Pes te) [ome ttt] Gary Lane |heScotchGame ExplainedThe Scotch Game Explained Gary Lane BATSFORDFirst published in 2005 © Gary Lane The right of Gary Lane to be identified as Author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. ISBN 0 7134 8940 5 A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means without permission from the publisher. Printed in Great Britain by Creative Print and Design (Wales), Ebbw Vale for the publishers B.T. Batsford Ltd, The Chrysalis Building Bramley Road, London, W10 6SP www.chrysalisbooks.co.uk Distributed in the United States and Canada by Sterling Publishing Co.., 387 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016, USA An imprint of chrysatl$s0oks Group plc A BATSFORD CHESS BOOKContents Introduction Mieses Variation: 8...Ab6 Mieses Variation: 8...2.a6 Scotch Four Knights Kasparov Variation: 4...205 5 Axc6 Classical Variation: 4...2c5 5 2e3 Classical Variation: 4...2c5 5 Ab3 Steinitz Variation: 4...h4 Other Black Defences Index of Variations Index of Games Page 24 37 65 81 103 120 142 165 168To Andrew Osborne With thanks to Francois Mertens for his help in providing inspiration for this bookIntroduction he Scotch is an old opening which has been revived and revitalised with modern ideas to make it a reliable system with opportunities for attack. The Scotch occurs after the moves 1 e4 e5 2 D3 Dc6 3 d4 exd4 4 Axd4 History Though first mentioned by Del Rio in 1750, it was the Scottish player John Cochrane (1798-1878) who made the opening popular after recommending that the London Chess Club play it against Edinburgh in a major correspondence match which took place from 1824-28. Thereafter it was immediately recognised as an effective opening weapon — indeed the Edinburgh players also employed it in the match and their success is the reason for its current name! In the intervening years it has fluctuated in popularity but the 1960s saw Radulov, Savon and Kupreichik successfully resurrect the relatively forgotten system. This was followed in the 1970s and 1980s by Dutch players Van der Wiel and Timman promoting the opening and giving it quite a decent reputation. However it was the great Garry Kasparov who gave the Scotch its biggest boost when in the 1990s he used it in three world championship matches and inspired a whole new generation to follow his example. Indeed when Kasparov first sprung his surprise weapon on Karpov at Lyon 1990 it was nothing short of a sensation. Armed with his fantastic analytical skills it seemed that the world champion could unleash forgotten, almost historical, lines at will — and still gain dynamic attacking chances. Thanks to Kasparov's example, the Scotch is today established as a formidable opening, attracting the attention of even the world’s leading players.Introduction How the Games Were Selected Originally I intended to update my 1993 book Winning with the Scotch but I soon realised that merely adding new references was not a practical solution as the subsequent huge tumover of ideas demanded a compete overhaul of the book. And this was not the only problem. I also discovered that I did not have the earlier manuscript in a usuable electronic format because it was done on an Amstrad Word Processor which had long been thrown out! I therefore set about writing a completely new book which would give lots of ideas to newcomers to the opening as well as club players eager to expand their repertoire. What to Play My objective is to provide readers with a range of ideas to suit all kinds of playing styles. For instance, in the game Radjabov- Karjakin, Dos Hermanas 2005, we see the popular Mieses Variation which occurs after 1 e4 eS 2 O13 De6 3 dd exdd 4 Dxdd DG 5 Dxe6 bxe6 6 e5 We7 7 We2 Dds 8 4 Db6 — and now 9 Ac3 is my recommendation. I think bringing the knight to c3 is a decent way to pursue the advantage. It also has the merit of being easier to remember because it is more logical than some of the other complicated lines. Radjabov is one of the world’s top players so it certainly reflects the latest fashion. If a potential opponent tries to look up a possible retort he will have no luck in the standard reference books such as Nunn’ Chess Openings because it is not even mentioned! Maybe someone will do better by looking it up in the latest edition of Modern Chess Openings but even there it is considered a side-line with only a brief mention. I have tried to provide alternatives for the White player who has no wish to enter sharp lines. This is the reason why the Scotch Four Knights is given in detail so that one can choose a line with a few tricks in the opening but with the main contest actually taking place in the middlegame. This variation has been neglected in some sources but continues to attract some of the brightest stars in chess such as the 2005 USA Champion Hikaru Nakamura. In this position from a game against Karjakin in Cuernavaca 2004White tried 11 Ba4!? which is a relatively new idea and it eventually brought him success. The lines with 4...2c¢5 are popular so I have looked at three alternatives for White. xf 2 ALATa 0ag z, - a Cy, ye DE Now this might be a familiar sight for some who follow the Classical Variation occurring after 1 e4 e5 2 DB Acé 4 d4 exd4 4 Axd4 Le5 5 Re3 WI6 6 c3 Dge7 7 Lcd and indeed it leads to some interesting tactics. However, White can also play a solid variation with scope for an attack by continuing 5 ®b3, as for example in Zhang Pengxiang ~ Moradiabadi, Dubai 2005: 1 e4 eS 2 ALS Dc6 3 d4 exd4 4 Dxd4 255 Db3 2b6 6 Ac3 d6 Tad Introduction The idea is to threaten the bishop with a4-a5 and if in reply he creates an escape square by a7-a6 then @d5 will force a retreat unless Black wants to play the rest of the game with a buckled pawn structure. 7.406 8 DAS La 9 WE3!? Another example illustrating how the Scotch can appeal to all tastes ~ from those who want the opening to be critical to players who prefer to postpone the battle for supremacy until the middlegame. If you want a more positional repertoire then I would suggest 5 ®b3 against 4....2c5 and the Scotch Four Knights against 4... Df6. There are bound to be opponents who will want to avoid your opening and try something different and I have made an effort to cover these offbeat replies because in my experience weekend tournament players like to try their luck with unusual ideas. Perhaps one that has more credibility than most is the Steinitz: 1 ed eS 2 D3 Dc6 3 d4 exdd 4Dxd4 WhaIntroduction Lused to play this line as Black so I know what is wrong with it! Basically, White has to accept that he will lose the e-pawn but in return he will gain an advantage in development and a strong initiative. The critical position arises upon 5Dc3 Bb4 6 Se? Wxed 7 DdbS Sixc3+ 8 bxe3 a8 Black is obliged to move his king, thus forfeiting the right to castle. Frankly, the number of miniatures won by White makes this an exciting way to pick up an easy point. In the Other Black Defences chapter I point out that the beginner's move 4....xd4 can in fact transpose to a line favoured by the Bosnian Grandmaster Ivan Sokolov, whereas 4...g6 transposes into a Pire Defence against which I suggest the aggressive 150 Attack. Lalso have taken time to discuss the timid 3...d6 which is often played by aspiring players. Conclusion The Scotch is well suited to the kind of player who seeks a forcing type of game with ambitions of attack. I have endeavoured to provide a repertoire for White that requires low maintenance and can be leamed in a weekend. The Scotch does have some heavily analysed variations and while I have mentioned them, the emphasis remains on systems that are easy to play and will allow White to emerge from the opening with promising prospects.Mieses Variation: 8...Ab6 Led e5 2 Df3 Ac6 3 d4 exd4 4 Dxd4 D6 5 Axc6 bxe6 6 eS We7 7 We2 Dd5 8 c4 DG History The Mieses Variation is so called in honour of Jacques Mieses (1865- 1954) a strong German master renowned for his attacking style. It is a recurring theme that openings are named not so much after their inventor but after their most famous practitioner and promoter. Such is the case here: Eugen von Schmidt of Moscow first wrote about the line in Schachzeitung in 1865 and it became so well known that it was recommended by Steinitz in his 1889 classic Modern Chess Instructor. But a few years later at the famous Hastings international tournament of 1895 Mieses played the line four times and it was his name that stuck. Since then it has had a steady following, being regarded as one of the sharper lines available to White. In the 1970s it enjoyed a surge of popularity with Sax and Sveshnikov among its enthusiastic adherents which in turn helped to attract the attention of world class players such as Timman and Ljubojevic who used it as a surprise weapon. In the 1990s it became a familiar sight on the international tournament scene with Dutch grandmaster Van der Wiel regularly employing it with success. Then of course Kasparov’s use of the opening transformed its reputation so imitators were queuing up to give it a go. Nowadays it maintains its strong reputation for forcing Black to enter perilous variations where accurate defence is essential. Basic Plan for White White tends to dictate matters in the opening by playing 5 Axc6 to facilitate the pawn advance e4-e5 harassing the king’s knight. The assumption is that Black will be obliged to enter the main line because early alternatives leave him with an inferior position. Therefore the main crossroads comes afterMieses Variation: 8...Qb6 8...Qb6 after which White has various choices at his disposal. I have selected 9 2\c3 because I think it is good, easy to lean and currently played by some of the best attacking players in the world. Basic Plan for Black This sharp line has to be treated with respect and with due knowledge of the — standard continuations so as to avoid an early calamity. The big test comes at move 8, whether to play ...b6 or ..fa6 — with the latter being examined in the next chapter. Black will have to contend with positions where the complications are difficult to unravel over the board and where things are easier for White who tends to obtain a standard space advantage from the opening. Radjabov — Karjakin Dos Hermanas 2005 1 e4 eS 2 Af3 Dc 3 dé exd4 4 Dxd4 D6 5 Axc6 The starting point of the Mieses Variation. 5....bxc6 I can honestly say I have never seen anyone at a tournament who has played 5....dxc6, allowing a poor ending, but after consulting some old books I discovered that it has occurred a few times so it always best to be prepared. For instance: 6 Wxd8+ Sxd8 7 Ac3 b4 8 Bd2 Hes 9 0-0-0! e7 (9...Dxe4?? allows 10 &g5 mate) 10 &d3 with the better chances. 6e5 6...e7 The idea of pinning the e-pawn has now been accepted as the best policy so as to prevent White from dictating play in the opening. Other moves make it easy for White to develop: a) 6...2)d5 7 4 and now: al) 7...Ab6 8 243 Ba6 9 Ad2 d5 10 exd6 &xd6 11 We2+ We7 12 b3 Wxe2+ 13 &xe2 gave White a slight edge because Black’s queenside pieces lack mobility, Lane-Wein, Brussels rapidplay 1999. a2) 7,..ab4+ 8 42 &xd2+ 9 Wixd2 Db6 10 Dc3 We7 11 0-0-0 0-0 12 £4 a5 13 W2 with good kingside attacking chances, Wells- Estrada Nieto, Koszeg 2000. b) 6..De4 7 WE Dgs 8 We3 Deb 9 2d3 d6 10 0-0 when White's better development gives him the superior chances, S.Lalic~ Westerkamp, Guernsey 2001.7 We2 Dd5 8 c4 White chases the centralised knight. 8...Db6 The main alternative 8...2a6 is examined in the next chapter. 9 Dc3 I have discussed this position in the introduction but at the risk of repeating myself I think that bringing the knight to c3 is a good way to contest Black's strategy. It also has the merit of being easier to remember because it is more logical than some of the other complicated lines. An opponent might do some research by looking up a possible reply in standard reference books such as Nunn’s Chess Openings but it will be to no avail as it is not even mentioned there! Perhaps someone will do better by looking it up in the latest edition of Modern Chess Openings but it is referred to only briefly. 9 Ad2 and 9 b3 are the main alternatives. 9... Web The queen attacks the o4 pawn and makes room for the Mieses Variation: 8...b6 development of the dark-squared bishop. Another popular continuation is 9...2a6 when 10 Wed (10 b3 0-0-0 11 2b2 26 12 0-0-0 297 13 £4 Shes 14 WR 2b7 15 c5 gave White all the chances in A.Osbome-Wilcox, Paignton 1987) 10...We6 transposes to the main game. Black can try to be independent with 10...0-0-0? but then Il cS! gives White the advantage. For instance: 11...Sxfl 12 cxb6 2a6 13 bxa7 &b7 14 2e3 (the pawn is preserved on the seventh rank maintaining White’s better position) 14...d5 15 exd6 Wxd6 16 Hdl £43 17 Wad Wg6 18 De2 Wd6 19 0-0 Be7 20 a8-W+ 1-0 Namyslo-Metaxasz, Budapest 2002. 10 Wed 10...2a6 Black continues to apply pressure on the c4 pawn. 10...g6 is examined in the next game. The idea of 10...£2b4 to pin the knight has to be respected because it gets another piece into the game but it should be harmless: 11 Ea Rxc3 (11...2b7 12 243 0-0-0 13 0-0-0 &xc3Mieses Variation: 8...Db6 14 Bxc3 Dad 15 Ba5 Dc5 16 Wes @xd3+ 17 Bxd3 c5 18 B with roughly equal chances, Lastin- Zakharov,Novgorod 1999) 12 &xc3 d5 13 cxd5 cxdS 14 a7 15 &bS La6 (15...c6 should be considered when 16 a4 offers equal opportunities) 16 £24 0-0-0 17 0-0-0 @xe5 18 Wa4 is better for White because he is threatening the a7 pawn and the knight. Black can try 10...d5 which volunteers to enter a slightly inferior ending: 11 exd6 cxd6 12 3 Wxed+ (12...826 13 £e3 Wred 14 Bxed He8 15 c5! dxeS 16 0-0-0 gave White the better chances in Sutovsky-Van den Doel, Plovdiv 2003) 12...Wxe4+ 13 &xe4 And now: a) 13...2d7 14 b3 0-0-0 15 0-0 e716 &e3 Bhe8 17 Bacl c7 18 Bfdl &f6 19 @f3 &f5 when instead of 20 a4 as played in Rublevsky-Kunte, Bled Olympiad 2002, 20 c5! manages to exploit the power of the bishops: 20...dxc5 (20...Ae8 21 cxd6+ Axd6 22 Dd5+ £7 23 Axf6 wins due to the threat against the c6 pawn) 21 @\b5+ cxbS 22 ExcS+ sb8 23 2f4+ winning. b) 13..2b7 14 b3 g6 15 &b2 g7 16 0-0-0 0-0-0 17 &f3 and White has the better pawn structure but chances should still be level, Pavasovic-Carlsen, Wijk aan Zee 2004. 11 b3 11...2b4 Now that the b-pawn has moved Black finds time to attack the knight. Also possible: 11...0-0-0 12 &b2 27 13 0-0-0 He8 14 £4 d5 15 cxd5 cxd5 16 We2 &b8! (a carefull move designed to safeguard the a7 pawn and avoid tactics based on JbS but not on the other hand 16...1Wh6 17 g3!? HxeS when 18 Qb5 He7 19 eS gives White an excellent attack) 17 &b1 g6 18 Be2 cS 19 2f3 Be7 20 g4, preparing to play f4-f5, gave White the edge in Kasparov-Adams, Internet 2000. 12 2d2 &xc3 The idea of the exchange is to enable Black to safely play ...d7-d5. Instead 12...d5 13 exdS Axd5 14 Bxa6 Gxc3 15 Bxc3 Axc316 Wd4 Dds 17 0-0 is better for White due to Black's weak doubled c-pawns. 13 &xc3 d5 14 Wh4 Played by Kasparov in 1999 and a move that has stood the test of time. 14...dxe4 15 cl! There is no need to worry about the pawn on c4 because it is pinned so White has time to adjust his pieces accordingly. 15 2e2 @d5 and now: a) 16 24 c5 (16...WES! is very good because the threat of ...Af4 jives Black the initiative: 17 0-0 f4 18 BFS (18 Bxc4? Bxc4 19 bxc4 We4 wins thanks to the threat of mate on g2 and ...e2+) 18...0-0 19 Efdl? cxb3 led to the superior position in Morozevich- Piket, Internet 2000) 17 &xc5 Ac3 18 Sxc4 Wxe5+ 19 2e3 Ded 20 0-0 &xc4 21 bxc4 0-0 22 Bfel with a slight edge, Kasparov- Adams, Sarajevo 1999. b) a7 17 Wd4 16 &xcd 5! to &xc4) Wxg5?? fails Mieses Variation: 8...Db6 17.,,.Lxc4 18 Wxe4 Df4 (18...0-0-0 is best met by 19 2d4! with the better chances) 19 Wxe6+ Axe6 20 0-0-0! e7 21 Bhel Ehd8 22 Exd8 Hxd8 23 He4 Buds 24 dc2 5 25 Hag Ad4+ 26 &xd4 cxd4 27 Hxa7 dd7 28 £3 with the better rook and pawn ending, Kasparov Timman, Wijk aan Zee 2000. 15...0-0 16 2e2 Ads Black would like to take the bishop on c3 so as to eliminate the defence of the e5 pawn. Instead Macieja-Korchnoi, Mallorca Olympiad 2004, saw 16..A\d7 to put pressure on the eS pawn but White simply carried _ on developing: 17 0-0 DxeS 18 Bfel £6 19 Bxe5 fxeS 20 xed Axed 21 Wxc4 Wxe4 22 Hxe4 with all the chances. 17 Sal Abd 18 bxe4 Had8 Or 18...Axa2 19 Kbl Habs 20 0-0 with a double-edged position 19 0-0 Ad3 If 19...@xa2 then 20 Bed1 Exdl 21 Bxdl Ab4 22 Hd8 with decent attacking chances. 20 Bc3 AxeS 21 He3 Ags An attempt to support the knight by 21...f6 makes little impression upon 22 f4 @g6 23 Exe6 (23 Wxh7+ &xh7 24 Exe6 also looks good) 23...Axh4 24 Bxc6 b7 25 Exc7 &xg2 26 Hdl when the ending is better for White. 22 Wes Wa7 23 ha White cannot resist increasing the attack by trying to push the knightMieses Variation: 8...\b6 out of the way. Instead 23 Wa5 is certainly good when the passive 23...We8 might help Black to hang on to the a-pawn but 24 £43 still leaves White with influential bishops. 23...f6 24 WaS We8 25 Hg3 We6 Or 25...Dxh4 26 p4 £5 27 2S when the pressure on the g7 pawn gives Black problems. 26 He3 We8 27 Hel 27...2\xh4? A risky venture allowing the h- file to be opened for the benefit of White’s rook. Maybe 27...c5 is necessary so that 28 Wxc5 2b7 at least gets the bishop into the action, although White is still on top. 28 Bh3 Dg6 28...f5 29 Ha3 2b7 30 Red 26 31 Hg3 gives White great attacking chances. 29 Whs The addition of the queen on the h-file seals Black’s fate because 29...h6 is of course inadequate due to 30 Wxg6. 29...We6 30 Wxh7+ f7 31 Bg3 -0 In the next encounter Black follows the same system but provides an alternative idea with 10...g6. Rublevsky ~ Lautier Poikovsky 2004 Led 05 2 Df Dc6 3 d4 exd4 4 Dxd4 D6 5 Axc6 bxe6 6 eS We7 7 We2 Dd5 8 c4 Ab 9 Dc3 ‘Web 10 Wed 26 Black wants to undermine the 5 pawn by means of a kingside fianchetto. 11 2d3 The bishop supports the queen and prepares to castle kingside. It is also possible to support the e-pawn by 11 £4. For example: 11...%a6 (or 11...d5 12 exd6 cxd6 13 23 27 14 0-0-0 is level) 12 b3 2g7 13 Qb2 0-0 14 0-0-0 £6 15 c5! (White pushes the knight back