Defensa escandinava first steps the scandinavian
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This document is the introduction to a book about the Scandinavian defense in chess. It discusses the viability and strategies of different lines within the opening, including the 2...Qxd5 and 2...Nf6 variations. The author argues that some lines like the ...c6 variations have solid structures similar to the Caro-Kann defense. While some lines require memorization, the Scandinavian also rewards players who take time to deeply understand its strategic ideas and hidden resources.
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Defensa escandinava first steps the scandinavian
- 7. Introduction When we first enter the exciting/terrifying arena of rated tournament chess it may feel that whatever we know, everyone else seems to know more. Our first task is to build an opening repertoire, preferably one which fits our natural style and inclinations. So why would we pick the Scandinavian, which presumes to be beyond the grasp of the law and which, in the 2 … Qxd5 versions, we flagrantly violate by bringing out our queen on the second move? So honest and upright is your writer, that if I accidently exceeded the speed limit by five miles per hour, I would drive to the nearest police station and turn myself in, demanding that they ticket me. Well, maybe this is a slight exaggeration, but I certainly wouldn’t play an opening line which violates chess laws. Yet I happily play the Scandinavian. It may feel crazy even to consider the … Qxd5 Scandinavian lines, since on her second move Black’s insane queen goes swooping up, as if she were Daenerys Targaryen, Breaker of Chains, Mother of Dragons, riding Drogon (that’s the largest of her three dragons, with black and red markings) into battle. When we play 2 … Qxd5 the laws of physics begin to break down. After all, how can bringing out our queen as the first piece developed be sound? If a clinical psychotic were to see such a move, his or her first thought would be: “That’s crazy!” The natural corollary of 2 … Qxd5 is that we as Black – already a move down – fall further behind in development. You may ask, “What logical end are you striving to reach?” Why should we play a line with such an unwanted, inherited by-product? Starting the game down in development with Black is not some species-specific issue, since most openings have us behind in development as Black. It’s
- 8. just that the … Qxd5 Scandi flaunts it. My answer is to dismiss your concerns about the line’s soundness credentials. Black may be behind in development, yet remains relatively safe since White must deal with these issues: 1. White is unable to exploit his or her development lead, since Black’s ultra-solid … c6/ … Bf5/ … e6 set-up renders the position rigid. 2. White lacks targets in our weakness-free position, which greatly dilutes the development lead. 3. For some bizarre reason, the vast majority of my miniature wins (in under 20 moves) tend to come from Scandinavians. Why? Well, because many of my opponents tend to go berserk at the sight of 1 … d5!, in response to their push of their e-pawn. A good chunk of your club-level opponents will not respect or understand the Scandinavian’s hidden resources and they may proceed recklessly in a position you will probably know better than they do. When it comes to opening choices, we tend to get to pick from two categories: 1. Openings based on memorization of data and sharp, computer-checked forcing lines. 2. Openings based on depth of understanding, which takes precedence over absorption of data. So which category does Scandinavian fit in? The answer is both. There are incredibly sharp lines in the … Qa5/ … Bg4 Scandinavians, which are nothing more than tactical, homework/comp battles between the two sides, like the following position in the following diagram: The above position is a realm of no second chances, since if we mess up we become
- 9. the startled sinner on Judgment Day, unprepared for the Almighty’s righteous wrath. In this position, Black must be booked up on 9 Nc4, which places our queen in great peril; 9 h4, intending to go after our bishop with 10 h5; and also the 9 Bg2 line, threatening our b7-pawn. If you aren’t comped up here, you are as good as dead with the black pieces. I take to quiet strategic lines as a narcotic to a terminally ill patient in chronic pain. Your writer is bred for abstract logic, rather than the blood and gore of tactics and calculation. So how do I get away with playing this crazy line? The reason I score well is that this line is heavily comped. I have been playing it for three and a half decades and holding my own, even versus GMs, since they play my computer, not me. The Scandinavian is the movie martial arts master who makes the apprentice sweep the floor and mow the lawn for months (in our case years!) before he is willing to teach the disciple. It’s a long learning curve to master the Scandinavian, but I assure you, it’s well worth the wait, because once you understand it, you will wield it as a terrible weapon. It’s a difficult opening to learn and we can’t treat it as the shoe-store clerk who decides to change careers by studying YouTube videos on surgery, and then applies for the newly opened post of head of neurosurgery at the local hospital. The Caro-Kann Scandinavians The Scandinavian, once considered just an interesting oddity, is now a fully fledged member of the sound openings category, especially when we enter the ultra-solid lines like the … Qa5/ … c6 and … Qd6/ … c6 lines which exude a Caro-Kann flavour, as in the two diagrams below. I actually consider the lines rather easy to learn and understand. Many of our sharp trendy lines are hard to remember and it’s easy to get disoriented in the network of tributaries. Not this one. If modern opening theory is Big Brother, then the … e6/ … c6 Scandinavian structure is Winston Smith.
- 10. The soundness credentials of the black side of a line like the Chigorin Ruy Lopez are impregnable. Would you be surprised if I claimed the same status for some lines of the Scandinavian? Your tactically challenged writer has survived all these years, simply by ducking sharp positions and playing deviously solid lines. What does “solid” have to do with the Scandinavian? Well, any time you play a … c6 version, you get a very solid Caro-Kann(-ish) version, as in the above two diagrams. But you may ask: “If you like Caro-Kann structures, then why not just play the Caro-Kann?” The answer is: in the Caro-Kann White has the option to veer with un-Caro lines like the Advance Variation, or the Panov-Botvinnik Attack, where he or she often takes on an isolani. In the Scandinavian … c6 versions we always get positions similar to the ultra-solid structures derived from the Classical lines of the Caro, which arise from the move order 1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 Nc3 dxe4 4 Nxe4. Our Scandi positions are exceedingly similar. Trust me. These lines easily pass as civilization. The 2 … Nf6 Scandinavian
- 11. The Scandi rules are subject to change without notice and maybe the laws of physics suddenly begin to alter, where the sun begins to revolve around the earth, and not the other way around. The diagram above is the starting position of the 2 … Nf6 Scandinavian, which is a completely different opening from the 2 … Qxd5 lines, and is filled with geological caprices. First of all, it’s really a gambit, since White can push the c2-pawn to c4 in order to hang on to the now extra d5-pawn. We have several interesting responses at our disposal. A gambit with the white pieces tends to be a risky proposal, while a gambit with the black pieces almost feels reckless. Now I am normally an intolerant, puritanical conservative when it comes to gambits. So just think what I will have to say about sacrificing with the black pieces! Having studied the lines carefully, I came to a shocking conclusion: Black’s various gambits all appear sound. I have never played the 2 … Nf6 Scandinavian lines, always incorrectly viewing them as shady and every time I was tempted in the past, I always backed off, thinking this love affair is as doomed as Fay Wray’s cross-species fling with King Kong. But now, having absorbed greater understanding of the lines, I vow to start playing the 2 … Nf6 Scandi. In a weird way, this is almost two different books, within a single book, since the 2 … Nf6 lines are so alien from the 2 … Qxd5 lines. Back in the 1980s, IM David Strauss and I shared a room at a tournament where he successfully played the 2 … Nf6 Scandinavian. Bewildered, I asked David: “But, but, but, doesn’t it just lose a pawn to 3 c4 - ?” It does. In that position we can play 3 … e6, turning it into the dangerous Icelandic Gambit, where White can fall seriously behind in development. I have never had the guts to play the line, yet I saw friends like IM David Strauss and GM Darwin Laylo absolutely destroy strong players with it. So be warned: The 2 … Nf6 line may outwardly feel less risky than the 2 … Qxd5 lines, but I assure you it’s not. The wide range of the Scandinavian offers us great
- 12. leeway either to go all out and force the issue, as in the 2 … Nf6 lines, or play ultra solidly, as in the … Qd6/ … c6 Caro-Kann Scandinavians, which I play. The road lies ahead for us, but first we must provision for the journey. Here are some of the positions we reach in the 2 … Nf6 lines: The above position was reached from the Icelandic Gambit, from the game Kuijf- Hodgson. Black may be down a pawn, yet his massive development lead and potential for a wicked attack surely compensate.
- 13. This is the Jadoul Gambit, White can play f2-f3, followed by c2-c4, securing the extra pawn on d5. Just as in the Icelandic Gambit, in the Jadoul Gambit (also called the Portuguese Gambit) Black gets a massive development lead and sacrifices one and sometimes even two pawns. Now if a safety-first chicken of your writer’s calibre agrees to play such a line, then rest assured that it’s sound.
- 14. I walked by my buddy GM Darwin Laylo’s board at a tournament and saw this position, which arose from the Jadoul Gambit. Let me tell you that Jane Eyre’s suffering at the orphanage was a picnic when compared with what is about to happen to White here. White doesn’t always try to hang on to the d5-pawn, and sometimes just gives it back
- 15. to seize a large pawn centre. But this doesn’t mean that Black is doomed to stand worse. The positions we reach can resemble lines from Alekhine’s Defence, where we first give White the centre, then do everything we can to either overextend or dismantle it. White originally declined to hang on to the offered d5-pawn, yet here we see another sacrifice on our part. Even though we may soon be down a pawn in an ending, our massive development lead, coupled with White’s slight overextension, offers us more than enough compensation and, in fact, I think White will be lucky to remain equal. Many thanks to cousin Richard for his edit and also to Nancy for proofreading. May our overconfident and under-booked opponents rub their hands in glee when we respond to 1 e4 with 1 … d5!.
- 17. Black’s principle-violating queen is the outlaw who bleaches her hair orange after the commission of a crime to assist her quest for anonymity, thinking to herself, “There! Now I will blend in.” Black’s shocking move evaporates our Fred Reinfeldian frame of reference for what passes as “normal” in the opening, as we take leave of the familiar and embrace the incomprehensible. In one swoop, Black brings out the queen, violating the original sin principles: 1. Don’t bring out your queen early in the game. 2. Don’t fall behind in development in the opening stage. Yet by some geometric quirk, I assure you the 2 … Qxd5 Scandinavian, a treasure chest of contradiction, remains both solid and sound. We look at 2 … Nf6 near the end of the book. 3 Nc3 Qa5 Later in the book we look at the ultra-solid 3 … Qd6. Instead, 3 … Qd8!? is a weird idea which is growing in popularity. To me it goes against the spirit of the Scandinavian by safely tucking in the queen and accepting a slight disadvantage. Part of the fun of the Scandi is that our queen is in danger. That fact tends to push White into risky action. Play can continue 4 d4 Nf6 5 Nf3 Bg4 6 h3 Bxf3 7 Qxf3 c6, reaching the tabiya starting position. It looks quite unpleasant to me, with White in ownership of the bishop pair and space. My recommendation to you is to avoid this line as Black! 4 d4 Nf6 5 Bd2
- 18. White’s bishop ominously eyes Black’s target queen on a5. Tip: When White plays Bd2 with our queen on a5, be on high alert for all potential discoveries with the c3-knight. But also remember this: the more we expose ourselves to a toxin, the more immunity we build. Experienced Scandinavian players barely suppress a yawn as Black in such situations, since we wisely comped the position to kingdom come, and know full well that the club-level opponent isn’t magically going to find something the 3200-rated chess computer missed. As a chess teacher I refuse to eternally coddle the nervous and the unprepared. So I tell my students to relax and just trust the comp’s analysis, over our fallible human opponents. Next we examine White’s main line with 5 Bc4 c6 6 Nf3 Bf5 7 Bd2 e6 8 Qe2 Bb4 9 0-0-0 reaches the main line, which we examine next game, and 8 Nd5 will be covered in the following two games. 5 … c6 This move offers our queen air to escape via c7 or d8. Also possible is 5 … Bg4 6 f3 (if 6 Be2 Bxe2 7 Qxe2 Nc6 8 Nf3 Qf5 Black has benefited from the exchange of light-squared bishops, since his position is more free,
- 19. V.Okhotnik-S.Azarov, Tallinn 2014) Note: The insertion of a white pawn on f3 slightly jumbles White’s kingside development by denying the f3-square for a piece. 6 … Bd7 (if the bishop went to f5, it would allow White a g2-g4 attacking thrust free of charge) 7 Bc4 (the threat is Nd5 and Nxc7+) 7 … Qb6 (attacking d4) 8 Nge2 e6 (of course White’s b2-pawn isn’t really hanging, since White would respond with Rb1 and Rxb7) 9 Bb3 Nc6 10 Be3 Na5! (Black picks off the bishop pair) 11 0-0 Nxb3 12 axb3 with a solid game for Black, V.Anand-L.Van Wely, Wijk aan Zee 2013. 6 Bd3 The idea is to cut off … Bf5. Instead, 6 Bc4 Bf5 leads to the main lines. 6 … Bg4! Tip: 6 … Bf5?? is a trap we must know and avoid. White wins a piece by deflecting Black’s queen with 7 b4!. 7 f3 Bh5 On g6 we can challenge White’s bishop. 8 Nge2
- 21. 11 Qe2 e6 12 Ne4 Bb4! Black either rids White of the bishop pair, or induces c2-c3. Why is that important? Because if we provoke c2-c3, White’s king will be unsafe on either side of the board. Black’s last move was stronger than the also playable 12 … Qb6. 13 c3 13 Nd6+ fails to bother Black’s king, since he is happy on f8, with the h8-rook in control over the open file. Play continues 13 … Kf8 and now if 14 Nxb7? Qb6 15 Nc5 Nxc5 16 dxc5 Bxd2+ 17 Qxd2 Qxb2 18 0-0 Qe5! with a double attack on h2 and c5, which wins a pawn. 13 … Be7 14 g3!? Others: a) 14 0-0 Qc7 allows Black’s queen to take aim at h2. b) 14 c4 can be met by 14 … Bb4!. Tip: In this situation, typical of some Caro-Kann lines, we shouldn’t fear the “combination” 15 Nd6+?! Ke7 16 Nxb7 Qb6. White’s extra pawn was short lived, since Black immediately regains it, favourably. After 17 Nc5 Bxd2+ 18 Qxd2 Nxc5 19 dxc5 Qxc5 20 0-0-0 Rhd8 the advantage is with Black, who has increased control over the central dark squares, has the potential for a good knight versus bad bishop situation, and who owns the favourable pawn majority. Finally, Black’s king looks safer. 14 … Nxe4!? Ivanchuk invites White to take central control, with the intention of chipping away at the centre from the sides. I would be more inclined to play the safer 14 … 0-0, which is equal. 15 fxe4 Bg5!
- 22. Two principles follow with this move: 1. The cramped side benefits from exchanges. 2. When your opponent owns the bishop pair, swap one of them off. 16 0-0 Bxd2 17 Qxd2 c5! Ivanchuk demonstrates that White’s imposing pawn centre is as much a liability as an asset. 18 Qf2 0-0 19 e5!? The fact that we own a pencil and a piece of paper doesn’t automatically mean we have the ability to draw. White enhances his bishop’s power, at the cost of turning his d- pawn into a backward one. 19 … Rad8 20 Be4 cxd4 21 cxd4 Nb8 22 Rad1?! This move may be overly ambitious. 22 Bxb7 Qb6 23 Bg2 Rxd4 24 Rad1 Rxd1 25 Rxd1 Rd8 looks about even. 22 … Nc6 23 Rd3 After 23 Bxc6 bxc6 24 b3 Qb4 25 Rd3 Rd5 26 Rc1 Qb6, White is the one fighting for the draw. 23 … Qb6 24 Rfd1 Rd7 25 Rb3 Qa6 26 Ra3 Qb5 27 Bxc6 White attempts to reduce pressure from d4. 27 Rb3?! is met by 27 … Qa4! with pressure on a2 and d4. 27 … bxc6 28 Rf1 f5!
- 23. In this way Black doesn’t have to worry about defending f7 any more. 29 b3? White gets better chances to draw if he enters a pawn down queen ending with 29 exf6 Rxf6 30 Rf3 Rdf7 31 Rxf6 Rxf6 32 Qg2 Rxf1+ 33 Qxf1 Qxb2 34 Qc4 Kf7. 29 … Rfd8 30 Ra4 c5! This is the unpleasant by-product of his 29th move. Now White is given a terrible choice of losing a pawn or allowing Black’s rooks to infiltrate at d2. 31 dxc5? This allows decisive rook entry and White is now as far from salvation as the sky is to the ground below. He should just give up a pawn with 31 Rd1 Qb6 32 h4 Rxd4 33 Raxd4 cxd4 34 Rd3. It’s still lost, but at least here White can play on. 31 … Rd2 32 Qf3 32 Qe3?? R8d3 33 Qg5 Qxc5+ 34 Kh1 Qd5+ forces mate. 32 … Qxc5+ 33 Kh1 Qc2! It’s time to go after the Dickensian waif on h2. 34 Rc4 Qxa2 There was also nothing wrong with grabbing both pawns with 34 … Rxh2+ 35 Kg1 Qxa2. 35 Rh4 g5! This places White’s rook way offside. 36 Rh5 g4 37 Qc6 Qxb3 Covering e6, while nabbing another white pawn. 38 Rg5
- 25. This is considered White’s main line. In the next game we look at 8 Nd5. 8 … Bb4 If someone walks up to you and attempts to sell you a gold brick for $20, the odds are rather high that it’s an actual brick, spray-painted gold. Don’t get greedy with 8 … Bxc2?? 9 d5!. Warning: Note the principles: open the position and create confrontation when leading in development. After 9 … cxd5 10 Nxd5 Qd8 11 Bb5+ Nc6 (11 … Nbd7 12 Ne5! is lethal) 12 Nxf6+ gxf6 13 Rc1 Bg6 14 Rxc6, the description of Black’s position which comes to mind is that it looks a lot like the eviscerated entrails of a rat, blown to smithereens by the disgruntled farmer’s 12-gauge shotgun. 9 0-0-0 Nbd7 10 a3 10 d5 doesn’t lead anywhere for White after 10 … cxd5 11 Nxd5 Nxd5 12 Bxd5 Bxd2+ 13 Rxd2 Nc5 with a good position for Black. 10 … Bxc3 Tip: Don’t be afraid of handing over the bishop pair to White. The structure is rigid for now, which enhances the capabilities of Black’s knights.
- 27. White typically plays for f2-f4 and then f4-f5. 15 … Bg6 16 f4 h5! In this way Black generates play down the h-file. 17 h3 17 g5?! would be a strategic error from White, who just froze his once mobile kingside structure and also handed Black control over the freshly minted f5-hole. 17 … Qb6! Reactivating the queen, while fighting for control over e3. 18 Rhf1 Still angling for f4-f5. 18 … hxg4 19 hxg4 Qc5! The queen latently eyes c2, while creeping closer to the c4-bishop. 20 Bb3 20 f5?! exf5 21 gxf5?? would be a big blunder due to 21 … Bh5, bagging the exchange on d1. 20 … Rh3! The threat is … Rxb3. 21 Qf2
- 28. Black is okay in this ending. 21 Rf3 is considered the critical line. The following game is an example of Black’s optimal play against this move: 21 … Rdh8 22 f5 Rh2 23 Qc4 Qxc4 24 Bxc4 exf5 25 gxf5 Bh5 26 Bxd5 cxd5 27 Rc3+ Kd7 28 e6+ fxe6 29 fxe6+ Kxe6 30 Re1+ Kd7 31 Bf4 Re2! (ignoring the c7-invasion) 32 Rc7+ Ke6 33 Rxe2+ Bxe2 34 Rxg7 d4! 35 Kd2! (35 Rxb7?? Rh1+ 36 Kd2 Bf3! 37 Rxa7 Rd1 is mate) 35 … Ba6 36 Rg5 and the players agreed to a draw, Z.Markovic-M.Savic, Senta 2011. 21 … Qxf2 22 Rxf2 Be4! Black’s bishop sidesteps the coming f4-f5. 23 Re1 23 f5!? Bf3 24 fxe6!? Bxd1!? (24 … fxe6 is also okay for Black) 25 Bxd5 cxd5 26 exf7 Bxg4! 27 f8Q Rh1+ 28 Rf1 Rxf8 29 Rxh1 Bf5 with an equal ending. 23 … Bf3! 24 g5?! Nobody can describe White’s kingside structure as an exquisitely choreographed ballet. White risks an overpress. Handing Black control over the f5-hole and the kingside light squares is a big concession. Far safer is 24 Rg1 Rdh8 25 f5 Rh1 26 Rff1 Rxg1 27 Rxg1 Kd7 which is fine for Black. 24 … Ne7?! 24 … Bg4! is more accurate. 25 Bb4?! White misses 25 g6! and if 25 … Nxg6 26 f5!, White’s initiative flares up. 25 … Nd5 26 Bd2 Bg4! Now we transpose to the note above and Black is back on track. 27 Bc4 Bf5 The bishop occupies the f5-hole. 28 b3 Ne7 29 a4 Ng6 30 a5 b6 31 Bf1 Rg3 32 Re3 Rg1 33 Rc3 Kc7 34 Re3 Rh8 35 Kb2 Rhh1 36 Bd3? 36 Re1 is correct, when Black only holds a slight edge after 36 … Nh4. 36 … Rb1+ 37 Kc3 Ne7! White must watch out for a knight check on d5. 38 Kc4 After 38 axb6+ axb6 39 Ref3 c5! 40 Bxf5 Nxf5 41 Be3 White’s king is not too safe and he landed in a classic good knight versus bad bishop position. 38 … c5 39 Kb5!?
- 29. White attempts the lemons-to-lemonade trick, by trying to transform his advanced king into a virtue, rather than a liability. 39 … Kb7 Cutting off potential king invasions into a6, while worrying White about … a7-a6+ ideas. 40 a6+ Kc7 41 Be4?! 41 Ref3 is a tougher defence. 41 … Rhd1?! Black misses 41 … Bxe4! 42 Rxe4 g6 43 Re3 Nf5 44 Rd3 Nd4+, winning material. 42 Bf3 42 Bxf5 Nxf5 43 Rd3 Rb2! 44 Be3 Rxd3 45 cxd3 Rxb3+ 46 Kc4 Rb4+ 47 Kc3 Nxe3 wins. 42 … Bxc2!? Black gets two pawns for this exchange sacrifice, but 42 … Rg1! is even stronger. 43 Bxd1 Bxd1 44 Re1 Nf5?! 44 … Rxb3+ 45 Kc4 Rb1 is completely lost for White. 45 Bc3 Rxb3+ White’s position continues to disgorge pawns at an alarming rate. 46 Kc4
- 31. Exercise (combination alert): Black to play and win more material. 48 … Bd5+! Answer: Step 1: Drive the king to d3. 49 Kd3 c4+! 0-1 Step 2: Drive the king to c2 – 50 Kc2 Be4+! Step 3: Drive the king to b2 – 51 Kb2 Rb3+ – White’s demoted bishop seems to be an eternal “associate” status member of his team. Step 4: Deliver a rook check on b3, which separates king from bishop. Summary This game is one of the most important in the book for … Qa5 Scandinavian players. At the very least, you must memorize the tabiya position which arises after Black’s 14th move. Not only that, but you should be ready for White’s plan to push his or her kingside pawns with a g2-g4 advance. So study this one carefully. Game 3 H.Poetsch-R.Rapport Austrian Team Championship 2014 1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 3 Nc3 Qa5 4 d4 Nf6 5 Nf3 c6 6 Bc4 Bf5 7 Bd2 e6 8 Nd5
- 32. With this move White hopes to achieve the following: 1. The c3-knight is often a problem piece, since it almost artificially isolates White’s d-pawn. By moving the knight, White allows his c-pawn free to push to c3, supporting d4. 2. Black’s queen will be chased to d8, which blocks the natural square for a black rook. 3. When White swaps on f6, if Black’s queen captures, she is vulnerable; if Black recaptures with the g-pawn, many players perceive it as damage to Black’s structure (whereas I don’t!). 8 … Qd8 9 Nxf6+ gxf6! Tip: Don’t consider this “damage” to our pawn structure. In fact, it can be argued that Black’s structure has actually been enhanced, since by playing … g7xf6, Black has: 1. Seized control over the e5-square. 2. Seized a greater central influence, since our g-pawn got promoted to a more central f-pawn. 3. Seized an open g-file, which can come in very handy as the precursor to an attack, should White castle kingside. I advise the reader to avoid 9 … Qxf6?! which loses even more time, since Black’s
- 33. queen isn’t well placed on f6. After 10 c3 Nd7 11 Qb3 Nb6 12 Be2 h6 13 a4! 0-0-0 14 a5 Nd5 15 Ne5 a6 16 f4 (16 c4 Nc7 17 Bc3 looks pretty tough for Black) 16 … Be4 17 0-0 Qe7 18 Rfe1 Bh7 19 Nxc6?! (this sacrifice allows Black back into the game; White stands clearly better after 19 Bh5!) 19 … bxc6 20 Bxa6+ Kd7? (20 … Kc7! is okay for Black) 21 Qb7+? (21 Bb7!, preparing to push the a-pawn, favours White) 21 … Nc7? (21 … Kd6!) 22 d5! Qc5+! 23 Be3 exd5! 24 Rad1? (after 24 Bxc5?? Bxc5+ 25 Kh1 Rb8 Black regains the sacrificed queen with interest; however, Black is busted after the simple 24 Kh1!) 24 … Qxa5 25 b4?? (25 Ra1! is still better for White) 25 … Qxa6 0-1. Black is two pieces up and queens are coming off the board, A.Shirov-C.Lakdawala, Internet Blitz 1996. This game gives direct challenge to the Capablanca quip of the better player always being lucky. Sometimes the crappy one lucks out as well! 10 c3 Nd7 11 Bf4 Nb6 12 Bb3 a5! This move gains useful space on the queenside and makes it less palatable for White to castle long. 13 a4 Note: This move comes at a cost for White. Now when Black posts a knight on d5, White is not so tempted to boot it out with c3-c4, since the knight can jump into the freshly created hole on b4. 13 … Nd5 14 Bg3 Bg4 15 0-0 Qb6!? Black threatens … Bxf3, when White would be forced to recapture with his g-pawn.
- 35. hopes his sacrifice is the Snickers bar for his low-energy, sagging position. Exercise (combination alert): White’s last move, a desperate/unsound sacrifice, was made with the thought: collateral damage to your own side is sometimes a regrettable military necessity. Black has a simple way to win material. How? 22 … Nd4 Answer: Double attack on f3 and b3. The move is so simple and so easy to find that it doesn’t really even deserve an exclam. White’s metastasizing dark square weakness continues to spread unchecked. 23 Qh5 Qxb3 Or 23 … Nxb3 24 Be5 Rf8 25 Bg7 Nd4! 26 Qxh7 (your attack is likely to fail when only 20% of your forces penetrate enemy territory) 26 … Rd8 27 Bxf8 Bxf8 and Black’s two pieces far outweigh White’s rook and pawn. 24 Be5 0-0-0 25 Bxh8 Rxh8 26 Qxf7 A bomb is a useless weapon when deprived of the targets on which it seeks to expend itself. White has indeed made inroads into Black’s kingside. The problem is that Black’s king now resides on the other side. 26 … Rd8 Very clearly, we see that White’s would-be initiative now droops like an elderly and under-watered rose. 27 Rxd4!? He turns it into a full piece sacrifice to pick up a few black pawns. The greedy 27 Qxh7?? walks into 27 … Ne2+ 28 Kh1 Qxd1, when White not only drops a rook, but is also mated. 27 … Bxd4 28 Qxe6+ Kb8 29 Qxf5 Qxc4 30 b3 After 30 Qxh7 Black has the killing shot 30 … Bxf2+!, winning on the spot. 30 … Qxb3 31 Qxa5
- 37. J.Bryant-C.Lakdawala San Diego Rapidplay 2006 IM John Bryant is the son of GM Enrico Sevillano, who also played in this tournament. 1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 3 Nc3 Qa5 4 d4 Nf6 5 Bc4 Bg4 Black takes advantage of White’s slightly non-standard move order with a move which either provokes a pawn weakness or a pin. 5 … c6 6 Nf3 Bf5 7 Bd2 e6 leads to positions we have already examined. 6 f3 Others: a) 6 Nge2 e6 7 0-0 Bd6 8 f3 Bf5 9 Ng3 Bg6 10 Nce4 Nbd7 looks okay for Black. b) After 6 Nf3 Nc6! Black is ready to castle queenside and play … e7-e5, with at least an equal game. 6 … Bh5!? This move probably takes provocation a bit too far, since Black’s bishop becomes vulnerable to future g2-g4 and f3-f4! smothering ideas. Safer and stronger is 6 … Bf5, Black’s main line, which runs 7 Nge2 e6 8 Bd2 Qb6 9 0-0 c6 and I don’t believe Black stands worse. 7 Bd2 The threat is Nd5 and Nxc7+. If 7 Nge2 Nc6!? 8 Bd2 0-0-0 9 Nd5 Qa4 10 b3 Qa3.
- 38. Remember our sacred Scandinavian prayer: our queen only requires a single safe square. After 11 Nxf6 gxf6 12 c3, the advance … e7-e5 is coming and I think Black gets fully even chances in the coming complications, T.Radjabov-C.Lakdawala, Internet Blitz 2005. 7 … c6?! Your writer is now older and wiser than the 2006 version, where I didn’t know any better. This move is inaccurate and allows White a powerful idea. Correct was 7 … Qb6! 8 Nge2 e6. Tip: Watch out for traps like 8 … Nc6??, which is in blasphemous violation of the our-queen-requires-only-a-single-safe-square prayer. After 9 Na4 we go home early, since our queen is trapped. 8 Nd5 Much stronger was 8 Qe2!, leaving Nd5 hanging over Black’s head, since White threatens g2-g4 and then f2-f4, intending f4-f5. Here 8 … Bg6! is an unplayed move (which is I believe an improvement over theory’s 8 … Qc7?! 9 g4 Bg6 10 f4!, when Black is in serious trouble) 9 0-0-0 Qc7 10 h4 e6 11 Nh3 Bd6 12 Ne4 with a solid advantage for White. 8 … Qd8 9 Nxf6+ gxf6 More thematic than capturing with the e-pawn, away from the centre.
- 39. 10 Ne2 Protecting the d4-pawn, while contemplating a future Nf4, going after my h5-bishop. 10 Qe2!?, offering d4 for a development lead, is an alternative. 10 … Bg6 11 c3 Nd7 12 0-0 12 h4 Nb6 13 Bb3 Qd7 14 Nf4 Bh6 15 h5 Bf5 16 g4 Qd6! allows Black’s light- squared bishop to slip out. 12 … Qc7 13 Re1 13 Bf4 is met by 13 … e5. 13 … e6 14 Bf4 Or 14 Nf4 0-0-0 and of course Black isn’t afraid of Nxg6, since … h7xg6 opens the h- file for Black’s potential attack. 14 … Bd6 15 Bxd6 Qxd6 16 a4 White starts attacking the queenside even before I commit my king there! 16 … Nb6 16 … 0-0!? is also possible. 17 Ba2 Nd5 Note: A reminder – when they toss in a2-a4 in such structures, just like last game, we can post a knight on d5. If White plays c3-c4, our knight can jump into the b4 hole. 18 Ng3 0-0-0!?
- 41. If you see a crime taking place against your position and you do nothing about it, you cannot be called an “innocent bystander”. It does you no good to only work out half of the equation. The position is deceptive. It looks like White gained the quicker attack and also a good knight versus bad bishop, since every single pawn on my side is on the same colour as my remaining bishop. But the reality is the opposite. Black’s bishop is the stronger piece and Black’s attack is also faster. White had to try 22 Ne2!, intending to transfer the knight to either d3 or b3. 22 … f4 Kicking the knight but, more importantly, crimping the white g-pawn. This fact coordinates perfectly with the open g-file Black has at his disposal. 23 Nf1 He was better off playing the knight to e2. 23 … Bd3! This move flips the assessment, base over apex, and we begin to sense a great divide between what White’s game appears on the outside and how it really is on the inside. In this case Black’s enhanced ability on the light squares acts as an opiate against White’s fading power on the dark squares. The bishop shuts down White’s queenside play by freezing his pawns. Now White can only wait. 24 Nd2 Rhg8 25 Nb3 Rg6 Preparing to double rooks on the open g-file. 26 Nc5 Bc4!
- 42. In this way I make it harder for my opponent to cover g2 since, on c4, the bishop prevents both Ra2 and Re2. 27 Re5? When our forces fail to coordinate, we become the captain of the ship threatened with mutiny. Now there’s no way for a rook to cover the second rank and g2, since Black’s bishop covers both a2 and e2, making defence of the white king impossible. Here my eyes gazed at the ceiling and my lips moved silently, perhaps in prayerful thanks to the chess goddess, since I realized I was completely winning. Necessary was the awkward 27 Red1. 27 … Rdg8 28 Qc2 Exercise (planning): White’s position is a stormy sky, about to erupt into a full- blown storm. Find one powerful idea and White’s king can’t be saved. 28 … Qf8! Normally your attack/initiative-challenged writer tends to spray errors like a fountain during the time pressure phase, but not this time. Answer: Step 1: Transfer the queen into the attack, via f8. The effectiveness of Black’s well-coordinated force achieves results far out of proportion to its size. 29 Rd1 Qh6! The h2-square, not g2, is the intended target. White remains alive after the inaccurate 29 … Qg7?! 30 Rd2.
- 43. 30 Kh1 Qh4! There’s no defence against … Rh6. This move is even stronger than the also winning 30 … Rxg2 31 Qxg2 Rxg2 32 Kxg2 Qg6+ 33 Kh3 Qc2 34 Rg1 Qxc3. The base of White’s structure collapses. 31 Qa4 31 Rd2 Rh6 32 h3 allows the breakthrough sacrifice 32 … Rxg2! 33 Rxg2 (or 33 Kxg2 Qxh3+ 34 Kf2 Qf1 mate) 33 … Qxh3+ 34 Kg1 Qh1+ 35 Kf2 Qf1 mate. 31 … Bb5 0-1 The careless 31 … Rxg2?? walks into 32 Qd7+ Kb8 (the king hoped to terminate the interview with his sister as soon as etiquette allows, but she just won’t go away) 33 Qxb7 and it is Black’s king who is mated. However, after 31 … Bb5 White is mated: 32 Qc2 Rh6 33 h3 Rg3! 34 Rd2 Rxh3+! 35 gxh3 Qxh3+ 36 Rh2 (36 Kg1 Qf1 mate) 36 … Qf1 mate. Summary Lines in which we end up with the … g7xf6 structure often end up with the players castling on opposite wings, with mutual attacks. Your job is to get to the opponent’s king first. Game 5 E.Moreno Tejera-V.Laznicka German League 2016 1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 3 Nc3 Qa5 4 Bc4 Nf6 5 d3
- 44. This is an example of White holding back on d2-d4. The idea is to avoid providing Black with a target. 5 … Bg4 I like this move better than Black’s main continuation 5 … c6 6 Bd2 Qc7 7 Qe2, when White prepares to castle queenside. 6 f3 Bd7! Tip: After having provoked a weakness in White’s camp with … Bg4, our bishop sometimes posts itself on d7, the safest spot, since h5 or f5 allows White a future useful tempo with g2-g4. 7 Bd2 Qb6! I also prefer this move to 7 … c6. 8 Qe2 Nc6! Threatening to harass White’s queen with a future … Nd4. 8 … Qxb2?! would be an unwise pawn grab. After 9 Rb1 Qa3 (9 … Qxc2?? is yet again a violation of the our- queen-only-requires-one-square prayer: 10 Bb3 and adios black queen) 10 Rb3 Qc5 11 Rxb7, when it is White who benefited from the exchange of b-pawns. 9 Na4 Is the queen trapped?
- 49. After 71 Rg6! Bxd4 72 cxd4 Re3+ 73 Kc4, White should hold the draw. 71 … Ke5 72 Rb8 Ra4 73 Rb1 Ra5 74 Rf1 Rd5+ 75 Kc4 Be3 76 Re1 f4? Moves continue to pass inconclusively and until now Black’s advantage refused to increase or decrease but, instead, remained in what felt like an endless “=+” slight edge assessment … until now. Black holds his edge with 76 … Bd2! 77 Rd1 Rd7. 77 Nd4! Intending Nf3+ and Nxh4. 77 … Kf6 78 Nf3 Rd8 79 Re2 e5 80 Nxh4 Kg5 81 Nf3+ Kf5 82 Ne1? After 82 Ra2! e4 83 Ra5+ Kf6 84 Ne5, White will hold the game. 82 … e4 83 g3? White had to try a move like 83 Ra2. White believes he feigns injury, when in secret he is ready to counter. He hoped to break up Black’s connected central pawn mass. In reality this is an unwelcome added burden in an already difficult situation. Exercise (planning): White’s last move was a blunder. Black to play and force the win. 83 … Rd2!
- 50. Answer: Sometimes it’s the cheapo which is the point and it is the logic and strategy which feels like the distraction. This is a bitter awakening for White to the truth: Black’s central pawns, rather than breaking up, are instead helped forward. By forcing White’s rook from e2, Black enables the decisive … f4-f3 push and the fabric of the defence rends like an overripe tomato to a hammer. 84 Rg2 Bf2 Also winning is 84 … f3!, when the f-pawn follows the white rook like a bloodhound on the escaped convict’s scent. After 85 Rxd2 (there was nowhere else for the disenfranchised rook to go) 85 … Bxd2 86 Nxf3 (or 86 Nc2 f2, forcing promotion) 86 … exf3 87 Kd3 Bf4!! wins. 85 gxf4 Bxe1 0-1 Summary I like to meet all of White’s d2-d3 lines with a kingside fianchetto, starting with … g7-g6. Prepare for long manoeuvring games in this variation, since there is no early clash of pawns in the centre. Game 6 B.Baker-C.Lakdawala San Diego Rapidplay 2006 1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 3 Nc3 Qa5 4 Nf3 Nf6 5 Bc4 Bg4 6 h3 Bh5 7 g4 Tip: Don’t be intimidated when White chases our bishop with h2-h3 and g2-g4. Yes, White gains space, but at the same time White risks future overextension. Note: 7 b4!? is a kind of Wing Gambit. I’m okay with Black’s position after 7 … Qxb4 8 Qe2 Bxf3 9 gxf3 Qd6 10 Rb1 b6 11 Bb2 Nbd7. Okay, I admit we are a mile behind in development, and handed White an open b-file and also the bishop pair. But on our side of the ledger we are a pawn up and inflicted damage to White’s kingside structure. Chances look approximately balanced. 7 … Bg6 8 d3
- 51. Tip: White can switch to a d2-d3 line late, so don’t assume your opponent will always play d2-d4. 8 … Nbd7 Tip: By playing this move order, if White tries the standard Bd2 and Nd5 tricks, when he plays Nxf6+, I can recapture with my d7-knight, avoiding the … g7xf6 structures which we looked at earlier in the book. 9 Bd2 Note: I can’t stress this enough: when our queen is on a5 and our opponent’s bishop on d2, be on high alert for dirty Nd5 tricks, like the one White threatens here. 9 … c6 10 Qe2 Qc7 11 0-0-0 e6 12 h4 h5! This move was prepared at home, specifically for my opponent. The previous week I walked into his prep after 12 … Nxg4?. Your amiable writer is one of those remarkably happy/gullible people who got that way from a serendipitous mix of a clear conscience, good weather from living in San Diego, and a low IQ. After 13 Bxe6! I groaned softly and
- 52. internally buried my face in my hands, a universal symbol of despair. When we walk into a trick like this, we desperately want to declare to our opponent: “Okay, I’ve been provoked. Watch out opponent, or I will respond with a retaliatory(ish!) gesture, which is certain to intimidate you.” And of course we have nothing and proceed meekly. The game B.Baker-C.Lakdawala, San Diego Rapidplay 2006, continued 13 … fxe6 14 Qxe6+ Be7 15 Qxg4 0-0. Later I ended up stumbling into a win due to my bishop pair and light square control, but in this position White stands clearly better. 13 g5 Ng8! Thanks for your concern but my mental state remains perfectly within “normal” parameters. In this instance retrograde developing is turned into a serviceable weapon. I intend the leisurely transfer of my knight into the f5-hole, while daring White to do something about it. 14 Ne4 Others: a) 14 Bxe6? fxe6 15 Qxe6+ Ne7 doesn’t give White enough for the piece, since Black will castle long next. b) 14 Nd4 doesn’t bother Black either. We simply play 14 … Bc5, when White’s sacrifices on e6 are all borderline sound. For example: 15 Nxe6!? (such a sacrifice looks to me like a dangerous mix of finite resources and infinite ambition) 15 … fxe6 16 Qxe6+ Ne7 17 Ne4 Nf8 18 Qh3 Bd4. Sure, Black is tangled up, but White only has two pawns for the piece and I would take my chances with Black’s position. White certainly gets practical opportunities and conversion for Black won’t be easy, since the road ahead remains infested with cutthroats and highwaymen.
- 53. 14 … 0-0-0 15 Kb1 Ne7 The f5-square is a juicy outpost for my knight and at this stage I was happy with my chances of overextending White later in the game, should pieces be exchanged. 16 Be3 Nf5 I ignore his “threat” to a7. 17 Nfd2 He doesn’t mind handing over the bishop pair, since if I play … Nxe3, met by f2xe3, he rids himself of a powerful black piece on f5 and also eliminates his hole on f4. Possible is 17 Bxa7? (if you possess some courage, then you are brave; if you overflow with too much courage, you are foolhardy – this is a case of the latter), but the sac is unsound after 17 … b5! (double attack – both white bishops hang; certainly not 17 … b6?? 18 Ba6+, when Black must cough up his queen) 18 Bxb5 cxb5 19 Be3 Kb8 and I don’t see enough compensation for the piece sacrifice. 17 … Kb8 18 Bb3 Be7 19 d4 The comp likes Black after this move, but if not this then White lacks a concrete plan. 19 … Nb6 Uncovering an attack on d4. 19 … c5 is also worth a thought. 20 Nc4 Nxe3! This is a good moment to chop on e3, since White is unable to recapture with his f- pawn. This means that I picked up the bishop pair without losing control over the f4-hole.
- 54. 21 Qxe3 Nd5 22 Qe1 Qf4 Jumping into the hole. 23 Ng3 The comp suggests 23 Nc5. 23 … Bb4 Provoking an ending where Black hopes to make White pay for his previous pawn pushes on the kingside. 23 … f6!? is an interesting option. 24 Qe5+ Qxe5 25 Nxe5 Ne7 Not allowing White to inflict damage to my structure with Nxg6. 26 Kc1 Bd6 27 Rhe1 c5!? I didn’t think I could win after 27 … Bxe5 28 dxe5 Kc7, so I entered a risky line to oust White’s powerful e5-knight without giving up my dark-squared bishop. 28 dxc5?! 28 d5! is the only way to maintain the balance. After 28 … exd5 29 Bxd5 Nxd5 30 Rxd5 Kc7 31 Nxg6 fxg6, I only slightly prefer Black’s chances, due to White’s weakened kingside pawns. Note that 32 Re6?? is impossible due to 32 … Bf4+, picking off his now hanging d5-rook. 28 … Bxc5?! Most of our games tend not to be won or lost in a straight line, but instead are episodic, full of ups and downs. Stronger is the more straightforward idea 28 … Bxe5! 29 Rxe5 Rxd1+ 30 Kxd1 Rd8+ 31 Kc1 Rd4!, when White’s h-pawn falls and Black gains a passed pawn, with the superior chances in the ending.
- 55. Exercise (critical decision): Did Black just blunder? Make a decision: would you play 29 Nd7+, which wins the exchange? Or is it better to refrain? 29 Re2! Answer: White should refrain from winning the exchange. He sees through my strategic trap and my opponent’s eyelids closed half-way in deep suspicion, avoiding 29 Nd7+? Rxd7 30 Rxd7 Bxf2 31 Rh1 Bxg3 32 Rxe7 Rd8!, when the dual threats of 33 … Bd6 (to trap his e7-rook) and … Rd4 are coming, after which White will drop all his kingside pawns, leaving Black with too many passed pawns on that flank. 29 … Rxd1+ 30 Kxd1 Rd8+ 31 Ke1 Kc7 32 c3 Bd6 33 Nxg6 Nxg6 This is a case where the parties share each other’s fears of having their kingside pawns wiped out.
- 57. Game 7 T.Casper-J.Speelman German League 2002 1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 3 Nc3 Qa5 4 g3 Note: The kingside fianchetto lines are in the same vein as the d2-d3 lines, where White refuses to offer Black any pawn targets. The downside for White is that in these lines, he or she lacks White’s normal space edge, since all the white pawns have been held back to the third rank. 4 … Nf6 5 Bg2 c6 Tip: Against the g2-g3 lines, I like to toss in an early … c7-c6, which blunts White’s powerful light-squared bishop. After 5 … Nc6!? 6 Nge2 Bg4 7 h3 Bh5 8 b4!? Nxb4 9 Bxb7 Rb8, Black’s activity makes up for the fact that he just devalued his queenside pawns with two isolanis. 6 Nge2
- 58. Note: In this line White generally develops the g1-knight to e2, since on e2 it keeps the light-squared bishop’s diagonal open and also reinforces the c3-knight, which can be important if White later plays d2-d3 and b2-b4. 6 Nf3 Bf5 7 0-0 e6 8 d3 Be7 9 h3 h6! preserves the light-squared bishop against White’s Nh4 ideas. Black looks fine here. 6 … g6! I like this non-standard fianchetto versus the g2-g3 lines, since it undercuts White’s plans. If we develop routinely with 6 … Bf5 White can exploit it with 7 b4!. If our queen takes the pawn, then White has Rb1 and Rxb7. If we decline the pawn, then White can play to soften up the h1-a8 diagonal with b4-b5. So this means that by not developing our light-squared bishop, we deny White this b2-b4 trick, since our b7-square remains protected. 7 0-0 Bg7 8 Rb1 White’s b2-b4 is coming all the same. 8 … 0-0 9 b4 Qd8 Black can also play 9 … Qc7, intending to meet 10 d3 and Bf4 with … e7-e5. 10 a4 White plans b4-b5. 10 … Ne8!
- 59. I consider British GM Jon Speelman a brilliantly original strategist. The best way to describe his style is one of disorganized accumulation. I love this original Speelmanesque contortion. Black’s oddly effective idea is to not develop his queenside pieces just yet. This means that when White plays b4-b5 and b5xc6, Black will simply recapture with his b8-knight. In this way Speelman weirdly rendered White’s typical queenside attack strategy harmless. 11 b5 Nd6! If White takes on c6, then Black develops nicely with … Nxc6. If White retains the pawn tension, then Speelman drums up counterplay with the plan to push his c-pawn to c4. 12 d3 c5!? Speelman’s plan remains provisional, to be altered with the flow of events. He intends to loosen up White’s queenside light squares with … c5-c4!. The comp prefers to go into waiting mode with 12 … Re8. 13 Ne4 After 13 Bd2 Nd7 14 Re1 c4! 15 Nd5 Nb6 Black looks okay. 13 … Nxe4 14 Bxe4 Nd7 At long last, Speelman develops his first queenside piece! 15 Bd2 White wants to play a4-a5 and a5-a6. 15 … Rb8 16 Bc3 Bxc3 I wouldn’t give White’s knight a free lift to c3. Maybe 16 … b6 is a touch more accurate. 17 Nxc3 Nf6 18 Bg2 b6 Notice how all of White’s queenside pawns have been lured on to the same colour as the remaining white bishop. 19 Ne4 Nxe4 20 Bxe4 20 dxe4 e5 is slightly worse for White, who is stuck with a bad bishop. 20 … Qd4 Worrying White about his a4-pawn. 21 Re1! e6 After 21 … Qxa4? 22 Bc6! White regains the pawn favourably, since he simultaneously threatens Rxe7 and Ra1, followed by Rxa7. 22 Ra1 a5!
- 60. Either White’s pawns will get fixed on the wrong colour, or he activates Black’s bishop. 23 bxa6 Bxa6 Black stands a shade better from my human perspective, which contradicts Komodo’s even assessment. 24 Ra3 Rfd8 Now the advance … c5-c4 is in the air. 25 Qa1 Qxa1 26 Rexa1 c4! 27 dxc4 Bxc4 White has two isolanis to Black’s one. Still, one gets the feeling that White should hold the game here. 28 Rb1 Kg7 29 Rc3 Bd5 30 Bxd5 Rxd5 31 Rcb3 Rc8 32 R1b2 32 Rxb6 Rxc2 33 R6b2 is a theoretical draw, where Black can still play on and press for a hundred moves. 32 … Rd4 33 Rb4? Correct is 33 Rxb6 Rxa4 with only a sliver of an edge for Black.
- 61. Exercise (combination alert): Ignorance isn’t the same thing as confusion. It’s impossible to spot your opponent’s combination when we harbour doubts about its existence. In this position there is a direct correlation between the acquisition of wealth and happiness. White just walked into a little combination. Do you see it? 33 … Rxc2! Answer: Overloaded defenders. Black’s rooks believe in the vigilante’s motto: if society won’t provide you justice, then get it yourself. For Speelman this shot brings with it a promise of new beginnings. 34 Rxb6 After we blunder, it’s important to place a time period on our mourning. Then we must move on without sorrow gnawing away at our heart. Casper was undoubtedly irritated that he overlooked Black’s combination. Still, he has decent chances to hold the draw. 34 … Rc1+ 35 Kg2 Rxa4 One phase ends and another begins. 36 Rb7 g5! Discouraging h2-h4, which would help White’s defence. 37 R7b4 After 37 Rd7 Ra5 38 Rbb7 Rf5 there is no mistaking Black’s intent. f7 is covered and
- 63. 8 … e5 9 d5 Nxd5 10 Nxe5 Bxe2 11 Nxc6 Bxd1 12 Nxa5 Nxc3 13 bxc3 Bxc2, Black was up a pawn in the ending, with the bishop pair and a superior pawn structure, B.Barquin- C.Lakdawala, San Diego Rapidplay 2006) 7 … 0-0-0 8 a3 Qh5 9 0-0 e5 10 h3 exd4! 11 hxg4 Nxg4 12 Nh4 f5! 13 Bxg4 fxg4 and Black had a winning attack, D.Hughan- C.Lakdawala, Yuma 2005. 5 … Bg4! Tip: I like to meet an early Bc4 with … Bg4. Why? Because White then has the unpleasant choice of either wasting a tempo to retreat the already-developed bishop back to e2, or weakening the kingside structure with h2-h3 and g2-g4. 6 h3 Bh5 7 d4!? This move provides Black a juicy target along the d-file. Perhaps White should settle for the more modest 7 d3. 7 … Nc6! Tip: Always be on alert to abandon our standard Caro-Kann/Scandi set-up with … c7-c6 and instead replace it with … Nc6, preparing to castle long, going after d4. One thing to realize is that if you play any of the … Nc6 lines, the position tends to grow progressively noisier, when juxtaposed with the sedate Caro-Kann/Scandinavian
- 64. … c6/ … Bf5 and … e6 structures. 8 0-0 White is better off trying 8 g4 Bg6 9 Bd2 (9 Bb5 Ne4! favours Black) 9 … 0-0-0 10 Qe2 Nxd4 11 Nxd4 Rxd4 12 Nb5 Rxd2 13 Qxd2 Qxd2+ 14 Kxd2, when Black’s pawn and bishop pair offer adequate compensation for the sacrificed exchange. 8 … 0-0-0 9 Be3? Too passive. He had to take the plunge with 9 g4 Bg6 10 Bb5 Qb6 11 Be3 Nd5 12 Qe2 with a complete mess of a position, which the comp rules equal. 9 … e5 Now White is in deep trouble, due to his pinned d-pawn. 10 d5 Bb4? “Papa Gepetto, will I one day be a real chess player?” When pieces are swapped and an ending nears, I remind one of a Zen master, with eyes closed, legs crossed, each foot on the opposing thigh, and with palms upward in the attitude of meditative equipoise. On the other hand, in a crowded board like this one, your initiative/tactics/attack-challenged writer’s play is more unnerving than that time when you discovered that your physical trainer at the gym was obese. Black stands clearly better after the thematic 10 … e4! 11 g4 exf3 12 gxh5 Ne5 13 Bb3 Nxh5 14 Qd4 f6. 11 g4? Better is 11 Qe2! Nd4 12 Bxd4 exd4 13 Nb5 Nxd5 14 a3 Be7 15 g4 Bg6 16 Bxd5 Rxd5 17 c4! Rd7 18 Ne5! (this wins the exchange, although Black still gets full compensation) 18 … Rhd8 19 Nxd7 Rxd7 20 Nxd4 Bf6, when White stands no worse in the complications. 11 … Bxc3 12 bxc3 12 gxh5 Nxd5 is also miserable for White. 12 … Nxd5 Stronger than 12 … Bg6. 13 Bxd5 Rxd5 14 Qe2 Bg6
- 65. White’s game is an overextended wreck, a pawn down and with a hopeless structure on both wings. His only prayer lies with generating an attack down the b-file. 15 c4 Rdd8!? I didn’t want to play 15 … Rd7 since I planned … Nd4, and when White exchanges, then … e5xd4. Here I wanted the option of seizing the e-file with … Rhe8. 16 Rab1 Nd4 16 … f6!, consolidating the e5-point, followed by … h7-h5 looks like a strong plan. 17 Nxd4 exd4 18 Rb5 Qa6 The comp likes the greedy 18 … Qxa2! 19 Bf4 Rhe8 20 Rc5 Qa5!!, but of course we blind humans miss such geometric anomaly lines. 19 Bf4! Going after Black’s only soft point, on c7. 19 … Rhe8 20 Qd2 d3?! 20 … b6! completely kills White’s attempted attack. 21 cxd3?! Now White is re-busted. He misses 21 Rc5! Re7 22 Re1! dxc2 23 Rxe7 Rxd2 24 Rcxc7+ Kd8 25 Bxd2 Qd6 26 Be3 Qxc7 27 Rxc7 Kxc7, when the presence of bishops of opposite colours may offer some chance of salvation. 21 … Rxd3 22 Qb4 Be4! 23 Re1?!
- 66. 23 Re5! is correct. 23 … Qf6! 24 Rf5 Exercise (combination alert): In this position Black’s health and well being is simply a matter of arithmetic. Should Black move his queen, or do you see something better? 24 … Rxh3! Answer: Queen sacrifice. Actually it’s a completely fake queen sac since White is mated on the move if he takes it! 25 f3 Now what? Black’s queen and bishop are simultaneously attacked: a) 25 Rxf6?? Rh1 is mate. b) 25 Rxe4 Qa1+ 26 Qe1 (or 26 Kg2 Qh1 mate) 26 … Qxe1+ and Black comes out a full exchange and two pawns ahead in the ending. 25 … Qh4! Black allows the bishop to hang, since his major pieces hunt down White’s king. I see that your eyes are wet with tears from the almost unbearable beauty of Black’s attacking skill. They aren’t? Okay, still, it’s a pretty nice finish, even if you don’t cry. 26 Rxe4 Rh1+ 27 Kg2 Qh3+ 28 Kf2 Rf1+ 0-1
- 67. On the rare occasions I win a game like this one, I expect the spectators to cheer and carry me on their shoulders onto the street, but it hasn’t happened so far. After 29 Ke3 (when we proceed forward bravely against all odds, rather than resigning, we do so mainly because we are too dense to understand that we are busted and wasting everyone’s time) 29 … Qxf3+ 30 Kd4 Rxe4+ 31 Kc5 Qf2+ 32 Kb5 c6+ (are you crying yet?) 33 Ka5 Qxa2+ 34 Qa4 b6+ 35 Ka6 Qxa4+ 36 Ra5 Qxa5 is mate. Summary Meet an early Bc4 with … Bg4. Why? Because White then has the unpleasant choice of either wasting a tempo to retreat the already-developed bishop back to e2, or weakening the kingside structure with h2-h3 and g2-g4. Game 9 D.Gliksman-C.Lakdawala Buena Park 1994 1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 3 Nc3 Qa5 4 Bc4 Nf6 5 d4 Bf5 6 Nf3 e6 7 0-0 When we come into a chess game theoretically unprepared, to my mind it’s the same as a couple making reservations to a world-class restaurant and then, when seated, just asking the waiter for water. They don’t need food, since they carried in their own take-out bag from McDonalds. This unassuming move is kind of the default variation when White isn’t booked up on the sharper lines. Study this game and the next one carefully, because you reach this kind of set-up a lot at club level. Instead, 7 Bd2 c6 8 Qe2 Bb4 9 0-0-0 is a position we already examined earlier in the
- 68. book. 7 … c6 8 Ne5 Others: a) 8 Re1 Bb4 9 Bd2 Nbd7 10 a3 Bxc3 11 Bxc3 Qc7 is possible. Now if 12 Nh4!? (12 Ne5 0-0 transposes to our game), attempting to pick up the bishop pair, can be met by 12 … Be4 13 f3 Bd5 14 Bf1 0-0 (now White must watch out for … g7-g5 tricks, which trap the wayward h4-knight) 15 Bd2 (threatening c2-c4, trapping our bishop) 15 … b5! and Black stands no worse. b) 8 Bf4 Nbd7 9 h3, intending Nh4, to go after our light-squared bishop, can simply be met by 9 … h6 with an equal position. c) 8 Nh4 Bg6 9 f4!? (we have to be careful against this plan; 9 Nxg6 hxg6 is no problem for Black) 9 … Bh5! 10 Qe1 Nbd7 11 f5 e5 12 dxe5 Nxe5 13 Bf4 Bd6 14 Bb3 0- 0-0 15 h3 Rhe8 and Black’s bishop is curiously safe on h5. 8 … Nbd7 9 Re1 Bb4 Tip: I have always played this way to create an imbalance. Don’t fear the loss of the bishop pair. The relatively rigid central formation allows Black’s knight to hold its own.
- 69. 9 … Nxe5 also looks promising after 10 Rxe5 Qc7, when White must worry about the coming … Bd6 and White’s d-pawn looks under-protected with … 0-0-0 coming. 10 Bd2 0-0 11 a3 Bxc3 This is my standard unbalancing move when playing for a win against a lower-rated opponent. White’s bishops don’t function particularly well in the rigid structure. 12 Bxc3 Qc7 13 Bd3 I was happy to see this move. It’s an indicator that White is unable to find a dynamic plan, mainly since a dynamic option is non-existent for his side! 13 Bb3 Rad8 14 Qf3 h6 15 h3 Nxe5 16 Rxe5 Rd7 17 Rae1 Rfd8 is also equal, J.Gdanski-A.Gechkov, Antwerp 1992. 13 … Bxd3 Note the principles: 1. When your opponent owns the bishop pair, remove one of them if possible. 2. Exchanges favour the cramped side, which in this case is Black, since we only pushed our pawns to the third rank. 14 Qxd3 Rad8 White must be careful to get his queen off the d-file. 15 Qg3 15 Re2?! Nxe5 16 Rxe5 Qxe5! 17 dxe5 Rxd3 18 cxd3 Nd5 leads to a Black advantage, as he has a good knight versus a potentially bad white bishop and White also nurses a backward d3-pawn on the open file. 15 … Nd5 16 Bd2 Nxe5 17 dxe5 After 17 Rxe5 Ne7 18 c3 Ng6 19 Re2 Qb6!, Black already stands slightly better due to White’s weakened light squares on the queenside. 17 … Ne7
- 70. Reading the position from left to right, all looks well for White. Outer tranquillity sometimes belies hidden danger. White’s draw-in-hand is an illusion and he is in for a lengthy and difficult defence. I already prefer Black, who has good chances to seize control over the open d-file and owns the superior minor piece. In such positions we should ladle out irritation in small doses, the cumulative effect of which is future outright pain for our opponent. 18 Bg5 Rd5 19 c4?! This tempting move weakens d4. I think White has better chances to draw by exchanging into a slightly unfavourable major piece ending with 19 Bxe7 Qxe7 20 Rad1 Rfd8 21 Rxd5 Rxd5 22 Qe3 b5 23 g3 c5. Obviously Black stands better, due to absolute control over the d-file. Still, winning major piece endings is notoriously difficult. 19 … Rd4?! In chess, alertness to detail tends to be the sole source of all our benefits and happiness, and the concentration required for details in such positions is akin to reading with too-small print. More accurate is 19 … Nf5! 20 Qc3 Rd7 21 Rad1 h6 22 Rxd7 Qxd7 23 Be3 b6 24 Re2, intending Rd2. After 24 … Qd1+ 25 Re1 Rd8! Black seizes control over the d-file and owns the superior minor piece. 20 Rad1 Nf5 21 Qc3 c5 22 Rxd4 Nxd4 23 Re4?!
- 71. A far-away fire can still be inferred by the smoke we do see. Sometimes we wilfully choose to disregard a position’s warning signs, simply because embracing the truth is depressing. White should be concentrating on defence, rather than chasing a non-existent attack on the kingside. I can see the reasoning behind his decision: he feels he has toothache, and not doing something about it is akin to thinking, “if I go to the dentist and have a root canal done, it will hurt; it’s better not to go and just accept the more minor pain of the toothache, in perpetuity.” White has reasonable chances to save the game if he assumes a defensive posture, starting with 23 f3. 23 … h6 24 Bc1 24 Be3??, which attacks Black’s knight, has one slight downside: it hangs a queen after 24 … Ne2+. 24 … Rd8 25 h3 Nf5 26 Kh2 Rd4! Principle: Meet a wing attack with a central counter. 27 Re2 After 27 Rxd4? cxd4 White’s queen can protect the c4- or e5-pawn, but not both. 27 … h5 This move anchors the knight on f5. 28 f4?! A powerful medicine is of no use to us if our constitution is too weak to stand the cure. This move, which makes his semi-bad bishop even worse and also fatally weakens the central light squares, is in violation of the principle: Avoid fixing your pawns on the same
- 72. colour as your remaining bishop. White should satisfy himself with the passive 28 Qc2. 28 … Qc6 29 Be3 Technically, White’s last move isn’t even an error, since 29 b3 b6 30 a4 h4 31 Qc2 Qd7 leaves White in virtual zugzwang. If 32 Qb2 Rd1 33 Qc3 Qd4 34 Qxd4 Nxd4, Black wins a piece. Exercise (combination alert): My eyes widened in glee to silver dollar-like dimensions since we find the thought of our opponent’s misery maliciously soothing. I see that Black can force the win of a pawn after White’s last move. How? 29 … Re4! Answer: Step 1: Pin White’s bishop. 30 Qd3 Nxe3 Step 2: Removal of the guard. Swap off the defender of f4. 31 Rxe3 Rxf4 Step 3: Pick up the loose f4-pawn. 32 Qd8+ Kh7 33 Rg3? Threat: Qg5, with a double attack on f4 and g7. But the move is incorrect, since it loses another pawn. He had to play 33 b3.
- 73. 33 … g6 34 Qd6 This leads to a hopelessly lost rook ending, as does 34 Qd3 Qe4. 34 … Qxd6 35 exd6 Rd4 36 b4 b6 37 bxc5 bxc5 38 Rb3 Rxd6 39 Rb5 Ra6 0-1 40 Rxc5 Rxa3 leaves Black up two clean pawns, with a simple technical win. Summary The default set-up with Nc3/Nf3/d2-d4/Bc4/0-0 is toothless and no threat to our side. Still, we must master the position since we get it so often, especially at club level. Game 10 N.Arutyunov-C.Lakdawala San Diego Rapidplay 2015 1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 3 Nc3 Qa5 4 Nf3 Nf6 5 Be2 c6 6 d4 Bf5 7 0-0 Nothing much has altered from the last game, except this time we get the default variation with White’s bishop on e2, rather than the more aggressive c4-square. We proceed much like we did last game. 7 … Nbd7 Tip: Control over e5 is a high priority for Black, so I often play … Nbd7 before playing … e7-e6. Why does this matter? Because when we give White control over e5, we offer our opponent options like an early Ne5, followed by potential g2-g4 and h2-h4
- 74. thrusts, which go after our light-squared bishop on f5. 8 Bf4 e6 This move allows his coming Nh4. As mentioned earlier in the book, we are not afraid of handing over the bishop pair, for the following reasons: 1. Our knights hold their own against White’s bishops in a rigid position. 2. With our … h7xg6 recapture, we get use of an open h-file, with a potential for attack against White’s king – especially if, as in this game, he is already castled. Tip: When we already lag in development, don’t take the time to insert 8 … h6?! to preserve our bishop pair. I think Black is already in trouble after 9 Nd2!, when 9 … e6 can be met by 10 Nc4, attacking the queen, with the option to sink the knight into d6. 9 Nh4 Note: One point of White’s posting of his bishop on e2, is that when he plays Nh4, going for the bishop pair, Black now lacks the … Bg4 option. 9 … Bg6 10 Nxg6 hxg6 11 Bf3 Be7
- 76. 15 f4? He had to try 15 f3! Qh7 16 fxg4 Qxh2+ 17 Kf2 (planning Rh1, trapping Black’s queen). Here Black has a very promising sacrifice with 17 … Ne5! (also possible is 17 … Bc5!, when 18 dxc5 is met by 18 … Ne5 and if 19 Rh1 Nfxg4+ 20 Qxg4 Nxg4+ 21 Kf3 f5 22 Rxh2 Rxh2 and Black only stands a shade better in the ending) 18 dxe5 (forced) 18 … Bc5+ 19 Be3 Bxe3+ 20 Kxe3 Qxg3+ 21 Qf3 Qxe5+ 22 Ne4 0-0-0. Admittedly this looks pretty scary for White, but it’s still far better than what he reached in the game. 15 … Qh7 16 Kf2 0-0-0
- 77. White’s problem is that I don’t have to take h2 and fall for his queen trap. His king is unsafe in the middle and his d-pawn – almost an artificial isolani – is vulnerable to tricks from Black’s rook on d8. 17 Be3 Nb6 18 Qe2 Nbd5 19 Nxd5 exd5 Now the e-file is opened and White must be on a constant lookout for Black’s knight landing on e4. 20 Rh1 A sad necessity, since after 20 Rae1?? Qxh2! the planned queen trap 21 Rh1 fails miserably to 21 … Ne4+ 22 Kf1 Qxh1+! (simplification) 23 Bxh1 Nxg3+ 24 Kg1 Nxe2+ with a hopeless ending for White. 20 … Qf5 Preventing h2-h3 or h2-h4 ideas from White. 21 Qd3!? When we are in deep trouble, we sometimes act like the person who had too much to drink at a party. Every attempt to disguise the fact that we are drunk makes everyone notice it more. This is a huge concession for king safety. 21 … Qxd3 Houdini doesn’t like this move, but I think it leads to a winning ending. 22 cxd3
- 78. Now Black’s pawn structure is Beverly Hills, while White’s is a slum. The wonderfully odd thing about chess is that two different players may enter the same position and yet experience opposite psychological realities. Here my beef is not with a human player, but with the idiot/genius comp, who has me less than a pawn up. I, on the other hand, took a look at White’s awful structure and felt I had a strategically won game. You are the judge and arbitrate the dispute. 22 … Rh5! Intending … Rdh8, which would tie down White’s king and rook to defence of h2. The idea behind my move is that I want to induce h2-h4, which makes his structure even more rigid and harms his bishops further. 23 h4 Ne8 The knight is of no use on f6 any more. 24 Bf1 Nc7! This move has two points: 1. White’s queenside minority attack with b2-b4, a2-a4, and b4-b5 is halted. 2. Black can later pile up on d4 with … Ne6 and … Bf6. 25 Be2 f5 26 a4 If 26 Rhb1, Black replies 26 … Re8 and now if White launches his minority attack with 27 b4? it can be met by 27 … Rxh4! 28 gxh4 Bxh4+ 29 Kg2 Rxe3 30 Rb2 Ne6 31 Rf1 Nxd4, when White’s position is a disaster. 26 … Re8 27 Bf1 Bb4
- 79. Occupying the newly-made hole on b4 and simultaneously seizing control over e1. 28 Bg2 Exercise (planning): We discover the correct plan when we formulate the correct questions. Find one simple idea and White’s game collapses. 28 … Rh6! Answer: Transfer the h5-rook to e6 and then invade along the e-file. 29 Rab1 Rhe6 30 Bc1 Be1+ 0-1 The bishop’s predominantly vertical expansion effort comes to a successful conclusion, since g3, the base of White’s structure, falls. Even more crushing is to simply seize the second rank with 30 … Re2+ 31 Kg1 Be1 32 b3 Bxg3 with an overwhelming position, since White’s king has been reduced to a quivering mental patient whose medication just lapsed. Summary Don’t fear Nh4 and Nxh6, since after … h7xg6, we are easily compensated by the open h- file and resultant attacking chances. Game 11 M.Osman-M.Golubev Bucharest 2006
- 80. 1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 3 Nc3 Qa5 4 b4!? This sacrifice, although almost certainly dubious on an objective evaluation, is nevertheless dangerous as a practical surprise weapon. When I try – unsuccessfully – to talk one of my students out of playing some shady gambit, I reach the point of the phone call where the exasperated father says: “Please put mommy on the phone!” White’s thinking behind the gambit is, “why memorize the endlessly growing cannon of mainstream theory, when one contaminating move shifts the game into the unknown, at the low price of just one pawn?” So, with his last move, White vocally embraces absolute violence. He offers a pawn to increase his already present development lead and also open the b-file for his once- sleeping a1-rook. 4 … Qxb4 Your first over the board battle in this line will impress itself into your mind, far more than any amount of leisurely home study. Tip: We shouldn’t ignore White’s discourtesy. If we decline the gambit then White gets a free kick on our queen and useful queenside space for no cost. 5 Rb1 Qd6 So for the pawn, White gets a development lead and an open b-file for his rook. The trouble is that our weakness-free position provides the would-be attacker zero targets.
- 81. 6 d4 White can also hold back the d-pawn with 6 Nf3, but it’s a temporary state since White nearly always ends up pushing the d-pawn two squares later on. After 6 … Nf6 7 Bc4 a6, Nakamura saw nothing better than 8 d4 in H.Nakamura-R.Har Zvi, Internet Blitz 2007. 6 … Nf6 7 Nb5 Note: White plays this to achieve c2-c4. Black didn’t really lose a tempo, since we get it back with a tempo on White’s knight with … c7-c6. 7 … Qd8 8 c4 c6 9 Nc3 g6! As in the lines where White fianchettoes kingside, against the Wing Gambit I like Black’s strategy of … g7-g6! and then fianchetto with … Bg7. This way we deprive our opponent of clear sacrificial targets. The comp says the position is almost even, giving White full compensation, while your greedy writer says: “Hooray, a free pawn for me!” 10 Bg5 Bg7 11 Qd2 0-0 12 Nf3 Na6! The knight will be transferred to c7, where it keeps watch over the d5-square and also gets White nervous about a possible … Ne6, which hits his bishop, as well as the d4- pawn. 13 c5?! He wants his bishop on c4 and also hopes to make Black defend b7, but handing Black
- 82. the d5-square is a too huge concession. 13 Be2 is better. Yet even after this, I don’t see full compensation following 13 … Nc7 14 0-0 Ne6 15 Be3 Qc7, intending to complete development with a combination of … Rd8, … b7-b6 and … Bb7. 13 … Nc7 14 Bc4 b5! Now comes the clash between matter and anti-matter. Principle: When you are up a pawn and defending, always look for a way to return the pawn and seize the initiative. Black does just that with his last move. 15 cxb6 axb6 16 Rxb6 Nb5! Suddenly Black’s pieces explode with energy. Black’s knight uncovers on White’s now loose b6-rook, forcing the next move. 17 Rxc6 Nxc3 18 Qxc3 Ne4 Even stronger is 18 … Bb7! 19 Bxf6 Bxf6 and White must hand over the exchange on f6, since after 20 Rc5? Bxf3 21 Qxf3 Qxd4 22 Rc6 Qa1+ 23 Qd1 Qc3+ 24 Qd2 Rfc8! 25 Rxc8+ Rxc8 White must hand over a piece, as 26 Be2?? is met by 26 … Qa1+ and White loses his queen, no matter which way he blocks the check. 19 Qb4 Threatening e7 … 19 … Bd7! … which Black ignores with powerfully energetic play. 20 Rb6
- 83. 20 Bxe7 Rb8! 21 Qa3 Qe8! 22 Ra6 Rb1+ pops the rook in the h1-corner. We are at the point where James Bond enters the villain’s lair, attempting to disarm the nuke, and reaches the “What-does-this-wire-do?” moment. Exercise (combination alert): Find Black’s combination and you end White’s resistance. 20 … Ra4?! This is a case of correct idea/wrong move order. Black still has a winning position after this. Answer: But much stronger was 20 … Nxg5! 21 Nxg5 Ra4! 22 Qc5 Rxc4! (overloaded defender) 23 Qxc4 Qxb6 and Black wins a piece. 21 Bxf7+! White finds the only move to remain alive. GM Golubev probably expected 21 Qb3? Nxg5 22 Nxg5 Rxc4!, winning a full piece. 21 … Rxf7 22 Qb3 Bxd4!? Risky. Black consolidates with 22 … Ra8! which covers his first rank against Rb8. 23 Rb8 Inaccurate. Marginally better is 23 Nxd4 Rxd4, when 24 Rb8 is met by 24 … Bc8.
- 87. c) 6 Bd2 Qf5!? 7 Bd3 (7 Be2 Nc6!, intending to castle long, is at least equal for Black) 7 … Bxf3 8 gxf3 Qd7 is an interesting imbalance between White’s development lead and bishop pair versus Black’s superior structure. 6 … Bh5 7 g4! Bg6 8 Ne5! This idea is by far White’s most challenging line against the early … Bg4 lines. All others allow Black easy equality. 8 … e6 9 Bg2 I face this move most often. White develops, while generating a threat against our b7- pawn. Others: a) If there is a refutation of Black’s line then I predict it will come out of 9 h4!. I have yet to find a path for Black to full equality, but even when White plays the book “refutation”, to my mind it’s only a “+=“ edge for White in complex positions, which I can live with. White’s intention with his last move is Bd2 and h4-h5, running Black’s bishop out of room. Play continues 9 … Bb4 10 Bd2 Nbd7 11 Nc4 Qa6 12 h5 Bxc3 13 hxg6 Bxd2+ 14 Nxd2 Qc6 15 gxf7+ Kxf7. Okay, I admit that White stands better, with the bishop pair. But is it really that bad to be called a “refutation”? I can deal with slight inferiority in a complex position which I will certainly understand better (due to greater experience) than my opponent. b) 9 Bd2 Nbd7 is okay for Black. We shouldn’t fear 10 Nc4 Qa6 11 Qf3 (11 Bf4?! is met by 11 … Qc6! with advantage for Black), since 11 … Bb4 is about equal. 9 … c6 10 0-0 Nbd7
- 88. 11 Qe2!? The book move, but I think it’s weak. White has a hard time staying equal in this line. 11 f4! is White’s best. My buddy GM Yasser Seirawan played this on me several times in online 5-minute games and I think it’s the only way to put pressure on Black in the Bg2 line. The move doesn’t try to refute Black’s line but simply grabs space. Y.Seirawan- C.Lakdawala, Internet Blitz 2007, continued 11 … Bb4! 12 Ne2 and now 12 … Rd8 looks only slightly worse for Black. 11 … Nxe5 12 dxe5 Nd7 13 Bf4 Superior to 13 f4?! h5! 14 f5 Bh7 15 fxe6 fxe6 which was played in a Benjamin- Rodgers game, where White’s position already felt somewhat overextended. 13 … Bb4?! This superficial move is a waste of time because White wants his knight to head for e4 anyway. 13 … h5! 14 Ne4! hxg4 15 hxg4 Bxe4 16 Qxe4 0-0-0 looks at least equal for Black. 14 Nd1?! The players have willingly entered a strategic tangle whose workings neither side fully comprehends. This is too leisurely for the position’s needs. White plans a slow queenside pawn advance, which he doesn’t have time for. 14 Ne4! Bxe4 15 Qxe4 h5 16 g5! looks a touch better for White, whose central space and bishop pair may mean something. 14 … Be7 Running away before being hit with a2-a3. 15 a3? Correct is 15 Ne3. 15 … Qa4!
- 89. The battle begins to swing in Black’s favour. This move, overlooked by my opponent, hits both the c2-pawn and the f4-bishop. 16 c4 Qb3! Ibragimov missed this move as well which plugs up his intended queenside pawn advance. He was expecting 16 … Nc5 17 b4! (White abandons a weakness to bolster his strength) 17 … Bd3 18 Qe3 Bxf1 19 Bxf1, when White’s queenside initiative, space and bishop pair may offer him full compensation for the exchange. 17 Ne3 Bd3 18 Qd1
- 91. Principle: Exchanges benefit the material-up side. 24 Rfe1 The GM refuses to make yet another concession with 24 Qe1 and allows a queen swap. 24 … 0-0 25 Be4 Qxe2 26 Rxe2 Rd7 27 f4 Rfd8 28 Rcc2 Rd1+ 29 Kf2 Nd5 29 … Na4! either eliminates White’s bishop pair or worsens his position after 30 Kg2 Nc5 31 Bf3 a5. White can do nothing but await events. 30 Kf3 Rd7 The idea is to centralize the king next. 30 … f6 was worth a thought. 31 Re1! Rxe1 32 Bxe1 White’s position has gradually gotten better over the last 15 moves or so, and Komodo at this stage only gives Black a slight edge, despite the extra pawn. 32 … Bd8 33 h4 h6?! This is overly passive. I should challenge White’s centre with 33 … f6!. 34 h5 ½-½ I agreed to a draw here, with Komodo assessing at nearly even (most of us unconsciously defer to the comp’s assessment – even when it’s inaccurate!). Now why would I accept a draw against a strong GM a full pawn up? This was one of my final slow time control tournaments, before I was forced to retire, due to recurring back issues. In this case my back was on fire and it was only the second day of a three-day tournament. I
- 92. knew that if I played the game out for another two or three hours, it would destroy my play on the final day. There is no point in agreeing to fight in a weakened state, so I decided to save my strength for the next day, where my odds are better. Summary 5 … Bg4!? is a high-risk winning try from our side. Only those who crave adventure will dare to play it among the Scandi folk. Game 13 R.Del Pilar-C.Lakdawala San Diego Rapidplay 2006 1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 3 Nc3 Qa5 4 d4 Nf6 5 Nf3 Bg4 6 h3 Bh5 7 g4 Bg6 8 Ne5 e6 9 Nc4 Tip: Everyone please remain calm and remember our only-one-safe-square-required philosophy. Our queen isn’t trapped, since she slips into a haven on a6. 9 … Qa6 10 Ne5!? A tacit draw offer if Black repeats with … Qa5. Tip: Don’t be afraid of the queen “trap” 10 Bf4?! Qc6! 11 Nd6+?? (White is only a touch worse after 11 Rg1 Bb4) 11 … Bxd6 12 Bb5 Bxf4 13 Bxc6+ Nxc6, when Black got
- 93. three pieces – way too much – for White’s “extra” queen, G.Hernandez- C.Lakdawala, San Diego Championship 1993. 10 … Qb6 Tip: Always be aware of our g6-bishop’s health by staying away from traps like 10 … Qd6? 11 Bg2 c6 12 h4! h5 13 g5 Nd5 14 Nxg6 fxg6 15 Qd3, when Black is strategically lost. 11 Bg2 c6?! 11 … Nbd7 is Black’s most accurate response, since it is in our best interests to challenge White’s e5-knight as quickly as possible. 12 Nxg6 hxg6 looks fine for Black. 12 0-0?! White lets me off the hook for my inaccuracy last move, which he could have exploited by 12 h4! Bb4 13 h5 Be4 14 f3 Bd5, when White gained useful kingside space and placed Black’s bishop in an uncomfortable post on d5. 12 … Nbd7 Now everything is okay again for Black. 13 Nxd7 13 h4 is met by 13 … Rd8! 14 Qe2 Qxd4 15 Nxd7 Rxd7 16 h5 Bxc2 17 Qxc2 Qxg4 and Black has full compensation for the piece. 13 … Kxd7?!
- 94. Your writer’s great joy in life is to bait opponents. Our life decisions convey our personality, far better than words and descriptions alone. Such bone-headed decisions are certain to stain my Wikipedia page. We construct our reality in terms of expectation and in this case the host of my justifications and rationalizations fall short. I was leading the tournament and needed only a draw for clear first, but I also outrated my National Master opponent by about 250 rating points and thought about playing for a win, which I did with this unnecessarily provocative move. Much simpler and better suited for my tournament situation is 13 … Nxd7 with a perfectly stable position. 14 Na4! Dual purpose: 1. White’s knight is ready to land on c5, with tempo. 2. White clears the way for c2-c4 to go after Black’s king. 14 … Qc7 15 Nc5+ Ke8!? I felt that 15 … Bxc5 16 dxc5+ not only handed White the bishop pair but also gave away too many dark squares.
- 95. 16 Be3 Not energetic enough. 16 f4! invests his position with potency. After 16 … Bd6 17 f5 exf5 18 gxf5 Bh5 19 Qd3 h6 20 Bd2 Kf8 (remember, Black can’t castle, having voluntarily moved the king earlier) Black’s h8-rook will be out of play for some time. 16 … Rd8 Threatening a cheapo on c5. 17 Qe2 Bd6 17 … h5! either forces the slightly overextending white g-pawn to g5, or allows Black to open the h-file. 18 Rae1 Kf8 Buh bye! I see f2-f4 and f4-f5 coming and get my king off the e-file. 19 f4 h6 Black’s main issue: How do I develop my h8-rook? 20 Bc1 I would play 20 Nd3, intending to go to e5 next. 20 … Be7?! Black may be okay after the correct 20 … Kg8. 21 Qf2 He should go for the energetic 21 f5! Bxc5 22 dxc5 exf5 23 gxf5 Bh5 24 Qf2 Kg8 25
- 96. Bf4 Qa5 26 Be5 Qd2 27 Bd6 Qxf2+ 28 Kxf2 with a difficult ending for Black. 21 … b6 22 Nb3?! Passive. White must seize his moment with 22 f5!, when he has a clear advantage. 22 … Bd6 Now Black is okay again. 23 Re2 a5 24 a4?! Now if he plays c2-c4, Black will occupy the b4-hole with his bishop. 24 Be3 was correct. 24 … Kg8 25 Qf3 h5! White is given the unpleasant choice of allowing Black to open the h-file for his rook, or create a hole on f5 by pushing past with g4-g5. 26 g5 Nd5 27 c4 Nb4 The knight happily occupies the b4-hole. White already stands worse, with a distinct feeling of overextension. 28 c5?! In his desperation to win the game White is overextending further. Correct was 28 Bd2. 28 … Be7 29 f5!? White’s game is overtaken by the force of inertia. This desperate clearance sacrifice is
- 97. motivated by the fear of having to lapse into defence and just defend his multiple weaknesses passively. 29 … Bxf5 30 Bf4 Qa7 31 Be5!? Del Pilar was low on the clock by now. After 31 cxb6 Qxb6 White has too many structural weaknesses to survive. 31 … bxc5 32 dxc5 32 Nxc5 Bxc5 33 dxc5 Rd3 is decisive. 32 … Rd3 The d3-square is the fulcrum for Black’s lever, and White is completely busted. 33 Re3 Bxc5 34 Nxc5 Qxc5 35 Rfe1 Nd5 35 … Nc2! is even stronger. 36 Bf4 Qd4! Attacking a key defender of e3. 37 Be5 Qb6 Also easily winning is 37 … Qxe3+!? 38 Rxe3 Rxe3 39 Qf2 Rxe5 with way too many pieces for the queen. 38 Bf4
- 98. Exercise (combination alert): Find a key move and you short circuit White’s defence. 38 … e5! Answer: Removal of the guard. Black wins a piece. 39 Kh1 Nxf4 40 Rxd3 Bxd3 41 Rxe5 Qd4 42 Re7 Bg6 43 Qxc6 Kh7 0-1 I was really tired of spotting my opponent rook odds this game and decided to finally develop the late-blooming h8-rook. Summary When White plays 9 Nc4, remember our only-one-safe-square-required policy and respond with 9 … Qa6. Game 14 I.Ibragimov-C.Lakdawala US 10-minute Championship 2005 Same GM, different time control. This one was played at the US G/10 Championship. A ten-minute game with a three-second time delay doesn’t really count as rapid and is more of a glorified blitz battle. 1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 3 Nc3 Qa5 4 d4 Nf6 5 Bc4 Bg4!?