Download PGN of August ’24 Daring Defences games
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Benko Accepted Mainline with Kxf1, 13.a4! Qb6 14.Re1 [A59]
Sarana, A - Kasparov, S Titled Tue, started with a slightly different move order that doesn’t matter except that is interesting to have such a possibility in mind, so after...6...g6 7.e4 Bxf1 8.Kxf1 d6 9.Nf3 Bg7 10.g3 0-0 11.Kg2 Nbd7 12.a4 Black now responded with 12...Qb6:
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This is yet another way to manage this unpleasant set up in which White uses the b5 square effectively. Black didn’t manage to find a clear antidote once again, so we can say that White still keeps an edge here.
Neo-Grünfeld 6...dxc4 7.Na3 a5 [D77]
In the next three games we will cover Fianchetto lines in the Grünfeld.
In Meier, Geo - Paravyan, D CrunchLabs Masters PlayIn, after 3...Bg7 4.Bg2 0-0 5.Nf3 d5 6.0-0 dxc4 7.Na3 Black lashed out with the unusual and modern idea 7...a5!?:
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An interesting approach, Black is trying to gain some space on the queenside.
Neo-Grünfeld Defence with ...c6, 7.Nc3 dxc4 8.e4 Bg4 [D78]
In a particularly important moment from the British Championship, we have this game in which Gawain tried a popular gambit that I analysed recently. After 6...c6 7.Nc3 dxc4 and now 8...Bg4 is another big line here:
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I have analyzed this entire system and given some notes on it. In this game Gawain didn’t go for the critical lines, and Black was doing fine during the whole game, see Jones, G - Howell, D.
Neo-Grünfeld with ...c6, Symmetrical Variation 8.Nc3 Nc6 9.Ne5 Bf5 [D79]
The game Duda, J - Vidit, S FIDE World Bl Team Final Almaty, is about an old-fashioned line but with new and important moments. Following 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.Nc3 Nc6 9.Ne5, 9...Bf5 is the latest twist here. White responded with 10.Nxc6 bxc6 and now 11.b3 was played but I analyzed other, perhaps even more important, methods in depth.
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In this game Black didn’t have any problems.
Grünfeld Defence
In the last four games we have the Grünfeld as well, but other systems.
Exchange Grünfeld 7.Bc4 0-0 8.Ne2 Nc6 [D86]
Agibileg, Uurtsaikh - Abdusattorov, Nodirbek FIDE World Bl Team Final Almaty, went 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 0-0 8.Ne2 Nc6 0-0 9.0-0 Na5 10.Bd3 e5:
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I actually already analyzed this rare system a short time ago, but it seems that it has started to get some followers. An interesting game with plenty of possibilities.
Grünfeld Exchange 7.Bc4 c5 8.Ne2 Nc6 9.Be3 0-0 10.0-0 Bg4 [D87]
In Iniyan, Pa - Indriunas, Matas Riga Tech Open A 2024 Riga, play went 8...c5 9.0-0 Nc6 10.Be3 Bg4 11.f3 Bd7, an extremely popular line for Black, and after 12.Rb1 Qc7 White responded with the less played but interesting 13.Bf4:
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After a few moves Black has a decision to make: either to break open the center with 15...e6 or to go with 15...e5 as he did. Both are valid ideas, and the game remains complex in both cases.
Russian System 5...c5 [D96]
This game, Shankland, S - Ragger, M, Titled Tue, and the next one feature the Russian System, but almost forgotten lines! They are not easy to find but Black managed to do just that and it was OK with precise play. After 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 c5!?? I even have a story to tell about this idea. It has been known for a long time, but few players have used it:
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We have an endgame coming fast and it seems that Black is not doing badly here. I can’t really say more because we need many more games to give a stronger evaluation.
Russian System 7.e4 a6 8.Be2 b5 9.Qb3 c5 10.dxc5 Nc6 [D96]
Theodorou, Nikolas - Chatalbashev, B, 2nd Dole Open 2024 Aix-en-Provence, is another game in which Black managed to get out of the opening with old almost forgotten but not necessarily bad line. After 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 0-0 7.e4 a6 8.Be2 b5 9.Qb3 c5 10.dxc5 Black opted for the less popular 10...Nc6:
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No new material here, so I had to recheck some old games, and I gave the notes. it is interesting, not the best line for Black here but manageable, it seems, at least for tournament practice.
Till next month, Best wishes Milos.
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