Feb '00 Update
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Welcome to the February Update- let me firstly point you in the direction of the Annotated Games. I've paid more than a little attention to the White system 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nc3 Bg7 4 e4 d6 5 Bd3 0-0 6 Nge2! |
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because I think it's the future. As more and more White players get sick and tired of the Classical Main Line this is where attention will focus. Check out the recent game Conquest - Nunn and I've appended a couple of other relevant battles where Black came off second-best. Perhaps someone will write in and tell me how Black can equalise against this idea- at present I don't quite see it.
Then comes the antidote (!?) to the Suba-Makagonov system 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nc3 Bg7 4 e4 d6 5 h3 0-0 6 Bg5
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where I feature an old game Suba - Uhlmann. Sometimes the classics tend to get forgotten- this is one such case! Various developments in the Main Line and Fianchetto Variations are explored and perhaps the highlight of these is an excellent display by Anatoly Karpov against Balashov, another classic which deserves to be remembered.
As usual there's a secondary selection of HOT GAMES, an eclectic round-up from the tournament scene. You'll find them (without commentary):
Finally take a look at the Emailbag section with intriguing food for thought on Berliner's System, a subscriber vents his feelings and regular contributor Noel Aldebol submits some interesting games for our general edification and delight! This is one of my favourite areas of the whole site so keep those ideas and opinions coming in !
Annotated Games
Miscellaneous Lines
KID373 White's idea is very crude, and he shouldn't get away with it, but I dwell on this game as an important lesson for Black players who think that they can roll over such 'kamikaze' systems.
6 g4 ain't pretty, but it is a damn dangerous move against an unprepared opponent.
KID364 Solid control- that seems to be what White is aiming for in the 5 Bd3 variation. Perhaps we should call it a 'delayed Samisch' because White appears to get his best chances when he times f2-f3 correctly.
KID366 Black must find a good way to break up White's grip on the centre, or give up the ....Nc6/ ...e5 variation in response to 5 Bd3.
KID367 A natural-looking move which has not scored particularly well for White is successfully essayed by a player who much prefers straightforward development and then just play.
So what about White's system with 5 Bd3? Does it not seem to be worth trying? Perhaps we can look forward to a new 'GAMBIT' book on the opening before very long -I'm sure Burgess or Nunn will oblige. Or perhaps not!
Four Pawns
KID365 It is rare to see a completely new idea in the Four Pawns attack. Sharp variations such as this are usually analysed to death! Yet this is precisely what Kouatly manages to acheive! See what you think of White's unusual concept.
Sämisch
KID371 White tries a very dangerous move which was very popular about ten years ago. His plan is simple: he wishes to exchange the defending Knight on f6 and then launch an all-out assault. Black must defend with accuracy and care. Here he seems blissfully unaware of the impending attack- he even encourages it!
KID372 No shirking the challenge here! White attempts to find an improvement for White on 'the Doc's' favorite ever game Beliavsky- Nunn, Wijk-Aan-Zee 1985- a very risky business, as we shall see!
Classical
KID369 Here comes a recent heavyweight clash from the Bundesliga. It's an exercise in sustaining tension- from both players. The game is bought to the brink, time pressure emerges and.... well, you will see what happens!
KID370 A game of fine technique and mainly by Black who defends a difficult position very accurately. Not a game which lends itself to long variations, but very instructive nevertheless.
Bg5 Systems
KID362 Suba's system is well worth trying and Black cannot sit back smirking after 11 Kf1. If he does nothing he can get strangled. On the other hand rapid preparation for b7-b5 detonates the game, forcing White on to the defensive, and should be OK.
Fianchetto
KID363 White's basic strategy here is to run Black out of play and then go to work with his better structure. There are certain players against whom it is not a good idea to loosen the position in search of activity. Anatoly Karpov is one such genius.
KID368 These quiet, but insistent methods against the Panno are worth very serious consideration. White is essentially arguing that with less space, Black is relying on tactics to make his position work. So with patience and an accurate build-up there is no way that Black will be able to obtain a fully equal game. Interesting!
Until we meet again I wish you an excellent month's chess !
Andrew Martin