On to the chess!
Download PGN of June '05 1 e4 ... games
Scandinavian Defence
First up we have Glek - Nakamura, a Scandinavian where the fearless American tries to overturn the theoretical verdict that Black is worse after 6 Bd2 Bf5 7 Ne4 Qc7 8 Nxf6+ gxf6:
             |
He does not succeed in my view.
Alekhine's Defence
Then we see Hubner wiping away the Alekhine. 6 Qe2 was interesting:
|
|
and the subsequent attack very forceful, see Game 2.
John Cox, author of the recently published Everyman book Starting Out; The Alekhine, is back again this month as guest contributor for Alekhine's Defence:
In Rudd - Palliser, we see the swashbuckling Spielmann Gambit:
|
|
White steers clear of the crucial line at move seven and finds himself lost fairly quickly.
Varga tries the irregular and underrated 6...c5 7 d5 g6 system against the Four Pawns in Movsessian - Varga:
|
|
Movsessian goes straight down the main line and introduces a new plan which creates great complications. Black creditably survives only to lose a defensible position in one move when the danger seems almost over.
Kosten - Ferguson sees White innovate at move 8 against the Miles system, and frankly blow Black away after some embarrassingly poor play from Mark. I don't think this is going to refute the opening, but worth a look just the same.
In Mutschnik - Pitschka Black tries the bold 5...Nd7!? line:
|
|
White takes up the challenge and destroys Black in fine style, but Black this time is the one to avoid the main line for some reason.
My book Starting Out: Alekhine's Defence, by the way, was published back in February. Not the definitive work on the opening by any means, but I like to think worth a look for practitioners. Anyone who has a question about lines in the book can post a thread or email me through the site at JCox@ChessPublishing.com and I'll do my best to answer.
Pirc/Modern Defence
Three Modern's and a Pirc flesh out the Update. None of these games one could describe as ordinary.
What do you think of Krasenkow's 4...e6!?:
|
|
against the Austrian? Check out his Black win in Game 7 and you might change your opinion!
Then comes Kengis reinforcing the status of 4...a6!:
|
|
as Black best anti-Be3 weapon in Game 8.
The final Modern, Game 9, sees the bizarre 1 e4 g6 2 h4!?:
|
|
Vlassov goes on to win a messy struggle with the White pieces.
The one Pirc Defence is similarly odd with 4 Be2 and 5 g4!?:
|
|
the featured system. Gary Lane dubbed this the Chinese Attack and it is certainly dangerous! Pirc players beware!
Caro-Kann
Two Caro's conclude.
In Game 11 Black has further problems to solve in the Advance variation. Check out Zhigalko's new move 8 Nb3:
|
|
Finally De Firmian-La Rota is one way traffic for White. Black tries the somewhat discredited 5...exf6 and ends with only suffering to show for his pains. The position after 19 Rhe1 speaks volumes:
|
|
That's it for now-see you in July!
Best Wishes, Andrew
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.