No.
2, January 14, 2009
OPENINGS
what’s hot and what’s not?
XIIIIIIIIY
A brand new ...¦xc3 in 9-+rwq-trk+0
9zpp+lzppvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
the Sicilian Dragon 9+-+-sn-+-0
9-+-sNP+-+0
9+LsN-vLP+-0
By IM Merijn van Delft & IM Robert Ris 9PzPPwQ-+PzP0
9+K+R+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
It was a relatively quiet week, without any major Frequency
events. Of course this is just silence before the storm,
since the fantastic chess festival in Wijk aan Zee is
about to start. Nonetheles this issue of ChessVibes
Openings is filled with thrilling new ideas. What to
think of the very interesting exchange sacrifice in a
topical Dragon, in our game of the week?
Score
what’s hot?
Just when you think chess cannot become any sharper, the con-
trary is proven. Most likely Black’s novelty will turn out to be a du-
bious one theoretically speaking, but for mere mortals the Dragon
is still very much alive - which, by the way, is confirmed by the sta-
tistics (see right). Enjoy playing over all the spectacular variations!
This week the Sicilian Rauzer was played a few times and El
Gindy directed play in a brand new direction. Another opening very
popular at club level is the French - don’t miss Gurevich’s model
game which involves a long-term pawn sacrifice to mobilize all his
forces in the direction of the white king. It shows that the Rubin-
stein/Burn variations can be used to play for a win too!
Most elite players seem to put their trust in solid openings like the
Petroff and the Marshall, but fortunaly there are always young,
rising stars like Wojtaszek (see page 3) who play sharp stuff and
are willing to take a risk. Source: Megabase + TWIC, 2500+ only
Dreev showed that the popular Anti-Sicilian approach with 3.¥b5 followed by ¥xc6 is nothing to be afraid of as long as you play very
concrete chess (see page 2). Three Tarrasch Defences were played by experienced GMs in a rapid tournament in Talinn. Usually in such
kind of positions with an isolated pawn, Black has to suffer for a long time and an equal
middlegame is definitely not certain. The Tarrasch might be a reasonable option for a rapid
game but these days there are few strong players who would like to suffer for six hours!
what’s Not?
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ChessVibes OPENINGS what’s hot and what’s not? No. 2, January 14, 2009
Another GM falling victim to the devilish Dragon
In a very sharp Dragon, the young and talented Italian IM Vocaturo introduces an interesting
novelty at move 15. Although its objective value is questionable, the surprise effect on his op-
ponent, GM Aroshidze, was strong enough. Dragon players: have a serious look!
game of the week £xc3 23.gxf7+ ¢f8 24.fxe8£+ ¢xe8 25.¥d4
gives White a big advantage.
20.¥xf7+!
Aroshidze,L (2526)-Vocaturo, D (2445) ¦h8 21.fxg6 ¤xg6 22.¤e4! (a serious improve- So far White is finding the best moves. Inter-
Mediterranean Ch, January 12, 2009 ment over 22.¤d5 ¤f6 23.¤xf6 exf6 24.¦xh8 esting is 20.hxg6!? but after 20...¥xd3 21.¥xf7+
B78: Sicilian, Dragon 9.¥c4, 12.¢b1 ¦e8 £xh8 25.£d5 ¦c7 26.¦h1 ¦e7! 27.a3 £e8 ¢f8 22.¤g5 ¥xg6! 23.¥xg6 ¤xa2+ 24.¢b1
which was seen one month before in Domin- Black can at least make a draw with 24...¤c3+
1.e4 c5 2.¤f3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.¤xd4 ¤f6 5.¤c3 guez-Kasimdzhanov, Dresden 2008) 22...¤f6 (or continue to play for more with 24...£c8).
g6 6.¥e3 ¥g7 7.f3 0–0 8.£d2 ¤c6 9.¥c4 ¥d7 23.¦df1 ¦xh1 24.¦xh1 d5 25.¤xf6 ¢xf6 (25... 20...¢f8
10.0–0–0 ¦c8 exf6 26.¥xd5±) 26.£f2+ ¢g7 27.¦f1 f6 28.£f5 20...¢xf7? 21.hxg6+.
The Chinese Dragon with 10...¦b8 is another ¦c6 29.¦g1 £e8 30.¥xd5 and Black soon col- 21.£c4
fashionable line at the moment. lapsed in Radjabov-Kasimdzhanov, Elista 2008. 21.¤g5!? ¥xd3 (21...£a5? 22.¦df1!+-) 22.hxg6
11.¥b3 ¤e5 12.¢b1! 16.bxc3 ¥xg6! transposes to 20.hxg6!?.
This strong profylactic move has been causing 16.£xc3 keeps £-side structure intact, but the 21...gxf3
Black a big headache for several years now. position after 16...¤xh5 17.f4 ¤c6 18.f5 (18. 21...d5? 22.¦xd5 ¤xd5 23.¤g5!
12...¦e8 e5!?) 18...e6 remains unclear. 22.h6 ¤e2+ 23.¢b1 ¤c3+
Since it became clear that the direct attempt 16...¤xf3 17.¤xf3 ¤xe4 XIIIIIIIIY
12...¤c4 13.¥xc4 ¦xc4 is met by 14.g4! b5 XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-wqrmk-+0
15.b3! and now after 15...¦c5 the brilliant tac- 9-+-wqr+k+0 9zpp+-zpLvl-0
tic 16.¤e6! winning in all lines, Black has been 9zpp+lzppvl-0 9-+-zp-+pzP0
looking for the right prophylactic move at this 9-+-zp-+p+0 9+-+-+l+-0
point himself. 12...a6!? is the alternative pro-
9+-+-+-+P0 9-+Q+-+-+0
phylactic move, popularized lately by Carlsen,
which is also answered by 13.h4 h5 14.g4!.
9-+-+n+p+0 9+-sn-vLp+-0
13.h4 h5 14.g4!
9+LzP-vLN+-0 9P+P+-+-+0
White has come to the conclusion that this direct 9P+PwQ-+-+0 9+K+R+-+R0
attack is the best choice (with ¢b1 included!). 9+K+R+-+R0 xiiiiiiiiy
14...hxg4 15.h5 xiiiiiiiiy 24.¢c1??
XIIIIIIIIY 18.£d3!? The practical problems have become too much
9-+rwqr+k+0 18.£h2!? is another critical try, but it seems for White. The suprising 24.¢a1! ¥f6 25.¥xe8
9zpp+lzppvl-0 to us that with precise play Black can make ¤xd1+ 26.¥d4 ¥e6 27.£b4 ¤e3 28.¥xg6 is
9-+-zp-snp+0 a draw: 18...¤xc3+ 19.¢c1 gxf3 20.hxg6 winning.
(20.¦df1!? ¤e2+ 21.£xe2 (21.¢d1 ¥e5÷) 24...¥h8 25.h7 e6 26.¥g8??
9+-+-sn-+P0
21...¥b2+ (21...fxe2? 22.¥xf7+ leading to A mistake never comes alone. Necessary
9-+-sNP+p+0 mate.) 22.¢xb2 fxe2 23.¦xf7 e6 24.hxg6 ¥c6 was 26.¥xe8 ¤e2+ 27.¢b1 £f6 (27...¤c3+?
9+LsN-vLP+-0 25.¦hh7 e1£ 26.¦fg7+=) 20...¤e2+ 21.¢b1 doesn’t work in view of 28.£xc3 ¥xc3 29.h8£+
9PzPPwQ-+-+0 (21.£xe2? fxe2 22.gxf7+ ¢f8 23.fxe8£+ ¢xe8) ¥xh8 30.¦xh8+ ¢g7 31.¥d4+ e5 32.¥xe5+ +-)
9+K+R+-+R0 21...¤c3+ (21...e6 22.¥d4!) 22.¢c1 (22.¢b2?! 28.¥h6+ ¢e7 29.£c7+ ¢xe8 30.£c8+ £d8
xiiiiiiiiy is a risky winning attempt: 22...¤xd1+ 23.¢c1 31.£xd8+ ¢xd8 32.¦df1 ¤g3 33.¥g7 ¥xg7
15...¦xc3?!N e6 and it is not clear how White can make prog- 34.h8£+ ¥xh8 35.¦xh8+ ¢c7 36.¦xf3 ¤e4 and
A well-known idea to eliminate White’s knight, ress.) 22...¤e2+=; 18.¥xf7+ ¢f8 19.£d3 ¤xc3+ this ending two exchanges down should be OK for
but in this particular position a novelty. The 20.¢c1 ¥f5 transposes to the game. Black (compare Karjakin-Radjabov, Sochi 2008).
main line runs 15...¤xh5 16.¥h6 ¢h7 (16...e6 18...¤xc3+ 19.¢c1 ¥f5 26...£a5 27.¦d3 ¤xa2+ 28.¢b1 ¤c3+ 29.¦xc3
has also been seen, after which 17.¦dg1 as in 19...£a5? 20.hxg6 ¤e2+ 21.¢b1 (21.£xe2 ¥xc3 30.¥h6+ ¢e7 31.¥g5+ ¢d7 32.£xc3
Domany-Bennett, Kecskemet 2005 seems to £a3+ 22.¢d2 £b4+=) 21...¤c3+ 22.£xc3! £xc3 33.h8£ £xh8 34.¦xh8 ¦xg8! 0–1
be the way to go) 17.¥xg7 ¢xg7 18.fxg4 ¥xg4
19.¤f5+! ¥xf5 (after 19...gxf5? Black loses by
force: 20.£g5+ ¤g6 21.exf5 ¥xd1 (21...¥xf5
22.£xf5 ¤f6 23.¥xf7!+-) 22.¥xf7+-) 20.exf5
aroshidze - vocaturo
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ChessVibes OPENINGS what’s hot and what’s not? No. 2, January 14, 2009
this week’s harvest
Sicilian, Rauzer Sicilian, Rossolimo French, Rubinstein QGD, Tarrasch
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0 9r+l+kvlntr0 9r+-+k+-tr0 9r+lwq-trk+0
9zppwq-vlpzpp0 9zp-+-zppzpp0 9zplzp-+pzp-0 9zpp+-vlpzpp0
9-+-zppsn-+0 9-+p+-+-+0 9-zp-vlpwq-zp0 9-+n+-sn-+0
9+-+-+-vL-0 9+-zp-+-+-0 9+-+nsN-+-0 9+-zPp+-+-0
9-+-wQPzP-+0 9-+-+q+-+0 9-+-zP-+-+0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+-sN-+-+-0 9+-+-+N+-0 9+-+LvL-+-0 9+-sN-+NzP-0
9PzPP+-+PzP0 9PzPPzP-zPPzP0 9PzPP+QzPPzP0 9PzP-+PzPLzP0
9+-mKR+L+R0 9tRNvLQmK-+R0 9+-mKR+-+R0 9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
1.e4 c5 2.¤f3 ¤c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.¤xd4 1.e4 c5 2.¤f3 ¤c6 3.¥b5 d6 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.¤c3 ¤f6 4.¥g5 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.¤c3 c5 4.cxd5
¤f6 5.¤c3 d6 6.¥g5 e6 7.£d2 ¥e7 4.¥xc6+ bxc6 5.e5 dxe5 dxe4 5.¤xe4 ¤bd7 6.¤f3 h6 7.¤xf6+ exd5 5.¤f3 ¤c6 6.g3 ¤f6 7.¥g2
8.0–0–0 0–0 9.f4 ¤xd4 10.£xd4 £c7 6.¤xe5 £d5 7.¤f3 £e4+ ¤xf6 8.¥e3 ¥d6 9.¥d3 b6 10.£e2 ¥b7 ¥e7 8.0–0 0–0 9.dxc5
11.0–0–0 ¤d5 12.¤e5 £f6
The Sicilian Rauzer with 7...¥e7 An increasingly popular Anti-Sicilian At the Paul Keres Memorial, a rap-
was regularly played by giants like approach is ¥b5 followed by ¥xc6 Setups with 0-0-0 for White are id event in Talinn, the Tarrasch was
Kramnik, Leko and Anand halfway against almost everything. The po- popular against the Rubinstein played three times. These days not
the 1990s. Slowly but surely this sition after 5.e5 has a nice score for French. Erdogu’s 12.¤e5 in his many leading players like to ac-
classical line came under theoreti- White, but statistics can be lying. By game against Gurevich (Mediter- cept the slightly worse position
cal pressure, but a few GMs (e.g. first ruining his pawn structure and ranean Ch, Antalya) is new and the with Black. In two games from the
Kotronias) still give the line a try with then activating his £ Dreev broke reply 12...£f6!? is a fantastic long- first round the solid 9...¥xc5 was
Black, with the standard 10...£a5 about every classical rule possible term pawn sacrifice by Gurevich played, but both GMs Rausis and
that is. This week El Gindy played and showed what modern chess is giving Black’s play in this opening Dreev had the better game with
the almost novel 10...£c7!? which about: everything goes as long as it a new impulse. Both players had White. Two rounds later GM Lu-
is tactically playable and may be a works. After the almost new 7...£e4 been discussing this line before, so govoi couldn’t change the dubious
nice surprise weapon. Black seems OK. it may well be home preparation. reputation of the gambit line 9...d4.
opening expert
Who: Radoslaw Wojtaszek Expertise: Najdorf and Benoni
Born: January 13, 1987 Why: Sharp openings, because he
Nationality: Poland possesses strong calculating
Rating: 2608 skills
Former World U–18 champion Wojtaszek is a young GM who feels best home in complicated posi-
tions. For that reason, logically, openings like the Najdorf (recommended for replay are his victories
against Shirov and Hracek), the Benoni and the King’s-Indian are part of his repertoire. His second
Rilton Cup in a row is a new step forward and in our opinion it is just a matter of time before he will
get invitations for elite events. His role as one of Anand’s seconds in Bonn last year was another sign!
www.chessvibes.com/openings
ChessVibes Openings is a weekly PDF magazine that covers the latest news on chess openings. Which openings are hot in top level chess?
Which are not? Editors IM Merijn van Delft & IM Robert Ris keep you updated once a week! Singles issues cost € 1. You can subscribe too:
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