MAY 2004 UPDATE INTRO
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IM Andy Martin |
Welcome to the May Update.To download the May '04 1 e4 ... games directly in PGN form, click here: 
On show this month:
Scandinavian Defence
Strikovic demolishes 2...Nf6 in the Scandinavian in Game one showing considerable attacking flair. His 5 Nc3
            
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works extremely well against 5...g6 e.g. 6 c5! when if 6...Nd5 7 Bc4 Nxc3 8 Qb3, but it is less good against 5..e5!. It's surprising that Black did not take this opportunity.
We have two further Scandinavian games for you, one strange and rather dubious, the other more traditional. In Li Shilong - Mariano, Black tries some really fancy stuff e.g. 7...Qf5?!
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His pieces end up cramped and misplaced. Why freak out when the solid main line is available and in Myrvold - Pedersen Black makes it to very easy equality e.g. 11...Nbd7
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admittedly facing a routine, non-thinking, non-incisive White formation.
Alekhine's Defence
Pedersen - Wohl provides a good argument for 5...exd6! in the Exchange Alekhine. Black's position after 11...Bf6
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is good enough, with the pawn jabs ...a7-a5 and ...d6-d5 on offer.
Pirc/Modern Defence
In Scmaltz - Krasenkov a typical murky Modern position is reached after 15 c3:
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Of course White is a little better but there is enough tension in the game to make the eventual outcome unclear. As it is Krasenkov wins a see-saw battle.
Readers asked for more games with the Czech System but I doubt that Black's prayers are answered by Kazhgalelev - Gallegos. 4 a4!
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just looks like a good idea; Black must commit first.
Caro-Kann
Over to the Caro to close proceedings and Ehlvest - Potter is a Panov massacre with Black on the receiving end of an early d5! e.g. 12 d5!:
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Finally Bacerra Rivero-Riazantsev where 5 Nc5:
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, if not breaking the monotony these days, at least still gives an original touch to the game. Black seems to equalize easily enough after 14...Rad8 but drifts and gets downed.
That's it for now. Have a great month!
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.