What's New- February '01
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Scheveningen/ English Attack
Howdy! You've entered the B80 to 89 February Najdorf/Scheveningen update. As usual we start off with the English attack.
Check Blehm-Kalod. White's Nb3 throws a wrench into Black's plan. As you all may know the moves Nb3 and a3 drive me nuts. Almost always they're too passive, but in this case it makes sense.
In our 2nd game Gershon-Vescovi. White's unforced Nb3 is a Fed no no after which I like Black's chances.
Shabalov-Lesiege. is a classical Scheveningen, it's been played a million times. Black's position is solid enough, but somehow Shabalov broke through. Lesiege lost in spectacular fashion after some defensive inaccuracies.
Najdorf
Greetings! Welcome to the B90 to B99 Najdorf February 2001 update.
Let's start out with our usual array of English Attacks. Check the twin games Anand-Van Wely and Dworakowska-Gallagher.. White looks to be getting the better of the play presently. The difference in the games as far as I can tell is that Dworakowska played a premature Nd5 and Black got rolling. Black should consider 9...h5!? if the trend continues.
6... Ng4 got waxed horribly in Ivanchuk-Shirov.. Black lost his mind early and after that it was no fun.
Watch Leko dismantle Morozevich's Najdorf sideline and we end with Milos-Limp.. Black's naive handling of the opening made for an unpleasant experience.
Good Luck to All!
Richter Rauzer
Hello everyone! This month's B60 to B69 Rauzer update sees f3 continue to cause problems!
In Blehm-Tyomkin. Black's b4 is considered dubious by theory. The Peter Wells/Osnos work "The Complete Richter Rauzer" quotes 14... Qa5 as being most accurate then 15 Qf2 b4 16 Ne2 e5 17 Nc1 Be6 18 Nb3 Qc7! 19 Ba6 Rb8 20 Ba7 Ra8 21 Bb5 Nd7 22 Be3 0-0 23 Qe2 Rfb8 draw in Lanka- Tyomkin! Lanka says 24 Rd5 Bd5 25 ed5 is double edged. After 14...b4?! Black never got any counterplay.
In Javenko-Mantoviani. Black played a well known equalizing trick, but in the wrong position! Black was bottled up and got the worst of it.
The game Nijboer-Gulko. sees Black continue his run of solid results (all draws) in this variation. On such a high level this isn't bad.
We finish up with Shahade-Thorhallson.. I've always considered 6...Bd7 doubtful, but Black's treatment made matters worse. There are many good variations in the Rauser. My advice is to stay away from this one.
Sveshnikov/ Kalashnikov
This month's Sveshnikov/Kalasknikov B32 to 33 update sees one of the leading Kalashnikov players switch! (To the Svesh) The USA GM Alexander Shabalov played Black twice vs Stefansson and Vescovi. The first game featured very double edged play (typical Shabalov), Black's activity compensates for structural problems. I used to think 7 a4 was a nice sideline. Superior to 7 Nd5 and a nice change from Bg5, but 8...Bg4! equalizes on the spot. Black gets a comfortable game.
We end this month with Anand-Leko.. In my opinion one of the better lines vs the doubled f-pawn Svesh. Black gets counter chances due to the Na3 being out of it.
Paulsen/ Taimanov
Hello everyone! Our Feb 2001 B40-49 Taimanov/Pausen-Kan update sees some interesting developments.
Check Shabalov-Macieja. where White improves (?) over a previous game. It's a very hard position to evaluate. White stole a pawn which helped his cause, but Black's central mass could be dangerous. In this game it got rolling a little late. A real battle!
The Brazilian GM Vescovi seems to specialize in crazed Taimanov sidelines. Stefansson-Vescovi. sees all hell break loose and Black emerge on top. White's f5 was a little hard to believe. Even so Black looked alright.
We end with Ponomariov-Korchnoi.. An experienced match player, Black employs the 'win with White draw with Black' strategy. Black is never very far from equality in this variation. Not many winning chances, but good for a draw if needed.
Happy Chess Hunting to all my friends from GM Fed!
Classical Sozin/ Two Knights
I'm very happy to report than White can't play the English attack against everything! In this month's B54 to B59 update we see White get torched twice in similar fashion.
Both Zufic-Kozul. and Saptarshi-Murugan. saw Black dominate the dark squares and win easily. Black has ideas of ...a5 as well. It looks like f3 vs the 2 N's and ...d6 is met strongly by...e5!.
In Schuermans-Berkvens. White's queen manoeuvre achieved nothing more than an equal position then walked into a shot that won the exchange and the game.
Adios and Enjoy!
See you all in March! GM John Fedorowicz