What's New- January '04
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Hello everyone! I'd like to wish you all a good new year and hope all is well with our chess friends around the globe. |
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This late January 2004 update includes 3 games from the big boys discussing the English Attack at the famous Wijk aan Zee event. We see a different line in each one.
To download the January '04 Open Sicilian games directly in PGN form, just click here: 
Sveshnikov/Kalashnikov Variation [B32-B33]
We start with Prathamesh - Sharma in the (B33) Sveshnikov. 7 Nd5 is hanging in there even though 7 Bg5 is played most often. White has lots of move order tricks and transpositions that Black must muddle through, but attentive play should give chances for equality. In this line both players must be on alert for Qa4 ideas.
Richter-Rauzer [B60 to B69]
Let's move on to the Richter Rauser where Korneev - Spraggett fight it out in the topical 9 f3 (B67). The Canadian GM must have liked how things turned out for Black in Spraggett-Chandler(!) because he copied it move-for-move until Korneev varied.
If Black wants to allow the Nxc6, Ne2 to d4 deal then this is Black's course of action. If Black wants complications then avoiding the c6 exchange with Ne5 is the way to go.
Scheveningen [B80 to B89]
We switch over to the Keres Attack (B81) with 6...h6:
            
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Players are scared off by the Keres so they often transpose into "safer" Scheveningens such as the Be2 Najdorf or the Be2 Taimanov.
In the game Vogt - Atlas Black played 6...h6 and White got a nice spatial advantage. (6...Nc6 and 6...a6 are reasonable alternatives. 6...a6 is very similar to the English Attack) Black's position is solid, the knight on h7 looks strange, but the small samples of evidence show that it's not bad. I have to admit that I'd consider giving it a try. White must take care not to overextend.
Najdorf [B90 to B99]
Akopian - Kramnik (B90) saw Black try 6...Ng4 and lose horribly.
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I hate blaming everything on Black's choice, but Kramnik was clearly out of his element. For a possible alternative line see the note Granda Zuniga-Bruzon with 7...Nc6!? which for some reason hasn't been played much and looks just as good as anything else.
Adams - Zhang Zhong is number 2 in the 6...e5 variation. Michael Adams has a very good feel for these positions.He aims to control the light squares helped by a timely Bxd7 and blunting Black's dark-squared bishop, and after that it's a clean job.
The 3rd super GM battle was Topalov - Anand in the 6...e6 line:
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For some reason this has fallen out of favor. I don't understand why the Nxb5 piece sac wasn't getting anywhere. The Black side figured out that it wasn't dangerous. In my opinion this might be the most challenging response to 6 Be3. Black gets better piece play than in the above 2 choices.
I guess we should say 6...e5 and 6...e6 are 1 and 1A depending on preference. What Topalov played, 10 a4, shouldn't give Black any headaches.
See everyone in a few weeks, and I'll do my best to get the February update done in February!
GM John Fedorowicz
P.S. Feel free to contact me at the Forum (above) or send stuff to my email at feddy@mindspring.com (subscribers only). I'll try to answer your questions as soon as possible. I've had problems replying when contacted through Chess Publishing at thefed@chesspublishing.com. Thanks! Fed.