1 e4 Various Jan 2003 Update
NEW IDEAS FOR THE NEW YEAR!Welcome to the New Year and the new, evolving look of ChessPublishing. I have some interesting and innovative chess for you this month. IM Andy Martin |
To download the January '03 1 e4 ... games directly in PGN form, click here: 
There's something different in the Scandinavian where 3...Qd6!?
            
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poses Golubev unusual problems. I don't immediately see how White gets the advantage against this move.
Then we see yet another defeat for White in Kosmo - Smerdon with the Icelandic Gambit 3...e6
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I really can't see why White players bother with 3 c4 when 3 d4 or 3 Nf3 both promise a safe advantage.
The Alekhine Chase Variation gets a rare outing. Sevillano's Queen on g4 is worrying, but with 13...d5! in place of 13...g6
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Black would have achieved a good position.
Anand - Khenkin features a duel in the 4 Be3 Advance Caro, which was considered in some detail by Tony Kosten a few months ago.
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It's a very tough struggle- my impression is that White was slightly better after 15 Nxd3
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A further Advanced Caro, not so high class, features 6...h5!?
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Black's position soon looks disgusting but that doesn't prevent him from winning shortly after!
A final Caro between two strong Grandmasters features state of the art play in the Capablanca Variation. After 16...Rfe8
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Vallejo Pons' position was very, very solid indeed.
Friso Nijboer shows the way for Black in a Byrne Pirc, demonstrating an original and thoughtful plan. Unfortunately he falters at the critical moment; 15...c4!
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in place of his 15...b4 would be fine for the second player.
Finally, Garcia Castro's 2...e5
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is not fine at all and he gets massaged off the board by Narciso Dublan. 1 e4 d6 2 d4 Nf6 3 Nc3 e5 is the only decent way for Black to get what he wants if he must play this dreary endgame.
Please write to me at AMartin@ChessPublishing.com if you have any questions or queries and I wish you all a very good month.
Yours in chess,
IM Andrew Martin