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I am sending this update from the airport at Elista, where the Candidates matches for the World Championship finished just a couple of hours ago. Thus it's not a big surprise that this update is entirely devoted to developments in the 1 d4 d5 2 c4 openings which have occurred here during the last 3 weeks, in this wonderful event.

Download PGN of June '07 1 d4 d5 games


The Slow Slav [D11]

Bareev - Leko: Peter Leko played the rare 4...Bg4 here and easily solved his opening problems:

As he revealed after the game everything had already been studied at home. This means he studied this approach very thoroughly and was obviously happy with Black's prospects. Will this line become as popular as the common 4...Bf5? Let's wait for future battles...



Chebanenko System [D15]

Gelfand - Kamsky: The 5 a4 line in the Chebanenko led to a strange mixture of the Carlsbad and the Cambridge Springs variations in this game. Black was worried about a K-side pawn attack and preferred to keep his king in the center. In the strategically complex play White kept somewhat the better chances but Black's position was acceptable.



Main Slav [D17]

Aronian - Carlsen: Magnus Carlsen chose a rare and strategically risky variation here, but in order to pose Black real problems Levon Aronian had to introduce a strong novelty. After this White obtained a clear advantage, an extra pawn, but very stubborn defence, added to some help from his opponent, allowed Black to escape with half a point.

Ponomariov - Rublevsky: The variation 7 f3 c5 gained popularity after the game Topalov - Kramnik/ WCC Elista (m/6) 2006:

Sergei Rublevsky was one of Vladimir' seconds in that World Championship match and here he introduced a completely new idea in the endgame and gradually solved all the problems.

Ponomariov - Rublevsky: Being worried about a possible improvement, in this game Sergei Rublevsky returned to the normal way to play the endgame which arises in the 7 f3 c5 line. Then he demonstrated some new ideas and White had no chances to gain any advantage. Excellent preparation in this important ending played a significant role in his overall victory in the match.



Queen's Gambit Accepted [D20-29]

Aronian - Shirov: In this sharp variation of the QGA with 3 e4 e5 Aronian failed to pose his opponent any problems:

A good exchange sac gave Shirov excellent compensation, however, in search of the most promising way to proceed he got into severe time trouble which badly affected the outcome of the game, and eventually the match as it turned out to be the only decisive game.

Aronian - Shirov: This time Aronian chose a rare and harmless line to counter Shirov's QGA but failed to get any advantage. However, in a strategically risky position Black delayed a thematic break and then had to keep patiently defending. A moment of relaxation led him into a totally hopeless situation but, thanks to his opponent's hastiness, the half a point did not slip away this time.

Malakhov - Grischuk: Vladimir Malakhov preferred to get the c4-pawn back with the queen rather than to play the sharp Vienna Variation:

This approach leads to complex play and White has chances to get an advantage. However, Grischuk was well prepared, achieved good play and then exploited his opponent's blunder to increase his lead in the match.



Vienna Variation [D39]

Kasimdzhanov - Gelfand: A rare pawn sacrifice in the Vienna Variation, 6 Bxc4!?, gave Kasimdzhanov very active play:

Gelfand came up with a new idea but he still had to defend very carefully and he did it with patience. Then White got too ambitious, and overestimated his chances - as a result he could have lost his advanced pawn. In the time scramble things changed and it could have been White who got the extra pawn and winning chances, but after mutual inaccuracies a drawish ending was reached.



Moscow Variation [D43]

Gelfand - Kasimdzhanov: In the first game of the match Gelfand preferred a solid approach against the Moscow Variation. Kasimdzhanov went for a rather passive set-up and failed to solve the problems, but then his opponent wasn't very precise and Black saved half a point with tricky defence.

Gelfand - Kasimdzhanov: In this game Boris Gelfand introduced a new idea in a complicated variation of the Anti-Moscow gambit, 15 Bf4!?:

However, Rustam Kasimdzhanov came well prepared - his excellent counter blow led to an extremely sharp situation, in which Black's play looked easier. Then White failed to find the right path in the labyrinth of variations and Black grabbed the initiative which brought him an extra pawn. Perhaps there were more promising ideas at some point, as in the game White managed to hold on in the endgame.



Meran Defence [D48]

Gelfand - Kasimdzhanov: Gelfand played a rather harmless variation here, but one which is not without poison. Black reacted ambitiously and achieved very active play. The game later transposed into a roughly equal endgame when Black committed a serious mistake, which cost him a pawn. Then White unnecessarily allowed his opponent to escape into a rook ending with real drawing chances, but before Black got half a point the players exchanged mistakes which at one point could have been fatal for Black.



Catalan Variation [E08]

Bacrot - Kamsky: Gata Kamsky met Etienne Bacrot's Catalan with a slow set-up and then built a StoneWall pawn structure. White got somewhat the better chances but then he played inaccurately and allowed his opponent to open the position, after which Black's bishops gained a lot of power...


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.