CVO_017.pdf

No. 17, April 29, 2009

OPENINGS

WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT?

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The return of the

French Winawer

By IM Merijn van Delft & IM Robert Ris

Frequency

We have another look at the Grand Prix Tournament

in Nalchik, won by Levon Aronian today. Some very

interesting theoretical developments have taken place,

which are not just limited to the 1.e4 e5 and 1.d4 ield.

WHAT’S HOT?

Perhaps the biggest news of the week was that the Petroff has been put

under heavy pressure in Nalchik. Leko scored two impressive attacking

wins against it. On the other hand Black looked more convincing in the

Marshall than he did a week ago. Against the Breyer, White has found

a new way of playing that would have certainly been dismissed as anti-

positional in the old days (see Grischuk-Kamsky below).

Score

Karjakin-Ivanchuk was all played before, but it does nicely sum up the

current status of the main line Sveshnikov. Mamedyarov didn ’ t get away

with playing the Sicilian Paulsen/Taimanov hybrid a second time against

Bacrot.

In our Game of the Week we finally got to know what Kamsky had most

likely prepared for his match against Topalov. Unfortunately he just keeps

losing the good positions he gets. In the diagram position he played 12...

d4!?, whereas 12...¤f5!? is another tricky line and 12...¥d7 tranposes to

the main line.

Svidler improved upon his earlier Chebanenko Slav to equalize with

Black. While our Opening Expert Gelfand brought a strong novelty in the

Anti-Moscow Gambit, Aronian was suffering in the Meran (see below).

Source: Megabase + TWIC, 2500+ only

Sergey Karjakin would have been a serious contender for tournament victory if he didn’t score a disastrous 0 out of 3 with the Najdorf.

Alekseev quickly got the pair of bishops with the tricky 6.h3!?. After 6.¥e3 Karjakin usually

plays the main line 6...e5, but in Nalchik he consistenly played 6...Ng4. It’s safe to say that

10...¤f6 is out of business, but Black isn’t out of the woods after 10...¤e5 11.¤f5 either.

WHAT’S NOT?

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ChessVibes OPENINGS what’s hot and what’s not?

No. 17, April 29, 2009

Kamsky reveals his preparation against 3.¤c3

During a 2001 training session Arne Moll and Merijn van Delft concluded: Black never plays

7...£c7 (or 7...cxd4) anymore at top level, but if he does, he wins (e.g. Svidler-Ivanchuk, Linares

1999). Although Karjakin beat Kamsky, we were strongly reminded of our old rule of thumb.

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GAME OF THE WEEK

Karjakin, S (2721) - Kamsky, G (2720)

4th FIDE GP Nalchik, April 22, 2009

C18, French, Winawer

24.¦xg4 ¤f3+ 25.¦xf3 ¥xf3 fails to 26.£g1!;

23...¥e4? 24.¥e3!; 23...¦d7?! 24.¥e3 ¦gd8

25.¥xd4 ¦xd4 26.¦gd3± and too many pieces

will be exchanged. 23...¥b5? is bad in view of

24.£g2) 24.¥b2 (the point of Black ’ s last move

becomes clear after 24.¥e3? because now

24...¤f3+ is possible, since White doesn ’ t have

¥xa7 with check anymore) 24...¥e4 25.h3 ¦d7

and here White has 26.¦g1! ¤f3+ 27.¦xf3 £xf3

28.£xf3 ¥xf3 29.¥d3 and while he can ’ t readily

push his pawns after 29...¦h8 White does look

better after 30.¦g3.

13...¥d7 14.¥e2

Another interesting idea is the immediate

14.¤e4 0–0–0 15.¤d6+ (15.¦b1 ¤xe5! is a

typical sacrifice giving Black a pawn steamroller)

15...¢b8 16.¦b1 ¥c8 17.¤xf7 ¦df8 18.¤d6

which leads to double-edged play.

14...0–0–0

An old game from the pre-computer era went

14...¤f5 15.¤xf5 exf5 16.¥f3 0–0–0 17.0–0 f6

18.exf6 ¦gf8 19.¦b1 ¦xf6 20.a4 £a5 21.£b5

£c7 22.£d3 £a5 ½–½ Matanovic-Ivkov,

Beverwijk 1963.

15.0–0

Possibly 15.¦b1 was stronger, preventing

Black ’ s next move.

15...£b6! 16.¤e4 ¤d5!

Usually the ¤ goes to f5, but here it doesn ’ t

work for concrete reasons. 16...¤f5 17.g4! ¤ce7

18.¢f2! ¤h4 19.a4 and White is totally in control.

17.¤d6+ ¢b8 18.¤xf7 ¦df8 19.¤d6 ¤ce7

20.¥f3 ¥c6

Around this point both players had only two

minutes left. From a pure chess point of view not

the most interesting stage of the game, because

both players committed some serious errors,

but even more so from a sportive point of view!

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.¤c3

This is the most critical line against the French,

but it does allow:

3...¥b4

The sharp Winawer variation.

4.e5 c5 5.a3 ¥xc3+ 6.bxc3 ¤e7 7.£g4 cxd4

The text move (or 7...£c7 which usually

transposes) is the dangerous gambit option,

already played by Botvinnik in 1935. Only in the

1980s Black started playing 7...0–0 more often.

8.£xg7 ¦g8 9.£xh7 £c7 10.¤e2 ¤bc6 11.f4

11.cxd4? allows 11...¤xd4.

11...dxc3 12.£d3 d4!?

The main line is 12...¥d7 after which White can

take on c3 both ways, play 13.¦b1 (or even

13.¦g1!?). 12...¤f5!? is a speciality of Simon

Williams. Another tricky line with many hidden

secrets. We suggest the solid 13.¤g3.

13.¤g3

Of course, the critical test of Black ’ s setup is

accepting the pawn, resulting in the following

long sequence: 13.¤xd4 ¤xd4 14.£xd4 ¥d7

15.¦g1 ¤f5 16.£f2 £c6 17.¥d3 £d5 18.¦b1

¥c6 19.¦b3 0–0–0 20.¦xc3 ¢b8 21.g4 ¤d4

22.¦g3 £h1+ 23.¥f1!?

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An important moment for the evaluation of 12...

d4!?. White has two pawns, but finds himself

under immense pressure. Since direct attempts

to punish White for his lack in development

fail, Black needs to stay calm and first take

prophylactical measures. 23...¢a8 (23...¦xg4?

Rybka found an amazing drawing line: 21.g3

¤xf4 22.¥xf4 ¦xf4 23.¥xc6 ¦xf1+ 24.¦xf1 ¤xc6

25.£h7! ¦d8 26.¦f7 d3+ 27.¢g2 ¢a8! 28.¦xb7

£a6 29.¦b3 ¤xe5 30.¤b5 £c6+ 31.¢h3 ¤f7

32.£xf7 ¦h8+ 33.¢g4 £e4+ and perpetual check.

21...¤b4 22.a5 £c5 23.£h7 d3+?!

23...¤f5! 24.¥xc6 ¦g7! 25.£h3 ¤xc2 would

have been better for Black.

24.¢h1 d2 25.¥xd2?

Both 25.£xe7 ¥xf3 26.gxf3 £g1+ 27.¦xg1 ¦xg1+

28.¢xg1 d1£+ 29.¢f2 £xc2+ and 25.¥a3 ¥xf3

26.gxf3 £e3 27.£xe7 ¦g1+ 28.¦xg1 £xf3+

29.¦g2 d1£+ 30.¦xd1 £xd1+ lead to perpetual.

25...cxd2 26.£xe7 ¦xf4 26...¤d5! 27.£xe6

¤xf4 28.£c4 ¥xf3 29.gxf3 £xc4 30.¤xc4 ¦g2

leaves White helpless.

27.¦ab1 ¦gf8?

More logical was the simple 27...£xc2! 28.£xe6

(28.¥xc6 £xc6 29.¦g1 a6! followed by 30...¦fg4

and Black wins; not 29...¦fg4? in this line

because of 30.¦bf1! and White counters to a

draw!) 28...¦h8 29.¥xc6 ¦xf1+ 30.¦xf1 d1£–+.

28.c4!

The best practical chance.

28...a6 29.h3 ¢a8! 30.£g7 £e3??

Throws away the win! 30...¤d3! 31.¤xb7 £a7!

was still winning for Black.

31.¢h2 d1£?

Black ’ s only move was 31...¦b8 and after the

forced sequence 32.¥xc6 bxc6 33.¤e8! ¦xe8

34.¦xb4 £a7 35.£xa7+ ¢xa7 36.¦d1 ¦d8

37.¦b2 ¦f2 38.¢g3 ¦e2 39.¢f3 ¦xe5 40.¦bxd2

¦f8+ he retains some drawing chances.

32.¦bxd1 and here Kamsky lost on time. 1–0

(Diagram)

21.a4?!

KARJAKIN - KAMSKY

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ChessVibes OPENINGS what’s hot and what’s not?

No. 17, April 29, 2009

THIS WEEK’S HARVEST

Petroff 8.¦e1, 9.c4

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1.e4 e5 2.¤f3 ¤f6 3.¤xe5 d6 4.¤f3 ¤xe4 5.d4 d5 6.¥d3 ¤c6 7.0–0 ¥e7 8.¦e1 ¥g4 9.c4 ¤f6 10.¤c3 ¥xf3 11.£xf3 ¤xd4

12.£d1 ¤e6 13.cxd5 ¤xd5 14.¥b5+ c6 15.¤xd5 cxb5 16.£b3 0–0 17.¥e3

As we mentioned last week, in Akopian-Kasimdzhanov Black was fine in the traditional main line 8.c4. Since the

two losses Kramnik had to suffer in Dortmund last summer, we know that the old 8.¦e1 is still full of surprises.

The amazing piece of homework Leko-Gelfand with the gambit style 17.¥e3!? proved just that. After the

decisive mistake 26...¤e5? a long chain of tactics decided the game. In round twelve the discussion continued.

In Akopian-Gelfand Black succesfully repaired his repertoire with the uncommon 10...¤xd4!?, a line that has

been played by Karpov and more recently Gashimov. At the same time Leko was already one step ahead and

created new problems for Black against Kasimdzhanov with the modern 8.¤c3. Again the powerful Hungarian

successfully conducted a direct attack against the Black ¢ in the Petroff, a truely remarkable feat. We think Black

may have to return to 8...¥f5 in this case.

Ruy Lopez, Breyer

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1.e4 e5 2.¤f3 ¤c6 3.¥b5 a6 4.¥a4 ¤f6 5.0–0 ¥e7 6.¦e1 b5 7.¥b3 d6 8.c3 0–0 9.h3 ¤b8 10.d4 ¤bd7 11.¤bd2 ¥b7 12.¥c2

¦e8 13.¤f1 ¥f8 14.¤g3 g6 15.a4 c5 16.d5 c4 17.¥g5 h6 18.¥e3 ¤c5 19.£d2 h5 20.¥xc5 dxc5 21.¥d1

In recent years our game has become more and more concrete. Twenty years ago it wouldn ’ t have come to

anyone ’ s mind to give up the ‘ good ’ bishop with 20.¥xc5, giving Black a nice blockading square for his knight on

d6. Nowadays, with assistance of the computer (note that White ’ s 20.¥xc5 is Rybka ’ s first choice!), it becomes

clear that Black experiences some difficulties trying to manoeuvre the ¤ to d6. In a previous game Volokitin-

Harikrishna, it took the latter a lot of time to carry it this plan and even had to pay a high prize for it: giving up the

a-file. Grischuk and Kamsky were most likely familiar with this new approach, since Kamsky is employing the

Breyer regularly. In the game Grischuk gradually increased his advantage, but in time trouble it all vanished and

eventually he even had to accept defeat.

Slav, Anti-Meran

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1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.¤f3 ¤f6 4.¤c3 e6 5.e3 ¤bd7 6.£c2 ¥d6 7.¥d3 0–0 8.0–0 dxc4 9.¥xc4 a6 10.¦d1 b5 11.¥e2 £c7 12.¤e4

¤xe4 13.£xe4 e5 14.£d3! exd4 15.£xd4 ¥e7 16.£f4 £xf4 17.exf4 ¥f6 18.¤d4

While the Latvian Attack 6.£c2 ¥d6 7.g4 is obviously still dangerous for Black as was confirmed in Mamedyarov-

Svidler, the more positional approach with 7.¥d3 contains no less poison as was shown in Kasimdzhanov-

Aronian. In fact David Vigorito goes as far as to suggest the somewhat offbeat 8...h6!? in Play the Semi-Slav .

9...e5 is another early alternative. The next choice Black has to make is between 13...e5 as played in the game

or the somewhat annoying 13...¥e7 14.¥d2 ¥b7 15.¦ac1 c5 16.£b1 £b6 17.dxc5 ¤xc5 18.¥c3 ¥e4 19.£a1(!), a

Karpov line in the style of Réti. With 14.£d3! Kasimdzhanov pushed the game on new territory and with 16.£f4!

he surprisingly offered the exchange of queens while allowing doubled f-pawns. Black has trouble getting his

pieces out and Aronian may not want to end up in the same ending again.

Queen ’ s Gambit, Vienna

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1.d4 ¤f6 2.c4 e6 3.¤f3 d5 4.¤c3 dxc4 5.e4 ¥b4 6.¥g5 c5 7.¥xc4 cxd4 8.¤xd4 ¥xc3+ 9.bxc3 £a5 10.¥b5+ ¥d7 11.¥xf6

gxf6 12.¥xd7+ ¤xd7 13.0–0 a6 14.¦b1 £c7 15.£h5 ¤c5 16.¦b4 £e5 17.£h4 ¦d8 18.¤f3 £xc3 19.e5 ¦g8

The risky character of the Vienna Defence isn ’ t anyone ’ s cup of tea, but according to the current theoretical

status of the opening Black is OK. While leaving the king on his initial square, the heavy pieces are brought

into the centre with the aim to be exchanged, having in mind Black is doing fine in the endings. Since the game

Gustafsson-Naiditsch, 15...¢e7?! has lost all its credits, but thanks to efforts of Polish GM Macieja 15...¤c5

followed by 17...£g5 has obtained a relatively safe assessment. Aronian went for the less explored 17...¦d8

followed by 19...¦g8 which is a serious improvement on the game Tkachiev-Balogh, where Black lost without

any chance. Despite underestimating Gelfands 23.g3! and overlooking 29.¤h7, the Armenian was never in real

trouble and so the game ended peacefully. The ball is back in White ’ s court in the Vienna!

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ChessVibes OPENINGS what’s hot and what’s not?

No. 17, April 29, 2009

OPENING EXPERT

Who: Boris Gelfand

Born: June 24, 1968

Nationality: Israel

Rating: 2733

Expertise: White: Catalan. Black: Slav, Petroff and Najdorf

Why: The Belarussian born super GM is one of the most renowned opening

theoreticians. Despite his relative old age, he doesn’t experience any

problems maintaining himself in the top 20 of the world, which is mainly

dominated by players half his age. His opening preparation is mostly

based on his own ideas and knowledge which he works out in detail with

the computer. Two other examples, where his experience serves him

well by winning the opening battle, are added in the PGN file.

Kasimdzhanov - Gelfand, 4th FIDE GP Nalchik, April 23, 2009

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.¤f3 ¤f6 4.¤c3 e6 5.¥g5 h6

6.¥h4 dxc4 7.e4 g5 8.¥g3 b5 9.¤e5 ¤bd7!?

A novelty Gelfand discovered without the help

of the computer.

10.¤xc6 £b6 11.d5 ¥b7 12.a4 a6 13.¥e2 ¥g7

14.dxe6

14.0–0 0–0 15.¥d6 (threatening a5) 15...¥xc6

16.dxc6 £xc6 17.¥xf8 ¦xf8 gives Black more

than enough compensation. 14.¥d6 ¤xe4!?

(14...¥xc6 15.dxc6 £xc6 16.axb5 axb5

17.¦xa8+ £xa8 18.0–0 Black ’ s king is stuck in

the centre) 15.¤xe4 exd5 16.¥b4 ¥f8 with an

unclear game (16...dxe4? 17.£d6 ¥f8 18.£e6+!

fxe6 19.¥h5#).

14...¥xc6 15.exd7+ ¤xd7 16.axb5 axb5

17.¦xa8+ ¥xa8 18.0–0 ¤e5 19.¤d5 £c5

20.¢h1?!

Aiming to push the f-pawn only further weakens

White ’ s centre. Better was 20.£d2 0–0 21.h4.

20...0–0 21.f4?! gxf4 22.¥xf4 f5!

Dynamic chess! Black ’ s bishops are murderers

and due to Blacks queenside majority, White will

collapse soon. Gelfand admitted that until here

he had already seen everything at home.

23.b4?

A bad move, but 23.¥e3 £d6 24.¤c3 £xd1

25.¦xd1 b4 won ’ t change much.

23...£d6 24.¥f3 fxe4 25.¥xe4 ¦d8 26.¦f2 c3!

Not 26...¥xd5? 27.¦d2.

27.¦f3 ¥xd5 28.¦d3 ¤xd3!

A fantastic piece of opening preparation!

0–1

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www.chessvibes.com/openings

ChessVibes Openings is a weekly PDF magazine that covers the latest news on chess openings. Which openings are hot in top level chess?

Which are not? Editors IM Merijn van Delft & IM Robert Ris keep you updated once a week! Singles issues cost € 1. You can subscribe too:

€ 18 for six months / € 25 a year (that’s less than € 0.50 per issue!). More info can be found at www.chessvibes.com/openings .

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