What's New- August '01
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Here's wishing you a happy holiday season and welcome to the August Update. |
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We'll be witnessing some fireworks in the first featured game Mah-Gladyslev, AUG01/01 where 14...Bd7!?
            
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is an interesting novelty.
Hernandez provides a contrast with his 12..Rb8!?
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in AUG01/06 a game from the recent Andorra Open, dispensing with ...Bd7 altogether.
Check out Speelman, AUG01/02, and Summermatter, AUG01/07, both winning with the Smyslov System 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nc3 Bg7 4 Nf3 0-0 5 Bg5
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and 4...d6 5 Bg5.
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Believe it or not,these two positions can be interpreted differently! I show improvements for Black in the notes.
We will pay homage to severely professional performances from Mikhailevski, in AUG01/03, 14 Rd1
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and Golubev, AUG01/05, with 16...h5
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And the set closes with a farcical Irish Jig, 12 f4??, in AUG01/10
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See you in September!
Andrew Martin
Main Games
Classical
AUG01/03 This sort of 'anti-theory', with ...c6 and ...a6, is playable against virtually any White system. Taimanov was fond of this method of playing, as you will see from the notes.
Unfazed, White adopts the professional approach: keep a small edge and an advantage in space. Let Black demonstrate that he has equalised.
AUG01/04 Black blithely sacrifices his a-pawn, but it's not just any old pawn. Winning it gives White the chance to attack the light-squared Bishop which is Black's prize possession.
AUG01/11 HOT off the press!
AUG01/12 HOT off the press!
AUG01/18 HOT off the press!
AUG01/19 HOT off the press!
Four Pawns
AUG01/01 10 Nd2 is a move which could well cause a tremor in the Black camp. Who will be properly prepared these days for this elderly idea?
My own view is that it might well be poised for a revival.
AUG01/06 This game demonstrates a good move order for Black- no fishy Queen moves, just head straight for ...b7-b5.
Fianchetto
AUG01/05 This early d5 is not very common and to be honest, not very good. White profits from keeping the centre fluid here.
AUG01/08 This sharp variation is supposed to be good for White. According to the books Black is struggling to find a decent square for his Bishop.
AUG01/13 HOT off the press!
AUG01/14 HOT off the press!
AUG01/15 HOT off the press!
Samisch
AUG01/16 HOT off the press!
Bg5 Systems
AUG01/02 The super-solid Smyslov's System is a very good choice against a swirling tactican like Nataf. Not to say that Jon Speelman can't handle himself in a wild game; he just doesn't like super-sharp openings, that's all.
AUG01/07 I am convinced that Black gains a good position here, despite the result. His Bishop on g7 is unopposed and I don't see White occupying f5 in the very near future or hitting Black with f2-f4.
AUG01/09 I saw a recent article where the ...c5 lines were almost dismissed (I think it was in a NIC Yearbook), and it suggested that 6...Na6 was the only good reply to the Averbakh!
Can we believe this propaganda? Time for the moves to speak...
AUG01/17 HOT off the press!
AUG01/20 HOT off the press!
Miscellaneous Lines
AUG01/10 Possibly the most unsuccessful novelty of the year so far. Opening the centre plays right into Black's hands, a feature which he gleefully exploits.
I do sincerely hope you are enjoying the ChessPublishing experience. Contact me at amartin@wizard2.demon.co.uk with your thoughts and suggestions.
Yours In Chess,
IM Andrew Martin