What's New- March '04
|
Hello everyone! I hope this March update finds everyone well. We have a plethora of English Attacks and some real good action. |
|
To download the March '04 Open Sicilian games directly in PGN form, just click here: 
Sveshnikov/Kalashnikov Variation [B32-B33]
Lets get things going with something we haven't seen of late. I hate to do it (actually, I really like it!), but it's time I picked on the Kalashnikov again!
This time the victim is GM Shirov who for some reason decided to try it against Leko in Game 1. White chose the positional line with 6 c4:
            
|
Leko's 14 0-0 is more to the point than 14 b3. Black should think twice before snatching the c4 pawn. Taking it with the bishop on e6 would give up all the light squares. Black might be better off not taking on c4, but these ...f5 ideas are very anti-positional.
Some of the notes offer hope for Kalashnikov players. Notice the stubborn Radjabov is at it again. I'm stubborn as well, this opening isn't what the Sicilian defense is about.
Richter-Rauzer [B60 to B69]
The Rauser is next on our agenda. Sedlak - Thorfinsson in the 9 f3 line is the game and several notes show why sacrificing on b5 rarely works. There are some games that deserve a look ....Shchekachev-Bischoff with 12...Ne5 and Nyysti-Molander where Black made the ...h6 move work.
Najdorf [B90 to B99]
We end this month's update with the English Attack, firstly Anand - Vallejo Pons where Black gave 10...a5!? a shot. I noticed this line years ago and wondered why we don't see more of it:
|
|
White can't let the pawn run to a3 when Black has good chances.
As far as I can tell, Anand's 11 Qe1 is a TN, the most played move is 11 Bb5 stopping the a-pawns rush. Black's play was fine until 14...Nh5. I believe 14...Ne8 to be a better try. It's hard to see where things went so horribly wrong for Black, but move 14 is a start. As is usual with Anand he ended the game in style.
Game 4 sees Vallejo Pons at it again, this time on the Black side vs Svidler. Instead of 10...a5 he opted for the usual 10...Nbd7:
|
|
Later, 12...b4 looks pretty good and in my opinion is underrated. The body of material is much smaller than for 12...Nh5. Black's 16...ef4! is a definite improvement over Bruzon-Vera where 16...b3?! was met strongly with 17 f5!. Svidler must have underestimated Black's counterplay otherwise he would've tried Nd4. After 20...d5! Black was on his way to a spectacular victory. I've included some other examples with 12...b4 and will keep a look out for future games.
The 3rd English Attack is Erenburg - Nakamura where Black tried the 9...h5 idea. I think if anything, it's worse on move 9. (Kramnik-Topalov from last month saw Black wait till White castled queenside before playing ...h5). I liked White's opening, but some very creative play from Black got him a good game. It's just my opinion, but I think Black has many more reliable ideas.
The 4th and final game in this section is Aaberg - Nielsen in the line where Black plays ...Nc6.White's 15 f4 didn't accomplish a thing, but loosened e4 and gave Black some play. Black took advantage of White's passive play. The alternative 15 Kb1 looks alright as does 15 Be3 looking to play h5 or Nd4.
See you all in April, Good Luck,
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.