April 2001 - What's New
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Hi everyone! If you don't mind (and actually if you do I guess it's too late!) I'll delay my review of "The Ultimate Dragon" (i.e. both volumes) until next month. Am still hoping for some comments that you guys may wish to share with the world so any e-mails will be gratefully received. I am intrigued though as to what will be the title of the next Dragon book. That is of course excluding my "Winning With The Sicilian Dragon 2" which will be out in the not too distant future. |
There is definitely a …Qb8 feel to this month's offerings. Alexei Fedorov reappears in a 9 Bc4 tussle with Jaan Ehlvest APR01/01, whilst a critical line once again comes to fruition in Al Sayed-Somev APR01/03.
In the same Yugoslav Attack variation, White gives up his dark-squared bishop for a knight and still delivers mate in Gruenfeld-Stisis APR01/05. Whatever is the world coming to?
In the 9 0-0-0 line I visit the archives and annotate an older game of mine APR01/02, whilst hot off the press is a Levenfish novelty. Yes the 16(!) move win of Mallahi-Hakki APR01/04 looks quite dangerous and so it is definitely worth your attention, particularly if as Black you usually meet 6 f4 with the 'quiet' 6…Nbd7 rather than the more tactical 6…Bg7 or 6…Nc6.
Finally in the Accelerated Dragon I have selected the encounter in the last few weeks that involves players with the highest ELO average of all played games. Illescas-Almasi APR01/06 is a Gurgenidze system that I'm afraid won't exactly keep you on the edge of your seat. Nevertheless accurate play from very strong players!
Til next time
Chris
Chris Ward@ChessPublishing.com
New Games
Yugoslav 9 0-0-0
APR01/02 When the cat is away!: The role of the cat is the white queen, the mouse is a black c8-rook and the playing area is the c3-square occupied by a white knight. Hardly riddle of the year!
Yugoslav 9 Bc4
APR01/01 To be or not to be on b8: Yes that's the question that you have to ask yourself. Do you really want your queen there in the 9 Bc4 line?
APR01/03 To be or not to be on b8, Part 2!: Yes it's the big question of April 2001. Is b8 where the black queen really wants to be?
APR01/05 There is more to life than a dark-squared bishop: Is what Black discovers here. He gets a positional and material advantage but is sadly mated!
Levenfish
APR01/04 Facing one's Demons: Black's nightmare scenario comes true after a theoretical Levenfish novelty when White delivers the promised e4-e5 push (well ahead of schedule).
Accelerated Dragon
APR01/06 Another Gurgenidze Draw!: Sorry I'm afraid that's all I can think of to describe this fairly predictable (top level) encounter.