Spanish

C60-C99: Spanish
Written by GMs Nigel Davies, Tony Kosten, Victor Mikhalevski & Olivier Renet
Last updated Wednesday, April 20, 2011
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ometimes called the Ruy Lopez instead, after the Spanish priest who first studied 1
e4 e5 2 f3 c6 3 b5 back in 1561, this is still generally considered to be White's
strongest line.
All the game references highlighted in blue have been annotated and can be downloaded
in PGN form using the PGN Games Archive on www.chesspublishing.com.
Contents
1 e4 e5 2 f3 c6 3 b5
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3...a6
3...f6 4 0-0 xe4 (4...e7 Steinitz Defence [C66] 4...c5 Classical Berlin 3...Nf6
[C65]) 5 d4 d6 Berlin Defence 4...Nxe4 [C67]
3...d4 Bird's Defence [C61]
3...f5 Schliemann [C63]
3...c5 Spanish 3...Bc5 [C64]
3...ge7 Spanish Other 3rd moves [C60]
4 a4
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4 xc6 dxc6 5 0-0 f6 (5...g4 Exchange Variation Intro [C68]) 6 d4 Exchange
Variation 5.00 f6 6.d4[C69]
4...f6
2
4...d6 5 c3 (5 xc6+ Spanish 4...d6 5.Bxc6+ [C73], Spanish 4...d6 5.00 [C72] 5 00
Spanish 4...d6 5.00 Nf6 [C79] ) 5...d7 (5...f5 Spanish 4...d6 5.c3 [C74]) 6 d4
Delayed Steinitz 4...d6 5.c3 Bd7 [C75] & [C76]
4...b5 5 b3 a5 Spanish Various 4th moves[C70]
5 0-0
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5 e2 e7 (5...b5 6 b3 c5 Worrall Attack - 4...Nf6 5.Qe2 [C77]) 6 c3 Worrall - 5...Be7
6.Qe2 [C86]
5 d4 Spanish 5...Be7 Intro [C84]
5 d3 b5 6 b3 e7 7 0-0 0-0 8 bd2 d6 9 c3 a5 10 c2 c5 11 e1 e8 Closed
Variation - 9.d3 [C90]
5...e7
5...xe4 6 d4 b5 7 b3 d5 8 dxe5 e6 9 c3 (9 e3 Open Variation Intro & 9 Be3
[C80], 9.bd2 Open Variation - 9.Nbd2 [C82], 9 e2 Open Variation Keres
Variation [C81]) 9... e7 Open Variation 9 c3 Be7 [C83], 9... c5 & 9... c5
Open Variation 9 c3 Bc5 & 9...Nc5 [C82]
5...b5 6 b3 b7 Archangel - 4...Nf6 5.00 b5 [C78]
6 e1
6 xc6 dxc6 Delayed Exchange [C85]
6...b5
6...d6 Spanish - 5...Be7 6.Re1 d6 [C87]
7 b3
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7...d6
7...0-0 8 c3 (8 a4 AntiMarshall [C88]) 8...d5 9 exd5 xd5 10 xe5 xe5 11 xe5
Marshall Gambit [C89]
8 c3 0-0 9 h3
9 d4 Central Attack - 9.d4 [C91]
9...a5
9...b8 Breyer's Variation - 9...Nb8 [C95]
9...b7 Zaitsev Variation - 9...Bb7 [C92]
10 c2 c5
10...d5!? Gajewski Variation 10...d5!? [C96]
11 d4
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11...c7
11... d7 Chigorin - Various 11th moves [C96]
12 bd2
12 d5 Chigorin Mainline - 12 d5 & Intro [C97]
12...cxd4 13 cxd4
Chigorin mainline - 12...cxd4 [C99]
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Spanish Other 3rd moves [C60]

Last updated: 12/04/06 by Olivier Renet
1 e4 e5 2 f3 c6 3 b5 ge7
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The Cozio Defence, which has been adopted by Bent Larsen and Ivan Sokolov.
A major alternative is 3...g6 which has also been used by many strong players including
Smyslov and Pillsbury and can transpose into the Cozio, for example 4 d4
a) After 4 0-0 g7 5 c3 Black's most accurate move order is 5...a6 (5...d6 6 d4 d7
7 dxe5 xe5 8 xe5 dxe5 9 b3 was very unpleasant for Black in Shaposhnikov,E
Bryzgalin,K/St Petersburg RUS 2002 (24)) 6 a4 d6 7 d4 d7 which transposes
into C75.
b) 4 c3 a6 5 c4 (5 a4 is a Steinitz Deferred) 5...d6 6 d4 g7 7 0-0 e7 8 dxe5
dxe5 9 b3 e6 10 d5?! very artificial and probably wrong, Karjakin,S
Govciyan,P/Montpellier FRA 2006, 10...0-0-0!
4...exd4 5 g5! (5 xd4 g7 6 e3 f6 7 c3 0-0 8 f3 (8 0-0 e7! was Mackenzie,G
Steinitz,W/London 1883 (48)) 8...e7! 9 0-0 c6 10 d3 d5 gave Black a good
game in Teichmann,RPillsbury,H/Hastings 1895 (30).) 5...e7 6 xe7 xe7 7
xc6 (7 0-0 c5 8 xc6 dxc6 9 xd4 xd4 10 xd4 d7 11 c3 0-0-0 was
Rozentalis,ESokolov,I/Yerevan 1996 (57)) 7...dxc6 8 xd4 f6 9 c3 (9 0-0 0-0
10 c3 d8 11 e5 xe5 12 xe5 e8 13 f4 b6 gave Black adequate play in
Nisipeanu,LAzmaiparashvili,Z/Las Vegas 1999 (44)) 9...g4 10 d2 c5 11 e3
0-0-0 12 h3 d7 13 0-0-0 c6 14 g4 he8 15 he1 was about equal at this stage
in Shirov,AAzmaiparashvili,Z/Montecatini Terme 2000 (46).
4 0-0
6
Alternatively White can play 4 c3 when 4...g6?! (or 4...g6 is better, 4...d6 5 d4 d7 6 0-0
g6 7 d5 was slightly better for White in Rozentalis,ERoussel
Roozmon,T/Montreal CAN 2004 (43).) 5 d4 exd4 6 cxd4 e7 7 c3 was very
good for White in Blackburne,JDe Vere,C/British Championship 1868 (12).
Black should meet 4 c3 with 4...g6 5 d4 g7 6 g5 f6 7 e3 a6 8 a4 b5 9 b3 was
unpleasant for Black in Levenfish,GTartakower,S/Carlsbad 1911 (13)
4 d4 exd4 5 xd4 g6
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(5...g6 6 0-0 c5 7 e3 xd4 8 xd4 g5 is another way to play it for Black see
Kosztolanczi,GCsapo,Z/Hungarian Team Championship 1993 (10).) 6 g5 g7
7 c3 h6 8 h4 0-0 9 0-0 xd4 10 cxd4 c6 11 c4 g5 12 g3 d5 13 exd5 xd5

and Black stood well in the game Grigoriev,NAlekhine,A/Soviet
Championships, Moscow 1920 (25).
4...g6 5 c3 g7 6 d4 exd4 7 cxd4 d5 8 exd5 xd5
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9 e1+
9 g5 d6 10 e2+ e6 11 bd2 0-0 12 e4 b4 was annoying for White in
Timman,JSpassky,B/Bugojno 1986 (40).
7
9...e6 10 g5
10 xc6+ bxc6 11 g5 d6 12 bd2 0-0 13 c1 fe8 14 e4 b4 15 d2 b5 was
OK for Black in Gelfand,BDreev,A/Moscow 1989 (41).
10...d6 11 bd2 0-0
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12 e4 b4 13 xc6 bxc6 14 c1 f5!?
was played in the interesting theoretical game, Sion Castro,MSokolov,I/Leon 1995
(35).
Bird's Defence [C61]

1 e4 e5 2 f3 c6 3 b5 d4
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Bird's Defence, which recently made something of a comeback when Vassily Ivanchuk,
Vladimir Malaniuk and others started playing it.
4 xd4
The critical reply, displacing Black's pawn structure.
After 4 c4 c5 5 xd4 xd4 6 c3 b6 7 d4 f6!? Black had a reasonable game in
Fontaine,AMotwani,P/Brussels, Belgium 2001 (17).
4...exd4 5 0-0
White can prevent ...c5 with 5 c4 but then 5...f6 (5...c5? 6 xf7+ xf7 7 h5+) 6
e2 c5 7 e5 0-0! is possible because 8 exf6 e8 wins the queen see
Zagrebelny,SMalaniuk,V/Tashkent 1987 (23).
5...c5
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Black's best move.
5...c6 6 c4 f6 7 e2 (7 e1 d6 8 c3 g4 is well met by 9 e2! Bird's Variation
Analysis/2005) 7...d6 8 c3 b5?! (8...dxc3 is reasonable) 9 b3 dxc3 10 xc3 a5? 11
d4 and with 12.e5 looming Black was in serious trouble in Short,N
Kimber,B/England 1975 (17).
5...h4 6 d3 c5 7 d2 e7 8 e5! g6 9 e4 e7 10 g3! threatened the awkward
11.f5 in McShane,LCostagliola,M/London 1997 (15).
A weird and wonderful possibility is 5...h5 when 6 c3 c5 7 cxd4 xd4 8 c3 c6 9 c4
f6 10 e2 b6 11 e5 d5 was fine for Black at this stage in Leko,P
Morozevich,A/Moscow RUS 2002 (47).
6 d3 c6 7 a4 a5!?
Threatening to trap the a4bishop.
7...d6 is more usual.
8 c3 b5
RenetJirka/Pardubice open 2006, when
9 b3! d6 10 a4
looks strong for White.
10
Schliemann Gambit [C63]

Last updated: 24/08/10 by Victor Mikhalevski
1 e4 e5 2 f3 c6 3 b5 f5
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The Schliemann Defence, a onetime favourite of Boris Spassky and David Bronstein
and Black's most aggressive third move alternative.
4 c3
The main line
White develops quickly in the hope of exploiting Black's laggard development.
Taking the gambit pawn with 4 exf5 gives Black a good game after 4...c5!? (An
intriguing alternative to the simple 4...e4 5 e2 e7 which also gives Black a good
game) 5 xc6 dxc6 6 xe5 xf5 7 h5+?! g6 8 xg6 hxg6 9 xh8 and
although White had won the exchange he lagged fatally behind in development in
the game Schiffers,EChigorin,M/St Petersburg 1878 (12).
4 d3 is simpler to play, but also has some venom, 4...fxe4 5 dxe4 f6 6 0-0 c5 7 d3
this is preferred in both Kaufman and Greet's repertoire books, and stops Black
from castling kingside. (7 xc6 bxc6 8 xe5 0-0 9 g5 e8 10 xf6 xf6 11 d3 d4 12
c3 b6 13 d2 with a battle between Black's bishops and White's knights and extra
pawn, Macieja,BRadjabov,T/KhantyMansiysk RUS 2007.) 7...d6 8 c4 e7 9
c3 d7 10 d5 xd5 11 exd5 d4 White had a longterm plus, but Black
managed to hold the draw in Carlsen,MRadjabov,T/Morelia/Linares MEX/ESP
2008.
11
4...fxe4
The socalled 'Bulgarian Variation' with 4...d4 is interesting, for example 5 a4 (5
d3!? could be more dangerous, as in Dvoirys,SMihailidis,A/Ano Liosia GRE
2000 (11).) 5...c6 (5...f6 6 0-0 c5 7 xe5 also favours White) 6 0-0 (6 exf5!) 6...b5
7 b3 xb3 8 axb3 b4 led to complex and doubleedged play in Lane,G
Sulskis,S/Port Erin IOM 2003 (29).
5 xe4 d5
5...f6!? This move, named the Tartakower Variation, is a strong alternative. 6 e2
(Olivier Renet indicates that 6 xf6+! xf6 7 e2! is stronger: 7...e7 8 xc6 dxc6 9
xe5 f5 10 0-0! Black can't take the pawn on c2, so White waits to see on which
side Black will castle before arranging his pawns in the center. If Black castles
short White will put his pawns on d4 and c3 with the idea of putting the bishop
on f4. If Black castles long, White will put his pawns on d3 and f4.) 6...d5 7
xf6+ gxf6 8 d4 g7 9 dxe5 (9 c4!? g4! Morozevich,AAronian,L/Monte Carlo
MNC 2006.) 9...0-0 10 xc6 (10 e6 could transpose, but allows 10...e5!? 11 0-0
c6 (11...xe6 Polgar,JRadjabov,T/Wijk aan Zee NED 2008) 12 d3 xe6 13 d4
g4 14 f3 d7 see Shirov,AGozzoli,Y/Mainz GER 2010.) 10...bxc6 11 e6 e8
12 0-0 xe6 Black has two potentially potent bishops, but a ragged structure. The
rook is well placed here, and both helps the centre advance, and then defends a6,
Shirov,ARadjabov,T/Odessa UKR 2007.
6 xe5
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The main line.
A solid way for White to play the position is with 6 g3 after which 6...e4 (6...g4 is
best intending ...d6 followed by ...0-0-0) 7 e5 f6 8 d4 exd3 9 0-0 and
White's lead in development led to a decisive attack in Visser,Y
Hommeles,T/Leeuwarden NED 2002 (18).
6...dxe4 7 xc6 g5
12
7...d5 8 c4 d6 9 xa7+! is strong see the analysis in the Morozevich game.
8 e2 f6 9 f4
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9 xa7+! first, is stronger, 9...d7 10 xd7+ xd7 (10...xd7 11 b5+ exchanges
queens)
9...xf4
Black has to accept the pawn otherwise he will be clearly worse.
10 d4
10 e5+ transposes after 10...c6 11 d4 h4+ 12 g3
10 xa7+ is the other critical line, 10...d7 11 xd7+ xd7 12 b5+ e6 13 xb7
d6 with a big advantage in development.
10...h4+ 11 g3 h3 12 e5+ c6 13 c4 e6 14 g5
This is all theory, White is better because he has a better pawn structure (the pawn on e4
is weak), and a very strong knight on e5. But practice has shown that Black's
position is very solid see Blauert,JSimonsen,O/Klaksvik 2002, and the notes
to the MorozevichAronian game for further details.
13
Spanish 3...Bc5 [C64]

1.e4 e5 2.f3 c6 3.b5 c5
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4.0-0
After 4.c3 it's dangerous to play 4...f6 (Black should probably settle for 4...f6 .)
because of 5.d4! (5.0-0 transposes below) 5...exd4 6.e5 and if 6...xe5 then 7.e2
4...ge7
4...d4 5.xd4 (this can also be met by 5.b4!? for example 5...xf3+ 6.xf3 d4 7.c3 b6
8.g3 f6 9.d3 h6 10.a3! was unpleasant for Black in Emms,JPayen,A/London v
Paris match 1994 (35) as White's knight is en route for d5.) 5...xd4 6.c3 b6
7.d4 c6 8.e2!? Vachier Lagrave,MWells,P/Liverpool ENG 2008.
4...f6 5.c3 ge7 6.e1 (The quiet 6.d3 is harmless after 6...h6 7.e3 b6 8.bd2 0-0 9.c4
d6 see Meijers,VSafin,S/NK Open, Dieren, The Netherlands 2002 (30)) 6...0-0
7.d4 exd4 8.e5 g6 9.cxd4 xd4 10.xd4 b6 won a pawn but saw Black fall
way behind in development in Nijboer,FBaramidze,D/'Harmony' Tournament,
Groninge 2002 (29).
4...d6 is the most popular move here, 5.c3 d7 6.d4 b6 and Black can develop his
king's knight to e7 if he prefers, to both avoid the annoying pin with g5, and
prepare ...g6.
5.xe5
14
5.c3 is the alternative, and is probably stronger, 5...b6 6.d4 exd4 7.cxd4 d5 8.exd5
xd5 9.e1+ e6 10.g5 d6 11.bd2 h6 (11...0-0 12.c4 b4 13.a4 is also
unpleasant) 12.e4 b4 13.xc6+ bxc6 14.c1 hxg5 15.xc6+ e7 16.a3 and
wins, as 16...xb2 17.exg5 f4 18.e4
5...xe5 6.d4 c6 7.e2 d6 8.dxe5 xe5 9.d2

9.c3 0-0 10.f4 is more to the point, although 10...c7 11.e3 d5 is reasonable.
9...c7
and
Black achieved a very comfortable development

Vreugt,D/Olympic Capital Young Masters 2000 (28).
in
Fressinet,LDe
15
Classical Berlin 3...Nf6 & 4...Bc5 [C65]

1.e4 e5 2.f3 c6 3.b5 f6 4.0-0

A way of avoiding things like the Berlin Defence (4.0-0 xe4) is to protect the epawn
with 4.d3, but as White often needs to play this pawn to d4 this can amount to a
loss of tempo. An interesting game arises after 4...c5 (4...d6 5.c3 (5.0-0 will
probably transpose) 5...g6 (5...e7 6.0-0 0-0 7.bd2 d7 8.e1 e8 9.f1 f8 10.a4 h6
11.g3 e7 12.b3 g6 13.d4 c5! Carlsen,MAnand,V/Bilbao ESP 2010.) 6.0-0
(6.g5 g7 7.bd2 0-0 8.f1 d7 9.e3 h6 10.h4 e8 is the game Krasenkov,M
Yuldashev,S/Istanbul Olympiad, Turkey 2000 (25).) 6...g7 7.d4 (7.g5!? is an
interesting plan, BaloghBerkes/Pardubice CZE 2007) 7...d7 8.e1 0-0 was fine
for Black in Berkvens,JMikhalevski,V/Essent Open, Hoogeveen, Hollan 2000
(14)) 5.0-0?! (5.c3 is more accurate, 5...0-0 6.0-0 d6 7.bd2 a6 8.a4 (8.xc6 bxc6
9.c4 h6 10.b4 a7 as in Hracek,ZKramnik,V/Eurotel Trophy, Prague 2002 (23).)
8...a7 9.h3 e7 10.d4 g6 11.e1 b5 12.c2 b7 13.f1 e8 14.g3 d5 an
attempt to simplify the position, Karjakin,SJakovenko,D/Odessa UKR 2010.)
5...d4! (5...d6 6.c3 g4 7.a4 d7?! 8.xc5 xc5 9.e3 f6 10.xc6+ bxc6 11.xc5
dxc5 left Black with a horrific pawn structure in Short,NHarikrishna,P/Gibraltar
2004 (45)) 6.xd4 xd4 7.c3 b6 which is very comfortable for Black, 8.h1!?
(8.g5?! looks aggressive, but as Black hasn't castled yet the bishop can become a
target, 8...h6 9.h4 c6 Howell,DMcMahon,D/Bunratty Open 2000, 8.d2 is the
most logical, but then 8...c6 9.a4 0-0 and ...d5 is at least equal) 8...c6 9.a4
Handke,FKosten,A/Montpellier 2006, 9...d5!
4.e2 also defends e4, 4...c5 the most popular, 5.c3 0-0 6.d3 e8 7.a4 d5!?
Gashimov,VKramnik,V/Monaco MNC 2011.
4...c5
16
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5.c3
An important alternative is 5.xe5 after which 5...xe4!? (5...xe5 6.d4 a6 7.e2
(7.a4 b5 8.b3 xd4 9.xd4 d6 is fine for Black) 7...xe4 8.dxc5 xc5 9.d4 d6
10.f4 g6 11.xg7 f5 12.c3 (12.g4 is critical) 12...h4 and Black had good
counterplay in Szuk,BResika,N/Budapest 1999 (20).) 6.e2 xe5 7.xe4
(7.d4!? e7 (7...e7 Kamsky,GTopalov,V/Sofia BUL 2009) 8.dxe5 c5 9.c3
0-0 10.f4 Shirov,AFedorchuk,S/KhantyMansiysk RUS 2009) 7...e7 8.d4
(8.c3 g6 9.xe7+ xe7 10.e1 put Black under pressure in Short,N
Parker,J/Birmingham ENG 2002 (26)) 8...c6! 9.g4!? h5! 10.g3! (10.xg7
xd4 11.g3 a6! and Black was fine, Svidler,PIvanchuk,V/Moscow RUS 2009)
10...xd4! 11.c3! with the initiative, Gashimov,VTopalov,V/Linares ESP
2010.
Once again the quiet 5.d3?! fails to make much of an impression after 5...d4! see
above.
5...0-0 6.d4 b6 7.g5
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17
White has a major alternative in 7.e1 d6 8.a4 (8.h3 h6 9.e3 d7 10.a4 e8 was fine for
Black in Stefansson,HSokolov,I/Kopavogur rapid, Iceland 2000 (28)) 8...a5 9.h3
h6 10.xc6 bxc6 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.xd8 xd8 and Black was doing fine in the
endgame in Georgiev,KMitkov,M/Istanbul Olympiad, Turkey 2000 (20).
7...h6
Black can also play 7...d6 immediately and keep ...h6 in reserve.
8.h4 d6 9.d3!
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zppzp-+pzp-0
9-vlnzp-sn-zp0
9+L+-zp-+-0
9-+-zPP+-vL0
9+-zPQ+N+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tRN+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
White has tried several alternatives, but without managing to put a dent into Black's
soundly constructed position.
For example:
a) 9.xc6 bxc6 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.a4 d6 12.d1 e6 13.xf6 xf6 14.a3 g4
15.d3 fd8 16.c2 xd3 17.xd3 d8 18.e2 xf3 19.xf3 xf3 20.gxf3
d2 gave Black the better endgame in Psakhis,LParker,J/Isle of Man 1999 (37).
b) 9.a4 a5 10.e1 exd4 11.xc6 bxc6 12.xd4 e8 13.d2 (13.xc6 d7 14.xf6 xc6
would win back the pawn with a good game) 13...c5 14.c2 g5 15.g3 b7 gave
Black excellent counterplay in Lanka,ZSokolov,I/Europ. Team Ch., Batumi
1999 (37).
c) 9.bd2 exd4 10.xc6 dxc3 11.xb7 xb7 12.bxc3 g5 and once again Black had very
active play see Kreiman,BFinegold,B/Philadelphia USA 2002 (17).
9...d7
9...e7 is more popular, 10.bd2 b8 to bring the knight to a better square, (10...d8 is
another similar idea) 11.fe1 c6 12.a4 bd7 13.c4 c7 14.e3 e8 15.f5
f8 which unpins the f6knight, ready for ...h5.
10.bd2 a6 11.c4
11.xc6 xc6 12.fe1 leaves Black short of counterplay.
18
11...exd4 12.cxd4
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9+pzpl+pzp-0
9pvlnzp-sn-zp0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+LzPP+-vL0
9+-+Q+N+-0
9PzP-sN-zPPzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
12...g5?
Risky.
13.xg5!
13.e5!? This move sets new problems for Black, Kosteniuk,AOnischuk,A/Wijk aan
Zee NED 2005.
13...hxg5 14.xg5 g7 15.e5!!

Here Topalov twice played 15.b3 against Leko, and lost.
15...dxe5 16.ae1!!
and White won, Knebel,WDaus,P/ICCFCL/0406/B1 2005.
19
Steinitz Defence [C66]

1 e4 e5 2 f3 c6 3 b5 f6 4 0-0 e7
This is probably Black's most accurate move order, getting White to play 5.e1 before
adopting a Steinitz formation with 5...d6.
After the immediate 4...d6 White can try to do without this move, for example 5 d4 (5 d3
d7 6 c3 is slower, Hou YifanJonkman,H/Wijk aan Zee NED 2007) 5...d7 6
c3 (Or 6 d5 as in Rowson,JMcKay,R/Marymass Open, Scotland 2002 (35))
6...e7 7 g5 exd4 8 xd4 0-0 9 xc6 bxc6 10 d3 g4 11 xe7 xe7 12 f4
f5 13 ae1 gave White a strong initiative in Reti,RSterk,K/Vienna 1910 (20).
5 e1 d6 6 d4
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqk+-tr0
9zppzp-vlpzpp0
9-+nzp-sn-+0
9+L+-zp-+-0
9-+-zPP+-+0
9+-+-+N+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9tRNvLQtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
White can also play 6 c3 in order to build a pawn centre, for example 6...0-0 7 h3 d7 8
d4 f6 led to a typical and complex Spanish in Mannion,SMcKay,R/Scotland
1993 (34).
6...exd4
Black can also delay this exchange by playing 6...d7 but after 7 c3 he can not longer
wait as 7...0-0 loses material after 8 xc6 xc6 9 dxe5 dxe5 10 xd8 axd8 11
xe5 etc. (see Green,EGibbons,R/New Zealand Ch. 2000 (17)).
7 xd4 d7 8 xc6 bxc6 9 c3 0-0 10 f3 e8 11 g5 h6 12 h4

20
was Almasi,ZHorvath,C/Hungarian Ch., Hungary 1995 (40) and now Black should
probably have played the immediate
12...h7
His 12...b8 proved ineffective in the game.
21
Berlin Defence 4...Nxe4 [C67]

1.e4 e5 2.f3 c6 3.b5 f6 4.0-0 xe4 5.d4

For years this has been considered to be the most promising treatment for White, but
possibly this view will change.
5.e1 is an altogether more direct and aggressive treatment, hoping to launch a direct
attack on Black's king. Black must defend with great care, for example 5...d6
(5...f6 6.xe5 e7! Carlsen,MAnand,V/Kristiansund NOR 2010) 6.xe5 (6.xc6
dxc6 7.xe5 is very comfortable for Black as in Wuts,HMotwani,P/Eksakt
Weekender, Tilburg 2001 (30)) 6...e7 (After 6...xe5 7.xe5+ e7 White can lead
the game along similar lines to 6...Be7 7.Bd3 by playing 8.Bd3, but he has an
interesting alternative in 8.d4!? as in De Vere,CSteinitz,W/Dundee 1867 (27))
7.d3 (7.f1! is stronger, in my opinion, 7...xe5 8.xe5 0-0 9.d4 f6 (9...e8
10.c4 Fedorchuk,SPetkov,V/Metz FRA 2007) 10.e1 f5 11.c3 d5 12.d3! with
an edge, see Jones,GNi Hua/Liverpool ENG 2007.) 7...0-0 8.c3 xe5 9.xe5
f6 (9...c6 10.f3 g6 (10...e8 11.b3 d5 12.b2 d6 is simpler) 11.b3! also proved
to be very dangerous for Black in Reinderman,DTimman,J/Wijk aan Zee 1999
(49)) 10.e3 e8 (White also has the initiative after 10...g6 11.f3 see
Nezhmetdinov,RKotkov,Y/Krasnodar 1957 (25)) 11.d5 g5 12.f4 h6
(12...xe3 13.dxe3 h6? 14.h5 was horrible for Black in Savic,M
Abramovic,B/Banja Koviljaca YUG 2002 (27)) 13.h3 c6 14.e3 and Black was
under pressure in McShane,LNielsen,P/Hastings ENG 2003 (20).
5.e2!? d6 (5...f6 might offer hopes of a 'cleaner' equality.) 6.xc6 dxc6 7.xe5+
e7 8.a5! gave Black problems in Short,NTimman,J/London ENG 2008.
5...d6
22
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvl-tr0
9zppzpp+pzpp0
9-+nsn-+-+0
9+L+-zp-+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9+-+-+N+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9tRNvLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
5...a6 is an attempt to reach an Open Spanish, after 6.a4 b5, whilst avoiding the
Exchange Variation. White can vary with 6.xc6 critical, (Another possibility is
6.d3 but then 6...d5 7.xe5 xe5 8.dxe5 f5 (8...c5 also seems OK for Black
see Brynell,SWedberg,T/Orebro 2000 (73)) 9.e2 d7 10.d2 c5 was fine
for Black until he got too ambitious in Rozentalis,EKorchnoi,V/Copenhagen
1996 (35)) 6...dxc6 7.e2 (7.xe5 e7 8.e1 d6 (8...f6 is OK here too) 9.g5
f5 10.c3 0-0 11.xe7 xe7 12.e4 f5 13.c3 d5 14.g3 ae8 and at this
point Black was doing OK in the game Kulaots,KWedberg,T/SWE 2002 (48).)
7...f5 8.e1! (8.d1 see Rausis,IWedberg,T/Upplands Vasby 2000 (47))
8...b4?! 9.c3 d6?! 10.c2! and Black is losing, Ivanchuk,V
Carlsen,M/Morelia/Linares MEX/ESP 2008.
The other way to play the Berlin is with 5...e7
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqk+-tr0
9zppzppvlpzpp0
9-+n+-+-+0
9+L+-zp-+-0
9-+-zPn+-+0
9+-+-+N+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9tRNvLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
6.e2 (6.dxe5 0-0 7.d5 c5 8.e3 a6 9.xc5 axb5 is Makarichev,SVladimirov,B/USSR
1975 (39)) 6...d6 7.xc6 bxc6 (Trifunovic's old line 7...dxc6!? is still quite
intriguing, for example 8.dxe5 f5 9.d1 d7 10.e6!? tempting, but (10.c3 is
clearly better, and, 10.g4!? is also dangerous, see Hamdouchi,H
Kosten,A/Montpellier 2008) 10...fxe6 11.e5 d6 12.h5+ g6 13.xg6 g7
14.h6 f5 15.h3 (15.h5 g7 repeats) 15...g8 16.xh7 g7 17.h5 f6
18.e5+ (18.h8+? is a computer move! 18...f7 19.xa8 xg6 Black is already
winning, see Big MCTony Kosten/CSS Freestyle Tournament 2007, 18.f4+?!
23
Huebner,RVogel,R/Germany 1986, 18...f7!) 18...e7 19.g4 g6 with wild

complications see Svidler,PMorozevich,A/Wijk aan Zee 2005.) 8.dxe5 and
now: 8...b7 (8...f5 9.e4 (9.c3 0-0 10.b3 d5 was comfortable for Black in
Repkova Eid,EVladimirov,E/Beirut 2000 (47)) 9...g6 10.d4 xd4 11.xd4
d5!? (11...0-0) 12.exd6 0-0 13.h6 f6 14.c5 e8 15.dxc7 xc7 wasn't clear in
Ulibin,MVladimirov,E/Podolsk 1992 (21), despite White's quick win.) 9.d4
a) 9.c3 0-0 10.e1 c5 11.d4 (11.e3 e6 12.ad1 d5 13.exd6 cxd6 14.d4 d7
15.f5 d5 16.xe7+ xe7 17.d2 was Karpov,AKorchnoi,V/World Championship
(2) Merano 1981 (57). and now 17...f6 would have been about equal) 11...e6
12.xe6 fxe6 was doubleedged in Anand,VTimman,J/Wijk aan Zee 1999
(40).
b) 9.e1 0-0 10.b3 c5 11.b2 e6 12.c3 f6 was fine for Black in Lau,R
Smagin,S/Berlin 1990
c) 9.c4 introduced by Zukertort in 1868, 9...0-0 10.c3 f6 11.e1 fxe5 12.xe5
f6 13.g3! Adams,MHowell,D/London ENG 2010.
9...0-0 10.c3 c5 probably best, Black prepares to liquidate the annoying knight
before bringing his knight to e6, (10...c5 11.d1 e8 12.f5 e6 13.e4 d8 14.g4
f6 was Gormally,DCherniaev,A/Hastings 2003 (45) and now 15.c5 would have
been critical) 11.d1 e8 12.f4 xd4 13.xd4 d5 (13...c5 is also OK) 14.b4!?
Black wants to play ...c5e6, and so White stops this, see Grischuk,A
Malakhov,V/Elista RUS 2007.
6.xc6
White has also tried 6.dxe5 xb5 7.a4!? but after 7...bd4 (or 7...d6 8.e6!? fxe6! 9.axb5
b4! Ghaem Maghami,ENavara,D/KhantyMansiysk RUS 2010) 8.xd4 xd4
9.xd4 d5!? 10.exd6 xd6 11.e1+ e6 12.e4 b4! Black was doing well in
Papatheodorou,TKapnisis,S/Greek Team Ch., Athens 2000 (27).
6...dxc6 7.dxe5 f5
Black can also consider 7...e4 8.e2 f5 9.e3 and now 9...c5 is the most solid
(9...e7 10.a3 g5 11.c4 g6 12.d4 was very dangerous for Black in
Machulsky,AMalaniuk,V/AlmaAta, 1989 (15).)
8.xd8+
8.e2 is an attempt to avoid the Berlin endgame. 8...d4 (8...e6 Sali,Z
Mikhalevski,V/Edmonton 2009, when 9.d1 makes sense.) 9.xd4 xd4 10.h3
(10.d1 g4!) 10...f5 should be fine for Black but he lost quickly due to
carelessness in Froeyman,HDuhayon,Y/Belgian Interclubs 2000.
8...xd8
24
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lmk-vl-tr0
9zppzp-+pzpp0
9-+p+-+-+0
9+-+-zPn+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+N+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9tRNvL-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
This endgame is often called 'The Berlin Wall' as Black's defences are so hard to breach.
9.c3
9.g5+ e7 10.g4 proved to have more bark than bite in Kovac,B
Meszaros,T/Szentgotthard HUN 2001 (20).
9.h3 is rare, 9...d7 10.d1 (10.c3 h6 transposes to 9...h6, below) 10...c8 11.g4 e7
12.g5 e8 Ganguly,SMcShane,L/Wijk aan Zee NED 2011.
9...e8
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+kvl-tr0
9zppzp-+pzpp0
9-+p+-+-+0
9+-+-zPn+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-sN-+N+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9tR-vL-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
One of the eternal questions in this line is where Black should place his king.
The move 9...h6 suggests that it will go to the queenside after 10.h3 d7 (10...e6 is
provocative, Shirov,AVallejo Pons,F/Arvier ITA 2010) 11.b3 (11.d1 threatens
e6, 11...c8 12.d3 b6 13.b3 e7! 14.b2 c5 Gruenfeld,YMikhalevski,V/Haifa 2010,
11.e4 a rare move, 11...b6 12.b3 c8 13.b2 c5 with good play, Polgar,J
Topalov,V/Mexico City MEX 2010) 11...c8 (11...a5 12.b2 b5?! is not a good
idea see Kalezic,BVajda,S/"Lasker" GMtournament, Budapest, 2001 (14),
11...c5 12.d1 c8 13.a4!? Svidler,PPonomariov,R/Astrakhan 2010) 12.b2 b6
(12...e7 13.ad1 c5 will transpose) 13.ad1 e7 14.d2 (14.fe1 c5 15.e2 g6
25
Anand,VNakamura,H/London ENG 2010) 14...c5 15.fd1 e6 16.e2 g5

17.d8+ (17.h4 g4 18.h2 h5 19.d8+ transposes) 17...b7 18.xa8 xa8 19.h4 g4
20.h2 h5 21.d8+ b7 22.f4 g6 23.xe6 (23.g3 c4 and Black had a solid
game in Anand,VKramnik,V/Game 3/10, ChessClassic match 2001) 23...fxe6
24.g3 White's plan is clear: he's going to create a passed pawn on the kingside
using his pawn majority, Grischuk,AEljanov,P/Odessa UKR 2009.
Black can also play an immediate 9...d7 10.b3 (10.h3 c8 11.b3 b6 (11...h6 12.b2 e7
13.ad1 c5 will transpose to 9...h6) 12.b2 e7 (12...a5?! allows White to roll with
the dangerous kingside majority, Hou YifanRuan Lufei/Wuxi CHN 2006) 13.g4
h4 14.xh4 xh4 15.f4 f5 was also fine for Black in Womacka,M
Harikrishna,P/Gibraltar 2004 (26)) 10...c8 11.b2 a5 12.h3 h5 13.a4 e7 and
Black held the game quite easily in Emms,JHowell,D/Gibraltar 2004 (34).
9...e7 10.h3 h6 (10...g6 was preferred by Topalov, against Kasimjanov in San Luis
ARG 2005) 11.e3 g6 12.ad1+ e8 13.a3 e7 14.fe1 White is ready to
continue d4 and f4, see Shirov,ALevin,F/Katernberg GER 2005.
10.h3
10.e2 A relatively rare continuation, which was introduced by Gligoric in 1958.
10...b6 11.f4 b7!? 12.d1 d8 with equality, Vallejo Pons,F
Aronian,L/Linares ESP 2010.
10...e7
Kramnik's choice, but Black has several alternatives here:
10...b4 11.e4 e6 12.c3 f8?! (12...e7) was probably too ambitious and White took
the initiative after 13.g4 e7 14.g3 g6 15.e1 d5 16.d4 in Rowson,J
Miles,A/Redbus Knockout, Southend 2000 (35).
10...e7 11.e1 d5 12.e4 h6 13.d2 c5 is also reasonable for Black but he must be
careful with his development being so backward. In Timman,J
Ferguson,M/Kilkenny Masters 1999 (23) he wasn't careful enough.
10...a5 gains some space on the queenside, where Black has his pawn majority, 11.g4?!
McDonald,NMotwani,P/Eksakt Masters, Tilburg 1996.
10...b6 This relatively rare continuation was introduced by the Spanish GM Narciso
Dublan in 1999, but in view of his two losses it found no followers till it was
picked up by Kramnik in 2007, and one year later by Carlsen, and brought Black
good results in 20072008. 11.d1 b7!? 12.f4 c8 13.a4! (13.g4
Stellwagen,DCarlsen,M/Wijk aan Zee NED 2009.) 13...e7 14.a5 with
advantage, Polgar,JCarlsen,M/Kristiansund NOR 2010.
10...h5 is a rare continuation aimed against g4, which has gained some attention this last
two years, 11.e2 (11.b3 e7 12.b2 e6 Shirov,AAnand,V/Bilbao ESP 2010)
11...e7 12.g5 e6 Carlsen,MJakovenko,D/Dortmund GER 2009.
11.g5 xg5 12.xg5 h6 13.ge4 b6 14.fd1 e7 15.h2 h5

and Black had a very solid position in Anand,VKramnik,V/Leon 2002 (20).
26
Exchange Variation Intro [C68]

1.e4 e5 2.f3 c6 3.b5 a6 4.xc6
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvlntr0
9+pzpp+pzpp0
9p+L+-+-+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+-+-+N+-0
9PzPPzP-zPPzP0
9tRNvLQmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
The Exchange Variation was a favourite of two of the greatest World Champions in
history, Emanuel Lasker and Bobby Fischer. White gives up the bishop pair in
order to obtain the better pawn structure after a subsequent d2d4 he will
obtain a qualitatively superior pawn majority on the kingside.
4...dxc6 5.0-0 d6
This has been quite popular with aggressively minded players, though there are several
other ways of trying to mix it up:
a) 5...e7 6.xe5
a) 6.d3 f6 (6...f6!? 7.e3 g4! Black provokes h3 in order to create an attack on
the kingside by means of ...g5g4, 8.bd2 d7 9.b4 g5 10.b1 h6 Karjakin,S
Aronian,L/Bilbao ESP 2009) 7.e3 e7 is very solid see Brynell,S
Grivas,E/Leningrad 1989 (30)
b) On the other hand 6.c3 f6 7.e2 is a very enterprising and dangerous line
see Zhang ZhongDe Vreugt,D/Wijk aan Zee NED 2003 (33)
6...d4 7.h5 e6 (7...g6 is quite playable, but Black wants more) 8.d3 f6 (8...c5!?)
9.f3 xe4 10.xf7+ xf7 11.dxe4 xe4 12.e1 and Black was under strong
pressure in Brynell,SHector,J/Linkoping 2001 (46)
b) 5...g4 6.h3 h5!? is an enterprising and challenging line which may yet reemerge as
an argument against 5.0-0, 7.d3 f6 8.bd2 (8.e3 is also possible, for example
27
8...xf3 9.xf3 xf3 10.gxf3 d6 11.d2 e7 12.fb1 f5 13.b4 a5 14.a3 as in

Kasimdzhanov,RAdams,M/Tripoli 2004 (40)) 8...e7 9.e1 g6 (9...e6!?
didn't work in Radjabov,TShirov,A/Turin ITA 2006) 10.d4 f4! (10...d6 11.c3?!
f4 White found himself in trouble in Schnabel,RPokorny,Z/Krkonose Open,
Czech Republic 2000 (19).) 11.hxg4 (11.dxe5 g6 is also easy for Black,
Nisipeanu,LKasimdzhanov,R/Godesberg GER 2005, 11.f1!? freeing the g1-
square for the knight and thus preparing 12 hxg4 is interesting, but was never
tested at the GM level.) 11...hxg4 12.g3! gxf3 13.xf3 e6 14.dxe5 xe5
15.f5 (15.b3 g6 16.d2 c5 Karjakin,SShirov,A/Odessa UKR 2010) 15...b5!
Vachier Lagrave,MShirov,A/BadenBaden GER 2010.
c) 5...d6 is a simple and natural developing move favoured by British GM Mark
Hebden. After 6.d4 (Black must also take care against 6.c3!? as in Wittmann,W
Kosten,A/Jenbach 2008) 6...exd4 7.xd4 f6 8.c4?! (8.e3 e7 9.bd2 e6 is the
mainline) 8...c5 9.c3 e7 10.e3 0-0 11.bd2 e8 Black obtained excellent
play in the game Pujos,SHebden,M/Lausanne Master Open, Switzerland 2000
(20).
d) 5...e7 6.xe5 d4 7.h5 (7.f3 xe4 8.e1 g6 9.d4 g4 left Black comfortably
placed in Tonoli,JMotwani,P/StrombeekBever rapid 1999 (31).) 7...g6 8.g5
is critical 8...g7 9.d3 f5 10.e5 c5 11.b3 g4!? Caruana,FCarlsen,M/Moscow
RUS 2010.
e) 5...f6 is a recent preference of Adams, Morozevich and Ivan Sokolov, and as such
deserves further tests. After 6.d4 exd4 7.g5 d6 8.xd4 e7 (8...d7 prepares
long castles, 9.c3 g6 10.d2 e7 if this exchange is necessary then the entire
line with 9...g6, if not 5...f6, is dubious, (10...f6? was beautifully refuted in
Jakovenko,DInarkiev,E/Odessa UKR 2010) 11.xe7 xe7 12.ad1 with a plus,
Radjabov,TMamedyarov,S/Astrakhan RUS 2010.) 9.xe7 (9.e3 f6 10.f3 c5
Black is looking for an endgame, Ivanchuk,VNavara,D/Prague CZE 2009)
9...xe7 10.c3 d7 (10...0-0 was less good in Magem Badals,JAdams,M/Pula
1997 (45)) 11.b3 xd1 (11...0-0-0!?) 12.axd1 0-0-0 13.d2 b6 14.c4 e6
15.e3 was better for White in Fressinet,LAdams,M/Bordeaux 2000 (60).
6.a3
There's also the quiet 6.d3 after which 6...e7 7.e3 g6 8.bd2 c5 9.a4 b6 10.c4
e6 11.g5 f6 12.h5 was a bit better for White in Kasimdzhanov,R
Adams,M/Tripoli 2004 (48).
6...b5
28
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+kvlntr0
9+-zp-+pzpp0
9p+pwq-+-+0
9+p+-zp-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9sN-+-+N+-0
9PzPPzP-zPPzP0
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
An ambitious but risky move which hopes to show that the knight on a3 is badly placed.
Another way to play it is with 6...e6 7.e2 f6 8.d1 c5 (8...0-0-0 is possible here, 8...g4
a pet line of GM Romanishin, who introduced this idea in 1993. 9.h3 h5 10.d4 0-00! 11.e3 e6! Black doesn't seem to have any problems here, Hammer,J
Eljanov,P/Novi Sad SRB 2009) 9.c3 0-0-0 10.d4 cxd4 11.cxd4 g4 12.e3 exd4
13.xd4 e7 and the position was doubleedged in Rowson,JEhlvest,J/Blitz
playoff, World Open 2002 (28).
7.c3 c5 8.c2 e7
8...b7 9.d4 f6?! (9...cxd4) 10.e1 was good for White in Rozentalis,E
Nickoloff,B/North Bay 1994 (16).
9.a4 b4
9...b7 is probably safer
10.e3 c6 11.cxb4 cxb4 12.b3 e6 13.b2 f6 14.c1

and White had some pressure in the game Godena,MHebden,M/Linares Zonal
Tournament, 1995 (21).
29
Exchange Variation 5.0-0 f6 6.d4 [C69]

1.e4 e5 2.f3 c6 3.b5 a6 4.xc6 dxc6 5.0-0 f6
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvlntr0
9+pzp-+-zpp0
9p+p+-zp-+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+-+-+N+-0
9PzPPzP-zPPzP0
9tRNvLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
6.d4 exd4
6...g4 one of Black's most solid systems, 7.dxe5 (7.c3 d6 (7...e7!? worked well for
Black in Caruana,FIvanchuk,V/Caleta ENG 2011) 8.bd2 (8.e3 e7 is the
mainline.) 8...h6! as the c1-h6 diagonal is closed Black brings the knight to f7,
where it's more flexible than on e7. (8...e7 leads to a tense middlegame as in
Rausis,IBerzinsh,R/Bern 2000 (28)) 9.b3 b5 10.h3 d7 Recuero Guerra,D
Mikhalevski,V/Zrich 2009.) 7...xd1 8.xd1 fxe5 9.d3 is the main line, and
leads to a complex endgame (9.bd2 this move is considered rather harmless,
9...0-0-0 10.e1 d6 (10...e8 11.h3 h5 12.g4 f7 13.g5 g6 14.df3 h6 15.h4 h5!
a very nice move refuting White's play, Maze,SWinants,L/Belgium BEL 2006.)
11.h3 h5 12.h4 see Vydeslaver,AMikhalevski,V/Israeli league 2011.)
9...d6 10.bd2 f6 11.c4 0-0! Geller's move is sufficient for equality, see
Karjakin,SCaruana,F/Wijk aan Zee NED 2010.
7.xd4 c5 8.b3
An alternative is 8.e2, keeping the knight on a better circuit. Play might continue
8...xd1 9.xd1 d7! this the best plan, to castle long quickly, 10.bc3 0-0-0
11.e3 e8 12.d2 c6 13.ad1 b6 14.f3 (14.f4 e7 15.g4? g6 16.g3 h5! was
good for Black in Brunner,LAdams,M/Biel 1993 (36), 14.f4 h6 15.fd5 g4
30
Black avoids an exchange on h6 and brings the knight to a nice square on e5,
Vachier Lagrave,MIvanchuk,V/Cap d'Agde FRA 2008., 14.a4!? is an aggressive
continuation which was introduced by Radjabov, see Guseinov,G
Werle,J/Dresden GER 2008) 14...e7 15.f4 g6 16.h5 e5 17.b3 c4 (17...f5!?
is interesting, see Sand,RAllahverdiev,A/Porto Carrras GRE 2005.) 18.d5 a5!?
gave Black counterplay in Kasimdzhanov,RGrischuk,A/Tripoli 2004 (73).
8...xd1 9.xd1 g4
This subtlety, which is played in order to force the move f3, is essential here.
9...d6?! 10.a5 g4?! resulted in an unexpected debacle for Black in the game
Hort,VShelandinov,A/Havana, 1967 (12).
10.f3 d7 11.c3 0-0-0 12.f4
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+ktr-vlntr0
9+pzpl+-zpp0
9p+-+-zp-+0
9+-zp-+-+-0
9-+-+PvL-+0
9+NsN-+P+-0
9PzPP+-+PzP0
9tR-+R+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
12...c4 13.a5
13.d4 e7 14.d2 g6 is harmless for Black see Kotronias,VAdams,M/Chalkidiki
1993 (50).
13...c5+
This move wins a tempo thanks to Black's ninth.
14.f1 b5 15.d5
15.a4
e7 16.axb5 xb5! Now

Bojkov,D/Pforzheim GER 2005.
Black
can
use
the
dfile,
Mader,M
15...e7
15...c6?! 16.b4! proved to be very dangerous in Timman,JAdams,M/Belgrade 1995
(36).
31
16.xc7 xd5 17.xd5 xc7 18.xc5+ b6 19.b4 cxb3 20.xb3 e6

and Black had enough compensation to hold the draw in Shirov,AAdams,M/Tilburg
1996 (61).
32
Spanish Various 4th moves [C70]

1 e4 e5 2 f3 c6 3 b5 a6 4 a4 b5
4...f5 is the Delayed Schliemann, 5 d4! exd4 6 e5 c5 see Almasi,ZShirov,A/Monte
Carlo 2003.
4...g6 was introduced by Steinitz, 5 d4 b5 (5...exd4) 6 b3 exd4 7 xd4 Karjakin,S
Ponomariov,R/Nice FRA 2010.
5 b3 a5
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvlntr0
9+-zpp+pzpp0
9p+-+-+-+0
9snp+-zp-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+L+-+N+-0
9PzPPzP-zPPzP0
9tRNvLQmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
The socalled Norwegian Variation. It found favour with fans of the bishop pair such as
Mark Taimanov and Bobby Fischer. They both used it extensively before
discovering the Sicilian.
6 0-0
The direct 6 d4 exd4 7 xd4 looks dangerous for Black but is well met by 7...e7!
see Addison,WFischer,R/New York 1963 (38).
6...d6 7 d4 xb3 8 axb3 f6 9 c3
33
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvlntr0
9+-zp-+-zpp0
9p+-zp-zp-+0
9+p+-zp-+-0
9-+-zPP+-+0
9+PsN-+N+-0
9-zPP+-zPPzP0
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
White has an interesting alternative in 9 c4!? which is probably best met by 9...b4!,
stopping White's knight from coming to c3. After 9...b7 10 c3 e7 11 e2
White had a good game in Fischer,RJohannessen,S/La Habana (ol) 2/242 1966
(36).
In an earlier game Fischer played 9 h4 and although he won Black could have
improved the defence see Fischer,RWalker,R/US Junior Ch., 1957 (20).
9...b7 10 h4
The main alternative is 10 e2 after which Black should probably meet 10...g6 11 e3
c6 12 dxe5 with 12...dxe5. Instead of this 12...fxe5 is very risky after 13 g5 e7
14 f4 see Pavlovic,MAgdestein,S/Catalan Bay ENG 2003 (28).
10...d7
10...e7 11 dxe5 dxe5 12 f3 d7 13 d1 e6 14 d5 produced a complex game in
which White had the initiative in Anand,VAgdestein,S/Baguio City 1987 (38).
11 d5 e7 12 h5+ d8 13 c4 xd5 14 cxd5 g6 15 f3

and White's position was the more comfortable in Short,NSulskis,S/Bled 2002 (46).
34
Spanish 4...d6 5.0-0 [C72]

Last updated: 21/05/08 by Tony Kosten
1 e4 e5 2 f3 c6 3 b5 a6 4 a4 d6
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvlntr0
9+pzp-+pzpp0
9p+nzp-+-+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
9L+-+P+-+0
9+-+-+N+-0
9PzPPzP-zPPzP0
9tRNvLQmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
5 0-0 g4!?
A very sharp move of independent significance Black is prepared to sacrifice a piece!
5...d7 6 d4!? (6 c3 transposes into 5.c3 lines.) 6...exd4 (6...b5 7 b3 xd4 8 xd4 exd4 9
h5 is dangerous for Black) 7 xd4 b5 8 xc6 xc6 9 b3 f6 10 c3 e7 11
e1 0-0 12 a4 with an edge, Leko,PMamedyarov,S/Wijk aan Zee NED 2006.
6 h3 h5 7 d4
A simpler choice for White may be 7 xc6+ bxc6 8 d4 as in Shirov,ASokolov,I/Wijk
aan Zee NED 2004 (26).
7...b5 8 b3 xd4 9 hxg4
35
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqkvlntr0
9+-zp-+pzp-0
9p+-zp-+-+0
9+p+-zp-+p0
9-+-snP+P+0
9+L+-+N+-0
9PzPP+-zPP+0
9tRNvLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
9...xb3 10 axb3 hxg4 11 g5 d7 12 c4
12 d3!? Gashimov,VGrischuk,A/Baku AZE 2008, when 12...c6 is best.
12...b8 13 xa6
13 d5 is an attempt to head for safety, but after 13...c6 14 xf7+ xf7 15 xf7 xf7
16 xa6 f6 17 e1 bxc4 18 bxc4 d5!, Black was very actively placed in De
Firmian,NSokolov,I/2nd Milk Tournament, Selfoss 2003 (31).
13...f6 14 c3 fxg5 15 xb5

was all very entertaining in Smirnov,PYandemirov,V/20th ECC, Izmir 2004 (97).
36
Spanish 4...d6 5.Bxc6+ [C73]

Last updated: 29/11/03 by Davies,Nigel
1 e4 e5 2 f3 c6 3 b5 a6 4 a4 d6 5 xc6+ bxc6 6 d4
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvlntr0
9+-zp-+pzpp0
9p+pzp-+-+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
9-+-zPP+-+0
9+-+-+N+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9tRNvLQmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
6...exd4!?
Paul Keres' speciality.
6...f6 tends to be more popular here, but is not necessarily better.
7 xd4
7 xd4 c5 8 f3 (8 e2 f6 9 bc3 b7 10 g3 g6! saw Black take the initiative in
Daskalov,GKeres,P/Tallinn 1971 (41)) 8...f6 9 0-0 e7 10 c3 0-0 11 e1
b7 12 h3 d7 13 d5 f6 was fine for Black in Spassky,BKeres,P/USSR (ch)
1973 (25).
7...c5 8 d3 e7
37
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvl-tr0
9+-zp-snpzpp0
9p+-zp-+-+0
9+-zp-+-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+-+Q+N+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9tRNvL-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
9 c3
9 c4 c6 10 h3 e7 11 c3 0-0 12 0-0 e8 13 b3 f6 gave Black a very comfortable
game in Suess,AKeres,P/Dortmund 1973 (72).
9...b8 10 b3 g6 11 0-0 e7 12 d5 f6 13 xf6+ xf6

and Black was certainly no worse in the game Mecking,HKeres,P/Petropolis 1973
(17).
38
Spanish 4...d6 5.c3 [C74]

1 e4 e5 2 f3 c6 3 b5 a6 4 a4 d6
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvlntr0
9+pzp-+pzpp0
9p+nzp-+-+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
9L+-+P+-+0
9+-+-+N+-0
9PzPPzP-zPPzP0
9tRNvLQmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
5 c3 f5
The sharp Siesta Variation.
In this position 5...g4 isn't good because 6 h3 h5 7 d3 f6 8 bd2 e7 9 f1 b5 10
b3 d5 11 e2 d4 12 g4 shut Black's lightsquare bishop out of the game in
Volokitin,AHowe,D/Copenhagen DEN 2002 (23).
6 exf5
6 d4 fxe4 7 g5 exd4 8 xe4 f6! Rti,RCapablanca,J/Berlin 1928 (21).
6...xf5 7 0-0
7 d4!? is a dangerous alternative, 7...e4 8 d5 exf3 9 xf3 Kasparov's idea, see
Grischuk,ANajer,E/KhantyMansiysk RUS 2007.
7...d3 8 e1 e7
39
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqk+ntr0
9+pzp-vl-zpp0
9p+nzp-+-+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
9L+-+-+-+0
9+-zPl+N+-0
9PzP-zP-zPPzP0
9tRNvLQtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
9 c2
White's main alternative is 9 e3
9...xc2 10 xc2 f6
and Black had adequate counterplay in Polgar,JTimman,J/Malmo, Sweden 2000 (30).
40
Delayed Steinitz 4..d6 5.c3 Bd7 [C75]

Last updated: 16/08/03 by Nigel Davies
1 e4 e5 2 f3 c6 3 b5 a6 4 a4 d6
The Delayed Steinitz Defence.
5 c3 d7 6 d4 ge7 7 e3!?
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqkvl-tr0
9+pzplsnpzpp0
9p+nzp-+-+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
9L+-zPP+-+0
9+-zP-vLN+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tRN+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
The automatic 7 0-0 gives Black chances of play on the kingside after 7...g6 8 e1
e7 9 bd2 h6 10 f1 g5 see Oim,TKeres,P/Parnu 1971 (26).
7...g6 8 h4!?
A most interesting plan with which White aims to inhibit Black's traditional kingside
play.
8...h5 9 g3 e7 10 d5 b8 11 xd7+ xd7 12 fd2 f6 13 f3

and Black found it difficult to get counterplay in Topalov,VYusupov,A/Novgorod
1995 (33).
41
Delayed Steinitz 4..d6 5.c3 Bd7 6.c3 g6

[C76]
1 e4 e5 2 f3 c6 3 b5 a6 4 a4 d6 5 c3 d7 6 d4 g6
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqkvlntr0
9+pzpl+p+p0
9p+nzp-+p+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
9L+-zPP+-+0
9+-zP-+N+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tRNvLQmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
7 0-0
7 g5 f6 8 e3 h6 9 h3 g7 10 bd2 f7! 11 0-0 0-0 12 e1 e7 (12...e8 is
probably better, threatening 13...xd4.) 13 b4 h8 14 c2 cd8 and Black had a
promising game in Sokolov,ASpassky,B/Montpellier (ct) 1985 (37).
7...g7 8 e1 b5
42
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqk+ntr0
9+-zpl+pvlp0
9p+nzp-+p+0
9+p+-zp-+-0
9L+-zPP+-+0
9+-zP-+N+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tRNvLQtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
8...ge7 9 e3 0-0 10 bd2 e8 (10...h6 is playable here) 11 b3 b6 12 dxe5 dxe5 13
c4 h8 14 c1 g4 15 g5 h6 16 h3 d7 17 f3 h7 18 a4 f5?! 19 exf5
gxf5 and now the brilliant 20 fxe5! xe5 21 xe5 xe5 22 xh6 led to a
memorable win for Karpov as White against Spassky (Bugojno 1986).
9 c2
This might be inaccurate, 9 b3 is best, when 9...f6 transposes to [C79].
9...exd4!?
9...f6 10 dxe5 xe5 11 xe5 dxe5 12 e3? Karjakin,SMamedyarov,S/Wijk aan Zee
NED 2006, and now, as Keres demonstrated, 12...g4 13 c5 h4 14 h3 f8! is
strong.
10 cxd4 g4 11 e3 ge7
Black's plan is basic, he wants to castle followed by ...f5 with lots of play.
12 c3 0-0 13 c1 h8!?
13...f5 worked well in Ivanchuk,VMamedyarov,S/Wijk aan Zee NED 2006, but White
can improve.
14 d2 xf3 15 gxf3
with advantage, Anand,VMamedyarov,S/Wijk aan Zee NED 2008.
43
Worrall Attack 4...Nf6 5 Qe2 & 5 d3

[C77]
1 e4 e5 2 f3 c6 3 b5 a6 4 a4 f6 5 e2
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvl-tr0
9+pzpp+pzpp0
9p+n+-sn-+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
9L+-+P+-+0
9+-+-+N+-0
9PzPPzPQzPPzP0
9tRNvL-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
The Worrall Attack. Tiviakov has played this way and it's quite an interesting move.
White protects his epawn and the delay in castling can be quite useful.
5 d3 is solid, 5...d6 (5...b5!? by playing an early ...b5 Black wants to be able to hit out
with ...d7d5, dispensing with ...d6 altogether, 6 b3 e7 7 a4!? b7 8 c3 b4 9 d5
a5 10 xe7!? PerunovicBanikas,H/Kavala GRE 2007, when 10...xb3! 11 cxb3
xe7 is good for Black) 6 c3 g6! the lack of immediate pressure on the centre
allows Black to set up a fianchetto, 7 0-0
a) 7 g5!? g7 8 bd2 h6 9 h4 0-0 10 f1 e7! 11 e3 g5!? with aggressive
play on the kingside, CabreraPonomariov/Pardubice CZE 2007
b) 7 bd2 g7 8 f1 0-0! 9 g3 (9 g5?! d5! Carlsen,MCaruana,F/Wijk aan
Zee NED 2010) 9...b5 with equality, Reeh,OLevin,F/Muelheim Nord GER
2006.
7...g7 8 e1 0-0 9 bd2 d7 This idea to transfer the knight to e6 via c5 in order to
stop d4 has been known for more than 60 years. 10 xc6 (10 b4 Smirin,I
Mikhalevski,V/Philadelphia 2009., The main lines goes 10 f1 c5 11 c2 e6 12
g3 f6=) 10...bxc6 11 d4 exd4! 12 cxd4 c5 Black is fine, Kritz,L
Mikhalevski,V/Biel 2010.
44
5...b5 6 b3 c5
This is Black's most challenging treatment, making it as hard as possible for White to
play d2d4.
6...e7 [C86] can be answered by 7 d4 d6 8 c3 0-0 (After 8...g4 White can play 9 e3 as
9...xe4? loses to 10 d5) 9 bd2 when the attempt to increase pressure on d4 with
9...g4 is simply met by 10 h3
7 c3 0-0
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9+-zpp+pzpp0
9p+n+-sn-+0
9+pvl-zp-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+LzP-+N+-0
9PzP-zPQzPPzP0
9tRNvL-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
After 7...d6 White played rather timidly and inconsistently with 8 h3?! (8 d3) 8...e6 9
c2 0-0 10 b4?! and found himself worse after 10...b6 11 a4 d5 in Robertson,I
Motwani,P/Dundee 1995 (18).
8 d3 d6 9 g5 e6 10 bd2 e7?! 11 d5!

and Black was under pressure in Paehtz,TVladimirov,E/Lausanne SUI 2001 (19).
45
Archangel 4...Nf6 5.0-0 b5 [C78]

1 e4 e5 2 f3 c6 3 b5 a6 4 a4 f6 5 0-0
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvl-tr0
9+pzpp+pzpp0
9p+n+-sn-+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
9L+-+P+-+0
9+-+-+N+-0
9PzPPzP-zPPzP0
9tRNvLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
5...b5
The astonishing 5...g4?! is the Krol Variation, which scores highly for ingenuity but
probably not much for correctness. After 6 h3 h5 7 c3 c5 8 d4 a7 9 e1 (9 hxg4
hxg4 10 g5 d6 was murky in Van Dijk,HKrol,W/IECG 2002 (28).) 9...d6 10 a3
d7 11 xc6 bxc6 12 c4 Black was under serious pressure in Stillerud,L
Krol,W/IECG 2002 (30).
5...c5 can transpose, 6 c3 b5 (6...0-0 7 d4 a7 8 g5 Tal's idea, 8...h6 9 h4 exd4!
Naiditsch,AOnischuk,A/KhantyMansiysk RUS 2009) 7 c2!? the advantage of
this move is that White is ready to attack the b5pawn very quickly, but the
disadvantage is it lets Black play ...d5. (7 b3 is the note to the next move) 7...d5 8
d4 dxe4 9 dxc5 (9 xe5 xe5 10 dxe5 xd1 11 xd1 g4 12 xe4 xf2 13 c6+ e7 14
d5 b6 all this has been played before and White never managed to find any
advantage in the endgame with the exchange for one pawn, see Hracek,Z
Delchev,A/Sibenik CRO 2006) 9...xd1 10 xd1 exf3 11 xf3 e4 12 e2 g4
Black had no problems in Hou YifanShen Yang/Wuxi CHN 2006.
6 b3 c5
46
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqk+-tr0
9+-zpp+pzpp0
9p+n+-sn-+0
9+pvl-zp-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+L+-+N+-0
9PzPPzP-zPPzP0
9tRNvLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Recently this has been all the rage with the discovery that in the line after 7.c3 Black
recovers the pawn with a good game.
6...b7 7 c3
a) 7 d3 is the most frequent try nowadays it leads to manoeuvering games
where White hopes that Black committed himself too soon by placing his bishop
on b7, 7...c5 (7...e7 8 c3 transposes to C84) 8 c3 (8 a4 0-0 9 g5?! h6 10 h4 g5!
energetic and good, Handke,FBarkhagen,J/Stockholm SWE 2003) 8...d6 9 a4
a5 10 a2 b4 11 e2 Carlsen,MBeliavsky,A/Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands
2006, when Black should prefer 11...b8 perhaps.
b) 7 d4 xd4 8 xe5 xb3 9 axb3 xe4 Maclean,DFlear,G/Oxford 1979 (12).
c) 7 e1 c5 8 c3 (8 xe5?! xe5 9 d4 fg4 10 dxc5 h4 won quickly for Black in
Fontaine,AMotwani,P/"Friendly" game, Brussels 2000) 8...0-0 9 d4 b6 10 e3
exd4 a very dangerous line (10...d6 is safer) 11 cxd4 a5 12 g5 xb3 13 xb3!
and White won brilliantly, see Negi,PSpoelman,W/Wijk aan Zee NED 2007.
7...xe4 8 d4 a5 9 c2 exd4 10 b4 (White can also try to keep the initiative with 10
xd4 when Black's best is probably 10...c5 11 f5 d5 (11...f6 12 d2 d5 13 xe4
dxe4 14 g3 e7 15 xe4 c6 16 h5 g6 17 h3 gave White a strong initiative in
Svidler,PChristiansen,L/Bermuda BER 2003 (31)) 12 d2 g6 13 g3 e7 14
dxe4 dxe4 15 e2 0-0 was fine for Black in Karjakin,SHector,J/Moscow
RUS 2004 (50)) 10...c4 11 xe4 xe4 12 e1 d5 13 xd4 (13 xd4 e7 14 xg7
d7!? 15 xf7 e8 16 xe8+ axe8 gave Black the better endgame in Ernst,T
Hector,J/Skara SWE 2002 (30).) 13...c5! 14 bxc5 xc5 15 f3 0-0 16 fxe4 dxe4 17
xe4 (17 h1!? is best met by 17...e8 as in Nunn,JBeliavsky,A/Amsterdam 1990
(40).) 17...d5 18 h4
a) White's main alternative is 18 f3 b4 (18...e5 19 f5 ae8 20 d2 b4 also seems
to be fine for Black as in Koch,JDegraeve,J/Narbonne 1997 (60)) 19 d2 bxc3
20 xc4 f5 gave Black a good game in Emms,JRausis,I/Le Touquet 1992 (28).
b) For 18 d3 see Howell,JMortazavi,A/Cappelle la Grande 1991 (30).
18...ad8 19 d3 (After 19 d2 Black gets counterplay with 19...e3 20 f3 f5 as in
Vehi Bach,VMikhalchishin,A/Groningen 1990 (42).) 19...f5 20 g5 de8 (For
20...d6 see Ulibin,MHauchard,A/Santiago 1990 (47).) 21 d2 e5 22 f1 f4
23 h1 g6 24 h5 xd4 25 cxd4 h6 and Black had adequate counterplay in
Dvoirys,SBeliavsky,A/Leningrad 1990 (53).
47
7 a4
7 xe5 xe5 8 d4 xd4 9 xd4 d6 is fine for Black see Trifunovic,M
Petronic,J/Serbian Championship 2000 (26)
7 c3 d6 8 d4 (8 a4 might be a good way to transpose to the mainline) 8...b6 and now 9
a4 (9 dxe5 xe5 10 xe5 dxe5 11 xd8+ xd8 12 xf7 b7 and Black recovers the e
pawn with good chances.) 9...g4 (9...b8 transposes to the mainline) 10 h3 h5
11 g5! is promising, see Palac,MAdams,M/Dresden GER 2008.
7...b8 8 c3 d6
8...0-0 9 d4 b6 10 axb5 axb5 11 dxe5 g4 12 f4 (12 a3 cxe5! is Anand's
improvement, 13 h3 d6!) 12...e8!? is a rare line, but effective, 13 a3 (13 d4?
Svidler,PKhalifman,A/Moscow RUS 2005) 13...cxe5 14 xe5 xe5 15 xb5
Dominguez,LBruzon,L/Santa Clara CUB 2006, when I think 15...d6 is best.
9 d4
9 axb5 axb5 10 d3 was introduced at the top level by Alekseev. Instead of concrete
tactical play White opts for a slow positional struggle. 10...0-0 11 h3 e7 12 a3
g6 13 c2 h6 14 e1 b6 15 e3 c6 approximately equal, Kamsky,G
Morozevich,A/Wijk aan Zee NED 2009.
9...b6 10 a3
10 a5!? is a new idea, renouncing the attack on the b5pawn. 10...a7 (10...xa5 11 xa5
xa5 12 dxe5 forces 12...g4 when 13 g5 is dangerous for Black) 11 h3 (11 e3!? is
probably best met by 11...a8) 11...0-0 12 e3 threatening to take on e5 and
exploit the loose a7bishop to win a pawn, (12 e1 h6 13 e3 a8 transposes
below) 12...exd4!? (12...a8 is safer, 13 e1 b7 14 bd2 e8 (14...d7 15 d5
Aagaard,JGodena,M/Bratto ITA 2007, 14...h6 15 c2 Fedorchuk,S
Shirov,A/KhantyMansiysk RUS 2009.) 15 g5 e7!? Anand,VShirov,A/Wijk
aan Zee NED 2010) 13 cxd4 xe4 the critical pawn snatch (13...h6 14 c3 favours
White with his mobile centre, see Zhigalko,SGolubenko,V/Sibenik CRO 2007)
14 c2! e8 15 c3! White relies on his development advantage, and the
slightly awkward placement of Black's pieces, particularly the queen,
Timofeev,AHalkias,S/Dresden GER 2007.
10 axb5 axb5 11 d3!? the thematic idea of putting the queen on d3 has hitherto been
rather neglected, 11...0-0 12 g5 Sutovsky,EShirov,A/Poikovsky RUS 2008.
10...0-0
48
XIIIIIIIIY
9-trlwq-trk+0
9+-zp-+pzpp0
9pvlnzp-sn-+0
9+p+-zp-+-0
9P+-zPP+-+0
9sNLzP-+N+-0
9-zP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
10...g4 Shirov was the first to introduce this move order against Topalov back in 1996,
but it often transposes to the main line by 11 axb5 axb5 12 xb5 0-0
11 axb5 axb5 12 xb5

This the critical position of the variation. Black has tried many moves, but it seems that
White has found an adequate answer against each of them.
12 e1 g4 13 d5 e7 was fine for Black in Zhao Zong YuanChapman,M/Gold Coast
AUS 2001 (16).
12...g4
XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-wq-trk+0
9+-zp-+pzpp0
9-vlnzp-sn-+0
9+N+-zp-+-0
9-+-zPP+l+0
9+LzP-+N+-0
9-zP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
After 12...exd4 13 cxd4 g4 14 a4 the bishop supports the knight on b5 and Xrays the
e8square to hinder the rook or the queen from using it, (14 c2 d5 Azarov,S
Ganguly,S/Nakhchivan 2003, 14 a4 e8! was fine for Black in Short,N
Ganguly,S/Gibraltar 2004 (35).) 14...d5 15 e5 e4 16 e3 f6 17 c2 b4 18
b3 a5 19 d2! the key manoeuvre, Kramnik,VTopalov,V/Monaco 2004.
13 c2
49
13 e1 Ivanchuk introduced this line against Shirov back in 1997, 13...xf3 14 gxf3
h5 15 h1! the most flexible, 15...f6 (15...exd4 16 xd4 xd4 17 cxd4 c5 18 g1
Black came under pressure on the gfile in Short,NGanguly,S/FIDE World
Cup, Hyderabad, Ind 2002 (39).) 16 g1 exd4! 17 g5! e5 18 d5! dxc3! Black
sacrifices a piece for a few pawns and obtains good compensation, 19 xc6 cxb2
20 b1 xf2 21 g2 b6 22 d7!? introduced by Smeets, (22 d5 Ivanchuk,V
Shirov,A/Wijk aan Zee NED 2010) 22...c5 23 c2 h6! with wild complications,
Nepomniachtchi,IShirov,A/Wijk aan Zee NED 2011.
13 d5 e7 14 c2 g6 15 h3 xh3! the best practical chance and loads of fun, see
Korneev,ORagger,M/Leoben AUT 2007.
13...xf3
13...exd4 14 bxd4 xd4 15 cxd4 xf3 16 gxf3 h5 17 a4! (17 h1 f6 18 e3 f4 19
a4! with advantage, Adams,MLeko,P/Miskolc HUN 2005.) 17...f6!? 18 e3
g6! Inarkiev,ELeko,P/Astrakhan RUS 2010.
13...h6 14 d5 e7 15 h3 h5 16 h1!! the two exclamation points were given by Leko,
Leko,PMorozevich,A/Cannes 2002.
13...d5 14 h3! Olivier Renet's idea, which was tried in Ivanchuk,VShirov,A/Foros
UKR 2006.
14 gxf3 h5 15 f4!
15 dxe5 Karjakin's move, 15...h4 16 exd6 Ganguly,SGareev,T/Calcutta IND 2004,
and now 16...e5! is very dangerous for White, Black threatens ...h3.
15 h1 f6 16 g1 Palac,MShirov,A/Arvier ITA 2010.
15...xf4
15...h4 might be better.
16 xf4 exf4 17 g4 f6 18 a6!

White wants to bring his knight to c4, without allowing Black to play ...a8 and pin the
knight on a3, Carlsen,MShirov,A/Morelia/Linares MEX/ESP 2008.
50
Spanish 4...d6 5.0-0 Nf6 [C79]

Last updated: 29/11/03 by Nigel Davies
1 e4 e5 2 f3 c6 3 b5 a6 4 a4 d6 5 0-0 f6 6 c3 d7 7 d4
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqkvl-tr0
9+pzpl+pzpp0
9p+nzp-sn-+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
9L+-zPP+-+0
9+-zP-+N+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tRNvLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
7...g6 8 e1
8 bd2 e7 9 e1 g7 10 f1 (10 dxe5 xe5 11 xe5 dxe5 12 xd7+ xd7 13 f3 0-0-0 14
e3 f5! saw Black take the initiative in Jansa,VKeres,P/Luhacovice 1969 (38))
10...0-0 11 g5 h6 12 h4 e8 13 c2 h5 14 e3 c8!? and a tough struggle
was in prospect in Jansa,VPsakhis,L/Bor 1985 (48).
8 xc6 xc6 9 dxe5 xe4 10 bd2 is recommended by some books, but doesn't get
anywhere after 10...c5
8...b5
8...e7 is less good here because of 9 d5 followed by xd7+, c3c4 and b1-c3.
9 b3
51
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqkvl-tr0
9+-zpl+p+p0
9p+nzp-snp+0
9+p+-zp-+-0
9-+-zPP+-+0
9+LzP-+N+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tRNvLQtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Keeping an eye on f7.
9 c2 failed to get anywhere after 9...g7 10 dxe5 xe5 11 xe5 dxe5 12 g5 (12 e3
g4 13 c5 h4 14 h3 f8 15 e3 xe3 16 xe3 d8 was already better for Black in
Parma,BKeres,P/Yerevan 1971 (42)) 12...h6 13 h4 e7 14 d2 d8 with
equality in Shamkovich,LKeres,P/Riga 1968 (18).
9...g7 10 h3
10 bd2 0-0 11 h3 e8 12 f1?! exd4 13 cxd4?! xe4 led to a clear advantage to Black
in Fogarasi,TDavies,N/Budapest 1993 (29).
10...0-0 11 g5 h6 12 h4 c8!? 13 a4 h5 14 axb5 axb5 15 xa8 xa8

16 dxe5
led to equality and a quick draw in Matulovic,MKeres,P/Sarajevo 1972 (18).
52
Open Variation Intro & 9 Be3 [C80]

1 e4 e5 2 f3 c6 3 b5 a6 4 a4 f6 5 0-0 xe4
The Open Ruy Lopez leads to a more tactical game than a lot of the later lines.
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvl-tr0
9+pzpp+pzpp0
9p+n+-+-+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
9L+-+n+-+0
9+-+-+N+-0
9PzPPzP-zPPzP0
9tRNvLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
6 d4
6 e1 should be harmless for Black after 6...c5 7 c3 e7 (but beware of 7...xa4 8
xe5 xe5 9 xe5+ e7 10 d5 as in Voronova,TPhuong,V/Istanbul Olympiad,
Turkey 2000 (13).)
6...b5
The tricky Riga Variation, with 6...exd4, leads to the better endgame for White after 7
e1 d5 8 xd4 (8 g5!? is a fascinating alternative for which I refer you to Joszef
Palkovi's Analysis/Riga Variation 2003 (24)) 8...d6 9 xc6 (9 f3?! 0-0 10 xc6
bxc6 11 xc6 xh2+ 12 xh2?! soon led to a winning game for Black in Almasi,Z
Varga,Z/Tucepi 1996 (49)) 9...xh2+ 10 h1 h4 11 xe4+ dxe4 12 d8+
xd8 13 xd8+ xd8 14 xh2 e6 15 e3 (15 c3 was fairly harmless in
Tolnai,TVarga,Z/Budapest 2000 (21)) 15...f5 16 c3 e7 17 g4, as in the
famous game Capablanca,JLasker,E/New York 1915 (69).
Another move which crops up now and then is 6...e7 but then 7 e1 f5 (7...b5 8 xe4 d5 9
xe5 xe5 10 xe5 was good for White in Smirin,IPiket,J/Wijk aan Zee 1994
(23)) 8 dxe5 0-0 9 c3!? put Black under strong pressure in Kristiansen,J
Smyslov,V/Copenhagen 1985 (43).
53
7 b3 d5
A refreshing alternative is 7...e7!?, for example 8 xe5 xe5 9 dxe5 b7 10 g4 0-0
11 e1 d5! gave Black good counterplay in Sammalvuo,TNorri,J/Helsinki,
Finland 1995 (20).
8 dxe5
This has been White's automatic choice for the last century or so, but it's not the only
move.
8 c3!? is an interesting gambit option after which 8...xc3 9 bxc3 e4 (9...e7 is much
safer) is very risky because of 10 g5 see Stephenson,NDilworth,V/Durham
v. Cheshire County Match 1964 (17).
8...e6 9 e3
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqkvl-tr0
9+-zp-+pzpp0
9p+n+l+-+0
9+p+pzP-+-0
9-+-+n+-+0
9+L+-vLN+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9tRN+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
This move is currently trendy, and offers good chances of an advantage.
9...c5
This is interesting, allowing the exchange of darksquared bishops.
9...e7 is sound, 10 c3 transposing to [C83].
9...a5 Black tries to play with the cpawn as early as possible but this is always
dangerous without developing first. 10 bd2 xd2 11 xd2 c5 12 g5! xb3
13 axb3 d7 14 c3 White is planning to play b4 to liberate the d4square for the
knight, see Sebag,MRadulski,J/Cappelle la Grande 2006.
9...c5?! (Korchnoi) 10 c3 xb3 11 cxb3! e7 12 c1 with a plus.
10 e2 e7
10...xe3 11 xe3 a5 12 c3 xc3 13 xc3 c4 14 xc4 bxc4 15 b4 and Black
found himself saddled with a bad bishop in Korneev,OMartinez
Lizarraga,M/Madrid Open, Spain 2000 (29).
54
Perhaps Black should give preference to 10...0-0 transposing to the Keres line, [C81].
11 d1 d8 12 bd2 xe3 13 xe3 c5
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-trk+-tr0
9+-zp-+pzpp0
9p+n+l+-+0
9+pwqpzP-+-0
9-+-+n+-+0
9+L+-wQN+-0
9PzPPsN-zPPzP0
9tR-+R+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
14 e2 xd2 15 xd2 0-0 16 ad1 a5
A simple and sound idea,
17 d4
White now uses the d4square to mount an attack, Kryvoruchko,YSimacek,P/Olomouc
CZE 2006.
55
Open Variation 9.Nbd2 [C80]

1.e4 e5 2.f3 c6 3.b5 a6 4.a4 f6 5.0-0 xe4 6.d4 b5 7.b3 d5

8.dxe5 e6 9.bd2
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqkvl-tr0
9+-zp-+pzpp0
9p+n+l+-+0
9+p+pzP-+-0
9-+-+n+-+0
9+L+-+N+-0
9PzPPsN-zPPzP0
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
9...c5
9...e7 10.e1!? (10.c3 transposes to [C83]) 10...c5 11.c3 d4 Shirov,A
Ivanchuk,V/Sofia BUL 2009.
10.c3 d4
This allows White a dangerous but controversial piece sacrifice.
10...g4 is seen in [C82].
10...g6?! I can't recommend this idea despite Marin's best efforts to revive it. Almasi,Z
Marin,M/Reggio Emilia ITA 2008.
10...e7 11.c2 0-0 12.e1 d4 transposes to 9 e7.
10...xb3 this was introduced by Beliavsky in 1977, but scores very badly for Black and
so it's rather rare, 11.xb3 e7 12.h3 0-0 Adams,MShort,N/London ENG 2009.
11.g5
56
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqkvl-tr0
9+-zp-+pzpp0
9p+n+l+-+0
9+psn-zP-sN-0
9-+-zp-+-+0
9+LzP-+-+-0
9PzP-sN-zPPzP0
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
The smoke has cleared around this move, Tal's idea, and we now know it leads to a
forced draw.
11.xe6 xe6 12.cxd4 cxd4 13.a4! Karpov broke Korchnoi's resistance with this
move and won the match in Merano in 1981. 25 years later it is still considered
one of the most dangerous lines against the Open Spanish, and needs accurate
handling by Black, (13.e4 is the old main line, 13...e7 14.e3 f5 15.c2 0-0
16.eg5!? Adams,MGolod,V/Germany GER 2011) 13...b4 a very modern
approach (13...c5?! 14.e4 b6 15.fg5! an energetic attacking thrust see De
Firmian,NTimmermans,I/Copenhagen DEN 2002 (21), 13...b8 14.axb5 axb5
15.e4 e7 16.e3 f5 led to equality in Nijboer,FReinderman,D/Dieren NED
2007) 14.axb5 xb5 15.a4 the most challenging move. (15.b3 xd2!? very
provocative, (15...a5 16.c4 bd4 17.xd4 xd4 18.c6+ e7 19.f3 d7 20.c2 h6
21.d1 b5 and Black wriggled out in Volokitin,ANakamura, Biel 2005)
16.xa6!? Sutovsky,EMikhalevski,V/Ashdod ISR 2006.) 15...xd2 (15...e7 is
passive, see the brilliant game Almasi,ZMikhalevski,V/Heviz HUN 2008)
16.xd2 0-0 17.fd1 c5 Jakovenko,DMikhalevski,V/Novi Sad SRB 2009.
11...xg5
The sharpest, although there is 11...d5 12.xf7 xf7 13.f3+ e6 14.g4+ as in
Polgar,JMamedyarov,S/Bled Olympiad, Slovenia 2002 (23).
12.f3 0-0-0
Black players could investigate 12...d7 13.xf7+ e7 14.d5 xe5 15.e2 d3
16.e1 e8 17.f4 g4 18.fxe5 d8 as in Cheparinov,IMikhalevski,V Internet
2003, although I believe that White has the advantage after 19.b3! c8 20.e3
13.xe6+ fxe6 14.xc6 xe5 15.b4
57
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+ktr-vl-tr0
9+-zp-+-zpp0
9p+Q+p+-+0
9+psn-wq-+-0
9-zP-zp-+-+0
9+-zP-+-+-0
9P+-sN-zPPzP0
9tR-vL-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
15.cxd4 xd4 16.b4 xb4 17.a4 was the doubleedged continuation of Ehlvest,J
Korneev,O/Reykjavik Open 2004 (50). Current theory suggests this is fine for
Black.
15...d5 16.xd5 exd5 17.bxc5 dxc3 18.b3 d4 19.a3
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+ktr-vl-tr0
9+-zp-+-zpp0
9p+-+-+-+0
9+pzP-+-+-0
9-+-zp-+-+0
9vLNzp-+-+-0
9P+-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
White can also try 19.d1 when 19...d3 20.e3 e7 (20...d2!? is critical and seems fine)
21.d4 proved to be difficult for Black in Grigoriants,SDanilovic,A/Moscow
1997 (41).
19...g6
This has been popular of late, though it's not clear that it's much different to 19...e7, for
example 20.b4 f6 21.a4 d7 (21...bxa4 22.c6 d3 23.xa4 d2 was Ninov,N
Dimov,K/Correspondence 1995 (41)) 22.axb5 axb5 23.a6 brought about
complex play in Timman,JSmyslov,V/BRD 1979 (55).
The experimental 19...d5 was tried in Naiditsch,ARogers,I/Wijk aan Zee 2003 (40).
20.b4 g7 21.a4 d3!
58
A reasonable alternative is 21...bxa4 22.c6 d3 23.xa4 d2 when Black managed to draw

in Hracek,ZHaba,P/Lahucovice CZE 2003 (38).
More interesting is 21...d7 22.axb5 axb5 23.fd1 (23.ad1 e6 24.fe1+ d5 25.xc3
c4 was complex in Shirov,ATimman,J/Wijk aan Zee 1996 (49)) 23...e6
24.ac1 he8?! (24...d5 is critical) 25.f1 f5 26.c6! was good for White in
Kasparov,GShirov,A/Linares 2001 (38).
22.axb5 d2 23.bxa6
The most dangerous move.
23.c6 b8 is fine for Black see Shirov,AAnand,V/Mainz 2004 (42).
23...c2 24.xd2 xa1 25.xa1 he8 26.c1 e4

and Black had sufficient counterplay in Morozevich,APonomariov,R/Biel 2004.
59
Open Variation Keres Line [C81]

1 e4 e5 2 f3 c6 3 b5 a6 4 a4 f6 5 0-0 xe4 6 d4 b5 7 b3 d5 8
dxe5 e6 9 e2
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqkvl-tr0
9+-zp-+pzpp0
9p+n+l+-+0
9+p+pzP-+-0
9-+-+n+-+0
9+L+-+N+-0
9PzPP+QzPPzP0
9tRNvL-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
The Keres Variation.
9...c5
Alternatively, 9...e7 10 d1 0-0 11 c4 is the point, exploiting the pin on the dfile,
11...bxc4 12 xc4 c5! (12...d7 13 c3 xc3 14 bxc3 f6 15 exf6 xf6) 13 e3 xe3
14 xe3 b8! 15 b3 Ivanchuk,VNakamura,H/Cap d'Agde FRA 2008.
10 e3
This often arises from the move order 9 e3 c5 10 e2, instead.
10...0-0
This is a very safe way to play and I believe that Black has real chances to equalize.
11 d1
60
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9+-zp-+pzpp0
9p+n+l+-+0
9+pvlpzP-+-0
9-+-+n+-+0
9+L+-vLN+-0
9PzPP+QzPPzP0
9tRN+R+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
This plan seems to give White the slightly more comfortable game and as such he has
scored well in practise.
11...xe3
11...d4 12 xe6 fxe6 13 c1 xf2 14 xf2 xe5 15 h1
11...a5 12 bd2 xe3 13 xe3 transposes.
11...e8!? 12 c4 d4! 13 c3 Balogh,CKorchnoi,V/Paks HUN 2007, when 13...xc3!
14 bxc3 bxc4 15 xc4! dxe3! is a speculative queen sacrifice.
12 xe3 a5
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9+-zp-+pzpp0
9p+-+l+-+0
9snp+pzP-+-0
9-+-+n+-+0
9+L+-wQN+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9tRN+R+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
This idea is rather solid and Black should hold..
13 bd2 xd2 14 xd2 c6 15 e1 c7 16 c3 ae8

16...ad8 the rook is misplaced here, 17 d4 c5 18 h4 Felgaer,RKaidanov,G/Khanty
Mansiysk 2005.
17 g5!?
61
A new idea to control the f5square, and prepare d4.
17...h6 18 g3
Kotronias,VMamedyarov,S/Warsaw 2005, which is a very instructive game to help
understand White's plans in the Open Spanish.
62
Open Variation 9 c3 Bc5 & 9...Nc5 [C82]

1 e4 e5 2 f3 c6 3 b5 a6 4 a4 f6 5 0-0 xe4 6 d4 b5 7 b3 d5 8
dxe5 e6 9 c3
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqkvl-tr0
9+-zp-+pzpp0
9p+n+l+-+0
9+p+pzP-+-0
9-+-+n+-+0
9+LzP-+N+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tRNvLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
9...c5
9...c5 is an important alternative, 10 bd2 (10 d3 0-0 11 bd2 is Amonatov,F
Korchnoi,V/Sochi RUS 2007, when 11...f5 is the standard move) 10...0-0 11 c2
(11 e2 doesn't promise any advantage, 11...f5! Motylev,ACaruana,F/Wijk aan
Zee NED 2009) 11...f5 this usually leads to big complications, (11...xf2!? is the
Dilworth Variation. 12 xf2 f6 13 exf6 xf2+ 14 xf2 xf6, 11...f5 12 b3 g4 13 xc5
xc5) 12 b3 b6 13 fd4 xd4 14 xd4 xd4 15 cxd4 f4! 16 f3 g3 see
Garcia,GMikhalevski,V/Miami 2008.
10 c2 g4
An ambitious move.
11 bd2
11 e1
11...d7
63
Another possibility is 11...e6 12 e1 c5 The point of Black's move order is that he

can now place his bishop on this more active square. 13 f1 h5 14 g3 g6 15
h4 d4!? Tibor Karolyi's recommendation, 16 g5 (16 g5 xc2 17 xc2 d3 gave
Black good play in Van den Doel,ESokolov,I/Netherlands NED 2008.) 16...d7
17 cxd4 cxd4 with complex play, Karjakin,SFlear,G/Hastings ENG 2002.
11...e7 12 e1 0-0 13 b3! This line is rather dangerous for Black, as I know from
personal experience. (13 h3 h5 14 f1 e8 15 g4!? White soon wins the dpawn but
practise has shown that Black has plenty of compensation, Guliyev,N
Graf,A/Ourense ESP 2007) 13...e6 14 d3 g6 15 h6 e8 16 e3! After this
precise move Black experiences problems, White's idea is to play fd4 to create
a better pawn structure, 16...a5 17 fd4 cxd4 18 xd4 xd4 19 cxd4 c5
(19...c8 Palac,MJussupow,A/Turin ITA 2006.) 20 dxc5 Sutovsky,E
Svetushkin,D/Subotica SRB 2008.
12 e1 d8 13 f1
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-trkvl-tr0
9+-zpq+pzpp0
9p+n+-+-+0
9+psnpzP-+-0
9-+-+-+l+0
9+-zP-+N+-0
9PzPL+-zPPzP0
9tR-vLQtRNmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
The knight frees the c1-h6 diagonal so the darksquared bishop can develop.
13 b3 e6 14 d3?! is somewhat artificial and Black got a good game after 14...h5
15 fd4 cxd4 16 cxd4 g6 17 e2 a5! in the game Spangenberg,H
Salas,C/Buenos Aires zonal, Argentina 2000 (39).
13...e6
13...e7 14 e3 h5 15 f5 0-0 (15...e6?! 16 a4! Spoelman,WMikhalevski,V/Budva
2009) 16 b3 fe8 and Black's pieces were working well together in Jens,J
Piket,J/Dutch Interclubs, Hengelo 2000 (32).
Krasenkov recommends 13...d4 in order to exploit White's omission of 13.b3.
14 a4 b4 15 a5 a7
15...d4
16 g3 bxc3 17 bxc3 b5 18 h3
64
was good for White in Ramesh,RLedger,D/British Ch., Torquay, England 2002 (33).
65
Open Variation 9 c3 Be7 [C83]

1.e4 e5 2.f3 c6 3.b5 a6 4.a4 f6 5.0-0 xe4 6.d4 b5 7.b3 d5

8.dxe5 e6 9.c3
The old mainline.
9...e7 10.e3
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqk+-tr0
9+-zp-vlpzpp0
9p+n+l+-+0
9+p+pzP-+-0
9-+-+n+-+0
9+LzP-vLN+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tRN+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
This can also arise from 9 e3 e7 10 c3. Alternatives:
10.bd2 is the other main option, 10...0-0 (10...c5 11.c2 d4 12.b3 (12.cxd4!? White
is hoping to obtain a slight edge in an endgame, 12...xd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.f3
xd1 15.xd1 0-0 16.e3 fd8 17.dc1! h6! Saric,INielsen,P/AixlesBains FRA
2011, 12.e1 transposes to 10 e1 in [C80]) 12...d3 13.xc5 (13.b1 is more
ambitious, 13...xb3 14.axb3 f5!? 15.b4 0-0 16.e1 d7! (16...d5 Karjakin,S
Mamedyarov,S/KhantyMansiysk RUS 2009, 16...g6!? 17.h3 a5! equal,
Shirov,AL'Ami,E/Wijk aan Zee NED 2011) 17.h3 g6! Shirov,A
Caruana,F/Wijk aan Zee NED 2010) 13...dxc2 14.xd8+ xd8 15.xe6 fxe6
16.e3 d5! 17.fc1 xe5 18.xe5 xe5 19.d4! inviting the rook to g5 where
it isn't very well placed, (19.xc2 Klovans,JKorchnoi,V/Arvier ITA 2006)
19...g5 20.xc2 f7 21.e3! d5 (21...g4 22.b3 with a small edge, Adams
Smeets/Pardubice CZE 2007) 22.c4 bxc4 23.xc4 with an obvious structural
advantage, Nisipeanu,LSvetushkin,D/Predeal ROU 2007.) 11.c2
a) 11.e1 c5 12.d4!? (12.c2 allows 12...d4) 12...xd4 13.cxd4 d3! the
earliest game with this move involved Alekhine in 1914! (13...xb3 14.xb3 a5
66
15.c2 White hopes to retain a pull due to the presence of some weak points in
the black camp along the cfile, Svidler,PSutovsky,E/Crete GRE 2007) 14.e3
f4! Alekhine's preference, (14...xc1 15.xc1 c5 16.dxc5 c8 looks dubious in

view of 17.d3! (17.ec3?! Shirov,ACarlsen,M/Moscow RUS 2007, when 17...d4!
makes sense.) 17...c7 18.xd5 xc5 19.b3) 15.c2 c5 16.g3! g6!
Almasi,ZTimman,J/Paks HUN 2010.
b) 11.e2 is an old continuation played by Botvinnik against Euwe in 1934,
11...c5 12.d4 d7 (12...xd4 13.cxd4 xb3 14.xb3 see Vachier Lagrave,M
L'Ami,E/Wijk aan Zee NED 2007, Tartakower, Euwe and later Keres and
Korchnoi preferred 12...xb3 ) 13.c2 g4 14.e3 xd4 15.cxd4 e6 Black is
ready to play ...c5, Smirin,IMikhalevski,V/Israel 2009.
11...f5 12.b3 the most popular move. (12.d4 xd4 13.cxd4 c5 Adams,M
Carlsen,M/Wijk aan Zee NED 2008) 12...d7 13.bd4 (13.e1 Timofeev,A
Mikhalevski,V/Budva 2009) 13...xd4 14.xd4 c5 15.xe6 xe6 16.f3 g5 A
key position which has been tested many times. Most of the time Black is able to
hold the fort here despite allowing White the potential slight advantage of the
bishop pair strong players use this line to equalize, 17.a4 The most popular
continuation, which has been known since 1923. White opens the afile for his
rook and creates a tactical threat, 17...ad8 (17...g6 see Parligras,MVallejo
Pons,F/Baden Baden GER 2007.) 18.axb5 axb5 19.a7!? Naiditsch,A
Mikhalevski,V/Budva 2009.
10.a4 c5!? 11.axb5 xb3 12.xb3 axb5 13.xa8 xa8 14.xb5 0-0 Black completes
development and has the bishop pair to at least partially compensate for his pawn,
Morozevich,ACarlsen,M/Morelia/Linares MEX/ESP 2007.
10.e1 this is historically rare, 10...0-0 11.d4 e8!? 12.c2 xd4 13.cxd4 f5!
thematic in this type of position, the central knight is maintained and Black
obtains breathing space, Gashimov,VSvetushkin,D/Moscow RUS 2007.
10...0-0
10...c5 11.c2 d7 a pretty safe line for Black, which usually leads to a dry position
with minimal chances for White to fight for an advantage. 12.e1 temporarily
sacrificing the pawn, (12.d4 holds the centre, 12...g5!? with sharp play, Arencibia
Rodriguez,WVallejo Pons,F/Calvia ESP 2007) 12...dxe5 13.xe5 xe5
14.d4 g6 the main line,
a) 14...c6 15.xg7 g8 unclear, Sandipan,CShabalov,A/Moscow RUS 2006
b) 14...f6!? the new way of handling the position for Black introduced by Acs,
15.xe5 (15.a4!? b4 16.f4!? this move sets more problems for Black than the
unimpressive (16.cxb4 as chosen by Svidler) 16...g4 17.d2 Adams,M
Timman,J/London ENG 2008) 15...fxe5 16.h5+ f7 17.xe5 f8 18.d2
d6! with equal chances in Adams,MGreenfeld,A/Catalan Bay ENG 2007.
15.xg7 g8 16.xg6 xg7 17.xe6 hxg6 18.e2 see Balogh,C
Mikhalevski,V/KhantyMansiysk 2010.
11.bd2 d7
67
11...xd2 is also played, 12.xd2 a5 Navara,DPolgar,J/Prague CZE 2010.
12.e1
12.c2 f5 13.exf6 xf6 14.b1 h8! Black has overall done quite well from this
position, see Akopian,VFilippov,A/KhantyMansiysk RUS 2007.
12...ad8
12...xd2 13.xd2 a5 14.g5!? This move was recommended by Keres a long time
ago, 14...c5 in the Open Variation Black has to careful about allowing his
queenside majority to become too rigid, (14...xg5 15.xg5 xb3 16.axb3 g4
Inarkiev,EL'Ami,E/Kusadasi TUR 2006) 15.c2 c4 16.d3! The threat of
mate forces Black's hand, Jakovenko,DSutovsky,E/Poikovsky RUS 2007.
13.c2 f5
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-tr-trk+0
9+-zpqvlpzpp0
9p+n+-+-+0
9+p+pzPl+-0
9-+-+n+-+0
9+-zP-vLN+-0
9PzPLsN-zPPzP0
9tR-+QtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
This is considered to be Black's best choice although it leads by force to an ending
where White can constantly press thanks to his better structure.
13...xd2 14.xd2 f5 15.ad1 xc2 16.xc2 leaves White with a small advantage.
This was confirmed in the games KhalifmanMikhalevski 1997 and Golod
Mikhalevski 1997 where Black was twice on the verge of losing.
14.xe4 xe4 15.xe4 dxe4 16.xd7 xd7 17.e6 fxe6 18.d2 e5

19.xe4
This is the critical position of the line, White's knight is very strong.
19...d3 20.e2 f5
68
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+k+0
9+-zprvl-zpp0
9p+-+p+-+0
9+p+-+r+-0
9-+-+N+-+0
9+-zPnvL-+-0
9PzP-+RzPPzP0
9tR-+-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
This is a wellknown endgame with slightly better chances for White.
21.f1
21.f3 Korneev,OMikhalevski,V/Montreal CAN 2006.
21...f7 22.d2 c5 23.f3

Leko,PAkopian,V/Astrakhan RUS 2010.
69
Spanish 5...Be7 Intro [C84]

1.e4 e5 2.f3 c6 3.b5 a6 4.a4 f6 5.0-0

5.d4 first, might be more accurate, as it avoids the Open Spanish, Archangel, etc.
5...exd4 6.0-0 e7 then transposes.
5...e7 6.d4
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqk+-tr0
9+pzppvlpzpp0
9p+n+-sn-+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
9L+-zPP+-+0
9+-+-+N+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9tRNvLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Alekhine and Keres both used to like 6.c3 and it is becoming popular again from an
Archangel move order. A good way to meet it is with 6...b5 7.b3 b7 (7...d6 8.d3
0-0 9.d5 a5 10.xe7+ xe7 as in Verlinsky,BLevenfish,G/Soviet
Championships, Moscow 1924 (28)) 8.d3 0-0 9.d2 (9.d5 a5 10.xe7+ xe7 is
Salov,VMalaniuk,V/Tallinn 1981 (22)) 9...d6 10.a4 (10.d5! xd5 11.xd5 White
has a very small advantage here but it should not be underestimated,
Khairullin,IKhalifman,A/Moscow RUS 2006) 10...d4!? (Bologan's 10...a5
11.a2 b4 12.d5 xd5 13.exd5 c5 14.c3 b3! is good) 11.xd4 exd4 12.e2 c5
13.g3 Motylev,ATomashevsky,E/Moscow RUS 2005, when 13...d7 with the
idea of ...c6, to force a decision on the afile, looks interesting.
6.d3 b5 (6...d6 7.c3 0-0 8.e1 b5 (8...d7!? plans b6 followed by ...f5, 9.d4 (9.e3
Caruana,FKorchnoi,V/Gibraltar 2011.) 9...f6 10.e3 b6 Gashimov,V
Najer,E/Wattenscheid GER 2011.) 9.c2 b7 (9...e8 10.bd2 f8 covers the f5
square.) 10.bd2 e8 11.f1 f8 12.g3 g6 13.d4 g7 Kobalia,M
Mikhalevski,V/Aix les Bains 2011.) 7.b3 d6 8.a4 b8 (8...a5 used to be the
favoured response here, 9.axb5 xb3 10.cxb3 0-0 Black's bishops and better pawn
70
structure offer sufficient compensation for the pawn, 8...d7 9.d2 b4 10.c3 0-0 is
also good, Navara,DAronian,L/KhantyMansiysk RUS 2010) 9.axb5 axb5
10.c3 0-0 11.h3 b4!? an entirely new and original idea, the knight exploits
tactical points to help protect d5 d5 is White's main strategical idea in such
positions. 12.e2 c5 13.g3 e6 and Black scored a sparkling victory,
Carlsen,MAronian,L/Elista RUS 2007.
6...exd4
An alternative is 6...xe4 when 7.xc6?! (7.e1 is probably best) 7...dxc6 8.e2 f5
9.dxe5 0-0 gave Black excellent play in Anand,VPiket,J/Melody Amber Rapid
1997 (13).
6...b5 7.b3 d6 (7...exd4 8.e5 e4 9.d5 c5 10.xd4 is bad for Black see Petronic,J
Savic,M/Yugoslavian Championship 2000 (15)) 8.c3 g4 9.h3 xf3 10.xf3
exd4 11.g3 gives White good compensation for the pawn. (less good is 11.d1
as in Lobron,EHort,V/Dortmund 1982 (22).)
7.e1
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqk+-tr0
9+pzppvlpzpp0
9p+n+-sn-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9L+-zpP+-+0
9+-+-+N+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9tRNvLQtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
7.e5 forces a pawn structure similar to some lines of the Italian 3 Knights. 7...e4
8.xd4 0-0 (8...xd4 9.xd4 c5 is also fine for Black but he has to be careful, see
Martin,ARayner,F/Guernsey 1988 for the dangers Black can face if his play is
inaccurate.) 9.f5 d5 10.xc6 (10.exd6 xf5 11.dxe7 xe7 leads to complete
equality.) 10...bxc6 11.xe7+ xe7 12.e1 e8 13.f3 d6!? to quickly attack
e5, (13...c5!? Black plans to put his bishop on f5 and his knight on e6, 14.b3 e6
15.d2 c5+ 16.f2 d4 the ending is pleasant for Black due to his active
possibilities on the queenside, Gashimov,VIvanchuk,V/Antalya 2004.) 14.f4
(14.b3?! f6! Bielczyk,JKholmov,R/Pardubice 1994) 14...f5 15.d2 b7 the
knight looks strange, but in many cases can come back to the ideal square on e6,
Petrov,AKholmov,R/Pardubice 1998.
7...b5 8.e5
71
8.b3 d6 9.d5 xd5 (9...d7 is less incisive see Michalek,JSosna,J/Extraliga,

Ostrava 2000 (24)) 10.exd5 e5 11.xd4 0-0! (11...d7 12.c3 0-0 and Black had
a good game in Chereches,MKarolyi,T/Budapest HUN 2001 (19).) 12.a4!?
g4!? Black tries to induce White to play f3, slightly weakening his position,
Perez,LDe la Paz,F/Santa Clara 2005.
8...xe5 9.xe5 d6
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqk+-tr0
9+-zp-vlpzpp0
9p+-zp-sn-+0
9+p+-tR-+-0
9L+-zp-+-+0
9+-+-+N+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9tRNvLQ+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
The most solid, on the other hand it only gives an equal game.
9...bxa4!? 10.xd4 0-0 White now has many tactical tricks, 11.f5 (if 11.g5 then
11...d5 is correct, 11.f3 could be very tricky as well, 11...b8 12.f5 e8 13.g3
g6) 11...e8 12.g5 d6 13.xe7+ xe7 14.xf6 gxf6 this position looks a bit
dangerous at first sight but White is under developed and has no time to exploit
Black's weaknesses, see Baratosi,DMalaniuk,V/Timisoara ROM 2006.
10.e1 bxa4 11.xd4 d7 12.f3 0-0 13.c6 xc6 14.xc6 d5

and Black's activity outweighs the damage to his pawn structure see Namyslo,H
Motwani,P/Cappelle la Grande Open 1996 (26) for an example.
72
Delayed Exchange [C85]

1 e4 e5 2 f3 c6 3 b5 a6 4 a4 f6 5 0-0 e7 6 xc6
The delayed exchange on c6 hopes to demonstrate that the position of Black's knight on
f6 is less than optimal and that it's worth losing a tempo to watch it go there. To
some extent this is true, but the knight can reposition itself on d7 without too
much inconvenience.
6...dxc6
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqk+-tr0
9+pzp-vlpzpp0
9p+p+-sn-+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+-+-+N+-0
9PzPPzP-zPPzP0
9tRNvLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
7 e1
Probably White's must interesting move, but not the only one:
a) 7 d3 is solid, for example 7...d7 (7...d6!? is a good alternative, 8 bd2 (8 d4 looks
strong, but Black can equalize with the simple 8...e7!) 8...e6 9 b3 d7 10 b2
c5 Kamsky,GAronian,L/Wijk aan Zee NED 2006) 8 bd2 0-0 9 c4 f6 (9...f6
10 d2 e8 is also a reasonable plan but after 11 c3 I don't like the 11...e6?! of
Schussler,HKarklins,A/New York Open 1987 (21).) 10 h4 c5
73
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9+pzp-vl-zpp0
9p+p+-zp-+0
9+-sn-zp-+-0
9-+N+P+-sN0
9+-+P+-+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
(Instead,
10...g6 11 h6 f7 12 f4 led to a quick white crush in Hort,V

Westerinen,H/Orebro 1966 (27).) 11 f5 xf5 12 exf5 d5 13 g4 fe8 14 e1
and now 14...ad8 is a solid looking move with approximate equality (14...e4 did
not work out well in the game Ivanchuk,VKramnik,V/Monaco MNC 2002
(38).)
b) 7 c3 has not been seen much lately, but Black must know what he's doing. For
example 7...g4 (7...d7 8 d4 exd4 9 xd4 is nice for White see Soltis,A
Halfdanarsson,J/Haifa 1970 (34)) 8 h3 h5 9 g4 (9 e2 is a quiet way for White
to play it see Wolff,PKavalek,L/USA (ch) 1985 (38)) 9...xg4 (9...g6 10 xe5
xe4 has the reputation of being bad for Black but this is not clear see Vaskan
Klovans,J/USSR 1966 (32)) 10 hxg4 xg4 11 e2 (11 g2 c5 gave Black a very
dangerous attack for the sacrificed piece in Large,PLittlewood,P/London 1983
(25)) 11...d6 12 e3 h3 13 h4 xf1 14 f5 f6 15 xf1 was far from clear
in Conquest,SStefansson,H/Hafnarfirdi 1992 (68).
7 e2 is sometimes played too, but I recall superGM Michael Adams saying to me
several years ago that he reckons 7...c5! is absolutely fine for Black. Two key
points are: (i) It counters the idea of d1 then d2d4 by White
(ii) 8 xe5 can be wellanswered by 8...d4
7...d7
Black can also play the immediate 7...c5, for example 8 xe5 d4 9 f3 xe4 10
xe4 xe4 11 e1 f6 was fine for Black in Blatny,PEhlvest,J/New York
USA 2003 (49).
Black can also play first 7...e6 when he achieved a solid position after 8 b3 (8 xe5 d4
echoes the final point in the previous notes accompanying White's 7th move.)
8...d7 9 b2 f6 10 d4 d6 11 bd2 (11 c4 c5 is OK for Black,, 11 dxe5 fxe5
followed quickly by ...0-0, especially to make full use of a freshlyopened f
file.) 11...0-0 12 e2 e8 (12...b5 13 c4 was nice for White in Plaskett,J
Sasikiran,K/Hastings 2000 (38)) 13 dxe5 (13 c4!?) 13...fxe5 14 g5 was only
slightly better for White in Rechel,BMotwani,P/Groningen Open, The
Netherland 1990 (30).
7...d6 8 d4! intending 8...exd4?? 9 e5
74
8 b3 c5
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqk+-tr0
9+pzpnvlpzpp0
9p+-+-+-+0
9+-zp-zp-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+P+-+N+-0
9P+PzP-zPPzP0
9tRNvL-wQRmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Stopping d2d4 by White.
8...0-0 9 b2 d6 10 d4 (10 d3 e8 11 bd2 f8 12 e3 c5 Plaskett,JDavies,N/4NCL,
West Bromwich 2004 (17)) 10...exd4 11 xd4 e8 (Both 11...h4!? and, 11...f6!?
look interesting here.) 12 f5 proved to be very dangerous in Blatny,P
Goldin,A/Martinovsky Memorial, USA 2002 (28).
8...f6 9 b2 0-0 10 d4 exd4 11 xd4 c5 12 d2 e8 13 e3 was played in the game
Plaskett,JPein,M/Southend ENG 1999 (17) and would also have been
reasonable for Black had he now played 13...f8 .
9 b2 d6 10 d3
White can also play 10 a4 but after 10...b8 11 c3 0-0 12 d1 e8 13 e3 b5 Black
was well placed in Hodgson,JHebden,M/Telford ENG 2003 (74).
10...0-0 11 bd2 b5 12 e3
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9+-zpn+pzpp0
9p+-vl-+-+0
9+pzp-zp-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+P+PwQN+-0
9PvLPsN-zPPzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
12...h6 13 g3 e8
75
and Black was OK at this stage in Plaskett,JEmms,J/London 1989 (35).
76
Worrall 5...Be7 6.Qe2 [C86]

1 e4 e5 2 f3 c6 3 b5 a6 4 a4 f6 5 0-0 e7 6 e2
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqk+-tr0
9+pzppvlpzpp0
9p+n+-sn-+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
9L+-+P+-+0
9+-+-+N+-0
9PzPPzPQzPPzP0
9tRNvL-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
This, the socalled Worrall Attack, can also be reached via 5.e2. A favourite of Paul
Keres and Alexander Alekhine it recently found favour with Britain's Nigel
Short.
6...b5 7 b3 0-0
7...d6 will normally transpose after 8.c3 0-0, though it can have some independent
significance after 8 a4 (8 c3 g4 committal (8...a5 9 d4!? was an experiment tried
in Alekhine,ARey Ardid,R/Zaragoza 1944 (23), 8...0-0! transposes to the
mainline) 9 h3 h5 10 d1 0-0 11 d3 d5? Mamedov,RNaiditsch,A/Moscow
RUS 2007, when White can win with the obvious 12 g4 g6 13 g5 h5 14
xd5) 8...g4 9 c3 0-0 10 h3 (10 d1 b4 11 a5 d5!? gave Black counterplay in
Alekhine,ASchmidt,P/Salzburg 1942 (33)) 10...d7 (10...h5 11 d3 a5 12 c2 c5
13 axb5 axb5 14 g4 left Black's bishop shut out of play in Kashdan,I
Reshevsky,S/New York 1940 (55)) 11 d4 c8 12 d1 b4 13 cxb4 (13 a5)
13...exd4 14 xd4 xb4 15 c3 c5 gave Black enough counterplay in
Kashdan,IReshevsky,S/USA 1942 (39).
8 c3
Another possibility is 8 d1 though after 8...e8 9 c3 d5 White should avoid the 10 exd5
of Leenhouts,KGeirnaert,S/Hengelo 2001 (19) in favour of 10.d3.
77
Interesting too is 8 d4!? after which 8...d5 9 dxe5 xe4 10 c3 e6 11 bd2 c5 12 c2

d4 13 b1!? led to sharp play in Alekhine,AZollner,H/POL 1942 (34) (see
C83).
8...d6
White should meet 8...d5 with 9 d3 (9 exd5 g4 10 dxc6 e4 is very dangerous see
Foltys,JKeres,P/Salzburg 1943 (30)) and then try to force Black to clarify the
central tension with either ...dxe4 or ...d4. After the further moves 9...b7 (9...dxe4
10 dxe4 gave White an easy game in Alekhine,AJunge,K/POL 1942 (28)) 10 e1
(10 d1 e8 11 bd2 a5 12 c2 c5 13 xe5 led to considerable chaos in Davies,N
Nunn,J/Hastings 1987 (33)) 10...e8 11 bd2 f8 12 a3 h6 White should
probably play 13 a2 (13 h3 is less logical see Moor,RJenni,F/Young Masters
tourn., Switzerland 2001 (19).)
9 d1
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9+-zp-vlpzpp0
9p+nzp-sn-+0
9+p+-zp-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+LzP-+N+-0
9PzP-zPQzPPzP0
9tRNvLR+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
The immediate 9 d4 is also possible, but the restrained text has its advantages.
9...a5
9...e6 10 d4 xb3 11 axb3 exd4 12 cxd4 d5 13 e5 e4 14 c3 and White had the
better game in Strikovic,AShirov,A/Val Maubue 1990 (23).
10 c2 c5 11 d4 c7 12 g5
12 dxe5 dxe5 13 bd2 d8 gave Black easy equality in Kaminski,M
Davies,N/Liechtenstein 1993 (26).
White's most interesting move is 12 d5
12...g4 13 dxe5 dxe5 14 bd2 fd8 15 f1 h5

And Black had equalised in Alekhine,AKeres,P/Salzburg 1942 (57).
78
Spanish 5...Be7 6.Re1 d6 [C87]

1 e4 e5 2 f3 c6 3 b5 a6 4 a4 f6 5 0-0 e7 6 e1 d6
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqk+-tr0
9+pzp-vlpzpp0
9p+nzp-sn-+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
9L+-+P+-+0
9+-+-+N+-0
9PzPPzP-zPPzP0
9tRNvLQtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
A little played line which is nevertheless quite interesting. Omitting ...b7b5 has some
pros and cons.
6...0-0?? loses a pawn to 7 xc6 dxc6 8 xe5
7 c3
White can also play 7 xc6+ bxc6 8 d4 but 8...exd4 (8...d7!?) 9 xd4 d7 gives Black
a solid game.
7...g4 8 d3 d7
79
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqk+-tr0
9+pzpnvlpzpp0
9p+nzp-+-+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
9L+-+P+l+0
9+-zPP+N+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tRNvLQtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Black wants to control the center with ...c5e6, but his main idea is to change his
black bishop via g5.
9 h3
9 e3 xf3 10 xf3 g5 was quite reasonable for Black in Anand,V
Short,N/Dortmund 1997, but White has an edge.
9...h5 10 e3 h6!?
This is better than 10...xf3 11 xf3 g5 12 xc6 bxc6 13 d2 0-0 14 g4 xe3 15
xe3 with a small plus for White.
11 g4!? g6 12 bd2
Topalov,VMamedyarov,S/Wijk aan Zee NED 2006.
80
AntiMarshall [C88]
1 e4 e5 2 f3 c6 3 b5 a6 4 a4 f6 5 0-0 e7 6 e1 b5 7 b3 0-0
Sweden's Johnny Hector has experimented with 7...b7, for example 8 d4 (One of
Black's ideas is to meet 8 c3 with 8...d5 9 exd5 xd5 10 xe5 xe5 11 xe5 f4)
8...xd4 9 xd4 exd4 10 e5 e4 11 f3 0-0! 12 xe4 c5 as in Stefansson,H
Hector,J/'Sigeman & Co.', Sweden 2002 (22).
8 a4
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9+-zppvlpzpp0
9p+n+-sn-+0
9+p+-zp-+-0
9P+-+P+-+0
9+L+-+N+-0
9-zPPzP-zPPzP0
9tRNvLQtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Traditionally this has been the most popular way to sidestep the Marshall (which occurs
after 8.c3 d5), but it isn't the only way.
Lev Psakhis and others have favoured 8 h3 i.e. 8...b7 9 d3 (9 c3 allows a kind of
Marshall anyway after 9...d5 see Men,BKaidanov,G/Cardinal 1992 (27).) 9...d6
a) 9...d5!? on the current evidence this Marshalllike gambit is fine for Black, 10
exd5 xd5 11 xe5 (11 a4!? Leko,PJakovenko,D/Elista RUS 2008) 11...d4
see Ivanchuk,VSvidler,P/Foros 2008.
b) 9...e8 is also popular.
10 a3 a5 this Chigorinlike set up is the most popular system for Black against the
8.h3 AntiMarshall,
a) 10...d7 intending the manoeuvre ...c6d8e6, is a solid system that has
caused White players many headaches. 11 c3 (11 bd2 fe8 12 c3 d5!
Gashimov,VAronian,L/Linares ESP 2010) 11...fe8 12 e2 d8 13 g3 e6
14 c3 (14 f5 f8 15 g5?! d5 Le Quang,LDeepan Chakkravarthy,J/Cebu City
81
2007., 14 a2 c5 15 d2!? planning a future c2c4 thrust, Gashimov,V

Kamsky,G/Baku AZE 2008) 14...c5 15 d4 commencing central operations is the
most popular option, but I get the impression that Black often gets a good game
after resolving the tension in the centre. (15 a2!? is a logical move, preparing the
standard b2b4, Gashimov,VMiton,K/Marseille FRA 2008) 15...exd4 16 cxd4
d5 17 e5 e4 18 f5 Al Modiahki,MDeepan Chakkravarthy,J/Cebu City 2007.
b) 10...h6 11 c3 e8 12 d5 see Grischuk,AKamsky,G/Khanty Mansyisk
RUS 2005.
c) 10...b8 11 bd2 bd7 12 f1 e8 13 a2 f8 14 g5!? delaying g3 in
order to quickly play f4, Gashimov,VIvanchuk,V/Astrakhan RUS 2010.
11 a2 c5 12 bd2 c6 13 f1 c8! this looks like the simplest, bringing the bishop to
e6 to neutralise White's lightsquared prelate, 14 g5 (14 c3 e6 15 xe6 fxe6 16 b4
d5 Kamsky,GBacrot,E/Jermuk ARM 2009) 14...e8 (14...e6 15 xf6 White is
more then willing to give up the bishop pair if it means he gets a little more
control over the d5square, 15...xf6 16 e3 g5 17 d5 h6 18 b4 Gashimov,V
Bacrot,E/Baku AZE 2008) 15 d2 (exchanging darksquared bishops by 15 xe7
xe7 16 e3 doesn't look right, Anand,VKasimdzhanov,R/Leon 2005) 15...c7
(15...e6 see Anand,VAronian,L/Linares 2007.) 16 e3 e6 17 d5 a5 18 a4! is
a typical method to force ...b4 after which White can gradually manoeuvre his
knight to c4, Gashimov,VPonomariov,R/Dagomys RUS 2008.
8 a3!? White prepares a possible retreat for the bishop on a2, and can consider a later b4,
8...c5!? 9 c3 d6 10 d4 b6 reaching a typical Archangel position where White
has his pawn on a3 instead of a2, Carlsen,MAronian,L/Morelia/Linares
MEX/ESP 2008.
8 d4 xd4 (8...d6 is considered to be safer, 9 c3 g4 with transposition to C91) 9 xd4
The most popular continuation. (9 xf7+ This way White wins a pawn, but Black
obtains counterplay. 9...xf7 10 xe5 f8 11 xd4 c5 Black has to play fast in order
to justify the pawn sacrifice, see Kamsky,GAnand,V/Nice FRA 2009.) 9...exd4
10 e5 e8 11 c3 dxc3 12 xc3 d6 13 f3 e6 14 d5 c8 15 f4 reaching the
critical position of this line, see Leko,PAronian,L/Jermuk ARM 2009.
8...b7
8...b4 thanks to the efforts of GM Grischuk this move, together with Black's next few
moves, has become part of a very reliable system. 9 d4!? a very interesting try
against this line, White simply plays with the c4square in hand and the better
structure, (9 d3 d6 10 a5 e6 11 bd2 c8 is the impressive Hou Yifan
Harikrishna/Pardubice CZE 2007, 9 a5 is a relatively rare line, 9...d6 10 c3 b8 11
c4 e6 12 xa6 a8 Karjakin,SSvidler,P/Dresden GER 2008) 9...d6 10 dxe5
xe5 (10...dxe5 11 xd8 xd8 12 bd2 d6 Karjakin,SAronian,L/Nalchik RUS
2009) 11 xe5 dxe5 12 f3 b7 13 d2 few games have reached this position
but White has a good score, see Ivanchuk,VAronian,L/Sochi RUS 2006.
9 d3 d6
82
9...d5!? White's move order is intended to stop the Marshall Gambit, so it is interesting
that Black tries it anyway. On the one had White has played the solid d3 instead
of c3, but on the other Black has played ...b7. 10 exd5 xd5 11 axb5 axb5 12
xa8 xa8 13 xe5 d4 with compensation, Ivanchuk,VBacrot,E/Odessa
UKR 2007.
10 bd2
Kasparov prepared this move for his 1993 encounter with Nigel Short.
At one time everyone used to play 10 c3 when the knight often comes to g3 via e2.
10 c3!? Delaying bd2 to free up a retreat for the lightsquared bishop on c2, 10...a5
11 c2 c5 12 bd2 g6!? Palliser,RGormally,D/Scarborough Open 2006.
10...a5
The Chigorin approach is the most popular here.
10...h6 is slightly risky, 11 f1 e8 12 g3 f8 13 c3 Dvoirys,SPlachetka,J/Cappelle
la Grande Open 2007.
11 a2 c5
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9+l+-vlpzpp0
9p+-zp-sn-+0
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9+-+P+N+-0
9LzPPsN-zPPzP0
9tR-vLQtR-mK-0
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12 f1 e8
12...b4 13 c3 b8!? 14 cxb4! cxb4 15 d2 and White won convincingly in Svidler,P
Jenni,F/Baden Baden GER 2006.
13 e3 g6 14 d2 b4 15 g5 f8 16 g4!
and White had good attacking chances in Kasparov,GVladimirov,E/Europe vs. Asia
Rapid Match, B 2001 (25).
83
Marshall Gambit [C89]

1.e4 e5 2.f3 c6 3.b5 a6 4.a4 f6 5.0-0 e7 6.e1 b5 7.b3 0-0

8.c3 d5
XIIIIIIIIY
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9+-zp-vlpzpp0
9p+n+-sn-+0
9+p+pzp-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+LzP-+N+-0
9PzP-zP-zPPzP0
9tRNvLQtR-mK-0
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Marshall's sharp counterattack.
9.exd5
9.d4!? is one way of avoiding the megatheory of the Marshall Attack, 9...exd4 10.e5
e4 11.xd4!? Belov,VAkopian,V/Moscow RUS 2007.
9...xd5
9...e4?! is a dubious alternative, met by 10.dxc6 exf3 11.g3! not the most popular, but a
safe line, (11.xf3 g4, 11.d4!) 11...e8 12.d4 g4 13.g5 Nakamura,H
Short,N/London ENG 2010.
10.xe5 xe5 11.xe5 c6
84
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9+-+-vlpzpp0
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9PzP-zP-zPPzP0
9tRNvLQ+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
When Marshall first introduced this gambit he played 11...f6 and lost. Afterwards he
decided that 11...c6 was an improvement. 12.h3 (12.d4 d6 13.e1 g4 14.h3 h4
15.f3 transposes) 12...d6 13.e1 g4 14.f3 h4 15.d4 xf2 16.e3
(Capablanca played 16.e2 in the wellknown stem game Capablanca,JR
Marshall,F New York 1918.) 16...d3! Sjugirov,SAkylbekov,N/Khanty
Mansiysk RUS 2010, when 17.g3! is best.
12.d4
The main line, but White has several alternatives:
12.d3 has become very popular of late, 12...d6 13.e1 f5 (the idea is that after
13...h4 14.g3 h3 15.e4 f5 White's rook is protected by the pawn on d3
see Anand,VAdams,M/Dortmund, Germany 2000 (45). (15...d7 Kotronias,V
Sokolov,I/Caleta ENG 2009) ) 14.f3 h4 (14...e8!? failed to equalise in
Shirov,AOnischuk,A/Poikovsky 2008) 15.g3 h3 16.xd5 (16.d2!? ae8
17.e4 blocks the efile and prepares to develop the c1-bishop and coordinate the
rooks, but leads to a fairly equal endgame, Polgar,JAronian,L/Wijk aan Zee
NED 2008) 16...cxd5 17.xd5 (17.a4!? Nakamura,HAdams,M/London ENG
2010) 17...ad8 18.g2 h5! (18...xg2+ 19.xg2 xd3 aims to draw the
endgame, 20.e3 e4+ the latest word, which was introduced by Aronian's
(20...fe8
see
Stellwagen,D
second,
Sargissian,
against
Bacrot,
Harikrishna,P/Wijk aan Zee NED 2008) 21.f1 (21.f3 c6 and with a series of
precise moves Black equalised in Bacrot,EAronian,L/Kallithea GRE 2008.)
21...c6 22.d2 f6 with drawing chances, Bacrot,EAronian,L/Dresden GER
2008.) 19.e3 h3!? 20.h1 f5 with attacking chances for the two pawns,
21.b6 d7 22.d5+ h8 23.d2 xg3 24.xd7 f4 25.b7 xd2 26.d4 g8
27.e7 c1 28.e1 f4 29.e3 xe3 30.xe3 h6!? (30...e8 see the brilliant game
Smeets,JBacrot,E/Wijk aan Zee NED 2008, 30...g4+ 31.h1 f4 32.g1 c8 leads
to an ending an exchange up) 31.c7 e8 Sutovsky,EJakovenko,D/Poikovsky
2008.
12.e1 d6 13.g3!? a speciality of Moldovan no.2 Iordachescu, (13.d4 and, 13.d3 both
transpose to other lines) 13...f5 (13...d7 14.d4 h3 transposes to the mainline)
14.d4 d7 15.e3 ae8 16.d2 g4 17.c2 (17.b1 see Naiditsch,A
85
Gustafsson,J/Dresden GER 2007) 17...f5 18.c1 the critical position, see

Anand,VSvidler,P/Mexico City MEX 2007.
12.xd5 is the socalled Kevitz Variation after which 12...cxd5 13.d4 d6 14.e3
c7!? is an interesting alternative to 14...h4 see Mithrakanth,P
Yurtaev,L/Goodricke Open, Calcutta 2000 (28).
12...d6 13.e1
After 13.e2 h4 14.g3 h3 15.d2 f5 16.a4 ae8 Black obtained good
compensation for the pawn in Kotronias,VAdams,M/Chalkidiki, Greece 1992
(21).
13...h4 14.g3 h3
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9PzP-+-zP-zP0
9tRNvLQtR-mK-0
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15.e3
White has a major alternative in 15.e4 which prevents ...g4 and threatens to eject
Black's queen from h3 with h4. Black usually replies with 15...g5 after which
16.f1 (16.e2 f5 17.xd5+ cxd5 18.e6 f4!! was a stunning novelty played in
Ponomariov,RAnand,V/Linares 2002 (28)., An interesting alternative is 16.f3
f5 17.c2, sacrificing the exchange in order to take the initiative. Admittedly this
did not work out too well after 17...xe4 18.xe4 e6 19.xg5 f5 in the game
Topalov,VAdams,M/Bosna SuperGM, Sarajevo 2000 (42)) 16...xf1+ this has
been preferred recently, Black tries to exploit his advantage in the endgame. He
hopes to quickly get to the seventh rank, (16...h5 is more natural, but Black has
been suffering after 17.d2 f5
a) 17...f6 Todorovic,JVajda,L/Herceg Novi MNE 2006, when I think that
18.e2! is strong
b) 17...f5!? this move is under a cloud at the moment, 18.d1! (18.e1 f4 19.e4
Almasi,ZGyimesi,Z/Hungary HUN 2006, (19.d1 f3! Vachier Lagrave,M
Svidler,P/Donostia ESP 2009) and now 19...h3!? ) 18...h6 (18...g4 19.e1
Motylev,ABeliavsky,A, Wijk aan Zee NED 2006, when Finkel suggests
86
19...a7!) 19.e1 f4 20.e4 c7 21.d2! f5 22.c5 d6 (22...f7!? Shirov,A

Akopian,V/Carlsbad CZE 2007) 23.f3 and White won nicely, Galkin,A
Nielsen,P/Dresden GER 2007

18.f3 introduced by Kramnik in the World Championship match against Leko in
Brissago 2004. (18.xd5? led to a major upset in the game Korchnoi,V
Silver,J/Santa Monica 1977 (21)) 18...f6 (18...ae8 equalised in Vachier
Lagrave,MAdams,M/KhantyMansiysk RUS 2010) 19.a4!? a strong move,
giving the exchange for a pawn and a strong centre, (19.e1 led to a bad loss for
White in Kramnik,VLeko,P, Brissago 2004, 19.g2 g6 20.e3 ae8 21.e4 is the
latest try, see the note to Shirov,AAkopian,V) 19...xe4 20.xe4 and now
20...g6 looks best. (20...xe4 Kurnosov,IAzarov,S/Kusadasi TUR 2006)
21.xd6 xd6 22.xg5 g6 with fairly balanced chances Shirov,AAronian,L
Moscow 2006) 17.xf1 f5 (17...h6 18.d2 f5 19.e1 now that the g5pawn is
protected the rook must retreat, Volokitin,APonomariov,R/Foros UKR 2006)
18.d2! this the point of this line, White can win some tempi thanks to the
weakness of the pawn on g5. 18...ad8 (18...ae8 this move is not the best because
White is not forced to move his rook, 19.f3! see Motylev,ASargissian,G/Moscow
RUS 2006) 19.f3!? xe4 20.fxe4 c7 21.a4! a strong improvement, (21.f3?!
Grigoriants,SLalic,B/Cappelle la Grande FRA 2007) 21...h6 22.g2 d7 23.h4!
White is attacking all over the board, Jakovenko,DZhang Zhong/Ergun CHN
2006.
15.d2 is a plausible looking move, but after 15...g4 16.f3 xg3! Black won quickly
in the game Quinn,DHussain,N/Istanbul Olympiad, Turkey 2000 (24).
15.e2 is gaining in popularity, 15...d7!? a recent idea from the French GM Fressinet,
(15...g4 16.f1 ae8 (16...h5 17.d2 is rare, 17...ae8 (17...f4!? might not
be enough for equality, see So,WMegaranto,S/Olongapo City PHI 2010) 18.f3
f5!? So,WGupta,A/Wijk aan Zee NED 2009.) 17.xe8 xf1+ 18.xf1 xe8
19.d2 Covering the e1-square White defends against 19...h3+ and 20...e1
mate, Volokitin,AInarkiev,E/Budva MNE 2009.) 16.f1 f5 (16...ae8
17.xe8 (17.xh3 xe1+ 18.f1 transposes) 17...xf1+ 18.xf1 xe8 19.d2 b6
20.e3 d5 21.a4!? (21.xd5 Kamsky,GBacrot,E/Nalchik RUS 2009)
21...xe3+ 22.fxe3 xe3 23.axb5 axb5 24.a6 Leko,PJakovenko,D/Dortmund
GER 2009) 17.e3 (17.d2 ae8 18.f3 f6 19.a4 c5! Black creates counterplay
in the centre, 20.xe8 xe8 21.e4 xe4 22.fxe4 (22.c2 also seems to lead to a
draw, Svidler,PGrischuk,A/Moscow RUS 2009) 22...xe4 23.f4!? c6! 24.d5
c4! which appears to lead to a forced draw, Dominguez Perez,LLeko,P/Wijk
aan Zee NED 2010.) 17...ae8 18.d2 h5 Black's idea is to create pressure on the
kingside by means of ...h4 and ...g6, (18...e7!? to double rooks, Ni Hua
Adams,M/London ENG 2009) 19.g2 h4 Alekseev,EAronian,L/Nalchik RUS
2009.
15...g4
87
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0
9+-+-+pzpp0
9p+pvl-+-+0
9+p+n+-+-0
9-+-zP-+l+0
9+LzP-vL-zPq0
9PzP-+-zP-zP0
9tRN+QtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Black's usual move, but not the only one.
Black played 15...a7!? in the game Zaragatski,IPlachetka,J/Mitropa Cup, Saint
Vincent 2001 (28), which had the idea of simply doubling rooks on the efile.
16.d3 ae8 17.d2 e6
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-trk+0
9+-+-+pzpp0
9p+pvlr+-+0
9+p+n+-+-0
9-+-zP-+l+0
9+LzPQvL-zPq0
9PzP-sN-zP-zP0
9tR-+-tR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Spassky's Variation, Black prepares to double rooks on the efile.
17...f5 is the most direct try for Black, but after correct defense White stays ahead,
18.f4! h8 (18...g5?! the Pawn Push variation, 19.f1 h5 20.g2 (20.fxg5 xe3
21.xe3 f4 22.f3! maybe White's best, see pawn push Analysis two/2005) 20...gxf4
21.xd5+ cxd5 (21...h8 22.xf4 xf4 23.xc6 e3+ 24.h1 e6 25.f3! R.Fischer!)
22.xd5+ g7 23.xf4 xf4 24.gxf4 h8 25.f1 is the start of pawn push
Analysis one/2005) 19.xd5 cxd5 20.f1 h5 21.g2 e4 22.h4! White's
strategy is simple: to defend on the kingside while the rook attacks the black
pawns on the queenside.
17...h5 Thanks to Sargissian this line has a chance to become the main line. 18.c2
this prevents ...f5,
a) 18.a4 e6 transposes.
b) 18.f1 e7 was introduced in Dortmund 2007 by Leko. 19.a4 (19.xd5 led to a
draw in Bacrot,EInarkiev,E/Elista RUS 2008) 19...fe8 20.xd5 xd5 21.axb5
88
axb5 22.g2 with a small advantage, 22...xg2+ 23.xg2 h5!? (23...f6

Inarkiev,ELeko,P/Elista RUS 2008) 24.ec1 Anand,VAronian,L/Wijk aan Zee
NED 2011.
18...f5 19.f3! h3 20.f2 f4! a strong novelty, (20...g5 Sutovsky,E
Heimann,A/Kallithea GRE 2008) 21.gxf4 xf4 22.g3 g5! 23.b3+! (23.f1
h5! see Efimenko,ZSargissian,G/Dresden GER 2008.) 23...h8 24.f1 h5 Ni
HuaSargissian,G/Dresden GER 2008.
18.a4
18.c4? ran into the powerful 18...f4! in Kuzmin,GMalinin,V/Sudak 2002 (22).
18.f1 is likely to transpose, 18...h5 19.f3!? this was introduced at the top level by
Kramnik, (19.a4 bxa4! (19...fe8 20.axb5 axb5 is the mainline) 20.xa4 f5 21.f4
fe8 Again this is the best choice for Black. little by little we arrived at a critical
position, see Fleck,JWegner,H/Germany 1990.) 19...xe3 (19...f6 20.g2!
Naiditsch,ASargissian,G/Kallithea GRE 2008, 19...f5 20.e4 xe4 21.fxe4 xe4
22.d1 allows White to win an exchange, see Bacrot,EJakovenko,D/Kallithea
GRE 2008) 20.f2 d5 21.fxg4 xg4 22.f3! gives White a marginal edge in
any ending, 22...g5 23.xe6 fxe6 24.e4! an important intermediate move,
24...g6 25.d3! (25.e2 Kramnik,VAronian,L/Yerevan ARM 2007.) 25...e7
(25...h5!? was tried in Jakovenko,DBacrot,E/Dortmund GER 2009) 26.e1 f5
Naiditsch,AOnischuk,A/Kallithea GRE 2008.
18...h5
After 18...f5 the critical line is 19.axb5! (For 19.f1 h5 see Renet,ONunn,J/European
Team Ch., Haifa 1989 (22).) 19...f4 20.xf4 xf4 21.xe6 xe6 22.bxa6 with 4
strong pawns against a piece.
19.axb5
The plausible 19.d1? allowed 19...xe3 20.fxe3 xg3! in Shulingkamp,M
Kaidanov,G/New Orleans Open 1992 (21).
19...axb5
89
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9-+-zP-+l+0
9+LzPQvL-zP-0
9-zP-sN-zP-zP0
9tR-+-tR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
The main position of this line.
20.f1
20.f1 is an alternative, for example 20...f5 21.d2 (21.d1 g4 22.d2) 21...h3!?
(21...fe8 22.xd5 cxd5 23.e2 gave White what chances that were going in Del Rio
Angelis,SHebden,M/Port Erin IOM 2003 (61).) 22.d1 g6 23.f3 f5!
Shirov,AAronian,L/Bilbao ESP 2009.
20.d1? xd1 21.axd1 f5 and Black had a strong attack in the game Hellers,F
Sokolov,I/Haninge 1989 (30).
20.c4 is Tal's move.
20...fe8
20...h3 21.d1! f5 22.e2 Ivanchuk,VGrischuk,A/Sochi RUS 2005.
21.xd5 xd5 22.h3 h5

Threatening ...xg3.
22...f5 23.g2 xg2+ 24.xg2 Even in this endgame White found it very difficult to
prove any advantage in Leko,PKasimdzhanov,R/Linares ESP 2005.
23.g2 xg2+! 24.xg2 f5 25.f3 f4!

Nisipeanu,LLeko,P/Dresden GER 2008.
90
Closed Variation 9.d3 [C90]

1 e4 e5 2 f3 c6 3 b5 a6 4 a4 f6 5 0-0 e7 6 e1 b5 7 b3 d6 8 c3
There is an interesting alternative in 8 a4, for example 8...b8 9 axb5 axb5 10 c3 0-0 11
d4 was nice for White in the game Kobalija,MDervishi,E/European Individual
Ch., 2001 (27) as after 11...g4? 12 d5! the knight on c6 is lost.
8...0-0 9 d3
XIIIIIIIIY
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9+-zp-vlpzpp0
9p+nzp-sn-+0
9+p+-zp-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+LzPP+N+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tRNvLQtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
This quiet move has some poison White will delay d3d4 until he has completed his
development.
Once again 9 a4 is possible, with Black falling into the above mentioned trap after
9...b8 10 d4 g4? 11 axb5 axb5 12 d5 in the game Martin Gonzalez,A
Mundet,J/Spanish Ch., Barcelona 2000 (12).
9...a5 10 c2 c5 11 bd2 e8
91
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9+-+-vlpzpp0
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9snpzp-zp-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+-zPP+N+-0
9PzPLsN-zPPzP0
9tR-vLQtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Probably Black's best and most flexible move.
A good alternative is 11...c6 after which 12 f1 was answered by the aggressive
12...d5!? in the game Beshukov,SVajda,L/European Club Championship 2000
(33).
Less good is 11...c7?! because it doesn't serve any particular purpose when e5 is not
under pressure see Teichmann,RSchlechter,C/Carlsbad 1911 (25).
Also dubious is 11...g4?! 12 h3 h5 because the h5 bishop is shut out of play after 13
f1 c6 14 g3 see Munn,WJeffrey,A/Glasgow Congress 1965 (20).
12 f1 f8
Black can also prevent g5 before retreating his bishop to f8 with 12...h6 13 h3 (13 d4
exd4 14 cxd4 g4! 15 d5 c4 gave Black good counterplay in Emms,J
Short,N/Gibraltar 2004 (94).) 13...f8 14 a3 c6! 15 b4 (15 d4?! gave Black a
good game in Mahdi,KEl Taher,F/Dubai Open, 2001 (26).) 15...d5!? 16 exd5
xd5 17 d2 b7 Bologan,VKarjakin,S/Mainz GER 2010.
12...b7 13 g3 g6 14 g5 d7 Hansen,EMikhalevski,V/Edmonton 2009.
13 g3 g6 14 g5 g7 15 d2 b7
and a complex middlegame was in prospect in Nunn,JHowell,D/Mind Sports Blitz
Tournament 1999 (66).
92
Central Attack 9.d4 [C91]

1 e4 e5 2 f3 c6 3 b5 a6 4 a4 f6 5 0-0 e7 6 e1 b5 7 b3 d6
7...0-0 8 d4 d6 9 c3 is an alternative move order that avoids the Marshall Attack.
8 c3 0-0 9 d4
This line has become popular recently for three reasons: first, it is very useful to surprise
your opponent nowadays, second, this line can be used as very good anti
Marshall weapon, third, it is much faster to learn this line than to become
acquainted with all the subtleties of the long mainlines.
9...g4
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9-+-zPP+l+0
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9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tRNvLQtR-mK-0
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10 e3
Black can neutralise 10 d5 with 10...a5 11 c2 c8!, the move that essentially put
10.d5 out of business. Black will still play ...c6 as in the other line, but defers it
for one move in order to be able to retreat the g4bishop to d7 without having to
fear the reply xe5 (11...c6 is the older line, 12 h3 after this move, if Black
wants to retain his bishop the only available squares are c8 or h5. (12 dxc6 c7
13 h3 h5 Karpov's line, (13...c8 transposes below) 14 bd2 ad8! the most
precise, (14...xc6 15 f1 ad8 16 e3 is in time to hinder ...d5, Kuzmin,G
Lukacs,P/Budapest 1978) 15 e2 xc6 16 f1 fe8 and Black was OK in
93
Popov,VKarpov,A/Riga 1968) 12...c8 (12...h5 left Black's light squared

bishop out of play in the game Stein,LRodriguez Gonzalez,J/Havana Olympiad
1966 (33).) 13 dxc6 c7 14 bd2 xc6 15 f1 c4 (15...e6 is less usual, 16
g3 (16 g5 HYDRAAdams,M/London ENG 2005) 16...fe8 17 g5 (17 h4
d5! a new gambit which gives Black good chances, Kamsky,G
Grischuk,A/Khanty Mansyisk RUS 2005) 17...d7 18 a4 Gashimov,V
Roiz,M/Novi Sad SRB 2009.) 16 e2!? this looks more flexible than (16 g3 see
Timman,JSpassky,B/Montreal 1979 (31)) 16...h6?! 17 g3 e8 18 h4 with
advantage, Stein,LKavalek,L/Caracas 1970.) 12 h3 (12 bd2 c6 13 b4 forcing
the knight to retreat, 13...b7 14 dxc6 xc6 15 b2 d8 16 f1 b7 (16...e6
Ponomariov,RSvidler,P/Panormo 2001) 17 g3!? Kamsky,GKarjakin,S/Mainz
GER 2010.) 12...d7 13 bd2 c6 14 dxc6 xc6 15 f1 b7 and Black had
nothing to fear in the game McShane,LSokolov,I/Bundesliga 2002 (37).
10...exd4
10...a5 looks better for White after 11 dxe5 xf3 12 xf3 dxe5 13 c2 because of his
bishop pair see Gallagher,JVijayalakshmi,S/Gibraltar 2004 (33)
10...h5!? should transpose.
10...d7 might be a good surprise weapon, 11 c2 g4 12 c1 h4 see Ootes,L
Mikhalevski,V/Biel 2010.
11 cxd4 d5
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9+-zp-vlpzpp0
9p+n+-sn-+0
9+p+p+-+-0
9-+-zPP+l+0
9+L+-vLN+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tRN+QtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
The other main line is 11...a5 12 c2 c5 (12...c4 13 c1 c5 is another way to play it
for Black, 14 b3 b6 15 bd2 fd7 (15...c8 see Grischuk,ASokolov,I/Bled
Olympiad, Slovenia 2002 (46)) 16 h3 h5 17 g4 g6 18 d5 (18 f1 d5 19 e5 led to
a famous finish in Tal,MPortisch,L/Biel (izt) 1976 (37)) 18...f6 19 b1 e8
with Benonistyle play in Dominguez,LBologan,V/Poikovsky RUS 2005 (52))
13 h3 (13 dxc5 dxc5 14 c3 is not as innocuous as it seems, Timofeev,A
Tseshkovsky,V/Moscow RUS 2005 (89)) 13...cxd4 this is supposed to be best,
but it is not so clear, (13...xf3!? 14 xf3 cxd4 15 xd4 c6 aims to gain time at the
cost of the bishop pair, Shomoev,ARomanishin,O/Warsaw POL 2005 (40),
94
13...h5 14 bd2 cxd4 15 xd4 c6 16 b3 was better for White at this stage in
Swathi,GDavies,N/Gibraltar 2004 (34).) 14 xd4 h5 15 g4 g6 16 c3 but
White went on to win convincingly in Dominguez,LInarkiev,E/Tripoli 2004

(32).
12 e5 e4 13 h3
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9+-zp-vlpzpp0
9p+n+-+-+0
9+p+pzP-+-0
9-+-zPn+l+0
9+L+-vLN+P0
9PzP-+-zPP+0
9tRN+QtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
The most precise.
White can also play the immediate 13 c3, for example 13...xc3 14 bxc3 f5! (14...a5)
15 f4 (15 c1 is Grischuk,AShort,N/Wijk aan Zee NED 2005 (34)) 15...g5!? 16
c1 a5 17 c2 c4 as in Sandipan,CHebden,M/Gibraltar 2004 (34).
13...h5 14 c3 xc3
14...b4 is strongly met by 15 xd5 (15 c1 xc3 16 bxc3 a5 17 c2 f5! in the game
Mordue,THebden,M/4NCL, Birmingham 2000 (25).) 15...xe1 16 xe1 xf3
17 gxf3 g5 18 g2 with good compensation for the exchange.
15 bxc3 a5
15...d7!? is an interesting alternative, 16 c2! is probably strongest (16 g4!? g6 17 d2
a5! 18 f4 a4 19 c2 xc2 20 xc2 f5 and Black won a superb attacking game in
Shirov,AIvanchuk,V/Foros UKR 2007.) 16...d8 17 a4 e6 18 g4 g6 19 f5
fc8 20 h4 mounting a kingside attack, Nisipeanu,LNaiditsch,A/Heviz HUN
2008.
16 c2 c4 17 g4 g6 18 f5
95
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9+-zp-vlpzpp0
9p+-+-+l+0
9+p+pzPL+-0
9-+nzP-+P+0
9+-zP-vLN+P0
9P+-+-zP-+0
9tR-+QtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
18...a5
18...xf5 19 gxf5 f6! 20 e6 e8 brought about dynamic equality in Grischuk,A
Sokolov,I/Mainz GER 2003 (31).
19 d3
19 f4!? this move was introduced by Sznapik against Van der Sterren in 1984. The
idea is to play h4 and after xh4 to play on the hfile with g2 and h1, 19...b4
20 h4 xf5 21 gxf5 f6! with this move Black takes the initiative, Smirnov,P
Sorokin,M/Tomsk 2004 (49).
19...b4 20 e2 a6
A multipurpose move to control e6 and prepare play on the bfile with ...b6 followed
by ...b8.
20...xe3 Black tries a new plan, he wishes to attack White's center with ...c5, see
Timofeev,ASmirnov,P/Sochi RUS 2005 (44).
21 g2 b6 22 cxb4 axb4 23 ae1

see Svidler,PDelchev,A/Plovdiv 2003, and the brilliant finish.
96
Zaitsev Variation 9...Bb7 [C92]

1 e4 e5 2 f3 c6 3 b5 a6 4 a4 f6 5 0-0 e7 6 e1 b5 7 b3 d6 8 c3
0-0 9 h3
This move stops ...g4, and so d4 will come with more force.
9...b7
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9+lzp-vlpzpp0
9p+nzp-sn-+0
9+p+-zp-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+LzP-+N+P0
9PzP-zP-zPP+0
9tRNvLQtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
The socalled Zaitsev Variation, which has been all the rage since it was taken up by
Anatoly Karpov.
10 d4
10 d3 e8 11 bd2 h6 12 f1 f8 is nothing much for White, Cheparinov,I
Tkachiev,V/Dresden GER 2007.
10...e8
10...d7 is relatively uncommon, Black protects the e5pawn and prepares 11...a5, 11
d5 (11 bd2) 11...a5 12 c2 c6 13 dxc6 xc6 Shirov,ARusev,K/Arvier ITA
2010.
11 bd2
97
One of the drawbacks of this line from a practical point of view is that White can repeat
moves with 11 g5 f8 12 f3 if he wants.
11...f8 12 a4
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqrvlk+0
9+lzp-+pzpp0
9p+nzp-sn-+0
9+p+-zp-+-0
9P+-zPP+-+0
9+LzP-+N+P0
9-zP-sN-zPP+0
9tR-vLQtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
The critical move, but it is very tactical and requires lots of preparation.
12 d5 avoids the great complications of the mainline, 12...b8 (After 12...e7 13 f1 h6
14 3h2 c6 15 g4 xg4 16 hxg4! White later used the open hfile and the new g
pawn to attack Black's kingside in Dolmatov,SIbragimov,I/Dortmund 1992
(31).) 13 f1 bd7 14 3h2! the knight heads for g4 to exchange the black
defender of d5, while the other knight is kept ready to go to e3, (14 g3 c5 15
c2 c6 16 b4 cd7 17 dxc6 xc6 18 b3 was all played in a game Lalic,B
Emms,J/London League 1999 (31) and now Black should have ruled out g5
ideas with 18...h6) 14...c5 (14...c8!? is a refreshing new idea, 15 g4 (15 g5
was effective in Ni HuaLeon Hoyos,M/Reggio Emilia ITA 2008) 15...xg4 16
xg4 Leko,PIvanchuk,V/Moscow RUS 2008) 15 c2 c6 16 b4 cd7 17 dxc6
xc6 18 g5 h6 (18...c7 is also popular, 19 xf6 xf6 20 g4 xg4 (20...e7
21 xf6+ xf6 22 b3 and Black was crushed, Almasi,ZNavara,D/Reggio Emilia
ITA 2008.) 21 hxg4 e7 22 e3 g5 Shirov,AKarjakin,S/Odessa UKR 2010.)
19 xf6 xf6 20 g4 xg4 21 xg4 c8 22 b3 d7 23 f3 e6 24 ed1 g5
25 d3 f4 26 e2 xb3 27 axb3 d5 28 exd5! (28 xd5 Leko,PAdams,M/Wijk
aan Zee NED 2008) 28...e4 29 e3 and Black was in trouble, Kamsky,G
Adams,M/Baku AZE 2008.
Another possibility is 12 c2 g6 the mainline, as preferred by Karpov, (12...h6 13 d5
introduced by GM Savon in 1962, 13...e7 14 b3 c6 15 c4 cxd5 16 cxd5 d7 Black
prepares ...f5, Ivanchuk,VMorozevich,A/Nice FRA 2009.) 13 d5 (after 13 b3
Black hit back with 13...d5!? in the game Tseshkovsky,VBeliavsky,A/Tashkent
1980 (41).) 13...b8 14 b3 c6 15 c4 bd7 16 f1 Jakovenko,D
Inarkiev,E/Jermuk ARM 2009.
12 a3 not a critical move, White simply wants to prepare a retreat for the lightsquared
bishop on a2, or c2 (when ...b4 would never be possible), and continue with b4,
and maybe b2. 12...h6 is prudent (12...b8? 13 g5! and wins Bauer,C
Renet,O/AixlesBains 2007.) 13 d5!? b8 14 h2 bd7 (14...c6 Topalov,V
98
Morozevich,A/Nice FRA 2009) 15 f3 c8 16 df1 Karjakin,S

Grischuk,A/Bilbao ESP 2009.
12 g5!? e7 13 d5 b8 (13...a5 14 c2 c6 is a good alternative, see Nakamura,H
Svidler,P/Amsterdam NED 2010) 14 f1 Kamsky,GTopalov,V/Sofia BUL
2009.
12...h6!
12...exd4 13 cxd4 b4 leads to very complex positions which were thoroughly explored
in the Kasparov Karpov matches.
12...d7 is an older line, 13 axb5 axb5 14 xa8 xa8 15 d5 Haba,PNikolic,P/GER
2005
13 c2 exd4 14 cxd4 b4 15 b1 c5 16 d5 d7!
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqrvlk+0
9+l+n+pzp-0
9p+-zp-+-zp0
9+pzpP+-+-0
9Psn-+P+-+0
9+-+-+N+P0
9-zP-sN-zPP+0
9tRLvLQtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Black's last move introduces two different plans.
17 a3 c4 18 axb5 axb5 19 d4 b6
19...xa3 This move was introduced by Karpov in the stem game KasparovKarpov,
World Championship match 1986 (14). 20 bxa3 d3 21 xd3 cxd3 22 b2
Kasparov's move. (22 xb5 a5 23 d4 c3! and Black eventually equalised,
Shirov,AKarjakin,S/Bilbao ESP 2009) 22...a5 23 f5 g6! Grischuk,A
Karjakin,S/Bilbao ESP 2009.
20 f5 e5 21 g3 g6 22 f3 ed3 23 e3
23 d2!? was successful in Anand,VAdams,M/San Luis ARG 2005.
23...d8
The queen has to be ready to go to f6 to defend g6.
99
24 xh6
24 xh6+!? Olivier Renet writing notes to Anand Adams right back in 2005
suggested that this was probably best, 24...xh6 25 xh6 f6 Timofeev,A
Inarkiev,E/Novokuznetsk RUS 2008.
24...f6 25 d2 xe1 26 xf8

With sharp tactics Black will need to give his queen for several white pieces, but the
end result is always a draw by repetition.
26...xf3+ 27 xf3 gxf5 28 xf5 g6 29 g5 xg5 30 xg5+ xf8 31

h6+ g8 32 e5
32 xd6 RYBKAZAPPA/Mexico City MEX 2007.
32...d3!
and with care Black draws, Shomoev,AKhalifman,A/Moscow RUS 2008.
100
Closed Various 9th moves [C92]

1 e4 e5 2 f3 c6 3 b5 a6 4 a4 f6 5 0-0 e7 6 e1 b5 7 b3 d6 8 c3
0-0 9 h3 d7
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9+-zpnvlpzpp0
9p+nzp-+-+0
9+p+-zp-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+LzP-+N+P0
9PzP-zP-zPP+0
9tRNvLQtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
A solid system which has been played by such notables as Anatoly Karpov and Peter
Svidler. Black prepares to bring his bishop to f6 where it can put pressure on the
d4 square.
Alternatively:
9...a5!? Is an interesting variation favoured by Paul Keres in the past and more recently
by Victor Kupreichik and Sergei Smagin. 10 d4 a4 11 c2 d7 12 bd2 e8 13
f1 h6 14 g3 f8 15 h2 a5 Wolff,PRazuvaev,Y New York 1989.
9...b8!? is a semiuseful waiting move which has been played a few times by the
young Polish player Gajewski, 10 d4 exd4 11 cxd4 d5 12 e5 e4 13 bd2 f5
Kurnosov,INaiditsch,A/Dresden GER 2007, when 14 c2 is critical.
Amongst Black's other possibilities it's worth mentioning 9...d7, 9...h6 and 9...h8 .
10 a4
10 d4 f6 11 a4 b7 would come to the same thing, though Black might also consider
10...b6.
10...b7 11 d4 f6 12 axb5 axb5 13 xa8 xa8 14 d5 a5 15 c2 c4

16 b3 cb6
101
and Black had very reasonable play in the game De Firmian,FSvidler,P/North Sea Cup,
Esbjerg, Denmark 2000 (46).
102
Breyer's Variation 9...Nb8 [C95]

1.e4 e5 2.f3 c6 3.b5 a6 4.a4 f6 5.0-0 e7 6.e1 b5 7.b3 d6 8.c3

0-0 9.h3 b8
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9+-zp-vlpzpp0
9p+-zp-sn-+0
9+p+-zp-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+LzP-+N+P0
9PzP-zP-zPP+0
9tRNvLQtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
The main idea behind the Breyer Variation is that Black will reactivate his queen's
knight (which is often a problem in the Closed Spanish) to d7, where it will not
obstruct the queen's bishop which he intends to fianchetto at b7.
10.d4 bd7 11.bd2 b7

Black must be careful to avoid 11...e8?? 12.xf7+ as happened in the game Fluvia
Frigola,JDelgado Pico,L/Paretana, Spain 2000 (13).
12.c2
12.a4 c5 (12...e8 deserves attention, 13.c2 f8 with transposition to a later line) 13.c2
(13.d5 c4! 14.c2 c5 15.f1 (15.a5!? Polgar,JNavara,D/Prague CZE 2010)
15...c7 16.g3 was fine for Black in Polgar,JKasparov,G/Expo Blitz Internet
match, Hun 2000.) 13...e8 14.d5 c4 15.b3 cxb3 16.xb3 c7 17.d3!? a
logical pawn sacrifice, see Topalov,VAdams,M/Novi Sad SRB 2009.
12...e8
Black has a solid alternative in 12...c5 13.d5 (13.f1 is possible here too, 13...cxd4 14.cxd4
exd4 15.xd4 e8 Smeets,JCarlsen,M/Nice FRA 2010.) 13...g6! (13...e8 14.f1 g6
103
15.h6 g7 16.e3 f6 17.a4 was better for White in the famous game Karpov,A
Gligoric,S/Leningrad Interzonal 1973 (63)) and now 14.a4 h5 15.f1 f6
16.b3 g7 was fine for Black in Torre,EGligoric,S/Manila 1974 (40).
13.f1
13.b3 f8 14.d5 c6 15.c4 b6 16.d3 fd7 17.a3 cxd5 18.cxd5 f5 undermined the d5
pawn and gave Black excellent counterplay in Leko,PKramnik,V/Monaco MNC
2002 (37).
13.a4 f8 14.d3 c6 15.b3
a) 15.f1 seems less accurate, see Vachier Lagrave,MSasikiran,K/Moscow
RUS 2010
b) 15.b4 is gaining more and more popularity, 15...c8!? (15...b6 16.axb5 cxb5!?
see Shirov,ACarlsen,M/Bilbao ESP 2010) 16.axb5 cxb5 17.b2 d5! 18.exd5
exd4! Black has fully equalised, Anand,VCarlsen,M/London ENG 2010.
15...g6 (15...c7 16.b2 g6 (16...ac8 17.axb5! cxb5 18.c4! Karjakin,S
Tomashevsky,E/KhantyMansiysk RUS 2010) 17.c2 Cheparinov,I
Alekseev,E/Elista RUS 2008) 16.a3
a) 16.c2 b6 Portisch and Spassky successfully defended this rare line with the
black pieces (16...c7 17.a3 transposes) 17.b2 h5 18.f1 exd4 (18...f4!?
Ivanchuk,VKamsky,G/Nice FRA 2009) 19.cxd4 d5 20.exd5 cxd5 21.xe8 xe8
is equal, Vallejo Pons,FTopalov,V/Linares ESP 2010.
b) 16.b2 g7 (16...h5 Djukic,NMikhalevski,V/Novi Sad SRB 2009) 17.c2
c8 18.ad1 (18.f1 Petrosian,TKhairullin,I/Moscow RUS 2011.) 18...h5
19.f1 f4 Sebag,MKoneru,H/Doha QAT 2011.
16...c7 (16...h5 introduced by Lev Psakhis back in 1981, 17.f1 f4 18.c2 Anand,V
Kamsky,G/Nice FRA 2009) 17.c2 g7 (17...h5 Jakovenko,D
Svidler,P/Moscow RUS 2008.) 18.ad1 ac8 bringing the queen's rook into play
before opening the centre, Anand,VLeko,P/Nice FRA 2009.
13...f8 14.g3
14.g5 An extremely rare line, though it was played by Tal, Timman and Short. 14...h6
15.h4 e7 (15...exd4 16.cxd4 c5 see Gashimov,VNavara,D/Sestao ESP 2010.)
16.g3! (16.g3 Vachier Lagrave,MBeliavsky,A/KhantyMansiysk RUS 2010)
16...g6! (After 16...g5 17.xg5 hxg5 18.xg5 f8 19.f5 White develops a dangerous
initiative.) 17.d2 Gashimov,VCarlsen,M/Nanjing 2010.
14...g6
104
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqrvlk+0
9+lzpn+p+p0
9p+-zp-snp+0
9+p+-zp-+-0
9-+-zPP+-+0
9+-zP-+NsNP0
9PzPL+-zPP+0
9tR-vLQtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
14...c6!? 15.f5 c7 16.dxe5 dxe5 17.h2 c5 Black is intent on organising his
development without touching his gpawn. It's almost as if he is trying to
demonstrate that the knight on f5 is no big deal, see Anand,V
Morozevich,A/Morelia/Linares MEX/ESP 2007.
15.b3
Another major line of the Breyer runs 15.a4 and the last year or so has witnessed a
discernible resurgence of interest in this old main line, 15...c5 16.d5 c4! Black's
problem in this line is that his pieces will sometimes run out of space, so that
possession of c5 for his knight, eyeing both b3 and d3, is an essential asset.
17.g5 h6 18.e3 c5 19.d2 (19.d2 is an interesting continuation, see
Vaja,AMikhalevski,V/Chicago 2010) 19...h5 (The old move is 19...h7 when
the critical reply is the direct 20.h2 (20.a3 b8 21.ea1 e7 gave Black a solid
game in Spassky,BPortisch,L/Geneve (m/3) 1977 (67)) 20...g7 21.f1 h5 22.f3
e7 23.g5! f8 24.f4! and White whipped up a dangerous attack in
Spassky,BPortisch,L/Geneve (m/9) 1977 (40)) 20.g5 (An interesting
alternative is 20.g5 but this seems to be well met by 20...h6 (20...g7 may also
be OK, see Short,NSpassky,B/Montpellier (ct) 1985 (57)) 21.f4 h4 22.fxe5 xe5
23.f3 xe3+ 24.xe3 xd5! as in Nunn,JBeliavsky,A/Linares 1988 (62))
20...e7 21.a3 (21.h6 h7 22.a3 b8 23.ea1 c8 should have been solid
enough in Dorfman,JVan der Sterren,P/Andorra (zt) 1998 (45)) 21...fd7 (The
modern preference, but I am sceptical about the transfer of Black's knight to the
queenside after having played ...h6h5. The older 21...b8 plan may be better, for
example 22.e3 h7 23.xe7 xe7 24.ea1 c8 gave Black a very tough position in
Kavalek,LSpassky,B/Torino 1982 (56)) 22.e3 f6 (22...c7 23.g5 b6 24.a5!?
a declaration of kingside intent which seems justified by Black's knight
excursion, Timofeev,AAzarov,S/European Championship, Plovdiv 2008)
23.ea1 e7 (23...b6 left Black skating on very thin ice in Georgiev,K
Ponomariov,R/Moscow 2001 (40). (40)) 24.d1 b6 was Sulskis,S
Sargissian,G/Batumi 2002, when 25.axb5 axb5 26.a5 would have been
interesting.
105
15.g5 was introduced at the top level by Spassky and was then picked up by Fischer in
his return match against Spassky in 1992. 15...h6 (15...g7 16.d2 e7 17.b3 c6
18.ad1 f8 19.a4 putting pressure on the queenside, Karjakin,SKamsky,G/Nice
FRA 2009.) 16.d2 g7 (16...c5 is less popular, 17.d5 c4 Black takes some space on
the queenside and prepares ...c5, Polgar,JAvrukh,B/Natanya ISR 2009.) 17.a4
Karpov's move, which was introduced in 1971 in his training (!) match against
Korchnoi. 17...c5 18.d5 c4 19.b4 introduced by Fischer in his return match
against
Spassky
in
1992,
19...cxb3
20.xb3
see
Balogh,C
Mikhalevski,V/Jenbach 2009.
15...d5!?
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqr+k+0
9+lzpn+pvlp0
9p+-zp-snp+0
9+p+-zp-+-0
9-+-zPP+-+0
9+PzP-+NsNP0
9P+L+-zPP+0
9tR-vLQtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
In the sixties, this sharp counter trust in the center was not considered necessary, and
15...g7 was preferred. 16.d5 b6 Although this is the main line, it might be a
slight error in view of White's reply. The knight is not particularly well placed on
b6. Black has several alternatives, all of which deserve consideration:
a) 16...c8 is the latest fashion, 17.e3
a1) 17.c4 used to be the main line, in order to support the d5pawn. 17...c6
18.d2 (hinders ...b6) 18...c5 (18...a5 Karjakin,SHarikrishna,P/Motril ESP
2008) 19.b1 c7 20.e3 a5 21.xc5!? Akopian,VAlekseev,E/Elista RUS
2008.
a2) 17.d2 c6 18.c4 transposes
17...c6 18.c4 c7 Black threatens to exploit the hanging position of the c2bishop.
(18...b6 19.e2 cxd5 (19...bxc4?! Vachier Lagrave,MHarikrishna,P/Dresden
GER 2008) 20.cxd5 bxd5 Spassky's novelty, 21.exd5 xd5 Black scores well
here, see Tseitlin,MAvrukh,B/Haifa ISR 2008) 19.c1 b4 20.d2 a5 21.b1
(21.h4?! the knight will be misplaced on h4, Smeets,JRoiz,M/Dresden GER
2008) 21...c5 was fine for Black at this stage in Anand,VVan der Sterren,P/Wijk
aan Zee 1998 (51).
b) 16...f8 17.g5 h6 18.e3 c6 19.c4 a5 (19...a5!?) 20.d2 h7 21.h2 and
now Black should probably have tried 21...a4!? rather than 21...b4 in Polgar,J
Spassky,B/Budapest m2 1993 (40).
106
c) 16...b8!? 17.e3 c6 18.c4 c7 19.c1 bxc4 20.bxc4 and now 20...a5 was
probably the best (rather than 20...c5?! as in Smirnov,PSocko,B/Halkidiki 2002
(49).)
17.b1! c6 18.c4 and White had an edge in Leko,PBeliavsky,A/Bled 2002 (39).
Black should not forget that he has a solid alternative in 15...c5 after which 16.d5 b6
17.d3 is the game Van den Doel,EVan der Sterren,P/Leeuwarden 2001 (39).
This is similar to 12...c5 13.f1 and can arise from this line by transposition.
15...a5!? is a new idea of Kamsky's, 16.d2!? (16.d3 doesn't seem to promise much,
16...b4 17.cxb4 axb4 Smeets,JSvidler,P/Nice FRA 2010.) 16...b8!? 17.d3 b4
18.c2 d5!? increasing the central tension, Leko,PCarlsen,M/Wijk aan Zee
NED 2008.
16.g5!?
16.exd5 xd5 17.dxe5 xc3 18.d3 d5 was fine for Black in Polgar,J
Beliavsky,A/Munich 1991.
16...h6 17.h4 g5
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqrvlk+0
9+lzpn+p+-0
9p+-+-sn-zp0
9+p+pzp-zp-0
9-+-zPP+-vL0
9+PzP-+NsNP0
9P+L+-zPP+0
9tR-+QtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
A critical position for the Breyer.
17...dxe4?! looked dubious after the game Polgar,JSpassky,B/Budapest (m8) 1993.
18.xg5 hxg5 19.xg5 exd4!

This is considered to be the best try.
19...dxe4 20.xe4! scared people to death after the game Sherzer,ALesiege,A/Biel
1993.
20.e5 xe5 21.xe5 xe5 22.cxd4
107
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-vlk+0
9+lzp-+p+-0
9p+-+-sn-+0
9+p+psn-vL-0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9+P+-+-sNP0
9P+L+-zPP+0
9tR-+Q+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
22...c6!
Other moves lose quickly, e.g. 22...g6 23.f3 e7 24.f5 a3 25.h4 c8 26.h5 f8
27.h6+ g7 28.g3+
23.d3!?
23.h5!? e7 24.xf6 xf6 25.d3 straight to the point! Shirov,A
Mamedyarov,S/Moscow RUS 2006, but White only managed a perpetual.
23.f5? is a mistake which allows the sleeping bishop on b7 to come into the game by
23...c8 Polgar,JMamedyarov,S, Hoogeveen NED 2006.
23...b4 24.f3 e7
Grischuk,AMamedyarov,S/Moscow RUS 2006, when
25.f5
is the most dangerous move.
108
Gajewski Variation 10...d5!? [C96]

1 e4 e5 2 f3 c6 3 b5 a6 4 a4 f6 5 0-0 e7 6 e1 b5 7 b3 d6 8 c3
0-0 9 h3 a5 10 c2 d5!?
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9+-zp-vlpzpp0
9p+-+-sn-+0
9snp+pzp-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+-zP-+N+P0
9PzPLzP-zPP+0
9tRNvLQtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
The novelty everyone is talking about! Black plays a sort of Marshall in two goes (he
has already played ...d6!) with his knight on a5. White has the h3 move 'for free',
but does this help him?
10...c5 is the classical Chigorin's line.
11 exd5
The most popular, but White does have tempting alternatives:
11 d4 Bacrot suggested that this move is best, and he may yet be proved right. 11...dxe4
(11...xe4 is also playable 12 dxe5 f5!? 13 exf6 xf6 Kotronias,VLie,K/Malmo SWE
2008) 12 xe5 c5 13 e3 (13 g5!? b7 14 d2 cxd4 15 cxd4 e8!? Black is OK,
Dominguez Perez,LCarlsen,M/KhantyMansiysk RUS 2007., 13 d2!? cxd4 14
xe4 dxc3 15 f3! is a dangerous forcing line, see Kravtsiv,MBrkic,A/Gaziantep
TUR 2008) 13...b7 14 d2 c7 15 b1 (15 f4 leads to sharp complications,
Almasi,ZStevic,H/Plovdiv BUL 2008.) 15...cxd4 16 xd4 d6 17 g4 winning
the e4pawn, can Black get enough counterplay? See Kononenko,D
Gajewski,G/Pardubice CZE 2008.
11 xe5 looks like one of the weakest in this position, 11...dxe4 12 b4!? d6! 13 d4
exd3 14 xd3 xe5! Black concedes one of his bishops to accelerate his
development, Leon Hoyos,MMiton,K/Lubbock USA 2007.
109
11...e4 12 g5
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9+-zp-vlpzpp0
9p+-+-sn-+0
9snp+P+-sN-0
9-+-+p+-+0
9+-zP-+-+P0
9PzPLzP-zPP+0
9tRNvLQtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
White's first choice.
White can also snatch the pawn, 12 xe4 xe4 13 xe4 b7 14 d4 e8!? rather than
capturing the pawn straight away Black develops and protects the e7bishop.
This gives Black the option of capturing on d5 with his queen (which connects
the rooks and sets up a battery along the h1-a8 diagonal) and also with his offside
knight, by ...c4b6xd5 (14...xd5 15 e1 d6!? led to a crushing victory for
Black in Onischuk,VDrozdovskij,Y/Kharkov UKR 2007, ( but I prefer 15...d6 )
) 15 f4 (15 bd2!? Goh Wei MingTimothy Chan Wei Xuan/60th National
Championship 2008 2007) 15...c4 16 b3 (16 e2 Adams,MCarlsen,M/Khanty
Mansiysk RUS 2007, when 16...xd5 looks strongest.) 16...b6 Durarbeyli,V
Kosten,A/Cappelle La Grande FRA 2008.
12...xd5 13 xe4
13 xh7? loses to 13...xh7 14 xe4+ g8 15 xd5 xd5 16 xe7 loses to 16...xh3!
17 f3 (17 gxh3? g5+) 17...xf3 18 gxf3 ae8
13...f5 14 g3 f4 15 e4
15 h5!? is another critical line, that has yet to be tried, again see the notes to Wang
HaoJones,G.
15...f3
White has won a pawn but Black has a small lead in development, and more pertinently
his fpawn is menacing the white king,
16 d4 fxg2
110
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9+-zp-vl-zpp0
9p+-+-+-+0
9snp+n+-+-0
9-+-zPN+-+0
9+-zP-+-+P0
9PzPL+-zPp+0
9tRNvLQtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
17 g3 d6
Stevic's move 17...g6! could be even stronger.
18 d3!?
18 e4 was the brilliant stem game Kuznetsov,VGajewski,G/Pardubice 2007.
18...g6 19 e4 e6!?
with sharp play, where Black nearly won a brilliancy, Wang HaoJones,G/Liverpool
ENG 2007.
111
Chigorin Various 11th moves [C96]

1 e4 e5 2 f3 c6 3 b5 a6 4 a4 f6 5 0-0 e7 6 e1 b5 7 b3 d6 8 c3
0-0 9 h3 a5 10 c2 c5
Chigorin's line.
10...d5!? is seen in Gajewski's Variation.
11 d4
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9+-+-vlpzpp0
9p+-zp-sn-+0
9snpzp-zp-+-0
9-+-zPP+-+0
9+-zP-+N+P0
9PzPL+-zPP+0
9tRNvLQtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
11...d7
The Keres Variation, which reasons that putting the knight on d7 is every bit as useful as
having the queen on c7.
There are a number of interesting alternatives here:
a) 11...e8 sacrifices the e5 pawn and has been favoured recently by Mark Hebden, for
example 12 dxe5 dxe5 13 xe5 b7 14 f3 ("Nunn's Chess Openings" gives 14
d2 d6 15 ef3 c7 16 b3 ad8 17 b2 as slightly better for White, but Black
certainly does have activelyplaced pieces for the pawn) 14...f8 15 f4 (An
interesting line is 15 g4 xe4 16 xe4 xe4 17 xe4 xe4 18 xe4 d1+ 19 h2 xc1
20 xa8 xb2 but White is winning after 21 e5! which threatens 22.d7 or
22.d5. Perhaps Black must settle for 15...xg4 followed by ...e6 which seems
to offer some compensation.) 15...e6 16 g4 xe4!! is an excellent new move
112
unveiled in Naumann,AHebden,M/Golombek Memorial, Paignton, England

2000 (22).
b) 11...b7 also offers the e5 pawn, but White can do well by declining it with 12 d5
when the bishop on b7 bites on granite. See Kasparov,GGrischuk,A/Cannes
FRA 2001 (43) as an example of the problems Black can face here.
c) 11...c6 12 d5 a5 is a tough system used extensively by Romanishin see
Pinski,JRomanishin,O/Koszalin 1999.
12 bd2
The natural 'Lopez' move, but one which walks into the fascinating 'Graf Variation'.
There are several alternatives:
a) 12 dxc5 is a simple, practical move, but does it give anything after 12...dxc5 13 bd2
(13 b3 gives White nothing, Karjakin,SHowell,D/Mainz GER 2010) 13...b7
(After the older 13...f6 White should play 14.h4! rather than 14 f1 b6 15 e2
e6 which was nice for Black in the game Horvath,AGraf,A/Dresden 2001) 14
f1 Alternatively White can play:
a) 14 e2 e8 (14...c7 15 f1 c4 16 b3 d6 wasn't bad either in Al Modiahki,M
Davies,N/Port Erin IOM 2003 (21)) 15 f1 c4 which was rather good for Black
in Kolev,AGraf,A/Skopje 2002
b) 14 b3 e8 15 f1 f8 16 g5 f6 led to equality in Moreno Carnero,J
Davies,N/Port Erin IOM 2003 (30).
14...c4 15 g3 (15 b3 d6 is what Black wants, so instead White concentrates on
improving the positioning of his own pieces.) 15...d6 ("Nunn's Chess Openings"
mentions 15...g6 16 h2, perhaps to be followed by f3.) 16 e2 e8 17 d1 c7
and Black had a solid game in Ehlvest,JBykhovsky,A/Reykjavik Open, Iceland
2000 (32).
b) 12 b3 is a flexible waiting move which was recently tried by Kasparov. Black should
probably avoid giving up the centre with 12...cxd4 (12...c7 13 d5 b6 14 g4 c4 15
b4 b7 16 bd2 a5 gave Black counterplay in Luther,TDavies,N/Port Erin IOM
2003 (49)) 13 cxd4 c6 14 c3 exd4 15 d5 de5 16 xd4 xd4 17 xd4 f6
(17...xh3 18 f4 c6 19 c3 gave White more than enough for the pawn in
Ivanchuk,VYuldashev,S/FIDE World Cup, Hyderabad, India 2002 (33)) 18 h1
xh3 19 gxh3 White should have won in the game Kasparov,G
Ponomariov,R/Moscow 2002 (27).
c) Closing the centre with 12 d5! looks strong: 12...b6 Black threatens to undermine it
with ...f7f5. (12...c4 is a new idea, but probably not too good, Sutovsky,E
Acs,P/Paks HUN 2005) 13 bd2 (13 b3 f5 was good for Black in Hunt,A
Davies,N/Blackpool ENG 2003 (31), In the game Fischer,RKeres,P/Curacao
1962 White prevented ...f5 with 13 g4 but stood worse after 13...h5 14 h2 hxg4 15
hxg4 g5 etc.) 13...f5 (13...g6!? 14 b4!? cxb4 15 cxb4 ac4 16 xc4 xc4 17
b3 (17 h6 Leko,PMamedyarov,S/Moscow RUS 2006) 17...b6?! Anand,V
Carlsen,M/Linares 2007 (, better 17...d7 ) ) 14 exf5 xf5 15 xf5 xf5 16 e4
this is the key position of the whole line, (16 b4!? worked well in Howell,D
Graf,A/Dresden GER 2007) 16...d7 (16...e8 an improvement that Adams has
prepared specially 17 fg5! and Black was crushed, Leko,PAdams,M/Miskolc
113
HUN 2005., 16...h8 is analysed in Keres Analysis/2006) 17 b3! Leko,P

Kramnik,V/Miskolc HUN 2005 (17 fg5 also worked well in Acs,P
Gschnitzer,O/GER 2005.)
12 h1!? Kramnik's semiwaiting move, 12...exd4!? (12...b7 13 d5 is the point,
Kramnik,VPonomariov,R Linares 2003) 13 cxd4 b7 14 c3 the downside to
Black's early capture on d4 is that it allows this ideal development of the knight,
Enders,PGraf,A/Koenigshofen GER 2007.
12...exd4
A new and interesting way to treat this position.
The old way to play it was with 12...cxd4 13 cxd4 c6 14 b3 a5 15 d3 a6 16 d5
b4 17 f1 (17 b1 is worse, Motylev,AMamedyarov,S/Sochi RUS 2006)
17...a4 18 bd4 a nice tactical trick which leads to White getting the better pawn
structure, 18...exd4 19 a3 xd5 20 exd5 as in Anand,VPiket,J/Wijk aan Zee
1999, but now Mamedyarov showed that Black can equalize with 20...e5!
13 cxd4 c6 14 d5
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9+-+nvlpzpp0
9p+nzp-+-+0
9+pzpP+-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+-+-+N+P0
9PzPLsN-zPP+0
9tR-vLQtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
White can also consider 14 e5 see Ariel,DGraf,A/New York 1998.
14 b3 gave White nothing after 14...a5 15 e5 dxe5 see Bacrot,EAlmasi,Z/Sestao ESP
2010.
14...ce5 15 xe5
15 a4 b8 16 axb5 axb5 17 xe5 transposes, and may be more precise.
15...xe5 16 a4!
White has also played 16 f4, the most direct move. 16...g6 17 f3 f5 18 e5 (For the
innocuous 18 e2 see Enders,PGraf,A/Heringsdorf 2000.) 18...dxe5 19 fxe5 b7
20 d6 h4 21 f1 (21 e2 g3 was complex but rather good for Black in
114
Ponomariov,RBeliavsky,A/Moscow 2002.) 21...g3 22 g5 with advantage,

Butunoi,ADavies,N/Corres 2003 (29).
16...b8
16...b4 17 f4 g6 18 c4 a5 19 e5! was good for White in Schulze,MDavies,N/Corres
2003.
16...d7!? (this would not be possible if White had played 15 a4) 17 f4 g6 18 f3
h4 19 xh4 xh4 20 f5 e5 21 f1 fe8 22 h2 bxa4 23 a3 planning a
kingside buildup in Ivanov,AFriedel,J/Ledyard USA 2008.
17 axb5 axb5 18 f4 g6 19 f3 h4
19...f5!? is risky, 20 exf5 xf5 21 xf5 xf5 22 g4!? xf4 23 xf4 xf4 24 d2! the
neat tactical point, when Black is on the edge of a precipice, see Kosten,A
Postny,E/Andorra la Vella AND 2007.
20 f1
20 xh4 xh4 21 f5 gains space on the kingside but gives Black's knight the beautiful
e5 square, 21...e5 22 f1 d7 23 f4 a8 24 xa8 (24 d2 Anand,V
Ponomariov,R/Chess Classic, game no.6, Germany 2002 (36).) 24...xa8 25
xe5!? a forcing way to strive for more than just a balanced game, Kotronias,V
L'Ami,E/Malmo SWE 2007.
20...g3 21 f5 e5 22 g5! d7!

This is clearly best.
22...h4? Anand,VBruzon,L/Leon ESP 2006, 23 f6! Winning.
23 e5!? xe5 24 xh7 h4!?

For Olivier's preference 24...f6! see the analysis in the Bruzon game.
25 xf8 xf8 26 f3 f6 27 f4!

with advantage, Gashimov,VSchandorff,L/Crete GRE 2007.
115
Chigorin Mainline 12 d5 & Intro [C97]

1 e4 e5 2 f3 c6 3 b5 a6 4 a4 f6 5 0-0 e7 6 e1 b5 7 b3 d6 8 c3
0-0 9 h3 a5 10 c2 c5 11 d4 c7 12 d5
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0
9+-wq-vlpzpp0
9p+-zp-sn-+0
9snpzpPzp-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+-zP-+N+P0
9PzPL+-zPP+0
9tRNvLQtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
White immediately closes the position, and in general we reach positions where White
tries to attack on the kingside. This move has the advantage of avoiding all the
sharp lines starting with 12 bd2 d8!? An interesting move which hopes to
counterattack on the dfile with a later ...d6d5.
a) Black can also precede it with an exchange on d4, but 12...cxd4 13 cxd4 d8 is
covered under C99.
b) 12...c6 is an old variation which has a bad reputation, 13 d5 d8 14 a4
opening the afile with advantage, Korneev,OPostny,E/Evora POR 2006
c) 12...e6 is a very rare line, 13 d5 d7 14 f1 c4 15 b4! (15 g4 Robson,R
Gareev,T/Philadelphia USA 2009) 15...b7 16 g4!? Vachier Lagrave,M
Postny,E/Eppingen GER 2009.
13 d5
a) 13 b3 cxd4 (13...d7) 14 cxd4 transposes into C99.
b) 13 f1 cxd4 14 cxd4 transposes into C99.
13...c4 14 f1 (14 e3!? is interesting see Leko,PKasimdzhanov,R/Yerevan 2001
(33).) 14...b7 15 g4!? A very direct approach. (15 g3 a5 16 h2 c5 17 f4 b4 18
f3 b8 gave Black counterplay in Kindermann,SYusupov,A/Hamburg 1991
(41).) 15...h5 16 3h2 hxg4 17 hxg4 h7 18 f4 was doubleedged in Firman,N
Golod,V/Lvov 2001 (37).
116
12...d7
The most flexible move, and probably the best choice. Black usually transfers his knight
to the kingside via b7d8 and f7.
12...c4 as in many Closed lines Black has a problem with his knight on a5, and so this
is played to bring it back to b6, 13 b3 b6 14 a4 d7 15 a5 c8 16 c4 g6 (16...b4
Black closes the queenside to fight on one front. The best he can get is a difficult
draw, though, 17 bd2 g6 18 f1 h5 19 h6 e8 20 d2 f8 21 g4! Now Black
cannot exchange the darksquared bishop and White stays on top, Adams, M
Ivanchuk,V/Tripoli 2004) 17 c3 h5 18 e2 e8 19 a2 f8 20 g4 White
gains even more space and prepares to go for the black king, Topalov, V
Shirov,A/Linares 2004.
12...c4 13 b4 a young Kasparov played this move back in 1976, 13...cxb3 14 axb3 d7
15 d3! Gashimov,VInarkiev,E/Astrakhan RUS 2010.
13 b3
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0
9+-wqlvlpzpp0
9p+-zp-sn-+0
9snpzpPzp-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+PzP-+N+P0
9P+L+-zPP+0
9tRNvLQtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
White loses a tempo in order to kill Black's counterplay on the queenside.
13 bd2 c4 If White does not play b3, Black can quickly bring his knight to c5 and
create counter play on the queenside, 14 f1 b7 15 3h2
a) 15 g3 c5 16 h2 a5 17 f3 b4 18 f5 xf5 19 xf5 fb8 shows how
Black should attack on the queenside, Kozlov,VTseshkovsky,V/Aktjubinsk
1985
b) 15 g4 h5!? the most reactive, 16 gxh5!? (16 3h2 g6 17 h6 fe8 18 f3 d8 19
e3 h4! with the idea of playing on the dark squares with ...h7 and ...g5, see
Megaranto,SAvrukh,B/Amsterdam NED 2005) 16...xh3 17 3h2 d7 18 f3
c5 19 h6!? White hopes that his space advantage will enable him to better cope
with a general opening of lines on the kingside, Sulskis,SEfimenko,Z/Dresden
GER 2007.
15...a5 16 f4 c5 Black doesn't need to take on f4 and his plan is to attack quickly with
...b4b3, Karjakin,SAleksandrov,A/Saint Vincent ITA 2005.
13...fe8
117
I like this subtle move. Black anticipates White's plan on the kingside and waits before
playing ...b7.
13...b7 14 bd2 (14 c4 fe8 15 c3 g6 16 d2 f8 17 g4? is premature and it is very
instructive to see how Black can counter attack in this case by 17...h5!
Ivanchuk,VRadulski,J/Antalya 2004) 14...g6 15 f1 h5 16 h6 fe8 17 d2
f6!? it isn't easy for White to do anything on the kingside now, Karjakin,S
Delchev,A/Turin ITA 2006.
14 bd2
14 h2!? g6 15 g4 h5! 16 g5 h7 17 g1 now the kingside is blocked and Black should
attack on the queenside, when I don't think that the position is dangerous for her,
Sutovsky,EStefanova,A/Hoogeveen NED 2005.
14...g6 15 f1 h5
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+r+k+0
9+-wqlvlp+p0
9p+-zp-+p+0
9snpzpPzp-+n0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+PzP-+N+P0
9P+L+-zPP+0
9tR-vLQtRNmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
16 e3 b7 17 d2 c4 18 b4 a5!
Excellent timing to start the counterplay on the queenside, see Ponomariov,R
Sasikiran,K/Mallorca 2004. This game is the reference for me and you should
study it well.
118
Chigorin mainline 12...cxd4 [C99]

1 e4 e5 2 f3 c6 3 b5 a6 4 a4 f6 5 0-0 e7 6 e1 b5 7 b3 d6 8 c3
0-0 9 h3 a5 10 c2 c5 11 d4 c7 12 bd2 cxd4 13 cxd4 d8!?
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+ltr-+k+0
9+-wq-vlpzpp0
9p+-zp-sn-+0
9snp+-zp-+-0
9-+-zPP+-+0
9+-+-+N+P0
9PzPLsN-zPP+0
9tR-vLQtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
The move 13...b7!? introduces another interesting option for Black, the socalled
Panov Variation. One recent game went 14 d5 ac8 15 d3 d7 16 f1 f5 17
exf5 c5 18 b1 c4 19 a3? f6 and Black had a strong initiative in Moreno
Carnero,JKuzmin,A/Port Erin IOM 2003 (40).
A much more solid line is 13...c6 for example 14 b3 (14 d5 closing the centre is also
a logical try, 14...b4 15 b1 a5 16 f1 d7 17 a3 a6 18 g3 Palliser,R
Gormally,D/British Rapidplay Championship, Halifax 2006, 14 a3 has been
played by Anand, among others, 14...d7 Botvinnik's move, 15 d5 Berg,E
Getz,N/Moss 2010) 14...a5 15 e3 a4 16 bd2 d7 (16...b7 gave rise to a tough
struggle in Del Rio Angelis,SAgdestein,S/Port Erin IOM 2003 (69).) 17 c1 this
very solid line has come back into fashion recently, 17...b7 (17...ac8 18 f1 b8
19 b1 c7 20 d2 with advantage, Leko,PAdams,M/Miskolc HUN 2005.) 18
f1 (18 d3!? exd4 19 xd4 e5 eventually led to a fantastic finish in
Hamdouchi,HFlear,G/Saint Affrique 2007, 18 e2 targeting the bpawn,
Alekseev,EKamsky,G/Jermuk ARM 2009) 18...fe8 19 g3 d8 20 e2 h6 21
dxe5! (21 ed1 now it is difficult for Black to find a move, Volokitin,A
Rogic,D/Neum BIH 2005., 21 d3 b8 22 dxe5 xe5 23 xe5 dxe5 24 b4! fixing a
permanent target on b5, Karjakin,SInarkiev,E/Baku AZE 2008.) 21...dxe5 22
d3 Dominguez Perez,LSvidler,P/Nice FRA 2010.
119
There is another very solid alternative in 13...d7, for example 14 f1 ac8 15 e3

c6 16 d5 (16 b3 a5 17 c2 c6 18 d5 b4 was Leko,PShort,N/Budapest 2003
(51)) 16...b4 17 b1 a5 18 a3 (18 d2?! was quite the wrong idea for White in
McShane,LShort,N/Catalan Bay ENG 2003 (46)) 18...a6 19 b4 a8 (19...g6 is
also interesting as in Bologan,VPeng,X/Shanghai 2001 (55)) 20 d2 fc8 21 g4
g6 22 d3 b7 23 f1 (an attempted improvement on the 23 g2 of De
Firmian,NPiket,J/Amsterdam 1996 (56)) 23...axb4 24 axb4 d8 25 g3 c7
and Black had reasonable counterplay in Kasparov,GPiket,J/Internet 2000 (49).
14 f1
If White senses danger on the dfile, then he may try 14 d5, but the very plausible
continuation 14...d7 15 f1 dc8 16 d3 b7, planning ...c5, ...b4 & perhaps
...a5 too, looks highly satisfactory for Black.
Perhaps best is Khalifmann's recommendation 14 b3 c6 (14...d7 15 f1 exd4 16 xd4
f6 17 b2 was nice for White in Hracek,ZRomanov,O/Pardubice 1998) 15 b2
b7
a) 15...exd4 16 xd4 xd4 17 xd4 e6 18 c1 a5 19 f1! ac8 (19...xa2??
20 a1, 19...e8!? Grischuk,AKasimdzhanov,R/Wijk aan Zee 2002) 20 g3 (20
b1 is Goh Wei MingMilanov/playchess.com 2007) 20...g6? (much better and
more solid is 20...e8, intending 21 f5 f8) 21 f5! White was already almost
winning in the clash Dervishi,EEstrada Nieto,J/Aosta, Italy 2002.
b) 15...b6 Stefansson,HAlmasi,Z/Crete GRE 2007
16 c1 (16 d5!? is a new concept, see Al Modiahki,MGreet,A/Gibtelecom Masters,
Gibraltar 2007, 16 a3 f8?! 17 b4 plans to send the knight to a5, with a plus,
Adams,MKoneru,H/Merida ESP 2008) 16...b6 17 f1 (17 a3!? White wants to
play b4 and b3 or b3, see Gashimov,VTseitlin,M/Cappelle la Grande FRA
2006, 17 d5 b4 18 b1 a5 19 f1 White intends to go for an all out attack on the
kingside with the moves g2g4, f1-g3f5, a rook lift with e3 and so on
Zhigalko,AKhairullin,I/St Petersburg RUS 2007.) 17...d5!? 18 exd5 xd5!?
(18...xd5 19 e3 dd8 Alekseev,EKazhgaleyev,M/Khanty Mansyisk RUS 2005,
and now 20 f5! is dangerous.) 19 xe5 xe5 20 dxe5! Grischuk,A
Smirin,I/Odessa UKR 2007.
14...exd4 15 xd4
15 f4 would stop Black from playing ...d5 on the next move, but instead he has other
perfectly good alternatives such as 15...c4 or 15...c6 followed by ...b6.
15 g3!? is a speciality of Kotronias, deferring the capture on d4 to strengthen e4,
15...c6 16 b3 d5!? see Kotronias,VHebden,M/Port Erin IOM 2007.
15...d5
120
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+ltr-+k+0
9+-wq-vlpzpp0
9p+-+-sn-+0
9snp+p+-+-0
9-+-sNP+-+0
9+-+-+-+P0
9PzPL+-zPP+0
9tR-vLQtRNmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
16 e5 e4
"Nunn's Chess Openings" stops at this point by giving the assessment of "unclear
position".
17 f4
17 f3!? g5 (17...c5 produced a very complex game in Hellers,FPolgar,Z/Enghien les
Bains 1988 (29).) 18 f5? Black completes his development easily, with all his
pieces working harmoniously after this inaccuracy, Stojic,DZhang
Zhong/Canberra AUS 2008.
And 17 xe4? dxe4 18 xe4 b7 is almost suicidal for the owner of the poor pinned
d4knight.
17...c5 18 e3 b6 19 b3 xb3 20 xb3 e6 21 d3 a5

and Black had good counterplay in Grischuk,ABologan,V/EnghienlesBains, France
2001 (25).
121

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C60-C99: Spanish

12 d5 Chigorin Mainline - 12 d5 & Intro [C97]

All rights reserved Chess Publishing Ltd

Spanish Other 3rd moves [C60]

7 c3 h6 8 h4 0-0 9 0-0 xd4 10 cxd4 c6 11 c4 g5 12 g3 d5 13 exd5 xd5

4...g6 5 c3 g7 6 d4 exd4 7 cxd4 d5 8 exd5 xd5

10...d6 11 bd2 0-0

Bird's Defence [C61]

Schliemann Gambit [C63]

7...d5 8 c4 d6 9 xa7+! is strong see the analysis in the Morozevich game.

Spanish 3...Bc5 [C64]

1.e4 e5 2.f3 c6 3.b5 c5

5...xe5 6.d4 c6 7.e2 d6 8.dxe5 xe5 9.d2

Black achieved a very comfortable development

Classical Berlin 3...Nf6 & 4...Bc5 [C65]

1.e4 e5 2.f3 c6 3.b5 f6 4.0-0

5...0-0 6.d4 b6 7.g5

13...hxg5 14.xg5 g7 15.e5!!

Steinitz Defence [C66]

7 xd4 d7 8 xc6 bxc6 9 c3 0-0 10 f3 e8 11 g5 h6 12 h4

Berlin Defence 4...Nxe4 [C67]

1.e4 e5 2.f3 c6 3.b5 f6 4.0-0 xe4 5.d4

Huebner,RVogel,R/Germany 1986, 18...f7!) 18...e7 19.g4 g6 with wild

Anand,VNakamura,H/London ENG 2010) 14...c5 15.fd1 e6 16.e2 g5

11.g5 xg5 12.xg5 h6 13.ge4 b6 14.fd1 e7 15.h2 h5

Exchange Variation Intro [C68]

1.e4 e5 2.f3 c6 3.b5 a6 4.xc6

8...xf3 9.xf3 xf3 10.gxf3 d6 11.d2 e7 12.fb1 f5 13.b4 a5 14.a3 as in

10.e3 c6 11.cxb4 cxb4 12.b3 e6 13.b2 f6 14.c1

Exchange Variation 5.0-0 f6 6.d4 [C69]

1.e4 e5 2.f3 c6 3.b5 a6 4.xc6 dxc6 5.0-0 f6

10.f3 d7 11.c3 0-0-0 12.f4

e7 16.axb5 xb5! Now

16.xc7 xd5 17.xd5 xc7 18.xc5+ b6 19.b4 cxb3 20.xb3 e6

Spanish Various 4th moves [C70]

6...d6 7 d4 xb3 8 axb3 f6 9 c3

11 d5 e7 12 h5+ d8 13 c4 xd5 14 cxd5 g6 15 f3

Spanish 4...d6 5.0-0 [C72]

7...b5 8 b3 xd4 9 hxg4

13...f6 14 c3 fxg5 15 xb5

Spanish 4...d6 5.Bxc6+ [C73]

9...b8 10 b3 g6 11 0-0 e7 12 d5 f6 13 xf6+ xf6

Spanish 4...d6 5.c3 [C74]

Delayed Steinitz 4..d6 5.c3 Bd7 [C75]

8...h5 9 g3 e7 10 d5 b8 11 xd7+ xd7 12 fd2 f6 13 f3

Delayed Steinitz 4..d6 5.c3 Bd7 6.c3 g6

Worrall Attack 4...Nf6 5 Qe2 & 5 d3

8 d3 d6 9 g5 e6 10 bd2 e7?! 11 d5!

Archangel 4...Nf6 5.0-0 b5 [C78]

11 axb5 axb5 12 xb5

16 xf4 exf4 17 g4 f6 18 a6!

Spanish 4...d6 5.0-0 Nf6 [C79]

10...0-0 11 g5 h6 12 h4 c8!? 13 a4 h5 14 axb5 axb5 15 xa8 xa8

Open Variation Intro & 9 Be3 [C80]

11 d1 d8 12 bd2 xe3 13 xe3 c5

Open Variation 9.Nbd2 [C80]

1.e4 e5 2.f3 c6 3.b5 a6 4.a4 f6 5.0-0 xe4 6.d4 b5 7.b3 d5

13.xe6+ fxe6 14.xc6 xe5 15.b4

15...d5 16.xd5 exd5 17.bxc5 dxc3 18.b3 d4 19.a3