Download PGN of May ’23 1 d4 d5 2 c4 games
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Queen’s Gambit Declined 3.Nc3 h6 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bf4 [D37]
In Radjabov - Artemiev Black played the unorthodox 3...h6!?!?!:
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This line has seen a marked increase in popularity as of late. While it appears dubious it doesn’t seem that White can seriously exploit Black’s slow play.
QGD, Ragozin Variation 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.e3 0-0 [D38]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Bb4 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.e3 0-0 8.Rc1:
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In Muzychuk - Exler Black employed the dubious 8...c6. While it wasn’t punished in the game, the move goes against the spirit of the Ragozin and should lead to a White advantage against proper play.
QGD, Ragozin Variation 5.Qa4+ Nc6 6.e3 0-0 7.Qc2 [D38]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Bb4 5.Qa4+ Nc6:
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In Faizrakhmanov - Afanasiev after 6.e3 0-0 7.Qc2 Re8, White employed the dubious 8.Be2. In trying to avoid theoretical waters, White allowed Black to get a good game with the counter 8...e5!
QGD, Ragozin Variation 5.Qa4+ Nc6 6.Bd2 [D38]
In Drygalov - Potkin, White essayed the unusual 6.Bd2!?:
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The move offers good chances for an advantage despite the game in question ending in a draw.
QGD, Ragozin Variation 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bh4 Bf5 [D38]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Bb4 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bh4:
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In Abdusattorov - Maghsoodloo, after 7...Bf5 8.e3 Nbd7, White tried the risky 9.Ne5 !? It had some shock value and White was able to win, but Black has chances for an advantage after exact play and it’s unlikely we’ll see the move again in high-level chess.
Ragozin Variation 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bh4 0-0 8.e3 Bf5 9.Qb3 [D38]
In Aronian - Gukesh, after 7...0-0 8.e3 Bf5 9.Qb3 Bxc3 10.Qxc3, Black played the aggressive 10...g5!?:
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He had interesting play and got the chaotic game he was looking for but as often happens he ended up blundering last and losing.
Vienna Variation 5.Bg5 dxc4 6.e4 h6 7.Bxf6 Qxf6 8.Bxc4 c5 9.e5 [D39]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Bb4 5.Bg5 dxc4 6.e4 h6 7.Bxf6 Qxf6 8.Bxc4 c5 9.e5:
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In Pisu - Rakotomaharo, Black tried the seemingly natural 9...Qe7. While sensible, the disadvantages of the move gradually revealed themselves in the game though Black was able to swindle the win.
Closed Catalan 4.g3 Be7 5.Bg2 0-0 6.0-0 c6 7.Qc2 b6 8.Rd1 Bb7 9.Bf4 [E08]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3 Be7 5.Bg2 0-0 6.0-0 c6 7.Qc2 b6 8.Rd1 Bb7 9.Bf4 Nbd7:
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In an email to our staff, a subscriber asked me to analyze the position following 10.Ne5 Nh5 11.Bd2 Nhf6 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.Nc6 Bxc6 14.Qxc6 as it has seen an upward tick in popularity at the correspondence level.
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I looked at some variations and tried to uncover some subtle ideas for players to find practical success, see Subscriber Question
Till next month, Raven
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