The JR Chess Report (October 5): Chucky leads GS Masters; Svidler win World Cup; Spanish Theory

Jack Rabbit

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Wed Oct-05-11 12:36 PM
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The JR Chess Report (October 5): Chucky leads GS Masters; Svidler win World Cup; Spanish Theory

Edited on Wed Oct-05-11 12:37 PM by Jack Rabbit

The JR Chess Report theme music: Merrick, The Look Sharp, Be Sharp March (From a broadcast of The Gillette Cavalcade of Spots).

Photo by Jon Sullivan
from public-domain-photos.com (Public Domain)

Chucky leads Grand Slam Masters halfway, Participation uncertain after robbery

Ukrainian grandmaster Vassily Ivanchuk scored three wins, a draw and a loss in the first leg of the fourth Grand Slam Masters Tournament held in S�o Paulo, Brazil, but his participation in the second half of the tournament to be held in Bilbao, Spain, strating tomorrow, is in doubt after Vassily Mikhailovich and his wife were robbed at gunpoint while leaving their hotel in S�o Paulo.

Among the items taken were Mme Ivanchuk's passport, which forces her to remain in Ukraine while her husband plays in Bilbao. Vassily Mikhailovich insists that his wife should accompany him and has threatened to abandon the tournament if she is not able to do so.

In S�o Paulo, Chucky, as he is affectionaly known, scored three straight victories including two in a row over reigning world champion Vishy Anand and Armenian GM Levon Aronian; this is believed to be the first time that one player has defeated 2800+ grandmasters in consecutive rounds under standard time controls. Ivanchuk had the opportunity to make it a hat trick, but lost to world number one Magnus Carlsen in round 5.

St. Petersburg, AVS win European Club Cup

Teams representing the St. Petersburg Chess Federation and the digital equipment manufacturer AVS won the general and women's competition of the European CLub Cup last week in Rogaska Slatina, Slovenia.

St. Petersburg won the general group on the lower boards with Vadim Zvjaginsev, playing in all seven rounds, scoring 6 points and Ildar Khairullin, playing in games, adding another 4�. Reserve player Maxim Matlakov scored 3� points in four games.

AVS, by contrast, got its best performance from the top board with former world women's champion Antoanetta Stefanova scoring 4� points in six games and Katya Lahno on board two soring a crucial last round win to clinch first place.

Other Results

Peter Svidler of Russia won the World Cup in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia, by defeating compatriot Alexander Grischuk in the final round.

Reigning women's world champion Hou Yifan, who won the first leg of the 2011/12 FIDE women's Grand Prix in Rostov-on-Don in August, also won the second leg in Shenzhen, China, in September.

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Jack Rabbit

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Wed Oct-05-11 12:38 PM
Response to Original message

1. This edition's games

The JR Chess Report theme music: Merrick, The Look Sharp, Be Sharp March (Arthur Fiedler, Boston Pops Orchestra)

Your humble hare acknowledges the assistance of Rybka 4 and Fritz 6.0 on analysis.

Diagrams on the Jack Rabbit Chess Report are made with Aquarium, a commercially available interface for Rybka.

Diagrams and other images are hosted on imgur.com.

BLACK

WHITE
White to move
(This position is a theoretical draw)

I would like to thank my impressive and loyal staff: Buccaneer, Spitfire, Desperado, Swashbuckler, Pancho and Robin Hood.

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Jack Rabbit

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Wed Oct-05-11 12:47 PM
Response to Reply #1

2. Grand Spanish Royal Game: Opening Theory

All games this week open with branch or another of the Grand Spanish Royal Game, or, for those who prefer traditional names for chess opening, the Ruy Lopez with 3...a6.

BLACK

WHITE

Grand Spanish Royal Game
Position after 3...a7a6

The reader should know initially that the interposing of the move 3...a6 has a profound effect as Black is prepared to drive the Bishop off and may do so right away, if he so chooses. The result is usually a more closed game than the Petite Spanish Royal Game, which tends to be wide open.

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Jack Rabbit

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Wed Oct-05-11 12:51 PM
Response to Reply #2

3. van den Doel - Nikolic, Op. Leiden, 2011 (Deviations up to White's ninith move)

Edited on Wed Oct-05-11 01:32 PM by Jack Rabbit

In this game we will examine all the major deviations from the Main Line (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3) except the Gothic Defense, also known as the Open Defense (5...Nxe4) and the complex of the Marshall Gambit (7...0-0 8.c3 d5) and Anti-Marshall Lines.

Predrag Nikolic
Photo by Stefan64 from Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Erik van den Doel - Predrag Nikolic
5th International Open, Round 7
Leiden, 16 July 2011

Grand Spanish Royal Game: Yates Opening

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6

This is the move that distinguishes the Grand Spanish Royal (the text) from the Petit Spanish Royal (any other move). Its formal name is the Morphy Defense. The Petit Spanish Royal tends to be a wide open game, while the Grand Spanish Royal results in relatively closed position.

4.Ba4

This retreat is best, but not obligatory. Nevertheless, exchanging on c6 is rightly considered colorless and drawish.
If 4.Bxc6 then:

If 4...dxc6 then:

(Fischer's Exchange Opening) If 5.0-0 then:

(Gligoric Defense) If 5...f6 6.d4 then:

If 6...Bg4 7.c3 exd4 8.cxd4 Qd7 9.h3 then:

If 9...Be6 10.Nc3 0-0-0 11.Bf4 then:

11...Ne7!? 12.Rc1 Ng6!? 13.Bg3 Bd6 14.Na4 Bxg3 15.fxg3 Kb8 16.Nc5 gives White a small advantage in space (Fischer-Gligoric, Ol, Havana, 1966).
11...g5 12.Bg3 g4 13.d5 cxd5 14.exd5 Bxd5 15.Nxd5 Qxd5 16.hxg4 is equal.

If 9...Bxf3 10.Qxf3 then:

If 10...0-0-0?! 11.Nc3! Ne7 12.Bf4 Ng6 13.Bg3 Bd6 14.Rfd1!? Bxg3! then:

15.fxg3?! Kb8! 16.Rac1 Rhe8 is equal (Tatai-Donner, IT, Plama de Mallorca, 1967).
15.Qxg3 f5 16.e5 f4 17.Qf3 Qf5 18.Qe4 Nh4 is equal

10...Qxd4 11.Nc3 Bd6 12.Bf4 Bxf4 13.Qxf4 Qd6 14.Qg4 remains equal.

If 6...exd4 7.Nxd4 c5 then:

If 8.Nb3 Qxd1 9.Rxd1 Bg4 10.f3 then:

If 10...Be6 11.Be3 b6 12.a4 then:

If 12...Kf7 then:

If 13.Nc3 Bd6 14.a5 c4 15.Nd4 b5 then:

If 16.Nxe6 Kxe6 17.Ne2 Ne7 then:

If 18.Bf4 Be5 then:

19.Bxe5 fxe5 20.Kf2 Rhd8 21.Ke3 Nc6 22.f4 Nb4 23.Rxd8 Rxd8 24.Rc1 Na2 25.Ra1 Nb4 26.Rc1 Na2 draw (Schmittdiel-Psakhis, Op, Groningen, 1990).
19.Nd4+ Kf7 20.Bxe5 fxe5 21.Nf5 Nxf5 22.exf5 Rad8 23.Kf2 Kf6 24.g4 h5 25.Rxd8 Rxd8 26.Ke3 Rd4 27.Rg1 c3 draw (Malisauskas-Psakhis, Op, Moscow, 1989).

18.Nd4+ Kf7 19.Kf2 Rhd8 20.f4 c5 21.Nf5 Nxf5 22.exf5 Be7 draw (Kaiszauri-Balashov, Rilton Cup 9293, Stockholm, 1993).

If 16.f4 Ne7 17.e5 fxe5 18.fxe5 Bxe5 19.Rf1+ Bf6 then:

20.Bg5 Rad8 21.Bxf6 gxf6 22.Ne4 Rxd4 23.Rxf6+ Kg7 24.Rxe6 gives White greater activity (Sherzer-P. Littlewood, Op, London, 1987).
20.Rae1 Bd7 21.Bg5 Rae8 22.Re5 Nc6 23.Rd5 gives White the initiative and more space; Black has an extra pawn (Kosikov-Bezman, Ukrainian Ch, Kiev, 1986).

If 13.Bf4 Rc8 14.Nc3 g5 15.Bg3 h5 16.a5 c4 17.Nd4 gives White a fair advantage in space (Benamin-Nikolic, jIT, Buenos Aires, 1992).

If 12...Ne7 13.Bf4 c4 14.Nd4 0-0-0 15.Nc3 then:

If 15...Rxd4 16.Rxd4 Ng6 17.Be3 Bc5 18.Bf2 Bxd4 19.Bxd4 Ne7 gives White stronger pawns and more space, but Black should (and does) hold (Chandler-Ivanchuk, Ol, Thessaloniki, 1988).
15...Bf7 16.Bg3 Ng6 17.Nf5 Rxd1+ 18.Rxd1 Ne7 19.Ne3 gives White the advantage in space; Black has the Bishop pair (Timman-Matanovic, TT, Belgrade, 1978).

If 10...Bd7 11.Bf4 0-0-0 then:

If 12.Nc3 c4 then:

13.Na5 Bc5+ then:

14.Kf1 b5 15.Nd5 then:

If 15...Ne7 16.Bxc7 Nxd5 17.Rxd5 Kxc7 18.Rxc5+ Kb6 19.b4 cxb3 20.Nxb3 Be6 21.Rc3 then:

21...Rd6 22.a4 Bc4+ 23.Kf2 Rc8 24.axb5 axb5 25.Rb1 b4 26.Re3 gives White an extra pawn and Black more space (Shirov-Adams, IT, Tilburg, 1996).
21...a5 22.a4 Rc8 23.Rxc8 Rxc8 24.Nd4 Bc4+ 25.Ke1 b4 26.Kd2 gives White an extra pawn and Black a slim edge in space (Rogers-Slobodjan, Bundesliga 9798, Porz, 1998).

If 15...c6 16.b4 Ba7 then:

If 17.Nc7 Bb8 18.Ne6 Bxf4 19.Nxc6 Re8 20.Na7+ Kb8 21.Nxf4 Re7 22.Nd5 then:

22...Re6 23.Nf4 Re7 24.Nd5 Re6 25.Nf4 draws by repetition (Nielsen-Timoshchenko, Ol, Yerevan, 1996).
22...Re8 23.Nf4 Re7 24.Nd5 Re8 25.Nb6 avoids repetition but the game is equal (Timman-Adams, IT, Belgrade, 1995).

17.Be3 Bxe3 18.Nxe3 Ne7 19.Rd6 Kc7 20.Rad1 Bc8 is equal (Seirawan-Karpov, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 1993).

If 14.Kh1 b5 15.Nd5 then:

If 15...Ne7 16.Bxc7 Nxd5 17.Bxd8 Ne3 18.Nb7 Nxd1 then:

19.Nxc5 Nf2+ 20.Kg1 Nxe4 21.fxe4 Rxd8 22.Rd1 Bc6 23.Rxd8+ Kxd8 24.Kf2 Ke7 25.Ke3 a5 26.Kd4 draw (Meier-Gozzoli, Op, Nancy, 2009).
19.Rxd1 Kxb7 20.Rxd7+ Kc8 21.Rc7+ Kb8 22.Rd7 Kc8 23.Rc7+ Kb8 24.Rd7 draw (Fressinet-Adams, IT, Enghien-les-Bains, 2003).

15...c6 16.b4 Ba7 17.Nc7 Bb8 18.Ne6 Bxf4 19.Nxc6 Bxe6 20.Nxd8 gives White a strong initiative and he soon wins (Ribli-Zuidema, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1973).

13.Nd4 Ne7 14.Rd2 Ng6 15.Be3 Bd6 16.Rad1 Rhe8 is equal (Kotronias-Adams, IT, Nikiti/Afytos, 1993).

12.a4 c4 13.Na5 Bc5+ 14.Kf1 Ne7 15.Nxc4 Bxa4 16.Rxd8+ Rxd8 17.Rxa4 Rd1+ is equal (Timman-Zuidema, Dutch ChT, Holland, 1970).

If 8.Ne2 Be6 9.Nbc3 then:

If 9...Qxd1 10.Rxd1 Bd6 11.Bf4 0-0-0 then:

If 12.Bxd6 then:

If 12...cxd6 then:

If 13.Nf4 Bf7 then:

14.Nfd5 Nh6 15.Rd3 Rhe8 16.Rad1 Bxd5 17.Rxd5 gives White a better center and more space; Black has command of the half-open e-file, but can't exploit it immediately (Kaplivatski-Malachi, Israeli ChT, Israel, 2003).
14.Rd2 Ne7 15.Rad1 Kc7 16.f3 Rhe8 17.g4 gives White a small advantage in space (Korneev-Yandemirov, Op, Cappelle-la-Grande, 2006).

13.f3 Ne7 14.Nf4 Bf7 15.Ncd5 Nxd5 16.Nxd5 Bxd5 17.Rxd5 Rhe8 18.Rad1 Kc7 19.Kf2 Re5 20.Rxe5 dxe5 draw (Glek-A. Petrosian, IT, Tashkent, 1984).

If 12...Rxd6 then:

If 13.Nf4 Bf7 14.Rxd6 cxd6 15.Rd1 Kd7 then:

16.Ncd5 Bxd5 17.Nxd5 Ne7 18.Nxe7 Kxe7 is headed for a draw (Bakre-Harikrishna, Indian Ch, Mumbai, 2003).
If 16.Nfd5 Ne7 17.Nxe7 Kxe7 18.Rd3 Rd8 19.Nd5+ Kd7 is equal (Birnboim-Kuijpers, Ol, Haifa, 1976).

If 13.Rxd6 cxd6 14.Rd1 Kd7 15.e5 fxe5 gives White more activity and a backward pawn to target; Black has more space (Oral-Svatos, Czech ChT, Czechia, 1997).

If 12.Rd2 Ne7 13.Rad1 Bxf4 then:

If 14.Nxf4 Bf7 15.f3 Rxd2 16.Rxd2 then:

If 16...Rd8 17.Rxd8+ Kxd8 18.Kf2 then:

18...Nc6 19.Ke2 Nb4 20.Kd2 Kd7 21.a3 Nc6 is equal(Laznicka-Citak, World Jr Ch, Istanbul, 2005).
18...Kd7 19.Ke3 Kd6 20.h4 b5 21.a3 Nc6 is equal (Rosentalis-Barbeau, Op, Quebec, 2001).

16...Re8 17.Nfd5 Nxd5 18.Nxd5 b5 19.a4 Re6 20.axb5 axb5 21.Ne3 gives White a slight edge in pawn strength and space (Oral-Barbeau, Op, Quebec, 2001).

14.Rxd8+ Rxd8 15.Rxd8+ Kxd8 16.Nxf4 Bf7 17.Kf1 Kd7 is equal (Glek-L. B. Hansen, IT, Copenhagen, 1995).

9...Bd6 10.Bf4 Ne7 11.Qd2 Bxf4 12.Qxf4 Ng6 13.Qe3 gives White the advantage in space and better development (Deviatkin-Khavsky, Chigorin Mem Op, St. Petersburg, 2001).

(Fischer's Exchange Opening/Bronstein Defense) If 5...Qd6 then:

If 6.d3 then:

If 6...Ne7 then:

If 7.Be3 then:

If 7...c5 8.Nbd2 Nc6 9.Nc4 Qf6 then:

10.h3 Bd6 11.Kh1 0-0 12.c3 b5 13.Nxd6 Qxd6 14.Qe2 f5 is equal (Negi-Sangma, Op, New Delhi, 2011).
10.c3 Bg4 11.Ncd2 Be7 12.h3 Bxf3 13.Nxf3 0-0 14.Qe2 Rfd8 is equal (Sekulic-Blagojevic, TT, Jahorina, 2001).

If 7...Ng6 8.Nbd2 then:

8...Be7 9.d4 exd4 10.Nxd4 Ne5 11.h3 c5 12.N4b3 b6 13.f4 Nc6 14.Qf3 Bb7 is equal (B. Socko-Gyimesi, EU Ch, Cork, 2005).
8...c5 9.a4 b6 10.Nc4 Qe6 11.Ng5 Qf6 12.Qh5 h6 13.Nh3 Bxh3 14.Qxh3 Bd6 15.Qg4 gives White the advantage in space (Kasimdzhanov-Adams, FIDE Knock Out, Tripoli, 2004).

7.Nbd2 Ng6 8.Nc4 Qf6 9.d4 exd4 10.Bg5 Qe6 11.Nxd4 Qd7 12.Nf5 gives White the advantage in space (Vi. Gurevich-Curdo, New England, 1992).

6...f6 7.Be3 c5 8.Nbd2 Be6 9.Qe2 Ne7 10.c3 Nc6 11.Nb3 Bxb3 12.axb3 Rd8 13.Rfd1 gives White a slight advantage (K. Georgiev-Short, IT, Plovdiv, 1982).

If 6.Na3 Be6 7.Qe2 f6 8.Rd1 Bg4 9.c3 then:

If 9...c5 10.h3 Bxf3 11.Qxf3 Ne7 12.d4 cxd4 13.cxd4 exd4 14.Bf4 Qd7 15.Rac1 then:

15...Nc6 16.Nc2 Rd8 17.Qg3 Qf7 18.Bxc7 Rd7 is equal (Solzhenkin-I. Ibragimov, Russian Ch, St. Petersburg, 1998).
15...Rc8 16.Nc4 Ng6 is equal (Swinkels-Ragger, Bundesliga 0809, Wattenscheid, 2008).

If 9...Qe6 10.Nc2 Bd6 11.Ne3 then:

11...Ne7 12.d4 Ng6 13.Nxg4 Qxg4 14.h3 Qe6 15.dxe5 Bxe5 16.Nxe5 fxe5 17.Be3 0-0 18.b3 gives White the advantage in space (C. Balogh-Olszewski, Najdorf Mem, Warsaw, 2008).
11...Bxf3 12.Qxf3 Ne7 13.Qg4 Qf7 14.d4 0-0 15.Nf5 Nxf5 16.Qxf5 Rfe8 17.Bd2 Rad8 18.b3 a5 19.g3 gives White the advantage in space (Rozentalis-Roamnishin, Op, Bad Godesberg, 1994).

(Keres' Exchange Opening) If a) 5.Nc3 f6 6.d4 exd4 then:

If 7.Nxd4 then:

If 7...c5 8.Nde2 Qxd1+ 9.Nxd1 then:

If 9...Be6 10.Bf4 0-0-0 then:

If 11.Ne3 Ne7 then:

If 12.Rd1 Rxd1+ 13.Kxd1 then:

If 13...g5 14.Bg3 f5 then:

15.Be5 Rg8 16.Nc3 g4 17.Ncd5 Nxd5 18.exd5 Bd7 is equal (Moroz-Balashov, Soviet ChT, Podolsk, 1990).
15.exf5 Nxf5 16.Nxf5 Bxf5 17.Be5 Rg8 18.Re1 Bh6 is equal (Kristjansson-Barkhagen, Euro ChT, Plovdiv, 2003).

13...g6 14.Kc1 Bg7 15.Rd1 Rd8 16.Bg3 Bh6 17.Nf4 is equal (Kachibadze-C. Richter, Bundesliga 0910, Emsdetten, 2009).

If 12.Bg3 then:

12...Bf7 13.Rd1 Rxd1+ 14.Kxd1 Nc6 15.Kc1 Nd4 is equal (Bojkovic-Lahno, Euro ChW, Dresden, 2007).
12...g6 13.e5 fxe5 14.Bxe5 Rg8 15.Bf6 Rd7 16.Nf4 Bf7 is equal (Kapnisis-Naumann, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).

11.h4 h5 12.Ne3 c4 13.Rd1 Rxd1+ 14.Nxd1 Ne7 is equal (Nepomniachtchi-Rianzantsev, Russian ChU20, Nojabrsk, 2005).

If 9...Bd7 10.Bf4 0-0-0 11.Ne3 Bc6 12.f3 Ne7 13.Rd1 then:

If 13...Rxd1+ 14.Kxd1 then:

If 14...g6 15.Kc1 Bg7 then:

16.Rd1 Re8 17.h4 b6 18.h5 f5 19.exf5 Nxf5 20.Nxf5 gxf5 draw (Lutikov-Ivkov, TM, Sukhumi, 1966).
16.h4 Re8 17.Rd1 draw (Hug-Ivkov, IT, Petropolis, 1973).

14...Ng6 15.Bg3 Be7 16.h4 h5 17.Kc1 Bd8 18.Rd1 gives White command of the d-file and a fair advantage in space; Black has the Bishop pair (Landa-Malaniuk, Op, Cappelle-la-Grande, 1995).

13...Re8 14.Kf2 Ng6 15.Bg3 Ne5 16.Bxe5 Rxe5 17.Rd3 gives White better pawns, command of the d-file and a small advantage in space (Kieninger-Unzicker, West German Ch, Essen, 1948).

7.Qxd4 then:

If 7...Bg4 then:

If 8.Qe3 Bd6 9.h3 Bxf3 10.Qxf3 Ne7 11.Be3 Ng6 12.0-0-0 Qe7 13.h4 0-0-0 14.h5 Ne5 is equal (Whitaker-W. Adams, US Ch, South Fallsburg, New York, 1948).
8.Qxd8+ Rxd8 9.Bf4 Bxf3 10.gxf3 Bd6 11.Bg3 Ne7 12.0-0-0 Ng6 13.Ne2 Kf7 14.f4 Rhe8 is equal (Prins-Gligoric, Ol, Moscow, 1956).

If 7...Qxd4 8.Nxd4 Bd7 9.Be3 0-0-0 10.0-0-0 then:

If 10...Ne7 then:

11.Rd2 Ng6 12.Rhd1 Bb4 13.Nde2 Be6 14.Rxd8+ Rxd8 15.Rxd8+ draw (Plaetz-Portisch, IT, Moscow, 1956).
11.Nde2 Ng6 12.Nf4 Bb4 13.Nce2 Rhe8 14.f3 Bf8 15.Nxg6 hxg6 16.h4 gives White stronger pawns and more space; Black has the Bishop pair (Solak-Nikolov, Op, Portoroz, 2003).

10...Bd6 11.Kb1 Ne7 12.Nb3 Be6 13.Nc5 Bf7 14.Nd3 b6 is equal (Torre Repetto-Whitaker, Op, Detroit, 1924).

(Lasker's Exchange Opening) If b) 5.d4 exd4 6.Qxd4 then:

If 6...Qxd4 7.Nxd4 then:

If 7...Bd6 8.Nc3 Ne7 then:

If 9.0-0 0-0 then:

10.f4 Re8 11.Nb3 f6 12.f5 b6 13.Bf4 Bb7 14.Bxd6 cxd6 15.Nd4 is equal (Dr. Lasker-Capablanca, IT, St. Petersburg, 1914).
10.Be3 f5 11.f3 c5 12.Nxf5 Nxf5 13.exf5 Bxf5 14.Rf2 Rae8 gives Black the initiative and more space (Bauza-Alberto Carlos, IT, Mar del Plata, 1946).

If 9.Be3 Bd7 10.0-0-0 then:

If 10...0-0-0 11.Nb3 then:

If 11...Ng6 12.Nc5 Be8 13.Nd3 b6 14.f3 f6 is equal (Lokvenc-K�nig, IT, Vienna, 1926).

11...Kb8 12.f4 f6 13.f5 b6 14.Nd2 Be5 15.Nc4 Bxc3 16.bxc3 c5 gives White the advantage in space, but his pawns in front of the castyled King are weak (Karpov-Furman, IT, Madrid, 1973).

10...Rd8 11.f4 f6 12.f5 Kf7 13.Nde2 Rhe8 14.Bf4 Nc8 is equal (Sch�nmann-Leonhardt, DSB Kongress, Magdeburg, 1927).

If 7...Bd7 8.Be3 0-0-0 then:

If 9.Nd2 then:

If 9...Ne7 10.0-0-0 c5 11.N4f3 then:

11...Nc6 12.Ng5 Be8 13.f4 b6 14.Ndf3 Be7 is equal (Jenni-Trevelyan, Euro ChT, Saint Vincent, 2005).
11...b6 12.Ng5 Be8 13.Nc4 Nc6 14.Rxd8+ Nxd8 15.f4 Is equal (Maroczy-Marco, IT, Ostend, 1905).

If 9...c5 then:

10.Ne2 b6 11.0-0-0 Nf6 12.f3 Kb7 13.c4 Be7 14.Rhe1 Rhe8 is equal (Maroczy-Schlechter, IT, Monte Carlo, 1904).
10.N4b3 b6 11.0-0-0 g6 12.h3 Bg7 13.Rhe1 Ne7 14.f3 a5 15.Kb1 Nc6 is equal (Kagan-Dr. Euwe, IT, Berlin, 1922).

If 9.Nc3 Bb4 then:

If 10.Nde2 Ne7 11.0-0-0 then:

If 11...Ng6 then:

If 12.a3 12...Be7 13.f3 then:

13...Be6 14.Rxd8+ Rxd8 15.Nf4 Nxf4 16.Bxf4 Bd6 17.Bxd6 cxd6 is equal (Yunusov-E. Vasiukov, TT, Moscow, 1983).
13...Rhe8 14.h3 h5 15.g3 f5 16.e5 Nf8 17.h4 gives White a slim advantage in space (Calvo-Matanovic, IT, Palma de Mallorca, 1968).

12.Na4 b6 13.h4 h5 14.f3 Be7 15.Bf2 c5 16.Nac3 Be6 draw (K. Georgiev-Arduman, IT, Antalya, 2001).

11...f5 12.exf5 Bxf5 13.a3 Bd6 14.Bf4 is equal (Smyslov-Keres, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1940).

10.0-0-0 Bxc3 11.bxc3 Re8 12.Nb3 b6 13.Bd4 f6 14.f3 c5 gives Black the initiativeb(Reinfeld-Kashdan, US Ch, New York, 1940).

If 6...Bg4 7.Be3 Bxf3 8.gxf3 then:

8...Qxd4 9.Bxd4 0-0-0 10.Be3 g6 11.Nd2 Bg7 12.0-0-0 Nh6 13.h4 draw (Mikicic-Lukovic, Belgrade Trophy, Belgrade, 2008).
8...Qf6 9.Nd2 Rd8 10.Qc4 Bd6 11.0-0-0 Ne7 12.h4 b5 is equal (Minckwitz-Schmidt, IT, Leipzig, 1866).

(Lutikov Defense) If 4...bxc6 then:

If 5.d4 exd4 6.Qxd4 Qf6 then:

If 7.e5 Qg6 8.0-0 then:

If 8...Bb7 then:

9.Bf4 Ne7 10.Rd1 0-0-0 11.Nbd2 Nd5 12.Bg3 c5 13.Qc4 h5 14.h4 Be7 15.Re1 f5 16.exf6 gxf6 17.Qb3 Rh7 18.Rad1 Nb4 19.c3 Nc6 draw (Vera-P�rez, Radio Rebelde, Havana, 1978).
9.c4 0-0-0 10.Bf4 c5 11.Qe3 Ne7 12.Bg3 Nf5 is equal (Mukhitdinov-Lutikov, Soviet Ch 1/2-final, Sverdlovsk, 1957).

8...Qxc2 9.Nc3 Qg6 10.Ne2 Bb7 11.Nf4 Qc2 12.Bd2 c5 gives Black an extra pawn (Breyer-Havlicek, SX, Kosice, 1921).

If 7.Nc3 Qxd4 8.Nxd4 then:

8...Ne7 9.Bf4 d6 10.0-0-0 Bd7 11.Rhe1 f6 12.Bg3 h5 13.h3 h4 14.Bh2 g5 is equal (Sch�nmann-Bogoljubow, DSB Kongress, Magdeburg, 1927).
8...Bb7 9.Be3 d6 10.0-0-0 Nf6 11.f3 g6 12.Nb3 Bg7 13.e5 dxe5 14.Na5 gives White the initiative and more space; Black has an extra pawn (Byvshev-Lutikov, Soviet ChT, Riga, 1954).

If 5.0-0 d6 6.d4 f6 then:

If 7.Be3 Ne7 8.Qd3 Be6 9.c4 Ng6 then:

10.Nc3 Be7 11.d5 Bg4 12.dxc6 Bxf3 13.gxf3 gives White the advantage in space; Black has stronger pawns (Rabinovich-Bogatyrchik, Soviet Ch, Leningrad, 1934).
10.d5 Bg4 11.Nbd2 c5 12.a3 a5 13.h3 Bd7 14.Rfe1 Qc8 15.Nf1 f5 16.exf5 Bxf5 17.Qe2 Be7 18.Ng3 0-0 19.Nxf5 Qxf5 draw (Hall-Gunnarsson, Corres, 1997).

7.dxe5 fxe5 8.Nxe5 dxe5 9.Qh5+ Ke7 10.Qxe5+ Kf7 11.Qf4+ Kg6 12.Nc3 gives White a safer King the advantage in space (Melamedoff-Hughey, Yanofsky Mem, Winnipeg, 2003).

4...Nf6

(Rat Defense or Neo-Steinitz Defense) If 4...d6 then:

If 5.c3 then:

If 5...Bd7 6.d4 then:

If 6...Nf6 7.0-0 Be7 8.Re1 0-0 9.Nbd2 then:

If 9...Re8 10.Nf1 Bf8 then:

If 11.Ng3 h6 12.h3 then:

If 12...g6 13.Bc2 Bg7 then:

If 14.Be3 Qe7 15.Qd2 Kh7 16.Rad1 Rad8 then:

17.b4 Bc8 18.d5 Nb8 19.c4 Nh5 20.Nxh5 gxh5 gives White more freedom, stronger pawns, the Bishop pair and more space (Bobras-Guliev, Op, Cappelle-la-Grande, 2007).
If 17.Nh2 then:

17...Na5 18.b3 c5 19.f4 cxd4 20.cxd4 Nc6 21.fxe5 dxe5 22.d5 gives White more activity, the initiative and more space (Nagy-Yates, IT, Budapest, 1926).
17...d5 18.Nf3 exd4 19.Bxd4 Nxd4 20.cxd4 dxe4 21.Nxe4 is equal.

14.Nh2 Kh7 15.f4 exd4 16.cxd4 Ng8 17.Nf3 d5 18.e5 gives White a considerable advantage in space (Reti-Bogoljubow, IT, Dortmund, 1928).

If 12...Na5 13.Bc2 c5 then:

If 14.d5 then:

If 14...b5 15.b3 Nb7 16.Be3 g6 17.Qd2 then:

17...Kh7 18.Re2 Bg7 19.Nh2 Ng8 20.Rf1 Qa5 21.Bb1 gives White a slight edge (Tatai-Medina Garc�a, IT, Solingen, 1968).
17...h5 18.Rf1 Bg7 19.Bg5 Qc7 20.Nh4 gives White the better center and a slight advantage in space (Tal-Gligoric, IT, Hastings, 1963).

14...Nc4 15.b3 Nb6 16.Be3 Nc8 17.Qd2 b5 18.Bd3 gives White the better center and a slight advantage in space (Nicevski-Gligoric,IT, Skopje/Ohrid, 1968).

If 14.b3 Nc6 then:

If 15.d5 Ne7 16.Be3 Ng6 17.Qd2 Nh7 18.a4 gives White a better center and a small advantage in space (Stean-Rellstab, IT, Hastings, 1973).
15.Bb2 b5 16.d5 Ne7 17.a4 Ng6 18.Bc1 Qa5 is equal (Gipslis-Filip, IT, Moscow, 1967).

If 11.Bg5 b5 then:

If 12.Bc2 h6 then:

If 13.Bh4 Be7 14.Ne3 Ng4 15.Bxe7 then:

If 15...Qxe7 16.Nd5 Qd8 17.a4 Rb8 18.axb5 axb5 19.Qd3 g6 20.Qd2 Kg7 then:

21.dxe5 Ngxe5 22.Nxe5 dxe5 23.Red1 Be6 24.Qe3 Qc8 25.Qc5 gives White a considerable advantage in space (Shamkovich-Ciocaltea, Kislovodsk, 1968).
21.h3 Nf6 22.Bb3 Nh7 23.dxe5 Nxe5 24.Nxe5 dxe5 25.Nb4 c5 26.Ra7 Nf6 27.Nd5 Be6 28.c4 draw (Geller-Ivkov, IT, Moscow, 1984).

15...Nxe7 16.Nxg4 Bxg4 17.dxe5 Ng6 18.h3 Bxf3 19.Qxf3 Nxe5 draw (Shamkovich-Portisch, IT, Palma de Mallorca, 1966).

13.Bxf6 Qxf6 14.Ne3 exd4 15.cxd4 g6 16.e5 dxe5 17.dxe5 Qd8 is equal (Kavalek-Portisch, ITZ, Sousse, 1967).

12.Bb3 h6 13.Bh4 Be7 14.dxe5 Nxe5 15.Nxe5 dxe5 is equal (Keres-Hort, IT, Tel Aviv, 1964).

If 9...exd4 10.cxd4 Nb4 11.Bxd7 Qxd7 12.Nf1 c5 13.a3 Nc6 14.d5 Ne5 15.Nxe5 dxe5 16.Ng3 then:

16...Rfd8 17.Nf5 Ne8 18.Be3 leaves White with the initiative and more space; the game is soon drawn (Tringov-Sefc, Ol, Munich, 1958).
16...Ne8 17.f4 Bd6 18.Nf5 f6 19.g3 g6 20.Nh6+ gives White a small advantage in space (Averbakh-Smyslov, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1951).

If a) 6...g6 7.Bg5 then:

If 7...f6 8.Be3 Nh6 9.0-0 Bg7 then:

If 10.h3 Nf7 then:

If 11.Nbd2 0-0 then:

12.dxe5 dxe5 13.Bc5 Re8 14.Bb3 b6 15.Be3 Qe7 16.Qe2 gives White a small advantage in space (Bogoljubow-Alekhine, World Ch Match, Amsterdam, 1929).
12.Re1 Qe7 13.Bc2 Kh8 14.Qb1 Ncd8 15.b4 gives White a clear advantage in space (Smyslov-Beliavsky, Candidates' Trmt, Montpellier, 1985).

11.Bb3 Qe7 12.c4 Na5 13.Nc3 c6 14.c5 gives White the advantage in space (Chandler-Zsinka, Op, London, 1987).

10.dxe5 Nxe5 11.Nxe5 fxe5 12.f3 Nf7 13.Bb3 0-0 14.Bd5 gives White a slight edge (Rendle-Fox, Euro Ch, Cork, Ireland, 2005).

If 7...Be7 then:

If 8.Be3 Nf6 9.Bc2 0-0 then:

If 10.h3 exd4 11.cxd4 Nb4 12.Nc3 Nxc2+ 13.Qxc2 c6 14.0-0 then:

14...Re8 15.Qb3 b5 16.e5 Nh5 17.d5 cxd5 18.Nxd5 Be6 is equal (Vallejo-Tkachiev, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).
14...d5 15.exd5 Nxd5 16.Nxd5 cxd5 17.Bh6 Re8 is equal (Yanofsky-M. Schulman, Canadian Ch, Vancouver, 1965).

10.0-0 Re8 11.h3 Bf8 12.Nbd2 Bg7 13.Re1 h6 14.a3 gives White a better center (Beliavsky-Ree, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1984).

If 8.Bxe7 Qxe7 9.dxe5 then:

If 9...dxe5 10.Nbd2 Nf6 11.Qe2 then:

11...b5 12.Bc2 Na5 13.Nf1 Nc4 14.Bb3 Nb6 is equal (Keller-Bronstein, Ol, Moscow, 1956).
11...0-0 12.0-0 Rad8 13.Rfe1 Kg7 14.Nf1 Na5 15.Bxd7 Rxd7 draw (Szabo-Bronstein, Match, Goteborg, 1955).

9...Nxe5 10.Nxe5 dxe5 11.Bxd7+ Qxd7 12.Qxd7+ Kxd7 13.Ke2 Nf6 14.Nd2 Ke6 15.Rad1 draw (Fuchs-Filip, IT, Marianske Lazne, 1965).

b) 6...Nge7 7.0-0 Ng6 transposes into the Cozio Opening, below.

5...Nf6 6.d3 Be7 7.0-0 0-0 8.Re1 transposes to the gold notes to White's fifth move.

5.0-0 Nf6 6.Re1 Be7 7.c3 b5 8.Bb3 0-0 9.h3 is the Main Line.
5.Bxc6+ bxc6 6.d4 Nf6 7.Nc3 exd4 is the Derl Opening; see the green notes to White's fifth move.

(Calibrian Defense or Schliemann Defense Deferred) If 4...f5 then:

If 5.d4 exd4 6.e5 Bc5 7.0-0 Nge7 8.Bb3 d5 9.exd6 Qxd6 10.Re1 Bd7 11.Ng5 Nd8 12.Nd2 h6 13.Nc4 Qf6 14.Nf3 Ndc6 15.Nce5 then:

15...Nxe5 16.Nxe5 g6 17.Bf4 Bd6 18.Nxd7 Kxd7 19.Re6 gives White a strong initiative in compensation for the pawn (Vukcevic-Diaconescu, Corres, 1984).
If 15...0-0-0 16.Nf7 g5 17.Nxh8 Rxh8 then:

18.c3?! dxc3! 19.bxc3 is equal (Spraggett-Barbeau, Op, Quebec, 1982).
18.Qe2 g4 19.Ne5 Nxe5 20.Qxe5 Qxe5 21.Rxe5 leaves White with the initiative and more space.

If 5.d3 then:

If 5...fxe4 6.dxe4 Nf6 7.0-0 d6 8.a3 then:

8...Be7 9.Bb3 Bg4 10.h3 Bh5 11.Qd3 Qd7 12.c3 h6 is equal (Asztalos-Spielmann, IT, Budapest, 1913).
If 8...Bg4 9.Qd3 Qd7 10.Nc3 Be7 11.Bb3 Bxf3 then:

12.gxf3?! Nd4 13.Ne2 Nxe2+ 14.Qxe2 Nh5 gives Black stronger pawns and, after castling long, a safer King; White has the Bishop pair (Olland-Atkins, IT, Hanover, 1902).
12.Qxf3 Nd4 13.Qd3 Nxb3 14.cxb3 remains equal.

5...Nf6 6.exf5 Bc5 7.0-0 0-0 8.Nxe5 Nxe5 9.d4 gives White a slight material edge with a piece for three pawns (Browne-Tarjan, US ChU18, New York, 1969).

(Cozio Defense) If 4...Nge7 5.c3 then:

If 5...d6 6.d4 Bd7 7.0-0 Ng6 then:

If 8.Re1 Be7 9.Nbd2 0-0 10.Nf1 then:

If 10...Nh4 11.Nxh4 Bxh4 then:

12.Ne3 then:

12...Bg5 13.Nd5 Bxc1 14.Rxc1 then:

14...Nb8 15.dxe5 dxe5 16.Re2 Bg4 17.f3 Be6 18.Bb3 Nd7 is equal (Savon-Malaniuk, Op, Katowice, 1993).
14...b5 15.Bb3 Na5 16.dxe5 dxe5 17.Qh5 Nxb3 is equal (Meier-Muranyi, German Ch, Osterburg, 2006).

12...Bf6 13.d5 Nb8 14.Bc2 g6 15.c4 b6 16.b4 gives White a solid center, more freedom and much more space (Simagin-Panov, GMT, Moscow, 1949).

12.Be3 Bf6 13.f4 exd4 14.cxd4 Na5 15.Bc2 Nc4 16.Bc1 g6 17.b3 Nb6 18.Bb2 Bg7 19.Ne3 gives White a small advantage in space (Smyslov-Goldenov, Soviet Ch, Leningrad, 1947).

If a) 10...Bg4 11.Bxc6 then:

If 11...Nh4 12.N1d2 bxc6 13.h3 Nxf3+ 14.Nxf3 Bxf3 15.Qxf3 Bf6 then:

16.Be3 Qb8 17.Re2 Qb5 18.dxe5 Bxe5 19.Bd4 draw (Smyslov-Medina Garc�a, Ol, Siegen, 1970).
16.dxe5 Bxe5 17.Qd3 Re8 18.Be3 draw (Matanovic-Petrosian, Match, Leningrad, 1957).

11...bxc6 12.Ne3 Be6 13.Qa4 Qd7 14.dxe5 Nxe5 15.Nxe5 dxe5 16.Rd1 gives White stronger pawns and the iunitiative (Rubinstein-Treybal, Karlsbad, 1929).

If b) 10...exd4! 11.cxd4 then:

If 11...Bf6 12.Ne3 Re8 13.Bc2 then:

13...Nh4!? 14.Nxh4 Bxh4 15.Nd5 gives White the advantage in space (Ivkov-Keres, IT, Belgrade, 1970).
13...Nb4! 14.Bb1 c5 15.Nf5 Bxf5 16.exf5 Rxe1+ 17.Qxe1 Ne7 gives Black a slight initiative.

11...d5!? 12.exd5! Nb4 13.Bb3 Bb5 14.Ne5 Bf6 15.Qh5 gives White an extra pawn and more space (Yurtaev-Muhamedzjanov, IT, Kstovo, 1994).

If 8.Be3 Be7 then:

If 9.Nbd2 then:

If 9...0-0 10.Bc2 then:

10...Bf6 11.Nb3 b6 12.a4 a5 13.Nbd2 Bc8 14.Re1 is equal (Spielmann-Treybal, IT, Karlsbad, 1928).
10...exd4 11.Nxd4 Nxd4 12.cxd4 Bb5 13.Re1 Bg5 14.Nf3 gives White a center pawn duo; Black has more space overall (Westerinen-Keres, TM, Tallinn, 1969).

If 9...h6 10.Re1 Bg5 11.Nf1 then:

If 11...Bxe3 12.Nxe3 0-0 then:

If 13.Bc2 Re8 14.Qd2 Rc8 15.g3 Qf6 then:

16.Nd5!? Qxf3 17.Bd1 Nh4 18.gxh4 Qh3 gives White a better center and Black fewer pawn weaknesses and more space (Tal-Keres, IT, Tallinn, 1973).
16.Bd1 Nce7 17.Be2 Rcd8 18.b3 c5 19.a4 exd4 20.cxd4 is equal.

13.g3 Re8 14.Bc2 Bh3 15.a3 Qd7 16.Qd3 Nce7 is equal (Ivanchuk-Timman, IT, Malm�, 2003).

11...Bf4 12.Ng3 Bxg3 13.fxg3 0-0 14.h3 exd4 15.cxd4 gives White a small advantage in space (Boleslavsky-Bronstein, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1945).

If 9.d5 Nb8 then:

If 10.Bxd7+ Nxd7 11.c4 0-0 12.Nc3 then:

If 12...h6 13.b4 then:

13...b6 14.Qc2 Qc8 15.Rfc1 Nf6 16.h3 Nh5 17.c5 gives White an advanced pawn duo at c5 and d5 that cramps Black's game (Xie Jun-Ye Rongguang, IT, Djakarta, 1994).
13...Nf6 14.h3 Nh7 15.c5 Ng5 16.Nxg5 Bxg5 17.Qd2 gives White an advanced pawn duo cramping Black's game (Melia-Harikrishna, Masters, Gibraltar, 2011).

12...Nh4?! 13.Nxh4 Bxh4 14.Qg4 Bf6 15.b4 Nb6 16.Qe2(Kasparov-Vasalomidze, IT, Tbilisi, 1976).

10.c4 0-0 11.Nc3 f5 12.exf5 Bxa4 13.Qxa4 Rxf5 14.Nd2gives White a comfortable advantage in space (G. Timoshenko-Muhamedzjanov, IT, Nabereznye Chelny, 1993).

If 5...g6 6.d4 exd4 7.cxd4 then:

If 7...b5 8.Bb3 Bg7 then:

If 9.0-0 0-0 then:

If 10.Nc3 d6 11.h3 then:

If 11...Na5 12.Bc2 c5 then:

If 13.Bg5 h6 then:

If 14.Bf4 Nc4 then:

15.b3 Na3 16.Bd3 g5 17.Be3 c4 18.Be2 b4 19.bxc4 bxc3 20.Qa4 Nxc4 21.Qxc4 d5 is equal (Sukandar-Harika, Asian Games RpdW, Guangzhou, 2010).
15.Rb1 Nc6 16.dxc5 dxc5 17.Nd5 Bb7 18.Qc1 is equal (Paridar-Zhao Xue, Asian Games RpdW, Guangzhou, 2010).

14.Bh4 g5 15.Bg3 cxd4 16.Nxd4 Nc4 17.Rb1 Bb7 18.Nd5 is equal (Gopal-Nazed, Masters, Gibraltar, 2010).

If 13.dxc5 dxc5 14.Qxd8 Rxd8 15.Be3 Nb7 16.e5 Bf5 then:

17.Ne4 Nd5 18.Bg5 Re8 19.g4 Bd7 20.Nf6+ Bxf6 21.exf6 Nb4 gives Black command of an open file, the initiative against the Bishop at c2 and a small advantage in space (Smeets-Karjakin, Amber Blind, Nice, 2010).
17.Be4 Bxe4 18.Nxe4 Rd5 19.Bg5 Nc6 20.Nf6+ Bxf6 21.Bxf6 is equal (Smeets-Aronian, Amber Blind, Nice, 2010).

If 11...Bb7 then:

12.Bg5 h6 13.Bh4 Na5 14.Bc2 Qd7 15.Re1 Rae8 16.Rc1 is equal (Kinez-Berkovich, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).
12.Bf4 Qd7 13.Rc1 Na5 14.Bc2 Rad8 15.Re1 c5 16.Bb1 is equal (Sjugirov-Vachier Lagrave, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2011).

10.d5 Na5 11.Bc2 d6 12.h3 c6 13.dxc6 Nexc6 14.Nc3 Be6 is equal (Djukic-Khalifman, Euro Ch, Aix-les-Bains, 2011).

9.Nc3 0-0 10.Nd5 h6 11.Bf4 d6 12.Qd2 Kh7 13.h4 is equal (Sebag-Dzagnidze, Grand Prix W, Doha, 2011).

7...Bg7 8.0-0 0-0 9.Nc3 d5 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Bg5 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Qd6 13.Qd2 Na5 14.Bf4 gives White more space; Black has healthier pawns (Fishbein-Murey, Op, Vienna, 1991).

Continued in part 2 (next post)

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Jack Rabbit

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Wed Oct-05-11 01:08 PM
Response to Reply #3

4. van den Doel -Nikolic, part 2 of 4

Edited on Wed Oct-05-11 01:31 PM by Jack Rabbit

5.0-0

(Mackenzie Opening) If 5.d4 (The Grand Spanish-Scotch Nexus doesn't have the colorful variety of gambits and sharp openings that its Italian cousin has) 5...exd4 6.0-0 Be7 then:

If 7.e5 Ne4 8.Nxd4 then:

If 8...Nxd4 9.Qxd4 Nc5 10.Nc3 0-0 then:

If 11.Nd5 then:

If 11...d6 then:

if 12.Nxe7+ Qxe7 13.exd6 Qxd6 14.Qxd6 cxd6 15.Bb3 Nxb3 16.axb3 then:

if 16...Bf5 17.c3 Rfe8 18.Be3 then:

if 18...Re6 then:

19.b4 Be4 20.Bd4 Rae8 21.Rfe1 Bc6 22.Re3 Rxe3 23.Bxe3 Re6(Sefc-Kozma, Czechoslovakian Ch, Prague, 1953).
19.Ra5 Be4 20.Rg5 Rae8 21.b4 f6 22.Rg3 Bc6 23.Rd1 Kf7 gives Black the over all advantage with more freedom as White's Bishop is pinned to the mating square; White has stronger pawns and more space (V. Zaitsev-Notkin, Moscow Ch, 1999).

18...Bc2 19.b4 Rac8 20.Rfc1 Bb3 21.Ra3 Be6 22.Rd1 is equal (Ljubojevic-Nikolic, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 1996).

16...Be6 17.b4 Rac8 draw (Stojanovic-Bartel, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).

12.Bb3 dxe5 13.Qxe5 Bd6 14.Qh5 Nxb3 15.axb3 c6 16.Ne3 f5 gives Black a slight initiative (Messemaker-Anderssen, Rotterdam, 1861).

If 11...Nxa4 12.Qxa4 then:

If 12...d6 13.Nxe7+ Qxe7 14.exd6 Qxd6 then:

If 15.Bf4 Qb6 16.Qb3 Qxb3 17.axb3 Bf5 then:

18.c3 c6 19.Rfe1 Rfe8 20.b4 f6 21.f3 Kf7 22.Kf2 Rxe1 23.Rxe1 Re8 24.Rxe8 Kxe8 draw (Maric-Tringov, Op, Bordeaux, 1964).
If 18.Bxc7 Rac8 19.Be5 Rxc2 20.Rac1 Rxc1 21.Rxc1 Rc8 22.Rxc8+ Bxc8 23.b4 draw (Akopian-Matsuura, World Youth, Rio Gallegos, 1986).

If 15.Qf4 Qxf4 16.Bxf4 Bf5 17.Bxc7 Bxc2 18.Rac1 Bf5 is equal (Hort-Tringov, ZT, Keckemet, 1964).

If 12...c6 13.Nxe7+ Qxe7 14.Qd4 f6 15.Re1 Re8 16.Bf4 gives White the advantage in space (Black-Richmond, TM, via Cable, 1911).

If 11.Be3 Nxa4 12.Qxa4 d5 then:

If 13.exd6 Bxd6 14.Bf4 then:

If 14...Bxf4 15.Qxf4 Be6 16.Rfe1 Qd7 then:

17.Rad1 Qc6 18.Rd3 Rae8 is equal (Bujakovic-Karpov, TT Jr, Sochi, 19t68).
17.Qf3 Qd6 draw (Robatsch-Matanovic, IT, Palma de Mallorca, 1966).

If 14...Bd7 15.Qd4 Qh4 16.g3 Qh3 then:

17.Bxd6 cxd6 18.Nd5 Kh8 19.Rfe1 is equal (Adamski-Nezhmetdinov, IT, Baku, 1964).

17.Nd5 c5 18.Qd2 Bxf4 19.Qxf4 Rae8 20.Rfe1 Bc6 21.c4 gives Black more freedom; White's Knight is pinned to the mating square g2 (Simagin-Vatnikov, Soviet Ch �-final, Vilnius, 1949).

13.Rad1 c6 14.Qb3 Qc7 15.f4 b5 16.Ne2 Rd8 gives Black a slight advantage with the Bishop and the best Bishop (Barden-Rivera, Ol, Amsterdam, 1954).

If 8...0-0 then:

If 9.Nf5 then:

If 9...d5 then:

If 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.Nxe7+ Qxe7 12.Re1 then:

If 12...Re8 13.f3 Nd6 then:

If 14.Bf4 Nf5 15.Qd2 then:

If 15...Rb8 16.b3 h6 17.Nc3 Be6 then:

18.Na4 c5 19.Qf2 d4 is equal (Milos-Smejkal, Ol, Dubai, 1986).
18.Qf2 Qb4 19.Bd2 Qd4 20.Na4 Qxf2+ 21.Kxf2 Nd4 is equal (Hjartarson-Spassky, Euro ChT, Bayern/Lyon, 1991).

15...h6 16.h3 Rb8 17.b3 Be6 18.Nc3 Rb4 19.Na4 is equal (S. Christiansen-K. Larsen, Politiken Cup, Copenhagen, 2001).

14.b3 Nf5 15.Qd2 Qe6 16.Qf2 Bb7 17.Nc3 d4 18.Na4 gives White a strong tactical initiative with the threat of 19.Nc5! (Marjanovic-Psakhis, IT, Dortmund, 1982).

If 12...f6 13.f3 Ng5 then:

If 14.exf6 Qxf6 15.Bxg5 Qxg5 16.Qd2 Qg6 17.Nc3 Bf5 then:

18.Rac1 Rae8 19.Ne2 Qd6 20.c3 c5 21.Rcd1 Rd8 is equal (Tal-Klovens, Latvian Ch, Riga, 1958).
18.Re2 Rae8 19.Rae1 Bxc2 20.Rxe8 Rxe8 21.Rxe8+ Qxe8 22.Kf2 Bg6 23.Qd4 draw (Kavalek-Spassky, IT, Beverwijk, 1967).

14.b3 Re8 15.Bxg5 fxg5 16.Qd4 Be6 17.Nc3 c5 18.Qa4 gives White a small advantage in space (Boel-Idler, Corres, 1990).

If 10.exd6 Bxf5 11.dxe7 Nxe7 12.Bb3 then:

If 12...Nc5 13.Nc3 Nxb3 14.cxb3 then:

14...Qxd1 15.Rxd1 Rad8 16.Bf4 draw (Kramnik-Adams, Rpd, Cap d'Agde, 2003).
If 14...c6 15.Qf3 Be6 16.Be3 Bd5 17.Qf4 Be6 draw (Bagirov-Keres, IT, Baku, 1961).
If 12...Qxd1 13.Rxd1 then:

If 13...Rad8 14.Re1 Nc5 then:

15.Nc3 Rd7 16.Be3 Nxb3 17.cxb3 Rfd8 18.Rad1 f6 gives Black a small advantage in space (Ljubojevic-Karpov, IT, Milan, 1973).
15.Bc4 Nc6 16.Bg5 Rd7 17.Na3 b5 18.Nxb5 axb5 19.Bxb5 Rd6 gives Black a material edge and the advantage in space(Akopian-Ivanchuk, World Youth, Adelaide, 1988).

13...Rfd8 14.Re1 Nc5 15.Nc3 Nxb3 16.cxb3 Nd5 is equal (Mastrovasilis-Tkachiev, Ol, Dresden, 2008).

If 9...Nc5 10.Qg4 g6 then:

If 11.Bxc6 dxc6 12.Nxe7+ Qxe7 13.Qg3 Re8 then:

If 14.Re1 Bf5 then:

15.Nc3 f6 16.Re2 fxe5 is equal (Marjanovic-Ivkov, Yugoslav Ch, Vrbas, 1982).
15.Na3 f6 16.Bf4 b5 17.Qc3 Ne4 18.Qxc6 fxe5 is equal (Chigorin-Janowski, IT, Monte Carlo, 1902).

14.f4 Bf5 15.Na3 f6 16.Re1 Rad8 17.Qc3 Rd5 is equal (Jim�nez Zerquera-Gligoric, IT, Palma de Mallorca, 1967).

11.Nxe7+ Qxe7 12.Bxc6 dxc6 13.Qg3 Re8 14.Re1 Bf5 15.Nc3 is equal (Medina Garc�a-Ivkov, IT, Palma de Mallorca, 1972).

If 9.c3 then:

If 9...Nxe5 10.Re1 d5 11.f3 c5 12.fxe4 cxd4 then:

If 13.exd5 then:

If 13...dxc3 14.Rxe5 then:

14...Qb6+ 15.Be3 Bc5 16.Nxc3 Bxe3+ 17.Kh1 Bf4 gives Black more activity and the initiative (Wolf-Leonhardt, Masters, Barmen, 1905).
14...cxb2?! 15.Bxb2! Bf6 16.Qd3 Bxe5 17.Bxe5 Qg5 18.Bc2 gives White a small material advantage and a threat of mate in one.

13...Qxd5 14.cxd4 Ng6 15.Nc3 Qa5 16.Bb3 Bf6 17.Be3 leaves White with an isolated passer; Black will need to keep it under lock and key (Prins-Wade, IT, Trencianske Teplice, 1949).
13.cxd4 Bg4 14.Qd2 Ng6 15.e5 f6 16.e6 Qd6 is equal (Sangueneti-Matanovic, ITZ, Portoroz, 1958).

If 9...Nc5 10.Bc2 Nxe5 then:

11.Qh5 Ng6 12.f4 Ne6 13.f5 Nxd4 14.cxd4 Bf6 15.fxg6 Bxd4+ 16.Kh1 gives White a powerful kingside attack (Dr. Tarrasch-Wolf, IT, Monte Carlo, 1902).
11.b4 Ne6 12.Bxh7+ Kxh7 13.Qh5+ Kg8 14.Qxe5 Bf6 15.Qe3 Nxd4 16.cxd4 Re8 gives Black a power initiative (Schiffers-Chigorin, Match, St. Petersburg, 1897).

If 7.Re1 then:

If 7...b5 then:

If 8.e5 Nxe5 9.Rxe5 d6 then:

If 10.Re1 bxa4 then:

If 11.Nxd4 Bd7 12.Qf3 0-0 13.Nc6 Bxc6 14.Qxc6 then:

If 14...Nd7 15.Nc3 Bf6 then:

16.Nd5 a3 17.Nxf6+ Qxf6 18.Qxd7 axb2 19.Bxb2 Qxb2 20.Qxc7 d5 21.Qa5 d4 is equal (Gaprindashvili-Smejkal, IT, Leipzig, 1977).
16.Bd2 a3 17.b3 Bd4 18.Rad1 Ne5 19.Qa4 Qf6 gives White stronger pawns and Black more space; Black's extra pawn is dead wood (Sax-Smejkal, IT, Amsterdam, 1979).

If 14...Re8 then:

If 15.Nc3 then:

15...a3 16.b3 d5 17.Bg5 h6 18.Bh4 d4 gives Black an extra pawn and the initiative; White has more space (Zdebskaja-Krivec, IT, Djakarta, 2007).
15...Qd7 16.Qxd7 Nxd7 17.Nxa4 Nf8 18.c4 Ne6 19.Be3 Bf6 leaves Black with a little more freedom (Ligterink-R. Byrne, IT, Amsterdam, 1979).

15.Qxa4 Bf8 16.Bd2 Rxe1+ 17.Bxe1 Qe8 draw (Kupreichik-Balashov, Soviet Ch �-final, Minsk, 1985).

If 11.Bg5 0-0 12.Qe2 h6 13.Bh4 g5 14.Nxd4 then:

14...Bd7 15.Bxg5 hxg5 16.Qxe7 Qxe7 17.Rxe7 c5 18.Ne2 Rab8 gives Black more freedom; White's Rook on the seventh rank is ineffective (Sievers-Blatny, Bundesliga 9091, Germany, 1991).
14...Qd7 15.Bg3 Re8 16.Nc3 Bb7 17.Qd3 Bf8 gives Black a weak extra pawn (Rodr�guez Vila-Sorin, Op, S�o Paulo, 1991).

If 10.Rg5!? bxa4 11.Rxg7 then:

If 11...Nh5 12.Rg5 Bxg5 13.Bxg5 f6 then:

14.Nxd4 0-0 15.Bh6 Ng7 16.Qf3 Bd7 17.Qg3 Rf7 gives Black the exchange and superior development; White has the outline of a kingside attack keeping him in the game, which ended in a draw (Dr. Euwe-Reshevsky, IT, Dubrovnik, 1950).
14.Qxd4 Kf7 15.Nbd2 Re8 16.Qh4 Ng7 17.Ne4 Rxe4 18.Qxe4 Bf5 gives Black a strong initiative (Rogers-Hebden,Op, London, 1988).

11...c5 12.Ng5 Bg4 13.Qe1 Bh5 14.Ne4 Kd7 15.Ng3 Bg6 leaves Black a pawn to the good and White struggles for equality (Kuzmin-Rogers, IT, Tallinn, 1985).

If 8.Bb3 d6 9.Bd5 then:

If 9...Nxd5 10.exd5 Ne5 11.Nxd4 0-0 12.a4 then:

If 12...Bg4 13.Qd2 Bd7 14.Nc3 then:

14...b4 15.Ne4 Qb8 16.f4 Ng4 is equal (Kiewra-Bojkov, IT, Berkeley, California, 2011).
14...bxa4 15.Nxa4 Bf6 16.b3 Ng6 17.Bb2 Be5 18.Nf3 is equal (Benhadi-E. Torre, IT, Dubai, 1986).

12...Bd7 13.Nc3 b4 14.Nce2 Re8 15.b3 Qc8 16.Ng3 Qb7 is equal (P�rez Pardo-Braga, Op Ponferrada, 1991).

9...Bb7 10.Nxd4 Nxd5 11.Nxc6 Bxc6 12.exd5 Bb7 13.a4 0-0 14.axb5 axb5 15.Rxa8 Bxa8 16.Qe2 Bf6 17.Qxb5 Qc8 18.Nd2 c6 19.dxc6 Bxc6 20.Qb3 Be5 is equal (Gonzalez-Valdes, Op, Isla Guitart, 1994).

If 7...0-0 8.e5 Ne8 then:

If 9.c3 then:

If 9...dxc3 10.Nxc3 d6 11.exd6 then:

If 11...Nxd6 12.Nd5 then:

If 12...Be6 13.Bxc6 bxc6 14.Nxe7+ Qxe7 15.Nd4 then:

15...Qf6 16.Nxe6 fxe6 17.Qe2 e5 18.Be3 is equal (Kochyev-Romanishin, IT, Lvov, 1978).
15...Qd7 16.Nxe6 fxe6 17.Be3 Rab8 18.Qe2 a5 19.Rac1 gives White stronger pawns in compenstion for his pawn minus (Kuijf-Panczyk, IT, Suedlohn, 1981).

12...Re8 13.Bxc6 bxc6 14.Nxe7+ Rxe7 15.Bg5 Rxe1+ 16.Qxe1 Qd7 is equal (A. Zaitsev-Smejkal, IT, Tallinn, 1971).

11...cxd6 12.Nd5 Be6 13.Bf4 Bxd5 14.Qxd5 Nc7 15.Qh5 Ne6 16.Rxe6 fxe6 17.Bc2 Rxf4 18.Qxh7+ Kf8 19.Qh8+ Kf7 20.Qh5+ Kf8 21.Qh8+ draw (Fatalibekova-Litinskiaya, Soviet ChW, Tbilisi, 1979).
If 9...b5 then:

If 10.Bb3 d5 11.cxd4 Be6 12.Nc3 then:

12...Rb8 13.Ne2 Bg4 14.Ng3 Qd7 15.Be3 is equal (Movsessian-Sigfusson, Euro Club Cup, Izmir, 2004).
12...Qd7?! 13.Bf4 Na5 14.Bc2 Nc4 15.b3 Nb6 16.a4 gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Antal-Erwich, Euro ChU16, Halkidiki, 2001).

10.Bc2 d5 11.cxd4 Nb4 12.Bb3 Bf5 13.Nc3 c6 14.Be3 gives White a slight advantage in space (Movsesian-Karhanek, Op, Olomouc. 1995).

If 9.Bf4 then:

If 9...b5 10.Bb3 d5 11.c3 then:

If 11...Bg4 12.h3 Bh5 13.g4 Bg6 then:

If 14.cxd4 Nb4 15.Bg3 then:

15...c5 16.dxc5 Nc7 17.Nc3 Nd3 18.Re2 d4 gives Black a Knight anchored at d3 in compensation for the pawn minus (Ribli-Hennings, IT, Helsinki, 1972).
Two correspondece games, Timmerman-van Oosterom, 1980, and Raijmaekers-Timmerman, 1982, continued 15...a5 16.a3 Nd3 17.Re2 a4 18.Ba2 b4 19.axb4 Nxb4 20.Nc3 a3 with equality and did not branch apart until White's 25th move; the 1980 game ended in a draw 41 moves and the 1982 game was won by Black in 40 moves.

If 14.Nxd4 Nxd4 15.cxd4 c6 then:

16.Be3 Nc7 17.Nc3 f5 18.f4 Qd7 19.Qf3 Kh8 is equal (Avetisian-Vepkhvishvili, Tbilisi Ch, 1984).
If 16.Bg3 Bh4 17.Kh2 f5 18.f4 Nc7 19.Nc3 Ne6 gives Black more freedom (Pohla-Dydyshko, TM, Minsk/Tallinn, 1975).

11...Na5 12.cxd4 Nxb3 13.Qxb3 c6 14.Qe3 h6 is equal (Tarjan-Taylor, Op, Lone Pine, 1978).

If 9...f6 10.Bxc6 dxc6 11.Qxd4 Qxd4 12.Nxd4 then:

If 12...f5 then:

If 13.Nf3 h6 14.h4 Be6 15.Nc3 c5 then:

If 16.Rad1 c6 17.Na4 b5 18.Nb6 Rd8 then:

19.Rxd8 Bxd8 20.Nd7 Bxd7 21.e6 Bc8 22.e7 Bxe7 23.Rxe7 Nf6 is equal (Gaprindashvili-Tarjan, Op, Lone Pine, 1977).
19.c4 Rxd1 20.Rxd1 Nc7 gives Black the Bishop pair as opposed to White's bad Bishop; White's Knight appears strong, but it has nowhere to retreat (Vukcevich-Tarjan, IT 7677, Hastings, 1976).

16.Ne2 c6 17.Be3 Nc7 18.Nf4 Kf7 19.h5 gives White the advantage in space; Black is for the moment frustrated in his desire to occupy the outpost d5.

13.Nc3 g5 14.Bd2 Ng7 15.Rad1 Ne6 16.Nce2 c5 17.Nxe6 Bxe6 18.f4 is equal (Gipslis-Ivkov, IT, Amsterdam, 1976).

12...Bc5 13.c3 g5 14.Be3 Be7 15.exf6 Bxf6 16.Nd2 Nd6 17.N4b3 is equal (Gipslis-Romanishin, IT, Tallinn, 1977).

(Grand Spanish Royal Game: Four Knights' Opening) If 5.Nc3 (This, also called the Tarrasch Variation, was popular in the late nineteenth century but has been seldom seen since) then:

If 5...d6 6.Bxc6+ bxc6 7.d4 Nd7 then:

8.dxe5 dxe5 9.Be3 Bd6 10.0-0 0-0 11.Qd2 Qe7 12.Na4 Rb8 is equal (Dr. Tarrasch-Chigorin, Match, St. Petersburg, 1893).
If 8.0-0 Be7 then:

If 9.dxe5 dxe5 then:

If 10.Be3 0-0 then:

11.Qd2 f6 12.Rfd1 Nb6 13.Qxd8 Rxd8 14.Rxd8+ Bxd8 15.Bc5 gives White a fair advantage in space (Foltys-Hromadka, Duras Mem, Prague, 1942).
11.a3 a5 12.Qd2 Bd6 13.Rfe1 Qe7 14.Ne2 gives White the advantage in space (Penrose-Blau, IT 5353, Hastings, 1952).

10.Na4 0-0 11.Be3 Bd6 12.c4 Qe7 13.Qc2 Qe6 14.Rad1 gives White the advantage in space (Keres-Udovcic, TM, Leningrad, 1957).

9.Be3 0-0 10.Qd2 exd4 11.Nxd4 Ne5 12.f4 c5 13.fxe5 cxd4 14.Qxd4 dxe5 15.Qxe5 gives White an extra pawn (Marco-Chigorin, IT, Nuremberg, 1896).

If 5...Bb4 6.Nd5 then:

If 6...Ba5 7.0-0 then:

If 7...b5 8.Bb3 d6 9.d3 Bg4 10.c3 then:

10...Ne7? 11.Nxe5 dxe5 12.Nxf6+ gxf6 13.Qxg4 Ng6 14.Bd5 Rb8 15.f4 gives White and extra pawn, a better center, stronger pawns and a lot more space (Dr. Tarrasch-Chigorin, Match, St. Petersburg, 1893).
10...h6 11.Nxf6+ Qxf6 12.Bd5 Bd7 13.a4 0-0 14.Be3 gives White an impressive advantage in space.

7...d6 8.d3 Bg4 9.c3 Nd7 10.Ne3 Bh5 11.Bxc6 bxc6 12.Qa4 Bb6 13.Qxc6 0-0 14.Nf5 gives White an extra pawn and a considerable advantage in space; Black has the Bishop pair (Tarrasch-Chigorin, Match, St. Petersburg, 1893).

If a) 6...Be7 then:

If 7.d3 d6 then:

If 8.Nxe7 Qxe7 9.c3 then:

9...h6 10.h3 0-0 11.g4 Nh7 12.Rg1 Nd8 13.Be3 Ne6 14.h4 gives White the Bishop pair and the advantage in space (Weiss-Chigorin, IT, New York, 1889).
9...0-0 10.h3 b5 11.Bc2 d5 12.Bg5 Be6 13.Nh2 h6 is equal (Loewy-Moewig, Group A, Barmen, 1905).

8.Nb4 Bd7 9.Nxc6 Bxc6 10.Bxc6+ bxc6 11.0-0 0-0 12.Qe2 is equal (Dr. Tarrasch-Berger, DSB Kongress, Breslau, 1889).

7.d4 exd4 8.Nxe7 Qxe7 9.0-0 0-0 10.Re1 d6 11.Bxc6 bxc6 12.Nxd4 is equal (Krause-Yates, Ol, London, 1927).

If b) 6...Bc5 7.d3 h6 8.Be3 Bxe3 9.fxe3 then:

9...Nxd5 10.exd5 Ne7 11.e4 Ng6 12.d4 0-0 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.0-0 is equal (L. Paulsen-Anderssen, DSB Kongress, Altona, 1869).
If 9...d6 10.0-0 Be6?! 11.Nxf6+! Qxf6 12.Nd4 Qg5 then:

If 13.Nxc6 Qxe3+ 14.Kh1 Bd7 then:

15.Nxe5?! Bxa4 16.Nxf7 is equal (Schlecter-Pollack, IT, Hastings, 1895).
15.Rxf7! Bxc6 16.Qh5 0-0-0 17.Bxc6 bxc6 18.Qg4+ gives White a strong attack.

13.Nxe6 fxe6 14.Rf3 Rf8 15.Bxc6+ bxc6 16.Qe2 gives White an overall advantage.

(Derl Opening or Delayed Exchange Ruy Lopez) If 5.Bxc6 dxc6 6.d3 then:

If 6...Nd7 7.Nbd2 then:

If 7...Bd6 8.Nc4 then:

If 8...c5 then:

If 9.a4 b6 then:

If 10.0-0 0-0 11.Bd2 then:

11...Bb7 12.Bc3 Qe7 13.b3 f5 14.exf5 Rxf5 is equal (Korchnoi-Suetin, Soviety Ch, Kiev, 1964).
11...Re8 12.Ne3 draw (Velimirovic-Petronic, Yugoslav Ch, Niksic, 1997).

10.Bd2 a5 11.Bc3 f6 12.h4 h5 13.Nfd2 Nf8 is equal (Meister-Inarkiev, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2004).

If 9.0-0 0-0 10.a4 then:

10...f6 11.h3 Nb8 12.Nh2 Nc6 is equal (Zupe-Sebag, IT, Graz, 2006).
If 10...Re8 then:

11.Bg5 f6 12.Be3 Nb8 13.Nh4 Nc6 14.Nf5 is equal (Velimirovic-Jeremic, Yugoslav ChT, Budva, 2003).
11.Be3 Nf8 12.Nfd2 Ng6 13.Nxd6 cxd6 14.Nc4 Be6 15.a5 Qc7 draw (Gipslis-Matanovic, IT, Lvov, 1962).

If 8...0-0 9.0-0 Re8 10.b3 then:

If 10...c5 11.Bb2 then:

11...b5 12.Ne3 Nf8 13.a4 Bd7 14.h3 Ng6 is equal (A. Muzychuk-Zawadzka, Euro Ch, Aix-les-Bains, 2011).
11...f6 12.Nh4 Nf8 13.Nf5 Be6 14.f4 exf4 15.Ncxd6 cxd6 is equal (Korbut-Zawadzka, World ChTW, Ekaterinburg, 2007).

10...Nf8 11.Bb2 Ng6 12.d4 exd4 13.Qxd4 Bf8 14.Qe3(Rossi-David).

If 7...Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.Nc4 f6 10.Nh4 then:

If 10...Nc5 11.Nf5 Bxf5 12.exf5 then:

If 12...Qd5 13.Qg4 Rfe8 14.Re1 Rad8 15.Nd2 then:

If 15...Bf8 16.h3 Qf7 then:

17.b3 Rd4 18.Qe2 Red8 19.g3 g6 20.Bb2 gives White a slight initiative and Black more space (Kurajica-Gligoric, IT, Sarajevo, 1983).
17.Nf3 Qd5 18.Nd2 Qf7 19.b3 Rd4 20.Qe2 Red8 21.g3 is equal (Sax-Geller, IZT, Moscow, 1982).

15...Qf7 16.b3 a5 17.Bb2 a4 18.Nf3 Bd6 19.d4 is equal (Tal-Dorfman, IT, Lvov, 1984).

12...Qd7 13.Qg4 b5 14.Ne3!? Rfe8! 15.f3 Na4 draw (Scholl-Portisch, IT, Amsterdam, 1967).

If 10...g6 11.Bh6 Rf7 then:

If 12.f4 exf4 13.Rxf4 then:

13...Nc5 14.Rf1 f5 15.Nf3 fxe4 16.dxe4 Qxd1 17.Raxd1 Nxe4 is equal (Tseitlin-Azarov, Op, Capplle-la-Grande, 2006).
13...Bf8 14.Bxf8 Nxf8 15.Rf2 Be6 16.Nd2 c5 draw (Silva Sanchez-Trotzky Ypes, Pan-Am Ch, Havana, 1970).

If 12.d4 exd4 13.Qxd4 Bc5 14.Qd2 Qe7 15.Rfe1 b5 is equal (Bogveradze-Vepkhvishvili, IT, Tbilisi, 1970).

If 6...Bd6 7.Nbd2 Be6 then:

If 8.Qe2 Nd7 9.Nc4 f6 10.d4 Bg4 then:

11.dxe5 Nxe5 12.Ncxe5 Bxe5 13.h3 Bxf3 14.Qxf3 Qe7 15.c3 0-0 16.0-0 Rae8 is equal (Flohr-Keres, IT 3738, Hastings, 1938).
11.Be3 exd4 12.Bxd4 Qe7 13.Nxd6+ cxd6 is equal.

8.b3 c5 9.Nc4 Nd7 10.Ng5 Bxc4 11.bxc4 Nb8 12.Rb1 b6 13.0-0 0-0 14.f4 gives White the advantage in space (Korbut-Shen Yang, TM, Moscow, 2007).

(Clam Opening) If 5.d3 d6 then:

If 6.0-0 Be7 7.c3 0-0 8.Re1 then:

If 8...b5 then:

If 9.Bc2 d5 10.Nbd2 dxe4 11.dxe4 Be6 12.a4 b4 13.Qe2 Qc8 14.Nc4 Nd7 is equal (Kamsky-Ivanchuk, World ChT, Ningbo, 2011).
(Clam Opening/Pilnik Variation) If 9.Bb3 (this position may be reached by 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 O-O 9.d3) 9...Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.Nbd2 Nc6 12.Nf1 Re8 13.h3 h6 then:

If 14.Ng3 Bf8 15.d4 then:

If 15...cxd4 16.cxd4 then:

If 16...exd4 17.Nxd4 Nxd4 18.Qxd4 then:

If 18...Be6 19.Bf4 Rc8 20.Bb3 then:

20...a5 21.Rad1 a4 22.Bxe6 Rxe6 23.Rc1 g6 24.Qd3 is equal (Akopian-Khalifman, FIDE Knock Out, Las Vegas, 1999).
20...d5 21.Rad1 Bc5 draw (Berndt-Svidler, Euro Club Cub, Panormo, 2001).

If 18...Bb7 19.Bf4 Rc8 20.Bb3 a5 21.a4 bxa4 22.Bxa4 gives White a better center, command of the open diagonal a4/e8, the initiative and more space; Black has command of the c-file and pressure on White's e-pawn (Sadvakasov-Svidler, IT, Poikovsky, 2005).

16...Bd7 17.Be3 exd4 18.Nxd4 d5 19.exd5 Nb4 20.Qf3 Nbxd5 21.Rad1 is equal (Emms-Balashov, Op, Cappelle-la-Grande, 1992).

If 15...Qc7 then:

If 16.Be3 g6 17.Rc1 Bd7 18.Qd2 Kh7 19.Bb1 gives White a better center; Black actually has a slight advantage in space (Ujtelky-Filip, Czechoslovakian Ch, Prague, 1953).
16.d5 Ne7 17.Nxe5 (well, at least it's flashy, but White doesn't gain or lose anything from it) 17...dxe5 18.d6 Qa7 19.dxe7 Qxe7 is equal (Teichmann-Dr. Tarrasch, IT, Ostend, 1905).

14.d4 Bf8 15.d5 15...Ne7 16.a4 Bd7 17.axb5 axb5 18.Be3 gives White a better center, but Black actually has a teensy bit more space (Ciocaltea-Pfleger, IT, Hastings, 1971). /end Pilnik Variation

(Clam Opening/Anderssen Variation) If 8...Bg4 9.Nbd2 Nd7 10.h3 Bh5 11.Nf1 Nc5 then:

If 12.Bc2 then:

If 12...Ne6 13.Ng3 Bxf3 14.Qxf3 Bg5 15.Be3 g6 then:

16.Bb3 Kg7 17.Ne2 Nc5 18.Bc2 f5 19.Bxc5 dxc5 20.exf5 Rxf5 21.Qg4 gives White a small advantage with superiority on the kingside and stronger pawns while Black has a bind on d4 (Nepomniachtchi-Mamedyarov, IT, Dortmund, 2008).
16.b4 Kh8 17.Bb3 Qf6 18.Qxf6+ Bxf6 19.Nf1 Bg5 gives White the Bishop pair and more space; Black's Bishop is bad and he will not easily approach White's pawn weaknesses (Shamkovich-Bobolovich, City Ch, Moscow, 1964).

If 12...d5 13.Qe2 d4 14.g4 Bg6 15.Ng3 then:

15...Re8 16.Nf5 Bf8 17.cxd4 exd4 18.N3h4 Qd7 19.Ng2 Rad8(Boleslavsky-Pytlakowski, IT, Warsaw, 1947).
15...Ne6 16.Nf5 Bc5 17.Bd2 f6 18.Bb3 Bf7 19.Kh1 Ne7 is equal (Tabenhaus-Janowski, IT, Ostend, 1907).

If 12.Bxc6 bxc6 13.Ng3 then:

If 13...Bg6 14.d4 exd4 15.Nxd4 Qd7 then:

16.b4 Ne6 17.Qa4 Nxd4 18.cxd4 Rfd8 19.Be3 is equal (Bartel-Maiorov, Euro Rpd Ch, Warsaw, 2010).
16.Ndf5 Rfe8 17.Qg4 Rad8 18.Bg5 Bxg5 19.Qxg5 f6 is equal (Livshin-Borisenko, Soviet Ch, Kiev, 1954).

If 13...Bxf3 14.Qxf3 Ne6 15.Be3 c5 then:

If 16.Rad1 Rb8 17.Re2 Bf6 18.Rc2 Re8 19.Nf5 gives White a slight edge with stronger pawns (Hort-Renet, TM, Uzes, 1990).
If 16.Ne2 Rb8 17.b3 then:

17...Bf6 18.Rad1 a5 19.d4 cxd4 20.cxd4 exd4 21.Bxd4 Nxd4 22.Nxd4 gives White better pawns as the endgame approaches (A. Hunt-Stocek, IT, Coventry, 2003).
If 17...Bg5 18.Ng3 c6 19.Nf5 Bxe3 20.fxe3 g6 21.Ng3 remains equal. /end Anderssen Variation

(Clam Opening/Duras Variation) If 6.c4 g6 7.d4 then:

If 7...exd4 8.Nxd4 Bd7 9.Nxc6 then:

If 9...Bxc6 then:

10.0-0 Bg7 11.Nc3 0-0 12.f3 Nd7 13.Be3 Ne5 14.Bb3 gives White the early advantage in space (Duras-Rubinstein, IT, St. Petersburg, 1909).
If 10.Bxc6+ bxc6 11.0-0 Bg7 then:

If 12.Nc3 0-0 13.Bg5 then:

13...h6 14.Bh4 Qb8 15.Qc2 Qb4 16.b3 Rfe8 is equal (Vydeslaver-Golod, Rpd, Beer Shiva, 2004).
13...Qe8 14.Re1 Nd7 15.Qd2 Qe6 16.b3 f5 17.Rac1 is equal (Voelker-S. Ernst, Bundesliga 0405, Germany, 2005).

12.Qa4 Qd7 13.c5 0-0 14.cxd6 cxd6 15.Nc3 Rfe8 16.Rd1 Qe6 17.Qxc6 draw (Cicak-T. Ernst, Swedish Ch, Goteborg, 2006).

If 9...bxc6 10.0-0 Bg7 11.c5 0-0 12.Nc3 then:

12...Qe7 13.cxd6 cxd6 14.f3 d5 15.Re1 d4 is equal (Duras-Cohn, IT, Karlsbad, 1911).
12...d5 13.Bg5 h6 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.exd5 Bxc3 16.bxc3 cxd5 is equal (Duras-Leonhardt, IT, Karlsbad, 1911).

If 7...Bd7 8.Nc3 Bg7 then:

9.Be3 Ng4 10.d5 Nxe3 11.fxe3 gives White the advantage in space (Duras-Spielmann, IT, Prague, 1908).
9.dxe5 Nxe5 10.Nxe5 dxe5 11.Bg5 Bxa4 12.Qxa4+ Qd7 13.Qb4 0-0-0 14.0-0 is equal (Duras-Leonhardt, IT, Prague, 1908). /end Duras Variation

(Worrall Opening) If 5.Qe2 (or 5.0-0 Be7 6.Qe2 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0) then:

If 5...b5 6.Bb3 then:

If 6...Be7 7.c3 0-0 then:

If 8.d4 d6 then:

If 9.Nbd2 then:

If 9...Re8 10.Ng5 Rf8 11.dxe5 dxe5 is equal (Tiviakov-Nikolic, Op Rd 9, Leiden, 2011).
9...h6 10.d5 Na7 11.a4 c6 12.axb5 axb5 13.dxc6 Be6 14.Nh4 d5 is equal (Baklan-Nikolic, Bundeslinga 0708, Germany, 2007).
9...exd4 10.cxd4 Bg4 11.Qe3 Na5 12.Bc2 c5 13.0-0 cxd4 14.Nxd4 Rc8 is equal (Calzetta Ru�z-Kachiani, Euro ChTW, Crete, 2007).

More usual is 9.0-0 Bg4 10.Rd1 when:

If 10...exd4 11.cxd4 d5 12.e5 Ne4 then:

If 13.Nc3 Nxc3 14.bxc3 Qd7 15.h3 then:

15...Bh5 6.g4 Bg6 17.Ne1 Na5 18.Bc2 Qc6 19.Be3 Bxc2 20.Qxc2 Nc4 gives Black the advantage in space (Spassky-Szabo, Match, Goteborg, 1955).
15...Bf5 16.Nh2 Na5 17.Nf1 Nxb3 18.axb3 a5 gives Black the advantage in space, but the blast c3c4 can put a dent in it (J. Polgar-N. Kosintseva. Rpd, Cap d'Agde, 2010).

If 13.a4 b4! 14.a5 Kh8 15.h3 Bh5 16.Be3 f5 then:

If 17.Rc1 f4! 18.Rxc6 fxe3 19.fxe3 Bh4 gives Black a slight advantage in space and a dangerous tactical initiative with the threat of 20...Bxf3! (Adams-Wells, Op, London, 1993)
a) 17.exf6?! Bxf6! 18.g4 Bg6 19.Nbd2 Qd6 20.Nf1 Rae8 gives Black a huge advantage in space (B. Ivanovic-Lazic, Yugoslav Ch, Tivat, 1994). If now 21.Qxa6? then Black wins a piece after 21...Nxd4! 22.Qxd6 Nxf3+ 23.Kg2 Nh4+ 24.Kh1 cxd6.
If b) 17.Qc2 Nb8 then:

If 18.Bf4! Ra7 19.Rd3 Bxf3 then:

If 20.gxf3 c6 21.Be3 Ng5 22.f4 Nf3+ 23.Kf1 Rb7 is equal.
20.Rxf3 c5 21.dxc5 Bxc5 22.Nd2 Rc7 23.Qd3 Nc6 gives Black a small advantage in space

18.Qc1?! c6! 19.Re1 c5 20.Bd1 c4 21.Nh2 f4 gives Black the initiative and a significant advantage in space.

10...Qc8 11.h3 Bh5 12.a4 Rb8 13.axb5 axb5 14.Bg5 h6 15.Be3 gives White a small advantage in space (J. Polgar-Short, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 1993).

9.h3 Nd7 10.0-0 Bf6 11.Rd1 then:

11...Na5 12.Bc2 c5 13.dxc5 dxc5 14.Nbd2 Qc7 15.Nf1 Nb6 16.Ne3 g6 17.a4 gives White a slight advantage in that he is more ready to exploit the Black weakness at d5 than White is to exploit the White weakness at d3 (Taimanov-Flohr, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1949).
11...Bb7 12.d5 Ne7 13.Be3 then:

13...Ng6 14.a4 Nc5 15.Bxc5 dxc5 16.axb5 Nf4 17.Qe3 Qe7 18.bxa6 Bxa6 19.Kh2 gives White an extra pawn, a passed pawn and healthier pawns (Ragozin-Sakharov, Soviet Ch �-final, Kiev, 1950).
13...Nb6 14.Na3 Qd7 15.Qd2 a5 16.Bc2 Nbc8 17.c4 gives White the advantage in space (Ragozin-Furman, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1949).

9.d5 Na5 10.Bc2 c6 11.dxc6 Nxc6 12.0-0 Qc7 is equal.

(Worrall Opening/Marshall Gambit) If 8.0-0 then:

If 8...d5 9.d3 Bb7 10.Rd1 Re8 then:

If 11.Nbd2 Bf8 then:

If 12.Nf1 then:

If 12...Na5 13.Bc2 c5 14.Ng3 then:

14...Qb6 15.a3 c4 16.dxc4 dxe4 17.Nxe4 Nxe4 18.Bxe4 Bxe4 19.Qxe4 Nxc4 is equal (Mamedov-Akopian, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).
14...g6 15.h4 Qb6 16.h5 c4 17.Bg5 Rac8 18.hxg6 hxg6 is equal (Short-Fern�ndez Garc�a, ZT, Marbella, 1982).

12...h6 13.Ng3 Na5 14.Bc2 c5 15.h3 g6 16.Nh2 Qe7 is equal (Jobava-Ravi, Op, Dubai, 2002).

12.a3 Nb8 13.Nf1 h6 14.Ng3 Nbd7 15.Ba2 c5 gives Black a slight edge in space (Conquest-Hawkins, British Ch, Torquay, 2009).

If 11.Bg5 Na5 12.Bc2 h6 then:

13.Bh4 Nd7 14.Bg3 Bf6 15.Nbd2 d4 16.cxd4 exd4 is equal (Tiviakov-I. Ibragimov, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1991).
13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.Nbd2 c5 15.exd5 Qxd5 16.Re1 Rac8 17.a3 draw (Safarli-Fressinet, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).

If 8...d6 then:

9.Rd1 Bg4 10.d4 exd4 11.cxd4 transposes into the main line of the notes to White's ninth move, below.
9.d4 exd4 10.cxd4 Bg4 11.Rd1 also transposes.

(Worrall Opening/Neo-Classical Defense) If 6...Bc5 then:

If 7.c3 0-0 8.0-0 then:

If 8...d6 then:

If 9.d3 h6 10.Be3 Bxe3 then:

11.Qxe3 Na5 12.Bc2 c5 13.Nbd2 Nc6 14.a4 Rb8 15.axb5 axb5 is equal (Tiviakov-Shirov, IT, Hoogeveen, 2010).
11.fxe3 Be6 12.Bc2 Ne7 13.Nh4 Ng6 14.Nf5 d5 gives Black stronger pawns and more space (Sedlack-Miton, Kostic Mem, Vrsac, 2008).

If 9.Rd1 then:

If 9...Bb6 10.h3 h6 11.d3 then:

If 11...Re8 12.Nbd2 d5 then:

If 13.exd5 Nxd5 14.Qe4 Be6 15.Nxe5 Na5 16.Bxd5 Bxd5 17.Qf4 gives White an extra pawn and a better center; Black has a little more space (Radocaj-Dokmanovic, Croatian ChT, Pula, 2001).
If 13.Nf1 Be6 14.Ng3 a5 then:

If 15.d4 exd4 16.e5 Ne4 17.Nxe4 dxe4 then:

18.Bxe6 Rxe6 19.Qxe4 Nxe5 20.Nxe5 f6 21.Qg6 Rxe5 22.Bxh6 gives White the threat of mate in one, a pin in the d-file and more space (Lovkov-Romanov, Russian ChU20, St. Petersburg, 2008).
18.Qxe4 Bxb3 19.axb3 Nxe5 20.Nxe5 f6 21.Bf4 fxe5 22.Bxe5 gives White the advantage in space, a pin in the d-file and more space.

15.exd5 Bxd5 16.Ne4 Bxb3 17.axb3 Qe7 18.Be3 Bxe3 gives Black a small advantage in space.

11...Qe7 12.Nbd2 Nh5 13.Nf1 Nf4 14.Bxf4 exf4 15.d4 gives White a fortified center duo, stronger pawns and more space; Black's pawns keep White from making easy progress and Black soon equalizes (Barlov-Chiburdanidze, IT, Henige, 1988).

If 9...Qe7 then:

10.h3 Bb7 11.d3 Bb6 12.Nbd2 Nh5 13.Nf1 Qf6 14.g3 Na5 is equal (Gauldants-Fishbein, IT, Moscow, 1989).
10.d4 Bb6 11.Bg5 Nd8 12.Nh4 Ne6 13.Nf5 Qe8 14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.Bxe6 draw (Yates-Rubinstein, IT, Budapest, 1926).

If 8...d5 then:

If 9.d3 then:

9...d4 10.Bg5 h6 11.Bh4 Qd6 12.Nbd2 Nh5 gives Black the advantage in space (Zdebskaja-van Weersel, OlW, Dresden, 2008).
9...dxe4 10.dxe4 Bd6 11.Rd1 Qe8 12.h3 Ne7 is equal (Safarli-Ruijgrok, Op, Hoogeveen, 2007).

9.d4?! exd4! 10.cxd4 dxe4 11.dxc5 Bg4 12.Be3 exf3 13.gxf3 Bh5 gives Black command of open attacking lanes, a nasty pin at f3 and more space; she soon wins (Partac-Deseatnicov, Op, Kishnev, 2001).

If 7.a4 Rb8 8.axb5 axb5 9.Nc3 0-0 then:

If 10.d3 d6 11.Bg5 then:

11...h6 12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.Nd5 Qd8 14.0-0 b4 15.h3 Kh8 is equal (Bogoljubow-Eliskases, Match, Nuremburg, 1939).
11...Bg4 12.Nd5 Nd4 13.Nxd4 Bxe2 14.Bxf6 Ra8 15.Kxe2(Levenfish-Flamberg, Vilnius, 1912).

If 10.0-0 b4 11.Nd5 d6 then:

12.d3 Bg4 13.Be3 Nd4 14.Bxd4 Bxd4 15.Ra2 Nh5 is equal (Zukertort-Winawer, IT, Paris, 1878).
12.h3 Nxd5 13.Bxd5 Ne7 14.Bc4 Ng6 15.d3 Qf6 is equal (Thomas-Rubinstein, IT, Karlsbad, 1923).

If 5.0-0 then:

5...Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 is the Grand Spanish Main Line.
5...Nxe4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 Be6 is the Gothic Defense, commonly called the Open defense.

5...Be7

If 5...b5 6.Bb3 then:

(Arkhangelsk Defense) If 6...Bb7 then:

If 7.d4 Nxd4 then:

If 8.Nxd4 exd4 9.e5 Ne4 10.c3 then:

If 10...d3 then:

If 11.Qxd3 Nc5 12.Qg3 Nxb3 13.axb3 Qe7 then:

14.b4 Qe6 15.Be3 d6 16.f4 h5 17.h3 0-0-0 18.Nd2(Bogdanovic-Planinc, IT, Sarajevo, 1970).
If 14.Bg5 Qe6 then:

If 15.f4?! then:

If 15...f6?! 16.exf6 then:

16...Bc5+?! 17.Kh1! gxf6 18.Re1 0-0-0!! 19.Rxe6 dxe6 20.Qe1 fxg5 21.Nd2 gives Black greater activity for his pieces; White a material advantage (Ljubojevic-Planinc, IT, Vrsac, 1971).
16...Qb6+ 17.Kh1 gxf6 18.Bh4 0-0-0 19.Nd2 Re8 is equal.

15...Qxb3 16.Qf2 Qd5 gives Black an extra pawn.

15.Nd2 Qg6 16.b4 remains equal.

If 11.Qf3 Qe7 12.Nd2 then:

12...Nc5 13.Bd5 Bxd5 14.Qxd5 c6 15.Qd4 d6 16.b4 Ne6 17.Qxd3 dxe5 leaves Black with an extra pawn (Atunes-Arencibia, Op, Seville, 1990).
12...0-0-0 13.Nxe4 Qxe5 14.Re1 f5 15.Qg3 Qe8 16.Nd6+ Bxd6 17.Rxe8 Rhxe8 18.Bf4 d2 gives White a material advantage; Black has a danerous passer (Minic-Planinc, IT, Rovin/Zagreb, 1975).

If 10...dxc3 11.Qf3 d5 12.exd6 Qf6 then:

If 13.Re1 0-0-0 then:

14.dxc7 Rd7 15.Qxf6 gxf6 16.Nxc3 leaves White with an extra pawn (Tseshkovsky-Beliavsky, ZT, Lvov, 1978).
14.Qxf6 Nxf6 15.dxc7 Kxc7 16.Nxc3 Bc5 17.Bf4+ Kb6 is equal (B. Ivanovic-Vujosevic, Yugoslav Ch. Kladovo, 1992).

13.d7+ Kd8 14.Qxf6+ Nxf6 15.Nxc3 Bd6 16.Bxf7 Kxd7 17.Re1 c5 gives Black the advantage in space (Kremer-Chiburdanidze, Op, Brussels, 1986).

If 8.Bxf7+ Kxf7 9.Nxe5+ then:

If 9...Kg8 10.Qxd4 c5 11.Qd1 Qe8 12.Nf3 Qxe4 then:

If 13.Bg5 Qf5 then:

14.Bxf6 Qxf6 15.Nc3 Rd8 16.Re1 d5 gives Black the Bishop pair against two Knights; White has a slight advantage in space (E. Atalik-Olarasu, Euro ChW, Warsaw, 2001).
14.Nbd2 Ne4 15.Bh4 h6 16.Bg3 g5 is equal (Moriuchi-S. Muhammad, Op, Philadelphia, 2006).

13.Re1 Qg4 14.a4 Bxf3 15.Qxf3 Qxf3 16.gxf3 b4 gives Black stronger pawns and White more freedom (Eley-Mistel, Masters 7273, Hastings, 1972).

9...Ke6 10.Qxd4 c5 11.Qc3 Nxe4 12.Qe1 d6 13.Nd2 gives White a slight advantage.

If a) 7.d3 then:

7...Be7 8.Nc3 0-0 then:

If 9.Bd2 d6 then:

If 10.a4!? then:

If 10...Na5 11.Ba2 b4 then:

If 12.Nd5 Nxd5 13.exd5 c5 14.c3 then:

If 14...bxc3 15.Bxc3 Bc8 then:

16.Qe1 Nb7 17.a5 Bg4 18.Nd2 Nxa5 19.f4 exf4 20.Rxf4 Bh5 gives Black an extra pawn (Kuzmin-Malaniuk, Ukrainian Ch, Kharkov, 2004).
16.b4 cxb4 17.Bxb4 Bg4 18.h3 Bh5 19.Re1 Rb8 is equal (Watson-Chiburdanidze, IT, Frunze, 1985).

14...b3 15.Bxb3 Nxb3 16.Qxb3 Rb8 17.Rab1 Qd7 18.Rfe1 gives White an extra pawn and more space (A. Zhigalko-van der Wiel, Op, Groningen, 2005).

If 12.Ne2 then:

12...d5 13.exd5 Bxd5 14.Bxd5 Qxd5 15.Ng3 Rfe8 is equal (Tukmakov-Planinc, IT, Madrif, 1973).
12...c5 13.Ng3 Rb8 14.Nf5 Bc8 15.N3h4 Be6 is equal (Topalov-Beliavsky, EU ChT, Batumi, 1999).

If 10...Nd4 11.Nxd4 exd4 then:

If 12.Ne2 c5 13.Ng3 d5 then:

14.e5 Nd7 15.Re1 Re8 16.Qf3 Nf8 17.Nf5 Ne6 18.c3 dxc3 19.bxc3 Bf8 20.Qg4 gives White some initiative(Gallagher-Lenic, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).
14.axb5 axb5 15.Rxa8 Bxa8 16.e5 gives White the initiative and more space (Matulovic-Malich, IT, Sarajevo, 1965).

12.Nd5 Bxd5 13.Bxd5 Nxd5 14.exd5 Qd7 15.Re1 Bf6 is equal (Navara-Mikhalchishin, Euro ChT, Le�n, 2001).

10.Nd5! Nxd5 11.Bxd5 Rb8 12.c3 Bf6 13.a4 Ne7 continues to give White the advantage in space (Khairullin-Khalifman, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2006).

9.Re1 d6 10.a4 is the Kasparov Opening, mostly used as an Anti-Marshall Line; see the red notes to White's eighth move in Hou Yifan-A. Muzychuk, elswhere on this thread.

If 7...Bc5 8.a4 0-0 9.Nc3 then:

If 9...b4 10.Nd5 h6 then:

If 11.Be3 d6 12.Qd2 then:

12...Nxd5 13.Bxd5 Qf6 14.Bxc5 dxc5 15.Bxc6 Bxc6 16.Qe3 gives White healthier pawns, the initiative and a slight advnatage in space; Black has a local advantage on the queenside, but she must protect the foremost c-pawn (Bergsson-Houska, Masters 0506, Hastings, 2006).
12...Bxe3!? 13.Nxf6+! Qxf6 14.fxe3 Qd8 15.a5 Rb8 16.Qf2 gives White a small advantage in space (Kurnosov-Pakken, Rilton Cup 0506, Stockholm, 2005).

If 11.a5 d6 12.c3 Rb8 13.Bd2 bxc3 14.bxc3 gives White a better center and a small advantage in space (Timman-Bareev, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 1995).

If 9...Na5 10.axb5 Nxb3 11.cxb3 then:

If 11...axb5 12.Rxa8 Bxa8 13.Nxe5 d5 14.Bg5 then:

If 14...dxe4 15.dxe4 Qxd1 16.Rxd1 b4 then:

17.Bxf6 bxc3 18.bxc3 gxf6 19.Nd7 Bd6 20.Nxf8 Kxf8 21.f3 h5 22.h4 Ke7 23.Kf2 Bb7 24.c4 Be5 gives White the material edge (Kasparov-Kramnik, World Ch Match, London, 2000).
17.Nd5 Bxf2+ 18.Kxf2 Nxe4+ 19.Kg1 Nxg5 20.Nd7 Rd8 21.Nxc7 Kh8 22.Nxa8 Rxa8 23.Rd4 gives White the active Rook for the endgame (Topalov-Shirov, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 1997).

14...Be7 15.Nxb5 dxe4 16.dxe4 Bxe4 17.Nc3 Bb7 18.Re1 gives White an extra pawn and a small edge in space (Kasparov-Shirov, IT, Linares, 1998).

11...Qe7 12.Bg5 axb5 13.Rxa8 Rxa8 14.Nxb5 Bb6 15.Nc3 is equal (Benjamin-S. Muhammad, Op, Minneapolis, 2005).

b) 7.Re1 Bc5 8.c3 d6 9.d4 Bb6 then:

If 10.Bg5 h6 then:

If 11.Bh4 then:

If 11...0-0 12.a4 Re8 13.axb5 axb5 14.Rxa8 Bxa8 then:

If 15.Qd3 Na5 16.Bc2 then:

16...exd4 17.Bxf6 Qxf6 18.cxd4 g5 19.h3 gives White a better center; Black has the Bishop pair and more space (Tukmakov-Dorfman, Soviet Army ChT, Leningrad, 1975).
16...c6 17.Nbd2 Qe7 18.b4 Nb7 19.Nf1 gives White the better center and more space (Kostro-Witkowski, IT B, Wijk aan Zee, 1971).

If 15.d5 then:

If 15...Na7 then:

16.Na3 g5 17.Bg3 Nh5 18.Nc2 Bb7 19.Ne3 Bc8 is equal (Anand-Ivanchuk, World Youth, Shartjah, 1985).
16.Bxf6 Qxf6 17.Na3 g5 18.Qe2 Bb7 19.Nc2 Qf4gives White good chance to win the b-pawn; otherwise, Black has the best Bishop on the board (his "bad" Bishop, no less) and more space (Timmerman-Pioch, Corres, 1994).

15...Na5 16.Ba2 c6 17.Bxf6 Qxf6 18.Na3 Rc8 19.b4 Nc4 20.Bxc4! bxc4 21.Nxc4 wins a pawn for White (Tringov-Smederevac, IT, Osijek, 1978).
15...g5 16.dxc6 gxh4 17.Bd5 Nh5 18.Na3 Qf6 19.Nxb5 gives White an extra pawn.

If 11...g5 12.Bg3 then:

If 12...0-0 13.a4 Re8 14.Qd3 then:

If 14...Na5 15.Ba2 then:

If 15...Nc4?! 16.b3! g4 17.bxc4 gxf3 18.gxf3 b4 19.c5! opens the a2/g8 diagonal for White (Rujevic-Stead, ZT, Gold Coast, Australia, 2001).
If 15...bxa4! then:

16.Nfd2 Qd7 17.d5 Nh5 18.Na3 Qg4 is equal.
16.d5 Rb8 17.Na3 Nh5 18.Nd2 Bc8 19.Nac4 Qf6 is equal.

If 14...exd4?! 15.e5! then:

15...dxe5 16.Qg6+ Kh8 17.Qxh6+ Nh7 18.Bxf7 Qf6 19.Qxf6+ Nxf6 20.Bxe8 Rxe8 21.axb5 axb5 22.Nbd2 gives White the exchange; Black has more space (Rezaei-Magai, TT, Kuala Lampur, 1994).
15...Ng4 16.Qg6+ Kh8 17.Bxf7 dxe5 18.h3 Ne7 19.Bxe5+ Black resigns before he is mated (Klarides-Gandy, EU ChT, Plovdiv, 2003).

If 12...Qe7?! then:

If 13.a4!? h5 14.axb5 axb5 15.Rxa8+ Bxa8 16.h4 g4 then:

If 17.Ng5! Nd8 18.f4 Nd7 19.f5 then:

If 19...Nf8 20.f6 Qxf6 21.Nxf7 Nxf7 22.Rf1 Qh6 23.Bxf7+ gives White the initiative and the advantage in space; Black is threatening the pawn at e5 (Vasiukov-Kuzmin, Op, Leningrad, 1991).
If 19...f6!? 20.Ne6 Nxe6 21.Bxe6 Nf8 22.Bb3 gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Rezaei-Vasiukov, Op, Tehran, 1991).

If b1) 17.dxe5?! then:

If 17...dxe5! then:

If 18.Ng5!? then:

If 18...Nd8 then:

19.Ba2 Nd7 20.Qb3 Bc6 Black's f-pawn holds, leaving Black with the advantage in space (Fern�ndez Garc�a-Chiburdanidze, IT, Salamanca, 1990).
19.Bxe5 Qxe5 20.Qxd8+ Kxd8 21.Nxf7+ Kc8 22.Nxe5 leaves White with two extra pawns (Fritz).

18.Nfd2 Na7 19.Na3 0-0 20.Bc2 Rd8 21.Qe2 Bc6 is equal (Rybka).

17...Nxe5 18.Ng5 0-0 19.Na3 Qd7 20.Qe2 Bc6 21.Nc2 gives White a small advantage (Rybka).

If b2) 17.Nh2 exd4!? 18.Nf1 then:

If 18...0-0?! then:

19.Bf4?! Nxe4 20.Ng3 Nxf2!! 21.Kxf2 Qf6 22.Nxh5 Qxh4+ gives White domination of the dark squares in the vacinity of the White King, which has been stripped of its pawn protection (T. Ernst-Shirov, Op, Guasdal, 1991).
If 19.Qc1! Ne5 20.Qg5+! then:

20...Kh7 21.Bf4 Kh8 22.Ng3 is equal.
20...Kh8 21.Nbd2 dxc3 22.bxc3 Bb7 23.Ne3 is equal.

18...Kf8 19.Bc2 b4 20.Bf4 dxc3 21.bxc3 Ne8 is equal.
18...dxc3 19.Nxc3 Ne5 20.Ne3 Bxe3 21.Rxe3 is equal.

If 13.Nbd2! 0-0 14.Bd5 exd4 15.Nxd4 Qd7 16.Nf5 gives White a better center, the initiative a small advantage in space (Rybka).

If 10.Be3 0-0 11.Nbd2 h6 12.h3 then:

If 12...Re8 then:

If 13.d5 Ne7 14.Bxb6 cxb6 15.Bc2 Ng6 then:

If 16.Bd3 Bc8 17.a4 bxa4 18.Qxa4 gives White a hole to exploit at c6 and more space overall (Zdebskaja-Sachdev, Op, Copenhagen, 2009).
16.Nf1 Nf4 17.Ne3 Bc8 18.Kh2 g6!? 19.Kg1 gives White more freedom; try to find a good, safe square for Black's Knight at f4 (Anisimov-Halkias, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).

If 13.Qb1 Nb8 14.Bc2 Nbd7 15.a4 d5 16.dxe5 Bxe3 17.Rxe3 Nxe5 is equal (Wedberg-Hector, Swedish Ch, IT, Malm�, 2002).

If 12...exd4 13.cxd4 Nb4 14.Qb1 c5 15.a3 Nc6 16.e5 dxe5 17.dxc5 Bc7 18.Rd1 Na5 19.Ba2 Bd5 20.b4 gives White the initiative and a slight adge in space (Karavade-Nadig, World Jr Ch, Istanbul, 2005).

(Neo-Classical Defense or M�ller Defense) If 6...Bc5 7.c3 d6 then:

If 8.a4 then:

If 8...Rb8 9.d4 Bb6 then:

If 10.axb5 axb5 11.Na3 0-0 12.Nxb5 Bg4 then:

If 13.d5 Ne7 14.Bc2 Qd7 15.Na3 Nexd5 16.h3 Bh5 17.exd5 e4 18.Bg5 Bxf3 19.Qd2 e3! (White is better, but this pawn sac is still Black's shot) 20.Bxe3 Bxe3 21.fxe3 gives White an extra pawn and Black more space (Nakamura-Shirov, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2011).
If a) 13.Be3 exd4 14.cxd4 Nxe4 15.Qc2 Qe8 16.Ba4 Bd7 then:

17.Nc3 Nxc3 18.bxc3 Ne7 19.c4 c6 20.Rae1 Qd8 21.Bg5 gives White a small advantage in space (Dom�nguez-Shirov, IT, Sofia, 2009).
17.Rfe1 Nb4 18.Qc4 Ba5 19.Nc3 Bxa4 20.Rxa4 d5 21.Qf1 Nc6 draw (Leko-Anand, World Ch Trmt, Mexico City, 2007).

If b) 13.Bc2 Bxf3 14.gxf3 Nh5 15.f4 then:

15...Qh4 16.Qf3 Nxf4 17.Bxf4 exf4 18.Kh1 Ne7 19.Rg1 Ng6 20.b4 Qe7 21.Na7 gives White the advantage in space (Kamsky-Friedel, US Ch, St. Louis, 2009).
15...Nxf4 16.Bxf4 exf4 17.Qg4 Qf6 18.b4 Ne7 19.Na3 Ng6 20.Nc4 gives White the advantage in space (Leko-Shirov, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2007).

If c) 13.Re1 Bxf3 14.gxf3 Nh5 15.Kh1 then:

If 15...exd4 16.Nxd4 Nxd4 17.cxd4 c5 18.Rg1 cxd4 then:

19.Bg5 Qe8 20.Qd3 Bd8 21.Bd2 Qe5 22.Rg4 Qb5 23.Bc4 Qxb2 24.Rag1 Kh8 gives Black an extra pawn (Short-Ganguly, World Cup, Hyderabad, 2002).
19.Rg5 g6 20.f4 Kh8 21.f5 gives White the advantage in space (Svidler-Shirov, Euro ChT, Novi Sad, 2009).

15...Qf6 16.Rg1 Nf4 17.Be3 Ne6 18.Bxe6 fxe6 19.Rg3 Kh8 20.Qd3 exd4 21.cxd4 e5 22.d5 gives White the advantage in space (Svidler-Shirov, IT, Linares, 1998).

If 10.a5 Ba7 11.h3 0-0 12.Be3 then:

If 12...Ra8 13.Nbd2 Bb7 14.Re1 then:

If 14...exd4 15.cxd4 Nb4 16.Bg5 h6 17.Bh4 Nd3 18.Re3 Nf4 then:

19.Rc1 c5 20.e5 dxe5 21.dxe5 is equal (Navara-Ragger, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).
19.Bc2 Ng6 20.Bg3 c5 21.Nf1 Re8 leaves Black threatening White's e-pawn (Sebag-Harika, ITW, Hangzhou, 2011).

14...h6 15.Bc2 Re8 16.d5 Ne7 17.Nf1 Ng6 18.N3h2 is equal (T. Kosintseva-Munguntuul, Grand Prix W, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, 2010).

If 12...exd4 13.cxd4 Nxe4 then:

If 14.Qc2 Qe8 15.Nc3 then:

15...Nf6 16.Rfe1 Qd7 17.Ne4 Nxe4 18.Qxe4 is equal (Timofeev-Halkias, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
15...Nxc3 16.Qxc3 Ne7 17.Rac1 c6 18.Rfe1 is equal (Nijboer-Bok, Dutch Ch, Eindhoven, 2010).

14.Bd5 Qe8 15.Re1 Nf6 16.Nc3 Nb4 17.Bb3 Qd7 gives Black an advantage in pawn structure; White has an isolated d-pawn (Christiansen-Zilberstein, US Ch, San Diego, 2004).

8...Bb7 9.d4 Bb6 10.Re1 0-0 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bh4 Re8 transposes into Tukmakov-Dorfman, Soviet Army ChT, Leningrad, 1975, above in this set of variations.

If 8.d3 then:

If 8...0-0 then:

If 9.Nbd2 then:

If 9...h6 then:

If 10.Re1 then:

If 10...Re8 11.h3 Bb7 12.Nf1 then:

12...d5 13.exd5 Nxd5 14.Ng3 Nf6 15.Be3 Bf8 16.Rc1 Na5 gives Black a slight advantage in space (Mudongo-Mira, OlW, Torino, 2006).
12...Bb6 13.Be3 Bxe3 14.Nxe3 Na5 15.Bc2 d5 16.exd5 Nxd5 is equal (Otorbaeva-Al Ali, OlW, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).

10...Ne7 11.Nf1 Ng6 12.Ng3 Re8 13.h3 Bb7 14.Nh2 is equal (McShane-Tkachiev, IT B, Wijk aan Zee, 2011).

10.h3 Bb6 11.Re1 Re8 12.Nf1 Be6 13.Bc2 d5 14.exd5 Qxd5 15.a4 Rad8 draw (Dr. Nunn-Turner, IT, Oxford, 1998).

If 9.Bg5 h6 10.Bh4 g5 11.Bg3 Bg4 12.Nbd2 Rb8 13.Re1 Nh5 14.h3 Bxf3 15.Qxf3 Nxg3 16.Qxg3 gives White more freedom (Akopian-I. Sololov, Masters', Gibraltar, 2007).

8...Bb7 transposes into the Arkhangelsk Defense at Bergsson-Houska, Masters 0506, Hastings, 2006, above. /end Neo-Classical Defense

7.Re1 d6 8.c3 Bb7 transposes into Zdebskaja-Sachdev. Op, Copenhagen, 2009, above.

5...Nxe4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 Be6 is the Gothic Defense, more commonly called the Open Defense. See Fier-A. Vovk, Dutch Op, Dieren, 2011, elsewhere on the thread.

6.Re1

6.Qe2 is the Worrall Opening, above.

Continued in part 3 (next post)

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Jack Rabbit

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Wed Oct-05-11 01:12 PM
Response to Reply #3

5. van den Doel - Nikolic, part 3 of 4

Edited on Wed Oct-05-11 01:30 PM by Jack Rabbit

6...b5

(Averbakh Defense) If 6...d6 then:

If 7.Bxc6+ bxc6 8.d4 then:

If 8...exd4 9.Nxd4 Bd7 then:

If 10.c4 0-0 11.Nc3 then:

If 11...Qb8 12.b3 then:

12...Re8 13.Bf4 Qb6 14.Qd3 Rad8 15.Rad1 Qb7 16.Nc2 gives White a better center with a bind on d5, stronger pawns and more space; Black has potential activity for her minor pieces, a half open b-file for her heavy pieces and the two Bishops (T. Kosintseva-Kovalevskaya, Euro ChW, St. Petersburg, 2009).
12...Qb4 13.Bb2 Qc5 14.Qd2 Rfe8 15.Rad1 Qh5 16.f3 gives White a better center, stronger pawns and more space; Black has a half-open b-file at the disposal of his Rooks and the Bishop pair (Nisipeanu-Mamedyarov, FIDE Knock Out, Tripoli, 2004).

11...c5 12.Nc2 Be6 13.b3 Ng4 14.f3 Ne5 15.Bb2 is equal (Gashimov-Onischuk, Ol, Dresden, 2008).

If 10.Qf3 0-0 11.Nc3 Re8 then:

If 12.Bg5 h6 13.Bh4 Nh7 14.Bxe7 Qxe7 15.Rad1 then:

15...Rab8 16.b3 Qg5 17.Qd3 a5 18.Re3 gives White a slight advantage in space (Vachier Lagrave-Fressinet, Op, Paris, 2006).
15...Ng5 16.Qf4 Ne6 17.Qd2 Nf8 18.Nde2 Ng6 19.Nf4 Ne5 is equal (Dr. Lasker-Janowski, Match, Paris, 1909).

12.h3 h6 13.e5 dxe5 14.Rxe5 Bd6 15.Rxe8+ Qxe8 16.Bf4 c5 17.Nb3 Bc6 18.Qe3 Qxe3 19.Bxe3 Rb8 is equal (Guliev-Stocek, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).

If 8...Nd7 9.Nbd2 then:

If 9...f6 10.Nc4 Nb6 11.Na5 Bd7 12.c4 0-0 then:

13.Be3 Qe8 14.c5 Nc8 15.Rc1 Rb8 16.Qc2 gives Black a huge advantage in space on the queenside (Kashin-J. Littlewood, IT, Hastings, 1963).
13.c5 Nc8 14.Be3 Na7 15.d5 dxc5 16.Nb7 Qb8 17.Nxc5 Bxc5 18.Bxc5 Rd8 draw (Krogius-Antoshin, Soviet Ch �-final, Leningrad, 1957).

9...0-0 10.Nc4 Bf6 11.Be3 Qe8 12.Qd2 Qe6 13.Qc3 Rb8 14.b3 gives White the better center wkith a central pawn duo, stronger pawns and more space; Black has a Rook on a half open file and the Bishops (Keres-Ivkov, TMatch, Belgrade, 1970).

7.c3 Bg4 8.d3 0-0 9.Nbd2 transposes into the Nepomniachtchi-Mamedyarov, IT, Dortmund, 2008 in the gold notes to White's fifth move.

7.Bb3 d6

7...0-0 8.c3 d5 is the famous Marshall Gambit. White has several ways to avoid the Marshall at move 8. See Hou Yifan-A. Muzychuk, Grand Prix W, Rostov-on-Don, 2011, elsewhere on this thread.

8.c3 0-0 9.d4

BLACK

WHITE

Grand Spanish Royal Game: Yates Opening
Position after 9.d2d4

This is the Yates Opening, sometimes called the Bogoljubow Opening.
The Main Line of the Spanish Grand Royal is 9.h3, to which Black has a half dozen playable moves.
9.d3, the Clam Opening, is often played here and transposes into Akopian Khalifman at White's ninth move in the gold notes to White's fifth move.

9...Bg4 10.Be3

If 10.d5 Na5 11.Bc2 c6 then:

If 12.h3 then:

If 12...Bc8 13.dxc6 Qc7 14.Nbd2 Qxc6 15.Nf1 Nc4 16.Ng3 then:

If 16...Re8 17.a4 then:

If 17...Be6 18.Ng5 Bd7 19.b3 Na5 20.Bd2 then:

If 20...Qc7 21.axb5 axb5 22.Qe2 then:

22...h6 23.Nf3 Be6 24.Reb1 Reb8 25.Nh2 Qb7 26.Ng4 is equal (Bacerro Rivero-Kamsky, US Ch, San Diego, 2006).
22...Rec8 23.Ra2 Nb7 24.Rxa8 Rxa8 25.b4 h6 26.Nf3 gives White fewer pawn weaknesses (C.Balogh-Tkachiev, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).

20...Bd8 21.Qe2 h6 22.Nf3 Be6 23.axb5 axb5 24.Reb1 is equal (Parligras-Pavlovic, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2008).

If 17...Bb7 18.b3 Nb6 then:

19.a5 Nbd7 20.Bd2 Bf8 21.b4 g6 22.Rc1 d5 is equal (Kovanova-Nemcova, OlW, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).
19.axb5 axb5 20.Rxa8 Rxa8 21.Nf5 Bf8 22.Bg5 Nbd7 is equal (Ansell-Bronstein, IT, Rishon Le Zion, 1991).

If 16...g6 then:

If 17.b3 Nb6 18.Bh6 Re8 19.Qd2 Kh8 20.Ng5 Be6 21.Nxe6 fxe6 then:

22.Bg5 Qc7 23.Re3 Rad8 24.Rf3 Ng8 25.Rd1 Bxg5 26.Qxg5 Rf8 is equal (Fedorowitz-Reshevsky, Op, Lone Pine, 1981).
22.Rac1 Rac8 23.Bd3 Nfd7 24.Be2 Nc5 25.Bg4 Bh4 26.Rcd1 gives White better pawn structure and the advantage in space; Black's backward d-pawn is a target (I. V. Ivanov-Borisenko, Trmt, Yaroslav, 1979).

If 17.Qe2 Bb7 then:

18.a4 Rfc8 19.axb5 axb5 20.Rxa8 Rxa8 21.Bd3 Ra2 22.Bb1 Ra1 23.Bd3 Ra2 24.Bb1 Ra1 25.Bd3 draw (Ciocaltea-Gligoric, Euro ChT, Moscow, 1977).
18.Bd3 Nb6 19.Bh6 Rfe8 20.Rad1 Rac8 21.Bb1 Nbd7 22.Qd2 gives White fewer pawn weaknesses and a small advantage in space (Kindermann-Barbero, IT, Debrecen, 1989).

If 12...Bxf3 13.Qxf3 cxd5 14.exd5 then:

If 14...Nc4 15.Nd2 Nb6 16.Nf1 then:

If 16...Ne8 17.a4 bxa4 18.Ng3 then:

18...g6 19.Bh6 Ng7 20.Bxa4 Nxa4 21.Rxa4 gives White a clear advantage in space; Black's game is badly cramped (Tseshkovsky-Beliavsky, Soviet Ch, Tbilisi, 1978).
18...Bg5? 19.Qf5! g6 20.Qxg5 f6 21.Qg4 Rc8 22.Bxa4 White wins (Harandi-Sharif, IT, Manila, 1977).

16...Nbxd5 17.Ng3 Nc7 then:

If 18.Nf5 Ne6 19.a4 bxa4 20.Bxa4 g6 then:

21.Nh6+ Kg7 22.Bc6 Rc8 23.Bb7 Rb8 24.b4 Ne8 is equal (Westerinen-Angantysson, Op, Lone Pine, 1978).
21.Nxe7+ Qxe7 22.Bc6 Rab8 23.Rxa6 e4 24.Qe2 Nc5 gives White greater piece activity (Shamkovich Djuric, Canadian Ch, Toronto, 1983).

18.a4 b4 19.Nf5 Ne6 20.Qb7 Re8 21.Qxb4 gives White more activity, the Bishop pair in an open center and more space (Kurajica-Smejkal, IT, Titovo Uzice, 1978).

14...Rc8 15.Nd2 Nc4 16.Nf1 g6 17.Ng3 Ne8 18.Nf5 is equal (Yates-Rubinstein, IT, Hastings, 1922).

If 12.dxc6 Qc7 13.Nbd2 Qxc6 14.Nf1 then:

If 14...Nc4 15.h3 Be6 then:

If 16.Ng3 Rfe8 then:

17.Qe2 Rac8 18.a4 b4 19.b3 Na3 20.c4 is equal (Mastrovasilis-Hohler, Op, Queenstown, New Zealand, 2009).
17.Nh2 d5 18.Ng4 Rad8 19.Nxf6+ Bxf6 20.Qf3 Be7 gives Black the advantage in space (Martchenko-Zilberstein, Op, Edmonton, 2009).

16.b3 Nb6 17.Bd2 Rad8 18.Qe2 Rfe8 19.Rac1 Bf8 is equal (Fressinet-Mamedyarov, Op, Reykjavik, 2006).

14...h6 15.h3 Be6 16.Ng3 Rfe8 17.Nh4 Bf8 18.Qf3 is equal (Michel-Najdorf, IT, Mar del Plata, 1948).

10...Na5!?

If 10...exd4 11.cxd4 Na5 12.Bc2 then:

If 12...c5 then:

If 13.dxc5 dxc5 14.Nbd2 then:

If 14...Nc6 15.Rc1 then:

If 15...Nd7 16.h3 Bh5 17.Bb1 Rc8 then:

If 18.Qe2 Bf6 19.g4 Bg6 20.Nf1 Qc7 21.Ng3 Nce5 22.Nd2 Nc6 23.Nf3 Nce5 draw (Mukhin-Smejkal, Czechoslovakian Ch, Luhacovice, 1973).
18.b3 Re8 19.Qe2 Bf6 20.Nf1 Bxf3 21.Qxf3 Bd4(Tseshkovsky-Rukavina, TM, Ohrid, 1972).

15...Nb4 16.Bb1 Nd3 17.Bxd3 Qxd3 18.Rc3 Qd7 19.Bxc5 Bxc5 20.Rxc5 Bxf3(Pruijssers-de Jong, Eurro Club Cup, Antalya, 2007).

14...Nd7 then:

If 15.Qb1 Re8 16.e5 Nf8 17.Bf5 Bxf5 18.Qxf5 then:

If 18...Qc8 19.Qh5 Qe6 20.Ne4 Rac8 21.Bg5 Qg6 22.Qh3 then:

22...Rc7 23.Bxe7 Rexe7 24.Nh4 gives White an advanced pawn, the initiative and a small advantage in space; Black has the remote pawn majority and more active Rooks (van Riemsdijk-Kosashvili, Ol, Novi Sad, 1990).
22...Bxg5 23.Nfxg5 Nc4 24.f4 Ne6 gives White a brewing attack against the Black King (Marjanovic-Abramovic, Yugoslav Ch, Yugoslavia, 1984).

18...Qd5 19.h4 Nc4 20.Nxc4 Qxc4 21.h5 h6 22.b3 Qe6 23.Qf4 Rad8 24.Rad1 draw (Marjanovic-Lalic, Yugoslav Ch, Yugoslavia, 1989).

15.Bf4 Re8 16.e5 Nf8 17.Be4 Rc8 18.Nf1 Ne6 is equal (Gulko-Adams, IT, Groningen, 1990).

13.h3 Bxf3 14.Qxf3 then:

If 14...cxd4 15.Bxd4 Rc8 then:

If 16.Qd1 then:

If 16...Nd7 17.Nc3 Bf6 18.Re2 Be5 then:

If 19.Bxe5 dxe5 20.Rd2 Rc7 21.Nd5 Rb7 22.Ne3 Qc7 23.Rc1 Nf6 24.Bb1 Qb8 25.b3 Rb6 then:

26.Qf3 g6 27.Kh2 Rd6 28.Rcd1 gives White a small advantage after Rooks are exchanged on d2 (N. Kosintseva-van den Doel, Euro Ch, Kusadasi, 2006).
26.Nf5 g6 27.Ne7+ Kg7 28.Qc2 Re8 is equal (Venkatesh-Thipsay, Indian Ch, Atul, 2006).

19.Nd5 Nc6 20.Bc3 Nb6 21.Rc1 Nxd5 22.exd5 gives White the initiative (Gelfand-Bacrot, Euro ChT, Saint Vincent, 2005).

16...Nc6 17.Nc3 b4 18.Ne2 Nxd4 19.Nxd4 g6 20.Qd2 gives White the better cent and a slight edge in space (Carlsen-E. L'Ami, IT B, Wijk aan Zee, 2006).

16.Bb3 Nc6 17.Qd1 Nxd4 18.Qxd4 Nh5 19.Nc3 Bf6 is equal (Ivanchuk-Romanishin, Ukrainian Ch, Kharkov, 2004).

14...Nc4 15.dxc5 dxc5 16.Nc3 Nd7 17.Bf4 Nde5 18.Bxe5 Nxe5 19.Qg3 is equal (Grischuk-B. Socko, Euro Ch, Istanbul, 2003).

12...Nc4 then:

If 13.Bc1 13...c5 14.b3 Nb6 15.Nbd2 Nfd7 16.h3 Bh5 17.Bb2 then:

If 17...Rc8 then:

If 18.Rc1 cxd4 then:

If 19.Bxd4 Bf6 then:

20.g4 Bg6 21.Nf1 Nc5 22.Ng3 Ne6 23.Be3 Bb2 24.Rb1 Bc3 gives Black the initiative and the advantage in space (Klovens-Geller, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1976).
20.Be3 Bb2 21.Rb1 Bc3 22.Re2 Re8 23.g4 Bg6 gives Black a comfortable advantage in space (Fedorchuk-Froeyman, Op, Condom, 2005).

19.Bb1 Bf6 20.Rxc8 Qxc8 21.g4 Bg6 22.Nxd4 Qc5 23.N2f3 Re8 is equal (Carlsen-Z. Almasi, IT B, Wijk aan Zee, 2006).

If 18.a4 bxa4 19.bxa4 cxd4 then:

If 20.a5 Nc4 21.Nxc4 Rxc4 22.g4 Bg6 23.Bd3 Rc5 24.Nxd4 Bf6 25.f4 then:

25...Rxa5? 26.f5! Qb6 27.Rxa5 Qxb2 28.Nb3 gives White the material advantage (Ganguly-Z. Almasi, IT, Paks, 2009).
If 25...h6 26.Qd2 then:

If 26...Qc7?! 27.Bxa6 then:

27...Rc2? 28.Nxc2! Bxb2 29.Rad1 gives White the material advantage, a passed pawn and more space; he soon wins (Nisipeanu-Diermair, Euro Ch, Aix-les-Bains, 2011).
27...Rb8 28.Kf1 Ra8 29.Bb5 Bxd4 30.Qxd4 Nf6 31.Bd3 gives White a fair advantage in space.

26...Qa8! 27.Ra4 Rc7 28.f5 Nc5 29.Rb4 Bh7 reamins equal.

20.Bxd4 Bf6 21.g4 Bg6 22.a5 Na8 23.Nf1 Nc7 24.Ne3 Ne6! 25.Bxf6 (forced) 25...Nxf6 gives Black more freedom and the initiative (van der Wiel-Nijboer, IT C, Wijk aan Zee, 2008).

17...Re8 18.Nf1 Bf6 19.g4 Bg6 20.e5 Be7 is equal (Georgiadis-Nyback, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).

13.Nbd2 Nxe3 14.Rxe3 c5 15.Qe1 Nd7 16.h3 Bh5 is equal (Yates-Capablanca, IT, New York, 1924).

11.dxe5

11.Bc2 Nc4 12.Bc1 Nd7 13.b3 Ncb6 14.Nbd2 c6 15.h3 Be6 16.Nf1 is equal (W. Schmidt-Calvo, Ol, Lugano, 1968).

11...Bxf3 12.Qxf3 dxe5 13.Bc2 c5 (N)

If 13...Nc4 14.Bc1 c5 15.b3 then:

If 15...Nb6 16.Nd2 then:

If 16...Qc7 17.a4 Rfd8 18.Nf1 then:

If 18...bxa4 19.bxa4 Nc4 20.Bg5 Ne8 21.Bxe7 Qxe7 is equal (Munguntuul-Tuvshintugs, World Univ ChW, Z�rich, 2010).
18...Rab8 19.axb5 axb5 20.Ne3 g6 21.g3 Ra8 22.Rxa8 Rxa8 23.Bd3 is equal (Mortensen-Tisdall, ZT, Espoo, 1989).

16...Nfd7 17.Nf1 c4 18.Ne3 g6 19.bxc4 bxc4 20.Rd1 gives White a small advantage in space (Barle-Gligoric, IT, Portoroz/Ljubljana, 1985).

15...Na5 16.Nd2 Nc6 17.Nf1 b4 18.Ne3 bxc3 19.Nc4 is equal (Vestol-Ju. Bolboch�n, Ol, Dubrovnik, 1950).

End of Opening Theory
Continued in part 4 (next post)

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Jack Rabbit

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Wed Oct-05-11 01:13 PM
Response to Reply #3

6. van den Doel - Nikolic, part 4 of 4

14.Nd2

White has a slight edge in space because he can easily drive back the Knight at a4; White has the Bishop pair while Black's remaining Bishop is bad.

14...Qc7 15.Nf1

15.a4 c4 16.Qg3 Nh5 17.Qh3 Nf6 18.axb5 axb5 19.Qg3 maintains White's edge.

15...Nc4 16.Bc1

If 16.b3 Na3 17.Bd1 c4 then:

If 18.Ng3 Rfd8 19.Nf5 Rd3 then:

20.Nxe7+ Qxe7 21.Rc1 b4 22.cxb4 Qxb4 23.Qe2 is equal.

20.Be2!? Rxc3! 21.Qg3 g6 gives Black a slight edge in space.

18.b4!? a5! 19.bxa5 Rxa5 20.Ng3 Bc5 gives Black a slight advantage in space.

16...g6!?

This move weakens the kingside dark squares without any visable benefit.
16...Rfe8 17.b3 Nd6 18.Ne3 c4 19.Nd5 Nxd5 20.exd5 continues to give White a slight advantage in space.

17.Bg5

White assumes a small advantage in space.

17...Nh5?!

Having weakened the dark squares, why would Black want to exchange his dark-bound Bishop?
17...Qc6! 18.Rab1 Rfd8 19.Bb3 Nb6 20.Rbd1 c4 21.Bc2 gives White only a slight advantage from the pin of the Knight at f6 to the unprotected Bishop..

BLACK: Predrag Nikolic

WHITE: Erik van den Doel
Position after 17...Nf6h5

18.Bh6!

White has the initiative and a fair advantage in space.
18.Bxe7!? actually doesn't help White very much after 18...Qxe7 19.Bb3 Nb6! 20.Bd5 Nxd5 21.exd5 Qd6 with equality for Black; White has no Bishops to exploit the weakness of the dark square complex on Black's kingside..

18...Ng7

The text is better than 18...Rfe8 19.Bb3 Nd6 20.Ne3 Nf6 21.Bd5 when White has pressure on Black's f-pawn.

19.b3 Nb6 20.Ne3

The Knight would like to go to d5.
A variation on the theme is 20.a4 c4 21.a5 Nd7 22.b4 Rac8 23.Ne3 Nf6 24.Rad1.

20...Rfd8

20...c4 21.Rad1 Rfd8 22.a4 bxa4 23.bxa4 Rab8 24.a5 gives White a better protected cwenter, the Bishop par and the advantage in space; when the Knight retreats, Black will have a Rook on an open file and the Queen attack the a-pawn.

21.Ng4 Nd7?!

Neither of Black's Knights are doing anything useful at the moment, but the Knight at g7 seems particularly idle. It should be redeplyed first.
21...Ne6 22.Rad1 Rd7 23.Be3 Kg7 24.Rxd7 Nxd7 25.Rd1 continues to give White a fair advantage with better activity for his minor pieces, control of the d-file the Bishop pair and more space; Black's Knight is better at e6 than in at g7.

22.Be3 h5 23.Nh6+!

Look around. This is the safest place for the Knight right now.

23...Kh7

This is clearly Black's best move. 23...Kf8?? is met by 24.Qxf7# and good night.

24.g4!?

White seems a bit nervous about leaving his Knight at h6, although it is in no danger as long as the Bishop is on the c1/h6 diagonal.

24...Rf8 25.Kh1?!

Black throws away most of his advnatage with this passive move.
If 25.Red1 Nb6 26.Rd2 Rad8 27.Rxd8 then:

27...Bxd8 28.Rd1 h4 29.g5 Ne6 30.Qg4 Rh8 31.Qxh4 gives White an extra pawn and a tremendous kingside initiative.
27...Rxd8?! 28.gxh5! Rf8 29.hxg6+ fxg6 30.Qh3 leaves White with an extra pawn.

BLACK: Predrag Nikolic

WHITE: Erik van den Doel
Position after 25.Kg1h1

25...Nf6!

Black begins to counterpunch Black's intrusion into his kingside.
25...c4 26.Rad1 Bc5 27.Bc1 cxb3 28.axb3 Nb6 29.Rg1 also limits White to a small advantage in space.

26.Rg1

White does what he can to hold onto the position, but he's lost the advantage he had just a short time ago.
26.g5 Nd7 27.Rad1 f6 28.gxf6 Rxf6 29.Qh3 gives White a small advantage in space.

26...hxg4!

Black now holds White to a small advantage, based mainly on possessing the Bishop pair.

27.Nxg4

The easiest and best way to deal with Black counterattack is to exchange it away.
If 27.Qg2 Ne6 28.Nxg4 Nh5 then:

29.Qh3 Ng5 30.Nf6+ Bxf6 31.Bxg5 Kg7 32.Bxf6+ Kxf6 is equal.
White cannot take a breather from Black's counterattack: If 29.a4!? then 29...Nhf4! 30.Qf1 Rab8 31.axb5 axb5 32.Bd3 f5! gives Black the initiative and more space.

27...Ngh5

Black conserves material.
27...Nxg4 28.Rxg4 Rad8 29.a4 b4 30.cxb4 cxb4 31.Rc1 gives White a small advantage in space.

28.Rad1!?

The Rook cannot penetrate on the d-file not stop Black from making any progress from d1. Black's forward pawns are White's problem on the queenside. The Rook was in a perfectly fine place to support a strike against them.
If 28.a4 Rh8 29.Bg5 Kg7 then:

If 30.Ne3! Rad8 31.axb5 axb5 then:

If 32.Nf5+! then:

32...Kf8 33.Nxe7 Kxe7 34.Ra6 Rd6 35.Rga1 Rb8 36.b4 gives White command of the a-file and pressure againt the pinned Knight at f6.
If 32...gxf5?? then White wins after 33.Bxf6+ Kf8 34.Bxh8.

If 32.Bxf6+!? then:

32...Nxf6! 33.Ra6 Qb7 34.Rga1 Ra8 35.Rxa8 Rxa8 36.Rxa8 Qxa8 is equal.
32...Bxf6! 33.Nd5 Qb7 34.Rg4 Be7 35.Ra5 Qd7 is equal.

30.Nxf6!? Bxf6 31.axb5 axb5 32.Rxa8 Rxa8 33.Be3 Rh8 is equal.

28...Rh8 29.Bg5 Kg7 30.Ne3 Kf8

If 30...Rad8 31.Nf5+ Kf8 32.Bh6+ then:

32...Kg8 33.Nxe7+ Qxe7 34.Rxd8+ Qxd8 35.Bg5 Kg7 36.a4 gives White two Bishops over two Knights, but Black has more space and, with his Knights on the kingside, more potent threats.
If 32...Ke8!? 33.Ng7+! Nxg7 34.Bxg7 then:

If 34...Rxd1 then:

35.Rxd1 Rh4 36.Bxf6 Rf4 37.Bxe5 Qxe5 38.Qh3 gives White an extra pawn, but Black is taking over the initiative.
If 35.Bxd1!? Rh4 36.Bxf6 Rf4 37.Qd3 Rxf6 gives Black healthier pawns, more freedom and the initiative; White commands the d-file.
35.Bxh8?! Rxg1+! 36.Kxg1 Nh5 imprisons the White Bishop at h8.

If 34...Rh4 35.Bxf6 Rxd1 then:

36.Bxd1?! Rf4! 37.Qd3 Rxf6 38.Kg2 Rd6 gives Black a strong initiative and more space.
36.Rxd1 Rf4 37.Bxe5 Qxe5 transposes to the parent line.

31.Nd5 Nxd5 32.exd5 Kg7

32...Bxg5?! 33.Rxg5! Qd6 34.Rxg6 f6 35.Rdg1 Ke7 36.Bf5 gives White a huge advantage in space.

33.d6 Bxd6 34.Be4?!

This Zwischenzug does more harm than good.
If 34.Bxg6!! fxg6 35.Rxd6 Qxd6 36.Qb7+! Kg8 37.Qxa8+ then:

If 37...Kf7 38.Qf3+ then:

If 38...Nf4 39.Bxf4 exf4 40.Rg4 then:

40...Kg7 41.Rxf4 Rh3 42.Qxh3 Qxf4 43.Qe3 Qf5 44.h4 gives White an extra pawn.
40...Rh5 41.Rxf4+ Kg7 42.Kg2 Rg5+ 43.Kf1 Qe7 44.Re4 gives White an extra pawn.

38...Kg7 39.Rd1 Qc7 40.c4 bxc4 41.bxc4 Rb8 42.Kg1 gives White a more active Queen.

37...Kh7?! 38.Qb7+ Kg8 39.Be7! Qd3 40.Bxc5 Nf4 41.Be3 gives White a strong initiative.

BLACK: Predrag Nikolic

WHITE: Erik van den Doel
Position after 34.Bc2e4

34...Rag8!

Black simply moves his Rook to a better square.

35.Qd3 Be7 36.Bxe7

If 36.Bxg6?! Bxg5! 37.Rxg5 Nf4 38.Be4+ Kf6 39.Rf5+ then:

39...Ke6 40.Qe3 Rh4 41.Rd2 Rhg4 42.Rd1 Rh8 gives Black a slight plus with more advanced pawns and dominance on the kingside; White has counterplay in the center.
39...Ke7 40.Qe3 f6 41.Bf3 Rh4 42.Re1 Ne6 gives Black threats on the kingside, but White has the resources to meet them and counterplay in the center.

36...Qxe7 37.Bxg6

White regains his pawn four moves after it was taken.

37...Nf4 38.Be4+ Kf6 39.Qd6+

If 39.Qc2?! then after 39...Rxg1+! 40.Kxg1 Qe6 41.Qd2 Qh3 42.Qd6+ Ne6 Black has serious threats against White's King.

39...Qxd6 40.Rxd6+ Ke7 41.Rxa6

41.Rgd1 Rg4 42.Rd7+ then:

42...Kf6! 43.R7d6+ Kg5 44.Rf1 Rh3 45.Rxa6 Rxc3 gives Black all the forward pawns and the activity on the kingside.
42...Kf8 43.R1d2 Rhg8 44.Rd8+ Ke7 45.R2d7+ Kf6 gives Black a mating threat that is easily met, forward pawns and kingside activity; White has sufficient counterplay and a passed h-pawn.

41...Rxg1+ 42.Kxg1 Ne2+ 43.Kg2

43.Kf1 Nxc3 44.Ra7+ Kf6 45.Ra6+ Kg5 46.Bc6 Rh6

43...Nxc3 44.Bc2?!

If 44.Bf5 b4 45.Bd3 e4 46.Ra7+ Kd6 47.Bc4 f5 gives Black a small advantage owing to his more advanced pawns.

BLACK: Predrag Nikolic

WHITE: Erik van den Doel
Position after 44.Be4c2

44...Nd5 45.Bf5

45.Ra7+ Kf6 then:

46.Ra5 Nf4+ 47.Kg1 b4 48.Rxc5 Ra8 49.Bb1 Rd8
46.Ra6+ Kg5 47.Ra5 Nf4+ 48.Kh1 Rh3 49.Rxb5 Rc3

45...Rh5?!

45...Nf4+ 46.Kf3 Rxh2 47.Rc6 Rh5 48.Ke4 f6

46.Bc8?!

46.Ra7+! Kf8 47.Bd7 Nf4+ 48.Kg3 b4 49.h4 equalizes.

46...Nf4+! 47.Kg3 Ne2+

47...f5! 48.h4 (preventing mate with the Rook on h3) 48...Ne2+ 49.Kh3 Nd4! prevents 50.Re6+.

48.Kf3 Nd4+ 49.Ke4?

The White King abandons his pawns.
Better is 49.Kg2 Rg5+ 50.Kf1 e4 51.Ra7+ Kf6 52.h3 b4 when all of White pawns are protected.

BLACK: Predrag Nikolic

WHITE: Erik van den Doel
Position after 49.Kf3e4

49...Rh8!

The h-pawn is doomed.
49...Rxh2 proves less effective than the text after 50.Kxe5 Rxf2 51.Kd5 Rc2 52.Ra7+ Kf8.

50.Ra7+ Kd6 51.Ra6+ Kc7 52.Bf5 Rxh2

Black has an extra pawn.

53.Kxe5 Nc6+!?

Black misses the winning line.
If 53...Rh5! then:

If 54.Rf6 then Black wins after 54..d8 55.Rxf7 Ke8 56.Rf6 Ke7.
54.Kf6 loses immediately to 54...Rh6+!.

54.Ke4 Rxf2 55.a4?

White's a-pawn has no chance of queening.
A better try is 55.Ra8 when after 55...Nd4 56.Bh3 Rh2 57.Bf1 f6 58.Ke3 Kb7 White can win back the pawn with 59.Rf8!.

55...b4!

The text is better than 55...bxa4!? then:

56.Rxa4! Rb2 57.Ra3 Nd4 58.Bh7 Kc6 still leaves Black a pawn up
56.bxa4? c4! 57.Ra8 c3 58.Rh8 Ne7! forces White to surrender his Bishop to stop the c-pawn.

56.Bh3 Nd4 57.Kd5 Kb7!?

Again, Black leaves the door ajar for White.
57...Nxb3! 58.a5 Kb7 59.Rb6+ Ka7 60.Bc8 Nxa5 61.Ra6+ Kb8 should be enough to get White to sue for peace.

58.Rd6?

White doesn't enter.
58.Rh6 Nxb3 59.Kc4 Nc1 60.Kxc5 b3 61.Rb6+ Ka7 gives Black faint hopes with a passed pawn and his Rook behind Black's passer.

58...Nxb3! 59.Kc4

BLACK: Predrag Nikolic

WHITE: Erik van den Doel
Position after 59.Kd5c4

59...Rc2+!!

Black proffers a Knight and wins whether White takes it or not.

60.Kb5

60.Kxb3 Rc3+ 61.Kb2 Rxh3 62.a5 Ra3 is an easy win for Black.

60...Nd4+ 61.Ka5 Rf2 62.Rb6+ Kc7 63.Ka6 b3!

The advance is well-timed. White cannot stop the pawn with his King.

64.a5 b2 65.Rb7+

If 65.Bf1 Rxf1 66.Rxb2 c4 then:

If 67.Rb7+ Kc8 68.Rb4 Rf6+ then:

69.Rb6 Rxb6+ 70.Kxb6 c3 71.a6 Ne6 72.a7 Nc7 stops the pawn.
69.Ka7 loses lickity split to 69...Nc6+ 70.Ka6 Nxb4+.

67.Rb4 then:

67...Rf6+ 68.Rb6 Rxb6+ 69.axb6+ Kb8 wins easily.
67...c3?! 68.Rxd4 Rf6+ 69.Kb5 Rc6 70.Rd1 c2 71.Rc1 gives White a fighting chance.

65...Kd6 66.Rb6+ Ke5 67.Kb7

67.Bf1 Rxf1 68.Rxb2 c4 69.Kb6 c3 70.Rh2 Rb1+ 71.Kc7 Rb2 when it will cost White the Rook to stop Black's c-pawn and leave him no time to advance his a-pawn.

BLACK: Predrag Nikolic

WHITE: Erik van den Doel
Position after 67.Ka6b7

67...Rf3!

Black sacrifices the pawn at the palace gate for White's Bishop and, most importantly, to get his Rook behind White'a a-pawn.

68.Rxb2 Rxh3

Black has a whole piece to give away, and he'll probably need it to stop White's a-pawn.

69.a6 Ra3 70.a7 c4 71.a8Q

White loses whether he preserves his pawn or not.
If 71.Rb1 then after 71...c3 72.Re1+ Kd5 73.Rc1 c2 74.Kb6 f5 the f-pawn comes forward and Black wins as in the text, except that the Rook waits at a3 for White's pawn to move.

71...Rxa8 72.Kxa8 c3 73.Rb1 c2 74.Rc1 f5 75.Kb7 f4 76.Kc7

If 76.Re1+ Kd6 77.Rh1 f3 then:

If 78.Rh6+ Ke5 79.Rh5+ Nf5 80.Rh1 Ne3 then:

If 81.Re1 then 81...Ke4 82.Kc6 f2 83.Rc1 f1Q wins.
If 81.Rh5+ then Black wins after 81...Ke4 82.Rh4+ Kd3 83.Rh1 f2.

If 78.Kb6 then Black wins after 78...Ne2 79.Rh6+ Ke5 80.Rh5+ Kd4 81.Rh1 c1Q.

76...f3 77.Kd7 f2 78.Ke7 Ne2 0-1

One pawn or the other must promote.
Mh. van den Doel resigns.

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Jack Rabbit

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Wed Oct-05-11 01:17 PM
Response to Reply #2

7. Fier - A. Vovk, Dutch Open, Dieren, 2011 (Gothic Defense)

The two most important deviations from the Grand Spanish Royal Main Line are the Gothic Defense (aka the Open Defense) and the Marshall Gambit. Both are treated in this survey with a dedicated game. This game covers the Gothic Defense.

One may ask, why call this the Gothic Defense when everybody else knows it as the Open Defense. The reason is that in this method of classifying openings, there is not to be one name for so many different opening variations that aren't even related to each other nor is there to be a single set up of pawns and minor pieces with so many different names. In the first case, just ask yourself how many Rubinstein Variations are there? How about the multiple different Tarrach Variations? When someone talks about the Tarrasch Variation, is he talking about the Queen's Gambit Declined (1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5) or the French Game (1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2)? We have settled thjis confusion by calling the Tarrasch Defense of teh Queen's Gambit the Normal Defense (which is what Dr. Tarrasch himself called it) and the Tarrasch Variation of the French Game the Tarrasch Opening.

In the case of different names being used for the same set up, let us take the examples of sorties in Grand Spanish Royal Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6), the Petit Spanish Royal Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6) and the Italian Royal Game (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6). Black's set up is essentially the same in all three positions. The only difference is that in the first instace, he has tickled the intruding Bishop with his a-pawn. We call this the Gothic Defense in all cases. Conventionally, the third case is called the Two Knights' Defense (the late David Bronstein wanted to rename it the Chigorin Counter-Attack), the second case is called the Berlin Defense and the name of the opening awaits further developments in the first case. As it happens, in the Petit Spanish Royal the game is apt to continue 4.O-O Nxe4 5.d4 while the Grand Spanish Game may continue 5.O-O Nxe4 5.d4, when it is called the Open Defense. Again, why call Black'S set up THE Berlin Defense in one case and the Open Defense in the other? Let them all be called by the same name.

Alexandr Hil�rio Takeda Sakai dos Santos Fier, 23, is a rising star from Brazil.

Alexandr Fier
Photo by http://www.flickr.com/people/23358859@N00">Mariano Garc�a D�ez in http://www.flickr.com/photos/23358859@N00/2877223004/">flickr Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Alexandr Fier - Andrey Vovk
Dutch Open, Round 8
Dieren, 27 July 2011

Grand Spanish Royal Game: Gothic Defense (Neo-Classical Variation) (Open Defense)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Nxe4

BLACK

DIAGRAM

Grand Spanish Royal Game: Gothic Defense
Position after 5...Nf6e4:p

The text is the Gothic Defense, conventionally called the Open Defense. It was and is a part of the arsenal of four players universally named as among the best never to be world champion: Dr. Siegbert Tarrasch (the Tarrasch Variation is another alternate name for this debut), Akiba Rubinstein, Paul Keres and Viktor Korchnoi.
In this case, Open is a relative term; this debut is more open than other variations of the Grand Spanish Royal Game, but less than most variations of the Petit Spanish Royal Game.
The usual move here leading to the Main Line is 5...Be7, followed by 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3. For that and alternatives through White's ninth move, see van den Doel-Nikolic, elsewhere on this this thread.

6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5

If 7...exd4 8.Re1 d5 9.Nc3 then:

If 9...Be6 10.Nxe4 dxe4 then:

If 11.Rxe4 Be7 12.Bxe6 fxe6 then:

13.Nxd4 0-0 14.Qg4 Nxd4 15.Rxd4 gives White a small iitiative (Fischer-Trifunovic, IT, Bled, 1961).
13.Rxe6 Qd7 14.Qe2 0-0 15.Qe4 Rf6 16.Ng5 g6 is equal (Burn-Dr. Tarrasch, IT, Ostend, 1907).

11.Bg5 Be7 12.Bxe7 Qxe7 13.Rxe4 0-0 14.Qe2 Qd6 15.Bxe6 fxe6 16.Rxe6 gives White a clear advantage (Pilnik-Trifunovic, IT, Amsterdam, 1950).

9...dxc3 10.Bxd5 Bb7 11.Ng5 Be7 12.Nxe4 0-0 13.Nxc3 gives White an edge in space (Suetin-Savon, Soviet Ch, Tbilisi, 1967).

8.dxe5

(Schlechter Variation) If 8.a4 (this was popular before World War I, but now it is seldom seen) then:

If 8...Nxd4 9.Nxd4 exd4 then:

If 10.Nc3 Nxc3 11.bxc3 c5 12.axb5 Be7 then:

13.cxd4 14.Ba4 0-0 15.Bf4 Bf5 16.c3 axb5 17.Bxb5 Qb6 gives Black more space (Teichmann-Rubinstein, IT, Breslau, 1912).
13.Qf3 Be6 14.Rxa6 0-0 15.cxd4 c4 16.Ba2 Rxa6 17.bxa6 Qa5 gives Black an impressive advantage in space (Spielmann-Dr. Tarrasch, IT, San Sebasti�n, 1912).

If 10.axb5 Bc5 11.c3 then:

If 11...0-0 12.cxd4 Bb6 13.Nc3 Bb7 14.bxa6 then:

If 14...Rxa6 15.Rxa6 Bxa6 16.Re1 Bb7 then:

17.Be3 c6 18.Nxe4 dxe4 19.Qc2 Qd6 20.Qc4 Kh8 is equal (Morgado-Sorensen, Corres, 1978).
17.Bc2 f5 18.Bf4 c5 19.Bxe4 fxe4 20.Be5 Qe7 21.Qd2 Qf7 22.dxc5 Bxc5 23.Bd4 draw (Szily-Sefc, Trencianske Teplice, 1949).

If 14...Bxa6 15.Re1 then:

15...Nxc3!? 16.bxc3 c6 17.Bc2 f5 18.Bf4 Bc7 19.Be5 gives White the advantage in space (Teichmann-Yates, DSB Kongress, Hamburg, 1910).
15...Bb7 16.Rxa8 Bxa8 17.Nxe4 dxe4 is equal.

11...Bb7 12.cxd4 Bd6 13.Qe2 0-0 14.f3 Ng3 15.hxg3 Bxg3 is equal (Schories-Yates, Match, Blackpool, 1910).

If 8...Rb8 9.axb5 axb5 then:

If 10.dxe5 Be6 11.c3 then:

If 11...Bc5 12.Nbd2 0-0 13.Bc2 then:

If 13...Nxd2 14.Qxd2 then:

If 14...Re8 15.b4 then:

15...Bf8 c4 16.Ng5 g6 17.Nxe6 Rxe6 18.f4 Qd7 19.Rd1 (te Kolste-Schwan, IT, Amsterdam, 1899).
If 15...Bb6 16.Qf4 Ne7 then:

17.Ng5 Ng6 18.Bxg6 fxg6 19.Be3 Qd7 20.Bd4 gives White a significant advantage in space (Marco-Dr. Tarrasch, Ostend, 1905).
17.h4 Qd7 18.Ng5 Ng6 19.Qf3?! Bg4! 20.e6 Bxe6 gives Black the initiative and the advantage in space; White has the a-file (Pillsbury-Albin, IT, Hastings, 1895).

If 14...Qd7 then:

If 15.b4 Be7 16.Re1 f6 17.Qd3 g6 18.Bh6 Rfe8 then:

19.Bb3 fxe5 20.Nxe5 Nxe5 21.Rxe5 c6 22.Ree1 Bf6 is equal (Maroczy-Marco, IT, Paris, 1900).
19.exf6 Bxf6 20.Bb3 Bf7 21.Rad1 Ne5 22.Nxe5 Bxe5 23.h3 leaves Black to defend his d-pawn (Dr. Lasker-Schlechter, World Ch Match, Vienna, 1910).
If 15...Bb6?! 16.Qd3! g6 17.Bg5 then:

17...Bf5!? 18.Qd2 Bxc2 19.Bf6 Ne7 20.Nh4 Black resigns as 20...Qf5!! 21.Qh6! leads to mate (Lipke-Marco, IT, Vienna, 1898).
17...d4 18.Rfd1 Bg4 19.Qe4 Bxf3 20.Qxf3 Nxe5 21.Qf4 is equal.

15.Qf4 Ne7 16.Nd4 Bxd4 17.Qxd4 Bf5 18.Bxf5 Nxf5 is equal (Spielmann-Schlechter, IT, St. Petersburg, 1909).

If 13...f5 then:

If 14.Nb3 Bb6 15.Nfd4 Nxd4 then:

If 16.Nxd4 then:

If 16...Qd7 17.f3 Nc5 18.Kh1 then:

18...f4?! 19.b4 Nb7 20.Qd3 gives White the initiative and advantage in space (Pillsbury-Janowski, IT, Munich, 1900).
18...Nb7 19.Qd3 c6 20.b4 Nd8 21.Nb3 Qc7 22.f4; 18...Na4 19.Bxa4 bxa4 20.Qxa4 c5 21.Qxd7 Bxd7 22.Ne2 gives White an extra pawn; Blaqck has the Bishop pair and more space (Pillsbury-Lawrence, Team Match, via cable, 1902).

16...Bxd4?! 17.cxd4 f4 18.f3 Ng3 19.Rf2 Qh4 20.Bd2 gives White a passed pawn and the Bishop pair; Black has more space, but his kingside attack is spent (K�hnlein-Yates, DSB Kongress, Hamburg, 1910).

16.cxd4 f4 17.f3 Ng3 18.Re1 Qh4 19.Nc5 Bxc5 20.dxc5 c6 21.Ra6 gives White a clear advantage in space (Napier-Lawrence, IT, Cambridge Springs, Pennsylvania, 1904).

14.exf6 Nxf6 15.Nb3 Bb6 16.Nbd4 Nxd4 17.Nxd4 Qd7 is equal (C. S. Howell-R, P. Michell, TM, via cable, 1902).

If 11...Be7 12.Nd4 then:

If 12...Nxd4 13.cxd4 f5 14.exf6 Nxf6 15.Qe2 Qd7 16.Re1 Kf7 then:

17.Bf4 Rb7 18.Nd2 Bg4 19.Nf3 gives White a better center and he soon reaps the benefits (Dr. Tarrasch-Mason, IT, Mante Carlo, 1902).
17.Nc3 Rhe8 18.Bf4 Rb7 19.Be5 c6 20.h3 Kg8 21.f4 is equal (Showalter-Hodges, Match, New York, 1894).

If 12...Nxe5!? 13.Bf4 then:

13...Qd6? 14.Nxe6 Qxe6 15.Bxd5 Qf5 16.Bxe5 Qxe5 17.Re1 leaves Black busted (Capablanca-J. Corzo, IT, Havana, 1913).
13...Ng6 14.Nc6! Qc8 15.Bxd5 Nxf4 16.Bxe4 Rb6 17.Nxe7 leaves White a tremendous advantage.

10.Re1 Be6 11.dxe5 Bc5 12.Be3 0-0 13.Nbd2 Bxe3 14.Rxe3 Nc5 is equal (Showalter-Schlechter, IT, Vienna, 1898).

8...Be6 9.c3

(Bernstein Variation) If 9.Nbd2 Nc5 10.c3 then:

If 10...Bg4 11.Bc2 Ne6 12.Re1 Bc5 13.Nf1 then:

If 13...Bh5 14.Ng3 Bg6 15.h4 then:

15...Ne7 16.h5 Bxc2 17.Qxc2 h6 18.Be3 Bxe3 19.Rxe3 0-0 20.Rd1 c5 is equal (Grandelius-I. Sokolov, IT, Malm�, 2009).
If 15...d4 then:

16.Bg5 Qd7 17.cxd4 Ncxd4 18.Nxd4 Qxd4 19.Be3 Qxd1 20.Bxd1 is equal (Karjakin-G. Flear, IT 0203, Hastings, 2002).
16.Bb3 dxc3 17.bxc3 Qxd1 18.Rxd1 h6 19.h5 Bh7 20.a4 gives White command of the d-file and more space (Jakovenko-I. Sokolov, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).

13.Nb3 Ba7 14.a4 b4 15.Qd3 h5 16.Nfd4 Bxd4 17.cxd4 gives White more freedom; Black must prepare a safe square for the Bioshop least White play 18.h3! winning a piece (Lutz-Jussupow, Bundesligas 9697, Germany, 1996).

If a) 10...Be7 11.Bc2 Bg4 (this creates a nuxus between the Marshall Gambit and the Gothic Defense, aka the Open Defense)

If 12.Re1 Qd7 13.Nf1 Rd8 14.Ne3 Bh5 then:

If 15.b4 Ne6 16.g4 Bg6 17.Nf5 then:

If 17...0-0 18.a4 then:

If 18...Rfe8 19.axb5 axb5 20.Bd3 Rb8 21.Qe2 Ncd8 then:

If 22.Ra5 then:

22...d4 23.Rd1 c6 24.N3xd4 Bg5 25.Nxe6 Nxe6 26.Bc4 gives White active pieces, the initiative, command of two open files and more space; he soon wins (Khalifman-Marin, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).
22...c6 23.Be3 Bf8 24.Rea1 Nc7 25.h3 Nde6 26.Qa2 c5 27.bxc5 Nxc5 is equal (Costantini-Naumkin, Op, Estensi, 2001).

22.Ra7 d4 23.cxd4 Bxf5 24.gxf5 Nxd4 25.Nxd4 Qxd4 26.Rxc7 gives White the advantage in space (Shabalov-Sorin, Op, Beil, 1992).
18...d4 19.axb5 axb5 20.Be4 Rfe8 21.Qd3 Nb8 22.Bd2 gives White an impressive advantage in space on paper, but he seems to have no way either to improve his position or to attack (Haba-Marin, ZT, Budapest, 1993).

17...h5 18.h3 hxg4 19.hxg4 Kf8 20.a4 d4 21.axb5 axb5 is equal (Sandstrom-Kristinsson, Corres, 2004).

If 15.Nf5 then:

If 15...0-0 16.Nxe7+ Nxe7 then:

If 17.Be3 Na4 then:

If 18.Qd3 Ng6 then:

19.e6 fxe6 20.Ne5 Nxb2 21.Nxd7 Nxd3 22.Nxf8 Nxe1 gives Black an extra pawn and a small advantage in space; White has the Bishop pair (Marjanovic-Korchnoi, IT, Belgrade, 1987).
19.b3 Bxf3 20.gxf3 Qh3 21.Bd2 Nc5 22.Qf5 Qxf5 23.Bxf5 Rfe8 gives Black heaslthier pawns, the initiative and more space; White has the Bishop pair (van der Wiel-Hjartarson, World Cup, Rotterdam, 1987).
18.Rb1 Ng6 19.Qd3 Rfe8 20.Bg5 Rb8 21.Nd4 Qg4 gives White more freedom (Adams-G. Flear, Op, London, 1988).

If 17.b4 then:

If 17...Ne4!? 18.Bxe4! dxe4 19.Qxd7 Rxd7 20.Ng5 Bg6 then:

If 21.e6! then:

I21...Rd3!! 22.exf7+ Bxf7 23.Nxe4 Nd5 24.f3 Bg6! is equal (A. Sokolov-Korchnoi, IT, Tilburg, 1987).
21...fxe6?! 22.Nxe6! Re8 23.Nc5 Rd6 24.Bf4 Rc6 25.Rad1 gives White more freedom and a significant advantage in space.

21.a4!? Nd5! 22.e6 fxe6 23.Nxe6 Re8 24.Nc5 Rd6 is equal.

17...Ne6 18.a4 d4 19.axb5 axb5 20.cxd4 Bxf3 21.Qxf3 Nxd4 is equal.

15...Ne6 16.a4 Bg6 17.axb5 axb5 18.g4 Bc5 19.b4 (Su. Polgar-Srumin, Israeli ChT, Tel Aviv, 1999).

If 12...0-0 then:

If 13.Nb3 then:

If 13...Ne6 14.Qd3 g6 15.Bh6 Re8 then:

If 16.Rad1 then:

If 16...Bf5 17.Qd2 Bxc2 18.Qxc2 Qd7 then:

19.Rd3 Rad8 20.h3 Bf8 21.Qd2 Ne7 22.Bxf8 Rxf8 23.Nfd4 gives White the advantage in space (Geller-Unzicker, World Srs Ch, Bad Worishofen, 1991).
19.Qd3 Rad8 20.Rd2 Na7 21.Red1 c6 22.h4 gives White the advantage in space (Ziatdinov-Mikhalevski, Op, Caerleon (Wales), 2005).

16...Ng5 17.Bxg5 Bxg5 18.Nbd4 Nxd4 19.cxd4 Be7 20.h3 is equal (Fercec-S. Atalik, Op, Cappelle-la-Grande, 2003).

16...Bf8 17.Bxf8 Bf5 18.Qd2 Bxc2 19.Qxc2 Rxf8 20.Qd2 gives White better pawns (Janowski-Dr. Lasker, Exhibition Game, Partis, 1912).
16.Qe3 a5 17.Nfd4 Ncxd4 18.Nxd4 Nxd4 19.cxd4 Rc8 20.Bd3 gives White a small advantage in space (Palac-Jussupow, Ol, Torino, 2006).

If 13...Ne4 14.Bf4 then:

14...Re8 15.h3 Bh5 16.a4 bxa4 17.Rxa4 Bf8 18.Nbd4 gives White the advantage in space (Kasparov-Krasenkow, Ol, Bled, 2002).
14...f5 15.exf6 Nxf6 16.Qd3 Qd7 17.Ne5 Nxe5 18.Bxe5 gives White a better center (Z. Almasi-Korchnoi, IT, Linz, 1997).

If 13.Nf1 then:

13...Re8 14.h3 Bh5 15.Ng3 Bg6 16.Nf5 Bf8 17.Bf4 Qd7 18.N3h4 Rad8 19.Nxg6 hxg6 20.Nd4 Nxd4 21.cxd4 Ne6 22.Bg3 c5 23.dxc5 Bxc5 24.Bd3 draw (Svidler-Jussupow, Budesliga, Germany, 2003).
13...Bh5 14.Ng3 Bg6 15.Be3 Qd7 16.h4 Rad8 17.h5 Bxc2 18.Qxc2 Ne6 19.Rad1 f6 20.exf6 Bxf6 21.h6 g6 22.Ne4 Qf7 23.Neg5 Bxg5 24.Nxg5 Nxg5 25.Bxg5 Rd7 26.Qe2 gives White a small advantage in space (Anand-E. Torre, Ol, Thessaloniki, 1988).

If b) 10...d4 11.Bxe6 Nxe6 12.cxd4 Ncxd4 13.a4 Be7 14.Nxd4 then:

14...Qxd4 15.axb5 Qxe5 16.bxa6 0-0 17.Qa4 Nc5 18.Qc4 Rfb8 19.Ra5 Qd6 20.Ne4 Nxe4 21.Qxe4 Qb4 22.Qxb4 Bxb4 23.Ra4 Rb6 24.a7 Bc5 25.Rd1 h6 26.b4 Rxb4 27.Rxb4 Bxb4 28.Be3 Kf8 29.Rb1 Black resigns (Topalov-Korchnoi, IT, Madrid, 1996).
If 14...Nxd4 15.Ne4 0-0 16.axb5 Nxb5 17.Be3 Qc8 18.Qc2 Qe6 19.f4 Rad8 20.Ra4 Rd7 21.Rfa1 Qd5 22.h3 f6 23.exf6 Bxf6 24.Nxf6+ Rxf6 25.Rxa6 Rxa6 26.Rxa6 Nd4 27.Qa4 gives White a huge lead in space (Adams-Jussupow, Op, Hastings, 1989).

9...Bc5

The text is the Neo-Classical Line
(Hungarian Line) If 9...Be7 then:

If 10.Nbd2 0-0 11.Bc2 f5 then:

If 12.Nb3 Qd7 13.Nbd4 then:

If 13...Nxd4 14.Nxd4 c5 15.Nxe6 Qxe6 16.f3 Ng5 then:

If 17.a4 then:

If 17...Rad8 18.axb5 axb5 then:

If 19.Qe2 c4 20.Be3 then:

20...b4 21.Qd2 b3 22.Bd1 f4 23.Bxf4 Qf5 24.Be3 Qxe5 25.Be2 gives Black the advantage in space (J. Geller-S. Atalik, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
20...f4 21.Bf2 Qc6 22.Rfd1 Ne6 23.b4 g6 24.Ra7 gives White a Rook on the seventh rank and more space (Sweircz-Vocaturo, IT C, Wijk aan Zee, 2011).

If a) 19.Ra7 Rd7 20.Rxd7 Qxd7 21.Be3 then:

21...Ne6 22.f4 g6 23.g3 Rd8 24.Bf2 d4 25.cxd4 Nxd4 26.Bxd4 Qxd4+ 27.Qxd4 Rxd4 is equal (Gashimov-Sutovsky, IT, Poikovsky, 2009).
21...Qc6 22.Bxg5 Bxg5 23.f4 Be7 24.g4 fxg4 25.Qxg4 c4 is equal (Naiditsch-Mikhalevsky, FEuro Ch, Budva, 2009).

If b) 19.Bxg5 Bxg5 20.f4 Be7 21.Kh1 Kh8 22.Qd3 then:

22...Qb6 23.g4 c4 24.Qh3 Qc6 25.Qg2 fxg4 26.f5 Bc5 27.Qxg4 d4+ is equal (Karjakin-Carlsen, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2007).
22...Qc6 23.Rfd1 c4 24.Qf3 g6 25.b4 Rd7 26.Qe3 Ra8 27.Qd4 gives White a passed pawn and more space (Carlsen-Krasenkow, Op, Troms�, 2006).

If 17...g6 18.Kh1 then:

If 18...Qc6 19.Bxg5 Bxg5 20.f4 Be7 21.Qf3 then:

21...c4 22.Rfd1 Rfd8 23.b4 a5 24.axb5 Qxb5 is equal (Khairullin-Fressinet, Areoflot Op, Moscow, 2006).
21...Kh8 22.h3 Rad8 23.Rfd1 Rd7 24.axb5 axb5 25.c4 Rfd8 26.Ra5 gives White a passed pawn and more space, but Black's weaknesses are sufficiently covered (Ricardi-Sorin, IT, Buenos Aires, 1996).

18...Kh8 19.Qe2 c4 20.Qf2 Rad8 21.axb5 axb5 22.Be3 gives White a passed pawn and command of the a-file; Black is blockading the passer and has a slight edge in space (Milos-Sorin, Villa Besel, 1996).

If 17.Bxg5 Bxg5 18.f4 Be7 then:

If 19.Qf3 c4 20.Rad1 Bc5+ 21.Kh1 Rad8 then:

22.Rd2 d4 23.cxd4 Rxd4 24.Rxd4 Bxd4 25.g4 fxg4 26.Qe4 Rd8 is equal (van der Wiel-E. L'Ami, Dutch, Hilversum, 2006).
If 22.h3 g6 then:

23.b4!? Bb6 24.g4 fxg4 25.hxg4 d4! 26.cxd4 Rxd4 27.Rxd4 Bxd4 gives Black more activity for his Bishop (Stellwagen-E. L'Ami, Dutch, Hilversum, 2006).
If 23.g4 fxg4 24.Qxg4 then:

24...Qe7 25.f5 Qxe5 26.fxg6 Rxf1+ 27.Rxf1 remains equal.
24...Qxg4 25.hxg4 d4 26.Be4 Kf7 27.Bb7 dxc3 remains equal.

19.Re1 Rad8 20.Kh1 Kh8 21.Qf3 d4 remains equal.

13...Na5 14.Nxe6 Qxe6 15.Nd4 Qxe5 16.f3 Bd6 17.g3 gives gives White a huge advantage in the center, the initiative and the advantage in space; Black will not be able to improve his position significantly (Boleslavsky-Zagorovsky, Soviet Ch �-finals, Gorky, 1954).

If 12.exf6 Nxf6 13.Nb3 then:

If 13...Bg4 14.Qd3 then:

14...Ne4 15.Nbd4 Nxd4 16.Nxd4 Bd6 then:

17.Nxb5 Bxh2+ 18.Kxh2 axb5 19.Kg1 Bf5 20.Qxb5 Nxc3 21.bxc3 Bxc2 22.Be3 Rf5 is equal (Boleslavsky-Levenfish, Soviet Ch, Leningrad, 1947).
17.h3 Qh4 18.Nxb5 Nxf2 19.Bg5 Nxd3 20.Bxh4 axb5 21.Bxd3 Bd7 22.Rxf8+ draw (Ragozin-Ravinsky, Moscow Ch, 1947).

If 14...Qd7 then:

15.Nbd4 Nxd4 16.cxd4 Bxf3 17.Qxf3 then:

17...g6 18.Bh6 Rf7 19.Rae1 Ng4 20.Qh3 Bf6 21.Be3 c6 22.Bd1 draw (Rohde-Korchnoi, IT, Beersheva, 1987).
17...Bd6 18.Bf5 Qf7 19.Re1 Rae8 20.Rxe8 Nxe8 21.Bc8 Nf6 gives Black a slight iitiative (Stefansson-Fressinet, Op, Reykjavijk, 2006).

15.Bf4 Ne4 16.Ne5 Nxe5 17.Bxe5 Bf5 18.Qd4 c5 gives Black the initiative and the advantage in space (Svidler-Vallejo, IT, Linares, 2006).

If 13...Bd6 then:

If 14.Ng5 Qd7 15.Nxe6 Qxe6 then:

16.Nd4 Nxd4 17.cxd4 Rae8 18.Qd3 g6 19.Bd2 Ng4 (Howell-Timman, Staunton Mem, London, 2006).
If 16.a4 Rae8 17.Qd3 Ne5 18.Qf5 Qf7 then:

19.Bg5?! Qh5! 20.Bf4 Nf3+ 21.gxf3 Qxf5 22.Bxf5 Bxf4 gives Black a huge advantage in space; White deserately needs to activate his Rooks (Dr. Vidmar-Naumann, IT Coburg, 1904).
19.axb5 axb5 20.Nd4 b4 21.Nb5 is equal.

14.Bg5 Ne7 15.Nbd4 Qd7 16.Nxe6 Qxe6 17.Re1 Qf7 18.Ne5 gives White a small advantage in space and active pieces (Maroczy-Terho, Ol, London, 1927).

If 10.Re1 0-0 then:

11.Nd4 Nxd4 12.cxd4 Bb4 13.Re2 Qh4 14.a3 Ba5 15.Bc2 f6 is equal (Engels-Bogoljubow, IT, Stuttgart, 1939).
11.Nbd2 Nc5 12.Bc2 Bg4 transposes into the Bernstein Variation in the notes to White's ninth move at 12...0-0.

10.Qd3

The text is the Motzko Variation.
(St. Petersburg Variation) If 10.Nbd2 0-0 11.Bc2 then:

If 11...Bf5 12.Nb3 Bg6 13.Nfd4 Bxd4 then:

If 14.cxd4 a5 15.Be3 a4 then:

If 16.Nd2 then:

If 16...a3 17.Nxe4 axb2 18.Rb1 Bxe4 19.Rxb2 Qd7 then:

If 20.Bd3 Bxd3 21.Qxd3 then:

21...b4 22.Rc1 Rfb8 23.Qb1 Rb7 24.h3 Ra4 25.Rc5 gives White a very slender advantage with healthier pawns and a tiny bit more space, but also a bad Bishop (Lobron-Korchnoi, Paris, 1984).
21...Rfb8 22.Rfb1 b4 23.Rc1 h6 24.h3 Rb6 25.Qb1 draw (Arnason-Jussupow, Op, Reykjavik, 1985).

20.Bxe4 dxe4 21.Rxb5 Nxd4 22.Rc5 Rfd8 23.Bxd4 Qxd4 24.Qxd4 Rxd4 25.Rxc7 h5 draw (A. Ivanov-Jussupow, Soviet Ch 1st L, Frunze, 1979).

If 16...f6 then:

If 17.exf6 Qxf6 18.Rc1 Rae8 19.Nxe4 then:

If 19...Bxe4!? 20.Bxe4 Rxe4 21.Qd3! then:

21...Kh8?! 22.f3 Re6 23.Bf2 gives White the advantage in space (Carlsen-Fressinet, Rpd, Cap d'Agde, 2006).
21...Nxd4 22.f3 Rxe3 23.Qxe3 Qb6 gives White a small material edge.

19...dxe4 20.Qd2 Rd8 21.Rfd1 Rd6 22.d5 Ne7 23.Bd4 is equal.

17.Rc1 fxe5 18.Nxe4 dxe4 19.d5 Ne7 20.Bc5 Rf7 gives Black an extra pawn and a weak center (Ivanchuk-Grischuk, Euro Club Cup, Rethymnon, 2003).

If 16.Nc1 a3 then:

If 17.b3 f6 18.Nd3 then:

If 18...fxe5 19.Nxe5 Nxe5 20.Bxe4 dxe4 21.dxe5 then:

21...Qxd1 22.Rfxd1 Rfd8 23.h3 Bf7 24.Rxd8+ Rxd8 25.Rc1 gives White the initiative; Black has a slight edge in space (Ivanchuk-Timman, IT, Novgorod, 1995).
21...Re8 22.Rc1 Rxe5 23.Qxd8+ Rxd8 24.Rxc7 Red5 gives White a comfortable advatage in space (Karjakin-Kaidanov, Areoflot Op, Moscow, 2005).

18...b4 19.Qe1 fxe5 20.Nxe5 Nxe5 21.dxe5 Qe7 22.f3 forces the Knight to give way, allowing White to exchange Bishops at g6 and thus spoil Black's kingside(Chekhov-Gorelov, Op, Wisla, 1992).

If 17.bxa3 Rxa3 18.Bb3 Nc3 19.Qd2 b4 20.Nd3 then:

20...Bxd3 21.Qxd3 Na5 22.Bc2 Qh4 23.Bc1 Rxa2 24.Rxa2 Nxa2 25.Bg5 gives Black the initiative (Short-Jussupow, World Cup, Belfort, 1988).
If 20...Nxa2 21.Nc5 Rxb3 22.Nxb3 Nc3 23.Nc5 h6 24.f3 gives White the exchange for a pawn (Ljubojevic-Timman, IT, Bogojno, 1984).

14.Nxd4 Qd7 15.f4 Nxd4 16.cxd4 f6 17.Be3 fxe5 18.fxe5 gives White a small advantage after taking control of the f-file (Leko-Korchnoi, IT, Le�n, 1994).

If a) 11...f5 then:

If 12.Nb3 Bb6 13.Nfd4 Nxd4 14.Nxd4 Bxd4 then:

If 15.cxd4 f4 16.f3 Ng3 then:

If 17.Rf2 Qh4 18.Qd3 Rf5 19.Bxf4 Qxf4 20.hxg3 Qxg3 21.f4 then:

21...Qg4 22.Qe3!? Rf7 23.Raf1 Raf8 24.Bd1 Qg6 draw (Bednarski-Sliwa, Polish Ch, Katowice, 1961).
21...Qh4 22.g3 Qg4 23.Raf1 Raf8 24.Qb3 R5f7 25.Rh2 (de la Torriente-Dr. Tarrasch, Ol, London, 1927).

If 17.hxg3?! fxg3 18.Qd3 Bf5 19.Qxf5 Rxf5 20.Bxf5 Qh4! (threatening mate on h2) then:

If 21.Bh3 Qxd4+ 22.Kh1 Qxe5 23.Bd2 then:

23...Qxb2 24.Bf4 c5 25.Be6+ Kh8 26.Bxd5 Rd8 gives Black a material advantage of about two pawns in an asymmetrical balance and a passed pawn; White's Bishop are active, and although the position slightly favors Black, White goes on to win (Smyslov-Reshevsky, Team Match, via radio, 1945). The variation starting with 17.hxg3 was for a while viewed favorably for White as a result of the Smyslov-Reshevsky game, but opinion has again reverted to favoring Black.
If 23...c5 then:

If 24.Rae1 Qxb2 25.Bf4 d4 then:

26.Re7 d3 27.Bxg3 Qf6 28.Rd7 c4 gives Black to connected passers, an active Rook and the Bishop pair (Cortlever-Dr. Euwe, Amsterdam, 1941).
26.Bxg3 d3 27.Be5 Qxa2 28.Bd6 Qb2 gives Black a material advantage, and a very dangerous passer and more space (Boleslavsky-Botvinnik, Soviet Trmt, Sverdlovsk, 1943).

24.Bc3 d4 25.Rfe1 Qh5 26.Bd2 c4 27.Re4 Qc5 gives Black a material advantage, a passed pawn and more space (Stasov-I. V. Ivanov, Op, Riga, 1971).

If 21.Rd1? then White wins after 21...Qh2+! 22.Kf1 Qh1+ 23.Ke2 Qxg2+.

If 15.Qxd4 c5 16.Qd1 then:

16...f4 17.f3 Ng5 18.a4 then:

18...b4?! then:

19.cxb4! cxb4 20.Qd4 Bf5 21.Bb3 Ne6 22.Qxd5 gives White an extra pawn (Rittner-Morgado, Corres, 1981).
If 19.h4?! then:

If 19...Nh3+!? 20.gxh3 Qxh4 then:

If 21.Rf2?!Bxh3 then:

If 22.Rh2?! Rae8 then:

If 23.Qxd5+ Kh8 then:

24.Bd2 Rxe5 25.Qxe5 Qg3+ 26.Kh1 Qxf3+ 27.Kg1 draw (Averbakh-Szabo, ITZ, Z�rich, 1953).
24.Qe4 Qg3+ 25.Kh1 Bf5 26.Bxf4 Qg6 27.Qe2 is equal.

23.Rxh3 Qxh3 24.Qxd5+ Kh8 is equal.

22.Qxd5+ Kh8 23.Qxc5 Rac8 24.Qb6 leaves White up by a piece.

21.Qe1 Qxh3 22.Qf2 Rae8 23.Re1 Bf5 24.Bb3 c4 is equal.

19...Nf7! 20.cxb4 cxb4 21.Bxf4 Qxh4 is equal.

19.Bb1 h6 20.Nxe4 Bxe4 21.Bxe4 Rxe4 22.Rc5 Nxd4 draw (Matsuura-Milos, IT, S�o Paulo, 2008).

18...Rb8 19.axb5 axb5 20.Re1 Qe7 21.Bd2 c4 22.Qc1 White should be able to win the f-pawn without further effort.

If 16...Qe7 17.a4 then:

17...g6?! 18.f3 Ng5 19.Qd3 bxa4 20.Rxa4 Nf7 21.Re1 gives White active pieces, a passed pawn, the Bishop pair and more space (G. Timoshchenko-Garc�a Bayamo, 1981).
17...Rab8! 18.f3 Ng5 19.axb5 axb5 20.Re1 Rfd8 21.Qd2 gives White a passed pawn, command of the a-file and the Bishop pair; Black has more space.

If 12.exf6 Nxf6 13.Nb3 Bb6 14.Bg5 then:

If 14...Qd6 15.Nfd4 Nxd4 16.Nxd4 Bg4 17.f3 Bd7 then:

18.Kh1 c5 19.Ne2 Nh5 20.g3 Bc6 21.Qd3 g6 gives Black the advantage in space, especially on the queenside, where White must attempt to restrain Black's pawns and that may prove difficult (Suechting-Marco, IT, Berlin, 1897).
18.Qd2 Nh5 19.Rfe1 Rae8 20.Bh6 Rxe1+ 21.Rxe1 Re8 22.Rxe8+ Bxe8 draw (Jones-Marco, Group B, London, 1899).

If 14...Qd7 15.Qd3 Ne4 then:

If 16.Rad1?! (abyssmal) 16...Rxf3!! then:

17.gxf3? (even worse) Nxg5! 18.f4 Ne4 19.Nd2 Nf6 20.f5 Bf7 leaves Black with two minor pieces for a Rook; he went on to score an upset in 32 moves (Capablanca-Kalske, SX, Helsinki, 1914).
17.Qxf3 Nxg5 18.Qg3 Qe7 19.Rde1 Qf6 leaves White at a material disadvantage, but his position is still defensible.

16.Be3 Bf5 17.Qd1 Bxe3 18.fxe3 gives Black a small advantage.

If b) 11...Nxd2 12.Qxd2 f6 13.exf6 Rxf6 then:

14.Nd4 Nxd4 15.cxd4 Bb6 16.a4 Rb8 17.axb5 axb5 is equal; Black has the advantage in pawn structure, but he cannot use White's isolated pawn as a shield for blackaders (Dr. Lasker-Rubinstein, IT, St. Petersburg, 1914).
If 14.Ng5 Bf5 then:

If 15.b4 Bb6 16.Bb3 Ne7 17.a4 then:

17...c6 18.Re1 Bg6 19.Nf3 Nf5 20.Ne5 Be8 21.Qa2 gives White a better center; Black has no effective moves (Karpov-Antoshin, Soviet Ch, Riga, 1970).
17...Rb8 18.axb5 axb5 19.Re1 c6 20.Qe2 Ng6 is equal (Tal-Antoshin, Soviet Ch, Kharkov, 1967).

15.Bxf5 Rxf5 16.Ne6 Qd6 17.Nxc5 Qxc5 18.Qe2 d4 gives Black the intiative and the advantage in space (Rodr�guez Cespedes-Antoshin, IT, Cienfuegos, 1977).

10...0-0

If 10...Ne7 then:

If 11.Be3 0-0 12.Nbd2 Bxe3 13.Qxe3 then:

13...Nf5 14.Qe2 Nxd2 15.Qxd2 c5 16.Rad1 is equal (Kupreichik-Karsa, Op, Copenhagen, 1988).
13...Nxd2 (14.Nxd2 Nf5 15.Qd3 c5 16.Bc2 c4 is equal (Palac-S. Atalik, Euro Ch, Kusadasi, 2006).

11.Nbd2 Bf5 12.Qe2 0-0 13.Nd4 Bg6 14.Nxe4 Bxe4 is equal (Ljubojevic-Ivanchuk, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 1995).

11.Be3 Bxe3 12.Qxe3 f6 13.Rd1 (N)

If 13.exf6 Qxf6 14.Nbd2 then:

If 14...Nxd2 15.Qxd2 Rad8 then:

16.Rfe1 Kh8 17.Re3 Bg8 18.Rd1 gives White a slight initiative and Balck more space (Kamsky-Anand, PCA �-final Match, Las Palmas, 1995).
16.Nd4 Bf7 17.Bc2 Ne5 18.f4 Nc4 19.Qd3 Qh6 is equal (Ivkov-Geller, IT, Zagreb, 1955).

14...Rfe8!? 15.Nxe4! dxe4 16.Ng5 Bxb3 17.axb3 h6 18.Nxe4 gives White an extra pawn to which he cannot hold and more space (Bannik-Shiyanovsky, Ukrainian SSR Ch, Kiev, 1960).

13...Bf7

The game is equal.

14.Nbd2 Qe8!?

Black takes aim at White's e-pawn, but it is too well covered.
If 14...Nxd2 15.Qxd2 then:

15...Nxe5 16.Nxe5 fxe5 17.Bxd5 Bxd5 18.Qxd5+ Qxd5 19.Rxd5?! gives White slightly healthier pawns.
If 15...Re8 then:

If 16.exf6 Qxf6 17.Bxd5 Rad8 18.Bxf7+ Qxf7 19.Qc2 Rxd1+ 20.Qxd1 then:

20...Ne5 21.Nxe5 Rxe5 gives White an extra pawn.
20...Qh5 21.a4 Ne5 22.Qd5+ Qf7 23.Qxf7+ Kxf7 24.Nxe5+ Rxe5 25.Kf1 gives White an extra pawn and the threat of opening the a-file.

If 16.Bxd5 Bxd5 17.Qxd5+ Qxd5 18.Rxd5 Nxe5 19.Nxe5 Rxe5 20.Rxe5 fxe5 21.Rd1 gives White the open file.

BLACK: Andrey Vovk

WHITE: Alexandr Fier
Position after 14...Qd8e8

15.Nxe4! dxe4 16.Qxe4

White is a pawn to the good.

16...Nxe5

If 16...Bxb3 17.axb3 Nxe5 then:

18.b4 Nc4 19.Qc2 Qf7 20.b3 Nd6 21.Nd4 gives White more freedom and the edge in space.
18.Nxe5 fxe5 19.b4 Rd8 transposes into the text.

17.Nxe5 Bxb3

The draweback of this exchange is theat it opens Black's backward a-pawn to White's Rook.
If 17...fxe5?! 18.Rd5 then:

If 18...Qc6 19.Rxe5 Qxe4 20.Rxe4 then:

20...Rad8 21.Bxf7+ Kxf7 22.Rae1 leaves White with and extra pawn.
18...Bxd5 19.Bxd5+ Kh8 20.Bxa8 Qxa8 21.Qxe5 Qd8 22.Re1 gives White an extra pawn.

20...Rfe8 21.Rxe8+ Rxe8 22.Kf1 Rd8 23.Ke2 gives White an extra pawn.

17...Qxe5 18.Bxf7+ Kxf7 19.Rd7+ Kg8 20.Qxe5 fxe5 21.Rxc7 wins a pawn for White.

18.axb3 fxe5

This is Black's best move, but it posits an isolated pawn in a position with no minor pieces to defend it.
If 18...Qxe5!? 19.Qxe5 fxe5 20.f3 Rfe8 21.Rd7 c5 22.Rc7! guarantees that White will regain his extra pawn pawn.

19.b4!

White immobilizes the queenside.

19...Rd8

White regains his pawn in any case.
If 19...Qe6 20.Rd5 Rae8 then:

White wins the pawn after 21.Rc5! Re7 22.Rc6 Qb3 23.Qe2 Qd5 24.Rcxa6.
21.Re1?! Qf5! 22.f3 Qxe4 23.fxe4 Rf6 is equal.

20.Rxd8 Qxd8 21.Qxe5 Qd2?!

Black either doesn't see White's reply or is taking risks.
21...Re8 22.Qh5 Re6 23.Rd1 Qf6 24.Qd5 Qf7 25.Kf1 continues to gives White an extra pawn.

BLACK: Andrey Vovk

WHITE: Alexandr Fier
Position after 21...Qd8d2

22.f3!!

White sacrifices a pawn in order to give his King a way out of the back rank if he needs it.

22...Qxb2

declining the sacrifice is no better: 22...Qd7 23.Re1 Rf6 24.Qe7 Qd2 25.Qe8+ Rf8 26.Qe6+ gives White a comfortable endgame with a tremendous advantage.

23.Rxa6!

White simply takes the pawn.
Also good, but a bit roundabout, is 23.Re1 Qd2 24.Re2 Qd7 25.Qe6+ Qxe6 26.Rxe6 gives White the more active Rook; Black must play gis Rook to an unfavorable square, 26...Ra8, or lose a pawn.

23...Qc1+ 24.Kf2 Qd2+ 25.Kg3 h6?!

This is the wrong time for a waiting move, unless Black is just waiting to be executed.
25...Qd7 26.Qe6+ Qxe6 27.Rxe6 Rc8 28.Rc6 Kf8 29.Rc5 leaves White with an extra pawn and Black holding on by his fingernails.

26.h3!?

White returns the favor with a passive move.
If 26.Rc6! Rf7 then:

27.h3 Qd7 28.Qxb5 Kh8 29.Qc5 gives White two extra pawns.
27.Qxb5 Re7 28.Qc4+ Kh7 29.Qf4 gives White two extra pawns.
27.Qe8+ Rf8 28.Qe6+ Rf7 29.Kh3 Qf4 30.Rc5 gives White an extra pawn, a remarkably safe King and a nasty pin at e7.

26...Rd8?

Black needed to find the move to cover his important points. There is no room for error.
Black could fight on after 26...Qd7 27.Qe6+ Qxe6 28.Rxe6 Ra8 29.Rc6 Ra7 .

BLACK: Andrey Vovk

WHITE: Alexandr Fier
Position after 26...Rf8d8

27.Re6!

Also good is 27.Qxc7 Re8 28.Qc5 then:

28...Qe1+ 29.Kh2 Qd2 30.Qd4 Qxd4 31.cxd4 Rd8 32.Ra5 maintains White's two-pawn advantage.
28...Qe2 29.Qd5+ Kh7 30.Qf5+ Kh8 31.Rc6 Qe1+ 32.Kh2 Qd2 33.Rc8! forces Black to trade pieces while two pawns down.

27...Rd6

If 27...Qd5 then after 28.Qxc7!! Qg5+ 29.Kh2 Rd5 30.f4 Qf5 31.Re7 Black is toast.

28.Rxd6 cxd6 29.Qxb5 d5

29...Qxc3 30.Qd5+ Kh7 31.Qxd6 makes White's passer all the more dangerous.

30.Qb8+ Kh7 31.Qe5 Qd3 32.h4 Kg8

32...Qc4 33.Qd4 Qb5 34.Kf4 Qb8+ 35.Ke3 Qe8+ 36.Kd2 White wins easily.

33.h5

White plays to rob Black of all reserve pawn tempi.

33...Qb5 34.Qd6

White wins quicker after 34.Qe6+! Kh7 35.Qf5+ Kg8 36.Qc8+ Kh7 37.Qc5 .

34...Kh7 35.Qc5 Qd7

35...Qb8+ 36.Kf2 Qe5 37.g4 Qh2+ 38.Ke3 Qg1+ 39.Ke2! gives Black the unpleasent choice of exchanging Queens or losing the d-pawn, either being a harbinger of certain defeat.

BLACK: Andrey Vovk

WHITE: Alexandr Fier
Position after 35...Qb5d7

36.c4!

This move makes the task of winning much easier.

36...dxc4

If 36...d4 then White wins after 37.Qd5 Qc7+ 38.Kf2 Qa7 39.c5 Qa1 40.c6! .

37.Qxc4 Qd2 38.Qf4

White offers a Queen exchange.

38...Qb2

Black may as well resign as exchange Queens.

39.Qf5+ Kh8 40.b5!

Thus does White make progress.

40...Qd4 41.Qe6

BLACK: Andrey Vovk

WHITE: Alexandr Fier
Position after 41.Qf5e6

41...Qd8

Black is hoping to swindle White into a perpetual check, but he can't quite force it.
If 41...Qc5 42.b6 Qg5+ then:

43.Kf2! Qh4+ 44.g3 Qh2+ 45.Ke3 Qg1+ 46.Kf4 Qd4+ 47.Kf5 Qc5+ 48.Kg4 Qg5+ 49.Kh3 Qxh5+ 50.Kg2 leaves Black out of checks, allowing White to advance the pawn.
After 43.Qg4!? White still wins, but it's unnecessarily complicated by theats of perpetual check: If 43...Qc5 44.Qg6! Qe7 45.Kh3 Qd7+ 46.Kh2 then:

If 46...Qe7 47.Qg3 Qb4 48.Qb8+ Kh7 49.g4 Qc5 then:

If 50.Qb7 Qf2+ 51.Kh3 Qf1+ 52.Kg3 then:

If 52...Qg1+ 53.Kf4 Qc1+ then:

54.Ke4 Qe1+ 55.Kf5 Qc3 56.g5 Qc5+ 57.Ke6 Qxg5 58.Qe4+ Kh8 59.b7 Qf6+ 60.Kd7 Qf7+ 61.Kd8 Qf6+ 62.Qe7 wins for White.
54.Ke5? Qg5+ 55.Ke6 Qf6+ 56.Kd7 Qf7+ 57.Kc8 Qf8+ 58.Kc7 Qf4+ draws.

If 52...Qe1+ 53.Kf4 Qc1+ 54.Ke4 then:

If 54...Qe1+ 55.Kf5 Qb1+ 56.Ke6 Qb3+ 57.Ke7 then:

If 57...Qb4+ 58.Ke8 Qb5+ 59.Kd8 then:

If 59...Kg8 60.Qc7 Kh7 61.b7 Qd5+ 62.Ke8 Qb5+ 63.Kf8 Qb4+ 64.Kf7 Qb3+ 65.Ke7 Qb4+ 66.Kd7 then:

66...Qb5+ 67.Qc6 Qb3 68.Qg6+ Kg8 69.Qe6+!! forces the exchange of Queens.
66...Qa4+ 67.Qc6 Qb3 68.Qg6+ transposes.

If 59...Qd3+ 60.Qd7 Qa6 61.Qe6 Qd3+ 62.Ke8 Qa6 63.Qe4+ Kg8 64.Qd5+ then:

64...Kh8 then after 65.b7 Qb6 66.Kd7 Qb4 67.Qc6 Qb3 68.Qc8+ the pawn queens.
64...Kh7 65.Kf7 Qc8 forces the exchange of Queens, winning for White.

57...Qe3+ loses immediately to 58.Qe4+!.

54...Qb1+ 55.Kd5 Qd3+ 56.Ke6 Qb3+ 57.Ke7 Qb4+ 58.Ke8 Qb5+ 59.Kd8 Qg5+ 60.Kd7 Qd2+ 61.Ke8 Qe3+ 62.Qe4+ wins for White.

50.b7? Qf2+! 51.Kh3 Qf1+ 52.Kg3 Qg1+ 53.Kh4 Qh1+ etc. draws.

If 46...Qb5 47.f4 Qb4 48.Qe8+ Kh7 49.Qe3! then:

49...Kg8 50.Qe6+ Kh7 51.Qf5+ Kg8 52.Qc8+ Kh7 53.Qc2+ Kh8 54.Qc7 wins for White.
49...Qb1 50.Qe6 Qb4 51.Qf5+ Kg8

42.Kh3!

Black cannot immediately check the King.
Since Black must try to swindle White with perpetual check, White's obvious defense is to put his King out of Black' reach while keeping the b-pawn covered.

42...Qa5 43.Qc6 Kh7 44.Qg6+ Kh8 45.b6

White misses an immediate win with 45.Qe8+! Kh7 46.g3 Qc7 47.Qc6! .

45...Qb5 46.f4 Qb3+ 47.Kh2 Qb5

47...Qb4 48.Qe8+ Kh7 49.Qe3 Kh8 50.Kg3 leave Black out of checks and the b-pawn is still covered.

48.Qe6 Qxh5+

BLACK: Andrey Vovk

WHITE: Alexandr Fier
Position after 48...Qb5h5:p+

49.Kg3!

Black is already out of checks.

49...g5

If 49...Qb5 then White wins after 50.Qc8+ Kh7 51.b7 Qb3+ 52.Kh2.

50.Qe5+ Kh7 51.fxg5 Qd1 52.Qe7+ Kg8 53.Qe6+

Also good is 53.b7 Qb3+ 54.Kh4 hxg5+ 55.Qxg5+ Kh7 56.Qh5+.

53...Kf8 54.b7 Qd3+ 55.Kh2 1-0

Black cannot stop the pawn from queening.
Andrey Bogdanovich resigns.

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Jack Rabbit

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Wed Oct-05-11 01:21 PM
Response to Reply #2

8. Hou Yifan - A. Muzychuk, Grand Prix, Rostov-on-Don, 2011 (Marshall Gambit & Anti-Marshall Lines)

Edited on Wed Oct-05-11 01:49 PM by Jack Rabbit

Reigning world women's champion Hou Yifan, 17, has won the first two legs of the FIDE Women's Grand Prix.

Hou Yifan
Photo by karpidis modified from flickr in Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Hou Yifan - Anna Muzychuk
FIDE Women's Grand Prix, First Leg, Round 4
Rostov-on-Don, 5 August 2011

Grand Spanish Royal Game: Marshall Gambit

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3

White consents to allow Black to play the Marshall Gambit. There are several good ways to avoid the Marshall here.
(Kasparov Opening) If 8.a4 then:

If 8...Bb7 9.d3 d6 10.Nc3 Na5 then:

If 11.Ba2 b4 12.Ne2 c5 then:

If 13.Ng3 then:

If 13...Rb8 then:

If 14.Nd2 Bc8 then:

If 15.h3 Be6 16.Nc4 then:

If 16...Nxc4 17.Bxc4 then:

If 17...Bxc4 18.dxc4 Ne8 then:

19.Qg4 Kh8 20.b3 Nc7 21.Be3 Ne6 22.Rad1 Nd4 23.Nf5 Bf6 24.Bxd4 cxd4 is equal (Kissinger-Andresen, Corres, 1998).
If 16...Nc6 then:

If 17.f4 exf4 18.Bxf4 Ne8 19.Nf5 then:

19...Bxf5 Bf6 20.Rf1 Bxf5 21.exf5 d5 22.Bxb8 dxc4 23.Bg3 gives White the exchange, stronger pawns and the Bishop pair; Black is bidding for control of queenside dark squares (Chandler-Herbrechtsmeier, Bundesliga, Germany, 1985).

(Kindermann-Dr. Nunn, Bundesliga 8889, Germany, 1989).

19.Nf5 Bf6 20.Be3 g6 21.Nh6+ Kh8 22.b3 Nc7 23.Qd2 Ne6 is equal (Thipsay-Tseshkovsky, Op, Calcutta, 1986).

17...a5 18.Bd2 Ne8 19.Nf1 Nc7 20.Ne3 Bg5 is equal (Adams-Xie Jun, Op, Sydney, 1988).

17.Bd2 Ne8 18.Ne3 Bxa2 19.Rxa2 g6 20.c3 Bg5 is equal (Jansa-Dr. Nunn, Bundesliga 8889, Germany, 1989).

15.Nc4 then:

15...Nxc4 16.Bxc4 Ne8 17.f4 exf4 18.Bxf4 Bf6 19.Nf1 draw (Tal-Kuzmin, IT, Tallinn, 1985).
15...Bg4 16.f3 Be6 17.Nxa5 Qxa5 18.Bc4 Rbd8 19.Bd2 Qb6 is equal (Shevelevich-Tseshkovsky, Op, Rostov-on-Don, 1993).

14.Bd2 Bc8 15.h3 then:

If 15...Be6 16.Bxe6 fxe6 17.Be3 then:

17...Nd7 18.c3 bxc3 19.bxc3 d5 20.Qc2 Qc7 21.exd5 exd5 is equal (Kupreichik-Tseshkovsky, Soviet Ch, 1980).
17...Qe8 18.c3 bxc3 19.bxc3 Nh5 20.Nxh5 Qxh5 21.Rb1 is equal (Kavalek-Balashov, IT, Buenos Aires, 1980).

15...Ne8 16.Nh2 Bg5 17.Nf3 Bf6 18.Nh2 g6 19.Ng4 is equal (Carauana-Adams, Masters, Gibraltar, 2007).

If 13.c3 then:

If 13...bxc3 14.bxc3 c4 15.Ng3 then:

If 15...cxd3 14.bxc3 c4 15.Ng3 then:

If 15...cxd3 16.Qxd3 Bc8 then:

If 17.Bg5 Nb7 then:

18.Nd2 Nc5 19.Qc2 Bd7 20.Bxf6 Bxf6 21.Bd5 is equal (Ljubojevic-Karpov, IT, London, 1982).
18.Be3 Qa5 19.Qc4 Ng4 draw (Dr. Nunn-van der Wiel, IT, Amsterdam, 1990).
If 17.Ba3 then:

17...Qc7 18.Red1 Nb7 19.Qc4 Qxc4 20.Bxc4 Re8 21.Rab1 gives White a clearly more active game (Svidler-Ivanchuk, IT, Linares, 2006).
17...Be6 18.Bxe6 fxe6 19.Rad1 Ne8 20.Bb4 Rf7 21.Bxa5 Qxa5 22.Qc4 gives White more activity and more weaknesses to target, for example, Black's hindmost e-pawn (Adams-Kamsky, IT, Sofia, 2007).

13...Rc8 14.c3 Qd7 15.cxb4 cxb4 16.Nf5 is equal (Fritz).

If 15...Nd7 16.Ba3 g6 17.d4 Qc7 then:

18.Rb1 Rab8 19.Qe2 Rfc8 20.d5 is equal (Pasierb-Weissleder, Corres, 1997).
18.Rc1 Rfe8 19.Bb4 Rac8 20.Nd2 d5 21.exd5 Bxd5 22.dxe5 gives White an extra pawn, but each side has weaknesses the other can exploit (Kupreichik-Rodr�guez Cepedes, IT, Minsk, 1982).

If 13...c4 then:

If 14.cxb4 cxd3 15.Nc3 Nc6 16.Bd5 Rb8 17.b5 then:

17...axb5 18.axb5 Nb4 19.Bxb7 Rxb7 20.Ra4 Black's passer is dead wood (Kupreichik-Psakhis, Soviet Ch, Minsk, 1987).

(Kupreichik-Psakhis, Soviet Ch, Minsk, 1987).

After 17...Nb4 18.Bxb7 Rxb7 19.bxa6 Ra7 20.Bg5 White stands slighty better (Nijboer-Dr. Nunn, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 1990).

14.Ng3 cxd3 15.Bg5 h6 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.Re3 bxc3 18.bxc3 leaves White slightly better (Karpov-Geller, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1973).

If 11.axb5 Nxb3 12.cxb3 axb5 13.Rxa8 then:

If 13...Qxa8 14.Nxb5 Rb8 15.Qc2 then:

15...Bxe4! 16.dxe4 Rxb5 17.Qxc7 Kf8 18.Qc4 Rc5 19.Qa4 draw (Mokry-Dr. Nunn, IT, Vienna, 1991).
15...Ba6 16.Nc3 Qb7 17.d4 exd4 18.Nxd4 Bf8 19.Qd1 leaves White with a crippled extra pawn and more space (Mokry-Wells, IT, Graz, 1991).

13...Bxa8 14.Nxb5 Qd7 15.Nc3 c5 16.b4 cxb4 draw (Nyysti-Sebih, Ol, Bled, 2002).

If 8...b4 then:

If 9.d3 d6 10.a5 Be6 11.Nbd2 Rb8 then:

If 12.Bc4 Qc8 13.Nf1 then:

If 13...Bxc4 14.dxc4 then:

14...Qe6 15.Ne3 Bd8 16.Nd5 Nd7 17.Be3 Ne7 18.Qd2 c5 19.Qd3 gives White a small advantage in space (Fuchs-Spassky, IT, Sochi, 1966).
14...h6 15.Ne3 Qe6 16.Nd5 Bd8 17.Qd3 Ne7 18.Bd2 gives White a small advantage in space (Z. Almasi-Peng Xiaomin, FIDE Knock Out, Groningen, 1997).

If 13...h6 14.Ne3 Re8 then:

If 15.h3 Bf8 16.Bd2 Bxc4 17.Nxc4 Qe6 is equal (Leko-Grischuk, Grand Prix, Dubai, 2002).

15.Nd5 Bd8 16.Bd2 Bxd5 17.Bxd5 Nxd5 18.exd5 Ne7 is equal (Leko-Svidler, TM, Moscow, 2002).

If 12.Nc4 Qc8 13.h3 h6 14.Be3 then:

If 14...Rd8 15.Qe2 then:

If 15...Bf8 16.Nfd2 then:

If 16...Ne7 17.d4 then:

If 17...Ng6 18.d5 Bd7 then:

19.Rec1 Re8 20.c3 Nf4 21.Qd1 Qd8 22.Ba4 Qe7 23.b3 g6 24.Nb2 Rec8 25.Bxd7 Qxd7 26.c4 Qe8 27.Qf1 draw (Karjakin-Aronian, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2006).
19.Ba4 Bb5 20.b3 Be7 21.Rec1 c6 22.Bxb5 Rxb5 23.Nb6 Qb7 24.dxc6 Qxc6 25.Qc4 draw (Adams-Anand, World Ch Tnmt, San Lu�s, Argentina, 2005).

17...exd4 18.Bxd4 Nh7 19.Be3 Nf6 20.Bd4 Nh7 21.Nf3 is equal (And. Volokitin-Gustafsson, Bundesliga 0506, Germany, 2006).

16...Qb7 17.Qf3 Kh7 18.Nf1 Ne7 19.Ng3 Ng6 20.Nh5 draw (Svidler-Aronian, IT, Morelia/Linares, 2006).

15...Nh7 16.Qf1 Bf8 17.g3 Re8 18.Kh2 g6 19.Qg2 is equal (Sadvakosov-Sargissian, Op, Chicago, 2009).

14...Nh7 15.d4 exd4 16.Nxd4 Nxd4 17.Bxd4 Rb5 18.f4 gives White the advantage in space (Hou Yifan-Harikrishna, IT, Paks, Hungary, 2007).

If 9.d4 d6 10.dxe5 then:

If 10...Nxe5 11.Nxe5 dxe5 then:

If 12.Qf3 Bb7 13.Nd2 c5 14.h3 Qc7 15.Nc4 then:

15...Rad8 16.Bg5 Rd4 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.c3 bxc3 19.bxc3 is equal (Kupreichik-Dobrovolsky, IT, Rimavska Sobota, 1990).
15...Kh8 16.Bg5 Rae8 17.Rad1 Nxe4 18.Bxe7 Qxe7 19.Qe3 is equal (Djerkovic-Derraugh, Op, Ottawa, 2007).

If 12.Bg5 Bb7 13.Nd2 then:

13...Nd7 14.Be3 Bc5 15.Qh5 Bxe3 16.Rxe3 Nf6 is equal (Kupreichik-Yu. Razuvaev, Soviet Ch, Minsk, 1979).
13...h6 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.Nc4 Qxd1 16.Raxd1 Rfd8 is equal (Kupreichik-Malich, Telechess Ol, via telex, 1983).

If 10...dxe5 11.Qxd8 Rxd8 then:

If 12.Bg5 then:

If 12...h6 13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.Bd5 then:

14...Rd6 15.Nbd2 Be6 16.Nc4 Rxd5 17.exd5 Bxd5 18.Ne3 gives White a material edge (Negi-Carauana, IT, New Delhi, 2011).
14...Bd7 15.Nbd2 Rab8 16.Nb3 Bd6 17.Nh4 Na7 18.Bc4 gives White stronger pawns and a slight advantage in space; Black has the Bishop pair (Vasiukov-Smagin, Moscow Ch, 1982).

12...Rb8 13.Nbd2 h6 then:

14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.Bd5 Na5 16.Rad1 Rb6 17.Nb3 draw (Svidler-Adams, IT, Dortmund, 2006).
14.Be3 Bb7 then:

15.a5 Ng4 16.Nc4 Nxe3 17.Nxe3 Nd4 18.Nxe5 Nxb3 19.cxb3 Bxe4 gives Black two Bishops against two Knights in a open center (Sebag-Negi, Rpd, Cap d'Agde, 2006).
15.h3 Bd6 16.a5 Ne7 17.Nc4 Ng6 18.Nfd2 Be7 19.f3 Nd7 20.Nf1 Nc5 draw (Kovalov-Timman, Ol, Palma de Mallorca, 2004).

12.Nbd2 h6 13.a5 Bd6 14.Bc4 Bb7 15.b3 Re8 remains equal (Zhang Xiaowen-Wang Yu, Chinese ChW, Xinghua, 2009).

(Sofia Opening) If 8.h3 Bb7 9.d3 then:

If 9...d6 10.a3 then:

If 10...Na5 11.Ba2 c5 then:

If 12.Nbd2 then:

If 12...Nc6 13.Nf1 Bc8 then:

If 14.c3 Be6 15.Bxe6 fxe6 then:

If 16.b4 then:

If 16...Qd7 17.Ng3 then:

If 17...a5 18.bxc5 dxc5 then:

19.Qb3 Rfb8 20.a4 b4 21.Be3 c4 22.Qxc4 bxc3 23.Red1 gives White healthier pawns and the advantage in space; Black has command of the b-file and a passer at c3 (Dom�nguez-Bacrot, IT, Biel, 2008).
19.a4 b4 20.Be3 c4 21.dxc4 Qxd1 22.Rexd1 bxc3 23.c5 gives White the advantage in space (Svidler-Bacrot, IT, Sofia, 2006).

17...Rfb8 18.d4 exd4 19.cxd4 cxd4 20.Nxd4 Nxd4 21.Qxd4 is equal (Leko-Kramnik, Rpd M, Miskolc, 2007).

If 16...d5 17.Ng3 dxe4 18.Nxe4 then:

18...c4 19.dxc4 Qxd1 20.Nxf6+ Bxf6 21.Rxd1 e4 22.cxb5 axb5 23.Ng5 gives White an extra pawn (Shirov-Aronian, Candidates Match, Elista, 2007).
18...Nxe4 19.Rxe4 Qd5 20.Qe2 Rad8 21.Ne1 Qb3 22.Qa2 gives White more freedom (Karjakin-Bacrot, Grand Prix, Jermuk, Armenia, 2009).

16.Ng3 Nd7 17.Be3 d5 18.exd5 exd5 19.a4 Rb8 20.axb5 axb5 21.b3 Ra8 draw (Kasparov-Topalov, IT, Linares, 2005).

If 14.Ne3 Be6 then:

If 15.Nd5 Bxd5 16.exd5 Nd4 then:

17.Nd2 Nf5 18.Ne4 Nd7 19.b4 Rc8 20.Bd2 is equal (Anand-Svidler, Amber Rpd, Monte Carlo, 2006).
17.Nh2 Nf5 18.c3 Nd7 19.d4 Bg5 20.dxe5 Bxc1 21.Rxc1 Nxe5 22.Bb1 gives White a slight edge (Kasimdzhanov-Akopian, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2006).

15.Bd5 Bxd5 16.exd5 Nb8 17.b4 cxb4 18.axb4 Nbd7 19.c4 gives White the advantage in space (Giri-Bojkov, Op, Groningen, 2008).

If 12...Bc8 13.c3 Be6 14.Bxe6 fxe6 15.b4 then:

If 15...cxb4 16.axb4 Nc6 then:

17.Qb3 Qd7 18.Bb2 h6 19.Ra2 Rfb8 20.Rea1 gives White a small advantage in space (Leko-Anand, IT, Dortmund, 2004).
17.Nb3 Qd7 18.Be3 Nh5 19.d4 exd4 20.Nfxd4 gives White a small advantage in space (al-Modiaki-Vescovi, Ol, Torino, 2006).

If 15...Nc6 16.Qb3 then:

If 16...Qc8 17.bxc5 dxc5 18.a4 Rb8 19.axb5 axb5 20.c4 b4 21.Bb2 then:

21...Nd7 22.Ra4 Nd4 23.Bxd4 cxd4 24.Ra7 is equal (Efimenko-Beliavsky, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2005).
21...Bd6 22.Ra4 Nh5 23.g3 Nf6 24.Rea1 Nd7 gives Black a passed pawn, but also a weak doubled pawn (Akopian-Beliavsky, Ol, Palma de Mallorca, 2004).

16...Qd7 17.Bb2 Nh5 18.g3 Rf7 19.Re3 Raf8 20.Rf1 d5 is equal (Zhong Zhang-Beliavsky, Ol, Palma de Mallorca, 2004).

If 12.Nc3 Nc6 then:

If 13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.Bxd5 Qc7 15.c3 Nb8 16.Bxb7 Qxb7 then:

17.d4 then:

17...Nd7 then:

18.dxe5 dxe5 19.c4 bxc4 20.Qe2 Rfd8 21.a4 Rab8 gives Black an extra pawn at least for the moment and a little more space(Nijboer-Sargissian, Euro Ch, Istanbul, 2003).
If 18.a4 c4 19.b4 exd4 20.Nxd4 Bf6 21.Bf4 Ne5 is equal (Corrales Jim�nez-Pashikian, World Jr Ch, Yerevan, 2006).

If 17...Nc6 18.Be3 Rfd8 19.Qe2 Na5 20.Nd2 cxd4 21.cxd4 is equal (Iordechescu-Aronian, Euro Ch, Istanbul, 2003).

If 17.Nh2 Nd7 18.Ng4 Nf6 19.Ne3 g6 20.b3 gives White more freedom (Shirov-Aronian, IT A, Wijk aaan Zee, 2007).

If 13.Bg5 Qd7 then:

If 14.Nh2 Kh8 then:

15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.Bd5 Rae8 17.Rf1 Bd8 18.Qg4 Bc8 19.Qxd7 draw (Ivanchuk-Svidler, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 2007).
15.f4 exf4 16.Bxf4 Rae8 17.Rf1 Nd4 18.Nf3 d5 is equal (al-Modiaki-Z. Almasi, FIDE Knock Out, Tripoli, 2004).

If 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.Nd5 Bd8 then:

16.c3 Ne7 17.Ne3 Ng6 18.b4 Rc8 19.Bd5 is equal (Qesada P�rez-de la Paz Perdoma, Cuban Ch, Santa Clara, 2005).
16.b4 Rc8 17.bxc5 dxc5 18.a4 Qd6 19.axb5 axb5 is equal (Luther-N. Kosintseva, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2007).

If 10...Qd7 11.Nc3 Nd8 then:

If 12.d4 exd4 13.Nxd4 Re8 14.Nf5 Ne6 then:

If 15.Qf3 then:

15...c5 16.Nd5 Nxd5 17.exd5 Nd4 18.Nxd4 cxd4 19.Bf4 gives White fewer weak pawns (Fedorochuk-Stern, Bundesliga 0607, Germany, 2007).
16.Be3 c4 17.Ba2 Rac8 18.Rad1 Bf8 19.Nd5 Nxd5 is equal (Shirov-Ianchuk, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 2003).

If 15.Nxe7+ Rxe7 16.f3 Rd8 then:

17.Be3 c5 then:

16.Nd5 d5 18.exd5 Nxd5 19.Nxd5 Bxd5 20.Qxd5 Qxd5 21.Bxd5 Rxd5 22.Kf2 Red7 23.Rac1 f5 is equal (Mista-Fressinet, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).
If 17.Bxe6 fxe6 18.e5 dxe5 19.Qxd7 Rdxd7 20.Rxe5 h6 21.Be3 then:

21...Nd5 22.Nxd5 Rxd5 23.Rxd5 Bxd5 24.a4 Kf7 25.axb5 axb5 26.Ra7 c6 27.Rxe7+ draw (Anand-Shirov, Rpd Match, Mainz, 2004).
21...Re8 22.Re1 draw (Efimenko-Aronian, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2005).

If 12.Ne2 Ne6 13.Ng3 Rfe8 then:

If 14.c3 c5 then:

If 15.d4 exd4 16.cxd4 d5 then:

If 17.e5 Ne4 18.Nf5 Bf8 19.Be3 then:

If 19...Rac8 20.dxc5 N6xc5 21.N5d4 Nxb3 then:

22.Qxb3 Nc5 23.Qd1 a5 24.Qb1 Ne4 25.Rd1 b4 is equal (Kamsky-Ponomariov, IT, Sofia, 2006).
22.Nxb3!? Qd8 23.Qd3 f6 24.exf6 Qxf6 25.Qd4 Qd8 gives B lack more space, but the isolated pawn could be a problem (Svidler-Inarkiev, Russian Ch, Moscow, 2007).

If 19...a5 20.Bc2 Rad8 21.dxc5 N6xc5 22.N5d4 is equal (Morozevich-Grischuk, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2006).

If 17.dxc5 dxe4 18.Qxd7 Nxd7 19.c6 Bxc6 20.Nxe4 Bxe4 21.Rxe4 Ndc5 (Shirov-Adams, Candidates' �-final M, Elista, 2007).

If 15.a4 Bf8 16.axb5 axb5 17.Rxa8 Bxa8 18.Bc2 g6 19.Ng5 Bg7 20.Bb3 d5 21.Nxe6 Qxe6 22.exd5 draw (Z. Almasi-Onischuk, Euro Club Cup, Kemer, 2007).

If 14.Ng5 c5 15.Nxe6 fxe6 16.c3 Bd8 17.a4 Bb6 is equal (Leko-Aronian, Amber Blind, Nice, 2008).

If 9...Re8 (Black makes an attempt to support e5 with his pieces) 10.Nc3 h6 11.a3 Bc5 then:

If 12.Nd5 then:

If 12...Nd4 13.Nxd4 Bxd4 14.c3 Bc5 then:

15.Nxf6+ Qxf6 16.Be3 d6 17.Bxc5 dxc5 18.Re3 gives White more freedom; he will soon take over the advantage in space (Anand-Leko, IT, Morelia/Linares, 2008).
If 15.Ne3 d5 16.exd5 Nxd5 17.Qf3 Bxe3 18.Bxe3 Qd6 19.Rad1 Rab8 20.d4 e4 21.Qg3 draw (Leko-Adams, IT, Dortmund, 2005).

If 12...d6 13.c3 Ba7 14.Be3 Bxe3 15.Rxe3 Nd7 16.Ba2 Ne7 17.Nxe7+ Qxe7 18.Nh2 Nf6 19.Ng4 draw (Kramnik-Anand, IT, Dortmund, 2004).

If 12.Be3 Nd4 13.Ba2 then:

If 13...d6 14.b4 Bb6 15.Bxd4 exd4 16.Ne2 then:

If 16...d5 17.e5 Nd7 18.Nf4 Nf8 19.c3 dxc3 20.d4 is equal (Svidler-Onischuk, Ol, Torino, 2006).
If 16...c5 17.Nf4 Qc7 18.Nd2 Rac8 19.Bb3 a5 20.a4 bxa4 21.Bxa4 Re7 gives White the advantage in space (Bologan-Onischuk, Rpd, Cap d'Agde, 2002).

If 13...Nxf3+ 14.Qxf3 Qe7 15.Qg3 Kh8 16.Bxc5 Qxc5 17.Bxf7 gives White an extra pawn (Antonio-Jenni, Ol, Torino, 2006).

(Clam Opening) If 8.d3 then:

8...d6 9.c3 transposes into the Clam Opening/Pilnik Variation in the gold notes to White's fifth move in van den Doel-Nikolic, elsewhere on this thread.

If 8...Bb7 9.h3 d6 transposes into Dom�nguez-Bacrot, IT, Biel, 2008, above.

(Yates Opening) In the move order 8.d4 d6 9.c3 the Yates Opening is often used as an Anti-Marshall Line. See van den Doel-Nikolic, Op, Leiden, 2011.

8...d5

BLACK

WHITE

Grand Spanish Royal Game: Marshall Gambit

Position after 9...d7d5

This move may be the greatest contribution to chess made by an American between the times of Morphy and Fischer. Black sacrifices a pawn for rapid development and initiative. The result is sharp play and activity for both sides; in other words, more of what makes chess such jolly, good fun.

9.exd5

9.d4 then:

If 9...exd4 10.e5 Ne4 11.cxd4 Bg4 12.Nc3 then:

If 12...Bxf3 13.gxf3 Nxc3 14.bxc3 f5 15.Kh1 Na5 16.Rg1 then:

If 16...Kh8 17.Bc2 then:

If 17...Qd7 18.Bg5 then:

18...Bxg5 19.Rxg5 Nc6 20.Qc1 Qe6 21.f4 Ne7 22.a4 is equal (Ivanchuk-Jakovenko, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2007).
18...c5 19.Qd2 Rac8 20.Rae1 Qe6 21.Bxe7 Qxe7 gives Black healthier pawns (Tairova-Gunina, Russian ChW, Moscow, 2007).

17...c5 18.Qf1 cxd4 19.Qg2 g6 20.Bh6 Rf7 21.cxd4 Rc8 22.Bd3 draw (McShane-Z. Almasi, Bundesliga 0304, Germany, 2004).

16...Qd7 17.Qe2 Qe6 18.Bg5 c6 19.Bc2 Ra7 20.f4 gives White more space and the Bishop pair (Shirov-Bacrot, Bundesliga 0304, Germany, 2003).

If 12...Nxc3 13.bxc3 Qd7 14.h3 then:

14...Bf5 15.Bg5 Bxg5 16.Nxg5 h6 17.Nf3 Na5 18.Nh2 is equal (Pogonina-N. Kosintseva, Russian ChW, Moscow, 2009).
14...Bh5 15.g4 Bg6 16.Bg5 Ba3 17.Qd2 Be4 18.Nh4 is equal (Korneev-Sargissian, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).

9...Nxe4 10.dxe5 Be6 creates a nuxus between the Marshall Gambit and the Gothic Defense, aka the Open Defense; see the notes to White's ninth movat at 10.Be7 in Fier-A. Vovk, Op, Dieren, 2011, elsewhere on this thread.

9...Nxd5

If 9...e4 10.dxc6 exf3 then:

If 11.d4 fxg2 then:

If 12.Bg5 Bg4 13.Qd3 then:

If 13...Re8 14.Nd2 then:

14...Nd5 15.Bxe7 Rxe7 16.Rxe7 Nxe7 17.Qe4 Bf5 18.Qf3 gives White an extra pawn (Black cannot save his pawn at g2) and more space (Browne-Bisguier, ZT, Oberlin, 1975).
If 14...Nh5 15.Nf3 Bf6 then:

If 16.Re5 Qd6 17.Re4 Be6 18.Rae1 then:

If 18...h6 19.Bxe6 Rxe6 20.Rxe6 fxe6 21.Bxf6 Nf4 22.Qe4 gxf6 23.Nh4 then:

23...Rf8? 24.Nxg2 Nh3+ 25.Kf1 Qxh2 26.Qg6+ White soon wins (Gutsche-Szafranski, Corres, 2000).
23...Kg7 24.Re3 f5 25.Qf3 Rg8 26.Re5 gives White a powerful advantage with more space and piece menacing the White King position.

18...Bxg5?! 19.Nxg5! Nf6 20.Rxe6 fxe6 21.Qf3 h6 22.Bxe6+ gives Black a huge advantage in space and a kingside attack in compensation for the material deficit.

16.Re4 Be6 17.Bxe6 fxe6 18.Rh4 g6 19.Qe3 gives White a comfortable advantage in space.

13...Nd5 14.Bxe7 Nxe7 15.Qe4 Be6 16.Bxe6 fxe6 17.Qxe6+ leaves White with an extra pawn (Oim-Nash, Corres, 1973).

If 12.Qf3 Re8 13.Bg5 Bg4 14.Qxg2 then:

If 14...Nh5? then:

15.Qxg4 then:

16...Bxg5 16.Rxe8+ Qxe8 17.Qxh5 Bc1 18.a4 White soon won (J. Polgar-Murshed, IT, Brno/Morava, 1991).
15.Rxe7 Rxe7 16.Bxe7 Qxe7 17.Qxg4 Qe1+ 18.Kg2.

14...Bh5 15.Nd2 Qd6 16.Re5 Bg6 17.Rae1 Kf8 18.Bh4 gives White a tremendous advantage in space (So-Shukuraliev, Asian Games TT, Guangzhou, 2010).

If 11.Qxf3 Bg4 12.Qg3 then:

If 12...Bd6 then:

If 13.f4 Re8 14.Re5 then:

14...Bxe5 15.fxe5 Nh5 16.Qxg4 Rxe5 is equal (van den Berg-Szabo, IT, Haifa, 1958).
14...Be6 15.d4 Bxb3 16.axb3 Bxe5 17.fxe5 Ne4 18.Qf3 gives White more space and Black pawn weaknesses to target (Boleslavsky-Pirc, ITZ, Saltsjobaden, 1948).

If 13.Qh4 Re8 14.f3 Bf5 15.d4 Bxh2+ 16.Kxh2 Ng4+ 17.Kg3! gives White a powerful material advantage (Fischer-S. N. Bernstein, US Ch, New York, 1959).

12...Re8 13.f3 Qd3 14.fxg4 Bc5+ 15.Re3 Rad8 16.Qf3 Nxg4 gives White a stronng material advantage; Black chances are held together by the pin at e3 (Ed. Lasker-Marshall, IT, Chicago, 1926).

10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Rxe5 c6

The original idea is to bring the Knight back to f6 and use it in the forthcoming kingside attack. Although the text move is considered a great improvement, Marshall's plan is still now and then played.
11...Nf6 12.Re1 Bd6 then:

If 13.h3 Ng4 14.Qf3 Qh4 15.d4 Nxf2 16.Re2 then:

If 16...Bg4 17.hxg4 Bh2+ 18.Kf1 Bg3 19.Rxf2 Qh1+ 20.Ke2 then:

20...Bxf2 21.Bd2 Bh4 22.Qh3 Rae8+ 23.Kd3 Qf1+ 24.Kc2 gives White two minor pieces for the Rook, a safe King and the initiative; Black has more space and active piece, but the Bishop has no good squares (Capablanca-Marshall, Manhatten CC Ch Match, New York, 1918).
20...Qxc1 21.Rf1 Qxb2+ 22.Nd2 Rae8+ 23.Kd3 c5 24.dxc5 gives White an extra piece; Black has activity and more space (Harms-Surmann, NT, L�neburg, Germany, 1947).

If 16...Nxh3+ 17.gxh3 Bxh3 18.Re4 Qg3+ 19.Qxg3 Bxg3 20.Re3! gives White a material advantage as Black's attack blows itself out (Mora-Karff, World Ch TnmtW, Moscow, 1950).

If 16.Bd2 Bb7 17.Qxb7 Nd3 18.Re2 Qg3 19.Kf1 then:

If 19...Nf4 then:

If 20.Bxf4 Qxf4+ 21.Qf3 Qc1+! 22.Kf2 Bh2 then:

23.Re1 Qxb2+ 24.Qe2 Qxa1 25.g3 c5 gives Black the exchange, but his pieces have no room to breath (Hansson-Westerinen, IT, Esbjerg, 1983).
23.Rd2 Bg1+ 24.Ke2 Rae8+ 25.Kd3 Re3+ wins the White Queen.

20.Re3! Qh2 21.Qc6 Rab8 22.Bc2 Nh5 23.Qf3 leaves White a piece to the good with the initiative.

19...Qh2?! 20.g4 Qxh3+ 21.Qg2 Qxg2+ 22.Kxg2 Nxb2 23.Bg5 gives White a material advantage and a strong initiative after weathering the storm (Shapiro-Cardozo, Corres, 2002).

13.g3 Bg4 14.f3 Bh3 15.d4 Qd7 16.Nd2 gives White a small advantage in space (Schiller-Pustilnik, Pan-Am Intercollegiate, Providence, Rhode Island, 1986).

12.d4

12.d3 Bd6 13.Re1 then:

If 13...Bf5 14.Qf3 then:

If 14...Qh4 15.g3 Qh3 16.Bxd5 cxd5 then:

If 17.Qxd5 Rad8 18.Qg2 then:

If 18...Qxg2+ 19.Kxg2 Bxd3 20.Be3 then:

If 20...Be4+ 21.f3 Bc6 22.Nd2 Rfe8 then:

23.Nb3 f6 24.Bb6 Rxe1 25.Rxe1 Rd7 26.Rd1 Kf7 27.Nc5 Bxc5 28.Rxd7+ Bxd7 29.Bxc5 draw (B. Socko-Sargissian, IT, Antwerp, 2009).
23.Bd4 h5 24.Kf2 f6 25.Rxe8+ Rxe8 26.Nf1 still gives White the extra pawn; Black has more space (Leko-Aronian, Rpd, Yerevan, 2008).

If 20...Rfe8 21.Nd2 then:

21...f6 22.Bb6 Rb8 23.Rxe8+ Rxe8 24.Nb3 Bc4 25.Rd1 gives White the extra pawn; Black has the Bishop pair and more space (Shirov-Karjakin, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2007).
21...b4 22.Bb6 Rxe1 23.Rxe1 Rb8 24.Ba5 bxc3 25.Bxc3 White continues to hold the gambit pawn and Black has more space (Shirov-Leko, IT, Morelia/Linares, 2008).

If 18...Qh5 19.Be3 Bh3 20.Qh1 f5 then:

If 21.Bb6 Rd7 22.Qd5+ Kh8 23.Nd2 Bxg3 24.Qxd7 Bf4 25.Qb7 Bxd2 (White has the material advantage; Black has a little bit of activity in partial compensation) 26.Bd4 Rg8 27.Re7 Bc1 28.Re1 Bf4 29.Re3 Bxe3 30.Bxe3 then:

30...h6 31.Qc7 Re8 32.Bd4 Re7 33.Qg3 Kh7 34.f3 Rf7 35.f4 Re7 36.Be5 Bg4 37.Kf2 Bd1 38.d4 Qe2+ draw (Sutkovsky-Jakovenko, IT, Poikovsky, 2008).
If 30...Re8 then:

If 31.Bd4?! Qg4+! 32.Kh1 h6 33.f4 Re7 then:

34.Qa8+? Kh7 35.Be5 Qe2! 36.Rg1 Bg4 37.Rxg4 fxg4 38.d4 Qf1# White is checkmated (Smeets-Bacrot, IT B, Wijk aan Zee, 2008).
34.Qc6 Qxf4 35.Qg6 Bf1 36.Re1 Bg2+ 37.Kxg2 Qd2+ wins the exchange, but White has enough fight to continue.

31.Kh1 Qe2 32.Qc6 Rg8 33.b3 Qxd3 is equal.

21.f4 Bc7 22.Nd2 Rxd3 23.Nb3 Bg4 24.Qg2 Bf3 25.Qf2 is equal (Shirov-Jakovenko, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2008).

If 17.Be3 Bxd3 18.Qxd5 Rad8 19.Qf3 then:

If 19...Bf5 20.Nd2 Be6 21.Bd4 then:

21...h6 22.a3 Bb8 23.Qg2 Qf5 24.f3 Rfe8 25.Ne4 Bd5 26.Re2 Re6 27.Rae1 draw (Kasimdzhanov-Adams, IT, Linares, 2005).
21...Bb8 22.Qg2 Qh5 23.f3 draw (Anand-Leko, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 2007).

19...Bc4 20.Nd2 Be6 21.Bd4 Be7 22.Qg2 Qh5 23.Re5 is equal (Naiditsch-Ivanchukl, Euro Club Cup, Izmir, 2004).

If 14...Re8 then:

If 15.Rxe8+ Qxe8 16.Nd2 then:

If 16...Qe1+ 17.Nf1 Bg6 18.g3 then:

If 18...Re8 19.Bd1 Qe6 20.Bd2 Qh3 then:

21.a4 b4 22.Rc1 h6 23.c4 Ne7 24.d4 Qd7 is equal (Dolmatov-Kamsky, IT, Dortmund, 1993).
21.Bc2 Qd7 22.Re1 Rxe1 23.Bxe1 Bf8 24.Qe2 c5 is equal (Masek-Barnsley, Corres, 2007).

18...b4 19.c4 Nf6 20.Bd1 Re8 21.Bd2 Qe5 22.Qxc6 Bf8 is equal (Stellwagen-Gufstafsson, Bundesliga 0708, Hamburg, 2008).

16...Qe6 17.h3 Re8 18.Ne4 Bxe4 19.dxe4 Qe5 20.Kf1 is equal (Shirov-Onischuk, IT, Poikovsky, 2008).

15.Be3 Bxd3 16.Nd2 Bg6 17.Bd4 Rxe1+ 18.Rxe1 Qd7 19.h4 is equal (Shirov-Grischuk, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2007).

If 13...Qh4 14.g3 Qh3 15.Re4 then:

If 15...Qf5 16.Nd2 Qg6 then:

If 17.Re1 f5 then:

If 18.a4 Rb8 19.axb5 axb5 then:

If 20.Ne4 fxe4 21.dxe4 Bg4 22.Qd4 Bf3 23.exd5 c5 24.Qh4 Rbe8 then:

25.Bd2 Be4 26.Re2 Qf5 27.Bf4 c4 28.Rxe4 Rxe4 29.Bc2 Bxf4 30.Bxe4 Qxe4 31.gxf4 draw (Anand-Khaifman, FIDE Knock Out, New Delhi, 2000).
If 25.Be3 Qf5 26.Rac1 Be4 27.Bd1 Bxd5 is equal (Anand-Adams, IT, Dortmund, 2000).

If 20.Ra7 Kh8 21.Nf3 f4 22.Ne5 Bxe5 23.Rxe5 fxg3 24.hxg3 gives White the advantage in space (Morozevich-Grischuk, Grand Prix, Dubai, 2002).

If 18.f4 Bxf4 19.Qf3 Bb8 20.Bxd5+ cxd5 21.Nb3 then:

21...Qf7 22.Nd4 Ba7 23.Bf4 Bd7 24.Re5 b4 25.Rae1 Rae8 26.Kf1 bxc3 draw (Leko-Adams, IT, Linares, 1999).
21...Bb7 22.Bf4 Bxf4 23.Qxf4 d4 24.Nxd4 Rae8 25.Rxe8 Qxe8 26.Kf2 gives White an extra pawn and more activity (Kotronias-Beliavsky, Euro Ch, Istanbul, 2003).
If 21...f4 22.Qxd5+ Kh8 23.Bxf4 Ba7+ 24.d4 gives White two extra pawns and command of the attacking lanes (Stellwagen-Sebag, Op, Vlissingen, 2007).

If 17.Nf1 f5 18.Rd4 f4 19.Rxd5 cxd5 20.Bxd5+ Be6 21.Bxa8 Rxa8 22.Qf3 is equal (Timman-Dr. H�bner, IT, Tilburg, 1985).

If 15...Qd7 then:

If 16.Nd2 Bb7 then:

If 17.Re1 c5 18.Ne4 Be7 then:

If 19.a4 b4 20.Bg5 Bxg5 21.Nxg5 bxc3 22.bxc3 then:

22...Rad8 23.Ne4 Qc6 24.Qh5 Nxc3 25.Qxc5 Rxd3 26.Bc4 Qxc5 27.Nxc5! wins a piece (J. Polgar-Adams, IT, Tilburg, 1997).
If 22...h6 23.Ne4 Qc6 24.Qh5 Rad8 25.a5 f5 then:

If 26.Nd2!? Kh8 then:

27.Nf3? Nf6!! White resigns (Z. Almasi-Adams, Euro ChT, Pula, 1997).
27.Ba4 Qf6 28.Nb3 Nxc3 29.Nxc5 Bc8 is equal.

If 26.f3 then:

26...Kh8!? 27.Ng5 Nf6 28.Qg6 hxg5 29.Re7 gives White the advantage in space.
26...fxe4! 27.fxe4 Qf6 28.Rac1 Qf2+ 29.Kh1 is equal.

If 19.Bg5 f6 20.Bd2 Kh8 21.c4 Nb4 22.Bxb4 cxb4 23.cxb5 gives White at least one extra pawn, but a weakling at d3 as well (Svidler-I. Sokolov, IT, Groningen, 1996).

17.Qf1 c5 18.Re1 Kh8 19.a4 f5 20.axb5 axb5 21.Rxa8 Bxa8 22.Bd1 is equal (Ivanchuk-I. Sokolov, Donner Mem, Amsterdam, 1996).

16.Re1 Qh3 17.Re4 Qf5 transposes to Timman-Dr. H�bner, Tilburg, 1985, above.

12...Bd6 13.Re1 Qh4 14.g3 Qh3 15.Qe2

Another plan for White is to make a strong point of d4. This results in complicated play.
If 15.Be3 Bg4 16.Qd3 Rae8 17.Nd2 then:

If 17...Re6 18.a4 Qh5 19.axb5 axb5 then:

If 20.Qf1 then:

20...Rfe8 21.Bxd5 Qxd5 then:

22.f3 Bh5 23.Qf2 f5 24.b3 f4 25.Bxf4 Bxf4 26.gxf4 gives White two extra pawns, whi is good enough for a small advantage although the pawns are weak (Chandler-Sarfati, IT, Wellington, 1988).
22.h3 Bh5 23.Qg2 Qxg2+ 24.Kxg2 f5 25.Nf3 f4 26.Bd2 still gives White an extra pawn (J. Polgar-Adams, World Ch Tmnt, San Lu�s, Argentina, 2005).

If 20...Bh3 then:

If 21.Qe2 Bg4 22.Qf1 Bh3 then:

23.Qe2 Bg4 24.Qf1 draw (Rogers-Adams, IZT, Manila, 1990).
23.Qd3?? loses to 23...Qf3!.

21.Bd1 Qf5 22.Qe2 c5 23.Nf3 Bf4 24.Qd2 gives White an extra pawn (Wang Hao-Grischuk, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2008).

If 20.Nf1 Bf5 then:

If 21.Qd1 Bg4 22.Qd2 Qh3 23.Bd1 Bxd1 24.Raxd1 f5 25.f4 g5 then:

26.Qg2 Qxg2+ 27.Kxg2 Rfe8 28.Bd2 Rxe1 29.Rxe1 Rxe1 30.Bxe1 gxf4 is equal (Karpov-Short, IT, Tilburg, 1991).
26.fxg5 f4 27.Bxf4 Bxf4 28.gxf4 Nxf4 29.Ng3 Qg4 is equal (Ljubojevic-Nikolic, IT, Belgrade, 1991).

If 21.Qd2 Bh3 22.Bd1 Qg6 then:

23.Bf3 Qf5 24.Bh1 Rfe8 25.Re2 h5 26.Qc2 Qg4 is equal (Shirov-Aronian, Grand Slam Final, Bilbao, 2009).
23.Bc2 Qh5 24.Bd1 Qg6 25.Bc2 Qh5 26.Qd1 Bg4 27.Qd3 gives White an extra pawn and Black more space (Shirov-Aronian, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2010).

If 17...f5 then:

If 18.f4 Kh8 19.Bxd5 cxd5 then:

If 20.Qf1 Qh5 then:

If 21.a4 g5 22.axb5 axb5 then:

If 23.fxg5 Rxe3 24.Rxe3 f4 25.gxf4 Bxf4 26.Rg3 Qxg5 27.Kh1 then:

27...Rg8 28.Nf3 Qf5 29.Rxg4 Qxg4 30.Re1 Qg6 31.Ne5 Bxe5 32.Rxe5 gives White an extra pawn (Boleslavsky-Tal, TT, Leningrad, 1962).
27...Bd6 28.Qg2 Bxg3 29.Qxg3 h5 30.Rf1 Rxf1+ 31.Nxf1 Qc1 32.Kg1 gives White an extra pawn (Timman-Dr. Nunn, IT, Brussels, 1988).

23.Ra6 gxf4 24.Bxf4 Bxf4 25.Rxe8 Rxe8 26.Qxf4 Re1+ 27.Nf1 gives White an extra pawn (Kononenko-Kralovic, World Youth, Heraklio, 2002).

If 21.Qg2 then:

If 21...Re4?! then:

22.a4! bxa4 23.Rxa4 then:

If 23...g5?! 24.Nxe4! fxe4 then:

25.Rxa6 gxf4 26.Rxd6? fxe3! 27.Rxe3?? Bh3! 28.g4 Qxg4 White resigns in the face of certain checkmate (Timman-Dr. Nunn, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 1983).
25.f5 Bxf5 26.Rxa6 Bh3 27.Qc2 Qf3 28.Qf2 gives White an active Rook, an extra pawn and the exchange; Black should not exchange Queens.

23...Re6 24.Rxa6 Qe8 25.Nf1 Qb5 26.Rea1 Be2 27.Bc1 gives White two extra pawns, but Black is still in the game.

22.h4 h6 23.Nxe4 fxe4 24.Rf1 Rf6 25.a4 Rg6 26.axb5 axb5 27.f5 Bxf5 28.Bf4 leaves White up by the exchange and ready to pentrate Black's camp on the a-file.

21...Qf7 22.h3 Bh5 23.a3 Qg8 24.Bf2 Be2 25.Nf3 gives White an extra pawn; in compensation, Black has a huge advantage in space.

If 20.a4 then:

20...bxa4 21.Qf1 Qh5 22.Qg2 g5 23.fxg5 gives White an extra pawn and pressure in the center (Britton-Hebden, Masters 0607, Hastings, 2006).
20...Qh5 transposes to Boleslavsky-Tal, above.

If 18.Qf1 Qh5 19.f4 then:

If 19...Kh8 20.Bxd5 cxd5 21.Qg2 then:

21...Re4 22.h4 h6 23.Nxe4 fxe4 24.Rf1 Rf6 25.a4 gives White the material advantage of an exchange plus a pawn; Black has more space, but not enough to compensate (Anand-Topalov, IT, Las Palmas, 1993).
21...g5 22.Qxd5 Rd8 23.Qc6 gxf4 24.Bxf4 Bxf4 25.gxf4 gives White two extra pawns (A. Sokolov-Dr. Nunn, World Cup, Rotterdam, 1989).

If 19...g5?! 20.Qg2! gxf4 21.Bxd5+ Kh8 22.Bxf4 Bxf4 23.Bxc6 Be3+ 24.Kh1 then:

If 24...Bh3 then:

If 25.Qe2 Bg4 26.Bxe8 Rxe8 27.Qxe3 Rxe3 28.Rxe3 Qg5 29.Rae1 f4 30.Re5 Qh6 31.Re8+ Kg7 32.R1e7+ Black resigns (Gaprindashvili-Kaskova, TT, Moscow, 1964).
25.Qf3? Bg4! 26.Qg2 Bh3 27.Qf3 Bg4 draw (Boleslavsky-Pogats, IT, Debrecen, 1961).

24...Re6 25.Bf3 f4 26.Bxg4 Qxg4 27.Qf3 Qg7 gives White two extra pawn (Dolatov-Blatny, Op, Pardubice, 1993).

If 15.Re4 g5 then:

If 16.Qf1 then:

If 16...Qh5 17.Nd2 Bf5 18.f3 Nf6 19.Qg2 Qg6 20.Re3 then:

20...Nd5 21.Re1 Rae8 22.Qf2 Nf4 23.gxf4 gxf4+ 24.Kh1 Rxe1+ 25.Qxe1 gives White an extra piece (Shimoev-Grischuk, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2008).
If 20...Rae8 21.Ne4 Nxe4 22.g4 Ng3 23.hxg3 then:

23...Bb1 24.Qe2 Rxe3 25.Qxe3 h6 26.Qe1 continues to give Black an extra pawn, but Black still commands avenues of attack (Anand-Aronian, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2007).

23...Bd3 24.Bd2 Rxe3 25.Bxe3 Re8 26.Re1 c5 27.dxc5 Bxc5 28.Qd2 is equal (Svidler-Aronian, IT, Linares, 2007).

If 16...Qxf1+ 17.Kxf1 Bf5 then:

If 18.Nd2 Rad8 then:

If 19.f3 Bxe4 20.fxe4 Nc7 then:

21.a4 Rfe8 22.axb5 axb5 23.e5 Be7 24.Ne4 is equal (Vachier Lagrave-Jenni, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).
21.Kg2 c5 22.Nf3 h6 23.Be3 cxd4 24.Nxd4 Rfe8 is equal (Z. Almasi-Harikrishna, IT, Paks, 2006).

19.Re1 Rde8 20.Nf3 g4 21.Bh6 gxf3 22.Bxf8 Rxf8 23.Bd1 Bg4 24.a4 Rd8 gives Black a little more mobility, but not enough to matter (Karjakin-Grischuk, Ol, Torino, 2006).
18.f3 h6 19.Nd2!? Bxe4 20.fxe4 Nc7 21.Kg2 c5 (Anand-Svidler, World Chn Tmnt, San Lu�s, Argentina, 2005).

If 16.Qf3 Bf5 then:

If 17.Bc2 Bxe4 18.Bxe4 Qe6 19.Bxg5 f5 20.Bd3 f4 21.Qe4 then:

21...Qd7 22.Nd2 Rae8 23.Qh1 Rf7 24.Ne4 Bf8 25.Qg2 is equal (Timmerman-Slavchev, IT, Corres, 1991).
If 21...Qxe4 22.Bxe4 Rae8 23.Nd2 Re6 24.Kg2 Kg7 25.g4give White a narrow edge in space (Staniszewski-Blatny, IT, Naleczow, 1985).

If 17...Bf4 18.Bxf4 Nxf4 19.Nd2 Bg4 20.Qh1 f5 then:

21.Re5 Ne2+ 22.Rxe2 Bxe2 23.Qxc6 Rae8 24.Bb3+ Kg7 gives White more activity (Noble-Sarfati, New Zealand Ch, Wellington, 1992).
21.Rxf4 gxf4 22.Qxc6 Rae8 23.Bd3 fxg3 24.hxg3 f4 give Black a noose around the White King (Noble-Sarfati, IT, Aukland, 1992).

15...Bg4

White has an extra pawn and Black has a fierce initiative and more space.
If 15...Bd7 16.Qf1 then:

If 16...Qf5 17.Be3 Rae8 18.Nd2 then:

If 18...h5 19.Qg2 h4 then:

20.Bxd5 cxd5 21.f4 hxg3 22.hxg3 b4 23.Nf3 bxc3 24.bxc3 gives White an extra pawn, but it's very weak, while Black continues to enjoy more space (McDonald-Hawkins, 4NCL 1011, Hinkley, 2011).
20.Qf3 Nxe3 21.Rxe3 Rxe3 22.fxe3 Qg6 23.Kg2 Bg4 continues to give Black an extra pawn and Black more space (Alekseev-Aronian, Grand Prix, Nalchik, 2009).

If 18...Re7 then:

If 19.Qg2 Rfe8 20.Qf3 then:

20...Qg6!? 21.Bxd5 cxd5 22.a4 bxa4 23.Qxd5 gives White an extra pawn and more space (Ni Hua-Adams, IT, London, 2009).
20...Nxe3 21.fxe3 Qxf3 22.Nxf3 Rxe3 23.Rxe3 Rxe3 24.Ng5 gives White a slight advantage.

If 19.a4 then:

If 19...bxa4?! then:

If 20.Qg2? then:

If 20...h5 then:

If 21.Nf3? then:

21...Be6? 22.Nh4 gives White a slight initiative; the game ended in a draw (Vallejo-Adams, Masters, Gibraltar, 2011).
21...axb3! wins for Black.

21.Rxa4! Bc8 22.Nc4 Bc7 23.f4 Nxe3 24.Rxe3 gives White an extra pawn and a small advantage in space.

20...axb3! 21.Nc4 Bc7 22.Rxa6 Rfe8 gives Black a winning position with an extra piece.

20.Bxa4! Rb8 21.Nc4 Bc7 22.Bd2 a5 23.Rxe7 Nxe7 gives White an extra pawn; space is equal.

19...Rfe8! 20.axb5 axb5 21.Qg2 b4 22.Nc4 Bc7 23.Rec1 gives White an extra paw with the ability to hold it; Black has a comfortable advantage in space for compensation.

If 16...Rae8 then:

If 17.Rxe8 Qxf1+ 18.Kxf1 Rxe8 19.Bd2 Nb6 20.Be3 Nd5 then:

21.Bxd5 cxd5 22.Nd2 a5 23.Nb3 a4 24.Nc5 gives Black an extra pawn and Black a small advantage in space (Kamsky-Bacrot, Grand Prix, Nalchik, 2009).
21.Bd2 Nb6 22.Be3 Nd5 23.Bxd5 cxd5 24.Nd2 gives Black an extra pawn and Black a small advantage in space (Carauana-Sargissian, Ruy L�pez Mem, M�rida, 2008).

17.Qxh3 Rxe1+ 18.Qf1 Rfe8 19.Bd2 Rxf1+ 20.Kxf1 gives White with an extra pawn and Black the advantage in space (Leko-Jakovenko, IT, Dortmund, 2009).

16.Qf1 Qh5 17.Nd2 Rae8 18.f3

18.Rxe8 Rxe8 19.f3 Bf5 20.Ne4 Bc7 continues to give White an extra pawn and Black the advantage in space (Svidler-Leko, World Ch Trmt, Mexico City, 2007).

18...Bh3

If 18...Rxe1!? (Black has the advantage in space and shouldn't be so willing to exchange) 19.Qxe1 Bxf3 20.Nxf3 Qxf3 21.Bd2 then:

If 21...h5 22.Qd1! (Black has more space, but White's last move is an attempt to exchange his way out) 22...Qf5 23.Bc2 Qh3 24.Qf3 g6 25.Bh6 Re8 26.Rf1 gives White the Bishop pair and command of open lines for attack; Black still has more space (Caruana-Negi, IT C, Wijk aan Zee, 2008).
If 22...Qxd1+?! 23.Bxd1! h4 24.gxh4 c5 25.Bf3 Ne7 26.Re1 gives White an extra pawn and command of open lines.

21...Qg4 22.Qd1 Qd7 23.Qf3 Nb6 24.Rf1 Nc4 25.Bc1 gives White command of the f-file; Black has a little more space (And. Volokitin-Kurnosov, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2008).

19.Qf2 f5 20.Rxe8 Rxe8 21.Nf1 (N)

21.c4 Nf4!! 22.c5+ Kf8 23.cxd6 Re2 24.d7 Ke7 gives Black stronger pawns and more space; White has a material advantage for now (Kapengut-Malaniuk, Sokolsky Mem, Minsk, 1985).

21...f4

White has an extra pawn and the advantage in space.

BLACK: Anna Muzychuk

WHITE: Hou Yifan
Position after 21...f5f4

22.Bxf4!

White allows her pawn structure to be disfigured, but wins another pawn.
If 22.a4 Qg6 23.axb5 axb5 then:

24.Ra6 Bxf1 25.Kxf1 fxg3 26.hxg3 Bxg3 27.Bxd5+ levels the material balance, but White has more piece activity.
24.g4!? h5! 25.Bc2 Qg5 26.Nd2 Nf6 27.Bb3+ Kh8 gives Black more space and promising prospects on the kingside.

22...Bxf4 23.gxf4

In spite of the weakening of the Kingside pawns, White still possesses two extra pawns and has more freedom; the pin at d5 must be annoying to Black.

23...Qg6+?!

White has defensive rescources. Her King is not all athat unsafe.
If 23...Be6 24.Qg3 Qf7 25.Re1 Kh8 26.Nd2 Nxf4 27.Re4 still gives White the gambit pawn and now the active Rook.

23...Kf8 24.Ng3 Qh6 25.Bxd5! cxd5 26.Qd2 Bd7 27.Rd1 gives White two pawns, but Black better pawn structure.

24.Ng3?!

The text is better than offering a Queen exchange.
If 24.Qg3 then:

24...Qe6 25.a4 b4 26.Kh1 Bf5 27.Bc4 bxc3 28.bxc3 gives White two extra pawns.
24...Qxg3+ 25.Nxg3 Kf8 26.Bxd5 cxd5 27.f5 leaves White at least a pawn up.

24...h5!

Black sets her eyes on the Knight.
24...Be6 25.Qc2 Qf6 26.f5 Bf7 27.Qd2 Rf8 28.a4 continues to give White two extra pawns.

25.Re1

White plays psychologically. Black has the advantage in space, but is behind in material. She won't want to trade.
25.Bc2 Qh6 26.Re1 Rxe1+ 27.Qxe1 Kf8 28.Qe5 Qxf4 29.Qxf4+ Nxf4 30.Kf2 h4 31.Ne2 White remains a pawn to the good.

BLACK: Anna Muzychuk

WHITE: Hou Yifan
Position after 25.Ra1e1

25...h4!

If 25...Re6 26.Rxe6 Bxe6 27.Qe1 Nxf4 28.Bxe6+ Nxe6 29.Qe4 continues to give White an extra pawn and forces the Queen exchange.
25...Rxe1+ 26.Qxe1 Kf8 27.Qe4 Qxe4 28.fxe4 Nxf4 29.Kf2 gives White a passed pawn.
If 25...Rf8?! 26.Qc2 Bf5 27.Qg2 Bd7 28.Ne4 then:

If 28...Qxg2+ 29.Kxg2 then:

If 29...Be6 30.Bxd5 Bxd5 31.Kg3 Bxa2 32.Nc5 leaves White a pawn up and she stands to win another.
29...Rxf4? 30.Nc5 Bc8 31.Re5 wins another pawn for White.

28...Qe6 29.Qg5 Rf5 30.Qh4 Be8 31.Nd6 leaves White two pawns to the good.
If 28...Qh6 29.Qg5 Qxg5+ 30.fxg5 Rxf3 31.Bd1 Rf8 32.Nc5 wins a second pawn for White.

26.Rxe8+

The exchange is best, but she falls into equality.
26.Bc2?! hxg3 27.hxg3 Qf7 28.Rxe8+ Qxe8 29.Be4 Be6 gives Black a Knight for three pawns and a slightly better position.

26...Qxe8 27.Qe2

This saves White's Knight, which has been en prise for two moves.

27...Qf7

If 27...Qg6?! 28.Qe4! then:

28...Kh7 29.Bc2 Qxe4 30.Bxe4+ Kh6 31.Nf1 gives White two extra pawns.
If 28...Qxe4?? then 29.fxe4! wins immediately.

If 27...Qxe2 28.Nxe2 Kf7 29.c4 then:

29...bxc4 30.Bxc4 a5 31.Nc3 Ke6 32.Nxd5 cxd5 33.Bd3 continues to give White two extra pawns, and that should be enough to win,
29...Nb4? 30.cxb5+ Ke7 31.a3 Nd3 32.bxa6 Bc8 33.a7 leaves White four pawns up with a pawn on the brink of promotion.

28.Nf1

If 28.Ne4?! then:

If 28...Qxf4! 29.Nc5 Qg5+ 30.Kf2 then:

30...Kh7! 31.Bxd5 cxd5 32.Nxa6 Qf4 33.Nb4 Qxh2+ 34.Ke3 is equal.
30...Kf8?? 31.Bxd5 cxd5 32.Nxa6 Qg2+ 33.Ke1 Qg1+ 34.Kd2

28...Qg6+?! 29.Ng5! Kf8 30.Bc2 Nxf4 31.Bxg6 Nxe2+ 32.Kf2 leaves both of Black's remaining pieces under attack.

28...Qg6+ 29.Kf2 Kf8?!

White blows away Black's center.
If 29...Qg2+! then 30.Ke1 Qg1 31.Qe8+ Kh7 32.Bc2+ g6 33.Bd3 remains equal.

BLACK: Anna Muzychuk

WHITE: Hou Yifan
Position after 29...Kg8f8

30.Bxd5! cxd5 31.Ne3 Qd6

Black wins back a pawn after 31...Qf7 32.Ng2 Bxg2 33.Kxg2 Qxf4, but after 34.Qe6 Qd2+ 35.Kh3 White gets it right back.

32.Ng2 Bxg2 33.Kxg2 Qxf4

If 33...Qg6+ 34.Kh3 Qf5+ 35.Kxh4 Qxf4+ 36.Kh3 then:

36...Qf5+ 37.Kg3 Qg5+ 38.Kf2 Qh4+ 39.Kf1 leaves White two pawns to the good.
If 36...Qh6+ 37.Kg3 then:

If 37...Qc1? 38.Qe5 Qg1+ 39.Kh4! Qf2+ 40.Kg5! then:

40...Qxb2 then White wins after 41.Kg6 Qxa2 42.Qxg7+ Ke8 43.Kf6.
If 40...Qg2+ then White wins after 41.Qg3 Qxb2 42.Qd6+ Ke8 43.Qxd5.

37...Qg5+ 38.Kf2 Qh5 transposes into the main line of this variation.

34.Qe5 Qd2+?

Black is going pawn-hunting on the queenside; she could and should keep her queen ready to harrass the King.
If 34...h3+ 35.Kxh3 Qxf3+ then:

36.Qg3 Qe4 37.Qg2 Qf5+ 38.Kg3 Qg6+ 39.Qd6+ Ke8 40.Qxd5 Qxh2 41.Qg8+ eliminates Black's g-pawn, but Black has potential counterplay after taking on a2.
If 36.Kh4 Qf2+ 37.Kg5 Qg2+ 38.Qg3 then:

38...Qxb2 39.Kf2 gives Black a difficult but survivable game.
38...Qh1 39.Kg4 Kg8 40.Qf3 Qg1+ 41.Kf5 leaves White clearly better, but Black could make something out of her g-pawn.

BLACK: Anna Muzychuk

WHITE: Hou Yifan
Position after 34...Qf2d2+

35.Kh3!

More important than capturing the h-pawn, this move assures that the White King will mot be subject to prolonged checks.

35...Qxb2 36.Qd6+ Ke8

Black might survive longer after 36...Kf7 37.Qxd5+ Kf6 38.Qd6+ Kf7 39.Qxa6 Qxc3 40.Qb7+.

37.Qxa6 Ke7 38.Qb7+ Kd6 39.Qb6+

White repeats moves to gain time on the clock.

39...Kd7 40.Qb7+ Kd6

Both players have made the time check.

41.Qxg7! Qxa2

41...Qxc3 42.Qe5+ Kc6 43.Qe6+ Kc7 44.Qxd5 Qb2 45.Qc5+ leaves White's d-pawn ready to advance.

42.Qe5+ Kc6

If 42...Kd7 then White wins after 43.Kxh4 Qc4 44.Kg3 Qxc3 45.Qxd5+.

43.Qe8+ Kb6 44.Qb8+ Kc6

If 44...Ka5 then 45.Qa7#.

45.Qc8+ Kd6 46.Qc5+ Ke6 47.Qxb5 1-0

47...Kf5 48.Qb8 Kg6 49.Kxh4 leaves White three pawns up.
Anna Olegivna resigns.

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Jack Rabbit

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Wed Oct-05-11 01:34 PM
Response to Reply #2

9. Corrales - J. Polgar, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2011 (Main Line: Chigorin Defense)

Edited on Wed Oct-05-11 01:47 PM by Jack Rabbit

Judit Polgar, the undisputed all-time Queen of Chess, continues her comeback by making it to the quarterfinals of the World Cup before falling to the eventual winner, Peter Svidler.

Judit Polgar
Photo by Ygrek in Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Fidel Corrales Jim�nez - Judit Polgar
World Cup, Round 1/Game 1
Khanty-Mansiysk, 28 August 2011

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Main Line (Chigorin Defense)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7

6.Re1

6.Qe2 is the Worrall Opening. See the silver notes to White's fifth move in van den Doel-Nikolic, Op Rd 7, Leiden, 2011, elsewhere on this thread.

van den Doel-Nikolic.

6...b5 7.Bb3 d6

For the Marsahll Gambit and Anti-Marshall Lines, see Hou Yifan-A. Muzychuk, Grand Prix W, Rostov-on-Don, 2011, elsewhere on this thread.

8.c3 0-0 9.h3

This is the Main Line. See the notes to Black's ninth and eleventh moves for more background.
9.d4 is the Yates Opening. See van den Doel-Nikolic elsewhere on this thread.

BLACK

WHITE

Grand Spanish Royal Game: Main Line
Position after 9.h3

9...Na5

This is not the beginning of the Chigorin Defense, as many believe, but that's where it leads most of the time. This position first appeared in the game Dr. Tarrasch-Schlechter in Monte Carlo, 1902 (see notes to Black's eleventh move). It was in that game that Dr. Tarrasch introduced 9.h3, now regarded as the main line of the Grand Spanish Royal Game.
The Knight retreat 9...Nb8 is the Breyer Defense. See Kosteniuk-Koneru, Grand Prix W, Rostov-on-Don, 2011, elsewhere on this thread.
9...Bb7 is the Zaitsev Defense. See A. Vovk-Nijboer, Dutch Op, Dieren, 2011, elsewhere on this thread.

Bodnaruk-Kovanova, Russian ChW Higher League, Taganrog, Russia, 2011,

10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 Qc7

BLACK

WHITE

Grand Spanish Royal Game: Main Line (Chigorin Defense)
Position after 11...Qd8c7

This move, first played by Mikhail Chigorin against Oldrich Duras at Vienna in 1906 (see the green notes to Black's twelfth move), is the actual starting point of the Chigorin Defense. Black plans to play on the queenside, where he already has an advantage in space to go with his obvious overall lead in development.
If 11...Nc6 12.Nbd2 Re8 13.Nf1 h6 then:

14.Be3 Bf8 15.Ng3 Qc7 16.a4 Bd7 17.d5 gives White a small advantage in space (Dr. Tarrasch-Schlechter, IT, Monte Carlo, 1902).
14.a4 Rb8 15.Ng3 Nh7 16.axb5 axb5 17.dxc5 dxc5 is equal (Struk-Ngo Hin Cheng, Op, Vlissingen, 2007).

12.Nbd2 cxd4

This exchange is most common, but not the only plan for Black. Black may delay the exchange in the hopes that White will choose between exchanging his d-pawn and advincing it.
If 12...Bd7 13.Nf1 then:

If 13...cxd4 14.cxd4 Rac8 15.Ne3 Nc6 16.d5 Nb4 17.Bb1 a5 18.a3 Na6 19.b4 then:

19...g6 20.Bd2 axb4 21.axb4 Qb7 22.Bd3 Nc7 23.Nc2 Nh5 24.Be3 gives White the advantage in space (Tal-Hjartarson, IT, Reykjavik, 1987).
If a) 19...axb4 20.axb4 Qb7 21.Bd2 then:

If 21...Ra8 22.Bd3 then:

If 22...Nc7 then:

23.Bc3 Rxa1 24.Qxa1 Na8 25.Nd2 Nb6 26.Nb3 Na4 27.Na5 gives White a small advantage in space (Smirin-Korchnoi, IT, Biel, 2003).
23.Nc2 Rfc8 24.Rb1 Bd8 25.Na1 Na6 26.Nb3 Bb6 27.Qe2 gives White a small advantage in space (S. Zhigalko-Erdogdu, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).

22...g6 23.Nh2 Bd8 24.Nhg4 Ne8 25.Qf3 gives White a small advantage in space (T. R. Hansen-Getz, Op, Troms�, 2009).

If 21...Bd8 22.Bd3 Bb6 23.Nc2 then:

23...Rfe8! 24.Nh2 g6 25.Qf3 Nxe4 26.Bxe4 f5 27.Bh6 is equal (Anand-Milos, Ol, Novi Sad, 1990).
23...h6?! 24.Nh4! Nh7 25.Qf3 Ng5 26.Qg3 Nc7 27.Ne3 gives White control of the g4 square, which can be used as a penetrate Black's position along the h3/c8 diagonal (Leko-Kamsky, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2006).

If b) 19...Ra8 20.Bd2 then:

If 20...Rfc8 21.Bd3 then:

21...Qb7 22.g4 g6 23.Nf1 axb4 24.axb4 Bd8 25.Ng3 gives White the advantage in space (Kasparov-Picket, Exhibition, Cyberspace, 2000).
21...axb4 22.axb4 Qb7 23.Nh2 Nc7 24.Nhf1 Rxa1 25.Qxa1 is equal (Anand-Picket, IT, Amsterdam, 1993).

a) 13...Rfe8 14.Ne3 g6 then:

If 15.dxe5 dxe5 16.Nh2 Rad8 17.Qf3 Be6 then:

If 18.Nhg4 Nxg4 19.hxg4 then:

If 19...Nc4 20.Nd5 Bxd5 21.exd5 Nb6 then:

If 22.Be4 then:

22...c4 23.Bd2 Rd6 24.Rad1 Red8 25.Be3 Na4 26.Rd2 a5 27.a3 Nc5 28.g5 f5 29.gxf6 Rxf6 30.Bxc5 Qxc5 31.Qe3 Qc7 32.Bf3 Bd6 33.Qh6 Qg7 34.Qxg7+ Kxg7 draw (Gligoric-Reshevsky, Candidates' Tnmt, Z�rich, 1953).
If 22...Rd6 then:

23.Be3 Red8 24.Rad1 Na4 25.Bc1 c4 26.Bc2 is equal (Boleslavsky-Nedeljkovic, TM, Leningrad, 1957).
23.Rd1 Rc8 24.b3 Qd8 25.a4 bxa4 26.bxa4 Rb8 27.a5 Nc4 is equal (B��k-Kostro, IT, Krakow, 1959).

If 22.Rd1 then:

22...Rd6 23.a4 Red8 24.axb5 axb5 25.Be4 c4 26.Be3 is equal (Keres-Matanovic, IT, Bled, 1961).
22...Rd7 23.a4 Red8 24.axb5 axb5 25.Be4 c4 26.Ra6 is equal (Geller-Gligoric, IT, Bled, 1961).

If 19...Qc6 20.g5 Nc4 21.Ng4 Bxg4 22.Qxg4 then:

22...f6 23.gxf6 Bxf6 24.a4 gives White a small advantage: Black has more space, but White is yet to develop his Queen's Bishop while Black's only Bishop is bad (Fischer-Unzicker, IT, Z�rich, 1959).
22...Nb6 23.g3 c4 24.Kg2 Nd7 25.Rh1 Nf8 26.b4 is equal (Fischer-Shocron, IT, Mar del Plata, 1959).

18.g4 Nc4 19.Nef1 Nb6 20.Ng3 c4 21.b4 cxb3 22.axb3 Nfd7 is equal (D�ckstein-Gligoric, Ol, Munich, 1958).

15.Bd2 Bf8 16.Rc1 Nc6 17.d5 Ne7 18.c4 b4 19.Kh2 is equal (Olafsson-Sliwa, ZT, Marianske Lazne, 1961).

If b) 13...Nc4 then:

If 14.b3 Nb6 15.Ne3 c4 then:

If 16.Ba3 Rfe8 then:

If 17.Qd2 Bf8 then:

If 18.Rab1 then:

18...a5!? 19.bxc4 Nxc4 20.Nxc4 bxc4 21.d5 Rab8 22.Qe2 gives White the freedom to easily surpass Black in space (Nijboer-Pruijssers, Op, Groningen, 2010).
If 18...cxb3! 19.axb3 a5 then:

20.c4 bxc4 21.bxc4 Nxc4 22.Nxc4 Qxc4 23.Rec1 is equal.
20.d5!? Rec8 21.Nd1 a4 22.Bb4 axb3 23.Bxb3 Na4 gives Black a narrow edge in space.

18.Rad1 a5 19.dxe5 dxe5 20.Bxf8 Kxf8 21.Nd5 is equal (Nijboer-Bosch, Op, Dieren, 2009).

If 17.bxc4 Nxc4 18.Nxc4 bxc4 then:

19.Rb1 Bf8 20.Qd2 Bc6 21.Qe3 exd4 22.Qxd4 gives White a slight advantage with the active Queen (Timofeev-Krylov, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2010).
19.Qe2 Bf8 20.Nd2 Rec8 21.Reb1 Qa5 22.Bb4 Qc7 gives White more freedom (Dr. Nunn-Unzicker, Bundesliga 8889, Germany, 1989).

If 16.bxc4 Nxc4 17.Nxc4 bxc4 18.a4 Rfe8 then:

19.Be3 Qa5 20.Qd2 Rab8 21.Rab1 exd4 22.Qxd4 gives White a little more activity (Korchnoi-Petrosian, Candidates' Tmnt, Cura�ao, 1962).
19.Qe2 a5 20.Rb1 Bc8 21.Nh2 Ba6 22.Nf1 is equal (Velimirovic-Petrosian, ITZ, Rio de Janeiro, 1979).

If 14.Ng3 g6 15.d5 Ne8 then:

16.a4 Ng7 17.b3 Na5 18.axb5 axb5 19.Bh6 Nb7 (Dolatov-H�bner, ITZ, Manila, 1990).
16.Nh2 Ng7 17.b3 Nb6 18.Bh6 a5 19.Rf1 c4 is equal (Novita-Rahman, Asian Ch, Subic Bay, 2009).

If 12...Nc6 then:

If 13.d5 then:

If 13...Nd8 then:

If 14.a4 Rb8 then:

If 15.axb5 axb5 16.b4 then:

If 16...Nb7 17.Nf1 Bd7 then:

18.Be3 Ra8 19.Qd2 Rfc8 20.Bd3 g6 21.Ng3 Bf8 22.Ra2 gives White the advantage in space (Karpov-Unzicker, Ol, Nice, 1974).
18.Bd2 Ra8 19.Ne3 Rfc8 20.Kh2 Rxa1 21.Qxa1 Qd8 22.Qa7 Ra8 23.Qxb7 Rb8 24.Qa7 draw (Spassky-Korchnoi, Final Candidates' Match, Kiev, 1968).

If a) 16...Nd7 17.bxc5 Qxc5 then:

18.Ba3 Qxc3 19.Re3 Qc7 20.Bb4 Re8 21.Rc3 is equal (Berg-Greet, Masters, Hastings, 2009).
18.Re3 Qc7 19.Ba3 Re8 20.Bb4 Nb7 21.Nb3 is equal (op den Kelder-Marin, Op, Banyoles, 2007).

If b) 16...c4 17.Nf1 Ne8 then:

If 18.N3h2 then:

If 18...f6 19.f4 then:

19...Nf7 20.Nf3 g6 21.f5 Ng7 22.g4 Bd7 23.Be3 gives White the advantage in space (Karpov-Spassky, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1973).
19...exf4 20.Bxf4 Nf7 21.Nf3 g6 22.Qd2 Ng7 23.Nd4 gives White the advantage in space (Spraggett-Biyiasas, Canadian Ch, Toronto, 1978).

18...f5 19.exf5 Bxf5 20.Bxf5 Rxf5 21.Be3 Rf8 22.Nf3 is equal (Geller-Smyslov, ITZ, Palma de Mallorca, 1970).

If 18.Ng3 g6 19.Nh2 Ng7 20.Rf1 then:

20...Bd7?! 21.f4 Bh4 22.Qf3 f5 23.fxe5 dxe5 24.exf5 (Dr. Nunn-Short, IT, Brussels, 1986).
20...f5 21.exf5 Nxf5 22.Nxf5 Bxf5 23.Bxf5 Rxf5 24.Be3 limits White to a small advantage in space.

If 15.b4 then:

If 15...c4 16.Nf1 Ne8 then:

If 17.g4 g6 18.Ng3 Ng7 then:

19.Nh2 f6 20.f4 exf4 21.Bxf4 Nf7 22.Nf3 gives White the advantage in space (Tukmakov-Hern�ndez, IT, Leipzig, 1975).
19.Kh2 Bd7 20.Rg1 f6 21.Be3 Nf7 22.Qd2 Kh8 23.a5 gives White the advantage in space (Balashov-Hern�ndez, World ChTU26, Graz, 1972).
17.axb5 axb5 transposes into Karpov-Spassky, above.

15...Ne8 16.Nf1 g6 17.bxc5 dxc5 18.Bh6 Ng7 19.Ne3 gives White a passed pawn and the advantage in space (Fischer-Gore, Manhatten Blitz, New York, 1971).

If 14.Nf1 Ne8 15.g4 then:

If 15...g6 16.Ng3 Ng7 then:

If 17.Bh6 f6 18.Kh2 Nf7 then:

If 19.Be3 Bd7 20.Rg1 Kh8 then:

21.a4 Qb7 22.b3 Qc8 23.Qf1 Ng5 24.Nh4 Nf7 25.Nf3 Ng5 26.Nh4 Nf7 27.Nf3 draw (Fejzullahu-Tisdall, Euro Club Cup, F�gen, 2006).
21.Qe2 Qc8 22.Rg2 Qb7 23.Rag1 c4 24.a3 Rfc8 is equal (Chajes-Gr�nfeld, IT, Karlsbad, 1923).

19.Bd2 Ng5 20.Nxg5 fxg5 21.Kg2 Bd7 22.a4 Qb7 is equal (Ciocaltea-Tringov, TT, Baile Herculane, 1978).

17.Kh2 f6 18.Be3 Bd7 19.Qd2 Nf7 20.Rg1 Kh8 21.Raf1 is equal (Robatsch-Padevsky, IT, Amsterdam, 1972).

If 15...f6 16.Ng3 g6 then:

If 17.Kh2 Nf7 18.Rg1 then:

If 18...Ng7 19.Be3 Bd7 20.Rg2 Kh8 then:

If 21.Qd2 Qc8 22.Rag1 Rg8 23.Nh4 Ne8 then:

24.f3?! Qd8! 25.Rf2 f5 26.Nhxf5 gxf5 27.exf5 Bg5 gives Black a piece for two pawns (Jansa-Crues Albareda, Euro ChT, Oberhausen, 1961).
24.Nf3! Ng7 25.Bd3 Rf8 26.b3 Qc7 27.c4 gives White nothing more than a slight edge.

21.Qe2 Rg8 22.Nd2 Qc8 23.Rag1 a5 24.f3 b4 25.c4 is equal (Yates-Asztalos, Ol, London, 1927).

18...Kh8 19.a4 Rb8 20.axb5 axb5 21.Be3 b4 22.c4 draw (Tringov-Z. Nikolic, IT, Nis, 1981).

17.Kh1 Nf7 18.Rg1 Ng7 19.Be3 Bd7 20.Rg2 Kh8 is equal (I. A. Horowitz-Hasenfuss, Ol, Warsaw, 1935).

If 13...Na5 14.Nf1 then:

If 14...Bd7 15.b3 Nb7 then:

If 16.Ng3 g6 then:

If 17.Bh6 Rfc8 then:

18.c4 Na5 19.Nd2 Bf8 20.Be3 Bg7 21.f4 is equal (Lettieri-B.Lengyel, 1st Saturday June, Budapest, 2005).
18.Qd2 c4 19.b4 a5 20.a3 Ra6 21.Rac1 axb4 22.axb4 Rca8 is equal (B. Lengyel-Eperjesi, 1st Saturday June, Budapest, 2007).

17.Nh2 c4 18.b4 a5 19.a3 axb4 20.cxb4 is equal (Smirin-Ehlvest, Soviet Ch prelim, Minsk, 1986).

If 16.c4 Rfb8 17.Ne3 then:

17...bxc4 18.Nxc4 Bf8 19.a4 Na5 20.Nfd2 g6 21.g4 is equal (Alexander-Keres, IT 3738, Hastings, 1937).
17...Bf8 18.Nf5 Nd8 19.Nh2 Ne8 20.h4 f6 21.h5 gives White the advantage in space (Karpov-Andersson, World Youth, Stockholm, 1969).

14...Nc4 15.g4 Ne8 16.Ng3 g6 17.b3 Nb6 18.Kh1 is equal (Bobotsov-Tarnowski, IT, Miedzyzdroje, 1952).

If 13.dxc5 dxc5 14.Nf1 then:

If 14...Be6 then:

If 15.Ne3 Rad8 16.Qe2 then:

If 16...c4 17.Nf5 then:

If 17...Bxf5 18.exf5 Rfe8 then:

If 19.Bg5 Nd5 then:

20.Be4 f6 21.Rad1 Nb6 22.Be3 Rxd1 23.Rxd1 Rd8 24.Nh4 readies White to launch a kingside attack (Parma-Ostojic, Skopje, 1969).
If 19.Ng5 Nb8 20.Be3 Nbd7 then:

If 21.a4 Nc5 22.axb5 axb5 23.Bxc5 Bxc5 24.b4 Bb6 then:

25.Ne4 Nxe4 26.Bxe4 Rd6 27.Red1 Red8 is equal (Ivkov-Mecking, ITZ, Sousse, 1967).
21.Rad1 Bc5 22.Ne4 Nxe4 23.Bxe4 Nf6 24.Bg5 Qb6 is equal (Moraza-Silva Sanchez, Pan-American Ch, Havana, 1970).

25.Red1?! Rxd1+! 26.Qxd1 Qc6 27.Nf3 e4 28.Nd4 Qd5 gives Black a strong center (Ivkov-Robatsch, Capablanca Mem, Havana, 1965).

20.Rad1 Bxg5 21.Nxg5 Nf6 22.Ne4 Nxe4 23.Bxe4 Nb8 is equal (Vasiukov-Suetin, Soviet ChT, Riga, 1968).

If 17...Rfe8 18.Bg5 Nd7 then:

If 19.Bxe7 Nxe7 20.Ng5 then:

If 20...Nf8 then:

21.Nxe6 Nxe6 22.g3 Qc6 23.Nxe7+ Rxe7 24.Rad1 Red7 25.Rxd7 Rxd7 26.Rd1 Nc5 is equal and soon drawn (Rubinetti-Filip, IZT, Palma de Mallorca, 1970).
21.Rad1 Rxd1 22.Rxd1 Rd8 23.Rxd8 Qxd8 24.Nxe6 Nxe6 25.g3 g6 26.Ne3 draw (Schmid-Filip, Ol, Siegen, 1970).

20...h6 21.Nxe6 fxe6 22.Ne3 Ng6 23.g3 Nf6 24.Red1 gives White better pawn structure, but also a very bad Bishop (Fischer-O'Kelly, IT, Buenos Aires, 1970).

If 19.Nxe7+ Nxe7 then:

20.Red1 f6 21.Be3 Nc5 22.Rxd8 Rxd8 23.Rd1 Rxd1+ 24.Qxd1 draw (Ivkov-Portisch, IT, Budapest, 1970).
20.Bxe7 Rxe7 21.Ng5 Nc5 22.Nxe6 fxe6 23.Rad1 Red7 24.Rxd7 Rxd7 25.Rd1 draw (Dely-Lengyel, Hungarian Ch, Budapest, 1971).

If 16...g6 17.Ng5 Bc8 then:

If 18.a4 c4 19.axb5 axb5 20.b3 then:

20...b4 21.Qxc4 h6 22.Nd5 Nxd5 23.exd5 hxg5 24.Qxc6 Qxc6 25.dxc6 bxc3 26.Rxe5 gives White an extra pawn, stronger pawns, an active Rook and a winning position (Fischer-Kalme, US Ch, New York, 1958).
20...Na5 21.bxc4 bxc4 22.Ba3 Rfe8 23.Bxe7 Rxe7 24.Red1 is equal (Suetin-Kamyshov, Soviet ChT, 1951).

If 18.Bd2 Kg7 19.Rad1 h6 20.Nf3 Be6 then:

21.a4 Qb8 22.Bc1 Rxd1 23.Rxd1 Rd8 24.Rxd8 Bxd8 25.axb5 axb5 26.Nd5 gives White a slight advantage in space (Dr. Euwe-Smyslov, World Ch Tnmt, The Hague, 1948).
21.Bb1 Rd7 22.g4 Rfd8 23.Kh1 Ng8 24.Rg1 Kh8 fives Black a slight advantage with command of the d-file and more space (Bronstein-Alatorsev, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1948).

If 15.N3h2 Rad8 16.Qf3 c4 17.Ne3 then:

If 17...g6 18.Nhg4 Nxg4 19.hxg4 then:

19...f6 20.Nd5 Bxd5 21.exd5 Na5 22.Bh6 gives White a passed pawn, the Bishop pair and a small advantantage in space (Erdogdu-Greet, Euro Club Cup, Kemer, 2007).
19...Qc8 20.Nd5 Bxg4 21.Nxe7+ Nxe7 22.Qf6 Qe6 23.Qh4 f5 24.f3 Bh5 25.exf5 draw (Neukirch-Vogt, East German Ch, Potsdam, 1974).

17...Rfe8 18.g4 Bf8 19.g5 Nd7 20.Nd5 Bxd5 21.exd5 is equal (Nemcova-Pares Vives, OlW, Dresden, 2008).

If 14...Rd8 15.Qe2 then:

If 15...Be6 16.Ne3 h6 then:

If 17.Nh2 Bf8 then:

If 18.Nf5 Kh7 19.Qf3 Ng8 20.Ng4 f6 21.Nge3 Nd4 22.cxd4 cxd4 is equal (Bogoljubow-Romanovsky, Match, Leningrad, 1924).
18.Nhg4 then:

18...Nxg4 19.hxg4 Ne7 20.a4 c4 21.Nf5 f6 gives Black a slim advantage in space (Ivkov-Kostro, ZT, Vrnjacka Banja, 1967).

18...Ne7 19.Ng4 Nh7 20.Qf3 Ng6 21.h4 h5 22.Nh2 Nf6 is equal (Tolush-Lilienthal, IT, Leningrad/Moscow, 1939).

If 17.g4 Bf8 18.g5 hxg5 19.Nxg5 then:

19...g6 20.Qf3 Bg7 21.Nxe6 fxe6 22.Ng2 Rf8 23.Nh4 gives White stronger pawns, the Bishop pair and initiative on the kingside; White soon won the pawn at g6 (Boleslavsky-Lilienthal, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1945).
19...Ne7 20.Nxe6 fxe6 21.Ng4 Nh7 22.Kh1 Kh8 23.Rg1 gives White greater activity (Bronstein-Zhukhovitsky, Jr Tnmt, Kiev, 1940).

If 15...Nh5 then:

If 16.a4 Rb8 17.axb5 axb5 18.g3 g6 then:

19.h4 Be6 20.Ne3 c4 21.Ng5 Bxg5 22.hxg5 Na5 23.Ng4 is equal (Fischer-Elikases, IT, Mar del Plata, 1960).
19.Kh2 Be6 20.Ne3 c4 21.Rd1 Rxd1 22.Qxd1 Rd8 gives Black the advantage in space (Bronstein-Reshevsky, Candidates' Tnmt, Z�rich, 1953).

16.g4 Nf4 17.Bxf4 exf4 18.e5 g6 19.Qe4 f5 20.Qxf4 fxg4 21.hxg4 gives White an extra pawn and the advantage in space as the well-protected e-pawn cramps Black's game (Asaritis-Sliwa, Corres, 1963).

In the debut game of this defense, Chigorin played 12...Kh8 13.Nf1 then:

If 13...Ng8!? then:

If 14.Ne3! Be6 then:

If 15.Nf5!? Bf6! 16.d5 Bd7 then:

If 17.g4 g6 18.Ng3 Bg7 19.Kh2 Nc4 20.Nd2 Nb6 then:

21.h4?! Qd8! 22.Kg2 Qxh4 gives Black an extra pawn and a powerful position (Duras-Chigorin, IT, Nuremberg, 1906).
21.Ndf1 h6 22.Ne3 Nf6 23.Qf3 Nh7 remains equal.

17.Ng3 Nc4 18.Bd3 Nb6 19.Be3 Be7 20.Qd2 is equal.

15.dxc5 dxc5 16.Nd5 Bxd5 17.exd5 Bd6 18.Qe2 gives White a small advantage in space.

If 14.Ng3 then:

If 14...g6!? 15.b3! Bf6 16.Be3 Bg7 17.Qd2 then:

17...f5 18.exf5 gxf5 19.dxe5 dxe5 20.Nh5 gives White a slight advantage in space(Maroczy-Perlis, IT, Vienna, 1907).
17...Rd8 18.Rad1 exd4 19.cxd4 Nc6 20.Rc1 gives White a small advantage in space.

14...Be6 15.d5 Bd7 16.b3 Nf6 17.Nh4 leaves White with more freedom.

13...cxd4 14.cxd4 Be6 15.d5 Bd7 16.Bd3 Rfc8 17.Qe2 limits White to a small advantage in space.

13.cxd4 Nc6

If 13...Rd8 14.Nf1 exd4 15.Nxd4 d5 16.e5 Ne4 17.Bf4 Bc5 18.Ne3 Qb6 19.Nf3 Bb7 20.Ng5 h6 21.Nxe4 dxe4 22.Qb1 Nc4 is equal (Wang Jue-Shen Yang, Chinese ChW, Xinghua, 2009).
If 13...Bb7 14.Nf1 Rac8 15.Bd3 Nc6 16.Ne3 Rfe8 17.Nf5 Bf8 18.Bg5 Nd7 19.Rc1 Qb8 20.Bb1 Nxd4 21.N3xd4 Rxc1 22.Bxc1 exd4 gives White healthier pawns and a small advantage in space (Fischer-Keres, IT, Z�rich, 1959).

14.a3

If 14.Nb3 a5 15.Be3 a4 16.Nbd2 then:

If 16...Bd7 17.Rc1 then:

If 17...Qb7 then:

If 18.Qe2 Rfe8 then:

If 19.Bd3 Rab8 then:

If 20.dxe5 then:

If 20...Nxe5 21.Nxe5 dxe5 then:

If 22.Nf3 Bb4 23.Bd2 then:

23...Bd6 24.b4 axb3 25.axb3 h6 26.Nh4 Be6 27.b4 is equal (Shirov-Akopian, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2004).
23...Bf8 24.Bg5 Nh5 25.Nh2 Nf4 26.Bxf4 exf4 27.Qd2 is equal (Sadvakasov-Bacrot, FIDE Knock Out, Tripoli, 2004).

If 22.Bc5 then:

If 22...Bc6 then:

23.Bxe7 Rxe7 24.Nf3 h6 25.Rc5 Nd7 26.Rc3 Re6 27.Rec1 Rd8 28.Qc2 Nf6 (Kramnik-Admas, IT, Sofia, 2005).
23.Nf3 Nd7 24.Bxe7 Rxe7 25.Rc3 Nf8 26.Rec1 Be8 27.b4 gives White a slight edge with command of the c-file; White threatens to put a Rook on c5 (Alekseev-Akopian, Grand Prix, Jermuk, 2009).

If 22...Bxc5 23.Rxc5 then:

23...Rbc8 24.Rec1 Rxc5 25.Rxc5 Qb6 26.Qe3 Qe6 27.Bxb5 Qxa2 28.Qa3 gives White an active Rook and a small advantage in space (Zhang Xiaowen-Wang Yu, Chinese ChW, Xinghua, 2010).
23...Bc6 24.Rec1 Re6 25.b4 h6 26.Nf3 Nd7 27.R5c3is equal (Sutovsky-Hess, World ChT, Bursa, 2010).

If 20...dxe5 21.Bc5 Nh5 then:

If 22.g3 Bxc5 23.Rxc5 then:

23...Qb6?! 24.Rec1! Rbc8 25.Qe3 Bxh3 26.Bxb5 leaves White with the very real threat to win the pawn at e5 after Black's Knight at c6 gives way (Timman-Ljubojevic, IT, Bugojno, 1982).
23...Nf6 24.Rxb5 Qc8 25.Rxb8 Qxb8 26.Bb5 gives White more freedom.

22.Qe3 Nf4 23.Bxe7 Rxe7 24.Rc5 Nb4 25.Bf1 f6 is equal (Gundavaa-Rimawi, IT, Doha, 2006).

If 20.a3 exd4 21.Nxd4 Ne5 22.Bb1 then:

If 22...Bd8 then:

23.Bg5 h6 24.Bh4 Qb6 25.Nc2 Rc8 26.Ne3 Rxc1 27.Rxc1 is equal (Akopian-Agdestein, IZT, Biel, 1993).
23.N4f3 h6 24.Nxe5 dxe5 25.Bc5 Rc8 26.Qe3 Be6 is equal (Ginzburg-Golod, Euro Club Cup, Izmir, 2004).

If 22...b4 23.axb4 Qxb4 then:

24.Rc2?! d5! 25.f4 Ng6 gives Black greater activity and more space (Goloshchapov-Shirov, Euro Club Cup, Rethymnon, 2003).
24.b3 a3 25.f4 Ng6 26.Qf3 remains equal.

If 19.a3 Bd8 20.Bd3 Rb8 then:

21.d5 Na5 22.Red1 b4 23.Nc4 Nxc4 24.Rxc4 bxa3 25.bxa3 gives White a small advantage in space(Ghaderpour-Sukandar, Asian ChW, Subic Bay, 2009).
21.dxe5 Nxe5 22.Nxe5 dxe5 23.b4 axb3 24.Nxb3 Nxe4 25.Bxe4 Qxe4 is equal (N. Kosintseva-Wang Yu, TMW, Ningbo, 2010).

If 18.Nf1 Rfe8 19.Ng3 then:

If 19...Bd8 then:

If 20.Qe2 h6 21.Red1 Rb8 22.Bb1 then:

22...Bb6 23.dxe5 dxe5 24.Rd6 Re6 25.Nf5 Bxe3 26.Qxe3 gives White the advantage in space; Black should try to exchange his way out (And.Volokitin-P�rez Candelario, Ol, Palma de Mallorca, 2004).
22...Na5 23.dxe5 dxe5 24.Nh4 Nc4 25.Ngf5 Nxe3 26.Qxe3 gives White a little more activity on the kingside (And.Volokitin-Rogic, Bosnian League, Neum, 2005).

If 20.Bb1 h6 then:

If 21.Re2 Bb6 22.dxe5 Nxe5 23.Nh4 Bxe3 24.Rxe3 d5 25.Ngf5 Bxf5 26.Nxf5 Rad8 then:

27.Rg3 dxe4 28.Rxg7+ Kh8 29.Qe1 Qd7 30.Bxe4 Qd2 is equal (Leko-Bologan, IT, Dortmund, 2004).
27.exd5 Qxd5 28.Qe2 Qd2 29.Qxd2 Rxd2 30.Rce1 g6 gives Black the advantage of a Rook on the seventh rank (Klovans-Timoshchenko).

21.Qe2 Bb6 22.dxe5 dxe5 23.Nf5 Bxf5 24.Qxb5 Bd7 25.Qxb6 Qxb6 26.Bxb6 gives White an extra pawn (Bruz�n-Zhao Xue, World ChT, Beer Sheva, 2005).

19...h6 20.Qd2 exd4 21.Bxh6 Ne5 22.Bg5 Nxf3+ 23.gxf3 Bxh3 24.Qxd4 is equal (Ivanchuk-Svidler, Pearl Spring, Nanjing, 2008).

If 17...Rac8 18.Nf1 Qb8 then:

If 19.Ng3 Rfe8 20.Bb1 then:

If 20...Bd8 then:

If 21.d5 Na5 22.Rxc8 Bxc8 23.Nh4 Nc4 24.Bc1 then:

24...g6 25.b3 axb3 26.axb3 Nb6 27.Bg5 gives White more space (Negi-Sasikiran, Asian Ch, Mashhad, 2011).
If 24...Nb6 25.Nhf5 Nbd7 26.Qf3 Ba5 27.Re2 gives White more space; the Black Queen is overloaded.

21.Qd3 g6 22.Rcd1 exd4 23.Nxd4 Ne5 24.Qf1 Nc4 is equal(Dzhumaev-Vladimiorov, Op, Dubai, 2004).

If 20...Na5 then:

21.Rxc8 Bxc8 22.Bd3 Be6 23.Bd2 Bd8 24.Qe2 is equal and is soon agreed drawn (Svidler-Shirov, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2006).
21.b3 axb3 22.axb3 h6 23.Qd3 b4 24.Bd2 Bb5 is equal (Leko-Akopian, Grand Prix, Elista, 2008).

19.Bb1 Rc7 20.Qd2 exd4 21.Nxd4 Nxd4 22.Bxd4 Rxc1 23.Rxc1 gives White the advantage in space (Leko-Adams, Rpd M, Miskolc, 2005).

If a) 16...Be6 17.a3 then:

If 17...Na5 Nxe5 18.Rc1 Qb8 19.Bd3 then:

If 19...b4 20.d5 Bd7 21.Nc4 then:

21...Nxc4 Nxe5 22.Nxe5 dxe5 23.Nc4 Bc5 24.Bg5 Ne8 25.axb4 Bxb4 is equal (Shirov-Tkachiev, Rpd Op, Corsica, 2003).
21...Nb3 22.Rb1 Bd8 23.Nfd2 Nxd2 24.Qxd2 b3 25.Rbc1 gives White a better center, but his queenside is cramped (Shalamberidze-Vepkhvishvili, Tbilisi Ch, 1984).

19...h6 20.Qe2 b4 21.d5 Bd7 22.Nc4 Nb3 23.Rc2 gives White greater activity and the superior center (Mastrovasilis-Dimitrov, Greek ChT, Ermioni, 2006).

If 17...Rfc8 18.Rc1 Bd7 19.Bd3 then:

If 19...Qb8 20.Qe2 b4 then:

21.dxe5 22.Nxe5 dxe5 23.Nc4 Bc5 24.Bg5 Ne8 25.axb4 Bxb4 is equal (Shirov-Tkachiev, Rpd Op, Corsica, 2003).
21.Rc4 d5 22.exd5 Nxd5 23.dxe5 Be6 24.Ng5 Bxg5 25.Bxg5 gives White more freedom and space (A. Sokolov-Mecking, IT, Banza, 2007).

If 19...Qb7 20.Qe2 then:

20...b4 21.Nc4 exd4 22.Nxd4 Ne5 23.Bg5 Rc5 24.Nxe5 Rxc1 25.Bxc1 draw (Balashov-Galdunts, IT, Kurgan, 1994).
20...Bd8 21.dxe5 Nxe5 22.Nxe5 dxe5 is equal.

If b) 16...Nb4 17.Bb1 Bd7 18.a3 Nc6 then:

If 19.Bd3 Na5 then:

If 20.Rc1 Qb8 21.Qe2 Re8 22.Rc2 Bd8 then:

If 23.dxe5 dxe5 then:

If 24.Bc5 Nh5 then:

If 25.g3 Ra6 26.Nh2 Rh6 27.Ng4 Rg6 28.Kh2 Bg5 is equal (Tal-Kuzmin, October Revolution 60th Anniversary, Leningrad, 1977).
25.Qe3 Nf4 26.Bf1 Ra6 27.Nb1 Rg6 28.Kh2 Nc4 gives Black the advantage in space (Luckis-Ja.Bobolch�n, IT, Mar del Plata, 1946).

If 24.Rec1 h6 then:

If 25.Rc3 b4 26.axb4 Qxb4 27.R1c2 Bb6 28.Nc4 Nxc4 29.Rxc4 Qa5 is equal (Matanovic-Smejkal, IT, Banja Luka, 1979).
25.Rc5 Nb7 26.R5c3 Na5 27.b4 axb3 28.Nxb3 gives White a small advantage in space(Liang Jirong-E.Torre, IT, Beijing, 1992).

If 23.Rec1 then:

If 23...b4 24.dxe5 dxe5 25.axb4 Qxb4 26.Bc5 Qb8 27.Qe3 h6 28.Nh4 is equal (Adams-Beliavsky, IT, Tilburg, 1992).
23...exd4 24.Nxd4 b4 25.axb4 Qxb4 26.Qf3 Rb8 27.Nf5 is equal (Facundo Pierrot-Flores, Najdorf Mem, Buenos Aires, 2000).

If 20.Qe2 Qb8 then:

If 21.Rec1 then:

If 21...Re8 22.Rab1 then:

If 22...exd4 23.Nxd4 b4 24.Bb5 b3 25.Bxd7 Nxd7 then:

26.Nb5 Nc5 27.Nxd6 Bxd6 28.Bxc5 Bf4 29.Be3 leaves White with an extra pawn; Black's piece activity and advance queenside pawns are only partial compensation (Leko-Adams, IT, Tilburg, 1998).
26.Nf5 Bf8 27.Nh6+ Kh8 28.Nxf7+ Kg8 29.Nh6+ Kh8 30.Bd4 gives White an extra pawn and a strong attack on the Black King (van Kempen-Tyagunov, Corres, 1991).

22...Bf8 23.Bg5 Be7 24.b4 axb3 25.Nxb3 Nxb3 26.Rxb3 gives White the advantage in that his center pawns are adequately protected while Black's b- and e-pawns are not (Timm-H�se, Corres, 1999).

If 21...Bd8 then:

22.Rab1 Re8 23.dxe5 dxe5 24.b4 axb3 25.Nxb3 gives White a small advantage in space (R. Byrne-Puri, Op, Philadelphia, 1985).
22.dxe5 dxe5 23.Bc5 Bd8 24.Qe3 Nh5 draw (Ghinda-Jansa, ZT, Prague, 1985).

If 19.Bc2 Rfe8 20.Bd3 then:

If 20...Qb7 21.Qe2 Rab8 22.d5 Na5 23.Reb1 then:

23...Qc7 24.b4 axb3 25.Nxb3 Nc4 26.Bc1 Nh5 27.Ra2 is equal (Berg-Wang Yu, Masters, Gibraltar, 2008).
23...Bd8 24.b4 axb3 25.Nxb3 Nxd5 26.Nxa5 Bxa5 27.exd5 e4 is equal (Luther-Bruz�n, Capablanca Mem, Havana, 2004).

20...Na5 21.Qe2 Qb8 22.Rac1 Bd8 23.Qf1 h6 24.Rc2 gives White a slime edge in space (Rodr�guez-E.Torre, ITZ, Manila, 1982).

If 14.d5 Nb4 15.Bb1 a5 then:

If 16.Nf1 Bd7 then:

If 17.a3 Na6 18.Be3 Nc5 19.Ng3 then:

19...Rfc8 20.Bc2 a4 21.Qd2 draw (Dutreeuw-Giddons, Op, Amsterdam, 2001).
19.N1d2 Rfc8 20.Bc2 Qb7 21.Bxc5 Rxc5 22.Nb3 Rcc8 23.Nc1 Be8 gives Black a slight advantage in space (M. Abdul-Iuldachev, Op, Dhaka, 2005).

17.Bd2 Na6 18.Bc2 Rfc8 19.Rc1 Bd8 20.Ng3 Qb7 is equal (Daulyte-Pokorna, OlW, Torino, 2006).

If 16.a3 Na6 17.b4 then:

17...Bd7 18.Qb3 Nh5 19.Bb2 Nf4 20.Kh2 Qa7 gives Black a small advantage in space (Kveliashvili-Vepkhvishvili, Cyberspace, 1995).
If 17...axb4 18.axb4 Bd7 19.Qb3 then:

If 19...Nc5 20.bxc5 Rxa1 21.c6 Bc8 then:

If 22.Qxb5 then:

22...Ba6 23.Qb2 Ra5 24.Nb3 Rb8 25.Qc3 Rab5 26.Bc2 Bd8 gives Black a slight material advantage and White more space (Michalak-Vepkhvishvili, Op, Czestochowa, 1991).
22...Nh5 23.Qb2 Ra8 24.Nc4 Ba6 25.Qc3 Bxc4 26.Qxc4 gives White an extra pawn, but there seems no good way to exploit it (Lobzhanidze-Vepkhvishvili, Tbilisi Ch, 1987).

If 22.Ba3 Qa7 23.Re3 b4 24.Qxb4 then:

24...Nxd5? drops a piece to 25.exd5! Bf5 26.Qb2 Rxb1+ 27.Nxb1 when Black resigns (Pruijssers-Oosterom, Bussum, 2008).
24...Bxh3! 25.Qb2 Rxb1+ 26.Nxb1 Rb8 27.Qc2 Bg4 28.Rc3 the advanced passer gives White a slight edge.

19...Qb7 20.Bd3 Rfc8 21.Nf1 Bd8 22.Ng3 Bb6 23.Bg5 gives White the edge in space, concentrated on the kiside and the central light squares (Svidler-Akopian, Ol, Dresden, 2008).

14...exd4 15.Nb3 d3

It really doesn't matter if Black advances the pawn or not.
If 15...Nd7 16.Nbxd4 Nxd4 17.Nxd4 Bf6 18.Be3 Ne5 19.b3 Bd7 20.Rc1 Rac8 then:

21.f4 Nc6 22.e5 dxe5 23.Nxc6 Bxc6 24.Be4 Rfd8 25.Qg4 Bd7 26.Bxh7+!! White wins a pawn and went on to shortly win the game (Tal-Kholmov, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1968).
21.Bb1 Qb7 22.Qd2 Rxc1 23.Rxc1 Re8 24.Rd1 gives White stronger pawn while Black has a slender advantage in space (Suetin-Jansa, IT, Budapest, 1970).

16.Bxd3!

Although this momentarily blocks the Queen's access to the weakling at d6, it's the best move.
If 16.Qxd3!? then after 16...Ne5! 17.Nxe5 dxe5 18.Bd2 Bd6 Black has repaired his pawn weakness, leaving the game approximimately equal.

16...Ne5 17.Bf4

If 17.Nxe5 dxe5 then:

18.Be3 Be6 19.Rc1 Qd7 20.Nc5 Bxc5 21.Rxc5 Rfd8 22.Bc2 Qb7 23.Qb1 Nd7 draw (R. Byrne-Lein, IT, Amsterdam, 1979).
18.Bd2 Be6 19.Rc1 Qd7 20.Bc2 Rac8 21.Re3 Rfd8 gives Black the advantage in space (H. Rudolf-Davydov, Op, Lichtenrade, Germany, 2008).

17...Nxd3 18.Qxd3 Bb7 (N)

18...Re8 19.Rac1 Qb6 20.Be3 Qb7 21.Bd2 Bd8 22.Qxd6 leaves White with an extra pawn (Anand-Svidler, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2005).

19.Rac1

White has a small advantage in space.

19...Qb6 20.Nfd4!?

White is not choosing his targets well. The Queen at b6 is unprotected and, therefore, a much better target.
If 20.Be3 Qd8 then:

If 21.Nfd2 d5 22.e5 then:

22...Ne4 23.Nxe4 dxe4 24.Qxd8 Rfxd8 continues to give White a small advantage in space
22...Nd7 23.Nf3 Re8 24.Qf5 Bc8 25.e6 Nf6 26.exf7+ drives the Black King out of the pocket.

21.Nbd2!? d5 22.e5 Ne4 23.Nd4 Qd7 24.b4 saddles Black with an isolated pawn, but it is passed pawn as well.

BLACK: Judit Polgar

WHITE: Fidel Corrales Jim�nez
Position after 20.Nf3d4

20...g6?!

Black misses an opportunity to cut into White's advantage.
20...Rfe8 21.f3 Nd7 22.Qd2 d5 23.Be3 dxe4 24.Nf5 still gives White a slim advantage owing to the potential discovered attack on the Queen.

21.Bh6!?

White seems to be attacking for the sake of the attack. The Rook can just move to a better square.
Better is simproving the position of the Knights: If 21.Nd2 then:

If 21...Nd7 then:

22.N4f3! Nc5 23.Qe3 Qd8 24.Bh6 Re8 25.b4 gives White a more comfortable advantage in space.
22.Be3!? Qd8 23.b4 Ne5 24.Qb3 d5 25.Bf4 is equal.

If 21...d5!? then:

22.e5! Nd7 23.b4 Rac8 24.Rxc8 Rxc8 25.N2f3 gives White a better center.
22.exd5?! Nxd5 23.Bc7 Nxc7 24.Rxe7 Nd5 is equal.

21...Rfe8!

See previous note; Black pieces now come to life.

22.Nf5

If 22.Bd2 then:

22...Rac8 23.Rxc8 Rxc8 24.Bg5 Bd8 25.f3 is equal.
22...Nd7!? 23.Ba5! Qa7 24.Qg3 Nc5 25.Nxc5 dxc5 26.Nf5 continues to gives White a small advantage in space; Black has the queenside pawn majority.

22.f3 Nd7 23.Be3 Ne5 24.Qc3 Rac8 25.Qa5 is equal.

22...Nxe4 23.Rxe4?!

This exchange sacrifice is extremely dubious.
Better is 23.Nxe7+ Rxe7 24.Be3 Qd8 when:

25.Bf4 Nc5 26.Nxc5 Rxe1+ 27.Rxe1 dxc5 28.Qxd8+ Rxd8Black has an extra pawn, but the opposite-colored Bishop will make converting it to a win difficult.
25.Red1!? Rc8! 26.f3 Rxc1 27.Rxc1 Nf6 28.Bg5 Re5 gives Black more activity and the initiative.

23...Bxe4!

It is better to sacrifice your opponent's men (Dr. Tartakover).

24.Qxe4 gxf5

Black is up by the exchange.

25.Rc3

White sets a trap.

BLACK: Judit Polgar

WHITE: Fidel Corrales Jim�nez
Position after 25.Rc1c3

25...Bf6!

There is no time to take the Queen. Ther text move is absolutely necessary to nail down the victory.
If 25...fxe4? 26.Rg3+! Kh8 27.Bg7+ Kg8 28.Bh6+ Kh8 etc. draws.

26.Rg3+ Kh8 27.Qxf5 Re1+ 28.Kh2 Be5

White must still play carefully, else she will throw away an almost won position.
28...Qd8? 29.Qg4! Qg8 30.Qf5 Qd8 31.Qg4 Qg8 etc. draws.

29.Bf4 Rg8 30.Qxf7

White "threatens" mate on the next move.

30...Rxg3!

The "threat" is eliminated once and for all.

31.Bxg3 Bxg3+ 32.Kxg3 Qd8!

Black is very precise, and must be.
If 32...Qb8?? then 33.Qf6+! Kg8 34.Qg5+ Kf7 35.Qd5+ Kf8 36.Qf5+ etc. draws.

33.Kh2?

White has been teetering since losing the exchange about ten moves back and now makes the fatal mistake.
33.Qf4 Qe7 34.Nd4 Qg7+ 35.Kf3 Re5 continues to give White fighting chances to draw.

BLACK: Judit Polgar

WHITE: Fidel Corrales Jim�nez
Position after 33.Kg3h2

33...Re8!

If 33...Qe7!? then White gets off the hook after 34.Qf3 Qe5+ 35.g3 h6 36.Qf8+ Kh7, but Black is still far better.

34.Kg1

If 34.Nd4 Qe7 then:

If 35.Qxe7 Rxe7 then:

If 36.f3 then after 36...Re1 37.Kg3 Rd1 38.Nc6 Rd2 39.b3 Ra2 Black wins.
If Rxe7 then:

If 36.f3 then after 36...Re1 37.Kg3 Rd1 38.Nc6 Rd2 39.b3 Ra2 Black wins.
If 36.Kg3 then Black wins after 36...Re4! 37.Nf5 Re2 38.b3 Ra2.

If 35.Qd5 then Black wins after 35...Qe5+ 36.Qxe5+ Rxe5 37.f3 Rd5 38.Nc6 Rd2.

34...Qe7 35.Qxe7

If 35.Qf4 then Black forces the excahnage of Queens and wins after 35...Qe1+ 36.Kh2 Qe5 37.Qxe5+ Rxe5.

35...Rxe7 36.Kf1 Rc7 37.Nd4 Rc4 38.Ne2

If 38.Nf3 then Black wins after 38...Rc1+ 39.Ne1 Rb1 40.b4 Ra1.

38...Rc2 0-1

Black wins a pawn after 39.b3 Ra2.
El se�or Corrales resigns.

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Jack Rabbit

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Wed Oct-05-11 01:39 PM
Response to Reply #2

10. Kosteniuk - Koneru, Women's Grand Prix, Rostov-on-Don, 2011 (Main Line: Breyer Defense)

Edited on Wed Oct-05-11 01:47 PM by Jack Rabbit

Koneru Humpy
Photo by Stefan64 in Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Alexandria Kosteniuk - Koneru Humpy
FIDE Women's Grand Prix, First Leg, Round 5
Rostov-on-Don, 7 August 2011

Grand Spanish Royal Game: Main Line (Breyer Defense)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7

This move is conventionally called the Closed Defense, but when used in the Italian Royal Game it is called the Hungarian Defense. That is what we shall call it.
5...Nxe4 is the Gothic Defense, also called the Open Defense. See Fier-A. Vovk, Op, Dieren, 2011, elsewhere on this thread.

6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3

For the Marsahll Gambit and Anti-Marshall Lines, see Hou Yifan-A. Muzychuk, Grand Prix W, Rostov-on-Don, 2011, elsewhere on this thread.

8...0-0 9.h3

This is the the Main Line. It was introduced the Monte Carlo International Tournament in 1902 by Dr. Tarrasch in a game againt Schlechter.
For other deviations up to here, see van den Doel-Nikolic, Op, Leiden, 2011, elsewhere on this thread.

9...Nb8

BLACK

WHITE

Grand Spanish Royal Game: Main Line (Breyer Defense)
Position after 9...Nc6b8

It's something of a mystery why this is called the Breyer Defense. Hungerian master Gyula Breyer (1893-1921), never played nor analyzed the move 9...Nb8, which did not appear in master play until over 30 years after his death.
The move was the pet line of former world champion Boris Spassky.
9...Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 Qc7 is the Chigorin Defense. See Corrales Jim�nez-J. Polgar, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2011, elsewhere on this thread.
9...Bb7 is the Zaitsev Defense. See A. Vovk-Nijboer, Dutch Op, Dieren, 2011, elsewhere on this thread.
Other ninth moves for Black are treated in Bodnaruk-Kovanova, Russian ChW Higher League, Taganrog, Russia, 2011, elsewhere on this thread.

10.d4 Nbd7

This, of course, is the idea of 9...Nb8. White redeploys the Knight to d7, where it makes a strong point of the pawn at e5.

11.Nbd2

White continues with the Grand Spanish Knight maneuver to the kingside. With the Bishop on b3, 11.c4 is a good alternative.
If 11.c4 c6 then:

If 12.c5 Qc7 13.cxd6 Bxd6 then:

If 14.Bg5 exd4 then:

If 15.Bxf6 gxf6 then:

If 16.Nxd4 Nc5 then:

If 17.Nf5 Bxf5 18.exf5 Rad8 19.Qh5 then:

19...Be5 20.Nc3 Rd4 21.Re3 Bf4 22.Re2 Bd2 23.Nd1 Bg5 24.g3 gives White stronger pawns and a kingside initiative (Gligoric-Petrosian, IT, Los Angeles, 1963).
19...Bh2+ 20.Kh1 Nd3 21.Rf1 Be5 22.Nc3 Bxc3 23.bxc3 Qf4 gives Black some kingside initiative of his own to balance White's (Domnitz-Reshevsky, Netanya, 1973).

17.Nd2 Rd8 18.N2f3 Nxb3 19.Qxb3 c5 20.Nf5 Be6 21.Qc2 gives White a slight advantage (Gufeld-Stein, Soviet Ch, Leningrad, 1936).

If 16.Qxd4 Ne5 17.Nbd2 then:

17...Rd8 18.Qe3 Nd3 19.Qh6 Bf4 20.Qxf6 Rd6 21.Qc3 Nxe1 22.Rxe1 Qd8 gives Black the exchange for a pawn (Fischer-Portisch, IT, Santa Monica, 1966).
17...Kh8 18.Nh4 Rg8 19.Nf5 Bxf5 20.exf5 Rad8 21.Kh1 gives Black a better center and a ready queenside majority (Robatsch-Averbakh, IT, Palma de Mallorca, 1972).

15.Qxd4 c5 16.Qe3 c4 17.Bc2 Re8 18.Bxf6 Nxf6 19.e5 Bb4 20.Nc3 Bb7 gives Black a slight advantage owing to the pin in the e-file (Stein-Pachman, IZT, Amsterdam, 1964).

If 14.Nc3 exd4 then:

If 15.Nxd4 Nc5 then:

16.Qf3!? Be5! 17.Nf5 Nxb3 18.axb3 Be6 gives Black stronger pawns and the Bishop pair (Klovans-Korchnoi, Soviet Ch, Leningrad, 1963).
16.Nf3! Nxb3 17.Qxb3 Nd7 18.Be3 Ne5 is equal.

If 15.Qxd4 Ne5 16.Qe3 Re8 then:

17.Bd2 Bb7 18.Nxe5 Bxe5 19.f4 Bxc3 20.Bxc3 Rxe4 21.Qg3 is equal.
17.a3 Bb7 18.Nh4 c5 19.Nf5 Ng6 20.Nxd6 Qxd6 gives Black a slight advantage.

If 12.cxb5 axb5 13.Nc3 then:

If 13...Ba6 14.Bg5 h6 then:

If 15.dxe5 Nxe5 16.Nxe5 dxe5 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.Qh5 Qe7 19.Rad1 then:

19...Rad8 20.Ne2 Bg5 21.Ng3 Qf6 22.Rxd8 Rxd8 23.Rd1 gives Black a small advantage in space; White's Queen suddenly is of less use after Black's 20th move, a typical Karpov strategem (Geller-Karpov, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1971).
19...Bc8 20.Re3 Be6 21.Rg3 Kh8 22.Rgd3 Bxb3 23.axb3 Rad8 is equal (Geller-Unzicker, IT, Kislovodsk, 1972).

15.Bh4 Re8 16.a4 b4 17.Nb1 exd4 18.Nxd4 Ne5 is equal (Unzicker-Smejkal, IT, Bamberg, 1972).

If 13...Bb7 14.Bg5 b4 15.Nb1 then:

15...Ne8 16.Bxe7 Qxe7 17.Nbd2 Nc7 18.Nc4 Nb5 19.Rc1 Rfd8 20.Ne3 c5 21.dxc5 draw (Geller-Portisch, ITZ, Palma de Mallorca, 1970).
15...h6 16.Bh4 c5 17.dxe5 Nxe4 18.Bxe7 Qxe7 19.exd6 Qf6 (Fischer-Spassky, Match, Belgrade, 1992).

11...Bb7

Black is playing a nexus between the Breyer Defense and the Zaitsev Defense, which is quite common and sensible. With the Knight at d7, this is the best way to develop the Bishop.

12.Bc2 Re8

If 12...c5 13.d5 g6 14.Nf1 then:

If 14...Nh5 15.Bh6 Re8 16.b3 then:

16...Bf8 17.Be3 Nb6 18.a4 bxa4 19.bxa4 Nc4 20.a5 is equal (Hou Yifan-Koneru, FIDE Knock Out W, Nalchik, 2008).
16...Bf6 17.a4 Bg7 18.Bg5 Qc7 19.g3 Nhf6 20.Qd2 is equal (Hartston-Gligoric, Euro ChT, Bath, 1973).

If 14...Qc7 then:

15.Bh6 Rfb8 16.g4 Bf8 17.Qd2 Bxh6 18.Qxh6 Qd8 is equal (Kosteniuk-I. Sokolov, Rapid Op, Mainz, 2005).
15.Ng3 c4 16.Bh6 Rfb8 17.Qd2 Bf8 18.Be3 gives White the advantage in space (Cheparinov-I. Sokolov, Op, Amsterdam, 2005).

13.Nf1

White continues to bring his Knight around to e3 or g3, a typical Grand Spanish maneuver in several variations.
If 13.b4 Bf8 14.a4 then:

If 14...Nb6 15.a5 Nbd7 16.Bb2 then:

If 16...Qb8 then:

If 17.Rb1 c5 18.bxc5 dxc5 19.dxe5 Nxe5 then:

If 20.Nxe5 Qxe5 21.c4 Qf4 22.Bxf6 Qxf6 23.cxb5 Red8 24.Qc1 then:

24...Qc3 25.Nf3 Qxa5 26.Bb3 axb5 27.Qf4 gives Black an extra pawn and White a fierce initiative (Fischer-Spassky, World Ch Match, Reykjavik, 1972).
24...axb5 25.Rxb5 Ba6 26.Rb6 Qc3 27.Nb3 g6 is equal since White cannot hold his extra pawn (Vasiukov-Smejkal, Rubinstein Mem, Polanica Zdroj, 1972).

20.c4 Nxf3+ 21.Qxf3 Qd8 22.Rbd1 Qxa5 23.Bxf6 gxf6 is equal (Thieman-O. Lie, Corres, 1977).

17.c4 bxc4 18.Ba4 c6 19.Nxc4 Qc7 20.Rc1 Rac8 21.dxe5 dxe5 22.Qb3 is equal (Savon-Mukhin, Soviet Ch, Moscow 1972).

16...Rb8 17.Rb1 Ba8 18.Ba1 g6 19.c4 exd4 20.cxb5 axb5 is equal (Planinc-Spassky, IT, Amsterdam, 1973).

14...a5 15.axb5 axb4 16.Bb2 bxc3 17.Bxc3 c6 draw (Kavalek-Portisch, IT, Wijk aan Zee 1969).

If 13.a4 Bf8 14.Bd3 c6 then:

15.b3 g6 16.Qc2 Rc8 17.Ba3 Qb6 18.Bf1 is equal (Svidler-Harikrishna, Masters, Gibraltar, 2009).
If 15.Nf1 then:

If 15...d5 16.Bg5 dxe4 17.Rxe4 then:

If 17...Be7 18.Re2 exd4 19.Nxd4 then:

If 19...Bf8 20.Rd2 then:

20...Qc7 21.Bf5 c5 22.Nf3 Ne5 23.Nxe5 Rxe5 24.Ne3 is equal (Anand-Beliavsky, IT, Linares, 1992).
If 20...c5 21.Nxb5 Qb6 22.Na3 Ne5 23.Nc4 Nxc4 24.Bxc4 gives White an extra pawn; Black's queenside is weak (van der Wiel-van der Sterren, Dutch Ch, Hilversum, 1990).

If 19...g6 20.axb5 cxb5 21.Bc2 Nd5 22.Qd2 is equal (Svidler-Bacrot, FIDE Knock Out, New Delhi, 2000).

If 17...h6 18.Bxf6 Qxf6 then:

19.N1h2 Qd6 20.Ng4 c5 21.dxe5 Qc7 22.e6 gives White the advantage in space; in this position with Black to move, Black must either weaken his kingside pawns (Lobron-Smejkal, IT, Ter Apel, Holland, 1987).
19.Qe2 c5 20.Nxe5 Nxe5 21.Rxe5 Rxe5 22.Qxe5 Qxe5 23.dxe5 gives White an extra pawn; Black has the Bishop pair (Zagrebelny-Vladimirov, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).

15...g6 16.Ng3 Bg7 17.Bg5 transposes into the text.

If 13.d5 c6 14.c4 Qc7 15.b3 then:

If 15...g6 then:

If 16.a4 Qc7 17.Ba3 then:

If 17...Rec8 18.Bd3 cxd5 19.cxd5 Qb6 20.b4 then:

20...Rc3 21.Nb1 Rcc8 22.Bc1 bxa4 23.Qxa4 Qd8 24.Bg5 gives White the advantage in space (Smyslov-Gligoric, IT, Bugojno, 1984).
20...Nh5 21.Nb3 Bh6 22.Na5 Rc7 23.axb5 axb5 24.Bc1 gives White the advantagge in space (Geller-Podgaets, Soviet Ch, Vilnius, 1980).

If 17...bxc4 18.bxc4 a5 then:

19.Nb3 Qc7 17.Ba3 then:

If 17...Rec8 Nb6 20.Bd3 Nxa4 21.Qd2 Nd7 22.Ra2 Rec8 is equal (A. Vovk-Kazhgalayev, Op, Cappelle-la-Grande, 2010).
19.Bd3 Ba6 20.Nb3 draw (Matulovic-Hazai, IT, Vrnjacka Banja, 1985).

If 16.Nf1 Qc7 17.Bg5 then:

17...Rec8 18.Rc1 cxd5 19.cxd5 Qa5 20.a4 b4 21.N3d2 gives White the advantage in space (Geller-Orlov, IT, Pancevo, 1987).
17...h6 18.Be3 a5 19.Ng3 Ba6 20.Rc1 Rec8 21.Qd2 gives White the advantage in space (Geller-Beliavsky, IT, Novi Sad, 1979).

If 15...a5 then:

If 16.dxc6 Bxc6 17.cxb5 Bxb5 18.Nc4 Na6 19.Bg5 Nb4 then:

If 20.Bb1 Bxc4 21.bxc4 h6 22.Be3 Qc7 23.a3 Na6 24.Nd2 Nc5 25.Bc2 Reb8 26.Rb1 Qc6 then:

27.Qf3 Bg7 28.Rec1 Nfd7 29.Qd1 Kh7 30.Rxb8 Rxb8 is equal (Ljubojevic-Karpov, Euwe Mem, Amsterdam, 1991).
27.f3 h5 28.Rxb8 Rxb8 29.Qa1 Kh7 30.Rb1 is equal (Ljubojevic-Karpov, IT, Linares, 1991).

20.Ne3 Be7 21.Bxf6 Bxf6 22.a3 Nxc2 23.Qxc2 Bg7 24.Rad1 gives White the advantage in space (Anand-Kamsky, Candidates' �-final Match, Sanghi Nagar, 1994).

16.Nf1 Nbd7 17.Bg5 h6 18.Be3 b4 19.a3 h5 20.Qd2 gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Adams-Nikolic, Bundesliga 0203, Germany, 2003).

13...Bf8 14.Ng3 g6 15.a4

White disrupts Black's queenside.
If 15.b3 then:

If 15...Bg7 16.d5 then:

If 16...Rc8 17.c4 c6 then:

If 18.Be3 Nb6 then:

If 19.Rb1 Qc7 20.dxc6 Bxc6 then:

21.Bxb6 Qxb6 22.Qxd6 Rcd8 23.Qb4 Bf8 is equal (Hou Yifan-Koneru, FIDE Knock Out W, Nalchik, 2008).
If 19.Qe2 cxd5 20.cxd5 then:

If 20...Nbxd5!! 21.exd5 Nxd5 then:

22.Be4 Nc3 23.Bxb7 Nxe2+ 24.Nxe2 d5 25.Bxc8 Qxc8 gives Black a moble center pawn duo and a very slight material edge (Kamsky-van der Sterren, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 1994).
22.Rac1 Nc3 23.Qd2 Nxa2 24.Ra1 Nc3 25.b4 gives White a small advantage in space; Black has a mobile center duo, command of the e4 square and the Bishop pair (Nakamura-Golod, Masters, Gibraltar, 2009).

21.Bd3 bxc4 22.bxc4 Na4 23.Qc2 Nc5 24.Nd2 Nfd7 is equal (Kamsky-Harikrishna, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2008).

20...Nfd7?! 21.Rac1! Rf8 22.Qd2 Kh8 23.Qb4 Nc5 24.Qa5 gives White more activity and space.

If 18.Bg5 h6 19.Be3 Nb6 20.Rb1 then:

20...cxd5 21.cxd5 Nbxd5 22.exd5 Nxd5 23.Bd2 f5 24.Nxf5 gxf5 25.Bxf5 is equal (Kasimdzhanov-Short, IT, Skanderborg, 2003).
20...Qc7 21.Qd2 cxd5 22.Bxh6 Bh8 23.exd5 bxc4 24.bxc4 Nxc4 gives Black a fierce initiative (Arakhamia-T. Kosintseva, Euro ChW, Rijeka, 2010).

If 17.Rb116...Nb6 then:

If 17...c6 18.c4 Qc7 19.Bd3 Nfd7 20.Be3 Nc5 21.Bf1 then:

21...bxc4 22.bxc4 Nbd7 23.Qd2 Rab8 24.Bh6 Bxh6 25.Qxh6 is equal (Leko-Beliavsky, Ol, Bled, 2002).
21...cxd5 22.cxd5 Rec8 23.Qd2 Nbd7 24.Bh6 Qd8 25.a4 is equal (Del Rio Angelis-Hebden, Masters, Gibraltar, 2004).

17...Rc8 18.Bd3 c6 19.c4 Nfd7 20.Bd2 Nc5 21.Ba5 gives White a narrow edge in space (Efimenko-B. Socko, Euro ChT, Plovdiv, 2003).

If 15...c6 16.Bg5 Bg7 17.Qd2 then:

If 17...Qe7 18.a4 Qf8 19.Rad1 then:

If 19...Rac8 20.Bd3 then:

20...h6 21.Be3 Rcd8 22.Qa2 Ra8 23.Bc1 Re6 24.Qd2 Qb8 25.c4 bxa4 26.bxa4 Re8 27.Bb2 draw (Motylev-Grigoriants, Russian Ch �-final, Tomsk, 2006).
20...Rc7 21.Kh1 bxa4 22.bxa4 c5 23.dxe5 dxe5 24.Qa2 gives White the advantage in space (Negi-Sasikiran, IT, New Delhi, 2011).

19...Rad8 20.Be3 h6 21.Qc1 Kh7 22.b4 Re6 23.Qb1 gives White a slight advantage in space (Carlsen-Pruijssers, Euro Club Cip, Antalya, 2007).

17...Nf8 18.a4 Qc7 19.b4 N6d7 20.Bb3 c5 21.bxc5 dxc5 22.d5 gives White a passed pawn and more space (Svidler-Chong Liang, TM, Shanghai, 2001).

15...Bg7

With the idea that the d-pawn will remain at d6, White redeploys his Bishop to the flank.
If 15...c5 16.d5 c4 17.Bg5 h6 18.Be3 Nc5 19.Qd2 then:

If 19...h5 then:

If 20.Ra3 Nfd7 21.Rea1 then:

21...Rb8 22.axb5 axb5 23.Qd1 Bc8 24.Ra7! gives White clear supremacy (Kosteniuk-Lahno, Euro ChTW, Novi Sad, 2009).
21...Qc7 22.Bh6 Be7 23.Rf1 Nb6 24.axb5 axb5 25.Rxa8 Rxa8 is equal (Kosteniuk-T. Kosintseva, FIDE Knock Out W, Nalchick, 2008).

20.Bg5 Be7 21.Ra3 Rb8 22.Kh1 Nh7 23.Be3 Bf6 24.Rea1 Bg7 25.Qe2 Bc8 26.Nf1 gives White a fine game (Inarkiev-Kamsky, Grand Prix, Baku, 2008).

19...Bc8 20.b3 Re7 21.Bg5 Bg7 22.Qe3 Qf8 23.Qd3 Nh7 24.bxc4 Rb7 draw (Balashov-Smejkal, IT, Leningrad, 1977).

16.Bd3 c6 17.Bg5 Nf8

If 17...h6 18.Bd2 then:

If 18...Qc7 19.Qc1 h5 20.Bh6 then:

20...Nh7 21.Bxg7 Kxg7 22.Qd2 Ndf8 23.Bc2 Rad8 24.b4 gives White the advantage in space (Cheparinov-B. Socko, Anabal Op, Linares, 2003).
20...Bh8 21.Qb1 Nh7 22.b4 Ndf8 23.Ra2 Ne6 24.Be3 gives White a comfortable advantage in space (DeFirmian-Prasad, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).

18...Kh7 19.Qc2 d5 20.exd5 Nxd5 21.h4 exd4 22.h5 gives White the advantage in space (Karpov-Kavalek, IT, Tilburg, 1979).

18.Qd2 Ne6 19.Bh6 (N)

If 19.Be3 Nd7 then:

If 20.Bf1 Qc7 then:

If 21.b4 Nb6 22.a5 then:

22...exd4 23.cxd4 Nc4 24.Bxc4 bxc4 25.Bh6 Bh8 26.d5 Nf8 is equal (Harikrishna-Bologan, IT, Foros, 2006).
22...Nd7 23.Rac1 d5 24.exd5 cxd5 25.dxe5 Nxe5 26.Nxe5 Bxe5 is equal (And. Volokitin-Sasikiran, Ol. Torino, 2006).

21.Red1 Rad8 22.Qc2 Nb6 23.a5 Nd7 24.b4 Rc8 25.Rac1 gives White the advantage in space (Charbonneau-Sasikiran, IT, La-Roche-sur-Yon, 2006).

20.b4 Qc7 21.Rec1 Red8 22.Bf1 Rac8 23.axb5 axb5 24.d5 gives White a small advantage in space (Hou Yifan-Sasikiran, IT, New Delhi, 2011).

19...Nd7

White has the advantage in space.
19...Bxh6 20.Qxh6 Nd7 21.Ne2 Qf6 22.b4 also gives White the advantage in space.

20.Bxg7 Kxg7 21.Bc2 Qf6 22.Red1

If 22.b4 Nb6 then:

23.Bb3 bxa4 24.Bxa4 a5 25.Reb1 axb4 26.Rxb4 Nxa4 27.Rxb7 gives White a Rook on the seventh.
If 23.a5 then:

23...Nc4 24.Qd1 c5 25.d5 Nf4 26.bxc5 dxc5 27.Nd2 Nd6 is equal.
23...Nd7 24.Rad1 Rad8 25.Qe3 c5 26.bxc5 dxc5 27.d5 is equal.

22...Rad8 23.axb5

23.b4 Nb6 24.Bb3 exd4 25.cxd4 then:

25...Nf4 26.Kh2 bxa4 27.Bxa4 Nxa4 28.Rxa4 gives White a well-fortified center pawn duo; Black has an active Knight and Queen..
25...Nxa4 26.Bxa4 bxa4 27.Rxa4 leaves White a pawn to the good.

23...cxb5 24.d5 Nf4 25.Qe3 Rc8 26.Nd2!?

White overprotects her base pawn at e4, but the Knight has few good prospects on the queenside.
If 26.Nf1 h6 27.Kh2 Rc7 28.g3 Nh5 29.Kg2 gives White a small advantage in space.
If 26.Ne2 Nxe2+ 27.Qxe2 then:

27...Rc7 28.Nd2 Rec8 29.Bb1 Nc5 30.Qg4 gives White a small advantage.
27...Qf4 28.g3 Qh6 29.Nh4 is equal.

BLACK: Koneru Humpy

WHITE: Alexandra Kosteniuk
Position after 26.Nf3d2

26...h5

The game is equal.
If 26...Rc7! then:

27.Nb3 (JR) 27...Bc8 28.Na5 Qg5 29.Qf3 is equal.
27.Ra5 (Fritz) 27...Rec8 28.Ne2 Nxe2+ 29.Qxe2 Qf4 30.Re1 is equal.

27.Rdc1 Rc7 28.Bd1

28.b4!? h4 29.Ne2 Nxe2+ 30.Qxe2 Rxc3 gives Black an extra pawn.

28...Nc5 29.Nf3 h4

29...Nfd3 30.b4 Qf4 31.bxc5 Qxe3 32.fxe3 Nxc1 33.Rxc1 Rxc5 remains equal.

30.Nf1?!

White will do better to eliminate one of Black's attacking pieces.
If 30.Ne2 then:

30...Nxe2+ 31.Qxe2 Qf4 32.Bc2 f5 33.exf5 Bxd5 34.fxg6 remains equal.
If 30...Rec8?! 31.Rcb1 Nxe2+ 32.Qxe2 then:

32...Qe7 33.Bc2 f5 34.exf5 gxf5 35.Qd2 Qf6 36.Rd1 remains equal.
32...Qf4 33.Bc2 f5 34.exf5 gxf5 35.Rd1 is equal.

BLACK: Koneru Humpy

WHITE: Alexandra Kosteniuk
Position after 30.Ng3f1

30...Qe7!

Black assumes the advantage in space.
Also good is 30...Qd8 31.b4 Ncd3 32.Rc2 f5 33.N1d2 Rf8 when Black is pushing back on the kingside.

31.Bc2 f5 32.exf5 Nxd5 33.Qe1 gxf5!?

Black fails to see a key prophylactic move.
Black continues to gain strength on the kingside after 33...Nf4! 34.Qd1 e4 35.Ne1 gxf5 36.Ne3 Qg5.

34.Ne3?!

White fails to see it, too.
White can gain time for counterplay with 34.b4! Ne6 35.Bxf5 Nef4 36.Ne3 Nxc3.

34...Nxe3!

Black wins a pawn.

35.fxe3 Bxf3 36.gxf3 e4 37.Qd2

White loses more ground after 37.f4?! Nd3 38.Bxd3 exd3 39.Kf2 Qe4 40.Qd2 Rg8 whrn Black threatens to penetrate on White's undefeded kingside.

37...exf3 38.Qd4+?!

This leaves the e-pawn inadequately protected.
Better is 38.Kf2 Qe5 39.Rg1+ Kh8 when:

40.Qd4 Qxd4 41.exd4 Re2+ 42.Kxf3 Rxc2 43.dxc5 gives Black an extra pawn.
If 40.Kxf3 Ne4! then:

41.Qd4 then White is toast after 41...Qxd4 42.exd4 Nxc3!! 43.bxc3 Rxc3+ Black's extra pawns have the advantage ove White's Bishop.
If 41.Qe2? then Black wins after 41...b4! 42.Rxa6 bxc3 43.b4 Rc4 44.Ra5 Nd2+.

38...Kf7!?

Stronger is 38...Qf6 39.Kf1 b4 40.cxb4 Qxd4 41.exd4 Ne4 when Black has an extra pawn and the more active minor piece; if White exchanges on e4, the Black two connected passers triumph.

39.Bxf5?!

After this, White has little hope of salvaging anything from the game,
Better is 39.Kf2 Qe5 40.Qxe5 dxe5 41.b4 Ne4+ leaving Black a pawn to the good and White with fighting changes to hold the game.

BLACK: Koneru Humpy

WHITE: Alexandra Kostiniuk
Position after 39.Bc2f5:p

39...Qg5+!

White is a pawn down and is forced to choose between exchanging Queens, simply losing her Queen or submitting to immediate mate.

40.Qg4

If 40.Bg4 Re4 then:

41.Rf1 Rxd4 42.Rxf3+ Kg7 leaves Black up by a whole Queen.
41.Qd2 Rxg4+ 42.hxg4 Ne4 43.Qd4 Qxg4+ 44.Kf1 Qg2+ 45.Ke1 Qe2#.

40...Qxg4+ 41.Bxg4 Rxe3

Black remains two pawns up.

42.Rf1

White will try to get at least one pawn back.

42...Na4 43.Bxf3 Kg7

White stands far better, but White is going to make a fight of it. It now behooves Black not to slavishly hold to a material.
If 43...Nxb2 44.Rxa6 Rcxc3 maintains White's two pawn advntage, but after 45.Bd5+ Kg7 46.Rf7+ White has a strong initiative.

44.Kf2 Rd3 45.Rg1+ Kf8 46.Be4?

After a difficult struggle, White falls into the abyss.
If 46.Rxa4 bxa4 47.Ke2 then:

If 47...Rxf3 48.Kxf3 a3! 49.Rb1 then:

49...axb2! 50.Rxb2 Rxc3+ 51.Kg2 d5 leaves Black two pawns to the good with a more active Rook.
49...a2? 50.Ra1! Rg7 51.Rxa2 Rg3+ 52.Kf4 Rxh3 is equal.

47...Rdxc3!? 48.bxc3 Rxc3 49.Rg4 a3 50.Rxh4 Rc2+ leaves White far better, in spite of a material deficit.

BLACK: Koneru Humpy

WHITE: Alexandra Kostiniuk
Position after 46.Bf3e4

46...Rf7+

Black takes over the initiative.
A quicker win is 46...Rxh3! when after 47.Rgf1 Rf7+ 48.Kg2 Rg3+ 49.Kh2 Nxb2 leaves Black three pawns to the good with a won position.

47.Kg2 Rg3+ 48.Kh2 Rf2+ 49.Bg2

No better is 49.Rg2 Rgxg2+ 50.Bxg2 Rxb2 51.c4 Rb4.

49...Rxb2

If 49...d5 50.Rad1 then:

50...Nxb2 51.Rdf1 Rgf3 52.Rxf2 Rxf2 53.Kh1 Na4 54.Bxd5 Nxc3 is an easy win for Black
If 50...Rxb2 51.Rxd5 Nxc3 then:

52.Rh5 a5 53.Rxh4 Rf3 54.Re1 Rff2 55.Rg1 a4 wins.
If 52.Rd4 then Black wins after 52...Rf2 53.Rxh4 Ne2 54.Rh8+ Kg7.

50.Raf1+ Ke7 51.Rf4 Nxc3

Black has three passed pawns.

52.Rxh4 Rg7 53.Re1+

Two pawns down, White is not anxious to exchange material.
If 53.Rg4 Rxg4 54.hxg4 a5 55.Rf1 Re2 56.g5 Re6 stops the pawn in its tracks.

53...Kd7 54.Rg4 Rxg4 55.hxg4 b4

55...Re2 could be played now.

56.g5 Re2 57.Rxe2

White's best shot is exchanging Rooks and keeping the Knight as far away from the g-pawn as possible.
If 57.Rg1 Ke7 58.Rf1 Re5 59.g6 then:

If 59...d5 60.Rf7+ Kd6 then:

61.Rf6+ Kc5 62.Rxa6 b3 63.Ra3 Kc4 64.g7 Rg5 elimintes White's last pawn.
If 61.Ra7 then Black wins after 61...b3 62.g7 Rg5 63.Rb7 Nb5 64.Bf1 b2.

The main variation is more efficient than 59...Rg5 60.Rf7+ Ke6 61.Bh3+ Ke5 62.g7 Rg6.

57...Nxe2 58.Bf1 Nc1 59.Bxa6 b3!

The remaining moves make a textbook example of winning by superior force. One pawn is enough.
Also good is 59...d5 60.Kg3 b3 61.g6 Ke8 62.Bb7 d4 63.Bd5 Kf8 when Black has two advaning pawns and White's g-pawn can make no further progress.

60.g6 Ke7 61.Bb7

BLACK: Koneru Humpy

WHITE: Alexandra Kostiniuk
Position after 61.Ba6b7

61...b2!

This move breaks Black's defense in half. There is no way to defend the g-pawn and stop the b-pawn, and Black still has another pawn in reserve.

62.Be4 Ne2

The text is sufficient, but better is 62...d5!! 63.g7 dxe4 64.g8Q b1Q.

63.Bd3

63.Kh3 d5 64.Bb1 Nc3 65.Bd3 b1Q wins as in the text.

63...Nc3 64.Kg3 Kf6 65.Kf4 b1Q!

Black sacrifices her advanced passer, forcing White, forcing White to give up her last piece.

66.Bxb1 Nxb1 67.Ke4 Nc3+ 68.Kd4 Nb5+ 0-1

After 69.Kd5 Kxg6 70.Kc6 Kf6 71.Kxb5 d5 Black will bring her King and pawn forward without allowing White to take the opposition.
69.Kc4 Kxg6 70.Kxb5 Kf5 71.Kc6 Ke5 wins by the book.
Alexandra Konstaninovna resigns.

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Jack Rabbit

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Wed Oct-05-11 01:42 PM
Response to Reply #2

11. A. Vovk - Nijboer, Dutch Open, Dieren, 2011 (Main Line: Zaitsev Defense)

Edited on Wed Oct-05-11 01:46 PM by Jack Rabbit

Ukrainian GM Andrey Vovk is the younger brother of Yuri Vovk, who won the international open at Cappelle-la-Grande in 2009. Andrey Bogdanovich was in the hunt for first prize after this late-round game, but his eighth round loss to Aleksandr Fier, elsewhere on this thread, dashed his hopes. In the end, there was a three-way tie for first among Maxim Turov, Vladimir Georgiev and Yuri Vovk.

Andrey Vovk
Photo by Chessfootball in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrey_Vovk">Wikipedia (Public Domain)

Andrey Vovk - Friso Nijboer
Dutch Open, Round 7
Dieren, 26 July 2011

Grand Spanish Royal Game: Main Line (Zaitsev Defense)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7

This move is conventionally called the Closed Defense, but when used in the Italian Royal Game it is called the Hungarian Defense. That is what we shall call it.
5...Nxe4 is the Gothic Defense, also called the Open Defense. See Fier-A. Vovk, Op, Dieren, 2011, elsewhere on this thread.

6.Re1

6.Qe2 is the Worrall Opening. See the silver notes to White's fifth move in van den Doel-Nikolic, Op Rd 7, Leiden, 2011, elsewhere on this thread.

van den Doel-Nikolic.

6...b5 7.Bb3 d6

For the Marsahll Gambit and Anti-Marshall Lines, see Hou Yifan-A. Muzychuk, Grand Prix W, Rostov-on-Don, 2011, elsewhere on this thread.

8.c3 0-0 9.h3

This is the the Main Line. It was introduced the Monte Carlo International Tournament in 1902 by Dr. Tarrasch in a game againt Schlechter.
For other deviations up to here, see van den Doel-Nikolic, Op, Leiden, 2011, elsewhere on this thread.

9...Bb7

BLACK

WHITE

Grand Spanish Royal Game: Main Line (Zaitsev Defense)
Position after 9...Bb7

This is the Zaitsev Defense, named for world champion Anatoly Karpov's long-time trainer, Igor Zaitsev, who worked on improving the line in the sixties and seventies. Before that it was known as the Flohr Defense, after the strong Czech master of the period between the world wars.
Karpov used the line with great success.
9...Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 Qc7 is the Chigorin Defense. See Corrales Jim�nez-J. Polgar, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2011, elsewhere on this thread.
The Knight retreat 9...Nb8 is the Breyer Defense. See Kosteniuk-Koneru, Grand Prix W, Rostov-on-Don, 2011, elsewhere on this thread.

Bodnaruk-Kovanova, Russian ChW Higher League, Taganrog, Russia, 2011,

10.d4 Re8 11.Nbd2

If 11.Ng5 Rf8 12.Nf3 "threatens" a draw by repetition; the threat has been executed more than once (for example, Portisch-Hort, IT, Amsterdam, 1981).

11...Bf8 12.d5

If 12.a4 h6 then:

If 13.d5 Ne7 then:

If 14.Nh2 Qd7 15.Ndf1 c6 16.Ng4 Nxg4 17.hxg4 cxd5 18.exd5 then:

18...Ng6 19.Ne3 e4 20.Bc2 Re5 21.axb5 axb5 22.Rxa8 Bxa8 23.b3 gives White better minor pieces (Paikidze-Shadrina, Russian ChW, Moscow, 2010).
18...g6 19.Ng3 Bg7 20.Be3 f5 21.gxf5 gxf5 22.Nh5 gives White more activity and the advantage in space (Jansa-Ilincic, IT, Prague, 1989).

If 14.c4 Qd7 15.Bc2 c6 16.b3 g6 then:

17.Bd3 b4 18.Nf1 Bg7 19.N3h2 cxd5 20.cxd5 Nxe4 21.Bxe4 f5 22.f3 fxe4 23.fxe4 is equal (Sandipan-Ibragimov, Sportland Cup, Senden, 2001).
17.Bb2 Bg7 18.axb5 axb5 19.Rxa8 Rxa8 20.c5 Nh5 21.dxc6 Bxc6 22.b4 dxc5 23.bxc5 f6 is equal (Shirov-Zhong Zhang, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2004).

If 13.Bc2 exd4 14.cxd4 Nb4 15.Bb1 then:

If 15...c5 16.d5 Nd7 17.Ra3 then:

If 17...f5 then:

If 18.Nh2? then:

If 18...Nf6 19.Rf3 then:

If 19...Re5 20.Rxf5 Rxf5 21.exf5 Bxd5 then:

If 22.Ng4 then:

If 22...Bf7 23.Ne4 Nxg4 24.Qxg4 d5 25.f6 then:

25...dxe4 26.fxg7 Bxg7 27.Bxh6 Qf6 28.Qxe4 Nd5 29.Qh7+ clearly gives White more freedom with a fierce kingside attack in compensation for the pawn; White goes on to win (Morozevich-Grischuk, Grand Pix, Dubai, 2002).
25...h5 26.Qf5 Qc8 27.Qxc8 Rxc8 28.fxg7 Bxg7 gives Black a passed pawn, more activity and more space (Leko-Z.Almasi, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 2002).

(Morozevich-Grischuk, Grand Pix, Dubai, 2002).

If a) 22...Nxg4 then:

23.hxg4 bxa4 24.g5 Qxg5 25.Ne4 Qh4 26.f6 Ra7 leaves Black with two extra pawns (stellwagen-Janssen, Dutch Ch, Hilversum, 2007).
23.Qxg4 Qd7 24.Nf1 Kh8 25.Re6 Qf7 26.Ne3 Re8 27.Rxe8 Qxe8 28.f6 gives White only a small advantage in space (A.David-Dervishi, Eurp ChT, Le�n, 2001).

If b) 22...bxa4 23.Ne4 Be7 24.Nexf6+ Bxf6 then:

If 25.Bd2 Bb3 26.Qf3 Rb8 then:

If 27.Bxh6? Qf8 28.Qg3 then:

If 28...Bxb2 29.Bxg7!! (this bolt from the blue blasts away what's left of the Black King's cover, winning quickly) 29...Bxg7 30.f6 Nd5 31.f7+ most replies lead to mate; if Black plays 31...Qf7 then 32.Nh6+! wins the Queen. Black resigns (Harikrishna-Vescovi, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2005).
28...Nd5 29.Nxf6+ Nxf6 30.Bf4 Nh5 31.Qh4 Nxf4 32.Qxf4

If 27.Qg3! Bxb2 28.f6 then:

If 28...Kf8 then White wins after 29.fxg7+ Bxg7 30.Bxh6! Rb7 31.Qf4+ Kg8 32.Qe4.

If 28...Kh8 29.fxg7+ Bxg7 then after 30.Bc3! Rb7 31.Nxh6 Nc2 32.Bxc2 Bxc2 33.Qxg7+ Rxg7 34.Nf7+ White wins the Queen.

25.Qxa4 Kh8 26.Bd2 Bxb2 27.Bxb4 cxb4 28.Qxb4 remains equal.

22.Ne4 Bxe4 23.Bxe4 d5 24.Bf3 c4 25.Re6 Nd3 gives Black the advantage in space (Karpov-Khalifman, IT 9192, Reggio Emilia, 1992).

Black wins after 19...fxe4! 20.Nxe4 Nbxd5 21.Ng5.

18...fxe4 19.Nxe4 Nxd5 20.Ng4 Kh8 gives Black an extra pawn(Karjakin-Bacrot, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2006).
18.Rae3 Nf6 19.Nh2 Qd7 20.exf5 Rxe3 21.fxe3 Bxd5 remains equal (Kasparov-Karpov, IT, Amsterdam, 1991).

If 17...c4 then:

If 18.axb5 axb5 19.Nd4 then:

If 19...Rxa3 20.bxa3 Nd3 21.Bxd3 cxd3 then:

If 22.Nxb5 Qa5 23.Nd4 Qc3 24.Nb5 Qa5 25.Nd4 give White a comfortable advantage in space (Fier-Banikas, World ChT, Bursa, 2010).
If a) 22.Re3 then:

If 22...Nc5 23.Bb2 then:

If 23...Qa5 then:

If 24.Nf5 g6 25.Ng3 then:

25...b4 26.Nh5 bxa3 27.Nf6+ Kh8 28.Ba1 Rc8 29.Ne8+ Kg8 30.Nf6+ Kh8 31.Nh5+ draw (Stellwagen-Morozevich, IT A, and And. Volokitin-Kasimdzhanov, IT B, Wijk aan Zee, 2009).
25...Bg7!? 26.Bxg7 Kxg7 27.Nb3 Qxa3 28.Nxc5 Qxc5 29.Rxd3 White's center pawns continue to act as wall preventing Black from coming through the center (Kontronias-Gligoric, Yugoslav ChT, Niksic, 1997).

24.h4 Na4 25.Ba1 Nc3 26.Bxc3 Qxc3 27.Nxb5 gives White an extra pawn (Gashimov-Efimenko, World Rpd Cup, Odessa, 2009).

23...Bc8 24.Nc6 Qh4 25.Bd4 f5 26.Nf3 Qh5 27.e5 gives White more space (Anand-Beliavsky, IT, Madrid, 1998).

If 22...Ne5 then:

23.Nxb5 Qa5 24.Nd4 Qc3 25.N2b3 Ba6 26.Bd2 gives White an extra pawn (Short-Sax, Candidates' �-final Match, St. John, New Brunswick, 1988).
23.Qb3 Ba6 24.N4f3 Qc7 25.Bb2 b4 26.axb4 Nxf3+ 27.Nxf3 gives White an extra pawn (Short-H�bner, IT, Belfort, 1988).

If b) 22.Bb2 Qa5 23.Nf5 then:

23...Ne5 24.Bxe5 dxe5 25.Nb3 Qb6 26.Qxd3 Ra8 27.Rc1 gives White the advantage in space; Black will get his pawn back (Kasparov-Karpov, World Ch Match, Leningrad, 1986).
23...g6 24.Ne3 Ne5 25.Nb3 Qa4 26.Bxe5 Rxe5 27.Ng4 gives White an easy target in Black's foremost d-pawn; Black's two Bishops mean little in the face of White's center duo (Grischuk-Karjakin, Grand Slam Final, Bilbao, 2009).

If 19...Qb6 20.Nf5 then:

If 20...Ne5 21.Rg3 g6 22.Nf3 Ned3 then:

If 23.Qd2 then:

23...Bxd5 24.Nxh6+ Bxh6 25.Qxh6 Qxf2+ 26.Kh2 Nxe1 27.Nh4 is equal (Anand-Adams, World Ch Tnmt, San Lu�s, Argentina, 2005).
23...Nxe1 24.Nxe1 Ra1 25.Nxh6+ Bxh6 26.Qxh6 Nxd5 27.Rxg6+ fxg6 28.Qxg6+ Kf8 29.Qf5+ Kg7 30.Qg5+ Kf8 etc. draws (Rubinas-Strautins, Corres, 2006).

If 23.Be3 Qd8 then:

24.Nxh6+ Bxh6 25.Bxh6 Qf6 26.Re2 Nxb2 27.Qf1 N2d3 gives Black two passed pawns (Timofeev-Inarkiev, Russuan Ch HL, Novokuznetsk, 2008).
24.Bxh6 Qf6 25.Qd2 Nxe1 26.Bxf8 Nxf3+ 27.Rxf3 gxf5 28.Rxf5 Qg6 29.Rg5 Qxg5 30.Qxg5+ Kxf8 is equal (Shomoev-Khalifman, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2008).

20...g6 21.Nf1 Rxa3 22.bxa3 Nxd5 23.exd5 Rxe1 24.Qxe1 is equal (And.Volokitin-Azarov, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2007).

If 18.Nd4 Qf6 19.N2f3 Nc5 20.axb5 axb5 21.Nxb5 Rxa3 22.Nxa3 then:

If 22...Ba6 23.Re3 Rb8 24.e5 dxe5 25.Nxe5 then:

25...Nbd3 26.Ng4 Qb6 27.Rg3 g6 28.Bxh6 Qxb2 is equal (Kasparov-Karpov, World Ch Match, Leningrad, 1986).
If 25...Ncd3 26.Ng4 Qd4 27.Nc2 Nxc2 28.Bxc2 then:

If 28...Bc5?! then White wins after 29.Qf3!! Nxc1 30.Nxh6+ Kh8 31.Nf5 when Black must give up his Queen (Dvoirys-Timoshchenko, Soviet Ch Prelim, Barnaul, 1988).
28...Bd6! 29.b3 Qa1 30.bxc4 Bxc4 31.Bxd3 Bxd3 is equal and is soon agreed drawn (Dvoirys-Timoshchenko, Soviet ChT, Nabereznye Chelny, 1988).

24.Ne1 g6 25.Rc3 Nbd3 26.Nxd3 cxd3 27.Bxd3 Nxd3 28.Rxd3 Bxd3 29.Qxd3 White get a slight edge from her pawns (Aarthie-Li Ruofan, Asian ChW, Chennai, 2001).

22...Nbd3 23.Nb5 Rxe4 24.Rxe4 draw (DeFirmian-A.Ivanov, US Ch, Key West, 1994).

If 15...bxa4 16.Rxa4 a5 17.Ra3 Ra6 then:

If 18.Nh2 g6 then:

19.f3 Qd7 20.Nc4 Qb5 21.Rc3 Bc8 22.Be3 Kh7 23.Qc1 is equal (Kasparov-Karpov, World Ch Match, New York 1990).
19.Ng4 Nxg4 20.Qxg4 c5 21.dxc5 dxc5 22.e5 Qd4 is equal (Hjartarson-Karpov, Candidates' �-final Match, Seattle, 1989).

If 18.Rae3 a4 19.Nf1 d5 20.e5 Ne4 21.N1d2 c5 22.Nxe4 dxe4 23.Bxe4 Bxe4 24.Rxe4 c4 25.e6 Rexe6 26.Rxe6 fxe6 27.Ne5 Qc7 28.Qf3 then:

28...Nc2 29.Rd1 Nb4 30.Qe2 c3 31.bxc3 Qxc3 32.Bd2 gives White the advantage in space (Balashov-Karpov, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1983).
28...Nc6 29.Ng6 Qf7 30.Qg4 Nb4 31.Nxf8 Qxf8 32.Bxh6 gives White a small advantage with his kingside initiative (A. Sokolov-Geller, Soviet Ch, Riga, 1985).

If 12.a3 h6 then:

If 13.Bc2 Nb8 then:

If 14.b4 Nbd7 15.Bb2 then:

If 15...g6 then:

If 16.Qb1 then:

If 16...Bg7 17.Nb3 Rc8 then:

If 18.Na5 Ba8 19.d5 Nb6 20.a4 Qd7 21.axb5 axb5 then:

22.Bd3 Nh5 23.c4 bxc4 24.Nxc4 Nf4 25.Nxb6 cxb6 is equal (Psakhis-Portisch, IT, Sarajevo, 1986).
22.Bc1 Nh5 23.Be3 Nf4 24.Ra3 Kh8 25.Qd1 gives White a narrow edge in space (Short-Hjartarson, IT, Tilburg, 1988).

18.a4 c6 19.Na5 Ba8 20.dxe5 Nxe5 21.Nxe5 Rxe5 22.c4 gives White the advantage in space (Nijboer-Jansson, Dutch Ch, Hilversum, 2007).

16...Rb8 17.Nb3 Ba8 18.a4 Nb6 19.axb5 axb5 20.Bd3 gives White a narrow edge in space (H�bner-Timman, IT, Sarajevo, 1991).

If 16.c4 exd4 17.cxb5 axb5 18.Nxd4 c6 then:

If 19.a4 then:

If 19...bxa4 20.Bxa4 Qb6 then:

If 21.b5 cxb5 22.Bxb5 d5 23.Rxa8 Bxa8 24.Qa4 Nc5 is equal (Timman-Kasparov, XM, Hilversum, 1985).
21.Bc3?! d5! 22.Bc2 Bxb4 23.Rb1 c5 24.exd5 Nxd5 25.Bxb4 cxb4 gives Black an extra pawn, greater activity and more space (Joecks-Svidler, Op, Groningen, 1990).

19...d5 20.N4f3 bxa4 21.e5 a3 22.Rxa3 Rxa3 23.Bxa3 gives White the advantage in space (Svidler-Bacrot, IT, Poikovsky, 2005).

19.Rc1 Bg7 20.N2b3 Rc8 21.a4 Qb6 22.a5 Qa6 23.Bd3 gives White a significant advantage in space (Inarkiev-Wang Hao, TM, Nizhniy Novgorod, 2007).

If 15...c5 16.bxc5 exd4 17.cxd4 dxc5 then:

18.d5 Qc7 19.Nf1 c4 20.Ng3 a5 is equal (Hjartarson-Smejkal, IT, Munich, 1988).
If 18.Rc1 Rc8 19.Bb1 Nh5 20.e5 Nf4 then:

21.Ne4 cxd4 22.Rxc8 Qxc8 23.Qxd4 Qc6 24.Qd2 Ng6 25.e6 Nb6 26.Bxg7!! gives White a tremendous attack as Black cannot take the proffered Bishop (Dr. Nunn-Greenfeld, IT, Groningen, 1988).
21.Qc2 g6 22.Ne4 cxd4 23.Qd2 Rxc1 24.Rxc1 Ne6 gives Black an extra pawn and White more space (Dr. Nunn-Shvidler, Ol, Thessaloniki, 1988).

If 14.b3 Nbd7 then:

If 15.Bb2 g6 16.a4 then:

If 16...Bg7 17.Bd3 c6 18.Qc2 Nh5 then:

19.g3 Qb6 20.Bf1 Nf8 21.b4 Ne6 22.Nb3 gives White the advantage in space; both sides are focused on d4, which White can overprotect one more time with Rad1 (Kryvoruchko-Bhat, Op, Cappelle-la-Grande, 2010).
19.Rad1 Nf4 20.Bf1 Ne6 21.d5 cxd5 22.axb5 axb5 23.Bxb5 Nc7 is equal (Motylev-Jakovenko, Russian Ch �-final, Moscow, 2005).

16...c6 17.Qb1 Bg7 18.axb5 cxb5 19.d5 gives White a small advantage in space (Short-Hjartarson, Op, Reykjavik, 1987).

15.d5 c6 16.c4 Qc7 17.Bb2 Reb8 18.dxc6 Bxc6 19.cxb5 axb5 draw (Smyslov-Gligoric, IT, Sochi, 1986).

If a) 13.Ba2 Nb8 14.d5 c6 then:

If 15.dxc6 Bxc6 then:

16.Nh2 d5 17.exd5 Bxd5 18.Bxd5 Qxd5 is equal (Tiemann-Piccardo, Corres, 1999).
16.b4 Nbd7 17.Bb2 Nb6 18.Rc1 Ra7 19.c4 gives White a slight advantage with fewer pawn weaknesses (Vasiukov-Augustin, IT, Budapest, 1965).

If 15.c4 then:

15...Nbd7 16.b4 Nb6 17.dxc6 Bxc6 18.Qb3 Qd7 19.cxb5 axb5 is equal (Ciuksyte-Mulligan, OlW, Dresden, 2008).
15...bxc4 16.dxc6 Bxc6 17.Bxc4 Nbd7 18.b4 Nb6 19.Bb3 gives White a tartet in the backward d-pawn and a slight edge in space (Zapata-Granda Zu�iga, Op, New York, 1988).

If b) 13.d5 Nb8 14.Nh2 Nbd7 15.Qf3 then:

15...Qc8 16.Ndf1 c6 17.dxc6 Qxc6 18.Ng4 Re7 19.Ng3 gives White a small advantage in space; Black's backward pawn is a problem (Karjakin-Grischuk, IT, Bilbao, 2009).
15...g6 16.Ndf1 Bg7 17.Ng4 gives White the advantage in space (Vachier Lagrave-Krylov, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2010).

If 12.Bc2 g6 then:

If 13.d5 Nb8 (the game enters a Breyer-Zaitsev Nexus) 14.b3 c6 15.c4 Nbd7 transposes into the the green notes to White's 13th move in Kosteniuk-Koneru, Grand Prix W, Rostov-on-Don, 2011 elsewhere on this thread.
If 13.b3 then:

If 13...d5 14.dxe5 Nxe5 15.Nxe5 Rxe5 then:

16.Nf3 Rxe4 17.Bxe4 Nxe4 18.Qc2 c5 draw (Ivanchuk-Leko, IT, Dortmund, 1995).
16.f4 Bc5+ 17.Kh2 Rxe4 18.Nxe4 dxe4 19.Be3 Bxe3 20.Rxe3 Nd5 is equal (Dr. H�bner-Beliavsky, IT, Tilburg, 1986).

13...Nb8 14.d5 c6 15.c4 Nbd7 transposes into the the green notes to White's 13th move in Kosteniuk-Koneru, Grand Prix W, Rostov-on-Don, 2011 elsewhere on this thread.

12...Nb8 13.Nf1 Nbd7 14.Ng3

If 14.N3h2 then:

If 14...Nc5 15.Bc2 then:

If 15...c6 16.b4 Ncd7 17.dxc6 Bxc6 then:

If 18.Bg5 then:

If 18...h6 19.Bxf6 Nxf6 20.Ng4 Nxg4 21.Qxg4 then:

If 21...Bd7 22.Qf3 Rc8 23.Bb3 Be6 then:

If 24.Red1 then:

If 24...Re7 then:

25.Qd3 Rec7 26.Rac1 Qg5 27.Rc2 d5 28.Ng3 draw (Gashimov-Inarkiev IT, Poikovsky, 2008).
25.Rd3 Rec7 26.Bxe6 fxe6 27.a4 Be7 28.axb5 axb5 29.Nd2 Ra8 is equal.

If 24...Qg5!? 25.Rd3! (White assumes a small advantage in space) 25...Qf4 26.Qe2 then:

If 26...Bxb3?! 27.axb3 d5 then:

28.exd5! e4 29.Re3 Qe5 30.Rxa6 gives White two extra pawns (Kamsky-Adams, Grand Prix, Baku, 2008).
28.Rxd5!? Rxc3 29.Rxa6 Rxb3 30.Nd2 is equal (Leko-Adams, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2008).

26...Rc7 27.Bxe6 fxe6 28.a4 Rec8 29.axb5 axb5 30.Rf3 maintains a small advantage for White.

If 24.Rec1 Be7 25.Rc2 a5 26.Qd3 then:

26...Qd7!? 27.Rd1 Red8 28.bxa5 gives White a small advantage; in order to regain the pawn, Black must make two moves and abandon the c-file (Brkic-L. E. Johannessen, Euro Club Cup, F�gen, 2006).
26...d5 27.exd5 a4 28.Rd2 Bd7 29.Bc2 remains equal.

If 21...d5 22.exd5 Qxd5 23.Bb3 then:

23...Qd7 24.Qh5 a5 25.bxa5 leaves White better with an extra pawn and an attack on Black's e-pawn against Black's attack on White's a pawn (McShane-Stefansson, IT, Reykjavik, 2003).
If 23...Qd8 24.Qh5 then:

If 24...Ra7!? 25.Rxe5 Rxe5 26.Qxe5 then:

26...Qg5?! 27.Qxg5! hxg5 28.Ne3 gives White an extra pawn (Adams-Ponomariov, IT, Linares, 2002).
26...Bd6 27.Rd1 Rd7 28.Qf5 gives White an extra pawn and the advantage in space.

24...Qc7 25.Ne3 Rad8 26.Rad1 Rxd1 27.Rxd1 gives White command of the d-file; the key to Black's defense is to keep both the pawns at e5 and f7 covered.

If 18...Qc7 19.Bxf6 Nxf6 20.Ng4 then:

If 20...Nxg4 21.hxg4 then:

If 21...Be7 then:

22.Ne3 Bg5 23.Bb3 a5 24.Nd5 Qb7 25.bxa5 Rxa5 gives Black a slight advantage in space (Shirov-Karjakin, World Rpd Cup, Odessa, 2010).
22.Qd3 Bg5 23.Rad1 Bd7 24.Qxd6 Qxc3 25.Qxd7 Qxc2 leaves Black, whose Queen is hitting at a2, with the more active game (J.Polgar-Morozevich, Rpd Op, Mainz, 2008).

21...Bb7 22.Re3 Be7 23.Bb3 Bg5 24.Rf3 Rf8 25.Qe2 Qc8 is equal (Carlsen-Navara, Grand Prix, Baku, 2008).

If 20...Be7 21.Nxf6+ Bxf6 22.Bb3 then:

22...Rac8 23.Qf3 Bd7 24.Re3 Be6 25.Rd1 Bg5 26.Red3 is equal (Kudrin-A.Ivanov, US Ch, Tulsa, 2008).
22...a5 23.bxa5 Rxa5 24.Qf3 Bd7 25.Ne3 Be6 26.Nd5 gives White a better center; Black has more space, but must move his Queen from attack (Z. Almasi-Navara, IT 0708, Reggio Emilia, 2008).

If 18.Ng4 Nxg4 19.hxg4 Nb6 then:

20.Qd3 g6 21.Rd1 Qc7 22.Qf3 Bd7 23.Bb3 Be6 is equal (Adams-Beliavsky, Euro ChT, Le�n, 2001).
If 20.Ne3 d5 21.exd5 Nxd5 22.Nxd5 Qxd5 23.Qxd5 Bxd5 24.Bb3 Be6 is equal (Kasparov-Ivanchuk, IT, Linares, 1998).

If 15...a5 16.Ng4 then:

If 16...Nxg4 17.hxg4 Be7 then:

If 18.Ne3 Bg5 19.b4 axb4 20.cxb4 Na4 21.Qd3 then:

21...Qd7 22.Nf5 Bxc1 23.Raxc1 Nb6 24.Bb3 f6 25.Rc3 gives White the advantage in space; Black could easily expel the Knight fro f5, but that would create another pawn weakness on the kingside (Adams-Bacrot, Euro ChT, Le�n, 2001).
If 21...Ba6 22.Bb3 g6 23.Bd2 Qb8 24.Rac1 Bc8 25.Rc2 gives White the advantage in space; it does not appear he will be able to put an Knight on the outpost at c6 (Dom�nguez P�rez-Svidler, Ol, Torino, 2006).

If 18.Be3 c6 19.Qe2 Bg5 20.Bxc5 dxc5 21.Rad1 Qd7 gives Black more space, but no way to exploit it; White has no pieces beyond the second rank (Z. Almasi-Bacrot, Match, Szeged, 2000).

If 16...a4 17.Nfe3 Nfxe4 18.Qe2 Bc8 19.Qxb5 f5 gives White an advantage on space, but only on paper; Black is starting to push him off the board (Bologan-Nikolic, Rpd, Corsica, 2005).

If 14...h6 15.Ng4 Nxg4 16.Qxg4 Nf6 17.Qf3 c6 18.dxc6 Bxc6 19.Nh2 gives White a small advantage in space (Z. Almasi-Nijboer, Eurp Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).

14...Nc5

If 14...g6 then:

If 15.Be3 then:

If 15...Nc5 16.Bc2 c6 then:

If 17.b4 Ncd7 18.dxc6 Bxc6 19.Bb3 Nb6 then:

If 20.Qd3 then:

20...Rb8 21.Rad1 Rb7 22.Nh2 Bd7 23.Bxb6 Rxb6 24.Ngf1 is equal (Short-Ivanchuk, Euwe Mem, Amsterdam, 1994).
20...Ra7 21.a4 bxa4 22.Bxa4 Bxa4 23.Bxb6 Qxb6 24.Rxa4 gives White a clear advantage in space (Anand-Ivanchuk, Amber Rpd, Monte Carlo, 1994).

20.Bxb6 Qxb6 21.Nh2 Qb7 22.Qf3 Bg7 23.Rad1 Red8 is equal (Satyapragyan-Kumar, Commonwealth Ch, Nagpur, 2008).

17.dxc6 Bxc6 18.Bg5 h6 19.Bxf6 Qxf6 20.b4 Ne6 is equal (S. Nikolic-Pavosovic, Slovenian, Ch, Ljubljana, 1991).

15...c6?! 16.dxc6! Bxc6 17.Ng5 Re7 18.Qxd6 Rc8 19.Qd3 gives White an extra pawn (Anand-Boshku, Ol, Novi Sad, 1990).

If 15.Nh2 h5 16.Nf3 Nc5 17.Bc2 then:

17...c6 18.b4 Ncd7 19.dxc6 Bxc6 20.Bb3 gives White pressure on the backward d-pawn and a comfortable advantage in space (Anand-Ivanchuk, IT, Dos Hermanas, 1996).
If 17...a5 18.a4 c6 19.axb5 cxd5 then:

20.Bg5 dxe4 21.Nxe4 Ncxe4 22.Bxe4 d5 23.Bc2 gives White a small advantage by attacking the e-pawn (Muratovic-Bozic, IT, Mionica, 2008).
20.exd5 Nxd5 21.Ne4 Bg7 22.Bb1 Qc7 23.Nfg5 gives White more means to improve shis position.

15.Nh2 (N)

If 15.Bc2 c6 16.b4 Ncd7 17.dxc6 Bxc6 18.Bb3 then:

If 18...h6 then:

If 19.Nh2 then:

If 19...Nb6 20.Ng4 then:

20...Nc4 21.a4 draw (Shimoev-Nyback, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).
If 19...a5 20.a3 Nb6 21.Ng4 then:

If 21...Bd7 22.Nxf6+ Qxf6 23.Be3 Nc4 24.Bxc4 bxc4 then:

25.a4 axb4 26.cxb4 d5 27.Qxd5 Be6 28.Qd2 Red8 29.Qb2 Rd3 30.b5 Rb3 draw (Leko-Z. Almasi, IT, Tilburg, 1996).
25.Qe2 Rec8 26.f3 g6 27.Nf1 Qe6 28.Qd2 is equal (Korneev-Solozhenkin, Russian Ch, St. Petersburg, 1998).

21...Nc4 22.Nxf6+ Qxf6 23.Qd3 Qe6 24.a4 axb4 25.cxb4 Bb7 26.Be3 gives White a narrow edge in space (Adhiban-Ernst, ).

20...Bd7?! 21.Qf3! Be6 22.Nxf6+ Qxf6 23.Qxf6 gxf6 24.Nh5 gives White more activity and stronger pawns (Kosteniuk-Shen Yang, Mindsports RpdW, Beijing, 2008).

If 19.Nh4 Nb6 20.Ng6 then:

20...Rc8?! 21.Nxf8! Rxf8 22.Nf5 d5 23.Be3 gives White pressure in the center, the Bishop pair and a strong initiative (Kosteniuk-Zhao Xue, Mindsports RpdW, Beijing, 2008).20...Nc4 21.Nxf8 Kxf8 22.a4 d5 23.Qe2 Kg8 remains equal.

If 18...Nb6 19.Bg5 then:

19...h6 20.Bxf6 Qxf6 21.Nh2 then:

If 21...Rac8 22.Ng4 Qg6 then:

23.Qf3 Rc7 24.Nf5 Rec8 25.Rad1 is equal and is shortly agreed drawn (Thannhauser-Stephen, Corres, 2001).
23.Nf5 h5 24.Nh4 Qg5 25.Nf3 Qd8 26.Ngh2 Bb7 (Sadvakaov-Kasimdzhanov, IT, Doha, 2006).

21...Nc4!? 22.Ng4! Qe6 23.Ne3 Rad8 24.Qe2 d5 25.Rad1gives White the advantage as Black cannot maintain the pawn at d5 (Tshekovsky-G. Timoshchenko, Soviet Ch 1st L, Sverdlovsk, 1987).

If 19...Rc8 20.Nh2 h6 21.Bxf6 Qxf6 22.Ng4 Qg6 23.Ne3 Bd7 24.Rc1 Be6 then:

25.Qe2 Rc7 26.Red1 Rec8 27.Rd3 Nc4 28.Nd5 is equal (Gopal-Wang Hao, World Jr Ch, Yerevan, 2007).
25.Ngf5 Rc7 26.Qd3 Rec8 27.Rc2 Qf6 28.Rec1 g6 is equal (Shimoev-Shen Yang, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2009).

15...c6

The game is equal.

16.dxc6 Bxc6 17.Bg5

17.Ng4 Nxg4 18.Qxg4 Qc8 19.Qxc8 Raxc8 20.f3 remains equal.

17...Nxb3 18.axb3 h6 19.Bxf6 Qxf6 20.Ng4

20.Nhf1 Qe6 21.Ne3 a5 22.Re2 a4 23.b4 Be7 remains equal.

20...Qg5!?

The game resembles the Boleslavsky family of Open Sicilians, and that is how Black should play it: keep to the center and defend the hole at d5.
Better is 20...Qe6 21.Ne3 (White must also fight for control of d5) 21...a5 22.Nd5 Bxd5 23.Qxd5 Qxd5 24.exd5 remains equal.

BLACK: Friso Nijboer

WHITE: Andrey Vovk
Position after 20...Qf6g5

21.Ne3!

White certainly isn't going to ignore d5. He takes a small advantage with this move.

21...g6

Another idea is to push the queenside pawns.
If 21...a5 22.Nd5 then:

22...Reb8 23.Qd3 Bd7 24.Red1 a4 25.Ra3 gives White a small advantage in space.
22...Bxd5?! 23.Qxd5! Reb8 24.b4 a4 gives White both freedom and space' Black will have a difficult time extricating his Rook from behind the stalled pawns.

22.Nd5 Ra7 23.Re3

White lifts his Rook into the game.
If 23.b4 f5 24.Qd3 then:

If 24...Bd7 25.f4 exf4 26.Qd4 then:

If 26...Rea8 27.Nf6+ Kh8 then:

28.exf5 Bg7 29.Nge4 Qh4 30.Qxd6 Bxf5 31.Rf1 gives White a more active center.
If 28.Nxd7+ Bg7 29.Qxd6 Rd8 then:

30.Ne2 f3 31.Qg3 fxe2 32.Qxg5 hxg5 33.Nc5 is equal.
If 30.Nf1 Rdxd7 31.Qc5 then:

31...f3 32.g3 Rdc7 33.Qf2 fxe4 34.Rxe4 Rf7 is equal.
31...fxe4 32.Rxe4 Qxc5+ 33.bxc5 Rd5 34.c6 Rd6 35.Re8+ is equal.

26...Raa8 27.Nf6+ Kf7 28.Nxe8 Rxe8 29.Nf1 Bc6 30.Rxa6 gives White the exchange.

24...Kh8 25.Ra5 fxe4 26.Nxe4 Qf5 27.Rd1 Qf7 28.f3 gives White the advantage in space; the game is very complicated.

23...h5 24.Rf3 Bg7 25.Qd3 a5?!

Obviously, this does nothing to impede White's reply. Black drops a pawn.
If 25...h4 26.Nf1 f5 27.Nd2 Rf8 28.c4 Bh6 29.Re3 still gives White a better center.

26.Nb4!

A pinned man protects nothng.

26...Bd7 27.Qxd6 Qe7?!

This invites an exchange of Queens, but Black must not have had any thought that White would take him up on the offer.
If 27...h4! 28.Ne2 a4 29.Rd3 then:

29...Rc8 30.Qb6 Rcc7 31.Nd5 Rcb7 32.Qd6 Be6 33.Rad1 gives White a small advantage in space.
If 29...Qh5?! 30.Kf1 f5 31.Qb6 fxe4 then:

32.Rd6 Rea8 33.Nd5 e3 34.Rxg6
32.Nf4!? exf4 33.Rd5 Bf5!! 34.Qxa7 f3 equalizes.

Not as good as 27...h4, but still better than the text, is 27...Qd8!? 28.Nc6 Bxc6 29.Qxc6 h4 30.Nf1 Qb8 31.Rd3 when White has more activity and space.

BLACK: Friso Nijboer

WHITE: Andrey Vovk
Position after 27...Qg5e7

28.Qb6!

White has a commanding advantage in space.

28...Rea8

If 28...Raa8 29.Nd5 Qd8 30.Rd3 then:

30...h4 31.Ne2 Rb8 32.Qxa5 Qxa5 33.Rxa5 Rb7 34.Rd2 leaves White two pawns to the good.
If 30...b4? 31.Qxd8! Rexd8 32.Rad1 h4 33.Nf1 then:

33...Be6 34.Ne7+ Kf8 35.Rxd8+ Rxd8 36.Rxd8+ Kxe7 37.Ra8 White is up by an exchange plus a pawn.
33...Re8 34.Nc7 Bc6 35.Nxe8 Rxe8 36.Nd2 Bf8 37.Ra1 White has a firm material advantage.

29.Rd3

The Knight is safe at b4 for now.
Also good is 29.Nd5 Qe6 30.Rd3 a4 31.Qe3 Rb7 32.Qg5.

29...Be8

29...Qe6 30.Nd5 a4 31.Qe3 Rb7 32.bxa4 bxa4 33.b3 gives White a splendid center and more space. The reader should note the overprotection of White's Knight at d5.
29...Be6 30.Nc6 Qc7 31.Qxc7 Rxc7 32.Rxa5 Rxa5 33.Rd8+ leaves White two pawns up.

30.Nd5 Qe6 31.Qe3 Kh7

31...Bc6 32.Nb6 Rf8 33.Qd2 Rc7 34.Nd5 Ra7 35.Qg5 White is a pawn to the good with the better center.

32.Rad1 Rb7 33.Nf1 f5

33...Bc6 34.b4 a4 35.Qg3 Rd7 36.Qh4 Bxd5 37.Rxd5 gives White a double attack on b5 and d7.

34.Qf3 f4 35.h4 Qc8!?

Black needs to pick away at White's center.
35...Bc6 36.Nd2 Rd7 37.Qe2 Kg8 continues to give White an extra pawn.

36.Nh2 b4

Black concedes a passer to White, but may not have been able to long avoid it.
If 36...Bc6 37.Qe2 then:

If 37...Qe8 38.Nf3 Kh8 39.Ng5 then:

39...b4 40.c4 Rab8 41.R1d2 Rd7 42.Qf3 gives White an extra pawn and command of the close center, rendering Black's Bishop pair meaningless.
39...Rba7 40.b4 Bxd5 41.Rxd5 axb4 42.Qxb5 Qxb5 43.Rxb5 bxc3 44.bxc3 leaves White with an extra pawn; Black must be careful not to leave his back rank unguarded as that is the only thing preventing White from delivering an immediate checkmate.

37...b4 38.c4 Kg8 39.R1d2 Qe6 40.Nf3 Qg4 41.Qd1 gives White an extra pawn, a better center and a passed pawn; the tightly closed center makes Black's Bishop pair useless.

37.c4 a4 38.bxa4 Rxa4 39.Qe2 b3

If 39...Ra2 40.R3d2 Ba4 41.Rc1 then:

41...Qc5 42.Nf3 Bd7 43.b3 Ra3 44.Rd3 Bg4 45.Qd2 White continues to enjoy an extra pawn and the better center.
41...Bd7 42.b3 Ra5 43.Qd1 Be6 44.Nf3 Bg4 45.Ng5+ leaves White a pawn up with a better center.

40.Rc3 Qc5 41.Nf3

White's plan is to bring the Knight to the queenside, where Black's weakest pawn resides.

41...Kh8?

This does nothing to impede White's intent.
If 41...Bd7 (threateing 42...Bg4) then 42.Qd3 Bg4 43.Rdc1 Ra2 44.Rb1 Bxf3 45.Qxf3 is just good enough to keep Black in the game; he can continue now with and fight on a pawn down.

BLACK: Friso Nijboer

WHITE: Andrey Vovk
Position after 41...Kh7h8

42.Nd2

White piles on to the nearest available weakling.

42...Ra2 43.Nxb3 Qc8 44.c5 Bb5 45.Qd2!?

White leaves the door ajar.
45.Qc2, keeping the e-pawn covered, is stronger: 45...Ra6 46.Nd2 Rba7 47.Rb1 Qa8 48.b4 Ra2 49.Qd1 still gives White two extra pawns and a better center.
If 45...Bc6 46.Qb1 Raa7 47.Nd2 Qg4 48.Nf3 Rd7 49.Rb3 gives White two extra pawns, a better center and command of the b-file.

45...Qg4

If 45...Bc6 46.f3 then:

46...Rxb3 47.Rxb3 Ba4 48.Rc3 Bxd1 49.Qxd1 leaves White two pawns up.
If 46...Bxd5 then White wins after 47.exd5! e4 48.c6 Rb8 49.c7.

46.Rdc1?!

While this makes the c-pawn powerful, it neglects the e-pawn. Safety first!
If 46.f3 Qxh4 47.Nb4 then:

If 47...Ra8 then White wins after 48.c6 Rc7 49.Qd6 Rac8 50.Nd5 Bf8 51.Qxe5+.
If 47...Rd7 48.Qxd7 Bxd7 then:

49.Nxa2! Qe7 50.Nb4 Bb5 51.Nd5 wins for White.
49.Rxd7?? would be what Dvoretsky calls a tragicomedy: Black wins after 49...Qe1+! 50.Kh2 Qg3+ 51.Kh1 Rxb2.

BLACK: Friso Nijboer

WHITE: Andrey Vovk
Position after 46.Rd1c1

46...Bc6!

White is no longer winning. Black pins the Knight to the e-pawn.

47.Rh3 Kh7!

Black must maintain the pin.
If 47...Bxd5 then White wins after 48.exd5 e4 49.c6 Rb8 50.d6.

48.Nb4 f3 49.Rxf3

49.Rg3 Qxh4 50.Nxa2 fxg2 51.Rxg2 leaves White a Rook to the good.

49...Bh6 50.Qc3 Bxc1

A round of exchanges will liberate Black's pieces.

51.Nxc1 Rxb4 52.Qxb4 Bxe4?

What a shame! Black is still two pawns down and cannot survive a Knight vs. Bishop ending. Having exchanged in order to have some room to breathe, he now starves instread.
52...Ra1! 53.Qc4 Bd5 54.Qf1 Qxe4 55.Rc3 is equal.

BLACK: Friso Nijboer

WHITE: Andrey Vovk
Position after 52...Bc6e4:p

53.Nxa2!

The fatal blow is struck.

53...Bxf3 54.Qxg4 Bxg4 55.Nc3

55.b4 Bd7 56.Nc3 followed by 57.b5.

55...Kg7 56.f3 Be6 57.b4 1-0

The connected passers triumph.
Mh. Nijboer resigns.

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Jack Rabbit

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Wed Oct-05-11 01:45 PM
Response to Reply #2

12. Bodnaruk - Kovanova, Russian ChW Higher League, Taganrog, 2011 (Main Line: Other Variations)

There is no photo of Anastasia Bodnaruk available with an internet-friendly copyright
Photo by Jon Sullivan from public-domain-photos.com (Public Domain)

Anastasia Bodnaruk - Baira Kovanova
Russian Championships Higher League, Women's Group, Round 4
Taganrog, 19 June 2011

Grand Spanish Royal Game: Main Line (Kholmov Defense)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7

This move is conventionally called the Closed Defense, but when used in the Italian Royal Game it is called the Hungarian Defense. That is what we shall call it.
5...Nxe4 is the Gothic Defense, also called the Open Defense. See Fier-A. Vovk, Op, Dieren, 2011, elsewhere on this thread.

6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3

For the Marsahll Gambit and Anti-Marshall Lines, see Hou Yifan-A. Muzychuk, Grand Prix W, Rostov-on-Don, 2011, elsewhere on this thread.

8...0-0 9.h3

This is the the Main Line. It was introduced the Monte Carlo International Tournament in 1902 by Dr. Tarrasch in a game againt Schlechter.
For other deviations up to here, see van den Doel-Nikolic, Op, Leiden, 2011, elsewhere on this thread.

9...Be6

BLACK

WHITE
Grand Spanish Royal Game: Main Line (Kholmov Defense)

Position after 9...Bc8e6

The text is the Kholmov Defense.
9...Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 Qc7 is the Chigorin Defense. See Corrales Jim�nez-J. Polgar, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2011, elsewhere on this thread.
The Knight retreat 9...Nb8 is the Breyer Defense. See Kosteniuk-Koneru, Grand Prix W, Rostov-on-Don, 2011, elsewhere on this thread.
9...Bb7 is the Zaitsev Defense. See A. Vovk-Nijboer, Dutch Op, Dieren, 2011, elsewhere on this thread.
(Keres Defense) If 9...Nd7 (I was not and am not impressed. --Bobby Fischer)10.d4 then:

If 10...Bf6 11.a4 Bb7 12.Na3 then:

If 12...exd4 13.cxd4 Re8 then:

If 14.Bf4 Na5 15.Bc2 b4 16.Nb1 then:

If 16...Nf8 17.Nbd2 Ne6 18.Be3 c5 19.d5 Nf8 20.Rb1 c4 then:

If 21.Qe2 Rc8 22.Nh2 b3 23.Bd1 then:

23...Nd7 24.Ng4 Bxb2 25.Rxb2 c3 26.Rb1 cxd2 27.Bxd2 Nc5 is equal (Svidler-Smagin, Russian Ch, St. Petersburg, 1998).
If 23...Qd7 24.Ng4 Bd8 25.Qf3 Ng6 then:

26.Bd4?! Bxd5! then:

27.Bxb3? then after 27...Nxb3! 28.Nxb3 f5 29.exd5 Rxe1+ 30.Rxe1 fxg4 Black soon wins (Cuijpers-Smagin, BL West, Germany, 2001)
27.Qc3 f6 28.Ne3 Be6 29.Bg4 Bxg4 30.hxg4 Nf4 leaves White fighting to survive.

26.Be2 f5 27.Qxf5 Qxf5 28.exf5 Nh4 29.f6 Bxd5 is equal.

21.b3 cxb3 22.Nxb3 Nc4 23.Bd4 Nd7 24.Bd3 gives White the advantage in space (Kosteniuk-Varavin, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2001).

If 16...c5 17.Nbd2 then:

If 17...Nf8 18.e5 dxe5 19.dxe5 Be7 then:

If 20.Qe2 Qb6 21.Bd3 Ne6 22.Be3 Rad8 then:

If 23.Nc4 Nxc4 24.Bxc4 Qc6 25.b3 h6 then:

If 26.Rad1 Bg5 27.Rxd8 Rxd8 28.Bxe6 Qxe6 29.Nxg5 hxg5 30.Bxg5 Rd4 31.Be3 Qd5 is equal (Onischuk-Piket, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1997).
26.Qc2 Qc8 27.Rad1 Qc6 28.Qf5 Bg5 29.Rd6 Rxd6 30.exd6 Qxd6 31.Bxg5 leaves Black down a piece and he resigns (Timmerman-Bang, Corres, 1995).

23.Rad1 h6 24.Nc4 Nxc4 25.Bxc4 Qa5 26.b3 Qb6 is equal.

20.Be3 Qb6 21.Rc1 Red8 22.Nh2 Nc6 23.Qh5 Nd4 is equal (A. Sokolov-Grischuk, Russian Ch, St. Petersburg, 1997).

If 17...cxd4 18.Bxd6 Nc6 19.Nc4 Nde5 20.Bxe5 Nxe5 21.Ncxe5 Bxe5 is equal (Anand-Bruz�n, Rpd, Le�n, 2006).

If 14.axb5 axb5 15.Bf4 then:

If 15...Na5 16.Bc2 b4 17.Nb5 Bc6 18.Qd3 then:

If 18...b3 19.Bb1 Qb8 20.Nc3 then:

If 20...g6 21.Rc1 Nb6 22.Nd2 Bg7 23.Ra3 Bd7 then:

24.e5 Bf5 25.Qg3 Bxb1 26.Ncxb1 Nd5 27.exd6 Nxf4 28.Qxf4 cxd6 gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Hofstetter-Weber, Corres, 2002).
24.Be3 c6 25.Qf1 d5 26.exd5 cxd5 27.Bd3 Bf8 is equal (Lutz-Smagin, IT, Essen, 2001).

If 20...Nf8 21.Bd2 Nb7 22.Rxa8 Qxa8 23.Nb5 Qb8 24.Qxb3 gives White an extra pawn and a great deal more space (Rooze-Hohler, Euro Seniors Ch, Courmayeur, 2011).
If 18...Nf8 19.d5 Bd7 20.e5 then:

If 20...dxe5 21.Nxe5 b3 22.Nxd7 Qxd7 23.Rxe8 Rxe8 24.Bd1 gives White the Bishop pair and a huge advantage in space (Gelfand-Svidler, IT, Biel, 2000).
20...Bxe5 21.Nxe5 dxe5 22.Rxe5 Rxe5 23.Bxe5 c5 24.Nc7 gives White the initiative and a greaat deal more space.

15...b4 16.Nb5 Ba6 17.Bc4 Nb6 18.Bd3 Bxb5 19.Rxa8 Qxa8 20.Bxb5 gives White the advantage in space; the Knight at c6 is pinned to the Rook at e8 and the Black Queen is tied to the Knight (Dembo-Vajda, Hungarian ChW, 2003).

If 12...Nb6 13.d5 Ne7 14.axb5 axb5 then:

If 15.Be3 c6 16.dxc6 Bxc6 then:

If 17.Bxb6 Qxb6 18.Qxd6 Rfd8 19.Qb4 Qb7 then:

If 20.Rad1 Rxd1 21.Rxd1 Bxe4 22.Nxb5 then:

22...Nf5 23.Nc7 Qxb4 24.cxb4 Rd8 25.Nd5 Bxd5 26.Rxd5 gives Whie an extra pawn, but also loose pieces that give Black the initiative (Luther-Thinius, Op, Bad Wiessee, 2003).
22...Bxf3 23.gxf3 Qxf3 24.Nd6 Qxh3 25.Nxf7 Kf8 26.Nd8 Black resigns (Lastin-Kholmov, IT, Rovno, 2000).

If 20.Re3?! Ng6 then:

If 21.c4 Bxe4 22.cxb5 then:

22...Bf5 23.Rae1 e4 24.Bc2 (G. Timoshenko-Varavin, IT, Alushta, 1994).
21.Bc2 Be7 22.Qb3 b4 23.cxb4 Ba4 24.Qc4 Rac8 gives Black a strong initiative.
21.Bd5 Bxd5 22.exd5 Be7 23.Qe4 Ra4 24.Qc2 Bxa3 25.Rxa3 Rxa3 26.bxa3 Qxd5 leaves Black standing better with the ability to penetrate White's camp along the d-file.

17.Nh2 Ng6 18.Ng4 Be7 19.Qd3 Na4 20.Nxb5 Nxb2 21.Qe2 Bxb5 22.Qxb5 Rb8 23.Qd5 Nd3 draw (Gelfand-Karpov, Match, Sanghi Nagur, 1995).

15.Nh2 Ng6 16.Ng4 Be7 17.Ne3 Bg5 18.Nf5 Bxc1 19.Rxc1 Ba6 is equal (Velimirovic-Blogojevic, Yugoslav Dh, Niksic, 1997).

10...Na5 11.Bc2 c5 12.dxc5 (Uninspired. --Paul Keres) 12...dxc5 13.Nbd2 Qc7 14.Nf1 is equal (Fischer-Keres, Candidates Trmt, Cura�ao, 1962).

(Smyslov Defense) If 9...h6 then:

If 10.d4 Re8 then:

If 11.Nbd2 Bf8 12.Nf1 then:

If 12...Bd7 13.Ng3 Na5 14.Bc2 then:

If 14...c5 then:

If 15.b3 then:

If 15...Nc6 then:

If 16.d5 Ne7 then:

If 17.Be3 Ng6 18.Qd2 Nh7 then:

If 19.a4 Be7 20.Nf5 Bxf5 21.exf5 Nh4 then:

22.Nh2 Qd7 23.axb5 axb5 24.Rxa8 Rxa8 25.Qd3 Nf6 is equal (Jalanskis-Ploompuu, Corres, 2002).
If 22.Nxh4 Bxh4 then:

23.f6 Bxf6 24.axb5 axb5 25.Rxa8 Qxa8 26.Bxh6 gxh6 27.Qxh6 e4 28.Bxe4 Ng5 gives Black a piece for two pawns, but after 29.Qxf6 Nxe4 30.Rxe4 Rxe4 White plays 31.Qg5+!, forcing a draw by repetition (Lobron-Short, , IT, Arnhem/Amsterdam, 1983).
23.axb5 axb5 24.Bd3 Rxa1 25.Rxa1 Qd7 26.Qe2 gives White a small advantage in space (Hracek-I. Sokolov, Op, Selfoss, Iceland, 2002).

If 19.Nf5 Bxf5 20.exf5 Nh4 21.Nxh4 Qxh4 then:

22.Kh2 Qd8 23.a4 Be7 24.Bd3 e4 25.Bxe4 Bf6 Is equal (Iordachescu-Kasimdzhanov, Op, Vlissingen, 2003).
22.f4 exf4 23.Bxf4 Nf6 24.Kh2 Ng4+ 25.Kg1 Nf6 is equal (Kovacevic-Abromavic, Yugoslav Cup, Ulcinj, 1997).

If 17.c4 Ng6 then:

If 18.Nf5 Nf4 19.Bxf4 exf4 20.Nxd6 Bxd6 21.e5 Bf8 22.Qd3 then:

22...bxc4 23.bxc4 g6 24.e6 Bg7 25.exd7 Qxd7 26.Qa3 gives White slightly better pawns and the advantage in space (Spassky-Portisch, Ol, Lugano, 1968).
22...g6 draw (Gheorghiu-Portisch, IT, Las Palmas, 1972).

18.Be3 Nh7 19.Qd2 Nh4 20.Nxh4 Qxh4 21.Nf5 Bxf5 22.exf5 bxc4 gives Black an extra pawn and more space (Kavalek-Portisch, IT, Amsterdam, 1969).

If 16.Be3 cxd4 17.cxd4 exd4 then:

If 18.Nxd4 d5 19.exd5 then:

If 19...Nb4 20.Nc6 Nxc6 21.dxc6 Bxc6 then:

22.Qd4 Qd5 23.Qxd5 Nxd5 24.Be4 Nb4 25.Bxc6 Nxc6 is equal (Schmid-Smyslov, IT, Monte Carlo, 1969).
22.Qxd8 Raxd8 23.Rad1 Nd5 24.Be4 Nxe3 25.Bxc6 Rxd1 26.Rxd1 Re6 gives Black a small advantage with more active pieces (Dom�nguez P�rez-I. Sokolov, Ol, Bled, 2002).

19...Nxd5 20.Be4 Nxe3 21.Rxe3 Rc8 22.Nxc6 Bxc6 23.Qf3 Bxe4 24.Nxe4 is equal (K. Georgiev-Beliavsky, IT, Cacak, 1996).

18.Bxd4 Nxd4 19.Qxd4 Qc7 20.Re2 Bc6 21.Rae1 is equal (Kapengut-Timman, IT, Vilnius, 1969).

If 15...g6 then:

If 16.d5 Bg7 17.Be3 Nh7 18.Qd2 h5 then:

19.Ng5 Nxg5 20.Bxg5 Bf6 21.Be3 gives White more freedom (Tseshkovsky-Geller, Soviet Ch, Minsk, 1979).
19.Ne2 Nb7 20.Rac1 a5 21.a3 Qb6 22.Kh1 b4 23.axb4 axb4 24.c4 is equal (Karpov-Zheliandinov, IT, Riga, 1970).

16.Be3 Nc6 17.d5 Na5 18.Nd2 Bg7 19.b4 Nb7 20.a4 Qc7 21.Ra2 a5 draw (Haag-Kluger, Asztalos Mem, Gyula, 1965).

If 15.d5 Nc4 16.a4 Nb6 then:

If 17.a5 Nc4 18.b4 then:

18...Rc8 19.Bd3 cxb4 20.cxb4 g6 21.Ra2 Qe7 22.Qb3 gives White more freedom (Mazzoni-Gligoric, ZT, The Hague, 1966).
17.b3 c4 18.bxc4 Nxc4 19.Nd2 Qc7 20.Nxc4 Qxc4 draw (I. Polgar-Kluger, IT, Budapest, 1970).

18...g6 19.Bd3 Rc8 20.Nd2 Nxd2 21.Bxd2 c4 22.Bc2 gives White a fair advantage in space (Howell-Pavlovic, Op, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, 2007).

If 15.a4 c5 16.b3 then:

If 16...Na5 17.axb5 axb5 18.d5 Qc7 19.Be3 Rec8 then:

20.Nh2 Nb7 21.Qe2 Qd8 22.Bd3 Na5 23.Bxb5 Bxb5 24.Qxb5 gives White an extra pawn and a substantial advantage in space (Z. Almasi-Peng Xiaomin, Ol, Yerevan, 1996).
20.Nd2 Nb7 21.Qe2 Ra5 22.Bd3 Rca8 23.Rxa5 Qxa5 24.b4 gives White a slight edge in space(van Kampen-Vocaturo, IT C, Wijk aan Zee, 2011).

16...Nb6 17.a5 Nc8 18.b4 c4 19.Ba3 Qc7 20.Nh4 Ne7 21.Qf3 is equal (Dr. Nunn-Pinter, Euro ChT, Haifa, 1989).

If 14...Nc4 then:

If 15.b3 Nb6 then:

16.Be3 c5 17.Qd2 a5 18.Rad1 Qc7 19.Nh4 b4 is equal (I. Zaitsev-Geller, Soviet ChT, Riga, 1968).
If 16.Nh2 c5 17.f4 cxd4 18.cxd4 Rc8 19.Nf3 then:

19...Qc7 20.Bd3 exd4 21.Bb2 Bc6 22.Nxd4 gives White a small advatage in space (Minic-Savon, IT, Skopje/Ohrid, 1968).
19...exd4 20.Bb2 Bc6 21.Nxd4 Bb7 22.Qd2 Nbd7 23.Rad1 is equal (Liberzon-Darga, IT, Amsterdam, 1969).

12...Bb7 transposes to the Zaitsev Defense.

11.Be3 Bf8 12.Nbd2 Bd7 13.Qb1 Rb8 14.a3 a5 15.d5 Ne7 16.a4 gives White a small advantage in space (A. Zakharov-Geller, Chigorin Mem, Sochi, 1976).

10.d3 transposes into the (Clam Opening/Pilnik Variation. See the gold notes to White's fifth move in van den Doel-Nikolic, elsewhere on this thread.

9...Re8 10.d4 Bf8 11.Nbd2 Bb7 transposes to the Zaitsev Defense.

10.d4

The text is considered best and most often played, but White has the option of taking on e6 in order to disfigure Black's pawn structure.
If 10.Bxe6 fxe6 11.d4 then:

11...Qd7 12.dxe5 dxe5 then:

13.Qxd7 Nxd7 14.Be3 Nc5 15.Bxc5 Bxc5 16.Nbd2 Rad8 17.Nb3 gives White healthier pawns and the advantage in space because he can wrest the d-file from Black's control (Prelovszky-Kluger, Hungarian Ch, Hungary, 1966).
13.Nbd2 Rad8 14.Qe2 Nh5 15.Nb3 Qd3 16.Qxd3 Rxd3 17.Be3 Nf4 is equal (Simonovic-Andric, Yugoslav Ch, Belgrade, 1948).

11...exd4 12.cxd4 d5 13.e5 Ne4 14.Nbd2 Nxd2 15.Bxd2 gives White a small advantage in space (Keres-Dr. Alekhine, IT, Salzburg, 1943).

10...Bxb3 11.axb3

If 11.Qxb3 then:

If 11...Qd7 then:

If 12.Nbd2 Rfe8 then:

If 13.Nf1 h6 then:

If 14.Ng3 Bf8 15.a4 Na5 16.Qd1 c5 is equal (Ujtelky-Kholmov, Chigorin Mem, Sochi, 1964).
If 14.a4 then:

If 14...Na5 15.Qc2 Bf8 16.axb5 axb5 then:

if 17.Ne3 c5 18.dxe5 dxe5 19.Rd1 then:

19...Qb7 20.Nd5 Nd7 21.Nh2 c4 22.Be3 Nb3 is equal (Rodovici-Kholmov, IT, Bucharest, 1962).
19...Qc7 20.Nd5 Nxd5 21.Rxd5 f6 22.b3 gives White a small advantage in space (Gligoric-Qui�ones, ITZ, Amsterdam, 1964).

17.Ng3 c5 18.Nf5 c4 19.Be3 exd4 20.Bxd4 Nb3 21.Rxa8 Nxd4 22.cxd4 Rxa8 23.e5 is equal (Savon-Kholmov, Soviet Ch, Baku, 1961).

14...Rab8 15.axb5 axb5 16.Ra6 Bf8 17.Ng3 Rb7 18.Be3 gives White a center duo and more space (Smagin-Nei, Trade Unions Ch, Moscow, 1964).

13.a4 Na5 14.Qd1 Bf8 15.b3 c5 16.d5 Reb8 17.b4 Nb7 is equal (Spassky-Kholmov, Soviet Ch, Yerevan, 1962).

If 12.Bg5 h6 then:

If 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.d5 Ne7 15.Nbd2 g6 then:

If 16.c4 then:

16...Bg7 then:

17.Rac1 f5 18.c5 Kh7 19.Rc3 Rfc8 20.Rec1 gives White more space, but neither side really has anything until some pawns are exchange allowing an attack somewhere (Matulovic-Zinn, Ol, Havana, 1966).
17...Rab8?! 18.axb5 Rxb5 19.Qc4 Nb8 20.b4 exd4 21.Rxa6 gives White a strong initiative and more space (Pavlov-Kholmov, IT, Bucharest, 1962).

16...bxc4 17.Qxc4 c6 18.dxc6 Qxc6 19.b3 gives White a small advantes in space.

16.a4 Bg7 17.axb5 axb5 18.c4 draw (Rabar-Andric, Yugoslav Ch, Belgrade, 1952).

If 13.Bh4 Nh5 14.Bxe7 Qxe7 15.a4 Na5 then:

If 16.Qb4 then:

If 16...Nc6 17.Qb3 then:

If 17...Na5 18.Qb4 Nc6 draw as the players have nothing better to do than repeat moves (Radovici-Kholmov, Asztalos Mem, Kecskemet, 1962).
If 19.Kh2?! Nxg2 20.Kxg2 Ne3+ 21.Rxe3 Qxb3 22.c4 Qxa4 gives Black an easy win (Kosts-Kholmov, Soviet ChT, Moscow, 1961).
If 19.axb5 axb5 20.Qxb5 Qg6 21.g3 then:

If 21...Nxh3+! then:

22.Kg2 Nxa3 23.Rxa3 Nf4+ 24.Kf1 Qh5 25.Ng1 Rxa3 26.bxa3 Ne6 is equal.
22.Kf1?! Qg4! 23.Nh2 Nd2+ 24.Kg2 Nf4+ 25.Kg1 Qg6 gives Black the advantage in space; White's e-pawn is under siege.

21...Nxa3!? 22.bxa3 Nxh3+ 23.Kf1 Ng5 24.Nxg5 Qxg5 is equal.

If 11...d5 12.exd5 Na5 13.Qc2 exd4 then:

If 14.cxd4 Nxd5 15.Nc3 then:

15...c6 16.Ne4 Rc8 then:

If 17.b3 Nb7 18.Bg5 f6 19.Bd2 Re8 then:

20.Re2 c5 21.Nxc5 Nxc5 22.dxc5 Bxc5 23.Rxe8+ Qxe8 draw (Brunner-Nikolic, World ChT, Lucerne, 1989).
20.Rad1 Qd7 21.Re2 Bf8 22.Rde1 Re7 23.Qd3 Rce8 gives White a slight advantage in space (Short-van der Wiel, World Cup, Rotterdam, 1989).

17.Nc5 Bxc5 18.Ng5 Nf6 19.dxc5 Qd5 20.Bf4 Rfe8 21.Rad1 gives White the initiative and a slight edge in space (J. Polgar-Schussler, IT, Vejstrup, Denmark, 1989).

If 15...Nxc3 16.Qxc3 Nc4 then:

17.Bf4 Bd6 then:

18.Bxd6 Qxd6 19.Rac1 Rac8 20.b3 Nb6 21.Ne5 Rfe8 22.Nc6 gives WHite a slight edge in space (Short-van der Sterren, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 1986).
18.Ne5 then:

18...Qf6 19.Bg3 Nb6 20.Rac1 Rfe8 21.Qc6 Bb4 22.Red1 is equal (Speelman-Korchnoi, IT, Amsterdam, 1989).
18...Re8 19.Rad1 Qc8 20.Nxc4 Bxf4 21.Qf3 Bg5 22.Ne5 gives White the initiative and more space (Dr. Nunn-Fahnenschmidt, Bundesliga 8687, Germany, 1987).

17.a4 Rc8 18.b3 Nb6 19.Qa5 bxa4 20.bxa4 Ra8 21.Rxe7 Qxe7 22.Ba3 White wins back the exchange with advantage (Grischuk-Mamedyarov. IT, Foros, 2006).

14.Nxd4 Nxd5 15.Nd2 Re8 16.Ne4 Qd7 17.Ng5 Bxg5 18.Bxg5 h6 is equal (Ostojic-Kholmov, IT, Belgrade, 1967).

11...Qc8

Black departs from the main line.
If 11...exd4 then:

If 12.cxd4 then:

If 12...d5 13.e5 Ne4 14.Nc3 f5 15.exf6 then:

If 15...Bxf6 16.Nxe4 dxe4 17.Rxe4 Qd5 18.Rg4 then:

If 18...Ne7 then:

If 19.Bh6 Nf5 20.Bg5 then:

20...Bxg5 21.Rxg5 h6 22.Rg4 c5 23.dxc5 Qxc5 24.b4 gives White an extra pawn, the initiative and more space (van der Wiel-Beliavsky, IT, Amsterdam, 1989).
If 20...h5 21.Rf4 then:

If 21...Bxg5 22.Nxg5 Nxd4 23.Rxf8+ Rxf8 24.Qxh5 Qf5 then:

25.f4!? Ne6 26.Rf1 Nxf4 27.Rxf4 Qb1+ 28.Kh2 Rxf4 29.Qe8+ Rf8 30.Qe6+ Kh8 31.Nf7+ Rxf7 32.Qxf7 Qxb2 draw (Psakhis-Arnason, IT, Sochi, 1988).
25.Qh4 Ne2+ 26.Kh1 c5 27.Qe4 continues to give White a small advantage.

21...Ne7 22.Rc1 Ng6 23.Rc5 Nxf4 24.Rxd5

If 19.Qc2 Nf5 then:

20.Be3 Rfe8 21.Re1 Rad8 22.Re2 Rd6 23.Rf4 g6 is equal (Velimirovic-Karajica, ZT, Kavala, 1985).
20.Qe4 Rad8 21.Rxa6 Qxe4 22.Rxe4 Nxd4 23.Nxd4 Rxd4 24.Rxd4 Bxd4 draws (van der Wiel-Mikhalchishin, Op, Belgrade, 1988).

If 18...h5 19.Rf4 Nb4 20.Be3 Rad8 then:

If 21.Rc1 c5 22.Qd2 then:

If 22...Nc6?! then:

If 23.Qc2?! then:

If 23...Nxd4!? 24.Bxd4 Bxd4 25.Rxf8+ Rxf8 26.b4 Rxf3 27.gxf3 Qxf3 28.bxc5 Qg3+ 29.Kf1 Qxh3+ 30.Ke1 (White emerges with more material, but Black's pieces are active) then:

30...Qh1+?! 31.Ke2! then:

If 31...Qc6? 32.Qb3+! Kh8 33.Qf3 Qe6+ 34.Kf1 Qh6 35.Rd1 Black resigns (Fischer-Bobotsov, Ol, Leipzig, 1960).
31...Qd5 32.b4 Qe6+ 33.Kf1 Qh3+ 34.Ke1 h4 35.Qe4 looks grim, but Black is still fighting to survive.

30...Qg4 31.Qb3+ Kh8 32.Kf1 Bxf2 33.Kxf2 Qf4+ 34.Qf3 Qxc1 remains equal.

23...cxd4 24.Bd2 Rc8 25.Rf5 Qf7 26.Rc5 Ne7 27.b4 is equal.

23.Rxc5! Qxc5 24.dxc5 Rxd2 25.Bxd2 Bxb2 26.Re4 leaves White up by a pawn.

22...cxd4 23.Bxd4 Qxb3 24.Rc7 Nd5 25.Bxf6 Nxf6 26.Rd4 gives White a small advantage; Black mut remove the Rook from d8 or she will lose it.

If 21.Qb1 Qxb3 22.Rf5 then:

22...Rd6 23.Rxh5 Nc2 24.Ra5 is equal (Nijboer-van der Wiel, IT, Groningen, 2004).
If 22...Qc2 23.Qxc2 Nxc2 24.Rxa6 Rfe8 25.Bg5 Bxg5 26.Rxg5 Nxd4 27.Nxd4 Rxd4 then:

28.Rc6 Re7 29.Rxb5 h4 30.Kh2 Rd2 31.f3 Rf7 32.Rc3 Rf6 33.Rg5 c6 34.b4 Rd4 35.Rg4 Rfd6 36.Rxc6!! Black resigns (Anand-Adams, Candidates �-final, Linares, 1994).28.Rxh5 Rb4 29.Rc5 Re7 30.Rc2 c5 31.g3 gives White an extra pawn (Anand-Sharif, Rpd, Oviedo, 1993).

If 15...Nxf6 then:

16.Bg5 b4 17.Ne2 Ne4 18.Be3 Bd6 19.Qd3 Qc8 gives Black the advantage in space (Anand-Nikolic, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 1999).
16.Ne5 Nb4 17.Na2 Qe8 18.Nxb4 Bxb4 19.Re3 Bd6 is equal (Geller-Smagin, Soviet Ch, Riga, 1985).

If 12...Nb4 13.d5 then:

If 13...c5 14.dxc6 then:

If 14...d5 15.e5 Ne4 16.Nc3 then:

If 16...Nxc3 17.bxc3 Nxc6 18.Qd3 then:

If 18...Re8 19.e6 fxe6 20.Rxe6 Qd7 21.Re2 b4 22.c4 Bf6 23.Raa2 then:

23...Rxe2 24.Rxe2 d4 25.Bg5 Rd8 26.Bxf6 gxf6 27.Kf1 gives White command of teh open file and more space overall (Suetin-Nei, Soviet Ch Qual, Daugavpils, 1974).
23...d4 24.Bg5 a5 25.Bxf6 gxf6 26.Nh4 Ne5 27.Qg3+ gives White the inintiative and more space, but the position promises little to either player (Gofshtein-N. Davies, IT, Rishon, 1994).

18...Qd7 19.Ra2 Qe6 20.Bg5 Rfd8 21.Bxe7 Qxe7 22.Rae2 gives White a tactical edge in the e-file (Gelfand-Mikhalchishin, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).

16...Nc5 17.Be3 Rc8 18.Re2 Rxc6 19.Rd2 Qc8 20.Nxd5 Nxd5 21.Rxd5 gives White solid control of the d-file and more space; Black commands the d-file (Gorokhovsky-Spasov, Corres, 1999).

14...Nxc6 15.Nc3 Ne5 16.Nd4 Re8 17.Bf4 Bf8 18.f3 is equal (Tukmakov-R. Roamnovsky, Ukrainian SSR Ch, Kiev, 1963).

13...Nd7 14.Na3 Bf6 15.Nc2 c5 16.Nxb4 cxb4 17.Nd4 is equal (Fischer-Szabo, Capablanca Mem. Havana, 1965).

If 12.Nxd4 Nxd4 13.Qxd4 then:

13...d5 14.exd5 Nxd5 15.Nd2 c6 draw (Popovic-Chiburdanidze, Match, Subotica, 1986).
13...Re8 14.Bf4 d5 15.exd5 Qxd5 16.Qxd5 Nxd5 is equal (Gofshtein-N. Davies, IT, Hertzliya, Israel, 1993).

12.Bg5

12.Nbd2 Re8 13.d5 Nb8 14.Nf1 h6 15.Ng3 c6 16.c4 gives White command of the light squares and a small advantage in space(Lineres Napoles-Bezgodova, OlW, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).

12...h6 13.Bh4 Re8 14.Nbd2

14.d5 Nb8 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.Na3 Nd7 17.Nc2 Be7 18.Nb4 gives White the advantage in space (E. Vasiukov-Bykhovsky, Moscow Ch, 1964).

14...exd4 (N)

14...Nd7 15.d5 Ncb8 16.Bxe7 Rxe7 17.Nf1 Nf6 18.Ng3 gives White the advantage in space (Kremenietsky-E. Vasiukov, Moscow Ch, 1982).

15.Nxd4 Nxd4 16.cxd4

The game is equal.

16...c5 17.e5

17.Rc1 Qd7 18.e5 Nd5 19.Bxe7 Rxe7 20.Ne4 dxe5 21.dxc5 is equal.

17...dxe5 18.dxe5 Nd5 19.Ne4

19.Bxe7 Rxe7 20.Nc4 Qe6 21.Nd6 Raa7 22.Qc1 Rec7 remains equal.

19...Qc6 20.Bxe7 Rxe7 21.Nd6

BLACK: Baira Kovanova

WHITE: Anastasia Bodnaruk
Position after 21.Ne4d6

The game is equal.

21...Nb4!?

This aggressive move, apparently threatening 22...Nc2, is not justified by the position.
If 21...Nf4 22.Qg4 Ng6 23.Nf5 Re6 remains equal.
If 21...Re6 22.Qf3 then:

22...Ra7 23.Nxb5 Qxb5 24.Qxd5 Rd7 25.Qa8+ gives White a small advantage with the active Queen, more freedom and the initiative; Black has power concentrated in the center.
If 22...Rf8 23.Rac1 then:

23...f6 24.Qg4 Rxe5 25.Nf5 g5 26.Rxe5 fxe5 27.Qe4! leaves White threatening the deadly 28.Ne7! forcing Black to surrender the exchange.
23...g6 24.Qg3 Rd8 25.Ne4 Kg7 26.Nxc5 gives White an extra pawn.

22.Qg4!

White ignores the threat of 22...Nc2 takes advantage of the undefended castle wall.

22...h5?!

The Queen is on the kingside and will not be cased away so easily. Black needs to deal with its presence.
Better is 22...Re6 23.Nf5 g6 24.Nxh6+ when:

If 24...Kg7 25.Qg5 Nc2 26.Nf5+ Kg8 then:

27.Ne7+ Rxe7 28.Qxe7 Re8 29.Qg5 Nxa1 30.Rxa1 gives White an extra pawn, but also more weak pawns.
27.Nh6+!? Kf8! 28.Ng4 Nxe1 29.Rxe1 Kg7 is equal.

If 24...Kf8?! 25.Qf4! then:

25...f5 26.Rad1 Kg7 27.Qg5 Rf8 28.Rd2 gives White a powerful attack while Black's pieces are unfocused.
25...Kg7 26.Rad1 Nc2 27.Re4 Rf8 28.Ng4 Rh8 29.Nf6 gives White an extra pawn and great pressure on the kingside.

22...Nc2? loses right away to 23.Nf5!! Qg6 24.Nxe7+ .

23.Qxh5!?

White misses a line that, if it does not win outright, comes very close to it.
23.Nf5! hxg4 24.Nxe7+ Kh7 25.Nxc6 Nxc6 26.Rac1 leaves White up by the exchange.

23...Nd3?

This move is just bad. The Knight intends to go to f4, forking the Queen and the mating square g2, but it won't get there.
Black is barely holding on after 23...Rd7 24.Red1 Rad8 25.Qg4 Qc7 26.Rd2 Kf8 27.Qe4 .
If 23...Nc2? loses to 24.Re4!! when:

If 24...g6 then 25.Qg5 Rd7 26.Rh4 is crushing.

If 24...Nxa1 then 25.Rh4 Qxd6 26.Qh8# .

BLACK: Baira Kovanova

WHITE: Anastasia Bodnaruk
Position after 23...Nb4d3

24.Re4!

White prevents ...Nf4 and threatens to bring the Rook to h4, after which Black is toast.

24...g6 25.Qg5!

Also good is 25.Qh6 Qxd6 26.exd6 Rxe4 27.Qg5 Re5 28.Qf6 Rf8 29.Rxa6.

25...Re6 26.Rh4 Qd5

26...Qxd6 27.exd6 Kg7 28.d7 Rd6 29.Qe7 Rxd7 30.Qxd7

26...Qf3 27.gxf3 Nxe5 28.Kg2 f6 29.Qh6 Rxd6 30.Qh7+

27.Qh6 Qxe5 28.Qh7+ 1-0

White mates on the next move.
Baira Sergeyevna resigns.

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Jack Rabbit

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Thu Oct-06-11 04:18 PM
Response to Original message

13. Chucky resumes playing in Bilbao, then resums winning

Please click http://www.bilbaomastersfinal.com/en/2011/10/with-his-victory-over-nakamura-ivanchuk-shines/#more-4069">here.

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madinmaryland

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Thu Oct-06-11 05:05 PM
Response to Original message

14. Jack! I opened this thread up and almost locked my PC!! Almost as bad as

graywarriors thread in teh lounge.

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Jack Rabbit

(1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore

Thu Oct-06-11 07:26 PM
Response to Reply #14

15. My appologies

I didn't realize the van den Doel-Nikolic game was so huge until I tried to post it.

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DU AdBot (1000+ posts)

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