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Advance Variation 5 Nf3 Qb6 6 a3 Nge7 [C06]
We have seen only one game before with the unusual move 6...Nge7 after 5 Nf3 Qb6 6 a3. After 7 dxc5 Qc7, we reach this position:
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In Shirov - Steinle, Rabat 2015, White tried 8 b4!? and achieved a small advantage. Black has to choose an exact order if he expects to maintain the balance.
Tarrasch Variation 3...Nf6/5 Bd3 mainline with ...Qc7 [C06]
The 3...Nf6 main line with ...Qc7 remains the most popular.
Mammadzada - Khomeriki, Chakvi 2015, followed a recently fashionable development in which White tries for a very limited advantage without risk.
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Black played 13...Ng4!?, a move that we've seen before, but which I don't think is the most accurate one. The game features some standard ideas that players on both sides should know.
Another safe setup involves h3, Be3, and Rc1.
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Socko - Heinert, Maastricht 2015, continued 14...Rea8 intending ...Ree7, but I prefer 14...Be8 with the standard idea of transfer to the kingside.
Winawer Exchange 5 Bd3 Nc6 6 a3 [C01]
White often turns to 3...Bb4 4 exd5 exd5 in order to avoid the lengthy theoretical battles 4 e5 and other alternatives produce.
Occasionally after 5...Nc6 6 a3, Black avoids the main lines with 6...Bxc3+ and decides to retain his bishop and potentially use it to attack White's d-pawn:
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Speckner - Mischustov, Bundesliga 2015, saw the tradeoff between an immobile bishop on b6 and piece pressure on White's centre.
The normal 6...Bxc3+ was played in Nataf - Apicella, Montpellier 2015, but after 7 bxc3, Black chose the somewhat unusual 7...Nf6 instead of 7...Nge7 or 7...Be6.
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I was surprised to find that a number of strong players had used this move, and I don't see any way for White to achieve anything against it. Perhaps that's just the nature of these exchange variations in general.
Winawer Variation 7 Qg4 0-0 8 Bd3 f5, 12...Qa5 [C18]
In the 7 Qg4 0-0 8 Bd3 f5 variation, Berg's book has helped to revive the older move 12...Qa5
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White usually plays 13 Bd2 here, and occasionally 13 Qd2. In Daulyte - Unuk, Chakvi 2015, White tried to mix things up with 13 Nf3!?. After 13...Rxf3 14 gxf3 Qxc3+ 15 Kf1 c4, Black has just enough compensation, and the game drifted towards a draw.
Winawer Poisoned Pawn 11...dxc3 12 Qd3 d4 [C18]
Erdogdu - Kravtsiv, Petrovac 2015, is our main-line Winawer Poisoned Pawn of the month. We've seen this position before:
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White has two extra pawns, but Black has beautifully-placed pieces and White's king is somewhat exposed. A short but tough battle ensues.
Classical Hecht-Reefschlaeger 4 Nf3 Nf6 5 Bd3 Nb4 [C10]
3...Nc6 will probably never be a frequent response to 3 Nc3 on the top levels, but some very strong grandmasters have used it (including several 2700+ players), and it stubbornly hangs on in theoretical terms. A few recent games have featured 4 Nf3 Nf6 5 Bd3 Nb4, and Edouard - Bauer, Montpellier 2015, continued 6 e5 Nd7 7 Bg5 Be7:
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White tried 8 h4!? and got what seemed to be a very small advantage, but Black soon equalized and went on to win.
Till next month, John
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