August 2002 Update - 1 e4 ....
Tony Kosten writes:
Well, I'm back again this month, although I assure you that Nigel's replacement should be here in time for the September update! As you probably know, the Summer period is a very busy one for professional chess players, with many national championships and strong opens so this is why he hasn't been able to take over just yet.
I was looking through the recent tournaments, and like many of the subscribers, no doubt, I was surprised at the number of Caro-Kann Defences played in the recent 'Russia against the Rest of the World' match, so I decided to have a closer look:
All this month's new games are easily downloaded in PGN format using ChessPub.exe, but to download the August '02 1 e4 ... games directly in PGN form, click here: 
Advance [B12]
Following 1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 e5 Bf5, this site has covered 4 Nc3 in some detail, and also 4 Bd3, but the unusual move 4 Be3!?
            
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was all the rage in Moscow.
It was first tried by Kasparov in his round 4 game against Shirov, and was a complete success.
Naturally, this did not go unnoticed by the other players, and there followed Gelfand - Dreev and Smirin - Bareev in round 6, and then Smirin - Dreev in round 10.
The overall score was two wins apiece, but this was mostly down to Smirin losing both of his games. Anyway, this move may well become the big threat to the Caro over the next few months so have a look at all four annotated games.
Short's 4 Nf3 is a popular move in the Advance, and Svidler - Anand summarises one of the main lines.
Panov [B13]
Morozevich - Anand features another look at the 5...Nc6 Panov, but this time White replies 6 Bg5, which i have always thought was the best move.
Smyslov's Variation [B17]
After 1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 Nc3 dxe4 4 Nxe4 Nd7 5 Ng5 Ngf6 6 Bd3 e6 7 N1f3 Bd6 8 Qe2 h6 9 Ne4 Nxe4 10 Qxe4 Qc7 11 Qg4 Kf8 12 0-0 c5 Karpov twice had to defend against Leko's move 13 b3!?
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Although he managed one win and one draw, the first of these games should probably have been a loss. However, in the second he was well-prepared and forced a quick draw with a tactical flourish. Have a look at Shirov - Karpov.
Classical Variation [B19]
White's play was a model of control in Shirov - Kramnik, White making use of his extra space and possibilities on both wings to score a decisive victory.
emailbag
Jonathan Faydi writes:
«Hi Tony,
As you have taken up Mr Davies' place I will ask you a question concerning the Pirc Defence. I know you must have a lot to do but have a look at this. In the very fashionable variation 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Be3 c6 6.Qd2 b5 7.Bd3 Nbd7 8.e5!?.
I found a few games at high level (IM or GM) and Black always answered 8...dxe5 9.dxe5 Ng4 10.e6!? entering into great complications in the middle-game with an obscure position. My question is short: what's wrong with the simple 8...Ng4 ? I found no game on this move!»
Hi Jonathan,
The only explanation is that (after 8 ..Ng4?!) 9 exd6 is strong. Let's see: 9...exd6 10 Bg5 (10 Bf4!? is also possible, when 10 ..0-0 looks best, 11 h3 Re8+ 12 Ne2 Ngf6 13 Bxd6 - Black has some comp for the pawn, but I doubt it is enough) 10...Ngf6 11 Qe3+ Qe7 12 Qxe7+ Kxe7 13 0-0-0 and the black king is awkwardly placed in the middle. I suppose this is reason enough why players have avoided 8...Ng4.
I hope this answers your question, TonyK
Bye! TK
tonykosten@chesspublishing.com