What's New- December '00
Scheveningen/ English Attack
Happy Holidays everyone!
Our B80 to B89 Najdorf/ Scheveningen update sees some great stuff due in part to the FIDE Knockout in New Delhi.
Michael Adams used a new fangled idea for two crucial victories over Svidler and Topalov. He fakes an English Attack then transposes into a Scheveningen. Both his opponents reached an uncomfortable game quickly. Something to consider for sure!
In the ...e6 English attack De La Riva Aguado-Simutowe saw black get good play rapidly and white crumbled.
The g3 variations are a solid way to go. In Kovalevskaya - Vasilevich black allowed the structure to get ruined. In my opinion white gets a persistent edge.
Al Modiahki-Yermolinsky was a Sozin with 0-0 for white. It looked like white had pressure but black managed a draw.
Shirov - Gelfand was a real rout. For some reason when the N is forced to h5 it looks like trouble. Black should do his best to avoid this.
Najdorf
Welcome to the B90 to B99 Najdorf December 2000 update. As usual check B80 to 89 for additional English Attacks.
In Balinov - Kalod we see white fail again with 6 Rg1 as black's play on the q-side was too fast.
In Calzetta - Peptan white's pawn sac/loss wasn't the end of the world, but 18 c4? lent black a helping hand.
Damaso - Dominguez is very instructive... it shows how to deal with a premature g4.
Richter Rauzer
Hello to all Richter Rauser advocates.
Our B60 to B69 December update sees an older line resuscitated. In both Bezhgodov - Gulko and Adams - Yermolinsky black achieved a decent position with 16...Bh4!? White's control of d5 should give some advantage, but no big deal.
In Leko - Khalifman black delayed ...Bh4 a move giving white a nice option, 17 Nd5!? All three games were played in the FIDE knockout championship. So the players had a lot of confidence in black's position.
In the old Rauser B67 black took horrible beatings in both Balinov - Kozul and Fressinet - Acs. Kozul had reasonable alternatives, but Acs' idea should be sent to the showers! The sooner the better.
Sveshnikov/ Kalashnikov
Welcome to the B32 to B33 December update.
The FIDE knockout world championship in New Delhi India produced some fresh Kalishnikov's. Unfortunately from black's point of view it was bad news.
The first case, Ivanov - Fedorov, was similiar to Shirov - Fedorov NOV00. Black didn't come up with a significant improvement and went down again. This sharp method could be cause for concern.
Leitao - Nataf was more positional. White took control of the light squares and got the better of it.
Short - Nataf is a viable sideline that looked very unclear, but merits consideration.
The lone Sveshnikov, Cioara - Jianu, sees black play a slightly inferior line, but white's inaccurate play led to trouble.
Paulsen/ Taimanov
Our B40 to 49 Taimanov/ Kan December 2000 update sees some blacks putting in a solid effort.
In Grischuk - Smirin white looks to be on top, but never breaks through. Smirin has had unbelievable results with this hybrid Kan.
Ponomariov has put together a string of impressive wins in this section. In the game Ponomariov - Dao black defended well to hold the draw.
In Plachetka - Gustafsson black's 8...Nc6!? looks ok for black. Previously it was thought to be inaccurate, but the...e5 idea looks alright. In the Taimanov I prefer ...Qc7 before ...a6. A game like Adams - Dao is one reason. White's 6 Nxc6 looks like a risk-free edge.
Classical Sozin/ Two Knights
A rather light month. In our lone Benko system, Wedberg - Veingold black equalizes easily by surrendering the B pair. More ambitious play was possible.
Sebe - Vukovic was a Boleslavsky variation where black played the time-consuming redeployment ...Nb8 to d7. My feeling is white should retain some advantage from the time black spent on this maneuvre.
Hope the holidays find all my chess friends around the world well!
Adios, GM Johnny