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The February update covers a wide variety of openings, mostly QGD, while guest IM Jean-Paul Wallace does a short survey of the [D42] Semi-Tarrasch/Panov Caro-Kann.

Download PGN of February '07 1 d4 d5 games


Queen's Gambit Declined [D37]

Topalov - Kramnik: This was the first game between Vladimir Kramnik and Veselin Topalov since their World Title match in Elista and it was strongly reminiscent of the course of that event. Topalov opted for an ambitious line with Q-side castling but Kramnik found a way to exchange queens and neutralised Topalov's pressure step by step. It is hard to find even a small inaccuracy in his defensive manoeuvres although Topalov could probably have caused more serious problems at some point.



Vienna Variation [D39]

Moradiabadi - Barsov: The 7...h6 variation is known to be suspicious:

and this game once again proved that, despite White playing a rare option. Black's defence was not the best but anyway his play wasn't easy with such a centralised king.



Moscow Variation [D43]

Radjabov - COMP Deep Junior: A very interesting and important theoretical battle. Teimour Radjabov was brave enough to go into sharp complications against the computer and was maintaining somewhat the better chances but then he went astray in time trouble.



Botvinnik Variation [D44]

Bellon Lopez - Norqvist: White came up with a strong novelty in a rare line, 17 Bh5!:

and quickly achieved a huge advantage. Then a natural series of moves allowed him to win a bishop in the endgame and his opponent stopped the clock... but too prematurely, as you will see!



Meran Variation [D48]

Morozevich - Korneev: Alexander Morozevich came up with a rare set-up which looks rather interesting:

Black's reaction wasn't trivial but it did not help him to solve the problems - it seems that white players should give this idea more attention.



Cambridge Springs [D52]

Sulypa - Atalik: White played a new continuation but failed to achieve anything substantial - this line seems good for Black.

Bacrot - Rabiega: After being under pressure with black Etienne Bacrot tried the same line from the white side and easily got a superior position. It looks like Black experiences problems in this line after 12. Na4!:



Catalan [E05-09]

Radjabov - Topalov: In the crucial game of the whole tournament Veselin Topalov came up with an improvement over the game Kramnik - Topalov, WCh FIDE (m/9) Elista 2006 and successfully solved all his problems with a brave queen sacrifice.



Semi-Tarrasch [D42]

By IM Jean-Paul Wallace

The Semi-Tarrasch position that we shall examine in this survey is well worth study even if you do not play this line with either colour. It is an important way to learn about how to play, and defend, IQP positions and the games are rich in both strategy and tactics. Furthermore, this line can be reached through several different openings, which is why it somehow escaped coverage on this site before: it is officially a Semi-Tarrasch, but arises most often from the Caro-Kann!

The 'official' move order is 1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Nf3 c5 5 cxd5 Nxd5 6 e3 Nc6 7 Bd3 cxd4 8 exd4 Be7 9 0-0 0-0:

I was very surprised to see that in 2006/2007 the mainline position after 10.Re1 only occurred 4 times in GM play. There are a few potential reasons for this. Firstly, if we think about the Caro-Kann move order both White and Black have a number of alternatives along the way. The Panov is not the most popular at the elite level (with 3.Nd2/Nc3 and 3.e5 taking over) while Black can also try 6...Bb4. On the other hand, the Tarrasch and Semi Tarrasch defences are also not popular openings for Black players these days, for no particular reason except the whims of fashion. When they do occur White of course does not have to play e3... Nevertheless, the tabia after 10.Re1 remains important, and like an analysis of such rich openings as the Kings Indian and Ruy Lopez, an analysis of this IQP system should be part of one's general chess education.

Now Black's main choice is between playing 10...Bf6 as in Yemelin - Ivanchuk and Li Chao2 - Wang Hao, or 10...Nf6 which is analysed in Hebden - Ciuksyte and Yemelin - Galkin.


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.