Download PGN of December ’25 Daring Defences games
>> Previous Update >>
Queen’s Fianchetto Defence: 4 f3 d5 [A50]
Via a 1 d4 b6 2 c4 Bb7 3 Nc3 Nf6 move order, a Queen’s Fianchetto Defence arose in Galaviz Medina, S - Theodorou, N, where 4 f3 d5 5 cxd5 Nxd5 6 e4 Nxc3 7 bxc3 e6 8 Be3 Be7 seemed fine for Black:
             |
White’s centre looks impressive, but it’s far from easy to find an especially good plan for him.
Benko Gambit 5 e3 axb5 6 Bxb5 Qa5+ 7 Nc3 Bb7 8 Bd2 Qb6 [A57]
Meeting 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 b5 4 cxb5 a6 with 5 e3 remains topical, as especially does a key variation, 5...axb5 6 Bxb5 Qa5+ 7 Nc3 Bb7 8 Bd2 Qb6:
|
|
White has a few options here. 9 Bc4!? e6 10 e4! Nxe4 11 Nf3 gave White definite compensation in Theodorou, N - Christiansen, JS, where I should especially draw your attention to White playing Ng8, and not once, but twice!
An important alternative is 9 Nf3 Nxd5 10 a4 e6 11 0-0, which is a relatively simple approach:
|
|
It may also be a little better for White, or at least it didn’t seem so easy for Black to equalise against White’s precise play in Matlakov, M - Sindarov, J.
Dutch Defence: 2 Bf4 Nf6 3 e3 d6 [A80]
Playing the Dutch against Simon doesn’t strike me as the wisest thing in the world to do, but 1 d4 f5 was seen in Williams, S - Demac, E. Simon plumped for the fairly trendy, London style 2 Bf4 Nf6 3 e3 ahead of meeting 3...d6 with 4 h4!? in any case!
|
|
Pushing Harry was far from unwarranted here. White was soon a little better, then somewhat worse after losing the thread, prior to uncorking...
|
|
...23 Qxe5+!!, a deadly queen sacrifice.
Dutch Defence: 2 c4 Nf6 3 Nc3 e6 4 a3 [A85]
Is it worth spending a tempo on 1 d4 f5 2 c4 Nf6 3 Nc3 e6 4 a3 just to rule out ...Bb4?
|
|
Some fairly strong players (and engines) think that it is. We’ll explore both 4...b6 and 4...Be7 5 Nf3 0-0 6 Bf4 Ne4 in Mendonca, L - Grafl, F, where 7 Qc2 g5?! was too ambitious from Black, and punished in style.
I prefer the Leningrad style 4...g6!?, as, more importantly, does Magnus! Here 5 h4 d6! feels like it should be OK for Black, as was 5 Bf4 d6 6 e3 Nh5!? in Atansov, A - Carlsen, M.
Stonewall Dutch: 6 Bg2 Bd6 7 0-0 0-0 8 Bf4 Bxf4 9 gxf4 [A90]
1 d4 e6 2 c4 f5 3 g3 Nf6 4 Bg2 d5 5 Nf3 Bd6 6 0-0 0-0 7 Nc3 c6 reaches a key tabiya, one which can arise via a few move orders. Now 8 Bf4 Bxf4 9 gxf4 Nbd7 is a fairly important line:
|
|
My gut feeling is that Black should be OK, but he must time any ...Ne4 and ...Ndf6 moves carefully, as we’ll appreciate in Le Quang Liem - Sandipan, C, which was something of a masterclass from White in this structure.
Let’s hope for more such exciting games and sacrifices next update too! Richard
>> Previous Update >>
If you have any questions, either leave a message on the Daring Defences Forum, or subscribers can email me at support@chesspublishing.com.