First Step E4 E5

John Emms
beating
EVERYMAN CHESS
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First publi shed in 2010 by Gloucester Publi shers plc (formerly Everym an
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Copyright © 2010 John Emms
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Co n t e n t s
Bibliography 4
Introduction 5
1 Italian Game: Modern Variation (Part I) 9
2 Italian Game: Modern Variation (Part II) 49
3 Italian Game: Classical Main Line 80
4 Italian Game: Two Knights Defence 124
5 Italian Game: Other Lines 162
6 Bishop's Opening 175
Index of Variations 219
Index of Games 222

B ibl i og ra phy
Books
Attacking with 1 e4, John Emms (Everyman Chess 2001)
Beating the Open Ga mes, Mikh ail Marin (Quality Chess 2007)
Italia n Ga me a nd Evans Ga mbit, J an Pin ski (Everyman Chess 2005)
Nun n 's Chess Openings (Everyman Ch ess/Gambit 1999)
Play the Open Ga mes as Black, John Emms (Gambit 2000)
Sta rting Out: Open Games, Glenn Flear (Everyman Chess 2010)
The Giuoco Pia no, Eduard Gufeld and Oleg Stetsko (Batsford 1996)
The Two Kn ights Defence, J an Pin ski (Everyman Chess 2004)
Understa nding the Open Ga mes, Andy Solti s, Edm ar Mednis, J ack Peters and Wil
liam H artston ( R H M 1980)
Electronic sou rces, DVDs and databases

Chess Informants 1- 103
Chess Today
Mega Database 2010 (Chess Base), with Peter Lukacs as the m ain contributor in the
Italian Game section
The Italia n Ga me, Stefan Kindermann (Topschach .de 2009)
The Week in Chess
4
I n t r o d uct i o n
Returning to the Italian Game aim s to provide a repertoire for White

The Italian Game (1 e4 e S 2 lLlf3 lLlc6 3 in the Open Games. The backbone of
i.C4) occupies a very speci al place in the repertoire is based on what is now
the order of chess openings. Not only is con sidered to be the m ain line of the
it one of the oldest recorded openings Italian Game:
in chess history - its exi stence has been 1 e4 e 5 2 lLlf3 lLlc6 3 i.c4 i.C5 4 c3 lLlf6
recognized for hundreds of years; it's and now 5 d3 (rather th an S d4, which
al so th e first opening that m any pl ay releases the ten sion an d usually leads
ers learn, especi ally those who begin to more simplified position s).
chess at an early age. (For th e record, I
don 't count Scholar's Mate as an open
ing!)
A s w e progress and m ature, we
tend to move on to more sophisticated
openings. I say 'more sophisticated'
only because young players will natu
rally play the Italian Game in an un so
phi sticated way. As we now know,
there are plenty of ways of playing the
Italian G ame which are anything but
un sophisticated. Thi s wasn't always the case though.
This book examines the Italian Only 30 years ago (not a long time
Game and th e Bishop's Opening and when you con sider the long history of
5
Beating 1 e4 eS
thi s opening) the view on 5 d3 was m atch again st Viktor Korchnoi.

generally quite dismi ssive. For exam In the 1990s there were some new
ple, in Understanding the Open Ga mes, discoveries, adding an extra string to
a book I grew up with and greatly ad White's bow. A group of players dem
mired, this is what American grand on strated that White could play the
m aster Edmar Mednis wrote: Italian Game m ore aggressively. Delay
"[5 d4 i s] the only logical follow-up ing king side castling provided m ore
to 4 c3. Of course, the solid 5 d3 is play options, including l aunching a sus
able, but what then is the point of tained attack again st the bl ack king
White's fourth move. usin g a combin ation of pieces and
"Often there is more th an one good pawn s. In thi s book I 've decided to
pl an in a given opening position. Yet cover both approaches (the Classical
once a particul ar pl an has been chosen, Main Line and the Modern Variation) to
one must be con sistent in executing it. give the reader a choice, depending on
Skipping to and fro between various his style and m ood. In any case, even if
courses will only lead to indigestion ! " you wish to add just one line to your
I remember being surpri sed by 5 d 3 repertoire, some knowledge of the
when playing a fellow junior Nick other i s useful in order to recognize
Thomas (he was obviously ahead of his and appreciate overl apping pl an s and
tim e in comparison to other juniors ! ) . I tactical ideas, as well as the numerous
h ad only ever faced 5 d4 previously, tran sposition al possibilities.
and like Mednis I was left wondering Can you count on a theoretical ad
about the logic of such a follow-up. vantage using the Italian G ame? I don't
More to the point, I al so remember I think you can . I could say "Where can
wasn't able to find an easy solution for you? Good luck tryin g to prove an edge
Black. again st the Marshall G ambit! ", but I
Even though 5 d3 is an old m ove, it better stop myself at thi s point. Basi
was only during the 1980s that grand cally, there are m any lines in th e Italian
masters really began to appreci ate that Game which do lead to an advantage
the 'quiet Italian ' was a viable option for White, but there are al so m any
for White, one which could easily be which 'only' lead to interesting posi
compared to various d3 lines in the Ruy tion s, with level chances. I don't think
Lopez. Practitioners during thi s period thi s m atters. After all, when all i s said
included players such as John Nunn, and done, it's worth remembering th at
Lev Psakhis, Sergey Dolmatov and Ser understanding the position better than
gey Kudrin, while even An atoly Karpov your opponent is much more impor
pl ayed it very occasion ally, most nota tant th an any theoretical edge the po
bly in his 1981 world championship sition m ay offer. In thi s book my aim i s
6
Introduction
to h elp you to really understand the my opponent surprised me with a

Italian Game and Bishop's Opening. completely new idea. H aving said that,
In recent years there h ave been a after 10 years of studying the opening
number of players whose creative ef it's probably gettin g to the stage where
forts over the board h ave enrich ed the I 'm learning fewer things, so thi s seem s
theory and ideas of the Italian G ame. like a good time to share my thoughts.
They h ave m ade the task of studyin g ,
playin g and writin g about the Italian Arriving via the Bishop's Opening
Gam e a lot easier than it might h ave While considering a 1 e4 e S repertoire
been, and for thi s they deserve a huge for White for thi s book, one deci sion I
amount of credit and gratitude. The list h ad to m ake was how to reach the Ital
of Italian G am e h eroes includes players ian G ame. I didn't h ave much h esita
such as Sergei Tiviakov, Viktor Bologan, tion about choosing a route via the
Sergei Movsesian, Alexander Aresh Bishop's Opening. Using the move or
chenko, Zah ar Efimenko, Michael Ad der 1 e4 eS 2 tLlf3 tLlc3 3 -tC4 would
ams, Boris Gelfand, Evgeny Alekseev require coverage of the Petroff Defence,
and Vladimir Kramnik. I could on, but which I decided again st for two rea
however long the list was, it would al son s. Firstly, the Petroff leads to com
ways miss out someone who deserved pletely different positions to those in
to be there. Throughout thi s book there the Italian G ame, whereas the Bishop's
are m any g ames and g am e snippets Opening and Italian Game are closely
involving these players, but you don 't linked as White uses very similar de
need to stop there. You coul d do much velopment pattern s. Combining the
worse than check out players such as Italian Game and the Bish op's Opening
Tiviakov and Bologan on an online da provides a 'system ' type of repertoire,
tabase, and play through all of their and thi s seemed like a logical step to
games in the Italian G ame, as I'm sure take. The second problem is a practical
this would h elp you to get a good feel one. The Petroff i s a unique opening, in
for the opening. that the theory it has generated vastly
As for my own experiences in thi s outweigh s its popularity at anything
opening, I returned to the Italian Game under 2 600 level - it's almost inversely
in 2000 so that I would h ave another proportion al to it. I wasn't attracted by
weapon to go with the Ruy Lopez. Since the idea of a con siderable percentage
then I h ave avidly studied and played of the book being taken up by an open
the Italian G ame - fortunately with ing which readers would face only oc
good results. I'm finding that even now casion ally.
I'm learning new things. For example, By including the Bishop's Opening, I
just a few days ago I pl ayed a game and hope th at the repertoire option s will be
7
Beating 1 e4 e5
useful in more than one way. Firstly, in Chapter 6 (Gam e 46).

and most obviously, there's the option White cannot play an Italian G ame
of always choosing the Bishop's Open set-up with Ji.C4 and d3 if Bl ack
ing move order in your games. Sec chooses 2 ... tZ'lf6, 2 ... d5 or 2 .. .f5 - basi
ondly, those of you who are always pre cally m oves which attack the e4-pawn .
pared to face the Petroff might wish to 2 tZ'lf6
...
use only the Italian G ame part of the If 2 ... tZ'lc6, White replies 3 tZ'lf3 with a
repertoire. Finally, some players like to direct tran sposition to the Italian G ame
keep their opponents guessing by us (Chapters 1-5). Second move altern a
ing a combination of 2 tZ'lf3 and 2 Ji.c4, tives are con sidered in Ch apter 6.
choosing one or the other for specific 3 d3
occasions, depending on factors such Now:
as the opponent's repertoire. a) 3 ...tZ'lc6 (the most common
choice) 4 tZ'lf3 tran sposes to the Italian
Chapters at a Glance Game: 4 ... Ji.C5 5 c3 i s covered in Chap
Throughout the book I 've generally ters 1-3, while other m oves (4 ... Ji.e7,
presented the m aterial using the tradi 4 ... h6, 4 ... d5 etc) belong in Ch apter 4.
tional m ove orders. For example, I refer b) 3 ... c6 is the m ain alternative for
to the Italian G ame as 1 e4 e5 2 tZ'lf3 Black (see Chapter 6).
tZ'lc6 3 Ji.c4, rather than 1 e4 e5 2 Ji.c4 c) Other m oves, like 3 ... Ji.c5 and
tZ'lc6 3 tZ'lf3 . I 've sometimes tweaked 3 ... Ji.e7, are al so covered in Chapter 6.
move orders within games, normally in
order to cover early alternatives in a Now, without further ado, it's time
convenient way. to plunge in ! It just remain s for me to.
Before plunging in, I think it's worth wish you every success with the Italian
laying down a brief summ ary of the Game and Bishop's Opening.
chapters, on thi s occasion using the PS Please look out in the future for
Bi shop's Opening move order: free updates on thi s book at
1 e4 e5 2 Ji. C4 www.everymanchess.com .
2 tZ'lf3 tZ'lc6 3 Ji.C4 is the Italian Game
(Chapters 1-5). John Emms
If Black an swers 2 tZ'lf3 with 2 ... d6, Hildenborough
White can pl ay 3 Ji.C4, which i s covered May 2010
8
Cha pte r O n e
Italian Game:
Modern Variation (Part I)
Before the early 1990s, the autom atic World Ch ampion Wilhelm Steinitz h ad
way to play this li pe as White involved been doing something similar more
early castling, usually on move 6. th an a hundred years earlier, but th at
Around this time, h owever, a few play was in the Ruy Lopez rather th an the
ers began experimenting with the plan Italian Game.
of del aying castling. Over the years this
idea h as really caught on, so much so Let's begin by playing through a few
th at nowadays some would argue th at early moves:
it's the m ain line of the Italian G ame. 1 e4 e S 2 tLlf3 tLlc6 3 ..Itc4 ..Itcs 4 c3 tLlf6
One key advantage of delaying cas S d3 a6
tling i s that White can carry out the
typical tLlbd2-fl-g 3 m anoeuvre more
efficiently, simply because of the trivial
reason th at there's no obstacle of a
rook on fl. Sometimes thi s tempo
saving i s the height of White's ambi
tion s, and once the knight lands on g 3
White i s h appy t o castle. However, an
other option - one th at is more ambi
tious - is to delay castling further, or
even di spen se with the idea com
pletely, in favour of l aunching an at Thi s little pawn move h as been
tack on the king side. Of course the Bl ack's most popul ar choice in recent
9
Beating 1 e4 e5
years. It pre-empts any possible b2-b4 for one further move in case Black cas
advance by giving the bishop a useful tles. The immediate 7 tiJbd2 i s of course
hideaway on a7. On a7 the bishop i s pl ayable, and thi s move is covered in
completely out o f h arm 's way, whereas Chapter Two.
on b6 Black h as to be wary of tiJbd2-C4 A key possibility for Bl ack is to ad
ideas. vance in the centre with ... dS, and thi s
6 i. b3 m ove can be played in numerous posi
White normally plays this move tion s. Paradoxically, in the m ain line
sooner or later, regardless of whether Black pl ays ... d6, only to play ... dS just a
he wants to delay castling or not. couple of moves l ater! Confused? Don 't
Though it's not a threat at thi s precise worry. Everything will h opefully be
moment, at some point White needs to come clearer once you've pl ayed
takes measures against ... tiJas, which through a few of the g ames.
can now be answered by iLc2. If White If Bl ack does pl ay ... dS in the near
carelessly allows thi s exch ange of future, White must choose between
knight for bishop, h e h as no chance of two pl ans. These will be covered in
g aining any advantage. depth within the g ames, but in a nut
6 ... iL a 7 shell they are:
Again thi s i s the m odem choice. Plan A: White h olds the centre,
Black m aintains m aximum flexibility keeps thing s as blocked as possible and
over where to place his d-pawn and slowly builds up an attack on the king
al so doesn't commit his king yet. side.
7 h3 Plan B: White exch anges pawn s on
dS, castles kin g side, pressures Bl ack's
centre and searches for dynamic piece
play.
White can al so execute Plan A if
Bl ack settles for ... d6.
Returning to the position in the dia

gram, 7 h 3 is a multi -functional m ove
reg ardless of which plan White
chooses. Let's list a few things it does:
1. It prevents ... tiJg4, something
Continuing the theme o f m aximum White usually needs to do before play
flexibility! White not only delays cas ing tiJbd2-fl.
tling but also the tiJbd2-f1 plan . The 2. It facilitates action on the kin g
reason : to keep the option of i.g s open side when White chooses Plan A: either
10
Italian Game: Modern Variation (Part I)
the ttJh 2-g4 m anoeuvre or the aggres

sive g 2-g4Iunge.
3 . It prevents ...�g4. As we'll see
throughout thi s book, White doesn't
usually need to fear the pin on the f3-
knight. However ... �g4 is a useful op
tion for Black in lines where White
chooses Plan B.
I could go on, but I think the sim

plest solution i s to go straight into the
illustrative g ames. Let's begin with 9 •.. dS
some games where White successfully g. . . dS h a s been the popular choice
carries out Pl an A. in practice and it i s certainly Black's
most ch allenging respon se to White's
ttJd2-fl pl an . It can 't be denied th at
Game l Black has lost a tempo by pl aying ... d6
D.Howell-A.Ashton and then ... dS in quick succession, but
British Ra pidplay there's a cast-iron logic for doing so.
C h a m pion s h i p, Ha l ifax 2008 Once White's knight m oves from d2 to
fl, White i s in a much less favourable
1 e4 e S 2 ttJf3 ttJc6 3 �C4 ttJf6 4 d3 �CS position to an swer ... dS with exds, 0-0,
5 c3 a6 6 �b3 �a7 7 h3 :el, ttJc4 etc, to attack the centre and
The m ain advantage of the 7 h 3 the es-pawn in particular. Bl ack often
move order i s that, i n contrast to 7 follows the rule of thumb to play ... dS
ttJbd2, White m aintains the option of only after White's knight is committed
meeting 7 ... 0-0 with 8 �g S ! (see Tivia to fl.
kov-El Taher, G am e 10). g ... �e6 i s covered in Yemelin-Klimov
7 d6
••• (Game 6).
7 ... dS i s covered in Roy Chowdhury 10 'iVe2 !
Skjoldborg (Game g). In respon se, White usually m eets
8 ttJbd2 thi s advance by protecting th e strong
White begins the knight m anoeuvre point o n e 4 rather than exch anging on
round to g 3 . Castling would tran spose dS. That is, he chooses Plan A in stead of
to lines con sidered in Chapter Three. Plan B.
8 0-0
... 10 exds ttJxdS 11 ttJg 3 i s too slow
8 ... ttJe7 is covered in Games 7-8. and gives Black enough time to get or
9 ttJf1 ganized. For example, 11 ... �e6 12 0-0
11
Beating 1 e4 e5
f6 ! 13 l:[el (m aybe White should play king side h a s been weakened. I s thi s
13 �e3 ! ?, an approach con sidered in weakness significant?
Emms-Greet, Game 11) 13 ...'iVd7 14 d4
exd4 15 cxd4 �f7 16 �C2 l:.ae8 and
White had less than nothing in
S.Movsesian-V.Akopian, Carl sbad 2007.
1 3 liJh41
Yes it i s ! And it's immediately ap
parent why. N ot only does White
threaten 14 liJg 6, but when a knight
Returning to 10 'ii'e 2, Black must reaches the juicy f5 outpost it's going
decide whether to cl arify the situation to be mightily difficult for Black to di s
in the centre immediately or keep the lodge it, even more so now th at ... g6
ten sion for at least one more move. would leave the h6-pawn hanging.
lo ... dxe4 Black's defence from thi s position
The option of keeping the ten sion coul d probably be improved upon, but
with moves such as 10 ... �e6 or 10 ... l:!.e8 it's already clear th at he is experienc
is discussed in G ames 4- 5 . ing much discomfort.
11 dxe4 'iVe7 13 ... <iii' h 7
11 ... liJh 5 i s covered in Gonzalez If 1 3 ...� e 6 both knight m oves t o f5
Vidal-Gomez, (Game 3) look enticing, but 14 liJgf5 has the ad
12 liJ g3 h 6 ? vantage of vacatin g g 3 for the queen .
The natural follow-up to 11 .. :ii'e 7 For example, 14 ... 'ilVd7 1 5 'iVf3 and the
must be 12 ... �e6 (see Tiviakov threats of 16 �xh 6 and 16 liJxh 6+ are
Sargi ssian, Game 2), and I can see no not easy to m eet.
reason to delay thi s move. 14 liJhf5 'iVe8?
Is Black's choice of 12 ... h6 the first It's not good in any case, but Black
sign th at he is un aware of the danger has to play 14 ... 'iVd8.
in thi s position ? True, it's desirable to 1 5 'ii'f3 liJg8
eliminate the possibility of .1i.g 5 or Thi s defends against the liJxh 6
liJg 5, but the drawback i s that Black's threat, but...
12
about a key moment, with White fac

ing a question which ari ses tim e and
time again in the Italian Game. Should
he allow the exchange of the light
squared bishops or avoid it? In general
thi s question i s very difficult to an swer,
and in m any situati on s the correct
choice m ay ultim ately depend on a
player's style.
Let's see wh at Tiviakov does:
1 3 i.. c 2 1 ?
16 liJxg71
... H owell h ad another idea up his
sleeve !
16 ... �xg7 17 liJ h S + 1-0
White forces m ate after 17 ... �g 6 18
'l'g 3+! �xh 5 19 i.. d l+!, or 17 ... �h 8 18
'l'g 3 followed by 'iVg 7.
A crushing win for White. Perhaps

the quiet Italian is not so quiet after all !
One question you might ask is, does
White's attack offer chances for success Tiviakov chooses to keep th e bi sh
ag ain st a 2600+ grandm aster? Let's ops o n t h e board.
see ... Thi s i..b 3-C2 retreat can be difficult
to comprehend at first. I admit it's cer
tainly not the sort of move I would
Game 2 have con sidered playing when I was
S. Tivia kov-Ci.Sa rgissia n younger. On the surface White seem s
FIDE World Cha m pion s h i p, to be spending a tempo moving his
Tri pol i 2004 bishop to a more passive position, and
leaving Bl ack's e6-bishop in possession
1 e4 eS 2 liJf3 liJc6 3 i.. C 4 i.. c s 4 c3 liJf6 of the a2-g8 diagon al . If all of this i s
5 d3 d6 6 i.. b3 a6 7 h 3 i.. a 7 8 liJbd2 0-0 true (and i t i s ! ), why are grandmasters
9 liJf1 dS 10 Ve2 dxe4 11 dxe4 Ve7 12 and Italian Game experts like Tiviakov
liJg3 i.. e 6 happy to play this way? Why do they
Thi s i s much stronger than 12 ... h 6 ? view i.. c 2 as White's most ambitious
Black's bishop move already brings option ?
13
Beating 1 e4 e5
Well, maybe this retreat could be (or 17 'iith 2 ttJe7 18 f4 exf4 19 .i.xf4
compared to some extent with White's ttJg 6 with a roughly equal position,
automatic .i.b3-C2 when faced with G .Ardelean -I.Chirila, Eforie Nord 2009).
... ttJas in the Ruy Lopez. The bishop be In thi s position Black should avoid
comes temporarily passive, but White i s 17 ... ttJxfs ? ! 18 exfs ! which gives White
counting o n its long-term potential. a great square on e4 for his knight and
Furthermore, despite the symmetrical the possibility to break up Black's kin g
pawn structure it does seem as though side with f6. 17 ...ttJ e 7 is a wiser choice,
Black enjoys slightly less manoeuvring and here 18 ttJxd6 'iVxd6 19 l:td1 'iVc6
space for his pieces, and so in general he leaves Black close to equality.
would welcome an exchange of minor Let's return to the position after 1 3
pieces. Of course, in the Lopez scenario .i. c 2 . White's immediate plan i s ttJh4
there's an extra incentive - to leave followed by ttJfs and possibly 'i¥f3 . H ow
Black with a less than ideal knight on as. should Black react?
This is why there .i.c2 is an 'automatic' 13 ... :tfe8
choice, whereas here the decision re If Black wants to activate a rook,
quires some agonizing. isn't 13 ... :ad8 more desirable? Yes it is,
Let's see how Black should defend if especially since after 14 ttJh4 the rook
White allows the exchange and con on d8 helps with the tactical shot
tinues action on the king side: 1 3 ttJh4 14 ... ttJb4 ! .
(planning ttJfs) 13 ... .i.xb3 14 axb3 'i¥e6 !
(with the bishops off the board, the
queen sits very comfortably on thi s
square - it's now her j o b to patrol the
light squares) 1 5 b4 ttJe8 (thi s knight
will go to d6 to battle for control of fs)
16 0-0 ttJd6 17 ttJhfs
Thi s seem s t o solve Black's prob

lems. For example, 15 .i.b1 (White
should avoid 15 cxb4 'ikxb4+ 16 .i.d2
l:txd2 ! 17 'i¥xd2 .i.xf2+ 18 'iit d 1 'iVxd2+
19 'iit x d2 .i.xg 3, while 1 5 ttJhfs ttJXC2+
16 'iVxc2 .i.xf5 1 7 ttJxf5 'iVe6 18 0-0
reaches an equal position) l s ... 'iVd6 ! 16
14
liJhfs liJd3+ 1 7 .i.xd3 'iVxd3 18 .i.g 5 A m ove earlier, i f Black pl ays 16 . . .h 6

liJxe4! ? 19 'ti'xe4 'ti'xe4+ 20 liJxe4 f6 ! (in stead of 16 . . .ltJd6) White coul d ig
etc. White might be better off playing nore the attack on the knight, since 17
14 0-0 in stead. .i.d2 hxg s ? 18 hxg s 'ti'g 6 19 0-0-0 looks
Another idea for Black is to prevent to me like a very strong attack down
liJh4 with 13 ... liJe8, when again the the h -file.
knight i s ready to hop into d6. 14 0-0 14 ltJh41
liJd6 15 .l:tel f6 16 ltJh 2 :ad8 17 liJg4
'iff7 18 .i.bl �h 8 19 ltJe3 :d7 20 b3
iUd8, as pl ayed in V.Nevednichy
L.Fressinet, Khanty Man siysk 2007, pro
vides a good demon stration of a suc
cessful Bl ack strategy - White's king
side pl ay h as come t o nothing and
Black i s slowly improving his position.
White needs m ore dynami sm here,
and his play in D.Howell - P.5vidler,
Dresden Olympiad 2008, provides m ore
of a challenge: 14 ltJg s .i.d7 l s ltJfs 'iff6 Now there i s absolutely nothing to
(ls ... .i.xfs 16 exfs reveal s the point be dissuade White from carrying out thi s
hind m oving the knight to g s, as the desirable idea. It's surprising just how
e4-square i s now beckoning) 16 h4 (16 quickly Black's position worsens from
liJf3 intending .i.g s followed by 0-0-0 i s here on .
al so possible) 16 . . .ltJd6. 14 'iff8
...
14 ... g 6 prevents an entry into fs for

the m om ent, but the pin with 1 5 .i.g s
i s obviously going to hurt Black.
14 ... 'i!Vcs offers Black more possibili
ties, such as ... 'ifC4, ... 'ifbs or ... .i.c4.
Here Lukacs feel s that 15 .i.g s ! , intend
ing l s ... .i.c4 16 'iff3 :e6 17 liJhfs, is
White's best option and I agree with
him. White is threatening 18 ltJxg 7 !
�xg 7 19 .i.xf6+ �xf6 20 liJh s+.
1s liJhfs ltJe71
In thi s position my feeling is that 17 Black has to ch allenge thi s power
g4! ?, as suggested in Chess Today, looks fully placed knight as quickly as possi
more ambitious th an Howell's 17 ltJe3 . ble.
15
Beating 1 e4 e5
16 .i.gs .i.xfS?
Black really needed to keep thi s
bi shop in order t o oppose i t s counter
part, whose scope is about to be in
creased with the change of pawn struc
ture. H aving said that, 16 ... ttJxfS isn't a
bed of roses for Bl ack either: 17 exfs !
(17 ttJxfS ttJd7 ! followed by .. .f6 mini-
mizes Black's disadvantage) 1 7 ... .i.ds
18 O-O-O ! ? intending to meet 18 ... .i.xa2
with 19 .i.xf6 gxf6 20 ttJe4.
17 exfs ttJed s 18 O-O-O! 2 6 Vd 7 ?
26 .i.xf4! was much stronger. White
win s after 26 ..... xg4 27 hxg4 exf4 28
:xh 6 .i.xf2 29 :g 6+! 'iitf8 30 :g7, as
indicated by Lukacs.
26 .. JU8?
Missing a big chance to get back
into the g am e with 26 ... ttJe6 ! .
2 7 .i.xf4!
Tiviakov rarely wastes a second op
portunity!
27 .•• exf4 28 'ii'f S ! l:.fd 8 29 'iVg6+ 1-0
Excellent play! Tiviakov exploits to
the full his earlier deci sion to delay cas The n ext g am e demon strates just
tling. Indeed, 0-0-0 i s now the natural how much flexibility White's position
choice, with White's active pieces, contains. Early on it looks like White i s
powerful bishops and pawn spearhead aiming for a typical pawn storm o n the
on fS providing ample ammunition for kingside, but somewhat surpri singly he
a king side attack. White enjoys a sig ends up castling th at side.
nificant advantage in thi s position .
18 ... h6 19 .i.h4 Vc S 20 ttJe4 'ii'c 6 2 1
.i.b3 ttJf4!? 2 2 ttJxf6+ 'ii'xf6 2 3 'ii'g 4 'ii'c 6 Game 3
24 f6 1 'i!Vxg2? V.Gonza lez Vidal-F.Gomez
24 ... g 6 i s more resilient, even C u ba n C h a m pion s h i p,
though White is in compl ete control Holg u i n City 2002
after 2S :d7 ttJe6 26 :hdl.
25 .i.g3 ! gs 1 e4 eS 2 ttJf3 ttJc6 3 .i.C4 ttJf6 4 d3 .i.cS
16
5 c3 a6 6 �b3 �a7 7 lDbd2 d6 8 h 3 0-0 exf4 and White h as weakened his posi
9 lDf1 dS 10 'iie 2 dxe4 11 dxe4 lD h s ! ? tion for no compen sating factors.
What's m ore, that knight on f1 is no
longer such a h appy piece !
If White wants to allow ... lDf4, a bet
ter way to do so would be 12 �g s "iVd6
13 lDe3, as played in K. Landa
V.Akopian, Sochi 2006. I 'm sure th at
White plan s to meet 1 3 ... lDf4 with 14
�xf4 exf4 l s lDdS; or 1 3 ... h6 with 14 g4
lDf4 (14 ... h xg S ! 7) 1 5 �xf4 exf4 16 lDdS,
when in comparison to 1 2 g47! White
has found an excellent square for the
Thi s knight move i s an important knight. In the g ame, Akopi an chose
idea - both here and in similar posi 1 3 ... �xe3 and Landa m an aged to g ain
tion s - because it more or less prevents a small advantage after 14 �xe3 lDf4
12 lDg 3, which h as becom e undesirable 1 5 �xf4 exf4 16 e S 'iVh 6 17 'ili'e4 �e6
in view of 1 2 ... lDf4 or 12 ... lDxg 3 . So 18 �xe6 'i!Vxe6 19 0-0 :ae8 20 l:tfel f6
White h as to amend his original plan . 2 1 'i!Vxf4 fxe s 2 2 'i!Ve3 in view of the i so
Whenever Black pl ays ... lDh S , both lated e-pawn, although Bl ack's play
sides need to be wary of tactics involv was perhaps a bit too simplistic.
ing lDxes uncovering an attack on the
knight by the white queen . On thi s oc
casion 12 lDxe s ? ? is a blunder. White
win s a pawn after 12 ... lDxes 13 'iix h S,
but then Bl ack win s the game with
13 ... lDd3+ !
1 2 g3!
Preventing any ... lDf4 ideas. While
it's certainly true that White's king side
structure h as become compromi sed to
some extent, White can usually get
away with accepting thi s because king 12 ... lDf6 !
side castling only rarely features in his The knight has done its job - lDg 3 is
plans. no longer possible. Now it return s to
White can allow .... lDf4 in some po hit the e4-pawn so that White cannot
sitions, but he doesn't want to force plan lDe3 either.
the knight there: 12 g47 ! lDf4 13 �xf4 1 3 g4! ?
17
Beating 1 e4 e5
White has oth er options but clearly ploiting the hole o n f4 via . . .lDcs-e6.
thi s is the most ambitious. The good 1 3 ..."ile7 intending ... .te6 is, as al
thing about delaying castling i s that ways, a key defen sive idea. Again st this,
White can consider aggressive ideas White coul d play 14 lDg 3 and m eet
such as lunging forward with pawns 14 ... i.. e 6 with l s lDfS.
on th e king side. The immediate 1 3 ... i.. e 6 ! ? i s al so in
1 3 i.. g s h 6 14 .l:!.dl "ile7 reveal s a teresting, and White faces one of those
problem with having a pawn on g 3 . typical dilemmas regarding the light
White would like t o play 1 5 i..h 4 but squared bishops. 14 .txe6 fxe6 leaves
then he would always have to worry the e-pawn s doubled and isol ated, but
about ... g s trapping the bishop. Even if it could be argued with some justifica
an immediate lS ... g S is con siderably tion that Black's g ain in control of dS
risky in view of 16 lDxg s hxg s 17 i.. x g s, and fS, plus the use of the open f-file,
the fact that Black has thi s possibility in more th an compen sates him for this. I
reserve, say after l s ... i.. e 6, i s somewhat would be much more tempted to con
annoying for White (although not an tinue with 14 lDg 3 .
noying enough to prevent some bold 14 lDe3 lDes 1S .te2
players choosing to play like thi s - see
the H owell-Mchedlishvili reference in
Game 10).
After 1 3 g4 Black needs to come up
with an effective plan, which is easier
said than done ...
Preventing the exch ange and al so

... lDd3+.
1S ••• aS
Black's idea i s . . .b6 followed by
... i.. a 6, but White can easily negate thi s
threat after which Black i s left awk
13 lDd7
... wardly pl aced.
Sen sibly removing the knight out of Motwani suggests ls ... lDe6, plan
the firing line of White's king side ad ning to m eet 16 lDdS with 16 .. .f6 ! ? "fol
vance, and eyeing the possibility of ex- lowed by ... lDe7 to challenge White's
18
ds-knight, which i s a key guardian of Black misses his chance. After

the f4-square". Thi s does look like a 22 ... ttJg 6 ! 23 ttJg4 ( 2 3 bxcS ttJf4+ 24
wise defence to me, although I still pre 'ith 1 'iWxh 3 + 2S ttJh 2 is very unclear, as
fer White's position after 17 i.. e 3 i.. x e3 i s 23 ttJdS .1l.c8 ! 24 ttJg 1 ttJa6) 23 ... ttJd7
18 �xe3 ttJe7 19 0-0-0. Another entic 24 i.. b 3 'iWe7 2S h4, White is better but
ing option i s 16 ttJfS, intending to an Black is still alive.
swer 16 ... g 6 with 17 ttJh 6+ followed by 23 ttJd S ! .l:!.ac8 24 i.. b 3
M, again with some initiative.
16 0-0!
It's sometimes easy to forget th at
White can still castle this side ! Black i s
hardly in a position t o exploit any
weaknesses, especially as most of his
pieces are l abourin g on the queenside.
16 ... b6 17 l:td1 i.. a 6 18 'iVe1 'iWf6 19 'itg2
24 ... ttJxd S 2 S b S ! 1-0

White win s a piece after 2S ... i.. x bs
2 6 .1l.xds and 2 7 .1l.xb7.
The next g am e highlights a problem

th at Black often encounters in thi s line:
how does he create m eaningful coun
terplay? My opponent plays quite
It has become abundantly clear that imaginatively on the queenside, but he
Black's plan involving ... as, ... b6 and still finds it very difficult to do anything
... i.. a 6 was a misguided one. He should con structive. In contrast, White's
have at least con sulted his poor bishop moves on the king side didn 't seem to
on a7 ! require too much thought.
19 ttJe7
..•
Bl ack h ad to do something about

the obvious idea of ttJdS or ttJfS. Game 4
20 g S ! ? J.Emms-D.Ledger
Thi s advance i s quite committal, but Britis h League (4NCL) 2006
White's initiative becomes very strong .
2 0... 'ii'e 6 2 1 b 4 axb4 2 2 cxb4 ttJb7? 1 e4 eS 2 ttJf3 ttJc6 3 i.. C4 i.. c s 4 c3 ttJf6
19
Beating 1 e4 e5
5 d 3 a6 6 .Jtb3 d6 7 liJbd2 0-0 8 h 3 .Jta7 Sovata 1998.

g liJf1 dS 10 'iVe2 'iWd6 11...d4 i s another reason able idea
Black adds support to eS in prepara for Black, although not m any pl ayers
tion for his next move. have been willing to alter the ten sion
11 liJg3 in this way.
11 ... liJas One of Bl ack's ideas is to play ... dxC3

11.. . .Jte6 is certainly possible, but in combination with ... b S -b4 to g ain
perhaps it m akes more sen se to play it control of d4, but thi s pl an i s not easy
a m ove earlier without the queen com to carry out if White plays with pur
mitted to d6 (see the next game). Now: pose: 12 0-0 .Jte6 13 liJh4 (again thi s
idea suggests itself as the most dan
a) 12 liJh4 dxe4 1 3 dxe4 .Jtxb3 14 gerous) 13 ... liJe7 14 .Jtg s liJe8 15 cxd4 ! ?
axb3 'ii'e 6 tran sposes to the note to .Jtxd4 16 .Jtxe 7 ! 'ji'xe7 17 liJhfs 'ii'd 7 18
White's 1 3th move in Game 2 . .Jtxe6 fxe6 (or 18 ... 'ii'x e6 19 liJxd4 exd4
b ) 12 liJg S ! ? liJ e 7 1 3 0-0 liJg6 20 liJfS) 19 liJxd4 'ji'xd4 20 'ifc2 and
( 1 3 ... .Jtd7 ! ?) 14 liJh s liJd7 1 5 liJxe6 fxe6 White enjoyed a slight edge in
16 .Jte3 liJf6 17 liJxf6+ �xf6 18 .Jtxa7 B.Macieja- I .Sokolov, Elista Olympiad
l:[xa7 19 g3 c6 20 d4 looked a touch 1998 - Black's pawn weaknesses are
better for White in B.Macieja-P.Acs, m ore serious th an White's.
Budapest 1996. 12 .JtC2 dxe4
c) 12 0-0 h 6 1 3 liJh4 dxe4 14 dxe4 Golubev suggests 12 ... d4! ? here, and
liJe7 ! (14 ... .Jtxb3 15 liJgfS ! ? is interest thi s is certainly a worthwhile idea. Af
ing, planning to an swer ls ... 'ii'e 6 16 ter 1 3 0-0 White's plan i s similar to the
axb3 'ili'xb 3 ? by 17 'ji'f3 with threats on one employed after 11...d4.
h6) 15 'ji'f3 'iith 7 16 liJhfs liJxfs 17 liJxfS 1 3 dxe4 .Jtd7 1
.JtxfS 18 'ii'xfS+ g6 19 'i!Vf3 'iit g 7 and Thi s i s the point of Black's previous
Black has equalized, I . Brandis-S.Vajda, play. With the knight vacating c6, Black
20
gains the possibility of doing some although I prefer White, there's every
damage with ... �bS . thing still to pl ay for.
16 liJ hf5 'ili'fS
The problem with 16 .. :ife6 here i s
that 17 �g S ! threaten s 18 liJxg 7 ..t>xg 7
19 �xf6+ 'ii'xf6 20 liJh S+, and al so ex
ploits a down side to 17 ... l:.fe8 - the f6-
knight no longer h as e8 available.
Again st 1 7 ... liJd7 ? I h ad pl anned 18
liJh S ! , which exploits another drawback
to Black's rook move !
17 h4!
Should White pl ay b3, t o m eet

... �bS with c4? Thi s is what Rybka
wants to do ...
14 liJh41
No!
14 �b5 15 'iff3
...
Computers, at least initially, assess

that Black i s well placed here. Perhaps
they are taking into con sideration the
fact th at White i s unable to castle ei
ther side at thi s moment. My feeling, Thi s m ove creates a m ajor threat,
though, i s th at White's king stuck in and it al so introduces h S-h 6 ideas.
the centre m ay well be safer th an I had analysed the immediate 17
Black's king tucked behind those three liJxg 7 'ili'xg 7 18 liJfs but couldn 't find a
kingside pawn s, at least in hum an vs. follow up after 18 ... 'iIi'g 6. With a pawn
human battl es! on h4 in stead of h 3 , though, White
1 5 l:tfeS?
... could win here by playing h S .
Perhaps the m ain problem for Black 17 J:te6?
..
is not the assessm ent of the position, Initially thi s move seem s to discour
but rather the fact th at it's m ore diffi age liJxg 7 because it appears to give
cult for him to handle. After just one Black a second option of capturing on
seemingly n atural move by Black, the g 7, with the king . However, thi s proves
computers begin to acknowledge to be worse than capturing with the
White's attacking potenti al . queen !
ls .. :iVe6 ! pre-empts liJfS ideas and, 17 ... ..t>h 8 ! was the only decent way
21
Beating 1 e4 e5
to meet White's threat. The point be coming up with n e w and interesting
hind the king m ove i s th at 18 ttJxg 7 ideas, and it's no coincidence th at his
'iWxg 7 19 ttJfS 'iWg 6 20 h S 'iWg4 no longer g ames are featured more than anyone
works for White because it's not check el se's in thi s book.
on h 6 . In stead I h ad planned to keep up
the pressure with 18 h S .
1 8 ttJxg7 ! 'it>xg7 Game S
18 ... 'iWxg 7 is more resilient but still S. Tiviakov-R. Buhmann
winning for White: 19 ttJfS 'iVg 6 Neustadt an der
(19 . :ili'f8 i s met by 20 i.h 6; or 19 ... 'Wh 8
. Wei n strasse 2009
20 i.h 6 with the point that 20 ... ttJe8 2 1
'iWg 3 + :g6 allows 2 2 ttJe7 m ate) 2 0 h S . 1 e4 eS 2 ttJf3 ttJc6 3 i.C4 ttJf6 4 d3 i.cS
Here 2 0 . :ii'g4 2 1 ttJh 6+ win s the queen,
. 5 c3 a6 6 i.b3 i.a7 7 h3 d6 8 ttJbd2 0-0
while 20 .. ttJxh S 21 llxh S i s hopeless for
. 9 ttJf1 dS 10 'iWe2 i.e6
Black in the long run .
Thi s is a good m ove. Black increases

19 i.h6+! the ten sion by introducing the possibil
David Ledger looked a bit shocked ity of a bishop exch ange after a trade
when I played thi s move, which either on e4. White can react either solidly or
win s the queen or forces m ate. Perhaps aggressively.
he had been expecting 19 ttJfS+? 'it>h 8. If 10 ... h 6, White can continue with
Sportingly, he allowed me to execute 11 ttJg 3 but 11 g4! ? is an attractive al
the m ate. ternative, especially now that Bl ack h as
19 ... 'it>xh6 20 ttJfS+ 'it>g6 2 1 'ii'g 3+ 'it> h s given White's attack a 'hook' with ... h6.
2 2 'iWgs mate (1-0) The g am e V. Komliakov-I .Yagupov, Rus
sia 1995, demon strates some of
Sergei Tiviakov is one of the Italian White's attacking possibilities:
G ame's greatest advocates. He's always 1 1 ... dxe4 12 dxe4 ttJd7 (the typical reac-
22
tion to g 2-g4 - Bl ack's knight heads for might choose) 13 ... 'ii'e 7 14 lLle3 ..txe3
e6) 13 lLlg 3 (I quite like 1 3 lLle3 ! ? lLlcs 1 5 'ii'x e3 ..txb3 16 axb3 'ii'e 6 17 ..txf6
14 ..tC2, when the knight can al so go to 'ii'xf6 18 0-0 'ii'e 6 19 :dS f6 with a level
dS - compare G on zalez-Gomez, G am e position, V.lordachescu-Z.Gyimesi, Ro
3) 13 ...lLl c s 1 4 i. c 2 lLl e 6 1 5 lLlfS l:t e 8 16 mania 2004.
h4 lLlf4 1 7 ..txf4 exf4 18 l:r.dl 'ii'f6 19 gs If 10 ... l:te8 is m et by 11 lLlg 3, Black
hxg s 20 hxg s 'ii'g 6 2 1 lLlSh4 'ii'h s 2 2 can play 11 ... h6 safe in the knowledge
'ii' d2 ..t c S 2 3 g 6 ..td6 that White no longer h as aggressive
g 2-g4 ideas at his disposa1 . Even so,
there are some interesting possibilities
here:
a) 1 2 0-0 ..te6 1 3 l:tdl (otherwise
Black might pl ay ... lLlas, ...dxe4 and
... ..tc4) 1 3 ... 'iVe7 14 lLlh4 dxe4 1 5 lLlhfS
'ii'f8 16 dxe4 ..txb3 17 axb3 lLle7 18 'ii'f3
(threatening lLlxh 6+) 18 ... lLlxfS 19 lLlxfS
':'e6 (K. Landa-M.Adam s, En schede
2006) and here 20 b4 introduces the
possibility of b S at some point. White's
24 gxf7+ ! ? (Rybka prefers the para position i s the more comfortable, even
doxical 24 'ii'd S ! , because even after an if Bl ack might be able to equalize with
exch ang e of queens White keeps an accurate pl ay.
initiative: 24 ... 'ii'x ds 2 5 ':'xdS ..te6 2 6 b) White can al so begin king side ac
.l:.h S etc) 24 .. .'�xf7 2 5 l:tg l i. g 4 2 6 tion with 12 lLlh 2 ! ?
i.b3+ �6 2 7 l:[xg4! ? 'ii'x g4 2 8 'iVds
ttJes 29 lLlxes ':xe s ? ? (after 29 ... i.xe s
there's nothing obvious for White; now
the attack i s decisive) 30 'ii'f7+ 'iii> g s 3 1
cJtd2 ! �h 6 3 2 .:1h l 'ii'h s 3 3 lLlfS+ ':'xfS
34 exfs and Black resigned.
10 ... lie8 is m ore solid. Black doesn't
fear 11 ..tg s because he plan s to m eet
it with 11 ... dxe4 12 dxe4 ..te6, followed
typically by an exch ange of bishops on
b3 and the queen working her way to
e6. For example, 13 l:Idl (I h aven 't Thi s move offers m ore chances for
found any g ames with 13 ..ta ! ?, but both sides to unbalance the position.
this looks like the sort of m ove Tiviakov For example, 12 ... ..te6 1 3 lLlg4 dxe4 14
23
Beating 1 e4 e5
dxe4 .i.xb3 15 axb3 l:te6 ! ? (ls ...l2Jd7 ? l2Jf3 l2Jd7, as in E.Vorobiov-V. Diu, Kras
allows 16 .i.xh 6 ! gxh6 17 l2Jxh 6+ �f8 nodar 2002; thi s looks fairly level and
18 'ii'g 4 - Kobalija - which i s very good I'm surprised we h aven 't seen it more
for White) 16 .i.d2 l2Je7 17 O-O-O! ? "We8 often) 12 dxe4 .i.xb3 13 axb3
(M. Kobalija-M.5orokin, Russian Cham
pionship 2005) and here Kobalija gives
18 l2JfS ! ? lId8 19 .i.e3 .i.xe3+ 20 'ilVxe3
with an unclear and roughly level posi
tion.
c) After 12 l2Jh4 White has to watch out
for ...l2Jxe4 tricks. For example, 12 ...l2Jas
13 ii.c2 l2Jxe4 ! ? 14 dxe4 'ii'x h4 15 exds
l2JC4.
Let's return to 10 ... ii.e6. Wh at
should White play?
ll .i.c2 1 ? and now:
a) 1 3 ...'iWd7 14 0-0 'iWe6 1 5 b4 h 6 and
here the plan of 16 l2Jh4 intending l2Jfs
forces Bl ack to defend with some accu
racy: 16 ... 'ii;Jh 7 ! 17 l2Jhfs l2Je7 18 .i.e3
(perhaps 18l2Jxe7 'ii'x e7 19l2Jfs 'ilVe6 20
'iWf3) 18 ...l2Jxe4 ! ? (18 ... .i.xe3 looks wiser,
and equal) 19 'ji'g4 g6 20 'ilVxe4l2Jxfs ? !
(better i s 20. . .g xfS ! 2 1 'ifxb7 .i.xe3 2 2
fxe 3 c 6 with g -file counterplay) 2 1
l2Jxfs 'iWxfs 2 2 'iWxb7 .i.xe3 2 3 fxe 3 'iWd3
24 'ikxc7 'ilVxe3+ 25 'ii;Jh 2 'ii;J g 8 26 .l:.f6
Here's th at 'mysterious' bishop with some advantage for White,
move again ! L.McShane-Z.Gyimesi, G erman League
11 l2Jg 3 h as been White's most 2006.
popul ar choice in practice. With accu b) 1 3 ...l2Je8 ! again reroutes the
rate play Black h as very good chances knight to d6, a more favourable square.
of reaching a level position, but thi s Thi s seems to be a reliable option for
move might still appeal t o those who Black:
prefer m ore simplified positions. Play bl) 14l2Jfsl2Jd6 15 0-0 (15 g4 is ag
normally continues 1 1 ... dxe4 (there's gressive, but after lS ... 'ilVf6 16 h4 'iWe6
al so 11 ...l2Jas ! ? 12 .i.c2 dxe4 1 3 dxe4 1 7 b4 f6 ! 18 h S .l:.ad8 19 l2J3h4 .l:.d7,
.i.C4! 14 'ilVd2 'ikxd2+ 15 l2Jxd2 .i.e6 16 V. Bologan -V.Mal akhov, Kemer 2007, it's
24
Italian Game: Modern Variation (Part /)
not clear what White does next) 16 'iti>xe2 :f7 is equal) 14 ..txf7+ 'iti>xf7
15 ... ttJe7 16 ttJxd6 'iix d6 17 litdl We6 18 with good compen sation for the ex
"YWC4 'ifxC4 19 bXc4 :ad8 with equality, ch ange.
V. Bologan -V.Georgiev, Wijk aan Zee 11 ... dxe4
2007. 11 ... d4 must be a con sideration
b2) 14 ttJd2 ! ? ttJd6 15 ttJC4 ttJxc4 16 here. There's also 11 ... b 5 ! ? with the in-
bXc4 ttJe7 17 0-0 "iVd6 18 b 3 IUd8 19 tention of pl aying .....tc4 - after ex-
i.a3 Wf6, again with a level position, changing pawn s - to force a queen ex
L.McShane-J .Werle, London 2009. change: 1 2 ttJg 3 dxe4 1 3 dxe4 ..tC4 14
Against 11 ..tg 5 Black can employ a 'ii'd 2, as in A.Maier-A.Stoer, Aug sburg
similar plan to reach a level position : 2003. White could try 12 ttJg 5, the idea
11 ... dxe4 1 2 dxe4 ..txb3 1 3 axb3 'ii'd 6 being that after 12 .. :ile7 1 3 ttJg 3 the
14 ttJg 3 We6 15 b4 ttJe8 16 0-0 f6, queen now h as space on f3 : 1 3 ... dxe4
S.Movsesian-V.Topalov, Tripoli (rapid) 14 dxe4 ..tC4 1 5 ttJf5 'ii'd 7 16 Wf3 etc.
2004. 12 dxe4 ttJhS
Finally, although in some position s We've already seen thi s idea in a
White can contemplate meeting ... ..te6 similar position (Game 3), and White's
with ttJg 5, I don't think thi s i s one of respon se i s the same.
them. There are various pros and con s 1 2 ... We7 1 3 ttJg 3 would tran spose to
to weigh up about an exchange of Tiviakov-Sargissian (Game 2).
knight for bishop on e6, but here the 13 g3
debate might even be redundant, due
to tactical reason s : 11 ttJg 5
13 h6
...
Thi s move certainly has its uses, but

11 ... dxe4 ! ? (1l ... We7 12 ttJxe6 fxe6 i s Black must always be a bit wary about
solid) 12 ..txe6 (or 12 ttJxe6 exd3 1 3 playing it unprovoked.
ttJxd8 dxe2) 12 . . . exd3 1 3 ttJxf7 ':xf7 In D.Howell-M.Mchedlishvili, Dres
(13 ... We7 14 ttJg 5+ 'ii'x e6 1 5 ttJxe6 dxe2 den Olympiad 2008, Black in stead
25
Beating 1 e4 eS
chose 13 ... liJf6. The young English Tiviakov carries on with the typical
grandmaster responded with the bold attacking pl an on the kin g side.
14 ..ig S ! ? h 6 1 5 ..ih4 ! ? - bold, because 1 5 ... liJf6 16 liJhf5 liJe7
it gives Bl ack the opportunity to trap Black can try to chan g e the ch arac
the bishop with ... g S . H aving said th at, ter of the position by playing
it's possible that the execution i s 16 ... ..ixe 3 ! ? Exch anging the a7-bishop
weaker than the threat, because l S ... g S for a knight on e3 i s an underrated de
16 liJxg s hxg s 17 ..ixg s 'iftg 7 18 f4! left fen sive resource in m any lines. The
White with tremendous pl ay for the bishop on a7 looks impressive, but
piece. Indeed, after 18 .. :iVd6 19 fS ! ..ic8 when White goes for an all -out assault
20 liid l 'ii'c s 2 1 liJe3 l:th 8 22 liJdS liJxds on the king side there's a danger it
23 ':'xdS 'ii'b 6 24 ..ib3 'iftf8 25 h4 l:tg8?, might become an uncomfortable spec
White could have reached a winning tator. It's a fierce battle between the
position with 26 'ii'h S ! . bishop and knight pairs after 17 ..ixe3
..ixfs 18 exfs 'ifds 19 0-0 e4 20 f3 ! ?
Alternatively, if White i s unwilling to
alter the pawn structure, the slower 17
liJxe3 is possible, planning 'iftfl-g 2
and/or g 3-g4 followed by liJfS.
17 g4
Bl ack doesn 't h ave a decent defence

to the threat again st f7 after the dS
rook moves: for example, 2 6 ... 'ifte8 2 7
l:.d6 ! ! l:.f8 2 8 ..ixf7+! .:txf7 2 9 .l::[f6 'iff2+
30 'iftdl etc. It's very possible th at Black
should avoid ... g s at that m om ent and
in stead choose something like l s ... 'ii'e 7 It's still possible to castl e king side,
(or 14 .. :ii'e7 a m ove earlier) when the but Tiviakov senses blood!
position remain s doubled edged. 17 ...liJg6 18 liJg2 !
14 liJe3 Preventing ... liJf4 - sometimes you
White must avoid 14 liJxe s ? liJxe s have to go one step backward before
1 5 'ifxh s liJd3+ 16 ..ixd3 'ifxd3. going two steps forward.
1 4... b 5 1 5 liJh4! Black is afflicted by a typical m al -
26
aise. His pieces look well placed and 24 �xh6 'iVb6 2 5 ttJxg7 axb3 26 ttJxe8
there seem s to be n othing much wrong bxa 2
with his position . In fact, objectively Or 2 6 ... .l:.xe8 2 7 'it'f6.
maybe there's isn't; it's just irritatin gly 27 ttJf6+ 'it> h 8 28 'it>d 2 1
difficult to come up with an effective Thi s is much stronger th an 2 8 'it>b2 ?
plan . In the g ame, Buh m ann begins to b4! .
drift. Meanwhile, Tiviakov slowly edges
forward on the king side.
18 ... tiJd 7
18 .. :it'd7 intendin g .. Jlad8 looks
stronger.
19 h4 tiJC5 20 'ilff3 l:te8 21 �d2 c6 2 2
b3!
2 8 ... ttJf4
Perh aps Buhmann h ad initially
thought th at 28 'it>d2 was impossible
because of 28 ... l::t d 8+. H ere 2 9 ttJdS ! is
the only m ove, but it's a very effective
one.
2 9 ttJxf4 exf4 30 'li'xf4 �C4 3 1 'it>e1 .l:.d8
White wants to castl e queenside be 32 l:.a l 'it'a 5 33 tiJd 5 ! 1-0
fore going any further, so he blocks the A wonderful attacking displ ay by
attack on a2. Thi s seem s to invite ... as, Tiviakov, and a great advert for the
but Tiviakov h as calcul ated that his Modern Variation . There's no doubt
attack will be the quicker. that thi s opening requires a certain
22 ••• a5 23 0-0-0 a4 amount of subtlety. But if you get it
Thi s doesn't work, but after 23 .. :iic7 right, as Tiviakov does here, it can be
24 h S White's attack is breakin g very rewarding.
through very quickly: 24 ... tiJf8 2 S ttJxg 7 !
'it>xg 7 2 6 �xh 6+ 'it'xh 6 2 7 'iVf6+ 'it'h 7 2 8 Next we consider three games in
h 6 and 'ilfg 7 m ate; or 2 4. . .ttJe7 2 S which Black chooses to del ay, or com
ttJxh 6+! gxh6 2 6 �xh 6 �c8 2 7 'ii'f6 pletely dispen se with, the ... d6-dS ad
ttJe6, and now 2 8 �f4! i s the m ove Ry vance. In thi s first game, White goes all
bka wants to win with ! out for an attack - and succeeds !
27
Beating 1 e4 e5
plays 8 ... .i.e6 (a move earlier), White

Game 6 h as the possibility of 9 lDg s ! ? If Bl ack
V.Yemelin-S.KlimoY h as already castled thi s move m akes
St Petersbu rg 2009 little sense. But here 9 ... .i.xb3 10 ii'xb3
0-0 1 1 ii'xb7 win s a pawn, as indicated
1 e4 eS 2 lDf3 lDc6 3 .i.C4 .i.cS 4 c3 lDf6 by Ivanchuk, even though Black is not
5 d3 a6 6 .i.b3 .i.a7 7 h3 d6 8 lDbd2 0-0 completely devoid of compensation .
9 lDfl .i.e6 In stead, the imbal ances caused by
9 .. :iVd7 10 lDxe6 fxe6 are not easy to
assess. I'm still not 100% certain which
side h as been favoured more by the
exchange on e6. However, White's play
in R.5lobodjan-Z.Gyimesi, G erman
League 1997, is certainly worth noting,
especially the way he slowly shuts the
a7-bishop out of the g am e : 1 1 lDf3 0-0
12 0-0 l:[ae8 13 �h 2 lDe7 14 lDh4 h6 1 5
g 3 ! g s 16 lDg 2 lDg6
The ... d6 and ... .i.e6 idea is seen in

many lines of the Italian Game. It's a
solid option for Bl ack and i s favoured
by m any strong pl ayers. In thi s particu
lar position, for example, both Carlsen
and Aronian have played 9 ... .i.e6.
10 .i.xe6?! fxe6 needs to be avoided,
here and in m any simil ar positions af
ter ... .i.e6, for obvious reason s. White
shouldn 't present Black with an open f
file and extra control of centre squares 17 f4! g xf4 18 g xf4 exf4 19 lDxf4
unless there is a good reason to do so. lDxf4 20 .i.xf4 �h 7 2 1 'ife2 'iff7 2 2 d4!
One good reason is if White can ii'h s 23 �xh s lDxh s 24 .i.e3 .l:.f6 2 5
trade his f3 -knight in stead of his light .l:txf6 lDxf6 26 .l:tfl l:tf8 2 7 'it>g 2 :g8+ 2 8
squared bishop. Black still gets an open �f3 d s 29 exds exds 30 .i.c2+ �g 7 3 1
file and some central control, but thi s .i.fs b6 3 2 .i.f4 c 6 3 3 .:tel .:te8 34 :g l+
tim e White gain s the bishop pair and and Bl ack resigned.
Black loses some influence over the Black sometimes prefaces ... .i.e6
light-squares. For example, if Black with 9 ...h 6, perhaps to avoid the possi-
28
bility of 9 ... �e6 10 �g s (see below). 10 �g s i s rare in thi s position, but

Here 10 ltJg 3 �e6 would tran spose to part of m e i s tempted by it. Thi s m ove
the main game, but White h as another is a standard way of trying to exploit
option in 10 g4! ? As we've already Black's l ack of ... h 6 . However, compared
seen, thi s aggressive lunge i s often a to the similar position reached in
promising way to respond to ... h6. Emms-Flear (see Game 11) it might not
Here's a young Viktor Bologan demon be so effective, since h 2-h 3 isn't such a
strating White's attacking potenti al vital move here. Even so, I think it de
and m aking it all look very easy: serves attention. It certainly worked
10 ... ltJh 7 (lo ... dS 11 'ife2 tran sposes to out well for White in A. Purtov
the note on 10 ... h6 in Tiviakov R.Farakhov, Alushta 2004: 10 ... 'ife7
Buhmann, G am e 5) 11 ltJg 3 �e6 12 (preparing ... �xb3 followed by 'iWe6;
llg l dS 1 3 'ife2 l:te8 (13 ... dxe4 14 dxe4 10 ... h 6 1 1 �h4 gs 12 �g 3 ltJh s i s un
i.xb3 15 axb3 'ilid7 followed by .. :�e6 clear, and I don 't trust 12 ltJxg s hxg s
or ... l:tad8 might be stronger) 14 exds ! ? 1 3 �xg s, if nothing else because of
i.xds 1 5 ltJe4 �xb3 16 axb3 ( I prefer 13 ... �xf2 + ! ) 11 �C2 (11 ltJe3 ! ?) 11 ... h 6
White here) 16 .. .f6 17 h4 'itth 8 18 �e3 12 �h4 dS (12 ... g S ! ?) 13 'iW e 2 dxe4 14
i.xe3 19 'ifxe 3 'ifds 20 O-O-O! dxe4 'iWcS ! ? 15 �xf6 gxf6 (lS ... �C4 16
'iWd2 g xf6 17 ltJe3 l:tfd8 18 'ilicl i s a
critical line - I think I prefer White
h ere) 16 ttJe3 :fd8 17 .ltb3 ltJas ? (a
blunder, although by now White's ad
vantage cannot be di sputed) 18 �xe6
fxe6 19 ttJh4 ! .
20 ... 'iWxb3 2 1 g s fS 2 2 ltJcS 1i'b6?

(22 .. :i'dS offers a better chance; now
the queen i s hopelessly out of play) 2 3
gxh 6 .l:tad8 2 4 :'xg 7 e 4 2 5 ltJg s ltJxg s
26 'iVxg s ltJes 2 7 l:th 7+! and 1-0,
V.Bologan-G. Prakash, Mamaia 1991.
Let's return to the position after Thi s win s a vital pawn : 19 ... 'ilie7 20
9 ... i.e6: 'ilig4+ 'ilig 7 2 1 'ifxe6+ 'iff7 2 2 ii'g4+
10 ttJg3 'iVg 7 ? 23 ttJhfS and Black resigned.
29
Beating 1 e4 eS
Fin ally, 10 .JiLc2 is al so possible. For .JiLg 5 tt'ld7 1 5 tt'lf5 g ave Bl ack m ore
example, if 10 ... d5 11 'ife2 we h ave problems to solve in K. Kulaots
tran sposed to Tiviakov-Buhmann M.Carl sen, G ausdal 2007.
(Game 5). Returning to the g ame, and 10 ... h 6,
1o h6... how should White proceed from here?
The most popul ar choice. Bl ack de
cides to prevent the possibility of .JiLg 5,
and thi s m akes it easier for him to play
... d5 if needed (see the note to Black's
1 1th move, below).
The immediate 10 ... d5 i s risky be
cause it invites the pin with 1 1 .i.g 5 ! ?
(11 'ife2 is, of course, al so possible).
H ere 11 ... dxe4 12 tt'lxe4 .JiLxb3 1 3 axb3
appears to be precarious for Black, and
it would be without the resource
13 ... tt'lxe4! 14 .JiLxdS tt'lxf2, as played in 1 1 tt'l h 2 !
F.Nem eth - I . Danilov, Eforie Nord 200S. Operation s o n t h e kingside begin !
Even so, White kept an edge in the Thi s knight can hop into g4, offering a
g am e after 15 'ifc2 :axdS 16 0-0 tt'lg4+ trade of minor pieces. Black h as to be
17 'iith l tt'le3 lS 'ife2 tt'lxfl 19 ':xfl. careful because an exchang e on g4
There's a strong case for Black to ex gives White the opportunity to open
change bishops immediately, and per the h -file for his rook.
haps significantly 10 ... .JiLxb3 i s what One significant advantage White
both Carl sen and Aronian h ave chosen enjoys is that, in contrast to several
to do when reaching thi s position : position s where the queen h as to go to
a) After 1 1 axb3 tt'le7 1 2 tt'lh4 'iith S e2 and only l ater f3, here she can reach
1 3 0-0 d5 1 4 'iVe2 'i!i'd6 1 5 .JiLg 5 'iVe6 1 6 the m ore desirable attackin g post in
b 4 h 6 17 .JiLe3 .JiLxe 3 lS 'ifxe3 l:tadS 1 9 one jump.
tt'lgf5 tt'lxf5 20 tt'lxf5 lId7 2 1 ':fel dxe4 Note th at thi s i s one of those posi
22 dxe4 'iith 7 (22 .. JUdS 23 'ifg 3 tt'leS tion s where 1 1 tt'lh4? i s impossible - it
al so looks okay) 2 3 ':'a5 b6 ! ? 24 ':'xa6 simply loses a pawn to the typical tac
:fdS 25 'i!i'f3 g6 26 tt'le3 'iit g 7 Black had tic 11...tt'lxe4! '
sufficient play for the pawn to hold the 1 1 tt'le7
.•.
bal ance in I . N epomniachtchi-L.Aronian, Black responds by moving another

Mainz (rapid) 2009. minor piece to the kin g side, to help out
b) H owever, 11 'ifxb3 'ifcs in defence. Just like White's tt'ld2-fl-g 3,
(l1...:bS ! ?) 1 2 0-0 tt'le7 13 d4 tt'lg 6 14 Bl ack's ... tt'lc6-e7-g 6 i s a typical ma-
30
noeuvre in the Italian Game. I think White's best ch ance is 18 iLe3

Action in the centre with 11 ... d5 is iLxe3 19 liJxe3 when the possibilities of
still a serious option here. White replies liJf5 and liJd5 still give Black something
with 12 'it'f3 and now: to think about.
12 liJg4
a) 12 ... liJa5 1 3 iLc2 dxe4 14 dxe4

ltJC4 15 liJg4 liJd7 16 0-0 (16 liJf5 ! ?) 12 ... liJg6
16 ... 1t'h4 17 liJf5 iLxf5 18 exf5 liJd6 19 The Brazilian grandmaster Vescovi
f6 ! ltJxf6 20 liJxf6+! ? (20 liJxe 5) 20 ... g xf6 has played 12 ... liJh 7 here, but in a l ater
21 'itth 2 f5 2 2 g 3 'ii'f6 2 3 'iVh 5 'itt g 7 24 g4 g am e he preferred the text move (see
f4? (Black shoul d pl ay 24 ... e4 2 5 iLf4, below). I wonder whether thi s i s be
when White h as promising compen sa cause of 1 3 liJh 5 ! ? (13 'i'f3 'ii'c 8 14 liJe3
tion for the pawn) 2 5 g 5 ! Ve6 2 6 iLxf4! iLxe 3 ! 1 5 iLxe3 iLxb3 16 axb3 f5 was
with a big advantage for White in view okay for Bl ack in V.lordachescu
of 26 ... exf4 27 :ael, A.Morozevich G .Vescovi, Bermuda 2004). For exam
M.Adam s, Yerevan 2008. ple, 1 3 ... 'ii'd 7 ? 14 iLxh 6 ! iLxg4 (if
b) 12 ...dxe4 i s more solid: 1 3 dxe4 14 ... gxh6, White plays 15 liJgf6+) 1 5
i.xb3 14 axb3 liJh 7 15 h4 (perhaps hxg4 g x h 6 16 'i'd2 'ii'x g4 17 "i/ixh 6 'ii'g 6
White can apply more pressure with 1 5 18 liJf6 + ! ; o r 1 3 . . .iLxb3 1 4 'i'xb 3 ! with
ttJg4 liJg 5 16 Vf5) 1 5 . . .'ii'd 7 ! (Black loses pressure (White must avoid 14 axb3
quickly after 1 5 ... 'iIi'xh4? 16 liJg4 'i'd8 f5 !). If 14 ... 'itth 8, White could con sider
17 liJf5 - a n asty accident is going to 15 liJxg 7 ! ? 'itt x g 7 16 iLxh 6+ 'itth 8 and
happen on h6 or g7, or both ! ) 16 liJg4 now 17 iLxf8 or 17 O-O-O! ?
l:!.ad8 17 0-0 'ili'd3 ! , V.Tkachiev-G . Flear, 1 3 liJfs liJh7
Clichy 1995. Thi s defen sive resource The g ame J .Cubas-G .Vescovi, Sao
with ... 'ii'd 3, offering the exch ange of Paulo 2006, provides another example
queen s, is well worth remembering, illustrating the problems Black can face
and Black i s very close to equality here. here: 1 3 ... l:te8 14 'ii'f3 h 5 15 liJxf6+
31
Beating 1 e4 e5
'iVxf6 16 g4! (16 'iVxh s .txfs 17 'iVxfs 15 h S

'it'xfs 18 exfs ttJf4 i s okay for Black) White's attack seem s t o b e building
16 ... .txb3 17 axb3 ttJh4 18 'iVg 3 ttJxfs up steam, but surely it's not yet hope
19 gxfs ds 20 1:[gl .tcs ? (thi s should less for Black?
lose, but with .tg s on the cards Bl ack 1 s ttJ e7?
•..
was already under some pressure) 2 1

�g s 'iVb6 (or 2 1 . . .'iVc6 2 2 �e7 ! ) 2 2 .lte3 !
(preventing ... .tf8 ! ) 2 2 ... g 6 2 3 fxg 6 f6 24
.txcs 'fixcs 2 5 'ii'h 4 dxe4 2 6 'fixh s :e7,
and here White could have forced an
immediate win with 2 7 .l::t g 4 intending
:h4.
The ri sky attempt to win a pawn
with 13 ... .ltxfs 14 exfs ttJh4 backfires
after 15 g 3 ! ttJxfs 16 'iVf3 ttJxg4 1 7 hxg4
ttJe7 18 g s ! etc.
It i s now!
It looks like Black's only chance lies
with l s ... .txfs 16 exfs ttJf4! (16 ... ttJe7 is
strongly m et by 17 f6 ! ) . Perhaps Klimov
was worried about the knight being
trapped with 17 g 3 but Black can save
him self here with 17 ... 'ii'c 6 !, even
though White must still be better after
18 .:r.f1 ttJh 3 19 'iVe2 ttJ3g s 20 .txg s
ttJxg s 2 1 0-0-0. In any case, thi s i s infi
nitely superior for Black compared to
14 h41 what h appen s in the g ame.
White i s slowly beginning to turn 16 ttJgxh6+1 �h8
the screw. 14 .txe6 fxe6 15 ttJxg 7 i s Of course ! Somehow Black h ad
tempting, but l s ... �xg 7 16 .txh 6+ �h 8 missed th at 16 ... gxh6 i s m et by the
17 .txf8 'iVxf8 looks unclear to m e and crushing 17 'iVg4+. Unfortunately for
lets Bl ack off the hook to some extent. Black, declining the knight is no help at
14 JWd 7
.. all .
Against 14 ... h s I prefer 1 5 ttJh 2 to 1 5 1 7 'ii'g 4 g 6 18 .txe6
ttJge3, s o that after l s ... ttJf6 White can 18 ttJxf7+! l:txf7 19 hxg6 is even
set up an annoying pin by playing 16 m ore deci sive: 19 ... ttJxg 6 20 'iVxg 6
.tg s . .txb3 2 1 axb3 : g 8 2 2 :xh 7+! ':'xh 7 2 3
32
'i'f6+ J:[gg 7 24 ..th 6 etc. 0-0 9 h 3 ttJe7 10 .l:te1 ttJg 6 1 1 ttJf1 ..te6
12 ttJg 3 h 6 1 3 d4 'ue8, but for conven
ience I 've ch anged the m ove order into
the one where White delays castling.
6 . . ...ta7 7 h 3 d 6 8 ttJ bd2 ttJe7
18 'i'xe6 19 ttJxe7 'i'xe7 20 hxg6 fxg6

...
2 1 f3 1-0
White is just going to play ..td2 and
0-0-0, with a good extra pawn and a
decisive advantage. As I m entioned in the previous
Bl ack seemed to put up very littl e g ame, the knight m anoeuvre from c6
resi stance in thi s game, and you would to g 6 i s a typical pl an for Bl ack, mirror
be forgiven for thinking this was the ing White's own knight m anoeuvre to
work of an inexperienced player. Yet g 3 . Black's knight definitely prefers the
Sergey Klimov is a grandmaster, rated g 6-square to c6. One merit of the c3-
over 2 500. It just goes to show that it's pawn which i s often forgotten i s how
not th at easy for players, even very well it restricts Black's knight when it i s
strong ones, to deal with the pressure on c6.
of having to defend again st White's If 8 ...0 - 0 9 ttJf1 a n d only then
obvious attacking intentions on the 9 ... ttJe7, I think White should just
kin g side. tran spose to the m ain game with 10
ttJg 3 ttJg6. I don 't think 10 ..tg 5 ttJg 6
gives White anything.
Game l 9 ttJf1 ttJ g 6 10 ttJ g 3 0-0
O.Korneev-D.Ca m pora Thi s is an important moment.
Sevi l l e 2010 Black's knight on g6 is very well placed
to battle again st any typical king side
1 e4 e 5 2 ttJf3 ttJc6 3 ..tC4 ..tC5 4 c3 ttJf6 action from White. 11 ttJh4 is pre
5 d3 a6 6 ..tb3 vented; 11 ..tg 5 ? ! achieves less than
Note that the game's actual m ove nothing after simply 11 ... h 6 ! ; and fi
order was 6 0-0 ..ta7 7 ttJbd2 d6 8 ..tb3 nally, 11 ttJh 2 with the plan of ttJg4 and
33
Beating 1 e4 e5
'iff3 i s well met by 11 ... dS when White lems, but after 11 ... h 6 Black i s ready to
has to avoid 12 'iVf3 ?? It:Jh4 ! . He can advance in the centre.
play 12 It:Jg4, but 12 ... dxe4 13 It:Jxf6+ b) 11 ... i.. e 6 12 d4 l:te8 13 litel h 6
'ifxf6 14 It:Jxe4 'iffS, as in 5.Yudin tran sposes t o the m ain g ame.
V. Belov, St Petersburg 2006, i s basically c) l1...bS i s Black's m ain alternative
level. here, and thi s is covered in the next
50 wh at does White do? game.
11 a-a! 12 lite1
Thi s prevents 12 ... d S ?, which fails
tactically to 1 3 exds It:Jxds 14 It:Jxe s
It:Jxes i s ::'xe s i.. xf2+ 16 �xf2 'i!Vf6+ 1 7
'iVf3 'i!Vxe s 18 'iVxdS.
The immediate 12 d4 i s also possi
ble, with a likely tran sposition.
He changes plan ! Let's call thi s one

' Pl an ('.
The position i s virtually symm etrical
now, but the advantage of the first
move still counts for something. White
is the first to be able to push in the cen
tre, and thi s is often enough to give 12 ... i.. e 6
him a small advantage. 12 ... lt:Jh 7 ! ? i s interesting and cer
11 ... h 6 tainly playable. Black is mirroring a
Bl ack usually pl ays thi s m ove, either plan which White often employs -
here or a bit later, to prevent both i.. g s holding the centre and advancing with
(as a reply t o ... dS) and It:Jg s (as a reply the knights on the king side. One g am e
to ... ];te8). He usually follows up, in worth seeing is S. Kindermann
some order, with ... lite8, ... i.. e 6, ... c6, D.Sebastian, G erman League 2006 .
...'ifC7 etc. Meanwhile, White will build Kinderm ann demon strated on his ex
up the pressure with :el, d4, i.. e 3 etc. cellent DVD why White shouldn't fear
Altern atively: aggression from the black knights: 1 3
a) If 11 ... dS ? ! 12 i.. g S ! and the pin on d 4 'if e 7 ( 1 3 ... 'iff6 i s a decent alterna
the knight causes Black some prob- tive) 14 i.. e 3 (14 It:Jfs is al so possible)
34
14 ... liJg S 1 5 liJh 2 ! ? liJf4?! (thi s i s very ture on eS if there is a concrete reason
temptin g , but Black should play some for doin g so, as otherwise thi s would
thing else h ere) 16 h4! liJh 7 (after only help Black. likewise, Black i s usu
16 ... liJge6 17 liJfs 'ii'd 8 18 g 3 Black i s ally reluctant to exch ange on d4, as thi s
driven back completely) 1 7 liJfS ! .JtxfS gives White a powerful, mobile pawn
18 exfs, and Black supposedly strong centre.
knight on f4 actually turned out to be a 13 ••. .:e8 14 ..te2 !
fatal weakness. If 18 .. :iVxh4 19 g 3 'iVg s Once again we see thi s retreat,
20 'iith l 'ii'xfs 2 1 gxf4 exf4 2 2 'il'f3 and avoiding the exch ange of bishops and
White win s the knight for in sufficient the easing of Bl ack's position . In thi s
compen sation . Or 18 ... 'ii'f6 19 g3 liJh 3 + in stance, with White enjoying the ini
(in the g ame Bl ack chose 19 . . .'ii'xfs 20 tiative in the centre, it's much easier to
gxf4 exf4 2 1 ..td2 but White soon won) understand its merits. The bishop on
20 'iitg 2 'ii'xfs 2 1 'ii'g 4 'ii'x g4 2 2 liJxg4 e6, blocking the e-file, i s not particu
and the knight is trapped on h3 (analy l arly well placed to help Black put pres
sis by Kindermann). Obviously I sure on White's centre. H aving said
wouldn 't rule out 12 ... liJh 7 on the basis th at, White probably doesn't h ave to
of thi s g ame, as there are several alter retreat immediately, since 14 ..te3
natives for both sides early on . ..txb3 1 5 'il'xb3 looks a bit better for
13 d4 him.
One word of warning: although liJfs
is undoubtedly a very tempting option,
and one which should always be con
sidered, White h as to be careful not to
play it too early otherwise he run s the
risk of his central control being loos
ened. For example, here 14 liJfS ? ! exd4
1 5 cxd4 d S ! leaves White in some trou
ble. It's better to build up slowly and
check out liJfs possibilities l ater on .
14 ... e6 15 ..t e3 'ilVe7 16 "jji'd 2 l:tad 8
White finally advances in the cen 1 6 ... 'iith 7 might be more accurate,
tre. We'll come across thi s structure since 17 liJfS looks less threatening
quite a few times throughout the book. here: 17 ... ..txfS ! 1 8 exfs liJf8 ! 1 9 dxe s
This central ten sion certainly favours ..txe3 20 'ii'x e3 dxe s, when 2 1 liJxes
White, and because of thi s he should only brings about an equal position
look to m aintain it as long as possible. after 2 1 ... liJ6d7 ! 22 liJxd7 l:[xe3 2 3
He should only advance with dS or cap- liJxf8+ .l:txf8 2 4 .l:txe3, a s in R. Perez G ar-
35
Beating 1 e4 e5
cia-L. H enris, Ch arleroi 200S. The m ore looks like White can refute it with care
patient 17 l:tadl .l:.ad8 tran sposes to ful pl ay. Therefore Black should just
the note to Bl ack's 17th move - see be accept a m an ageable disadvantage
low. with 17 ... �h 7. Then 18 'ii'c l vacating
the d-file looks sen sible, after which
there are still some ttJfS possibilities in
the air. For example, 18 ... b S (S.J essel
Wang Li, Yerevan 2006) 19 ttJfS ! .)i,xfS ?
20 exfs ttJf8 2 1 dxe s .)i,xe3 2 2 'ii'x e3
dxe s 2 3 liIxd8 'ii'x d8 24 .)i,b3 is good for
White.
18 ttJxe s ! ttJxe s 19 .)i,f4!
17 :!ad1
17 ttJfS ! looks promising for White.
Bl ack has to be very careful . For exam
ple:
a) 17 ... .)i,xfs 18 exfs ttJf8 19 .)i,xh 6 !
g xh 6 20 'ii'xh 6, C. Lamoureux-F. Forgues,
French League 2008; or
b) 17 ... dS 18 ttJxg 7 ! �xg 7 19 .)i,xh 6+
�g 8 20 exds ..txdS 2 1 ttJxes .)i,b8 2 2 19 ... ttJxe4
'ii'g s ttJh 7 2 3 'ili'g 3, A.Areshchenko A much earlier game had continued
E.5utovsky, Gibraltar 2007, with good 19 ... ..txh 3 20 .txe s ? ':xe s 21 dxe s
pl ay for White in both cases. 'ili'xe s with excellent play for Black, who
c) In A.Vol okitin -Zhou Jian ch ao, threaten s ... 'iVxg 3, S. Kudrin -A. Kosten,
Khanty Mansiysk 2007, Black chose London 1988. It's possible th at White
17 ... exd4 whereupon 18 cxd4 dS! 19 players were discouraged by that
ttJxg 7 �xg 7 20 .)i,xh 6+ �g8 21 .)i,g s gam e, but 20 exd s ! appears to be a ma
ttJxe4 proved to be in sufficient for jor improvement as far as I can see. For
White. However, 18 .)i,xh 6 ! looks much example, 2 o ... ttJfg 4 21 'ii'e 2 ! ; or
stronger: for example, 18 ... d3 19 .)i,xg 7 ! , 20 ... .)i,g4 21 l:txe s ! ; or fin ally, 20 ... ttJf3+
o r 18 . . ..)i,xfs 19 exfs gxh 6 20 'ii'xh 6 ! . 2 1 g xf3 'ii'd 7 2 2 .)i,es intending
17 ... d S ? ! 2 2 ... 'ii'x ds 2 3 'ii'd 3 ! .
Black i s trying to solve all his prob 2 0 ..txe4 dxe4 2 1 ..txe s 'ii'e 7 2 2 ttJ h S !
lems at once with thi s advance, but it Thi s i s very strong , although even
36
Italian Game: Modern Variation {Part I}
the simple 2 2 ttJxe4 leaves Black with

nothing substanti al for the pawn, with Game 8
the try 22 .. .f6 losing to 23 i.. xf6 g xf6 24 C.Bauer-T.Nyback
'i'xh 6. French league 2009
2 2 f6 2 3 i.. xf6 ! gxf6 2 4 'iix h6
...
White's attack should be winning. 1 e4 e5 2 i.. C4 ttJc6 3 ttJf3 i.. C 5 4 c3 ttJf6

The various threats of ttJxf6+, J:[e3 and 5 d3 a6 6 i.. b 3 i.. a 7 7 ttJbd2 0-0 S h3 d 6
.l:.e4 cannot be m et properly. If 24 .. .f5 9 ttJf1 ttJ e 7 10 ttJ g 3 ttJ g 6 11 0 - 0 b 5
2 5 .l:r.e3 i..b 8, White has the nice m ove
26 f4! intending 26 ... exf3 27 l::t x e6 ! and
wins.
24 i..f 5
...
Black's light-squared bishop will go

to b7, where it can influence events in
the centre. Thi s is a very reason able
alternative to the pl an of ... h 6, ... i.. e 6
25 ttJxf6+? and ... .l:!.e8 seen in the previous g ame.
I'm not sure why Korneev avoided White certainly has chances of
25 g4!, as it looks very strong : 25 ... i..h 7 keeping a slight edge in the ten sion
26 ttJxf6+ �h 8 2 7 ]:txe4! 'i!Vf7 (perhaps filled position s after 12 d4 i..b 7 (or
he had missed th at after 27 ... 'iix e4 28 12 ... c5 1 3 i.. c 2 cxd4 14 cxd4 i..b 7 15
lLlxe4 ':xe4, White can pl ay 29 'iff6+) 2 8 i.. e 3 l:te8 16 :el, V. Bologan
':del l:txe4 29 ':xe4 must b e winning R. Kasimdzh anov, French League 2007)
for White. 1 3 i.. c 2 (if 13 d5, Black will break with
2 5 �f7 2 6 ttJxeS l:.xeS 27 �f4
... ... c6) 13 ... :e8 14 l:[el h6 15 a4, and in
27 g4 intending 2 7 ... i.. g 6 2 8 f4! i s deed thi s has been played in quite a
still good for White. The fin al position, few games. However, it's clear th at af
where the pl ayers agreed a draw, i s no ter White plays d4 Bl ack's light-squared
longer so clear. bishop is more actively pl aced on b7
27 JWf6 2 S g4 i.. g 6 29 'ifxf6+ �xf6 30
.. th an, say, e6 or d7. So if the d3 -d4 ad
a4 ¥z-¥z vance isn't quite so attractive against
37
Beating 1 e4 e5
... �b7, what el se can White consider 14 ... d 5

doing? With the pressure off h i s e-pawn,
Well, if ...�b7 does h ave a weakness, Black strikes in the centre with ... ds.
it's the fact that on thi s square the Thi s advance i s such a n atural reaction
bishop no longer control s some key to a m ove like lLlh 2, although that
light squares on the kin g side. Thi s en doesn't mean alternatives don't exist.
courages White to just hold back in the For example, 14 ... lLld7 planning ... lLlcs
centre, restricting the bishop's influ to hit the bishop and the a4-pawn . Let's
ence there, and to begin action on the foll ow another g am e involving Bauer
king side, where its l ack of presence h ere, C. Bauer-M.Godena, Swiss League
might be exploited. 2004: 15 'iVf3 (normally White would be
Let's see how Christian Bauer tries reluctant to give up his light-squared
to do thi s : bishop, but after l s lLlfs ! ? lLlcs 16 axbs
12 a4 � b 7 1 3 l:.e1 ]:te8 14 lLl h 2 1 ? axbs 1 7 lLlg4 lLlxb3 18 'iVxb3 White's
knights on the kin g side pose a threat,
and 18 ... �xf2+?? 19 'ifi>xf2 l:txal loses to
20 lLlfh 6+ g xh 6 21 lLlxh 6+ 'ifi>g 7 2 2
'ii'x f7+ 'ifi>h 8 2 3 �g s etc) l s .. JU8 16 as ! ?
(White wants t o an swer . . .lLlcs with
�a2, so he releases the ten sion; 16 lLlfs
lLlcs 17 �C2 is al so possible) 16 ... lLlcs
1 7 i.a2 lLle6 18 lLlfs lLlgf4 19 i.xf4 (19
d4! ?) 19 ... lLlxf4 20 d4 'ii'f6 2 1 li[adl with
a ten se position offering equal
chances.
White keeps the d-pawn firmly on 1 5 'ii'f3
d3, blunting the b7-bishop, and begins
typical action on the king side. H e can
now think about moves such as 'ii'f3,
lLlg4 and lLlfs . I'm not sure whether
objectively thi s is a better way to pl ay
th an 12 d4, but it does at least give
Black something different to think
about.
14 lLlfs ? ! would be premature here,
and after 14 ... d s ! it's not easy for White
to hold his centre. Don 't rush with thi s
move !
38
Thi s looks enticing, but in fact the knight on f4 and to trap the queen with
knight i s going back to g 6 next m ove. l:tadl.
The g am e O.Eismont-S.Hirsch, Duis
burg 2000, demon strates a typical bat
tle between White's king side pl ay and
Black's advancing pawn s in the centre:
lS ... h6 (to prevent .Yl.g S) 16 tiJfs cS 17
exds (17 ..txh 6 ! ? g xh 6 18 ..txdS ..txdS -
18 ... tiJxd S ? ? loses to 19 tiJxh 6+ - 19
exds i s an interestin g piece sacrifice)
17 ... c4! (thi s thematic pawn sacrifice is
forced, since 17 ... ..txdS fails to tactics
on h6: 18 ..txdS 'ifxds 19 tiJxh 6 + ! , or 18
i.xds tiJxds 19 axbs axbs 20 ..txh 6 ! ) 18 2o ... 'iff6 2 1 tiJfs g61
dXc4 e4 19 'ife2 "ii'd 7 20 tiJd4 (20 Nyback chooses to sacrifice his f
ttJxh 6 + ! ?) 20 ... ..txd4 21 cxd4 bXc4 22 pawn, preferring complication s over a
..txC4 tiJxds and Black h as some com passive position .
pen sation but I still prefer White's posi 2 1 ... tiJg 6?? loses to 2 2 g S I . For ex
tion after 23 b 3 . ample, 22 .. :iWb6 leads to a king hunt
1 6 'ife2 tiJg6 and a nice m ate in the middle of the
White was threatening ..tg s, and af board: 2 3 .Yl.xf7+! c;t>xf7 24 tiJh 6+ c;t>e7
ter 16 ... h 6 1 7 tiJg4 tiJxg4 18 "ii'x g4 (or 18 2S "ii'f 7+ c;t>d6 2 6 tiJfS+ c;t>cS 2 7 ..te3+
hxg4) the knight i s not especially well c;t>c6 2 8 'iWds m ate. Thi s i s worth a dia
placed on h4 after all . gram !
After 16 . . .tiJg 6 Black's argument i s
that White's 'free' "ii'd l-e2 i s not par
ticularly useful, given that ... tiJf4 will
attack the queen ag ain.
1 7 ttJg4 tiJf4 18 "ii'f 3 tiJxg4 19 hxg4 dxe4
20 dxe4
After some to-ing and fro-ing with
the queen and knight, Black still has
problems to solve here. Firstly, White is
just threatening to win a pawn by tak
ing on f4. Secondly, 20 ... 'ifd3 is the
move Black would like to play, but thi s 2 1 ... tiJe6, blocking the diagonal, i s a
is very well m e t b y 2 1 ..te3 1 . If 2 1 . . ...txe3 wiser choice, but White keeps an ad
22 fxe3 ! White threaten s both the vantage here after 22 g S ! tiJxg s (or
39
Beating 1 e4 e5
22 .. :ii'd8 2 3 'ii'g 3 ) 2 3 i.xg s 'ii'x g s 24 2 7 ltJh6?

axbs. The point i s that Bl ack cannot Here 2 7 'i!i'h 3 ! , intending 2 7 ... .l:txf7
recapture on bs, since 24 ... axb s ? ? loses 28 i.xf7 'iVxf7 29 l:tad1 ! , would have
to 2 5 .l:r.xa7 ! (deflecting the rook from been very strong : 29 ... I1e8 30 l:.d7 l:.e7
back rank duties) 2 s ... .:txa7 26 ltJh 6+! 31 .:ted1 ! i.cs 32 b6! cxb6 33 'iVh 6+
gxh6 2 7 'ili'xf7+ 'it>h 8 2 8 'ili'xe8+ �g 7 29 <ifi>g8 34 ':d8+ .:te8 35 l:!.ld7 ! :!xd8 36
'iVg 8+ <ifi>f6 30 'ii'f7 m ate. .:txf7 <ifi>xf7 3 7 'ii'xh 7+ i s winning.
2 2 ltJh6+ <ifi>g7 23 ltJxf7 1:tf8 24 i.xf4 After 2 7 ltJh 6 Bl ack i s allowed right
Possibly 24 axbs is more accurate. back into it. The rest of the game isn't
24 ... axbs 25 i.xf4 exf4 26 e s ! would really important for our purposes. H ere
tran spose to the note to Black's 2 5th are the rem aining moves:
move, below, while after 24 .. J:txf7 2 5 2 7 . . .'iVxgs 28 ltJg4 h S 29 ltJh2 'ili'xb s 3 0
i.xf7 'iVxf7 26 bxa6 i.c6 2 7 i.e3 it's still i.d S c6 3 1 i. a 2 l:t a d 8 3 2 l:t a d 1 'iVxb2 3 3
complicated but White must be better. l:txd8 lbd 8 34 ': b 1 'ii'xf2+ 3 S 'ii'xf2
24 ... exf4 2S axbs a s ? i.xf2+ 3 6 <ifi>xf2 .:td2+ 3 7 <ifi>e1 .l:!.xa 2 3 8
The point behind 2 s ... as i s that l::t x b7+ 'it>f6 3 9 ltJf3 ':'xg2 4 0 ': C 7 gs 4 1
2 s ... axb s 2 6 e s ! i s very good for White: l:txc6+ <ifi> e 7 42 <ifi>f 1 l:t g 3 43 ltJ d 4 l:t e 3 44
26 ... 'iVxf7 2 7 'iVxb7 'iVxb3 28 :xa7 ':xa7 ':c S <ifi>f6 4S ':xa s :xe4 46 :a6+ <ifi>f7 47
29 'i!i'xa7 'ii'x b2 30 'ili'd4! and it will be ltJf3 'it>g7 48 ltJxg s ':C4 49 %:ta 3 <ifi>f6 SO
very difficult for Black to cope with the ltJf3 l:!.c8 Sl <ifi>f2 <ifi>fs S2 :as+ <ifi>e4 S 3
passed e-pawn . 'it>e2 1-0
However, Black should pl ay
2 s .. J�xf7 ! 26 bxa6 i.c6 2 7 i.xf7 'ii'xf7. In the final two games of thi s chap
White has a m aterial advantage and ter we con sider Black's m ain alterna
should be better, but it won't be easy to tives to 7 ... d6. These are 7 ... ds, 7 ... 0-0
overcome those two powerful bishops. and 7 ... h 6 .
2 6 gs 'iVe7 Let's begin with 7 . . . . d s :
Game 9
S.Roy Chowd h u ry-J.Skjoldborg
Prague 2008
1 e4 e S 2 ltJf3 ltJc6 3 i.C4 ltJf6 4 d 3 i.cs

S c3 a6 6 i.b3 i.a7 7 h 3 d S
Black's d-pawn advances straight
away to ds. The advantage of thi s ap
proach is that Black doesn 't spend a
40
tempo on ... d6 before playin g ... ds. The play his opponent here, and it's worth
disadvantage i s that White hasn't giving the rest of thi s grandmaster bat
committed him self to the ltJd2-fl pl an, tle to show how Conquest slowly
and he h as other possibilities. g ained an advantage: 18 .. .l::t a d8 19
l:tfdl ltJe7 20 'ifg4 'i!Vf7 2 1 l:!.as ! ? ltJg 6 22
g 3 1:tfe8 2 3 .l:tds
8 exd s
Thi s i s an important mom ent, with
White choosing a completely different 2 3 ... c6? (thi s seemingly impercepti
strategy - Plan B. ble weakening of d6 is eventually fatal ;
In stead of holding the centre, as there's nothing wrong with Bl ack's po
we've seen in previous games, White sition after 23 ... ltJe7) 24 l:td3 'i!VC7 2 5
chooses to open it. He will castle ltJdc4 ltJxC4 26 l:txd8 l:txd8 2 7 We6+!
quickly and then try to combin e pres �h 8 2 8 ':xd8+ 'ii'x d8 29 ltJxC4 'ii'd l+ 30
sure on the centre (in particular th e e s �g 2 hs 31 h4 'ifd3 3 2 ltJd6 �h 7 33
pawn) with dynamic piece play. Wfs ! Wxd6 34 Wxh s+ �g8 35 Wxg 6
If White wants to stick to Plan A, 'iVd2 3 6 h s �f8 3 7 'iffs Wd8 3 8 We6 1-0.
there's an argument here for 8 We2, 8 ltJxd s 9 0-0 0-0 10 ': e1
...
and if 8 ...0-0 9 .i.g s ! utilizing the fact

that White h asn 't had to play ltJd2-fl
before developing thi s bishop.
S.Conquest-J . Parker, British League
2009, continued typically with 9 ... dxe4
10 dxe4 .i.e6 11 ltJbd2 .i.xb3 12 axb3
'i'd6 1 3 ltJh4 We6 14 ltJfs ltJe8 1 5 b4 f6
16 .i.e3 .i.xe3 17 ltJxe3 ltJd6 18 0-0
when you could only describe the
chances as level . Even so, there i s still
plenty of scope for either side to out-
41
Beating 1 e4 e5
Quickly attacking the e s-pawn . advantage for White, M. Kobalija

White must continue with purpose, V. Petkov, European Ch., Plovdiv 2008.
otherwise Black would soon reach a b) 10 ...'it'd6 rather invites 1 1 tiJbd2
comfortable position . intending tiJc4 or tiJe4. In thi s position
10 f6... 11. .. tiJf4 looks critical : 12 tiJe4 (12 tiJC4
Thi s move looks like a surpri sing 'iVxd3 13 .i.xf4 'ii'x dl 14 :axdl exf4 1 5
way to defend the e s-pawn, but it's not tiJces - Lukacs - al so looks promising)
that easy for White to fully exploit the 12 ... 'ii'x d3 (or 1 2 ... 'ii'g 6 1 3 .i.xf4 exf4 14
pin on the dS-knight and the tempo �fl �h 8 1 5 'ii'd 2 with an edge for
rary weakness of the a2-g8 diagon al . White, V.Nevednichy-R.Dabo Peranic,
What's more, defen ding the e s-pawn Bizovac 2006 - after the exch ange on
with pieces presents more problem s for f4, Black's a7-bishop i s in con stant
Bl ack than you might think. H ere are danger of being shut out by d3-d4) 1 3
some alternatives: .i.xf4 'ii'x dl 14 l:t.axdl exf4 1 S tiJeg s .
a) 10 .. J:te8 ? ! i s m et strongly by 11
d4! .
I think th at White's activity i s worth

m ore th an a pawn h ere. For example,
This i s a key tactical th eme t o re ls ... tiJas 16 .i.xf7+! �xf7 17 tiJxf7 �xf7
m ember - Black loses a piece if he cap 18 tiJe s+ �6 19 l:td8 threatening tiJg4+
tures on d4. 11 ... e4 is the obvious followed by :ee8.
choice, but 12 tiJg s leaves Bl ack in diffi c) 10 ... .i.e6 i s a decent option for
culties. For example, 12 ... .i.fs (or 12 ... e 3 Black:
1 3 .i.xe3 ':xe3 14 �xe3 tiJxe3 1 5 'ifh s, Cl) The tactical justification i s 1 1
winning) 1 3 tiJxf7 ! �xf7 (13 ... 'it'd7 i s tiJxe s ? tiJxes 12 l:[xes .i.xf2 + ! intending
m et by 1 4 'iWh s - Lukacs) 14 'ifh s+ g 6 1 3 �xf2 ? 'ii'f6+. Thi s theme i s well
( 1 4. . .� e 6 1 5 c 4 regains the piece) 1 5 worth remembering because it crops
'it'xh 7+ � e 6 (or l s . . .�6 16 'it'h4+ �e6 up in m any simil ar positions.
1 7 .i.g s 'ii'd 6 18 tiJd2) 16 g4 with a big b) 1 1 tiJa3 bs! 1 2 tiJC2 'fi'f6 1 3 'ii'e 2
42
h6 14 .lte3 .ltxe3 1 5 fxe 3 .l:tad8 was accept an i sol ated queen's pawn ( IQP)
equal in F.Vallejo Pon s-V.Topalov, Dos and then try to exploit the light
Herm anas (rapid) 2008, but I'm not squared weaknesses in Black's camp. If
totally convinced by 1 1 ttJa3 . thi s is the case, the knight most cer
c) Lukacs's suggestion of 1 1 'ii'e 2 ! ? tain ly belon g s on c3 rather th an d2.
looks m ore interesting. H e gives 11 •.. exd4
11 ... .l:te8 (if 1 1 ... 'ii'f6 12 iYe4 and .. J:�d8 There was little choice, as White
runs into .i.g s ; or 1 1 .. .f6 1 2 d4 .l:te8 13 was threatening 12 dxe s uncovering
dxes i..f7 14 iYdl ttJxe s 15 ttJxe s l:[xes an attack on ds.
16 ':xe s fxe s 1 7 ttJd2 iYh4 18 'ii'e 2 c6 12 ttJxd41?
19 ttJf3) 12 ttJg s and assesses the posi 1 2 cxd4 would be very promising
tion as "+1=". It's worth playing a few for White after 12 ... �h 8 1 3 ttJC3 ! , but
more m oves after 12 ... ttJf4, which looks 12 ... ttJas ! , as played in F. De la Paz
critical to me: 13 i.. xf4 i.. x b3 14 axb3 N . 5hort, Ottawa 2007, i s a stronger
exf4 1 5 'ii'x e8+ 'ii'x e8 16 ':xe8+ ':xe8 1 7 m ove. Black doesn 't mind investing a
'ii?fl ttJe s (otherwise White plays d 4 t o tempo or m ore if it mean s he can swap
kill the a7-bishop) 18 d 4 h 6 ! (18 ... ttJd3 ? off White's powerful light-squared
19 ttJa3 ! leaves Black's knight embar bishop. That g am e continued 13 ttJc3
rassed, and it becomes trapped after (13 i.. c 2 ! ? ttJb4 14 i.. e 4 fs forces the
19 ... ttJxb2 20 .l:tbl ttJd3 2 1 l:tdl ttJb2 2 2 exch ange, but thi s i s worthy of con sid
.l:!.d2) 19 ttJf3 ttJxf3 20 gxf3 c 6 2 1 ttJd2 eration because .. .f6-fs i s quite a con
i.b6 22 b4 with a l evel endg am e posi cession from Black) 1 3 ... ttJxb3 14 iYxb3
tion. c6 1 5 i..f4 l:tf7 16 i.. g 3 i..fs and here
ll d4 White should h ave played 17 ttJh4.
11 ttJbd2 is possible but I feel th at 12 ..• ttJxd4 13 cxd4

White's best ch ance of an edge might The exchange of knights mean s that
well be to clarify things in the centre, it's easier for Bl ack to support his re-
43
Beating 1 e4 e5
m aining knight on d5 with ... c6. On the 19 �xb8?!

other hand, it al so mean s th at White White begins to drift and lets Black
gets to keep his powerful light-squared off the hook.
bishop! 19 �d2 ! prepares l:tel and keeps up
13 .. .';£th8 14 tDc3 tDxc3?! the pressure. For example, 19 ... �d7 20
I don't like thi s move, and neither .:tel 'iWf8 21 �C2 g6 22 'i!i'f3 intending
does Black's bishop on a7! to m eet 2 2 ... �c7 with 2 3 �h 6 ! 1i'xh 6 24
The solid 14 ... c6 is the most obvious 'ti'xf6+ 'ti'g 7 25 'ti'xg7+ <;£txg 7 26 :e7+.
choice, although it's entirely possible 19 .. J:txb8 20 <;£tfl
that White keeps a small edge in the 20 �c2 g 6 2 1 'iVg 3 is stronger.
symm etrical structure arising after 1 5 20 'ilVf8 21 :tel �d7 2 2 1i'e3 l:te8 2 3
.•.
tDxd5 cxd5 16 1i'f3 �xd4 17 �xd5, be 'iVf4 l:[xel+ 24 <;£txel 'iVe7+ 2 5 <;£td2 �c8
cause of his slight lead in development 2 6 g4 g6 27 h4 <;£tg7 28 g 5 �e6?
and Black's weaker king . At the very White has no real advantage after
least Black will have to displ ay some 2 8 ... �f5 ! .
accuracy to equalize. 29 �xe6 'ilVxe6 30 'ilVc7+ 'iVf7 3 1 gxf6+
14 ... tDe7 is another try, and here 1-0
White could con sider buil ding up the I wonder whether Black lost on time
pressure with 1 5 d5 intending 'iVf3, here. His problem is that 31 ... <;£txf6 al-
�f4 (or �e3), .l:.adl etc. lows 3 2 'iWe 5 m ate. So 3 1 ... <;£tg8 i s
15 bxc3 l:te8 16 l:txe8+ 'iVxe8 17 �f4 c6 forced, a n d then White has excellent
18 'iVd 3 �b8 ch ances to convert his extra pawn after
3 2 1i'c8+ 1i'f8 3 3 f7+ <;£txf7 34 1i'xb7+.
Game 10
S.Tivia kov-R.EI Ta her
Am m a n 2006
1 e4 e5 2 tDf3 tDc6 3 �C4 �C5 4 c3 tDf6

5 d3 a6
Note th at the actual move order of
the g am e was 5 ... d6 6 �b3 a6 7 h 3 0-0
Understandably Black was keen to 8 �g s h6 9 �h4 �e6 10 tDbd2 �a7 11
swap off or improve the position of his tDh 2 .
problem bishop, but thi s 'undevelop 6 � b 3 � a 7 7 h 3 0-0
ment' leaves him l acking coordin ation Black commits him self to neither
and with back rank i ssues. . .. d6 nor ... dS. On the other h and, as we
44
ftalian Game: Modern Variation (Part f)
already know, castling itself i s commit ( 1 4... ttJc5 ! ? looks better) 1 5 -txe6 fxe6
tal ! 16 0-0-0 'ile7 1 7 g5 -txe3+ 18 ttJxe3
As well as 7 ... d6 or 7 ... d5, there's al so hxg 5 19 ttJxg 5 ttJf6 20 .l:!.g 3 and White's
the flexible 7 ... h 6 ! ?, preventing the pin attack looked much more dangerous
and hoping to find out White's inten than Black's.
tion s before committing to a plan of 8 -tgSI
action . If 8 ttJbd2 0-0 9 ttJfl, 9 ... d 5 ! 10
'i'e2 gives Black an extra ... h 6 m ove in
the m ain lines (Games 1-5). Thi s should
be at least partially useful to him, al
though I'm not 100% sure - we've seen
previously how thi s pawn advance can
give White a hook to attack.
Looking at altern atives to 9 ttJfl, 9
0-0 d6 10 .l:tel would tran spose to the
0-0 lines of Chapter Three. More ag
gressive players might prefer 9 g 4 ! ?
One of the m ain points behind
White's move order with 7 h 3 i s th at
7 ... 0-0 can be m et by this move. Thi s
typical p i n i s more annoying than
usual for Black for the following rea
sons :
1. Bl ack h a s already castled king
side. Therefore, breaking the pin with
... h6 and ... g 5 will compromise his
king ' s safety.
2. White h as yet to commit to king
Again White i s looking t o exploit side castling. This might m ake it easier
Black's early ... h 6 . The positions are for him to start an attack on the king
double-edged, but thi s certainly side (for example, meeting ... g 5 with
worked well for White in the g ame h4) without h aving to worry about his
T.5tepovaia Dianchenko-I ,TuTOva, Ka own king's safety.
zan 2004: 9 ... d5 10 .l:!.g l (even 10 g 5 3. With Black's bishop back on a7,
hxg 5 11 ttJxg 5 i s interesting; the open there i s no possibility in the foreseeable
g-file is always going to promise White future to break the pin with ... -te7.
some action) 10 ... dxe4 11 dxe4 -te6 12 In isol ation, I don 't think any of
'i'e2 b 5 1 3 ttJf1 ttJd7 14 -te3 ttJa5 ? ! these factors carry such great signifi-
45
Beat ing 1 e4 e5
cance. When combined, though, they than once against an early ... 0-0, but in
certainly seem to give Black a few G . Kasparov-1Timman , Rotterdam 1999,
headaches. he failed to find the right pl an : 10
8 d6 g lLl bd 2 iL e6
... iLh4?! <ii;>h 8 1 1 g4 lLle7 ! 12 iLxf6 g xf6 1 3
The altern ative is to break the pin lLlh4 lLlg 6 14 lLlg 2 c6 1 5 'ii'f3 dS 16 lLlfl
immediately. I . Kulish-O.5tjazh kina, as 17 lLlg 3 iLcS 18 a4 iLe7 19 iLa2 .:ta6
Elista 2000, continued 9 ... h6 10 iLh4 g s 20 lLlh S l:tb6 21 "ii'e 2 'ii'd 6 with reason
11 iLg 3 (11 lLlxg S ! ? hxg s 12 iLxg s i s a able counterpl ay for Black. Timman
tempting piece sacrifice; compare suggested 10 lLlh 2 as an improvement
Emms-Flear, G ame 11) 11 .. Jle8 (or for White.
11 ... lLlh S - planning .... �f6 and ... lLlf4 - 10 lLlfl would tran spose to the note
12 lLlh 2 ! ? and now 12 ... lLlf4 1 3 �f3 fol- to White's 10th m ove in Yemelin
lowed by 0-0-0 and h4, or 12 ... lLlxg 3 1� Klimov (Game 6).
fxg 3 and White g ains a useful open f 10 ... h6
file) 12 lLlfl lLle7 1 3 'ii'd 2 <ii;> g 7 14 0-0-0 10 ... dS i s too slow here: 1 1 'ii'f3 ! d4
lLlg6 (in view of wh at happen s, Black 12 lLlg4 iLxg4 13 hxg4 dxc3 14 bxc3
should probably hold back with thi s 'ii'd 6 15 lLlC4 "ile7 16 'ii'h 3 and Black's
m ove) 1 5 h4! g4 16 h S ! lLlf8 (or 16 . . .lLlf4 position was already critical in
1 7 lLlg l lLl6xh s 18 iLh4 f6 19 lLlg 3 ) 17 G . Hassell-S.5mith, correspondence
lLlh4 and White i s ready to m ake sig 2000, since 16 ... h6 1 7 iLxh 6 gxh6 18
nificant progress on the king side with 'ii'xh 6 forces m ate.
f4, lLle3 etc. Black's defences are begin 11 iL h4 g5
ning to creak.
10 lLl h 2 1
12 iL g 3
Timman assessed thi s position as
Threatening lLl g 4 a n d thus encour 'unclear', but I would prefer to be
aging Black to advance on the kingside. White and evidently so would Tiviakov!
G arry Kasparov pl ayed iLg s m ore 12 <ii;> g 7
.•.
46
Italian Game: Modern Var iation (Part I)
I deally Black would really like to 'iie 7 19 tDg4 .l:1af8

shift the queen 's knight over to g6 in Or 19 ... tDf4 20 �xf4 and now either
order to bol ster defences on the king 20 ... exf4 21 d4! killing the a7-bishop, or
side, but there's n ot enough tim e t o do 20 ... g xf4 21 g 3 ! probably killing the
so: 12 ... tDe7 ? ! is m et by 13 �xe6 fxe6 kin g !
14 tDg4! tDxg4 (if 14 ... �g7, White pl ays 20 'iid 2 tDd8 2 1 d4!
15 tDxf6 l:txf6 16 h4 tDg 6 17 hxg s hxg s The tim e is right for thi s advance.
18 l:th S) 1 5 'iix g4, hitting e6 and an White hopes that once the centre i s
swering l S ... 'ili'd7 with 16 h4. opened, Black's king will become even
13 �xe6 fxe6 14 h4! m ore exposed.
21 ...exd4 22 exd4 tDf7 23 e S �g7 24
�h2
Perhaps 24 'iii>b l i s strong er. I don 't
think White should mind if Black trades
on g 3 .
24 d S !
••.
Black's best chance i s t o keep the

position as blocked as possible.
2S 'iii> b l e S 2 6 dxes �xe s 2 7 ':'el :te8 2 8
tDd4 �b6
2 8 ...�xd4! 29 'ili'xd4 ':xcl+ 30 ':'xcl
Direct play by Tiviakov - the idea of tDd8 intending ... tDc6 would have kept
h4 is obvious and good. The g s-pawn Black in the game.
becom es increasingly vulnerable and 29 tDe3 'iid 7 ?
the h i-rook becomes active on its
home square.
14 ... l:th8 i s tDdf3 !
Enticing the pawn forward.
lS ... � g6
Probably best, although the fact
that Black i s having to m ake m oves like
thi s i s not a good sign for him !
The 'easy' option would h ave been
lS ... g4 16 tDd2 h S, but then White
would simply break with f2-f3 and
Black's king would never be compl etely 30 tDefs+!
safe. Now the bishop on h2 comes right
16 'ili'e2 tDh S 17 hxgs hxgs 18 0-0-0 back to life.
47
Beating 1 e4 e5
30 ... exf5 3 1 e6 'iVa4 3 2 i.e5+! way to exploit it is with g4-g 5, but sac
Perhaps El Taher overlooked thi s rifices on the h 6-square al so come into
move. Now 3 2 . . .li:Jxe5 3 3 'iVxg 5+ m ates pl ay (see, for example, G ame 5). Re
quickly, so Black i s lost. member th at a knight on f5 is usually
32 ... �g6 33 exf7 i.. x d4 34 i.xh 8 ! :xh8 even m ore powerful once Bl ack h as
35 b3 'iVd 7 36 'ii'x d4 l:tf8 37 'ii' b 6+ 1-0 pl ayed ... h 6, since trying to force it back
with ... g6 becomes problem atic.
Key Notes 5 . Regardless of whether Bl ack plays
... d5 or ... d6, one of his m ain ideas is to
1. By delaying castling White i s able oppose bishops with ... i.. e 6. Don't un
to carry out the li:Jb1-d2-f1-g 3 plan derestim ate the possibility of meeting
more quickly and effectively. More to thi s with i.c2. It's certainly not the only
the point, he g ains the option of attack option, and there will be occasion s
ing Black on the king side using either where it's not the best option, but
pawn s or pieces, or often a combina overall players are beginning to fully
tion of both . appreci ate the m erits of thi s m ove.
2. The m ain line, and the one theory Even when pl aying the g am e in a for
usually recommends for Black, is 7 ... d6 ward gear, sometimes a temporary re
8 li:Jbd2 0-0 9 li:Jf1 d5 (Games 1-5). treat is required.
White chooses Plan A and thi s leads to 6. If Bl ack pl ays ... d6 followed by
ten se position s which are rich in possi ... li:Je7-g6 (Games 7-8), he's ideally
bilities. pl aced to meet any early king side ag
3. Don't be fool ed by computer as gression . In thi s case we should change
sessments ! In some position s where course and revert to short castling -
White adopts Pl an A, computers seem Plan C.
to underestim ate his chances on the 7. If Bl ack advances immediately in
kin g side, or overestim ate Black's out the centre with 7 ... d5 (Game 9), it's a
wardly active pieces, or perhaps a bit of good time to choose Plan B : exch ange
both . In hum an vs. hum an encounters on d5, castle, attack the centre and aim
(th e only ones th at really m atter to us !), for active piece play.
the evidence suggests that White's po 8. If Black plays 7 ... 0-0 (Game 10),
sition is the easier to play. White shoul d certainly take the oppor
4. If Black plays ... h6, look out for tunity to pin the knight on f6 with 8
possibilities to use thi s pawn as a hook i.g 5 . Thi s pin i s very awkward for Bl ack
for a king side attack. Th e most obvious to deal with .
48
Cha p t e r Two
Italian Game:
Modern Variation (Part II)
In thi s ch apter we con sider early alter vance with �g 5.

natives for both colours in the Modern Bl ack can al so play 6 ... d6, leaving his
Variation . The first, after 1 e4 e5 2 tDf3 bishop on c5. Thi s move often tran s
tDc6 3 �C4 �c5 4 c3 tDf6 5 d3 a6 6 �b3 poses to main lines because ... �a7 is
J.. a 7, i s 7 tDbd2, a move with which I 've usually played at some point, but not
enjoyed some success. 7 tDbd2 coul d always. In Degraeve-Dorfm an (Game
easily lead to a tran sposition to m ain 16) White invites complication s by car
lines con sidered in the previous ch ap ryin g out th e tDd2-fl m anoeuvre with
ter. However, there's an in dependent out first playing h 2-h 3, so ... tDg4 be
option for White in 7 ... 0-0 8 tDC4 ! ? (see comes an option for Black.
games 11-12); and al so one for Bl ack Finally, Erenburg - Kreizberg (Game
with 7 ... 0-0 8 h 3 d5 (see Oratovsky 17) gives us the opportunity to con
Gozzoli, Game 1 3) . sider a number of different possibilities
The rest o f t he chapter focuses on for Bl ack, good and bad, if he dispen ses
alternatives for Black on the 5th an d with the usual ... a6 move.
6th moves. In Bologan-Heberl a (Game
14) Black pl ays th e typical idea of 6 ... 0-0
followed up by a quick ... d5, and White Garne l l
reacts by i m plementing Plan B. In Nun J.Em ms-Ci.Flea r
Spesny (Game 15) Bl ack castles a m ove Jack Speige l Memorial,
earlier, again with the intention of ad Southend 2009
vancing two squares with the d-pawn,
but thi s time White prevents the ad- 1 e4 eS 2 tDf3 tDc6 3 �C4 � CS 4 c3 tDf6
49
Beating 1 e4 e5
5 d3 a6 6 J.b3 J.a7 7 tiJbd 2 the three pawn s) 1 1 tiJg 3 J.g4 12 J.e3

dS 13 e S (13 exds tiJxdS 14 h3 J.e6 is
equal) 1 3 ... tiJe4 14 J.C2 (thi s might be
too committal ; perh aps simply 14 0-0
0-0 15 l:tcl ! is stronger) 14 .. .fS 15 exf6
( 1 5 h 3 ! ?) l S ... tiJxf6 16 h 3 J.xf3 17 'i!Vxf3
J.xd4 18 tiJfs J.xb2 19 :bl J.C3+ 20
�fl and White didn't h ave enough for
his m aterial investment in J . Degraeve
V.Tkachiev, Corsica 1997. However,
there is certainly some scope for im
provement here.
50 far we've only considered 7 h 3 . S tiJC4 1 ?
Thi s knight m ove offers White some Thi s move i s quite rare but after
new possibilities. spending some time studying it, I be
7 ••• 0-0 g an to appreciate that it was trickier
The theoretically recommended re than it initially l ooked.
spon se. Bl ack keeps open the possibility White normally chooses either 8 h 3
of pl aying ... dS in one jump. (see Oratovsky-Gozzoli, G ame 1 3 ) or 8
If 7 ... d6, White can of course tran s 0-0, reaching the Classical Main Line.
pose to m ain lines with 8 h3, but S ••• d6
there's al so 8 tiJfl ! ? inviting Black to Can thi s n atural move really be
play 8 ... tiJg4. Now: classed as a mistake? I 'm not totally
a) 9 tiJe3 tiJxe3 10 J.xe3 J.xe 3 ? ! 11 sure, but what is clear is th at Black has
fxe 3 0-0 12 0-0 left White with a useful to deal with some problem s which
open f-file in 5.Tiviakov-E.Van den Doel, aren't easily solved.
Dutch Champion ship 2000. H owever, It seem s that Bl ack experiences
as Tiviakov notes, Black would be okay fewer difficulties after 8 ... dS (see the
after any reasonable move in stead of next g ame).
10 ... J.xe 3 . 9 J. g 5 1
b) 9 d4! ? looks m ore testing from a The point. Black is forced t o endure
theoretical viewpoint. For example, the usual pin on the knight, again in
9 ... exd4 10 cxd4 tiJf6 ! (10 ... 'i!Vf6 11 h 3 ! awkward circumstances. Compare Tivi
tiJxf2 1 2 �xf2 J.xd4+ worked out well akov-El Taher (Game 5), and the prob
for White after 13 J.e3 J.xe3 + 14 tiJxe3 lems Black faced there. This current
'iVxb2+ 1 5 'iVd2 'i!Vxd2+ 16 tiJxd2 in situation might be even more unfa
J . Degraeve-D.Marciano, Belfort 1997 - vourable for Black because ... h6 followed
White's extra piece i s worth m ore than by ... gS is even riskier (see below).
50
Italian Game: Modern Variation (Part / I)
because of 1 1 ... 'tJg6, but with the pawn

on h6 rather than h7 weakening Black's
structure, 1 1 i.. xf6 ! becomes m ore de
sirable: 11...gxf6 12 'tJh4 (I quite like 12
'ii'd 2 ! ?) 12 ... ds 13 exds 'tJxds
9 ••• h6
Previously, Tony Miles had played
9 ... 'tJe7 again st me (Mondariz, 2000),
after which 10 O-O ? ! let Black off the
hook following 10 ... 'tJg6 1 1 'tJh4 'it>h 8 ! .
later o n 1 realized th at White would 14 "ii'f3 (White mustn 't get too ex
have more chance of an advantage by cited: 14 'ii'h s ? ? 'tJf4! 1 5 'ikxh 6 'ii'x d3 !
playing 10 'tJe3 ! ?, which discourages and it's White's king which is the ter
10 ... 'tJg 6 in view of 1 1 'tJds . minally weak one) 14 ... 'tJf4 15 0-0-0
10 i.. h 4 i.. e 6 'ii'd s (White was threatening both 16
Again st 10 ... gs 1 would have been g3 and 16 d4) 16 "ii'x ds 'tJxds 17 'tJxe s
very tempted to play just like in the 'tJxc3 18 bxc3 fxe s 19 :td2 'it>g 7
game, with 1 1 'tJxg s ! ? hxg s 12 i.. x g s . (19 ... :e8 ! ? m ay be stronger) 20 :tel f6
However, there's also nothing wrong 2 1 d4! (now White i s definitely better)
with the simple 11 i.. g 3 . let's see how 2 1...h s (the problem for Black is th at
this worked out well for White in the 2 1 ... exd4 allows m ate with 2 2 l:te7+
game V.Zhelnin-A. Kolev, Odessa 1989: 'it>h 8 2 3 'tJg6) 2 2 lId3 ! 'it>h 6 23 :g 3 i.. g 4
11 ... i.. g 4 (perh aps 1 1 ... i.. e 6 i s wiser) 12 24 h3 exd4 (or 24 ... i.. d 7 2 5 ':g6+ 'it>h 7
ttJe3 i.. x e3 1 3 fxe3 'ike7 14 h 3 i.. d 7 1 5 2 6 i.. c 2 'it>h 8 2 7 .l:te3 ! etc) 2 5 hxg4 dxc3
ttJh 2 'it>g 7 16 'it'e2 as 17 a 4 .:tab8 18 0-0 26 'tJfs+ 'it>g s 27 gxh s+ and Black re
i.e6 19 i.. c 2 'tJg8 20 l::tf2 f6 2 1 'tJf1 'ike8 signed, G .5ax-M. Brancaleoni, Bratto
22 i..h 2 i..f7 2 3 'tJg 3 'tJce7 24 d4 and 2003. Black might h ave been doing
White had built up a significant advan okay somewhere in that g ame, but it's
tage without h avin g to do anything clear that he's under some pressure.
spectacul ar. 11 'tJe3 1
10 ... 'tJe7 is al so possible a m ove Still not committing the king. How
later. 11 'tJe3 no longer m akes sen se ever, if Black were to play 11 ... i.. x e3 12
51
Beating 1 e4 e5
fxe3 then of course kingside castling

and utilizing the newly-opened f-file
suddenly becomes highly attractive.
1 3 ... ..t>g7 14 'ilf3 liJb8

To support the f6-knight with
... liJbd7.
11 ... g51 In general Black would welcome an
The pin is very annoying and it's dif exchange on e6, to provide cover for fS
ficult to refrain from playing thi s move, and dS, but he must still be wary of
but it's likely th at Bl ack is now in some some concrete lines. For example,
trouble. 14 ... l:th B ? 15 �xe 6 ! fxe6 16 liJg4 1:tfB 17
Glenn suggested 11.. . ..t>h 7 ! intend 'ifh 3 ! and White wins.
ing .. J:tgB and only then .... g s as a crea 1 5 liJf5+ �xf5
tive way for Black to solve some of his The knight must be taken : lS ... ..t>g6?
problems. loses to 16 �h4 (threatening 'ilg 3+)
12 liJxg 5 ! 16 ... :g B 1 7 'i/i'g 3 + ..t>h 7 lB �xf6 ! 'i/i'xf6
Again 12 .i.g3 was possible, but thi s (or lB .. J:txg 3 19 hxg3+ ..t>g 6 20 ':h 6
sacrifice was simply too difficult t o re m ate ! ) 19 'ilVh 3 + ..t>g6 20 'ifh 6 m ate.
sist! 16 'ii'xf5 liJbd7 1 7 h41
12 ... hxg5 1 3 �xg5
White h as fabul ous compen sation
for the piece: Black's king is un safe; the
pinned knight on f6 i s a con stant
source of concern ; and the bishop on
a7 is more or less out of the g ame. If
Bl ack ever takes on e3, White recap
tures with the f-pawn after which l:r.fl
is going to be decisive. True, Black can
defend initially, but White's initiative
lasts for a very long time.
52
With two ideas: h s -h 6+ and llh 3 fol here was that both pl ayers were in
lowed by l:.f3 or :g 3 . White doesn't some tim e trouble, but I m an aged to
have to castle king side to activate the keep everything together.
rook. 3 2 dxc6 4:Jxb3 33 axb3 bxc6 34 g4 e4 3 S
17 ... .:.g8 1 18 l:t h 3 'fie7 19 �f3 �h81 d 4 e 3 3 6 fxe3 'fid6 3 7 g s 'fih2+ 3 8 �d 3
The best try. 'fihl 39 �c2 'fie4+ 40 'ii'x e4 4:Jxe4 41
20 �e2 ! ':'xf7 i.xg s 42 'iti>d3 1-0
Planning t o bring in the final piece
with :h 1-h 3 - g 3 .
There's no hurry t o take o n f6, and Game 12
indeed 20 i.xf6+?! 4:Jxf6 2 1 'ii'xf6+ J.Emms-A.Cireet
'i'xf6 2 2 llxf6 l:txg 2 2 3 �e2 l:tf8 would Britis h C h a m pio n s h i p,
offer Bl ack good chances for survival . Douglas 2005
20 ... .:g6 2 1 h S ':'xgs
What else can Black do? 1 e4 e S 2 4:Jf3 4:Jc6 3 i.C4 i.cs 4 c3 4:Jf6
2 2 'it'xg s 'it'h7 2 3 :g3 ':g8 24 'fifS+ �h8 S d3 a6 6 ..tb3 ..ta7 7 4:Jbd2 0-0 8 4:JC4
2 S .l:r.xg8+ �xg8 2 6 h 6 �h8 2 7 llhl c6 dS
Or 2 7 ... 4:Jf8 28 ':'h 3 4:Jg6 2 9 ':f3 Black m akes the thematic . . .d s
liJf4+ 30 :'xf4! exf4 3 1 '1Wg s and White break, ignoring the double attack on
win s. the es-pawn . To me thi s looks like the
28 :h3 ..tb6 2 9 :g3 i.d8 best way of meeting 8 4:JC4.
g exd s
I don 't think Black has much to
worry about after 9 4:Jcxe s 4:Jxe s 10
4:Jxe s dxe4. For example, 11 d4 (the
only chance for an edge i s to try to
block out the a7-bi shop, but Black im
mediately seeks to activate it) 11 ... Cs!
12 i.e3 (M.Klinova-Qin Kanying, New
Delhi 2000) and now 12 .. .'ii' e 7 intend
ing ... i.e6 i s Black's simplest route to a
decent position .
Fin ally Black's dark-squared bishop 9 ... 4:Jxd S 10 0-0
is back in the action, but it's too late to With White's king finally tucked
save him. away, the threat to es becomes real.
3 0 ':'g7 ! d S 3 1 exd s 4:Jcs How should Black deal with it?
31 ... cxds can be met simply by 3 2 10 ... f6 !
.txds. Glenn's one remaining chance Thi s is a key move, which demon-
53
Beating 1 e4 e5
strates that Black i s not afraid of the would be tempted to play 11 .i.e3 ! ? It
temporary weakness on the a2-g8 di might seem strange to offer Black the
agonal . For example, 1 1 ltJe3 can be chance to grab the two bishops, but ac
met by 11.. . .i.e6 followed by ... 'iith 8 . tually I think White should be happy to
10 .. J:t e 8 looks seemingly more at get rid of his dark-squared bishop. It's
tractive and is certainly playable, but I not easy to find a useful role for it; in
feel White can cause Black m ore prob deed, it's in danger of becoming White's
lems after thi s move: 11 %:tel .i.g4 worst minor piece. I won't go as far as to
(Black must avoid 11..:iVf6 1 2 d4! e4 13 claim that this gives White an advan
ltJcd2 ! , attacking ds and N, P.5vidler tage, but it can lead to some interesting
H.5teingrim sson, G ausdal 1991) 12 h 3 positions. If 11...ltJxe3 (this i s certainly
.i.xf3 (if 12 ... .i.h s White can safely grab not the only move) 12 fxe3 ! 'iith 8 13 d4,
the pawn with 13 g4 .i.g 6 14 ltJcxes the position looks genuinely unclear.
and follow up with d3 -d4 to shut out
the a7-bishop) 13 'iVxf3 'iVf6 14 ltJd2
'iWxf3 15 ltJxf3 ltJf6 16 .i.g s :ad8 17
l:tadl h6 18 .i.h4 with a n agging edge
for White, P.Van der Houwen-1Masek,
correspondence 2003. The pawn s on d3
and e s are both weaknesses, but
White's two bishops might become a
handful if the position open s up.
White's aim - not for the first time

- i s to keep the a7-bishop firmly out of
play. The g am e Z.Hajnal - L.Vajda, Eger
2002, continued 1 3 ... e4 (thi s looks too
committal) 14 ltJh4 ltJe7 15 g3 g s
( l s ... .i.h 3 ! ?) 16 ltJg 2 b s 1 7 ltJd2 fs 18
'iVh s ! ltJg6 and I prefer White's position
here. As well as the g ame's 19 .i.c2,
White could consider the pawn break
11 l:.el g4 (now or l ater), or even 19 h4 intend
Given how effectively Black deals ing to m eet 19 ... gxh4 with 20 ltJxe4!
with this obvious move, there's an ar fxe4? 21 ltJxh4! with a winning attack:
gument here for trying something else. 2 1...ltJxh4 2 2 %:txf8+ 'iixf8 2 3 'iWe s+ 'iWg 7
If I were to reach this position again, I 24 'iWe8+ and it's m ate next move.
54
11 �h81
••• 1 3 d4 looks like the only other logi
Other m oves are possibl e, but vacat cal continuation, but after 1 3 ... exd4 14
ing the a2-g 8 diagonal is the simplest llxe8+ 'ilixe8 1 5 cxd4 �e6, or 15 lLlxd4
solution . I think Black i s fully equal lLlxd4 16 cxd4 �e6, Black i s well coor
here. din ated and probably h as an edge.
12 h 3 1 3 ... lLlxe3 14 lLlxe 3
White n eeds to prevent . . . �g4. I 14 fxe3 ? ! m akes much less sense
wanted to play 1 2 lLlh4 intending 'iWh 5, with the TOok on el. Besides, after
but I couldn 't find a reason why Black 14 ... b 5 ! White's knight would h ave to
should avoid the straightforward retreat to the ugly a3-square to avoid
12 ... g 5 ! 13 lLlf3 b5 14 lLle3 lLlf4 when droppin g the d3 -pawn.
White is in serious danger of being
worse.
12 .. .lIe8
12 ... b5 13 lLle3 lLlf4 14 d4 exd4 1 5
cxd4 lLle7 was equal in
A.Tzermiadianos-H.Gretarsson, Re-
thymnon 2003, and even 15 ... lLlxd4 ! ? i s
possible: 16 lLlxd4 'ii'x d4 1 7 'ii'f3 � e 6 18
liJc2 'iVxf2+ 19 'iVxf2 �xf2+ 20 �xf2
liJd3+ 2 1 �f3 lLlxe1+ 22 lLlxe1 is ag ain
equal .
13 �e3 1 14 ... lLla s ? 1
It is desirable to kick the bishop off
the a2-g8 diagon al, but now Black's
knight i s misplaced, he loses his grip on
the centre and White can get in d3-d4.
14 ... �e6 15 �xe6 ':'xe6 16 'ilib3
looks a bit awkward for Black, but
16 ... 'ii'c 8 should be okay for him. Alter
n atively, there's 14 ... 'ii'd 6 to prepare
... �e6. White can try 15 lLlh4 here, and
15 ... �e6 16 lLlef5 'iVd7 17 'iWh5 �xb3 18
axb3 �g8 19 .:ta4! i s the kind of thing
Better l ate than never (see the note White should be aiming for. Unfortu
to White's 1 1th m ove), even if the cir nately, Black can spoil the fun with
cumstances here are less favourable for something like 15 ... �xe3 first, and only
White. then ... �e6.
55
Beating 1 e4 e5
lS i.c2 i.e6 16 d4! exd4 17 liJxd4 i.g8 i.d5, but in fact 43 i.g4+ ! f5 44 liJe5+
18 'iVg4 i.xd4 19 cxd4 liJc6 20 d S 'it>e7 45 liJxf7 fxg4 46 liJg 5 i s still very
good for White.
42 i.ds liJe6+
Now White is probably winning.
Passive defence with 42 ... i.e8 ! offers
Bl ack better chances of survival .
43 i.xe61 i.xe6 44 liJb6!
Now White enjoys a small advan

tage. His pieces are the more active,
and the isol ated d-pawn, although re
quiring protection, does have a slight
cramping effect on Black's position.
20 ... liJe s
20 ... liJe7 2 1 �ed1 'iVd6 is equally Intending liJd5+. The pawn endings
playable, but not 21 ... liJxd 5 ? ? 22 liJxd5 are winning for White because his king
i.xd5 23 'iVh 5. i s so far advanced and Black run s out of
2 1 'ii h 4 'iid 6 2 2 l:ted1 'ii'f8 2 3 litac1 waitin g moves.
:ad8 2 4 i.b1 ':e7 2S 'iib 4 c6 2 6 dxc6 44 ... gS 4 S liJd S+ i.xd s 46 �xd S �d7 47
liJxc6 2 7 'iVb6 g4! �e7
The c- and d-pawn s have been ex Or, for example, 47 ... a5 48 b3 b6 49
ch anged, leaving a symmetrical struc b4 axb4 50 axb4 h6 51 b 5 etc.
ture. White's m ore active pieces still 48 'it>cS 'it>d7 49 'it>b6 �c8 S O a4 �b8 Sl
promise an edge, something which i s b41 �c8
m aintained through to t h e endg ame. If 51 ... �a8, White win s by 52 �C7
27 •.. l:.ed 7 2 8 ':xd 7 l:r.xd 7 29 i. e 4 'iVd 8 �a7 53 b 5 axb 5 (or 53 ... a5 54 f3 h6 5 5
30 'iVxd8 liJxd8 3 1 a 3 g6 3 2 ':c8 'it>g7 3 3 �c8 - but not 5 5 b6+?? �a6 ! - 5 5 ... �b6
'it>f1 i.e6 34 'it>e1 'it>f7 3 S i.f3 'it>e7 3 6 5 6 �b8, winning as in the g ame) 54
liJC4 �d 1+ 3 7 'it>xd1 i.xc8 3 8 'it>d2 i.e6 axb 5 �a8 55 b6 h6 5 6 f3 and it's m ate
3 9 'it>C3 'it>d7 40 'it>d4 i.f7 41 'it>cS 'it>c7 in four.
During the g am e I was concerned S2 'it>a 7 a s l
about the defence 41 ... liJe6+ 42 'it>b6 The l ast try. 5 3 bxa 5 ? �C7 ! 54 a 6 b 6 !
liJd4 43 liJa5 ? liJxf3 44 g xf3 i.e6 ! 45 h4 5 5 'it>a8 'it>c8 ! i s only a draw, but...
56
53 b 5 ! cJ;C7 54 cJ; a 8 1-0 9 exd s ! ?

After s4 ... h6 55 f3 cJ;b6 56 cJ;b8 White chooses Pl an B : taking o n d s
White win s the cruci al b-pawn and a n d relying o n active piece play and
with it the g ame. pressure again st Black's centre.
9 'iVe2 has been played m any times,
even by such players as Bologan , but
Game 1 3 the problem is th at after 9 ... l:te8 10 ttJfl
M.OratoYsky-Y.Gozzoli White is basically a tempo down on the
Ta rragona 2007 m ain line, with Black having played
... ds in one go.
1 e4 e S 2 ttJf3 ttJc6 3 i.C4 ttJf6 4 d 3 i.cs If White wants to keep his option s
5 c3 a6 6 ttJbd2 i.a7 7 i.b3 0-0 8 h3 open in the centre, then committing to
8 h3 i s basically an attempt to king side castling with 9 0-0 is a rea
tran spose to the m ain lines discussed sonable choice, although 9 ... dxe4! 10
in the previous chapter, if Black pl ays dxe4 "fIe7 does leave Black with an
8 ... d6. But wh at happen s if Bl ack ad equal share of the chances. For exam
vances one square further? ple, 11 ttJh 2 i.e6 12 i.c2 .:1ad8 1 3 'iff3
8 d5!
... ttJd7 14 ]:tel f6 15 ttJdfl Wif7,
In a n ideal world, Black would like K.5han ava-M. Kobalija, Tbilisi 2009.
to pl ay ... ds in one jump a nd with 9 ttJxd S 10 ttJe4!
...
White having pl ayed ttJfl, but usually Thi s i s the only move to challenge
he can meet both these condition s only Black.
if White pl ays in accurately (for exam Note that one of the points behind
ple with the move order 8 ttJfl ? ! d s ! ) . playing ... ds with the white knight on
Even so, o n e out o f two i sn 't bad, and d2 i s revealed after 10 O-O?! ttJf4!,
this looks like a reliable option for which i s something White definitely
Black. needs to avoid. Compare Roy Chowd-
57
Beating 1 e4 e5
hury-Skjoldborg (Game 9), where White G arcia-O. Ruiz, Vill a Clara 2007), and
doesn 't have this problem because the here Quezada Perez assesses 16 ... lLld4!
knight is still on bl. 17 cxds ttJxb3 18 axb3 as unclear.
With the centre semi-open, 10 1 1 0-0
ttJfl ? ! i s far too slow. Either 10 ... ttJf4 ! ? 11 ttJg 3 is al so possible. 11 ... �g 6 12
11 �xf4 exf4 followed by .. J!e8+, or 0-0 ttJf4 13 �xf4! exf4 14 ttJe4 �xe4 1S
simply 10 ... �e6 11 ttJg 3 f6 12 0-0 �h 8, dxe4 1i'f6 16 'ifds ! proved to be better
i s m ore than okay for Black. for White in V.Bologan-M. Krasenkow,
1o ... �f5 Spanish Team Champion ship 2006, but
10 ... h 6 ? is strongly m et by 11 �xh 6 ! ' I prefer 12 ... ttJf6 ! when the position
looks equal to me.
11 ...�g6 12 :e1 �h8 1 3 �a4
White lures the b-pawn forward to
create some light-squared weaknesses
on the queenside, although thi s does
con sume some time. After the m ore
typical 1 3 ttJg 3 f6 14 ttJh4 �f7 1 5 ttJhfS
'ii'd 7 16 1i'f3 :ad8 the position is simi
l ar to Xu Yuhua-Short, above, and the
chances are level .
1 3 ... b 5 14 �b3
Thi s tactical shot, intending
11 ... gxh6 1 2 �xds 'ii'x ds 1 3 lLlf6+, is
well worth remembering.
H owever, Black does have two de
cent altern atives here:
a) 10 .. .f6 ! 1 1 0-0 (11 �e3 ! ?) 1 1 ... �h 8
is extremely solid (compare my g am e
again st Greet). After 12 l:t e l � e 6 1 3
ttJg 3 1i'd7 1 4 ttJh4 :ad8 1 5 1i'h s �f7 1 6
'ii'f3 ttJde7 17 � C 2 � d s 18 'ii'h s �f7 19
1i'f3 the position was equal in Xu Yu
hua- N . Short, Jinan 2003. 14 ...f5?!
b) 10 .. .fs ! ? i s riskier but al so play Thi s i s too ambitious and too loos
able. For example, 11 O-O! �h 8 12 ttJeg s ening; it certainly does the bishop on
h 6 1 3 ttJh4! hxg s ! ( 1 3 ... ttJce7? 14 .:tel ! i s g 6 no favours at all . Furthermore,
good for White - Quezada Perez) 1 4 White's set-up is well geared to meet
'Wh s+ �g 8 1 5 �xg s 1i'd6 16 c 4 (R.Perez thi s advance. H avin g said that, while
58
Italian Game: Modern Variation (Part 1 /)
lookin g through m any g ames I h ave a4, leaves White with a solid edge -
noticed a tendency for Black to lunge Black still h as m any light-squared
forward with .. .f5 even when it's n ot weaknesses to defend.
justified. Thi s could be caused by the 20 J:tde8?
.•
natural inclination amon g st m any A whole book could be written on

players to be always doin g something, the subject of 'the wrong rook'.
even when the best course of action i s 20 .. J:t.fe8! prevents liJd7 ideas, and
to 'do nothing'. the resultin g position after the long
14.. .f6 ! i s still the best m ove here. tactical sequence 2 1 �g 5 ! ( 2 1 d4
15 liJeg5 'ii'd 6 16 liJh41 �xd4!) 2 1 .. ..l:!.xe 5 ! ( 2 1 ... hxg 5 ?? 22 'ii'h 5+
Suddenly White's pieces come to �g8 2 3 �xd5+) 2 2 �xf6 l:txe2 2 3 �xd8
life, and Black h as to deal with prob �xf2+ 24 �f1 l:txel+ 25 ':xel �xel 2 6
lems both on the king side and in the �xd5 liJxd8 2 7 �xel offers Black excel
centre. lent drawing chances.
16 .:ad8 17 liJxg6+
... 2 1 liJd7?
17 d4! is a strong alternative, since Missing an opportunity: 2 1 d4!
17 ...exd4? 18 ':e6 ! i s immediately �xd4 and only then 2 2 liJd7 is
crushing. If Black plays 17 ... e4, the a7- strong er. White keeps some advantage
bishop i s once again shut out of the after 22 ... l:txe2 23 ':xe2 'iid 6 (23 ... liJxc3
game. Wh at's m ore, after 18 �xd5 24 bxc3 'ii'd 6 25 liJxf8 �xc3 26 l:r.e8 ! !
'i'xd5 19 liJxg 6+ hxg6 20 �f4 Black �xal 2 7 liJg6+ �h 7 28 �f7 ! wins) 24
must be careful n ot to be m ated down liJxf8 �e5 2 5 liJg 6+.
the h-file. 2 1 ...l:lxe2 2 2 .l:[xe2
17 'iIi'xg6 18 'iWe2 h 6 19 liJf3 'iif6 20
...
lZ\xe 5 1 ?
22 ••• liJxC 3 1
An important resource, which saves
Heading for complication s. Black. The neat perpetual check which
20 i.. d 2, possibly foll owed up by a2- follows i s more or less forced.
59
Beating 1 e4 e5
2 2 ... 'ii'd 6 2 3 ttJxf8 would give White nificant th an it initially appears to be.
a decisive advantage. 6 ... ds 7 exds ttJxds 8 0-0 0-0 9 h 3 (or
2 3 bxc3 'ifxc3 24 �b2 'ifxd 3 2 5 ttJxf8 9 ttJbd2) transposes to lines con sidered
If 2 5 J::t e 6, not 2 s ... 'ikxd7?? 26 ':xh 6 below.
mate(!) but in stead 2 s ... 'ii'd 2 ! (covering 7 h31?
h6) 2 6 ttJxf8 'ii'x b2 and again White will White keeps all h i s option s open,
take the perpetual check. and thi s move is useful in preventing
25 ... 'ifxe2 2 6 ttJg6+ �h7 27 ttJf8+ �h8 ... �g4 l ater on . Alternatively:
Yz-Yz a) Judging by what we've seen in
previous games, there's a great temp
In the next two games we con sider tation to pl ay 7 .tg s ! ? here. Indeed,
lines where Bl ack castl es quickly, either after 7 ... h6 8 �h4 d6 9 ttJbd2 Bl ack suf
on move five or six. fers the usual pains from the pin . For
example, 9 ... ttJe7 10 .txf6 (or 10 d4! ?)
10 ... gxf6 1 1 'ii'e 2 fs 12 0-0-0 �h 8 1 3 d4
Game 1 4 exd4 14 cxd4 �a7 1 5 es and Bl ack's
V.Bologa n-B.Heberla king remai n s a concern, M. Kobalija
E u ropea n C h a m pion s h i p, A. Kharlov, Internet 2004. Altern atively,
Plovd iv 2008 8 ... g s 9 �g 3 d6 10 ttJbd2 �g4 (I prefer
10 ... ttJh s) 11 h 3 �h s 12 'ii'e 2 �g6 13 h4
1 e4 e5 2 �C4 ttJf6 3 d 3 ttJc6 4 ttJf3 �C5 ttJh s 14 hxg s ttJxg 3 15 fxg 3 hxg s 16
5 c3 a6 6 �b3 0-0 0-0-0, ag ain with some advantage to
White, V.lvanchuk-M.Marin , Canada de
Cal atrava (blitz) 2007.
However, Black has a strong defen
sive resource in 8 ... .te7 ! .
We've seen thi s idea of quick cas

tling before, in Tiviakov-El Taher (Game
10). The only difference here i s that h 2 -
h 3 and ...� a 7 h aven't been pl ayed, but
thi s slight ch ange coul d be m ore sig- Even though thi s move breaks the
60
Italian Game: Modern Var iation (Part 1 /)
pin, it might not be easy at first to un bl} We've seen previously that
derstand its real strength. After all, White must be wary of ... tDf4 ideas, but
hasn 't Bl ack just given up a tempo with here 9 ... tDf4?! 10 tDe4! g ains a key
... B(f8}-cs-e7 in an otherwi se normal tempo attacking cS, and if 10 ... tDxd3 ? !
looking position ? That's a fair question, there follows 1 1 tDfg S ! .
but it's not quite as simple as th at. It
could be argued in Black's favour that
White's bishop on the h4-d8 diagonal i s
now somewhat mispl aced, since i t of
fers Black opportunities to relieve some
pressure via exchanges.
S.Tiviakov-M.Marin, Reggio Emilia
2007, continued 9 tDbd2 d6 (9 ... tDh S 10
.1g3 tDxg 3 1 1 hxg3 d6, as indicated by
Marin, bypasses White's possibility on
the next move) 10 �g 3 ! ? (10 0-0 tDh S !
1 1 .txe7 'ii'x e7 sees Black's exchanging Suddenly Black i s facin g a fierce at
plan in action) 10 ... .:e8 (Tiviakov's idea tack: for example, 11 ... h 6 ? (Black h as to
was to m eet 10 ... tDh s with 11 tDxe s ! pl ay 11 ... tDXC 1 ! , although even here 12
ttJxes 12 .txe s dxe s 1 3 "ii'xh s 'ii'x d3 14 'iWh S ! .tfS 1 3 .txf7+ �h 8 14 l:[axcl h 6
"i'xes with some advantage, since 1 5 tDxcs 'ii'x g s 16 "ii'x g s hxg s 17 .t d S is
14 ... .tg4 can be an swered safely by 15 very good for White) 12 'iVh S ! 'ii'e 7 13
.1C4). Here Tiviakov's 1 1 tDfl ? ! looked 'ii'g 6 ! hxg s 14 tDxg s and Bl ack is forced
too slow and cumbersome with the to give up his queen .
bishop on g 3 blocking its n atural route, b2} 9 ... .tg4 i s logical and has been
and with 11 ... dS ! (Marin) Black's posi pl ayed a few times: 10 h3 .th S 11 tDe4
tion already looks comfortable. I would .ta7 12 l1el (or 12 tDg 3 ! ? .tg6 13 1:.el)
prefer 1 1 0-0, planning typical central 12 .. .f6 1 3 .te3 ! .txe3 (if 1 3 ... �h 8, 14
action with h 3 , .:tel, d4 etc. Black can .txa7 l:Ixa7 15 tDg 3 .tf7 16 d4! open s
grab the bishop pair with 11 ... tDas (but up the centre to White's advantage) 14
not 11 ... tDh S ? 12 tDxe s ! ) 12 .tc2 tDh s, fxe3 .tf7 1 5 'ii'd 2 h 6 16 d4 and White's
but as compen sation White can gain centre pawn s promise him a slight ad
space on the queen side after 1 3 b4 vantage, P.svidler-T.Ern st, G ausdal
ttJxg 3 14 hxg 3 (14 fxg 3 ! ?) 14 ... tDc6 1 5 1991 .
.1b3. Let's return to the position after 7
b} 7 tDbd2 ! ? intending 7 ... dS (7 ...�a7 h3:
transposes to Games 11-13) 8 exds 7 ••• dS
ttJxdS 9 0-0 i s al so possible. Now: In m any ways thi s is the con sistent
61
Beating 1 e4 e5
follow up to 6 ... 0-0, especi ally since 7 Some other moves h ave been tried
h 3 appears to do little to discourage here:
this advance (in comparison to, say, 7 a) 9 ... i.a7 tran sposes to Roy Chowd
0-0). hury-Skjoldborg, (Game 9).
If 7 ... i.a7 White shouldn 't hesitate b) 9 ... lLlf6 10 .:tel 'iVd6 11 lLlbd2 !
to reply with 8 i.g s ! (see Tiviakov-El 'i!Vxd3 12 lLlxes lLlxes 1 3 l:[xes i.a7 (if
Taher, G ame 10). Likewise, 7 ... d6 can 1 3 ... i.d6??, 14 i.c2 ! traps the queen in
and probably should be m et by 8 i.g s ! . mid board ! ) 14 'ii'f3 ! 'ii'xf3 l s lLlxf3 with
I n either case Bl ack has lost the possi an edge for White, R.Mainka-R.5tern,
bility to unpin with ... i.e7. H ockendorf 2004. The 'exchange' of
8 exd s l pawn s in the centre often benefits
Again w e see White choosing Plan B. White, whose pieces tend to be a bit
If 8 'ii'e 2 h 6 9 lLlbd2 i.e6 10 lLlfl m ore actively pl aced. There's pressure
Bl ack has gained a tempo by playing ag ain st f7, and possibilities of lLlg s,
... ds in one go, and he might even find ];te7 and i.f4 or i.g s .
a better move than the usual ... i.cs-a7. c) 9 ... lLlb6 10 ':'el h 6 1 1 lLlbd2 ! (not
8 ... lLlxd S 9 0-0 1 1 lLlxe s ? ! i.xf2+! 12 'itxf2 lLlxeS 13
];txe s ? 'ii'f6+) 11..:ii'xd3 12 lLlxes 'ii'g 3
1 3 'ii'f3 ! 'ii'xf3 14 lLldxf3, as played in
V. Kramnik-M. Krasenkow, Wijk aan Zee
2003, is similar to the previous note.
Thi s time White must avoid 9

lLlbd2? lLlf4 ! .
9 ... lLlde7
By removing the knight from its po
tenti ally vulnerable post on ds, Black After Krasenkow's 14 ... lLle7 I think
hopes to avoid some tactical possibili Kramnik could have won a pawn with
ties and al so expose the d3 -pawn . 15 lLlxf7 ! ':'xf7 16 l::tx e 7 ! i.xe7 17 lLle s -
What's more, Bl ack can now reinforce I really can't see anything wrong with
the e s-pawn if need be by playing this. Bl ack can improve with 14 ... lLlxes
... lLlg 6. l s lLlxes i.d6, but here 16 lLlg6 .l::t d 8 17
62
ttJe7+ Wf8 18 lDxc8 l1axc8 19 �e3, as here. White wants to increase the pres
indicated by Lukacs, gives White the sure with :el, �g 5 etc.
advantage of the bishop pair in an 13 ... �e6
open position. I think Black can obtain a more fa
10 lDxe s l ? vourable version of the g am e by flick
1 0 lI e l lDg 6 11 lDg S ! ? i s another ing in 1 3 ... h6! here. If 14 �h4 (14 �xe7
possibility. For example, 11 ... h6 1 2 'i!Vxe7 1 5 lDc3 �fS 16 dS lDe s looks
'ill S ! hxg s (or 12 . . .lDce7 1 3 lDe4 �b6 equal) 14 ... �e6, the insertion of ... h 6
14 �xh 6 ! ) 1 3 'ii'x g 6 lDas ! ? (13 .. :i!kf6 ! a n d � h 4 seems t o help Black. For ex
keeps the m aterial balance, and after ample, 1 5 lDc3 �xb3 16 'iVxb3 'ii'x d4 ! ?
14 'ii'xf6 gxf6 15 lDd2 �b6 16 lDe4 �g 7 (or 16 . . .'ifd7) and because the bishop i s
17 �e3 %;Id8 18 l:[adl the position looks attacked o n h4, White h as to settle for
equal to me) 14 'iVxg s lDxb3 15 axb3 the less threatening 17 �xe7 lDxe7 18
'i'xd3 16 'ifxes �d6 17 'ife3 'ikc2 18 l:.adl (or 18 'ifxb7).
lLld2 �fS 19 b4, R.Mainka- H . Bastian, 14 lDc3 �xb3
Hoeckendorf 2004. White i s threaten It's a bit l ate for 14 ... h 6 now, since
ing to unravel with lDC4 or lDf3-d4, and 1 5 dS ! hxg s 16 dxe6 f6 i s something
I don't think Bl ack h as got quite Black would rather avoid.
enough compen sation for the pawn. 1 s 'ii'x b3
10 ...lDxe s 11 d4 �xd4 12 cxd4 lDsc6
1S •.• 'ii'x d4?

We've reached an IQP position. Will Too greedy! Now Bologan is able to
White's d-pawn be a strength or a whip up a fierce initiative.
weakness? In the g ame Black soon lS ... lDxd4 16 'ii'x b7 is only a bit bet
manages to capture it, but the cost of ter for White, and there's al so nothing
doing so it too great. wrong with l S ... 'iVd7: 16 �xe7 (16
1 3 �gS 'i!Vxb7?? l:tfb8 traps the queen, or 16 dS
I wonder about 1 3 dS lDas 14 lDC3 lDd4 17 'ii'C 4 lDdfS and the knight
63
Beating 1 e4 e5
heads for d6) 16 ... tiJxe7 17 'ii'x b7 tiJc6

18 dS tiJd4 19 d6! 'ifxd6 20 :tadl .:tab8
21 'iVe4 cS and the position is equal .
16 l:tfe11 tiJa5 17 'iWa 3 tiJec6 18 litad1l
'iWa 7
Not a pleasant move to have to
play! With the bl ack queen and both
knights stranded on the queen side,
Bologan isn't slow to seek action on the
other side of the board, with decisive
results.
19 tiJd 5 tiJC4 If 2 6 ... l::tfd8, White finishes Black off
with 2 7 1:[g S+ �f8 28 :tfS :d7 29 'ilVh 8+
�e7 30 .l:te s+ �d6 31 'ii'f6 m ate.
The only way to avoid m ate is with
26 ...h 6, but 2 7 'iWxh6 Vb6 28 l:tg S+ 'ifg6
29 l:txg6+ fxg 6 30 'iVxg6+ i s an easy win.
2 6 ..JUe8 2 7 l:tg5+ �8 2 8 :f5 1-0
White m ates after 28 ... l::t e 1+ (or
28 ... l::t e 7 29 'iVh 8 m ate) 29 �h 2 �e8 30
'iWxf7+ �d8 3 1 litdS+ �c8 32 'iff8+. Plan
B can be just as dangerous as Plan A!
20 tiJf6+1
Thi s striking sacrifice leads to a Game 1 5
m ating attack, although to be fair J.Nun-J.Spesny
White i s spoilt for choice here. 20 'ifc3 ! Czech League 1998
is al so strong : 2 0 ... tiJd6 2 1 tiJf6+! �h 8
(2 1...gxf6 2 2 ii.xf6 i s even quicker) 2 2 1 e4 e5 2 tiJf3 tiJc6 3 i.C4 ii.C5
"iiVd 3 g 6 2 3 'ii'c 3 tiJbs and now the at Note: the actual m ove order of this
tack on the queen can be ignored with game was 3 ... tiJf6 4 d3 ii.cs s 0-0 d6 6
24 tiJg4+ ! ! tiJxc3 2 S ii.f6+ �g 8 26 tiJh 6 c3 0-0 7 b4 i.b6 8 a4 a6 9 i.g s 'ife7 10
m ate. tiJbd2.
20 ... gxf6 2 1 'ii'g 3 1 fxg5 2 2 'iWxg 5+ �h8 4 c3 tiJf6 5 d 3 o-ol?
2 3 'iWf6+ �g8 24 .l:!.d 5 1 tiJ4e5 25 l::t d xe5 Black castles even more quickly
tiJxe 5 2 6 ':xe 5 than in the previous g ame. If White
Despite being a rook ahead, Black's reacts slowly, Black's intention is al
position i s hopeless. most certainly to play ... dS here.
64
Can Black play ... dS even sooner? tling becomes less desirable, so White
The answer i s no. S d3 actually sets a usually ends up castling short.
little trap, which h as caught out a fair
number of players. The immediate
S ... dS? is a serious error which can be
punished by 6 exds tLlxds 7 'iYh 3 ! .
If 6 i.g s Black should play 6 ... h6 7

i.h4 i.e7 ! . Compare the note on 7 i.g s
in the previous g ame.
6 tLlbd2 i s a decent alternative,
The threat t o capture o n dS i s a sur pl anning to m eet 6 ... dS with 7 exds
prisingly awkward one for Black to tLlxds 8 tLle4 (or 8 0-0 i.g4 9 tLle4)
meet, given that 7 ... tLlas ? run s into 8 8 ... ii.b6 9 0-0 - compare Oratovsky
'i'bS+. If Black plays 7 ... i.e6, White can Gozzoli (Game 13 ) .
safely grab the pawn with 8 'ii'xb7. The most common choice for White
Black still has problems with his cS here is actually 6 0-0, indicating a de
bishop (8 ... tLlce7 and 8 ... tLlas both lose sire to play the Classical Main Line seen
to 9 'iYh S +), and if 8 . . tLlde7 there fol
. in Chapter Three (for example, after
lows 9 'iVbs i.xC4 10 �xc4 and White i s 6 ... d6 7 i.b3 a6). But what happen s if
simply a pawn u p for nothing. Bl ack insists upon 6 ... dS here?
6 b4! ? (see following diagram)
This move isn't an attempt to win a
pawn with b S . In stead the idea i s to
force Black's bishop to m ake a decision
and to g ain some space on the queen
side. The b2-b4 advance nearly always
makes more sense if Black hasn't yet
played ... a6 allowing the bishop to drop
back to a7 in one go. One thing White
has to bear in mind when advancing
with b4 and a4 is th at queen side cas-
65
Beating 1 e4 eS
You would assume that it would be 6 ... i.e7 ! ? i sn 't silly. White should avoid
somewhat risky, given th at White the greedy 7 b S ? ! liJas 8 liJxe s, as
hasn't spent any time on .i.b3 or h 2-h 3, 8 ... liJxC4! 9 liJxC4 dS 10 liJcd2 (or 10
but that doesn't seem to be the case exds 'iWxds hittin g g 2 and b S ) 10 ... dxe4
and it's noticeable th at some very ll liJxe4 a6 12 bxa6 .l:txa6, as played in
strong players have tried thi s recently. S.Vysochin-M.Godena, Internet 2008,
It's early days, but I think a critical line gives Bl ack excellent compen sation .
is 7 exds liJxds 8 l1el (8 b4 .i.e7 trans After the wiser 7 0-0 dS ! ? 8 exds
poses to 6 ... i.e7 in the next note, while liJxdS, the idea is that White's weak
if 8 ... i.b6 ? White can pl ay 9 i.xds nesses on the queen side created by the
'ifxds 10 c4 and 11 cS trapping the b-pawn 's advance compen sate Bl ack
bishop) 8 ... i.g4 9 h 3 i.h s 10 liJbd2 (10 for the problems he experiences de
g4 i.g6 1 1 liJxe s liJxes 12 l:txe s c6 is fendin g e s . The critical line seem s to be
playable, but it does give Black con sid 9 b s liJas
erable compen sation for the pawn)
10 ... liJb6 ! (10 ... liJf4?! 11 liJe4! .i.e7 12
liJg 3 i s good for White) 1 1 b4! ? (11 i.bs
i.d6 h as proved to be acceptable for
Black: for example, 1 2 liJe4 fS 1 3 liJg 3
i.xf3 14 ..wxf3 ..wd7, Ni Hua
P.Harikrishn a, Reggio Emilia 2007)
11.. . .i.d6 (11 ...liJxc4? 1 2 liJxC4 leaves e S
hanging) 12 i.b3 �h 8 1 3 liJe4 f6 14 a4
and White is slightly the m ore active,
D.Vocaturo-M.Godena, Sarre 2009.
It will be interesting to see how thi s 10 i.xdS ! (rather than 10 liJxe s i.f6,
rel atively fresh l i n e progresses. If White again with good compensation for
wants to prevent or discourage ... dS Bl ack) 10 .. :ii'xds 1 1 c4. For example,
and is h appy to play the Classical Main 11..:iVd8 12 i.d2 ! (12 i.b2 e4! ) 12 ... b6
Line with 0-0, he could try the m ove 1 3 liJxe s i.f6 14 i.xas bxas 15 d4 i.xes
order 4 d3 liJf6 5 0-0 0-0 6 ]:tel; or 6 h 3 16 dxe s i.e6 17 liJa3 and White was
intending 6 ... d S 7 exds liJxdS 8 1:el better in W.spoelman - I . Kurnosov,
tran sposing to Emms-Wittman (Game Budva 2009; or 11...'iWe6 12 %:tel f6 13
34); or fin ally 6 i.b3 ! ? as suggested by i.d2 b6 14 i.xas bxas 1 5 liJd4 ! ? 'ilVd7
Kinderm ann . 16 liJc6 a6 with an unclear position,
6 ... i. b6 S.Tiviakov-L. Babujian, Mashhad 2010.
This i s the most n atural retreat, and Thi s line could certainly do with further
al so by far the most popul ar, but tests.
66
7 a4 a 6 thing similar in a m ain line of the Four

If 7 ... as, White can safely grab the Knights G ame. There it even h as a
es-pawn : 8 b S t'iJe7 9 t'iJxe s ! dS 10 exds n ame, 'the Metger unpin'.
t'iJg6 1 1 t'iJxg 6 lle8+ 12 'itJlfl hxg6 13 If 9 ... h 6 10 .i.h4 gs then 1 1 .i.g3 i s of
i.g s 'ifd6 14 .Jtxf6 'ifxf6 15 d4 11e4 16 course okay, but 11 t'iJxg S ! ? hxg s 1 2
t'iJd2 :f4 17 f3 with some advantage .i.xg s would be hugely tempting (com
for White, A.G alliam ova-E.Vasiukov, pare Emms-Flear, G am e 11).
Moscow 1989. True, White's king isn't 10 0-0!
ideally placed, but Bl ack's dark-squared White is wise to castl e kingside
bishop is shut out and two extra pawn s here, especially with the queenside
have to be worth something. pawn s well advanced. Moreover, if
8 i. g5 White doesn 't pl ay 10 t'iJfl, there's no
Now that Black can no longer unpin ch ance of falling for a very nice trick. I
with ... .Jte7, thi s m ove becomes much was considering the variation 10 ... h 6
more desirable. 1 1 .i.h4 g s (11 . . ..Jte6, planning a n ex
A typical continuation after 8 0-0 is change of bishops followed by ... 'ife6,
8 d6 (or 8 ... dS 9 exds t'iJxds 10 'ifb3
... looks fine for Bl ack) 12 t'iJxg S ? hxg s 1 3
lLlf6 1 1 t'iJg s 'iWe8, B.Gelfand-A.Shirov, .i.xg s which a t first seemed fairly
Munich 1993, and here Gelfand sug promising for White. It would be, but
gests 12 .Jte3 with an edge for White) 9 for 13 ... t'iJxe4! ! 14 .i.xe7 .i.xf2+ 1 5 'itJle2
lLlbd2 t'iJe7 10 .Jtb3 (intending t'iJC4 to .Jtg4, which i s m ate for Bl ack!
hit the b6-bishop) 10 ... t'iJg 6 11 t'iJc4 .Jta7
12 .i.e3 .i.e6 13 .i.xa7 ]:txa7 14 ]::t e l lIa8
with a roughly level position .
8 d6 9 t'iJbd2 'ife7
...
Please watch out for this one !

10 t'iJd8
•••
10 ... h6 11 i.h4 and only now

11...t'iJd8 avoids t'iJh4 and forces White
Planning to deal with the pin by to find another plan. On the other hand,
playing ... t'iJd8-e6. Black does some- ...t'iJe6 no longer comes with tempo. In
67
Beating 1 e4 e5
L.Yudasin-R.Hess, New York 2004, White plan, but Bl ack could con sider 13 ... aS
sensibly chose to start action in the cen 14 bS and only then 14 ... lDf4. Judging
tre: 12 as i.. a 7 13 d4 (now ... lDe6 would by what happen s l ater, thi s in sertion of
drop the e-pawn) 13 ... exd4 14 lDxd4 (14 pawn s moves which gives Bl ack more
cxd4 is also interesting, intending control of cS might be a good idea.
14...lDc6 15 e S dxes 16 dxes lDxes 17 14 lDe3 !
lIel lDxf3+ 18 'ii'xf3 with play for the H eading for d S .
pawn) 14 ... lDc6 15 lDfS ! ? (I prefer 1 4... lDg6 1 5 i.. g s h 6 1 6 i.. xf6 'iVxf6 17
White's position after 15 lDxc6 bxc6 16 lDd S 'iVd8 18 lDxb6 cxb6 19 g 3 !
'ili'f3 - a6 is a constant worry for Black) Restricting the knight on g 6 .
lS ... i.. xfS 16 exfs lite8 17 'iVc2 l:iad8 18 19 ... i.. h 3 20 .l:.e1
b S ! ? dS? (I'm not sure why Black avoided Initially I h ad no idea why White in
the straightforward 18 ... lDes ! ) 19 bxc6 duced ... h6 in stead of just pl aying 15
dXc4 20 cxb7 'iVe2 21 .l:.a2 'ii'd 3 22 lDf3 i.. xf6, but m aybe it's because Bl ack
and White had a clear plus. now h as to watch out for 'ii'h s ideas
l1 lDh4! attacking g6 and h 3 .
20 i.. e 6 2 1 'iVb3 i.. x C4 2 2 lDxC4 d S 2 3
.•.
lDe3 dxe4 24 dxe4
The right idea, interferin g with

Black's unpinning plan . Flicking in 11
as i.. a 7 before pl aying 12 lDh4 i s al so I didn 't like Black's plan of exchang
good. ing bishops (20 ... 'ii'g s looked less ac
Any quiet move, like 11 l:tel, allows commodating) and White enjoys a sig
11 ... lDe6 and after 12 i..h 4 Bl ack could nificant advantage now. His structure
even just pl ay 12 ... h 6 followed by is healthier and his knight, eyeing out
... lDf4-g 6 to fin ally break the pin . 1 1 d4 posts on fS and dS, is clearly stronger
lDe6 would al so be fine for Bl ack. than its counterpart.
11 ••• lDe6 12 lDfS 'iWd 8 1 3 i.. h 4 lDf4 24 ... ':c8 2 5 l:.adl 'iVe7 2 6 ':d 3 l:.fd8 2 7
Moving thi s knight to g 6 i s the right l:ted1 l:txd 3 2 8 l:txd 3 : d 8 29 lDd S 'iVe6
68
30 �d1 Wh8 3 1 b5 axb5 3 2 axb5 :d6 5 d 3 a6

33 c4 ttlf8? 34 'iVa 1 ! ttld7 The move order S ... d6 6 i.b3 a6 is
just as likely.
6 JLb3 d6
Black forgoes the possibility of ... dS
in one move, but commits neither his
king nor his dark-squared bishop. There
are m any possibilities for tran sposi
tion s into lines we've already covered,
since Black often plays ... iJ.. a 7 at some
point. Here I'll focus m ainly on lines
where Bl ack del ays or avoids thi s move.
7 ttlbd2
3 5 IIa 3 ? N aturally White can play 7 h3 (or 7
Missing a big chance: 3 S ifa8+ ! Wh 7 0-0 of course), with a likely tran sposi
36 'iVd8 ! threaten s a devastating 3 7 tion to m ain lines, but here he decides
0,e7. Black i s forced t o pl ay 3 6 . . .ttlcS to pl ay the ttld2-fl-g 3 m anoeuvre as
but then 37 ttlf6+ 'iVxf6 3 8 .l:!.xd6 win s quickly as possible.
the exch ange. 7 . 0-0
..
3 5 . . .ttl C 5 3 6 f 3 W h 7 3 7 :a8 f5 ! 7 ... iJ.. a 7 tran sposes to the note to

Now Black i s right back in the g ame. Bl ack's 7th move in Emms-Flear (Game
3 8 exf5 'iVxf5 3 9 :a3 'iV c 2 40 ': C 3 'iVe2 11).
41 'iVf1 �d2 42 �C1 �XC1+ 43 .l:!.xc1 e4 8 ttlf1 ! ?
44 fxe4 Yz-Yz
In the final two g ames we con sider

lines where Black dispen ses with the
modern treatment and del ays or avoids
... 1i.a7, or even ... a6. These lines coul d
be con sidered as 'older' but they are
still very popul ar at all level s.
Game 1 6
J.M.Degraeve-J.Dorfma n A bold move, invitin g Black to play
French League 2007 ... ttlg4. If he doesn't, White will just
carry on with ttlg 3 and there may be
1 e4 e 5 2 ttlf3 ttlc6 3 1i.C4 1i.C5 4 c3 ttlf6 some advantages to delaying h 2-h 3 .
69
Beating 1 e4 e5
S ••. dS f4 looks even more promising)

A s we've seen before o n more than 1 7 ... :xe1+ 18 l:txel �d7 19 dS with an
one occasion, thi s is the n atural re obvious advantage for White, G.Zentai
spon se to ttJf1. Alternatively: K.Valko, Hungarian League 2003.
a) The critical continuation i s 8 ...ttJg4 9 d4 has h ad little practical
8 ... ttJg4 ! ? 9 d4! ? (9 ttJ e 3 ttJxe3 10 �xe3 testing so far, so it's difficult to m ake a
is just equal) 9 ... exd4 10 cxd4 and now: definitive assessment. The signs are
looking quite promising for White,
though. And as a back up, there's al
ways 7 h 3 !
b ) 8 ... �e6 9 ttJg 3 ( 9 �g S ! ?) 9 ... h 6 and
now:
bl) 10 h3 dS 11 'iWe2 :e8 12 ttJh 2 ! ?
ii'd7 13 ii'f3 is similar t o positions we've
seen before, but here Black can utilize
the fact that his dark-squared bishop
isn't committed to a7 - it might instead
drop back to defend on the kingside. For
al) 10 ... ttJxd4 ! ? i s dangerous and example, 13 .. J:tad8 (13 ... as ! ?) 14 �C2 bS
unclear, but White h as good chances to 15 0-0 �e7! ? 16 %tel ttJh 7 and Black was
emerge un scathed and with some ad solidly placed in M. Kobalija-E. Inarkiev,
vantage: 11 ttJxd4 'tWh4 (or 11 ... :e8 1 2 Ramenskoe 2006.
ttJ e 3 :xe4 1 3 ttJf3 �xe3 1 4 fxe 3 ttJxe3 b2) 10 0-0 �a7 11 h3 (11 �C2 ! ?)
15 �xe3 l:txe3 + 16 'iiif 2) 12 ttJg 3 'iVf6 13 1 1 ... dS 12 'iVe2 dxe4 (12 .. J:te8 tran s
�e3 ttJxe3 14 fxe3 �b4+ 1 5 'iii e 2 �g4+ poses to the note on 10 ... .:te8 in Tivia
16 ttJf3 'iVxb2+ 1 7 'iVc2 etc. kov-Buhmann, Game 5) 13 dxe4 �xb3
a2) 10 ...�b4+ 1 1 �d2 .:te8 (or 14 axb3 'iVd6 15 ttJfS 'iVe6,
1 1 .. :ii'e 7 1 2 ttJg 3 ttJf6 1 3 �xb4 ttJxb4 14
0-0 �g4 15 h3 �xf3 16 'iVxf3 with a
clear plus for White, G .5ax-F. Berkes,
Hun g arian League 2003) 12 ttJg 3
�xd2+ 1 3 ii'xd2 ttJf6 (or 1 3 ... dS 14 e S f6
1 5 h 3 ttJh 6 16 O-O-O ! ?) 14 O-O! (9 d4
would be totally unplayable without
thi s resource) 14 ... ttJxe4 (otherwi se
White's centre gives him an edge) 1 5
ttJxe4 l:1xe4 16 �xf7+! 'iiih 8 1 7 l:tfel (17
d S ! intending 1 7 ... ttJes 18 ttJg s :g4 19
70
Italian Game: Modern Variation (Part 1 /)
and h ere 16 .i.xh 6 ! ? i s interesti n g : There are some decent altern atives
1 6 ... g xh 6 17 lDxh 6+ <&th 8 18 lDg 5 'ife8 for Bl ack here:
19 'iff3 lDh 7 20 'ifh 5 f6 2 1 lDhf7+ l:txf7 a) 10 .. .f6 followed by ... .i.e6 and
22 lDxf7+ c;t;>g 7 2 3 1i'h 6+ c;t;>xf7 24 ... c;t;>h 8 i s wh at I 've suggested for Black
"i'xh 7+ c;t;>e6 2 5 'ii'x c7 and White was on in similar position s. In thi s particular
top in L.Ruan-Y.Shen, Beijing 2009. situation, though, White has just
Black might h ave better ways to de enough time after 11 0-0 .i.e6 (if
fend here, but it seem s wise not to al 11 ... c;t;>h 8, White should play 12 l:Iel
low thi s sacrifice. 14 ... 'iVd7 1 5 lDf5 'iiJlh 7, discouraging ... .i.e6 in view of d3-d4) to
as in I . N epomniachtchi-Z.Al m asi, Dres get in the desirable 12 .i.e3 ! .
den 2007, looks safer, and Black was
just about holding his own after 16
.!:tdl 'ife6 17 .i.g 5 ! l:tad8 18 b4 .i.b6 ! .
9 exd 5 ! ?
Chess i s not a n easy g am e ! I freely
admit that previously I 've questioned
the strategy of combining the lDd2-fl
g 3 m an oeuvre with exd5. Maybe I 'll try
to justify thi s as the exception which
proves the rule. Or m aybe White's case
is helped by the fact th at, with the
omission of h 2-h 3 , his development i s a Thi s m akes at least some difference:
bit quicker th an usual . 1 2 ... .i.e7 ! ? (12 ... .i.a7 ? ! 1 3 .i.xa7 ! l:!.xa7
9 'ife2 .i.e6 i s similar to note 'bl' 14 d4 exd4 1 5 lDxd4 is the kind of posi
above. tion that Black must avoid; or 12 ... .i.xe3
9 lDxd 5 10 lDg3
••• 1 3 fxe3 'iiJlh 8 14 'iVd2 and White will
push with d4) 1 3 d4! c;t;>h 8 14 dxe 5
lDxe3 1 5 fxe 3 'ifxdl 16 l:!.axdl .i.xb3 1 7
axb3 .i.C5 18 c;t;>f2 ltae8 (18 . . .lDxe5 19
lDxe 5 fxe5+ 20 <&te2 i s better for White;
his king i s well placed and the knight
will come to e4) 19 b4 iLb6 20 :d5 lDe7
(or 20 ... lDxe5 21 lDxe5 l:[xe 5 2 2 l:[xe5
fxe5+ 23 c;t;>e2 l:txfl 24 lDxfl followed by
c;t;>d3-e4) 2 1 l:d7 lDg6 2 2 c4 fxe5
(V.Mal akhov-V.Georgiev, Solin 2006)
and now 23 c;t;>e2 e4 24 lDg 5 ':'xfl 2 5
10 lDf6
••• lDxfl would h ave kept an advantage.
71
Beating 1 e4 e5
b) 10 ... h6 11 0-0 l::t e S (ll ... liJf6 trans change on e3 thereby strengthening
poses to the main game) 12 liJe4 ! ? White's pawn structure and opening
ii.e7 ! (if 12 . . . .i.fS o r 12 ... .i.a7 you have the f-file.
to remember the standard trick 1 3 12 .•. ii.xe 3
ii.xh 6 ! ) 1 3 .:r e l .i. e 6 1 4 liJg 3 ii. c s was If 12 ... .i.d6, 1 3 liJh4 ! ? aim s for f2-f4
equal in S. Kudrin-M. Khachiyan, Las Ve - White doesn't always have to play
gas 2006. White could con sider 14 h 3 ! ? l:[el ! Thi s plan worked to perfection in
in stead of 14 liJg 3, and i f 1 4.. :i!t'd7 then T.Gharamian- D.Marholev, La Fere 200S:
15 liJg 3 .i.d6 16 liJh S ! ? and possibly d3- 1 3 ... ii.g4 (13 .. .l::t e S ! ?) 14 'ilVd2 ! (lining up
d4. .i.xh 6 possibilities) 14 ... liJe4?! (14 ... liJas
c) 10 ...liJf4 11 ii.xf4 exf4 12 liJe4 15 ii.c2 .:reS 16 liJhfs .i.fS 1 7 b4, with
.i.e7 (after 12 ... .i.b6 13 0-0 the bishop i s an edge for White) 15 liJxe4 'iVxh4 16
once again in danger o f being blocked f4! liJe7? 17 liJxd6 cxd6 lS fxe s dxe s 19
out by d4) 13 0-0 ii.g4 14 d4 planning .i.cs l:.aeS 20 l:tael 'tWh s 2 1 d4, when
"iVd3 . White's strong centre promises Black was tied up in knots and saw no
him an edge here. reason to continue the struggle. Admit
11 0-0 h 6 tedly thi s was poor defence by Black,
Preparing ...l:.eS, which at the mo but even so White's pl an looks promis
ment would be strongly met by 12 ing.
liJg s ! . 1 3 fxe3 l:[ e 8 14 liJh41
12 .i.e3 1
I prefer White here. At th e very least

Ag ain we see thi s move, and it's the his position is the easier to play.
only one here which allows White to 14 ... .i.e6 l s liJhfs ii.xb3 16 Vxb3 l::t e 61
fight for an advantage. Bl ack must 16 .. :ikxd3 1 7 liJxh 6+ i s good for
m ake some kind of concession . Either White.
he must spend time safeguarding his There's not enough time for
bishop or, as chosen in the g ame, ex- 16 .. J�bS?, which i s m et by 1 7 liJxg 7 !
72
'iii' x g 7 18 l::t xf6 ! 'iit xf6 (or 18 .. .'ii' xf6 19 coming. Black's can 't pl ay 2 2 ... 'i!Vxb2
ttJh 5+) 19 l::tf l+ 'iit g 7 20 'i!Vxf7+ 'iith 8 21 because of 2 3 l:tbl.
.uf6, winning. 2 2 'iVf2 !
17 'iVxb 7 ! ? Again the threat i s 2 3 ltJxh 6+. Black
tries to prevent it with ...
2 2 . . .'it>h7
Bold pl ay by Degraeve, and he i s in

stantly rewarded.
17 ... l:ta7? 2 3 ltJxh6! 1-0
Thi s looks like a critical mistake. ... but it happen s anyway! Dorfman
True, Black reg ains his pawn, but only resigned in view of the following lines:
at a cost of losing coordination . 2 3 ... 'iit xh 6 24 'i¥h4+ 'iit g 6 2 5 g4 (threat
If 17 .. J:tb8 18 'i¥xa6 and Black ening m ate on h 5) 25 ... ltJf6 26 J:[f5
doesn't h ave an effective discovered ltJxe4 27 'iWh 5 mate; 23 ... gxh6 24 'i¥xf7+
attack again st the queen. Or 17 ... g6 18 ltJg 7 2 5 l::t d 7 l::t g 6 26 ltJf6+; or finally,
lLlxh 6+ 'iit g 7 19 ltJxf7 ! 'iit xf7 20 ltJe4, and 23 ... :txh 6 24 ltJg 5+ 'iith 8 25 'i!Vxf7 with
White threatens ltJg 5+. However, after m ate to follow.
17 ... 'iith 7 ! preparing ... g6 the position i s
still very unclear.
18 'iVb3 'iWxd 3 19 l::t a dl 'ifbs 20 'iVc2 ! Game 1 7
White certainly isn't about t o ease S.E renbu rg-M.Kreizberg
Black's position by exchanging queen s. Tel Aviv 2002
20 ...l:.b7?
.
Black h ad to play 20 ... 'iWC4 prevent 1 e4 e S 2 ttJf3 ltJc6 3 .i.C4 .i.cs 4 c3 ltJf6
ing White's next move. S d3 d6
2 1 ltJe4! 5 ... d6 i s still a very popul ar move or
Threatening 22 ltJxh 6+. der for Black, especially at club level .
2 1 ...ltJe8 Again transposition s are frequent,
If 21 ... ltJxe4 22 'iWxe4 and l::t d 7 i s since Black typically pl ays ... a6 at some
73
Beating 1 e4 e5
point. In this game I 'll focus on lines which works because 7 ... �xb3 8
where he doesn't. �xb3 win s a pawn. True, Bl ack gets
some compen sation, but it's not totally
convincing : after 8 ... 0-0 9 �xb7 'it'd7 10
0-0 iLb6 11 �a6 ttJe7 12 ttJd2 h6 13
ttJgf3 ttJg 6 14 ttJC4 'iVe6 15 'iVa4 ttJh S 16
'fWdl, as played in S.Tiviakov-S.sul ski s,
I stanbul 2003, White must be a bit bet
ter.
Black can avoid the pawn loss with
7 ... dS 8 ttJxe6 fxe6 9 ttJd2 0-0 10 0-0, as
indicated by Lukacs, when we reach a
position of dynamic imbal ance. Bl ack's
6 �b3 h6 light-squared control and pawn struc
Black has quite a few alternatives: ture h as been compromi sed, and White
a) What should White play ag ain st h as the bishop pair. But Black enjoys
6 ... 0-0? Hopefully 7 �g S ! should be an some central control and can seek ac
automatic reaction by now! Play i s tion down the open f-file. If pushed, I
similar to Tiviakov- El Taher (Game 10) think I prefer White because there's
and in fact a tran sposition is possible more scope for improvement in his po
after 7 ... �e6 8 ttJbd2 a6 9 h3 �a7 10 sition, and if Black releases the ten sion
ttJh 2 h 6 11 �h4. in the centre it i s likely to expose his
b) 6 ... �e6 can be m et by 7 0-0, 7 structural weaknesses. One possible
ttJbd2, 7 �C2 or even 7 �a4! ?, exploit continuation from here would be
ing the fact that there is no ... bS avail 10 ... Vie7 11 "iYe2 Wh 8 12 ttJf3 l:tad8 13
able for Bl ack. There's al so the possibil .lta4 .ltd6 14 .l:!.el.
ity of 7 ttJg S ! ?, c) 6 ... iLg4? ! , either here or in m any
other similar positions, is a m ove you
are likely to m eet quite often when fac
ing less experienced players.
One of the key advantages for
White i s that while iLg s i s nearly al
ways a concern for Black, ... iLg4 gener
ally causes White no problem s at all ; in
fact he positively welcomes the m ove !
Why i s thi s so?
1. With the c3 -pawn covering d4,
Bl ack is n ever in a position to increase
74
Italian Game : Modern Variation (Part / I)
the pressure on the pin with ... ttJd4. h4! h 5 (or 1 5 ... h 6 16 h 5 �h 7 17 g 5 1) 16
2. ttJbd2 reinforces the defence of ttJg 5 !
the f3-knight, but more importantly
White h as the basic plan (after h 2-h 3
and ... �h 5) of ttJfl-g 3 . Thi s forces Black
to either spend tim e safeguarding his
light-squared bishop or agree to an
undesirable exch ange. In effect, White
can use Black's bishop as a hook to g ain
momentum on the kin gside.
I noticed a number of Kasparov
games from simultaneous displays
with his opponents choosing 6 ... �g4.
They were all wins, with the longest 16 .. .'ilVe7 (16 ... hxg4 1 7 h 5 �h 7 1 8 h 6
game l asting just 34 moves ! i s very strong) 1 7 g xh 5 �h 7 1 8 1:[g l
..ti>h 8 19 ttJxh 7 ..ti>xh 7 20 'ii'g 4 'ii'f6 2 1
':'g 2 g 6 2 2 �xf7 ! and 1-0, A. Kofidis
S.Beshukov, Greece 199 5 . It's not easy
defendin g again st thi s type of attack,
whether you are an am ateur facing the
mighty Kasparov, or a grandmaster
with a rating of 2 500!
d) Finally, there's the solid option of
6 ... �b6.
Let's see how White shoul d proceed:

7 h3 �h 5 8 ttJbd2 0-0 9 'iVe2 d5 (passive
play i s likely to get crushed: 9 .. .'iIi'd7 10
g4! �g6 11 ttJf1 l:[fe8 12 ttJg 3 ttJe7 13
.1g 5 h6 14 �xf6 g xf6 15 0-0-0 l':ted8 16
ttJh4 �h 7 17 ttJh 5 'iVc6 18 ttJxf6+ �8
19 ttJxh 7+ 'iit g 7 20 g 5 'iit xh 7 2 1 'iVh 5
ttJg 8 2 2 'ii'xf7+ 'iith 8 2 3 ttJg6 m ate,
G.Kasparov-B.Guillot, Besancon 1999)
10 ttJfl dxe4 1 1 dxe4 �g6 (if 1 1 ... h 6, 12 Thi s is typical prophyl axis against
ttJg 3 �g6 1 3 ttJh4 gains m ore time) 1 2 d3-d4 and i s usually combined with the
ttJ g 3 ttJh 5 1 3 ttJxh 5 �xh 5 14 g4 �g6 1 5 m anoeuvre ... ttJe7-g 6. Compared to the
75
Beating 1 e4 e5
... a6 and ... i.. a 7 plan, Bl ack is saving a hold back with thi s any longer, espe
tempo. What's more, if White castl es, cially if White is pl anning on delaying
pl ays i.. e 3 and exchanges bishops, castling in favour of liJfl-g 3 etc.
Black i s happier to recapture with the On the other hand, it's worth re
a-pawn rather than having to play membering that in nearly all cases
... .l:.xa7. White can revert back to the Cl assical
The 'only' problem for Black i s that Main Line by castling at any stage. If,
on b6, the bishop cannot escape cap for example, White plays 7 0-0 here or
ture if White pl ays liJd2-C4. It therefore on the next move, Black might be
makes sen se for White to choose thi s 'tricked' into a line where he i s commit
plan, and this gives h i m good chances ted to ... h6; a perfectly respectable line,
of gaining an edge. For example, 7 but not necessarily one he would have
liJbd2 ! liJe7 (7 ... 0-0 i s al so met by 8 chosen h ad White castled earlier. For
liJc4) 8 liJc4 liJg6 9 0-0 0-0 10 h 3 h 6 1 1 example, here 7 ... 0-0 8 liJbd2 a6 9 ':'el
l:t e l i.. e 6 12 d 4 i.. x c4 (12 .. .l::t e 8 1 3 ds ! ? i.. a 7 10 h3 would tran spose to G ames
i.. d 7 1 4 a4 - Kramnik - i s a line which 18 and 21. Moreover, the m ove order
demon strates why White isn't always chosen here mean s that White even
in a rush to trade on b6) 13 i.. x c4 exd4 h as the option of playing 10 liJfl and
14 cxd4 liJxe4 (or 14 ... ds 1 5 exds liJxds delaying h 3 - 10 ... liJg4 achieves noth
16 i.. d 2 c6 17 'iVb3 "ifd7 18 a4 with an ing after 11 d4! . See al so Bron stein
edge - Kramnik) 15 i.. d s liJf6 16 i.. x b7 Ivkov (G am e 28), where Bl ack delays
l:tb8 17 i.. c 6 and again White is slightly ... i.. a 7.
better, D.Bojkov- K.Haznedaroglu, Is 7 ... 0-0 8 h 3 liJ h S I ?
tanbul 2001.
Aiming for ... liJf4 and ... "iff6, which

7 liJbd 2 i s one of Bl ack's m ain plan s in the Cl as
Now th at Bl ack h as pl ayed ... h 6 to sical Main Line (see Game 18).
rule out i.. g s, there's no real need to 8 ... i.. e 6 is, as usual, a solid option
76
for Black. If White wants to avoid cas placed, albeit at a cost of weakening
tling, transposing to the Classical Main the king side. White can play i.e3, swap
line, he can try one of the followin g : off bishops and then aim for li'le3-
a } I f 9 li'lfl ds 1 0 'iie 2 Black can try ds/g4 or li'lh4.
to utilize the tempi g ained avoidin g 9 •.. i.b6 10 li'lC4
... a6 and ... i.a7: 10 ... li'las ! ? (or 10 ... as ! ?) Eren burg suggests 10 0-0 here. If
11 i.xds ! (White h as to improvise, Bl ack plays 10 .. :iVf6, 11 li'lC4! would
since the autopilot respon se 1 1 i.C2 ? transpose to the g ame. I think 10 ... li'lf6 !
allows 1 1 ... dxe4 1 2 dxe4 i.C4! which i s i s stronger, and the position looks
embarrassing) 1 1 ... i.xds 1 2 exds li'lxds equal to me.
13 li'lg 3 li'lf4 ! ? 14 i.xf4 exf4 1 5 li'le4 l:te8
16 b4 i.b6 1 7 bxas i.xas 18 0-0 fs 19
'ii'c 2 fxe4 20 dxe4 i.b6 2 1 Iladl "fiIe7 22
es J:[ad8 2 3 "ife4 J:[xdl 24 l:.xdl 'iVcs 25
'ii'g 6 iVxf2+?? 2 6 'iith l and Black re
signed in I . N epomniachtchi-E.5utovsky
Netanya (rapid) 2009, in view of
26 ... .l:tf8 2 7 .l:td7 'iif l+ 2 8 c;;t>h 2 with
mate on g 7 . A win for White, but over
all thi s line looks quite unclear.
b} 9 i.c2 ds 10 "ife2 and now:
bl} 10 ... d4 1 1 li'lfl as 12 g4 a4 13 10 "fiIf6
•••
tiJg 3 with complex play. Black can, and probably should, play
b2} 10 .. Jle8 11 li'lf1 "ifd7 12 tiJg 3 10 ... exd4 11 tiJxb6 axb6 12 tiJxd4 (12
b s ! ? and White should play 1 3 0-0 dxe4 cxd4 li'lf6 leaves White struggling to
14 tiJxe4 tiJxe4 15 "fiIxe4 with a roughly defend e4 properly) 12 ... li'lf6 1 3 f3, as
equal position , since the typical 13 indicated by Erenburg . Here 13 ... ds
tiJh4?! allows a tactical trick with should equalize.
13 ... dxe4 14 dxe4 i.C4 15 "iff3 li'lb4! . 11 li'lxb6 axb6 12 0-0 tiJf4 1 3 'iit h 2
9 d41? Superficially it looks like Bl ack is do
White exploits tactics involving the ing pretty well. It seem s that with the
unprotected knight on h s (9 ... exd4 10 knight on f4 and the queen on f6 he
cxd4 li'lxd4 11 li'lxd4 i.xd4 12 'iVxh s) enjoys some pressure on the king side.
but thi s advance in the centre i s quite Black's position certainly isn't bad, but
committal . perh aps a key point is that there are
Another option worth con sidering more opportunities for improvement
was 9 li'lfl iVf6 10 g 3 ! ?, preventing in White's (for example, i.e3, tiJg l, g 2 -
...tiJf4 and leaving the knight poorly g 3 and eventually f2-f4) and there's the
77
Beating 1 e4 e5
long-term advantage of the bishop 'iVg 6+ 19 'it'f2 �xh 3 20 tiJxh 3 .l:i.xh 3 21

pair. Perhaps realizing this, Kreizberg 'it'e2 etc.
chooses to go for an adventurous at
tack on White's king, but it proves to be
over-ambitious. Erenburg's preci se play
demonstrates both the resilience and
potential in White's position.
17 �xf4!
I can only think that Black forgot
thi s m ove was possible because White
h ad avoided it for so lon g .
17 .. JiVxf4+ 18 g3 "iVg4
1 3 ... .l:i.a S ! ? 14 �e3 exd4 The only other m ove to protect the
Committal, but con sistent with rook was 18 ... 'iig 5, but 19 f4 'iig 6 20 f5
Black's previous move. iVg 5 2 1 'Yi"f3 intending .i.dl is crushing.
1S cxd4 .l:i.hS 19 "iVxg4 �xg4 20 f4! �c8 2 1 fS !
There was still time to change tack
with 15 ... .l:i.e8 (Erenburg), but Black
wasn't going to back down .
16 tiJg1!
Bl ack was threatening the deadly
16 ... �xh 3 . Now 'Yi"f3 becomes an im
portant resource for White in some
lines.
16 ...tiJe7?
Thi s m eets with a rather simple
refutation .
Rybka wants to play 16 ... .l:i.h4 in I bet by now the rook was wishing it
tending to an swer 1 7 g3 with 17 ... �g4. was back on the sleepy a8-square !
However, Bl ack's attack h as a desperate 2 1 ... d S 2 2 �d1 1-0
look to it after 17 f3 : for example, If 22 ... :g 5 , 23 h4 puts the rook out
17 ... .l:i.h 5 18 iVd2, or 17 ... tiJxg 2 18 'it'xg 2 of its misery.
78
Key Notes 4 . Executing th e ltJbd2-fl-g 3 ma

noeuvre without a preparatory h 2-h 3
1. 7 ltJbd2 0-0 8 ltJC4 i s a tricky al carries some risk, as Black always has
ternative to the m ain line, especially the possibility of meeting ltJfl with
since Bl ack seems to get into diffi cul ... ltJg4 attackin g the f2-pawn. However,
ties after 8 ... d6 (Gam e 11), which i s his as the notes to Games 11 and 16 dem
most n atural reaction . 8 ... dS (Game 12) on strate, White can sometimes an swer
looks like a wi ser choice. ... ltJg4 by playing d3-d4. lf you think the
2. The i.. g s pin can be a very power resulting complication s favour White,
ful weapon when the circum stances it might be worth tempting Black with
are favourable, for example in Games thi s option .
11 and is. The pin i s not quite so effec s . If Bl ack di spen ses with the
tive if Black still h as the option of ... a6/ ... i.. a 7 plan and in stead chooses
... i..c s-e7. The notes to Game 14 show ... i..b 6, the most natural reaction by
that Bl ack should be willing to break White i s to force a knight-for-bishop
the pin in thi s way, even though it's at exchange with ltJbd2-C4 (see Game 17,
a cost of a tempo. note on 6 ... i..b 6).
3 . If Black aim s for a very quick ... dS, 6. Less experienced players are often
usually White should exchan g e pawn s attracted by an early ... i.. g 4 pin . This
and execute Pl an B (see Game 14 and move causes White no problem s at all
some notes in G am e i s ) . Remember and he should be happy to face it (see
that S ... dS? is too early and is an swered Game 17, note on 6 ... i.. g 4).
by 6 exds ltJxdS 7 'iVh 3 ! .
79
C h a pt e r T h r e e
Italian Game:
Classical Main Line
In thi s ch apter we'll con sider lines 1 e 4 e 5 2 ttJf3 ttJc6 3 .i.C4 .i. C 5 4 c3 ttJf6
where White castles early and develops 5 d 3 a6 6 0-0 d6 7 .i.b3 .i.a7
in a more tradition al styl e. I was
tempted to call it 'the old m ain line'
because thi s i s how White played when
th e Italian Game with c3 and d3 first
cam e to prominence back in the 1980s.
But despite a growing threat from the
modern lines di scussed in the previous
two ch apters, it rem ain s sufficiently
popul ar today not to be labelled with
'old'.
Simply put, White's prim ary pl an
after castling is to play l:.e1, h 3 , ttJbd2- Of course there are various oth er
f1-g 3 and th en, after all the necessary move orders here. For, example 6 .i.b3
preparation, advan ce with d3-d4. Of .i.a7 7 0-0 d6, or 6 0-0 .i.a7 7 .i.b3 d6.
course there are lines where Bl ack cuts Basically, White pl ays i.b3 fairly early
across thi s idea and White has to on for the usual reason- to avoid the
change course, but generally speaking possibility of ... ttJas forcing its ex
thi s i s what he wants to do. ch ange.
S .l:te1
Let's take a brief look at the opening 8 ttJbd2 h as actually been White's
moves : most popular choice in practice, but I
80
Italian Game: Clas si cal Main Line
prefer 8 l:tel. In m any cases the two advance with d3 -d4 before the knight
moves reach the same position, but 8 m anoeuvre. Black would continue to
.l:r.el offers White more possibilities in put pressure on the centre with m oves
some of the key lines and al so cuts out like ... l:te8, and it would be difficult for
one or two option s for Bl ack. More to White to develop his queen side pieces
the point, it's useful for White to main and protect both e4 and d4 at the same
tain the possibility of ii.g s for as long time. Furthermore, releasing the ten
as possible. sion in the centre with dxe 5 or d5 nor
8 0-0 9 h3
... m ally only eases Black's position .
Thi s i s a key m ove. If White pl ays 9 The resulting position s after 9 h 3
tLlbd2 ? ! Bl ack can seize the initiative are covered i n the first five games of
with 9 ... tLlg4! 10 �e2 �h 8 ! and there's the chapter. Th ere are three m ain op
no stopping .. .f5. Practice h as shown tion s for Bl ack here:
that after 11 h3 lDh 6 12 lDfl f5 ! 1 3 1. H e can execute the plan of ... lDh 5,
i.xh 6 g x h 6 Black's activity and open ... 'iVf6 and ... lDf4. Thi s i s covered in
lines more than compen sate for the Frois-Korneev (Game 18).
structural damage to his kin g side, and 2 . He can play ... �e6, with or with
this i s a variation White needs to avoid out ... h 6 first. This approach i s covered
at all costs. in Games 19-21.
3 . H e can play 9 ... lDe7 followed by
... lDg6 (see Felg aer- Hector, G ame 2 2 ) .
The final s i x g ames o f this chapter

deal with earlier options for both play
ers and al so some move-order issues.
Warakom ski-Bartel (Game 23), for ex
ample, shows how White can come
un stuck if he doesn't pay enough at
tention to these intricacies.
White's chief alternative to the
The position after 9 h3 i s a tabiya m ain line i s to choose a plan involving
for the Classical Main Line. It has pro �e3 (seejollowing diagram).
vided the battleground for hundreds of Thi s approach has been a favourite
grandmaster g ames. As m entioned of Tiviakov's. Objectively Black should
above, next on the agenda for White is be okay but it's not particul arly easy to
ttJbd2-fl-g 3, and only then will he be meet for the un suspecting. It even
gin to think about pushing with d3 -d4. caused Anand problems when he faced
I n most circum stances it's a mi stake to it (see G ames 24-25).
81
Beating 1 e4 e 5
If Bl ack plays 7 ... 0-0 in stead of 9 ... h 6 i s a necessary precursor t o the

7 ... i.. a 7, White has the interesting if pl an, because the immediate 9 ... lLlh 5 is
doubl e-edged possibility of 8 i.. g 5 , met convincingly by 10 i.. g 5 ! forcing an
which i s covered i n Tiviakov-Pavasovic awkward queen move. After 10 .. :i¥e8, if
(Game 26). After that we con sider nothing el se there's 11 d4 (11 lLlh 2 ! ?)
7 ... i.. g 4 in Kinderm ann-Dietmayer 11...h6 12 i.. e 3 and White coul d end up
Kraeut1er (Gam e 27), and fin ally lines a tempo ahead of the m ain lines:
without ... a6 in Bron stein-Ivkov (Game 12 ... 'i¥e7 1 3 lLlbd2 'iVf6 14 lLlfl lLlf4 15
28). Note that 5 ... 0-0 6 0-0 has already lLlg 3 etc.
been covered in the notes to Nun Thi s demonstrates one of the ad
Spesny (Game 15). vantages of playing 8 .l:tel in stead of 8
Without further ado, let's move on lLlbd2 - the immediate 9 lLlh 5 i s a m a
...
to the g ames: jor possibility for Black after 8 lLlbd2

0-0 9 h 3 .
1 0 lLlbd2 lLl h S 1 1 lLlf1
Game 1 8 Note th at 11 lLlxe 5 ? ? is a blunder
A.Frois-O.Korneev because of 11...lLlxe 5 12 1Wxh 5 lLlxd3 or,
Ma laga 2005 even worse, 11...'ifh4 ! .
11 .. :ikf6 12 i.. e 3 !
1 e4 e s 2 lLlf3 lLlc6 3 i.. C 4 i.. c S 4 c3 lLlf6 12 lLle3 i s al so possible, but the feel
S d3 a6 6 0-0 d6 7 i.. b 3 i.. a 7 8 :e1 0-0 9 ing i s that White's best chance of find
h3 h6 ing an advantage lies with thi s offer to
Black plan s aggressive action on the trade the dark-squared bishops. How
king side with ... lLlh 5, .. :ikf6 and ... lLlf4. ever, it should be pointed out that
Thi s i s an appealing option and it's no White's isn't always going to force the
surpri se th at it h as been Black's most exchange of these bishops. Indeed, if
popular choice over the years. Black avoids exchanging on e3, which
82
he tends to do in practice, White will equal) 17 tiJg l ! . Thi s knight retreat i s

often play d3-d4. In thi s case, as we've o n e point o f 1 4 'it>h 2; indeed it's a typi
seen before, a significant part of cal plan for White. The idea i s to kick
White's strategy is to block the a7- the knight back with g3 and slowly
bishop out of the action . What's m ore, m ake progress on the king side:
all the tim e White has the option to 17 ...�ad8 18 g3 tiJfg 6 (now thi s knight
exch ange bishops with dxe s followed i s a poor piece, restricted by the pawn
by �xa7, whereas Black doesn't. Thi s on g 3 ) 19 l:tfl ds 20 'iWe2 tiJc6 21 tiJg 2
tension i n the centre undoubtedly fa lif7 2 2 h4 �df8 2 3 �adl tiJge7
vours White. (A. Karpov-A.Yusupov, Bugojno 1986)
and here 24 f4! (Karpov) would h ave
m aintained an edge for White.
a2) 13 fxe 3 ! ? is perhaps more ch al
lenging.
1 2 .t'hf4
••
Occupying f4 straight away looks

attractive, and thi s is Black's most
popul ar choice here. However, worthy
alternatives do exist: Black can no longer carry out his
a) 12 ... il.xe3 i s committal but it does ... tiJf4 plan and needs to regroup, while
at least cl arify the position to some White will begin action on the kin g
extent. If Black wants to exch ange on side: 1 3 ... 'i¥e7 (to give the knight a
e3, now i s probably the time to do so; square) 14 g4 tiJf6 1 5 tiJg 3 il.e6 16 d4
after ... tiJf4, any exch ange on e 3 only (I'd be tempted to hold the centre and
encourages fxe 3 to force the knight to continue with 16 .:ttl ! ?, intending
retreat. White can recapture in either 16 ... ds 17 exds tiJxds 18 'iVe2) 16 ... il.d7 !
way: 1 7 'iVe2 tiJh 7 18 'iVg 2 'it>h 8 19 �tl with
al) 13 tiJxe3 tiJf4 14 'it?h 2 (14 tiJds an unclear position, O.5vetushkin
lLlxds 1 5 exds tiJe7 16 d4 tiJg6 i s equal) CMarcelin, Yerevan 1999. White i s the
14 ... tiJe7 1 5 a4 il.e6 16 �xe6 fxe6 ? ! (af more active but Black's position i s solid
ter 16 ... tiJxe 6 ! - Karpov - the position i s enough.
83
Beating 1 e4 e5
b) 12 ... ltJe7 (providing reinforce lS ... dS ! 19 dxe s 'ii'g s (Rybka wants to

ments for the king side) 13 d4 (13 �xa7 play 19 .. .llxes ! 20 �xa7 l:[xa7 2 1 'ifd4
J:txa7 14 ltJe3 ltJf4 15 'it>h 2 :taS trans b6 22 ii'xb6 l:tb7 2 3 Vxa6 llbS 24 ii'a4
poses to note 'al', above) 1 3 ... ltJf4 l:txb2 with counterplay) 20 ltJg 3 ! h4? 21
(13 ... ltJg 6? fail s to the tactic 14 ltJxe s ! ltJf3 "iWh 6 2 2 ltJfs (White i s already win
dxes 1 5 'iixh s, since l s . . . exd4 16 cxd4 ning here, but according to the data
�xd4? loses to 17 �xd4 'ifxd4 lS base there now came ... ) 2 2 ... 'ii'g S ? ? 23
'ii'x g6) 14 ltJg 3 ltJeg 6 15 �C2 ! . ltJxg s and 1-0, Hou Vifan-W.spoelman,
Wijk aan Zee 2007.
c) 12 ... �e6 1 3 �c2 coul d easily
reach position s similar to those in note
'b' where White voluntarily plays �c2.
For example, 13 ... ltJf4 14 d4 ltJe7 15
ltJg 3 g s ! ? (lS ... ltJeg 6 is met by 16 ltJfS,
and l s ... g 6 by 16 ltJh 2 h s 17 Vd2) 16
ltJh 2 ! :fdS (A.Ol sson - K.On g , Gothen
burg 2005) and here 17 ltJfS ! i s a good
m ove, because 17 ... ltJxfs i s m et by the
strong zwischenzug lS ltJg4 ! . Earlier, 13
The deci sion t o retreat the bishop �xa7 .l:!.xa7 14 ltJe3 ltJf4 15 ltJds and 13
looks strange at first sight (how m any d4 �xb3 14 axb3 are al so possible.
times h ave I said that?), but it's actually 13 ltJg3
a strong move. Th e key idea for White 13 d4 is a good altern ative. Bl ack
(see note 'b2') is to interfere with usually m eets it with 1 3 ... ltJe7 which
Bl ack's king side action by playing ltJfs : tran sposes to 1 2 ... ltJe7, above.
bl) l s ... ltJh4 16 ltJxh4 'ii'x h4 17 'iif3
g6 lS l:tadl �g 7 19 �b3 'iff6 20 �h 2
l:teS 2 1 l:td2 �e6 2 2 �xe6 (finally the
tim e i s right to release the ten sion)
2 2 .. J::t x e6 2 3 dxe s dxes 24 l:td7 �b6 2 5
Itedl and White's control of the d-file
g ave him the edge in L.Dominguez
Perez-V. Quezada Perez, H avana 200S.
b2) ls ... c6 16 ltJfs J:eS 17 ltJh 2 ! ? h s
l S �h l (planning g 3 ; returning with
lS ltJf3 ! ? now that g s has been weak
ened m ay be stronger, and thi s posi After 1 3 ltJg 3, initially there appears
tion looks a bit better for White) to be no danger at all for Bl ack, but
84
watch out for some hidden traps lurk spon se: 14 ..ixf4! exf4 15 lLlh s 'ii'g 6 16
ing in thi s position ! lLlxf4 'tWg 3 17 'tWd2 ..ixf2+ 18 'iWxf2
13 ... g6 'iWxf4. Black h as regained his pawn, but
Not the first idea you would think after 19 e s ! White stands better.
of, but thi s pawn m ove i s almost a ne Perhaps the most important alter
cessity! n ative for Black is 13 ... g s ! ?, further sup
The first thing to note i s that an in porting the strong knight and thus
nocent move such as 1 3 ... ..ie6 can be eliminating any tricks. Bl ack will hope
m et by 14 ..ixf4! (14 d4 i s also good), to organize some action on the king
when 14 ... 'iWxf4?? 15 lLlh s, trapping the side, but 1 3 ... g s does saddle him with
queen in mid-board, i s easy to miss. light-squared weaknesses which White
(This expl ain s the reasoning behind can justifiably expect to exploit after
13 ... g 6.) the logical respon se 14 lLlh 2 ! .
14 ... exf4? i s al so a mi stake, losing a White's long-term goal s are t o oc

pawn after 1 5 lLlh s 'iVe7 (or l s ... 'ilVg 6 16 cupy the 'real outpost' on fs and to
lDxf4 ..ixb3 17 'tWd2 ! 'iVg 3 18 d4) 16 force the f4-knight from its 'pseudo
lDxf4. The well -known Spanish grand outpost' with a timely g2-g3 advance.
master Vallejo Pon s once fell for this, For example, 14 ... 'iWg 6 1 5 d4 <bh 8 16
albeit in a blindfold game. ..ic2 lLle7 (or 16 .. .f6 17 lLlfs ! ..txfs 18
Actually, Black can escape real h arm exfs 'ilVh s 19 lLlg4! �g 7 20 ..ib3 lLlas?
with 14 ... ..ixb 3 ! 15 axb3 exf4 intending 2 1 dxe s ! fxes, D.5vetushkin-K.Pilgaard,
16 lLlh s 'iVg 6 17 lLlxf4 'ilVg 3 18 'ilVd2 Ubeda 1999, and here 22 ..ic2 intend
i.xf2+ 19 'ilixf2 'ili'xf4. But 16 lLlfl ! fol ing ..ixf4, 'iWd3 and f6+ looks precarious
lowed by d3-d4 allows White to achieve for Black) 17 'ilVf3 f6 18 �h l ..id7 19
his positional goal of blocking out the .:tadl ..ic6 20 l:.d2 'ilVh 7 (Black is in no
a7-bishop, with some advantage. position to pl ay 20 .. .fs ? - after 2 1 dxes
13 ... lLle7 i s met by a similar re- dxes 2 2 ..ixa7 ':xa7 2 3 'ilie3 ! J:.aa8 24
85
Beating 1 e4 e5
ttJf3 it's difficult for him to hold his po An innocent-looking move like
sition together) 21 b4 ttJeg 6 22 ttJf5 14 ... �d7? allows White to carry out his
ttJe7 2 3 ttJxe7 'it'xe7 24 ttJfl ! (one knight threat: 15 �xf4! 'ili'xf4 (if 15 ... exf4, 16
replaces the other) 24 ... �d7 25 ttJg 3 e 5 ! followed by ttJe4 is strong - thi s is a
'iVh 7 2 6 ttJf5 :g8 (V.5ikul a- B.Marzolf, reoccurring theme) 16 ttJf5 ! ! .
Metz 2007) and here 2 7 �b3 l:[g6 2 8 g 3
ttJxh 3 29 'iig 4 is complicated but might
simply be good for White: 29 ... ttJf4 30
dxe 5 ! hS 3 1 'iid l iLxe3 3 2 fxe3 ! ttJh 3 33
exd6 h4 34 g4! etc.
14 d41
A bolt from the blue. Black was

probably feeling very comfortable, but
now his queen i s trapped in mid-board!
16 ... �xf5 (16 ... g xf5 is m et in the same
way) 17 g 3 ! 'iix e4 18 :xe4 �xe4 19
'iie 2 with a clear advantage for White,
This move, blocking out the a7- G.Todorovic-M. Pavlovic, Belgrade 2009.
bishop, seem s to give Black the most The g am e ended 19 ... �xf3 20 'iixf3
problems, certainly at least in practice. exd4 2 1 'iff6 �h 7 2 2 :el :g 8 2 3 �g2
14 ttJh 2 pl anning 'ii'f3 and/or ttJg4 is dXc3 24 bxc3 ttJe 5 25 f4 ttJd7 2 6 'ife7
a decent alternative, but White should ttJC5 27 f5 and 1-0.
certainly avoid 14 iLxa7 ? ! l:txa7 when 14 ... l:te8? m eets the same fate: 15
there is no way to dislodge the f4- �xf4! 'it'xf4 (or 1 5 ... exf4 16 e 5 ! ) 16 ttJf5 !
knight for the foreseeable future. As a �xf5 17 g 3 'ifxe4 18 l:[xe4 �xe4 19
rule of thumb, if White quickly ex ttJd2 �f5 20 g4! �d7 21 'it'f3 (Lukacs)
chan g es on a7, the knight should go to and again White is clearly better. N ote
e3 rather than g 3 . that the trap only works once White
By pl aying 1 4 d4, White introduces h as played d4; without thi s Black could
another positional threat which isn't take the pawn on g 3 exploiting the pin
immediately apparent. Can you spot on the f-pawn .
what it is? There are a couple of moves Black
14 ... ttJas?1 can play to avoid the trick, and these
86
represent his best option s : note th at 15 ..txf4 �xf4 16 tDf5 g xf5 17

a ) 14 ...tD e 7 ( s o that Black can m eet g 3 no longer works - Black has sneakily
15 .i.xf4 'ii'xf4 16 tDf5 with 16 ... tDxf5 ! , vacated the h6-square ! ) 15 ... a5
but with ... tDeg 6 no longer a n option, ( 1 5 ... �g7 can be m et by 16 �d2 ! and
it's not clear whether e7 i s such a good again 16 ... tDxh 3+? fails to 1 7 gxh 3 �xf3
square for thi s knight) 15 tDh 2 ( 1 5 18 .i.h 6+ Wg 8 19 �g 5 ! ) 16 .i.C4 tDe7 1 7
'it>h l ! ?) 1 5 ... h 5 and now: tDh 2 .i. e 6 18 .i.xe6 (thi s looks m ore
al) 16 ft'f3 �g 7 1 7 l:.adl l:th 8 challenging to me th an 18 .i.a2 .i.xa2
(17 ... tDc6 ! ?) 18 tDe2 ! g 5 ! (if 18 ... tDxe2+ 19 .l:[xa2 c5, which l eft White's a2-rook
19 �xe2 followed by tDf3, when the g 5 - slightly misplaced in A. Delchev
square i s inviting) 19 dxe 5 dxe 5 was Z.Alm asi, Sibenik 2006) 18 ... tDxe6 (or
D.Howell-Uoh annessen, Oslo 2008, 18 .. .fxe6 19 dxe 5 dxe 5 20 .i.xa7 ':'xa7
and here 20 tDxf4 g xf4 21 .i.xa7 l:txa7 21 tDe2 ! tDc6 22 tDxf4 intending
22 'ii'd 3 tDg 6 23 tDf3 tDh4 24 l:.d2 looks 2 2 ... exf4 2 3 e5 tDxe5 24 �d4 tDc6 25
unclear. 'iYC4 .l:1e8 2 6 l:.e4) 19 tDf3 and the ten
a2) 16 'ii'd 2 ! ? is a promising altern a sion in the centre still favours White.
tive to 16 'iVf3 . If Bl ack carries on with
16 ... �g7, White can play 17 tDf3 ! in
creasing the pressure on e 5 and f4.
If 19 ... tDf4 20 'ii'd 2 ! tDxh 3 + 21 g xh 3

'iYxf3 2 2 .i.g 5 f6 2 3 .l:r.e3 ! and Black's
queen i s trapped.
The point is that 17 ... tDxh 3+? fails 15 .i.e2 !?
here, to 18 g xh 3 ft'xf3 19 .i.dl ! 'ii'f6 20 Even here White can pl ay 1 5 .i.xf4!,
.ig 5 ! 'ii'e 6 2 1 .ib3 �xh 3 2 2 .i.h 6+ �g 8 although in thi s in stance the trick
23 'ii'g 5 ! . doesn 't lead to quite such an over
b ) 1 4...h 5 ! i s perhaps Black's best whelmingly favourable outcome:
move, and in all likelihood thi s limits 1 5 ... �xf4 (15 ... exf4 i s once again m et
White to a small edge: 15 a4 (planning by 16 e 5 ! ) 16 tDf5 ! gxf5 17 g 3 'ii'x e4 18
to gain space on the queenside with as; l:txe4 fxe4 19 tDd2 with some advan -
87
Beating 1 e4 e5
tage for White, as indicated by Lukacs. winning for White, who g ains the
Frois decides th at the threat is queen in return for only two minor
stronger th an the execution, and the pieces. Korneev battles on g amely but
evidence from thi s g ame suggests he's the result was never seriously in doubt
right! from thi s moment.
1 5 ...ltJe4 16 i.e1
19 ...i.xf5 20 g3 'it'xf3 21 'iVxf3 i.d7 22

True, White h as been forced back dxe5 dxe 5 23 litad1 i.e6 24 .:td6 .:tae8
wards temporarily, but Black's knight 25 .:ted 1 i.b8 26 :6d2 ltJe6 27 c;tg2
on c4 i s on a poor circuit - it l acks pro c;tg7 2 8 i.d3 b 5 29 i.e2 b4 30 'iWe3 ':'e8
tection and will soon be forced to re 31 exb4 exb4 32 i.. d 3 i.n 33 'it'e1 ltJd4
treat. 34 i.xa 6 :e3 3 5 l:td 3 :e2 36 ':ld2 ':'e7
16 ... e 5 ? ! 37 l:.b2 l:.b8 38 .:td1 ':'e3 39 %:te1 ltJf3 40
It becomes clear after thi s move 'it'd 1 ltJg5 41 h4 ltJxe4 42 i.e4 .l:.e8 43
that Korneev was compl etely oblivious ':'xe3 bxe3 44 .:te2 i.xe4 45 bxe4 ltJd2
to White's idea. That m akes it at the 46 J:ixe 5 ':xe4 47 'iVe2 i.d4 48 :d 5 i.f6
minimum two experienced grandm as 49 I1d7 l:.b4 50 'ii'd 3 ltJe4 5 1 ':e7 ltJb6
ters that h ave fallen for White's cleverly 52 'ii'd 6 l:tb5 53 'iWe6 1-0
concealed trick.
16 ... h S ! gives the queen the h6- It would be an understatement to
square ( compare 14 ... h S ) and keeps say th at the following encounter i sn 't a
Bl ack in the g ame. White m aintains g ood advert for the Italian G ame, but
some advantage with 1 7 a4. the reason for its inclusion is to provide
1 7 b3 ltJa 5 18 i.. xf4! 'it'xf4? a stark warning. Even though there's a
G ood or bad ( and it is probably bad) , 'system' feel to thi s opening, White
Black h ad to allow 18 ... exf4 19 e s ! . certainly cannot get away with pl aying
19 ltJf5 ! on auto-pilot. A pl an which works well
Thi s version of the trap i s simply in a certain type of position might
88
backfire in those which contain seem as thi s just gives Black an open f-file
ingly insignificant differences. In thi s and m ore control of the centre.
game, it b ackfires quite spectacul arly! 10 ..te2
Thi s i s definitely the m ost challen g
ing m ove.
Game 19 Players who enjoy quiet positions
D.Svetushkin-S.Haslinger m ay want to choose 10 lDbd2, but ac
Pa l m a de Ma l lorca 2008 curate play by Black in practice has
shown thi s to be fairly h armless. Let's
1 e4 e 5 2 lDf3 lDe6 3 ..te4 ..te5 4 e 3 lDf6 follow the g am e E.Bacrot-L.Aroni an,
5 d3 a6 6 0-0 ..ta7 7 lIel 0-0 8 h 3 d6 9 Mainz (rapid) 2007: 10 ... ..txb3 1 1 'ii'xb3
.ib3 ..te6 lir.b8 (the immediate 1 1 ... 'iVd7 i s al so
good, since 12 'ii'x b7 ? ? loses to the
queen to 12 ... .:fb8) 12 lDfl 'ii'd 7 ! 1 3
lDg 3 lUe8 1 4 ..t d 2 (White can reroute
the queen to avoid an exch ange with
14 lDh 2 'iVe6 lS 'ii'd l, but lS ... dS 16 'iff3
dxe4 1 7 dxe4 lDe7 1 8 ..tg s lDd7 19
':adl f6 20 ..tCl lDf8 2 1 b3 ':bd8 2 2
lD g 4 <iith 8, a s pl ayed in Z.Andriasian
B.5ocko, Kallithea 2008, is objectively
equal) 14 ... h6 lS .l:tadl 'ti'e6 ! and Bl ack
h as equalized.
Thi s bishop move needs no intro
duction, as we've already seen it m any
times in similar positions. Korchnoi
chose ... ..te6 again st Karpov back in
1981 (with lDbd2 pl ayed in stead of
J:!.el), and more recently it h as been
favoured by grandm asters such as
Levon Aroni an and Vishy An and. Suf
fice to say, it's reg arded as a reli able
choice for Bl ack.
Now White must m ake th at typical
deci sion again : does he allow an ex As usual , bringing the queen to e6
ch ange on b3 if Black wants it, or re to contest the light squares is an excel
treat the bishop to c2? Remember that lent idea after the exchange of bishops.
White needs to avoid 10 ..txe6? ! fxe6, There's al so 11 axb3 to con sider.
89
Beating 1 e4 e5
Once again 11 ... dS i s the most logical There's no need for Bl ack t o hold
equalizing try, although Black can al so back. If he does, White shoul d most
choose 11...ltJd7 aiming for .. .fS. For certainly push with d3-d4. For example,
example, 12 ltJfl (or 12 ltJC4 fS 13 exfs 10 ... ltJe7 11 d4 ltJg6 12 .i.e3 h 6 13
':'xfS 14 .i.e3) 12 .. .fS 13 exfs ':xfS 14 ltJbd2 with an edge. Note th at if Black
ltJg 3 .l:tf8 15 :a4 ltJf6 16 ltJe4 'iVd7 1 7 plays 1 3 ... ltJh S ? here, White can win a
ltJxf6+ ':xf6 18 : g 4 l:taf8 19 ..t e 3 .i.xe3 pawn with 14 d S ! .i.xe3 1 5 l:[xe3 .i.d7
20 .l:r.xe3 with a roughly equal position, 16 ltJxe s ! .
Z.Efimenko-A Bezgodov, Sochi 2006. 1 0. . .h 6 11 ltJbd2 tran sposes to
Returning to 11 axb3 dS, I wonder Areshchenko-Aleksandrov (Gam e 2 1),
what the likes of Efimenko would have but 11 d4 threatening dS might be
planned against this. One possibility is more promlsmg. Kaidanov gives
12 ltJh 2 preparing 'iVf3 and ltJdfl-g 3, 11...exd4 12 cxd4 ltJb4 13 dS ltJxc2 14
but then 12 ... dxe4 13 dxe4 'ili'd3 ! is an 'ili'xC2 .i.d7 15 ltJC3 ltJh s 16 .i.e3 ..txe3
noying. Perhaps it's simply 12 'iVe2, 17 J:[xe3 'iVf6 with a slight advantage
which did give White a tiny bit of pres for White, and I agree with his assess
sure after 12 ... dxe4 (12 ... 'iVd7 ! ?) 13 dxe4 m ent.
ltJh s 14 ltJC4 'iVf6 15 ..te3 .i.xe3 16 'iVxe3 l1 ltJbd 2 ? !
ltJf4 (16 ....l:r.fd8 ! ?) 17 g 3 ! ltJe6 (17 ...ltJxh 3+ In m any respects the m ost n atural
18 �g 2 traps the knight) 18 ltJas in looking m ove, but thi s i s a mistake !
M.Klinova-M.Ferguson, Port Erin 2007. White should play 1 1 exd s ! , which
To sum up, 10 ltJbd2 isn't a m ove to i s covered in the next g ame.
really ch allenge Bl ack theoretically, but 11 •.. dxe4I l2 dxe4 ltJ h s !
it might appeal to those who are confi
dent of outpl aying opponents in quiet
positions.
lo ... d S
Thi s i s t h e point. Black return s to

the obvious and enticing plan of ... 'iVf6
and ... ltJf4, as seen in the previous
g ame. But thi s version is so much m ore
90
favourable for Black because he i s bet There's no need to settle for the f6-
ter developed and, just as importantly, square when h4 i s available. Black al
White no longer h as the option of shut ready h as the advantage.
ting out the dark-squared bishop with 14 'ili'f3 g6!
the d3-d4 advance. Compare al so Gon Pl anning to seize the initiative with
zalez Vidal -Gomez (Game 3), where .. .fS, which would be Black's an swer to
White was in a much stronger position most of White's m oves here ...
to meet ... ttJh S . H ere g 2-g 3 just isn't on ! i s ttJg4??
13 ttJh2?! ... except thi s one ! Thi s was clearly
White wants to pl ay all the usual not a good day at the office for
moves: 'iVf3, ttJg4, N (d2)-f1 etc. The Svetushkin.
trouble is, Black h as some moves too, l S ... i.xg4! 16 hxg4 ttJg3 ! 0-1
and they are pretty good ones !
Karpov chose 1 3 ttJf1 against
Korchnoi in their 1981 world champi
on ship m atch, and for some reason
Korchn oi dispen sed with the possibility
of 13 .. J1Vf6 ! in favour of exch anging
queen s. White can aim to occupy dS
with 14 ttJe3, but after 14 .. Jlad8 (or
even just 14 ... i.xe3 15 i.xe3 ttJf4) 1 5
liJds 'iVg 6 (threatening ... i.xh 3 ) 16 'it>fl
fS (Keene, cited by Marin) Black is very
active and it's impossible to recom Black i s m ating on h i. The a7-
mend thi s for White. Even so, it's better bishop reigns supreme. To be fair,
than 13 ttJh 2 ! given how much grief it's been caused
by White's play in previous g ames, it is
difficult to begrudge it one moment of
glory.
Game 20
B.Predojevic-Ci.Jones
E u ropea n C h a m pion s h i p,
Plovd iv 2008
1 e4 e s 2 ttJf3 ttJc6 3 i.C4 i.cS 4 c3 ttJf6

S d 3 a6 6 i.b3 i.a7 7 0-0 d6 8 lIel
91
Beating 1 e4 e5
Note th at with the move order 8 g 6 17 liJd2 cxd4 18 cxd4.

liJbd2 0-0 9 h 3 .ie6, 10 .ic2 dS 11 exds I can find only one g ame with
is less effective since it can be met sim l1...liJxdS, but thi s m ove can 't be ruled
ply by 11 ... .ixds - another reason for out. For example, 12 liJbd2 (if 12
choosing 8 .:tel over 8 liJbd2. liJxe s ? ! liJxe s 13 ':xe s, Black once again
8 ... 0-0 9 h 3 .i e6 10 .ie2 d S 11 exd s l has the trick 13 ... .ixf2+!) 12 ... liJf4 (if
12 .. .f6, White plays 13 d4! intending
either dxes or c4 followed by dS) 13
liJfl (or 1 3 liJe4 ! ? liJg 6 14 liJfg s .ids 15
1i'h s h 6 16 liJf3) 1 3 ... liJg 6 14 liJg s .id7
(14 ... .idS ! ?) 15 d4! Vf6 (ls ... exd4 is met
by 16 Vh s h 6 17 liJxf7) 16 liJe4 Ve7 17
dS liJd8 (A.5hlakich-V. Frolochkin, St
Petersburg 2007) and now 18 .ie3 with
some advantage for White.
12 .igSI
Thi s move i s much stronger th an 1 1

liJbd2 ? ! .
11 . .'ii'xd s
.
The queen recapture h as been

Black's usual choice, and it's the only
way to defend eS directly.
The ideal way to recapture on dS
would be with the bishop, but thi s
leaves the es-pawn e n pri se and White
shoul d certainly accept the Marshall
G ambit style offer: l1.. . .ixdS 12 liJxes Thi s is a key move. Black probably
liJxe s 13 l:txe s �d6 14 d4 (watch out doesn 't want to give White the oppor
for 14 :el?? Vg 3 ! ) 14 ... cS was tunity to pl ay .ixf6, and ... liJd7 is the
A.Delchev-A.Stefan ova, Benidorm 200 5 . n atural retreat. But thi s leaves the
In t h e g ame 1 5 .ie3 Vc6 16 l:tfS g 6 1 7 queen on dS somewh at awkwardly
:g s :ad8 left Black with good com pl aced, and to h ave any chance of g ain
pensation, especially in view of White's ing an advantage White must try to
awkwardly placed TOok. 15 .ig S ! looks exploit this to the m aximum .
stron ger to me, and I think Black i s 1 2 ... liJ d 7
strugg l i n g to prove equality after 12 ... 'iVcS ! ? looks strange, and 13
ls ... :ad8 (or lS ... cxd4 16 .ixf6) 16 Vd3 �e2 (13 .ih4 ! ? i s an interesting alter-
92
Italian Game: Cla s s i cal Ma in L ine
native) 1 3 ... ttJd7 seem s to invite 14 White has every chance of g aining
ttJbd2 followed by ttJe4 g aining m ore an advantage here. For example,
time. H owever, Bl ack h as the resource 14 ... .i.f7 (or 14 .. .fxg 5 15 .i.b3 'iVd6 16
14 ... ttJd4! 15 cxd4 Vxc2, as pl ayed in ttJe4 'ife7 1 7 d5) 15 .i.e3 exd4 16 cxd4
A.Brkic-M. Pap, Bosnjaci 2009. Thi s isn't lIad8 1 7 .i.e4 'iVd6 18 'iVa ! ttJxd4 19
entirely clear, but White should proba .i.xd4 .i.xd4 20 .i.xh 7+ 'it>h 8 21 l:te4!
bly choose either 16 dxe 5 ttJC5 1 7 l:tacl was played in T. L. Petrosian
'i'xd3 18 .i.e3, or 16 .i.e7 ! ? lUe8 17 .i.a3 H.Melkumyan, Yerevan 2010. H ere
exd4 18 l:tacl Va4 19 l:txc7. Black felt obliged to give up a piece for
13 ttJbd2 .l:.fe8 insufficient compen sation after
Could thi s logical m ove actually be a 21 ... .i.xf2+ 22 'it>xf2 'ii'b 6+ 23 l:te3 l:tfe8
mistake? Let's explore altern atives : 24 .l:[ael. If Black plays 21 ... c5 in stead,
a ) 1 3 ... l:tae8 helps Black in some 22 :h4 gives White a promising attack.
lines if White pl ays 14 ttJe4, because He is already threatening m ate with 2 3
with the other rook on f8 Black is better .i.g8+ �xg 8 24 'ifh 7.
placed for .. .f5. However, in A.Delchev c) 1 3 ... h 6 h as been played by Nigel
M. Kazhg aleyev, G onfreville 2006, White Short. It's a m ove Bl ack woul d like to
began h arassing the black queen to pl ay and it might even be his best op
good effect: 14 c4! 'iVC5 (or 14 ... 'ifa5 1 5 tion . Where should White retreat his
a3 intending b4) 1 5 ttJe4 'ifb6 16 .i.a4 bishop?
lLld4 17 ttJxd4 exd4, and here 18 C 5 !
obliged Black t o give up the exch ange
with 18 ... ttJxC5 since 18 ... 'ifxb2 19 l:te2 !
'i'b4 20 a3 'iVa5 2 1 .i.d2 traps the black
queen .
b) The tempting 13 .. .f6 i s an swered
convincing ly by 14 d4! .
Cl) If 14 .i.h4, Black can claim he h as

g ained something because the bishop
can no longer come back down the cl
h6 diagonal to annoy the black queen
in certain lines.
a) 14 .i.e3 i s a decent respon se, and
14 ... .i.xe3 1 5 fxe 3 ! ? Vd6 16 d4 f5 17
93
Beating 1 e4 e5
.ltb3 �h 8 was roughly equal in Black definitely h as some problems

Z. Efimenko-N.5hort, Kemer 2007. to solve here, the m ain one being to
After studying thi s position for find a stable square for his under pres
quite some time, I realized that there sure queen .
was a third option : White doesn 't have Bl ack h as fewer concerns after 14
to move the bishop at all : .lte3 .ltxe3 1 5 :xe3 h 6, as played in
c 3 ) 1 4 ttJe4! ? i s a very interesting Z.Almasi- L.Aronian, European Team
possibility for White here. If Black takes Ch., Heraklion 2007. It's al so worth not
the bishop it looks to me like White ing that 14 c4 is less effective here,
gets a fierce attack in return . Here's since Black h as 14 .. :iVd6 intending 15
just a sample of the m any possible ttJe4 'iVf8 ! .
lines: 14 ... hxg s 1 5 .ltb3 'iWbs 16 ttJfxg s
14 ttJC5
•..
16 ... .ltxb3 (or 16 ... .ltfs 17 .ltC4 'ii'x b2 Desperately trying to ease conges
18 'iVh s ttJd8 19 :abl 'iVc2 20 ttJxf7) 17 tion by exchanging a pair of knights,
'i!Vh S ! l:.fe8 18 axb3 ttJd8 (18 ... 'iVxb3 ? i s but White is having none of it.
m et by 19 l:ta3 ! 'iVds 20 c4) 19 'iVh 7+ Predojevic's an alysis in Chess Infor
�f8 20 ttJg 3 ttJf6 2 1 'iVh 8+ �e7 22 m a nt 102, given below, suggests that
1i'xg 7 and the attack i s still burning there i s no easy way out for Black, but
strongly. he can minimize White's advantage:
It's still early days in the develop a) 14 .. .fS ? ! 1 5 .ltb3 'iWbs 16 .ltxe6+
m ent of this line. With accurate play 1:Ixe6 17 a4 1i'ds (or 17 ... 1i'xb2 18 ':'e2
Bl ack might well be okay, but it does 1i'b6 19 .lte3 ttJd4 20 cxd4 fxe4 21 dxe4
seem easy to go wrong . Initially Short's exd4 22 .ltxd4) 18 c4 'iVas 19 .ltd2 'iWb6
12 ... h 6 looked like the most reliable 20 as "ii'x b2 2 1 .ltC3 .ltxf2+ 2 2 'ifi>f1
m ove to me, but I can no longer say thi s 'iVxal 2 3 .ltxal .ltxel 24 ttJeg s l:[e7 2 5
with any certainty in view o f 1 4 ttJe4 ! ? ttJxel ttJxas 2 6 ttJ C 2 with a clear advan
1 4 ttJe4! tage for White.
94
Ita lian Game: Classi ca l Main Line
b) 14 ... ltJf8 ! 1 5 'ii'e 2 h 6 16 ..te3 ltJg 6 Thi s is an extremely favourable I QP

17 ..txa7 ':'xa7 18 'ife3 b6 19 ..tb3 'ifd7 position for White: Black's rooks are
20 ..ta4! J:taa8 21 l:tadl with an edge momentarily di sconnected and his mi
for White. If 2 1...fS ?, 22 d4! i s a strong nor pieces could be in better positions.
reply: for example, 2 2 ... b S 2 3 ltJcs 'iff7 The immediate threat i s 20 ..tb3 fol
24 ltJxe6 bxa4 2 5 dS etc. lowed by 2 1 dS, and in fact thi s isn't
l S ltJg3 ! easy to m eet.
19 ...ltJf6
Covering the ds-square (and h 7 af
ter 'ifd3), but is it enough?
20 ..tb3 'ifa s 2 1 ..txe6?
Missing a huge opportunity.
White can still play 21 dS ! , and in
deed Predojevic's analysi s suggests
that it leads to a deci sive advantage:
2 1...l:td8 (or 2 1...ltJxds 2 2 ..txdS lId8 2 3
.l:!.xe6 ! ) 2 2 dxe 6 ! l:txdl 2 3 exf7+ 'i?r>f8 2 4
:axdl :la8 2 s ltJh4 'iVg s 2 6 ltJgfS .
No trades! White i s planning d4, or
even b4 to force the knight back to d7.
lS ... h6 16 ..te3 ltJd 7
16 ... l:tad8 looks more n atural, but
even here 17 d4 exd4 18 cxd4 ltJb4 19
.ibl! (19 dxcS 'ifc4) 19 ...ltJd7 20 a3 ltJc6
(Predojevic) 21 ..ta2 followed by dS
looks very strong .
1 7 ..txa 7 ':xa 7 1 8 d4! exd4 19 exd4
It's difficult for Black to meet

White's m any ideas, including l:.d3-g 3 .
2 1 ....:.xe6 2 2 .l:!.xe6 fxe6 2 3 a 3 'iVd s 2 4
':e1 .l:!.a8
White still has a small edge here,
but Black is certainly over the worst
and the game soon ends in a draw.
2S ltJe2 :idS 2 6 'ii'e 2 'i!Ve4 27 'ife4 'ifd s
2S Ve2 Ve4 29 'iVe4 'iWd s 30 'ii'e 3 'ii'd 6
95
Beating 1 e4 e5
31 'ir'b3 ttJa5 3 2 'ii'c 2 ttJc6 3 3 'ii' b 3 ttJa5 ther down the road with his kingside
34 'ii'c 2 ttJc6 3 5 ttJC3 'ii'f4 3 6 ttJe2 Yz-Yz pl an s, whereas Black's extra ... h 6 may
only prove to be semi-useful, or even a
hindrance if White is lucky. In truth,
Game 21 the difference i s fairly insignificant and
A.Areshchen ko-A.Aleksa ndrov Black's position i s solid. Even so, this
Aeroflot Open, Moscow 2007 rem ain s an option for the those prefer·
ring quieter position s : 11 ttJfl l:te8 (or
1 e4 e5 2 ttJf3 ttJc6 3 .i.C4 .i.C5 4 c3 ttJf6 11 ... Ji.xb3 12 axb3 lle8, if Black doesn't
5 d3 a6 6 Ji.b3 .i.a7 7 0-0 d6 8 ':'e1 want to allow White to change his
The game's actual move order was 8 mind and pl ay 12 Ji.C2 ! ) 12 ttJ3h2 (so
ttJbd2 0-0 9 h 3 .i.e6 10 l:[el l:.e8 1 1 ttJfl th at White can an swer ... ds with 'ii'f 3;
h6 12 ttJg 3 'iVd7 13 .i.c2 ds 14 'ii'e 2. both 12 ttJg 3 and 12 Ji.e3 are al so pos
8 ... 0-0 9 h 3 h 6 sible) 12 ... Ji.xb3 1 3 axb3 'ii'd 7 14 'ii'f3
As we have seen previously, thi s 'ii'e 6 1 5 ttJg 3
pawn move i s often a precursor to
... ttJh s. However, it's al so a useful wait
ing m ove if Black wants to play ... .i.e6.
10 ttJbd2 Ji.e6
l s ... ttJe7 ! (avoiding l s ... 'ii'xb3 ? ! 16

ttJfs ! when White threatens both 17
ttJxh 6+ and 17 Ji.xh 6) 16 b4 c6 17 ttJg4
ttJxg4 18 hxg4 ds 19 ttJfs ':'ad8 20 g3 f6
We are faced with th at perennial 2 1 'iii> g 2 dxe4 2 2 dxe4 ttJxfs 2 3 gxfS 'iVC4
choice again: do we allow an exchange 24 Ji.e3 .i.xe3 and V2-%, P. Leko
of bishops or avoid it with Ji.c2? V. Kramnik, World Championship, Mex
11 .i.c2 ico City 2007.
In compari son to the position after This was model defence by Kramnik,
9 ... .i.e6, it seem s to me that there's and objectively Black must be okay in
slightly m ore appeal to allowing an this line. However, perhaps it's not as
exchange here. White i s one move fur- easy as Kramnik makes it look. Indeed,
96
when Leko decided to switch sides he Another typical decision to m ake:

wasn't able to display the same accu capture or keep the ten sion ?
racy: 14 4:Jg 3 (instead of 14 'iff3) 13 'ife2
14 ... 4:Je7 15 b4 c6 16 4:Jg4 'ilfe6 17 .ie3 ! ? 13 exds ! ? looks like a totally in
(17 'ii'f3 would transpose t o Leko- nocuous version of the pawn capture,
Kramnik) 17 ... .ixe3 18 4:Jxe3 dS 19 exds but even here there is a drop of poison
4:JexdS (19 ... cxdS looks stronger) 20 in the position : 1 3 ... .ixds (the two
4:JC4! 4:Jd7 2 1 4:Je4 4:Jf4 2 2 'ilff3 b S 23 other recaptures are al so possible, but
tLlas (23 4:Jcd6 ! ?) 2 3 ...fS 24 4:JcS 4:JxcS 2 5 thi s looks the most n atural) 14 4:Jg 3
bxcS 4:JdS 26 4:Jb7 ! e 4 2 7 dxe4 fxe4 2 8 "ii'd 7 1 5 .ie3 .ixe3 16 l:[xe3 l:te7 ? ! 17
'iVg 3 4:Jf6 29 4:Jd6 :e7 30 b4 with a clear 4:Jh4! .ie6 18 4:Jh S ! 4:Jxh S 19 'ii'xh s 'iVd6
advantage, V.lvanchuk-P.Leko, Nice 20 :g 3 ! 'it>f8 21 :el and suddenly
(rapid) 2009. As I've stressed previously, White h as drummed up a fierce attack
Black should be okay but there is cer from seemin gly nowhere.
tainly enough scope in these positions
to outplay your opponents.
11 ... :e8
Thi s m ove, in conjunction with ... dS,
i s Black's m ost con sistent follow-up.
If Black plays 11 ... 4:Je7 it's White
who advances in the centre. H ere 12
tLlfl 4:Jg 6 1 3 4:Jg 3 :le8 14 d4 reaches
Korneev-Campora (Gam e 7). Thi s i s an
example of how the Modern Variation
can tran spose to the Classical Main
Line, and vice-versa. H . H amdouchi-P.Van Hoolandt, Nice
1 2 4:Jf1 d S 2002, concluded 2 1 ... .id7 2 2 :ee3 e4
2 3 dxe4 'ii'd 2 24 .ib3 'iVxb2 2 5 l:tef3
4:Jes 26 4:Jg6+ 4:Jxg 6 27 Wxg6 1-0.
Bl ack showed much greater accu
racy in J . Degraeve-J .Votava, Erfurt
2009 : 16 ... l:.ad8 ! (in stead of 16 ... l:te7 ? ! )
17 'iVe2 .ixf3 18 'iVxf3 4:JdS 19 l:teel
J::t e 6 20 .l:.adl, with a roughly level posi
tion .
13 . 'iVd 7
..
Black must also decide when or if he

should release the tension . In
97
Beat ing 1 e4 e5
E.Alekseev-F.Caruan a, Kh anty-Man siysk Blitz games aren 't always helpful

2009, Black did so straight away: pointers but when they involve the
13 ... dxe4 14 dxe4 b S (14 ... liJh S ? can be World's elite, they do at least reveal the
safely an swered by 1 5 liJxe s here) 15 first m ove which goes through a super
liJ3h2 (15 liJg 3 would allow Black the grandm aster's mind. H ere are a couple
option of forcing a queen exchange of recent examples from thi s position :
with l S ... i.C4) l s ...liJe7 16 %:tdl 'iic 8 17 a) 1 5 i.d2 i.cs (a typical m ove - if
'iff3 liJh 7 18 liJg4 liJg 6 19 liJfe3 l:td8 20 White begins action on the king side,
liJfs :xdl+ 2 1 'iix dl 'iid 8 2 2 'iie l hS 23 thi s bishop m ay want to return to f8 to
liJh 2 liJf4 24 i.xf4 exf4 25 l:tdl 'ii'e 8 26 provide cover ... ) 16 iladl d4! ?
'iid 2 i.xfs 2 7 exfs and White was bet ( ... especially if White plays an eventual
ter. There might well be some possible c4, when the bishop would look silly on
improvements here, but to me 1 3 ... 'ilfd7 a7) 17 i.bl bS 18 ':cl! dXc3 (thi s is
followed by ... l:tad8 looks m ore flexible. committal - perh aps Black didn't want
1 4 liJg3 :tad8 to be left with a pawn on d4 after
18 ... i.f8 19 cxd4; 18 ... i.b6 ! ? is an alter
n ative) 19 bXc3 i.f8 20 i.e3 and
White's plan now is d3-d4, B.Gelfand
V. Kramnik, Moscow (blitz) 2008.
b) 1 5 liJh 2 b S 16 lVf3 (threatening
i.xh 6) 16 ... liJh 7 1 7 liJg4 d4 18 liJfs
i.xfs 19 exfs, as played in L.Dominguez
Perez-S.Mamedyarov, World Blitz Ch.,
Alm aty 2008, i s the kind of promising
king side action White i s looking for.
ls ... liJe7 ! , intending to m eet 16 'ii'f3
1 5 'it h 2 1 ? with 16 ... liJg6, looks like a stronger de
The idea behind thi s move i s to pre fence to me.
pare liJh4 - the immediate 15 liJh4 al 1 5 . . .'it h 8
lows l S ... i.xh 3 ! 16 g xh 3 'ifxh 3 1 7 liJhfs I s it possible that Aleksandrov was
liJg4 18 i.e3 � 2 + 19 'ittl 'i¥h 3 + 20 unaware of the significance of 15 'ith 2,
'itg l with perpetual check, N .5edl ak and thought it was just a waiting
B. Predojevic, Zlatibor 2007. H owever, move?
Bl ack h as nothing to fear providin g he l s ... 'ife7 ! , as pl ayed in A.Minasian
finds the right respon se, and it i s pos S.Gal dunts, Yerevan 1 9 8 2 , cuts across
sible th at 15 'ith 2 isn't the best m ove White's plan (16 liJh4?? i s rudely m et
objectively, even though it works very by 16 ... liJg4+ ! ) and forces him to re
well in thi s game. think.
98
16 ttJh41 A star move. Areshchenko is in no

m ood to retreat !
It's difficult for Black to do an ything
apart from accept the piece sacrifice,
but then he run s into a fierce and ulti
m ately decisive attack, perfectly exe
cuted by the Ukrainian grandm aster.
20 ... dxe4 21 dxe4 gxfS 22 gxfs ii.e4 2 3
f6 1 lte6 24 :xg8+1 �xg8 2 5 .i. e 3 ttJe7
White was threatening simply 2 6
.l:tg 1+ �h 8 2 7 'ii'g 4 and m ate o n either
g8 or g 7 .
Now thing s begin to run like clock 2 6 fxe7 .i.xe7 2 7 .l:.gl+ .i. g s 2 8 'iV h s .l:tf6
work on the kin g side. White gradually 29 b 3 1 ii.bs 30 a41 ii.e6 31 :xg s+ hxgs
strengthens his position and Bl ack 32 'ifxgs+ lig6 33 ttJxg6 fxg6 34 b41
drifts into passive defence. The light-squared bishop joins the
16 ... ttJg8?1 party and there's simply no defence for
Perh aps Aleksandrov was worried Black.
about 16 ... ttJe7 1 7 'iVf3, but thi s still 34 l:te8 35 ii.b3+ �h8 3 6 'iVh4+ 'ii' h 7
•..
looks tenable for Bl ack after 17 ... dxe4 3 7 .i. h 6 1 l:tf8 3 8 'iVgS I l:txf2+ 3 9 �g3
18 dxe4 ttJg 6. l:tf7 40 'iVxes+ :g7 41 'iVgs ii.e8 42
1 7 'iVf3 ii. e s 18 ttJgfs ii.f8 19 g 4 1 g6 .i.xg7+ 'ii'x g7 43 'ifh4+ 'ii' h 7 44 iYf6+
iYg7 45 es gs 46 a s 'iixf6 47 exf6 ii.d7
48 .i.ds .te8 49 ii.f3 b6 50 ii.g4 ii.b7 51
ii.fs 1-0
Game 22
R.Felgaer-J.Hedor
Pol itiken C u p,
Cope n hagen 2002
1 e4 e s 2 ttJf3 ttJe6 3 .i.e4 ttJf6 4 d 3 .tes

Bl ack's previous play ( ... ttJg 8 and 5 e3 a6 6 0-0 .ta7 7 i.b3 d6 8 .:tel 0-0 9
... ii.cS-f8) clearly showed that he was h 3 ttJe7
basing his hopes on kicking the knight Again we see the typical ... ttJe7-g 6
away from fS . But... m anoeuvre by Bl ack.
20 l:tgll One other idea worth m entioning i s
99
Beating 1 e4 e5
9 ... �h S ! ?, breaking the pin on the f- 11 ... tU h 5 1 ?

pawn and planning ... tUg S (or ... tUh S)
an d .. .fS.
White can certainly continue with There are certainly some similarities
10 tUbd2, but again st such a non here to the lines di scussed in Frois
developing move 10 d4! ? seems justi Korneev (Gam e is). Bl ack's basic plan is
fied. With action h appening in the cen once more ... tUhf4 and ... 'ii'f6. He might
tre, Black is di stracted from his pl an, even be able save a tempo by avoiding
and a bonus for White i s th at ... lIeS ... h6. Or m aybe not...
isn't possible with the f-pawn hanging. 12 d4
10 .. :iVe7 11 J.. e 3 h 6 (11 ... tUxe4? 12 dS ! Thi s i s again White's most effective
win s m aterial) 12 tUbd2 J.. d 7 1 3 tUfl plan . The d4 advance creates central
(13 J.. C 2 ! ? pre-empting ... tUas looks ten sion and blocks out the a7-bishop.
sen sible) 13 ... tUas 14 J.. C 2 bS 15 tUg 3 12 J.. g s m ore or less forces 12 ... 'ii'e S.
( 1 5 a4! ?) l S ... cS 16 dxes dxes 17 tUh4 It looks tempting but in reality White
tUC4 is .1i.cl tUd6 19 'ii'f3 c4 20 a4 was doesn't gain a great deal from this in
solid for Black in V. Nevednichy sertion of moves, as the bishop is vul
V.Tkachiev, Manila 1992, but White nerable to ... h 6 possibilities. Al so, 13
m ay have stronger option s and even tUxe s tUxes 14 d4 tUf6 1 5 J.. xf6 g xf6 16
here he might still h ave a slight edge. dxes fxe s 1 7 tUg 3 �h S i s okay for Black,
10 tUbd2 tUg6 11 tUf1 A.Grosar-S.Polg ar, Bled 1994.
Now if Bl ack chooses a m ove such as 12 ... tUhf4
1 1 ... J.. e 6, 1 1 ... .:.eS or 1 1 ... h6, White re Of course Bl ack h as to avoid
plies with 12 tUg 3 and we tran spose to 1 2 ... 'iVf6 ?? 1 3 J.. g S ! .
position s seen in Korneev-Campora 1 2 ... 'iVeS has been played a few
(Gam e 7). With thi s move order, times, and even by Shirov, but it does
though, Bl ack h as a serious altern ative: look a bit strange to move the queen
100
here without being forced to by i.g s. to h ave snared a number of highly

True, White is discouraged from playing rated victi m s !
ttJg 3, but 13 ttJe3 ! planning ttJds or ttJfs Let's return for a moment t o Bl ack's
does the job just as well. 13 ... ttJhf4 1 3th m ove to con sider better option s.
(13 ... exd4 14 ttJds ! ) 14 ttJfs exd4 15 In view of this trap, it's clear now th at
ttJ3xd4 (15 cxd4 also looks promising) ... 'iYf6 requires some preparation .
ls ...'ifd8 16 'iff3 ttJe6 was Z.Efimenko 1 3 ...h 6 ! i s a logical move, preventing
A.5hirov, German League 2006, and here the i.g s idea. It's worth comparing thi s
White looks pretty active after 17 i.e3 . t o the 1 2 ...ttJ e 7 variation in Frois
1 3 ttJ g 3 'ili'f6? Korneev (Game 18), and indeed it leads
to a direct transposition after 14 i.e3 !
'ilff6 1 5 i.c2. Thi s might b e White's best
option, since 14 i.xf4 ttJxf4! 15 dxe s
dxes 16 'iYxd8 (16 ttJxe s ? 'ili'g s ! )
16 . . .l:txd8 17 ttJxe s l:td2 18 i.xf7+ �f8
(Marin) i s unclear, while the immediate
14 ttJfs can be met by 14 ... exd4 intend
ing 15 cxd4 ds.
Another possibility is 1 3 ... i.d7 ? ! but
after 14 i.e3 Black is no nearer to play
ing 14 ... 'iff6 as it still run s into 15 ttJh s ! .
Thi s is certainly Black's most n atural I n the g ame V.lvannikov-E.Gafner, St
follow-up to his previous play. What's Petersburg 2000, Bl ack decided he
more, it's worth noting th at, according couldn 't do without 14 ... h 6 anyway,
to databases, 1 3 ... 'iff6 has been Black's but thi s admission really questions the
most popular choice here. Everything value of 13 ... i.d7. After 15 'iYd2 Bl ack
seems to be l ooking rosy: the e s-point still has problem s to solve:
is securely defended, the knights seem
well placed and the queen enjoys being
on the f6-square. But...
14 ttJhS!
A shocking m ove for Black to face.
Since 14 ... ttJxh s allows 1 5 i.g s ! win
ning the queen, Black i s forced to re
treat and must allow a damaging ex
change of pieces on f4. 1 3 ... 'iIi'f6 i s sim
ply a blunder, and evidently White's
two-move trap i s sophisticated enough
10 1
Beating 1 e4 e5
After the game's 1 5 ... 'iIt'c8 ! ? White 1 5 �xf41

coul d have even gained an advantage Black's e 5-pawn will end up on f4,
with the simple 16 �xf4 exf4 17 ltlh 5 and thi s will leave him with no pres
�xh 3 18 ltlxf4 ltlxf4 19 'ilt'xf4. Note al so sure on the d4-pawn and a miserable
that 15 .. :ii'f6 ? 16 dxe 5 ! highlights an bishop on a7. It's payback time for
other problem with Black's 1 3th m ove. what happened in Svetushkin
Finally, one of the earliest g ames H aslinger!
reaching thi s position featured a very 1S ... ltlxf4
young Vladimir Kramnik di splaying his Black even loses the f-pawn after
understanding of the intricacies in thi s 1 5 ... exf4 16 'it'd2.
l i n e . V. Kramnik-D.Campora, Moscow 16 ltlxf4 exf4 17 'ii'd 2 'ii'f6
1989, went 13 ... 'iIt'e7 ? ! 14 �e3 ]:Id8 1 5 Or 17 ... g 5 18 e S h 6 19 exd6 'ii'x d6 20
�c2 ! h 6 16 ltlf5 'it'f6 with a clear plus h4 �g4 2 1 'it'd3 �xf3 2 2 'it'xf3,
for White - Black h as basically wasted a V.Belikov-M.Novik, Sochi 1990. In all of
tempo with his queen . H ere 1 7 g 3 ! these lines White i s enjoying a power
forced the knight t o retreat, since play with one black piece 'sittin g on the
1 7 ... ltlxh 3+? 18 �g 2 ltlg 5 19 ltlxg 5 hxg 5 bench'.
20 'it'h 5 would h ave been virtually win 18 e S dxe s 19 l:txe s
n i n g for White.
Incidentally, the earliest g am e I
could find reaching 1 3 ltlg 3 featured a
similarly young G ata Kam sky. His op
ponent pl ayed 13 ... 'it'f6?, but Kamsky
didn't punish him with 14 ltlh 5 ! .
N ow let's return t o the position af
ter 14 ltlh 5 :
14 :ii'e 7
•.
19 ltlxe s i s al so pretty good, but this

move looks even stronger.
19 ••. c6
A desperate defen sive try based on
... �b8 ideas. It's hardly a surprise th at
there's a refutation, and there's proba
bly m ore than one.
19 ... �d7 20 l:[ael c5, as played in
P.Ti shin-J.Geller, Sam ara 2002, al so
102
tries to reawaken the dark-squared 30 ... .1i.g s, 31 .1i.c2 m ates quickly. Don't
bishop before it's too late. But 2 1 1he4! be fooled by these apparently quiet
(instead of the g ame's 21 dS? ':adS 2 2 lines. There are m any traps lurking .
..tC2 .1i.bS) 2 1 . . ..1i.bS 2 2 :xf4, i f not quite
as destructive as the m ain g ame, The previous five g ames covered the
should still give White a near deci sive 'main line' with lIel and h 3 . In the n ext
advantage. few g ames we con sider altern ative op
20 l:ael h6 2 1 !tle41 .1i.b8 tion s for both colours, beginning with
If 2 1...g S 22 h4 and Black's position some king side aggression from Black:
collapses: for example, 22 ....1i.fs 2 3
hxg s hxg s 2 4 liJxg S ! .
2 2 l:r.xf4 Game 2 3
T. Warakomski-M.Bartel
Pol i s h League,
Ka rpacz 2008
1 e4 e 5 2 liJf3 liJc6 3 .1i.C4 .1i.C5 4 d 3 liJf6

5 c3 a6 6 .1i.b3 d6 7 0-0 .1i.a7 8 h 3
Thi s could, and often does, lead to
the m ain line after S ... o-o 9 iiel. But
get ready for something a bit differ
ent...
8 ... h 6 ! ?
White i s happy to self-skewer (is Fair enough. Bl ack often plays this
that the right term ?). Even if Black were move.
able to win the exch ange, White's pres 9 l:iel?! g 5 !
sure on f7 would more than compen
sate. As it is, White gets to play a deci
sive combination on th at square.
22 ...'i¥g6 23 l:.xf7 ! l:txf7 24 l:te7 'ii' b l+
2 5 liJel .1i.f4 2 6 'ii'e 2 1
Not falling for 26 'it'xf4?, when the
amazing defensive resource of
26 . .1i.e6 ! , intending 2 7 .1i.xe6?? 'i¥xel+
. .
28 'iith 2 'i¥xe 6 ! , allows Black to fight on .

26 ... .1i.f5 2 7 ':'xf7 'iit h 8 28 g4 .1i.d3 29
'i'xd 3 'iVxel+ 30 'iit g 2 1-0
If Black saves the bishop by pl aying But not thi s !
103
Beating 1 e4 e5
Suddenly it becomes clear th at 16 'ilVc1 (16 f3 'i!Vh4! is crushing)

Black doesn't have to castle king side 16 ... 'iVf6 17 ttJd2 0-0-0 18 .id1 :g8 19
after all, and White's early h 3 has pro .ixg4+ l:t8xg4. With ... h2, ... 'Wh4 and
vided enough encouragement for this ... :g1+ on the horizon, it's difficult to
aggressive pawn lunge. The roles have see how White can escape unharmed.
been reversed: Black is trying to do to 10 J.. x e3 11 l:[xe3 g4!
••.
White what White often did to him in Simple, direct and very strong .
Chapter One ! 12 hxg4 ttJxg4 1 3 :e2 'iVf6 1 4 ttJbd2
10 .ie3 J.. d 7 1 S .i d S
10 ttJh 2 tries to prevent ... g4, but Getting out of the way of the b
fails. Thi s move hasn 't fared well in pawn and thus enabling the plan of b4,
practice: 10 ... .l:tg8 (Black can also play a4 and b S .
10 ... g4 immediately: 11 hxg4 :g 8 12 lS ... 0-0-0
'iVf3 'iVe7 1 3 .ie3 .ixe3 14 fxe3 .ixg4
1 5 ttJxg4 ttJxg4 with at least equality
for Black, M.Adam s-A.5hirov, Elista
2007) 11 .ie3 g4 12 J.. x a7 g xh 3 ! was
played in Hou Yifan-P.H. Nielsen, Am
sterdam 2009.
Let's take stock of the position . The

players h ave castl ed on opposite sides,
and as usual the key factor is how
quickly each side can org anize his at
tack. Black enjoys a clear advantage
simply because the open g -file gives
In the game the young Chinese him a significant head start.
grandmaster accepted a clear disad 16 b4 ttJe7 ! 17 ttJe1
vantage after 13 g3 ttJxa7 14 ttJd2 h S A sad retreat. White would rather
1 5 <iith 1 "iIIe 7. Let's see wh at might hap avoid an exchange on dS, but after 17
pen if White's tries to hold on to the .ib3 ttJg6 (threatening ... ttJf4) 18 g3 hS
extra piece: 1 3 .ie3 ':xg 2+ 14 'iti>h 1 followed by ... h4 thing s are going to
ttJg4! 1 5 ttJxg4 (15 ttJf3 is met by turn ugly.
1 S ... l:txf2 ! followed by ... "illf6) 1 S ... .ixg4 17 ... ttJxd S 18 exd s h S
104
Planning ... h4 and ... 1i'f4, and al so aim is to reach the m ain lines - is to
the following piece sacrifice: play 8 J:tel in stead of 8 h 3 . If Black pl ays
19 f3 'iff4! 20 liJf1 8 ... h 6 we can reply with 9 liJbd2 ! . It's
If White accepts the knight, the at true th at Black can still insist on king
tack down the newly opened h -file side aggression by playing 9 ... g 5, but
proves to be too strong . For example, the key difference here is that White
20 fxg4 hxg4 21 J:te4 'ifh 2+ 22 �f2 f5 has avoided presenting Black with a
23 1k4 f4 24 liJf1 g 3 + etc. 'hook' (h 2-h 3 ) and thi s mean s Bl ack h as
20 liJf6 21 'ili'b3 l:tdg8 22 a4 h4
... to work that much h arder to engineer
activity on the kin g side.
Now it's full steam ahead for Black.

In contrast, White's demon stration on Here's an example: 10 liJfl g4 11
the queen side looks a bit lame. liJ3d2 (if 11 liJh4, Black h as 11 ... liJxe4)
23 bS h 3 24 bxa6 bxa 6 2 S 1i'C4 11 ... h 5 12 liJC4 h4 13 .i.e3 .i.xe3 14
Or 2 5 .:tbl �d8 and White's 'attack' liJcxe3 .i.d7 15 a4 ':'g8 (if 15 ... h 3 , White
reaches a dead end. blocks things up with the simple 16 g 3 )
2S hxg2 2 6 :xg2
... 16 .i. a 2 liJ e 7 17 d 4 h 3 (17 . . .liJxe4 1 8
If 26 'ifxf4, 26 ... :h l+! 27 �f2 g l'if dxe 5 dxe5 19 liJ d 5 open s the centre up,
mate i s a good zwischenzug ! which can only be in White's favour) 18
26 .l:.xg2+ 2 7 liJxg2 'ili'xf3 28 l:b1 liJg4
... dxe 5 (the safer 18 g3 still looks good)
29 �c1 0-1 18 ... hxg2 19 liJg 3 ! dxe 5 20 1\¥b3 :g7 2 1
Not waiting for the inevitable 'ili'xb7 iLc6 2 2 'iib 4 lIb8 2 3 'ifC4 and
29 ... 'iff2 m ate. White was clearly on top in the game
A.Min asian-A.Aleksandrov, Podol sk
Clearly thi s is a line we need to 1990.
avoid, at least if we are playing White ! After 8 .:tel, there's another cave
But how should we do this? As far as I man-style approach to con sider:
can see, the safest way - assuming our 8 ... liJg4 ! ?
105
Beating 1 e4 e5
terial with 11 ... liJxf2 ! 12 .l:r.xf2 �xf2+ 13

�xf2 g4, and thi s forced me to take
action in centre earlier than I might
have wanted to. The gam e continued
11 d4! .i.d7 (11 ... exd4 12 e 5 ! dxe 5 13
liJe4 is very promising for White) 12
liJfl :g8. At thi s moment I was
tempted by the idea of gettin g a knight
to d5, but 1 3 liJe3 ? ! 0-0-0 14 liJd5 ? 'i!Vh6
took too much time. The knight was
achieving little on d5 and Black was
I must confess that until a couple of developing some n asty threats on the
days ago I didn 't think much of thi s kin g side. I should h ave kept the knight
move at all . I realized that White on f1 and chosen 13 .i.e3 ! , when White
needed to avoid 9 d4 exd4 10 cxd4, on can m eet 13 ... liJxe3 with 14 fxe3 !
account of the typical trick 10 ... liJxd4! strengthening d4, blocking the a7-
11 liJxd4 "Wh4, when White i s in some bishop and preparing to use the f-file.
trouble. H owever, after 9 l:.e2, surely There are alternatives for both sides
Black's knight is mi splaced on g4 and earlier on, but judging from thi s evi
he will lose time in the long run, won't dence 9 ... liJg4 cannot be di smissed as a
he? bad m ove.
Judging by a severe l ack of g ames
with 9 ...liJg4, m any players must have Let's con sider yet another option.
agreed with me on thi s point, and This tim e it's for White, if he h as played
when Sam Collins played it against me 8 h3:
(Briti sh League, 2010) I was genuinely
surprised. More to th e point, as far as I
can see, he h as found a way to m ake Game 24
thi s playable for Bl ack ! T.Radjabov-V.Anand
The game went 9 l:.e2 'iff6 ! (if Ba ku (ra pid) 2009
9 ... 0-0, White pl ays 10 .i.g 5 ! intending
10 .. :iVe8 1 1 h3) 10 liJbd2 (Mickey Ad 1 e4 eS 2 liJf3 liJc6 3 .i.C4 .i.cs 4 c3 liJf6
am s suggested 10 liJa3 to prevent 5 d 3 a 6 6 .i. b 3 d 6 7 0-0 .i.a7 8 h 3 h 6 9
Black's next move) 10 ... g 5 1 . Thi s is a key �e 3 1
idea, without which White would just If Bl ack i s going t o pl ay . . .g 5, then
play liJd2-fl and then h 2-h 3 only when .i.e3 is a much better m ove than ::tel.
the time is right. The point is that Black It was Tiviakov m ore than anybody
is now simply threatening to win m a- who showed th at the plan with .i.e3 is
106
Italian Game: Classical Main Line
not a h armless one, although he usu 14 ... c6 15 dxe 5 dxe5 16 tDc4!) 15 �b3
ally plays it a m ove earlier (see the next and White, having induced ... b5, will
game). follow up with a4.
The safest option is 9 ... 0-0 which
transposes after 10 tDbd2 to Game 2 5,
note 'c' to Black's 9th move.
10 fxe 3 0-0 11 tDbd2
g �xe3
•••
Thi s is certainly not a mistake, at

least from an objective viewpoint.
However, it does appear th at the
resulting position s with the semi-open 11 ... �e6
f-file are easier for White to play than The immediate 11 ... tDe7 is m et by
Black, something which is demon 12 tDh4! after which not only i s
strated to some extent in thi s g ame. 12 ... tDg 6 impossible, but Black al so has
The aggressive 9 ... g 5 ! ? remai n s a to be wary of exchange sacrifices on f6.
decent option, but White h as less to 11 ... d5 also doesn't completely solve
fear here th an with 9 :el ? ! g 5 . For ex Black's problems, as typically this ad
ample, 10 �xa7 tDxa7 (Bl ack wants to vance leaves White with a strong centre.
keep the option of ... O-O-O! ) 11 d4 fie7 For example, 12 exd5 tDxd5 13 'i¥el! tDf6
12 tDbd2 g4 1 3 hxg4 tDxg4 (or 14 d4 .l::!. e 8 15 'i¥g 3 �e6 (15 ... exd4 16
13 ... �xg4 14 dxe5 dxe5 15 tDC4 tDc6 16 exd4 �e6 is better) 16 tDxe5 tDxe5 17
tDe3 :g 8 17 .:tel l:td8 18 tDd5 tDxd5 19 dxe5 tDd7 18 tDe4 �8 19 l:[adl �xb3 20
exd5 e4 20 �f1 ! with some advantage axb3 'i¥e7 21 e6 'i¥xe6 22 'iVxC7 with a
for White, D. Pavasovic-L. Fressinet, clear advantage for White, W.5chill
European (h., Plovdiv 2008) 14 �a4+ ! ? R.Rasmussen, Budapest 2004.
( I prefer thi s t o 1 4 dxe 5 dxe 5 1 5 g 3 , as 12 �C2 tDe7
played in I . Kh amrakulov-F.Vallejo Pon s, 12 ... d5 looks more appealing here,
Pamplona 2007) 14 ... b 5 (if 14 ... �d7, and yet I still think White has a small
White replies 1 5 �xd7+ 'i1i'xd7 16 dxe 5 edge after 1 3 exd5 tDxd5 14 'i1i'el l:te8
dxe5 1 7 tDC4 and tDh4-f5 is the plan ; or 15 fif2 planning d4.
107
Beating 1 e4 e5
13 tiJh4! with lS ... ..te6? because of 16 ..txe6 fxe6

17 ':xf8+ �xf8 18 'iVb3 Wc8 19 dxes
dxe s 20 tiJC4.
16 :xf6 !
I wouldn't h ave thought Radjabov
spent too long on thi s move. It looks,
and is, a very dangerous sacrifice.
16 ... gxf6 17 'ii' h 5 �g7 18 ':f1
Thi s i s a key move and almost an

automatic respon se to ... tiJe7.
13 ...tiJe8
Anand begins to drift. In fact thi s
and his following two moves m ake a
very strange impression . Perhaps he
was initially planning on the super
solid ... g6 and ... tiJg 7 but then decided 18 ... .ie6
again st it. If 18 ... tiJg6 there follows 19 tiJfS+
13 ... tiJg6 looks more n atural, ..txfS 20 exfs tiJe7 2 1 tiJe4! tiJg8 (or
again st which White replies with 14 2 1...dS 2 2 tiJxf6 ! ) 2 2 .l::tf3 dS 2 3 :1g3+
tiJfS. What i s clear i s that Bl ack has no �h 7 24 'iVg4 and m ate with Wg 7.
easy solution in his search for equality. 19 .l:tf3 ! (5
14 d4 ..td7?! Black needs to keep his bishop on e6
Thi s definitely feel s wrong . to provide at least some protection for
If 1 4... g 6 there follows 1 5 tiJdf3 f6 16 his shaky light squares. After 19 ... ..txb3
..tb3 (or 16 tiJh 2 ! ?) 16 ... tiJg7 17 ..txe6+ 20 .l:tg 3 + ! (20 axb3 .:r.h 8 ! ) 20 ... �h 7 21
tiJxe6 18 'iVb3 and Black i s still under axb3 it's extremely difficult for Black to
some pressure. Perhaps he should try defend: 2 1...'ii' d 7 22 tiJdf3 ! planning
to create some action in the centre tiJh 2-g4, or 2 1 . ..exd4 2 2 .l:tg4! dxe 3 23
with 14 ... CS ! ? tiJfs tiJxfs 24 'ii'xfS+ �h 8 25 'ii'h s �h 7
1 5 ..t b 3 ! 26 .l:th4 and White m ates.
Why not? 20 :g3+
1 5 ... tiJf6 White could have kept some advan
Thi s allows a promising exch ange tage with 20 ..txe6 fxe6 2 1 'iVg4+. Black
sacrifice, but it's too l ate to go back has to allow 2 1...�h 7 2 2 Wxe6, since
108
21 ... Wf7 ? 2 2 dS ! exds 2 3 exds intend 21 ..• fxe6 22 :g6 lLlxg6 23 'i!Vxg6+ Wh8
ing lLle4 i s very strong . 2 4 'iVxh6+ Wg8 25 'iVg6+
20 ... Wh7 The winning try for White is 2 s lLlg 6
threatening 2 6 'i!Vh 8+ Wf7 2 7 'iVh 7+
We8 28 'iVg 7 ! . The only defence for
Black is 2 s .. :iVd7 ! but it's good enough.
A key point i s th at after 26 'iVh 8+ 'iti>f7
2 7 'iVh 7+ We8 2 8 lLlxf8 'iVxh 7 2 9 lLlxh 7
We7, as indicated by Malcolm Pein in
CHESS, White's knight on h 7 i s trapped.
25 .•. Wh8 2 6 'iVh6+ 1/z-1/z
It seem s only right to include a Tivi

akov g ame with .te3, since he was the
21 .txe6? one player who really put thi s move on
Missing a great ch ance. Although 2 1 the m ap .
.txe6 i s undoubtedly tempting, i t only
leads to perpetual check.
Radjabov could have pl ayed 2 1 lLlfS ! Game 25
ttJxfS 2 2 exfs .txb3 2 3 axb3, which S.Tivia kov-D.De Vreugt
would h ave given him a very danger Die re n 2003
ous attack, and probably a winning
one. For example, 2 3 ... exd4 (or 2 3 ... 'i!Ve7 1 e4 e 5 2 .tc4 lLlf6 3 d 3 .tC5 4 lLlf3 lLlc6
24 1:.g4 :g8 2 S l::th 4 'fif8 2 6 lLle4) 24 5 c3 d6 6 .tb3 a6 7 0-0 .ta7 8 .te3
ttJe4! dxe3 2 S .l:!.g4! e2 2 6 Wf2 ! ,
With this move order, if White

and there is no good defence to the wants to play .te3 there's no reason to
threat of :h4. hesitate. As we see in this game and in
10 9
Beating 1 e4 e5
some sub-variations, White might not

have to play h 3 at all .
However, it's al so worth mentioning
the move order s ... a6 6 0-0 iJ.. a 7 7 iJ.. b 3
0-0 where Bl ack holds back with his d
pawn and can con sider meeting 8 iJ.. e 3
with 8 ... dS ! ? For example, 9 exds liJxds
10 iJ.. x a7 l:txa7 11 Itel liJf4 12 d4 exd4
13 cxd4 iJ.. g 4, as played in S.Zagrebelny
A.Aleksandrov, Moscow 2004. If White
wishes to avoid this possibility, he can
play 8 h3 intending 9 iJ.. e 3 only after The structure is reversed from the
8 ... d6. previous note; thi s tim e Black pos
8 0-0 9 liJbd2 liJe7
.•. sesses the open f-file. However, White
Thi s typical knight move has been has been able to advance in the centre
Black's most popular choice, but it does and activate his queen, and further
allow White to carry out his intended more Black's rook on a7 is mi splaced -
plan . In particul ar, White can now play all of thi s m akes a difference.
liJh4 without worryin g about ... liJxe4 S.Tiviakov-H .Jonkman, Santo Domingo
tactics. 2002, continued 1 3 ... liJd7 14 a4 as 15
Let's look at some alternatives in 'iYbs 'iff6 16 ds with an edge for White.
thi s position : c) Black's best m ove might well be
a) 9 ... iJ.. x e3 10 fxe3 reaches a struc 9 ... h 6 ! . Thi s prepares ... .l:.e8 and, if
ture simil ar to the previous g ame, with White does nothing, ... dS. The problem
White h avin g an open-file for his rook. for White is that 10 liJh4? is met simply
As I mentioned there, these position s by 10 ... liJxe4 ! . Typical play from here is
are usually easier for White to play, 10 h3 lte8 and now:
because his pl an s - usually involving Cl) If 1 1 liJh4 ! ? liJxe4? White h as 12
action on the kingside - are m ore obvi 'ifh s ! . H owever, Black can play
ous. An example: 10 ... liJas 11 iJ.. c 2 cs 12 1 1 ... liJas ! intending 1 2 iJ.. c 2? (12 'ii'f3 ! is
'ii'e l liJh s 1 3 a3 ! ? g 6 14 b4 liJc6 1 5 iJ.. b 3 best) 12 ... liJxe4! .
liJg 7 16 iJ.. d s (16 d4! ?) 16 ... cxb4 1 7 axb4 (2) Tiviakov h as pl ayed 1 1 l:tel
iJ.. e 6 18 liJC4 with a bit of pressure, iJ.. x e3 ! 12 fxe 3 ! ?, but of course the rook
F.Vallejo Pon s-A.5hirov, Dos H ermanas is not ideally placed on el here.
2008. c3) 11 iJ.. x a7 ':xa7 12 li!el liJe7 1 3 d4
b) 9 ... iJ.. e 6 i s solid, but 10 iJ.. x e6 fxe6 liJg 6 14 liJC4 iJ.. e 6 1 5 dxes iJ.. x c4 16
11 iJ.. x a7 l:i.xa7 12 'iWb3 'ike7 1 3 d4 still iJ.. x c4 liJxe s 17 liJxe s dxe s 18 'iYb3 'ife7
offers White chances of an advantage. 19 a4 c6 20 as :taa8 with an equal po-
1 10
sition, R. Felg aer-A.Onischuk, Buenos order adopted in both games in the

Aires 200 5 . n ote to White's 14th m ove.
In summ ary, 9 ... h 6 ! i s a very solid b) With f4 coming, 10 ... St.e6 in order
option which seem s to promise Bl ack a to relieve some of the pressure ag ain st
position with level chances. f7 looks sen sible. Even so, White still
10 ttJh41 keeps an edge with 11 St.xa7 ':'xa7 12
f4, and he gradually built up some
pressure on the king side after 12 ... exf4
1 3 l:txf4 dS 14 d4 cS 1 5 eS ttJd7 16 St.C2
in Z. Efimenko-B.Avrukh, Saint Vincent
200 5 .
c ) 10 ... St.g4 ! ? 1 1 'i!Vel ! i s not even a
minor inconvenience, unless Black con
tinues with 1 1 ... ttJh S ! to prevent f4.
So simpl e ! White plan s St.xa7 fol

lowed by f2-f4, after which the position
will resemble a King's G ambit Declined
- and a good version for White - rather
than an Italian Game.
Tiviakov h as noted th at the m ove
order 10 St.xa7 .l:i.xa7 11 ttJh4 allows
Black the possibility of 11 ... gS prevent
ing f4. Still, even thi s position looks B.Michiels- P.Vandevoort, Pays de
quite promi sing for White after 12 Charleroi 2003, continued 12 h 3 St.e6
"i'f3 ! ttJd7 (Bl ack must avoid 12 ... g xh4 13 'iVdl (perh aps 13 St.xe6 fxe6 14
13 'iVxf6 ttJg 6 ? ! 14 St.xf7+! ) 1 3 ttJfS (and St.xa7 l:[xa7 15 g3 l:ta8 16 'iWe2 ttJf6 17
White should probably avoid 1 3 'iWe3 'i£i>h 2 and slowly building for f4, a la
gxh4! 14 'ilYxa7 ttJb6 ! ) 1 3 ...ttJxfS 14 exfs . Karpov-Yusupov) 13 ... ttJf4 (Black is close
10 (61!
... to equality after 13 ... ttJg 6 ! 14 ttJxg 6
This looks a bit slow and it does St.xb3 1 5 'ii'x b3 hxg6 16 d4 l:tb8) 14
nothing to challenge White's basic St.xf4! exf4 1 5 'iif3 St.xb3 16 axb3 ttJg6
plan . Let's con sider altern atives: 1 7 ttJxg 6 fxg 6 18 'ilYg4 'iVf6 19 ttJf3 ':ae8
a) 10 ... ttJg6 1 1 ttJxg 6 hxg6 12 St.xa7 20 lUel c6 21 b4 .:te7 22 l:te2 l:tfe8 2 3
':'xa7 1 3 f4 c6 transposes to the m ain l:tael with a n edge - d4 and eS will
game, and thi s was actually the move eventually arrive.
111
Beating 1 e4 eS
d) There's still time to pl ay 10 ... �xe3 14 fxe 5

here: 11 fxe3 �h S (or 11 ... lDg6 12 lDfs It's possible that 14 "ikf3 might be
c6 13 d4 ds 14 'iff3 �e6 1 5 l:1ae1 with a even stronger. What i s certainly true is
small advantage for White, D.Barua that it has led to three easy win s fOT
K.Sasikiran, Nagpur 2002) 12 h3 lDeg S White. Strangely (and promisingly
1 3 'ii'e 1 g 6 14 g4! ? "ike7 1 5 'ifg 3 lDeS 16 from our perspective !), in all three
.:tf2 lDg7 17 l:taf1 �e6 lS d4 l:!.aeS 19 g ames Bl ack fell for the same trap:
lDhf3 f6, as played in I . Khamrakulov 14 ... 'iVb6+ (thi s plan is flawed; Simon
A.Rizouk, Lorca 2005, demon strates Williams' suggestion of 14 ... b s offering
good defence by Black. White enjoys protection to f7 would h ave been
more freedom, but Black's position is wiser) 15 �h 1 �g4 16 'ifg 3 ! �e2 ? (in
difficult to break down. tending ... lDh s after rook moves, but...)
11 �xa 7 ! l:[xa 7 12 f4!
17 fxe s ! �xf1 (or 1 7 ... dxes lS l:txf6 !

Of course! I definitely prefer White's gxf6 19 'ifxg6+ �h S 20 'ifxf6+ �gS 21
ch ances here. l:te1 'ilfe3 2 2 lDC4 'jffx d3 23 lDxes and
12 ... lDg6 1 3 lDxg6 hxg6 1-0, V.5ikula-M. Hrenic, Latschach 2006)
lS exf6 �xg 2+ ( Bl ack chose to suffer
less in W.Hendriks-D.Ledger, H astings
200S/09, with lS ... �e2 19 'ifxg 6 'ii'x b3
20 'ii'x g 7 m ate) 19 �xg 2 ds 20 fxg7
l:teS 2 1 l:ttl and White soon won in
D.5advakasov-H .Melkumyan, Dubai
2007.
14 ... dxe5 1 5 lDf3 �g4!
If ls .. :ii'e7, 16 lDg s planning 'ife1-
h4 looks promising for White.
16 'ii'e l lDd 7 ?
112
Thi s i s a blunder. Black would still S c3 d6 6 i.b3 a6 7 0-0 0-0

be fighting after 16 ... i.xf3 17 ':'xf3 a s ! Perh aps one the m ain reason s
intending 18 'iVg 3 ? ! a4! . 7 ... i.a7 i s played so often i s because it
1 7 'iVg3 ! i.xf3 18 l:txf3 really does discourage 8 i.g 5 ? ! . Given
th at Black has yet to commit his king,
and furtherm ore White h as committed
his, Bl ack shouldn 't hesitate to advance
on the king side: 8 ... h 6 ! 9 i.h4?! (it's not
too l ate for 9 i.e3 ! ) 9 ... g 5 ! 10 i.g 3 (it's
pretty obvious th at the piece sacrifice
10 ltJxg 5 ? hxg 5 11 i.xg 5 shouldn 't
work, and 11.. . .:.g 8 ! 12 h4 i.g4 is a g ood
reply) 10 .. :fie7.
The pressure ag ain st f7, g6 and e5 i s

too much t o handle, and Black loses a
pawn by force.
18 ltJcs 19 i. xf7+! l:1xf7 20 lixf7 'fit xf7
•..
21 'iVf2+ 1-0
Resignation is a bit premature, but
perh aps De Vreugt didn 't wish to ex
perience Tiviakov's renowned tech
nique. After 2 1...'fitg8 2 2 'ii'x c5 l:1a8 2 3
d4 White should win i n the long run . Black will castle queen side, and the
time gained attacking the white bishop
So far we have concentrated on with ... h6 and ... g5 will give him a vital
Black's m ost popular choice, 7 ... i.. a 7, head start in the race of pawn storm s.
but in the next two g ames we con sider For example, 11 ltJbd2 i.d7 12 d4 0-0-0
7 ... 0-0 and 7 ... i.. g 4. 13 d5 ltJb8 14 i.a4 lidg 8 15 i.xd7+
ltJbxd7 16 'fith l ltJf8 17 ltJg l h5 18 f3 h4
19 i.f2 i.xf2 20 l:1xf2 g4 and Black is
Game 26 the only one attacking, G.Carames
S.Tivia kov-D.Pavasovic G . Flear, San Sebastian 1995. This i s cer
E u ropea n C h a m pions h i p, tainly a line that White needs to avoid.
Plovd iv 2008 Incidentally, if you really want to
warn someone about the dangers of
1 e4 e S 2 i.C4 ltJf6 3 d 3 ltJc6 4 ltJf3 i.cs combining i.g 5 and 0-0 wh en Black
1 13
Beating 1 e4 e5
hasn't castled, then the following, of only White has castled, wh at about
ten quoted and quite beautiful line when both sides h ave castled?
usually does the trick: 5 0-0 d6 6 �g s ? ! ' Doubled-edged' i s probably an ac
h 6 7 �h4?! g s ! 8 � g 3 h s ! ? (8 . . .�g4 i s a curate assessm ent. Once the bi shop is
good alternative, with a safe edge for forced back to g 3 , White must work
Black) 9 ttJxg s h4 10 ttJxf7 h ard to avoid it being shut out of the
g ame. On the other hand, Black's
weaknesses on the king side won't go
away.
If White wants to reach lines identi
cal or similar to those we've already
covered in thi s chapter, he can simply
play 8 :e1. Black will nearly always re
treat prophyl actically with ... iJ.. a 7 to
tran spose directly, either here or a bit
later. Occasion ally, though, Bl ack keeps
his bishop on cS, and after a subse
10 ... hxg 3 ! ! 11 ttJxd8 �g4 12 'iVd2 quent ... ds there's the option of retreat
ttJd4 13 ttJC3 ttJf3+ ! 14 gxf3 �xf3 and, ing it to f8 to cover the kin g side.
faced with an inevitable m ate, White H ere are some possibilities: 8 ... h 6 9
resigned in V. Knorre-M.Chigorin, st ttJbd2 �e6 (note that if 9 ... ttJg4 10 .l::t e 2
Petersburg 1874. ..t>h 8, 11 h 3 ! forces the knight back to f6
Returning to the game, and the po and thwarts Black's .. .fs plan - thi s is
sition after 7 ... 0-0: one drawback of ... h 6).
8 �g51?
Warnin g ! White must avoid 10

If �g s i s a good idea when only iJ.. c 2? here, in view of the tactic
Black h as castled, and a bad idea when 10 ... ttJg4! 11 :e2 �xf2+! 12 ':'xf2 ttJe3
1 14
13 'ili'e2 tDxc2 14 l:tbl ii.xa2 when i s b 3 fxe s h S ? (30 .. .fxes 3 1 lifl 'iVg 6 3 2
ii.xbl 16 tDxb l tD2b4 17 cxb4 tDxb4 ii.xh 6 ! i s unclear) 3 1 l:tfl 'iVg 6 3 2 :xf6
favours Black. ( 3 2 tDxf6+! g xf6 3 3 'iVxg6+ <iit x g 6 34
10 h3 shoul d be played. For exam l:txf6+ i s good for White) 3 2 ... g xf6 3 3
ple, 10 ... .:te8 1 1 tDh 2 (or 1 1 tDfl ii.xb3 tDxf6+ <iit g 7 3 4 tDxh S+ <iith 7 3 S tDf6+
12 axb3 dS 1 3 'iVe2 ii.f8 14 tDg 3 g 6 i s <iit g 7 3 6 tDh S+ with a draw by perpetual
b 4 'iVd7 with a n equal position, check.
M.Erdogdu-L.Aronian , Bursa 2010) One further point worth m ention
11 ... dS (11 ... ii.xb3 12 axb3 dS 1 3 b4 ii.f8 ing here i s that 8 ii.e3, although still
14 'iVf3 dxe4 i s dxe4 'iVd7 16 tDC4 l:.ad8 playable, l acks a bit of punch . Because
17 tDg4 tDxg4 18 hxg4 'iVe6 19 tDe3 Bl ack h as not yet played ... ii.a7,
tDe7 20 'iVe2 c6 21 tDC4 tDc8 22 ii.e3 8 ... ii.xe3 9 fxe3 leaves him a tempo
tDd6 al so offers equal ch ances, ahead of lines con sidered in Games 24-
A.5hchekachev-R.Kholmov, Om sk/Perm 2 S . If White is really keen to play the
1998) 12 'iVf3 'iYd7 13 tDdfl 'ith 7 14 ii.e3 plan, 8 h 3 intending to m eet
ttJg 3 l:.ad8 i s ii.c2 d4! ? 16 c4! ? and 8 ... ii.a7 with 9 ii.e3 is a wiser option .
there's a ten se battl e in prospect, with S h6 9 ii. h4 g 5 1
...
White attacking the king side and Black

seeking action on the other win g .
At some point Black i s going to have

to take action again st the pin, and now
D.Lobzh anidze-D.5vetushk i n , Dres i s as good a time as any. One strong
den Olympiad 2008, continued 16 ... bS reason not to del ay ... gs i s that 10
17 cxbS tDb4 18 ii.bl axbs 19 a3 tDa6 tDxg s fail s here: 10 ... hxg s 11 ii.xg s <iit g 7
20 tDfS tDg8 2 1 tDg4 f6 2 2 ii.a2 ! (it's 12 'iVf3 ,Uh 8 intending 1 3 'iVg 3 tDh S !
definitely worth getting rid of the Ital (Karpov).
ian bishop here ! ) 2 2 ... ii.xa2 2 3 l:.xa2 If Black delays ... g s there might well
'i'e6 24 l:tal ii.f8 2S 'iVg 3 cS 2 6 a4 b4 2 7 be occasion s where tDxg s is a promis
i.d2 tD e 7 28 f4! tDxfS 29 exfs 'ilfxfs 3 0 ing sacrifice. For example, 9 ... ii.e6 10
1 15
Beating 1 e4 e5
liJbd2 l:[e8 11 'it>h l ! ? (A.Cherniaev 11.. . .id7 ! ?, 12 d4 .ia7 1 3 .:tel or 13

S.Haslinger, H astings 2006/07) l1...g S 'ii'd 3) 12 liJbd2 White adopts the same
12 liJxg S ! ? hxg s 13 .ixg s, intending f4. plan seen in the next note, with liJc4-
Moreover, if White chooses the safe 12 e 3 . J . Nun -J . Franzen, Trn ava 1985, con
.ig 3, Black's ....ie6 and ...lIe8 don 't tinued 12 ... Vd7 13 liJC4 .ia7 14 Ve2
really fit in with the ... g s plan . 'it>g 7 1 5 liJe3 liJe7 16 l:Iadl liJh 7 ? 17 d4!
Fin ally, if 9 ... .ig4 10 h 3 .ih s 1 1 g4! fS 18 liJxfS+ liJxfS 19 exfs ':'xfS and
.ig6 12 liJbd2 and Bl ack has lost his here Rybka 's suggestion of 20 dxes
chance to pl ay ... g s altogether. ':xf3 2 1 'it>h 2 ! looks very good for
10 .ig3 White, intending 2 1..J:txg 3 2 2 'ili'xh S.
Experience i s scarce at the moment,
but thi s looks like a line worth pursu
ing.
1 1 liJhS!
••.
10 ... .ig4
If Black coul d quickly reroute his c6-
knight to g 6 he really would be doing
well (compare thi s with the next g ame,
with colours reversed). Fortunately for Early on there was a high-profile
White, 10 ... liJe7 can be met strongly by game, M.Ch andler-A. Karpov, Bath
1 1 d4! when the pressure on e S brings 1983, which probably di scouraged
the g 3 -bishop right back to life. some players from using thi s line:
Something that Black must al so 11...i.. a 7 12 'it>h l (intending to meet
avoid i s 10 ... liJh S ?, as the l l liJxe s ! trick 12 ... liJh s with 1 3 h 3 ! liJxg 3 + 14 fxg 3)
works here: 11...liJxg 3 12 liJxc6 bxc6 1 3 12 ... .ih S ! 1 3 'ii'e l (13 liJc4!) 1 3 ... 'it>g 7 14
h x g 3 etc. .idl i.. g 6 15 liJC4 ];te8 16 .ic2 'it'd7 17
10 ... .ia7 11 liJbd2 i.. g 4 transposes Vd2 l:r.ad8 when Karpov had a rock
to the note to Black's 11th move, below. solid position and went on to win.
ll liJbd2 However, I really don't see a reason
I wonder whether White should for White to delay the liJc4-e3 plan
con sider 1 1 h 3 ! ? here. After l1.. . .ih s (if seen in the previous note, and thi s pre-
1 16
sents Black with m ore of a ch allenge: bishop on g3 taking any further part in
12 h 3 �h S (if 1 2 ...�d7 White can play the g am e !
13 ttJc4 ttJh S 14 �h 2 ttJf4 1 5 ttJe3 with 1 2 'it'f6
..•
an unclear position, or perhaps 13 �h 2 The m ost n atural follow-up to

preventing 1 3 ... ttJh S in view of 14 11 ... ttJh S, but Bl ack has other decent
ttJxes) 1 3 ttJC4! �g6 14 ttJe3 option s here:
a) 12 ... 'it>g7 1 3 h3 �d7 14 ttJh 2
ttJxg 3 + 1 5 fxg 3 fS ! (one of the points of
12 ... 'it>g7) 16 exfs �xfS 17 ttJe4 �b6 18
g4 �xe4 19 dxe4 with an equal posi
tion, S.Tiviakov- E.Van den Doel,
Wolvega 2008.
b) 1 2 ... ttJg 7 ! ? (providing light
squared cover on the kingside) 1 3 h 3
�h S 1 4 il.h 2 'it>h 8 1 5 ttJC4 'it'f6 16 g 4
� g 6 17 ttJe3 ttJe6 18 ttJfS �a7 19 'i¥e2
with an almost symmetrical position,
14 ... 'it>g 7 (I think Black should pl ay again roughly level, K.5hanava
14 ... ttJh S 1 5 �h 2 ttJf4 16 'ii'd 2 'it>g 7 17 G.5argissian, European Ch ampion ship,
�dS with unclear pl ay) 1 5 'ii'd 2 ttJe7 16 Dresden 2007.
h4! g4 17 ttJh 2 'ii'c 8 18 �dl h S 19 �C2 13 h 3 il.d7
�c6 20 Itae l ! 'it'd7 21 'it>h l 'it>g8 2 2 f4!
exf4 2 3 lIxf4 �xe3 24 'i¥xe3 'ii'e 7 2 5
�fl ttJd8 2 6 l:tf2 ]:te8 2 7 'it'd2 ttJd7 2 8
�e3 ttJb6 29 ttJfS 'ili'f8 30 eS dS 3 1 lIefl
Wh 8 32 b3 with a dominating position
for White, B.Philippeit-A. Beyer, corre
spondence 2004 (in fact, Black resigned
here). Okay, Bl ack's defence was far
from perfect, but thi s ttJc4-e3 plan does
give him something to think about.
12 'it>h11
Releasing the pin on the f-pawn so 14 ttJd4
that White can play h 3 . 14 d4! ? is critical but Black seems to
White definitely should avoid 12 be okay: 14 ... exd4 (14 ... �a7? 15 ttJxe s ! )
tDC4 'it'f6 ! 1 3 ttJe3 il.xf3 14 'ii'xf3 'i¥xf3 1 5 e s ! ? (15 ttJxd4 ttJf4 16 ttJxc6 �xc6 1 7
15 g xf3, as played in A.Vajda-Z.Gyimesi, 'ili'f3 was agreed drawn i n J. Nunn
Nagykanizsa 2003. It's hard to see the J . Pinter, Hel sinki 1983) l S ... 'ii'g 6 !
1 17
Bea ting 1 e4 e5
(ls ... dxe s ? ! 16 ltJe4 "ile7 17 ltJfxg s is sometimes good, sometimes bad and
ltJxg 3+ 18 fxg 3 hxg s 19 'ii'h s win s for occasion ally somewhere in-between -
White - Nunn; or l s ... ltJxg 3 + 16 fxg 3 it all depends on the specifics of the
'ii'g 6 1 7 cxd4 ltJxd4 1 8 ltJxd4 i.. xd4 19 position . The same cannot be said
l::tf6 ! 'iWg 7 20 'ilVh s ! ) 16 cxd4 ltJxd4 17 about ... i.. g 4. Although it might be
ltJxd4 i.. xd4 and it's not clear whether stretching things to call thi s outwardly
White has enough play for his pawn enticing m ove an outright mistake,
investment, although thi s could do White is usually more than h appy to
with a test. see it arrive on the board.
14 ... ltJf4 In the notes to Game 17 we saw
After 14 ... exd4 1 5 'iWxh s Bl ack h as how White can deal effectively with an
some problem s to solve, with f4 or early ... i.. g 4 if he h asn 't castled. In the
e s /ltJe4 ideas in the air. followin g g am e White h as committed
1 S ltJxc6 i.. x c6 16 ltJC4 d S ! his kin g , but a similar plan should still
promise him some advantage.
Game 2 7
S.Kindermann
M.Dietmayer Kraeutler
Austri a n League 2007
1 e4 e S 2 ltJf3 ltJc6 3 i.. C 4 i.. c s 4 c3 ltJf6

5 d 3 a 6 6 0-0 d6 7 i.. b3 i.. g 4
Thi s seem s t o equalize.

17 ltJxe s ! ? 'iWxe s 18 d4 i.. x d4
18 ... "ilxe4 19 f3 "ilie7 20 l:%.el "ild6 2 1
dxcs �xcs 2 2 i.. xf4 gxf4 2 3 'iWd3 i s a
risky pawn for Black to take.
19 exd s i.. xd s 20 i.. xf4 'ii'xf4 2 1 i.. xd s
i.. e s
H ere the database gives 2 1 ... "ilfs ??
2 2 g 3 77, but 2 1 ... i.. e s i s a thousand
times more likely!
22 g3 Yz-Yz 8 ltJbd 2 !
Black h as yet t o commit h i s king,
We've seen that pinning with i.. g s and he shouldn't b e encouraged to at-
1 18
tack on the kingside. 50 White should l:lxes left White a pawn up for nothing
avoid giving Bl ack a 'hook' with 8 h 3 ? ! in P.Lyrberg-J .Barkh agen, Budapest
i.h s 9 tLlbd2, when 9 . . .h 6 followed by 1993, but giving up the bishop pair
... g s would be a tempting plan. with 1 3 ... i.xf3 14 'iVxf3 i s hardly fun for
8 0-0
... Bl ack either.
If Black in sists on castling long, 11 tLlf1 h6
White leaves the king side alone and 11 ... ds is again premature: 12 exds
just organizes action on the other tLlxds 13 tLlg 3 i.g 6 14 d4! win s a pawn
wing . For example, 8 ... 'iWd7 9 .l:tel 0-0-0 with a tactic we've seen before.
10 i.c2 ! d5 11 b4 i.a7 12 a4! etc. 11 ... 'ifd7 12 i.g s ! is al so awkward
9 h3 for Black: 12 ... i.g6 13 i.xf6 gxf6 14
Now it's okay to put the question to tLlg 3 fs 15 exfs i.xfs 16 tLlg s i.g 6 17
the bishop, although there's al so noth 'iWf3 'ife7 18 tLlse4 'it>h 8 19 tLlfs 'iVf8 20
ing wrong with pl aying 9 .l:.el first. tLlf6 l:ted8 21 h4 i.b6 22 i.ds :ab8 2 3
9 i. h s
... h s with a dominating position,
It might be better just to accept the V.spasov-M.Mitkov, I stanbul 2001.
loss of tim e and retreat to e6. 12 tLlg3
1 0 l:te1 Thi s i s good enough, but White can
play with even more ambition : 12 g4!
i.g 6 (White i s well enough protected
after 12 ... tLlxg4 13 hxg4 i.xg4 14 'it>g 2
'iVf6 1 5 i.e3) 1 3 tLlg 3 .
There's no point del ayin g the strong

tLlfl-g 3 pl an.
10 l:te8
...
10 ... ds can be m et by 11 exd s ! tLlxds

12 tLle4. Thi s can be compared to simi The h 3 /g4 set-up is particularly ef
lar position s arising in Chapter Two, fective when reinforced by a knight on
but here White's tempo g ain, caused by g 3 , which i s useful both in defence and
... d7-d6-ds, leaves him in control : attack. White has a firm grip on the
12 ... i.a7 1 3 tLlg 3 i.g6 14 tLlxes tLlxe s 1 5 kingside and if he isn 't careful Black
1 19
Beating 1 e4 e5
can easily get squashed, as in the fol 13 ... ltJxe4!

lowing example: 1 3 ... 'iWd7 14 ltJh4 �h 8 Definitely the best. After 1 3 ... .i.h 7
1 5 �g 2 ltJe7 (ls ... ltJd8 planning ... ltJe6 14 'ikf3 Black i s already under con sider
looks wi ser) 16 g s ! ? (16 'iWf3 ltJh 7 17 able pressure on the king side and he
ltJhfs i s solid and good) 16 ... ltJfg 8 17 h as absolutely no counterplay.
'ii'g 4! 'ii'x g4 18 hxg4 as (or 18 ... hxg s 19 14 l:[xe4! �xe4 1 5 'ifg4 .i.xd 3 16 ltJh5
ltJxg 6+ ltJxg 6 20 �xg s and llh l+ is g 5 17 'ii'f3 �h8
coming) 19 1:[h l a4 20 �C2 �h 7 21 17 ... ds 18 'ili'xd3 gxh4 19 'ii'f3 i s good
gxh6 gxh 6 2 2 gs and White soon won, for White.
T. Halmeenmaeki-G. Buchh auser, corre 18 'ii'xd 3 gxh4 19 'ii'f 5 :g8 20 �xh6
spondence 2000. 20 �xf7 might be stronger. Rybka 's
12 ... �g6 m ain line i s 20 ... 'ii'e 7 2 1 �xg 8 :xg 8 22
12 ... .i.xf3 13 'i!Vxf3 would just be an �xh 6 ltJd8 23 ltJf6 'ii'f7 24 �g s ltJe6 25
admission that the whole pl an with �xh4 and White i s better, although the
... �g4 was misguided. ltJfs is coming position remain s complicated.
and White has a ready-m ade attack. 20 ... 'ife7?
1 3 ltJh4!? After 20 ... :g 6 ! White might well be
advised to accept the perpetual line 21
�g7+ l:[xg 7 2 2 ltJxg 7 �xg 7 2 3 'ifxf7+
�h 8 24 'i!Vh s+ �g 7 2 5 'ikf7+ etc.
2 1 ltJf6 !
Now White is firmly back in control.
2 1 .. .1::t g 6 2 2 'ifh 5 'ifxf6
2 2 ... �xf2+! 2 3 �h l 'iWxf6 24 �gs+
�g 7 25 .i.xf6+ :xf6 would have been a
toug her nut to crack.
23 �g5+ �g7 24 .i.xf6+ :txf6 25 'ifg5+
:g6 26 'ifxh4 :h8
If White doesn 't want to sacrifice And here Bl ack should h ave tried
the exch ange and enter the following 26 .. .fs .
complications, 1 3 ltJh 2 intending 'ikf3 2 7 'ili'e4 ':xh3 2 8 'iVf5 !
i s reasonable, or just 1 3 'ii'e 2. One nice N ow i t really i s over a s a contest.
line, certainly not forced, i s 1 3 'ii'e 2 28 ••• :h7 2 9 'ii'xf7+ �h6 30 'ii'f 8+ :hg7
�h 7 (13 .. :iVd7 i s met by 14 ltJh4!) 14 31 'ili'h8+ l:h7 32 'iVf8+ l:.hg7 33 �d5
ltJh 2 ds 15 ltJg4 ltJxg4 16 'iVxg4 'ii'f6 17 lig4 34 'iWf6+ :7g6 35 'ii' h 8+ �g5 36
ltJh s ! 'ifxf2+ 18 �h 2 �g6 19 �xh 6 ! :d1 :f4 3 7 :d2 .i.b6 3 8 g3 1:[g4 3 9 �g2
(over-protecting g l ! ) 19 ... gxh6 20 :e2 e4 40 lle2 �f5 41 �xe4+ l::t x e4 42
and White wins ! 'i!Vh5+ 1-0
120
now Bl ack must be wary of d4-ds.

Came 28
D.Bronstein-B.lvkov
Amsterd a m 1968
1 e4 e S 2 ttJf3 ttJc6 3 �C4 �CS 4 c3 ttJf6

5 d3 d6 6 J.. b 3
Even if White i s planning to castl e
king side under most circum stances, I
think 6 �b3 i s a good m ove ag ain st
5 ... d6 because:
1. It forces Black to be careful with
move orders. More specifically, 6 ... 0-0 9 �b6
•••
can be an swered by 7 J.. g s ! . 9 ... b s ! ? i s double-edged: it forces the

2. With ... d s much less likely after exchange of light-squared bishops but
... d6, White can afford to delay castling at a cost of offering White something
for a m ove or two. to attack on the queenside. 10 ttJe3
6 ... h6 7 0-0 �b6 (10 .. :.d7 ! i s better) 11 �xe 6 ! fxe6
7 ttJbd2, togeth er with sixth -move 12 a4 a6 1 3 axbs axbs 14 :has 'ii'x a8
altern atives for Black, was discussed in 15 'ifb3, forking b s and e6, i s the type
Erenburg- Kreizburg (Game 17), where of line th at Black has to avoid.
White del ayed castling. Strangely enough, the risky-looking
7 0-0 S ttJbd2
.•• 9 ... a6 i s actually pl ayable here. If 10 d4
Of course there's nothing wrong (10 .:tel and 10 a4 are decent alterna
with 8 Iiel, but in thi s g am e White tives) 10 ... exd4 11 cxd4, Black doesn't
tries something a bit different. have to play 11 ... �xC4 to avoid losing a
S �e6
.•• piece - he can play 11 ... b s ! ? Here 12
Even here Black often plays 8 ... a6, dxcs bXc4 1 3 �a4 ttJes 14 ttJxes dxe s
when 9 !tel would tran spose to norm al was roughly level in M.Maric-F.l zeta
lines. Txabarri, Oviedo (rapid) 1993.
If Black plays 8 ... �b6, 9 ttJC4 i s a 10 a4
logical reply after which 9 ... �e6 tran s 10 ttJxb6 axb6 i s less ch allenging for
poses to the m ain g ame. Bl ack because White cannot keep the
9 ttJC41? bi shop pair; for example, 11 Iiel �xb3
Thi s i s an attempt to both utilize 12 �xb3 :e8 13 'ilVC2 'ilVd7 with a level
the early ttJbd2 and exploit Black's position, K.Asrian-V. Korchnoi, Dagomys
omission of ... a6 and ... �a7. White 2008.
avoids the exchange of bishops and 10 ... lieS
121
Beating 1 e4 e 5
Lining up the possibility o f... ds. 1 1 : e l �cs ! ? 1 2 as ( 1 2 �a2 ! ?)

The impatient 10 ... �xc4?! i s inad 12 ... tDg4! 1 3 tDe3 �xe3 resulted in a
visable, and in R. Ramesh-M.Lodhi, New quick draw in S.Movsesian
Delhi 2007, Black was soon regretting A.Morozevich, Sarajevo 2008. I wonder
his loss of control of the light squares: whether either player was aware of
11 �xc4 as 12 .:tel tDe7 1 3 tDh4! 'ifd7 thi s earlier game.
14 h3 g s (if 14 ... c6, White plays 15 �a2 11 tDd 7 ? 1
•••
and 'iff3) 1 5 tDf3 tDg 6 16 d4 c;t;>g 7 17 In his notes for Chess Informant 6,
�e3 "fie7 18 tDd2 tDf4 19 �fl tDd7 20 Ivkov prefers 11 ... �xc4 12 dXC4, al
tDC4 f6 2 1 g3 tDe6 2 2 �e2 .l:Ih 8 2 3 c;t;>h 2 though he still evaluates thi s position
l:f.ad8 24 �h s c;t;>h 7 2 5 �g4 'iff7 2 6 �fs+ as a clear advantage for White. I 'm not
c;t;>g 7 2 7 b3 with a large advantage. convinced that Black's position is so
10 ... tDd7 1 1 tDxb 6 ?! �xb3 12 "fixb3 bad - he is after all quite solid. That
axb6 was level in Y. Kosashvili said, I do still prefer White, who can
Y. Kraidman, Tel Aviv 1989, but I think slowly improve his position and also
White again took on b6 too readily. 11 think about tDh4-fs ideas.
�a2 intending b4 looks stronger to me. 12 asl �XC4 1 3 axb6 �e6 14 bxc7 'ii'xC7
11 �C2 1 l S d4
Thi s is unusual, and a nice example
of Bronstein's renowned creativity.
Bl ack is invited to double White's c
pawn s, but at a cost of ceding the light
squares and giving White a bind on ds.
Another point i s to protect e4, so that if
11 ... ds White can safely take a pawn
with 12 tDcxe s tDxes 13 tDxe s dxe4 14
dxe4 "fixdl l s .l:!.xdl etc.
Ivkov al so evaluates thi s as a clear

advantage for White. The two bishops,
central control and better structure
indicate that thi s time there's no ar
gument from m e !
l S . . .�g4 16 d S �xf3 ? 1
16 ... tDe7 i s better, but 17 h 3 �h s 18
g4 �g6 19 tDh4 (Ivkov) i s still very
promising for White.
122
17 'i!Vxf3 l ltJd4 18 cxd4 'iVxC2 19 it.xh6 1 lead to the centre coming under too
Winning a pawn, in view of much pressure, m aking it difficult for
19 ... g xh 6 20 'iVg4+. White to develop his queenside. Nor
White has a virtually deci sive ad m ally it's best to wait until the queen 's
vantage here but Bron stein begins to knight h as reached the king side before
let it slip; and the fin al position, where thinking about thi s advance.
the players agreed a draw, i s genuinely 3 . In the m ain line with 9 ... h6,
unclear. 10 ... ltJh s and 1 1 ... 'iVf6 (Game 18),
19...ltJf6 20 'i!Vg3 ltJ h 5 21 'i!Vg4 g6 White's most promising pl an is to play
it.e3 and then d3-d4. The position looks
deceptively quiet, but there are some
cleverly concealed traps for Bl ack to
negotiate.
4. White should always be looking
for ways to shut the a7-bishop out of
the g ame. There are often tactical
mean s to achieve thi s aim (see, for ex
ample, Game 2 2 ) .
5. Whenever Black plays . . .ltJh S, both
sides must be wary of possible tactics
22 dxe 5 1 involving a discovered attack with ltJxes.
2 2 :acl! 'ii'x b2 2 3 ':'C7 intending 6. The most ambitious way of m eet
23 ... 'iVxd4 24 'it'd7 (Ivkov) should be ing the popul ar ... i.e6 plan is with i.c2
winning for White. (see Games 20-21).
22 ...l:txe 5 23 f3 'ikxb2 24 it.e3 .l:.e7 2 5 7. Be careful to avoid pl aying on
'i'h4 ':C7 2 6 g41 auto-pilot - White's position doesn 't
And here 26 'ili'g s keeps an edge. pl ay by itself. G ames 19 and 23 are
26 . .ltJf6 2 7 l:!.ab1 'ii'e 5 2 8 l:tfd 1 ltJh7 2 9
. included to provide a stern warning for
J:tbc1 :xc1 Yz-Yz those who think otherwise!
8. The it.e3 pl an is a good second
Key Notes option for White (see G ames 24- 2 5 ) . If
An and can struggle again st it, then
1. Remember to pl ay 9 h3 in stead of m aybe your opponents will too!
9 ltJbd2 ? ! , which allows Black to seize 9. An early ... it.g4 i s seemingly an
the initiative with 9 ... ltJg4!, ... �h 8 and enticing option for Black, especi ally for
.. .fS . inexperienced pl ayers, but White
2. White needs to prepare d3-d4 should be very happy to face thi s move
properly. A prem ature advance can (see Game 27).
1 23
C h a pt e r F o u r
Italian Game:
Two Knights Defence
When White plays 4 d3 again st the Two 6 ... d6 7 c3

Knights Defence, there's an invitation
for Bl ack to tran spose to the m ain lines
with 4 .... i.c5 5 c3. Indeed, thi s i s some
thing which very often happen s. In thi s
ch apter we'll focus o n altern atives to
thi s bi shop development.
Bl ack's most popular alternative by
some di stance i s 4 ... i.e7. I suspect that
thi s m ove i s favoured by those who
norm ally pl ay the closed m ain lines
with ... i.e7 again st the Ruy Lopez, as
Bl ack's system of development is very Bl ack h as arrived at a m ajor cross
simil ar. roads, an d there are numerous options
A key position, which has ari sen in for him:
literally thousands of games, i s reached a) The most popul ar choice in prac
after the following moves: tice is the typical RUy Lopez plan of
1 e 4 e s 2 liJf3 liJc6 3 i.C4 liJf6 4 d 3 i.e7 g aining space in the centre and on the
5 0-0 0-0 6 i.b3 queen side, with 7 ... liJa5 8 i.c2 c5. This
White can al so play 6 �el or 6 c3, i s covered in Tiviakov-Werle (Game 29).
an d these are perfectly good options, b) Th e little pawn m ove 7 ... h 6 has
but for repertoire purposes I 've chosen more uses th an you might think. This
to focus entirely on 6 i.b3 . option is con sidered in Nevednichy-
1 24
Italian Game: Two Knig hts Defence
Mitkov (Game 30), along with 7 ... ttJd7 We also take a look at two other
and 7 .. .c.th B in the notes. lines involving an early ... dS. The para
c) Developing the light-squared doxical 6 ... d6 7 c3 dS ! ? is con sidered in
bishop to e6 is just as much an option the notes to Game 3 3 , while the sh arp
here as it is in ... iLcs lines. 7 ... iLe6 is but theoretically dubious 4 ... dS is cov
covered in Malakhov-Carl sen (Gam e ered in Emms-Wittm ann (Gam e 34).
3 1), a s well a s 7 ...iL g 4 in the notes. Fin ally, in Bologan-Tom ashevsky
The following three g ames cover (Game 3 S) we con sider 4 ... h 6, which i s
lines where Black pl ays an early ... dS. Bl ack's best altern ative t o th e m ain
The most significant of these i s un moves, 4 ... iLcs and 4 ... iLe7.
doubtedly 6 ... dS (in stead of 6 ... d6).
There are obvious similarities to the
... dS lines we've con sidered in previous Game 29
chapters; the only noteworthy differ S.Tivia kov-J.Werle
ence is the placement of Bl ack's dark Dutch Cha m pion s h i p,
squared bishop. lee uwa rde n 2005
White's most promising option is
Plan B: 7 exds ttJxdS. Many of the notes in thi s g ame are
based on Tiviakov's own excellent
notes for Chess Base.
1 e4 e 5 2 iLe4 ttJf6 3 d 3 ttJe6 4 ttJf3 iLe7
5 0-0 0-0 6 iLb3 d6 7 e3 ttJa5 8 iLe2 e5
7 ... ttJas i s a popul ar move, and one
th at i s likely to be played by anyone
who uses the Chigorin Defence
(9 ... ttJas) in the mainline Ruy Lopez; or
the ... ttJas pl an again st a variety of d3
Lopez lines, for example 1 e4 eS 2 ttJf3
ttJc6 3 i.bs a6 4 iLa4 ttJf6 S 0-0 iLe7 6
In thi s position White must decide .l:r.e1 b S 7 iLb3 d6 B c3 0-0 9 d3 ttJas 10
between two possibilities: iLC2 cS. Note that thi s position can also
a) The ch allenging B l:.e1, leading to be reached from the m ain game, if
sharp, forcing pl ay, i s the subject of White chooses 6 l:.e1 (in stead of our 6
Tiviakov-Ivani sevic (Game 3 2 ) . iLb3 ) and then 6 ... d6 7 c3 ttJas B iLbS !
b) B h 3 prevents the ...iL g 4 p i n and (White saves the bishop i n a round
can be con sidered the safer option . Thi s about route) B ... a6 9 iLa4 bS 10 iLC2 cS.
i s covered in Kramnik-Kasparov, Game In our line, the positions reached
33. are simil ar to those in the d3 Lopez,
1 25
Beating 1 e4 e5
with just a couple of slight differences. 12 ... g 6, but then 1 3 .i.a4! cxb4 14 axb4
A positive for White is that his bi shop .i.d7 15 ltJC4 h6 would have been fa
has reached c2 in less time (c4-b3 -C2 vourable for White had he continued
in stead of bs-a4-b3-c2). On the other with 16 b S ! ltJas 17 ltJe3, as indicated
hand, Black isn't committed to ... a6 and by Bruzon .
... bS and might be able to use these two 9 ltJ c6 10 b4 a6
.•.
tempi more effectively el sewhere. Black normally prevents the pawn

advancing to b S . If, for example,
10 ... l:e8 White could con sider 11 b S ! ?
ltJ a s 12 c4! (Lukacs) when suddenly the
bl-knight changes course and will be
very effectively developed on c3,
whereas Bl ack's knight on as will take a
while to rejoin the action .
Black i s usually reluctant to swap
pawn s on b4 unless he really h as to:
10 ... cxb4 11 axb4! increases White's
central control and activates the rook
9 U ll on al.
Th e pl an of a3 and b4 to g ain space 1 1 l:[e1 l:te8
is not exactly new, but it's noticeable At first sight the apparently loose
th at m any of the leading Italian Game l1 ... dS looks like it shouldn't work at
experts are favourin g thi s approach . all, but it's actually playable because
It's certainly a way of tryin g to exploit Black can use tactics to avoid losing his
Bl ack's l ack of ... a6 and ... bS - White's e-pawn :
plan would be less effective in the a} 1 2 exds ltJxds (if 12 .. .'iVxdS 13
analogous d3 Lopez positions. ltJbd2 and ltJC4-b6 becomes an idea) 13
One advantage of thi s plan i s that it h 3 ! ? (preventing ....i.g4; 1 3 1tJxe s ? ltJxes
can be implem ented at quite a few dif 14 ':'xe s .i.f6 i s Black's idea, while 13
ferent moments. For example, White .i.b2 .i.g4! 14 ltJbd2 cxb4 1 5 axb4 ltJf4
can play 9 %:tel ltJc6 10 ltJbd2 .l:.e8 and left Black quite active in Zhang Zhong
now, in stead of the traditional 1 1 ltJfl L. Bruzon Bauti sta, Calvia Olympiad
intending ltJg 3, h 3 and d4 (or ltJe3, h 3 , 2004) 13 ... .i.f6 ! ? 14 bxcS ( Dolm atov
ltJh 2-g4 etc), White can switch with 1 1 suggests 14 ltJfd2 ! ? pl anning ltJe4)
a3 .i.f8 12 b 4 when 12 ... a 6 reaches the 14 ... .i.fs was V. Belikov-S.5magin, Kazan
note to move 12 in the m ain game. In 1995, and n ow White should con sider
S.Tiviakov- L. Bruzon Bauti sta, Calvia 15 l:.a2 preparin g d4 to hold on to the
Olympiad 2004, Bl ack in stead chose extra pawn .
1 26
Italian Game: Two Kn ig hts Defen ce
b) There's something to be said for unclear complication s continued after

12 lLlbd2, intending 12 ... d4 13 cxd4 24 exfs lLlcxdS 2 5 lLlh4 lLlf4 26 'iVg4.
cxd4 and now 14 �b3 reactivating the b) 13 ... lLlh S 14 lLlfl (thi s time 14
bishop: 14 ... oltd6 1 5 lLlh4 lLle7 16 'ii'f3 d4! ? offers a g ambit, and 14 ... exd4 1 5
i.g4 17 fig 3 etc, R.Picard-T.Cali stri, Gu cxd4 cxb4 16 dS bxa3 1 7 �xa3 prom
ingamp 2006. i ses decent compen sation) 14 ... g 6 1 5
1 2 h3 lLle3 lLlf4?! (thi s wastes time; Hebden
White often chooses the plan of prefers lS ... oltg 7 aiming for an eventual
lLlbd2 and �b2, aiming for d3-d4, but .. .fS) 16 g 3 lLlh S 17 <itt g 2 �g7 18 �b3 !
Tiviakov tries something a bit different. (dS i s firmly under White's control)
The position after 12 lLlbd2 �f8 1 3 18 ... �d7 19 h 3 l:.f8 20 lLldS :c8 2 1 d4
i.b2 h a s been seen in a few games. with some advantage for White,
Some examples: C.Bauer-M.Hebden, Escaldes 1998.
c) 1 3 ... �e6 14 h 3 dS (otherwi se it's
White who advances in the centre:
14 ... lLld7 15 d4 cxd4 16 cxd4 exd4 17
lLlxd4 lLlxd4 18 oltxd4 with a small ad
vantage, A.Areshchen ko-A.Abdulla,
Moscow 2008) l s lLlg S !
a) 1 3 ... b S 14 d4! c4 (14 ... exd4 15

cxd4 cxb4 i s met by 16 dS! and here
16 ... bxa 3 ? loses m aterial to 17 �xf6
'i'xf6 18 dxc6; or 14 ... cxd4 1 S cxd4 exd4
16 lLlxd4 lLlxd4 17 �xd4 �b7 18 'lWf3
with an edge for White, R.5chmaltz
R.Berzin sh, German League 2002) 15 a4 l S ... d4 (Black must avoid l S ... �c8?
i.b7 16 dS lLle7 1 7 lLlfl g6 18 �Cl �g7 16 exds lLlxdS 17 'iVh S) 16 l:.bl ! cxb4
19 lLlg 3 fid7 20 oltd2 l:tec8 2 1 'ii'e 2 lLle8 (16 ... b S ! ?) 17 cxb4 as 18 bS lLla7 19
22 .l:!.a3 lLlC7 23 l:teal was a typically lLlxe6 fxe6 (S.Jessel-M.Hebden, Dublin
complex Lopez-styl e battle in 2008) and here 20 lLlC4 lLld7 21 b6 ! ?
Z.Efimenko-I.Saric, Kerner 2007. With lLlc6 2 2 olta4! l:tc8 2 3 oltCl looks better
White beginning to press on the a-file, for White. He can meet 23 ... lLlcs with
Black hit back with 23 .. .fS ! ? and the 24 oltxc6 .l:!.xc6 2 5 a4 and �a3 .
1 27
Beating 1 e4 e5
12 ... .ltf8 sion so quickly, m aybe 12 �e3 really is

If Black chooses to prevent �g 5 by an effective m ove.
playing 12 ... h 6, White can revert back Tiviakov believes th at Bl ack should
to the �b2lliJbd2/d4 pl an : 13 �b2 �f8 prefer 13 ... b 5 . After 14 liJbd2 White has
14 liJbd2 b5 1 5 d4 exd4 16 cxd4 cxd4 the possibility of increasing the pres
17 liJxd4 iLb7 18 liJxc6 �xc6 19 "i¥f3 sure on c5 with liJb3 .
with a comfortable position for White, 14 axb4 b 5
A.5itnikov- D.Antic, Kavala 200 5 .
13 � e 3 1 ?
1 5 liJbd2
Now White i s ready to take the ini
Now we see why Tiviakov delayed tiative in the centre by playing d4, so
liJbd2 for so long - he wanted to put Bl ack takes steps to di scourage him
his bishop on e 3 ! Actually, e3 is nor from doing so.
m ally a slightly unusual square for the 1 5 ... iLb7 16 � g 5
bishop in thi s line, but here the pres If 16 d4, 16 ... exd4 17 liJxd4 dS
sure again st c5 provides at least some equalizes.
justification for it, and it certainly 16 ... h 6 1 7 �h4 �c8
works well in the game.
Tiviakov also mention s the more
natural-looking 13 �g 5 ! ? : "After the
exch ange on f6 the d5-square will be
come weak and White can hope for the
advantage because of the bad bishop
on f8." Thi s m ove i s always a serious
con sideration if Bl ack pl ays ... iLf8 with
out first playing ... h 6 .
1 3 ... cxb4
If Black is forced to release the ten -
128
Italian Game: Two Knig hts Defen ce
1 7 ... i.. e 7 i s an idea we've seen pre And here the pawn sacrifice
viously, with Black intending to relieve 22 ... dS ! ? 23 tDxds tDxds 24 i.. x dS i.. x ds
some pressure with ... tDh S or ... tDd7. I 2S exds a s ! 26 l::tx as 'i¥xc3 27 ':xbS
think White keeps a small plus after 18 i.. x b4 2 8 tDf3 keeps White's advantage
tDfl tDd7 19 i.. g 3 , or 18 ... tDh S 19 i.. x e7 under control .
'iVxe7 (19 ... tDxe7? 20 tDxe s ! ) 20 tDe3, 2 3 'i!Vf3
intending 20 ... tDf4 2 1 tDdS ! . If Black does nothing special White
1 8 tDfl will increase the pressure with tDhg4,
It's quite in structive witnessing how after which all his minor pieces are ei
Tiviakov eventually uses all of his mi ther directly or indirectly controlling
nor pieces to take control of the dS the key ds-square ! Thi s i s brilliant
square. H e al so con sidered 18 tDb3 ! ?, strategy from Tiviakov - he has basi
which h as the advantage of preventing cally won the key battl e to control dS.
... as for the foreseeable future.
18 •.• tDb8
Rerouting the knight to d7. The bat
tle for the ds-square is in full swing.
19 l:ta 3 tD b d 7 20 tD e 3 'iIIC 7 2 1 i.. b3
However, winning a gam e of chess

again st a strong grandm aster i s rarely
easy. Werle refuses to let his position
slide into passivity. Instead he wi sely
chooses to g ain some activity and prac
21 ... g6 tical ch ances by sacrificing a pawn,
Black misses a chance to eliminate a ironically on the very same square
weakness and free his position with White was aiming to dominate.
2 1...as ! . White can only expect a very 23 ... d S ! 24 tDxd s tDxd s 2S i.. xd S i.. xd S
slight advantage after 22 ':xas (22 26 exd s 'iVd6 2 7 :ea l tDb8 28 g4
bxas dS!) 2 2 ... 'iVxc3 2 3 i.. xf6 tDxf6 24 Tiviakov di scarded 28 tDfl in view of
.l::. xbS i.. c 6 2 S l:.b6 tDd7 2 6 l:la6 'i¥xb4 2 7 28 .. .fs 29 tDd2 f4 trapping the bishop,
i.. d S. but later he realized th at 30 tDe4 'i¥f8
2 2 tDh2 i.. g 7 3 1 'iVg4 g s 3 2 i.. x g s hxg s 3 3 tDxg s
1 29
Beating 1 e4 e5
would gives White a strong attack. noeuvring the knight to the very juicy
28 ... g5 29 i.. g 3 .l:r.ed8 outpost on fS . To m ake m atters worse,
Werle was experiencing time trouble
problem s.
3 1 . . .1:tc6
Tiviakov believes that staying active
was Black's best ch ance: 3 1 ... e4 3 2 d4 fS
33 gxfs 'iVxfs 34 i.. x b8 l:txb8 3 S l:txa6
l:r.bc8 36 1\fe3 and "White h as an extra
pawn with advantage". With passive
defence, Black i s probably losing.
3 2 lLlf1!
H ere it comes!
Now Bl ack win s back the ds-pawn, 3 2 ... lLld7 3 3 lLle3 'iVe6 34 lLlf5 i..f8? ! 3 5
but h i s position rem ain s compromi sed. d4!
If White brings his knight to fS it will be
very difficult for Black to save the posi
tion .
30 'iWe2 'i!kxd 5 3 1 11d1
Now Black i s unable to avoid losing

m aterial .
35 •.. exd4 3 6 'iVxe6 fxe6
After 36 ... .l:r.xe6 3 7 l::t x d4 l:r.c6 3 8 l:id3,
At first sight it looks like there h as the pin on the d-file is fatal and White
been a shift in mom entum : Black h as follows up with R{a3}-al-dl.
reg ained his pawn and White h as re 3 7 lLlxd4 lLlf6 3 8 lida 1 !
treated. But in fact Black still h as m ajor The first pawn drops, and for the
issues to solve here. His position i s full rest of the g am e Tiviakov never loses
of weaknesses, especially the light his grip.
squares on the kingside, and White h as 3 8 l:r.cc8 3 9 lLlxe6 .l:td3 40 l:r.xa 6 l:r.dxc3
..•
a very straightforward pl an of ma- 41 lLlxg5 ':3c6 42 lLle6 i.. x b4 43 ':xc6
13 0
Ita lian Game: Two Knig hts Defen ce
'uxc6 44 l:.a8+ c;ii> h 7 45 ':a7+ 'i?i>g8 46 is norm ally used in a different way - to
lZ'ld4 ':'C5 47 lZ'lf5 h S ? 48 lZ'lh6+ c;ii> h 8 49 free h7 for the knight! It might not be
g5 1-0 the first idea th at comes to mind, but
A great performance from Tiviakov there's some solid logic behind it. Bl ack
and a hugely in structive game. It's re wants to pl ay ... lZ'lh 7-g S to exch ang e at
assurin g to be reminded that even least one pair of minor pieces, and
strong grandm asters can be outplayed m aybe two, in order to ease the con
in these 'quiet' positions. gestion in his position and al so to
loosen White's control of the dark
squares in the centre.
Game 30 Bl ack h as al so tried other pl an s in
V.Nevednichy-M.Mitkov volvin g m ovin g the f6-knight:
E u ropea n C h a m pio n s h i p, a) 7 ...lZ'ld7 frees f6 for the bishop
O h rid 2001 and al so aim s for ... lZ'lCS . With the pres
sure off e4, 8 d4 i s a logical respon se.
1 e4 e 5 2 lZ'lf3 lZ'lc6 3 �C4 lZ'lf6 4 d 3 �e7 Now:
5 0-0 d6 6 �b3 0-0 7 c3 h6
al) The tempo-losing 8 ... lZ'lf6 ! ? is ac

Thi s little pawn move i s sometimes tually not as bad as it looks, since 9
played just to prevent lZ'lg s when Black lZ'lbd2 �g4 pressures White's centre.
is planning the typical regrouping m a Even so, I was slightly worse after 10 dS
noeuvre ... ,Ue8, ... �f8 and possibly ... g 6 lZ'lb8 1 1 h 3 ! �c8 (if 11 ... �h S, White
and ...� g 7 , so that he is better placed plays 12 %:tel followed by lZ'lfl-g 3, or g 2 -
to fight in the centre (the rook adds g4) 12 l: e l lZ'lbd7 1 3 lZ'lfl lZ'l e 8 1 4 �C2
pressure down the e-file; the bishop g6 1 5 .th 6 lZ'lg7 16 g4! lZ'lf6 17 'iVd2
influences events down the long di c;ii>h 8 18 lZ'lg 3 lZ'lg8 19 �e3 in
agonal ) . A.Minasian -J . Emms, Paris 1994.
In thi s particul ar line, though, 7 ... h 6 a2) 8 ... �f6 9 �e3 lZ'las (or 9 ... l:te8 10
13 1
Beating 1 e4 e5
ds l'iJe7 11 c4 l'iJg 6 12 l'iJC3 l'iJh4 1 3 �a4 �f6 1 3 exfs (or 1 3 l'iJe3 fxe4 14 l'iJd2)
with an edge for White, L.Psakhis 1 3 ... �xfs 14 l'iJe3 �g6 1 5 l'iJds l:tac8 16
E.Geller, Soviet Championship 1983) 10 �e3 a6 17 h3 �h s 18 �c2 l'iJge7 19
.YLc2 l'iJC4 11 .YLcl and White can build �e4 with some advantage for White in
slowly here because there's not a huge view of his greater activity and better
amount of pressure on his centre. The structure, D.Sermek-N. Pedersen, Gron
continuation of the g am e D. Pikul a ingen 1993.
S.smagin, Biel 1996, is worth noti n g : b2) Bl ack can change course with
11 .. Jle8 12 a4! ? l'iJf8 1 3 b3 l'iJb6 14 a s 9 ... .YLf6 but then even the simple 10
l'iJbd7 1 5 l'iJbd2 l'iJ g 6 16 b 4 a6 1 7 l'iJC4 dxe s is enough for some advantage,
exd4 18 cxd4 l'iJb8 19 l'iJe3 l'iJc6 20 z:tbl. because of Bl ack's less than optim ally
White has gradually seized more and pl aced pieces: 10 ... l'iJxe s 11 l'iJxe s dxe5
more space whereas Black seem s to 12 l'iJC4 (M.Magomedov-V.Mal aniuk,
have been going round in circles. Koszalin 1999) 12 ... �e6 ! ? 13 l'iJe3 (13
b) 7 ... �h 8 unpin s the f-pawn in �e3 ! ?) 1 3 ...'iIi'xdl 14 l:txdl l:.ad8 15
preparation for ... l'iJg8 and .. .fs . White ':xd8 l:r.xd8 16 �xe6 fxe6 17 �fl (Ma
must react energetically in the centre gom edov). White will org anize him self
to h ave a ch ance of g aining an advan with �e2 and �d2 etc, and the weak
tage: 8 l'iJbd2 (development i s key; 8 ness of Black's doubled e-pawn s i sn't
h 3 ? ! l'iJg 8 ! 9 d4 fs is what Black i s hop going away.
ing for) 8 ... l'iJg 8 9 d4! (everything else i s 8 l'iJbd 2
too slow and Black just breaks with 8 l:tel and 8 h 3 are al so viable, and
.. .fs). indeed there are tran sposition al possi
bilities if Black follows up with ...l:te8
and ... �f8. H owever, with 8 l'iJbd2
White has something el se in mind
ag ain st Bl ack's m ain plan.
8 .l:.el l'iJh 7 9 l'iJbd2 l'iJg s 10 l'iJxg 5
�xg s 1 1 l'iJc4 �e6 12 d4 .YLxC4 1 3 �xC4
�XCl 14 l:[xcl Vf6 15 �d5 l'iJe7 16 �b3
was ever so slightly better for White in
L.Psakhis-O. Romanishin, Lviv 1984.
8 l'iJh7
••.
8 ... .l:!.e8 i s Bl ack's other m ain choice

H ere Black h as a choice: here. For example, 9 l:tel �f8 10 h3 g6
bl) 9 .. .fs (con sistent, but...) 10 dxe s (if 10 ... l'iJa5 11 �C2 cs, White can again
dxe s 11 l'iJC4 (or even 1 1 exfs �xfs 1 2 con sider the a3 and b4 plan) 11 d4
� C 2 'it'd7 1 3 .:tel) 1 1 ... 'it'xdl 12 ':'xdl (White could pl ay m ore slowly with 11
13 2
tDfl �g7 12 tDg 3) 1 1 ... �g7 1 2 a3 (to not 15 J::t g l here?) 15 ... �xg 5 16 f4 �xf4
prevent ... tDb4, which Black plays after 17 �xf4 exf4 18 ':'xf4 'ili'f6 in C.Goral s
12 �c2 exd4 13 cxd4) 12 ... a 5 ! (gaining P. H aba, Internet (freestyle) 2006.
counterpl ay on the queen side) 1 3 .JtC2 10 tDxg5 �xg 5 1 1 f4!
�d7 14 tDfl a4 (intending 1 5 �xa4
exd4 16 cxd4 tDxd4!) 15 d5 tDe7 16 C4
tDh 7 17 tDg 3 b 5 ! ? 18 cxb5 �xb5 19 �d2
c6 20 dxc6 �xc6 21 �C3 with a com
plex and roughly level position,
S. Kudrin- K.Thorsteins, G ausdal 1982.
9 tDC4 1 ? tDg5
9 ... .Jtg4 can be m et aggressively by
10 tDe3 �h 5 1 1 g41. Thi s i s difficult for
Black to face, even though it might be
okay for him after accurate defence:
11 ... �g6 12 tDf5 �xf5 1 3 gxf5 Thi s is the point and the justifica
tion behind White's previous play
(avoiding l:el and not spending a
m ove on h 3 ) . It's easy to forget that d3-
d4 isn't White's only pawn break !
11 J::t e l would tran spose to Psakhis
Rom anishin, above.
11 ... exf4 12 �xf4 �xf4
A.Onischuk-P.Blatny, Elista Olym
piad 1998, in stead continued 12 ... �e6
1 3 tDe3 ! ? (13 d4 .Jtxf4 14 l:txf4 'ifg 5 15
'iff3 reaches the m ain line) 1 3 ... �xf4 14
13 ... �g 5 14 tDxg 5 hxg 5 15 �h l tDa5 :!.xf4 'ifg 5 (Onischuk prefers 14 ... tDe7
16 �C2 g6 17 :g l �h 8 18 fxg 6 fxg 6 19 but still assesses 1 5 d4 tDg 6 16 :f3
�e3 'iVf6 20 11g 3 tDc6 2 1 \'Vg4 \'Ve7 22 'iVh4 17 .Jtc2 as a clear advantage for
l:.h 3 �g7 23 l:txh 7+! �xh 7 24 �xg 5 White) 1 5 lif3 h 5 ? ! 16 d4 tDe7 17 'i!fd3
1i'g 7 2 5 'iWh4+ �g8 2 6 .Jtb3+ and Black c6 18 �c2 and White was slowly build
resigned in J . Emm s-M. Pein, Southend ing up the pressure in the centre and
2005, in view of 26 .. .l::t f7 27 �f6 g5 28 on the king side. Thi s King's Gambit
�xg 5 and :g l. pawn structure is certainly favourabl e
1 3 ... tDg 5 looks better than 1 3 ... �g5, for White, which i s why it's worth keep
and Black was close to solving his prob ing in mind the idea of f2-f4.
lems after 14 �h l �h 8 15 tDxg 5 (why 13 :xf4 'ifg5 14 'iff3
133
Beating 1 e4 eS
'iWh 7+ 'it>f8 and now the brilliant 26

l:txf6 ! ! and White win s - Golubev) 23
!De3 .i.g6 24 !Dfs l:.ae8 25 .:tf3 .i.xfs (or
2 s ... 'it>h 7 26 h s ! i.. xh s 2 7 �h 3 .i.g6 28
':'xh 6+) 26 'ii'xfs :te7 27 .i.c2 g6 (if
27 ... g s, 28 hxg s hxg s 29 �h 3 ! 'ifb s 30
l:.h 7 'ii'e 8 31 'iVh 3 win s - G olubev) 28
'ii'x g6+ :g 7 29 'ii'xh 6 fs 30 e 7 ! .l:r.e8 31
'iWe6+ 'it>h 8 32 ':xfs and Black resigned.
15 h4!
1 5 !De3 ? ! !De s ! 16 'iWfl !Dxd3 ! , over
14 ..• bS!? loading the queen, was Black's idea.
Black wants to kick the knight away White can save him self with 17 �xf7 !
so th at he can l and his own knight on 'ii'x e3+ 18 �h l, and here 18 ... .i.e6 19
e s . White must react vigorously other ':'xf8+ ':'xf8 20 .i.xe6+ 'it>h 7 2 1 'ii'xf8
wise he loses his advantage. !Df2+ 2 2 'it>g l !Dg4+ 2 3 'it>h l !Df2+ is
14 ... .i.e6 i s m ore solid, but White's perpetual check.
exch ange sacrifice in s. Roy Chowdhury l s :iVg6 16 !De3 !Des 17 'ilVe2 'ifg3
•.
A. Filippov, Manama 2009, looks very The immedi ate 17 ... .i.e6, accepting
promising : 1 5 d4 !De7 16 h4! ? (thi s i s a disadvantage, i s the safer option .
committal, and 16 'iff2 intending 18 ':'afl .i.e6 19 d4!
16 ... !Dg6 17 l:If3 i s a decent alternative)
16 ... 'iWbs 1 7 ds .i.d7 18 .:tfl 'ii'c s+ 19
�h l f6 20 e s ! (not allowing Black to
con solidate) 20 ... !Dg 6
White i s h appy to sacrifice the h

pawn, as he i s fully coordinated and
ready to attack fiercely on the king side.
19 !Dg6 20 : 4f3 'ifxh4 21 !Dfs l 'ifd8
..•
2 1 e 6 ! !Dxf4 2 2 'ilVxf4 .i.e8 (or After 2 1 ... .i.xfs 2 2 lir.xfs, Rybka

22 ... i..b s 23 'iffs ! .i.xC4 24 .i.c2 lIf7 2 5 wants to play 2 2 ... !Dh 8 which sum s up
134
Black's position !
22 'ili'xb 5 .l:.b8 2 3 'ike2 1
White could h ave played 2 3 �a4,
but thi s pawn sacrifice looks even
stronger.
2 3 ... .i.xb3 24 axb3 ':xb3 25 ':'g3 1
Black can h ardly m ake a m ove here.

30 ... 'iYd7 doesn't lose immediately, but
3 1 bS keeps up the intense pressure. If
3 1 ... <bh 8, White can even play the sim
ple 32 liJg 3 l::t xf3 33 'ikxf3 ..t>g8 34 liJfS
followed by c S .
The threats o n the king side begin to Black's choice in the g ame fail s to
mount. The first one Black has to pre m eet White's m ain threat.
vent is 26 �C4 threatening the rook 30 ...<bh8? 3 1 liJxg71
and the knight. 2S ... <bh 7 would be the Thi s i s winning.
most n atural try, but then 26 liJxh 6 ! is 3 1 .. J:txf3 3 2 'ikxf3 �g8 3 3 liJf5 �g5 34
very strong : 26 ... gxh6 (26 ... <iii> xh 6 2 7 d6 cxd6 3 5 liJxd6 'iYh4 3 6 'iii'f6+ 'ikxf6 37
�g4!) 2 7 1IYh s <iii> g 7 (if 2 7 .. :iII e 7, White l:txf6 1-0
plays 28 l:th 3) 2 8 l:txf7+! ':xf7 2 9 1:txg 6+
'iitf8 30 'iYg4 l:tb8 (30 ...'iYd7 loses to 3 1
l:tg8+ �e7 3 2 'iVh4+ <be6 3 3 .:tg6+) 3 1 Garne 3l
l:txh 6 ! (White doesn't need t o rush to V.Ma lakhov-M.Carlsen
win the queen) 31 ... <iii> e 8 32 l:.h 8+ <be7 World C u p (ra pid),
(or 32 ... ltf8 3 3 lth 7 ! ) 33 ':'xd8 Ihd8 34 Kha nty-Ma nsiys k 2005
b4 with good winning chances.
Bl ack's choice in the gam e allows 1 e 4 e 5 2 liJf3 liJc6 3 .i.C4 liJf6 4 d 3 .i.e7
him to defend on the king side for the 5 0-0 0-0 6 .i.b3 d 6 7 c3 .i.e6
moment, but only at a cost of giving Bl ack's other bishop move, 7 ... .i.g4,
back the pawn, and a powerful central h as m ore merit here than in similar
one at th at. position s (see following diagram).
25 ... d5 26 exd 5 .l:ib6 27 c41 <bh7 28 'ili'd 3 The reason is th at Black has a clear
.!:tf6 29 b4 .:te8 30 l:tgf3 pl an to release some pressure via ex-
135
Beating 1 e4 e5
ch anges with ... lDd7-cs (-e6) and, de kov's radical solution - just to give it
pending on the situation, ... lDg s, up ! - has some promise: 1 5 'iVc2 l:tfd8
.... ..tg s, or ... ..txf3 followed by some 16 l:.fdl ..tf6 17 lDd2 ! ? 'ilVxd3 18 'it'xd3
thing to g S . .l:!.xd3 19 lDC4 �ad8 20 l:txd3 l:txd3 21
�fl �f8 2 2 �e2 :Id8 2 3 l:.dl l:.b8 24
l:td7 1:[c8 25 lDas �e8 2 6 �d2 and only
White has chances to win thi s position.
(I should add that in the g am e Tiviakov
went horribly wrong and ended up for
tunate to draw! )
Judging by that evidence, 9 ..te3
looks like a good way to cut across the
... lDd7-CS plan . Should Black con sider
changing plan s with 9 ... dS here? If
White captures on dS, his bishop i sn't
For example, 8 h 3 ..th S 9 llel lDd7 ideally placed on e 3 . Development with
10 ..te3 ii.xf3 ! (if 10 ... lDcs, White's idea 10 lDbd2 m akes more sense.
i s 11 ..txcS dxcS 12 g4 ..tg 6 1 3 ..tdS fol
lowed by ..txc6 to ruin Black's pawns,
leading to an edge) 1 1 'ii'xf3 ..tg s 12
..ta4 ..txe3 1 3 'ilVxe3 lDe7 14 d4,
S. Dolmatov-V. Kupreichik, Sverdlovsk
1984. Bl ack has succeeded in his aim of
exchanging some minor pieces, al
though White i s still slightly more com
fortably pl aced.
More recently, Tiviakov h as dis
pen sed with �el to good effect: 9
..te3 ! ? lDd7 10 lDbd2 ! lDcs (it's too l ate For example, 10 ... d4! ? (if 10 ... a6,
for 10 ... i.. xf3 11 lDxf3 ! , when ... ..tg s i s White could pl ay 11 'iVe2 and then, say,
prevented) 11 ..txcS ! ..txf3 (or l1...dxcS 11...'iVd7 1 2 l:1fdl h 6 1 3 lDf1 d4 14 ..td2
12 i.. d S ! ) 12 lDxf3 dxcS 1 3 i.. d S ! 'iVd6 14 �ad8 1 5 lDg 3 ) 1 1 cxd4 exd4 (11 ... lDxd4
ii.xc6 bxc6, S.Tiviakov-E.Bacrot, Ajaccio 12 g4!) 12 ..tf4 ..td6 (12 ... lDd7 ! ?) 13
(rapid) 2008. ..txd6 'it'xd6 14 'iVa ! ..txf3 15 lDxf3, as
The only thing standing between played in E.Torre-C. Becx, Lugano 1989.
White and a decisive position al advan White i s better here because of his
tage i s his d3-pawn . There might be strong bi shop, the open c-file and pres
other ways to proceed, but even Tivia- sure again st d4 and C7.
136
Let's return to the position after liJfl (or 10 �a4 a6 11 d4 exd4 12 liJxd4
7 ... �e6. Once again White is faced with with a slight advantage - Yudasin)
a familiar conundrum : should he keep 10 ... �dS 11 liJg 3 dS (after 11 ... a6 12
the bishop on b3 or avoid the possibil �c2 'iVcs 13 d4 �g4 14 �e3 dS 15 h3
ity of an exch ange? exd4 16 cxd4 dxe4 1 7 hxg4 exf3 lS �fS
the position h ad opened up nicely for
White's bishops in J . Nunn-E.Geller,
London 19S2) 12 �a4 ! .
8 �c2
In earlier times players tended to
keep the bishop on b3, at least for the
moment, but it's noticeable th at Thi s i s a key idea, a n d a recurring
grandm asters such as Mal akhov and theme. I can say from experience th at
Tiviakov prefer to hide the bishop on it's not so easy to remember thi s possi
c2. bility over the board (especially if the
After S liJbd2 (S .:tel often tran s bishop has previously retreated to C2).
poses) here are some typical lines: The pin on the c6-knight can cause
a) S ...�xb3 9 'iVxb3 ltbS 10 .:tel liJd7 Black grief, and for thi s reason he often
11 liJC4 h6 12 d4 �f6 13 �e3 (White spends a tempo on ... a6 so as to an swer
has a slight edge here) 13 ... exd4?! (Lu �a4 with ... b S .
kacs prefers 13 ... liJb6) 14 cxd4 liJb6 A.Cherniaev-Ma.Tseitlin, Biel 1999,
(S.Dolmatov-S.Agdestein, Tilburg 1993) continued 12 .. :ikd6 1 3 d4! dxe4 14
and now 1 5 dS (Lukacs) would h ave left liJxe s and Black could find nothing bet
White in control . ter th an to give up material with
b) S .. :i!i'd7 followed by centralizing 14 ... liJxes 15 dxe s Vi'xe s 16 �xeS :xeS.
the rooks is a typical plan . 9 .:tel and b2) 9 ...:adS 10 �a4 ! ? (here it is
now: again; thi s time White's aim is to play
bl) 9 ... .l:!.aeS intending ... �dS fol- d4 while avoiding the exch ange of
lowed by ... liJe7-g 6, h as been played a bishops) 10 ... a6 11 d4 bS 12 �C2 �g4
few times but it looks a bit artificial : 10 1 3 h3 �h S 14 dS liJbS (Lukacs prefers
137
Beating 1 e4 e5
14 ... liJas which does look m ore natural ; 'i!Vh s+ Wg8 19 'ili'xe s and White m ain
perhaps Bal ashov was concerned about tained an edge.
15 a4) 15 liJfl c6! (Bl ack must fight g liJbd2
back in the centre; pl ay i s similar to In comparison to some of the ... .i.e6.
that in the 9 d4 Lopez. except that .i.c2 lines of previous chapters. White
Bl ack's light-squared bishop i s a bit could argue th at Black's dark-squared
mi splaced) 16 dxc6 liJxc6 17 liJg 3 iLg6 bishop is more passively placed on e7
(A.Jakubiec-Y. Balashov. Wisl a 1992) and it's not so straightforward for
and here 18 liJh4 ds 19 liJxg 6 hxg6 20 Black to organize his forces. Thi s i s at
exds liJxds looks good enough for a least partially true. although one way
slight advantage for White. in view of for Black to try to remedy the problem
his bishop pair. is to play ... :e8 h6 (to prevent .i.g s or
• ...
S ••• dS liJg s) and ... .i.f8.

Tiviakov has pl ayed 9 'ili'e2. and this
move h as the m erit of accelerating lIdl
if Black chooses to release the ten sion.
Thi s advance i s Black's m ost n atural

respon se to 8 .i.c2. and al so the most
popul ar choice.
If 8 ... liJd7 preparing .. .fs. White For example. 9 ... dxe4 10 dxe4 liJd7 !
strikes in the centre with 9 d4! and (the best way to reorg anize) l 1 l:tdl (11
Black h as to deal with the threat of ds. liJbd2 would tran spose to the m ain
L.Totsky-V.Golod. Moscow 1991. con g ame) 11 .. :iVc8 (11 ... 'iVe8 ! 12 liJg s iLxg s
tinued 9 ... exd4 10 liJxd4 (also possible 1 3 .i.xg s f6 14 .i.e3 'ii'f7. as played in
i s 10 cxd4 ds 1 1 liJC3 dxe4 12 liJxe4) M.Ohme-C. Billing. Kelheim 2007. effec
10 ... liJxd4 11 cxd4 liJb6 12 liJc3 cs (if tively g ains a tempo and White's ad
12 ... ds. White advances with 13 e s ) 1 3 vantage based on the two bishops is
ds .i.c8 1 4 f4 (White can al so play m ore small) 12 liJg s ! .i.xg s 13 iLxg s f6 14
positionally with 14 a4) 14 ... .i.f6 15 e s ! ? .i.e3 'ii'e 8 1 5 liJd2 as 16 liJC4 'iVf7 17
dxes 16 fxe s iLxes 1 7 iLxh 7+ Wxh 7 1 8 liJa3 b6 18 :d2 lUc8 ? ! 19 .i.a4 liJa7 20
138
Italian Game : Two Knig hts Defen ce
.l:ladl and White was in total control,

S.Tiviakov-M.Van der Wert, Dieren
2006.
What h appen s if Black tries to keep
the ten sion in the centre? Let's see:
9 ... l:te8 10 tLlbd2 (10 .ta4! ?) 10 ... a6
(prophylaxi s again st .ta4) 1 1 h3 h 6
9 ... dxe4
Black can al so con sider keeping the
ten sion here:
a) 9 ...'iVd7 10 %:tel .l:.ad8 1 1 .ta4!
(thi s m ove, again ! ) 1 1 ... .td6 12 h3 {I
don't see anything terribly wrong with
12 exd5 .txd5 13 tLlxe5) 12 ... a6 1 3
12 exd5 ! ? ( 1 2 l:tdl .tf8 1 3 tLlfl 'ili'd7 tLlg 5 ! ? b 5 1 4 .tb3 tLl e 7 ( 1 4... .tc5 ! ?) 1 5
14 tLlg 3 liad8 is roughly equal) d4! tLl g 6 16 tLlxe6 fxe6 17 exd5 exd5 1 8
12 ... tLlxd5 (12 ... .txd5 intending 1 3 lIel tLle4! c6 19 tLlxd6 'ili'xd6 20 dxe5 tLlxe5
i.f8 looks like a decent alternative) 13 21 .tf4 tLlfd7 2 2 .tg 3 .:tde8 23 %le3 �f6
tLlC4 and now: 24 'ili'e2 l:te7 2 5 a4! and Black was be
a) 1 3 ...f6 i s m et by 14 d4! . ginning to feel the pressure in
b ) I f 1 3 . . ..td6, I wonder whether D.Serm ek-M.Ze1ic, Pula 2001.
White can grab the pawn : 14 tLlcxe 5 b) 9 ... lIe8 10 :tel (10 'ili'e2 tran s
tLlxe 5 (or 14 ... .tf5 1 5 tLlxc6! litxe2 16 poses to 9 'iVe2, above) 10 ... .tf8 11 h 3
tLlxd8 litxc2 17 tLlxb7) 1 5 tLlxe5 .tf5 16 h 6 ( 1 1. . .a 6 12 tLlg 5 ! ) 12 .ta4 (expanding
f4, intending 16 .. .f6 1 7 'ii'h 5 ! . Philidor-sty1e with 12 b4! ? a6 1 3 .tb2
c ) 1 3 . . .tLlf4 1 4 .txf4! exf4 1 5 d4 .td5 looks interesting, intending a3, exd5
16 litfel .tf6 17 'iVd3 g 6 18 ':'xe8+ 'iVxe8 and c4) 12 ... dxe4 1 3 dxe4 tLld7 ! 14 tLlfl
19 tLlcd2, when White's strong centre ( I 'm tempted by 14 ite2 followed by
and better structure is worth m ore .txc6 and tLlc4) 14 ... tLla5 (Lukacs sug
than Black's bishop pair, L. Hoyos Mil- gests 14 ... 'iVf6 aiming for ... tLlC5 and
1an -V.N asybullin, correspondence 2007. ... lIad8) 1 5 tLle3 c6 16 .tc2 tLlC4 17 tLlg4!
Overall, I feel th at Black should be h5 18 tLlgh 2 f6 19 'ii'e 2 .tf7 20 tLlh4
okay if he i s careful but I would still (White i s m arginally better, but the
prefer to be White. gam e ends dram atically ... ) 20 ... g 6 ? ? 2 1
13 9
Beating 1 e4 e5
tiJxg 6 ! and 1-0, A. Lutikov-A.Tuzovsky, most ch allenging plan here involves a

Frunze 1973. pawn advance on the queenside: 12 b4
10 dxe4 .i.d6 1 3 .l:r.dl as 14 b s tiJe7 (L.Mazi
V.5rebrnic, Aschach 1994). Here, I was
engrossed by a long Rybka-inspired
line: 1 5 tiJg s .i.d7 16 tiJxh 7 !
1o ... tiJd 7 1
It might appear that Bl ack has quite
a few decent options here, but in real
ity it's difficult to find another way to 16 .. .'ihh 7 17 'ilih s+ <oit g 8 18 tiJf3 g 6 !
reorganize effectively and to deal with ( 1 8 .. .f6 19 ii.b3+) 19 'iVh 6 f6 20 .i.b3+
White's plan of 'iVe2, tiJc4, l:tdl and l:.f7 21 .i.g s ! ( 2 1 .i.e3 tiJbds ! 22 .i.xds
possibly .i.a4. tiJxds 23 :xds lIh 7 ! 24 "fixg 6+ l:tg 7 2 5
The plan of ... .i.cs and .. :fie7 h as 'ilih 6 :h 7 i s a draw by repetition)
some appeal, but it seem s that Black 21 ... 'iVf8 ! ? 22 'iVh4! tiJed s ! 23 1:.xds a4!
doesn't have enough time to arrange 24 ':'xd6 axb3 25 l:txf6 'ifg 7 26 l:!.xf7
thi s together with the necessary pro <oitxf7 and who knows what is h appen
phylactic moves like ... h6 and ... a6/ ... as. i n g ? A bit of tangent, I realize, but fun
For example, 10 ... .i.cs 1 1 'iVe2 "fie7 1 2 to analyse !
tiJC4 tiJd7 1 3 b 4 (or 1 3 tiJg s) 1 3 ... .i.d6 14 12 tiJC4 f6 1 3 tiJe3
.:I.dl tiJb6 15 tiJe3 ! , or 10 ... as 11 'iVe2 Heading for ds. 1 3 :dl 'fif7 14 tiJe3
.i.cs 12 tiJC4 tiJd7 1 3 tiJg s; in both cases comes to the same thing.
White can count on at least a small 1 3 . . .'fif7 14 lt d 1 l:tfd8 1 5 tiJd 5 nac8
advantage. Lukacs suggests that ls ... tiJb6 16
11 'fie 2 'fie8 tiJxe7+ tiJxe7 restricts White's advan
Planning .. .f6, usefully preventing tage to a minimum, and it's h ard to
tiJg s, followed by ... 'fif7, after which argue with this. White can pl ay 17 b3
Bl ack's pieces enjoy some coordination . followed by .i.e3 and hope to slowly
1 1 ... tiJb6 prevents tiJC4, but there's m ake some inroads using his bishop
still tiJfl-e3 (or g 3 ) . I think that White's pair.
14 0
16 ..te3
2 1 liJxf6+1
Carl sen clearly believed in Black's Winning.
position to some extent, because he 2 1 . . .gxf6 2 2 .l:!.xd6 cxd6 2 3 Vxb6 liJd7
was happy to repeat the line right up 24 'iWxd6 ':xC3 2S ..tb3 ..txb3 2 6 axb3
to thi s point again st the sam e oppo .l:txb3 2 7 h 3 liJf8 28 .l:!.xa 6 liJg6 29 l:r.a8+
nent in the same mini-match . H aving �g7 30 .l:!.c8 �h6 31 .:rC7 J:.d 3 3 2 "iVc6
said th at, I guess there would have Vf8 33 b S 1-0
been precious little opportunity to pre
pare thoroughly between the rapidplay In the next three g ames we con sider
games. lines where Black pl ays an early ... dS,
16 ... ..tc S ? the most popul ar of which i s 6 ... dS.
Thi s i s a blunder, which loses m ate
rial to a simple tactic.
Carl sen's improvement in the next Game 32
gam e was simply 16 ... ..tf8, but after 17 S.Tivia kov-I.lvan isevic
�d2 a6 ? ! 18 :tadl he was under some G reek Tea m C h a m pion s h i p,
pressure. If 18 ... ..tcS, 19 ..txcS liJxcs 20 Ka l l ithea 2009
b4 liJd7 21 ..tb3 keeps White on top.
Black h as problems to solve even after 1 e4 eS 2 liJf3 liJc6 3 ..tC4 liJf6 4 d3 ..te7
17 ... liJe7 18 l:.adl, but thi s looks like a S 0-0 0-0 6 ..tb3 dS 7 exd s
wiser choice. Capturing is definitely the most
17 ..txCS liJxc S 18 'ii' b s l challenging respon se to 6 ... dS.
If the knight moves, White just If 7 liJbd2, Black's most straightfor
takes on b7. Carl sen 's creative attempt ward course of action is 7 ... dxe4 8 dxe4
to trap the queen is met by a solid refu ..tcS ! 9 c3 "iVe7 reaching a position with
tation. equal chances. I should stress th at, as
18 ... b61? 19 b4 a6 20 'ir'xc6 :d6 we've seen in similar positions, there's
14 1
Beating 1 e4 e5
still plenty of scope for either side to liJde2+ 1 7 .r:txe2 l:txe4 18 llxe4.
outplay his opponent. 8 .. .f6 ? ! is unwise. Both 9 d4! exd4 10
7 liJxd s 8 litel
..• liJxd4 and 9 liJc3 .ie6 10 d4! should
This is White's sharpest try, and per lead to at least some advantage for
haps the most critical. The safer 8 h3 i s White.
con sidered in the next g ame. As a rule of thumb, Bl ack should
avoid .. .f6 if White can an swer immedi
ately with d4.
8 .ig4
...
8 ... .if6 looks like the only decent al

ternative, although even here Black 9 h3
soon feel s obliged to pin the f3-knight: I f White wishes t o avoid the sh arp
9 liJbd2 (9 h3 i s al so possible, tran spos positi on s ari sing after this m ove, he
ing to 8 h3 .if6 9 l:tel) 9 ... .ig4 10 h 3 can play 9 liJbd2 ! ? Thi s shouldn 't lead
.ih s l l liJe4 liJf4 (if 11 .. Jile8 I like 12 c 3 to any significant advantage as long as
�g 6 1 3 a 3 with �a2/'iVb3 ideas, while Black i s careful, but again there are
1 1 ...liJd4 i s m et by 12 g4) 12 liJg 3 .ixf3 enough possibilities to keep things in
(12 ... .ig6 13 d4! undermines the knight teresting.
on f4) 1 3 'iVxf3 liJd4 ! ? (13 .. J:tb8 14 'iVe4 9 liJbd2 f6 10 h 3 .ih s 1 1 c3 (White
liJg6 15 c3 .ig s 16 liJfs left White with must prevent ... liJd4) 11 ... �h 8 12 liJe4
strong light-squared control in 'ili'd7 ? (in stead Black should pl ay some
A.Beliavsky-G .Agzamov, Spartakiad thing like 12 ... liJas 13 �c2 CS) was
1981) 14 'it'xb7 l:.b8 ("intending D. Pikula-Z. Petronijevic, Cetinje 1993,
... :txb3" - Beliavsky) and now I think and here both players overlooked the
White h as a promising queen -for possibility of 1 3 liJxe s ! winning a pawn
pieces exchange: 15 'iVe4 :tb4 (or - 1 3 ... liJxes 14 'iVxh s liJxd3 loses to 15
ls ... .l:txb3 16 cxb3 liJC2 17 .ie3 liJxal 18 .l:tdl.
':xal 'iii'x d3 19 .ixf4 'ili'xe4 20 liJxe4 After 9 h3 Bl ack h as to m ake a big
exf4 21 liJxf6+ g xf6 22 :Cl) 16 .id2 ! deci sion : should he exchange on f3 and
14 2
enter a long forcing sequence, or re m aintain an advantage with either 18

treat and sacrifice his e-pawn to induce il.d2 or 18 il.e3 l:[xc3 19 il.d4 .l:!.c6 20
a weakness on White's kin g side? Both :ael) 14 :e2 ! and now:
choices lead to very complicated posi a) 14 ... 'iWh4 1 5 il.xds cxds 16 ttJC3
tion s, albeit ones which are quite dif 'itth 8 (16 ... d4 1 7 ttJbs) 17 'ii'x ds ! llad8 18
ferent in character. il.g s 'ii'x h 3 19 'ili'g 2 'ili'xg 2+ 20 'it>xg 2
9 il.xf3
... with an extra pawn and a significant
9 ... il.h s offers a Marshall-style g am advantage for White, lNunn
bit: 10 g4! (10 ttJbd2 i s likely to lead to LFernandez G arcia, Lugano 1983.
the 10 ttJbd2 note, after 10 .. .f6) b) 14 ... 'itth 8 1 5 ttJc3 ttJxc3 16 bxc3 fs
10 ... il.g 6 1 1 ttJxe s ttJxes 12 .l:!.xes c6. (16 ... 'iWh4 17 il.d2 fs 18 .l:!.ael fxg4 19
'ii'x g4 forces Bl ack to lose tim e retreat
ing his queen, V. Dimitrov-M.Vucic,
Elenite 1986) 1 7 gs (Dolm atov assesses
17 'iVg 2 as a "+1=" but I prefer thi s more
active move) 17 .. .f4 18 h4. If Black now
pl ays 18 ... h6, White can go on the of
fen sive: 19 il.b2 ! hxg s 20 c4 gxh4 2 1
'itth l .
White's king side i s compromised

because of the advanced g -pawn . On
the other h and, in contrast to the Mar
shall G ambit in the RUy Lopez, White i s
able to develop his queenside much
more quickly. Indeed, a recurring
theme here i s how White tries to over
come his weaknesses by striving for
piece activity. Accurate play i s required, Suddenly, with .l:!.g l and cs looming,
but objectively White coul d be doing it's Black's king which i s being at
well h ere. For example, 1 3 'iVf3 ! il.d6 ! tacked!
(13 ... il.f6 14 :e2 'itth 8 1 5 il.xds cxds 16 c) 14 .. .fs 1 5 ttJc3 ! (again active de
ttJC3 il.xC3 1 7 bxc3 .l:lc8 was seen in no velopment i s key) l s .. .fxg4 (or l s ... 'itth 8
lesser g am e th an V. Kramnik 16 ttJxds cxds 17 gs!) 16 'iVxg4 .l:!.fs
G.Kasparov, Novgorod 1995, and here (16 ... il.fs 17 'iih s) 17 ttJe4! (thi s is a
Kramnik indicates that White can strong square for the knight...) 17 ... il.es
143
Beating 1 e4 e5
18 d4! ? ( ... not so strong now, but thi s ttJa3 bS with decent compensation,
move is tacti cally justified) 18 ... ..txd4 I . N epomniachtchi-A. Naiditsch, Euro
19 ttJg 3 ! 'iWf6 20 ttJxfS ..txfS 21 'iWg 2 pean Champion ship, Dresden 2007.
�h 8 2 2 ..tg s 'iYg 6 2 3 ..txdS cxdS 24 c3 11 ... 1i'xd s 12 ..txd S ttJxc2 1 3 l:txe s !
..tb6 25 ..th4 'iWc6 26 :te7 1:[g8 2 7 l:tael
..te4 28 'iig 4 ..tcS 29 ':d7 b S 30 ..te7
..tb6 31 ..td6 ..tcS 32 ..tes ..tf8 33 ':'xa7
and 1-0, M.Mathias-K.Elison, corre
spondence 1997.
Because the positions are so com
plicated it would be nice to see some
more games, preferably involving
someone like Tiviakov, before m akin g a
definitive judgement. At the m om ent,
though, the signs are looking promis
ing for White. It's the discovery of this move which
10 'iWxf3 has breathed new life into 8 .:tel, al
though at the time of writing I have
found only three games with it, two by
Tiviakov. Instead of trying to win the al
bound knight straightaway, White
grabs two key pawns (es and b7). He will
be the exchange down, but the knight
on al will remain trapped and White
will still hope to capture it at a later
stage. Furthermore, it will be difficult
for Black's rooks to enter the game.
It's difficult to m ake a judgement
10 ... ttJ d41 with any certainty because the m ate
If Bl ack just retreats the knight from rial is still quite scarce, but it's reassur
dS, White can count on some advan ing for us that Tiviakov h as been will
tage due to his g ain of the bishop pair ing to enter thi s position more than
and light-squared control . once. Just as reassuring i s the fact that
11 'ii'xd s 1 3 ':xes i s Rybka 's preference !
Other queen m oves allow Black Previously White has chosen 13
comfortable equality. For example, 1 1 ..td2, but 13 ... ttJxal 14 l:tcl l:tad8 15
'iWe4 ttJxb3 12 axb3 ..tf6, o r 1 1 ... c6 ! ? 1 2 ttJC3 c6 16 ..tf3 ':xd3 1 7 ..te3 ..tb4 18
'iix es ..tf6 1 3 'iih s ttJb4 1 4 'iid l as 1 5 ..te2 (m aybe 18 ..te4 ! ?, intending
144
lS .. Jld7 19 idS, i s an improvement) lS ttJC4 .l::t a 6 19 b3 ttJxb3 (thi s looks like

lS .. Jid7 19 ':'xal .i.as ! , intending a radical solution, but it's difficult to
... .i.b6, probably en sures Bl ack of at suggest wh at else Black should do) 20
least equality, S.Dizdar-A.Mikhal chi axb3 ]::t a l 21 ]::t c 2 .l:.xb3 22 �h 2 as 23
shin, Zenica 19S9. .tf4 a4 24 .tes ];tel 25 .txf6 gxf6 26
13 . . ..i. d 6 ttJe3 a3 2 7 l:txC7 :bS 2S l:ta7 l:.e2 29
Alternatively: l::t x a3 l:.xf2 30 �g3 .:tfb2 31 l:.a7 hS 32
a) 13 ... J:.aeS 14 .l::t e 2 ttJxal 15 .i.xb7 ttJfS l:tdS 33 ttJh 6+ and 1-0, G. Souleidis
.td6 16 .i.e3 tran sposes to the g ame. J . De Jon g , Dutch League 2007.
b) 1 3 ... l:.feS 14 .:te2 ttJxal 1 5 .i.xb7 14 l:le2 .l:lae8
.i.g s (! - N aiditsch ) 16 .i.e3 .l::t a dS i s as 14 ... ttJxal 15 .i.xb7 l:taeS 16 .i.e3
sessed as unclear by N aiditsch . comes to the same thing.
1 5 .i. e 3 ttJXa 1 16 .txb7
As far as I can see, White's best

course of action i s to play the position 16 l::t e 5 ?
•••
'norm ally', just ignoring the trapped Tiviakov's previous outing in thi s
knight on al for the m oment. For ex l i n e went 16 .. .fS 17 .i. d S + �h S lS g 3 f4
ample, 17 .i.a6 g6 lS .i.C4 �g7 19 ttJC3 19 g xf4 .i.xf4 20 ttJa3 l:Ie s 2 1 .tg 2 .i.xe3
.i.xe3 20 fxe 3 .l:.bS 21 b3 fS 22 �f2 and 2 2 fxe 3 .l::t d S 23 .l::t e l .l:.xd3 24 ttJC4! ttJc2
now White is finally ready to win the 25 1:1cl l::t e xe3 26 IIxc2 l:.e7 and White
knight with �el-d2 and .l::t e l. It's not definitely has winning chances, al
clear wh at Black can do to prevent this, though Black eventually m an aged to
and Rybka 's evaluation increases once hold in S.Tiviakov-J . Hector, Helsingor
it begins to appreciate Black's problem . 200S. In any case, this looks like a bet
c) 1 3 ... .i.f6 14 .l::t e 2 ttJxal 1 5 .i.xb7 ter defence for Black th an the g ame
llabS (if lS ... .l::t a eS, White must of continuation.
course avoid a rook exchange by play 17 ttJc3 l:r.b8 18 .i.c6 .l:.a 5 19 g3 �8 20
ing 16 .i.e4) 16 .te4 lIb6 17 ttJa3 ! l:.fbS d4
145
Beating 1 e4 e5
White's extra m ove c2-C3 m ay do more

harm th an good. The d3 -pawn l acks
protection and White's queen's knight
i s denied access to C3.
This reminds me of the Souledis-De

Jong game. White slowly improves his
position, doesn 't even acknowledge the
knight's existence in the corner and
simply pretends that he has an extra For example, 8 exds lLlxdS 9 :el (9
piece. Black, whose rooks are not m ak h 3 �fS 10 l:tel .tf6 l1 lLla3 lLlb6 ! equal
ing any headway at all, soon run s out izes, S.Belkhodja-L. Fressinet, Cergy Pon
of patience, but I think he i s already in toi se 2004; or 9 lLlbd2 ? ! lLlf4!) 9 ... i.. g 4!
some trouble here. 10 h3 �h S 1 1 g4 i.. g 6 1 2 lLlxes lLlxes
20 ... h 6 2 1 lLla4 gs 2 2 b3! lLlxb3 23 lIb2! 1 3 :xes c6 and White's knight i s de
J:ta6 2 4 d S l-0 nied use of the c3-square (compare the
note to Black's 9th m ove in the previ
ous g ame).
Game 33 Rather than exch anging on dS, in
V.KranBnik-G.Kasparov thi s in stance it might be wiser to build
peA/Intel G ra nd Prix (ra pid), up more slowly. At least here the extra
N ew York 199 5 c2-C3 is going to be useful . For exam
ple, 8 "iVe2 dxe4 (or 8 ...d4 9 i.. a4! i.. g 4
1 e4 eS 2 lLlf3 lLlc6 3 �C4 lLlf6 4 d 3 �e7 10 lLlbd2 dXc3 11 bXc3 lLlas 12 h3 �d7
5 0-0 0-0 6 �b3 d S 13 �c2 �d6 14 d4 with some advan
Another idea which i s worth men tage, S. Kudrin-G . Kuzmin, Kusadasi
tioning i s Rom ani shin's 6 ... d6 7 c3 and 1990) 9 dxe4 �cS (or 9 ... i.. g 4 10 h3 i..h s
now 7 ... dS ! ? 1 1 lLlbd2 lLld7 12 l::t d l) 1 0 �g s h 6 1 1
Paradoxical ? Yes, but certainly not �h4 "fie7 1 2 lLlbd2 (Lukacs suggests 1 2
to be underestim ated. A key point to �dS g s 1 3 �g 3 ) 12 ... a 6 1 3 lLlC4 (13
appreci ate i s that in some lines - those .tdS ! ? i s an interesting alternative)
in which White targets the e s-pawn, 13 ... i.. e 6 14 i.. c 2 gs 15 i.. g 3 i.. g 4
146
off the diagon al and into a kind of no

m an's l an d.
16 b4 (if 16 h 3 Black has 16 ... liJh S ! ?,

and here 1 7 'it>h l liJf4 18 �xf4 �xf3 19
'iVxf3 exf4 20 es! i s worth investig at For example, 9 l:tel i s m et by 9 ... a4
ing) 16 ... bS, 5.Tiviakov-L.Fressinet, Wijk intending 10 �C4 liJb6 ! 11 �b S liJd4!
aan Zee 2004. Here Rybka likes the idea and it doesn't take long to reali i e th at
of 1 7 liJcd2 intending 1 7 ... �b6 18 a4! things are not going White's way. 50
when Black has problems with his b White norm ally m akes sure the bishop
pawn . In the g am e Tiviakov lost after can stay on the diagon al, either by
17 liJe3 �xe3 18 'ii'x e3 liJh s 19 �b3 playing 9 a3 or 9 a4.
Iiad8 20 �dS .l:r.d6 21 'iVcS ? ! (21 h 3 ! ) The alternative approach for Bl ack i s
2 1. . .�xf3 2 2 �xc6?? liJf4! 2 3 gxf3 'ii'e 6 ! to reinforce the defence o f his e S
24 .1i.xf4 g xf4 2 S 'it>h l 'iVh 3 2 6 : g 1 + pawn, either with ... �f6/ ...: e 8 o r .. .f6:
'it>h 7, with a deci sive attack for Bl ack. a) 8 ... .1i.f6 9 .:tel
7 exd s liJxd s S h 3
The solid option . Now there i s n o
annoying pin o n the knight t o worry
about, and next up White will pressure
the e s-pawn with l:tel. On the other
hand, Black does have an extra tempo
to organize his position in another way.
S .•. as
A surprising m ove, but actually thi s
h as become the m ain l i n e . It's the sort
of move that m any players would dis
regard over the board unless they knew and now:
of its merits beforehand. al) 9 ...l:te8 10 liJbd2 .1i.fs (or 10 ... liJb6
Black's idea i s to force the bishop on b3 ll liJe4 �fS 12 liJfg s intending 12 ... �g6
147
Beating 1 e4 e5
13 h4! ?) 11 lLle4 .ixe4 (the 'careful'

11 ...h 6 turns out to be careless after 12
.ixh 6 ! ) 12 dxe4 (12 l:[xe4 is a decent
alternative) 12 ... lLlf4 (S.Vratonjic
B.Lajthajm, Vrnjacka Banja 2006) and
now instead of taking the knight on f4,
which looks too accommodating to me,
why not 13 .ie3 intending 13 ... 'ii'e 7 14
c3 :ad8 15 'iVc2 ? I admit we're not talk
ing about a clear edge, but White's
bishop pair must count for something.
a2) 9 ... .ie6 10 lLlbd2 lLlf4 11 .ia4 ! ? White has a dream IQP position,
lLld4 (Bologan thinks that 11 ... lLlg6 12 and a significant advantage, simply
.ixc6 bxc6 13 lLle4 .ie7 gives Black because of Black's chronic weakness
counterplay, but I still prefer White's down the a2-g8 diagonal .
position after 14 lLlfg s .ids 15 'iVhs h6 g a31
16 lLlf3) 12 lLle4 lLlg 6 13 lLlxd4 exd4 14 9 a4 lLld4! 1 0 lLlxd4 (10 lLlxes ? lLlxb3
'iVh s .ie7 15 .ig s .ids (Bologan sug 11 cxb3 cripples White's pawns)
gests ls .. .f6, but White can win a pawn 10 ... exd4 is proving to be very solid for
here with 16 lLlxf6+! .ixf6 17 .l:r.xe6 Black. White has been making no head
.ixg s 18 ':xg 6 ! ) 16 .ixe7 lLlxe7 17 :e2 way here. For example, 11 'ilff3 .ie6 12
left White the more active in V.Bologan lLld2 lLlb4 with equality, A. Dyakov
V.Malaniuk, Novgorod 1995. Moreover P.Leisebein, correspondence 2004.
17 lLlcs ! ? might be even stronger. Karjakin played 11 :el again st Gel
b) 8 ... .ie6 9 l:!.el .if6 tran sposes to fand ( Khanty-Man siysk, 2009) but this
note 'a2', above. was an swered by some in spiration :
c) 8 .. /�)h 8 9 l:[el f6 10 c3 ! ? (the typi 1 1 ... l:!.a6 ! ! .
cal an swer to ...f6, 10 d4, i s good
enough for an edge after 10 ... exd4 1 1
lLlxd4 .ics 12 lLlxc6 bxc6 1 3 'it'h s, a s in
S.Martinovic-C.Micic, Pancevo 2003)
10 ... lLlb6? ! (Bologan gives 10 ... .ifs 1 1
d4! exd4 12 lLlh4 .ixb l 1 3 :xbl f s 1 4
lLlf3 .if6 1 5 cxd4 'ii'd 6 16 .ig s ! .l:.ad8 17
.ixf6 lLlxf6 18 lLles lLlds 19 :cl with a
small advantage for White) 11 d4 exd4
12 cxd4 lLlb4 1 3 lLlC3 c6 14 'ilfe2,
V.Bologan-G.Garcia, Wijk aan Zee 1996.
148
The point behind thi s piece offer i s 1 0 .i.a2

that after 12 .i.xds 'iVxds 1 3 l:lxe7 :g 6
White i s in some trouble - an alysis
suggests that Black h as at least perpet
ual check. In the g ame Karjakin chose
12 'iVh s, but after 12 ...liJb4 1 3 liJa3 :g 6
it was Black who held the initiative.
Overall, giving Black the b4-square
seem s to m ake life too easy for him.
9 ... a4
The difference here i s that 9 ... liJd4
can be m et by 10 .i.a2 ! and there is no
... liJb4 to worry about. Bl ack appears to 10 'itt h 8
..•
be active but thi s is only temporary, Preparing .. .f6.

and there rem ain lon g -term issues re 10 .. .fS ? too ambitious, and in fact
garding the safety of the e s-pawn . White has a nice trick which win s a
White has good ch ances of an advan pawn : 1 1 liJC3 .i.e6 1 2 liJxe s ! liJxe s 1 3
tage here. For example, 10 ... liJxf3+ 1 1 lIel, a n d now 1 3 ... .i.f6 1 4 d 4 or
'iWxf3 c6 12 li e l 'iWC7 1 3 "Wg 3 .i.f6 1 4 13 ... 'iWd6 14 liJb S .
liJd2 g 6 1 5 liJf3 lI e 8 16 d4! e 4 17 'ii'x C7 11 l1e1 f6 12 d 4
liJxC7 18 liJg s .i.xg s 19 .i.xg s with the A s usual , meeting .. .f6 with d 4 i s the
bishop pair and some weak dark best ch ance to gain an edge, albeit a
squares to target, I .Almasi-R.Shabtai, slight one. 12 liJbd2 .i.cs 1 3 liJe4 .i.b6
Budapest 1994. 14 c3 .i.fs 15 liJh4 .i.e6 is typically solid
9 ... .i.e6 10 :el .i.f6 is similar to for Black, S.Martinovic-A. Kizov, Zlatibor
8 ... .i.f6, above: 11 liJbd2 h6 (I think 2007.
11...a4 ! ? 12 .i.a2 liJf4 i s a better chance 12 ...exd4 1 3 liJxd4 liJdb4
for equality) 12 liJe4 .i.e7 13 c3 .i.d6 14
.i.a4 (thi s move, again ! ) 14 ... liJde7 1 5
.i. e 3 ':b8 (or l S .. .fS 16 liJcS ! ) 16 d 4 exd4
17 liJxd4 liJxd4 18 .i.xd4 (White will
take on d6 and rely on his bishop pair
for an edge, which increases quite
quickly ... ) 18 ... liJfs 19 liJxd6 liJxd6 20
'ii'f3 1i'h4? 21 :es ! liJC4? 22 .l:.h S "fie7 2 3
.i.xg 7 ! 'itt x g 7 2 4 'ii'g 3 + 'itth 7 2 5 'iif4 and
Black resigned, Z. Efimenko-M. Kravtsiv,
Alushta 2007.
14 9
Beating 1 e4 e5
14 axb4 as a consequence, he i s able to attack

I wonder whether White can pose the e s-pawn very quickly. In fact Black
more problems with 14 ttJxc6 here. Af is more or less obliged to give up the
ter 14 ... ttJxc6 l S ttJc3 Black's slight es -pawn, and from an objective view
weaknesses remain, and the knight is point it's very likely he doesn't gain
more actively placed on c3. There's the enough compensation. On the other
issue of wh at to do about l S ... 'ii'x d1 16 han d, White has to remember a few
.l::[ x d1 i.fs, but I think 17 i.f4 still gives key tactical lines. Bearing in mind you
Bl ack some work to do. If 17 ... i.xc2 are unlikely to face 4 ... dS very often,
there follows 18 l:ld2 (or 18 l:ld7) there's even an argument for pl aying it
18 ... i.b3 19 i.xb3 axb3 20 i.xc7 and safe and not grabbing the pawn, espe
Bl ack still hasn't fully equalized. cially as I think White keeps and advan
14 ... 'ii'x d4 1 5 c3 'ii'xd l 16 l:txd 1 i.f5 17 tage here too.
ttJa 3
With slight weaknesses on a4 and
C7, Bl ack has to be careful. However,
with accurate defence, as Kasparov
displ ays here, it looks like he should be
okay.
17 ... ttJe5 18 ttJb5 c5 19 bXc 5 i.xC 5 20
ttJd4 Itfd8 21 i.e3 i.g6 22 ':'d2 i.f7 2 3
i.xf7 ttJxf7 24 l:le2 i.xd4 2 5 i.xd4 ttJd6
2 6 i.b6 Ildc8 27 .l:.e7 h 6 2 8 i.d4 b 5 29
l::f.a e 1 ttJf5 30 l:.b7 ttJxd4 3 1 cxd4 l:.cb81
32 lIee7 b4 33 l:[xg7 l:[xb7 34 l:txb7 a3 5 exd 5 ttJxd 5 6 0-0 i.C5 7 l:te1
35 bxa 3 bxa 3 3 6 l:b1 a 2 37 �a1 �g7 38 7 ttJg S ! ? i s an interesting alterna
�f1 �f7 3 9 �e2 �e6 40 �d3 �d 5 41 tive, although I think Black can equalize
�c3 VI-VI if he defends accurately: 7 ... 0-0 8 ttJC3 !
ttJf6 ! (if 8 ... ttJxC 3 ? White ignores the
knight: 9 "ifh S ! ttJe2+ 10 �h 1 ! - and
Game 34 again ! - 10 ... h 6 1 1 ttJxf7 ':'xf7 1 2 i.xf7+
J.Emms-J. Wittman �f8 13 i.b3 "ii'f6 14 "ii'x e2 with a deci
London League 2006 sive m aterial advantage) 9 ttJce4 ttJxe4
10 ttJxe4 i.e7 11 "iVh s 'ii'd 7 ! planning
1 e4 e5 2 ttJf3 ttJc6 3 i.C4 ttJf6 4 d3 d 5 1 ? ... 'ii'f s or ... "ii'g 4 i s okay for Black,
Thi s move shouldn 't really work, be V.lnkiov- B.Toth, Rome 1984.
cause White hasn 't 'wasted' any time 7 ••• 0-0
with moves such as C2-C3 and i.b3 and, Tryin g to hold on to the e s-pawn
15 0
only brings Black troubl e. For example, cessfully negotiated the complication s
7 .. .f6? 8 d4! , or 7 ... .1i.g4 8 h3 .1i.h 5 9 d4! to reach an advantage in R.Tischbierek
(9 ttJxe 5 ! .1i.xf2+ 10 'iii> xf2 'iYh4+ 1 1 g 3 i s I . Donev, Liechten stein 1 9 9 5 .
al so good) 9 ... .1i.xd4 10 g4. b ) 8 . . .'i!i'h4
8 h3 9 ttJf3 (White al so g ained a clear

During the g ame I was aware th at 8 plus in G .Alesi-R.5imonell a, correspon
ttJxe 5 was supposed to be good for dence 1998, after 9 'ii'f3 ttJf6 10 ttJxc6
White, but I felt a little bit uncomfort ttJg4 11 d4 'ii'xh 2+ 12 'iii>fl �d6 - per
able with idea of plunging into any haps 12 ... bxc6 ! ? - 13 ttJe7+ .1i.xe7 14
possible preparation from my oppo .l:i.xe7 'iVh l+ 15 'iii> e 2 ttJf6 16 'iii> d 2 �g4
nent - Black needs to at least know all 17 l:tel ! 'ii'x el+ 18 'iii> x el .1i.xf3 19 g xf3)
the tricks if he wants to risk playing 9 ... 'ii'xf2+ (9 ... .1i.xf2+? 10 �1) 10 �h l
thi s line. So I took an 'easy' option . I (threatening both 11 .1i.xd5 and 11 .l:i.e2,
counted on the fact th at even after a but Bl ack h as a resource ... ) 10 ... ttJf6 ! 11
quiet (but useful) move White would :e2 ttJg4 12 c3 (forced, to prevent
still hold an edge. ... ttJd4) 12 ... �f5 (or 12 ... b5 13 .1i.d5 ! .1i.b7
If you want to grab the pawn with 8 14 ttJbd2 l:tae8 15 ttJe4! 'iix e2 16 'iix e2
ttJxe5, you need to be prepared for ttJf2+ 1 7 'ii'xf2 .1i.xf2 18 ttJxf2 with a
some tactical lines but the rewards are clear advantage, A. Dyakov-M.lbar, cor
high. H ere's a brief summ ary of what respondence 2002) 13 h3 .l:.ae8 14 d4
to expect: .1i.e4 15 hxg4 �xf3 16 l:txf2 .1i.xdl 17
a) 8 ... .1i.xf2+ 9 'iii> xf2 ttJxe5 10 l:txe 5 dXc5 ttJe 5 18 ttJa3 and White went on
'ii'h 4+ 11 'iii>fl ! 'ii'f6+ 1 2 'ii'f3 'ii'x e5 1 3 to win in R.Gwaze-M.Lyell, British (h.,
.1i.xd5 c6 14 .1i.b3 'ii'xh 2 1 5 .1i.e3 .1i. e 6 16 Scarborough 2004 .
.1i.g l 'iYh4 17 ttJC3 as 18 .l:[el a4 19 .1i.f2 I get the impression th at those who
'ii'h 1+ 20 'iii> e 2 'i!i'h 6 2 1 .1i.xe6 lIae8 2 2 play thi s gambit as Black are counting
'iii> d l :xe6 2 3 ttJe4 and White h ad suc- on White either chickening out - as I
15 1
Beating 1 e4 e5
did - or losing their way in the heat of in the game P.Jaracz-R.Forster,

battle. I 'm sure there are some further Guarapuava 1991, although the move
tricky lines to negotiate, but I'm equally itself isn't bad: 10 liJC3 'fi'g 6 (threaten
sure th at objectively White must be ing ... i.xh 3, but...) 11 liJe4! i.e7 (if
able to keep an advantage, and proba 11 ... i.xh 3 ?, 12 liJh4 win s a piece) 12
bly a significant one. liJg 3 i.d6? (Black needs to patrol h4, so
The further good news i s th at, as far 12 ... i.f6 was required). Here White
as I can see, 'chickening out' still missed the ch ance to play 1 3 liJh4! 'iff6
probably leads to an edge for White - 14 liJe4!, when 14 ... 'iVxh4 1 5 i.g s traps
and it al so spoils Black's fun ! the queen, and 14 ... 'iVdS 15 'Wh S ! gives
8 ... liJ b6 White a fierce initiative. One possibility
If S ... .:teS White h as the intriguing 9 is ls .. .'lWeS 16 liJg 6 ! intending 16 ... hxg6
d4! ? (9 liJg s i s a decent alternative). 1 7 liJf6+! gxf6 is 'iWxg6+ �h S 19 %:te4!
After 9 ... liJxd4 10 liJxd4 i.xd4 1 1 i.xd S ! (diagram please ! )
(not 11 C 3 ? i.xf2+ 12 �xf2 'iWh4+)
11 ... 'iVxds 12 c3 White win s a piece for
two pawn s and some (but probably not
enough) compen sation, following
12 ... i.d7 1 3 cxd4 exd4 14 i.f4.
9 i.b3
19 .. .fxg 6 20 :h4+ �g 7 2 1 i.h 6+

�h 7 22 i.xfS m ate.
In stead the g am e continued 13 c3?
�h S? (13 ... i.e6 ! ) 14 liJh4! (White
doesn't miss his second chance)
14 ... 'ii'f6 15 liJe4 'iWe7 ? 16 'Wh s and
9 •.. h6 Black resigned as there are too m any
Bl ack wants to play ...lIeS, but he threats: for example, 16 ... i.e6 17 liJg s
needs to prevent liJg s first. He can h 6 lS liJxe6 fxe6 19 liJg6+.
leave the e-pawn h anging for the mo 9 ... aS 10 a3 reminds m e a bit of our
ment, since 10 liJxes can be an swered previous g am e (Kramnik- Kasparov),
by 10 ... liJxes 11 :xe s i.xf2 + ! ' but a better version for White because
9 ... 'iff6 l e d t o a quick win for White Bl ack has voluntarily retreated his
15 2
knight to b6. Here's one example: If 11 ... i.e7 White could spend a
10 ... ttJd4 11 ttJxd4 (11 i.a2 ! ?) 11 .. :iVxd4 tempo on 12 a3 to safeguard his bishop
(11 ... exd4 can be met by 12 'iWh s .i.d6 again st ... ttJas ideas, since it's unclear
13 ttJd2 followed by ttJe4 or ttJf3) 1 2 how Bl ack further develops his position
.i. e 3 'iVd6 1 3 'iWh S ! .i.xe3 14 l:txe3 a 4 1 5 (for example, ... .i.fs is met by ttJg 3). It's
i.a2 ttJd7 (hardly ideal, but the e-pawn true th at Black's position remain s solid,
required protection) 16 ttJd2 g6 17 'iWh 6 but White m ay be able to increase the
'iVf6 lS ttJe4 'iVg 7 19 Vh4 and Black was pressure with ideas like i.d2-c3.
struggling to untangle his position in 12 ttJfg 5 !
S.B.Han sen-M.5antos, H avana 200S.
10 ttJ c3
Sometimes ... h 6 isn 't enough to dis

courage ttJg S !
Moving the knight to e4 as quickly 12 ... hxg5?
as possible is the most obvious plan Black's only real chance i s 12 ... ttJdS.
here, and despite ... h6 I hadn 't entirely After 1 3 'ii'f3 i.e6 (not 1 3 ... hxg s ? 14
ruled out the possibility of ttJg S ... i.xds Vi'xdS ? 1 5 ttJf6+) 14 ttJxe6 fxe6 1 5
1 0...l:. e 8 11 ttJ e 4 i.f8? 'iYg4 White h a s 'only' a virtually deci
Thi s i s clearly the most desirable re sive position al advantage.
treat for th e bishop (on d6 it can be 1 3 ttJxg5?
captured at any moment, while on e7 it 1 3 "iVh S ! is more forcing (mate i s
blocks the e-file) but it loses - because threatened!) and more decisive. Bl ack
Black's king requires this square ! must protect f7, but after 13 ... i.e6
Again st 11 ... .i.d6 I was con sidering White can win with 14 ttJxg s .i.b4 (had
the line 12 d4 exd4 1 3 ttJxd6 l:txel+ 14 the bishop retreated to d6 in stead of fS
"ifxel cxd6 (14 ... 'iYxd6? 1 5 'ili'eS+) 1 5 on move 11, Bl ack could have played
'ii'e 4 dS 16 'iVf4 g S 17 'iVg 3 with good 14 ... .i.xb3 followed by ... Vi'f6) 15 i.xe6
compen sation for the pawn, but there fxe6 16 "iff7+ 'iith S 17 :e4.
may be even better option s for White. 13 ... l:!.e6?
153
Beating 1 e4 e5
Black can fight on with 1 3 ... g 6 ! 14 Black wants to develop with ... g6.
�xf7 "iHf6. White must be winning af ... .i.g7 . ... d6 etc. Although it's unusual
ter 1 5 .i.g 5 but this certainly isn't as for Black to fianchetto in 1 e4 e 5 open
clear cut as 13 � 5 . ings. it's not difficult to appreci ate the
1 4 'ilYh 5 m erits of thi s approach. especially
when you consider th at ... lUe8 . ... B(e7)
f8 . ... g7-g6 and ... i.g7 i s a typical re
grouping m anoeuvre in the m ain lines.
Why not save time by playing ... g6 and
... i.g 7 straightaway?
Of course. it's not quite as straight
forward as th at. For one thing. after 4
d3 Black first h as to deal with a serious
threat. Yes. it h asn 't been m entioned
before. but 4 d3 carries a threat !
For example. 4 ... d6? which i s not
Now it's easy. such a rare blunder. can be punished
14 ... .i.c5 15 'iVxf7+ 'it'h8 16 'i:Vh 5+ l:!.h6 by 5 �g 5 ! . The best Black can do is
17 4:Jf7+ �h7 18 .i.xh6 g6 19 �g5+ 'iit h 8 5 ... d5 6 exd5 when he i s a whole tempo
20 'iVxg6 1-0 down on the ultra-sharp 4 �g 5 varia
tion of the Two Knights. If 6 ... �xd5 7
0-0 and Black i s already in big trouble.
Game 35 or 6 ... �a5 7 .i.b5+ (or even 7 0-0) 7 ... c6
V.Bologan-E.Tomashevsky 8 dxc6 bxc6 9 .i.a4 h6 10 �e4 with zero
Aeroflot Open, Moscow 2006 compen sation for the pawn . Similarly.
4 ... g 6 ? is al so met by 5 �g 5 ! . and thi s is
1 e4 e5 2 �f3 �c6 3 .i.C4 �f6 4 d3 h 6 the reason Black spends a m ove on
... h 6 .
5 0-0 d 6
I think th at thi s i s Black's most accu
rate m ove order.
If Black plays 5 ... g 6. White has no
need to prepare d4 with c3 because the
immedi ate 6 d4! looks even stronger.
Thi s reminds me of 4 d4 against the
Two Knights. True. White has wasted a
tempo by spending two m oves in stead
of one advancing his pawn to d4. but
154
Black h as arguably wasted two tempi his development in rel ative peace. Let's
on ... g6 and ... h 6 . take a look at other m oves:
H ere's o n e example: 6 ... exd4 7 lDxd4 a) Black must avoid 7 ... i.g 7 ? 8
(7 eS dS 8 i.bs lDe4 9 lDxd4 al so looks dxe s ! .
reason able) 7 ... i.g 7 8 lDxc6 bxc6 9 e s ! b ) 7 . . .lDxe4?! 8 dxe s must al so be
lDh 7 1 0 Vd3 ! (preventing 1 0. . .0-0) good for White.
10 .. :ii'e7 was A.Tuzhik-G . Evtushenko, c) 7 ... i.g4 i s very strongly met by 8
Novosibirsk 2007, and in thi s position 'iVh 3 ! .
11 lDc3 looks good. Bl ack can h ardly
contemplate pl aying 11 ... i.xe s, in view
of 12 :el g s 13 f4.
6 (3 86 7 d41
For example, 8 .. :ii'd7 9 i.xf7+! 'iVxf7

10 'ilxb7 �d7 11 dS ! lDe7 12 'iVxa8
lDxe4 13 lDbd2 and White already en
joys a deci sive advantage, S . Fedorchuk
A quick d3-d4 i s the most ch alleng S.Bednarek, Warsaw 200 S .
ing respon se to Black's slow develop I recently reached thi s position
ment. What's more, playing d4 h ere (against G avin Wall, London League
and now m ore or less obliges Black to 2010) but failed to spot 11 dS in my
make a further prophyl actic move calcul ation s. In stead I chose 8 ii.bS ? ! ,
( .. :ii'e7, to go with ... h6) that he which i s good enough for an edge, but
wouldn 't h ave chosen to do in an ideal nothing like 8 "iVh 3 ! . I got lucky with a
world. trick after 8 ... lDd7 ! ? 9 dS lDe7? (Bl ack
After the slower 7 .:tel i.g 7 8 d4 shoul d pl ay 9 ... ii.xf3 10 'ii'xf3 lDe7) 10
Black can probably dispen se with lDxe s ! .
.. :ile7, at least for the m om ent, in fa d) The paradoxical 7 . . .exd4 isn't as
vour of the m ore desirable 8 ... 0-0. bad as it looks: 8 cxd4 i.g 7 (8 ... lDxe4? is
7 :ile7
•. m et by 9 .l:tel dS 10 ii.xd S ! } 9 lDC3 0-0
By defending e S (and f7) Black cuts 10 i.bS ! ? (10 dS lDe7 11 h3 c6 12 dxc6
out any tricks and i s now able to finish bxc6 was V.Genba-V.Malaniuk, Moscow
155
Beating 1 e4 e5
1995, and now 1 3 %:tel gives White an Bl ack cannot capture on e4, White
edge; but 10 h 3 ? ! liJxe4! is something must have a typical edge, but 13 ... liJxe4
to avoid) 10 ... .i.g4 1 1 .i.xc6 bxc6 1 2 h3 does look risky in view of 14 'ii'c 2 f5 (or
.i.d7 1 3 .te3 l:tb8 14 b3 with a small 14 ... .i.f5 15 .i.d5 ! ) 15 dxe5 dxe 5 16 .i.d5 .
advantage, R. Kuczyn sl<i-M.Bartel , 8 l:te1 .tg7 g liJbd2 0-0 10 h 3
Bydgoszcz 2001.
e) 7 ... liJd7 ! ? is another move which
you would think Bl ack shouldn't be
able to get away with, but again it's not
bad at all - certainly good enough to
have been used by grandmasters Alex
ander Graf and David Howel l :
Let's try to briefly sum u p thi s posi

tion . Black has employed a King's In
dian/ Pirc set-up, and the natural pawn
break to g ain counterplay is .. .f5 . How
ever, as it stands it's difficult for Black
to arrange thi s move effectively. It re
quires at least two moves' preparation.
8 .t e 3 (to prevent Black from cas Wh at's more, even when the m ove be
tling easily; 8 dxe5 liJdxe 5 9 liJxe 5 comes legal, Bl ack must be careful he
liJxe 5 10 .i.b3 .i.g7 1 1 f4 i s a decent isn't simply opening the position in
altern ative) 8 ... .i.g 7 9 'ii'c l 'ii'e 7 10 lIel White's favour.
liJf6 11 .td5 ! ? liJb8 ! ? (thi s came as a The .. .f5 break becomes much more
shock; I was counting on something desirable and practical if White closes
like 11 ... g5 1 2 .i.xc6+ bxc6 1 3 dxe 5 dxe 5 the centre with d5. Therefore, White
14 liJbd2) 12 liJ a 3 g 5 1 3 dxe 5 dxe 5 14 must try as h ard as possible to main
�c2 liJxd5 15 exd5 0-0 16 liJC4 f6 ! with tain the ten sion in the centre, and
an unclear position, Hmms-D.Howell, should not be tempted by d5 unless the
Southend 2008. Black's kingside pawn s rewards are significant.
are not only rock-solid, they al so pos 10 .i. d 7
...
sess con siderable potenti al to expand. Bl ack has tried m any moves here,
After the g am e David suggested that although the plan s are all quite similar.
1 3 .i.b3 was a better try for White. If Here are a few possibilities:
156
Italian Game: Two Kn ig hts Defen ce
a) 10 .. /�h 8 1 1 �fl ii.d7 12 �g 3 (2) 12 ii.xg s ! ? (an interesting deci

�h 7 1 3 ii.e3 l:.ae8 14 'iWd2 h s, as pl ayed sion ; by taking with the bishop on g s
in V.Bologan-S.Halkias, Plovdiv 2008, i s rather th an the knight, White i s able to
similar to the m ain game. hold d4 and at the sam e time try to
b) The plan of 10 ... �h s followed by exploit the weakness of g s - something
... 'ii'f6 and ... �f4 backfires here: 1 1 �fl Bl ack fails to prevent...) 12 ... hxg s 1 3
'iWf6 ? ! 12 �e3 ! (eyeing both ds and g4) � e 3 J::[b 8 ? ! (Atlas suggests 1 3 ...� a s as
12 ... �e7 (12 ... �f4 13 �dS ! ) 1 3 �g4! an improvement, although after 14
ii.xg4 (forced, but not wh at Black ii.fl it's not clear how Bl ack proceeds;
would h ave wanted) 14 hxg4 �f4 15 g 3 while Rybka suggests the paradoxical
�e6 1 6 d s �g s 1 7 �xg s hxg s 1 8 �g 2 1 3 .. :1Iif6 ! ? intending 14 �ds "iWd8 1 5
(I 've seen better bl ack queen s ! ) 'ii'd 2 ? ! g4) 1 4 'ii'd 2 ! b s ? 1 5 ii.b3 � a s 16
18 . . . ii.h 6 19 l:[h l � g 7 20 ii. e 3 l:.h 8 2 1 �ds 'iWd8 1 7 dxes ii.xes 18 'ii'x g s 'ii'x g s
'ifd2 � g 8 2 2 l:txh 6 ! �xh 6 2 3 ii.xg s and 19 �xg s c6 20 f4 cxds 2 1 fxe s �xb3 2 2
White won, B.Heberla-I.Cheparinov, axb3 dxes 2 3 exds and White soon
Litohoto 1999. won in S.Tiviakov-D.5ermek, Beijing
c) 10 ... �h 7 intends ... �g s, an idea 1997.
we've seen previously in Nevednichy
Mitkov (Gam e 30). Black wants to add
pressure to d4 and induce the ds ad
vance, but White doesn 't h ave to com
ply: 1 1 �f1 �g s
11 �f1 ':ae8 12 �g3 'iWd 8

12 ... �h 8 1 3 a4 �h 7 14 dxe s ! �xes
(or, similarly, 14 ... dxe s 1 5 b 3 ! } 15 �xe s
dxe s (if l s ... 'iWxe s, White plays 16 ii.e3
intending ii.d4 or f2-f4) 16 b3! followed
and now: by ii.a3 is annoying for Black. 16 ... .l:td8
Cl) 12 �lh 2 �xf3+ 1 3 �xf3 �h 7 14 17 ii.a3 cs 18 'iWds ! b6 19 'iWb7 'iYf6 was
a4 fs 1 5 dxes dxe s was M.Ghinda J . Nunn-L.Christi an sen, London 1982,
A. Beliavsky, Lviv 1981, and I think Par and here 20 'iWxa7 ii.xh 3 2 1 a s ! (Nunn)
m a's suggestion of 16 ii.ds looks best. is very strong .
157
Beating 1 e4 e5
13 i.. b 3 dxe s dxes 18 ltJh4 e4 19 'iVh s ltJce7 20

i.. g s ! and some n asty sacrifice on e4 is
likely) 16 l:lbl �c8 17 b4 (White gradu
ally expands on the queenside)
17 ... ltJd8 18 i.. e 3 ltJe6 (18 .. .fS is again
unwi se: 19 exfs gxfs 20 dxe s dxes 21
i.. c s lIf7 2 2 ltJh4 e4 2 3 'iVh s ltJe7 24
i..b 3 and Black i s getting hit from all
angles ... ) 19 'ifd2 f6 ( ... so he settles for
.. .f6) 20 l:.bdl .:te7 2 1 ltJh 2 'ii'e 8
Notice how Bologan patiently im

proves his position . On b3 the bishop is
less prone to an attack, and in fact next
move it goes to c2 to further protect e4
and thus en able i.. e 3 .
13 d s ? ! i s exactly wh at Bl ack i s hop
ing for, and something that should be
avoided. After 1 3 ... ltJe7 everything i s in
place for a typical King's Indian style
attack on the king side, whereas White 2 2 ds (finally White advances, but
will take a while to get going on the only after much preparation on the
other win g . queenside, and even here there were
13 ... a6 m any other ways to play it) 22 ... ltJd8 2 3
Tomashevsky waits, and al so it's c 4 'Ot>h 8 24 cs (White's attack i s quicker,
useful to have the a-pawn away from but there's still much to play for) 24 .. .f5
a7 in some lines after i.. e 3 . Even so, 2 5 exfs g xfs 26 f4! (killing the d7-
Bl ack should probably be tryin g to play bishop) 26 ... 'ii'g 6 27 i..f2 e4 28 ltJhfl
a bit m ore actively. i..f6 29 ltJe3 1:[g 7 30 'Ot>h 2 ltJe7 3 1 1:[gl
The more direct 13 ... 'Ot>h 7 14 a3 ltJg8 lUg 8 32 a4 ltJf7 33 'ii'e 2 ltJes ! ? 34 'Ot>h l
was played in L.Yudasin - I . Efimov, Reg i.. e 8 (thi s sacrifice feels a bit desperate,
gio Emilia 1997. It's worth seeing how but 34 ... ltJf7 is an swered strongly by 3 5
thi s g am e progresses, as it demon ltJh S ! ) 3 5 fxe s i.. x es 3 6 ltJgfl 'ii'g s 3 7
strates how difficult it i s for Black to ltJc4 i..h s 3 8 g4 fxg4 3 9 ltJxe s g 3 40
organize .. .fs unless White plays ds: 1 5 ltJf7+ (40 'ii'x e4 should win ) 40 ... .:.xf7 41
i.. c 2 ! (indirectly pointing at the black i.. d4+ lIgg 7 42 �xe4?? (42 i.. x g7+!
king) ls ... a6 (if ls .. .fs ? ! , 16 exfs gxfs 17 'Ot>xg 7 43 ltJxg 3 ! wins) 42 ... i..f3+ (oh
158
dear!) 43 'iixf3 l:txf3 44 .i.. x g 7+ 'iix g 7 45 placed. Furthermore, after 17 ... liJb8 18
i.e4 'ili'C3 46 ':g 2 l:tf2 47 cxd6 cxd6 48 b4 Black still can't pl ay 18 .. .fs, as 19
b S axbs 49 axb s liJfs and White re exfS g xfs 20 'iVh s i s a strong reply.
signed. Note that lS .. .fS ? 16 exfs gxfs 17
14 i.e2 dxe s dxes 18 .i.. c S ! (or even 18 liJh S ! )
Continuing the plan . Now White is leaves Bl ack struggling.
ready to increase the pressure with 16 'ili'd 2 "ii'f6 17 'it> h 2
.ie3, 'iid 2 and :ad1. Bl ack was threatening 17 ... .i.. xh 3 .
Whereas a premature dS should be 1 7. . ..i.. e 8 18 lIad1
avoided, exchanging on eS can be con 18 a3 ! ? followed by b4 would be a
sidered, especially if White prefers a typical idea to gain space on the
position without ten sion. H ere 14 dxes queen side, but Bologan's plan proves
liJxe s 1 5 liJxes dxe s (or l s .. J:txe s 16 to be very effective indeed .
.if4 :tee8 17 'i¥d2) 16 .ie3, as sug 18 ..• 'it>h8 19 liJe2 ii'e7 20 liJgS !
gested by Lukacs, promises White a White wants t o free up the f-pawn
small advantage. and is happy to accept an exchange of
14... liJ h 7 1 5 i.e3 knights to do so.
20 ... liJxgs 2 1 .i.. x gs f6
Or 2 1 ... .i..f6 2 2 .i.. xf6+ 'ii'xf6 2 3 f4 (Lu
kacs).
2 2 .i.. e 3 fS 2 3 .igs .if6 24 .i.. xf6+ llxf6
2 S f4!
l S ... hS
White i s quite happy to see Black
weaken the g s-square, and thi s m akes
any subsequent .. .fS less desirable.
Lukacs suggests l S ... liJg S ! ? as an
improvement. I think Bologan would At first sight it m ay look like thi s po
have reacted with 16 liJxg S hxg s 17 dS. sition, full of ten sion, offers equal
The advance i s justified here because chances for both sides, but there are
Bl ack is denied the possibility of ... liJe7, two key factors which swing the game
and on b8 the knight i s very poorly almost deci sively in White's favour:
15 9
Beating 1 e4 e5
1. White's pieces are better posi l1xc7 l:lxe6 3 8 l:.xb7.

tioned than their counterparts. For ex 34 lbxe4 'iVe s 3 5 g3 l:t4f7
ample, Black's rook on f6 would prefer 3 S ... :f3 loses to 36 'iVh 6+.
to be on f8 defending its partner; and 3 6 'it>g2 'it>g7 3 7 'it'd 2 c6 3 8 c4 cxd s 39
his queen i s uncomfortable on the e cxd s h4 40 gxh4 'ifh s 41 'ii'c 3+ 'it>g8 42
file, as demon strated by 2s ... exf4? 2 6 'it'g3 :f4 43 .l:.d2 1-0
exfs. Black's position is hopeless. If
2. Black's king i s weaker than 43 .. .l::txh 4 there's 44 �f2 :xf2+ 4S 'iVxf2
White's. His decision to play ... h S has with no decent defence to the threat of
done him no favours at all, and he ex 46 lbf6+.
periences some problems with dark An exceptionally well played game
squared weaknesses, especially after from Bologan . He didn 't seem to give
the exchange of dark-squared bishops. his opponent any ch ances at all .
Let's see how Bologan ruthlessly ex
ploits his advantages: Key Notes
2 s .. :i!Vg7 2 6 fxe s dxe s 2 7 exfs �xfs 2 8
�xfs l:txfs 1. The space-gaining plan of a3 and
28 ... gxfs 29 dxe s l:[xe s 30 lbf4 (Lu b4 looks like a promi sing way for White
kacs) is even worse. to play again st ... lbas and ... cs. It's
29 lbg3 l:tff8 30 ds! lbd8 3 1 lbe4 worth going through Game 29 more
than once to really appreci ate Tivia
kov's brilliant strategical play. This is a
model g am e from White's point of
view.
2. Game 30 demon strates that
White doesn 't always h ave to play for
the d3 -d4 advance, and he sometimes
leaves the rook on f1 for a reason - to
play f2-f4!
3 . When Bl ack plays ... dS, as he does
in G am e 3 1, don 't forget about the
Now White has a juicy outpost for possibility of playing �a4, which adds
his knight to add to all his other advan pressure to the centre by hitting the
tages. knight on c6. Often this move comes as
3 1 .. JU4 3 2 'it'e3 l:tef8 3 3 lbc s ! e4 a surprise. Played at the right moment,
3 3 ... .l:.4fS h an g s on to the e s-pawn, it can be annoyingly difficult for Bl ack
but 34 d6 i s a strong reply and so i s 34 to meet.
lbe6 lbxe6 3S dxe6 l:te8 3 6 l:td7 'iVf8 37 4. The best an swer to 6 ... dS is Pl an B:
16 0
exch ange on dS and then hit the e S 6. Again st 4 ... h6 (Game 3 S ) White
pawn . 8 l:t e l (G ame 3 2) i s the sharpest should try to play c3 and d4 as quickly
try and an attempt at a direct refuta as possible. He should then try to keep
tion ; 8 h 3 (Game 3 3 ) is the safe option . the ten sion in the centre, since thi s
S . Black's g ambit after 4 ... dS (Game m akes i t very difficult for Bl ack t o ar
34) i s probably un sound in the final range his m ain pawn break .. .fS . White
analysi s, but bear in mind th at your shouldn 't be tempted to close the cen
opponent is likely to be prepared. If you tre with dS unless there is a concrete
are also prepared for some forcing reason for doing so.
lines, by all mean s take the pawn . Al 7. Be ready to punish 4 ... d6? with S
ternatively, White h as good chances of It:'Jg S . It's easy to forget that 4 d3 sets
keeping some advantage without en up a threat!
tering the complication s.
16 1
C h a pt e r F i ve
Italian Game:
Other Lines
1 e4 e 5 2 lLlf3 lLlc6 3 .i.C4 tion s do nothing to prevent White from

carrying on with the usual system of
development. Indeed, transpositions to
previous chapters are possible in some
places.
H aving said all th at, there are rea
son s why m any of Bl ack's option s in
thi s ch apter rem ain rare, and I have
covered a few theoretical recommen
dations in which White tries to punish
Black rather th an settling for a slow
build-up. In particul ar, White can often
Now it's time to consider alterna play the d4 advance much earlier than
tives for Black in the Italian G ame, on normal , and this puts pressure on
his third and fourth moves. Thi s chap Black's position from an early stage. I
ter isn't particul arly long for a couple should stress, though, th at m any of
of reason s. 3 ... .i.cS and 3 ... lLlf6 are the Black's options are playable in the
overwhelmingly popular choices in sense that White can only expect a
practice, and altern atives are quite small advantage, and one or two have
rare. Likewise, after 3 ... .i.cS 4 c3, only a perhaps been unfairly dismissed.
small percentage of g ames continue In Tanti-Sutton (Gam e 3 6) we con
with anything other th an 4 ... lLlf6. More sider various option s for Bl ack on his
to the point, most of Black's rare op- fourth m ove: 4 ... 'ii'e 7, 4 .. :ili'f6, 4 ... ..tb6
16 2
Italian Game: Ot her L ines
and 4 ... d6. Bokar-N asybullin (Game 37) .i.b3 intending li::l c 4; or 5 d3 li::lf6 6 .i.b3
covers some third-move option s : d6 7 li::lb d2 with the sam e idea, which i s
3 . . . .i.e7, 3 . . . d6, 3 . . . g6, 3 .. .f5 and 3 ... li::l d 4. a logical way t o m eet a n early ... .i.b6.
b) Does 4 ... 'iWf6 prevent White's ad
vance? 5 d4! (No it doesn't! There's
Game 3 6 nothing wrong with 5 0-0 d6 6 d3,
J.Ta nti-J.Sutton though.)
Correspondence 2003
1 e4 e S 2 li::lf3 li::l c 6 3 .i.C4 .i.cs 4 c3
Now:
bl) If 5 ... exd4, 6 e 5 ! is strong :
6 .. :ii'g 6 (6 . . .li::l x e5 i s met by 7 'iVe2) 7
4 ... 'iVe7 cxd4 .tb4+ S li::l c 3 d6 (or S ... 'iVxg 2 9 :g l
Thi s move isn't an attempt to pre VWh 3 10 .i.xf7+!) 9 0-0 .i.g4 10 h 3 (10
vent or discourage d4 - as we shall see, li::lb 5 ! ?) 10 ... .i.xf3 1 1 'ili'xf3 dxe 5 12 li::lb 5
accepting the g ambit carries too much 0-0-0 1 3 .t d 3 'iVf6 1 4 'iVg4+ �bS 1 5
risk. Black's idea is to offer the e 5-pawn .i.g 5 'iVe6 16 .i.xdS and 1-0, V.Karavaev
extra protection so th at he doesn 't D.Metlyakhin, Moscow 1994.
have to give up the centre after White's b2) 5 ... .i.b6 has similar motives to
advance. 4 ... 'iIi'e7 5 d4 .i.b6, but the queen i s
Here's a brief round up of other rare more vulnerable o n the f6-square and
moves: Black h as to lose more time: 6 0-0 h 6 (if
a) 4 ....i.b6 5 d4 'iVe7 i s another move 6 ... d6 White h as 7 .tg 5 'iVg 6 S dxe5
order to reach the same position (in dxe5 9 li::l x e 5 ! and here 9 ... 'i¥xg 5 10
fact, thi s was the one chosen in the li::l xf7 'iVC5 11 .i.d5 li::lf6 12 li::l xh S .i.g4 1 3
game). White can al so choose to play 'iVb3 - Bilguer - looks very good for
with d2-d3, probably tran sposing to White) 7 a4 a6 S dxe 5 ! ? li::l x e5 9 li::l x e5
lines we've previously covered. For ex 'i¥xe5 10 'iVb3, V. Egin-B.5aidov, Tash
ample, S 0-0 li::lf6 6 d3 d6 7 li::lb d2 0-0 S kent 2009.
163
Beating 1 e4 e5
S d4
Black has some problems here.

10 ... 'ilVe7 is th e natural way to defend Of course White doesn 't have to
f7, but how does Bl ack continue after pl ay d4. He can settle for d3 and reach
11 e s ? positions similar to those in previous
c ) 4 ... d 6 i s usually condemned on ch apters, and indeed thi s is something
the grounds that Bl ack is forced to give Tiviakov h as done. White can even ar
up the centre after 5 d4, since s ... i..b 6 6 gue that in thi s case Bl ack h as commit
dxe s ! win s a pawn . However, I feel th at ted his queen to e7, something he
S ... exd4 6 cxd4 i..b 6 ! isn't quite as at wouldn 't necessarily want to do in the
tractive for White as it first l ooks, as his m ain lines. Thi s probably isn't a huge
centre coul d easily come under some issue for Black, but a tempo does count
pressure. for something, and furthermore Black
I think White still needs to play one i s deprived of the typical ... ttJe7-g6 idea.
or two accurate moves, and thi s should Let's take a look at an example: 5
be enough to give him some advan 0-0 ttJf6 6 d3 (6 d4 i..b 6 tran sposes to
tage: 7 i..b s ! (7 h 3 - to prevent ... i.. g 4 - the m ain g ame) 6 ... d6 7 ttJbd2 0-0 (if
7 .. .'�jf6 8 ttJC3 0-0 9 0-0 ttJxe4! 10 ttJxe4 7 ... a6 8 i..b 3 0-0 9 lIel i.. e 6 10 ttJfl
ds is the kind of thing White needs to i.. xb3 11 axb 3 ! ?, Bl ack's queen isn't
avoid, but 7 ttJC3 ttJf6 8 ds ttJes 9 ttJxe s well placed for the typical ... ds ad
dxe s 10 i.. g s might be sufficient for an vance: l1...ds? 12 exds ttJxds 13 d4! ) 8
edg e) 7 ... i.. d 7 8 0-0 ttJge7 (or 8 ... ttJf6 9 b4! ? i.. b 6 9 i..b 3 (intending ttJC4) 9 ... a6
ttJC3 - or 9 e s ! ? - 9 ... 0-0 10 h 3 .l:f.e8, 10 ttJC4 i.. a 7 11 i.. g s h 6 12 i..h 4 ttJd8 13
J . Szabo-L. H azai, Hungarian League ttJe3 ! c6 14 �h l �h 8 1 5 ttJfs ! i.. xfs 16
1996, and now just 11 %:tel) 9 ttJC3 0-0 exfs gs (otherwise how does Bl ack get
10 h3 and White's cl assical centre must his knight on d8 back into the g ame?)
count for something, M. Krakops 17 fxg 6 fxg 6 18 d4! e4 19 ttJd2 g s 20
J . Pinter, Elista Olympiad 1998. i.. g 3 and Black's position was begin-
164
Italian Game: Ot her Lines
ning to look sh aky in S.smagin-Duong based on dS followed by d6, a pawn

Thanh Nha, Montreal 2000. After sacrifice to clog up Bl ack's queen side.
20 ... liJf7 21 f3 e3 22 .l:.el %:taeS 23 .l:[e2 While I agree th at thi s i s an attractive
liJh s 24 liJfl White won a pawn . idea, I'm not 100% convinced it's so
5 •.. �b61 great for White, or even his best option .
s ... exd4 6 O-O! i s known to be prom A centre pawn i s a centre pawn after
i sing for White. It's basically a Scotch all !
Gambit where Black's queen h as found One line i s 6 ..tg s liJf6 7 dS liJdS
herself on e 7 ! (7 ... liJbS S d6 ! is a more favourable ver
a ) If 6 ... dxC3 7 liJxC3 d 6 White plays sion for White - compare below) S d6
the obvious and strong S liJdS. cxd6 9 liJa3 ! ? (if 9 0-0, Black pl ays
b) 6 ...liJes 7 liJxes 'iWxes S f4! dXc3+ 9 9 ... liJe6 justifying his deci sion to choose
�h l cxb2 10 fxes bxal'iii' 11 'iii'd s liJh6 dS in stead of bS, and here 10 ..txf6
12 �xh6 l:tfS 13 'iix cs (F.wiltenburg 'iVxf6 ! 11 'iix d6 �C7 100ks okay for him)
K.Woschkat, correspondence 1999), 9 ... �xf2+
intending 1 3 ... gxh6 14 liJa3 'iWb2 15 10 �e2 ! �b6 11 liJh4 ds ! 12 liJfs

liJbs . 'iWcs 13 �e3 d4 14 liJxg 7+? (14 cxd4! i s
c ) 6 ... d3 7 e s ! (not allowing Bl ack to much stronger) 1 4... 'it>fS 1 5 ..th 6 'it> g S
consolidate) 7 ... d6 S �g s f6 9 exf6 liJxf6 16 :fl? ds ! a n d Black went o n t o win i n
10 liJbd2 �g4 11 b4 �b6 12 a4 as 1 3 D.spence-R. Parker, British League 2006.
h 3 ..txf3 1 4 'ifxf3 was V.Chekhover In the final analysis, the compli cation s
V. Panov, Tbilisi 1937. Black has no op in thi s line might well favour White,
tion but to castle long, but this is but I can 't help feeling th at Black's
hardly ideal given that it's likely to ch ances h ave been underestim ated.
open up there in the near future. 6 ... liJf6
6 0-0 6 ... d6 7 h 3 liJf6 S :tel would tran s
A few sources give a 'refutation ' pose.
165
Beating 1 e4 e5
7 l:[e1 d6 8 h 3
12 a4! as 13 b 3 ! .l:ld8 14 �a3 'iWC7 15

don 't think White can dispen se 'iVd2 liJf4 16 �fl Jil.e6 17 c4 h 6 18 ':adl
with thi s m ove, as ... �g4 would be too with a pleasant space advantage for
annoying. It's no longer easy for Bl ack White in V.Bologan-O.5ekulic, Igalo
to find an effective role for his light 1994.
squared bi shop, especi ally since White 9 a4
i s ready to m eet ... �e6 with dS. Threatening to win a piece with 10
8 ... h61? ds liJas 11 �a2 followed by b2-b4.
Shades of Warakom ski-Bartel 9 •.. a6
(Game 2 3 ) . Bl ack's idea is not to pre If 9 ... aS I think White should pl ay 10
vent �g s, but rather to play ... g S-g4! liJa3, as in the g ame.
Before you get too nervous, I should say 10 liJa 3
th at thi s i s under much less favourable 10 b4! ? worked tremendously well
circum stances for Black, as the g am e in O.Tyomkin-I.Zugic, Montreal 2004.
amply demon strates. After 10 ... g S ? ! 11 as �a7 12 b S ! liJd8 13
If 8 ... 0-0 White h as to solve the typi �a3 liJd7 14 dxe s liJxes 1 5 liJxe s 'iVxes
cal problem of how to develop his 16 b 6 ! Bl ack's position was already
queen side while keeping his centre verging on the point of collapse.
intact. Let's see how Bologan achieves Ag ain st 10 b4 Bl ack should probably
thi s : 9 liJa3 (planning liJc2 to support abandon any aggressive ideas on the
d4; 9 �g s i sn 't effective here, and 9 ... h 6 kin g side. After 10 ... 0-0! 1 1 �a3 liJd7 12
1 0 Jil.h4 g s 1 1 Jil.g 3 'it>h 7 12 'i!Vd3 liJh S 1 3 b S liJas 1 3 �a2 'iYf6, as played in
�h 2 1:[g 8 14 liJbd2 'iVf6 1 5 � d S liJf4 16 E.Torre-R. Ekstroem, Lugano 1989, it
�xf4 gxf4 17 'it>h l liJe7, M. Oella Valle looks like White should be a bit better,
M.Eckstein, correspondence 1999, pro although it's not totally clear how ef
vides a good reason why thi s is so) fective his queen side advance really is.
9 ... liJd8 10 liJc2 c6 11 �d3 liJe6 10 ... g5
166
to play. All of thi s overrides any "pas

sive" barbs which could be aimed at
the bishop retreat.
l l liJxg 5 ? hxg 5 12 i.xg 5 1:.g8 13 h4
exd4, A.Reggio-S.Tarrasch, Monte Carlo
1903, i s just an un sound sacrifice.
1 1 dxe 5 ? ! dxe 5 12 liJh 2 ? ! g4! 13
hxg4 .l:!.g 8 14 g5 hxg 5 1 5 i.e3 i.xe3 16
':xe3 :th 8, K.Honfi-M.Damjanovic, Sa
rajevo 1966, is an example of another
success for Black.
It's possible that Bl ack was just fol 11 ... g4
lowing previous g ames, perhaps un There's no going back. After 11 ... 0-0
surprisingly if you con sider that Black 12 liJC4 i.a7 13 i.e3, Bl ack would h ave
won the earliest six g ames I coul d find a half decent positi on only if he were
reaching thi s position ! On the evidence allowed to play ... g 5 -g 7 !
of thi s particul ar g ame, though, I h ave
to say I favour the idea of revertin g
back t o the solid approach with 10 ... 0-0.
After all , ... h6 can hardly be con sidered
a wasted tempo. Still, White can fight
for the advantage if he develops in a
similar way to Bologan , above: 11 liJc2
.l:!.e8 12 i.d3 iYf8 ! ? 1 3 i.e3 (I quite like
1 3 b4! ? or even 1 3 b3) 1 3 ... exd4 14 cxd4
d 5 ! (14 ... liJxe4? loses to 15 d5 ! ) 15 e5
liJe4 16 liJh 2 i.a5 17 l:te2 f6 18 i.xe4
dxe4 19 exf6 �xf6 20 b4 i.b6 21 d5 12 hxg4 i.xg4 1 3 liJC4 i.a7
i.xe3 22 ':xe3 liJe 5 23 ':xe4 i.f5 with In V.Spasov-D. Kontic, Niksic 1991,
compen sation for the pawn, G .5ax Black took the plunge with 1 3 ... i.xd4 ! ?
E . N agy, Balatonlelle 2003. 14 cxd4 liJxd4 1 5 i. e 2 liJxe2+ 16 �xe2
11 i.f11 1:[g 8. I don 't quite believe in Black's
Logical and very strong . On fl the compensation, and neither does Rybka.
bishop provides rock-solid support for I wonder why Kontic chose to go 'all
the g 2 -pawn, which i s important in in' like this. Did he overestim ate the
view of the impending ... g4. Wh at's objective value of the sacrifice? Did he
more, the c4-square becomes available consider Black's practical chances to be
and liJC4 is a move White really wants reasonable? Or did he becom e aware
167
Beating 1 e4 e5
that Black is in some trouble if he just here is th at castling is illegal !

pl ays 'normally'. 15 'iixf3 exd4 16 (xd4 lUxd4
14 �e 3 1 16 ... .txd4? is worse: 17 �xd4 lUxd4
Simple stuff, and a huge improve 18 'iVC3 lUc6 (or 18 ... lUe6 19 lUe3 ! and
ment over 14 b4! ? exd4 15 e 5 ? ( 1 5 b 5 ! either lUdS or lUf5) and here 19 e s ! is
is still quite promising) 1 5 . . .lUxe5 1 6 very strong .
cxd4? i.xf3 17 gxf3 1:.g 8+ 18 i.g 2 1 7 'ii'd 1
lUxf3+ ! and Black win s, N . Rossolimo
M.Campos Lopez, Skopje 1972.
17 ••• lUe6?
17 ... lUc6 was Bl ack's best chance for
14 ... i.xf3 survival : 18 e s ! dxes (if 18 ... lUxe S, 19
Taking on f3 is positional suicide, i.xa7 .l:txa7 20 f4 win s the knight) 19
but Black does at least win a pawn . The i.xa7 ':xa7 20 lUxe s ! lUxe s 21 'iVd4 cS
problem for Black i s that his position i s 22 'iVxe s 'iVxe s 23 l:txe s+ ..t;>f8 24 l:txcS
more difficult th an it looks. N atural and White's advantages (stronger mi
moves don 't seem to work for various nor piece, better structure) offer him
reason s: good winning ch ances.
a) 14 ... lUxe4? loses a piece to 1 5 d5. 18 i.xa 7 ]:txa 7 19 esl dxes 20 lUxe s
b) 14 ... 0-0-0 1 5 dS ! i.xe3 16 dxc6 ! Bl ack h as no hope of surviving. The
i.a7 17 lUas and Black i s facin g serious position h as been blown open and
problems on the queen side. White is ready to unleash a series of
c) 14 ... l:tg8 1 5 dxe s (lS d5 lUb8 16 threats. There will be no good way of
i.xa7 l:txa7 1 7 lUe3 also looks good) dealing with them because Black's
ls ... lUxe s (or ls ... dxes 16 i.xa7 ':xa7 pieces are totally uncoordinated.
17 b4) 16 lUcxes dxe s 1 7 i.xa7 .l:[xa7 18 20 (6.•.
'iVd3 .l:.a8 19 �e3 and Bl ack i s worse, If 20 ... 0-0, White plays 21 i.C4 in
although thi s line might represent his tending lUxf7 or lUg 6.
best bet. The key thing to remember 2 1 'iV b3
168
Ita lian Game: Ot her Lines
Thi s i s the Hung arian Defence. and

it's quite a rare choice for Bl ack (I ha
ven 't yet faced it). Bl ack wants to play
... liJf6 without fear of liJg 5. and he i s
al so ready t o m eet d 4 with ... d6.
For one game I'm going to break
away from the book's central theme of
c2-C3. to examine the m ain choice in
thi s position. 4 d4. Of course there is
nothing wrong with playing 4 0-0 liJf6
5 d3. with a direct tran sposition to
2 1 ... <iitf8 Ch apter Four. However. attempts to
Maybe Bl ack just couldn't bring pl ay a quick c2-c3 and d2-d4 don 't
himself to castle king side - it would seem to be justified. For example. if 5
have been a final admission that his :tel 0-0 6 C 3 ? ! .
strategy h ad been a compl ete failure.
In any case. it al so loses immediately to
2 1 ... 0-0 2 2 'iVg 3 + <iith 8 2 3 'ii'e 3 .
2 2 liJg6+1 fxg6 2 3 :xe6 'iVd8 24 l:.dl l-0
24 ... liJd5 25 'ii'f3+ <iit g 7 26 .id3 wins.
Game 3 7
J.Boka r-V.Nasybullin
Corres pondence 2006
1 e4 e5 2 liJf3 liJc6 3 .iC4 .ie7 the typical fork trick 6 ... liJxe4! en
sures Black of at least equality.
Let's look at one or two other rare
moves for Bl ack. I don't plan to cover
every option (e.g. 3 ... h 6 ? ! . 3 ... 'iVf6 ? ! .
3 ... 'iVe7 ? ! etc). I feel at some stage it
must be best to just pl ay some chess
and use common sen se at the board.
rather th an try to be booked up against
every single possibility.
a) 3 ... d6 looks similar to 3 ... .ie7. but
a key difference is that Bl ack is plan-
16 9
Beating 1 e4 e5
ning to fianchetto his king's bishop. known to be good for White.

Black can al so begin with 3 ... g6, which
often tran sposes. After 3 ... d6, Black can
meet 4 d4 with 4 ... exd4 5 tiJxd4 g6 and
the bishop will be much more active on
g 7 than it would be on e7. It's basically
the Larsen Variation of the Philidor but
with an early ..tC4 and ... tiJc6.
But what about 4 c3 here, followed
by d4? Let's see:
For example, 8 ... �xf7 9 'iif3+ �e6

10 0-0 tiJa5 11 i.d3 'iff8 12 'iWe4 i.d6 13
dxe 5 ..te7 14 b4 and White won,
D.Langier-R.Acosta, Buenos Aires 1993.
Bl ack can probably defend better, but
who would want to play like thi s ?
a3) The innocent-lookin g 4 ... i.e7
might al so be a mistake:
al) 4 ... g 6 i s the most solid option for

Bl ack. 5 d4 i.g 7 (or 5 .. :i1ke7 6 0-0 i.g7) 6
0-0 'ike7 7 ];tel tiJf6 8 tiJbd2 0-0 9 h 3
should b e compared directly t o 3 . . .tiJf6
4 d3 h 6 (Bologan-Tom ashevsky, Game
3 5) and the typical ideas for White
must be very similar. The only detail
here is that Bl ack is missing the move
... h6, but I don 't think thi s should m ake
much difference.
a2) 4 ... tiJf6 ? ! looks ri sky in view of 5 5 'ii'h 3 ! ? tiJh 6 6 d4 tiJa5 7 'ifa4+ c6 8
tiJg 5 ! d5 6 exd5, when surely the extra i.d3, as played in A.Vitolinsh
c2-c3 m akes a difference. After A.Zakh arov, Soviet Union 1963, looks
6 ... tiJxd5 (6 ... tiJa5 7 'ii'a4+!) 7 d4 i.e7 we g ood for White. In thi s case, knights on
actually tran spose to a line of the Two the rim does equal 'grim ' !
Knights (4 tiJg 5 d5 5 exd5 tiJxd5 6 d4 a4) 4. . .i.g4 must surely b e the most
i.b4+ 7 c3 i.e7) and here 8 tiJxf7 ! i s sensible option if Black isn't planning a
170
kingside fianchetto, and this is reflected It's also known in some circles, es
by the fact that it's the most common peci ally in junior chess, as the "Oh my
choice after 4 c3. If Black follows up with god!" trick. For m aximum effect, after
... ltJf6, and I think this is his best option, playing the m ove you are m eant to
something similar to lines seen in Chap hold your head in your h ands and ex
ter Four is more than likely and this of cl aim those words, all to give the im
course suits our repertoire. For example, pression that you have just blundered
S h3 Jth S 6 d3 and: a pawn. Then you hope for 4 ltJxe s ? !
a41) The plausible 6 .. :i!Vf6 ?? loses to 'ilVg S ! S ltJxf7 ?? 'ii'x g 2 6 l:tf1 'ii'x e4+ 7
7 g4! Jtg 6 8 Jtg s trapping the queen - Jte2 ltJf3 m ate. It works with some fre
thi s i s why we inserted S h 3 ! . quency at junior tournaments!
a42) After 6 . . .Vid7 7 ltJbd2 White The problem (for Black, not us !) i s
need not be afraid of 7 ... ltJas, as the that after any half-decent reply, we
trick 8 ltJxe S ! win s a pawn - another can't escape the fact that Bl ack has
good reason for S h 3 ! m oved his only developed piece twice,
a43 ) 6 ... ltJf6 ! 7 ltJbd2 Jte7 8 Jtb3 0-0 and it gets exchanged. After something
9 ltJf1 (there's nothing wrong with 9 like 4 ltJxd4 exd4 S c3 White can al
0-0 but with f1 still vacant, why not ready count on a significant advan
thi s m ore aggressive approach ?) 9 ... dS tage, especially since S ... JtcS ? loses to 6
(if 9 ... ltJd7, 10 g4 Jtg6 l 1 ltJg 3 i s tempt Jtxf7 + ! .
ing) 10 Vie2 and then ltJg 3, or g4 fol c ) 3 .. .fS i s the kind o f move you
lowed by ltJg 3 . probably shouldn 't spend hours fret
b) 3 ... ltJd4?! i s known a s the Black ting over, simply because the ch ances
burne-Shilling G ambit, because the of facing it are quite slim. The sen sible
English player Joseph Henry Blackburne reply, especi ally if you are surprised
reputedly used it to win shillings from over the board, i s 4 d3, which I would
amateurs. have thought compares quite favoura
bly to 4 d3 again st the Schliemann. Is
the bishop better on c4 th an on bS?
Just ask Black's kin g ! 4 ... ltJf6 S 0-0 JtcS
6 ltJc3 d6 7 Jtg s i s a King's G ambit De
clined with reversed colours, and
7 ... ltJas 8 Jtxf6 ! 'i!Vxf6 g ltJds 'ilVd8 10 b4!
ltJxC4 11 bxcS was somewhat better for
White in D. Fryer-M.Lyell, Hastings
2003 /04.
Even so, when con sidering a move
like 3 .. .fS, it's always tempting to look
17 1
Beating 1 e4 e5
for something approaching a direct 4 d4 d6

refutation . I suspect th at 4 d4! is the
most critical move.
Black's other m ain option here is

4 ... exd4, after which 5 ltJxd4 ltJf6 6 ltJC3
For example: 0-0 7 0-0 d6 8 l:tel is a kind of Scotch
Cl) 4 ... exd4 5 es! ds 6 exd6 SLxd6 7 G ame, but one where Black has devel
0-0 looks like a very promising g ambit oped passively with his bishop on e7
for White. in stead of b4 or cs. Thi s position can
(2) 4 .. :ii'e7 5 ltJC3 ltJf6 6 ltJxe s ! ltJxes al so be reached via the Philidor De
7 dxes 'ii'x es 8 o-o! fxe4 (or 8 ... SLd6 9 g 3 fence. Although Black's set-up is solid,
fxe4 1 0 .l:tel) 9 ltJds ! ltJxds 1 0 SLxds c6 White's extra space and central superi
(if 10 ... SLd6 1 1 g3 c6, 12 SLxe4 0-0 13 ority promise at least a small edge. For
'ii'd 3 looks good for White) 1 1 SLxe4 ds example, 8 ... ltJe s 9 SLfl ! (if 9 SLb3,
12 SLd3 �f7 13 :tel 'ii'f6 14 l:te3 ! . White 9 ... cs! suddenly gives Bl ack good coun
prevents Black from coordinating his terplay) 9 .. J:te8 10 SLg s ltJfg4 1 1 SLf4
pieces and thus keeps an advantage. ltJg6 12 SLg3 SLh4 1 3 'ili'd2 SLxg 3 14
c3) 4 .. .fxe4 5 ltJxe s ds 6 SLbs "ii'd 6 7 hxg 3 SLd7 15 a4 ltJ6es 16 as a6 17 SLe2
0-0 ltJf6 8 c4! a6 9 SLxc6+ bxc6 10 ltJc3 ltJf6 18 f4 ltJc6 19 SLf3, M.5tolz-G. Braun,
'iVe6 1 1 'ii' a4 SLd7 12 SLg s SLe7 1 3 ltael German League 2009.
h 6 14 SLxf6 SLxf6 1 5 f4 and Black i s un 5 dxe 5 1
der pressure, F. Fritsche-B.Blankenberg, Even though ...SL e 7 ensures that
correspondence 200 3 . He can 't castle Black's king isn't di splaced after the
because of tactics on ds and d7, and he exchange of queen s on d8 (or indeed
faces the threat of 16 fs. th at Bl ack doesn't lose either the f7- or
In summ ary, 4 d3 i s a solid choice if the es-pawn !), I still think that the re
you don 't want to h ave to think too sultin g position is quite uncomfortable
hard; 4 d4 is the m ove if you're aiming for Bl ack and I'm not sure why anyone
for a quick win . would be in a rush to accept it.
17 2
Note that 5 c3 i s not the most effec 7 ... �g4 8 �e3 liJf6 9 0-0-0 would
tive approach, as Bl ack gains quick tran spose.
counterpl ay in the centre. For example, 8 �e 3 �g4
5 ...liJf6 6 liJbd2 0-0 7 0-0 exd4 8 cxd4 If 8 ... 0-0 White plays 9 �C5 ! :te8 10
d 5 ! 9 exd5 liJxd5. liJg 5 �e6 11 liJxe6 fxe6 12 �b 5 ! liJd7
There's no reason not to, but if 1 3 �xc6 bxc6 and Bl ack's pawn s are
White really wants to avoid an ex not a pretty sight, E .Vasiukov
ch ange of queen s, he should play a G .Gheorghiu, Manila 1974.
King's Indian structure with 5 d5 liJb8 6 9 0-0-0 0-0 10 h3 � h 5
�d3 and c2-c4. Altern atively, 5 h 3 liJf6 White i s not worried about
6 liJC3 0-0 7 0-0 exd4 8 liJxd4 is similar 10 ... �xf3 11 gxf3, since f3-f4 is always
to 4 ... exd4. an option and meanwhile the bishop
5 .•• dxe5 pair promises good long-term ch ances.
Forced, since 5 ... liJxe 5 ? 6 liJxe 5 dxe5 Bearing in mind wh at happen s to
7 'iVh 5 ! i s disastrous for Bl ack. Black's bishop in the game, there's an
6 Wxd8+ �xd 8 7 liJ c3 argument here for 10 ... �e6. But even
here White can either saddle Bl ack with
permanently weak doubl ed pawn s
with 1 1 �xe6 or choose the possibly
even stronger 11 �d5 ! ?
1 1 g4 � g6 12 liJd2 �e7 1 3 f3 !
This queenless middlegam e has al

ways been con sidered better for White,
because of his active pieces and lead in
development. I imagine that over the
board it's quite difficult for Black to
defend. As thi s g ame demon strates, it's Now Black's light-squared bishop
no easier in correspondence chess, will struggle to get back into the game.
where you have a lot more time to 13 ..• liJa 5 14 �e2 l:tfd8
solve your problems (or, perhaps, to The first new move ! The stem game,
wallow in a miserable position ). N . Rossolimo-S. Bern stein, US (h., New
7 ... liJf6 York 19 54, had continued 14 ... c6 1 5
173
Beating 1 e4 e5
liJb3 ? liJxb3+ 16 axb3 b S and Black 2 2 e s ! �cS

m anaged to equalize. 22 ... iLxe s i s m et by 23 liJe7+ �8 24
However, there is no reason for liJxg 6+ fxg 6 25 b4 liJc6 2 6 iLf3, winning
White to relieve Black's position by ex m aterial . Or if 2 2 ... �f8 23 liJxf4 and
ch anging knights, especi ally such a Bl ack i s getting squashed.
poor knight on the rim . 1 5 h4!, as in the 2 3 .i.xcs ':'xd S 24 .i.b4!
main game, would keep the pressure Winning an exchange.
firmly on Black. 24 ...liJ c 6 2 S iLf3 liJxb4 2 6 axb4 c6 27
l S h4! hS 16 gs liJe8 17 a 3 �xd S cxd S 2 8 e6! ':'c8 29 exf7+ �xf7 30
By pushing the knight back to e8, C3 liJC7
White open s up possibilities of liJdS. 30 ... d4 fails to 3 1 liJf3 dxc3 3 2 liJes+.
The problem for Black i s that ... c6 can 3 1 ':'es .:te8
be met by b4 trapping th e knight on as Again 31 ... d4 is no good: 32 liJf3
- a good reason for White to avoid its dXc3 3 3 :d7+ �g 8 34 :CS ! etc.
exchange. 32 ':xe8 �xe8 33 liJb3 �e7 34 .l:.fl �d6
17 ... �f8 18 �f2 a6 3S lii xf4 liJe6 3 6 !:tf2 �e5 37 �d2 iLfS
18 ...liJd6 is strongly answered by 19 38 �e3 g6 3 9 liJd4 liJxd4 40 cxd4+ 1-0
liJds intending 19 ... c6? 20 liJC7 l:tac8 21
�xa7 i:!xc7 2 2 .i.b6. Key Notes
19 liJd s � d 6 20 l:thel! b S 2 1 f41
1. Again st 4 .. :We7, 4 ... �b6 or 4 ... d6
(Game 3 6), White can if he wishes just
develop as in previous chapters to
reach similar positions. H owever, an
early d2-d4 is m ore critical as it puts
Black under immediate pressure. In
contrast to position s after 4 ... liJf6,
White is much better placed to m ain
tain his centre.
2. The critical respon se to the Hun
g arian, 3 ...iLe7, i s the immedi ate 4 d4! .
White's position is so good th at he A n early c2-c3 and d2-d4 plan i s less
can win with a direct assault in the effective here. Thi s i s a rare occasion in
centre, even if thi s bring the bishop on thi s book where the d-pawn doesn 't
g 6 back to life. require protection from its partner.
21 ... exf4 3. If your opponent pl ays 3 ... liJd4
If 2 1 .. .f6, I like 2 2 fS .i.f7 2 3 g 6 .i.xds and cries out "Oh my god!", remember
24 exds . to take the knight, not the pawn .
174
C h a pt e r S i x
Bishop's Opening
1 e4 e5 2 .1i.c4 because there is no immediate pres

sure on his es-pawn, Bl ack i s not
obliged to play ... tLlc6 any time soon . In
practice there i s a con siderable ch ance
th at he will choose to do so anyway. For
example, he might pl ay 2 .. tLlc6, after
.
which 3 tLlf3 tran sposes directly to the

Italian G ame. A more likely scen ario is
2 ... tLlf6 3 d3 tLlc6 4 tLlf3, again with a
tran sposition. But Bl ack does h ave
some decent alternatives to thi s move
order, and these will be considered in
The only way White can guarantee this chapter.
obtaining a system of development The most significant option is un
with ..tc4, d3 and tLlf3 i s by using the doubtedly 2 ... tLlf6 3 d3 c6 intending
Bishop's Opening move order. If White ... dS, and the vast majority of this ch ap
pl ays 2 tLlf3, the vast m ajority of the ter is devoted to this idea. To h ave any
time he will be able to force it, but if ch ance of obtaining an advantage,
Bl ack does choose the Petroff, 2 ... tLlf6, White needs to put Black's centre un
he needs to be prepared for something der pressure as quickly as possible. The
entirely different. m ain line run s 4 tLlf3 dS S ..tb3 ..td6
The only drawback with the and now White has a choice between
Bishop's Opening move order i s that, two equally playable moves:
175
Beating 1 e4 e5
and of the book, deal with possibilities

on the second an d third moves: 3 ... i.cs,
3 ... i.e7 and 3 ... ds in Shaposhnikov
Lastin (Game 45); and then 2 ... d6,
2 ... i.cs, 2 ... c6 and 2 .. .fs in Mrva
Klemanic (Game 46).
Game 38
A.Oelchev-OJova nic
Zad a r 2004
a) 6 ttJC3 is the traditional m ain line.
In Delch ev-Jovanic (Game 38) Bl ack 1 e4 e S 2 i.C4 ttJf6 3 d3 c6 4 ttJf3 dS 5
chooses to m aintain the tension with i.b3 i.d6 6 ttJc3
6 ... i.e6, but his centre soon comes un The game's actual m ove order was 6
der heavy pressure. A more reliable exds cxds 7 i.g s i.e6 8 ttJc3 Vas 9 0-0
solution for Black i s to release the ten ttJbd7. See Mitkov-Timoscenko (Game
sion with 6 ... dxe4, and thi s i s covered in 41) for coverage of the 6 exds move
G ames 3 9-40. order.
b) 6 exds ! ? has been g aining in 6 ... i.e6
popularity in recent times, and for
good reason . White still intends to put
pressure on the centre, but by captur
ing on ds so quickly he eliminates
Bl ack's 'easy option' of ...dxe4. Either
recapture on ds i s possible: 6 ... cxds is
covered in Mitkov-Timoscenko (G ame
41), while 6 ... ttJxds is covered in
Nevednichy- Beliavsky (Game 42).
There are al so option s to con sider
earlier on in the 3 ... c6 line. As well as
s ... i.d6, Bl ack can pl ay s ... as or 6 ... i.e6 was the original 'main line',
s ... i.b4+, and these two moves are cov- but more recently it h as been over
ered in Papp-Ippolito (Game 43). Bl ack taken by 6 ... dxe4. Black tries to keep his
doesn't even have to pl ay ... ds; the centre intact, which in m any ways i s
m ore restrained 4 ... i.e7 intending ... d6 t h e most ambitious approach . How
i s seen in Sebag -Stefanova (Game 44). ever, practice h as shown th at this i s
The final two games of thi s chapter, difficult for him t o do, a n d with accu-
176
Bis hop 's Opening
rate play White can pl ace con siderable (Black cannot pl ay ... g6, either to pre
pressure on Black's centre pawn s. vent liJf5 or to attack th e knight once it
Apart from 6 ... dxe4, the other m ain reaches that square) 12 ... �h 7 ? ! (bat
option for Bl ack here i s 6 ... d4 closing tling for control of f5 with 12 ... liJe7
the centre. 7 liJe2, planning liJg 3 , is looks like a better idea) 13 liJhf5 ':'g8
clearly the best reply, and now: (planning ... iLf8 and ... g6) 14 liJxd6
a) 7 ... liJa6 intends ... liJC5 to swap off 'i!Vxd6 15 f4 iLxb 3 ? ! 16 axb3 g6 17 'fi'cl
White's strong bishop, but 8 c3 ! i s a h5 18 f5 a6 19 iLg 5 with strong pres
good reply: 8 ... dxC3 (conceding the cen sure on the king side, R.Berzin sh
tre; the problem with 8 ... C5 i s th at it K. Kalnins, Riga 200 5 .
m akes Bl ack's previous move look silly) b2) 9 ... h 6 ! ? i s interesting. Bl ack
9 bxc3 0-0 10 0-0 liJC5 11 iLC2 ! iLg4 12 plans to m eet liJh4 with ... g 6 . Indeed,
liJg 3 liJh 5 13 h3 liJxg 3 14 fxg 3 iLh 5 1 5 he wants to pl ay thi s move anyway.
g4 iL g 6 16 h4 f6 1 7 h 5 iLf7 18 d4 liJe6 The rook stays on h8 to protect h6 and
19 iLb3 'fi'a5 20 iLd2 exd4 21 cxd4 iLb4 Bl ack can castle 'by hand' with ... �f8-
22 iLe3 with a clear advantage for g 7 . The whole idea is to keep White's
White, J .N unn-V. Korchnoi, Joh annes knights at an arm 's length .
burg 1981. 1 0 h 3 g 6 11 c3 (11 a3 ! ?, intending
b) 7 ... C5! followed by ... liJc6 looks like liJh 2 and possibly f4, might be better)
the most logical follow-up for Black. A 11...iLd7 12 cxd4 cxd4 13 lIel ? ! (13
n atural sequence is 8 liJg 3 liJc6 9 0-0 iLd2 ! ) 1 3 ... 'ii'e 7 14 a3 �f8 1 5 liJfl �g7
and now: 16 liJld2 b 5 was a successful applica
tion of Black's plan in M.5chlosser
V.lvanchuk, Adelaide 1988, but White
has improvements to m ake life less
comfortable for Bl ack.
Moreover, 10 liJd2 worked out well
for White in W.Hendriks-F. Kroeze, En
schede 1998, after 10 ... g 6 (I think Black
should abort the pl an here, and simply
play 10 ... 0-0) ll liJC4 iLC7 12 a4 �f8 13
f4 �g 7 14 f5, and once ag ain White
exerts pressure.
bl) 9 ... 0-0 10 iLg 5 ! ? (White encour 7 iLg51
ages ... h 6, so th at later on Black will White must put pressure on Black's
find it more difficult to arrange ... g6; centre pawn s as quickly as possible.
the immediate 10 liJh4 i s a good alter There's an immediate threat to capture
native) 10 ... h6 11 iLd2 iLe6 12 liJh4! on d5.
177
Beating 1 e4 e5
fended, thi s lines up tactical possibili

ties based on liJxds and liJe4. Of course
White's queen al so attacks the e S
pawn. Not bad for a n awkward-looking
move !
10 ... :c8
Thi s was a critical moment, with
Black having to decide between a few
option s:
a) The problem with the straight
forward 10 ... 0-0? is that it allows White
7 :ii'a 5
•. to win a pawn with 11 �xf6 liJxf6 12
7 ...d 4 i s again an swered by 8 liJe2, liJxdS ! .
with similar play to the previous note. b ) 1 0. . .d4 l l liJe4 'ii'b 6 (if 11 . . .'ii'x el?
If 7 ... liJbd7? White win s a pawn with 1 2 liJxd6+ ctt e 7, 1 3 liJfS + ! �xfS 14
8 exds cxdS 9 �xd S ! (remember to lUxel win s at least a pawn) 12 �xe6
avoid g liJxdS ?? �xdS 10 �xdS 'ii' a s+!). fxe6 1 3 liJxd6+ 'iVxd6 14 �h4 lk8 l S
8 0-0 liJ bd 7 �g 3 ! ? l:[xc2 16 liJxe s liJxe S 17 J.xes
Bl ack h as m an aged to keep his g ave White just a slight edge in
pawn centre intact, but to do so he's A.Fedorov-T.Mamedjarova, Baku 2008,
had to play the less-than-ideal ... 'ii'a s. but 1 3 liJfd2 ! pl anning liJC4 looks more
In fact, White can exploit the position promising to me.
of Black's queen in a rather surprising c) Moving the queen out of the X
way: ray with 10 ... WcS ! might well be Black's
9 exd 5 cxd 5 10 'ii'e 1! wisest course, but White still has good
chances of keeping some advantage
after 1 1 �xf6 ! and now:
Creating an X-ray effect on the black

queen . Because the queen is unde-
178
Bis hop 's Opening
Cl) 1 1 ... tLlxf6 12 tLlxe s 0-0 1 3 tLlf3 keep the ten sion . Or perhaps he missed
l:tfe8 was played in S.Taulbut Black's defen sive resource in the note
P.Scheeren, Copenh ag en 1981. I don 't on 12 ... exd4.
think th at Black has enough for th e 11 ••• �b41
pawn here, especially if White plays 14 Of course Black would love to be
'ii'd 2 intending 14 ... �g4 1 5 d4 'iVc8 16 able to reply with 11...e4?, but thi s loses
tLle s . to 12 tLlxe4 ! .
(2) 11...gxf6 1 2 d4! ? exd4 1 3 tLlxds 12 � d 2
0-0-0 14 'iVe4 �es 15 tLlf4 fS 16 tLlxe6 White i s al so better after 12 tLlxes
fxe4 17 tLlxcs exf3 18 tLld3 was a touch tLle4 1 3 tLlxd7 �xd7 14 �d2 tLlxd2 15
better for White in S.Tiviakov 'iVxd2. Black will regain the pawn by
R.5winkel s, Vli ssingen 2004. There's capturing twice on c3, but White will
al so 12 1:tdl ! ?, which might be m ore keep the queen s on and aim to exploit
promising . I like White's position after Black's slightly shaky king .
either 12 ... 0-0-0 13 d4 exd4 14 tLlxd4, or
12 ... d4 13 tLle4 'i!Vb6 14 C3 ! when Black's
king won 't be safe on either side.
12 ... �xc3?
Black panics and m akes a losing
blunder.
11 d41? 12 ... exd4 13 tLlxd4 o-o! keeps Black
White can win a pawn with 1 1 �xf6 in the g ame in view of the resource 14
tLlxf6 (or 11...gxf6 12 tLlxdS 'ii'x el 1 3 tLlxe6 l:!.fe8 ! . I prefer 14 a3 �xc3 1 5
tLlxel) 1 2 tLlxd S ! (Black gets some com �xc3 'iVb6 16 f3, when White's strong
pensation after 12 tLlxe s ? ! 0-0, since bi shop on c3 and control of the dark
... ':c8 i s more useful th an ... 'iVcS) squares must count for something. If
12 .. .'iWxel 1 3 tLlxf6+ g xf6 14 .l::!.fxel (or 16 ... tLlcs White can choose between 17
14 tLlxel) 14 ... �xb3 15 cxb 3 . Presum a 'iif2 tLlxb3 18 tLlxb3 (or 18 cxb 3 ! ?) and
bly Delchev thought th at Bl ack would 17 �as 'iVa6 18 �a2; in either case he
have drawing ch ances and preferred to has an advantage.
179
Beating 1 e4 e5
13 iLxC3 .l::!. xc 3 iLb3 iLd6 6 ttJc3 dxe4

If 13 ... 'ifC7 White just win s a good Ever since Kramnik demon strated
pawn with 14 ttJxe s . th at Black has seriously good equaliz
1 4 bxc3 e 4 1 5 ttJg5 0-0 1 6 c41 ing chances with thi s m ove, it h as be
Delchev plays the rest of the game come Black's most popular choice at
energetically to avoid any problems. grandmaster level . Black is not worried
Del aying thi s move might have allowed about giving up the centre, nor about
Bl ack to get a grip on the c4-square conceding the bishop pair a bit l ater.
after which he would have some com Although 6 ... dxe4 is clearly unambi
pen sation . tious, if Black's goal i s to limit White's
chances as much as possible, it cer
tainly succeeds in achieving this.
7 ttJg5
7 ttJxe4 is covered in the next g ame.
7 ...0-0 8 ttJcxe4 ttJxe4 9 ttJxe4
16 .. JWxe1 17 l:[axe1
Thi s is the 'right rook' - see White's
19th move.
17 ... h6
Or 17 ... dxC4 18 ttJxe6 ilc8 19 iLa4
fxe6 20 iLxd7 ttJxd7 21 ':xe4 with a 9 ... iLf5 1
winning endgame for White. A key move - Bl ack simply wants to
18 ttJxe6 fxe6 19 f3 1 exf3 20 :xf3 :c8 play ... iLxe4. Initially it looks like a
2 1 cxd 5 exd 5 22 l:[e7 .:Id8 23 .:tg3 g5 24 strange idea to trade the light-squared
l:tf3 1-0 bishop for th e knight, but thi s knight i s
a strong piece and practice h as shown
th at White has found it tough going
Game 39 trying to prove that his bishop pair
Z.Efimenko-V.Ciolod gives him a m eaningful edge. On the
Montrea l 2005 other hand, it should be said th at this
line isn't exactly much fun to pl ay as
1 e4 e 5 2 iLC4 ttJf6 3 d 3 c6 4 ttJf3 d 5 5 Black.
180
Bis hop 's Opening
More 'interestin g ' altern atives are is quite convincing . I haven't been able
al so, almost by definition, riskier: to come up with a significant im
a) 9 ... ttJa6 10 'ii'h s ! 'ikC7 11 ttJg s ! h 6 provement over 1 2 ... �h 8 1 3 hs i.h 7 14
12 ttJe4 Oining up i.xh 6 and/or "ii'g 6) ttJfs "iWf6 1 5 ttJxd6 'iYxd6, when it's not
1 2 ... i.. e 7 clear if White h as achieved anything
positive from his king side action .
10 0-0 ttJa6 11 ttJxd6 'iWxd6 12 'iWf3
i.e6 g ave Black comfortable equality in
V.An and-V. Kramnik, Frankfurt (rapid)
1998, but note th at 1 1 'iWf3 i.xe4 12
dxe4 would tran spose to the m ain
game.
10 i.xe4
...
10 ... i.g6 is met by 11 h4!.
1 3 i.xh 6 ! gxh6 14 'iWg 6+ �h 8 15

"iWxh 6+ �g 8 16 h4 with a fierce attack,
R.Tischbierek-A. Beliavsky, Novi Sad
Olympiad 1990.
b) 9 ... as 10 "ii'h s ! (again thi s move)
10 ... i.b4+ ! 11 �f1 ! (avoiding a weak
ness on d3) 11 ... i.e7 (11 ... h 6 ? 12 i.xh 6 !
i s crushing) 12 a 4 ttJd7 (A. Fedorov
A.shirov, European Team Ch ., Leon
2001) and here shirov assesses 13 i.. e 3 If 1 1 ... i.xe4 12 dxe4 the extra move
b6 14 h4 "iWe8 a s a slight plus for White. h 2 -h4, facilitating i.. g s , helps White.
c) 9 ... i..b 4+ 10 c3 i.e7 11 f4! ? (or 1 1 For example, 12 ... ttJd7 13 c3 ttJcs 14
0-0 i..f s 12 'iWh s i.xe4 1 3 dxe4, which i.. c 2 "ii'e 7 15 i.. g s f6 16 i.. d 2 with an
looks like a favourabl e version - for edge for White, K.Georgiev- B.Alterman,
White - of the m ain game) 11 ... exf4 12 Recklinghausen 1998. Altern atively,
i.xf4 ttJd7 1 3 "ii'f3 ttJf6 14 0-0 ttJxe4 1 5 11 ... h6 12 i.e3 as 13 a3 ttJa6 14 0-0-0
'iWxe4 and White i s the more active, �h 8 15 g4! and White is ahead in the
H .5tefan sson - I . Krush, Reykjavik 2004. race to attack th e kings.
10 "ii'f3 11 dxe4 ttJd 7 12 0-0
10 ttJg 3 i.g 6 11 h4 h6 12 'iVg4 i s White has al so played 12 c3 here, so
tempting but Black's play in th at the bishop can drop back to c2
V.Nevednichy-A.Raetsky, Lucerne 1994, after ... ttJcs . Black's typical pl an of gain-
18 1
Beating 1 e4 e5
ing space on the queen side while 19 ... :ab8? with 20 l:tds (Golod).
White completes his development en Golod's assessm ent of the ending
sures equality. For example, 12 ... as 13 we reach in the m ain g am e i s in be
0-0 (or 1 3 a4 tDcs 14 iLC2 �e7 1 5 0-0 tween '+1=' and '=', which seem s just
'ii'e 6 ! 16 iLe3 .l:lfd8 17 'ife2 iLe7 18 g 3 about right. At grandmaster level Black
g 6 1 9 b 4 axb4 2 0 cxb4 tDb3, D.Howell should draw fairly comfortably as long
J.Smeets, Staunton Memorial, London as he plays accurately, and thi s i s re
2009) 13 ... a4 14 iLC2 'ife7 15 l:td1 :fd8 flected by the high percentage of
16 h4 h6 17 g 3 bs 18 iLd2 tDf8 19 'ilkg4 draws.
'ife6 20 'i¥xe6 tDxe6, S.Movsesian - Bu H ere i s one of the few win s that
Xian g zhi, N anjing 2008. White h as enjoyed: 14 ... tDe6 15 c3 iLcs
12 tDcS
... 16 g3 (White slowly improves his posi
tion on the kingside) 16 ... as 1 7 �g 2
iLe7 (thi s looks a bit passive; why not
17 ... 'iVe7 here?) 18 h4 'iVc8 19 'iVfs ! ? g6
20 'iff3 (White simply wanted to induce
a weakness; 20 'ifxe s ? ? f6 would trap
the queen) 20 ... tDg 7 21 iLh 6 'iVe6 22
'ifg4 ( I like 2 2 a4 here) 2 2 .. JUd8 23
l:tfd1 a4 24 h s ! ? :xd1 2 5 'iVxe6 tDxe6 26
':xd1 l:.d8 2 7 ':'xd8+ iLxd8 2 8 f4 exf4 29
gxf4 gs 30 fxg s
1 3 iL C41
The best chance. White's one advan
tage in thi s position i s his bishop pair.
If he wants to cause Black any prob
lems at all he mustn 't give it up.
1 3 bS 14 iLe 2 'i¥e7
...
A key point here i s th at after

14 ... 'iVh4 White can ignore the attack
on the e4-pawn : 15 iLe3 ! 'iVxe4
( l s ... tDe6 16 g3 'ife7 17 c3, as played in
S.Tiviakov-E . Rozentalis, Kallithea 2009, 30 ... tDf4+? (Black must h ave
i s safer, but then why give White a thought that White coul dn 't m ake pro
tempo with g 2-g 3 ? ) 16 l:tfd1! iLe7 17 gress with his bishop incarcerated on
iLxcs 'ili'xf3 18 iLxf3 iLxcs 19 iLxc6 with h 6, but White finds a way; 30 ... iLxg s !
an edge for White, who an swers h ad t o b e played, and after 3 1 iLxg s
18 2
Bis hop 's Opening
lLlxg 5 3 2 e 5 White has some winning Remember, White must keep the
ch ances) 31 'otf3 lLlxe2 3 2 'otxe2 i.. c 7 3 3 two bishops!
b3 axb3 3 4 axb3 ..tf4 3 5 'otf3 ..td2 3 6 c4 20. . .l::t xd l 2 1 l::t x dl l:td8 2 2 l:txd 8+ 'ii'x d8
bXc4 37 bXc4 ..tCl 38 'otg4 ..te3 39 'otf5 23 'otg2 ..tf8 24 'iYd 3 'iYxd 3 2S ..txd 3
..td2 40 e5 c5 41 'ote4 ..tCl 42 'otd5 ..te3 ..td6 26 h S h 6 !
43 'otd6 (zugzwan g ! ) 43 ... ..tf4 (43 ... 'oth 8
44 g 6 ! ..txh 6 45 g xf7 ..tf8+ 46 ..t>d7 �g 7
47 'ote8 wins) 44 'otxc5 ..txe 5 45 'otd5
..tf4 46 c5 f6 47 c6 fxg 5 48 'ote6 ..tC7 49
i.. x g 5 'otg 7 50 'otd7 ..tb8 51 c7 ..txc7 5 2
'otxc7 and 1-0, E.Ghaem Maghami
I.Datu, Kolkata 2001.
Of course at lower level s, less accu
rate play will en sure that White (and of
course Black ! ) h as m ore winning
ch ances.
l S e3 a s l Golod felt it was risky to allow
Once m ore w e s e e Black g aining as White's pawn to reach h 6 .
much space as possible on the queen 2 7 ..te2
side, his best attempt at neutralizing Perh aps White coul d have given
White's advantage of the bishop pair. Bl ack more problem s with the immedi
16 i.. e 3 a4 1 7 .l:r.adl �Ud 8 18 g3 ate 27 �h 3 intending 'otg4-f5 . G olod
suggests 2 7 ... lLlc5 2 8 ..tc2 lLld7 plan
ning ... lLlf6, but here White can switch
pl an s with 29 C4! ?
2 7 ... 'otf8 !
Now Black i s in time to bring his
king to f6. There's still some pl ay left in
thi s position, and certainly scope to
outplay an opponent, but objectively
Black's solid structure and queen side
space holds the balance against
White's bishop pair. The rem aining
Likewise, White gains space on the moves were:
kin g side. Soon there's an almost inevi 2 8 'oth3 'ote7 29 'otg4 'otf6 30 f4 ..te7 3 1
tabl e exchange of m ajor pieces on the i.. d 2 ..td6 3 2 e4 lLld4 3 3 ..t d l a 3 34 bxa 3
d-file. ..txa 3 3 S exbs exbs 36 ..te3 'ote6 3 7 'oth3
18 lLle6 19 h4 ..tes 20 ..tel
•.. f6 3 8 ..tas ..td6 3 9 ..tb6 �e7 40 'otg4
183
Beating 1 e4 e5
'ite6 41 i.a5 'ite7 42 i.C3 'ite6 43 'it h 3 too much caution, although when you
'it e 7 4 4 ii.d2 'itf7 45 'it g 2 'it e 7 4 6 i.g4 con sider option s 'a' and 'b' it suddenly
<iSi>eS 47 i.cS 'itdS 4S i.b7 'itd7 49 i.d 5 becomes easier to understand the rea
liJe6 50 'itf3 liJd4+ 51 'ite3 liJC2+ 5 2 soning behind thi s move. Unfortu
'it e 2 i. b 4 5 3 i. c 1 i.a3 54 i. d 2 i.b4 n ately from White's point of view, op
Yz-Yz tion 'd' does seem to put a bit of a
dampener on thi s line, although it
would h ave been interesting to see
Game 40 wh at, if anything, Vallejo had planned
F.Vallejo Pons-A.Zatonskih again st thi s :
G i bra lta r 2010 a ) 8 ... Ve7 ? i s a pl ausible reaction,
but surprisingly Black m ay well already
1 e4 e 5 2 i.C4 liJf6 3 d 3 c6 4 liJf3 d 5 5 be in some trouble after thi s move: 9
i.b3 i.d6 6 liJC3 dxe4 7 liJxe4 liJg S ! 0-0 10 liJxh 7 ! ! (an amazing long
Thi s shouldn 't be anything for term piece sacrifice)
White, should it? With accurate play
Bl ack must surely be okay, but it's in
teresting to note th at in practice White
has been more successful with 7 liJxe4
th an he has with the m ain move 7
liJg S . Moreover, when a 2700+ grand
m aster plays a move like this, we have
to sit up and take some notice.
7 ...liJxe4 S dxe4
10 ... 'itxh 7 1 1 'tWh S+ 'itg8 12 i.g s

�C7 1 3 .l:tdl with a powerful attack,
N .Mitkov-C.Gabriel, Pul a 2000. The
g ame continued 13 ... liJd7 14 ':d3 (14
'i¥g 6 i s al so strong) 14 ... liJcS 15 ':g 3
i.e7 16 i.h 6 i.f6 17 iYg 6 'iWas+ 18 c3
Vd8 19 i.xg 7 liJxb 3 ? (Black's best
chance of survival was 19 ... Vd2+ ! 20
'itxd2 liJxb3 + 2 1 axb3 fxg 6 2 2 i.xf8
S ••• h6 'itxf8 23 ':xg 6 - Lukacs) 20 'i¥h 6 Vd2+
Black rules out any possibility of 2 1 Vxd2 liJxd2 2 2 i.xf6+ <iSi>h 7 2 3 'itxd2
i.g s or liJg 5. Thi s is perhaps showing and White won .
184
Bis hop 's Opening
b) 8 ... 0-0 al so seem s to invite trou 13 ttJd2 ttJa6 14 a4 ttJcS 15 .ltC4 as,
ble: 9 �g s "fiIC7 10 "iVd2 ! (White uses N .5hort-H.Westerinen, Brighton 1982; or
the open d-file as quickly as possible, 11 ttJg s 0-0 12 We2 ttJd7 13 l:.dl �cS 14
before Black gets coordinated) 10 ... �g4 �e3 �xe3 15 'it>xe3 ttJcS 16 �C4 (16
1 1 0-0-0 �e7 12 �xe7 'ili'xe7 1 3 "fiId6 ! .l:!.d6 ! ?) 16 ... h6 17 ttJf3 .l:.e8 18 l:.acl as 19
'iii'x d6 14 ':xd6 with some pressure, a3 a4 20 ttJh4 Wf8 2 1 l:td6 .lte6 2 2 �xe6
V.Zhelnin-P.Tishin, Tula 2000. l:.xe6, D.Pikula-A.Raetsky, Zurich 1998.
c) 8 ... �g4! is stronger. For example, 9 �e3
9 h3 .lth s 10 .ltg S ! f6 (10 ... �xf3 ? 1 1 The most challenging move, pl an
"fiIxf3 "fiIxg S ? 12 'iii'xf7+ 'itd8 1 3 'iWxb7 ning "fiId2 and 0-0-0. It's true that ... h 6
'ii'x g 2 14 0-0-0 i s winning for White) 1 1 prevents a piece from coming t o g s,
.lt e 3 ttJa6 1 2 "fiIe2 "fiIe7 1 3 0-0-0 ttJ c S 14 but if Black castles king side White can
�xc S ! �xcS 15 g4 �f7 16 �xf7+ 'iVxf7 think about pushing a pawn to that
17 Wbl 0-0 18 h4 bS 19 h S with a square !
roughly equal position, but one with 9 'ii'e 7
...
plenty of play, I . Rogers-V.Tseshkovsky, Black suffers in the g ame from

Vrsac 1987. some congestion with her minor
d) 8 ... �b4+ ! i s perhaps Black's sim pieces. In particular, the light-squared
plest solution. If White enjoys pl aying bishop becomes blocked in and doesn 't
queen less middlegame positions, see the light of day until it's too late. I
there's nothing wrong with 9 c3 (9 ttJd2 feel that Black can avoid some of the
avoids the exch ange, but thi s must be later problems by pl aying 9 ... ttJa6 ! . The
level) 9 .. :tWxdl+ 10 Wxdl �d6, but with intention is to meet 10 'iii'd 2 with
accurate play it looks like Black should 10 ..."fiIf6 and then 11 0-0-0 with
neutralize White's slight development 11 ... �b4! 12 c3 �e7, when Black is far
edge and reach equality. better placed th an in the game.
10 "iVd2 1 ttJd7 11 0-0-0
For example, 11 We2 f6 12 l:tdl c:l;e7
185
Beating 1 e4 e5
11 ... � C7 sacrificing m aterial was the best prac

The difference here i s that after tical chance.
11 ... �b4 12 c3 �as there is nothing to After 14 ... 0-0 15 :hg l ! g6 (trying to
prevent White from launching into block things up) 16 g s h S 17 tDh4! c;tr>g 7
king side action with 13 g41 . It looks White h as 18 tDfS + ! gxfs 19 exfs when
crude, and it i s; but it's also quite dan- Black will struggle to survive. However,
gerous for Bl ack. For example, 1 3 ... tDf6 Black could try to bail out to a pawn
14 g s tDxe4 1 5 Vc2 tDxg s (or l S ... �fS down ending with l S ... tDcs 16 'ii'x es
16 tDh4 g 6 17 tDxfs gxfs 18 f3 tDxg s 19 'ili'xe s 1 7 tDxes tDxb3+ 18 axb 3 .
'iVxfS) 16 �xg s hxg s 17 tDxe s l . 1 5 tDxe 5 O-O?
I f 11 . . .�CS 12 �xcS 'ii'x cs (or ls ... �e6 is strongly m et by 16
12 ... tDxcS 13 tDxe s ! ) White again gets tDxc6 ! , but thi s was Black's best chance
going with 1 3 g41. since there is still some hope for sur
12 'iYc3 � b 6 13 g4! vival after 16 ... 'ii'C 7.
H ere it comes! Thi s would have also 16 tDg6
been White's an swer to 12 ... 0-0. Thi s is winning for White.
1 3 ... �xe 3+ 14 fxe3 ! 16 ... 'iVxe4 1 7 tDxfS i.xg4
It's more important t o keep pres 1S l:thg1

sure on eS than it i s to m aintain a per Rybka likes 18 tDd7 ! , which win s for
fect structure. 14 Vxe 3 would allow White after 18 ... tDxd7 19 l:r.hg l tDf6 20
Black to pl ay 14 ... tDcS followed by ... as, l1d4 'iYf3 21 ltf4 'ii'e 2 22 �xf7+! c;tr>xf7
with counterpl ay. 2 3 l:tgxg4 or 18 ... �xd7 19 ':hg l c;tr>f8 20
14 ... tDf6?! l:r.xd7 tDxd7 2 1 Vxg 7+ c;tr>e7 2 2 Vxf7+.
It's hard to believe th at Zaton skih Vallejo's choice, however, is ultimately
overlooked White's 16th m ove. It's good enough.
more likely that she mistakenly felt her 1 S ... l:txfS
position was already bad enough that If 18 ... �xdl, White plays 19 tDd7 1 .
186
Bis hop 's Opening
19 l::t d 4 'fif3 20 l::tf4 'fih3 2 1 'ij'd 2 h 5 2 2 H . H am douchi-E. Bacrot, Paris 2002,

:1 g 3 'fi h 4 2 3 a4 .:te8 24 � b 1 ttJe4 2 5 Black in stead chose 8 ... d4 and the g ame
i.xf7+ � h 8 2 6 'ilt'g2 ttJxg3 2 7 i.xe8 ttJf5 continued 9 l:tel 0-0 10 ttJbd2 l:[e8 1 1
28 i.. g 6 'fie1+ 29 �a 2 'iVa 5 30 'iVe4 1-0 i.xf6 ! gxf6 (Black would much rather
keep his pawn structure intact, but if
11 ... 'ii'xf6 White has 12 ttJe4 'iWg 6 1 3
Game 41 ttJxd6 'iVxd6 14 ttJg s which looks prom
N .Mitkov-G.Timoscenko ising) 12 ttJe4 i.e7. Here Lukacs's sug
Lj u b lj a n a 2003 gestion of 1 3 ttJg 3, preventing .. .fs and
intending to follow up with ttJh4, looks
1 e4 e 5 2 i.. C4 ttJf6 3 d 3 c6 4 ttJf3 d 5 5 very sen sible and I prefer White's posi
i.b3 i.d6 6 exd 5 ! ? cxd 5 tion . I found that White could al so con
By capturing on ds so quickly, White sider sacrificing with 13 ttJh4! ? fs 14
prevents Black from releasing the ten "iWh s ! , and now either 14 .. .fxe4 15
sion with 6 ttJc3 dxe4 (or indeed 6 ttJc3 i.xf7+ �f8 16 l'he4 or 14 ... i.. x h4 1 5
d4). If Black i s not careful he coul d eas i.xf7+ �f8 16 i.xe8 'iWxe8 17 'iWxh4
ily end up tran sposin g to De1chev fxe4 18 'fixe4.
Jovanic (Gam e 38). On the other h an d, 7 ... i.e6
the early pawn exchange does give If 7 ... 'iWas+ 8 ttJbd2 i.e6 9 0-0 ttJc6,
Bl ack extra option s for development, White can undermine Black's centre in
the m ost significant of which i s the a promising way by pl aying 10 C4! , as
possibility of ... ttJc6. indicated by Lukacs.
6 ... ttJxds i s examined in the next
g ame.
7 i.. g 5
For example, 10 ... 0-0 11 i.xf6 gxf6

12 cxds i.. x ds 13 ttJe4 with strong
pressure again st Bl ack's king side weak
7 0-0 ttJc6 8 i.g s tran sposes to the nesses; or 10 ... d4 11 c s ! i.. x cs
main gam e after 8 ... i.e6 9 ttJC3 . In (ll ... 'iWxCs ? loses a piece to 12 i.xe6
187
Beating 1 e4 e5
fxe6 1 3 �xf6 gxf6 14 lDe4 'ilVb4 1 5 a3) Black to develop his queen's knight to
12 �xe6 fxe6 13 'ifb3, again with some its most active square, and the evi
advantage to White. dence suggests th at thi s i s what he
7 ... lDc6 8 0-0 �e6 9 lDc3 i s another should do.
way to tran spose to the m ain g ame, 8 ... lDbd7 9 lDC3 'iWas 10 'iWel would
but in this line White has the possibil tran spose directly into Delchev-Jovanic
ity of 8 lDc3 ! ? forcing Black to m ake a (Gam e 38).
commitment in the centre with 8 ... d4, 9 lDC 3
since 8 ... �e6 9 �xf6 gxf6 10 �xds
�xds 11 lDxds 'iWas+ 12 lDC3 �b4 13
0-0 �xC3 14 bxc3 'ilxc3 1 5 lDd2 looks
good for White. V.lvanchuk-L.Domin
guez, H avan a 2005, continued 9 lDds
�e6 10 0-0 �xds 11 �xds h6 12 �xf6
'iWxf6 13 c3 dXc3 14 bXc3 0-0 15 l:tbl
with an edge for White, m ainly be
cause of his excellent bishop on ds.
In his notes to Chess Informant 93,
Ivanchuk gives 9 ... h 6 ! ? (in stead of the
game's 9 ... �e6) 10 �xf6 gxf6 1 1 lDd2 Now Black needs to protect ds, since
.l:tg 8 ! ?, and now either 12 lDe4 ':'g6 1 3 9 ... d4 10 lDe4 �e7 1 1 �xe6 fxe6 12
0-0 �b8 14 f4 fs, o r 12 'i!Vh s :g6 1 3 0-0 'ii'e 2 looks better for White.
�e6 14 l:tael �xds 15 �xds �b4 16 9 �C7
...
�e4 �xd2 17 �xg 6 fxg 6 18 'iVxg6+ Thi s i s definitely the correct bishop
'iit d 7 19 J:le2 �b4 20 f4 �d6, both lead retreat. 9 ... �e7 would protect ds and
ing to unclear positions. My feeling, al so break the pin on the f6-knight, but
though, i s th at generally White's posi White coul d then g ang up on the newly
tion i s the easier to pl ay. vulnerable es-pawn .
Ivanchuk al so notes the possibility 9 ... 'iWas ! ? i s a decent altern ative for
of 9 .. :ii'a s+ ! ? 10 �d2 'ii'd 8, and here I Bl ack, though :
suggest 1 1 lDg s 0-0 12 'iWf3 . a) White h as replied with 10 'iVel in
8 0-0 a h andful of g ames, but to m e thi s
8 lDc3 tran sposes to lines con sid m ove looks rather toothless when
ered below after 8 ... �C7 9 0-0 lDc6 or Bl ack's queen is protected, and there's
8 .. :iVas 9 0-0 lDc6. nothing wrong with 10 ... d4 here. For
8 lDc61
... example, 11 �xe6 dXc3 12 �b3 cxb2 13
As I mention ed previously, the early %:tbl �b4 14 �d2 �xd2 15 'iWxd2 'iWcs
exchange of pawn s on ds does allow 16 .l:!.xb2 0-0 with equality, J . Degraeve-
188
Bis hop 's Opening
R.Hess, Cappelle l a Grande 2008. .i.h4 0-0 14 .i.xf6 gxf6 1 5 'ii'd 2 �g7
b) In stead of 10 'ii'e l, I suggest a less leaves Black with a m ore favourable
forcing approach . If Black castles kin g version of the type of positions we see
side White will split his pawn s with l ater on in the m ain gam e .
.i.xf6, and in that scenario it's not to 10 a6
.•.
tally clear what the queen is doing on A very useful move, which elimi
as. For example, 10 a3 ! ? (lining up the n ates the possibility of ltJbs and al so
possibility of .i.a2 and b4) .i.a4 - the l atter can now be answered
by ... b S .
1 0 ... 0-0 has al so been pl ayed, but
10 ... a6 looks more flexible. In any case,
if White plays 11 .i.h4 Black is likely to
play ... a6 sooner or l ater: for example,
11 ... .l:.e8 12 h3 a6 tran sposing to the
m ain game.
11 .i.h4
10 ... 0-0 (if 10 ... d4, White has 1 1

.i.xe6 intending 1 1 ... dxC3 12 b 4 ! ) 11
.i.a2 (White can al so con sider 1 1 .i.xf6
gxf6 12 'ii'c l ! ? intending to m eet
12 ... �g 7 with 13 .i.xds ! .i.xds 14 b4;
and al so just 11 .l:.el) 11 ... d4
(ll ... 'iVcs ! ?) 12 b4 'ii'd 8 13 .i.xe6 fxe6 14
ltJe4 .i.e7 15 .l:.el reaches a complex
and roughly equal position in which Thi s position is full of tension and it
White will look to exploit Bl ack's vul requires subtle play from both sides.
nerable centre pawn s and squares. The possibility of .i.xf6 is always hang
10 .l:.e1 ing in the air, but White has to be care
In G . Kam sky- B.Gelfand, Bazn a 2009, ful with the timing of thi s move. If
White threw in 10 ltJb s but I don 't played too early, Bl ack might switch to
think thi s is worth doing. After 10 ... .i.b6 castling queen side when it is he who
11 l:[el a6 12 ltJc3 Bl ack coul d just will benefit from the opened king side.
tran spose to the m ain game by playing Even if Black castl es king side, a prema
12 ... .i.c7 if he wanted to. More to the ture .i.xf6 might allow Bl ack to coordi
point, Gelfand's ambitious 12 .. :ii'd6 1 3 nate with a quick ... �h 8 and ... .l:.g8.
18 9
Beating 1 e4 e5
11 �h4 is a useful move, as the new it is toothless: 12 �g 3 ? ! d4! (Bl ack ex
possibility of �g3 hitting the es-pawn ploits the fact th at the f6-knight is no
gives Black something more to think longer pinned to free his position ) 1 3
about. tD b l (or 1 3 �xe6?! dxc3 14 � b 3 cxb2
11 ... 0-0 12 h 3 1 5 .l::tb l e4!, D.Howell-E.Bacrot, Antwerp
More finesse from White, who i n 2009) 13 ... �xb3 14 axb3 tDd7 with no
troduces the possibility o f tDh 2-g4. problem s for Black, A.Needlem an
The immediate 1 2 �xf6 ? ! i s unwise, G .5oppe, Ezeiza 2000.
since 12 ... gxf6 13 'ii'd 2 <Ji>h 8 followed by 12 ••• l::t e 8 1 3 tDh2
... 1:[g8 100ks good for Black. However, 12 1 3 'ili'Cl ! ? i s again possible, and if
'ii'C l ! ? i s more promising, and contains 1 3 ...1i'd6 White must grab the bull by
a nasty trick. 12 ...I:tc8 1 3 �xf6 (13 h 3 ! ?) the horn s and continue with 14 �xf6 !
13 ... gxf6 14 'iVh 6 is, according to Lu g xf6 1 5 1i'h 6. Play i s extremely compli
kacs, "not frightening because of the cated, and probably roughly equal, but
cold-blooded 14 ... tDas". I would fancy White's chances more
over the board. Here are just a few pos
sible lines: l s ... 1i'd8 (if l s ... �d8 16 tDh 2
and Black cannot prevent tDg4 with
16 .. .fs ? because of 17 tDxd s ! exploiting
the pin) 16 d4 (after 16 %:te3 <Ji>h 8 17
�xds ! ? i.. x ds 18 tDxds "ili'xds 19 "ili'xf6+
<Ji>g8 20 tDg s ! ? Bl ack can save him self
with 20 ... ..td8 ! intending 21 tDe4 1i'xe4!
22 .l:[g 3 + 'ili'g 6 23 .l:[xg 6+ hxg6) 16 ... e4
But Black's blood would indeed run

cold if White unleashes 1 5 �xds ! ,
which i s crushing: l s . . . �xds 16 tDh4
�e6 17 tDe4 etc.
It looks like Bl ack can survive,
though, with 14 ... <Ji>h 8 ! . If White does
nothing amazing, ... .:g8 will be strong ,
but after 1 5 i.. x ds i.. x ds 16 tDxds 'ili'xds
17 'ii'xf6+ <Ji>g 8 White has nothing bet
ter than perpetual check. 17 1:txe4! dxe4 18 tDxe4 �xb3 19
Fin ally, White h as to keep in mind tDxf6+ 'ili'xf6 20 'ili'xf6 �xc2 21 :tCl �d8
the possibility of �g3, but pl ayed here 22 'ii'd 6 ..te7 23 1i'g 3 + �g6 24 ds tDb4
19 0
Bis hop 's Opening
2 5 d6 .i.f8 2 6 d7 :ed8 2 7 l:tC7 and it's 17 ttJf3 e4? 18 "iVh 6+ is very good for
not easy to judge for sure, but White is White after either 18 ... 'iii> g 8 19 dxe4
certainly on the front foot here. dxe4 20 .l::[ x e4 ! , or 18 ... 'iii> e 7 19 dxe4 fxe4
13 :iWd6
•• 20 l:tad1 ! ' However, 17 ... d4! is stronger
If 1 3 ... ttJd4 14 ttJg4 .1i.xg4 15 hxg4, after which the position remain s very
Black cannot keep his strong knight on unclear.
d4 without losing the ds-pawn . After 16 ttJg4 .i.d8
lS ... ttJxb3 16 axb3 "iVd6 17 .i.xf6 gxf6 Timoscenko clearly wanted to avoid
18 Vi'f3 Itad8 19 g 3 White can hope to giving up the light squares with
increase the pressure with 'iii> g 2 and 16 ... .i.xg4 17 hxg4 ttJxb3 18 axb 3 .
l:th 1.
1 3 ... .i.as, planning ... d4, i s a critical
altern ative. After looking at thi s for a
while I decided that White could sacri
fice the exchange here: 14 ttJg4! .i.xg4
15 hxg4 d4 16 ttJe4 .1i.xel 1 7 'ilixe1 and I
like White's compen sation .
17 �e 3 ?
Mitkov errs at a critical moment,
and the con sequences are fatal . The
rook does need to get involved in the
attack, but White chooses the wrong
move order.
17 ttJh 6+! would have left Black with
14 .1i.xf6 all the problems :
Finally, with White in a better posi a ) If 17 ... 'iii> g 7, 18 .l:[e3 ! gives White a
tion to exploit the con sequences, it is much better version of the g ame - ba
time for thi s capture. sically he g ains a cruci al tempo. Here
14 ... gxf6 1 5 'iWh 5 ttJd4 18 .. JU8 loses to 19 .i.xdS ! .i.xds 20
lS ... fS ! ? is possible here, and it litg 3+ 'iii>h 8 2 1 "iVg4 forcing m ate.
might be better than Black's choice in b) Moreover, again st 17 ... 'iii>f8 White
the g ame. After 16 'iWg S+ Black i s forced can still play 18 �e3 planning 1:[g 3-g8+.
to play 16 ... 'iii>f8, as 16 .. 5,ii'h 8 ? run s into Rybka i s equally keen on 18 .i.xdS !
17 'ikf6+ 'iii> g 8 18 ttJxdS ! . In thi s position .i.xds 19 ttJxdS 'ii'x ds 20 c3,
19 1
Beating 1 e4 e5
h4+ 'it>fs 48 cJi>cS f3 49 l:tb7 f2 so .:tf7+

'it>e6 0-1
Game 42
V.Neved nichy-A.Beliavsky
E u ropea n C h a m pions h i p,
Plovd iv 2008
1 e4 e S 2 .tC4 ttJf6 3 d 3 c6 4 ttJf3 d S S

.tb3 .id6 6 exd s ttJxd S
intending 20 ... ttJc6 2 1 c4 Wd7 2 2 Thi s move somehow feels inconsis
ttJfS ! when Bl ack i s forced t o give u p h i s tent - why play ... c6 before ... dS if you
queen t o avoid m ate. are going to recapture with the knight?
In summ ary, 17 ttJh 6+ looks very - but it's actually quite a solid option
promising and seem s to give White a for Bl ack. The resulting position s can be
clear advantage. After 17 l:te3?, how compared to simil ar ones reached in
ever, the tabl es turn very quickly. the ... dS lines of the Italian G ame.
17 .. .'�h81 18 ttJh6 lU8 19 :g31 How do they compare? With the
Threatening .txdS, but here it's knight on dS firmly protected, Bl ack's
Black to move ... position here h as a more solid feel, but
19 ... fS ! on th e other hand his pieces are likely
... and thi s m akes all the difference. to be more passively placed. In particu
White's attack is stopped in its tracks l ar, the queen 's knight cannot use c6
and he finds his pieces, in particular and as a con sequence Black enjoys less
the rook on g 3 , in very awkward posi control of the d4-square.
tion s. 7 0-0 0-0
20 llel f4 2 1 :g4 fS! 2 2 :gs .txgs 23
'i!Vxg s ttJf3+!
Winning. The rest is of no interest.
24 gxf3 l:tg8 2S ttJxg8 lbg8 2 6 'iWxg8+
'it>xg8 27 d4 e4 2 8 'it>fl 'it>f8 2 9 'it>e2 .tf7
30 ltgl .t h S 31 .ixd S .ixf3+ 32 'it>el
'ii'f6 33 ':'g8+ 'it>e7 34 .tb3 e3 3S fxe 3
'iWh4+ 3 6 'it>d2 'i!Vf2+ 3 7 'it>d3 .t e 2 + 3 8
ttJxe2 'iixe 3+ 3 9 'it>C4 'i¥xe2+ 4 0 'it> b 4 f3
41 1:[g7+ 'it>f6 42 l:txb7 f2 43 .tC4 flW 44
.:tb6+ 'it>gs 4S .txe2 'i¥xe2 46 c4 f4 47
19 2
Bis hop 's Opening
8 .l:Ie1 Shirov cl aimed th at he "failed to

8 liJbd2 i s an alternative move order find the full compen sation for a pawn
which is well worth con sidering. The both in the g am e and the analysi s", but
likelihood for transpositions into lines it is worth noting that since then he
con sidered below i s very high : for ex h as been willing to offer the gambit
ample, 8 ... �C7 9 .:tel liJd7 (or 9 .. J:te8), ag ain, so perhaps he h as changed his
8 ... l:te8 9 l:tel, or 8 ... liJd7 9 .l:.el. More to mind. The g am e continued 11 ... �xe s
the point, if Bl ack plays 8 ... �g4 9 h 3 (11 ... liJd7 ! ?) 12 l:txes liJd7 1 3 lIel 'ilVh4
�h s White might keep the rook o n fl 14 'iVf3 l:[ae8. H ere Shirov gives 1 5 �d2 !
for the moment and continue with 10 (rather than Alekseev's 1 5 lUl)
liJe4 (or 10 liJC4 ! ?) 10 ... �C7 ll liJg 3 �g6 l s ... .l:1.xel+ (or l s ... liJe s 16 'ifg 2 liJf4 17
1 2 �g s f6 1 3 �d2 planning liJh4. �xf4 liJf3+ 18 'i¥xf3 l:txel+ 19 'iit g 2 'iVf6
8 liJd7
... 20 'ilVg 3 ! 'ii'x b2 2 1 �d2 'ili'xal 2 2 �xel
Thi s h as been the most popular 'i¥xbl 2 3 �c3 ! and "White i s clearly
choice for Black, but attempts have also better despite being the exchange
been m ade to avoid blocking in the c8- down " - Shirov) 16 �xel l:te8 17 �C3 !
bishop: "and Bl ack seem s worse to me". (Here
a) The most active try i s 8 ... �g4, but 17 liJc3 liJe s 18 'ii'g 3 also looks good for
here Black must be willing to g ambit a White.) It will be interesting to see fur
pawn in return for weakening White's ther developments in this line.
kin g side. Thi s i s an idea we've seen If White doesn't want to grab the
previously, for example in the note to pawn he can pl ay 10 liJbd2 liJd7 1 1
Bl ack's 9th move in Tiviakov- Ivani sevic liJe4 �c7, but objectively thi s should be
(Game 3 2). The critical line run s 9 h 3 okay for Black because he has solved
�h s 1 0 g4 � g 6 11 liJxe s, a s played in the problem of activating his light�
E.Alekseev-A.Shirov, Germ an League squared bishop. For example, 12 liJg 3
2007. �g 6 13 a3 h 6 14 d4 exd4 1 5 'ifxd4 �b6
with level chances, S.Tiviakov-A.5hirov,
Benidorm 2008.
b) Black's other m ain option is
8 .. ..l!!. e 8 which both protects th e e s
pawn and keeps the c8-h 3 diagonal
open for the bishop (it does commit the
rook, but you can't have everything ! ). A
typical continuation i s 9 liJbd2 �C7 10
liJe4 (10 h 3 ! ?) 10 ... �g4 11 h3 �h s 12
liJg 3 �g6 1 3 �g s 'iWd7 (Lukacs prefers
13 .. .f6 14 �d2 �f7 when I think White
193
Beating 1 e4 eS
should still continue with 1 5 ltJh4 and leavin g Black with an IQP.
ltJhfs) 14 ltJh4 ltJa6 15 ltJxg6 hxg6 and
even though Black remain s solid,
White's bishop pair counts for some
thing, V.Tseshkovsky-G .Agzamov, Yere
van 19S2.
Looking at altern atives, 9 ltJg s as
played in S.5ul skis-D.5emcesen, Borup
2009, is an interesting way to try and
exploit the temporary weakening of f7:
From the evidence so far, it looks

like Black's best chance of equality is to
offer to sacrifice the pawn for some
activity: 11 ... .1i.cs ! (11 ... ltJb6 12 .1i.f4 .1i.fs
13 .1i.xd6 'ili'xd6 14 ltJa3 l eaves White
with a small but comfortable edge,
S.Tiviakov-J.Granda Zuniga, El Sauzal
200S) 12 'ili'd3 ! ? (after 12 'ifxds 'ifb6 13
.l:te2 ltJf6 14 'ilfb3 'ilfa6 1 5 ltJC3 .1i.e6 16
9 ... l:te7 (if 9 ... h6, the critical try i s 10 'ifa4 'ifb6 Bl ack's activity provided suf
ltJxf7 ! ? �xf7 11 c4 ltJf6 - or 11 ... .1i.b4 1 2 ficient compensation in S.Tiviakov
lie4! - 12 cs+ .1i. e 6 1 3 cxd6 'ilfxd6 1 4 A.5tefanova, Wijk aan Zee 2004)
.1i.e3 ltJbd7 l s ltJ(3) 10 'iVh s .1i.fs 1 1 ltJe4 12 ... 'ifb6 13 :te2 ltJf6 14 ltJc3 .1i.g4 (Mik
(11 ltJc3 ! ?) 11 ... .1i.g 6 12 'ifh4 'ifd7 1 3 h alevski prefers 14 ... .1i.d7 ! 15 .1i.e3 .1i.xe3
ltJbd2 (again 1 3 ltJbC3 ! ? comes into the 16 ':xe3 ltaeS, and I agree that thi s just
reckoning) 1 3 ... ltJa6 14 ltJf3 .1i.c7 1 5 about equalizes) 1 5 ltJa4 'ir'c6 16 ltJxcs
.1i.g s 1:teeS ( l s .. .f6?? i s answered by 1 6 'it'xcs 1 7 .1i.e3 'ilfc4 is 1:[d2 ! 'ilVxd3 19
.1i.xf6 ! ) 16 l:.adl .1i.dS ( 1 6 .. .fs ! ? might be ':xd3 .1i.xf3 20 g xf3 was A.Morozevich
stronger) 17 .1i.xdS .l:r.axdS lS ltJg 3 f6 19 B.Gelfand, Biel 2009.
d4 exd4 20 ':xeS+ .l:lxeS 21 'ii'x d4 bs 2 2 Thi s i s a good position for White,
a4! and by now White was doing very who h as a much stronger minor piece.
well. Let's see how Morozevich nurtured his
g ltJbd2 advantag e : 20 ... 1:tfeS 2 1 litb3 .l:te7 2 2
White can al so ch ange the character 1:[ d l 1:[cS 2 3 .1i.xa7 ! ? ':'xc2 24 .1i.e3
of the position entirely by playing 9 (White's pawn m ajority h as great po
d4! ? exd4 10 .1i.xds ! cxds 1 1 'ilfxd4, tenti al, whereas Black's d-pawn can 't
1 94
Bis hop 's Opening
get going and i s just a liability) 24 ...l:td7 is going to play ... .l:.e8, it might be more
25 �bs h6 26 a4 ':'C4 27 b3 .l:.h4 28 f4 accurate to begin with 10 ... h6 which
.l:th s 29 �g 2 liJe4 30 l:td4 ':'d6?? (a eliminates the possibility of �g s (see
blunder, but Black was already strug the next note). Al so, after 11 �d2 Bl ack
gling) 3 1 .l:txe4! and Black resigned. has alternatives to tran sposing to th e
Overall, 9 d4 i s certainly worth con m ain game:
sidering if you enjoy playing again st a) 11 ... �h 8 (planning .. .fs) 12 h 3 ! ?
the IQP. ( 1 2 liJg 3 ? ! a s 1 3 a 3 fs i s fi n e for Black,
9 ... �c7 M. Kobalija-A.Motylev, Sochi 2007)
Black takes prophylactic action 12 ... as 1 3 a3 fs ? ! (but thi s i s prem a
against either liJe4 or liJC4. ture)
The altern ative is to drop the bishop
back to f8. The g ame S.Conquest
R.Cifuentes Parada, Olot 1994, provides
a good advert for White's chan ces:
9 ... .l:te8 10 liJe4 �f8 (10 ... �c7 tran s
poses to the m ain g ame) 1 1 �d2 ! b6?
(Black should play 1 1 ... h 6 - Cifuentes)
12 d4! (Black i s not well placed to m eet
thi s pawn break) 12 ... �b7 13 c4 liJsf6
14 liJxf6+ 'iVxf6 1 5 dxe s ! liJxe s 16 l:txe s
':'xe s 17 �C3 �d6 18 c s ! (thi s i s very
strong) 18 ... bxcs 19 liJxe s �xes 20 "iVd7 14 liJc3 ! (explaining White's deci
�xc3 2 1 'i!Vxb7 and White won. sion to keep the knight on e4; after a
10 liJe4 knight exch ange, the bi shop will come
to c3 to pressure the es-pawn)
14 ... liJxC3 1 5 �xC3 "iVf6 16 lir.e3 b6 17
'i!i'e2 f4 18 :e4 liJcs (if 18 ...�b7, White
plays 19 d4) 19 ..txes ..txes 20 l:txe s
liJxb3 2 1 cxb3 �a6 2 2 "iVe4 cs 2 3 .l:tel
with a clear advantage for White,
V.Nevednichy-D. Fridm an, European
Ch ., Plovdiv 2008.
b) 11 ... liJ7f6 12 liJg 3 (12 liJxf6+ 1Ii'xf6
13 d4! ? is interesting, the idea being to
m eet 1 3 ... exd4?! with 14 �xds ! cxds 15
10 ... .l::[ e 8 ..tb4 �d6 16 ..txd6 'ifxd6 17 'ii'xd4 with
Reg ardless of whether or not Bl ack a clear positional edge) 12 ... l:te8 13 h 3
195
Beating 1 e4 e5
as 14 a3 a4 1 5 .lia2 .lid7 ! 16 liJh4?! which temporarily took some pressure

(White should continue with 16 c3 in off the centre, but N evednichy's con
tending 'iV(2) 16 ... e4! was Z. Efimenko vincing respon se demon strates that it's
T. Paehtz, European (h., Dresden 2007. prem ature.
Black i s at least equal at thi s point, After 1 3 ... liJg6 White can continue
since neither capture on e4 helps actively with 14 'ilVh s or 14 liJg4! ?, but
White: 17 dxe4 .lixg 3 18 fxg 3 liJxe4, or in truth there's not a great deal wrong
17 liJxe4 liJxe4 18 ':'xe4 ':'xe4 19 dxe4 with Black's position .
Wxh4 20 exds i.. xh 3 ! . 14 'ii' h s l
11 h3 Of course White isn't obliged to
11 i.. g s ! ? induces 11 . . .f6 and follow m ove the knight, since 14 .. .fxe4 15
ing 12 .lid2 �h 8 13 h3 liJf8 14 d4! exd4 dxe4 reg ains the piece in view of the
1 5 liJxd4 White has a typical small ad pin . N aturally Beliavsky realized this,
vantage (better king position, slightly but probably he underestim ated
more active pieces), M.Bosboom White's piece activity after .. .fs .
A.Raetsky, H afnarfjordur 1998. 14 ... liJh7?!
11 ... h 6 12 .lid2 liJf8 It's possible that Black's best bet is
Black can still play 12 ... liJ7f6 but Be in fact to take the knight. After 14 .. .fxe4
liavsky's choice i s al so reason able as 1 5 dxe4 .lie6 16 exds cxds 17 litadl
the knight can reroute to g6. It's only White's position is the more favour
the next move where Black starts to go able, as the centre pawn s could come
wrong . under heavy pressure, but thi s is far
1 3 liJ h 2 ! ? better for Black th an what he gets in
the g ame.
l S liJf3 !
13 . . .fS?!
Thi s advance looks tempting, and
I'm sure Beliavsky must h ave felt it was lS .. J::tf8?
justified after White's previous m ove Sheer panic! Moving the rook back
196
Bis hop 's Opening
to f8 looks wrong, and it is. Good or th at 19 ... �e6 20 lLle4 .l:tfS isn't a great
bad, Bl ack should probably try l s ... �e6 deal of fun for Bl ack, White still has
16 lLlcS 'ili'f6. some work to do.
16 lLlc3 ! 20 lLlxd 5 ! cxd 5 2 1 �C3 .l:te8 2 2 'iff3
Simple, and very strong . White win s
a pawn by force: for example, 16 ... lLlhf6
17 'iVg 6 'iVe8 18 'iVxe8 !Ixe8 19 lLlxdS
lLlxdS (or 19 ... cxdS 20 �c3 ! ) 20 �f4 ! .
However, the g am e provides another
twi st.
16 ...f4 17 'iVh4?
17 lLlxe s ! is completely crushing. My
only guess is that both players over
looked that 17 .. JUS loses to 18 lLlxc6 ! :
for example, 18 . . .bxc6 19 .l:te8+ lLlf8 20
lLlxdS cxdS 2 1 .l:txd8 l:txh S 22 ':'xd S ! . Winning a key centre pawn, after
17 ... lLlg5 which Black's position soon collapses.
Even though 17 'iVh4 was a mistake, 2 2 ... �e6 2 3 �xe 5 �a5 24 c3 �f7 2 5
there was a beautiful point to it. If 'i¥g4 .l:.e6 2 6 �d4 'i¥e7 2 7 !:txe6 1-0
Black plays 17 ... 'iVxh4?, White is not 27 ... �xe6 28 lIe1 ! is pretty convinc
obliged to recapture the queen . ing.
Apart from the slight slip on move
17, thi s was a very nice game from
Nevednichy. The good news - from our
perspective - is th at thi s game demon
strates it's easy even for a world-cl ass
grandm aster to misplay Black's posi
tion .
Game 43
G.Pa pp-D.l ppolito
In stead 18 lLlxdS ! ! leaves Bl ack with Lu bbock 2009
no good reply: 18 ... 'iVh S 19 lLlf6+, or
18 .. :i!i'd8 19 lLle7+ �h 8 20 lLlg6 m ate. 1 e4 e5 2 �C4 lLlf6 3 d3 c6 4 lLlf3 d5 5
18 lLlxg5 hxg5 19 'i¥h 5 �f5 ? �b3 a 5
All in all , thi s was not a good day at By threatening t o trap White's
the office for Beliavsky. While it's true bishop, Black succeeds in gaining some
197
Beating 1 e4 e5
space on the queen side. Although he it's worth spending a tempo to achieve
lost the game, thi s move became popu this.
l ar for a while after it was used by Ev White has two options:
geny Bareev against G arry Kasparov. a) 6 �d2 often leads to simplified
positions which are m arginally better
for White. Some examples: 6 ... �xd2+ 7
ttJbxd2 ttJbd7 (or 7 ... dxe4 8 ttJxe5 0-0 9
dxe4 ttJxe4 10 ttJdf3 ttJd7 1 1 0-0 ttJxe5
12 ttJxe 5 with a persistent edge be
cause of the pressure on f7, B.Larsen
J . Nunn, London 1986) 8 0-0 0-0 9 :el
l:te8 (after 9 ... d4 10 C3! c5 1 1 cxd4 cxd4
1 2 ttJC4 'ii'e 7 1 3 'ii'd 2 b6 14 a3 ttJC5 1 5
� C 2 ttJfd7 16 b 4 ttJb7 1 7 �a4 ttJd6 1 8
l:tacl White was better in R. Berzin sh
Bl ack's other m ain alternative to Z.Gyimesi, Stockerau 1993) 10 d4! ?
5 ... �d6 i s 5 ... �b4+. exd4! ( 1 0. . .dxe4?! 1 1 ttJg 5 ! .:te7 1 2
ttJdxe4 ttJxe4 1 3 .l:txe4 leaves Black in
trouble, with f7 difficult to defend) 11
exd5 l:txel+ 12 'ilr'xel cxd5 (or 12 ... ttJxd5
13 �xd5 cxd5 14 ttJxd4 ttJf6 15 'ii'e 3
'iib 6 16 litel �d7 17 ttJ2b 3 , W.so
E .Torre, Manila 2006) 1 3 ttJxd4 ttJC5 14
c3 �d7 15 ttJ2f3 'ii'b 6 16 'ii'd 2,
R. Kasim dzhanov-L.Chri stian sen, Yere
van 1996. Black i s very close to equality
in these IQP positions, but I would still
rather be White.
At first sight you could easily accuse b) 6 c3 l eads to more tension -filled
thi s of being a beginners' m ove: patzer positions after 6 ... �d6, and now:
sees a check, patzer plays a check. But bl) Warnin g ! The idea of delaying
5 ... �b4+ actually contains a subtl e castling in favour of the typical 'ii'e 2
idea. The point i s to provoke c2-c3, af and ttJbd2-fl pl an i s flawed here, as
ter which Black retreats to d6 safe in Tiviakov found to his cost: 7 ttJbd2 0-0 8
the knowledge th at, in contrast to pre 'iVe2 ttJbd7 9 ttJfl ? ! ttJC5 ! 10 il.c2 b 6 !
vious g ames in thi s ch apter, White can (planning ... �a6) 11 b 3 ? ! dxe4 1 2 dxe4
no longer attack the d5-pawn with �a6 13 c4 ttJe6 14 ttJg 3 �b4+ ! 15 �1
ttJC3. The key debate is whether or not b5!,
1 98
Bi s hop 's Opening
Tiviakov is pretty scathing about

thi s move: "I would h ave never m ade
thi s move, critically weakening the
king side. Of course, now (and in the
immedi ate future) White has no mean s
t o exploit it by organizing a direct at
tack; but since all the pieces are still on
board, White can l ater exploit thi s
weakness which i s wh at eventually
came about in thi s g ame." The g ame
continued 1 5 .ltg 3 "ilJe7 16 lLl3d2 .lte6
and White's position was not a 17 lLle3 .:tad8 18 'ike2 .ltC7 19 lLlfs .ltxfs
h appy one in S.Tiviakov-K. Lahno, Beni 20 exfs with a significant advantage
dorm (rapid) 2008, although Tiviakov for White.
did turn the g am e around later. s ... lLlbd7 is less flexible than s ... .ltd6,
b2) More recently, Tiviakov has cho althoug h in practice it usually ends up
sen the modest plan 7 0-0 0-0 8 l:.el tran sposing. For example, 6 0-0 .ltd6 7
(S.Tiviakov-A.PridoTOzhni, Moscow exd s ! lLlxds (if 7 ... cxds the premature
2009). It's likely that Black will have to knight development is felt after 8 .ltg s ! ,
capture on e4 sooner or later, leaving a and here 8 . . .d4 9 lLlbd2 0-0 1 0 lLlC4 .ltC7
symmetrical structure. In this case 1 1 .:tel .l:.e8 12 .lta4! causes Black prob
White's gained tempo with c2-c3 must l ems, as indicated by Cifuentes) 8 lLlbd2
make a difference, and he can also point 0-0 9 l:[el reaches N evednichy
to a more active king's bishop. Let's see Beliavsky (Game 42).
a few more moves of the game: 8 ... dxe4 Fin ally, S ... dxe4?! 6 lLlg s i s known to
9 dxe4 lLla6 10 .ltg s lLlcs 11 .ltC2 h6 12 be good for White. After 6 ... .lte6 White
.lth4 as 13 lLlbd2 bs 14 lLlfl g s . has a pleasant choice between 7 lLlxe6
fxe6 8 .ltxe6 and 7 .ltxe6 fxe6 8 lLlxe4;
or if 6 ... .ltg4 White plays 7 .ltxf7+ �e7 8
1!r'd2, when 8 ... h 6 fails to 9 'iYb4+.
6 a3
Kasparov's choice was 6 lLl c 3 and
thi s remain s a critical option even
though improvements have been
found for Black. The m ain line run s
6 ... .ltb4 (6 ... d4 7 lLlxe s ! i s good for
White) 7 a3 .ltxc3+ 8 bxc3 and now we
h ave:
199
Beating 1 e4 e5
11el, as in our m ain g ame) 9 ...ltJxC3 10

bXc3 0-0 1 1 :el "fiIC7 12 d4 b6
(M.Adam s-A.5hirov, Sarajevo 1999) and
here one possibility i s 1 3 'iVd3 intend
ing 13 ... ..ta6 14 'ii'f S.
6 ... a4
The two m ain advantages of 6 a3
are th at White's bishop can rest peace
fully on a2 and he no longer has to
worry about ... ..tb4. The disadvantage is
that in some lines Black finds the extra
a) The stem game, G . Kasparov space on the queenside useful .
E.Bareev, Lin ares 1993, went S ... ltJbd7 9 If 6 ... ..td6 White goes ahead with 7
exds ltJxds 10 0-0 0-0 1 1 1:tel ! .l:!.eS (if exds or 7 ltJc3, reaching either similar
11 ... ltJxC3 there follows 12 'ii'd 2 ltJbs 1 3 position s or ones which directly tran s
..t b 2 e 4 14 ltJg S with a strong initiative, pose. I don 't see a convincing reason
as indicated by Kasparov) 12 c4 ltJe7 1 3 for Black to delay ... a4.
ltJg s h 6 1 4 ltJe4 and the potential of 7 ..ta2 ..td6
the bishop pair gave White some ad
vantage.
b) S ... a4! (thi s i s useful as it fixes the
a3-pawn and prevents a4 and ..ta3) 9
..ta2 'ii'd 6 10 0-0 0-0 11 exds cxdS
(again st 11 ... ltJxds Tiviakov suggests 12
'ii'e l ltJd7 1 3 c4 or 1 3 11bl with an edge
for White) 12 h3 ltJc6 1 3 ]:tel (or 13
Itbl ! ? - Tiviakov) 1 3 ... lleS 14 ..tg s with
a complex and roughly equal position,
S.Tiviakov- K. Landa, Reggio Emilia 2007.
White's other option is 6 a4. The 8 exd 5
m ain thing to remember here i s th at White's m ain choice here has been
Bl ack i s likely to meet exds with ... ltJxds S ltJc3 and now:
rather th an ... cxdS, as the latter would a) S ... dxe4 9 ltJg 5 0-0 10 ltJcxe4
leave a hole on b S . For example, ltJxe4 11 ltJxe4 ..tfS ! . Black follows the
6 ... ltJbd7 (if 6 ... ..tb4+ White should pl ay sam e formul a we saw in the m ain line
7 c3 - compare S ... ..tb4+) 7 exds ltJxds - Efimenko-Golod, G ame 39, but White
S 0-0 ..td6 9 ltJc3 ! ? (White can of course gains slightly in comparison because
play more typically with 9 ltJbd2 0-0 10 his light-squared bishop is safe from
200
Bis hop 's Opening
harassment by ... tiJcs : 1 2 'iVf3 �xe4 1 3 vance of the a-pawn, Black's queen i s
dxe4 tiJd7 1 4 0-0 � c s 1 5 ': d l with a protected o n as, and so there are no
small edge, B.Michiels-K.Maslak, Par tricks involving the X-ray with 11 'iVel.
dubice 2009. Other m oves for Bl ack are In view of this, I suggest 10 �xf6 ! ? gxf6
inferior: for example, 11 ... �e7? ! 12 11 0-0 in stead. White's intention is to
'ilih s ! tiJd7 1 3 0-0 intends f4 and i s meet 11...tiJd7 with 12 d4! , which looks
good for White, G . Lane-L.Henris, Brus quite promising to me.
sel s 1995. (3) 9 ... :as ! ? i s a creative way to use
b) 8 ... d4 i s simil ar to s ....i.d6 6 tiJc3 the as-square: 10 0-0 tiJbd7 and now
d4. After 9 tiJe2 cs 10 tiJg 3 tiJc6 11 0-0 11 d4! causes Black a few problem s:
it's difficult to tell which side, if any,
has benefitted from the extra moves.
Black i s further advanced on the
queen side, but White's bishop i s once
again safer from harassment on a2
than on b 3 .
c ) 8 ... �e6 ! ? h a s been Black's m ain
choice. 9 �g s and now:
11...h6 {I think White h as an advan

tage after either 11...exd4 12 'iVxd4 or
11...0-0 12 exds cxdS 13 dxe s tiJxes 14
.l:.el) 12 �xf6 (12 exds ! ?) 12 ..:iVxf6 13
'iVel ! ? (this is interesting, but 1 3 'ii'd 2 !
with similar ideas looks stronger to me)
13 ... b6 14 dxe s tiJxe s i s tiJxe s �xe s 16
exds cxdS 17 �xdS 0-0 (17 ... .i.xd S ! 18
Cl) 9 ... d4 i s solid: 10 tiJe2 h 6 1 1 �h4 tiJxds ':xdS 19 f4 0-0 20 fxe s 'iVxes
(perh aps White should stay on the cl must be equal) 18 �xe6 fxe6 19 .l:tdl
h 6 diagon al with 11 �d2 ! ?) 11...tiJbd7 �xh 2+?? (White i s only slightly better
12 �g 3 cs 13 c3 'iib 6 14 0-0 0-0 with an after 19 ... �xc3 20 bx(3) 20 �xh 2 l:.h s+
equal position, A. Borisenko-S.Mikheev, 2 1 �g l 'iVf4 2 2 'it'xe6+ �h 8 2 3 'ii'd 6 and
Moscow 2008. 1-0, V.lnkiov-P.Mein sohn, Lyon 2006.
c2) If 9 .. :.as 10 0-0 tiJbd7 there's a Returning to 8 exds, Black must
significant difference from Delchev make the usual deci sion : whether to
Jovanic (Game 38). Because of the ad- recapture with the pawn or the knight.
201
Beating 1 e4 e5
8 ... ttJxd 5 probably choose o n e o f 1 0 ... ttJd7,

8 ... cxdS seem s fully pl ayable too. For 10 ... l:te8 or 10 ... i.. g 4 - compare the
example, 9 ttJc3 i.e6 10 i.g s (or 10 0-0 Nevednichy-Beliavsky g ame.
ttJc6 11 i.g s lias ! ?) 10 ... d4? ! (I'm not 11 ttJ b d 2 i.g4 12 h 3 i. h 5 1 3 ttJe4 ttJ d 7
convinced by this; Black should cer
tainly con sider 10 ... "iVas here, or
10 ... .:!as) 11 ttJe4 i.xa2 12 i.. xf6 ! g xf6
13 l:[xa2 fS 14 ttJg 3 ! 'ilf6 1 5 c3 dxc3 16
bXc3 ttJc6 17 0-0 0-0 18 ttJd2 �h 8 19
'ile2 f4? ! 20 ttJge4 'ii'e 6 2 1 ttJC4 i.e7 22
':b2 and White was beginning to take
control in M.Sebag -S. Prudnikova, Re
thymnon 2003.
9 0-0 0-0 1 0 :e1
10 ttJbd2 first is al so possible.
14 ttJg3 1
Thi s i s much better than 1 4 ttJxd6.
White wants to eliminate a black
bishop, but he is going after the
stronger one !
1 4 i.g6 1 5 ttJh41
. . •
If White can force thi s knight-for

bishop exchan g e without having to
m ake any concessions, the chances are
he will come out with at least a slight
advantage.
We've now reached a position very 15 ..• .:tfe8 16 ttJxg6 hxg6 1 7 h 4 1
similar to the one seen in the previous
g ame, Nevednichy-Beliavsky. The extra
m oves on the queenside don 't change
things significantly.
10 ... 'ilC7?1
At first sight there doesn 't appear to
be anything wrong with thi s m ove at
all , but I can't escape the feeling that
Black's queen i sn 't particularly well
pl aced on c7, or at least Black shoul d
use the tempo elsewhere. H e should
202
Bis hop 's Opening
Papp's play in thi s g am e provides an In a difficult position to play, Ip

excellent demon stration of how to ex polito falters. 25 ... .i.f8 ! provides much
ploit White's edge in thi s type of posi needed support for the king and would
tion . The h5 push will nibble away at h ave kept Black firmly in the contest.
Black's kingside pawn cover and fur 2 6 .te3 1
ther expose some light-squared weak It's possible that Ippolito h ad over
nesses. looked th at thi s move was possible, due
1 7 ... liJ7f6 18 h s liJxh s 19 liJxh s gxh S 20 to the tactic 26 ... .txe3 27 fxe3 (threat
'ii'x h s liJf4 2 1 'ili'fs l ening lIfl) 27 ... liJg 5 28 .txf7+! liJxf7 29
Even though the bishop o n c1 h as .:tfl.
yet to play a part in the g ame, White 2 6 ...lIa s ?
wasn 't about to give up his bishop pair. As so often h appen s, one error 'logi
21 ... liJe6 22 :e4 cally' follows another. Even here,
The m ajor pieces are beginning to 26 ... .i.f8 is Black's best move.
l and on strong outposts. White is ex 27 nfl !
ploiting to the full Black's lack of light
squared control .
22 .•• 'it'e7 2 3 'ii' h 3 'ii'f6 24 .l:th4 g6 2 S
l:t h 7 !
The threats are beginning to mount.

One idea is 28 g4! and then 29 .txe6
':'xe6 30 g 5 followed by m ate down the
h -file.
I really like Papp's focussed plan of It's too l ate for passive defence. For
action on the kin g side. Some players example, 27 ... .tf8 28 f4! exf4 29 ':xf4!
m ay have been tempted to take a time liJxf4 (or 29 ... l:tf5 30 .txe6 ':xe6 3 1
out to develop the queen's bishop and .td4 ! ) 30 .txf7+ 'ii'xf7 3 1 ':'h 8+ 'it>g 7 3 2
rook, but Papp appreciated that it was .td4+ lIae 5 3 3 .txe 5+ l:txe 5 34 'ii'h 6+
more important to firstly tie Black 'it>f6 35 l:txf8 and White wins. Bl ack's
down to passive defence. attempt to gain counterplay is met by a
2 S ... .t C S ? convincing refutation :
203
Beating 1 e4 e5
27 ... e4 28 dxe4 'iix b2 29 .id2! in the Two Knights Defence with 4 d3

G ame over: White threatens both 30 (Chapter Four). The difference, of
.ixas and 30 .iC3. course, is that Bl ack has a pawn on c6
29 .. J:tbS 30 .ie3 'iix e3 3 1 Vi'xe 3 'iitx h7 rather than a knight. To some extent
3 2 .ie41 .id4 3 3 'iVd 3 .ies 34 .ixbs thi s mean s his position is more flexible.
exbs 35 'iWxbs li!.e7 3 6 'iWxa4 b6 37 :d1 The flipside is that often he exerts less
4:Jgs 3 8 li!.e1 fS 3 9 e S 4:Je4 40 J:[xe4 fxe4 pressure on White's centre. Indeed, in
41 'iVxe4 .ixa 3 42 'iVh4+ 'iitg 7 43 'iif6+ the notes to thi s g am e we see several
'iit h 6 44 f4 .ies+ 45 'iitf1 'iit h 7 46 g4 J:[g7 examples of White being able to ar
47 e4 1-0 range the d3 -d4 advance much earlier
th an in analogous positions with
... 4:Jc6.
Game 44 5 0-0
M.Sebag-A.Stefa nova Make sure you don't get caught out
Rethym non 2003 by s 4:Jxe s ? ? 'iWas+!
S ••• d6
1 e4 e S 2 .ie4 4:Jf6 3 d 3 e6 4 4:Jf3 .ie7 Ivan Sokolov once played S ... bS
again st me, cl aiming some space on
the queenside. Thi s idea doesn 't look
bad, but it hasn 't caught on : 6 .ib3 d6
7 c3 as ! ? 8 4:Jbd2 (8 a4! ?, preventing
Bl ack's expan sion pl an s on the queen
side, i s a suggestion from Lukacs; he
gives 8 ... b4 9 .l:!.el 0-0 10 d4 4:Jbd7 11
4:Jbd2 with a slight advantage for
White) 8 ... a4 9 .ic2 0-0 10 d4 4:Jbd7 11
li!.e l lle8 12 4:Jfl .if8 13 4:Jg 3 'iWC7 14 h3
g 6 1 5 .ie3 .ig7 (lS ... .ib7 ! ?) 16 'iVd2
By pl aying this move, Black i s set 4:Jf8 17 .id3 4:Je6 18 li!.acl .id7
tling for a set-up with ... d6 in stead of (J . Emms-I,Sokolov, Hastings 2000/01).
... dS. In fact the immediate 4 ... d6 i s In thi s position, in stead of 19 c4? ! al
sometimes played a n d virtually always lowing 19 ... exd4 20 4:Jxd4 bxc4 2 1
tran sposes (but it's always worth l ay 4:Jxe6 .ixe6 2 2 .ixC4 with equality, I
ing a trap ! ) . could h ave kept a small plus with 19
In contrast t o the criti cal 4 ... dS, gen .ibl cS 20 dS 4:Jd8.
eral ideas become more important Black has al so played S ... 'iWC7, seem
than move sequences. The resulting ingly keeping the option open of either
position s are simil ar to those reached ... d6 or ... dS. There's nothing wrong
204
Bis hop 's Open ing
with thi s move per se, but after 6 ':el noeuvre his own queen 's knight to g 3 :
0-0 7 .ib3 Black really has nothing bet 6 . . .ttJbd7 7 l:[el ttJfS S ttJbd2 ttJg6 9 ttJfl
ter than ... d6, in which case why com 0-0 10 .ib3 .
mit the queen so early?
6 c3
T o m e , this looks a bit like some po

sition s from Ch apter Three, with the
White has numerous ways to play difference that Black's dark-squared
thi s position, but I'm going to sti ck bishop is less actively posted. The game
with the book's philosophy and choose A.Fedorov-V. lordachescu, Romanian
C2-c3 lines where suitable. Team Ch . 2006, continued 10 ... h 6 (or
Those looking for something slightly 10 ... ttJh S 11 d4 ttJhf4 12 ttJg 3 ) 11 ttJg 3
different could do worse th an investi ttJh 7 (Fedorov prefers 1 1 ... l:!.eS) 12 d4
g ate 6 !tel 0-0 7 ttJbd2 ttJbd7 S a3 ! ? ttJg s 13 ttJfS ttJxf3+?! (and here 13 ... .if6
Here are two examples, from m any: is better) 14 'iVxf3 .ie6 1 5 'iVh 5 .ixb3 16
S .. :iVC7 9 .ia2 b5 10 ttJfl as 11 ttJg 3 axb3 l:!.eS 17 dxe s dxe s lS l:!.dl (White
ttJC5 12 c3 .ie6 1 3 d4 .ixa2 14 l:[xa2 is firmly in control now) ls .. :iVcs 19
ttJe6 15 b3 :feS 16 l:.d2 .ifS 17 .ib2 .ixh 6 ! gxh 6 20 ttJxh 6+ 'it1S 2 1 ttJfS 'litg S
l:tadS with a typical edge for White, 2 2 l:td3 with a winning attack: 2 2 ... .if6
V.An and- I .Sokolov, London (rapid) 2 3 :h 3 l:tdS 24 g4! 'iVe6 2 S g s l:!.d7 2 6
1995; or S ... ttJC5 9 ttJfl d5 ! ? 10 exd5 gxf6 'iYxf6 2 7 �h l l:.adS 2S :g l �fS 29
cxdS l l .ia2 e4 12 dxe4 ttJcxe4 13 .ie3 'iVh 6+ 'liteS, and here 30 'iVh S+! capped
a6 (J . Nunn -E . Rozentalis, Hastings off a very nice game for White.
1997/9S) and here 14 .id4 followed by 7 .ib3 ttJbd7
ttJe3 pressures the ds-pawn . 7 ... .ig4 transposes to the note on
6 ••• 0-0 S ... ttJcS, below, after S h3 .ih s 9 .l:tel
Black has occasion ally delayed cas ttJbd7 10 ttJbd2 ttJC5 11 .ic2. Tiviakov
tling to carry out the ... ttJ(bS)-d7-fS-g 6 has tried 9 .ie3 ! ? (in place of 9 :el),
plan, again st which White should m a- adopting the same plan of discouraging
205
Beating 1 e4 e5
...tLlcs as the one he has chosen in a The idea, one that we've seen before
similar position (see the note on 9 i.e3 in Ch apter Four, is to relieve pressure
in Malakhov-Carlsen, Game 3 1). Let's by exchanging two sets of minor
follow the game S.Tiviakov-P.Haba, pieces. If Bl ack achieves his aim he is
Neustadt an den Weinstrasse 2008: very close to gaining full equality. As
9 ... tLlbd7 10 tLlbd2 dS ! (10 ... tLlcS ? loses a far as I can see, B.Gelfand-A.Yusupov,
pawn to 11 i.xcs dxcS 12 g4 - the point Munich 1994, remain s a key g ame, and
behind 9 i.e3) 11 'ii'e 2 dxe4 12 dxe4 I'm surprised Black hasn 't chosen this
'fiC7 13 l:tfel i.cs 14 i.g S ! ? h6 15 i.h4 route m ore often : 10 h 3 i.h s 11 tLlbd2
(this looks equal, but just watch how tLle6 12 tLlf1 tLld7 ! 13 tLlg 3 ..txf3 14
once again Tiviakov works his magic 'fixf3 g 6 ! (the immedi ate 14 ... i.g S is
and squeezes something from the posi met by 1 5 tLlfS and here 1 5 ...i.xCl 16
tion) lS ... i.g 6 16 ..tg 3 tLlh S 17 ..th 2 tLlf4 lIaxcl tLlf6 17 d4 i s slightly awkward
18 i.xf4 exf4 19 eS :ae8 20 'fiC4 'fib6 2 1 for Black) 15 i.e3 (or 15 i.h 6 l:te8 16
l:1e2 'iVbs 2 2 'iVxbs cxbS 2 3 i.ds .l:.e7 24 l:Xadl ..tg S) lS ... ..tg s 16 lladl i.xe3 17
e6 tLlb6 25 exf7+ i.xf7 26 ':xe7 i.xe7 27 'i!Vxe3 and here Yusupov suggests
i.xb7 tLla4 28 ..tc6 a6 29 C4 ..tf6 30 cxbS 17 ... 'fWb6 with an equal position.
..txb2 3 1 l:.bl i.xa2 ? 3 2 llxb 2 ! tLlxb2 3 3 One alternative worth con sidering
bxa6 .:tf7 3 4 tLles :C7? (34... .:.e7 i s the i s 11 i.e3 tLle6 1 2 tLlbd2. True, in com
only chance) 3 5 i.b7 ':cl+ 3 6 �h 2 tLla4 parison to Tiviakov's plan White has
37 a7 tLlb6 38 tLld7 ! tLla8 39 i.xa8 :C7 'missed the boat' with i.xcS . On the
40 i.b7 and Black resigned. other h and, after 1 2 ... tLld7 White can
8 l:.el l:te8 play 13 'ii'C l ! ? Thi s worked well in
Planning the typical ... h 6, ... i.f8 and W. Kruimer-G.5hell, correspondence
... g 6 regrouping idea. 2001, after 13 ... i.f6 14 d4 tLlb6 15 a4 c5
8 ... tLlcS 9 i.c2 i.g4 is perh aps 16 dxcS dxcS 17 as tLld7 18 i.a4. Check
Black's m ost solid option here. ing thi s again, though, I'm not really
sure why Black avoided the obvious
13 ... tLlg S . Perh aps White's idea is to
pl ay 14 i.dl ! ?
Looking at other ways t o interfere
with Black's plan, it's al so worth con
sidering 10 d4! ? For example, 10 ... tLle6
11 dxe S ! ..txf3 12 'iVxf3 dxe s 13 g3 l:.e8
14 tLld2 g6 1 5 tLlC4 'fiC7 16 a4 with a
comfortable edge for White, D. Pikula
D.Brankovic, Nis 1995. 10 .... exd4! 11
cxd4 tLle6 i s stronger, and here I think
206
Bis hop 's Opening
White's best chance of an advantage i s

with 12 dS ! (rather than 12 .1i. e 3 dS ! )
12 ... i.xf3 1 3 gxf3 lD c s 1 4 lDc3.
9 d4!
2 3 ... gxfS 24 exfs lDg7 (24 ... lDg s is

m ore resilient, but 2 5 lDxg S+ hxg s 2 6
h4! i s still very good for White; actually,
the official game score gives 24 ... <iit g 7
As I m ention ed in the introduction but m oving the knight t o thi s square i s
to thi s game, White finds it easier to far m ore likely t o have happened) 2 5
carry out the d3-d4 advance if Black g S ! hxg s 2 6 lDxg s+ <iith 8 2 7 1:[ g 4 and,
chooses ... c6 and ... lDbd7 over ... lDc6. faced with the prospect of 1:[h4+, Black
Without a knight on c6 and with no threw in the towel . Too much like one
... i.g4 available, there i s significantly way traffic? Maybe, but it's worth
less pressure on d4. pointing out th at Bl ack was a 2 540-
Note that White shouldn 't delay d4 rated grandm aster, and he didn 't m ake
for very long, otherwi se the risk is Bl ack any obvious blunders. Perhaps thi s is
will play ... dS himself. For example, 9 not such an easy position for Black to
lDbd2 h 6 10 lDfl (play 10 d4!) 10 ... i.f8 pl ay.
11 lDg 3 dS ! 1 2 h 3 dxe4 1 3 dxe4 'iIIC 7 14 11 g6 12 lDf1 i. g7 1 3 lD g3
...
lDh4 lDcs 1 5 .1i.c2 g 6 16 i.e3 as 1 7 'i!i'cl

<iith 7 with an equal position, V.Neved
nichy-V.lordachescu, Budva 2003.
9 h 6 1 0 lD bd2 i.f8 11 .1i.c2
...
A.Shch ekachev-N . Nikcevic, Royan

1997, is a crushing win for White: 11 h 3
g 6 12 .1i.c2 lDh S (thi s turn s out t o be
premature) 1 3 lDfl i.g7 14 i.e3 We7
1 5 'iIId 2 <iith 7 16 g4! lDhf6 17 lDg 3 lDf8
18 <iith 2 lDg 8 19 1:[g l i.f6 20 .l:!.ael b6 2 1
.l:tg 2 .1i.d7 2 2 .l:teg l lDe6 2 3 lDfS !
207
Beating 1 e4 e 5
1 3 ... ttJh7 19 ttJh11

Pl anning ... ttJg s, to exchange a pair I must confess th at I chose to in
of knights and relieve some of Black's clude the whole of thi s g am e partially
congestion problems. Just like 12 ... ttJh s because thi s styli sh retreat really
in the previous note, I don 't find thi s caught my eye. White is pl anning ttJh l
idea fully convincing, at least o n the f2-g4. Black can hardly allow the knight
evidence of this game. to reach its ideal destination, so the
A more typical approach, and one I knight on d7 h as to move. Thi s in turn
feel offers Black better chances of equal mean s that Bl ack's centre comes under
ity, is 13 .. :ii'c7 followed by queenside more pressure.
development. For example, 14 h3 b s ! ? 19 ... ttJb6 20 .ltb3 'ike7
(after 1 4. . .ttJf8 15 .lte3 .lte6 16 'ii'd 2 <iith 7 Black would like to play 20 ... g4 h ere.
17 l:tadl .l:Iad8 18 'ii'C l White keeps an It's position ally desirable but al so ap
edge, Hou Yifan-R.Reinaldo Castineira, pears to be tactically flawed: 21 dxe s
Zurich 2009) 15 .lte3 (15 a4! ?) ls ... .ltb7 dxe s (or 2 1 ... .ltxe s 2 2 f4! ) 2 2 'iVf2 'ike7
16 'ii'd 2 <iith 7 17 liadl c s ! 18 ds ttJb6 19 23 fxg4 .ltxg4 24 .ltcs ! 'ili'e8 25 lUi and
b3 C4 20 b4 as and Black still suffers Black's position collapses.
from cramp, but opening the a-file of 2 1 ttJf2
fers him just about enough counterplay
to hold the balance, D.Moldovan
J .Lechtynsky, Stara Zag ora 1990.
14 .lte3 ttJg5 1 5 ttJxg5 hxg5 16 'ii'd 2 .ltf6
In view of what h appens, m aybe
Bl ack should play 16 ... g4! ? h ere.
17 l:tad1 <iit g 7 18 f3 1
Fixing the g s-pawn .
18 ... .:th8
Now the avenue for counterpl ay via

... g4 i s firmly closed, and White enjoys a
significant positional advantage. Black
is far too distracted with events in the
centre to ever hope to g et any action
down the h-file.
2 1 ... C5 2 2 h 3 cxd4?
Opening the position only h elps
White. Black's best chance for survival
208
Bis hop 's Opening
was to sit tight with 2 2 ... i.. d 7. Alternatively:

2 3 cxd4 exd4 24 i.. x d4 i.. e 5 25 'iVC3 f6 a) 3 ... d5 features surprisingly often
2 6 liJd 3 1 i.. x d4+ here. Perh aps Black pl ayers are encour
Thi s couldn 't have been Black's aged by White's quiet, non-forcing play
original intention, but White was to 'go for it'. However, after 4 exd5
threatening to take on e5 in m any liJxd5 5 liJf3 liJc6 we have just tran s
lines: for example, 26 ... i.. d 7 27 liJxe5 posed to Emms-Wittm an (Game 34), a
dxe5 2 8 SLC5 "ii'd 8 29 l:td6 etc. theoretically dubious line for Black.
27 "ii'x d4 i.. e 6 2 8 liJb4 i.. x b3 29 axb3 b) There's nothing wrong with
.l:.hd8 30 liJd 5 'iWe 5 ? 3 ... SLe7, but a tran sposition to lines
Bl ack had to try to survive after previously con sidered is virtually inevi
30 ... liJxd5 31 exd5 'iWf8 32 .l:.e6. table. For example, 4 liJf3 d6 (4 ... liJc6 is
3 1 liJC71 the Two Knights) 5 0-0 0-0 6 c3 and
Winning an exchange, and ulti here 6 ... c6 reaches Sebag-Stefanova
mately the game. (Game 44) wh ereas 6 ... liJc6 7 i..b 3
3 1 ... "ii'x d4+ 3 2 l:txd4 �f7 3 3 liJxa 8 tran sposes to The Two Knights (Chap
liJxa 8 34 .:U a6 3 5 l:.b4 :d7 36 ':c1 b 5 ter Four).
3 7 l:I c 6 liJ C 7 3 8 l:[ d 4 � e 7 3 9 b 4 � e 6 40
.l:1.d3 �e5 41 .l:1.dc3 liJe6 42 .l:1.xa6 liJd4 43
�f2 f5 44 l:Ia8 fxe4 4 5 l:Ie8+ liJe6 46
fxe4 :tf7+ 47 �e2 g4 48 .l:1.d 3 gxh 3 49
gxh 3 .l:.f6 50 ':'f3 g5 5 1 .l:r.xf6 �xf6 5 2
� e 3 liJf4 5 3 l:tf8+ �e7 54 l:txf4 1-0
Game 45
E.Shaposhnikov-A.Lastin
Russia n C h a m pionsh i p,
Moscow 1999 4 liJf3 d6
4 ... liJc6 5 c3 does of course take us
1 e 4 e 5 2 SLC4 liJf6 3 d 3 SLC5 back into the Italian Game.
3 ... i.. c 5 i s Black's third most popular 4 ... 0-0 ! 7 is rare but by no mean s
choice, behind 3 ... liJc6 an d 3 ... c6. Many bad. White shouldn 't be tempted to
games after 4 liJf3 tran spose directly to grab the pawn, as 5 liJxe 5 ? ! leads to
the Italian G ame when Black plays trouble after 5 ... d5 ! . For example, 6
... liJc6, either immediately or soon af exd5 .l:.e8 7 d4 i.. x d4! 8 'i¥xd4 liJc6 .
ter. In thi s game we con sider lines White should settle instead for 5 0-0 or
where Bl ack chooses ... c6 in stead. 5 i..b 3. Again st the latter, Bl ack could
20 9
Beating 1 e4 e5
try S ... dS ! ? 6 exds ttJxdS 7 0-0 ttJc6 lead knight to negate the effect of the pin
ing to positions very simil ar to those with ... ttJbd7. Compare thi s to similar
discussed in Ch apter Two (compare position s we've seen with ... ttJc6, in
Bologan-Heberla, G ame 14). Here's one which Black experiences long-term dif
example: 8 h3 as 9 c3 .i.fs (9 ... ttJb6 and ficulties with the pin .
9 ... ttJf6 are decent alternatives) 10 lIel 6 0-0
l:te8? (Black should pl ay 10 ... 'ii'd 6 ! ) 11 6 .tb3 is a useful altern ative for
d4! (a trick we've seen before; even White, especially if he prefers to pl ay
players rated 2 500 keep falling for it !) lines with delayed castling in the Ital
1 1 ....i.a7 12 dxes ttJb6 1 3 'ii'x d8 ':'axd8 ian G ame - useful because don't forget
14 .i.g s .l:.d3 15 ttJa3 .i.xh 3 16 ttJbS ! Black can tran spose at any time with
with advantage, K.5hanava-L. Babujian, ... ttJc6. After 6 ... .i.b6 7 ttJbd2 c6 8 0-0 we
Izmir 2009. tran spose to the m ain g ame, with
5 c3 0-0 White castling only once Black is com
There are so m any different possible mitted to ... c6.
move orders in this line. For example, One final point: it's worth remem
the game's actual move order was bering th at the accelerated ttJfl-g 3
S ... .tb6 6 ttJbd2 0-0 7 0-0 c6 8 .i.b3 h6 9 plan often doesn't work well again st
litel l:te8 10 ttJfl ttJbd7 1 1 ttJg 3 ttJf8 12 ... c6. For example, 8 h 3 (in pl ace of 8 0-
h 3 .i.e6 1 3 .i.c2 ttJg 6 14 d4 'ii'C 7, but in 0) 8 ... ttJbd7 9 ttJfl ? ! dS 10 .i.c2 (if 10
practice Black has tended to prefer 'ii'e 2, Black might even play 10 ... dxe4 11
5 ... 0-0, or s ... ttJc6 tran sposing to the dxe4 ttJxe4 ! ? 12 'ii'x e4 ttJcS ! ) 10 ... lite8 1 1
Italian G ame. ttJg 3 ttJf8 followed by ...ttJ g 6 and Black
is at least equal .
6 •.. .tb6 7 ttJbd2 c6 8 .i.b3 l:.e8 9 l:Iel
ttJbd7
Black i s happy to commit to castling

because 6 .i.g s holds no fears for him.
The key point i s th at he can exploit the
del ayed development of his queen's Black has aped White's develop-
2 10
Bi s hop 's Opening
ment and we have reached a com cxd 5 ! 1 3 .ta4 tDg4 14 d4? ! (14 l:te2 is
pletely symm etrical position. The ques better) 14 ... e4 1 5 h 3 tDgf6, M. Bosboom
tion in all symm etrical position is, can B . Finegold, Wijk aan Zee 1991, intend
White exploit the m ove to put any ing 16 tDe5 ? ! tDxe 5 ! 17 .txe8 tDd3 .
pressure on Black? I think the best 11 tDg3 tDg6 12 h 3
chance i s to aim for the d3-d4 advance The immediate 1 2 d 4 i s m et by
to set up a favourable ten sion in the 1 2 ... .tg4. Likewise, 12 ... d5 i s m et by 1 3
centre. .tg 5 ! .
10 tDf1 12 ... h 6 1 3 d4!
Thi s has been the m ain choice, but Fin ally White gets his advance in,
in view of Black's possibility in the next and now he stands slightly better.
note, White should con sider advancing 13 'i!ke7 14 .te 2 .t e6
...
in the centre without del ay: 10 d4 tDf8

(or 10 ... .tc7 11 h 3 tDf8 12 .tC2 tDg6 1 3
tDfl h 6 1 4 tDg 3, a s in S. Karj akin
J .Smeets, Nice (rapid) 2010) 11 h 3 tD g 6
12 .t c 2 .t e 6 1 3 tDfl h 6 1 4 tDg 3 a n d we
have reached the m ain game.
If nothing el se, it seem s like thi s

game h a s provided me with a testing
exercise in tran spositions ! The position
we h ave in front of us has al so been
reached via the Italian Game: 1 e4 e5 2
tDf3 tDc6 3 ..tC4 tDf6 4 d3 ..tC5 5 0-0 0-0
10 tDf8
•.. 6 c3 .tb6 7 l:lel d6 8 tDbd2 tDe7 9 tDfl
I think Black should quit copying tDg 6 10 tDg 3 .te6 11 .tb3 h 6 12 h 3 lie8
and aim to push his d-pawn before 1 3 d4 c6 14 .tc2 'fIIC 7 (A. Beliavsky
White does. In fact, after 10 ... h6 11 tDg 3 B.Gulko, Frunze 1981) and, perhaps
d5 ! I don't see any real problems for more surprisingly, the Ruy Lopez(!): 1
him. For example, 12 h 3 .tC7 13 tDh 2 e4 e5 2 tDf3 tDc6 3 .tb5 tDf6 4 d3 .tC5 5
tDC5 14 .tC2 dxe4 1 5 dxe4 'i!kxdl 16 c3 0-0 6 0-0 d6 7 ]:tel .tb6 8 h 3 tDe7 9
lixdl with equality, J . Degraeve tDbd2 c6 10 ..ta4 tDg 6 11 tDfl h 6 12
B . Finegold, Ostend 1990; or 12 exd5 tDg 3 .:te8 1 3 d4 'ili'C7 14 .tC2 .te6. Thi s
2 11
Beating 1 e4 e5
latter move order was used in the �d3 cs 18 liJfs �xfs 19 exfs liJf8, and
Dominguez-A1ekseev game, below. here I would h ave chosen 20 dxes dxes
1 5 �e3 l:!.ad8 16 'iiC l 2 1 �C4. Alternatively, 17 b4 as 18 a3
16 'iVd2 followed by l:tadl is al so axb4 19 cxb4 iVc8 20 'ifb2, as played in
possible, but after 16 'ili'cl White S. Kudrin-M.Cornejo, Sao Paulo 2009,
doesn't have to worry about tactics al so looks a bit better for White.
down the d-fi1e. In another super-grandmaster
cl ash, Black m an aged to equalize after
16 ... �c8 17 a3 d s ! 18 liJxes liJxes 19
dxe s liJxe4 20 liJxe4 dxe4 21 �xe4 fs !
(a key defen sive resource; 2 1 ... :txe s ?
would b e met by 2 2 �f4) 2 2 �xb6 axb6
23 �c2 .l:txes and %-V2, M.Adam s
V. Kramnik, Dortmund 1999. But surely
17 liJfs ! ?, with similar ideas to the
m ain g ame, i s more critical ?
17 liJf5 !
16 ... a6?
This move is an irrelevance. In fact it
might be worse than that because now
the b6-bishop lacks pawn protection.
Clearly Lastin didn't sense any danger
and was just marking time. Should he
have known better? Perhaps, but again
we can view this as a positive: if even a
2 s so-rated grandmaster can fail to spot
the danger, surely this position poses
Black more problems than it might ap Thi s i s very strong . Suddenly sacri
pear to, especially when applied to play fices on h 6 are looming large: for ex
ers without stratospheric ratings. ample, 17 ... exd4 18 �xh 6 ! gxh6 19
Some players would be reluctant to 'iVxh 6 �xfS 20 exfs etc. Lastin chooses
pl ay 16 ... �h 7 simply because of the x to get rid of the knight straightaway,
ray effect of White's c2-bishop. But it but thi s doesn't succeed in discourag
does at least provide support to the h6- ing White from sacrificing.
pawn, preventing possible bishop sac 17 . . .�xf5 18 exf5 liJf8
rifices. The g ame L.Dominguez Perez If 18 ... e4! ? White h as a pleasant
E.A1ekseev, Bie1 2008, continued 17 choice between 19 liJd2 liJh4 20 �f4
2 12
Bi s hop 's Opening
l'bxf5 2 1 l'bxe4 and 19 fxg 6 exf3 20 First White misses a win ; then he lets
gxf3, with some advantage in either Black right back into the g ame; and
case. Even so, thi s was probably Black's finally, Black blunders on move 40.
best bet. Sound familiar?
19 .i.xh6!
3 3 g4?
Even without a knight on f5, thi s 33 l:tdxd3 ! exd3 34 .i.xf7+! win s:
sacrifice i s strong . S o strong that Bl ack 34 ... lIxf7 35 lIxeS+ l'bxeS 3 6 Vh 7+ �S
decides to decline it and battle on a 3 7 l'be6+ �e7 3 S l'bxC5 d2 3 9 Vh 5 etc.
pawn down. 33 ...l'bf4 3 4 l'bxf7 ! ':xf7 3S .i.xf7+?
19 ... l'b8h7 35 g 5 ! i s stronger.
After 19 ... gxh6 20 'ii'xh 6 White gets 3S ...�xf7 3 6 gs l'b6hs 37 :d 7+ �f8 38
a fierce attack and Bl ack's pieces are 'iVg4 'iVes 3 9 f6? gxf6 40 g6
clum sily placed for defence. For exam
ple, 20 ... l'bSh 7 2 1 l'bg 5 'ii'e 7 (or 2 1 ... exd4
2 2 l'bxh 7 l'bxh 7 2 3 f6) 2 2 l'bxh 7 l'bxh 7 2 3
f6 ! l'bxf6 2 4 l:te3 etc.
20 dxes dxes 2 1 .i.e3 .i.xe3 22 'iVxe3
l'bd s 23 'ii'e 4! l'bhf6 24 'ii'h 4! l'bf4 2S .l:.e3
l'b4d s 26 lIeel l'bf4 2 7 g3 l'bd3 28 lIe3 e4
If Black regains the pawn with
2S ... l'bxb2, White plays 29 l'bg 5 threat
ening l:tb1 and al so intending .i.b3.
29 l'b g s 'ii' b 6 30 .i.b3 l:l d 7 3 1 l:!.dl l:tde7
3 2 lId2 'iVc S ? 40 fS??
.••
It seem s to me th at the rest of the If 40 ... .:te7 ! Black is right back in the
game could easily have been affected game. Now 'order is restored' !
by time trouble, probably on both sides. 41 1::tf 7+ �g8 42 .:txfS 1-0
2 13
Beating 1 e4 e5
In this final g ame, we con sider sec looks good) s ... tDxe4 6 'i¥f3 dS 7 exd6
ond move alternatives for Black after 2 tDxd6 8 .tb3 and I prefer White.
.tC4. C3) 3 ... dS is consistent and best, but
White still keeps an edge. For example,
4 exds cxdS S .tbS+ .td7 6 .txd7+
Game 46 tDxd7 7 tDc3 tDgf6 8 dxes tDxes 9 'i¥e2
M.Mrva-E.Klema nic 'i¥e7 10 .te3 tDc6 11 0-0-0 0-0-0 12 tDf3
Slova kia n league 1997 "fiC7 13 tDd4 'ili'as 14 tDb3 with strong
pressure ag ainst the ds-pawn,
1 e4 e 5 2 .t C4 d6 C.Marcelin - I . Boim, H erzeliya 2000.
Alternatively: d) 2 .. .fS ! ? is very simil ar to 1 e4 eS 2
a) If 2 ... tDc6 we tran spose to the Ital tDf3 tDc6 3 .tC4 fS - compare the analy
ian G ame with 3 tDf3 ! . sis in Game 3 7 . White again h as two
b ) 2 . . ..tcS is Black's third most options. The safe 3 d3 tDf6 4 tDf3 tDc6
popular choice again st 2 .tC4 (behind actually tran sposes to the line in the
2 ... tDf6 and 2 ... tDc6). After 3 tDf3 d6 4 c3 Italian Game. The more ambitious 3
tDf6 S d3 we tran spose to the previous d4! ? exd4 4 e S i s a promising g ambit:
g ame. for example, 4 ... dS S exd6 .txd6 6 tDe2
c) 2 ... c6 aim s for a quick counter in tDc6 7 0-0 tDas 8 .txg 8 ':'xg 8 9 tDxd4
the centre with ... dS. White should re with advantage, J . Pietrasanta- K.5hirazi,
act with the direct 3 d4! and now: Pau 2008.
3 tDf3
C1) 3 ... exd4?! 4 'iWxd4 exploits the

fact th at ... tDc6 i s no longer available. Thi s position is often reached via
The queen is well placed in the centre the Philidor Defence: 1 e4 e S 2 tDf3 d6 3
here. .tC4. Of course with the Bi shop's Open
(2) 3 ... tDf6 4 dxe s 'iWas+ (or 4 ...tDxe4 ing m ove order there's a temptation
S 'i¥e2 ! ) S tDC3 (S tDd2 'i¥xe s 6 tDgf3 al so for White to aim for a favourable King's
2 14
Bi s hop 's Opening
G ambit with d3 followed by f4, or even that clear. To me, Black seems to get at
the immediate 3 f4! ?, and thi s partially least a bit of compensation after S ...h 6 6
explain s why 2 ... d6 is a rare choice liJf3 e4! . For example, 7 'iVe2 �e7 S liJes
again st 2 �C4. But let's stick to the 0-0 9 liJC3 �d6 10 d4 exd3 11 liJxd3 l:eS
book's repertoire ! 12 �e3, J .Benjamin-D.John, Kona 1995,
3 ... �e6 or 7 'iWe2 �b4!? S 0-0 0-0 9 liJd4 .l:.eS,
Thi s isn't Black's best option but it is J .Tayar-S.Fruebing, Batumi 2006.
the m ost independent one, and th at's d) 3 ... �g4 4 c3 liJf6 (4 ... liJc6 is the
why I 've chosen it to be the 'main line'. Italian Game ag ain) and here White
There's real justification for White to can either pl ay 5 d3 heading for norm al
break away from our norm al system of lines or try to puni sh Black for his m ove
development again st 3 ... �e6. order with 5 'iVh3 ! ?
Most other m oves will m ore than 4 �xe6 !
likely transpose to something th at's I wouldn 't norm ally recommend ex
been covered previously: changing on e6, but on thi s occasion
a) 3 ... liJc6 transposes to the Italian there are special circum stances th at
Game (see the notes to Game 3 7). cannot be ignored.
b) 3 ... �e7 has been Bl ack's most The 'system' way to play would be 4
popular choice. The position after 4 0-0 d3 and then, for example, 4 ... liJf6 5
liJf6 5 d3 was covered in the notes to liJbd2 �e7 6 c3 0-0 7 0-0 liJc6 (compare
the previous g ame. Malakhov-Carl sen, Game 3 1).
c) 3 ... liJf6 4 d3 �e7 5 0-0 i s another 4. . .fxe6 5 d4!
move order to reach the same position .
Actually, 3 ... liJf6 i s frowned upon by
theory because of 4 liJg s forcing Black
to gambit a pawn with 4 ... dS 5 exds.
Full steam ahead! In thi s in stance

there's neither the need, nor the time,
to prepare thi s with c2-(3. White needs
to pl ay thi s position with some urgency
However, I'm not 100% certain it's to exploit his early initiative.
2 15
Beating 1 e4 e5
s ... exd4 6 lLlxd4 'iVd 7 7 .. :illf7 ? 8 'iWh 3 forced Bl ack into the
6 ... es?! offers White's knight an in really ugly 8 .. .'iti'd7 in P. H . Nielsen
vitation it should certainly accept: 7 S. Pedersen, Budapest 1993.
lLle6 'iVe7 8 'iVh S+! g 6 9 'iWh 3 and al 8 'i¥h3 e S g lLle6 lLlc6 1 0 'ii' b 3 !
ready White enjoys a big advantage.
After 9 ... lLla6 10 lLlc3 'i¥d7 11 f4! exf4 12
.i.xf4 lLlf6 13 0-0 Black i s in real trouble,
M.Chandler-P. Large, Hastings 1986/87.
6 ... lLlf6 ! is a wiser choice, and thi s
move seems t o limit White's advan
tage. For example, 7 lLlC3 (7 lLlxe6 'ii'e 7
is okay for Bl ack, but 7 'iii'd 3 ! ? i s an in
teresting suggestion from Taylor and
H ayward - if 7 ... eS White can play 8
"iWbS+! lLlbd7 9 lLle6) 7 ... 'iVd7 8 0-0 lLlc6
9 .i.e3 .i.e7 10 'i¥e2 lLlxd4 11 .i.xd4 cS Who said you shouldn 't m ove your
12 .i.e3 'ilVc6 1 3 .i.g s 0-0 14 l:tad1 with queen too m any times in the opening ?
some pressure for White, S.Videki Thi s i s much stronger th an the auto
V.sutorikhin, Kecskemet 1991. pilot choice of 10 lLlC3 ? ! which allows
7 'iVh S+! Black to force a swap of queen s with
10 ... lLld4 ! . By breaking the pin White
frees his knight on e6.
10 ... b6?
Thi s i s too slow and i s rightfully
punished.
Even though White win s a pawn af
ter 10 ... lLlas 11 'iVds c6 12 lLlxf8 cxdS 1 3
lLlxd7 'iti>xd7 1 4 exds, a s in J .Van der
Wiel-R.Cifuentes Parada, Novi Sad
Olympiad 1990, it's not a straightfor
ward task for White to convert his ad
7 lLlc3 lLlf6 tran sposes to the previ vantage. I h ave a feeling th at 10 ... lLlas
ous note but thi s queen check, a com i s Bl ack's best choice, certainly at least
mon theme in thi s line, presents Bl ack in a practical sense.
with greater problems. Again the idea 11 lLlc3 !
is to hit the e6-pawn (and the e6- Threatening t o join its teammate to
square) before Black can con solidate. form a deadly attack with lLldS. Black's
7 ••• g6 position i s critical and m ay already be
2 16
Bis hop 's Opening
beyond salvation . 'ii'x es l:thf8 2 S h3 l:tf6 26 �h2 h4 27 a4

11 ... ttJd8 as 2 8 c3 I1f7 29 l:txf7 �xf7 30 b4 l:.d8
Unfortun ately for Bl ack, 11 ... ttJf6 is 31 bxa s bxa s 32 'ii'xa s l:td3 33 'iffS+
m et very strongly by 12 �g S ! . For ex rl;; e 7 34 e S 1-0
ample, 12 ... �e7 (or 12 ... ttJas 13 ttJxC7+! An impressive attacking perform
'ii'x c7 14 'ii'e 6+) 1 3 �xf6 ! �xf6 14 ttJdS, ance from Mrva. I 've just noticed that 8
intending to an swer 14 ...�d8 with 1 5 iVh 3 was the only backwards move he
ttJexc7+! overloading the bishop. played in the entire gam e !
Perh aps the best bet i s 11 ... ttJas 12
iVdS c6 13 ttJxf8 �xf8 14 iVd3, but even Key Notes
here Black's ch ances for survival are
slim. 1. In the m ain line with 6 ttJC3, if
12 ttJxf8 �xf8 1 3 f4! Black plays 6 ... �e6 (Game 3 8) White
Black m ay have succeeded in ex has excellent chances of attacking the
changing off White's powerful knight, centre and gaining an advantage.
but he i s still horribly undevel oped and 6 ... dxe4! (Games 3 9-40) is much more
there will be no surviving the second reliable and it seem s to restrict White
wave of attack. to a very small edge.
13 .•. exf4 14 �xf4 ttJe6 lS 0-0 'it>g7 16 2. 6 exds i s a more ambitious op
ttJd S ! tion for White, and G ame 41 (with
6 ... cxdS) demon strates the wealth of
possibilities for both sides. Even though
White eventually ended up losing this
game, there were some promising at
tacking opportunities for him.
3 . 6 exds ttJxdS i s a decent alterna
tive for Bl ack. These position s can cer
tainly be compared to those in the Ital
ian G ame where White adopts Plan B.
Game 42 is well worth replaying, if
nothing el se because it's unusual for a
Threatening 17 'i!i'C3+. pl ayer of Beliavsky's calibre to get into
16 ... h S 17 Iladl gs 18 iVc3+ �h7 19 so much troubl e at such an early stage.
�es! 4. If Black chooses a system of de
Winnin g : Black has to give up his velopment with ... �e7, ... d6 and ... c6
queen . (Game 44), White should look to ad
19 ... dxes 20 ttJf6+ ttJxf6 2 1 l:txd7+ vance quickly in the centre with d3 -d4.
ttJxd 7 2 2 lIf7+ �g6 2 3 l:txd 7 l:tae8 24 Bl ack's set-up is flexible, but without a
2 17
Beating 1 e4 e5
knight on c6 he finds it h ard to exert give Black the initiative, as he is aiming

any pressure on d4, and White should for the sam e with ... d6-ds.
be aiming to exploit thi s feature. 6. After 2 ... d6 3 .JTLc4, a tran sposition
5 . 3 ... .JTLcs can lead to a virtually to lines previously covered is m ore than
symmetrical position, as it does in likely. Black's choice of 3 ... .JTLe6 in G ame
Game 45. Again White's best chance of 46 i s convincingly met by 4 .JTLxe6 fxe6 5
gaining an advantage is by trying to d4! .
force through d3-d4. Any delay m ay
2 18
I n d ex of Va r i a t i o n s
Ita l i a n Ga me: 8 . . . i.e6 - 2 8

Modern Va riation 8 . . .tDe7 9 tDf1 tD g 6 1 0 tDg 3 0-0
1 1 0-0
1 e4 e S 2 tDf3 tDc6 3 Si.C4 Si.cs 4 c3 tDf6 11 ... h6 - 34
5 d3 a6 11 ... b 5 - 3 7
5 . . . d6 - 7 3 9 tDf1 d S
5 . . . d5 - 6 5 9 . . .Si. e 6 - 2 8
5 . . .0-0 - 64 9 . . .h 6 - 2 8
6 i.b3 i.. a 7 1 0 'iVe2 dxe4
6 . . . d6 - 6 9 10 .. .'ii' d 6 - 20
6 . . .0 - 0 - 6 0 10 . . . i.. e 6 - 2 2
6 . . . d5 - 6 0 1 0. . . h 6 - 2 2
7 h3 10 . . ..l:!. e 8 - 2 3
7 tDbd2 0-0 ll dxe4 �e7
8 h3 d5 - 57 11 . . . tDh 5 - 1 7
8 tDC4 12 tD g 3 h 6 - 1 2
8 ... d6 - 50 1 2 . . . i.. e 6 - 1 3
8 ... d5 - 5 3
7 •.. d6 Ita lia n G a m e :
7 . . .d 5 - 40 C l a ssica l Ma i n Li ne
7 . . . 0-0 - 44
7 . . .h 6 - 4 5 1 e 4 e S 2 tDf3 tDc6 3 Si.C4 i. c s 4 c3 tDf6
8 tDbd2 0-0 5 d3 a6
2 19
Beating 1 e4 e5
5 ... d6 - 12 1 6 ... d5 7 exd5 ltJxd5

5 . . .0-0 6 0-0 d5 - 6 5 8 l:!.el - 142
6 0-o d6 8 h3 - 147
6 ... .1i.a7 7 .1i.b3 0-0 8 .1i.e3 - 1 10 7 c3 ltJa s - 1 2 5
7 i.b3 i.a7 7 ... h 6 - 13 1
7 ... 0-0 8 .1i.g 5 - 1 14 7 ... ltJd7 - 1 3 1
7 ... i.g4 - 118 7 . . .'it>h 8 - 1 3 2
8 l:.e1 7 ... i.e6 - 13 5
8 i.e3 - 109 7 ... .1i.g4 - 1 3 5
8 h 3 h6 7 ... d5 - 146
9 l:[el g5 - 103
9 i.e3 - 106
8 ltJbd2 - 80 Ita lia n Ga me:
8 i.g 5 - 1 1 3 Other Li nes
8 ... 0-0
8 ... h6 9 ltJbd2 g 5 - 105 1 e4 e S 2 ltJf3 ltJc6 3 i.C4 i.cS
8 ... ltJg4 - 105 3 ... .1i.e7 - 169
9 h3 3 ... d6 - 169
9 ltJbd2 - 81 3 ... ltJd4 - 1 7 1
9 ... h 6 3 .. .f5 - 17 1
9 ... 'it>h 8 - 100 4 c3 'iie 7 - 1 6 3
9 ... ltJe7 - 99 4 ... 'iif6 - 1 6 3
9 ... i.e6 4 ... .1i.b6 - 1 6 3
10 ltJbd2 - 89 4 ... d6 - 164
10 i.c2 d5
11 ltJbd2 - 90 Bishop's Open i n g
11 exd5 - 9 1
1 0 ltJbd2 ltJ h S - 82 1 e 4 e S 2 i.C4 ltJf6
10 ...i.e6 - 96 2 ... ltJc6 3 i.C4 - Chapters 1-5
2 ... d6 - 2 14
Ita l i a n G a m e : 2 ... i.C5 - 2 14
Two Kn ights Defence 2 ... c6- 2 14
2 .. .f5- 2 14
1 e4 eS 2 ltJf3 ltJc6 3 i.C4 ltJf6 4 d 3 i.e7 3 d 3 c6
4 ... d6 - 1 54 3 ... ltJc6 4 ltJf3 - Chapter 4
4 ... h 6 - 1 54 3 ... .1i.c5 - 209
4 ... d5 - 1 50 3 ... i.e7 - 209
5 0-0 0-0 6 i.b3 d6 3 ... d5 - 209
220
Index of Variations
4 tLlf3 d S 6 . . . cxd5 - 1 8 7
4 . . . .i. e 7 - 204 6 ... tLlxd5 - 1 9 2
5 �b3 .i.d6 6 ... dxe4
5 ... a5 - 1 9 7 6 . . . .i. e 6 - 1 7 6
5 . . . .i.b4+ - 1 9 8 6 . . . d4 - 1 7 5
5 . . .tLlbd7 - 1 9 9 7 tLl g s - 180
6 tLlc3 7 tLlxe4 - 184
6 exd5
221
I n d ex of G a m e s
Areshchenko.A-Aleksa ndrov.A, Aerofl ot Open, Moscow, 2007 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

Ba uer.C-Nyback.T, F rench League 2009 37
........................................................................
Boka r.J-Nasyb u l l i n .V, Correspondence 2006 169

............................................................
Bologan.V-Heberla.B, E u ropea n C h a m pionsh i p, Plovd iv 2008 60

...............................
Bologa n.V-Tomashevsky. E, Ae rofl ot Open, Moscow 2006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154

Bronstein.D-lvkov. B, Amsterd a m 1 9 6 8 121
......................................................................
Degraeve.J .M-Dorfma n.J, F rench League 2007 69

...........................................................
Delchev.A-Jova nic.O, Zad a r 2004 176

................................................................................
Efimenko.Z-Golod .V, Montrea l 2005 180

..........................................................................
E m m s.J-Flea r.G, Jack 5peigel Memoria l , 50uthend 2009 ..49

........................................
E m m s.J-G reet.A, B ritis h C h a m pionsh i p, Douglas 2005 53

............................................
E m ms.J-Ledger.D, British League ( 4NCL) 2006 19

............................................................
E m m s.J-Wittman.J, London League 2006 150

.................................................................
E renburg.S-Kreiz berg.M, Tel Aviv 2002 73

.........................................................................
Felgaer.R-Hedor.J, Politi ken C u p, Copen hagen 2002 99

...............................................
Frois.A-Korneev.O, M a l aga 2005 82

....................................................................................
Gonza lez Vidal.Y-Gomez.F, C u b a n C h a m pion s h i p, Holgu i n C ity 2002 16

.................
Howell. D-Ashton.A, British Rapid p l ay C h a m pion s h i p, H a l ifax 2008 11

....................
Kinderm a n n.S-Dietmayer Kraeutler.M, Austri a n League 2007 118

...........................
Korneev.O-Cam pora.D, Sevi l l e 2010 33

..............................................................................
Kra m n i k.V-Kaspa rov.G, PCA/ l nte l G ra n d Prix ( ra pid ) , New York 199 5 146
..............
222
Index of Games
Ma lakhov.V-Ca rlsen.M, World C u p (ra pid), Kha nty-Ma n s iysk 2005 .................. 135
Mitkov.N-Timoscenko.G, Lj u b lj a n a 2003 ................................................................... 187
Mrva.M-Klemanic.E, S l ova k i a n League 1 9 9 7 ............................................................ 214
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2 23

First Step E4 E5

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John Emms

Copyright © 2010 John Emms

All rights reserved. No part of thi s publication m ay be reproduced, stored in a

British Libra ry Cata loguing-in-Publ ication Data

I S B N : 978 1 8 5 744 617 3

Everyma n Chess Series

Typeset and edited by First Rank Publishing, Brighton .

1 Italian Game: Modern Variation (Part I) 9

2 Italian Game: Modern Variation (Part II) 49

3 Italian Game: Classical Main Line 80

4 Italian Game: Two Knights Defence 124

5 Italian Game: Other Lines 162

6 Bishop's Opening 175

Index of Variations 219

Index of Games 222

Electronic sou rces, DVDs and databases

Returning to the Italian Game aim s to provide a repertoire for White

thi s opening) the view on 5 d3 was m atch again st Viktor Korchnoi.

to h elp you to really understand the my opponent surprised me with a

useful in more than one way. Firstly, in Chapter 6 (Gam e 46).

Returning to the position in the dia­

the ttJh 2-g4 m anoeuvre or the aggres­

I could go on, but I think the sim­

about a key moment, with White fac­

A crushing win for White. Perhaps

Thi s seem s t o solve Black's prob­

liJhfs liJd3+ 1 7 .i.xd3 'iVxd3 18 .i.g 5 A m ove earlier, i f Black pl ays 16 . . .h 6

14 ... g 6 prevents an entry into fs for

Preventing the exch ange and al so

ds-knight, which i s a key guardian of Black misses his chance. After

24 ... ttJxd S 2 S b S ! 1-0

The next g am e highlights a problem

Bl ack h ad to do something about

5 d 3 a6 6 .Jtb3 d6 7 liJbd2 0-0 8 h 3 .Jta7 Sovata 1998.

11 ... liJas One of Bl ack's ideas is to play ... dxC3

Should White pl ay b3, t o m eet

Computers, at least initially, assess

Thi s is a good m ove. Black increases

Thi s move certainly has its uses, but

Bl ack doesn 't h ave a decent defence

plays 8 ... .i.e6 (a move earlier), White

The ... d6 and ... .i.e6 idea is seen in

bility of 9 ... �e6 10 �g s (see below). 10 �g s i s rare in thi s position, but

20 ... 'iWxb3 2 1 g s fS 2 2 ltJcS 1i'b6?

bal ance in I . N epomniachtchi-L.Aronian, Black responds by moving another

noeuvre in the Italian Game. I think White's best ch ance is 18 iLe3

a) 12 ... liJa5 1 3 iLc2 dxe4 14 dxe4

'iVxf6 16 g4! (16 'iVxh s .txfs 17 'iVxfs 15 h S

was already under some pressure) 2 1

18 'i'xe6 19 ttJxe7 'i'xe7 20 hxg6 fxg6

He changes plan ! Let's call thi s one

the simple 2 2 ttJxe4 leaves Black with

White's attack should be winning. 1 e4 e5 2 i.. C4 ttJc6 3 ttJf3 i.. C 5 4 c3 ttJf6

Black's light-squared bishop will go

... �b7, what el se can White consider 14 ... d 5

22 .. :ii'd8 2 3 'ii'g 3 ) 2 3 i.xg s 'ii'x g s 24 2 7 ltJh6?

1 e4 e S 2 ltJf3 ltJc6 3 i.C4 ltJf6 4 d 3 i.cs

and if 8 ...0-0 9 .i.g s ! utilizing the fact

Quickly attacking the e s-pawn . advantage for White, M. Kobalija­

Returning to the position in the dia

the ttJh 2-g4 m anoeuvre or the aggres

I could go on, but I think the sim

about a key moment, with White fac

Thi s seem s t o solve Black's prob

Quickly attacking the e s-pawn . advantage for White, M. Kobalija

In thi s ch apter we con sider early alter vance with �g 5.

Now White enjoys a small advan

We've seen thi s idea of quick cas

Bold pl ay by Degraeve, and he i s in

Key Notes 4 . Executing th e ltJbd2-fl-g 3 ma

b) 12 ... ltJe7 (providing reinforce lS ... dS ! 19 dxe s 'ii'g s (Rybka wants to

14 ... exf4? i s al so a mi stake, losing a White's long-term goal s are t o oc

here without being forced to by i.g s. to h ave snared a number of highly