Download PGN of December ’24 Daring Defences games
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English Defence 3.e4 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Bxd2 5.Qxd2 d5 6.Bd3 [A40]
In Kawulok, M - Ivanisevic, I 24th ch-EUR Indiv 2024 Petrovac, after 3.e4 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Bxd2 5.Qxd2 d5 we reached the following diagram position:
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I have already analyzed this line on a couple of occasions with various ideas for White in this particular position. I added a few more recently played games inside the annotations so that readers have up to date material in this line. The game itself was fine for Black.
Dutch Stonewall 5...Be7 6.Nf3 Ne4 7.Qc2 Nc6 [A90]
The next game features a sharp and entertaining line in the Stonewall.
In Badacsonyi, Stanley - Williams, Si1 4NCL 2024-25 England, there followed 6...Ne4 7.Qc2 Nc6 8.b3 h5!?:
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A very interesting idea, Black is trying to generate attacking play with a fast ...h5-h4 plan, but neglecting development.
Neo-Grünfeld 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.e4 Nb6 7.Ne2 c5 8.d5 e6 9.0-0 [D72]
This game Samunenkov, Ihor - Lagarde, Max 24th ch-EUR Indiv 2024 Petrovac, is in a well-known but not so popular Fianchetto line. After 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.e4 Nb6 7.Ne2 c5 8.d5 0-0 9.0-0 e6:
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It is important to notice that Black can refrain from taking on d5 too early which I also covered here. In the game we saw imprecise play from White allowing Black an early initiative.
Neo-Grünfeld 6...dxc4 7.Na3 c5 8.dxc5 c3 [D77]
Mamedov, Rau - Dardha, Daniel 24th ch-EUR Indiv 2024 Petrovac, went 6... dxc4 7.Na3 c5 8.dxc5 c3 9.Nb5 Na6 10.Nxc3 Nxc5:
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This is a well known line that serves as a good equalizing method for Black and it seems that this game didn’t alter that statement. With active play Black was doing fine all the way.
Neo-Grünfeld Defence with ...c6, 7.Re1 [D78]
Gukesh, D - Ding Liren WCh 2024 Singapore, was the same as the previous game till 5...c6 6.0-0 d5 7.Re1!?:
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A very interesting idea in gambit style which was launched during a recent World Chess Championship, which gives this game even bigger importance. We will follow any further developments in this line, I am sure that other players will start testing it soon enough.
Neo-Grünfeld Defence with ...c6, 7.Nc3 dxc4 8.e4 b5 [D78]
Instead in Khanin, S - Woodward, Andy Saint Louis Masters 2024 Saint Louis, we see the move 7.Nc3.
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on the other hand this is a typical modern gambit, a popular idea and in this game, we will see interesting ways for both sides. In the game Black was struggling to balance the game for a long time.
Grünfeld Exchange 7.Nf3 c5 8.Bb5+ Nc6 9.0-0 0-0 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.Qc2 [D85]
In the next two games we will examine modern systems.
In Xu Jun - Li Chao2 TCh-CHN DivA Finals 2024 Shaoxing, after 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 c5 8.Bb5+ Nc6 9.0-0 0-0 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.Qc2:
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I have already analysed this line in many surveys, but the line is still very popular and all the time we see new developments for both sides.
Grünfeld Exchange >5.Bd2 Bg7 6.e4 Nxc3 7.Bxc3 c5 8.d5 0-0 9.Qd2 [D85]
Kazakouski, Valery - Vachier Lagrave, M Bundesliga 2024-25 Deizisau, went 5.Bd2 Bg7 6.e4 Nxc3 7.Bxc3 c5 8.d5 0-0 9.Qd2 e6 10.Bc4:
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In this game Black tried not to take on c3, which is the usual reaction, but instead postponed this exchange of bishops for as long as possible in order to keep the possibility to occupy d4 square. A good game and it is White who must now come up with some challenging ideas.
Till next month, best wishes Milos.
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