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May '00 Update

Neil McDonald takes the helm as Guest Contributor

Benko

English Defense

Budapest

Old Indian

For the next few months GM Neil McDonald will be steering you through the murky waters of the Daring Defences. It has been become increasingly clear to me that even without my recent series of mishaps it was becoming very difficult to meet deadlines, and I would much rather take a break rather than not perform my job up to requirements.


I am sure that this change will be absolutely no loss for readers, if anything the opposite. A fresh perspective on the myriad possibilities of this weird assortment of openings should provide an interesting contrast while I am away.

This was brought home to me very powerfully by comparing Neil's selection of games with the one I drew up for this month — he has often chosen to focus on completely different spots in the various repertoires available in DD. Most astonishing to me was the section on the Benko, where our lists did not have a single game in common. I think this will offer you, the reader, a stimulating angle during my sabbatical, as some areas that have been neglected, for whatever reason, are now brought up to speed. We are also planning some changes when Chesspublishing enters its second year. Some of the openings in this survey have not really lived up to their billing as being Daring. And, as several readers have pointed out, there are some distinctly bold defences — the Albin Countergambit one that springs immediately to mind — that should be here and aren't. So with any luck, we will be rearranging our chess furniture in the future, to ensure that this section is even more appealing to those who want to learn something about defences designed to wither the faint of heart. In the meantime, I would like to thank all of you who have written in with suggestions or questions — feedback is the most valuable thing, especially in the virtual world. I certainly hope that more and more of you do mail in, so that this service can be more personalized. Some of you have sent in games, which I intend to present at some point in the future, and this input helps to form a clearer idea of what might be of interest. Please keep it up!

So until we meet again, remember that fortune favours the brave, and nothing livens up your game like an occasional Daring Defence.

— Jonathan Tisdall

Benko

We begin by looking at an exciting game in the 4 Nf3 variation in which White plays an early Qc2 to support the e4 advance and attack Black's pawn on c5. Although this is an unusual idea, it has figured in some big name games, such as the example given here. It is especially interesting to see what Bareev plays against the Benko as White, as he has often played it as Black! So click on Bareev - Topalov.

In the mainline, 4 cxb5 a6 5 b6 caused Black a lot of problems when it first became popular about ten tears ago. It is easy for him just to fall into a positional bind after the natural 5...Qxb6, which encourages White to encroach on the queenside with a4 and a5.

Therefore these days Black often prefers to play in a more subtle way which delays capturing on b6 for some moves. As Black usually finds it it useful to play ...a5 himself at some point, I like the idea of an accelerated 5...a5!? followed by 6...Ba6. This works perfectly in Kosasih - Rogers, in which Black achieves a model victory by ganging up on the b2 pawn.

Another approach for Black after 5 b6 is an immediate attack on White's centre with 5...e6. Once again he is in no hurry to capture on b6. In fact, he is prepared to see his queenside structure wrecked in return for a lead in development and a lot of tactical chances. This sort of thing should greatly appeal to all Daring Defenders. Have a look at Deiler - Degraeve where it all goes smoothly for Black.

Next we look at 4 cxb5 a6 5 e3. White's modern approach to this line involves simply developing his pieces and then trying to exploit the open lines: he neither sacrifices nor tries to hold onto an extra pawn. I like the way Black tempts White to abandon his hold on the centre in pursuit of a fruitless attack on the kingside in Shapiro - Annakov.

Finally, we give a game in the popular mainline after 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6 g6 6.Nc3 Bxa6 7.e4 Bxf1 8.Kxf1. Black goes way over the top in pursuit of the attack and... is rewarded with a quick win! I guess this website is supposed to encourage such daring-do, but I don't recommend you play Black's 17th move at home. Take a peek at Gnidash - Kostiuk.

Benko

English Defense

Budapest

Old Indian

English Defence

After 1 d4 e6 2 c4 b6 White sometimes chooses to fianchetto his king's bishop with an immediate 3 g3. Then after 3...Bb7 White can choose between 4 d5 and 4 Nf3.

The first of these is illustrated by a game which shows one of the most dedicated practioners of the English Defence in action. White is blown away in terrific style after he allows his centre to become over extended. This is hardly a good advertisement for 4 d5. Tregubov's approach given in the analysis looks playable for White, although nothing special. Here's Crouch - Plaskett for you.

The second option for White is 4 Nf3. Here I have gone back in my time machine to 1994 to find you an excellent handling of the black pieces in a heavweight game. It seems that by breaking up White's pawns with 4...Bxf3 Black can count upon having at least equal chances. Speelman's play is the perfect mixture of caution and aggression. Check out Yermolinsky - Speelman.

Finally, this month the English Defence made it onto the world stage in the Super GM tournament in Sarajevo. Unfortunately, White's novelty at move eight seems to put one of the main lines under pressure. Short held the draw, but his position from the opening wasn't exactly what a Daring Defender is aiming for. Still, even if after 1 d4 e6 2 c4 b6 3 e4 Bb7 4 Bd3 the move 4...Nc6 is in trouble that still leaves you with 4...f5 or 4...Bb4+ to choose between! Click on Bacrot - Short.

Benko

English Defense

Budapest

Old Indian

Budapest

This daring defence also figured at the Sarajevo tournament where it was played by Shirov. Once again Bacrot was the player of White. Were Short and Shirov both hoping that their young opponent in his brief career hadn't had time to learn all this offbeat theory?

In deference to these superstars, this month's update is dedicated to the line 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.e4. Now after 4...Nxe5 5.f4 Black has to decide whether he wants to play 5...Ng6 or 5...Nec6. The first of these is recommended by Bogdan Lalic and has already been featured at DD97. However, as will be seen there Black appears to be in some trouble after 5...Ng6 6 Be3 Nc6 7 a3! or 6...Bb4+ 7 Nd2 Qe7 8 Kf2! He is also soon in trouble in the game McMahon - Keogh after White's alternative 8 Qc2. Although probably not theoretically critical, I can't resist giving this game in view of White's pleasing though fairly obvious queen sacrifice.

So perhaps this explains Shirov's choice of 5...Nec6. If now 6 Be3, I want to suggest the continuation in Soln - Bozanic as a way to neutralise White's attacking ambitions. The combination of 6...Bb4+ followed by Na6 and Nc5 looks very solid. The game finished as a quick draw, but this may have had something to do with White's 100+ points Elo advantage- he is at least equal in the final position.

Finally this brings us to Bacrot - Shirov. The French Grandmaster uses his clump of centre pawns to gain a bind on the light squares, but it is at the cost of weakening his e5 square. This becomes a beautiful outpost square for Black's knights. Bacrot may have held a slight advantage, but he falls for a big tactic after which Shirov wraps things up in his usual energetic style.

Benko

English Defense

Budapest

Old Indian

Old Indian

This month we give two examples of a very conflicting nature.

In the first White accepts Black's offer of a quick queen exchange after 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 d6 3 Nc3 e5 4 dxe5 dxe5 5 Qxd8+ Kxd8. The plan of g4! is still White's best hope of advantage, and in Epishin's hands it leads to a drastic defeat for Black. This game is a model exploitation of inferior play. However, it should be remembered that it takes two players to create such a game! In the analysis you will find an extract from another Epishin game which seems satisfactory for Black. Have a look at Epishin - Salov.

By the way, it's somewhat strange to call a defence daring when Black offers the exchange of queens on move three, but anyway... of course, if White refuses to accept the offer, then a dynamic game can result.

This brings us nicely to the second example, which actually begins 1 c4 before transposing. In fact, Black's choice of opening was rather clever. Taking an opponent who plays 1 c4 into a mainline King's Indian setup is a shrewd idea, as he probably won't have much experience of playing this type of centre. And so it proves in Johansen - Kosasih. White is a very strong player but he can't quite work out what he should be doing. It is difficult to blame him, as Black's eighth move is so unusual that I haven't been able to find any other examples on my database! In any case, the outcome is a nice, but not altogether difficult win for Black.

Benko

English Defense

Budapest

Old Indian