Download PGN of October '04 1 e4 ... games
Scandinavian Defence
Speelman - Martin may be a short draw, but it is full of points of interest. I had never seen White's system before with 4 Nf3 5 Bc4 and 6 Qe2:
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before and had to make it up as I went along. What I did was good, I think.
Ian Rogers makes a courageous attempt to revive the fortunes of 5...Bg4!?:
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and succeeds in this month's featured game. I am not 100% convinced and the annotations point out why.
Pirc/Modern Defence
Veteran Grandmaster Jansa is not to be confused by the antics of Joksic e.g. 6...h6!?:
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With his clear-cut play in Game 3 he seems, if not to refute the Hippopotamus, then certainly to put Black's opening strategy under the spotlight.
The next Modern seems on the surface to be a straightforward win for Paul Littlewood. Perhaps Tiller's 9...c5?!:
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was a little too sharp, although I try to show that matters are not totally clear in Game 4.
Meanwhile Parligras - Jobova shows everything that is good about the Pirc defence, with a slashing Black attack against White's King. However, rather than White's sluggish 7 Kb1, 7 Bh6:
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is a good deal more testing.
Check out Milov's 7 Qd4!?:
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, a remarkable idea in what seems like it is going to be a regulation Austrian Attack. I provide lots of new analysis on this, see Game 6!
Caro-Kann
As usual, then, to the Caro to close the proceedings and in our 7th Game Milidanovic shows why the King's Indian Attack isn't really played very much anymore at a higher level. Black has just too many good ways to equalize.
For instance, in the featured game Black is already better after 9...Nf4!:
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Speelman opened the set and it is fitting that he closes it in his new 1 e4 guise.
Basically, he outplays Jovanka Houska in Game 8, but Black was probably OK in this game, say instead of 9....bxc6 playing 9...Nxc6:
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instead.
Well, that's it for now! I hope you all 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.