What's New- March '01
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Scheveningen
Welcome to the March 2001 Najdorf/Scheveningen update.
Check Shahade-Woijtkiewicz. a mainline English Attack. It seems that when White protects against ...Rxc3 Black's counterplay consists of the ...d5 push as in this game.
Shirov's 9 g4!? is a dangerous try if not met properly. Kasparov's 9...d5! looks forced otherwise Black gets pushed back. The game led to a position where Black was somewhat better.
We finish up with Koo-Francisco. as a reminder for those who play this variation vs the Sozin. Keep an eye on move order tricks!
Najdorf
Greetings everyone! The March 2001 update sees an amazing amount of action thanks to the Linares event!
We get things rolling with 5 English attacks. Grischuk-Kasparov. sees Black secure a comfortable game with 10...b4! then win in smooth fashion.
5 rounds later Grischuk improves his move order vs Shirov and all hell broke loose! What was going on is anybody's guess.
In Kasparov-Polgar. White eschewed 11 Nf5 and didn't get much, then in Polgar-Kasparov. White's 13 Nce2!? avoiding the stock exchange sac is an interesting try. Playing for ...d5 gives Black his share of the play.
Polgar snatches Shirov's b4-pawn and his counterplay never materialized.
Leko's poisoned pawn declined turned out well vs Kasparov. Black's 16...Nc5 left a strange impression.
Shirov's quiet approach vs Polgar is worth considering vs 6...e5. White's slow build-up did the job. Black must organize better dark-squared play.
Richter Rauzer
Welcome to the March 2001 Rauzer update. I have some good news and some bad news!
Let's start with the bad. The maneuver Ne2 to d4 continues to cause Black grief in Nunn-Chandler.. Black's position looks OK, but where are the counterchances?
Finally Black gets on the board vs f3. Bubalovic-Kozul. sees Black put together a position that makes sense! Hooray!! The plan starting with 11...Qa5 and followed by ...h6-h5 looks alright.
The older Rauzer has seen better days, Kutuzovic-Jankovic. and Heineman-Chandler. are proof. I think both 11 Bf6 and 11 e5 are better for White.
Good Luck to all!
Sveshnikov/ Kalashnikov
Hello everyone! A relatively quiet month for the B32/33 Sveshnikov/Kalashnikov March 2001 update.
Ehlvest-Hossain. sees Black play a variation I consider dubious. The set up with ...Bb7 and ...Nb8 seems to be time consuming. In this game Ehlvest's Bd3 looked inaccurate, 14 h4!? looks best then Black has ...Bxe3 with a reasonable position.
Singh-Harikrishna. sees one of the messier lines. I honestly can't make heads or tails of this line! The B's of opposite colors creates a very unclear situation. White's Na3 is out, but his K is safer --if it's complications you seek, play this!
Paulsen/ Taimanov
The March 2001 B40 to B49 Taimanov/Paulsen Kan update features Leko-Grischuk ...this line is a serious drawing weapon. It's a tough nut to crack!
This leads into Kasparov-Grischuk. which avoids the solid line mentioned above. I like White's chances. Kasparov took control quickly and won easily.
Ehlvest seems to trust this variation, but he paid dearly. Black's e6 point is key and it looks vulnerable: in addition 0-0-0 was really asking for it!
Classical Sozin/ Two Knights
Our B54 to 59 March 2001 update sees only one Benko system.
The game Leventic-Jankovic. sees White play Fischer's favorite 7 Nxc6. This is a viable alternative to the beaten paths of 7 Nb3 and 7 Nde2. White can play for e5 ideas, resulting in the better structure. Black's ...e5 does nothing to blunt the Bc4, but White appears unable to take advantage. Perhaps a fast f4 is the way to go.
In Barua-Mariano. White's set-up doesn't look dangerous. Instead of the robot like 10...Qc7?! Black can try 10...Rc8! with ...Rxc3 in the air. Black's 15...h5 left me with a bad feeling.
We conclude this update with Zelcic-Kozul. where Black's regrouping idea takes too long. White's Nd5 at some moment gives him the better prospects. A medium advantage I'd have to say.
Good Luck to all my friends around the globe!
Till next month! Take Care, GM John Fedorowicz.