"Mainstream" Daring Defences
Grünfeld & Dutch
Daring Defences December Update.Welcome to this month’s Update. I wonder if you are planning to make 2002 a great year in your chess career? |
Please note that the drop-down lists have gone past their 'sell-by-date', and have been replaced by the far superior Electronic Books.
Remember that to be a strong chessplayer you need more than a knowledge of opening variations and new ideas, even though they are important-qualities such as fighting spirit, stamina and the endurance to survive setbacks are also necessary. I’m not sure if these attributes can be learnt from a book- they have to be honed in the hard reality of tournament and club play. So if you are serious you have to get out there and play.
On the other hand, the ability to calculate, see unusual ideas and make good strategical decisions can be strengthened by playing through the games and analysis in chess books or on Chesspublishing. So I hope you enjoy the games that follow- I think some of them are excellent specimens of chess art.
Grünfeld
The Exchange Mainline with Nf3 and Rb1
The World elite are still investing a lot of time and energy analysing the ultra-sharp variation with ...Qxa2. This month we investigate a sideline- a divergence after a mere 16 moves!- that has proved successful for White.
The French prodigy Etienne Bacrot is very well trained so even if he loses his opening ideas are well worth examining. He comes up with an antidote to White’s system, but then falls prey to a very clever sacrifice. Have a look at Agrest-Bacrot, DEC01/01.
There has also been an interesting game in the solid variation based on ...b7-b6. Again Black loses-and again theoretically speaking I like it for him! Check out Markos-Greenfeld, DEC01/08.
The Exchange Mainline with Nf3 and Be3
Whether objectively sound or not, a new idea in the opening often reaps a fine reward. The Israeli GM Emil Sutovsky finds a novelty on the tenth move in this well explored line- it looks risky but it forces White to think for himself and go wrong! You can see the result in Kempinski-Sutovsky, DEC01/06.
In the next game White is less successful when he tries a new approach in a standard position. He commits the cardinal sin of embarking on an extravagant plan whilst dangerously behind in development. This game demonstrates what a fine opening the Grunfeld can be for Black against careless or over ambitious play. Have a look at San Segundo-Mamedyarov, DEC01/11.
The Exchange Mainline with Qa4+
One of the reasons for this check is to disrupt Black’s usual development ...c7-c5 and ...Nc6 and so lead the game into territory that is still unexplored. Thus in the featured game a pawn structure typical of the King’s Indian Defence is reached.
                   
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Have a look at Volkov-Mikhalevski, DEC01/12.
The Grunfeld 4.Bf4
Finally, some Fischer nostalgia we look at the line that Petrosian used to beat the former World Champion after he had just won 14 games in a row. Like the game above, this is an unfinished symphony, but there is plenty of action before the sudden end. Enjoy Kadimova-Lavrenov, DEC01/05.
Dutch
The Fluid Centre
It’s been quite a while since we last looked at lines with ...d7-d6 and ...Be7. This month the variation returns with a bang- a thoroughly convincing attacking win by Black. This seems an ideal surprise weapon- check out Gallagher-Williams, DEC01/03.
2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bg5
How can Black make this line interesting against an extremely solid but strong opponent? The next game shows us how. Black plays in beautiful strategical style to gain a vice-like grip on the centre. Enjoy Kirsanov-Rossiter, DEC01/07.
The Leningrad Mainline ...Ne5; Nxe5 dxe5 Variation
I tried an accelerated form of this variation in one of my rare competitive games. White tried to improve on established theory but was soon in trouble until he saved himself with an inspired queen sacrifice. Have a look at the resulting bloodbath in Richardson-McDonald, DEC01/10.
The Stonewall
This month I can offer you two highly instructive games. But firstly I would like to thank subscriber Tom Codispoti for his email on the theme: why does White virtually always fianchetto on g2 against the Stonewall in master chess? I’m thinking about it! One of the things that confuses me is that in the well known Slav line 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 Nc3 e6 4 e3 f5 White plays Bd3 rather than fianchettos. I hope to have a reasonable answer next time-at the moment it is difficult to see much value in the fianchetto, as the two games this month give the impression that Bg2 in the Stonewall is refuted by ...h7-h6!
The first of these games is an important win by Predrag Nikolic. By changing his move order he improves significantly on a disastrous loss he had against Anand which was given a few months ago on Chesspublishing. The result is a smooth victory which makes the Stonewall look great- see Babula-Nikolic, DEC01/02.
In the second game it appears that Black is trying for the ultimate caveman hack- then suddenly off come the queens and he wins the ending in strong positional style. The Stonewall is a much more subtle opening than its reputation suggests. Here’s the proof in Hernandez Jimenez-Moskalenko, DEC01/04.
The Dutch 2.Bg5
Here’s an email from subscriber Paul Cumbers:
Dear Neil,
Have you ever seen 2...Nc6!? played in response to the annoying 2.Bg5 in the Dutch? John Emms introduced the move 2...Nc6!? in November 1996 Chess magazine and gave some initial analysis. It certainly looked like an interesting and reasonable idea for Black.
However, five years on, I've yet to see the move mentioned again or played at all! Was it promptly refuted before anyone had a chance to play it? Or is the move waiting to be rediscovered?
Thanks,
Paul Cumbers
I don’t think there is anything wrong with 2...Nc6. It deserves more attention than it has received so far. Of course, supporting the centre with c7-c6- in a set up involving g7-g6, Bg7, and d7-d5 is no longer possible, but then other plans are available for Black. However, if White plays solidly I don’t think 2...Nc6 has enormous independent value- it could easily transpose to other lines. Here is the only fairly recent game I could find in the line. Black loses but only after he plays the opening imprecisely. Have a look at Pert-Cherniaev, DEC01/09.
Well that’s all for now. Have a good new year with lots of victories on and off the chessboard! To get in touch just send an email to me at neilmc@chesspublishing.com.
Regards,
Neil
Jon Tisdall is back with the Maverick DD's in January