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The August update covers some interesting novelties recently introduced at the top level in various Slav openings. Wang Hao's serious challenge to Sergey Rublevsky's favourite QGA should not be missed either!

Download PGN of August '08 1 d4 d5 games


Chebanenko System [D15]

Alekseev - Bacrot: Evgeny Alekseev introduced a good novelty here and obtained the better chances. Then some clever manoeuvres helped him to increase his advantage and score a full point seemingly without sweat. White's play looked very simple but brought excellent results - he just pushed his Q-side pawns forward while Black failed to find any counter measures.



Main Slav [D16]

Onischuk - Volokitin: A transposition from the Slav to the QGA cost Black a tempo but the extra move a2-a4 only gave White a slight benefit:











Black developed his pieces in a simple way - it allowed his opponent's central breakthrough but White's initiative never really looked that promising.



Queen's Gambit Accepted [D27]

Moiseenko - Kuzubov: Alexander Moiseenko came up with a fresh attacking set-up and developed a very strong initiative in this game. It seems that Black now faces new problems in this well-known line.

Wang Hao- Rublevsky: Wang Hao came up with a new and well-prepared attacking plan here. A series of energetic moves, followed by a nice knight sacrifice gave him a strong initiative as well as more than extra hour on the clock:











Sergey Rublevsky kept defending with the only moves but still failed to solve the problems when his opponent suddenly went astray in a very promising position.



Ragozin System [D38]

Akobian - Mitkov: Varuzhan Akobian becomes the first, and probably the last, player to capture the poisoned pawn by 12. Qxb7?!:











Nikola Mitkov came up with a series of powerful moves and completely destroyed White's defence.



Moscow Variation [D43]

Mamedyarov - Gustafsson: Jan Gustafsson surprisingly followed the game Inarkiev - Aronian/World Cup Khanty-Mansiysk 2007, in which Black lost his queen for two minor pieces. However, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov declined the gift and played a new and interesting continuation. A series of energetic moves helped him to develop the initiative but at the critical moment White failed to find the best way, after which Black had sufficient defensive resources.

Inarkiev - Cheparinov: Ernesto Inarkiev came up with an interesting approach in the line he introduced into practice in the game Inarkiev - Aronian/World Cup Khanty-Mansiysk 2007. Since that time Black has found a good defence but now he failed to solve the new problems although White eventually ruined a promising position at his own hands.

Radjabov - Aronian: Levon Aronian tried to improve upon the just considered game Inarkiev - Cheparinov game, but also failed. It seems that Black has to work out his defence more precisely.



Botvinnik Variation [D44]

Gustafsson - Ivanchuk: Vassily Ivanchuk introduced a good novelty in a sharp line which was always considered rather suspicious for Black. However, recently White often fails to give Black real problems here.



Ruslan

 

If you have any questions, then please post a message at the 1 d4 d5 Forum, or subscribers can email me at ruslan@chesspublishing.com.