What's New- January '03
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Hello everyone! I'm sorry for the lateness of this update. I played in the US Championship and was working during the Kasparov-Deep Junior match. |
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Enough chit chat let's look at some chess!
To download the January '03 Open Sicilian games directly in PGN form, just click here: 
Sveshnikov/Kalashnikov Variation [B32-B33]
For some reason people continue to play the Kalashnikov and with a singular lack of success. Have a look at Karjakin - Kosteniuk from their 6 game match where Black got a very passive position where she could only defend.
How many good lines does White need vs the Kalashnikov?
Paulsen/Taimanov [B40 to B49]
For a change we see some serious action in the B40 to 49 Paulsen/Kan/Taimanov area.
In Game 2 of the match Kasparov used the 5...Bc5 line
            
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with good opening results. Possibly due to some weakness he and his advisors found in the machine.
In Game 4 of the match Kasparov switched to the Taimanov variation, again with good success. The computer opted for a Maroczy Bind setup in both cases. Deep Junior didn't understand the position, but defended like a genius. The Taimanov Hedgehog is my favorite of any of the numerous Hedgehog setups and Kasparov handled it well.
I decided on the Taimanov in Pruess - Fedorowicz from round 1 of the US Championship and got a very comfortable game. The reason I played the Taimanov was my opponent had 3 months to prepare something big for my Najdorf or Rauser. The Taimanov is always a solid choice.
In G Shahade-Kriventsov Black's ...b4 looked to be the cause of problems. White played the attack very well but the variation is not bad at all.
Richter-Rauzer [B60 to B69]
We've waited a long time for this but the black side of the Richter Rauser sees some very good news!
Check out Naiditch - Acs where Black tried one of my many suggestions.
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This looks very reasonable vs the 9 f3 line, but it's good to see it in practice.
Najdorf [B90 to B99]
In Game 6 of his match with Deep Junior Kasparov finally played the Najdorf. The computer once again chose the more controlled 6 Be2 and Garry replied somewhat surprisingly with 6...e5. Black's ...Bd7 was no doubt in order to get the contraption out of book and it worked-out well.
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Kasparov got the better of matters quickly, but the computer showed it's defensive skills well. ...Bd7 actually looks like a good alternative to the normal stuff.
Good Luck to all my chess friends around the globe.
See everyone at the February update.
GM John Fedorowicz
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.