Download PGN of May ’24 Daring Defences games
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English Defence 3.e4 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Bxd2+ 5.Qxd2 d5 [A40]
In Materia, Marco - Grischuk, A Titled Tue, after 3...Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Bxd2+ 5.Qxd2 d5 we come to this position:
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I have already analyzed this system before, but here it is again. This game is remarkably interesting in any case.
English Defence 3.e4 Bb7 4.Bd3 f5 5.exf5 Bb4+ 6.Kf1 [A40]
Rozen, Eytan - Fedoseev, Vl3, Sardinia World Open A Orosei ITA, After 3...Bb7 4.Bd3 f5 5.exf5 Bb4+ 6.Kf1 we enter this very sharp line which is not so popular but might still attract some attention:
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In this game Black took control in the early stages of the middlegame.
Benko Gambit 5.e3 g6 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 [A57]
In Toniutti, E - Carlsen, M, Titled Tue, we have a Benko with the very important 5.e3 line, so after the initial moves White played 4.cxb5 a6 5.e3 g6 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 0-0 8.a4 and now Magnus opted for the rare 8...d6:
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An interesting practical line and Magnus played it in his usual strong style achieving particularly good play.
Grünfeld Defence 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3 c5 6.dxc5 Qa5 7.Rc1 [D82]
In Sarana, A - Novik, Ma Titled Tue, White opted for the solid system: 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3 c5 6.dxc5 Qa5 7.Rc1 Ne4 8.cxd5 Nxc3 9.Qd2 Qxa2 10.bxc3, when we reach this position, in which White found a surprisingly effortless way to outplay Black:
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An instructive game. In my opinion the 7...dxc4 line is much safer for Black.
Exchange Grünfeld 5.Bd2 c5!? 6.Rc1 [D85]
Here, in Nogerbek, Kazybek - Safarli, E, Dubai Police Open A 2024, we have another popular line: 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Bd2 c5!? 6.Rc1, the modern treatment of this system.
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After 6...Nxc3 7.Bxc3 Bh6 8.e3 cxd4 9.Bb5+ Nc6 10.Qxd4 Qxd4 11.Bxd4 0-0 12.Bxc6 bxc6 we reach an endgame which in my opinion favors White, despite Black's pair of bishops.
Exchange Grünfeld 7.Bc4 c5 8.Ne2 Nc6 9.Be3 0-0 10.0-0 e6 11.Qd2 b6 [D87]
In Oparin, G - Duda, J, Chess.com Classic Play-In, we have the Classical Exchange main line after: 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 c5 8.Ne2 Nc6 9.Be3 0-0 10.0-0 e6 11.Qd2 b6 12.Rac1 Bb7 13. Rfd1 Rc8 14.f3 and here Black tried a new plan, which didn’t give him bad chances at all.
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However, due to some imprecise play White did gain the initiative. An interesting game.
Exchange Grünfeld 7.Bc4 c5 8.Ne2 0-0 9.Be3 Nc6 10.0-0 b6 11.dxc5 [D87]
This game Wang, Yanbin - Vakhidov, J, 24th Dubai Open A 2024, has the same opening moves as the previous game up till move 10, and now Black played 10...b6 and after 11.dxc5 Qc7 12.Nd4 Ne5 13.Nb5 Qb8 we come to a position which is analysed and considered OK for Black, but we will see that it is important to know key details when entering such positions.
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After 14.Bd5 Ng4 15.g3 Black failed to achieve equal play, even though the line itself is not dangerous.
Grünfeld Defence 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.h4 dxc4 6.e4 c5 7.d5 b5 8.h5 [D90]
So, W - Vachier Lagrave, M, Chess.com Classic Div 2, is another game in which White went for a fast h2-h4 system, 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.h4 dxc4 6.e4 c5 7.d5 b5 8.h5 Nxh5 9.Nxb5 0-0 10.Bxc4 Bg4:
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A really popular system for White, and Black is changing the way he manages this unusual line. In this game White missed some better chances, in my opinion, and completely mishandled it.
Till next month, Best wishes Milos.
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