Nov '99 Update
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Benko Gambit (JT)
Those of you who have been following developments here will know that I have been "neglecting" the Benko, and even worse, doing so on purpose. I still have yet to see a convincing recipe to what I consider to be the most threatening line from White at the moment, and last month's instalment was even more worrying from Black's point of view. The line tore through gambiteers at a ferocious clip, and there was no statistical difference between stratospheres- it seemed as deadly at the meticulously prepared international level as it did in the rough and tumble of Open tournaments.
This month there is some statistical cheer, as Black finally wins a game, but I stick to my guns about the assessment of the line for the time being. With all due respect (and I mean that) a game from an international girl's event is not the acid test. I know that when I was a kid, being booked up or "theoretically prepared" meant knowing an awful lot of successful, fashionable moves. A few hands-on experiences of being slapped around (hard) by players who actually understood the point of the moves taught me that there was a lot more to keeping up with theory than knowing what was "in"- a bit like the Monty Python sketch where an actor points out that a role is not just measured in the number of words he had to memorize, but getting them in the right order was quite important as well. One should take care not to give "theoretically prepared" a double meaning. One should either be realistically prepared, or prepared to wing it. Better to face up to reality.
So I am sceptical about the opening adventures of very small children. Though not medium-sized children, they tend to be professionals. Of course, besides the tough approach of studying to gain wisdom, there is the moving target school. They like to have a few back-up variations, so they can run and hide if something bad happens to one of their lines. Let someone else patch up the opening, then we can take it up again. This is very popular with the slightly older breed of player, and with the noticeably lazier one, and I think that most of us will see the attractions of this school of thought.
With this in mind, I will point out a few more interesting lines for White. Firstly because it provides a fallback position for those who don't want to get involved with what might be a heavyweight theoretical battle, and secondly, because it is nice to have a choice and the element of surprise. Also, there are plenty of strong players out there playing the Benko, and it would be simplistic not to expect a Black antidote to be brewing in someone's analytical kitchen.
I hear another round of complaints- why am I only looking for new ways for
White to trouble Black? For one thing, I think this is also the best way to
serve the Benko player, by pointing out where danger is likely to poke out its
ugly head. And if Black does some popular line serious damage, that is news
as well, and I promise to give it the space it deserves.
Finally, I think it is easier to look at the Benko this way, since it is very
much an opening of plans, and it tends to be White that has to work to find
new ways to combat Black's rather clearly defined arsenal. This is a bit simplistic,
but I am trying to strike a balance. At any rate, I will focus most of my attention
this time on this well-respected member of my defences, if for no better reason
than to make up for last time.
So, a few new trends, and a few things that just caught my eye.
First, the two heavyweight theoretical choices for this month. Korchnoi-Cramling. is one of those games that bewilders me the more I research it. I can understand the attraction of this line for such a happy pawn-grabber as Korchnoi. Black seeks counterplay much more reminiscent of the Blumenfeld in this variation (to most people that implies that Black's compensation is somehow less real, but not the denizens of Daring Defences), and play is very different from the stereotyped pressure on the queenside.
Having said this, white's kingside is a bit breezy, and he is not terribly active anywhere. When you check the source material, you find that white's score has been pretty unimpressive in the line lately, and downright bad after 17.a4. But black has always faced both dangers and pressure in these games, and while black's position looks aggressive and harmonious, white has that a-pawn in the bank and tries to argue that black's kingside is loose as well. In any case, a thought-provoking game.
Lautier-Topalov. is the pairing with the best pedigree, and the line they discuss has been quite popular lately. Although I am not terribly impressed by non-acceptance, there have been some very interesting tussles in this rather fashionable variation of the Gambit returned. I was struck by Topalov's avoidance of the more travelled paths. He didn't fool around with striking back in the centre with …e6, he didn't flick out the chic …a5, he just developed as fast as possible. His plan of …Ne8-c7 and …f5 was really rather neat.
The fashionable 5 b6 a5 has been hit by some rather violent games involving a quick pawn storm with f4 by white, and Blees-Markus. is the latest teeth-shaker using this plan. Levitt was the first I know of to revive this very underrated plan, and to make it even nastier by flicking in the stab 10 b7. Black has had a tendency to hit the windshield at high velocity here, and I refer readers to the wisdom of the powerful Mr. Topalov above.
My personal favourite, the echoes on the Piket-Topalov game which I keep talking about, popped up twice. The first was the above-mentioned game from the World Girl's U-14(see DD176), where White was doing rather well before a few grim errors, and a lopsided affair Yusupov-Kersten, where black tried a rarer line with a bad reputation and Yusupov found yet another way to torment the gambiteer. I'm still waiting for someone to really patch up this line (10 Rb1 to reach pleasant variations previously ruled out by move order) with black…
On the truly amazing front, I couldn't help including an effort by a stubborn fellow called Shchukin, see DD181. I couldn't resist the game on entertainment value alone, but a little research showed that he has made a living (or more accurately, a dying) out of this manic countergambit.
Finally Heinlein-Blasco. is a very odd game that could well be the offspring of a g3 Blumenfeld, which is something we might see more of if we saw much of the Blumenfeld at all. Benko-Blumenfeld switch-hitter Lev Alburt often used to meld the systems like this, and it deserves more tests. Black had strange compensation for a very long time before the surreal finish.
Budapest Gambit (JT)
Nothing earth-shattering here. Barus had the rare challenge of facing a true gambit line of the Budapest twice in a matter of days(see DD173 and DD175), winning both games in lines that did not make a real impact on theory. The other choices in this section illustrate extremely thematic ideas, or just entertained me:
DD171 Another illustration of the dangers for white if he does not beware the Budapest rook.
DD174 examines a position which was certainly for a while considered a good reason for Black not to play the Budapest, as White has just got the famous bishop brothers and what has Black got? Well, a very solid position, and White finds it very hard to find a way to get both of his bishops working at the same time.
DD177 7... Ngxe5 is still worth playing as a move order, and a lot of people would admit that the devilish trap it contains is one reason they first got interested in the Budapest. And as one of this month's crop of games shows, there are still people who need to learn the hard way:
DD184 A good example of things going right for black in a line where white's ratty pawn structure often means his extra pawn is an obligation to remain highly vigilant throughout the game. The strain is often too much, and when one o of the weaklings goes, the rest of white's queenside often follows like bad teeth...
Blumenfeld Gambit (JT)
The Blumenfeld Gambit is apparently on holiday. Hopefully it will be back soon with some exciting adventures to share. As it is one of my personal favourites, I am looking forward to seeing it again. There is a close cousin hiding under the Benko Gambit heading.
Old Indian (JT)
A couple of interesting games in the good Old Indian. As I admitted before,
I am expecting this opening to steadily gain in popularity, though there are
as of yet no signs that my crystal ball is any clearer here.
Two vivid renditions: Mitkov-Strikovic.
features an astoundingly ambitious plan by Black in one of White's safest lines.
I must confess to being a fan of the line as white, as it contains quite a bit
more sting than it appears to have. The traditional remedy for black has been
to move his knight on f6 and trade dark-squared bishops. Strikovic's manly handling
of the line makes a strong impression, and just when it appeared that he might
be getting a classic bad bishop position, he managed to transform his chunk
on g7 into a powerhouse. A game and a plan worth noting, even if it seems too
aggressive to be true.
Dvoirys-Malaniuk.
was an equally fine performance from the other side of the board. Ex-Leningrad
Dutch virtuoso Malaniuk does not seem to be making the transition to the solid
confines of the Old Indian too well. His penchant for putting off the …b5
break was neatly exploited by white, who was very well prepared when it finally
came, and long-term pressure was the name of the game.
English Defence (JT)
There are some people doing nice work here.
DD182
features a new 5th(!) move from Black that winds up looking like a Nimzo/Queen's
Indian, which is not a bad thing. White did not have the nerve to accept the
odd gambit, but this is an intriguing idea.
DD178 is a textbook English Defence, with a methodical build-up on the kingside that leads to a violent finish, a very nice thematic game where black first breaks down the White centre, and then makes steady progress.
Bischoff came up with a rather unassuming but solid enough interpretation to draw a strong opponent, see DD185.