Download PGN of December '06 KID games
Classical: The Bayonet Attack
The game Werle, J - Acs, P, Bundesliga 2006-7, featured a rare line of the Bayonet attack. Black has just played 12...a5 (when 12...c6 is the main line):
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White's reaction was wrong and Black obtained a promising position, but a number of inaccuracies allowed White to first gain the advantage and then to win the game. I believe the main purpose of Black's idea is to take the opponent by surprise - White has to know how to meet it.
The Orthodox with 7...Na6
The game Eljanov,P-Comas Fabrego,L, TCh-ESP Final 2006, was a test for another rare line, this time, instead of the 13.g5 which you can find in the November update, White played 13.Qf3:
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This was a very tough game with a pretty high level of play up to White's 33rd move. I believe both players were probably in severe time-trouble as they each committed two mistakes. Although White was actually the last to err Black seems to have lost on time in a slightly better position. A hard-fought game, which doesn't answer the question of whether White really needs the queens on the board in this line to fight for an advantage.
The Orthodox with 7...Nbd7
Mikhalevski, V - Zapata, A, 11th Coamo International tournament 2006. This typical position arose after 14...c6:
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Being optimistic about my position I underestimated Black's ideas and started to err, then missed a simple tactical blow and eventually lost on time. The line with 7...Nbd7 is undeservedly in the shadow of both the 7...Nc6 main line and the Orthodox with 7...Na6, as it contains a lot of hidden resources.
The Petrosian System
One of the most important positions in the Petrosian system occurred in the game Vescovi, G - Bachmann, A, Festival Prefeitura 2006. White has just played 16.Qc2 and Black has to choose the right plan:
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Black went for a rare line with 16...g5, instead of the main 16...f5, but later played 18...f5 anyway, which I believe was wrong. White easily obtained an advantage and soon won the game, though Black helped a lot with 28...axb4?. I assume that Black shouldn't combine ...f5 and ...g5 in this system. If he plays 16...g5 he has to continue by taking space on the kingside by means of 18...h4.
The Makagonov System
The game Miroshnichenko, E - Korobov, A, Championship of Ukraine 2006, featured a relatively rare setup against the Makagonov system. Instead of 11.g4, which may be considered the main line, White has just played 11.Nb3:
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I believe White underestimated Black's reaction and soon decided to exchanged his bishops for Black's knights, which proved to be wrong. This game is a classical example of the 'boa style': Black didn't leave White a single chance and completely squeezed his opponent. A great example to study. I believe 13.Nxd7 should be preferred to 13.Nd3.
Smyslov Variation
Agrest, E - Morozevich, A, 22nd ECU Cup 2006, was a typical Moro roller-coaster! It all started with Agrest's interesting novelty 11.Qa4:
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Soon Black found a way to sharpen the position, but White stabilized it again by putting the bishop on e4. Despite some inaccuracies, and thanks to Morozevich's will to keep the position complicated at any cost, White obtained an advantage, and after Black's mistake 27...Re8? he should have won. However, he missed his chances and soon started to err himself, first giving Black an advantage and then the full point. While the opening line is playable, I believe that 8...c5 is better than 8...e6.
Fianchetto Variation
The game Ruck, R - Smirin, I, 15th TCh-CRO 2006, was an easy walk for Smirin who obtained a slight edge from the opening despite playing with the black pieces.
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Black has just played 8...e5 instead of 8...Ne4 which, for some reason, is much more popular than Black's choice in this game. I believe White's reaction (9.dxe5) wasn't the best and soon he had to fight for equality, which he later achieved not without some help from Smirin's side. I think 9.d5 is the only way to set some opening problems.
Anti-Classical with 4...Bf5
This rare system appears once in a while at the GM level. Morozevich played it in Monaco, while Volokitin decided to give it a go in Cap d'Agde 2006. So let's have a look at the encounter Carlsen, M - Volokitin, A, Cap d'Agde 2006, with some attention to his game against Bacrot (also from the same tournament) in the notes.
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In the diagram position, which arose after 10...0-0, White's only chance to fight for the advantage was 11.e4. Instead Magnus played first 11.Be3?!, then 13.Bxb7?! and soon had to fight for his life. By move 22 he was a pawn down, but with good defense and some help from his opponent he managed to save half a point. This game shows that the 4...Bf5 line has a right to exist, and that White has to play precisely to obtain an advantage.
Enjoy the issue and see you in January. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!
Victor
Don't hesitate to share your thoughts and suggestions with me. Any queries or comments to the KID Forum, or to me directly at Victor@ChessPublishing.com (subscribers only) would be most welcome.