Hello my friends. This month we don’t have many big name games but still plenty of drama. We have a couple of very sharp Modern Defences where White was trying to attack from the start and then we have many good positional battles mostly in the Advance Caro-Kann. There are some interesting new ideas. In most of the games Black was initially doing well in the opening but later on White managed to create something so the middle game planning might be more tricky for Black in these lines. Also, we got some nice endgames where certain players have shown good technique.

Modern Defence 3...a6 4.Be3 b5 5.h4 [B06]

In the game Eljanov, P - Ondersteijn, N we have a rare line in the Modern Defense. Black delayed ...Bg7, and after 3...a6 for the first 10 moves he was almost only playing with his pawns, but still got a decent position as White was trying to attack on both flanks.

Black slowly got a very pleasant game and after both sides castled long White was struggling to get any activity. Later in the endgame it became a bit more complicated, White managed to grab material and win the game.

Modern Defence 4.Be3 a6 5.h4 h6 [B06]

Audi, A - Yip, C was another Modern Defense where Black played the line with 5...h6, and in reply White went for a very direct plan with 9 f4 and the game quickly become very sharp.

The game was balanced until Black made a mistake giving up material and White got a very big edge in the endgame. Black has trying to find something but there was no chance and White comfortably won in the end.

Pirc/Modern Defence
Caro-Kann Defence

Caro-Kann Advance 4.h4 h5 5.c4 [B12]

Wang, H - Gumularz, S featured the Caro-Kann Advance Variation with 4.h4. The game followed one of the common lines until Black introduced the interesting idea 10...Qb4:

The game went into an endgame where Black was a bit better and White had to defend the whole time. After a long time Black slowly managed to find a way to get on top in the endgame and won.

Advance, Short Variation 5...c5 6.Be3 cxd4 7.Nxd4 [B12]

Kuybokarov, T - Antonio, R was another Caro-Kann Advance, but this time the Short variation with an early 5...c5. The game followed the main lines and White decided to go for a new idea 13 f4:

The endgame was equal but Black possibly underestimated the position and after 23 f5 White managed to gain a big edge and later won the game.

Advanced Variation 2.Nf3 d5 3.e5 c5 4.d4 [B12]

Degraeve, R - Eljanov, P was in a rare line in the Caro-Kann with .2.Nf3 and 3.e5. It still transposed to a familiar line and White decided to go for the idea of 9.c4:

The game was around equal but Black could not find a good plan and he was forced to give a pawn. In the endgame it was a long fight but in the end White managed to convert and win the game.

Caro-Kann, Advance 4.Nc3 h5 [B12]

Cesar, B - Sosa, T was a rare line in the Caro-Kann Advance with 4.Nc3 h5:

In the opening Black was doing well and White has even ruined his pawn structure with some strange moves so Black could get an advantage. In the middle game Black started to play without a clear plan then suddenly the game became sharp and White played a very nice tactic 25.Nxe6 which basically finished the game and he won easily after that.

Caro-Kann, Advance 4.Bd3 Bxd3 5.Qxd3 e6 6.Ne2 [B12]

Tari, A - Wadsworth, M was in a Caro-Kann Advance with 4 Bd3. The game was quiet in the opening but as Black slowed his development a bit he was forced to play without castling kingside.

Then White was gradually trying to open the game on the kingside while Black castled queenside and was simply waiting and defending. After a long maneuvering game it turned out that White can;t find a way to improve and the game was drawn in the late endgame.

Caro, Korchnoi Variation 6.Be3 Bd6 7.Bd3 Na6 [B15]

Ivanchuk, V - Krstulovic, A was in the Korchnoi Variation of the Caro-Kann. After the opening White decided to give a pawn with 14 d5:

and he managed to get good compensation. Black soon gave material back and it was looking like White should be much better. However, Black found excellent counter play and managed to get to an equal endgame where the game was drawn.

Pirc/Modern Defence
Caro-Kann Defence

Till next month, Marian

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