Download PGN of August '08 1 d4 d5 games
Chebanenko System [D15]
Alekseev - Bacrot: Evgeny Alekseev introduced a good novelty here and obtained the better chances. Then some clever manoeuvres helped him to increase his advantage and score a full point seemingly without sweat. White's play looked very simple but brought excellent results - he just pushed his Q-side pawns forward while Black failed to find any counter measures.
Main Slav [D16]
Onischuk - Volokitin: A transposition from the Slav to the QGA cost Black a tempo but the extra move a2-a4 only gave White a slight benefit:
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Black developed his pieces in a simple way - it allowed his opponent's central breakthrough but White's initiative never really looked that promising.
Queen's Gambit Accepted [D27]
Moiseenko - Kuzubov: Alexander Moiseenko came up with a fresh attacking set-up and developed a very strong initiative in this game. It seems that Black now faces new problems in this well-known line.
Wang Hao- Rublevsky: Wang Hao came up with a new and well-prepared attacking plan here. A series of energetic moves, followed by a nice knight sacrifice gave him a strong initiative as well as more than extra hour on the clock:
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Sergey Rublevsky kept defending with the only moves but still failed to solve the problems when his opponent suddenly went astray in a very promising position.
Ragozin System [D38]
Akobian - Mitkov: Varuzhan Akobian becomes the first, and probably the last, player to capture the poisoned pawn by 12. Qxb7?!:
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Nikola Mitkov came up with a series of powerful moves and completely destroyed White's defence.
Moscow Variation [D43]
Mamedyarov - Gustafsson: Jan Gustafsson surprisingly followed the game Inarkiev - Aronian/World Cup Khanty-Mansiysk 2007, in which Black lost his queen for two minor pieces. However, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov declined the gift and played a new and interesting continuation. A series of energetic moves helped him to develop the initiative but at the critical moment White failed to find the best way, after which Black had sufficient defensive resources.
Inarkiev - Cheparinov: Ernesto Inarkiev came up with an interesting approach in the line he introduced into practice in the game Inarkiev - Aronian/World Cup Khanty-Mansiysk 2007. Since that time Black has found a good defence but now he failed to solve the new problems although White eventually ruined a promising position at his own hands.
Radjabov - Aronian: Levon Aronian tried to improve upon the just considered game Inarkiev - Cheparinov game, but also failed. It seems that Black has to work out his defence more precisely.
Botvinnik Variation [D44]
Gustafsson - Ivanchuk: Vassily Ivanchuk introduced a good novelty in a sharp line which was always considered rather suspicious for Black. However, recently White often fails to give Black real problems here.
Ruslan
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