Download PGN of November ’16 1 e4 ... games
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Alekhine’s Defence: 4.Nf3 dxe5 5.Nxe5 c6 6.Be2 Bf5 7.0-0 Nd7 8.Nf3 e6 9.c4 N5f6 [B04]
Stevic, H - Markus, Rob featured a line mentioned previously in an update as a solid way for Black to play in the mainline Alekhine’s.
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This might be a good way for White to continue in this position and it would be interesting to see further practical games from here. Overall there is still no clear way for White to get an edge and more practical games are needed.
Modern Defence: 3.Nf3 d6 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.Qe2 c6 [B06]
Carlsen, M - Nakamura, H another great example of how easy it is to play this system for White. After obtaining the bishop pair, Magnus snatched a pawn and quickly found himself on top.
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Nakamura tried to create pressure with the pawn sacrifice but Magnus found some tactical resources to help maintain his material advantage.
Caro Kann Two Knights: 3.Nc3 Bg4 4.h3 Bxf3 5.Qxf3 e6 6.g3 [B11]
Wang Hao - Kojima, S saw White maintain a small long-term advantage with the bishop pair and extra space.
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I don’t think this safe system is particularly dangerous for Black and there are a number of good ways to meet it. Lets take a look at how Black should play against this.
Caro-Kann Advance 3...c5 4.dxc5 Nc6 5.a3!? [B12]
Dubov, D - Yuffa, D shows exactly how White should play in this relatively new variation:
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This is better than the previously played 6.b4 move and leads to positions that are easier for White to play, I find. Black didn’t know how to meet this new variation and quickly found himself in a much worse position straight out of the opening.
Caro Kann Advance Short Variation: 3...Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 h6 6.0-0 Ne7 7.Nbd2 Nd7 8.c3 Bh7 [B12]
Fedoseev, V - Bocharov, D gives a modern way to meet Black’s chosen move order. 9.Nb3 is also perfectly playable but I prefer the text move since it fits in well with our chosen repertoire in the Advanced Caro Kann:
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Bocharov managed to break the White pawn structure with ...f6 and ...e5 but still found his pieces pushed back and with no clear way to move forward.
Caro-Kann Advance Short Variation: 5...c5 6.Be3 cxd4 7.Nxd4 Ne7 [B12]
Shirov, A - Vidit, S saw Shirov improve on a very recent game by Vachier-Lagrave who played 16.Rc1 but was unable to gain any edge:
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Even though it looks visually good for White, I don’t think it is necessarily bad for Black at all. He needs to play accurately but there seems to be enough resources to maintain the balance. However, practically it is still a good choice for White since there is more room for Black to go wrong and White is never in any real danger.
Caro-Kann Short Variation: 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 Ne7 6.0-0 c5!? [B12]
Bok, B - So, W examines a currently trendy line in the advanced Caro-Kann with Black delaying ...Nd7 and going for a quick ...c5:
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A theoretical line where White chose quite a harmless option and both players soon agreed a draw. However, it is a critical position to examine and it is up to White to show he has something concrete to play for.
Caro-Kann Short Variation: 5.Be2 Nd7 6.0-0 Bg6 7.c3 Nh6 [B12]
Fedoseev, V - Vitiugov, N is another great example of how to play our system with 8.a4. Previously White used to take the knight on ...h6 and play a manoeuvre involving Qd2-Nc1-Nd3-Nf4 but I think the game continuation proves more dangerous:
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Vitiugov chose to forego castling and fight for counter play on the kingside.
Till next time, Moulthun
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