Tibor Károlyi

PLAY THE
SEMI-TARRASCH!
PART 2

Chess
Evolution
Cover designer
Piotr Pielach
Chess pieces by Ingram Image

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First edition 2018 by Chess Evolution

Play the Semi-Tarrasch! Part 2

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS
KEY TO SYMBOLS.........................................................................................................5
PREFACE ............................................................................................................................7
CHAPTER 1. 1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5
WHITE DOESN’T PLAY 5.f3 ........................................................... 13
The sidelines at move 5..................................................................................................13

CHAPTER 2. SOME IMPORTANT PAWN STRUCTURES

IN THE LINES WITHOUT cxd5 .......................................................... 19
1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.f3 d5 4.c3 c5 5. f4 cxd4 6.xd4 c6 ..............................24
1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.f3 d5 4.c3 c5 5.g3....................................................................28
1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.f3 d5 4.c3 c5 5. g5 ...............................................................30
1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.f3 d5 4.c3 c5 5.e3 c6 6.a3 a6 and 6...dxc4........................ 35
1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.c4 c5 4.e3 d5 5.c3 c6 6.a3 e4 .......................................... 41
1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.f3 d5 4.c3 c5 5.e3 c6 6.a3 e4 7.c2 ..............................45

CHAPTER 3. WHITE PLAYS cxd5 ........................................................................ 49

Some important Pawn Structures in the 6.e3 variation..........................................49
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e3 e6 6.d4 c6 7. b5 ....................... 57

CHAPTER 4. WHITE PLAYS 7. c4 ...................................................................... 61

5.f3 c5 6.e3 c6 7. c4 cxd4 8.cxd4 e7 9.0-0 0-0 10.e2
and other sidelines ........................................................................................... 61
5.f3 c5 6.e3 c6 7. c4 cxd4 8.cxd4 e7 9.0-0 0-0 10.a3 ................................... 64
5.f3 c5 6.e3 c6 7. c4 cxd4 8.cxd4 e7 9.0-0 0-0 10. e1 f6 ........................67
5.f3 c5 6.e3 c6 7. c4 cxd4 8.cxd4 e7 9.0-0 0-0 10. e1 a6 11. b3
and other sidelines ...........................................................................................72
5.f3 c5 6.e3 c6 7. c4 cxd4 8.cxd4 e7 9.0-0 0-0 10. e1 a6 11. d3 .............. 75
5.f3 c5 6.e3 c6 7. c4 cxd4 8.cxd4 e7 9.0-0 0-0 10. e1 a6 ...........................78
5.f3 c5 6.e3 c6 7. c4 cxd4 8.cxd4 e7 9.0-0 0-0 10. e1 a6 11. d3 .............. 83
5.f3 c5 6.e3 c6 7. c4 cxd4 8.cxd4 e7 9.0-0 0-0 10. e1 a6 11.a3 b5 .............87
5.f3 c5 6.e3 c6 7. c4 cxd4 8.cxd4 e7 9.0-0 0-0 10. e1 a6 11.a3 b5
12. a2 xc3 13.bxc3....................................................................................... 90

CHAPTER 5. 5.f3 c5 6.e3 c6 7. d3 ...................................................................93

5.f3 c5 6.e3 c6 7. d3 cd4 8.exd4 d7 and 8...b6 ..............................................93
6.e3 c6 7. d3 e7 8.0-0 0-0 ...................................................................................97
7. d3 e7 8.0-0 0-0 9.e4 cxd4 10.exd4 f6.......................................................101
7. d3 e7 8.0-0 0-0 9.e4 cxd4 10.exd4 b6 ......................................................... 105
 7. d3 e7 8.0-0 0-0 9. e4 f6 and 9...b6 ...........................................................109
7. d3 e7 8.0-0 0-0 9. e4 cxd4 10.exd4 f6 ......................................................112
7. d3 e7 8.0-0 0-0 9. e4 cxd4 10.exd4 f6 ...................................................... 115
5.f3 c5 6.e3 c6 7. c4 cxd4 8.cxd4 e7 9.0-0 0-0 10. e1 a6 11. b3
and other side moves ......................................................................................118
7. d3 e7 8.0-0 0-0 9.xd5 xd5 10.e4 ................................................................121
7. d3 e7 8.0-0 0-0 9. e1 g6 .................................................................................. 128
7. d3 e7 8.0-0 0-0 9. e1 b6 10. e4; 10.a4; and 10.e4 ............................... 131
7. d3 e7 8.0-0 0-0 9. e1 b6 10.xd5...................................................................135
7. d3 e7 8.0-0 0-0 9. e1 b6 10.a3 .........................................................................139
7. d3 e7 8.0-0 0-0 9.a3 g6 ..................................................................................... 143
6.e3 e7 7. d3 c6 8.0–0 0–0 9.a3 cxd4 10.exd4 f6 10.e2 and c2 g6 .... 145
6.e3 e7 7. d3 c6 8.0–0 0–0 9.a3 cxd4 10.exd4 f6 10.c2 h6 .....................149
6.e3 e7 7. d3 c6 8.0–0 0–0 9.a3 cxd4 10.exd4 f6 11. e3 xe3................. 151
6.e3 e7 7. d3 c6 8.0–0 0–0 9.a3 cxd4 10.exd4 f6 11. e3 g6.......................153
6.e3 e7 7. d3 c6 8.0–0 0–0 9.a3 cxd4 10.exd4 f6 11. c2 xc3.................157
6.e3 e7 7. d3 c6 8.0–0 0–0 9.a3 cxd4 10.exd4 f6 11. c2 b6 ......................161
7. d3 c6 8.0–0 0–0 9.a3 cxd4 10.exd4 f6 11. e1 b6 and 11...xd4 ......... 163
7. d3 c6 8.0–0 0–0 9.a3 cxd4 10.exd4 f6 11. e1 g6 ...................................... 168
7. d3 c6 8.0–0 0–0 9.a3 cxd4 10.exd4 f6 11. e1 xc3 ................................ 172
7. d3 c6 8.0–0 0–0 9.a3 cxd4 10.exd4 f6 11. e1 d7 12. c2, 12.e5,
12.e2, 12. e4 and 12.e4 ...........................................................................174
6.e3 c6 7. d3 e7 8.0–0 0–0 9.a3 cxd4 10.exd4 f6 11. e4 d6 12. e1,
12.h4, 12.e2, 12.b5, 12.h3, 12. e3, 12. g5 and 12.c2 ....................... 178
6.e3 c6 7. d3 e7 8.0–0 0–0 9.a3 cxd4 10.exd4 f6 11. e4 d6 12.d3 ....181
6.e3 c6 7. d3 e7 8.0–0 0–0 9.a3 cxd4 10.exd4 f6 11. e4 ce7 12.h4,
12. c2, 12. g5, 12.g5 and 12.b3 ........................................................... 186
6.e3 c6 7. d3 e7 8.0–0 0–0 9.a3 cxd4 10.exd4 f6 11. e4 ce7 12.c2 .. 188
6.e3 c6 7. d3 e7 8.0–0 0–0 9.a3 cxd4 10.exd4 f6 11. e4 ce7 12. e1 ...190
6.e3 c6 7. d3 e7 8.0–0 0–0 9.a3 cxd4 10.exd4 f6 11. e4 ce7
12.e5 d7, 12...f5 and 12...b6 .................................................................. 194
6.e3 c6 7. d3 e7 8.0–0 0–0 9.a3 cxd4 10.exd4 f6 11. e4 ce7 12.e5 g6198
6.e3 c6 7. d3 e7 8.0–0 0–0 9.a3 cxd4 10.exd4 f6 11. e4 ce7 12.d3 .. 201

CHAPTER 6. SOME PAWN STRUCTURES IN THE 6.g3 LINE ............... 207

5.f3 c5 6.g3 xc3 7.bxc3 cxd4 8.cxd4 b4+ 9. d2 xd2+ 10.xd2 b6....... 208
5.f3 c5 6.g3 xc3 7.bxc3 cxd4 8.cxd4 b4+ 9. d2 xd2+ 10.xd2 d7 .... 212
5.f3 c5 6.g3 cxd4 7.xd5 xd5 8.xd4 b5 ......................................................215
5.f3 c5 6.g3 c6 7. g2 cxd4 8.xd4 xc3 9.bxc3 xd4 10.xd4 xd4
11.cxd4 d6 ..................................................................................................... 219
5.f3 c5 6.g3 c6 7. g2 cxd4 8.xd4 xc3 9.bxc3 xd4 10.xd4 xd4
11.cxd4 d6 12.0-0 ......................................................................................... 223
11.cxd4 d6 12.0-0 b8 13.e4 ....................................................................................226

EPILOGUE .................................................................................................................... 231

 KEY TO SYMBOLS

= Equality or equal chances

 White has a slight advantage
 Black has a slight advantage
 White is better
 Black is better
+- White has a decisive advantage
-+ Black has a decisive advantage
 unclear
 with compensation
 with counterplay
 with initiative
 with an attack
 with the idea
 only move

N novelty
! a good move
!! an excellent move
? a weak move
?? a blunder
!? an interesing move
?! a dubious move
+ check
# mate
 PREFACE

In the fi rst book on the Semi-Tar- ▷ K. Hulak

rasch we looked in great detail at the ▶ E. Torre
variations in which White sometimes Interzonal Toluca, 1982
occupies the centre by pushing the
e-pawn two squares. Many of these
lines were testing for Black, but in 1.c4 c6 2.e4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.d4 f6
my opinion the lines in general were 5.c3 e6
nice for Black. In this second book we
will look at all the other variations In the Candidates matches, Torre
White can try. These lines do not go deviated successfully with 5...c6.
after Black at once, but this in no way 6. g5 a5 7.d2 e6 8.c5 e4
means that Black can do whatever 9.xe4 dxe4 10.xa5 xa5 11. d2
he or she wants. On the other hand, c6 12. c3 0–0–0 13.e2 c4
one can learn a  lot from variations 14.g3 1/2 Ribli,Z-Torre,E, Candi-
with isolated pawns, and investiga- dates, Alicante 1983.
tion of such positions can raise one’s
chess-understanding tremendously. 6.f3 e7 7.cxd5 xd5 8. d3 c6
9.0–0 0–0 10. e1 f6 11. e4 ce7
When I  asked Zoltan Ribli to say 12.e5
a few words on his Candidates match
8 r+lwq-trk+
opponent, Torre, among other things
7
he mentioned that Eugenio played zpp+-snpzpp
a game that left a very strong impres- 6 -+-+pvl-+
sion on him. I would like to show this 5 +-+nsN-+-
particular game. The game is by no 4 -+-zPL+-+
means as flashy as Pinter’s marvel- 3 +-sN-+-+-
lous win over Portisch, but it still has 2 PzP-+-zPPzP
a special beauty. I will borrow from
1 tR-vLQtR-mK-
my own analysis in my book on Torre,
published by Chess Evolution. Enjoy a b c d e f g h
this masterpiece!
12...f5
8 PLAY THE SEMI-TARRASCH!

Until this point both players had cho- White should look for an advantage
sen the main moves, but now Torre with 16.g3! at once. 16...xe3 17.xe3
plays a novelty. According to the da- f6 (17... g5 18.d5 exd5 19.exd5
tabase this move was played twice in xd5 20.xd5 c6 21.b3 White is
1982, but I doubt that Torre was aware ahead in development, although Black
of the other game. has no weaknesses and the bishop
pair, but White is somewhat better.)
13.a3 18.g4 g5 (18...c6 19.xf6+ xf6
20.d5 d4) 19. g2 (19.f4 xf4=) 19...
Hulak’s response is reasonable; a3 is c6 20.h4 e7 Black still has to catch
a  standard move in this variation. up in development.
13.g4!? has grown into the main
move here, and it is testing for Black. 16... c6!

13...de7 14. e3 d7 Black exchanges his weaker bishop for
White’s well-placed one.
Black has other reasonable moves as
well: 14...g6 and 14...d5. 17.g3

15.g4!? After 17. xc6 bxc6 Black would be

doing well.
8 r+-wq-trk+
7 zpp+lsnpzpp 8 r+-wq-trk+
6 -+-+pvl-+ 7 zpp+-snpzpp

5 +-+-+n+- 6 -+l+p+-+

4 -+-zPL+N+ 5 +-+-+n+-

3 zP-sN-vL-+- 4 -+-zPL+Nvl

2 -zP-+-zPPzP 3 zP-sN-vL-zP-

1 tR-+QtR-mK- 2 -zPQ+-zP-zP

a b c d e f g h 1 tR-+-tR-mK-
a b c d e f g h
15... h4!
17...h5!
Torre saves his bishop in a very imag-
inative way. After 15...g6 16.xf6+ Eugenio saves his dark-squared bish-
xf6 17.d5 xe3 18. xe3 Black’s po- op with an original move.
sition would be unpleasant.
18.e5 f6
16.c2
 PREFACE 9

Black equalises as all his minor pieces White is looking for complications,
are in play. but with this move he hands over the
initiative. 22.xe4 is safer.
19. ad1 c8!?
22... g7 23.h3
This is a brave move, and one that re-
quires precise calculation. After 19... Hulak goes for a  sharpening of the
 xe4 20.xe4 d5 the position position. If his play comes to a stand-
would be equal with fewer chances still, White will have a lot of suffering
for either side to take over. ahead. On 23.c3 b6 24. d2 cd8
Black has the upper hand.
20.e2
23... c2!
If 20.xc6 bxc6! 21.a4 g6 22.c5
d5 Black has a good grip on White’s Black has several ways to start play-
centre. Black is not worse. ing for a win, for example 23...d5,
23...d5 or 23... xe3 24.xe3 f5
20...g6 21.f3 25.f4 c2 are all playable. Torre
chooses one which requires superb
8 -+rwq-trk+ calculation.
7 zpp+-snp+-
6 -+l+pvlp+ 24. g5!
5 +-+-sNn+p
4 -+-zPL+-+ White correctly goes for a sharp vari-
3 zP-sN-vLQzP- ation. If 24. e2  xe2 25.xe2 d5
2 -zP-+-zP-zP
26.c3 b3 Black will exert pressure
on the d4–pawn.
1 +-+RtR-mK-
a b c d e f g h 24...f6

21... xe4! 24...  xb2? would be a  mistake.

25.g4! (After 25.f6+ xf6 (25...h8
Torre does not see any further way 26.g4 wins.) 26. xf6 d5 the posi-
to improve his position, so he starts tion would be balanced. 27.g4) 25...
exchanging. This is a classical theme f6 (25...h6 26.f6+ wins. Or 25...
against an isolated pawn. d6 26. xe7 xe7 27.xd6 xd6
28.c4 and Black loses a  rook.)
22.xe4?! 26.gxf5 fxg5 27.c3±

25.b3
10 PLAY THE SEMI-TARRASCH!

8 -+-wq-trk+ After 29. xf8 xf8 30. d6 c1

7 zpp+-sn-vl- 31. xc1 xc1+ 32.g2 c8 33. xe6
6 -+-+pzpp+
d7 Black’s material advantage is
sufficient to win the game.
5 +-+-sNnvLp
4 -+-zPN+-+
29... c1!
3 zPQ+-+-zPP
2 -zPr+-zP-+ Reducing the attacking force.
1 +-+RtR-mK-
a b c d e f g h
30.xe6+
8 -+q+-trk+
7 zpp+Nsn-vl-
25...c8!
6 -+-+Q+p+
Torre is ready for Hulak’s double at- 5 +-+-+-zpp
tack. 4 -+-+-+-+
3 zP-+R+-zPP
26.c5 2 -zP-+-zP-+

1 +-tr-tR-mK-
Hulak commits a  losing mistake in
the complications. 26.c3 would be a b c d e f g h
clearly better. 26...  xc3! (26...  xf2
27.xf2 fxe5 28.g2 c6+ 29.e4 30... f7!
exd4 30.g1 d5 31. c1 b6 The
position is even.) 27.bxc3 fxe5 28.g4! Black has come out of the complica-
(If 28.dxe5 c6 29.g4 hxg4 30.hxg4 tions with an extra piece, but Hulak
 h6 White would struggle.) 28... decides not to resign.
h6! 29.gxf5 xg5 30.xe6+ xe6
31.fxe6 exd4 32.  xd4 (32.cxd4 d5 31. xc1 xc1+ 32.h2 c6!
Black’s light pieces will soon domi-
nate.) 32... f3 33. d7 It is difficult to Getting rid of the strong e6–queen is
tell whether White can survive or not. very practical.

26...xd4! 33.b3 f5

This brilliant shot obtains a winning Black is a piece up and he starts at-
position right away. tacking. Now he threatens ...d4.

27. xd4 xc5 28.d7 fxg5 29. d3 34.b8 b6 35.c2 d4 36.c8+
h7 37.d7
 PREFACE 11

I think Hulak had no time to resign. Hulak resigns. Recapturing the rook
would hang the queen, but Torre of
37...e6 38. xd4 course would not miss a checkmate
in two. Hulak started the game with
8 -+Q+-+-+ an attack; Torre fi nished the game
7 zpp+N+rvlk with checkmate. Torre’s opponent in
6 -+-+q+p+ the World Championship Candidates
5 +-+-+-zpp matches was right; this was indeed
4 -+-tR-+-+ very worthy of close study.
3 zP-+-+-zPP
2 -zP-+-zP-mK

1 +-+-+-+-
a b c d e f g h

38... xf2+ 0–1

 CHAPTER 1.
1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5
xd5 WHITE DOESN’T PLAY 5.f3

The sidelines at move 5 so the bishop will have a stronger ef-

fect. This game matters only for play-
ers who employ the Queen’s Gambit
One of the many good qualities of the move order.
Semi-Tarrasch is that White has very
few options to try to exert pressure. It Let’s see White’s other early possibili-
may be a bit extreme to say so, but it ties. Against the 5.xd5 capture both
is close to the truth that there is only recaptures 5...xd5 and 5...exd5 give
one pawn structure White can opt for a  free position, though taking back
with a realistic hope of obtaining an with the pawn gives more chances to
advantage. White players very rare- fight.
ly play moves other than 5.e4, 5.f3,
or 5.e3 with developing the knight to a) 5.e3 c5 6. d3 c6 Black could
f3. One can hardly find a game from choose to head for a Nimzo-Indian
grandmasters with alternatives. I like position with 6...cxd4 7.exd4 b4.
to close all angles, so although I will
not discuss the sidelines too much, 8 r+lwqkvl-tr
7
I will still devote a few pages to them. zpp+-+pzpp
6 -+n+p+-+
5 +-zpn+-+-
4 -+-zP-+-+
Game 1 3 +-sNLzP-+-
2 PzP-+-zPPzP
▷ A. Korobov 1 tR-vLQmK-sNR
▶ F. Berkes a b c d e f g h
Aeroflot Open A, Moscow, 2017
7.ge2 The knight can sit on e2 in
many openings such as the Scan-
1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 dinavian, the Nimzo-Indian and
xd5 5.g3 sometimes the Caro-Kann. It stands
well on e2 to open the position, but
White wants to fianchetto the bishop if White’s play stops then the knight
without the putting the knight on f3, becomes misplaced. The lines with
14 PLAY THE SEMI-TARRASCH!

f4 we will discuss later. 7...cxd4 13.  fe1 ce7 14.f4+=) 12. d1
(7...g6) 8.exd4 e7 Black develops (12.g3  xd4 13. xd4  xd4
conventionally. (In the spirit of the 14.  xh6 c7=) 12... d7 13.g3
Grünfeld, 8...g6!? is also quite pos- h4 14.h3 e8 15.f3 ce7 and
sible.) 9. e4 Black has a nice position.

a1) 9...xc3?! a3) 9...f6! I prefer to ask a ques-

tion of the bishop.
8 r+lwqk+-tr
7 zpp+-vlpzpp a31) 10. c2 b4 11. b3 0–0
6 -+n+p+-+
5 +-+-+-+-
Black will play ...b6 and ... b7
4 -+-zPL+-+
with a pleasant game.
3 +-sn-+-+-
2 PzP-+NzPPzP a32) 10.  xc6+ bxc6 11. e3 (11.
1 tR-vLQmK-+R a4 b6) 11... a6 ad Black is
a b c d e f g h very active.

I  don’t like this capture as it a33) 10.  f3 0–0 11.  f4 d6

strengthens White’s centre, but it 12. g5 h6 13. h4 e5 14.d5 d4
gives a  fighting position and can 15. xd4 exd4 16.xd4 e8+
be played. 10.bxc3 c7 11.0–0 0–0 when Black has excellent compen-
It is hard to work out the difference sation for the pawn.
between the knight standing on e2
rather than f3, but this game sug- b) 5. d2 c5 (5...g6) 6.f3
gests that Black is OK. 12.c2 g6
(12...f5 13. f4 d6 14. xd6 xd6 b1) 6... e7 7.dxc5  xc5 8. xd5
15. f3 d7 16.c4+=) 13.c4 (13. f4 exd5 9. c3 0–0 10.e3 c6 11. e2
d6) 13... f6 14. d1 d8 15. e3
d7 16. f4 (16. ab1 a5=) 16... 8 r+lwq-trk+
7
a5 (On 16...e5 17. g3 ac8 zpp+-+pzpp
6 -+n+-+-+
18. ac1 a5 19.d5 d4 20.xd4 5 +-vlp+-+-
exd4 the position would be even.) 4 -+-+-+-+
17. ab1 ac8 18.c5 Black would 3 +-vL-zPN+-
stand all right after 18...b6 (18... 2 PzP-+LzPPzP
e8=) 19. d2 a6 20. d3= or 1 tR-+QmK-+R
18. xb7 xd4. a b c d e f g h

a2) 9...0–0 I  do not fully recom- 11...a6 This looks like a loss of tem-
mend this well-known plan in the po. In many ordinary Tarrasch
main Semi-Tarrasch. 10.0–0 f6 lines this move makes room for the
11.d3 h6 (11...g6 12.  h6 e8 bishop on the diagonal, but here it
 CHAPTER 1. 1.d4  f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5… 15

is close to giving away a  tempo. ous possibility, so it is better not to

(11... f5) 12.0–0 e8 13. c1 b6 take this check too lightly! 5... d7
14.d4 White has accomplished (I just want to show how things can
the possibility of squeezing for go wrong for Black: 5...c6?! 6.f3
some time to come. 14...xd4 (14... b6?! 7.d1 e7 8.e4 and the very
d6!?) 15.  xd4 e6 16. f3 h6 reasonable Black player obtained
17. c3 d6 18.xb6 xb6 19.d2 a clearly worse position fairly early
White is somewhat better and at in the opening, Rakotomaharo,F-Ki-
the end of a long ‘massage’, White gigha,B, Baku 2016.) 6.b3
managed to win in the game Drag-
omarezkij,E-Simonian,T, Moscow 8 rsn-wqkvl-tr
7
2015. zppzpl+pzpp
6 -+-+p+-+
5 +-+n+-+-
b2) 6...c6 7.dxc5 (7.e4  xc3 4 -+-zP-+-+
8.  xc3 cxd4 9. xd4  xd4 3 +QsN-+-+-
10.xd4 xd4 11.  xd4 b4+ 2 PzP-+PzPPzP
12.e2 f6= or 7.xd5 xd5 8. c3 1 tR-vL-mKLsNR
cxd4 9. xd4  xd4 10.xd4 a b c d e f g h
xd4 11.  xd4 b4+= Stegari-
u,V-Pop,A, Calimanesti 2013) 7... d1) 6...c5!? Black rarely has a chance
 xc5 8.e4  xc3 9.  xc3 b6 to play dynamically. 7.xd5 (7.f3
10.d2 0–0 11. c4 d8 12.e2 cxd4 8. xd5 exd5 9. xd4 c6
b4 13. c1 d7 14.0–0 ac8= 10.xc6 bxc6 Black stands well.)
Van Beek,L-De Jong,M, Amster- 7...exd5 8.xd5 cxd4 9.xd4 c6
dam 2006. 10.e4+ e7 11. d2 (11.f3 0–0)
11...0–0 12. c3 f6=+ White has
c) 5.c2 Th is move doesn’t pose to play carefully as Black’s devel-
any danger for Black, but it can be opment advantage is considerable.
played without the risk of getting
into trouble. 5...b4 (If Black just d2) 6... c6 The bishop take on
wants to play for neutralising then a  somewhat unusual role. 7.e3 a6
5...c5 6.dxc5  xc5 gives an easy 8.f3 d7 9. d2  xc3 10.bxc3
game.) 6.a4+ (6.d1? xd4) 6... (10.  xc3 d6 11. d3 0–0 (11...
d7 7.b3 c5 8.dxc5 (8.a3 cxd4) 8... d5 12.c2 f5 13.e4 fxe4 14. xe4
xc5 9.a3  4c6 (9...b6 10.e4=) f6=) 12.e4 e5 (12...f5 13.xe6+
10.xb7 d4 11.e4 b6 Black’s h8 Black has sufficient compen-
compensation is tremendous. sation for the pawn as on 14.e5 Black
has the cute 14...  xe5) 13.dxe5
d) 5.a4+ In the Grünfeld, which c5 14.c2 xd3+ 15.xd3 c5
has similarities to the Semi-Tar- 16.c2 b5 Black has compensa-
rasch, the queen check is a  seri- tion for the pawn.) 10... e4 11. e2
16 PLAY THE SEMI-TARRASCH!

d6 (11...c5=) 12.0–0 0–0 13. fc1 rarely play the openings like an ama-
c5 14.a4 c8 15. e1 cxd4 (15...c7 teur! Topalov,V-Kramnik,V Stavanger
16.h3 c4 17.b2 c6 and Black 2016. According to my database the
has the upper hand.) 16.cxd4 xc1 game ended in 20 moves with Black
17.  xc1 b8 18.g5 d5 19.c2 winning, but although Topalov’s posi-
f5? (19...f6 and Black would be tion was difficult, it was far from res-
fi ne.) 20. c4 c8 21.  xd5! and ignable.
the strong Chinese player got an
advantage, Shen,Y-Ning,K China 8... b4+
2017.
8 rsnlwqk+-tr
7 zpp+-+pzpp
5...c5
6 -+-+p+-+
Black undermines the centre at once. 5 +-+-+-+-
4 -vl-zP-+-+
6. g2 xc3 3 +-+-+-zP-
2 P+-+PzPLzP
Black simplifies the position.
1 tR-vLQmK-sNR

7.bxc3 cxd4! a b c d e f g h

Black gets rid of White’s centre or 9.f1

takes away White’s right to castle.
White makes a  serious concession.
8.cxd4 In exchange for the great bishop and
the strong centre he gives up the right
8.xd4 c6! The former world to castle and undertakes a misplaced
champion doesn’t transpose to the rook on h1.
known line by 8...xd4 9.cxd4 c6
10.f3 (which we discuss at 5.f3 9. d2
c5 6.g3 c6 7. g2.) 9. xc6+?! Giv-
ing up the bishop pair is a step in the a) 9...xd4! Taking the key pawn is
wrong direction. 9...bxc6 10.xd8+?! preferable. 10. b1 (10.f3  xd2+
Exchanging usually increases the 11.xd2 0–0 Interestingly my com-
power of the bishop pair. 10...xd8 puter program evaluates it as equal.
11. f3 f6 12.d4 c7 13.b3 e5 Winning it is not simple, but Black
14.f4 (14. e3 doesn’t equalise be- is a pawn up.) 10... xd2+ 11.xd2
cause of 14... a3) 14... d6 15. e3 xd2+ 12.xd2 a6 13.f3 0–0
e8 16.f2 a6 Black is better, but 14.  hc1 White has compensation
this was a  highly unusual game for for the pawn, but Black is safe.
a  world champion, as great players
 CHAPTER 1. 1.d4  f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5… 17

b) 9... xd2+ 10.xd2 0–0 11.f3 8 r+lwq-trk+

(11. c1+= or 11.e3 c6 12.e2+=) 7 zpp+-+pzpp
11...c6 12.0–0 d7 (12...d6 6 -+n+p+-+
13. ac1 d7 14.b2+=) 13.e4 (13.
5 +-+-+-+-
ab1 b6 14.  fc1 c8 15.e4 a5
4 -vl-zP-+-+
16.e5+=) 13...a5 14.f4?! This
move gives away the advantage. 3 +-+-+NzP-
(With 14.b2 White would still re- 2 PvL-+PzPLzP
tain a small edge.) 14...f6 15. ab1 e5 1 tR-+Q+K+R
16.dxe5 fxe5 17.h4 c7 18. fd1 h6 a b c d e f g h
19. b2 e6 and Black has a  fully
healthy game, Alzate,D-Sanchez,L,
Bogota 1970. 11... d7!

9...c6 The talented Hungarian grandmaster

handles the position in the right spir-
a) 9... c3?! 10. b1 xd4? (10...0–0 it, developing his pieces quickly.
11. a3 e8 12. xb7 xb7 13. xb7
a5 14.  xa8 xa3±) 11.xd4 11...a5 12.h4 (12.a3 c3=) 12...h6
xd4 12. xb7! White wins. (12... d8 13.c2 h6 14.g1 d7
15.h2 ac8=) 13.c2 f5 A surpris-
b) 9...0–0 10. b1 e7 (10...a5 11.f3 ing decision, but not necessarily bad.
c6 12.h4 h6 13.g1 e5 Black is doing 14.b3 d8 15. c1 d6 (15... f8
fine as on 14.d5 f5 can be played.) 16.g1 a6 17.h2 a5 18.c3 c6
11.b3 a6 12.f3 d8 13.h4 b8?! is unclear) 16.g1 b4 17.c2 e7
Black has a good position, however 18. b1 Akvist,H-Olsson,A, Eskilstu-
he should not waste time and needs na 1971 and after 18... d7 Black would
to develop quickly, otherwise White be doing all right.
takes over. (13...h6 14.g1 b6 15.h2
[15.e5 b7=] 15... b7 16. d1 ac8 12.h4 c8 13.d3
Black is active enough.) 14.g1 (14.
8
h5 h6 15. f4+=) 14... d6 15.g5 -+rwq-trk+
7 zpp+l+pzpp
(15.e5+=) 15...f6? (15...h6 16.e4
c7 17. a3 d7 18.e3 b5 is unclear) 6 -+n+p+-+
16.e4 (16. h3+=) 16... c7 17. e3 5 +-+-+-+-
d7 18.c3 (18.h2+=) 18... b6 4 -vl-zP-+-zP
19.h2 White stands better thanks 3 +-+Q+NzP-
to the strong centre, Korchnoi,V-Lu- 2 PvL-+PzPL+
ik,H, Chelyabinsk 1959.
1 tR-+-+K+R

10. b2 0–0 11.f3 a b c d e f g h

18 PLAY THE SEMI-TARRASCH!

13...f6! 17. c1 b5 18. d1 a5 19.e4

8 -+r+-trk+
An unprejudiced decision. Berkes
7 +-+lwq-zpp
weakens his pawn structure with this
unconventional move, but it takes 6 -+-+pzp-+
away a lot of squares. 5 zpp+-+-+-
4 -vlnzPP+-zP
14.g1 a5! 15.h2 c4 16. ab1 3 +-+Q+NzP-
2 P+-+-zPLmK
Not giving away the two bishops is
1 +RvLR+-+-
preferable. 16. c3!?  xc3 17.xc3
e5 18.b3 g4+ 19.g1 c7 and a b c d e f g h
I think it is easier to play this posi-
tion with Black. 19... a3

16...e7 A  move with peaceful intentions,

I think the Hungarian grandmaster
16...xb2 17. xb2 a5=+ should have played for a  win with
19... fd8!? Perhaps the tournament
standing generated the decision?

20.e2 xc1 21. bxc1 a4 22. c3 1/2