"Mainstream" Daring Defences
Grünfeld & Dutch
Mainstream Daring Defences June '02 UpdateWelcome to this month's Update. I had hoped that by delaying this update I would be able to give you some examples from my own games, but as you can see in the comments at the start of the Dutch section that wasn't to be! So let's get down to business and look at some interesting new ideas in the Grunfeld. |
All this month's new games are easily downloaded in PGN format using ChessPub.exe, but you can also download the June '02 Mainstream Daring games directly in PGN form here: 
Grünfeld
Exchange Variation 7.Be3, 8.Nf3 [D85]
Here after 8...Qa5 9.Qd2 Nc6 10.Rb1
                  
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Black had previously dealt with the threat of 11.Rb5 by playing 10...a6 when after 12.Rc1 White can be pleased to have forced Black to weaken his queenside somewhat compared to the immediate 10.Rc1. Alternatively Black can ignore the threat with 10...0-0 though he then has to sacrifice his queen after 11.Rb5 cxd4 12.Rxa5 dxe3 13.Qxe3 Nxa5. Black has done OK from this position, though it is White who has the pleasure of pressing for the win.
Something Black has avoided is the straightforward reply 10...cxd4, heading for the endgame, even though this is a common idea after the similar 10.Rc1.
This is because with the white rook on b1 rather than c1, after 12.cxd4 Qxd2+ 12.Kxd2 0-0 13.d5 Na5 14.Bc5, attacking e7, Black can't reply 14...Bh6+ forcing the bishop back to e3 or else Bxc1 wins the exchange.
Nevertheless, the Israeli GM Sutovsky has added something new to the debate by showing that this line may in fact be playable after all! Have a look at Khenkin-Sutovsky. This is a very exciting struggle that shows there are still a lot of things waiting to be discovered even in an opening as heavily analysed as the Grunfeld.
Seville Variation
You may recall that in a game in the previous update Black got annihilated by the exchange sacrifice line that runs 10.0-0 Bg4 11.f3 Na5 12.Bd3 cxd4 13.cxd4 Be6 14.d5 Bxa1 15.Qxa1 f6 16.Bh6 Re8 17.Kh1!
 
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This month he has fought back with a new idea. From an aesthetic point of view the position looks appalling for him, but remember that being the whole exchange up he can always offer up material to avoid the worst. Check out Kharlov-Mamedyarov.
Exchange Variation with an early Bd2
The line considered here begins 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Bd2 with White refusing to be provoked into e2-e4. This is a very solid system for White, and frequently leads to a pawnless situation in the centre and a quick draw. It was used by Tigran Petrosian against Fischer to achieve a long term edge and eventual draw at the 1970 USSR v. the Rest of the World Match. Therefore it is interesting to see how the maverick Sutovsky manages to inject dynamism into the position and score a crushing victory as Black in only 21 moves. Check out Priehoda-Sutovsky.
The Russian System 7.e4 a6 [D97]
In the sharp attacking line 8.e5 b5 9.Qb3 Nfd7 10.h4 c5 11.e6 c4 12.Qd1 Nb6 13.exf7+ Rxf7 14.Be3 Nc6 15.h5
  
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Svidler's move 15...Bf5 has had its up and downs, but even worse for an ambitious player as Black it has been well studied and so no longer surprises the opponent. Therefore is no wonder that creative minds like Shirov are looking for new ideas here. This month we look at his game with the young star Radjabov in which he introduces a new move to the debate at elite level: previously it had been used with mixed success at lower levels. It leads to a short but tremendous fight in Radjabov-Shirov.
The Russian System 7.e4 Bg4
The Vietnamese IM [and WGM] Hoang Thanh Trang has won many excellent games in the Dutch on this site thanks to her tactical invention. But in the game given here on the White side of the Grunfeld she is completely murdered due to lack of opening knowledge. The moral is that if you enter a sharp variation you have to know at least the basic theory. In any case White's errors were exploited in great style by Black- this is the Grunfeld at its best! Check out Hoang Thanh Trang-Flumbort.
Dutch
At the start of July I entered one of the First Saturday tournaments in Budapest. Not having played in a tournament for more than six months I was pleased that I managed to win one of the IM sections, but I was frustrated in my aim of playing some good games in the Dutch for the DDs website. It turned out that the tournament was infested with English Opening adherents. I had two fairly interesting games beginning 1.c4 f5, but that is outside my territory on the website!
1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f3
1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f3 [A85]
At least I managed to see Iweta Radziewicz, the Polish Women's Champion, employ her potent system versus the Dutch. You may recall the game Radziewicz-Dworakowska given in the last update. Her opponent this time came up with something better but he still spent the whole game struggling. And as he won the tournament he wasn't playing feebly. Black really needs something inspiring here- I guess we have to wait until a 2600+ player faces the system.
Incidentally, after this game I learnt from Iweta that she messed up the later half of the game with Dworakowska and that Black was winning somewhere. In any case, take a look at Radziewicz-Seres.
1.d4 f5 2.Nh3!? [A80]
I guess this had to happen sometime. In fact I'm surprised it has only been played twice as it is the most successful move against the Dutch scoring 2/2! Unlike weirdoes such as 1.Na3 or 1.Nh3, there is a genuine positional point to the move as the f4 square is already looking like an excellent square for a knight. Have a look at Bezgodov-Panchenko. This is an excellent advertisement for the knight move, though Black made a big contribution to his rapid defeat.
Leningrad Mainline 7...Qe8 8.d5 [A87]
In an article on the Hastings Congress in Chess Monthly magazine I described the Chinese player Zhang Zhong as having a lot of tactical talent but poor openings. The game selected here supports this verdict. He is outplayed by the arch theoretician Victor Mikhalevski but then unleashes a string of tactics that almost knocks out his opponent. Alas fir him White held on to win the endgame. Have a look at the very instructive game Mikhalevski-Zhang Zhong.
Leningrad Mainline with 7...Qe8 8. Nd5
In the next game we also see White in the role of champion of law and order whilst Black is straining to break things up and land a tactical blow. Look out for the ubiquitous black queen in Flear-Santo Roman. She goes to e8 and then b5 and then bounces back to e8 and g6, before joining in an attack along the f file.
2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bg5 [A80]
Contrary to first impressions in this variation the black pawns on the kingside after 3...d5 4.Bxf6 exf6 are a source of dynamic play for Black, not a weakness: White's own chances are on the queenside. I have selected a text-book example of how Black should use the kingside pawns to undermine White's centre. Have a look at Argandona Rivero- De la Riva Aguado.
Well that's all for now. I'm off to the British Championship and I hope to have one or two games worthy of the DDs website there. Meanwhile good luck with your own chess!
Neil
1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f3
Jon Tisdall is back with the Maverick DD's in July