What's New- December '01
Greetings to all my chess friends around the globe!
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English Attack
Lets start this update with the English attack.
Adams-Svidler, DEC01/07, see's Black hit in the center with an early ...d5. White has a slight lead in development, but Black's K is safe and the structure is fine as well. In the game Black's ...f5 was asking for trouble. It looks solid but not very ambitious.
In Topalov-Zhang zong, DEC01/06, White switches from 0-0-0 and playing for a kside pawn storm, to 0-0 and playing against the Bf5 and ph5. White went on to victory in a crisp effort.
Khalifman-Lautier, DEC01/02, can only be described in one term: "Brainlock". After White's 10 g4? d5! Black was already better.
Richter-Rauzer
The Rauzer section starts off with Galliamova-Kosteniuk, DEC01/01, in the 8...h6 9 Bf4 line. 9 Be3 followed by f3 and the usual g4 business is my preference. In the game Black had to play the strange feeling 19...Kf8, but things were under control. Maybe Kf8 had a mesmerizing effect on White who shortly thereafter went nuts!
Kotronias-Damljanovic, DEC01/05, sees Black following in Kozul's footsteps with ...Ra7. White's Qh4 looks like the best way to put the pressure on. It seems to me that 15...Bg7 might be best. The hope is that while h5 drops off Black can drum up dark square play with ...Bh6 being a possibility.
Paulsen/ Taimanov
For Paulsen/Kan players Black's opening in Arakhamia-Ciuksyte, DEC01/09, is the way to go. Black got a very active game. In some other lines Black becomes too passive.
The Taimanov Hedgehog seen in Naiditsch-Lutz, DEC01/03, gives Black a solid compact game with possibilities for ...b5 or ...d5 breaks. White has space, but how does he proceed. In similar positions I've seen Korchnoi play a4 a5 causing qside weaknesses. Here the Na3 is a very bad piece.
Classical Sozin/ Two Knights
In the Benko system Bibko-Bocharov, DEC01/04, was fine for Black early on. White's only active plan in to burn his bridges and play g4, but Black is well placed for counterplay.
Sveshnikov/ Kalashnikov
Bologan tried the positional line vs the Sveshnikov, DEC01/08, and Nataf replied with what I think is Black's best. 12...Bg5 followed by ...Kh8 and ...f5 gives Black good chances. The Sveshnikov variation has always been a dangerous weapon in capable hands.
Happy New Year! See you in 2002
Fed