What's New- October '01
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Welcome to the October Update. I would like to straightaway focus on the main points of interest. IM Andrew Martin |
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In Radjabov-XieJun, OCT01/01, the Chinese Grandmaster shows faith in an older variation, namely 7...Nbd7 and 8 ...Re8!?
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Hallowed theory recommends 9 d5 but White doesn't obtain too much.
Then we see Glenn Flear demolishing a slow variation in the Four Pawns Attack, OCT01/02. One glance at the position after 12 e6!
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will demonstrate Black's problems.
Check out Xu Jun's 18 Rfe1!
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in, OCT01/03. Has he shown a conclusive route to the advantage in the Classical ...Na6 line ?
Tibensky reveals an original mind- have a look at the position after his 10 Bc3
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No refutation of the Panno but interesting certainly- OCT01/04. More of the Panno can be seen in Kir.Georgiev-Antic, OCT01/10, where Romanishin's 9 Nd5! puts Black to the sword.
Amorphous variations involving ...c6 and ...a6 ( 8...c6
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in Smolej-Martinovic, OCT01/09) can be played willy-nilly by Black players willing to take a risk or by those attempting to outplay weaker opposition. Here, Martinovic does just that.
Then Alexander Khalifman shows his strength in an excellent game against Peng, OCT01/06. 18 Nxd6
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is an interesting innovation.
I also present a section on the Double Fianchetto Variation.
Finally the Emailbag is updated.
I wish you all a very happy month.
IM Andrew Martin
Classical
OCT01/01 Playing a black rook to e8 will always be controversial because when White plays d4-d5 the rook really wants to be on f8, supporting ...f7-f5.
OCT01/03 The placing of the Black's Queen's Knight on a6 is a feature of many modern King's Indian variations. It has been one of the most significant developmental ideas in the opening since World War Two. In essence Black retains flexibility. He makes a mental leap forward recognising that White must commit himself and then the Knight springs into play.
OCT01/06 If 10...f5 worked here then Black wouldn't have very much to worry about. This move is clearly the move that Black would LIKE to make. Conventional thinking says that there is a problem after 11 Ng5.
OCT01/07 Lines with an early g4 used to be known as 'the Benko Attack '. Nowadays that name seems to have faded but it was Benko who popularised g2-g4 back in the 50's and 60's. I like g2-g4; certainly it's the type of move to make the heart sink if you are sitting on the black side of the board. White slows down the Black attack dramatically and then turns his attention to the Queenside. Eventually the antidote was discovered- Black has to keep his position as flexible as possible, not as easy as it sounds.
OCT01/08 HOW NOT TO MAKE A DRAW
OCT01/11 NOSE TO THE GRINDSTONE
OCT01/13 SOLID THROUGHOUT
Four Pawns
OCT01/02 9...a6 is a move which has never really gripped the imagination. Sure, it's a 'normal' move in this type of Benoni set-up but proves slow under the spotlight of analysis.
OCT01/05 Benoni tactics strike White down!
Fianchetto
OCT01/04 White has his own approach to the problems of the opening. In principle of course, if Black can protect the offside Knight properly, then the early Queen move might turn out to be a useless excursion.
OCT01/10 White tries Romanishin's idea.
OCT01/12 STILL LETHAL AFTER ALL THESE YEARS
OCT01/16 FIANCHETTO NO MORE
Double Fianchetto Supplement
What can Black do bemoans subscriber Noel Aldebol? Well, whether White castles long or short, I recommend an early ...e7-e5 and the illustrative games will show exactly how to do it and exactly what to avoid. Watch out for classics by Capablanca and Korchnoi-the Double Fianchetto cannot be underestimated! See games OCT01/21, OCT01/22, OCT01/23, OCT01/24, OCT01/25, OCT01/26, OCT01/27.
Samisch
OCT01/17 REACHING ROCK-BOTTOM
Bg5 Systems
OCT01/09 The absence of direct contact makes White's claim to the advantage difficult to prove. Yes, White has four ranks to three but Black's plans involve ...b7-b5 and ...e7-e5, chipping away. This is an excellent way of outplaying a weaker opponent, as Martinovic proves.
OCT01/20 CASTLING LONG!
Miscellaneous Lines
OCT01/14 I ACCUSE.....SIGNOR CHATALBASHEV....ON THE KINGSIDE...WITH THE MEAT CLEAVER
OCT01/15 ROOK ENDINGS ARE NEVER DRAWN
OCT01/18 CAUGHT ON THE REBOUND
OCT01/19 THE YOUTH OF TODAY
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