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Dear Readers, During the summer there were lots of chess activities all around the world, and many tournaments were held, so I decided to increase the number of commented games to 10. We have a variety of openings and ideas, and I hope that you will find it enjoyable and entertaining.
We start our survey with 8 Caro-Kann games, game 9 is an Alekhine, and game 10 a Pirc.

Download PGN of August '15 1 e4 ... games

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Caro-Kann Defence Advance 3...Bf5 4.h4 h5 [B12]

The first game, Nepomniatschtchi - Nisipeanu , covers the ever-popular Advanced Caro-Kann line 3.e5 Bf5 4.h4 h5 5.Bd3:











This recently started to become popular, it's an interesting mostly positional line.

Kadric - Radlovacki is another 4.h4 h5 Advanced line, and after the further 5.c4 e6 6.Nc3 Ne7 White played 7.Nge2!?:











This is an interesting move order connected with a pawn sac, and White played it well. Something to look out for.


Caro-Kann Advance Short System 5...Nd7 6.0-0 Bg6 [B12]

Vachier Lagrave - Navara is another Advanced variation, but this time one of the main lines after 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 Nd7 6. 0-0 Ne7 7.Nbd2 Bg6 8.Nb3 Nf5 9.a4 a6!?











After this little move Black continued with ...c5 and equalized without any problems. Something to look out for.


Two Knights Variation 3...Bg4 4.h3 Bxf3 5.Qxf3 [B11]

Another slow system occurred in the game McShane - Hawkins, 1.e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.h3 Bxf3 5.Qxf3 Nff6 6.d3 e6 7.Be2:











Somehow Black didn't find any strategically based plan in the opening and soon got into trouble. White managed to block the queenside and got a big space advantage on the kingside.

Ni Hua -Wang Hao was a more conservative line with 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.h3 Bxf3 5.Qxf3 e6 6.d4 dxe4 7.Qxe4 Nf6 8.Qd3:











Black seems to pass all the tests set by White in this game.


Classical 4...Bf5 Mainline [B19]

Hilby - Shabalov was a very sharp encounter after 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.Nf3 e6 7.h4 h6 8.Ne5 Bh7:











Shabalov tried this popular alternative to the more common 5...Nd7 but without success, as White had the initiative all the way.

Hou Yifan-So was another main line after 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6. Nf3 Nd7 7.h4 h6 8.h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 e6 11.Bd2 Ngf6 12.0-0-0 Be7 13.Kb1 Qb6:











White didn't manage to get much from the opening phase, if anything.


Classical 4...Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.Nh3 [B18]

In David - Kuprijanov we are back in a mainline after 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6.Nh3:











An interesting game, and although White won easily there are some interesting points for both sides that are not to be missed.



Alekhine's Defence 3.Nc3 [B02]

Finally we are now switching to other openings so ...

Tomczak - Rudolf was an entertaining game in a rare Alekhine line after 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.Nc3!?:











Another instructive and interesting game.



Modern Defence Austrian Attack 4...e6 [B06]

The final game, Drozdowski - Krasenkov, is a Modern Pirc, and something of a Krasenkov specialty, as he has mastered the line played here with both colors! After 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.f4 e6!? we have a Hippopotamus or 'Frog' set-up:











We have a line for players who are looking for unusual, non-theoretical Pirc and Modern positions.



Till next month, best wishes Milos.

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Please post you queries on the 1 e4 ... Forum, or subscribers can email me at support@chesspublishing.com.