Download PGN of September '07 1 d4 d5 games
Chebanenko System [D10 & D15]
Werle - Sokolov,I: Having started the game with the Chebanenko, Ivan Sokolov took advantage of a good opportunity to transpose into the QGA, and introduced a new continuation, 11...b4!?:
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He achieved good play in the endgame and then exploited the superficial play of his opponent to checkmate White's king.
Aronian - Bacrot: In a recently popular line Levon Aronian came up with a new continuation, 14 h3, which brought him a quick success:
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Black could have defended more precisely but the whole White approach still deserves more attention and it might be a subject of future battles.
Slav Defence
Alekseev - Wang Yue: Theory is sceptical about the line Black has chosen here, 8...cxd4, but recently he successfully defended it in a few games:
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However, Evgeny Alekseev came very well prepared - his excellent rook sacrifice in the endgame gave him a very strong initiative and soon he got everything back with interest. It looks like Black will hardly repeat this line in the future...
Alekseev - Zhang Pengxiang: Here White severely punished Black's rare approach in one of the minor Slav variations.
Ragozin System [D38]
Van Wely - Carlsen: Here Black achieved good counter chances but then some inaccurate moves in a very complicated position led to problems. Van Wely crushed his opponent's K-side with very energetic and precise play, after which four connected passers gave him a decisive advantage. Somehow Carlsen managed to complicate matters, the position became crazy and it helped him to almost equalise but his final mistake made the previous efforts futile.
Vienna Variation [D39]
Avrukh - Grischuk: Boris Avrukh managed to give Black problems here in a line which was not supposed to be very promising for White, 15 Qh5:
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Alexander Grischuk chose a logical defensive set-up but perhaps Black should work out a precise order of moves to prevent the possible escalation of White's initiative. However, soon White unexpectedly changed the course of the game and it helped his opponent to swap queens and achieve a good endgame, in which his centralised king was not in danger anymore. Then White began to face problems with his Q-side pawn and after losing it he had to fight for equality - a task he eventually failed to solve.
Anti-Meran [D45]
Moiseenko - Gurevich,M: In a complex line of some kind of Anti-Meran which arose from a Chebanenko Black's chances seemed better, but some inaccuracies eventually led to a bitter end.
Chatalbashev - Malakhatko: Here White chose a careful approach, improving his pieces before starting his play in the center. He managed to get a powerful position but objectively he achieved hardly more than just good compensation for the pawn. Yet Black's play was not so easy and, being under pressure, he committed a terrible mistake which White failed to exploit.
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.