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Hello everybody! I'm GM Alexandr Fier and I'm back on Chess Publishing. This month we had plenty of interesting tournaments and I tried to catch one or two games from each one were I could find some interesting new ideas.

Download PGN of June ’17 1 d4 d5 2 c4 games

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The Slow Slav 4.e3 Bf5 5 Nc3 e6 6 Nh4 Bg6 [D12]

In Wojtaszek, R - Topalov, V Topalov won a nice game using a rare idea that Gelfand employed many years ago:











I like 8...c5 and for the moment I don't see any clear way for White to gain any advantage.

Ivanchuk, V - Ortiz Suarez is a very interesting game where Ivanchuk doesn't mind playing chess instead of going into deep theory, since Black is doing fine in the critical lines.











The position after 8 a3.


The Slow Slav 4.e3 Bf5 5 Nc3 e6 6 Nh4 Be4 [D12]

In Rodshtein, M - Motylev, A, featuring the 6...Be4 7 f3 Bg6 mainline:











Here Motylev plays 16...b5! and solves all his problems in what seemed to be an advantageous position for White.



Queen’s Gambit Accepted 3.e4 e5 4 Nf3 Bb4+ 5 Nc3 [D20]

7 a3!? is a move that is played from time to time with good results and it's new for ChessPublishing:











Stevic is one of the biggest specialists on the Queen’s Gambit Accepted. Here, in Van Wely, L - Stevic, H Van Wely follows a Parligras game, but improves by expanding on the kingside instead of trying to recover the pawn.



Ragozin System 5 Qb3 [D35]

I think this line is a reasonable option for those who want to create some pressure without much risk:











Black should be fine, but some precision is required, see Wang Hao - Vidit, S.


Semi-Tarrasch 5 cxd5 Nxd5 6 e4 [D41]

Strong subscriber Lev Yankelevich asked how White can get some advantage in the Semi-Tarrasch, especially in the critical line after 14...Nf6. In Svidler, P - Kramnik, V, after the further 15 Rfe1 h6 16 a5:











Kramnik played 16...bxa5, deviating from a game between Topalov and Carlsen in 2015 that was already analyzed by Max for ChessPublishing!



Closed Catalan 4...Bb4+ 5 Bd2 Be7 [E08]

In Mareco, S - Akobian, V Mareco's novelty 13 Nd2 is an interesting try and Black needs to be well prepared not to come under pressure:











in the game if White had played 16.Nf3 instead of 16.Rac1 Black would have been in danger.

In Ding, L - Giri, A Giri plays the trendy 10...a5 where Black is holding well for the moment:











Ding deviates from a game played in the Chinese league, but entered into a long line that was already analyzed by Max for ChessPublishing!



Till next time, Alex.

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