Download PGN of February '14 1 d4 d5 games
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Chebanenko System - early e2-e3 ...b7-b5 b2-b3 7.Bd2 [D15]
Van Wely-Solak: A rare and modest-looking bishop advance is becoming more popular these days:
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Black recently faces problems equalising and here he also failed to oppose this approach even though it might seem that Loek van Wely didn't do anything special to score the full point.
Main Slav 5...Bf5 6.Ne5 Nbd7 7.Nxc4 Nb6 [D17]
Kotanjian - Petrosian: Here Tigran Kotanjian came up with an interesting plan to disturb Black's solid but somewhat passive set-up, 8.Ne3!?:
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White eventually prevailed, though not without his opponent's help who was probably a bit too aggressive in the opening.
QGA endgame 7.dxc5 Bxc5 [D27]
Melkumyan - Laznicka: Victor Laznicka came up with an interesting approach:
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and confidently equalised in a recently popular version of the QGA endgame.
Ragozin System without ... c5 [D38]
Kryakvin - Khismatullin: Denis Khismatullin used a slightly sophisticated order of moves to play the Ragozin Defence and then early K-side play without the thematic ...c7-c5 gave him acceptable play:
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It seems that White's typical approach with Q-side castling might actually lead nowhere in this type of position - he should pay more attention to the other options...
Anti-Meran 5...a6 [D45]
Socko - Gunina: Monica Socko came up with a clever novelty, 17.Bf3!:
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This pawn sacrifice helped White to seize the initiative and Black's mistakes just made her task easy.
Meran Defence 8...Bb7 9.e4 b4 [D47]
Simantsev - Mammadov: Zaur Mammadov finished this nice game with a wonderful tactical shot, Black to play and win:
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White's early assault is not popular as Black always gets strong counter play and here his task became much easier when White came up with a losing novelty.
QGD Lasker Defence 9.Rc1 [D56]
Aronian - Nakamura: Levon Aronian played a very rare and interesting idea, 14.Bc2!?:
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and eventually got a full point from his small advantage. However, Black position always looked defendable... though it was probably not as easy a task as it might seem to be.
Till next month, Ruslan
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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.