Table of Contents

Title page
Symbols
Bibliography
Explanation of visual aids
Foreword
Chapter 1 Study of openings
Section 2.1. Introduction
Section 2.2. Standard Tactics
Section 2.3. Typical Manoeuvres and Strategic Concepts
Section 2.4. The Origin of the Najdorf
Section 2.5. Fundamentals of the Scheveningen
Section 3.1. Background of the Najdorf
Section 3.2. Variation Overview of the Najdorf
a) Najdorf with 6.f4
1. Nunn-Cserna
2. Nunn-Grünfeld
3. Lutz-Svidler
4. Al Modiakhi-Anand
b) Fischer-Sozin Attack: 6.Bc4
5. Fischer-Gadia
6. Areschenko-Akbarinia
7. Morozevich-Kasparov
8. Anand-Ivanchuk
c) Main variation with 6.Bg5
9. Planinc-Najdorf
10. Velimirovic-Ljubojevic
11. Shirov-Anand
12. Karjakin-Vachier Lagrave
d) English Attack with 6.Be3 e5
13. Carlsen-So
14. Topalov-Wojtaszek
15. Dai-Jakovenko
16. Shirov-Giri
e) Opočenský Variation: 6.Be2 e5
17. Karpov-Nunn
18. Carlsen-Nakamura
19. Unzicker-Fischer
20. Mchedlishvili-Mamedyarov
f) Other lines (6.h3; 6.g3)
21. Giri-Grünfeld
22. Naiditsch-Carlsen
Section 4.1. Background of the Scheveningen
Section 4.2. Variation Overview of the Scheveningen
a) Scheveningen with 6.f4 (Tal)
b) Fischer/Sozin with 6.Bc4
c) Keres attack with 6.g4
d) English Attack with 6.Be3 e6
e) Classical System with Be2/Be3
Chapter 5 Exercises
Game Index
 Contents

Title page
Symbols
Bibliography
Explanation of visual aids
Foreword
Chapter 1 Study of openings
Chapter 2 Background of the Sicilian
Section 2.1. Introduction
Section 2.2. Standard Tactics
Section 2.3. Typical Manoeuvres and Strategic Concepts
Section 2.4. The Origin of the Najdorf
Section 2.5. Fundamentals of the Scheveningen
Chapter 3 Model Games with the Najdorf
Section 3.1. Background of the Najdorf
Section 3.2. Variation Overview of the Najdorf
a) Najdorf with 6.f4
b) Fischer-Sozin Attack: 6.Bc4
c) Main variation with 6.Bg5
d) English Attack with 6.Be3 e5
e) Opočenský Variation: 6.Be2 e5
f) Other lines (6.h3; 6.g3)
Chapter 4 Model Games with the Scheveningen
Section 4.1. Background of the Scheveningen
Section 4.2. Variation Overview of the Scheveningen
a) Scheveningen with 6.f4 (Tal)
b) Fischer/Sozin with 6.Bc4
c) Keres attack with 6.g4
d) English Attack with 6.Be3 e6
e) Classical System with Be2/Be3
Chapter 5 Exercises

Game Index
 Understanding before Moving 3

Sicilian Structures Part 1

Najdorf & Scheveningen

Herman Grooten

Thinkers Publishing 2019

www.thinkerspublishing.com

First edition 2019 by Thinkers Publishing

Copyright © 2019 Herman Grooten
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or
otherwise, without the prior written permission from the publisher.
All sales or enquiries should be directed to Thinkers Publishing, 9850 Landegem, Belgium.
Email: info@thinkerspublishing.com
Website: www.thinkerspublishing.com
Managing Editor: Herman Grooten
Assistant Editor: Daniel Fernandez
Software: Hub van de Laar
Graphic Artist: Philippe Tonnard
Cover Design: Mieke Mertens
Photo Cover: Ab Scheel
Photos: Jos Sutmuller, Frans Peeters and Harry Gielen
Production: BESTinGraphics
ISBN: 9789492510631
D/2019/13730/16
 Explanation of symbols

! strong move
? weak move
!! brilliant move
?? blunder
!? interesting move
?! dubious move
™ only move
= equal position
∞ unclear position
© compensation for lost material
² White is slightly better
³ Black is slightly better
± White has a clear advantage
µ Black has a clear advantage
+– White has a decisive advantage
–+ Black has a decisive advantage
‚ with an attack
ƒ with the initiative
„ with counterplay
… with the idea of...
¹ better is...
N novelty
# checkmate
+ check

Next to most diagrams you will find a small box. The colour of the box indicates which side is to
move in that position.
 Bibliography

Fundamental Chess Openings – Paul van der Sterren

Beating the Sicilian 3 – John Nunn
Winning with the Najdorf – Daniel King
Experts vs. the Sicilian – Jacob Aagaard & John Shaw
The Sicilian Scheveningen – Garry Kasparov & Alexander Nikitin
Sicilian: Najdorf – Michael Stean
Najdorf for the Tournament Player – John Nunn
The Complete Najdorf 6.Bg5 – John Nunn
The Najdorf Variation SICILIAN DEFENSE – Geller, Gligoric, Kavalek & Spassky
The Polugayevsky Variation – F.R. van der Vliet
Garry Kasparov on Chess Kasparov vs Karpov – Garry Kasparov
Megadatabase – Chessbase
 Explanation of visual aids

In this book we will regularly make use of various types of visual aids. As a chess coach I have
observed the impact that these can have on students’ understanding.
This means that my diagrams will feature arrows (to indicate the specific manoeuvres that one or
both sides would like to execute) as well as highlighted squares or pieces which are the ones
being targeted in a more general sense.

(clickable diagram)

Since this book – in contrast to the (Dutch-language) first volume – is not printed in colour, it
fell to our software developer Hub van de Laar to nevertheless find ways to illustrate the visual
aids in the book so that the positions can be understood at a glance. In the diagram above we can
immediately see what White threatens, as well as the weapons that are still in his arsenal. The
position comes from a great attacking game, Areschenko-Akbarinia, Kuala Lumpur 2002, in
which White had sacrificed a piece for great attacking prospects.
We will not be using letters to denote chess pieces (as these might not be familiar to non-native
English speakers) but rather the ‘figurine’ symbols, as follows:
Chess piece Letter Figurine
King K K
Queen Q Q
Rook R R
Bishop B B
Knight N N
Pawn – §
 Foreword are playing against lower-rated players with
Black sometimes find it difficult to create
enough winning chances there if White isn’t
After the first two volumes of the series had
so inclined. Hence many players play the
been produced (the first about Ruy Lopez and
Sicilian alongside their main choice:
Italian structures after 1.e4 e5, the second
sometimes a sharp fight is what is needed!
about Queen’s Gambit structures after 1.d4
d5), it was time for me to consider the third The second question I should answer first is
volume. Since the Sicilian is such a popular how the aforementioned Sicilian lines
opening among club players, the choice was (Najdorf and Scheveningen) , which have
virtually automatic and resulted in the book been in the repertoires of practically all world
you now hold. It was, however, clear from champions, could be meaningfully presented
early on that such a nuanced and wide- for the club-player audience. This is done
ranging opening could never fit in a single according to the concept of this series:
volume. That is why the series will continue facilitating an understanding of the typical
with more Sicilian books after this one. As manoeuvres and common strategic or tactical
my former teacher, the late Huub van concepts of the opening. These will be
Dongen, once said: “There is more literature presented in a structured way using annotated
about the Najdorf variation alone than about games in the different lines in the Najdorf and
the Middle Ages!” And, you know, maybe Scheveningen. Each line (essentially, each
he’s right. The complexities of the Sicilian are White 6th move in the two variations) gets an
such that it is quite the job to explain them in extensive intro and a selection of entire
the style I established with the first two games. This is a conscious decision:
volumes on more classical openings. Each experience shows that players who have
Sicilian variation has quite specific entire games in mind (including even the deep
characteristics and deserves separate endgame) have a better idea of how to gain
treatment. But in placing the systems in books opening advantages and – having got them –
I tried to group together those that are most how they can be converted into victories.
similar to each other. Hence, the Dragon does Remember what I said about the Sicilian not
not go with the Sveshnikov; in the present fitting in one book? Well, if I were to be
book you will find the Najdorf and exhaustive about it, neither would the
Scheveningen variations, which are altogether Najdorf. My chess library has two books –
more similar to each other and even have one of which is thick – about the Polugaevsky
some overlap. But before we go any further variation of the Najdorf. I played this a fair bit
we should unpack a small question: why play when I was around 20 years old: the variation
any Sicilian at all? tree is dense and extremely hard to memorise,
yet memorise it you must since strategy plays
As covered in the 1st volume of a limited role here.
Understanding Before Moving, there is There is also the famous Poisoned Pawn
nothing wrong with 1.e4 e5. This is still the variation, popularised by Fischer and never
case today. But it seems strong players who refuted. It leads to positions which are no less
insane, and the theoretical verdict is still Poisoned Pawn variation
pending. I think if I were to include both of
these lines and try and do them justice, my
publisher would justifiably express concern
about the page-count. Instead, I will just 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6
explain here what I mean when I refer to 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qb6
them, and then move on:

Polugaevsky variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6

5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 b5

Position after: 7...Qb6

8.Qd2 Qxb2 9.Rb1 Qa3

Position after: 7...b5

8.e5 dxe5 9.fxe5 Qc7 10.exf6 Qe5+ 11.Be2

Qxg5

Position after: 9...Qa3

The Poisoned Pawn is just like the

Polugaevsky in that nowadays, a player could
learn as much about it as desired with
computer analysis and memorisation. A top
player like Vachier Lagrave, who plays it
frequently, has done a lot of both. He
Position after: 11...Qxg5
discovered that the insertion of 7...h6 8.Bh4 seventies) I went to study Information
before 8...Qb6 is clever, for instance. Technology in Eindhoven, I soon discovered
But I am writing for an audience that, by and that there were two other chess players on the
large, is not interested in chess as a memory same course. They were Johan van Mil and
contest. So I’m not going to offer you lots of Peter Boll. The latter played correspondence
novelties and dense variation trees. On the chess and he mainly did that to iron out the
contrary. The approach is to take the reader wrinkles in his opening repertoire. He asked
into the seemingly impenetrable labyrinth of us if we would like to regularly come to his
variations without flinching, but then to base house for tea to analyse openings. We did so;
my comments on plans and concepts instead the ‘tradition’ eventually expanded to last one
of computer analysis. (This means that verbal whole afternoon a week and although the tea
comments dominate.) The examples need to was usually quickly replaced by bottled beer,
be clear enough and leave enough impression we tried to look together at some variations
on your mind that, no matter how complicated that we all played. There was a booklet called
the game becomes, you can adapt that which The Polugaevsky Variation (F.R. van der
you have already learned to the new situation. Vliet) in which we came across a completely
Even with this hyper-sharp opening, the ridiculous idea. One ancillary diagram, deep
understanding of strategic basics is of in a variation, was the one shown above.
tremendous importance. Supported by these, White has just answered black’s ...h7-h6 with
you stand a better chance of navigating the the insane Ng5-h7!?!?
variation tree. Of course some variations will
be indispensable, but I will try and use them
to illustrate my point, rather than them being
the point. The better your insight into the
position, the less dependent you become on
specific move-sequences anyway.
I have something else to say about the
Polugaevsky variation, which is an anecdote
that previously was not very well known.
When, in the distant past (actually, the late
FM Fred van der Vliet (left) playing against looked neat with his jacket and tie, although
Professor and computer expert Jaap van den sometimes he would not behave so well. He
Herik was also a formidable fast-chess player who
Before we go further, it is necessary to won many a tournament. In between the
introduce the author of this booklet to you. rounds he would often set up a position from
Fred van der Vliet, from The Hague and a the Polugaevsky variation and then showed
lawyer by profession, was a strong player in interested people some of his analysis, which
the seventies and eighties. He didn’t play he tried to test for accuracy. It is hard to
much, but mostly in the club competition, imagine now, but at that time there were no
where he played for many years in a row for (strong) chess programs, so chess players had
the professional team Volmac / Rotterdam, to rely on their own analysis skills. Van der
and usually achieved high scores. Also, being Vliet had a style that he once called “pull and
a strong master-class player, he qualified punch”, and a repertoire to match. With White
many times in a row for the Dutch he liked to play 1.Nf3 or 1.d4 and proceed
championships. At that time, if you had a slowly, in measured positional fashion.
rating above 2400, you were among the top However, with Black he played the exact
20 in our country. He never became an IM but opposite way. “You have to do something to
as a lawyer he would always nevertheless compensate for the tempo that you are
have ‘letters’ before his name! He always behind,” he used to tell me. That is why he
had, among other things, the Polugaevsky
variation in his repertoire. And that resulted in
a small but very detailed booklet, in which
Van der Vliet proved to be able to analyze
very well. He once told me he had offered the
book to Polugaevsky himself, who later said
that he was impressed by his analysis. We
return to the diagram. This arises as follows:

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6

Position after: 17...h5
5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 b5 8.e5 dxe5 9.fxe5
Qc7 10.exf6 Qe5+ 11.Be2 Qxg5 12.Qd3 whereupon Tal continued with the rook
Qxf6 13.Rf1 Qe5 14.Rd1 Ra7 15.Nf3 Qc7 sacrifice 18.Rxf5!? After 18...exf5 19.Nd5
16.Ng5 f5 Qd7 the game eventually ended in a draw.
One of my analysis partners made the
prescient remark that normally in a position
where Black plays ...f5 and ...h5, White then
tries to get a knight to g5. In this position, the
knight goes to g5 first and then Black plays
...f7-f5 and ...h7-h5. A complete reversal of
normality!

17...Be7

As a note in this position, Van der Vliet gives

17...h6!? and now 18.gxf5 exf5 and so on. As
Position after: 16...f5
an alternative, he suggested (you guessed it)
17.g4 18.Nh7.
He didn’t offer any comment on the move.
This move is no longer played in practice but But surely, such an insane move demands an
Fred van der Vliet analysed it. It looks logical explanation! I remember well that one of us,
because white puts pressure on the f5-pawn. referring to the book, played out this move on
Meanwhile, Tal played (in the fourth game of the board in front of us. And that the three of
his 1980 match against Polugaevsky) the us looked speechlessly at the board for about
interesting 17.Qd4!? threatening Bh5+. Black one minute and then – no doubt partly under
has nothing better than the weakening move the influence of the beer – burst into an
17...h5, uncontrollable shower of laughter that must
have lasted more than 10 minutes. When we
also made the following moves: 18...Rxh7
19.gxf5 and saw that White is actually
winning here, we stopped laughing: Fred had In addition, I greatly appreciate the
not only been serious, but also correct. In my contribution made to this work by Daniel
copy of the book I added a comment Vanheirzeele, who took on the thankless task
‘hahahaha’ in pencil in the margin. of proofreading. I also thank Jos Sutmuller,
This anecdote shows how absurd these types Frans Peeters and Harry Gielen for making
of variations within the Polugaevsky can get. their photos available. We wish the reader
That’s why I stopped playing it. The same can every pleasure in working through this third
be said of the “Poisoned Pawn”, as book of this series.
mentioned. It is also very hard to understand IM Herman Grooten, November 2019.
for an outsider, and I decided to let that one
slide without any comments at all.
It is always proper to give acknowledgement
to the people whose support has helped with
your work. I would like to thank the English
grandmaster Daniel Fernandez for his work
on this book. He was involved in the English
translation; and also, being a connoisseur of
the Sicilian himself he was able to give useful
advice on a number of points.
 Chapter 1 It is clear (and unsurprising) that studying
Study of Openings openings is a major hobby for many club
players. With the current state of technology,
almost all your opponents will have a large
number of games available – mere clicks
§ 1.1 Introduction
away on free online databases. Within
Wilhelm Steinitz minutes you can get an idea of what openings
you might be seeing the next day. ‘Prep’ also
happens between events; many players enjoy
looking through variations (with a book and
laptop, naturally) after the main part of their
day is over, as befits a true hobbyist. Such
post-dinner analysis sessions inevitably end
all too soon; time will tell just how much the
players recall in their next competitive game.
Aside from questions of memory, of course,
one must also ask: How comprehensive was
the preparation? What happens when the
opponent uncorks a surprise?
I have given quite a few chess courses for
adults. And they always asked me some
variant of the following question: “What do I
Almost every self-respecting chess player do when my preparation is over?” To answer
nowadays uses an enormous range of them, I needed to see sets of their games; so I
information. Opening books have traditionally asked for these to better understand what they
been very popular, but software and videos were going through. When replaying the
are now beyond the scope of the word games, I noticed that – despite a good basic
‘ubiquitous’, and we should use ‘universal’ knowledge – they indeed had significant
instead. After I was handed a crushing trouble at the moment when theory ended (or
opening defeat in a Sicilian-themed rapid possibly the opponent deviated.) They were
tournament this year, my opponent (who had left to improvise for themselves and
played almost everything à tempo) asked me: sometimes that didn’t go so well.
«don’t you watch chess videos?» Never mind
The middlegames would then become so
that I hardly had the time to keep up with
scrappy that my students lost the thread.
cutting-edge theory in one line, let alone to
Which, of course, was understandable if they
spend 12 hours a week watching every new
had never been shown the ‘thread’ to begin
video produced in every opening that might
with. So I started to focus on that in training.
come up! It surprised him, clearly, that I
How could we work to increase the cohesion
hadn’t known the merits of the crazy system
between successive moves they made in
which he had played against me; but even
unfamiliar situations?
more so that I had not seen that video...!
Grandmasters know, as few others do, how to a great way of improving a player’s insight;
design a plan. In looking into how they do especially annotated ones. The ones you will
this, the first stage in our search should be the find here have text annotations as well as
first world champion, Wilhelm Steinitz, who variations, which I think beats pure variation-
listed out the basics of chess strategy and based annotation. (Learning the theory itself,
made the first attempt at a systematic method while I do give some, is almost incidental,
of chess pedagogy. The essence of Steinitz’s which is the way it should be; two birds with
method is that all plans arise from the pawn one stone.) My aim is that you understand the
structure. “The pawn structure is the skeleton opening. That’s why I called the series
of the position. Everything else hangs on that ‘Understanding before Moving’.
skeleton”, said the patriarch.
The pawn structure, for starters, determines § 1.2 How to Study Openings
where the pieces can or cannot go. Steinitz Properly
showed that plans (for both sides) follow
In the course of my coaching, it has become
almost ‘by force’. And we don’t have to do
clear to me that for people to study openings
the work of deriving plans! We shortcut the in a responsible and objective way, the link
procedure by looking at games by strong had to be made between ‘rarefied’
players, who often know with high precision grandmaster practice, and their own
where their pieces should go: we can observe experience. With the help of modern
their plans, then adapt them slightly to the databases and software, every club player can
needs of our own positions. This all raises enter their own games and subject them to
close, computer-aided scrutiny with an
some questions:
engine. As part of the same process, the
• Where do we want to place our pawns in the player should look for other games which
opening? went a similar way but featuring a much
stronger player than themselves. Good
• Can we construct a plan here using one from
examples may sometimes feature a class
a completely different opening? disparity between the two players, so that the
• How does a top player distil the right plan plans and concepts can be shown in their full
from the position’s characteristics? glory. If the game also came with annotations
– perfect. It can then be added to a special
• Which pieces would we like to trade, and database on the player’s computer, created
which would we rather not trade? just to store everything to do with that
• How can we set up an attack? particular variation.
Now for some details on the procedure of
• How do we cross the opponent’s plans?
how to use these grandmaster games. I take
Having these questions in the back of your the 6.Be2 Najdorf as my example in what
mind will help keep your opening study ‘on follows.
track’, i.e. informed by the bigger picture. First, enter the moves to reach this position
This series is all about the bigger picture: why from the initial one, then save it in a new
is the theory is the way it is? Famous database, with the game name ‘6.Be2
Ukrainian GM and coach Adrian introduction.’ Second, using the ‘reference’
Mikhalchishin once said that model games are tab, bring up the list of games that have
reached the position. Third, search by “Elo B” in with “vCS”, we know that ChessBase
to get those games played by the ‘big boys’ premium members are able to view analysis
with Black. We see the name Magnus Carlsen of the Carlsen game.
right at the top. Since the VCS field is filled

he gets outclassed by a player of even greater

calibre, who manages to show the ideas Black
Screenshot from ChessBase Online Database has in this structure with outstanding clarity.
We can click on this game, view the To recap the selection and use of such games:
annotations, and add it to our database. A club • First determine your starting position.
player would learn most if the game were Which pawn-structure do you want to know
presented with clear verbal explanation and about? Pick a tabiya (typical and commonly
not too many lines. In this case, the reached opening position, with diverging
annotations were made by Indian IM (and onward options) with which to begin. Find a
prolific annotator) Sagar Shah, who is good at game between a top grandmaster and a
these strategic explanations. relatively weak (say, 150 points lower)
Note that we could hardly call the White opponent.
player in this game ‘weak’, yet in this game
Screenshot from ChessBase of the game not improve our understanding; rather, this
Duda-Carlsen would come from verbal explanations by the
authors.
• The games must clearly demonstrate the
strategic themes of the opening. • Be critical of the content: sometimes a
strong engine is used without the author also
• The games must be annotated, preferably in applying their own brain. Superficiality and
your first language. Where a symbol like ± or mistakes often result.
© is used, it should be explained. There
should be a narrative element and this should • Some books are unsuitable. Similarly to
be dominated by words, and not variations. above, the authors can be superficial or,
worse, have an agenda. For opening manuals,
• Analyse the game yourself based on the choose the ones with a lot of text, and
notes by the existing annotator. You should preferably ‘game-based’ instead of ‘tree-
verbalise that which you have learned from based’.
the game. Having written down your
newfound insights, you will be more likely to • Lots of analysis is available in other
remember them should there arise an languages; it is okay to use this material, but
appropriate occasion in a real game. only if you have mastered the language; else,
confusion can result. It would be better, in
§ 1.3 Pitfalls this case, to annotate the game yourself, in
your own language.
Students of chess, even with all the zeal in the • In modern times, many chess videos can
world, sometimes lose their way while trying also be found online. A lot of content is
to follow a procedure like the one I gave available on chessbase.com, chess.com,
above. So I have identified the common chess24.com and YouTube.
mistakes people make, and outline some • With modern chess programs, you can
simple steps to avoid them: create diagrams with arrows (as in this book!)
• As indicated above, it is wise to avoid which accentuate the point you want to make.
analysis from (for example) Informator, Many players already use this feature well!
which uses only symbols. The ², © or „ do
 Chapter 2
Background of the Sicilian

§ 2.1 Introduction
Many chess players study openings by rote memorisation. Of these, some lucky ones also have a
good enough memory for this study to actually be enjoyable. Unfortunately, there are also a
number of players who (in spite of the numerous good theoretical manuals which do exist out
there) would not obtain any particularly remarkable result by investing hours in such work. For
this demographic, it is necessary to work in a different way: a conceptual or plan-based
approach. In my experience, when substantially lower-rated players read a tree-type book (with
variation codes such as A2241 in each chapter) by a grandmaster or international master, they are
often puzzled by the evaluation symbols given in it, such as ±.
Rather than expect my readers to work out from such sparse details how they should play a given
position (or what they should look out for) I will take the opposite approach. We will start from
strategic considerations in each chapter, explaining how the plans of the two sides play off each
other in a given scenario. When I give a variation, you may expect there to be a good reason.
However, in order to be able to do that without pulling the wool over your eyes (for the Sicilian
is, in fact, a rather tactical opening) I have included the present chapter, so that you can
understand the stereotypical tactics that may arise in the Sicilian for both sides and be aware of
them while reading the remainder of the book. Remember, in the Sicilian you generally can’t
afford to miss a trick; do so and you may find yourself lost.
At the end of this chapter there are two historical sections: the first on the development of the
Najdorf variation and its genesis in the ideas of Boleslavsky; the second being a short
introduction to the Scheveningen variation.
Miguel Najdorf, the man who played an important role in developing the Najdorf Variation
 § 2.2 Standard Tactics mind now; but see the game Welling –
Grooten for my notes to one such encounter.
IM Gerard Welling (photo Jos Sutmuller)

Welling, Gerard
Grooten, Herman
NB U-20 ch. 1976

When
studying an opening, it is essential to take
note of stereotypical tactical themes and
strategic manoeuvres permitted by the
Position after: 14...Nh5
particular structure. If one is not aware of
these tactical themes, you will sometimes find This position was reached against my then-
yourself being surprised, with occasionally teammate and current near-neighbour, IM
painful consequences. And the reverse is also Gerard Welling. The game was played in a
true: you might end up letting a major youth championship in our province. As a
winning chance slip if you don’t know what teenager, I was not exactly a strong chess
to look for. Of course, what I am about to player and certainly did not have a good
explain doesn’t diminish the importance of opening repertoire, while my opponent was
standard chess tactics – pins, skewers and the already known as a dangerous tactician, who
like – which occur in every opening, (just like Anand) played almost every move à
including the Sicilian. Rather, I am going to tempo. My then ‘trainer’ (a childhood friend
show some tactics which are specific to the of two years older who attended my school
Sicilian, to expand your tactical armoury. and also played chess!) had recommended the
This is a process which must happen sooner Najdorf, but beyond some painfully-vague
or later, and I personally would have chosen ideas I actually didn’t know what I was doing.
to learn my lessons from a book rather than The order of the opening moves that I made
through painful defeats. I shall, however, not was not correct, and here I was hit with the
begrudge you the privilege of learning from thunderbolt:
my mistakes. There were a few times in my
early years when, following sacrifices that I 15.Nxe6!
didn’t know to expect at the time, I suffered
This is a standard sacrifice that has already
crushing defeats that I’d rather not recall to
claimed many victims. On this ‘altar’ White
often sacrifices a bishop, knight or even a • Nxe6!
rook for the greater good. The piece usually • Bxb5! (or Nxb5!)
lands with great force; the foundation of • Bxg7!
Black’s position begins to tremble and give • g5-g6!
way; and the king will not be leaving the • Bd5! and Nf5!
centre any time soon. On this occasion my For Black:
queen is also hanging; things could hardly be
• ...Nxe4!
worse.
• ...Rxc3!
15...fxe6 16.Bg6+ • ...d6-d5!
There are countless examples available for
Now with modern engines we can establish each theme, of course. I limited myself in
that 16.Qg6+ was even stronger: 16...Kd8 these pages to one or two examples for each,
17.exd6 Bxd6 18.Rxe6 and Black is definitely which I have annotated (of course!) To me, it
not emerging in one piece. is of the highest importance that the games
from which one derives instruction be
16...Kd7 17.Bxh5 d5 18.Bg4
annotated.
A good idea: the pawn on e6 needs to be
placed under fire. 18.Bf7! would have left
Black with even fewer resources. THEMENxe6! or Ne6!

Depasquale, Chris (2280)

18...Bb4 19.Bxe6+
Johansen, Darryl Keith (2465)
19.Nxd5 Bxd5 20.Rxd5+ would have put an Melbourne 1991
immediate stop to all resistance.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6
19...Kxe6 20.Qg6+ Kd7 21.Qxg7+ Kc6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bc4 a6 7.Be3 Qc7 8.Bb3 Na5
22.Qf6+ Kc5 23.e6 Bxc3 24.Qxc3+ Kb6 9.0-0 b5 10.f4 b4?
25.Qd4+ Qc5 26.f5 Rhf8 27.e7 Rxf5
28.e8=Q Rxe8 29.Rxe8 Qxd4 30.Rxd4 Kc5 Much too risky. This was a good moment for
31.Rh4 h5 32.Kd2 d4 33.g4 hxg4 34.Rxg4 Black to eliminate the potentially bothersome
Rf2+ 35.Re2 Rf1 36.h4 Bf3 37.Rg5+ Kc4 bishop on b3. Perhaps Black feared the
38.a3 Bd5 39.b3+ Kc5 40.Ree5 1-0 opening of the c-file: 10...Nxb3 11.cxb3!?
[After 11.axb3 b4 12.Na4 Nf6 Black has a
I hope you are now convinced of the satisfactory position.]
importance of knowing the stereotypical
tactics for both sides in the opening. The 11.Ba4+!
absolutely critical ones – for a club player
The bishop comes to life.
intending to take up the Sicilian and play it
confidently – are as follows. 11...Bd7
For White:
 13.Nd5

The knight appears on its ideal square.

13...Qb7 14.Bxd7+ Qxd7

Position after: 11...Bd7

12.f5!!

With this precise move White forces the

opponent to compromise his pawn structure.
Position after: 14...Qxd7
12...e5
15.Ne6!!
Black can’t accept the piece sacrifice.
12...bxc3 13.fxe6 Bxa4 [Of course 13...fxe6 With this move, White manages to overcome
would lose to 14.Nxe6 with a double attack the resistance of the (then) second-ranked
on f8 and c7.] 14.exf7+ Ke7 Australian player.

15...Rb8

The justification of the knight sacrifice is as

follows: 15...fxe6 16.fxe6 Qb7

Position after: 14...Ke7

Now White has a cute intermezzo: [14...Qxf7

15.Rxf7 Kxf7 16.Qh5+ is no better.]
15.fxg8=N+! (an underpromotion in the
Position after: 16...Qb7
opening!) and now Black loses by force. For
instance, 15...Rxg8 16.Qh5 Kd7 17.Qf7+ Be7 [16...Qxe6 doesn’t just lose the queen, but
18.Qe6+ and Black loses too much material. after 17.Nc7+ Kd7 18.Nxe6 Kxe6 White also
has 19.Qd5+ winning further material.] Chiburdanidze, Maia (2400)
17.Qh5+! The most active and accurate Tukmakov, Vladimir B (2560)
continuation. [17.Rf7 was also strong.] 17...g6 Tashkent 1980
18.Rxf8+!! Kxf8 19.Rf1+ Kg7 20.Qf3 Now
the threat 21.Qf7+ Qxf7 22.Rxf7# can’t be 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6
prevented. The only logical attempt 20...Nh6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qc7 8.Qf3 b5 9.0-0-0
runs into 21.Qf6+ Kg8 22.Bxh6. b4 10.e5 Bb7 11.Qh3 dxe5 12.fxe5 Qxe5
13.Bxf6 Qxf6?!
16.Ndc7+ Ke7 17.Bg5+ f6

After 17...Nf6 18.Bxf6+ gxf6 Black would

lose a queen because of 19.Nd5+! Ke8
20.Nxf6+

18.Nd5+

Position after: 13...Qxf6?!

13...gxf6! was necessary, and good for Black.

14.Ncb5!? Bc5?

Position after: 18.Nd5+

Both White knights now occupy their far-

advanced outposts ‘forever’. White should
have little difficulty in winning from here.
Black resigned here.
I should fill in some details to explain the
conclusion of the game. 18.Nd5+ Kf7
[18...Ke8 19.Qh5+ g6 20.fxg6 Qxe6 21.g7+
Kd7 22.gxh8=Q is over] 19.Qh5+ g6
Position after: 14...Bc5?
20.fxg6+! Kxe6 [20...hxg6 21.Qxh8 Qxe6
22.Bxf6] 21.Qh3+ and Black gets mated. 1-0 Black had to accept the piece. But perhaps he
felt that White would have obtained a
significant advantage with ease, and decided
THEMEBxb5! or Nxb5!
not to do this. 14...axb5 15.Bxb5+ Nc6
16.Rhf1! [Not 16.Nxc6?? Qg5+ 17.Kb1 Clearly, 19...Bxa8 loses to 20.Qc8+.
Qxb5–+; Also not 16.Bxc6+? Bxc6 17.Nxc6
because 17...Qf4+! 18.Kb1 Qc4 would be 20.Kb1 Qb8
winning for Black!] 16...Qg5+ 17.Kb1 White
If Black had time to take the knight on a8
has a lot of threats here.
without giving anything in return, he would
15.Nxe6! be in great shape. But that isn’t the case here.

This sacrifice has been in the air for a while 21.Rhf1

and now is the best moment for it: when
Black is about to castle and the lines need to
be blasted open with some urgency.

15...axb5

After 15...fxe6 16.Qh5+ g6 17.Qxc5 White

would have won back her piece and retained a
very strong attack. It is important to note that
17...axb5 doesn’t work because after
18.Bxb5+ Kf7 19.Qc7+ Black can resign.

16.Bxb5+ Nc6 Position after: 21.Rhf1

21...Be7

A) 21...Qxa8 22.Qf5 wins a bishop due to the

double threat: f7 and c5.
B) After 21...f6 22.Qe6 Qxa8

Position after: 16...Nc6

17.Bxc6+

Even stronger was 17.Nc7+! Kf8 18.Rhf1

Qh6+ [18...Qg6 19.Nxa8 Bxa8 20.Qc8++–]
Position after: 22...Qxa8
19.Qxh6 gxh6 20.Ne6+ Kg8 21.Nxc5 ,
winning. White can unleash a terrible attack on the
enemy king. 23.Rxf6+! gxf6 24.Qxf6+ Kg8
17...Bxc6 18.Nc7+ Kf8 19.Nxa8 Qf4+
25.Qg5+ Kf7 26.Qf5+ Kg7 27.Qe5+ Kg6 In 22.Qe6!
case of ...Kg8, White would have won the
required tempo, and so can take on c5 and Now Black resigned.
then begin attacking anew. 28.Rd3! Black is After 22.Qe6! Be8 23.Nb6 the knight
nevertheless not able to avoid losing. For escapes, and Black stands passively;
instance: 28...Qd8 29.Qe6+ Kg7 30.Qg4+ furthermore, there are worrying threats such
Kf7 31.Rxd8 Rxd8 32.Qf5+ Ke8 33.Qh5+ as Nd7+.
and White wins the bishop on c5 in such a 1-0
way that ...Rd1 is not permitted.

Vladimir Tukmakov in Wijk aan Zee on the

right, approaching for a move (photo Frans 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6
Peeters) 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.f4 a6 7.Be3 b5 8.Bd3 Bb7
9.Qe2 Nxd4 10.Bxd4 Ne7 11.Qf2 Nc6
12.Bb6 Qb8 13.0-0-0 Be7 14.Rhe1 0-0
THEMEBxg7! 15.Re3 Rc8 16.Rh3 Nb4 17.Bd4 Qc7

Badmatsyrenov, Oleg (2386)

Bocharov, Dmitry (2606)
Tomsk 2009
 23...Qf5

Black has managed to steer the game into a

materially more-or-less-equal ending.
Nevertheless, this ending is bereft of any
chances for him.

24.Qxf5 exf5 25.fxe7

White has a pawn more and his pieces are

much better placed.
Position after: 17...Qc7
25...Re8
18.Bxg7! Kxg7 19.Qg3+ Kh8
25...Bc6 26.Nd5 Re8 27.Nc7 doesn’t give
The attempt to flee to the centre would be relief either.
short-lived: 19...Kf8 20.Rxh7 Bf6 21.e5! and
26.Rxd7 Bxg2 27.Rhd3
Black loses as well.
The pawn on e7 is a monster. White
20.e5 Nxd3+ 21.Qxd3 f5
converted in a few more moves and without
Things look hopeless for Black, but with this any real problems.
finesse he is able to bring his queen into the 1-0
defence and prolong the game.

22.exf6 THEMEg5-g6!

Anand, Viswanathan (2779)

Van Wely, Loek (2683)
Monte Carlo 2007

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6

5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.Qd2 Be7
9.f3 0-0 10.0-0-0 Nbd7 11.g4 b5 12.Rg1 Nb6
13.Na5 Qc7 14.g5 Nfd7 15.Nd5 Bxd5
16.exd5 Nxd5 17.Qxd5 Qxa5 18.Bd3 Qc7

Position after: 22.exf6

22...Qxf4+ 23.Rd2

23.Kb1.
 In many Sicilian positions, this breakthrough
is the right way to open lines against the
Black king. White needs these open lines in
order to set Black a difficult defensive task.

19...Nf6?

Often, in such a situation, the defender

blunders immediately. Such is the case here:
Black makes a very natural reply (trying to
involve the d7-knight in the defensive effort)
Position after: 18...Qc7 but overlooks some of the latent tactical
possibilities in the position.
Viswanathan Anand (photo Jos Sutmuller)
A) Since the a8-rook is hanging in so many
variations, 19...Rac8 is a possibility. It fails,
however, to 20.Bf5! Nf6 21.gxf7+ Rxf7
22.Qb3 and with the double threat of Be6 and
Bxc8 White wins an exchange.
B) 19...hxg6 20.Bxg6 gives White what he
wants most: an open g-file.

20.gxf7+ Kh8

White has sacrificed a pawn for supremacy

over the light squares. The d5-square is his for
the foreseeable future and his pieces are Position after: 20...Kh8
pointed towards the Black king. The question
is, as always: how can he cash in on all this Presumably Van Wely thought White would
before Black begins unravelling? Anand has a now have to move his queen, and that one
crisp answer. way or another he would pick up the f7-pawn.
But there was a surprise awaiting him.
19.g6! 20...Rxf7? didn’t work of course: 21.Qxa8+
21.Rxg7! The last roll of the dice.

Nicely seen. 25.Qxa8+

21...Kxg7 And Black resigned.

What a waste it would have been to play
The queen is protected by the tactic 21...Nxd5
25.Qxf7?? Bg5+ 26.Rxg5 Qxf7 and Black
22.Rxh7#.
wins instead!
22.Rg1+ Kh8 1-0

THEMEBd5! and Nd5!

Tal, Mihail (2625)

Mukhin, Mikhail A (2420)
DDR ch 1972

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6

5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bb3 b5 8.0-0 Bb7 9.Re1
Nbd7 10.Bg5 Nc5

Position after: 22...Kh8

23.Bh6!

Once more offering the queen! This strong

move effectively ends the game. There isn’t a
reply that makes Anand do much more work
at all.

23...Ng4

A) 23...Nxd5 24.Bg7#
Position after: 10...Nc5
B) 23...Rxf7 24.Qxf7
C) 23...Nh5 24.Bxf8 Rxf8 25.Rg8+ Rxg8 11.Bd5!
26.fxg8=R#
The d5-square now works as a launching-pad
D) 23...Rg8 24.fxg8=Q+ Rxg8 25.Qxg8+! for White’s pieces. With this strong move,
Nxg8 26.Bg7# is particularly pretty, although White obtains an initiative.
decidedly not the only way to win.
11...b4?
24.Rxg4 Rxf7
Practically losing by force.
A) The piece sacrifice can’t really be taken. The second sacrifice on this square! This one
Let’s see: 11...exd5 12.exd5+ Kd7 [12...Be7 pretty much has to be taken, otherwise the
13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.Nf5 sees White take back his knight becomes very strong indeed.
piece with a punitive rate of interest.] 13.b4!
The right way to continue with the attack. At 13...exd5
this precise moment, the knight can’t retreat
Now 13...Be7?? would lose to 14.Nc6 and
to d7, and White makes use of this fact.
things would only get worse after the natural
13...Na4 14.Nxa4 bxa4 15.c4 This is an
13...Rc8 14.Qf3 Be7 15.Nxe7 Qxe7: just as it
automatic and fitting continuation of the
looks as if Black has contained the fires, there
sacrificial attack, protecting the d5-pawn and
comes 16.Nf5! with crushing effect. Black
threatening Qxa4+. 15...Kc7 16.Qxa4 Black
will lose major material here.
is in a grim situation indeed: none of his
pieces is especially active, and White has two 14.exd5+ Kd7
healthy pawns for the piece he sacrificed.
[The engine’s 16.Rc1!? might be even Once more 14...Be7 would give back the
stronger.] 16...Qd7 17.Qa5+ Kc8 [Or piece because of 15.Nf5, possibly preceded
17...Kb8 18.Bxf6 gxf6 19.Qb6 and here by an exchange on f6.
White has two threats: the immediate Nc6+,
and the slower but practically unstoppable 15.c3!
doubling on the e-file.] 18.Rac1 White
prepares the thrust c4-c5, after which his The purpose of this pawn move is clear:
attack will crash through. threatening Qa4+ and trying to force the c-file
open. Other interesting moves are 15.Nc6!?
B) Perhaps the least of all evils is 11...Be7 but and 15.c4.
after 12.Bxb7 Nxb7 13.Nc6
White also has quite a handy advantage. 15...b3

12.Bxb7 Nxb7

Position after: 15...b3

Position after: 12...Nxb7 Black tries to keep as many files and

diagonals closed as possible, but it doesn’t
13.Nd5! help for long.
The game Areshchenko – Akbarinia, 2002, 19.Bxf6 gxf6
which continued with 15...Qa5 , will be the
subject of further discussion later in this book.

16.Qxb3

Perhaps this isn’t the most accurate

continuation, but the win is not in any real
danger.
16.Nc6 also deserved consideration. After
16...Qb6 17.Bxf6 gxf6 18.Re4 White’s attack
goes like clockwork. Also possible is 16.axb3.

16...Nc5 17.Qc4 Position after: 19...gxf6

20.Re3!

A great move by Tal. He prepares to double

on the e-file and give mate on e7, simple as
that! Chasing the knight around with 20.b4
Na4 doesn’t immediately lead to anything
concrete.

20...Kc7 21.b4

Of course this comes now.

Position after: 17.Qc4 21...Rg8
Even now Black is clearly in for a tough time. 21...Na4 22.Ne7+ wins the queen.
17...Qc8 18.Nc6 h6 22.bxc5
This move does not inspire confidence. White has equalised the material situation
A) Of course he had to consider 18...Nxd5. without lessening the force of his attack. So
White would continue now with 19.Nb4! Black resigned.
Nxb4 20.Qxf7+ Kc6 21.cxb4 winning back 1-0
the piece with some interest.
B) After 18...Kc7 White would play 19.b4.
Mikhail Tal, the magician of Riga (photo Jos
Sutmuller)

THEMENf5!

Anand, Viswanathan (2515)

Ye, Jiangchuan (2505)
Asia 1989

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6

5.Nc3 e6 6.g4 h6 7.Rg1 Nc6 8.h4 h5 9.gxh5 Position after: 16...Bxf6
Nxh5 10.Bg5 Nf6 11.Be2 a6 12.h5 Bd7
13.Qd2 Be7 14.0-0-0 Qc7 15.h6 gxh6 This is an important moment in the game.
16.Bxf6 Bxf6 Black has obtained the bishop-pair and
therefore looks to be better. However, for one
more move, his king is stuck in the centre.
This is often the cue for a sacrificial attempt
and it turns out Anand has seen one such idea
here, based on a hidden tactic.

17.Nf5!
Beautiful and compelling. Keeping the Black king in the middle.

17...Be7 18...Kxe7?!

So what is this hidden idea? What if Black After 18...Nxe7!? White’s best continuation is
simply takes the offered knight? Well, 19.Bh5! keeping up the crippling pressure on
17...exf5 first of all removes Black’s the opponent’s position. [Instead, simply
protection of the d5-square, so the other taking back the pawn with 19.Qxd6?! Qxd6
knight can jump in with tempo. So White 20.Rxd6 h5 would just lead to equality.]
plays the logical 18.Nd5 Qd8
19.Rg3 b5

Position after: 18...Qd8

Position after: 19...b5
and now Anand had undoubtedly prepared the
shocking 19.Qxh6! which is both elegant and After 19...Rag8 20.Rd3 would be intolerable
functional. White makes use of the weakness for Black.
of Black’s back rank – this is the reason why
the queen can’t be taken – and threatens 20.Qf4!
Nxf6+ as well as (mainly) Qxh8+! Against
these two ideas there is no defence. Black Looking to stir up trouble from the h4-square.
can’t bring his king to safety with 17...0-0-0? 20.Rd3 Rad8 21.Rxd6 Bc8 seems playable for
since he would then lose not merely two Black, although he is not out of the woods
pawns but also an exchange, following yet.
18.Nxd6+ Kb8 19.Nxf7. Also 17...Bxc3? is
20...Rad8
not an adequate defence because White keeps
his strong knight on d6: 18.Nxd6+ Ke7 Black’s problems were already significant.
19.Qxc3 and White is winning. Black’s best
try was 17...Kf8! but White still has a
substantial advantage after 18.Nxh6 Nd4
19.Kb1.

18.Nxe7
Position after: 20...Rad8
Position after: 21...dxe5
20...Rag8 would be met by 21.Qh4+ Ke8
22.Rgd3 with, again, ever-mounting problems Now White has the earth-shattering
for Black. 22.Qxf7+!! which, however, requires him to
notice a couple of quiet moves down the line.
21.Qh4+
22...Kxf7 23.Bh5+
With the ‘clearance move’ 21.e5! A) 23...Ke7 24.Rg7+ Kf8 [24...Kf6 25.Rf7+
Kg5 26.Rh1 followed by unstoppable mate on
e4.] 25.Rf7+ Ke8 26.Ne4! Ra8 27.Rfxd7+
Kf8 28.Rxc7.
B) 23...Kf6 24.Ne4+ Kf5 25.Bg6+ Kf4
26.Rh1 and Black can’t prevent mate with
Rh4.
C) 23...Kf8 24.Rf3+ Ke7 [24...Kg7 25.Rg1+
Kh7 26.Rf7#] 25.Rf7+ Ke8 26.Ne4 Now the
game finishes as in the 23...Ke7 line. [The
prosaic 26.Rfxd7+ is also fully sufficient for
Position after: 21.e5! the win.]

Anand would have made the e4-square 21...Ke8

available for his knight, and thereby decided
the game. Had Anand seen this possibility, he
would certainly have played it, not least
because it could lead to a pretty queen
sacrifice. 21...dxe5 [21...Nxe5 22.Ne4 Bc6
23.Qf6+ Kd7 24.Qxe5]
 24...Rf8 25.f4 Nc6

Position after: 21...Ke8

22.Bxb5! Position after: 25...Nc6

Probably White saw this option while After the active 25...Nc4 White would also
thinking about his previous move, and so have a knockout blow, namely 26.Nd5! which
looked no further. The bishop sacrifice lets works the same way as in the game. With this
White bring his pieces close to the enemy move White breaks the defensive line which
king. Black’s queen was keeping, i.e. the 5th rank.

22...Ne5 26.e5!?

Taking the sacrifice isn’t possible: 22...axb5 Anand has observed correctly that he has a
23.Nxb5 Qb8 24.Nxd6+ Kf8 25.Qf6 and nice combination at his disposal. White aims
Black’s position begins to take on water. to close the fifth rank, so that he can soon
make use of the h5-square. At the same time
23.Be2 he clears e4 for the knight.

White stays on track. Material is balanced, but Here too, White had the idea of 26.Nd5!
when we consider piece quality it is clear that causing an immediate interference along the
White is winning. The knight on e5 is fifth rank. The threat of Nc7# forces Black to
unsustainable and a new, decisive wave of do something.
attack against the Black king is not far off.
26...d5
There was no particular problem with taking
another pawn: 23.Bxa6.

23...Qc5 24.Bh5!

We have already seen this possibility in an

earlier line. The light-squared bishop begins
to do its attacking work from another angle;
now the target is the f7-pawn.
 Recubini, Dante
Strenzwilk, Denis (2104)
Lignano Sabbiadoro 2005

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6

5.Nc3 d6 6.Bb5 Bd7 7.0-0 e6 8.Bg5 Be7
9.Re1 0-0 10.Qd2 Rc8 11.a3 a6 12.Bxc6
Bxc6 13.Nxc6 Rxc6 14.Qe2

Position after: 26...d5

Now that the fifth rank is closed and White

controls the h5-square, we see why Nd5 (in
the previous two comments) would have been
another means to the same end.

27.Bxf7+!

There he goes!
Position after: 14.Qe2
27...Rxf7
In quite a few positions, when White has
27...Kxf7 28.Qh5+ Ke7 29.Rg7+ Rf7 placed a bishop on g5, the following
30.Qxf7# would be an even swifter end. ‘desperado combination’ comes into
consideration. Black takes on e4 and breaks
28.Rg8+ Qf8 the pin along the h4-diagonal with explosive
effect. This is something both sides have to be
Things would proceed as in the last note after aware of. In this position, it all goes off
28...Rf8 29.Qh5+! This little check was the without a hitch and Black nets a pawn.
reason White had to have control over the h5-
square. 29...Ke7 30.Rg7+ Rf7 31.Qxf7#. 14...Nxe4! 15.Bxe7

29.Rxf8+ Rxf8 30.Qh5+ Ke7 31.Qg6 After White takes on e7 in this way, we
discover why the tactic acquired the name
Being material down and still under attack, ‘desperado’. Black would lose his knight on
Black resigned here. e4 if he simply took back on e7 now, but at
1-0 this precise moment that same knight (whose
death warrant is already signed) moves again
to take another piece. It is crucial that in so
THEME...Nxe4! doing Black attacks the enemy queen, because
his own queen is presently under attack too.
We also need to consider (briefly) 15.Nxe4 46.Kd3 Rxa4 47.Kc3 a5 48.Kxb3 Re4
Bxg5 16.Nxg5 Qxg5 but Black is up a very 49.Kc3 a4 50.Kb2 Re3 51.Rd7 a3+ 52.Ka2
healthy pawn and we need not say more. g5 53.Rd4 Kg6 54.Rc4 f5 55.Kb1 f4 56.Kc2
Kf5 57.Kd2 Kg4 58.Rc1 a2 59.Rf1 Rb3
15...Nxc3 16.Bxd8 60.Ra1 Rh3 61.Ke2 Kf5 62.Kf2 g4 63.Kg1
Ra3 64.Kg2 Ke4 65.Kf2 Kd3 66.Ke1 Kc2
White takes a queen, but Black retaliates in
0-1
kind immediately. White is doing even worse
than in the game after 16.bxc3? Qxe7 because
of his weak doubled c-pawns.
K, Chris
16...Nxe2+ Nakamura, Hikaru (2520)
Dos Hermanas 2003
It is nice that this move comes with check.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6
17.Rxe2 Rxd8 5.Nc3 a6 6.f3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.Be3 Nbd7
9.Qd2 h5 10.0-0-0 Be7 11.Kb1 Rc8 12.Bd3
b5 13.h3 h4 14.f4 Qc7 15.f5 Bc4 16.Bg5 b4
17.Ne2 a5 18.Ng1 a4 19.Nc1 Bxd3 20.cxd3

Position after: 17...Rxd8

This marks the end of the ‘transaction’. Black

has a healthy, central, and (most importantly)
Position after: 20.cxd3
extra pawn in this double-rook ending, which
he managed to convert into a win. The situation in this diagram is a lot more
complicated. Can Black also take on e4 here?
18.c3 g6 19.h4 Kg7 20.g4 Rc4 21.f3 h5
Nakamura gives the correct answer.
22.Rg2 hxg4 23.fxg4 d5 24.Kf2 d4 25.Rd1
Rd5 26.Rg3 dxc3 27.Rxd5 c2 28.Rg1 exd5 20...Nxe4!
29.Rc1 Rxg4 30.Rxc2 Rxh4 31.Kg3 Rc4
32.Rd2 Rc7 33.Kf4 Rd7 34.Ke5 d4 35.Ke4 Just so! The move is very strong, despite
d3 36.Ke5 Re7+ 37.Kf4 Re2 38.Rxd3 Rxb2 appearing at first glance to be impossible.
39.Ke5 b5 40.Rd7 Re2+ 41.Kf4 Re6 42.Rd5
Rb6 43.Ke4 b4 44.a4 b3 45.Rd1 Rb4+ 21.dxe4 Bxg5
Drawing the queen away from her defensive Movsesian, Sergei (2595)
role. Grooten, Herman (2395)
Cappelle la Grande 1998
22.Qxg5
In countless games in the Sicilian, Black
Going anywhere else would lose a second sacrifices a rook for a knight on c3. The offer
piece: 22.Qe1 Qc2+ 23.Ka1 Bxc1 and the is often justified, but it is useful to understand
resistance is at an end. the precise reasons why, and this will also tell
us when the sacrifice is not such a great idea.
22...Qc2+ 23.Ka1 First of all, if Black can also take the e4-
pawn, the sacrifice is rarely a bad idea. But
even if he doesn’t get a pawn for the
exchange, the following benefits may accrue
to him.
Static benefits:
• use of the c-file
• weakened White pawn structure with the
front c-pawn, a-pawn and sometimes e-pawn
being weak
• influence in the centre.
Position after: 23.Ka1 Dynamic benefits (in case of White having
long-castled):
Nakamura must have seen this position.
• other weak squares near the White king
23...a3! • attacking possibilities.

Nothing wrong with the simple 23...Qxd1 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6
either, but Black probably reckoned he could 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.f3 h5 9.Be2
play for mate. Nbd7 10.f4 Rc8

24.bxa3 bxa3 Also possible is 10...exf4 11.Bxf4 Ne5.

White resigned. Indeed, there is no way to 11.f5 Bc4 12.Bxc4 Rxc4 13.Qd3 Qc7 14.0-0-
prevent mate on either b2 or c1. 0 b5 15.Kb1 Be7 16.h3 0-0 17.g4

24...bxa3 25.Nd3 [25.Qd2 Qxd2! 26.Rxd2

Rxc1#] 25...Qxd1+ 26.Nc1 Rxc1+ 27.Qxc1
Qxc1#.
0-1

THEME...Rxc3!
 One other possibility is 20.gxh5, remaining
focused on the kingside attack and trying to
open more lines to that end. However, after
20...Nb6

Position after: 17.g4

In this position White is threatening to simply

mow his opponent over with g4-g5 and then
either f5-f6 or g5-g6. Black has to do
something, but what?
Position after: 20...Nb6
17...Rxc3!?
(followed by ...Na4) Black’s counterplay
A thematic exchange sacrifice that is quite develops at pace.
common in the Sicilian. In return for the
exchange, Black obtains pressure against the 20...Nb6 21.Bxf6 Bxf6 22.Nc1?!
White queenside structure and the e4-pawn.

18.bxc3 Qc6

This was the intention – to stop g4-g5, which

could have been a source of some
embarrassment to Black otherwise.

19.Bg5

This is the only move to avoid giving up the

e4-pawn without a fight.
Position after: 22.Nc1?!
19...Rc8
Objectively not the best, but in view of the
Black mobilises all his fighting units. rating disparity White wanted to keep the
game going.
20.Rhe1
White could have taken on d6, but then a
Meanwhile, White focuses on stabilising his draw would have been likely: 22.Qxd6 Qxc3
position in the centre. 23.Qxb6 [Very favourable for Black would be
23.Qd3? Na4 , when to stop mate White B1) 23.exd5 Qd6 causes immense problems
would have to give back the exchange.] for White. Black is ready for ...Na4 (or
23...Qxc2+ 24.Ka1 Qc3+ 25.Kb1 Qc2+. ...Nc4) and ...Qa3, perhaps also followed by
...e5-e4 and ...Rc4. One sample line: 24.Re4
22...Rd8? Rc4! 25.Ne2 Qa3 26.Ka1 Ra4 27.Rxa4 Nxa4
28.Rb1 e4 and Black breaks through.
This move is insufficiently resolute and the
timing is poor. While I clearly wanted to B2) 23.Ne2 Now Black can continue in the
continue with ...d6-d5, I failed to realise that manner suggested by my opponent. 23...h4!
1) the move could have been played
immediately and 2) my rook is much better
placed on the c-file.
A) My opponent showed afterwards that
Black would have obtained a good position
with 22...Nc4!?

Position after: 23...h4!

Black should take one tempo out to keep all

the lines closed on the kingside, and then he
can proceed with the above-mentioned plans.

23.Rg1
Position after: 22...Nc4!?

with the idea to play ...h5-h4 as quickly as

possible. The idea is to keep the position
closed so that the white rooks can’t do their
thing. After that Black has lots of time to
mobilise his pieces for another assault against
the White king, and there is little White can
do in the meantime.
B) With hindsight it is easy to be wise, but
Black would have gained an almost decisive
advantage by playing the thematic central Position after: 23.Rg1
thrust immediately: 22...d5!!
White seizes his chance to set up counterplay
on the other side of the board.

23...Na4?!

Not consistent.
Black had the chance to set his own plan in
motion with 23...d5 and he didn’t go for it.
The consequences are by no means
unfavourable for him: 24.g5 Be7 [24...dxe4??
loses to 25.Qxd8+ Bxd8 26.Rxd8+ Kh7
27.g6+ fxg6 28.fxg6+ Kh6 29.Rh8#] 25.Ne2 Position after: 28...h4
[25.f6 Bc5 26.Rg3 g6 would lead to the total
29.Qe1!
closure of the kingside.] 25...Bc5 Black is
very much ‘in the game’ now. 26.Rh1 [The This is what I missed earlier: the backwards,
logical 26.Rg3? would be strongly met by diagonal queen move which is so difficult to
26...Rd7! (with the threat ... dxe4) and White foresee in calculations! White has covered c3
suffers great difficulties with his back rank.] adequately and it’s no longer possible to
26...Rd7 With unclear complications. continue the queenside attack.

24.Ne2 Qc5 29...Be7 30.f6!

Black plays his trump cards, but he has made Now it’s White’s turn to attack, and he does
a mistake in calculation. not hesitate to make full use of that which he
has been gifted.
25.Ka1 d5
30...Bf8
By now too late!

26.g5

26.exd5?? would lose immediately to 26...e4!

26...Qa3 27.Rb1 dxe4 28.Qg3

Less good is 28.Qe3 because of 28...Be7

29.f6?? [29.g6!? h4! is unclear.] 29...Bc5 and
Black is on top again.

28...h4
Position after: 30...Bf8

31.g6!
The future world elite player knows just what It would have been better to play a move like
to do. White’s attack runs on all cylinders. 16.Qg3.

31...fxg6 32.Rxg6 e3 33.fxg7 Be7 34.Rh6 16...d5!

This finishes things off efficiently. In general, this move often heralds a forcing
game where nobody quite knows what will
34...Rd2 35.Qg1 happen. Neither Black nor White has any way
of turning back. Specifically in this position,
Here I resigned: it is too late to do anything,
Black chose this moment for the push because
and White’s attack is decisive.
a question was about to be posed to his f6-
1-0 knight, and he would rather keep it in the
centre than retreat it to h7 or e8.

THEME...d6-d5! 17.exd5 Bb4

Beshukov, Sergei (2435) This is the immediate point of Black’s

Neverov, Valeriy (2530) breakthrough. Because the knight on c3 is
Perm 1997 pinned, ideas of ...e5-e4, or of capturing on
d5, come into play.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6
5.Nc3 d6 6.Be3 Be7 7.Be2 a6 8.0-0 Qc7 9.a4 18.Bd2 Bxc3 19.Bxc3 Nxd5
b6 10.f4 Bb7 11.Bf3 Nbd7 12.f5 e5 13.Nb3
Rc8 14.Kh1 h6 15.Qe1 0-0 16.g4?

Position after: 19...Nxd5

Position after: 16.g4? Now the knight has found an active post in
the centre, but White’s kingside remains
White starts a flank attack on the kingside, committed: pawns cannot go backwards.
and at first sight it seems to be a dangerous
one. But as the adage goes, a flank attack is 20.Bxd5?
best met by a pawn push in the centre. That
A terrible move: White gives up his light-
turns out to apply here as well.
squared bishop without a fight and that has
disastrous consequences. The light squares White still seems to be in the game, but there
are now Black’s sole dominion. is a twist coming which puts an end to this
A) One idea was 20.Rd1 but then White was illusion.
probably worried by 20...Nxc3. Now say
25...Ng5! 26.Rf4
21.Qxc3 Bxf3+ [21...Qxc3 22.bxc3 Bxf3+
23.Rxf3 Nf6 also makes sense.] 22.Qxf3 Nf6 A) White would lose material after, for
and Black stands very well. instance, 26.Rfd1 Nh3+ 27.Kf1 Rf2+ 28.Ke1
B) The retreat of the bishop with 20.Bd2 Re8.
would be met by 20...Rfe8! and there is B) 26.Nxc2 Nh3# is, of course, the mating
nothing to be done about the advance ...e5-e4; motif Black has in mind: observe the
perhaps the e-pawn will not stop there, either. dominance of Black’s light-squared bishop!
20...Bxd5+ 21.Kg1 Nf6 26...Nh3+ 27.Kf1 Bg2+
Black plays very dynamically. By now White had had enough of the game.
22.Qg3 27...Bg2+ 28.Ke1 and now Black can win
material in several ways: ...Rc5, ...Re8, or
A) Grabbing the pawn on e5 would turn out to even ...Nxf4 followed by the fork on d3.
be a costly mistake: 22.Bxe5? Qxc2 23.Nd2 0-1
Rfe8 and Black is winning.
B) Neither would 22.Qxe5 Qxe5 23.Bxe5
Rxc2 end well for White.

22...Ne4 23.Qxe5 Qxe5 24.Bxe5 Rxc2

25.Nd4

Position after: 25.Nd4

 Within the f4-system a pattern emerges that if
§ 2.3 Typical Manoeuvres and Black develops his bishop to g7, most of the
Strategic Concepts time White castles short. He prepares (with
Bf1-d3 and 0-0) to attack with Qd1-e1-h4 and
Now that we have studied the typical tactics eventually Bc1-h6, which we can consider the
of the Sicilian, it is time to focus on the standard formation and which is also known
typical manoeuvres and conceptual ideas that from the Pirc. Many pieces can be thrown
often occur in Sicilian games. By taking note against the Black king’s fortifications. The
of these, the club player will be well on his king’s knight can go to g5, its ‘colleague’ can
way to familiarising himself with (grand) try and swap itself for Black’s f6-knight and
masters’ plans. Plans regarding, say, piece the White rooks can be doubled with Rf1-f3
trades and changes to pawn structure. In this and Ra1-f1. Rook-lifts from f3 to h3 are also
way, should you no longer remember the possible so as to attack the target on h7, one
theory, you can still find your way in and of many that Black has.
through the middlegame. Top players may
think of such themes as their ‘bread and
butter’ and recite them in their sleep, but it’s
something lower-rated players should not take
for granted. By making this inventory of the
development patterns and plans of strong
players with both White and Black, we will
improve our own understanding and our
mastery of this position type.

CONCEPT 1 (W)

Standard attack against a fianchetto kingside

Position after: 12.f5
setup by Black
The diagram above gives a pictorial view of
some of these attacking themes.
Games from the position after 12.f5:
• Nunn – Cserna
• Nunn – Grünfeld

CONCEPT 2 (B)

Play using the c-file and c4-square

Black’s play is mainly on the queenside. The
diagrams shows two cases where he has
already played ...b7-b5 and is using the half- Everywhere, but especially in the Bc4 lines
open c-file to create pressure. In some cases (of both systems) the e6-pawn is a potential
he can then use c4 as a springboard for his weakness that White can place under heavy
knight (first diagram) or rook (second fire. If Black is forced to play e6-e5, White
diagram). will obtain control of the d5-square, as in the
next concept.

CONCEPT 4 (W)

Exploiting the outpost on d5

White will often be forced to make the

weakening pawn move b2-b3.
Model games with this structure:
• Mchedlishvili – Mamedyarov
Position after: 20...Be7
• Vogt – Andersson
The diagram above says it all: White has a
monstrous knight against Black’s awful
CONCEPT 3 (W) bishop on e7. Should White somehow obtain
this kind of position, his game is practically
Hammering the e6-point
positionally won. (But sometimes White has Two routes especially worth trying are Nb3-
no such knight- see third diagram...) c1-a2-b4-d5 and Nb3-d2-f1-e3-d5.
It is important to understand the various
circumstances under which such long re-
routings can be considered – or even be the
optimal solution.
Model games with this theme:
• Fischer – Gadia
• Carlsen – So
• Karpov – Nunn

CONCEPT 5 (B)

In the second diagram White has actually The value of dark-squared bishops
sacrificed a pawn, but due to the light-square
blockade he is the one making use of the most
important central squares. Black’s position
here is worse because he additionally suffers
from a bad bishop.

In the diagram position White has ‘forgotten’

to play h2-h3 and Black has managed to get in
...Ng4, with ...Nxf2 following shortly after.
Later, the unopposed Be7 became a strong
attacking piece that brought Black the victory.
In many Sicilian positions such as this one, Model game with this theme:
the b3-knight is a ‘weak link’ for White. Left • Anand – Ivanchuk
far from the action (and especially from the
d5-square), it must sometimes seek creative
means of re-entering the battle for the centre. CONCEPT 6 (B)

Exchange sacrifice on c3
The frequency with which Black offers the
exchange sacrifice ...Rxc3! In the Sicilian can
hardly be overestimated. In the diagram With his last move ...g7-g5! Black initiates
position it is clear that White’s pawn the battle for the e5-square. Since White
formation will be weakened by the capture on previously played g2-g4, he can no longer
c3. The strategic compensation offered by the reinforce f4 with another pawn. The f4-pawn
resulting outposts for Black’s knights as well will advance or be exchanged, and
as the open c-file is clearly at very least immediately Black will spring into e5 with his
sufficient. Since the White rooks can’t really knight. The knight stands amazingly there,
play a role in this position, we can see that blocking the e4-pawn (and, by extension, the
positions resulting from such exchange g2-bishop) ,attacking the g4-pawn, and (last
sacrifices can lead to inversions of the usual but not least) giving extra protection to the f7-
statement that rooks have higher value than pawn, which so frequently becomes a target.
minor pieces. The knight may later explore prospects
Model games with this theme: against White’s castled setup on the
• Shirov – Anand queenside, using c4 as a base.

• Movsesian – Kasparov Model game with this theme:

• Kanarek – Movsesian • Karjakin – Vachier Lagrave

• Movsesian – Grooten
CONCEPT 8 (W)

CONCEPT 7 (B) The thrust g5-g6

The e5-square
 The second diagram shows another kind of
position where g5-g6 can be played.
Model games with this theme:
• Smeets – Werle
• Rogers – Arencibia Rodriguez

CONCEPT 9 (W)

The blocking sacrifice

In many positions White causes trouble with

the pawn thrust g5-g6. You should be able to
see that this directly undermines at least two
other light squares which White frequently
targets: f7 and e6. In practice, Black is unable
to let the pawn stay there for long, and then
White gets to open lines in the vicinity of
Black’s king. When Black plays ...hxg6, that
opens the h-file. If White has another pawn on
h5, he may choose to either take back on g6 In this position both sides have attacks. But
or push past with h5-h6, in either case White’s is the more dangerous because with
creating great danger for the opposing king. the crisp move 16.Bf6! he achieves both
In practice Black often takes the marauding positional and tactical ends. Blocking the f-
pawn with ...fxg6 and then decides how to pawn gives White the possibility of Qh6 (!!),
further defend his king position. It is clear that and immobilising Black’s other pieces sets up
the stakes are very high for him. the rather slower idea of f2-f4, Rg1-g3-h3.
Model game with this theme:
• Hennings – Möhring

CONCEPT 10 (B)

Trade of light-squared bishop for knight

 free his game. White usually answers with
Bd4-e3 and then Black reduces the possible
supply of attackers even further by taking on
f4. Then his knight from f6 can be routed via
d7 to e5, as in this diagram:

In many positions, white places a knight on

field d5 (see theme 4) even while it is still
controlled by Black pieces. Usually, Black
gives his (‘good’) light-squared bishop for the
knight, provided that White is compelled to
take with the e-pawn. Then he will try to trade
dark-squared bishops and leave White with a Model games with this theme:
light-squared bishop that is hampered by the
• Zhu Chen – Ehlvest
d5-pawn while Black’s own minor pieces
suffer no such limitations. (The knight-pair is • Kamsky – Van Wely
well suited to half-closed positions with a
CONCEPT 12 (W)
stable pawn structure.)

CONCEPT 11 (B) The decision whether to attack with pieces

behind or in front of pawns
Freeing his game with central trades

In the classical Scheveningen White very

With the trade of knights (...Nc6xd4) and the soon faces the point of deciding between two
subsequent Be3xd4 e6-e5 Black can try and very different methods of attack.
 Option 1

A successful example of getting g4-g5 in is

White has placed his queen in front of his shown in the above diagram. White now has a
pawns with the manoeuvre Qd1-e1-g3. He clear plan of giving mate with two major
can then direct more pieces to the kingside pieces on the h-file. The question, of course,
(Be2-d3 and/or Be3-d4) and maybe create is how he will accomplish this.
some central tension using the e- and f-pawns.
In any case the Bf3 will be retreated to g2.
But going to h3 with the f-rook is a bit of a
Option 2 waste: the rook already stood well on f1. It
can support the push of the f- or g- pawns
from f1 just fine, and White should consider
both ideas. Instead it is more often the a-rook
which gets brought to h3 via d1 and d3. When
it is on d1, if White times things right, the e3-
bishop will be able to slot back neatly to c1 in
case it gets attacked by a knight on c4, both
getting out of the way and protecting the b2-
pawn. The second game below has more
details of how this might happen.

Here, White has decided to instead go for the Model games with this theme:
pawn-storm beginning with g2-g4-g5. He • Ljubojevic – Andersson
needs to be careful about how he prepares; • Karpov – Kasparov
when the g-pawn is pushed, his own king may
be weakened. A good rule of thumb: White
should only do this if Black cannot open the
centre with ...e6-e5 (with or without the
knight trade on d4) or possibly ...d6-d5.
That brings us to the end of this consideration An advisory needs to sit at the end of every
of strategic themes. Each theme has found its such section: all rules have exceptions. For
way into (grand) master practice and is instance, I have indicated in concept 5 that
common. There are countless examples of White’s dark-squared bishop is typically more
each to be found, but in the absence of space I important than either Black knight, but you
have contented myself with one or two game may find examples where a strong
references, which correspond to games grandmaster does still allow that trade with
analysed later in this book. When you come to White. The reasons for such decisions are
those games, you will find deeper coverage of usually specific to the position itself, and can
the ideas than you have seen in this section. be quite involved.
 initiate play on the kingside, and Black will
§ 2.4 The Origin of the Najdorf do so on the queenside.

If some of today’s best-known players had 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4

lived between 50 and 100 years earlier, then
they could have given their names to opening
systems too. None of the major openings bear
the names of Giri, Carlsen, Caruana and so
on. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave has a system
named after him within the 6.Bg5 Najdorf,
but it is a minor line and I can’t imagine he’s
that proud of it.
Think how fresh chess must have been, when
you could just play 1.f4 and have the move
named after you (Henry Bird.) Or, more
relevantly for our current study, the super- Position after: 3.d4
logical 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4
Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 managed to acquire the 3...cxd4
name of a little-known Russian master of the
Black creates an imbalance in the pawn
1920’s, Veniamin Sozin...
structure with this move. Right from the
Anyway, let’s just explain what we mean by moment this pawn is recaptured on the next
the Najdorf. turn, Black will have two central pawns
against his opponent’s one, an exchange
generally considered favourable for him.
1.e4 c5
4.Nxd4

Because of this, the former Danish elite

player Bent Larsen jokingly remarked about
this position that Black is already better in
some higher sense. Maybe he will be proven
right in a couple of centuries, but what is clear
now is that Black’s central majority plays a
crucial role in the struggle that is to follow.

4...Nf6 5.Nc3

Position after: 1...c5

It seems like nothing has happened yet, but

this is already fairly major. After one move
we can already see that White will tend to
 Position after: 6.Be2

We can easily get Scheveningen structures if

Black plays ...e6. But in the mid – 20th
century, the great Ukrainian/Soviet
grandmaster Boleslavsky (who died relatively
young in an accident in 1977) was the first to
seriously consider the surprising – at the time
– other advance of the e-pawn.

6...e5
Position after: 5.Nc3
This specific pawn push, with which Black
Here it is clear that White has more room and voluntarily creates a ‘hole’ on d5, is therefore
that his pieces are actively located in the named after him. Normally, d5 is the most
center. His development advantage, though, is important square in Sicilian opening battles,
temporary (as they usually are) meaning that
and we should point out that in making the
he will soon have to try and turn it into an
attack. Also, even at this early stage, the text move Black is in fact playing ‘around’ it,
structure encodes some important information not ignoring it. The new structure – with the
about where both sides’ pieces will find their jokingly-named ‘Boleslavsky Hole’ on d5 –
optimal squares – for instance, the White was studied extensively by its creator, whose
queen will not be developed to c2 or b3. knowledge and understanding we still channel
today when developing theory on this line.
5...Nc6
7.Nb3
This move gives rise to the ‘pure’ Classical
Sicilian. But weren’t we talking about the
Najdorf? Life is not straightforward:
sometimes, having said A, one has to explain
C, D and X before getting to B.

6.Be2

Position after: 7.Nb3

For reasons which shall soon be clear, this is a

good moment to think about the gaping hole
in Black’s camp. Having made some
philosophical comments regarding it, let’s Black is ready (after the situation with
now also address the reality that in the (very) White’s f-pawn has been clarified) to finally
near future the d5-square will be an ideal push ...d6-d5. You might ask, why is this so
home for a White knight, and one from which important for him? The most important reason
no Black pawn would then be able to drive it is that Black would thus manage to diminish
away. So it’s important to consider how Black or negate White’s space advantage, and a
can defend this square with his pieces. Right close second is that he would stop White’s
now, of course, the knight on f6 is performing hegemony over the d5-square itself. Until
that duty. To its aid there can come the Black’s last move, in fact, White could have
queen’s bishop, which nestles naturally on e6. played a knight there at almost any time, so
This is all common sense. But especially we could have considered the square an
noteworthy at this moment is the idea that integral part of White’s territory. There are of
Boleslavsky introduced: to defend the d5- course two ways the push could happen now,
square with the other knight by routing it to depending on whether White plays f4-f5 next.
b4. Of course, if that were done immediately If he does not, then Black can sometimes play
then the knight would simply be chased back his push without exchanging on f4 first, but is
with a2-a3, so the idea should be prepared more likely to flick in the swap. If White does
with an advance of the a-pawn. When Black play f5, though, it is instructive to note that
has played ...a5, he threatens to gain tempo Black is on time with his central break in case
off the b3-knight with ...a5-a4 – and possibly of 12.f5 Bd7 13.g4 Bc6 14.Bf3 d5 when
then advance the pawn once more to Black has a better game. If not for this idea of
undermine White’s queenside structure. In re-routing the bishop to c6, then White would
many cases White has little choice but to be justified in pushing g2-g4 – in both this
answer with a2-a4. And once he does that, it and other situations.
will no longer be possible to chase Black’s
knight away from b4 quite so easily. Let us 8...0-0
now follow one of the pioneering games in
Black continues developing. As you might
this line: Yanofsky – Boleslavsky, Groningen
have seen from the last note, though, the
(Staunton Memorial) 1946.
whole game is still based around Black trying
7.Nf3 is often played as well, but the to achieve that push of primary importance in
drawback of this is that it hinders the push of all Sicilian lines: ...d6-d5. It turns out that
White’s f-pawn. White often needs the f-pawn while the e5-pawn is not useful in preparing
to advance to attack the e5 or e6 squares – that break, it is very useful in limiting White’s
and sometimes also to prise open the Black options immediately afterwards – meaning of
kingside. course that White can no longer reply to ...d6-
d5 with his own push e4-e5, chasing away
7...Be7 8.Bg5
Black’s knight from f6. Particularly if there
Nowadays 8.0-0 is considered more ‘de were still many pawns on the board, Black
rigeur’. A possible continuation could be: would then become constricted. In general,
8...0-0 9.Be3 a5 10.a4 Nb4 11.f4 Be6 when Black only allows this development if he gets
something else in return, or is at least able to 12.Be3?!
reply by moving his knight forwards (i.e. to
e4, or possibly g4.) This reasoning is key in
understanding the validity of Boleslavsky’s
conception.

9.Qd2

After this normal-looking move, Boleslavsky

is able to show his idea.

9...a5!?

Position after: 12.Be3?!

Yanofsky tries to keep his bishop, but in

doing so, he somewhat backs himself into a
corner.
White had an opportunity to play the equally
instructive sequence of 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 and
now
A) Not 13.Nd5?! which has been given in
some annotators’ work. 13...Bg5 14.Qd1
Nxd5 15.exd5 [White normally wants to
Position after: 9...a5!? recapture on d5 with a piece in such lines, but
in this case it won’t be staying there long:
10.a4 Nb4 15.Qxd5 Be6 and the Black pieces co-
ordinate marvellously.] 15...Bd7 and here too
White having played a2-a4, there is now no it is the second player who has all the
immediate convincing answer to the thematic prospects.
advance of Black’s knight to this square (as
B) 13.Nb5!? White’s utmost aim should be
mentioned before) and so Boleslavsky plays it
getting c2-c3 in. 13...Be6 This is a double-
without delay.
edged position in which the main question is
11.0-0 h6 whether Black can continue with his plan.
The biggest problem with it was that White
Forcing White to make a decision regarding wanted to push away the b4-knight with c2-
this bishop. In particular, it is good to note c3. Now Black has solved this problem, but
that Black plays this move before White gets perhaps only in the short-term. [Definitely not
a rook to d1, as that would then help set up the immediate advance 13...d5? though: that
tactics against Black’s d6-pawn. simply loses a crucial pawn to 14.c3! and
White is much better.]
12...d5! Position after: 17...Bf5

There is no reason to delay this advance. 18.Rfe1

Black gains tempo both with the advance
itself, and the subsequent recaptures. White badly needs to reinforce his position in
this way – Black is already slightly better –
13.exd5 Nfxd5 14.Nxd5 Nxd5 and there is definitely no time to waste on
taking the meaningless a5-pawn.
We can already see the first result of ...d6-d5:
If we look for a concrete reason why White
Black has a very strong knight on d5.
can’t take this pawn, there is one of those
However, from a pragmatic point of view,
available too. 18.Nxa5? Rfd8 19.Qe1
White should still avoid trading it for his
Otherwise ...e5-e4 will come with even more
dark-squared bishop, or else Black’s
devastating effect. 19...e4
advantage will take on a more long-term
nature. A) On the natural 20.Nb3 there follows
20...Qg5 21.Bxe4 Re8 with decisive material
15.Bc5 Nf4 gain.
B) 20.Ra3 White wants to play the innovative
Boleslavsky wants to use the activity and
Ra3-e3, but this is too slow and doesn’t stop
range of his knight in concrete fashion.
the main threat. 20...Qc7! Black simply wins
16.Bxe7?! a piece. [It is also possible to play 20...Qg5!?
21.Bxe4 Re8 in spite of the third-rank rook
Not the most accurate. swing: 22.Rg3 Qe7 23.f3 Qc5+ and Black
A) 16.Qxd8? fails for a simple reason: the nevertheless picks up the a5-knight.]
‘zwischenzug’ 16...Nxe2+ will leave Black C) Black is threatening to attack two pieces
up two pieces for a rook. and win one of them with ...Qc7. 20.g3 Nh3+
B) 16.Qe3 was preferable, although after Black can carry out his threat once more after
some trades Black will still find himself with this immediate check. 21.Kh1 Now the queen
a better minor piece. leaves the e-file pin with gain of tempo:
21...Qc7! and Black wins a piece.
16...Qxe7 17.Bf3 Bf5
18...Rfe8 19.Kh1

Here, too, there wasn’t really time to take on

a5.
Here there is no direct win, but after
19.Nxa5?! Qg5 20.Nb3 Rac8 21.Rac1 e4
White’s problems are steadily piling up and
the extra queenside pawn will be of absolutely
no use. In fact, to avoid losing a piece
immediately, White must give back the pawn:
22.h4 Qxh4 23.g3 but after the logical
23...Nh3+ Black’s attack will continue This move is named after the Polish –
unabated. Argentinian grandmaster Miguel Najdorf. As
we can see, this unassuming move doesn’t
19...Rac8 develop anything, but it does nevertheless
accomplish two noteworthy purposes:
1) Keeping the White light-squared bishop
and knights away from the b5-square.
2) Preparing the advance ...b7-b5. This
advance would not only gain space for Black
on the queenside, but also put White under
slight pressure because of the idea of ...b5-b4
winning the e4-pawn.
Najdorf, naturally, had more ideas behind his
setup and we shall see some of these in due
Position after: 19...Rac8 course. In this position White has a wide
range of moves, but for now let us focus on
Black has developed all his forces and he is the response which was most popular during
clearly the one dictating the further the earliest years of Najdorf’s system:
development of events. His opening can be
considered a success. 6.Be2
Now we finally come to a brief rationale for In the 70’s this was known as the Opocensky
the Najdorf variation. variation and it was frequently played by
(then current) world champion, Anatoly
Karpov, among others.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6
5.Nc3 a6 6...e5

Najdorf was also fond of this pawn push,

which is analogous to the one we saw in the
Classical Sicilian and which signs up for the
“Boleslavsky structure”.
The White knight should, in its retreat,
consider not blocking the f-pawn to be more
important than its own happiness.

Position after: 5...a6

 Black should try and control the d5-square
with his pieces.

9.Be3 Be6 10.Qd2 Nbd7

Position after: 6...e5

7.Nb3

For the next few moves, both sides try to

complete their development as soon as
possible and castle kingside. Position after: 10...Nbd7
7...Be7 8.0-0 0-0 Only with this move does Black’s plan
become clear. It was less practical here to
play ... a6-a5-a4, so he tries for something
else. In most cases he will try and further
develop this knight to b6, where it controls
the d5-square – preferably after including the
pawn break ...b7-b5. If Black manages to
make both of those moves he will be able to
face the future with confidence. Besides the
development of the queen’s knight (using the
route d7-b6 rather than c6-b4) we can also
enumerate a few other differences with the
Position after: 8...0-0 Boleslavsky system. Firstly, on its new
outpost the queen’s knight will only be
The contours of the future middlegame are vulnerable to an a-pawn advance; only rarely
now clear. As is customary in the Sicilian, will the c-pawn ever threaten to go to c5;
White will play with f2-f4 on the king’s wing whereas in the Boleslavsky system we saw
and at the same time keep in mind the White play c2-c3 with some regularity in the
possibility of using the outpost on d5. As a different variations. Secondly, in those
rule, though, the second idea is only variations we saw that Black invariably had to
beneficial for him if he can arrange to make prepare ...Nc6-b4 with an a-pawn thrust,
his last recapture there with a piece. which necessarily weakened the light squares
Therefore, as in the Boleslavsky system, on his queenside. This meant that White had a
permanent hold over the b5-square, which a Reaching a key position which has arisen in
knight could use to target the d6-pawn; this numerous practical examples. Black may
also ruled out one of Black’s best sources of consider different kinds of operations on the
play, which was the minority attack based on c-file, which can include the exchange
...b7-b5 itself. sacrifice as well as the simple transfer of a
bishop or knight to the c4-square.
11.a4

This was obligatory now, otherwise Black

would definitely have played ...b7-b5.

11...Rc8

Position after: 11...Rc8

 common formation is to have them on c8 and
§ 2.5 Fundamentals of the e8. We often see that they go to c8 and e8. A
Scheveningen typical trade he may choose to execute is
...Nc6xd4, freeing up the c6-square for his
Lots of players have asked me how to get bishop and ensuring that a future ...e6-e5 wins
started in the Sicilian, or which line to learn a tempo.
first. The question might be asked by a player
with a classical style who is looking for 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6
something a bit more interesting than 1.e4 e5, 5.Nc3 d6
or by anyone who wants an opening to play
against lower-rated players with Black. In
either case, almost any Sicilian line would be
acceptable, because there is a lot of play in
the resulting positions. But where to start?
Almost all World Champions have mastered
at least one variation of the opening from the
Black side. Garry Kasparov, for example,
popularised the Scheveningen variant, which
he then published a book about, together with
his trainer/second Alexander Nikitin. The
most important reason to start with the Position after: 5...d6
Scheveningen system is that this opening can
actually be played without too much We take this to be the ‘official’ way of
theoretical knowledge, provided you have a reaching the Scheveningen. Of course, one
fair degree of common sense. Of course, there has to bear in mind that there are two orders
are traps, but my experience is that generally by which this position can be reached, as well
well-educated players manage to survive in as various ways to transpose (from other
unfamiliar positions, unless they are just too Sicilian systems) into the material that
complicated. The following outline describes follows. The Scheveningen’s debut in high-
the essence of the Scheveningen system. level play was made at a strong tournament
Black develops his knights to the logical held in 1923 a Dutch spa town of the same
squares f6 and c6, the bishops go to e7 and name (it is situated near The Hague, on the
d7, the king castles quickly so that the rooks North Sea.) Several players tried the opening
are connected, and the queen sits happily on during the event (including local hero and
c7. She is unlikely to be disturbed there future world champion Euwe, who played it
because at one moment or other black has against Maróczy), hence the choice to name it
typically included ...a7-a6 to protect against a after the town instead!
knight intrusion on b5. Moving into the early The basic set-up is as mentioned:
middlegame, Black can also try and gain
• knights to f6 and c6
space on the queenside with ...b7-b5. There
• bishops (usually) to e7 and d7
are various choices for the Black rooks, but a
• short castling
• queen on c7 A short introduction, but it’s almost enough to
• rooks on c8 and e8 get started with already. You might as well try
• ...a7-a6, and then either ...b7-b5-b4 (if and use this knowledge to play practice games
possible) or with the Scheveningen, so you have some
• a knight manoeuvre to c4. experience and fun while you set up your
repertoire – then enter your game in a
database, look for other similar games, rinse
and repeat! You’re on your way to becoming
a Sicilian player...
 Chapter 3 the position allow them to play for a win at
Model Games with the Najdorf every level.

§ 3.2 Variation Overview of the

§ 3.1 Background of the Najdorf Najdorf
Now let’s move on to an overview of the key
One of the most beautiful (but also most
lines.
difficult!) variations in the Sicilian is the
Najdorf. It draws its named from the
Argentine grandmaster Miguel Najdorf, who
a) Najdorf with 6.f4
brought a whole lot of new ideas to the table
in this system. Actually, he wasn’t born as
Miguel; but rather as Mieczyslaw, on the 15th
of April 1910 in Poland. At the outbreak of
the Second World War, Mieczyslaw was at
the Olympiad in Argentina. Deciding not to
return to Poland, he instead naturalised as an
Argentine citizen and, en route, altered his
name to the rather more Hispanic-sounding
Miguel.
The story of the opening’s inventor could
occupy a great many more pages, but I will
limit myself to the following sobering
recollection. In 1946 Miguel played a
blindfold simultaneous on 45 boards – a
tremendous feat, and a record at the time. He
hoped that the worldwide publicity would
attract the attention of his family members
who stayed behind in Poland. Instead, he
received the news that they had all perished in 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6
concentration camps. Lest we forget. 5.Nc3 a6 6.f4
Miguel died in 1997 and, by that point, the
opening had become firmly entrenched as one
of the choices of practically every world
champion. This is his legacy: an opening
whose complexity and popularity exceed that
of almost any other. Top grandmasters go for
it, in large part, because Black keeps a healthy
pawn-structure and because the imbalances in
Position after: 6.f4 Position after: 6.Bc4

b) Fischervariant with 6.Bc4 c) Main variation with 6.Bg5

(Source: www.nettree.net)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6

5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6

5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4
Position after: 6.Bg5 e) Opočenský variation: 6.Be2 e5

d) English Attack with 6.Be3 e5

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6

5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6

5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5

Position after: 6...e5

f) Other lines

Position after: 6...e5

 Position after: 6.h3

a) Najdorf with 6.f4

(Source: www.nettree.net)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6

5.Nc3 a6

• 6.h3
• 6.g3

Introduction

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6

5.Nc3 a6 6.f4
In this line and others, if Black continues ...e6 favourable in Lutz – Svidler, 1999.] 8...0-0
then we will transpose into a Scheveningen. 9.0-0 Nbd7 10.Kh1 Qc7 11.Qd2 Fishbein –
For now, I will omit those lines so that the Izoria, 2006.
book is self-contained from the point of view
of Najdorf players, leaving them until the last 7.Nf3 Nbd7 8.a4
illustrative game.
To hinder ...b7-b5.
6...e5 After 8.Bd3 Black would probably still castle
first, but after 8...Be7 9.0-0 0-0 if White still
A) 6...Qc7 7.Bd3 g6 8.0-0 Bg7 9.Nf3 Nbd7 didn’t stop it then Black would advance the b-
10.Qe1 pawn: 10.Kh1 b5
A1) 10...e5?! An example of the dangers to be
found here for Black: the illustrated game 8...Be7 9.Bd3 0-0 10.0-0 Nc5 11.Kh1 exf4
Nunn – Cserna in a few pages’ time. (We
These days, the direct 11...d5 would be
would transpose to it directly if White played
chosen. The last word on this position has not
11.a4 here.) Meanwhile, in another of our
yet been spoken.
games Black chose to castle on this move
instead. 12.Bxf4 Bg4 13.Qd2
A2) 10...b5 11.e5 [11.Kh1 Bb7 12.a3 Nc5
13.Bd2 d5 Petrov – Sammalvuo, 2001.]
11...dxe5 12.fxe5 Ng4 13.e6 fxe6 14.Qh4
Nde5 15.Nxe5 Nxe5 16.Be4 Bb7 with
dynamic equality was seen in Almasi – Lalic,
1996.

Position after: 13.Qd2

Polgar – Kamsky, 1996.

13.Qe1 A sharp move, whereby White brings
the queen over to the kingside to commence
for an attack. This was seen, for instance, in
Position after: 16...Bb7
the game Polgar – Ivanchuk, 1995.
B) 6...g6 7.Be2 Bg7 8.Be3 [8.0-0 offers fewer
chances for an advantage. 8...0-0 9.Kh1 Nbd7
10.a4 Qc7 11.a5 b5 12.axb6 Nxb6 and MODEL GAME for White
Black’s position could be considered
Nunn, John DM and then nestled the dark-squared bishop
Cserna, Laszlo safely in the fianchettoed position.
Lugano 1984
10.0-0 Bg7
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6
5.Nc3 a6 6.f4 e5

Nunn wrote in “Beating the Sicilian 3” that

this was Black’s most popular choice.

7.Nf3 Qc7 8.a4 Nbd7 9.Bd3 g6

It is important for Black to get his f8-bishop

into the game in some way. The development
to e7 seems logical, however this has a
drawback – namely, it allows White the idea
of Nf3-h4-f5 gaining tempo against the
bishop. Position after: 10...Bg7
To help illustrate the last comment, let us give
A good moment for White to take note of his
an example line. 9...Be7 10.0-0 0-0 11.Qe1
various ideas. It is fairly clear that Black
wants to castle kingside, and therefore equally
clear that White should direct his attack
thence. This he can accomplish in a few ways,
but most of them include the manoeuvre Qd1-
e1-h4. At that moment White can choose how
to unveil his c1-bishop: with fxe5 (so as not to
lose time) or else with f4-f5. With this in
mind we can see the reason why White hasn’t
developed his bishop to e3 or d2: Nunn would
like to bring it from c1 all the way to h6 in a
single move!

Position after: 11.Qe1 11.Qe1 0-0?!

and now the further development of Black ‘castles into it’. With hindsight, this
Fernandez – Gulamali, 2003, was that was inadvisable.
White’s f3-knight (after a preparatory fxe5, One move that comes into consideration is
...dxe5) reached h4 and threatened to go to f5. 11...b6. Black develops his queen’s flank and
If and when Black plays ...g6 here, he will retains the option of playing ...h7-h6 in case
surely wish that he had begun with that move White tries the Bh6 ideas mentioned in the
last note.
12.fxe5 dxe5 for example, the following could occur.
14.Bg5 Nxd3 15.cxd3 Qb6+ [15...Nh5?
Here 12...Nxe5?! isn’t the right solution for 16.Nd5 and White is almost winning.]
Black because of 13.Nxe5 dxe5 14.Bg5 Qd6 16.Kh1 Black has no way to complete
15.Qh4± when it is already a bit hard to avoid development and the question of the d5-
material loss. square is still a massive one.

13.Qh4 14.Bh6 Bb7?!

As normal as this developing move seems, it

doesn’t fit the needs of the position.
The only move was 14...Qc5+ 15.Kh1 Bxh6
16.Qxh6 Rd8 making ...Qf8 possible, but here
too Black lacks the tempo needed to
consolidate his position: 17.Nd5!? with
continuing problems for him.

15.Ng5!

Position after: 13.Qh4

The queen has arrived at the square where she

will find most ‘fulfilment’ in the upcoming
struggle. Note that all White loses no time in
his attack: in particular White is developing
his queen’s bishop to h6 in one move. The
question then arises of how White can
develop his kingside initiative further after
that. To which the answer is: having played Position after: 15.Ng5!
the bishop to h6, his knight can then move to
g5, opening the f-file as a new arena of Now we can see the shape that White’s
operations. Following that, he can double on standard attack is likely to take – and often
that file with his rooks, whereupon various does in this line. White wants to provoke an
combinations immediately enter the realm of immediate crisis in Black’s camp within the
possibility. next three moves, by doubling on the f-file.

13...b6 15...Rfc8?

The Black queen’s knight is already This looks strange: Black takes his rook away
effectively tied down to its defensive duties from the kingside even as the storm clouds
on d7. If it moves away with 13...Nc5?! then, gather around his king’s position. Black wants
to involve the queen in the defense with B) The most accurate is 16.Rf2! Qc5 17.Raf1
...Qc5 + and ...Qf8. preventing Black from realising his plan of
A) It is clear that 15...Nh5? fails completely – ...Qf8. In case of 17...Bxh6 18.Qxh6 Qf8? he
White even has a trick: 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 loses two pieces for a rook: 19.Qxf8+ Rxf8
17.Rxf7+! Rxf7 18.Ne6+ picking up the 20.Rxf6 Nxf6 21.Rxf6 and White is much
queen. better.

B) After 15...Rae8 White has, among other 16...Qd6

things, the computerish yet noteworthy
16.Be2! with Bg4 in the pipeline. The queen is headed for f8 ‘as promised’.
C) In the game Rantanen – Morris, Gausdal
17.Bxg7 Kxg7
1978 15...Rfe8 was played, and now 16.Bxg7
Kxg7 17.Nxf7!? made Black’s king position
the key feature of the position. 17...Kxf7?
[White stands well even after the better
17...Qc5+ 18.Kh1 Kxf7 19.Qxh7+ Ke6
20.Rxf6+ Nxf6 21.Qxb7] 18.Qxh7+ Ke6
19.Rxf6+! Kxf6 20.Rf1+ Ke6 21.Bc4+! Kd6
[21...Qxc4 22.Qf7+ Kd6 23.Qxc4] 22.Rd1+
Kc6 23.Bd5+ Kc5 24.Bxb7 Here Black
resigned.
D) 15...Qd6 is given by Nunn in his book as
the only move, but here the ex-elite English Position after: 17...Kxg7
grandmaster is in error. 16.Rad1! would be
the answer and here it becomes obvious that 18.Nxf7!
Black’s last has not solved anything in
particular. There was but one chance for this strike, so
E) 15...Qc5+ 16.Kh1 Rfc8 could lead to the English grandmaster doesn’t wait to be
similar play to the game. asked again. As we shall see, the sacrifice is
extremely strong.
16.Kh1?!
18...Kxf7 19.Qxh7+ Ke6 20.Qxg6?!
White sensibly avoids the check on c5, but
there was a better way to do so. This completely natural move loses White’s
advantage.
A) 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 doesn’t give anything
special, because now 17.Nxf7? Kxf7 20.Rxf6+! was the way to prosecute White’s
18.Qxh7+ Ke6 19.Qxg6 Rg8 in fact leads to attack. 20...Nxf6 21.Qxb7 Having ensured a
Black making more use of the now-opened favourable material balance, White can
lines on the kingside. continue with his attack.

20...Qe7?
It is clear that Black’s king position on e6 is unveiling the power of his d3-bishop after the
untenable in the long run. The nearest refuge almost inevitable exchange on d5. These are
seems to be on c7, and Black naturally nice attacking ideas to remember.
hastens to try and get his king there via d6. Saying that, 22.Qg5! is the absolute strongest
Nunn doesn’t comment on this move, but it is move.
an error, and Black should have chosen
A) Again, 22...Rg8 fails to 23.Bc4+.
another route for his king.
B) Meanwhile, after 22...Qh5 the queen
A) Strangely enough, the only move was
executes an even more powerful switch than
20...Ke7! with the idea of reaching c7 via
the one Nunn intended: 23.Qd2! and death
another route. Now it seems Black is holding.
awaits Black somewhere on the d-file. (One
21.Rad1 [Worse is 21.Qg7+?! Kd8 22.a5
threat is Be2 followed by Qd6+.)
bxa5 23.Rxa5 Kc7∞ when Black has
weathered the storm.] 21...Rg8 [21...Qe6 also C) 22...Qg8 23.Qd2 Ke7 24.Be2 Black is not
seems possible for Black. For instance able to continue running, and modern
22.Nd5+ Bxd5 23.exd5 Qd6 24.Qg7+ Kd8 computers tell us that despite having just
and the king reaches its safe haven, retreated two pieces, White has an attack
notwithstanding that White has a decent which is nearly unstoppable.
amount of play left.] 22.Qf5 This position is
unclear. 22...Ke7 23.Nd5+

B) The other natural defensive move Completely consistent with what had gone
20...Rg8? , we should mention, walks into a before, but again not quite the most accurate.
skewer: 21.Bc4+ and White nets material.
The surprising 23.Rxf6! was a stronger way to
21.Rad1! break through.
A) After 23...Nxf6 there follows a string of
Here we see the importance of choosing the forcing moves: 24.Qxe5+ Kf7 25.Rf1 Qg7
right route forthe white king’s flight to the 26.Nd5 Bxd5 27.Qxd5+ Ke7 28.Qe5+ Kf7
queenside. and now the lethal yet quiet 29.Qd4!!

21...Qh7

Black can’t ignore White’s setup on the d-file:

21...Kd6? 22.Bb5+ Kc7 23.Bxd7 Nxd7
24.Rf7 and White wins the house.

22.Qg3

Nunn must have had at the back of his mind

that from its new home the white queen has
the option of Qg3-b3 – or Qg3-a3 in case
Black retreats his king to e7. More Position after: 29.Qd4!!
immediately, he would like to play Nd5,
 John Nunn in the eighties (photo Jos Sutmuller) Kxd5 Black can only go forward. [31...Kc7
loses the queen to 32.Rxd7+ Rxd7 33.Qxe8]
32.c4+ Kc5 33.b4+ Kxb4 34.Qd6+ and the
king hunt will end in success.

23...Bxd5 24.exd5

Position after: 24.exd5

with a winning position. White has four
pawns for a rook, but a much more major 24...Qh6?
feature of the position is his threat of e4-e5 –
winning yet more material.the white king has This blunder lets White play some spectacular
no more shelter and the threat of Bc4+ is also tactics.
deadly. However, we cannot blame Nunn – The only move was 24...e4! but nevertheless
then one of the best calculators in the world – Nunn’s attack would likely have reached its
for not noticing this latent possibility. logical end after 25.Rde1 Rg8 [25...Rh8!? is a
B) 23...Kxf6 24.Nd5+! Bxd5 [24...Kf7 decent attempt to bail out: 26.Bxe4 Nxe4
25.Qg5! Ke8 26.Rf1 and there is nothing that 27.Rxe4+ Qxe4 28.Re1 Qxe1+ 29.Qxe1+ but
can be done about Be2-h5+.] 25.exd5 Qh5 this endgame also holds chances only for
26.Rf1+ Ke7 27.Qg7+ Kd6 28.Bf5 White White.] 26.Qc7! when White breaks through.
keeps up the pressure on Black’s best
defender – which is the knight on d7. 28...Rd8 25.d6+!
29.Bg4! A retreat to allow the f1-rook to join
Beautifully played by the British attacking
in the fun. 29...Qe8 30.Rf7 The biggest threat
maestro.
is now Qg6+ followed by Qc6+. 30...Ra7 The
maximalist move, but now Black will find his 25...Kd8
king gets hunted down! [Meanwhile, the
obvious 30...Kc7 loses to 31.Re7, though 25...Kxd6 is naturally impossible. 26.Bf5+
maybe Black could survive a few more moves Kc7 27.Bxd7 Nxd7 28.Rf7 Rd8 29.Qxe5+
with the best defence 30...Rac8.] 31.Qg6+ and the defence is overwhelmed.
26.Bf5! – as in this game – then there is the possibility
of a sacrifice on f7 to crack open the king’s
Strong and simple. Black’s knights are in a position. After that happened, let us recap the
tangle. finish of the attack. White had an attack as
well as the three pawns for the piece, so Black
26...Ra7 27.Bxd7 Rxd7 was always going to face problems. His king
was stuck in the middle and was prevented
from ‘doing a runner’ by the quiet move
Rad1. The trade on d5 (Nd5, ...Bxd5, exd5)
further broke open the centre and set the stage
for some tactics. When White played d5-d6+,
all the tactics fell into place and Black’s king
was forced back to his back rank, breaking in
the process the last fragments of co-ordination
in his position. The game was finally ended
by a nice ‘back rank mate’ motif.
To clarify, the mate is 28.Rxf6 Qxf6 29.Qg8+
Qf8 30.Qxf8#.

Position after: 27...Rxd7 1-0

Or 27...Nxd7 28.Qg8+.
MODEL GAME for White
28.Rxf6!
Nunn, John DM (2575)
Facing mate on the back rank, Black had to Gruenfeld, Yehuda (2500)
resign. There are a few lessons we can take Telex 1981
away from this game. Firstly when Black
plays ...g7-g6, he telegraphs his intention to 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6
fianchetto and White should continue
5.Nc3 a6 6.f4 Qc7 7.Nf3 Nbd7 8.Bd3 g6
immediately with Qd1-e1-h4 so as to play
with his queen on the kingside. Secondly, 9.0-0 Bg7 10.Qe1
White’s attack is time-critical, and often he
must take on e5 as the means of opening his
bishop’s line from c1. (When it reaches h6
and is traded for Black’s bishop, the squares
around Black’s king will be weak.) Another
good reason for f4xe5 is that it opens the f-file
for the use of White’s rooks. Thirdly, a final
attacking unit can sometimes be added: the
knight from d4, routed via f3 to g5. If Black
wants to bring his queen to f8 to help with the
defence, he must first find a way to move his
rook out of the way, which will – at least
momentarily – weaken the king’s flank.
Position after: 10.Qe1
Finally, if White has brought his knight to g5
10...0-0 manoeuvre with 14.Ng5 when he retains
pressure on the kingside.
Here 10...b5 is seen as the best reply. By
waiting a bit with castling, Black is able to 14.Ng5
slow down his opponent’s kingside attack. At
the same time, though, the king doesn’t stand Now White proceeds directly, without
so well in the centre and White could try and bothering with Bh6.
attack it there, for instance proceeding with:
14...Nc5?
11.e5 dxe5 12.fxe5 Ng4 13.e6 fxe6 14.Qh4
with some compensation for the pawn. Black has not realised just what an important
defensive function his knight on d7 was
11.Qh4 b5 12.f5
fulfilling.

Position after: 12.f5 Position after: 14...Nc5?

Nunn, playing White, continues in the It was obligatory to take the knight fork on e6
approved method. His bishop will arrive on out of the equation completely: 14...Qb6+ and
h6 in one tempo, and here (as before) he now 15.Kh1 Nh5 when nothing is clear yet.
doesn’t spend time playing Kh1 or Be3. After
that, there can follow Ng5 and a doubling on 15.Rxf6!
the f-file, with near-inevitable sacrifices
The first sacrifice to bring the white king out
thereafter.
of its defensive shell.
12...Bb7 13.fxg6 fxg6
15...Rxf6 16.Qxh7+ Kf8 17.Be3
We should mention that in principle it is
White continues with his development. This
dangerous for Black to play 13...hxg6 though
move also ensures that the motif of ...Nxd3
it seems to be objectively fine here. White
followed by ...Qc5+ and ...Rf1# ceases being
would be wise to prevent his opponent from
an issue in this game.
executing his intended ...Qc5-h5 defensive
17...Nxd3 Definitely not 22.Rf1?? because after
22...Qxf1+ 23.Kxf1 Rxe3 Black is lots of
Reinforcing the e6-point with 17...Qc8 material ahead.
doesn’t work either, because the other light
squares are equally weak. 18.Nd5! Bxd5 22...Qxe6 23.Bh6!
19.exd5 Qg4 20.Bxg6 and the attack will
reach its logical conclusion soon. The strongest move.

18.cxd3 Qd7

Position after: 23.Bh6!

Here Black resigned.

Position after: 18...Qd7
It is important to see that 23.Bh6 Bxh6 runs
19.Nd5! into 24.Qh8+! Kf7 25.Rf1+ Qf6 26.Rxf6+
exf6 27.Qxa8 winning.
Very well played by Nunn, who handled this 1-0
attack extremely strongly.
Also natural was 19.Rf1 to swap off Black’s
best defensive piece. MODEL GAME for Black

19...Bxd5 20.exd5 Lutz, Christopher (2610)

Svidler, Peter (2713)
White has reinforced his control over the e6- Frankfurt 1999
square again, and his knight is poised to land
there with powerful effect. 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6
5.Nc3 a6 6.f4 g6 7.Be2 Bg7 8.0-0 0-0 9.Kh1
20...Qf5 21.Ne6+ Rxe6 Nbd7 10.a4 Qc7 11.a5

Black has to give material back. With this move, White tries to clamp down on
the opponent’s queenside, but it will not be so
22.dxe6
simple.

11...b5
Black nevertheless frees his queenside. 16.Ra2?!

12.axb6 Nxb6 This sensible move looks like the right way to
reinforce White’s position. But now Black
obtains very active play. It was better to
attack the b7-bishop and take the bishop-pair.
16.Na5! Nc5 17.Nxb7 Qxb7 18.f5 White’s
idea is then not to prevent the likes of
18...Bxc3 19.bxc3 Nbd7 but rather to ensure
that in the resulting position there is an
interesting imbalance to play with. White has
two bishops against two knights, which is
normally an advantage, although here the
knights can count on occupying fairly strong
central outposts. [Ftacnik gave the line
19...Nxd3?! which gains a pawn but leads to a
Position after: 12...Nxb6 decisive advantage for White. 20.cxd3 Rxc3?
21.Qf2 f6 22.Rb1 Rc6 23.Be3 Rb8 24.d4!+–
As befits a ‘proper’ Najdorf player, Svidler
White is at least winning back his material
has the d5-square well controlled.
and has by far the better minor piece.]
13.Nb3 Bb7 14.Bd3 Nfd7 15.Qe2 Rfc8
16...Nc4 17.Nd5

The exchange on c4 is bad for White because

Black now gets a typical Sicilian advantage:
17.Bxc4? Qxc4 18.Qxc4 Rxc4 19.Na5 Rc7!
20.Nxb7 Bxc3 21.Nxd6 A ‘desperado’ move.
[21.bxc3 Rxb7 22.Be3 Rc7µ leads to excellent
endgame prospects for Black.] 21...Bg7
22.Nb5 Rxc2 23.Na3 Re2µ Here Black holds
all the trump cards.

17...Bxd5 18.exd5 Nf6

Position after: 15...Rfc8
A logical idea, seeing that the d5-pawn is at
Perhaps 15...Rac8 was even more accurate. this moment without defenders.
16.Na5 [White gains nothing by 16.Bxa6
because with 16...Bxa6 17.Rxa6 Bxc3 19.Qf3
18.bxc3 Qxc3 Black regains his pawn with a
favourable position.] 16...Nc5 17.Nxb7 Qxb7
Black has achieved a measure of control over
the position.
 The pawn can’t be kept. 22.c4 Ra8! 23.Bb5
Nxc4 24.Qc3 Rc8 sees Black get it back, and
d5 is still under attack as well.

22...Nbxd5 23.Bd2 Nb4 24.Bxb4 Rxb4

25.f5?!

White wanted to keep some offensive

possibilities, but this is not a good decision.

Position after: 19.Qf3

Peter Svidler (photo Harry Gielen)

Position after: 25.f5?!

Better is 25.Ra1 but Black is nevertheless for

choice after 25...e6! 26.Ra8+ Rb8 27.Nd2 d5.

25...d5!

The general rule is that when Black gets ...d6-

d5 in, he begins controlling the flow of the
game. The rule applies here: not only does
Black have good control over important
central squares, but there also exist
possibilities to play against White’s king
position with Rc4-h4 and/or ...Nf6-g4, or
Following 19.Nd2 Nxd2 20.Bxd2 Nxd5 21.f5 against the weak pawns on White’s
we reach some kind of dynamic balance. queenside.

19...Nb6!? 26.fxg6?!

Exchanging the a6 and d5 pawns seems like a This eases Black’s task. Now 26.Ra1 is well
good deal for Black. met by 26...Rh4! 27.Ra8+ Bf8 28.g3 Ng4 and
this is already almost winning for Black. The
20.Rxa6 Rxa6 21.Bxa6 Rb8 22.Bd3 ugly 26.g3 seems to be the best option.
26...hxg6 27.Qf2 e6

Position after: 30...Ne5

The Black forces occupy commanding

Position after: 27...e6 positions and dominate the board. White
cannot avoid material loss.
Black strengthens his central pawn formation,
but the most important feature of this move is 31.Rb1 Nc4 32.Bxc4 dxc4 33.Nd2
that his queen will now afford extra protection
Jumping to a5 instead offers White no solace:
to the f7-pawn. This frees up the knight for
33.Na5 Rb4 34.c3 Ra4 35.b4 cxb3 36.Nxb3
ventures elsewhere.
Qxc3 and Black stands much better.
28.g3
33...c3! 34.Ne4 Qc6 35.Kg1 Rb4 36.Ra1
White’s dark squares are too weak after 28.h3
White, seeing the hopelessness of his
Nh5 29.Rb1 Bf8µ.
position, chose to resign without waiting for
28...Ng4 29.Qe1 Rb6 30.Qe2 Black’s reply.
0-1
30.Qc1? gives Black a chance for decisive
material gain: 30...Rxb3! 31.cxb3 Nf2+
32.Kg2 Qxc1 33.Rxc1 Nxd3 with a winning MODEL GAME for Black
endgame.
Al Modiahki, Mohamad (2550)
30...Ne5 Anand, Viswanathan (2755)
Hyderabad 2002

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6

5.Nc3 a6 6.f4

In contemporary grandmaster praxis, this

possibility is no longer so popular because it
is considered relatively ‘innocuous’. But
because Al Modiahki had won against 8.a4 g6
Hamdouchi with this move earlier in the
event, Anand had to take it seriously in his
preparation.

6...Qc7

This early queen move by Black serves to

eliminate White’s idea of Bc4 and set up an
idea of his own, i.e. ...e7-e5.

Position after: 8...g6

Nowthe white setup is some kind of cross

between a Najdorf and a Dragon.

9.Bd3 Bg7 10.0-0 0-0

Position after: 6...Qc7

7.Nf3

White doesn’t have to fall in line with his

opponent’s plans.
7.Bd3 is more often played. Black can meet
this with 7...e5 [7...g6 has also been played]
and then White generally goes back anyway
with 8.Nf3. Position after: 10...0-0

7...Nbd7 11.Kh1

Najdorf players have always been fond of the Nunn wrote that this prophylaxis may not be
knight development to d7. strictly necessary.
Due to the particular move-order, if Black White could continue with the immediate
plays 7...e6, White is no longer able to 11.Qe1
assume the piece formation defined by Qf3,
Be3 and the push g2-g4 (which as we have
already seen can be somewhat dangerous.)
 Position after: 12...Bb7
Position after: 11.Qe1
13.Bd2
in an attempt to reach an attacking formation
White completes his development.
known to us from the game Nunn – Cserna
elsewhere in these pages. After 13.e5 dxe5 14.fxe5 Ng4 the e5-pawn
will be lost, since 15.e6?! leads to even worse
Anand wrote in his notes to this game that
consequences: 15...Nc5 16.exf7+ Rxf7
there was also a possibility for White to
17.Bc4 e6 and Black’s pieces are
proceed with 11.Qe2 , setting up a quick e4-
tremendously active.
e5 break.
13...Nc5 14.b4
11...b6 12.Qe2
This move fits in with White’s plans.
Al Modiahki had a different plan in mind, one
that isn’t so often seen. Once more 14.e5 dxe5 15.fxe5 Ng4 would
not achieve the desired effect for White.
As above, White again had the chance to go
for the setup with a queen on h4, beginning 14...Ncd7
with 12.Qe1 .

12...Bb7

This normal, natural developing move also

has the side benefit that White cannot play e4-
e5 for now.

Position after: 14...Ncd7

Black has lost some time, as well as the use of 16...Rae8
the c5-square, but these factors are of less
importance than the weaknesses White has Anand develops his last piece and prepares a
made in his position. central pawn break.
14...Nxd3 15.cxd3 sees White trade in the It is no secret that the text move was intended
bishop-pair for reasonable compensation: he to support the push 16...e5 , but it turns out
has little ideas in various regions of the board Black can also execute it immediately.
while Black lacks active options and must 17.fxe5 [Maybe 17.f5 could be interesting for
instead sit and wait (his normal play along the White.] 17...Nxe5 18.Nxe5 dxe5 19.Nd1
c-file now being entirely without any targets.) Nh5 and it seems like Black has no problems.
It is noteworthy that after 20.c4 he has
15.a5 20...Nf4!?

This must be done now, to stop Black having 17.Nd1

the option of playing ...a5 himself and
opening up the c5-square for use by his Both sides are strictly following their declared
queen’s knight again. plans.

15...b5 17...e5 18.c4 bxc4

Of course Black should think about trying to

use the dynamics of the long diagonal in his
favour. The logical way to do this would be
15...Nh5 16.Nd5 [16.Ra3 Nxf4! and the
bishop on d2 is overloaded] 16...Bxd5
17.exd5 Bxa1 18.Rxa1.
However, Anand would have been aware that
this position entails significant risks for him
as well. Both his bishops are gone from the
board and the two knights which remain are
not exceptionally well placed. The Position after: 18...bxc4
compromising of his king safety may prove a
relevant factor in what is to come, and it is 19.Rxc4?!
clear that White has at least fair compensation
It looks more normal to take back with the
for the exchange.
bishop, but White didn’t want to leave the e4-
16.Rac1 pawn unprotected. After 19.Bxc4 Qb8
20.Bxa6 Bxa6 21.Qxa6 Nxe4 22.Rb1 we
White doesn’t feel like allowing any further would have reached an unclear position where
tactical ideas along the long diagonal, and both sides are ploughing ahead with their
hastens to remove his rook from it. On c1 the enough play through the centre in exchange
rook also lends support to a future c2-c4.
for White’s connected passers the queenside?
I think so, but one respective plans at pace.
Does Black get can never be certain!

19...Qb8 20.fxe5

Position after: 23.Qf2

23...Rxd5

Of the three attractive options, Anand opts for

this move. The white pieces are slightly out of
Position after: 20.fxe5 sync with each other, whilethe white ones are
nicely arranged. Both bishops cut through the
20...d5! centre along the long diagonals, and also his
major pieces and knight participate fully in
This finesse has become possible because of the battle.
the way White has played. As Anand was to
A) A logical possibility is 23...Bxd5, also
say: ‘A nice trick, even if it isn’t as good as I
leading to an advantage for Black after an
thought’.
exchange of blows: 24.Bf4 Ng4 25.Qc2 Bxc4
21.exd5 26.Qxc4 Bh6 27.Bxe5 Nxe5 28.Qxa6 Qxb4
While White’s passed pawn is certainly
The point is that after 21.exf6 Black takes strong, his pieces are so poorly arranged that
back on f6: 21...Nxf6! and this gives him a the evaluation cannot favour him.
clear advantage. B) Black could also play 23...Nxd5. After
both 24.Be4 and 24.Be2 Black would obtain
21...Nxe5 22.Nxe5 Rxe5 23.Qf2
the upper hand.

24.Bc2
 By playing this, Anand would have quickly
overcome his own pessimistic impressions of
the position. A new piece comes into the
game and in the following lines White’s
position begins to look extremely dodgy.
25.Bf4?! [Or similarly 25.Ne3 Rg5] 25...Qd8
In the face of the numerous and imminent
threats (among them ...Ng4 and ...Rh5) White
does not have many sensible defences.

25.Bc1?!
Position after: 24.Bc2
Al Modiahki makes another mistake.
Although this position is somewhat in his
Tougher was 25.Bc3 Rg5 26.Ne3 when,
favour, Anand got the impression that the
crucially, Black is not able to win
white formation is still quite robust.
immediately with 26...Nd5 thanks to the
24...Qd8 resource 27.Be4!

Perhaps not the most promising continuation. 25...Re8!

Anand analyzes various other options, but
Black brings his last piece into the centre.
perhaps yet another move evaded his notice.
White’s defences against the as-yet-undefined
A) 24...Rh5: After this White can play threats are becoming harder to arrange.
25.Bf4! when Black still has some edge, but it
Another way to a large advantage was
is unclear whether it is really enough to press
25...Re5 going for a domination approach. For
for a win.
instance 26.Ne3 Qe7 and Black manages to
B) 24...Rfd8: oddly enough, this move also get the job done, bit by bit.
doesn’t give good results after 25.Bf4 Qa8
26.Nc3 R5d7 27.Na4 26.Nc3 Rh5 27.Kg1
C) 24...Re8! was the move Anand didn’t give.

Position after: 27.Kg1

Position after: 24...Re8!
Since the white king wasn’t feeling so
comfortable along the long diagonal.

27...Kh8

Anand awards himself an exclamation mark

for this, but I am not so sure, and almost gave
it the ‘dubious’ symbol. The move serves two
purposes: a waiting move in a position where
White cannot easily find something to do
himself, and also preparation for moving the
f6-knight (i.e. if he does so now, then Qxf7 Position after: 28...Qb8
will no longer come with check.) However, it
is a fairly unnatural move and in addition, 28...Qe7 was again worth considering.
Black has something better.
29.Rc7
The move 27...Qe7 would have made more
constructive use of Black’s advantages. White Cutting out a significant part of Black’s play.
is at a loss for a good move. For instance: A) 29.Qc7? doesn’t work because of
28.Rd1 [28.h3 Nd5! 29.Nxd5 Bxd5 30.Rc5 29...Qxc7 30.Rxc7 Ng4!µ 31.Rxb7? Bd4+
Qb7 is also problematic for White] 28...Qe6!
B) 29.h3 looks rather implausible but the
poses White great problems because of the
attempt to punish it backfires spectacularly:
double threat of ...Qxc4 and ...Ng4.
29...Rxh3? 30.Bf4 and White wins! Thus,
28.Qb6?! White wins the necessary time with which to
protect himself.
After long deliberation, White chose this
queen move. But besides getting him into 29...Ng4! 30.Bf4
time trouble, the move also failed in its main
intention of defusing some of Black’s threats.
White could have tried to free himself more
convincingly by 28.Rd1, when the idea
analogous to the one from my previous
comment doesn’t work so well: 28...Qe7
29.h3 Qe6 30.Rc7. Because Black has lost
time on ...Kh8, he is no longer able to play
...Ng4 here and so White gets counterplay.

28...Qb8
Position after: 30.Bf4

30...Qd8!
Anand must have seen this from afar. But Black was bluffing: White could simply
take the bishop on b7 with 32.Qxb7 and now
31.Rc4 after 32...Nxh2 White is in time to defend
himself against the threat of ...Ng4 and mate.
33.Qc6! This move is not so easy to notice in
extreme time-trouble. White needs to shove
the e8-rook away from the e-file, and then
none of Black’s tricks work any more.
33...Rf8 34.g3 The attack will be beaten back.
A terrible trick which Anand surely intended
to play on his opponent comes about in the
line 33.Qxf7??

Position after: 31.Rc4

The only move to prevent Black’s threat of

...Bd4+.

31...Qh4?

Anand: ‘However, since he was down to 7

seconds, I couldn’t resist just bashing out this
move’. It turns out to have been a bad mistake
that could have cost him the whole game. Position after: 33.Qxf7??

A) Instead 31...Qa8 32.Be4 is just equal. The 33...Nf3+!! Now White loses. 34.gxf3
weakness of Black’s back rank prevents him [34.Rxf3 Qh1+ 35.Kf2 Qe1#] 34...Qh1+
from taking the offered piece. 32...Bxe4 35.Kf2 Rh2+ 36.Bxh2 Qxh2#.
33.Nxe4 Rxe4? 34.Rxe4 Qxe4 35.Qd8+ Bf8
36.Qxf8#. 32...Qg5! 33.Bf4
B) 31...Qxb6+ 32.axb6 is nothing special for
The answer to this, though, will have come as
Black either because 32...Bxc3 can be met by
a rude awakening to White.
33.Bd1! [33.Rxc3 Re2].
C) Much stronger was 31...Qd7! when Black
still has the upper hand.

32.Bg3?

The white player thinks he has found a clever

move repetition to bring him closer to the
time control.
 34.Qxb7?

After this move, Black’s attack is irresistible,

and an attacking maestro like Anand could be
relied upon to finish the job.
A) 34.Bxh2 was the damage-limiting move.
34...Nxh2 [Once again, 34...Bxg2?? would
even lose to 35.Bf4!] 35.Ne4 [35.Qxb7 Nxf1
36.Kxf1 Bxc3 37.Rxc3 Qc1+ is losing for
White] Now Black has 35...Qd5! , with a
likely (but not certain) win.
Position after: 33.Bf4
B) If the queen is taken Black has mate in
No longer is it possible to take on b7: three: 34.Bxg5 Rxg2+ 35.Kh1 Rh2+ 36.Kg1
33.Qxb7 Qe3+ 34.Bf2 [34.Kh1 Qxg3] Rh1#.
34...Nxf2 35.Rxf2 and now the pretty
35...Qxc3! would be the right way to finish 34...Qh5 35.g3 Rxc2
off the exchange of tactics. 36.Rxc3 Re1+
37.Rf1 Bd4+ and mate in two. And White resigned.
After 35...Rxc2 36.Qh1 Qxh1+ 37.Kxh1
33...Rxh2!! Rxc3 Black will simply be a piece up.

A great move! 0-1

Viswanathan Anand: many years at the top (photo Jos Sutmuller)

 Position after: 5...a6

6.Bc4

This move, with a specific associated plan,

b) Fischer-Sozin Attack: 6.Bc4 was popularized and often played by Bobby
Fischer. We will soon discuss the most
important idea behind this bishop move.
Fischer thought so highly of it at one point
that he believed he would win with it for sure
against any living player. This prompted a
question from a journalist, “Mr. Fischer, are
you playing so well that you could beat God
too?” To which he answered: “No, I wouldn’t
win against God, though... I think I could
draw with him, if he played the Najdorf and
allowed me to play Bc4...”

6...e6 7.Bb3
An important variation is the so-called
Fischer-Sozin Attack with 6.Bc4. White spends time relocating his bishop.
There are three reasons for this otherwise
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 seemingly uncalled – for move, which are
5.Nc3 a6 related but distinct: firstly, White does not
want ...b7-b5 to come with tempo; secondly,
White does not want to be confronted with an
unexpected ...d6-d5; and thirdly White would
like to remove the idea of simplifying
combinations based on ...Nf6xe4 from
consideration.
Position after: 7.Bb3 Position after 17. Nd8!!+–

For a while people have also been

experimenting with 7.a3. Although it is a
somewhat slow move, this small pawn move
Veselin Topalov (photo Jos Sutmuller)
has two advantages: the bishop can withdraw
to a2, avoiding the unwelcome attentions of
the opposing knights with which Black often
tries to trade it off in other lines; and the pawn
push ...b7-b5-b4 is slowed down, reducing the
amount of pressure Black can create against
the e4-pawn. 7...Be7 8.Ba2 A nice attacking
game in which White’s attacking chances are
showcased is Berg – Bezemer, Maastricht
2011. And a counterpart wherein Black’s
counterattack succeeds instead: Seeman –
Morovic, 1998. [It is, however, more common
to first include castling for both sides with
8.0-0 0-0.]

7...b5

To the question of how Black intends to

develop, the answers are mostly clear: ...Be7,
...Nbd7 and ...0-0 in combination with a
queenside fianchetto. The queen will likely come to c7. Of course,
Black should take care when choosing the
move order, among other things to avoid
Topalov – Kasparov, Amsterdam 1996 motifs of Bxe6 or to discourage f4-f5 (as we
shall see.)
A) The most logical development is 7...Be7 15...Qe5 16.Nxg7+ Kf8 17.Ne6+ Kf7
but we won’t consider this line. 18.Rhe1
B) It has been known for some time that
Black stays quite safe if he first plays to
defend the e6-pawn. 7...Nbd7 The horse
heads for c5 where it not only gives pawn e6
extra protection, but it can also trade itself off
for the strong bishop on b3. Kasparov has
often played this set-up and he was followed
by (among others) Anand and Topalov; and
even later, French top player Vachier –
Lagrave. Kasparov won great matches with it
(for example Bauer – Kasparov, 2001), but in
1996 he was comprehen sively beaten by Position after 18.Rhe1
Topalov in a beautiful attacking game at the
Euwe Memorial. The move 17.Nd8! is With 18.Nxc5+ White would have taken back
especially pictureesque. Recently in the rapid a piece with check and achieved an
game Amonatov – Artemiev, 2018, Black advantage, but after 18...Kg6 19.Bxf6 Qxf6
won a handsome victory. 20.Nxb7 Nd4 Black is very much in the
game.

18...Qxe1?
Ivanchuk – Karjakin, 2008
Karjakin does not see how to calm the
hornet’s nest that has been stirred up. The
only way to get out alive was 18...Bxf2! since
after 19.Rxe5 Nxe5 20.Nd8+ Kg6 21.Bxf6
Kxf6 22.Nxb7 Rhf8! Black has solved his
issues.

19.Nxc5+ Kg6 20.Rxe1 Kxg5 21.Nxb7

In this position the legendary inspiration of

the Ukrainian grandmaster struck again. He
took on e6...with the queen!

14.Qxe6+!? fxe6 15.Nxe6

The strange thing is, White initially only gets

two pawns for the queen.
Position after 21.Nxb7

With three pawns for the exchange and an

ongoing attack White has a winning position.
He reeled in the full point on move 49.

8.0-0

8.Bg5 also has its supporters. In the context of Position after: 16.Qe4
this move we should mention a rapid game
Ivanchuk – Karjakin, 2008, wherein White and White’s initiative is so overwhelming
played a stunning queen sacrifice. (possible continuation Bh6 and Re1) that
nobody has volunteered forthe white side, nor
8...Be7 should they.
A2) 10...e5 Keeping the f-file closed, but now
The safest way to ‘survive’ the opening. It is
the bishop on b3 becomes immensely strong.
much less advisable to develop the queenside
11.Qh5 Qd7 12.Nxe4 Bxe4 13.Re1 Together
before sorting out the king’s position. 8...Bb7
with the next move, this strong idea yields
9.f4
White a winning position. 13...d5

Position after: 9.f4

Position after: 13...d5
White has no need of the e4-pawn.
14.Rxe4! dxe4 15.Ne6 Nc6 16.Be3 The a1-
A) 9...Nxe4? would be strongly met by 10.f5! rook will soon become involved and Black’s
A1) 10...exf5? 11.Rxf5 is not a tenable defences will be breached.
position for Black, e.g. 11...Nf6 12.Qe1+ Be7 B) 9...Nc6 10.Nxc6 Bxc6
13.Rxf6! gxf6 14.Nd5 Bxd5 15.Bxd5 Ra7
16.Qe4
 Now we see the main point of White’s
strategy. 15.Bxf6! Trading his beautiful
bishop for a knight... 15...Bxf6 16.Bd5! ...and
then the other bishop, for Black’s bishop of
the same colour. 16...Rac8 17.Bxc6 Rxc6
18.Rad1 Rfc8 19.Nd5 Qd8 20.c3 Be7

Position after: 10...Bxc6

11.f5! This is the whole idea of White’s

opening concept. By increasing the pressure
on e6, he tries to provoke Black to play the
weakening pawn move ...e6-e5. We have seen
cases quite often in these pages where Black
Position after: 20...Be7
can afford to do that, but things are a bit
different with the bishop on b3. Quite how Reaching a famous position that appeared in a
different, we will see soon in a Fischer game. game of ex-world champion Bobby Fischer
11...e5 12.Qd3 Defending the e4-pawn is both against Gadia, Mar del Plata 1960. The
natural and necessary. 12...Be7 [Given the American once wrote about this: “This is a
game continuation and several decades’ position that I only get in my dreams”. By this
computer-aided hindsight, the move 12...h6!? he means that he has achieved his main
seems to be better. Nevertheless White is for strategic goals. To enumerate: possession of
choice after 13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.Bxd5 Bxd5 the d5-square, occupation of the d5-square by
15.Qxd5 .] 13.Bg5 Qb6+ 14.Kh1 0-0 a knight, the passivity of Black’s bishop on
e7... We will see in a few pages how the
remainder of that game continued.

9.f4

White increases his influence on the center

and the queenside. He is now ready for an
advance of one of the two pawns. Both e4-e5
and f4-f5 (aiming to disturb the e6-pawn
enough to make Black cede the d5-square, by
analogy to Fischer – Gadia) are popular ways
Position after: 14...0-0 to follow up.

9...0-0
 powerful kingside attack. Ideas like Rxf7
come into the position – or a rook lift on the
third rank – and there is also Nc3-e4 bringing
the knight into the action. To begin with,
Black uses a little tactical resource.

12...Nc6

In a game Anand – Kasparov, 1996 12...Bc5

was chosen and it turned out Black also had
enough play here.
Position after: 9...0-0
13.Nxc6 Qb6+ 14.Be3!?
10.e5
No hesitation!
Not in the style of the Fischer – Gadia game,
but this is the most common choice in 14...Qxc6
practice.
14...Qxe3+ is definitely not a better choice for
There are of course also supporters of the Black, because after 15.Kh1 Qg5 16.Qf3 he
other push. 10.f5 However, as we shall see in faces serious problems, as in a game Stehno –
the game Anand – Ivanchuk, 1991, Black Jedlicka, 1999.
turns out not to have any problems here
either. 15.Rf3 Bb7 16.Rg3

10...dxe5 11.fxe5 Nfd7 12.Qh5

Position after: 16.Rg3

Position after: 12.Qh5 16...Bc5

This is the basis of White’s idea.the white In a game Milu – Navrotescu, 1999, it turned
knight on f6 is no longer in a good defensive out that Black had little to fear after 16...g6
position and by rapidly transferring the pieces and in fact managed to bring home the full
to the king’s wing, White threatens to obtain a point after a convincing counterattack.
17.Re1 White now has very good prospects of placing
a piece on the d5-square permanently.
The white attack has failed to gain traction
and Black can hope for a better end game due 11...e5
to the weak pawn on e5. The space advantage
on the queenside also helps. In Groselj – Yes, I know what I said, but does the e6-pawn
Bukic, 1996, Black gave a nice demonstration really have to move? Let’s investigate
of how to defuse White’s initiative and then reinforcing it with the queen instead. 11...Qd7
win the game by accumulating small The answer is that this move is slightly better
advantages. than the text, but Black will nevertheless
encounter significant problems. The clearing
of the a2-g8 diagonal and the f-file can only
MODEL GAME for White ever be of benefit to White, who already has
pieces in place to use those lines. 12.fxe6 fxe6
Fischer, Robert James Now let’s look forward another few moves,
Gadia, Olicio beginning with the cautious 13.a3 to remove
Mar del Plata 1960 ...b4 from the picture and only then focus
attention on the weak e6-pawn. 13...Be7
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 14.Qf3 0-0 15.Qh3
5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bb3 b5 8.0-0 Bb7 9.f4
Nc6 10.Nxc6 Bxc6 11.f5!

Position after: 15.Qh3

Black is experiencing difficulties here.

Position after: 11.f5!
12.Qd3 Be7
This is the practical idea behind White’s play
so far. He wants to place the e6-pawn under Given what happens later on in this game, of
pressure, so that it has to move and weaken course Black can consider beginning with
the d5-square. Then the d5-square would be 12...h6 , but it may well happen that the h6-
in a vice-like grip, being under the immediate pawn itself becomes a target for White (in
control of White’s b3-bishop and c3-knight. particular, for the c1-bishop.)
For instance 13.Re1 Be7 14.Qg3 and Black is
already unable to castle short because of
Bxh6.

13.Bg5!

Perfectly thematic.

13...Qb6+

The interesting attempt to break free with

13...Ng4 would be best met by 14.Qe2!
Position after: 14...0-0
which, in passing, prevents the idea of a
knight check on f2 (after the moves ...Qb6+, 15.Bxf6!
Kh1.) 14...Bxg5 15.Qxg4 and here (as in the
game) White threatens to obtain his ideal Trading off a good bishop for a knight.
formation with Bd5 next. Here, Black has
time to prevent the exchange of light-squared 15...Bxf6 16.Bd5
bishops with 15...Rc8 so as to answer 16.Bd5
This was the point of the previous move –
with 16...Bd7.
now White gets to trade the light-squared
Computers actually want to play 16...Bxd5 bishops and cement his control of the d5-
here, giving White the opportunity to plant his square further.
knight on d5 without a fight. This is because
Black can take a pawn after 17.Nxd5 Rxc2 – 16...Rac8 17.Bxc6 Rxc6 18.Rad1 Rfc8
but in fact this pawn does not compensate 19.Nd5 Qd8 20.c3 Be7
Black for his trouble. 18.h4 Bh6 (otherwise
White wins the c-file with the move Rc1)
19.b3 and White stands better.

14.Kh1 0-0

It is clear-from the lack of evasive action –

that the white player doesn’t understand the
strategic danger facing him. Lucky for us,
because now we obtain an ideal textbook
example.

Position after: 20...Be7

Fischer wrote about this position that he

usually only got such setups in his dreams.
Visually, indeed, White has a very strong grip
on the situation. The main specific feature
working in his favour is the strong knight, to and it transpires that White is much better, if
which Black’s weak bishop on e7 cannot not winning, in this position. Therefore it is a
compare. That’s because it sits on the d5- matter of taste whether this is more
square, irrevocably weakened by Black in the convincing than what Fischer played. We will
late opening phase. White has more space on see why later. 23.Qh3! The most accurate
the kingside, which is reserved for his continuation. White prepares for an as-yet-
exclusive use by the advanced ‘bulwark’ unspecified rook lift along the the third rank.
pawn on f5. In general, White’s pieces are A) Things go wrong faster after 23...Kh8?!
better centralized and harmonized than their though: 24.Rf5 Rc4 [Or 24...b4 25.Rd3 bxc3
Black counterparts. The only compensating 26.Rg3 and the threat of Qxh7+ followed by
factor Black has is some space on the Rh5# is too strong.] 25.Re1! White follows up
queenside, which is thanks to having gotten in with Re3 and it turns out that the idea of
the push b7-b5. Black would preferably like finishing with Rh5# is decisive here as well.
to push this pawn onward to b4, or else co- Still, coming up with this set of moves,
ordinate some play against the e4-pawn, in especially in the right order, is certainly not
either case using the position of his rooks on easy during a game.
the c-file.
B) 23...d5 This is the best move – doing
21.Ra1!! something to avoid getting squashed – but of
course Black will be a lot worse if he doesn’t
A formidable move, born of a very deep even have a pawn to hold onto.
strategic insight.
21...f6?!
Many players, having reached this position,
would have continued 21.f6 which is more in Trying to definitively prevent the idea of f5-
line with the expectation people have of how f6.
to ‘slay a Sicilian’... Indeed,the white king’s
This would have been better accomplished by
position would be quite desolate following
21...Bf8, notwithstanding which, White could
21...Bxf6 22.Nxf6+ gxf6
implement his queenside plan in full anyway.
22.a4
A) After 22...Rb8 there comes 23.Nb4! Rcb6
24.a5 winning major material.
B) 22...bxa4 23.Rxa4 a5 [The a-pawn will
also get surrounded and won after 23...Ra8
24.b4 followed by Rfa1.] 24.f6 g6 25.b3 Rb8
26.c4 Followed by Rfa1, whereupon the a5-
pawn will be lost.
C) 22...Rc4 23.b3 R4c5 24.axb5 axb5 25.b4
Position after: 22...gxf6 Rc4 26.f6 g6 27.Ra5 White has played every
single move that featured in his plan, right up
to the actual winning of material – which is
now unstoppable.

22.a4!

The idea behind White’s last move. He breaks

up the opponent’s structure on the queenside,
leaving weaknesses everywhere in it. We can
consider that the queenside is the logical
theatre of operations for White, because all
his pieces are poised to make a difference
there – while Black lacks one critical unit, the
bishop on e7. That piece can’t play on the Position after: 30.b5
queenside in a meaningful way. White plans
to liquidate the queenside (possibly winning a and it’s over. Notice how strong the knight is
pawn en route), obtain a passed b-pawn and at d5 and what role it plays in this position.
then use the knight to shepherd it home. Fischer probably knew right from the moment
his knight reached d5 that it would win him
22...Rb8?? the game almost without his paying any
particular attention. White can prosecute his
Black blunders, ending the fun abruptly. That
advantage at a leisurely rate, without having
is something of a shame, because I’d have
to calculate too much.
liked to be able to show the technique with
which Fischer would definitely have finished 23.Nxe7+ Qxe7
off the game in the absence of this blunder.
Better was 22...bxa4 , but then White would Black played this, and resigned without
have won exactly as mentioned in the note to waiting for the inevitable response.
his 22nd move. 23.Rxa4 a5 24.Rfa1 Rc5 25.h3 After 23...Qxe7 24.Qd5+ the rook on c6 is
Avoiding the eventuality of getting mated lost immediately.
when the c-file opens. 25...Bf8 26.b4 axb4 1-0
27.cxb4 Rc1+ 28.Kh2 R1c2 29.Qb3 Kh8
30.b5
MODEL GAME for White

Areshchenko, Alexander (2533)

Akbarinia, Syed Arash (2257)
Kuala Lumpur 2002

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6

5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.0-0 b5 8.Bb3 Bb7 9.Re1
Nbd7 10.Bg5 Nc5
Position after: 10...Nc5
Position after: 15.c4
A known mistake here is 10...Be7? which
invites a successful piece sacrifice. 11.Bxe6 A nice move with a dual point: White protects
fxe6 12.Nxe6 Qb6 13.Nxg7+ and here with his d5-pawn and simultaneously threatens
three pawns for the piece and an ongoing Qxa4+. 15...Kc7 16.Qxa4 White has virtually
attack against the exposed black king, White won the game in spite of still not having
stands better. regained the piece; this all happened in
Beliavsky – Marjanovic, 1971.
11.Bd5!
12.Bxb7 Nxb7
White begins with a bishop sacrifice at the
approved location.

11...b4

Asking for it a bit.

Taking the offer doesn’t promise Black great
success. 11...exd5 12.exd5+ Kd7 [12...Be7
simply doesn’t work at all because White
regains the material with interest after
13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.Nf5 .] 13.b4! There’s no
logical retreat for the c5-knight. 13...Na4
14.Nxa4 bxa4 15.c4 Position after: 12...Nxb7

13.Nd5!

The second sacrifice on the same square! This

one can hardly be declined, because Black
would end up in a real mess if he did.

13...exd5
A) Protecting the b4-pawn lets White show
his second threat: 13...a5 14.Bxf6 gxf6
15.Nc6 and White wins due to a cute mate:
15...Qc8 16.Nxf6#.

Position after: 15...Qa5

Black takes Qd1-a4 out of the picture, but

Position after: 16.Nxf6# finds himself faced with an attack from a new
angle.
B) 13...Rc8 stops the idea of Nc6, but Black’s
development is too poor to defend against all 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.cxb4
the threats. 14.Qf3! This strong move
Even better is 17.Nc6 Qb5 18.cxb4 whenthe
threatens 15.Nxf6+ gxf6 16.Bxf6, thus
white king has no way to leave the centre.
14...Be7 is forced. 15.Nxe7 Qxe7 Apparently
Black has things basically covered, but now 17...Qxd5
there comes: 16.Nf5! and now everything
falls apart for Black. 16...Qf8 Now, with the The floodgates are also opened wide after
help of an engine one can find the most 17...Qxb4 : 18.Rc1 [18.Qg4+ Kc7 19.Ne6+]
mathematically precise path: 17.e5! [Nothing 18...Nc5 19.Qg4+ f5 [19...Kc7 20.Ne6+
wrong with 17.Nxg7+ either.] 17...Nd5 followed by Qxb4 wins the queen] 20.Qxf5+
18.Rad1 and the attack is decisive. Kc7 21.Nc6 Qxb2 22.Qxf7+ with a won
game.
14.exd5+ Kd7 15.c3
18.Qa4+ Kc7 19.Rac1+
Now 15.Nc6 would also be quite a
respectable way to continue.

15...Qa5
 whatsoever. It is simply a case of force
majeure, and the remainder of the drama
unfolded in the expected manner, with no
surprises.

21.Red1 Rg8 22.g3 Kb6 23.Nb3 Qh5 24.Rd7

Rc8 25.Qa5+ Kc6 26.Rcd1 Qe2 27.Nd4+
cxd4 28.Qd5+ Kb6 29.Rb7#

1-0

Position after: 19.Rac1+

MODEL GAME for Black
19...Nc5
Morozevich, Alexander (2749)
Beginning to haemorrhage material in an Kasparov, Garry (2827)
already lost position. One might as well Astana 2001
resign here.
A) 19...Kb8 offers no respite because of 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6
20.Nc6+ Kc7 21.Ne7+ picking up the queen. 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bb3 b5 8.0-0 Be7

B) Meanwhile 19...Kb6 20.Rc6+ Ka7

21.Qxa6+ Kb8 22.Re8+ is simply mate.

20.bxc5 dxc5

Position after: 8...Be7

9.Qf3

Gaining a tempo with which to route the

queen to a square where it points atthe white
Position after: 20...dxc5 player, by virtue of the present threat of e4-
e5.
White has his piece back, whilethe white king
is still in terrible trouble. None of Black’s 9...Qc7
pieces, apart from the queen, play any role
It goes without saying that Black must beware 13...Nc6 14.f5
of the standard sacrifices. 9...Bb7, for
instance, fails to 10.Bxe6! fxe6 11.Nxe6 Qd7 Almost always the idea in this variation.
12.Nxg7+ when White has three pawns for White would like to encourage the e6-pawn to
the piece and a strong attack againstthe white advance.
king.
14...Nxd4 15.Rxd4
10.Qg3 0-0 11.Bh6

Position after: 15.Rxd4

Position after: 11.Bh6
Black has avoided the tactics on e6 but still
White keeps developing at pace, gaining has to be careful. There are now some tricks
tempo wherever possible. involving the g7-square in the position,
sometimes using a rook lift: e4-e5 and Rd4-
11...Ne8 12.Rad1 Bd7 g4.

Black needs to keep playing carefully. 15...Bf6!

The apparently normal 12...Nc6 leads to some
Kasparov secures his position against that
issues. 13.Nd5!? exd5 [13...Nxd4 14.Nxe7+
entire class of tactical motifs.
Qxe7 15.Rxd4 is better for White.] 14.Nxc6
dxe4 15.Nxe7+ Qxe7 16.Bg5 Qd7 17.Qh4 16.Rd3
and this is rather unappetizing for Black.

13.f4

The most logical development of the

initiative. An alternative is 13.Nf3, known
since the 1993 games Kasparov – Gelfand and
Short – Kasparov (WC, 18th game.)
Meanwhile in the 20th game – Short’s next
white game in that match – he chose 13.a3.
Position after: 16.Rd3 can reply to White’s intended ‘clever’ move
19...bxc3 20.Bd5 with his own: 20...Qc8!
16...Be5
18...g6!
A new move at the time of this game.
Kasparov stops the possibility of e4-e5 pawn This exchange sacrifice puts an end to
sacrifices. White’s kingside initiative and signals the
After 16...b4 Kasparov feared 17.fxe6 fxe6 beginning of Black’s counter on the
18.e5 [Here 18.Nd5? doesn’t work because queenside.
after 18...exd5 19.Bxd5+ Kh8 20.Bxa8 the
19.Ne2
bishop on h6 hangs – 20...gxh6 and Black is
much better, with two pieces for the rook and All in all, it still seems that White will remain
superior control of the dark squares.] in charge somehow. Because can’t he still
18...Bxe5 19.Rxf8+ Kxf8 20.Qf3+ Bf6 prepare an attack againstthe white king with
21.Ne4 with roughly equal chances. [Like Qh4 and Rh3?
18.Nd5, 21.Qxa8? leads to a material
It seems like 19.Nd1!? is more of the same
advantage for Black after 21...bxc3 22.bxc3
after 19...a5.
gxh6 .]
19...a5
17.Qg4 b4

Not a moment too soon.

18.f6

Position after: 19...a5

Black’s strategic idea is that the b3-bishop is

in jeopardy.
Position after: 18.f6
20.Bxf8
Looks strong, but Kasparov has an answer
Taking the material that Black is offering
ready.
without delay. After 20.Qh4 a4 White’s
The intermezzo 18.fxe6 is not so good for attack might not be so successful as he
White. 18...Bxe6! 19.Bxe6 and now Black originally thought. 21.Bxf8 [The previously
indicated idea of 21.Rh3 axb3 22.Bxf8 can be
met with 22...h5 23.Qg5 bxa2 and it turns out
that White doesn’t have the slightest
possibility of threatening mate.] 21...axb3
22.Qh6 Bxf6! But despite the favourable
evaluation, Black still needs to show
vigilance.
[If he were to take the a-pawn now, there
would arise a mating net of rare elegance:
22...bxa2 23.Rh3! Bxf6
Position after: 22.Qxh7

22...Qa7+?!

Looks perfectly logical, but this wasn’t the

most precise move. The queen voluntarily
stops attacking the c4-square, giving White’s
bishop an ‘out’. And there was as yet no
particular need to protect the rook on a8.
The direct 22...Nxf6! 23.Qh8+ Ng8 is a much
better idea: Black wins a second piece for his
Position after: 23...Bxf6 rook and stands clearly better.
and now the genuinely amazing 24.Be7!! 23.Kh1 Nxf6
when mate can no longer be prevented!]
23.Rxf6 White’s attack looks impressive, but Kasparov can see that the king is very safe on
Black has the ice-cold 23...Qa7+! 24.Re3 e7 and that his fantastic bishop on e5 offers
bxa2 25.Rf1 a1=Q 26.Rxa1 Qxa1+ 27.Kf2 great compensation for the missing exchange.
Qxb2 when he has managed to fend off the
24.Qh6+ Ke7 25.Bc4 Qc5 26.b3 axb3
attack and remains with a (likely decisive)
27.Bxb3?!
material advantage.
The bishop is now very secure on b3, but the
20...Kxf8 21.Qh4 a4
white pawn structure is terribly weakened. In
Kasparov simply ignores the threats near his addition, he loses control of the diagonal f1-
king and continues along the path to which he a6 and Black now makes good use of it.
has already committed. The normal move is 27.axb3! Surely the
problem (or so White thought) is that Black
22.Qxh7 has the possiblity of trapping White’s bishop:
27...d5 – but then White has another amazing
tactic to level the material and even come out 28...Bxd3 29.Nxg6+? fxg6 30.Qg7+ Kd8
on top. 28.Qg5! dxc4 31.Qf8+ Kc7 32.Qxa8 Bxf1 when the
position is simply won.

29.Qxf4 Qe5

Black is playing a very aesthetic concept, but

objectively his chances are no better than
equal!

30.h3?!

Not particularly accurate. The better way to

give the king breathing room was 30.Qf2 Rh8
Position after: 28...dxc4 31.h3 maintaining equality.
29.Rd5!! A master stroke! 29...exd5 30...g5
30.Qxe5+ – with Qxf6 to follow.
The point of the last note was to avoid the
27...Bb5 queen swap – after 30...Qxf4 31.Rxf4 Bxd3
32.cxd3 Black has ample winning chances in
Black’s bishop pair starts to come into its
the endgame, say with 32...g5 33.Rf3 Ra5.
own.
31.Qf2
28.Nf4

Morozevich goes to war with the courage of

despair. He is prepared to sacrifice the
exchange to generate counterplay based on
sacrifices on e6 or g6. It is not mandatory to
give back the exchange. After the passive
28.Rd2, however, Black has quite a nice idea:
28...Rg8! Very precise. Black wants to cut off
White’s queen from the rest of his forces by
playing ...g6-g5. Thereafter, ideas like ...Qe3
and ...Ng4, especially taken together, will
have lethal effect. Position after: 31.Qf2

28...Bxf4?! Trading queens the other way also gives

Black good winning chances: 31.Qxe5 dxe5
Kasparov need not have taken the sacrifice on 32.Rc1 Bxd3 33.cxd3 Nh5 and White’s
g6 that seriously. It was rare for him to bishop on b3 is not functioning well.
‘believe’ his opponents this much! Turns out
he would have won rather easily in case of 31...g4! 32.Qb6
Black had to see that after 32.Qxf6+ Qxf6 One problem is that Black wins after the
33.Rxf6 Kxf6 34.Rxd6 g3 White’s king is plausible 36.Qxb5?! gxh3 37.e5? (other
entombed and so he is toast. moves are no help either) 37...hxg2+ 38.Kxg2
Qd2+ with mate.
32...Nd7 33.Qf2 Nf6 34.Qb6
36...Kxd6 37.Rxf6

Position after: 34.Qb6

Position after: 37.Rxf6
34...Rh8?!
37...Rh7!
Here the ex-world champion makes a genuine
mistake. In the endgame you have to be careful with
The moment for the trade was now: 34...Bxd3 your material!
and after 35.cxd3 Rh8 Black is doing well. After 37...gxh3 38.Rxf7 Bc6 39.Rf6 hxg2+
40.Kxg2 Bxe4+ 41.Kg3 Bf5 a draw is the
35.Rxd6? most likely result.

A good idea in the wrong order. In all 38.Kh2 Ke5

likelihood it was time trouble that prevented
Morozevich from seeing how he could have This is the problem for White.the white king
saved half a point. is supreme in the center and when the e4-
He had to first insert 35.Qc7+ Nd7 and only pawn inevitably falls, his central pawn
then play 36.Rxd6! Black cannot take either formation will be strong as well.
rook, so must resort to kitchen-sink tactics:
39.Rf2 gxh3 40.gxh3 Bc6!
36...Rxh3+ [The point is that 36...Qxd6? loses
the queen and the game to 37.Rxf7+ Kxf7
38.Qxd6 .] 37.gxh3 Qxe4+ 38.Kg1 [38.Kh2?
Qe2+] 38...Qe3+ 39.Rf2 Qe1+ [39...g3
40.Rdd2] 40.Kg2 Qe4+ Black has nothing
better than to repeat moves.

35...Qxd6 36.Qxd6+
 Given how strong the front e-pawn is going to
become, Kasparov elects to allow the
doubling of the pawns.

Position after: 40...Bc6!

Black chooses to take on e4 with the bishop

so that it immediately acts as a sort of shelter
Position after: 43...Kf4
for the far-advanced king. It is striking here
how important the pawn structure is. White 43...Rh4 44.Kg3 Rf4 45.h4 Rg4+ 46.Kh3 was
has two isolated pawns on a2 and c2, which another possibility.
are controlled by a single Black pawn on b4.
In addition, White’s runner has become a kind 44.Bxe4 fxe4 45.Rf2+ Ke3
of ‘monument’ that is barely participating in
the battle. There is a stark difference in king activity
between the two sides.
41.Bc4
46.Rf8 e5 47.Re8 Rc7 48.Rxe5 Kf4 49.Rb5
A nice variation is 41.Re2 Bxe4 42.c3 trying Rxc2+ 50.Kg1 e3 51.Rxb4+ Kf3
to introduce a trick into the position.
However, Black can simply ‘fall for it’: In the meantime, Black has actually lost a
42...bxc3! 43.Rxe4+ Kxe4 44.Bc2+ Ke3 pawn. But that pawn has no meaning
45.Bxh7 and after 45...f5 there is no way to whatsoever, while the e3-pawn is now so far
stop the c3-pawn from queening. advanced that it can‘t be stopped.

41...Bxe4 42.Re2 52.Rb1

But now Rxe4 is a real threat, of course. The thematic winning method of driving the
white king as far as possible from the passed
42...f5 43.Bd3 pawn is illustrated here: 52.Rb8 Rc1+ 53.Kh2
e2 54.Rf8+ Ke3 55.Re8+
This still seems worthwhile to do because it
threatens to double Black’s central passed
pawns.

43...Kf4
Position after: 55.Re8+ Position after: 57.h4

55...Kd3 56.Rd8+ Kc3 57.Rc8+ Kb2 57...Ra3!

Escaping from the checks at last. 58.Re8
[58.Rb8+ Kxa2 59.Ra8+ Kb3 60.Rb8+ and White’s king is once again cut off from
now Black ‘zigzags’ up the a- and b- files supporting his passed pawn. He realised that
with his king until the checks are exhausted.] there is no longer any way to stop ...e1=Q.
58...e1=Q 59.Rxe1 Rxe1 60.Kg3 Now Black 0-1
would have had to find a strong and
instructive move: 60...Re4! The ‘fourth-rank
cutoff’ is key when you want to stop a passed MODEL GAME for Black
pawn using only a rook. After (for instance)
Anand, Viswanathan (2635)
61.h4 Kxa2 62.h5 Kb3 White can no longer
Ivanchuk, Vassily (2695)
push the pawn without losing it, and his king
Linares 1991
remains cut off, so the position is lost.

52...Rg2+ 53.Kh1 e2 54.a4 Kf2 55.a5 Rg5 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6
56.Kh2 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.0-0 Be7 8.Bb3 0-0 9.f4
b5
56.a6 Ra5 57.Kh2 Rxa6 also wins.

56...Rxa5 57.h4

Position after: 9...b5

10.f5 11...e5 12.Ne2 Bb7 13.Ng3 Nbd7 14.Qe1

As we already know, this move is the most This move does not seem to be worth
thematic one for White, but that’s not repeating.
necessarily the same thing as being the best. 14.Qf3 is played more often, for instance in
Here 10.e5 is seen as the most important Müller – Hoffmann, 1994, but also in this
option. 10.a3 also has considerable support. game things did not end well with the white
player.
10...b4
14...a5 15.c4 Qc7 16.Qe2 Rfc8 17.Bg5
Prodding the knight away from its vigil over
the d5-square, in preparation for the otherwise
rather weakening ...e5 push.
That being said, after 10...e5 11.Nde2 Bb7
12.Ng3 Nbd7 White’s control over d5 isn’t
‘set in stone’ and Black should be able to hold
things together.

11.Na4?!

Position after: 17.Bg5

It looks to be the case that White’s biggest

problem is his terrible knight on a4. But
strangely enough, it is not clear at the moment
how Black can benefit from this, and since the
knight arrived there the position has evolved
somewhat. That is why Ivanchuk takes a
different approach.

Position after: 11.Na4?! 17...Nc5

Not for nothing do they say that ‘a knight on Another move that came into consideration
the rim is dim’. was 17...h6 intending to sideline another of
White’s minor pieces. After 18.Bh4 Bd8
A line known since the time of Fischer was 19.Rad1 Bc6 White faces very significant
11.Nce2 e5 12.Nf3 Bb7 13.Ng3 Nxe4 problems.
14.Nxe4 Bxe4 15.Qe1 Bxf3 16.Rxf3 Nc6 and
White had obtained full compensation for the 18.Rac1
offered pawn in Fischer – Smyslov, 1959.
Despite the knight trade being technically on Black comes up with an interesting concept.
the table, White will not be freed of his The a8-square is being reserved for his queen.
burdensome beast quite so easily. 18.Nxc5
Qxc5+ 19.Kh1 a4 sees Black win the c4- 21.Rc2 Qb8 22.Re1 Qa8 23.Qd3?!
pawn.
Anand does not recognize the danger. White
18...h6 would have been better served by staying in
‘waiting’ mode, for instance with 23.h3.
Ivanchuk found the gain of a pawn with
18...Bxe4 19.Nxe4 Ncxe4 to be insufficiently 23...Ng4
attractive. In fact, White has fair
compensation after 20.Be3.

19.Be3

Position after: 23...Ng4

White has just allowed this move, which

immediately causes the unfavourable
Position after: 19.Be3 exchange of his dark-squared bishop.

Maybe-despite the massive concession which 24.Nf1?

trading off the dark-squared bishop usually is
Strategically speaking, this is like rolling over
– White had to opt for 19.Bxf6!?
and dying. White still had some counterplay
19...Ncd7!? after 24.Nh5 Nxf2 25.Rxf2 Bf8.

The knight returns whence it came, now that 24...Ndf6 25.Nd2

White no longer has his pin on the h4-d8
To the ambitious attempt to keep the bishop
diagonal.
alive with 25.Bh4 there is of course a
19...Bc6 is rather placid, and after 20.Nxc5 refutation: 25...Bxe4! 26.Rxe4 Nxe4 27.Bxe7
dxc5 21.Bc2= White has equalised the game Qa7+ and Black wins the house.
again.
25...Nxf2 26.Kxf2 Bc6
20.Bf2 Ra6
Not the best order. Even stronger was Likewise after 30.exd5 Black would take
26...Qa7+! 27.Kf1 Bc6 introducing a new twice on d5 – 30...Nxd5 31.cxd5 Rxd5.
threat of ...Qd7 into the position and ganging
up on the beleaguered a4-knight. 30...Nxd5 31.exd5 Rxd5 32.Qb3

27.Rcc1 The queen faced an odd shortage of safe

squares.
Anand sees that ...Qa7-d7 is still an idea, and
prepares Qd3-c2 to cover the weak knight. 32...Bg5 33.Rc2 Bxd2
His is not a luxurious existence right now.
And Anand threw in the towel.
After 27.Kg1 there follows 27...Ng4 with the
threat of ...Qa7+. After 33...Bxd2 34.Rxd2 Bb5+ 35.Kf3 Rxd2
not only does Black have a material
27...Qa7+ 28.Ke2 Rd8 superiority, but his attack is also unstoppable.
0-1
Ivanchuk manoeuvres his pieces to the
positions where they have greatest prospects.

29.Bd1

Now that the white king has encamped in the

center and the white pieces are in each other’s
way, Ivanchuk thinks it’s time to forcefully
break open the center.

Position after: 29.Bd1

29...d5!

Nicely seen!

30.cxd5
 c) Main variation with 6.Bg5 Position after: 7.f4

7...Nbd7

The most natural move.

A) 7...Be7 Black can also develop his minor
pieces in the other order, beginning with this.
The move takes on independent significance
when Black tries to use it to immediately
generate tactics, based in general on the h4-d8
diagonal and specifically on the thrust ...g5.
Nevertheless, such ideas can be considered
premature. An example of what could happen
if Black chooses to open this can of worms
Introduction follows. 8.Qf3 h6 9.Bh4 g5 10.fxg5

The traditional main line goes as follows.

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6

5.Nc3 a6

After 5...e6 we arrive at the usual starting

position of the Scheveningen complex.

6.Bg5

This move has for a long time been

considered one of the main ones, as it is the Position after: 10.fxg5
single most direct way to put Black under
pressure. 10...Nfd7 This option was popular for a long
time. It was analysed a lot by Soviet players,
6...e6 7.f4 who hoped that they could defeat their
ideological rival and famed Najdorf expert in
it. The move is enormously provocative, and
the most logical attempt at outright refutation
also turns out to be quite a convincing
response. [10...Nh7 is usually not played
because the knight ends up far from its ideal
post on e5.] 11.Nxe6 fxe6 12.Qh5+ Kf8
13.Bb5!? Ever since the “Argentinian
Tragedy” story (made famous by Kasparov)
circulated, it has been clear that Black’s
position is practically very challenging after
Position after: 9...Qc7!
this. However, in modern times the engines
have revealed that the most likely outcome B1) To my knowledge, 10.Qe2 is a less
following 13...Rh7 is a perpetual check. serious test of Black’s strategy. 10...Nfd7
B) 7...b5 11.0-0-0 Bb7 Here, White has a few
continuations, of which the immediate forcing
attempts Qh5 and Nxe6 have generally been
unsuccessful. 12.Qg4

Position after: 7...b5

The Polugaevsky variation. The idea is to

save time compared to the variations where Position after: 12.Qg4
Black, well, does anything about e4-e5. It is
therefore unsurprising that White’s most This position is just the beginning of a whole
principled (and best) response is 8.e5 dxe5 new world of theoretical content, which
9.fxe5 Now Black shows the tactical point occupies countless pages in the literature. I
behind his play: 9...Qc7! shall attempt to summarise in one paragraph.
12...Qxe5 [12...Qb6!? could be considered as
safer.] 13.Bxb5!? Once the antidotes to this
sacrifice began to be worked out, White
players also investigated 13.Bd3, where it is
still not so clear how Black should defend.
13...axb5 14.Rhe1 h5! It is thanks to this in-
between move that this variation is at all much higher than in other lines, because the
playable for Black; otherwise, the e6-pawn opponent has gone ‘all in’. Polugaevsky won
would become the site of a devastating an important Candidates match against former
sacrifice. 15.Qh4 Qc5 with ongoing world champion Tal because he managed to
complications. stand up against the wizard of Riga, who was
B2) 10.exf6 Generally considered as most unable to find his way through the mess of
principled, exchanging off Black’s only variations.
developed piece (except the queen!) C) 7...Qb6
10...Qe5+ 11.Be2 Qxg5

Position after: 7...Qb6

Position after: 11...Qxg5
This is the Poisoned Pawn variation. 8.Qd2
So, to take stock, Black is behind in White basically has to give up the pawn,
development by about 4 tempi and only has because all his methods of covering b2
his queen out; the next piece to be activated involve making major concessions which
will quite likely be the a8-rook; and his would unacceptably reduce his attacking
position is... probably about equal. In spite of options. 8...Qxb2 9.Rb1 Qa3 10.f5 10.e5 also
Black having made a mockery of the standard exists. 10...Nc6 11.fxe6 fxe6 12.Nxc6 bxc6
rules of the opening, to this day no clear 13.e5 dxe5 14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.Ne4
refutation has been found to this provocative C1) Kasparov entered the following line a
system. Najdorf players sometimes venture it few times: 15...Qxa2 16.Rd1 Be7 17.Be2 0-0
even to this day, because it is the logical 18.0-0 Ra7 19.Rf3 [19.Qh6 Topalov –
extension of the maximalist spirit of the Gelfand, 1998.] 19...Kh8 20.Rg3 A move
whole opening: White has no pawn control of repetition followed soon in Vallejo Pons –
the centre whatsoever and must rely on piece Kasparov, 2004.
play. If he wants to demolishthe white
C2) This is one of those positions where a
position, he will have to sacrifice pieces. And
draw is well-nigh inevitable between players
because the white pawn structure is so healthy
with strong preparation, unless Black plays
(and the position fundamentally sound), if
the enterprising 15...f5!? (15...Be7 16.Be2 h5
Black succeeds in walking the inevitable
17.Rf1 Radjabov – Ye Jiangchuan, 2004.)
tightrope his winning chances usually end up
D) The most popular option in contemporary Mamedov – Areshchenko, 2007.] 15...Bd7
times is the ‘Delayed Poisoned Pawn’ Shirov – Ivanchuk, 2008.
variation, which proceeds as above but with B) 10.g4 b5 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 [Nowadays
the insertion of ...h6, Bh4. This helps set up 11...gxf6 is also being seen, e.g. Motylev –
tactics based on White’s bishop being Polgar, 2007.] 12.g5 Nd7 13.f5
undefended. 7...h6 8.Bh4 Qb6 One of the
biggest specialists in this line is the French
player Maxime Vachier Lagrave.

8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0

Position after: 13.f5

A well-known pawn sacrifice with which

White tries to win time. [13.a3 Rb8 14.h4 b4
15.axb4 Rxb4 16.Bh3 Nc5 17.f5 Qb7 gave
Position after: 9.0-0-0 Black reasonably good play in Grabarczyk –
Dydyshko, 2006.] 13...Bxg5+ 14.Kb1 Ne5
9...b5 [14...0-0!? A new move which was tried in
Radjabov – Cheparinov, 2007.] 15.Qh5 Qe7!
Or 9...Be7 This is the only natural move. [15...Qd8
leaves e6 undefended, but White’s best course
of action is not to take it immediately. 16.h4
b4 17.hxg5 bxc3 18.fxe6 and White is better.]
16.fxe6 [16.h4 b4 is fine for Black now.]
16...g6 17.exf7+ Kxf7 18.Qe2 This position,
arising after an almost-forced sequence,
featured already in the (somewhat outdated)
book by Daniel King, Winning with the
Najdorf. 18...Bg4 The complications
continued in Shabalov – Hellers, 1993. Black
is basically fine.
Position after: 9...Be7
10.Bd3 Bb7 11.Rhe1
A) 10.Bd3 is a bit less common. 10...h6
11.Bh4 g5 12.fxg5 Ne5 13.Qe2 Nfg4 14.Nf3
hxg5 15.Bg3 [15.Bxg5 Bxg5+ 16.Nxg5 Qc5
Position after: 11.Rhe1

11...Qb6! Before commencing with this part, I would

like to say a few words about my senior in
The modern move. We refer now to the school, Huub van Dongen, who gave me
annotated game Shirov – Anand 2008 later in chess tutoring in my early years because he
these pages. wanted to boost the strength of the
Previously 11...Be7 was automatic. The schoolteam. To that end we began looking
position in fact featured in the world together at this most serious of openings, the
championship match in Reykjavik (1972) Najdorf Sicilian. We analysed the positions
between Spassky and Fischer, where the thoroughly, fascinated by the many beautiful
Soviet player chose to play conservatively. and unexpected tactical twists that this
However, it would be remiss of me to ignore opening offered. And although we sometimes
the standard sacrifice 12.Nd5 – which began suffered heavy defeats in this line, we did not
to be played, with some spectacular results, in let ourselves get discouraged by them. Just as
the seventies. An example is the Velimirovic later in our careers we had to take bitter
– Ljubojevic 1972 game, which I have also disappointments in our stride, at that time we
chosen for this book. [Meanwhile, after allowed the appreciation of chess beauty to
12.Qg3 0-0-0 a hard-fought game in the trump our ego. In the case of Huub, it was not
aforementionned Reykjavik match ended in a difficult because results were less important
draw.] to him than the creation of a particular
aesthetic impression. He died too young,
though. I penned an obituary about him (in
MODEL GAME for White Dutch) at
http://www.schaaksite.nl/2011/07/22/portret-
Planinc, Albin (2520)
van-duizendpoot-huub-van-dongen.
Najdorf, Miguel (2540)
Wijk aan Zee 1973 Likewise, he is remembered in an annual
memorial event, which assumed its rightful
Huub van Dongen (photo Karin Gottlieb)
venue in his hometown:
http://www.schaaksite.nl/2016/07/07/kunstzin
nige-editie-huub-van-dongen-memorial-
prooi-voor-manuel-bosboom.
The 2016 edition was won by Manuel
Bosboom, another creative spirit of the chess
world whose brain overflows with brilliant
ideas. Huub and I analysed the game which
follows in the early years of our comradeship.
It was a revelation to both of us and probably
best described as a ‘roller coaster ride’. The
black player was, of course, Najdorf himself:
born in Poland in 1910, but best known as an Position after: 6.Bg5
Argentinian player since he moved there at
the outbreak of the Second World War. 6...Nbd7
Originally his first name was Mieczyslaw, but
when he adopted his new citizenship in 1944 Normally, to reach the game position after 7
he changed his name to Miguel. While he did moves, people start with 6...e6 which can lead
belong to the world elite for some time, his after 7.f4 to the Poisoned Pawn Variation:
main claim to fame ended up being the 7...Qb6 8.Qd2 Qxb2 9.Rb1 Qa3 10.f5 etc.
opening to which our book is devoted. with complications and heavy theory.
Najdorf died in 1997. The white player in this
7.f4 e6 8.Qf3
game is perhaps less well known outside of
his home region. Albin Planinc (1944 – 2008) This is the purpose of White’s set-up. He
was born in Slovenia. His best result was strives for a fast 0-0-0, after which he can
probably the shared first place with Petrosian commence central actions.
in Amsterdam 1973. In Nice 1974, his last
Olympiad with Yugoslavia, he won the silver 8...Be7 9.0-0-0 Qc7 10.Bd3
medal with his team. He departed suddenly
from the chess world, but what is known is
that he suffered from depression throughout
his life, spending his last years in a
psychiatric ward in Ljubljana because of it.

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6

5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5

Position after: 10.Bd3

Albin Planinc
 Position after: 11...Bb7

We saw that in this position many

contemporary players were interested in the
possibility of a knight sacrifice on d5.
12.Nd5!? We will spare you the variations for
now (see the next game). The remarkable
thing is that Fischer accepted the risk of
entering all this with Black in the World
Championship match in Reykjavik against
defending champion Spassky. However,
Spassky did not go for the sacrifice. [To
remind you, the world championship match
game was drawn after Spassky’s 12.Qg3 .]

11.Qh3

This is the second most common move. White

pins the h6-pawn, but the disadvantage is that
10.g4 is the alternative, which is played now her majesty finds herself on the same
slightly more often. diagonal as Black’s c8-bishop.

10...h6 After 11.Bh4 Black answers with 11...g5!?

offering a timely pawn sacrifice to obtain the
Forcing the g5-bishop to decide on its future. strong e5-post for his knight. 12.fxg5 Ne5
We can transpose to the line we have as the The knight will be unshakeable here. 13.Qe2
main one in the introduction after: 10...b5 Nfg4 14.Nf3 hxg5 15.Bg3 [After 15.Bxg5
11.Rhe1 [Meanwhile the sacrifice 11.e5 Bb7 Bxg5+ 16.Nxg5 Qc5! it is known that Black
12.Qh3 dxe5 13.Nxe6?! will not be has great compensation.] 15...Bd7 An exciting
successful after 13...fxe6 14.Bxf6 Nxf6 position has arisen in which both players have
15.Qxe6 and now the strongest continuation opportunities.
15...e4!] 11...Bb7
11...Nc5

Some sources give here 11...Nb6 as a better

choice. The continuation could be 12.Rhe1 e5
13.Nf5 Bxf5 [13...g6? 14.Qh4! gxf5 15.Bxf6
is something of a disaster for Black] 14.exf5
0-0-0 Black controls the d5-square with both
knights, so it seems he has no problems. This
is a good way to meet 11.Qh3. On
11...hxg5?? 12.Qxh8+ will follow.
12.Rhe1 Rg8 excellent prospects here after 16.Nd5!]
15.Qh7! Rf8 16.fxg5 fxg5 17.Nf5! With this
move, White cracks open the central defences
and wins.

14.fxe5 hxg5

After 14...Nd5 there follows 15.Bxe7 Qxe7

whereupon Planinc himself gave 16.Bh7
[Better may well be 16.Nxd5 exd5 17.Bf5
when White is positionally winning; the white
pieces cannot develop or co-ordinate in any
meaningful sense.] 16...Rh8 Maybe ...Nxc3
Position after: 12...Rg8 offered better chances. 17.Nf5! Qg5+
[17...exf5 18.Nxd5 is simply winning.]
Black gives up the right to short castling;
18.Rd2 Rxh7 19.Nd6+ Kf8 20.Nxd5 exd5
that’s the price of resolving the pin along the
21.Nxc8 when White has a huge positional
h-file.
advantage – and soon also an extra pawn.
A) In comparison with the previous note, here
it is clear that 12...e5 does not work so well 15.exf6
because after 13.Nf5 Bxf5 14.exf5 0-0-0
White is in a position to answer by swapping
off the only defender of the d5-square:
15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.Nd5 Black faces problems
here because it will take a while to deal with
the issue of the d5-knight.
B) Unsurprisingly, 12...0-0? runs into
13.Bxh6 gxh6 14.Qxh6 when White’s attack
is not far from crashing through.
C) The best move was probably the calm
12...Bd7.
Position after: 15.exf6
13.e5!
15...Bxf6?!
This is the beginning of a powerful attack
from White. Black’s position is not well suited for this
maximalism. Better, but by no means trouble-
13...dxe5 free was: 15...gxf6 when after 16.Kb1! White
develops a strong attack. This move defends
Bad is 13...hxg5 14.exf6 gxf6? [Meanwhile, the pawn at a2 and prevents a possible future
14...Bxf6 15.Bh7 Rh8 leads to similar ...Qf4 from being check. Exchanging minor
developments as in the main game. White has pieces is less good:
A) 16...Nxd3 17.Rxd3 e5 18.Qh7 Kf8 A) With hindsight it seems like 17.Bc4!? was
19.Nd5 Qa5 20.Rdd1 White’s position is the best move. However after 17...Bxd4
overwhelming, and computers indicate that
Black in fact needs to huddle and hope with a
queen sacrifice:
20...Qxd5 21.Nf5 Bxf5 [21...Qe6 22.Nh6
wins the house; 21...Qxd1+ 22.Rxd1 Bxf5
23.Qxf5 is similar, but perhaps having a rook
isn’t as good as having a bishop for Black
here.] 22.Qh6+ Rg7 23.Rxd5 The game will
continue, but Black should be lost.
B) 16...Bd7!? The best practical try. 17.Bh7
g4! [17...Rh8 18.Nf5 is curtains – Black’s Position after: 17...Bxd4
best is to castle and leave the e7-bishop to its
fate.] 18.Nd5! White wins the exchange [Not 17...Kf8? 18.Nxf6 Qxf6 19.Qa3! with a
anyway, although Black has a pawn and some simple win.] White has to find 18.Qg3! when
chances. Black is lucky to not simply be dead, e.g.
18...Kf8 19.Rxd4 g6! White’s attack
16.Nd5 Qd8 17.Bh7!? continues, but maybe he got here and didn’t
find anything too conclusive.
This original move unleashes the power of the
d1-rook with gain of tempo. Also there comes B) 17.Bb5+? on the other hand simply doesn’t
into the picture the idea of a ‘queen lift’ along work because of a counterpunch: 17...axb5
the third rank – to c3 18.Nxb5 and now 18...Rxa2! 19.Ndc7+ Ke7
20.Rxd8 Rxd8 and Black is winning.
C) Possible, however, is 17.Qh7!? Nxd3+
C1) 18.Kb1 is met by the hardly surprising
18...Qxd5! [18...Rf8? 19.Nxf6+ gxf6 20.Rxd3
with a large advantage for White.] 19.Qxg8+
Ke7 Black gets decent counterplay.
C2) 18.Rxd3! Kf8 19.Nxf6 Qxf6 20.Rf3!
White has a safe advantage and continuing
attack.

17...Rh8?
Position after: 17.Bh7!?
Fortunately for the spectators, Black fails to
or a3. But if Black had now found the only
find the most accurate defence.
defense, White would have found that he had
lost his advantage. As in some of the above notes, Black had to
sacrifice an exchange: 17...Qxd5! 18.Bxg8
and now 18...Qxa2! The white king now finds After 18...Kf8 19.Nxf6 [19.Qa3? b6 is simply
itself under threat as well, so it seems the a brick wall: with three pieces hanging White
chances are balanced. Now a major point for needs something to work now, but nothing
Black is that he can answer 19.Qh5 with does.] 19...Qxf6 there is the extremely strong
19...e5! defending the f7-pawn with the overloading move 20.Qc3! White threatens
queen, whose reach extends all the way back the knight on c5, but alsothe white queen on
from a2! f6 has a duty to prevent mate on d8, which
Also possible is 18...Bxd4 which leads after would follow in case of a queen trade on
19.Qh5 Bd7! [19...g6 20.Qh7 doesn’t help] either c3 or f6. 20...Nd7 [20...Qxc3 21.Rd8#;
20.Qxf7+ to an advantage for White, however 20...Rxh7 21.Qxf6 gxf6 22.Rd8#; 20...b6
the damage is not as bad as it might seem. 21.Qxf6 gxf6 22.Rd8#] 21.Qb4+ Ke8
20...Kd8 21.Qf8+ Kc7 22.Qxa8 Na4 Black
has good counterplay for his material.

18.Nf5!!

Position after: 21...Ke8

22.Rxe6+!! Normally, I wouldn’t bother

showing the concluding fireworks in such a
winning position, but this is especially nice!
Position after: 18.Nf5!! 22...fxe6

A great move after which there is no doubt

about the storm clouds descending onthe
white king. The aesthetic appeal of having
knights ‘hanging’ on d5 or f5 is one of the
biggest factors leading to some White players
massively enjoying playing against the
Sicilian.

18...g4

Played after a long think. There is no real

solution to Black’s problems now. Position after: 22...fxe6
[22...Qxe6 23.Nxg7+] 23.Bg6+! This is the 1-0
point. Mate is inevitable. 23...Kd8 [23...Qxg6
24.Qe7#] 24.Qb6#.
MODEL GAME for White
19.Qg3
Velimirovic, Dragoljub (2500)
Good, but not quite best. 19.Qe3 We can Ljubojevic, Ljubomir (2550)
forgive White for missing this slightly Umag 1972
stronger move.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6
19...Kf8 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4

Losing by force, but it seems everything else

did as well. 19...Rxh7? loses the queen to
20.Nc7+ and after 19...Bd7 20.Nc7+ Kf8
21.Nxa8 Rxh7 [21...exf5 22.Bxf5 with
continuing threats.] 22.Qd6+! Black will not
get a second piece for the rook, and neither
will he manage to get into an ending. For
instance: 22...Be7 23.Nxe7 Qxe7 24.Qb8+
Qe8 25.Qc7 winning.

20.Nxf6
Position after: 7.f4
Strong enough to force resignation. What a
game! In the set-ups (collectively referred to as the
Three Piece System) where Black continues
with ...Nbd7, ...Qc7, ...b5 and ...Bb7, it is
wise to postpone the final developing move
...Be7 for as long as possible. This is because
in case of knight sacrifices on f5 or d5, a near-
automatic follow up for White will be
swinging the other knight in, with gain of
tempo against Black’s dark-squared bishop –
which will often just have to retreat.

7...Be7
Position after: 20.Nxf6
7...Nbd7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 b5 10.Bd3 Bb7
The conclusion of this game could have been 11.Rhe1 Now Black would get the same
this standard overloading motif: 20.Nxf6 position as in our main game if he chose
Qxf6 21.Qd6+ Ke8 22.Nxg7+! Qxg7 ...Be7. But herein lies the difference: modern
23.Qd8#. theory generally holds that a superior choice
now is 11...Qb6, for details of which see the enough to repulse the attack. 16.Nxg7 Rxg7
next game: Shirov – Anand, 2008. 17.Bh6 Nh5! and Black is better.]
A) However, 13...dxe4?! is dangerous.
8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 Nbd7 10.Bd3 b5 11.Rhe1
14.Bxe4 Nxe4 15.Rxe4 Bxe4 [15...0-0
Bb7 12.Nd5!?
16.Nxe7+ Kh8 17.Nd5 is a plus for White,
but still the lesser evil, perhaps.] 16.Qxe4 0-0
17.Nxe7+ Kh8 18.Rd3!?

Position after: 12.Nd5!?

This bold knight sacrifice was extensively Position after: 18.Rd3!?

researched in the 1970s. It looks dangerous
and Black must be well prepared to withstand White brings another piece into the attack and
the onslaught. The correctness of the threatens to set up Anastasia’s mate with
sacrifice, however, was doubted even then, as Qxh7+! Now ...h6 runs into a devastating
we can tell from the fact that Bobby Fischer sacrifice on the same square, while 18...g6 is
invited this sacrifice in the famous World Cup strongly met by the geometrically satisfying
match against Spassky. (Fischer was, it 19.Rh3 Qc5 20.Qe1! with the deadly threat of
seems, willing to collect the material and then Rxh7+!
rely on his defense skills.) Computer analysis B) 13...Kf8! Now White seems to have
in the modern era bears out the natural nothing better than taking on d5, leading to
suspicion. But nevertheless, Black faces very the just-analysed 13.exd5 line.
definite dangers if he accepts a sacrifice like
this. 13.exd5 Bxg5

12...Nxd5 It is important to see what happens after

13...Bxd5:
Let’s look at the most principled move
12...exd5. For a long time it was thought that
White had to play 13.Nf5?! but Black, in this
line just like the other, has enough resources
to defend. [13.exd5 Kf8! 14.Nf5 Bd8 15.Qg3
The threat is Bh6 with mate, but 15...Rg8! is
 ‘intermezzo’. After this insertion Black has
almost permanently prevented a White rook
from appearing on the e-file.

16.Qh5+ g6 17.Qxg5 Rg8

Position after: 13...Bxd5

White can use the complexities of the e-file

pins in his favour with a bolt from the blue.
14.Nxe6!! [Also quite satisfying is 14.Qxd5!
exd5 15.Rxe7+ Kf8 16.Bf5 .This works due
to the follow-up 16...Rd8 17.Be6! which, Position after: 17...Rg8
however, White has to see from quite some
18.Rd2?!
distance away.] 14...fxe6 15.Qh5+ Kf8
16.Bxe7+ Kxe7 17.Qxd5 White has Now that White has activated almost every
recovered his piece while retaining a decisive piece, the question remains of how the last
attack. piece (the rook) is coming into play. Had
Black played his queen to b6 on the last
14.Rxe6+?!
move, there wouldn’t be any way to do this,
Velimirovic was not known for his but now White has a choice of methods. As it
circumspection! Objectively, this is maybe transpires, White needs the rook on both the
not the best move, but in a practical game e- and f-files. The better way was with 18.c3!
such a sacrifice would definitely have a so that after the logical 18...Kf7 White can
significant psychological impact on the continue to persecute the white king in its
opponent. From an objective standpoint, new home, still using the rook: 19.Rf1 with a
14.fxg5 was better, when after the thematic winning position. There is no way to prevent
and relatively obvious 14...Ne5! Black can f4-f5, e.g. 19...Qb6 20.f5 and the white attack
stay in the game. is too strong.

14...fxe6 15.Nxe6 Qa5? 18...Nf8?

This, however, is not correct. Black should A second mistake, but it is a well-known fact
have chosen the other square for Her Majesty. that players who are under pressure often go
15...Qb6! 16.Qh5+ g6 17.Qxg5 [17.Bxg6+ wrong. The only move was 18...Kf7! Now
Ke7! 18.Qxg5+ Nf6–+] Now the point is play continues: 19.Re2 [Here lies the point of
17...Qe3+! which is a very important my last note: after 19.Rf2?? White would face
the rude shock of 19...Qe1# ...] 19...Nf6 when
Black is holding the balance – and White
should begin thinking of convincing reasons
why he is a rook down.

19.Nxf8 Qd8

Position after: 27.Rf2

Here Black gave up the ghost, seeing that he

was about to be buried alive by White’s
kingside pawn armada.
1-0
Position after: 19...Qd8

19...Rxf8 20.Re2+ Kd7 21.Qe7+ is lights out. MODEL GAME for Black

Shirov, Alexei (2755)

20.Nxh7
Anand, Viswanathan (2799)
It is nothing short of a minor miracle that Morelia/Linares 2008
White has enough material to be fine with a
queen trade. In what follows, his kingside 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6
pawn phalanx basically steamrollers Black. 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nbd7 8.Qf3 Qc7
9.0-0-0 b5 10.Bd3 Bb7 11.Rhe1
20...Qxg5 21.fxg5!

This is the point: White retains the d5-pawn

and gets to station his knight on the
favourable f6-square.

21...Kf7 22.Nf6 Rh8 23.g3 Bc8 24.h4 Bf5

25.Bxf5 gxf5 26.h5 Ra7 27.Rf2

Position after: 11.Rhe1

11...Qb6!?
Detailed and sustained analysis has shown the game, but it seemed to me similar enough
that Black should wait a while before to Movsesian – Kasparov, Sarajevo 2000”.
developing the f8-bishop. He chooses to do Chess-culture fans will know that this was the
something with the time – attacking White’s game where Kasparov called his opponent a
knight on d4. ‘tourist’!
Previously the theoretical move was 12...b4
12.Nb3
13.Nb1 Be7 14.N1d2 Qc7 15.Qh3 e5 16.Nc4
It is still instructive to look at the typical 0-0 17.Nba5 Bc8 18.Qg3 Shirov – Karjakin,
knight sacrifice 12.Nd5!? which Black is best 2007.
advised to take. 12...exd5 13.Nc6!? An
13.Qh3
imaginative pseudo-sacrifice, inverting the
move-order to keep Black’s king trapped in
the centre. [13.exd5+?! Kd8 sees Black get
away and soon consolidate his extra material.]
13...dxe4 [13...Bxc6? 14.exd5+ Kd8 15.dxc6
Nc5 16.c7+! has gone totally wrong for
Black] 14.Bxe4 Nc5 15.Bxf6 gxf6 16.Qg4
Ne6 Now White keeps the attack going with
the pretty 17.Bg6! but Black is still in the
game here: 17...Kd7 18.Bxf7 Kxc6 19.Qxe6
and the complications continue. Seemingly,
Black’s only move is ...Qd8 and White should
force perpetual check in that case. Position after: 13.Qh3
Worse is 12...Qxd4? in view of 13.Bxf6! gxf6 13...Rxc3!
14.Bxb5 .Now after 14...Qc5 15.b4 Black’s
main choice now is how (rather than if) he Of course, this was the idea.
should give up his queen. 15...Qxb5!
[15...Qc8?? 16.Bxd7+! wins the queen for 14.bxc3 Qc7 15.Kb1 Be7
only two pieces.; 15...Qa7 16.Nxf6+ Ke7
17.Bxd7 regains a piece with a continuing
initiative, although the position is still quite
messy.] 16.Nc7+ Ke7 17.Nxb5 axb5 White
seems to have an advantage here, although the
situation is never clear when we deal with the
material imbalance of three pieces for a
queen.

12...Rc8

Here Anand wrote, in his analysis of the

Position after: 15...Be7
game: “I found this idea only shortly before
16.e5

In the aforementioned Kasparov game,

White’s f-pawn was on f3 rather than f4,
hence this counterstrike wasn’t possible.

16...dxe5

Position after: 19.fxe6

19...fxe6?!

Anand’s move is a bit too sophisticated.

Here, unlike in the previous note, Black gets
more traction out of another move-order:
19...Nxc3+! 20.Kc1 [20.Ka1? Nxd1! is the
Position after: 16...dxe5
point: Black need not waste time taking back
17.f5?! on e6 when he has the threat of ...Qc3 with
mate.] 20...Nf6 Black holds his kingside
Thematic, but the e5-pawn is too good a together and is doing well. [Though now,
defender. 20...Nxd1? loses: 21.exd7 Nc3 22.Qg3! and
17.fxe5! was indicated. 17...Nd5 [17...Nxe5?! there is no escape from the threats.]
fails to immediate tactics: 18.Qg3! Bd6
20.Qg3
19.Bxf6 gxf6 20.Qg7±] 18.Bxe7 Kxe7! [Now
not 18...Nxc3+ 19.Ka1 Kxe7 20.Qh4+ when Black’s last move offered White an
White is better.; Not great either is 18...Nxe7 interesting chance to use another square on
19.Qg4 when White also has an advantage.] the g-file: 20.Qg4 when Black should choose
19.Rd2 Qxc3 20.Qh4+ Ke8 21.Bf1 with a the order he used in the game due to some
sharp position and chances for both sides. intricate move-order nuances: 20...Nxc3+
[20...g6!] 21.Kc1 g6 [21...Kf7! can be met
17...Nd5 18.Bxe7 Kxe7 19.fxe6
now with 22.Qh5+! although Black should
still choose this.] 22.Qh4+ Nf6 23.Rf1 Rf8
24.Rxf6! Here it is Black who has all the
problems.

20...g6

Black should probably have played

20...Nxc3+ again, with the following likely
continuation: 21.Ka1 [21.Kc1 Kf7! is good 22...Ke8 23.Qg4?
for Black.] 21...Kd8 [It is important to see
that now 21...Nxd1?! is now met by But this is a real mistake.
22.Qxg7+ Kd6 23.Rxd1 and Black must be A) The sacrifice didn’t work: 23.Bxg6+?
extremely careful.] 22.Qxg7 Re8 with equal hxg6 24.Qxg6+ Ke7 25.Qg7+ Kd6 when
chances. Black’s king finds itself oddly safe in the
middle of the board, and after all can also
21.Rd2 make its way to the queenside if need be.
It is critical for Black that 21.Qh4+?! is now B) Now 23.Rf2? runs into 23...e4! , an idea
not as good as before: 21...N7f6 22.Rd2? also seen in an earlier note.
Now comes the beautiful [22.Kc1!?] 22...e4! C) The only move to keep counterplay is the
This pawn is protected tactically by ... Nxc3+ immediate placement of the queen on the h-
and the upshot is that White’s attack is file: 23.Qh6!? however Black keeps a slight
formally relegated to the realm of history. endgame plus after 23...Nxc3+ 24.Ka1 e4
with the point 25.Qxh7 Nf8! 26.Qxc7 Rxc7.
21...Rc8
23...Nxc3+ 24.Ka1 Bd5!

Position after: 21...Rc8

Position after: 24...Bd5!
With the text move Black’s rook comes into
the game for real. The black pieces now dominate the center.
Anand kept the tension, thinking that Strangely enough,the white doubled pawns
21...Nxc3+ would lead to unclear are now an advantage. They cover important
complications. squares and protect their king extremely well.

22.Qg5+?! 25.Re3 Nf6 26.Qh4 Qe7 27.Bf1

Not the best reaction. 27.Qg3 doesn’t improve, for instance

27...Bxb3 28.cxb3 e4 29.Bf1 Nfd5 30.Re1 e3
The other check is more natural: 22.Qh4+
with major material gain. White gets mated
N7f6 23.Rf2 leading to a position with even
after the pawn grab 27.Rxe5?? because there
chances.
is absolutely no answer to 27...Qa3 directly Karjakin, Sergey (2760)
hammering the a2-pawn. Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2789)
London 2017

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6

5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6

A development from the last few years is that

6...Nbd7 is coming into use. The French
grandmaster, however, has always played the
text move.

7.f4 h6
Position after: 27.Bf1
The ‘Poisoned Pawn Variation’ was present
Now Black eliminates the main defender of already in the repertoire of Fischer. But a new
White’s king: the knight on b3. wrinkle is the inclusion of ...h6 before ...Qb6,
to gain tempo off White’s bishop. The current
27...Bxb3 28.cxb3 Nce4! state of modern theoretical knowledge is that
in this way, Black can favourably take on b2.
A pretty find from Anand.
8.Bh4 Qb6
29.Rb2
MVL has full confidence in its preparation, it
The point after 29.Rxe4 is the strong 29...Qa3 seems: he has played this move against elite
30.Bd3 [30.Rb2 only delays the mate after players like Giri, Nakamura and Caruana,
30...Rc1+ 31.Rb1 Rc2–+] 30...Qc1+ 31.Bb1 among others. Needless to say, they tend to be
Qxd2 with a totally winning position. well prepared – and yet the Frenchman
continues.
29...Rc1+ 30.Rb1 Qc5!

After this strong move, Shirov decided that

enough was enough. Mate on d4 is hard
enough to stop, but the second threat is ...Qc2
and the third is simply taking on e3. It is all
just too much.
0-1

MODEL GAME for Black

Position after: 8...Qb6

9.a3
Karjakin doesn’t want to go into the 13...g5!? with the idea of opening up the e5-
complications of the pawn sacrifice. square for his knights. 14.h4 This is the most
The complications after 9.Qd2 Qxb2 10.Rb1 principled choice. [After 14.fxg5 Ne5 15.Qg3
Qa3 11.e5 dxe5 12.fxe5 Nfd7 13.Ne4 are hxg5
contested to this day. The maxim from olden
times, “Never take on b2, even if it is good!”
received the deserved disdain of Dutch
grandmaster van Wely, who once replied “I
always take on b2, because not only do you
take a pawn, you also take the whole structure
with it!” We should also note that with the
inclusion of ...h6, we mostly rule out White’s
option of playing 11.f5 in place of 11.e5.

9...Be7

The point is that now 9...Qxb2?? runs into Position after: 15...hxg5
10.Na4 trapping the queen.
Black definitely does not stand worse.]
10.Bf2 Qc7 11.Qf3 Nbd7 12.0-0-0 b5 13.g4 14...gxf4 Now it is important that White still
has the flexibility to develop his bishop on the
other side: 15.Be2! An idea introduced in the
game Giri – Vachier Lagrave, 2016. (White
won the opening battle, but still lost the
game.) Clearly, White is still not threatening
to take on f4 immediately, but by covering his
g4-pawn again he opens up the option of
meeting ...Ne5 with Qxf4. White also
threatens g5. 15...Rg8 [15...Ne5 16.Qxf4
Nexg4 17.Bxg4 e5 18.Qxf6! is a tactical
point well worth noting.] The position is
Position after: 13.g4 complicated, but had White found 16.g5! he
would have got a definite advantage.
This position has become something of a
tabiya for the lines where Black delays ...Qb6 14.Bg2
and then White chooses to preserve the b2-
pawn.

13...Bb7

We’ve already seen a few times in these

pages that Black can often choose the move
Position after: 14.Bg2
Position after: 16...Ne5!
White has completed his development in a
way that prevents ...d6-d5. Here 14.h4 doesn’t There is nothing more natural than this
work as well: Black’s best response is 14...d5! ‘zwischenzug’. Where else would the knight
want to go than e5?
14...g5
17.Qxf4 hxg5
This is the right time for this strategic idea:
White can no longer cover g4 with the bishop. This was a new move at the time of the game,
Now 14...d5? doesn’t work because of which is strange considering how logical it is.
15.exd5 Nxd5 and now the clever but Actually strange, because it looks pretty
unexpected 16.Nf5! comes, leaving Black logical. I imagine most people did not fancy
with insurmountable problems. releasing the tension and leaving the h-file
indisputably in White’s hands, but the French
15.h4
grandmaster seems to have an adequate
With this move Karjakin chooses to continue follow-up in mind. Previously 17...Nfg4 and
following a game between Yu Yangyi and 17...Nh5?! were played. However, they did
Naiditsch. Both players were undoubtedly not bring Black the desired results.
still in preparation.
18.hxg5 Rxh1 19.Rxh1 Nfd7 20.Kb1
15...gxf4 16.g5
White could choose to flick in 20.Rh8+ Nf8
Similarly to the above variations (note to but it may well be counterproductive because
Black’s 13th) White tries to create a kingside Black gains back the tempo by bringing a
initiative. knight to g6 whenever he wants.

16...Ne5! 20...0-0-0
 Position after: 25...Qf1+
Position after: 20...0-0-0
It seems that now Black has been successful,
We have now decidedly left the realm of but there are some further twists: 26.Be1!! A
opening theory. Black has completed his typical computer move which is very hard for
development and brought his king to safety. humans to see. [Black remains a simple piece
He has acquired the strong e5 outpost and up after 26.Ka2 because in the line 26...Rxf2
White’s g5-pawn has become a target for 27.Ng6+ Kc7 he will always be able to count
some future phase of the game. on a check on c4 with which he can defend
himself.] This last nuance is something which
21.Rh3 isn’t present anymore after White draws the
white queen to e1. 26...Qxe1+ [White will be
This move is a known idea for White: a rook a pawn up in the endings after the queen swap
lift along the third rank which will enable him 26...Qxf4 27.Ng6+ Kd7 28.Nxf4] 27.Ka2
to targetthe white king along the c-file. But Rf2 Black again wants to take on f7, so White
perhaps it was worth trying to undermine has to have a specific idea up his sleeve – one
Black’s centre with 21.Nf3!? when Black has which is made possible by the absence of
to be a little bit careful. Another idea to test ...Qc4+. 28.Ng6+ Kc7 29.f8=Q! Bxf8
Black is 21.g6!? when there is only one good 30.Rh7+ Kb6 31.Qh4 White gains adequate
answer. 21...Rg8! Both sides now need to counterplay because he is threatening both
calculate accurately: 22.gxf7 Rxg2 23.Nxe6 Qd8+ and Nxf8. The game ends in perpetual
Qc4! 24.Rh8+! [The immediate promotion check after Black takes on g6, and there is
24.f8=Q+? fails to 24...Nxf8 25.Nxf8 Qf7!! unlikely to be anything better for him.
winning material – because after the forced
26.Qxf7 Nxf7 two white pieces remain under 21...Kb8 22.Be3 Rg8 23.Rg3 Rg7
threat and only one can be saved.] 24...Nf8
25.Nxf8 Qf1+
Position after: 23...Rg7 Position after: 26...Qc8!?

Vachier Lagrave tackles things calmly. He Quite a nice move. The queen can be used in
overprotects f7 and introduces a few new conjunction with the rook on the kingside (on
possible ways of attacking the g5-pawn: the either g8 or h8) but Black also introduces the
manoeuvres ...Qd8-g8 and ...Nf8-h7. possibility of ... Be7-d8-b6 into the position.
It would be in Black’s interest to exchange
24.Bh3 dark-squared bishops because then the
weakness White’s remaining bishop would be
White’s light-squared bishop wasn’t doing
brought into clearer focus.
any useful work, so Karjakin brings it to a
new diagonal, where it threatens Bxe6! 27.Bc1 Bd8 28.Nf3
However, after a couple of moves we can see
that the e4-pawn can be meaningfully
attacked after all.

24...Rh7 25.Qf2 Nc5

The loose e4-pawn causes White to withdraw

his bishop back whence it came.

26.Bg2 Qc8!?

Position after: 28.Nf3

Karjakin finally comes up with the idea of

challenging Black’s e5-knight, but this would
have been better several moves ago.

28...Ng6!
Other than (as just mentioned) the dark-
squared bishop, Black’s minor pieces are of
much better quality than their counterparts, so
he is best off avoiding this trade. By the same
token, 28...Nxe4 would be bad because it
trades all the minor pieces other than the
dark-squared bishops – even if White did not
also have the clever 29.Nxe4 Bxe4 30.Nxe5
Bxg2 31.Nxf7 at his disposal. Black is
finished after 31...Bd5 32.g6.

29.Nd4 Ne5 30.Nf3 Ng6 31.Nd4 Position after: 33.b3

A move that White rarely wants to have to

make in the Sicilian! After the two bishop
moves, 33.Nf3?! is no longer a good idea.
There follows 33...Nc4 when Black wins the
bishop pair by force as otherwise there would
come a nasty discovered attack by the c5-
knight. Maybe the least evil was 33.Nb3 to
finally trade some knights, but Black is still
better after 33...Qc7.

33...Rh4
Position after: 31.Nd4
The pressure on the white position is
White doesn’t mind the repetition, since in increased. Although objectively the
this position it is hard to imagine the immediate threats are quite limited, we can
possibility of his having an advantage. But see that Karjakin’s job in holding the position
MVL opts to continue. together will not be trivial in the medium – to
long-term. He starts extremely well.
31...Bb6!
34.Nde2
The bishop completes its rerouting in the
logical way. A strong defensive move, in keeping with
Karjakin’s reputation as ‘The Russian
32.Be3 Ne5 33.b3 Minister of Defence’. White contests the e3-
b6 diagonal and defends the knight on c3
against tactics.

34...Qc7 35.Bd4
 36...Qxb6 37.Qxb6 Nxb6 38.Nd4 Ng6!

Position after: 35.Bd4

35...Ncd7!
Position after: 38...Ng6!
The logical end of the plan which was begun
10 moves ago with ...Qc8! Once more it is The knight has been transferred between e5
bad to take the e4-pawn: 35...Nxe4? 36.Bxe4 and g6 more times than we can count, but
Bxd4 37.Nxd4! Better than the queen now it looks to be on g6 for a while, as Black
recapture, on which Black would trivially transfers the other knight to e5 to cement his
regain his piece with ...d5. 37...Bxe4 control over the centre. It was useful to start
38.Nxe6! fxe6 39.Nxe4 Rxe4 40.g6 The with this move to avoid the possibility of
pawn cannot be stopped by normal methods White playing g6. This endgame is good for
and therefore Black would find himself giving Black. This is due to three factors: better
back the piece and facing a tremendous attack pawn structure, better bishop and the outpost
on his king following 40...Nxg6 41.Rxg6 on e5.
when it seems White is close to winning.
39.Kc1 Nd7 40.Kd2 Nf4
36.Bxb6?!
One of several ideas at Black’s disposal: in
After this mistake White will find himself spite of what we have just said, Black only
suffering for real. needs one knight on the board to sit on e5 –
It was time to press the emergency button: the other one can be usefully traded for
36.g6!? fxg6 37.Bh3 and now for the price of White’s bishop in order to weaken the e4-
a pawn White has managed to generate some pawn.
mess in the centre. For instance: 37...Nc5
38.b4 Nxe4 39.Nxe4 Bxd4 40.Nxd4 Rxe4 41.Ke3
41.Bg2 Rh4 42.Nxe6 and while Black is
41.Bf3 does not keep the bishop alive:
certainly still a pawn up, there is now serious
41...Ne5µ.
counterplay against his king and the centre is
wide open.
Position after: 41.Ke3 Position after: 44.Nde2

41...Nxg2+! Maxime Vachier Lagrave (photo Frans Peeters)

As hinted before, MVL shows with this move

that he does not blindly follow dogma. Black
can afford this trade be cause White’s centre
is now going to be extremely weak.

42.Rxg2 Rh3+ 43.Kd2

Of course, there was also a temporary tactical

reason for Black’s trade: now Black has even
more space in which to operate and has driven
White back from the third rank.
43.Nf3 loses to 43...Ne5 44.Rf2 Ng4+. For the second time, this turns out to be the
proper defensive try.
43...Ne5
Here it was nevertheless interesting to
The second knight appears on this square. We consider playing 44.g6!? but I suspect both
can consider the move mainly as prophylaxis: sides had seen the problem with it. 44...fxg6
Black wants to remove the idea of g5-g6 from and now:
consideration. For instance, 43...Nc5?! would
A) An active try is 45.Rf2!? but now it will be
lose the advantage after 44.g6! fxg6 45.Rxg6
extremely hard for White to regain his pawn:
44.Nde2 45...Bc8 46.Rf6 Rh2+ 47.Nce2 Kc7
48.Nxe6+ Bxe6 49.Rxe6 Kd7 50.Rf6 Ke7
51.Rf1 g5 and Black’s winning chances are
significantly improved by the swiftly
advancing passed pawn.
B) 45.Nxe6 Nf3+ Now White loses material A check to force the white king further from
by force, with the point being 46.Ke2 Nh4! the centre.
and after 47.Rg4 the final touch: 47...Bc8.
53.Kc1
44...Nf3+ 45.Kc1 Nh4 46.Rg1

46.Rf2 Rf3 47.Rh2 Ng6 48.Kd2 Kc8 49.Rg2

Kd7 is similar – a tough defensive job is in
prospect.

46...Ng6

As we are taught: “Do not hurry”. Black has

in fact not made any particular progress in the
last few moves, but in some sense that is
unimportant, because neither does White have
any way of dramatically changing the nature Position after: 53.Kc1
of his defensive job.
53...Rh1+
47.Kd2 Kc7
This was of course the idea, chasing the white
This move does make a constructive change king to the passive b2-square.
to Black’s position. The king hurries to the
center where he will be tasked with the 54.Kb2 Nh4
defense of the f7-pawn, and by extension the
The job having been done, the knight once
e6-pawn, ruling out such tricks as g5-g6.
again retreats to cover against White’s idea of
48.Nd4 g5-g6.

It doesn’t change anything to start with 55.Rg4 Ng6

48.Rf1 : 48...Ne5 and now White has nothing
better (due to the threat of ...Nf3) than
49.Nd4 Kd7.

48...Kd7 49.Rf1 Ke7 50.Rg1 Ne5 51.Rg2

Ba8 52.Nde2

It is time for Black to do something concrete,

since he has made all the obvious improving
moves.

52...Nf3+!
Position after: 55...Ng6
56.Nf4 58.Nxe4 Rxe4 59.Nc6+ with
counterchances.]
This loses a pawn, but of course White was in
an unenviable situation with his passive king 56...Nxf4 57.Rxf4 Rg1 58.Rh4 Rxg5 59.Kc1
and the weak e4- and g5-pawns.
You may wonder why White doesn’t try and
A) For instance, 56.Ng3 is met by 56...Rh3!
get inside Black’s camp with his rook: 59.Rh8
with the threat of ...Ne5.
Bc6 60.Rb8 but the point is that White’s
A1) After 57.Nge2 Black nevertheless picks counterplay is way too slow after 60...Re5
up a pawn: 57...Ne5 58.Rg2 [58.Rg3 Rxg3 61.Rb6 Bxe4 62.Rxa6 f5 and now there are no
59.Nxg3 Nf3 drops the other pawn instead] more chances for him.
58...Rh4 The e4-pawn cannot be defended.
A2) 57.Nf1 This is White’s lesser evil, and 59...d5
the only way to avoid losing a pawn by force
So White is released from the need to defend
for now. 57...Ne5 58.Rg2 Rh4 59.Nd2 Bc6
his second weakness on e4, but now Black
This is prophylaxis against a3-a4. Black
has two connected passed
generally intends to exchange rooks (though
not necessarily) and then bring his king
around to g6 to attack the g5-pawn.
Meanwhile, the white knights are stuck in
their current positions because the e4-pawn
needs to be defended twice.
B) Similar again is 56.Rg3 Rh4 57.Nd4 Ne5!

Position after: 59...d5

pawns in the centre. Seeing this, Karjakin

resigned, not seeing any need to make his top-
GM opponent demonstrate the limited
technique required for the remaining clean-up
operation.
A possible continuation was: 59...d5 60.Rh8
Position after: 57...Ne5! Bc6 61.exd5 Bxd5 62.Rb8 Re5 63.Rb6 f5
64.Rxa6 f4 and there is no way to stop the f-
Black continues playing extremely pawn.
prophylactically. There is no longer any way 0-1
to forestall the loss of a pawn. [Not 57...Bxe4
 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6
5.Nc3 a6

5...e6 reaches the starting position of the

Scheveningen. Now White can play 6.g4 to
initiate the Keres Attack, which is covered in
the next chapter.

6.Be3

Nunn and Short, among others, developed the

main ‘English’ attacking scheme, which
proceeds: Be3, Qd2, f3, 0-0-0 and g4. (The
idea of the ‘bayonet’ type pawn push g2-g4 is
known in many different lines and plays an
important role right across the Sicilian
spectrum.) In recent years, the English Attack
has been played by many of the world’s elite
players and can be considered as one of the
absolute main lines against the Najdorf.
d) English Attack with 6.Be3 e5
6...e5

Introduction Position after: 6...e5

When a few British grandmasters – such as A typical Najdorf move. Black immediately
Michael Adams, Nigel Short and John Nunn – indicates that he too has intentions in the
began playing in a similar fashion against the centre, and asserts that he will be able to
Dragon, this setup gained the moniker answer the questions relating to the d5-square.
‘English Attack’. 6...e6 With this move, Black enters a specific
kind of Scheveningen system, which I shall
comment on briefly.
A) The sharpest of all is 7.g4, known as the move prepares to meet ...Be6 with Ng5, so
Perenyi attack. The logical comparison is to Black isn’t able to contest the a2-g8 diagonal
the Keres Attack (see next chapter), but this at this moment. 7...Be7 [7...Qc7 is played by,
line is even more ‘all in’ because in what among others, the Bulgarian grandmaster
follows White will need to offer at least one Topalov and offers good practical chances in
piece sacrifice. 7...e5 8.Nf5 g6 9.g5 gxf5 the dynamic battle to come.] 8.Bc4 0-0 9.0-0
10.exf5 d5 11.gxf6 d4 12.Bc4 The violent Be6 10.Bb3 Nc6 In a rapid game Ivanchuk –
tactics that begin from this position are best Kasparov, 1995 Black did not face too many
excluded from discussion for now. issues.
B) 7.f3
7...Be6
B1) 7...Be7 8.Qd2 Nc6 is the slightly more
cautious approach. 9.0-0-0 0-0 Black ‘castles Ensuring that White can’t develop his bishop
into it’. The idea is to organise counterplay to c4.
later with ...Nxd4 and ...b5. For there to be
time for this, it is essential that Black leave 8.f3
his kingside ‘as is’; that way, White will need
to play five pawn moves (g2-g4-g5, h2-h4,
h4-h5 and g5-g6) before he has a chance to
open up the black king. In general, in such a
situation, Black’s best reaction to White’s
offensive ideas is in fact to not react at all.
10.g4 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 b5 12.g5 Nd7 13.h4 and
now an example of how Black should defend
himself against the stereotyped kingside pawn
storm can be seen in the further continuation
of Svatos – Babula, 1994.
B2) 7...b5 The sharpest reaction and the one Position after: 8.f3
most often seen at the top level.
White decides to continue in consistent
7.Nb3 English style.

As in other variations, the knight doesn’t 8...Be7

stand so well here (considered by itself) but
This is the most normal continuation, but in
the most important factor in choosing its
recent other moves have begun being
retreat square is staying out of the other
developed.
pieces’ way.
A) The other normal developing move is
While the text move is considered best, we
8...Nbd7. Black holds off slightly on the
need to also look at the other options. 7.Nf3
kingside development for now, rather
White hopes to someday occupy d5 with a
beginning to prepare his queenside plans
knight and develop his bishop to c4. This
immediately. 9.g4 b5 There is no other logical
way to follow up. 10.g5 b4 Necessary, is the way in which contemporary top players
otherwise White would obtain the d5-square like to proceed, ever since the game Anand –
without a struggle. 11.Ne2 [White wins a Topalov, 2008. The game could continue:
pawn with the logical 11.gxf6 bxc3 12.fxg7 9...Bxd5 Black gives up his bishop pair.
Bxg7 13.bxc3 but now Black develops strong While that seems like a concession, it is more
compensation based on his dark squares and than justified if he can now trade off the dark-
the doubled c-pawns, starting with the tactic squared bishops too. Then White would have
13...Bh6!] 11...Nh5 The knight now has to be only one bishop – rather than a pair – and it
stationed on the edge of the board, but it has wouldn’t have particularly great scope.
fulfilled its main task of preventing White Additionally the knight on b3 is still not well
occupying the d5-square. Now it takes on a placed. If that exchange (which, in the first
new prophylactic role: standing in the way of instance, he would try to achieve by ... g7-g6
White’s pawn march h2-h4-h5. Black will and ...Bf8-h6) doesn’t work for black, he
thereby gain time for his queenside usually ends up placing the bishop on g7.
counterplay. An interesting struggle is After a possible ...f7-f5 and ...e5-e4, the
guaranteed. 12.Qd2 bishop also has a bright future on g7. 10.exd5
Nbd7 11.Qd2 Now we arrive at a very
interesting position, where many great players
have tested their skills in the last decade.
Some, like Topalov, have sat on both sides of
the board here. The main move (although
Black can also consider placing his bishop on
e7) is now 11...g6 – see for instance the
annotated game Topalov – Wojtaszek, 2015.

9.Qd2 0-0 10.0-0-0 Nbd7 11.g4

Position after: 12.Qd2

Indeed, we got just such a game between two

of the very best players of the time, and also
of all time: Anand – Kasparov, 2002.
B) A radical manner in which Black can
thwart the white plan is 8...h5. As we have
already seen, if Black develops in a more
normal way, White will swiftly push his g-
pawn up the board and push the f6-knight to
one or other edge of the board. However, the Position after: 11.g4
f6-knight is a great defender of the d5-square,
so preventing White’s pawn push is a logical The white initiative on the kingside proceeds
and productive bit of prophylaxis. 9.Nd5 This at pace, so Black can’t afford hesitation.
11...b5 12.g5 b4 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6
5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3
Before Black moves his f6-knight, he first
disturbs its trade rival on c3 – otherwise that The move which initiates the English Attack.
knight would soon have a very comfortable
home on d5. 6...e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.f3

13.Ne2 Ne8

Usually Black wants to be able to retreat this

knight to d7 instead, to avoid disconnecting
his rooks. However, there was no spare tempo
with which to arrange that. Now White has
tried lots of different options, including 14.h4,
14.Kb1 and 14.Ng3 as well as the most recent
battleground, 14.f4 – which is considered
promising for White. There are top games in
both these last two.
Position after: 8.f3
14.f4
8...Nbd7

At the time this game was played, we can

safely say that both players, both white and
black, already had significant experience with
this opening. Later we will pay some attention
to the critical move 8...h5.

9.Qd2

If White had wanted to ‘punish’ Black for his

omission of ...h5, then this was the moment to
rule that possibility out for good with 9.g4.
Position after: 14.f4
9...b5 10.0-0-0
Topalov – Vallejo Pons, 2005.
14.Ng3 a5 Svidler – Kasimdzhanov, 2005.

MODEL GAME for White

Carlsen, Magnus (2853)

So, Wesley (2779)
Saint Louis 2015
 Wesley So chooses to deviate from the main
line, though this doesn’t yet leave theory
completely.
A) The main variation continues: 11...0-0
12.g5 b4 13.Ne2 Ne8 14.f4 a5 15.f5 a4 and
this has been a major area for top players’
investigations for a while now. Most recently,
White has been trying to show some
advantage after: 16.fxe6 axb3 17.cxb3 fxe6
18.Bh3! and Black has to decide how to deal
Position after: 10.0-0-0 with the threat to the e6-pawn. Principled is
18...Rxa2 [18...Nc7 19.Kb1 likewise seems to
10...Be7 lead to a pleasant edge for White.] 19.Bxe6+
Kh8 and after 20.Ng3 Nc7 21.Bc4 Qa8
Even at this stage it is possible to continue 22.Rhf1 Rxf1 23.Rxf1 Ra1+ 24.Kc2 Rxf1
with 10...h5. In an email game Repp – 25.Bxf1 White had a small but stable edge in
Avotins, 2010 the continuation was 11.Nd5 the game Saric – Wojtaszek, 2015. The
Bxd5 12.exd5 Nb6 13.Qc3 with messy advantage is due to his bishop pair, especially
complications. the light-squared bishop. With this in mind
Black would minimise the damage by playing
11.g4
that thematic Sicilian break, 25...d5!?
B) One other alternative for Black is the
natural 11...Nb6 which yielded an interesting
game, following the moves 12.g5 Nh5
13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.exd5 Bd7 15.Na5 in the
rapid encounter Dominguez Perez –
Nepomniachtchi, 2014.

12.Nd5

Accepting the challenge is most common, and

correct.
Position after: 11.g4
12...Bxd5
Finally this advance. It is worth noticing that
the current position could also have arisen Here, as in many other lines of the English
from 8...Be7. Attack, Black gives up his bishop for the
strong central knight.
11...b4
13.exd5 Nb6 14.Na5

The alternative 14.Qxb4 is also well regarded.

14...Nbxd5

Position after: 19.Qxd1

Position after: 14...Nbxd5
The point is that with two pieces for a rook
It doesn’t seem so great to take with the other
(and a pawn) White has a slight nominal
knight: 14...Nfxd5?! because of 15.Nb7! Qc7
advantage, added to which is the fact of his
16.Bxb6 Nxb6 17.Nxd6+ Kf8 [Black loses
better co-ordination and central control.
material in the endgame following 17...Bxd6
18.Qxd6 Qxd6 19.Rxd6] 18.Nf5!? White 16.Nxe3
obtains good chances. The black king stands
badly, and the h8-rook has yet to
meaningfully enter the game. [Another idea is
18.f4 opening up lines towards the black
king.] The world champion now opts to make
it a ‘genuine’ sacrifice.

15.Nc4!?

White can also take material back with

15.Nc6 Qc7 16.Nxb4 but in the process he
loses some control.

15...Nxe3
Position after: 16.Nxe3
Black has to take on e3 now – if he delays,
White obtains a trick: 15...0-0 16.g5 Nxe3 The key position for visualising Carlsen’s
and now the intermezzo 17.gxf6! is good for concept. Despite the pawn deficit, it is he who
White. [Recapturing with the knight gives no is trying to be better, because of his control of
particular advantage: 17.Nxe3 Nh5 18.h4 the central light squares. Black’s dark-squared
Nf4] 17...Nxd1 18.fxe7 Qxe7 19.Qxd1 bishop is hindered by the two fixed pawns on
d6 and e5.
16...0-0 very inconvenient to deal with the white
knight on c6, which disrupts the flow of
A) In a game Perez Garcia – Razmyslov, Black’s play.
2008 Black opted to totally give up control of
the light squares now rather than be forced to 17.Bc4
by a later g5. He played 16...Nd7 with the
point being to develop his bad bishop via This logical move was a novelty: the world
...Be7-g5. In fact the diagonal c1-h6 looks champion recognised that the most important
like a significant tactical weakness in White’s feature of this position is control of the white
camp, but there is an answer: 17.Nd5! squares in the centre. Engines are initially
quite opposed to this move, but they soon
A1) Probably he only realised now that after
come to their senses.
17...Bg5 18.f4! exf4 there comes 19.h4!
Bxh4? [19...Be7 20.Qxf4 Ne5 21.Qxb4 is Previously the move 17. h4 was played.
close to winning for White.] 20.Rxh4 Qxh4
17...Nd7
21.Nc7+ Everything drops.
A2) 17...Bh4 Black is alert, but his position is 17...Rc8 18.h4 does not do anything to
still worse. 18.Qxb4 and White stands better. challenge the White hegemony.
B) It would be reasonable to ask whether The possible break with 17...d5 might have
Black can simply try and return the pawn with been met by 18.Qe2!? (The position is about
16...d5. However after 17.g5! Nh5 18.Qxd5 equal after 18.Nxd5 Nxd5 19.Qxd5) 18...d4
Qxd5 19.Nxd5 Black has not solved anything 19.Nf5 White has his pieces on active
in particular. A further pawn trade is almost squares, but the question remains to be
forced: 19...Bxg5+ 20.Kb1 0-0 21.Nxb4 a5 answered of whether there is an actual
22.Nc6. advantage for him.

18.h4

As before.

18...a5

Black tries to create some kind of counterplay

on the kingside. By playing this move he also
supports the b4-pawn.
A) The pawn is immune: 18...Bxh4 19.Qh2
g5 20.Rxd6 and White wins.
Position after: 22.Nc6
B) 18...Nb6 is plausible, and probably best
In this position White has the usual Sicilian met by 19.Bd5!? to try and obtain a pure
queenside majority, which can play a role in ‘good knight versus bad bishop’ position.
what is to come much faster than Black’s 19...Nxd5 [19...Rb8 20.Be4 sees White
majority on the other side. Additionally, it is transfer his bishop to an even better diagonal.
White is now intending the direct g5-g6.] With this, white is planning f3-f4. That move
20.Nxd5 Black’s position may not be lost yet, would eliminate one of his weak pawns –
but it is quite prospectless. trading it off for a strong Black one if Black
proactively plays ...exf4. But that might well
19.g5 Rc8 20.Bd5 Nb6 21.Kb1 be the best course of action for Black, because
if he does nothing then White can push on to
f5, threatening to open Black’s king position
with either the f- or g-pawn. What is beyond
any doubt is that the f-file will now become
open, or at least the scene of some major
drama.

22...Nxd5

This move indicates some nervousness about

Black’s situation, and doesn’t improve things
because the knight on d5 will dominate the
Position after: 21.Kb1
board just as well as the bishop did. But
21...Qc7?! Carlsen would likely have been more than
satisfied with the development of
White has a firm grip on the position and circumstances in any case.
Black can hardly control a single light square. A) 22...Kh8 is a logical try to get out of the
Perhaps he could have chosen 21...Rc5 pin. 23.f4 Here too Black is in big trouble
achieving a slightly better version of the game whichever way he goes. 23...a4 This is best,
if (as is likely) White continues with the same to try and set up counterplay in the future.
plan of 22.Rhf1. [23...exf4 24.Rxf4 would almost be game
over.] 24.f5 f6 25.Be6 Black has temporarily
22.Rhf1 managed to close the kingside, but White still
has most of the chances.
B) Like everything else, 22...Qc5 fails to
prevent 23.f4 .But after 23...exf4 24.Rxf4
Nxd5 25.Nxd5 Rce8 the position might well
be holdable.

23.Nxd5

Position after: 22.Rhf1

 Black can defend the e5-pawn with tactics but
then White strikes at a completely different
point: 25...Rce8?! 26.Qb3 Kh8 27.a3 with a
large advantage.

26.h5

Position after: 23.Nxd5

Look at that knight!

23...Qb7 24.f4 f5

We often see this type of defence in the

English Attack. Black would like to stop the Position after: 26.h5
kingside pawn storm in its tracks.
After 24...exf4 White can take back with the 26...Rc5 27.h6 g6
queen without worrying about his c2-pawn,
Black keeps the lines around his king tightly
unlike the previous note: 25.Qxf4 and the
closed, but there is still room in-between
pawn storm continues as intended.
them: a White piece would do untold damage
25.Qe3 on g7.
A) Taking the knight loses immediately:
Threatening to take twice on e5. 27...Rxd5? 28.Qb3+–
After the natural capture on f6 the kingside B) The logical solution seems to be 27...Rf7.
files do open but White’s initiative will Here, too, White can play 28.Qb3 which, we
nevertheless be defused soon: 25.gxf6?! Bxf6 should note, does not lose a piece. The
In fact it could even be the black position overloading move 28...a4 would be answered
which makes more sense here, and he is still by 29.Nxe7+ Qxe7 30.Qxa4
up a pawn.

25...e4

Black was forced to make the pawn-structure

static again, which can only be to the
advantage of the player with the knight.
 31.Ne3 Qe7 32.Rfd1 Bc7 33.Nc4 with
continuing pressure.

31...Rc6?!

Position after: 30.Qxa4

and in the position with only major pieces

left, Black has two weak pawns on b4 and d6.
Position after: 31...Rc6?!
28.Qb3 Rf7 29.a4
This simplifies White’s task. The only move
This move is easy to understand. Taking was 31...Rd7 so as to meet the logical 32.Ne3
advantage of the momentarily undefended Be7 33.Nc4 with 33...Qa6 when there is still
queen on b7, he sees that it is possible to a long way to go.
create some ‘luft’ for his king and prevent
32.Ne3! Bb6 33.Nc4?!
...a5-a4, without permitting the en-passant
capture. Another little detail is that this move Carlsen opts for a normal-looking way of
fixes Black’s a5-pawn on the wrong-coloured winning material, but it was not the most
square. accurate. What was not so simple to see were
Saying all that, the concrete 29.Rd4! was the concrete details which make 33.Rxd6! a
arguably a better move, consolidating the significantly better choice. 33...Rxd6 34.Rxd6
position of the d5-knight and preparing to A) The trade of minor pieces is not useful:
double on the d-file. 34...Bxe3 35.Qxe3 Rd7 and now White has a
little wrinkle which means that Black will
29...Bd8 30.Rd4 Kf8
neither get to trade rooks nor activate his
It is understandable that So wants to avoid his rook. 36.Qd4! Now 36...Rxd6 loses the queen
king being on the same diagonal as the after 37.Qh8+ Ke7 38.Qg7+ but there was no
opponent’s queen. better alternative anyway.
B) 34...Bc7 35.Rd5!? Now White’s pieces are
31.Rfd1 coming in, and it’s important to note that
Black cannot obtain relief by trying to ‘eat his
White has a fairly stable advantage in any
way out’. 35...Bxf4 [35...Qc6 36.Rb5 Bd8
case, but you could make an argument for
37.Nc4 demonstrates the mechanism by
regrouping immediately so as to attack d6.
which White intends to penetrate] 36.Rxa5
Bxg5 37.Rb5 Next will be Qxb4 and the
attack is unstoppable.

33...Bxd4?!

So far small mistakes had been made on both

sides, but after this gamble there will be no
going back.
Meanwhile 33...Rxc4! would have generated
real counterchances. 34.Qxc4! [Black’s point
is that after 34.Rxc4 Rd7! Black is decidedly
not worse in view of the unstoppable ...d6-d5 Position after: 36.Rxd4
which is coming next.] 34...Bxd4 35.Qxd4
While this looks unpleasant for Black, it turns Black has huge problems because material
out that after 35...Qc6 there is nothing better has already been equalised but he remains
than trading queens with 36.Qxd6+ Qxd6 with the two extremely weak pawns on b4
37.Rxd6 Ra7 and White must win the game and d6.
anew.
36.Qd5 e3
34.Nxa5 Qb6 35.Nxc6
Setting the passed pawn in motion.

37.a5

Carlsen, meanwhile, pushes his own passed

pawn, and it turns out Black cannot very well
defend against both that and the kingside
attack.

37...Qb5?!

Position after: 35.Nxc6

35...Bc5

By contrast to the last note, after 35...Qxc6

36.Rxd4
Position after: 37...Qb5?! Now here the a-pawn plays its role. 43.a6!
Qf7 [The fork 43...Qxa6 44.Qg8+ Kd7
Black now loses control over the back ranks. 45.Nb8+ is White’s main point] 44.a7!
The tactical motifs of this position are perhaps
A1) 44...Qxd5 45.a8=Q+ Kd7 46.Qd8+
not entirely surprising given the configuration
Kxc6 [46...Ke6 47.Qe7#] 47.Qa8+ is a
of pieces on the kingside. For instance:
beautiful skewer
37...Qb7? 38.Qxc5 dxc5 39.Rd8#. Relatively
best but also not a solution was 37...Qc7 . A2) A study-like move. 44...Bxa7 45.Qa5!
White needs to find an accurate set of moves Double attack! This move is suggested by the
to use the b-file for his rook: 38.c3! bxc3 computer. Black cannot prevent mate on d8
39.b4 c2+ 40.Kxc2 Bxb4 41.Kd3! with a and also preserve the bishop’s life.
large advantage. [Simplifying with 45.Qxf7+ Kxf7 46.Nxa7 is
the human approach and would also work,
38.Nd8! albeit after minor technical issues.]

The steed soweth death and destruction! B) 38...Rd7 39.Ne6+ and next the knight will
withdraw to d4, cuing up a killer check on
38...Ra7 either e6 or g8.

In fact there aren’t any safe squares for the 39.Ne6+ Ke8 40.Nd4?!
rook; White can attack a rook on e7 by
playing Ne6-d4-c6 at the right time, while on Carlsen tries to follow the ideas from the
c7 it gets immediately forked by Ne6. above variations. However, flexibility was
called for.
A) Let us clarify that last comment with a
line. 38...Re7 39.Ne6+ Ke8 40.Nd4 Qb7 The most convincing move was now
41.Nc6 e2 [Or 41...Rf7 42.Qe6+ Kf8 40.Nxc5: Black needs to keep the rook
43.Nd8+–] 42.Re1 Re4 protected with 40...Qxc5 but there
nevertheless follows 41.Qg8+ Kd7 42.Qxh7+
Kc6 43.Qxg6 upon which White has
successfully netted two pawns, making his
own kingside pawns ‘passed’ in the process.
Of course, there is still the slight
inconvenience of the e3-pawn. Let us check
some lines and see that White is able to
control it. 43...Re7 [43...e2? 44.Qe8+]
44.Qg8! Threatening to swap queens, and
also having in mind defences involving a
check on c4. Such as: 44...e2 45.Re1 Qf2
Position after: 42...Re4 46.Qc4+ and all counterplay will be
completely extinguished following Qxb4.

40...Qxa5 41.Qg8+ Kd7 42.Qxh7+ Kc8

43.Qg8+ Kb7
 Position after: 45...Qb6

The endgame after 45...Qb4 46.bxc3 Qxb3+

47.Nxb3 is, as before and also in the game,
winning given a modicum of care.

46.Qxb6+

Carlsen trades off into a winning endgame.

46...Kxb6
Position after: 43...Kb7 Following 46...Bxb6 it is wise for White to
retain the minor pieces on the board, because
So Black’s king has slipped the net and White
is himself faced with the threat of mate. of how good his knight is as a blockader.
Presumably, he saw in advance how he could A) The rook endgame is, oddly, not that
extricate himself, otherwise his whole train of simple now. If we compare the following line
thought would have been flawed. with what happens in the game, the difference
44.c3! is that White cannot take on d6 with check...
47.bxc3 Bxd4 48.cxd4 Kc6
Absolutely the only move to continue playing
for a win.
44.Nb3?? would block the protection of a2
and allow a calamity on that square:
44...Qa2+ 45.Kc1 Qa1+! 46.Nxa1 Rxa1#.

44...bxc3

44...Qa4 is also met by 45.Qb3 Qxb3

46.Nxb3 which is close to being trivial for
White.

45.Qb3+ Qb6 Position after: 48...Kc6

49.Rh1! This is winning, but White has to

really think about it. 49...Rh7 50.Kc2 Kd5
51.Kd3 e2 52.Re1 The pawn only needs to be
stopped on e2. Next, White will take on e2
and g6, regardless of whether Black grabs the
d4-pawn; then the two connected pawns will
defeat the lone d-pawn. For instance: 52...Ra7
53.Rxe2 Ra3+ 54.Kd2 Rh3 55.Re8 Kxd4
56.Ke2 Kc4 57.Re6 d5 58.Rxg6 d4 59.Rc6+
Kd5 60.Rc7 winning.
B) 47.Ne2! Kc6 48.bxc3 White is winning.

47.bxc3

White’s protected passed pawn is vital in the

evaluation of this position. It is winning for
him, but technique is still needed.

47...Bxd4
Position after: 54.Kxe2

with another winning rook endgame of a type

we have already seen: White has time to pick
up the g6-pawn and only then concern himself
with the counterplay based on the passed d-
pawn. 54...d5 55.Ra6 Kd4 56.Rxg6 Ke4
57.Rg7 Kxf4 58.h7 The white pawns run
home.
It doesn’t matter that Black can decoy the
white king away from the promotion square
of e1 with 48...Ra1+, because the intent was
to stop that pawn with the rook anyway. In
Position after: 47...Bxd4 fact after 49.Kxa1 e2 it is possible to stop that
pawn either by Rxd6-e6 as before, or the new
48.Rxd4!
option 50.Rb4+ followed by Rb1.
Strongly played.
49.Kc2 Ra2+ 50.Kd1
48...Kc6
The king must retreat. Definitely not
48...e2 49.Rxd6+! is the point: the e-pawn’s 50.Kd3?? because of 50...e2.
freedom to run was illusory... 49...Kc5
50...Rf2 51.Ke1 Kd7 52.Ra4 Ke6 53.Ra8
50.Re6 ...and it is lost on the very next turn.
The most intuitive move 48...Kc5 gets met by Threatening h7.
49.Kc2 Re7 50.Kd1 e2+ 51.Ke1 Re3 52.Ra4
Rxc3 53.Ra8 Rh3 54.Kxe2 53...Rh2 54.c4!?

Carlsen is very good at reducing counterplay.

The perfectly natural 54.Rg8 aiming to take
on g6 is also winning, but only after White
admits the mistake: 54...Kd5 and now the
only move is in fact 55.Re8! to stop ...Ke4.
55...Ke6
Otherwise the counterplay is too fast.
Losing the g-pawn. 55...Rh4 leads to a second
54...Kf7
zugzwang after 56.Ke2 Rh3 57.Kd3.
Similarly, 55...e2 56.Kd2.

56.Rg8

Black resigned.
The point is that 56.Rg8 Kf7 doesn’t preserve
the g-pawn after 57.Rg7+.
1-0

Position after: 54...Kf7 Carlsen and So during a game in Wijk aan

Zee in The Netherlands (photo Frans Peeters)
After 54...d5 White has a little tactic: 55.h7!
Rxh7 56.Ra6+ Kf7 57.Ra7+ Kg8 58.Rxh7
Kxh7 59.c5 and the c-pawn queens. MODEL GAME for White

55.Rb8! Topalov, Veselin (2813)

Wojtaszek, Radoslaw (2734)
This move by the world champion places his Skopje 2015
opponent in zugzwang.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 Black cannot ignore this knight – it is
5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.f3 h5 facilitating the threat of Bb6.

This move, with which Black prevents the 9...Bxd5 10.exd5 Nbd7 11.Qd2
push g2-g4 as soon as it was threatened, has
gained popularity in the last decade. Black
takes a big risk because the kingside castled
position is now less likely to be safe. Yet
neither is it so easy – it appears from praxis –
for white to start an attack on that flank. If he
plays h2-h3 (with the intention of g2-g4),
black can always answer h5-h4. The advance
g2-g4 is then countered by an en-passant
capture, opening the g-file but crippling the
white pawn-structure. Alternatively, if white
wants to end up with a pawn on g4 – to be Position after: 11.Qd2
able to chase the knight away from f6 and
thereby fight for d5 – then he first needs g2- 11...g6
g3, then h2-h3 to play before he can finally
play g3-g4. This takes quite a while and Black One of the important options Black has. The
will not be idle in the meantime. In particular, idea is that someday ... Bh6 will become a
Black is looking to push his queenside pawns. possibility. In particular, if White for some
All this, of course, also holds true in the reason trades his dark-squared bishop for a
(extremely common) case where White knight on b6 or f6. The modest pawn push
decides to rule out the possibility of ...d6-d5 might also help support a future ...f5 break.
by stationing his knight on that square, where
12.0-0-0
it promptly gets traded off for Black’s light-
squared bishop. However, specifically in that
case (as we shall see) it is important to pay
attention to Black’s efforts to exchange the
dark-squared bishops. If he manages, then
Black’s remaining minor pieces will have
much greater mobility than White’s, because
White’s light-squared bishop would be
constricted by its pawns – especially the one
which will by then have arrived on d5! Lots to
take in... but in any case, this move by Black
promises an interesting fight.
Position after: 12.0-0-0
9.Nd5
In a game Topalov – Dominguez Perez, 2014
there followed 12.Be2 Qc7 13.Rc1 Ng8!?
14.0-0 Ne7 [14...Bh6?! In theory Black
should be looking to trade off his dark-
squared bishop, but the idea is too slow now
because of 15.f4! when Black has a major
problem with development.] 15.Bg5 f6
16.Be3 0-0-0 17.c4 and White later got an
advantage.

12...Nb6

It was Topalov himself who introduced this

move in a game against Anand in 2008.
Position after: 15.g3!?
13.Qa5
White is planning a pawn storm on the
And two months before the present game was
kingside. If he tried to prepare g4
played, it was Grischuk (in Saint Louis) who
immediately with h2-h3 he would find his
essayed 13.Kb1 ...against Topalov himself.
pawn-structure fixed forever with ... h5-h4.
What followed failed to bother the Bulgarian
With the text, though, white can now consider
grandmaster handling the black pieces:
playing those two moves soon – having first
13...Nbxd5 14.Bg5 Be7 15.Na5 Rb8 16.Bc4
ensured that his h1-rook is defended.
Nb6 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.Qxd6 Qxd6 19.Rxd6
Bd8 20.Rd3 Bc7 and Black had equalised. Meanwhile, another natural move was played
in Anand – Topalov, 2008, and later led to
13...Bh6 some advantage for White: 15.Kb1 – but this
wasn’t quite the optimal solution, because
Here is why black wants to play ... g7-g6 in White can make better use of this particular
this variation. The exchange of dark-squared tempo. Nevertheless, white cannot easily
bishops in principle benefits him, since the continue for long with a king on c1 because
scope of White’s remaining bishop leaves black will soon start developing with ...Rc8
much to be desired. lining up against the king. Also White would
like to give his central pawn some cover with
14.Bxh6 Rxh6
c2-c4.
So, what was Topalov’s intention in
15...Kf8 16.Kb1
‘switching sides’ and opting to face his own
pet variation from the first player’s Indispensable in the long run.
perspective? We now see the reason:
16...Kg7 17.Be2
15.g3!?
This was the novelty. In the correspondence
game Bell – Ísólfsson, ICCF 2014 17.f4 was
played. After the further 17...h4 18.fxe5 dxe5
19.d6 Nbd7 20.Bg2 Qxa5 21.Nxa5 e4 A) There is no point to 20...h4 which allows
22.Nxb7 Rh5 23.c4 Rb8 24.c5 Nxc5 25.Nxc5 White to, at a moment of his choice, push past
Rxc5 the game was equal. with 21.g4.
B) A strong possibility is the intuitive
17...Rh8
20...Nc5 to definitively remove c4-c5 from
Linking up the rooks and intending to play the equation. A possible follow-up: 21.Nd2
...Rc8 next. You could be forgiven for Nbd7 22.Qxd8 Rhxd8 23.b4 Na4 and now
thinking that the immediate 17...Rc8 24.Ne4 is nothing special due to 24...Nf6.
prevented White’s next, but this is not so.
21.Qa3!
18.c4 Nxc4?? loses a piece to 19.Qxd8 Rxd8
20.Bxc4. With this move, Topalov asks a concrete
question – because he is threatening the d6-
18.c4 Rc8 19.Rc1 Nfd7 20.Rhd1
pawn. An attractive possibility is 21.c5 but
White protects his d5-pawn, envisaging the perhaps the position becomes simplified too
future possibility of playing c4-c5. Other fast: 21...dxc5 22.Nxc5 Rxc5 23.Rxc5 Nxc5
moves are possible, but none seems clearly 24.Qxc5 Nd7 25.Qc3 Qc8 and White still has
better. work to do to prove a real advantage in the
endgame.

21...Nc8?!

Causing a bit of a pile-up.

A) One of Topalov’s main points was a pawn-
push at the end of a natural line: 21...Qe7?!
22.c5! Nxc5 23.Nxc5 Rxc5 24.Rxc5 dxc5 and
by contrast to the previous note, White can
play 25. d6 with tempo, and only then Qxc5 –
with an advantage.
Position after: 20.Rhd1 B) 21...Nf6 was seemingly the best answer,
when White should again choose to follow the
A) It is obvious to continue here with a move plan from the game.
like 20.Qb4 vacating the a5-square for the
knight. However the knight doesn’t do much 22.Nd2
there after 20...Nc5 21.Na5 Nbd7 when
White’s position has not improved. Black’s last move served a prophylactic
purpose: after 22.c5?! White will not get to
B) An interesting idea is 20.Rhf1!? to set up
push his d-pawn at the critical moment.
the f4-break.
22...Nxc5 23.Nxc5 dxc5 24.Rxc5 Rxc5
20...Rc7 25.Qxc5 Nd6

Black is finding it hard to make useful moves.

 Position after: 22...Nf6
Position after: 25...Nd6
A) On 22...f5?! there would follow an
Veselin Topalov in the old days (photo Jos Sutmuller) instructive switchback: 23.Rg1! and after the
inevitable g3-g4 Black’s king position will be
somewhat suspect.
B) 22...Nc5 makes sense because 23.b4 Nd7
would lead to White’s own king position
coming under some scrutiny. The position
would then enter razor-sharp territory after
24.c5

23.h3

This was White’s plan when he chose Qa5 in

the opening.
The knight trade 23.Ne4?! is not to White’s
advantage: 23...Nxe4 24.fxe4 with no
problems for Black.

23...Re7 24.g4
and the knight reaches the beautiful
blockading square d6, after which we can It took a long time, but finally the long-
only speak about a black advantage. The anticipated advance comes through.
pawn on d5 is completely blockaded forever
and the e2-bishop has no future. 24...hxg4

22...Nf6 In principle, Black wants to keep lines closed

near his king, so let us make a remark on the
logical 24...h4 . Now there follows 25.Qe3! ,
a move which underlines that in fact Black
has not kept anything closed. Both c4-c5 and
various kingside pawn pushes are on the
agenda, and either would enable the white
bishop to finally come into its element.

25.fxg4

One point of Qa3 is revealed. The queen

defends the h-pawn along the third rank.
White has a clear advantage here because the
f-file is (half-)open and he is the only one that
can use it.
By contrast after 25.hxg4?! it would be Black Position after: 28.c5!
who found himself in possession of an open
This move brings the ongoing drama
file.
surrounding the e5-square to a climax. The h-
25...e4 file is, of course, the scene of the final act; let
me show some lines. 28...dxc5 [28...Nxc5?
White gets something he’s been secretly 29.Qc3+ Kg8 30.Rh1 and White wins
wanting for a while: the central and kingside material.] 29.Qc3+ Kg8? It was mandatory to
dark squares are no longer essentially Black’s offer some material back...by blocking on e5
property. However, this concession comes at with the rook. After that the game would be
the cost of Black having some activity. quite interesting. 30.Rh1! The white initiative
is again deadly.
26.g5 Nd7 27.Bg4
B) Here it was interesting to play 27.Qc3+!?
An important part of White’s strategy. Now immediately as well, likely leading to a big
the dark squares have been revealed to be advantage. As well as continuing as in the
definitively more important, and White game, White would also have the option of
hastens to exchange off one of Black’s 27...Kg8 28.Qd4!? intending to include the
defenders of them. knight in his attack with Nxe4.

A) Another interesting plan was also 27...e3 28.Qc3+

available: 27.h4!? If Black accepts the
sacrifice, then a surprising but thematic strike
follows on the other side: 27...Rxh4 28.c5!
Position after: 28.Qc3+ see at all, especially at distance. 34...Qxf6
35.gxf6 Na7 36.Rxe2 and despite the pawn
28...Kg8 deficit White stands better. Mostly this is due
to the poor positions of Black’s knight and
The lesser evil was perhaps 28...Kh7!? since
h8-rook.
right now, there is no particular downside to
having the king on the h-file. B) 31...Ne7 32.c6 Qc7 33.Qa3! White is for
choice here.
29.Nf3
31...Nb6 32.Qd4 Nd7
The knight doesn’t get to reach its ideal
attacking post on e4, but here it covers the e5- The second knight takes the place of its
square, all but ensuring that the d7-knight will predecessor in fighting for certain important
be removed from the board. dark squares – especially c5 and e5.

29...Ne5 30.Nxe5 Rxe5 33.Rc3 e2 34.Rc2 Rxg5

Pawn-grabbing is often an attractive

proposition, but here the temptation should
perhaps have been avoided.

Position after: 30...Rxe5

31.Re1
Position after: 34...Rxg5
This was a reasonable to play the long-
anticipated 31.c5! trying to undermine the It was no longer possible to speak of equality,
rook on e5. but 34...b5 was worth trying for Black.
A) One downside is that the variations after 35.cxb5 axb5 36.Rcxe2 Rxe2 37.Rxe2 Ne5
31...e2 32.Re1 Rxd5 are far from trivial. Now 38.Qf4 Here Black is in the game, though the
White should continue 33.c6! and after poor position of the h8-rook does mean that
33...bxc6 he would have a strong and he lacks many prospects.
surprising response. [33...Rc5?? 34.cxb7!
Rxc3 35.Rxc3 Nb6 36.Rc8 is a dramatic end – 35.Bxd7!
White nets a piece: 36...Nxc8 37.bxc8=Q
To nobody’s great surprise, Topalov saw that
Qxc8 38.Bxc8] 34.Qf6! This is not simple to
it was of paramount importance to snap this
knight off the board before it could hope to This loses almost immediately, but Black had
get to e5. Of course, now the h8-rook comes a tough defensive task anyway.
to life somewhat, but that is a price worth 37...Rf8 was a lot tougher, but let us see how
paying. White could nevertheless cause trouble here.
38.Re7 Qxh3 39.Rxb7 and White has various
35...Qxd7 36.Rcxe2 Kh7
ways to continue from here, e.g. Ka2
There was no choice, because Re8 was followed by Rb3, or the game’s idea of Re4.
threatened.
38.Re7
37.a3!
Playing the trump card.

38...Qf5+ 39.Ka2

White now has a few mate motifs at his

disposal. You are invited to play around with
the position and check that by now Black
actually has no way to avoid imminent defeat.

39...Rg8 40.Re8 Qd7 41.R8e7 Qf5 42.R1e4!

Position after: 37.a3!

This kind of ‘small move’ is one of the

distinguishing features of strong players.
Before he plays his trump cards, he first gives
his own king complete safety. A check on f5
can now be met by Ka2, where there will be
no further checks and certainly no back-rank
tricks.The difference in the safety of both
kings becomes clearly noticeable here. The Position after: 42.R1e4!
black one will soon be attacked anew, while
White’s has few worries right now. The second rook takes its position. The most
obvious intention is to play Rf4, while in
By contrast to the game, after 37.Re7 Qf5+
some lines it might also be useful to play Rh4.
38.Ka1 there is no way to include the e1-rook
Black has no defence, and promptly resigned.
in the attack, because White’s back rank is
simply too weak. 1-0

37...b5?
MODEL GAME for Black
Dai, Changren (2464) Bb6 (as mentioned before) is to prevent the
Jakovenko, Dmitrij (2735) freeing move ...d6-d5.
China 2018 White can also play something neutral, such
as 9.Qd2 . After 9...Nbd7 we will often
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 nevertheless reach similar structures to the
5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 game, because Nc3-d5 is the only way to
prevent Black from liberating his game by
This is seen as the most accurate order. Black
pushing the d-pawn in the long term.
wants to develop the queenside as fast as
possible, choosing to delay the move ...Be7, 9...Bxd5
which might otherwise be seen as a natural
one. That is because sometimes Black wants This would normally be considered a double-
to continue with ...g7-g6 and ..Bf8-g7 (or in edged decision, with some players decidedly
exceptional cases even ...Bf8-h6.) against doing such things. All else being
equal, giving up the bishop pair at such an
8.f3 h5 early stage of the game is a bad idea; however
here the structure has been clarified enough
for the move to actually be fully correct.

10.exd5 Nbd7

Position after: 8...h5

This push fits in with a number of Black’s

other intentions. Right now he wants to
prevent an early advance with g2-g4.
8...Be7 is the most normal and commonly Position after: 10...Nbd7
played move – in spite of what we have just
said – but this game isn’t the place to discuss Time to take stock and to review the plans of
it. both players. After the exchange on d5, white
no longer has control of that square, but
9.Nd5 instead a potentially vulnerable pawn there,
which Black is often planning to attack by
Clarifying the situation in the centre. The
means of ...Nd7-b6. White can of course
reason for this move, apart from threatening
counter the attack on d5 by exchanging his
dark-squared bishop for the knight when it is not active either. The black rooks are also
appears there, but then the dark squares are well positioned, occupying files which can be
likely to become very vulnerable, particularly opened only when Black chooses.
due to White having played f2-f3.
21.Bf5?!
11.Qd2 Qc7 12.0-0-0 Be7
Ineffectual. It was high time to bring the
Let us note in passing that Black’s plan here queen into play with 21.Qc4.
is somewhat different from the one in
Topalov – Wojtaszek. 21...e4!

13.Kb1 Nb6 14.Qa5 Black has a passed pawn now and it gets
moving without any further ado. There is a
risk that the bishop on f5 will find itself
trapped under certain circumstances (... h3, ...
g6).

22.Bh3

Recognising the futility of his last move.

22...hxg3 23.hxg3

Position after: 14.Qa5

14...Bd8

It’s not possible to play 14...Nbxd5? because

15.Rxd5 wins significant material for White.

15.c3 Rc8 16.Bxb6 Qxb6 17.Qa4+ Kf8

18.g3 Rc7 19.Bh3 h4 20.f4 Re7

A superficial look at this position might give Position after: 23.hxg3

the impression that the black pieces are
somewhat poorly co-ordinated. The bishop on 23...Qf2!
d8 and queen on b6 seem to lack any targets,
A very strong move, attacking the g3-pawn as
and the black king on f8 also looks curious.
well as supporting Black’s own passed pawn.
But on closer inspection we see that the black
pieces are in fact the more harmoniously 24.Qb4 e3!
arranged. The queen on a4 is offside, the
bishop on h3 has no future and the b3-knight
This pawn is very strong and Black already
has ideas like ...e2 and ...Rxh3.

25.Bg4

White sees that Black’s play is becoming too

real, so tries to take evasive action with the
bishop. This is the third move by the same
piece in rather quick succession.

25...Rxh1 26.Rxh1 Kg8 27.Qxd6

Position after: 30...Qxd5

Swapping off into a trivially won position for

Black.

31.Qxd5 Nxd5 32.Rd1 Bb6

Black lifts the pin and thereby ends all

chances of counterplay.
0-1

Position after: 27.Qxd6

MODEL GAME for Black
27...e2! Shirov, Alexei (2684)
Giri, Anish (2798)
Jakovenko continues to find the very best
Zuerich 2016
moves. Black would also be winning after for
instance 27...Re8. In general, it is not a good idea to analyse
blitz games. But this one nevertheless
28.Bxe2 provides a pretty illustration of some of
Black’s ideas in the system with 8...h5.
The piece has to be given up, else Black
would promote. 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6
5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.f3 h5 9.Nd5
28...Qxe2 29.Rc1
Bxd5 10.exd5 Nbd7 11.c4 a5
The point is that after 29.Qxd8+ Re8 Black
With this move Black immediately starts
threatens the queen on d8 as well as the lethal
targeting the dark squares. We have already
fork ...Qe4+, and White can’t protect against
commented on the ideas behind the usual and
both ideas.
flexible 11...g6 in this type of position.
29...Qe4+ 30.Ka1 Qxd5
12.Be2
A little bit meek. Perhaps White could have Anish Giri (photo Harry Gielen)
gotten a head start in the pawn play to come
on the queenside, starting with 12.Nd2

12...a4 13.Nd2 g6!?

This is Black’s idea: now the trade of dark-

squared bishops is practically unstoppable.
The dark-squares will start to become a major
nuisance for White.

14.Nb1

A good positional concept: the knight will

stand well on c3, and the queen on d2. But
getting there will take time, and Black will
not be sitting idly by.
A) It’s possible to consider evading the
bishop trade with 14.0-0 Bh6 15.Bf2 but of
course Black’s bishop gains a tremendous
amount of scope in the course of this
sequence.
Now that he can no longer castle short, Shirov
B) We should also consider the radical idea of
14.g4? trying to prevent ...Bh6. 14...hxg4 opts to go long instead. But the king isn’t
15.fxg4 Now White runs into considerable particularly safe here either.
trouble on the now-open h-file: 15...Rh3!
16.Bf2 Bh6 and now for example there could 18...Kf8!
follow 17.Bf1 Bxd2+ 18.Qxd2 Rf3 with the
strong threat of ...Ne4. Giri brings his king to a safe place (g7) and
awaits further developments. The plan is to
14...Bh6 15.Bxh6 Rxh6 16.Nc3 Qb6 17.Qd2 just improve the position slowly. Of course,
Rh8 18.0-0-0 he really wanted to castle short here, but the
h8-rook has already moved – even in blitz we
shouldn’t forget this rule!

19.g4?!

White is dreaming of a kingside attack but

this only plays into Black’s hands.
Perhaps the correct way of handling this
position was with the patient 19.Kb1.

19...hxg4 20.fxg4

Position after: 18.0-0-0

 Undoubtedly seen in advance.

23.Qxc3 Ne4 24.Qh3 Nf2

Position after: 20.fxg4

20...a3!

A nice move to flick in; it helps cement Position after: 24...Nf2

control over even more dark squares,
including the b2-square, which can become a Regaining the exchange, and highlighting the
focal point of the coming attack – as indeed fact that through this sophisticated piece trade
happens. That’s because in theory a queen Black has gained control over some dark
landing there could spell instant mate. squares.
Additionally, having fixed White’s a2-pawn
25.Qf3
on such a backward square – of the wrong
colour – could be of great importance in an The moment has come for concrete answers
endgame. from White, because his situation is critical.
This is the only move and now the position
21.b3 Rh3
demands good calculation from both players.
A logical move with which black puts Both sides had seen the possibility of winning
pressure on the white pieces. It also prevents the a8-rook, but it was counterproductive for
h2-h4. White to indulge himself thus. Here are some
More accurate but less natural was 21...Nc5! cute variations: 25.Qh8+? Ke7 26.Qxa8
because of the threat of ...Nce4 and ... Nf2. Qe3+
22.Rdf1 [22.h4? for instance allows 22...Nce4
in its originally intended form] Now Black
has 22...Nfe4 23.Nxe4 Nxe4 24.Qd3 and
finally the queen trade 24...Qd4! at the end of
the line. In the endgame after 25.Qxd4 exd4
Black has various plans available to him to try
and grow his advantage.

22.g5 Rxc3+
Position after: 26...Qe3+ Position after: 27.gxf6

27.Rd2 [27.Kb1 Qxe2 28.Qxa3 Nxd1 with In New in Chess magazine, GM Judit Polgar
decisive material gains] 27...Qc3+ wrote a nice article about the idea of a king
A) A pretty mate motif arises after 28.Rc2 hiding behind an ‘umbrella’. By this she
Qa1+ 29.Kd2 Ne4+ 30.Ke3 Qd4+ 31.Kf3 meant that in situations like this, an advanced
Qf2+ 32.Kg4 [32.Kxe4 Nc5#] 32...f5+ pawn (here, the one on f6) fulfils certain
33.gxf6+ Ndxf6+ 34.Kh3 Ng5# Beautiful definite attacking functions, but also prevents
teamwork between the knight(s) and queen! White from using the file on which it stands
for offensive operations.
B) 28.Kb1 Qxd2 29.Qxa3 Nxh1 Again Black
is up a decisive amount of material. 27...Qd4 28.Qh3

25...Nxh1 Trying to get in, ‘under’ the umbrella! Black

now has definite problems to solve, and only
25...Nxd1 26.Rxd1 Ke7 could be safer and is
with a concrete answer to them can he claim
slightly better for Black.
his position is legitimate.
26.Rf1!?
28...Qa1+ 29.Kd2
This counterpunch, which had to be seen in
advance by both sides, is the main reason
White’s position is still playable.

26...f5 27.gxf6

Position after: 29.Kd2

29...Qxa2+?? 30...Qb2+ 31.Kb4

Here Giri goes terribly wrong. The king must head away from the rest of its
He had a draw in hand with 29...Qb2+ army.
30.Ke1 [Not 30.Ke3?! Qd4+ 31.Kf3 Qc3+ After 31.Kd3 Nc5+ 32.Ke3 the knight on h1
32.Kg4 Qxh3+ 33.Kxh3 Kf7 34.Rxh1 Nxf6µ plays its final role – preventing the king’s
with an advantageous endgame for Black.] flight to f2: 32...Qc3+ 33.Bd3 Qxd3#.
30...Qb1+ 31.Kd2 Qb2+ and it turns out that
neither side can do better than a draw. 31...Qd2+

30.Kc3?? White resigned.

He didn’t feel like entering the wholly
“Returning the favour”, as top players often unproductive desperate struggle after
say in annotations. 31...Qd2+ 32.Qc3 [32.Kb5 Ra5#] 32...Qxe2
White could have punished his opponent 0-1
with: 30.Ke3! Qxb3+ 31.Bd3 Black has no
useful check and so it is now White that
stands better.
 Position after: 6.Be2

6...e5

The so-called Opocensky variation. Black

e) Opočenský Variation: 6.Be2 e5 gives up the d5-square for now, intending to
control it later with pieces – perhaps even to
the extent where he could later consider
pushing ...d6-d5.
Black can choose to enter the Scheveningen
structure with 6...e6.

7.Nb3 Be7 8.0-0 0-0

Introduction

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6

5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2

Position after: 8...0-0

9.Be3

This has emerged as the main route for White

after lots of practical tests. It should not be
seen as trivial – after all, by doing this White
is essentially committing to not playing f2-f4,
because if he tries to play that push now he
will lose a tempo with the dark-squared
bishop.
A) The waiting move 9.Kh1 is quite
interesting, and now: 9...b6!? This has been
determined to be the best reaction.
[Meanwhile the logical 9...b5 would allow
White to illustrate a major point of his play:
10.a4 Bb7 11.Nd5] 10.Be3 Bb7 11.f3 b5
Adams – Anand, 2005. Position after: 12.a5
B) 9.a4 Be6 10.f4 exf4 11.Bxf4 Nc6 12.Kh1
White firmly moves the zone of future
and in this position Black can free his game
conflict to the queenside. Model games from
with 12...d5! as in Ramirez Alvarez – this position are, for instance, Karpov – Nunn,
Kasimdzhanov, 2004. 1982 and Ivanchuk – Van Wely, 2008.

9...Be6 10.Qd2 Nbd7 11.a4

MODEL GAME for White

Karpov, Anatoly (2720)

Nunn, John DM (2600)
Amsterdam 1985

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 cxd4

5.Nxd4 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.0-0 0-0
9.Be3 Be6 10.Qd2 Nbd7 11.a4

The most common move in this position.

11...Rc8
Position after: 11.a4

11...Rc8

We analyse a good example of how to handle

this later: the game Mchedlishvili –
Mamedyarov, 2006 which began with
11...Qc7 .

12.a5

Position after: 11...Rc8

12.a5 15...Bc4

White tries to fix the structure on the

queenside. In any case, the push ...b7-b5 is
now out of the question for Black.

12...Qc7 13.Rfd1 Rfd8

13...Rfe8 has also been seen in games

involving elite players. For instance, the
games Fernandez Garcia – Anand, 2003,
Adams – Svidler, 2008 and Nakamura – A.
Korobov, 2013. 14.Qe1 One could rightly ask
if this would be a good moment for Black to
try and chase down the opponent’s bishop Position after: 15...Bc4
pair with 14...Ng4 15.Bxg4 Bxg4 . Turns out
he can, but after 16.Nd5 Qb8 [16...Qxc2?! Anatoly Karpov (photo Jos Sutmuller)

17.Nxe7+ Rxe7 18.Rdc1] 17.Nxe7+ Rxe7

Black has also lost his bishop pair. That
development means that the d6-pawn will be
somewhat weak in what follows after 18.Rd2:
the pressure on that point will soon be
significant.

14.Qe1

A typical little prophylactic move for this

kind of position. The queen avoids standing
on the same file as Black’s rook on d8.

14...Qc6

Black now simply loses material outright after

14...Ng4?? 15.Bxg4 Bxg4 16.Nd5 so that
move is unplayable. As we saw, the
analogous line would have been playable – if
not especially pleasant – had Black chosen the
other square for his f8-rook on the 13th move. An important moment in the struggle. White
has managed to hold back ...d6-d5, but most
15.Bf3 of his pieces are tied up with that job- which
one can he possibly improve? The knight on
White must in any case keep the d5-square in b3 suggests itself, because that’s the worst-
an iron grip. placed piece White has in this position.
Karpov sets it in motion along a long route to 24.Rxd5
d5.

16.Nc1! h6 17.N1a2 Nc5 18.Nb4 Qe8 19.g3

There is no rush – plenty of time for this

strengthening move.

19...Rc7 20.Bg2 Rdc8

Now the idea of 20...Ng4?! becomes absurd.

While the bishop on e3 is certainly important,
by doing this Black would lose the last bit of
control over his light squares – and not even Position after: 24.Rxd5
get the bishop he was chasing after! 21.Ncd5
Bxd5 22.Nxd5 White gains tempo off the White’s strategy has been successful. While it
rook – exactly the tempo needed to retreat the wasn’t possible to keep a knight on the d5-
e3-bishop with 22...Rc6 23.Bd2 and stand square, he has managed to keep total control
incontrovertibly better. of the square and maintain a piece on it. (Note
that the pawn recapture would be much
21.b3 Be6 22.Ncd5 worse.)

24...Rc6 25.Rad1 Ne6 26.c4

White now has the ideal pawn structure for

this opening, with the d5-square his for
eternity and the d6-pawn a sitting duck. With
this in mind, Black comes up with an
interesting way to sacrifice that useless pawn
to gain control of some dark squares.

26...Bg5!?

Position after: 22.Ncd5

Finally White installs a knight on d5.

22...Nxd5 23.Nxd5 Bxd5

The knight was so strong that it had to be

taken. But the exchange is a significant
concession: Black loses the bishop pair, and
White’s humble g2-bishop (being unopposed)
may later ascend to great heights of glory.
 B) 28...Qe7 There is not much to choose
between the two different orders. 29.Rd5
Bxe3 30.Qxe3 Nd4 Black obtains a measure
of counterplay based on the strong central
knight and certain other ideas like ...Qb4.

27...Ra8 28.Bb6 Bd8

Continuing to pursue the white bishop.

29.Be3

Position after: 26...Bg5!?

27.Ba7!

But Karpov has no interest in trading off half

of his bishop pair for a measly pawn. Let us
see how the game would proceed if White
took the pawn: 27.Rxd6 Rxd6 28.Rxd6
A) 28...Bxe3
A1) 29.fxe3 succeeds in controlling the weak
Position after: 29.Be3
square on d4 – but the doubled pawn will
persist for a very long time and White’s g2- 29.Rxd6?! Bxb6 30.axb6 Nd4 gives White
bishop is without a useful job right now, nothing whatsoever because one of his b-
therefore he stands only a little better. pawns is going to fall soon.
A2) 29.Qxe3 Qe7 30.Rd5 Nd4
29...Bc7

Deciding to stop offering the pawn sacrifice.

Following 29...Bg5 White obtains – thanks to
his triangulation – a somewhat better version
than before after 30.Rxd6 Rxd6 31.Rxd6 –
because Black’s rook finds itself on a8 rather
than c8. 29...Qe7 30.Qd2 would nevertheless
have forced Black to play ...Bc7.

30.Qe2 b6

Trying to resolve his positional problems by

Position after: 30...Nd4 tactical means, but White is able to reinforce
the a5-pawn in a logical way.
31.b4! White must give up his best unit to win the
material being offered.
Ensuring that White can at least take back on
a5 – but he has something even better in 34...Nxc5 35.Bf1!?
mind. Nunn’s point was 31.axb6 Bxb6
32.Rxd6 Nd4 when White’s advantage would Karpov again decides to give his least well-
once more be history. deployed piece a new job. The bishop is
heading for the diagonal a2-g8. Perhaps
31...bxa5 35.b6!? Bxb6 36.Rxd6 was also a strong
option.

35...a4 36.Qc2

Making way for the bishop.

36...a3 37.Bc4

Position after: 31...bxa5

32.b5!

The point of the last move is revealed:

White’s b-pawn is very strong.

32...axb5 33.cxb5 Rc5 Position after: 37.Bc4

An exchange sacrifice that is more or less Karpov has made his strong concept into a
forced, and also Black’s best chance. reality. With the queen and bishop working in
Both sides knew that 33...Rc3? 34.b6 Bd8 harmony on the light squares, he not only
[34...Bb8? 35.b7 traps the rook on a8!] restrains the passed a-pawn but also hints at
35.Rxd6 is no fun at all for Black. For tactical motifs on, say, d5 or f7.
instance now [35.Qb2 Rxe3 36.fxe3 Rb8
37...Ne6
37.Rxd6 is also strong] 35...Rb3 36.Qc4 a4
37.Bh3! and the white bishop pair dominates Trying to jam the battery of queen and light-
the game. squared bishop.
34.Bxc5 38.R5d3 Nd4 39.Qa2 Bb6 40.Rxa3
Here Black lost on time but there was no 8...0-0
more hope at all for him anyway because his
great trump, the a-pawn, had been removed It seems that castling is premature right now
from the board. because then White knows exactly where to
attack.
1-0
A) 8...b5?! is also too early because it
compromises Black’s queenside. There
MODEL GAME for White follows 9.a4! b4 10.Nd5 when Black is in
trouble; the b4-pawn is hanging and another
Carlsen, Magnus (2814) idea is Bb6.
Nakamura, Hikaru (2751)
B) Here 8...Be6 is the most neutral move.
Wijk aan Zee 2011
Black postpones castling and awaits
developments. In case of 9.g4?! White obtains
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6
the sharp game he is after, but not in a
5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7
favourable way: 9...d5 10.exd5 Nxd5
11.Nxd5 Bxd5 and White’s strategy has not
worked.

9.g4!

Position after: 7...Be7

8.Be3

This is a clever move order from Carlsen.

A) Given the course of the game, we could
ask whether 8.g4 is also on the cards for Position after: 9.g4!
White. However, Black can answer quite
cleverly: 8...h6! This answer is possible Now that ...h6 is out of the question (with a
because Black has not castled yet. Among castled king position like this one, pawn
others, this sequence occurred in Shirov – weaknesses on that side of the board take on
Van Wely, 1997. even higher importance than usual) the 16th
world champion grabs the opportunity to
B) The normal 8.0-0 is common and seen in, advance on the kingside.
for instance, Ponomariov – Anand, 2011.
9...Be6
A) An incredible piece sacrifice was tried in level of activity with 12...exf4 13.Bxf4 Nc5
Yemelin – Nevostrujev, 2005: 9...Nc6 10.g5 when both of his knights contribute to the
Nxe4 11.Nxe4 d5 12.Ng3 d4 13.Bd2 – but battle for the centre.
there wasn’t enough play to be had, B) Compared to the variation beginning with
particularly after 13...a5? [13...Bxg5 had to be 11.Qd2, we have to consider 11...a5 12.f4 a4
tried but there’s also not enough 13.f5 as a better version for White, because he
compensation after 14.Rg1!] 14.h4 Here already has the useful move h4.
White was almost winning.
C) After 11...b5 we see an advantage of
B) The immediate 9...a5 can be met by 10.g5 White retaining his queen on d1 for one move
Nfd7 11.h4 a4 12.Nd2 and White has won the more. 12.Bg4 The light-squared bishops now
opening battle. get traded, which is to White’s advantage.
10.g5 Nfd7 12.Qd2
The most normal retreat square for this Now that Black has no knight which can
knight, but it somewhat interferes with the immediately leap to e5, 12.f4!? enters the
development of the other knight. 10...Ne8 is a picture as an interesting option. 12...exf4
worse move because the overall piece co- 13.Bxf4 Black still has to direct one of his
ordination is no better than the game, and the knights to e5, because what else can he do?
knight stands worse on e8 than d7. 11.Qd2 13...Nc6 [Black is poorly prepared for the
Nd7 12.f4 g6 13.0-0-0 and White is clearly opening of the centre that would occur after
better. 13...d5?!; a strong answer is 14.Qd3! with a
large advantage. 14...dxe4 15.Qxd8 Bxd8
11.h4!?
16.0-0-0±] 14.Qd2 The possession of the e5-
Carlsen has always had a knack for finding square does not hide the fact that Black must
the best order in which to execute a given be careful about his king position now that the
plan. Most games had continued with 11.Qd2 white pawns have advanced so far. At this
but then 11...a5!? seems to be an interesting exact moment the positionally desirable
way for Black to try and ‘throw a spanner in 12.Bg4 would have run into a strong answer
the works’. 12.f4 a4 13.f5 axb3 14.fxe6 fxe6 from Black: 12...Nc4.
15.cxb3 and Black had nothing to complain
12...N8d7 13.f4
about here, for instance see the game
Dolmatov – Gelfand, 1988. It is possible that Carlsen was a bit reluctant
to allow Black the easy and obvious plan
11...Nb6
...a6-a5-a4, which would be the answer in
This is the correct move if we take the case he had chosen to castle long.
databases as gospel. But perhaps Black has
something better.
A) 11...Nc6!? seems like a practical chance.
In any case after 12.f4 Black obtains a decent
 16.Qxe2 As a consequence of allowing f4-f5,
White now has a very strong grip over the d5-
square. Black now has to attempt the
somewhat desperate 16...Rxc3 in order to
break this, but there isn’t enough
compensation. His pieces simply don’t work
that well together.

14.Bxf4 Ne5 15.0-0-0

This position can also occur from variations

of the 6.Be3 e5 system where White is able to
Position after: 13.f4 get in the f4-break. For instance, Ponomariov
– Karjakin, Wijk aan Zee 2007.
White’s last was an interesting novelty when
the game was played. Black can’t allow f4-f5 15...Rc8 16.Kb1 Qc7
under any circumstances, because after ...Bc4,
Black continues hesitating. Perhaps 16...Nec4
white can exchange bishops (even if Black
was a better idea but after 17.Bxc4 Nxc4
then also swaps off the one on e3) because he
18.Qd3
will then permanently have the d5-square in
his control, soon to be occupied by the c3-
knight.
Previously 13.0-0-0 was played. Now the a-
pawn advances down the board like a
battering ram, and given that White hasn’t
previously traded off Black’s e5-pawn, there
is no option to move the attacked knight on b3
forward to d4. Instead it must retreat:
13...a5!? 14.Kb1 a4 15.Nc1 and while the
knight still has some prospects (for instance,
a2-a3 and then Nc1-a2-b4-d5) this plan is
rather slow. Position after: 18.Qd3
13...exf4 White still stands somewhat better. He has
control of the d5-square, and the b3-knight,
As indicated, this is basically forced. But now
the laggard of this line, can at some moment
White can always count on the d4-square
swing into the picturesque f5-square via d4.
being available for his ‘other’ knight.
Let us illustrate the comment about White’s 17.h5
13th. 13...Rc8 14.f5 Bc4 and now a strong
continuation would be 15.0-0-0 Bxe2 Carlsen sees the chance to increase the
pressure on Black’s kingside.
17...Rfe8 18.Ka1

Strong players often have a very good eye for

minute details. The king’s current position on
b1 admits the occasional ‘coincidence’ or
‘accident’, so Carlsen decides to play a
prophylactic move.

Position after: 19...Qc5

This move allows White to break through.

In the post-mortem Nakamura suggested
19...g6!? with the idea ...Bg7. 20.hxg6
A) 20...fxg6 will lose material after 21.Bxe5
dxe5 22.Nxe6 Rxe6 23.Nd5 [Or indeed
Position after: 18.Ka1 23.Bg4 .]
An example of the tactical issues which White B) 20...hxg6 Now there follows an instructive
decided to dodge: 18.Nd4 Nbc4 19.Qe1 Qb6 series of moves culminating in some drama
and now in response to White’s natural on the h-file. 21.Nxe6 Rxe6 22.Be3 Bg7
defence there is an easily missable tactic. [22...Nbc4 23.Bxc4 Nxc4 24.Bd4 Bg7
20.Bc1? [If White got this far, he should 25.Qh2 and the black position is hopeless.]
admit that he made a mistake somewhere and 23.Bd4 White can double or even triple major
retreat – 20.Nb3] 20...Na3+ 21.Ka1 Qxd4! pieces on the h-file, while Black is basically
gives Black an advantage. just looking on.

18...Bf8 20.g6! Nec4

Black also makes a prophylactic move. But of course White needs some supporting
details for his attack. Accepting such pawns is
19.Nd4 almost always a terrible idea. 20...fxg6
21.hxg6
It took a while, but finally this horse can ride
A) If instead Black tries to block the h-file,
into the battle on the kingside. This is the
then there is a trick here too: 21...h6 22.Nxe6
main reason for trading White’s f-pawn for
Rxe6 23.Bxe5! The knight protected both the
Black’s e-pawn, and a convincing remedy to
g4-square (needed for a skewer) and the f7-
the usual poor position of this knight.
square (needed for the most plausible mate-
19...Qc5 motif.) Depending how Black takes back, one
of these ideas now comes to the fore.
23...dxe5 [23...Rxe5 allows a beautiful 24...Qb6
attacking combination: 24.Qf4 Re7 25.Bg4
Rd8 26.Be6+! Kh8 27.Rdf1 with mate.] Black doesn’t have any play after 24...Nxb2 –
24.Bg4 White wins material. White can simply absorb the few checks and
then enjoy his extra piece. 25.Kxb2 Qb4+
B) 21...Nxg6 22.Nxe6 Rxe6 23.Bg4 Nxf4
26.Nb3 d5 27.exd5 Qa3+ 28.Kb1 with a
24.Qxf4 Rf6 25.Qh2 Black is close to losing
winning position.
here too.
25.Bc1
21.Bxc4 Nxc4 22.Qd3

The black counter-attack doesn’t amount to

much, while White’s pressure on the kingside
is reaching a crescendo.

22...fxg6

A) 22...h6!? is basically the same idea as in

the game – here White starts with 23.Bc1!
Ne5 24.Qg3 and the attack proceeds very
similarly to the game.
B) Queenside play is way too slow: 22...b5 Position after: 25.Bc1
23.gxh7+ Kh8 24.h6 g6 25.Nxe6 Rxe6
[25...fxe6 26.e5!+–] 26.Nd5± and the second 25...Qa5?!
wave of attack will be decisive.
Nakamura is not one to reconcile himself to
23.hxg6 passive defence.
The other try to get active with 25...d5 can be
White opens the h-file.
met simply by 26.e5 Bb4 and now the very
White could also have started with 23.Nxe6 calm 27.Nce2
Rxe6 24.Qh3 Rce8 25.hxg6 h6 26.Nd5
keeping the tricky attacking resource Qh3-f5- 26.Rdf1
f7 on the cards. 26...Rxg6 27.Qf5 Ree6 and
now White has the deadly 28.Rdf1 with the Bringing all the attacking pieces into
threat of Bxh6 and Qxf8. formation.
Now, too, it was possible to consider
23...h6 24.Qg3 26.Nxe6.

Here the white queen fulfills an important 26...Ne5

role. The d6-pawn, as so often, is in the cross-
hairs; but more importantly, the idea of Bxh6 Keeping White vigilant. The spectacular
is starting to enter certain variations because threat of ...Rxc3 and mate on a2 is introduced!
of the followup g6-g7.
27.Nd5 Bxd5 28.exd5

Black’s threat has been parried and now

another piece sacrifice (Nd4-f5-h6) becomes
a distinct possibility.

28...Qxd5

Black tries to call White’s bluff, but it wasn’t

a bluff.
Against the last-mentioned White idea, Black
could try 28...Rc4 but now a different knight Position after: 31...Nf7
move succeeds. 29.Ne6! [29.Nf5 is now
countered by 29...Rg4] 29...Rg4 [29...Qxd5 32.Rxf7! Kxf7 33.Qb3+ A nice finish.
30.Rxh6 gxh6 31.g7! is also decisive] 30.Qf2
30.g7!
Rxg6 31.Rhg1! Rxg1 32.Qxg1 White is
winning because the threat Rxf8+ is so strong This push was always going to happen
as to force Black to give up an exchange. sometime. Either the g-file will become
completely open for various attacking ideas,
29.Bxh6!
or the far-advanced pawn will itself become a
Of course there was no longer any time to lethal attacking weapon (or even a queen.)
lose, but it is nice to see how Carlsen plays
30...Be7
the final offensive. It all seems to go like
clockwork, but right here he is offering two It turns out White has a concrete answer to
pieces to be captured... 30...Bxg7 as well: 31.Nf5 Rc7 32.Nxh6+
Kh7 33.Ng4+ Kg8 and now the frisky knight
29...gxh6
gets to give a decisive check – 34.Nf6+
A) It is not difficult to see that 29...Qxd4 winning the queen!
30.Be3 is a decisive blow. Because what can
31.Rxh6
Black possibly do against the threat of Rh8+
followed by a queen mate on h7? Threatening mate in one.
B) 29...Qe4 seems like a try, but it fails.
White has 30.Bg5! Specifically here, so as to 31...Nf7
cover the e7-square! 30...Qxg6 31.Qh3 Nf7
 Unzicker, Wolfgang
Fischer, Robert James
Varna 1962

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6

5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be6

Fischer sometimes played this order.

Position after: 31...Nf7

32.Qg6!

The most circumspect way to win. Obviously,

Carlsen saw that after 32.Rh8+ there is no
direct mate because Black controls the h1-
square: 32...Nxh8 33.gxh8=Q+ Kxh8. But
upon reaching this position, he would surely
have noticed that the position is winning Position after: 7...Be6
anyway – 34.Nf5! Bf6 35.Qg6 and Black is Bobby Fischer
finished.

32...Nxh6 33.Qxh6 Bf6 34.Qh8+

34.Qxf6 Qh5 35.Ne6 Kh7 36.Nf4 Qh6

37.Qf5+ Kg8 38.Nh5+– wins as well, but the
text move is more forceful.

34...Kf7 35.g8=Q+ Rxg8 36.Qxf6+ Ke8

37.Re1+

37.Re1+ Qe5 [37...Kd7 is mate in one –

38.Qe7#] 38.Rxe5+ dxe5 39.Qe6+ sees White
additionally win one of the two rooks with
check.
1-0

MODEL GAME for Black A few

years previously Fischer had chosen 7...Be7
in the game Pilnik – Fischer 1959.
8.0-0 Nf1-e3.] 13.a5! Black’s co-ordination is now
disrupted. It’s important to notice that a
A small note on move-orders. If White tactical detail prevents him from taking on e4
intends to encourage black to play ...Qc7, he – 13...Nxe4? 14.Ra4
may as well do it right away: 8.f4 and now
after the ‘autopilot’ move 8...Qc7 it’s been 12.Be3 0-0 13.a5
known for a while that White gets an
advantage with the sharp 9.g4!? exf4 10.g5
Nfd7 11.Bxf4 Nc6 12.Qd2 followed by 0-0-
0.

8...Nbd7 9.f4 Qc7

It turns out that 9...Rc8 is more precise. The

point is that after 10.f5 Bc4 11.Bxc4 Rxc4 the
rook stands better on c4 than would a queen,
and there is the additional possibility of an
exchange sacrifice with ...Rxc3.
Position after: 13.a5
10.f5 Bc4
People also tried the sharp 13.g4 here. But by
the time of Amed – Gunina, 2005 it was
already clear how Black should react to the
pawn-storm: 13...h6 and Black’s position is
fine.

13...b5

This is the way to free Black’s game.

13...h6 doesn’t quite fit the needs of the
position anymore. The game Asrian –
Minasian, 1999 continued 14.Kh1 Rfc8
Position after: 10...Bc4 15.Bxc4 Qxc4 16.Qf3 with a nice position for
White.
11.a4
14.axb6 Nxb6
To stop ...b5.

11...Be7

Now 11...Rc8? would be a positional error:

12.Bxc4 Qxc4 [12...Qb6+ 13.Kh1 Rxc4
14.Nd2 Rc6 15.Rf3 and White develops a
strong grip on the d5-square with Rd3 and
Position after: 14...Nxb6 Position after: 16...Bb5!

15.Bxb6? This is the nuance. Black is trying to improve

his pawn structure, and if White opts not to
This ugly move has rightly been called a accept the piece trade then Black will simply
strategic mistake. However, we should be fair retain the bishop pair with ...Bc6, thank you
to the white player: in the game Fischer – very much.
Gadia (discussed previously) the very same
If Black had played 16...Rfc8 we would
type of strategic decision was ultimately
transpose to the previous note. But the text
crowned with success. White swapped light-
move is much stronger.
squared bishops, and gave up his dark-
squared bishop for a knight, creating a minor 17.Bxb5
piece imbalance and leaving his opponent
with a bad bishop. So why should this case be Capturing with the knight leads after 17.Nxb5
any different? And why the question mark? axb5 18.Qd3 to a similar set of problems as in
Let us see... the game.
Since another game in the same year, it has
17...axb5 18.Nd5 Nxd5 19.Qxd5
been known that the prophylactic 15.Kh1!
should be chosen instead. Now play could This position looks like the culmination of
proceed 15...Rfc8 16.Bxb6 (Only now!) everything White had been aiming for. He has
16...Qxb6 17.Bxc4 Rxc4 18.Qe2 Rb4 19.Ra2! a good knight against a bad bishop and almost
as in Geller – Fischer, 1962. no weaknesses. So what is Fischer doing on
the black side? Let me begin by qualifying
15...Qxb6+ 16.Kh1 Bb5!
both of my last two statements: the knight on
b3 is rather far away from its ideal home on
d5, and there are some small weaknesses in
White’s position – such as the c2- and e4-
pawns. Admittedly, to use those weaknesses –
and even try and combine them with pressure
on the white king – requires the mind of a
genius. But the world champion from New managed to get his b3-knight over to d5, even
York is one such. though doing so cost him a pawn. Fischer was
able to maintain the balance by giving up an
exchange to get the knight off the board.

21...Rc8 22.Rfe1

Position after: 19.Qxd5

19...Ra4!

Fischer probably saw this strong move in

advance. It is almost the only one to keep Position after: 22.Rfe1
Black in contention for the a-file, and at the
22...h6!
same time he attacks the e4-pawn from the
side. Black also creates space for his king and
waits for White’s next plan.
20.c3
23.Kh2 Bg5 24.g3?
Note that trading rooks drops a pawn for
White: 20.Rxa4? bxa4 21.Nd2 Qxb2 and This is a big mistake from White. But he
Black is much better. faced major problems in any case.
20...Qa6

One of Black’s ideas. He ‘suggests’ the

possibility that he might win control of the a-
file by tripling major pieces.

21.h3

Creating an escape square for the king in case

of potential back rank motifs.
Later another world champion accepted the
challenge of playing this position against the Position after: 24.g3?
same opponent: Tal – Fischer, 1962. That
game continued 21.Rad1 and White later
A) The normal 24.Rad1 is suggested in many 26...Rxc3!
sources as an improvement. However now
there is 24...Ra2! and White again experiences A good way to finish – Unzicker resigned
difficulties keeping it all together. 25.Qxd6? immediately.
is met by 25...Qxd6 26.Rxd6 Rxb2 27.Na5 The key variations: 26...Rxc3 27.Rxa2
Rxc3 when Black has not only a clean extra [27.bxc3? Qf2#] 27...Rf3+ 28.Ke2 Rf2+
pawn but also dominance on the 7th rank – 29.Kd3 Qxa2. Now the net around the white
meaning that his task is virtually done. king is so tight that it has to try and flee
B) 24.Qd3 can be met by (e.g.) the alone... [Weirdly, 29...Qc7 threatening mate
‘computerish’ but accurate 24...Qa7!? on c2 also works!] 30.Kc3 [30.Ra1 Qxb2–+;
30.h4 Rxb2 is also decisive] 30...Qxb2+
24...Qa7! 31.Kb4 Bd2+ ...but in fleeing, White drops a
rook (though doubtless other moves won too.)
Fischer makes good use of all his pieces. The 32.Kxb5 Bxe1 Here we can end the analysis.
queen threatens to invade on f2 now that the
0-1
2nd rank has opened.

25.Kg2 Ra2
MODEL GAME for Black
Another tricky move for White to face: the
Mchedlishvili, Mikheil (2561)
threatened ...Rxb2+ would be terminal.
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2722)
26.Kf1 Mainz 2006

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6

5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.0-0 Be7
9.a4 Nbd7 10.Be3 0-0

Position after: 26.Kf1

It is clear that the storm clouds are gathering

around the white position, but where is the
clincher? Position after: 10...0-0
After 26.Rxa2 Qxa2 27.Re2 Black wins with
11.Qd2
the obvious 27...Rxc3!
11.a5 is an important alternative. In a game that I already gave as an improvement in that
Kuzubov – Nigalidze, 2014, Black later game.
triumphed with 11...Rc8.
15...b6!? 16.axb6 Nxb6
11...Qc7

A) Here too 11...Rc8 is a key alternative.

B) 11...Nb6 is an interesting way of playing
that has been adopted by some top players,
e.g. Carlsen, Giri, Anand and
Nepomniachtchi.

12.Rfd1

The white player in this game opts to try and

make do without the push f2-f4.
Position after: 16...Nxb6
12...Rac8 13.a5 Rfd8 14.Bf3
17.N1e2
A serious, no-nonsense approach to the
position: Black will be prevented from The pawn on a6 is more trouble than it’s
playing ...d5. worth: 17.Rxa6 Nc4 18.Qe1 Nxb2 and Black
regains the pawn, leaving all the white pieces
hanging.

17...Nc4 18.Qc1

Position after: 14.Bf3

By far the most common move in this

position is 14.Qe1.
Position after: 18.Qc1
14...h6 15.Nc1
Now Black has a significant advantage, and
Mchedlishvili follows Karpov’s plan against various ways to try and grow it.
Nunn (as discussed earlier). But Mamedyarov
knows his classics and reacts with the move 18...g5
True to his style, Mamedyarov seeks a will play their part in a very short time
combination-based solution. Initially, the indeed.
artifact of the position that he is using is the B) Best is 20.Bd2 but obviously Black isn’t
trapped position of White’s bishop on f3. But complaining here either. 20...Qb6 [But now
serious questions remain regarding whether taking the other bishop is inadvisable:
20...Nxd2 21.Qxd2 Qb7 22.Bxg4 Bxg4
this move is either necessary or advisable.
23.Nd5 with an advantage for White.]
Here 18...Qb7 or 18...Nxe3 19.Qxe3 a5 seem 21.Bxg4 Bxg4 22.Nd5 Qb7 with good play
to be competent ways of consolidating for Black.
Black’s significant edge.
20...Ngxe3
19.g3?!
White should never have allowed this trade.
White falls under the spell somewhat. Suddenly he gets stuck with an ugly pair of
doubled pawns, and the end is not far off.
19.Rxa6 was now compulory, whereupon
19...Rd7 is a plausible answer. [It is important 21.fxe3 Qb7 22.Ra1 g4 23.Bg2 Bg5
to see that 19...g4? does not win a piece
because Black loses the e7-bishop after
20.Ra7 .] 20.Ra7 Qb8 21.Rxd7 Bxd7 and now
White has exhausted the ‘normal’ methods
but can scramble good enough play for a
piece with: 22.Bxg5!? hxg5 23.Qxg5+ Kh8
24.Qh6+ Nh7 25.Nd5 Bg5 26.Qh5

19...Ng4!

Well played by Black.

Position after: 23...Bg5

Now the white position collapses like a house

of cards.

24.Rd3 Nxb2 25.Qb1 Rb8!

A strong move, highlighting how hopeless

White’s situation is.
After 25...Rb8 the rook on d3 has nowhere to
Position after: 19...Ng4! hide. It should go to d5, but in any case Black
is bringing home the bacon in short order.
20.Rxa6? From the many possibilities after 26.Rd5,
26...Qc7!? looks like the most accurate one.
A) Trading the light-squared bishop with 0-1
20.Bxg4 looks wholly unnatural and after
20...Bxg4 the gaping weaknesses on f3 and h3
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (photo Frans Peeters)
 a move which hasn’t been played. Some of
the more common minor moves are 6.a4,
6.Bd3, or 6.f3 (which last tries to move-order
Black into some kind of English Attack.)
Of course it doesn’t stop there. There are
players who tried 6.Rg1 as well. I think it is
unnecessary to look in detail at each and
every one of these tries, although I will make
some comments. To two of White’s minor
moves, though, I am devoting some attention:
they share the common thread that White
wants to fianchetto his king’s bishop. White
can either ready the long diagonal
immediately with 6.g3*, or play 6.h3 first
with the idea of then going g2-g4 and gaining
space on the kingside while executing the
fianchetto.

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6

5.Nc3 a6

f)
Other lines (6.h3; 6.g3)

Position after: 5...a6

6.h3

Introduction This little pawn push, originally played by

Fischer – at least 3 times in 1962, against
In the starting position of the Najdorf, in Bolbochan, Najdorf and Reshevsky – has
addition to the main moves, some others have experienced a new wave of popularity
been tried. It is practically impossible to find recently. The most important idea is of course
to push g2-g4 as soon as possible – and
perhaps to press on and disturb the f6-knight.
A second idea, also related to the d5-square,
is to fianchetto the f1-bishop and prevent
Black from pushing ...d6-d5.
6.g3

Position after: 9...b5

It is generally a sound guideline that one

should play this expanding move on the
queenside at the first realistic opportunity.
Black doesn’t just want to gain space, though
Position after: 6.g3
– this move also cues up the knight
Also 6.g3 needs some attention. This move development ...Nb8-d7-b6 so as to control the
prepares to fianchetto the f1-bishop and place d5-square and also set up some possibilities
it on the long diagonal without delay. In this related to the c4-square. Though there are also
way White hopes to get a better grip on the drawbacks to the pawn push, of course. The
d5-square. 6...e5 As so often in the Najdorf, b5-pawn can be used as a ‘hook’ for White to
Black plays his e-pawn forward two squares, attack with the typical thrust a2-a4, after
precipitating a battle for piece control of the which – regardless of Black’s reaction – there
d5-square. [6...e6 again leads into the will be certain weaknesses in the black
Scheveningen structure, a position-type which queenside.
we handle elsewhere.] 7.Nde2 Just like in the At this time, Black might lose control of the
related system with 6.h3, the knight returns to c4-square. White is more or less obliged to try
this square, with the aim of later reouting to something along those lines now, before
better ones. After White has played Nd5, a Black proceeds any further with the
follow-up that often becomes possible is development of his queenside. [9...Nbd7
Nec3. 7...Be7 The process of development likely leads to the same thing, unless White
sometimes involves slow and ‘reliable but now opts to try 10.a4.] 10.Nd5 This jump is
unglamorous’ moves. [It is also possible to needed at some point to draw the e2-knight
immediately commence the struggle for the (which in principle stands rather poorly) into
d5-square with 7...Be6 as was seen for the game. 10...Nbd7 11.Nec3 And now the
instance in a game Kramnik – Giri, 2016.] battle for d5 is joined in earnest. 11...Bb7 The
8.Bg2 0-0 9.0-0 b5 most logical: black completes the
development of his minor pieces. Black is
now ready to trade as many pieces as possible
on the d5 square and after doing so he will
very often have achieved complete equality.
Many games from this position end in draws
– two good examples are Adams – Van Wely,
2016 and Anand – Giri, Zurich (blitz) 2016.

Position after: 6.a4

imparts a rather distinctive flavour to the

game. Among the 6th moves at White’s
disposal, those that do not develop pieces are
distinctly in the minority; and this move is
completely unique among them in that White
Position after: 11...Bb7
immediately prevents Black from pushing
In this position 11...Nb6 is the alternative and ...b7-b5. It looks like it could be a little
was played by the Polish grandmaster premature, since White’s pawn push is
Wojtaszek against Vachier Lagrave in 2018. undoubtedly less useful than Black’s and it
Although he misplaced a pawn at some point, also weakens the often-useful b4-square.
with active play he was able to secure a fairly Indeed, it wouldn’t be taken seriously were it
comfortable draw. not for the patronage of very strong players
(albeit mostly at fast time controls), for
Given that in some variations the bishop
instance Carlsen, Anand, Grischuk, Karjakin,
(having been developed to e2) needs to head
Ponomariov and others. The move is good for
on further to d3, it is logical to ask whether
avoiding theoretical battles and immediately
we could do this in one move instead. 6.Bd3
obliging the opponent to think. That being
Practice shows that the move doesn’t give real
said, it seems to be generally agreed that
chances of an advantage – but at the same
Black’s best reaction is the most
time, it is often used as a surprise weapon by
‘Najdorfesque’ one: 6...e5 Now the preferred
strong players.
retreat square for the knight is f3: 7.Nf3
Also the move 6.a4 where it stands in the way of the f-pawn, but
complicates Black’s task somewhat by
discouraging ...Be6 – and by extension,
making ...d6-d5 harder to execute.
[Meanwhile another retreat, namely 7.Nb3
was tried in Zubarev – Areschenko, 2007,
with unconvincing results. 7...Be6]
The third point of the move 6.h3 comes to
light when Black continues with the logical

6...e5

Now the knight will head neither to b3 nor to

f3, but rather to e2, from where it will head to
the nice g3-square.
If Black seeks out the Scheveningen structure
with 6...e6 then he must have an idea of what
to do after White proceeds with the logical
7.g4. He can choose to halt the g-pawn in its Position after: 10.a4
tracks, counter-attack the e4-pawn, or neither.
Now, to understand this position, it is
7...h6 Now Black is thinking about ...g7-g5,
advisable to study the game Caruana –
playing for the e5-square. The drawback of
Vachier Lagrave, 2015 – but here is a brief
this move is of course that Black can no
summary. As with many positions in the
longer consider castling kingside, because the
Najdorf, the key feature is Black’s ability or
kingside formation has already been
otherwise to get in...d6-d5. After both players
compromised. An interesting game to
had more or less completed development (and
illustrate the possible development of play is
with White’s queen’s bishop on e3) Black
Svidler – Vachier Lagrave, 2016. [7...Be7;
moved his d7-knight to b6, intending to jump
7...d5; 7...Nfd7]
into c4. White then had to play b2-b3,
7.Nde2 seriously weakening the black squares. Black
then sacrifced a pawn with ...d6-d5 – though
So now after the push g2-g4, White intends to take it, White had to trade off his dark-
Ng3 with a nice grip on the f5-square. squared bishop for a knight (Be3xb6.)
Therefore, most Black players opt at this Vachier Lagrave remarked of the resulting
stage for prophylaxis. position that he – despite a pawn deficit – was
no worse, because of his possession of the
7...h5 black squares and especially the lack of
activity of the white bishop on g2. Also, as is
Taking the preferred option of g2-g4 away almost always the case after White responds
from White, and leaving him with a choice of to ...d5 with exd5, Black obtained a kingside
two principled ways to continue. majority which he began to push with ...f5
and ...e4.
8.g3

8.Bg5 is also regularly played. A nice game

which illustrates White’s plans now is Anand MODEL GAME for White
– Topalov, 2015.

8...Be6 9.Bg2 Nbd7 10.a4

Giri, Anish (2755)
Grünfeld, Yehuda (2451)
Baku 2016

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6

5.Nc3 a6 6.h3 e5 7.Nde2 h5

Position after: 8...Nbd7

As always, the queen’s knight belongs on d7

in the Najdorf. Black intends to develop his
queen’s bishop to b7 and then to bring the d5-
square under control with ...Nb6.
Slightly more common is 8...Be6
Position after: 7...h5
9.a4
This prophylactic move is seen as the best
reaction to White’s 6th. The point is that if Giri does not feel like allowing ...b7-b5 any
Black continues without it, then White will longer. The timing of this move is spot-on,
certainly continue with g2-g4, creating a because we’ve seen in past cases that a
space advantage on the kingside. And not drawback of it can be that it allows the black
only that: if the pawn gets to march on to g5 queen’s knight to head to b4 via c6; however
(attacking the knight on f6) that will right now, since that knight is already on d7
strengthen White’s grip on the d5-square. the drawback doesn’t apply. There’s now no
way for Black to use his queen’s knight to
8.g3 control the d5-square.

One idea of 6.h3 was to fianchetto the king’s 9...Be7 10.Bg2 b6

bishop, so Giri goes for that now.

8...Nbd7
Position after: 10...b6 14.Qd2

This is a fairly important moment, because A novelty at the time of the game. On the one
White has various ways to continue, all hand, the queen blocks the c1-bishop’s
espoused by strong players. A selection of the immediate line of development, but on the
different options: other hand White can now double major
pieces on the d-file faster than otherwise.
11.Nd5
The existing 14.Qd1 had conferred a rather
Choosing to use the d5-square immediately. minimal advantage on White in a number of
games.
A) 11.Bg5 was seen in, e.g. Kryvoruchko –
Khismatullin, 2015. 14...Rc8 15.h4
B) 11.Be3 Karpov – Ivanchuk, 1994.
One of the basic features of White’s game is
C) 11.0-0 Inarkiev – Oparin, 2014.
being able to push this pawn to consolidate
11...Nxd5 the kingside structure – and the dark squares
everywhere. It creates a new future for his
The knight had to be traded because in this king’s bishop on h3 and removes an
case it would have been significantly to advantage Black previously enjoyed: that of
White’s advantage to trade on e7. Then the holding the idea of ...h5-h4 over White’s head
backward pawn on d6 would have become like a sword of Damocles.
vulnerable.
15...Nf6 16.Qd3
12.Qxd5 Rb8 13.Nc3
This slight tempo loss is permitted, now that
White again delays castling, the better to Black’s knight is no longer in position to hit
direct his second knight to d5 as soon as the queen with ...Nc5.
possible.
16...0-0 17.0-0 Qd7 18.Bg5
13...Bb7

Position after: 18.Bg5

Position after: 13...Bb7
All played very consistently. White’s point is
to reinforce his control of the d5-square and
to this end he threatens to remove one of its
defenders (the knight on f6.)

18...Rfd8 19.Rfd1 g6 20.Rd2 Kf8

This is a sign: Black is at a loss for an active

plan.

21.Rad1

In the meantime White has tripled on the d-

file. It is clear that the d6-pawn is weak, and Position after: 24.Qe3!
motifs related to winning it are beginning to Anish Giri (photo Harry Gielen)
crop up.

21...Rc6

Position after: 21...Rc6

22.Bxf6!

Now that black has to use more and more

resources to avoid losing his d6-pawn, he’s no An elegant queen move. Her majesty is
longer paying so much attention to the d5- ‘staring daggers’ in two directions: the b6-
square. Giri cashes in on this fact. pawn, and a juicy potential site of a check on
h6...
22...Bxf6 23.Nd5 Be7 24.Qe3!
24...b5
There is nothing else that can be suggested: 27...Qxe7 28.Qxc5 wins two rooks and a
this pawn was attacked twice and could not be piece for the queen.
defended a second time.
28.Rxd6!
25.axb5 axb5
The first point.

28...Qxd6 29.Rxd6 Kxd6

At first sight Black seems to be largely

unscathed in the short term, but there is a
second twist to the combination.

30.b4! Rc7 31.Qb6+

Made possible by that earlier sly sideways

slide of the queen to e3.
Position after: 25...axb5 31...Bc6
26.Bf1!

Now Giri’s light-squared bishop also plays its

role on the queenside.

26...Rc5

This is a perfectly plausible move from Black,

but it allows a nice combination that Giri is
very much capable of finding.

27.Nxe7 Kxe7
Position after: 31...Bc6

32.Bh3!

And here is the final stroke! Maybe you

expected that White’s crowning glory would
come on the queenside, for instance with
32.Bxb5 and this does indeed lead to a
winning position, but the text is both crisper
and stronger.
After 32.Bh3! the black king is in a terminal
tangle. The threat is Qc5# and Black must
Position after: 27...Kxe7 surrender major material to avert it, so rather
than play on with the miserable 32...Rcd7 or
something, he chose to resign.
1-0

MODEL GAME for Black

Naiditsch, Arkadij (2701)

Carlsen, Magnus (2843)
Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden 2018

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 Position after: 7...Be7

5.Nc3 a6 6.g3
8.Bg2

We have previously seen that in similar cases

White can try 8.a4 to cut out the possibility of
...b7-b5. Here that doesn’t work as well as in
some other cases, because Black can develop
counterplay by routing his knight to b4,
beginning with 8...Nc6!

Position after: 6.g3

Naiditsch is known for his sharp style.

However, in this game he chooses a rather
less aggressive formation.

6...e5 7.Nb3

Visually speaking, the knight doesn’t stand

very well here – but an important plan is to Position after: 8...Nc6!
route it to d5 via via d2-f1(or c4)-e3.
followed by ...Nc6-b4 controlling the d5-
7.Nde2 is a more direct route to d5 (via c3, as square. Boleslavsky would be proud!
in the Giri – Gruenfeld game but without the
inclusion of h2-h3 and ...h7-h5.) This is the 8...0-0 9.0-0 Be6
most theoretically significant approach.
Carlsen opts to develop his bishop first.
7...Be7
The alternative is an immediate 9...b5!?,
which gives Black the extra choice of
developing his queen’s bishop to b7 instead of
e6. Naiditsch had faced this before, and that
game continued 10.Nd5!? Nxd5 11.Qxd5
Ra7 12.Be3 Be6 13.Qd2 Ra8 14.a4 Nc6
15.axb5 axb5 16.Rxa8 Qxa8 17.Ra1 Qb7=
with an equal game in Naiditsch – Vidit,
2017.

10.Re1

With this, White prepares the previously Position after: 12...Bd8!

mentioned knight manoeuvre: the f1 square is
now cleared. At the same time, the rook does Now that there is hardly any play against d6
a good job here of ensuring that if Black ever for White, Black plays his poorly placed
plays ...d6-d5, he must also worry about bishop to the a5-square, which has been
whether his e5-pawn will be hanging. weakened by a2-a4. From a5 the bishop can
In an earlier game Naiditsch had also tried exert unpleasant pressure on the opponent’s
10.a4. Now that White has played a2-a4, it is queenside. There will no longer be any time
thematic to once again consider trying to for White to get a knight to d5. 13.Nf1 Qc5
develop the knight via c6 to b4: 10...Nc6?! From this position there have been two
However in this case the idea doesn’t work significant games, in both of which Black
well because Black’s knight never gets to b4. obtained a comfortable position. 14.Ne3 [In a
11.Nd5! Bxd5 12.exd5 Here if Black game Naiditsch – Sunilduth Lyna, 2016 there
nevertheless persists with 12...Nb4?? then followed 14.h3 Ba5 15.Be3 Qc7 16.Bd2 Rac8
13.c3 wins the knight. 17.Ne3 and now with 17...Bxc3! 18.Bxc3
Nc5 Black would have solved his opening
The alternative is 10...Nbd7 11.Re1 Initiating
problems.] 14...Ba5 15.Bd2 Rac8 and Black
the standard plan with Nd2-f1-e3. In this
had also obtained a satisfactory game in Wei
case, since White has spent a tempo on a2-a4,
– Giri, 2016.
Black obtains one extra option, which is
important to show... 11...Qc7 12.Nd2 and 10...Nbd7 11.Nd2
now: 12...Bd8!
Showing a slight lack of foresight.
With 11.a4 White would have entered the
variations already discussed under 10.a4. In
those lines the position is around equal, but
after the game’s move Black begins to take
over the game a little.

11...b5!
Although the b-pawn can sometimes become Najdorf plan. 12...Nb6 And now it is
a weakness after its advance, Black decides it interesting to see how Black handled the next
is more important to gain space on the phase of the game. 13.Ne3 b4 14.Ncd5
queenside and pose a small question to the Nfxd5 15.exd5 Bd7 16.Bd2 a5 17.a3 bxa3
knight on c3. 18.Rxa3 a4 19.Bb4 Qb8 20.c3 Bg5 21.Ra1 f5
Black held the initiative and eventually won.
12.Nf1
13.f3

Most players would probably make the same

decision – the moral compulsion to win tempi
is high – but this is what Carlsen wanted.
Now the dark squares in White’s centre and
queenside are weakened.
A somewhat artificial-looking move might
have served White better: 13.Qd2 This leaves
the pawn structure intact and more
importantly: the f1-knight can now also be
Position after: 12.Nf1 brought into the game via e3 (with a gain of
tempo) and brought to the desired d5-square
12...Bg4! as quickly as possible. The fact that the
bishop on c1 is blocked for a moment by his
A probing move by Carlsen, the aim of which own queen is perhaps less important. But such
is to disrupt the coordination between White’s advice is easier dispensed than followed,
pawns and pieces. especially when one’s opponent is the
The text move is not the only possibility. reigning world champion.
Black could also have followed Balogh –
Wojtaszek, 2014, where the Polish 13...Be6 14.Ne3 Rc8 15.a3
grandmaster chose a very standard
A somewhat slow move.
So White has expended lots of energy getting
his b3-knight to e3 – it has moved 6 times in
total. Why not complete the plan and plant a
knight on d5? Let us see. 15.Ncd5 Bxd5
16.exd5 Nb6

Position after: 12...Bg4!

 Position after: 17...Bf8
Position after: 16...Nb6
18.f5
White is worse here because the d5-pawn is
Black has made all the necessary preparations
weak: in particular it is vulnerable to the ideas
for ...d6-d5, so White plays this to force a
of ...Rc8-c5 and ...Qd8-a8.
postponement.
15...Nb6
18...Bd7 19.Qd3
It is clear that the black player has achieved
White has still not had the opportunity to
something of a dream Najdorf position. White
develop his queen’s bishop. He must keep an
cannot post a piece on d5 because in the end
eye on the d5-square, since Black’s
he will be forced to capture back there with
breakthrough has only been stalled, not
the e-pawn, leaving that pawn weak and
halted.
handing Black a strong kingside majority. In
the meantime, Black is getting ready to free 19...h6 20.b3
his game with ...d6-d5.
Obviously White realised that with this move
16.f4!? he weakens the c-file. But he needs to develop
somehow, and this move prepares Bc1-b2 and
Something like this was called for,
Ra1-d1.
interrupting for some time Black’s plan of
executing ...d6-d5. After the alternative developing move 20.Bd2
Naiditsch presumably did not like the
16...Re8 prospect of facing the logical 20...Nc4

It was also possible to swap off on f4 first 20...Bc6

with 16...exf4 17.gxf4 Re8 after which
White’s centre is a little bit weak.

17.Kh1 Bf8
 clarity about what the structure will look like
in the rest of the middlegame.

23...Bxd5 24.exd5

If White were to trade another pair of pieces

with 24.Nxd5 Nbxd5 25.exd5

Position after: 20...Bc6

Carlsen’s bishop shifts to a new working

diagonal: a8-h1. It could also have gone there
early in the opening – see note to move 9 –
but then, of course, a whole set of other
features would also have developed
differently.

21.Bd2 Position after: 25.exd5

So why not now 21.Bb2 ? Given the Black would obtain the better chances using a
circumstances, this seems a much more by-now-familiar bishop manoeuvre: ...Bf8-e7-
logical decision. But perhaps Naiditsch d8-b6.
thought his bishop would find little work
24...Nbd7!
there or that he should prevent Black’s f8-
bishop from being routed to the h6-c1 The knight had done its work on b6 and now
diagonal too easily. seeks a better life for itself, heading via d7 to
the promising c5-square. There it would not
21...Qc7 22.Rac1 Qb7
only chase the white queen away from her
It is clear that black has a pleasant game. His present fairly active post but also support the
pieces are now operating at close to full further advance of the e5-pawn, which
potential and he is once again ready to play (apparently almost by accident) has in fact
...d6-d5, even at the expense of a pawn become a protected passed pawn and a major
sometimes. trump for Black in what is to come.

23.Ned5 25.Nd1

Naiditsch is done waiting and decides to White is also capable of improving the
finally place a piece on d5. That gives us position of his pieces. The knight was doing
relatively little on c3 and now it heads to e3 to
blockade the oncoming e-pawn.
An alternative to improving the knight is to Position after: 27.Nf2?!
try and trade it with 25.Ne4!?
The correct way to continue was 27.Nc3! so
25...e4!? as to defend the d5-pawn, after which White
has equalised the game.
The black player knows perfectly well that his
opponent is trying to unravel and now seeks 27...Nf3!
to force matters. However, this move is a little
bit too impatient. This knight jump guarantees Black a
significant advantage. White needs to trade
Of course, there was another, more strategic
his light-squared bishop and the centre opens
option available. 25...Be7!? would be the
– which is indisputably to Black’s benefit.
logical way to start the bishop manoeuvre to
White will now face problems with his king
b6 which has already been mentioned.
security due to both of these factors.
26.Qd4
28.Bxf3 exf3
Naturally 26.Bxe4?? loses material to
There is now no way to defend the d5-pawn
26...Nc5.
other than by opening more lines.
26...Ne5
29.c4 bxc4 30.bxc4
The right follow-up, leaving the e4-pawn to
fend for itself.
Trading the central pawns is very much to
Black’s disadvantage: 26...Qxd5?! 27.Qxd5
Nxd5 28.Bxe4 and White has no problems.

27.Nf2?!

With this move, White denies himself the

respite he had been working so hard towards.

Position after: 30.bxc4

30...Re5

There were several strong options at Black’s

disposal.
A) 30...Rxe1+ came into consideration too.
31.Bxe1 and now for instance 31...Nd7 with
fantastic chances for Black.
B) Likewise the immediate 30...Nd7!? was
also reasonable, seeking to play the knight to
either c5 or e5 without delay.

31.Re3

Black’s point is that 31.Rxe5? dxe5 32.Qxe5

Bxa3 leaves White completely lost. His back
rank must be defended and for that reason the
c1-rook is unable to keep protecting the vital
c4-pawn from immediate capture.
Position after: 34...Qa2
31...Rxe3
It may be called a miracle that material is still
The pawn trade 31...Rxf5 32.Qd3 was level. But it is clear that the white pieces do
perhaps not as promising. not work together, his king protection is
limited and the centre is beyond repair. But
32.Qxe3
now material joins the list of problems White
has to surmount.

35.Bc3

Neither does White keep the material after

35.Qd1 Rxc4 36.Ra1 Qc2!

35...Rxc4

Beginning to clean up.

It was also possible to consider 35...Nd7!?,
deferring material gains for the time being
Position after: 32.Qxe3
and maintaining the black kingside pawn
32...Qb2! structure.

Black’s queen obtains its entry point and the 36.Ra1 Qb3 37.Bxf6 gxf6
repercussions are immediate.

33.Nd3 Qxa3 34.Qxf3 Qa2

Position after: 37...gxf6 Position after: 39.Rd1

38.Kg2? 39.Qg4+ Bg7 40.Nf4 also loses to 40...Qb2+

41.Kh3 Qxa1 42.Nh5 Qf1+ 43.Kh4 Rc4.
Perhaps under some clock pressure as well,
White goes wrong. 39...h5!
Some drawing chances were retained by
A precise move to limit the opponent’s
38.Qd1! Qb5 39.Nf4 a5 although I suspect
counterchances.
Carlsen would still have won.
40.Kh3 Bh6 41.Re1 Rxd3 42.Qxh5 Re3
38...Rc3 39.Rd1
White resigned. The point was that after
42...Re3 43.Rc1 Black has the simple answer
43...Rxg3+! 44.hxg3 Bxc1 prepared. 0-1
Magnus Carlsen is watching a game of Dutch top woman player Anne Haast (photo Frans
Peeters)
 Chapter 4
Model Games with the
Scheveningen

§ 4.1 Background of the

Scheveningen
Max Euwe, the only Dutch World Champion ever (photo Max
Euwe Center Archive)
He would like to prepare short castling with
...Be7 and then swiftly depart the centre with
his king. The knights most often go to their
intuitive posts on c6 and f6, and the queen’s
bishop to d7. Then Black can decide whether
he would like to continue with ...a7-a6 and
...Qd8-c7, after which he will have connected
his rooks. An recurring theme for Black in
these positions is that he can (by means of
...Nc6xd4 and ...Bd7-c6) reduce White’s
influence in the centre. A subsidiary but no
less important theme is the idea of ...e6-e5,
liquidating some central pawns and increasing
the scope of Black’s pieces.
Finally, we note that many black players omit
The the development of the queen’s bishop. In
Scheveningen Variation (that is created after addition to the usual idea of going to d7 as
the moves 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 above, Black also has the option (if he can
4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6) is named after a manage this ...e6-e5) of completing
Dutch seaside town situated near The Hague. development with ...Be6 instead. It is also
During a tournament held there in 1923, worth bearing in mind that this bishop can
future world champion Max Euwe tried the also often reach the long diagonal after ...a7-
opening against Geza Maroczy (1870-1951.) a6 and ...b7-b5.
 Position after: 6.f4

§ 4.2 Variation Overview of the

Scheveningen b) Fischer/Sozin with 6.Bc4
It is time for us to make an overview of the
sub-variations which exist within the
Scheveningen.

a) Scheveningen with 6.f4 (Tal)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6

5.Nc3 d6 6.Bc4

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6

5.Nc3 d6 6.f4
Position after: 6.Bc4 Position after: 6.g4

c) Keres Attack with 6.g4 d) English Attack with 6.Be3 e6

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6

5.Nc3 d6 6.g4 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6
5.Nc3 d6 6.Be3
 Position after: 6.Be2

Position after: 6.Be3

e) Classical Variation: Be2/Be3

a)
Scheveningen with 6.f4 (Tal)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6

5.Nc3 d6 6.Be2

Introduction

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6

5.Nc3 d6 6.f4
 Position after: 8.Qf3

Not messing around. White intends to start

operations on the d-file as soon as possible
(with long castling) and also keeps the g2-g4-
g5 thrust on the cards. A little more hidden,
but no less dangerous, is the idea to put
pressure on point e6 with Nd4xc6, followed
by Bf1-c4 and f4-f5. This move has been
dubbed the ‘Boey variation’ after multiple
Belgian champion – and correspondence
grandmaster – Jef Boey.
Position after: 6.f4 A) The attempt to hit back in the centre right
away with 8...e5 can be met by 9.Nxc6 bxc6
For people whose repertoire includes the 10.f5. Now Black has several tries:
Open Sicilian with White, but don’t want to
A1) 10...d5 tries to free Black’s game, but
learn reams of theory, this move is a sensible
there’s a nasty cross-pin after 11.exd5 cxd5
choice. John Nunn advocated it in his Beating
12.0-0-0 Bb7 13.Bc4 – as seen in a game Lutz
the Sicilian. On Wikipedia this move is
– Vogt.
quoted as the ‘Tal Variation’, after the eighth
world champion. A2) 10...Rb8 would be a clever way to set up
...d6-d5 next and avoid the above line, if
6...a6 White did not also have a precise order at his
disposal. 11.Bc4! As seen in Boey – Hartoch,
Black hopes to return the game to ‘Najdorf’ 1974, although White later lost the game.
territory. I learned through painful experience
A3) 10...Qa5
that the immediate 6...Nc6 allows White a
very interesting setup with which he can try
and storm Black’s position immediately.
7.Be3 Be7 8.Qf3

Position after: 10...Qa5

11.Bc4 Now Radjabov – Morozevich, 2006

and Sigurjonsson – Sax, 1976 are good
illustrative games to follow. Both sides will
connect their rooks on the same move now Black has his fair share of the tactics
following the natural 11...Bb7 12.0-0-0 0-0. along the long diagonal. Specifically: 9.Bd3
B) 8...0-0 9.0-0-0 Qc7 10.g4 Nbd7 10.g4.

Position after: 10.g4 Position after: 10.g4

One should be aware that this move implies a At first Black played the immediate 10...Nc5
pawn sacrifice. 10...Nxd4 11.Bxd4 e5 12.fxe5 and White gained the upper hand because the
move doesn’t gain tempo. 11.g5 b4
B1) One of White’s tactical points comes in
[11...Nfd7 12.a3²] 12.gxf6 bxc3 13.fxg7
the line 12...Bxg4 13.Qg3 dxe5 [13...Bxd1?
Bxg7 14.b4!? Nxd3+ 15.cxd3 and White
14.exf6 Bxf6 15.Bxf6 wins for White.]
eventually won. But 10...b4! is a significant
14.Bxe5 Qc5 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 [15...Bxd1??
improvement of Black’s game. In Timman –
16.Qxg7#] 16.Rd5! [Also winning is
Hodgson, 1983, Black failed to continue like
16.Qxg4?! Bxc3 17.bxc3 Qxc3 but Black’s
this. 11.Nce2 Nc5 12.Ng3 Here Timman
practical counterchances here are significant.]
came up with a deep strategic idea for Black.
16...Qc8 17.Rg1 Be6 18.e5 Bxd5 19.Nxd5
12...Rc8! Giving extra protection to the c5-
White gains decisive material.
knight. 13.g5 Nfd7 14.h4
B2) 12...dxe5 13.Qg3 Nxg4 14.Nd5 and
White had good chances in the game Sax –
Kasparov, 1983.

7.Qf3

It turns out that White is too late if he starts

with 7.Be3 (Black gets exactly enough time to
put his bishop on b7 to oppose the queen on
the long diagonal), so he chooses this order. It
took a while for people to understand that
7.Be3 is not a good way for White to seek an Position after: 14.h4
advantage. Black replies with the immediate
7...b5 so as to meet 8.Qf3 with 8...Bb7 and
14...e5! This is the idea: black now obtains Position after: 7...Qb6
the e5-square for one of his knights. White
now more or less has to trade his dark- The queen will not stay here, but Black is
squared bishop off. 15.Nb3 exf4 16.Bxf4 rather just trying to drive the d4-knight back
Ne6! to a worse square. Then he’ll retreat the queen
co c7 and continue with ...b7-b5 so as to meet
the usual tactic of e4-e5 with the simple
...Bb7. Now White normally responds:

8.Nb3

and Black retreats ‘as promised’ to c7.

White can opt out of this mutual loss of
tempo: 8.a3!? which is an interesting idea –
White keeps the knight’s central post through
tactics. Apparently it was GM Quinteros who
Position after: 16...Ne6! first played this idea in his game against
Salazar in 1982.
Of course, on strategic grounds this knight is A) The point is of course that 8...Qxd4?
worth more than the one on b3. White now 9.Be3 traps the queen. Now the creative
continued in Chandler – Timman, 1984, with: Dutch IM Manuel Bosboom played 9...Qxc3+
17.Nf5 [Black is also doing excellently if 10.bxc3 Bd7 and claimed that Black’s
White chooses to give up the other bishop position was playable...Back in the real world,
instead: 17.Be3 Ne5 18.Qe2 Nxd3+ 19.cxd3 though, it would be irresponsible for me to
d5.] 17...Nxf4 18.Qxf4 Ne5 With this give this line as a recommendation to anyone.
extremely powerful knight on e5 Black now
B) 8...Nc6 9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.b3 Now that black
holds the trumps in the position – but later he
has the b-file instead of the c-file, it doesn’t
fell into difficulties.
matter so much if the c3-knight is briefly
7...Qb6 vulnerable. The bishop will be well situated
on b2 and White intends to castle long.
10...Bb7
Position after: 10...Bb7 11...Nb6 12.0-0-0 N8d7 13.Qh3 b4 14.Ne2
Nc4
11.Bb2 d5 12.0-0-0 This move isn’t good, but
White must almost play it anyway, otherwise Thus far as in Polgar – Kasparov, 1996.
his concept makes no sense. 12...Qa5 13.e5
Nd7 14.Na4 Qc7 In the game Almasi –
Kasparov, 1994, Black quickly gained the
upper hand because the white king is rather
unsafe.

8...Qc7 9.g4

Consistent with what we have said about

White’s plan.

9...b5 10.g5 Nfd7

Position after: 14...Nc4

After Black executes the basically forced

trade of this knight for the opponent’s e3-
bishop, he doesn’t really have any problems.

MODEL GAME for White

Tal, Mihail (2615)

Andreopoulos, Mark
Long Beach 1988
Position after: 10...Nfd7
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6
10...b4 did not work out so well for Black in 5.Nc3 d6 6.f4 Nc6 7.Be3 Be7 8.Qf3 0-0 9.0-
J.Polgar – Van Wely, 1995. 0-0

11.Be3 Now that Black’s queen on d8 is being

‘opposed’ along the f-file by a white rook, he
A) Over the years, various players have tried has to be careful.
almost all the possible riffs on the motif of a
kingside attack. For instance 11.Bd3 Bb7 and 9...a6?!
now a switch of diagonal: 12.Qh3 with the
This push is somewhat careless.
threat g5-g6. In most cases, sharp positions
arise in which Black is not worse.
B) GM Smirin swears by 11.a3 with which he
managed to win some games.
 The most natural move now is 10.e5! and
indeed it confers a significant advantage upon
White already. 10...Nxd4 [10...dxe5??
11.Nxc6; 10...Ne8 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.Qxc6 is
extremely favourable for White.] 11.Bxd4
dxe5 [11...Nd5 12.Nxd5 exd5 is also
uninspiring for Black.] 12.fxe5 Nd5 13.Ne4
This position carries a lot of immediate
danger for Black.

10...Qc7 11.g5 Nd7

Position after: 9...a6?!
Mikhail Tal

Position after: 11...Nd7

This is the kind of moment that Tal was

waiting for. And he wasn’t the only one!
Velimirovic too, with his famous
‘Velimirovic Attack’, has often made use of
A) With 9...Qc7 Black would manage to get the opportunity presented here.
the queen off the d-file, but this square is not
12.Nf5!?
so attractive. White has a variety of attacking
possibilities. This stereotypical horse sacrifice has been a
B) The best reaction seems to be 9...Nxd4 major weapon in Tal’s arsenal. He sacrifices a
10.Bxd4 Qa5 so that Black can continue with knight to free up the d5-square for his
...e6-e5. colleague, and with a pawn on f5 (which he
will soon get) he has the firepower needed to
10.g4 harass the enemy royal position in the
minimum amount of time.
This is the tried-and-tested approach, but Tal
could have even struck immediately had he 12...b5
been alert:
 Position after: 15.Rg1!?

A1) Trying to keep lines closed with 15...f5 is

a case of ‘shutting the stable door after the
horse has bolted’. 16.Qh5 and White has a
wide range of attacking ideas, such as Rg1-
g3-h3, Bf1-c4 or Nc3-d5 hinting at Nf6.
A2) 15...fxg5 16.Bd3! Many of White’s
game-ending ideas are associated with this
move. [16.Qh5 Kh8 17.Rd5 Qd8 18.Bd3 f5
19.fxg5 is also possible] 16...f5 17.fxg5 Nde5
Position after: 12...b5

Black rejects the offer, but this isn’t a cure

either. Let’s take a close look at the
acceptance of the sacrifice. 12...exf5 13.exf5

Position after: 17...Nde5

On the face of it, one might think Black is on

the verge of repulsing his opponent’s attack
Position after: 13.exf5 since he has taken control of the e5-square.
But this would be a completely misleading
In this position Black has various alternatives. impression to have. 18.Qh5 Threatening the
A) One obvious option is 13...Qa5?! which lethal g5-g6. 18...Ng6 19.Bc4+ Kh8 20.Nd5
White meets with the standard 14.f6! gxf6 White has ideas of Bb6 as well as Bd2-c3.
15.Rg1!? 20...Qd8 21.Bb6 Qd7 [21...Qe8 22.Nc7]
22.Qh6 Black can no longer slip the net
which is gradually tightening around him. His
pieces trip over each other in a manner which
resembles one of those mate-in-two problems
to which the answer is 1.Kg1-h1! 22...Nce5
[22...Bd8 23.Nf4! wins immediately.] 23.Nf6
Finally making decisive use of Black’s
terrible co-ordination. 23...Bxf6 24.gxf6 Rxf6
 13.Nd5?!

Tal, in his element, plays a second knight

sacrifice! Perhaps objectively it’s not entirely
correct, but of course very difficult to combat
in a practical game. Another decent move is
13.Bg2 as given by the engine.

13...exd5 14.exd5

Position after: 24...Rxf6

25.Rxg6! Nxg6 26.Re1 White wins because

there is nothing to be done about Bd4.
B) As an indication of how tricky the black
side of this position is, note that the natural
13...b5? can be refuted immediately. 14.Nd5
Qd8 15.f6! Always the thematic way to open
lines against the black king. 15...gxf6 16.gxf6
[My silicon friend prefers 16.h4 ...] 16...Nxf6 Position after: 14.exd5
17.Bd3! White doesn’t just threaten Nxf6
followed by Qh5 and mate, but also intends a 14...Re8?
swift doubling of major pieces on the g-file –
which would have severe repercussions of its Black is not up to the task. A modern
own. 17...Kh8 18.Nxf6 Bxf6 19.Qe4 Bxb2+ grandmaster would probably find the best
20.Kxb2 Qf6+ 21.Kb1 Qh6 22.Qxc6 and way for Black to give back the piece:
White is even material up. 14...Nde5 which leads after 15.Nxe7+ Qxe7
16.Qg3 Bf5 17.dxc6 Nxc6 to a position with
C) A subtle possibility for Black is 13...Re8
roughly equal chances. The white attack has
but then 14.f6 Bf8 15.Nd5 Qa5 16.Bc4 looks
been stalled, mainly thanks to the strong f5-
to promise good chances. White controls the
bishop. But the isolated pawn on d6 and the
flow of the struggle.
possession of the d5-square give White
D) Probably the calm 13...Bd8 is a move to certain long-term advantages which demand a
consider. The bishop does not hang here and higher level of accuracy from Black to retain
the push f5-f6 does not come with gain of the balance going forward.
time. On the other hand, the bishop stands in
the way of the other black pieces and the 15.dxc6 Nc5
harmony in Black’s camp is sorely lacking.
How white should treat this position, though,
is not immediately clear. It seems 14.f6 g6
15.Nd5 is the way to go.
 White has conducted the attack slowly,
methodically and without rocket science. But
now the genuinely deadly threat of Qd8+ has
appeared and Black cannot bring any pieces at
all to the defence, so his time is up. After
17...Kg8 18.Rg1 Bf8 19.Bd4 there are no
longer any normal methods by which Black
can delay the catastrophe which ensues after
g5-g6.

18.Qxf5 Ne6 19.Bd3

Position after: 15...Nc5
Here Black resigned.
16.Nxg7!

And another knight sacrifice! Now Black’s

king position is shattered. The new wave of
attack is too much for him to deal with.

16...Kxg7 17.f5 Bxf5

This is not going to help. There are a few

other variations that also lose.
17...Bf8 18.Bd4+ Kg8 19.Rg1 The problem
for black is that (due to the strong white pawn
Position after: 19.Bd3
on c6) he cannot make his pieces work
together. An example: 19...Bg7 20.Bxg7 After 19.Bd3 Rh8 20.Rdf1 Raf8 White can
Kxg7 21.Bg2 Kg8 22.Rge1 Re5 23.Rxe5 win immediately by forcing g5-g6 through.
dxe5 24.b4 Na4 25.Qd3 Nb6 26.Be4 21.Rhg1! Bd8 22.g6 hxg6 23.Rxg6+ fxg6
24.Qxg6# with a picturesque epaulette mate.
1-0

MODEL GAME for White

Rogers, Ian (2605)

Arencibia Rodriguez,Walter (2550)
Salamanca 1998

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6

5.Nc3 e6 6.f4 a6 7.Qf3
Position after: 26.Be4
 White does not wait to set his flank attack in
motion.

10...b5

It is dangerous to try and hold back the

floodwaters with 10...h6: in a game Beliavsky
– Cabrilo, 1981 White was later able to play
h2-h4 and force through g4-g5 anyway,
whereupon the h-file fell into his hands.

Position after: 7.Qf3 11.g5 Nd7 12.0-0-0

7...Qb6 The most obvious way to play. White castles

long, (usually) hides the king on b1 and only
In this way Black would like to drive the then looks at further options.
active White knight away from its central There are players who, instead of this, find it
post. necessary to try and castle short instead. That
is of course not the safest idea, but it does
8.Nb3
have the advantage that if black then places
The knight stands less well here than on d4. his own king on the queenside, White stands
Black suspects that at some point it will have ready to attack the queenside with a2-a4.
to head back to d4, thus justifying his own use
of two tempi rather than one to get his queen
to c7.

8...Nc6 9.Be3 Qc7

Position after: 12.0-0-0

12.Bd3 Bb7.

12...Bb7 13.Kb1

Position after: 9...Qc7 Generally a useful move. The king stood

poorly on the c-file, and furthermore the c1-
10.g4 square now stands vacant, ready to be used by
another White piece.
13...Rc8 Definitely worth a look was 16.Nxc5!
because 16...dxc5 17.Na4 would lead to great
Hereby renouncing any ideas of castling long, problems for Black. For instance, after
and instead trying to generate play along the 17...Nd4 , 18.f5! is rather strong.
c-file.
One alternative is 13...g6 as seen in the game
Kravtsiv – Korobov, 2016.

14.Bd3

Position after: 18.f5!

A) 18...exf5 is met by 19.Rhe1!

Position after: 14.Bd3

14...Nc5?!

The alternative 14...Nb4 has been played in

various games, giving Black equality, and this
looks to be a better idea than the text move.

15.Qh3!

A nice idea. Rogers plays his queen away

Position after: 19.Rhe1!
from the diagonal patrolled by Black’s b7-
bishop, and simultaneously places e6 under whereupon the black king finds itself under
fire. The weakness of this pawn (together siege on every front.
with the unprotected rook on h8) means that
B) 18...c4? fails to 19.Bxd4 cxd3 20.Qxd3
in case of g5-g6, Black will have no good
when White has picked up a crucial pawn
way to take the marauding pawn! Clearly, that
without his opponent having gained any
move is now high on White’s agenda.
particular coherence in the placing of his
15...b4 16.Ne2 pieces.
C) 18...e5 19.b3 White has a nearly decisive
advantage.
16...Na5?

This is a blunder in a position which was

already dubious.

Position after: 19.Bc4!

19...Rd8 [19...Bxe4 is completely wrong:

20.Bxe6! would simply win; 19...Qb6 20.g6!
Position after: 16...Na5? and Black can’t hold things together
anymore] 20.f5! The consequences of this
The correct answer was 16...Nxd3 and that breakthrough are catastrophic for Black. One
would have led after 17.cxd3! Be7 18.Rhg1 line could be 20...e5 21.Qh5 g6 22.fxg6 fxg6
[18.g6 is too hasty: 18...fxg6 19.Qxe6 Qd7 23.Qf3 Qc7 24.Bf7+! winning the queen.
and White is better, but not especially so.]
18...g6 19.f5 to a complicated position where 18.Bxb4! Nc5 19.Bxc5 Qxc5
White has superior chances.

17.Bxc5!

A nice bit of insight from the Australian

grandmaster led to him giving up his ‘good
bishop’ for the knight on c5.

17...Nxb3

What was this insight? Well, the point seems

to be that after 17...dxc5 18.Nxa5 Qxa5
White is now able to focus his full attention Position after: 19...Qxc5
on the single most vulnerable point in Black’s
position: the pawn on e6! 19.Bc4! 20.g6!

This is the stereotyped attacking move which

we so often come across in the Sicilian.
Black’s pawn structure will now get torn
apart.
20...Be7 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6
5.Nc3 a6 6.f4 e6
After 20...fxg6 the absolute most precise
move would be 21.Nd4!

21.Nd4

Once again this little tactic helps White out.

21...Bf6

The weaknesses of Black’s position are

terminal and his resistance effectively ends
here.

22.gxf7+ Kxf7 23.Qxe6+ Kf8 Position after: 6...e6

7.Qf3

A note on the move-order is perhaps called

for. White plays his queen to f3 before
developing either bishop; the most important
idea behind doing so is the prevention of
...b7-b5.
If White wants to include both Be3 and Qf3
in his plan, then beginning with 7.Be3 is
somewhat inaccurate. Black can immediately
station his queen’s bishop on b7, opposing the
Position after: 23...Kf8 white queen on the long diagonal. Continuing
the line: 7...b5! 8.Qf3 Bb7 Black immediately
24.Qxf6+!?
threatens ...b5-b4. Now a2-a3 is unappealing
White takes the game into an ending: after because Black would gain an important
24.Qxf6+ gxf6 25.Ne6+ Ke7 26.Nxc5 dxc5 ‘hook’ to latch onto, making a pawn-storm
it should be relatively trivial to convert the that bit stronger in case White were to castle
advantage of two pawns which he has there. long. In what follows this will be an important
theme. 9.Bd3 Nbd7 10.g4
1-0

MODEL GAME for Black

Almasi, Zoltan (2620)

Kasparov, Garry (2805)
Lyon 1994
 on the kingside. However, of course, Black’s
position is more resilient than it might appear
at first glance. 12...Rc8 13.g5 Nfd7 14.h4
Here the black player in the game Chandler –
Timman, 1984 found a very deep strategic
plan. You will find this position in the
‘problems’ section of the book.

7...Qb6

This is one of the major improvements that

Position after: 10.g4 made Black’s position a lot easier to handle in
recent times.
White has decided not to play a2-a3, and
Previously, 7...Qc7 was played, with the idea
therefore it is likely a matter of time before
to proceed regardless with ...b5. Black sets up
Black chases the c3-knight. Ultimately, it will
protection of the b7-square so that he can
want to perch on g3 so as to defend the e4-
meet White’s tactical idea of e5 with the
pawn. Therefore, White uses the time he has
counterstrike ...Bb7.
now to play g2-g4 – preventing that pawn
from being blocked by the intended knight 8.a3!?
rerouting.
A) It is also interesting to strengthen the An interesting find, which has become
threat of the ...b5-b4 thrust rather than playing associated with the British grandmaster
it immediately: 10...Nc5 11.g5 Nfd7 Here, Michael Adams.
white has an interesting option: 12.b4 I A) Black’s idea is that if White’s knight
remember that Timman played this move in leaves the centre, almost by definition it will
the eighties against the Englishman Hodgson, occupy a less strong post. Furthermore, after
who had been trying to follow Timman’s 8.Nb3!? Qc7 Black obtains a better version of
earlier game against Chandler. 12...Nxd3+ the position-type from the last note.
13.cxd3 The game doesn’t seem to have made
B) 8.Be3 Qxb2 9.Kd2 d5! leads to deep
databases, but what I remember is that White
trouble for White. The threat is ...Bb4 and
won. Seemingly, though, Black does not stand
there are additional tactical possibilities
badly here. For instance: 13...d5 14.a3 e5!
associated with ...Nxe4+.
Black can blast the centre open. This is
something which he failed to do in the game, 8...Nc6
where he instead became constricted and
lacked prospects for his bishops. The most basic point of White’s 8th move is
B) 10...b4 Black’s best idea now is to drive that after 8...Qxd4? 9.Be3 the queen is
the knight away. 11.Nce2 Nc5 12.Ng3 White trapped and will fall in the very centre of the
has managed to get his knight behind the g- board.
pawn and has a considerable space advantage
9.Nxc6 bxc6
 Kasparov clarifies his intentions: he’s
occupying the centre immediately and
strongly considering a march of the c-pawn.

Position after: 9...bxc6

The other recapture 9...Qxc6 doesn’t really fit

with Black’s usual central concept, though it
Position after: 11...d5
is played.
12.0-0-0?!
10.b3!?
This was criticized by GM Bönsch as being
This is an interesting way of playing. Now
too dangerous for white.
that the c-line for black is closed, white
doesn’t so much mind the creation of After 12.e5 Nd7 13.Na4 Qc7 14.Bd3 c5=
weaknesses along the c-file. White also Black would also have had nothing to
shields the b2-square and prepares to develop complain about.
his queen’s bishop there.
12...Qa5 13.e5 Nd7 14.Na4 Qc7
Ook 10.g4 is also played, albeit without much
success. To stop f5.

10...Bb7 15.Re1?!

Here the game left the realm of what had been But this is a very unnatural move.
tried before. Almasi had probably considered continuing
After the previous main move 10...Be7 White his development with 15.Bd3 and rejected it
kind of gets what he wants with the queenside because of 15...c5. [15...g6 is a more
fianchetto. 11.Bb2 e5 12.fxe5 dxe5 13.Na4 circumspect response.] But now with 16.f5!?
Qa5+ 14.Bc3 Qc7 15.Bc4 0-0 16.0-0 a5 White can try and develop some real threats.
17.Kh1 Ba6 18.Bxa6 Rxa6 White had a slight
positional plus in Almasi – Rasik, 1993. 15...g6 16.g4

11.Bb2 d5 Consistent, but this makes the queenside

situation worse still.

16...c5!
Threatening ...d5-d4.

17.Bg2

Position after: 19.Kb1

19...Qa5

Position after: 17.Bg2 A sensible attacking move, but there was

something stronger. 19...Bc6! was probably
17...Rb8! stronger, with the immediate threat of ...Bxa4
and ...c3. 20.Nc3 Nc5 21.b4 Qb7 22.Ka1 and
An annoying little move: Black protects the
now 22...a5 will provide the jolt needed to
b7-bishop and sets up some ideas along the b-
break White’s sense of security.
file.
20.Bc3
18.Qd1
Most likely Kasparov had seen that after
The attempt to break through with 18.f5?
20.Ka2 Bc6 21.Nc3 Bxa3! he is breaking
succeeds in its immediate objective, but after
through.
18...c4! 19.fxe6 fxe6 20.Rhf1 and the cold-
blooded 20...cxb3! 21.Qf7+ Kd8 it is the 20...Qb5 21.Ka2 Bc6
white king which faces the more immediate
issues! Possibly more to the point was 21...Nc5!
22.Nxc5 Bxc5.
18...c4!
22.f5
Here Kasparov again proceeds in rather
thematic fashion. This was what White had been playing for,
but due to a lack of piece support the thrust
19.Kb1 achieves little.

22...Qb7 23.fxe6 fxe6 24.Nb2 cxb3+

25.cxb3
 27.Qxb3 a5–+ 28.Rhf1 axb4 29.a4

Anxious about the fate of his king, White tries

to keep the lines in that neighbourhood as
closed as possible.

29...Be7 30.Rc1 Rf8

Position after: 25.cxb3

25...Nc5

A new piece arrives on the battleground.

There isn’t a meaningful defence any longer.

26.Bb4
Position after: 30...Rf8

31.g5

A desperate attempt to set up a sort of

initiative against the black king.
31.Rxf8+ Kxf8 32.Rf1+ Kg7 drives the black
king to a safer location, and now Black can
think much more seriously about the final
offensive.

31...Bxg5
Position after: 26.Bb4
But Kasparov is not impressed and gladly
A) The white king’s fortress would also be accepts the gift.
breached in case of 26.b4 Ne4 27.Bxe4 dxe4
28.Rhf1 – in this case by the humble a-pawn: 32.Qh3 Rf5 33.Rxf5 exf5 34.Rd1 b3+
28...a5! 35.Kb1 Rc8
B) 26.Rhf1 Nxb3 27.Rf6 Bd7 is also
There are now several roads that lead to
unfruitful.
Rome.
26...Nxb3! 35...Qe7 was perhaps the quickest way to get
the job done.
A useful pseudo-sacrifice to have.
36.Rd3 Position after: 36.Rd3

This hastens the end, but there was little else 36...Bxa4!
to be done anyway.
Almasi can see what is about to happen.
What both players saw was the after
36...Bxa4 37.Nxa4 Rc1+ 38.Kb2 Rc2+
39.Kb1 there is the strong continuation
39...Qb4! 40.Rxb3 and now Black can finish
with a flourish: 40...Qe1+! 41.Kxc2 Qc1+
42.Kd3 Qc4# A pretty mate to have on the
board.
0-1

Michael Adams (photo Jos Sutmuller) Lorenzo de la Riva, Lazaro (2465)

Fedorchuk, Sergey A (2661)
Navalmoral 2012
MODEL GAME for Black
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6
5.Nc3 d6 6.f4 a6 7.Qf3
White is intending to hinder the black light- The move 8.Be3? sacrifices material, but not
squared bishop from getting to b7 by flipping as much as might originally be suspected.
the order of his natural developing moves. After 8...Qxb2 White’s only move is also a
rather tricky one which poses Black some
problems. 9.Kd2 This surprising possibility
solves the problem of the threatened pieces on
c3 and a1. The queen on b2 is also somewhat
in danger (...Qb6? is met by Nxe6!) And
Black’s development is also not great.
Therefore, a concrete answer is needed. What
a happy coincidence that the move 9...e5! is
working for him. [The capture 9...Qxa1? fails
to 10.Bb5+ axb5 11.Rxa1] 10.Nf5 [10.Rb1?
Qxb1! 11.Nxb1 Bg4 traps the white queen in
Position after: 7.Qf3 its turn!] 10...d5! Bringing the idea of ...Bb4
to the fore. 11.Rb1 still doesn’t obtain the
7.Be3 b5 8.Qf3 Bb7 is another variation, but
desired outcome due to 11...Nxe4+ 12.Qxe4
here Black obtains a little perk: the ongoing
Qxc3+ 13.Kxc3 dxe4, so Black is winning.
tension between the bishop and queen along
the long diagonal is to his favour. 8...Qc7 9.Bd3 b5 10.g4

7...Qb6

Position after: 10.g4

Position after: 7...Qb6 This is what White had in mind, but matters
will not proceed strictly according to his
This is the modern way: Black wants to
simplistic plan. Of course he would like to
continue with ...Qc7 and then ...b5 and ...Bb7
expand his space advantage on the king’s
to develop his pieces, but first tries to get the
wing and prod Black’s knight away from f6.
active d4-knight away from its central perch.
But this pawn push also makes the kingside
8.Nb3 slightly too ‘hot’ to be a future home for his
king, as we will see later. Another route,
which is not so frequently played, is 10.Be3 which continued 13...b4 14.Nd1 d5 15.exd5
Bb7 11.0-0-0 Nbd7. Bxd5 16.Ne3 whereupon 16...Bb7 would
have been correct. [Instead the game saw the
10...Bb7 11.g5 Nfd7 12.0-0 bizarre 16...Qb6?! 17.Rf2! Bxb3 18.axb3 after
which White obtained a large advantage.]
Quite an important decision. The white king
finds himself in a rather ‘drafty’ place after 13...Bg7 14.a3 0-0 15.Qf2
this, and while he has a space advantage, he
must always worry about the position opening
– after which his lack of pawn cover will be
ruinous. In a game Leko – Oll, 1996, White
played the interesting idea 12.Bd2!? Nc5
13.Ne2 and now the black player made a
mistake. 13...Nbd7 [13...Nc6!] He was then
confronted with 14.Na5 trading off his prized
bishop on b7.

12...g6

Position after: 15.Qf2

15...Rc8?!

A strange choice. It seems to me that

following 15...Nc6 16.Rae1 Rae8 Black could
well be better. He has a plan of ...f7-f5 to
make use of the white king’s open position.
White, meanwhile, has no particularly
constructive plan. 17.h4 may only make the
situation worse, e.g. 17...Ne7 18.h5 f5
Position after: 12...g6 19.Nd4 Nc5 and Black is simply better.

Black is getting ready to put his dark-squared 16.Rac1?!

bishop on the long diagonal. This move is
partially directed against an early f4-f5, but it Also a somewhat strange move. Is White
does offer White the possibility of a ‘lever’ actually worried about Black taking twice on
for opening the kingside in another way, i.e. c3? 16.h4 Nc6 17.h5 was consistent.
h2-h4-h5.
16...Nc6
13.Be3
16...Bxc3 17.bxc3 Qxc3 would now give
13.Qh3 was seen in a 1993 game between the White a significant initiative after 18.Bd2
Dutch players Van der Wiel and Martens, Qc7 19.Ba5 Qc6 20.c4.
17.h4 b4

Position after: 21.Nd2

Position after: 17...b4 21...d5! 22.Qh4

18.Nd1?! After 22.exd5 exd5 23.f5 the defence

23...Nce5 is adequate for Black’s purposes.
After this, White’s queenside structure will He threatens ...Nxd3 and ...Ng4, and protects
remain crippled. 18.Na4 is no use either, the f7-pawn.
because Black is doing well after 18...Rab8!
There remains 18.axb4 Nxb4 when Black 22...Nd4 23.hxg6 fxg6
may be intending to take on c3 so as to win a
pawn and gain some squares for queenside
operations. After 19.Bd4 e5 20.fxe5 Nxe5 I
have a slight preference for the black position.

18...bxa3 19.bxa3 a5

Probably the thematic 19...Na5! was stronger.

Black seeks to put his knight on c4.

20.h5 a4 21.Nd2

Because white now seems to be getting Position after: 23...fxg6

somewhere on the kingside, Black now takes
action in the centre and it comes none too 24.Bxd4?
soon.
Trading this bishop for a knight is almost White resigned rather abruptly here.
invariably wrong. White wouldn’t have been
enjoying himself after 24.e5 Nf5 and black is
placed excellently from a positional
perspective, but perhaps he should
nevertheless have satisfied himself with this.
And 24.Nf2?! was not a solution because of
the strong 24...Nc5! and Black is almost
winning.

24...Bxd4+ 25.Kh2 Nc5

The black pieces head to the correct squares Position after: 26...Rf8
as if by autopilot. The threat of ...Nxd3 (and
also that of ...dxe4) becomes current. It is the right result because after 26...Rf8
27.Ng4 would be answered simply by
26.Nf2 Rf8 27...dxe4 28.Be2 e3! and the black pieces
reach a new level of activity in their pursuit of
the white king. 29.Nc4 Ne4 and Black wins.
The fact that 26...Be3! is marginally stronger
makes not the slightest bit of difference to
anyone. 0-1
 Position after: 6.Bc4

A Fischeresque system – he used to play this

way against the Najdorf. This bishop
development to c4 has obvious similarities to
b) Fischer/Sozin with 6.Bc4 the Fischer-Sozin attack of the last chapter,
despite the fact that the American mainly
played this plan against the Najdorf. Because
the plan is basically the same (pushing f2-f4-
f5 to put pressure against e6) it is not
necessary te come up with a new name.

6...Be7

Introduction

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6

5.Nc3 d6 6.Bc4

Position after: 6...Be7

Now 6...a6 brings us back to the Najdorf

proper. Meanwhile 6...Nc6 offers another
transposition, to the Sozin variation of the
Classical Sicilian. Analogously to the 6.Bc4
Najdorf, White retreats this bishop to b3 Position after: 8...Na6!?
immediately, thereby preventing tricks based
on ...Nxe4 and then the pawn fork ...d5. Here we see an important difference between
the Scheveningen and Najdorf systems. The
7.Bb3 knight comes to c5 – but it doesn’t need to do
so via d7.
While this is the most important move, there
The a6-square is now not occupied by a pawn
are alternatives to the immediate bishop
so Black can use it as a rest-stop for the
retreat that are worth mentioning. The
knight and avoid the sacrificial motifs on e6.
extremely sharp 7.g4 h6 8.Be3 a6 9.Bb3 b5
featured in a blitz game Khusnutdinov – 9.f4 Nc5 10.Qf3
Aronian, 2016.
7.Be3 0-0 8.Qe2 a6 leads to an interesting
fight. 9.a4 [9.0-0-0 b5 10.Bb3 b4 quickly got
out of control for White in Mirabile –
Kamsky, 2005.] Now in Papp – Firat, 2012,
Black stirred the hornet’s nest with 9...Nxe4
10.Nxe4 d5 but after 11.0-0-0 it worked out
to his opponent’s advantage.

7...0-0

Black should take note that 7...Nbd7? is not

to be played. His kingside pawns are now put Position after: 10.Qf3
to the sword – starting with the typical
This is an interesting position. White has
sacrifice 8.Bxe6! – as happened in Kobese –
developed all his minor pieces, but not yet
Lopez, 2010. 8...fxe6 9.Nxe6 Qa5 10.Nxg7+
committed his king. He can still therefore
Kf7 11.Nf5 with a large advantage for White.
castle on either side, or (in theory) not at all.
8.Be3 Na6!? Black also has a choice now – his is to do
with how he develops his queenside.

10...a5
 Here Black basically has an extra pawn
because there is no prospect of White
managing to solve the issue of his doubled
pawns in the short- or medium-term. My
opponent in Moe – Grooten, 1984 chose the
‘hell-for-leather’ approach: 11.f5?! with the
continuation 11...a4 12.Bc4 a3 13.fxe6? fxe6
14.Nf5 axb2 15.Rb1. Rather than continue
this line here, though, I shall leave it as an
example – it can be found in that part of the
book. Finding a strong continuation here took
me rather a lot of time.
Position after: 10...a5
11...a4 12.Bc4 a3 13.b3
This possibility has independent (i.e. non-
Najdorf) significance. I have some experience Now in various games, including a couple by
with it myself. The plan is to simply throw the Romanian Mihai Suba, there followed now a
a-pawn forward as hard as it will go, and hope pseudo-sacrifice on e4:
to break up White’s queenside structure. The
equally logical 10... a6 leads the game more
or less back onto a Najdorf-type trajectory. I
won’t elaborate on this possibility beyond
mentioning that it exists.

11.0-0-0

It’s critical that White can’t stop the a-pawn

before it even gets started: 11.a4?! e5 12.fxe5
dxe5 13.Nf5 Bxf5 14.exf5 e4 15.Qe2 Nxb3
16.cxb3 Position after: 13.b3

13...Nfxe4 14.Nxe4 Nxe4 15.Qxe4 d5

16.Bxd5 exd5

Position after: 16.cxb3

 Position after: 9...a6

10.Bb3

10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.e5?! Nd5 is just bad for

White.

10...Nd7 11.g4

Many strong players begin with 11.Kb1 as a

form of prophylaxis against Black’s next
move in the game. Then, of course, they
Position after: 16...exd5
proceed with the kingside pawn-storm.
Black has at least equalised. To compensate
11...Nc5
for his isolated pawn, he has the bishop pair.
Perhaps even more important though is the
fact that White’s queenside castled position is
not secure; the holes created by the battering-
ram on the a-file (as well as the continuing
presence of the pawn itself) lead to a
significant number of mate motifs.

MODEL GAME for White

Korneev, Oleg (2540)

Shipov, Sergei (2510) Position after: 11...Nc5
Moscow 1995
12.Rhg1
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 cxd4
5.Nxd4 e6 6.Bc4 Nc6 7.Be3 Be7 8.Qe2 0-0 After 12.Nxc6 Black will have to trade off his
9.0-0-0 a6 hard-working knight too: 12...Nxb3+ [Note
12...bxc6?? loses a piece to 13.Bxc5+–]
13.axb3 bxc6 but this is nothing particularly
terrible from his point of view.

12...Nxb3+

Now maybe this trade is a little bit too fast.

The moves 12...Qe8, 12...Qc7 and 12...Bd7!?
are also played.

13.axb3 Nb4?!
This is Black’s idea. He wants to set up the
strike ...d6-d5. Another plan, if he can find the
time to get a rook to the c-file, is to set up
some mating motif based on ...Qa5 and an
eventual ...Rxc3. But right now it is all a little
bit vague.

Position after: 15...Bd7

16.Nf5!?

A typical knight sacrifice which perhaps was

not expected in this precise position, but
which nevertheless forces Black onto the back
Position after: 13...Nb4?! foot. Of course it must be taken.
In the game Azarov – Dreev, 2004 Black had 16...exf5 17.gxf5
success with 13...Bd7!?

14.Rg3!?

This rook move brings several new attacking

ideas into the picture for White, and we shall
shortly see how these work. In a game Ulybin
– Shcherbakov, 1989, White continued
14.Kb1 but it seems that this did not represent
an improvement of his position at all.

14...Qa5
Position after: 17.gxf5
Now, though, Kb1 is forced and White plays
it. We begin to understand a bit why the move
Rg3 was included. Now that the g-file is open,
15.Kb1 Bd7
the speed with which White can double rooks
It seems like Black is the one with an on that line begins to be somewhat important.
initiative here, because he is just about to Furthermore, with the white pawn on f5, it is
bring a rook to the c-file and set up various also possible that the rook could swing to the
mating motifs. But White has a way to ‘throw h-file, a fact whose significance will shortly
a spanner in the works.’ be appreciated.
17...Bf6

The only decent move.

A) If Black instead defends with 17...Rfc8?
(to make ...Bf8 possible and also begin
queenside operations) he will not succeed in
holding the kingside. 18.Bd4 g6 [18...Bf8
fails to 19.Rxg7+! Bxg7 20.Qg4 and Black is
mated. 20...Kf8 21.Qxg7+ Ke7 22.Bf6+ Ke8
23.Qg8#; 18...f6 19.Rdg1 also doesn’t work.]
19.Qh5
Position after: 24...Bf7

Black had to parry Qe6+; White can now opt

to take a piece but there is a more brutal finish
as well. 25.Rxg6+!! Bxg6 [25...hxg6
26.Qh8#] 26.Qe6+ Bf7 27.Rg1+ and mate
comes nevertheless.
B) To clarify how White proceeds in case of a
‘non-move’, let’s investigate 17...Bc6. Then
there could follow 18.Bd4 f6 19.Rdg1 Rf7
20.Qh5 Qc7
Position after: 19.Qh5

White mobilises new attacking pieces. I

should mention that this move comes with
tempo – White threatens Qxh7+ and Rh3 with
mate. 19...Bf8 Here White needs a new idea,
which comes in the form of 20.Rg5! White
breaks the pin along the fifth rank and in fact
threatens fxg6 attacking the black queen all
the way over on a5! So the following is
basically forced. 20...Rxc3 21.Bxc3 Qa2+
22.Kc1 Be8 23.fxg6 fxg6 and now the nice Position after: 20...Qc7
move 24.Qh3! Bf7
and now the consolidating move 21.f3. The
point is that White’s attacking idea Rg6-h6
takes three tempi to get anywhere and he
would prefer that Black not be able to take on
e4 in the meantime. 21...a5 22.Rg6! Only with
the rook in front of the queen can Black be
swiftly dispatched. 22...a4 23.Rh6 axb3
24.Rxh7 Black does not have enough checks 21.Qg4. Also 20...Rxc3 should be calculated.
to trouble White. 21.bxc3 Qa2+ 22.Kc1 Bb5 23.Qd1 Qa3+
24.Kd2 Nc6 25.Ke1 White has managed to
18.Bd4 fend off the enemy attack and can now turn
his attention to his own attack. The winning
Black’s most important defender should be
chances are excellent. On 20...Rfd8 White
traded off without delay.
answers 21.Qg4 g6 and now 22.Rxd7 Rxd7
18...Bxd4 19.Rxd4 Rac8 23.fxg6 when too many Black pieces are en
prise. Finally 20...Bxf5 will be better for
White after 21.exf5 Qxf5 22.Rb6².

20...Qxb4 21.Nd5

Position after: 19...Rac8

Black still plays for the idea of an exchange

sacrifice on c3. But isn’t that a little too
optimistic? Another tactical weakness comes Position after: 21.Nd5
to the fore if Black tries to seal the g-file shut
21...Qd4?
with 19...g6 : 20.fxg6 fxg6 [20...hxg6 is less
good: 21.Qc4 Threatening Rxg6+. 21...Kg7 Under such continuous pressure, it is not
22.Qxb4 Qxb4 23.Rxb4 Since here the f-file surprising that mistakes are made by the
is closed, Black lacks the counterplay that he defending side.
would get after the other capture on g6.]
After 21...Qb5 White has 22.Qd2!? with the
21.Qc4+ White retrieves his piece and this
threat of Rxg7+! and Qg5+ followed by mate.
leaves the position approximately equal.
Black seems to be able to keep everything
20.Rxb4!? under control with 22...f6 but now it will be
his queen that faces the tactical issues. 23.c4!
White gives up yet another exchange. While Rxc4 Forced. [23...Qc5? will get forked at the
now ...Rxc3 ceases to be an issue, White is of end of a nice long line. 24.Qh6 Rf7 25.Nxf6+
course behind a whole load of material as Kf8
well. It could be that 20.Rxd6 is objectively
stronger, but the consequences of this move
are harder to calculate. Now 20...Bc6? fails to
 sacrifice 28...Qxe4+ need not distract White
because he can play 29.Ka2!

24.f6 Rfe8

No resistance is really possible now. 24...g6

lets White deliver mate by means of a
standard pattern. 25.Qd2 Kh8 26.Qh6 Rg8
27.Qxh7+ Kxh7 28.Rh3#.

25.f3
Position after: 25...Kf8
White is trying to be clever, postponing the
26.Rxg7! Rxg7 Now White obtains decisive decision of how to take on g7 to prevent the
material gains with 27.Nxd7+ Kg8 28.Nxc5 black king from running while preparing to
Rxc5 29.Qxd6] 24.bxc4 Qxc4 The chances line his queen up behind the g3-rook.
are approximately level now because Black
has obtained a fair degree of counterplay.
The normal move 21...Qa5 leads to a situation
where one of the players should give
perpetual check. 22.Nf6+ Kh8 23.Rh3 gxf6
24.Rxh7+ [Or 24.Qh5 Qe1+ 25.Ka2 Qa5+
26.Kb1 Qe1+] 24...Kxh7 25.Qh5+ Kg7
26.Qg4+ Draw!

22.c3 Bb5

Quite a good try, but the mistakes had been Position after: 25.f3
made. For instance 22...Qc5 sees Black
Still, it is puzzling that White didn’t just play
practically get mated: 23.Nf6+ Kh8 24.Qh5!
25.Rxg7+. The following lines are forced:
h6 [24...gxf6 25.Qh6] 25.Qg5!
25...Kf8 [25...Kh8 26.e5 is mate on h7]
23.Qc2 Qc5 26.Rxh7 Kg8 27.Qd2 Kxh7 [Neither is the
intermediate check 27...Bd3+ useful. 28.Kc1
Now that the queen is distracted from the Bxe4 29.Rh8+ Kxh8 30.Qh6+ Bh7 31.Qg7#]
defence of the king’s wing, White can permit 28.Qg5 Mate is inevitable.
himself to go ‘all in’ on a new wave of attack.
After 23...Qe5 24.f4 Qe8 White can win a 25...Re5
queen with 25.Nf6+ but instead of actually
After 25...g6 the point was, unsurprisingly,
taking the queen, he can opt to play for mate.
26.Qd2 again.
25...Kh8 26.Rxg7! Kxg7 27.Qg2+ Kh8
28.Qh3 Black can resign – even the desperate 26.Rxg7+ Kf8 27.Qg2
Made possible by White’s earlier push f2-f3.

27...Ke8

Position after: 31.f7

Note the major role played by the f-pawn in

all these lines!
Position after: 27...Ke8
31...Rxf7
28.Rxf7!
Or 31...Rxf8 32.Qxf8+ Kd7 33.Qe8#
A nice point. White still needs to show
something, because he is a rook down. 32.Qxf7

28...Kd8 Mathematically more precise was 32.Rxf7 but

this is not so important.
28...Kxf7 29.Qg7+ Ke8 30.f7+ is
immediately decisive. 32...Bd3+ 33.Kc1

29.Rf8+ Re8 33.Ka2?? Qa5#.

White wins after 29...Be8 30.f7 too. 33...Qg1+

30.Qg7

Threatening a mate in one (Qe7).

30...Rc7 31.f7

Position after: 33...Qg1+

Black tries to rustle up a perpetual check, but knight incursion there by Black and enabling
his pieces don’t work together well enough. g2-g4. 8.Qd2 is possible as well but ...Ng4
33...Rxf8 34.Qxf8+ Kd7 35.Qe7+ Kc8 can sometimes be a worry for White.
36.Qe8#.
8...0-0 9.0-0-0 Qc7
34.Kd2 Qf2+ 35.Kxd3 Qf1+ 36.Kc2

Heading back to a2. Black resigned. 1-0

MODEL GAME for White

Hennings, A.
Möhring, G.
DDR 1967

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 d6

5.Nc3 e6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 Position after: 9...Qc7

Black should take his queen off the d-file in

case of accidents.

10.Bb3 a6 11.g4!

Position after: 7.Bc4

We are familiar with this position, although

we saw it arise via a different order.

7...Be7 8.Qe2 Position after: 11.g4!

The queen is best placed here. White aims to Now no more dawdling, but immediate
get his king out of the centre quickly with 0- action!
0-0, after which the rook is immediately
going to enjoy the benefits of the d-file. The 11...b5
other benefit of this square (rather than d2) is
Black begins his own counterplay.
that it protects the g4-square, stopping a
Both players would have been well aware of The problem with retreating immediately with
the considerations surrounding the thematic the king’s knight is that White has a trick, by
capture on d4. 11...Nxd4 and now praxis means of which a large advantage can be
shows that the best reaction is likely 12.Rxd4. obtained. 12...Nd7 13.Nd5! exd5 14.Nxc6
Now 12...e5 can be met by 13.Rc4 Qd8 14.g5 Qxc6 [Even the relatively better 14...Ne5
Nd7 15.h4, cuing up an exchange sacrifice. leads to a very depressing position after
15...b5 15.Nxe5 dxe5 16.Bxd5 when White has, as
we like to say, ‘the pawn AND the
compensation.’] 15.Bxd5 The rook on a8 is
skewered.

13.Bxd4 Nd7 14.Rhg1

Position after: 15...b5

Now it seems that 16.Rxc8!? is quite a handy

little exchange sac. In return for his material
investment White would obtain absolute
control over the d5-square and the elimination
Position after: 14.Rhg1
of the only possible rival for the a2-g8
diagonal, which is open and therefore 14...Nc5
extremely useful for him. The bishop on b3
will likely be transformed into a monster. This knight move is played a lot, but maybe
[The rather less adventurous choice of 16.Rb4 black’s play after this is too slow. Lots of
also gives White quite good prospects.] games now continue 14...b4 which is
16...Rxc8 17.Nd5‚ definitely an important alternative.
As usual, 12.Bxd4 invites ...e6-e5 and in
15.Qh5
particular, here this is a pawn sacrifice.
12...e5 13.Be3 Bxg4 14.f3 Be6 White obtains With this very aggressive queen move, White
some compensation in the form of the open g- makes his intentions clear. In addition to a
file, but this is generally considered not such a few other tactical ideas, we can see that he
great way to play. almost certainly wants Rg1-g3, which then
strongly threatens Rh3.
12.g5 Nxd4
15...b4?
Basically forced, but now White’s bishop will
be quite active on d4.
 the downside is that Black has 16...e5 at his
disposal.
Nevertheless White’s initiative after 17.Nd5
is enough to give an advantage. 17...gxh6
[17...Qd8? 18.Nf6+! Bxf6 19.gxf6 is mate]
18.gxh6+ Kh8 19.Nxc7 Ra7 20.Bxc5 dxc5
21.Nd5 White is better now, but in some way
Black can continue the game, at least.

16...Re8
Position after: 15...b4?

The interesting thing is that this position has

been reached on the board many times in
practice, with incredible results for White.
How should he begin the attack?

16.Bf6!

This move is considered to be the correct

continuation of White’s attack. The intention
is to be able to play the rather picturesque
Position after: 16...Re8
17.Qh6 straight afterwards.
A) I came across the natural 16.Nd5? three After this move, as with all others, White
times in my database, a sacrifice which is mobilises his g1-rook.
unfortunately not correct. A) We should also investigate the other rook
Nevertheless, two of the white players move: 16...Rd8 17.Rg3! bxc3 18.Rh3 and now
managed to win their games. 16...exd5 18...h6
17.Bxd5 and now Black has at his disposal
the super-accurate 17...Ne6!, which nets two
pieces for the rook which White is almost
certainly about to take. 18.Bxa8 [18.Bf6
doesn’t work any more, for instance because
after 18...Nf4 Black is ready to block a
discovered check with his knight!] 18...Nxd4
19.Rxd4 Qa7 The attack is at an end and the
material balance favours Black.
B) Another try which White can use to start
the attack is 16.Qh6 which seems to work, but
Position after: 18...h6
is forced. But now there comes a lightning 20...Kf8
strike deep in the heart of Black’s
encampment. 19.Qxh6!! Nd3+ [19...gxh6 The black king is forced to flee. White just
20.Rxh6 Bxf6 21.gxf6 and there is no longer needs to find the clincher.
any meaningful defence against Rg1+ Of course we need to know how White can
followed by Rh8#.] 20.cxd3 cxb2+ 21.Kxb2 close the mating net after 20...gxf6 . The key
Here Black resigned in Bordonada – Sanz move is 21.Qh6 and the rest is just icing on
Alonso, 1974. the cake. 21...Nxe4 22.Rg1+ Ng5 23.Qxf6
B) If Black takes with 16...bxc3 he is also put Kf8 24.Rxg5 Qd8 25.Rg8+! Kxg8 26.Qh6
to the sword by the immediate 17.Qh6 . Next comes Rg3+ with mate.

17.Rg3! 21.e5!

White is no longer especially interested in the The very strongest continuation.

knight on c3. Black’s defences hold up after 21.fxg7+ also wins: 21...Ke7 22.Rf3 Kd8
17.Na4 Nxb3+ 18.axb3 e5 and also 17.Qh6 23.Qg5+ Qe7 24.Rxd6+ Kc7 25.Qxc5+ etc.
Bf8.
21...Ne4
17...bxc3 18.Rh3 cxb2+
White can choose the finishing touch after
Once again 18...h6 would lead to the same 21...gxf6 . The best seems to be 22.Qh6+ Ke7
nice motif with the queen sacrifice. 19.Qxh6!! 23.Qxf6+ Kd7 24.Rxd6+ winning the queen.

19.Kb1 Bxf6 22.fxg7+ Ke7 23.Qh4+ f6

We already know how to meet 19...h6 :

simply 20.Qxh6! winning.

20.gxf6

Position after: 23...f6

24.Qxe4

Black could have resigned now with a clear

Position after: 20.gxf6 conscience.
Somewhat nicer and also winning is 24.g8=Q A plus side of not playing the Najdorf move-
Rxg8 25.Qxh7+, and White in fact executed order: this knight can get to c5 without Black
this idea one move later: needing to worry about the sacrifice on e6!

24...d5 25.g8=Q Rxg8 26.Qxh7+ 9.0-0

1-0 This combination of ideas looks slightly

awkward.

MODEL GAME for Black 9...Nc5

Jenson, Errol (2065)

Psakhis, Lev (2610)
Las Vegas 1997

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6

5.Nc3 d6 6.Bc4 Be7 7.Bb3 0-0

Position after: 9...Nc5

A multi-purpose move: the knight doesn’t just

attack e4 (which causes White some short-
term problems) but also defends e6 again,
introduces the idea of taking on b3, and clears
the way for the advance ...a7-a5-a4, a plan
Position after: 7...0-0 which has been executed in many games.

8.Be3 10.Qf3?!

White can also delay this move. The other This makes White’s job harder. The queen
possibility is 8.0-0 Na6 and now 9.f4 , impedes the f-pawn and limits the range of
intending to station the queen on f3- behind future attacking possibilities. In spite of the
the f-pawn. 9...Nc5 10.Qf3 White has constraint that White’s e4-pawn was under
managed to post his queen on a nice active attack, there was a better way to continue.
square. 10.f3 doesn’t give Black any particular
problems, but White’s position is playable
8...Na6
too.

10...a6
Psakhis chooses a kind of quasi-Najdorf Position after: 13.e5?
continuation. The b-pawn will now advance
two squares and make way for the queen’s The necessary evil was 13.a3 when Black
bishop to fianchetto and once more hammer would proceed with 13...Rb8! with the idea
the e4-square. ...b5-b4, (axb4), ...Rb8xb4, again posing
White lasting problems.
11.Rad1 Qc7
13...dxe5!

Psakhis turns the situation to his advantage.

This move causes White’s idea to backfire.
In all likelihood White had mostly (or
entirely) considered the move 13...Bb7 in his
calculations. Then the point was 14.exd6
Bxd6 15.Qh3 with sharp, end-to-end play –
notwithstanding that Black is still somewhat
better in case of 15...Rad8.

14.Qxa8 Bb7 15.Qxf8+

Position after: 11...Qc7
White has exchanged a queen and pawn for
12.Nde2 two rooks. In most cases this is a good
exchange, but here it is quite the opposite.
Another route down which White could have
gone is 12.Rfe1 b5 13.a3 Bb7 14.Bc1 but it is Very similar play results from 15.Qa7 Ra8
clear that Black has the situation under 16.Qxa8+ Bxa8.
control.
15...Kxf8 16.Ng3
12...b5 13.e5?

White shows his cards. However, he seems to

have misevaluated the consequences.

Position after: 16.Ng3

Let’s think about why this position is, indeed,

better for Black. He has, as mentioned, only
one pawn to balance out the queen-for-two-
rooks situation. Furthermore, he has doubled
pawns. However, White has even more deep-
seated issues, foremost among which is that
his pieces simply do not work together. Black
has a dominant pawn pass in the centre and
the particular way in which it is arranged
facilitates his queen working all over the
board, making the queen rather preferable to
White’s two rooks – which lack any means of
using the open lines.
Position after: 20.Rxf2
16...Qc6
Black can now take an exchange, but he
Here the queen is perfectly placed. doesn’t even want it! Another depressing
variation is 20.Kxf2 b4 21.Nce2 Qc5+!
17.f3 Ng4! 22.Ke1 Qxc2 23.Rc1 Qxb3.

This move hits the hammer on the nail. The 20...b4

bishop on e3 is White’s best piece, and Black
seeks to drive it away from its duties. There was also nothing particularly wrong
with capturing the exchange by means of
18.Bf2 20...Bc5.

Now, as on all other moves, Black wins 21.Nce4 f5!

material.
The white player could not bear to see any
In case the bishop vacates the g1–a7 diagonal,
more.
there will follow some consequences along
the same line, e.g. 18.Bc1 Nxb3 19.cxb3 After 21...f5 22.Nd2 Black can choose to take
Qc5+ 20.Kh1 Nf2+ 21.Rxf2 Qxf2 and Black his ‘courses’ in a couple of different orders –
is winning. 22...Qxc2 or in fact ...Bc5.
0-1
18...Nxb3 19.axb3

19.cxb3 was marginally better, though it MODEL GAME for Black

makes no difference in any real sense.
Moe, Mogens (2350)
19...Nxf2 20.Rxf2 Grooten, Herman (2305)
Copenhagen 1984

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6

5.Nc3 d6 6.Bc4
Position after: 6.Bc4 Position after: 10...a5

We can see this as a kind of ‘Fischer/Sozin This is an idea I once conceived over the
Attack’ against the Scheveningen – an idea board. Now it is rather well known! The goal
previously considered to not be as dangerous is to pose a question to the b3-bishop.
as the sister system against the Najdorf.
11.f5?!
6...Be7 7.Be3 0-0 8.Bb3 Na6
Mr. Moe does not let the grass grow beneath
his feet but rather goes straight for his main
idea. This move is in line with what Fischer
originally wanted: increasing pressure on the
e6-pawn and trying to force it to give way
(...e5 or ...exf5) – which would then give
White the d5-square for his pieces.
I also got this position in an old game against
IM Willy Hendriks. Black had few problems
in reaching a comfortable game following:
11.a4 e5 12.fxe5 dxe5 13.Nf5 Bxf5 14.exf5
Position after: 8...Na6 e4 A good zwischenzug: Black has a passed
pawn and now sets it in motion with tempo.
This is an important difference with the 15.Qe2 Nxb3 16.cxb3 Here Black can almost
Najdorf: now the a6-square is still available be considered a pawn up for our purposes:
for a knight, and Black can then go quickly to White cannot liquidate his doubled b-pawns
c5 with it in order to neutralise the b3-bishop. anytime soon.
Were it only possible to go there via d7, The most frequently played move is 11.0-0-0,
Black would be slowed down by the problems which leads after 11...a4 12.Bc4 a3 13.b3 to
associated with sacrifices on e6. an interesting position which is generally
considered marginally better for Black.
9.f4 Nc5 10.Qf3 a5
11...a4 12.Bc4 a3
Position after: 12...a3 Position after: 13...fxe6

13.fxe6?! 14.Nf5?

A super-sharp answer from the white player. A crazy idea. White thought for a long time
He leaves Black to his own devices on the before executing it, and when he did I nearly
queenside and tries to crush him (i.e. me) in fell off my chair.
the centre. More normal would be 13.b4 but
then I had seen the nice 13...Ncxe4! ahead of 14...axb2
time. 14.Nxe4 Nxe4 15.Qxe4 d5 and Black is
Played at pace, because why would I not want
doing very well.
this tempo?
13...fxe6
15.Rb1
I remember coming to the conclusion that I
would make my life easiest by simply taking
back. The f-file has opened and so Black has
the extra threat of ...Nfxe4, as well as
medium-term chances against the white king
– which is biding its time in the centre to an
extent which is becoming somewhat
suspicious. I had no idea what White was
planning. His next move was a surprise and it
occasioned me some practical difficulties, but
objectively after it White is lost. Ready?
Position after: 15.Rb1

Time for me to follow my opponent into the

‘think tank’. On a practical level the problem
is significant: thanks to the ‘Fischer bishop’
on c4 (and the knight it supports on f5) White
has some pressure on the black position. All
his pieces are active, while a few of Black’s 17.Nxe7+ [Not 17.Qxe4? Qa5+ followed
still have to be developed. After calculating a by...Qxf5 – a detail I was able to see.]
few lines and not finding a clear win for 17...Qxe7 18.Qxe4 d5? [Even here there is
Black, a certain sense of panic ensued: was I 18...Ra4! with an advantage after 19.Bxe6+
going to lose against this ridiculous Qxe6 20.Qxe6+ Bxe6 21.Rxb2 but White
construction? Then I closed my eyes to calm may be able to scavenge a draw due to the
down and just tried to understand the position opposite-coloured bishops.] 19.Bxd5 and now
without calculating. I had a couple of it is White that wins!
epiphanies, one after the other: the first was C) Another logical move, 15...Kh8?! did not
that White’s pieces were active ‘beyond their give what I wanted either:
means’, that is to say, overextended. His
position is tactically vulnerable in a few ways:
the f-file, the a5-e1 diagonal (on which
reposes a king which, in a deep sense, is
weaker than mine), the undefended pieces on
c3 and c4. Which brings us to the second
epiphany. That bishop on c4. Isn’t it just the
cornerstone on which every single aspect of
White’s position rests? Near-impossible to
exchange, but wouldn’t it be enough
to...simply hound it?
Position after: 15...Kh8?!
15...b5!!
16.Nxe7 Qxe7
I admit: maybe two exclamation marks are
excessive. The first is fully merited, the C1) After the inaccurate 17.Bxc5?
second may simply be my unique style of
self-congratulating after managing to find my
way through the ‘morass’.
A) Many years later I saw that the computer
suggested: 15...Nfd7!? A fully logical move,
but one I didn’t consider at the time.
16.Nxe7+ Qxe7 17.Qg3 Ne5 with a
dominating position for Black.
B) 15...Nfxe4 was the first move I
considered, but after 16.Nxe4 I did not find
the correct follow-up. 16...Nxe4? This is what Position after: 17.Bxc5?
I saw at the time. [Instead, the right move is The author in the eighties (photo Jos Sutmuller)
given instantly by the engines: 16...Kh8! and
Black wins due to having a multitude of
threats, foremost among them being ...Rxf5.]
 you have to see one or two details to play it.
16.exd5 and now another brilliant move.
16...Na4!! A faintly absurd move, adding to
the chaos in the position by putting another
piece en prise.

Position after: 16...Na4!!

[Not 16...exd5? 17.Nxd5 Nxd5 18.Qxd5+

Black can get an advantage if he is able to Be6 19.Nxe7+ Qxe7 20.Bxc5 and Black must
find the cute 17...Nd5! [17...dxc5 18.0-0 Bd7 find 20...Qf7 to stay equal.] 17.Nxa4 What
19.Rxb2 leaves a long game to be played.] else? 17...Rxa4 18.Bb3 Bb4+ An important
For instance: 18.Qg3 dxc5 and the d5-knight intermediate move, with which Black not only
is immune due to 19.exd5 exd5+ and Black disturbs the white king, but also disarms any
wins. future d6+ that White may play. 19.Ke2 exf5
20.d6+ Kh8 21.Bxa4
C2) 17.0-0!

Position after: 21.Bxa4

Position after: 17.0-0!
21...f4! The double threat of ...fxe3 and ...
D) The super-principled 15...d5!! is actually
Bg4 costs White his life. These are typical
the most accurate move in this position. But
computer variations, impossible for a flesh-
and-blood player to hack through while at the pieces are still attacked.] 17...Qxe7 18.exf6
board. Rxf6 With ...bxc4 to follow.
D) We would transpose to the game after
16.Bxc5
16.Nxe7+ Qxe7 17.Bxc5 [17.e5? Nfe4!]
There are again countless lines that needed to 17...bxc4! 18.e5 .
be calculated.
16...bxc4!

So I have removed the piece which was

giving me such headaches 2 moves ago.

17.Nxe7+ Qxe7 18.e5

White had clearly set his sights on this, but it

doesn’t save his position from being overrun.
After 18.Bf2 (to enable castling) I was
planning 18...Ra3 [Though better is the
predictable engine move 18...d5 .]
Position after: 16.Bxc5
18...Nd5 19.Nxd5
A) After 16.Bxb5? exf5 is simply over.
B) After 16.Nxb5 19.exd6 now loses: 19...Qh4+.
B1) At the time I didn’t consider 16...Nfxe4 A) After 20.Bf2 there is a hyper-accurate
much, because it voluntarily signs up for a solution, and a human one. I would of course
second pin along the h1-a8 diagonal. But this have played 20...Rxf3 [20...Qg5! 21.Qg3
wins too: 17.0-0 Kh8! 18.Bxc5 Bb7! and Qc1+] 21.Bxh4 Rxc3 winning a piece.
having defused both pins, Black can proceed B) 20.Qg3 Qxg3+ 21.hxg3 Nxc3 Again,
to take back his piece. 19.Bd4 Rxf5 20.Qd3 Black has more than enough material to
Rxf1+ 21.Kxf1 d5 is winning for Black. decide the game.
B2) 16...Ra4 leads to a large advantage too:
19...exd5 20.Qxd5+
17.Nxe7+ Qxe7 18.Bxc5 dxc5 19.Qe2 Ba6
20.e5 Nd5
B3) I had seen that I could take on e4.
16...Ncxe4 This is the simpler way.
17.Nxe7+ Qxe7 18.0-0 d5 Black has
consolidated his material plus.
C) 16.e5 Bb7 17.Nxe7+ [17.exf6 loses for
White as well: 17...Bxf3 18.fxe7 Qa5
19.exf8=Q+ Rxf8 and way too many White
Position after: 20.Qxd5+ 23...c3!

20.Bxd6 Qh4+ 21.g3 [21.Qg3 Qe4+!] Finishing the game in style.

21...Rxf3 22.gxh4 c3! White has no way to I suspect my technique would also have been
stop ...Rxa2, since Ke2 runs into ...Bg4. adequate to seal the deal after 23...Bxh1 when
I am a full rook up.
20...Be6 21.exd6
24.Ke2 Bxh1 25.Kd3
A) 21.Qxd6 Qh4+ This check decides the
game. Trying to take on c3, but White can’t even
B) 21.Bxd6 Qh4+ is much the same as the manage to do this.
game. After 25.Rxh1 I would play 25...Rxa2 26.Bd4
Ra1.
21...Qh4+!
25...Rf3+ 26.Kc4 Bg2 27.Bb4 Rf1
Here too, this wins.
The b-pawn promotes and so my opponent
22.g3 Bxd5 23.gxh4
decided to call it a day.
0-1

Position after: 23.gxh4

 this one.) Notice that the analogous White 6th
move is not possible in the Najdorf.

Position after: 6.g4

6...h6

c) Keres attack with 6.g4 The most principled answer. Black can also
let the white attack continue and hope it burns
out: 6...Nc6 7.g5 Nd7 8.Be3 Be7 9.h4 0-0

Introduction Position after: 9...0-0

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 Black ‘castles into it’ – a dangerous decision
5.Nc3 d6 6.g4 at the best of times. Now there are some
beautiful attacking games for White; but
Causing the game to enter the Keres Attack, a amidst all the chaos Black’s position
sharp line which we can consider as an continues to impress, time and time again,
important ‘independent’ possibility arising with its resilience. 10.Qd2 a6 11.0-0-0
from the canonical Scheveningen order (i.e.
 Position after: 8...d5
Position after: 11.0-0-0
A) The point of preparing with 7...Be7 is that
This position has long been the subject of following the disruptive check 9.Bb5+ Black
discussion. White will soon be ready for can step aside with the king rather than
decisive action with f2-f4 or Rh1-g1, then h4- having to weaken his centre. 9...Kf8 Yet
h5 and eventually g5-g6. But while he does despite the solid reasoning, this is not
this, Black will not be idle. With ...Nxd4 and necessarily a healthy way for Black to
...b5 followed by ...Bb7 he can complete his proceed. White now plays 10.e5 and an
development. Once that has been done, his example of how fast things can go wrong for
play comes apace as well. For instance ...b5- Black is seen in the game Panchanathan –
b4 and the remaining knight to c5 or e5. His Yermolinsky, 2010.
rooks may come to b8 and c8, or Black can B) 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxd5 Qxd5 Black has
opt for a pawn storm just as White has done obtained good results from this position.
on the opposite side. An exciting fight is
guaranteed! 8.Rg1

7.h4 Nc6

The most normal and logical move.

Previously 7...Be7 was also an often-played
line. The main idea was that 8.Rg1 can be met
by: 8...d5 – following the principle that a push
on the flank should be countered by one in the
centre.

Position after: 8.Rg1

8...h5
This looks strange at first sight. With ... h6, Black has managed to build a defensive setup
black seemed to be trying to slow down with his pawns on the third rank that is rather
White’s pawn storm a bit, but now he reverses difficult to break down in practice. The
his decision and provokes g4-g5. Swedish GM Ulf Andersson is a master at
playing this system.
9.gxh5
13.0-0-0 Bd7
And this is also paradoxical, but White
benefits more from having the g-file open. The game Cardosa – Andersson, 1974 now
Practice has shown that after 9.g5 Ng4 gives a good account of Black’s prospects,
10.Be2 Qb6 Black doesn’t have any problems while the white plans can be seen in the game
at all, as seen – inter alia – in the game Badolati – Hoyos Millan (e-mail).
Rodriguez – Adorjan, 1982.

9...Nxh5 MODEL GAME for White

Adorjan quite often played 9...Rxh5 10.Bg5 Nakamura, Hikaru (2775)

Rh8 obtaining the same position as in the Hou, Yifan (2623)
game, but with one crucial difference: Black Hoogeveen 2012
has lost the right to castle short. This could
come back to haunt him later. 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6
5.Nc3 e6 6.g4 h6
10.Bg5 Nf6 11.Qd2 Qb6 12.Nb3

White does not want the queens to be traded,

because Black would obtain an advantage in
the endgame due to his better pawn structure.

12...a6

Position after: 6...h6

7.Rg1

A somewhat rare order in the Keres attack.

Nakamura may want to confuse his opponent.
More than 2000 games have been played
Position after: 12...a6 beginning with 7.h4.
7...e5?! 9.Nf5 a6 10.Bxd7+ Qxd7 11.g5

Hou tries to profit from White’s alternative

order, but this attempt backfires somewhat.
She weakens the light squa res for somewhat
questionable compensation.

Position after: 11.g5

The most active move and one which places

Black’s plans under serious doubt. He needed
to calculate accurately.
Position after: 7...e5?!
11...Nxe4
The normal move is 7...Nc6. Now White
should probably continue within the normal The possibility of this pseudo-sacrifice came
channels of the Keres: 8.h4 [Even if as part and parcel of White’s last move.
Nakamura wanted 8.Be3 first, he still cannot 11...hxg5 12.Bxg5 Nxe4 loses immediately
very well avoid playing 8...a6 9.h4 with the because after 13.Nxg7+ Bxg7 14.Nxe4 d5
well-known position type again.] 8...h5 with a vanwege 15.Nf6+ Black can already resign.
transposition to the main line.
12.Nxg7+
8.Bb5+
The knight naturally sells itself as dearly as
An interesting insertion. possible.
8...Nbd7 12...Bxg7 13.Nxe4 Qc6
The trade of light-squared bishops should This is the only way to stay in the game.
apparently favour White, but Hou played 13...d5? would now lead to a different kind of
8...Bd7 in another game, which took place calamity: 14.gxh6!
after the present one. Clearly she had enough
faith in her position to try it again – a year
later, against Kateryna Lagno. Following
9.Bxd7+ Nbxd7 10.Nf5 Nc5 11.Qf3 Ne6
Black had a playable position. She even won
the game later.
 17.Qe3!

Little moves can sometimes be both beautiful

and strong.

17...Rh5

Position after: 13...Qc6

14.Qd3!

White opted to develop quietly and avoid

gobbling the d6-pawn. It seems he now stands
better. After 14.Nxd6+ Ke7 15.Nxc8+ Raxc8
White has completely lost his activity and the Position after: 17...Rh5
time he spent with the knight that’s just been
The only move which stops the white queen’s
traded off served only to help Black develop
deadly incursion to g5.
his pieces. Nimzovich used to call pieces like
that ‘tempo suckers’. 18.Rd1
14...Ke7 15.gxh6 Bxh6 16.Bxh6 Rxh6 At first sight a strange decision.
A) You were probably expecting 18.0-0-0.
White brings his rook into the game and
simultaneously brings his king into safety.
But this still doesn’t make it a good move.
After 18...Bf5 the white knight can only move
to one square on pain of mate on c2, and there
follows 19.Nc3 Rah8 20.Nd5+ Kd7 21.Rd2
Rxh2 with a completely playable game for
Black.
B) So maybe White can begin with 18.Ng3!?
Position after: 16...Rxh6 Rxh2 and only now 19.0-0-0!

Now it is White whose development is

proceeding at pace, and he has some ideas
about how to profit from the unsafe position
of the black king.
Position after: 19.0-0-0! Position after: 19.Ng3
Yifan Hou (photo Harry Gielen) This was naturally the idea. With no white
king on c1 (unlike in the variation with 18.0-
0-0), the knight can calmly move back to g3.

19...Bxc2?

Hou loses her self-control. With 19...Rah8!

the Chinese player would have brought about
an interesting exchange sacrifice. 20.Nxh5?!
[The engine gives 20.h3! which is the kind of
bizarre move that would never occur to a
human being.] 20...Rxh5 and White will still
have many problems making something
significant of his material advantage.

20.Nxh5 Bxd1

This line could have been played. The king

has been brought to safety and the white
pieces are all active, while black still has to
develop the queenside. After 19...Be6 White
can pose immediate problems by returning his
knight to e4 with 20.Ne4 which carries the
double threat of Rxd6 and Qg5+.

18...Bf5 19.Ng3 Position after: 20...Bxd1

21.Kxd1 After 24...Kc7 25.Rc1+ Kb6 26.Rc2 Qb3
some work would have remained to be done.
An even more convincing move was possible:
21.Qg5+! Kd7 22.Qf5+ Kc7 23.Qxf7+ Kb6 25.Qc2 Qa5 26.Ng3
24.Kxd1 and Black has no way of generating
compensation, not even after 24...Rc8
25.Qb3+.

21...Qd5+ 22.Ke2 Qxa2

Black has won back her material, but now the

fierce attack upon her king develops anew.

23.Qg5+ Kd7

Position after: 26.Ng3

His knight will be coming back to the light

squares.

26...Qb5+ 27.Kf3 Qc6+ 28.Qe4 Rh8

29.Nf5+ Kd7 30.h4

Position after: 23...Kd7

24.Qf5+

Enough for the win, but there was something

stronger.
A player of the caliber of Nakamura could
have been expected to notice the critical
nuance that is 24.Rc1! An absolutely rock-
solid move which cuts off the black king and Position after: 30.h4
after 24...Qxb2+ 25.Kf1 Black is powerless
Now that he has gained control of all the
against the combined effect of the three white
noteworthy central squares, Nakamura can set
attacking pieces.
his passed pawn in motion. The position has
24...Ke7 become technically won and Nakamura
finishes matters crisply.
30...Qb5 31.Rd1 Qxb2 32.Nxd6 Kc7 33.Nc4 shy away from major complications should
Qb5 34.Nxe5 f6 35.Rc1+ Kb8 36.Rb1 f5 continue with: 7...e5 8.Nf5 g6 White must let
37.Qxf5 Qd5+ 38.Qe4 Rf8+ 39.Ke3 Qc5+ the knight on f5 be taken, there is no sense in
40.Qd4 Qxd4+ 41.Kxd4 Rf4+ 42.Ke3 Rxh4 going back. 9.g5 gxf5 10.exf5 The most
43.f4 Kc7 44.f5 Kd6 45.Ng6 Rh7 46.Rd1+ promising continuation.
Kc7 47.Kf4 b5 48.f6 Rf7 49.Ke5

1-0

MODEL GAME for White

Polgar, Judit (2710)

Topalov, Veselin (2813)
Hoogeveen 2006

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6

Position after: 10.exf5
5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e6
From here on, tactical factors assume pride of
We have obtained a Scheveningen setup from
place in any discussion about the evaluation
the Najdorf order. Judit would like to
or best move... [Simply recapturing with
replicate the ideas of the Keres attack here
10.gxf6 gives Black all the prospects after
too.
10...f4 .] 10...d5 [10...Ng8 11.Qf3 is clearly
7.g4 better for White.]
The old continuation 11.gxf6 also leads to
head-spinning complications: 11...d4 12.Bc4
Qc7 13.Qd3 dxe3 14.0-0-0 exf2 15.Bxf7+
We can find two interesting games in the
database here: Shirov – Van Wely, 2000 (1-0)
and Topalov – Van Wely, 2000 (0-1). The
tactical skirmishes that take place are so
complicated that all three players must have
prepared the exact line with computers. In the
first game Van Wely makes a mistake, but in
the second he shows the correct path.
Position after: 7.g4 After 11.Qf3 d4 12.0-0-0 Nbd7 practice
shows that white scores very well from the
7...h6 present position, although there is little
objective reason for this. Shirov and Polgar
The most frequent answer to the idea of g4-
are big supporters of
g5. Those who love tactical play and do not
 The text move is a standard and ambitious
way for Black to try and take control over the
e5-square in a variety of Sicilian positions. He
sees the fact that this move creates some other
kingside weaknesses as being of lesser
importance.
Here the ‘main line’ is 8...Nc6 9.h3 – which
is often contested at the world-elite level as
well, for instance see Anand – Vachier
Lagrave, 2015.
Position after: 12...Nbd7
9.Qe2 Nbd7 10.0-0-0 Ne5 11.h3 Nfd7
the white position; while Svidler, Anand and
Van Wely dare to play black. The most recent
match be tween two grandmasters from here
is J. van Foreest – Van Wely, 2018 (0-1).

8.Bg2

You could be forgiven for thinking that the

analogy with the Keres attack allows White to
continue 8.h4, but there are reasons why this
is not so common. 8...e5 9.Nf5 g6 10.Nxh6
Bxh6 11.Bxh6 Bxg4 with an unclear position
in Georgiadis – Svidler, 2018.
Position after: 11...Nfd7
8...g5
Topalov prefers to cement his control over e5
even more firmly right now, rather than
develop. The assumption is that White cannot
do very much with her lead in development.
11...Qc7 would be a typical developing move,
but perhaps the then-world-champion was
worried about direct actions White might take
against the knight on e5, such as 12.f4 or
12.Nf3.

12.f4
Position after: 8...g5
Polgar now tries to get active. The fact that
there will almost certainly not be an
opportunity to disturb the e5-knight with a
pawn ever again doesn’t really bother her.

12...gxf4 13.Bxf4 b5

Position after: 14...Bb7

I used this position regularly in my training

sessions for talented players. I would say this
a typical example of finding a ‘defining
Position after: 13...b5 move’; the opening is over and a plan must be
found, because the opponent is surely making
The most active move. Black prepares to
their own plan as well. So what is available to
develop his queen’s bishop and at the same
White here? If we look at the pawn structure,
time questions the c3-knight. With this move,
we see that White’s central pawn on e4 is
of course, Black signals his understanding
firmly blockaded by the black knight on e5
that his king will remain in the centre. Short
and that Black – as mentioned earlier – has
castling was removed from the realm of
this strong outpost permanently in his hands.
practical politics by the push ...g5, and now
We must accept this feature of the position
the same is done for long castling by the
and just try to play ‘around’ it. By having
present move. Black need not worry about the
though, we have left Black with some static
long diagonal, though: White’s bishop on g2
weaknesses of his own. Sometime exchanged
is being effectively muzzled by the knight on
the f-pawn for Black’s g-pawn, in the future,
e5.
the h5-square could also be a nice outpost for
14.Rhf1?! a knight, especially combined with play along
the half-open f-file. The opponent’s plans
Perhaps this is a slightly inaccurate way of should also be taken into account. In this case,
continuing the plan begun two moves ago. the advance ... b5-b4 is a problem. The c3-
14.Qf2 was probably better; the reasons why knight has no natural escape square (assuming
are about to become clear. for a moment that we would prefer not to
sacrifice it on d5.) Going to a4 is not pleasant
14...Bb7 after ... Qa5, but going to b1 is completely out
of the question: the knight is just bad there.
With all these reflections in mind, Judit came White could have done even better by
to the following formidable move: inverting the order of her last 2 moves.
In view of what follows in the game, 14...b4!?
15...Rc8 16.Nce2
was probably necessary for Topalov. It does
not take much imagination to conclude that he The knight heads to the square it had been
was afraid of the standard sacrifice 15.Nd5!? eyeing, even without being explicitly forced
exd5 16.exd5, after which White does in fact to do so (though of course Black might have
generate sufficient compensation. been intending the typical ...Rxc3 sacrifice.)
15.Qf2!! 16...Bg7

The d6-pawn is not White’s priority and so

Topalov does not make it his either. The
bishop is diverted to the long diagonal, where
it threatens to take part in various ideas on the
side of the board, such as ... Nc4 with a
sacrifice on b2 to come.

Position after: 15.Qf2!!

This is one of the nicest ‘little moves’ I have

seen. It is deep and deceptively strong. The
queen itself lines up on the f-file opposite the
weakest square in Black’s king position-f7- Position after: 16...Bg7
and protects the h4-square for a possible
future manoeuvre Bf4-g3-h4 (striking at the Black could have tried to cross his opponent’s
heart of Black’s kingside dark squares). But plans with 16...h5!? but this move has other
as we already know, the double-edged 8th problems. White gains new options after
move by Black didn’t only open a new 17.g5 and Black can choose either to make a
diagonal for White’s bishop, but it also martyr of his pawn with ...h5-h4, or allow
created an outpost for a knight on h5. White’s White to fix it in place, which will then open
queen’s knight can now head there, via the up the ideas of attacking it (Ne2-g3, Qf2-e2
e2-square which has just been vacated. Black and Nxh5) as well as Bg2-h3 softening up the
will regret not having played ...b5-b4 on the e6- and f7- points in readiness for a future
previous move, and that in turn explains why push g5-g6.

17.Ng3 Rh7
Forced: the f7-pawn required protecting anew
and the g7-bishop needed a retreat square on
h8 in order to not have to leave its great
diagonal immediately.

18.Nh5 Bh8 19.Kb1

An important prophylactic move. The king

leaves the c-file and the c1-h6 diagonal.
White is about to play an idea which would
not be possible without having first prepared
it in this way.
Position after: 20.Nf5!

a move that they may both have seen for a

moment, but quickly rejected. The idea
behind it is not that simple:
A) Black can opt to just protect d6, but this
doesn’t end well. 20...Rc6

Position after: 19.Kb1

19...Nc5?

A perfectly logical move, which however has

a tactical defect; one so well-concealed that
even one of the greatest tactical talents in the
world, Judit Polgar, was unable to find it
during the game. Black needed to play Position after: 20...Rc6
19...Qb6!? and White would have continued
21.Nfg7+! A nice interference motif!
her stated plan with Bf4-g3-h4.
21...Bxg7 [21...Rxg7 22.Bxe5] 22.Nxg7+
20.Bg3? Rxg7 23.Bxe5 Rh7 24.Qg3 and White is
unquestionably winning.
Both players missed a strong tactical shot for B) 20...Nc4 is useless: 21.Bxd6 exf5 22.Bxc5
the attacking side. The hidden move was Qc7 23.Bd4 and Black’s position is just a
20.Nf5! wreck.
C) 20...exf5 Essentially, the knight needs to
be taken because of how well it stands on f5.
21.Bxe5 A surprising exchange. Because 23.Bf6!
white almost never gives this bishop for a
knight, the move may have been a blind spot The white player’s plan is now about to be
in the minds of both players. But the move is completed. She will trade off Black’s good
strong because of 21...Bxe5 22.Qxf5 and the dark-squared bishop and thereby free up the
rook has nowhere to go! The problem is that it f6-square for her knight. Observe how she has
cannot leave the protection of the f7-pawn on brought the weaknesses of Black’s king
pain of mate. This tactic was something that position into sharp focus.
Kb1 helped set up – note that without it,
23...Bg6
Black would have ...Qg5+ here.
A nice variation occurs if Black plays
23...Bb7. The answer then is 24.Bxh8 Rxh8
25.Ng7+ Kd7

Position after: 22.Qxf5

20...Nxe4

Topalov is forced to take this pawn, but in so Position after: 25...Kd7

doing he opens the position while his king
Now there comes a beautiful mate, as follows:
remains dangerously stuck in the centre.
[Or 25...Kd8 26.Qf6+ Qe7 27.Ndxe6+ fxe6
21.Bxe4 Bxe4 22.Bh4 Qc7 28.Rxd6+ Nd7 29.Nxe6+ Ke8 30.Qg6+ with
mate next.] 26.Qxf7+! Nxf7 27.Rxf7+ Kd8
28.Ndxe6#

24.Bxh8 Rxh8

Black is also lost after 24...Bxh5 25.Bxe5

dxe5 [After 25...Bg6 White can simply play
26.Bg3 – since the c2-pawn is adequately
protected, there will be no technical problems
in converting the piece advantage.] 26.Nxe6
White breaks through.

Position after: 22...Qc7 25.Nf6+

Beginning the king hunt!

25...Kd8

Position after: 28.Qh4!

Judit is not bothered by the counterplay on c2

that Black now has. She puts her pieces in
promising positions to continue attacking the
Position after: 25...Kd8 enemy king.

Black needs to place himself in the line of fire 28...Bxc2+

of the d1-rook.
White’s idea in chasing down the black light-
26.h4! squared bishop is illustrated by the following
line: 28...Kc7 29.Nxh7 Rxh7 30.Rxf7+! Rxf7
Even the g6-bishop is not immune from the 31.Nxe6+ winning the queen!
tactics.
29.Nxc2
26.Qh4 Qe7 is, surprisingly enough, not that
significant for White. Maybe not the best, but it doesn’t spoil
anything.
26...Qc5
White could also have ignored Black’s check:
Veselin clears the c7-square for his king so as 29.Ka1! Kc7 [29...Bxd1? gives us a nice
to try and run it to safety on the queenside. mating picture: 30.Nd5++– Kd7 31.Qe7#]
After 26...h5 White has the interesting option 30.Nxc2 Qxc2 31.Rc1 White wins the queen.
of 27.Qf4! threatening Qxe5! and Nc6#...
29...Qxc2+ 30.Ka1 Rc4
27.h5 Bh7 28.Qh4!
Trying for a counterstrike.

31.Ne4+ Kc7 32.Nxd6 Rf4

This is an original concept, but won’t be

sufficient to save Black.
 find a good move to continue the attack. Judit
is up to the task.
After 34...Kc5 35.Qc7+ Nc6 White wins with
36.Nb7+.

35.Qa7!

There is no way to prevent White from

playing Nb7+ next, and the mating net is
beginning to definitively tighten.

Position after: 32...Rf4 35...b4

After 32...Rc5 we would see the same kind of Carving out an escape route for the king
king hunt as occurred in the game. 33.Qe7+ offers only temporary respite. After 35...Rxf1,
Kb6 34.Qb7+. White can win the queen with checks:
36.Nb7+ Kb4 37.Qd4+ Nc4 [37...Qc4
33.Qe7+ Kb6 34.Qb7+ Ka5 38.Qd6+] 38.Qc5+ Ka4 39.b3+

36.Rfe1 Nf3 37.Rc1

Judit could have played something crisper,

but this is a sure route to the full point.

37...Nxe1 38.Rxc2 Nxc2+ 39.Kb1

The mate threat has not been defused yet, and

it hangs heavy over Black. What a king hunt!
Since Black will be losing decisive material,
he resigned. A possible follow-up was
Position after: 34...Ka5 39.Kb1 Nd4 , after which White delivers a
cute mate with 40.Nb7+ Kb5 41.Qc5+ Ka4
The black king has been driven all the way to 42.Qa5#. 1-0
a5 (a familiar picture if we have also seen the
game Kasparov – Topalov, which is called the
Pearl of Wijk aan Zee) – but White still has to
Judit Polgar (photo Jos Sutmuller) 8...h5

MODEL GAME for Black The standard reaction for Black.

Zhu, Chen (2518) 9.gxh5 Nxh5 10.Bg5 Nf6 11.Qd2 Qb6

Ehlvest, Jaan (2610) 12.Nb3
Gibraltar 2007
White doesn’t want to enter an endgame
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 because of Black’s better structure.
5.Nc3 d6 6.g4 h6 7.h4 Nc6 8.Rg1
12...a6 13.0-0-0 Bd7

Position after: 8.Rg1

Position after: 13...Bd7

14.Rg3

The usual way to try and make progress for

White. The rook can sometimes be transferred
across the third rank and cause problems in
the black camp.

14...Qc7 15.Bg2 Nh5

Position after: 17...b5

A difficult moment for White. Where do her

chances lie? The black king will definitely be
staying in the centre, but attacking it there is
not so simple. You could think about using
the standard sacrifice Nc3-d5 to crack open
the centre – but this is unlikely to be effective
unless the recapture (exd5) comes with
discovered check. It turns out she lacks
Position after: 15...Nh5 exactly one tempo to set this idea up properly.

This move is not so common. By playing it, 18.a3

Ehlvest indicates that he doesn’t need the
Maybe the lesser evil. However, White is too
option of long castling. Rather, his idea is to
late to prevent the thrust ...b5-b4, and the
play the queen’s rook to c8 (as he proceeds to
game move rather gives Black a way to open
do next.)
lines on the queenside.
15...Be7 was featured in, among other high-
A) The crude attempt to set up Nc3-d5 with
level encounters, a game of the 1984 World
18.Qe2?! doesn’t work because after 18...b4
Championship Match between Karpov and
19.Nd5 exd5 20.exd5+ Ne5 21.f4 there is
Kasparov.
21...Bg4, winning for Black.
16.Rh3 Rc8 17.Kb1 b5 B) The other method, 18.Qe1 b4 19.Nd5
exd5 20.exd5+ also sees White run out of
steam somewhat because of the calm defence
20...Ne7 21.Re3 f6!

18...b4

Anyway! Ehlvest does not wait for a printed

invitation.
19.axb4 Nxb4 20.Bf1 e5

Position after: 22...Bc6

But the black player does not cooperate.

Rightly so, although the concessions he has
Position after: 20...e5
already made (chiefly, the move ...e5)
A very double-edged move. Black voluntarily constitute a major concession.
gives up the d5-square, but he hopes to be
23.Nd5?!
able to place his bishop on e6 and in this way
achieve something on the queenside. We see this theme very often in the Najdorf
However, there are some snags in his plan. A (and other Sicilian lines) and the pattern
logical and less committal approach was which follows is a standard one. More often
20...Rb8 . After all, Black has to set up some than not, this jump is a strategic mistake for
ideas against the enemy king. This move may White if she is (as here) obliged to take back
help with ...Nxc2-based tactics in some cases. with a pawn. Another good rule of thumb is
that if the pawn recapture will be forced,
21.Rh2 Rb8
Black should give up his bishop for the
With the same idea as 20...Rb8. Perhaps he knight, rather than a knight. The principled
realised now that 21...Be6?! would be well way to play was 23.f4!? when, at the cost of
met by 22.Bh3! with problems for Black. the often-critical dark-squared bishop, White
manages to open some lines in the centre. The
22.Bh3 evaluation after 23...Nxf4 24.Bxf4 exf4
25.Qxf4 is up for debate, but this position
Of course White wants to trade the light- certainly makes greater demands of Black
squared bishops. than the one after the text move, because his
king (committed as it is to stay in the centre)
22...Bc6 is now a little open.

23...Bxd5! 24.exd5 Be7

Position after: 24...Be7 Position after: 27...Qa4

Black was fairly happy to trade off his light- 28.Ba7

squared bishop, and now uses the time to
threaten to take full control over the central 28.Nc1 would have defended against the
dark squares. ideas of ...Qa2, but also left White in a rather
passive position. After 28...0-0! Black would
25.Qc3 be ready for ...Rfc8, and this would bring
about major difficulties for White.
A nice move made possible by tactics.
28...Ra8 29.Qc7?
25...Qb6

A) 25...Qxc3?! doesn’t quite lose a piece, but

the endgame is not great for Black if White
sees a little nuance. 26.bxc3 Bxg5 27.hxg5
Nxd5 28.Rxd5 Nf4 29.Rd1! Else Black
simply takes on h3 and the position is fine for
him. 29...Rxh3 30.Rxh3 Nxh3 31.Rh1 Rxb3+
32.cxb3 Nxg5² Here, Black only has winning
chances if his opponent overpresses.
B) 25...Qb7 allows 26.Na5 which is
decidedly not to Black’s advantage.
Position after: 29.Qc7?
26.Be3 Qb5 27.Bf1 Zhu Chen (photo Jos Sutmuller)

Chasing the black queen forward, something

to which Ehlvest probably did not have any
objection.

27...Qa4
 Position after: 30.Qxe7?

White retained grovelling chances after

30.Qa5 Qxa5 31.Nxa5 Rxa7, because she can
win the piece back on b4. 32.c3 Nxd5
33.Rxd5 Nf4 34.Rd1 Rc8 and Black is in
extremely good shape, but not yet winning.

30...Rfc8!

Despite the piece advantage, there is no

longer any salvation to be had for White.

31.f3
It is
Trying to give it back while closing the c-file
understandable that White wants to create
some confusion in the black ranks, but this doesn’t work: 31.Bc5 werkt totaal niet:
move leaves her further from safety. Going 31...Rxc5! 32.Nxc5 Qxc2+ 33.Ka1 Qxd1#.
back with 29.Be3 was relatively better, but
Black has two moves that leave him with an 31...Qa2+ 32.Kc1 Qxb3
advantage and reasonable winning chances:
29...Nf6 and 29...0-0.

29...0-0

29...a5!? was also playable. Black can insert

29...Qa2+ 30.Kc1 first and then play 30...0-0!
The threats against the white king are already
quite clear that White has anything better
significant, and in this order it is not than
31.Qxe7 transposing to the game, i.e.
31...Rfc8 with a huge attack.

30.Qxe7? Position after: 32...Qxb3

33.Rdd2

Black should ignore the attempt to trade

queens with 33.Qe8+ and instead play
33...Kh7!

33...Qa2 34.Kd1 Qb1+ 35.Ke2 Ng3+!

Position after: 35...Ng3+! Position after: 7.Bg2

The knight, for so long sidelined on h5, now As we already know, 7.h4 is the main
makes its voice heard with decisive effect. variation here.

36.Kf2 Nxf1 37.Rh1 Rxc2 38.Rxc2 Nd3+ 7...a6

Inadvisable is 7...e5?! because after 8.Nf5 g6

Playing for mate!
9.Ne3 White has the strong d5-outpost
securely in his grasp.
39.Kg2 Nf4+
8.h3 Qc7 9.Be3 b5
White resigned here. A beautifully conducted
attack by Ehlvest.
39...Nf4+ 40.Kf2 Qxc2+ 41.Kxf1 Qe2+
42.Kg1 Qg2#
0-1

MODEL GAME for Black

Kanarek, Marcel (2399)

Movsesian, Sergei (2721)
Warsaw 2010
Position after: 9...b5
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 A sharp move that is tactically justified.
5.Nc3 d6 6.g4 h6 7.Bg2 9...Nc6 is more often played. Intense
struggles followed in the games Malakhov –
White avoids the heavy theory. Smirin, 2009 and Ponomariov –
Kasimdzhanov, 2002.

10.a3
Since ...b5-b4 is beginning to become a significant Position after: 14.0-0-0
feature of the position, White must lose time
preventing it. 10.e5 should be properly answered 14...Qb8
with 10...Bb7 11.exd6 [11.Bxb7 comes down to
the same thing: 11...Qxb7 12.Qf3 Qxf3 13.Nxf3
Movsesian(!) is now ready for an exchange
dxe5 14.Nxe5 Nbd7] 11...Bxd6 12.Bxb7 Qxb7
and Black has no issues. sacrifice on c3, and White has to do
something about it. At this point the game
10...Bb7 11.f4 Nbd7 becomes unique.
In the precedent game Spoelman –
Kazhgaleyev, 2005, Black played 14...Nb6
and came under some light pressure following
15.g5 Nfd7 16.g6 Nc4 17.gxf7+ Kxf7 . He
later won because of a mistake by his young
opponent.

15.Bd4?

Egging Black forward.

A) The most natural seems to be 15.Rd3 but
Position after: 11...Nbd7 here too Black can do the same thing:
15...Rxc3!? 16.Rxc3 Nxe4 and since he has
12.Nb3 the central pawns, Black can claim fair
A rather passive move. compensation for the exchange.
In multiple games – such as Kudrin – Stopa, B) The only way to completely rule out the
2009 and Kobalia – Wallace, 1998 – White sacrifice is 15.Bd2 , and after 15...Nc5
continued with 12.Qe2 Nc5 13.Bd2 , and 16.Kb1 White stands a little bit better.
scored well; winning both of those games.
But right here, Black doesn’t appear to be in 15...e5! 16.Be3
trouble yet.

12...Be7 13.Qe2 Rc8 14.0-0-0

Position after: 16.Be3

After 16.fxe5 dxe5 17.Bf2 Black also plays Movsesian does not miss a trick.
the sacrifice: 17...Rxc3! 18.bxc3 Bxa3+
19.Kb1 Qc7 with good play for Black. 19.Qf2

16...Rxc3!

By now this is not a surprise. Once again

there comes the well-known exchange
sacrifice.

17.bxc3 Nxe4

Position after: 19.Qf2

19.Qd3 Qxa7 20.Qxc3 Bxg2 is totally over.

19...Nxd1

Because Black attacks the White queen with

this intermediate move, he gets back his
Position after: 17...Nxe4 exchange.
A winning position would also result from
The position is now very problematic for 19...Qc7 20.Rd3 Bxg2 21.Qxg2 0-0.
White. Black threatens ...Nxc3 and ...Ng3.
What does White have to play in response? 20.Rxd1 Qa8 21.Bxb7 Qxb7 22.fxe5 Nxe5

18.Ba7?! Preparing ... Bxa3+ with 22...dxe5 also gets

the job done.
This simply can’t be it. White goes fishing in
troubled waters. 23.Na5 Qc7 24.Bb6 Qc3
A) After 18.Qd3 Nxc3! 19.Qxc3 [19.Bxb7
The White player declined to give further
Nxd1 wins for Black.] 19...Bxg2 20.Rh2 Be4
resistance.
the position is no bed of roses for White, but
After 24...Qc3 Black is already two pawns to
he is still in the game.
the good and threatens to take a third one on
B) The zero-thought solution 18.Bxe4?! Bxe4
a3.
19.Rhe1 gives a nearly lost position after
0-1
19...d5!

18...Nxc3!
 Position after: 6...Be7

With 6...Be7 Black chooses a sensible and

common pattern of play for Black in the
Scheveningen: the idea is to castle quickly
and only later make decisions regarding the
queenside. 7.f3 0-0 8.Qd2 The outlines of the
d) English Attack with 6.Be3 English attack can now be seen clearly. If
Black plays ...a6 at any moment from moves
7-9, we will reach a position discussed within
6...a6, so let’s continue looking at what
happens if he avoids the move permanently.
8...Nc6 9.0-0-0

Introduction

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6

5.Nc3 d6 6.Be3 a6 Position after: 9.0-0-0

6...Be7 By now the only independent move left is:

9...d5. The truism is that this break is
something Black would always like to
accomplish in the Sicilian. While it most
often occurs in response to a kingside pawn
thrust from White, one can also execute it
here – as quite a few strong players have
done. It is important that white cannot
immediately respond with e4-e5, which is
why black first put his knight on c6. 10.Be2!?
The most promising continuation for White,
completing development and connecting the
rooks. [10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Nxd5 Qxd5 Also
White seems to have an advantage, it has been
proven that in practice Black does not have
Position after: 16.fxe4
great problems reaching a draw.]
A) A rapid game Giri – Van Wely, 2017 In this endgame White has a pawn majority
continued 10...a6 11.Kb1 Qc7 12.exd5 Nxd5 on the queenside. Because he has developed
13.Nxd5 exd5 14.Nb3 [Improving upon 14.f4 his bishops (in contrast to Black) as well as
after which Black won in a game Balogh – having better targets in general, White has
Van Wely, 2016.] 14...Rd8 And here White good winning chances here.
can be said to be better, but that proved
insufficient to win in the end. 7.f3

B) 10...dxe4

Position after: 7.f3

Position after: 10...dxe4
Since Black has played a fast ...a6, we’ve
11.Nxc6 This is White’s idea. He hopes to transposed into a Najdorf – specifically that
reach an advantage in the endgame by virtue line in which Black chooses ...e6 over the
of his better piece co-ordination. To which previously discussed ...e5.
end he begins exchanging pieces; this move
scores rather well for him. 11...bxc6 12.Qxd8 7...b5
Rxd8 13.Rxd8+ Bxd8 14.Rd1 Be7 15.Nxe4
The stereotypical thrust on the queenside.
Nxe4 16.fxe4
Black would like to take more space (and
possibly continue with ... b5-b4 to pose the
question to White’s knight) and the move also
guarantees the c8-bishop an active post in the
near future. What is not so obvious is that
Black implicitly agrees to keep his king in the
centre. The advance g2-g4 will be answered
with ...h7-h6, but that will mean that ... 0-0 is
no longer really possible, because his
majesty’s position would be weakened too
much.
Position after: 10.g4

There are now two options:

10...Nxd4 and 10...Nd7.
10...Nxd4 11.Bxd4 b5 12.g5 Nd7 13.h4

Position after: 7...b5

A) Black can also castle quickly with 7...Be7.

While going for this short castling plan, Black
adheres to the principle of not making pawn
weaknesses on that side of the board. He can
bide his time coolly in the face of the coming
‘bayonet blast’ White might play (with g2-g4,
Position after: 13.h4
g5, h2-h4 and then possibly h4-h5 and g5-g6).
Only in response to the very last of these Note that Black is keeping the queen on d8.
moves does Black finally need to take action Thereby the advance h4-h5 is slowed down a
– and even then he might not move a kingside bit more, because White has to worry about
pawn. The game might continue: 8.Qd2 0-0 his g-pawn. Saying that, the queen can also be
9.0-0-0 Nc6 10.g4 useful on c7 sometimes (to help arrange the
manoeuvre ... Nd7-e5-c4.)
This is a good time to think properly about
Black’s square choices for all his pieces in
fact, not just the queen. There are a few
different options to bear in mind for creating
counterplay. For starters, developing the
queen’s bishop to b7 seems to follow This interesting position has been tested many
automatically from having played ...b7-b5, times in practice. Although black has the
but that does not make it the best option. On bishop pair, White’s strong central position
b7, Black prepares a future ...d6-d5, and then and his blockade on the a4 and especially c4
after exd5 Bxd5, the bishop will occupy a fields is (more than) sufficient for a small
very active post. White’s central control then advantage. An example can be seen in the
leaves something to be desired, which will game Ye, J – Xu, J, 2003.
slow down his attack. On the other hand, 10...Nd7 is also played, to try and get a knight
Black could also play ...Bc8-e6 instead (after on e5. 11.h4 Nde5 Threatening to take on d4
...e6-e5 and ...Nd7-c5/ b6.) Then the bishop and then on f3. 12.Qg2 The queen assumes
will support Black’s own pawn storm on the the menial task of defending f3. She can take
queenside, as well as performing some some solace in the fact that she is also doing
defensive tasks on the kingside (in particular, another two jobs: preparing the advance f3-f4
the f7-square comes to mind.) 13...b4 Black by defending the g-pawn; and lining up
cannot do without this move. The c3-knight behind the g-pawn so that after it has
must be chased away. But there is a difference advanced and cleared that file, mate will be
of learned opinion as regards timing. Both easier to arrange! 12...Nxd4 13.Bxd4 Nc6
13...Bb7 and 13...Qc7 were played here 14.Be3 b5 15.g5 and now the game begins for
before black decided on ... b5-b4. 14.Na4 real.
Here the knight serves as a barricade against
B) The prohylactic 7...h5
the pawn-storm. [14.Ne2 a5 15.f4 Bb7
16.Ng3 Qc7 17.Kb1 gives Black very clearly
defined counterchances (...Nd7-c5, ...Rf8-b8,
...a5-a4).] 14...Qa5 15.b3 Nc5 The knight on
a4 must be traded off if Black is to obtain real
counterplay on the queenside. 16.Bxc5 Since
White also recognises this fact, he is prepared
to give up his good bishop instead of the
knight on a4! 16...dxc5

Position after: 7...h5

historically did not have such a good

reputation in the Scheveningen setup, but
there are now many strong players defending
this approach. In particular, elite American
grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura believes in
this way of playing. He lost with it to Caruana
in 2016, but beat Topalov twice in 2017.
Position after: 16...dxc5 Black players who play this should realize
that they can no longer play ... 0-0 after this
because ...h7-h5 weakens the king’s position
too much, and that a white bishop can appear
in short order on g5 since Black has
somewhat abandoned that square. In a
Khalifman – Van Wely game, 2002, the white
player was able to demonstrate the defects of
Black’s setup.

8.Qd2

Position after: 12.f4

Here we see that the white knight has become

very strong, mainly due to the very firm
control White has of d4. Neither would it be a
complete solution if Black at some stage
traded knights on d4 (...Nb8-c6xd4) because
White would retain blockading capabilities.
White has good chances here and proceeded
to win in the Holzmueller – Guevara, 2009 e-
Position after: 8.Qd2
mail game.
The pre-emptive 8.g4 would now rule out the
9.g4
defensive construction with ...h5, but it is far
from clear that Black wants to do that anyway
in the present structure.

8...Nbd7

This appears to be the most precise order. The

reason is that Black wants to take control of
the e5 square as soon as possible so that he
does not see his plan of ... b5-b4 followed by
...d6-d5 met by e4-e5, which in most cases is
advantageous for white. A knight on d4 is the
perfect piece for White to have if Black has Position after: 9.g4
fixed pawns on d5 and e6. It is probably too
early for 8...Bb7 which can be met by: 9.a4 b4 9...h6
10.Na2 Now Black basically needs to play
10...d5 for consistency, but now White gets to Black holds back g4-g5 for the time being,
answer with e4-e5. 11.e5 Nfd7 12.f4 but at the cost of weakening the kingside
position so much as to make short castling 14.g5 [Normally White would answer 14.e5
impossible. Also, should White nevertheless but the consistent followup 14...Nd7 15.f4
manage to get g4-g5 in (and perhaps even g5- would simply lose a pawn to 15...Qh4+ .]
g6) there would automatically follow a very 14...Nd7 Finally the time has come for White
significant attack for him. Another move that to castle long. Here, it is an attacking move:
has been tried here is 9...Nb6. the d-file is weak. 15.0-0-0!

Position after: 9...Nb6 Position after: 15.0-0-0!

Then White invariably continued: 10.a4! A remarkable decision – incidentally, also a

White is not going to castle long in the near pawn sacrifice – but very well-founded. With
future. He senses weakness in the black almost all the pieces in the game, an
queenside and proceeds to attack it without underdeveloped black position and the king in
delay. [In an email game, though, White the middle, white has every chance on his
played: 10.0-0-0 Bb7 11.Qf2 Nfd7 12.Bd3 side.
Rc8 13.Nce2 Qc7 14.Kb1 d5 15.e5 Qxe5 A) Even after a move like 15...Qc7 hinting at
16.Nf4 Mueller – Jedrejowski, 2010.] a possible flight by the king with ...0-0-0,
10...Nc4 11.Bxc4 bxc4 12.a5 So as to make White’s attack goes through the defences like
Na4-b6 possible. 12...Bb7 13.Na4 d5 a hot knife through butter. For instance:
16.exd5 Bxd5 17.Rhe1 0-0-0 18.Bf4 Bd6
19.Bxd6 Qxd6 20.Nf5! with a huge
advantage.
B) 15...dxe4 16.Rhf1 c3 Giving back the
goodies. 17.Nxc3 [17.Qxc3 Rc8 is the idea,
when Black has counterplay.] 17...Bb4
18.fxe4 Nc5 All seems to be in order, though
it really isn’t. [Incorrect is 18...Qxa5? because
of 19.Nb3 Qc7

Position after: 13...d5

Position after: 19...Qc7 Position after: 24.Nf4

and now the momentous 20.Rxf7!! This with a big advantage for white. The threat of
combination wins decisive material. 20...Kxf7 Bd4 is just the tip of the iceberg.
21.Qxd7+ Qxd7 22.Rxd7+]
10.0-0-0 Bb7 11.h4 b4
Another possibility here is 19.Rxf7!? but
Black declines the offer: 19...Qxa5! There is nothing to be gained by further
[19...Kxf7?! 20.Qf2+ Kg8 21.Nc6 Qc7 preparation.
22.Nxb4 gives White an advantage.]
The best move is 19.Qf2. White threatens 12.Na4 Qa5 13.b3
both Qxf7# and various discoveries – chiefly
Nc6 or Nxe6. 19...Qe7 20.Nde2

Position after: 13.b3

Position after: 20.Nde2 This position has been the subject of

investigations for a long time. Leading the
20...Nxe4 [Safer is 20...0-0 as played in Van way were the interesting encounters Kasparov
Oosterom – Murray, 2007 (corr.) but then too – Topalov, 2001 and Caruana – Van Wely,
White will be left with a significant advantage 2016, in which many ideas of this position
after the game move, 21.Qh4!] 21.Nxe4 Bxe4 were illustrated.
22.Qf4 Bg6 23.Qe5 0-0 24.Nf4
13...Nc5
The itchy hand wants to play 13...d5? Here the move 14...Rc8 is also sometimes
tried (with the point axb4 Nxb3+) but Black
quickly falls into difficulties. A good
illustration of White’s attack after 15.Qxb4
Qc7 16.Kb1 is Anand – Kasimdzhanov,
2005.

15.axb4 Qc7 16.bxa4

Black is down a pawn, and must now justify

its absence somehow.

16...d5
Position after: 13...d5?

and indeed, it looks almost as if it could work.

But there follows a nasty surprise. 14.e5!
Nxe5 15.Nxe6 fxe6 [15...d4 is the only move
to save the queen but Black is completely
busted after 16.Nxd4 anyway.] 16.Bb6 White
wins the queen.

14.a3

All these moves were logical and more or less

forced. White is now trying to use the fact
Position after: 16...d5
that Black’s b4-pawn is pinned. He threatens
to simply take it. 17.e5!

White still prefers to keep the files and

diagonals in the center closed, because his
king’s position is also open. This move also
helps anchor the d4-knight firmly in position.

17...Nd7

The pawn is protected: 17...Qxe5?? 18.Bf4

wins the queen.

18.f4

Position after: 14.a3

14...Nxa4
 Definitely not allowing Black the idea of
...Nc3.

20...Be7

After 20...Rc8 White has to use rather

exceptional means to keep preventing the
dangerous ... Nc3: 21.c4! dxc4 The c4-pawn
acts as an ‘umbrella’ shielding White’s king
from the attack. As a result of its presence, the
c-file is no longer usable (in any meaningful
sense) as an attacking route. 22.Qc2 Nb6
Position after: 18.f4

White is now fully prepared for f4-f5.

18...Nb6

Black seems to be developing decent play, but

now it transpires that with a few deft moves
White can keep matters under control.

19.Rh3!
Position after: 22...Nb6
From the other side of the board, the rook
helps with defensive duties along the third 23.Nxe6!! A wonderful sacrifice to break
rank, making White’s king position safer. through Black’s defenses. All of a sudden the
white attacking pieces come to life. 23...fxe6
19...Nxa4 20.Bf2
24.Bxb6 Qxb6 25.Qg6+ Ke7 26.f5 Black is
oddly helpless against this mating attack.
Lebedev – Sammut, 2009 (email.)

21.f5

White has managed his kingside

breakthrough. How White can continue from
here is seen in the game Kovchan –
Truskavetsky, 2002.

Position after: 20.Bf2

Loek van Wely: a real expert of the Sicilian
(photo Harry Gielen)

MODEL GAME for White

Smeets, Jan (2461)

Werle, Jan (2434)
Groningen 2002

1.e4
Position after: 8...a6
In the annotations that follow I have drawn
from Ftacnik’s earlier remarks. So, via a less usual move-order, we have an
English attack on the board in which Black
1...c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 has opted for the Scheveningen structure with
Nc6 6.f3 e6 7.Be3 Be7 8.Qd2 a6 ...e7-e6.

9.g4 Qc7 10.0-0-0 Nxd4 11.Qxd4

 Position after: 13.h4

13...Ne5

Of course 13...b5 is also a reasonable thing to

play. But White’s attack is already quite
strong: 14.h5 Now White proceeded to crash
through conclusively in Cheparinov –
Pogorelov, 2003, with the instructive motif of
the 6th rank pawn duo: 14...Bb7 15.g6 e5
16.Qd2 b4 17.h6! And it’s pretty much over
Position after: 11.Qxd4 already.

11...0-0!? 14.f4 Nc6 15.Qd2 b5 16.h5

A courageous decision to castle right in front

of the pawn-storm which is definitely just
about to be launched for real.
11...e5 is also played fairly often. After
12.Qd2 Black continues with 12...Be6 13.g5
Nd7 but the results here, and especially after
14.Nd5 Bxd5 15.Qxd5 are rather good for
White.
Another possibility is the direct 11...b5, but
after 12.g5 Black’s knight will have to go to
h5, where it does not stand well at all. Position after: 16.h5
12...Nh5 13.f4 Various problems (such as
Be2 or f4-f5) now face Black. 16...Rd8?

12.g5 Nd7 13.h4 But this is decidedly too slow, besides which
the rook will actually later be needed on the f-
file-as we are about to see.
A) White was also for choice after 16...b4
17.Na4! stopped the black pawn-storm in its
tracks in the game Bernardskiy – Pugachov,
2009.
B) A game which Black managed to win,
albeit of course not in a clean fashion, was
Muzychuk, A – Polajzer, 2006. He played
16...Rb8 and after 17.g6 b4 18.Na4 met
18...Na5 there was already some counterplay Catastrophe also awaits after Ftacnik’s
to be had. suggested 18...fxg6 : 19.hxg6 h6 and now
White needs just one preparatory move before
17.g6! beginning the sacrifices. 20.Kb1! For instance
now 20...Rb8 and the drama begins on the
There is no point delaying the opening of
kingside. 21.e5 Be7 22.f5! Nxe5 23.Bxh6
lines towards the black king.
White breaks through.
17...Bf6
19.e5!
The idea of moving the bishop now is to let
Ftacnik: “With this typical square-clearing
Black take back on h7 with the queen.
move, Smeets tries to show that the black
However, after White’s energetic continuation
bishop on f6 may not be completely stable”.
at this point, Black’s formation is revealed to
not hold water. 19...dxe5 20.Ne4

It is still not time for 20.gxh7+ Kh8 because

White is better served by keeping Black
guessing what the g6-pawn will do next.

Position after: 17...Bf6

Neither does the other bishop move let Black

lessen his suffering: 17...Bf8 18.Qg2! with
immense pressure. Position after: 20.Ne4

18.Bd3 20...Be7

Maintaning the pawn on g6 for now. After The bishop must head back. After for instance
18.gxf7+ Qxf7 Black has survived the worst 20...exf4 21.Nxf6+ gxf6 22.gxh7+ the g-file
of it. And after 18.gxh7+ Kh8 19.Qf2 Rb8 it would be cleared and it would be open season
isn’t completely clear to me how White keeps on the black king. The foremost threat White
his initiative ticking over. has is actually just to bring multiple major
pieces to the g-file and deliver mate on g7 or
18...Rb8
g8. Because of the weakness of his back ranks
Black cannot really defend himself. An
example of how things could play out:
22...Kh8 23.Rhg1 Qe7 [23...fxe3 24.Qg2]
24.Qg2 Qf8 25.h6!

Position after: 21...Kh8

After 21...Kxf7 22.Ng5+ White has very

good attacking chances. 22...Bxg5 23.fxg5.

22.Qg2!
Position after: 25.h6!
This move conceals an idea of the greatest
Threatening a nice pawn-mate-in-two, Qg7+ ingenuity and originality.
Qxg7 hxg7#. 25...f5 [25...Qxh6 26.Qg8+]
26.Bxf5 Swapping off a crucial defender of 22...Bb7
the back rank. We see that the undeveloped
Black has finally connected his rooks. But the
c8-bishop stops Black from preventing the
white attack is already irresistible. The beauty
mate in a line like 26...exf5 27.Rxd8 Nxd8
is that White is not that interested in material,
28.Qg8+ Qxg8 29.hxg8=Q#.
nor should he be. Of this last, the line
21.gxf7+ 22...exf4!? provides a particularly spectacular
illustration. White goes for the same idea as in
And now it becomes clear both why the rook the game – 23.Qg6! Ne5 and now: 24.Bd4!!
should have stayed on f8, and why White A great attacking concept. The e5-knight and
didn’t take his numerous earlier chances to d8-rook are important defenders. 24...Rxd4
capture on h7. [24...Bb7 doesn’t help: 25.Ng5 and mate on
h7 can’t be stopped.; One major point of
21...Kh8 White’s last move was that after 24...Nxg6
25.hxg6 Black can’t simply keep the h-file
shut: 25...h6 nevertheless gets mated in one
after 26.Rxh6# .] 25.Nf6
25...Nxd3+ 26.Rxd3 and here White delivers
forced mate. The black rook has been diverted
from d8 and no longer controls the back rank,
so Black can’t take on f6 with the bishop.
Also, ... gxf6 runs into Qg8# and ...hxg6 leads (Bd3 and Ne4) play essential roles in the
to the usual discovered mate. There is no mate motifs that this move generates. Ftacnik:
other way of protecting against Qxh7#. “A beautiful move that shows the flair of the
Or 25...Nxg6 26.hxg6 h6 attacker. White doesn’t look back when there
is a clear path to the opponent’s king”.

23...Nb4

There are some alternatives that should be

calculated:

Position after: 26...h6

27.Rxh6+! gxh6 28.Rg1 White has almost no

pieces left, but with what he does have, he
forces mate! The bishop once again is tied to
f8 and so can’t take on f6, leaving the main
Position after: 23...Nb4
line as 28...Bf8 29.g7+ Bxg7 30.f8=Q+ Bxf8
31.Rg8#! A beautiful finish! A) 23...hxg6? 24.hxg6+ Bh4 25.Rxh4#.
23.Qg6!! B) The move 23...Rxd3 looks logical, to
eliminate the dangerous d3-bishop. White
doesn’t need to take any notice of it, however.
24.Rdg1 Rd1+ [24...Bf8 25.Nf6] 25.Kxd1
Qd8+ 26.Kc1 Qf8 27.Bc5! whereupon the
threat Ng5 forces decisive material gain.
27...Bxc5 [Or 27...Rd8 28.Ng5 winning the
queen (and, apparently, leading to mate in
seven.)] 28.Nf6 gxf6 29.Qxf6+ Qg7
30.Qxg7#.

24.Rdg1!

It is not important to Smeets whether he has a

piece more or less. He plays for mate.
Position after: 23.Qg6!!
24...Bf8
With this formidable move the attack gains
unstoppable momentum. The minor pieces
 25.Nf6!

Not difficult but no less pretty for that.

25.Ng5 was the same deal.

25...Nxd3+ 26.Kb1

Werle now makes a sporting gesture: he

shows respect for his opponent’s pretty attack
by giving him the chance to deliver mate on
the board.
Position after: 24...Bf8
26...hxg6 27.hxg6+ Bxh1 28.Rxh1#
In the line 24...Nxd3+ 25.Kb1 Rg8 White
should first take a small time-out for 26.cxd3 1-0
before proceeding. 26...Bd5 27.fxg8=Q+
Rxg8 28.fxe5 Qxe5 29.Qg4 and White is a
full rook up.

A little chat between three Dutch Grandmasters. From left to right Jan Werle,
Jan Smeets and Loek van Wely (photo Jos Sutmuller)
 followed by ...Nxf3). White normally replies
12.Qg2 . A nice example illustrating Black’s
MODEL GAME for White
chances was Quesada Perez – Morozevich,
Giri, Anish 2005.
Brandenburg, Daan
12.Bxd4 b5 13.g5 Bb7
Dieren 2009

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6

5.Nc3 e6

Black opts for the immediate Scheveningen

setup.

6.Be3 Be7 7.f3

Now going for the setup known as the English

attack. White wants to organise g2-g4 very
quickly – in some books this thrust is called a
Position after: 13...Bb7
‘bayonet attack’.
14.a3
7...Nc6 8.Qd2 0-0 9.0-0-0 a6 10.g4 Nd7
14.Kb1 is the most popular move. The game
One of the main ideas.
continuation trades off the temporary stability
of the c3-knight for the potential problems
associated with allowing Black a ‘hook’ for
future queenside counterplay.

14...Qc7?!

This automatic developing move is perhaps

not the best. It was also played in a blitz game
Ivanchuk – Grischuk, 2009, which Black
won; but in that game White obtained a
winning position before blundering it away.
Position after: 10...Nd7
The strongest players have continued here
An important alternative for Black is with 14...Rc8 and Black swiftly develops an
10...Nxd4 11.Bxd4 b5 attack.

11.h4 Nxd4 15.Bh3

Here Black can change things up with

11...Nde5 threatening to win a pawn (...Nxd4
 The tempting 17.Bf6 leads after 17...Ne5
(with the intention of ...Nc4) to a situation
where Black has good counterchances.

17...b4

Black is trying to lever open the white

queenside – which had been weakened by the
move a2-a3. Having that move is indeed a
drawback of White’s position, but Giri has
correctly reckoned that his kingside attack is
the more important than the nascent
queenside play.
Position after: 15.Bh3
Offering a repetition makes sense here.
Anish Giri (photo Frans Peeters)
17...Ne5 18.Bd4 but now if Black played on
with 18...Nc4 then once again White’s attack
would probably land first. 19.g6!?

18.axb4 Nxb4

Position after: 18...Nxb4

Black has opened the b-file for his attack

Now this is a new move. White hopes to set thanks to the tempo gained against the c3-
up a lethal attack (based on the pawn push g5- knight. But in this case his attack doesn’t get
g6) in such a way that the bishop’s line of to develop much!
sight to the traditional weakness on e6 can
19.g6!
become a factor.
White doesn’t have a choice but to press on.
15...Ne5 16.Qg2 Nc6 17.Be3
This pawn sacrifice was consistent with (and
probably envisaged before) White’s 15th A) Neither would Black be successful with
move. the brazen 20...gxh5?

19...hxg6

In such a situation consideration must always

be given to the ‘active counter’ 19...f5!
A) Too slow is 20.Kb1 h6 21.Qd2 Rab8 when
the g- and h- files can no longer be cleared:
22.Bxh6?! gxh6 23.Qxh6 Bf6 24.g7 [24.Rxd6
Bc8µ] 24...Bxg7 25.Rhg1 [25.Qxe6+ Kh8
26.Qxd6 Qxd6 27.Rxd6 fxe4 with a decisive
advantage for Black.] 25...Bc8 Black is
placed reasonably well to make use of his Position after: 20...gxh5?
material plus, and can move over to the attack
on the queenside himself. trying to call White’s bluff. White can break
the remaining defensive fortifications apart,
B) In this case it’s actually the only defence.
starting with the amazing 21.Bf5. 21.Bf5!!
Now White should open lines quickly.
Winning straight away. [There is also a
20.gxh7+ Kh8 21.h5 White holds some trump
mating attack after 21.Bd4 e5 22.Bf5!? , for
cards, but Black is very much in the game
instance: 22...exd4? 23.Rxh5 Rfc8 24.Rdh1
after 21...Bf6.
with mate.] 21...exf5 22.Rxh5 Bf6 [22...Rfc8
20.h5 23.Rdh1] 23.Rdh1 g6 Now White’s clincher
makes use of... the undefended queen on c7.
24.Rh8+! Bxh8 25.Qh3 Na2+ 26.Nxa2
Bxb2+ 27.Kxb2 f6 28.Qh8+ Kf7 29.Qh7+
Ke8 30.Qxc7 and White wins.
B) Relatively best was 20...g5 but White
should, after 21.Bxg5 Kh8 22.f4 Rab8
23.Bxe7 Qxe7 24.Rhg1 Rg8 25.f5 retain the
lion’s share of winning chances.

21.hxg6

Position after: 20.h5

20...Bf6?

This move allows the white attack to proceed

apace.
Position after: 21.hxg6 Position after: 25...Rad8

This pawn is decidedly a thorn in Black’s White can obtain a winning position by means
side. of 26.e5!] 23.gxf7+ Qxf7 24.Bb6 Na2+
25.Nxa2 Qxa2 26.Bf5 Black has avoided
21...Bxc3 getting mated by the first wave of attack, but
unfortunately for him the defensive task has
There was no longer any real defence to be
only just begun, and when it ends it will end
had against the nice combination with which
badly. For instance: 26...Bc8 27.Bh7+ Kf8
White now proceeds to win.
28.Rxd6 Be6 29.Bc5 and White will win
That being said, 21...Rfe8 (giving the e6- soon.
pawn extra protection and freeing up the f8
flight square for his king) was a more 22.Bxe6!!
stubborn move for Black, though it doesn’t
save the game. White needs to expand the
range of his ideas a little bit, in order to
defend against the counterplay Black
threatens by means of ...Bxc3 and ...Na2+.
The ‘standard useful move’ 22.Kb1 also
works in this position. The point is that the
very second Black takes on c3, the f6-
bishop’s absence will be felt on the other side
of the board. 22...Bxc3 23.gxf7+ Kxf7
24.bxc3 Qxc3 now loses for Black due to
25.Bd4 .
With 22.Bd4! White wants to exchange the Position after: 22.Bxe6!!
most important defender of Black’s kingside.
22...e5 Shielding the bishop from exchange. Nicely done. White doesn’t take back on c3,
[After the trade 22...Bxd4 23.Rxd4 Qc5 but offers up one more piece on the altar. The
24.gxf7+ Kxf7 25.Rhd1 Rad8
most important point is that the g6-pawn Position after: 25.Kb1
helps with the attack along the h-file.
Black resigned. A deadly check along the h-
22...Rfb8 file will follow in extremely short order.
1-0
Likewise 22...Bxb2+ 23.Kxb2 Qxc2+
24.Qxc2 Nxc2
MODEL GAME for Black

Movsesian, Sergei (2668)

Kasparov, Garry (2851)
Sarajevo 2000

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6

5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e6 7.f3 b5 8.Qd2 Nbd7 9.0-
0-0 Bb7 10.g4

Position after: 24...Nxc2

doesn’t offer any respite because after

25.Rh7!! there is no way to stop White
doubling along the h-file.

23.Rh8+

Giri finishes the game in style.

Also not wrong was 23.gxf7+ Kf8 24.bxc3
Ke7 25.Qg5+ Kxe6 26.Qf5+ Ke7 27.Bg5+ Position after: 10.g4
Kf8 28.Rh8#.
This is a moment at which Black makes an
23...Kxh8 24.Bxf7 Bxb2+ 25.Kb1 important choice of approach. Something has
to be done about Nf6, because g4-g5 is
threatened.

10...Nb6

This is seen as the most important alternative.

Black moves his queen’s knight away to
vacate the square for the other knight. In
addition, he rules out the a4-square as a
potential new home for the c3-knight, which
makes ...b5-b4 an important positional threat.
Note that there are no other good squares the 13.Bd3
knight can go to: on b1 it is dominated, and
on e2 it blocks the f1-bishop in and allows Given the subsequent course of events, most
Black the idea of ...Nc4, which is yet another people who took the white side of this
possibility set up by the text move. (White, as position after the present game chose a
usual in the Sicilian, would usually much different move.
rather trade his light-squared bishop for the
b6-knight instead of the dark-squared bishop.)
If Black were to play 10...h6 , that would
imply (for the most part) a commitment to
keeping his king in the centre. Long castling
is not completely impossible (in the distant
future) but short castling would leave Black
extremely vulnerable to a quick g4-g5,
opening lines with disastrous effect.

11.Qf2
Position after: 13.Bd3
This possibility has also been known for a
13.Nce2 removes the continuation Black
while. In addition to the fact that White’s
chose in the game from consideration, and
queen can no longer be hit by ...Nb6-c4, the
yields an interesting game. In a rapid game
first player also introduces the possibility of a
J.Polgar – Svidler, 2001 White managed to
nasty discovered-attack trick such as Nxe6!
sacrifice and crash through the black
11...Nfd7 defensive lines in a manner which objectively
may have been less than fully correct.
Giving White the time needed to clear a
retreat square on c1 for his dark-squared 13...Rxc3!?
bishop.
Every player who plays the Sicilian must have
There is no time for 11...b4? because of this thematic exchange offering in his arsenal.
12.Nxe6 fxe6 13.Bxb6 as seen in Garrido GM Loek van Wely once said that he hardly
Dominguez – Komljenovic, 2002. even considered it to be a sacrifice. The white
pawn structure is, indeed, mutilated badly
12.Kb1 Rc8
enough that we barely need look for other
Now long castling is definitively ruled out. compensation.

We could wonder about the logical 12...b4. 14.bxc3 Qc7

However it seems that after 13.Nce2 Nc4
White can simply tuck his bishop back into The strong Polish grandmaster Wojtkiewicz
place on c1 and show Black’s demonstrations had already played the exchange sacrifice in
to have been a little premature. 14.Bc1! 1992, and continued here with the move
14...d5 – a choice which was later copied by The older game Zagrebelny – Lingnau, 1993
the Slovak grandmaster Ftacnik. continued 17...d5 18.h5 dxe4 19.Bxe4 Bxe4
20.fxe4 Nc4 21.Bc1 b4 22.cxb4 Bxb4 but
15.Ne2 Be7 16.g5 after 23.Rh3! Black did not have enough to
show for the material he had sacrificed.

18.Bc1?!

After this passive move Black is definitely

going to be for choice.

Position after: 16.g5

For what it’s worth, the most popular move

chosen by those with the misfortune to face
this exchange sacrifice was 16.h4.

16...0-0 Position after: 18.Bc1?!

Herein lies the difference with 10...h6, the The search for counterchances with 18.h5
other common choice of Black players in this may not be crowned with success after
line. If there is no pawn weakness on his 18...Ne5 but 19.Bd4 keeps the damage within
kingside, Black may permit himself short manageable bounds.
castling. Of course, there is still no guarantee
18...Ne5
that an attack will not take place (h2-h4-h5
and g5-g6) but this takes rather a long time to Kasparov brings his second knight to bear on
set in motion and Black can hope to ask the enemy king.
probing questions on the other side of the
A) Also rather strong was 18...d5!
board in the meantime. As we know from
extensive analysis of similar Sicilian B) Or the natural 18...Rc8, for instance.
positions, even the arrival of a pawn on g6 is White now seeks his redemption on the other
not necessarily cause for panic either. side of the board, but it will be too slow.

17.h4 Na4! 19.h5 d5

Thus Kasparov improved on an older game. A good moment for Black to crack open the
Due to White’s pawn weaknesses, a swift centre and use it to transfer even more pieces
attack is more or less guaranteed. to the attack on the queenside.
Also interesting was 19...f5!? A surprising exchange, but Kasparov has
made an excellent judgment call that it is
20.Qh2 justified here.

May as well try. 22.cxd3

A) After 20.h6 Black plays the customary
20...g6 and it is not clear how White can
rustle up anything at all.
B) White’s core problem in this position is
that 20.g6 never actually delivers the goods in
this position. Black can simply react 20...Bf6
– while there are several alternatives, this one
seems best.

20...Bd6

Position after: 22.cxd3

22.Rxd3? dxe4 sees the b7-bishop come to

life, and now there is no way for White to
avoid losing material.

22...b4!

Opening the position in a slightly unexpected

way. The obvious-looking 22...Nxc3+? is in
fact rather bad for Black. There follows
Position after: 20...Bd6 23.Nxc3 Qxc3 24.Bb2 Qb4 25.g6! and White
takes over the initiative. In fact Black is lost
21.Qh3?!
in view of the detail that 25...Be5 is not
Here the lady is very isolated from the working: [Meanwhile 25...dxe4 26.h6! Be5
struggle. In theory this move aids the kingside 27.d4 is too late – White wins here too.] 26.d4
attack by targeting the e6-pawn in preparation Bf4 27.h6! Bxh6 28.gxf7+ Rxf7 29.Qxe6
for g5-g6, but White may not survive long White crashes through.
enough for it to make a difference.
23.cxb4
The alternative is 21.Bf4 leading to a good
game for Black after 21...Nxc3+ 22.Nxc3 A) Also after 23.c4 dxc4 24.g6 [24.dxc4
Qxc3 23.Qd2 Qc7, but perhaps White can Be5!] 24...cxd3 25.Rxd3 Rc8 26.gxf7+ Kxf7
resist better here than in the game. Black’s initiative has far beyond manageable
size.
21...Nxd3
B) Let’s think about what happens if White In view of the previous comment, we can see
tries to set his own attack in motion: 23.g6? how vital it is that White be able to block
Nxc3+ 24.Nxc3 bxc3 and thanks to the threat ...Be5+ with the d-pawn. So this move, while
of ...c2+ it has become clear that White has eye-catching, should not be regarded as a
misprioritised. 25.Ka1 c2 26.Rde1 Be5+ mere ‘trick’.
27.Bb2 Qc3! could be the elegant finish.
26.g6
23...Rc8 24.Ka1
White is convinced. Needless to say, 26.dxe4
Defending the knight with 24.Qf1 loses Be5+ is mate as before. Also after 26.Rhg1
immediately: 24...Qc2+ 25.Ka1 Bxb4 and Black will deliver mate, beginning with
now for instance 26.g6 Bc3+ 27.Nxc3 Qxc3+ 26...Qc2!
28.Kb1 Qb4+ 29.Ka1 Rxc1+ 30.Rxc1 Qb2#
is mate. 26...Bxh1 27.Qxh1 Bxb4 28.gxf7+

24...dxe4 28.gxh7+ Kh8.

Black also wants his other bishop to 28...Kf8

contribute. Prettier was 24...Bxb4!? but let’s
The king uses White’s far-advanced pawn as
not allow that to interrupt our narrative too
a shield from checks.
much.
29.Qg2
25.fxe4

Position after: 29.Qg2

Position after: 25.fxe4
29...Rb8!
Taking the other way on e4 leads to forced
mate: 25.dxe4? Be5+ 26.Nd4 Bxd4+ 27.Rxd4 Black’s rook is best placed on the b-file. With
Qxc1+ 28.Rxc1 Rxc1#. such a preponderance of force on the
queenside it is certain that the days of the
25...Bxe4!
white king there are numbered.
30.Bb2 Hillarp Persson, Tiger (2567)
Grooten, Herman (2350)
30.Bd2 Ba3 31.Bc1 Bxc1 32.Rxc1 Qb6 leads
Hoogeveen NED 2007
to inevitable mate.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6
30...Nxb2 31.Nd4
5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e6 7.Qd2 Be7 8.f3 Nc6 9.g4
0-0 10.0-0-0 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 b5 12.g5 Nd7
13.h4 Rb8!?

Position after: 31.Nd4

If White takes back it’s mate in 4: 31.Kxb2

Bd2+ 32.Ka1 Bc3+.
Position after: 13...Rb8!?
31...Nxd1!
After this somewhat unusual move, my
Kasparov goes for a classy finish. He allows
opponent sank into deep thought. He later told
the knight fork on e6, but the material gain
me that he himself had also played this line of
comes too late for White.
the Scheveningen with black, so I apparently
32.Nxe6+ Kxf7 did not really surprise him with my opening
choice. He did not know the text move but he
Resigns. immediately recognized the merits of the
After 32...Kxf7 33.Qxg7+ [33.Nxc7 Bc3+] move.
33...Kxe6 34.Qxc7 [34.Qh6+ Kf5 sees Black Later it turned out that there were several
escape the checks] 34...Bc3+ Black will first grandmasters who had previously chosen this
win the queen and then give mate on b1. move – among them, the then world
0-1 champion in Khalifman – Kasparov, 1988. I
myself had a recollection of being shown the
idea by GM Loek van Wely. He briefly
MODEL GAME for Black summarised the idea for Black in the coming
play: pawn to b4, knight to c4 via e5 or to a4
(and then c3) via c5.
A) The most usual approach here is 13...b4 So, for instance, 16...Bb7 17.Nd4 Ne5.
14.Na4 Qa5 15.b3 Nc5.
17.Nd4
B) In a game Leko – Kasparov, 2003, the
black player opted for 13...Qc7 and since then
others have followed his example.

14.Be3 Qa5?!

An aggressive move that as far as I know had

never been played in this position.
By the way, via a change of move order, I
wanted to force the king to b1. If the b-line
then opens, it will be to my benefit if the
white king is along it! But the queen is
probably less good here than on c7. Position after: 17.Nd4
A) 14...b4 has been played by Black a couple 17...Bb7
of times, with not especially excellent results.
B) 14...Qc7 is more normal, arranging to Maybe the bishop had to go to d7: 17...Bd7
continue with ...Nd7-e5-c4. Here it continues the protection of e6 and
makes way for a rook to come to c8. This
15.Kb1 b4 16.Ne2 move was played in De la Villa Garcia –
Guliev, 2002, which ended after a very
volatile game in triumph for the second
player.

18.h5

Position after: 16.Ne2

16...Nc5?!

Most likely Black needs to wait for the right

moment to commit this knight, and only move Position after: 18.h5
it to c5 or e5 when circumstances reveal more
clearly which one would be better. The situation is getting quite precarious for
Black.
18...Rfd8? The standard break. White’s initiative is much
faster, as can now be seen.
The idea here is to prepare the central break
...d6-d5, but this is altogether too slow. The 19...Bf6
rook has to (in any case) not leave the
protection of the weak f7-pawn. One of the most principled standard reactions
to g5-g6.
A) Yet, saying that, it is already too late for
18...d5?! to be much use because of 19.g6! 20.gxf7+
A1) 19...Bf6 doesn’t hold water either after
20.h6! fxg6 21.hxg7 Bxg7 22.Qh2 when the Luring the king out from its fortress, but
queen manoeuvre is also decisive. 22...h5 maybe there was a better choice.
23.Rg1 There is no way to defend the weak Once again the dangerous queen lift along the
pawn on g6. second rank came into consideration: 20.Qh2,
A2) Another try seems to be 19...Qc7 but setting up a future h5-h6 or perhaps simply
White can also meet this with the thematic aiming to continue with Bc4 (attacking the
queen switch to the kingside, which he sets up black king position from a second angle.)
as follows: 20.e5!
20...Kxf7
A3) 19...dxe4 20.h6! White’s attack is
breaking through. For example: 20...fxg6 It is remarkable that the king is not
21.hxg7 Rf7 22.Qh2 completely busted yet, even on f7.

21.Rg1 Na4

Position after: 22.Qh2

Position after: 21...Na4
with a double attack on h7 and b8.
Black has no choice and goes for an all-or-
B) Maybe 18...Na4 was a good idea to try and
nothing attack on the other side of the board.
scare White – but White nevertheless comes
The position is discussed by GM Jacob
out on top with good play.
Aagaard in the context of game-defining
19.g6! choices that players sometimes have to make.
22.Bh3?!

My opponent thought for a long time over this

move, thereby indicating that he agreed with
me that the position was absolutely critical.

Position after: 24.Nb3

24...Bxe4

Of course there is no way back: Black presses

on. I saw that I could play 24...cxd2 , but the
Position after: 22.Bh3?!
endgame after 25.Nxa5 Bxe4+ 26.Nb3 Bxf3
Rather better is the move which Aagaard 27.Rxd2 Bxh5 didn’t inspire confidence.
suggested: 22.Bc4! The bishop plays a dual White can for instance play to trade off the
role here. On the one hand it attacks the weak bishop on f6 with 28.Bg5 and thereby leave
point e6, and on the other it fulfils defensive the black pawns weak.
functions – protecting the a2-pawn, and
25.Qc1
possibly also blocking the b-file. It will
become clear later why these are important.

22...Nc3+!?

The time has come for the black player to

show his cards, because things would go
downhill very quickly if he had to meekly
cover the e6-pawn.

23.bxc3 bxc3 24.Nb3

Position after: 25.Qc1

Of course the bishop could not be taken,

because the pin on the b-file means White’s
queen will hang. The climax now approaches
fast. My opponent had very little time to play
his next 15 moves – perhaps only as many
seconds – and partly prompted by this, I but not the follow-up. And here the story
decided to play the interesting combination becomes interesting. After the game, I was
which followed. congratulated by a large mass of people I
didn’t know. Among them was chess
25...Rxb3+?! journalist Peter Doggers (who started at
ChessVibes and now works permanently at
Played after 20 minutes thought, and I didn’t
chess.com.) He directed me to a table with a
see any refutation. So why not? In hindsight,
chessboard and asked me to play through the
though, the move is just a bit too optimistic.
combination and make some remarks. Of
Here 25...Bxf3? was completely losing: course I wanted to fulfil his request, so my
26.Rdf1 Be4 27.h6 g6 28.Rxf6+ Kxf6 comments ended up being recorded on video
29.Bg5+ Kf7 30.Bxd8 Qxd8 31.Qf4+ Bf5 (in Dutch,
32.Bxf5 exf5 33.Qc4+ and the end is nigh.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VT71eyS
The only playable move here is 25...Bd5 cj8.) What a shame, then, that the
although Black still has somewhat the worse combination was not correct! Discussion
of things after 26.Rd4! Rdc8 [26...Bxd4? about it was happening on all kinds of sites,
27.Bxd4 e5 28.Qg5] 27.h6 with a tricky and inevitably some of the audience had
position. turned on their silicon helpers and subjected
the game to scrutiny. I did the same when I
26.axb3 Rb8
woke up the next morning in my B&B – and
saw the refutation that everyone was talking
about.
This computer defense starts with the obvious
only move, which is: 27.Bxe6+! The bishop
simply must be taken because otherwise it
protects b3 and White will accomplish
nothing. 27...Kxe6 Now there comes the
second sacrifice: 28.Rxd6+! which is also
with check. The important feature of this
move is that it clears the d1-square for the
eventual escape of White’s king. Again, it
Position after: 26...Rb8
must be taken. If not, White simply takes on
“When one says A, one must also say B”. The e4 anyway. 28...Kxd6 29.Bf4+ Now the point
German-derived chess truism is apposite in is revealed. Black must give up the bishop on
this position. f6 in order to not simply lose the rook on b8.
In either case, a vital piece for his attack will
27.fxe4?? have been traded off. Nevertheless, the better
way to go is 29...Be5 30.fxe4 Kc6 31.Bxe5
In mortal time trouble my opponent goes Qxe5
terribly wrong. There was a remarkable
defense of which I had seen the first move,
 28...c2+!

White resigned at this point: Black

administers the final touch with his last two
pieces after having sacrificed no fewer than 4
of their colleagues. My opponent told me
afterwards that he had not appreciated what
this pawn sacrifice accomplished before it
appeared on the board. Indeed, mate follows
in three moves.

Position after: 31...Qxe5 29.Kxc2

when Black has managed to maintain material Now 29.Kxc2 (or 29.Qxc2 Qa1#) is
equality. Despite this fact, White is definitely answered by 29...Qc3+ 30.Kb1 It is amusing
better (if not winning) because of Black’s to remember that a few clubmates were
dreadfully unsafe king position. Black now following this game live and thought that I
brings this crazy game to a pretty conclusion. had just forced a draw with ...Qa1 +, Kc2,
...Qc3 + and so on. However, I was planning
27...Rxb3+! something else: 30...Qxb3+ and mate follows.
My opponent resigned as soon as he’d noticed
My point had always been this exquisite
this elegant finish.
second rook sacrifice.
29...Qc3+ 0-1
28.cxb3

Position after: 28.cxb3

 Position after: 6.Be2
e) Classical System with Be2/Be3 This is called the Classical System of the
Scheveningen. White develops his pieces to
logical squares: bishops to e3 and e2, short
castling and a quick f2-f4.

6...Be7 7.0-0 0-0 8.f4 Nc6 9.Be3

Introduction

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6

5.Nc3 d6 6.Be2
Position after: 9.Be3

9...a6

Many players on the black side of this

opening choose to play this move now, seeing
that it is (by and large) indispensable. It may
be delayed by one further move, but as we
will see, even this represents some kind of
concession. After 9...a6, Black will now be
able to develop his queen to c7 (without being
bothered by moves like Ndb5) and at the hangs and this constitutes a serious roadblock
same time he will be ready, after an exchange to White’s initiative. 12.Qg3
of knights on d4, to continue with ..b7-b5.
Black can delay the move ...a7-a6 and try and
continue in ‘pure’ Scheveningen fashion with
9...Bd7, which is an instructive move to
consider in several respects. This position
could, indeed, have also been reached by
various other orders in which Black played
only with his pieces.
Black develops the last minor piece and so
postpones for one more move the main
decision: does Black want to play on the Position after: 12.Qg3
queenside (...a6, ...b5) or in the centre with
...e5? The answer depends to a large degree A useful little insertion for White: he can
on what White does about the prospective delay worrying about the e4-pawn for one
knight trade on d4. move.
A) 10.Nb3! This is the very first example of a 12...g6!? Now, though, something concrete
standard pattern where Black plays ...Bc8-d7, must be done about the hanging pawn.
and White meets it with Nd4-b3. (For a full B1) Defending the pawn from d3 has a
explanation of what is going on, see the note tactical drawback: 13.Bd3 Nh5 14.Qf2
to Black’s 10th in the main line.) At first sight
a strange move: White seemingly
acknowledges that the exchange of knights
would have been to Black’s advantage, but
then moves the same knight to a square where
it doesn’t seem that useful. However, he takes
the sting out of ...e6-e5 (either with or without
a preliminary trade of knights) by ensuring
that it doesn’t hit a piece with tempo. So
Black should revert to his queenside plans;
the move ...a7-a6 can no longer be delayed.
10...a6 11.a4 Now we obtain, via a different Position after: 14.Qf2
move-order, the same kind of position as in
the main line (i.e. 9...a6.) This version is 14...Nxf4! 15.Qxf4 e5
somewhat in White’s favour. It is less good to win a pawn with 16.Bxe5?!
B) 10.Qe1!? Choosing to go for an attack. dxe5 17.Qxe5: Black’s game plays itself and
10...Nxd4 11.Bxd4 Bc6 This is the most after the logical 17...Bd6 18.Qf6 Qxf6
natural response for Black. The e4-pawn 19.Rxf6 Be5 20.Rff1 Bd4+ 21.Kh1 Bxc3
22.bxc3 Rae8 Black had a large advantage in
Areschenko – Ftacnik, 2005. He doubles on
the e-file and in view of the pin there, the e4-
pawn will very soon be regained, leaving him
with good prospects in the endgame that
follows.
16.Qf2 exd4 17.Qxd4 Qa5! 18.Kh1 Qe5
Black was still somewhat for choice in the
game Sukandar – Alekseev, 2011.
B2) 13.Bf3 This move avoids the concrete
problem which the other bishop move has, but
of course there is also a drawback: White now Position after: 10.Qe1
can’t use the f3-square for a rook lift. Black
has nothing to worry about. 13...b5 14.a3 a5 A) The older setup involves delaying the
(In one move!) 15.Rae1 b4 Now in the games knight trade: 10...Bd7 11.Qg3 b5 12.a3 Nxd4
Zarnicki – Kasparov, 1998 and Rudolf –
Mekhitarian, 2012 Black gained the upper
hand.

10.a4

Let us now clarify what the plans of both

sides are. White will be attacking on the
kinsgide, but will also have to decide in very
short order exactly how he plans to proceed
with this. The main way is to simply throw all
the kingside pawns forward, beginning with Position after: 12...Nxd4
the g-pawn: g2-g4-g5; and in this case White
tends not to allow the opponent’s idea of [It is also interesting to play the queen to the
queenside expansion (with ...Nxd4 and ...b5) b-file, from where she can initiate some pawn
to come to fruition. The second idea is to play breaks. 12...Qb8!?
Qd1-e1-g3, i.e. posting the queen (and
perhaps also later the rook) in front of his
kingside pawns. White could play in this
second way starting immediately. With
10.Qe1 he initiates the plan of Qe1-g3 and
Be2-d3. Then he will set to work opening the
position with e4-e5 or f4-f5.
Position after: 12...Qb8!? B1) By analogy to the 9...Bd7 10.Qe1 line,
after 14.Bd3 Black can swap off the enemy
13.Rad1 Nxd4 14.Bxd4 Bc6 Black had little dark-squared bishop by means of 14...Nh5
to worry about in Kamsky – Potkin, 2008.] 15.Qg4 Nxf4! 16.Qxf4 e5 and now in the
13.Bxd4 Bc6 14.Rae1 Qd7 Black connects his games Sychev – Alekseev, 2016 (blitz) and
rooks and prepares to send the queen to b7 to Recuero Guerra – Fier, 2008, Black
put pressure on the white center. 15.Bd3 a5 triumphed.
16.b4 Necessary, because Black wanted to
B2) 14.Bf3 a5 Note that in the analogous
play ...b5-b4 himself. [16.e5 dxe5 17.Bxe5 is
9...Bd7 line, Black was able to get his a-pawn
not a threat to Black.] 16...axb4 17.axb4 e5!?
to a5 in one move. However, this may not be
the most important factor in deciding your 9th
move. Here, after both the 15.Nxb5 of
Sutovsky – Van Wely, 2008 and the 15.b4 of
Kamsky – Mamedyarov, 2008, Black stood
fine.

10...Qc7

Position after: 17...e5!?

After the inevitable complications Black

achieved an advantageous endgame that he
nevertheless did not win in Svidler – Van
Wely, 1996.
B) 10...Nxd4 11.Bxd4 b5 12.a3 Bb7 13.Qg3
g6
Position after: 10...Qc7

Black wants to create play on the queenside,

stationing his bishop on b7 and the c6-knight
on c4. As already established, White probably
wants g2-g4-g5. But there are some nuances
which hold both sides up in the execution of
these logical plans. If White wants the pawn-
storm, he must preface his attack with some
prophylaxis against the idea of ...Nxd4
followed by ...e6-e5. The point is not that this
Position after: 13...g6 wins a pawn (although that could be true.)
The point is that the centre will open up to
Black’s advantage and reveal the flank thrust idea 13...d5 14.e5 Nxd4 15.Bxd4 Ne4
g2-g4 to have been premature. So White 16.Qe3 , played in Kramnik – Anand, 2003
wants to play the prophylactic Nd4-b3 at and leading to rough equality.]
some stage. That move would threaten the B) White can also still play his ‘other’
positionally desirable a4-a5, and to avoid attacking plan in this position, though Black
losing major space on the queenside Black has a few answers. 11...Nxd4 This is the usual
would have to reply to Nd4-b3 with ...b7-b6. formula. 12.Bxd4 e5
But there are two sides to the coin. If those
moves were inserted now, Black would have
a logical plan with which to continue
development – i.e. using the a8-h1 diagonal
for his queen’s bishop. So White postpones
the knight’s retreat until such time as Black’s
bishop has committed to the other
development – i.e. ...Bc8-d7. Why can’t
Black start with ...b6 instead, you ask? Well,
White has a little tactic in mind: Nxc6
followed by Bf3, lining up an extremely nasty
e4-e5 push that will win material. In Position after: 12...e5
summary, a sort of standoff is occurring
between the d4-knight and c8-bishop, where 13.Be3 [13.fxe5 dxe5 14.Qg3 Bc5 15.Bxc5
nobody wants to move first – but none of the Qxc5+ and Black stood better (having
constructive plans work for each respective exchanged off the most effective White
side without those pieces moving! Cue a tense attacking piece) in Kovalev – Van Wely,
waiting game. 2014.] 13...exf4 14.Bxf4 Be6 In this intricate
position anything can happen. Black seems to
11.Kh1 have easily survived the opening, but in
Jobava – Ivanisevic, 2008, problems
A useful prophylactic move for several nevertheless appeared.
reasons. In this way white wants to prevent
black from being able to force the swap of 11...Re8
dark-squared bishops on c5 in any variation.
In addition, a check on the b6-g1 diagonal is Black, in turn, bides his time with a waiting
now not possible; and finally, White clears g1 move that offers his position various
as a retreat square for the e3-bishop in case it advantages. The f8-square is cleared for a
gets attacked by a future ...Ng4. bishop (or knight!) and lining up this rook
with the e4-pawn and enemy queen is
11.Qe1
generally useful in the event of tactics in the
A) Black can also prepare a different sort of centre.
play with 11...Bd7 12.Qg3 Rac8 13.Kh1 and
A) As we have mentioned, trying to square
now 13...Nb4!? arguing that the move a2-a4
the circle of the waiting game doesn’t work.
has left the b4-square weak. [There’s also the
11...b6?! 12.Nxc6 Qxc6 13.Bf3 and Black Previously, White had lost his patience and
faces major problems. simply pushed g4, which carries a rather
B) The moment Black plays 11...Bd7 , the clever idea made possible by Black’s last
mechanism from the note to Black’s 10th move.
springs into action. 12.Nb3 b6 13.Bf3 Rab8 13.g4 Nxd4 14.Bxd4 e5 15.fxe5 dxe5
14.g4 Bc8 15.g5 Nd7 16.Bg2 Re8 17.Qd2 16.Ba7!? Ra8 17.g5 is the idea: White has
Bf8 18.Rad1 b5 19.axb5 axb5 20.Qd3 and avoided the capture of his dark-squared
Black faced major problems in Wang Hao – bishop with tempo, and it looks like he will
Kobalia, 2008. get his knight to d5. However there is a strong
and much-needed resource for Black.
12.Bf3 17...Rd8! 18.Qe2 Ne8 19.Be3 Be6 and by
now in Topalov – Kasparov, 1996 it was
Preventing the most desirable deployment of
obvious that White had overplayed his hand.
Black’s c8-bishop – i.e. to b7.
13...Bd7

Black has exhausted his useful preparatory

moves and now needs to get on with
development.

14.Nb3

White withdraws his horse from the centre.

We already know why: the black light-
squared bishop has been committed to its
Position after: 12.Bf3 second choice of square, and cannot so easily
reach the h1-a8 diagonal after the automatic
12...Rb8 response ...b7-b6 (which stops White from
clamping down on the queenside with a4-a5.)
Perhaps not strictly a waiting move, because Next, White can push his g-pawn without
in some cases Black may intend the very worrying about a reaction in the centre from
concrete ...b7-b5 push. But in any case the Black (as in Topalov – Kasparov above.)
fundamental tension in the position remains.
It is still too early for 12...Bd7 – White as 14...b6
usual continues with the g4 plan. 13.Nb3 b6
14.g4 Bc8 15.g5 Nd7 16.Bg2 Bb7 17.Qg4!?
White had some very interesting attacking
possibilities in the blindfold game Anand –
Van Wely, 1998.

13.Qd2
 The queen hastens to the kingside. Against
the alternative 17.Bg2 Black has a very
instructive move, specific to this structure and
highly deserving of being remembered.
17...Na5 At first sight a very weird move.
Black freely consents to doubled, isolated a-
pawns. But the point is that with the two open
files on the queenside he will develop
compensation – of more than sufficient value
– for the structural problems. 18.Nxa5 bxa5
19.b3 Bb7 20.Ne2 And Black had an
Position after: 14...b6
advantage in Radjabov – Svidler, 2007.
15.g4
17...Bf8
The time is ripe for this push.
Black needs to protect against the idea of Qh4
15...Bc8! and Rf3-h3. White has telegraphed fairly
clearly that this is what he wants: mate on h7.
Reaching the long diagonal – which White It is a simple and strong idea, but luckily
has just weakened – is so important that Black Black is just in time to defend against it by
loses two tempi in order to do it. Of course, playing ...g6, ...Bg7 and ...Nf8.
the move also creates a retreat square for the
f6-knight, which White was threatening to 18.Bg2
trap. On d7 the knight will stand quite nicely.
Making way for the aforementioned rook-lift.
16.g5 Nd7
18...Bb7 19.Rad1 g6

Position after: 16...Nd7

Position after: 19...g6
17.Qf2
This position arose on the board in the 24th
and final game of the 2nd Karpov – Kasparov
world championship match – which happened thrilling; White gave it his all on the kingside,
in Moscow during the autumn of 1985. A while Black countered on the queenside.
world title was at stake. Kasparov held a one- Eventually Kasparov had to offer two pawns
point lead, but in the event of a tied match to halt the white initiative and weaken the
after 24 games, the reigning champion enemy king position. He won the game, in the
Karpov would retain his title. Despite this, process beginning fifteen years as the
Kasparov was by no means playing for a generally acknowledged world champion.
draw, even as Black. The game was sharp and

The two famous 'K's' analysing. means of a pawn storm, or just with pieces. In
this game he chooses the latter.

MODEL GAME for White 10.Qe1 0-0 11.Qg3 Bd7

Ljubojevic, Ljubomir (2620)

Andersson, Ulf (2585)
Wijk aan Zee 1976

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6

5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be2 a6 7.0-0 Nf6 8.Be3 Be7
9.f4 d6

This is the moment when White chooses

whether he will attack the enemy king by
Position after: 11...Bd7 reaction to seeing the game had been: “if this
is any good, Black must stop playing the
Ulf Andersson (photo Jos Sutmuller)
Sicilian!” As yet, though, things have not
gotten that far.

14.Bf4 Bd6 15.Rad1

With this, white threatens some kind of move

with the d4-knight, unveiling the threat of
Rxd6. It is important for Black to prepare a
reaction, without making too many other
concessions.

Today
11...Nxd4 is considered to be the way for
Black to obtain a level game: 12.Bxd4 b5
13.a3 Bb7 and here White has tried a
selection of different attacking moves, none
of which gives an objective edge. 14.Kh1,
14.Rae1 and 14.Bd3 are alternatives.

12.e5!?
Position after: 15.Rad1
An exceptionally dangerous pawn sacrifice
for Black to have to deal with over the board. 15...Qb8!

12...dxe5 This is a typical Andersson move. In fact, it is

the only one that successfully prepares the
Andersson shows the necessary courage and retreat of the d6-bishop in readiness for the
accepts the gift. above-mentioned idea by White. In a game
In the game Bok – Iturrizaga, 2014, Black Neurohr – Darga, 1994, Black played
declined the sacrifice with 12...Ne8 but after 15...Rad8 16.Nb3 Nd5 and perhaps now
13.Nxc6 Bxc6 14.Bd3 g6 15.Rae1 White had White could have gained the upper hand by
achieved a small plus. means of 17.Rxd5!?

13.fxe5 Nxe5 16.Rd3!

Timman wrote regarding 12.e5 (in his book Another original attacking move. The rook is
‘The Art of Chess Analysis’) that in the naturally immune (16...Nxd3? 17.Bxd6).
present game, Andersson knew that White’s White threatens the annoying Re3.
push was premature; and also that his own
16...Ne8
Another Black piece has retreated to the back
rank!

17.Ne4 Bc7

It is worth pointing out what happens if Black

takes the rook: 17...Nxd3 18.Bxd6 Nxd6
[18...Qa7 19.c3! Nxd6 20.Nf6+ Kh8
21.Bxd3 and Black must give up one of the
two attacked pieces, because 21...gxf6?
22.Qh4 f5 23.Qf6+ Kg8 24.Rf3 Rfd8
25.Qh6! is mate.] 19.Nf6+ Kh8 20.Nxd7
Qc7 21.Nxf8 Nxb2?

It might appear that since Black has two

pawns for the piece, and neither of White’s
knights is exceptionally safe, he has
weathered the storm. But now there comes a
crushing double knight sacrifice. [21...Nc5 is
Position after: 21...Nxb2? relatively better, but among other things
White can choose to enter a 2-pawn-up
Ljubomir Ljubojevic (photo Jos Sutmuller)
endgame with 22.b4 Nce4 23.Qxg7+!! Kxg7
24.Nfxe6+ .] 22.Ndxe6 fxe6 23.Nxh7 Kxh7
24.Qh3+ Kg8 25.Qxe6+ Nf7 [25...Kh7
26.Rf3 is very close to mate] 26.Kh1!!+–
With the unstoppable threat of Bh5, winning
back the piece with interest and a mating
attack.

18.Rc3!
 19...Nxd4

Black counted on this excellent intermediate

move and indeed he rescues himself by means
of it.
Now 19...Qxc7? would lose immediately to
20.Nf6+ Kh8 21.Qxc7 Nxc7 22.Nxd7 Nxd4
23.Bd3 and since the c7-knight and f8-rook
are both hanging, Black loses material.
23...Ndb5 is the only try. [23...Rfc8 24.Nb6;
Going for the same idea with the other knight
Position after: 18.Rc3!
also doesn’t work – 23...Ncb5 24.Nxf8 Nxc3
And again white appears to be playing on the 25.bxc3 hits the remaining knight, which is an
queenside, although in reality his laser-sharp unfortunate detail.] 24.Rc5 Rfd8 25.Nb6 Rab8
vision is directed at the other side of the 26.a4 Whoops! Something has clearly gone
board. White threatens Rxc7. wrong for Black. A knight falls.

18...Nc6! 20.Bd3 Qa7

Timman writes about this: “Andersson knows Now Black threatens a terrible discovered
better than anyone what pieces to withdraw in (and double) check with ...Ne2.
such positions, and where to.” It is indeed a
21.Nc5
pleasure to see how the Swedish grandmaster
defends himself against one of the most
dangerous tacticians in the world in a
sophisticated way.

19.Bxc7

Position after: 21.Nc5

Ljubojevic adds more fuel to the fire.

21...Bb5

Position after: 19.Bxc7 After 21...Nxc7 there are several options:

A) It is better not to enter lines like 22.Qxc7? somehow. What a shame, then, that
Nb5! 23.Bxb5 [23.Qxd7? Nxc3] 23...Bxb5 Ljubojevic was not yet aware of that fact...
24.Rf2 Bc6 and Black is for choice. 22...Rd8?! 23.Bxh7+ Kxh7 24.Qh4+ Kg8
B) Another option is 22.Rf2 Rfd8 23.Qxc7 25.Bxd4 would have been better for White.
Be8 24.Qxb7 winning back the pawn. But
Black can take it again and definitely not 23.Bxh7+
stand worse: 24...Qxb7 25.Nxb7 Rdb8
A sacrifice to begin the attack on Black’s king
26.Nd6 Rxb2
for real. The question is whether it is enough
C) White is probably best off seeking the safe for a victory. Timman: “Wonderful! The
haven of a perpetual check, which is set up in manoeuvres on the queenside were just a
spectacular fashion: 22.Bxh7+ Kxh7 feint, this is where the action is really at!”
23.Qxg7+ Kxg7 24.Rg3+ Now the rook
White could again force a draw in the manner
executes a pendulum swing between g3 and
already mentioned: 23.Bxg7 Nxg7 24.Bxh7+
h3.
Kxh7 25.Qxg7+ Kxg7 26.Rg3+ with
22.Be5 perpetual check.

Again, an unprotected black piece is attacked 23...Kxh7 24.Rf4?

with tempo. And another White piece reaches
a menacing new post – but still there is
nothing particularly wrong with Black’s
game.

22...Nc6

Position after: 24.Rf4?

This was White’s attacking idea: swing the

rook in and hope for mate! But analysis
shows that Black has great defensive
resources. Such great ones, indeed, that he is
Position after: 22...Nc6 winning by force. However, the details of
exactly how are very difficult, if not
Andersson finds the right defence again. It impossible, to find over the board for a
seems that he has survived the worst of the human.
storm and that White should bail out
24...f6?
A) Andersson misses a good defensive option of a knight fork: 32.Qg5 Rd1+ 33.Kf2 Ne4+]
here, which was indicated by Timman – but 32...Re1+ 33.Kf2 Rf1+ This skewer decides
he wrote that it was winning for White! At the the game in Black’s favour.
end of a long variation, however, Timman A1.2) 30.Qxe7 Rd1+ 31.Kf2 Rf1+ 32.Kg3
misses a great move for Black. So let’s get
stuck in. The move is 24...f5! and we have to
follow the line some way to figure out why
this move might be any better than the
seemingly less weakening ...f6. 25.Rh4+ Kg8
26.Qg6 Nxe5 27.Qxe6+ Rf7 28.Qxe5 One of
the sacrificed pieces has been recovered and
now that the queen protects the c5-knight,
White is ready for Rc3-h3. 28...Rd8 29.Rch3

Position after: 32.Kg3

Now the black queen, for so long sidelined on

the miserable a7-square, has a chance to give
her ‘opinion’... [After 32.Ke3 Re1+ White
once more has his queen skewered.]
32...Qb8+! This is the point – execution at
long distance. White is unceremoniously
mated!
Position after: 29.Rch3 A2) There was also 29...Rd1+ and Black
would also score the full point here. 30.Kf2
A1) It looks like White has created an
Rf1+ 31.Kg3 Now in this instructive position
unstoppable mate threat – what is Black
Black must find another only move and then
meant to do about the threat of Rh8? But the
continue walking a tightrope. 31...Rf6!
following moves serves as a handy illustration
32.Qd5+ Kf8 33.Rh8+ Ke7 34.Rxe8+ Bxe8
of the many hidden possibilities on offer in
35.Qe5+ Kf7 36.Rh8
Sicilian games. 29...Re7!! This formidable
move decides the game in Black’s favour. Not
only does it create a flight square for the black
king, but it also dislodges the enemy queen
from its central post, the importance of which
will be seen in the main line below:
A1.1) Neither is 30.Rh8+ Kf7 31.Qxf5+ Nf6
useful for White, even though the rook on d8
is hanging: 32.Rxd8 [Moving the queen out of
the way of ...Rf1+ tricks places it in the way
Position after: 36.Rh8 26...Nd8 27.Bd4 b6

and now finally 36...Bd7! is a suitably crazy- 27...e5? is no good because after 28.Rh8+
looking move with which Black can take over Kf7 29.Rxf8+ Kxf8 30.Ne6+! White wins the
the initiative at last. 37.Nxd7 Qf2+ 38.Kh3 queen. 30...Nxe6 31.Bxa7.
Re1 39.Rf8+ Kg6 40.Rxf6+ Kg5! and Black
is winning! 28.Nxe6 Nxe6 29.Qxe6+ Qf7
B) Black would find himself beautifully 29...Rf7 30.Rch3 is forced mate.
mated if he were to try and defend by means
of 24...Kg8?? – the queen is sacrificed again 30.Qe4
with 25.Bxg7 Nxg7 26.Qxg7+ Kxg7
27.Rg3+ Kh6 but now White has a second
rook available and so can deliver more than
just perpetual check. 28.Rh4#.
C) Strangely enough, Black had another
defensive possibility by which he could have
kept a slight advantage, namely 24...Nxe5!?
25.Rh4+ Kg8 26.Qxe5

Position after: 30.Qe4

This is typical of the ‘calculator’ Ljubojevic.

Because there is a threat of mate on the
kingside and a rook attacked on the
queenside, he seems to have won. Andersson
was short of time and that’s why he misses
the right defence here.
Position after: 26.Qxe5
30...g5?
and now once more the black queen gets
included in the defensive effort with Timman later demonstrated that Black was
[26.Qh3?? Ng6] 26...Qb6!! . 27.Rch3 f6 fine after 30...Qxa2!
Black has defended e6 and so gets to keep his A) 31.Qxa8?! actually loses to 31...Qb1+
material advantage. 32.Kf2 Qf1+ 33.Kg3 Qe1+ 34.Kh3 [34.Bf2
Qe5+ 35.Kh3 Qe6+ 36.Kg3 Nd6! with a
25.Rh4+ Kg8 26.Qh3 killer initiative] 34...Bd7+ 35.g4 g5 36.Rh5
Qf1+ Black wins decisive material.
This doesn’t just threaten Rh8 but also sets up
Qxe6 ideas. B) 31.Qh7+ Kf7 32.Qh5+ Kg8 White must
restrict himself to giving perpetual check.
31.Rh6 Ra7 32.Rch3 Qg7 33.Rg6 Rff7

Position after: 11...Re8

Position after: 33...Rff7 12.Qe1

34.c4 We already know this plan from other games.

With the pawn already on a4 White usually
and here black resigned. Timman: “And with chooses something else, but the present move
this (and I also speak on behalf of is not completely without venom either.
grandmasters Raymond Keene, Ken Rogoff
and Gudmundur Sigurjonsson, before whose 12...Nxd4
excited eyes I demonstrated the present game)
I sign off on my analysis. I want to convey to The usual way to answer. Black wants to clear
you the feeling that came to us during that up the situation in the center quickly.
session in the Spanish town of Orense: that
13.Bxd4 e5
this was the best game of the past twenty
years.” 1-0

MODEL GAME for White

Kamsky, Gata (2686)

Van Wely, Loek (2647)
Wijk aan Zee 2006

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6

5.Nc3 d6 6.Be2 a6 7.0-0 Be7 8.a4 Nc6
9.Be3 0-0 10.f4 Qc7 11.Kh1 Re8 Position after: 13...e5

14.Be3

The trade with 14.fxe5 dxe5 15.Qg3 is

somewhat more popular. Here it is important
that White already has his king on h1, so that
Black has no possibility of equalising
instantly with the bishop-trade ... Bc5. Now,
though, Black has to go through some
contortions to avoid being steamrollered
immediately. 15...Bd8 and now:

Position after: 16.a5

At the time, a new idea. Kamsky wants to

place Black’s queenside pawns in a bind, and
later develop pressure on that side of the
board. Previously 16.Qd2 was tried, as well
as 16.Qg3.
Position after: 15...Bd8
16...Nd7
16.Rxf6?! doesn’t promise anything, but
Black does need to be accurate. 16...Bxf6 This is Black’s normal plan. The knight aims
[16...exd4!? gives a smaller advantage, but for e5. If Black had the time, he could even
perhaps less stress.] 17.Nd5 Qd6 18.Bc3 consider trying to put the bishop there (...Be7-
[18.Bc5 Qc6 19.Rf1 Bd8 is similar] 18...Bd8 f6-e5) but in this case he doesn’t.
White’s initiative runs out of steam. 16.Be3
Kh8 Visually we can see that White has an 17.Qg3 Ne5 18.Be3 Bf8
initiative, but it proves difficult to use in any
meaningful sense. 17.Bg5 Be6 18.Rad1 and Another normal reaction is 18...Rac8 19.Bb6
now two moves have been played Qc6.
successfully for Black in practice: 18...Ng8
19.Bb6 Qc6
and 18...Be7.

14...exf4 15.Bxf4 Be6 16.a5

Position after: 19...Qc6 The knight has arrived on d4 and this opens
up the option of playing Nxe6. Here Black
20.Bd3!? does not have a whole lot of options.
Initiating an interesting concept. White 22...Qd7 23.Rad1
protects two of his pawns – on c2 and e4. The
square which this bishop just left is made
available for a ‘pit stop’ of the c3-knight on
its way to d4, where it will stand a great deal
better than in its current location.

20...g6 21.Ne2

Position after: 23.Rad1

23...Rac8

Maybe 23...Nc4 was better? Well, after

24.Bxc4 Bxc4 25.Rfe1 Be5 26.Qf3 White is
on top because he is poised to clamp the d6-
Position after: 21.Ne2 pawn in place with a grip of incredible
strength: b2-b3, c2-c4 and there will be no
21...Bg7 way out.
Kamsky thought (rightly) that the swap of the 24.b3
beautiful e5-knight for his light-squared
bishop would not be something his opponent Here too White tries to make the same
wanted. He was right, partly because this mechanism work. So Van Wely takes action
swap would also lead to the dark-squared to stop it immediately.
bishops being traded. 21...Nxd3?! 22.cxd3
Qb5 [We should also consider the move 24...Bg4 25.Rd2 Nxd3 26.Qxd3 d5
22...Qc2 . Now a possible continuation is
23.Qf3 Bg7 24.Bd4! Bxd4 25.Nxd4 Qc7
when White has a comfortable edge.] 23.Bd4
Bg7 24.Bxg7 Kxg7 25.Nf4 White is better
again.

22.Nd4
 White has managed to build up a nice central
position. His pawn structure on the queenside
is beautiful and his pieces hold their central
outposts firmly. The queenside pawn majority
may become useful in a future endgame, and
the question is really what Black can summon
up by way of compensation.

Position after: 26...d5

This was the idea. If White had managed to

achieve c2-c4, the position would have been
very much under his control.

27.h3

27.exd5 Qxd5 would pose Black no problem Position after: 29.c4

at all. The two weaknesses (on e4 and d6)
have been exchanged for each other, and the 29...h5!?
opening of the centre favours Black with his
Heading fearlessly for a situation where
bishops. Black is fine even if, as seems likely,
White has a queen against rook, bishop and
the bishop-pair gets traded off somewhere in
pawn. Much safer was 29...Qe7 but after
the near future.
30.Qxe4 White would also have had the
27...dxe4 better of this game.

Van Wely is well known as a ‘pawn grabber’ 30.Nb5

but here he had another route down which to
Even stronger was 30.Nf5!? Here too the
go. After the Ftacnik-endorsed 27...Bh6!?
queen must be given. After 30...Qxd2
Black could have injected some much-needed
31.Qxd2 Bxf5 32.Qg5! White has the
dynamism into his position. 28.hxg4 dxe4
advantage.
29.Qe2 Bxd2 30.Qxd2 Qxg4 Black has two
pawns and a rook against two pieces. This 30...axb5 31.Rxd7 Bxd7
material balance could go either way,
depending on how well Black is able to
generate tactics against the enemy king.

28.Qe3 Be6 29.c4

 It is understandable that White wants to put
black’s passed pawn ‘under lock and key’.
When that is done, he can begin to push with
a5-a6. A nice positional trap is 34.Rc1!?
which Black has to meet by 34...Bc4 , leaving
the position not entirely clear. [Instead, by
trading on c1 with 34...Rxc1+?? Black would
lose immediately. After 35.Qxc1 there is very
simply no way to prevent the a-pawn from
running.]
Position after: 31...Bxd7 34...Bc4 35.Rc1
32.Qf4 Trading off the b5-pawn is not a healthy thing
for White’s winning chances. But 35.Rb1 Bd3
Perhaps letting the advantage slip somewhat.
36.Rb3 Bc2 doesn’t keep them either at this
More logical was 32.Bd4!? Bxd4 [32...bxc4??
point.
33.Bxg7 Kxg7 34.Qd4+ wins a piece.]
33.Qxd4 Here, despite Black’s strong e-pawn, 35...Bxb5 36.Rxc8 Rxc8 37.Qxe4
White has a small and stable advantage.
33...Re7 [Less good is 33...Bc6 when after
34.Qf2 Rf8 35.cxb5 Bxb5 36.Re1 White has
managed to get the e-pawn completely under
control.] 34.cxb5 Bxb5 35.Re1 Rce8 36.Re3
Whether this is actually enough to win,
however, is still up for debate.

32...Be6 33.cxb5 Bxb3

Position after: 37.Qxe4

37...Bc6

White has an advantage, but most likely in

name only, after the trade 37...Ba6 38.Bd4
because Black is extremely solid and has
good fortress chances.

Position after: 33...Bxb3 38.Qc2 Re8 39.Bf2 Re6 40.Kg1 Be5 41.Qb3
Bf4
34.Be3
 Perhaps Kamsky had seen the consequences
of the alternative and therefore tried to play
the same idea in a different way.
Here there was an opportunity to create a
passed pawn: 44.a6 with the following
variations. 44...Ra4
A) Here 45.axb7 gives nothing because of
45...Ra1+ 46.Be1 Bxb7 47.Qe3 [White even
has to be careful to avoid 47.Qxb7? which
actually loses to 47...Bg3!] 47...Bg7 Here
Position after: 41...Bf4 neither side is playing for anything in
particular.
42.h4
B) 45.a7 Ra1+ 46.Be1 Rxe1+ 47.Kf2 Ra1
The game would have ended in a draw after Black is temporarily material up, but he loses
42.Qc4 Bc7 43.Qc3 Re2. the rook. 48.Qd8+ Kg7 49.a8=Q Rxa8
50.Qxa8
42...Re4 43.Qb6 Be5?!

This move is rather lax, but there still isn’t

any punishment available.

Position after: 50.Qxa8

Finally we get the material balance with

which the game will most likely also end:
Position after: 43...Be5?! queen against two bishops and two pawns.
The pawn structure, with no breaks or entry
After 43...Re6 to leave the c6-bishop points for White, dictates that he will not win
protected, White would have no means of this game.
breaking through. Nothing suggests itself
after 44.Qd8+ Re8. 44...Bc7?

44.Qc5 Now Black definitively messes up. The dire

consequences of allowing a5-a6 on this move
seem to have escaped his notice.
The game was still basically a draw after
44...Bd7 45.g3 Bg7, on balance of
probability.

45.a6! Ra4 46.Bd4!

This strong move is probably what Black

missed. White prevents all the tactics based
on ...Ra1+, and with the same bishop sets up
some mating motifs against the black king.
The fact that this costs him the a-pawn is not
so relevant, because Black’s pieces are not in Position after: 52...Rg4
a position to defend adequately.
Now the first question is whether the white
46...Rxa6? king can cross the fourth rank. After the first
question, there are two more to come: even if
There was one more opportunity to create a White somehow succeeds in pushing the
fortress- this time with only a rook and pawn black rook back from first g4 and then f5,
for the queen. 46...bxa6 47.Qxc6 Rxd4 maybe there is no way through after it parks
48.Qxc7 Re4 49.Qc8+ Kg7 50.Qxa6 itself on e6. I doubt all three of these
problems can be resolved in White’s favour.
Most likely, this position is still within the
drawing zone.

47.Qe7

Not only threatening the c7-bishop but also

intending a queen move to the long diagonal-
either f6 or e5 (in case Black stops defending
the latter square.)

47...Ba5
Position after: 50.Qxa6
47...Ra4 48.Bc5 Bf4 49.Qf8+ Kh7 50.Qxf7+
Now Black takes another pawn: 50...Rxh4
Kh8 51.Qxg6+–
51.Qa1+ Kg8 52.Qe5 Rg4
48.Qe5 Kf8 49.Qd6+ Ke8
 50.Bf6

Now the black pieces are so badly out of

position that he cannot muster any defence of
the e7-square.

50...Bb6+ 51.Kh2

Here Black resigned because mate is

inevitable.
1-0
Position after: 49...Ke8

49...Kg8 50.Qb8+ is just mate – 50...Kh7

51.Qh8#.

Gata Kamsky (photo Jos Sutmuller) Vogt, Lothar

Andersson, Ulf
Cienfuegos 1975
MODEL GAME for Black
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 The black position can also be liberated with
5.Nc3 e6 6.Be2 a6 7.f4 Qc7 8.0-0 Be7 9.Kh1 11...e5 12.fxe5 dxe5 but he then has to
Nc6 10.Be3 calculate the exact consequences of the
exchange sacrifice 13.Rxf6!? The best
reaction is in fact to avoid accepting the
exchange and just take back the bishop.
13...exd4 [After 13...Bxf6 14.Nd5 Qd6
15.Bc3 and now the logical 15...Bd8?! White
can get an initiative with 16.Bb4 Qc6 17.Qe1
.] 14.Nd5 Qe5 15.Rf2 Bd6 16.g3 0-0 and
Black has chances of an advantage.

11...0-0

One should now play 11...e5 which has also

Position after: 10.Be3 appeared on the board. 12.Qd3 0-0 13.a4 See
Almasi – De la Riva Aguado, 2002, among
10...Nxd4
others.
Andersson sometimes took the opportunity to
12.Rad1
see if he could free his game with early action
in the center. Currently 12.a4 with the idea of holding back
10...0-0 is of course the most played option. ...b7-b5 is seen as more promising for White.

11.Qxd4 12...b5

Seems logical but has disappointed in

practice.
It is more usual to take back with the bishop.
11.Bxd4

Position after: 12...b5

Seeing that black has pushed on the wing

without having played ...e5, White tries to
profit from the slightly unstable position in
Position after: 11.Bxd4 the centre. Hence:
13.e5 dxe5 14.Qxe5 15.Qxb8

This may not be something White should aim White finds that his bag of tricks is suddenly
for, but on a superficial level things seem to empty and therefore decides to exchange the
have worked out. queens, but the endgame is very beneficial for
black.
Now 15.Bf3 could have been met by
15...Bb7.

15...Rxb8 16.Ba7 Ra8 17.Bb6 Bb7

Position after: 14.Qxe5

14.fxe5 is met by the simple 14...Nd7 and

White is saddled with a weak e5-pawn. The
key question is whether he can strike while
the iron is hot with 15.Bd3!? seeing that it is
rather dangerous for Black to take on e5.
15...Nxe5? 16.Bf4 wins for White in view of Position after: 17...Bb7
16...Bf6 17.Ne4.
A great moment for a strategic discussion.
15...Qxe5 loses material to 16.Be4 Rb8 The queens have been exchanged, a state of
17.Qa7! [17.Qxe5 Nxe5 18.Ba7 Bd7 would affairs which Black players tend not to object
still be playable for Black.] to because it means White will not be able to
15...Nc5 could be a possibility. develop a kingside attack. Black is in
principle better here because he has an
14...Qb8! important outpost on d5 and can start a
minority attack on the queenside, the final
This is the characteristic backwards-queen-
target of which will be White’s c-pawn. pawn
move upon which Ulf Andersson appears to
c2. In addition, he can use the half-open c-line
have held a patent!
for various operations that may be beneficial.
14...Qxe5?! is no good: 15.fxe5 Nd5 A somewhat less obvious weakness is the one
[15...Nd7? 16.Bf3 Rb8 17.Ba7 simply wins on f4. Only much later will this last factor
an exchange without losing anything in play a role in the development of the game.
return.] 16.Nxd5 exd5 17.Bf3 and now after
17...Bf5 18.c3 Black will have a terminally 18.a3 Rfc8
weak isolated pawn.
Black chooses the f-rook. Why? Because he 20.h3?
has decided that during the development of
his queenside attack, he wants to keep two
pairs of rooks on the board. For one thing,
White’s rooks can only operate along the d-
file, and there is no particular prospect of him
gaining an entry square there, so there is no
need to fight for the d-file. For another, the
a8-rook can actually be quite useful on the
queenside.

19.Ba5

This not only covers the knight on c3 (in Position after: 20.h3?
particular, against the threat of ...Bxa3) but
The psychological effect of Black’s solid but
also prevents ...b5-b4 in the long run.
useful moves begins to pay dividends. White,
However, the bishop is not in the best position
in his impatience, allows his f4-pawn to be
here.
isolated.
19...g6! Better was 20.Bf3.

20...h5!

Black wants to separate (by means of ... h5-

h4) the f4-pawn from its natural protector on
the g-file. It helps that at this moment White
cannot plug the hole by playing g2-g3,
because that’s illegal.

21.Bf3

Playing into Black’s hands a little bit, but in

my opinion the b7-bishop was sufficiently
strong that soon enough White would find
Position after: 19...g6!
himself compelled to trade it off.
We get another instructive moment here. With 21.h4 prevents Black’s aforementioned idea,
this little pawn move Black fixes the enemy but at the cost of creating more dreadful
pawn on f4. This can become an important weaknesses in his own camp.
target later on, especially if Black has a rook
on c4. In addition to that, the pawn move 21...Bxf3 22.Rxf3 h4!
provides a way for the black king to enter
battle on the kingside.
 25...b4 26.Ne2

White now has a backwards pawn on c2, but

black cannot get his pieces to control c3
sufficiently fast to prevent that pawn from
being exchanged with c2-c4. Yet there is a
move available with which Black would
obtain a winning position.
Placing the knight on the edge of the board
would lead to swift tragedy for White:
26.Na2? Ne4! and Black wins material. The
rook on d2 cannot go to e2 because of ...
Position after: 22...h4! Ng3+, and for that reason, on the very next
move c2 will become undefended.
This is the position Black was going for. The
f4-pawn is completely fixed in position and 26...Rac8
has no natural protector. At the same time,
thanks to the exchange of light-squared The minority attack has achieved its purpose:
bishops, Black’s rooks can count on the use of the c2-pawn cannot be defended. Black’s last
the c4-square. move is completely logical, but there was a
better one available had he thought to look for
23.Rd2 Rc4 it.

Here another aspect of the minority attack The strongest move was 26...Rb8! keeping the
appears: the occupation of the outpost on c4 bishop on a5 perfectly corralled. White would
(as mentioned by Nimzovich in his famous then have to play 27.c3 bxc3 28.Rxc3 Rxc3
book ‘My System’.) The rook is very well 29.Bxc3 Rxb3 when Black has accomplished
positioned here, providing lateral pressure everything he wanted.
against the f4-pawn. It must therefore be
expelled, but that leads to new weaknesses in
white’s camp.

24.b3

This pawn set weakens squares on the c-file

and this is another thing Black is often thrilled
to see in the Sicilian.

24...Rc6 25.a4

White naturally needs to do something about

his a3-pawn and chooses to pose the question Position after: 26...Rac8
to Black’s strong b5-pawn.
27.c4 Now begins a new phase of the game. White
has two weaknesses: the one on b3 – for the
Resolving White’s issues on the c-file, but in moment still a backward pawn – and the one
their place comes a new one on the on f4, which is for all intents and purposes
neighbouring b-file: the backward pawn on isolated. Black’s strategy will be to attack
b3. first the one and then the other, hoping to
It would be logical for White to try and trade disrupt White’s coordination more each time
off all the rooks with 27.Nd4 Rc3 28.Rxc3 until his position collapses under the weight
Rxc3 29.Rd3 Rxd3 30.cxd3 . However, this of its own internal contradictions. But of
doesn’t really solve his problems – the pawn course he will have to pay attention to
structure is still fractured. Black could, for White’s one active idea: b3-b4-b5, which if
instance, continue in the following way. realised would make the backward pawn into
30...Nd5 31.Ne2 Bd6 and with ...Kg7-f6-f5 a rather strong passed pawn.
in the pipeline, things are continuing to go
slowly but surely wrong for White. 30.Rb2

27...bxc3 28.Rxc3 Nd5 White immediately telegraphs his intention to

do just that, but it isn’t quite so simple.
In some sense, this move is the culmination of
the strategic changes that began when White 30...Bf6 31.Ra2
exchanged his e-pawn for Black’s d-pawn.
Here 31.Rb1? looks like a try, but the b-pawn
Black now has a pawn on e6 to defend the
is not worth the collapse of everything else in
beautiful outpost on d5, and White has no
White’s position. 31...Rc2 32.Ng1 Nxf4 and
pawn to attack it – hence the knight will be
it transpires that White must give up at least
almost impossible to dislodge.
two pawns before the b-pawn even gets to b5.
29.Rxc6 Rxc6 When it gets there, the play will still be
insufficient. It is important to note that 33.b4
can be answered by the nice prophylactic
move 33...Ra2! when even the prospect of a
passed b-pawn will be erased.

31...Rc8!

A very strong move, which is almost pure

prophylaxis. Black prepares to bring his rook
to b8 and halts the b-pawn in its tracks.

Position after: 29...Rxc6

 34...Rxb4

Now Black has a vantage point from which to

put pressure on both White’s weaknesses
mentioned above – b3 and and f4. It is beyond
doubt that both Black pieces function better
than their opposite numbers.

35.Rf2 Be7

Position after: 31...Rc8!

It seems like Black could have a trick, but it

fails. 31...Nxf4 32.Nxf4 Rc1+ 33.Kh2 Be5
34.Bd2 Rd1 Now Black threatens both ...Rxd2
and ...g5. But White can defend against both
by playing 35.g3! hxg3+ 36.Kg2.

32.Bd2

Naturally 32.b4 would be met by the same Position after: 35...Be7

move 32...Rb8 with the win of a pawn.
Preparing to add nails to the coffin of the
32...Rb8 33.Nc1 white f-pawn.

The positions of the white pieces make a sad 36.Rf3 Bd6 37.Ne2
impression.
It is a miracle that White can still defend all
33...Nb4! his pawns at all, but now he is left completely
passive and the final blow must come soon.
I suspect that Andersson was reluctant to
trade off his great knight for the ‘bad’ bishop 37...Re4 38.Rd3
on d2. But as Petrosian put it: ‘it doesn’t
matter what is taken off the board, only what
stays on.’ And here that is absolutely the
correct attitude.

34.Bxb4

White needs to give up the bishop.

34.Ra3? Bb2 is just wretched.
 The time is ripe to activate the black king –
White’s is not going anywhere for the
foreseeable future, so this is another
advantage to add to Black’s list.

41.Ng1

Giving up a pawn, but there was nothing else

to do anyway. Of course, White could have
tried 41.Rb2 which is a reasonable move. But
he would surely have been aware that Black
Position after: 38.Rd3 would continue with 41...a5 and then
complete his intended king manoeuvre to f5.
An active defence.
41...Rxf4 42.Nf3 Bg3 43.Kg1 Re4
38...Bc5!
Keeping the king cornered.
Why would Black trade off his bishop for the
crippled White knight? He would rather not 44.Kf1 Re3
play 38...Bxf4 39.Nxf4 Rxf4 because White
gets active with 40.Rd6 – though, saying that,
the ending after 40...Rb4 41.Rxa6 Rxb3 must
also be winning.

39.Rc3 Bf2

Holding the enemy king in place.

40.Rc2 Kg7

Position after: 44...Re3

Black is no longer bothered about the idea of

b3-b4. The threats against the white king are
now the most salient feature of the position;
Black stands ready to tighten his mating net
with ...e5-e4.

45.Rb2 e5 46.Rb1 e4

Position after: 40...Kg7 And that was curtains. The continuation could
have been 46...e4 47.Nd2 f5 48.b4 Ra3 49.b5
[Also after 49.a5 Ra2 the pawns are going
nowhere.] 49...Rxa4 50.b6 Ra2 51.Nc4 Rf2+ In amongst them, though, Kasparov scored
52.Kg1 Rc2 White’s counterplay is halted three wins. Yet at exactly this moment, with
with plenty of time to spare. the action reaching a crescendo and the score
0-1 at 5-3, the match was called off by FIDE
president Florencio Campomanes. Both
players were furious. Kasparov because he
MODEL GAME for Black claimed his opponent was about to collapse,
Karpov because he only had to win one game.
Karpov, Anatoly (2720) Picking up the action in 1985, the new
Kasparov, Garry (2700) arrangement was for a 24-game match (as in
Moscow 1985 Reykjavik 1972, and before that) with two
This is perhaps one of the most memorable extra rights granted to the champion: he
games in the whole of chess history. Let me would have the right to a rematch if he lost,
bring you back to that time and set the scene and in case of a 12-12 tie, he would retain his
by telling the story of the 1984 match. A year title. With 22 of 24 games played and the
before the present game, the first ‘K – K’ score tied, Kasparov managed to win the
match had occurred. It was a match using the penultimate round and take the lead. This
format of a race to 6 wins, with unlimited meant he just needed to draw the present
rounds. This had actually been the kind of game. Meanwhile, Karpov, with White,
match Fischer wanted to play against Karpov absolutely had to win that game to keep his
a further nine years earlier, but at the time world title. I remember very well that at the
FIDE didn’t agree – and when Fischer refused time of the game I was playing for the
to play under other circumstances, they Eindhoven Chess Club in a top-division
simply awarded Karpov the title. So Karpov match in Hilversum against HSG. At this time
had to prove to his public that he was the there was no internet yet, but we did have the
strongest player in the world, and he did so by ability to get a ‘nearly’ live transmission of
fending off two challenges from Korchnoi. the match using Teletext- a board was set up
The 1984 match was then Karpov’s third next to the device so that we could follow the
challenge, which was not from Korchnoi or Moscow game while playing our own. Of
even the aging ex-champion Smyslov (who course, this board attracted a great deal more
reached the Candidates final that year!) but attention than any of our own boards,
from Smyslov’s vanquisher Kasparov, who notwithstanding that we were some of the
was then just a young genius from highest-ranked players in the Netherlands.
Azerbaijan. The match reached 5-0 in Several thousand miles away from the world
Karpov’s favour and everyone thought it championship match, we were feeling its
would soon be over. But at exactly that tension. At a certain moment, when Kasparov
juncture, Kasparov began playing in the opened the position with a double pawn
‘attrition’ style. He made Karpov play against sacrifice, some of us actually abandoned our
his own systems; whatever Karpov played own games to watch! Nobody was making
with White, Kasparov would try it in a game predictions or kibitzing: we were all just
soon after, and of course many draws ensued. enthralled by the high drama, perfectly well
aware that we were watching the unfolding of moments.
one of chess history’s most defining

World championship Match between practice. The significance of this subtle rook
Kasparov and Karpov move is discussed elsewhere in this book.

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 12.Bf3 Rb8 13.Qd2

5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e6 7.0-0 Be7 8.f4 0-0 9.Kh1
Qc7 10.a4 Nc6 11.Be3 Re8 As we explained in the chapter introduction,
both sides are perfectly content to make
waiting moves. However, Black now has no
more useful ones and should now commit his
bishop.

13...Bd7

Position after: 11...Re8

This order of moves has become

commonplace in our modern tournament
Position after: 13...Bd7 Finally beginning to advance.

Now that Black has shown his cards regarding 15...Bc8

the light-squared bishop, White can stage a
pawn storm. To do this, he first needs to Black makes d7 available for his knight and
stabilise his centre, i.e. prevent Black from begins the delayed routing of his light-
opening things up with ...e6-e5. squared bishop to its optimal post on the long
diagonal where it projects a shadow all the
14.Nb3 way down to the white king in the opposite
corner.
Still following the chapter introduction.
The immediate 14.g4?! doesn’t work so well. 16.g5 Nd7 17.Qf2
The variation that follows is an instructive
illustration of my points about this line.
14...Nxd4 15.Bxd4 e5! and the white center is
broken apart, which completely disrupts the
flow of his kingside flanking action.
Incidentally, the structure after 16.Be3 exf4
17.Bxf4 Be6 18.g5 Nd7 is also interesting.
White controls the d5-square, and Black the
e5-square. The two sides will probably play
their respective knights to those squares soon.

14...b6

Position after: 17.Qf2

White’s most direct plan is to place two major

pieces on the h-file with which to attack the
h7-pawn. Of course, the question is how he
means to accomplish this. In any case, Bf3-g2
is a good idea. But to then continue with Rf3-
h3 is a bit crude, unless of course it delivers
mate immediately. More reasonable would be
the attempt to make use of the rook in its
present (and not bad) position on the f-file.
Position after: 14...b6 Under some circumstances, White can play
f4-f5 and possibly g5-g6. At the same time,
Otherwise White was threatening to establish the rook on a1, which currently is not doing
a grip on the queenside with a4-a5. useful work, can be transferred over to the h-
file via d1. When it gets to d1, the e3-bishop
15.g4
can be tucked back into position on c1. While
solving the problem of the two pieces Black In this way White prepares the rook-lift over
will be attacking when he plays ...Na5-c4, an the third rank.
additional perk is that the move gets out of the
way of the rook and allows it to swing to the 20...Rbc8
kingside via d3.

17...Bf8

Position after: 20...Rbc8

Continuing the trench warfare. Both players

are busy preparing their pieces – on both
flanks – to realize their full potential later.
Position after: 17...Bf8
21.Rd3
Black has a rather refined defensive timeline
in mind. The bishop goes back to f8, from As mentioned before, White leaves the f1-
where it will head to g7 after that square has rook in place. By doing so, he leaves the
been cleared by ...g7-g6. That would then option of f4-f5 open.
leave the f8-square free for a knight, and then
White still doesn’t really have active options.
Black would be defending the weak h7-pawn
The thrust 21.f5 would commit to an attack
against any mating attempts. At the same
which ultimately lands too slowly after the
time, Black is preparing to answer a possible
natural reply 21...Nce5, with which Black
f4-f5 with ...exf5 followed by central play. It
gains perfect control over the e5-square.
is essential that he counters White’s piece
control of d5 to do this – by ...Bb7 (as played 21...Nb4 22.Rh3 Bg7
next) or possibly ...Nb4.
Black has timed everything precisely: the f8-
18.Bg2 Bb7 19.Rad1 square is ready to receive his knight just at the
moment when it might be needed.
White follows the above plan. It is also fully
in Karpov’s style that he first wants to 23.Be3
mobilize all forces before taking concrete
action. The writing is on the wall: White no longer
has a concept of how to continue his attack.
19...g6 20.Bc1
A) After 23.Qh4 Black defends himself with Kasparov is so eager to double his rooks on
23...Nf8. this closed file.
B) The question is whether the situation now
24.Kg1
called for a decisive thrust: 23.f5!? exf5
24.exf5 Bxg2+ 25.Kxg2 Qb7+ 26.Kg1 Karpov continues making prophylactic moves
(he would rather ...Bxg2 did not come with
check) but this is of course not an attacking
move in any sense.
He had, nevertheless, to play 24.f5. 24...exf5
and now it was possible to complicate matters
with 25.Bd4!? For instance: [25.exf5 Bxg2+
26.Qxg2 Rce8 when Black has great
counterplay] 25...Bxd4 26.Nxd4 fxe4 27.Qh4
Nf8 28.Nxe4 Bxe4 29.Bxe4 and White has
no particular advantage, but the position is
Position after: 26.Kg1 unbalanced enough for his needs.

Now the white king’s position is more open 24...Rce8

than Black’s. Nevertheless, his attacking
Bringing everything under control. Now
possibilities are also more evident. There is
White can’t afford to open the e-file.
sometimes a possibility of f5-f6 in addition to
the present threat of fxg6. 26...Rc4 Black has 25.Rd1
to create something, but he does allow his
opponent’s main threat of fxg6. [26...Nf8?!
27.f6 Bh8 is no fun for Black.] 27.fxg6 Rg4+
[27...Ne5 28.gxh7+ Kh8 29.Rg3 Rh4 doesn’t
equalise either.] 28.Rg3 Rxg3+ 29.hxg3 Ne5
30.gxh7+ Kh8 This position could be rather
advantageous for White, though of course it
remains double-edged in practice. What is
clear is that Karpov missed a major
opportunity to generate winning chances.

23...Re7!
Position after: 25.Rd1
This move received much praise from several
commentators afterwards. The rook has a 25...f5!?
prophylactic function (defending the seventh
And now Kasparov can even opt for an active
rank), and doubling along the e-file is also
choice like this one. This push was one of the
made possible. We will soon see why
secondary intentions of black’s brilliant 27.Rg3?!
23...Re7! move.
Karpov does not take up the challenge. If he
26.gxf6 Nxf6 had done so, he would probably have retained
the world title. What would the chess world
A pawn sacrifice to start us off. Did Kasparov look like nowadays?
calculate the consequences accurately?
After 27.Bxb6 Ng4 [27...Qb8 28.a5] 28.Bxc7
Nxf2 29.Bxd6 Nxd1 30.Bxe7 Nxc2 31.Nxd1
Rxe7 32.e5 White would have had an extra
pawn, and furthermore Kasparov’s bishop
pair is getting traded. While Black could
obviously have continued (for instance with
...g5) there is no doubt that the pawn
advantage is quite healthy.

27...Rf7

But Kasparov offers the pawn a second time,

Position after: 26...Nxf6 and now it is taken.
Anatoly Karpov (photo Jos Sutmuller)
28.Bxb6 Qb8 29.Be3 Nh5 30.Rg4 Nf6

Black is perfectly fine to draw the game.

31.Rh4?!

Position after: 31.Rh4?!

Nothing is too badly wrong with 26...Bxf6 but
after 27.Qd2 Bxc3 28.bxc3 Na2 29.Qxd6 Karpov had to try this, but on its new post the
White could nevertheless count on a small rook looks singularly unhealthy.
advantage.
31.Rg3 Nh5 32.Rf3 Nf6 temporarily avoids Maybe not the most normal place for the
the repetition, but White has nothing better queen, but White’s problems had already
than 31.Rg3 anyway. begun.
After 35.Qe2 the black queen peeps out from
31...g5!?
her hidey-hole on b8: 35...Qa7+ 36.Kh1 Ne3
Now the cat is truly among the pigeons. It is 37.Rxd6? [37.Rg1 is relatively better but
unbelievable that the young Kasparov played Black still keeps the upper hand by playing
in such determined fashion in a game where 37...Nxg2 38.Qxg2 Rf2] 37...Ref8! Black
the world title was at stake. takes over the initiative. There is no way of
parrying the double threat of ...Rf2 and
32.fxg5 Ng4 ...Rf1+.

He is not to be distracted. 35...Ba8

After 32...Nxe4 there was the disturbing
In mutual time trouble, Kasparov sets up a
prospect that White might sacrifice a queen
nasty trick.
for promising compensation: 33.Bxe4!? Rxf2
[The cold-blooded 33...Bxe4! , however, 36.Rxd6?
keeps some advantage.] 34.Bxh7+ Kf7
35.Bxf2 White’s chances should be preferred.

33.Qd2 Nxe3 34.Qxe3 Nxc2

Position after: 36.Rxd6?

An ugly error made under clock pressure.

Forced was 36.Qxb8 but after 36...Rxb8
Position after: 34...Nxc2
White must be satisfied with 37.Bh3 [Not
The second player wins back one of his 37.Nd2? Ne3 38.Re1 Bd4] 37...Rxb3 [Or the
pawns, but he is still down the second one. safe 37...Re7 .] 38.Bxe6 Bd4+ 39.Kh1 Rxb2
Compensation is offered by the bishop pair, when Black is surely not worse.
and especially by the unsafe position of the
36...Rb7!
white king.

35.Qb6
Undoubtedly Karpov missed this until it was Karpov manages to find the only move to stay
too late. Black suddenly stands poised to grab in the game.
the full point.
39...Kh8 40.e5??
37.Qxa6 Rxb3?!
But exactly on the last move before the time
Kasparov doesn’t take advantage of White’s control, white plays a dud and Black wins
slip in the most optimal fashion. without further trouble.
With the nasty 37...Nb4! 38.Qe2 Qxd6 Here 40.Rxe8+ Qxe8 41.Nd1 Na3 42.Qd3
Kasparov would have ended the game Ra2 43.g6 would have generated enough play
immediately. to split the point – not that that would have
been any use.
38.Rxe6 Rxb2?
40...Qa7+! 41.Kh1 Bxg2+ 42.Kxg2 Nd4+

Position after: 38...Rxb2?

Position after: 42...Nd4+
Understandable, but there was better.
Objectively, 38...Ne3! 39.Rxe8+ Qxe8 brings White resigned, which made Kasparov the
about a completely winning position. new world champion. He was (and is) a truly
remarkable player; the strongest in the world
39.Qc4! for at least 15 years and only dethroned in
2000...by his own protégé, Kramnik. 0-1
Garry Kasparov: the new World Champion (photo Jos Sutmuller)
 Show in Text Mode

0 Bd7 10.Qf2 Be7 11.Nb3 b5 12.h3 Rb8

13.Kb1 h4 14.Bd3 Ne5 15.Rhe1 a5 16.f4
Chapter 5 Nxd3 17.cxd3 a4 18.Nd4 b4 19.Nce2 Qa5
Exercises in the Najdorf and the 20.Rc1 Qa6 21.Red1 Rc8 22.f5 e5 23.Nf3
Scheveningen Rxc1+ 24.Nxc1 Bc6 25.Ka1 Bb5 26.Bg5 0-0
27.Qxh4 Rc8 28.g4 a3 29.b3 Qc6 30.Qe1
To get a proper handle on an opening, it is
necessary to not only read about it but also
have practice and experience. This can be
done either by playing training games or by
solving puzzles, such as the ones I am about
to give. The model games which you have
already played through contain the necessary
ideas; it merely remains to combine them in
the right order to complete these
‘reinforcement’ exercises. First, to get you
into the rythym of a real Sicilian encounter, I
have included the initial moves of each game, Position after 30.Qe1
which I recommend you play through on the
■ 30...? –+
board until you reach the diagram position.
Each diagram indicates whether you are The white pieces are arranged strangely and
solving from Black’s perspective or from black can make immediate use of this fact.
White’s, then (sometimes) some further QUESTION:
moves to visualise. Then a question will be
How did he do that?
given, which you should think about
carefully. As is almost always the case in a Show/Hide Solution
game, giving one move is not enough.
Calculate some variations – see how many
you are able to write down accurately within 1
twenty minutes (a maximum.) When you are Maes, W. – Nevednichy, V.
done, you can check your results against the Montpellier op, 2003
detailed analysis in the next chapter. Have
fun! 30...Nxe4!

1 A nice discovered attack which erodes what

remains of White’s coordination. I should also
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 note that the slightly absurd 30...Nxg4 wins
5.Nc3 Nc6 6.f3 e6 7.Be3 a6 8.Qd2 h5 9.0-0- too. 31.Bxe7 and now the remarkable point is
31...Nh2! This is, of course, a computer
move. But it has the same point as the idea
Black played in the game: White needs the
d2-square to be controlled by a minor piece,
and now that won’t be possible. 32.Nxh2 Qc2
Now White has to protect against mate on b2,
and with the c1-square also being weak, he
succumbs here. 33.Qd2 Qxd2 and mate on c1.

31.dxe4

A) 31.Qxe4 Qc3+ 32.Kb1 Qb2#. Position after 11.f4

B) 31.Bxe7 Qc2 Now White can’t defend
■ 11...? –+
against the mate on b2, because 32.Qe2 fails
to 32...Qxc1+ 33.Rxc1 Rxc1#. White indicated with his last move that he
would quite like to get active. But he has
31...Bxg5 overlooked something.
QUESTION:
Diverting the second minor piece – the knight
on f3. What might that be?
Show/Hide Solution
32.Nxg5 Qc2

Black will deliver mate using one of the

2
already-known patterns, so White resigned.
Rueda, L. – Browne, W.
32...Qc2 33.Qd2 leads to mate on c1 as
US op, 1988
before: [Likewise 33.Qe2 Qxc1+ 34.Rxc1
Rxc1#] 33...Qxd2 34.Rxd2 Rxc1#. 0-1
11...Qb6+ 12.Kh1 Nxc2!

White had probably missed this.

13.Qxc2 Bxb3
2
Black had a healthy extra pawn, which he was
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 able to swiftly convert into a full point.
5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.a4 Nc6 9.0-
0 Nb4 10.Bg5 Be6 11.f4 14.Qd3 0-0 15.Ra3 Rfe8 16.a5 Qb4 17.f5
Rac8 18.Qf3 d5 19.Nxd5 Bxd5 20.exd5 Ne4
21.Qg4 Bxg5 22.d6 Nf2+

0-1
 A) 21.Nxe4? Nxe4 22.Bxe4 Qe5 is simply a
double attack (on the a1-rook and e4-bishop)
3
that White can’t resolve.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 B) 21.Be2 was necessary but after this Black
5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 d6 7.0-0 Nf6 8.Be3 Be7 9.f4 could nevertheless claim an advantage with:
0-0 10.a4 Bd7 11.Nb3 Na5 12.Nxa5 Qxa5 21...Bxf5 [Or 21...Bxb4 22.Rxb4 Qxc3 also
13.Qd2 Rfe8 14.Kh1 Bc6 15.Bd3 Rac8 deserves consideration and gives Black
16.Rfb1 Qc7 17.b4 Bd7 18.Rb3 e5 19.f5 something.]

21...Bxf5

More concrete was 21...Ng4 22.Bf4 [22.Bg1

e3 23.Qe2 Bxf5] 22...Bd6 and White can’t
patch the leak anymore. For instance 23.Bxd6
Qxd6 24.g3 Qf6.

22.b5 Ng4 23.Bg1 Bc5

Black gets a major advantage in this way, but

he could have won immediately. 23...e3
Position after 19.f5 24.Qe2 Qe5 is curtains.

■ 19...? –+ 24.d6 Bxd6 25.Nd5 Qxc2

QUESTION: Black has won enough material that we can
What is Black’s best move? Work out some stop commentary.
variations.
26.Qxc2 Rxc2 27.h3 Nf2+ 28.Bxf2 Rxf2
Show/Hide Solution
29.bxa6 bxa6 30.Bxa6 Be6 31.Rd1 Ra2
32.Bb5 Bxd5 33.Rbb1 Re5 34.Bf1 e3 35.Rb6
e2 36.Bxe2 Bxg2+
3
Ponomariov, R. – Mamedyarov, S. 0-1
Moscow Tal Memorial Blitz, 2008

19...d5! 20.exd5 e4!

This is naturally the point. White can’t take 4

the pawn, because then he would lose a piece.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6
21.Bf1? 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.Be2 Nbd7
9.a4 Rc8 10.Qd2 Nb6 11.0-0 Be7 12.Rfd1
Starting to go wrong.
Nc4 13.Bxc4 Rxc4 14.f3 0-0 15.a5 Qc8 Forced, otherwise Black takes on c2. But
16.Nc1 Black’s game is pleasant anyway. The point is
that 19.Qxd5? would lose to 19...Rd8.

19...Bc6

19...e4 is a strong alternative.

20.Nd3 Qf5 21.Nf2?!

21.b3 might have defended better, but after

21...Rh4 Black also has a great game.

21...Rh4 22.Qe2 Qh5 23.h3 e4!

Position after 16.Nc1 The last good move to make sure White
doesn’t get back into the game.
■ 16...? –+
QUESTION: 24.Bd4 Bd8 25.Ng4 exf3 26.Qe5 Qg6
With which strong move can Black take over 27.Qg3 Rh5 28.Bb6 Bxb6+ 29.axb6 f5
the initiative? 30.Rd6 Qg5 31.Rxc6 fxg4 32.Rc4 gxh3
33.Qxg5 Rxg5 0-1
Show/Hide Solution

4
Kovchan, A. – Karjakin, S.
5
RUS-chT 17th, 2010
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6
16...d5!
5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 a6 8.0-0-0 Bd7
The rule of thumb is that if Black can manage 9.f3 Be7 10.Be3 Rc8 11.g4 Na5 12.Kb1 b5
to execute the breakthrough ...d6-d5, he has 13.Bd3 Nc4 14.Bxc4 Rxc4 15.Nce2 0-0
good play. Is this possibility tactically 16.g5 Ne8 17.h4 Qc8 18.b3 Rc7 19.Nf4!?
justified here? Yes, because after Rc3 20.Rdg1 b4 21.h5 Nc7 22.g6 Bf6

17.exd5

Black can actually just take back twice on d5.

17...Nxd5 18.Nxd5 Bxd5 19.c3

 This rook sacrifice brings the game to an
immediate conclusion.

25...Kxh7

Or 25...Rxg7 26.Rxg7+ Bxg7 and White

breaks through with 27.Nxg6: 27...Kf7
28.Bh6 Bf6 29.Qf4! e5 30.Nxe5+ dxe5
31.Rg7+ Ke8 32.Qxf6 could be one
conclusive sample line.

Position after 22...Bf6 26.Qh2+ Kxg7 27.Nxg6

□ 25.? +– Here, too, the knight capture on g6 is the

move which takes down the last of Black’s
With this well-known type of pawn sacrifice
defences.
White manages to open, by force, some lines
against the enemy king. After the practically 27.Rxg6+ is less clear but also winning.
forced 23.h6!? fxg6 24.hxg7 Rf7 we reach a
27...Rxe3 28.Ne7+ Kf8 29.Nxc8
critical position.
QUESTION: Black can’t avoid further material losses and
How does White administer the knock-out? so resigned.
Show/Hide Solution 1-0

5
Anand, V. – Timman, J. 6
Corus, 2004
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6
23.h6!? 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e6 7.Be2 Be7 8.f4 Qc7 9.0-0
0-0 10.g4 Re8 11.g5 Nfd7 12.Bh5 g6 13.Bg4
With this well-known type of pawn sacrifice
Bf8 14.f5 Ne5 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.Rf6 Nxg4
White manages to open, by force, some lines
17.Qxg4 Nc6 18.Nxc6 bxc6 19.e5 d5
against the enemy king. After the practically
20.Raf1 Bg7 21.Bc5 Qxe5 22.Rf7 Rb8
forced
23.Qf3 Qxg5+ 24.Kh1
23...fxg6 24.hxg7 Rf7

we reach a critical position. After 24...Bxg7

White plays 25.Qh2 winning in short order.

25.Rxh7!
 cannot be prevented except by huge material
sacrifices.

25.Rxg7+ Kxg7 26.Qf7+ Kh8 27.Bd6!

The problem with 24...Qd8 was this little

move. The queen on d8 is overloaded and
cannot take on d6, but at the same time the
bishop threatens the deadly Be5 as well as the
capture of the b8-rook.

Position after 24.Kh1 27...e5

□ 25.? +– After 27...Qxd6 28.Qxe8+ Kg7 29.Rf7+ Kh6

30.Qh8! White develops a mating attack,
In the game, Black played 24...Qd8. He
which cannot be defended against. The main
writes in his commentary to the game that he
variation is as follows: 30...e5 31.Qxh7+ Kg5
had intended 24...e5 but that he only at this
32.h4+ Kg4 33.Qh6 Bf5 [33...e4 34.Qg5+
moment realised that White had a forced win
Kh3 35.Qg2+ Kxh4 36.Rh7#] 34.Qg5+ Kf3
following that move. So:
35.Qg2+ Ke3 36.Qe2+ Kd4 37.Rxf5 gxf5
QUESTION: 38.Qd3+ Kc5 39.Na4+ Kb4 40.Qa3+ White
a) What was the win after 24...e5? And, wins the Black queen and mate will follow
b) How did White win after 24...Qd8 ? shortly afterwards.

Show/Hide Solution 28.Bxb8 Bf5 29.Bc7 Qe7 30.Qxe7 Rxe7

31.Bd8 Re6 32.Re1 Kg8 33.Bc7 d4 34.Ne4
c5 35.Kg2
6
Shirov, A. – Anand, V. Not the most efficient way of dispatching the
Buenos Aires Sicilian, 1994 opponent. Anand expected 35.Bxe5 after
which he would have resigned: 35...Rxe5
24...Qd8 36.Nf6+ Kf7 37.Rxe5 Kxf6 38.Rxc5.

He had planned 24...e5 but then became 35...c4 36.Kf3 Re7 37.Bd6 Re6 38.Bc7 h6
aware that White had a hidden winning 39.c3 g5 40.Ng3 e4+ 41.Kg2 dxc3 42.bxc3
opportunity here. 25.Rxg7+! Kxg7 Bg6 43.Rd1 Re7 44.Rd6 Kf7 45.Bd8 Re8
46.Bb6 e3 47.Rd7+
A) No good is 26.Qf7+? because of 26...Kh6!
27.Bf8+ [27.Qxe8 Bh3! wins] 27...Rxf8 After 47.Rd7+ Kg8 48.Rd8 no questions
28.Qxf8+ Kh5 and Black is in fact winning, remain about the result.
in spite of his exposed king.
1-0
B) 26.Bf8+! The move that Anand hadn’t
seen beforehand. 26...Kh8 27.Qf7 Mate
 34.Bxh6!
7 The text is simpler than 34.Nxh6 , although
that move wins too, as follows: 34...gxh6
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Nc3 a6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4
35.Bxh6! Bxh6 36.Qxh6+ Kg8 37.g7 Qxg2+
Nc6 6.Be2 d6 7.0-0 Nf6 8.Be3 Be7 9.f4 0-0
38.Kxg2 Rxg7+ 39.Kh1 with a winning
10.a4 Qc7 11.Kh1 Re8 12.Bf3 Na5 13.g4
endgame for White – although significant
Nd7 14.Bg2 Bf8 15.Qe1 b6 16.Rd1 Bb7
technical work remains to be done.
17.Qh4 Nc6 18.Nde2 Nb4 19.Rd2 Qd8
20.g5 f6 21.Nd4 fxg5 22.fxg5 Nc6 23.Rdf2 34...gxh6 35.g7+!
Rc8 24.Nce2 Nc5 25.Nxc6 Bxc6 26.Nd4
Bd7 27.e5! dxe5 28.Nf3 Bc6 29.Nxe5 Another cute move. Certainly not 35.Rxf8+?
Bxg2+ 30.Rxg2 Rc7 31.Ng4 Kh8 32.Qh3 Rxf8 36.g7+ Kxg7 which wins the queen
Qd5 33.g6 h6 after 37.Ne3+ but at too high a cost.
[37.Qxh6+?? Kf7! and Black even wins.]

35...Bxg7

After 35...Rxg7 36.Qxh6+ Kg8 [36...Rh7

37.Rxf8+] White has the strong 37.Nf6+
available.

36.Nxh6

Threatening Nf7+ followed by Qh8#.

36...Qxg2+ 37.Qxg2 Bxh6

Position after 33...h6
37...Kh7 38.Qh3 Bxh6 39.Rf6 wins for
□ 34.? +–
White.
After lengthy preparations White is finally
ready to land the decisive blow. 38.Qg6
QUESTION:
Here Black resigned. After 38.Qg6 Rg8
How does he do so in the maximally effective 39.Qxh6+ Rh7 40.Qf6+ Rhg7 41.Qh4+ Rh7
manner? 42.Qd4+ Rhg7 43.Rf7 White isn’t merely
Show/Hide Solution trading rooks, but also threatening mate
starting with Qh4.
1-0
7
Anand, V. – Topalov, V.
Dortmund SuperGM 24th, 1996
8 alternatively, White can delay the
(unstoppable) push and first play something
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 like 17.Ne4 Bb7 18.Qh3 which is also
5.Nc3 d6 6.Be3 a6 7.g4 Be7 8.g5 Nfd7 9.h4 difficult for Black to handle.] 17...Qxg5+
Nc6 10.Qh5 0-0 11.0-0-0 Nxd4 12.Bxd4 b5 18.Kb1 Be5 19.hxg6 hxg6 20.Ne4 Qf5
13.Bd3 Re8 21.Bxe5 Nxe5 22.Qg3 Rb6 23.Qh4 winning.

14...Kxg7

The sacrifice cannot very well be refused.

15.Qh6+ Kh8

15...Kg8 makes no difference.

16.e5 Nf8 17.Ne4!

White wants to play Nf6 and hammer away at

the h7-pawn until it drops.
Position after 13...Re8
17...Ng6
□ 14.? +–
Black clears the f8-square for a defensive 17...dxe5 Mokry, K 18.Nf6+–
piece (bishop or knight).
18.Nf6 Bxf6 19.gxf6!
QUESTION:
How can white create attacking chances Of course White wants the g-file open.
against the enemy king? Work out some
19...Rg8 20.h5 Qf8
variations.
Show/Hide Solution Now White finishes in style.
If the knight retreats with 20...Nf8 then White
will trade the rooks: 21.Rdg1 and after that is
8 done, mate will follow on g7.
Madl, I. – Summermatter, D.
Geneve-B, 1988 21.Qxh7+!

14.Bxg7! 21.Qxh7+ Kxh7 22.hxg6# is mate!

1-0
This bishop sacrifice breaks up the Black
kingside. 14.e5 is also almost winning. 14...g6
15.Qf3 Rb8 16.exd6 Bxd6 17.h5! and the
lines and diagonals towards the black king
bring White the victory. For instance: [Or,
 Chapter 7
Game Index

Origins of the Najdorf Variation

Fundamentals of the Scheveningen
Background of the Najdorf
Variation with 6.f4: introduction
1. Nunn-Cserna
2. Nunn-Grünfeld
3. Lutz-Svidler
4. Al Modiakhi-Anand
Variation with 6.Bc4: introduction
5. Fischer-Gadia
6. Areschenko-Akbarinia
7. Morozevich-Kasparov
8. Anand-Ivanchuk
Variation with 6.Bg5: introduction
9. Planinc-Najdorf
10. Velimirovic-Ljubojevic
11. Shirov-Anand
12. Karjakin-Vachier Lagrave
Variation with 6.Be3 e5: introduction
13. Carlsen-So
14. Topalov-Wojtaszek
15. Dai-Jakovenko
16. Shirov-Giri
Variation with 6.Be2 e5: introduction
17. Karpov-Nunn
18. Carlsen-Nakamura
19. Unzicker-Fischer
20. Mchedlishvili-Mamedyarov
Variations with 6.g3/6.h3: introduction
21. Giri-Grünfeld
22. Naiditsch-Carlsen
Background of the Scheveningen
Variation with 6.f4: introduction
23. Tal-Andreopoulos
24. Rogers-Arencibia
25. Almasi-Kasparov
26. Lorenzo de la Riva-Fedorchuk
Variation with 6.Bc4: introduction
27. Korneev-Shipov
28. Hennings-Möhring
29. Jenson-Psakhis
30. Moe-Grooten
Variation with 6.g4: introduction
31. Nakamura-Hou
32. Polgar-Topalov
33. Zhu Chen-Ehlvest
34. Kanarek-Movsesian
Variation with 6.Be3 e6: introduction
35. Smeets-Werle
36. Giri-Brandenburg
37. Movsesian-Kasparov
38. Hillarp Person-Grooten
Variation with Be2 & Be3: introduction
39. Ljubojevic-Andersson
40. Kamsky-Van Wely
41. Vogt-Andersson
42. Karpov-Kasparov
 Table of Contents

Title page
Symbols
Bibliography
Explanation of visual aids
Foreword
Chapter 1 Study of openings
Section 2.1. Introduction
Section 2.2. Standard Tactics
Section 2.3. Typical Manoeuvres and Strategic Concepts
Section 2.4. The Origin of the Najdorf
Section 2.5. Fundamentals of the Scheveningen
Section 3.1. Background of the Najdorf
Section 3.2. Variation Overview of the Najdorf
a) Najdorf with 6.f4
b) Fischer-Sozin Attack: 6.Bc4
c) Main variation with 6.Bg5
d) English Attack with 6.Be3 e5
e) Opočenský Variation: 6.Be2 e5
f) Other lines (6.h3; 6.g3)
Section 4.1. Background of the Scheveningen
Section 4.2. Variation Overview of the Scheveningen
a) Scheveningen with 6.f4 (Tal)
b) Fischer/Sozin with 6.Bc4
c) Keres attack with 6.g4
d) English Attack with 6.Be3 e6
e) Classical System with Be2/Be3
Chapter 5 Exercises
Game Index
1. Nunn-Cserna
2. Nunn-Grünfeld
3. Lutz-Svidler
4. Al Modiakhi-Anand
5. Fischer-Gadia
6. Areschenko-Akbarinia
7. Morozevich-Kasparov
8. Anand-Ivanchuk
9. Planinc-Najdorf
10. Velimirovic-Ljubojevic
11. Shirov-Anand
12. Karjakin-Vachier Lagrave
13. Carlsen-So
14. Topalov-Wojtaszek
15. Dai-Jakovenko
16. Shirov-Giri
17. Karpov-Nunn
18. Carlsen-Nakamura
19. Unzicker-Fischer
20. Mchedlishvili-Mamedyarov
21. Giri-Grünfeld
22. Naiditsch-Carlsen