Download PGN of March '14 1 d4 d5 games
N.B. Game 5 updated 6/4
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Anti-Meran 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.Bd3 [D46]
The first three games are in the Anti Meran with 6.Qc2 which could perhaps serve as the start of a new mini-repertoire for some of you?
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At least, I am tempted to try it out myself, as I was quite impressed by the practical bite this simple set-up has for White, once you know a few thematic ideas.
Game 1, Mekhitarian - Porper, after 11.e4 e5 12.dxe5 Nxe5 13.Nd4! Black tried 13...Ng6:
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which is new to the Archives, and only tried once before.
Game 2, Esen - Ali Merandi, here we back up a bit, to cover earlier Black responses after 6...Bd6 7.Bd3 0-0 8.0-0:
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the main game saw 8...Re8 and 8...c5 is also considered.
Game 3, Zhou Weiqi - Jia Haoxiang, is a game from 2009, among several other examples of Black's most solid reply, 8...e5:
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The resulting late middlegame/endgame must be a bit depressing for Black as he's mainly playing to draw, while White can keep on grinding a small edge. This is probably the reason why Black is trying out other alternatives in game 1 & 2.
Chebanenko System - early e2-e3 ...b7-b5 b2-b3 7.c5 [D45]
In Game 4, Gupta - Palit, we see how a similar no nonsense 5.e3 set-up could also work against the Chebanenko.
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Main Slav Murey Variation 5.a4 a5!? [D16]
In Game 5, Cmilyte - Welling I was fascinated by the Murey variation, 5.a4 a5!? in the Slav:
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It's an interesting hybrid of the Smyslov and Bronstein variations, and for some reason almost ignored by theory. Admittedly, I started out looking for something like a refutation but found that the resulting positions seem to become increasingly playable for Black the more you look at it!
Queen's Gambit Accepted 3.e4 Nf6 [D20]
Game 6, Moiseenko - Alekseenko, covers a trend in the QGA 3.e4 Nf6 4.e5 Nd5 5.Bxc4 Nb6 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.Ne2 Bg4 8.Be3 Qd7 9.Nbc3 0-0-0 and here 10.0-0 is a new move:
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though the idea of giving the e5-pawn for development has been seen previously after 10.a4 too.
QGA 3.e4 e5 4.Nf3 Bb4+ [D20]
Game 7, Greenfeld - Mannion, 3.e4 e5 could be where Black will place his trust in the near future. 4.Nf3 Bb4+ 5.Nc3 exd4 6.Nxd4 Ne7 7.Bf4:
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when 7...a6!? was a new response.
Game 8, Jankovic - Stevic, saw 6...Nd7!? instead:
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the game itself could have gone either way. But the idea seems quite interesting for Black.
Anyway, I hope you will enjoy the games, ideas and analysis for March!
Best wishes, Thomas Johansson
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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.