The Modern Benoni (Cadogan Chess & Bridge Books)

CADOGAN PERGAMON

ΤΗΕ MODERN ΒΕΝΟΝΙ

CADOGAN CHESS SERlES Chief Advisor: Garry ΚaBpMoν Editor: Andrew Κinsman Other titles in this series include: ADORJAN, Α. & HORVATH, Τ. Sicilian: Sveshnikov Vaήation BAGIROV, V. English Opening: Classical and Indian English Opening: SymmetήcaΙ BASMAN,M. The Κiller Grob The New St.George

MAROVlC,D. Play the Κing's Indian Defence Play the Queen's Gambit NEISHTADT, Ι. Play the Catalan Vols. 1 & 2 POLUGAYEVSΚY, L. The Sicilian Labyήnth, Vols. 1 & 2 PRZEWOZNIΚ, J. & ΡΕΙΝ, Μ. The Blumenfeld Gambit

Α Complete

CAFFERTY, Β. & HOOPER, D. Defence to 1 e4

RAVIΚUMAR, V. Play the Benko Gambit

DONALDSON, J. & SILMAN, J. Accelerated Dragons

TSEITLIN, Μ. Winning with the Schliemann

GLIGORIC, S. Nimzo-Indian Defence

VARNUSZ,E. Play Antί-Indian Systems Play the Caro-Κann

KOVACS, L. WATSON, J. Sicilian: Poisoned Pawn Vaήation Play the French For a complete catalogue of Cadogan Chess books (which includes the former Pergamon Chess and Maxwell Macmillan Chess list) please wήte to: Cadogan Books plc, Letts House, Parkgate Road, London, SWll 4NQ Tel: (071) 738 1961 Fax: (071) 9245491

ΤΗΕ ΜΟDΕΗΝ ΒΕΝΟΝΙ

ΟΑνιο

NORWOOD

CΑDΟCΊΑΝ

CHESS

LONDON, NEW YORK

Cadogan Books Distribution UΚ/EUROPElAUSTRALASIAlASlAIAFRICA

Distribution: Grantham Book Services Ltd, Isaac Newton Way, Alma Park Industrial Estate, Grantham, Lincs NG31 9SD. Tel: 0476 67421; Fax: 0476 590223. USAlCANADAlLATIN AMERICAlJAPAN Distribution: Macmillan Distribution Center, Front & Brown Streets, Riverside, New Jersey 08075, USA. Tel: (609) 461 6500; Fax: (609) 764 9122. CoΡΥήght

© 1994 David Norwood

Rights Reserved. Νο part of this publication may be reproduced. stored ίπ a 'θtrίθνa/ system or transmitted ίπ any (oπn or by any means: e/ectronic. e/ectrostatic. magnetic tape. mechanίca1. photocopying. recording or otherwίse. without pιio, peπnission ίπ wιiting from the pub/ishers.

ΑΙΙ

First published 1994 by Cadogan Books plc. Letts Housθ. Parkgate Road. London SW11 4NQ. Brltlsh Ubrary Catalogulng-ln-Publlcatlon Data " catalogue record for this book ΊS available from the Βήtlsh Ubrary.

Α CIP

ISBN 1 85744 037 4 Edited by Andrew Κinsman. Typeset by ChessSetter. Ρήnted

ΤΟ

and bound

ίη

Great Βήtaίn by BPC Wheatons. Exeter.

Monty Wi/dboar-Smith. for his good taste ίπ pasta and tequila.

SpeciaI thanks Ιο Αιί Mortazaνi and John Νυππ for analyticaI cιiticisms and suggestίoπs.

Bibliography Introduction 1 Pawnstorm Systems

2 Flίck-Κnίfe Attack :J Classical Variation 4 Modern Classical Variation fi Fianchetto Varίation () Samίsch Variatίon 7 Early i.f4 System R System with e4, i.d3 and ltJge2 9 Other Systems

6 7 28 44 61 77 91 108 119 128 134

Books Bel1in, R. and Ponzetto, Ρ., Mαstering the Modern Benoni aΜ the Benko Gαmbit, Batsford, London 1990 Hartston, W., ΤΜ Benoni, Batsford, London 1969 Matanovic, Α. (ed.), Encyclopaedia ofChess openings uolume Α, Chess Informant, Belgrade 1979. Norwood, D., Deuelopments ίπ the Modern Benoni, Chequers Chess, London 1986 Nunn, J.D.M., The Benoni for the 1burnament Player, Batsford, London 1982

Journals Chess Informant 1-58, 8.1. Chess Infonnant Ltd, Nicosia New ίπ Chess Yearbooks 1-30, Interchess BV, AIkmaar

InIroduction The fundamenta1 starting position of the Modem Benoni aήses after the moves 1 d4lLJffl 2 c4 c5 3 d5 e6 4lLJc3 exd5 5 cxd5 d6, reaching the following diagram:

Ιη this chapter we start our dίs­ cussion ofthe opening by takίng a 100k at the roles of the individual pieces in the Modem Benoni. Typical plans and pitfalls will also be discussed, and finally some tactical themes ΜΗ be highlighted.

White's Pieces and Pawns Ιη order to isolate the key features of each piece we shall take the individual pieces one by one, using partial diagrams to ίllus­ trate the νaήoυB interactions between them.

Τhea2pawn

The a-pawn ίΒ usua11y played to a4, preventing Black from expandίng οη the queenside with ...b7-b5. Sometimes White cramps Black further with a4-a5 and will then meet ... b7-b5 with axb6 en pαssant. The resulting structure ίΒ dίfficult to assess.

Black's weak pawn οη a6 ίΒ compensated for by pressure along the semi-open b-file after the thematic ...:b8. White, in tum, occasionally defends the bpawn wίth the simple :a2 and continues to apply pressure οη the a6 pawn. Α favourable a4-a5 Ίs achίeved when Whίte exerts enough inf1uence οη a6 (e.g. the combination ο! a bishop οη e2 and a rook οη a1) to stop Black from

8 Introduction playίng ... b7-b5. Α useful strategy for Black in these positions ίβ to deploy a piece (knight or bishop) to b5. Α knight οη b5 can eye the important d4 square and a bishop οη this square controls the a6-f1 diagonal. Of course, capturing the piece would allow ... a6xb5, restoring harmony to Black's queenside pawn structure. Τhe

b2 pawn

ΑΡ,

a rule, the white b-pawn ΜΗ remain οη b2, though if Black does manage to expand οη the queenside with ... b7-b5, White can often respond with b2-b4. This advance really puts the question to Black's pawn structure. One's instinct ίβ simply to advance the c-pawn with ... c5-c4.

his a-pawn βΟ that the black b5 pawn comes under attack from the knights οη c3 and d4 and a rook οη a5. Ι! White has not opened the a-file, the prospects are better for Black as the b5 pawn ίβ secured and White has ηο means by which to undermine the queenside pawn mass. After b2-b4, the Black player should a1so look at the possibility ofplaying ... c5xb4 (or simply ofignoring b2-b4, βΟ long as Black is ready to recapture οη c5 with a knight) thereby obtaining the c5 square for his queen's knight. Generally speaking, this ίβ a better plan than closing the queenside with ... c5-c4. Black's strategy in the Benoni ίβ to create sufficient dynamic counterplay οη the queenside to offset White's central pawn majοήty. Ι! the queenside becomes blocked, White can expand in the centre and οη the kingside at leisure. Τhed5

Here White's compensation for allowing Black a protected passed c-pawn is the use ofthe d4 square for a knight, which can go οη to occupy the weakened c6 square. Ιη general, White also exchanges

pawn

The white d-pawn usually remains οη d5, though in 'pawnstorm' ρο­ sitions ίη which White establishes pawns οη f4, e4 and d5 it can sometimes advance to d6. Ιη the foHowing diagram White has played e4-e5 and has answered ... d6xe5 with d5-d6 attacking the knight οη c7 and thereby gaining a tempo. This ίβ quite a dangerous plan though White must cash in immediately

Introduction 9 will be left with a very dismal ρο­ sition.

ιιη

this pawn thrust as after the knight canjump to d4 ννΙ1θη Black may well be able to rClund up the stranded d-pawn. '1'110 kind of positions in which a quick e4-e5 and d5-d6 Μθ effecΙΙνο, are those where White has a IIIIIhop οη c4 and the f-file will Ιιιιcοme ΟΡθη - hence the f1 pawn ννΙΙΙ be νulnerable. Also, after d5ιΙθ, the d5 square is ΟΡθη for the white knight which may then terΓιιπβθ squares like m, e7, c7 or b6. ΙΙcιηoηί players must always be οη Lho Ιook-out for these tactical Lhomes. ".~)o6,

Th. 82 and f2 pawns comblned ΨΙ10

e-pawn is central to all of White's ideas in the Βθηοηί. Ιη ΙΙΙCικι vaήatίοns it advances to e4, ννΙΙΟΓθ it can remain, simplyoccuIlying a key centra1 square, or IIΙCιΓθ thematically advance to e5 11' Black has left thίs square fa111 Ι ΙΥ weak. Οηθ golden rule ίη the 1Ι.,"οηί is that if White can adνιιιιεθ e4-e5 with impunity, Black

Α typical favourable e5 break by White. Black has ηο control over e5 whereas White has three pieces 'attacking' this square. White can a1so use the e5 break as a sacήficiaΙ idea to advance the f-pawn. Since White can rarely afford to concede the e5 square by playing f4-f5 he often uses the θ­ pawn as bait to cover the e5 square. The idea behind this sacήfice is that Black's e5 pawn restήcts the mobility of his important pieces: the bishop οη g7, rook οη e8 and knight οη d7. Ιη the diagram overleaf, White has succeeded ίη blockading the e-pawn and the knight οη e4 ίβ ideally placed (very often, Black's best defensive try is to retum the sacήficed pawn by playing ... e5e4, thereby opening the long diagonal and reserving the e5 SqUare for the d7 knight). Note also ίη this position that Black's ε5 pawn can be vulnerable and

10 Introduction Βθηοηί players ΜΗ often place their king's knight οη h5 to tempt White to play the weakening g2g4. Depending οη the exact ΡΟΒί­ tion, the black knight usually returns to ίΟ, when White often finds that this pawn thrust has merely 100sened his position. ΑΙ­ though there are some exceptions, it usua11y doesn't pay for White to advance the pawns ίη front of his king in the Βθηοηί.

that White has acquired a dangerous passed d-pawn. The white e-pawn can also be deployed οη e3 if White adopts the restricted centre (e.g. i.g5 and e3). Ιη the fianchetto system, White often keeps the pawn οη e2 in order to retain some control of d3, and keep the long diagonal open for the g2 bishop. Τheg2

pawn

The g2 pawn is rarely moved unless White has adopted the fianchetto variation with g2-g3.

Τhe

h2 pawn

Usually White's h-pawn stays at home or advances to h3, where it often performs a useful function of keeping Black's bishop or knights out of g4. Τhe

rook οη a1

The queen's rook is often best placed οη the curious square a3 after a2-a4. Here it not only keeps υρ the necessary pressure a10ng the a-file but a1so exerts a lateral influence a10ng the third rank. Οη a3 it is also safe from any tactica1 blows involving Black's bishop along the long diagonal. lf White then deploys the other rook to bl, the thematic b2-b4 advance becomes even more effective. However, the al rook can a1so be placed οη bl or can at times harass the black queen οη c7 by occupying cl. Ιη the diagram overleaf, White is poised to meet 1... b7-b5 with 2 :

Introduction 11 Occasionally, when Black has played the weakening ... g6-g5, the knight will head to e3 via dl to occupy f5. Τhe

Axb5 axb5 3 b4 when the rook οη ίβ holding b4 and the rook οη .. :1 ίβ preparing to infiltrate οη the

11 Ι

,,·ηΙθ.

The knlght οπ c3 White's queen's knight ίΒ a static ,IIece that simultaneously holds '11' Black's queenside ideas and .,ιpports the white centre. The krtlght may sometimes go to a4 .rtd then to b6 ifthe queenside ίΒ Illocked, but generally speaking it Ι. Ideally placed οη the c3 square.

blshop οπ c1

The dark-squared bishop ίβ a valuable piece which holds White's position together, particularly in the Samisch variations where White has placed all his pawns οη white squares (a4, d5, e4, f3, g2). IfBlack manages to exchange this bishop for a knight, White's position can quickly become untenable. The bishop can be deployed οη most squares along the cl-h6 diagonal: οη e3 it nestles behind White's pawn centre, οη f4 it can harass the vulnerable d6 pawn, while οη g5 it exerts pressure along the h4-d8 diagonal. Ιη the Samisch variation, the bishop can be used as an attacking piece by the thematic i.h6.

12 lntroduction Ιη this diagram it will be exchanged for the fianchetto bishop, which will weaken the vu1nerable dark squares near Black's king. Ιη most cases, though, White should seek to preserve his darksquared bishop.

The queen

ΟΠ

d1

The white queen does not usually play an aggressive role ίη the early stages of a Modern Βθηοηί and may stay οη its starting square for some time. It ίβ often best placed οη c2 where it can defend e4 and generally support White's queenside play, but ίη the Saιnisch vaήatίοη, it ίβ usually better placed οη d2 where it has some influence οη the dark squares and can support a future .th6. Οη other squares, say e2, it can become a potentia1 target.

ΟΡθη e-file. The worst square for this piece is c4 as Black wi11 gain a tempo with any future ... b7-b5 advance - the οηlΥ rea1 justification for deploying the bishop to c4 is if White intends e4-e5 and d5d6 uncοveήηg an attack οη f7.

The knight οπ g1

The kίng's knight ίβ a crucia1 piece which plays a pivota1 role ίη each ofWhite's typica1 plans. One of the best squares for the knight ίΒ simply οη f3 where it protects the e5 square. However, in many cases the knight is re-routed VΊa d2 to c4 where it again inf1uences e5 but also keeps an eye οη the queenside. Note a1so that after thίs manoeuvre White is free to advance hίs f-pawn .

The king οπ e1

Not surpήsingΙΥ, White nearly a1ways castles kingside in the Modern Benoni, after which the king wi11 remain οη gl or shuffie into the corner. The bishop οπ f1

The light-squared bishop can be placed οη e2, g2 or d3. Recently, d3 has become a popular square for the bishop: οη thίs square it protects e4 and allows the rook οη el more inf1uence a10ng the semi-

This ίβ an ideal poBίtίoη for White as Black cannot kίck the knight away from c4 with ... b7b5. The knight has a massive influence οη the board as it protects b6, attacks the weak d6 pawn,

Introduction 13 hlockades the advance of the cp8WD and prepares e4-e5. The nlack player will usua1ly attempt Ιο dislodge a knight from c4 with ... b7-b5, ... b7-b6 and ....ta6 or oven ... liJd7-b6, cha1lenging the knight immediately at the cost of IIlowing down his queenside play. Ί'he οηlΥ drawback in deploying the knight to c4 ίβ that it gives further weight to ... b7-b5 ifBlack ifl able to force through this advllnce.

• •••••

;~ ... 8

8"'8'" .... _ 8"'8 J .Δ8 8 Δ.tΔ8Δ8 8 Ι 8 8 8Δ

"

:~ .~

u

~8~ ~

~.~ ~

~8~ ~

remain οη f1 since it will become a powerful piece if the f-file becomes open. If the centre has become fairly static (as in the Sίimisch) it can deploy to the queenside οη cl or bl, supporting b2-b4.

Black's Pieces and Pawns Τhe

a7 pawn

The black queen rook's pawn ίΒ nearly always played to a6 in the Modem Benoni, threatening the advance ... b7-b5 and at the same tίme stopping White from occupying b5. Occasiona1ly, Black can play ... b7 -b5 ίmmediately without playing ... a7-a6.

~~Δ. ~ ,I'J

~ ~

Α lesser-known idea of a c4 ίβ to meet 1... b7-b5

knight with 2 nxb5 axb5 3 liJa5! when the knight can occupy c6. This works 1)8rticularly well ifWhite has a fillnchetto bishop supporting the ιΙ5 pawn and c6 knight. ιιη

Τhe

rook οπ h1

( )nce White has castled the king's I'()ok ίΒ usually best placed οη el, where it supports the e4 pawn nnd θηΥ e4-e5 advance. If White 11118 played f'2-f4, the rook may

Ιη the above position, Black can play ... b7-b5! as the e-pawn will be unguarded after 1 ~b5. Usually, this exchange favours Black who gains a central pawn for a flank counterpart and also obtains use ofthe b-file for queenside play.

14 Introduction

- -- -

~.~ ~.~. ~ -mtl {8 ~ -Ι •• ~ ~.~Ι~Ι ~.~

~.~

~

~_ ~.Ζ Ι. .

~ Δ~.~ ~.~ ~ ~ ~ Β ΒΔΒ

~

_

Β ~ •• Δ~ ~.~~~Δ~~ u ~ ... u

~.~ ~

~.~\Ulιm ~II~

~.~: ~

This ίΒ a more complex example along the same lines. Black can again play 1... b5! with the tactic 2 .i.xb5lί)xe4 3lί)xθ4 "a5+ 4 ~ .i.xc3+ 5 bxc3 "xb5 with material equality. Note that after ... b7-b5 White usually has the ορ­ tion ο! throwing ίη e4-e5 and this possibility must a1ways be considered before playing ... b7-b5. Black might also choose to leave the a-pawn at home ί! he wishes to retain the option ο! ... b7-b6 and ....i.a6, θΒ in the example in the section devoted to the bishop οη c8 below. Τheb7pawn Ση the majority ο! cases,

Black's bpawn will attempt to advance to b5. Ση some cases however, Black plays the slightly paradoxical ... b7-b6. The following diagram ίΒ a good example ο! a necessary ... b7b6. Black prevents White from playing the cramping a5 and retains his aspirations ο! queenside

counterplay. Ση general though, ... b7-b6 with a view to playing ... b7-b5 at some later date can be a waste ο! time. As we have Βθθη earlier, a4-a5 ίΒ not usually a move to be feared. Ση addition, ... b7-b6 might be played with the idea ofre-routing the queen's rook to a7 and then to e7, pressurising the e-pawn. If Black has omitted ... a7-a6 and played ... b7-b6, he is usually attempting to swap light-squared bishops by playing ....i.a6. Τhec7pawn

Black has only οηθ plan involving the c-pawn: advancing it to c4. This move, if timed correctly, can be extremely useful, vacating the c5 square for the d 7 knight and bringίng the d3 and b3 squares under Black's control. Ση addition, ... c5-c4 aids Black's queenside ideas as it blocks the f1-a6 diagonal from the white bishop οη e2, thereby enhancing the chances ofa future ... b7-b5.

Introduction 15

Ιη the above position, Black IIhould play 1... c4! with the idea ()f advancing the b-pawn by ... b7-

b5.

The obvious drawback of ... c5c4 ίΒ that it allows White use of the d4 square for a piece. OccaIIionally, Black will play ... c5-c4 Rnd sacrifice the pawn, either to ιβίη access to c5 or to fol1ow up by ... b7-b5-b4 with gain oftempo. Τhed6pawn

The black d-pawn plays the crucial role ofholding up White's e405 advance. Τhef7

pawn

One ofthe most difficult decisions that a Benoni player will have to make ίΒ whether or not he should "dvance the f7 pawn. The weak(Ining of e6 and the kingside in Keneral can quickly lead to an infeήοr position. However, a correctly timed ... f7-f5 can totally nndermine White's central gήp.

The diagram ίΒ a fine example of a favourable ... f7-f5. Black immediately pressurises White's centre and at the same time threatens ... f5-f4, netting the e5 square. Note that with a knight οη f3, White could take advantage of the weakness οη e6 created by ...f7 -f5 with lL!g5-e6. Where apΡrΟΡήate, the Black player will do wel1 to insert the precautionary ...h7-h6 to stop this plan. Ιη an infeήοr position, Black may have to resort to playing ... f7-ffi. Ιη nearly every case, this ίΒ a sure sign that something has gone wrong - it ίΒ frequently played when White ίΒ threatening e4-e5 and Black cannot adequately cover this square with his minor pieces. The move weakens e6 and hems ίη the bishop οη g7 for ηο compensation. When White has adopted the pawnstorm formation, the ... f7-f5 thrust can be even more effective (see diagram overleaf). Ιη this type of position, a favourable ... f7-f5 can νοη often

16 Introduction necessary to secure the e5 square for a knight.

gίνθ Black a better pawn structure. Naturally, ifWhite ίΒ able to play e4-e5 a.fter ... f7 -f5, Black will Βοοη be overrun by the passed θ­ pawn.

Ιη the diagram Black should play 1... g5! to deny White the ορ­ portunity to kick the knight οη e5 away with f2-f4. Advancing the gpawn ίβ extremely risky, however, and should not be played if the f5 square cannot be adequately covered. Note how after 1... g5 2 g3 g4! 3 f4 gxf.3 Black has successfully acquired the e5 square for his pieces.

The h7 pawn

However, a pawn structure as above, (a.fter ... f7-f5, e4xfl5 Jhf'5), strongly favours Black due to the weak and isolated pawn οη d5. Theg7pawn

This pawn inevitably advances to g6 ίη order to allow a kingside fianchetto. It will usually only advance further, to g5, if it becomes

The h7 pawn ίβ mainly used to break the annoying ρίη from a white bishop οη g5. Extra possibilities arise ίη the Samisch variation. For example, in the diagram overleaf, Black can play ... h7-h6 θνθη though the pawn ίβ apparently en prise. After 1...h6 2 .i.xh6, Black can continue 2... lbxe43 tL!xe4 1Wh4+ regaining the piece. This continuation ίβ usually good for Black θνθη if he

Introduction 17 Τhe

Ι()lΙθΒ the d6 pawn at the end, bec"use his dark-squared bίshop will 1)(1 unopposed. This combination, tIowever, depends οη White havIng played f2-f.3 with a king οη el. Ιη this same variation, Black r.nn sometimes try another unlΙΙlUβl idea:

Here Black could play 1... h5!? seemingly weakening move lιιι.umΡts to kick the white bishop IIWIIY from g5 by ... lΔh7, and wi11 IIormally be followed by ... f7 -f5. lη flIldition, ifthere ίΒ a white knight 11ι1 g3, Black a1so has ideas of .115-h4-h3.

rook οη 88

lηvariably Black's queen's rook ίΒ used οη b8 to support ... b7-b5. It can occasionally stray to the kingside οη e8, but this normally on1y occurs when Black has ηο chance of playing ... b7-b5 and has decided to play ... f7-f5. lη conjunction with ... b7-b6, the a8 rook can a1so go to e7 via a7, though this plan ίΒ rarely Βθθη and ίs not necessarily a11 that useful. Τhe

knlght οη b8

lη common with the Nimzo-Indian, the Modern Βθηοηί puts a great emphasis οη knights. The b8 knight can be used ίη two ways. The classica1 approach is to put the knight οη d7 where it can either go to e5 or, in conjunction with ... c5-c4, to c5.

Ί'ιlίΒ

The other choice ίΒ to play the knight to a6 and then c7 (as in the above diagram). From here, the

18 lntroduction knight plays a different role ίη that it aims to further the advance ofBlack's b-pawn. With the knight οη c7, the d7 square ίΒ vacated for the black bishop which again controls the a1l-important b5 square. When Black adopts this formation, ... b7-b5 ίΒ usually unstoppable and White has to play ίη the centre. The serious drawback of the b8 knight going to c7 rather than d7 ίβ that e5 is ηο longer controlled and Black's position ίβ far more likely to collapse to an e4-e5 central thrust. Nevertheless, ifBlack adequately covers e5, he can look forward to a good game οη the queenside. Τhe

blshop ΟΠ c8

The most difficult (and sometimes θνθη redundant) piece ίη the Modem Βθηοηί is Black's light-squared bishop. This bishop can rarely be developed to a useful square: οη b7 it exerts ηο ίη­ fluence οη White's granite-like centre and οη d 7 it often merely gets in the way ofBlack's knights. Οηθ of the main systems in the Classical variation involves an early ... .1g4 to exchange this bishop for a knight οη f.3 οτ a bishop οη e2. In the following diagram, Black has exchanged the troublesome bishop for a knight. However, the thematic ... g6-g5?! ίβ ηο longer a VΊable optίoη as White would play lt:)c3-dl-e3-f5 and take advantage

of Black's light-squared weaknesses. The other option ίΒ to play ... b7b6 and deploy the bishop to a6. This works best when White has placed a knight οη c4, as the bishop can then exchange off the knight at an opportune moment. Τhe Ιη

queen

οπ

d8

some ways Black's queen is

simίlar to White's in that it ίβ usually under-used ίη the early mid-

dlegame. The safest square for the queen is d8: οη a5 and b6 it ίΒ exposed to lt:)d2-c4 ideas and οη e7 it may be a target for an e5 thrust. Οη d8, however, the queen ίβ able to access the queenside VΊa d8-a5 and the kingside VΊa d8-h4 and is therefore highly versatίle. The οηlΥ other VΊable option for the queen ίβ c7, where it can support the advance of the c-pawn. White's antidote to this formation ίβ shown in the diagram overleaf where the ρίη οη the c-file is used to undermine Black's structure.

Introduction 19 he can usua11y never recover from the dark-square weaknesses left by its absence.

Νote also that if the queen ίΒ deployed to either c7 (or e7) Black must beware of a quick e4-e5 LhΠlSt followed by d5-d6 hitting Lhe queen with tempo. ΤΜ

klng

οπ

e8

()nly very rarely does Black delay kingside: it ίΒ extremely dnngerous to keep your king in the centre for long if your ορΡο­ I1ent has a central pawn majοήtΥ. Black never castles queenside ίη the Modem Βθηοηί. (~Iι8tling

Black can rarely afford to exchange the bishop for the knight οη c3, even if he wins a pawn. Ιη the above diagram, Black played the suicidall ....txc3? and after 2 'iνxc3 ~θ4 3 'iνd4!, he was θοοη mated. Ιη some situations the fianchetto bishop will emerge from its shelter to deploy οη e5 or d4 ίη order to support an attack against the white king.

The bishop οπ f8

'rhe fianchetto bishop ίΒ the Ρήde nndjoy of all Modem Βθηοηί (and King's Indian) devotees, and will ΙΙΗυβΙΙΥ be retained θνθη at the ('ost of mateήal (e.g. the ex(·Ilange). The bishop rarely νθη­ tIIres from its haven οη g7 where lt shelters the king and rakes ItIong the h8-al diagonal. IfBlack ΊΟβθθ' this bishop for a knight without i.ιnmediate compensation,

Τhe

Α

knlght οπ f6

vital piece in all of Black's plans. The knight can go to d7, e8, h7, h5 or g4, a11 of which have some useful purpose. β) d7. The knight usually retreats to this square when Black has adopted οηθ of the ... lL!a6-c7 systems. Its main function ίΒ to defend e5. b) e8. This ίΒ usually played as

20 Introductron a defensive move when there ίΒ ηο other way to cover the vulnerable d6 pawn. Ιη some systems, however, Black will play ... liJe8 ίη order to play a quick ... f7-f5. Ιη addition, if Black has knights οη f6 and d7, then ...1De8 followed by ... liJc7 is sometimes used to achieve the standard set-up with knights οη d7 and c7. c) h7. Rarely seen except ίη the Samisch where it can attack the white bishop οη g5 and free the fpawn to advance to f5. d) h5. An all-purpose move which prepares ... f7 -15, covers the e5 square by liberating the bishop οη g7 and controls the {4 square (occasional1y the knight can even occupyf4).

e) g4. Occasional1y played to harass a white bishop οη e3 when White has not played h3. Usual1y, however, g4 is used as a springboard to reach e5. The rook ΟΠ h8

The black king's rook is usually placed οη e8 after castlίng, where it exerts pressure οη the e4 pawn. When Black intends to play ... f715, however, the rook ίΒ better placed οη f8 where it can support the f-pawn. The only other reason not to place the rook οη e8 ίΒ when this square ίΒ needed as a retreat for the knight οη αι.

Plans and Pitfalls White adopts the pawnstorm centre

The most striking example of ...liJh5 was seen in game 3 ofthe famous Spassky-Fischer match of 1972. Here, Fischer ignores the obvious positional defects of White capturing οη h5, relying οη the semi-open g-file for compensation.

This ίΒ the most aggressive and fήghtening looking pawn formation that White can set up. White makes his intentions clear from the start and ifBlack does nothing,

Introduction 21 the e4-e5 thrust will prove decisive. It is clear from the diagram that the crucial square ίβ e5. If Black can overprotect this square, then the struggle continues. If, however, e5 is under White's juήsdίctίοη, a timely e4-e5 wi11 8hatter the co-ordination in Black's position and White will 8chieve a deCΊsive advantage. Α good example of how Black protects the vulnerable e5 square ιιηd manages to generate his own queenside play ίΒ Ko~ul-Nunn, Wίjk aan Zee 1991 (Game 2 in the fίrst chapter of this book), which continued as follows from the nbove diagram: 9 ....tg4 10 ο-ο ~bd7 11 :e1 :e8 12 h3 .txf3 13 .txf3 "a5 14 .te3 b5 15 a3 ~b6 16 .tf2 ~c417 "c2

It ίΒ clear from the diagram Lhat Black has achieved a11 ofhis objectives: e5 has been secured and queenside play has been generated. However, even at this stage it ίΒ possible to go wrong: 17 ... ~b2? (with the idea 18

"xb2 ~e4!) would run into the thematic 18 e5 and White has achieved his aim. Instead of this 17 ... tbd7!, as played ίη the game, continued the po1icy of overprotecting e5 and maintaining the tension οη the queenside. It ίΒ ίmportant to note that instead of the bulldozing his way through the centre with e4-e5, the pawnstorm centre also allows White the opportunίty to play f4f5. One of the obvious drawbacks of this idea ίΒ that White relinquishes a11 control over the e5 square. Ιη the following diagram, for example, f4-f5 ίΒ a clear mistake.

White has ηο compensation for his lack of control of e5 as his kingside attack has not progressed far enough. Usua11y, White cannot aflΌrd the luxury of 10sing the flUΊdity in his pawn structure with f4-f5 unless Black has ηο means of occupying e5. Ιη the following diagram, taken from the famous game Κasparov-

22

lntroductίon

Nunn, Luceme Olympiad 1982 (Game 8 ίη this book), White played 13 f5! with good justification.

Here White has immediate compensation for weakening e5. The most important factor ίΒ that Black cannot control e5 with a knight, but White also has a lead in development, good attacking prospects against the black king and some protection over e5 (with the knight οη f3 and perhaps a future .tf4). The game continued 13 ... 0-0 14 .tg5 f6 15 .tf4 gxf5 16 .txd6 .txa4 17 Jha4 'iνxd6 18 lllli4! with a clear advantage to White. An θνθη more refined way ο! playing f4-f5 is to first sacrifice the e-pawn with e4-e5. This ίβ a very subtle and diffi.cult plan to implement but, ί! cοπectlΥ executed, can generate a huge kingside attack. After e4-e5, White does not answer ... d6xe5 with f4xe5, but with the bypassing move f4-f5!.

What is White's compensation for the pawn? He has complete control over the e4 square, a passed d-pawn (which, when advanced to d6, will vacate the d5 square for the c3 knight or the queen), an ΟΡθη c1-h6 diagonal with ideas ο! .th6, and, most important ο! a11, a kingside attack which Black can do very little about. The Black player will do we11 to avoid these positions or at the very least be very wary ofthis sacrifice ίη all his calculations. Ι! White does not manage to place a piece οη e4, Black's best defensive chance is to return the sacrificed pawn with ... e5-e4!. τω move vacates the e5 square for the d 7 knight and clears the a11-important a1-h8 diagonal for the bishop οη g7. Ιη this case, Black's defenΒίνθ prospects are much bήghter and White will find it harder to break through οη the kingside. The above diagram ίΒ from the game Μeώders-Dοuveη, Dutch Ch. 1991 (Game 31 ίη this book), which continued 21 ... gxf5 22:xm

Introduction 23

.xb2 23 .el! :b6 24 :bl .a3 25 :xb6 ll:Jxb6 26 :g5! with the unstoppable threat of :xg7+, mating. Yet another important point ίη the pawnstorm formation ίΒ that after e4-e5 d6xe5, the d5 pawn ίΒ passed and can at times advance Ιο d6. When Black has developed his queen's knight to d7, this sacήfice ίΒ rarely seen as the d6 pawn ίΒ blockaded. However, if Black has played οηθ of the ... ll:Ja6-c7 lines, White gains a vital tempo οη the c7 knight after d5-d6 and may be able to utilise this extra move to good effect. White stems Black's queenslde play

Apart from the usual precaution8ry moves to stop Black from advancing οη the queenside (e.g. 82-a4-a5), White's main plan when ...b7-b5 ίΒ inevitable ίΒ to blockade the queenside with b4. This ίΒ a subtle and powerful plan but White must be careful that he ίΒ not just giving Black a protected passed pawn for nothing. Ideally, the queenside is completely blocked, Black's b-pawn and queenside come under fire and White launches a kingside attack with his extra centre pawn. Ιη the ηθΧΙ diagram, White has βη undisputed advantage and has managed to set υρ the ideal b2-b4 type blockade. Apart from moves such as 1 :a5 or 1 1:bal

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with queenside play, the immediate 1 h3! with the decisive threat of f4 would put Black's whole ρο­ sition ίη question. It should be noted that ίη these positions minor piece exchanges favour Black as the passed c-pawn ίΒ an asset in all endgames. Although White's main idea after blockading the queenside is to play ίη the centre and οη the kingside, the open a-file is often an added bonus which ties Black up. Ιη the diagram overleaf, from the game Levitt-Suba, Dublin 1991, Black has adequate compensation for White's queenside advantage. The game continued 1 ~c2 ll:Je5 2 lbd4 ~xh6 3 'ii'xh6 νb6 4 :edl ll:Jd3! with an unclear position. The crucial difference between the last two positions ίΒ that here White cannot use the a-file to attack the black b-pawn and Black ίΒ able to exchange minor pieces, looking towards an advantageous endgame in which the protected passed c-pawn ίΒ a useful asset.

24 Introduction

White can a1so restrain Black's queenside play by a4-a5. Ιη these positions, Black will normally play ... b7-b5 anyway and rely οη counterplay a10ng the semi-open b-file to compensate for the weak a-pawn. Naturally, there are ΡΟΒί­ tions when after a4-a5 Black cannot play ...b7-b5 without making seήοus positiona1 concessions.

Ιη this position, after 1... b5?! White obtains a clear advantage by 2 axb6 1Ixb6 (2 ... lbxb6 3 .txa6 and White wins a pawn) 3 lZJc4 ]:tb4 4 lba5, threatening lbc6 netting the exchange.

The difference ίη the above ρο­ sition, taken from Fedorowiczvan Wely, Wijk aan Zee 11 1990, ίβ that White has ηο control over c4 and thus Black can safely play 1... b5 2 axb6 "xb6 3 ]:ta2 with roughly equa1 chances. Black plays ...g6-g5

The double-edged ... g6-g5 advance is one ofBlack's weapons to counteract f4 by White. It ίΒ based οη the positional theme that after 1 f4 gxf4 White has ηο pawn cover of e5. Ιη genera1, if Black can secure the e5 square, he can successfully defend his kingside and gain the upper hand. Natura11y, the White player will not play f4 unless there are mitigating circumstances but instead will try to capita1ise οη the weakness οη f5 created by the loosening ... g6-g5 advance. From the diagram overleaf, Fedorowicz-Norwood, London 1988 (Game 16 ofthis book), continued 1.....c7 21hc8! "xc8 3 lbf5 1Σd7 4

Introduction 25

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ΑΙι2 and Black's position comIIΙ"ΙοΙΥ collapsed ίη a matter of lιιιlνθΒ. ΑΒ this example has _I,own, when Black plays ... g6-g5, ΙΙ,ο lίght-squared bishop ίβ of IlltrIlmount importance as it ίΒ the orιΙy piece that can defend f5, and ΙΙ may even be worth Whίω'β wt,iIe giving υρ mateήal to ex(,hnnge it.

II8Ck pIays ...Π-f5 Ί'hο

... f7 -f5 advance ίβ based οη ... g6-g5. Having pIItyed ... f7-f5, Black ίβ threatenΙ"Κ to secure the e5 square ίη two wItys: first, after ... f5-f4 Whίω ηο IfInger has the option of playίng f4 iIlmself and Black ίβ left ίη conΙ,Γ!)! of e5; and second, Black may 8iχι~hange pawns οη e4 and if WIIite recaptures WΊth f.3xe4, Blnck has agaίn netted e5. It IIIIould be mentioned that after IIIHck plays f5xe4, White has the lφΙίοη of recaΡtuήng WΊth a k IIight, retaίnίng the possibility οΙ' f3-f4. almίlarthemesto

From this diagram, SadlerGelfand, Oakham 1988, continued 1... f5 2 lΔc4 (2 exf5 1Ue3 3 lΔxθ3 "g5!) 2...b3! 3 'ii'xb3 rLb8 4 'iνc2 lΔθ5 5 lΔd2 f4 (netting the e5 square) 6 J.f'2 'ii'g5 7 :g1lΔg3! 8 hxg3 hxg3 9 J.xc5 dxc5 WΊth advantage to Black. The Sadler-Gelfand game ίβ a fine example ofhow Black can υβθ the ... f7-f5 thrust to undermine Whίte's seemingly rock-solίd centre. However, it must be noted that in the above diagram, Black has certain other advantages. Ηίβ lead ίη development, active piece and queenside play have probably already swung the advantage his way.

Tactical Themes We now take a look atjust βΟΜθ of the myήad tactical possibilities that you WΊII encounter ίη games WΊth the Modern Benoni. One of the most famous tactical points ίη the Modem Benoni was seen ίη Korchnoi-Κasparov,

26 Introduction the tactic 2... lDxe4! 3 lDxe4 "'a6 4 li)c3 ~xc3+ 5 bxc3 "'xb. Though the resulting position . not necessarίly good for BlacJ this is a possibility that must a ways be considered.

Lucerne 01ympiad 1982 (Game 22 of this book), when in the above diagram ICasparov played 1...b5!!, ίgnοήηg the threat to his knight οη e5. His tactical justification for this was that after 2 fxe5 ~xθ5 Black's pressure οη the vulnerable g3 pawn will compensate for the 10ss of the piece. Ιη fact, Κorchnoi ignored the knight οη e5 and the game continued 1 ώ5 axb5 2 lDaxb5 fxe4 3 ~xe4 ~d7 with wild complications. Α similar idea is the following shot:

After 1...b5 2

~xb5

Black has

Ιη the above diagram, Blacl hasjust played 1......c7, defendίn the vulnerable d-pawn. If Whit allows it, Black will ηο doubt pla; ... lDh5, followed by ... lLIe5 with Ι typical Bθηonί struggle. HoweveJ White has the tactical shot ~xd6 "'xd6 2 e5 regainίng thl piece. Although this temporar; sacrifice appears promising fo White, it is not always clea: which side has the advantage. Αι ter all, Whίte has gίνθη up hiJ dark-squared bishop for a tempo rary initiative. Ιη the above θΧ ample, after 1 ~xd6 "'xd6 2 eI Black would continue 2... ~6 ~ exf5 (3 e6!? ίβ also a possibility 3... trud5 and as Whίte seems t4 have ηο obvious follow-up, BlacJ may θνθη have the better of it However, the Βθηοni player shouIC

lntroduction 27 Ιιι .ware of this possibility as afΙΙ, recaΡtuήηg οη

d6, the queen ••Υ IIometimes find herselfwithιuι n good retreat square.

After 1... lt!b6, attempting to remove the white knight from c4, White has 2 fud6! "xd6 3 i.f4! with a winning advantage. The most obvious drawback of the pawnstorm centre is the weakening ofthe gl-a7 diagonal, which Black can occasionally take advantage of ίη the following manner:

Ιη

this diagram, Black has very protection over e5 (it ίΒ betto overprotect this square if pnIIIIible) which White can take .dvantage ofby 1 e5! dxe5 2 fxe5 .106? (2 ... lt!g4 ίΒ better) 3 ~f4 .nd White wins the exchange οη bH. The same concept can also be Imployed ίη the fΪanchetto variΙΙΙΙΙθ

"r

.ΙΙοn:

l ... lt!g4! 2 i.d2?? (White should play 2 i.d4, though after 2...bd4+ 3 fud4 "c5 Black is ίη charge) 2.....c5+ 3 ΦhΙlt!f2+ 4 Φgιlt!h3+ 5 ΦhΙ "gl+! 6 :Xgl ~ mate. This concludes our introductory survey. As you will discover ίη the rest of this book, and ίη your own games, the Modem Βθηοηί ίΒ such a ήch opening that any number of combinational possibilities, strategic plans and piece manoeuvres may occur in a single game and οηθ always has to be alert to for unusual ide88. But that is what makes it such fun to play!

Pawnstorm Systems

1

Ιη this chapter we consider variations ίη which White occupies the centre immediately by playing both e4 and f4. This plan combines aggression with logic: White has an extra central pawn, βΟ why not roll it forward as quickly as possible? The usual method ίβ to play for a quick e4-e5 to disrupt Black's development and open υρ the central files. Play ίβ usually of a critical nature and Black cannot aflΌrd to be caught hanging around. We take the following position as our starting point: 1 d4 lM6 2 ε4 ε5

3 d5 4 lOO3

e6 exd5

5 cxd5

d6 g6 7 f4 i.g7 (D) Leaving aside 8 i.b5+, which ίΒ covered in Chapter 2, the main way for White to continue is to deνεΙορ the knight with 8 ~f.3. This 6 e4

forms the bulk ofthis chapter and covered ίη Games 1-4. Another way for White to pla': is to go 'all-in' with 8 e5, a move inl the true sρίήt of the 'pawnstorm~ idea. Alas, players are not β()1 brave these days and this syste:nil ίΒ rarely seen in tournament play;i Nevertheless, if you are playin~ Black in the Modem Benoni yo1J! have to be familiar with it - the: dangers cannot be underesti-, mated - βΟ we uncover the pitfalls, of this immediate advance in Game5. ίβ

Game1

Norwood - Westerinen London 1988 Ι have always found it easy to take the opposite side against openings that Ι play regularly. Besides the Modem Benoni, my

other main opening as Black is the Pirc Defence; and whenever Ι play the White side against the Pirc Ι do extremely well. The tήck

Pαwnstorm

Ι.

Systems 29

to identify the systems that have

(~nu8ed

you the most suffeήng IInd then turn them οη your ορρο­ nont! 1 d4 1M6 2 c4 g6 3 lΔc3 i.g7 4 e4 d6 5 f4 0-0 6 ~α 'What?' Ι hear you scream, Ί I)ought a book οη the Modem Βοnοηί, not the Κing's Indian Defιιnce!' Ιη practice, the Modem Benoni frequently arises by transposition from a Κing's Ιη­ ιlίβη. Some ofthe world's leading Krandmasters, includίng Κaspar­ ον, react to the Four Pawns AttBck (as thίs system against the King's Indian ίs known) by switching into the Modem Bθηonί. Another lίnθ against the Κing's (ndian whίch often transposes into a Benoni ίβ the Samisch, as we shall see ίn Chapter 6. 6 c5 7 d5 e6 8 i.e2 exd5 9 cxd5 (υ) Back to the Bθηonί position (from the first diagram, the game has continued 8 ~fJ ο-ο 9 i.e2). 9 ••• i.g4 Α few years ago both 9 ... .:e8 nnd 9 ... b5 were considered relί­ Ilble a1tematives to thίs move, but now Ι am not ΒΟ sure that thίs ίβ the case. White can continue with the pawn thrust 10 e5, when play becomes highly complex.

Although Black may be able to keep hίβ head above water, my persona1 feelίng ίΒ that the tactics favour White. Ι propose, then, to neglect these moves in favour of the more solid 9 ... i.g4. It is a popular misconception in chess that to play an opening well οηθ needs to know αΙΙ the vaήations. ThίB ίΒ nonsense: it ίβ far better to understand οηθ system well than to have a potted knowledge of everythίng.

10 ο-ο Could White have tried the e4e5 advance immediately? This would contradict the usua1 rule not to open up the position if one's king ίs in the centre, though Whίte enjoys a temporary initiative; e.g. 10 e5 i.xfJ 11 i.xfJ dxe5 12 fxe5 ~d7 13 e6 ~θ5 14 exΠ+ ':xf7 15 ο-ο ~bd 7 and Black has very active pieces. 10 ••• tDbd7 (υ) The most 10gica1 move. The crux of White's system ίβ to play for the e4-e5 pawn break, βΟ Black ίβ attempting to prevent it.

30

Pαwnstorm

Systems e4 pawn while simultaneously prepaήng the e4-e5 advance. Black can counterattack by playing for ... b7-b5 or θνθη ... c5-c4. 12 ... .i.xf3 13 .i.xf3 a6 Ιη the next game we shall consider the altemative, 13 ..."'a5, whilst 13 ... :c8 ίβ considered (by transposition) in Game 4. 14 a4 c4

The knight οη f3 supports the e4e5 advance, βΟ Black played ....tg4 to undermine this support. Deploying the knight οη d7 further protects the cήtίcal e5 square. 11 :el Ι believe this to be the best move for White. The altemative, 11 h3, ίβ discussed in Game 4. 11 •.. :e8 At first sight this move looks natural, as it continues the policy of over-protecting the e5 square. Moreover, putting the rook οη the semi-open e-fi1e, where it can pressUΉse the e4 pawn, ίβ almost gospel in the Βθηοηί. However 11 ... :e8 does have its drawbacks and these will be discussed when we consider the altemative move 11 ....i.xf3 in Game 3. 12 h3 This forces Black to trade bishop for knight. The only other sensible way of defending the θ­ pawn is to play 12 ~d2 .i.xe2 13 "'xe2. Ιη practice Black has had little to fear in this position. It is difficu1t for White to defend the

This move is double-edged. Οη the οηθ hand it speeds up Black's queenside expansion and creates room for a knight tojump into c5, where it can harass squares such as b3, d3 and e4. The downside to the ... c5-c4 advance ίβ that it concedes the d4 square which White can later occupy with a bishop or knight. ΜΥ own rule regarding the ... c5-c4 push is: 'Avoid it unless you are absolutely convinced it ίβ ήght.' 15 .i.e3! Now ... ~c5 can be met simply by bishop takes knight. Since Black cannot afford to give White

Pawnstorm Systems 31 a passed d-pawn, it follows that c5 must be with another piece. 15 16 "e2 ':ac8 17 "12 ΩηΥ recaptuήng οη

"a5

000

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White has carried out a skilfu1 queen manoeuvre. Black wants to play 17 ...lDc5 but this would be well met by 18 .txc5 "xc5 19 "xc5 ':xc5 20 e5 ~d7 21 ~θ4, when Black must jettison materίβl. Note how vicious the e4-e5 advance can be when Black ίβ unprepared. Always remember that after e4-e5 the square e4 ίΒ free for the white knight to hop into, from where it teποήses the d6, c5 and msquares. 17 ':e7 18 ':adl 'iVb4 19 J..d4 (D) White now has everything. The plan ίβ just to steamroll the centre and 19 ... lDc5 still fails for the reasons mentίoned above. 19 ':ce8 20 ]le2 000

000

White has made all the preparations ... now for the breakthrough. 22 e5 lDfd7 23 θβ! .txd4+ 24 Jlxd4 ~? Black could have put up better resistance with 24...fxe6. lDb3 25 f5 26 ]lf4 "c5+ 27 ΦhΙ lOOl 28 exf7+ Φxf7 29 fxg6+ hxg6

32

Pαwnstorm

Systems

30 'ifh4! The threat of 'ifh7+ ίβ devastating, ΒΟ Black resigned. Κicking off with this game was perhaps not the best way to advertise the Modern Benoni, but Ι want to sell you the opening in an objective way. Besides, οηθ can

only become a master of an opening by fully understanding its drawbacks. The Modern Benoni has as many (perhaps more) downsides as any other opening, and this game il1ustrates a few of them. One of the most important rules ίη the Benoni can be deduced from a game such as this: central expansion ίβ usual1y more powerful than flank expansion. Black often grabs space οη the queenside but this ίΒ more than counterbalanced by White's central pawn majοήtΥ. Playing the Benoni well involves masteήng the juggling tήck: preventing White from advancing ίη the centre while simultaneously pushing οη the queen's t1ank.

Game2 Kozul- Νυππ Wijk aan Zee 1991 Through another Κing's Indian transposition we Βοοη amve at the standard position. (1 d4lbf6 2 c4 86 3lί)c3 ~g7 4 e4 d6 5 Ι4 c5 6 d5 ο-ο 7 lbf3 e6 8 ~e2 exd5 9 cxd5 ~g4 10 0-0 lί)bd7 11 1:tel:e8 12 h3 ~xf3 13 ~xf3)

Nothing new ΒΟ far, but the next move breaks the repetition. 13 "'a5 (D) This ίβ more incisive than 13 ... a6: Black develops the queen and prepares ... b7-b5. If White prevents ... b7-b5 with 14 a4 then 000

Black can continue with 14... c4 (note that Black has not wasted a move with ... a7-a6) and the knight

Pawnstorm Systems 33 Ι.

ready to jump into c5. 14 .te3 b5 Another Benoni rule ίΒ that if ".b7-b5 can be played without dis•• ter ensuing then it ίΒ usually a .ood idea. Ιη this poBίtίoη it ίΒ obνlουΒlΥ favourable since ... b5-b4 Lhreatens to dislodge the knight f'rom the defence of e4. tL!b6f? 15 a3

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bold move ίη the style of the But what if White de(~Ides to charge? After 16 ο5 dxe5 17 fxe5 :xe5 18 .txc5 :xel+ 19 .xel :e8 20 'ii'f2 White would apIlIIar to be doing well. However, 16 "Γι can be met by 16... tL!c4!? The Illoa ίΒ 17 exffi tL!xe318 he3 :xe3 Ι IJ fxg7 1:tae8 with a double-edged IHlflition, Glek-Jurtaev, Moscow ΟΜΑ 1989. White has a slight Ill/ιteήaΙ advantage, but Black's I'ooks are extremely active. 16 .tf2 tL!c4 17 'ii'c2 lbd7 (D) Black has won the opening Ilout. The e5 square ίΒ very well Ilrotected and Black has managed Βοηοηi.

to expand smoothly οη the queen-

side. Compare this position to the one after move 17 ίη the previous game. 18 .te2 :ab8f Black does not mind the doubling of the pawns after .txc4 since this is more than compensated by the pressure that the rook would assert along the b-file . Black is now threatening to win a pawn with ... tL!xb2 and ....txc3. 19 a4 b4

Α clever idea which gίves Black a passed c-pawn. Ιη some positions such a pawn might become

34

Pαwnstorm

Systems

an easy target but the pressure of Black's rooks οη the b- and e-files makes it dίfficult for White to coordίnate hίβ position. 20 .i.xc4 bxc3 21 b3 a6 22 Aecl tDb6 23 .i.fi

White had ηο option but to Τθ­ treat the bishop; a black rook οη b2 would have been a nίghtmare for White. But WΊth such an attack Black can carry οη regardless ... c4! 23 ••• tDxc4 24 .txc4 25 bxc4 :b2 261i'd3 27 1i'13 (D) White has a pawn but this ίβ scant compensation for Black's

:d2

inίtiative.

27 ••. f5 always a nίce move to throw in when White ίβ least expecting it. If White captures WΊth 28 exf5 the other black rook θη­ ters the fray: 28 ...:ee2 29 :α Thίβ ίβ

Α calm move whίch threatens to mop υρ White's passed c- and d-pawns. 31 .tel 1i'c7! 32 :abl Grabbing the rook ίβ suicide: 32 .txd2 cxd2 33 :cdl .txal and ... :el+. 32 ••. :de2 33 .txc3 :2e3 34 d6 1i'xd6

Pawnstorm Systems 35 35 ~b4 "'c8 38 ...n :xh3+ 37 gxh3 :e2+ Wbite resigned After 38 ΦgΙ ~d4 mates. Α very instructive game. From the outset Black followed two .trategic plans: to expand οη the queenside and restrain White's .4-e5 break. Once this had been

achieved, Black continued with a seήes of tactical blows and a pawn sacήfice to maintain the ίη­ itiative. At ηο point ίη the game was White able to make use ofthe central pawn majοήtΥ or the bishop pair. Ιη short, Black displayed the skill and versatility required to play this opening. Ifyou can achieve this magic mix, you will be a demon Benoni player.

Game3

Vaiser - Maki Helsinki 1991 (1 d4lbf6 2 c4 gβ 3lOO3 j",g7 4 e4 ο-ο 8 ~ c5 7 d5 e8 8

de δ f4

.1e2 exd5 θ cxd5 j",g4 Q)bd7 11 J:ιel)

10

ο-ο

Once again we have reached starting position νiβ transpo"ίΙίοη from the Κing's Indian. Ιη ΙΙlβ preνious games we consid1.I·ed 11 ...:e8 but Black has βη jιrιportant altemative. 11 j",xf3 fιΙIΓ

000

12 j",xf3

As we stated earlier, e8 ίβ a natural square for the rook, but οη e8 the rook prevents Black's knight retreating to this square. Why does the knight want to be οη e8, you may ask, when it seems happy οη f6 hitting the e4 pawn? Well, that ίβ certainly one school of thought, but another idea ίβ to re-deploy the knight to

36 Pawnstorm Systems the queenside via e8 and c7. Here it can support the natural ... b7-b5 advance. Moreover, the rook can then come to e8 where itjoins the d 7 knight and the g7 bishop ίη preventing the e4-e5 thrust. Note that this fits perfectly with Black's dual strategy against this system: expand οη the queenside and prevent White's e4-e5 advance. Having played the White side of this position, Ι can assure you that it is not easy to combat this strategy. For example: 13 ~e3 a6 14 a4l'Δc7 15 a5 l'Δb5 and already Black has good piece activity; if 16 l'Δxb5 axb5 and the a-pawn ίΒ hard to defend. Otherwise the knight οη b5 can harass the c3 knight or even hop into the square d4. Black can also follow up with the usual plan of ...1:tab8 and ... b7-b5 to create pressure along the b-file. 13 J:Σe2! Α very οήginal concept by White. More natural moves such as 13 ~θ3 give Black excellent chances for the initiative. The good news ίΒ that most players οη the White side are unlikely to know about 13 J:Σe2 (unless they have read this book) and it is hardly ever seen ίη tournament play. a6 13 ... Ιη view of White's next move perhaps 13 ... l'Δc7 is an improvement. Then 14 "iVel could be met by 14... J:Σθ8 and once again we are

protecting the e5 square. Although White may be able to randomise here with 15 e5 dxe6 16 d6l'Δe6 17 .ixb7 :b8, Black's pieces are becoming very active. The option οΙ playing e4-e5 followed by d5-d6 is a recurήng theme for White. Εχ­ cept ίη special situations Black should be able to cope with thesEIι: tactics. The d6 push allows the, knight to hop into the useful e6,1 square. This opens up a host οΙ tactical possibilities since the e6 knight has influence over the important d4 and f4 squares. Ιη addition, the d6 pawn, whilst causing temporary chaos ίη the Black camp, ίΒ likely to become veryl weak. White may capture fxe5 to: support the d6 pawn, but with the, g7 bishop, d7 knight and e8 rook' beaήng down οη e5 it ίΒ unlikely that White will be able to main-, tain this pawn chain. White can often capture a pawn with .ixb7, but this gives the rook an excellent means of enteήng the game with ...:b8. Ιη conclusion, White certainly has the option to make the ΡΟΒί­ tion unclear but my instinct is that the muddy waters will favour Black. More importantly, the compact nature of Black's ΡΟΒί­ tion makes it easier to keep control, whereas White can easily over-extend and ίη this case αι. own position may collapse spectacularly. Ι refer to this as the spring effect. 14 "iVel

Pawnstorm Systems 37 advantage. Otherwise 16 ~h1 and Black can continue ίη the usua1 way with ...:fe8 and the knight οη g7 can hop into f5 if White plays e4-e5 (οτ if any piece ίβ left unprotected οη the e-file). 16 .te3 :fe8 Presumably 16... b5 failed ίη view of 17 e5 dxe5 18 d6 winning the exchange - it ίβ a useful safety tip in the Benoni to always beware of the opening υρ of the f3a8 diagonal ίη this way. tΔg7

This move ίβ the idea behind 13 :02. White forces Black to aban(Ion queenside expansion to cope with the immediate threat of the I)awn roller; e.g. 14...b5 15 e5 b4 16 e6 and we Μθ back to the rule that a centra1 push usually does more damage than a tlank thrust. 14 .•• "e7 The queen is not really the piece that οηθ would choose to use ΙΟ restrain the e5 advance. In the Βθηοηί the queen sits most happίly οη d8 where it retains a royal prerogative to deploy a10ng the d8-a5 diagonal οτ along the d8-h4 diagonal. ΑΒ βοοη as it moves ιtlong οηθ, it forfeits the ήght to play along the other. The rook is I)etter for defending against e4-e5 IInd this ίΒ the 10gic behind my altcmative suggestion, 13 ...1Dc7. 15 a4 ttJc7 If you want to play this system let me suggest an alternative 11ere: 15 ....td4+. Probably White's Ilest response ίβ 16 .te3 ttJg7 17 :d1! .txe3+ 18 he3 :ae819 :e2 when e4-e5 will give White some

17 :dlf Keeping υρ the momentum. Once again Black ίβ prevented from playing 17 ... b5, this time because 18 e5 dxe5 ίβ met by 19 d6 forking the queen and knight. Αη­ other safety tip and another reaβοη why Ι usually prefer to leave the queen at home οη d8. 17 ••• "d8 Egg οη his face? 18 .tf2 19 .th4 20 .txf6 21 .tg4

38 Pawnstorm Systems

••••. -•••• •• . • -· - ..·._ •• 8 •• _~

~

~.~ ~Δ~.~ Δ. .ΔDJ..

"u ~.:.Δ~% ~

.:~

~

~

~

It is clear that Black is failing ίη his mission to prevent the e4e5 push, since White has already eliminated one defender while another ίβ dislodged. 21 •.• :'Μ8 22 θδl This always hits you when it is least desired; 22 ... dxe5 is met by 23 .i.xd7 :.xd7 24 fxe5 and the pawns are rolling.

22 •.• .ΧΙ4 23 :'e4 .g5 24 exd6 :.:ι:e4 25 lb:ι:e4 .:ι:g4 26 d:ι:c7 :'c8 27 h3 .f4 28 d6 .15 29 ~c3 ~ Here Black resigned; 30 d7 ~d7 31 ~d5 wins a full rook. Once again Ι apologise ifl have put more readers off the Benoni most games are really not like this! Ι cannot stress enough the importance of identίfying the problems of the opening and learning how to avoid these disasters. Once again, B1ack's position col1apsed because he was unable to restrain the e4-e5 advance in an effective way. It is a1so noteworthy that again Black did not even get offthe ground with queenside expansion.

Game4

Nogueiras - Kasparov Barcelona 1989 (1 d4 ~ 2 c4 g6 3 ~.i.g7 4 e4 d6 5 Ι4 0-0 6 ~ c5 7 d5 e6 8 .i.e2 exd5 9 cxd5 .i.g4 10 0·0 tLIbd7 11 h3) Οαι usua1 transposition from the Κing's Indian, but this time we see an a1temative to 11 ':el. At first sight the move 11 h3 appears illogical, since Black wil1 often voluntarily capture the knight after 11 :e1. Has White therefore 10st a move? It ίβ not βΟ

Pawnstorm Systems 39 IIimple; 11 h3 is a useful move ίη its own ήght and gives the option ofkingside aggression with g2-g4. More importantly, the rook might be better placed ση f1 if White is playίng for an f4-f5 advance rather than the e4-e5 ρΙβη that we have fιθθη above. 11 .txf3 12 .txf3 ':e8

Takίng play back along lίnes considered ίη the first two games. Black could contίnue instead with 12 ... c4 13 .te3 "a5 14 g4 ':ac8. At first sight White's kίngside pawns look formidable but remember the spring effect - if you push too far it can rebound ίη your face. Moreover, it is unclear how White Hhould follow υρ; e.g. 15 f5 lbe8! 16 g5 .te5, when it is hard to see I\ow White's attack ΜΙΙ progress - the οηlΥ prospect seems to be nlong the h-file, but this ΜΙΙ take ιι long time. Ιη contrast Black has ιι clear plan at hand: ... lbc5 and ... lbd3; e.g. 17 h4 lbc5 18 h5 lbd3 19 "e2 lbxb2 - and it is actually

quite

dίffi.cult

to get at the black

kίng.

13 ':el own feelίng is that White should go for it with 13 g4, since g4-g5 ΜΙΙ embarrass the knίght. Presumably Black would have to reply with a move such as 13 ... h6. 13 ':c8 14 .te3 b5 ΜΥ

000

Thίs is another useful option Βθηοηί players to bear ίη

for

mίnd: deflecting the c3 knίght with the ... b7-b5 thrust ίη order to capture the pawn οη e4. The knight οη b5 is often hίtting the d6 pawn though, so you have to get the calculations ήght! 15 lbxb5 lbxe4 16 .txe4 he4 17 lbxd6 he3 18 he3 .td4 19 (D) 19 ':b8 Black will have ηο problems regainίng the exchange and the ίη­ itiative is worth the pawn. 20 Φh2 lbf8

"f3 000

40 Pawnstorm Systems and d-pawns leaving the position quite steήΙe. 23 ••. 1Σe8 lDxd5 24 "xd5 25 f5 ~v:ι

21 .!004 .txe3 22 "xe3 "xd5 23 "00 Although Black has regaίned the sacήficed mateήa1, White's last move forces liquidation into a drawn endgame. This happens quite frequently in the Benoni; after wild tactics White's θ- and dpawns are traded for Black's b-

261ΣdΙ

lDι6

27 fxg6

hxg6

281Σd2

J:el

29 lDd6 lDe4 Drawagreed τω concludes our ana1ysis ο! the lines where White erects a formidable centre with e4 and ί4, and develops with lDf3 and .te2. ΜΥ belief Ίs that ίf Black understands the dua1 strategy (prevent e4-e5; promote ... b7-b5) and remaίns tactica1ly a1ert, then the system ίΒ not dangerous. White's position ίΒ bigger, difficult to control and surpήsingΙΥ prone to collapse.

Game5

Legky - Svedchikov USSR 1978 (1 d4 lDf8 2 c4 c5 3 d5 e6 4 lDc3 exd55 cxd5 d6 6 e4 g6 7 Ι4 .tg7) 8 e5 (D) This move gives the system its character. Νο pussy footing around with 8 lDf3: the immedίate e5 advance goes 8traight for the jugular! However, this system, known as the Mίkenas Attack, Ίs rarely seen these days. Theory holds that Black can equa1ise, 80 few White players bother to look at it. But this may encourage a dangerous

Pawnstorm Systems 41 complacency. When the Armenian grandmaster Lputian sprang it οη me ίη the Soviet Union ίη 1986, Ι didn't have a clue how to react my position was lost after a few moves. 80 read οη because it ίΒ better to be safe than lost... 8 tbfd7 This ίΒ the on1y reliable way to play since 8 ... dxe5 (favoured by your author against Lputian) ίΒ nsking for trouble; e.g. 9 fxe5 ~fd7 10 e6 and now Black has two tries. First, 10... ~xc3+ 11 bxc3 1Vh4+ 12 g3 'iVe4+ 13 'iVe2 'iVxe2+ 14 ~xe2 fxe6 15 dxe6 tbf8 16 e7 tbe6 17 tbf.3 tbc6 18 ο-ο ιj;;xe7 19 ~h6, when White's rooks will occupy the e- and d-files with devastating effect. Ιη most of these lίnes Black can Μη the epawn but White's bishop pair and the open files/diagonals count for more. Altematively, Black can try the line 10... fxe6 11 dxe6 'fIe7 12 tbd5 "xe6+ 13 "e2 'fIxe2+ 14 .txe2. Again Black has an extra pawn but White's initiative (especially the threat of tbc7) ίΒ more important. Ι tried 14... ~e5 but after 15 tbf.3 my position was not muchfun. The variations which follow are very long and complicated. Moreover, since very few games have been played ίη these variations in recent years, Ι am basing my analysis οη old theory. Wherever possible, Ι have tried to chop out analysis but the nature ofthe system means it has been necessary 000

to include long and complex variations. Please bear with me. 9 tbe4 Grabbing the pawn with 9 exd6 does not cause Black any headaches: simply 9... 0-0 and Black can recapture the d6 pawn with the d7 knight via ffi-e8-d6. Alternatively, 9 e6 ίΒ met by 9 ... fxe6 10 dxe6 tbb6 11 tbe4 ο-ο 12 'fIxd6 'iVxd6 13 tbxd6 ~xe6 14 tbxb7 tΩa4 15 Μ tbd7 16 ~b5 tbxb2 17 :b1 :ab8 with rough equality according to John Nunn.

9 10 tbd6+

dxe5 Φe71

τω ίΒ the point. 10 ... Φf8 would block the rook ίη, whereas 10... Φe7 hits the knight and prepares ... :e8 followed by artificial castlίng with ... Φf8. 11 tbxc8+ Once again we have to get bogged down with variations; but such is life ίη these tactical ΡΟΒί­ tions. White's altematives are to retreat the knight with 11 tbb5 or play 11 fxe5. 11 tbb5 ίΒ met by the

42 Pawnstorm Systems logica1 11 ....:e8; White is in danger of being left behind ίη development and so must continue aggressively with 12 d6+ Φf8 13 tΔc7 (winning mateήa1 but using White's only developed piece) 13 ... exf4+ 14 j.e2 tΔc6 15 tΔxa8 (15 tΔxθ8 "ifxe8 is good for Black with White's king stuck in the centre and his pieces undeveloped) 15 ... tΔd4 16 tΔc7 :e4 and despite the rook minus Black is doing well; e.g. 17 tΔd5 'ii'g5 with threats against g2 and d5. 11 fxe5 is less worrying in view of 11 ... tΔxθ5 12 tΔxc8+ "ifxc8 13 d6+ Φf8 1400 tΔbc6 and Black has ηο problems (Nunn). 11 'ii'xc8

12 tΔr.J White could force the king back to f8, blocking the king's rook, with 12 d6+, but this allows Black to develop the knight easi1y with ... tΔc6-d4. Play might continue 12 ... Φf8 13 tΔf.3 e414 tΔg5 h6 with a complicated position which shou1d favour Black.

:eβ 12 ••• If Black wishes to muddy the waters, the recommended move ίΒ 12 ... e4 13 tΔg5 tΔb6 14 d6+ Φf8 with end1ess complications which you will have to work through yourself. tΔxe5 13 fxe5 14 j.b5 tΔbd7 15 0-0

15 ••• 'iW8 16 tΔxe5 :Xe5 17 j.f4 c4! An old idea of Κapengut's. Now if White grabs the exchange with 18 J.xe5 tΔxθ5 the position is good for Black; e.g. 19 j.a4 "ifc5+ 20 Φh1 :d8 rounding up the d-pawn and giving Black a fantastic endgame. Otherwise 18 j.xd7 'ii'c5+ 19 Φh1 :Xd5 20 'ii'g4 f5 and Black regains the piece. 18 'ii'd4 m 19 j.h6? (D) This idea turns out bad1y but 19 "ii'xc4 "ii'xc4 20 j.xc4 J.xb2 is fine for Black. 19 j.xh6 000

Pawnstorm Systems 43 22 .ixc8 23~

.Ihfl+

:xc8

Black has a winning endgame, although he only managed to draw after another forty moves. Ιη sympathy, 1'11 spare you the rest of the game.

20 Α nice

~xd7

~g7!

tactic missed by White.

21 Ίfxg7+

~

Well that was heavy going but Ι hope you now feel reasonably confident should anyone spring the Mik.enas at you. Who knows, this system has been out offashion for 80 long that it could be due for revival!

Flick-Knife Attack

2 1 d4 2 c4 3 d5 4 lbc3

5 cxd5

lΔf8

c5 e6

exd5 d6

6e4

g6

7 f4 8 .i.b5+

.i.g7

First ο! all, why does this system deserve such a bloodthirsty name? Well, because it has done so much damage to Benoni players ίη recent years. Ιη the past it has been descήbed as the 'Taimaηον Attack' or just '8 .i.b5+', but neither do justice to the vicious nature ofthe system. Adecade ago, Βήtίsh grandmaster John Nunn told me that he was giving up the Benoni because he could not cope with 8 .i.b5+, and it remains the bane ofthe Modem Benoni today. ΒΥ tlicking out the bishop to give a check οη b5, White causes

considerable disruption in the Black camp. The general consensus is that Black must block the check with the knight οη f'β, but this impedes the development of the c8 bishop and b8 knight. White then has time to develop behind the huge pawn centre and prepare a push with e4-e5 or f4f5. White seems to be having all the fun: a huge position, the ίη­ itiative and the prospect of a deadly attack! Just how fearsome this system has become can be deduced by the move order that most Benoni players now reluctantly adopt ... 1 d4 lΔf6 2 c4 e6 (not 2... c5)

The idea ofthis move order is to bluffWhite into continuing with 3 lΔf3 so that after 3... c5 there is ηο chance of being hit by e4, f4 and .i.b5+.

Flick-Κnife Attαck

But what ifWhite bites the bullet with 3 lDc3 instead? Wel1 many (ex-)Benoni players lose heart and play 3 ....tb4 - the Nimzo-Indian Defence! Altematively, players seek to enter the Benoni VΊa the Κing's Indian (as ίη the last chapter) which a1so cuts out the 8 .tb5+ systems. But ίΒ 8 .tb5+ ΒΟ dangerous for the Benoni that we need to go off and play a completely different (and less fun) opening like the Nimzo-Indian? Objectively, yes. This system does seem to offer White excel1ent attacking prospects and a strίng of White VΊcto­ ries at grandmaster level bear this out. But most of us playing the Benoni ΜΙΙ not have to face a thoroughly prepared Κasparov. Although White does have a powerful attack, Black's position is surprisingly resilient and there are chances to counterattack. Furthermore, White's position can suffer from the spring effect - it can easily boullce back ίη White's face! While at the top White is faring better, at lower levels Ι think that chances are more ba1anced. It can be difficult for White to

45

maintain his attacking momentum and keep control of his ίη­ flated position. Ifthe Benoni player is well acquainted with the tricks and traps in these positions, then he should still score well. The real problem after 8 .tb5+ ίΒ that the 'natural' way to block the check with 8 ... lbbd7 seems to fail tactica11y. Ι have spent several years trying to make this move work for Black but the objective conclusion ίΒ that the move ίΒ unsound. That being said, Ι have never lost with 8 ... lbbd7 and it has notched υρ several master scalps for me. The variations are very complex and can be a potential mine-field for the unprepared White player. Just in case you are tempted to have a fling with 8 ... lbbd7, I'm giving away a11 my secrets in Games 6 and 7. Games 8-11 form the main line of this system, where Black blocks with 8 ... lbfd7. This ίΒ essentia1 reading for anyone prepared to face 8 .tb5+. The name of the game ίΒ surviva1 but ifyou can confuse, bluff or bamboozle White you may find yourself coming out οη top most of the time!

Game6

Ρ. Litt/ewood - Norwood Commonwealth Ch., London 1985 1 d4 2 c4 3~

lbfβ

e6

The 2 ... e6 bluff doesn't come off this occasion ... but ίη those days Ι was bold. οη

46

Flick-Κnife Attack

3 4 d5 5 cxd5 6e4 7 f4 8 .i.b5+

c5 exd5 d6 g6 .i.g7 tbbd7

white king ίβ rather loose. Another try ίβ 12 ... dxe5 13 gxh5 e4 14 tbg5 (if 14 tbxe4 1:te8 will regain the piece) 14....i.xc3+ 15 bxc3 h6. The position ίβ desperately complicated but White seems to emerge οη top; e.g. 16 tbh3 'ii'h4+ 17 tbf2 e3! 18 .i.xe3 :fe8 19 'ii'f3 'ii'e7 20 tbd1, followed by ο-ο. Ιη conclusion, 8 ... .i.d7 is not for the faint-hearted, but it might be a good way to surprise your ΟΡΡο­ nent. Nobody seems to have looked at the move for over a decade and there may be some potential in the new ideas above. 9θδ

Blocking with the bishop is considered bad by theory after 8 ....i.d7 9 e5 tbh5 10 Μ. Now 10... dxe5 11 fxe5 ο-ο 12 ο-ο (grabbing the piece might be dangerous: 12 .i.xd7 tbxd7 13 g4 tbxe5 14 gxh5 lΔxf'3+ 15 'ii'xf3 .i.d4 and White's king will remain in the centre for some time) 12....i.g4 13 .i.e2 .i.xf3 14 .i.xf3 .i.xe5 15 .i.xh5 and the shattering of Black's kingside pawns will mean a lasting disadvantage. Altematively Black can go kamikaze by playing immediately 10... 0-0, when 11 .i.xd7 tbxd7 12 g4 wins a piece and Black would seem in dire straits. Although theory stops here maybe it's not ΒΟ clear; e.g. 12 ... lilld'4 13 .i.xf4 dxe5 14 .i.g5 'ii'b6 and Black has two pawns for the piece and the

White must exploit the pinned knight before Black castles and gains the initiative. 9 ••• dxe5 1Ο fxe5

lίlli.5

11e6 The other move, 11 tbf3, ίΒ not frightening; e.g. 11 ... 0-0 12 .i.g5 f5 and Black ίΒ fine.

11 .••

'iί'h4+

Flick-Κnife Attαck

47

move to keep the advantage: 18 "'xd1 19 hd1 Φθ7 when Black has four pawns for the piece but White's activity gίves him a clear edge. ~4!

Ι modestly chήstened this move the 'Norwood Attack' after stumbling across it in a game against Grandmaster Jim Plaskett in 1983. Hitherto, the usual move was 11 ... fxe6, which ίΒ considered inGame 7. 12 g3 Nigel Short once suggested 12 Φd2 here, but it looks rather dangerous; e.g. 12 ... fxe6 13 dxe6 ο-ο! and Black jettisons mateήal but the white king looks very vu1nerable. 12 lΔxg3 13 hxg3 The usual tήck of 13 ~f3, hitting the queen, fails here because of 13 ....t.xc3+ 14 bxc3 "'e4+ and Black ίΒ winning mateήal. 13 .. ο "'xhl The altemative ίΒ 13 ......xg3+. Now 14 Φd2 .t.xc3+ 15 bxc3 "'g2+ 16 ~2! (if16 "'e2 then 16......xd5+ 17 Φc2 "'xe6 and Black has plenty of pawns for the piece) 16 ... "'xd5+ 17 Φc2 fxe6. It might appear that Black ίΒ doing okay here but White has a powerful 0.0

14 .t.e3! This powerful move bήngs the whole system WΊth 8 ... ~bd7 into question. Ιη the early days everyone used to play 14 exd7+, but since the knight ίΒ pinned White should be in ηο rush to capture it. After 14 exd7+ .t.xd7 15 .t.xd7+ Φxd7 16 "'g4+ play continues 16 ... ffi (16 ... Φd8 is a mistake in view of 17 .t.g5+ m 18 0-0-0 and White has a vicious attack) 17 "'a4+ Φc8 18 .t.e3 .t.xc3+ 19 bxc3 "'xd5 20 1:td1 "'c6 21 "'xc6+ bxc6 22 .t.xc5. Ι have had this ΡΟΒίιίοη οη several occasions and practical results seem to favour Black. 14 ..ο ο-ο The only way to make a fight of it. 14....t.xc3+ 15 bxc3 "'e4 16 "'f3 17 ~ fxe6 18 dxe6 ο-ο has been tried for Black, but my feeling ίΒ that 19 ~g5! should be

"'xf3

48

Flick-Κnife Attack

winning for White; e.g. 19...:e8 20 0-0-0 leaves Black hopelessly pinned. .i.xd7 15 exd7 :ae8 16 ~xd7 he8 17 ~xθ8

Black has invested two pieces ηο mean cost! 18 'l'e2 The best move; 18 ~d2 .i.xc3+ 19 bxc3 'l'xd5+ 20 ~cl 'l'xdl+ 21 ~dl :Xe3 22lOe2 should only be a drawn endgame. 18 ... .i.d4

to control the e-file -

Better than 18 ....i.h6, to which White can reply 19 .i.xh6 with an easywin . 19 ο-ο-ο! An excellent move, returning a piece but regaining control of the position. The a1temative, 19 ~d2t leads to some fascinating play af· ter 19... b5! (winning the queen is ηο use; e.g. 19... .i.xe3+ 20 'l'xe3 :Xe3 21 ~θ3 and White puts the rook οη dl and marches the d· pawn forward. Of course, Black can check the white king but it moves to the safety of al) 20 :dl b4 21 .i.xd4 :Xe2+ 22 ~gxe2 bxc3+ 23 .i.xc3 'l'xd5+. Having eliminated the dangerous d-pawn Black can fight οη. 19 ... he3 Or 19... ~xθ3+ 20 ~bl and it ίΒ Black, not White, who ίβ pinned. 20 'l'c4? Ι would like to believe that White had ηο choice here but, alas, there ίβ a deadly improvement: 20 'l'c2! and Black's initia· tive quickly peters out. White intends simply ~ge2 with consolidation - the d-pawn ίΒ a1so a runner. This move puts the whole circus out of business. 20 ••• a6! Even when Βθηοηί positions go wild, οηθ should not forget the basic strategy: expand οη the queenside. 21 a4 'l'h6 22 ~bl 'l'h5 The key to Black's strategy is to prevent White from consolidating

Flick- Κnife Attαck 49

hy bήηgίηg out the gl knight, but Ιη

fact 23 lDge2 .i.xc3 24 g4! folInwed by lDxc3 wins for White. 23 :η .i.xc3 24 bxc3 "e5r 25 ..tb2

-_--_"iV_-__.••• • " ••-. .

dήviηg

my king into the open.

~ U ~ ~ ~-~ ~ ~-~. ~-~ ~tαι

~ ~ α

Now ίΒ the time to employ another Benoni weapon: queenside tleflection. 25 ••• b5 26 axb5 axb5 27 "xc5 b4 28 "xb4 1:txg3 29 d6r :g2+ 30 J.>a3 "d5 31 :al :c2? Α blunder; after 31 .....c6 the position ίΒ unclear. 32 tLlli3?? Α disastrous move. Instead 32 d7! should win; e.g. 32 .....xd7 33 ιJi>b3 with 34 :a8+ and 35 "f8+

~_

~

~

U

~_

~_~ ~

~

~_

~

~.~J":'\ ~"Z.J

__ •

32.....d2r Now White ίΒ 10sing since the king cannot be defended without 10SS of mateήal. 33 ..ta41:txc3 34 :a3 "dl+ 35 ..tb5 ..d5+ 36 ..tb6 "c6+ 37 ..ta7 "d7+ 38..tb6 :c6+ 39 ..tb5 'ii'b7+ 40 ..ta4 :a6+ 41 ..tb3 :b6 42 :a8+ ..tg7 Wbite resigned Not the soundest of games perhaps, but a good example of how wild and exciting the Benoni can be. This game emphasises that even when White seems to have overrun the Benoni position, there are always chances to find counterplay.

Game7

Mestel - Hodgson British Ch., Southport 1983 (1 d4 lDf6 2 c4 e6 3 lDc3 c5 4 d5 exd5 5 cxd5 d6 6 e4 g6 7 f4 .i.g7 8 .tb5+ lDbd7 9 e5 dxe5 10 fxe5 lίJh5 11 e6)

11 ... fxe6 Black's idea ίΒ to open up the ffile for the rook and begίn a swift attack οη the exposed white king.

50

Flick-Κrιife Attαck

12 dxe6 0-0 13 lDfS! Α much safer move than grabbing the knight with 13 exd7. 13 ••• .t.d4 14 'Μι3? This seems to give Black good counterplay βΟ White needs to find an alternative. 14 .t.e3 is an ingenious idea; if 14... .t.xe3 15 exd7 is winning for White. However, Ι think that Black can stay alive with 14...lDe5!?; e.g. 15 ~d4 'ii'h4+ with endless comp1ications. But White has a vast1y supeήοr idea to both 14 1Wb3 and 14 .t.e3: 14 .t.g5!. Ι cannot see a good response for Black here; e.g. 14... tbdffl (14... 'iνb6 151Wb3 is devastating) 15 'ii'e2! 'ii'e7 16 ο-ο-ο! when White's king is safely CaBtled and Black is unable to grab the e-pawn as 16....t.xe6 17 :he1 creates a dead.ly ρίη (17 ... tbg7 is met by either 18 .t.h6 or 18 tbxd4). Black may be able to grovel here with 16....*.xc3 17 bxc3 tbg7, but after 18 :he1 few people would choose to defend Black's position.

14 ••• 15 .t.e3

'ii'e7 tbe5?

80me years after this game Ι noticed that Black had a dramatic improvement here: 15 ....:xf3!!. Now if White simply recaptures with 16 gxf3 then 16 ... lDe5 when Whίte's θ- and f-pawns are attacked and Black has excellent compensation for the exchange. 80 16 exd7+ <:J;g7 17 gxf3 'ii'xe3+ 18 tbe2 'ii'f2+ 19 Φd2 .t.xd7 20 .t.xd7 (20 ':af1 'ii'e3+ 21 'iVxe3 .t.xe3 22 Φxe3 ':e8+ 23 Φd2 .t.xb5 looks fine for Black) 20 ....:d8 21 "e6 lLIf4! and despite the rook

Flick-Κnife Attαck

le88 Black has fighting chances. .ιχe3 16 ~e5 17 lbd.5 'inι4+ 18 g3 .ιf2+ 19 'it>e2 "e4+ 20 12Je3 "xe5 21 e7+ .ιe6 22 ex:f8"+ Jhf8

51

23 "xe6+! nice move which liquidates a good endgame for White. The rest, as they say, ίβ just technique: 23.....xe6 24 .ιc4 "xc4 25 ~c4 .td4 26 :an :e8+ 27 'it>d2 tiJf6 28 :el :d8 29 'it>cllbd.5 30 :ιuι b5 31tLJa3 tiJb4 32 :e7 a6 33 'it>bl tLJd3 34 :e6 ~b2 35 :Xa6 b4 36 tiJc2 .ι" 37 tiJe3 .ιd4 38 tiJc2 .ι" 39 tiJe3 .ιd4 40 tiJg4 tiJc4 41 'it>cl .ι" 42 tiJf6+ 'it>h8 43 :el .th6+ 44 'it>c2 tiJe3+ 45 'it>b3 'it>g7 46 tiJe4 c4+ 47 'it>a4 :d7 48 g4 .ιΙ4 49 tiJc5 :e7 50 tiJe6+ :xeβ 51 :Xe6 tLJd5 52 'it>b5 Black resigned The conclusion ίβ that 11... fxe6 is a 10t offun, but unless you have an answer to 14 .ιg51, forget it/ Α ίηto

Game8 Kasparov - Νυππ Lucerne Olympiad 1982 We now turn our attention to systems where Black meets 8 .ιb5+ with 8... tiJfd7. This avoids the immediate sacήfice of mateήal Μ80ciated with the altematives, but for vaήous reasons it still lacks populaήty at intemational Ιθνθl. Without doubt, the following gaιne ίη which John Nunn, a top grandmaster and expert tactician, was destroyed οη the Black side has cοntήbuted to this dubious reputation.

(1 d4 tiJf6 2 c4 e6 3 tiJc3 c5 4 d5 exd5 5 cxd5 d6 6 e4 g6 7 Ι4 .tg7 8.tb5+> 8 ••• tiJfd7 The main problem with this move ίβ that it blocks the development of the queenside pieces. If Black retums the knight to fβ and White retreats the bishop to, say, e2, then White has gained a move (tiJfβ-d7-fβ ίβ three moves, .tb5-e2 is only two) over the lines in the previous chapter. The knight is

52 Flick-Knife Attαck catch White out by adopting an unusual move order. The norm.a1 sequence ίΒ 11 ... 0-0 12 :el and ώ­ ter 12... a6, the bishop drops back to f1. The point of 13 .tf1 (as ορ­ posed to 13 .te2) ίΒ that it does not obstruct the rook along the θ­ file - remember that White ίΒ playing for the e4-e5 push. After 11 ... a6 White changes plan and takes advantage of Black's delay in castling. not badly placed οη d7 - the snag that the bishop needs to be οη g4. If Black can untangle effectively then the system should not be dangerous, but in practice this is hard to achieve. 9 a4 This ίΒ the best move for White. There ίΒ ηο reason for him to play 9 lbf3, allowing Black to expand rapidly with 9 ... a6 and 10... b5. If White retreats the bishop immediately to d3 οτ e2, then Black is not obliged to play ... a7-a6. Moreover, the bishop exerts an influence along the a4-e8 diagonal, as this game demonstrates ... ίΒ

9

000

lba6

Other moves for Black are considered ίη Games 9-11. Black's plan here ίΒ to manoeuvre the knight to b4, which has become an outpost after 9 a4. This idea ίΒ logical but time-consuming; meanwhi1e White has time to castle and prepare a central push. 10 lbf3 lbb4 11 Ο.() a61! This is a dubiOU8 attempt to

.txd7 12 .txd7+ 13 f5 Since Benoni players spend half their lives watching out for the e4-e5 push, it ίΒ very easy to forget that f4-f5 ίΒ an option. This move ίΒ more likely to be strong if Black does not have a knight οη d7, protecting the e5 and ffi squares. The f5 push also opens the cl-h6 diagonal ΒΟ that White's dark-squared bishop can enter the game, usually via g5. This particular position ίΒ exactly the ήght scenaήo for the f-pawn thrust to work.

•• .•_••

Flick-Knife Attαck 53

13 ••• ο-ο 14 j,g5 This move forces Black to make a concession. The queen cannot move ίη view of 15 ffi shutting Black's dark-squared bishop out of the game and 14... j,f6 is a1so problematic; e.g. 15 'ii'd2 j,xg5 16 ~xg5 h6 17 f6! winning since 17 ... hxg5 18 'ii'xg5 will soon result ίη the black king being mated. 14 ... f6 If you have to play this move in the Modem Benoni, you know that something has gone seή­ ously wrong. The key to Black's position ίβ the activity of the dark-squared bishop οη g7, and ... f7-f6 blocks it out ofthe action. The only occasion οη which ... f7-ffi is permissible is when it can be followed υρ with ... f6-f5, freeing the bishop again. With White's pawn οη f5, though, this is an uπ­ likely prospect. 15 j,f4 gxf5? Black's position is left in ruins after this move, so an a1temative must be found. 15.....e7or 15... j,e8 both look unpleasant, but in these positions Black must sit tight and bear the pain. White still has to force home the attack, and this cannot be done without ήsk. When things go wrong in the Benoni it's usually better to dig in rather than panic and open υρ the position ίη White's favour. 16 j,xd6 j,xa4 17 :xa4 'ii'xd6

.Ι. _Ι Ι~ _ _ ~ ~.ma~~.

Β

.Δ.ΙΒ :8 ΒΔΒ

•

••

~ ~

~B~ ~

~.'W~.~:~ ~ ~ ~

u~

•

~.~~B .ι.ι..J. ~B~ ~B~Δ~ ~ ~ u

18 lbh4! Α nice move which leaves υβ in ηο doubt as to who has won the

tactica1 exchanges. Black's problem is that a white knight will land οη f5 where it can terrοήse a11 the important squares: d6, e7, g7, h6, d4 and e3. With the g7 bishop looking like a pawn that cannot advance, Black is busted. 18 fxe4 19 lM> 'ii'd7 White could meet 19 ... 'ii'e5 with 20 'ii'g4 combining a positiona1 bind with a kingside attack; e.g. 20...:f7 21 ~6+ winning the exchange. 20 ~e4 Φh8 21 ~c5 Black resigned ίη this sorry position. If 21 ... 'ii'xd5 22 'ii'xd5 lbxd5 23 lOO6 wins the exchange. Not surpήsίηgΙΥ this game has been a great advert for the 8 j,b5+ system and has caused many players to abandon the Benoni completely. Ι would agree that ... lί:)a6-b4 ίβ not a good plan for Black, but Ι feel that he could 000

54

Flick-Κnife Attαck

have offered sterner resistance ίη this game. Still, Ι suppose that is

easy for me to say ... it wasn't me facing Κasparov's attack!

Game9

H.Olafsson - Psakhis Moscow GMA 1989 (1 d4 li)f6 2 c4 e6 3 lOO3 CΔ 4 d5 exd55 cxd5 d6 6 e4 g6 7 f4 J.g7 8 J.b5+ li)fd7 9 a4) 9 ~4+

The idea behind this check ίΒ to provoke 10 g3, which weakens White's kingside and prevents the lίght-squared bishop being deployed to h4 via e3-f2 (Game 11 shows how effective this plan ίΒ in action). The drawback, of course, is the time factor; White gets developed even quicker. A1though Ι have never employed the plan of 9... -.ιι4+, it does have its adherents. 10 g3 "d8 Νο, this is not the norma1 way to play. 10..."e7 would seem to make more sense, but note that

11 li)f3 ..txc3+ 12 bxc3 "xe4+ is bad for Black in view of 13 Φf2 ο-ο 14 :el 15 ..tf1!. White is preparing c4 and ..tb2, after which the bishop will be murderous a10ng the long diagona1. After 11 li)f3 ο-ο White retains the initiative. ΑΒ to 10..."d8, it ίΒ hard to belίθνθ that it was worth a fu1l move to provoke 11 g3, but who knows?

"f5

0-0 11 ll)f3 12 0-0 86 13 ..tc4 (υ) At first sight this appears to be an awkward square for the bishop, as it ίΒ blocked in by the d5 pawn. However, remember that White is looking towards the e4-e5 break and then perhaps d5-d6; ΒΟ the

Flick-Κnife Attαck

55

Retreating the knίght to c8 keeps the d7 square Πθθ for the b8 knίght; and the c8 knίght can enter the game later after ... b7b5, axb6 tDcxb6. 18 j,d.2 tDd7 19 :ael b5 j,d4+ 20 axb6 21 j,e3 lOOxb6 22 j,xd4 cxd4 23 tDdl bishop has hidden potential along the a2-g8 dίagonal. Always be aware ofthis! 13 tDb6 14 j,e2 j,g4 Black has finally developed the bishop though the knίght ίΒ not well placed οη b6 since it prevents the thematic ... b7-b5 advance. 000

15 tDg5

White wants 10 preserve the knight, which is needed 10 support the e4-e5 push. 15 j,xe2 16 'iνxe2 'iνe7 17 a5 tDc8!

Α

recurring theme ίη the ίΒ Black alloWΊng hίβ pawns 10 be doubled οη the d-fίle WΊth j,xd4. Okay, the d4 pawn is very weak and could easίly be 10st, but this ίβ offset by the tactical dίsruption created in White's camp. After ... cxd4 the c5 square ίΒ Πθθ for a black knίght, whίch can then put pressure οη the e4 pawn. It ίβ ίmpossible for White 10 hold the e-pawn and round-up the d-pawn sίmultaneously. But beware: ifyou are unable to muster enough tactics 10 bewίlder White, the d-pawn couldjust drop off the board. Βθηοηί

56

Flick-Κnife Attαck

23 1005 24 Μ! Α powerful idea that Black had overlooked; the d-pawn quickly becomes vulnerable. 24 lOOa4 25 ~ "fia7 Another tactical possibility after ... cxd4, is to utilise the a7-g1 diagonal. Now 26 tΔxd4 is met by 26 ... lbxd5. 26 "fid3! Ending Black's tricks; now the d-pawn must fall. 26 a5 "fixa5 27 bxa5 "fic5 28 ~ 29 "fixd4 Black has lost the pawn, but there is still a chance of saving thegame. 29 f5! Ιη the endgame White's centre becomes a target, especially the d5 pawn. The ensuing liquidation to three pawns against two οη the kingside makes a draw the most 000

000

000

000

•••-•.•••• ••••-. .. ~ • ~Δ • • • ~ ~ _ U ~ a~. ~Δ" ~. ~.~ ~

~.~ ~

~.~)'>;..,~ ~ι.zJU ~ ~ U ~ • • ttU

~. ~

~. ~

~:~ u ~

likely result: 30 11cl W'xd4 31lΔxd4 fxe4 32 lΔxe4 lΔxd5 33 tΔxd6 tDac3! 34 1:tcel Md8 35 tDe4 ':a6 36 f5 gxf5 Draw agreed White could have pressed his opponent, but with correct play there are ηο winning chances left ίη the position. 80 9 ... W'h4+ is playable, although it seems that White can still gain the initiative. The final two games are my own attempts to develop a credible system for Black against 8 J.b5+.

Game10 Daνis - NOΓwood World Junior Ch., Adelaide 1988 (1 d4 tDfθ 2 c4 e6 3 tDc3 c5 4 d5 exd5 5 cxd5 d6 6 e4 g6 7 f4 J.g7 8 J.b5+ tfJfd7 9 a4)

οη d7 and c7 Black pursues the now familiar policy of restraining e4-e5 (with the d7 knight) and preparing ... b7-b5 (with the c7 9 ο-ο knight). However, it must be 10 tDf3 tDa6 11 ο-ο tDc7 (υ) noted that preventing e4-e5 is This move gίves Black's plan much more difficult when White its character. ΒΥ placing knights .. keeps the knight οη f3. Moreover, 000

Flick-Κnife Attαck

15 axb6

the slightly cumbersome ροβί­ tioning of the black knights means that White has tactical possibilities based οη e4-e5 d6xe5, and now d5-d6, hitting the knight οη c7. Always be οη the look-out for this pawn break by White, especia1ly if there is a bishop οη c4; play often becomes highly tactical. 12 'ifc2 Α

wimpish continuation; the improvement 12 ~θ3 ίβ considered ίη the next game. The e4 pawn is not ίη need of further RUpport, and c2 is not a particularly useful square for the queen ίη any case. 12

000

a6

13 ~c4 :b8 Black has a clear plan: expand with ... b7-b5, a flank attack which will undermine White's pawn centre. 14 a5 Α necessary move; but not οηθ that should discourage Black from carrying οη regardless. 14 .. ο b5

57

lί)xb6

Black has won the opening bout. Although the a6 pawn ίβ a target, this ίβ more than compensated for by Black's pressure along the b-file. Moreover, the knights are becoming active, with the c7 knight ready to hop into b5 at an opportune moment. The key factor, however, ίβ that Black has diverted the struggle to the queenside, which makes it harder for White to carry through the central advance. 16 b3 If 16 ~d3 Black can continue his expansion with 16 ... c4 and then ... lbc7-b5. 16 .. ο :e8 17 e5!?(D)

Offering a pawn that should not be taken; rarely is it a good idea to exchange the g7 bishop for a knight, even if induced by a pawn offer - the dark squares become too weak. 17 .. ο ~g4 Our standard move to dislodge

58

Flick-Κnife Attαck

Suddenly Whίte's position is full ofholes. The bishop οη e5 is a monster, defending important dark squares and creating chao8 with the ρίη οη a1. 24 :al lί)xc4 25 bxc4 lί)xc3 26 .:txc3 .td4+ 27 'iPhl .txc3 28 'iVxc3 'iVe7 29 Φιι :b7 Whίte resigned the f.3 knight; now Black threatθηΒ simply ... .txf.3 and ... dxe5 to win the pawn. Note that 18 exd6 can be met by 18 ... tbb5! exploiting the ρίη οη the long diagonal. 18 'iVf2 'iVd7 19 tbe4 .txf3 20 'iVxf3 dxe5 21 fxe5 .txe5 Another standard idea in these systems: Whίte saCΉtίces a pawn for an initiative, but this time Black ίβ well placed to defend. 22 .th6 f5! Taking the offensive; now Whίte has ηο more tήcks οη $, and 23 d6+ ίβ met by 23 ... tbxc4. 23 lOO3 lί)b5!

This game illustrates how easy it ίΒ for Whίte to go astray in this system. Black's tίanchetto bishop ίΒ a dynamic piece, useful for both attack and defence. The knights οη d7 and c7 can also terrorise Whίte by leaping into squares such as b6 and c4 or b5 and d4, whi1e covering the important $ and e5 squares. Whίte has to proceed very accurately in order to push the central pawns forward, and this can rarely be achieved WΊthout ήsk.

Here is another example ofthis system, but this time Whίte's treatment is exemplary.

Game 11

Levitt - Norwood London (WF&W) 1988 (1 d4 tbf6 2 c4 e6 3 lί)c3 c5 4 d5 exd5 5 cxd5 d6 6 e4 g6 7 f4 .tg7 8 .tb5+ lί)fd7 9 a4 0-0 10 lί)f3 tba6 11 0-0 lί)c7) 12 .td3 (D)

Another tήckΥ move is 12 .tc4, giving Black the added worry that the e4-e5 advance could ΟΡθη an attack by the bishop along the a2-g8 diagonal. Perhaps 12... lί)b6

Flick-Κnife Attαck

59

17 d61

and then ....*.g4 ίβ okay for Black - the b6 knight can return to d7 whereupon the e5 square ίβ well covered. 12 :e8 13 .*.d2 The start of a very ίmagίnatίve plan by Whίte. 13 a6 14 .*.el :b8 000

17 18 .*.xf8 000

19 ~5

20 txe5

000

15 e51 Α tίmθly break; Whίte will not lοse a pawn ίn VΊew ofthe tactίcal

resource he has prepared. 15 ύeδ 16 .*.h4 .*.f8 000

Whίte's poBίtίon looks tremendous and durίng the game Ι felt that Ι was already lost here and that my whole system had been totally refuted. Perhaps βΟ, but Ι should have remembered the maxίm that there ίβ always hope ίη the Modem Benoni. Black's best try was 20 ... CΙΙd4 (threatenίng βίmply ... c!illd3+ followed by

60

Flick-Κnife Attαck

... lLJxe5); e.g. 21 tt:Je7+ Φh8 22 fud4 cxd4 23 e6 fxe6, when White has a strong initiative but must still prove the poίnt ( ...tbe5 will be a good defensive move). Instead Ι opted for a passive move which leaves the game ίn White's hands ... 20 ••• Φh8 21 'ifd2 b5? Agaίn 21 ... lLJd4 was the οηlΥ way to make a fight ofit. 22 axb5 axb5 23 :ael c4 24 .tc2 .tb7 25 lLJc7! .txf3 26 lLJxe8 :Xe8 27 1hf3

.• ..8'_' ••• ••• 8 0.8'. u _ ~.~A ~.~ n ~.~ 8'8 8 8 ~

~

8 •

..:8

~ ~

~

~~mi1 u.....

~

~.Δ~ ~ u

~ ~

ΜΥ poβίtίoη ίβ hopeless, and though Ι struggled οη for another twenty moves there is ηο need for further comment:

27•••lLJxe5 28 :t'e3 m 29 h3 :d8 30 "d5 "d7 31 :Xe5 fxeS 32 "xe5+ lLJg7 33 ..m'ifa7+ 34 ΦhΙ :g8 35 :e7 '6'al+ 36 Φh2 "a8 37 i.xg6"f8 38 ..xf8]b;f8 39 i.e4 :d8 40 d7 b4 41 .tc6 c3 42 bxc3 bxc3 43 :e3 c2 44 :c3 lLJe6 45 .ta4 Φg7 46 :Xc2 ΦfG 47 1%CΒ Φθ7 48 Φg3 tbf8 49 Φg4 Black resigned Α very well-played game by White, and one which leaves me with doubts about the whole system. ΜΥ hunch ίβ that even before 20 ... Φh8 (where 20 ... lLJd4 would have been better) Black had possible improvements. If Black can survive the rapid tactical οη­ slaught with e4-e5 then the whole 8 i.b5+ system may not be as good for White as ίβ commonly belίeved.

This concludes our survey of the 'Flick-Κnife Attack', the most feared system against the Modern Benoni. No-one can deny that this system ίβ dangerous, and Ι have ηο blueprίnt of the correct way for Black to play. But Ι hope that the above games will offer readers some new ideas and demonstrate that it ίβ not all one-way traffic!

3

Classical Variation

We take the following position as the starting point of the Classical variation: 1 d4 lLJf6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 e6 exd5 4 lOO3 5 cxd5 d6 g6 6e4 .i.g7 7 lbf3 8 .i.e2 0-0 9 ο-ο

the Classical, and this chapter ίβ diVΊded accord.ingly: a) with ....i.g4 (Games 12-13). This ίβ the most popular method; Black intends to exchange the bishop along the g4-d1 d.iagonal before continuing with the usual strategy of queenside expansion. b) with ... lLJa6 (Games 14-15). Another reliable option: the knight heads for c7 where it is well placed to support ... b7-b5 and eyes the d5 pawn if White pushes e4-e5. c) with ... lLJbd7 (Games 16-17). Once very popular, this system ίβ rarely seen nowadays at internationallevel. Black gets lively play but the experts' VΊew ίβ that White ίβ doing well.

Systems with ... i.g4 As the name 'Classical' might suggest, this ίβ the trad.itional, reliable way for White to meet the Modern Βθηοni. White prepares the central advance more slowly, and ίβ well placed to restrain the ... b7-b5 throst. His plan ίβ to gradually squeeze Black by consolidating his central space advantage. Essentially Black has three possible ways of playing against

Black's light-squared bishop can be a dίffi.cult piece in the Βθηοni. Although it may sometim.es SΡήηg into the game with devastating effect, it spends much of the opening οη the sidelines. White's pawns οη d5 and e41eave the bishop with only the d7 and g4 squares along the c8-h3 d.iagonal. Οη d7 it can support the ... b7b5 advance, but this square ίβ οίιθη required by a knight. Hence the idea of ....i.g4, with a VΊew to exchanging with the knight οη f3

62

Clαssical

Variation

or the bishop οη e2. Which piece it is exchanged for will alter the

course of the game and we consider an example of each.

Game12

Skembris - Psakhis Νοvί

Sad Olympiad 1990

1 d4 lbf6 restraining role preventing Black's e6 queenside advance. Black, οη the 2 c4 3 lbf3 CΔ other hand, has the familiar plan: 4 d5 d6 pressurise the e-file and give 5 liJc3 exd5 White a headache οη the queen6 cxd5 g6 side. 7 e4 a6 Black ίβ fiddling with the move order to get ίη ... j,.g4 (see Game 38 for a further explanation of this). ΜΥ only word of caution if you decide to play around with moves like an early ... a7-a6, ίβ that sometimes White can go for a quick central blast with e4-e5 always bear this ίη mind when delaying kingside development! 8 a4 j,.g4 9 j,.e2 j,.xf3 10 j,.xf3 lDbd7 12 a5 11 ο-ο j,.ι7 (D) Unless the bishop was to drop This ίβ a good starting position back to e2, Black could easily for the variations with ... j,.xf3, force through ...b7-b5. This move and it is worth making a few gen- ensures that if ... b7-b5 ίβ played, eral observations. As usual, Black's queenside pawns will be White has the central pawn ma- dislocated. jοήty and greater board room; in 12 0-0 addition, there ίβ the bishop pair. 13 j,.f4 'ii'c7 But it ίβ less clear which plan For the moment at least, the e5 White should adopt. With the square ίΒ well protected, and knight gone from f3, the e4-e5 Black will Βοοη over-protect it by break seems a long way away. For ... :fe8. Black is still preparing the moment White must adopt a the ... b7-b5 advance but it must 000

Classical Variation 63 be timed correctly: if it ίβ played too quickly then after ώ6 the a6 pawn could become a target. Remember also that the a5 pawn needs to be defended βΟ the white rook is tied to the a-file.

••-•- ••• ,..-

~.~.~~~.~.-.

~ .~.~

u R

~

~ ~-.~. ~

_ ~ ~Δ~.~

~ ~.~

• •.i.. •

...

Ρ

~ ~

U

.Δg

~

~ ~

~.~

~

•

RΔm.~ U

~.~:~ ~

14 :a4 odd-looking move, but the rook laterally defends e4 and discourages Black from any ideas of advancing c5-c4. 14 ... :fe8 15 1i'c2 h5!? Α rather

plus points are that it denies the g4 square to the white bishop, and gives Black the possibility of ... ~g4. Sometimes the h7 square can also be a useful square to drop back to. 16 ~bl White intends to re-deploy the knight via d2-c4, from where it could terrorise the d6 pawn, the bane of Black's camp. But with the knight οη its starting square, Black seizes the opportunity to open up the position. 16 ••• b5 17 axb6 lbxb6 18 :a2 1i'e7 19 lbd2 Obviously not 19 :el ίη view of 19... lMxd5. 19 ••• lMd7

••.-•..._.,.. _ • _ _.i.__ ~ ~.

~.~ ~

~ . . ~.~ _ 8) ~

~ ~.~.~.~ ~ ~ ~Δ~.~ ~.~. ~ ~ .Δ~

:D"~

~. ~

~~

OΔ~~

~.~:~ ~

We still have a typically unbalanced Benoni position. Okay, the a6 pawn ίβ weak but Black can target b2. Personally, Ι would always prefer to be Black in these positions; the g7 bishop is devastating along the long diagonal

64

Clαssicαl Vαriαtion

and the black knights control important squares such as e5 and c4. 20 :t'al ~d4r Suddenly the tactics are starting to appear: if21 ha6 :Xa6 22 1ha6 g5 (22 ... lΩxd5 23 .i.xd6) 23 .i.e3 .i.xe3 24 fxe3 g4 25 .i.e2 lbxd5! with great complications. 21 lbb3 ~d5 22 .i.d2 lD5b6 23 ~d4 cxd4 24 b4 :ac8 25 'ifdl lOO4

Whίte'slong-term plans by posing immediate tactica1 problems. 'iff6 26 .i.el 27 ':bl 'ife5 28 .1:xa6 d5! 29 exd5

29 lbb2! The knight ίβ taboo in view of ... 'ifxel. 30 'ifd2 ':c2! 31 ':e6 The only way to struggle οη. 31 ..ο %Σxe6 32 dxe6 %Σxd2 33 exd7 'ife7 34 .i.xd2 lbc4 35 .i.el 'ifxd7 36 b5 'ife6 37 c;Wι d3 (D) The strength of the d-pawn makes Whίte's position hopeless. The remaining moves were: 38 ':dl 'ifd6 39 g3 1fd4 40 .i.d2 'ifb2 41 .i.e3 'ifxb5 42 .i.d4 Φh7 43 .i.e4 d2 44 Φg2 h4 45 h3 hxg3 46 .i.f3 gxf2 47 Φxf2 'ifb8 48 Φe2 'ifd6 49 .i.f2 'ife6+ White resigned 000

BIack has a powerful initiative; note how the knights are dominating the white bishops. Black has a1so utilised the half-open θ­ fiIe to the fulI, with pressure οη e4 and threats of back-rank mates. Whίte still has positional advantages: the bishop pair, a passed bpawn (when the a6 pawn drops) and a better pawn structure; but these factors are more than negated by BIack's ίmmediate ίη­ itiative. Psakhis's treatment of the position ίβ exemplary: disrupt

Clαssicαl Variαtion

65

against the Classica1: developing the bishop relieves any queenside congestion and assures Black ο! active piece play. Ι a1so think that earlier remarks ring true here, that White's position ίβ harder to keep control ofthan Black's.

This ίΒ another Βθηοηί masterpiece in which Black utilised threats οη both sides ofthe board. It ίΒ also a good advert for ....i.g4

Ιη the next game Black trades off the bishop for White's e2 bishop. Even afteryears ofpractica1 experience, it ίΒ still not clear whether it is better for White to exchange bishop for bishop or allow the exchange of bishop for knight.

Game13

Efimov - Gavrikov Geneνa (1 d4 ~ 2 c4 e6 3 ~c3 c5 4 d5 exd5 5 cxd5 d6 6 e4 g6 7 .i.e2 .i.g7 8 ~ 0-0 9 ο-ο .i.g4) 10~

1991 then transpose into lines similar to Game 12 with 10....i.xf3 or can pursue an independent path with 10...:e8; e.g. 11 ~d2 .i.xe2 12 "xe2 a6 13 a4 %5 14 .i.e3 ~d7. This ίΒ a known theoretica1 ΡΟΒί­ tion ίη which White has tried both 15 g4 and 15 a5. After 15 g4 %:fO the position becomes quite wild but Black should be doing fine. However, practica1 experience suggests that White has a slight advantage after 15 a5. 10 .i.xe2 11 "xe2 ~bd7 12 ~4 ~b6(D) This ίΒ the point. Trying to defend the d6 pawn with 12 .....e7 runs into 13 .i.f4, when Black 000

66

C~skalVanαtwn

must retreat the knight to defend. The text move forces the c4 knight to stand down since an exchange would favour Black; e.g. 13lbxb6 '6'xb6 fol1owed by ... ':fe8. Remember that White ίΒ trying to cramp Black, βΟ exchanges will tend to Πθθ Black's position. 13 lbe3 '6'e7 14 f3 .:ae8!? An unusual idea, signalling Black's intention to play οη the kingside. 15 a4 a6 16 a5 lΔbd7 17 ':a4

Once again White seeks to use the rook to guard the fourth rank. But White's position again looks stretched; notice how compact and cohesive the black pieces are compared to White's. This ίΒ what Ι mean when Ι suggest that Black's position ίΒ easier to play. The attack begins ... 17 ... lΔh5 18 g4 lΔf4 19 '6'dl lbe5 20 lΔf5 With the knights about to ίη­ vade οη d3 this move ίΒ understandable. 20 .•• gxf5 21 .txf4

• -•.•-• -• .Ι ~.~A~.~ ~A-Ι

~ A~.~ ~~

~.~ u ~ ~Δ~A~.% __ ~ ~ n :1~.~ ~.~Δ~Δ. ~ ~ ~ ~

~

.Δ.

~~.~.n u ~ ~ u ~.~ ~.'ii'~.~:1 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

21 ••. lΔg6! The bishop must retreat. 22 .tg3 f4 23 .t~ h5! 24 h3 .te5 (D) At first sight it might appear that Black ίΒ struggling here. Ηίβ kingside pawns Μθ shattered and the f4 pawn ίβ blocking the darksquared bishop; but Black has

Classical Variation 67

_.. .- . .•• _

_Ζ8

~.­

:_ _

u R

••

__ ~Δ~

~.~. ~

_Δ.Δ.

~

.Δ.Δ ~.~ ~

R u

m _

••• ~'iV~.~:~ ~

~

~

~.~ ~

~

total control of the e5 square, and there is ηο question of the e4 pawn ever advancing. Moreover, the emphasis of the game is definitely οη the kingside, where it is difficult for White to deploy his pieces. Black can bring his rooks to bear οη the h- and g-files and create a dangerous attack against the king. 25 gxh5? White may have been suffering but opening up the kingside cannot be the best defence. 25 ••• "'g5+ 26 ci>h2 "'xh5 27 :gl ci>g7 28 :g4 :h8 29 :e,s 30 :a3 ci>f8 31 :b3 White tήes to distract with threats against b7, but Black has a powerful ήΡοste. 31 •.• ~xc3 32 :Xc3 f5! 33 exf5 "'xf5 (D) Black has total domination. The bishop οη f2 is locked out of

"'f1

the game, White's rooks are permanently disconnected, and e5 is a monster square for the knight. 34 b4 Faced with inevitable defeat, White switches to 'random' mode, hoping to confuse his opponent, but Black manages to avoid White's desperate tήcks. 34•••cxb4 35 :c4 b3 36 "'cl b2 37 :c8+ ci>rt 38 :c7+ ci>fS 39 :c8+ ci>e7 40 "'el+ ci>d741 :x,s :Xg8 42 :gl lile5! White re· signed due to 43 Jhg8 bl.... Α razor-sharρ game ίη which both sides took risks. This game shows that Black's play is not confined to the queenside; sometimes an all-out kingside attack is possible. True, White has an extra pawn οη this flank, but Black has the semi-open e-file and active piece play. This concludes our study ofthe ... ~g4 system against the Classical. Ενθη at the very highest levels Black ίβ doing fine ίη this system and Ι hope that these two

68

Clαssical

Variation

games demonstrate some ο! the plans and ideas at Black's disposa1.

System with ...ttJa6 The main drawback ofthe ... lba6c7 plan ίΒ that the knight fails to

cover the e5 square. Ιη the Classica1, though, this is less ο! a worry since White's pieces are not ideally placed for an aggressive thrust with e4-e5. Black has tίmθ, therefore, to bring the knight to c7, where it ίΒ well placed to support the ... b7-b5 thrust.

Game14

Polugayevsky - Hulak Moscow GMA 1990 1 d4 2 c4

lbf8 e6 c5 exd5 d6 g6

lbf3 d5 cxd5 lbc3 7 lbd2 This move order from White bypasses the system with ....tg4 but allows Black interestίng prospects based οη ... lba6. Note, however, that after the sequence 7 e4 .tg7 8 .te2 ο-ο 9 0-0, Black ίΒ illadvised to play 9 ... lba6 in view ο! 10 i..f4. 7 ••• .tv:ι 8 e4 0-0 9 .te2 lba6 (D) This ίΒ the basic startίng ΡΟΒί­ tion. Instead ο! 9 ... lba6, Black used to play 9 ...1:te8 10 lbd2lba6, but Ι feel that this restήcts his ορ­ tions as 9 ... J:e8 prevents Black from using the e8 square for the f6 knight. 10 ο-ο White resists the temptation to 3 4 5 6

double Black's pawns WΊth 10 i..xa6, since thίB would give Black the ΟΡθη b-fίle and the bishop pair. 10 ... lbc7 11 a4 b6 There are usua11y two reasons why Black plays ... b7-b6: to prevent White from cήρριing the pawn structure after ... a7-a6 by playing a4-a5; or, more importantly ίη this position, to give the bishop scope to enter the game via the a6-f1 diagona1. Obviously the drawback to the move ... b7-b6

Clαssical Variαtion

ίΒ the 10ss oftίme: Black is aiming for ...b7-b5 and this advancewould ideally be played ίη οηθ move. Ιη these Classical positions, however, White ίΒ not ίmmediately blasting open the centre, ΒΟ Black often has tίmθ for preparatory moves like ...b7-b6; and the move ....ta6 will be very useful now that the knight ίΒ coming to c4. 12 lOO4 .ta6

This is the standard position from which the main lines branch out. White can continue here with 13 .tf4, when the usual plan for Black is simply 13 ....txc4 14.txc4 a6 and the standard struggle for ... b6-b5 will ensue. Otherwise, Black could try the surpήse move 13 ... tl::ιh5, for example 14 .txh5 .txc4. Other 13th moves are possible for White, such as 13 .td2 and 13 :abl, though Black's strategy in these cases ίΒ clear: a timely exchange with ... .txc4, then ... a7-a6, ...:ab8 and ... b6-b5. :b8 13 13 14 .td2 .txc4

15 .txc4

69

a6

Black has conceded the bishop pair but hopes to find counterplay with the usual queenside expanΒίοη. Obviously White must prevent ... b6-b5. 16 "e2 "c8 17 :abl White starts to reveal his strategy. The long-term prospects of preventing Black's ... b6-b5 are slim, ΒΟ White must be able to counter. Here he intends his own queenside challenge with b2-b4. If played at the correct moment, this will pose seήοus questions for Black. Remember: ifthe queenside becomes blocked, White will have a free hand to roll the central pawn majοήtΥ forward. 17 tl::ιd7 18 Ι4 :e8(D) This ίΒ a cήtίcal position for both sides. White committed the f-pawn forward to prevent the knight from enteήng e5, so once again the e-pawn is a target. Black would have liked to prepare 000

70

Clαssical

V ariαtion Hulak commits θη error here, Black should look for an alternative. Polugayevsky has also faced 25 ...:b4 in this position (against Psakhis at Sochi in 1988). That game continued 26 Φh1 :e5 27 fxg6 hxg6 28 .i.f4 :f5 and Black eventually came out οη top. Since our game was played more than a year later, presumably 'Poly' had some improvement υρ his sleeve. Ι cannot βθθ anything devastating, though, and the position seems to offer Black good practical chances. 25 ••• :e7? 26 .i.xd4! cxd4 27 f6 :e5 28.d2 This ίβ the point. White threatθηβ both .xd4 and .i.xd7 with ~6 to follow. 28•••lOO5 29 .xd4 lM3 30 b4 .,431 d6 :d8 32 d7 h5 33 ~ :Xd7 34 'ii'b8+ Black resigned After 34... Wh7 35 'iff81eads to mate. This game ίβ a good illustration of the slow strategic preparations that both sides need to adopt ίη the ... l2Ja6 Classical. At some point the position will explode with οηθ side playing either e4-e5 or ... b7-b5. How carefully and efficiently each side has conducted these preparations will usually determine who comes out οη top. The next game features an ίη­ teresting idea which allows Black to deviate from the main line at an early stage. βΟ

the b-pawn advance with ...1i'b7, but this would have run into b2b4 when the queen is a potential target for the b1 rook. White decides to break the deadlock. 19 e5 dxe5 20 f5 b5 This ίβ a necessary diversion since White was threatening d5d6, hitting the knight and opening υρ a deadly attack οη n. 21 axb5 axb5 22 lί)xb5 lί)xb5 23 .i.xb5 e4 24 .i.e3 .i.d4 25 .i.c6

CΙαssical

Variation 71

Game15

Palatnik - Huzman Baku 1988 (1 d4 lM6 2 c4 e6 3 00 c5 4 d5 d6 5 lOO3 exd5 6 cxd5 a6 7 lLJd2 J.g7 8 e4 0-0 9 J.e2 lLJa6 10 0-0)

10 ••• lLJe8 At first sight it looks bizaπe to retreat at such an early stage in the game, but the knight is making room for an interesting pawn advance. 11 lLJc4

The aggressive altemative, 11 f4, could be met with l1 ... fO, when the position becomes very murky. 11 ••• f5 12 exf5 J.xf5 13 J.f4 b5! (D) Thίs is the clever idea behind this system: ifWhite captures the pawn with 14lLJxb5 then 14... J.d7 hits both the bishop and the knight, and 15 J.xd6 J.xb5 16 J.xf8 ~ ίΒ fine for Black since

the minor pieces will become very active. 14 lLJe3 J.d7 15 J.g3 Black does have some weaknesses οη the kίngside (the e6 square could become a problem later οη), but Black has already got the ... b7-b5 advance ίη and his pieces enjoy some ΟΡθη lίnθB and diagonals. 15 ••• lLJac7 16 'ii'c2 b4 17 lLJe4 J.f5! Now 18lLJxf5 will fail in view of 18 ... gxf5 and 19... f4 winning the bΊShop.

18 J.d3 J.xe4 19 J.xe4 lLJb5 (υ) Once again Black is conducting the classic strategy: concede the bΊShop pair ίη retum for queenside expansion and active cavalry

72

Clα.ssicαl Variαtion

play. The d4 square is an outpost that White can never cha11enge. Whatever the objective assessment ofthis position, I'd prefer to be Black. 20 lOO4 lM6 Delaying the deployment ofthe b5 knight (which covers d6) a1lows the other knight to enter the action. ι!ίili5 21 J.d3 22 Aael ~ι3 lM4 23 hxg3 24 1fd2 a5 JΣa7 25 1fdl

makes it difficult for White to find a meaningful plan. IfWhite could deploy a knight to e6 then he would have good chances - but this destination ίΒ far off. 26 1fg4 Aaf'1 27 1fh4 1fc7 28 Adl lM5 29 J.xf5 hf5 White has exchanged off the fearsome knight, but Black retains the powerful dark-squared bishop. 30 Ad2 J.d4 At this stage ίη a Benoni game the bishop is often ideally placed οη d4, where it hits both the b2 and f2 pawns.

31 b3 A8f8 321fe41ff7 33lbe3 :e5 34 1fd3 Axe3 White resigned After 35 fxe3 + 36 1fxf1 he3+ Black has a decisive materia1 advantage. This is yet another game ίη which Black υΒθΒ the letha1 cocktail of queenside expansion combίned with a kίngside attack. The

:xn

Classicαl Vαriation

system of 10.. .lOO8 and 11 ... fD ίΒ not without ήsk. but it seems to offer prospects of an interesting game for Black. Although Benoni players may prefer to rely οη the main line in the previous game. this system can be a useful surprise weapon in one's armoury.

Systems with ...ti)bd7 The third way of meeting the Classical. by deploying the knight to d7. ίΒ rarely seen ίη intemational play these days. Why the decline in populaήty? Basically Black wants to occupy e5 as an outpost for the knight. and White ίη turn wants to kick away the knight with f2-f4. Ιη order to maintain the knight οη e5. Black ίβ usually obliged to play ... g6-g5. which compromises his kingside pawn structure and seήοuslΥ weakens the square fD. Although

73

in the early eighties it seemed that Black's active piece play compensated for these weaknesses. the last few years has seen Black sufl'eήng at the internationallevel. Is the system with ... lbbd7 βΟ bad? Ifyou are up against a wellprepared grandmaster then 'yes·. you are likely to be punished. Some White players have perfected the art of containing Black's advance and then slowly highlighting the weaknesses of the g5 pawn. At lower leve1s Ι would argue that Black gets good practical chances. White's plan requires considerable finesse. If White gets it wrong then the ροι­ icy of quiet containment can easily backfire. ΜΥ advice would be to reserve this system for relatively weak opposition or for games where you need to go for thewin.

Game16 FedoΓowicz - NOΓwood London 1988 (1 d4 lΔf8 2 c4 c5 3 d5 e6 4 lbc3 exd55 cxd5 d6 6lbf3 g6 7lbd2) Remember the point of this move order: an early lbf3-d2 prevents Black from playing the vaήations with ... i.g4. βΟ that he has to choose οηθ ofthe ... tba6 or ... lbbd7 vaήations. The pena1ty ίβ a 10ss of flexibility. 7 ••• tbbd7

This move enables Black to meet 8 tbc4 with 8...tbb6. 8 e4 i.g7 9 i.e2 ο-ο 10 0-0 1:[e8 (υ) This ίβ the basic starting ΡΟΒί­ tion. Black has done the obvious • attacking e4. and White has defended. Let us now think about how both sides can proceed. Black

74 Classical Variαtion

will, as usual, want to play for the ... b7-b5 advance but as things stand this looks an unlikely prospect. White can hold b5 with the a-pawn, the e2 bishop and c3 knight, ΒΟ Black needs the bishop οη d7 to support the ... b7-b5 push. The knight must therefore advance from d7 to e5; but once οη e5 it cannot be allowed to be pushed back. Hence the need for ... g6-g5. Ιη the initial stages White adopts a policy of restraint. First the b5 square must be covered, then White waits for the committal move ... g6-g5. After this advance White must set about demonstrating that Black has weakened his kingside. The g5 pawn ίβ an obvious target, but the f5 square is even more vulnerable. 11 a4 White has an important alternative here, 11 h3. This useful waiting move puts the question to Black. If simply 11 ...lbe5 then 12 f4 forces the knight to retreat.

Black must prepare ... ~θ5 by playing 1l... g5 first. We now get involved ίη tactical complications: after 12 lbc4!? tDxe4 13 ~xθ4 ]he4 14 tDxd6 1:Σd4 15 'ii'c2 there are some holes ίη Black's position. ΜΥ hunch ίβ that the best way to play is to give up mateήal as follows: 15 ... ~b6 16 tDxc8 ]hcS 17 -*.e3 tDxd5 18 -*.xd4 -*.xd4, when White is the exchange for a pawn up but Black's bishop οη d4 is an excellent piece. Both 12 and b2 are targets for Black and the d5 knight can hop into useful squares such as f4 and b4. Ιη practical play I'd be quite happy to play Black. 11 ••• 12 .l:Σa3

~5

This move is an important part ofWhite's strategy. The rook is required along the a-file, and deployment to a3 also allows it to assert a lateral influence along the third rank. If Black's kingside opens up, then the rook could swing into action οη a square such as g3. The main altemative to 12 :a3 ίΒ 12 :e1; logical deployment of the rook to the e-file also frees the f1 square for the knight οη d2. Remember, if Black plays ... g6-g5 then the f5 square is weak, and White can manoeuvre ~d2-f1-g3-f5. Note that if White kicks the knight immedί­ ately with 12 f4 then 12... lbeg4 and the knight ίβ ready to hop into e3 (the d2 knight cannot move as the e-pawn will fall).

CΙαssical

12 ••• 13 1i'c2 14 lί)dl

g5 86

•• . -__- -__ .t.~._._

•• _ .~.~

_.8ι

~

~.~ ~~Δ-

~

Δ_

~-~

~~

_Δ_

α

B_~ ~

"\Wι~~nΔΡ u.~"'u U

Variation 75

square could become vulnerable forWhite. 16 'ifbl :a7 17 b4 :8e7 This ίβ the point: Black doubles rooks οη the e-file ίη order to bring more pressure against the e4 pawn. Given that White ίβ preparing to open υρ the queenside, a counter strike ίη the centre makes a good deal ο! sense. 18 bxc5 bxc5 19 :b3

~llJ.1:t~ ~ ~

8)

This ίΒ an interesting altemative to the plan of:e1, lί)d2-f1-g3. The queen's knight can head for ffi via e3. 14 ••• b6!? The normal move, 14... :b8, is weH met by 15 a5, when after the further moves 15 ... b5 16 axb6 :xb6 17 lί)e3 White's control ο! c4 and the wealmess ο! the a6 pawn ΜΗ make Black's life difficult. This ίβ the beginning ο! an interesting plan by Black. 15 g3? This ίβ a poor move ίη view ο! Black's reply; White should have continued with simply 15 1i'b1 ιιnd the plan ο! b2-b4 as ίη the Jζame, but in more beneficial cirωmstances. 15 lί)e3 ίβ also ΒθηΒί1)le. 15 •.• g4! This stops White's ideas ο! expanding with f4. The g4 pawn (~Bη easily be defended and the f3

19 ••• lί)ed7? This ίβ a horrible move, completely overlooking White's reply. Black should not be worse before this move; e.g. 19... lί)g6 20 J.d3 and now Black could play 20 ... lί)θ5, when White has nothing better than 21 J.e2 with a repetition. 20 lί)e3 Suddenly the f5 square looks very vulnerable; there ίβ nothing better than an ignominious retum toe5. 20 ••• lί)e5

76

Clαssicαl Vαriαtion

21 :b8 'ikc7 22 Jb:cS! Α good decision. The occupation of the f5 square more than compensates for the 10ss ofthe exchange. 22 •.• 'ii'xc8 23 ~ :d7 24 .i.b2

Black is tied in knots. The rooks are useless and the g7 bishop is teποήsed by the f5 knight and the b2 bishop. 24 ••• .i.f8 25 _cl h6 26 lOO4 ~h7 27 .i.xe5 dxe5 28 ~b6 Wb7 29 ~d7 _xd7 30 _c2 "a7 31 :bl c4 (D) Desperate, but the on1y chance for Black's dark-squared bishop to see the light of day. 32 _xc4 .i.c5 33 ~g2 a5 34 d6 :d8 35 ~θ71

The fina1 tήck. White threatens both 36 _xf7+ and 36 ~, so Black resigned. If you are intent οη trying ... ~bd7 remember the following: a) It will usually be necessary to play ... g6-g5, after which you must guard the f5 square with your life. This means that you cannot exchange off the lightsquared bishop, unless it is for a knight that has landed οη f5. b) After ... g6-g5, White may try to ΟΡθη υρ the kingside. Do not be afraid of this, since the white king will a1so become vulnerable. Advancing ... g5-g4 can sometimes prevent White's kingside pawn expansion (as in the above game). c) Try to hold the knight οη e5: a knight οη this outpost puts you in a good position to counter White's threats οη both flanks. Be patient! These are slow strategica1 positions and if you rush matters it can end in disaster. Wait for White's push, and then SΡήηg the counter-blow.

4 Modern Classical Variation The Modem Classical system ίβ characteΉSed by the poBίtίoη after: 1 d4 2 c4 c5 3 d5 e6 4 lOO3 exd5 5 cxd5 d6 g6 6 lMι 7e4 ~g7 8 h3 0-0 9 ~d3(D) Α

decade ago, this system was hardly ever Βθθη in tournament play, but now it ίβ the οηθ that Βθηοηί players are most likely to face, the product of a gradual rethink by White players οη how to beat the Βθηοηί. The new method

ίβ restraint: overprotect e4 WΊth the knight οη c3, bishop οη d3 and rook οη e1; keep Black's queen's bishop out of the game WΊth h2h3; and, of course, prevent ...b7b5. White's knight norma1ly stays οη f3 instead of headίng for c4.

Game17

Alburt - de Firmian USA Ch., Jacksonville 1990 (1 d4 lί)f6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 e6 4 lL!c3 exd5 5 cxd5 d6 6 lMι g6 7 h3 ~g7 8 e4 0-0 9 ~d3) 9 b5 (D) The most common thrust ίη the Modem Βθηοηί. Ιη this case the ... b7-b5 break lures away either the knight or the bishop from the defence of e4, and then Black sacήfices a piece οη e4, but only temporaήly, since .....a5+ or ...:e8 will recoup the mateήal. Recent 000

78 Modem

Clαssicαl Vαrίαtion

analysis, though, suggests that 9 ... b5 al10ws White to gain a strong advantage and this ίβ bome out in this game. The main altematives are 9 ... :e8 10 ο-ο c4 (Games 18 and 19), 9 ... a6 10 a4 :e8 11 ο-ο lt!bd7 (Game 20) and 9 ... a6 10 a4 lbh5 (Game 21). 10 ll)xb5 10 j.xb5 might also be promising for White; e.g. 10... lt!xe4 11 lt!xe4 "a5+ 12 lt!fd2 "xb5 13 lt!xd6 "a6 14 lt!2c4 lt!d7 15 ο-ο when Black may have compensation for the pawn, though my hunch ίΒ that it ίβ not enough. 10 tΩxM 11 j.xe4 :e8 12 tbgs!! 000

This is the move that probably puts the whole idea of9... b5 out of business. The problem ίβ that when Black final1y regains the piece, White Μη have a powerful initiative. 12 f5 This gives White the game he wants, but ίβ there a better move? 000

Let us take a look at the altematives: a) 12 ... h6 ίβ the logical move to dislodge the defender of e4, but after 13 lOO6! fxe6 14 ο-ο e5 15 j.xg6 White ίβ a pawn ahead and, more importantly, he can launch an attack οη the b1-h7 diagonal. After the altemative, 13 .....a5+ 14lt!c3 j.xc3+ 15 bxc3 "xc3+ 16 j.d2 "e5 17 ο-ο j.xe6 18 dxe6 "xe4 19 exfl+ Φxf7 20 :e1 "c6 21 "g4, White has a dangerous attack according to American grandmaster Max Dlugy. If 12 ... h6 doesn't work, what about 12... j.xb2 instead? b) 12... j.xb2 13 j.xb2 "xg5 14 ..rn "xd5 15 lt!c3 Wb7 16 0-0-0 wins easily for White; and 14... f5 15 lt!xd6 :e7 16 "c3 hardly looks convincing for Black either. 80 with all the tactics working in White's favour, Black has to play 12... f5. 13 0-0 fxe4 14 :el Wb6 15 lOO3 lM7 There ίβ ηο way to shore up the e-pawn; when it drops off the board Black has to rely οη tricks. 16 lOOxe4 j.b7 17 j.f4! Α good decision; the d6 pawn ίβ more usefu.l than the b2 pawn. Besides, capturing the b2 pawn would be disastrous after the reΡΙΥ :b1, since Black has too many pieces lined up along the b-file. 17 .. ο lt!e5 18 lt!e6 j.h8

••-_-..I•-•••••• -. .

Clαssicαl Variαtion

Modern

~.t..

~

-

~~

_ι.zJ.

8

Δ~ u

Β

Β

R ~

Β.

Β

~Δ-

Δ~~

_ - _ Β_ _.Β _ _ Β'Β

• BliJg~_

~.~

~Β

~ 85 Β.

_

.iV~ ~

_Δ

ΒΔ_ ~ ~

19 lMxc5 With such a domίnatίng ΡΟΒί­ tion, it is hardly surpήsίng that the tactics favour White. 19 ••• dxc5 20 .i.xe5 .i.xe5 21 he5 1Wd6 If Black could Μη the d5 pawn without having to excbange a bishop for a knight, there would be good chances of a counterattack. White's next move, though, deploys the rook to a square where it can hold the d5 pawn and menace the black king. Black has ηο option but to trade off. 22 1tg5 .i.xd5 23 1Wxd5 1Wxd5 24 hd5 heβ 25 hc5 1te2 26 1tacl 1tf8 (υ) 27 1tlc2? τω gives Black excellent drawing chances. The correct way to play was 27 1tc8 :xf2 29 1txf8+ 1txf8 29 1tc2 with a winning endgame for White. 27 ••• 1tfxf'2 28 1tc8+ Φg7

79

Β

Β

_

α

Β

~

~

Β

Β

Β

Β

--

Β ΒΔ

_.~.IHΔ_B ~ u ~

~

~

~

29 1t8c7+ Φh6 30 1txe2 1txe2 31 1tb7 a6 32 a4 Φg5 33 b4 h5? Α grave mistake. As Dlugy points out, 33 ... :'a2 34 a5 h5 35 1Ib6 :'b2 ίβ a drawn endgame. 34 :'b6 :'b2 35 b5 Α nice tήck; Black cannot capture with 35 ... axb5 because 36 1hb5+ forces an exchange into a winning ending.

Β

- __ • Β_ Β

___ --.

.a _

~.~Δ ~

~ ~ ΔΒ

Β ~ --~

_.~

~

_ Β_ Β

Β'Β Β

.. ~

~

Β

ΒΔ

ΒΔ8

~ ~

35•••a5 36 :'a6 Φf4 37 hge :'b4 38:t'6+ Φι3 39:ΙΙ ha440

80 Modern

Clαssical Vαriαtion

:bl :Μ 41 :ΧΜ &Xb4 42 b6 and the pawn ro11s home, ΒΟ

Black reSΊgned. As you will appreciate, lines with 9 ... b5 are qcite complex and

there ίΒ ηο shortage of tactίcal varίations. The verdίct at present, however, ίs that the cards are stacked ίη Whίte's favour. υη­ less you have an improvement prepared, avoid 9... b5.

Game18

Bischoff - C.Hansen Hamburg 1991 (1 ~ c52c4g63 d4~g7 4d5 d6 5 e4 lDfβ 6 lOO3 0-0 7 h3 e6 8 ~d3 exd5 9 cxd5) 9 ... :e8 10 0-0

10 ••• c4 This move aims to take advantage of Whίte's delay ίη castlίng. If Whίte's rook were already οη el, this idea would not work as the e4 pawn would be too well defended, but here Black can try to deflect the bishop. l1hc4 The alternatίve ίs 11 ~c2, whίch we consider in the next game.

11 .•• 12 ttJxe4

ttJxe4 :Xe4

13 ~g5 This ίΒ the logίcal continuation for Whίte: develop and attack. If Black has time to mobilise hίB queenside then he should be doing qcite well. However, Whίte has a temporary inίtίatίve whίch must be neutra1ised first. 13 ... ~f6 ThίB ίΒ the best choice, though it ίs tempting to try to retain the dark-squared bishop. Another possibility ίΒ 13 ... '5b6, when the game becomes sharp after 14lDd2

Modern (hitting the rook οη e4; White wants to make the most of the lead ίη development) 14....:.e8 (ώ­ ter 14....:.e5 15 .te3 'ifxb2 16 ':'c1! White has a great attack for the sacrificed pawn) 15 ':'e1 .:.xe1+ 16 'ifxe1 and now if 16... 'ifxb2 Black runs into trouble after 17 'ife8+ .tf8 18 ':'b1 "e5 19 'ifxc8 "xg5 20 'iVxb7 and White ίΒ winning mateήal. Altematively, the line 16....td7 17 lL1e4 'ifxb2 18 ':'d1 gives White good compensation for the pawn since d6 ίβ very weak. If the black queen leaves the a1-h8 diagonal then 19 tDffi+ will be very powerful; if 18 ... 'ife5 19 f4 keeps the attack going. For these reasons Ι prefer 13....tffi.

•

......

_ΙΒ

Β

~.~ ~

Β.Β

ΒιΒι

"",,!?

~Ι~.~ ~

-

•

ΒΔΒ Βit.Β.ιΒ Β Β Β B~BΔ Δ" ~B~ "Δ~B~ u ~ u ~

~ ~

Clαssical

Variation 81

keep up the pressure with 16 ':'fe1. 16 tDxg5 h6!? 17 tDf3 17 tDe4 would be met by 17....tf5 and Black ίΒ fine. Black ίΒ happy to trade bishop for knight since ίη the long term White's lightsquared bishop ίΒ ίnfeήοr to the knight, as the bishop's mobility ίΒ restήcted by the d5 pawn which it will be forced simply to defend in the endgame. Nobody seems to have considered 17 trudΊ!? ίn this position, but it could be promising: 17 ...Φxf'7 18 'ifxh6 and the g6 pawn ίΒ far from easy to defend; e.g. 18 .....ffi 19 'ifh7+ 'ifg7 20 .txg6+ winning. Ιη my ορίηίοη, 17 trudΊ looks rather dangerous for Black. 17 ..ο <Jί;g7 18 ':'fel J:r.xel+ 19 1hel tDd7 20 ':'e4 tDc5 21 ':'h4 h5

~.~\Ulι~B~ ~ ~B~ Zi ~

14 .td3 ':'e8 15 "d2 If 15 .txffi 'ifxffi and Black ίΒ fine since the queen ίΒ well placed οη ffi and the knight can enter the game οη e5 οτ c5 via d7. 15 .txg5 The altemative ίΒ 15... lL1d7, after which White should try to 000

It would appear that White has a dangerous attack but Black's

Clαssical Variαtion

82 Modern

position ίΒ quite resilient. The ffi square ίΒ a νθτΥ usefu1 defensive outpost for Black's queen and the knight is poised to exchange 0« the bishop οη d3 if necessary. 22 .i.bl?! ΑΒ it transpires, the bishop would be better οη c2. 22 ••• a5 Α good waiting move which prevents b2-b4 and encourages White to commit himself. 23 g41! This is the kind of move that begs to be played in these ΡΟΒί­ tions, but it leaves White's ΡΟΒί­ tion extremely 100se. 23 ••• ω7!

_• _._._.Ζ_-*-_

•_ • •• ~.~ ~

_Δ.

• • U Δ~

...

~ ~

~.~. ~ ~

~.~ ~ .~.~ ~

.Δα

_ ~

.tΔ.Δ ~.~ ~

U ~

~ ~

~ ~.

Now the knight must come to the defence of the kingside. 24 gxh5 lDe5 This is the point. White cannot capture in νiew of25lDxe5 "xh4. 25 h6+ ~h7 26 'l'f4!? Of course not 26 lDg5+ when 26.. :ii'xg5+ 27 "xg5lDf3+ wins a piece for nothing. Instead, 26 :t'4

f5 is comfortable for Black as the h6 pawn BθrνθB as a protector to the black king.

26 •.• lDxf3+ 27 'iνxf3 'iνι5+ Νο, not 27 .....xh4 because 28 'iνxf7 + ίΒ mate next move! 28 ~h2 .i.f5! Now most ofWhite's pieces are hanging.

Modern 34 hxg5+

'ii'xg51

The coup de grdce οΙ a bήΙliaηt defensive game by Black. 35 'ii'e6

:e81

Classicαl

Variation 83

Accurate to the end. ΙΙ 36 :Xg5 :'xe6 and White remains a piece down ίη the endgame. 80 White resigned.

Game19

Dreev - Wedberg New York Open 1991 (1 d4 tM6 2 c4 e6 3 ~ c5 4 d5 exd5 5 cxd5 d6 6 lOO3 g6 7 e4 i.g7 8 h3 0-0 9 i.d3 :e8 10 0-0 c4) 11 i.c2

The altemative to 11 i.xc4. White intends to maintaίn his pawn majοήtΥ in the centre, ΒΟ he sticks to the defence οΙ e4. The plan ίΒ clear: secure e4 and then prove that Black has weakened his position with the ... c5-c4 advance. If White has time to consolidate this plan, then the Black player will start to suffer. 80 we continue the policy οΙ taking the battle to him ... 11 •.• b5

12 ~b5 With Black's pawns storming the queenside, there was really ηο other option. Besides, the threat was ...b5-b4 dislodging the knight from the defence οΙ e4. 12 ••• ~e4 13 :el

13 ••• i.a6 This is perfectly playable, but it ίΒ not really the style to which we have become accustomed. Let's go for it with 13... ~!. Now after 14 Φxf2, we can play 14... :Xel. Any way you look at it, we regain a piece. ιι either 15 'ii'xel or 15lΔxθl, 15... 'ii'b6+ picks up the knight. Otherwise 15 ~θl

84 Modern

Clαssical Vαriation

'iνθ8+

and the same pήnciple apbut with a different fork. 80 White must play 14 :xe8+ 'iνxθ8 15 lΔc7 'iνθ7 (15 ... lΔxd1 16 lΔxθ8 and White Btίll has the move lΔc7 winnίng the rook οη a8) 16 'iνθ1 'iνxc7 17 'iνθ8+ .if818 .ih6 lΔxh3+! 19 gxh3 'iνc5+. Bθlίθνθ it or not, this position has actually been reached in severaI games. White's best move Ίs 20 ι;i;>h1 and now 20 ... lΔd7 21 lΔg5 'iνxd5+ (21 ... 'iνf2 22 .ie4 'ii'f6 may be better - Nunn) 22 .ie4 .ib7! 23 'ii'xd7 'iνxθ4+ 24 lΔxθ4 .ixe4+ 25 Φh2 .ixh6 26 'ii'xd6 is gίνθη as unclear by Μageπamοv. Although it would not be to everybody's taste, it does seem that Black's two bishops and two pawns gίνθ good compensation for the queen. Either way, it ίΒ good for the crowds. 14 a4 .ixb5 15 axb5 lΔc5 16 lΔd2 16 he8+ is better for White after 16... 'ii'xe8 17 lΔd4 .ixd4 18 'iνxd4 'iνθ1+ 19 Φh2 lΔbd7 20 f4!, accordίng to Dreev. 1:xel+ 16 ••• 17 'iνxel (υ) 17 ••• c3 18 bxc3 .ixc3 19 :a3 .ib4 20 :e3 Ι never feel comfortable when my fianchetto bishop gets diverted from the long dίagonaI, θΒ­ pecially when my opponent has a bishop that can occupy it. 20 ... lΔbd7 ρΙίθΒ

21 'iνe2 lΔb6 It looks as if Black ίΒ ready to gobble the d-pawn, but White has a resource. 22 lΔe4

_• ...

Νι

11 _

• • •

_ ••

_ι_ι

_ι.

_

.Δ_Δ.~_~ .tΔ_

-

α .Δ .ι.lfIDΔ_ B.~B.~ ~ ~ ~

•

Now if 22 ... lΔxd5 White starts to get tήckΥ wίth 23 .ib2! - as Ι saίd earlίer, beware of the bishop occupyίng thίB long diagonaI. Grabbing the rook with 23 ... lΔxθ3 is suiCΊde in VΊew of 24 lΔfO+ Φf8 23 'iνxθ3 and White has a devastating attack. Black's best move after 23 .ib21 ίΒ 23 ...:c8! and now 24 .ib3lΔxe4 25 .ixd5lΔc3 with a roughly equaI game.

Modern 22 23 24 25 26

000

1b:e4 h4 h5 ':c4

27 ~θ3

Clαssical

Variation 85

llJxe4 ~c3

lM7 lOO5 ~f8

':c8 ':c7

28.g4 29 g3 'iVb8 30 h6 .xb5 31 ~xc5 ~θ7 (υ) White's 30 h6 created a permanent mating danger οη the back rank, for example 31...hc5 32 .c8+ with mate to follow. Since 31 ... dxc5 32 d6 ίβ also tremendous Black tries to be clever, but falls οη his face. 32 ~xg6f fxg6 The point is that after 32 ... hxg6 33 h7+ Φxh7 34 1Wh3+ Φg8 35 ~d4! Black cannot defend against

both threats of 36 ii'h8 mate and 36]hc7. 33 .e6+ 34 ':b4 35 1b:b5 36 .c8+ 37 1Wh8 The h-pawn will fall and with it the game, βΟ Black resigned.

Game20

Henley - Rohde New York 1990 (1

d4 ll)f8 2 c4 c5 3 d5 g6 4 lOO3 a6 8

~g7 5 e4 d6 6 ~d3 0-0 7 h3 a4 e6 9lί)f3 exd5 10 cxd5

:e8 11

0-0) 11

000

lί)bd7

12 :el lί)e5I? (υ) Treating the knight as excess baggage. WΊth this move Black attempts to lίberate his queenside pieces, but the drawback is that White develops his darksquared bishop with tempo. 13 llJxe5 1b:e5 14 ~Ι4I?

This move intends to support a future e4-e5. However, if White's

86 Modem

Clαssical Variαtion

central advance does not come off (as ίη this game), White's bishop can be out οί the gam.e for a long time. As a result, Black has the a1-h8 diagonal free of charge. 14 1:e8 15 .th2 b6f 000

An all-purpose move. White was threatening to play the cramping a4-a5, which would stop Black's counterplay οη the queenside. Ιη addition, 15 ...b6! brings the rook οη a8 into the game via a7. 16 .tc4 Bolstering up the d-pawn for the pawn offensive. 16 :&7 17 ..d3 tbb.Sf (υ) An excellent move which has a number οί favourable points. Ιη οηθ stroke the bishop οη g7 is freed; Black has ideas οί ... f7-f5 undermining White's centre; the crucial e5 square is given more support; the ί4 square can become an outpost for the knight after a move such as ....te5; and fina11y, 17 ...ltlli5 provokes White to play 000

g2-g4. This move, which gains a tempo, is extremely tempting but then White must be able to consolίdate his position quickly, or he will be made to pay for voluntarily weakening his king position. 18 g4 1M6 19 'iVg3? The immediate 19 ί4! was the only way to try and justify White's ambitious 18 g4. Black would be forced to reply 19 ... lί)d7 with the positional threat οί ... g6-g5. Ιί White simply ignores this idea with a natural move such as 20 :e2 then 20 ... g5! 21 f5 .te5! would give Black a clear advantage. White's best chances lίθ with 20 g5 h6 21 h4, when there is a balanced struggle over the e5 square, though White has a space advantage, or with 20 'i'd2 g5!? 21 fxg5 lί)θ5 22 .te2, when Black's compensation may not be enough. 19 lί)d7f? (υ) 20 .tn? After this move, Black has a clear plus. The slίghtly riskylooking 20 "xd6! was White's last 000

Moιkm Classicαl Variαtion

87

of the e5 square) 24 1i'e3 .ixh2 25 Φxh2 1i'm with a clear advantage for Black. 'ii'xg5 23 ••• 24 1i'xd6 This move loses but White faced positional straπgulation οη the dark squares in any case. 24 •••

chance. After 20 1i'xd6! ~5 White should avoid 21 .ixe5? J:ιd7! 22 .im .ixffi 23 1i'g3 when, with the queens still οη the board, Black has clear compensation. Instead he can try 21 1i'xd8 lLJf3+ 22 ΦhΙ (22 Φg2? lΔxθl+ nets the exchange) 22 ... J:ιxd8 23 J:ιθ3 lLJxh2 24 Φxh2 when Black's darksquared bishop compensates for the pawn, but White has some winning chances. 20 ••• .ie5! 21 f4 .id4+ g5! 22 ΦhΙ 23 fxg5 Keeping the ΡΟΒίαοη closed with 23 f5 ίΒ more stubborn but also more painful. Black would then play 23 ....ie5! (aπ important move, removing White's protection

lbe5

25 lLJe2 25 .ixe5 ίΒ also bad, as after the continuation 25 ....ixe5 26 1i'xb6 .ixg4! 27 .ig2 1i'f4 28 ΦgΙ 1i'h2+ 29 φη .ixh3 30 .ixh3 1i'xh3+ 31 Φθ2 .ixc3 White will not be around much longer. 25•• ..ixb2 26 J:ιabl lM.3 27 lbg3 .ie5 28 1i'xb6 lbxel 29 hel J:ιb7 30 1i'c6 J:ιf8 31 lbh5 ~4 32 hxg4 White resigned

Game21

Topalov - Dochev Pazardzik 1991 (1 d4 lbf6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 g6 4 lLJc3 d65 e4.ig7 6lLJf3 0-0 7 h3 a68

a4 e6 9 .id3 exd5 10 cxd5) 10 ••• lLJh5!?

88 Modern

Clαssical Variα.tion

f4 and e5 with good play οη the dark squares, whilst 13 i.h6 forces 13 ...:e8, but Black would like to play this anyway. 13 ••• :e8 14 a5

Black immediately prepares to play οη the dark squares and sets up a possible ... f7-f5. Note that the immediate 11 g4? gains a tempo, but after 11 ... lM6 White has gained nothing and has weakened his kingside unnecessarily. The drawbacks of this system, are that White can flick ίη i.g5 and it could be argued that Black's pieces are not οη their 'natural' squares. 11 0-0 lM.7 12 i.g5! i.f6 What else? The queen could go to c7, but after 1tc1 White wi11 play b2-b4 and try to take advantage of the queen's awkward position. Ιη addition, .....a5 or ... 'iνb6 will rule out any ... b7-b5 ideas and after ..."e8, ':'e1, the queen is ίη much the same dilemma as οη c7. The immediate 12... fO? ruins Black's pawn structure, while 12 ... lbdfO loses a piece to 13 g4, ΒΟ Black's only move is 12 ... i.fO. 13 i.e3 13 i.xf6 falls in with Black's plan as the knights willjump into

Α new move at the time. The immediate 14 g4 ίΒ playable in this position as the black knight will have to go to g7, where it is far from ideally placed, though White has still weakened his kingside. Another good scheme ίΒ 14 "d2 1tb8 15 :Cc1 lbe5 16 i.e2 b5 17lbxe5 i.xe5 18 axb5 axb5 19 lbxb5 "fO 20 i.g5 i.f4 21 i.xf6 i.xd2 22 lbxd6! with a clear advantage to White, as in SakaevDochev, Singapore 1990. 14 ••. :b8 15 "c2 White's plan ίΒ now very clear. He will play 1tfe1 followed by lbd2-c4 when all his pieces are ideally placed for any Black COUDterattack. Ιη addition to this, White will slowly build up to f2-f4 followed by e4-e5 if Black does

Modern nothing. After 15 :e1 Topalov gives the following line: 15 ... b5 16 axb6 'iί'xb6 17 :ab1 li)e5 18 i.e2 li)xf.3+ 19 .txf.3 li)g7 when White still has the advantage due to the bad knight οη g7, but Black is nevertheless still ίη the game. 15 ••• li)e5 16 .te2 li)g7? Better was 16... li)xf.3+ 17 i.xf.3 b5 18 axb6 'iί'xb6 when 19 .txh5? would be a ιnistake, as it allows Black good play down the g-file. Νotice how Black would then be playing οη both sides ofthe board and thus White would have diffi.culty ίη holding back play οη both the g- and b-files.

17 li)d2 g5 common Benoni theme and the only move to stay ίη the game. The immediate 17 ... b5? would result ίη an advantage to White after 18 axb6 'iί'xb6 19 f4 li)d7 20 :a2! and White has multiple threats ofli)c4 and :fa1. Dochev's move stops White from playing f2-f4 as, unless White is able to

Clαssicαl Vαriation

89

recapture with a pawn after ... gxf4, Black will dominate the e5 square. The drawback of 17 ... g5 ίΒ that it weakens the light squares around the black king, and ίn particular the f5 square. 18 li)a41 White temporarily forgets the kingside to hold υρ Black's play οη the queenside. Although Black has the initiative οη the kingside, he needs queenside play via a ... b7-b5 thrust to keep the game ίn the balance. If White manages to close υρ the queenside, Black's superficial set-up οη the other wing will quickly collapse. Ιn addition, 18 ... 'iί'xa5 19 Μ! cxb4 20 .tb6 wins the queen. 18 g4 19 hxg4 .txg4 20 'iί'dll

Α

There was still time to go wrong; for example 20 f3 .td7 would allow Black some play after ... li)h5. White's plan is obvious: he would like to play f2-f4 kicking away Black's οηlΥ active

90 Modern

Clαssical

Variation

piece οη e5. However, preparation of this plan ίβ important and the g4 square should be protected from invasion. .ixe2 20 21 'iVxe2 'iVd7 22 .if4! Yet again White takes a time out to restήct Black's counterplay. After 22 ... 'iVb5 23 'iVxb5 axb5 24 llJc3 b4 25 llJb5! :ed8 26 .ixe5 .ixe5 27llJc4llJe8 White's knights dominate the board. 22 ••• :bd8

23 llJb6 'iVe7 If23 ...'iVb5 24llJdc4! and White won't be long in converting. 24 :abl llJg6 25 .te3 Not 25 .tg3 Μ! and Black would be back in the game. The props have aΠ been set υρ: White

has won the queenside; Black's pieces βΤθ huddled awkwardly οη the kingside and everything awaits the f2-f4 thrust. Black's ηθΧΙ move is a clear mistake, giving White a tempo οη a move which he will play anyway. Ιη­ stead 25 ...h5 would have been a better defensive try, gaining the g4 square after f2-f4. 25 .te5 26 Ι4 .td4? 27 .txd4 cxd4 28 f5 Black resigned Topalov showed that with patience and accurate play, it is easy to make Black look a fooΙ However, notice how slowly White developed the seemingly obvious plan of f2-f4. There were many junctures where White could have been tempted to play this advance, but οη each occasion Black would then have had some counterchances. As it was, Black resigned two moves after f4 was finally played. The Black player should observe that the Βθηοηί requires dynamic play οη both sides of the board; very often White can hold υρ queenside or kingside play but rarely can he cope with both.

Fianchetto Variation

5

We reach the basic starting position of the Fianchetto system as follows:

1 d4: 2 c4: 3 d5 4: lOO3

5 c:x:d5 6 tlJf3 7g3 8 .ig2 9 ο-ο

c5 e6 e:x:d5 d6 g6 .ig7 0-0

ΑΡ. the title suggests, this chapter covers the system ίη which White opts to fianchetto his lightsquared bishop. This means that White can delay e2-e4, so Black is deprived ofthe target οη e4. ΟηΙΥ when White has established a bind οη the position wil1 the pawns be rolled forward with e2e4, f2-f4 and e4-e5, and ifthe centre opens up, and White pushes d5-d6, then the fianchetto bishop

wίΙΙ become a monster a10ng the hl-a8 diagonal. ΜΥ instinct has a1ways been that the fianchetto system is a misguided way of facing the Benoni: the light-squared bishop has an important role a10ng the f1-a6 diagonal, most ηο­ tably the restraining of the ... b7b5 advance. True, White can position his knights to perform this function (the manoeuvre liJf3-d2-c4 is a common theme in this system) but the time it takes for White to execute these plans gίves Black good chances to generate counterplay. Ιη practica1 play Black has scored well against this system. Why, then, does the fianchetto system remain such a prominent system against the Βθηοηί? Probably because many Black players who distrust the Βθηοni genera11y, are prepared to play it if White adopts this system. For example, many games arise via the following transpositίon: 1 d4: liJf8 2 c4: e6 3 g3 c5 (D) Presumably, if White had continued 3 liJc3 or 3 liJf3, Black would not have played 3 ... c5. Many transpositίons a1s0 occur via the Κing's Indian Defence, Fianchetto variatίon. Black has two main ways of dea1ing with the

92

Fiαnchetto Variαtion

system: the knight οη b8 can be deployed either to d7 (Gam.es 2224) or a6 (Gam.es 26 and 27). The former tends to lead to more exciting play, but both plans are perfectly respectable. Before we get οη to the games, some remarks should be made regardίng moveorder.

If Black does not wίsh to play the lίnθB wίth ... lΩa6 then the norma1 move order these days is 9 ... a6 10 a4 lΩbd7. But ten years ago the preferred move was 9 ... :e8 (or 9... a6 10 a41:te8). Usually, the gam.e contίnued 10 lΩd2 a6 11 a4 lΩbd7 wίth a transposition into lίnθB wίth 9... a6 10 a4 lΩbd7 11 lΩd2 1:ιθ8; but after 9...:e8 there ίΒ the possibility of a different variation if White cοη­ tίnues wίth 10 J.f4, and this is considered in Game 25.

System with ...tbbd7 The following game, the highlight of the 1982 Olympiad, is οηθ of the most fam.ous ever played in the Modem Βθηοηί.

Game22

Korchnoi -

Kasρarov

Lucerne Olympiad 1982 1 d4 2 c4 3 g3

lί)f8

g6 J.g7

4 J.g2 c5 It is appropriate here to quote from Κasparov's notes: 'The system wίth the fianchetto of the white-squared bishop, which ίΒ highly unpleasant for Black in the classical Κing's Indian, ίΒ by ηο means as effective in Modem Benoni set-ups. It is this that explains Black's fourth move.' 5 d5 d6

6 lOO3 7 lί)f3 8 ο-ο

ο-ο

e6

exd5 9 cxd5 Back to the Βθηοηί. 9 ••• a6 10 a4 :eβ 11 lί)d2 lΩbd7 12 h3 Can White avoid playing this move? The immediate 12 lί)c4 ίΒ well met by 12 ... lΩe5; e.g. 13 lΩa3 J.d7! and Black ίΒ threatening ... b7-b5 since the a8 rook exerts a

Fianchetto Variation 93 ρίη

along the a-file, whilst after 14 f4 tΩeg4 the e3 square ίβ very weak. 12 h3 is useful since it covers the g4 square. 12 1:tb8 13 tΩc4

deploy itself at the edge of the board. But don't forget the plan: quiet restraint before rolling the central pawns forward. The knight οη a3 keeps a check οη the ... b7-b5 advance, but the crox of White's strategy rests οη the fact ., that the e5 knight can ηο longer go forward. The g4 square is covered by the h-pawn and c4 is guarded by the a3 knight. White ίβ now ready for f2-f4 with a view to forcing the knight back to d7. lίlli5 14 The stage ίβ being set for a fierce tactical duel. Of course, Black has ηο intention of retreating meekly after 15 f4; the ΡΟΒί­ tion flares up after 15 ... tΩxg3 16 fxe5 .i.xe5; when the queen ίβ coming to h4 and White's king appears extremely vulnerable. Those seeking a dynamic altemative to 14... %5 should look at the nextgame. 15 e4 This ίβ the logical move as it cuts across Black's plan of ... f1-f5, a move which leads to complications in White's favour. However, in 1980 J an Timman discovered a novelty which keeps the whole system in business. 15 :f8 (D) It seems incredible that this 'retreat' ίβ possible in such a tense position where time ίβ usually of the essence. Attempts to directly refute the move, though, seem to run into trouble: 16 g4 1Wh4! 17 gxh5 .i.xh3, when Black is a piece 000

This is an important theoretical position. Black must defend the d6 pawn, but not with a queen move such as 13...1i'c7, as this would allow White to grab the initiative with 14 .i.f4. Black ίβ therefore in a dilemma: should he play 13 ... tΩb6 or 13 ... tΩe5 here? 13 ... tΩb6 ίβ more positional, and a good deal safer; but those seeking a quite life should not be playing the Modem Benoni. Hence Ι do not θνθη intend to look at 13 ... tΩb6, and Ι make ηο apologies for this. I've never played it myself because the altemative ίβ βΟ much more fun. 13 tΩe5 14 tΩa3 At first sight White's play seems bizarre. The well-placed knight οη f3 has spent three moves to 000

000

94 Fianchetto Variαtion

in aπears but the white king is ίn a very vulnerable position; e.g. 18 h6 -*.h8 19 ~2 f5!. 16 ~h2! Korchnoi's treatment is very solίd. The g3 pawn ίβ now secured and the threat of f2-f4 looms. 16 f5 EquaIly interestίng ίβ the move 16... -*.d7, calmly prepaήng the ... b7-b5 advance; e.g. 17 f4 b5 18 fxe5 lilltg3! 19 Φxg3 -*.xe5+ 20 ~f3 b4 when Black ίβ regainίng a piece and the white king still looks highly vulnerable. 000

17 '4

Throwίng caution, and everything else, to the wind. It ίβ rare to see a conflict which stretches right across the board. Black's plan ίβ clear: react to the problem οη one wίng by creatίng threats οη the other. White could now grab the piece with 18 fxe5 leading to a new round of complίcations after 18... -*.xe5 19 lDe2 (guarding the g3 pawn and avoiding the fork after ... b5-b4), when Black must keep υρ the momentum with 19 ... lilltg3! 20 lDxg3 f4. White now has two moves, 21 ~g1 and 21 -*.xf4, both of which aIlow Black to regaίn some material, but who will be better in the resultίng murky positions is anybody's guess! Instead Κorchnoi decides to hold the status quo οη the kingside ίn order to resolve the issue οη the other flank. 18 axb5 axb5 19 lDaxb5 fΣe4

ΜΙ

The piece ίβ still οη offer, but it is far from clear that 20 fxe5 will

Fianchetto Variation 95 be good for White. After 20 ... he5 the g3 pawn is still very vulnerable and it ίβ hard for White to coordinate his pieces. 20 J.xe4 J.d7! Α remarkable concept, οfl"eήng the important d6 pawn. After 21 tilltd6 Black has the incredible resource 21 ...:b6!! 22 fxe5 .txe5 23 l'Δc4 J.xg3+ 24 ΦgΙ :bfO 25 J.g2 :f2 with a devastating attack οη the white king. 21 "e2 'ifb6 22 l'ΔB3 :be8

It ίβ now too late to bag the piece; 24 1ta2 was preferable. 24 J.xe5 25 l'Δc4 l'Δxg3! Tactίc after tactίc. 26 tilltb2 tillte2+ and 27 ... tilltc3 wins decίsive mateήa1. 26 :xt8+ 27 "el! 28 Φg2 29 l'Δxθδ 000

29 1tf2+? The one blot οη Κasparov's play, allowing White to fight back into the game. 30 "xf2! 31 :a2! 32 l'Δxd7 33 J.h6? The way to play was 33 :a8+ Φg7 34 :a7 'ii'f2+ 35 Φh1 "xd2 36 l'Δe5+! and the circus continues. 33 xd7 34 :a8+ Φr1 35 :h8? Φf8 36 Φf3? "xh3+ White resigned 000

Perhaps now White must grasp the nettle and capture the knight. Altematively, White could try Κasparov's recommendation, 23 "g2!, to consolidate the position. Κorchnoi's move allows Black to grab the initiative with a neat tactίca1 tήck.

23 J.d21 "xb2! Of course White intended to trap the queen with 24 :tb1, but this nms into 24...l'Δf3+ winning mateήa1.

24 fxe5?

000

..

96

Fiαnchetto

Variαtion

This epic struggle refl.ects great credit οη both players. It helped to popularise the Modem Benoni

and illustrated many of the typical tactical ideas behind the opening.

Game23

Saeed - Norwood London (Lloyds Bank Masters) 1984 (1 d4 t2Jfβ 2 c4 e6 3 ~c3 c5 4 d5 exd5 5 cxd5 d6 6 lM3 g6 7 g3 ~ι7 8 .tg2 ο-ο 9 ο-ο 86 10 84 ~bd7 l1lM2 1:1e8 12 h3 flb8 13 lί)c4lί)e5 14 lba3) One might expect that my play ίη this game was inspired by the famous Korchnoi-Κasparov encounter of two years earlier. The truth is that I'd never even seen that game! ΑΙΙ Ι knew about the position was that Black was supposed to sacrifice a piece somewhere along the line. 80 Ι began searching for ways to lose a piece andfound ... 14 .td7!?

chance ofretreat. Thinking it was Christmas my opponent continued ... 15 Ι4 %5 16 fxe5 .txe5

000

There ίΒ ΩΟ surer way to lose a piece than to cut off its only

Black has sacrificed a piece, not for immediate benefit, but for long-term pressure. How does one judge whether such sacrifices are 'sound'? The first point to make is that 'sound' ίΒ a very subjective term. One could remark that 'with precise play the sacrifice ίΒ unsound'. But who plays precisely? Everyone makes mistakes, especially under pressure. Before a sacrifice ίΒ proved unsound, many problems might have to be solved. The chance of

Fianchetto Variation 97 human eποr ίβ not given adequate attention when people consider sacήfices. Chessplayers are obsessed with the question of who, objectively, has the better position, but at the sub-super grand.master level, there ίβ an equally important question: whose position ίβ easier to play? This ρο­ sition ίβ a classic example. Objectively White may be better, but Ι know which side I'd prefer to play. Black ίβ a piece behind, but all his remaining pieces are excellently placed, whilst White's kingside ίβ vulnerable, and he must also contend with an attack οη the other flank with ... b7-b5. The white pieces lack direction and the οηlΥ plan ίΒ to try and survive the Black onslaught with the extra material intact - not exactly fun. 17 g4 The altemative was 17 .tf4, but after 17... lΩxg3 18 .txe5 ]he5 19 :f3 ~f5 Black has excellent chances. 17 ••• ~ι3

If White now tries to consolidate with 18 :f2, Black can pose more problems with 18 ... b5!. Coping with Black's advances οη both sides of the board ίΒ ηο easy task; e.g. 19 axb5 axb5 20 ~c2 b4 21 ~b1 (21 ~4 b3! and either 22 ~e3 ~xe4 23 .txe4 .td4! or 21 ~a3 ~xe4 22 .txe4 .td4!) 21 ... f5!. With βΟ many of White's pieces stuck ίη the queenside corner, this ίβ the perfect time to open υρ the kingside. Once again, White's position ίβ just very hard to play. 18 lOO4?! The reasonίng behind this move ίΒ sound. White wants to relinquish the exchange ίη order to elίmίnate Black's active pieces. But he has overlooked a tactical resource: 18 ••• .txc3! 19 bxc3 .txg4!! The coup de grάce. The bishop cannot be captured ίη VΊew of 20 hxg4 lΩxe2+ 21 Φh2 'ii1ι4+ 22 .th3 'iVg3+ and 23 ... 'iVxh3 mate. 20 'iVd3? White's last chance was 20 'iVe1 ~xe2+ 21 Φh1lbχc1 22 'iVxc1.te2 23 'iVf4 .txf1 24 :xf1. 20 ••• ~e2+ 21 Φh2 ~cl 22 'iVc2 Or 22 :axc1 .te2 winning back the piece. 22 .te2 23 :f4 ~d3 24 :e4 1he4 25 .txe4 ~f4 White resigned

98

Fiαnchetto

Vαriαtion

Again we see Black adopting the classic strategy in the Modern Βθηοni: sίmultaneous attack οη both sides of the board backed

by tactical resourcefulness and a willingness to relίnquish material ίη order to maintain the initiative.

Game24

Manor - Wahls Berne Zonal 1990 (1 d4 lΩf8 2 c4 e6 3 ι3 c5 4 d5 exd5 5 cxd5 d6 6 lOO3 g6 7 .tg2 .tg7 8 tiJf3 a6 9 a4 0-0 10 ο-ο

12 a5 lη view ofBlack's ηθΧΙ move,

12 h3 should be considered as an allΩbd7) ternative, preventing Black from Now l1lΩd2 would lead to the establishing a rapid blockade οη lίnθB considered at the start of e5. Black could then try to mix this chapter. The ηθΧΙ move gives things with 12 ... lΩh5; e.g. 13 .tg5 the system independent charac- fβ 14 .td2 $!? The position is ter. very double-edged; for example, 11 .tf4 White could continue with 15lΩg5 'ii'e7 and now 15 ... lΩe5 16lΩe6 .txe617 dxe6 :b8. The question is whether the e6 pawn is an asset or a weakness? Playing ... f7-$ is often a dilemma for Black. ΑΙ­ though it creates weaknesses, especially the e6 square, it gains space and keeps a check οη White's central expansion, whilst continuing the policy of causing White problems οη both sides of the board. lΩι4 12 ... Ι prefer deployίng the queen to This ωονθ is a common theme e7 rather than c7 in this system. ίη the more positional Βθηοni sysΟη e7 it seems to exert more ίη­ tems. The knight manoeuvre f1uence οη the centre, ίη particu- lΩg4-e5 relieves the congestion ίη lar the e5 square. The οηθ thing Black's position and establishes that Black must beware of is the e5 as a stronghold for Black's miplan of :el, e2-e4-e5 with an at- nor pieces. It is important to note that before White can kick away a tack along the e-file.

Fiαnchetto

piece from e5 with the pawn advance f2-f4, he must lose time in moving away the dark-squared bishop. 13 lOO4

I'm going to stick my neck out here. After White has played a4a5, the b6 square becomes a ρο­ tential outpost for a white knight. ΜΥ own feeling is that attempting to occupy this outpost is invariably bad. The time wasted in trying to get there ίβ in itself considerable, but more importantly, White leaves his position rather stretched. The knight οη c3 ίβ a useful piece, controlling key centra1 squares and limiting the scope of Black's fianchetto bishop οη g7. Moreover, b6 may look like an attractive square for a white knight, but a knight οη b6 ίβ not exactly the end of the world for Black. Ενθη if this piece cannot be cha11enged by another knight, it can U8ua11y simply be ignored! ':b8 13 •••

14 ':cl 15 .td2

Variation 99 h6 b5

Black takes advantage of the lack of cohesion in his opponent's position to ΟΡθη up the game. The b2 pawn ίβ particu1arly vulnerable and at some point White should probably play .tc3 to neutralise the Βθηοηί bishop. 16 axb6 ~b6 17 b4

White decides to continue aggressively, but Black's pieces are well placed to react to any fΪre­ works. 17 lillcb6 :lxb6 18 .tc3 would have been safer, though Black a1ready stands well. 17 •••

c:x:b4

18 h3

lί:)e5

19 ~e5

'ii':x:e5 'ii'f6

20 .tf4 21 lOO5 White has a temporary initiative for the pawn, and the plan ίβ simply 22 lί:)θ4 to Μη the d6 pawn. 21 ':e8! 22 lί:)e4

100

Fiαnchetto

Variαtion

22 •.. 1he4 Black returns mateήal but regains the initiative. Sacήficing an exchange is often a good idea in the Benoni and ίη this example the combination of the fianchetto bishop and passed queenside pawns will be devastating. White really has ηο plan since the rooks cannot be utilised effectively. Ιη addition, waiting for the a- and bpawns to advance ίΒ not a pleasant prospect. 23 .txe4.txh3 241ΣeΙ .td725 :c7 .tb5 26 '5bl a5 27 :a7lDc4 28 :cl 'iVd4 29 1Σe7 .tf8 30 :c7 lDa3! (υ) White's position is hopeless.

31:dllDxb132:Xd4~

Now White must lose yet another pawn and further resistance ίΒ useless. 33 Φg2 lDxe2 34 :d2 lDxf4+ 35 gxf4 b3 36 f5 gxf5 37 .txf5 a4 38 :d4 a3 391:t'4 .tg7 40 :c3 .te2 41 :a4 .txc3 White re-

signed

System with .tf4 The next game ofthis chapter features an interesting idea for Black which has rarely been Βθθη in tournament play. Ι recommend it as a surpήse weapon against 10 .tf4.

Game25 Kaidanov - NOΓwood Florida 1993 (1 d4 lbf6 2 c4 e6 3 ι3 c5 4 d5 exd5 5 cxd5 d6 6 llJc3 g6 7 .tg2 .tg7 8 lί)f3 0-0 9 ο-ο) 9 fle8 10 .tf4 lDe4!? (D)

The idea behind this move ίΒ to cause disruption in the enemy camp. White is obliged to capture the knight, which leaves his bpawn vulnerable.

Fiαnchetto

11 ~e4 .:.xe4 12 tbd2 :'b4 13 :'bl White has two very interesting altematives here. First, 13 a3 .z:txf4! (13 ... J:xb2 14 lbc4 is good for White) 14 gxf4 .txb2 15 :'a2 .tg7. I've had this position a couple oftimes with the black pieces. Although Black ίΒ the exchange for a pawn down, he has very interesting compensation. If White attempts to roll forward the central pawns with e4, then the f4 pawn becomes weak - especially when the knight attacks it via d7f6-h5. Besides, there ίΒ also the prospect of attacking the white king, not to mention advancing the queenside pawns. Another idea ίΒ 13 b3!? .txa114 'ifxa1 when it ίΒ White who ίΒ the exchange down, but Black will have problems along a1-h8 diagonal. 13 g51 (D) Neither 13 ....txb2 14 'ifc2 nor 13 ... J:xb2 14 J:xb2 .txb2 15lbc4 ίΒ satisfactory; White's initiative is 000

Variation 101

overwhelming. The move played gets my pieces out at the cost of weakening the kingside. 14 .te3 .tf5 15 a3 hb2 16 .:.xb2 .txb2 17 lbe4 h6 18 'ifb3 Now after 18 ... 'ifb6 19 'ifxb6 axb6 20 lbxd6 and 21lbc4, White has a big advantage. He also has ideas of a kingside attack with f4, ΒΟ Ι decided to fight back by gίν­ ing υρ two ofmy own pawns. 18 .txe4 19 .txe4 .td41 000

102 Fianchetto Variation cxd4 20.bd4 lDd7 21 "xb7 ..18 22 'ii'b4 :b8 23 :dl 24 "xd4 "xd4 25 :Xd4 Now Ι am a pawn down, but the knίght has good squares and my rook ίΒ active. :b3 25 2β :d3 :b2 000

as a nasty shock. 36 :a41

•••~ • •~• •8'.

•:. .- ••• ~8~~-.

.Δ. 8

~ u

~.~ ~

π u

~8~zP.t~% ~ U rι;

Now after 36... :xt2 37 :f4! :xf4 38 gxf4 the passed a-pawn wins the ending for White. With only a few seconds remaining οη my clock, Ι found the only defence. 36 Φf81 37 :14 Φθ7 38 i.n :a2 39 a4 lDxd5 40 i.c4 lDxf4 41 i.xa2 lDd3 42 a5 Φd71 The king must block the apawn and the knίght holds everything after 43 Φg2lDe5!. 43 i.xf7 lDxf2 44 Φg2 lDd3 45 i.c4 lDc51 46 i.d5 Φc7 47 Φf2 lDd71 The knίght prepares to create a diversion by attacking g3. 48 Φθ3 lDf6 49 i.f7 Φb7 50 Φf4 Φa6 51 <Μ5 lDd7 52 i.h5 ha5 53 i.xg4 Φb6 54 i.h5lDe5 55 Φθ6 wc5 56 i.dl Wc6 Draw agreed 000

27 :ea lDfβ 28 i.f3 :d2? Attacking the d-pawn ίΒ too obvious, and ... lί)xd5 ίΒ not even a threat since White can then play :e8+ and :a8. Instead 28 ... a5!, followed by ... a4 and ...:b3, should draw without any problems. 29 h3 h5 30 :e7 a5 31 :a7 g4 32 hxι4 bxg4 33 i.g2 1he2 34 %ιxa5 J:tel+ 35 Φh2 :e2 Now Ι thought that Ι had saved the game, but White's reply came

~.~ ~

• .8. ~.~ ~

Fianchetto Variation 103

System with ...l2Ja6 The last two games of this chapter feature the altemative plan of deploying the knight to a6. There is a certain 10gic in prefeπing this plan to the ... ι!LIbd7 lines. White's fianchetto system is slow and removes the bishop from the defence of b5, so Black has time to prepare the ... b7-b5 break with the manoeuvre ... ι!LIa6-c7, since

there are ηο immediate worries of being stormed in the centre. Moreover, the knight οη c7 does not restήct the bishop οη d7, nor does it block the queen's defence ofthe d6 pawn. ΑΒ Ι stated earlier, my own preference is for the ... ι!LIbd71ines, although this is purely due to my love of hair-raising chess. The plan of ...ι!LIa6 remains a reliable way of combating the fianchetto.

Game26

Sosonko - Lautier European Club Cup 1991 (1 d4 lM6 2 c4 e6 3 g3 c5 4 d5 exd5 5 cxd5 d6 6 ι!LIc3 g6 7 ~g2 ~ι7 8 ι!LIf3 ο-ο 9 0-0) 9 ••• lLIa6

At this point it is worth quoting John Nunn οη 9... lLIa6: 'The problem with this ίβ that Black does not cover e5 and so White's e4-e5 gains strength.' It ίβ certainly worth consideήng expansion ίη

the centre; e.g. 10 h3 ι!LIc7 11 e4 ι!LId7 12 Ae1 and White must be slightly better. More energetic is 10... ~d7 aiming for a rapid ... b7b5, when after 11 a4 c4!? the position is already quite lively; e.g. 12 ~f4 'i'b6! (an effective way of guarding the d6 pawn, which also hits b2) and Black's pieces are already actively placed and well poised to handle any tactics. 10 ι!LId2 This is the most coιnmon way for White to play, but we consider the altemative 10 Ae1 ίη Game 27. 10 •.. ι!LIc7 11 ι!LIc4 lDfe8 (D) Why does Black retreat the knight when the position begs for the immediate 11 ... b5? Unfortunately, there is a tactical refutation ίη 12 ι!LIxd6! 'iνxd6 13 ~f4 and

104

Fiαnchetto Vαriαtion

then 14 d6 winning back the material with interest. 12 a4 b6 Obviously Black would like to play directly for ...b7-b5 but 12 ... a6 would allow 13 a5. The drawback of the knight being οη c7 rather than d 7, is that it exerts ηο infl.uence over the b6 square. ΒΥ playing 12 ... b6, Black prevents the a4-a5 advance and gives the bishop scope to enter the gamevia a6. 13.d2 Α curious-looking move that seems to block the bishop οη c1 out of the game. However, White needs to be able to reinforce the knight οη c4 ifBlack plays ... -'.a6. ΒΥ playίng .d2 he prepares b2b3, allowing the bishop to be developed οη the long diagonal. Remember, this system involves slow, strategic manoeuvring. Ab8 13 14 :bl -'.a6 15 b3 (D) 15 b5 16 lί)a5I 000

000

This is more testing than 16 18lDa5 Black's position holds together very well. 16 .d7 Οηθ should resist the temptation to push a pawn with 16... b4. The knight retreats to d1, from where it will re-deploy at its Ιθί­ sure to e3 and then to c4. Black has the extra pawn οη the queenside and if it becomes blockaded, White is essentially playίng a pawn υρ! Keeping the tension is usually the best strategy. 17 lOO6 :b7 18 axb5 lί)xb5 19 lί)xb5 1hb5 20 1:tb6 21 -'.b2 -'.b5 Black ίβ of course happy to trade the a-pawn for the e2 pawn. 22 -'.xg7 lί)xg7 23 b4 White must try to keep the initiative; 23 b4 destroys the harΜοηΥ of Black's pawns. cxb4 23 24 :χΜ a6 axb5lί)xb5 17lί)xb5 -'.xb5 ~6 19 tbc6 1:tb7, when 000

.a2

000

Fiαnchetto Vαnαtion

2δ ':el 26 e3 27 'iVb2 28 ':dl

•

':b7 ':c7 ':fc8

•.1. ••• 8 •• '8'

••1iJ8 • • •

•

~.~ ~

~~

105

28ooo'it'e8 29 h4 'it'f8 30 lM.4 .i.d7 31 ':b6 a5 32 lDc6 lMi 33 .J:a6lDe7 34l'Δxe7+ 'it'xe7 35:xas ':c2 36 'it'd4 ':8c4 37 ':a8+ .i.c8 After a long merry dance White has won a pawn, but the activity of Black's pieces gives some compensation.

_ •••

"'ΒΔ.

α

_ μαι

~.~ ~

R u

R u

R ~ u u •• P.t

~.~.:. ~ ~

~ ~

Ι must admit to being completely confused by this position. It would appear that White is better οη general ΡήηcίΡΙes, but neither side seems to be doing much! This shufl1ing continues for quite some time.

38 'it'b6 'it'f6 39 e4 ':c5 40 .:ΙΙ 41 ':b8 ':5c3 42 'it'a5 Draw agreed Φg7

Game27

Hausner - Razuvayev Bundesliga 1991 (1 d4 lDf6 2 c4 e6 3 g3 c5 4 d5 exd5 5 cxd5 d6 6 1Dc3 g6 7 .i.g2 .i.g7 8 lDf3 0-0 9 0-0 lDa6) 10 ':el ':e8 (D) 11 e4?! With this move White allows the bishop to enter the game with a ρίη οη g4. It was worth taking a time-out with 11 h3 (a useful move ίη any case). How should Black continue after 11 h3 here?

One idea ίβ 11 ... tLJe4; e.g. 12lDxe4 ':xe4 13 .i.g5 'it'f8! and Black can develop freely. 11 .i.g41 Exchanging the light-squared bishop for the knight οη f3 works fine ίη the Classical system; and there is ηο reason why it should not be okay here. 12 .i.f4 tLJd71? Black ίβ obviously trying to 000

106

Fiαnchetto Variαtion

would win mateήa1 by 16... Μ+ 17 ~h1 bxa6. 16 ~b5?! c4!

provoke a tactica1 duel here. If 13 .txd6 then 13... 'iVb6, hitting the bishop and the b2 pawn. Now the knight is free to occupy the e5 square, since the influence of the f3 knight has been curtailed by the bishop οη g4. 18 'ifb8 .brd One might be tempted to delay capturing the knight until prompted by h2-h3, but beware! The knight οη f3 was ready to retreat to d2, preparing for f2-f3 which would force the lightsquared bishop into ignominious retreat. 14 .txf3 lOO5! Black offers a pawn which White would be ill-advised to accept; e.g. 15 .txe5 .txe5 16 "xb7 ~b4 and White's position is a1ready in ruins. The black knight ίβ coming into c2 or d3, the queen to mand a rook can take the b-file at leisure. 15 .te2 1Σb8 Black continues with great θη­ ergy. Now White can double the pawns with 16 .txa6 but Black

Classic Benoni play; Black keeps the initiative with repeated tactica1 blows. White has had plenty of chances to win mateήa1 but the time it would take would be too cost1y. Now 17 .txc4 is well met by 17 ... ~c5 bήnging yet another piece into the fray with tempo. The queen is overworked and unable to guard against both 18 ... ~xc4 and 18 ... ~f3+. 17 "a8 ~ Again Black ίβ not counting pawns. 18 ~xa7 ίβ suicida1 in view of 18... 1Σa8 and both the e4 pawn and the d3 square look vulnerable. White cannot simplify with 18 .txe5 .txe5 19 .txc4 because of 19... a6!, when the knight must retreat with 20 ~3 and now 20 ... b5 and 21 ... b4 nets a piece. 18 .te8 lOOd8 (D) Α very pleasant position for Black; all his pieces are in harmony. Once again, attempts to

_ _.'8. •••-

- •.•_

_ι. ~.~ ~ ~

.t2J.Δ.

~-~ ~

~

.Ι.Δ.

_ ~

~._

ΔR

u ~

U

~.'.~

~.~~~

~ ~.

~"'u

_ ~

U R

~z

~ ~

simplify backfire: 19 .txc5 .txb2! 20 "xa7 ~c5 and 21 ... :a8 will trap the queen. 19 ~d6 .txb2 20 "xb2 Bad, but what else? 20 ~b2 21 .txc5 :e7 22 .ta3 b5 23 :abl ltXi3 000

Fiαnchetto

Vαnαtion 107

24 .txd3 cxd3 25 e5 d2 26 :e2 ΜΙ 27 .tb2 "xd61 28 exd6 %Σxe2 29 Φfl dl"+1 Faced with the prospect of being a rook in arrears, Whίte re· signed. Α very cήsρ game by Black. White played inaccurately but did nothing obviously silly. This illustrates how rapidly White's position can collapse when Black seizes the initiative. This bήngs us to the end ο! chapter οη Fianchetto systems. The above games demonstrate that Black has an abundance of resources with which to counter White's set-up.

6

Samisch Variation

The Samisch ίΒ another system for Whίte that commonly arises from a Κing'8 Indian Defence. For example, 1 d4 lbfO 2 c4 g6 3 tbc3 i.g7 4 e4 d6 5 f3 ο-ο 6 i.e3 c5 7 d5 θβ, and after ... exd5 White will recapture wίth cxd5, leaving us wίth a Modem Βθηοni structure. Ιη fact, Black players who adopt a Modem Βθηοni move order (i.e. wίth ... c5 οη move two or three) are less lίkθly to face this system, sίnce the Flίck-Κnife Attack and Modem Classical variations Μθ 80 fashionable. Stίll, thίs ίΒ a perfectly respectable way for Whίte to play and you have to be prepared to meet it. Let us assume that we reach the variation from a Modem Βθηοni move order: 1 d4 tbf8 2 c4 c5 3 d5 e6 4 tbc3 exd5 5 cxd5 d6 6e4 g6 7 f3 i.g7 (D) Whίte's last move, 7 f3, gives the system its character. The immediate point ίΒ clear: to secure the e4 pawn. Unlike the S8misch variation ίη the Κing's Indian, however, White is not preparing to castle long and storm the kingside with g2-g4 and h4-h5; Black's fianchetto bishop and

queenside pawn majority make cast1ing οη thίs flank far too dangerous. Instead, White wants to develop freely behind his secured centre before tuming the screw ίn the middlegame. We can Βθθ from the diagram that White will not be developίng ίη the usual way. For example, the gl knight ίΒ denied the natural f3 square; hence the manoeuvre tbf3-d2-c4 ίΒ ruled out. The dark-squared bishop will usually deploy to g5 (though e3 ίΒ another possibility) where it can domίnate the cl-h6 diagonal wίth the help of the queen οη d2. The lightsquare bishop ίΒ clearly a slow starter; it will sit οη either e2 or d3 depending οη how the gl knight enters the game. The knight can be brought to e2 where it may manoeuvre to cl, Ι4 or g3; or perhaps could head for f2 via h3.

Somisch The Samisch system ίβ not suited to the White player who ίβ looking for a quick knockout but it does have its meήts. ΒΥ securing e4 (typically a focal point for Black's counterplay), White ίβ well placed to restrain any queenside expansion - forcing through ... b7-b5 without any decoy threats οη e4 ίβ well nigh impossible.

Variαtion

109

Black has the sensation of banging his head against a bήck wall sometimes, but my advice ίβ be pαtient. Dynamic counterplay will come, but in this system it does take time. Indeed, οηθ of White's main ideas ίβ to do nothing untίl Black runs out ofideas. Only then does he start to play actively himself.

Game28

Seirawan - Ivanchuk Roquebrune (five-minute) 1992 1 d4

l'Δf6

2 c4 3 lbc3 4e4

g6

513 6 Jι..e3 7 d5 8 lί)ge2!?

Jι..g7

d6 0-0 c5 e6

White usually plays 8 'ii'd2 here, waiting for Black to play 8 ... exd5 9 cxd5 lί)bd7 when 10 %3! followed by lί)f2 solves the

problem ofwhere to put the king's knight. Naturally Black should play 9 ... a6 10 a4 :e8, delaying ... tLJbd7 and thereby tempting White to play 11 tLJge2. 8 •.. exd5 9 cxd5 a6 10 a4 lί)bd7 With the white knight οη e2, this move ίβ now fully playable. 11 lί)ι3 lί)e5 12 Jι..e2 Jι..d7

11 Ο

Sίimisch

V ariαtion

13 0-0 b5! Since White has not played the customary ΊΜ2, Black takes advantage ofthe weakened b2 pawn to launch his queenside play in οηθ go rather than playing the preparatory ...:b8. 14 axb5 axb5 15 ~ό5 What e1se? White's norma1 way of combating Black's .... b7-b5 advance is to play :abl and wait to answer ...b7-b5 with b2-b4!, which usua1ly forces Black to play ... c5c4 gaining a protected passed pawn. Although such a pawn wοώd be a real asset in an endgame, with a1l the pieces still οη the board White has managed to halt Black's queenside advance and will now look to play f.3-f4 fol10wed by e4-e5 without distraction. The concept of meeting ... b7-b5 with b2-b4 is οηθ ο! the 'tήcks' that the White player of the Sίimisch vaήation relies οη, as after Black ίβ forced to play ... c5-c4, it ίβ White who will play οη the a-file and use the d4 square for his knight. 15 ••• ~xM 16 ltlxb5 Wb6 17 "'e2 :ab8 18 lba7 1fxb2 19 "'xb2 hb2 20 :t'bl :c2 (υ) Ενθη with level mateήal, White is struggling to hold. After 20...:c2, the position resembles a 'good' Benko Gambit, ίη which Black has regained his sacήficed

pawn. All Benko players know that once the sacήficed pawn is regained, Black can look forward to a far supeήοr endgame thanks to his protected passed c-pawn. Besides, here White's knight οη a7 ίβ οη lίmb whereas Black's counterpart οη e5 is intluencing the vital c4, d3 and g4 squares. 21 :&6 lOO4 22 ~Ι4 :&8! White ίβ probably lost now. The artificial positioning ο! White's pieces cannot generate enough counterplay against Black's on1y weakness - the d6 pawn. As ίfhis structura1 de:ficienCΊes are not bad enough, White's king is a1so ίη seήοus danger of being mated. 23 h4 lL1d7 24 ςl;>h2 h5! (υ) Α good move which merely serves to high1ight how lacking ίη prospects White's position rea11y is. The ρίη οη the a-file ίβ deadly; Black ίβ ίη effect trading his rook οη a8 for a knight and a rook and is practica11y a piece up! 25 h3

lMe5

••:. --•.••• ••• •••• • Sαmisch Variαtion

~:~. ~ ~

• •

• 26 :b7 lΔd3 27 ~xd6(D) White must stay οη the b8-h2 diagonal, as 27 J.g5 J.e5! concedes all the squares. White finally manages to win the d6 pawn but σnlΥ because Black has a forced win.

111

~ ~

• •

8Δ. ~.Δ. Β • • • Δ~Φ .Δ

8 ••

27ooolΔe3 28%11Δxg2 29 :CΒ lΔgf4+ 30 ~XΙ4 lΔxf4+ 31 wg3 ~e5 32 lΔf'2 1Δd3+ 33 f4 ~XΙ4+

34 Wg2 :xt'2+ 35 ΦιΙ ~e3 36 WhllΔe5 White resigned Α good illustration of Black completely ruining White's strategy.

Game29

Yusupov - Gelfand Munich 1993 (1 d4lbf6 2 c4 g6 31Δc3 ~ι' 4 e4 d6 5 flJ ο-ο 6 ~g5 c5 7 d5 Θβ) 8 'iVd2 h6 9 ~e3 9 ~xh6 fails to 9 ... lΔxe4! and ... 'ji'h4+. 9 exd5 10 cxd5 a6 (υ) Based οη the same tήck: 11 ~xh6? lΔxe4! 12 lΔxe4 'iVh4+ followed by queen στ bishop takes h6 with advantage to Black. 11 1:tcl?! :e8 12 b3?! Taking the policy of allowing 000

Black to show his cards first too far. It is true that White has a basic structural advantage in the

112 Samisch

Variαtion

Sii.misch system, but Black's tactical possibilities θΤθ vaήed enough to counteract this. ΑΒ a result, White cannot aIlow Black to get going οη the queenside free ofcharge. 12 bS 13 j.d3 b4!? υsuaIly, this committal move ίβ considered bad as Black loses much of the fluidity in his pawn structure. Ifthe white pawn οη a2 was οη a4, Black would have the the centre. However, White does typical hopeless Βθηοni: the not have enough time to organίse queenside ίβ closed with the c4 hίβ only central idea ίη the posisquare unprotected (White ΜΗ tion: f3-f4 foHowed by e4-e5. IneventuaIly put a knight οη c4 free stead of 18 j.f2, 18 ~f2 would of charge) and White ΜΗ slowly have prepared f3-f4, but since strangle Black οη the kingside. White has ηο means of playing However, the crucial difference in e4-e5, f3-f4 can only weaken hίB this game is that the whίte pawn position. ίΒ not οη a4 and βΟ Black can still lDb6 19 use the a-file for hίs rooks. Staking a claim to the c4 14 lbdl 85 square. 15 lOO2 84 20 :tel:83 21 j.b5? 16 ο-ο axb3 17 axb3
000

Siimisch Vαriαtion 113 ~c2? was also a mistake after 21 ... ~a6! with total domination, but the odd-looking 21 ~c4 was White's best chance to hold the position. 21 :e7 22 'ifd3 :ea7 23 h3 ~a6 24 ~xa6 :7xa6 Black can now invade οη the light squares. 25 ~h4 'ife8 26 ~g3 'ife7 27 ~h4 "a7 28 ΦhΙ lbfd7 29 f4 :6&5! 000

Απ important move which restrains White's e4-e5 by defending along the fifth rank. 30 e5? Falling for Black's tήck. Since Black has systematically placed all his pieces with this move ίη mind, White would have been better advised to have kept the tension. 30 dxe5 31 15 000

Α common attacking theme though White has nothing ίη this position. See Game 31 for a more favourable position for White along the same lines. 31 c4! 000

This thematic Κing's Indian move frees the bishop οη g7 and activates the last idle piece, the knight οη d7. The rest is simply technique: 35 'ifxe4 lΔc5 36 'ife8 :15 37

114

Sαmisch Vαriαtion

47 j.xg5 'iνxι548 'iνd3+ 'iνgβ 49 tLJe4 b2 50 g3 :d8 51 'ii'f3 tLJd552 tLJf4 tL!xf4 53 gxf4 JU8 54 tLJdι tLJc4 White resigned

1lJd6 JU8 38 'iib5 lDxb3 39 :cdl 'iνa5 40 'iνc6 'iνc5 41 'iib7lΩa5 42 'iνM :e3 43 'iibl b3 44 :d3 IIxd3 45 'iνxd3 'ii'd5 46 'iνι3 g5

Game30

Kraidman - Har Ζνί Τel Ανίν

(1 d4lbf6 2 c4 g6 3 tL!c3 j.g7 4 e4 d6 5 f3 0-0 6 j.e3 c5 7 d5 e6 8 'iνd2 exd5 9 cxd5 :e8) 10 a4 a6 11 &5?

White shows a lack of understanding of the subtleties of the variation. Οηθ of Black's maίn problems in this line ίβ that he must waste a lot ofmoves preparing ... b7-b5; and only then does White play the cramping a4-a5. Ιη this position Black manages to play the thematic advance in οηθ move. 11 •.• b5 12 axb6 'iνxb6 13 .td3? tLJbd7

1992

Black willingly a1lows White to develop his knight to h3, since he can then exchange the bishop οη d3. 13 .te2 was a SUΡeήοr move. 14 lbh3 tLJe5 15 00 tLJxd3+ 16 tLJxd3 a5!

The only advantage White obfrom his early a4-a5 advance was the weakness ofthe a6 pawn ίη Black's camp. Having removed οηθ ofthe attackers ofthis pawn, the bishop οη d3, Black finds a diagona1 for his bishop and relieves himself ofthis weaktaίned

ηθββ.

17 0-0 18 :12

.ta6 1lJd7

Siimisch Variation 115 19 :el

.txd31

••- - --

•••••

.Β

~ ~

~

~.~·.B~ι-. ~.~ ~ ~.ι~.

-Δ.B~ ~~.~ ~

benefit White. Ιgnοήηg the e4-e5 advance, when it finally arήνθβ, ίβ a typical Black scheme. It ίβ only dangerous when White can continue pushing the pawn with e5-e6.

~ ~ ΒΔ. Β ~.t.Δ. ~ illi1 ~ ~ u _ .Δ u

•

Β

.Β

~

•~

~

~

~

Black shows good understanding ofthe position. The two bishops are ofno importance here and the black knight οη e5 will do just as effective a job οη the light squares as the bishop would. Note how the position after 19....txd3 ίβ a 'sign of success' for Black. White's structure ίβ now ήddled with weaknesses and Black has obtained queenside counterplay without making any concessions οη the kίngside. Had White managed to develop some sort of attack ίη the centre or οη the king's flank, the poβίtίoη would be dynamically balanced. As it ίβ, Black has ηο such worήes and is free to roam οη the queen's wing. 20 'iνxd3 tbeδ 21 'iνe2 'iib3 22 Ι4 lOO4 23 e5 a41 Agood policy. After 23 ... dxe5 24 .txc5 Ι stίll prefer Black, though the position has a more random element about it which can only

24 tbe4 Not 24 e6? fxe6 25 .tc1 when 25 ....td4 wins. 24 ml 25 ~d6 If25 tbg5 then 25 ... dxe5 26 tbe6 ti)xe3 27 'iνxθ3 'iνxθ3 28 he3 e4 ίβ good for Black. ~d6 25 26 exd6 'iνxd5 27 'iνd2 Α better try was 27 :d1 .td4 28 'iνd2 'iνxd6? (28 ...:e4!) 29 .txd4 cxd4 30 'iνxd4 :e1+ 31 :α with a drawn poBίtίoη. 27 'iνxd2 a31 (D) 28 1:txd2 :ed8 29 d7 30 bxa3 White could not allow a pawn οη the seventh rank; 30 :ed1 axb2 31.txc5 :a1 ίβ hopeless. 000

000

000

116 Siimisch V ariαtion

30 ••• .tc3 31 :edl .txd2 32 hd2 :a71 Not 32... lΣ.xa3? 33 .txc5 and Black ίβ in trouble. IfWhite could keep his rook οη the board, he might have drawing chances. However, Black can force the exchange.

33 .txc5 :&xd7 34 :e2 :dl+ White's situation is hopeless. 35 Φf2:8d2 36.tb4 he2+ 37 he2 :bl 38 ~d3 W 39 .tc3 ~e6 40 ~c4 ~d6 41 a4 ~c6 42 a5 :hl 43 g3 hh2 44 .tf8 :d2 45 .th4 :d5 46 a6 :a5 47 ~d4 ~d6 White resigned

Game31

Meulders - Douven Tilburg 1993 (1 d4lί)f6 2 c4 g6 3lOO3 .tg7 4 e4 ο-ο 5 f3 c5 6 d5 d6 7 .te3 e6 8

'ifd2 exd5 9 cxd5 a6 10 a4 :e8) Keeping to the policy of not allowing White to develop his knight to h3. 11 lΩge2 lΩbd7 12 lΩdl1? (υ) White devises a cunning way of getting the desired knight formation. Here the knight οη e2 will go to c3 and the knight οη dl to f2. The drawback ofthis move is that 12 lΩdl!? breaks οηθ ofthe basic

principles of chess: moving a piece twice in the opening. However,

Samisch Variation 117

the closed nature of the position ensures that White will not be punished for this. 12 lbe5 13 lbec3 "'a5 14 .te2! White players had previously relied οη 14 :a3 to stem Black's queenside play. However, after 14... 'iνb4!, with the idea of ...lbe5c4, Black ίΒ doing wel1. 14 .te2 does al10w Black the immediate queenside pawn storm but White will capitalise οη the awkward position of the black queen οη a5. 14 b5 15 0-0 lbfd7 16 lbf2 lbc4 After 16... b4 notice the difference between this position and Game 29: 17 lΩcdl lΩb6 18 .th6! .th8 19 lbe3 gives White a huge advantage as Black has ηο play οη the queenside and the c4 square is unprotected. 000

000

17 .txc4 18 Ι4 19 θδ!

bxc4 :b8 άθδ

20 lbfe4 The·immediate 20 f5 fails to the simple 20 ... gxf5!. 20 'iνb6'!! Black goes astray. He had two plausible alternatives, σηθ good andone bad: a) 20... exf4 21 .txf4 :a8 (or 21 ...:b6 22 .tc7!; 21 ...:b7 22lΩd6) 22 .th6 and Black's position ίΒ ση the verge of collapse. b) 20 ... f5!? 21lΩd6:f8 221Ωxc4 'iνb4 23 lΩxθ5 lbxe5 24 fxe5 .txe5 25 d6 .te6 is Black's best chance. 21 f5! gxf5? Now Black's extra pawn counts for nothing as White launches a ferocious and thematic attack. Ιη­ stead 21 ......xb2 is met by 22 "'el! with the idea of lI'abl. 000

22 1hf5 "'xb2 ':b6 23 "'el! 24 ':bl "'a3 ~b6 25 hb6 26 :g5! (D) If we compare the position overleaf to that of Game 29, the crucial difference ίΒ that White

118 Samisch Variαtion

• '8

Β Β

•• • •••

."'.ΖΒ Β Β

_Δ_

- --

a•

:.'ίBtΔB "Β

mιι~~~B Β _Δ~~

~•

~

~

~

~.~.~~

~

has managed to cover e4 here, a1Α good try by Black, but White beit at the cost of a pawn. Gelfand is tota1ly οη top. played 34... e4!!, liberating his 34 ~2 'itb6 dark-squared bishop, and soon 35 ~e3 "f6 won. Here Black has ηο chance of 36 "xf6+ ~ doing that and White's knight οη 37 d6! :d8 e4 ίβ simultaneously defending 37...lί)g4+ 38 ~ f5 (38...ll)xh2+ and attacking. Many Benoni play- 39 ~θ4 ~g4 40 ~c4 ίβ winning ers have learnt a harsh lesson for White) 39 h3 gives White a from attacks of this nature. clear advantage according to 26 ~h8 Meulders. White now mops up. 27 :xg'1! hg7 38 ~xc5 :CΒ 39 ~M Φg8 40 lOO3 ~7 41 ~de4 f6 42 ~5 28 "g3+ ~h8 Φf7 43 a5 c3 44 ~xc3 :c4 45 29 ~h6 "al+ 30 'iW2 ~2+ Φθ315 46 ~ι5+ ~g6 47 ~f3 :c5 31 lM2 ~ι4! 48 ~7+ ~ 49 ~d2 h6 50 ~M The only move as 31 ...:g8? 32 :c4 51 ~5+ ~θ6 52lOO7+ Φf7 53 ~c3 e4 54 ~+ lZ)xe5 55 "xe5+ ίβ mate. ~xθδ :c5 56 d7 ~θ7 57 ~d6+! 32 "χι4 Not 32 ~4? ~d7! 33 "g5 :g8 Φxd7 58 ~xc5 Φxc7 59 ~θ3 and Black ίβ in the driving seat. ~c6 60 ~b6 ~b5 61 Wf4 ~c4 62 32 :gβ ~xf5 ~d3 63 Wf4 Black re· signed 33 "15 ~7! 000

000

7

Early ~Ι4 System

Ιη the early 1980β the system with 7 .tf4 was all the rage. White's opening play is quite natural: deploy the knight to f.3 and the bishop to f4. Οη f4 the bishop hits the Achilles' heel of the Benoni, the d6 pawn, and this allows White the possibility of giνing a disruptive check along the a4-e8 diagonal; e.g. "a4+ .td7, Wb3 and Black must now defend the d6pawn. This system followed the usual evolutionary trend of chess openings. White's success with the early .tf4 lines prompted many Benoni players to search long and hard for antidotes. ΒΥ the end of the decade the system had suffered a sharp regression in popularity as Black's results improved and now it is rarely seen in internationa1 play. The standard position arises after: 1 d4 lMJ 2 c4 c5 3 d5 e6 4 t'OO3 exd5

5 cxd5 6 tbf3 7 .tf4

Now Black already faces a major dilemma: should he play 7....tg7 or 7... a6 here? Even after a great deal of eχΡeήence with this system Ι am unsure which of these to recommend. 7....tg7 leads to very sharp tactica1 play, and Black has to sacrifice a pawn to avoid an infeήοr game; but 7... a6 is safer and seems to have been accepted as the more reliable way to treat the .tf4 system. We consider 7....tg7 fΪrst.

Game32

Barlov - Zelcic 81el1991 (1 d4lMJ 2 tbf3 e6 3 c4 c5 4 d5 exd5 5 cxd5 d6 6 tbc3 g6 7.tf4)

d6 g6

7 8 "a4+

120 Early R.f4 Systeτn

This ίΒ the only move to test 7... R.g7; the solid 8 e4 lacks punch. White's seemingly innocent check is surpήsingΙΥ disruptive. Now 8 .. :ifd7 willlose a pawn to simply 9 R.xd6. Ι once conducted a disastrous experiment with 8 ... lbbd7 9 R.xd6 'ifb6, hoping for compensation against b2, but White played the devastating 10 "f4! threatening 11 "e3+ and Black ίΒ 10st. 8 •.• R.d7 9 'ifb3

Two black pawns are under attack. Since 9 ... R.c8 ίΒ obviously a sorry way to defend, 9 .....c7 used to be the accepted move ίη this ρο­ sition. We now embark οη a 10ng stream οί ana1ysis to demonstrate why this move leaves Black in difficulties after 10 e4 ο-ο 11lbd2!. Ιί Black now continues routinely then White will reach an idea1 ρο­ sition; e.g. 11 ... .:te8 12 f3 a6 13 lbc4 and the d6 pawn ίΒ a problem. However, Black has some dynamic opportunities after 11...%5 12 R.e3 ffi 13 exffi gxf5 (13 ... R.xffi

100ks 10gica1 but Black will Βοοη be forced back; e.g. 14 R.e2 tDf6 15 h3! and ... lbbd7 ίΒ not possible in view οί g2-g4 winning the bishop) 14 R.e2. John Nunn's book failed to consider this move, giving only 14 g3 lba6 15 R.e2 ί4! as being good for Black. Presumably Nunn ana1ysed οηlΥ 14 R.e2 ί4 15 R.xh5 fxe3 and concluded that Black must be doing wel1 since the white king lacks a safe haven. But as the good Doctor found to his cost against Korchnoi in London 1984, after 14... f4 White has the improvement 15 R.xc5!. Severa1 moves for Black have been tήed here, but the most promising must be 15... lba6!? Now the tactics get very complicated: 16 R.a3 :ae8 (16 ...:fe8 ίΒ probably a better try) 17 lbce4 tDf6 18 R.xd6 "a5 19 lbc3! and Black's attack rapidly fizzled out. Οί course, these positions are a tactical minefield for both sides and there ίΒ plenty ofnew terήtory to be explored. ΜΥ hunch, though, is that with careful play White ίΒ doing well. Safer than 14 ... f4 ίΒ 14... R.e8!?; e.g. 15 lbf3 ί4 16 R.d2 'ike7 17 ο-ο lbd7!?, when Black has some active pieces but objectively White shοώd have an advantage. A1though 9 ... "c7 ίΒ playable, cuπeηt theory wοώd suggest that Black ίΒ struggling. Ιη any case, 9 .. :ii'c7 has been superseded by an even more dynamic idea ... b5!? 9 •••

Early .tf4 System 121

Α very bold move, offeήng both the d- and b-pawns, which was ίη­ troduced by Belgian grandmaster Luc Winants ίη a memorable game against Timman ίη Brussels 1986. What should have been a brilliant victory for Winants turned to disaster after a series of time-trouble blunders gave Timman the point. Subsequent attempts to refute 9... b5 have failed and it has become a favourite among Benoni players seeking swashbuckling chess. 10 lhx:b5? Ι am convinced that capturing this pawn ίβ a mistake. The real test of 9 ... b5 has to be 10.txd6, when the Timman-Winants game continued 10...'iνb6 11 .te5 0-0 12 e3 c4 13 'iVd1 1Σd8 14 a3 lba6 and Black had active piece play and potential pressure οη the d5 pawn. Although some Benoni players Μθ very happy to play this variation, Ι have a deep suspicion that it ίβ not entirely sound for Black. White should be able to keep the pawn and emerge with a

reasonable position. Ι have ηο analysis to back υρ this concluΒίοη but remain wary ofthe whole line after 7... .tg7. 10 ... .txb5! 11 "xb5+ lbbd7 Black ίΒ happy to shed material relying οη the fact that White ίΒ ΒΟ underdeveloped. Black's ίη­ tends ....:tb8 and the b-pawn will fa11. Το prevent this White must keep οη snatching mateήal. 12 .txd6 lOO4 13 .te5 ο-ο! Black's priority is getting the king away ΒΟ that the rooks and knights Μθ Πθθ to enter the game. White's reply ίΒ forced. 14 .txg7 hg7 15 "a4

The retreat of the queen, hitting the knight, ίΒ a logical response to the threat of ....:tb8. Now 15 ...lMf6 16 e3 "xd5 17 .tc4 gives White time to unravel. However, Black ίβ not prepared to relinquish the initiative quite ΒΟ easily...

122 Early ~f4 System

115 ••• :b8!! Black decides that it ίβ worth a whole piece to prevent White from consolidating. With Black threatening moves like ... Jhb2 and ...:b4, White is obliged to capture the knight. 16 'ii'xe4 'ii'a5+ 17 ~2 This offers better resistance than 17 ΦdΙ Jhb2 18 e3 lM> 19 'ii'c4 ~d5!, when the king is so exposed that White has nο hope of survίva1.

17 ... 18 :dl

hb2

--·-••.....••.,-• ."iW. • ~

•

~~

~

•

~

joy; e.g. 20 f3 :e8 21 'ii'g5 h6! and the queen must leave the defence of d5, a110wing ... ~d5 and ...tbe3 with a won game for Black. 20 ... :e8 21 'ii'14 hd2 This finishes the game nicely. White will be forced to relinquish his queen and with th. king still in the centre of the board there ίβ nο hope of compensation. 22 hd2 tbe4 23 'ii'xe4 he4 24 .td3 :a4 25 Φe2 c4 26 .tc2 h2

0«

_ 8

~,-,

~

~Δ ••••

~ ~

•••• _ .:=.i..: Δ_

~ΔBΔB

18 ... lDf6! more accurate move than 18...:fb8, which Ι played against Ivanchuk in Amhem 1987. ΑΙ­ though Black should not be worse even after this, the improvement 18...lM> seems to give him excellent winning chances. 19 'ii'e5 ha2 20 e3? This seems to lose by force but the a1tematives offer little more Α

Now 27 ... c3 will win a piece. 27 :cl 'ii'a3 28 Φdl 'ii'd6 29 g3 fδ 30 e4 c3 31 :e2 'ii'e5 32 ΦeΙ fxe4 S3 :dl 'ii'h5 White resigned since the threat of ... 'ii'f3 and ... 'ifhl mate is devastating. Α game like this is an advert for 7... ~g7 and indeed one can have a lot of fun in these systems. Ι would still stress a word of caution though; 10 ~xd6 may

ΕαΤΙΥ ~f4

wel1 prove to be powerful for White.

System 123

80 let's consider the a1temative, 7... a6.

Game33

Mi/ovanovic - Hu/ak Pula 1990 (1 d4 tΩf8 2 c4 e6 3 ~ c5 4 d5 exd5 5 cxd5 d6 6 tOO3 g6 7 ~Ι4) 7 a6

The move 7... a6 puts the question to White. Black intends to continue with ... b7-b5, achieving the desired queenside expansion at an early stage. Ιη reply White could, of course, play 8 a4 and this ίβ actual1y a common choice. However, once ... a7-a6 and a2-a4 have been played ίη this system, White ηο 10nger has any tricks οη the a4-e8 diagona1. 80 the game might continue 8 a4 ~g7 9 e4 ~g4 10 ~e2 and we are back into Classica1 territory. If White wants to continue with an independent system, he must bite the bullet and head for a rapid thrust in the

centre to offset Black's queenside advance. 8 e4 b5f? We consider the a1temative, 8 ... ~g4, in the next game. Another possibility for Black ίΒ 8 .....e7; e.g. 9 ~θ2 tΩbd710 ο-ο b5 11 ~xb5!? axb5 12 tΩxb5 "d8 13 e5 %5! with interesting play. 9 "e2 ~e71? This move may be preferable to 9... %5, after which White continues 10 ~g5 f8 (10 ... ~θ7 ίβ also possible) 11 ~θ3 ~θ7 with a messy position; Black has achieved his queenside expansion but his kingside ίβ rather compromised. 10 e5 dxe5 11 ~xe5 tΩbd7 12 0-0-0

124

ΕατΙΥ

J.f4 System

Castling queenside ίβ rarely an option for White in the Benoni, but without the fianchetto bishop bearing down οη b2 it is possible. White ίβ hoping to exploit the strength of the passed d-pawn (indeed 12... 0-0 would lose outright to 13 d6). White's attack appears rather artificial but Ι suppose that it's easy to be cool from where Ι am sitting. lΔxeδ 12 ••• 13 lΔxeδ 'ii'd6 14 lOOβ Φf8 Α necessary precaution. White was threatening 15 J:te1, which can now be met by 15 ... J.d8. ΑΙ­ though White has a temporary initiative, the queen οη e2 prevents the bishop and rook from entering the game and Black is ready to consolidate with ...J.f5 and ...J:te8. 15 lΔxθ7 'iνxθ7 16 d6 'iνxe2 17 J.xe2 J.b7

it. Ιη fact, this type of ending (passed d-pawn versus Black's three to two majority οη the queenside) often crops up in the Βθηοηί and usually favours Black. Unless the d-pawn can be promoted, it Βοοη ceases to be a strategic asset and becomes a liability. Black should blockade the d-pawn and then seek to mobilise the queenside majority. Ιη this example, Black's light-squared bishop also controls a powerful diagonal and White must suffer the doubling of his f-pawns to exchangeit. 18 J.f3 J.xf3 19 gxf3 ~g7 20 .:.bel :he8 21 :Xe8 :Xe8 22 a4 b4 23 lOO4lM7! 24 J:td5 f5

• _ · _:.l2J.•••• •• .Ζ.

••_•.~. 8' u R ~.~ •_• ~

Δ8

.Δ. R ~~

· -R U

• •

U

Μ •• ~ Now the knight must retreat •

At first sight the passed dpawn looks dangerous, but Black's pieces Μθ well placed to contain

since 25 .!lJxc5 loses a piece after 25 ...:c8. 25lM2 J:tel+ 26 ~c2 Φf8 27 lOO4J:te2+ 28 J:td2.hd2+ 29 hd2 ~e6 30 ~d3 lbf8 Black's play has been exemplary; the d6 pawn has been, blockaded and it can now be

Eαrly

rounded υρ with ... lί)eB followed by ... lΔxd6.

J..f4 System 125

31 lba5 hd6 32 Φc4 lbd7 33 lί)b7+ Φc6 34lί)d8+ Φc7 35lΔn lί)b6+ 36 hc5 lίmι4+ 37 'iitxb4 lbxb2 38 lί)ι5 h6 39 lΔn lί)d3+ 40 Φ85 Φd7 41 Φxa6 Φe7 42 lbxh6 Φf61 Now the knight

ίβ

trapped (43

lί)g8+ Φf7 44lbh6+ Φg7). 43 Φb5 Φg7 44lbxf5+ gxf5 45 Φc4 lbe5+ 46 Φd5 lί)xf3 47 'iite6 Φιβ 48 h3 Φι5 Whίte resigned Ιη the next game we look at the altemative Β ...J..g4 plan for Black.

Game34 Tίsdall- Co.lonescu Τhessaloniki Olympiad 1988 (1 d4 lDf8 2 c4 e6 3 Μ c5 4 d5 d6 5 lbc3 exd5 6 cxd5 g6 7 J..f4 868 e4) 8 ... J..g4

contίnue with 9 J..e2 or 9 a4 but the text move ίβ an attempt to mix things up. 9 'ii'84+ lί)bd7 10 lί)d.2 Having ducked out of the ρίη, Black's bishop ίβ left pointίng at thin air. 10 ••• b5 11 'ii'c2 White has allowed the queenside expansion in the hope that the bishop οη g4 will become a problem; e.g. 11 ... lί)b6 12 f3 J..d7 and Black cannot play ... J..g7 because the d6 pawn will be en Ρήse.

ΒΥ

deploying the bishop to g4 Black aims to take the stίng out of the e4-e5 advance. White can now

11 ••• 12 J..e3 13 h3

l'Δhδl? lί)b6

126

Eαrly

J.f4 System

Perhaps White should have challenged the queenside pawns immediately with 13 a4; e.g. 13 ... b4 14ll)cbl J.g7 15 a5ll)c8 16 ll)c4 and White has blockaded the queenside.

13 ••• J.d7 14 J.e2 Now 14 a4 could have been met by 14... bxa4 with the following variation in mind: 15 ll)c4 ll)xc4 16 J.xc4 J.g7 17 ll)xa4 J.b5! and Black has a comfortable position. 14 ••• J.g7 15 g4 Doubling the h-pawns was not particularly attractive for White: the black rook would gain access to the g-file and White's king would lack a safe haven. ι!Μι 15 ••• 16 g5 lbh5 17 J.xh5 With the pawn secured οη g5, opening the g-fi1e is less dangerοαι for White, a1though his king stilllacks a secure flank. 17 ••• ph5

18 li)e2

:b8!

Even in double-edged positions, the genera1 Modem Benoni principles still tend to apply. Black lines up for a dynamic attack a10ng the b-fi1e: the obvioU8 idea is ... ll)c4, causing havoc in White's defence. 19 ll)g3 Faced with the 10ss of the hpawn Black has ηο option but to continue οη a tactica1 path. 19

lOO4

20 li)xb5 21 :bl

J.:x:b2 J.e5

Early J.f4 System 127 With the knight ready to hop into 00, it is important to preserve the dark-squared bishop. Black ίβ ready to play ... lαιθ3 and .....xg5. 22 lDxc4 bxc4 23 'itte2 1:xbl 24 hbl ~ύ3 This ίβ a pawn worth grabbing since Black now has the threat of ...~g4+. Note also that the black king is actua1ly quite safe in the centre, and he still has the option of cast1ing if things get too hot! 25 lM6+ ~xf8 26 gxf6 "xf8!

31 J.c3 f6 32 eδ? The best way to fight was 32 "a4!, as now White ίΒ busted. 32 'inιl+ 33 'ittd2 "xd5+ 34 'ittcl "xb7 White resigned 000

27.1:r.b8+ 'itte7 28 .l:r.b7+ Φf8 29 ~d2?! It would have been better to capture the pawn with 29 "xc4; now Black has a powerful sequence. 29 ~ι4+ 30 'ittel 1i'h41 000

The conclusion ofthe chapter is that Black should certain1y be able to meet the 7 ~f4 system with 7... a6. The controversial issue ίβ whether 7... J.g7 is a good altemative. Because this system is rarely played nowadays we lack the benefit of recent examples. ΜΥ advice would be to rely οη 7... a6 as your main defence, but reserve 7... ~g7 ifyou want to βθθ fireworks. Anyway, you are unlikely to have to face aπ early J.f4 too often. Un1ess, of course, the system makes a sudden comeback.

8 System with e4, ~d3 and tί)ge2 This is another fashionable system for White. Every so often it enjoys a burst of activity and then seems to lose favour. It can be quite dangerous for Black to meet, especially if White is well versed in the attacking themes of the position. The system is characterised by the position after: 1 d4 2 c4:

c5

3 d5

e6

4: lOO3

exd5

5 cxd5

d6

6e4 7 .td3 8 tΔge2

g6 .tg7

9

ο-ο

ο-ο

Here we have the basic starting position of the system. At first sight White's set-up looks slightly artificial. The knίght ση e2 would appear to be misplaced: it does

not control the central square e5, nor does it have the option of deploying to c4. However, White has a clear plan in mind: tΔe2-g3, f2f4 and ultimately e4-e5. Preparatory moves like ΦhΙ and h3 may have to be played, since Black often has tricks against the white king, but if White is allowed to carry out his plan unhindered Black will be ίη deep trouble. 80 what will Black be doing while the central pawns come storming down? Of course, playing for rapid queenside expansion to distract White's central advance is fundamental. As usual, White WΊll try to restrain ... b7-b5, but at some point he may decide to abandon the queenside to pursue a direct attack οη the centre or kingside. Consequently the middlegame tends to be very tenie, WΊth both sides looking to seize their chance οη their respective flanks. Black has a WΊde number of ninth move altematives: 9 ... tΔa6, 9 ... a6, 9 ... b6, 9 ...1:te8, 9 ... tΔbd7 and 9 ... tΔg4. Each of these gives rise to a multitude of sub-variations and to be honest, everything can get rather confusing. Since Ι have only two games ίη which to consider this system, Ι propose to consider only one of the above: 9 ... tΔa6. ΜΥ justification for this

System with e4. ίθ

that e4, ~d3 and lbge2 ίθ not a common system and it ίβ more practica1 to have οηθ line against

~d3 αΜ lί)ge2

129

it that you know well, rather than ha1f a dozen that you know οηlΥ vaguely.

Game35

Knaak - Anastasian ΕΓθνβn (1 d4 ι!bf8 2 c4 cδ 3 d5 g6 4 lOO3 i.g7 5 e4 d6 6 ~d3 0-0 7 ~θ2 e6 8 0-0 exd5 9 cxd5) 9 tba6

1988 10 h3 This modest move ίβ usefu1 ίn this system since Black often has tactics involving ...lbg4 and a check a10ng the gl-a7 d.ίagona1. The main a1temative is 10 i.g5, which we consider ίη the next game. Another way to play ίβ 10 f3, an old idea of ΤοηΥ Mίles', against which Black shou1d just continue sensibly wίth ... lbc7, ...1:tb8 and ... i.d7. 10 f3 ίβ very solίd but it delays White's ρή­ mary plan - centra1 expansion. 10 lbc7 Black can a1so play immed.ί­ ately 10... ~d7; e.g. l1lbg3 1:te8 12 1:tel lbc7 and now 13 i.f4! gίνθβ White the inίtiative. ΜΥ feeling is that playίng ... i.d7 too quickly cou1d lead to dίfficu1ties after i.f4, when the d6 pawn ίβ awkward to defend. Moreover, there ίβ ηο θθηβθ in rushing ...1:te8 ίn these vaήations; the e4 pawn is over-protected and sometimes the rook ίβ needed οη f8 to defend the f7 pawn when the position opens up. It seems better to concentrate οη the basic plan of .. /ΔC7 and ... :b8. 11 a4 000

Since we know that White's plan will be f2-f4 and e4-e5, οηθ might expect the knight to be employed οη d7, where it wou1d hold the important e5 square. However, White's plan ίθ not to control the e5 square; after e4-e5, ... d6xe5 White will not recapture but will advance f4-m, sacrίficίng a pawn for a kingside attack. Then either the knίght οη g3 or c3 will hop into the blockading square e4. If Black deploys the knίght to c7 then it restrains e4-e5 by exerting pressure οη the d5 pawn.

130 System with e4, li.d3 aΜ ΙCWe2

This ωονθ cannot be delayed for long; e.g. 11 ~g3 ':b8 12 a4 a6!. Black need not fear a4-a5 in this position, since the semi-open b-fi1e will be adequate compensation for the isolated a6 pawn; e.g. 13 a5 b5 14 axb6 Jhb6 15 ~a4 :b8 16 .i.d2 ~b5 and Black ίβ already doing fine. One advantage of having the knight οη c7 ίβ that it ίβ ready to hop into b5 after the exchange of pawns οη b6. If the knight is captured οη b5 then Black restores the harmony ofhis pawns with ... axb5; whilst οη b5 it also controls the important d4 square. 11 •••

a6

Perhaps 11 ...:b8 was more accurate. The altemative ίβ 1l ... b6 but this seems rather slow; e.g. 12 .i.g5 h6 13 .i.h4 .i.a6 14 f4 and White's central expansion seems to be faster than Black's queenside play. 12 .tg5! This ίΒ White's most dangerous continuation, giving the f2-f4, e4e5 plan more bite. 12 ••• :b8 13 f4 (υ) Α razor-sharp position ίη which White threatens to wίn the house with e4-e5. Here my inclination would be to play 13 ...:te8. Admittedly White has some dangerous options; e.g. 14 e5 dxe5 15 m. The ρin οη the mknight looks vicious, but Black's position is very resilient. Besides, Black already has οηθ pawn and the d-pawn looks

sure to fall. Black can also counterattack with 15... b5!? (in some variations the rook can come to b6 to defend the m knight). Okay, this position is not for the fainthearted, and Black might even be busted, but I've always managed to survive - touch wood. Black's next move seems to leave him in grave danger and ίf 13 ...:e8 ίΒ too ήsky then Black needs some new ideas in this cήtical position. Perhaps immedίately 13 ...h6 and after 14 .th4 "e8!?, which ίΒ presumably what Black was angling for in the game. Another interesting idea ίΒ 13.....d7; it makes sense for the queen to remain οη the d-fi1e, since Black wants to answer the e4-e5 thrust with ...ι!bfxd5. Moreover, the queen supports the ... b7b5 thrust after which the bishop may deploy οη b7. 13 ••• "e8?! 14 .i.c2! Suddenly Black's position is cήtίcal. The natural move is 14... b5 but this fails to 15 e5! dxe5

System with e4,.td3 and tQge2 131 16 fxe5 'it'xe5 17 .tf4 winning a piece. The position of the queen οη e8 cramps Black's position. 14 h8 15 .txf8 .txf8 18 eδ dxe5 17 fδ 000

Α familiar scheme from White. The extra pawn ίθ little compensation for Black's ruptured kingside; the white pawn οη e5 blocks the bishop and compromises Black's hopes for dynamic counterplay; and White can establish an almost impregnable knight οη e4. Black's only hope in such ΡΟθί­ tions ίθ to launch a rapid attack οη the d5 pawn with ....tb7 and ... 1:ιd8, but here Black's counterattack will be too slow.

17 gxfδ sorry move to have to play but the altemative, 17... g5 18 d6 ll:)a8 19 ll:)e4, was even less appealing. ll:)e6 18 d8! 19 ll:)d5 .tg7 ll:)d4 20 :xfδ 21 ll:)xd4 exd4 22 ll:)e7+ Φh8 000

Α

23

1:ιf6!!

Black resigned White finds a brilliant finish. After 23 ....i.xffi 24 'it'd3 and 25 'it'h7 mate ίθ unavoidable. An impressive game by White, and a good advertisement for this system. Still, the cήtίcal questions rest οη Black's 13th move altematives.

Game36

HoOlafsson - Gelfand New York Open 1989 (1 d4ll:)f6 2 c4 86 3 ~ .i.g7 4 e4 d85 .td3 0-0 8ll:)ge2 CΔ 7 dδ e6 8

ο-ο

exd5 9 cxd5 ll:)a8) 10 .tg5

132 System with e4. JLd3 aΜ ~e2 12 :tcl can't say that Ι really understand this move but does White have a good altemative? 12 ••• ~7 Black continues with the plan; ...:tb8 will follow and clearly Black's queenside expansion Ίs faster than White's centra1 thrust. The strength of ... ~g4 Ίs that it delays White's centra1 play, whilst 13 h3 could be met by 13 ... lL:ιθ5 and it will take White some time to arrange the f4 push. 13 ~ι3?! Ι

White goes directly for the plan of .i.g5, f2-f4 and e4-e5 without spending a move οη h2-h3. Note that Black could now lay a trap here with 10 ... :te8: if White pushes 11 (4 then 11 ... c4! 12 .i.c2 'iνb6+ and 13 ... lL:ιg4 terrοήsing the e3 and f2 squares. The most natural continuatίon aίter 10...:te8 ΊS 11 'ιί'd2. 10 ••• h6 This poses the question to the white bishop. If 11 .i.h4 Black could keep up the chase with 11 ... g5 12 .i.g3 ~5 13 'ιί'd2 lL:ιc7, and Ι can Βθθ ηο reason why White should be better. Another point behind the move h2-h3 ίΒ that the bishop has the h2 square to retreat to. 11 .i.f4 lL:!g4!? Dynamic, but 11 ... tDc7 ίΒ also fine for Black. If White continues simply with 12 f3 then Black has the option of livening things up with 12... g5 13 .i.e3 b5!? and if White grabs the b-pawn then the b2 pawn will be lost: 14 ~xb5 lL:ιxb5 15 .i.xb5 :tb8 16 a4 a6.

13 lL:ιxh2! Agood decision. Although White obtains two centra1 pawns Black's initiative more than compensates. 14 .i.xd6 'ii'xd6 15 Φxh2 b5! Causing disruption ίη White's camp. Captuήng the pawn allows Black's rook rapid access to the game with ...:tb8. The main weakness of White's position Ίs the dark squares.

System with e4, .td3 αnd llJge2 133 16 b3

h5

17~ιl

The pawn thrust 17 Ι4 would have left White with further weaknesses; e.g. 17....tg4 18 "e1 ':fe8! and there is too much strain οη White's centre.

17 "0 ':b8 18 lbge2 f5! Causing White's central pawns even more trouble, as 19 exf5 allows the bishop to enter the game by 19 ....txf5. Besides, Black also has ideas οΙ storming the kingside with 19... f4. 19 Ι4 c4 20 bxc4 bxc4 21 .tc2 Ofcourse, 21.txc4 would lose a piece to 21 .....c5+. 21 ... fxe4 22 .txe4 .tf5 Black's play has been very crisp. The dark-squared bishop remains a monster and White's pawns have become liabilities, restήcting the pair οΙ knights.

.tx:e4 23 "a4 24 lbxe4 'ii'b6+ 25 ~h2 lbx:d5 'iVb5 26 "xc4 With such a positional advantage, Black ίΒ happy to exchange queens. White's knights have ηο target to aim at, whereas both the Ι4 and a2 pawns Μθ weak. 27 lbd6 "xc4 28 lbxc4 ':be8 29 ':c2 ':Μ 30 lbd6 .:eβ 31 lbc4 ':c8 32 ':bl lbb6! White resigned since he cannot avoid loBίng a piece. This concludes the study ofthe e4, .td3 and lbge2 system. You will have Βθθη that play quickly becomes highly tactίcal and playing the Black side demands steady nerves. ΙΙ Ι had to offer practical advice in these systems it would be: believe in your position. Yes, White does have some dangerous attacking ideas, but you will compromise your chances if you let this fact depress you. Keep actίve, and be prepared to retum mateήal (or sacrifice it) to seize the initiative. Υοαι king will be a target, but remember your opponent's king ίβ also vulnerable, especially ifit has remained οη gl. Above all, bear in mind that the faster you launch your counterattack οη the queenside, the less tίme he will have to prepare his central thrust.

Other SysIems

9

This chapter consists ο! miscellaneous systems in the Modem Benoni. Although none of these are cήtical vaήations, each has certain tήcks which the Black player must avoid. Ιη addition, many Benoni players are preoccupied with the CΉtical main lines, βΟ these oflbeat systems can lull the Black player into a false sense ο! seCUΉty, allowing White to develop a dangerous ρο­ sition simply through inaccuracies by his opponent. The .*.g5 and e2-e3 system used by Κarpoν is the positional approach. White does not play e2-e4 but the modest e2-e3, avoiding a possible weak pawn οη e4 and thereby removing οηθ of the targets of Black's counterplay. Instead, White builds up more slowly, and although this would normally allow Black to achieve easy equality, in the sample game

he is hampered by the unfortunate placement of his queen. Finegold-Κinsman features an interesting new idea pioneered by Psakhis to avoid the Modem Classical vaήation. Black saCΉ­ fices a pawn in return for a big lead in development and good counterplay οη the dark squares. Gligοήc's early .*.b5+ ίβ a dangerous idea though Fedorowicz shows that Black has many resources. Sti11, the Black player must be careful as it seems that White is very close to achieving a dominating position. Ιη the final game White plays the almost extinct 'Κnight's Tour' variation. τω undeπated system involves an immediate attempt to win the vu1nerable d6 pawn. Practical play, however, has shown that with accurate play Black can create enough counterplay.

Game37 Karρov - de Firmian 81e11990 (1 d4~2c4e63Mc54dδ

exd5 5 cxd5 dS 6 lOO8 ιβ) 7 h3 a6 8 a4

Ίi'e7!?

The Modem Classical variation has been quite successful

for White, βΟ de Firmian stops White from playing this system with an unusual queen move. However, White cleverly employs another system in which the queen is not usually placed οη e7.

Other Systems 135

9 -*.g5! ~bd7 10 e3 We have now arrived at the main line ofthe -*.g5 and e3 variations with the difference that the moves .. :fie7 and h3 have been played. The question ίΒ, which ofthese moves is more useful? Κarpoν demonstrates that he can incorporate h2-h3 into his plans whereas Black has diffi.culty ίη justifying the unusual position of his queen. 10 -*.g7 11 -*.e2 0-0 12 0-0 h8 13 -*.h4 ~5 14 ~!ω) White would have ηο advantage after 14 ttJxe5 "xe5 15 -*.g3 "e7. This move virtually forces Black to play ... g6-g5. 14 ..ο g5 15 -*.g3 :e8?! The wrong rook, as pointed out by Κarpoν in Informαtor 50. He gives 15 ... -*.f5 16 a5 :ae8 as a better try for Black, with an unclear position.

18 :el 17 a5?!

:b8

000

There ίβ ηο mention of the more natura117 "c2!, preventing ... -*.f5, in ΚarpoYB notes. If17 ...b5 18 axb5 axb5 19 -*.xb5! (19 ttJxb5 ttJxd5 and Black ίβ doing well) and White ίβ simply a pawn up. 17 .. ο -*.f5 Not 17 ... ~7? 18f4~g618~c4 with a clear advantage to White, according to Κarpoν. 18 e4 -*.g6 19 :a4! (D) Α brilliant concept. The rook defends the e4 pawn and at the

136 Other Syste7n8

same time restrains ...b5 by ρο­ tentia1 pressure against a6. 19 ••• lbfd7 201fc2 White's plan ίΒ revea1ed. Overprotect e4, then play lLId2-fl-e3 followed by an invasion of the weak f5 square. 20 ••• 21 b3! Stopping any ... c5-c4 followed by ...lbc5 tήcks. 21 ••• 1ff8 Black has the ήght idea. He must play ... f7 -f5 to ήd himself of the weakness οη f5. However, a better move would have been 21 ...:m! with the same ideas as in thegame. 22 lbfl 23 exf5 241fd2 25 lί::ιe3 26 Ι4! (D) Black must not be allowed to consolidate his position and 'cover up' the f5 square. Note the crucial role ofthe rook οη a4. Not only would f2-f4 be impossible

without the influence ofthis rook, but it also contro1s the e4 square, stopping any Black counterplay with ...lί::ιffi..e4. 26 f4! is again aimed at occupation of the f5 square by a knight. White also maintains the possibility of playing f4-f5!, completely heιnming the bishop οη g6 out of the game. 26 ••• lΔt7 26 ... gxf4 27 :xt'4 would be ηο better as a knight would arrίve οη f5. 27 ~Ω Forcing Black to capture οη f4. The plan off5 followed by g4 is far toO strong. 27 ••• gxf4 28 ]hf4 1fe7 29 Μ

~xf5

30 :xf5 (D) The diagram overleaf ίΒ a classic example of the perfect ροβί­ tional treatment of the Modem Benoni by White. 30 ••• 1fc7 31 1ff4 lllli7 Altematively, 31 ... lί::ιg5? fai1s to 32 :xm :m 33 lί::ιe4! or 31...1fxa5

Other Systems 137 36 ..ιh5 :e7 37 .th4 :d7 38 "e6+ with mate or heavy mateήalΙ0SS, whίlst 34...:cd8 35 ..ιc3! with the idea of tilxd6 is also strong for White. 35 axb6 "xb6 36 ΦhΙ Φb8 37 "g3 1hfδ 38 ::x:m :g8 39 a51 Α time-pressure blunder. Κar­ ρον gίνθβ 39...:tB 40 :xt8+ tilxf8 41 b4 ~d7 as best, though White still retains a clear edge. 40 .tg3 :b8 41 ~xd6 "xd6 42 he5 "f8 43 :e6 Black resigned Black's position has collapsed.

"e3

32 :xm ~g5 33 :c1! (analysis by Κarpoν).

32 lOO4 lDe5 33 :n :f8 34 ..ιθΙ! b5 34...:xt5?! fai1s to 35

"xf5 :e8

Game38

Finego/d - Kinsman Groningen Open 1993 (1 d4 ~ 2 c4 c5 3 d5 e6 4 ~ exd5 5 cxd5 d6 6 e4 g6 7 00) 7 ••. a6 8 a4 ..ιι4!?

Black plays an early .....ιg4 before White can play h2-h3, thereby dodging the fashionable Modem Classical variation. The drawback of 8... ..ιg4 ίΒ the weakening ofthe b7 pawn and much of the debate over the validity ofthe system lies in whether Black has enough compensatίon for the ensuing pawn sacήfice. 9 ~3 9 J.e2.bf3 10.bf3 ~bd7 trans-

poses to the ....tg4 lίnθ of the Classical vaήation which was considered in Chapter 3. 9 ••• .txf3 10 "xb7 ~bd7

138 OtMr Systems 11 gxf3 Jl.g7 12 'iVb3 Instead 12 "c6 'Wb8 13 ~xa6 ο-ο 14 'iVb7 lbe5 15 .xb8 tQxf3+ 16 Φf1 :fxb8 17 ~θ2 lbd4 was Douven-Psakhis, Groningen Open 1993 (one round before the text game). Although Black is a pawn down, the knight οη d4 provides ample compensation. 12 lΔh5!

An a11-purpose move which in the bishop οη g7 and the queen οη d8, and guards the important f4 square. It is clear from the diagram that Black has excellent compensation for the sacήficed pawn. Although White a1so has the two bishops, the weaknesses in his position, especially οη f4, enhance the effects of Black's knights. Ιη addition, White has doubled f-pawns and ίΒ a long way from being fully developed. 13 1Vdl .te5?! Overprotection ofthe f4 square to prevent White from playing οηθ stroke activates

f3-f4 ίΒ crucia1. However, a better method οί achieving this objective would be to first play 13 ... ifh4! and only then decide whether ... ~θ5 is necessary. 14 ~h3 0-0 15 ~h6 J:[e8 16 ..d2 lbb6 17 ~ι4 1M6 18 h3 lbxg4!? Black somewhat repairs White's pawn structure, but retains control over the weakness οη f4. The removal οί the light-squared bishop has other consequences for White's position ίη that the light squares can become a target. 19 hxg4 1V16 20 1Vd3 c4! Gaining a tempo and highlίght­ ing the potentia1 weaknesses οη d3 and b3. 21 1Vdl?! Better was 21 1Ve3 ~d4 22 .tg5 1Ve5 23 ~f4 1Vf6 24 ~g5 with a repetition (perhaps Black should try 22 ... ifh8!?). 21 lbd7! 000

Other Systems 139 Α typical Βθηοηί switch. Af'ter threatening to infiltrate via c4, the knight temporarily retreats to d7 to go νίβ c5 to d3. 22 1:cl lOO5 23 Φf1 c!M3 24 1:c2 1:&b8 Of course 24... ~b2 25 hb2 .txc3 26 1:c2 :ac8 was also good for Black. The text is a typical example of the player with the initiative maintaining the tension rather than playing a forced sequence. 25 ~g2 :Xb2 26 ll)e2 :Xc2 27 "xc2 1Πι4!!

queens, after which Black's passed c-pawn is the main factor. 28 ]hJι4 lbel+ 29 Φf1 ~c2 30 :hl c3 31 ~g2 lί)M 32 Ι4 .th8 33 ~ c2 34 lbcl f5! Α successful attempt to keep the white bishop οη h6 out of the game. 35 gxf5 gxf5 36 e5 After 36 exf5 .tb2, the bishop οη h6 will not be able control the vital cl square. However, White's position ίΒ quite hopeless and this pawn sacrifice, Iiberating the h6 bishop, does not save the game. 36••• dxe5 37 fxe5 .txe5 38 :h4 85 39 .td2 .tb2 40 1:c4 .txcI41.txcl c!M3 42:c3 ~cl 43 :Xc2lί)d3 44 :c3lί)b4 45 :c5 :d8 46 1:xaδ ~d5 47 :b5 Φf7 48 a5 ~θ6 49 86 1:&8 50 1:b7 1:xa6 51 ]hJι7 1:a3+ 52 ~g2 ~θ5 53 :b7 ~e4 54 :a2 55 :f8 ~4 56 ~gllbc3 57 :h8lbe4 58 :h4+ ~ 59 :h5 ~g4 60 :h8 1:xf2 61 1:e8 ~ 62 :e5 :12+

:n

White resigned

Game39

Gligoric - Fedorowicz New York Open 1988 (1 d4 lbf8 2 c4 e6 3 Μ c5 4 d5 e:x:d5 5 c:x:d5 d6 6 lbc3 g6 7 e4 .tg7)

8 .tb5+!? (D) The Benoni pawn structure ίΒ οηθ of the most dynamic opening

140 Other Systems

set-ups. However, οηθ ofits weakηθΒΒθΒ ίΒ that White a1ways has the idea of bursting through the centre with a tίmθly e4-e5. 8 .tb5+!? ίΒ an innovative method of gaining tίmθ. The idea ίΒ to castle quickly, attack d6 and e5 with .tf4, and then play e4-e5 before Black can settle into the poBίtίoη. 8 lDbd7 The altemative 8 ....td7?! ίΒ answered by 9 .te2! when Black's bishop οη d7 is misplaced (an idea 'stolen' from the Flick-Κnife Attack against the Βθηοηί). After 1 d4 lDf6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 e6 4lDc3 exd5 5 cxd5 d6 6 e4 g6 7 f4 .tg7 8.tb5+, 8 ....td7?! ίΒ met with 9 e5! with advantage to White. 9 .tf4 'fie7 Α better square for the queen than c7. Οη c7, Black would run into problems when White plays a future Itc1 and b2-b4 with strong pressure against the d6-c5 pawn mass. 10 0-0 0.0 11 lte1 lt)g4! Οηθ of the few positίons in 000

which White has the luxury ofnot bothering to stem Black's queenside play with a2-a4. If instead 11 ... a6 12 .tf1 b5?! 13 e5!, when White has achίeved his main objectίve. Black ήghtΙΥ decides to cover the a1l-important e5 square before embarking οη any queenside play. 12 i.g5 Probably stronger than 12 i.f1 lDde5 13lDxe5lDxe5 14 'fid2 a6 15 .tg5 f6 16 i.h4 g5 17 .tg3 b5 18 a4 b4 19 lDd1 f5 20 exf5 i.xf5, as in GιigοήC-D.Gurevich, New York ΟΡθη 1988, when Black had good piece play in compensatίon for his weaknesses οη the kingside. 12 i.f6 13 .i.xf6 tMxf6 14 i.f1 a6 15 g3!? 000

White has a slight advantage though Black has managed to steer clear of the tήcks and has establίshed a typica1 Benoni ρosί­ tion. 15 a4 is the more norma1 response to ... a7-a6 but White

Other Systems 141

continues to ρin his hopes οη a centra1 breakthrough. 15 •.• b5 16 e5t? ~θδ Not 16... dxe5? 17 d6 "'e8 (or 17 ..."'e6 18 h3 %6 19lbxe5 with advantage to White) 18 lbd5! lbxd5 19 "xd5 and White has a dominating position. 17 lbxe5 dxe5 18 d6 ...eβ An important move, covering d5. 18.....e8? would αιη into 19 lbd5 with the same consequences as in the previous note. 19 ~g2 :&7 20 f4 e4 What else? 20...b4 21 lbd5! is extremely uncomfortable and the alternative 20 ... lbg4 is met by the simple 21 h3. 21 ~e4 ~e4 22 he4 ...m

The cήtica1 position. White ίβ in fact a few consolidating moves short of a winning position. As it stands, however, White's d-pawn cannot be overprotected quickly

enough and Black's pieces are ideally placed for rounding up the dpawn. Black ίΒ now threatening the simple ...:a7-d7, winning the passed d-pawn. 23 :θδ 23 "d2 :d8! 24 :d1 :ad7 wins the d-pawn for nothing. 23 ••• :d7 Black would be pushing his luck after 23 ... c4?! 24 ~c6! when 24....i.d7 would be met by 25 "'d4! netting the exchange. As Ι said earlier, White is a few consolidating moves away from an overwhelming position and any 1088 of time οη Black's part could be disastrous. 24 ..d5 "xd6 Instead 24...:Xd6 25 "xc5 :d2 26 :ae1, with the threat of :e4e8, ίβ ήskΥ for Black. 25 "xd6 hd6 26 hc5 :d2 27 b4 ~e6 28 a3 :fd8 White has a winning bishop ending thanks to his pawns being οη different coloured 8quares to his bishop. However, with the rook8 still οη the board, Black has the advantage! If the {4 pawn were οη f2, White would still have 80me chances of making 8omething out of this endgame, but with the pawn οη f4, the second rank ίβ extremely weak and vulnerable to infiltration by the black rooks. 29 :ccl h5 30 .i.f3 :b2 31 :c3 h4 32 gxh4 :dd2 33 h5 gxh5 34

142 Other Systems h4 :d4 35 .txh5 .1hf4 36 :13+ ~ 37 :12 hg2+ 38 Φxg2 :xh439.tf3 Now that a pair of rooks have been exchanged, the immediate threat to White's king ίβ over and a draw ίβ inevitable.

39•••:c4 40 .tb7 .tc8 41 .td5 :d4 42.tf3 .te6 43 :dl .1hdl 44 .txdl Φe7 45 Φf3 Φd6 46 Φe4 .td7 47 .tb3 f8 48 Φd4 .te6 49 .tdl Φc6 50 .tf3+ Φb6 51 .te4 a5 52 .tf3 &ΧΜ 53 &ΧΜ Φc7 54 .te2 .tc4 Draw agreed

Game40

Yewdokimov - Suba Stiges Open 1992 (1 d4 !Δf8 2 c4 e6 3 ~ c5 4 d5 d6 5 lOO3 exd5 6 cxd5 g6) 7 lbd2 .tV;Ι

8 lbc4 An over-elaborate manoeuvre that is rarely seen nowadays in grandιnaster chess. White exerts pressure οη the d6 pawn at the earliest possible opportunity and can either follow-up with .tf4 or the game continuation. It shοώd also be noted that 7 lbd2 is sometimes played with the idea of transposing into the Classica1 variation with e2-e4, as with this move order, White does not allow Black to play the ....tg4 systems. 8 ... 0-0 9 .tg5 White attempts to provoke ...h7-h6, which he will meet with .tf4 and then gain a tempo οη the h6 pawn with -'d2 or 'l'cl. After 9 .tf4 lOO8 10 -'d2 .txc3 is a risky possibility played by both Ta1 and Κorchnoi.

9 ...

"e7

10 -'d2 Perhaps it is too late to turn back by playing a safer option: 10 e3 lbbd7! (not 10... b6 11 a4.ta6 12 :cl!) 11 a4?! (better was 11 lbb5 a6 12lbbxd6 b5 with unclear play) 11 ... lbe5! 12lba3 h613 .th4 g5 14 .tg3 lbfd7, as ίη DlugyΚlinger, World Junior Ch., Sharjah 1985, when Black has easily equa1ised and may θνθη hold a slight advantage. 10 ... b6

Also possible was 10... lbbd7 11 -'f4 h6 12 .txh6 .txh6 13 -'xh6

Other Systems 143 lί)θ5

14 e3 .t.f5 with compensation for the pawn, as ίn Ftafuik-Cramling, Βίθl1984. 11 _f4 .ta6 12 lLJxd6 h6 13 .txf6 .t.xf6 14 lί)dM .tg7 15 e3 f5 g5 16 lM2 17 _a4 .t.xf1 lί)d7 18 1hfl

Clearly Black has some compensation for the sacήficed pawn ίn the shape ofhis powerful darksquared bishop. If the white king were οη g1, Black's compensation would be minima1 and White's passed d-pawn would probably decide the game. However, the white king can only castle long and Black's dark-squared bishop will constantly harass White οη the a1-h8 diagona1. 19 0-0-0 a6! Preparίng the queenside attack, but this is also a good ΡΟΒί­ tiona1 move as Black needs some control over the light sqUare8.

_n

20 d6 21 _c4 b5 22 _xf7+ :xn 23 lί)b3 c4 24 lί)d4 lOO5 25 lί)d5 Φh7 Attempting to win the d-pawn with the immediate 25 ...lί)b7 would run ίnto 26lί)b6! :d8 27 d7 :m 28lM5:Π 29lί)b6 when Black would have to play 29 ...:ffl and a draw ίΒ the most likely result. 26 Φc2 :d8 27 t'Δe7 f4-.' 28 lί)dc6 .ίt1 29 exf4 lM3!

Black has correctly assessed that White's position would rapidly collapse once the dangerous d-pawn has been rounded up. 30 fxgs hxg5 31lLJc8 :t8 32 lί)6θ7 .t.e5 33 g4:e8 34 h4 hd6 35 lLJxd6 :e:x:e7 36 lί)f5 :e2+ 37 ΦbΙ g:x:h4 38 ΦΒΙ b4 39 :hl c3 40 ::x:h4+ Φg6 41 b:x:c3 b:x:c3 42 :h6+ Φιδ 43 :c6 lί):x:f2 44 :ιι c2 45 lί)d6 lί)d3 46 :f5+ Φh4 White ηΒίρΟΟ

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DAVID NORWOOD /nternationa/ Grandmaster

The Modern Benoni 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 e6 is one of Black's most exciting and adventurous responses

Ιο

the Queen's

Pαwn

Opening. Young

English Grandmaster David Norwood has established a reputation for handling the Benoni with great skill and scoring a high percentage of wins. Here, by means of 40 annotated games, he covers all the main lines with the emphasis

οη

ideas, plans, typical tactics and true understanding rather than masses of variations. Players of all strengths will enjoy this lively and highly instructive work.

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