March '00 Update
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I can't think of any reason why the make-up of this month's instalment of games should be exactly the way it is - except to blame it on the weather. It seems our daring defenders definitely had spring in their step and the wind in their hair, as you will see as you play through the games. Not only were there an impressive number of romantic combinations topping off bold attacking gambits, you will also see a super-GM being humbled by … a disreputable (though undeniably daring) defence and a curious lack of what one would normally consider main line games. |
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Benko (JT)
For some reason, the longstanding debate about the intricacies of the g3 main line have been dropped, and there are few games of real theoretical significance. The ones chosen are rather grim for black, but do represent a wider range of variations than examined before, and do feature some new ideas. The mood of the season seems to be for the more frivolous members of this site, and the relatively respectable Benko has also had most action in its less travelled lines.
Popovic - Vuckovic should have been an upset win for white in a line that seems to me to be steadily gaining popularity. Black should make sure to check that his line of choice against this variation is in good shape. In this game, Black drifted into trouble with very natural moves, though existing theory hints that if he had been better prepared he could have avoided his troubles. Not necessarily a game of blistering importance, but a worryingly smooth performance by the underdog against a gambiteer, as well as an indication of the strengths of this potentially fashionable variation.
Gleizerov - Mellado is a way of starting to cover one of the more popular methods of declining the gambit, but returning the pawn with 5.b6. The theoretical survey has a look at one of the sharper lines for black, where the centre is challenged with …e6. The game itself is not terribly sharp as black opts for a grovelling alternative, but there is plenty of food for thought in the notes.
Hoong - Jing is of theoretical importance and demonstrates a neat tactical idea by white. However, there are plenty of earlier deviations for black that have a very impressive record, so this is more the possible killing of minor branch.
The most important new idea is produced by aggressive Cuban GM Arencibia ( I mean aggressive over the board of course) who uncorks a very logical idea which makes black's position in the relatively rare 7.f4 line look pretty insecure to me, see Arencibia - Ocana Roca. Still, this line definitely deserves further tests as Arencibia's follow-through was not convincing, and black's position could well be much better than it looks (to me).
Blumenfeld (JT)
The Blumenfeld was back in a big way, and the games were a lot of fun. Belotelov - Molnar was the only low point, though I cannot believe that White's countergambit poses a real threat, and it is more likely a successful bluff.
Otmani - Liardet is our springtime Blum-enfeld. A lopsided game, but one that you can't help enjoying. It also features one of my favourite, not so well-known attacking manoeuvres for black.
Maximovic - Cajic The final Blumenfeld features a wretched new move by white that seems to lose by force, and only a miracle prevented black from scoring the point.
Budapest (JT)
The Budapest, and its poorer cousin the Fajarowicz, also make an impact this month. Dinckel - Kahn is a fascinating exercise in bridge-burning by black who goes all out for attack and is rewarded by a sweet, crowd-pleasing finish.
Bellon wheels out the Fajarowicz for his duel with Epishin, and is rewarded by confusion that ends up with the big man hitting the canvas with a crash. Amazing, that someone can play the Fajarowicz regularly and use it thump such a strong player.
English Defence (JT)
The English Defence continues to lead the popularity stakes in Daringdefenceland. The most noteworthy game in my opinion is Van der Sterren - Rustemov (Govciyan - Caposciutti is a poor relation), where white tries an interesting prophylactic plan. The critical test is in the notes, and black's attempt to give the opening a slightly more conventional turn was equivalent to signing up for a game-long workout as the punching bag.
Rahman is involved in some interesting games. In Sundararajan - Rahman white handled the opening quite well and his attack looked the stronger before he lost his way. The critical question is whether black needs to tip his hand and castle so early, or whether he can go after white's c-pawn in Nimzo-Indian style.
Partos - Czebe was good fun for black, and another game with Nimzo traces. White has the bishop pair and an extra pawn but lagging development eventually led to a serious spanking.
Efimov - Caposciutti is a very random opening idea by white, a very interesting reaction by black, and some inventive bamboozlement by white to finish. The entire section is sprinkled with entertaining games, and this month is yet another advertisement for the English as a viable and fascinating alternative to less daring mainstream lines.variation against one of white's more popular lines:
Old Indian (JT)
The Old Indian features to a greater extent than in recent months. There are two games of theoretical interest. The first is Schandorff - Espig, where the Danish GM comes very well prepared with white and intends to follow previous games that have posed black some problems achieving full equality. Espig tries a very logical looking plan but never quite evens the balance, and after a few apparently active moves he gets tied in knots in rather surprising fashion.
Ilincic - Tosic also features a well prepared white player, and one of the more critical lines against the Old Indian. White appears to win a steady positional effort, but there are improvements for black that cast doubt on white's plan producing an objective advantage.
Those are the highlights - an interesting sampler and one that should definitely give those who prefer a dare a smile or two:
Readers will doubtless have noticed that this month's submission is a bit over the deadline. I must apologise, and one reason is that I have been unintentionally auditioning for a part in Marathon Man II, or to put it another way, have spent the better part of an entire week with dental implements rammed up my face.
To compensate for the delay, I hope to bring both reader reactions and letters to the site next time, and to try an experiment of updating April in gradual instalments during the month, rather than trying to cope with all of it near the end. That is what I hope. I may just get more quality time with my dentist.
Grünfeld (ND)