Download PGN of July ’24 1 e4 ... games
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Scandinavian Defence 3...Qd6 4.Nf3 c6 5.d4 Bf5 [B01]
The first game, Huang, R - Li, B, was a Scandinavian with 3...Qd6. White went for a line where it seems like he is dancing with his knight and finally traded it for a bishop in the following position:
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Black got that common pawn structure from the Caro where he is very solid and is just waiting. It led to an endgame where neither of the sides wanted to take a risk and ended in a draw.
Alekhine’s, Four Pawns Attack 5...g6 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.Be3 [B03]
Hairing, F - Kaczmarek, A was in the Four Pawns Attack of Alekhine’s Defence. Black went for the line with 5...g6 but White turned up well prepared. He opted for the 8 c5 move and then 9 h4 and, in my opinion, White has a big edge here:
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It reminds me of the lines in the Pirc where Black simply does not have enough time to prepare his counterplay and White has a free attack. White managed to build a centre, prepared his attack, controlled the whole board and easily won. A eeminder for people who face those sharp lines in various openings that they always have to be well prepared.
Modern Defence 4.Be3 a6 5.a4 [B06]
Sahidi, S- Gretarsson, H was in between a Modern and a Pirc. White delayed Nf3 and eventually went for the 8 Nge2 plan:
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Later he left his king in the centre and castled long after move 20. Black went for some complications and was fine until he suddenly blundered in one move and lost.
Caro-Kann, Advance 4.h4 h5 5.c4 e6 6.Nc3 dxc4 [B12]
Pichot, A - Paichadze, L was in the 4.h4 Caro-Kann Advance where Black captured early with 6...dxc4. White found a good idea with 10.0-0 and later 14.Bxh6 and managed to gain a small edge.
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Later White started to attack on the Queenside but black was defending well. However, Black played a bad combination and White could have won, but he in turn went for a faulty idea and the game ended in a spectacular perpetual and a draw.
Caro-Kann, Advance 3...Bf5 4.c4 e6 5.Nc3 Ne7 [B12]
Cuartas,A - Berdayes, A featured an Advance Caro with 4.c4. I could claim that this should be named “The Petrov Variation” as I have played it so many times. It was an unusual line where somehow White lost the c pawn but he got some compensation. For a long time the game was quiet as Black kept the pawn but White had more space and some activity:
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Later Black allowed White to activate his knight and play a very nice piece sac. He managed to open the game and to slowly squeeze his opponent. The second part of the game was very impressive from White.
Caro-Kann, Advance 3...c5 4.dxc5 e6 5.a3 Bxc5 6.Qg4 [B12]
Fernandez, G - Bartel, M was a Caro Advance with 3...c5. There was a slightly curious move order resulting in 11...Nxe5:
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A small combination which gave Black a good game and a nice centre. Later he was pressing and White became a bit passive. Eventually Black was slowly increasing the edge and won the game.
Caro-Kann Advance, Short Variation 5.Nbd2 c5 [B12]
Alekseenko, K - Levin, G featured the ever-popular Caro Advance Short Variation. White went for the rare 5 Nbd2 and after 5...c5 Black got a good game.
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Later Black delayed the development of his kingside and had to give up a pawn but he did get compensation. The game was about equal until Black went into some complications and lost.
Caro-Kann, Advance 4.h4 h5 5.Bd3 Bxd3 6.Qxd3 Qa5+ 7.Nd2 e6 8.Ngf3 Qa6 [B12]
Adams, M - Schuster, K was another Caro Advance with 4.h4 h5 5.Bd3:
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It was a quiet game where both sides were developing and Black decided to win a pawn which allowed White some activity. Black was fine but he went for a wrong plan which exposed his centre and allowed White easy play. Adams slowly took control and won comfortably in his usual style.
Till next month, Marian
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