Download PGN of September '06 1 d4 d5 games
Slow Slav [D12]
Tkachiev - Guidarelli: In a rather boring opening line Black initiated interesting complications. Objectively White's chances were better, but to get any real winning chances was always going to be a very difficult task for him.
Chebanenko System [D10 & D15]
Topalov - Bacrot: Etienne Bacrot came up with a new continuation in a recently popular line, 8...e5:
             |
but it did not have the desired effect - the simple and strong reaction from Veselin Topalov showed that Black was still far from solving his opening problems.
Gagunashvili - Nakamura: There was a principled, though slightly strange, opening dispute at the last Olympiad - in the match between USA and Georgia two games were developing identically up till move 20:
|
|
The line wasn't sharp but for some reason the players kept copying slow manoeuvres, trusting their team-mate's strategy. Then the Georgian players chose different ways - Jobava acted slowly against Kamsky and was eventually outplayed, while in the actual game Merab Gagunashvili was more determined and conclusively carried out his plans. Nakamura's desire to fish in troubled waters was the only way to compensate the serious positional drawbacks of Black's position and he almost succeeded, but objectively White was always solid enough, although very precise play was needed to prove his superiority.
Main line Slav [D16-D19]
Berkes - Zhang Pengxiang: The 5...Na6 line is not very popular but Black plays it occasionally:
|
|
Here White chose a rather ambitious line, in which he gets strong pawn center and pair of bishops but Black can also be happy as he gets rid of his light-squared bishop and achieves a solid position. Both sides were carrying out their plans and the position remained roughly balanced but then White went astray and eventually fell into a diabolic trap.
Shirov - Harikrishna: Even top players sometimes surprise us with very strange decisions. Here Penteala Harikrishna played a principled line and repeated a mistake which was already played twice by none other than his opponent here, Alexei Shirov, who certainly knew what was wrong and why - White scored a full point without sweat.
QGA [D20 - D29]
Bologan - Rublevsky: The line White chose in this game was never supposed to be dangerous for Black. Sergei Rublevsky successfully solved all the problems and then exploited his opponent's inaccurate play with brilliant technique. This crucial victory helped him to overtake the leader and make a big step towards overall success in the Foros super tournament.
Bologan - Rublevsky: Here Rublevsky opted for a rare line, in which White fails to give Black any real problems:
|
|
A small advantage can still be achieved but the position always remains solid for Black so it requires good technique to maintain White's edge. Here Black equalised easily and even got an extra pawn in the endgame but a draw was always the most likely result.
Bruzon Bautista - Dominguez: White played a popular set-up here but Black was well-prepared for it. He successfully parried all the threats but when his opponent's initiative was almost over he suddenly missed a heavy blow. Nevertheless, Black was still not losing and only further mistakes allowed White to get a full point. A rather important game for theory of the line.
Vienna Variation
Shulman - Van Wely: The line White chose in this game promises only a very slight edge for him, but even if achieved it usually does not promise him real winning chances. He is hoping to exploit the weakened position of Black's king and the awkward position of Black's queen, but a lack of resources as well as the activity of Black's remaining pieces makes this task too difficult. The course of the actual game was rather unusual for this line - it was Black who eventually got the initiative on the K-side and White had to defend accurately till the end of the game.
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.