4!? 17.Bxd4 e5 18.Be3 a3 19.b3 exf4 20.Bxf4 Be6∞) 17.Nxc6 Bxc6 18.f5 exf5 19.Qxf5 0-0∞ Podlesnik,B-Grivas,E Ikaria 1997. 15...Bd7

859

This is not Black’s only option. He could try: a) 15...Bb7 16.Qh3 (16.c3!? 0-0 17.h4 b4 18.c4 Nc5 19.Bc2 Nxb3 20.axb3 a5∞) 16...Nc5! (16...Qd7 17.Rhf1² Kotronias,V-Akopian,V Debrecen 1992; 16...0-0-0 17.f5 Qd7 18.Rhf1² Caruana,FHaznedaroglu,K Novi Sad 2009) 17.Nxc5 (17.g6 fxg6 18.Rhg1 (18.Nxc5 dxc5 19.Qxe6 Nd8µ) 18...Nb4∞; 17.Ned4

This is what F. Caruana suggests. 17...Nxd3 18.cxd3 Nxd4 19.Bxd4 0-0∞) 17...dxc5 18.Ng3 c4 19.Be2 c3 20.b3 0-0∞. b) 15...e5?!

860

16.f5 Bb7 17.f6 gxf6 18.gxf6 Bf8 19.Rc1 Na5 20.Nxa5 Qxa5 21.c3± Van der Weide,K-Koster,R Groningen 2001. c) 15...Nb4 16.Bd2 Nxd3 17.cxd3 Bb7 18.Rc1 Qd7

19.Na5 0-0 20.Nd4 Rac8 21.Nxb7 Qxb7 22.f5± Bagi,M-Mihok,O Kecskemet 2015. 16.f5

861

Here we have an important crossroad: a) 16.Ned4 a1) 16...0-0-0 17.Nxc6 Bxc6 18.Bd2 d5 19.Ba5 (19.Na5?! Ba8 20.exd5 Bxd5 21.Be4 Nc5 22.Bxd5 Rxd5 ½-½ Vega Gutierrez,B-Natalicchio Escalante,N Gran Canaria 2010)

19...Nb6 (19...Qb7? 20.Bxd8 dxe4 21.Na5 exf3 22.Nxb7 Bxd8 23.Nd6+±) 20.e5 Kb7 21.Qf2 Rc8 22.h4². a2) 16...Rc8 17.Nxc6 Bxc6 18.f5 exf5 19.Qxf5 0-0∞ Dragun,K-Olszewski,M Trzcianka 2013. a3) 16...0-0!? 17.Nxc6 Bxc6 18.Nd4 Nc5∞.

862

b) 16.Qg3

16...0-0-0 (16...Nb4!? 17.Bd2 Nxd3 18.Ba5 Qb7 19.Qxd3 Bc6 20.Ng3 0-0∞) 17.Qe1 Kb8 18.Nbd4 Rc8 19.f5 e5 20.Nb3 Qb7 21.Rc1 Bd8! 22.c4 Bb6∞ 23.Bxb6 Qxb6 24.cxb5 axb5 25.Qd2 Rc7 26.Bc2 Rd8 27.Rhd1 Bc8 28.Ng3 g6 29.Nf1 Ra7! 30.Ne3 Qa6 31.a3 Nxb2! 32.Kxb2 Qxa3+ 33.Kc3 b4+ 0–1 Vouldis,A-Grivas,E Ilioupolis 1995. c) The untested 16.Rc1!?, deserves attention:

16...0-0 17.h4 Rac8 18.c3 Nc5 19.Nxc5 dxc5 20.h5 c4 21.Bc2 b4∞. d) 16.h4 0-0-0 (16...Nb4!? 17.Rc1 (17.Bd2

863

17...Nxd3 18.cxd3², is the proposal and opinion of F. Caruana) 17...Nc5 18.Ned4 0-0∞) 17.Ng3 Kb8 18.Qf2 Rc8 19.c3 Ka8 (19...Rhe8!?) 20.Rhe1 Na5 21.Nxa5 Qxa5 22.Nh5 b4 23.c4 Rb8 24.Ka1 b3 25.Qd2 Qc7 26.a3 g6∞ ½-½ Kotronias,V-Grivas,E Athens 1992. 16...Ne5 16...0-0-0 17.Nf4 Kb8 18.h4 Qb7 19.Qh3 Rhe8∞ Klerides,P-Grivas,E Ermioni 2005. 17.Qh3 Nc5∞

Kotronias,V-Grivas,E Iraklion 1992. 864

Conclusion Important games have been played during the last twenty years. Fierce battles have been contested and the evaluation remains the same: Black is ‘surviving’ (alive and kicking!) but with very concrete and accurate play. There are a lot of transpositions, and some games are noted twice, but there was hardly any other choice to make things more understandable. It is also understandable that both sides are really scared of these long and quite complicated variations, and they prefer more simpler things. Rightly this variation is considered to be the Zeus of the Olympus Mountain.

865

Chapter 2 - Typical Middlegame Strategy Knowing a good piece of your opening’s theory to a sufficient depth is a good start. But this alone is not enough to gain and increase a significant advantage. The knowledge of certain plans, maneuvers, repeated motifs, etc, is an essential piece of opening knowledge, as the journey continues via what we call middlegame theory. Yes, middlegame (and endgame) theory does exist. The great difficulty in approaching it lies in the fact that it does not follow absolute and clear-cut paths, but involves deep research in the ideas and logic by which specific types of positions are treated. Moreover, unlike opening theory, the theory of the middlegame (and the endgame) does not change rapidly based on modern developments and remains almost intact through the years. In middlegame theory we are obliged to study various or similar types of positions with specific strategic and tactical attributes in order to understand the underlying ideas and be able to employ them in similar situations. Besides, while many chess players have studied these topics and acquired knowledge, it is the application of this knowledge in practice that helps differentiate between them. True, chess is not a simple activity, but it becomes so much more attractive when we acquire this knowledge. In view of the above, any chess player who wishes to follow a chess career or simply become a better player must refrain from the commonplace and assume a different approach. He must develop a good understanding of middlegame (and endgame theory), so as to be able to proceed in a proper way after his chosen opening has reached its conclusion. And we must keep in mind that the most important asset is the pawn structure. This is what guides us to understand what to do in the middlegame and even in the endgame! Minasian Artashes : Grivas Efstratios B33 Ankara 1995 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.Be3 Qc7 9.f4 a6 10.Qf3 Be7 11.0-0-0 b5 12.Kb1 Nb4 13.g4 Bb7 14.g5 Nd7 15.Qh3 0-0 16.Rhg1

866

A well-known theoretical position. Here I played a prepared novelty. 16...Rfc8? In 1995, without any computer help, I believed that this was the only good move in this position, and a novelty at the time. Only this move can guarantee the viability of Black’s position. All other tries in this position have led to disaster. Nowadays I know that this is quite a bad move. Black is obliged to play 16...Nxd3! 17.cxd3 b4! 18.Ne2 Rfe8! 19.Nbd4 (19.f5 exf5 20.exf5 Ne5 21.f6 Bf8∞; 19.Ned4 e5 20.Nf5 exf4 21.Rc1 Qd8 22.Bxf4 Ne5 23.Qg3 Kh8∞) 19...e5 20.Nf5 Rac8 21.Rc1 Qd8 22.Rxc8 Bxc8

With a very unclear position where both sides have their chances. But how did I come up with such a 867

weird move as 16...Rfc8? It was based on quite a sophisticated plan which involves both black rooks playing down the c-file producing a powerful attack. Unfortunately, today I know that my general idea was correct, but fails due to certain tactics! It makes me feel sorrow for my bad piece of analysis. 17.Rd2?

White defends against the threat of 17...Nxd3 18.cxd3 b4, while at the same time preparing to double his rooks on the g-file. This, along with the idea Nd1-f2-g4-h6+, will be the main theme of White’s attack. Another possibility is 17.Nd4 e5! 18.Nf5 Bf8!, with unclear consequences. But as my faithful engine alarmed me (many years after by the way...) 17.f5!

868

seems to trouble Black a lot: 17...exf5 (17...Nxd3 18.g6! hxg6 19.fxg6 Bf6 20.cxd3 (20.gxf7+ Kxf7 21.cxd3 Rh8 22.Qg2 b4 23.Rdf1± Sargissyan,S-Malakhov,I St Petersburg 2014) 20...b4 21.Na4 (21.gxf7+! Kxf7 22.Nd4±) 21...Qc2+ 22.Ka1 Qc6 23.gxf7+ Kf8 (23...Kxf7 24.Nd4!+–) 24.Bg5 Bxg5 25.Rxg5 1–0 Simmelink,J-Bergqvist,M ICCF 1999) 18.exf5 (18.g6 hxg6 19.exf5±) 18...Nxd3

19.g6! (again, White has no time to recapture the knight: 19.cxd3? Ne5 20.Nd4 Qd7! (20...Bf8 21.Nce2 Re8 22.Rg3 Rac8 23.Nf4 b4 24.g6 fxg6 25.fxg6 Nxg6 26.Rxg6 hxg6 27.Nxg6 Rxe3 28.Qxe3± Kotronias,V-Grivas,E Athens 1995) 21.Ne4 Bxe4 22.dxe4 g6∞) 19...fxg6 (19...hxg6 20.fxg6 fxg6 21.Qe6+ Kf8

22.Qxg6! (22.Rxd3 Nf6 23.Rxg6±) 22...Bf6 23.Bh6!+–) 20.fxg6 Nf6 21.Rxd3 hxg6 22.Rxg6+–.

869

17...Nxd3 Back to business again! 18.cxd3 b4! 19.Nd1 Maybe White could choose 19.Ne2, although Black looks quite nice after 19...Nc5 20.Nbd4 (20.Rc1 a5³) 20...b3³. 19...a5!

The point behind Black’s 16th move. If the attack is going to succeed then all of Black’s pieces must participate. It now becomes clear why Black chose the f-rook: the a8-rook participates both in attack and in defense (it will soon appear on a5), creating dangerous threats, while the advance of the apawn will weaken White’s king. 20.Nf2 Forced, due to the threat 20...a4 and 21...Qc1#. 20...a4?! 20...e5!, is probably best: 21.f5 a4 22.Na1 b3!, with a black initiative. But I had my own idea, and I was stuck with it... 21.Nd4 Ra5!

870

The main part of the plan. Unsatisfactory is 21...e5?! 22.Nf5 Bf8 23.Ng4 and White has more dangerous threats, or 21...a3 22.b3 e5?! 23.Nf5 Bf8 24.fxe5 Nxe5 (24...dxe5 25.Nh6+! gxh6 26.gxh6+ Kh8 27.Qg3 Nf6 28.d4! Ra5 29.dxe5 Rxe5 30.Bd4 Rce8 31.Ka1±) 25.d4 Ng6 26.d5 Ba6 27.Bd4 Kh8 28.Qg3². The black rook on a5 is moved to c5 and becomes the main attacker (through the c-file) and the main defender (through the fifth rank) of Black’s position. And the Oscar goes to this rook! 22.Ng4? It seems that White was stuck with his own plan as well! Two optimists were just ignoring the facts! Again 22.f5!, was best: 22...exf5 (22...Rc5? 23.Re2 a3 24.fxe6 Bxg5 25.exf7+ Kh8 26.Nb3 (26.Ne6?? Rc1+ 27.Rxc1 Qxc1+ 28.Bxc1 Rxc1#) 26...Rc2 27.f8=Q+ Nxf8 28.Qxc8 Rxb2+ 29.Rxb2 Qxc8 30.Rc2 Bxe3 31.Rxc8 Bxc8 32.Rg3 Bf4 33.Rf3 g5 34.h4±) 23.Nxf5 (23.exf5 Ne5 24.f6 Rc5 25.Re2 Bf8∞) 23...Nc5 24.Rc1 Qd8 25.d4 Nd7 26.Rxc8 Bxc8 27.Qg3 b3!∞. 22...Rc5 23.Rdg2 Defending c1 and enforcing the g-file, preparing the sac Nh6+. 23...Ba6! All of Black’s pieces are active and create multiple threats, denying White a respite to further his own aims. 24.Bd2 a3!

871

White’s position becomes critical. He now decides to complicate matters, hoping for salvation in an attack against the black king. After all, this is what he had prepared with his last moves... 25.Nh6+?! Naturally, 25.bxa3? bxa3, leaves the king very exposed, while 25.b3? Rc3!!

is also very troublesome: 26.Bxc3 Qxc3 27.Rd1 Qxd4–+. The position is extremely difficult to assess, and this where we do not relay on evaluation, but on tactical sequences. The last alternative was 25.f5, which leads to extreme complications, visible only by a chess engine: 25...Ne5 26.Nxe5 (26.fxe6? Bxd3+–+) 26...dxe5 27.g6 fxg6 28.fxg6 h6 29.Bxh6! (29.Qxe6+? Kh8 872

30.Qxa6 exd4 31.Bxh6 Bd6!! 32.Bd2 Bf4µ) 29...Bxd3+

30.Nc2!! (30.Qxd3? exd4–+) 30...Bh4!! (30...Rxc2? 31.Qxe6+ Kh8 32.Bxg7+ Kxg7 33.Qf7+ Kh6 34.Qh7#; 30...Bxc2+? 31.Rxc2 Rxc2 32.Qxe6+ Kh8 33.Bxg7+ Kxg7 34.Qf7+ Kh6 35.Qh7#) 31.Qxd3 gxh6 and Black’s chances seem to be better... You may rest assured that both opponents did not see any of this during the game... 25...gxh6

26.g6

873

After 26.gxh6+ Kh8 27.Qg3 Bg5!! (once again the star rook comes in handy!) 28.fxg5 Rc2 (28...Ne5–+) 29.bxa3 bxa3, White is dead lost. 26...fxg6! 27.Rxg6+

If 27.Nxe6, then 27...Qc6–+. Also, 27.Qxe6+ Kh8 28.Qxe7 Bxd3+ 29.Ka1 Rc1+!, is decisive as well. 27...Kh8! 27...hxg6? 28.Rxg6+ Kf7 29.Qxe6+ Ke8 30.Rg8+ Nf8 31.Rxf8+ Kxf8 32.Qxh6+ Ke8 33.Qg6+, would make White happy, as he could escape with a draw. 28.Nxe6?! 28.Qxh6?? Bxd3+ 29.Ka1 Rc1+!, leads to mate, but White might have tried 28.Rxh6 Nf6! 29.Nxe6, where Black had to find the extremely elegant (and only move) 29...Rg5! (the star rook again!) 30.Nxc7 (30.Rc1 Qxc1+! 31.Bxc1 Rg1!–+) 30...Rxg1+ 31.Kc2 Rxc7+ 32.Kb3 Rd1–+.

874

28...Rh5!! A brilliant tactical shot by the star rook, clearing the way for the queen to reach c2. White is lost in all variations. 29.Rg8+ The last - but inadequate - try. Otherwise: 29.Qxh5 Qc2+ 30.Ka1 Qxb2#, or 29.Nxc7 Rxh3 30.Re6 Bxd3+ 31.Ka1 Bf6–+. 29...Rxg8 30.Rxg8+ Kxg8 31.Qg3+ Rg5! Another easy but nice tactical shot, once again by the star rook! 32.fxg5 Qb6 And Black emerged from the complications a piece-up. 33.g6 White prolongs the game only because of the mutual time-trouble, but the result never comes into doubt. 33.gxh6+ Kf7, was also winning for Black. 33...Bf6! 34.gxh7+ Kxh7 35.Qh3 Kg8 36.Qg4+ Kf7 37.Nf4 Nf8 38.Qh5+ Kg8 39.Qd5+ Kh8 40.Qf7 Bg7 41.Qe8 Qg1+ 42.Kc2 axb2 43.Be1 b1=Q+

875

Here White’s flag felled (no extra 30 seconds per move in this era), we restored the last moves that were not recorded by either player and White simply resigned as 40 moves had been completed. 0–1 Cela Altin : Grivas Efstratios B33 Kalavrita 1997 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Be3 Qc7 8.f4 Bb4 9.Bd3 Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 d6 11.0-0 e5 12.f5 h6 13.Qf3 b6 14.Qg3 Kf8 15.Bc1 Nb8

876

Black seems to be doing more than fine; he has lost his castling rights, but the white pawn structure is rather weak and under heavy and constant pressure. 16.Ba3 Black won in Rogers,I-Avshalumov,A Belgrade 1989, after 16.a4 Nbd7 17.a5 Bb7 18.axb6 axb6 19.Rxa8+ Bxa8µ. 16...Nbd7 17.Rae1 Nc5 18.Qh4 Bb7 19.c4 Qe7! Black has developed harmoniously and as noted beforehand, is ready to apply pressure on White’s weak pawn structure. Of course, he still has some problems with the placement of his king but, as White cannot approach him, there is no immediate danger.

20.Nd2 Rc8 21.g4 Nfd7! Stopping the rather dangerous 22.g5 advance. 22.Qg3 Ke8! An excellent idea! The black king finds a safe haven on the queenside, while White is lacking a dangerous plan. The balance is clearly shifting in Black’s favour. 23.Nb1 Na4 Black even prevents White’s simple plan of Nc3-d5, although it wouldn’t offer anything special. 24.Bc1 Kd8 25.g5?! 877

Further weakening the pawn structure. White’s only plan was the advance of his kingside pawns, starting by 25.h4. 25...hxg5 26.Bxg5 f6 27.Bd2 Kc7 28.Rf2

28...Rcg8! Black has completed the safeguarding of his king and now prepares his plan of counterattack against the white monarch. White is unable to react as his pieces lack harmony and no plan is available to him. 29.Kh1 g6! 30.fxg6 Nf8 31.Qf3 Rxg6 32.Nc3 Nxc3 33.Bxc3 Ne6 34.Bd2 Qg7 34...Nd4! 35.Qe3 f5 36.Bc1 f4 37.Qd2 Qh4–+, looks already like curtains. 35.Rg2 Forced, otherwise the threatened 35...Rg8, would be decisive.

878

35...f5! 36.Reg1 Rxg2 Again 36...fxe4! 37.Rxg6 Qh7!, would have finished the game shortly... 37.Rxg2 Qh7 Black’s position is won. His positional strength and tactical superiority are crushing. In other words, even if Black fails to mate then he will win the ending! During the game I was wondering why my opponent was continuing the battle. 38.Qe3 Nf4! 39.Rf2 fxe4? 39...Nxd3! 40.cxd3 fxe4, would end the game immediately: 41.dxe4 Bxe4+ 42.Kg1 Rg8+ 43.Kf1 Bd3+ 44.Ke1 (44.Re2 Qxh2–+) 44...Rg1+ 45.Rf1 Rxf1#. 40.Bf1 Qg6 41.Be1! White regroups his remaining pieces, simply aiming to trouble Black as much as possible while hoping for mistakes. 41...Rg8 42.Rd2 Rf8 43.Bg3 Nh5 44.Bg2 Nxg3+ 45.hxg3 Rh8+ 46.Kg1 Qh7 47.Rf2 Qg6

879

48.a4! While Black is wandering around aimlessly in his won position, White uses all his forces to attack the black king which is White’s only approachable target. 48...Rg8 48...a5 49.c3, aiming for Rb2, when White gets some counterplay. 49.a5! Bc6 50.Kh2 Kb7 51.axb6 axb6 52.c3! Kc7 53.Rb2 Rb8

880

The first good sign for White, having forced Black to turn to defensive duties. 54.Re2 Qe6 55.Qg5 Rg8 56.Qh4 Qxc4? Instead, 56...Qd7! 57.Kg1 Qg7–+

was good enough but Black was getting dizzy. 57.Qh7+ Bd7 58.Rxe4 Qa2 59.c4? 59.Rh4!, was simply unclear! 59...Rf8 60.Rh4! Suddenly White’s threats have grown (61.Qe4 and 62.Rh7!). 60...Qe2

881

61.c5! A good move, simply from a practical point of view, based on the mutual heavy time trouble (no increment - no extra time). Although best was 61.Re4 Qc2 62.Rh4 Rf2 63.Qxc2 Rxc2µ. 61...Rf2?! 61...bxc5! 62.Ra4,

looks like extremely risky for Black but still wins after 62...Rf2! 63.Ra7+ Kb6 64.Rb7+ Ka6 65.Ra7+ 882

(65.Kh1 Qd1+ 66.Kh2 Qf3–+) 65...Kxa7 66.Qxd7+ Kb6 67.Qxd6+ Kb5 68.Qc6+ Kb4 69.Qb6+ Qb5–+. 62.cxb6+ Black wins as well after 62.cxd6+ Kxd6 63.Rh6+ Kc5 64.Qe7+ Kc4 65.Rh4+ Kb3 66.Qb4+ Ka2–+. 62...Kxb6 63.Qb1+ Bb5 64.Qg1

64...Qb2? Black lost his calm and missed the simple 64...Qf1!, after which he would win without much effort. In any case, White has done his best, constantly creating problems and threats. Black has consumed a lot of time and was already facing serious time trouble. The next few moves were played in a flash. White, having the psychological advantage since he practically had gone to hell and back, did not encounter any difficulties in gaining victory! A triumph of persistent defense and faith in the position’s hidden possibilities for White. At the same time, a deserved punishment for the arrogance and ‘certainty’ that Black completely unjustifiably displayed. Alternative win could be found in 64...Bc6 65.Qb1+ Ka6 66.Qa1+ Qa2–+. 65.Kh1 Ka5? 65...Qc2, was still winning. 66.Qe1+ Qd2? 66...Rd2 67.g4 Ka6µ. 883

67.Qa1+ Kb6

68.Rh7? 68.Rh8!, was good for the draw. 68...Kc5? 68...Rf1+! 69.Bxf1 Bc6+ 70.Kg1 Qe3+ 71.Kh2 Qf2+ 72.Kh3 Qf5+ 73.g4 Qxh7+µ. 69.Qa3+ Kd4 70.Qxd6+ Kc3 71.Qxe5+? 71.Rc7+ Kb3 72.Bd5++–. 71...Kb4? 71...Qd4! 72.Qxb5 Qd1+ 73.Kh2 Rxg2+ 74.Kxg2 Qc2+ 75.Kf3 Qxh7=. 72.Rh4+? 72.Qe4+ Bc4 73.Qb1+ Kc3 74.Qa1+ Qb2 75.Qa5+ Kc2 76.Qe1+–.

884

72...Ka5? 72...Bc4 73.Re4±. 73.Qc7+ Ka6 74.Bb7+ Ka7 75.Bc6+ Ka6 76.Qb7+

And Black’s flag felled a move before he got mated. What a sad story. 1–0 Kofidis Andreas : Grivas Efstratios 885

B33 Athens 2000 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.0-0 a6 9.Be3 Qc7 10.f4 Be7 11.Qf3 0-0 12.g4 b5 13.g5 Nd7 14.Qh5 Bb7 15.Rf3 g6 16.Qh6

The critical position where Black’s main defense/counter-attack relies on the extraordinary sacrifice involving ...Ne5, with which he wants to take advantage of the h1-a8 diagonal by lining up his queen and bishop by ...Qc6/d5 and ...Bb7. 16...f5! 17.exf5 exf5 18.Nd5 If 18.Nd4? Nxd4 19.Bxd4,

886

then 19...Ne5!, is strong. 18...Qd8

19.Nd4 One of the many white options here. 19...Nxd4 19...Nc5?, is simply bad: 20.Nxf5 (20.Rh3 Rf7 21.Nxc6 Bxc6 22.Bd4+–) 20...Rxf5 21.Bxf5 Bf8 887

22.Qh4+–. 20.Bxd4

20...Rf7 Possible is 20...Ne5 21.Rh3 Rf7!, when White should not be greedy: 22.fxe5? dxe5 23.Nxe7+ Rxe7 24.Bc3 (24.Be3 Qd5 25.Kf2 e4 26.Bf1 f4–+) 24...Qd5 25.Rg3 Qh1+ 26.Kf2 Qxa1 27.Rg1 Qxa2 28.h4 Qd5 29.h5 b4 30.hxg6 bxc3 31.gxh7+ Rxh7 32.Qg6+ Rg7 33.Qb6 Qd4+ 0–1 Khachiyan,MGrivas,E Inter. 2008. 21.Nxe7+ Rxe7 22.Re3! Ne5!

888

Black’s main idea. Bad was 22...Qf8?! 23.Qxf8+ Kxf8 24.Rxe7 Kxe7 25.a4², as only White has winning chances. I have to confess that this was home preparation. 23.Qh3 Maybe White should opt for 23.Be2!? Qd7! 24.fxe5 dxe5 25.Bc3 Qc6 26.Rf3 b4! 27.Be1 Qe4 28.Kf1 Qxc2°, where Black’s compensation (look at the great central pawn phalanx and the monster on b7) is great but nothing is clear-cut. 23.fxe5? dxe5, ...Qd5 or ...Qb6, will confirm. 23...Ng4

889

And suddenly the poorly placed d7-knight has been improved to the fantastic g4-square, assisting the black attack. But it can be easily lost as well after an eventual h3. 24.Rxe7 24.Re2!?, was another choice but it simply transposes after 24...Qe8 25.Rxe7! (25.Rae1 Qc6 26.Kf1 Qh1+ 27.Bg1 Rxe2 28.Rxe2 Bf3 29.Re6 Kf7 30.Re1 Kf8! 31.Qg3 Re8 32.Rxe8+ Kxe8³) 25...Qxe7 26.c3 Re8 27.Bf1 Qe4 28.Bg2 Qxg2+ 29.Qxg2 Bxg2 30.Kxg2 Ne3+ (30...Re2+ 31.Kg3 Rxh2 32.b4 Rd2 33.Kf3°) 31.Bxe3 Rxe3 32.Kf2 Re4 33.Kf3 Kf7 34.Rd1 Ke6 35.a3 d5=. 24...Qxe7 25.Qf1? White was probably under clock pressure due to my 22nd move and failed to find the best continuation with 25.c3 - see the notes above. 25...Qe6 25...Re8 26.h3 Qe6!, was maybe even better! The b7-bishop is worth its weight in gold and the potential battery with the black queen on the long diagonal is lethal. 26.c4! The only move to stop the coming ...Qd5. White fights well, but unfortunately his position is beyond repair; Black’s threats are simply too strong. 26...Re8 27.Rc1

890

27...Kf8! A cool move! Now Black threatens to capture on c4 and place his queen on d5 or e4, winning. 28.b3 28.Qh3, loses to 28...Qe7! 29.cxb5 axb5 30.Rd1 Ba8! (threatening...Qb7) 31.Bf1 Rc8 (31...Qe4 32.Bg2 Qe2 33.Rf1 Qd2 34.Bb6 (34.Bc3 Qxg2+ 35.Qxg2 Bxg2 36.Kxg2 Ne3+–+) 34...Qxb2–+) 32.Bg2 Qe2 33.Rf1 Qd2–+. 28...bxc4 29.bxc4

29...Qd7! While d5 and e4 are covered, c6 isn’t! 30.Rb1 After 30.h4, Black can further improve his knight: 30...Ne3! (30...Qc6 31.Qh3µ) 31.Qh3 Ng2!–+. What a great future for the previously passive d7–knight! 30...Qc6 31.Rxb7 White avoided mate but he lost material... 31...Qxb7 32.h3 Qb4! And White resigned due to the coming 33...Re1. 891

0–1 Kuzmin Gennadi : Grivas Efstratios B33 Cappelle-la-Grande 1995 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.0-0 a6 9.Kh1 Be7 10.f4 Qc7

11.Qe1 White’s choice is no problem for Black. Usually here we see 11.Qf3, 11.Bd2, 11.Be3, or 11.a4. The famous Ukrainian GM prefers a more solid and out-of-main-theory battle. 11...b5 12.a4 Technically a novelty. Another try is 12.Qg3 b4 13.Ne2 0-0 14.Nbd4 Nxd4 15.Nxd4∞ Kosmac,BGombac,J Rogaska Slatina 1998, or 12.Ne2 Bb7 13.Ned4 Nd7 14.Nxc6 Bxc6 15.Nd4 Bb7∞ Cerny,D-Stastny,J Czech Republic 2018. 12...b4 13.Nd1 0-0 Black can usually delay the development of his light-squared bishop, to see where it is better placed. 14.a5

892

14...e5! A typical Sicilian central advance. 15.Ne3 White could think of 15.f5 d5 16.exd5 Nxd5 (16...Nd4!? 17.Nxd4 exd4 18.Qh4 Bb7∞) 17.Ne3 Nf6 18.Nc4 Bb7∞. 15...exf4 16.Nc4 Be6 17.Bxf4 Nd7?! A rather passive move. Natural and good was 17...Ne5 18.Nxe5 dxe5 19.Be3 Nd7∞. 18.Qg3 Nce5 19.Nxe5 Nxe5 20.Bxe5?! White returns the favour. He should play 20.Nd4! Bd7 21.Bh6 Ng6 22.Bd2². 20...dxe5 21.Nd4 Bc8!

893

22.b3?! White should have tried 22.Nf5, when after 22...Bxf5 23.Rxf5 f6 24.b3 g6, an equal position will be on the board. 22...Bc5!

Now Black will preserve his bishop pair, while White’s attack is weak. 23.Nf3

894

23.Nf5 f6 24.Bc4+ Kh8 25.Rad1 g6 26.Nh4, transposes. 23...f6 24.Bc4+ Kh8 25.Rad1 White cannot stay put protecting his a5–pawn for ever, so he sacrifices it for a potentional attack. 25...g6 26.Nh4

26...Ra7! The black rook is ready to first come to the defense and then help the counter-attack. The c8-bishop can still wait - there is no better square for the time being than its original! 27.Rd3?! Quite optimistic. White should have opted for 27.Nf3 Bb7 28.Bd5 Bc6³. 27...Qxa5

895

Material up and the bishop pair. What more could you ask? 28.Qe1 Rg7 29.Qd2 Qc7 30.Rd1 Be7 Protecting all entrance squares on the d-file - where is White going? 31.Qh6

31...f5! The counter-attack begins. 896

32.exf5 gxf5 33.Rd6?! White has nothing to lose, so he plays his hand, but objectively better was 33.Rg3 Bxh4 34.Qxh4 a5µ. 33...Bxh4?! I was in time trouble, and I decided to play it safe. My engine confirms that I should have played 33...Bxd6! 34.Rxd6 Rd8!

with a winning position. 34.Qxh4 Bb7 35.R6d2 Qe7? Again, a safe decision in time trouble. Better was 35...f4 36.h3 f3 and White is collapsing. 36.Qxe7 Rxe7

897

37.Rd7! Now White has some compensation due to his active pieces. 37...Rxd7 38.Rxd7 Be4! 39.h4 Or 39.Kg1 Rc8 40.Kf2 Bxc2 41.Rd5 e4µ. 39...Rf6 40.Rd8+ It was a bit better to keep the black king on his first rank, but Black will win after 40.Kh2 Rg6 41.g3 Bxc2 42.Rd5 f4 43.gxf4 exf4 44.h5 Rf6. 40...Kg7 41.Rg8+ Kh6

898

42.Bd3!? A clever try as rook endings are always difficult to handle with accuracy. 42...Bxd3 43.cxd3 Rd6 44.Re8 Rxd3 45.Rxe5 Rxb3 46.Rxf5 Ra3 Time trouble was over, and my two queenside connected pawns will carry the day. But still White has some counterplay to hope for salvation! 47.g4! Ra2?! Played on a general idea - to cut-off the white king. But the accurate 47...Kg7! 48.Rd5 b3 49.Rd7+ Kf6 50.Rb7 a5 51.Kg2 a4, was curtains. 48.Rf6+ Kg7 49.Rb6 a5 50.g5 Rc2! The white pawns should be attacked - they can simply be too dangerous! 51.h5 Rc5! 52.h6+ Kf7

899

And I thought that he would resign here, but the fighting spirit continuous till the bitter end. 53.g6+! hxg6 54.Kg2 Rh5 55.Rb7+ Kf6?! Making my life difficult. Simple was 55...Kg8! 56.Rg7+ Kh8 57.Rxg6 Rb5 and it’s over ... 56.h7 b3

57.Ra7?! White had to go for 57.Rxb3 Rxh7 58.Rb6+ Kg7 59.Ra6 Rh5 and test Black’s knowledge. According 900

to the tablebases, Black wins in approximately 40 moves from here. 57...b2! 58.Rxa5!? b1=Q 59.Rxh5

Luckily Black has a forced win here. 59...Qe4+ 60.Kf2 Qf4+ And White resigned due to 61.Ke1 Qe3+ 62.Kf1 Qf3+ 63.Ke1 Qxh5–+. 0–1 Nunn John : Grivas Efstratios B33 Athens 1991 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 Be7 8.Be3 Qc7 9.f4 d6 10.00 a6 11.Qf3 0-0 12.Rae1 b5 13.g4 Bb7 14.g5 Nd7 15.Qh5

901

A well-known position where Black has to go with 15...g6. 15...Nb4? 16.Rf3 Nxd3 A novelty during those computer free years. 16...g6? 17.Qh6 f5 18.exf5 exf5 19.Rh3 Rf7 20.Bd4! Nf8 (20...Ne5 21.fxe5 dxe5 22.Bxf5!±) 21.Bxf5!± Chandler,M-Gufeld,E Dortmund 1983. 17.cxd3? White clearly has the upper hand after the natural 17.Rh3! h6 18.cxd3 Rfe8 19.Rg3!± and not by Nunn’s suggestion of 19.Nd5? exd5 20.Bd4 Bxg5! (20...Ne5 21.gxh6 g6 22.h7+!²) 21.Bxg7 (21.fxg5 Ne5!∞) 21...Kxg7 22.fxg5 Re6 (22...Rh8? 23.gxh6+ Kf8 24.Rf1 Ne5 25.d4±) 23.gxh6+ Kh8 24.Qxf7 Rg6+!∞. 17...Rfe8 18.Ref1?! More correct is 18.Bd4! Rac8, with a slight edge for White but not 18...g6? 19.Qxh7+!+–, or 18...Nf8? 19.f5! exf5 20.Rxf5 g6 21.Qh6 Ne6 22.Rxf7!+–. 18...g6 19.Qh6

902

19...Bf8! Black can try 19...f5!? 20.Rh3 (20.exf5? Bf8 21.Qh4 exf5µ) 20...Nf8, but White gets a more pleasant position after 21.Rc1!². 20.Qh4 Bg7 21.Rh3 h5? 21...Nf8, is somewhat passive but necessary: 22.Bd4 (22.Nd1 Rac8 23.Nf2 Qc2³) 22...Bxd4+ 23.Nxd4 Rac8∞. 22.gxh6 Bf6 23.h7+? The white pawn on h7 is the black king’s best cover! White should play 23.Bd4! Bxd4+ (23...e5? 24.fxe5! Bxh4 25.h7+!+–) 24.Nxd4 Qb6 25.Nce2±. 23...Kh8 24.Bd4 Bxd4+ 25.Nxd4 Qb6 26.Nce2

903

26...Rac8 26...e5?, is alluring but mistaken: 27.fxe5 dxe5 28.Rxf7!+–. 27.Qh6 Nf6! The correct defense, as the active 27...Rc2? 28.Kh1 Rxb2 29.Nxe6! fxe6 (29...Rxe6 30.Qg7+!+–) 30.Qxg6 Qd8 31.Rg1, intending 32.Qg8+, loses for Black. Likewise, 27...d5? 28.e5 Rc2 29.Kh1 Rxb2 30.f5! exf5 31.e6! Rxe2 32.exf7 Rf8 (32...Qxd4 33.Qxg6!+–) 33.Nxe2 Rxf7 34.Nf4+–, gives White an obvious advantage. 28.Qg5 Nd7

904

Compulsory. 28...Nh5? 29.Rxh5! gxh5 30.Qf6+ Kxh7 31.Qxf7+ Kh6 32.Kh1!, leaves Black in a desperate state. 29.Kh1?! White might have accepted a draw by repetition (29.Qh6 Nf6). His desire for victory entails serious dangers. 29...Qd8! 30.Qh6 Qf6 The black queen has been seriously improved. 31.Kg1 Qg7 32.Qh4 e5! 33.Nf3

905

A very complicated position, typical of the ‘Grivas Sicilian Defense’, with no real time left for both sides. White’s attack has evaporated - his h7-pawn is Black’s best defender! 33...d5?! It is time to make a point, by taking the initiative and entering White’s camp with a rook: 33...Rc2!

34.Ng3 f6!³, when Black has everything under control and his 2nd rank rook will win material. 34.d4! An impressive idea, aiming to keep the position closed and the b7-bishop inactive. White replies to 906

Black’s central strike with one of his own, which in this case proves to be the stronger one. 34...Rc2? An extremely difficult position to handle in severe time trouble and Black loses his bearings after the shock he has suffered. Correct was 34...dxe4! (34...exf4 35.e5!±; 34...exd4 35.e5 d3 (35...f6 36.Nexd4 fxe5 37.fxe5 Nxe5 38.Ng5+–) 36.Ned4±)

35.Nxe5 Nxe5 36.fxe5 Rc2°. 35.fxe5! Proceeding spectacularly and at the same time forcibly, as any move by the e2-knight would give Black the advantage. 35...Rxe2 There seems to be nothing better. 36.Ng5!

907

White invested a piece in his attack, which is rather strong, and Black can hardly do anything to extinguish it. 36...f6 Black should have tried 36...Re7, where White will eventually win, but time pressure would have increased the probability of error: 37.Rhf3 Rxe4 38.Nxe4 dxe4 39.Qxe7 exf3 40.Qxd7 Qh6 41.Qe8+ Kxh7 42.Qxf7+ Kh8 43.Qe8+ Kh7 44.Qe7+ Kg8 45.Qd8+ Kf7 (45...Kg7 46.Qc7+ Kh8 47.Qb8+) 46.e6+!+–. 37.exf6 Nxf6 38.e5! Game over! 38...Nh5 39.Rf7 Qh6 40.Rxb7 Rf8

908

41.Nf7+! The last, accurate blow and not 41.Rb8? Qxg5+! 42.Qxg5 Re1+, with a draw! 1–0 Kalesis Nikolaos : Grivas Efstratios B33 Iraklion 1992 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Qe2 Bb4 8.Bd2 0-0 9.a3 Be7 10.g4 d5 11.g5 Nxe4 12.Nxe4 dxe4 13.Qxe4 e5 14.Bd3 g6 15.Be3 Qc7 16.Qg2 Be6

909

Black is doing fine, as White’s early aggressiveness did not produce anything. 17.h4 A logical follow up as 17.Nd2 Nd4 18.Bxd4 exd4 19.0-0-0 Qa5µ, is not promising. 17...Rfd8 18.Nd2 A better try seems to be 18.Be4 Rac8 19.h5 Nd4 20.Nxd4 exd4 21.Bd2 Bd6³. 18...Nd4!

910

19.Bxd4 19.c3? Nb3! 20.Nxb3 Rxd3, is a lost case. 19...Rxd4 20.f3 The g4-square needs protection: 20.h5?! Rg4 21.Qf3 Bxg5–+. 20...Rad8 21.h5

21...Rxd3 An interesting and practical exchange sacrifice whereby Black gets the bishop pair and the initiative in return. Good is 21...Bf5 22.hxg6 fxg6 23.Bxf5 Rxd2 24.Qh3 h5!µ, but it seems that even better is 21...gxh5! 22.Rxh5 Rxd3 23.cxd3 Rxd3 24.Qe2 (24.Ne4?! Qc4!–+) 24...Qd7 25.Nf1 Qd4 26.Qe4 Qxe4+ 27.fxe4 Bg4µ. 22.cxd3 Rxd3 23.hxg6 fxg6 Forced, as 23...hxg6?, loses to 24.Qh2. 24.0-0 Maybe White should have opted for 24.Qe2, but after 24...Qd8! (24...Qd7? 25.Ne4 Qd4 26.Rd1∞) 25.Ne4 Rb3!µ, Black is clearly on the top.

911

24...Qd7! 24...Qb6+?, is attractive, but White can fight after 25.Kh1 Qxb2 26.Ne4 Qxg2+ (26...Qd4 27.Rac1 Bd8³) 27.Kxg2 Bxa3µ 28.Nf6+°. 25.Rf2 Black is a healthy pawn up after 25.Ne4 Bh3 26.Qh2 Bxf1 27.Rxf1 Qd4+µ.

25...Bc5?! 912

Natural, but it looks like 25...Bd5!, is even better: 26.Rc1 Bd8µ. 26.Ne4 Bxf2+ 27.Qxf2 Qd4

Black is obliged to exchange queens: 27...Qd8 28.Qc5! Qd4+. 28.Nc5? White’s strong e4-knight can offer him fair chances for salvation in the endgame, but he should be accurate: 28.Qxd4 Rxd4 29.Kf2 (29.Rc1 Rc4³) 29...Bf5 30.Ke3 Bxe4 31.fxe4 Rd7³. 28...Rd1+! 29.Rxd1 Qxd1+ 30.Kg2 Bd5 Now Black dominates. 31.Qe3 Qd4!

913

32.Kf2? Blundering a pawn. Objectively better is 32.Qxd4 exd4 33.Kf2 Kf7, but Black will anyway prevail. 32...Qxb2+ 33.Kg3 Qd4! 34.Qxd4 exd4 35.Kf4 b6 36.Nd7 Bb7 37.Nf6+ Kf7 38.Nxh7 b5! 39.Nf6 a5 40.Nd7 b4 More accurate is 40...a4! 41.Ne5+ Ke6 42.Nd3 Kd5–+. 41.axb4

914

41...axb4? Black played rather automatically, missing his last win by 41...a4! 42.Ne5+ Ke6 43.Nc4 Ba6 44.Na3 Kd5–+. 42.Nc5 Bd5 43.Ke5! b3 44.Nd3 Bxf3 45.Kxd4

Bad news for Black here; the position is a draw according to the tablebases! 45...Be2 46.Nb2 Ke6 47.Kc3! Kf5 48.Kxb3 Kxg5 49.Kc2 Kf4 50.Kd2 Kf3 51.Na4! To achieve the draw the white knight has to return to the kingside. 51...g5 52.Nc3 Bc4 53.Nd1! Bb5 54.Ne3 Ba6 55.Nd1 Black cannot improve, as 55...g4 56.Ne3! g3 57.Nf5! g2 58.Nh4+=, is even thus the opponents agreed to a draw. 1/2-1/2 Anagnostopoulos Dimitrios : Grivas Efstratios B33 Athens 1995 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.Be3 Qc7 9.f4 a6 10.Qe2 b5 11.0-0-0 Nd7 12.Kb1 Nb6

915

13.Qf2 An interesting and probably better idea than 13.Rhe1, or 13.g4 Be7 14.Rhe1 Na4∞, as in Velimirovic,D-Grivas,E Athens 1999. 13...Na4 The text looks natural, but Black should prepare it by 13...Rb8!, when the position should be unclear. 14.Nxa4! The opening of the b-file looks to be in Black’s favor while the gain of time and destruction of Black’s queenside pawn structure are ‘unimportant’. But the truth is a bit different. 14...bxa4 15.Nd2 Not bad, but White should have thought about 15.Nd4 Be7 16.Nxc6 Qxc6 17.Bd4², or even better 15.Bb6! Qb7 16.Na5 Nxa5 17.Bxa5 a3 18.b3 Be7 19.Bc3 0-0 20.Qg3 f6 21.Bc4². 15...Be7 16.Nc4 Rb8

916

17.g4? Simply a loss of time as White never gets the chance to make use of his kingside pawn advance. White could still claim the advantage by 17.e5! d5 18.Nd6+ Bxd6 19.exd6 Qb7 (19...Qxd6 20.Bc5 Qc7 21.Rhe1±) 20.c4±. 17...0-0 18.g5

18...d5!

917

A decisive central strike, directly connected with Black’s queenside proceedings. 19.exd5 exd5 20.Ne5? White could and should opt for his only way to preserve the balance by 20.Nb6! Qb7 21.b3 d4 22.Nxc8 dxe3 23.Nxe7+ Qxe7 24.Qg2 axb3 25.cxb3 Nb4 26.Qe4 Qxe4 27.Bxe4 Rfe8∞. 20...Qb7?! The text looks promising, but Black would be on the top after 20...Nxe5! 21.fxe5 Bg4!µ and not the naive 21...Qxe5? 22.Bd4 Qc7 23.Qh4+–. 21.b3 Nb4! With a multitude of threats. For example: 22.-- 22...Nxa2! 23.Kxa2 axb3+ 24.cxb3 Qxb3+ 25.Ka1 Qa3+ 26.Qa2 Qc3+ and mate follows.

22.Bd4 Or 22.Ba7 Ra8 23.Bd4 axb3 24.cxb3 a5µ. 22...Nxd3 23.Rxd3? This simply loses. White has to be stubborn with 23.Nxd3 Bf5 24.Bb2, although his position would be far from attractive after 24...axb3 25.axb3 Rfc8 26.h4 a5µ. 23...Bf5!

918

Black is winning as the attack led by his active pieces (the f5-bishop in particular has no opponent) is unstoppable. Even the doubled a-pawns help, as they can deliver consecutive blows upon the spearhead of White’s queenside, the b3-pawn. 24.Rc3 Rfc8! Game over... 25.Rd3 Pure desperation. In any case, 25.Rxc8+ Rxc8 26.Rc1 axb3 27.axb3 Qxb3+!, would lead to the same result. 25...a5!

919

Opening lines is more urgent than capturing the hapless white rook which really cannot move anyways. 26.Ka1 Bxd3 27.Nxd3 axb3 28.cxb3 a4! Lines must be opened! 29.bxa4 Qa6! 30.Nb2 Ba3 31.Qe3 Bxb2+ 32.Bxb2

32...Rc2!

920

Black avoids the careless 32...Qxa4?! 33.Qe5 Rxb2 34.Qxb2 Qxf4, when he would still be winning, but would have to work much harder to conclude the game. 33.Re1 Qxa4!

0–1 Bellia Fabrizio : Grivas Efstratios B33 Vinkovci 1989 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 Be7 8.Be3 Qc7 9.f4 d6 10.Qf3 a6 11.0-0 0-0 12.g4 b5 13.g5 Nd7 14.Qh5 Nb4 15.Rf3 g6 16.Qh6 f5 17.gxf6 Rxf6 18.Rg3 Nf8 19.Nd4 Nxd3 20.cxd3

921

Black has repulsed White’s aggression while also preparing for the future by obtaining the bishop pair. 20...Bd7?! Careless. 20...b4 21.Nce2 Rf7∞, would be correct and fine. 21.a3?! Here White missed an interesting chance with 21.f5!? b4! 22.fxe6 bxc3 23.Nf5! (23.exd7? cxb2µ) 23...Rxf5 24.exf5 cxb2 25.Rf1 Bf6 26.fxg6 Nxg6

922

27.Rxg6+ (27.exd7?! Qxd7³) 27...hxg6 28.Qxg6+ Bg7 29.Qf7+ Kh8 30.exd7 Rd8=. 21...Rf7 22.Rc1 Qd8 The engines fail to understand the position and the potential of Black’s strategy. 23.Nce2?! White should have chosen 23.Nf3!, intending 24.d4, instead. 23...Bf6! 24.Rg2 Bg7 25.Qg5

25...e5! The bishop pair needs clarification of the center! 26.Nc6 Black obtains complete control over the position after 26.Qxd8?! Rxd8 27.Nc6 Rc8! (27...Bxc6 28.Rxc6 d5³) 28.Nb4 Rxc1+ 29.Bxc1 exf4µ. 26...Qe8! 27.Nb4 Ne6 28.Qg3 exf4 29.Nxf4 Be5 30.Nbd5 Rc8! 31.Rf1 And here 31.Rxc8? Qxc8 32.Nb6 Qc6 33.Nxd7 Qxd7 34.Rf2 g5!, is just winning for Black. 31...Bc6

923

White has fallen into various pins as the bishop pair is gaining in strength. 32.Qe1?! White should have played 32.Qh3 Nxf4 33.Nxf4 Qd7³. 32...Nxf4 33.Nxf4 Qe7! The position slowly clarifies in Black’s favour. His bishop pair keeps all of White’s possible plans in check. 34.Nh5 Rxf1+ 35.Qxf1 Rf8 36.Qe2

924

36...Bd7! With various threats, such as ...Bh3! 37.d4?! White’s final mistake, fatally weakening the e4-pawn. He had to sit tight with 37.Ng3. 37...Bh8 38.Ng3 Bg7 39.Rf2 Rc8 39...Rxf2 40.Qxf2 h5µ, would be great for Black as well. 40.Qd3

925

40...Qe6! 41.Ne2?! Although ultimately insufficient to change the result of the game, 41.Rc2, would have put up greater resistance: 41...Rxc2 42.Qxc2 h5!µ. 41...Re8! 41...Qc4!?, was also adequate: 42.Qxc4+ Rxc4 43.Bf4 Bh3!µ. 42.Ng3

926

White has no further defense. For example 42.Nc3 a5 43.b4 (43.Nxb5 Qxe4–+) 43...axb4 44.axb4 Rc8! 45.Nxb5 Bxb5 46.Qxb5 Qxe4–+. 42...Bc6! White resigned in view of 43.Rf4 (43.d5 Bxd5–+) 43...g5 44.Rf5 Bxe4 45.Qxe4 Qxe4 46.Nxe4 Rxe4 47.Bxg5 (47.Kf2 Bxd4 48.Bxd4 Rxd4 49.Rxg5+ Kf7–+) 47...Bxd4+–+. 0–1

927

Kotronias Vasilios : Grivas Efstratios B33 Zouberi 1993 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.Be3 Qc7 9.f4 a6 10.Qf3 Be7 11.0-0-0 b5 12.Kb1 Nd7 13.g4 Nb4 14.g5 Bb7 15.Rhf1 0-0

16.h4 White usually prefers 16.Qh3, transposing to 15.Qh3, but not 16.Qh5 Rac8 17.Rf3? Nxd3 18.cxd3 (18.Rh3? Bxe4–+ (18...h6 19.Rxd3 Bxe4µ Wallace,J-Bellon Lopez,J Osterskars 1995)) 18...b4µ. 16...Rac8 Threatening 17...Nxc2! and 18...b4. 17.g6? Despite the fact that this standard move helps to open lines against the black king, in this position it is a bad idea as it allows Black considerable activity. White should have opted for the passive 17.Rc1 Nxd3 18.cxd3 Qb8∞. 17...Bf6!

928

Black doesn’t wish to lose any time and simply improves his pieces, but it was possible to accept the pawn sac by 17...fxg6 18.Qh3 Rf6 19.Bd4 e5 20.fxe5 Nxe5³, or by 17...hxg6 18.h5! g5∞. 18.gxf7+ After 18.gxh7+ Kh8!, the black king is shielded by the white h7-pawn, but it was still the best try. 18...Rxf7

19.Bd4

929

White’s position already looks bad after 19.Nd4?! Nxd3 20.cxd3 Bxd4 21.Bxd4 e5 22.Be3 b4 (22...exf4 23.Bxf4 b4 24.Ne2 Ne5³) 23.Ne2 d5!µ. 19...e5 20.fxe5 Nxe5 21.Qh3 Nbxd3! Black weakens White’s pawn structure and takes over the initiative. 22.cxd3 b4

23.Na4 The main alternative is 23.Nd5 Bxd5 24.exd5 Qc2+ 25.Ka1 Re8³. 23...Bc6 24.Nb6 24.Rc1?! Qd7! 25.Qxd7 Bxd7 26.Rxc8+ Bxc8 27.Nb6 Be6µ, leads to an endgame that is great for Black. 24...Rb8 25.Nd5 Bxd5 26.exd5

930

26...Qd7! Black would welcome the transition to an endgame as the superiority of his pawn structure would become a decisive factor. 27.Qg3?! White therefore feels obliged to seek tactical counterplay for which all of his pieces are necessary, but he should have try to defend in the endgame after 27.Qe6 Re8 28.Qxd7 Nxd7 29.Rf4³. 27...Qb5 28.Qg2 Rbf8 29.h5 h6! The white h-pawn should be stopped on h5, securing protection of f6 for Black. 30.Be3

931

Toying with threats such as 31.Bxh6, or 31.Nd4, followed by Nf5. 30...Nxd3! 31.Rxf6?! Desperation, but other options were also clearly hopeless: 31.Bxh6?! Nxb2 32.Rxf6 Nxd1 33.Rg6 Qd3+–+, or 31.Nd4 Bxd4 32.Bxd4 Qc4! 33.Rxf7 Rxf7 34.Qe4 (34.Qg1 Ne5 35.Bxe5 Qe4+–+) 34...Ne5 35.b3 Qb5 36.Bxe5 Re7 37.Rc1 Qd7 38.Qxb4 Rxe5µ. 31...Rxf6 32.Nd4 Qc4 33.Ne6 R8f7 34.Bd4

White could not have saved himself with 34.b3 Qc3! 35.Bd4 Rf2!–+, either. 932

34...Nf4! 35.Qh1 Nxe6! The simplest. By returning part of his extra material Black ensures simplification down to a clearly winning ending thus avoiding any complications that White could hope to benefit from. 36.Bxf6 Rxf6 37.dxe6 Rxe6

The resulting endgame with two extra pawns has been the logical outcome of Black’s strategic and tactical handling of the position. 38.Rc1 Qe4+ 39.Qxe4 Rxe4 40.Rc8+ Or 40.Rc6 a5 41.Rxd6 Re5! and the win is straightforward. 40...Kf7 41.Ra8 Re5 42.Rxa6 Rxh5 43.Rxd6 g5 44.Kc2 g4 45.Kd3 g3 46.Ke2 Rf5!

933

Cutting-off the white king! 47.Rd3 Rf2+ 48.Ke1 Rxb2 49.Rf3+ Ke7 50.Rxg3 Rxa2

Now the win is trivial; Black will give one of his two extra pawns, queening the other. 51.Rb3 Ra4 52.Kd2 h5 53.Kc2 Kf6 54.Kb2 Kg5 55.Rg3+ Kf4 56.Rd3 Ra5! 57.Rd4+ Kg5 58.Rxb4 Rc5 Again the white king is cut-off! 59.Rd4 h4 60.Rd3 Kh5 61.Kb1 Kg4 62.Rd4+ Kg3 934

Here the game was adjourned and White resigned due to the continuation 63.Rd3+ Kg2 64.Rd2+ Kf3 65.Rd3+ Ke2 66.Rh3 Rh5 67.Kc2 Kf2 68.Kd2 Kg2 69.Re3 h3–+.

0–1 Vouldis Angelos : Grivas Efstratios B33 Komotini 1992 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bg5 Bb4 8.Bd3 h6 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.Qf3 Ke7!

935

The safest spot for the black king, supporting and being surrounded by a mass of pawns. 11.0-0 a6 12.Qg3 A plan involving Nd2–c4 seems preferable. 12...Bd6! 13.Qh4 After 13.Qg7 Qd8! and ...Qg8, White will have to suffer in an inferior ending. 13...Ne5! 14.Kh1 Ng6 15.Qh5 Nf4 Now in order to achieve the f4 advance White will first have to play g3, weakening the long h1-a8 diagonal which the c8-bishop will shortly occupy. In general, White faces serious problems to come up with a decent plan. 16.Qf3

936

16...h5! 17.Rae1 Be5 Black’s superiority increases with every move. White now resolves to free his position by exchanges. 18.Ne2 Nxe2 18...Ng6, is an interesting alternative. 19.Qxe2 Qc7! 20.Qe3 Bf4 21.Qh3 b5 Completing his development. 22.Nd4 Bb7 23.Ne2 Bd6

937

Now White has to seriously consider his next few moves as he appears to lack a plan. It is not easy to decide as it seems that something has gone wrong for him or maybe it was just the ‘Grivas Sicilian’? 24.a4 Playing f4 would weaken rather than activate White’s position. But this change of direction (from the kingside to the queenside) is further evidence that White is lacking a plan. With time-pressure approaching, White decides to complicate the position by any means instead of awaiting fate. This approach can only be commended from a practical viewpoint. 24...bxa4! 25.Ra1 a3! 26.bxa3 Bc5 27.a4

938

27...Bc6?! Black plays it safe, but quite strong is 27...h4 28.c3 d5µ. 28.c3 Qa7 29.Nf4!

29...h4! 29...Bxf2?, would open lines towards the black king and, more specifically it would lead to severe problems after 30.Qf3! Bh4 31.Nd5+ Bxd5 32.exd5 Bg5 33.Bc4°. 939

30.Rae1?! No need to abandon the a-pawn; he had to opt for 30.a5 Qc7 31.Ne2 d5³. 30...Bxa4 31.e5 fxe5?! 31...f5!µ, is stronger, when White would have no serious compensation for the sacrificed pawn. 32.Rxe5 Bd6?

A blunder in time trouble. Black had to go for 32...Bc6³. 33.Ra5? White returned the favour, missing his chance by 33.Rh5! Rxh5 34.Nxh5 Qc5 35.Qxh4+ Kf8 36.Nf6 Bc6 37.Nxd7+! Bxd7 38.Qh8+ Ke7 39.Qxa8 a5 40.Qh8±. 33...Bxf4?! Stronger is 33...Bc6 34.Rxa6 (34.Rh5 Rxh5 35.Nxh5 Kd8! 36.Qxh4+ Kc7µ) 34...Qc5 35.Rxa8 Bxa8µ. 34.Rxa4 Qc7 35.Rxa6 Rxa6 36.Bxa6 Be5 37.c4 Bf6

940

38.Bb5 Rb8 39.Qa3+ d6 40.Qe3 Ra8 Time trouble has passed, and Black retains a plus. However, the presence of opposite-colored bishops makes the conversion of this plus to a full point rather problematic. 41.Qe4 Ra2 42.h3? White had to play 42.g3!³. The black h-pawn will prove fatal! 42...Qb6! 43.f4 Qd4!

941

By exchanging queens Black increases his advantage as he can now create a passed pawn while at the same time preventing the white king from actively participating. 44.Qxd4 White can hardly avoid the exchange. After 44.Qb7+ Kf8, Black is threatening 45.-- 45...Ra1 46.Rxa1 Qxa1+ 47.Kh2 Bd4!. 44...Bxd4 45.f5 Black was planning ...Bf2, ...f5 and ...e5–e4 - thus White’s reply. In any case Black now coasts along to victory without difficulty by correctly using just his e-pawn! 45...Rc2! 46.fxe6 fxe6 47.Re1 Bf2 48.Rf1 Bg3 49.Kg1 e5 50.Rd1 e4 51.Kf1 Rf2+ 52.Kg1 Rb2 53.Ba6 e3 54.c5 dxc5 55.Kf1 Rf2+ 56.Kg1 Ra2 0–1 Vouldis Angelos : Grivas Efstratios B33 Rhodes 1993 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Be3 Qc7 8.f4 Bb4 9.Bd3 Bxc3+! 10.bxc3 d6 11.0-0 e5 12.Kh1 h6

This is a bad continuation compared to 12...Ng4! and should be avoided. 13.Qe1!

942

The white queen will be transferred to the kingside, preparing an assault on the enemy king. 13...b6?! Black is trying to play ‘as usual’, but here this doesn’t work. 14.fxe5! dxe5 Even after the alternative 14...Nxe5, White holds a good initiative: 15.Nd4 Bd7 16.a4!. 15.Qg3 Kf8 16.Nd4! Another white piece joins the attack! 16...Nh5? This move loses in spectacular style. Black should have played 16...Ne7 17.Nb5 (17.Nf5? Nxf5 18.exf5 Qxc3³; 17.Nf3 Ng6 18.Nh4! Nxh4 19.Qxh4²) 17...Qb8 18.c4 Be6 19.Nc3±.

17.Qg6! exd4 18.cxd4 White sacrificed a piece for a fierce attack due to Black’s lack of development and poorly placed king. 18...Nf6

943

19.Rxf6! Having sacrificed a piece, White offers a further exchange, eventually getting through to the black king. 19...gxf6 20.Qxf6 Rg8 20...Kg8 21.Rf1! Qe7 22.Qxc6 Bb7 23.Qc4 Rc8 24.Qb3, intending d5 and Bd4, is also winning for White, but perhaps Black should have tried this instead of the text... 21.Bf4!

944

This move had escaped Black’s attention, but the black king surely won’t escape! 21...Qd7 22.Bd6+ Ke8 Or 22...Ne7 23.Bc4 Rg7 24.Bxf7!+–.

23.Bb5! Bb7 24.d5 White wins material back - Black is busted. 24...Rc8 945

24...Qd8

Loses to 25.dxc6! Qxf6 26.c7+ Bc6 27.Bxc6#. 25.Rd1! a6 26.dxc6 Bxc6

27.Rd5! Black resigned as his king falls. An impressive lethal attack by White. 1–0 946

Hector Jonny : Grivas Efstratios B32 Katerini 1992 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.Bd3 e5 7.0-0 Nf6 8.Nd2 Be7 9.Nc4 Qc7 10.f4 d6 11.fxe5 dxe5

In general Black should feel happy with the opening outcome as he has more or less solved his problems. 12.Qf3 Another way to go is by 12.Bd2 0-0 13.Ba5 Qb8 14.Bc3 Nd7 15.Qh5 f6∞ Garcia Trujillo,J-Duarte,L Buenos Aires 2009. 12...0-0 Not that good is 12...Be6?! 13.Qg3² Borosova,Z-Tsifanskaya,L Szombathely 2003. 13.Qg3 Re8! Covering both the Bh6 and Qxe5 threats. 14.Kh1 Nd7

947

15.Bd2 And here 15.Ne3, was a decent alternative: 15...Nc5 16.Bc4 Rf8 17.Nf5 Bxf5 18.Rxf5 (18.exf5 Ne4 19.Qe1 Nf6∞) 18...Nxe4 19.Qxe5 Qxe5 20.Rxe5 Nf2+ 21.Kg1 Bf6 22.Re1 Ng4∞. 15...f6 16.Bh6?!

White gets carried away by his aggressive style and produces this dubious move. Objectively, 16.b4!, with chances for both sides, ought to have been chosen instead. 16...Bf8 17.Ne3 Kh8! 18.Nf5 Nc5 948

Certainly not 18...gxh6? 19.Bc4+–. 19.Be3 Nxd3 20.cxd3

Once again Black has obtained the advantage of the bishop pair, while also having fully repulsed White’s initiative. With his next move he hopes to encourage White to create some targets by pushing his b-pawn. 20...Qb7! 21.Qf2 After 21.b3 a5!, Black gets a good initiative against the white queenside pawn structure. 21...Rd8 22.Rfd1?! White should have satisfied himself with 22.d4. He had probably missed that after 22...exd4 23.Bxd4 c5 (23...Be6!∞) 24.Bc3 Qxe4, he can play 25.Nxg7! Bxg7 26.Bxf6 Rg8 27.Bxg7+ Rxg7 28.Qf8+ Rg8 29.Qf6+=. 22...Be6 23.b3 a5! 24.d4 What else? If 24.Rab1, then 24...a4 25.b4 Qb5µ. 24...exd4 25.Bxd4?! The alternative 25.Nxd4, gives White more chances of survival after 25...Bg4 26.Nf3 Rxd1+ 27.Rxd1 a4³.

949

25...a4 26.bxa4 Rxa4 Black’s advantage has grown to imposing proportions as new targets such as the a2-pawn have appeared. As the threat of ...Qd7 is now looming, White has to act. But the problem is that every bishop move loses the a-pawn; the white queenside has been weakened by the black maneuvers started by 20...Qb7 and which are now about to pick up the harvest! A good plan is more or less the pinnacle of our royal game! 27.Bc3 If 27.Bc5, then 27...Rxd1+ 28.Rxd1 Rxa2 29.Qd4 (29.Qxa2 Bxa2 30.Bxf8 h5µ) 29...Bxc5 30.Qxc5 h6µ. 27...Rxd1+ 28.Rxd1 Rxa2

Black has extracted a material gain without losing any aspect of his superiority. What remains to be done is to evade possible tactical tricks that White will employ in his effort to save the game. 29.Qd4 c5 30.Qd8 Ra8 31.Qd3 Qc6 32.e5 c4 33.Qc2 Unfortunately for White, the tactics after 33.exf6? cxd3 34.fxg7+ Bxg7 35.Bxg7+ Kg8 36.Ne7+ Kxg7 37.Nxc6 Bb3!, or 37...Bg4, clearly favour Black! 33...fxe5 34.Bxe5 Qc5

950

35.Qe4 Here 35.Bxg7+?, would also fail: 35...Bxg7 36.Nxg7 Kxg7 37.Qc3+ Kg6!–+. 35...Re8?! A time trouble clearly inferior move to 35...Ra5! 36.Re1 Qd5 37.Qf4 Qd7µ. 36.Nd4? White missed his last chance by 36.Nd6!

951

36...Bxd6 37.Rxd6! (37.Bxd6 Qh5µ) 37...Qf2 38.Rd1 Bf7 39.Qd4! Qxd4 40.Bxd4³, with fair surviving chances due to the opposite-colored bishops. 36...Bf7 Now its all over. 37.Nf3 Bh5 38.Rf1

952

38...c3! 39.g4 Bg6 40.Qf4 c2 41.h4 Bd3 42.Re1 Rc8 43.Bb2 Qf2 44.Bc1 Bf1!

The bishop pair dominated the position and paralyzed White’s pieces. The subsequent material losses were a logical consequence of Black’s advantage. 0–1 Motylev Alexander : Polgar Judit B33 Kallithea 2002 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Qe2 Bb4 8.Bd2 0-0 9.a3 Be7 10.0-0-0 d5 11.exd5 Nxd5 12.Nxd5 exd5 13.Bc3 Be6

953

14.Qf3 A Sicilian with opposite side castling has appeared. White could have played 14.Nd4, which is more to the point 14...Rac8 15.Qg3 g6 16.h4 A natural attacking continuation. But things are not looking good for White anyway: 16.Nd4?! Bf6!³, or 16.Be2?! Rfd8 17.Nd4 Nxd4 18.Bxd4 Bc5 19.Qe5 Bxd4 20.Rxd4 Qb3! 21.Bd3 Qa2µ Huschenbeth,N-Antoniewski,R Austria 2012. 16...Rfd8 17.h5 White appears to have a strong attack, but in fact after the next move Black is the one who creates threats quicker.

954

17...d4! While this enhances the light-squared bishop there are tactical elements to consider here as well. J. Polgar is really setting up a very pleasing exchange sacrifice to take over the dark squares. 18.hxg6 hxg6 19.Nxd4 The alternative is 19.Bd2 Bxb3 20.Qh3 (20.cxb3 Na5+ 21.Kb1 Qxb3µ) 20...Bf6 21.cxb3

21...d3! (21...Na5+? 22.Kb1 Qxb3 23.Qh7+ Kf8 24.Bb4++–) 22.Bc3 Ne5–+, when White’s position looks critical anyway. 955

19...Nxd4 20.Rxd4

20...Rxc3! The point. It is not too hard to see, especially when the long diagonal combines with the open h-file that this is the absolute key piece in the position. Still, the way in which the necessary defensive aspects of this sacrifice combine with very potent attacking resources too is a delight to watch. Note that the text is forced: 20...Rxd4?! 21.Qe5! Bg5+! 22.Qxg5 Rxc3 23.bxc3 Qd8! (23...Rd5? 24.Qh6±) 24.Rh8+ Kxh8 25.Qe5+ Kg8 26.cxd4². 21.bxc3 White’s hand is forced, as bad is 21.Rxd8+? Qxd8 22.Qxc3 Bg5+–+, or 21.Qe5? Bf6! 22.Qxf6 Rxc2+! 23.Kxc2 Bb3+–+. 21...Rxd4 21...Bxa3+ 22.Kd2 Rxd4+, is also possible, but the text has a very unhurried feel about it which emphasises Black’s utter confidence that her dark square domination will carry the day. 22.cxd4 Qxd4

956

Black has the better prospects and from the practical point of view White has almost no chances to survive against Black’s strong attack. 23.c3 23.Qb8+? Bf8µ, leads to nowhere. 23...Qc5

Black preserves the tension, avoiding 23...Bxa3+ 24.Kc2 Qb6 25.Qe5! (for another pawn White trades queens, which keeps him out of danger) 25...Qxf2+ 26.Be2 Qf5+ 27.Qxf5 Bxf5+ 28.Bd3 and 957

the draw is the most likely result. 24.Kd2?! 24.Be2?, is bad due to 24...Qxa3+ 25.Kd2 Qb2+ 26.Ke1 Kg7!µ, but the only way for White is 24.Kd1! Bf6 25.Bd3 Qxc3 26.Qb8+ Bc8 27.Ke2 b6°. 24...Bg5+ Better looks to be 24...Bf6! 25.a4 Kg7³. 25.Kc2? Not much different is 25.Ke1 Kg7! 26.Be2 Bf6³, but White should follow the line mentioned above: 25.Kd1! Bf6 26.Bd3 Qxc3 27.Qb8+ Bc8 28.Ke2 b6°. 25...Kg7!

The patience that comes from such a qualitative superiority of force. Black didn’t feel as if she was material down here. Her pieces have an enduring superiority which belies the simple number crunching of relative material values. 26.Bd3 26.Be2?, is losing to 26...Qd5!–+. 26...Bf6 27.Rb1?!

958

Hastens the end. Not that good is 27.Be2?! Qxa3–+, as well, but White should put-up a more stubborn defense by 27.c4 b5 28.Qe3 Qxa3µ. 27...Qxc3+ 28.Kd1

Now Black ends the game with some fine bishop moves. 28...Bg5! 29.Ke2 Bg4+! 30.Kf1 Or 30.Qxg4 Qd2+ 31.Kf1 Qxd3+ 32.Kg1 Qxb1+–+. 30...Bf4! The triumph of the black bishop pair. White resigned due to 31.Qxf4 Qxd3+–+. 0–1 Svidler Peter : Polgar Judit B32 Khanty-Mansiysk 2011 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Bd3 e6 7.0-0 Be7 8.c4 d5 9.cxd5 exd5

959

10.Nc3 The main alternative is 10.Be3 Qc7 11.exd5 Nxd5 12.Bc5 Be6 13.Na3 (13.Bxe7 Qxe7! (13...Ncxe7 14.Nd4 Bd7 15.Na3 0-0 16.Re1 Qf4 17.Re4 Qf6= Wehmeier,S-Illner,A Germany 2008) 14.Qf3 00³) 13...0-0 14.Nb5 Qd7 (14...Qf4 15.Bxe7 Ndxe7∞ Dworakowska,J-Arakhamia Grant,K Leon 2001) 15.Rc1 Nf4 16.Bc4 Qxd1 17.Rfxd1 Rfd8=. 10...Be6?! A novelty. Simpler is 10...dxe4 11.Nxe4 0-0 12.Qe2

960

12...Nd4 (12...Rd8!? 13.Be3 Qc7 14.Nxf6+ Bxf6 15.Rfd1 Qe5=) 13.Nxd4 Qxd4 and Black is fine, as in Timoshenko,G-Epishin,V Tbilisi 1989. 11.exd5 Nxd5 12.Nxd5 Bxd5

13.Be3?! I think here White could gain the upper hand with 13.Re1 Qd8 14.Qg4! (14.Bg5 0-0=) 14...0-0 15.Bh6 Bf6 16.Rad1². 13...Qb4! White probably missed this strong and energetic move which allows Black to obtain even play. 14.Qc2

961

An invitation to a draw. If White wanted to continue he should go for 14.Re1 0-0-0 (14...0-0? 15.Qh5+–) 15.Bd2 Qh4∞ when a sharp battle is on the cards. 14...Bxg2! Accepted! 15.Kxg2 Qg4+ 16.Kh1 Qf3+ 17.Kg1 Qg4+ 1/2-1/2 Dominguez Perez Leinier : Polgar Judit B33 Khanty-Mansiysk 2011 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Qd2

962

8...Qc7 An early novelty. More common is 8...Be7 9.0-0-0 d6 10.f4 Qc7 Khusnutdinov,R-Korobov,A St Petersburg 2018, although the black queen nearly always returns to c7, freeing her b-pawn to advance. 9.0-0-0 b5 10.f3 White tries to secure his center. Inconsequential is 10.Kb1 d6. But not 10...b4?! 11.Nd5!±. 10...Be7 11.Kb1 0-0 12.g4 Ne5 13.Bf4 What’s the point of playing an early Bg5, if not taking on f6 and later go for Bf4? I feel that White’s strategy is unimpressive, as Black’s position already looks quite good with an interesting battle ahead.

963

13...b4 14.Ne2 Rd8 Black is preparing the...d5 advance and there is little White can do about it. 15.Ned4 Bb7 16.Qe1?!

Too passive. White should focus on defense with 16.Be2 Rac8 17.Rhe1, although after 17...d5, Black’s position seems more pleasant. 16...Rac8

964

16...d5, was good as well: 17.exd5 Rxd5³. 17.h4 17.Bxe5 Qxe5 18.Qg3 d6, would be a slow death in the endgame due to the black bishop pair and the more flexible pawn structure.

17...d5! 18.exd5?! 18.g5, was White’s best chance. After 18...Nh5 19.Bh2 dxe4 20.fxe4 g6, Black’s position is fine but White can fight as well. 18...Rxd5 19.h5? A blunder. White should protect his vulnerable squares by 19.Rh3 Bd6 20.Rc1 Ng6µ.

965

19...Nxf3! An easy but effective combination that wins the game. 20.Qg3 20.Nxf3 Qxc2+ 21.Ka1 Rxd1+, mates, while; 20.Bxc7 Nxe1 21.Rxe1 (21.Bh2 Nxc2–+) 21...Rxc7– +, would end the game soon as well. 20...e5! White’s position is falling apart... 21.Bg2 exf4 22.Qxf3 Rxd4! Winning material and the game. 23.Nxd4 23.Qxb7? Qxc2+ 24.Ka1 Qxd1+ 25.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 26.Nc1 Rcxc1#. 23...Bxf3 24.Bxf3 Nd7 25.Rhe1 Bf6 26.Nc6 Ne5

966

White should have already resigned but the tension was too high and nobody could blame him. The end is near anyway. 27.Nxe5 Qxc2+ 28.Ka1 Bxe5 29.Rb1 f6 30.Be4 Qd2 31.Bf5 Bxb2+! 0–1 Dominguez Perez Leinier : Polgar Judit B33 Khanty-Mansiysk 2011 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Qf3 Be7 9.Qg3 d6 10.0-0-0 0-0

967

11.Kb1 The ‘real’ novelty of the game! It is always useful to tuck in the king after opposite castling in the Sicilian Defense. The tempo is not seen as lost because the king overprotects the a2-pawn and steps away from possible tactics on the c1-h6 diagonal. 11...Rd8

12.f4

968

The position resembles the ‘Richter-Rauzer’ Sicilian where White plays an early Nb3. The main difference is that the white queen is on g3 instead of d2, where she is certainly more aggressive on this square. 12...Qc7 The lost tempo that was mentioned earlier, releasing the b7-pawn. The black queen is awkward on b6 and J. Polgar decides to improve this piece. The queen not only prevents e5 for the time being but also clears the way for the black b-pawn, which is always an important trump in the quest for counterplay. 13.Bd3 b5 14.Qh4!? 14.Bh6 g6 (14...Bf8 15.Bg5 Be7=) 15.h4, was interesting and I think that White should have tried it. 14...h6!

15.Bxh6 gxh6 15...Nxe4 16.Qh3! (16.Bg5 Bxg5 17.fxg5 Nxc3+ 18.bxc3 g6³) 16...Nxc3+ 17.bxc3 g6 18.Qg3, with the idea of h4 is unclear. While 15...b4 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.Qg5+ Kf8 18.Qh6+ Ke8 19.Nd5! exd5 20.Qh8+ Kd7 21.Qh3+, ends in a draw by perpetual check. 16.Qxh6 Ne8? 16...b4, was objectively better but Judith Polgar is in a must-win situation and can’t afford the 969

perpetual (see the previous note), so she is trying to use the knight to cover the checks. 17.e5? 17.Nd5!, seems to be very strong, the point is that the queen is attacked and the capture on d5 opens the diagonal and the e-file: 17...exd5 18.exd5±. 17...f5! The problem for L. Dominguez is that he is down to 10 minutes for the remaining 23 moves. This can be a cause of concern if he doesn’t find a perpetual. 18.Bxf5 18.Qg6+!? Ng7 19.h4, was also unclear. 18...exf5 19.Nd5

19...Bf8 Black again is ‘forced’ to avoid 19...Qa7, due to 20.Rd3 (20.Qg6+ Ng7 21.exd6 Be6 22.Nxe7+ Nxe7 23.dxe7 Qxe7∞) 20...Bf8 21.Rg3+ Bg7 22.Nf6+ Kf8 23.Nh7+, with a draw. 20.Nxc7 Bxh6 21.Nxa8 Bxf4 22.exd6 Bxd6

970

White headed for an endgame where he will have a rook and two pawns for Black’s two minor pieces. No perpetual check but Black can’t hope to convert this into a victory without an error from White. This probability exists until White reaches the time control. 23.Nb6 Be6 24.Nd5 Kf7 25.Ne3 Nf6 26.g3 Ng4 27.Nxg4 fxg4 28.Nd4 Nxd4 29.Rxd4 With so little material left on the board, there is no clear way to make progress for black without a mistake by L. Dominguez. 29...Bc7 30.Rf1+ Ke7

971

31.Re4?! I do not see a way for Black to try for something more after 31.Rxd8 Bxd8 32.b3, as then Black couldn’t attack White’s pawns. White wrongly keeps both of his rooks on the board. 31...Rg8 32.a4 Bd6 33.axb5 axb5 34.Rf5 b4 35.Rh5 Rg6

36.h3 L. Dominguez is reaching the time control but caution is still needed as Black holds a pair of bishops and there might be back-rank issues. There was no need to give-up a pawn, although White should still be good enough to draw. 36...gxh3 37.Rxh3 Kd7 38.Rh7+ Kc6

972

39.b3? White should refrain from playing such a move before the time control. Now Black can hope to exploit the weakened dark squares around the king although it will not be easy. 39...Bd5 40.Re3 Bxg3 41.Ra7 Rg4 42.Ra4 Bf4 43.Re1 Bd2 44.Rd1 Bc3 Now the bishop pair dominates, and the c2-b3 weaknesses are about to be attacked - Black is improving her position. 45.Ra6+ Kb7 46.Ra5 Be4 47.Ra4 Rg2 48.Ra2 Kb6 49.Rd6+ Kb5 50.Rd1

973

50...Bf3 51.Rf1 Kc5 52.Ra7 Be4 53.Rc1 Kb6 54.Ra2 Rg3 55.Rf1 Bg7 56.Kc1 Rg2 57.Kb1 Rd2 58.Kc1 Rh2 59.Kb1 Bc3 60.Rd1 Bf3 61.Rf1 Kc5 62.Ra7 Be4 63.Rc1 Kd4 64.Rd7+ Ke3 65.Re7

It seems that White is holding but Black has found ideas to further improve her attack. 65...Rh6! With the threat...Ra6. 66.Ra7 Bd2?!

974

A nice winning continuation is by 66...Rd6 67.Ra4 Kd2 68.Ra2 Rh6 69.Ra7 Rc6 70.Ra8 Bf6 71.Ra7 Rc3 72.Rd7+ Ke2 73.Ka2 Bxc2–+. Black can win by a mating net or by a triple attack on the c2pawn 67.Rg1 Kf2 68.Rd1 Ke2 69.Rg1 Be3 70.Re7! Rh4 But not 70...Bxg1? 71.Rxe4+ Be3 72.Rxb4=. 71.Rg8 Bd4 72.Ka2 Kd2 73.Rd7

73...Bxc2 And Black finally is winning! 74.Rh8 74.Rb8, loses in a spectacular fashion by 74...Bb1+! 75.Kxb1 Rh1+ 76.Ka2 Ra1#. 74...Rxh8? 74...Kc1!, was curtains: 75.Rxh4 Bb1#. 75.Rxd4+ Bd3 76.Rxb4 Kc3

975

And according to tablebases this is mate in 21 moves! 77.Ra4 Rh2+? But not like that! 77...Rb8, was the correct track. 78.Ka3 Rb2 79.Rg4? From now on both sides made a lot of small ‘mistakes’ in this notorious ending and I do not feel it appropriate to comment on this, safely sitting behind my computer, armed with technology and pretend that I know everything. After all, chess is a battle on the board! 79.Ra7, was correct by the way! 79...Rxb3+ 80.Ka4 Rb1 81.Ka5 Rb5+ 82.Ka4 Rf5 83.Rg3 Rf4+ 84.Ka3 Rf1 85.Rg2 Rh1 86.Rb2 Ra1+ 87.Ra2 Rb1 88.Rg2 Rb3+ 89.Ka4 Rb4+ 90.Ka3 Rb6 91.Rg4 Ra6+ 92.Ra4 Rb6 93.Rg4 Rb7 94.Rh4 Rb1 95.Rh2 Rb6 96.Rh4 Bf1 97.Rg4 Rb5 98.Rg3+ Bd3 99.Rg4 Rb1 100.Rg2 Rb3+ 101.Ka4 Rb5 102.Rg4 Rf5 103.Ka3 Rf1 104.Rg2 Rb1 105.Rh2 Bf5 105...Bf1 106.Rf2 Bc4 107.Rf3+ Bd3 108.Rf2 Rb3+ 109.Ka2 Rb5 110.Ka1 Re5 111.Rb2 Bc2, is the trick, but it was not so simple for J.Polgar after five hours of play. 106.Rg2

976

106...Bd3? The ‘correct’ way, leading in mate in 10, but there is problem... 107.Rh2 Here White could claim a draw (before playing his move of course) by three times repetition (on moves 95, 105 and 107). But somehow he forgot it... 107...Bf1 108.Rf2 Bc4 109.Rf3+ Bd3 110.Rf2 Rb3+ 111.Ka2 Rb6 112.Ka1 Rg6 And White resigned as mate is near: 113.Rh2 Rg1+ 114.Ka2 Bc4+ 115.Ka3 Ra1+ 116.Ra2 Rxa2#. An amazing game! Going into the endgame, Dominguez believed he could find a fortress. But a deep calculation by J. Polgar and slight inaccuracies by White brought her the win. 0-1 Kotronias Vasilios : Haznedaroglu Kivanc B33 Athens 2007 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 Be7 8.Be3 Qc7 9.f4 d6 10.00 0-0 11.Qf3 a6 12.Kh1 Nb4 13.a3 Nxd3 14.cxd3 b5 15.Rac1 Qd7 16.Nd4 Bb7 17.Qh3 Rfc8

977

18.Rf3 The text move is the ‘real’ novelty. White wants to regroup his pieces on the kingside, following a similar idea which was played in Nunn,J-Grivas,E Athens 1991. Naive would be 18.Nf3?! a5 19.Ne2 b4 20.axb4 axb4 21.Bd4 Rxc1 22.Rxc1 Rc8³ Chocenko,DFrank,P Fuegen 2006. 18...Bf8 Black could also try the active 18...Rc5!? 19.g4 (19.Nb3?! Rh5 20.Qg3 a5³; 19.f5?! e5 20.Nde2 Rc7 (20...Rac8!? 21.Bxc5 dxc5°) 21.Rg3 Kh8 22.Ng1 d5 23.Nf3 Qd6∞) 19...a5 20.g5 Ne8 21.f5 b4∞. 19.Rg3

978

19...g6?! The weakening of the black king cannot be advisable. Black had to opt for 19...Kh8 20.Qh4 Qe7∞. 20.Rf1 Bg7 21.f5! Now White gets the initiative. 21...e5 22.Nf3 22.Nb3?! d5! 23.Nc5 (23.exd5 Bxd5 24.Nc5 Qc6 25.b4 Re8∞) 23...Qe7 24.Nxb7 d4!, looks fine for Black. 22...Nh5! 23.Rg5 23.Qxh5? gxh5 24.f6, is not working: 24...Qg4! 25.fxg7 Qd7 26.Nh4 Re8 27.Nf5 Re6 28.Rgf3 d5µ, but White should have opted for 23.Rg4! Nf6 24.Rh4 h5 25.Ng5². 23...Qe7 After 23...Nf6!, White has nothing better than a repetition with 24.Rg3 Nh5. 24.fxg6 fxg6

979

25.Rxh5!? An interesting exchange sacrifice, although Black should not be in danger. 25...gxh5 26.Nh4 Rf8 26...Kh8! 27.Nf5 Qe6 28.Qxh5 Rc7, is fine for Black, although White keeps a dynamic equilibrium. 27.Nf5 Rxf5? Returning the exchange is a bad sign. Black had to go for 27...Qf7! 28.Nh6+ Bxh6 29.Rxf7 Rxf7∞. 28.exf5 d5?

980

The decisive mistake but even after 28...h4 29.Ne4 Rf8 30.Bg5 Qd7 31.Bxh4, White is clearly better. 29.f6! Bxf6 30.Bc5! That’s what Black missed when he executed the...Rf8xf5 plan. 30...Qf7 30...Qxc5 31.Qe6+ Kh8 32.Qxf6+ Kg8 33.Rf5, is curtains. 31.d4! Re8 31...e4, loses to 32.Qg3+ Kh8 33.Bd6 Rg8 34.Qh4 Rg6 35.Rxf6 Rxf6 36.Be5 Kg7 37.Qg5++–. 32.dxe5 Rxe5 32...d4, doesn’t help: 33.exf6 (33.Qg3+ Kh8 34.Rxf6+–) 33...dxc3 34.Qxc3+–.

981

33.Bd4 Re6 33...Qe7 34.Qf3 Bg7 35.Bxe5 Bxe5 36.Nxd5+–. 34.Qg3+ Kf8 35.Rxf6 And Black resigned: 35...Rxf6 36.Bc5++–. 1–0 Carlsen Magnus : Gelfand Boris B33 Internet 2020 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Qe2 Bb4 8.Bd2 0-0 9.0-0-0 d5 10.e5

982

10...Nd7 10...Bxc3!, should be the best line for Black 11.Bxc3 Ne4: a) 12.Be1 a5 13.Nd2 (13.f3? a4µ Motycakova,M-Lisko,F Slovakia 2017) 13...Nc5 14.Qe3 (14.f4 Bd7 (14...Qc7!? 15.Kb1 b6∞) 15.Bf2 Rfc8∞ Seyb,D-Souleidis,G Bad Wiessee 2009) 14...Bd7 15.Kb1 Rfc8 16.Nb3 Ne7 17.Bd3

17...Bb5 18.Nxc5 Rxc5 19.Bc3 Bxd3 20.Rxd3 Nf5³ Adhiban,B-Vidit,S Kolkata 2012. b) 12.Bd4 Nxd4 13.Nxd4 Bd7 (13...f6 14.exf6 Rxf6 15.f3 Nc5 16.g3 Bd7∞ Das,S-Tukhaev,A New Delhi 2016) 14.Qe3 (14.f3 Nc5 15.Qe3 983

15...Rfc8 (15...f6!) 16.Kb1 Na4 17.Qb3 Qc7 18.f4 b5∞ Krishnater,K-Georgiev,K Iraklion 2019) 14...f6 (14...Rac8 15.Bd3 Nc5 16.Rhe1 Nxd3+ 17.Rxd3 Rc4 18.b3 Rc7∞ Hagen,A-Milov,V Odense 2011; 14...Rfc8 15.h4 Qc7∞ Ssegwanyi,A-Arab,A Casablanca 2019) 15.f3 fxe5 16.fxe4 exd4 17.Qxd4 Rf4!³ Hachijan,A-Petrov,M Dieren 2011. 11.f4 a6 12.Qh5

12...Rd8?! A novelty to 12...Nc5 13.Nxc5 Qxc5 14.Bd3 g6 15.Qh6² Doggers,P-Bruno,F Triesen 2014. The best 984

for Black here is the untested 12...a5 13.a4 f5! 14.Kb1 Nc5, which would be rather unclear. 13.Bd3 Nf8 14.Rhf1 Be7? Black is losing time and this is not a good sign. He should try 14...a5 15.a4 Bxc3 16.Bxc3 Nb4 17.Kb1².

15.Rf3! White is on top as his attack is quicker. 15...f5 15...a5?, is now losing to 16.Bxh7+! Nxh7 17.Rh3+–. 16.g4! g6 17.Qh3 d4 18.Ne2 a5 19.a4 Nb4

985

20.Bxb4! Qxb4 20...axb4, is an alternative try, but White still holds a considerable edge: 21.Bc4 fxg4 22.Qxg4 Qc7 23.Bb5±. 21.Bb5! And now the d4–pawn is doomed... 21...Bd7 22.Rxd4 Black will not hold long after the accurate 22.gxf5! Bxb5 23.axb5 exf5 24.Nbxd4±. 22...Bxb5?! 22...Qe1+ 23.Rd1 Qb4 24.Nbd4 fxg4 25.Qxg4 Bxb5 26.axb5 a4 27.Qh3±, is the only way for Black to hope for something better. 23.Rxb4 fxg4 24.Qxg4 Bxe2 25.Rd4! Bc5 26.Rxd8 Rxd8

986

27.Kb1! Stopping any mate on d1. 27...Rd1+ 28.Ka2 Rg1 29.Qh3 And Black resigned. After 29...Bxf3 30.Qxf3 b6 31.Nxc5 bxc5 32.Qf2, White will easily win. 1–0 Movsesian Sergei : Grivas Efstratios B33 Panormos 2001 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Qe2 Bb4 8.Bd2 0-0 9.a3 Be7 10.0-0-0 d5 11.Be3 Qc7 12.exd5 Nxd5 13.Nxd5 exd5 14.g4 Rd8 15.Bg2 Be6 16.Kb1 Rac8 17.f4 d4 18.Bc1 d3 19.Rxd3 Rxd3 20.Qxd3 Bxg4

987

Black has achieved a favorable exchange of his isolated pawn for White’s g-pawn. The opening of the g-file is of secondary importance as White can hardly make profitable use of it. 21.Be4 g6! 22.f5 This looks as natural as a baby’s smile, but it is actually the beginning of White’s problems. Indeed, White should have given top priority to improving his defenses. 22...Qd6! 22...Rd8 23.Qc4 Qd6∞, is another way to play.

988

23.Qc4 White could have opted for a slightly worse endgame with 23.Rg1 Qxd3 24.Bxd3 Bh5. However, it is not easy to make such tough but objective decisions in the heat of the battle with kings castled on opposite sides! 23...gxf5! 24.Rg1?! 24.Bd5 Rd8 25.Bxf7+ Kg7, is quite unclear. 24...Qxh2!

Another seemingly ‘illogical’ move and the second in a row by Black which opens more lines against his king. On the other hand, White cannot breach Black’s king shelter without pawns, while Black also strengthens his main defensive bastion, the g4-bishop (...h5 will follow). 25.Rh1 Perhaps 25.Rg2 Qh3!, had to be tried. 25...Qc7 26.Bd5 Ne5 27.Qf4 h5! Black has a winning position, as well as the usual enemy: severe time pressure. 28.Nd4 Bf6 29.Rg1 Bg7 30.Rg2

989

30...Ng6! 31.Qd2 Nothing is achieved by 31.Qg5 Qd8!µ. 31...a6?! 31...Rd8!, would have won easily. 32.Nf3 Ne7 33.Bb3 Rd8?! A second nearly consecutive mistake. 33...Bxf3! 34.Rxg7+ Kxg7 35.Qh6+ Kg8 36.Bg5 Nd5!, was winning, but not 36...Bd5? 37.Bf6!+–.

990

34.Qf2 Rd1 35.c3 Rd7?! Black could have tried to clear-up matters by 35...Rxc1+!

36.Kxc1 Qf4+ 37.Nd2 Qxf2 38.Rxf2 h4µ, but also quite good was 35...Rh1 36.Ng5 Rxc1+ 37.Kxc1 Bh6 38.Bxf7+ Kf8 39.Bxh5 Bxg5+ 40.Kc2 Bxh5 41.Rxg5 Bf7µ. 36.Ng5 Nd5!

991

37.Nxf7! Netherless White’s best practical chance. 37...Kxf7? It is only after this fourth (!) mistake by Black that White can finally succeed in (just) drawing the game, a clear indication of how hopeless White’s position was. Black had to try 37...Nxc3+

38.bxc3 Rxf7 39.Rg3 Kh7 40.Bxf7 Qxf7µ. 992

38.Rxg4!

38...hxg4 39.Qxf5+ Ke8 40.Bxd5 Qd6 41.Be6 Qd3+

It has become too risky for Black to keep the queens on the board but after the exchanges the ending is a theoretical draw: 42.Qxd3 Rxd3 43.Bxg4. 1/2-1/2

993

Chapter 3 - Endgame Technique The chess player, who wishes to master an opening should not only know how to gain an advantage from it or how to increase it in the middlegame, but also finally how to convert it in the endgame. Knowledge in typical endgames with specific pawn structures is important, as it helps to correctly evaluate our chances in them and to make middlegame decisions regarding the choice of possibilities that are very difficult to make otherwise. The endgames that follow are characteristic of the ‘Grivas Sicilian’. It is not important that some of them arise via another opening or system; the important thing is to understand and master them endgame technique is essential. Ermenkov Evgenij : Grivas Efstratios B33 Kallithea 2008 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.0-0 a6 9.Be3 Qc7 10.f4 Be7 11.Qf3 0-0 12.a3 b5 13.Nd4 Nxd4 14.Bxd4 e5 15.Be3 Bb7 16.Rae1 Rad8 17.Kh1 exf4 18.Bxf4 Nd7 19.Nd5 Bxd5 20.exd5 Bf6 21.c3 Ne5 22.Bxe5 Bxe5

The position looks quite balanced and the presence of the opposite-colored bishops helps in this thought. But a more careful approach should reveal that the black bishop can become more active, thus Black has a better future! 23.a4! The only way for White to get some activity is to attack the black queenside.

994

23...bxa4! 23...Qc5?! 24.axb5 axb5 25.Re4 g6 (25...Qxd5 26.Rh4 Qxf3 27.Bxh7+ Kh8 28.Rxf3 Bf6 29.Rh5 Rb8 30.Rf4²) 26.Rb4, looks fine for White, as the b5 target gives him enough activity. 24.Ra1! And not 24.Bxa6? Qb6 25.Qe2 Rb8 26.Rf2 a3µ. 24...Rb8 25.Rf2 a5 26.Rxa4 g6

By playing the text move, which should normally be followed by ...f5, (a typical Sicilian Defense motif by the way), Black has limited the scope of the white bishop and he is ready to take action on the queenside; now White has to be rather careful. 27.g4?! Although White wants to stop the coming ...f5, there is no point in weakening the white king and especially the dark squares around him. Preferable is 27.Rc2 Rfe8 28.g3 Bg7³, but of course White’s position is passive and without any potential to create a threat. Passivity is a bad message in the Sicilian Defense! 27...Rb7 28.Kg2 Rfb8 29.Ra2 a4!

995

30.h3 And not 30.Rxa4? Rxb2 31.c4 Rxf2+ 32.Qxf2 Qd7–+. 30...Rb3 Not bad, but even stronger is 30...a3! 31.bxa3 Rb3 32.c4 Rc3 33.Rfc2 Rbb3 34.Rxc3 Rxc3 35.a4 Qc5 36.a5 Qd4 37.Rd2 Ra3µ. 31.Rc2 Qc5 Black has many choices here: 31...a3 32.bxa3 Rxc3 33.Rxc3 Qxc3µ. 32.Rf2 It is difficult to propose anything good for White. For example: 32.g5 a3 33.bxa3 Rxa3 34.Rxa3 Qxa3µ.

996

32...R8b7? Simply a blunder! After the simple 32...f6! 33.h4 Kg7µ, Black should prevail sooner or later as the threat of ...a3, shattering White’s queenside, is rather strong. 33.Ba6! Equal as well is 33.Bc2 R3b6 (33...Rxb2 34.Rxb2 Qxf2+ (34...Rxb2? 35.Qxf7+ Kh8 36.Qf8#) 35.Kxf2 Rxb2 36.Qd1 a3 37.Ke2 a2 38.Kd2 Rb1 39.Qxb1 axb1=Q 40.Bxb1=) 34.Bxa4 Ra6 35.Bb3 Raa7!°. 33...Ra7 34.Rxa4 White has won a pawn but even here he cannot claim any advantage. 34...f6 35.Rc4 Qa5 36.Rc8+ Kg7 37.Bc4 Rbb7 38.Rc6 Qa1!

997

39.b4? The text doesn’t help White, who should have opted for 39.Rxd6 Rxb2 40.Re6 Rxf2+ 41.Qxf2 Bxc3=, or for 39.Qe2 Ra8 40.Ra6! Rxa6 41.Bxa6 Rb8°. 39...Ra3! 40.Rf1 Or 40.Rc2 Bxc3 41.Bd3 Re7µ. 40...Qb2+ 41.Rf2

998

41...Qxc3? The text throws away Black’s advantage, which could be preserved by 41...Qc1! 42.Rf1 Qg5 43.Be2! (43.Ba6?! Rxb4 44.Rc7+ Kh6 45.Be2 (45.cxb4 Rxf3 46.Rxf3 Qd2+–+) 45...f5!–+; 43.Bd3 Bxc3 44.Rxd6 Be5 45.Ra6 Rxa6 46.Bxa6 Rxb4–+) 43...Rxb4 44.Rc7+ Kg8! (44...Kh6? 45.h4! Qf4 46.Qh3!+–) 45.Rc8+ Kf7 46.Rc7+ Kf8 47.Rc8+ Ke7 48.Rc7+ Kd8 49.Rxh7 Rb2µ. 42.Qxc3 Rxc3 43.b5! Ra7 After 43...Rg3+ 44.Kf1 Rxh3 45.b6 Rb8 46.Ba6, the white b-pawn gives White enough compensation to preserve the dynamic balance.

44.Rf3! The only way to preserve the balance! 44...Rc2+ 45.Rf2 Rc3 46.Rf3 Rc2+ Black has to accept the sharing of the point, as 46...Rxf3?, is bad due to 47.Kxf3 Ra3+ 48.Ke2 Rxh3 49.b6 Rh2+ 50.Ke3 Rb2 51.Rc7+ Kh6 52.b7 Kg5 53.Ba6+–. 1/2-1/2 Kotronias Vasilios : Grivas Efstratios B33 Iraklion 1992 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.Be3 Qc7 9.f4 a6 999

10.Qf3 Be7 11.0-0-0 b5 12.Kb1 Nd7 13.g4 Nb6 14.g5 Na4 15.Ne2 Bd7 16.f5 Ne5 17.Qh3 Nc5 18.Nf4 0-0-0 19.Qg3 Nxb3 20.axb3 Kb8 21.Rhf1 Qc6 22.Rf2 Rhe8 23.Nh5 g6 24.fxe6 Bxe6 25.Nf4 Bf8 26.Nxe6 fxe6 27.Qh3 Rd7 28.Rf6 Rde7 29.Bf4 Qc5 30.Qg3 Rc7 31.Rf1 Bg7 32.Bxe5 Qxe5 33.Qxe5 dxe5 34.Rf7 Ree7 35.R7f3 Re8 36.c3 Kb7 37.b4 Rd7 38.Kc2 Kc6 39.b3 h6 40.h4 hxg5 41.hxg5 Rh8 42.c4 Rh2+ 43.Kc3 Rh4 44.Rf7 Rf4 45.Rxd7 Kxd7 46.Ra1 bxc4 47.bxc4 Bf8 48.Rxa6 Rg4 49.c5 Rxg5 50.Bb5+ Kc7 51.Rc6+ Kb7 52.Rxe6 Rg1 53.Bc6+ Kc7 54.Kc4

White has a winning position as his extra material should be enough. 54...g5 The only way for Black to fight is to advance his g-pawn which is his only counterplay. 55.Kb5 g4 56.Rxe5 Easier is 56.Rf6 Be7 57.Rf7 Kd8 58.Bd5 g3 59.c6+–. 56...g3

1000

57.Rg5? White fails to a devilish trap! Good is here 57.Rf5 Be7 58.e5 Re1 59.Rf7 Rxe5 60.Rg7 Re3 61.Bf3!+–. 57...g2 58.e5

58...Bxc5! Black didn’t miss his chance! 1001

59.Rg7+ Kd8 60.Rxg2? Of course nothing is gained by 60.bxc5? Rb1+ 61.Kc4 g1=Q 62.Rxg1 Rxg1=, but White could still win by 60.Kxc5! Rc1+ 61.Kd6 g1=Q 62.Rxg1 Rxg1 63.e6 Rg7 64.b5 Rd7+ 65.Kc5 Re7 66.Bd7+–. This computer line cannot be found by a human so we can safely say that White made his mistakes earlier! 60...Rxg2 61.Bxg2 Bf8

In the diagramed position the white pawns are separated by two files and thus, in view of the above, White should be winning. However, the white king is unable to penetrate to a square from which he could capture the black bishop. 62.Ka5 Kc7 63.b5 Bc5 64.Ka6 Bd4 65.e6 Bc5 66.Bh3

1002

66...Kb8? A fatal mistake. Black could have held the draw by means of 66...Bd6! (66...Kd8, as well) 67.b6+ Kd8! (67...Kb8? 68.Kb5+–)

68.Kb7 Bc5! (68...Be5? 69.Ka8+–) 69.Kc6 Bf2 70.b7 Bg3 (70...Ba7=, as well) 71.Kb6 Bb8!, as the white king has no available path to the a8-square. 67.b6 Be7 68.Kb5! And Black resigned as the white king will win the black bishop by entering the d7-square. Well, 1003

Black was quite near to an undeserved draw! 1–0 Perdek Miroslaw : Grivas Efstratios B33 Kallithea 2007 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.0-0 a6 9.a4 Qc7 10.a5 Be7 11.Be3 0-0 12.f4 Nb4 13.Qf3 Bd7 14.Bb6 Qb8 15.Rae1 e5 16.f5 Bc6 17.Nd2 Re8 18.Be3 Qc7 19.Nc4 d5 20.Bb6 Qb8 21.exd5 Nbxd5 22.Ne4 Nb4 23.Re2 Nxd3 24.cxd3 Qc8 25.Nxf6+ Bxf6 26.Qg3 Qd7 27.Nxe5 Bxe5 28.Rxe5 Rxe5 29.Qxe5 Qxd3 30.Bd4 f6 31.Qe3 Qc2 32.Qf2 Qc4 33.Re1 Re8 34.Rxe8+ Bxe8 35.Bc3 Bd7 36.Qd4 Qc6 37.g4 h6 38.Kf2 Be8 39.h4 Qh1 40.Kg3 Bc6 41.Qf2 Qe4 42.Bd4 Qd5 43.Bc3 Qd6+ 44.Kh3 Qd3+ 45.Kh2 Bf3 46.g5 hxg5 47.hxg5 fxg5 48.Bd2 g4 49.Bc3 Qxf5 50.Kg3 Qh7 51.Qd4 Qh3+ 52.Kf2 Qh2+ 53.Ke3 Qh6+ 54.Kf2 Qh4+ 55.Ke3 Qg5+ 56.Kf2 Bd5 57.Kg3 Be6 58.Bd2 Qh5 59.Bc3 Qh3+ 60.Kf4 Qh2+ 61.Ke3 Qh6+ 62.Kf2 Kf7 63.Kg3 Qh3+ 64.Kf2 Qh4+ 65.Ke3 Qh3+ 66.Kd2 Qh6+ 67.Ke2 Qg5 68.Qe4 g3 69.Qxb7+ Kg8 70.Qxg7+ Qxg7 71.Bxg7 Kxg7 72.Kf3 Kf6 73.Kxg3

A theoretically drawn position due to the wrong color of the queening square. Note that if White could get rid of his two pawns, then the draw would be an easy one! Well, of course Black should try his chances, as he has nothing to lose! 73...Ke5 74.Kf3 Kd4 75.Ke2 Kc4 76.b4 Bf5 77.Kd2 Be4 78.Ke3 Bg6 79.Kd2 Bf5 80.Kd1 Kc3 81.Ke1 Bg4 82.Kf2 Kd2 83.Kg3 Bd1 84.Kf4 Kd3 85.Ke5 Bf3 86.Kf4 Bh5 87.Ke5 Bf7 88.Kf4 Bg6 89.Kf3 Bf5 90.Kf4 Be4 91.Kg3 Ke3 92.Kg4 Bh1 93.Kg3 Bf3 94.Kh4 Be4 95.Kg3 Bf3 96.Kh4 Kf2 97.Kh3 Bh5 98.Kh4 Be2 99.Kh3 Kf3

1004

The only way for Black to prevail is to push his opponent into a zugzwang position, thus forcing the b5 advance thereby making his a-pawn a b-pawn after ...axb5. 100.Kh2? The wrong direction! With 100.Kh4!, White would save the draw, although he will have to find some more accurate moves, which actually hardens his task in a practical game. 100...Bf1! Black didn’t miss his chance! 101.Kg1 Bg2 And White resigned as he will find himself in a deadly zugzwang after 102.Kh2 Kf2 and he will have to opt for 103.b5 axb5 104.a6 b4 105.a7 b3 106.a8=Q Bxa8–+. 0–1 Alexakis Dimitrios : Grivas Efstratios B33 Athens 1992 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 Be7 8.Be3 Qc7 9.Qe2 d6 10.f4 a6 11.0-0 b5 12.a3 Bb7 13.Kh1 0-0 14.Rae1 b4 15.axb4 Nxb4 16.Bc1 e5 17.fxe5 dxe5 18.Rf3 Nxd3 19.cxd3 Rad8 20.Ref1 Bc8 21.Rg3 Kh8 22.Bg5 Be6 23.Nd2 Rfe8 24.Ra1 Nd7 25.Bxe7 Rxe7 26.Nc4 Nc5 27.Ne3 Nxd3 28.Ned5 Nf4 29.Qxa6 Bxd5 30.exd5 Red7 31.Rd1 h6 32.Rf3 Nxd5 33.Nxd5 Rxd5 34.Rdf1 Rd1 35.Qa4 Rxf1+ 36.Rxf1 Qb7 37.Qc2 Rd4 38.h3 g6 39.Qc5 Kg8

1005

40.Qxe5 Re4 41.Qc3 Re2 42.Qf3 Qxf3 43.Rxf3 Rxb2 44.Kh2

White can feel safe. All he has to do is patiently wait on his 1st rank or harass the enemy king with checks when the latter attempts to invade the white camp. 44...Kg7 45.Rd3 g5 46.Kg3 46.h4 f5 (46...g4 47.Rd5=) 47.hxg5 hxg5 48.Kh3, is easier. 46...Kg6 47.Kf3 h5 48.Kg3 h4+ 49.Kh2 49.Kf3, is natural, but the text is not losing. 49...Rb1

1006

White stands OK and obviously he can hold the draw... 50.g3? A fatal blunder allowing Black to obtain a passed pawn. White should have been patient and played 50.Ra3, getting ready to deliver side checks as soon as Black pushes his f- and g-pawns. 50...Rb2+! 51.Kg1 hxg3 52.Rxg3 f5 The passed f-pawn and the white king’s bad placement are decisive factors. 53.Rf3 Ra2 54.Kh1 Ra5! Aiming to liberate the black king. 54...f4?, is a tragic mistake in view of 55.h4! Kf5 56.hxg5 Kxg5=, with the Philidor Position! 55.Kg2 Kh5 56.Rc3 Kh4 57.Rc4+ f4 58.Rc3 58.Rc2 Ra3!, is not of a help. 58...Ra2+ White resigned in view of 59.Kg1 Re2! 60.Rb3 Re3

1007

0–1 Dervishi Erald : Grivas Efstratios B32 Katerini 1993 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.Bd3 e5 7.c4 Nf6 8.0-0 Be7 9.Nc3 d6 10.b3 0-0 11.Be3 Qb7 12.Be2 Be6 13.Bf3 Rad8 14.Qe2 Rfe8 15.Rfd1 Nd7 16.Rd2 Nc5 17.Rad1 Qb4 18.Bxc5 Qxc5 19.Bg4 Qa5 20.Rd3 Qc7 21.h3 g6 22.Bxe6 fxe6

The doubled e-pawns help Black to control the center. The position is approximately equal as White 1008

has not created any weaknesses in his camp. A good plan for him would now be to develop a queenside initiative with 23.b4. Instead of this, he opts for play on the wrong flank. 23.Qg4 Bf8 24.h4?! Creating a future target without gaining anything significant in return. 24...Rd7! Intending to exploit the possible opening of files after White’s 25.h5, with 25...Rg7. 25.Qh3 Rf7

26.Rf3?! Exchanges hardly suit White, as the endgame is in Black’s favour. White fails to understand the position. 26...Rxf3 27.Qxf3 Qf7! 28.Qxf7+? White should not exchange queens. He should have opted for something like 28.Qe2, preserving the balance. 28...Kxf7

1009

In the ending that has come about Black is better thanks to his superior center, strong bishop (the weakness on h4!) and a multitude of pawn-breaks (...a5-a4, ...d5, ...h5 and ...g5). 29.Kf1 Be7 30.Ke2 Rd8 31.g3 Rd7 32.Rd3 Bd8! Intending to improve the potential of his minor piece with 33...Bb6 and ...Bd4, at the right time. 33.Na4 Ke7 34.h5?

This serious mistake hastens the end. White should have remained passive and refrained from making further concessions such as opening up the g-file. 1010

34...gxh5! 35.Rd1 Ke8 36.Rh1 h4! 37.gxh4 Rg7! A new positional factor has developed in Black’s favor – the open g-file. 38.Kf3 After 38.h5 Rg4!

39.Kf3 Rf4+ 40.Ke3 Bg5, Black’s victory would be close at hand. 38...h5!

1011

Fixing the weakness on h4. White cannot resist much longer as Black wins material. 39.Rd1 Ke7 40.Rh1 Rg4 41.Rh3 Kf7 42.Nb2 Rf4+! The weak white h4-pawn can wait as more important pawns come first. 43.Ke3 Bb6+ 44.Kd3 Rxf2 Game over. 45.Nd1 Rf4 46.Rh2 d5! 47.Re2 Bd4! 48.b4 Rxh4 49.b5 Rh3+ 50.Kc2 cxb5 51.cxd5 exd5 52.exd5 Ke7 53.Nf2?! Rh2 0–1 Pandavos Panayotis : Grivas Efstratios B33 Athens 2000 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.0-0 a6 9.a3 Be7 10.Be3 Qc7 11.f4 b5 12.Qf3 0-0 13.Rae1 Rb8 14.Kh1 b4 15.Ne2 bxa3 16.bxa3 e5 17.f5 Na5 18.Nd2 Bb7 19.Rb1 Bc6 20.c4

Black has the better pawn structure (two pawn islands compared to his opponent’s three pawn islands), while White is lacking any aggressive plan. The transfer to an endgame seems to be a fair choice. 20...Rxb1!

1012

A very significant detail. Black seeks major piece exchanges so as to forestall any aggressive action by White while aiming at the favorable ending guaranteed by his healthier pawn structure. 21.Rxb1 Rb8 22.Rb4 Ba8! 23.h3 Nc6 24.Rxb8+ Qxb8 25.Qf1 White has no choice as he cannot allow the penetration of the black queen on the queenside. 25...Bd8!

The forgotten black bishop prepares to enter the fray via a5 or exchange itself with the e3-bishop. 26.Qb1 Otherwise 26...Bb6, would be strong, while 26.Qg1, is met by 26...Nd7!. 26...Qxb1+ 27.Bxb1 Nd7 28.Bd3 Bb7 And not 28...Bb6?! 29.Bxb6 Nxb6 30.c5! dxc5 31.Bxa6=. 29.Nb3 Na5! 30.Nec1 Kf8

1013

31.Nxa5 Simple and expected but rather passive, adding nothing to White’s resistance and general savings efforts. Maybe he should think of something more concrete like 31.c5 Nxb3 (31...Nf6 32.Nxa5 Bxa5 33.cxd6 Nxe4 34.Nb3 Bd8 35.Nc5 Nxc5 36.Bxc5 Ke8³) 32.Nxb3 d5! 33.exd5 Bxd5 34.Nd2 Be7³. 31...Bxa5 32.Nb3 Bd8 33.Kg1

33...a5!

1014

Seeking to gain further space while restricting the white knight and to fix the white pawn on a3. 34.a4?! This doesn’t help. White should have stayed put by 34.Kf2 and await developments. 34...Bc6! 35.Bd2 Bxa4 36.Nxa5 36.Bxa5?, loses material to 36...Bxb3 37.Bxd8 Nc5µ, but also strong is 36...Bxa5 37.Nxa5 Nc5 38.Bb1 Ke8 and the a5–knight will soon fall! 36...Nc5 37.Bb1 It seems that White has managed to defend. However, things are not exactly the way he would like as the exchange of pawns on the queenside allows Black to give up the two bishops since his knight will be the superior minor piece in view of the fact that pawns exist mostly on one wing. Moreover, Black also wins material, but this would not be significant enough if he did not have the knight.

37...Bxa5! 38.Bxa5 Bb3 39.Kf2 Bxc4 40.Ke3 Bf1 41.Kf2 Bd3! Securing a won ending thanks to the extra pawn and knight vs bishop aided by the presence of pawns on only one wing. 42.Bxd3 Nxd3+ 43.Ke3 Nc5 44.g4 Ke7 45.Bb4 Kd7 46.h4 Kc6 47.Ba5 d5!

1015

The exchange of pawns allows the black king to centralize while also transforming the e5-pawn into a passed one. 48.exd5+ Kxd5 49.Bc3 Ne4 50.Bb2 Nd6 51.Kf3 h5!

The last pawn break, shattering the white pawns. The end is near. 52.Ba3 e4+! 53.Kf4 hxg4 54.Kxg4 The pawn ending after 54.Bxd6 Kxd6 55.Kxe4 g3 56.Kf3 Ke5, is easily won for Black. 54...e3! 55.h5 1016

55.Kf3 Nxf5 56.h5 Nd4+–+. 55...f6 Avoiding a simple trap White had set (56.f6!), but good enough as well is 55...e2 56.Bb4 f6 57.Kf3 Kc4 58.Be1 Kd3–+. 56.Kf3 Nxf5 57.Bf8 White resigned realizing the futility of resistance after 57...Kd4. White’s last trap, 58.Bxg7 Nxg7 59.h6, does not work in view of 59...Ne6! 60.h7 Ng5+–+. 0–1 Krajina Davor : Grivas Efstratios B33 Vinkovci 1989 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Be3 Qc7 8.a3 a6 9.f4 d6 10.Bd3 Be7 11.Qf3 b5 12.0-0 0-0 13.Nd4 Nxd4 14.Bxd4 e5 15.Be3 Bb7 16.Rae1 Rac8 17.Kh1 Qd7 18.Nd5 Bxd5 19.exd5 Ng4 20.Bd2 f5 21.fxe5 Nxe5 22.Qh3 g6 23.Bc3 Bf6 24.Re2 Rc5 25.Rd2 Re8 26.Bb4 Nxd3 27.Qxd3 Rc4 28.Qg3 Be5 29.Qf3 Re4 30.Bc3 Rf4 31.Qd3 Rxf1+ 32.Qxf1 Bxc3 33.bxc3 Qe7 34.h3 Qe4 35.Qd3 Qf4 36.Rd1 Re3 37.Qd2 Qe4 38.Kg1 Re2 39.Qg5 Kg7 40.Kh1 h6 41.Qg3 f4 42.Qg4 h5 43.Qd7+ Kh6 44.Rg1 Qxd5 45.Qd8 Kg7 46.Qd7+ Qf7 47.Qxd6 f3 48.Qd3 fxg2+ 49.Rxg2 Re1+ 50.Rg1 Re6

Black has the better ending as he can claim that he is a pawn-up due to the doubled white c-pawns. In addition, his king is obviously safer compared to his counterpart. 1017

51.Rf1 Qe7 52.Qd4+ Kg8?! Black should welcome a queen ending especially a pawn-up after 52...Kh7 53.Qd5 Re1! 54.Rxe1 Qxe1+ 55.Kg2 Qxc3µ. 53.Qd5 Qd6? In the rook ending White’s hopes are considerably increased so Black shouldn’t go for it. Sufficient is 53...Kh7µ. 54.Qxd6! Rxd6

55.a4! Creating targets to attack. 55...bxa4 After 55...Rc6 56.axb5 axb5 57.Rf3, White will hold. 56.Ra1 Rc6 57.Rxa4 Kf7 57...Rxc3 58.Rxa6 Kg7 (58...Rxh3+ 59.Kg2 Rc3 60.Rxg6+ Kh7 61.Ra6 Rxc2+ 62.Kg3=) 59.Kg2! Rxc2+ 60.Kg3, is already a theoretical draw. 58.Kg2 Ke6 59.Ra3 Kd5 60.Kf3 Rf6+ Nothing is gained by 60...g5 61.Ra5+ Rc5 62.c4+ Kxc4 63.Rxa6=. 1018

61.Kg3 Ke4 62.Ra5 Ke3 63.Rd5! Stopping any black ideas like transferring his king to attack the doubled c-pawns. 63...Rc6 64.Kh4 Rxc3 65.Rd6 a5 66.Rxg6 Rc5

67.Rd6! Again keeping the black king into bay, not allowing him to attack the c-pawn. 67...Ke4 68.c4! Ke5 68...Rxc4 69.Kxh5=. 69.Rd8! Preserving the rook on the d-file while avoiding 69.Ra6? Kd4–+. 69...Ke6 70.Rd1 Ke7 70...a4 71.Ra1 Ra5 72.c5! and White holds. 71.Rd2 Ke6 72.Rd1 a4 73.Ra1 Ra5

1019

74.c5! Not the only way to draw, but the safest and clearest. 74...Rxc5 75.Rxa4 Kf7 1/2-1/2

1020

Show in Text Mode

Chapter 4 - Tactical Motifs Tactics are the salt & pepper of chess. They crown every strategy and appear in nearly every game thus so we cannot live without them! Typical tactical motifs repeat themselves and their knowledge and understanding are an essential asset to season our opening preparation. Example 1 Klimov Sergey Haznedaroglu Kivanc B33 Panevezy 2008 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 Be7 8.0-0 a6 9.Be3 Qc7 10.f4 d6 11.Qf3 0-0 12.g4 b5 13.g5 Nd7 14.Qh5 g6 15.Qh4 Re8 16.Rf3 Nb4 17.Rh3 Nf8 18.Rf1 Bd8 19.e5 Bb7 20.exd6 Qxd6 21.Be4 Nd5 22.Bc5 Bb6 23.Qf2 Bxc5 24.Nxc5 Bc6 25.Bg2 Nxf4 26.Qxf4 Qxc5+ 27.Rf2 Re7

1. ? (W)

1021

Show/Hide Solution

28.b4! Qb6 29.Qd6 Rc7 30.Ne4! Nd7 31.Qf4 Rf8 32.Nf6+ Nxf6 33.gxf6 1–0

Example 2 Antoniou Antonis Grivas Efstratios B33 Limmasol 1997 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.Be3 Qc7 9.f4 a6 10.Qf3 Be7 11.0-0-0 b5 12.g4 Nd7 13.g5 Nb6 14.Nd4 Bd7 15.Nxc6 Bxc6 16.f5 b4 17.Ne2 exf5 18.Qxf5 Nd7 19.Rhf1 Ne5 20.Nd4 0-0 21.Kb1 a5 22.h4 a4 23.h5 a3 24.b3

1... ? (B) Show/Hide Solution

24...Bd7! 1022

24...Bd7 25.Qf2 Ng4 26.Qe1 Nxe3 27.Qxe3 Qc3 28.Kc1 Bg4–+. 0–1

Example 3 Tsarouhas Vasilios Grivas Efstratios B33 Athens 1995 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.Be3 Qc7 9.f4 a6 10.Qf3 Be7 11.0-0-0 b5 12.g4 Nb4 13.Kb1 d5 14.e5 Nd7 15.g5 Nb6 16.Qf2 Na4 17.Ne2 Bd7 18.Ned4 Rc8 19.f5 exf5 20.Bxf5 Bxf5 21.Qxf5 0-0 22.h4

1...? Show/Hide Solution

22...Nxb2! 23.Kxb2 Qc3+ 24.Kb1 Qxe3 25.Qd7 Bc5 26.e6 Bxd4 27.e7 Rfe8 28.Rhe1 Qc3 29.Nxd4 Qc4 30.a3 Qa2+ 31.Kc1 Rxc2+ 0–1

1023

Example 4 Pandavos Panayotis Grivas Efstratios B32 Korinthos 1997 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Bd3 e6 7.Be3 Qc7 8.f4 d6 9.0-0 a6 10.Qf3 Be7 11.Kh1 0-0 12.Nc3 b5 13.a3 Rb8 14.Rae1 b4 15.Nb1 bxa3 16.bxa3 e5 17.f5 Na5 18.N1d2 Bb7 19.Bg5 Rfe8 20.Nxa5 Qxa5 21.Nc4 Qc7 22.Ne3

1...? Show/Hide Solution

22...Nxe4! 23.Bxe7?! 23.Bxe4 Bxg5 24.Nd5 Bxd5 25.Bxd5 Bf6³ 23...Nf6! 24.Qh3?! 24.Bxd6 Qxd6 25.Qg3 Qc5µ 24...Qxe7 25.Ng4 Nxg4 26.f6 Nxf6 27.Rxf6 Qxf6 28.Qxh7+ Kf8 29.Rf1 Qg5 30.Qh3 Ke7 31.Bc4 1024

Qxg2+ 32.Qxg2 Bxg2+ 33.Kxg2 f6 34.Bxa6 Rb2 35.Bd3 Ra2 36.Rb1 d5 37.Bf5 Kd6 38.a4 Rxa4 39.Rb7 Re7 40.Rb6+ Kc5 41.Rb8 Rf4 0–1

Example 5 Salem AR Saleh Grivas Efstratios B33 Dubai 2016 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.0-0 a6 9.a4 Be7 10.a5 Qc7 11.Be3 0-0 12.f4 Bd7 13.g4 Be8 14.g5 Nd7 15.f5 Nce5 16.Nd4 Nc5 17.f6 Bd8 18.Qh5 gxf6 19.gxf6 Kh8 20.Kh1 Rg8

1. ? Show/Hide Solution

21.Rf4! Ncd7 22.Qxh7+! 22.Qxh7+ Kxh7 23.Rh4+ Kg6 24.Rh6#.

1025

1–0

Example 6 Pavlovic Milos Grivas Efstratios B33 Athens 1995 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.f4 a6 9.Qf3 Be7 10.g4 Qc7 11.g5 Nd7 12.Bd2 b5 13.0-0-0 Nc5 14.Kb1 Bd7 15.Rhe1 Nxb3 16.axb3 0-0 17.e5 Rfc8

1. ? Show/Hide Solution

18.Bxh7+! Kxh7 19.Qh5+ Kg8 20.Re3! Bxg5 21.fxg5 Nxe5 22.Rh3 Ng6 23.Rf1! e5 24.Qh7+ Kf8 25.Rh6 Bf5 26.Rxf5 gxh6 27.Qxg6 1–0

Example 7 1026

Saltaev Mihail Grivas Efstratios B33 Komotini 1993 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.0-0 a6 9.Kh1 Be7 10.f4 Qc7 11.Qf3 0-0 12.Bd2 b5 13.Rae1 b4 14.Nd1 a5 15.c3 a4 16.Nd4 Nxd4 17.cxd4 d5 18.e5 Nd7 19.f5 Ba6 20.f6 gxf6

1. ? Show/Hide Solution

21.Bxh7+! 21.Bxh7+ Kxh7 22.Qh5+ Kg8 23.Rf3+–. 1–0

Example 8 Khachiyan Melikset Grivas Efstratios B33 Internet 2008 1027

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.0-0 a6 9.Be3 Qc7 10.f4 Be7 11.Qf3 0-0 12.g4 b5 13.g5 Nd7 14.Qh5 Bb7 15.Rf3 g6 16.Qh6 f5 17.exf5 exf5 18.Rh3 Rf7 19.Nd5 Qd8 20.Nxe7+ Rxe7 21.Nd4 Nxd4 22.Bxd4

1... ? Show/Hide Solution

22...Ne5! 23.fxe5? 23.Be2 Qd7∞. 23...dxe5 24.Bc3 Qd5 25.Rg3 Qh1+ 26.Kf2 Qxa1 27.Rg1 Qxa2 28.h4 Qd5 29.h5 b4 30.hxg6 bxc3 31.gxh7+ Rxh7 32.Qg6+ Rg7 33.Qb6 Qd4+ 0–1

Example 9 Gergacz Attila Grivas Efstratios B33 Kallithea 2008

1028

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.Be3 Qc7 9.f4 a6 10.Qf3 Be7 11.0-0 0-0 12.Rae1 Nb4 13.a3 Nxd3 14.cxd3 Bd7 15.Rc1 Qd8 16.g4 Bc6 17.Nd4 Rc8 18.b4 Nd7 19.a4 e5 20.Nf5 exf4 21.Qxf4 Ne5 22.Nd5 Ng6 23.Ndxe7+ Nxe7

1. ? Show/Hide Solution

24.Nxg7! Ng6 24...Kxg7 25.Qf6+ Kg8 26.Bd4+–. 25.Qh6 Qh4 26.Nh5! Qxg4+ 27.Kf2 Qh4+ 28.Ke2 Qxh2+ 29.Rf2 Qe5 30.Nf6+ 1–0

Example 10 Dervishi Erald Grivas Efstratios B33 Ikaria 1997 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.Be3 Qc7 9.0-0 a6 10.f4

1029

Be7 11.Qf3 0-0 12.Rae1 b5 13.e5 Nd7 14.exd6 Qxd6 15.Be4 Bb7 16.f5 exf5 17.Qxf5 g6 18.Qh3 Qe6 19.Qh6 Nde5 20.Bd5 Qc8

1. ? Show/Hide Solution

21.Bc5! Ng4 22.Qf4 1–0

Example 11 Dominguez Perez Leinier Polgar Judit B33 Khanty-Mansiysk 2011 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Qd2 Qc7 9.0-0-0 b5 10.f3 Be7 11.Kb1 0-0 12.g4 Ne5 13.Bf4 b4 14.Ne2 Rd8 15.Ned4 Bb7 16.Qe1 Rac8 17.h4 d5 18.exd5 Rxd5 19.h5

1030

1... ? Show/Hide Solution

19...Nxf3! 20.Qg3 20.Nxf3 Qxc2+ 21.Ka1 Rxd1+–+; 20.Bxc7 Nxe1 21.Rxe1 (21.Bh2 Nxc2–+) 21...Rxc7–+. 20...e5! 21.Bg2 exf4 22.Qxf3 Rxd4! 23.Nxd4 23.Qxb7? Qxc2+ 24.Ka1 Qxd1+ 25.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 26.Nc1 Rcxc1#. 23...Bxf3 24.Bxf3 Nd7 25.Rhe1 Bf6 26.Nc6 Ne5 27.Nxe5 Qxc2+ 28.Ka1 Bxe5 29.Rb1 f6 30.Be4 Qd2 31.Bf5 Bxb2+! 0–1

Example 12 Fong Yit San Grivas Efstratios B33 Kuala Lumpur 2015 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Be3 Qc7 8.Bd3 d6 9.0-0 a6 10.f4 1031

Be7 11.Qf3 0-0 12.g4 b5 13.g5 Nd7 14.Qh5 Bb7 15.Rf3 g6 16.Qh6 f5 17.Rh3 Rf7 18.exf5 exf5 19.Nd4 Nxd4 20.Bxd4

1... ? Show/Hide Solution

20...Ne5! 21.fxe5 dxe5 22.Be3 Qc6 23.Kf2 f4! 24.Bd2 Qg2+ 25.Ke1 Bxg5 26.Bf1 Qg4 0–1

Example 13 Van Riesen Klaus Hawranke Dietrich B33 Pinneberg 2000 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Qb6 6.Nb3 e6 7.Bd3 a6 8.0-0 Be7 9.Be3 Qc7 10.f4 d6 11.Qe2 b5 12.Rae1 0-0 13.Bf2 g6 14.Qf3 Bb7 15.Qh3 Nb4 16.e5 Nxd3 17.cxd3 Nd5 18.Bd4 Nxc3 19.Bxc3 dxe5 20.Re3 Bd5 21.Bxe5 Bd6

1032

1. ? Show/Hide Solution

22.Qxh7+! Kxh7 23.Rh3+ 23.Rh3+ Kg8 24.Rh8# 1–0

Example 14 Zawadzka Jolanta Haznedaroglu Kivanc B33 Athens 2007 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 Be7 8.Qe2 d6 9.Be3 Qc7 10.f4 a6 11.g4 b5 12.0-0-0 Bb7 13.Kb1 Nd7 14.g5 Nb4 15.Rc1 Nc5 16.Rhe1 0-0 17.f5 Nbxd3 17...exf5 18.exf5 Rfe8 19.Nxc5 dxc5 20.Be4 Bxe4 21.Nxe4 Bf8 22.Qg2 Nd5 23.Rcd1 Nxe3 24.Rxe3 Qf4 25.Rde1 Red8 26.Qh3 Ra7 27.Rg1 Rad7

1033

1. ? Show/Hide Solution

28.Qxh7+! Kxh7 29.Rh3+ Kg8 30.Nf6+ gxf6 31.gxf6+ Bg7 32.Rxg7+ Kf8 33.Rh8# 18.cxd3 Nxb3 19.axb3 Qd7 20.f6 gxf6 21.gxf6 Bxf6 22.Bh6 Kh8 23.Qf3 Qe7 24.Nxb5 Be5 25.Bxf8 Rxf8 26.Rc7 Qh4 27.Rf1 Qxh2 28.d4 Bg7 29.Rh1 Qd2 30.Rc2 Qb4 31.Rch2 Rc8 32.Rxh7+ Kg8 33.Qg4 Bxe4+ 34.Qxe4 Qxb5 35.Rg1 1–0

Example 15 Schaefer Markus Luecke Norbert B33 Muenster 1992 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 Be7 8.Be3 Qc7 9.f4 d6 10.Qf3 a6 11.0-0 0-0 12.g4 b5 13.g5 Nd7 14.Qh5 Re8 15.Rf3 Nb4 16.Bd4 e5 17.fxe5 Nxe5 18.Bxe5 g6

1034

1. ? Show/Hide Solution

19.Rxf7? 19.Qxh7+! Kxh7 20.Rxf7+ Kg8 21.Rg7+ Kf8 22.Rf1+ Bf5 23.Rxg6 Reb8 24.Rxf5+ Ke8 25.Bd4+–. 19...Qa7+ 20.Bd4 gxh5 1/2

Example 16 Cela Altin Grivas Efstratios B33 Athens 1997 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 d6 8.Be3 Qc7 9.f4 a6 10.Qf3 Be7 11.g4 b5 12.0-0-0 Nb4 13.Kb1 d5 14.g5 dxe4 15.Nxe4 Nfd5 16.Bd4 Qxf4 17.Qh5 Nxd3 18.cxd3 Ne3 19.Rde1 Nf5 20.Rhf1 Qh4 21.Qf3 0-0 22.Bf2 Qxh2 23.Rh1 Qc7 24.Nd4 Rd8 25.Nxf5 exf5

1035

1. ? Show/Hide Solution

26.Rxh7! Bb4 26...Kxh7 27.Qh5+ Kg8 28.Rh1+–. 27.Nf6+! 27...gxf6 (27...Kf8 28.Rh8#) 28.Qh5 Bxe1 29.Rh8+ Kg7 30.Qh7#. 1–0

1036

Table of Contents Title page Key to symbols Foreword The Sicilian Defense History of the Opening Efstratios Grivas Introduction The Variation Statistical Overview Why is it the ‘Grivas Sicilian’? Why play the ‘Grivas Sicilian’ History Top GS Breakdown of Chapters Contributors - Helpers Lady Godiva My Big Love Sound or Not Chapter 1 - Move By Move Medusa under the Microscope Variation A1 - Medusa - 5.? Variation A2 - Medusa - 5.Ne2 Variation A3 - Medusa - 5.Nf5 Variation A4 - Medusa - 5.Be3 Variation A5 - Medusa - 5.Nf3 Variation A6 - Medusa - 5.c3 Variation A7 - Medusa - 5.Nxc6 Variation A8 - Medusa - 5.Nb5 Variation A81 - Medusa - 5...a6 Variation A811 - Medusa - 6...Qa5+ Variation A812 - Medusa - 6...Qd8

8 9 10 10 11 14 15 15 16 16 16 17 20 21 22 23 23 25 26 26 27 28 30 32 47 52 63 80 80 82 92 1037

Variation A82 - Medusa - 5...Nf6 Conclusion Variation B - Eros B32 Eros under the Microscope Variation B1 - Eros - 6.f3 Variation B2 - Eros - 6.Be3 Variation B3 - Eros - 6.Bd3 Variation B31 - Eros - 6...e6 Variation B32 - Eros - 6...d5 Variation C - Cyclopes B45 Cyclopes under the Microscope Variation C1 - Cyclopes - 7...Bb4 Variation C11 - Cyclopes - 8...Qa6 Variation C12 - Cyclopes - 8...d5 Variation C121 - Cyclopes - 10.bxc3 Variation C122 - Cyclopes - 10.exd5 Variation D - Poseidon B33 Poseidon under the Microscope Variation D1 - Poseidon - 7...Bb4

104 122 123 123 124 133 141 142 157 174 174 175 181 191 199 202 210 210 211

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