Chebanenko System

Written by GM Ruslan Scherbakov

Last updated Tuesday, December 12, 2006

1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 f3 f6 4 c3 a6

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The system we are talking about can arise when instead of playing the Botvinnik or
Meran or another similar system with 4...e6, Black plays the unexpected 4...a6. This move
looks obscure and has never been very popular till recently, when its theory has grown
rapidly. It is still not clear how White, who has already tried every possible continuation,
can get a tangible advantage.
This system looks dubious probably because Black plays a nondeveloping move,
which however is actually rather useful in all Slav formations, preparing both standard
queenside play with ...dxc4 and ...b7b5, and sometimes simply ...b7b5, in the very early
stages of the game. We can also note that Black is still not deprived of the possibility of
developing his lightsquared Bishop to an active position on f5 or g4. Realistically

speaking this setup breaks the principles of safety and centralization which are especially
important for Black in the early stages of a game. But this is a modern approach to opening
preparation if you are much better prepared for some variation, you have real chances to
outplay your opponent even if your position is objectively worse.
The system should probably be named after the famous Moldavian coach
Vyacheslav Chebanenko, who invented it long ago and popularized it among his numerous
pupils starting with Victor Gavrikov (who now lives in Switzerland). We can also mention
here that the most famous representatives of the Moldavian chess school like Victor
Bologan, Victor Komliakov, Dorin Rogozenko and many others have this system in their
opening repertoire. Some ten years ago when there was no information overload as
nowadays, if you met a player from Moldavia you could predict that he would play some of
Chebanenko's ideas.
Other great experts with this system are Sergey Volkov, Julian Hodgson, Alexey
Shirov (he probably started to use this system under the influence of his friend Victor
Bologan), Ludger Keitlinghaus, Vladimir Burmakin, Jordi Magem. From time to time this
system has been played by such top GMs as Nigel Short, Evgeny Bareev, Alexey Dreev and
some others.
I have a strong impression that White takes this system much more seriously these
days so without any doubt we'll see a lot of exciting and spectacular encounters in the near
future.

Contents

1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6
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3 f3
3 c3 f6 4 e3 a6 D10 Chebanenko System/1 & 2 early e2e3

3...f6 4 c3
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4...a6 5 g5
5 cxd5 D15 Chebanenko System/3various ideas, 5 a4 D15 Chebanenko System/4 5 a4, 5 c5

D15 Chebanenko System/5 5 c5

5...e4
D15 Chebanenko System/6 5. g5
3

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Chebanenko System/1 early e2e3... 6.

c5, 6. cxd5 [D10]
Last updated: 12/12/06 by R.Scherbakov

1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 c3
White can also begin with 3 f3 f6 4 e3 a6

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and here he might postpone the development of the knight b1 or develop it to the different
place. 5 bd2!? Compare to c3square the knight on d2 cannot be pushed by ...b5
b4 and White does not have problems to protect the c4pawn as well. On the other
hand, this approach is not so active and if the play is getting sharp then White may
find a lack of resources in action.
a) 5 d3 is another possibility. White has prevented ...Bc8f5 so Black has got the
only one sensible possibility to develop the bishop: 5...g4 (Black can also transpose
to the Queen's Gambit Accepted by 5...dxc4 6 xc4 e6 Here White, if he wants, can go
to the Furman system by 7 e2!? c5 8 dxc5 and so on.) 6 b3 xf3 (6...c7 does not
promise a full equality: 7 e5 h5 8 cxd5 cxd5 9 c3 e6 10 d2 c6 11 c1 d6 12 xc6
bxc6 13 a4 with small but comfortable edge) 7 gxf3 (A principled 7 xb7!? has
never been tested. GM Robert Huebner gives the following variation: 7...xg2 8 g1
dxc4 (8...bd7?! 9 xg2 c8 10 xc8+ xc8 11 d2) 9 xg2 (in case of 9 xa8 d5 10
c2 c7 the queen is in danger on a8) 9...bd7 10 xc4 c5 11 c3 cxd4 12 exd4 g6
13 xa6 b8 (13...g7 14 f4) 14 c6 g7 with unclear play. Inquisitive players
may obviously find a lot of different possibilities in this very optional line.) 7...c7
(an uglylooking 7...a7 was also tried: 8 c3 e6 9 c2 e7 10 d2 0-0 and here 11 c5!?
5

might promise better chances for White) 8 c3 e6 The game Van Wely
Bacrot/Bled (ol) 2002 continued 9 d2 dxc4!? 10 xc4 c5!? 11 dxc5 xc5 12 e4
xe4 13 fxe4 0-0 14 c1 d8 with acceptable play for Black.
b) 5 c3 leads to the main line.
5...f5 A natural and probably the strongest continuation.
a) 5...e6?! is not quite in the spirit of the variation as Black does not use the
possibility to develop the bishop. After 6 d3 White gets some benefit compare to
the Meran variation.
b) 5...b5?! does not look very good as after 6 cxd5 cxd5 7 a4 Black faces problems
with his Qside. In case of 7...b4 the White knight goes to b3c5 directly while
usually it gets these squares after some retreats Nc3b1-d2 or Nc3a2c1.
c) The main alternative is 5...g4 White can simply play 6 h3 (6 b3!? also comes
into consideration) 6...h5 (or 6...xf3 7 xf3!? e6 8 g4!? h6 9 h4 with better chances) 7
g4!? g6 8 e5 fd7 9 xg6 hxg6 10 g2 e6 11 e4 with advantage.
6 b3 This setup is regularly used by one of the main Chebanenko's heroes Sergei
Volkov.
a) A slow 6 e2 does not promise too much: 6...e6 7 0-0 bd7 8 h4 g6 9 c5 c7
10 f4 b6 11 cxb6 xb6 12 xg6 hxg6 13 f3 e7 followed by ...0-0 and ...c6c5
with a very good play.
b) 6 h4!? is an important alternative: 6...e4!? The bishop's move is rather
interesting as now White can exchange his awkwardly placed knight on h4 only after
the doubleedged advance f2f3. (6...g6 is also playable: 7 xg6 (7 b3 c7 8
xg6 hxg6 9 g3 e6 10 g2 b5 11 cxd5 cxd5 12 a4 b4 13 a5 c6 14 a4 e7 15 b3 0-0 16 d2
fc8 17 0-0) 7...hxg6 8 g3 e6 9 g2 d6 10 0-0 bd7 11 b3 0-0 12 b2 with small

advantage in both cases) 7 b3 a7!? (7...c7 looks more natural but this move
leaves the d5pawn unprotected and White can use this fact by playing a simple 8
xe4 and 8...xe4? is bad (8...dxe4!? should be played but it is probably not the
move Black would like to play in this position) due to 9 cxd5 a5+ 10 e2! and
White gets a healthy extra pawn) 8 a4 This is also quite a typical idea for this kind of
position White is going to play a4a5 and Qb3b6. However, Black has good
counter resources. 8...e6 9 a5 The game Bu Xiangzhi Morozevich/Bled (ol) 2002
continued 9...c5!? (A natural 9...bd7 comes into consideration as well) 10 f3 g6 11
cxd5 exd5 12 xg6 hxg6 13 b6 xb6 14 axb6 a8 and Black's chances seem to
be preferable thanks to the detached b6pawn.
6...c7 (In case of 6...a7 White could proceed in a similar way: 7 d3 xd3 8 xd3 e6 9 0-0
bd7 10 b3 d6 11 b2 0-0 12 ad1 followed by e3e4 with a small advantage) 7 d3
g6!? (the simple 7...xd3 8 xd3 bd7 9 0-0 e6 10 e4 dxe4 11 xe4 e7 gives slightly
worse but acceptable play for Black) 8 0-0 e6 (after 8...bd7 9 e1 e6 10 e4 dxe4 11 xe4
xe4 12 xe4 xe4 13 xe4 f6 14 h4!? e7 15 f4 c8 16 d3 Black faces problems
with a safe place for his king) 9 e1 e7 10 e4 0-0 (Simplifications after 10...dxe4 11
xe4 xe4 12 xe4 d7 do not solve all the problems White is still better thanks to
his space advantage) 11 e5 fd7 (Getting the d5square does not make Black's life
easier: 11...xd3 12 xd3 dxc4 13 xc4 d5 14 g5 with clearly better chances) 12 xg6
hxg6 13 f1 and White has achieved a certain advantage in the game Volkov
Kornev/EUch Warsaw 2005.

3...f6 4 e3

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This is not the most ambitious way to counter the Chebanenko System, but it is definitely
one of the safest. White does not sacrifice a pawn on c4 as in some lines with g2g3
or Bc1-g5, he does not gain space immediately with c4c5 he simply develops his
pieces and allows Black to carry out the thematic advance ...b7b5, and to solve the
problem of his lightsquared bishop. Yet, his advantage in development sometimes
allows White to either get control of the cfile, or to force Black to clarify the Q
side pawn structure in unfavourable circumstances.

4...a6

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5 f3
White has also tried other possibilities.
5 c2!? is rather interesting. However, Black can try to find drawbacks in the early queen's
sortie by 5...e6!?

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We can hardly call it a transposition into the AntiMeran as the early ...a7a6 is not
common for it. (5...b5 6 b3 g4 does not promise a full equality: 7 ge2 bd7 (7...e6
does not solve the problems completely: 8 g3 d6 9 h3 h5 10 xh5 xh5 11 e2 f6
12 0-0 0-0 13 d1 bd7 14 b2 c8 15 ac1 but it is, maybe, a more reliable approach) 8
h3 xe2 (8...h5 has also been tried: 9 f4 g6 10 xg6 hxg6 11 b2 e5 12 c5!? c7 13 00-0 and Black was unable to find good work for his restricted pieces in the game
Milov Volkov/EUch Ohrid 2001) 9 xe2 e6 (9...e5 is more risky Black's
advanced pawns might become vulnerable: 10 dxe5 xe5 11 0-0 dxc4 and here it seems
more precise to secure White's advantage by 12 d1 c7 13 e4 e7 14 bxc4 0-0 15
b2) 10 0-0 e7 11 e4 b4!?

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A principled continuation. (After 11...dxe4 12 xe4 0-0 13 d1 bxc4 14 bxc4 c7 15 b1 fb8 16
b3 xb3 17 axb3 b8 18 f3 a5 19 e3 White's superiority is beyond doubts) 12 exd5!
This sacrifice seems to be the only way to fight for advantage. (A natural alternative
12 e5 does not put problems for Black, who can continue by 12...bxc3 13 exf6 xf6 14
e3 dxc4 followed by ...c6c5) 12...bxc3 13 dxc6 f8 (13...b8 14 f3 c7 15 d5 0-0 16
d1 is better for White) 14 xc3 g6 This position arose in the game Mamedyarov
Volkov/RUSchT Sochi 2006, which continued 15 b4 b6 16 b5 axb5 17 cxb5
d5 18 c4 0-0 19 a4 and White has achieved better chances thanks to his strong
passed pawns) 6 c5!? An interesting approach White radically prevents the
forthcoming ...c6c5! (Black's idea was to meet a routine 6 f3 by 6...c5!? At first
8

sight he just loses a tempo, playing this program pawn advance in two steps but this
is not a whole truth. This position is already similar to the symmetrical Tarrasch and
White's extra move Qd1-c2 does not give him much while Black can develop his
knight to c6, pressurising White's center.
a) The other moves do not seem completely satisfactory for Black. A transposition to
the Queen's Gambit Accepted without tempo is dubious: 6...dxc4?! 7 xc4 c5 8 0-0
b5 9 e2 bd7 10 d1 b7 11 dxc5! xc5 12 e5 b6 (12...c8? 13 xd7 xd7 14
xb5!) 13 xd7 xd7 14 a4 b4 15 a5 a7 16 a4!? with initiative
b) 6...bd7 7 b3!? d6 8 b2 0-0 9 e2 is not the best Black's setup to counter
the AntiMeran.
c) 6...b5 is similar: 7 b3 bd7 8 d3 b7 9 0-0 e7 10 b2 with certain advantage
7 dxc5 (7 cxd5 was also tried: 7...exd5 8 e2 c6 9 0-0 (a straightforward 9 e5!? does not
promise much: 9...c7 10 xc6 xc6 11 dxc5 xc5 12 0-0 d6 13 d1 0-0 14 d2 e5 15
d3 e6 and Black is OK as the White minor pieces are not well arranged) 9...e6 10
d1 cxd4 (10...b4!? seems to be an interesting alternative: 11 d2 (11 b1!?)
11...e4 12 xe4 dxe4 13 a3 exf3 14 xf3 c6 15 d5 e5 16 dxe6 xf3+ 17 gxf3
fxe6= and Black is at least not worse) 11 xd4 This position arose in the game
Krasenkow Bareev/Wijk aan Zee 2003. It seems that Black could have achieved a
good play by 11...xd4 (11...c8?! 12 xe6 fxe6 13 e4! d4 14 b3! gave White a very
annoying initiative) 12 exd4 (12 xd4 d6) 12...e7 13 g5 0-0 and so on) 7...xc5 8
a3 dxc4 (8...0-0 is also not bad: 9 b4 e7 10 b2 dxc4 11 xc4 bd7 12 0-0 b5 13 a2
b7) 9 xc4 b5 10 d3 bd7 11 b4 (White also tried the immediate 11 e4 but
without much success: 11...e7 (11...b6!? is also interesting: 12 d2 b7 13 c1 e7
14 xf6+ xf6 15 e2 0-0 16 c7 a7! and it was Black who has taken the initiative!)
12 d2 b7 13 xf6+ xf6 14 d1 c8 15 b1 h6 16 b4 b6 17 0-0 c5 and
Black is OK) 11...e7 12 b2 b7 13 d1 0-0 14 0-0 This position arose in the
game Sakaev Izoria/Moscow Aeroflot 2003. Black is quite solid and comfortable
and White's slight advantage in development does not look much promising. Here
Black should have continued 14...c8 with a good play.) 6...e5!? A principled
reply otherwise White would achieve a tangible space advantage after f2f4. 7
dxe5!? (a slow 7 d2 bd7 8 e2 g6 is fine for Black) 7...fd7 8 f4 xc5 9 f3 g6!?
(the immediate 9...f6!? is also interesting: 10 b4 cd7 with a sharp play) 10 d4 This
position arose in the game Krasenkow Gustafsson/Berlin 2003 which continued
10...f6?! This sharp attempt should have been well thought. 11 exf6 xf6 12 b4 e6
13 xd5! h4+! (In case of 13...d8? 14 xe6 xe6 White could have simply
continued by 15 b2) 14 g3 d8 15 xe6 xe6 Now the rook on a1 will be hanging
so White has no time to protect the b4pawn. However, here he could have probably
secured his advantage by a rather unexpected 16 f6+! (16 c3?! xb4 17 b2 d7 18
0-0-0 e7!? was quite acceptable for Black) 16...xf6 (16...f7 17 e4) 17 b2 e7 (or
17...xb4+ 18 f2 f8 19 e4! and White secures material advantage in all lines) 18
xh8 d5 19 g2 xg2 20 xg2 xe3+ 21 f1 xb4 22 d1 with an extra
exchange.
5 d2!? was also tried but it may just lead to the main lines after 5...b5 6 cxd5 cxd5 7 f3
and so on.
5 d3 b5 6 b3 g4 7 ge2 might promise a small advantage for White: 7...h5 (In case of
7...e6 8 c2 Black will have to give up his lightsquared bishop for the knight soon)
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8 0-0 e6 9 f3 d6 (An alternative 9...g6 is playable but Black is still slightly worse
after 10 f4 bd7 (10...d6 11 xg6 hxg6 12 f4 bd7 13 f3 b8 14 c5 c7 15 e2 a5 16
d2) 11 xg6 hxg6 12 f4 b4 13 e2) 10 e4 This position arose in the game
Korotylev Volkov/RUSch sf Kazan 2005 which continued 10...dxe4 11 xe4!
(11 fxe4 was well met by 11...e5) 11...xe4 12 xe4 g6 13 c5 (13 f4!?) 13...e7 14
a4 b4 15 f4 and White has secured the better chances.

5...b5

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In case of 5...f5 White has a pleasant choice. 6 cxd5!? An interesting attempt to clear
drawbacks of the early bishop sortie.
a) In the game Kramnik Morozevich/Dortmund 2001 White preferred a simple
looking but rather poisonous approach: 6 d3 xd3 7 xd3 e6 8 0-0 e7 9 e4 0-0
10 d1 b5 Black has played the odd move ...a7a6 and it is almost forced for him to
continue consistently. 11 c5! dxe4 12 xe4 xe4 13 xe4 d5 14 xd5 cxd5 15
f4 with a stable advantage in the ending
b) 6 b3 is another possibility: 6...a7 This ugly defence is quite typical move for
this type of position. (Yet, a risky looking 6...b5!? is rather interesting. The idea is to
counter 7 cxd5 cxd5 8 a4 with a very unexpected 8...b4! 9 xb4 c6 with a good
compensation for the pawn. Then possible is 10 c5 a5 11 a3 (11 xa6 is simply
met by 11...xa6 12 b5+ c6 13 e5 d7) 11...e6 12 b4 (or 12 a2 c6 13 a5 b4 14
a4+ d7 15 d2 d6 with initiative) 12...c6 13 a2 b8 14 d2 e4 15 c1
b7 and White has to be careful to equalise) 7 cxd5 (in case of 7 d2 Black can
achieve a good play after 7...e6 8 a4 a5 9 e2 h6 10 0-0 d6 11 e5 0-0 12 ac1 bd7)
7...cxd5 8 d2 e6 9 e5 This position arose in the game Iskusnykh
Neelotpal/Chennai 2004, which continued 9...fd7 This retreat allows White to
carry out a promising idea. (9...d6?! can be met by a rather annoying 10 a4+, the
White queen has already left the d1-square so Black is not worried about g2g4 so
he can probably play without 9...h6, which can transpose the game to the line 6. cd5,
that's why 9...bd7!? deserves serious attention, keeping the g4square under control
as well as keeping the rook protected after 10 a4 a8) 10 a4! a8 11 g4! g6 12
h4 and Black faced some concrete problems on the Kside.
6...cxd5 7 e5 h6
10

a) 7...e6? is a serious mistake due to 8 g4 g6 9 h4 and Black is in trouble: 9...h6 10

xg6 fxg6 11 d3 f7 12 f3 b4 13 g5 hxg5 14 hxg5 xh1+ 15 xh1 fd7 16
f3+ g8 17 xg6+ with decisive advantage
b) After 7...bd7?! 8 b3 Black faces problems to secure his pawns. For example,
8...b8 9 xd7 xd7 (9...xd7? 10 xa6) 10 xd5 xd5 11 xd5 e6 12 e5 (12
b3!?) 12...c8 13 d3 b4+ 14 e2 0-0 and Black has got some compensation
thanks to his advantage in development but White's chances still seem to be
preferred.
8 b3 The main drawback of the Black bishop sortie is that his Qside now lacks
protection. 8...a7 This ugly move is almost forced. (8...b5? is bad due to 9 a4,
destroying the Black's Qside.) 9 d2 e6 10 c1 White has already created a serious
threat Qb3a4 followed by Nc3b5! 10...bd7 11 a4!? A fresh idea of Ketevan
Kakhiani. (we considered 11 b5!? d6 12 xd7+ xd7 13 xd7 xd7 14 a4 in the
game Vaganian Frolov/RUSchT Togliatti 2003 ) 11...xe5 (11...d6 looks safer
but after 12 b4!? White's chances are preferable) 12 dxe5 d7 13 b6!! This
wonderful resource already gives White almost decisive advantage: 13...xb6 14
a5 f6 15 xb6 b8 16 exf6 gxf6 17 e2 g6 18 0-0 a8 19 c7+ and so on.

6 c5!?

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This pawn advance has recently become popular. At first sight it does not look promising to
close the position having the bishop on c1 but White is hoping that the lack of space
for manoeuvring will make it more difficult for Black to defend his Qside.
A simple approach 6 cxd5 gives White reasonable chances to maintain a small advantage
thanks to his lead in development. However, Black is usually satisfied with his
position: 6...cxd5 7 d3 e6 8 e5 b7 9 0-0 bd7 10 f4

11

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10...d6 (The alternative 10...e7 looks more passive but Black can find some interesting
ideas behind it: 11 f3 White takes control over the e4square to prevent a typical
...Nf6e4. (11 d2 0-0 12 c1 is also worthy of consideration. In the game
Aleksandrov Amonatov/Bled (ol) 2002 Black failed to equalise after 12...e4 13
a4 (13 xe4 dxe4 14 b1 c8 is fine for Black) 13...b4 14 xe4 dxe4 15 c4 with
advantage) 11...0-0 12 a3 b6!? (in case of 12...b4 13 axb4 xb4 14 d2 a5 15 fc1 e7
16 e1 fc8 17 h4 f8 18 xd7 xd7 19 f5 White gets better chances, Black has also
tried 12...c8 but it is really interesting to keep the c8square free for the knight) 13
d2 c8!? followed by ...Nc8d6 with a good play, Vaganian Sakaev/RUSchT
Togliatti 2003) 11 d2 e4 Black immediately places his knight on the strong e4
square. (A natural 11...0-0 was also tested. 12 e1 (an interesting 12 b1!? was
tried in the game Kozul Tkachiev/EUch Istanbul 2003, which continued
12...b6!? (12...b4 does not promise a full equality: 13 a4 h6 14 a3 e7 15 c1 bxa3 16
bxa3 ab8 17 b4 a8 18 xd6 xd6 19 c2 and White has got better chances) 13 e1
g6 14 a4 b4 15 e2 e4 16 a5 d7 and here 17 d1!? seemed the more promising,
trying to win the b4pawn after 17...f6 18 f3 e7 19 b3 followed by Ra1-a4)
12...e4 Here 13 f3!? deserves attention among other possibilities: 13...df6
(13...f5 is an alternative: 14 e2 c8 15 g4!? xe5 16 fxe5 g5 17 h4 xg4+ 18 xg4 fxg4 19
f4 fe8 20 e2 g3 21 d3 with better chances for White) 14 e2 (14 h4 is not so
dangerous for Black: 14...b4 15 e2 a5 with acceptable play) 14...e8!? (a routine
14...c8!? comes into mind) 15 h3 e7 16 c1 8d6 17 b4 f5 18 xe7 xe7 19
g4 fd6 with unclear play) 12 a4! A clever idea before taking on e4 White gets
c4square for the bishop. (12 f3!? is interesting but it does not look very
convincing. Then possible is 12...0-0!? (12...f6 is risky as White can try to launch
direct attack by 13 xe4!? dxe4 14 g3 although the position is not clear at all) 13 h3
f5 with acceptable play) 12...b4 13 xe4 dxe4 14 c4 0-0 This position arose in
the game Kozul Movsesian/Bled (ol) 2002 which continued 15 a5!? f6 16 f5
d5 and here 17 fxe6!? deserved serious attention: (17 xd5?! exd5 18 e2 b8 19 ac1
b7 20 e1 fc8 21 h4 xc1 22 xc1 c8 was fine for Black) 17...fxe6 (17...xe5 is
risky: 18 dxe5 xc4 19 e7! xe7 20 exf6 with initiative) 18 e2

12

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9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
White's chances are slightly preferable.

6...bd7

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvl-tr0
9+-+nzppzpp0
9p+p+-sn-+0
9+pzPp+-+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9+-sN-zPN+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-vLQmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
There are some other options.
The development of the lightsquared bishop is quite logical but it does not really help to
solve the problems. 6...f5 looks suspicious in many cases this move may help
White to seize initiative or gain space advantage on the Kside. In the game Dreev
Ni Hua/Moscow 2004 he secured the better chances by 7 e5! h5!? 8 b3! g4 and
here the energetic 9 e4! looked more promising.
while in case of 6...g4 White can start his plan of the Qside penetration by 7 b3!,
intending to double his major pieces along afile after a2a4. (7 h3 can also promise
somewhat better chances for White: 7...xf3 (After 7...h5 White can try a
straightforward 8 g4 g6 9 e5 fd7 10 xg6 hxg6 11 e4!? (11 g2) 11...b4 12
e2 dxe4 13 g3 e5 14 xe4 exd4 15 xd4 xc5 16 xd8+ xd8 17 g5 with
annoying initiative in the endgame) 8 xf3 (8 gxf3!? is also an interesting option:
8...e6 9 f4 bd7 10 d2 g6 11 b4 and White looks better) 8...bd7 This position arose in
the game Zvjaginsev Lautier/Poikovsky 2004 which continued 9 g4!? e5 with a
complex play in which White's chances look slightly better) 7...bd7 (7...xf3 8
gxf3 does not make Black's life easier: 8...e6 (unfortunately Black cannot keep Q
13

side closed as 8...a5? fails to 9 xb5!, while after 8...g6 White continues in a typical
manner: 9 a4 bd7 10 a3 and so on) 9 a4 bd7 10 a3 c8 11 d2 g6 12 axb5 axb5
13 a6 b8 14 a5 e7 15 xd8+ xd8 16 a2 with a clear advantage) 8 a4 xf3
a) Black also tried other options: 8...e6 9 a3 b8 10 axb5 axb5 11 a6 c7 12
a7 c8 13 a6 c7 14 d2 e7 15 a2 0-0 16 b4 fc8 17 a5 and White is
slowly increasing pressure over the Black's Qside
b) 8...e5!? is a principled attempt: 9 a2!? e4 10 d2 f6 11 f3 (11 xe4!? dxe4 12
b4 deserves attention) 11...h4+ 12 g3 xg3 13 hxg3 xh1 14 fxg4 g1 15 b4
xg3+ 16 d1 xg4+ 17 e2 g1+ 18 f1 exd4 19 xc6 xc5 20 xd5 with a
superior position but this line should be studied more thoroughly.
9 gxf3 e5 10 a3 The game Hillarp Persson Arlandi/Calvia (ol) 2004 continued 10...c8
11 axb5 axb5 12 h3 exd4 13 exd4 e7 14 a5! A key idea in this setup White
exchanges queens, after which he can be sure about his king and can concentrate on
his plans: penetration through afile and pressure over the c6pawn. Black's main
problem is that his minor pieces are too limited by White's pawns. 14...0-0 15 xd8
fxd8 16 a6 and Black's Qside has eventually been destroyed.
6...g6 is a popular option. 7 d3
a) White also tried some other options: 7 d2 a5!? 8 a3 (8 e5!? fd7 9 f4) 8...g7 9
b4 0-0 10 e2 (10 d3 e8 11 0-0 g4 12 bxa5 e5! is okay for Black) 10...e4 with a
good play for Black
b) 7 b4 a5 8 bxa5 xa5 9 d2 b4 10 b1 e4 has been tested in the game Khenkin
Motylev/RUSchT Sochi 2005 11 a3 xd2 12 fxd2 b3!?

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnl+kvl-tr0
9+-+-zpp+p0
9-+p+-+p+0
9wq-zPp+-+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9zPp+-zP-+-0
9-+-sN-zPPzP0
9tRN+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
A rather unexpected decision at first sight Black gives up his pawn for nothing! However,
it helps him to keep the Qside closed and the rook on a8 active. Besides he is going
to create pressure over the White d4pawn after a typical ...e7e5. 13 xb3 d7 14
c3 xc3 15 xc3 e5 16 b3 exd4 17 exd4 g7 18 d2 f8! 19 d3 e6 20 e2
a4! 21 c3 d7 22 f4 e7 23 he1 b8 and Black has brought all his pieces into
play and achieved sufficient compensation for the pawn.
c) In the position after 7 b3 a5 8 e5 g7 Levon Aronian recently introduce a
rather unexpected and fairly interesting 9 xb5!? White gets strong pawns on the
Qside but his attempts to make progress will be connected with a certain risk since
he is playing without a piece. 9...cxb5 (in the game Aronian Bu Xiangzhi/Aeroflot
Open Moscow 2005 Black included 9...a4!? 10 b4 cxb5 11 xb5+ f8 with a very
14

complicated play) 10 xb5+ f8 11 0-0 a6 12 a4 e4 (in the game Rustemov

Sakaev/RUSchT Sochi 2005 White has obtained excellent compensation for the
piece after 12...c8 13 f3 e6 14 d2 h5 15 fc1 g8 16 c6) 13 d3 b7 14 f3 f6 15
e5 c7 16 d2 This position has been tested in the game Aronian
V.Popov/Aeroflot Open Moscow 2005. White's space advantage and strong Qside
pawns always promise very good compensation for the piece.
7...g7 8 b4!? (White also tried 8 h3 0-0 9 0-0 bd7 (9...f5?! 10 xf5 gxf5 seems
dubious. White's darksquared bishop is restricted but a damage of the Kside pawn
structure would be more important. The game Radjabov Bacrot/Cap d'Agde 2006
continued 11 e5 fd7 (Another route for the knight 11...e4!? was maybe stronger)
12 d3! with better chances for White) 10 e1 a5 (10...c7!? deserved attention as
well) 11 a3 c7 12 e4 dxe4 13 xe4 xe4 14 xe4 d8 15 e2 f6 16 c2 e6
and Black has achieved acceptable play) 8...g4 9 b2 bd7 10 e2 c7 11 a4 0-0
The game Aronian Volkov/RUSchT Sochi 2005 continued 12 a2 a7 13 h3
xf3 14 gxf3 and in the struggle White has proved that the space advantage still
gives him the better chances despite the position looks too closed for his bishops.

7 b4!?

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvl-tr0
9+-+nzppzpp0
9p+p+-sn-+0
9+pzPp+-+-0
9-zP-zP-+-+0
9+-sN-zPN+-0
9P+-+-zPPzP0
9tR-vLQmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
Before proceeding with a2a4 White has to stop ...b5b4.
Another way to start Qside actions is 7 b3 but here Black has a good way to keep the Q
side closed by playing 7...a5! (7...b8 is strongly met by 8 e4 b4 9 xd5! (9 f4 is
less clear: 9...bxc3 10 xb8 cxb2 11 b1 a5+ followed by 12...Nxe4 with complicated
play) 9...cxd5 This position arose in the game Mrva Schwarz/Piestany 2004. It
seems that 10 exd5!? was the more promising Black faced serious problems to find
squares for his pieces: 10...g6 11 c4 g7 12 0-0 followed by Bc1-f4 with
dominating position) 8 e4!? A principled attempt White is trying to gain an
advantage in development. 8...a4 (8...b4!? was also worthy of consideration: 9 e5 (9
xd5 cxd5 10 e5 a4 11 xb4 e4 looks fine for Black) 9...bxc3 10 exf6 cxb2 11 xb2
gxf6 12 f4 with a compensation for the pawn but Black is not so bad) 9 c2 b4
This position was tested in the game Gershon Svetushkin/Athens 2004. Here 10
xa4 seemed critical for the assessment of Black's idea: 10...xe4 11 d3 a6 12
xa6 xa6 13 0-0 and White's chances look slightly preferable.
15

White also tried some other options with idea to prevent or prepare something in reply to
...e7e5: 7 d2 e5 (or 7...a5 8 a3 c7 9 b4 e5 10 xb5!? cxb5 11 xb5 exd4 12 exd4 e7 13 00 0-0 14 g5 with excellent compensation for the pieces thanks to the space
advantage and very strong Qside pawns) 8 dxe5 g4 9 e6!? fxe6 10 d4 df6 11
xc6 c7 12 d4 e5 with a very complicated play
7 h3 c7 8 g4 e5 9 g5 g8 10 e4 b4 11 a4 dxe4 12 d2 e7 13 xe4 f5 14 c4
exd4 is very unclear and acceptable for Black.
The modest 7 a3!? deserves serious attention White still intends to build his pawn chain
but does not give Black a chance to attack it immediately. A possible play is 7...c7
8 b4 e5 9 dxe5 xe5 10 b2 and here in the game Lputian Bareev/RUSchT
Sochi 2006 it was more accurate to play 10...xf3+ (after 10...e7?! 11 xe5 xe5 12
a4! e4 13 b6 b8 14 xc8 xc8 15 d4! White has obtained a clear advantage) 11
xf3 e7, keeping a worse but playable position.

7...a5!
Obviously Black shouldn't wait for White's a2a4.

8 bxa5

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvl-tr0
9+-+nzppzpp0
9-+p+-sn-+0
9zPpzPp+-+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9+-sN-zPN+-0
9P+-+-zPPzP0
9tR-vLQmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
A logical reaction White is going to play on the Qside so he avoids closing it.

8...xa5!?
An immediate 8...e5 is alternative: 9 d2 e4 10 g1

16

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvl-tr0
9+-+n+pzpp0
9-+p+-sn-+0
9zPpzPp+-+-0
9-+-zPp+-+0
9+-sN-zP-+-0
9P+-vL-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
These pawns chains were built before both sides completed their development so both
players are facing the same problem of finding squares for their pieces. The game
Dreev Korotylev/RUSch Moscow 2004 continued 10...xa5 11 a4 bxa4 12 xa4
xa4 13 xa4 c7 14 a2! e7 15 b4 b8 16 e2 0-0 17 c3

XIIIIIIIIY
9-snl+-trk+0
9+-wq-vlpzpp0
9-+p+-sn-+0
9+-zPp+-+-0
9QsN-zPp+-+0
9+-sN-zP-+-0
9-+-vL-zPPzP0
9+-+-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
with somewhat better chances for White but Black is certainly not bad.

9 d2
9 b3!? is worthy of consideration

9...b4 10 b1
This deep retreat of the knight is better than 10 e2 e4 and White cannot comfortably
continue the development of his Kside.

10...e4

17

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+kvl-tr0
9+-+nzppzpp0
9-+p+-+-+0
9wq-zPp+-+-0
9-zp-zPn+-+0
9+-+-zPN+-0
9P+-vL-zPPzP0
9tRN+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
At first sight it is not so clear what White is playing for his pieces are rather passive while
Black is going to advance his epawn. However ....e7e5 cannot break White's
pawn chain d4c5, which gives secures White's space advantage and restricts
Black's minor pieces see the game Kir.Georgiev Erenburg/Gibraltar Masters
Caleta 2005 for details.

11 a3!?
A new idea first of all White clarifies the situation on the Qside.
11 e2 is another option: 11...e5 12 0-0 xd2 13 bxd2 e7 (13...exd4 14 exd4 e7 15 e1 0-0
16 c2 gives White a small advantage) 14 e1 0-0 15 c2 and here can think about
15...b8!? with quite acceptable play.

11...xd2 12 fxd2 b8 13 e2 e5 14 0-0

XIIIIIIIIY
9-trl+kvl-tr0
9+-+n+pzpp0
9-+p+-+-+0
9wq-zPpzp-+-0
9-zp-zP-+-+0
9zP-+-zP-+-0
9-+-sNLzPPzP0
9tRN+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
/= In the game Kir.Georgiev Erenburg/Gibraltar Masters Caleta 2005 White eventually
outplayed his opponent but Black's position is quite playable.

18

Chebanenko System/2 early e2e3

...b7b5 b2b3 [D10]
Last updated: 02/10/05 by R.Scherbakov

1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 c3 f6 4 e3 a6 5 f3 b5 6 b3

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqkvl-tr0
9+-+-zppzpp0
9p+p+-sn-+0
9+p+p+-+-0
9-+PzP-+-+0
9+PsN-zPN+-0
9P+-+-zPPzP0
9tR-vLQmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
6...g4
6...f5 This continuation is not very popular. 7 e5!? An interesting attempt to clear
drawbacks of the Black bishop sortie. (A normal 7 d3 would also promise a small
advantage. For example: 7...xd3 (or 7...e6 8 0-0 bd7 9 xf5 exf5 10 b2 d6 11
c2 b4 (11...g6 12 cxd5 cxd5 13 xd5! xd5 14 c6) 12 a4 g6 (12...e4 13 cxd5 cxd5 14
c6) 13 cxd5 cxd5 14 c6 with a certain advantage) 8 xd3 e6 9 0-0 e7 with a
slightly worse position for Black ) 7...h6 (7...e6 is suspicious due to 8 g4 g6 9 h4, but
7...fd7!? is maybe not so bad.) 8 g4! This energetic move is useful both for the
development and for the future Kside actions. 8...h7 9 g2 e6 10 0-0 e7 11 f4
and White has achieved better chances in the game Kramnik Bareev/Monte Carlo
2003.

7 e2
In case of 7 h3 xf3 White should probably play 8 gxf3 (Black obtains excellent play after
8 xf3 e5! 9 dxe5 b4 10 d2 xc3 11 xc3 e4 with initiative) 8...bd7 9 f4
19

Nevertheless his chances look slightly better after 9...e6 10 c5 g8 (or 10...g6 11 b2
a5 12 c2 g7 13 0-0-0) 11 b2 e7 12 a4 f5 13 axb5 axb5 14 a2! g6 15 b4
with a small advantage but Black can obviously hold the balance in such a closed
position.

7...bd7 8 0-0 e6 9 h3
Sometimes White plays 9 b2 immediately: 9...d6 (9...e7 was tried in the game Avrukh
Sakaev/EUCup Bugojno 1999. After 10 e5 xe2 11 xe2 b6!? 12 c2 0-0 13 fc1
dxc4!? 14 bxc4 xe5 15 dxe5 d7 16 g3 bxc4 17 ab1 c7 18 xc4 fc8 White has got
some initiative but Black's position is quite acceptable) 10 e5 (In case of 10 h3 f5!?
is interesting, but for some reason it is not very popular retreat. In the game
Stefansson Van den Doel/Antwerpen 1998 White has not achieved too much after
11 h4 e4 12 f3 g6 with quite playable position) 10...xe2 11 xe2 c7! This
clever idea promises a good play for Black. (In the game Chekhov
Volkov/Moscow 1996 Black tried to solve his problems in simple fashion by
attacking both the knight on e5 and the bishop on b2 with his queen on b8, probably
hoping to force favourable exchanges: 11...bxc4 12 bxc4 b8 However, by playing 13
c2! White sacrificed a pawn, seized a strong initiative against his rival's centralised
king, and finished the game with an excellent and wellcalculated attack: 13...xe5 14
dxe5 xe5 15 xe5 xe5 16 cxd5 cxd5 17 c6+ e7 18 b7+! d7 19 d4 d6 20 c6+ f6
21 f4! and so on, 11...c8 would be similar to the game Stohl Velicka/SVKchT

1996, in which White has played an extra move h2h3 but it does not change the
general course of the game very much) 12 cxd5 cxd5 13 c1 b8!= In the game
Avrukh Dautov/Istanbul (ol) 2000 the control of the cfile gave White nothing
significant.

9...h5
9...f5!?

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqkvl-tr0
9+-+n+pzpp0
9p+p+psn-+0
9+p+p+l+-0
9-+PzP-+-+0
9+PsN-zPN+P0
9P+-+LzPP+0
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
is a rare but interesting option. 10 d3 b4!? Probably the best continuation. (10...d6
does not promise an easy life for Black due to 11 xf5! exf5 12 c2 b4 (12...g6? 13
cxd5 cxd5 14 xd5! xd5 15 c6) 13 e2 g6 14 a3 and Black gets real problems on the
20

Qside) 11 b2 (11 e2!? is another possibility: 11...xd3 12 xd3 0-0 13 b2 b8 14

fc1 d6 15 c2 a7 16 ac1 with a typical small advantage for White) 11...xd3
(Here 11...0-0 is a principled and maybe the better alternative: 12 xf5 (or 12 a3 d6
13 c2 xd3 14 xd3 e7 15 fc1 fc8 with acceptable play for Black) 12...exf5 13
cxd5 cxd5 14 d3 g6 15 e5 c7 16 a4 White has got some initiative on the Q
side but Black can probably defend with accurate play.) 12 xd3 0-0 13 fc1 d6
(Nothing could be achieved by 13...dxc4 14 bxc4 b6 15 d2, while 13...bxc4 14 bxc4 e7
15 c2 dxc4 16 xc4 c5 17 ac1 cxd4 18 xd4 e5 19 e2 a3 20 f4 g6 21 c6 gives
White the better chances) 14 c2 c8 (A direct attempt 14...dxc4 15 bxc4 bxc4 16 xc4 c5
was not fully equalising as after 17 d1 White already had all his pieces in action,
but 14...bxc4!? 15 bxc4 a5 is interesting in this variation it is easier for Black to get
the f8rook into play) 15 ac1 dxc4!? (It was already too difficult to stand for the
tension: 15...a5? was just bad due to 16 cxd5 cxd5 17 xd5!) 16 bxc4 b4 17 e4 xe4
18 xe4 White's superiority in center should promise him some advantage,
Gelfand Acs/Budapest 2003.

10 b2
The immediate 10 e5 is the less common option, which may lead to the main line.
10...xe2 11 xe2 is the less common option, which may lead to the main line.
Besides, Black has a concrete and interesting option: 11...dxc4!? A concrete and
interesting attempt to prove that the order of moves White has chosen is not much
promising.
a) 11...xe5 is not the most popular but still playable continuation: 12 dxe5 d7 13
cxd5 cxd5 14 b2 This position arose in the game Wells Epishin/Catalan Bay
2004, which continued 14...e7 (14...c5!? deserves serious attention. Then Black
can prevent an appearance of the White queen on the Kside by playing 15 f4 g5!
16 c1 0-0 17 c2 fc8 with acceptable play) 15 f4!? An interesting idea White
does not want to encumber the long diagonal and concentrates on Kside actions. (in
case of 15 d4 we can transpose to the game I.Sokolov Franco Ocampos/ESPchT
Lanzarote 2003 after 15...b6 16 g4 0-0 17 f4) 15...0-0 16 g4 and White has got
better chances although Black's position is still rather solid
b) Black can transpose into the main line by playing 11...c7 12 b2 d6 and so on.
c) the same main line can be also reached via 11...d6 as 12 xc6 c7 is fine for
Black
12 xd7 (12 bxc4 xe5 13 dxe5 xd1 14 xd1 d7 looks fine for Black, 12 c2 can be strongly
met by 12...xe5 13 dxe5 d3! 14 xd3 cxd3 15 f4 d5 16 xd3 0-0-0! with excellent play
for Black) 12...xd7 13 bxc4 In the game Epishin Charbonneau/Reykjavik 2004
Black continued 13...c5! (After 13...e7 14 c5! 0-0 15 c2 d5 16 f3 e5 17 e4 c4 18 xc4
bxc4 19 a3 fd8 20 fd1 d7 21 ac1 White gets a clear advantage) 14 a3!? (14 b2
does not promise any advantage for White: 14...cxd4 15 xd4 bxc4 16 c2 e7 17 xc4 00 18 ab1 fc8=) 14...cxd4 15 xf8 xf8 and here White could have thought about
the more ambitious 16 xd4! bxc4 17 c1 c8 18 e2 and Black may not be able
to secure his king and connect the rooks without serious concessions. Yet, this
continuation certainly requires thorough analysis for more precise conclusion.

21

10...d6

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqk+-tr0
9+-+n+pzpp0
9p+pvlpsn-+0
9+p+p+-+l0
9-+PzP-+-+0
9+PsN-zPN+P0
9PvL-+LzPP+0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
In the game Radjabov Braga/Bled (ol) 2002 Black tried to solve the problems without any
concessions by 10...b8 but it was strongly met by a very energetic 11 e5! xe2
12 xe2 xe5 13 dxe5 d7 14 cxd5 cxd5 15 fd1! e7 (still 15...xe5!? deserves
serious attention: 16 e4 d4! 17 xd4 c5 followed by ...0-0 although White's advantage
is beyond doubts) 16 g4 g6 17 e2 xe5?! (17...0-0 seemed to be safer. White
could have tried 18 e4!? (18 f4) 18...xe5 19 f4 d7 20 exd5 with better
chances.) 18 f4 f6 19 e4! with annoying initiative.
10...e7 is another possibility: 11 e5 xe2 12 xe2 xe5 With the bishop on d6 this
option not available. 13 dxe5 d7 14 d4 The game I.Sokolov Franco
Ocampos/ESPchT Lanzarote 2003 continued 14...b6 15 g4 0-0 16 cxd5 cxd5
17 f4 and White has got better chances.

11 e5 xe2 12 xe2

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqk+-tr0
9+-+n+pzpp0
9p+pvlpsn-+0
9+p+psN-+-0
9-+PzP-+-+0
9+P+-zP-+P0
9PvL-+NzPP+0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
12...c7!?
The most popular continuation.
22

12...c8 does not solve the problems completely: 13 d3 0-0 14 fc1 e4 15 cxd5 cxd5 16
xc8 xc8 17 c1 b7 18 xd7! xd7 19 c2 with a small advantage for White
thanks to the control of the cfile, Stohl Velicka/SVKchT 1996.
12...bxc4!? is a fresh and fairly interesting idea: 13 bxc4 0-0! The point of previous move
with the bfile opened White cannot take the c6pawn for free. 14 c2
a) 14 xc6?! is met by 14...b6 15 c5 xc6 16 cxd6 b6 (16...xd6=) 17 a3 c4
18 d3 e4 with excellent play for Black
b) White can also try to achieve a small advantage by 14 b1 c7 15 xd7 xd7 16
a4 fb8 (16...e4!?) 17 a3!? xa3 18 xa3
14...c7 15 d3!? fc8 (in the game Kir.Georgiev Movsesian/Calvia (ol) 2004 Black
preferred 15...e4!?, which deserves attention but does not change the position much)
16 c5 e7 17 fb1 cb8 18 c3 Thanks to his space advantage White has achieved
a slight edge in the game Najer Kobalia/RUSch sf Kazan 2005 but it is extremely
difficult to break Black's defence here. On the other hand, Black cannot hope to get
more than half a point...

13 cxd5 cxd5 14 c1 b8 15 xd7

XIIIIIIIIY
9rwq-+k+-tr0
9+-+N+pzpp0
9p+-vlpsn-+0
9+p+p+-+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9+P+-zP-+P0
9PvL-+NzPP+0
9+-tRQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
This capture has recently become the main continuation. Black has a choice to weaken
control over the center or to deprive himself of the castling. It should be mentioned
that White can realize this idea only with pawn on h3.
15 c6 would promise only a slight edge for White: 15...b7 16 d3 0-0 In the game
Onischuk Malakhov/Poikovsky 2004 White continued 17 c2 (in case of 17 f3 ac8
18 e5 e7 19 d2 xe5 20 dxe5 d7 21 f4 b4 22 d4 a5 Black has no problems)
17...ac8 18 fc1 b8 19 xb8 xc2 20 xc2 xb8 21 c6 e8 and Black should
hold such position although in the game he failed.

15...xd7
15...xd7 is an interesting alternative but it probably does not solve the problems
completely. 16 f3 b7 17 f4 A logical continuation. White is simply going to
transfer his knight to c5 then Black can hardly capture it as it gives White a very
comfortable c5square for the rook.
23

a) 17 d3 has been tried in some games: 17...e7 (17...hc8?! was strongly met by 18
e4! and after 18...b6?! 19 h1 e7 20 e5 e8 21 xh7 White gets a big advantage) 18
c3 (18 c2 hc8 19 fc1 xc2 20 xc2 d7 21 c1 c8 is fine for Black) 18...b4 19 a4
b5 20 d2 ac8 21 c5 hd8 22 a4 bxa3 23 xa3 e8 24 c3 d7 and Black
can defend this slightly worse position
b) The immediate 17 e4 looks interesting but it seems to be not so clear as well:
17...dxe4 18 d5 xd5 19 fxe4 xe4 with complicated play
17...hc8 (17...xf4?! does not look very good Black parts with his important bishop and
now the White rook would be comfortably placed on c5. The game Ovsejevitsch
Braun/Budapest 2003 continued 18 exf4 ac8 (or 18...h5 19 f5! exf5 20 d2 f4 21 a3
and Black faces problems) 19 c5! b8 20 d2 g6 21 a3 he8 22 fc1 and White
has achieved a big advantage) 18 d3

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+r+-+-+0
9+q+k+pzpp0
9p+-vlpsn-+0
9+p+p+-+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9+P+NzPP+P0
9PvL-+-+P+0
9+-tRQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
and White keeps a certain advantage.

16 e4!

XIIIIIIIIY
9rwq-+k+-tr0
9+-+n+pzpp0
9p+-vlp+-+0
9+p+p+-+-0
9-+-zPP+-+0
9+P+-+-+P0
9PvL-+NzPP+0
9+-tRQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
White takes a good opportunity to advance his epawn, getting space advantage.

16...dxe4

24

This principled but risky approach is recently under the test.

16...0-0 17 e5 gives White a small advantage: 17...e7 18 c3!? A fresh idea White takes
an opportunity to transfer his rook to the Kside. (after 18 g3 b6 19 g4 ac8 20
h5 g6 21 f4 White has got better chances in the game I.Sokolov
Kristjansson/Reykjavik 2003) 18...c8 19 g3

XIIIIIIIIY
9rwqr+-+k+0
9+-+nvlpzpp0
9p+-+p+-+0
9+p+pzP-+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9+P+-+-tRP0
9PvL-+NzPP+0
9+-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Thanks to the possible Kside activity White keeps the better chances but Black's defensive
resources and counter chances should not be underestimated, Tregubov
Bacrot/FRAchT Bordeaux 2003.
16...b4!? deserves attention. After 17 e5 e7 18 f4 0-0 19 g4 b7 20 h4 a typical
position with small advantage for White arises.
16...b6 does not solve the problems: 17 e5 e7 18 f4 g6 19 d3 0-0 20 d2 c8 21
xc8+ xc8 22 c1 White gets a certain advantage.

17 d5 0-0
17...e5?! is dubious due to the simple 18 g3 and in case of 18...f6 White took strong
initiative by 19 f5

18 dxe6 c5

XIIIIIIIIY
9rwq-+-trk+0
9+-+-+pzpp0
9p+-vlP+-+0
9+psn-+-+-0
9-+-+p+-+0
9+P+-+-+P0
9PvL-+NzPP+0
9+-tRQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

25

Again Black had a little choice as 18...fxe6 was unsatisfactory for him: 19 g3 e3 (after
19...xg3 20 xd7 Black was losing both epawns) 20 g4 f7 21 fxe3 xg3 22 xf7
xf7 23 xg7+ e8 24 f1+ and White wins

19 f4!?

XIIIIIIIIY
9rwq-+-trk+0
9+-+-+pzpp0
9p+-vlP+-+0
9+psn-+-+-0
9-+-+psN-+0
9+P+-+-+P0
9PvL-+-zPP+0
9+-tRQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
A rather unexpected and interesting idea an invention of Krishnan Sasikiran.
19 d4 xe6 20 xe4 e8 looks fine for Black
19 exf7+ xf7 20 d5 is also not dangerous: 20...d3 21 b1 h2+ 22 h1 c7 23 d4
e8 24 e6 f4! 25 xf4 d8! 26 e6 xf4 27 xa6 a8 28 b6 xa2 and White
has to play carefully to equalise.

19...a7!

XIIIIIIIIY
9-wq-+-trk+0
9tr-+-+pzpp0
9p+-vlP+-+0
9+psn-+-+-0
9-+-+psN-+0
9+P+-+-+P0
9PvL-+-zPP+0
9+-tRQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
A good idea Black gets his passive rook into the defence.
The alternative 19...xf4 does not completely solve the problems: 20 xc5 (20 exf7+ xf7 21
xc5 e3) 20...fxe6 21 g4 f7 (21...e5 22 g3 d6 23 b4) 22 g3 and White captures the
e4pawn, maintaining the advantage.
19...xe6 does not equalise as well: 20 xe6 fxe6 21 g4 e5 22 xe4 with a certain
advantage.
26

19...fxe6 has been tried in the game Sasikiran Sakaev/Copenhagen 2003, which continued
20 g4 e5 21 e6 xe6 22 xe6+ h8 23 c6 White has achieved certain
advantage.

20 d4!?

XIIIIIIIIY
9-wq-+-trk+0
9tr-+-+pzpp0
9p+-vlP+-+0
9+psn-+-+-0
9-+-vLpsN-+0
9+P+-+-+P0
9P+-+-zPP+0
9+-tRQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
This interesting idea promises a small advantage for White.
A straightforward approach 20 h5 can probably be parried: 20...xe6 (20...fxe6 is also not
so clear: 21 d4 and here in the game Acs Movsesian/WCh Tripoli (m/1) 2004
Black should have opted for 21...d3! and thorough analysis do not show how White
could achieve winning chances) 21 f6+!? Otherwise Black seems to be fine.
21...gxf6 22 g4+ g5 (Obviously not 22...g7?? 23 xf6+) 23 xf6 h6 24 c6!
This position arose in the game Acs Movsesian/WCh Tripoli (m/4) 2004. It looks
like after the cool 24...e8! White had nothing more than a draw after 25 f4!? exf3
26 xg5 f5 (or 26...h2+ 27 h1 hxg5 28 xg5+ f8 29 h6+ g8=) 27 xf5 h2+ 28
h1 hxg5 29 g6+ (29 xg5+ g7 30 d5+ led to the same result: 30...h8 31 h6+ h7
32 xh7+ xh7 33 h5+) 29...g7 30 xg7+ xg7 31 xg5+ with perpetual check.
20 d5!? is a recommendation by Sasikiran and perhaps it can also promise small
advantage for White.

20...xf4
The only move.

21 xc5 xc1

27

XIIIIIIIIY
9-wq-+-trk+0
9tr-+-+pzpp0
9p+-+P+-+0
9+pvL-+-+-0
9-+-+p+-+0
9+P+-+-+P0
9P+-+-zPP+0
9+-vlQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
22 xa7
Perhaps 22 xf8!? xf8 23 xc1 can secure a small advantage for White.

22...xa7 23 exf7+ xf7!

This is stronger than 23...xf7 24 xc1 and Black has eventually failed to hold balance in
the game Kharlov Leitao/WCh Tripoli 2004 although the position should still be
drawish.

24 xc1 c7
Black's task is to place his major pieces actively, not getting stuck to his e4pawn, at the
same time preventing White's activity since it would be dangerous for his king. The
game Gyimesi Movsesian/CROchT Rabac 2004 continued

25 b2 d7 26 e2 f4

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+k+0
9+-+r+-zpp0
9p+-+-+-+0
9+p+-+-+-0
9-+-+pwq-+0
9+P+-+-+P0
9P+-+QzPP+0
9+-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
and Black faced no problems.
28

Chebanenko System/3 various ideas

[D15]
Last updated: 17/11/04 by R.Scherbakov

1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 f3 f6 4 c3 a6

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqkvl-tr0
9+p+-zppzpp0
9p+p+-sn-+0
9+-+p+-+-0
9-+PzP-+-+0
9+-sN-+N+-0
9PzP-+PzPPzP0
9tR-vLQmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
5 cxd5
A rather interesting idea White transposes into the Slav Exchange type of position with
the move ...a7a6 already played. Yet, in most cases it is not so bad for Black.
It seems that 5 c2 can be strongly met by 5...dxc4 6 e4 (6 a4 g4 is good for Black) 6...b5
a) 7 e2 gives Black the time for development: 7...e6 (7...g4 seems to be weaker: 8 a4 bd7
9 e5 d5 10 axb5 axb5 11 xa8 xa8 12 g5 with initiative) 8 0-0 (8 e5 d5 9 e4 d7 is
fine for Black) 8...e7 9 a4 b7 10 e5 d5 11 e4 h6 12 b3 cxb3 13 xb3 0-0
and Black is completely OK. This type of position would be arisen in the Noteboom
variation but there the Black bishop is usually not quite stable on b4 while White has
the possibility to capture on b3 in one step.
b) 7 a4 7...e6! Black is not worried about his b5pawn and transposes into the Noteboom
type of position. (7...b7 let White to take initiative by 8 e5 d5 9 e6! fxe6 10 e4
White has not only broken the opponent's pawn structure the e6pawn prevents his
neighbour on e7 to move and so Black has got problems with development and poor
connection between his flanks. Yet, things are still not so clear, Bareev
Kir.Georgiev/ECC Halkidiki 2002.) 8 axb5 (A slow play should not bother Black
29

very much: 8 e2 b7 followed by ...Nbd7 and so on but perhaps White should have
preferred this way.) 8...cxb5 9 e5 (here 9 xb5 is just worse as Black wins the e4
pawn after 9...axb5 10 xa8 b7 followed by ...Bb7xe4) 9...d5 10 xb5 axb5! The
point of Black's idea he gives up the exchange but quickly gets all his pawns into
play. 11 xa8 b7
b1) Other possibilities were even worse: 12 g5?! b4+ (12...f6!? 13 a7 b6 14 xb7 xb7)
13 d2 c7 (13...f6!? 14 a7 b6 15 xb7 xb7 16 exf6 gxf6 17 h6 c6 18 e4 f7) 14
a1 c6 15 e4 b6 with a big advantage
b2) 12 a1?! b4 13 d2 (13 d1?! e4) 13...e4 (13...xf3!? 14 gxf3 8c6) 14 d1 8c6
with strong initiative.
b3) 12 a7!? White is trying to put at least one piece actively. 12...b4 13 d1 This
position arose in the game Gelfand Bacrot/Albert (m/5) 2002. It seems that Black
could have achieved a big advantage by Black could have achieved a big advantage
by 13...xf3! R.Scherbakov 14 gxf3 (unfortunately, 14 xf3? was impossible due to
14...c2+ 15 d1 xd4+ 16 xc2 xa7) 14...8c6 15 a3 xd4 16 c3 d5 with
superior position.
Other noteworthy possibilities are 5 e5
and 5 g3

5...cxd5 6 g5

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqkvl-tr0
9+p+-zppzpp0
9p+-+-sn-+0
9+-+p+-vL-0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9+-sN-+N+-0
9PzP-+PzPPzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
We thoroughly considered this active bishop's sortie without preliminary c4xd5 but in that
case White often sacrifices the c4pawn.
6 f4 c6 is just a transposition to the Slav Exchange see D10 Slav Exchange/1 Various
lines.

6...e4
This is probably the best reaction.
6...e6 7 e3 e7 8 d3 gives White a small but comfortable edge, as was shown in a number
of games. For example, 8...b5 9 0-0 b7 10 e2! 0-0 11 a4 b4 12 b1 c6 13
bd2 a5 14 fc1

30

7 h4
Creating obstacles in Black's Kside development.

7...c6
7...a5 gives more active possibilities for White:
a) 8 d2!? is interesting but it seems that Black can achieve a good game by 8...xc3 9
bxc3 c6 10 b3 e5!? 11 e3 exd4 12 exd4 d6 13 g3 xg3 14 hxg3 f5!? 15 h5
(15 xb7? could be strongly met by 15...xc3! 16 xa8+ e7 17 b7+ f6 18 d1 b8!
and White has to give up his queen as 19 c7? is losing to 19...e8+ 20 e2 xe2+! 21
f1 c2!-+) 15...e7 and Black is fine.
b) 8 b3 8...e6 9 e3 (White has also tried some other possibilities: 9 g5 looks strange:
9...xc3 10 bxc3 e7 11 f3 xh4 12 xh4 0-0 with good play 9 a3 can be well met by
9...d7!? 10 e3 xc3 11 xc3 xc3+ 12 bxc3 c6 13 c4 dxc4 14 xc4 a5 15 e2 c8 16 e5
a4 with better chances for Black 9 c1!? deserves attention: 9...c6 10 e3 d6 11 d3
f5 12 g3 xg3 13 hxg3 and White has got a slight edge)
b1) 9...c6 allows White to complete the development: 10 d3 (10 a3 does not prevent
10...b4!? and 11 c1 xc3+ 12 bxc3 0-0 13 d3 b5 14 0-0 d7 is acceptable for Black )
10...f5 (10...xc3 11 bxc3 d6 12 g3 c7 13 e4) 11 0-0 d6 12 fc1 0-0 13 g3 xg3

14 hxg3 with a small advantage

b2) 9...b4 10 d3!? An interesting attempt. (10 c1 is harmless for Black: 10...d7 11 a3
xc3+ 12 bxc3 b5! 13 e5 c6 and Black has no problems at all.) 10...xc3
(10...xc3+?! is too risky: 11 bxc3 xc3 12 0-0 with annoying initiative.) 11 a3 c6 12
0-0
b2a) 12...e4 is a natural alternative: 13 axb4 xb4 14 c2 0-0 (14...f5?! 15 xa6!) 15 xe4
dxe4 16 xe4 d7 (16...xb2 17 g3 gives White a rather annoying initiative as
Black is late in development) 17 g5!? f5 18 b1 with idea Qb1-a2 and White's
chances look preferable.
b2b) 12...a4!? A principled continuation. 13 xa4 xa4 14 axb4 xb2 (In case of
14...xb4 15 e2 d7 16 fc1 White achieves more than enough compensation for the
pawn.) 15 e2 A lead in development promises White a good compensation for the
pawn but Black is also quite satisfied with his position. The game Ljubojevic
Bacrot/Bled (ol) 2002 continued 15...c4 16 xc4 dxc4 17 b5 a7 (After 17...e7 18
fc1 d7 19 bxa6 xa6 20 xa6 bxa6 21 xc4 White seized some initiative.) 18 bxa6
b5! with sharp and complicated play.

8 e3 a5
8...g4 does not solve the problems completely: 9 d3 xc3 10 bxc3 d7 11 0-0 e6 12 c4
dxc4 13 xc4 with advantage.
8...b6 looks suspicious: 9 d3 f5 10 0-0 xc3 11 bxc3 xd3 12 xd3 e6 13 ab1 c7
14 g3 d7 15 b6 e7 16 fb1 a5 17 c4 dxc4 18 c3 a4 19 d5 with
initiative.

9 b3 b4!
31

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+kvl-tr0
9+p+-zppzpp0
9p+n+-+-+0
9+-+p+-+-0
9-wq-zPn+-vL0
9+QsN-zPN+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
This exchange offer has recently become the main Black's option.

10 xb4
10 e2 is harmless for Black: 10...f5 11 xb4 xb4 12 0-0 e6 13 xe4 xe4 14 a3 c6
15 d2 g6 16 fc1 d7 (16...d6 17 c3 d7 18 b3 b6 19 ac1 hc8 20 d2) 17 b4
e7 18 g3 hc8 19 b3 b6 and Black is OK
10 c2 comes into consideration but it looks like Black can achieve a good play here, too:
10...f5 (10...a5!? is also not bad: 11 d2 b4 12 b3 xd2 13 xd2 e6 14 e2 c6 and
Black is OK) 11 d3 a5 12 b3 and now Black can simply go back by
12...b4!?

10...xb4 11 c1 f5
11...xc3?! is weaker: 12 bxc3 c6 13 c4 dxc4 14 xc4 e6 15 0-0 e7 16 g3 0-0 17 e4
with certain advantage.

12 a3 xc3 13 xc3 c6

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+kvl-tr0
9+p+-zppzpp0
9p+n+-+-+0
9+-+p+l+-0
9-+-zP-+-vL0
9zP-tR-zPN+-0
9-zP-+-zPPzP0
9+-+-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy

32

The position is symmetrical but the advantage in development may promise the edge for
White, Bacrot Kir.Georgiev/Bled (ol) 2002.

33

Chebanenko System/4 5. a4 [D15]

Last updated: 01/11/03 by R.Scherbakov

1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 f3 f6 4 c3 a6 5 a4

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqkvl-tr0
9+p+-zppzpp0
9p+p+-sn-+0
9+-+p+-+-0
9P+PzP-+-+0
9+-sN-+N+-0
9-zP-+PzPPzP0
9tR-vLQmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
This simple pawn advance deserves attention it may also promise better chances for
White. Now almost every Slav system can arise with the inclusion of the moves a4
and ...a6. Perhaps Black can find an appropriate one? Notice that it's more difficult
for Black to realise the idea of dxc4 and b7b5 now because White can take on b5
twice!

5...e6
5...g6 is very similar to the Schlechter variation of the Grunfeld Defence. In my opinion, it
is more reasonable for Black to keep the bishop on the diagonal f8a3 since it is
tempting to establish control over the b4 square. The bishop's fianchetto is a rather
passive setup: 6 e3 g7 7 e2 0-0 8 0-0 g4 9 b3 a7 10 a5 e6 11 h3 xf3 12
xf3 bd7 13 d1 c7 14 e4 with the initiative, Ehlvest Miles/Biel 1996.

6 g5
6 g3 is the alternative, transposing to Catalan positions.

6...bd7

34

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvl-tr0
9+p+n+pzpp0
9p+p+psn-+0
9+-+p+-vL-0
9P+PzP-+-+0
9+-sN-+N+-0
9-zP-+PzPPzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
7 e3
7 cxd5 is an alternative.
a) 7...cxd5 is less popular. After 8 e3 a5 9 d3 e4 a rather strange mixture of the
Cambridge Springs and the Exchange Slav may have arisen. Here Rafael Vaganian
introduced an interesting plan, connected with a direct kingside attack: 10 0-0!?
xg5 (acceptance of the sacrifice looks dangerous: 10...xc3 11 bxc3 xc3 12 c1 a5
13 c2 with a strong initiative) 11 xg5 f6 12 f4!? b4 13 c1 0-0 14 e1 d7 15
h4 h6 16 f3 fc8 17 g4! and smashed his formidable opponent in brilliant
style, Vaganian Shirov/Istanbul (ol) 2000
b) 7...exd5 8 e3 e7 9 d3 0-0 10 c2 e8 11 0-0

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqr+k+0
9+p+nvlpzpp0
9p+p+-sn-+0
9+-+p+-vL-0
9P+-zP-+-+0
9+-sNLzPN+-0
9-zPQ+-zPPzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
The position is very similar to the Carlsbad Variation but the addition of the moves a4 and
...a6 changes things. White has no minority attack here (b2b4b5) and should try
other plans. The game Kramnik Gelfand/Novgorod 1997 continued by 11...f8 12
ae1 e6 13 e5 with a small but lasting edge.

7...a5

35

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+kvl-tr0
9+p+n+pzpp0
9p+p+psn-+0
9wq-+p+-vL-0
9P+PzP-+-+0
9+-sN-zPN+-0
9-zP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
This position reminds me of the Cambridge Springs now. With the inclusion of the moves
...a7a6 and a2a4 the arrangement ...a5 and ...b4 looks more stable since White
has no a2a3 resource, but some other ideas are still there.
7...b4 8 d3 a5 can be well met by 9 0-0! and now it is very risky for Black to accept
the gift: 9...xc3 (Yet, the other options Black tried in this position were not quite
successful: 9...dxc4 10 xc4 xc3 11 bxc3 xc3 12 e2 0-0 13 a5 b4 14 e4 e8 15 fb1 f8
16 c1! g6 17 a3 g7 18 d6 h6 19 a3 h5 20 e5+ and Black is running out of
moves 9...h6 10 h4 dxc4 11 xc4 xc3 12 bxc3 xc3 13 e2 a5 14 e4 h5 15 g3 0-0 16 a5
e8 17 d6 f8 18 h3 and White is dominating) 10 bxc3 xc3 11 c5!? White has not
only got a lead in development the darksquares in Black's camp are too
vulnerable now. By the way, this is not so only the attempt to take control over the
dark squares as to lock up the Black queen by 12. a4a5! 11...a5 12 c2 0-0 13
e5 and Black has found himself in trouble, Shipov Malakhov/Moscow (ch)
2003.

8 cxd5!?
8 d2 b4 9 c2 c5 is known to be the main line but this simple capture is maybe the
more promising.

8...xd5

36

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+kvl-tr0
9+p+n+pzpp0
9p+p+p+-+0
9wq-+n+-vL-0
9P+-zP-+-+0
9+-sN-zPN+-0
9-zP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
8...exd5 is not quite logical the move ...Qd8a5 is just unnecessary in the Carlsbad
structure.

9 e4!?
An interesting and ambitious approach White sacrifices a pawn to get a lead in
development.
Yet, perhaps a slow 9 c2 b4 10 c1 may also promise better chances for White. For
example, 10...7b6 11 e4 f6 12 d2 c5 13 dxc5 xc5 14 d3 c4 15 0-0 xd2
16 xd2 h5 17 e5 d5 18 e4 xc3 19 bxc3 c5 20 b1 0-0 21 xb7 xb7 22
xb7 with a healthy extra pawn.

9...xc3 10 bxc3 f6 11 d3
The more straightforward 11 e5 does not promise much due to 11...e4 12 d2 c5!

11...xc3+ 12 e2

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+kvl-tr0
9+p+-+pzpp0
9p+p+psn-+0
9+-+-+-vL-0
9P+-zPP+-+0
9+-wqL+N+-0
9-+-+KzPPzP0
9tR-+Q+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
12...a5
37

In the game Kharlov Iskusnykh/Moscow 2003 Black unsuccessfully tried 12...b2+?!

and after 13 d2 a5 14 b1 White has got more than enough compensation for the
pawn.

13 c2 e7 14 d2
14 ab1 d8 (14...xe4?? failed to a rather unexpected 15 xe7! c3+ 16 xc3 xc3 17 b4+)
15 d2 a5 may give some benefit for Black.

14...d8 15 a5

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqk+-tr0
9+p+-vlpzpp0
9p+p+psn-+0
9zP-+-+-+-0
9-+-zPP+-+0
9+-+L+N+-0
9-+QvLKzPPzP0
9tR-+-+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
White has certainly got excellent compensation for the pawn but Black can also play. More
practical tests are required.

38

Chebanenko System/5 5. c5 [D15]

Last updated: 31/10/06 by R.Scherbakov

1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 f3 f6 4 c3 a6 5 c5

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqkvl-tr0
9+p+-zppzpp0
9p+p+-sn-+0
9+-zPp+-+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9+-sN-+N+-0
9PzP-+PzPPzP0
9tR-vLQmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
A popular way to deprive Black of his usual queenside play ...b7b5. On the other hand this
makes it easier for Black to carry out the freeing ...e7e5.

5...bd7
There are also some alternatives.
5...g6 was popular some years ago but these days Black tries to play more actively. Then
possible is 6 h3 g7 7 f4 0-0 8 e3 bd7 9 e2 with better chances for White
5...f5!? is an interesting approach. Black places his bishop very actively on f5 entrusting
the role of defending the pawn on b7 to the rook on a7! 6 b3 a7 7 f4 bd7 8 h3
h6!? 9 e3 g5 10 h2 g7 with counter chances, Kramnik Shirov/Vienna 1996.

6 f4 h5

39

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvl-tr0
9+p+nzppzpp0
9p+p+-+-+0
9+-zPp+-+n0
9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+-sN-+N+-0
9PzP-+PzPPzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
7 e3
The retreat 7 d2!? deserves serious attention: 7...g6
a) the immediate retreat 7...hf6!? is still not proved to be bad for Black but he is
maybe not so attracted by the thought of giving White one, even not quite
significant, tempo in the opening. Then possible is 8 c2!?
a1) 8 b4 g6 9 c1!? is also interesting White is going to exchange darksquared
bishops! The game Granda Zuniga Leitao/Villa Martelli 2005 continued 9...g7
(Perhaps Black should have still prevented White's idea by playing a modest 9...h6!?,
after which White should probably play 10 c2!?) 10 h6 and White has got the
better chances.
a2) 8 c1 has recently become popular. White postpones his Kside development in
order to secure his Qside pawn chain. 8...g6
a21) 8...e5 does not solve all the problems: 9 xe5 xe5 10 dxe5 g4 11 a4
xe5 12 c3 (12 b6 b8 13 f4 is a natural alternative, which could also promise
better chances for White) 12...f6 13 b6 b8 14 xc8 xc8 (14...xc8!? 15 xe5!? fxe5
16 e4! is also better for White) 15 g3 d7 16 h4 and White has achieved the better
chances in the game Topalov Bacrot/Sofia 2006.
a22) 8...c7 can be well met with 9 g3 g6 10 f4 d8 11 g2 h5 12 g5 g7 13
0-0 0-0 14 e4 dxe4 15 xe4 df6 16 c3 with stable advantage for White
9 h3 c7 (An alternative 9...g7 is playable but it does not equalise: 10 f4 0-0 11 e3 e8
(or 11...e4 12 e2 xc3 13 bxc3 b6 14 cxb6 xb6 15 0-0) 12 e2 c7 13 0-0 e8 14
a4 b5 15 b3 h6 16 fd1 h7 17 e5 xe5 18 dxe5 with a certain advantage)
10 g3 g7 The game Gagunashvili Nakamura/Turin (ol) 2006 continued 11 g2
0-0 12 f4 d8 13 0-0 h5 14 d2 f5 15 a4 e5 16 dxe5 xe5 17 b6 b8 18
c3 f7 19 e3 e6 20 b4 e8 21 a4 f6 22 e2 and White has maintained his
advantage he has got good prospects for his pieces and a simple plan of the Qside
pawns advance.
8...g6 (the principled 8...e5 does not solve the problems: 9 dxe5 g4 10 a4 e7 11 g5! e6 12
e3 with a certain advantage for White, 8...c7 also fails to equalise: 9 e4 dxe4 10 g5 h6
11 gxe4 xe4 12 xe4 f6 13 xf6+ exf6 14 c4 with a clear advantage) 9 e4 (a
preliminary 9 h3!? deserves serious attention: 9...c7 10 e4 xe4 11 xe4 dxe4 12 xe4
40

f6 13 e5! xe5+ 14 dxe5 d5 15 c4 e6 16 d4 g7 17 xe6 fxe6 18 f4 with a certain

advantage in the endgame) 9...xe4!? This capture seems more precise Black

immediately exchanges one knight, getting f6square for the other. (in the game
Damljanovic Dautov/Calvia (ol) 2004 Black preferred 9...dxe4 10 g5 h6
(10...g7!? 11 c4 0-0 deserved attention. Here White can force a draw by 12
xf7+ xf7 13 e6 e8 (of course, not 13...a5?? 14 xe4 b5 15 a4+) 14 c7 f8
15 e6= with repetition of moves but the question, of course, is whether White can
get better chances in this line) 11 gxe4 g7 12 c4 xe4 13 xe4 and White has
maintained the better chances) 10 xe4 dxe4 11 g5 (11 xe4 f6 followed by
...Bc8e6 is OK for Black) 11...g7 12 c4 0-0 Then possible is 13 b3!? e6 14
xe4 xd4 15 0-0-0 xc5 16 xc5 xc5 17 h6 f6 18 xf8 xf8 with a good
play for Black.
b) 7...c7!? also deserves attention this move was played by Garry Kasparov in
the line 7. Bg5!? h6 8. Bd2 see the game Sasikiran Kasparov/Bled (ol) 2002
8 e4 dxe4 9 xe4 df6 (9...g7 may lead to the same positions. However, the knight's
move seems to be more precise as Black often uses the vacant g7square to improve
the position of his h5knight: 10 c4 df6 11 c3 (11 xf6+!? may just be a
transposition to 9 ...Ndf6) 11...0-0 12 0-0 (12 h3!?) 12...g4 13 e3 with small but
stable advantage for White) 10 xf6+ As often in similar situations White has a
choice. The capture on f6 wins a tempo but helps Black to get rid of one extra knight
headed to the d5square. (A retreat 10 c3 is also worthy of consideration. It leaves
Black with awkwardly placed knight on h5 but gives him time for development:
10...g4 (an immediate 10...g7?! is strongly met by 11 b3 f5 12 c4 e6 13 0-0 g7 14
f4 with a clear advantage for White) 11 e3 g7 12 c4 (12 h3 xf3 13 xf3 f5 14
d1 g7 15 c4 0-0 16 0-0 e6 looks acceptable for Black) 12...e6 13 e2 f5 14 f4
d5 15 e5 f6 16 g3 h5!? 17 d3 b4 18 xf5 xf5 19 0-0 g5 20 h4 g4 21 e1
with a roughly equal play) 10...xf6 11 c4 g7 12 0-0 0-0 The game Lautier
Malakhov/Poikovsky 2004 continued 13 b3 g4 14 e5! with a promising
position for White
7 e5 looks harmless for Black: 7...xe5 8 dxe5 f4 9 d2 g6 10 e4 e6 11 a4 d7 12
d3 (12 b6 could have been strongly met by 12...xc5! 13 xa8 dxe4 with better
chances for Black) 12...c7 and here White should already play something like 13
exd5 (after 13 c3? f4! White cannot keep everything under as 14 0-0?? loses to
14...dxe4-+) 13...cxd5 14 b6 d8 15 xg6 hxg6 16 b4 with unclear play
7 g5!? is interesting White provokes the advance of the hpawn. 7...h6 8 d2 (8 h4
gives Black a comfortable play: 8...g5 9 g3 xg3 10 hxg3 g7 11 d2 e5 12 xe5 xe5
13 dxe5 xe5 and so on) 8...hf6!?
a) Black has also tried other possibilities. 8...g6?! gives an easy play for White: 9 e4
dxe4 10 xe4 g7 11 c4 with a certain advantage
b) 8...e5?! does not look very good as after 9 dxe5 xc5 10 e3 the knight on h5 does
not feel itself very comfortable
c) 8...c7!? A flexible but maybe not completely equalising move. 9 e4 dxe4 10
xe4 df6 This position arose in the game Sasikiran Kasparov/Bled (ol) 2002. In
my opinion, it was better to continue 11 xf6+!? gaining a tempo for development:
(after 11 c3 e6 12 e5 g6 13 f3 d8 14 e3 Black found an excellent way to get his
knight back into play: 14...g7!? 15 c4 xc4 16 xc4 e6! with a good play) 11...xf6
41

12 c4, also preventing the manoeuvre ...Bc8e6. After 12...f5 (12...g4?! is

dubious: 13 b3! e6 14 e5 with a clear advantage) 13 0-0 e6 Black achieves a solid
position but I suppose White's chances are still preferable.
9 c2 (9 f4 does not look promising. Black can think about 9...h5 (9...g5!? is also worthy
of consideration: 10 g3 g7 11 e3 h5 12 d3 xg3 13 hxg3 e5 14 c2 e7 with good
counter chances) 10 e3 b6 11 cxb6 xf4 12 exf4 xb6 13 d2 e6 14 d3 b8 15
b1 c5 with excellent play for Black) 9...c7 (after 9...g6 White could think about 10
f4 and in case of 10...h5 11 e5!? Black cannot play ...f7f6 since he has already
committed ...h7h6) 10 e4 dxe4 11 xe4 xe4 12 xe4 f6 13 c2 e6 14 d3
This position was tested in the game Topalov Kasparov/Linares 2004. White's
chances look preferable but Black is also not bad.

7...g6

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvl-tr0
9+p+nzpp+p0
9p+p+-+p+0
9+-zPp+-+n0
9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+-sN-zPN+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
The immediate 7...xf4 has also been tried: 8 exf4 b6 Black has to somehow break White's
pawn chain to get space for his pieces. 9 cxb6 (An attempt to keep the pawn chain by
9 b4 does not promise much: 9...g6 10 d3 g7 11 c1 0-0 12 0-0 a5 13 b5 b7 14 a4 bxc5
15 xc5 xc5 16 xc5 cxb5 17 xb5 c8 and Black is fine) 9...xb6 10 d3!? White
clearly shows his intention to play for development advantage rather than for the
restriction of Black's pieces. (10 d2 can be met by 10...e6 11 c1 c5!? A principled
although rather risky counter strike. (11...b8 12 a4 b4 13 xb4 xb4+ 14 d1 gives
White a small but stable advantage in the endgame according to the tournament
practice) 12 a4 a7 13 dxc5 (13 f5 c4 14 fxe6 fxe6 15 b3 a3 is good for Black)
13...xc5 14 d4!? (14 xc5 does not bother Black much: 14...xc5 15 d3 d6! 16 0-0
0-0 and so on) 14...xa4 15 xc8+ d7 16 xa4+ (16 xa8?! fails to 16...xd4 17 xd4
b4+, 16 xa7+ xa7 17 c2 f6 is just fine for Black) 16...xc8 17 e8+ (17 e5 does
not promise much: 17...c7 18 xa6+ d8 19 0-0 d6 with a good play) 17...c7 18
xf7+ d6 (18...b8 19 xe6 b4+ 20 d1 looks a bit better for White) 19 e5 g6
and White should already agree to the repetition of moves after, for example, 20 f6
e7 21 f7+ d7 22 e5+ d6=) 10...xb2 (Otherwise White seizes the initiative
for free: 10...e6 11 0-0 c5 (or 11...d6 12 a4 a7 13 f5) 12 e1! e7 13 f5 and so
on) 11 c1 This situation is quite typical: Black has won a pawn at the cost of
development. White cannot win it back or create threats immediately but the point is
42

that he will get more resources for actions in some moves. then it will be the time to
think about concrete options. However, Black's defensive resources should not be
underestimated for example, he always has one important extra defender the
king. Of course, it may also become a target everything depends on the skill of
each player... 11...e6
a) 11...g6 12 0-0 h6!? looks rather interesting. However, White could still maintain
his initiative by 13 a4! b7 (13...xf4?! 14 c2 b8 15 xc6 b7 16 a4 d8 17 b1
b8 18 e2) 14 c2 b8 15 e2 b6 16 xc6+ xc6 17 xc6 d7 18 c7 with a
certain advantage in the endgame
b) A straightforward 11...e5?! can be well met by 12 fxe5 b4?! 13 0-0! xc3 14
a4! and Black faces material losses
12 0-0 a3 (In case of 12...d6 White can play 13 a4 b4 (13...b7 14 e5 0-0 15 c2,
13...a3 14 f5) 14 f5 0-0 15 fxe6 fxe6 16 xc6 with annoying initiative) 13 c2!?
(13 a4!? is also interesting: 13...b4 14 xb4 xb4 15 a4 d6 16 f5 b7 17 fxe6 fxe6 18
fe1 with initiative but perhaps Black can defend better in this line) This position
arose in the game Onischuk Zatonskih/USAch San Diego 2004, which continued
13...b8 (Apart from other possible retreats 13...b7!? was worthy of serious
consideration) 14 e5 and White has got the better chances.

8 h4!?

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvl-tr0
9+p+nzpp+p0
9p+p+-+p+0
9+-zPp+-+n0
9-+-zP-vL-zP0
9+-sN-zPN+-0
9PzP-+-zPP+0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
A recent development in this line White keeps in mind both f4h2 and the further h
pawn advance in case of Black's capture on f4.
8 d3 g7 9 0-0

43

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqk+-tr0
9+p+nzppvlp0
9p+p+-+p+0
9+-zPp+-+n0
9-+-zP-vL-+0
9+-sNLzPN+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
is a natural alternative: 9...0-0 (A direct 9...f6!? is interesting but risky. 10 h3!? e5!? (after
10...xf4 11 exf4 e5 Boris Gelfand found an excellent way to exploit the advantage
in development and other pluses of his position: 12 f5!! e4 13 xe4! dxe4 14 xe4
0-0?! (14...f8!? seemed to be more stubborn) 15 b3+ h8 16 d6 and Black found
himself almost paralyzed, Gelfand Movsesian/Polanica Zdroj 2000) 11 h2 e4
Here White can choose between 12 xe4 (and 12 g4 exd3 13 gxh5) 12...dxe4 13 xe4
0-0 14 d6 in both cases White keeps chances for an advantage but Black has also
achieved something to be satisfied with) 10 h3 (10 g5!? deserves attention,
securing the bishop. 10...e8 Intending to play ...Qd8c7 and ...e7e5. Now White
has a wide choice. 11 d2 A rather unexpected idea White is going to stop ...e7
e5 by the radical f2f4! (11 e4 deserves attention among other possibilities:
11...dxe4 12 xe4!? (12 xe4 was also tried but without much success: 12...df6 13
xf6+ xf6 14 c4 d5 15 h3 e6 16 b3 d7! with idea ...Nd5c7 with a good play)
12...df6 13 c2 e6 14 e1 d5 15 d2 with a small advantage) 11...f6!? This
idea is rather typical for this type of position. (the immediate 11...b6 deserves
attention: 12 cxb6 xb6 13 a4 a7 14 b3 e5 with a counterplay although White's
chances were still preferable) 12 xf6 hxf6 13 f4 b6 This position arose in the
game Svetushkin Bacrot/Bled (ol) 2002, which continued 14 b4!? a5 15 a3 a6
and here White could have probably maintained a slight edge by playing 16 f3)
10...xf4 11 exf4 Now Black can almost forget about the freeing ...e7e5 but
another program advance ...b7b6 is coming. 11...b6!? (11...e8?! seems to be less
precise as after 12 c2 White is able to keep the position closed: 12...c7 13 g3 b6 14 b4
a5 15 a3 with better chances, Pr.Nikolic Safin/FIDE WCh KO, Moscow RUS (1.2)
2001., A preliminary 11...c7!? is worthy of consideration: 12 f5!? b6 13 cxb6 xb6 14
fxg6 hxg6 15 c1 with a slight pressure but Black looks fine) 12 cxb6 xb6 13 a4
a7!? An active place for the queen. 14 c1!? (in the game Banikas
Zagrebelny/Bled (ol) 2002 White unsuccessfully tried 14 c1 xd4 15 xc6 f6 16
xd5 b7 17 xd7 fd8 18 c7 xf3 19 xa7 xa7 and Black has achieved more than
enough compensation for the pawn) 14...xd4 15 xg6 xf2+! 16 xf2 hxg6 17
d4 (17 xc6 f6 is good for Black) 17...b7 18 f5!? White has got an excellent
compensation for the pawn but Black has a lot of defensive resources.

8...xf4
44

After 8...g7 9 h2 0-0 10 e2 White's chances look preferable.

9 exf4

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvl-tr0
9+p+nzpp+p0
9p+p+-+p+0
9+-zPp+-+-0
9-+-zP-zP-zP0
9+-sN-+N+-0
9PzP-+-zPP+0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
9...g7
Perhaps the other options are more precise.
Both 9...c7!? 10 g3 g7
and 9...h5!? 10 d3 g7 11 c1 0-0 deserve attention. Here White can try a tempting 12 f5
but it does not promise much: 12...gxf5 13 xf5 f6 14 b1 g4 15 d3 e6 16 e5
f5 17 f3 xb1 18 xb1 d7!? 19 xh5 (19 xd7 xd7 20 d1 e5 is also far from
clear) 19...xe5 20 dxe5 c7 21 f4 f6! 22 exf6 xf6 23 g3 e5! and Black has
achieved good counter.

10 h5
A preparatory 10 d2!? is worthy of consideration: 10...b6 (10...h5!?) 11 cxb6 xb6 12 c1
and in case of 12...0-0 (12...b8!?) 13 a4 a7 White can achieve a clear advantage
by 14 h5 a5 15 hxg6 fxg6 16 g3 f6 17 c5 f5 18 d3 e6 19 e5

10...b6 11 cxb6 xb6 12 d2

45

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+k+-tr0
9+-+nzppvlp0
9pwqp+-+p+0
9+-+p+-+P0
9-+-zP-zP-+0
9+-sN-+N+-0
9PzP-wQ-zPP+0
9tR-+-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
12...b8!?
looks interesting but actually the benefit is not so clear as in some cases the Black rook falls
under the attack:
A straightforward 12...c5 does not solve the problems. Black is trying to get counter
chances by using his bishops at full power but it costs him a pawn: 13 xd5 e6+
14 e3 cxd4 15 xd4 e4 (15...d6 16 d1 xf4 fails to 17 c6! e6 18 e2 c7 19
c4!+) 16 d1 0-0 17 hxg6 hxg6 18 e2 The game Gyimesi
Saiboulatov/Cappelle la Grande 2004 continued 18...b8 (18...xf4 was strongly met
by 19 c6 f6 20 d5 xd2+ 21 xd2+ with a tangible material advantage for White)
19 b3 This position might also be reached if Black included 12 ...Rb8 13. b3. 19...e5
20 fxe5 xe5 21 f3 White can hardly be dissatisfied with his extra pawn
although the pair of bishops and the reduced number of pawns on the board gives
Black drawish chances.

13 b3

XIIIIIIIIY
9-trl+k+-tr0
9+-+nzppvlp0
9pwqp+-+p+0
9+-+p+-+P0
9-+-zP-zP-+0
9+PsN-+N+-0
9P+-wQ-zPP+0
9tR-+-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
13...f6!?
46

Here 13...c5 is also not quite sufficient: 14 xd5 e6+ 15 e3 cxd4 16 xd4 e4 17 d1
b6 (here a rather logical 17...0-0 18 e2 could be a transposition to the previous line)
18 hxg6 hxg6 19 xh8+ xh8 20 c2 xc2 21 dxc2 c3+ 22 e2 f6 23 d3
with a clear advantage for White thanks to his healthy extra pawn.

14 hxg6 hxg6
In the game Paragua Movsesian/World Cup Khanty Mansyisk 2005 Black's unfortunate
capture 14...fxg6?! has led to the position without any counterplay after 15 e5 g4
16 a4 c7 17 c1 xe5 18 fxe5 0-0 19 d3

15 xh8+ xh8 16 c1

XIIIIIIIIY
9-trl+k+-vl0
9+-+-zpp+-0
9pwqp+-snp+0
9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-zP-zP-+0
9+PsN-+N+-0
9P+-wQ-zPP+0
9+-tR-mKL+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Thanks to the better control over important squares White keeps a small advantage.

47

Chebanenko System/6 5. Bg5 [D15]

Last updated: 09/03/06 by R.Scherbakov

1 f3 d5 2 d4 f6 3 c4 c6 4 c3 a6

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqkvl-tr0
9+p+-zppzpp0
9p+p+-sn-+0
9+-+p+-+-0
9-+PzP-+-+0
9+-sN-+N+-0
9PzP-+PzPPzP0
9tR-vLQmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
5 g5!?

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqkvl-tr0
9+p+-zppzpp0
9p+p+-sn-+0
9+-+p+-vL-0
9-+PzP-+-+0
9+-sN-+N+-0
9PzP-+PzPPzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
This ambitious bishop's lunge looks quite logical. While Black makes a quiet pawn move
White develops another piece. Usually it leads to very complicated play when White
is ready to sacrifice material for some positional advantages.

5...dxc4!?
48

This interesting counter action has recently brought down a popularity of the ambitious 5.
Bg5.
An alternative 5...e4 leads to a very complicated play, which seems favourable for White:
6 f4 (6 h4!?

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqkvl-tr0
9+p+-zppzpp0
9p+p+-+-+0
9+-+p+-vL-0
9-+PzPn+-zP0
9+-sN-+N+-0
9PzP-+PzPP+0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
is a wellknown alternative. Now Black has a lot of possible moves. 6...f6
a) 6...h6 does not solve the problems the inclusion of the moves h2h4 and h7h6
seems to be in White's favour as his plans are often connected with kingside activity:
7 f4 xc3 (7...d7 8 xe4 dxe4 9 d2) 8 bxc3 dxc4 9 g3 d7 10 g2 b5 11 0-0 b7
12 e5
b) 6...xc3 7 bxc3 dxc4 8 g3 b5 (8...e6 9 g2 d7 10 0-0 d5 11 b1 b6 12 c2 f6
13 e5 h6 14 e4!) 9 g2 b7 10 a4 d7 11 0-0 f6 12 f4 b6 13 b1 e6 14 e4
with excellent compensation for the pawn in both cases.
7 f4 xc3 (7...a5 does not solve the problems because of the cool 8 d2 (8 b3? can be
strongly met by 8...e5! 9 dxe5 d4! 10 c2 dxc3 and Black is winning: 11 b4 xb4 12 xe4
0-0 13 e6 xa2!-+ and so on) 8...xd2 9 xd2 e6 10 e3 e7 11 d3 0-0 12 c2 f5 13
g4! with a clear advantage.) 8 bxc3 dxc4 9 g3 The bishop's fianchetto is quite usual
here as it would be rather passive on e2. 9...a5!? 10 c1 d7 The main drawback
of the advance ...f7f6 is that it weakened the square e6 and the complex of light
squares on the kingside for example, after the possible opening of the position
after e2e4 and d4d5 in the future, Black's king would feel itself uncomfortable on
g8. Thus the idea to justify it by an active ... e7e5 is logical. 11 g2 e5 12 dxe5
fxe5 13 e3 This position arose in the game Filippov Burmakin/Russian Cup
Final, Kazan 2001. After the dubious 13...a3?! (13...f6!? deserved attention,
moving the knight to d5 first) 14 c2 c5 15 xc5 xc5 16 f5! White seized a
rather annoying initiative) 6...xc3 7 bxc3 dxc4

49

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqkvl-tr0
9+p+-zppzpp0
9p+p+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+pzP-vL-+0
9+-zP-+N+-0
9P+-+PzPPzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
8 g3 (8 e4 looks no less dangerous for Black but generally White's bishop has better
prospects on the long diagonal g2a8. After 8...b5 9 e5 a strange looking idea of
Sergei Volkov is quite interesting: 9...a5!? After 10 d2!? (in case of 10 c1 g6! 11
f3 f6 the typical 12 g3?! is impossible because after 12...fxe5 13 xe5 h6! the rook is
attacked and White is in trouble: 14 c2 a4 15 e2 0-0 16 xb8 xb8 17 xb8 g4 18
e5 xe2 19 xe2 c2-+) 10...d7! (10...c7?! is weaker: 11 f3 e6 12 f4! f6 13 xc4!?
e5 14 dxe5 bxc4 15 xc4 with a strong initiative, R.Scherbakov Volkov/Ekaterinburg
1999) 11 xc6 c7 12 b4 b7 with quite acceptable play for Black, Gormally
Volkov/Port Erin 2000) 8...b5 The main line. (8...g6 was tried in the game Anand
Shirov/Dos Hermanas 1997. After 9 g2 g7 10 e5 e6 11 b1! c8 (11...f6!?) 12
a4 a5 (12...g5!?) 13 0-0 0-0 14 a2 followed by a2b2 White enjoyed strong
pressure over the Black's queenside) 9 g2 b7 10 e5 This knight's lunge is
connected with interesting sacrificial ideas. 10...f6 11 xc4!? g5!?

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsn-wqkvl-tr0
9+l+-zp-+p0
9p+p+-zp-+0
9+p+-+-zp-0
9-+NzP-vL-+0
9+-zP-+-zP-0
9P+-+PzPLzP0
9tR-+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
(It seems that 11...bxc4?! gives White a strong initiative: 12 b1 e5 13 xb7 exf4 14 b1!) A

critical position of the variation. The game Anand Shirov/Monte Carlo 1997
continued by 12 e3!? (12 xb8 has been played before but Black was able to
achieve good play: 12...bxc4 13 b1 xb8 14 xb7 xb7 15 xc6+ d7 16 a4 e6 17 0-0 d6
18 xa6 f7 19 xd7 xd7 20 xc4 b8 and White can probably hold the position after
21 d3!=) 12...bxc4 13 b1 c7 14 h4 d7 15 hxg5 fxg5 16 xg5 White has got
only one pawn for the sacrificed piece but all his longrange pieces have great
50

potential. Furthermore, all Black's pieces are badly placed and cannot be activated
easily. Furthermore his pawn structure is weakened almost everywhere and it's very
difficult to find a safe place for the king. So it seems that White's initiative and
positional pluses of his position give him more than sufficient compensation for the
piece.

6 a4 h6
Every possibility Black has tried here deserves attention: 6...e6
6...d5
6...f5

7 h4

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqkvl-tr0
9+p+-zppzp-0
9p+p+-sn-zp0
9+-+-+-+-0
9P+pzP-+-vL0
9+-sN-+N+-0
9-zP-+PzPPzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
7 xf6 exf6 followed by e6 looks fine for Black
7 d2!? is worthy of consideration. Then possible is 7...e6 8 a5 g5!? 9 e4 (after 9 e3 bd7
10 c2 c8 11 a4 g4 12 h4 c5 Black's chances look preferable) 9...bd7 with
complicated play.

7...b5!

51

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqkvl-tr0
9+-+-zppzp-0
9p+p+-sn-zp0
9+p+-+-+-0
9P+pzP-+-vL0
9+-sN-+N+-0
9-zP-+PzPPzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
A strong idea.
7...e6 can be met by 8 e4 (after 8 e3 b5! 9 xf6 gxf6 10 axb5 cxb5 11 xb5 axb5 12 xa8
b4+ 13 d2 (the dubious 13 e2?! gave Black the better chances in the game Van
Wely Topalov/Wijk aan Zee 2006, which continued 13...b7 14 a1 f5 15 e5 g8 16
f4 c6 17 f3 a5 18 f2 b3 with an annoying initiative) 13...b7 Black obtained
excellent play in the game Van den Doel Van der Wiel/Rotterdam 1999) 8...b5
The Botvinnik variation with inclusion of the moves a2a4 and ...a7a6 should be in
White's favour as the possibility to open the file for the rook on a1 is important.
After 9 e5 g5 10 xg5 hxg5 11 xg5 White's chances are preferable.

8 axb5 cxb5 9 xb5

A principled continuation.
9 e4 b7 is fine for Black.

9...axb5 10 xa8 b7

XIIIIIIIIY
9Rsn-wqkvl-tr0
9+l+-zppzp-0
9-+-+-sn-zp0
9+p+-+-+-0
9-+pzP-+-vL0
9+-+-+N+-0
9-zP-+PzPPzP0
9+-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
11 a7!?

52

11 a1 can be met strongly met by 11...e5! (the simple 11...e6!? is also not bad similar to
the game Van den Doel Van der Wiel/NEDch, Rotterdam 1999) and after 12 e3
(12 dxe5?! leads to problems: 12...b4+ 13 d2 d4! 14 exf6 xb2 15 fxg7 (in the
game Borwell O'Connor, EMail 2003 Black obtained a clear advantage after 15
c1 c3 16 xc3 xc3 17 fxg7 g8! (17...xd2+ 18 xd2 b1+ 19 d1 b4+= is only a
perpetual) 18 f3 (18 e4!? xg7 19 d3!? was probably the most stubborn defence)
18...xg7 19 e4 g6-+ with powerful play) 15...g8 16 f6 xf6 17 b1 a6 and
White faces serious problems since he is too late in development) 12...b4+ 13 e2
e4 14 d2 (or 14 e5 c6 15 xc6 xc6 16 c2 0-0) 14...0-0 Black gets excellent
compensation for the exchange.

11...b6 12 xb7
White prefers to give the exchange back to gain time for development.
12 a1 can be met by the same 12...e5!?

12...xb7 13 e3 e6
13...g5!? 14 g3 e6 comes into consideration as well

14 xf6 b4+ 15 e2 gxf6

XIIIIIIIIY
9-sn-+k+-tr0
9+q+-+p+-0
9-+-+pzp-zp0
9+p+-+-+-0
9-vlpzP-+-+0
9+-+-zPN+-0
9-zP-+KzPPzP0
9+-+Q+L+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
Black cannot be proud of his Kside pawn structure but, on the other hand, White cannot
be happy with his development the chances seem to be roughly equal, San
Segundo Luther/Bled (ol) 2002.

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