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As it happens I only managed to put everything together after the end of the Nice tournament. Anyway, the Linares games, where the King's Indian was surprisingly popular, occupy the most attention in this update, and Amber added a few examples, primarily, for the g2-g3 setup. I also refer to a number of games from the European championship and other events, where the "Linares" lines were tested.

Download PGN of March '09 KID games


Fianchetto Variation

After 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6:

White plays g2-g3 in different versions. Those who anyway continue 3...Bg7, 4...0-0, 5...d6 with Black do not care at all. But otherwise (e.g., in lines with a early ...c7-c5) there are plenty of nuances. Look at Leko - Carlsen for an overview of the recent games.

In Ivanchuk - Radjabov an old line was tested:

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. d4 d6 6. Nf3 c6 7. O-O Qa5 8. e4 e5 9. h3 Nbd7

Maybe Radjabov's opening play from this game can be repeated, but it is not easy to be fully confident about this. (Well, I can play this again in the town's championship, no problem with that!)


Saemisch System

Finally, I begin my coverage of the Saemisch System on this website.

I wasn't expecting to see the Panno Variation in Linares, 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nc3 O-O 6.Be3 a6 7.Nge2 Nc6 8.Qd2 Rb8:

Nevertheless, it occurred in Anand - Grischuk.


Classical with 7.Be3

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2 e5 7.Be3:

We have no less than three games in this topical line.

In Aronian - Ivanchuk Black tried 7...c6 and got a playable position (before both sides started to miss some complex tactics).

For the main line 7...Ng4 8.Bg5 f6, see Aronian - Grischuk (9.Bh4) and Wang Yue - Radjabov (9.Bc1). Some small problems for Black here and there.


Classical: 7.0-0 Na6 8.Re1

Ivanchuk is virtually the only player on the Earth who is brave enough to play the King's Indian with Black against Radjabov. In this particular game Black equalised without too many problems: see Radjabov - Ivanchuk.


Classical: Bayonet Attack

After 9...Nh5 10.Re1 f5 11.Ng5 Nf6 12.f3 Kh8:

Grischuk tried the move 13.c5!? against Radjabov in Linares. Black solved his opening problems quite convincingly (I was really impressed with Radjabov's play) but it seems that some room for further investigation still exists in this line.

Anyway, have a look at Grischuk - Radjabov.


Till next month, Mikhail

Don't hesitate to share your thoughts and suggestions with me. Any queries or comments to the KID Forum, or to me directly at mikhail@chesspublishing.com (subscribers only) would be most welcome.