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In this update I decided to cover the Semi-Tarrasch with 6.e4.This opening has recently appeared more often at the GM level although it has quite a dubious reputation. Simplification at an early stage help Black complete his development and get a solid position, but White's powerful pawn center should be more important in the middlegame.
The wonderful game Polugaevsky - Tal, USSR-ch Moscow 1969, introduced a strong attacking concept and opened a discussion which is still on the agenda 40 years later. Black's play is still not so easy but he still keeps reasonable defensive resources, as can be seen in the recent game Ponomariov - Vallejo, Donostia 2009.

Download PGN of August '09 1 d4 d5 games


Semi-Tarrasch [D41]

And yet, White's trumps still seem to be higher...

Kazhgaleyev - Eliet: In this game Black failed to prepare a good defence against White's central pawn push and was quickly punished for that.

Jakovenko - Naiditsch: The same passive knight retreat which caused serious problems for Black in the previous game, led to a similar disaster here. White's thematic knight jump Nf3-g5 is one of Black's biggest worries in this variation!

Petrosian - Kortschnoj: Black did not want to keep his knight on the edge of the board here, but in order to secure its position in the center he spent too much time and then couldn't offer any resistance with both rooks stuck on the back rank.

Chuchelov - Hoeksema: White was not in a hurry with the d-pawn push here - he slowly improved his position, provoked a weakening of Black's K-side and then converted the pluses of his position. However, Black could have defended better and get a playable position.

Spassky - Petrosian: This classic example demonstrates how an advance of the strong central passer, combined with possible K-side play, overwhelms connected passed pawns on the Q-side:

It might seem that White simply pushed his pawn forward and got a full point, but Black's defensive options were limited by the activity of his opponent's pieces threatening his king.

Polugaevsky - Tal: A classic game, which was the origin of the strong attacking concept connected with sacrificing the central pawn:

Lev Polugaevsky crushed Mikhail Tal in brilliant style and almost without a single inaccuracy - it's certainly one of the best games in the whole history of chess!

Huzman - Parligras: The previous game initiated a principled opening dispute which has already been continuing for almost 40 years. It this game Black came up with an accurate prophylactic move, preventing a possible bishop sacrifice, and could have solved the problems with precise defence. Yet White's chances still seem preferable - he should just provoke some weakening of Black's K-side before getting on with concrete play.

Pashikian - Naiditsch: Here Black was able to stop White's d-pawn and prevent possible danger to his king by keeping the center closed:

However, it caused other headaches - White's supported d-pawn still required certain attention. Nevertheless, Black's position seemed playable but he was not in a defensive mood and made things really bad with some impatient moves.

Ponomariov - Vallejo Pons: Francisco Vallejo came up with a solid strategy. He ignored White's central pawn push as long as he could, while placing most of his pieces on useful squares. Still White achieved good compensation for the pawn and one small inaccuracy was sufficient for Ruslan Ponomariov to give Black real problems!



Ruslan

 

If you have any questions, then please post a message at the 1 d4 d5 Forum, or subscribers can email me at ruslan@chesspublishing.com.