Daring Defences - #2 2002 - GM Jonathan Tisdall
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Once again circumstances have forced a rethink about how to handle the information glut. Even with the increasing percentage of really unprintable games I mentioned last time, there are more than enough encounters that need at least a look, if not dissection. |
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Typically, when I finally decided that the only way to cope was to concentrate on a select group of games, annotate second class candidates lightly, and embed the rest with remarks about why they were worth perusing - a reviewer drops by.
Luckily this section didn't suffer too much, but after trying to return to the old annotate 'em all level after feeling sensitive about some of the reviewer comments (though it was a very nice review), I have to admit that I just can't do it. Too much to do, too little time, and no team of assistants. So I am going to fall back to concentrating on just the theoretical or thematic moments, with the exception of pivotal games that cry out for deeper treatment. (And I hope the next reviewer reads that.)
Either there has been a lot of action in Finland lately, or they all play weird openings - probably a combination of the two, though I suspect the latter is closer to the truth. Between our maverick friends in the north and a crop of fine English Defences, there is plenty of fun for this instalment. One thing that comes through very strongly in the most extreme cases of Daring Defending, and which we see a lot of this time (in lines like 1.d4 Nc6 2.e4 f5 and the piece sacrifice lines in the English Defence) is the invisible psychological factor.
People who are prepared to live on the edge have a big, blunt, psychological weapon that their opponent must be ready to face. If you play through the games Keskinen - Salmensuu, Johannessen - Halkias or Jelen - Beliavsky try to imagine experiencing those whirlwinds at the board, with a clock ticking. I think it is just as important as spending a bit of time analyzing - you need to have a feel for the mental state of both sides of such positions. But now, on to the games:
All this month's new games are easily downloaded in PGN format using ChessPub.exe, open ChessPub.exe, put the date on, say, 10th April 2002, and then click on 'Daring Defences', over on the right. All these games should appear (and the new ChessPub Guides, too)!
You can also enter the specific ECO code if you are only interested in a particular opening. To download the March '02 games directly in PGN form, click here: 
The Budapest and Fajarowicz [A51-52]:
Things continue to be remarkably quiet on the theoretical front here, and not even the faddish Fajarowicz saw action. The one inclusion is in the 4.Bf4 g5 line. This was a very sharp clash, and though it was in a very rare sideline, the game illustrates some of the potential of this tricky variation.
The Benko [A57-59]:
Relatively quiet here as well - most of the games chosen are really here because they piqued my curiosity. Halkias - Szieberth because I suspect that a novelty must be lurking in the background, Marquez Molina - Bellon Lopez because it features a classic trap that should be in every Benko players notebook, and Pinter - Hertneck because of an odd move-order wrinkle that might interest aficionados.
The only typically theoretical game is Varga - van der Weide, where the novelty comes rather late. I don't think that Varga's idea poses serious trouble in this line, but it is worth a look for those that play this particular variation.
The Blumenfeld [E10]:
Only one representative this time, and that in a fairly discredited sideline of the gambit declined. Black's approach is considered a bit too simplistic, and what arises is very much like a bad Benoni - though the result is a reminder that even a bad Benoni has fangs.
The Albin [D08-09]:
Had time off!
English [A40 &A50] and Owen's Defence (1...b6) [B00]:
The Owens Defence (1...b6 vs. e4+d4) featured in Glek - Polak, which demonstrated again the solidity of Black's position in that particular line, and how easy it is for White to fall apart if he is ambitious. Blatny always has something interesting up his sleeve, and his game against Zilberstein gives us a chance to have a look at a rarer line. The Hippo of the month is Babula - Likavsky, which is a very clever game by White and full of ideas.
The English was where the action was, with big names, new ideas, wild sacrifices and plenty of brawling. Karpov - Morozevich has to be included due to the class of the company, though it also provides very little action.
The real treat of the section is a trio of duels (Johannessen,L - Halkias, Berkvens - Minnican and Jelen - Beliavsky) in the piece sacrifice line 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 Bb7 4.Bd3 f5 5.exf5 Bb4+ 6.Kf1 Nf6 7.Be2 0-0 8.c5 bxc5 9.a3 Ba5 10.dxc5 where Black has several ways to punt the bishop on a5. Each of the games extends the theory of this fascinating position a bit further, and sets the stage for further argument - none of the games is anywhere near the final word on their respective lines. Beliavsky boggled his opponent with a series of violent sacrifices to produce a neat miniature, but of course such wins require assistance.
Miezis produced two rather doubtful novelties. The game against Gretarsson was incomprehensible, but the duel against Burmakin was a tremendous brawl distinguished by some nice fisticuffs by White.
Epishin - Barle was a very interesting game where Black deserved a better fate. Farago - Kharlov did not change theory's verdict about Black's treatment of that position, but it did produce a complicated fight.
1...Nc6 [B00]
The Finns were at it again, flinging their f-pawns around and playing ugly or mind-boggling positions. All of the Finnish games packed entertainment, and Salmensuu's Morphy-esque win over Keskinen gets the brilliancy prize for the issue - or at least the romance award.
Aronian - Pedersen really should be fine for Black, but things went sour quickly. White's conversion of his advantage was wonderfully energetic - oh, to be young again. Van der Wiel - Hoogendoorn also impressed me. I might be wrong, but I think this was a very subtle performance by White.
Shabanov - Minasian is included to get some material on this rather minimalistic approach by White.
1...a6 [B00]
Nothing to report here this time.
In general, the games here are a real treat, with a high swashbuckle factor for Daring Defences this month.
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