What's New- August '02
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Hello everyone, I hope the August 2002 update finds everyone well. |
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All this month's new games are easily downloaded in PGN format using ChessPub.exe, but you can also download the August '02 Open Sicilian games directly in PGN form, just click here: 
Sveshnikov/Kalashnikov Variation [B32-B33]
We start by the Sveshnikov variation with 7 Nd5 where Bhat's impressive opening play led him to an easy victory over Wang at the USA Junior closed.
I've always favored 8...Nb8 over 8...Ne7
            
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(could it be due to Mestel-Fedorowicz Hastings 77/78 a real nightmare!) I'm not sure what Black's knight is doing on the kingside. In addition placing the N on f5 looks stronger than Ng6. With the Nf5 Black might try ...Be7- Bg5 type ideas looking for dark-squared play.
Paulsen/ Taimanov [B40 to B49]
Our next game sees Dominguez play a flashy attack against Mortensen.
I've noticed that the young Cuban GM is a very strong attacker. The game starts off as a Taimanov, but transposes into a 2 Knights English Attack. Black had enough counterplay, but wasted too much time and got mated.
Classical Sozin/ Two Knights [B56 to B59]
R Kaufman-Fedorowicz sees Black win smoothly. I've been playing the position for years with a lot of success. White's pieces look threatening, but never get going
Richter-Rauzer [B60 to B69]
We see an unusual amount of Richter-Rauser action this month.
Lets start of with the popular f3 games. The first three games are interesting from the theoretical standpoint.
We begin with Fedorowicz-Tyompkin. I was satisfied with my opening play, but even so there are good alternatives. 13 g4 stands out as a very good try. The pawn roller looks very fast and Black must react quickly before he gets driven back. The game continuation favored White as well. When Black is reduced to waiting for White to do something, then I don't like it. Black's 20...e5 was forced and should still be better for White. I missed some chances there as well.
L'Ami-Jens and Lane-P Wells are similar, with White playing g4 before h4 and Black breaking-up any potential pawn storm with ...h5. It seems to me that Black's ...h5 reaction is the correct one. In the first game White won when he probably shouldn't have and the second game saw White miss several good alternatives only to lose. If Black's g4 idea gets shut down with Black playing ...h5 then g4 could be very important.
Our Rauser hero GM Kozul had a rough go of it vs Brkic. White's coupling of 12 Qe3 and 14 Qe1 keeps the Nd5 ideas going. Kozul's refusal to develop with ...Be7 often gets him into difficulties.
If anybody has any questions please contact me at feddy@mindspring.com and I'll do my best to help out. I've had problems replying when contacted through Chess Publishing at thefed@chesspublishing.com.
All the best! See everyone in September, GM John