Download PGN of July '07 KID games
Classical: The Bayonet Attack
Pelletier, Y - Bologan, V, TCh-FRA Top16 2007.
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In the diagram position Pelletier tried the interesting novelty 16.Bxe7, however it turned out to be insufficient to gain the advantage. A good, almost error-free game, which showed that White has to come back to 11.bxa5.
The game Bunzmann, D - Nataf, I, TCh-FRA Top16 2007 featured a rare line with 9...Ne8, and in the position below White introduced the novelty 17.Ba3 (instead of 17.Rf2, which was played in Miroshnichenko-Nataf, Canadian Open 2004):
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Up to Black's 23...f3 everything looked pretty logical, but White's next move turned out to be a decisive mistake. Nevertheless, the ball is still on White's side since even after the better 24.Rxf3 the position is about equal. 13.exf5 might be an idea.
Old main line with 9.Ne1
The game Fridman, D - Bricard, E, TCh-FRA Top16 2007 featured an old line, which was popular in the 50s.
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This position was studied by the leading players of that time such as Taimanov, Naidorf, Gligoric, Vidmar, Eliskases. Fridam played 16.Qb3 and by White's 26th move the following position arose:
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Now instead of playing 26.Qb6 White captured the knight, then erred again and could have lost, but Black returned the favour and went down. A very interesting game, which shows the big potential of Black's attack on the kingside, while this old opening line deserves further tests.
The Orthodox with 7...Nbd7
Feller, S - Bologan, V, TCh-FRA Top16 2007 saw a rare line and an unusual idea. Just look at the following position:
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However, the position soon starts to resemble Nataf's game and once again it is White who errs. Eventually Black applies the same idea of ...Nxg4 followed by ...f3+, but this time it's decisive. The plan introduced by Bologan in this game looks a bit dubious, although White has to be precise to exploit his spatial advantage.
Smyslov System
The game Ehlvest, J - Shulman, Y, 16th Chicago Open 2007 sees the not very fashionable 8.Be2:
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Despite two inaccuracies Ehlvest outplayed his opponent, but went wrong when he needed just a few more precise moves and eventually lost. An interesting game from the strategical point of view.
Fianchetto Variation
Movsesian, S - Popovic, Du, TCh-BIH 2007 is an example of a clever opening choice:
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White has just played 5.e4 and then 6.Ne2. This came as a surprise to Black, who committed an inexplicable mistake on the 14th move and the rest was just matter of technique. The rare line chosen in the game is a nice surprise weapon, which as you can see also works at the GM level.
Early deviations, 5...c6
In Nogeiras, J - Miton, K, 42nd Capablanca mem Elite 2007 Black played 5...c6, a line which had been used mainly by Polish players.
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In the above position, which arose after 16.Qg4, Black played the over-optimistic 16...Kh7 and got into trouble, but White started to err and eventually lost the game. A very interesting game, which shows some hidden sides of these tricky positions.
5.Bg5
The game Milov, V - Guseinov, G, 2nd President's Cup 2007 featured the tricky line with 5.Bg5.
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This position was reached after White's novelty 11.Nxd5!, and he soon obtained a clear positional edge. The following position is an example of full domination:
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A great positional achievement from Vadim Milov, which questions Black's opening plan.
Enjoy the issue and see you in August.
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.