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14. Galliamova - Sebag, Round 3/Game 1 Opening Theory: English Game (Slav & Orthodox) & Kia Game

Last edited Mon Mar 11, 2013, 01:05 PM - Edit history (2)

The opening notes in this game are to compare and contrast the English Game in which Black adopts a defense similar to those found in Queen's Gambit with the King's Indian Attck, or, as we prefer to call it, the Kia Game.

The reason for this exercise on my part is that I have began playing a series of games with another gentleman on Monday afternoons. In our first game, in which he had White, he opened with a Kia Game. Not really familiar with the Kia, I got a bad position and lost.
[center]


Marie Sebag
[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Stefan64 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64) from Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Marie_Sebag)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Alisa Galliamova - Marie Sebag
FIDE Women's Knock-Out, Round 3/Game 1
Khanty-Mansiysk, 17 November 2012

English Game: Caro-Slav Defense

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3

• [font color="red"]2.c4[/font] has been called the Reti Opening for decades, but it is our contention that there is no such thing as a Reti Opening. The famous game Reti-Bogoljubow, It, New York, 1924, which continued 2...e6 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 Bd6 5.0-0, is classified on ChessGames.com as an English Game: Agincourt Defense. We contend that 1.Nf3 ... 2.c4 is simply an English Game by tansposition.

2...Nf6 3.Bg2 c6

• If [font color="red"]3...g6 4.0-0 Bg7[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]5.d3 0-0 6.Nbd2[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]6...c5[/font][font color="red"] (Kia Game)[/font] If [font color="red"]7.e4

[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]Kia Game[/center][center]Position after 7.e4[/center]

• 7...Nc6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]8.Re1[/font] then:
• [font color="red"](Kia Game: Franco-Orthodox Defense)[/font] If [font color="red"]8...e6 9.c3[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]9...b6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]10.e5 Nd7 11.d4[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]11...f6!? 12.exf6! Qxf6 13.Nb3[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]13...Bb7 14.Be3 c4 15.Nbd2 Nd8 16.h4 Nf7 17.Ng5[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Dünhaupt-Snajdr, Corres, 1968).
• If [font color="darkred"]13...Ba6 14.Be3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]14...Bc4?! 15.dxc5![/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]15...Bxb3? 16.axb3![/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]16...Nxc5 17.Ng5 Rfe8 18.b4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]18...Nb7[/font] then after [font color="darkred"]19.Bxd5 Rad8 20.Bxc6 Rxd1 21.Rexd1 Rb8 22.Rxa7[/font] White coasts to a win (Stein-Sokolsky, Soviet Ch ½-final, Odessa, 1960).
• [font color="hotpink"]18...h6[/font] then White wins after [font color="hotpink"]19.bxc5 hxg5 20.cxb6 axb6 21.Rxa8 Rxa8 22.c4.[/font]
• If [font color="purple"]16...bxc5[/font] then White wins after [font color="purple"]17.Ra6 Rac8 18.Bh3 Rfe8 19.Ng5 Nf8.[/font]
• [font color="darkorange"]15...Qe7 16.cxb6 axb6 17.Bf4 Qf6 18.Nbd4 Nxd4 19.Nxd4[/font] gives White an extra pawn, a better center and more space; Black's pieces are not well-cordinated.
• [font color="magenta"]14...c4 15.Nbd2 h6 16.Bf4 Bb7 17.h4 Qf5 18.Nf1[/font] gives White a small advatage in space.
• [font color="burgundy"]11...Qc7 12.Nf1 Ba6 13.Bf4 Rac8 14.Ne3 Qb7 15.Qd2[/font] gives White the edge in space (Stein-Zhukhovitsky, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1969).
• [font color="darkpink"]10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Nc4 Qc7 12.a4 Rd8 13.Qc2 f6[/font] is equal (Paci-Barsov, French ChT, 2002).
• If [font color="darkred"]9...a5 10.a4 b6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]11.exd5 exd5 12.Nb1 Bf5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]13.Na3 Qd7 14.Nb5 Nh5 15.d4 Rae8 16.dxc5[/font] gives White a comfortable game (Bojkov-Li Chao, Op, Queensland, 2012).
• [font color="darkorange"]13.h3 Re8 14.Rxe8+ Qxe8 15.Na3 Na7 16.Bg5 h6[/font] is equal (D. Popovic-A. Rombaldoni, Op, Cappelle-la-Grande, 2012).
• [font color="magenta"]11.Qc2 Ba6 12.Bf1 Qd7 13.Nb1 Ng4 14.Bf4 e5[/font] is equal (McKerracher-Hawkins, Scottish Ch, Glasgow, 2012).
• If [font color="darkred"]8...e5 9.c3 h6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Nc4 Re8 12.a4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]12...Bf5 13.Nh4 Be6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]14.Nf3 Qc7 15.a5 f5 16.Qa4 Bf7 17.Qb5 a6[/font] is equal (Sergeev-Timoshenko, Platonov Mem, Kiev, 1995).
• [font color="burgundy"]14.a5 Qc7 15.Qb3 Rad8 16.Qb5 Bf8 17.Qa4 Kh7[/font] is equal (Dünhaupt-Arnlind, Corres, 1968).
• If [font color="magenta"]12...b6 13.Nfd2 Be6 14.Qb3[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]14...Rb8[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]15.Qb5? Ncb4![/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]16.cxb4 Nxb4 17.Nxe5 a6[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]18.Nc6 axb5 19.Nxd8[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]19...Rexd8?![/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]20.Ne4?[/font] then after [font color="magenta"]Nxd3! 21.Bf4 Nxf4 22.g4 bxa4[/font] Black wins (Lomakina-Melamed, Euro ChW, Warsaw, 2001).
• [font color="#FF8080"]20.axb5 Nxd3 21.Rxe6 fxe6 22.Nc4 Rd4[/font] leaves Black the exchange to the good with greater activity.
• Black wins after [font color="darkpink"]19...Rbxd8! 20.Rf1 Nxd3 21.Bc6 Bd7.[/font]
• If [font color="burgundy"]18.Qc6[/font] then Black wins after [font color="burgundy"]18...Bg4 19.Qe4 Rxe5 20.Qxe5 Bxe5 21.Rxe5 Be6.[/font]
• [font color="hotpink"]16.Bxd5 a6 17.Qxe8+ Qxe8 18.Nd6 Qe7 19.Bxe6 Qxe6[/font] gives White a Queen and more space for a Rook and a Knight.
• [font color="purple"]15.Ne4 Re7 16.Qc2 Rd7 17.Qe2 Qc7 18.Bf1 Nde7[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space.
• [font color="darkorange"]14...Nde7 15.Qc2 Qc7 16.a5 b5 17.Ne3 Rad8 18.Ne4[/font] is equal (Sergeev-Pavlov, Platonov Mem, Kiev, 2007).
• If [font color="magenta"]10.Qc2 Be6[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]11.exd5 Nxd5 12.Nc4 Qc7 13.a4 Rab8 14.Nfd2 Rfd8[/font] is equal (Borloy-Portisch, Hungarian Ch, Budapest, 1962).
• If [font color="darkorange"]11.Nf1 Qc7 12.Nh4 Rad8[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]13.f4?! c4! 14.f5 cxd3[/font] gives Black an extra pawn (Beckett-Jirovsky, Euro Club Cup, Panormo, Greece, 2001).
• [font color="purple"]13.exd5 Nxd5 14.Nf3 Nde7 15.Ne3 Qd7 16.Bf1 f5[/font] gives Black a small but clear advantage in space.
• If [font color="darkred"]8.c3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]8...dxe4 9.dxe4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]9...Qc7 10.Re1 Rd8 11.Qc2 Ng4 12.Nc4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]12...Nce5 13.Nfxe5 Nxe5 14.Bf4 b6 15.Bxe5 Bxe5 16.f4[/font] is equal (Quinteros-M. Petursson, Op, Lone Pine, California, 1980).
• [font color="burgundy"]12...Be6 13.Bf4 Qc8 14.Bf1 b5 15.Ne3 c4 16.Bg2[/font] is equal (Tringov-M. Petursson, Ol, Buenos Aires, 1978).
• If [font color="magenta"]9...h6 10.Qe2[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]10...Be6 11.Ne1[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]11...Qd7 12.Nd3 b6 13.Nf4[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]13...Rad8 14.Nxe6 Qxe6 15.f4 Rd7 16.e5 Nd5 17.Re1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Belezky-Jiménez, Op, Madrid, 2001).
• [font color="hotpink"]13...Bg4 14.f3 e5 15.fxg4 exf4 16.e5 f3 17.Bxf3[/font] (Böök-Czerniak, Ol, Helsinki, 1952).
• [font color=purple"]11...Qb6 12.h3 Nh7 13.f4 Na5 14.Nef3 Bd7 15.Re1[/font] is equal (Petrosian-Reshevsky, Candidates' Trmt, Zürich. 1953).
• [font color="darkorange"]10...Qc7 11.Nc4 e5 12.a4 b6 13.Ne3 Be6[/font] is equal (Reichenbacher-Jeric, Op, Feffernitz, Austria, 2001).
• If [font color="magenta"]9.Nxe4[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]9...Nxe4 10.dxe4 Qxd1 11.Rxd1 Na5 12.Bg5 Re8 13.Bf1 Bg4 14.Kg2 h6 15.Be3 Rec8[/font] draw (Ufimtsev-Lilienthal, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1947).
• [font color="darkorange"]9...b6 10.Nxf6+ exf6 11.d4 Ba6 12.Re1 cxd4 13.Qa4[/font] gives White a slight advantage for the moment (Brondum-Arvola, Politiken Cup, Helsignør, 2007).
• If [font color="darkred"]6...Nc6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]7.e4 e5 8.c3 a5 9.a4 h6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]10.Re1 Re8[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]11.Qc2 Be6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]12.exd5 Nxd5 13.Nc4 f6 14.Bd2 Qd7 15.Rad1 g5[/font] is equal (Akopian-Lutz, World Youth BU16, Rio Gallegos, 1986).
• [font color="burgundy"]12.b3 Qd7 13.Bb2 Rad8 14.Rad1 Qe7 15.Qc1 Qd7[/font] is equal (B. Socko-Galkin, Euro ChT, Batumi, 1999).
• If [font color="magenta"]11.exd5 Nxd5 12.Nc4 Bf5[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]13.Nh4 Re8 14.Nf3[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]14...Bf5 Be6 15.Nh4 Be6 16.Nf3 Bf5 17.Nh4 Be6[/font] draws by repetition (Navrotescu-Fogarasi, IT, Budapest, 2001).
• [font color="purple"]14...f6 15.Nfd2 Qd7 16.Ne4 b6 17.Ne3 f5[/font] gives Black the initiative and a small advantage in space (Haub-Werle, Op, Hoogeveen, 2007).
• [font color="darkorange"]13.h3 Nb6 14.Nxb6 cxb6 15.Be3 Bxd3 16.Qb3[/font] is equal (Polugaevsky-Thorsteins, IT, Akureyri, Norway, 1988).
• [font color="burgundy"]10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Nc4 Re8 12.Nh4 Be6[/font] transposes into [font color=darkred"]Navrotescu-Fogarasi,[/font] above.
• If [font color="magenta"]7.c4 e5 8.cxd5 Nxd5[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]9.Nc4 h6 10.Bd2[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]10...Be6 11.Rc1 Nb6 12.b3 Qd7 13.Re1 Rfe8 14.Bc3[/font] is equal (Kirillov-Rozhdestvensky, ZT, Minsk, 1957).
• [font color="purple"]10...Bg4 11.Re1 Qd7 12.Rc1 Rad8 13.Na5 Nxa5 14.Bxa5 b6[/font] leaves Black slightly better ().
• [font color="darkorange"]9.Ne4 b6 10.Bg5 f6 11.Bd2 Be6 12.Rc1 Qd7[/font] is equal (Vepkhvishvili-Sanikidze, Op, Maisoba, 2004).
• If [font color="darkred"]5.d4 0-0 6.c4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]6...dxc4 7.Na3 Nc6 8.Nxc4 Bf5[/font] is the Slav-Grünfeld.
• [font color="magenta"]6...c6 7.cxd5 cxd5[/font] is the Slav Exchange.


• If [font color="blue"]3...e6 4.d3 Be7 5.0-0 0-0[/font] then:
• If [font color="blue"]6.Nbd2 c5[/font]
• [font color="blue"](Kia Game: Kia Game: Franco-Orthodox Defense)[/font] If [font color="blue"]7.e4

[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]Kia Game: Franco-Orthodox Defense[/center][center]Position after 7.e4[/center]

• 7...Nc6 8.Re1[/font] then:
• If [font color="blue"]8...Qc7[/font] then:
• If [font color="blue"]9.e5 Nd7 10.Qe2 b5 11.Nf1[/font] then:
• If [font color="blue"]11...a5 12.h4 Ba6[/font] then:
• If [font color="blue"]13.Bf4 b4 14.Ne3 c4[/font] then:
• [font color="blue"]15.Nxd5 exd5 16.e6 Qd8 17.exd7 cxd3 18.cxd3 Qxd7[/font] is equal (Bezgodova-T. Kosintseva, Euro ChW, Gaziantep, 2012).
• [font color="#4080FF"]15.Rad1!? cxd3 16.cxd3 Qb6 17.h5 b3 18.a3 Rfe8[/font] gives Black a slight edge in space (Arkhipov-Oral, Atom Cup, Paks, Hungary, 1997).
• [font color="#8040FF"]13.N1h2!? b4 14.h5 Rfc8 15.h6 g6 16.Bf4 Qd8[/font] is equal (Bronstein-O'Kelly, IT, Beverwijk, 1963).
• If [font color="darkblue"]11...Bb7 12.h4 Rfc8 13.Bf4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]13...c4 14.d4 c3 15.b3 a5 16.a3 Ba6 17.Qe3[/font] is equal (Staniszewski-Maslowski, Op, Maslowski, 2001).
• [font color="dodgerblue"]13...Nb6 14.N1h2 d4 15.Ng4 Qd8 16.Ng5 Bxg5 17.Bxg5 Qf8[/font] gives Black an impressive moble pawn mass (Hetzer-Zmarzly, Op, Wroclaw, 2010).
• If [font color="darkblue"]9.c3 b6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]10.Qe2 Bb7 11.e5 Nd7 12.Nf1[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]12...Rae8 13.Bf4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]13...Qd8 14.h4 f5 15.exf6 Bxf6 16.N1h2 e5[/font] is equal (Davies-Paunovic, IT, Vrnjachka Banja, 1988).
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]13...Bd8 14.h4 Qb8 15.N1h2 Bc7[/font] then:
• [font color="dodgerblue"]16.Bh3 f6 17.d4 cxd4 18.cxd4 fxe5 19.dxe5 Nc5[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space (Davies-Cvetkovic, IT, Vrnjachka Banja, 1991).
• [font color="darkcyan"]16.d4 cxd4 17.cxd4 f6 18.Ng4 h5[/font] is equal.
• [font color="#8040FF"]12...b5 13.Bf4 a5 14.h4 a4 15.N1h2 c4[/font] (Gopal-Hughes, World Jr Ch, Gaziantep, 2008).
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]10.e5 Nd7 11.Qe2 Ba6 12.Nf1[/font] then:
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]12...Rac8 13.Bf4 b5 14.h4[/font] then:
• [font color="dodgerblue"]14...b4 15.N1h2 Rb8 16.h5 h6 17.g4 Rb6[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space (Rybenko-Zaksaite, Euro Ch GU12, Rimavska Sobota, 1996).
• [font color="slateblue"]14...c4 15.d4 b4 16.h5 Rb8 17.N1h2 Qa5[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Pachman-Sterner, IT, Dresden, 1956).
• [font color="darkcyan"]12...b5 13.a3 Rad8 14.Bf4 Qb6 15.h4 Ndb8 16.N1h2[/font] is equal (Ketho-Irwanto, Ol, Dresden, 2008).
• If [font color="darkblue"]8...b5 9.e5 Nd7 10.Nf1 a5 11.h4 b4 12.Bf4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]12...Ba6 13.N1h2 a4 14.a3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]14...bxa3 15.bxa3 Rb8[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]16.h5 Rb2 17.Qc1[/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]17...Qb6 18.Ng4 Nd4 19.Nxd4 cxd4 20.Bg5 Bxg5 21.Qxg5[/font] gives White a comfortable game (Nikolaidis-Muir, Euro ChT, Pula, 1997).
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]17...Rb7 18.h6 g6[/font] then:
• [font color="dodgerblue"]19.Qe3!? Rb2 20.Qc1 Qb6[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space (Sevian-Puranik, World Youth BU10, Porto Carras, 2010).
• [font color="darkcyan"]19.Ng4 c4 20.d4 c3 21.Qe3 Qa5[/font] is equal.
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]16.Bh3[/font] then:
• [font color="dodgerblue"]16...Rb2 17.Bc1 Rb6 18.Bf4 Qb8 19.Ng4 Qa7[/font] gives Black a slight edge in space (Teterev-Bhat, World Youth BU18, Oropesa del Mar, 2001).
• [font color="darkcyan"]16...Nd4 17.Nxd4 cxd4 18.Qg4 Kh8 19.Nf3 Rb2 20.Nxd4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space, but Black has 20...Bc5 with the initiative (Nun-Uhlmann, IT, Hradec, 1979).
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]14...Bb5 15.Ng5 Qe8[/font] then:
• [font color="dodgerblue"]16.c4 bxc3 17.bxc3 Na5 18.c4 dxc4 19.dxc4 Bc6[/font] is equal (Koskela-Macsik, Atom Cup IM, Paks, Hungary, 2001).
• [font color="darkcyan"]16.Qh5 Bxg5 17.Qxg5 Kh8 18.Rad1 c4 19.dxc4 Bxc4[/font] is equal (Prescha-Sieglen, BL West, Germany, 1996).
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]12...a4 13.a3 bxa3 14.bxa3[/font] then:
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]14...Ba6 15.Ne3[/font] then:
• [font color="dodgerblue"]15...Rb8 16.c4 dxc4 17.Nxc4 Nb6 18.Nxb6 Rxb6[/font] is equal (Amin-Sadek, Egyptian Ch, Cairo, 2009).
• If [font color="slateblue"]15...Nd4 16.c4[/font] then:
• If [font color="slateblue"]16...Nb3 17.cxd5 Nxa1 18.Qxa1 exd5 19.Nxd5[/font] then:
• If [font color="slateblue"]19...Nb6 20.Nxe7+ Qxe7[/font] then:
• If [font color="slateblue"]21.e6 f6[/font] then:
• [font color="slateblue"]22.d4!? Bb7 23.dxc5 Qxc5 24.e7 Rfe8 25.Be3[/font] forces Black to defend against a passed pawn on the seventh rank, which while not difficult in this position may still be a nuisance (Aleshnya-Ernazarov, Corres, 2006).
• [font color="#4080FF"]22.Qb2! Nd5 23.Nd4 Nxf4 24.Nf5 Qc7 25.gxf4[/font] gives White an advanced passer and a small advantage in space.
• [font color="#3090C0"]21.d4 Nd5 22.Bd2 Bb7 23.Ng5 h6 24.Ne4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
• [font color="#4080FF"]19...Bxd3? 20.e6! Nf6 21.Nxe7+ Qxe7 22.Ne5 Bg6 23.Nc6[/font] gives White the initiative and the advatage in space; he soon forced Black's capitulation (Gheorghiu-Uhlmann, IT, Sofia, 1967).
• [font color="steelblue"]16...Nxf3+ 17.Qxf3 Nb6 18.cxd5 Nxd5 19.Nxd5 exd5 20.Qxd5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space after the exchange of Queens (Vogt-Teschke, Bundesliga 0607, Germany, 2007).
• [font color="darkcyan"]14...Na5 15.Ne3 Ba6 16.Bh3 d4 17.Nf1 Nb6 18.Ng5[/font] is equal (Fischer-Myagmarsuren, ITZ, Sousse, 1967).
• [font color="darkblue"](English Game: Agincourt Defense)[/font] If [font color="darkblue"]6.c4

[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]English Game: Agincourt Defense[/center][center]Position after 6.c4[/center]

• 6...c5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]7.Nc3 Nc6 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.Bd2[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]9...b6 10.Rc1 Bb7 11.Qa4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]11...Bf6 12.Ne4 Be7 13.Rfd1 Rc8 14.a3 h6 15.Nc3[/font] is equal (Kolbus-Izsak, IT, Budapest, 1993).
• [font color="#4080FF"]11...Rc8 12.a3 a6 13.Nxd5 Qxd5 14.Bc3 Qh5 15.h4[/font] is equal (Durarbayli-Abhiban, World Jr Ch, Chennai, 2011).
• [font color="#8040FF"]9...Nc7 10.a3 b6 11.Rc1 Bd7 12.Na4 Rc8 13.Rb1[/font] is equal (Szily-Barcza, Hungarian Ch, Budapest, 1954).
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]7.b3 Nc6 8.Bb2 d4[/font] then:
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]9.e4 e5 10.Nbd2[/font] then:
• [font color="dodgerblue"]10...Bg4 11.h3 Bd7 12.Kh2 Bd6 13.Qe2 a5[/font] gives Black a small but clear advantage in space (Sliwa-Czerniakow, Polish Ch, Sopot, 1946).
• If [font color="#8040FF"]13.h3 Nd7 14.Nfe1 Nb6 15.f4 Re8 16.a4 Bd6[/font] gives Black the edge with active Bishops and command of the e-file (Chiburdanidze-Gaprindashvili, Candidates' TrmtW, Shanghai, 1992).
• [font color="steelblue"]10...Ne8 11.a3 a5 12.Ne1 Rb8 13.Qe2 Bd6[/font] gives Black a slight edge (Zhong Zhang-Qin Kanying, Sufe Cup, Shanghai, 2000).
• If [font color="darkcyan"]9.e3 e5 10.exd4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkcyan"]10...exd4 11.Na3 Bf5 12.Nc2 a5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkcyan"]13.Re1 Bd6 14.Nh4 Bg4 15.Qd2 h6 16.Na3 Rc8[/font] is equal (Grigorian-Alburt, ZT, Vilnius, 1975).
• If [font color="slateblue"]10...cxd4 11.Re1 Bd6 12.a3 a5 13.Nbd2[/font] then:
• If [font color="slateblue"]13...Bf5 14.Qe2 h6 15.c5 Bc7 16.Nc4 Re8[/font] is equal (Kopacz-Sroczynski, Polish Ch BU18, Zakopane, 2001).
• If [font color="steelblue"]13...Bg4 14.Rc1 Nd7 15.Qc2 f5 16.h3 Bh5[/font] gives Black more pawns in the center (Gomes-Khalid, World Jr ChG, Yerevan, 2006).

4.0-0 Bg4

• If [font color="red"]4...Bf5 5.d3 Nbd7[/font]
• [font color="red"](English Game: Slav Set up)[/font] If [font color="red"]6.c4 e6 7.b3 Bd6 8.Bb2 0-0[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]9.Nbd2[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]9...e5 10.cxd5 cxd5[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]11.e4 dxe4 12.dxe4 Be6 13.Rc1 Rc8 14.Rxc8 Qxc8[/font] is equal (S. N. Bernstein-Fazekas, Corres, 1968).
• If [font color="darkred"]11.Rc1 Qe7 12.Rc2 a5 13.a4 h6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]14.Qa1!? Rfe8! 15.Rfc1 Bh7[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]16.Nf1!? Nc5 17.Rxc5 Bxc5 18.Nxe5 Rac8 19.Ne3 Qe6[/font] gives Black the exchange and a small advantage in space for a pawn (Reti-Dr. Lasker, IT, New York, 1924).
• [font color="darkrorange"]16.Bh3 e4 17.Nd4 exd3 18.exd3 Bxd3 19.Nf5 Bxf5[/font] gives Black a weak extra pawn.
• [font color="magenta"]14.Nh4 Bg4 15.h3 Be6 16.e4 Rac8 17.Rxc8 Rxc8[/font] is equal.
• [font color="darkred"]9...Qe7 10.Re1[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]10...e5 11.cxd5 cxd5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]12.e4 dxe4 13.dxe4 Be6 14.Qe2 Rac8[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]15.Nf1 Ba3 16.Nxe5 Bxb2 17.Qxb2 Nxe5 18.Qxe5[/font] gives White an extra pawn and a centralized Queen (Kevitz-Capablanca, IT, New York, 1931).
• [font color="purple"]15.Rac1 Ba3 16.Nf1 Rxc1 17.Rxc1 Nxe4 18.Rc7 Bxb2 19.Qxe4[/font] is equal (Ragozin-Romanovsky, Soviet Ch ½-final, Moscow, 1944).
• [font color="darkrorange"]12.Rc1 Rfd8 13.Rc2 h6 14.Nf1 Bb4 15.Bc3 Rac8[/font] give Black a full pawn center and more space (Capablanca-Horowitz, IT, New York 1931).
• [font color="magenta"]10...Ba3 11.Qc1 Bxb2 12.Qxb2 e5 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.e4[/font] gives White a slight edge (Bajarani-E. L'Ami, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).
• If [font color="darkred"]9.Nc3 Qe7[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]10.Nh4 Bg4 11.h3 Bh5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]12.d4 Rac8 13.Rc1 Rfd8 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.Nb5 a6[/font] is equal (Lokvenc-Feigin, Ol, Hamburg, 1930).
• [font color="darkrorange"]12.Qc2 Rad8 13.e4 dxe4 14.dxe4 Ne5 15.f4 Bc5+[/font] gives Black a slight edge[/font] (Trian Iliesco-Pizzi, IT, Mar del Plata, 1947).
• [font color="magenta"]10.Re1 e5 11.e4 dxe4 12.dxe4 Be6 13.Nh4 Ba3[/font] is equal[/font] (Reti-Tarrasch, IT, Breslau, 1925).

5.c4
[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]English Game: Caro-Slav Defense[/center][center]Position after 7.e4[/center]

• OK, it's an English Game.
• If [font color="red"]5.d3 Nbd7 6.Nbd2 e5[/font]

• [font color="red"](Kia Game)[/font] If [font color="red"]7.e4

[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]Kia Game: Caro-Slav Defense[/center][center]Position after 7.e4[/center]

• 7...dxe4 8.dxe4 Bc5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]9.Qe1 0-0 10.h3 Bh5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]11.Nc4 Re8 12.a4[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]12...Qc7 13.Nh4[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]13...b5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]14.Na5 Bb6 15.Nb3 a6 16.Bg5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]16...c5 17.a5 Ba7 18.c4[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]18...Rab8 19.Nd2 h6 20.Be3 Nf8[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]21.f4 exf4 22.Bxf4 Qd8 23.Nf5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Aronian-Kramnik, IT, Shanghai, 2010).
• [font color="burgundy"]21.g4 Bg6 22.f4 exf4 23.Bxf4 Qd7[/font] is equal (Aronian-Korobov, Euro Ch, Ohrid, 2001).
• [font color="darkpink"]18...h6 19.Be3 Rab8 20.Nd2 Nf8[/font] transposes.
• [font color="darkorchid"]16...h6 17.Bd2 c5 18.c4 bxc4 19.Na5 c3 20.Bxc3 c4[/font] gives White stronger pawns and Black a small advantage in space (Aronian-Bu Xiangzhi, World Jr Ch, Athens, 2001).
• If [font color="darkred"]14.Ne3 a6 15.Nef5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]15...Bf8 16.Bg5 h6 17.Bd2 Nc5 18.b3 bxa4 19.Ba5[/font] (Kozul-Pavosavic, Croatia Cup, Sibenik, 2007).
• If [font color="magenta"]15...Bg6 16.Bg5 Re6 17.Bf3[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]17...Bf8!? 18.Qe2! Nc5 19.axb5 cxb5 20.Rfd1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Markus-Prohaszka, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).
• [font color="darkrorange"]17...h6 18.Bxf6 Nxf6 19.Nxg6 fxg6 20.Qc3 Bb6 21.Nh4[/font] remains equal.
• [font color="burgundy"]13...Bf8 14.Bg5 Re6 15.b3 b6 16.Kh1 h6 17.Bd2[/font] gives White the advantage in space (R. Ibrahimov-K. Georgiev, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).
• If [font color="darkred"]12...Nb6 13.Na5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]13...Qc7 14.Nh4 Nfd7[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]15.b4 Bf8[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]16.c4 c5 17.b5 a6 18.Bb2 axb5 19.axb5[/font] remains equal (Movsesian-Gyimisi, Euro Ch, Ohrid, 2001).
• [font color="burgundy"]16.Nf5 f6 17.Ne3 Bf7 18.c3 Nc8 19.Qe2 Nd6[/font] remains equal (Werle-Gyimisi, Bundesliga 1011, Baden-Baden, 2010).
• [font color="darkpink"]15.Nb3 Bf8 16.Qc3 a5 17.g4 Bg6 18.Nxg6 hxg6[/font] remains equal (Laznicka-Ter Sahakyan, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2012).
• [font color="magenta"]If 13...Rb8 14.Nh4 Nc8[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]15.b4 Bb6 16.Nb3 Nd6 17.a5 Bc7 18.Nc5 Nd7[/font] remains equal (Akopian-Beliavsky, IT, Ubeda, 1997).
• [font color="darkorange"]15.Bg5 h6 16.Bd2 Nd6 17.Nb3 Bb6 18.Bb4[/font] gives Black more space, but White has the threat of 19.a5 (Movsesian-Mkrtchian, Op, Solin, 2006).
• If [font color="darkred"]11.Nb3 Bb6 12.a4 a5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]13.Be3 Bxe3 14.Qxe3 Bxf3 15.Bxf3 Qc7 16.Rfd1 Rfd8[/font] is equal (Smejkal-Kuczynski, Rubinstein Mem, Polanica Zdroj, 1991).
• [font color="magenta"]13.Nbd2 Re8 14.Nc4 Bc7 15.Nh4 Nc5 16.Be3 Ne6[/font] is equal (L. Szabo-A. Kovacs Corres, 2008).
• If [font color="darkred"]9.h3 Bh5 10.Qe2 0-0[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]11.Rd1 Qc7[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]12.a4 a5 13.b3 Rfe8 14.Bb2 Nf8 15.Nc4[/font] is equal (H. Danielsen-de Cresce El Debs, Ol, Dresden, 2008).
• [font color="burgundy"]12.g4 Bg6 13.Nh4 Rfe8 14.Nf1 Nf8 15.Nf5 Ne6[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space (C.-A. Foisor-Danielian, FIDE Knock-OutW, Ekaterinburg, 2006).
• If [font color="magenta"]a) 11.a4 a5 12.Rd1 Qe7[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]13.Nc4 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 Rfe8 15.Ne3 g6 16.Ng4[/font] is equal (I. Marin-Zimina, Euro Club CupW, Belgrade, 2001).
• [font color="darkorange"]13.Nf1 Rfd8 14.g4 Bg6 15.Ng3 Nf8 16.Rxd8 Rxd8[/font] is equal (Venkatesh-Markos, World Jr Ch, Athens, 2001).
• [font color="magenta"]b) 11.Re1 Re8 12.Qf1 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 a5 14.Nc4 b5[/font] is equal (Langeweg-Trifunovic, IT, Beverwijk, 1962).
• If [font color="darkred"]7...Bd6 8.h3 Bh5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]9.Qe1 0-0 10.Nh4 Re8[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]11.Nb3 a5 12.a4 Nc5 13.Nxc5 Bxc5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]14.Bg5 dxe4 15.dxe4 Re6 16.Bf3 Bxf3 17.Nxf3 Qc7[/font] is equal (B. Damjlanovic-Khalifman, IT, Belgrade, 1993).
• [font color="burgundy"]14.Bf3 Bxf3 15.Nxf3 Qb6 16.Kg2 Rad8 17.b3 Bb4[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space (C.-A. Foisor-Galliamova, OlW, Istanbul, 2000).
• If [font color="magenta"]11.Nf5 Bf8 12.Nb3 a5 13.a4[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]13...Nc5 14.Nxc5 Bxc5 15.Bg5 Bg6 16.Ne3 dxe4 17.dxe4[/font] is equal (Anic-Marciano, French ChT, Monaco, 2001).
• [font color="darkorange"]13...Bb4 14.Bd2 Bxd2 15.Qxd2 Qc7 16.exd5 Nxd5 17.Rfe1[/font] is equal (Omearat-Ni Hua, Ol, Torino, 2006).
• If [font color="magenta"]9.exd5 cxd5 10.c4 0-0 11.cxd5 Nxd5 12.Qb3[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]12...N5f6 13.Nc4 Nc5 14.Qa3[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]14...Bxf3 15.Bxf3 Be7 16.Nxe5 Ncd7 17.Qc3 Rc8 18.Qe1[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]18...Re8 19.d4 Bc5 20.Bxb7 Bxd4 21.Bxc8 Nxe5[/font] gives Black two minor pieces for a Rook and the threat of 22...Nf3+, winning the White Queen (Minasian-Tomashevsky, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).
• [font color="burgundy"]18...Bc5 19.Nxd7 Qxd7 20.Kg2 b6 21.Bg5 Qf5 22.Qd2[/font] gives White a small advantage (Vaganian-Kaidanov, TM, Glendale, California, 1994).
• If [font color="darkorange"]14...Rc8 15.Nxd6 Qxd6 16.Be3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]16...b6?! 17.Nxe5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]17...Nd5? 18.d4![/font] gives White an extra piece (Vaganian-Epishin, IT, Moscow, 1996).
• [font color="purple"]17...Qxe5 18.d4 Qf5 19.g4 Qd3 20.dxc5 Qxa3 21.bxa3[/font] gives White an extra pawn.
• [font color="hotpink"]16...Bxf3 17.Bxf3 b6 18.Rfd1 Qe6 19.Qxa7 Ncd7 20.Rac1[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.
• If [font color="darkorange"]12...N5b6 13.Ne4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]13...Bxf3 14.Bxf3 Nc5 15.Nxc5 Bxc5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]16.Bxb7 Rb8 17.Bg2 Bd4 18.Rb1 Qd7 19.Be3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]19...Na4 20.Qc2 Rfc8 21.Qd2 Bxb2 22.Qa5 Nc3 23.Rbe1 Nb5 24.Rb1 Nc3 25.Rbe1 Nb5[/font] draw (Maiwald-Chiburdanidze, Op, Lippstadt, 2003).
• [font color="burgundy"]19...Rfd8 20.Bxd4 Qxd4 21.Rfe1 Na4 22.Qc4 Rxb2 23.Qxd4 exd4 24.Rxb2 Nxb2 25.Bf1[/font] is equal and soon agreed drawn (C.-A. Foisor-K. Szabo, Op, Gibraltar, 2008)
• [font color="darkpink"]16.Kg2 Bd4 17.Re1 Nd7 18.Be3 Nc5 19.Qa3 Rc8[/font] is equal (Azaladze-Sjugirov, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2012).
• If [font color="purple"]13...Be7 14.a4 Kh8 15.a5 f5 16.Neg5 Nc5[/font] then:
• If [font color="purple"]17.Qc3 Nd5 18.Qc4 e4 19.dxe4 fxe4[/font] then:
• [font color="purple"]20.Ne5!? Bxg5 21.Bxg5 Qxg5 22.Qxd5 Rf5 23.Qxc5[/font] gives White slightly stronger pawns (I. Ivanisevic-Kacheishvili, Euro ChT, León, 2001).
• If [font color="hotpink"]a) 20.Nd4!? Rc8[/font] then:
• [font color="hotpink"]21.h4 h6 22.Bh3 Rc7 23.Nb5 hxg5!! 24.Nxc7 Nxc7[/font] gives Black stronger pawns and a small advantage in space(Vaganian-Khalifman, Rpd IT, Eupen, Belgium, 1994).
• [font color="burgundy"]21.Nb5?! a6! 22.Na7 Rc7 23.b4 Bxg5 24.bxc5 Bf6[/font] gives Black a significant advantage.
• [font color="hotpink"]b) 20.Nxe4! b5 21.axb6 Nxb6 22.Qc2 Rc8 23.Ne5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
• If [font color="burgundy"]17.Qc2 Nbd7 18.b4 Bxf3 19.Nxf3 Na6 20.b5[/font] gives White a slight advantage.
• [font color="blue"]5.d4 Nbd7 6.c4[/font] is the Slav Catalan.

5...e6

• Black's best asset is that he is keeping up with Black's development; taking the c-pawn would expend a valuable tempo.
• If [font color="red"] dxc4 6.Na3[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]6...Qd5 7.Qc2 Be6 8.h4 Bf5 9.Qxc4 e6 10.Qa4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Burmakin-Belov, Geller Mem, Moscow, 1999).
• [font color="darkred"]6...Nbd7!? 7.Nxc4! Bxf3 8.Bxf3 e5 9.d4 e4 10.Bg2[/font] gives White the advantage in development (Davies-L. B. Hansen, Op, Copenhagen, 1988).

6.cxd5

• If [font color="red"]6.d3 Nbd7 7.cxd5 exd5 8.Nc3[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]8...Bc5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]9.Qb3 Bb6 10.Na4 0-0 11.Nxb6 axb6 12.Qc2[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]12...Re8 13.b3 Qe7 14.Re1[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]14...Qb4 15.Bd2 Qc5 16.Qb2 Qa3 17.Bc1 Qxb2 18.Bxb2[/font] is equal(Markowski-Piket, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).
• [font color="burgundy"]14...Ne5 15.Nxe5 Qxe5 16.Bb2 Qh5 17.Bxf6 gxf6 18.e3[/font] gives White stronger pawns and Black a battery on g4 and h5 with mischief-making potential (Dizdar-P. Lukacs, Euro ChT, Debrecen, 1992).
• [font color="darkpink"]12...Qe7 13.b3 b5 14.Bb2 b4 15.Nd4 c5 16.h3[/font] is equal (Piket-Kramnik, Korchnoi 70th Bd Bash, Zürich, 2001).
• If [font color="darkred"]9.Qc2 0-0 10.e4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]10...dxe4 11.dxe4 Re8 12.Bf4 Bxf3 13.Bxf3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]13...Qe7 14.Bg2 Ne5 15.Rad1 Rad8 16.h3 Ng6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]17.Rxd8 Rxd8 18.Bc1 Ne5[/font] is equal (Miroshnichenko-Khenkin, Bundesliga 0405, Germany, 2004).
• [font color="purple"]17.Bc1 Rxd1 18.Rxd1 Rd8 19.Rxd8+ Qxd8[/font] is equal (Schebler-Jahnz, Bundesliga 0910, Berlin, 2009).
• [font color="darkorange"]13...Ne5 14.Bg2 Qe7 15.Rad1 Rad8[/font] transposes.
• [font color="magenta"]10...Re8 11.exd5 cxd5 12.Qb3 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 Ne5 14.Qd1 Nxf3+[/font] gives Black a slight edge (Telljohan-Tukmakov, Op, Biel, 1995).
• If [font color="darkred"]8...Be7 9.h3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]9...Bh5 10.e4 dxe4 11.dxe4 Nc5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]12.Qe2 Qd3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]13.Re1 0-0-0 14.g4 Bg6 15.Ne5 Qxe2 16.Rxe2 Nfd7[/font] is equal (Sargissian-Smeets, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2012).
• [font color="burgundy"]13.Qxd3 Nxd3 14.Be3 Nd7 15.Rab1 f6 16.Nd4 N7e5[/font] is equal (Saleh Jasim-Malakhatko, Op, Cairo, 2003).
• [font color="darkpink"]12.g4 Bg6 13.Ne5 Qxd1 14.Rxd1 Nfxe4 15.Re1 Nxc3 16.bxc3[/font] leaves White slightly better with the centralized Knight; Black has stronger pawns (Efimenko-Inarkiev, Rapid Op, St Petersburg, 2012).
• If [font color="magenta"]9...Bxf3 10.Bxf3 d4 11.Ne4[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]11...0-0 12.Nxf6+ Bxf6 13.b4[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]13...a5 14.Qb3 axb4 15.Qxb4 Ra7 16.a4 Ne5 17.Bg2[/font] is equal (Shirov-Vyzmanavin, IT, Lvov, 1990).
• [font color="burgundy"]13...Re8 14.Rb1 a6 15.a4 Nb6 16.b5 axb5 17.axb5[/font] gives White a tiny bit more freedom (Voiska-Mkrtchian, Euro ChTW, Crete, 2007).
• If [font color="darkorange"]11...Nxe4 12.Bxe4 a5 13.Bd2 0-0[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]14.Rb1 Re8 15.Bf3 Bb4 16.a3[/font] is equal (Ragger-Gonda, Bundesliga 1011, Remagen, 2010).
• [font color="purple"]14.Qc2 Qb6 15.Bg2 Rfe8 16.e4 dxe3 17.Bxe3 Bc5[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Aluwar-Afshari, Op, Dubai, 2010).
• If [font color="blue"]6.b3 Nbd7 7.Bb2[/font] then:
• If [font color="blue"]7...Bd6[/font] then:
• If [font color="blue"]8.d3 0-0 9.Qc2 Qe7[/font] then:
• If [font color="blue"]10.e4 dxe4 11.dxe4[/font] then:
• [font color="blue"]11...e5 12.h3 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 a5 14.a3 Rfd8[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space (Franciskovic-Svaljek, ITW, Rijeka, 2001).
• [font color="#4080FF"]11...Bxf3 12.Bxf3 e5 13.Rd1 Rfd8 14.a3 a5[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space (Radulov-Hennings, Ol, Lugano, 1968).
• If [font color="darkblue"]10.Nbd2[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]10...e5 11.h3 Bh5 12.e4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]12...dxe4 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.dxe4 Ba3 15.Bxa3 Qxa3[/font] is equal (Bashkite-Rozic, Euro ChTW, Crete, 2007).
• [font color="#8040FF"]12...d4 13.Nh4 Bg6 14.Rae1 Ba3 15.Ba1 c5[/font] is equal (Andreasen-Roder, Politiken Cup, Helsignør, 2007).
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]10...a5 11.a3[/font] then:
• [font color="dodgerblue"]11...Rfe8 12.Rfe1 e5 13.e4 d4 14.Nh4 g6[/font] gives Black a clear advantage in space; White could get some queenside play (Blatny-Lechtynsky, IT, Trnava, 1989).
• [font color="darkcyan"]11...e5 12.h3 Bh5 13.e4 dxe4 14.dxe4 Bxf3 15.Nxf3 Rfd8 16.Rfe1 Ne8[/font] draw (W. Schmidt-Taimanov, IT, Brno, 1975).
• If [font color="darkblue"]8.d4 0-0 9.Nbd2[/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]9...Qe7 10.Ne5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]10...Bf5 11.a3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]11...a5 12.h3 Ne4 13.g4 Nxd2 14.Qxd2 Be4[/font] is equal and soon agreed drawn (Bagirov-Polak, Op, Bern, 1995).
• [font color="#8040FF"]11...Rad8[/font] then:
• [font color=""#8040FF"]12.h3[/font] draw (Bilek-Savon, IT, Venice, 1974).
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]10...Bh5 11.Re1 Rfd8[/font] then:
• [font color="dodgerblue"]12.Qc2 [/font] then:
If
• [font color="dodgerblue"]12...Ba3 13.Ndf3 Bxf3 14.Nxf3 Ne4 15.Qc1 Bb4 16.Rd1[/font] gives White a better center and Black more space (Ricardi-Barbero, IT, Buenos Aires, 1991).
• [font color="darkcyan"]12...Rac8 13.Rac1 c5 14.Nxd7 Qxd7 15.dxc5 Bxc5[/font] gives Black a slight a slight advantage in space owing to his active Bishops (Obers-Thomasson, Op, Gibraltar, 2009).
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]9...Qb8 10.Re1 a5 11.a3 b5[/font] then:
• [font color="dodgerblue"]12.c5 Bc7 13.b4 Re8 14.Qc1 h6 15.Bc3[/font] is equal (Karlsson-Stefansson, Euro ChT, Debrecen, 1992).
• [font color="darkcyan"]12.Qc1 Bf5 13.Nh4 Be4 14.Nxe4 Nxe4 15.Bxe4 dxe4[/font] is equal (Frias Pablaza-Shabalov, TT, New York, 1993).
• [font color="darkblue"]7...Be7[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]8.d3 0-0 9.Nbd2 a5 10.a3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]10...Re8 11.Qc2[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]11...h6 12.Bc3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]12...Bd6 13.b4 e5 14.c5 Bf8 15.Nb3 axb4 16.axb4[/font] is equal (Szabo-Taulbut, IT, Hastings, 1981).
• [font color="#8040FF"]12...Bf8 13.b4 axb4 14.axb4 Rxa1 15.Rxa1 e5 16.e3 Bf5[/font] is equal (Westphal-Gisbrecht, BL Nord, Germany, 2001).
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]11...Bd6 12.h3 Bh5 13.e4 e5[/font] then:
• [font color="dodgerblue"]14.Nh4 dxe4 15.dxe4 Qb6 16.Nf5 Bc5[/font] is equal (Rozenberg-Darruda, Corres, 1999).
• [font color="darkcyan"]14.Rfe1 dxe4 15.dxe4 Qb6 16.Nh4 Nc5 17.Bc3 Bf8[/font] is equal (W. Schmidt-Timoshchenko, Rubinstein Mem, Polanica Zdroj, 1976).
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]10...b5[/font] then:
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]11.Rc1 Qb6 12.Rc2 Rfc8 13.Qa1[/font] then:
• [font color="dodgerblue"]13...a4 14.b4 c5 15.bxc5 Nxc5 16.cxd5 exd5 17.Bd4[/font] is equal (Jacobsen-Vang Glud, Danish Ch, Aalborg, 2007).
• If [font color="darkcyan"]13...h6 14.Rfc1 Qb7 15.Nd4 Nc5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkcyan"]16.Nxc6?! Qxc6 17.cxd5 exd5 18.d4 Nxb3[/font] gives Black a imperial-sized advantage in space after exchanging the Queen for two Rooks (Beliavsky-Rublevsky, World Cup, Hyderabad, 2002).
• [font color="slateblue"]16.cxd5 cxd5 17.h3 Bh5 18.g4 Bg6 19.a4[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space.
• If [font color="darkcyan"]11.Qc2 Qb6 12.h3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkcyan"]12...Bh5 13.g4 Bg6 14.Nh4 Rab8 15.Rab1 b4 16.a4[/font] leaves White slightly better (Gelfand-Seirawan, IT, Tilburg, 1990).
• [font color="slateblue"]12...Bxf3 13.Nxf3 Rab8 14.Rab1 bxc4 15.bxc4 Qa6 16.Nd2[/font] is equal (Miles-Neckar, World ChT, Teesdie, 1974).
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]8.d4 0-0 9.Nbd2[/font] then:
If
• [font color="dodgerblue"]9...a5 10.a3 b5 11.c5[/font] then:
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]11...Qc7 12.b4 a4[/font] then:
• [font color="dodgerblue"]13.Qe1 Bf5 14.Ne5 Ne4 15.f3 Nxd2 16.Qxd2[/font] is equal (Smyslov-Geller, IT, Moscow, 1967).
• [font color="#8040FF"]13.Qc2 Bf5 14.Qc3 Ne4 15.Nxe4 Bxe4 16.Bh3 Bf5[/font] is equal (Karlsson-Wang Hao, Op, Gibraltar, 2008).
• [font color="#38ACEC"]11...Qb8 12.b4 a4 13.Bc3 Bf5 14.Ne5 Qc7[/font] is equal (Ruck-Wang Hao, Mindsports Rpd, Beijing, 2008).
• If [font color="darkcyan"]9...h6 10.Re1 Bf5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkcyan"]11.Ne5 Nxe5 12.dxe5 Nd7[/font] then:
• [font color="darkcyan"]13.cxd5 cxd5 14.e4 dxe4 15.Nxe4 Nc5 16.Qe2[/font] is equal (Bagirov-Onischuk, BL Nord 9495, Germany, 1994).
• [font color="steelblue"]13.e4 dxe4 14.Bxe4 Nc5 15.Bxf5 exf5 16.Ba3 Nd3[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Marek-Nei, Op, Cappelle-la-Grande, 1994).
• [font color="slateblue"]11.Rc1 Ne4 12.Nxe4 Bxe4 13.Nd2 Bxg2 14.Kxg2 f5[/font] is equal (Stein-Pietzsch, IT, Sarajevo, 1967).

6...exd5 7.h3 Bxf3

• If [font color="red"]7...Bh5[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]8.d3 Be7 9.Nbd2 0-0 10.b3 a5 11.Bb2 Nbd7[/font] is equal (Minasian=Buss, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).
• [font color="darkred"]8.Qb3 Qb6 9.Qc2 Nbd7 10.d3 Bd6 11.Nc3 0-0[/font] is equal (Anatasian-R. Pert, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).

8.Bxf3 Nbd7 (N)

• [font color="red"]8...Bd6 9.d3 0-0[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]10.Nc3 Qc7 11.Bd2 Na6 12.Rc1 Qd7 13.Kg2 Rfe8[/font] is equal (Sundararajan-Rozman, IT, Rockville, Washington, 2012).
• [font color="darkred"]10.Bg2 Re8 11.Nc3 Nbd7 12.a3 a5 13.Qc2 Qb6[/font] is equal (Larsen-M. Damjanovic, IT, Zagreb, 1965).

9.Bg2

• The game is equal.

9...Bc5 10.d3 0-0 11.e4!?

• This slight inaccuracy may be a deliberate provocation. Black will gain control of the e-file.
• If [font color="red"]11.d4 Be7 12.Qd3 Re8 13.a3 Nf8 14.e3 a5[/font] remains equal.

11...dxe4 12.dxe4 Re8!

• Black has a slight advantage in space thanks to better development.

13.Qc2 Qe7 14.Nc3

• White can equalize by simply developing her pieces.

14...Rad8 15.Bd2

• [font color="red"]15.Kh2 Bd4 16.Bf4[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]16...Nf8 17.Bd2 h5 18.f4 h4 19.g4 Qc5[/font] remains equal.
• If [font color="darkred"]a) 16...Ne5!? 17.Rad1 h5 18.Bc1 h4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]19.g4 Nfxg4+ 20.hxg4 Nxg4+ 21.Kh1 Qc5 22.Rxd4 Qxd4[/font] remains equal.
• [font color="magenta"]19.gxh4 Nfg4+ 20.hxg4 Qxh4+ 21.Bh3 Nxg4+ 22.Kg2 Rd6[/font] remains equal.
• If [font color="darkred"]b) 16...Nc5 17.Ne2[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]17...Ncxe4 18.Nxd4 Rxd4 19.Rfe1[/font] remains equal.
• If [font color="magenta"]17...Ne6[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]18.Bd2 h5 19.f4 h4 20.g4 Qc7 21.Kh1 Qb6[/font] remains equal.
• [font color="darkorange"]18.Nxd4!? Nxd4 19.Qa4 Nxe4 20.Rfe1 f5 21.Rad1 b5[/font] remains equal.

15...Ne5 16.Rae1 Qd6

• [font color="red"]16...Nd3!? 17.Re2 h5 18.e5 Nxe5 19.Bg5 Bd4[/font] remains equal.

17.Re2

• [font color="red"]17.Bf4 Bd4 18.Rd1 Qc5 19.Qb3 Qb6 20.Qxb6 axb6[/font] remains equal.

17...Qd3 18.Qxd3 Nxd3

• [font color="red"]18...Rxd3 19.Kh2 Bd4 20.Nd1 c5 21.f3 Rd8 22.Bc1[/font] remains equal.

19.b3!?

• If [font color="red"]19.Bg5[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]19...h6 20.Bxf6 gxf6 21.Na4 Bd6 22.f4 Bc7 23.a3[/font] is equal; the octopus cannot retreat.
• [font color="darkred"]19...Be7 20.Rd1 Ne5 21.Red2 Rxd2 22.Rxd2 Nc4 23.Rc2[/font] is equal.

[center]BLACK: Marie Sebag[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Alisa Galliamova[/center][center]Position after 19.b2b3[/center]

19...Bd4!

• Black takes a slight advantage with active minor pieces.
• [font color="red"]19...h6!? 20.Be3! Bxe3 21.Rxe3 Nb4 22.Re2 a5[/font] remains equal.

20.Kh2 Nc5 21.f3 Be5!?

• This may be with the idea of winning two minor pieces for a Rook.
• If [font color="red"]21...h5 22.h4[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]22...Nd3 23.Rd1 Ne5 24.Be1 Kh7 25.Kh3 g6[/font] leaves Black with a slightly better center.
• [font color="darkred"]22...a5!? 23.Na4 Nxa4 24.bxa4 Nd5 25.Rb1 b6[/font] is equal.

22.Nd1!

• White dodges a bullet (well, more like a BB). The game remains equal.
• [font color="red"]22.f4? Rxd2! 23.Rxd2 Bxc3 24.Rc2 Nfxe4 25.a3 f5[/font] gives Black two pieces and a pawn for a Rook. Black's active minor piece keep the Rook passive.

22...Bc7 23.Ne3?!

• The Knight interrupts communication between the Rook and White's leading pawn.
• If [font color="red"]23.Nf2 Ne6 24.Bc3[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]24...a5 25.Rd1 Nh5 26.e5 Rxd1 27.Nxd1 f5 28.f4[/font] is equal.
• [font color="darkred"]24...Bb6 25.f4 h5 26.e5 Nd4 27.Bxd4 Rxd4 28.Bf3[/font] is equal.

[center]BLACK: Marie Sebag[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Alisa Galliamova[/center][center]Position after 23.Nd1e3[/center]

23...Nh5!

• Black attacks a vulnerable pawn.

24.Be1

• The is White's best way to protect the pawn.
• If [font color="red"]24.f4?! Nxe4! 25.Bxe4 Rxe4[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]26.Rfe1 Bxf4 27.gxf4 Nxf4 28.Rf2 Nd3 29.Ree2 Nxf2 30.Rxf2 Rde8[/font] gives Black the material advantage, more activity and the initiative; White is reduced to passivity.
• If [font color="darkred"]26.Bc1 Rde8 27.Rf3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]27...Bb6 28.Re1 Nf6 29.Bd2 h5 30.Kg2 R4e6[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and the initiative.
• [font color="magenta"]27...f5 28.Rb2 Bb6 29.Ng2 Nf6 30.Rd3 Nd5[/font] gives Black an extra pawn, the initiative and a substantial advantage in space.

24...Nd3 25.f4 Nxe1 26.Rexe1

• If [font color="red"]26.Rfxe1 g5 27.Bf3[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]27...Nxg3!! 28.Kxg3 gxf4+ 29.Kg2 fxe3 30.Rxe3 Bf4[/font] gives White an extra pawn.
• [font color="darkred"]27...gxf4 28.Bxh5 fxe3 29.Rxe3 Re5 30.Bf3 Rg5[/font] gives Black a small advantage.

26...g5 27.Bf3

• If [font color="red"]27.e5 gxf4 28.gxf4 Kf8[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]29.Nc4 b5 30.Nd6 Bxd6 31.exd6 Rxe1 32.Rxe1 Rxd6[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and the initiative.
• [font color="darkred"]29.Ng4!? Rd2! 30.a4 Red8 31.Nf6 Nxf6 32.exf6 Rb2[/font] gives Black more activity and he is now attack two different loose pawns.

[center]BLACK: Marie Sebag[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Alisa Galliamova[/center][center]Position after 27.Bg2f3[/center]

27...Nxg3!!

• The sham sacrifice is the best approach.

28.Kxg3 gxf4+

• This is the only reply.
• Black throws her hard work away with [font color="red"]28...Bxf4+?![/font] when after [font color="red"]29.Kg4![/font] then:
• [font color="red"]29...Kg7 30.Kh5 Bxe3 31.Rxe3 Re5 32.Ree1 Rd6 33.Rd1[/font] gives White command of the d-file.
• If [font color="darkred"]29...Bxe3?[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]30.Rxe3 f6 31.Kf5! Rd6 32.e5 fxe5 33.Kxg5.[/font]

29.Kh4 fxe3 30.Rxe3 Rd4 31.Rfe1!?

• The pawn is sufficiently covered. White should try to disrupt Black's aggression in the center.
• [font color="red"]31.Rd1 c5 32.Rxd4 cxd4 33.Rd3 Be5[/font] gives White an extra pawn; each side has a blockaded passer, but Black's is more advanced.

31...f5!?

• This move completely fails to shut down White's potential counterplay.
• [font color="red"]31...Ba5! 32.Rf1 f5 33.Bh5 Re5 34.Rd1 f4[/font] continues to give Black an extra pawn, but now she has with a good chance to win another.

32.R3e2?

• Black needs an active defense. This move is not only passive, but it makes generating any activity difficult if not impossible.
• Much better is [font color="red"]32.Rd1! Rxd1 33.Bxd1 Bb6[/font] when:
• [font color="red"]34.Rg3+ Kh8 35.Rd3 fxe4 36.Rd7 e3 37.Be2 Rg8[/font] gives Black a small advantage with the potential to play 38...Rg2!
• If [font color="darkred"]34.Rd3?![/font] then after [font color="darkred"]34...fxe4! 35.Rd7 Rf8 36.Bg4 Rf2 37.Rxb7 e3[/font] White has a big advantage with a dangerous passer.

[center]BLACK: Marie Sebag[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Alisa Galliamova[/center][center]Position after 32.Re3e2[/center]

32...Kg7!

• A simple waiting move is the most approprite.

33.Rg2+

• White now loses quickly.
• [font color="red"]33.Kh5 Re5 34.Rg1+ Kh8 35.Rg5 Bd8[/font] is a more stubborn defense.

33...Kh6 34.Rge2

• [font color="red"]34.Re3[/font] drops the Bishop to [font color="red"]34...Re6 35.Bg4 Bd8+ 36.Kg3 fxg4.[/font]

34...Rg8 35.Bg4 f4 0-1

• White cannot prevent Black from giving mate on d8.
• Alisa Mikhailovna resigns.