Chess 3

inst strong players who have prepared well but also have to play on their own.
This one
will. The repertoire itself is based on ambitious mainlines. After 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6, I
have opted for 3. Nf3, which is the most demanding choice theoretically but probably
the best move in a higher chess sense. Against 2... g6, I am playing 3. Nc3, welcoming
an opportunity to play against the Grunfeld Defense and not avoiding it with Anti-
Grunfeld lines such as 3. f3 or 3. g3. The Russian System is White's most ambitious
attempt to prove an edge as it allows him to take the whole centre without even
exchanging off a pair of knights on c3, and Black is under a lot of pressure to make
counterplay as soon as possible. The only line where I chose a path that I don't believe
is objectively the best way to fight for an advantage is against the King's Indian, but that
is because the King's Indian is a somewhat unusual opening in its attitude. Everyone
knows Black is worse, including the most devout KID players, but they hope that the
deeply complex positions that arise will leave them with practical chances in human
play. Most openings like this tend to lend themselves to bad results at high levels, but
the King's Indian is perhaps the only major exception. Despite the objective evaluation,
even in games between strong grandmasters, Black's results are entirely fine. As such, I
chose a line that I only believe can fight for a smaller edge, but one where I think
Black's coun
8. Nc3
{ It's very important not to castle too soon. 8.O-O ? This is poor. After 8...e5 9.Bc2
e4 ! Since White does not yet have the knight on c3, he is unable to play Nf3-g5. So his
knight will be booted back to e1, Black managed to secure the pawn on e4, and I think
White is already worse. }
8... e5
{ This position looks a little intimidating, but after the simple retreat } 9.
Bc2
{ Black's activity is nothing more than an illusion. He is not able to get the e5-e4
advance through, so I don't see much sense in his position. The computer proposes Nb8-
a6, but this also does not equalize. }
9... Bg4
{ This has been the main move in the past, but I find it unconvincing. White can simply
challenge the bishop. }
10. h3 Bh5 { This is even worse. } 11. g4 Bg6 12. O-O-O
{ Black has no space and no counterplay, plus White's kingside pawns have already
made some progress. I can't see this ending well for the second player. }
*
[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "2. Quickstarter Guide"]
[Black "Queen's Indian Sidelines #1"]
[Result "*"]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6
{ Not so long ago, the Queen's Indian Defence was a mainstay in elite-level chess, and it
would seem unfathomable to think that just 15 years later, it would be mostly gone. In
general, I think it is the defence against 1. d4 that suffered the greatest hit to its
reputation at the hands of computers in recent times. I wouldn't be so bold as to say I
have conclusively proved an advantage, but I think I can put Black under a lot of
pressure. }
4. g3
{ Now, the two main moves are 4...Bb7 and 4...Ba6 , with the latter being the better
one, but Black does have a couple of other extraneous tries. }
4... c6
{ This rare move has been seen from time to time, but it looks pretty silly to me. }
5. Bg2 d5 6. O-O Be7 7. Nfd2
{ White plays the most ambitious setup he can possibly choose against the Closed
Catalan. He is ready for Nb1-c3 next and e2-e4 to follow. This is the best setup he can
ever get, and generally, it is not possible to pull off because Black will break the centre
with e6-e5, b7-b5, or c6-c5. But, because Black has spent a move on b7-b6 instead of
something more useful, White pulls it off rather easily. }
*
[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "2. Quickstarter Guide"]
[Black "Queen's Indian Sidelines #2"]
[Result "*"]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6
{ Not so long ago, the Queen's Indian Defence was a mainstay in elite-level chess, and it
would seem unfathomable to think that just 15 years later, it would be mostly gone. In
general, I think it is the defence against 1. d4 that suffered the greatest hit to its
reputation at the hands of computers in recent times. I wouldn't be so bold as to say I
have conclusively proved an advantage, but I think I can put Black under a lot of
pressure. }
4. g3
{ Now, the two main moves are 4...Bb7 and 4...Ba6 , with the latter being the better
one, but Black does have a couple of other extraneous tries. }
4... Bb4+
{ With this move, Black is aiming to play more of a Bogo-Indian, but it's a bit different
for two reasons. First off, White has committed to g2-g3 already, which diverges from
the setups I am recommending in the proper Bogo-Indian, but also Black is committed
to playing b7-b6, which I generally think is a worse way to develop the bishop than d7-
d6 followed by e6-e5. Additionally, in the normal Bogo-Indian, Black can consider
setups with d7-d5, when White generally is supposed to wait for b7-b6 before taking on
d5. Now, b7-b6 has already been played, which limits Black's options further. }
5. Bd2 Be7
{ This move is a common theme in d4/Bg2 systems and makes some sense, aiming to
transpose into some kind of Catalan. Black basically always wants to meet Bf1-g2 with
c7-c6 and get a quick d7-d5 in. But White has another option. }
6. Nc3 { 6.Bg2 c6 White cannot avoid transposing to the Catalan. } 6... Bb7
7. Qb1
{ A very subtle and important move. White immediately fights for control of the e4-
square. Funnily enough though, it is more prophylactic than anything else. His plan
against a civil move like O-O is to play Bf1-g2 and point out that Black cannot respond
comfortably with c7-c6. 7.Qc2 ?! This was Ivanchuk's choice against me once, and he
won a brilliant game. Obviously, the queen looks better here than it does on b1, but
during the game, I could not figure out why. 7...Nc6 ! 8.e4 Nb4 ! 9.Qb1 Nxe4 ! And
Black is good to go. 7.Bg2 c6 I find this position unconvincing for White. After 8.e4
d5 ! 9.e5 Ne4 ! Black's knight has found a good square, and one I would rather have
taken away by playing Qd1-b1 first. }
7... c5
{ This is a very natural move, aiming to attack White's centre, but it doesn't bring its
desired results. At more or less every moment in this repertoire, White wants to meet
c7-c5 with d4-d5 whenever possible, and this position is no exception. }
8. d5 exd5 9. cxd5
{ And the pawn on d5 is safer than it looks. Black does not want to allow e2-e4 and end
up in a horrible Benoni with his bishop on e7 rather than g7, but taking on d5 is no bed
of roses either. }
9... Nxd5 10. Qe4
{ Black now has to give a pawn back immediately to avoid losing a piece on d5. }
10... f5 11. Qxf5 Nxc3 12. Bxc3 Bf6 1

Chess 3

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Chess 3

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Chess 3

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

inst strong players who have prepared well but also have to play on their own.

You might also like