Avoiding symmetry in the Italian Game (or the fianchetto Italian)

by Mihail Marin

Although Black usually does not find himself under immediate pressure in the Giuoco Pianissimo setup of
the Italian Game, it certainly is irritating that he cannot obtain active counterplay easily in the almost
symmetrical positions that arise. For decades, Black's main hope for generating winning chances has
been considered the somewhat experimental variation 1.e4 e5 2.¤f3 ¤c6 3.¥c4 ¤f6 4.d3 h6!? with the
idea of continuing with ,,,d6 and ...g6, aiming for a Pirc or deferred Steinitz RL type of position. I have
been playing this line with relative success over the past few years, but recently I lost a crushing game
which made me wonder whether Black can really afford to spend a whole tempo on a move like ...h6 in an
open game. In the notes to Zambrana,O - Marin,M 1-0, where the game continued with 5.0-0 d6 6.¦e1 g6
7.d4 £e7 8.¤c3, I have indicated the type of positions Black is aiming for as well as the concrete problems
in the diagram below.

Although this had been played before, I feel that Zambrana's handling of the position, based on rapid and
harmonious developing of pieces, casts some doubt on the viability of Black's plan.

Immediately after the game, I started thinking about possible ways to save playing the move ...h6 and I
found out that 3...d6 might be worth a try. I was surprised to discover that the move had been played in
serious games over the decades already, although there is almost no mention of it in opening books.
By keeping the h4-d8 diagonal open (no ...¤f6 yet), Black prevents the knight move to g5 and plans to
develop with ...g6, ...¥g7 and finally ...¤f6 and ...0-0. This is the starting point of our article. Theory is not
too well developed here and I have aimed to examine White's main tries to question the viability of Black's
slow way of developing. From Black's point of view, I have only considered the plan based on ...g6 and ...
¥g7, consistent with the initial idea, expressed in the introduction.

A) Since Black has not put the enemy centre under pressure yet with ...¤f6, the active 4.d4 looks logical.
After 4...exd4 5.¤xd4 Black is at a crossroads.

If he intends to develop the bishop by fianchetto, he is best advised to do so immediately, because in the
event of the seemingly natural 5...¤f6 6.¤c3 g6?! the force of the Italian bishop is revealed after 7.¤xc6
bxc6 8.e5! with a favourable opening of the position. See Boe,M - Nielsen,P 0-1.
After the more cautious 5...g6, White's attempts to prepare the same kind of operation fail, although he
can choose between different move orders.

For instance, 6.0-0 (or 6.¤c3) 6...¥g7 7.¥e3 ¤f6 8.¤xc6 bxc6 9.e5 is strongly met by 9...¤g4, attacking the
e3-bishop, as in Hoiberg,N - Jacobsen,B 0-1.

Another premature attempt to put Black under pressure was seen in Darnstaedt,F - Dreev,A 0-1.

If White intends to prevent ...¤f6 because of the threat e5, he has to play 6.0-0 ¥g7 7.¤xc6 (this is the
point where White refrains from ¥e3) 7...bxc6 8.¤c3. Now, indeed, 8...¤f6 9.e5! is to be avoided, but
White's move order implies a double commitment. First of all, he has deprived himself of the possibility of
castling long, which reduces the chances of a kingside attack. Secondly, he has prematurely exchanged
on c6, increasing Black's control in the centre and reducing his own influence in this important area.
Therefore, Black can deviate with 8...¤e7, with an entirely viable position, as in Browne,W - Larsen,B ½-
½. A similar situation can be seen if White plays 8.¦e1 instead of 8.¤c3, as in Pouw,P - Werle,J 0-1.

A more consistent plan looks to be castling long - 6.¤c3 ¥g7 7.¥e3 ¤f6 8.£d2 0-0 9.0-0-0 ¦e8 10.f3.
However, if we compare this with a similar line from the Philidor Defence, the white king's bishop has
been prematurely developed, which allows Black to win time for his counterplay with 10...¤e5. For 11.¥e2
see Palkovi,J - Hammergren,P 1-0 and for 11.¥b3 see Solomon,S - Reinderman,D 0-1.

It should be mentioned that if White castles short, maintaining the tension in the centre, the same plan for
Black remains very effective. See Palacios de la Prida,E - Wojtkiewicz,A 0-1, a game that started as a
Pirc!

We can conclude that the early opening of the centre leads to comfortable (for Black) forms of... the Pirc
Defence.

B) A strategically more consistent plan is to prepare the occupation of the centre with 4.c3, taking
advantage of the fact that White has not been forced to define the intentions of his d-pawn yet (as would
be the case after 3...¤f6 4.d3). After 4...g6 5.d4 we reach an important moment.
Although 5...¥g7 is possible, after the exchange on e5 White's position seems to remain more active, as
in Tomcsanyi,P - Klovans,J 0-1 (please notice the curious move order played in this game).

Therefore, 5...£e7 is safer, when 6.dxe5 ¤xe5 7.¤xe5 dxe5 is entirely safe for Black, as in Mednis,E -
Kortschnoj,V 1-0. If White intends to exchange on e5, he should wait until Black develops his bishop to g7
(6.0-0 ¥g7 7.dxe5). In this case, Black is required to demonstrate greater accuracy, but the position
remains balanced in principle. See Gavrilakis,N - Baumgartner,H ½-½.

The only chance for White to retain a strategic superiority consists of maintaining the tension in the
centre. A logical continuation is 6.0-0 ¥g7 7.¦e1 ¤f6 8.¤bd2 0-0 9.h3.

However, this position is very similar to those aimed for by Black when he plays 3...¤f6 4.d3 h6. The only
difference is that the h-pawn is on its initial square, preventing the manoeuvre ...¤h7-g5. On the other
hand, the black kingside has not been weakened. It is hard to say whether this small difference influences
the overall evaluation of the position, because there is little practical material available. However, my
feeling is that each player has got what he wanted: White retains an advantage in space, while Black is
perfectly regrouped and has no weaknesses, hoping to prepare his counterplay in the long run. See
Morozevich,A - Malaniuk,V ½-½. It is inspiring to notice that the main expert of the 3...¤f6 4.d3 h6 line
also goes for 3...d6.

Although c3 followed by d4 is very sound strategically, it should not prevent Black from playing the
Fianchetto Italian.

C) Finally, we shall examine some games in which White employed more violent means. Since Black has
not covered the g5-square, it is tempting to prepare a knight move there. However, 4.d3 looks harmless
for Black, as in Seret,J - Bricard,E 0-1.

Things are more complicated after the more refined move order 4.0-0 g6 5.d4 exd4.
Now, capturing on d4 would transpose to familiar lines, but White can play more energetically.

6.¥g5 is neutralised by 6...¥e7 as in Yudasin,L - Vorotnikov,V 1-0, while the neo-romantic 6.c3!? is
adequately met by 6...d3! and the Pirc character of the position is not altered in any way. See Fauland,A -
Chernin,A ½-½. Seeing these two games, the reader will understand why I did not suggest 3...g6 as the
main move order. In that case, the absence of the moves ...d6 and 0-0 is likely to favour White after 4.d4
exd4 5.c3 or 5.¥g5.

Shortly before the article was published, Rainer Knaak asked me whether there is a clear refutation of
3...g6 instead of 3...d6, with the idea of transposing to the same lines. Remarkably, I had asked myself
the same question during the Reggio Emilia tournament, while preparing for a speciffic opponent by...
reading my own article. I believe that 3...g6 may be just as good as 3...d6, but, for abstract reasons, the
latter looks a bit safer, by consolidating the centre and opening the diagonal for the c8-bishop before
defining matters regarding the other bishop.

I believe that on the basis of the material examined, we can conclude that 3...d6 followed by ...g6 is
entirely sound. In my opinion, the critical lines are those played in Browne,W - Larsen,B ½-½ and
Morozevich,A - Malaniuk,V ½-½.

(4) Hoiberg,Nina (2285) - Jacobsen,Bo (2280) [C41]

Aarhus-B Aarhus (3), 1988
[Mihail Marin]
1.e2-e4 e7-e5 2.Ng1–f3 Nb8-c6 3.Bf1–c4 d7-d6 4.d2-d4 e5xd4 5.Nf3xd4 g7-g6 6.0–
0 [6.Nb1–c3 is not better from the point of view of White's plan to refute her opponent's
plan. 6...Bf8-g7 7.Bc1–e3 Ng8-f6 8.Nd4xc6 b7xc6 9.e4-e5? Nf6-g4! 10.e5-e6 Ng4xe3 With
the white king in the centre, the c4-bishop is hanging, which makes the position lost for
White. 11.Qd1–f3 (11.e6xf7+ Ke8-f8 12.f2xe3 Qd8-h4+ 13.Ke1–d2 Qh4xc4–+) 11...Ne3xc2+
12.Ke1–d1 0–0 13.e6xf7+ Kg8-h8 14.Kd1xc2 Bc8-f5+ 15.Bc4-d3 Rf8xf7–+ Gross,H-
Rivise,I/California State Ope 1964 (0–1, 19)] 6...Bf8-g7 7.Bc1–e3 Ng8-f6 8.Nd4xc6 b7xc6
9.e4-e5 This variation has been submitted to thorough practical examination in none less
than 3 games between Nina Hoiberg and Jakobsen! [9.Be3-d4 0–0 10.Nb1–d2 d6-d5=
Germann,S-Von Herman,B/Germany 1992/EXT 97-B (1/2, 83)] 9...Nf6-g4! [9...Nf6-e4 10.f2-
f3 Ne4-c5 Hoiberg,N (2280)-Jacobsen,B (2285)/Aarhus 1987/EXT 97 (0–1, 39) 11.Be3xc5
d6xc5 12.Qd1xd8+ Ke8xd8 13.f3-f4²] 10.e5-e6 Bc8xe6! [10...f7-f5?! is rather risky
because of 11.e6-e7! (11.Be3-f4 d6-d5 12.Bc4-b3 0–0³) 11...Ke8xe7 12.Be3-g5+ Ng4-f6
(12...Bg7-f6 13.Rf1–e1+ Ke7-f8÷) 13.Rf1–e1+ƒ Hoiberg,N (2180)-Jacobsen,B (2285)/Aarhus
1986/EXT 98 (0–1, 61); 10...Qd8-h4 11.e6xf7+ Ke8-f8 12.Be3-f4ƒ Bg7xb2 13.c2-c3!?©]
11.Bc4xe6 Ng4xe3 12.Be6xf7+ [12.f2xe3 f7xe6 13.Qd1–f3 Ke8-d7!µ] 12...Ke8xf7
13.f2xe3+ Kf7-e7? It does not make any sense to stay with the king in the centre.
[13...Bg7-f6!³ would have left Black with a very pleasant position.] 14.Qd1–f3 [14.Nb1–c3
Qd8-d7 15.Qd1–d3 Rh8-f8 (15...Ra8-f8 16.Qd3-a6ƒ) 16.Qd3-e4+ Bg7-e5 17.Qe4-h4+ Ke7-e8
18.Nc3-e4ƒ] 14...Qd8-e8 15.Nb1–c3 Ke7-d8 16.Qf3-h3 Ra8-b8 17.Nc3-e2 Rb8-b5
18.Ne2-d4ƒ Rb5-e5 19.Rf1–f7 c6-c5 20.Qh3-f3 Re5-e4 21.Nd4-b5?! [21.Rf7xg7!±]
21...Rh8-f8! 22.Rf7xf8 Bg7xf8 23.Nb5xa7 Bf8-h6 24.Ra1–e1 c7-c6 25.Qf3-h3
Bh6xe3+ 26.Kg1–h1 Kd8-c7 27.Qh3xh7+ Qe8-e7 28.Qh7-g8 Qe7-e6 29.Qg8-a8
Qe6-e8 30.Na7-c8 Qe8xc8 31.Qa8-a7+ Qc8-b7 32.Qa7-a3 Qb7-b4 33.Qa3-a7+ Qb4-
b7 34.Qa7-a3 Qb7-b4 35.Qa3-a7+ Kc7-d8 36.Re1–f1 Re4-f4 37.Rf1–d1 Be3-d4
38.Qa7-a8+ Kd8-d7 39.Qa8-a7+ Kd7-d8 40.Qa7-a8+ Kd8-d7 41.Qa8-a7+ Kd7-c8
42.Qa7-e7 Qb4-b8 43.Qe7-e6+ Kc8-c7 44.Qe6-e7+ Kc7-b6 45.a2-a4 Qb8-f8 46.a4-
a5+ Kb6-a6 47.Qe7-e2+ Ka6-a7 48.h2-h3 Rf4-f2 49.Qe2-c4 Qf8-f4 50.Qc4-b3 Rf2-
f1+ 51.Rd1xf1 Qf4xf1+ 52.Kh1–h2 c5-c4 0–1

(5) Browne,Walter S - Larsen,Bent [C41]

San Juan San Juan (13), 1969
[Mihail Marin]
1.e2-e4 Larsen,B 1...e7-e5 2.Ng1–f3 d7-d6 3.d2-d4 e5xd4 4.Nf3xd4 g7-g6 5.Nb1–c3
Bf8-g7 6.Bf1–c4 Nb8-c6 7.Nd4xc6 b7xc6 8.0–0 Ng8-e7 9.f2-f4 [Another interesting
attempt to put Black under pressure is 9.Qd1–f3 0–0 10.Bc1–g5 Bc8-e6 11.Bc4-b3 Ra8-b8
(11...Qd8-d7 12.Bg5-f6² left Black with some problems freeing himself, although White could
not develop his initiative in Bekavac,V-Sokolov,V/Tuzla 1958/EXT 2004 (1/2, 20)) 12.Ra1–d1
This is the most logical move, putting pressure on Black's centre. However, the rook is
slightly exposed on d1, allowing Black to win a tempo with his next move. (12.Rf1–e1 h7-h6
13.Bg5-f6 Bg7xf6 14.Qf3xf6 Ne7-c8 15.Qf6-f4 Qd8-g5=) 12...Qd8-d7 13.h2-h3 f7-f6 14.Bg5-
e3 f6-f5! 15.Be3xa7 Be6xb3 16.a2xb3 Rb8-b4 17.e4xf5 Ne7xf5 18.Rf1–e1 Rb4-h4© White
has no easy way to recycle his bishop. For instance, 19.Ba7-e3 allows an immediate draw by
repetition with 19...Nf5-d4 20.Qf3-g3 Nd4-f5=; 9.Bc1–g5 0–0 (9...Bc8-e6 10.Bc4xe6 f7xe6
11.Qd1–f3²) 10.Qd1–f3 only transposes.] 9...Bc8-e6 10.Bc4-d3 [10.Bc4xe6 f7xe6 11.Bc1–
e3 (11.Qd1–g4 Qd8-d7 12.e4-e5!? Larsen,B 12...0–0 13.Nc3-e4 Ra8-b8 14.Rf1–d1 Ne7-f5
15.Qg4-f3 h7-h5) 11...0–0 12.Be3-d4 e6-e5 13.f4xe5 c6-c5 14.Bd4-e3 Bg7xe5 15.Qd1–g4
Qd8-c8 16.Rf1xf8+ Qc8xf8 17.Nc3-b5 Qf8-c8= Lanc,A (2395)-Haik,A (2435)/Bucharest
1979/EXT 2002 (0–1, 31); 10.Bc4-b3 Qd8-d7= leaves the white bishop far from the
important attacking d3-h7 diagonal.] 10...Qd8-d7 [A safer move order seems to be 10...f7-
f5!? blocking the f4-pawn at once. 11.e4xf5 Be6xf5 12.Bd3xf5 Ne7xf5 13.Rf1–e1+ Ke8-f7
looks rather double-edged. 14.g2-g4 Nf5-h4 15.Nc3-e4 Rh8-e8÷] 11.Qd1–f3 [11.f4-f5! '?!'
Larsen,B. 11...g6xf5 12.e4xf5 Ne7xf5 13.Qd1–g4 h7-h5 14.Qg4-a4 (14.Qg4-g5 Bg7-d4+
15.Kg1–h1 Nf5-e7³ Larsen,B) 14...Nf5-e7 15.Bc1–d2 c6-c5 16.Qa4-h4 d6-d5 (16...0–0–0
17.Ra1–e1 Rd8-e8 18.b2-b4ƒ) 17.Ra1–e1 0–0–0 (17...c5-c4 18.Bd3-f5 0–0 19.g2-g4)
Gullaksen,E (2320)-Mulligan,S (2220)/Copenhagen 1997/EXT 2000 (1–0, 34) 18.Rf1xf7!± ]
11...f7-f5 12.Bc1–d2 0–0 13.Ra1–e1 Ra8-e8 14.b2-b3 f5xe4 [14...Kg8-h8!? Larsen,B]
15.Nc3xe4 Ne7-f5 16.Ne4-g5 Be6-d5 [16...Nf5-d4 Larsen,B] 17.Qf3-h3 h7-h6 18.c2-c4
Bg7-d4+ 19.Kg1–h1 Bd5xg2+ 20.Qh3xg2 h6xg5 21.Qg2xg5 [21.Bd3-e4?! Larsen,B
21...Re8-e7! 22.Be4xc6 Nf5-g3+] 21...Kg8-f7 22.Re1xe8 [22.Rf1–g1! Larsen,B]
22...Rf8xe8 23.Rf1–e1 Re8xe1+ 24.Bd2xe1 Qd7-e6 25.Be1–d2 d6-d5 26.Qg5-g4
Qe6-f6 27.Qg4-f3 [27.Qg4-g5 Larsen,B] 27...Bd4-b6 28.Qf3-h3 Qf6-a1+ 29.Qh3-f1
Qa1xa2 [Curiously, all these moves have been repeated in a correspondence game, which
continued with 29...Qa1–d4 Oliana Rectoret,P-Garces Perez,S/ESP-Cup3 corr 1984/Corr 2000
(0–1, 40). Unfortunately, the rest of the game is a comedy of errors and does not deserve to
be inserted here.] 30.Qf1–d1 Kf7-e6 [30...Nf5-e7 Larsen,B 31.f4-f5] 31.Qd1–g4 Qa2-a1+
32.Kh1–g2 Qa1–g1+ 33.Kg2-h3 Bb6-d4 34.Qg4xg1 Bd4xg1 35.Kh3-g2 Bg1–c5
36.b3-b4 Bc5-d4 37.Kg2-f3 Ke6-f6 38.Kf3-g4 Nf5-d6 39.c4xd5 c6xd5 40.Kg4-f3 c7-
c6 41.Bd2-e1 Nd6-c4 42.Bd3-c2 Nc4-a3 43.Bc2-d3 Na3-b5 44.Kf3-g4 Bd4-b2
45.Be1–h4+ Kf6-f7 46.Bh4-e1 Nb5-d6 47.Be1–f2 Bb2-c3 48.Bf2-c5 Nd6-b7
49.Bc5xa7 Bc3xb4 50.f4-f5 [50.Kg4-g5 Larsen,B 50...Bb4-e7+ 51.Kg5-h6 Be7-c5
52.Bd3xg6+ Kf7-f6 53.Ba7xc5 Nb7xc5 54.Bg6-e8!=] 50...g6xf5+ 51.Kg4xf5 Kf7-e7
52.Ba7-d4 Nb7-d6+ 53.Kf5-e5 Nd6-f7+ 54.Ke5-f5 c6-c5 55.Bd4-f6+ Ke7-d6 56.h2-
h4 Bb4-d2 57.Bf6-g7 Nf7-h6+ [57...Bd2-h6 Larsen,B 58.Bg7xh6 Nf7xh6+ 59.Kf5-g6 c5-c4
60.Bd3-b1!=] 58.Kf5-g6 Nh6-g4 59.Bd3-e2 Ng4-e5+ 60.Kg6-f5 Ne5-f7 61.Be2-d3 c5-
c4 62.Bd3-b1 Nf7-h6+ 63.Kf5-g6 Nh6-g4 64.h4-h5 Bd2-e3 65.Kg6-f5 Ng4-h6+
66.Kf5-g6 Nh6-g4 ½–½

(6) Palkovi,Jozsef (2350) - Hammergren,Paer [C50]

HUN-ch op Eger, 1987
[Mihail Marin]
1.e2-e4 e7-e5 2.Ng1–f3 d7-d6 3.d2-d4 e5xd4 4.Nf3xd4 g7-g6 5.Nb1–c3 Bf8-g7
6.Bf1–c4 Nb8-c6 7.Bc1–e3 Ng8-f6 8.f2-f3!? [The correct move order is 8.Qd1–d2 0–0
9.0–0–0 Rf8-e8 (9...Nf6-g4 does not bother White because of 10.Nd4xc6 b7xc6 11.Be3-d4²)
10.f2-f3 Nc6-e5] 8...0–0 9.Qd1–d2 Rf8-e8 [9...Nc6-e5!? 10.Bc4-e2 d6-d5=] 10.0–0–0 Nc6-
e5 11.Bc4-e2 The bishop is safe here, but it can be argued that White has simply lost a
tempo. 11...a7-a6 12.Be3-g5 [12.h2-h4 b7-b5 13.h4-h5 (13.Nc3-d5 c7-c5 14.Nd4-b3 Ne5-
c4 15.Be2xc4 b5xc4µ Glaz,L-Soppe,E/La Valetta 1980/EXT 2000 (0–1, 23); 13.g2-g4 c7-c5
14.Nd4-b3 b5-b4 15.Nc3-b1 Ne5xg4 16.f3xg4 Nf6xe4 17.Qd2-d3 Qd8-f6µ) 13...c7-c5 14.Nd4-
b3 c5-c4 15.Nb3-d4 b5-b4 16.Nc3-b1 German,S-Belfiore,D (2220)/Buenos Aires 1993/EXT 98
(1–0, 53) 16...Ra8-b8 17.h5xg6 f7xg6„; 12.g2-g4 b7-b5 13.Be3-g5 (13.g4-g5 Heyken,E
(2350)-Jacobsen,B (2280)/Copenhagen 1985/MCD (1/2, 35) 13...b5-b4 14.Nc3-a4 Nf6-h5
15.Qd2xb4 c7-c5 16.Na4xc5 d6xc5 17.Qb4xc5 Bg7-f8 18.Qc5-c3 Bc8-d7³) 13...c7-c5 14.Nd4-
b3 (14.Nd4-f5 g6xf5 15.g4xf5 b5-b4 16.Nc3-d5 Bc8-b7 17.Rh1–g1 Bb7xd5 18.Bg5-h6 Ne5-
g6³) 14...c5-c4 15.Nb3-d4 b5-b4 16.Nc3-d5 c4-c3!„ Just,A-Von Herman,B/Germany 1992/EXT
97-B (0–1, 37)] 12...b7-b5 13.Nc3-d5 Bc8-b7 [13...c7-c5! 14.Nd4-b3 Bc8-e6 15.Nd5xf6+
(15.Nd5-f4 Nf6xe4! 16.Nf4xe6 Ne4xd2 17.Ne6xd8 Nd2xb3+ 18.a2xb3 f7-f6 19.Rd1xd6
f6xg5=) 15...Bg7xf6 16.h2-h4 Ne5-c4 17.Be2xc4 b5xc4 18.Nb3-a5 Ra8-b8 19.Bg5xf6 Qd8xf6
20.c2-c3 Rb8-b6³] 14.h2-h4 [14.Nd5xf6+! Bg7xf6 15.h2-h4²] 14...c7-c5 [14...Bb7xd5!
15.e4xd5 Qd8-d7 16.Bg5xf6 Bg7xf6 17.h4-h5 c7-c5!„] 15.Nd5xf6+ Bg7xf6 16.Nd4-b3²
c5-c4 17.Nb3-a5 c4-c3 18.Qd2xc3 Bf6xg5+ 19.h4xg5 Qd8xg5+ 20.Qc3-d2 Qg5xd2+
21.Rd1xd2 Bb7-c8 22.Rd2xd6 h7-h5 23.c2-c4 Bc8-e6 24.c4-c5 Re8-c8 25.b2-b4
Be6xa2 26.Kc1–b2 Ba2-e6 27.Rh1–d1 Kg8-g7 28.Kb2-c3 Ra8-a7 29.Kc3-d4 Ne5-d7
30.e4-e5 Kg7-f8 31.f3-f4 Kf8-e7 32.Be2-f3 Ra7-c7 33.Na5-c6+ Rc7xc6 34.Bf3xc6
Nd7-b8 35.Bc6-d5 a6-a5 36.Bd5xe6 f7xe6 37.Rd1–a1 a5-a4 38.Rd6-b6 Ke7-d7
39.Kd4-c3 Rc8-d8 40.Rb6xb5 Nb8-c6 1–0

(8) Palacios de la Prida,Ernesto (2220) - Wojtkiewicz,Aleksander

(2535) [C50]
Dos Hermanas op Dos Hermanas (3), 1998
[Mihail Marin]
1.d2-d4 g7-g6 2.e2-e4 Bf8-g7 3.Nb1–c3 d7-d6 4.Bf1–c4 Nb8-c6 5.Ng1–e2 e7-e5
6.Bc1–e3 e5xd4 7.Ne2xd4 Ng8-f6 8.f2-f3 [8.0–0 0–0 9.Qd1–d2 Rf8-e8 10.f2-f3 is the
more relevant move order 10...Nc6-e5] 8...0–0 9.0–0 [9.Nd4xc6 b7xc6 10.0–0 Rf8-e8
11.Rf1–e1 (11.Qd1–d2 d6-d5) 11...Nf6-d7 12.Qd1–d2 Nd7-e5 13.Bc4-b3 Bc8-e6] 9...Nc6-e5
10.Bc4-e2 Rf8-e8 11.Rf1–e1 [11.Qd1–d2 a7-a6 12.a2-a4?! (12.Ra1–d1 b7-b5 13.a2-a3
Bc8-b7÷) 12...d6-d5 13.e4xd5 Nf6xd5 14.Be3-g5 Qd8-d6 15.Ra1–d1 (15.Nc3-e4 Qd6-b6³)
15...Nd5xc3 16.Qd2xc3 Ne5-c6 17.Nd4xc6 Bg7xc3 18.Rd1xd6 c7xd6 19.Nc6-e7+ Kg8-g7
20.b2xc3 f7-f6 (20...h7-h6!µ) 21.Ne7xc8 (21.Bg5xf6+ Kg7xf6 22.Ne7-d5+ Kf6-f7 23.Nd5-c7
Re8xe2 24.Nc7xa8 Re2xc2³) 21...Ra8xc8–+ 0–1 Blimke,D (2220)-Gdanski,J (2540)/Warsaw
2005/CBM 110 ext (31)] 11...a7-a6 12.Qd1–d2 [12.a2-a4 d6-d5=] 12...d6-d5 13.e4xd5
Nf6xd5 14.Be3-g5 Qd8-d6 15.Nc3-e4 Qd6-b6 16.c2-c3 Ne5-c6 17.Ra1–d1 Bc8-f5=
18.Be2-c4 Bf5xe4 19.f3xe4? [19.Re1xe4! Nc6xd4 (19...Re8xe4 20.f3xe4 Nd5-f6 21.Qd2-
f4±) 20.c3xd4 c7-c6=] 19...Nd5-f6³ 20.Bg5xf6 [20.Qd2-f4 Nc6-e5³] 20...Bg7xf6µ
21.Kg1–h1 Ra8-d8 22.Qd2-f4 Nc6xd4 23.c3xd4 Rd8xd4 24.Rd1xd4 Qb6xd4
25.Qf4xc7 Re8-e7 26.Qc7-f4 Qd4xb2 27.Re1–f1 Kg8-g7 28.Bc4-d5 h7-h5 29.g2-g3
Qb2-e5 30.Qf4-f3 Re7-c7 31.Rf1–f2 Qe5-c3 32.Qf3xc3 Bf6xc3 33.Rf2-c2 b7-b5
34.Kh1–g2 b5-b4 35.Kg2-f3 Kg7-f6 36.Kf3-e3 Kf6-e5 37.Ke3-d3 a6-a5 38.Rc2-e2
a5-a4 39.Kd3-c2 f7-f6 40.Kc2-b1 Ke5-d4 0–1

(9) Darnstaedt,Frank (2330) - Dreev,Alexey (2610) [C50]

Berliner Sommer 9th Berlin, 1991
[Mihail Marin]
1.e2-e4 e7-e5 2.Ng1–f3 d7-d6 3.Bf1–c4 Nb8-c6 4.d2-d4 e5xd4 5.Nf3xd4 g7-g6
6.Nd4xc6 b7xc6 7.0–0 Bf8-g7 8.f2-f4 With the queenside undeveloped, this "attack" is
not serious. 8...Ng8-f6 9.f4-f5 [The advance of the other pawn is not dangerous either.
9.e4-e5 Nf6-d5! 10.Bc4xd5 (10.e5xd6 Qd8xd6 11.Nb1–d2 0–0 12.Nd2-e4 Qd6-b4 13.Bc4-d3
Bc8-f5) 10...c6xd5 11.Qd1xd5 (11.e5xd6 Qd8xd6 12.Nb1–c3 0–0!?µ) 11...Bc8-e6 12.Qd5-c6+
Be6-d7 13.Qc6-d5 0–0 14.e5xd6 (14.Nb1–c3 Ra8-b8) 14...Bd7-e6 15.Qd5-f3 (15.Qd5-d1
c7xd6 16.Nb1–c3 Ra8-b8©) 15...Qd8xd6 16.c2-c3 Tolonen,J (2145)-Hermlin,A (2285)/Kemi
1998/EXT 2000 (0–1, 44) 16...Ra8-b8© Black is better developed and White's camp is full of
weaknesses.] 9...0–0 10.f5xg6?! Now, there will be no attack left at all. [10.Nb1–c3!?]
10...h7xg6³ 11.Bc1–g5 Qd8-e7 12.Nb1–c3? Qe7-e5! 13.Bg5xf6™ Bg7xf6µ 14.Qd1–f3
Kg8-g7 [14...Qe5-d4+ 15.Kg1–h1 Bf6-e5 16.Bc4-b3 (16.Bc4xf7+ Kg8-g7) 16...Bc8-a6
17.Rf1–e1 Ba6-c4³ 0–1 Kakulia,S-Meszaros,T (2115)/Tallinn 1997/EXT 98] 15.Kg1–h1 Ra8-
b8 16.Nc3-d1 Qe5-g5 17.c2-c3 Bf6-e5 18.Qf3-f2 f7-f6 19.Kh1–g1 Rf8-h8 20.g2-g3
Rh8-h3 21.Kg1–g2 Qg5-h5 22.Kg2-g1 Bc8-d7 23.Ra1–c1 Rb8-h8 24.Rc1–c2 Rh3xg3+
0–1

(10) Pouw,Pieter - Werle,Jan (2311) [C50]

NED-ch U20 Leiden (2), 02.05.2000
[Mihail Marin]
1.e2-e4 e7-e5 2.Ng1–f3 Nb8-c6 3.d2-d4 e5xd4 4.Bf1–c4 d7-d6 5.Nf3xd4 g7-g6
6.Nd4xc6 b7xc6 7.0–0 Bf8-g7 8.Rf1–e1 Ng8-e7 [8...Ng8-f6? 9.e4-e5±] 9.Nb1–c3 [9.c2-
c3 is solid, but rather passive and should not trouble Black. 9...0–0 10.Bc1–f4 Bc8-e6 11.Bc4-
b3 Ra8-b8 12.Nb1–d2 c6-c5 13.Qd1–c1 Ne7-c6 14.Nd2-c4 a7-a5 Gankin,S (2308)-
Vorotnikov,V (2425)/Moscow 2008/CBM 122 Extra (0–1, 30)] 9...0–0 10.Bc1–g5 h7-h6
[10...Bc8-e6; 10...Ra8-b8] 11.Bg5-e3 [11.Bg5-h4 g6-g5 12.Bh4-g3 Ne7-g6 13.Qd1–d2 Ra8-
b8 Al Modaihki,A-Alarcon Tirado,C (2135)/Elista 1998/CBM 066 ext (0–1, 24)] 11...Ra8-b8
12.Qd1–d2 Kg8-h7 13.Bc4-b3 c6-c5 14.Nc3-d5 Ne7xd5 15.e4xd5 [15.Bb3xd5 Rb8xb2
16.Bd5-b3 Bc8-e6] 15...Qd8-h4 16.c2-c3 [16.Qd2-a5?! Bg7-e5!ƒ 17.f2-f4™ (17.h2-h3
Bc8xh3 18.g2xh3 Qh4xh3‚; 17.g2-g3 Qh4-f6 18.Qa5xc7 Bc8-h3µ) 17...Be5xf4 18.Be3xf4
Qh4xf4 19.Qa5xc7 Rb8-b7 20.Qc7-c6 Rb7-b6] 16...Bc8-f5 17.Bb3-d1 Rf8-e8 18.Bd1–f3
Qh4-a4 19.b2-b3 Qa4-a3 20.Bf3-e2 a7-a5„ 21.g2-g4?! Bf5-d7³ 22.Qd2-c2 a5-a4
23.Re1–b1 Rb8-a8 24.Be3-c1 a4xb3 25.Rb1xb3 Qa3-a4 26.h2-h3 c5-c4 27.Rb3-b2
Qa4xc2 28.Rb2xc2 Bd7-a4 29.Rc2-b2 Bg7xc3 30.Ra1–b1 Bc3xb2 31.Rb1xb2 c4-c3
0–1

(12) Mednis,Edmar John (2455) - Kortschnoj,Viktor (2635) [C50]

Vienna op Vienna, 1986
[Mihail Marin]
1.e2-e4 e7-e5 2.Ng1–f3 Nb8-c6 3.Bf1–c4 g7-g6 4.c2-c3 d7-d6 5.d2-d4 Qd8-e7
6.d4xe5 [6.Bc1–g5 Ng8-f6 is entirely normal for Black.; 6.Nf3-g5 can be met in two possible
ways. 6...Nc6-d8!? This takes full advantage of the previous move. (However, 6...Ng8-h6 is
playable, too, for instance 7.h2-h4 Bf8-g7 8.d4-d5 Nc6-d8 9.h4-h5 f7-f6 10.Ng5-f3 g6-g5„)
7.0–0 (7.f2-f4?! e5xf4 8.Bc1xf4 h7-h6³) 7...h7-h6 8.Ng5-f3 Bf8-g7= and the insertion of the
moves ...¤d8 and ...h6 certainly favours Black. Later, the knight could go to e6-g5.]
6...Nc6xe5 [6...d6xe5 may also be playable, but generally Black prefers to get rid of the
knight that could get attacked with b4-b5. 7.b2-b3 Zentgraf,R (2114)-Mickiewicz,P
(2271)/Koszalin 2007/CBM 119 ext (0–1, 143) 7...Bc8-e6 8.Bc4-b5 (8.Nb1–d2 0–0–0; 8.Bc1–
a3 Qe7-f6) 8...Be6-d7 9.Bc1–a3 Qe7-e6 10.Bb5-c4 Qe6-g4 11.0–0 (11.Ba3xf8 Ke8xf8 12.0–0
Ng8-f6 13.Rf1–e1 Kf8-g7=) 11...Ng8-f6 12.Qd1–e2 0–0–0 13.Bc4xf7 Bf8xa3 14.Nb1xa3 Rh8-
f8 15.Bf7-c4 Nf6xe4÷] 7.Nf3xe5 d6xe5 8.0–0 [8.b2-b3 is inoffensive because of 8...Bc8-e6
9.Bc1–a3 Qe7-f6 10.Qd1–e2 0–0–0=] 8...Ng8-f6! For the time being, Black leaves the
bishop on f8, anticipating an eventual b3 followed by ¥a3. [8...Bf8-g7 is entirely playable,
though, transposing to a game listed below.] 9.Qd1–f3 [9.b2-b3 Nf6xe4 10.Bc1–a3 Ne4-d6³]
9...Bc8-e6 10.Bc1–g5 Bf8-g7 11.Nb1–d2 h7-h6 12.Bg5xf6 Bg7xf6 13.Bc4xe6
Qe7xe6 Black has no problems at all, but my feeling is that Korchnoi was playing for a win
already. 14.Nd2-c4 Bf6-g5 [14...Qe6xc4 15.Qf3xf6 0–0 16.Qf6xe5 (16.Rf1–e1 Rf8-e8=)
16...Rf8-e8 17.Qe5-f4 Re8xe4 18.Qf4xh6 Ra8-e8©] 15.b2-b3 [15.Nc4-e3 0–0–0=] 15...0–0–
0 16.Ra1–d1 c7-c6 17.Rd1xd8+ [17.a2-a4 Kc8-c7 18.a4-a5 h6-h5] 17...Rh8xd8 18.Rf1–
d1 h6-h5 19.Rd1xd8+ Bg5xd8? [19...Kc8xd8=] 20.Qf3xf7! Qe6xf7 21.Nc4-d6+ Kc8-
c7 22.Nd6xf7 Bd8-f6 23.Kg1–f1 [23.Kg1–f1 Kc7-d7 24.h2-h4 Kd7-e6 25.Nf7-g5+±] 1–0

(13) Gavrilakis,Nikolaos (2295) - Baumgartner,Heinz (2285) [C50]

Thessaloniki ol (Men) Thessaloniki (12), 01.12.1984
[Mihail Marin]
1.e2-e4 e7-e5 2.Ng1–f3 Nb8-c6 3.Bf1–c4 g7-g6 4.0–0 d7-d6 5.c2-c3 Bf8-g7 6.d2-d4
Qd8-e7 7.d4xe5 Nc6xe5 8.Nf3xe5 d6xe5 [8...Qe7xe5 9.Nb1–d2 Ng8-f6 10.Nd2-f3 Qe5-e7
11.Rf1–e1² Velicka,P (2420)-Pachman,L (2370)/Czechia 1993/TD (1/2, 22)] 9.b2-b3 This is
the only way to prevent Black from obtaining a comfortable form of the Pirc Defence.
[9.Bc1–e3 Ng8-f6 10.f2-f3 0–0 11.b2-b4 b7-b6 12.Qd1–b3 a7-a5 (12...Nf6-h5!? 13.a2-a4 Nh5-
f4 14.a4-a5 Bc8-d7 15.Nb1–a3 Qe7-g5„) 13.a2-a4 Bc8-b7 14.Nb1–a3² Sikora Gizynska,B
(2180)-Gorbatow,A (2385)/Katowice 1993/EXT 98 (0–1, 44); 9.Qd1–e2 Ng8-f6 10.f2-f3 0–0
11.Bc1–e3 Dave,D (1990)-Melekhina,A (2088)/Batumi 2006 (1–0, 56) 11...Nf6-h5=] 9...Ng8-
f6 [9...Bc8-e6 10.Bc1–a3 Qe7-f6 11.Bc4xe6 Qf6xe6 12.c3-c4 Bg7-f8 13.Ba3-b2 (13.Qd1–d5!?
²) 13...Ng8-f6 14.Nb1–c3 c7-c6 15.Rf1–e1 Bf8-e7 16.Nc3-d5!? c6xd5 17.e4xd5 Qe6-d7
18.Re1xe5© Maciejewski,A (2345)-Adamski,A (2315)/Piotrkow Trybunalski 1977/EXT 2003
(1/2, 43)] 10.Bc4-b5+ [After 10.Bc1–a3 c7-c5 White should transpose with 11.¥b5+, since
11.Nb1–d2 0–0 leaves several of his pieces misplaced> 12.b3-b4 Bc8-e6 13.Qd1–e2 Rf8-d8
14.Bc4xe6 Qe7xe6 15.b4xc5 Bg7-f8 16.Nd2-f3 Ra8-c8 17.Ra1–b1 b7-b6³] 10...Bc8-d7
11.Bc1–a3 c7-c5 12.Bb5xd7+ Qe7xd7 White has managed to weaken the d5-square, but
his bishop is somewhat misplaced and his development is incomplete. Will he be able to
install a knight on d5? This is the crucial question. [12...Nf6xd7 13.c3-c4 0–0 14.Nb1–c3²]
13.Qd1–e2 [13.Qd1xd7+ Ke8xd7! (13...Nf6xd7 14.c3-c4 0–0–0 15.Nb1–c3²) 14.Rf1–e1
(14.Nb1–d2 Kd7-c6; 14.f2-f3 Kd7-c6 15.c3-c4 Bg7-h6 16.Nb1–c3 Bh6-e3+ 17.Kg1–h1 Be3-
d4³) 14...Kd7-c6 15.c3-c4 Bg7-h6 16.Ba3-b2 (16.Nb1–c3? Bh6-d2) 16...Rh8-d8 (16...Rh8-e8
17.Re1–e2 Ra8-d8 18.Nb1–c3 Rd8-d2 19.Ra1–e1²) 17.f2-f3 (17.Bb2xe5 Nf6xe4=) 17...Nf6-h5
18.Bb2xe5 Rd8-d3© Choosing the move order is very important, because White only needs
to play c4 and ¤c3-d5 in order to get a stable advantage.] 13...Qd7-c6 14.f2-f3 0–0?!
[14...b7-b5! 15.Qe2-f2 (The immediate 15.c3-c4 b5-b4 16.Ba3-b2 Nf6-h5 leaves the queen
exposed.; while 15.Qe2-e3 takes away an important square from the knight.) 15...Ra8-c8
16.c3-c4 b5-b4 17.Ba3-b2 Nf6-h5! It is better to hurry with this move before White regroups
with ¦d1 and ¤d2-f1. 18.g2-g3 (18.Rf1–d1 Nh5-f4„ 19.Nb1–d2? Nf4-d3 20.Qf2-e3 Nd3xb2
21.Rd1–b1³ and now Black has several ways to get a small advantage.) 18...0–0 19.Nb1–d2
Rf8-e8 20.Rf1–d1 Bg7-h6 21.Nd2-f1 Nh5-g7 22.Nf1–e3 Bh6xe3! 23.Qf2xe3 f7-f6=] 15.c3-c4
Nf6-e8 16.Nb1–c3 Ne8-c7 17.Nc3-d5² Rf8-e8 18.Nd5xc7 [18.Ra1–d1 Nc7-e6 19.Ba3-
b2²] 18...Qc6xc7 19.Ra1–d1 Ra8-d8 20.Rd1–d5 Rd8xd5 21.c4xd5 Bg7-f8 22.Ba3-c1
Bf8-d6 23.Bc1–e3 Re8-c8 24.Rf1–c1 Qc7-a5 25.Qe2-d2 Qa5xd2 26.Be3xd2 f7-f6
27.Bd2-e3 b7-b6 28.Kg1–f2 Kg8-f7 29.Kf2-e2 Kf7-e7 30.Ke2-d3 Ke7-d7 ½–½
(14) Morozevich,Alexander (2625) - Malaniuk,Vladimir P (2590)
[C50]
RUS-chT Sochi (5), 02.09.1998
[Mihail Marin]
1.e2-e4 e7-e5 2.Ng1–f3 Nb8-c6 3.Bf1–c4 d7-d6 4.c2-c3 g7-g6 5.d2-d4 Bf8-g7
[5...Qd8-e7 6.0–0 Bf8-g7 is the safer move order] 6.0–0 [6.d4xe5!²] 6...Qd8-e7 7.Rf1–e1
Ng8-f6 8.Nb1–d2 0–0 9.h2-h3 A necessary move. [9.Nd2-f1 Bc8-g4 would leave White's
centre instable.] 9...Bc8-d7 [9...Nf6-h5 looks like a premature display of activity, since
Black's development is incomplete. 10.Nd2-f1 Nh5-f4 11.Nf1–e3 Nc6-d8 12.a2-a4 Nd8-e6
13.h3-h4 c7-c6 14.g2-g3 e5xd4 15.c3xd4 Nf4-h3+ 16.Kg1–g2 Ne6-c7 17.Bc4-d3² Yudasin,L
(2460)-Vorotnikov,V (2475)/Leningrad 1984/MCL (0–1, 30)] 10.a2-a3 [10.Nd2-f1 Ra8-e8
11.Nf1–g3 Kg8-h8 12.Bc1–e3 (12.Bc1–d2 Kudrin 12...Nf6-g8 In this line, it is important that
the g6-square has not been weakened.) 12...e5xd4!? 13.c3xd4 Nf6xe4÷ Kudrin,S (2540)-
Vorotnikov,V (2460)/Moscow 1995/EXT 2000/[Kudrin] (1–0, 42)] 10...Ra8-e8 11.b2-b4 a7-
a6 12.Bc4-f1 Bd7-c8 13.Bc1–b2 h7-h6 After thorough regrouping, Black finally plays this
move. It should be noticed that he does so only after the enemy bishop has relieved the
latent pressure against Black's kingside. [13...Nf6-h5 14.g2-g3²] 14.Ra1–c1 Nf6-h7 15.d4-
d5 Nc6-d8 16.c3-c4 f7-f5„ The position is very sharp, with attacks on opposite wings.
However, the bishop fails to impress on b2. 17.c4-c5 Nd8-f7 18.c5xd6 c7xd6 19.e4xf5
g6xf5 20.g2-g3 Nf7-g5 21.Nf3xg5 Qe7xg5 22.Rc1–c7 f5-f4 23.g3-g4 h6-h5 24.Nd2-
e4 Qg5-h6 25.f2-f3 h5xg4 26.h3xg4 Nh7-g5 27.Qd1–e2 [27.Ne4xg5 Qh6xg5 28.Qd1–
e2 (28.Qd1–c2 Bc8-f5 29.Qc2-g2 Bf5-g6) 28...Rf8-f7÷ White has problems preventing ...e4.]
27...Ng5xe4 28.Qe2xe4 Bc8xg4!µ The draw offer is premature, of course.[28...Bc8xg4µ
29.f3xg4? f4-f3 30.Re1–d1 Rf8-f4–+] ½–½

(15) Seret,Jean Luc (2420) - Bricard,Emmanuel (2485) [C50]

FRA-ch Strasbourg (14), 1992
[Mihail Marin]
1.e2-e4 e7-e5 2.Ng1–f3 d7-d6 3.Bf1–c4 Nb8-c6 4.d2-d3 g7-g6 [Soon after writing this
article, I played in Reggio Emilia. While preparing for an opponent who had the Italian game
in his repertoire, I discovered that 4...h7-h6 is entirely playable now. Since White has
refrained from an early d4, Black can also spend a tempo on a pawn move. The difference if
compared with my game against Zambrana is that the knight is on g8 still and Black can
continue with ...g6, ...¥g7 and only then ...¤f6, very much in the spirit of the rest of this
article.] 5.Nf3-g5 Ng8-h6 6.h2-h4 [6.f2-f4 Nc6-a5 7.0–0 Na5xc4 8.d3xc4 f7-f6= Black has
the more compact pawn structure and the pair of bishops.; I was impulsed to look for an
improvement on the 4th move by the apparently inoffensive move 6.a2-a3!? keeping the
bishop alive. Next, White would play ¤c3 and eventually ¤d5. Black would have a hard time
freeing himself.] 6...Nc6-a5 7.h4-h5 Na5xc4 8.d3xc4 f7-f6 [8...Bc8-g4 9.f2-f3 Bg4-d7
10.Nb1–c3 Bf8-e7„] 9.Ng5xh7 Interesting, but insufficient. [9.Ng5-f3 Bc8-e6³] 9...Rh8xh7
10.h5xg6 Rh7-h8 11.f2-f4 f6-f5 [11...Bc8-g4 12.Rh1xh6 Bg4xd1 13.Rh6xh8 Qd8-d7–+]
12.Nb1–c3 Bf8-g7 13.f4xe5 f5xe4 14.Qd1–d5 c7-c6 15.Qd5xd6 Qd8xd6 16.e5xd6
Bc8-f5 17.Bc1–g5 Ke8-d7 18.0–0–0 Bf5xg6 19.Nc3-a4 b7-b6 20.Rh1–h3 Nh6-f7
21.Bg5-e3 Rh8xh3 22.g2xh3 Bg6-h5 23.Rd1–g1 Bg7-f6 24.Be3xb6 Nf7xd6 25.c2-c3
Kd7-e6 26.Na4-c5+ Ke6-f5 27.Bb6-c7 Nd6-f7 28.Rg1–f1+ Bh5-f3 29.a2-a4 Ra8-c8
30.Bc7-g3 Bf6-d4 31.Nc5-b7 Rc8-g8 0–1

(16) Yudasin,Leonid - Vorotnikov,Vladislav V (2410) [C50]

Leningrad-ch Leningrad, 1979
[Mihail Marin]
1.e2-e4 e7-e5 2.Ng1–f3 Nb8-c6 3.Bf1–c4 d7-d6 4.0–0 g7-g6 5.d2-d4 e5xd4 6.Bc1–g5
Bf8-e7 [6...Qd8-d7 is over-ambitious. Black preserves his bishop from being exchanged, but
his development will most likely suffer. 7.Nf3xd4 Bf8-g7 8.Nd4xc6 (8.c2-c3 Ng8-f6 9.Nd4xc6
b7xc6 10.Qd1–d4 Nf6-h5 11.Qd4-d2 0–0 Haznedaroglu,K (2438)-Atalik,S (2618)/Istanbul
2006/CBM 111 ext (1/2, 44)) 8...b7xc6 9.Nb1–c3 Ra8-b8 (9...Ng8-f6? 10.e4-e5± d6xe5?
11.Qd1–f3+-; 9...Ng8-e7) 10.Bc4-b3 Ng8-e7] 7.Bg5xe7 Qd8xe7 8.Nf3xd4 Ng8-f6
[8...Nc6xd4 looks premature, but is not easy to refute. 9.Qd1xd4 Qe7-e5 10.c2-c3 Ng8-f6
11.Nb1–d2 0–0 12.Ra1–e1 c7-c6 13.Qd4-d3 Bc8-e6= Dueckstein,A (2370)-Baumgartner,H
(2350)/Austria 1990/TD (1/2, 58)] 9.Nb1–c3 [9.Rf1–e1 0–0 10.Bc4-b3 Nc6-a5 A typical
mistake. Black should not exchange any of his knights for the bishop. Not at this high point
in the game, at least. (10...Qe7-e5 11.c2-c3 Bc8-d7=; 10...Bc8-d7 11.Nb1–c3 Ra8-e8)
11.Nb1–c3 Na5xb3 12.a2xb3 c7-c6 13.h2-h3 Bc8-d7 14.Qd1–d2 a7-a6 15.Ra1–d1² Kobalija,M
(2537)-Polovodin,I (2468)/Novgorod 1999/CBM 069 ext (1/2, 50)] 9...0–0 10.Rf1–e1 Qe7-
e5 11.Nd4-f3 [11.Nd4-b5 Nf6-g4 12.g2-g3 Qe5-c5 13.Qd1–e2™ a7-a6 14.Nb5xc7 Nc6-d4–
+; 11.Nc3-b5 a7-a6; 11.Nd4-b3 Nf6-g4 12.g2-g3 a7-a5ƒ] 11...Qe5-c5 12.Bc4-b3 Bc8-g4
The exchanges that follow reduce the significance of White's advantage in space. 13.h2-h3
Bg4xf3 14.Qd1xf3 Kg8-g7 15.Ra1–d1 Nc6-d4 16.Qf3-d3 Nd4xb3 17.a2xb3 Rf8-e8
18.Rd1–d2 Re8-e7 19.Kg1–h1 Ra8-e8= Black has a very comfortable position. 20.f2-
f4?! b7-b5 21.Rd2-e2 b5-b4 22.Nc3-b1 h7-h5 23.Nb1–d2 h5-h4 24.Qd3-f3 d6-d5
[24...Nf6-h5 25.Nd2-f1 a7-a5³ 26.Qf3-g4 Qc5-d4 27.Re2-d2 Qd4xb2µ 28.Qg4xh4? Re7xe4–+]
25.e4-e5 Nf6-h5 26.Nd2-f1÷ Qc5-d4 27.Re2-f2 f7-f6 28.c2-c3 b4xc3 29.b2xc3 Qd4-
b6 30.Nf1–e3 c7-c6 31.Qf3-g4 Nh5-g3+ 32.Kh1–h2 f6-f5 33.Qg4xh4 Ng3-e4 34.Rf2-
f3 [34.g2-g4 f5xg4 (34...Ne4xf2 35.g4xf5!!+-) 35.Rf2-g2 (35.Ne3xg4 Ne4xf2 36.Qh4-h6+
Kg7-f7 37.e5-e6+ Re7xe6 38.Qh6-h7+ Kf7-f8 39.Qh7-h8+ Kf8-f7 40.Ng4-h6+ Kf7-e7
41.Re1xe6+ Ke7xe6 42.Qh8xe8+±) 35...g4-g3+ 36.Rg2xg3 Ne4xg3 37.Qh4xg3 Kg7-f7
38.f4-f5‚] 34...Re7-f7 35.Re1–g1 Qb6xb3 36.g2-g4ƒ Re8-h8 37.Qh4-e1 Kg7-f8
38.g4xf5 g6xf5 39.e5-e6 Rf7-f6 40.Qe1–a1 Qb3-b8 41.c3-c4 Rh8-h7 42.c4xd5
c6xd5 43.e6-e7+ Rh7xe7 44.Ne3xd5 Qb8-b5 45.Nd5xf6 Qb5-e2+ 46.Rg1–g2 Qe2xf3
47.Nf6xe4 Qf3xf4+ 48.Ne4-g3 Qf4-e5 49.Qa1xe5 Re7xe5 50.Rg2-f2 a7-a5
51.Ng3xf5 Kf8-f7 52.Nf5-d4+ Kf7-g6 53.Rf2-a2 Kg6-h5 54.Nd4-c6 Re5-c5
55.Ra2xa5 Kh5-h4 56.Ra5-a4+ 1–0

(17) Fauland,Alexander (2475) - Chernin,Alexander (2605) [C44]

Altensteig Altensteig (1), 1991
[Mihail Marin]
1.e2-e4 e7-e5 2.Ng1–f3 d7-d6 3.d2-d4 e5xd4 4.Bf1–c4 Nb8-c6 5.0–0 g7-g6 6.c2-c3
d4-d3! Black returns the pawn in order to hinder White's development. [6...d4xc3 7.Qd1–b3
Qd8-d7 (7...Qd8-e7 8.Nb1xc3ƒ Nc6-a5? 9.Qb3-a4+ Na5-c6 10.Nc3-d5‚) 8.Qb3xc3 f7-f6
9.Nb1–a3 Bf8-g7 10.Na3-b5 Ng8-e7 11.Bc4-e6 Qd7-d8 12.Nf3-g5‚; 6...Bf8-g7 7.c3xd4±]
7.Qd1xd3 [7.Nf3-g5 Nc6-e5 I find this natural move best. (7...Ng8-h6 is also playable,
though. 8.f2-f4 Bf8-g7 9.Qd1xd3 0–0 10.h2-h3 Nc6-a5 11.Bc1–e3 Na5xc4 12.Qd3xc4 Kg8-h8
13.Nb1–d2 Qd8-e7 14.Ra1–e1 f7-f6 15.Ng5-f3 Bc8-e6 16.Qc4-a4 a7-a6 17.Qa4-c2 Be6-g8
18.a2-a4 b7-b5÷ Bologan,V (2510)-Hracek,Z (2485)/Nimes 1991/EXT 97 (1–0, 42). Black is
well regrouped and has the pair of bishops. His chances are not worse.) 8.Bc4xd3 Ng8-f6
9.Bd3-c2 (9.f2-f4 Ne5xd3 10.Qd1xd3 h7-h6 11.Ng5-f3 Bf8-g7 12.e4-e5) 9...h7-h6 10.Ng5-f3
(10.f2-f4 h6xg5 11.f4xe5 Nf6-g4!) 10...Ne5xf3+ (10...Bc8-g4 11.Nb1–d2 Bf8-g7 12.h2-h3)
11.Qd1xf3 Bf8-g7=] 7...Bf8-g7 8.Bc1–g5 Ng8-e7 [Black should not shy away from the
natural 8...Ng8-f6 9.e4-e5!? The only way to fight for initiative, but with the knight on b1
still, there is little chance for success. (9.Nb1–d2 0–0 10.Rf1–e1 h7-h6 11.Bg5-f4 Nf6-g4„)
9...d6xe5 (9...Bc8-f5?? 10.e5xf6! Bf5xd3 11.f6xg7+-) 10.Qd3xd8+ Nc6xd8 11.Nf3xe5 Nd8-
e6 12.Bg5-h4 Nf6-e4 13.Rf1–e1 Ne4-d6=] 9.Nb1–d2 h7-h6 10.Bg5-h4 0–0 11.Rf1–e1 g6-
g5 12.Bh4-g3 Ne7-g6= Black has nice control over the dark squares, although his light
squares are slightly weakened. 13.Ra1–d1 g5-g4 14.Nf3-d4 h6-h5 15.Nd4xc6 [15.Nd4-
f5 h5-h4; 15.f2-f3 h5-h4 16.Bg3-f2 h4-h3„] 15...b7xc6 16.Qd3-e3 Bc8-e6 [16...h5-h4
17.Bg3-f4 Ng6xf4 18.Qe3xf4 Qd8-f6=] 17.Bg3-f4 Ra8-b8 [17...Ng6xf4 18.Qe3xf4 Qd8-f6=]
18.Bf4-g5 Qd8-c8 19.Bc4-b3 a7-a5 20.Bg5-h6 Rf8-e8 21.Bh6xg7 Kg8xg7 22.f2-f4
g4xf3 23.g2xf3 a5-a4 24.Bb3xa4 Qc8-a6 [24...Rb8xb2 25.Ba4xc6 Re8-g8÷] 25.b2-b3
[25.Ba4-b3 c6-c5!?] 25...Qa6-b6 26.Nd2-f1 Qb6xe3+ 27.Nf1xe3² Rb8-b6 28.Kg1–f2
Re8-a8 29.Re1–g1 Kg7-f6 30.Ne3-g2 Be6-h3 31.Kf2-e3 Bh3xg2 32.Rg1xg2 Ng6-e5
33.f3-f4 Ne5-d7 34.e4-e5+ Kf6-e7 35.e5xd6+ c7xd6 36.Rg2-d2 d6-d5 37.c3-c4
Nd7-c5 38.c4xd5 Nc5xa4 39.b3xa4 Ra8xa4 40.d5xc6 Rb6xc6 41.Rd2-d5 ½–½