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Whilst I was at the European Championships in Dresden I noticed some interesting games in the Slav Openings. Such complicated systems as the Slav or Anti-Moscow Gambits have become more popular these days - their theory is well developed but, in spite of that, there are still many unexplored lines and they seem to attract creative players, who like to work hard at home and during the game.
Players like Dusko Pavasovic, who collected two 2600+ scalps within the space of a couple of days in the very same deep line with the black pieces. On the second occasion he spent just a few minutes producing his first 40 or so moves to achieve a winning position!

Download PGN of May '07 1 d4 d5 games


Marshall Gambit [D31]

Volkov - Kempinski: 9. Ba5 has become White's main weapon during the last few years:

In this game Black failed to demonstrate a good defensive set-up and quickly found himself in trouble.

Moiseenko - Pavasovic: 9. Bd6 has also gained some popularity these days. However, Black recently discovered that the brave capture 9...Qxg2 deserves attention and scored decent results:

See the game Gajewski - Kempinski, POL-chT Ustron 2006, for example. Now it looks even more unbelievable that within a couple of days two 2600+ players - Loek van Wely and Alexander Moiseenko - found this deep line attractive for White but both discovered that things are far from simple. Thus their opponent - in both cases it was the same Dusko Pavasovic - scored two convincing victories with the Black pieces and, I was told, in the second game he spent just a few minutes producing his first ... 40 or so moves! Congratulations for the wonderful home preparation!



Ragozin System [D38]

Chuchelov - Jobava: Baadur Jobava chose a rare order of moves, 6...c5,which does not seem to be fully equalising:

However, his opponent was in a hurry to gain some benefit and clearly underestimated the power of Black's pieces...

Kosintseva - Zdebskaja: Black tried to improve over the game Khenkin - Maze/Geneve 2007 here but White's chances certainly always looked preferable, if not much better ...



Moscow Variation [D43]

Gajewski - Predojevic: Here Black introduced another option in this recently developing line but failed to completely solve the problems. His position was playable but he never really thought about risky attempts to get counter chances until it was too late...

Sakaev - Cheparinov: The Anti-Moscow Gambit was rather popular in Dresden. It usually leads to very complicated, sharp positions, which are always attractive for creative players, who like to work hard both at home and during the game. In this game Black came up with a novelty and achieved good play though he eventually spoiled his chances.

Iljin - Nepomniashchy: Black failed to find a good reply to White's novelty in a sharp line here and lost without fighting. However, he could have defended better by giving up the whole rook but obtaining good compensation thanks to his powerful pawn phalanx:

The dispute will be continued...

Rogozenko - Spiess: Here Black chose a rare option which seems to be underestimated. The ending which soon arose in the game is quite playable for Black even if White can find a way to maintain a small advantage - in fact he played rather carelessly and soon found himself in trouble.


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.