Chapter 1 - 2nd move sidelines - Notes

Chapter 10 11.Bxg6 hxg6 12.Qe2 0-0

Classical Mainline 11.Bd2 13.Rad1 Qb6 14.c4 Rfd8 15.Rd3
Notes 18.06.2020 Be7 16.Be3 Nc5 17.Rxd8+ Rxd8
[GM Swapnil Dhopade] 18.Bd4 Qa5 19.b3 a6 20.Rb1 Qa3
21.Ra1 a5 22.Bb2 Qb4 23.Nd4 e5
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 24.Nb5 Qd2 25.Bxe5 a4 26.bxa4
4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 now usually Nfe4 27.Qxd2 Nxd2 28.Re1 Nxc4
white's main plan in the mainline is to 29.Bd4 Ne6 30.Bc3 Bf8 31.Re4
play Nf3 aiming to go to the e5 Rd1+ 32.Nf1 Nb6 33.g3 Nd5
square. When black plays Nd7 34.Bd2 Ra1 35.a3 Bxa3 36.Nxa3
covering the e5 square, white plays Rxa3 37.Ne3 Ne7 38.Rb4 Nc6
Bd3 and exchanges the light square 39.Rxb7 Rxa4 40.Kg2 Rd4
bishops. He can carry out this plan ½-½ (40) Atabayev,M (2512)-
with a pawn on h2 or h4 or h5. Nabaty,T (2649) Budapest 2017 )
Putting the pawn on h5 and then 9...hxg6 10.Bf4 c5 11.c4 cxd4
carrying out this plan is the mainline. 12.Nxd4 a6 13.Qf3 Qb6 14.Nb3
6.h4 Rc8 15.Rfd1 Qc6 16.Qxc6 Rxc6
[ white can also decide to play 17.Na5 Rb6 18.Nb3 Rc6 19.Na5
normally without playing h4-h5. Rb6 20.Nb3 Rb4 21.Rac1 Ra4
6.Nf3 Nd7 7.Bd3 e6 8.0-0 Ngf6 22.a3 Be7 23.Nf1 0-0 24.Bd6
I have added a few model games Bxd6 25.Rxd6 Rc8 26.Ne3 Kf8
here. 9.Bxg6 ( 9.c4 Be7 10.Bf4 27.Rcd1 Ke7 28.f4 b5 29.cxb5
0-0 11.Re1 Re8 12.Bxg6 hxg6 axb5 30.g3 Rc7 31.Kg2 Ne4
13.Qc2 a5 14.Rad1 a4 15.Ne5 32.R6d3 Ra6 33.Rd4 Nd6 34.Re1
Qa5 16.Bd2 Qa6 17.Bg5 Rad8 Nb6 35.Re2 Ra4 36.Nd5+ Nxd5
18.h4 Qa5 19.Qe2 Bb4 20.Rf1 37.Rxd5 Rac4 38.Nd4 Rb7 39.Nb3
Be7 21.Rfe1 Bb4 22.Rf1 Be7 Rbc7 40.Nd4 Rc8 41.b3 Rc1
23.a3 c5 24.Nxd7 Nxd7 25.Bxe7 42.Rde5 R8c3 43.b4 Rxa3
Rxe7 26.h5 cxd4 27.hxg6 Nf6 44.Nxb5 ½-½ (44) Sutovsky,E
28.gxf7+ Kxf7 29.Rd3 Qc5 30.Ne4 (2657)-Grischuk,A (2786) Rhodes
Qe5 31.Re1 Qxe4 32.Qxe4 Nxe4 2013 ]
33.Rxe4 Red7 34.f4 Rd6 35.c5 6...h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 its important to
Rd5 36.Kf2 ½-½ (36) Lagno,K respond Nf3 with Nd7 in order to
(2530)-Vitiugov,N (2724) Caleta prevent the white knight from
2017; 9.Bf4 c5 10.dxc5 Bxc5 coming to e5. 8.h5

GM Swapnil Dhopade 4
 Chapter 1 - 2nd move sidelines - Notes

[ 8.Bd3 Bxd3 9.Qxd3 e6 22.Bf2 Rfe8 23.Nc4 Bc7=

this is completely similar to the and black is doing fine here.
mainline of the carokann after 8. 24.c3 a5 25.a4 b5 26.axb5
h5 ] cxb5 27.Ne5 a4 28.Kc2 b4
8...Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 e6 29.cxb4 Nd5 30.Nd3 Bd6
11.Bd2 31.Nc5 Nxb4+ 32.Kc3 Nd5+
[ 11.Bf4 is a topic of the next 33.Kc4 Bxc5 34.dxc5 Rab8
chapter. ] 35.Rxe6 Rxe6 36.Kxd5 Re2
11...Ngf6 12.0-0-0 Be7 With this 37.Bd4 Rc2 38.Be5 Rb5
black aims to 0-0. 39.Bd4 Rb8 40.Be5 Rd8+
This is the main tabiya of the Bd2 41.Bd6 Rxb2 42.Ra1 Ra8
variation in the classical carokann 43.c6 Rd2+ 44.Kc5 Ra5+
[ 12...Qc7 is another main way to 45.Kb6 Rxd6 46.Kxa5 Rxc6
play here. ] 47.Rxa4 Rc2 48.g4 Rf2
13.Kb1 this was given as the mainline 49.Ra3 fxg4 50.fxg4 Rf4
in the Negi book and from then on it 51.Kb6 Rxg4 52.Kc6 Rd4
became the mainline for white 53.Rf3 Rd1 54.Rf5 g5
players. Many players all around the 55.hxg6 Kg7 56.Rf7+ Kxg6
world played this. I myself faced this 57.Rf8 h5 58.Rg8+ Kf5
move in a few games. 59.Kc5 h4 60.Kc4 h3 61.Rh8
[ 13.Ne4 white immediately offers Kg4 62.Kc3 Kg3 63.Rg8+ Kf2
the exchange of the knight freeing 64.Rf8+ Kg2 65.Rg8+ Kh1
his g-pawn. White wants to be 66.Rh8 h2 67.Rg8 Rg1
ready to attack immediately with 0-1 (67) Sukandar,I (2363)-
g2-g4 in case black goes for 0-0. Dreev,A (2679) Jakarta 2013;
Nxe4 14.Qxe4 Nf6 A2) 16.c4 Qe4 17.Qxe4
A) 15.Qe2 leads to a drawish ( 17.Rde1 Qxe2 18.Rxe2 0-0
ending after, Qd5! 19.Ne5 Rfd8 20.Bc3 Rac8
A1) 16.Kb1 Qe4 17.Qxe4 21.a4 c5 22.dxc5 Bxc5 23.g4
( 17.Be3 should be met by, Bd4 24.Bxd4 Rxd4 25.Rd1
Ng4 18.Nd2 Qf5 19.f3 Nxe3 Rxd1+ ½-½ (25) Thipsay,P
20.Qxe3 Bg5= ) 17...Nxe4 (2465)-Lalith,B (2481) New
18.Be3 f5 ( 18...0-0 Delhi 2010 ) 17...Nxe4 18.Be1
is completely normal. ) 19.Nd2 ( 18.Be3 f5 ) 18...c5 19.Ne5
Nf6 20.f3 0-0 21.Rde1 Bd6 Bf6 20.f3 cxd4 21.Rxd4 Nd6

GM Swapnil Dhopade 5
 Chapter 1 - 2nd move sidelines - Notes

22.Rxd6 Bxe5 23.Rd3 Rc8 Kf5 37.Kb1 Bf6 38.Rgg1 Ke4

24.b3 b5 25.Rh4 f5 26.Bc3 39.Rg3 Rxc5 40.Bxc5 Rxc5
Bg3 27.Rhd4 Be5 28.Rh4 41.Rh3 Kxf4 42.Rc1 Bc3
Bg3 29.Rhd4 Be5 30.Rh4 43.Rf1+ Kg4 44.Rh2 Be5
Bg3 ½-½ (30) Topalov,V 45.Rg2+ Bg3 46.Rfg1 Rc3
(2752)-Mamedyarov,S (2729) 47.Kb2 Re3 48.Ka2 e5
London 2012; 49.Rc1 Kf3 50.Rb2 Be1
B) 15.Qd3 c5! 51.Rc5 Bc3 52.Rc2 Bd4
black immediately strikes in the 53.Rxa5 Re1 54.Rb2 e4
centre taking advantage of the 55.Rf5+ Ke3 56.a5 Rc1
fact that the d3 queen is in 57.Rb5 Kd3 58.Rxb4 Bxb2
between the d1 rook and the 59.Kxb2 Rc2+ 60.Ka3 e3
queen on d8. ( 15...Qd5?! 61.Rh4 Rc1 62.Rh3 Kd2
this is not good now as, 16.c4 63.Kb4 e2 64.Rh2 Kd3
Qe4 17.Qb3! and black is in 65.Rxe2 Kxe2 66.a6 Ra1
problems b6 18.Rde1 Qh7 67.Kb5 Kd3 68.b4 Kc3
and the black queen is badly 69.Kc5 Rxa6 70.b5 Ra5
placed on h7.; 15...0-0 16.g4 71.Kc6 Kb4 72.b6 Rxh5
white gets some attack on the 0-1 (72) Carlsson,P (2492)-
kingside. ) Tomashevsky,E (2714) Doha
B1) 16.Qb5+ leads to an 2014;
endgame where black is fine. B2) 16.Be3 0-0 ( 16...Qa5
Qd7 17.Qxd7+ ½-½ (66) 1-0 (37) Safarli,E (2622)-
Kotsur,P (2559)-Riazantsev,A Kovchan,A (2554)/Konya TUR
(2689) Moscow 2011 Classical 2011/The Week in Chess 870 )
Mainline 11.Bd2 [GM Swapnil B2a) 17.g4 Qd5;
Dhopade] Nxd7 18.Be3 cxd4 B2b) 17.Kb1 Qc7 ( 17...Rc8
19.Bxd4 Bf6 20.Be3 Rc8 18.g4 ) 18.g4 Nxg4
21.Nd2 Ke7 22.Ne4 Rc4 19.Rhg1 Nxe3 20.Qxe3
23.f3 Rhc8 24.Rd2 Be5 Kh8 21.Ne5 Bf6;
25.Rhd1 R8c7 26.b3 R4c6 B2c) 17.dxc5 Qa5!;
27.f4 Nf6 28.Nxf6 Bxf6 29.c4 B3) 16.Bc3
b5 30.c5 Bc3 31.Rc2 b4 B3a) 16...cxd4 17.Bxd4
32.a4 a5 33.g4 f5 34.Rg2 ( 17.Qb5+ ½-½ (59)
fxg4 35.Rxg4 Kf6 36.Rg6+ Codenotti,M (2262)-Schroll,

GM Swapnil Dhopade 6
 Chapter 1 - 2nd move sidelines - Notes

G (2449)/Aix-les-Bains FRA Now, since the white queens

2011/The Week in Chess path to the kingside is
856 ) 17...Qd5 18.Kb1 blocked, black can safely go
0-0; for, 0-0 19.c4 Qe4 20.Qxe4
B3b) 16...0-0! 17.g4 Nxe4 21.f3 Nf6 22.g4 a6=
( 17.dxc5 Qc7= ) 17...Nxg4 0-1 (51) Naroditsky,D (2486)-
18.Qe2 Qd5; So,W (2650)/Montreal CAN
B4) 16.dxc5 Qxd3 17.cxd3 2012/The Week in Chess 924 )
Bxc5; 18...0-0 19.c4 Qc5 20.Be3
B5) 16.Kb1 cxd4 17.Nxd4 Qa5 21.g4 Rfd8 22.Qe2
Qd5! ( 17...0-0? this is a very Rac8= and blacks pieces are
instructive mistake made by well placed and there is no
Navara. white got a chance to clear way for white to attack
strike with, 18.Bxh6! gxh6 on the kingside. 23.Rhg1 Qe5
19.Qg3+ Kh8 20.Nxe6 fxe6 24.Nc2 Bc5 25.Qf2 Bxe3
21.Rxd8 Raxd8 22.Qe3 Ng8 26.Qxe3 Qxe3 27.Nxe3 Nd7
23.Qxa7 and white was 28.g5 hxg5 29.Rxg5 Nf6
clearly better. Bf6 24.f3 Ne7 30.Rdg1 Kf8 31.Rxg7 Nxh5
25.Qe3 Bg7 26.Qxe6 Nd5 32.Rh7 Nf6 33.Rh6 Ne8
27.c3 Rfe8 28.Qf5 Re2 34.f4 Nd6 35.b3 Ke7 36.Re1
29.Rc1 Rxg2 30.a3 b5 31.Qf7 Rh8 37.Nd5+ Kd7 38.Nf6+
Nf6 32.Qb7 Rd5 33.f4 Kh7 Kc6 39.Reh1 Rxh6 40.Rxh6
34.Re1 Rdd2 35.Qxb5 Nd5 b5 41.cxb5+ Kxb5 42.Ng4
36.Ka1 Rgf2 37.Qe8 Nxf4 Rg8 43.Ne5 Rg2 44.Rf6 Kb4
38.Qe4+ Kh8 39.Qa8+ Kh7 45.Kc1 Kc3 46.Kd1 Rg7 47.f5
40.Qe4+ Kh8 41.Qf5 Rd8 Nxf5 48.Rxf7 Rxf7 49.Nxf7
42.Qb5 Rd5 43.Re8+ Kh7 Nd4 50.Ne5 Kb2 51.Kd2
44.Qc4 Rxh5 45.Qg8+ Kg6 Kxa2 52.b4 Kb3 53.Kd3 Nc2
46.Re7 Rh1+ 47.Ka2 Nh5 54.b5 Na3 55.Nc6 Nxb5
48.Qe6+ Nf6 49.Qf7+ Kf5 56.Ke4 a6 57.Ke5 Kc4
50.Qxg7 Rhh2 51.Rb7 58.Na5+ Kb4 59.Nb7 Nc7
1-0 (51) Guseinov,G (2634)- 60.Kd6 a5 61.Kxc7 a4
Navara,D (2728) Baku 2015 ) 0-1 (61) Pichot,A (2544)-Dreev,
18.f3 this covers the e4 square A (2652) Doha 2016 ]
and prevents Qe4. ( 18.Be3 [ 13.Qe2 this is a waiting move.

GM Swapnil Dhopade 7
 Chapter 1 - 2nd move sidelines - Notes

White waits for black to 0-0 when 27.Qd7 Rf8 28.a3 Ng6 29.Rd3
he can make plans to attack on the f5 30.gxf5 exf5 31.Nd6 Qe1+
kingside. 32.Ka2 Ne5 33.Qe6+ Kh7
A) 13...0-0?! 14.Ne5 gives white 34.Qe7 Nxd3 35.Qxf8 Qe5
a clear plan. ( 14.Nf1!? ); 36.Qxf5+ Qxf5 37.Nxf5 Kg6
B) 13...c5! black delays 0-0 and 38.Nd6 h5 39.Nxb7 h4 40.Nd6
breaks in the centre h3 41.Ne4 h2 42.Ng3 Kg5
immediately. 14.Rhe1 ( 14.dxc5 43.b4 Kf4 44.Nh1 Kxf3 45.c5
is met by, Qc7= 15.Rh4 Rc8 Ne5 46.b5 Kg2 47.c6 Nf7
16.Kb1 0-0 17.Nf5 exf5 48.a4 Kxh1 49.c7 Nd6 50.a5
18.Qxe7 Rfe8 19.Qd6 Qxc5= Kg1 0-1 Hou,Y (2509)-Riazantsev,
20.Qxc5 Nxc5 21.Be3 Ng4 A (2629)/Moscow 2007/CBM
22.Nd4 Rcd8 23.Rf1 Ne4 117 ) 17...cxd4 18.Bxd4 Bc5=;
0-1 (38) Matoewi,R (2151)- B) 15.Ne5 Rad8 16.Bc1!?
Agrest,E (2585)/Khanty- ( 16.c4 c5 17.Bc3 cxd4 18.Bxd4
Mansiysk RUS 2010/The Week in Bc5= ) 16...Rfe8!? ( 16...c5
Chess 829 ) 14...0-0 15.Nf5 Re8! 17.Nxd7 Rxd7 18.dxc5 Qxc5
16.Nxe7+ Qxe7 17.c4 ( 17.d5 19.Rxd7 Nxd7 20.Ne4 Qc6
Qd6 18.dxe6 Rxe6 19.Be3 21.Rd1 Nf6 22.Nxf6+ Bxf6
Qc6= ) 17...cxd4 18.Nxd4 Qc5! 23.g4 Rd8 24.Rxd8+ Bxd8
19.Bc3 ( 19.Nb3 Qc7= ) 19...a6 25.Qd3 Bf6 26.f3 Qb6 27.Qd7
20.Kb1 Rac8 21.Qf3 Qxc4 Qg1 28.Qc8+ Kh7 29.Qxb7 e5
22.Qxb7 Nc5N ( 22...Rb8 30.Qe4+ Kg8 31.Qa8+ Kh7
0-1 (37) Lonnqvist,H-Novik,M 32.Qe4+ Kg8 33.Qa8+
(2513)/Jyvaskyla 2004/EXT ½-½ Stellwagen,D (2489)-
2007 ) 23.Qb4 Nce4 ] Gustafsson,J (2572)/
13...0-0 14.Ne4 Pulvermuehle 2004/CBM 100 )
[ 14.Qe2 Qb6 ( 14...c5 15.d5! ) 17.f4 c5 18.Nxd7 ( 18.dxc5= )
A) 15.c4 Rfd8 16.Ne5 c5 18...Nxd7 19.d5 exd5 20.Rxd5
17.Bc3 ( 17.Nxd7 Rxd7 18.dxc5 Nf6 21.Rxd8 Bxd8 22.Qf3 c4
Bxc5 19.Bc3 Bd4 20.Bxd4 Rxd4 blacks pieces are better placed
21.Rxd4 Qxd4 22.Rd1 Qc5= than whites. 23.Rd1 Qb5 24.a4
with a completely equal Qxa4 25.Nf5 Qa6 26.g4 Qc6
endgame. 23.Ne4 Qf5 24.f3 27.Qh3 Qe6 28.g5 hxg5
Nxh5 25.g4 Nf4 26.Qd2 Qe5 29.fxg5 Ne4 30.Re1 c3 31.Rxe4

GM Swapnil Dhopade 8
 Chapter 1 - 2nd move sidelines - Notes

Qxe4 32.g6 Qe5 33.Qg4 Re6 22.Bxd4 ( 22.Rxd4? Rxd4

34.gxf7+ Kxf7 35.h6 cxb2 23.Bxd4 Nd2+ 24.Ka1 Bg5
36.Bd2 gxh6 37.Qh5+ Kf6 25.Bc3 Rd8 26.Bxd2 Rxd2
38.Qxh6+ Kxf5 39.Qh5+ Ke4 27.Kb1 Rf2 28.Rd1 Bf6 )
40.Qe2+ Kd5 0-1 Stellwagen,D 22...Bc5 23.Bxc5 Nxc5
(2489)-Doettling,F (2532)/ 24.c3 Kf8 25.Kc2 Ke7
Pulvermuehle 2004/CBM 100 ] 26.b4 Nd7 27.Rxd7+ Rxd7
14...Nxe4 15.Qxe4 Nf6 16.Qe2 28.Nxd7 Kxd7 29.Rd1+
Qd5 17.Be3 Ke7=;
[ 17.c4 does not make sense here. A2b) 20...Rac8 21.c3 b5
Qe4+ 18.Qxe4 Nxe4 19.Be3 f5!? 22.Kc2 a5 23.Rhg1 a4
20.d5 exd5 21.cxd5 f4 22.Bd4 24.Rde1 c5 25.dxc5 Nxc5
cxd5 23.Ne5 Rf5 24.f3 0-1 (51) 26.Rd1 Na6 27.Bb6 Nb4+
Rechlis,G (2460)-Rodshtein,M 28.Kb1 Rxd1+ 29.Rxd1
(2622)/Israel ISR 2010 ] Nd5 0-1 (41) Marjanovic,S
[ the direct, 17.g4 is not so good as (2505)-Sargissian,G (2673)/
after, Qe4 18.Be3 Nxg4 19.Nd2 Kavala GRE 2010/The Week
Qf5 20.Rdg1 Nxe3 21.fxe3 Bg5 in Chess 821;
whites attack has come to a stand B) 17...c5 18.c4 Qe4+ 19.Qxe4
still. 0-1 (79) Kobalia,M (2634)- Nxe4 20.Be3 Rfd8 21.g4 cxd4
Jobava,B (2669)/Budva 2009/CBM 22.Bxd4 Bg5 ( 22...Bf6 23.f4
130 ] 1-0 (76) Gopal,G (2609)-Lalith,B
[ 17.Ne5 (2481)/National Premier Chess
A) 17...Qe4!? 18.Qxe4 ( 18.Be3 Championship 201 2010 ) 23.Kc2
Nd5= ) 18...Nxe4 Bd2 ]
A1) 19.Be1 Rfd8 ( 19...Rfc8 [ 17.Rde1!? this is an interesting try
20.f3 Nf6 21.g4 c5 22.dxc5 for white stopping Qe4. Rad8
Rxc5 23.Nd7 Rc7 ) 20.f3 Nf6 ( 17...c5 ½-½ (44) Ganguly,S
21.Bf2 Nd7=; (2650)-Mchedlishvili,M (2628)/
A2) 19.Be3 Rfd8 20.g4 Khanty-Mansiysk RUS 2010/The
( 20.f3? Ng3 21.Rh3 Nf5 Week in Chess 830 ) 18.g4 Nxg4
22.Bf2 c5!; 20.c4 Bf6 ( 18...c5 1-0 (33) Thorhallsson,G
21.Rhe1 c5 22.Kc2 Rac8 (2130)-Sigurdarson,E (1867)
23.b3 b5! ) Reykjavik 2014 ) 19.Rhg1 ( 19.Reg1
A2a) 20...c5 21.f3 cxd4 f5 is fine for black. )

GM Swapnil Dhopade 9
 Chapter 1 - 2nd move sidelines - Notes

A) 19...f5 20.c4 Qd7 22.Be3 Qe5 23.Nc4 ( 23.Rg3

21.Qxe6+ ( 21.Ne5 Nxe5 was what my opponent had
22.Qxe5 Bf6 ) 21...Qxe6 22.Rxe6 planned. But he missed blacks
Bf6; reply. Bf6!-+ ) 23...Qe4 24.Nd2
B) 19...Qxh5 20.Ne5 Nf6 ½-½ (26) Jones,G (2688)-
21.Qe3 ( 21.f3? Rxd4; 21.Qd3 Dhopade,S (2532) Douglas 2017
Nh7= ) 21...c5 22.Qg3 g6 ( 24.Rf4 Qxg2 was missed by my
23.Qb3 Rxd4= white has some opponent! This was his initial
compensation here but black is intention while playing Rf3. )
fine. ] 24...Qe5 25.Nc4 Qe4 26.Nd2
17...Qb5 18.c4 ½-½ (26) Jones,G (2688)-
[ 18.Rd3 This is the latest try by Dhopade,S (2532) Douglas 2017
white to fight for an advantage. It [Dhopade,Swapnil] ]
was played by Gawain Jones 18...Qf5+ 19.Ka1
against me in Isle of Man [ 19.Qc2?! Qxc2+ 20.Kxc2 b5!
tournament 2017. Ng4 19.Bf4 and black is the one pressing here.
Rad8 20.Nd2 ( 20.Ne5 Rxd4 21.c4 A) 21.b3 a5 opening files for
Rxc4 22.Nxc4 Qxc4 ) 20...Qf5 the rook. 22.a4 bxa4 23.bxa4
A) 21.g3 e5!! gives black a c5 24.Ne5 cxd4 25.Bxd4 Rac8
good amount of counterplay.; 26.Rb1 was my main line during
B) 21.Bg3 Nf6 22.Be5 ( 22.Rf3 the game. I thought white has
Qb5 23.c4 Qg5; 22.f3? Nxh5 ) decent chances to hold here.
22...Ng4 23.Rf3 this idea which Bb4! ( 26...Bd6 27.Rb5 Bxe5
looks quite similar to the 21.g3 28.Bxe5 Rxc4+ 29.Kb3= ) 27.Bc3
variation doesnt work here due Nd5! 28.Bxb4 Nxb4+ 29.Kc3
to a very subtle difference. Rc7;
( 23.Bc7 Rd7 24.Bg3 Rfd8 25.f3 B) 21.Ne5 bxc4 22.Nxc4 Nd5;
Nf6 26.Be5 Bd6 27.g4 Qg5= ) C) 21.c5 Nd5 22.Ne5 Rfc8
23...Qh7 24.Rb3 Nxe5 25.dxe5 23.Rh3 Bf6 24.Nd7 ( 24.Ng4
Rd7 26.Ne4 Rfd8 27.a3 Qf5 was my main move in the game.
compared to the 21.g3 variation, a5 25.Rf3 ) 24...Rd8 25.Nxf6+
white doesnt have f4 now.; Nxf6 26.f3 Rd5 27.g4 Rad8
C) 21.Rf3 This simply leads to a 28.Rhh1 a5 29.Rd2 a4 30.Rhd1
draw. 21...Rxd4! ( 21...Qb5 Nh7 ( I should have played
was good enough as well. ) slowly with, 30...R5d7

GM Swapnil Dhopade 10
 Chapter 1 - 2nd move sidelines - Notes

black has all the time in the 44.a3 Rc4 45.Rf6 f4

world and can slowly think of 46.Rd6= it not possible to
creating some weaknesses on make progress. ) 39.Rxf3+
the kingside. ) 31.Bf4! f5 32.Be5 Ke7 40.Kc3 Rd5 41.Rg3
C1) 32...fxg4! 33.Rg2 Kf7 42.Rf3+ Rf5 43.Rh3
was my opponents intention. e5 44.dxe5 Rxe5 45.Kb4
But black has a cool resource Re2 46.Kc3 Re4 ( 46...Ke6
which makes whites task 47.Rd3 Ke7 48.Rd6 Re6
tougher. ( 33.fxg4 Ng5 ) 49.Rd4= ) 47.b3 Kf6;
33...Ng5 34.Rxg4 Nxf3! C2) 32...Ng5?! 33.f4!
35.Rxg7+ ( 35.Bxg7 Rg5! ) I completely missed this idea.
35...Kf8 36.Rf1 Rxe5! 37.Rg3! Nf3 34.gxf5 Nxd2 35.Rxd2
( 37.Rxf3+ Kxg7 38.dxe5 exf5 36.Rg2 Rxe5 37.dxe5
Rd5 black wins a pawn and Rd5 38.b4 axb3+ 39.axb3
will push in the rook Rxc5+
edngame. ) 37...Rf5 C2a) 40.Kd3 was an easy
C1a) 38.Rgxf3?! draw. White should keep
this natural move is inferior. his king active. b4 41.Rg6
Rxd4! 39.Rxf5+ exf5 ( 41.Kd4 Rc3 42.Rg6 )
40.Rxf5+ Ke7 41.b3 41...Rc3+ 42.Kd4
( 41.Re5+ Kf6-+ ) Swapnil: '' Rxb3
C1a1) 41...a3? 42.Re5+ 43.Rxc6;
Kf6 ( 42...Kd7 43.Kc3 ) C2b) 40.Kd2 b4 41.Rg3?!
43.Re8 Rd5 44.b4 Rxh5 Rd5+ 42.Rd3??
45.Rc8=;
C1a2) 41...axb3+ (Diagram)
42.axb3 b4! and white
loses a pawn. ( 42...Ke6? g6! 43.hxg6 h5! 44.e6 Kf8
43.Rf8 Rd5 44.b4 Rxh5 0-1 (44) Gupta ,S (2254)-
45.Rd8 Rd5 46.Rh8 h5 Dhopade,S (2516)
47.Rh6+ Kd7 48.Rh7+= ); Ahmedabad 2017 ]
C1b) 38.Rfxf3! Rxf3 19...c5
( 38...Rxd4 39.Rxf5+ exf5 [ 19...Ng4 20.Bc1 transposes. ]
40.Rg6 Rc4+ 41.Kd3 Rxc5 20.Nh4
42.Rxh6 Kg7 43.Rg6+ Kh7 [ 20.Ne5 cxd4 21.Bxd4 Rfd8

GM Swapnil Dhopade 11
 Chapter 1 - 2nd move sidelines - Notes

XIIIIIIIIY 33.b3 Kf8 34.Kc2 Ke7 35.Kc3

Rd3+ 36.Kc2 R3d4 37.Kc3
8-+-+-+k+0{ Rf4 38.Re4 Rxe4 39.fxe4 Rg8
7+-+-+-zp-0 40.Rg1 Kd6 41.Kd4 f5
6-+p+-+-zp0 42.c5+ Kc6 43.exf5 exf5
44.g5 hxg5 45.Ke5 f4 46.Kf5
5+-+rzPp+P0 Kxc5 47.h6 f3 48.Kg4 Rh8
4-zp-+-zP-+0 49.Kxf3 Rxh6 50.Rxg5+ Kb4
3+P+R+-+-0 51.Rg4+ Kc3 52.Rf4 Ra6
53.Rxf7 b6 54.Rc7+ Kb2
2-+-mK-+-+0 55.b4 Rxa2 56.b5 Kb3
1+-+-+-+-0 57.Rc1 Ra5 58.Rb1+ Kc4
xabcdefghy 59.Ke3 Rxb5 60.Ra1 Rb3+
0-1 (60) Djurhuus,R (2422)-
A) 22.a3 Bd6! is even stronger Tari,A (2499) Oslo NOR 2015;
than the normal Qe4, keeping C) after 22.f3? black can simply
the pressure. The idea is to play grab the h5 pawn Nxh5! 23.g4
Bc7 with pressure on d4 and e5. ( 23.Qe3 Ng3 24.Rh3? Qc2!-+ )
23.g4 Qf4! many times this is 23...Qf4! ( =23...Nf4 ) 24.Bf2
better than Qe4. 24.f3 Bxa3! Ng3 25.Bxg3 Qxg3;
25.Ng6 fxg6! 26.Qxe6+ Kh8 D) 22.Qe3 Qe4 23.Qc3
27.Bxf6 gxf6 28.bxa3? ( 23.Qxe4 Nxe4 24.g4 Bb4!
Qxf3!-+; a very typical move in these type
B) 22.g4? Qf4! blacks f4 is of positions. 25.Be3 Bd2!
really uncomfortable for white. with slightly better for black. )
( 22...Qe4?! 23.Qxe4 Nxe4 now black cooly grabbed the g2
24.f3= ) pawn. 23...Qxg2 24.Rdg1 Qe4
B1) 23.Qe3 Qxe3 24.fxe3 25.Qg3 Ne8 26.Bc3 Bg5 27.Nf3
( 24.Bxe3 Bd6 ) 24...Ne4 Rd3 28.Nxg5 Qxh1 29.Rxh1
25.Rhf1 f6 26.Ng6 Bd6; Rxg3 30.fxg3 hxg5 31.Rd1 b6
B2) 23.Bc3 Ne4 24.Bd4 Nf6 32.b4 Rc8 33.Kb2 Nf6 34.h6
25.Bc3 Qe4 26.Rde1 Qxe2 Rxc4 35.Rf1 Re4 36.b5 Re2+
27.Rxe2 Bd6 28.f3 Bxe5 37.Kc1 Re3 38.Bd4 Rxg3
29.Bxe5 Rd3 30.Bxf6 gxf6 39.hxg7 Nd5 40.Kd2 Ra3
31.Rf1 Rad8 32.Kb1 R3d4 41.Rc1 Rxa2+ 42.Kd3 f6

GM Swapnil Dhopade 12
 Chapter 1 - 2nd move sidelines - Notes

0-1 (42) Van Foreest,J (2472)- endgame, but blacks chances

Donchenko,A (2511) Basel SUI look preferable. ) 44...Kh7!
2015 ] 45.Rb4 Re7 46.Rb6 h5-+
20...Qh7 21.d5 black is already winning. The
[ 21.g4 cxd4 22.Bxd4 Qe4 h-pawn is too fast. 47.a5 h4
A) 23.Qd2? Rfd8 24.f3 Qc6 48.Rb4 g5 49.Rg4 Kg6 50.f4
25.Qe2 Rac8 Kf5 51.Rxg5+ Kxf4 52.Rh5
A1) 26.b3? is met by... Nxg4! Kg4 53.Rh8 Re5 54.b4 h3
27.fxg4 ( 27.Qg2 Rxd4! ) 55.Kb3 Rh5 56.Rg8+ Kh4
27...Rxd4-+; 57.Rc8 h2 58.Rc1 Kg3 59.b5
A2) 26.Ng2 Qxc4 27.Qxc4 h1Q 60.Rxh1 Rxh1 61.Kc4
Rxc4 28.Bxa7 Nd5? Rh6 0-1 (61) Gusain,H (2335)-
throwing away a great part of Dhopade,S (2488) 1st IIFL
the advantage. ( 28...Ra8 Wealth Open, Mumbai, 2016
29.Bd4 Nd5 ) 29.Ne3 Rf4 2016;
30.Nxd5 exd5 31.Rd3 B) 23.Qxe4 Nxe4 24.Nf3 Rfd8
( 31.Rhf1 ) 31...f5! 32.gxf5?! 25.Rhe1 f5 26.gxf5 exf5 27.Rc1
this ruins whites kingside Rd7 28.Rg1 Ng5 29.Nxg5 Bxg5
structure. ( 32.Rg1 Bf6 30.Be3 f4 31.Bc5 Rd2!
black still keeps some with the threat of Bf6 and b6
pressure. ) 32...Bf6! followed by Rf2. ( 31...f3
nice intermediate move ½-½ (42) Abasov,N (2511)-Tari,
preventing Bd4. ( 32...Rxf5 A (2518) Khanty-Mansiysk RUS
33.Bd4 ) 33.a3 Rxf5 34.Bf2 2015 )]
Kf7 35.Ka2 d4 36.Bh4 Rdd5 [ 21.dxc5 Rad8
37.Bxf6 Kxf6 38.a4 Rxh5 A) 22.Rxd8 Rxd8 23.Rd1?
39.Rxh5 Rxh5 40.Rxd4 Re5 Rxd1+ 24.Qxd1 Qe4;
I assesed this endgame as B) 22.g4 Qe4 23.f3 Qe5
better for black due to the 24.Qf2 ( 24.c6 bxc6 25.Ng2
passed h-pawn. While white Bc5 ) 24...Rxd1+ 25.Rxd1 Nxh5
will need some time to create 26.Ng2 Nf6 27.Nf4 Rc8 28.Nd3
his own passer. 41.Rf4+ Kg6 Qc7;
42.Rg4+ Kf6 43.Rf4+ Kg6 C) 22.c6 bxc6 23.Bxa7?
44.Rg4+? ( 44.b4 h5 45.a5 this leads to a beautifull
I am still not sure about this combination. Rxd1+ 24.Rxd1

GM Swapnil Dhopade 13
 Chapter 1 - 2nd move sidelines - Notes

Nxh5! distracting whites  from well. ) 23.Qxd1 ( 23.Rxd1 Qe4 )

the c2 square. 25.Qxh5 Qc2! 23...Ng4= black seems to be
blacks  is execellently placed fine. ]
on c2. There are numerous 21...exd5 22.cxd5
threats here : Bh4 ( when Rd1 [ 22.Bxh6 looks dangerous but it
hangs), Bf6 (with pressure on b2), isn't Rfe8 23.Bg5 Bd8!
Ra8-followed by Qa4(with A) 24.Qf1 dxc4! intending Ne4
pressure on a2. 26.Rb1 next. 25.Qxc4 Ne4 26.Bxd8
defending b2, but this allows Raxd8 27.Rxd8 Rxd8 28.Re1
another beautifull move. Rd8!! b5! ( 28...Qxh5? 29.Qxe4 Rd1+
a very cool move! bringing the 30.Rxd1 Qxd1+ 31.Qb1 )
rook into the attack and 29.Qxb5 Qxh5 30.Nf3 Nxf2;
threatning Bh4 followed by Rd1. B) 24.Qf3 Qxh5 25.Qxh5 Nxh5
( 26...Ra8 27.Qa5 Bxh4 ) 26.Nf3 ( 26.Rxd5? Nf6! )
C1) 27.a3 Bf6 followed by 26...Bxg5 27.Rxh5 Bf6
Rd2 finishes the game. blacks bishop is stronger than
( 27...Bxa3-+ 28.Qf3 Bxb2+ whites knight. ]
29.Rxb2 Rd1+-+ and the a7 22...Rad8 23.Qf3
will fall. ); [ 23.Bxh6 is harmless again due to,
C2) 27.Qf3 Rd3! not allowing Rfe8 24.Bg5 Qe4! 25.Rhe1 Qxe2
whites  to come to 26.Rxe2 Nxd5 27.Rde1 f6 28.Bd2
queenside. 28.Be3 ( 28.Qxc6 Kf7= with a completely equal
Rd1-+ ) 28...Bf6!-+ ( 28...Bxh4 endgame. 29.Kb1 c4 30.Nf5 Bf8
29.Rc1 Qxc1+ 30.Bxc1 Rxf3 31.Rxe8 Rxe8 32.Rxe8 Kxe8
31.gxf3 Bxf2-+ ) 29.g3 Ra3 33.Ne3 Nf4 34.g4 Nd3 35.f3 b5
white gets mated or loses the 36.a4 a6 37.Kc2 Bc5 38.axb5
.; axb5 39.Nf5 Kf7 40.f4 g6
C3) 27.g3 Bf6 28.Qf3 Rd3 41.hxg6+ Kxg6 42.Nh4+ Kf7
29.Qh1 Rd2 30.Qc1 Qxc1 43.g5 fxg5 44.fxg5 Nb4+ 45.Bxb4
31.Rxc1 Rxb2! 32.a3 Rxf2+ Bxb4 46.Nf3 Kg6 47.Nd4 Kxg5
33.Kb1 Rb2+ 34.Ka1 ½-½ (47) Puranik,A (2236)-
Rb7+-+; Dhopade,S (2458) 4th MCL 2016,
D) 22.Nf3 Rxd1+ ( 22...Qe4 Pune 2016 ]
23.Nd2 isnt so clear for black.; [ 23.Qc4 b6! with the idea to play
22...Ng4 might be possible as Qe4. 24.g4 Qe4 25.Qxe4 Nxe4

GM Swapnil Dhopade 14
 Chapter 1 - 2nd move sidelines - Notes

26.Nf5 Rfe8 27.Kb1 Nd6 [ 29.Ba3 Re2 30.g4 Re3 31.Rhf1

and the d5 seems to be more of a Nc4 32.Rd4 ( 32.Bb4 Re2 33.Rfe1
weakness than a strength. ] Rxe1= 34.Bxe1 Ne3 35.Rd2 Rxd5
23...Qe4 24.Nf5 36.Rxd5 Nxd5 37.Kb1 f5! )
[ 24.Qxe4 Nxe4 25.Nf5 Rfe8 32...Nxa3 ( 32...Ne5 33.Re4 Rxf3
transposes. ( 25...Bg5!? might be 34.Rxf3 Nxf3 35.d6 f6 36.Re7
an interesting option. )] Nd4= ) 33.bxa3 Rxa3 34.Kb2
24...Rfe8 25.Qxe4 Re3 ]
[ 25.d6 Qxf3 26.gxf3 ( 26.Nxe7+? 29...Re2 30.g4 Nc4 31.Rd4 Ne3
Rxe7 27.gxf3 Re5! ) 26...Bf8 32.Kb1 Nc2 33.Rd2 Rxd2 34.Bxd2
27.Bf4 this position should be Nd4 35.Rd1 Nxf3 36.Bf4 f6
played over the board. The engine 37.Kc2 Ne5 38.Bxe5 fxe5 39.Kb3
is showing 0.00. I think white cant Kf7 40.Kc4 Ke7 41.Rf1 Rd7 42.b3
really make progress over here. [ 42.Rf5 Kd6 43.Rf8 Rc7+ 44.Kd3
while its upto black to find a plan Kxd5 45.Re8 Rf7 46.Ke3 Rf4
to put more pressure on the d6. 47.Re7 Rxg4 48.Rd7+ Kc6
Rd7= ] 49.Rxa7 Rg5 50.Ke4 Rxh5
25...Nxe4 26.f3 Nd6 27.Nxe7+ 51.Rxg7 Rh2 52.Kxe5 Rxb2
Rxe7 28.Bxc5 it seems that white is 53.Kd4 Kb5 54.Rg6 Rh2 55.Kc3
just a clear pawn up in this endgame, Rh3+ 56.Kb2 Ka5 57.a3 Kb5
but this is not the case. White's extra 58.Ka2 Kc5 59.Kb2 b5 60.Ka2
pawn is temporary and with blacks Rh1 61.Rg8 h5 62.Rg5+ Kc4
active pieces he will be able to 63.Kb2 Rh2+ 64.Kb1 h4 65.Rg8
recover his pawn. 28...b6 29.Bb4 h3 66.Rg5 Kd4 67.Ka1 Ke4
[ 29.Bf2 Re2 30.Rhf1 68.Rg8 Rh1+ 69.Kb2 Kf3 70.Rf8+
A) 30...Nc4 31.b3 ( 31.Rde1? Kg3 71.Rg8+ Kh2 72.Rg5 Rg1
Rd2 32.b3 Na3; 31.Rd3 Nxb2 73.Rxb5 Rg3 74.Rc5 Kg2 75.Rc2+
32.Rd4 b5 33.Bh4 f6 34.Rf2 Kf3 76.Rc3+ Kg4 77.Rc4+ Kg5
Rxf2 35.Bxf2 Na4; 31.Bh4? f6 78.Rc5+ Kh4 79.Rc4+ Rg4 80.Rc1
32.Rf2 Rxd5! ) 31...Na3 32.Bh4! h2 81.Rh1 Kh3 82.Kb3 Kg2
Nc2+ ( 32...f6? 33.Rf2! ) 33.Kb1 0-1 (86) Puranik,A (2236)-Dhopade,
Na3+=; S (2432) Rapid tournament
B) 30...f6 31.Rde1 Rd2 32.Rd1 Mumbai 2016 ]
Re2= 33.b3 ( 33.g4 Nc4 34.b3 42...Kd6 43.Rf8 Rc7+
Nd2= ) 33...Nb5= ] [ 43...b5+ 44.Kd3 Kxd5 45.Ke3

GM Swapnil Dhopade 15
 Chapter 1 - 2nd move sidelines - Notes

Ke6 46.Rb8 a6 47.Rb6+ Rd6

48.Rb7 Kf6 49.Ra7 b4 50.Ke4
Rd4+ 51.Kf3 Rd6 52.Ke4 g6
53.hxg6 Rd4+ 54.Kf3 Rf4+
55.Ke3 Rxg4 56.Rxa6+ Kf5 57.g7
Rg3+ 58.Kf2 Rxg7 59.Rxh6 Ke4
60.a3 bxa3 61.Ra6 Rc7 62.Rxa3
Rc3 63.Ke2 Rc2+ 64.Kd1 Rh2
65.b4 Rb2 66.Rh3 Kd4 67.Rg3 e4
68.b5 Rxb5 69.Ke1 Rb2 70.Ra3
Ke5 71.Rc3 Kd4 72.Ra3 Rc2
73.Rb3 Rc3 74.Rxc3 Kxc3 75.Ke2
Kd4 76.Kd2 e3+ 77.Ke2 Ke4
78.Ke1 Kd3 79.Kd1 e2+ 80.Ke1
Ke3 ½-½ (80) Van Foreest,J (2494)-
Soors,S (2407) Amsterdam NED
2015 ]
44.Kd3 Kxd5 45.Rd8+ Ke6 46.Ke4
Rc2 47.Re8+ Kf7 48.Rxe5 Rxa2
49.Rf5+ Ke6 50.Re5+ Kd6
51.Rd5+ Kc6 52.Rd8 Rf2 53.Ke5
Rf7 54.Ke6 Rf4 55.g5 hxg5
56.Rd6+ Kc5 57.Rd5+ Kb4
58.Rxg5 Kxb3 59.Rxg7 Rh4
60.Rg5 a5 61.Kf6 a4 62.Rg3+ Kb4
63.Kg5 Rh2 64.Rg4+ Kb3 65.Rg3+
Kb2 66.Rg4 Kb3 67.Rg3+ Kb4
68.Rg4+ Ka5 69.Rg3 b5 70.h6 b4
71.Kg6 a3 72.Kg7 a2 73.Rg1 b3
74.h7 b2 0-1 (74) Sengupta,D (2538)-
Evdokimov,A (2558) New Delhi IND
2014

GM Swapnil Dhopade 16