February 2001
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Well guys, sorry if I sound a little rushed this month but I've been working hard on 'Winning With The Sicilian Dragon 2' and due for completion soon, it's gonna be good (well I would say that wouldn't I!) |
A slightly altered small taster for what will be seen comes in the form of a 9 g4 encounter from 1996 (but with modern annotations).
On the other end of the spectrum another generous subscriber has sent in some of his thoughts on the recent Shirov - Fedorov encounter. The second between the duo in the same line, the puzzled reader wonders whether Fedorov is missing something better. Regarding his question as to why he is favouring 12…Bxd4 over the main line, I suspect it is because he is confident of negating White's arguably minimal edge (due to the isolated pawns) after the trade of bishops and 13…Qc7. Meanwhile perhaps there is something in the 12…e5 stuff that he finds not so appealing. It is true that results for Black there have not been that great recently. Hopefully I'll be able to be more specific in the future.
Staying with 9 0-0-0 d5 you will find a short 10 Qe1 encounter with a costly Black inaccuracy and another Yugoslav Attack in the 9 Bc4 line in which Black pfaffs around but White gets straight to the point.
In the Accelerated Dragon department, Thorhallson - Blehm turns into a very instructive Classical variation, whilst Topalov appears to deal with Morozevich's Maroczy Bind in a most satisfactory manner.
Until next time, take it easy!
Chris
Chris Ward@ChessPublishing.com
New Games
Yugoslav 9 0-0-0
What is going through Mr Fedorov's mind? Why has he not been striking out with 14...e5?
A blaze of glory! That's how Black goes out here but it could have been oh so different. He engages in some interesting sacrifices that unfortunately just don't seem to work.
Yugoslav 9 Bc4
The missing black queen Yes, needed for active duty, but it seems that unlike its counterpart, this very relevant piece was taking a vacation! Black's play just looks too slow here.
Yugoslav 9 g4
Beautiful but irrelevant? Hot to handle variations in this sneak preview of 'Winning With The Sicilian Dragon 2'.
Classical
Classic 'Classical' Play A tremendous handling of the black pieces in this quiet Karpov system.
Accelerated Dragon
Doubled isolated pawns and back rank mates! I still think 12...Qb6 is a funny looking move although in fact it is quite normal. Black judges that he will drum up enough activity elsewhere to deflect some attention from what will be doubled isolated b-pawns.