Various openings [D06 D07]

Transcription

1 Various openings [D06 D07] Written by GM Ruslan Scherbakov Last updated Monday, January 25, 2010 Chigorin Defence 9r+lwqkvlntr0 9zppzp-zppzpp0 9-+n p PzP PzP-+PzPPzP0 9tRNvLQmKLsNR0 T his unusual system is a rare guest in tournament practice and has never had a good reputation. Black is striving for the quickest development and piece activity but to realize this he makes some concessions. Usually Black swaps his bishops for white's knights as well as affording White an opportunity to get a pawn superiority in center. The situation becomes strategically complicated and despite of the fact theory promises an advantage for White, Black has chances to obtain reasonable counterplay. Mikhail Chigorin introduced this system to tournament practice at the end of the 19th century and scored a number of beautiful victories against the best players of that era. He was a very interesting and creative player and the system very much followed the spirit of his play.

2 In modern practice the main adherents of the system are GMs Alexander Morozevich and Igor Miladinovich but, to be true, they have not play it very often recently and use more reliable openings. Tough times for the Chigorin Nowadays the future of Chigorin's Defence is under the clouds. Thanks to the great efforts of some players, mainly GM Suat Atalik, who played it with Black a couple of times, White has recognized a very promising line which looks almost like a refutation of the Chigorin proper... fortunately for Black not the whole system but only of the move order 1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6. But for those who usually starts from 1. Nf3 d5 2 d4 or 1 d4 d5 2 Nf3 Chigorin's Defence should still be an interesting option. All the game references highlighted in blue have been annotated and can be downloaded in PGN form using the PGN Games Archive on 2

3 Contents 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 9r+lwqkvlntr0 9zppzp-zppzpp0 9-+n p PzP PzP-+PzPPzP0 9tRNvLQmKLsNR f5 D06 Strange Defences 3 f3 3 cxd5 xd5 4 e3 D07 Chigorin Defence direct approach 4. e g4 4 cxd5 xf3 D07 Chigorin Defence classic lines with g1-f3 Press F5 to toggle the Navigation Pane, then click on the appropriate bookmark to go straight to that section. Ctrl + 2 resizes the page. 3

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5 Unusual Defences [D06] Last updated: 25/01/10 by R.Scherbakov 1 d4 d5 2 c4 f5 9rsn-wqkvlntr0 9zppzp-zppzpp p+l PzP PzP-+PzPPzP0 9tRNvLQmKLsNR0 This is the so called Baltic Defence. Black does not care about White's pawn superiority in the center instead he is hoping to pressurize it with active play from the very first moves. His approach is slightly reminiscent of the Chigorin Defence Black is ready to exchange his bishop for the knight, hoping that the power of the centralized queen will help him secure comfortable development for the other pieces. Sometimes he can also think about Q side castling, quickly getting the rook into play. However, in order to succeed with his approach, Black has to make some concessions, which really help him get an advantage in the center... but only temporarily as soon as White gets more pieces into play the Black queen may feel in trouble and the lack of the bishops, especially the light squared one, would obviously tell in the long run. The Baltic Defence is rare guest in tournament practice. The main hero is certainly GM Igor Rausis of Latvia I have found 71 of his games in the big database and his score is 45,5 points! However, most of these games were played in , then he almost stopped using it, most probably because computers were already widely used and the Baltic Defence was not a surprise for his opponents anymore. 3 cxd5 A principled continuation. 5

6 3 c3 e6 4 f3 is a possible alternative. (4 b3?! can be strongly met by 4... c6 5 f3 (5 xb7 xd4 is bad for White) 5... b4ƒ and White has got real problems as early as on the move 5 see the fantastic battle I.Ivanov Mezentsev/Koltanowski Memorial 2000) Then after 4...c6 (after Chigorin's 4... c6 White does not have problems to get a comfortable edge: 5 f4 f6 6 e3 e7 7 cxd5 (or 7 a c1 a6 9 cxd5 exd5 10 d3²) 7... xd5 8 g e2² with a certain advantage thanks to the awkwardly placed knight on c6) 5 b3² White gets small but stable advantage, according to the tournament practice. White can also begin with 3 f3 (this position is more often reached via different order of moves: 1. d4 d5 2. f3 f5 3. c4 e6) 3...e6 but here an ambitious 4 b3 would be also met with 4... c6!? although White might still be able to maintain the edge by 5 d2! (5 xb7?! can be well met by 5... b4 6 a3 b8 7 xa7 a8 and Black has already got at least a draw., the game Sorokin Shirov/Borzhomi 1988 continued 5 g5 xd4! 6 xd4 xg5 7 a4+ c6 8 c3 e7 9 d1 and White has got reasonable compensation for the pawn but Black seems to fine) 5... b8 (the sharp 5...dxc4 is interesting but this capture has to be well thought out as otherwise Black's damaged pawn structure would lead to problems. The game Gareev Stripunsky/Philadelphia 2009, continued 6 xb7 ge7 7 a6 b8 8 a3! and Black eventually failed to find any way to compensate the drawbacks of his position, other options, such as 5... d7 6 e3², 5... ge7 6 e3² give a small advantage to White) 6 cxd5!? (6 e3!?) 6...exd5 (after 6... xd5!? 7 xd5 exd5 8 c3 f6 Black gets slightly worse but playable endgame) 7 c3 f6 8 g5² with somewhat better chances according to the tournament practice xb1 4 a4+ This is known to be the most precise continuation. 4 xb1 gives Black extra possibility on the move 5: 4... xd5 5 a4+ c6!? (5...b5?! seriously weakens Black's Q side he should not forget he does not have light squared bishop anymore: 6 b3 f5 7 a1 e6 8 e3 c6 9 f3 d6 10 d3 g e7 12 a4 b4 13 a5 d7 14 d2 b8 15 e4± with a huge advantage, 5...c6 leads to the main line) 6 e3 e5 7 b4 This typical pawn advance prevents...bb4 check and the pawn would be useful in the future actions. However, after f3 exd4 White is getting late in development and so Black's counter chances look promising. 4...c6 5 xb1 xd5 6 f3 d7 7 b4! 6

7 9r+-+kvlntr0 9zpp+nzppzpp0 9-+p q QzP-zP N+-0 9P+-+PzPPzP0 9+RvL-mKL+R0 With this move White not so only begins Q side actions as secures the queen's retreat to c2 (a2 pawn is not hanging!), after which he can think about the e pawn advance. It is also useful, of course, to prevent possible...bb4 check. 7...e5 9r+-+kvlntr0 9zpp+n+pzpp0 9-+p qzp-+-0 9QzP-zP N+-0 9P+-+PzPPzP0 9+RvL-mKL+R0 7...e6 is maybe safer but White is also happy to get time for comfortable development. 8 c2 Trying to play e2 e4 in one step gf6 9 e3 a5 A tempting but risky idea. (yet, a solid 9... d6 cannot solve the problems: 10 d3 h5 11 h3!? (after 11 e4 e5 12 b5 c8 13 bxc6 xc6 14 e d2² Black's position is quite playable) (11...e5 12 b5 c8 13 f5±, 11...g5 is dubious: 12 e4 g4 13 d2 e5 14 b5!± with a big advantage) 12 d2² with a certain advantage) 10 c4! (10 b5?! was obviously met by b4+) e4 11 d3 g4 The point of Black's idea two pawns are under attack. However, Black is getting too late in development. The game R.Scherbakov Sychev/Chelyabinsk ch T 2000 continued axb4 13 a3! d5 (in case of 13...bxa3 14 xb7 a2 15 b2± White would hardly have problems to collect Black's Q side pawns, d6 was safer but it just meant that the whole Black's set up was wrong. After 14 axb4± followed by b4 b5 White had a big advantage) 14 h3 h5 15 e4 c3 16 b3 c5 17 dxc5! xc5 18 axb4!ƒ and White has got decisive initiative. 7

8 8 e3 9r+-+kvlntr0 9zpp+n+pzpp0 9-+p qzp-+-0 9QzP-zP zPN+-0 9P+-+-zPPzP0 9+RvL-mKL+R0 The immediate 8 b5!? is also interesting: 8... b6 9 b3 e4 10 d2 f6 11 bxc6 bxc6 12 e3 d6 13 c4 xc4 14 xc4 h5 15 a3! b8 (15... a5+ 16 b4 xb4+ 17 xb4 xb4+ 18 xb4 Kd2, Rhb1±) 16 xf7+! xf7 17 xb8+ xb8 18 xb8+ d7 19 b7+ e6 20 xf7 xf7 21 d2 b8 22 c1 b6 23 c2± with extra pawn in the endgame. 8 dxe5!? also deserves attention: 8... xe5 9 b5 with better chances for White. 8...e4 8...exd4!? is the worthy alternative: 9 xd4 gf6 10 b3!? (10 b5 c5 11 f3 b6 12 c2 d8, 10 c2 a5 11 bxa5 xa5+ 12 d2 xa2 13 xb7 xc2 14 xc2 e4 seems acceptable for Black) xb3 11 xb3 d5 12 d2² with small advantage in the endgame. 9 d2 gf6 10 c2 b6 11 g3 c8 9r+n+kvl-tr0 9zpp+-+pzpp0 9-+p+-sn q zP-zPp zP-zP-0 9P+QsN-zP-zP0 9+RvL-mKL+R0 This position arose in the game Shulman Vouldis/EU ch U18 Duisburg It seems that White could have secured the advantage by playing 8

9 12 b5!±, breaking Black's Q side. 9

10 Chigorin Defence direct approach 4. e3 [D07] Last updated: 08/04/05 by R.Scherbakov 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 cxd5 xd5 4 e3 9r+l+kvlntr0 9zppzp-zppzpp0 9-+n q zP zP-+-0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0 9tRNvLQmKLsNR0 The modern and most dangerous approach for Black. White obtains a pair of bishops without the doubling of any pawns. The theory doesn't promise too much for White after 4 f3 e5 5 c3 b4 6 d2 xc3 then 7...e4 with reasonable play. 4...e5 This move and further play is almost forced, otherwise White gains some tempi attacking the Black queen. 5 c3 b4 6 d2 xc3 0

11 9r+l+k+ntr0 9zppzp-+pzpp0 9-+n qzp zP vl-zP-+-0 9PzP-vL-zPPzP0 9tR-+QmKLsNR0 7 xc3 The alternative 7 bxc3 is also quite natural White strengthens the pawn centre and, thanks to the flexible pawn structure, has reasonable chances to activate his bishops and secure a small but stable advantage: 7... f6 (an alternative 7... d6 was played in Beliavsky Miladinovic/Belgrade 1995) 8 f e4 d6 10 d5 e7 11 c4 h5 12 b3 c5 13 e2 f5 14 c3 b6 15 d3² Later White outplayed his opponent but lost control in time trouble, Piket Morozevich/Wijk aan Zee exd4 8 e2 9r+l+k+ntr0 9zppzp-+pzpp0 9-+n q zp vL-zP-+-0 9PzP-+NzPPzP0 9tR-+QmKL+R f6 The sharp line, which originates from 8... g4, is recently supposed to be problematic for Black: 9 f3 xf3 (one of the main adherents of the Chigorin in the mid nineties, Alexander Morozevich, has introduced a slightly shocking idea leaving the Bishop en prise for the fastest possible development: !? 10 xd4 f6 but it looks too beautiful to be true see Topalov Morozevich/Frankfurt 1999) 10 gxf3 xf3 11 1

12 xd4! White wins a piece for a couple of pawns by force. (11 xd4 may also promise better chances for White: xh1 12 xc6 f6 13 a5 xh2 14 a4+ c ! xf6 gxf6 17 xb7 ab8 18 a6² San Segundo Gallego/Linares 1997) xd4 12 xd4 xh1 13 xg xh8 xh2 15 g7 h4+ 16 g3 b4+ 17 f2 f6 18 h3+ b8 19 f4!± Black's only hope is to make a draw but it does not seem to be an easy task, Khenkin Czebe/Schaan Perhaps Black would improve his play at some point but generally the line does not look much fun to play for him. 9 xd r+l+-trk+0 9zppzp-+pzpp0 9-+n+-sn q sN vL-zP-+-0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0 9tR-+QmKL+R xd4 10 xd e2 xd4 12 xd4 e e4 14 fc1 c6 15 b4± is not the kind of position Black is aiming to get in the Chigorin. 10 b5 A principled continuation. An interesting 10 e2!? does not promise much according to recent practice: e4!? This looks more reliable. (10... xg2?! is too risky. After 11 f3 g6 12 xc6 bxc6 13 d4ƒ White seized a strong initiative in the game Kishnev Rabiega/Germany BL 2001) a) 11 f3 e5 is just fine for Black b) while 11 xc6 xc6 12 e5 promises nothing special: c5 (12... e8 13 c1 g6 is also not bad) 13 d4 xd4 14 xd4 c5 15 e5 e8 16 f4 g5 17 c7 e7 18 g3 e6 19 d3 d5 with excellent play for Black xc3 (11... xd4 is not completely equalising: 12 xd4 xc3 (after xd4!? 13 xd4 c5 14 e5 e8 15 f4 g5 16 c7 e6 17 fd1 ac8 18 a5 b6 19 e1 f5 20 f3 f6 Black is not so bad but White can still hope for some edge thanks to his pair of bishops) 13 xc3 d6 14 fd1 e7 15 b4² with a small but stable advantage) 12 bxc3 e5 It is better to prevent the eventual Be2 f3. 13 b3 d6 (13... e4!? is also worthy of consideration) 14 fd1 e7 15 f3!? (15 ab1 d8 is okay for Black) d7!? 16 b4!? c5 17 d4² and White can still claim some edge but Black should hold such positions without much difficulties. 2

13 10... g5 9r+l+-trk+0 9zppzp-+pzpp0 9-+n+-sn-+0 9+N+-+-wq vL-zP-+-0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0 9tR-+QmKL+R0 Many players believe this position should be better for White but a clear way to advantage is still not discovered. 11 xc7!? Perhaps the strongest continuation. The benefit of the move 11 h4 is disputable this advance may also be a weakening move: h6! (11... g6 is less precise due to 12 xc7! (12 h5 g5 13 h6 d8!? 14 a4 g4! gave Black too much activity in the game Baburin Rebel Century/Monthly GM Challenge, Internet Chess Club 1999) g4 13 d3! h6 14 a4 (14 f3 ac8! is rather unclear) ad8 15 c2± with a clear advantage to White) 12 xc7 White can hardly put real problems for Black without capturing the pawn. a) 12 e2 d8 is already better for Black: 13 c2 (or 13 a4 d5 14 d1 e6³) d5 14 d1 e6³ with a small advantage b) 12 f3 g4 13 g3 ad8 is acceptable for Black: 14 xc7 (14 c4 can be met by e6! 15 xe6 fxe6 16 g5!? ( e4 is at least not worse for Black) xg5 17 hxg5 d5 18 d4 xd4 19 xd4 and here Black can already put some problems for White by playing f4! (19... b4 20 e2 c2 21 ac1 xd4+ 22 exd4 xd4 23 xc7=) 20 d1 e5 21 exf4 exd4 22 g3 c5 23 d2 c4³) e4! (14... f5? 15 g5±) 15 xg4 xc3 16 c4! (16 bxc3? d6ƒ) xa2! 17 xa2 d6 18 e2 (or 18 d5 xd5 19 xd5 xd5=) xc7= with almost equal play g4 13 b3 (13 a4?! can be well met by ac8! 14 d5!? (14 b5 fe8ƒ) xd5 15 xg4 xc3 16 bxc3 f6ƒ 17 c1 fd8³ and White will probably lose one of his Q side pawns) ad8 14 xb7 d6 (14... e4!? is an important alternative: 15 b5 d7 16 e2! xc3 17 bxc3² with chances to complete the development being one pawn up) 15 c4 It remains rather unclear why Black rejected the approved b8! (15... fd8?! was certainly better for White in the game Van Wely Brynell/GER cht Neukoelln 2005) 16 a6 bd8 In this position Black has a good compensation for the pawn g4 12 b3 ad8 3

14 9-+-tr-trk+0 9zppsN-+pzpp0 9-+n+-sn wq l+0 9+QvL-zP-+-0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0 9tR-+-mKL+R0 13 xb7!? 13 c4 e4 is okay for Black. 13 h3!? deserves attention: c8 14 b5 g6 15 xf6 gxf6 16 c1 and White's position looks promising c5 14 h3!? 9-+-tr-trk+0 9zpQsN-+pzpp0 9-+n+-sn wq l+0 9+-vL-zP-+P0 9PzP-+-zPP+0 9tR-+-mKL+R0 14 b5 d6 15 a6 d c8! 17 c7 xb5 18 xd6 e4! 19 f4 xc3 20 bxc3 xa6 is good for Black e c8!? deserves serious attention. 15 b5 d6 16 d5! xd5 17 xd5 xd5 18 hxg4 xc3 19 bxc3 c5 20 c1 g6± 4

15 9-+-+-trk+0 9zp-+-+p+p0 9-+n+-+p+0 9+-tr P+0 9+-zP-zP-+-0 9P+-+-zPP+0 9+-tR-mKL+R0 White has got two extra pawns but he is a bit late in development to stop Black's counterplay. Yet, perhaps he can still maintain winning chances... 5

16 Chigorin Defence classic lines with Ng1-f3 [D07] Last updated: 25/01/10 by R.Scherbakov 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 f3 9r+lwqkvlntr0 9zppzp-zppzpp0 9-+n p PzP N+-0 9PzP-+PzPPzP0 9tRNvLQmKL+R0 The position after the possible 3 c3 dxc4 4 f3 f6 5 e4 g4 can also be reached from the QGA after 1. d4 d5 2. d4 dc4 3. e4 Nc6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Nc3 Bg4 or 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dc4 3. f3 f6 4. c3 c6 5. e4 Bg4. After 6 e3 (the position after 6 d5 e5 7 f4 g6 8 e3 e5 9 xc4 is considered in the D20 QGA 3. e4 Nc6.) 6... xf3 7 gxf3 e5 8 d5 b8 (the main alternative 8... e7 is possibly more reliable.) 9 xc4 bd7 10 b3 White has got the better chances in the game Anand Morozevich/Wijk aan Zee g4 6

17 9r+-wqkvlntr0 9zppzp-zppzpp0 9-+n p PzP-+l N+-0 9PzP-+PzPPzP0 9tRNvLQmKL+R0 In the Chigorin Defence Black often parts with one or both bishops. This is a first step on this way. An attempt to transpose to the Albin Counter Gambit by 3...e5 does not seem working well due to 4 xe5!? xe5 5 dxe5 dxc4 (Without a pair of knights the Albin like advance 5...d4 can be met with 6 e3 (other continuations, such as 6 e4, 6 g3, or even 6 d2 followed by Nd2 f3 are worth considering) 6... b4+ 7 d2 since 7...dxe3? fails to 8 a4+! d7 9 xb4 exd2+ 10 xd2 with extra pawn for White) 6 xd8+ xd8 7 e4 The endgame is better for White his central pawns are strong enough and he can develop his pieces more actively and comfortably while Black is also not quite satisfied with position of his king, Roussel Roozmon Miladinovic/Nancy cxd5 4 e3 is rather passive. This line was popular a hundred years ago, now it's almost disappeared from practice. After 4...e6 (4...e5 is a good alternative) 5 c3 b4 6 b3 xf3 7 gxf3 ge7 8 d d3 b8 10 cxd5 xd xc3 12 xc3 b5 13 d2 b6 14 dg1 a5 15 f4 f5! two powerful knights totally dominated over the pair of miserable bishops, Pillsbury Chigorin/London c3 e6 5 f4 doesn't bother Black very much. After 5... b4 6 e3 f6 7 c h3 xf3 9 xf3 xc3+! 10 xc3 (10 bxc3!? looks better) e4 11 c1 e5! 12 dxe5 e7ƒ Black took the initiative, Nenashev Rabiega/ch GER Heringsdorf Another possibility is 4 a4 xf3 5 gxf3 e6 6 c3 b4 7 cxd5 exd5 8 a3 xc3+ 9 bxc3 ge7 10 b1 b8 and it is rather difficult for White to open the position for his bishops without risk, Malaniuk Morozevich/Alusta g5!? is a rather unexpected but interesting move, which indirectly increases White's influence in the center: 4...h6 a) In case of 4... f6 5 c3 Black's task is also not easy. b) but 4...f6!? deserves serious attention: 5 f4 (5 cxd5!?) 5...e5!? (5...e6 is worse: 6 c3 b4 7 e3 ge7 8 e2 dxc4 9 xc4 d xf4 11 exf4 d6 12 h3 xf3 13 xf3 with a stable advantage) 6 dxe5 b4+ 5 h4 The game Polak Markos/Prievidza 2009 continued 5...g5 6 g3 g7 7 cxd5 (Perhaps the restrained 7 e3!? f6 8 c3 was the more reliable way to secure the advantage. Black would face certain difficulties due to a lack of pawns in the center 7

18 and thus poor control over important central squares. Sometimes it is possible to get counter chances thanks only to active play with the pieces but even in the Grunfeld Defence he usually needs the pawn push...c7 c5!) 7... xf3 8 gxf3 xd5 9 e c3 and here Black should have played e6! 11 e2 (11 e2!?) 11...f5! and things would still be far from clear xf3 5 gxf3 5 dxc6 xc6 6 c3 f6 is quite acceptable for Black xd5 6 e3 9r+-+kvlntr0 9zppzp-zppzpp0 9-+n q zP zPP+-0 9PzP-+-zP-zP0 9tRNvLQmKL+R0 6...e6 A more active approach 6...e5 gives better chances for White according to tournament practice: 7 c3 b4 8 d2 xc3 9 bxc3 d6 10 b1 b6 11 f4!? exf4 12 e4 ge7 13 f xf4 a3 15 e2ƒ with a certain advantage. White has a strong pair of bishops and a powerful pawn centre while Black cannot keep the position closed, Kasparov Smyslov/Vilnius (m) c3 8

19 9r+-+kvlntr0 9zppzp-+pzpp0 9-+n+p q zP sN-zPP+-0 9PzP-+-zP-zP0 9tR-vLQmKL+R h5 Nowadays Black plays this move more often, keeping dark squared bishop on the board. The game transposes into an ending quite often. Mikhail Chigorin was more consistent in exchanging his bishops for the knights: 7... b4 8 d2 d7 9 a4 ge7 Steinitz Chigorin/London g f4 xd1+ 10 xd1 ce7 11 e2 f6 12 d2² 9-+ktr-vl-tr0 9zppzp-snpzpp psn zP-zP sN-zP-+-0 9PzP-vLKzPLzP0 9tR-+-+-+R0 Thanks to the pair of bishops White keeps a small advantage, Filippov Miles/Merida