Sjugirov - Timofeev, General Group, Round 7

[Jack Rabbit]

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Sanan Sjugirov - Artyom Timofeev
Russian Championship Qual/Higher League, Round 7
Taganrog, 22 June 2011

Open Sicilian Rat Game: Dragon Defense

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6



Open Sicilian Rat Game: Dragon Defense

• This is another hypermodern defense, although it was around long before Nimzovich and Reti. Black refrains from advancing his center pawns and tries to control the center with pieces.

6.Be3

• The text is the Yugoslav Opening.
• (Opocensky Opening) If 6.Be2 Bg7 7.0-0 0-0 then:
• 8.Be3 Nc6 then:
• 9.Nb3 Be6 10.f4 Qc8 then:
• 11.Kh1 Rd8 then:
• 12.Bg1 d5 13.e5 Ne4 then:
• 14.Nb5 f6 15.exf6 exf6 16.c3 f5 17.a4 then:
• 17...Kh8 18.a5 d4 19.N3xd4 a6 20.Na3 Nxa5 is equal (Negi-G. Jones, World Jr Ch, Yerevan, 2007).
• 17...Bf7 18.a5 a6 19.N5d4 Re8 20.Qd3 Bf8 draw (Gufeld-B. Ivanovich, IT, Vinkovici, 1982).
• 14.Bd3 f6 15.exf6 exf6 16.Nb5 f5 17.c3 Bf7 18.a4 is equal (Sammalvuo-L. Karlsson, Op 0607, Stockholm, 2007).
• If 12.Bf3 Bc4 13.Rf2 e5 then:
• If 14.Rd2 exf4 15.Bxf4 Ne5 then:
• If 16.Rxd6 Rxd6 17.Qxd6 Nxf3 18.gxf3 then:
• If 18...Qh3 19.Nd2 Nh5 20.Be5 f6 21.Qd4 Rc8 then:
• 22.Bc7?! Be6! 23.Rg1 Bf8 24.Nd5 Kg7 gives Black the advantage in space (Hoyos Millan-Benjamin, Op, Philadelphia, 1992).
• 22.Bd6 Bf7 23.Qxa7 Bh6 24.Rd1 Rc6 is equal.
• 18...Nh5 19.Be5 Bxe5 20.Qxe5 Bxb3 21.axb3 Qh3 22.Nd5 Qxf3+ 23.Kg1 Qg4+ 24.Kf2 Qh4+ 25.Kg2 Qg4+ 26.Kf2 Qh4+ 27.Kg2 Qg4+ is drawn by repetition (Rossetto-Panno, ITZ, Portoroz, 1958).
• 16.Na5 Ba6 17.Be2 Bxe2 18.Qxe2 Qc7 19.Qb5 a6 gives Black a small advantage with more freedom Ferrer Lucas-Kasparov, SX, Barcelona, 1984).
• 14.Qd2 Qc7 15.Rd1 Rac8 16.Qc1 b5 17.f5 b4 is equal (Ragozin-Aronin, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1948).
• If 11.h3 Rd8 12.Bf3 then:
• If 12...Bc4 13.Rf2 e5 then:
• If 14.Rd2 exf4 15.Bxf4 Ne5 then:
• 16.Kh2 Ba6 17.Bxe5 dxe5 18.Rxd8+ Qxd8 is equal (Matanovic-Geller, TMatch, Belgrade, 1956).
• 16.Nd4 Nxf3+ 17.Qxf3 Qc5 18.Rad1 Re8 19.Kh1 d5 is equal (Llado Lumbera-Toran Albero, IT, Madrid, 1951).
• 14.Nd2 exf4 15.Bxf4 Ne5 16.Nxc4 Nxc4 17.Nd5 Nxd5 18.Qxd5 Qc5 is equal (Navara-Evdokimov, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).
• 12...d5 13.e5 Ne4 14.Bxe4 dxe4 15.Qe2 f6 16.exf6 exf6 is equal (Mosterman-Overeem, Op, Dieren, 2009).
• If 9.Qd2 then:
• If 9...Ng4 10.Bxg4 Bxg4 then:
• If 11.f4 Bd7 then:
• If 12.Rad1 Rc8 13.Rf2 then:
• If 13...b6 14.h3 Qe8 15.b3 Nxd4 16.Bxd4 e5 17.fxe5 dxe5 18.Be3 Bc6 19.Nd5 is equal; Black has more freedom and White has more space (Paoli-Mariotti, Op, Lucca, 1674).
• 13...Rb8 14.b3 Qa5 15.Qe3 Rfd8 16.h3 Be6 17.Rfd1 f6 is equal (Timman-Topalov, IT, Novgorod, 1995).
• 12.Nce2 a6 13.c3 b5 14.Nxc6 Bxc6 15.Ng3 Qd7 is equal (Kopa-Przepiorka, Masters, Barmen, 1905).
• If 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.Bh6 Bxh6 13.Qxh6 then:
• If 13...Qb6 14.Rab1 Be6 15.Rfe1 Rab8 16.b3 then:
• 16...Qd4 17.Na4 c5 18.c3 Qg7 is equal (Ljubojevic-van der Wiel, IT, Tilburg, 1984).
• 16...Qc5 17.Qd2 f6 18.Na4 Qb4 19.c3 Qa5 20.Qe2 c5 is equal (Zelcic-D. Gurevich, IT, Geneva, 1996).
• 13...Na5 14.b3 b6 15.f5 Nc6 16.Nd5 Ne5 17.h3 gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Michel-Aspenieks, Ol, Buenos Aires, 1939).
• If 9...Bd7 10.h3 Rc8 11.Rad1 a6 12.f4 then:
• If 12...b5 13.a3 Qc7 then:
• 14.Nb3 Be6 15.Rfe1 Bxb3 16.cxb3 gives White a small advantage in space (Kreymborg-Chajes, New York, 1911).
• 14.Nf3 Rfd8 15.Qe1 b4 16.Nd5 Nxd5 17.exd5 gives White a small advantage in space (Szczepkowska-Ohme, Worlc ChTW, Ekaterinburg, 2007).
• 12...Qc7 13.Bf3 Na5 14.Qf2 Nc4 15.Bc1 b5 is equal (Voigt-Lasker, SX, Philadelphia, 1892).
• If 8.Bg5 Nc6 9.Nb3 then:
• If 9...Be6 10.Kh1 then:
• If 10...Na5 11.f4 then:
• If 11...Nc4 12.f5 Nxb2 then:
• If 13.Qc1 Bc4 then:
• 14.Qxb2 Bxe2 15.Nxe2 Nxe4 16.f6 Nxf6 17.Nbd4 Ne4 18.Be3 gives White the advantage in space (Stefansson-Pinter, Op, Pardubice, 2001).
• 14.e5 Bxe2 15.Nxe2 Ne4 16.f6 exf6 17.exf6 Nxg5 18.Qxg5 Re8 is equal (Brandenburg-van der Wiel, Op, Gronigen, 2004).
• If 13.Qe1 Bd7 14.Qh4 then:
• 14...Rc8 15.Rf3 Re8 16.Raf1 Rxc3 17.Rxc3 Nxe4 18.Qxe4 Bxc3 leaves Black two pawns up (Kotronias-Khalifman, IT, Bled, 1991).
• 14...Na4 15.Nxa4 Bxa4 16.Nd4 Rc8 17.Bd3 Bd7 18.Rab1 Qc7 gives Black an extra pawn (Kuzmin-Khalifman, Soviet Ch, Leningrad, 1990).
• 11...Rc8 12.f5 Bc4 13.Bd3 b5 14.Qe2 b4 15.Nd1 Re8 16.Ne3 Bxd3 17.cxd3 gives White a small advantage in space (Fishbein-Aramal, Op, Chicago, 2002).
• If 10...Rc8 11.f4 a6 then:
• If 12.a4 Na5 13.Nxa5 Qxa5 14.Bd3 Rfe8 then:
• 15.f5 Bd7 16.Qf3 Rxc3 17.bxc3 Qxc3 18.Qe2 gives White the exchange (Spraggett-Danailov, Op, Zaragoza, 1994).
• 15.Qe2 Qb4 16.a5 Bg4 17.Qd2 Bd7 18.Qe2 Qxb2 19.Bxf6 Bxf6 gives Black a strong spatial advantage (Anand-Topalov, IT, Linares, 1994).
• 12.Bf3 b5 13.Nd5 Nd7 14.c3 Nb6 15.Qe2 Nc4 16.Rad1 Qd7 17.Rfe1 gives White a small advantage in space (Karpov-Martín González, IT, Las Palmas, 1977).
• If 9...a6 10.f4 b5 11.Bf3 then:
• If 11...b4 12.Na4 then:
• If 12...Bd7 13.Rf2 then:
• 13...Ra7 14.a3 Na5 15.Nxa5 Qxa5 16.axb4 Qxb4 is equal (Trepp-Walter, Swiss ChT, Switzerland, 1994).
• 13...Rc8 14.a3 Na5 15.Nxa5 Qxa5 16.axb4 Qxb4 17.c3 gives White the initiative (Mencinger-M. Petursson, IT, Ljublanja, 1981).
• 12...Qc7 13.c4 Nd7 14.Kh1 a5 15.Qd2 Nb6 16.Nxb6 Qxb6 17.e5 gives White the advantage in space (Gipslis-Shirov, IT, Daugavpils, 1990).
• If 11...Bb7 12.Kh1 Nd7 then:
• If 13.Rb1 Re8 14.Nd5 then:
• If 14...f6!? 15.Bh4! (White has a slight advantage) 15...e6 16.Ne3 g5 17.Bg3 gxf4 18.Bxf4 Nde5 19.Bh5 Rf8 then:
• If 20.Qe1 Kh8 21.Rd1 Qe7 22.c3 Rad8 then:
• 23.Rf2!? Nb8! 24.Nc2 f5 is equal (Zigangirova-N. Kosintseva, OlW, Palma de Mallorca, 2004).
• 23.Qh4! Rd7 24.a3 Rg8 25.Rf2 Ba8 26.Rfd2 gives White the advantage in space concentrated on the kingside.
• If 20.c3 Qe7 then:
• 21.Qe2!? Ng6 22.Bg3 Nce5! 23.Nd2 Kh8 24.Rf2 is equal (Apicella-Svidler, Ol, Yerevan, 1996).
• 21.Qd2! Rfd8 22.Rbd1 Rac8 23.Qe1 gives White a small advantage in space.
• 14...Qb8 15.c3 a5 16.a3 a4 17.Nc1 e6 18.Ne3 is equal (Xie Jun-Tisdall, IT, San Francisco, 1995).
• 13.Qe1 a5 14.Nxb5 a4 15.Nd2 Qb8 16.c4 a3 is equal (Zagrebelny-Kotsur, Asian Ch, Calcutta, 2001).
• (Austrian Opening or Levenfish Opening) If 6.f4 Nc6 then:
• If 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.e5 Nd7 9.exd6 exd6 then:
• If 10.Be3 Be7 11.Qd2 then:
• If 11...0-0 12.0-0-0 Nf6 then:
• If 13.h3 Be6 then:
• 14.g4 Qa5 15.Bg2 Rab8 16.b3 d5 17.f5 Bd7 18.Kb1 Bb4 19.Bd4 gives White possibilities of opening up a kingside attack, the initiative againast the Knight on f6 and more space; Black's position is still defensible, put White soon won (Fuderer-Trifunovic, Yugoslav Ch, Belgrade, 1952).
• If 14.Kb1 then:
• 14...d5 15.g4 Bb4 16.Bg2 Qa5 17.a3 Ne4 18.Bxe4 Bxc3 19.Qxc3 Qxc3 20.bxc3 dxe4 21.Rd6 is equal (N. Weinstein-Robatsch, Op Rd 9, Lone Pine, 1975).
• 14...Qa5 15.b3 Qa3 16.g4 Rab8 17.f5 gxf5 18.Bd4 Nd7 19.Qh6 leaves White more than compensated for his pawn minus with a strong game (N. Weinstein-Shamkovich, Op , Lone Pine, 1975).
• 13.Bc4 d5 14.Bb3 Bf5 15.Bd4 Ne4 16.Nxe4 Bxe4 is equal (Bogdanovich-Golubev, Geller Mem, Odessa, 2005).
• If 11...Nf6 12.0-0-0 Be6 then:
• If 13.Bd4 0-0 14.Qe1 Rb8 then:
• If 15.h3!? then:
• If 15...Qc7! (Black has a small advantage with more freedom) then:
• If 16.g4?! c5 (Black has more space and a strong initiative) then:
• If 17.Nb5? Qb7! (Black wins) then:
• 18.Bc3 Qxh1 19.f5 Ne4 20.fxe6 Bg5+ 21.Kb1 fxe6 White resigns (Espinosa-Le Gore, Corres, 1991).
18.Bxf6 Bxf6! 19.Rh2 a6 wins the Knight.
• 17.Be3 Qb7 18.Bb5 a6 19.f5 Bd5 20.Nxd5 Nxd5 continues to geive Black more space and a strong initiative
• 16.b3 Rfe8 17.Qd2 d5 18.Be5 Bd6 19.Bxd6 Qxd6 continues give Black a small advantage
• 15.a3 Qc7 16.Qh4 Ng4 17.Qg3 c5 18.Bg1 Qb7 leaves Black threatening to win a pawn (Szily-Gereben, Hungarian Ch, Budapest, 1953).
• 13.h3 Qa5 14.b3 0-0 15.Kb1 Rab8 16.Ne4 Rb4 is equal (Salinnikov-Gaponenko, Ukrainian ChT, Alushta, 2000).
• If 10.Qd4 Nf6 11.Be3 Be7 12.0-0-0 0-0 then:
• If 13.Be2 Be6 14.Bf3 then:
• 14...Qc8?! 15.f5! Bxf5 16.Bg5 Nd5 17.Bxe7 Nxe7 18.g4 gives White a huge advantage in space (Vasiukov-Grushevsky, Soviet ChT, Moscow, 1959).
• 14...Ng4 15.Bg1 d5 16.h3 Nf6 is equal.
• If 13.h3 d5 then:
• 14.Na4?! Ne4! 15.Be2 Be6 16.f5 Bxf5 gives Black an extra pawn (Illijin-Cebalo, Op, Baden-Baden, 1999).
• 14.Qd3 Qa5 15.g4 Rb8 16.Bd4 Nd7 17.a3 Bd6 gives Black the initiative.
• If 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.Bd3 0-0 9.0-0 a6 then:
• If 10.Kh1 Qc7 11.Qe1 then:
• If 11...Bg4 12.Qh4 then:
• 12...h6 13.f5 Bxf3 14.gxf3 Kh7 15.Rg1 Ne5 16.Qh3 is equal (Miles-Baljon, IT, Groningen, 1972).
• If 12...Qd7 13.Bd2 Nb4 14.h3 Bxf3 15.Rxf3 Nxd3 16.cxd3 b5 is equal (Hardarson-Moradiabadi, Op, Reykjavik, 2008).
• If 11...e6 12.Qh4 b5 13.f5 b4 14.Ne2 exf5 15.exf5 gxf5 16.Ng3 gives Black an extra pawn and more pawn weaknesses; White will win back the pawn with advantage (Wheeler-Batchelder, Op, Lincoln, 1969).
• If 10.Qe1 e6 11.Kh1 b5 then:
• If 12.Bd2 Nd7 13.Rd1 Nb4 14.Be3 Bb7 15.f5 Nxd3 16.cxd3 exf5 17.exf5 Ne5 18.Nxe5 dxe5 is equal (Spassky-Rantanen, IT, Tallinn, 1975).
• 12.f5 Nb4 13.Qh4 Nxd3 14.cxd3 b4 15.Ne2 exf5 16.Bg5 h6 is equal (Rantanen-Peters, Op, London, 1978).
• If 7.Nb3 Bg7 8.Be2 0-0 9.Be3 Be6 10.0-0 Qc8 transposes into Negi-G. Jones, above.
• (Zagreb Opening) If 6.g3 (on a personal note, this move seems curious after White has already opened a lane for developing the Bishop by playing 1.e4).) 6...Nc6 7.Nde2 Bg7 8.Bg2 0-0 9.0-0 then:
• If 9...Bd7 10.h3 Rc8 then:
• If 11.a4 then:
• If 11...a6 12.Be3 then:
• If 12...Na5 13.b3 then:
• 13...b5 14.axb5 axb5 15.Ra2 Nc6 16.Qd2 draw (I. Gurevich-Sadler, Op 9293, Hastings, 1992).
• 12...Qc7 13.Kh1 Ne5 14.b3 Bc6 15.Ra2 e6 16.a5 Rfe8 17.Qd2 gives White the advantage in space.(Asrian-Mamedov, Op, Dubai, 2004).
• 13...Qc7 14.Rc1 b5 15.axb5 axb5 16.Qd2 gives White a slight advantage (Frhat-El Ghazali, Op, Egypt, 2001).
• If 11...Nb4 12.Be3 a5 13.Qd2 then:
• If 13...Be6 14.Rfd1 Nd7 then:
• 15.Rac1 Ne5 16.b3 Bxh3 17.Nd5 Bxg2 18.Kxg2 Nxd5 19.exd5 Ng4 gives Black an extra pawn and the advantage in space (Matic-Davila Texeira, Cyberspace, 1999).
• 15.Nd4 Ne5 16.b3 Nec6 17.Ndb5 f5 18.Rac1 Kh8 19.Bh6 Bxh6 20.Qxh6 is equal (Kudrin-B. Ivanisevic, Titograqd, 1984).
• 13...Bc6 14.Rfd1 Nd7 15.Nd4 Nb6 16.b3 d5 17.Rac1 gives White a slight advantage in space (Dr. Nunn-Mortensen, IT, Helsinki, 1983).
• If 11.Be3 Qa5 12.Nd5 Rfe8 13.Bd2 then:
• If 13...Qa6 14.Bc3 Nxd5 15.exd5 Ne5 16.a4 Rc7 17.Re1 Rec8 18.Kh1 Qb6 19.Bd4 gives White a better center (Geller-Parma, IT, Bled, 1961).
• 13...Qc5 14.Bc3 e5 15.b4 Qc4 16.Ne3 Qe6 17.Nd5 Ne7 is equal (Cuellar Gacharna-Benko, IT, Stockholm, 1962).
• If 9...Rb8 10.a4 a6 11.h3 then:
• If 11...b5 12.axb5 axb5 13.Nd5 then:
• If 13...Nd7 then:
• If 14.c3 e6 15.Ne3 Nc5 16.Nd4 then:
• If 16...Nxd4 17.cxd4 Na4 then:
• If 18.Qd3 Qb6 19.Nc2 Ba6 20.Rd1 Rfc8 21.Qb3 Rxc2 22.Qxc2 Bxd4 23.Qd2 e5 24.Kh2 Nc5 25.Qh6 draw (Popescu-Raceanu, Romanina ChT, Sovata, 2001).
• 18.Qd2 f5 19.exf5 gxf5 20.Qb4 Qc7 21.Rd1 gives White a small advantage in space.
• If 16...Bd7 17.Kh2 b4 then:
• If 18.Nc4?! bxc3 19.bxc3 Nxd4 20.cxd4 Bb5 gives Black a stong initiative (Bacerra-Martinez, US Op, Ft. Lauderdale, 2004).
• 18.Ne2 bxc3 19.Nxc3 Qc7 20.Ra3 Nd4 gives Black the advantage in space.
• If 14.Ra2 b4 15.b3 Nc5 16.Be3 e6 17.Ndf4 Qc7 is equal (Vachier Lagrave-Iglesias, French ChU18, Le Grand Bornand, 2003).
• If 13...b4 14.Be3 Nd7 15.Ra2 e6 16.Ndf4 Nc5 17.b3 Bb7 18.Nd3 Qe7 is equal (Timofeev-Bocharov, Euro Ch, Istanbul, 2003).
• If 11...Bd7 12.Nd5 b5 13.axb5 axb5 then:
• 14.Bg5 Nxd5 15.exd5 Ne5 16.Nd4 h6 17.Be3 Qc8 is equal (Balashov-Nordlund, Op, Stockholm, 1992).
• 14.Be3 b4 15.Ra2 gives White a small advantage in space (Smirin-Pigusov, Soviet ChT, Podolsk, 1990).
• (Italian Opening) If 6.Bc4 Bg7 7.h3 0-0 8.Bb3 then:
• If 8...Nc6 9.Be3 then:
• If 9...Bd7 10.0-0 Qa5 then:
• If 11.f4 then:
• If 11...Nxd4 12.Bxd4 Bc6 then:
• If 13.Qd3 Rad8 then:
• If 14.Rad1 then:
• If 14...Nd7 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 then:
• If 16.Qd4+ then:
• 16...Nf6 17.Kh2 e5 18.fxe5 Qxe5+ 19.Kg1 a6 20.Rd3 Rd7 is equal (I. Smirin-Lutz, ZT, Dresden, 1998).
• 16...e5 17.Qxd6 Nf6 18.Qxe5 Qb6+ 19.Kh2 Rfe8 20.Qg5 (Hindle-Webb, British Ch, Oxford, 1967).
• 16.Nd5 Bxd5 17.exd5 Nf6 18.Rde1 Rd7 19.Re3 Rc8 20.Kh2 gives White a small advantage in space (Tiviakov-Gogoladze, Op, Riga, 1987).
• If 14...e6 then:
• 15.f5!? gxf5 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.exf5 d5 18.Kh1 Kh8 19.fxe6 fxe6 is equal (Friedel-Perelshteyn, Op, Toronto, 2009).
• 15.a3! b6 16.Bc4 b5 17.Bxb5 Bxe4 18.Nxe4 Nxe4 gives White a small advantage in space.
• 14.Rae1 Nd7 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.Qd4+ Nf6 17.f5 Qb6 18.Qxb6 axb6 19.g4 gives White a considerable advantage in space (Short-Korchnoi, Rpd, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, 1994).
• If 13.Nd5 Bxd5 14.exd5 then:
• 14...Rfe8 15.Kh2 Rac8 16.Qd3 Nd7 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.Rae1 gives White a small advantage in space (Parligras-Fedorov, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• 14...Nd7 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.Qd4+ Kg8 17.Rae1 Rae8 18.Kh2 Nc5 19.f5 gives White a better center and the advantage in space (Vasiukov-Ciocaltea, IT, Bucharest, 1967).
• If 13.Qe1 Qb4 then:
• If 14.Rd1 Nxe4 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.Nd5 then:
• If 16...Qc5+ 17.Kh2 Nf6 18.Nc7 Bxg2 19.Qxe7 Bxh3 then:
• If 20.Kxh3 Qh5+ 21.Kg2 Qg4+ 22.Kh2 Qh4+ 23.Kg2 Qg4+ 24.Kf2 Qh4+ 25.Kg2 is drawn by repetition (Ostojic-Kaplan, Masters, Hastings, 1967).
• If 20.f5 Bxf5 then:
• 21.Rde1? Ng8! 22.Qg5 Qxc7 23.Rxf5 f6 24.Qg3 Rae8 gives Black three extra pawns and a safer King (Janosevic-Soos, IT, Skopje, 1967).
• 21.Nxa8 Ng4+ 22.Kg3 Ne3 23.Nc7 Qe5+ 24.Qxe5+ dxe5 is equal.
• 16...Qxe1 17.Rfxe1 Nc5 18.Nxe7 Rfe8 19.Nxc6 Rxe1+ 20.Rxe1 bxc6 21.Re7 Nxb3 22.axb3 draw (Kostro-Hort, Rubinstein Mem, Polanica Zdroj, 1967).
• 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.Nd5 Qc5+ 16.Kh1 Bxd5 17.Bxd5 Qxc2 18.Rc1 Qxb2 gives White two extra pawns against White's superior center (Hector-Efimenko, Bundesliga 0809, Emsdetten, 2008).
• If 11...Rac8 12.Qf3 Qh5 then:
• If 13.Qf2 b5 then:
• If 14.Nxc6 Bxc6 15.Bxa7 Nxe4 16.Nxe4 Bxe4 then:
• 17.Rae1 d5 18.Bd4 Bxd4 19.Qxd4 e6 20.c3 Qh4 21.Rd1 Qe7 22.a3 Rc7 23.Rf2 Rb7 draw (Musil-Reshevsky, IT, Maribor, 1967).
• 17.c3 Qf5 18.a4 bxa4 19.Rxa4 d5 20.Bd4 Rb8 21.Bxg7 Kxg7 22.Qd4+ Qf6 draw (Kuijpers-Toran Alberto, Op, Leysin, 1967).
• 14.Ndxb5 Nxe4 15.Nxe4 Qxb5 16.Ng3 a5 17.a4 Qb4 gives Black a small advantage in space (R. Byrne-Stein, IT, Sarajevo, 1967).
• 13.Rad1 Qxf3 14.Nxf3 Bh6 15.g4 Ne8 16.Kg2 gives White a significant advantage in space (Kostyra-Haba, Lang Mem, Brno, 1984).
• If 11.Re1 Rfe8 12.Qe2 then:
• If 12...Qh5 13.Nf3 Ne5 14.Nxe5 Qxe5 15.Qd3 then:
• 15...Bc6 16.Bd4 Qg5 17.Rad1 Nd7 18.Bxg7 Kxg7 19.Nd5 gives White a better center and a slight advantage in space (Wedberg-Tikkanen, Swedish Ch, Umea, 2003).
• 15...Qa5 16.Bd4 Rac8 17.Rad1 Bc6 18.Qe3 Nd7 19.Bxg7 Kxg7 20.Nd5 Qc5 21.Qf4 Ne5 22.Qh4 Bxd5 23.exd5 Nc4 draw (Ree-Sosonko, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1993).
• 12...Rac8 13.Rad1 Nxd4 14.Bxd4 Bc6 15.Nd5 Nd7 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.Qe3 gives White a small advantage in space (Gashimov-Carlsen, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2009).
• If 9...Na5 10.0-0 b6 then:
• If 11.Re1 Bb7 12.Bg5 Nxb3 13.axb3 h6 14.Bh4 then:
• If 14...a6 15.Nd5 e6 16.Nxf6+ Bxf6 17.Bxf6 Qxf6 is equal (DeFirmian-K. Georgiev, Ol, Yerevan, 1996).
• 14...Qd7 15.Qd2 Nh5 16.f3 e5 17.Nde2 f5 18.Red1 is equal (Anand-Kasparov, IT, Linares, 2003).
• If 11.Qd3 Bb7 12.Rad1 Nxb3 13.axb3 then:
• If 13...a6 14.f3 Qc7 15.Rd2 b5 16.Rfd1 b4 17.Na4 d5 18.exd5 Nxd5 19.c4 then:
• If 19...bxc3?! 20.bxc3 Rfd8 is equal (Kholmov-Tibensky, IT, Stary Smokovec, 1996).
• 19...Nxe3 20.Qxe3 Rad8 21.Nc2 Rxd2 22.Qxd2 a5 gives Black stronger pawns, the Bishop pair in an open center and the advantage in space.
• 13...Nd7 14.Bg5 Nc5 15.Qe3 Qd7 16.Nd5 Rae8 is equal (Ross-D. Gurevich, US Ch, San Diego, 2004).
• If 8...a6 9.0-0 b5 10.Re1 Bb7 11.a4 then:
• If 11...Nc6 12.Nxc6 Bxc6 then:
• 13.axb5 axb5 14.Rxa8 Qxa8 15.Nd5 Bxd5 16.exd5 Qb7 17.c3 gives White the advantage in space (Jansa-Khalifman, Bundesliga 9091, Germany, 1991).
• 13.Nd5 e6 14.Nxf6+ Bxf6 15.c3 Qb8 16.axb5 axb5 17.Rxa8 Qxa8 18.Qxd6 Bxe4 19.Bh6 Re8 20.Qf4 Bf5 21.g4 e5 22.Qe3 Be6 draw (Leskur-Kovacevic, Yugoslav ChT, Cetinje, 1992).
• 11...b4 12.Nd5 Nc6 13.Nxc6 Bxc6 14.Nxb4 Bxe4 15.a5 gives White a small advantage in space (Kupreichik-Aston, Op, Cattolica, 1993).

6...Bg7 7.f3 Nc6

• If 7...0-0 8.Qd2 Bd7 9.0-0-0 Nc6 10.Bc4 then:
• If 10...Rc8 11.Bb3 Ne5 12.Kb1 then:
• If 12...Nc4 13.Bxc4 Rxc4 14.g4 then:
• If 14...b5 15.b3 Rc8 16.Ndxb5 Qa5 17.a4 a6 18.Nd5 Qxd2 19.Nxe7+ Kh8 20.Rxd2 Rce8 then:
• 21.Nxg6+ fxg6 22.Nxd6 Re6 23.Bc5 Bc6 24.Nc4 Rb8 25.Rd6 Rxd6 26.Bxd6 gives White four pawns for a minor piece (Bologan-Fedorov, IT, Calcutta, 1999).
• 21.Nf5 gxf5 22.Nxd6 fxg4 23.Nxe8 Rxe8 24.Bd4 Bc6 gives White a theoretical extra pawn in an asymmetical material balance (Timoshenko-Rogozenko, Op, Cappelle la Grand, 1998).
• If 14...Qa5 15.g5 Nh5 16.Nd5 Qd8 17.Ne2 Be6 18.Bxa7 Bxd5 19.Qxd5 Qc7 20.c3 then:
• 20...Ra4 21.Bd4 Ra5 22.Qb3 Rxg5 23.h4 Rg2 24.Bxg7 Kxg7 25.Nd4 Ra8 is equal (Negi-Hakki, Op, Dubai, 2004).
• 20...Rc8 21.Qb5 Rc6 22.Be3 Ra6 23.Nc1 Ra5 24.Qb4 leaves White a pawn to the good (Kovacevic-Torres, Op, Mallorca, 2000).
• 12...Re8 13.h4 h5 14.Bh6 Nc4 15.Bxc4 Rxc4 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.Nd5 e5 18.Nxf6 Qxf6 19.Nb3 Rec8 20.Qxd6 Be6 21.c3 R4c6 22.Qb4 gives White the advantage in space (Leconte-de Blasio, cyberspace, 2002).
• If 10...Qa5 11.Bb3 Rfc8 12.h4 Ne5 13.Kb1 then:
• 13...Nc4 14.Bxc4 Rxc4 15.Nb3 Qc7 then:
• If 16.Bd4 Be6 17.h5 a5 18.hxg6 hxg6 19.a4 b5 20.Nxb5 Qb8 21.Nc3 Rb4 22.Rh4 then:
• If 22...Qb7 23.Rdh1 Rb8 24.Nd5 Bxd5 25.exd5 then:
• If 25...Rxa4 then:
• If 26.g4 Rxd4 27.Qxd4 Qxd5 28.g5 Qxg5 is equal, but the material balance is asymmetrical (Gara-Gaponenko, Ol, Bled, 2002).
• 26.Bxf6 Rxh4 27.Rxh4 Bxf6 28.Ra4 Qb6 is equal (Medvegy-V. Rajlich, 1st Saturday August, Budapest, 2001).
• 25...Rxb3?! 26.cxb3! Qxb3 27.Bc3 then:
• 27...Rf8? 28.g4! Nh5 29.gxh5 leaves White up by a Rook (V. Rajlich-Grafl, 1st Saturday October, Budapest, 2001).
• 27...Rc8 28.g4 Rc4 29.Qe3 Nh5 30.gxh5 Bxc3 31.Qe2 clearly gives White much the better of it, but Black is still presenting some problems to White's King position.
• If 22...Bxb3 23.cxb3 then:
• 23...Rxd4? 24.Qxd4! Qxb3 25.e5 Rc8 26.exf6 Bxf6 27.Qxf6!! exf6 28.Rdh1 f5 29.Rh8+ Black resigns (Fercec-Markovic, Op, Bled, 2000).
• 23...Rxb3! 24.g4 Qb4 25.Rh2 Rb8 gives Black a small advantage as White must marshall his forces to the defense of b2.
• If 16.g4 Rc8 17.e5 then:
• If 17...Ne8 18.Nd5 Qd8 19.exd6 Nxd6 20.c3 then:
• 20...R4c6 21.Qh2 Nc4 22.h5 Nxe3 23.Nxe3 g5 24.Nd4 Rd6 is equal (Aharon-Vovoturo, World Jr Ch, Puerto Madryn, 2009).
• 20...Bc6 21.Rhe1 Bxd5 22.Qxd5 Qc7 23.Bg5 Bf8 24.h5 gives White a very comfortable game, but he must shut down Black's potential counterplay on the queenside (Robson-Mostertman, Op, Hoogeveen, 2008).
• 17...Nxg4 18.exd6 exd6 19.fxg4 Bxg4 20.Rc1 Rxc3 21.bxc3 Bxc3 22.Qf2 gives White the material advantage (al-Sayad-V. Rajlich, 1st Saturday June, Budapest, 2001).
• If 13...b5 14.Ncxb5 Qxd2 then:
• If 15.Rxd2 15...Rab8 then:
• If 16.Nc3 a5 17.a4 Nc4 18.Bxc4 Rxc4 then:
• 19.Rd3 Rcb4 20.Ndb5 Bxb5 21.Nxb5 Rxa4 22.Rb3 Nd7 23.Rd1 Rc4 is equal (Hossain-Rahman, Op, Calcutta, 1999).
• 19.Ndb5 Bxb5 20.axb5 Nd7 21.h5 Bxc3 22.bxc3 Rxb5+ gives White a powerful queenside attack (Kett-Theocharides, Euro ChT, Plovdiv, 2003).
• 16.a4 a6 17.Na3 Be8 18.Ka2 Nfd7 19.Ne2 Nc5 20.Bxc5 dxc5 21.c3 gives White an extra pawn and more space (Nadig-Freuler, Masters, Gibraltar, 2010).
• 15.Bxd2 Rab8 16.Nc3 Nc4 17.Bc1 h5 18.Nde2 a5 gives White an extra pawn and Black more space (Kovacevic-Markovic, Yugoslav Ch, Niksic, 1997).

8.Qd2 0-0 9.0-0-0

• If 9.Bc4 then:
• If 9...Bd7 10.0-0-0 Rb8 11.Bb3 Na5 12.Bh6 then:
• If 12...Bxh6 13.Qxh6 b5 then:
• If 14.g4 Nxb3+ 15.Nxb3 b4 16.Nd5 Nxd5 17.exd5 then:
• 17...Rb6 18.Rhe1 e5 19.dxe6 fxe6 gives Black a backward pawn to target (Domínguez-Carlsen, IT, Linares, 2009).
• 17...Ba4 18.Nd4 Qa5 19.h4 Rfc8 20.Kb1 Qxd5 21.b3 Bd7 is equal (Kritz-Jianu, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).
• If 17...Qc7 18.h4 e5 19.dxe6 Bxe6 20.h5 Rfc8 21.Rh2 Bxb3 22.axb3 Rb6 is equal (Anuprita-Premnath, Commonwealth Ch, Nagpur, 2008).
• 14.h4 e5 15.Nde2 b4 16.Nd5 Nxb3+ 17.axb3 Nxd5 18.Rxd5 Rb6 19.h5 g5 20.f4 Bg4 21.Nd4 gxf4 gives Black an extra pawn (Zambrana-Zhao Zong Yuan, IT, São Paulo, 2008).
• 12...b5 13.h4 Nc4 14.Qg5 Bxh6 15.Qxh6 Kh8 16.Qg5 Rc8 17.h5 gxh5 18.Qh4 Rg8 19.g3 b4 20.Nd5 Nxd5 21.exd5 e5 is equal (Gutsche-de Blasio, Corres, 2002).
• If 9...Nxd4 10.Bxd4 Be6 11.Bb3 Qa5 12.0-0-0 then:
• If 12...b5 13.Kb1 b4 14.Nd5 Bxd5 15.Bxd5 then:
• 15...Rac8 16.Bb3 Rc7 17.h4 Qb5 18.h5 Rfc8 19.hxg6 hxg6 20.g4 a5 21.g5 gives White the advantage in space {i](Fischer-Larsen, ITZ, Portoroz, 1958).
• 15...Qb5 16.Rhe1 a5 17.Qe2 Qxe2 18.Rxe2 a4 19.Bc4 Rfc8 20.Bb5 Ra5 21.Bxf6 Bxf6 22.Bc6 gives White a small advantage in space (Tal-Larsen, IT, Zürich, 1959).
• 12...Rfc8 13.Kb1 b5 14.Rhe1 Bxb3 15.cxb3 b4 16.Bxf6 bxc3 17.Bxc3 Rxc3 draw (Matanovic-Ivkov, Bled, 1961).
• If 9...Nd7 10.0-0-0 Nb6 11.Bb3 Na5 12.Qd3 then:
• If 12...Bd7 13.h4 Rc8 14.h5 Nbc4 15.hxg6 hxg6 then:
• If 16.Bg5 Nxb3+ 17.cxb3 then:
• If 17...Qa5 18.Bxe7 Ne5 then:
• If 19.Qc2 then:
• 19...Rxc3 20.bxc3 Rc8 21.Kb2 Qb6 22.Bg5 Nc4+ 23.Ka1 Na3 24.Qb2 Nb5 25.Nxb5 Qxb5 26.Be3 Bxc3 27.Qxc3 Rxc3 28.Bd4 leaves White threatening mate in one and it will be impossible for Black to meet all of White's threats (Wedburg-Sosonko, IT, Haninge, 1988).
• 19...Rfe8 20.Bxd6 b5 21.b4 Qa6 22.Nb3 Rxc3 23.bxc3 (D. Popovic-M. Stojkovic, IT, Subotica, 2003).
• 19.Qd2 Rfe8 20.Bxd6 Qxa2 21.Nc2 Qxb3 22.Bxe5 Bxe5 (gives Black a strong initiative focuses on White's King and now) 23.Qxd7 Bxc3 24.bxc3 Qxc3 25.Qd3 Qa1+ 26.Kd2 Qb2 27.Rb1 Rxc2+ 28.Ke3 Qc3 29.Qxc3 Rxc3+ 30.Kf4 Re7 gives Black an extra pawn and he eventually won (Marjanovic-Sax, IT, Sarajevo, 1982).
• 17...Ne5 18.Qd2 f6 19.Bh6 Nf7 20.Be3 Qa5 21.Kb1 gives White more space and a better center; Black has the Bishops and more easily repairable pawn weaknesses (Ris-Mikkelsen, EU ChU16, Urgup, 2004).
• If 16.Bh6 e5 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 then:
• 18.Ndb5 Bxb5 19.Nxb5 Qg5+ 20.Kb1 gives White opportunities to win a pawn (J. Howell-Mohr, IT, Belgorod, 1990).
• 18.Nde2 Qg5+ 19.Kb1 b5 20.g3 b4 21.f4 exf4 22.gxf4 Qf6 is equal (Lobron-Kalka, Op, Bad Wiessee, 2000).
• 12...Nxb3+ 13.Nxb3 then:
• 13...Be6 14.Bd4 Bh6+ 15.Be3 Bg7 16.Bd4 Bh6+ is equal (Kovacevic-Markovic, Yugoslav Team Ch, Cetinje, 1992).
• 13...Bd7 14.Bd4 a5 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.h4 a4 is equal (Tomczak-Chojnacki, Polish ChU18, ).

9...d5 10.exd5

• If 10.Qe1 then:
• If 10...e5 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.exd5 then:
• If 12...Nxd5 13.Bc4 Be6 14.Ne4 Qc7 15.Bc5 Rfd8 then:
• If 16.g4 16...Nf4 then:
• If 17.Qc3 then:
• If 17...Bd5 18.g5 then:
• 18...Ne6 19.Be3 Nd4 20.Kb1 Bxc4 21.Qxc4 Nxf3 is equal (Mahesh Chandran-Gashimov, World Jr Ch, Nakhchivan (Azerbaijan), 2003).
• 18...Qc8 19.Be7 Qe6 20.Bxd8 Rxd8 21.Kb1 gives White the material advantage and more space (A. Pachmann-Zvzra, IT, Prague, 1995).
• If 17...Rd5!? 18.Kb1 Rad8 19.Rde1 h6 then:
• 20.Be3!? Qe7 21.Rhg1 Kh8 22.h4 gives White a slight advantage in space (Gdanski-Fedorov, Euro Ch, Ohrid, 2001).
• 20.Bxd5 cxd5 21.Be3 Qe7 22.Qc5 Qb7 23.Ng3 Rb8 is equal./li]
• If 17.Bxe6 Nxe6 18.Bd6 Qb6 19.g5 Nd4 20.Rf1 Nf5 is equal (Dolmatov-Ricardi, Najdorf Mem, Buenos Aires, 1991).
• If 16.Qh4 h6 17.g4 a5 18.g5 h5 19.a4 Nf4 20.Bxe6 Nxe6 is equal (Fercec-Vocaturo, IT 0506, Reggio Emilia, 2005).
• If 12...cxd5 13.Bg5 Be6 14.Bc4 then:
• If 14...Qc7 15.Bxf6 dxc4 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 then:
• If 17.Qe3 Rab8 18.Rhe1 f6 19.Ne4 Rb6 then:
• 20.Nc5 Rc8 21.Nxe6+ Rxe6 22.Qc3 Rd6 23.Rxd6 Qxd6 is equal (Müller-Berndt, Bundesliga 9899, Porz, 1998).
• 20.Re2 Rfb8 21.c3 Rb5 22.Rd6 R8b6 23.Red2 f5 24.Qg5 fxe4 25.Rd7+ Bxd7 26.Qe7+ Kg8 27.Rxd7 Qxd7 28.Qxd7 exf3 29.Qe8+ draw (Schmitzer-Kangur, Cyberspace, 2002).
• 17.Nd5 Bxd5 18.Rxd5 Rfe8 19.Qc3 Kg8 20.Qa5 Qe7 21.Re1 gives White a noticeable advantage in space (Carlsen-Leko, Rpd Match, Miskolc, 2008).
• 14...Rb8 15.Bxd5 Qb6 16.Bb3 Rfc8 17.Kb1 a5 18.Bc1 Rc6 19.g4 Rbc8 20.g5 gives White a slight advantage in space Ye Jiangchuan-Carless, ZT, Shah Alam, 1990).
• If 10...e6 11.h4 Qc7 then:
• If 12.h5 Nxh5 13.exd5 exd5 then:
• If 14.Ndb5 Qg3 15.Bf2 Qf4+ 16.Be3 then:
• 16...Qf6 17.Rxd5 Nf4 18.Rd6 Be6 19.Qd2 Nh5 20.Bg5 Qe5 21.g4 Ng3 22.Bf4 Nxf1 23.Rxf1 Qc5 24.Be3 Qc4 is equal (Adams-Topalov, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 1996).
• 16...Qg3 17.Bf2 Qf4+ 18.Kb1 Be6 19.g4 d4 20.gxh5 dxc3 21.Rh4 Qxf3 gives Black two extra pawns (Szieberth-V. Rajlich, Elikases Mem, Budapest, 2001).
• 14.Nxd5 Qe5 15.Bc4 Be6 16.Bf2 Qg5+ 17.Qe3 Qxe3+ 18.Bxe3 Nxd4 19.Bxd4 gives White a slight advantage; the game is volitile (Luther-Kabanov, Op, Pardubice, 2000).
• If 12.exd5 Nxd5 13.Nxd5 exd5 14.Qd2 then:
• If 14...Re8 15.h5 Rxe3 16.Qxe3 Nxd4 then:
• If 17.Qe8! Bf8 18.Rxd4 Bf5 19.Qa4 Qe5 20.Rd1 leaves Black down by an exchange and in big trouble (Dvoirys-Brodsky, Op, Berlin, 1996).
• 17.Rxd4?! Bf5 18.Bd3 Qb6 19.Rhh4 Be4 20.Rdxe4 Qxb2+ 21.Kd1 dxe4 gives Black an extra pawn and command of attacking lanes (Shirov-Topalov, IT, Dos Hermanas, 1996).
• 14...h5 15.Nb5 Qe7 16.Bg5 Qe5 17.c3 Be6 18.Bf4 gives White stronger pawns and the initiative (Kramnik-Alterman, Sochi, 1990).

10...Nxd5 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.Bd4 Bxd4

• If 12...e5 13.Bc5 Be6 14.Ne4 Re8 15.h4 then:
• If 15...h6 16.g4 Qc7 17.g5 h5 18.Bc4 Red8 19.Qf2 then:
• If 19...Nf4 20.Bxe6 Nxe6 21.Bd6 then:
• 21...Qa5 22.Kb1 Rd7 23.Rd2 Nd4 24.Rhd1 Rad8 25.Bc5 Rd5 is equal (Maslak-Azorov, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2007).
• 21...Qb6 22.Rd2 Rd7 23.Rhd1 Rad8 24.Qxb6 axb6 25.Be7 Rxd2 26.Rxd2 Ra8 is equal (Psakhis-Komljenovic, Op, Andorra, 1994).
• If 19...a5 20.a4 then:
• 20...Qb7 21.Rd3 Nf4 22.Rxd8+ Rxd8 23.Bxe6 Nxe6 24.Bd6 Nd4 25.Rd1 Qd7 26.c3 draw (Psakhis-Marin, Op, Andorra, 1995).
• If 20...Rab8 then:
• 21.b3 Qb7 22.Qe1 Qc7 23.Rh2 Rd7 24.Rhd2 Rbd8 is equal (Priyadharshan-Koushik, Commonwealth Ch, Nigpur, 2008).
• 21.Rd2 Rd7 22.Ba3 Rdd8 23.Rhd1 Kh7 24.b3 Rbc8 is equal (Menghi-Davila Texeira, Cyberspace, 1999).
• If 15...Nf4 then:
• If 16.g3 Qxd2+ 17.Rxd2 Nh5 18.g4 then:
• If 18...Nf4 then:
• If 19.h5 Bd5 20.hxg6 fxg6 then:
• 21.Rdh2 h6 22.Rf2 Ne6 23.Be3 Rf8 24.Nd2 Nf4 is equal (van der Wiel-Tiviakov, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1994).
• 21.c4 Bxe4 22.fxe4 Rad8 23.Bd6 Bf8 24.c5 gives White the better center and more space (Coleman-Schorra, Cyberspace, 1998).
• 19.Ba6 Bd5 20.c4 Bxe4 21.fxe4 Ne6 22.Be3 Rad8 23.c5 gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Adams-al-Modiaki, Masters, Gibraltar, 2007).
• If 18...Nf6 19.Bd3 Nd7 20.Be3 Nb6 then:
• 21.h5 Nd5 22.Bc5 Red8 23.hxg6 hxg6 24.Ba6 gives White a considerable advantage in space (Shirov-Polzin, Bundesliga 0506, Germany, 2006).
• 21.b3 Nd5 22.Bc5 a5 23.a4 Nf4 24.Nd6 Reb8 25.Bc4 Bd5 26.Bxd5 draw (Leko-Tiviakov, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1996).
• 16.Qe1 Bd5 17.h5 f5 18.hxg6 hxg6 19.Nd6 Qg5 20.Kb1 Red8 21.c4 gives White the advantage in space (Timmerman-Kangur, Corres, 2006).

13.Qxd4 Qb6

• If 13...Qc7 14.Bc4 Nb6 then:
• 15.Be2 Be6 16.Qc5 Rfb8 17.g3 Qb7 18.b3 Nd5 19.Rd4 Nxc3 20.Qxc3 is equal (Kurnosov-Fedorov, Euro Ch, Istanbul, 2003).
• If 15.Bd3 Be6 then:
• 16.Rhe1 Rfd8 17.Qh4 Rab8 18.Qg3 Qb7 is equal (N. Kosintseva-Pogonina, Russian ChW, Moscow, 2007).
• If 16.h4 then:
• If 16...Rfd8 17.Qe3 Nd5 18.Nxd5 Rxd5 then:
• 19.h5 Qe5 20.Qxe5 Rxe5 21.hxg6 hxg6 22.Rh4 Kg7 23.Ra4 a5 24.b4 gives White a serious initiative to win a pawn (Ryan-G. Jones, EU Ch, Cork, 2005).
• If font color="purple"]19.Be4 Rb5 20.h5 Qe5 21.Qd4 Qg5+ then:
• 22.Rd2?! c5! 23.Qc3 Rab8 24.hxg6 fxg6 25.b3 draw (P. Popovich-Markovic, Yugoslav ChT, Herceg Novi, 2001).
• 22.Qd2 Qxd2+ 23.Rxd2 Ra5 24.a3 Bd5 25.Bd3 leaves White threatening to open the h-file to advantage.
• 16...Rad8 17.Qc5 Nd5 18.h5 Qf4+ 19.Kb1 Qb4 20.Ne4 gives White a small advantage in space and the opportunity to open the kingside; Black has chances for counterplay on the b-file (Majdan-Pogonina, OlW, Dresden, 2008).

14.Na4 Qa5 15.b3 Be6

• If 15...Qc7 16.h4 h5 17.Bc4 Rd8 then:
• 18.g4 hxg4 19.h5 g5 20.fxg4 Qf4+ 21.Qxf4 gxf4 22.Nc3 gives White a passed pawn, the advantage in space and a pin at d5; Black is attacking the backward pawn at g4 (Swinkles-Reinderman, Op, Groningen, 2009).
• 18.Rhe1!? Bf5! 19.Qe5 Qxe5 20.Rxe5 is equal (Sebag-Calzetta Ruiz, Euro ChTW, Novi Sad, 2009).

16.g3 (N)

• 16.Qd2 Qc7 17.Nc5 Qd6 18.Nxe6 Qxe6 19.Bc4 gives Black a small advantage in space; White has pressure on d5 (Korneev-Aronian, Russian Cup, Omsk, 1996).

16...Rfd8

• The game is equal.

17.Qc5 Qc7

• If 17...Qb4?! 18.Qxb4 Nxb4 then:
• 19.Rxd8+! Rxd8 20.a3 Nd5 21.Bd3 Kf8 22.Nc5 gives White stronger pawns and a small advantage in space.
• 19.Bg2?! Bf5 20.a3 Nxc2 21.g4 Ne3! gives Black an extra pawn.

18.Re1 Nb6 19.Nc3 a5 20.Rxe6!?

• White lives to tell the tale, but the sacrifice is dubious.
• Better is 20.a4 Rab8 when:
• 21.Qe5 Qd7 22.Rd1 Nd5 23.h4 Qd6 remains equal.
• 21.Qxa5!? Qd6! 22.Nb1 Nd5 23.Bc4 Bf5 24.Re2 Ra8 remains equal.

20...fxe6 21.Bh3 Nd7!?

• Black concedes a pawn to White and misses the opportunity to level the game or even get the upper hand.
• If 21...Kf8! 22.Ne4 Nd5 then:
• 23.f4 Qa7 24.Qxa7 Rxa7 25.Nc5 Ke8 26.Re1 e5 is equal.
• If 23.Ng5 Qe5 24.Nxe6+ Kf7 25.Nxd8+ Rxd8 then:
• 26.c3 Qxc3+ 27.Qxc3 Nxc3 28.a3 Rd3 gives Black more active pieces.
• If 26.Re1? Qa1+!! 27.Kd2 Nc3+ then:
• If 28.Ke3 Qxe1+ 29.Kf4 Nd5+ then:
• 30.Kg4 Qe6+ 31.Kg5 Qe5+ 32.Kh4 Qh5#.
• 30.Qxd5+ Rxd5 31.Bd7 h5! 32.Be6+ Qxe6 33.h4 Qe5#.
• 28.Bd7 Rxd7+ 29.Ke3 Qxe1+ etc.

BLACK: Artyom Timofeev



WHITE: Sanan Sjugirov
Position after 21...Nb6d7

22.Qxe7!

• White assumes a small advantage with more space and stronger pawns.

22...Qe5 23.Qxe6+ Qxe6 24.Bxe6+ Kg7

• If 24...Kf8?! 25.Ne4! Ke7 26.Bh3 Nf6 27.Nc5 then:
• 27...Rd5 28.Ne6 Re5 29.Nd4 Kd6 30.f4 gives White White a slim advantage in space.
• 27...Rd6?! 28.Re1+ Kf8 29.Nb7 Rd5 30.Re6 gives White a comfortable advantage in space.

25.Bxd7

• If 25.Ne4 Nb6 26.f4 then:
• 26...Ra7 27.g4 Nd5 28.f5 a4 29.Kb1 Nf6 remains equal.
• 26...Re8 27.Nc5 Kf6 28.Bg4 a4 29.b4 a3 30.Nd7+ gives White a slight initiative.

25...Rxd7 26.Re1 g5

• 26...h6!? 27.Na4 Rf7 28.f4 Raa7 29.Re5 gives White a more active Rook.
• 26...Rad8!? 27.Re5 Rf8 28.f4 Rf5 29.Re4 h6 30.h4 gives White a little more freedom.

27.Re5

• If 27.Re6 Rf8 28.Rxc6 Rxf3 then:
• 29.Rc5 h6 30.Kb2 g4 31.Rxa5 Rd2 32.Ra7+ remains equal.
• 29.Kb2 Rf5! 30.Rc4 h5 31.a3 g4 32.Ne4 Rd1 remains equal.

27...h6 28.f4 gxf4 29.gxf4 Rd4

• 29...Rf8 30.Ne2 Rd5 31.Rxd5 cxd5 32.Kd2 remains equal.

30.Re7+ Kf6 31.Rc7

• 31.Rh7 Kg6 32.Rc7 Rxf4 33.Rxc6+ Rf6 remains equal.

31...Rxf4 32.Rxc6+ Kg5 33.a4?!

• White should concern himself with the advance of Black's h-pawn
• If 33.Rd6 h5 34.a3 Raf8 35.Kb2 h4 36.Rd2 Kg6 remains equal.
• 33.Rc5+ Kh4 34.Rc6 h5 35.Ne2 Re4 36.Ng3 Re5 gives Black a slight advantage.

BLACK: Artyom Timofeev



WHITE: Sanan Sjugirov
Position after 33.a2a4

33...Rh4!

• Black wins White's h-pawn, creating a remote passer.

34.Rc5+ Kg4

• 34...Kg6 35.Nd5 Rxh2 36.Ne7+ Kf6 37.Nd5+ Ke6 gives Black a remote passed pawn.

35.Nd5 Rxh2!

• Now it's official. Black has a remote passed pawn.

36.Kb2 Kg3

• If 36...Re2 37.Nb6 Ra6 38.Nc4 then:
• 38...h5 39.Kc3 h4 40.Kd3 Re8 41.Ne3+ Kh3 leaves White's drawing chances remote, but his 3-1 majority on the queenside keeps him in the game; Black's winning chances get better and better with every square the h-pawn advances.
• 38...Re8?! 39.Nxa5! h5 40.Rc4+ Kg3 41.Rc3+ Kg2 the remote passed pawn is a clear advantage for Black.

37.Ne3 Kf4 38.Nd5+

• 38.Nc4 h5 39.Nxa5 h4 40.Rc4+ Kg3 41.Rc3+ Kf2 gives Black the advantage with his ability to push a remote passer and the initiative against the Knight.

38...Kf3 39.Nb6 Ra6 40.Nc4

• 40.Rc3+?! Kf2! 41.Nc4 h5 42.Rd3 h4 43.Rd2+ Kg3 gives Black a greater advantage with every step the h-pawn takes.
• 40.Nd7 Rg2 41.Ne5+ Ke4 42.Nd3 Rd6 43.Re5+ Kf3 gives White a strong advantage as when the King reaches g4 he can advance the pawn.

BLACK: Artyom Timofeev



WHITE: Sanan Sjugirov
Position after 40.Nb6c4

40...h5!!

• Black ignores the threat to the a-pawn and advances the h-pawn, which being remote is all the more dangerous.

41.Nxa5

• 41.Rf5+ Ke4 42.Rb5 h4 43.Rh5 Kf4 44.Nxa5 Kg4 leaves Black with the choice of abandoning the advancing h-pawn or abandoning the Knight.

41...h4 42.Nc6 h3 43.Rc3+

• If 43.Ne5+ then after 43...Ke4 44.Nd3 Rh6 45.Re5+ Kd4 Black may have only one pawn, but it's still the most dangerous thing on the board.

43...Kg2 44.Nb4

• This is about the best move White can make. To put it another way, he's got big problems.
• If 44.Rc4?! Kf1 45.Ne5 Re6 then:
• If 46.Nf3 Rg3+ (Rf2) 47.Rc3 Rg6 48.Re3 Rf6 then:
• 49.Nd2+ Rxd2 50.Rxh3 Ra6 51.Rh1+ Ke2 52.Kc1 Rd8 gives White a powerful advantage, but three connected passed pawns can always but up a fight against a Rook.
• If 49.Ne5? h2 50.Rh3 R6f4 then:
• 51.a5 Re2 52.Nd3 Rf5 53.b4 Kg2.
• 51.Rh7 Kg1 52.Nd3 Rf7 53.Rh4 Rd2 54.b4 h1Q will leave Black up by two Rooks against a Knight.
• If 46.Nd3? Rg2 47.Rh4 h2! 48.b4 Kg1 then:
• If 49.a5 Ree2 50.Kb3 h1Q 51.Rxh1+ Kxh1 then:
• If 52.Nf4 53.Nd3 Rg1 then:
• 54.c3 Re3 55.Nc5 Kg2 56.a6 Kf3 57.Kc4 Rc1 wins for Black.
• 54.Nf4 Rf2 55.Nd3 Rb1+ 56.Ka2 Rff1 57.Nb2 Kg2 wins.
• 52.c3 Rg3 53.Nc5 Kg2 54.a6 Re1 55.Kc4 Rd1 56.Na4 Ra1 57.Kb5 Rg5+ 58.Nc5 Ra3 wins.
• 49.Kb3 h1Q 50.Rxh1+ Kxh1 51.a5 Rg3 gives White almost no chance of saving the game.
• Concerning endings of Rook vs. three connected passed pawns: Three pawns on the fifth rank or beyond win against the Rook in the absence of Kings . . . . With the enemy King directly in front of the pawns, the critical position is:
  
  Analysis Diagram
  
  
  
  From Fine, Basic Chess Endings
  
  If we move all the pawns back one rank, the Rook wins; if we move them up one rank the pawns conquor. -- Reuben Fine, Basic Chess Endings, (New York: McKay, 1941, 1969), chapter VI.1.C.1.

44...Ra5!?

• White has an even stronger move.
• If 44...Rh6! 45.Nd5 Kf2 46.Nf4 Rh1 then:
• 47.Nxh3+ R1xh3 48.b4 Rxc3 49.Kxc3 Ke3 gives Black three connecter passers against a Rook with fair drawing chances.
• 47.Rxh3 R6xh3 48.Nxh3+ Rxh3 49.b4 Ke3 50.Kc3 Rh8 gives Black three connected passers against a Rook.

45.Rd3!

• Black chances of survival have improved considerably, but the situation is still critical.

45...Rc5?!

• White misses the best line, that will put him close to victory.
• If 45...Kf2! then:
• 46.Nc6 Rc5 47.Nb4 Rh1 48.Rd2+ Kf3 49.Rd3+ Ke4 gives White a huge advantage.
• 46.c4 Rh1 47.Nd5 h2 48.Rh3 Ra8 49.Ne3 Rg8 wins for Black.
• 45...Kf1?! 46.Nd5 then:
• 46...Rxd5 47.Rxd5 Re2 48.Rh5 Kg2 is equal.
• 46...Ra8 47.Nf4 Rh8 48.a5 Kf2 49.a6 Rh1 50.a7 is equal.

46.Nd5 Kf1 47.Ne3+?!

• White tries to win when he can't but a draw is obtainable and that is for what he should play.
• If 47.Nc3 Rc6 48.Rd1+ Kg2 then:
• 49.Rd2+ Kg1 50.Rd1+ Kf2 51.Rd2+ Kg1 52.Rd1+ etc. draws.
• If 49.b4 Rh1 50.Rd2+ Kg3 51.Rd3+ Kf4 52.Ne2+ Kg4 gives Black a clear advantage.

47...Ke1 48.b4?

• Suddenly, White is completely lost.
• If 48.Rd1+ Ke2 49.Rd3 then:
• If 49...Rg2 50.Nxg2 hxg2 51.Rg3 Kf2 52.Rg8 then:
• If 52...g1Q 53.Rxg1 Kxg1 54.c4 Kf2 gives White good drawing chances per Fine (see note to White's 44th move).
• 52...Rh5 53.b4 Rh4 54.c3 Kf3 55.Rxg2 Kxg2 56.Kc2 gives White good drawing chances.
• If 49...Rh5 50.Nd5 Rf2 51.Nc3+ Kf1 then:
• If 52.Ne4 Rg2 53.Rd1+ Ke2 54.Nc3+ Kf3 then:
• If 55.Rd3+ then Black wins after 55...Kf4 56.Rd4+ Kf5 57.Rd5+ Kg6 58.Rd1 h2.
• If 55.a5 then Black wins after 55...h2 56.a6 Ra5 57.Rf1+ Rf2 58.Rh1 Rxa6.
• If 52.Rd1+ then Black wins after 52...Kg2 53.Ne4 Rff5 54.Rd3 Re5.

BLACK: Artyom Timofeev



WHITE: Sanan Sjugirov
Position after 48.b3b4

48...Rc8!

• Black wins.
• If 48...Rh5 then after 49.a5 Rf2 50.a6 Rh4 51.Ra3 Rxb4+ 52.Kc3 Black is definitely better, but White still has counterplay.
• If 48...Rc6 49.Rd1+ Ke2 50.Rd3 Rg2 51.b5 Rf6 52.Nxg2 hxg2 53.Rg3 is equal

49.Kb3

• There is nothing White can do.
• If 49.a5 Rd2 50.Rxd2 Kxd2 then:
• If 51.Nf1+ Ke2 52.Nh2 then:
• If 52...Ra8! 53.c4 Kf2 then:
• If 54.b5 Kg2 then:
• 55.b6 Kxh2 56.b7 Rb8 57.a6 Kg3 58.Kc3 h2 59.a7 Rxb7 60.a8Q h1Q Black's extra Rook is enough to assure victory.
• Black has other winning procedures: If 54...Rxa5 55.Kc3 then:
• If 55...Kg2 56.b6 Ra1 57.Ng4 Rb1 58.c5 Kg3 59.Kc2 then:
• If 59...Kxg4 60.Kxb1 h2 then:
• 61.Ka2 then Black wins after 61...h1Q 62.Ka3 Qe4.
• If 61.c6 then the simpe after 61...h1Q+ 62.Ka2 Qxc6 wins.
• 59...Rb5 60.Ne3 Rxc5+ 61.Kd3 Rc1 62.b7 Rb1 63.Nf1+ Kg2! forces the Knight to lose contact with the blockading square and wins.
• If 55...Ra1 56.Kb2 Ra8 then:
• If 57.b6 then Black wins after 57...Kg1 58.c5 Kxh2 59.c6 Rb8 60.b7 Kg3 61.c7 Rxb7+ when White's last pawn falls.
• If 57.c5 then after 57...Ra5 58.Kc3 Rxb5 59.Kd4 Rb1 60.c6 Rc1 61.Kd5 Kg3 62.Kd6 Kxh2 Black's simplest win is sacrificing his Rook for White's last pawn and then queening.
• If 54.Kc2 then Black wins after 54...Kg2 55.b5 Kxh2 56.b6 Rb8 57.c5 Kg1 58.c6 h2.
• If 52...Rb8 then Black wins after 53.Kc3 Kf2 54.a6 Kg2 55.b5 Rxb5 56.Ng4 Ra5!.
• Less stubborn is 51.Ng4 when Black wins after 51...Rc4! 52.Nh2 Rxc2+ 53.Kb3 Kd1 54.Nf3 Rf2 55.Ng5 h2.
• If 49.Rd1+! then Black wins after 49...Ke2 50.Rd3 Rf2 51.Ng4 Rf4.

49...Rd2 50.Rxd2 Kxd2 51.Nf1+

• If 51.Ng4 then after 51...Rg8 52.Nh2 Rg2 53.a5 Rxh2 54.a6 Rg2 the Rook returns to the eighth rank in time to stop the a-pawn.

51...Ke2 52.Nh2 Kf2 53.a5 Kg3 54.Nf1+ Kg2 55.Ne3+ Kg1 56.Ng4 Rg8 0-1

• If 57.Ne3 then after 57...h2 (or 57.Rg3 58.Kc4 Rxe3 and 59...h2) the pawn queens.
• Sanan Vyacheslavovich resigns.