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We have many top-level games in this update, and some new trends can be observed. Thus, even though the Classical is still by far the most popular system, people, it seems, are a bit tired of playing the Bayonet Attack with White - so, the popularity of 9.Ne1 rises.

Download PGN of October '09 KID games


Fianchetto Variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 c5 5. Bg2 Qa5+!? was twice played by GM Bologan in Croatia:

See Grachev - Bologan for all the details.


5 Bd3 System

The line 5...O-O 6. Nge2 c5 7. d5 e6 8. O-O Ng4 seems to be OK for Black:

See V.Georgiev-Topalov, which was very nearly a major upset.


Sämisch System

There were a couple of recent successes for Black in the rare line 5...O-O 6. Be3 Nc6 7. Nge2 a6 8. Qd2 Bd7!?:

Chighladze - Smirin was a wild and exciting battle.


Krasenkow Line 5.Nf3, 6.h3

I have the impression that GM Krasenkow's favourite system is more popular now than in previous years:

See Wang Yue-Li Chao for an overview of the recent games (including Carlsen-Topalov).


Classical 6. Be2 e5

Lines with Black's early ...c6 are also the focus of our attention in this update. See Ftacnik - Movsesian for 7. O-O c6 8. Re1 and Wang Yue-Radjabov for 7. Be3 c6 (though the latter transposed to 7. Be3 Na6 8. 0-0 c6):


Classical 7.0-0 Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.Ne1 Nd7

For a couple of new examples in the fashionable line 10. f3 f5 11. g4, see Sakaev - Bologan.

Topalov - Radjabov is a new, long-awaited, top level encounter in the line 10. Be3 f5 11. f3 f4 12. Bf2 g5 13. Rc1!:

Food for thought!


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.