The Very Latest Developments
The January 2000 Update!Welcome to the first update of this New Millennium! Or to the first one of the New Year if you are a 'non-zeroist'! May all your novelties gain crushing victories! |
This month covers the remaining games from the European Teams Championship, plus several top-flight tournaments played in December/January.
English Opening
1...e5
White plays a subtle opening idea in the Closed King's English, and seems to win two pawns, in TK117, but Black has judged well that his initiative more than compensates.
In the Four Knights the move 4...Nd4 is one of my favourites, and resulted in a wild attacking game in TK125.
Playing ...d6, and ...f5, is a popular black idea, but he must beware of White's quick d4, as in TK129.
1...c5
One of de Firmian's novelties is given a testing in TK118 but Black seems to hold a draw easily enough.
A critical black exchange sacrifice is considered in TK119, but White's new try is quickly diffused.
Not a good last day of the Millennium for Judit, see TK126!
And not a nice way to start the Millennium for Judasin, whose first Hedgehog of 2000 gets flattened in TK128!
1...Nf6
An anti-Grünfeld endgame goes wrong in TK120.
Black shows, in TK121, that he is not necessarily reduced to trying to nullify White's bishop pair in the Nimzo-English, but can play sharp, attacking, sacrifices, too.
A sharp novelty on move six in the Mikenas Attack of TK127 triumphs in double-quick time.
1...b6
Is this refuted? Despite Black's brave queen sacrifice White always seemed to be on top in TK122.
Réti
Reversed Benoni positions occur relatively often whenever Black plays ...d5, replying to White's c4 with ...d4, and TK123 demonstrates a model white plan here.
Larsen's Opening
Adolf Anderssen's invention, 4...Bd6 comes through another testing in TK124.