Flexible system of defensive play

for Black – 1…b6

Marcin Maciaga: http://d-artagnan.webpark.pl; [email protected]

A few years ago during II Nurkiewicz (2360) and E. Szwier in so-called hippopotamus
League Polish Team (2278) I achieved 1.5 points, and formation you should not be
Championship, Spala 2001, on a as you can find out personally in afraid of passive play in opening
stand selling chess literature I the moment, my score could be – games (4-5), because the
purchased a book entitled much higher. position will surely became
„English defence” written by At the beginning I played sharper in middle game, just like
Daniel King. I started working exclusively English defence in three last games (6-8) in
very eagerly on the new opening (1.c4/d4 b6) and some time later Owen`s defence.
because I was not satisfied with also Owen`s defence (1.e4 b6).
Slovian defence I used of play Moreover I had to get acquainted (1) M. Szymanski 2405 – M.
that time and I was searching for with Nimzowitch defence (1.d4 Maciaga 2248, Warsaw 2004,
different set for Black. I was only Nf6 2.c4 e6), Dutch defence 15 min, 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.Nc3
afraid of one thing: whether this (1.d4 f5), French defence (1.e4 Bb7 4.e4?! White plays logically
new opening is correct? That’s e6) and Queen`s Indian defence trying to build a strong center,
why, a 15-minute game with M. (1.d4 e6 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 but immediate realization of this
Grabarczyk (2495), a 25-minute Ba6) hitherto known to me only plan meets a strong reply from
game with R. Kempinski (2561) by hearing. All those openings Black side, that’s why many
or a blitz game with K. Sakajev mentioned above create one huge players prefer to play first 4.a3 or
(2657) from Russia had a great system of defensive play for 4.Nf3. 4…Bb4 5.d5 In one of my
meaning to me. Unexpectedly, Black with characteristic bringing games came 5.Bd3 f5 6.d5
none of mentioned grandmasters the Bishop out on b7. This way of (6.ef5? Bxg2 7.Qh5+ Kf8; 6.f3
could not achieve advantage in playing is not very popular, what fe4 7.fe4 Bxc3+ 8.bc3 Nf6! with
the opening, and what’s more, the is quite unjust, because it leads to danger of Nf6xe4) 6…fe4 7.Bxe4
first two may speak of truly great very interesting positions. Once a Qh4 8.Qe2 Nf6 9.Bf3 0-0
luck. Telling the truth, those strong English grandmasters like (9…Ba6!? 10.de6 d5) 10.de6 Nc6
games were played at the fast T. Miles and J. Speelman used to 11.ed7 (11.g3 Qd4 12.Bd2 Ba6
rate, yet Black also achieved play 1…b6. In my opinion it’s 13.ed7 Bxc4 14.Qe3 Qxd7 15.0-
satisfying results in games played only weakness is that it must be 0-0 Rae8 -/+) 11…Nd4 12.Qd3
at classic rate, e.g. on tournament played courageously and and now after 12…Nxd7 White
YMCA-SPRING, Warsaw 2004 imaginatively, e.g. in case of in slightly worse position got
(average rating 2301 Elo) with taking the center by White, Black completely lost. 5…Qe7! 6.Be3
MF M. Rudolf (2425), with the should break the center, just like f5! Breaking the chain of White
winner of the tournament M. they did in game (1-3). However, pawns in the center has on
purpose joining to the game Bxd5. 14…Kd8 15.Bxb4 Re8 inaccuracy. Definitely better for
White Bishop on a8-h1 diagonal. 16.Ne5 Qxf5 17.Nf7+ Kc8 Black was 10…Bxc3! 11.Qxc3
In such type of positions it is also 18.Qd2 Na6 19.Ba3 Nc5 Nc6 12.cd5 Nb4 13.Bc4 Nbxd5
possible to consider move b6-b5 20.Bxc5 bc5 21.Rg5 In very 14.Qb3 Nxe3. 11.Bxc4 Bxc3
or eventually plan Nb8-a6-c5 complex position White 12.Qxc3 d5 13.Bb3 Nbd7
combined with a7-a5 and unfortunately did not took 14.Rhe1 Ne4 15.Qc2 Ndf6
Bb4xc3. 7.ef5 ed5 8.cd5 Nf6 advantage on their last chance – 16.Bd4 0-0-0 17.Ng5
9.Bc4 Qe4 21.Nb5! Kb8 22.Qa5, although
after further 22…Qf4+ 23.Kb1
Rc8 Black still kept slight
advantage. 21…Qf3 22.Nb5
Qh1+ 23.Kc2 Qe4+ 24.Bd3
Qa4+ 25.Kb1 Bxd5 26.Nbd6+
cd6 27.Nxd6+ Kd8 28.Rxd5 17…Qd7?? 18.Ne6 Uff! After
10.Qe2! 10.Be2 Nxd5 11.Bf3 Nxd5 29.Nxe8 Kxe8 30.Qe2+ 18.Nxe4 Nxe4 19.Rxe4! de4?
Nxc3! 12.bc3 Bxc3+ 13.Kf1 Kd8 31.Be4 Qd4 32.Qf3 Rb8 20.Be6 Black could finally stop
Qc4+ 14.Be2 Qd5 15.Qxd5 Bxd5 33.b3 Nc3+ 0-1 the clock. Although White easily
leads to distinctly better ending achieved winning position after
for Black. 10…Qxg2 11.0-0-0 (2) MF D. Barwinski 2230 – M. their movement, a player who
Qxh1 12.Nf3 Qg2 13.Rg1 Qh3 Maciaga 2248, Ciechanow prefers combined style of play
2004, 30 min, 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 would not certainly miss such a
3.e4 Bb7 4.Nc3?! Bb4 5.Qc2 strike. 18…Rde8 19.f3 Nd6
Qh4! 6.d5 f5! 7.ef5 ed5 8.Nf3 20.Bxf6 gf6 21.Bxd5 c6 22.Be4
Kb8 23.Rd2 Qe7 24.Red1 Rd8
25.Nxd8 Rxd8 26.Kb1 Kc7
27.Qa4 a6 (…) 0-1 The result of
14.Bc5+? White goes to far the game was determined in
worse ending for them with less mutual time-trouble. White first
quality point. 14.Bh6+! would lost a pawn on h2 and then could
have been a better try, but Black 8…Qe7+?! Much more promise not break the resistance of Black
still has a great position, e.g. was 8…Qe4+! 9.Qxe4 de4. Then turned quality. Finally, he
14…Kd8! [14…Be7 15.Bxg7 it turned out, that all departures exceeded the time limit in an
Rg8 16.d6 (16.Rg3 Qxg3) of White Knight are wrong, e.g. equal position. The game was a
16…Rxg7 17.Rxg7 Qh6+ 18.Ng5 10.Ng5 Bxc3+ 11.bc3 h6 12.Nh3 very nervous kind because the
Qxg7 19.Bf7+ Qxf7 20.Nxf7 Nc6 Ne7 and now White have to victory in it practically decided of
21.Ng5 cd6 22.Nxh7 was weaken their position playing g2- the reward for 1st place with a
unclear] 15.Bxg7 Rf8 16.Ng5 g4 to safe the f5-pawn. 9.Be3 Nf6 very pretty, 48 cm high cup!
Qxf5 17.Bxf8 Bxc3! 18.bc3 10.0-0-0 dc4? Another
(3) R. Standowicz 2150 – M. Rd8 22.Kc3 Kxf8 23.Bxd4
Maciaga 2205, Wysowa-Zdroj Bb2+ 24.Kxb2 Rxd4 25.Kc3
2003, Polish Team Rxf4 25…Rd1 could paralyse
Championship – II league, 1.d4 White for long time, although it
e6 2.c4 b6 3.Nc3 Bb7 4.e4?! Bb4 was not necessarily a good move.
5.f3 At first glance, White center 26.Bd3 Bxg2 27.Re1 Kf7 Black
looks very solid. However, also 12…Qg5+! I discovered this plan looks simple – use the
this time, thanks to smooth and move at home, just before going advantage of one pawn on
not-so-obvious moves Black stir away on competition. Analyzing Queenside with active assistance
the game. 5…f5! 6.ef5 Nh6! this position I did not even of other pieces. 28.a4 h5 29.a5
suspect, that so soon an occasion g5 30.ab6 ab6 31.Kb4 Bc6
happen to check it out in practice. 32.Ra1 Rf3 33.Bh7 g4 34.Ra6
Till then only 12…Qe7 13.Nxd4 h4 35.Ra2 Of course, in case of
Nxd4 14.Rxd4 Bc5 15.Rd7 Qg5+ 35.Rxb6 g3! Black easily won the
16.Kc2 Rac8 was played, just game. 35…g3 36.hg3 hg3
like in Sadler – Kengis, Koge 37.Rg2 Rxb3+ 0–1
7.fe6 Only this move might be 1997. 13.f4 Qg6! 14.Nxd4 Nxd4
dangerous for Black because 15.Nf3 Better was 15.Rxd4, (4) V. Zheliandinov 2378
7.Bxh6? Qh4+ 8.g3 Qxh6 9.Qd2 although Black still keep winning (UKR) – M. Maciaga 2205
Qxd2+ 10.Kxd2 Nc6 and also position after 15…Bc5 16.Ne2 Warsaw 2003, 25 min, 1.d4 e6
7.Bd3 0-0 8.fe6 Nf5 with danger Bxd4 17.Nxd4 Qe4 18.Nc2 Rf7! 2.c4 b6 3.Nc3 Bb7 4.Nf3 g6!?
Qd8-h4+ or d7xe6 joined with 19.Be5 Rad8 with following very Black can also come to
Nb8-c6xd4 led in both cases to nice plan of doubling Rooks on Nimzowitch defence playing
better position for Black. d-file. 4…Bb4 or one of variants of
7…Nf5! 8.Bf4 Taking another Dutch defence after 4…f5. 5.e4
pawn, i.e. 8.ed7+ with retarded of Bg7 Black wants to play so-
White looks slightly risky, but called hippopotamus formation
after following 8…Nxd7 9.Bf4 which characterizes a slightly
Qh4+ 10.g3 Qe7+!? 11.Qe2 passive play in opening, but in
there’s still no sign of advantage middle game after coming to c7-
for Black. 8…de6 9.Qa4+ Nc6 15.…Bc6 After this move the c5 and/or f7-f5 the play becomes
10.0-0-0 Also 10.d5 ed5 11.0-0-0 following events are forced and much more lively. 6.Bg5 Nge7
d4 led to an interesting play. lead to slight advantage for 7.Qd2 h6 8.Be3 d6 9.Bd3 Nd7
10…Nfxd4 11.Nb5 0-0 12.Bxc7 Black. It turns out anyway, that 10.0-0 a6 Move a7-a6 prevents

15…b5! 16.cb5 Rac8 won the Nc3-b5 after c7-c5, just like h7-

game instantly. 16.Ne5 Bxa4 h6 prepares f7-f5 in case of Nf3-

17.Nxg6 Bxd1 18.Nxf8 Ba4 g5. 11.Rad1 Kf8 12.Ne1 Kg8

19.b3 Bc6 20.Be5 Ba3+ 21.Kd2

13.f4 f5 14.Bf2 c5 15.Nc2 Kh7 Qg8? A line 31…Kg8! 32.Rf1 disposition of grandmaster (…)
16.Rfe1 Re8 Nf5 33.Qxf5 Qxf5 34.Bxf5 Ne2+ 1…e6 2.c4 b6 3.Nc3 Bb7 4.Nf3
should have been played, which g6!? 5.e4 Bg7 6.Bd3 Ne7 7.0-0?
in contradiction to this one from Castling makes the play for Black
game did not loose in forced way. more easy, which plans to play
32.Rxe8? After 32.Ne7! Rxe7 h7-h6, 0-0, Kg8-h7 and f7-f5.
33.Rxe7 threats of Nf4-h3 and That’s why White should have
Ng7-f5 would be only illusion. played 7.Be3 h6 (7…0-0? 8.Qd2
17.d5 A real play begins just 32…Nxe8 33.Bg3 Nd5 34.Qf5 with following Be3-h6 and h2-
now, because till then both sides Bb2 35.Nd8 (…) 1/2-1/2 The h4-h5) 8.Qd2 Kf8!? (with plan
mobilized their forces. 17…ed5 game continued for a long time Kf8-g8-h7) 9.h4 (with further 0-
18.ef5 Nxf5 19.Nxd5 Bxd5! In and ended very dramatically. In 0-0), what gave them a strong
case of 19…Bxb2 20.Rxe8 Qxe8 mutual time-trouble in easily won attack on the Kingside. 7…0-0
White won quality point with endgame Black gave up two 8.Bf4 h6 9.Qd2 Kh7 10.Be5? f6
move 21.Nc7. 20.cd5 Bxb2 Bishop for nothing, and White in 11.Bg3? Bishop went on wrong
21.Re6 Nf6 22.Rde1 Rxe6 revenge for it made illegal move, diagonal. 11…d6 Funny set of
23.Rxe6 Ng7 24.Re1 b5? Much which brought Black bonus two Black pawns. 12.Ne2 f5 13.Nf4
more precise was 24…Ng4 minutes of time. Next, in time 5 s
25.Bg3 b5! 26.h3 Nf6. 25.Nb4 to 30 s (electronic clock) Black
Ba3? 25…cb4 26.Qxb2 Qf8! quite needlessly promoted two
(26…Nxd5 27.Bxg6+ Kxg6 pawns into Queens forcing White
28.Qb1+ Kf7 29.Qb3) with equal to give up two Bishops. On the
position. 26.Nc6 Qf8 chess-board left only two Kings
so, this game ended with draw. 13…fe4! Playing with stronger
player than ourselves, it is worth
(5) GM R. Kempinski 2561 – to try positions with unbalanced
M. Maciaga 2205, Warsaw material, because it makes it far
2003, 25 min, 1.d4 Despite the more difficult to opponent to
fact, that my name was already estimate the position, and as a
27.Qc2? 27.Bxg6+! Kxg6 on the start list, I was not result it increases our chances.
28.Qd3+ Kf7 29.Ne7 won the matched instantly in I round, just 14.Nxe6 Qc8 15.Nfg5+ hg5
game at once and even giving up like about 20 other people. Only 16.Nxg5+ Kg8 17.Nxe4 Bxd4!
the Queen after 29…Qxe7 did after 10 minutes I was put in 18.Rae1 Nbc6 19.Ng5 Qg4
not help Black. 27…Nxd5 absence of player with II 20.Ne6 Ne5! 21.Nxf8
28.Bxg6+ Kh8 29.Qb3 Nxf4 category. To make whole thing

30.Bb1 Re8 With threat of funnier, I decided to make notes

Re8xe1+, Bf2xe1, Nf4-e2+, Kg1- of game in a notebook. Probably

h1 and Qf8-f1 mate. 31.Qc2 these are the reasons of a bit poor
 Michal, who also had an occasion 17…Nh5!? Black intends to
to get acquainted with those simplify a bit the position
analyzes, often plays this line. exchanging Queens. However,
6…h6 7.Bxf6 Qxf6 8.0-0 Bxc3 much more safe was keeping the
9.bc3 d6 10.Nd2 tension in center by playing
17…c5. 18.Qg4 Qg5 19.Qxg5
21…Rxf8?? Now, White is hg5 20.e5 Nf4 21.ed6 Rxe3
easily winning because Black 22.Rxe3 cd6 23.Be4 Re8! In case
committed a very sad in of 23…Bxe4? 24.Nxe4 one of
consequence inaccuracy. pawns on d6 or g5 was lost.
However, after 21…Qf3!! 22.gf3 24.g3 Nd5 Also after 24…Bxe4
Nxf3 23.Kh1 Nxe1+! 24.f3 Nxf3 10…Nd7? Despite apparently 25.gf4 Bc6 26.Rxe8+ Bxe8
Black in elegant way won the calm play, Black must be worry. 27.fg5 White left with one pawn
game in miniature with Unfortunately, with their last more. 25.Bxh7+ Kf8 26.Rxe8+
grandmaster! 22.Be4 Bxe4 move they let White play f2-f4 Kxe8 27.Be4 Bc6 28.c4 Ne7
23.Qxd4 Rf4 24.f3 c5 25.Qxe4 with following e4-e5!, that’s why 29.Kf2 f5 30.Bxc6+ Nxc6 31.c3
Rxe4 26.fg4 Rxe1 27.Rxe1 N7c6 absolutely necessary was 10…e5! Ke7 As a result of not quite
28.Bxe5 Nxe5 29.b3 Kf7 30.g5 11.f4 Qe7. 11.f4 0-0 12.Qh5?! studied decision related to
1-0 Qe7 13.Rae1?! White twice did exchanging Queens Black fell
not advanced on the occasion and under strong attack and finally
(6) MF M. Rudolf 2425 – M. now the play comes again to the now they managed to repel it.
Maciaga 2248, Warsaw 2004, main paths of theory. Move e4-e5 32.Ke3 Kf6 33.Nb1 Ne7 34.Na3
YMCA-SPRING tournament, was much more dangerous for g6? Unexpectedly, after 34…d5
1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 3.Bd3 e6 It Black since they castled on the Black caught the wind and now
would be too soon for 3…f5? short side. Otherwise after e4-e5 they could try to make result of
4.ef5 Bxg2 5.Qh5+ g6 6.fg6 Bg7 Black could have played d6-d5, game advantageous for them.
7.gh7+? Kf8 8.hg8Q+ Kxg8 g7-g6 in case of f4-f5 and 0-0-0 35.Nb5 Nc8 36.a4 Ke6 37.Kf3
taking into consideration 7.Qf5! coming to one of the variants of g4+ 38.Ke3 g5 39.Nc7+ Kd7
Nf6 8.Bh6!! Therefore, Black French defence. However, even 40.Nd5 Ke6 41.Nc7+ 1/2-1/2
must prepare f7-f5 playing e7-e6 then White felt a bit better.
and then only after c2-c4, Nb1-c3 13…e5! 14.Re3 Nf6 15.Qh4 ef4 (7) M. Nurkiewicz 2364 – M.
or f2-f4 to play this move. 4.Nc3 16.Qxf4 Rae8 17.Rfe1 Maciaga 2248, Warsaw 2004,
Nf6 5.Nf3 Bb4 6.Bg5 Once I YMCA-SPRING tournament,
found in the Internet an article 1.e4 b6 2.d4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb7 4.Nf3
written by an international Bb4 5.Bd3 Nf6 6.Qe2 d5 7.ed5
master, which recommended this Nxd5 8.Bd2 Nxc3 9.bc3 Be7
line against Owen`s defence.
From that moment I saw that
 Qxd7 14.Qe2 Bf6 15.Bc4 Rae8 Kh7 32.Bxg7 Kxg7 33.Qe7+
16.Rfe1 Qd6 Consequences of Rf7 34.h6+ Kg8 35.Qe8+ Qxe8
giving up a pawn are hard to 36.Rxe8+ Kh7 37.Kxg2 Kxh6?
account, however the initiative A large inaccuracy, which
for pawn is more tempting than definitively decides of the result
obvious 16…Bd5 with eventual of game. Just like in the saying,
10.Ne5!? Very interesting exchange of Bishops. 17.Bxe6+ that all Rooks ending bring draw,
appeared also 10.h4!? after which Kh8 18.Qc4 Be4! Taking the a last chance for Black was
Black of course could not castle pawn on e6 White surely not 37…bc5 with futher active play
due to 10…0-0? 11.Bxh7+! Kxh7 consider this move. 19.Bf7 Re7 of Black Rook. 38.c6 Kg5
12.Ng5+ Kg8 13.Qh5+ Be4 20.Bh5 c5 21.Be3 39.Rc8 Kg4 40.f3+ Kf5 41.c7 1-
14.Nxe4. The main continuation 0
was 10.0-0 Nd7 11.a4 a5! 12.c4
0-0 13.Rab1, like in Kupreichik – (8) E. Szwier 2282 – M.
Rudolf, Bardejov 2001. Black Maciaga 2248, Warsaw 2004,
should have tried now to get to YMCA-SPRING tournament,
e6-e5 after Rf8-e8 and Be7-f6. 1.d4 e6 2.e4 b6 3.Bd3 Bb7 4.f4
Unfortunately, they choose a 21…f4?! Played after long f5 5.Qe2 fe4 Another possibility
wrong plan and after 13…Nf6? thinking to avoid mistake in a was 5…Nc6 6.c3 (6.ef5? Qh4+)
14.c3 c5? 15.Rfd1 Qc7 16.Ne5 very complicated calculations. It 6…fe4 7.Be4 Nf6 8.Bd3 Bd6
Rfd8 17.Bf4 Bd6 18.Rd2 Nd7 turns out anyway, that quite with equal play. 6.Bxe4 Nc6! In
19.Bh7+ Kf8 20.Bc2 Bxe5 simple 21…cd4 22.Bxd4 this system of defensive play for
21.de5 Qc6 22.Qg4 f6 23.Rbd1 (22.Rad1? Bxc2 23.Rd2 d3; Black their White square Bishop
1-0 they lost the game. 10…0-0 22.cd4? Rc7) 22…Rc7 23.Qb3 on b7 is a very important piece
11.Qh5 f5! Despite all Bxd4 gave Black a large and only in extreme situation
appearances, this move is not that advantage. 22.dc5 Qe5 23.Bd4 Black should exchange it.
bad, as it might occur at first Qxh5 24.Bxf6 Qg6 25.Bg5? 7.Qh5+ Ke7 8.Nf3 Nf6 9.Qh4
sight. In case of 11…h6? 25.Bxg7+! winning the game at
12.Bxh6 White easily won, and once. 25…Bxg2?! Inaccuracy,
on the other hand 11…g6 which as a matter of fact caused
12.Nxg6 (12.Bxg6? fg6 13.Nxg6 weakening of position around
Qe8) 12…hg6 13.Bxg6 fg6 White King. However, after
14.Qxg6+ led to draw. However, 25…Rfe8! Black won quality
after 11…g6 White would point. 26.h4 Rxe1+ 27.Rxe1 Qc6 9…Nxd4 From the very first
probably play 12.Qe2 with futher 28.Qe6 Qa8 29.h5 h6? moves Black`s play makes
plan h2-h4-h5, what would Absolutely necessary was impression. First they decided to
secure them a long term 29…Bh1! with big chances for courageously bring out their
initiative. 12.0-0 Nd7 13.Nxd7 draw. 30.Bxh6 Rf6 31.Qe8+ King, and now they are
exchanging a key Bishop. reversed color, that means Bunratty Masters 1998. Loss of
10.Bxb7 Nxc2+ 11.Kd1 Nxa1 playing White with one more one tempo by Black for drawing
12.b3 Ke8 13.Bxa8 Qxa8 tempo. This system from very back their Bishop (5…Be7!) in
14.Nc3 Bb4 15.Bd2 Bxc3 first moves leads to exceptionally comparison to fact, that White
16.Bxc3 Qe4 17.Bxf6 complex positions and appears a King was decastled does not
really good way to catch an certainly decide of anything yet.
opponent by surprise. Despite the Other interesting plan of
fear, that it is not fully-fledged play for White, also suggested by
system of defensive play for Rudolf is 1.e4 b6 2.d4 e6 3.Be3
Black, because strong players Bb7 4.Nbd2 Nf6 5.Bd3. If Black
seldom use it, it is difficult to play calmly now and castle on
17…Qb1+?! 17…Qc2+! 18.Ke1 show a best continuation for short side, White will lead attack
Qxg2 19.Rg1 Nc2+ 20.Kd1 White. on Kingside, and in case of
Qxf3+ 21.Kxc2 gf6 and now the In Rudolf’s opinion, the 5…d5 6.f3 c5 7.c3 Nc6 8.Nge2
advantage of three pawns should best line for White against cd4 9.cd4 de4 10.fe4 Ng4 11.Bg1
be enough to win the game, e.g. English defence is 1.d4 e6 2.c4 Nb4 12.Bb1 appears exceptio-
22.Qxf6 Rf8 23.Qg7 Qxf4 or b6 3.e4 Bb7 4.Bd3 Bb4+ 5.Kf1 nally interesting position, which
22.Rg7 Qe4+ and Qe4-d4. f5 6.ef5 Nf6 7.Be2! (it prepares as analyzes show is more
18.Ke2 Qxh1 19.Qh5+ g6 c4-c5 and threatens Be2-h5+) advantageous for White.
20.Qg5 Rf8 21.Ne1? It is a sin 7…0-0 8.c5 bc5 9.a3 Ba5 10.dc5 The End
not to take advantage of such an Nd5 11.Sf3 (11.fe6!?) 11…Wxf5
occasion, like 21.Bd8! Kf7 12.b4 Nxb4 13.ab4 Bxb4 14.Bb2,
22.Be7, although Black still kept just like in Bielawski – Short,
slight advantage after 22…Re8 Groningen 1997. I admit, that
23.Ne5+ Kg8 24.Nxg6 (24.Nxd7 ending position is much more
Qb1) 24…h6 25.Qg4 Qb1. profitable for White, but Black
21…Qxh2 22.Bxa1 Rf5 23.Qg4 can straighten their play
Rxf4 24.Be5 Rxg4 25.Bxh2 choosing: 4…f5 5.ef5 Bxg2
Re4+ 26.Kf2 d6 27.Nf3 Kd7 6.Qh5+ g6 7.fg6 Bg7 8.gh7 Kf8
(…) 0-1 Black had no problems 9.Bg5 Nf6 10.Qh4 Bxh1 11.Ne2
in making their advantage real, Qe7!? Black can also draw back
although they needed 22 more their Bishop 5…Bf8 with
moves to do it. following plan of coming to
hippopotamus formation or at
Conclusion least play 5…Be7! 6.Nf3 Nc6
This system of defensive 7.a3 d6 8.d5 Ne5 9.Nxe5 de5
play for Black could also be 10.Be3 Nf6 11.Nc3 0-0 12.de6?
succesfully used playing with fe6, like in Joyce – Speelman,