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September '00 Update

Welcome to this month's update!

Guimard Variation

Tarrasch 3...Nf6

Tarrasch 3...Be7

Fort Knox

Classical

Advance

The Guimard Variation

The highlight this month is an in depth analysis of the Guimard Variation in the Tarrasch- 3 Nd2 Nc6!

This offers you a way to escape from theory whilst staying within the typical Tarrasch pawn structure.

A couple of subscribers have written to me asking for coverage of this line. Having looked through recent games in the variation I'm convinced you can score a lot of points with it! I've selected five main games, and tried to give you a choice in all the mainlines. See what you like the best. The Guimard can be learnt in a couple of hours and then unleashed on an unsuspecting opponent.

It makes positional sense to play 3...Nc6. White has neglected the d4 pawn with his last move, so what could be more natural than attacking it immediately with a developing move? The drawback is that Black is blocking his c pawn, but never mind, he can always gain counterplay with the alternative pawn break f7-f6!

In reply, White normally takes the chance to seize a space advantage with 4 Ngf3 Nf6 5 e5 Nfd7.

The Mainline 4 Ngf3 Nf6 5 e5 Nfd7









The aggressive 6 Bb5

White tries to dissuade f7-f6 by putting pressure on c6. He also intends Bxc6 to break up Black's queenside pawns.

However, this isn't really that strong a threat, and with the fearless 6...a6!? Black can say to White 'go ahead, take on c6, see if I care!' That's what happens in Yemelin - Riazantsev, and although Black's pawn structure gets a bit messed up he is able to generate considerable counterplay.

I believe that when you learn a new variation it's always worthwhile having a choice of moves, just in case one line comes crashing down. So another good response is the simple 6...Be7. In the illustrative game given here, Black is able to follow it up with a highly effective pawn sacrifice. Black exploited the surprise factor very well in Shaw - Kruppa. Incidentally, I saw the Scottish IM John Shaw at a British League [4NCL] match at the weekend, and he confirmed that Kruppa's sacrifice was water tight.

The Quiet 6 Be2

Here again you are offered two options. The most ambitious move is 6...f6, planning to answer 7 exf6 with 7...Qxf6, and then begin a direct attack on White's kingside. The idea is similar in spirit to the 9...Qxf6 variation of the 3...Nf6 Tarrasch. I know all about lies and statistics, but it is nevertheless interesting that in the two games mentioned here players rated 2187 and 2172 score 2-0 as Black against players rated respectively 2366 and 2454!! See Pazos - Fandino

Black can also delay f7-f6 with 6...Be7. He scores a really well controlled win in Vorobiov - Kruppa.

White plays 6 Bd3 or 6 Nb3

These alternatives are analysed in the notes to Shaw-Kruppa.

White plays 4 c3










Here Black should take the chance to neutralise White's space advantage with 4...e5! It may seem odd to move the e pawn a second time but it prevents White establishing his customary space advantage with e4-e5. White has been unable to prove any advantage in this line and in recent games Black has been scoring well- take a peek at Vajda - Bauer.

So that completes the repertoire in the Guimard. I would be intrigued to hear from any subscribers who have played the Guimard and wish to add to the ideas outlined above.

Guimard Variation

Tarrasch 3...Nf6

Tarrasch 3...Be7

Fort Knox

Classical

Advance

Tarrasch 3...Nf6

John Emms has been looking at the website and he points out that what I give as a new idea by Volzhin in the game Volzhin-Johannessen was actually used by John himself a year ago! He writes:

"I originally analysed this whole line a few years ago, together with James Poulton. I thought that Bh7+ was interesting, perhaps unclear but at least giving Black more problems to solve. My next chance to try the idea was against Simon Williams. While preparing, and with the help of Fritz, I actually found ...Qd6!! just a few minutes before the game was due to start. I didn't have enough time to analyse everything and so I took the decision to play the line in any case (after all Black has to find the move).Unfortunately Simon Williams is quite a creative a player!"

Click on Emms - Williams for the key game with analysis by John Emms. My thanks to John for making his analysis available to the site.

Having seen all the above, do you still want to play the Bd3 variation as White, but wish there was someway of avoiding the sharp lines where Black can sacrifice the exchange on f3?

A couple of weeks ago I was the trainer of the British Team at the Blind Olympiad in Poland. I was impressed- and a little annoyed!- when the Danish player Bjerring sidestepped all the sharp lines in the Tarrasch Bd3 variation against the British player Graham Lilley and won in comfortable style.

Investigating Bjerring's approach further, I discovered that the 'antidote' according to theory was adopted in a game by Apicella at the recent French Championship. However, his opponent found a way to maintain some pressure and it took some precise play for Black to hold the draw. Against a lesser player than Grandmaster Apicella, this could prove a very effective line for White. Have a look at Marciano - Apicella.

Guimard Variation

Tarrasch 3...Nf6

Tarrasch 3...Be7

Fort Knox

Classical

Advance

Tarrasch 3...Be7

There is still a lot of unexplored territory in this variation. In the critical mainline variation, Lputian and others have been experimenting with an important new idea for Black. At the moment it seems that Morozevich's approach with 7...Nb4 is regarded as too wild, while 7...Bxc5 is too ordinary! So a third method has been devised to create tension, but in a more controlled manner. Have a look at Asrian - Lputian.

Guimard Variation

Tarrasch 3...Nf6

Tarrasch 3...Be7

Fort Knox

Classical

Advance

Fort Knox

There is a good trap here that Black can fall into through playing a series of natural moves. I was reminded that I fell into it myself a long time ago when I saw it claimed another victim [rated 2296!] at a recent tournament. Have a look at Gelashvili - Patuzzo.

Guimard Variation

Tarrasch 3...Nf6

Tarrasch 3...Be7

Fort Knox

Classical

Advance

Classical

After 4 e5, I'm very impressed with the 8...b5! variation for Black. I can't see how White can keep his opening advantage in this line. Black gets a lot of space on the queenside while White doesn't have any real attacking chances on the kingside- assuming Black is careful, of course.

This opinion is supported by recent games- I've selected a few and incorporated them into the game Przedmojski - Vysochin. Compare this with the Muth-Vrana game already given on the subpage.

If you decide to adopt the Classical, I can heartily recommend this line.

Advance

If he wishes, at move four Black can avoid Nc6 in favour of Qb6, aiming for Bd7 and Bb5 to exchange off White's good light squared bishop. Now White often responds to this with a2-a3 followed by an expansion with b2-b4. This month we look at a restraining method for Black which refuses to give away any space on the queenside. Although double edged, this way of handling the position has been scoring well for Black. Have a look at Illijin - Vakhidov for all the details.

Guimard Variation

Tarrasch 3...Nf6

Tarrasch 3...Be7

Fort Knox

Classical

Advance

Emailbag

Thanks to everyone who has contacted me over the last couple of months. Queries and comments have been coming thick and fast, especially about the Winawer. I hope to gradually reply to them all over the forthcoming months. Meanwhile, if there's something you want to see discussed, please write in!

Best Wishes,

Neil McDonald.

Guimard Variation

Tarrasch 3...Nf6

Tarrasch 3...Be7

Fort Knox

Classical

Advance