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1 e4 ... December 2003 update

Greetings and welcome to this festive update for December 2003! Whatever your religion, colour or creed I wish you happiness and much success over the chessboard
and of course, a very Merry Christmas.

IM Andy Martin

Scandinavian Defence

Alekhine's Defence

Pirc/Modern Defence

Caro-Kann


To download the December '03 1 e4 ... games directly in PGN form, click here: Download Games


Scandinavian Defence

Two Scandinavians kick off the update.

In the first Game Paul Motwani dismantles the dangerous 8 d5!?










White starts the action a little too early.

The second game finds me in a very experimental mood and ending up with a lousy position after 14 Qe5!










Only fighting spirit keeps Black afloat after this powerful centralization.


Scandinavian Defence

Alekhine's Defence

Pirc/Modern Defence

Caro-Kann


Alekhine's Defence

Moving to the Exchange Alekhine we see an example of 7 a4!? in Game 3:










This little-used move is very dangerous. Black has to react in the centre but how and when? Grunberg emerged victorious as Black but it was not too convincing.

Scandinavian Defence

Alekhine's Defence

Pirc/Modern Defence

Caro-Kann


Pirc/Modern Defence

Two games in the Modern see Black getting wiped out big-time.

The critical position in Kasparov - Azmaiparashvili occurs after 18 f5:










when Black can try either 18...Bh5 or 18...Rg8!.

Landa - Rudolf is brief but again Black missed his chance. In place of 16...Nc5? I recommend 16...Ne5! and the position isn't too bad. Here we see why the Modern isn't particularly popular; a protracted period of defence is necessary before counterplay can be created. Not to everyone's taste!


Scandinavian Defence

Alekhine's Defence

Pirc/Modern Defence

Caro-Kann


Caro-Kann

Vasleslu - Vajda features the Two Knights Variation of the Caro-Kann and the unusual 3...a6!?










There's a game by Matthew Sadler in the notes where 3...h6!?










is played too. As Bobby Fischer would say: 'something to break the monotony'.

Klensberg - Kanstler is a bastardized Gurganidze system e.g. 1 e4 g6 2 d4 Bg7 3 Nc3 c6 4 f4 d5 5 e5 Nh6!?. This messy, murky idea deserves full respect because, as played, White got less than nothing. Only Kanstler knows why he did not play 15...Bxb2!:










and he isn't telling. Black lost.

Finally, Grigoriants - Rogers is a rare outing for 5...gxf6!?










, one of the few lines in the Caro with aggressive intentions. White seemed to build up the usual edge but then the position became random and he lost. We've all been there I think.

Scandinavian Defence

Alekhine's Defence

Pirc/Modern Defence

Caro-Kann


Warmest Regards, IM Andrew Martin

Please post you queries on the 1 e4 ... Forum, or subscribers can write to me at AMartin@ChessPublishing.com if you have any questions or queries.