Download PGN of April ’24 Flank Openings games
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Réti Opening, Polish System 1 Nf3 Nf6 2 g3 b5 [A05]
Fridman, D - Keymer, V opened with 1 Nf3 Nf6 2 g3 b5 3 Bg2 Bb7. In last month's Update, we saw Vincent play this position with the White pieces, continuing with 4 0-0 e6 5 b3. In this month’s game, White played the more critical 4 Na3 a6 5 c4, attempting to take advantage of Black's early queenside expansion:
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Here, 5...e5 is the sharpest approach, while 5...b4 has also been played. Instead, Keymer’s 5...bxc4 is a rare idea. Following 6 Nxc4 e6 7 0-0 Be7, White should consider space-gaining ideas such as 8 b4, since quiet development starting with 8 d3 c5, and a subsequent queen trade after 9 Qb3 and 10 Qb6, allowed Black to secure good central control and a comfortable game.
Reversed Benoni, 1 Nf3 d5 2 c4 e6 3 g3 Nf6 4 Bg2 d4 [A13]
The reversed Benoni with 1 Nf3 d5 2 c4 e6 3 g3 Nf6 4 Bg2 d4 continues to grow in popularity. Now 5 0-0 is the mainline, when we have looked at the setups with both 5...c5 and 5...Nc6. In Bosiocic, M - Froewis, G, however, White unleashed 5 b4:
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This tempting tactical idea may be not fully justified, but Black needs to respond accurately. In fact, Black should grab the pawn with 5...Bxb4 (as shown in the notes), while the game continuation 5...a5 played into White's hands. After 6 b5, White got a nice space advantage for free.
Reversed Benoni, 1 c4 Nf6 2 Nf3 e6 3 g3 d5 4 Bg2 Be7 5 0-0 0-0 6 b3 d4, 8 Ne5 [A14]
In the well-known position after 1 c4 Nf6 2 Nf3 e6 3 g3 d5 4 Bg2 Be7 5 0-0 0-0 6 b3 d4 7 e3 c5, the move 8 Ne5 is a modern attempt to sharpen the play, which first appeared around 5 years ago:
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In Oparin, G - Hakobyan, A, White raised the stakes with 11 g4, aiming to open the position before Black can complete development. After 11...exf4 12 g5 Ne8 13 exd4, Black started to falter with 13...Bxg5 14 Nc3 Nef6. Following 15 Qf3, 16 Nb5 and 17 Ba3, White's pieces were very active, putting Black under strong pressure.
King’s English, 2 g3 Nc6 3 Bg2 g6 4 Nc3 Bg7 5 d3 d6 6 e3 [A25]
After 1 c4 e5 2 g3 Nc6 3 Bg2 g6 4 Nc3 Bg7 5 d3 d6, White’s most popular approach is the Botvinnik setup with 6 e4 Nge7 7 Nge2. In Acosta, P - Christiansen, J, however, White went for the harmonious setup started with 6 e3 Nge7 7 Nge2. This was answered by the ambitious 7...h5, probing White's kingside light squares:
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After 8 h4 Bg4, White should consider plans involving b2-b4, since 9 b3 was rather modest. Following 9...Qd7 10 Bb2 a5 11 Qd2 0-0 12 Nd5 a4 13 0-0 Nxd5 14 cxd5 Ne7 Black followed up with ...c7-c6, and was fine out of the opening.
King’s English, 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 e3 Nc6 4 Qb3 [A25]
Gukesh, D - Navara, D opened with 1 c4 Nf6 2 Nc3 e5 3 e3 Nc6 4 Qb3, an interesting sideline, which has been played several times by Magnus Carlsen. White clamps down on the ...d7-d5 break, and allows both sides to continue development in a flexible position.
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Black has a wide choice of plans here, and 4...b6 was a fresh idea. After 5 Nf3 Bb7, the move 6 a3 was a bit slow, and allowed Black to take the initiative with 6...e4 7 Ng5 Qe7 8 Qc2 0-0-0, sacrificing a pawn for a lead in development. Black’s follow up wasn’t perfect, however, and after 16 d5 it started to look like Black didn’t have quite enough for the pawn.
King’s English, Reversed Dragon 6...Bc5 7 d3 [A29]
Praggnanandhaa, R - Vidit, G entered the modern mainline that arises after 1 c4 e5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Nf3 Nc6 4 g3 d5 5 cxd5 Nxd5 6 Bg2 Bc5. Now 7 0-0 is by far the most common follow-up, but here White delayed castling with 7 d3 0-0 8 Bd2:
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Now the typical move 8...h6, for example, would allow White to execute the threat of 9 Nxe5. The game continued 8...Nf6 9 a3 h6 10 b4 Bd6 11 0-0 a6, leading to a typical reversed Dragon setup with few forcing options for either side. The position remains objectively balanced, but it is arguably easier for White to find constructive plans, and in the game White eventually outplayed his opponent.
King’s English, Four Knights 4 g3 Bb4 5 Nd5 e4 6 Nh4 [A29]
Puranik, A - Urkedal, F opened with 1 c4 e5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Nf3 Nc6 4 g3 Bb4 5 Nd5 e4 6 Nh4 0-0 7 Bg2 d6, reaching an important tabiya in the reversed Rossolimo:
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Black threatens to trap the h4-knight with 8...g5, and White has tried a range of ideas here. 8 Nxb4 is the simplest solution, solving the problem of the h4-knight without allowing any irrational complications. After 8...Nxb4 9 a3 Nc6 10 d3 Re8 11 0-0 h6 12 dxe4 Nxe4 13 Qc2 Nc5, White has the bishop pair, while Black hopes to get queenside counterplay with the active knights. After 14 e3, however, 14...Qf6 was less accurate than the alternative 14...a5, and White was soon slightly better.
King’s English, 4 g3 Bb4 5 Bg2 0-0 6 0-0 e4 7 Ng5 Bxc3 [A29]
Vidit, G - Keymer, V varied from the previous game on move 5, allowing the doubled c-pawns that arose after 5 Bg2 6 0-0 e4 7 Ng5 Bxc3 8.bxc3 Re8:
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In this position, mainline theory starts with 9 f3, with either 9...exf3 or 9...e3 as the response. Instead, Vidit essayed the rare 9 Qc2. Following 9...Qe7 10 d3 exd3 11.exd3 White retains a flexible pawn structure, hoping to create longer term opportunities for the two bishops. In the subsequent middlegame, White gained space on both sides of the board, and had a winning position, before losing through an unfortunate blunder.
Until next month, David.
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