Download PGN of March ’25 1 e4 ... games
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Scandinavian Defence 2...Nf6 3.d4 Nxd5 4.Nf3 Bf5 [B01]
Ijiushenok, I - Korobkov, P involved a slightly rare line in the Scandinavian with 4...Bf5:
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White developed normally and went for a direct plan with 12.d5. Black played passively and slowly White took the initiative, later won a pawn and after that the game.
Modern Defence 4.Be3 a6 5.h4 h6 [B06]
Kamalidenova, M - Afanasiev, N was in one of the sharpest lines in the Modern with 5.h4:
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White went for a very aggressive setup and Black had his king stuck in the centre where it was in trouble. However, later in the complications White gave some material for an attack, Black defended and then won the game in the endgame.
Modern Defence 4.Be3 a6 5.g4 Nf6 [B06]
Fromm, M - Sawlin, L was a rare line in the Modern with 5.g4:
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Black left his King in the centre and even though he was not well developed, managed to start an early attack. White seemed to play normally but he was quickly outplayed and Black won with a strong attack.
Caro-Kann Advance, Short Variation 4...e6 5.Be2 Nd7 6.0-0 Be7 [B12]
Garifullina, L - Dubov, D was in one of the quieter lines in the Advanced Caro-Kann. Black went for an unusual plan with 6...Be7, probably to confuse the opponent:
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And, indeed, the position was not standard, Black had his King in the centre and managed to create pressure against the white King. Later Dubov was hesitating and at some moment just blundered, but with a timely draw offer managed to escape.
Caro-Kann Advance, Short Variation 4...e6 5.Be2 Nd7 6.0-0 Ne7 7.c3 h6 8.a4 [B12]
Goganov, A - Nieman, H was in the same Advanced variation but with a more common setup from Black. While White was advancing on the queenside and Black went for the standard ideas with ...g5 and ...f6:
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The game was balanced but slowly Nieman outplayed his opponent and won in the endgame.
Caro-Kann Advance, Short Variation 4...e6 5.Be2 Ne7 6.0-0 c5 7.c4 [B12]
Mahdavi, R - Najer, E was also in the Advanced Caro-Kann but in a slightly more open line with 6...c5, where the game was more dynamic:
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Black decided to give up a piece but got good compensation. The game was very double-edged until White made a blunder and Black got a big advantage which he managed to convert and won in the endgame.
Caro-Kann Advance, Short Variation 4...e6 5.Be2 Nd7 6.0-0 a5 7.a4 f6 8.c4 [B12]
Orozbaev, E - Grischuk, A was also in the Advanced line and again the stronger player went for a rare line to surprise his opponent with 8...Bb4:
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White managed to make an unexpected and long journey with his knight while navigating the game close to equality. Then Black managed to grab a clear pawn but White got an active rook in the endgame and somehow escaped with a draw.
Korchnoi Variation 5...exf6 6.c3 Bd6 7.Bd3 0-0 8.Qc2 Re8+ 9.Ne2 h5 10.0-0 h4 11.h3 [B15]
Grachev, A - Nepomniachtchi, I was in the popular Korchnoi Variation of the Caro-Kann and this time it followed the main line for a long period.
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After playing 20 moves of theory, shortly after White missed the nice trick 25...Ng6 and was forced to resign just a few moves later.
Till next month, Marian
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