Download PGN of July ’23 1 d4 d5 2 c4 games
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Slow Slav Main line 4.e3 Bf5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nh4 Be4 7.f3 Bg6 8.Bd2 [D12]
The Keymer, V - Wang, H match, 5th Prague Masters 2023, started a theoretical battle where there are thousands of games in the database, however, after 8. Bd2 both go off the beaten path:
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In the current diagram there are not many games in this position, at least at a high level, but I personally feel that it is favorable and perhaps easier to play for the white pieces: the white king can be safe on the square b1, the possibilities for kingside attacks remain and the bishop pair can become very strong when the position opens up. After 14...c5 it seems to me that Keymer had decent home preparation, although with the right play Black could equalize without too much trouble.
Slow Slav Variation 4.e3 Bf5 5.Bd3 Bxd3 6.Qxd3 e6 7.Nc3 Nbd7 [D12]
In Kramnik, V - Caruana, F, Dortmund NC World Masters, Vladimir made the unexpected move 8. Ke2, showing a deep plan where the subtlety of the king near the center ended up being an advantage:
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Of course, castling wasn't allowed in this particular tournament, it remains to be seen whether anyone copies this in a normal game!
Slav Defence- Chebanenko Variation 5.g3 dxc4 [D15]
In Stalmach, R - Motylev, A, 5th Prague Challengers, after 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. g3 dxc4 6. a4 e6 7. Bg2 c5 8. dxc5 Qxd1+ 9. Nxd1 Motylev chose a secondary variation with 9...Bxc5 where Stalmach did not continue in the strongest way. Following the further 10. Ne5 Ke7 11. O-O Nd5 12. Nxc4?! Nc6 13. Nc3 Rd8:
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However he introduced a nice novelty 14. a5!? that can be tried in the future, although White will have to correct the mistake that was made a couple of moves later, allowing Black to gain an advantage.
Queen's Gambit Declined 3.Nf3 d5 4.Bg5 dxc4 5.e4 c5 [D30]
In Aronian, L - Nepomniachtchi, Y, Global Chess League 2023, after 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Bg5 dxc4 5. e4 c5 6. Nc3 cxd4 7. Qxd4 Qxd4 8. Nxd4 a6 9. Bxc4 b5 10. Be2 Bb7 11. f3 Nbd7 Aronian tried a new way of approaching the variation with 12. Nb3:
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This created problems for Nepo, where White gets a stable advantage which he managed to convert.
QGD, Tarrasch Defense 6.e3 Nc6 7.Be2 [D32]
in Wey, Y - Vidit, S, Global Chess League, Wey,Yi faced the Tarrasch Defense and entered one of the standard positions in the fight against the dangling pawn structure after 10. Nxc6 bxc6:
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From my own experience I want to tell the readers that I am a lover of positional games and seeing this type of game with control of squares, neat maneuvers and, putting the cherry on the cake, a really nice tactical finish is really exciting.
QGD 5.Bf4 dxc4 6.e3 Bd6 [D37]
In the next game, Wang, H- Martirosyan, H, 5th Prague Masters 2023 Prague, we will see another Chinese player but this time taking the white pieces in a Queen's Gambit Declined and fighting for the small advantages in the endgames that are usually the breaking point between an average player and one with more experience on the board.
The Grandmaster of Armenian origins goes for one of his favorite variations which he has been seen using on previous occasions in elite tournaments, 6...Bd6:
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It seems a logical and natural move but later we will see how the dark squares are exploited and invaded by the king and the white knight via the route e4-d6.
Anti-Meran, Latvian Bayonet 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.g4 h6 8.Rg1 [D45]
In Wei, Y - Vidit, S, Global Chess League Final, the Chinese player surprised his opponent with the novelty 9. e4:
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This paid off in the game and created a new approach for White's attack.
Open Catalan 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2 c5 6.O-O Nc6 7.Qa4 [E04]
In Carlsen, M - Duda, K, SuperUnited Rapid 2023, following 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 c5 6. O-O Nc6 7. Qa4 Bd7 8. Qxc4 cxd4 9. Nxd4 Rc8 10. Nc3 Nxd4 11. Qxd4 Bc5 12. Qh4 Bc6 13. Bxc6+ Rxc6 14. Rd1 Qa5 15. Bg5 Be7 16. Rac1, the Polish Grandmaster introduces a bad novelty with 16...h6:
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The only way to refute the variation is brilliantly executed by Magnus, getting a quick win.
Till next month, Esteban
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