Download PGN of May ’25 1 e4 ... games
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Nimzowitsch Defence 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.d4 d5 4.e5 Nd7 [B00]
Nurgaliyev, S - Nihal, S featured a rare line in the Nimzowitsch Opening and after only a few moves the game headed for an endgame with 6...Qd4:
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Black tried to complicate the game and found a nice idea to give up an exchange to take the initiative. Then, after a couple of inaccuracies from White, Black grabbed an edge and managed to convert and win.
Scandinavian Defence 3...Qa5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bf5 6.Bc4 [B01]
Yakkuboev, N - Nigmatov, O was in the Scandinavian Defense and White went for a rare line with 8.Ne2, trying to create something on the kingside:
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However, Black castled the other way and even got a slight edge. Black won a pawn but later White managed to get it back and just when the game was heading for a draw Black blundered and so White won.
Modern Defence 4.Nf3 a6 5.Be3 Nd7 6.Qd2 b5 [B06]
Stankovic, M -Kadric, D was a Modern Defense. White went for an attack on both flanks by 7.a4 and 9.h4 which looks a bit odd but is possible:
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Soon White offered material and when Black took it the game became very interesting. White got a very big advantage but somehow lost it and even managed to reach a lost position in the space of only 2 moves, so finally Black won in the endgame.
Modern Defence 4.Be3 a6 5.h4 h6 6.Qd2 Nd7 7.0-0-0 [B06]
Abasov, N - Babazada, K featured a more popular Modern system where Black opted for ...h6 and White went for a fast attack with 8 h5:
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Only a few moves later White won a pawn and had the advantage as well. Black used his one chance and managed to get a good position with a tactic but then again White managed to obtain an edge. However, suddenly White noticed that he is going to be checkmated in the endgame and Black scored an unlikely win!
Modern Defence 4.Be3 a6 5.f3 b5 6.h4 h6 7.Qd2 Nd7 [B06]
Reimann, S - Liang, A was a similar line in the Modern. After White developed normally he got into a situation where there is no clear plan after 12...c6:
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His plan simply led to a big edge for Black, and that without making any obvious mistakes. Afterwards Black also did not find the right plan and went for big complications where White was fine, but then one blunder and Black won immediately.
Caro-Kann Advance 4.h4 h5 5.c4 e6 6.Nc3 dxc4 [B12]
Esipenko, A - Rozum, I was in the popular Advanced System with 4.h4. The game followed one of the common lines until Black went for activity but left his king in the centre:
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It was unclear but then one terrible move, 17...Ng8, gave White a very big edge which he converted slowly and won.
Caro-Kann Advance, Short Variation 4...e6 5.Be2 Nd7 6.0-0 Nr7 7.Nbd2 h6 [B12]
Shankland, S - Maiwald, U was in the Short Variation of the Caro-Kann, where White went for very rare setup with 10. Ne1:
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where he could not get anything out of the opening, as even with the black king in the centre the game was even. At some point White got a chance to open the game with 26.Nf6+ and after that he never looked back and won comfortably.
Caro-Kann Exchange Variation 4.Bd3 Nc6 5.c3 Qc7 6.h3 Nf6 7.Nf3 g6 [B13]
Lu, S - Nihal, S featured the Exchange Variation of the Caro-Kann. The game was quiet and slow until in the diagram position:
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Black played 17...Nh3+. Then this knight was always in danger and White got a serious edge. When he needed to find a simple win in one move he failed and black managed to escape with a draw in the endgame.
Till next month, Marian
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