Download PGN of March ’21 KID games
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Four Pawns Attack 5...O-O 6 Nf3 c5, 9...Re8 [A69]
Potkin, V - Yuffa, D is a rare Four Pawns, with the rare but dangerous line 12.e6:
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It has been played in correspondence, and it's not bad, but Black looks fine with the game's uncommon move 13...Rf8.
Lesser Averbakh or Karpov Variation 6.Be3 Nc6 [E73]
Petrov, N - Haldorsen, B features 6...Nc6 against Be2/Be3:
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It had not occurred to be that this may also occur in the equally trendy h3+Be3 with ...Nc6. White can choose between sharp and simple play on move 8. It all looks a bit better for White, but remains playable - for now.
Classical Makagonov Variation 6.h3 e5 7.d5 Na6 8.Be3 [E90]
I think if Black plays this move order, then 8...Nh5 is a better try in the diagram position:
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In the lines with ...a5 (like 7...a5) Black should not rush to play ...Nc5. Wang, J - Iskandarov, M is a nice creative game but both sides make mistakes in time pressure.
Classical Variation 7...Na6 8.Be3 Ng4 9.Bg5 Qe8 10.Re1 [E94]
This old line with 8...Ng4 and 9...Qe8 is looking like a dead end to me, despite Black's victory in Egresi, M - Mihok, O. 10.Re1 is simply a strong move:
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Perhaps White's biggest problem is that there are a few pleasant choices and it's hard to decide what to play!
Classical, Donner Variation 6.Nf3 c6 7.0-0 e5 [E75]
I do not believe in this 8...c6 line, although Black does get equality within his grasp in Lysyj, I - Shomoev, A.
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White will easily find improvements in the opening stage of the game.
Classical Variation 6...Nbd7 7.0-0 e5 8.Be3 c6 9.d5 c5 [E94]
So, W - Duda, J is not so theoretically important, another look at 11.g4, first played by recently retired GM Rainer Knaak:
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However, the new American citizen plays a model game using a space advantage in a heavily blocked position.
Classical Variation 7...Bg4!? [E94]
The Caruana variation! I have basically been playing the Classical King's Indian for both colours for 30+ years (OMG) and never paid any attention to this 7...Bg4 move before:
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Fabiano borrows an idea of Dzindzi's (unwittingly or not) and plays a very creative strategic game, try to guess his next, very surprising move here:
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Don't miss Wojtaszek, R - Caruana, F!
Instead of Wojtaszek's choice, the 8.d5 of Gunina, V - Vitiugov, N looks the most natural to me:
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White must keep an edge here, but Black tends to get a playable game. Perhaps White can challenge Black's concept with an idea I give in the notes. I imagine we'll see some tests soon enough.
Until next month, David
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Don't hesitate to share your thoughts and suggestions with me. Any queries or comments to the KID Forum, or to me directly at david@ChessPublishing.com (subscribers only) would be most welcome.