Download PGN of June '14 1 e4 e5 games
>> Previous Update >>
Spanish - The Breyer System 15.a4 [C95]
I would like to start with the game Giri, A - Karjakin, S 2nd Norway blitz 2014.
             |
In this well-known position White played the rare 20.Bxc5, seized the a-file and showed an interesting plan with a sacrifice of two minor pieces for a rook.
A well-played game by Giri! White's plan with 20.Bxc5 is worth further practical tests.
The Berlin with 6.dxe5 Nxb5 7.a4 d6 [C67]
In the game Baron, T - Mikhalevski, V ISR-Tch 2014, White went for an interesting line of the Berlin with 6.dxe5 and one of the critical positions occurred after 9...Nb4:
|
|
White answered with the uncommon 10.Nc3 and then after the slow 11.Re1?! Black was already on top.
White should play Ng5 either on move 10 or 11 to fight for the initiative.
The Berlin Wall 6.Bxc6, 9.h3 h6 with ...Kc8 [C67]
In the rapid game Gruenfeld, Y - Mikhalevski, V, Israel 2014, the players quickly reached the following theoretical position:
|
|
Here Grishcuk had previously played 19.h4 to beat Eljanov. Instead my opponent played 19.g4, soon found himself on the defensive, and eventually almost in zugzwang.
Clearly, 19.h4 is the critical test of the line, when Black has to improve upon Eljanov's play in Grischuk, A - Eljanov, P/Odessa UKR 2009.
The Berlin with 5.Re1, 7...Nf5 [C67]
The game Czarnota, P - Navara, D, TCh-POL Ekstarligi 2014, featured the quiet line with 5.Re1, which provoked Black into taking some risky decisions.
|
|
in the position given above White played 10.Bf4 instead of the 10.g3 from McShane, L - Carlsen, M/London ENG 2012 (see the December '12 Update). Instead of equalising Navara tried to complicate and worsened his position, but fortunately for him White missed some tactics (24.Qc7??) and his position collapsed. Instead, 24.Qe2 led to a better endgame for White.
Sometimes it's not a bad idea to play such solid lines against higher rated opponents, as the game shows, because it provokes them into worsening their positions in order to obtain chances for a win.
Spanish - Alapin with 3...Bb4 [C60]
In the blitz game Karjakin, S - Carlsen, M 2nd Norway blitz 2014, the World Champion surprised his well-prepared opponent with 3...Bb4, an extremely rare move, which had mostly been tested by Simon Alapin back at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.
|
|
Here Karjakin chose the safe 5.0-0, when instead 5.Bxc6 is the critical test of Black's setup.
The opening line chosen by Carlsen can serve mostly as a surprise weapon and is unlikely to be seen that often in tournament practice. However, it may fit blitz chess pretty well.
Scotch with 4...Nf6, 8...Ba6, Ivanchuck's 10...g5 [C45]
The game Navara, D - Jakovenko, D TCh-FRA 2014, saw an important line of the Scotch.
|
|
In the diagram position White introduced the logical novelty 12.h4, but it seems that Black is already fine, which Jakovenko demonstrated with 12...h6!
An interesting game, which proves that the line with 10...g5 is a good weapon against 10.f4.
Italian with 5.d4, 7...Nxe4 [C54]
An old line with 5.d4 occurred in the rapid game Axelrod, A - Mikhalevski, V Israel 2014.
|
|
Here I decided to test the interesting, but relatively rare continuation 10...Kf8. Black's idea is to keep the d-pawn on d6 in order to control the e5-square. The latter is usually weak after 10...d5, which is the main line.
The opening line with 10...Kf8 looks playable, though some more tests at a high level would be useful.
Italian with 5.d3 [C54]
A transposition from the Bishop's opening into the Italian with 5.d3 occurred in the game Bologan,V-Wang Yue, TCh-CHN 2014.
|
|
Here Bologan played 11.Ng3, allowing 11...Bxc4, (when instead 11.Bb3 is the main move). Black obtained the upper hand, but missed a nice tactical blow. This led to big complications, when after an exchange of mistakes (probably in time trouble) the players reached a drawish haven.
White's opening setup doesn't promise any advantage, which Black proved with some good play.
Enjoy!
See you next month, Victor.
>> Previous Update >>
Please post your Kingpawn Opening queries on the 1 e4 e5 Forum, or subscribers can write to Victor@ChessPublishing.com if you have any questions.