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In this update we look at some annoying lines that are easy to miss in general preparation, where we tend to focus on the big lines.

Download PGN of May ’19 KID games

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Fianchetto Variation Early ...c5 4...c5 5.dxc5 [E60]

After the topical 5.dxc5!? Qa5+ 6.Nc3 Qxc5 7.Qa4 Ng4 8.Nh3 Bxc3+! is Gawain Jones' fine idea. 9.bxc3 Nc6 10.Qb5N was a new try in Markus, R - Bronstein, O:











, but 10...d6 11.Qxc5 dxc5 12.Rb1 still leaves Black with the better pawn structure. White hopes for pressure along the b-file and long diagonal. Black quickly got the upper hand after 12...Nge5 but gradually lost the thread against his much higher rated opponent.


Fianchetto Early b3 lines [E60]

In Maghsoodloo, P - Jones, G we start with an Symmetrical English by 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 c5. A more 'official' move order would be 2...g6 3.d4 (or 3.b3 Bg7 4.Bb2 0-0 5.g3 d6 6.Bg2 c5 7.d4) 3...Bg7 4.g3 0-0 5.Bg2 d6 6.b3 c5 7.Bb2. 3.b3 g6 4.Bb2 Bg7 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.d4:











Now 7...d5!? Is an interesting move which is seen in some similar lines, as we shall see - the move orders and transpositions are really quite tricky. 8.dxc5 dxc4 9.Nbd2 Na6 10.0-0 Nxc5 11.Nxc4 Be6 In a symmetrical position, White would have a little something - if he can create some initiative. In the game both sides made some mistakes, but the Iranian made the last error against the new English #1. Despite the quiet nature of the opening, there are some great tactics in the notes.

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 0-0 5.0-0 d6 6.b3 is an annoying little move that I never properly studied. 6...c5! 7.c4:











Black has a few options here, but I quite like 7...d5!? as played in Lye,Lik Zang - Moussard, J. 8.cxd5 (8.Bb2 dxc4 9.bxc4 is actually a Grünfeld!) 8...Nxd5 9.Bb2 Nc6 10.Qd2 and here Black went for 10...Ndb4!?, while 10...Nc7 is also good.


Lesser Simagin 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.0-0 Bf5 [E62]

After the critical 8.d5 Na5 9.Nd2 the adventurous move is 9...c6, while 9...c5 is more solid. Now 10.b4 leads to complications:











After 10...Nxd5 (10...Nxc4 is another story) 11.cxd5 Bxc3 12.e4 Bxe4!? may be the best try. White was well prepared, however, in Fier, A - Kurayan, R, and following 13.Nxe4 Bxa1 14.bxa5 Bg7 15.a6! is a key move.



Sämisch System Panno 6...Nc6 7.Nge2 a6 8.Qd2 [E83-84]

8...Bd7!? is Smirin’s line. I think White needs to be aggressive with a move like 9.g4, 9.h4, or 9.Bh6, but in Pucher, S - Chigaev, M White went for 9.Rc1 which is well met with the immediate 9...b5!











After the main move 8...Rb8 I never thought that the natural 9.Nc1 was particularly dangerous. Black can just get a normal King's Indian position if he wants. 9...e5 10.d5 Nd4 11.N1e2 11...Nxe2, simple enough, 12.Bxe2 Nh5 13.0-0-0 f5 14.Kb1 Qe7 was Lan Zilun - Ni Hua. Both sides have flexibility here, the engine likes White a bit, but it's a normal position. In the game the higher rated player got totally carried away.



Karpov System 4.e4 d6 5.h3 0-0 6.Be3 [E90]

This line has become rather annoying, and the game Gasanov, E - Kotronias, V gives us more evidence that instead of 6...c5 Black may have to soon revert back to 6...e5 7.d5 Na6. After 7.Nf3! cxd4 8.Nxd4 b6 White now has a very pleasant choice:











We looked at 9.Qd2 recently, while 9.g3!? reaches some kind of Hedgehog and leads to a completely different kind of game. 9...Bb7 10.Bg2 Nbd7 11.0-0 has proven to be pleasant for White in practice.


Classical - 9.Ne1 Nd7 10.Nd3 f5 11.f3 f4 Mainline [E99]

Hjartarson, J - Yoo, C is a real veteran vs youngster battle. White is a former Candidate, while Black is a 12 year old IM! 12.Bf2 g5 13.Rc1 Ng6 14.Nd3 Nf6 15.c5 Rf7 16.a4 h5 17.Nb5 has often Black been met with 17...g4, which has done quite well, but the American prodigy went for 17...a6 which also looked viable.


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.