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Chrif Drissi
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3 t £ : i Grandmaster Repertoire 8 The Griinfeld Defence Volume One By Boris Avrukh | Quality Chess [Link] First edition 2011 by Quality Chess UK Led Copyright © 2011 Boris Avrukh Grandmaster Repertoire 8 — The Griinfeld Defence Volume One All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, clectrostatic, magnetic tape, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of the publisher. Paperback ISBN 978-1-906552-75-6 Hardcover ISBN 978-1-906552-76-3 All sales or enquiries should be directed to Quality Chess UK Led, 20 Balvie Road, Milngavie, Glasgow G62 7TA, United Kingdom e-mail: info@[Link] website: [Link] Distributed in US and Canada by SCB Distributors, Gardena, California, US [Link], Distributed in Rest of the World by Quality Chess UK Ltd through Sunrise Handicrafts, Smyczkowa 4/98, 20-844 Lublin, Poland “Typeset by Jacob Aagaard Edited by Colin McNab, Andrew Greet Proofread by John Shaw Cover design by Adamson Design Printed in Estonia by Tallinna Raamatutriikikoja LLC Preface After the great success of my first two Grandmaster Repertoire books (1.44 for White), it was not long before the idea of writing about my favourite Black opening, the Griinfeld Defence, was discussed, Ironically this meant searching for an antidote to the line of the Fianchetto Variation on which I had worked so diligently in the second of my 1.44 volumes. My solution to this problem can be found in Chapter 4 of the present book. I would like to share the story of how I became a devotee of this great opening. After | moved to Israel in 1995 my opening repertoire was rather shaky, so during my first few months there I made a serious effort to improve it. Fortunately the Beer-Sheva Club and its manager Tlyahu Levant provided the best possible conditions for such work. My first coach in Israel was Mark Teeitlin, whom T continue to regard as something of a ‘Grnfeld guru’, [also received high quality support from Alex Huzman, a strong player who is best known for being the long-term coach of Boris Gelfand. Ever since my first few lessons with Mark, I immediately understood that the Griinfeld was the opening for me. I was attracted by the combative and dynamic positions to which it leads, and relished the prospect of fighting for the initiative with the black pieces. It was especially helpful that all the strong players in my new club knew this opening well. Indeed, in the present work the reader will find plenty of references to the games of Mark Tseitlin, Alex Huzman, Alon Greenfeld, Victor Mikhalevski and Alex Finkel. At that time the influence of the computer was not so strong, and by analysing together we managed to discover a lot of interesting ideas. The Griinfeld has remained my first choice against 1.d4 for sixteen years (and counting!), whereas against 1.e4 I have changed quite a lot. The Griinfeld is one of the most prominent openings at the highest level, with players such as Shirov, Svidler, Leko and Kamsky using it as their main weapon, while Anand, Carlsen, Topalov and Grischuk also employ it frequently. Let us not forget Garry Kasparov, who made huge contributions to Griinfeld theory from the late eighties until his retirement. ‘The recent Candidates matches paint a remarkable picture. Vladimir Kramnik refused even to allow Alexander Grischuk to play the Griinfeld (which is understandable given that one of Grischuk’s seconds was Peer Svidler), and opened all his white games with 1.2f3. Gata Kamsky played only the Griinfeld against 1.44, and his main second Emil Sutovsky is one of the leading Griinfeld experts in the world, Two of Kamsky's clashes with Boris Gelfand in the fashionable 4.£g5 system can be found in Chapter 23. Of course Grischuk lost his vital last game in the final against Gelfand with the Griinfeld, but as we shall see, he did not play the line I recommend! Thave always enjoyed the Griinfeld from either side of the board, as the rich positions offer considerable scope for creativity and investigation for both sides. I hope that after reading this book the reader will share my enthusiasm! Boris Avrukh, Beer-Sheva, May 2011 Contents Key to Symbols used & Bibliography NAUAY 13 14 15 16 17 Early Deviations 1.44 06 2.¢4 g6 Rare Third Moves 3.8 Fianchetto Systems 1.d4 £6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 Dxd5 5.c4 D6 Rare Lines 5.b3 Rare Seventh Moves 7 b3 White exchanges on d5 Various 4th Moves 1.44 f6 2.4 g6 3.23 d5 Rare Options 4M ast 4.¥4b3 Closed Variation 1.d4 £6 2.c4 g6 3.2c3 d5 4.e3 2g7 Various Fifth Moves 5.3 1.d4 Df6 2.c4 g6 3.23 d5 4.264 Sidelines 6.81 5.e3 c5 — Introduction and Sidelines [Link] — Sidelines and 9.@ge2 9.63 37 50 58 67 85 94 104 115 127 148 157 172 187 203 24 25 27 28 1.d4 Df6 2.c4 96 3.2c3 d5 4.225 Sidelines 5B 5.2h4 — Sidelines 7.€3 — Sidelines 8.8b1 [Link] 1.44 Af6 2.c4 g6 3.2c3 d5 4.03 2g7 Rare Fifth Moves 1.d4 Df6 2.c4 g6 3.23 d5 4.063 Bg7 5.Lg5 Des 6.h4 6.cxd5 Russian System 1.d4 @f6 2.c4 g6 3.23 d5 4.03 2g7 5.Wb3 dxc4 6.Yixc4 0-0 7.e4 Ac6 Without 8.22 8.862 Variation Index 226 242 255 259 266 275 291 296 304 317 327 Key to symbols used White is slightly betcer Black is slightly betcer White is better Black is better 4+ White has a decisive advantage Black has a decisive advantage equality with compensation with counterplay unclear with attack with initiative He te 2 aweak move 2 ablunder 1 agood move an excellent move a move worth considering 2% amove of doubeful value Bibliography Avrukh: Grandmaster Repertoire 2 ~ 1.d4 Volume Two, Quality Chess 2010 Davies: The Griinfeld Defence, Everyman 2002 Delchev & Agrest: The Safest Griinfeld, Chess Stars 2011 Dembo: Play the Griinfeld, Everyman 2007 Grivas: Beating the Fianchetto Defences, Gambit 2006 Rowson: Understanding the Griinfeld, Gambit 1999 Periodicals New in Chess Yearbooks Secrets of Opening Surprises (SOS) Electronic/Internet resources ChessBase Magazine [Link] = dla aa 5 we, Early Deviations +: Rare Third Moves Variation Index 1.d4 Df6 2.04 2...86 A) 3.2 8 B) 3.45 9 © 3.Lg5 Ded 4.2.64 c5 10 Cl) 5.45 10 C2) 5.fc2 Ml A) after 9...8d4 B) note to 5.bxa6_ abedefgeh White has lost control of the d4-square 8 Early Deviations 1.d4 Df6 2.c4 g6 The starting point of our journey into the Griinfeld Defence. Why not start earlier? Sometimes you cannot cover everything; I am sure you will find this book heavy enough as it is. Besides, there should also be room for another book later on... In this chapter we shall look at A) 3.82, B) 3.d5 and C) 3.2g5. Obviously there are many more possible moves, but some of them do not have any point and are not worth studying. And the rest we shall consider in the following chapters. 3.h4? This outlandish move has been championed by Simon Williams, who recently wrote an SOS article on the subject. 3.05! Black steers the game towards a position where the move h2-h4 is of limited value. 4.45 b5 4...e62N also deserves attention, angling for an improved version of a Modern Benoni. 5.0421 ‘A bit too creative. Williams suggests the improvement 5.h5?N @xh5 6.cxb5 a6 7.e4 d6, reaching an unusual kind of Benko position which should be roughly equal. 5..Dxe4 6.h5 WaSt 7.2d2 Sg7 8.4 Ado 8...f512N is also good. S.cxb5 &b7 10.hxg6 hxg6 11.Exh8+ Sxh8 12.24 a6 13.3 This was Vinoth Kumar ~ Shivananda, New Delhi 2009. White's play has been enterprising but ultimately unsound, and in this position both 13..c4N and 13...Mb4N give Black some advantage. A) 3.82 Maybe not such a bad idea against the Griinfeld, but the problem is that White gets a poor version of the King’s Indian Defence, where he can have trouble fighting for the vital d4-square. Here is one illustrative example: 3. 8g7 Certainly 3...d5 4.cxd5 Dxd5 5.c4 Db 6.283 is not such a bad version of the Anti- Griinfeld for White. 4.04 0-0 5.23 d6 6.22 D6 HR RwRUAA & 7 fe After 7.8f3 Black has a pleasant choice between 7...8g4 8.8e3 Dd7 and 7...e5, in both cases winning the battle for the d4-square. 7.05 8.dxe5 Obviously 8.45 2d4 couldn't satisfy White either. 8..dxe5 9.2d1 Ad4 White has lost the battle for the d4-square, and very soon finds herself in a clearly inferior position. 10.2xd4 10.842 &eGe 10..exd4 11.c5 We7 12.xd4 Wxc5F Koneru ~ Ami, Wijk aan Zee 2006, Chapter 1 - Rare Third Moves 9 B) 3.d5 When this chapter was almost ready, I was playing in a rapid tournament and my opponent managed to surprise me with this rare move. But after the game I did some work and came to the conclusion that the most promising response for Black is: Playing in the spirit of the Benko Gambit is logical, since the dark-squared bishop can find a lot of activity on the long diagonal after White has advanced his d-pawn. That said, I believe there is nothing wrong with more classical play, for example: 3...c6 4.03 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 Bg7 7.2£3 0-0 8.2e2 Dbd7 9.He3 Dc5 10.4d2 e6 With equal chances. 4.cxb5 a6 S.bxa6 During the aforementioned game I was concerned about [Link]. However, Black is not forced to take this pawn and can try 5...c6 6.463 4Ub7 with interesting play. 5.c3 Bg7 6.2c3 0-0 7.0f3 Bb7 8.Le2 axbS 9.2xb5 abcde f gn 9... Dxd5! 10.8xd5 Bxd5 11.Wxd5 06 12.8xc6 ®xc6 13.0-0 We7 [Link] Spassov — Ribli, ‘Camaguey 1974. As pointed out by Ribli in Chess Informant 17, 14..8fb8 would have secured excellent compensation for Black. 5.06 6.dxc6 If 6.4c3 then Black develops with tempo: 6..cxd5 7.@xd5 Wast 8.21c3 Bg7 9.8d2 Peey — Radev, Bulgaria 1975. Here simply 9...8xa6N 10.8£3 0-0 11.g3 Dc6 12.hg2 Efb8 13.2b1 Qd5! offers Black tremendous compensation. 6...Dxc6 7.03 0r7.Ac3 Bxa6 8.g3 2g7 9.22 0-0 10.h3 Varga — Feher, Hungary 1998, and now the natural 10...c6N 11.0-0 d5 12.0f4 g4! would give Black ample compensation for the pawn. 7-Sig7 8.D63 8.2c3 0-0 9.8f3 occurred in Alber — Banas, Germany 2000. Black now hurried with 9...2xa6, but instead the more accurate 9... MaSN 10.8d2 &xa6 would have given him an excellent version of the Benko. 8...0-0 9.2 Sxa6 10.2xa62 Better is 10.0-0 but after, for example, 10...e4 Black still has great compensation. 10...WaSt! ‘An important nuance. 11.4c3 Ded 12.0-0 Dxc3 13.bxc3 BxaGF Dzindzichashvili_ - Adorjan, Amsterdam 1978. 10 Early Deviations HE Nw UAA w e f gh Quite a tricky move, especially taking into account that it’s a rarely seen continuation. 3...De4 The most challenging reply. Certainly Black can continue with 3...2g7, but then he must be ready to play the King’s Indian, which is not in our plans, even though White's set- up after 4.c3 is generally considered quite harmless. 48£4 05. The text is logically connected with Black's previous move and resembles Black’s play in a line of the Trompowsky (I.d4 2f6 2.f.g5 Bed 3.84 5 ete.). Obviously after 4...8¢7 5.8 D6 6.04 we would get a strange version of the Samisch King’s Indian, with White’s f4 being an extra move. We have reached the main crossroads in this line. At this point the most logical moves are C1) 5.d5 and C2) 5.842, but we shall take a quick look at a couple of other moves that White has tried: If 5.Qd2 then the response 5...xd2 6.Wxd2 g7 is too compliant. After 7.45 White has a reasonable game, with chances for an advantage, Instead Black should play 5...'¥a5! 6.82, transposing into line C2 below. 5.£3 WaSt 6,.0d2 Axd2 ‘This looks more natural than retreating, as after 6...2f6 7.45 d6 8.e4 Black’s queen is somewhat misplaced on a5. 7.fixd2 Yb6 8.803 g7 9.¢3 In the event of 9.45 &xc3+ 10.bxc3 WA6 (also threatening the c4-pawn, by means of 11..8h4t) 11.83. d6, Black has an excellent position. This position arose in Koops ~Tesic, e-mail 2005, and now simplest for Black is: 9...Dc6N 10.De2 0-0 Obviously there is no advantage for White. Cl) 5.d5, HE Rw RUAA auibeece dese fh Sunfg7 6.0d2 DF6 Also not bad is 6...Wa5 7.We2 f5. 7.04 d6 Finally the game has transposed to a King’s Indian type of position, but with White's knight misplaced on d2. 8.2 Asa consequence of the knight being on d2, White has to take time to defend the b2-pawn, because the natural 8.Dgf3 would just lose this pawn to 8...0h5 followed by 9...xb2. Chapter I - Rare Third Moves u 8...0-0 9.Dgf3 06 10.243 If 10.8c2 then Black can obtain good play with 10...Dh5! 11.2g5 £6 12.263 £5. 10...0a6 ‘A useful move to insert before returning attention to the kingside; the threat of ...\b4 causes White to lose more time. l1ad In Straeter — Gross, Germany 1999, Black should now have played: Pe aus if EN wRUAA& 11..Ah5N ‘An already familiar idea. 12.2g5 £6 13.2e3 After 13.8h4 ee a) abcedef gh Black gets a good version of the King’s Indian with: 13...e5! (less clear is 13...exd5 14.cxd5 DF 15.0-0 gS 16.8g3 Dxd3 17.Mxd3 £5 18.exf5 Sxf5 19.Wb3=) 14.0-0 We8 Black cannot be prevented from carrying out his main idea, the ...f5-advance, which will give him excellent play. However, 14...2f4! is also worthy of consideration. 13...e5 ‘Again I don’t see how White can stop the «£5 advance; Black has great play. C2) 5.2 aati tieeeee se White’ best choice, according to theory. 5...Wast 6.0d2 6 ‘The justification for the previous move; White will have to spend some time if he wants to chase Black’s knight away from the centre. After 6... £6 7.d5 d6 8.04 £7 9.82 followed by 10.4c3, White is fighting for an opening advantage. 73 ‘The most natural reply. Another game saw: 7Def3 Black should continue: Fook g7 In Speelman — Ehlvest, Reykjavik 1991, Black immediately went wrong with 7...cxd4% and after 8.Dxd4 &g7 9.24b3! a2 Early Deviations White was better. 8.d5 This position has tournament practice, via a different move order, in the game Serafimov ~ Ignatenko, Russia 1996. I found the following natural occurred once in improvement: 8...DaG!N 9.3 White can hardly allow 9.e3 Bb4 10.83 ([Link] is clearly inferior: —10...Wad! 11.b3 dé 12.8¢2 @xa2! 13.82 Abs 14.4d1 Wd7+ Black remains with a healthy extra pawn.) 10...e5! 1 L.dxe6 dxe6 Black has a comfortable game, with excellent chances to take over the initiative. 9...0-0 10.3 @xd2 11.@xd2 HR RU RUA & 11...e5! Black is probably better already, eg. 12.dxe6 dxe6 13.0-0-0 e5 14.g3 Bd7 The idea of ...£4a4 is unpleasant for White. £6 8.d5 2p7 9.25 A natural idea, White's dark-squared bishop is transferred to c3, neutralizing the annoying pin along the el-a5 diagonal. This position occurred in Barsov — Vareille, Val ‘Thorens 1995. I found the following improvement: 9...0-ON 10.Dh3 6 Black strikes in the centre, aiming to use his lead in development. HE Nw RUA & 11.8c3 Wd8 12.04 Certainly 12.dxe6 dxe6 would allow Black to comfortably develop his queen's knight to o6. 12...fxe4 13.Exe4 bS! Black not only creates unpleasant tension in the centre, but also has the major threat of playing 14...b4, which would force White to give up his dark-squared bishop. In my opinion Black has good chances to take over the initiative. Conclusion White may be attracted to these rare third- move options because they make it problematic (or even impossible) for Black to continue in traditional Griinfeld style. However, by adopting a flexible approach, I believe that Black can obtain good chances. Against 3.2 it is promising for Black to head into a King’s Indian in which White's d4-pawn can quickly be targeted. I recommend meeting 3.45 with the aggressive 3...b5!? when Black can expect to obtain compensation typical of the Benko Gambit. Finally 3.825 can be met by an idea from the Trompowsky, 3...Qe4 followed by 4...c5, which assures Black of good play. & Hy we Early Deviations 3. abedefenh Variation Index 1.d4 Df6 2.c4 g6 3.£3 d5 4.cxd5 Dxd5 5.4 5...Db6 A) 6.a4 14 B) 6.Ac3 2g7 7.2€3 0-0 15 Bl) 8.8cl 15 B2) 8.4 Ac6 9.d5 Da5! 10.2d4 5! 11.Bxe5 Bxe5 12.fxe5 Wh4t! 13.g3 We7 14.81d4 Bd8! 15.b4 Dact 16 B21) 16.2xc4 Wxb4 17.0f3 Wxc4 18.He3 Be8!N 19 B211) 19.8d1 20 B212) 19.e6 20 B213) 19.8cl 20 B22) 16.03 21 B3) 8.4%d2 Ac6 9.0-0-0 22 B31) 10.ex85 23 B32) 10.h4 fxe4 11.h5 gxh5t 23 B321) 12.45, 24 B322) 12.8xh5 25 B33) 10.e5 Ab4 29 B331) 11.2h6 29 B332) 11.h4 2e6 30 B3321) 12.2b1 31 B3322) 12.h5 31 B3323) 12.a3 32 B333) 11.0h3 34 14 Early Deviations 1.d4 Df6 2.04 g6 3.6 d5 ‘The response most in the spirit of the Griinfeld. Obviously 3...2g7 4.04 transposes to the Sémisch King’s Indian, while for those looking for an offbeat line, 3...¢6 is an interesting alternative. 4.cxd5 4.c3 will be examined via the 3.4c3 d5 4.£3 move order. 4..Axd5 5.e4 AbG HEN wR UA A & abede ‘We shall look at A) 6.a4 and B) 6.2c3, noting that 6.£e3 &g7 7.4c3 is simply a transposition into line B. 08 > A) 64 This has occurred in a number of games. The idea is to undermine the position of Black's b6-knight and make it vulnerable in the future struggle. However, White fails to achieve his goals, and meanwhile the weakness of the b4- square is significant, 6...a5 7.£e3 2g7 8.Ac3 0-0 9.81 ‘The alternative is absolutely harmless: 98d2 Dc6 10.45 (10.8b5 Abd! is also excellent for Black) abedef 10...Qb4IN This is a natural improvement on the game Dumpor ~ Sarenac, Obrenovac 2004. The following line is a good illustration of how play may unfold: 11.2cl e6 12.45 c6! 13.dxe6 Wxd2+ 14.cbxd2 &xe6 15.xb6 cxb5 16.8xb5 5! Black takes over the initiative. HNO UDA & 9... Ac6IN A strong improvement over 9...c6, after which 10.b3 is pretty unclear. 10.065 ‘This is evidently the move that Black was concerned about. 10...8d7! The key idea; it transpires that White has to worry about his a4-pawn. In fact, Black obtains good play asa result of his development advantage. Here is my brief analysis: Chapter 2 ~ 3.68 15 11b3 A more aggressive try is: 11.d5 Mb4 12.2xc7 (12.Bxc7 is impossible in view of 12...8xb5 13.2xb6 &xf1 [Link] a6! and White loses) 12...Axa4 13.4)xa8 Dxb2 14.!d2 Wxa8 Black clearly has the initiative. 11..Ab4 ‘This move still works. 12.84 After 12.Qxc7 Be8 13.0b5 Bxcl [Link] Qxb5 15.8xb5 Sxd4 Black certainly has nothing to worry about. Play may continue 16.8xd4 Wxd4 17.2e2 Wd6 18.0-0 Hc8, when Black has some initiative. abede 12...€51 13.dxe5 Clearly inferior is 13.2xe5 &xb5 14.8xb5 Bxe5 15.dxe5 We5! and Black is better. 13...06 14.Ad6 Le6 Despite being a pawn down, Black’s lead in development gives him great play. For instance: 15.2g3 Or 15.8xb7 Wxd1t 16.8xd1 &xb3 17.2d2 &xad and the black a-pawn is very dangerous. 15...We7 16.f4 Bad8 17.3 Ac8 Black regains the pawn with dividends. B) 6.Dc3 2g77.2e3 0-0 ER wRU AA & White has three main options here: B1) 8.8cl, B2) 8.4 and B3) 8.Wd2. A fourth option, 8.24 a5, just transposes to line A above. Bl) 8.8cl Ac6 9.d5 De5 HR wRUD~ & 10.244 Black need not fear 10.Qb5 6 11.dxc6 Dxc6 12.Wxd8 Exd8 13.2xa7, as was played in Decsey~R. Horvath, Tapolca 1998, because he has a convincing answer in: 13...Qa4!N 14.2x06 (14.63 Db2 15.Dxc8 Bdxc8 16.24 Qd4 also leads to an initiative for Black) 14...bxc6 15.63 Bc3t! 16.82 Qb2F White is in trouble, as Black is 16 Early Deviations threatening not only 17...2xa2, but also 17..Ad1t. 10..06 11.4 Dg 12.fxg7 bxg7 13.Le2 EN RU AA & 13...€5! ‘The best reply, since after 13...0£6 White can hope for a slight edge with 14.dxc6 bxc6 15.43, thanks to his superior queenside pawn structure, 14,2xg4 Wh4t 15.g3 Wxg4 16.Wxg4 [Link] would be an error, in view of 16...Wxd1t 17.2xd1 cd! and Black is already better. 16...2xg4 17.dxc6 bxc6 18.h3 Le6 HE Nw RUDAA & 19.263 exf4 20.gxf4 Bfd8 The position was level in Goglidze ~ Spielmann, Moscow 1935; Black’s damaged pawn structure on the queenside is balanced by the vulnerability of White's cencral pawns. B2) 8.f4 PootGE Avery sharp line. Black needs to know exactly how to respond, in order to avoid landing in an inferior position — as once happened to yours truly. 8.206 9.d5 ‘The most challenging continuation. Black's task is much easier after: 9B gd 10.45 Da5 [Link] Black has replied to 11.e2 in three different ways, but not played what I consider the most natural continuation: 11...Qac4N 12.f2¢l 6 13.dxe6 &xe6 Only Black can be better. 11. Boxf3 12.gxf3 HRwRUArL!E Chapter 2 - 3.8 7 12...06! Very simple and at the same time strong; the threat of ..Wh4t is most unpleasant for White. 13.Qxg7 I tried to improve White's play with 13.h4, but he still stands worse: 13...dxd4 14.!xd4 De6! 15.8 gl (or 15.Wd2 exd5 16.exd5 We7+ 17. 4 Early Deviations ‘This pawnsacrifice is the idea behind White's 10th move. 11..gxh5! Ic is essential to keep the h-file half closed. After 11...e5 12.d5 &d4 13.hxg6 hxg6 14.fxe4 White has an almost perfect score. White generally chooses between B321) 12.d5 and B322) 12.8xh5, although there are a couple of less serious options: 12.6?! has been played twice, but I think it is a blunder, since Black can simply grab the central pawn: 12...Wxd4!N 13.%g5 (Black's point is thar 13.Yxd4 runs into 13...Axh6t—+) 13..WeS 14.Wxg7t Wxg7 15.2xg7 sbxg7 16.Bxe4 BF 178xhS xed 18.fxe4 Badd White has absolutely no compensation for being a pawn down. 12.g4 This surprising continuation was first employed by Dutch Grandmaster Stellwagen in 2008, but we shall follow a later correspondence game, in which White was convincingly punished: 12...exf3 13.Sixh5 (after 13.gxh5 2g4 14.2 Wh8 Black is also better) 13...2xg4 14.8g5 Wd7 15.d5 f2! This nice tactical trick clarifies the situation. 16.2¢2 Sxe2 17 Mxe2 De5 18.2xb6 fl=Y 19.Bxf1 Exflt [Link] axb6 21.2ge2 @h8 Black had a big advantage, which was easily converted in Wojtyra ~ Staf, e-mail 2009. B321) 12.d5 This leads to very concrete play. 12...Be5 13.2h6 Decdt This is much stronger than 13...272 14.8xg7 Exg7 15.8xh5, which gave White a serious initiative in Sakaev — Timofeev, Istanbul 2003. 14.895 HE7 . ae A remarkable position. At first sight it looks as if White has a serious initiative, due to the exposed black king. However, Black’ position is like a coiled spring, and in avery short time he manages to develop his pieces and even create significant threats against the white king. 15.fixc4 Another line is 15.8h4 Wd6! (but not ixb2? 16.Ef4! and Black ends up losing the knight on b2, Rodshtein — Sanikidze, Chalkidiki 2003) 16.2xg7 Bxg7 17.Wxh5 2d7! 18.8xe4 Wb4! 19.Bd2 Mc5 20.Rxc4 (or 20.8d1 Dd6 21.Bed4 AMS 22H4d2 De3t) 20...Axc4 21. Sdd4 Dd6 22.8f4 QF5—+ Black is winning material and he went on to win the game in Aleskerov — Sanikidze, Istanbul 2005. Thave to say that Black’s play in this game was most impressive; all his moves from 15...8#d6 onwards were simply the best. White tried 16.2xe4? in Meessen—Peschlow, Germany 2006, but Black could just grab an important pawn: 16..xb2IN 17.82 (or 17.8d4 c5) 17...Be4 18.8d4 4d6 Black has a winning position. White's best option is 16.2xg7, which has not been played, but is recommended by Ftacnik. Chapter 2 ~ 3.f3 25 A logical continuation is then: 16...2xg7 [Link] exf3 18.gxf3 (after 18.2xf3 Bg4 Black is clearly better) 18...!f8 Facnik evaluates this position as unclear. It is true that White has a certain amount of compensation following 19.2ge2 2F5 20.2d4 &g6 21.%h2, bur after 21...¥f6 I prefer Black's position, due to his strong bishop. It should be noted that White cannot take the pawn back, as after 22.Mxc7? Qd6 Black has too many threats (such as ...e5, ..c8 and ...WF44). HE Nw RU AA & 16...8d6 With this natural ‘human’ move, Black's queen enters the play with great effect. However, the computer indicates an even better move for Black: 16...Axb2!N 17.cxb2 (or 17.Bxe4 Dd3+ 18.2d2 2F5! 19.dxd3 6 and Black is clearly better) 17...c5! The nice point of the sacrifice. 18. Exe4 Wb6t [Link] ‘Wrxh6 Black has a considerable advantage. 17 Sixg7 After 172xh5 Black quickly develops a decisive attack: 17...Wb4! 18.Dd1 Wes 19.Be2 exf3 20.gx3 DeSt 21.Adc3 Axf3 Black won easily in Gubajdullin — Belov, Moscow 2009. 17...8xg7 [Link] Weat 19.chb17! £65 Black’s last piece comes into play with decisive effect. 20.fxe4 2g 4 21.Dge2 ERO RU AY & 21,..Wd2! 0-1 Mamedyarov ~ Kurnosov, Moscow 2009. B322) 12.8xh5 ERY RU aA a ibic diet r nh ‘The most natural continuation. 12.265 13.Bg5 White's first choice according to theory, but I would like to mention a couple of other options: 13.2h6 Essentially the situation is the same as we saw with 12. &h6?! above, and here too Black can capture the central pawn with great effect: 6 Early Deviations HE Ren UA! a ocid ce gh 13..8xd4!N ‘This novelty was pointed out by Krasenkow in ChessBase Magazine 120. 14.Wixd4 (or 14.Wg5 WFGT) 14...8xd4 15.2xf8 Exf8 Black is clearly better. 13.d5 This looks quite interesting, but Black can keep everything under control. 13...2g61 Much stronger than 13...8e5 14.24, when White is fighting for an advantage. 14.2h6 An understandable attempt, as after 14.2h3 you dontt have to be a grandmaster to find the following series of moves: 14...He5 [Link] Becd 16.8xc4 Axc4 17.We2 Axe3 18.¥xe3 Wd6F Black has a pleasant game, thanks to his bishop pair. 14...8xh5 Now we have a more or less forced line. 15.hixg7 bxg7 16.We5t Bg6 17.dxc6 Wc8 18.Wxe7+ 18...2g8!N This improves on 18...8f7 [Link] tgs 20.4)xe4, which was rather unclear in Hillarp Persson — Howell, Jersey 2005. 19.Dxe4 I don’t see any ideas for White after 19.cxb7 Wxb7 20.We6t HF7 [Link] Bb8 22.b3 c5 followed by 23...e7. 19...bxc6 Black comfortably parries all of White’ tries, and remains the exchange up. 20.Dh3 White does not get anywhere with: 20.0 {6+ Bh8 21.g4 (or 21.4d7 BFS 2294 Eds [Link] AxdS [Link] thg8F) 21.267 22.We5 WEB The discovered checks are not dangerous, and so Black has the advantage. 20...£2xe4! ‘The simplest way; eliminating the knight leaves White short of active ideas. 21. Mixed WES 22.Wxc6 Bad8 Black clearly has the better chances. 13..2g6 4 He Nw RUAA Ik is essential to block the gefile, thereby saving the dark-squared bishop. 14.262 This is nearly always played, but White has also tried the fairly natural: Chapter 2 ~ 3.£3 Py 14.)xe4 €5 15.45 Definitely more challenging than 15.dxe5 Wxd2t 16.8xd2 xe5, when Black has no problems. 15...Bd4 16.2c3 06 17.dxc6 ee eee 17...We7! A great concept! Black needs the open c-file much more than he needs the pawn. If 17...bxc6% then White would be very happy to continue 188d3 with an advantage. 18.cxb7 Now 18.2d3 is well met by: 18...Wxc6 19.2xg6 hxg6 20.83 ef75 Black's pieces feel quite comfortable behind his strong central knight. 18...ab8! Another fine move; i's important for Black to keep his queen on the c-file. 19.42! After 19.843 Exb7 20.Dge2 Bad Black develops a serious initiative on the queenside. 19... {48! 20.fre5 De Now Black wins the exchange. 21.Me2 Exd1+ 22Wxd1 AxgS 23.2xg5 Right now White has three pawns for the exchange, but not for long. 23..8xe5 24.826 Bxc3 25.Wb3t We have been following Vallejo Pons - Navara, Wijk aan Zee 2009. Here Black could have decided the game on the spot with the simple: 25..8f7N 26.8xc3 Dds 27.Yxc7 Dxc7 28.2d3 Bxa2—+ 14.05, Nobody has tried 14...exf3_ here; after 15.4)xf3 eS 16.d5 (16.dxe5 Wxd2t 17.Exd2 @h8! is great for Black) 16...d4 we reach a position that is examined in the following note. 15.45 d4 ‘The alternative 15..exf3 keeps an extra pawn, but helps White's development: 16.2xf3 4 I think White can improve here with 17.h41N, which was suggested by Golod in ChessBase Magazine 81. White's position seems promising, for instance 17...84f6 18.2xg6 hxg 19.83 allows him a long-term initiative. 16.fxe4 <6 ER BRU AA & eats stieeeae se cou Black must attack White's centre; this move also helps to open some lines on the queenside. 17.dxe6 White has also played: 17.4)f3 cxd5 18.exd5 Ielooks risky for White to open the diagonal for Black’s light-squared bishop. ‘There is a reasonable alternative in: 18.4)xe5 28 Early Deviations Dxe2t 19. Wre2 Lxe5 20.Exe5 We7 21.2d4 dxe4 White has definite compensation for the pawn, but only enough for equality. 18...8c8 19.4)xe5! ‘The plausible 19.@xd4 would run into: 19...Wxg5! 20.2c6 (20.0xg5 exd4 gives Black a decisive initiative) 20...23f4! Black is much better. 19...2xe2t 20.Wxe2 He8 21.Oxg6 He ReRUarea White decides to keep the queens on, in an attempt to justify his rook being on g5. Indeed, after 18.f3 Wxd2t 19.Bxd2 Ad4! Black is fine, while the white rook looks a bit misplaced, 18...4466 HE Nw RU DA & abedefgh 21..2xc3#! 22.bxc3. WxgS 23.Lxg5 Fixe? 24.h4 BeS Black could try 24...8xc3!? 25.46 Dd7 26.8d3 &e5 27.2d2 bF7, and White still has a bit of work to do to secure the draw. 25.463 Bxd5= ‘A draw was soon agreed in Thaler — Winge, corr. 2006. HPD RUAA 17...Dxc6 [Link] 19.8g3N ‘This improvement was suggested by Krasenkow in ChessBase Magazine 118. Laznicka has twice played: 19.Wg32! Od4 A natural improvement over 19...fad8, which led to an unclear position in Laznicka — Krasenkow, Ostrava 2007: 20.863 Sd4 21.8d3 ADxf3 22.gxf3 Be8 23.hb1 Wxf3 24 Mela 20.85 Sxh5 21.Bxh5 Eac8 Black takes over the initiative. 22.b1? ‘This allows an elegant combination. White's best try was: 22.2h6 Yg6 23.Wxg6 hxg6 24 fing? gxh5 25.2xf8 Exf8 Black is slightly better, but White has good chances of saving the game. 22...Bxc3 23.bxc3 Dad! ‘The point of the sacrifice; Black now develops a decisive attack. 24.Bxd4 exd4 White was already defenceless against Black’s Chapter 2 - 3.f3 2» attack in Laznicka - Ponomariov, Carlsbad 2007. I believe that as a result of this game 19.432! will not find any followers in the facture. 19...Bac8 I prefer this to 19...8d4 20.3 Axe2t 21.Yxe2 with an unclear game, as pointed out by Krasenkow. HE Nw RU AA & 20.284 Other possibilities: 20.43? is a serious inaccuracy that allows Black to seize the initiative on the queenside: 20...Qb4 21.8b1 xc3 Black has a clear advantage, 20.%b1 is a more important alternative: 20...8d4 21.063 ed (after 21...2xc3?! 22bxc3 Bxe4t 23.Gd3!4 I don’t see any good way for Black to continue) 22.8xd4 exd4 23.2xd4 !%b6 Black has fine long-term compensation for the pawn, thanks to his dark-squared bishop. 20...Bed8 20...2c7? is also worth considering. 21.863 We7 22.8xf8t HxfB 23.063 Add 24.hb1 Wb4 Black is by no means worse, due to his strong knight on d4. B33) 10.5 Rw RUA Ao In my opinion this is the critical continuation, Black’s dark-squared bishop is cut off from play for a long time, but on the other hand, Black is able to seize control over the light squares in the centre. 10...Db4 We have artived at an important crossroads for White; his options are B331) 11.2h6, B332) 11.h4 and B333) 11.0h3. B331) 11.8h6 30 Early Deviations This leads to very concrete play, as White intends to launch adirect offensive on the black king after swapping dark-squared bishops. 11...2e6 12.2b1 White has also tried: 12.2xg7 bxg7 13.2b1 He Rw RUA! 13...42N, I like this very natural idea. In practice Black has played: 13...c5 14.dxc5 #\a4! 15.Age2 (15.2xad? loses to 15...2xa2+ 16.d2cl Wa5) 15..Wxd2 16,.Bxd2 BZad8 17.Bd4 AxcS With an equal game, Sjodahl — Hermansson, Sweden 2007. 14.941 White would be in trouble ifhe did not have this resource. 14...a5 15.2h3 Qod5 Black has very comfortable play. 12...8xh6 13.8 xh6 =e NU RU ADA & 13...4d72N 1 believe that this is a serious improvement over 13...46d5, as played in Drazic — Kokol, Nova Gorica 2008. White could have responded with the natural 14.h3N, when the threat of @g5 would force Black onto the defensive. 14.03 After 14.03 44d5 15.2ge2 4\a4¥ Black's initiative develops quite smoothly. 14...Axa2! ‘This move sets off some fireworks on the board. 15.Qg5 Oxc3t 16.bxc3 BF7 abedefgh ‘The only defence against White’ threat, but entirely adequate. 17.Oxf7 Wad 18,82 Bxf7 Black is the exchange for a pawn down, but it is obvious that he has more than enough compensation. B332) 11.h4 ‘This aggressive thrust looks very natural. Black has to react quickly, because the further advance of the h-pawn might cause serious damage. Chapter 2 ~ 3.f3 31 11.6 Black attacks the a-pawn. White can defend it by B3321) 12.b1, ignore the threat with B3322) 12.h5 or move it with B3323) 12.23. B3321) 12.261 HE RU UA A & 12...f41N Sacrificing this pawn to clear the fS-square for the bishop is often a tempting idea in this variation, but this particular position is one of the few occasions that it actually works. In Kowzan — Jurek, Wysowa 2003, Black played very passively: 12...84d5 13.h3 Oxe3 14.Wxe3 DdS 15.Dxd5 Bxd5 16.h5+ 13.8xf4 5! All Black's pieces are brought into play, even the dark-squared bishop. 14.dxc5 It is dangerous for White to play: 14.Age2 BASH! 15.Be4 Wd5 16.82c3 WE 17.dxc5 (after 17.8¢3 Had8 [Link] Had 19.63 Axc3t 20.€xc3 dS Black retains an initiative) 17..8a4 18.2b5 @xcS Black has good compensation for the pawn. 14... \6d5 Ke Rw kU aA oO 15.Axd5 This leads to a forced draw, but neither 15.g3 Dxf4 16.gxf4 Wxd2 17.Exd2 Bxf4F nor 15.Bc4 Axc3+ 16.bxc3 xed 17.Wxd8 Sxa2+ 18.2b2 Efxd8 19.Exd8+ Exd8 20.cxb4 &f7 21.De2 Sxe5#! would give White anything to play for. 15..2265t 16.2al Dc2t 17.hb1 Abst= B3322) 12.h5 This is of course very tempting. Play continues: 12...Axa2t 13,Axa2 Bxa2 15.8h6 14.hxg6 hxg6 ER wR UA & WY —s 32 Early Deviations 15...Wd71N ‘An important improvement, as otherwise the whole line is somewhat dangerous for Black. ‘The ¢8-square should be kept free for the king, so I don’t like 15..We8 16.2 £4, as in Av. Bykhovsky — Dub, Tel Aviv 2002. White could then play: 17.4c3N &b3 18.8el Ed8 19.g4! White has a serious initiative, while Black is lacking in activity. 16.e2 White needs this move in order to shelter his king. Obviously 16.8xg7? runs into 16...We6+ and Black remains with a healthy extra pawn after the exchange of queens. 16...2b3 17.2xg7 [Link] is too slow, although Black has to find the strong response: 17...4)d5! 18.2.xg7 bxg7 19.4h6t bf7 20.h7t eB [Link] shd8 White's king is much more vulnerable than his black counterpart. 17...2xg7 18.Wh6t 2f7 BH Rw RU aA & 19.d5! White’s best continuation. After 19.%h7#2! he8 20.Mxg6+ dB 21.Wh6 He8 Black is better, due to the vulnerable white king. 19...Wa4 20.8h7t he8 21.83 Walt Clearly worse is 21...Wf4t 22.82 Qxd5, as after 23.€6! Black is under serious pressure. 22,b1 Ra! Black must certainly avoid 22...Qxd1? 23.Ab5t dd8 24.¥e7! and White wins. 23.be2 Dad ENB RU AA © ‘The following variation now seems forced. 24,2b5t Bd8 25fxa4 Qxblt 26.Bxb1 ‘Wradt 27.b3 WbS ‘The struggle should end in a draw, for example: [Link] We5t 29.62 Wat 30.hb1 bs 31.2b2= B3323) 12.23 Chapter 2 3.63 33 This move is the latest fashion, having been played twice by Israeli Grandmaster Evgeny Postny. 12...Da2t This looks like Black’s best option. After 12..a5 White can even accept the piece sacrifice by: 13.axb4 (13.h5!? is also possible. 1 am not sure what Black should do.) 13...axb4 14.4b1. In Postny — Howell, Kallithea 2009, Black failed to obtain enough compensation 14...Bal_15.Wxb4 c5 16,WxcS Bd5 17.ed2 aS [Link] 13.2)xa2 Sxa2 14.h5 yw RU aA oo 14...2b32N ‘This natural move is my attempt to improve on the game Postny — Gopal, Calcutta 2009, which went 14...c5 15.dxc5 2b3. 1 believe that White now missed a good opportunity to sacrifice the exchange with 16.f4! &xd1 17.2xd_1. I really don’t like Black’s position. In particular I am worried that h5-h6 will leave Black's dark-squared bishop out of play for a long time to come. 15.hxg6 hxg6 16.Be1 1 also examined an exchange sacrifice here, butit doesn't look dangerous for Black: 16.h3 Qxdl [Link] (or 17.2xd1 Wes! 18.f4 6 followed by ...2d8, ...c5 or ...Od5) 17..e6 18.44 £7! Black is ready to meet 19.g4 with 19...2h8! 20.8g1 £6, with advantage. 16...c5 17.De2 ‘The white knight is heading for the c3-square. Instead 17.dxc5? favours Black: 17...Wxd2t 18.Bxd2 fc8% 17...Bc8 18.2b1 18.2h6? fails to 18...cxd4t 19.2b1 cd! 20.%g5 Wb6 and Black has a winning attack. 18...2£7 19.c3 After 19.064 cxd4 20.8xd4 Ded 21.42 (21.8xc4 Bxc4?) 21...g5! Black takes over the initiative, 19...cxd4 20.8xd4 Hye RU AAO 20,..84d7! Not only preparing ...2fd8, but in the right circumstances the queen may transfer to e6 in order to create threats against the white king. 21.Bh4 Act I prefer this to 21...We6 22.2xb6! axb6 23.865 Gc7 24.f4, when Black has a problem with his dark-squared bishop. 22 fixed 34 Early Deviations This is probably necessary, as after 22.45 it’s Blackwho strikes first: 22...@xa3#! 23.bxa3 We6 White is in trouble. 22...Bxe4 Finally we have reached a balanced position, where Black’s activity compensates for his temporarily passive dark-squared bishop. Here is an illustrative line: [Link] Hd8 23...B¢61? 24.8h7 Rw RU aA & abedefgh 24...f4 The only move, but good enough to maintain the balance. 25.Wixf4 WEST [Link] gxfS 27.fxa7 xe5 28.dic2 £4 ‘Threatening 29...2g64. 29.87h4 Sgt 30.hb3 Bc6 [Link] RE7t 32.2 Bg6t= B333) 11.0h3 In my opinion this is the most serious continuation. abede gh 11...2e6 12.61 ‘The main move according to theory. White has also tried: 12.03 Qa2t T had found this idea and intended to offer it as a novelty, but before I could do so, it appeared in a game. 13.Qxa2 Bxa2 14.8h6 Talso analysed other moves here: 14.Of4 Bd51 Black has a good game. 14.Mc2 Wd5 15.0f4 (or 15.8d3 Bed 16.8c3 Sxfl 17.8xf1 6 with equal play) 15..¥b3 16.2d3 Bfd8= Black shouldn't experience any problems once the queens come off. 14...§d7 15.£xg7 bxg7 16.We2 Lg8 White was threatening to trap the bishop with 17.b3. Chapter 2 ~ 3.f3 35 17.B)F4 Dd5 18.Dxd5 Wxd5 19.85 WrxeSt 20.dxc5 Efd8 Black had the better endgame in the game Vitiugov — Wang Yue, Ningbo (rapid) 2010. 12...d7 12...8e4 was played in Av. Bykhovsky — Golod, Tel Aviv 2001, but it is inaccurate: 13.Qxc4IN Bxc4 14.b3 B£7 15.8h6 White clearly holds the in 13.064 HE NYU AA & This is my new idea, as Black surprisingly faces some problems after: 13.87 14.23 a5 a) 15.8b5! ‘This tricky move is stronger than 15.45 Sxe5 16.axb4?! axb4 17.b5 BaS 18.2xb6 cxb6 19.€ixb4 8fa8, which was good for Black in Motylev — Svidler, Wijk aan Zee 2007. 15.06 After 15...¥%82! White can accept the piece sacrifice: 16axb4 axb4 17.Bce2 Black doesn’t have the same coordination as in Matylev —Svidler, and White is clearly better here. 16.45! Bxe5 16...cxb517.2xb6 Gxe5 is just. a transposition. 17.8xb6 cxb5 [Link] £6 Black’s extra pawn is absolutely irrelevant, and meanwhile his pieces are badly coordinated. 19.axb4? would be a serious mistake: 19...axb4 20.4)ce2 Wd6! White is facing a dangerous attack. 19...fixd4 20.Wad4 Da6 21.d6! Wade? Black had to try: 21...exd6 22.Afd5 &xd5 [Link] HE? 24.0xb5 Qc7 25.Dxc7 Wxc7 26.h4! White is not even obliged to regain the pawn. Black’s position remains unpleasant. 22,.Dcd5 Bxd5 23.2xd5 White had a winning attack in Bitan — Vokarev, Bhubaneswar 2010. 14,h4 36 Early Deviations 1 also examined: 14.Axe6 Wxe6 15.03 (not 15.h4? BxeSF) 15...a5 16.f4 5 [Link] D4d5 18.Axd5 Wxd5 19.dxc5 West 20.ha2 Exd1 21.Wxd1 Wxe3 22.ccb6 Waf4 23.Wd5+ LB 24.Wxb7 Hd8 25.We7 Yd4 26.67 BxeS 27.3 Wed 28.88 Wd4= OF course this line is not all forced, but it is a good illustration of the possibilities in the position. 14.867 Black has no time for 14...2c4 15.8xc4 Bxc4, since after 16.b3 Bf7 [Link]!+ he is facing concrete problems. We shall now follow the game Salem — So, Olongapo City 2010, which reached this position via a different move order. Rw RU aA & x x N 15.2b52! White should also avoid 15.h5?! gS! but he has two better options: [Link] a4 16.b3 Axc3t 17.Wxc3 a5 18.804 6 19.8cl 2f8 The position is roughly level. 15.22 a5 We have a double-edged position, which I reckon is balanced. For example: 16.¢4 fxg4 [Link] We6 18.03 BxeS 19.8b5 WAS 20.fe2 ([Link] Wxg4 21.262 Wc8 leaves White two pawns down for nothing) 20...¥%c6 21.&.b5= White does not have anything better than repeating moves. 15...06 16.e2 5! 17.6 Sixe6 18.dxc5 Sxc3 19.bxc3 ER wR WU AA © 19...Wa4t ‘The key move; Black seizes the initiative. 20,.Wxd8t Bxd8 21.Exd8} £7 22.8f8+ No better is: 22.cxb4 Wxa2t 23.d2c1 dS! Despite his material advantage, White is in a difficult situation. 22,8268 23.Dxe6t thg8 24.cxb4 Wxb4t 25.he2 Dd5 Black has a powerful attack. Conclusion I heartily recommend 3...d5 as a suitably combative response to 3.f3. Black must expect to be subjected to a rather scary-looking kingside attack in several lines in this chapter, but provided he is well-prepared, I believe he can face such attacks with confidence and obtain ample counter-chances on the queenside. In the main line of 4.cxd5 Axd5 5.e4 Db 6.Ac3 Bg7 7.23 0-0 8.4d2 Ac6 9.0-0-0 I have decided to advocate the fashionable 9... thrust. This has scored well up to now, and I see no reason why it should hot continue to do so. Fianchetto Systems Rare Lines Variation Index 1.4 Df 2.c4 g6 3.¢3 uso A) 4.45 38 B) 4.2g2 d5 39 BI) 5.b3 39 B2) 5.4b3 40 B3) 5.Wa4 41 B1) after 6.bxc4 B2) after 9.8xd5 8 8 8 7 7 7 6 6 6 5 5 Ye va 5 4 4 WS 4 a8 meted ‘ OCW Ss AE 1 abedefeh 6.05! 38 Fianchetto Systems 1.d4 Af6 2.04 g6 3.g3 Rw RU aA & eset tse gh ‘This continuation really caused me a headache, especially taking into account that I recommended this system for White in my earlier book, Grandmaster Repertoire ~ 1d4 Volume Two. Finally 1 came to the decision to offer readers the very solid system featuring the moves ...c6 and ...d5. Some of my friends advised me to give another system, where Black plays ...d5 without ...c6, and recaptures on d5 with his knight. There were many interesting ideas played in this line at the latest Olympiad, but I still adhere to the view that White has good chances of a slight advantage. 3.6 It is essential to play this move straight away, because if Black delays it for a single move, White will get the chance to play 5.¢4. White's fundamental decision when facing 06 and ...d5 is whether to exchange pawns on d5. ‘The lines with an early exchange will be covered in Chapter 7, after we first deal with various other options. In this chapter we examine A) 4.45 and B) 4.22g2, before turning to 4.03 in Chapters 4 to 6. A) 4.d5 White unequivocally prevents Black playing ..d5. However the text has obvious drawbacks; it uses an important tempo and it opens up the long diagonal, allowing Black to become very active, 4..01d5 5.cxd5 d6 6.3 2g77.2g2 Was! A key move, which disrupts White's normal development. After 7...0-0 8.03 White completes his development and can even fight for the advantage in a complex game. 8.8d2 ‘This looks a bit awkward, but White faces some difficulties after the natural: 8e4 Beat Behe ee ee oe 9.Dge2N White cannot play 9.3? in view of the tactical blow 9...Qxe4 and. the white position collapses: 10.feg4 (or [Link] Wxad 11.2)xa4 2d7!-+) 10...2xc3 11.Yd2 Chapter 3 - Wc5 Black had a decisive advantage in Graf ~ Yandemirov, Omsk 1996. 9.43 runs into 9...a6! and Black intends ...€c5 next, while the b7-pawn is untouchable: 10.!xb7? 2b8 11.4c6t &d7 12.84 Bb5 13.Wd4 Db4—+ 9...fixe2 10.2xe2 White's problem is that 10.Wxe2 can be met by: 10...@xd5t 11.8b5+ WxbS 12.4\xb5, Ab4! 13.0-0 48a6 Black remains with an extra pawn, 10... bd7 ‘With the white king on e2, there is no doubt that Black has a very good position. 8...0-0 9.e3 White has problems completing _ his development, as the vulnerability of his d-pawn renders moves like 9.23 and 9.8h3 impossible. He has also tried: 9.c4 Abd7 10.Age2 AeS 11.0-0 Bg4 12.8c3 (or 12.f3 &d7 13.2e1 Wa6 and Black has the initiative) 12...\c4 [Link] Efc8 White was in trouble in Psakhis — Veingold, Tallinn 1983. 9.8%b3 as usual allows Black to get his knight to 5 with tempo: 9...\a6 10.2f3 8d7 11.0-0 c5 12.Mc2 Efc8 Black was better in Kornev ~ Yandemirov, Saratov 2006. 9...bbd7 10.Dge2 De5 11.0-0 Dc4 He Nw Raa © Rare Lines 39 Black’s play is logical and simple. 12Lcl Bg4 13.Wb3 Bfe8 14.0d4 Bd7 15.8d1 Zab8 16.h3 We have been following Korchnoi ~ Geller, Moscow 1971, and now Black should have played: 16...WeSN With ...b5 coming next, Black has a fine game. B) 4.2g2d5 abede f White now has many options, and we shall look at B1) 5.b3, B2) 5.¥%b3 and B3) 5.Wa4. ‘The most common moves, 5.f3 and 5.cxd5, are covered in the following chapters, while 5.2d2 Bg7 6.Agf3 0-0 7.0-0 transposes to Chapter 5. a BI) 5.b3 Not the most popular move here, but it has nevertheless been employed in almost fifty games. S..dxc4t Black seizes the chance to take advantage of White’s slightly unusual move order. After 5.827 White can play either 6.4/3 or 40 Fianchetto Systems 6.82 0-0 7.23, both of which transpose to Chapter 4. 6.bxe4 €5! A fantastic idea! It is not often in the Griinfeld that Black creates the option of developing his dark-squared bishop on the a3-f8 diagonal. Initially my intention was to suggest: 6...c5 7.883 (after 7.45 Axd5! White cannot capture the knight, as he would then lose material to 8...227) 7...2g7 8.2b2 Wb6 9.473 Hed 10.¢3 0-0 11.0-0 4c6 Play has transposed into line B2 in Chapter 4. HRW HAD & 7D EB 1 think White would be better off playing 7.45 cxd5 8.cxd5 &b4t and now sacrificing a pawn with: 9.8d2 @xd5 10.43 Qxd2+ 11.Qxd2 White has reasonable compensation, but he is not really fighting for an advantage. 7uexd4 8.Hxd4 Wxd4 9.Axd4 2g7 10.2d2 White should have preferred to play 10.2b2, although 10...4fd7 is still excellent for Black. 10...Afd7 11.03 fo gh ‘This was played in Schiller ~ Siefring, e-mail 2003. There was no reason for Black refraining from the following: eee [Link] 12.)b5 Sxal 13.Dc7t hd 14.Qxa8 Dab With his knight stuck on a8, White is in a very dangerous situation. B2) 5.83 £g7 6.23 This looks very tempting, since it would appear that Black has to decide what to do about the attack on his d5-pawn. Instead 6.0f3 0-0 7.0-0 would transpose to Chapter 6. He NW RUA Ow 6...0-0! Chapter 3 — Ietranspires that Blackis not obliged to make an immediate decision about the d5-pawn, but can temporarily sacrifice it. Tocxd5 Obviously 7.8f3 Yb6 8.0-0 is another transposition to Chapter 6. 7.0xd5 8.Dxd5 Axd5 9.2xd5 EN WRU AA & aE = 9...Dc6t ‘This is an important moment; Black must make use of his lead in development by playing actively. Hurrying to regain the pawn is not so good: 9...8xd4 10.8h6! WaSt 11.cf1 &g7 128xg7 bxg7 13.2xb7 White ends up winning a pawn, and Black’s compensation is questionable, Carnevali — A. Fernandez, Piriapolis 1987. 10.Lxc6 White cannot play 10.4£3? in view of 10...@a5 11.4/b5 a6 and he loses a piece. 10...bxc6 11.03 Talso examined 11.£e3. Black has the strong, response: 11...c5! 12.dxe5 WaSt 13 .d2 Wxc5 14.8cl WF5 White faces a hard time, with so much open space for the black bishops. 11...2h3 12.25 Rare Lines 4l In Almeida Saenz ~ Ruiz Gonzalez, Mexico 1996, White tried the ugly 12.8 gl; Black should simply have replied 12...fg4!N with the better chances. 12...g2 13.8g1 &d5 14.4d3 Bb6 Black’s develops his initiative with natural moves. 15.263 Bfd8 16.81 c5!F White was in trouble in Kalinin - Gobet, ‘Thessaloniki (ol) 1988. B3) 5.Wa4 HE Nw RUA a bede fon This unexpected queen sortie is not as strange as it looks at first sight, and it has been employed by such opening experts as Grischuk and Tkachiev. The idea of the move is obvious; White wants to force Black to clarify the situation with the d5-pawn, and after the obvious 5...dxe4 White will obtain a spatial superiority in the centre. 5..Dfd72 ‘This seems to be an easy way to equalize; Black’s idea is simply to maintain the d5- pawn. 6.cxd5 Ab6 7.81 ‘The alternative is: 42 Fianchetto Systems 7.403 cxd5 8.003 Deb This symmetrical position is pretty harmless, as shown in the following encounter: 9.03 also briefly examined other continuations 9.263 Bg7 100-0 Se4 11.83 &xf3! 12.8xf3 e6 Black has a comfortable game. 9.Axd52! Dxd4 10.8d3 Bg7 White's pieces lack coordination. SuuKg? 10.Age2 e6 11.0-0 0-0 12.8d1 d7= The position is level, Bocharov — Sturua, ‘Abu Dhabi 2009. 7.wxd5 8.2f3 &g7 9.0-0 0-0 10.63 Dc6 11.262 265 abede Black develops simply and logically. 12.h32! This is already a slight inaccuracy; 12.¢3 would keep the position balanced. 12..Wd7 13.2h2 Be4t Black starts to take over the initiative. 14.Dbd2 BFd8 15.De5 LxeS 16.Dxe4 Lxd4 17 Sixd4 dxe4 18.2xb6 axb6 19.Wxd7 Bxd7 20.2xe4 Bd 27 Black clearly had the better endgame in Grachev — Khismatullin, Dagomys 2010. Conclusion Black should not be unduly concerned about the early deviations for White that we have looked at in this chapter. The best White can expect to achieve is a transposition to the main s covered in the following chapters, while in some lines, such as B1) 5.63 dxc4! 6.bxc4 51, Black can even seize the initiative at a very carly stage. Sy NSF, P¥6) Fianchetto Systems 5.b3 Variation Index 1.4 Af6 2.4 26 3.g3 06 4.Af3 d5 5.b3 Bg7 6.2g2 6...0-0 A) 7.2b2 44 B) 7.0-0 dxc4 8.bxc4 c5 45 Bl) 9.3 45 B2) 9.262 W6 10.43 Ded 11.c3 Ac6 12.e5 Dd6 47 B21) 13.0d2 47 B22) 13.Axc6 48 A) after 12.2xg7 B1) after 11.We2 B22) after 19.2)b3 abcde fed adbedetegh 12...He3! Tsexd4N 19...894N 44 Fianchetto Systems 1.d4 Df6 2.04 g6 3.23 c6 4.0f3 d5 5.b3 Thisis the line that I recommended for White in Grandmaster Repertoire — 1.d4 Volume Two. Since then, theory has developed considerably, and Black has found some interesting new ideas. S.nfig7 6.2g2 White can also play 6.8b2 0-0 7.8g2, which is examined in line A. 6...0-0 Another possible move order is: 6..dxe4 7.bxc4 c5 8.2b2 Wb6 9.Wb3 Hed 10.c3 0-0 11.0-0 Play has transposed to line B2. White now chooses between A) 7..2b2 and B) 7.0-0. A) 7.2b2 White’ aim is to avoid problems on the long diagonal, but I have nevertheless found an interesting counter for Black. 7.dxe4 8.bxe4 52 HE Nw RUA & 9.45 This is White's only independent try, made possible by the early development of his queen's bishop. Otherwise 9.0-0 is just a transposition to B2. 9.06 Black’s only sensible idea is to undermine the white centre as quickly as possible, 10.23 also analysed: 10.Qh4 ‘This attempt to hold the centre allows Black serious counterplay. 10...exd5 1 1cxd5 Here hu are 11...g5! 12.063 Oxd5 Black may also go for a queen swap: 12...Mxd5 13.Wxd5 Axd5 14.8xg7 cxg7 15.4xg5 @b4 16.43 8c6 With his healthy queenside majority, Black cannot be worse. 13.Bxg7 &xg7 14.0-0 White has a certain amount of compensation for the pawn, due to the slightly exposed black king, but I prefer Black’s position. 14...h6 15.h4 15.Axg5 is worse: 15...Qb4! 16.03 hxgs 17.axb4 Wxdl 18.Bxd1 cxb4 19.8d4 a5 20.Exb4 Ed8! White is in trouble. 15...Bc6 16.hxg5 hxg5 17.82 Regaining the pawn does not solve White's problems: 17.Axg5 Wxg5 18.Wxd5 (after 18.Qxd5? Eh8! it is slightly surprising that Black’s attack is already winning) 18...4xd5 19.8xd5 @b4 20.8c3 Oxd5 21-Axd5 Se White will have to fight to draw this endgame. Chapter 4 - 5.3 45 17..g4 18.2h4 Qde7 [Link] Wd4 20.Dc3 This constitutes one of the most challenging West ideas against the white set-up. There are now White does not have full compensation for a couple of ways for White to support his the pawn. d-pawn: B1) 9.¢3 and B2) 9.2b2. 10...exd5 11.xd5 B1) 9.e3 Dc6 10.2b2 Ws! OF course 11.cxd5? @xd5 just leaves Black with an extra pawn, 11...Axd5 12.2xg7 11.Be2 Other options are: HR w kU aA @ [Link] exd4N: 12...Be3! Thisisanimprovementon: 11...8f5 12Abd2 The key move. Qd7 13.2)b3 @b42! 14.dxc5 Bxb2 15.Wxb2 @xc5 16.Axc5 Wxc5 17.@d4+ White had 13.fxe3 Bag? 14.0-0 We7F the better chances in Badea - Manolache, Black’s superior pawn structure gives him rite Tuenad 2008, the better chances. 12.Qxd4 Black has no problems after 12.exd4 2f5 13.@bd2 Hac8. 12...8d7! 13.Qd2 B) 7.0-0 drc4 8.bxc4 5 14...We72 15.83 Axd4 16.exd4 b6 also looks reasonable for Black. 15.8c3 @xd4 16.exd4 8 13.c3 Bac8 looks great for Black, since the 7 c4-pawn becomes a serious target. 13...Bac8 6 White might obtain a slight pull after 5 immediate simplifications: 13...xd4 14.8xd4 We7 15.Wa3 Bc6 16.8xc6 bxc6 _ [Link] 3 14.2b1 Ya6 2 1y 46 Fianchetto Systems Black has a comfortable game after 16.8xd4 icG, as he manages to neutralize the pressure along the h1-a8 diagonal. 16...b5! Black has a good game. 11.843, This has occurred only once, in Maslov ~ Zaper, Kastela 2005. I have found a convincing continuation for Black: 11...@a5N 12.8xb6 axb6 13.Abd2 Bd8! This is a very accurate move; the more natural 13...2f5 allows 14.45 6 [Link], with a complex game. eee ena oo 2k YES abedefgh 14.Bfe1 Talso analysed: 14.45 6 15.4 (15.dxe6 Sixe6 is clearly better for Black) 15...Axe4 (or 15...ex 16.exd5 b5! 17.cxb5 Exd5® and Black is at least equal) 16.8xg7 @xd2 17.8f6 @xf3t 18.8xf3 Bd6 Despite the two bishops providing some compensation, White is fighting to equalize. 14.8fel 8 Black will continue with ...2d6 with good play. 14...8f5 15.43 Od7 Black has decent play against the white pawns. 1L.wcxd4N ‘An important improvement. Black found himself under pressure after: 11...e4 12.8c3! Dxc3 13.8xc3 cxd4 14.exd4 (14.2xd4 may be more accurate) 14...Qxd4 15.8xd4 Sxd4 16.ab1+ Kempinski — Dolmatov, Istanbul 2003. 12.exd4 12.@xd4 is well met by: 12...8g4! 13. 247 Provoking £2-f3 significantly reduces the pressure on the h1-a8 diagonal. 14.223 Hac8 15.ab1 Wa6 16.8fd1 Bfd8 Black has the more comfortable position. 12...8g4 13.d5 HE Nw RU DA & 13..-Lxf3 If Black prefers not to simplify, then 13...a5 14.423 e61? makes sense. 14. Sxf3 Dd4 15.Axd4 Hxd4 16.42 Dd7 Chapter 4 - 5.b3 47 [Link] De5 The game is fairly level, for instance: 18.8fd1 Bac8 19.2e4 Wb2! 20.2b1 Wxe2 21.2xe2 b6= B2) 9.2b2 Wb6 8 PAZ 6 5 4 3 2 1 10.83. Against 10.4el Black can equalize with natural moves: 10..cxd4 11.Oxd4 Qc6 12.Axe6 (Lalso examined 12.8d1 £d7 13.223 Bfd8 14.b1 Wa6 with equality) 12...bxc6 13.Dd2 Be6 (13...815! deserves attention) 14.8b1 Wa6 15.843 Bfe8 16.8b3 Bd7 17.2 Goldin — Yandemiroy, Elista 1995. Now the simple 17...e5N 18.8cl Had8 would be fine for Black. 10..De4 A popular alternative is 10...fd7, but after the strong 11.@c3! White has pressure. 11.03 After 11.2c3 @xc3_12.8xc3 Calotescu — Gara, Kiskunhalas 1995, Black can play very simply: 12..cxd4N 13.Wxb6 axb6 14.8xd4 (after 14.@xd42 Had! White is in trouble) 14...06 15.Bxg7 thxg7 16.8fb1 Ea6 Black is even slightly better in the endgame. 11...Bc6 12.De5 “The only way to fight for an advantage. 12...Dd6 abedefgh White has two options here, B21) 13.442 and B22) 13.@xc6. B21) 13.2d2 cxd4 Black failed to equalize in a recent game: 13...806 14.8xc6! bxc6 15.dxc5 Wxc5 16.844 WaS 17.Bxc6 We7 18.2xg7 xg? 19.We3t hg8 20.5 Black did not have enough for the pawn in Giri — PH. Nielsen, Amsterdam 2010. 14,exd4 ENR wRU DY & 48 Fianchetto Systems 14.26 Here I found the interesting 14... \512N, after which play may continue: 15.@xc6 bxc6 16.€xb6 axb6 17.2xc6 Ea7 Black has sacrificed a pawn, but his pieces are so active that White cannot hold onto the extra pawn. 18.03 Qd6 [Link] Ec7 20.865 86 21.e5 Efe! 15.8 fcl I checked a couple of other moves: [Link] Oxc5 (15...8xe5 16.dxe5 Hf5!? is also worth considering) 16.dxe5 @xc4! The easiest, route to equality. 17.Axc4 &xc4 18.Wxc4 Wxb2 [Link]] Wd2 20.Bed1 Eac8= 15.8xc6 bxc6 16.Axc6 (after 16.8xb6 axb6 17.@xc6 Efe8F Black will regain the pawn with dividends) 16..Wxc6 17.45 Efb8! 18.dxc6 Exb3 19.axb3 &xb2 20.2a6 o2f8 Black has the better chances. He Rw RU AA & abedefgh 15...2fc8 16.4xb6 White has tried 16.c5, but it’s quite harmless: 16...d.xb3 17.cxb6 fad! Black keeps everything under control. 18.bxa7 Exa7 19.Ade4 This was Zhou Weigi — Ding Liren, Danzhou 2010, now simply 19...@xe5 20.4)xe5 Bc2 gives Black the more pleasant position. 16...axb6 17.f4 Dxe5 A draw was now agreed in Jakovenko — Svidler, Dagomys 2010, although Black might have played on for a bit. 18.dxe5 Axc4 19.Axc4 Bxc4 20.23 White clearly has compensation for the pawn, but it may still take some effort to secure the draw. B22) 13.2\xc6 HE Re RU DA & eee This was my recommendation in Grandmaster Repertoire — 1.4 Volume Two. 13...bxe6 14.dxe5 Taking the pawn by 14.Wxb6 axb6 15.8xc6 is clearly worse for White. HE Ren Uuare abede 15...8xe4! This exchange sacrifice gives Black a powerful initiative, for example: 16.8xa8 Oxb2 Chapter 4 ~ 5.b3 49 17.Be4 cxd4 18.exd4 Sxd4 19.24 (worse is 19.2d2 a6 20.8 fel Lc3IF) 19...8d8 20.8a3 a6 21.8cl f5 Black has strong pressure. 14...Wxc5 15.2xg7 bxg7 16.0d2 In my earlier book 1 stopped at this position, considering it slightly favourable for White. However, it was tested at the recent Olympiad: 16...2€6 17.8fcl A serious alternative is 17.4a4, when Black should react with: 17...2fc8 (after 17...2xc4 18.8fc1 Db6 19.fixc5 Axad 20.8xc6i White retains some pressure) 18.2fc1 Hab8 19.Qb3 Wes 20.Wxa7 Bxc4 21.Ba5 Ba8 (also possible is 21...8d5 22.Oxc6 &xc6 23.8xc6 Hb2 and Black has enough compensation for the pawn) 22.Axc6 Exa7 23.Qxe5 Bxa2 The draw is obvious. 17...Gab8 18.83 Black has no problems after: 18.!c3+ £6 19.8b3 (or 19.8c2 Hfc8 [Link] Wb4=) 19... Wxe4 20.845 Wb4 21.Yxa7 Bb7= 18...2fc8 19.Ab3 =H Nw RUDY @ abede f goh This occurred in Laznicka ~ Svidler, Khanty- Mansiysk (ol) 2010, and now I found the following improvement: b4N In the game, Black faced real problems after: 19...Wa3 20.c5 QbS [Link]! 20.Wd4t tgs 21.Wxa7 Axc4 22.We5 22.Mid4 cS 23.Wh4 £6 24.8h32 is an interesting attempt, but Black can maintain equality: 24..2xh3 25.8xc4 Wb5 [Link] Be6 27.Exc5 ExcS [Link] Wd3= 22...66 23.2 Thave been unable to find any way for White to pose serious problems: 23.8xc6 Wxc5 24.Axc5 Bf7 25.226 Hb2 26.824 Ba8 27.8b3 ExaG 28.Bxc4 Bxcd 29.8xe4 Baxa2= 23.8h3 Bxh3 24.8xcd WxcS 25.Axc5 Hb2 26.24 Hd8= (or 26...a8=) xcS [Link] a3! 25.83 Ebit 26.8xb1 Qrb1 27.2c2 Qa3 28.8d2 Rcd 29.b4 Also completely equal is 29.Ed7 f7=. 29... B£7= Conclusion If White opts for 5.b3, then 7...dxc4 8.bxc4 5 is a challenging way for Black to increase his pressure down the al-h8 diagonal, even when White tries co neutralize this pressure with 7.&b2. Throughout this chapter I have faced the somewhat tricky task of fighting against my own recommendations from Grandmaster Repertoire — 1.d4 Volume Two. A particular case is B22) 13.@xc6, which I had assessed as favourableto White. However, in thelightofmy analysis of the recent game Laznicka ~ Svidler, I now feel that this line is entirely satisfactory for Black. S WS Fianchetto Systems : Rare Seventh Moves Variation Index 1.d4 Af6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 06 4.2g2 d5 5.063 &g7 6.0-0 6...0-0 A) 7.8a4 51 B) 7.2\bd2 51 ©) 7.23 dxe4 55 Cl) 8.e4 55 C2) 8.a4 56 C3) 8.2e5 57 A) after 10.864 B) note to 12.%b3 (C3) note to 9.4 14..a5!N 14..845N Chapter 5 — Rare Seventh Moves 51 1.44 Af6 2.c4 96 3.g3 <6 4.Ag2 d5 5.08 &g7 6.0-00-0 Black has a serious alternative in 6...dxc4, but I have always preferred to castle here. HE Nw RU AAO We shall examine A) 7.4, B) 7.Abd2 and C) 7.c3 in this chapter. Of the other seventh moves, 7.b3 transposes to the previous chapter, while 7.Wb3 and 7.cxd5 are covered in the following two chapters. A) 7.04 When one of my students mentioned this move, I was surprised to discover that it has occurred in almost a hundred games. Afeer checking all the options, the one I like most is: 7onDF472 ‘This somewhat resembles the variation with 5.Ma4 @fd7 that we covered as line B3 in Chapter 3. 8.Wc2 ‘The most challenging move. Other options are: BicxdS cxd5 9.2c3 DbG 10.Wd1 Deb 11.264 2f5 12.81 Bc8 Blackhad comfortable equality in Pigusov— Huzman, Sverdlovsk 1987. 8.4232! results in aloss of time: 8...2b6 9.We2 2F5 10.8c3 Be4! With his knight having gone to a3, White is unable to attack this bishop. 11.c5 6d7 12.8.4 b6 13.cxb6 Wxb6 14.8¢3 5 The opening had clearly turned out in Black’s favour in Grigorian — Sveshnikov, Moscow 1973. 8...Ab6 9.c5 AGd7 10.2.4 HE Noa © abede if gh 1 believe that Black should now take the opportunity to undermine the white cpawn, 10...b6N_ In Sargissian — Volokitin, Germany 2008, Black carried out the natural ...c5 break, but failed to equalize: 10...2e8 11.@bd2 5 I2dxe5 AxeS 13.Axe5 Bxe5 14.Axe5 BxeS 15.e4 dxe4 16,43! We7 17.2xe4 White has an initiative. 1l.cxb6 axb6 12.Ac3 Af6 [Link] 2F5 14.863 Qbd7 “The position is unclear. B) 7.2bd2 This is not a particularly dangerous system, but it is quite playable and Black must know exactly how to react. Tone 5 2 Fianchetto Systems HN wRUAA Rw UA © 8.b3 White has several alternatives: 8.e3 seems to me in the spirit of this line, but I rather like the black side of this recent example: 8..bd7 9.We2 WaS [Link] Hac8 11.a3 a6 12.h3 c5! Black had easily solved his opening problems, and soon took over the initiative. 13.g4 Be6 14.g52! OhS 15.cxd5 Wrxe2 16.Exe2 &xd5F Kurajica — Efimenko, Sarajevo 2010. 8.%b3 is not uncommon, but after 8...!b6 White has a poor version of the Wb3-line (see Chapter 6), since the knight is clearly misplaced on d2. For example: 9.84xb6 axb6 10.b3 Qe4 (this is fine, but Black could also consider the more active 10...b5!2) 11.8b2 Ed8 12.2fd1 Axd2 13.Dxd2 decd 14.Axcd4 b5 15.Be3 Le6 16.8d2 a6 ¥e-%4 Orso — Barczay, Kecskemet 1979. 8.0h4 Be6 The bishop is quite well placed on €6, whereas the white knight is a bit misplaced: 9.b3 a5 10.8b2 a4 11.e3 This was Hough — Khachiyan, Pasadena 2008, and now I like 11...Wa5N 12.823 Be8 13.Qhf3 Dbd7, and Black may even play ...b5 next. 8...De4 9.2b2 Was? eee This looks slightly unnatural in this line, but it is quite popular and has been played by such strong players as Timman, Gligoric and Hort. Black’s idea is to provoke the advance of the white queenside pawns, and then later obtain counterplay against them. 10.a3, ‘A natural response to the black queen sortie, but there are also some other reasonable ‘options: 10.¢3 Ad7 11.Axe4 [Link] was tried in Shengelia — Kratschmer, Oberwart 2005, and Black now missed the nice: 11...Bec5! 12.8f1 Ad3 13.8xd3 Bxd3 14.04 06 15.8e3 dxe4 16.Axe4 Bxed 17.8xe4 Bfd8 (or 17...b5!2) The position is level. 11...Bxe4 12.Me2 Had8 Chapter 5 — Rare Seventh Moves 53 [Link] Other moves: ‘The typical 13.h3 can be met by: 13...£xf3 14.MxB3 dxed 15.bxc4 65 Black has a very comfortable game. 13.cxd5 Wxd52 (there is also nothing wrong with 13..cxd5=) 14.8fd1 Whs 15.8d2 Efe8 16.8ad1 Bolbochan ~ Darga, Moscow 1956. Now the simple 16...b6N, 17.h3 €6 would give Black a very sound position, 13... e8 14.83 Ya This is a nice square for the black queen. 15.8f1 dxc4 16.bxe4 P. Nikolic — Dorfman, Germany 2003, was agreed drawn here, but play could have continued with the simple and strong: 16...e5! Black has good play. [Link] Axd2 11.Wxd2 Or 11.Qxd2 Qd7 12.04 dxed 13.Dxe4 Wrel [Link] Sxed4 (14...05!2) [Link] @6 16.He2 6 with equality, Byrne — Gligoric, Lugano 1970. 11...Wxd2 12.2xd2 Bd8 It is hard to believe that White can fight for the advantage without queens. 13.¢3 Ba6 14.exd5 exd5 15.823 Forintos — Soos, Polanica Zdroj 1968, and now jus 15..e6IN 16.8fel Bac8 17.3 Or 17.8c4 £8. 17...8f8= [Link] @d7 11.21 White has also tried 11.@xe4 &xe4 12.2h3, but after 12...8xf3! 13.exf3 6 Black has no problems. Indeed, White must be careful to avoid being worse, for example: 14.%c2 dxc4 15.bxc4 @b6 16.a4 c5 Black was already better in Gyorkos — Groszpeter, Zalakaros 2005. 11...8h6 12.¢3 Bac8 13.Oxe4 13.®h4 does not cause Black any problems, as he can just reply 13...8g4. 13...8xe4 14.81d2 14.83 Wa6 15.4c5 is more ambitious, but Black is still doing fine: 15...Hfd8 16.8xe4 dxe4 17.0xd7 Bxd7 18.¥4c2 £5 The game is balanced. 14...Wixd2 15.4)xd2 &xg2 16.xg2 Bg7 Without queens, the position is equal, Averkin — Gufeld, Moscow 1969. 10...2d7 11.b4 After 11.8cl I like 11...2fc82 12.b4 Wd8 13.84b3 Todorcevic — Rodriguez Cespedes, Malaga 1987, and now Black should continue with: 13...Qdf6N 14.Bfd1 a5 (or 14...Axd2 15.@xd2 a5) Black gets exactly what he was wanting, counterplay on the queenside. 11...d8 I prefer this calm retreat to 11...!46, where the black queen can be a bit vulnerable. Play may continue: 12.8cl 2h6 (12...2b6 13.c5 a4 14.2a1 looks dubious for Black) 13.e3 Axd2 14.Axd2 Bd3 15.Yb3! Bxfl 16.8xf1 Wh6 17.cxd5 cxd5 18.xd5 @f6 Kir. Georgiev — Ftacnik, Varna 1987, and after 19.8 g2N Eac8 20.84 White has good compensation for the exchange. 12.b3 Other possibilities are: 54 Fianchetto Systems 12.8c] b5!? 13.cxd5 exd5 14.24 Neither 14.2e5 4b6 nor 14.\h4 Ab6 15.Dxf5 gxf give Black any problems. HE Re kU are < aS 14...a5!N In this way, Black can even fight for the advantage; after 14...bxa4 15.Wxa4 Ob6 1626 Wd7 Black had equalized in Tseshkovsky — Dvoretsky, Leningrad 1974. 15.axb5 Black obtains real pressure after 15.bxa5 WraS 16.axb5 Wxb5. 15..axb4 16.8b3 Was! 17.Wxd5 Ob6 White is even slightly better after: 17...Wa2?! 18.43 Wxb3 19.Axb3 Ba2 20.8al Dd6 21.Bfd2 xb 22.Bc4! 18.¢b3 Wxb5F White will have to show some accuracy in order to hold the balance. 12.24 Wb6RN: HE Re Rare Black starts concrete play on the queenside. ‘There is a solid alternative in: 12...0df6 13.Wb3 Wd7 14.8fd1 Bh3 15.cxd5 Sxg? 16.6xg2 Wxd517.Wxd5 cxdS With equality, Saidy - Gligoric, Los Angeles 1974, 13.%4b3, White cannot go for: 13.a5 Wxb4 14.843 West 13...c5! 14.dxc5 Odxc5 15.6a3 Bxb2 16.Wxb2 a5 17.b5 Bfd8= Black hasa very sound position. 12.c5 It is hard to believe that this is a good idea, As White has released the tension in the centre, Black should start play on the queenside: 12...b6IN (only 12. Axd2 has been played here) [Link] bxeS 14.dxc5 (14.bxc5_Bb8 is excellent for Black) 14...e5 15.0h4 @xd2 16.@xd2 Bg4 17.h3 Be6 (or 17...h5!2) 18.F4 exf4 19.2xg7 thxg7 20.4xf4 WF6 The position is unclear. 12...Ab6 13.c5 This is forced, since 13.24? runs into 13..dxe4 14.xc4 Be6! and White loses material. 13...0d7 14.04 Chapter 5 ~ Rare Seventh Moves 55 White has also tried: 14.8fd1 Dxd2 15.2xd2 We7 16.03 €5 (this is very natural, but first playing 16..Zad8 is also worth considering) 17.dxe5 Bxe5 18.04 dxe4 19.4xe4 xed 20.fxe4 Efe8 Black had reached comfortable equality in Ruck ~ Gonzalez Zamora, Koszeg 1996. 14...2e8 15.Hfd1 eS EN wR UDA & BuDicedi c.f oh 16.dxe5 Axd2 17.Dxd2 Lxe5 18.2xe5 Bxe5 19.e3 W£6 20.Wc3 Be7 21.Wxf6 Axi Black has equalized rather easily, Ribli - ‘Timman, Novi Sad (ol) 1990. ©) 7.8c3 dxc4 Taking the c-pawn makes a lot of sense once White has developed his queen's knight to c3; regaining the pawn will not be straightforward, and moreover ...b5-b4 can be a useful resource for Black. White now chooses from C1) 8.¢4, C2) 8.24 and C3) 8.Be5. Cl) 8.e4b5 This ensures that White will not get the pawn back in the immediate future. In my opinion, Black has good chances of fighting for the advantage from this position. 9.Be1 Other options are: 9.8e2 White is aiming to place his rook on dl, but before he can do so, Black creates concrete play on the queenside: 9..:b4 10.24 HE Re kUuare 10...!4a52N a6 11.4c5 &b5 has been played in a couple of games, but I believe that White could now obtain decent play for the pawn with: 12.a4N bxa3 13.2xa3 c3 14.@d3 cxb2 15.8xb2% 11.@c5 Bfd7 12.Yxc4 12.@xd7 @xd7 leaves White without much compensation. 12...Axc5 13.Yxc5 Yxc5 14.dxc5 @d7 56 Fianchetto Systems Ics clear that it is Black who is fighting for the advantage. 9.05 Bd5 10.a4 (10.8e4 Van Gool - Rendboe, Maastricht 2010, is best met with 10...8a6 followed by ...!/b6) 10...b4 11.e4 a5 [Link] DaG 13.We2 D6 14.d2 Be6 [Link] Aleksic ~ Dinic, Nis 1995. Black should now play 15...@d5 with a clear edge; he need not fear 16.8h6 because 16..f5! is a strong reply. 9...a6 10.85 &b7 11.24 b4 12.Ab1N An obvious improvement on the game Bagaturov — Jojua, Izmir 2003: 12.22? b3 13.8c3 Db4 14.Bxc4 White cannot do much against the knight coming to c2, so he tries an exchange sacrifice. 14...Qc2 15.8e3 @xal [Link] gd 17.05 Dxe3 18.fxe3 Here Black missed the strong: 18...8a6!N 19.423. (or 19.2d2 BxeSF) 19...c5!F 12...2e8 13.Axc4 Bxd4 14.2h6 aK Here I found an interesting exchange sacrifice, 14..De5 After 14...Dg7 15.Qbd2 Bc5 16.2 White has some compensation for the pawn. 15. Rxf8 hxfB T think that Black is doing very well, for example: 16.82 Af6 ‘Threatening ...Dg4. 17.263 2a6 18.Dbd2 Bb8 Black has excellent compensation. C2) 8.a4 Dab! HE NOR UA & ete eee gh White's last move weakened the b4-square, so the black knight immediately heads in that direction. 9.04 Other attempts also fall short: 95 Bd5 10.Ya4 Ddb4 11.Ba2 Sinanan — A. Young, Internet 2010, and here Black can play, for example: 11...@xa2_12.fxa2 Wd5! 13.¢3 Wb5 14.8d2 Hd8 15.8c3 &F5 I do not see any compensation for the pawn. 9.65 is well met by: 9..Ag4! 10.64 Db4 11.h3 AxeS 12.dxe5 Wb6t 13.2h2 a5 14.8d2 %id8F Heinatz — Hirn, Germany 1998. 9.h3 @d5 10.e4 has occurred twice, and in both games Black exchanged knights, but I believe he should prefer: 10...db4N 11.83 2d3 12.b3 Be6F Chapter 5 — Rare Seventh Moves 57 b4 10.Ae5 Leb 10...2e8!? is also worth considering. 11.23 Bd7 12.4 AxeS 13.dxe5 Wastt Hardie — Spiller, Newport 2004. C3) 8.25 gs An idea that we have already seen after 9.¢5 in C2 above. 9.4 The main alternative is: 9.8xg4 Bxg4 10.h3 10.d5 cxd5 11.Wxd5 Wxd5 12.8xd5 cb 13.8xc4 13...Hac8_ 14.s%g2 Deutsch — Kwatschewsky, Austria 1994. White has managed to regain the pawn, but the price has been high, and the black pieces are now much better coordinated. I believe that Black could now increase his pressure with: 14...Bfd8N 15.3 BF5 16.863 Qas!F 10...8€6 11.23 White has some compensation, but it’s hardly enough, and I definitely prefer Black. Here is one example of how play may go: 11...8d7 12.h2 a6 13.23 Preventing ...b4-d3. 13...Qc7 14.004 Vierroth — Mueller, Bad Wildbad 1998. Now I like the simple: 14...8d5N This allows White to exchange his knight for this bishop, but only atthe cost of weakening the d4-pawn. 15.@c5 Wc8 16.e4 Be6 17.Be3 Bd Black has the advantage. 9...Daé! Although 9...2xe5 is more popular, I see no reason for rushing to exchange, as White is short of useful moves. 10.c3 Dxe5 11.fxe5 AL4N This is an improvement on: 1 This move increases the power of Whites light- squared bishop and is rarely a good idea in this line. 12.b3 cxb3 13.axb3 Ab4 14.83 White had decent compensation for the pawn in I. Schneider — Karpatchev, Bad Woerishofen 2009. 12.b3 £6 13.2e4 Bd3 Black retains the better chances. Conclusion Both 7.@ad4 and 7.Abd2 can be categorized as solid, but not too dangerous, and Black can expect to equalize quite comfortably. By contrast, the more aggressive 7.2c3 offers a pawn sacrifice, which I recommend Black to accept. Although White gets a certain amount of compensation in various lines, in none of them is it really enough. S wo 7.463 Variation Index Fianchetto Systems 1.d4 Af6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 06 4.2g2 d5 5.D£3 &g7 6.0-0 0-0 7.4b3 A) 8.05 B) 8.8xb6 C) 8.43 Bd8 Cl) 9.cxd5 C2) 9.24 C3) 9.Wa3 C4) 9.8d1 C5) 9.h3 C6) 9.5 A)after 14.Be1? 7.86 C3) after 11.823 C6) after 17.24 59 59 60 61 61 62 63 64 11...226N Chapter 6 — 7.43 59 1.d4 Df6 2.c4 96 3.g3 <6 4.2g2 d5 5.063 &g7 6.0-0 0-0 7.8b3 Quite a popular line at GM-level. 7.-.AHb6 HV wo kU AA & This is a thematic response to White's queen sortie in positions with a Slav pawn structure, and irworkswell for Black here. White’ options are: the premature A) 8.c5, B) 8.Wxb6 and ©) 8.2c3. A) 8.c5 Wxb3 9.axb3 T have developed a useful ‘rule’ for this pawn structure: if Black manages to stop White's dangerous idea of b4-b5, then he will have absolutely no problems. 9...Da6 Stopping Whites only idea. Black will now prepare to advance his e-pawn, which should give him chances to fight for the initiative. 10.4c3 Bd7 11.Ba4 After 11.e4 dxe4 12.4)xe4 Teske ~ Balinov, Graz 1996, simplest is the calm 12...06N 13.2c3 Ob4 and only Black can be better. 11.5 12.3 Bc7 13.2d2 e4 moO 14.De1? The closed pawn structure makes the position fairly drawish, and 14.05 should allow White to maintain the balance, although he would still have to play accurately. 14...b6N This is an improvement on Ernst — L’Ami, Groningen 2003, and takes advantage of White's last move; the threat of ...£1a6 poses serious problems for White, due to the awkward placement of his minor pieces. 15.63 exf3 16. 2x63 bxcS Black is just a pawn up. B) 8.Wxb6 axb6 ee) 60 Fianchetto Systems This is also a premature decision, since Black can use the semi-open a-file to generate play on the queenside. 9.cxd5 Axd5! Black is already aspiring to an advantage; he is not satisfied with the more symmetrical position after 9...cxd5. KH Nw RU AA Ow 10.04 10.81c3? allows Black good play: 10...€xc3 11.bxc3 &e6 12.a3 Bd7 13.4d2 b5 14.De4 £5 15.Dg5 Bcd Black was clearly better in Palme ~ Kraus, Kirchheim 1947. 10.2d2 c5 (10...b5 11.4c3 4b6 also looks fine for Black, Lundvik — Eriksson, Sweden 2003) 11.4 Dc7 12.8c3 Db5! 13.duc5 Dxc3 14.&xc3 Ree — Moisicev, Amsterdam 1967. After the natural 14...bxcSN Black would be clearly better. 10...Ab4 11.23 Ad3 [Link] ‘We have been following Levitina~ Kasoshwili, Naleczow 1988, and now Black could improve her play: 12...Ad7N 13.8d1 Oxcl [Link] bS 15.23 AGF Black enjoys a comfortable edge with the bishop pair. ©) 8.Ac3 ‘This nacural move is the only way for White to fight for an advantage. 8...8d8 T have always considered 8...2f5 to be an equally playable continuation, but recently White has found some new ideas against it. At the same time White has been struggling to demonstrate any advantage after the rook move, hence my choice of it for this book. White now chooses from a wide range of approaches: Cl) 9.cxd5, C2) 9.2f4, C3) 9.¥a3, C4) 9.Bd1, C5) 9.h3 and C6) 9.c5. White has also tried: 9.Mixb6?! axb6 10.cxd5 This is quite harmless, since Black can recapture on d5 with his pieces. 10...2)xd5 11.@xd5 Exd5! Ero eee soe oo) One of the ideas behind 8...2d8. ‘The rook can be very useful on the fifth rank, and I think that Black already has the better chances. For example: 12.Bd1 12.¢3 Bd8 13.£d2 c5 14.82c3 Ac6 15.5? This is a serious error, although White's position was already unpleasant. 15...Axd4! 16.exd4 cxd4 17.264 Sxe5 18.8xe7 Kavalek — Ogaard, Manila 1975. Now the simple 18..2d7N 19.&b4 d3 would leave Black with a clear advantage. Chapter 6 —7.8%b3 61 12...2b5! 13.¢4 8e6 14.23 This was Rogozenko — Donchev, Debrecen 1992, and here Black should play the natural: 14..d73N Black’s queenside pressure gives him the better chances. C1) 9.cxd5 Wxb3! 10.axb3 Axd5 BWodt oF gh Itisa clever idea to change the pawn structure in this way, as White may have problems in the future with his b3-pawn. 11.Bg5 bes This is more flexible than 11...f6, which blocks the long diagonal and makes the dark- squared bishop passive, [Link] White tried 12.8fd1 in Greenfeld ~ Nataf, Albufera 1999, and here I would recommend: 12..h6N 13.8d2 £e6 14.¢3 (after 14.042 Bb4 ‘White pawns become serious targets) 14...4)a6 ‘The position is balanced. 12...6 13.2d2 h6 Defending against White’s idea of Ags. 14.03 Bd7 15.Be1 Axc3 Awell-timed exchange. 16.Bxe3 Unfortunately for White, he recapture with the pawn: 16.bxc3? c5! White is in trouble. cannot 16...g5! ‘A multi-purpose move, which really appeals to me. First of all Black takes control over the f4-square, preventing White's idea of \d3-f4; secondly Black is planning ...2f5, and so he vacates the g6-square as.a retreat for this bishop in the event of e3-e4, 17.243 B65 Black’s idea is to play ...e5, so White must react quickly. 18.Dc5 Axc5 19.Bxc5 Kg6 20.2c3 6 21.b4 a6 [Link] Neither side can make any progress in this position, so it is no surprise that a draw was agreed in PH. Nielsen — Radjabov, ‘Tripoli (2.2) 2004, C2) 9.24 dxc4 10.Yixc4 £e6 Grabbing the b-pawn obviously looks risky, although I don't see any refutation: 10...!xb2 11.40g5 (or 11. Zab] a3 12.4)g5 e6 13.e4 bS 14.813 b4 15.8b3 Wa6 16.83 bxc3 17.2xb8 2 and Black seems to be doing well in this o Fianchetto Systems messy position, Vachier Lagrave — Svidler, Moscow [blitz] 2010) 11..c6 12.fc7 He8 13.Bab1 Wa3 14.Qxb8 Exb8 15.8xc6 Hd8 16.8222 We7 Black had a comfortable game in Fomichenko — Piankov, Rennes 2009. 11.843 Dab Rw RU aa @ ee ataets setae Black continues to activate his minor pieces, using the slightly misplaced position of the white queen to help generate counterplay in the centre. 12.82 Nor do other moves pose Black any serious problems: 12.Mid2 cSt 13.805 cxdd 14.8xd4 Was 15.8fd1 Maletin — Kapnisis, Plovdiv 2008. Black should now play: AN 16.8464 (after 16.45 Wxgs [Link] @c2 the complications are in Black’s favour) 16...c6 17.e3 Qd5 18.Axd5 fxd5 Black has strong pressure on the queenside. 12.Be5 c5 13.845 WxbS (the immediate 13..@d52 also comes into consideration) 14.@xb5 &c4 15.23 Maletin - Vokarev, Nizhnij Tagil 2007. Black is doing fine, and a simple continuation is 15...2d5 16.8xg7 txg7 17.Bxd5 Sxd5 18.8fd1 Bac8 with equality. b4 Recently Black demonstrated another route to equality: 12...c5 13.Qa4 WbS 14.@xc5 Axc5 (14...BacB_ may be even stronger) 15.dxc5 (15.Wxc5 Wxe2 16.Wxe7 4d5 is good for Black) 15..8ac8 16.8fdl Exd1+ 17.Exd1 Dd5 18.0d4 Bxdd 19.Bxd4 Dxf4 20.gxh4 Wre5 21.!xc5 Exc5- Alekseev — Radjabov, Astrakhan 2010. L 13.a4 AbdS 14.423, Black has no problems after 14.8c1 265. 14... Dxf4 15.gxf4 Qd5 Black can also consider 1 typical idea of ..¥b4. with the 16.e3 e6= Black has an extremely solid position, Sargissian — Guseinov, Dubai 2005. C3) 9.Wa3 At first I thought that this move might be worth playing as White, but after delving deeper into the position I now feel that Black is doing fine here. 9..dxe4t Obviously the most principled continuation.

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