What's New - June 2002
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Welcome to the June update! Ruslan Scherbakov |
All this month's new games are easily downloaded in PGN format using ChessPub.exe: open ChessPub.exe, put the date on, say, 5th July 2002, and then click on '1 d4 d5', over on the right. All these games should appear (and the new ChessPub Guides, too)!
For those who can't use ChessPub.exe, the June '02 '1 d4 d5' games can be downloaded directly in PGN form here: 
The Slow Slav 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bf5 [D12]
Peng Zhaoqin - Kononenko,T/3rd EIWCh 2002
The endgame which we considered in the game Kramnik - Shirov/Astana 2001 is slightly better for White thanks to his pair of bishops. Here White introduced a new move but the point is still the same - Black should defend very carefully as any opening of the position would make the bishops monstrous - which was exactly what happened in this game, where the Black king was checkmated in a very beautiful way.
Queen's Gambit Accepted [D20 to D29]
Kramnik+(C) - Anand+(C)/Advanced Chess 2002 [D27]
The continuation of the principled opening debate. For some reason Vishy Anand prefers a rather sophisticated way to get the a8 rook into play and again he faced serious problems. The advance of the d-pawn allowed Vladimir Kramnik to completely disorganise Black's defence and score the only victory in the interesting Advanced Chess match.
The Slav Gambit [D31]
Kharlov, A - Arzumanian, G/Suetin Mem, Tula RUS 2002
One of the biggest experts on this opening for both sides, Andrei Kharlov is very unlucky in his pet variation 8. Ne2. In this game a very complicated position arose - White's Q-side was almost eliminated by Black's landing force Na1 and Qb1 but nevertheless his chances looked preferable until he missed a deadly blow.
Kharlov, A - Galkin, A/3rd IECC, Batumi GEO 2002
One of several reasonable options to counter the line 8. Ne2 - Black simplifies into a slightly worse ending which seems to be drawish. Trying to play ambitiously, White advanced his pawns on both sides on the board but missed a very strong manoeuvre, after which he would be happy to move his pawns back...
Jobava, B - Potkin, V/3rd IECC, Batumi GEO 2002
The capture of the second pawn, on g2, is very dangerous for Black so he usually does not think about it. However, in some situations it might not be so clear. In this game Black realized it with the inclusion of the moves ...Nb8-a6 and Bb4-d6 - an almost unexplored idea, which certainly deserves attention despite Black's quick disaster.
QGD Bf4 [D37]
Kramnik+(C) - Anand+(C)/Advanced Chess 2002 [D37]
A novelty on move 30! Vishy Anand tried to place problems before Black in the ending of knight vs bishop which arises after logical play right from the opening. He even managed to gain an extra pawn but it did not increase his winning chances very much.
Botvinnik Variation [D44]
Hansen, C - Mueller, M/Germany BL 2002
13...Bh6 is recently a not very popular deviation from the main line. However, very interesting complications arise if both sides know what to do. This game is the latest word on theory in this line - a novelty on move 29 in the endgame, a brilliant idea on the next move... White secured winning chances in the rook endgame but more thorough inverstigation is required to prove if it is really winning for White. Look and enjoy!
Murdzia, P - Mueller, K/IHEM, Hamburg 2002
Karsten Mueller successfully stands up for the side line 13. ..Nf6. The point is that if White cannot get the advantage there it means that he should start with 11. g3 instead of 11.ef6.
Tartakower System [D58]
Onischuk, A - Rychagov, A/Aeroflot Open, Moscow RUS 2002
In Anatoly Karpov's pet variation 8. Be2 Black can either force matters with an early ...c7-c5 or limit himself to ...c7-c6. The latter is often followed by ...a7-a5 but recently White has found an interesting way to make Black's development more difficult. In the featured game he did not even stop at the positional piece sacrifice in order to keep the knight on b8 under home arrest - everything was still not so clear but Black panicked and went astray.
Khalifman, A - Beliavsky, A/FIDE GP, Moscow RUS (5.1) 2002
Direct counter actions allowed Black to get his pieces into play quickly but it was not for free and some weaknesses in his position soon told. Yet, Black can play more accurately and this approach does not seem to be easily refuted.