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May '00 Update

Botvinnik

Exchange with Ne2

Anti-Meran

Mainslav

Catalan

Botvinnik (RS)

RS213 The line where the Black Knight invades on d3 preventing White from castling is not popular because Black gets behind in development as well as allowing White to obtain a strong passed pawn on f6. But previous tournament practice had not shown a clear way to set Black problems, that is, until Alexander Beliavsky demonstrated White's advantages very conclusively...

RS212 Currently Uhlmann's 16 Rb1 is one of the most testing continuations- Black is suffering here. Here he tries to solve his problems with a new move which secured a big material advantage. However the move had never been played by such Botvinnik experts as Vladimir Kramnik and Alexey Shirov, and not without reason.

RS214 Black comes up with an unexpected and interesting idea which was once played by Hannes Stefansson, but was probably underestimated and so almost forgotten...

Botvinnik

Exchange with Ne2

Anti-Meran

Mainslav

Catalan

Exchange with Ne2 (RS)

RS215 In the notes to RS175 we suggested that it was risky for Black to allow the White pawn to advance to g6. Here Black tries to dispute this statement...

RS216 An instructive game. Black was punished for his superficial play very conclusively.

Anti-Meran (RS)

RS208 A rather risky way to counter 7 g4!? is considered. Black is greedy and takes everything on offer, but this materialistic approach is defeated as White attacks with great enthusiasm and precision.

RS209 Not a very popular way to counter 7 g4!? Black saves his extra pawn but White's initiative looks dangerous.

RS210 Black avoids the main line at the critical moment. This was probably not a very wise decision as he was eliminated by the method which has already been demonstrated by Alex Wojtkiewicz.

RS211 In a rather important line Black tries to confuse his opponent with an interesting try, but his lack of active pieces stop the plan succeeding. White plays very precisely and gives Black no chance to survive.

Botvinnik

Exchange with Ne2

Anti-Meran

Mainslav

Catalan

Mainslav (RS)

RS217 An interesting idea. Instead of locking out Black's light-squared Bishop as White usually does in this line, he instead pursues it all over the board and completely destroys Black's position in the complications.

Catalan (ND)

RS198 According to the classicists, if Black gets ...c7-c5 in safely against the Queen's Gambit he should be well on his way to an equal game. Yet against the subtle Catalan this often only serves to liberate White's bishop on g2.

RS199 A very solid looking move from an attacking player like Tal, yet Black does have an active plan in mind. The point is that he wants to fianchetto his queen's bishop, complete his development and only then free the position with ....c6-c5.

RS200 One of the points behind White developing his knight to d2 is that the c4 pawn is better defended should Black try to counterattack with ...Ba6 or ...c6-c5.

RS201 An idea worth noting. White often voluntarily captures the f6 knight in the Catalan in order to take the knight on d7 away from the defence of c5.

RS202 A very principled line, by playing thematic ...c7-c5 immediately Black gets to bring his b8 knight out to c6. In reply Kasparov plays an interesting gambit continuation.

RS203 An important innovation by Ribli which creates problems for Black in a position that was once considered harmless for him.

RS204 A very strong and suprising idea by White that is borrowed from a line of the Chigorin Defence.

RS205 An interesting gambit continuation which certainly puts the most pressure on Black in this line.

RS206 One of a number of variations in which Black attempts to hold onto the gambit pawn.

RS207 A prophylactic move which leads to rich and complex middlegames in which White's advantage in space is partially offset by the hole on b4.

Botvinnik

Exchange with Ne2

Anti-Meran

Mainslav

Catalan