No.
43, October 28, 2009
OPENINGS
what’s hot and what’s not?
XIIIIIIIIY
Another blow to 9r+-wqk+-tr0
9+l+n+pvl-0
9p+pvLp+-zp0
the Semi-Slav 9+p+-+-zp-0
9-+pzPP+-+0
9+-sN-+-+-0
By IM Merijn van Delft & IM Robert Ris 9PzP-+LzPPzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
The crown group of Hoogeveen was won by Tiviakov, xiiiiiiiiy
who scored the only win in the tournament and
escaped twice against Ivanchuk. Azerbaijan is leading Frequency
the European Team Championship with Gashimov
being their star player.
what’s hot?
This week we collected a bunch of Ruy Lopez model games, see below.
The Bishop’s Opening however seems to be fine for Black judging from Score
Morozevich-Smeets and Tiviakov-Giri. Gashimov-Mchedlishvili was
a convincing win for White in the Caro-Kann Advance (we feel Black
should stick to the Almasi-Berkes discussion mentioned before in CVO).
In the same opening Shirov played a beautiful exchange sacrifice against
Sulskis. Svidler won a pretty game with 4...¤d7 in the Caro-Kann main
line. Ivanchuk got a very good position against Tivi’s Scandinavian (see
PGN file).
Mamedyarov is sitting on board four in Novi Sad with a clear mission:
jumping at all his opponents in his famous coffeehouse style, for example
against Kindermann’s Slav. Giri impressively held himself with Black against
Ivanchuk’s Exchange Slav. While Svidler showed that the Grünfeld is still in
excellent shape (against Caruana and Radjabov), Gashimov did the same
with the Benoni (against Meier and Shengelia).
McShane lost with his modern version of the King’s Indian (compare CVO
22 and 33) against Fressinet. Good old Kortchnoi tried the funky 2.£d3
followed by 3.g4 against Volokitin’s Dutch Defence. Meier-Wojtaszek was
a clean Catalan kill. Source: Megabase + TWIC, 2500+ only
In our Game of the Week leading expert Aronian had to take another painful defeat in the Semi-Slav. In the diagram position Bacrot chose
14.a4. We think we repaired the thing for Black again, but that doesn’t stop White from already having won an important game with it. That’s
how modern top level chess functions: big novelties that can often be used for one game only.
Aronian-Shirov was a very complex battle in the Semi-Slav Meran, with Black sacrificing a
piece for a big passed pawn on b2.
what’s Not?
1 of 4
ChessVibes OPENINGS what’s hot and what’s not? No. 43, October 28, 2009
Another chapter in the Semi-Slav
Commenting on Topalov’s famous ¤xf7 against Kramnik (see CVO 0), Hamburg GM Jan
Gustafsson said: “Well, it’s not a refutation, but it does open a new chapter in the Anti-
Moscow”. The same can be said about this week’s spectacular encounter Bacrot-Aronian.
c) 23.axb5 axb5 24.¦xa8 ¥xa8 25.£c2 ¢g8
game of the week 26.¦xf7 ¦xf7 27.£g6+ ¢h8 28.¥xf7 £f8
29.£h5+ is just a draw;
Bacrot, E (2709) - Aronian, L (2773) 24.£h3 ¥c8 25.¤c3 (25.£d3?! ¥f5 26.£d2 £d7 d) 23.¦f5 ¢g8 24.¦af1 fxe6 25.£xe6+ ¢h8
European Team Ch (Novi Sad), 26.10.2009 27.¦ac1 ¦ac8³ Radjabov-Anand, Mainz rapid 26.¦f7 £g8! 27.£xd7 ¥d5 and Black has the
D43, Semi-Slav, Anti-Moscow 2006.) 25...dxc3 26.£xc3+ £d4 27.£f3 ¦a7 better chances.
28.axb5 was seen in Kramnik-Aronian, Wijk 23...¢g8?
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.¤f3 ¤f6 4.¤c3 e6 5.¥g5 h6 aan Zee 2008, and now Black can hold on with Under severe time pressure Aronian makes the
6.¥h4 dxc4 7.e4 g5 8.¥g3 b5 9.¥e2 28...¦f6 29.¦ad1 £c4. decisive mistake. He could have maintained
A recent update on 9.¤e5 ¥b7 10.h4 can be b) 17.axb5 ¤xe5 18.¥xe5 ¥xe5 19.bxa6 ¦xa6 the balance with a series of accurate moves:
found in CVO 41. Bacrot keeps the h-pawn on 20.¦xa6 ¥xa6 21.¦e1 £c7 causes no problems 23...¦g7! 24.¥xf7!? (24.£f5 ¥c8? 25.£d5;
its initial square and concentrates play on the for Black in Iljin-Smirnov, Saratov 2006. 24... ¤f6 25.£xf6 £xf6 26.¦xf6 ¦d8 27.¦af1
centre. c) 17.¥f3 ¤xe5! (17...¥xf3? 18.£xf3 ¤xe5 ¦xd6 28.¦xf7+ ¦xf7 29.¦xf7+ ¢e8 30.¦xb7
9...¥b7 10.0–0 ¤bd7 11.¤e5 ¥g7 19.£d5 dxc3 20.¦fe1± Kuljasevic-Zhao Jun, ¦xe6=) 24...¦xf7 25.£h7 ¦f4! 26.h4 (26.g3?!
11...h5 is an invention by GM Vallejo, but White Richardson 2007; 17...¦a7? 18.¥xb7 ¦xb7 £f6!) 26...¥f3! (the safest way out) 27.£h6+
has a good score in this line. 19.¤e4 ¤xe5 20.axb5 axb5 21.f4! Iljin- (27.¦ae1?! £f6 28.£xd7 gxh4) 27...¢g8
12.¤xd7 ¤xd7 13.¥d6 a6 14.a4 Nepomniachtchi, Dresden 2007.) 18.¥xb7 £xd6 28.£g6+ and White gives perpetual check.
Currently the critical challenge. For the 19.¥xa8 0–0 and Black’s pawns offer sufficient XIIIIIIIIY
alternatives 14.¥h5, 14.¦e1, 14.e5, 14.b4 and compensation for the ¦. Pantsulaia-Babuiian, 9r+-wq-+k+0
14.d5 we refer to CVO 13. Against all these Istanbul 2008. 9+l+n+p+r0
moves Black seems to be doing fine. 17...dxc3 9p+-zPL+-+0
14...e5 15.¥g4 After a long thought, Aronian plays the correct
9+pzp-+-zp-0
15.d5 c5 16.b4 £b6 17.bxc5 ¤xc5 18.¥xc5 move. 17...gxf4 is answered by 18.£e2!.
£xc5 19.axb5 axb5 20.¦xa8+ ¥xa8 21.£a1 18.bxc3 ¥f8
9P+p+-+-+0
0–0 22.£a5 ¦b8 23.¦b1 ¥f8 24.¦xb5 (24.¤xb5 The ¥ on d6 needs to be eliminated. 18...gxf4?
9+-zP-+-+-0
f5 25.£a6 ¢h8 26.¤c3 ¦xb1+ 27.¤xb1 £b4 19.e6 ¤f6 20.¥h5! with a strong attack. 9-+Q+-+PzP0
28.£xa8 £xb1+ 29.¥f1 £b4 30.exf5 c3 with 19.£e2 9tR-+-+RmK-0
sufficient counterplay for equality; Kramnik- After both 19.fxg5 ¥xd6 20.£xd6 (20.exd6 0–0 xiiiiiiiiy
Karjakin, Nice blindfold 2008.) 24...¦xb5 21.gxh6 ¤e5) 20...¤f8 and 19.e6 ¤f6! (not 19... 24.¦xf7! ¦xf7 25.¦f1
25.£xb5 £xb5 26.¤xb5 ¥b7 27.¥xc4 ¥a6 fxe6?? 20.¥h5#) White’s attack comes to an The tempting 25.£g6+?! ¢h8 26.£xf7 fails to
28.¢f1 ¥xb5 29.¥xb5 ¥c5= Gustafsson- end. 26...£f6.
Aronian, Khanty-Mansiysk 2007. 19...¥xd6 20.exd6+ ¢f8 21.fxg5 hxg5 22.¥e6 25...¤f8
15...exd4 16.e5 c5 17.f4!?N ¦h7 25...¤e5 leads to a forced mate: 26.¦xf7! ¤xf7
XIIIIIIIIY The only move. 22...f6? 23.¥xd7 £xd7 24.¦xf6+ 27.£g6+ ¢h8 28.£h5+! ¢g7 29.£xf7+ ¢h6
9r+-wqk+-tr0 ¢g7 25.¦e6!; 22...¤f6?! 23.¦xf6! £xf6 24.¦f1 30.¥f5 £g8 31.£f6+ ¢h5 32.g4+ ¢h4 33.£h6#.
9+l+n+pvl-0 £g6 25.¦xf7+ £xf7 26.¥xf7 ¢xf7 27.£e7+ and 26.£f5!
9p+-vL-+-zp0 White wins the piece back with interest. The killer move.
23.£c2 26...¤xe6 27.£xf7+ ¢h8 28.¦f6!
9+pzp-zP-zp-0
White has various other moves at his disposal, Black has to give up his £ and due to his
9P+pzp-zPL+0 but none of them poses Black more problems. discordinated pieces he is unable to deal with
9+-sN-+-+-0 a) 23.£f2? ¢g7 24.£xf7+ ¢h8µ; White’s passer.
9-zP-+-+PzP0 b) 23.¥xf7?! ¦xf7 24.£h5 (24.¦xf7+? ¢xf7 28...£xf6 29.£xf6+ ¤g7 30.d7 b4 31.cxb4
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 25.¦e1 ¤f6) 24...¦f4 25.g3 ¤f6! 26.£h6+ ¢f7 cxb4 32.d8£+ ¦xd8 33.£xd8+ ¢h7 34.£b6
xiiiiiiiiy 27.gxf4 gxf4 28.£xf4 £g8+µ; ¥e4 35.£xb4 ¥d3 36.£a5 1–0
An important innovation by the Frenchman,
which is not immediately mentioned by the
engines. In previous games White tried:
a) 17.¦e1 ¤xe5 18.¥xe5 0–0 19.¥xg7 ¢xg7
20.¤e2 f5 21.¥h5 f4 22.b4 cxb3 23.£xb3 £d5
bacrot - aronian
2 of 4
ChessVibes OPENINGS what’s hot and what’s not? No. 43, October 28, 2009
this week’s harvest
Ruy Lopez 1.e4 e5 2.¤f3 ¤c6 3.¥b5 a6 4.¥a4 ¤f6 5.0–0 ¥e7 6.¦e1 b5 7.¥b3 d6 8.c3 0–0 9.h3 ¤a5 10.¥c2 c5 11.d4 £c7 12.¤bd2
XIIIIIIIIY ¥d7 13.a3 ¦fc8 14.d5 c4 15.¤f1 ¤b7 16.¤3h2 g6 17.¤g4 ¤xg4 18.hxg4 £d8 19.g3 a5 20.¢g2 ¤c5 21.¤e3 ¦ab8 22.¦h1
9-trrwq-+k+0 Many people are reluctant to take up the Ruy Lopez as White since there seems to be so much theory you have to
9+-+lvlp+p0 know. But in fact the amount of theory you need to know to get started with the Ruy Lopez is quite limited. Essential
9-+-zp-+p+0 knowledge includes something against 3...f5, something about the Open Spanish, knowing what the Marshall is
and how you can avoid it, and the basic ¤ manoeuvre ¤bd2-f1–g3. Model games can teach you a lot of ideas and
9zppsnPzp-+-0
a typical classic is Fischer-Shocron, Mar del Plata 1959 from My 60 Memorable Games. This week’s Edouard-
9-+p+P+P+0 Johannessen is our new favourite, as White played the basic attacking scheme ¤h2-g4, hxg4, g3, ¢g2 and ¦h1
9zP-zP-sN-zP-0 followed by a devastating attack along the h-file as if it were a Sicilian Dragon. In the PGN file you will find more
9-zPL+-zPK+0 Ruy Lopez model games by Gashimov, Topalov, Nijboer and Volokitin. Furthermore Perunovic-Lopez Martinez and
9tR-vLQ+-+R0 Amonatov-Malakhatko are added because they show the same h-file attack in a different context.
xiiiiiiiiy
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.¤d2 dxe4 4.¤xe4 ¤d7 5.¤g5 ¤gf6 6.¥d3 e6 7.¤1f3 ¥d6 8.£e2 h6 9.¤e4 ¤xe4 Caro-Kann, 4....¤d7
10.£xe4 £c7 11.0–0 b6 12.£g4 ¢f8 13.b3 ¥b7 14.¥b2 ¤f6 15.£h3 ¤d5 16.g3 c5 17.dxc5 ¥xc5 18.¤e5 XIIIIIIIIY
The success that 12th World Champion Anatoly Evgenyevich achieved with the 4...¤d7 Caro-Kann made the 9r+-+-mk-tr0
variation a sound alternative to 4...¥f5. Probably because of the relatively unsafe ¢’s position, 4...¤d7 never 9zplwq-+pzp-0
became that popular. However, still from time to time various top players give the line a new boast. In Hoogeveen, 9-zp-+p+-zp0
Ivanchuk managed to outplay Tiviakov with Black in a venomless sideline, but forgot to exploit his advantage. A
9+-vlnsN-+-0
few days later Sutovsky chose a more testing line against Svidler. Placing the £ on h3 followed by g3 was invented
initially with the idea to save the £ from further attacks. On the other hand, in this game Svidler perfectly exploits the
9-+-+-+-+0
eternal weakness of the a8-h1 diagonal, by 17...¥xc5, pinning the f-pawn. Hardhitter Sutovsky must have had the
9+P+L+-zPQ0
feeling he was going to crush the St. Peterburger GM when playing 20.¥g6, but got surprised by the cold-blooded 9PvLP+-zP-zP0
20...¥a8!. After this move the tables were turned and White fought for a hopeless case. A possible improvement for 9tR-+-+RmK-0
White is 19.¦fe1, if it’s anything at all. xiiiiiiiiy
Slav, 7...¤b6
XIIIIIIIIY 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.¤c3 ¤f6 4.¤f3 dxc4 5.a4 ¥f5 6.¤e5 ¤bd7 7.¤xc4 ¤b6 8.¤e5 a5 9.¦g1 g6 10.g4 ¥e6 11.e4 ¤fd7
9r+-wqkvl-tr0 The line with 7...¤b6 has the reputation of a solid response to the straightforward 6.¤e5. In CVO 20 we showed
9+p+nzpp+p0 how Topalov beat Wang Yue. However, subsequently GM Balogh made an important contribution to the line and
9-snp+l+p+0 equalized with opposite-coloured bishops. 9.f3 and 9.g3 are respectable alternatives, but stubborn as he is,
Mamedyarov has his own opinion and introduced the unorthodox 9.¦g1!? one year ago. White’s aim to grab space
9zp-+-sN-+-0
in the centre is obvious, but brings certain risks with it as well. In Mamedyarov-Kindermann Black accepted a slight
9P+-zPP+P+0 inferior, but rather solid position. 26...¥f7?! (26...b6 is correct) allows White to remove the strong outpost for the ¤
9+-sN-+-+-0 and claim a clear advantage, which Shakh wonderfully exploited between move 38-40. Also Huzman couldn’t really
9-zP-+-zP-zP0 cope with this coffeehouse style and luck was on his side as White missed several chances in that game. It seems
9tR-vLQmKLtR-0 that the passive 9...g6 doesn’t really solve Black’s problems. More attention should be given to the logical 9...¤fd7,
xiiiiiiiiy after which White needs to prove how useful his mysterious rook move is.
1.d4 ¤f6 2.c4 g6 3.¤c3 d5 4.cxd5 ¤xd5 5.e4 ¤xc3 6.bxc3 ¥g7 7.¥c4 c5 8.¤e2 ¤c6 9.¥e3 0–0 10.0–0 £c7 Grünfeld Indian
11.¦c1 ¦d8 12.¥f4 e5 13.¥g5 ¦d6 14.¥d5 cxd4 15.cxd4 ¥e6 16.¥b3 exd4 17.¥f4 ¦e8 18.¥xe6 ¦exe6 19.¥xd6 £xd6 XIIIIIIIIY
We suspect that the Grünfeld has always had a lot of sympathy from players at all levels - Black unbalances the 9-+-+-+k+0
game from the very start - but that the sheer amount of theoretical knowledge required to play this hypermodern 9zpp+-+pvlp0
opening has scared many players away. In particar the main line with 7.¥c4 and 8.¤e2 can lead to an enormous 9-+nwqr+p+0
theoretical jungle when Black plays 10...¥g4. Since Black is finding alternatives on move 10 that are easier to play,
9+-+-+-+-0
like indeed the old main line 10...£c7 (recently Radjabov-Carlsen and now Caruana-Svidler), the popularity of the
opening is increasing. If you want to learn this opening, we would recommend a good book, for example Jonathan
9-+-zpP+-+0
Rowson’s classic Understanding the Grünfeld. In Novi Sad Grünfeld diehard Svidler showed the dynamic potential
9+-+-+-+-0
of the opening with the positional sacrifice of his £ against Radjabov (although 16...¤c6! seems to give Black a clear 9P+-+NzPPzP0
advantage) and the exchange against Caruana (after which the solid 21...b6 should probably be preferred). 9+-tRQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
3 of 4
ChessVibes OPENINGS what’s hot and what’s not? No. 43, October 28, 2009
opening expert
Who: Etienne Bacrot
Born: January 22, 1983
Nationality: France
Rating: 2709
Expertise: Switching between 1.e4 and d4. Solid player and deadly when
well prepared in sharp lines.
Why: In his younger years Bacrot was considered to be one of the most talented
players on earth. In youth competitions the Frenchman was already
very succesful by claiming the World title U10 and U12. At the age of 14
he also became the youngest GM in the world, a record which was taken
over later that year by Ponomariov. Steadily the Frenchman made his
way to the group of elite players with 27+ and once reached the 7th spot
in the world rankings. Like many players he is switching between 1.e4 to
1.d4 every game and his Black repertoire contains solid openings like the
Berlin Wall and Queen’s Indian. Against weaker players, Bacrot gives
trickier openings like the Benoni and King’s Indian a try.
Key game: Bacrot - Kortchnoi, European Team Ch (Novi Sad), 24.10.2009
1.d4 e6 2.c4 ¤f6 3.¤c3 ¥b4 4.¤f3 0–0 5.¥g5 16.c6 ¤c5 17.¥e2 21...£c5?!
d5 17.¥d3 was seen once before in Khenkin-Maze, 21...£a4 22.¦d1 and the £ is in danger.;
Not conform his style, Korchnoi enters a highly Geneve 2007. Probably best is to exchange £s with 21...£c3
topical line. 17...¦e8 18.0–0 ¥g4 19.¥d1 ¤e4 22.£xc3 ¤xc3 23.¥d3 but White’s advantage is
6.cxd5 exd5 7.e3 ¤bd7 8.¦c1 c5 9.dxc5 £a5?! 19...£xb5? 20.¤d4 £a6 21.¥xg4 ¤e4 22.£c2 beyond dispute.
A safer way for Black is 9...¤xc5 with a slight ¤xg5 23.¥d7±. 22.¦c1 £d6 23.¥f4 £e7 24.h3 ¥h5 25.¦d1 £f6
inferior, but playable position. XIIIIIIIIY 25...¦ed8 26.c7 ¦d7 27.¦c1.
10.a3! 9r+-+r+k+0 26.£xf6 ¤xf6 27.¤d4 ¥xe2 28.¤xe2 ¦ad8
This involves an exchange sacrifice, but White 9+-+-+pzpp0 29.¥c7 ¦c8 30.¥xb6 ¦b8 31.¥xa5 ¦xb5 32.¥b4
gets plenty compensation. 9-zpP+-+-+0 ¦b6 33.¤d4 ¢h8 34.h4 ¦a6 35.¦c1 ¦c8
10...¥xc3+ 11.¦xc3 ¤e4 12.b4 ¤xc3 13.£a1 9zpP+p+-vL-0 The notation of the game ends here. Since it’s
£a4 14.£xc3 a5 15.b5 b6?! 9-+q+n+l+0 unlikely that Kortchnoi resigned at this point, we
There a few players who voluntarily would like 9zP-+-zPN+-0 presume some more moves were played. The
to give White such protected passed pawn! position is lost for Black. 1–0
9-wQ-+LzPPzP0
15...¤xc5 16.£xc5 ¥e6 17.£c1 ¦fc8 18.£a1!
was seen in the Topalov-Carlsen, Wijk aan
9+-+-+RmK-0
Zee 2007 and yielded the Bulgarian a clear
xiiiiiiiiy
advantage. 20.£b2 £c4 21.¥e2
www.chessvibes.com/openings
ChessVibes Openings is a weekly PDF magazine that covers the latest news on chess openings. Which openings are hot in top level chess?
Which are not? Editors IM Merijn van Delft & IM Robert Ris keep you updated once a week! Singles issues cost € 1. You can subscribe too:
€ 25 a year (that’s less than € 0.50 per issue!). More info can be found at www.chessvibes.com/openings.
© 2009 ChessVibes. Copyright exists in all original material published by ChessVibes. Any copying or distribution (reproduction, via print, electronic format, or in any form whatsoever), as
well as posting on the web, is strictly prohibited without prior written permission.
4 of 4
