Print Game

C43

Petroff Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4

Instead of moving the knight twice with 3.
Nxe5 ,White goes for a quick
development which is the most important
feature of open games.

Nxe4

[ 3...exd4

From strategical point of view this is
White's dream. Black loses a tempo to
exchange his only central pawn, while
Nf6 will become vulnerable to a pawn
attack e4-e5. On the long run White
creates a king side pawn majority,
which unbalances the game right from
the begining, compared to the
symetrical pawn structures usually met
in Petroff Defence.

4.e5

A) 4...Qe7

After such moves White has to castle
short quickly and to tak absolute
control over the central files.

5.Be2 Ng4 6.Qxd4 h5 7.Nc3 Nc6
8.Qc4 Qc5 9.0-0

A1) 9...Qxc4 10.Bxc4 d6 11.exd6
(

‹11.Nb5 Ngxe5 12.Nxc7+ Kd7

13.Nxe5+ Nxe5 14.Nxa8 Nxc4

© )

11...Bxd6  12.Re1+  Kf8  13.Nb5
Nge5 ;
A2)  9...Ncxe5  10.Nxe5  Nxe5
11.Qe4  c6

The only move, Black has to
defend the central square d5 where
White's pieces can easily land, the
threats were Nc3-d5 or Rd1-d5.

12.Be3 Qe7 13.Rae1²

White has a huge lead in
development and more then
enough compensation for the
pawn.
To do list:

-release the e-file for the rook with
the multi-purpose move Qd4 which
also controls a1-h8 diagonal
-play f2-f4
-clear the e file in order to maintain
the nemy king in the center
-use the lack of coordination in
Black's camp. ;

B) 4...Ne4 5.Qxd4

B1) 5...f5

Black wants to sharpen the game
as in the Schliemann Defence or
the Latvian Gambit. White has to
keep his coolness and to trust his
positional advantages:
-better control over the central
squares
-better king since Black just
weakened his king's position
especially the a2-g8 diagonal.

6.Be3 Bc5 7.Qd3

B1a) 7...d6 8.Nbd2 Bxe3
9.Qxe3 d5

Once that this pawn structure
arise on the board Black's worse
minor piece is Bc8. White should
aim to unbalance the position by
exchanging the black knights for
a knight and bishop, reaching a
positin with better knight versus
bad bishop.

( 9...dxe5?! 10.0-0-0 Qf6
11.Nxe4 fxe4 12.Qxe4

± )

10.Rd1

A good exmple of how White
should keep the momentum
instead of castling to quickly.
Black's central setup is suported
by d5 , so White will act
imeddiately before Black
consolidates with Be6 and c6.

0-0 11.c4 c6 12.cxd5 cxd5

13.Bc4  Nxf2  14.Qxf2  dxc4
15.Nxc4  Qe7  16.0-0² ;
B1b)  7...Na6  8.a3  d5  9.b4
Bxe3  10.Qxe3²

Once that Black's immediate
threats were repelled White
remained with:
-a passed supported pawn on
e5
-a better light squares bishop
-the threat to spoil Black's pawn
structure with 11.Bxa6.
To do list:
-pay attention to Black's pawn
moves a7-a5, c7-c5 and f5-f4
-try to chase Black's most active
piece Ne4
-create pressure against d5. ;

B2) 5...d5 6.exd6 Nxd6

In such positions were the central
pawns are liquidated, White has
the initiative since it has a certain
lead in development and the active
queen. If Black wants to finish his
own pieces development, it will be
usually forced to make
concessions regarding the material
balance (losing the pair of bishops)
or the pawn structure.
White should look for possibilities
to create black double pawns on
c7 and c6 or to use the weak
squares created by Black attempts
to activate his pieces.
White will use the central squares(
e4,e5,d5,d4) as activating squares
for his minor pieces especially for
the knights.

7.Nc3
( 7.Bd3 Nc6 8.Qf4 g6 9.0-0 Bg7
10.Nc3 0-0 11.Re1 Bf5 12.Bxf5
Nxf5= )

7...Nc6
(  7...Bf5  8.Qe5+  Qe7  9.Nd5
Qxe5+  10.Nxe5  Kd8  11.Bf4  Nd7
12.Nc4  Be6  13.0-0-0  Nxc4
14.Bxc4  Bd6  15.Bxd6  cxd6

After the opening White gets a long
term advantage and at the next
moves will increase th pressure
along the d-file. )

8.Qf4 Kritz,L: 'Die weiße Dame hat

auf f4 ein sehr gutes Feld gefunden,
wo sie nicht angegriffen werden
kann. Da die Bauernstruktur völlig
symmetrisch ist, hat derjenige
Vorteil, der die besser platzierten
Figuren hat, um Initiative zu
entwickeln. Das ist hier natürlich
Weiß, weil seine Springer besser
stehen.' Kritz,L: 'Weiß hat einen
kleinen Vorteil, weil seine Dame
auf f4 unantastbar steht, der
schwarze Springer auf d6 dagegen
die schwarze Entwicklung stört.'
Kritz,L: 'Weiß hat kleinen Vorteil,
weil seine Dame auf f4 unantastbar
steht, der schwarze Springer auf
d6 dagegen die schwarze
Entwicklung stört.' Kritz,L: 'Die
weiße Dame hat auf f4 einen sehr
guten Feld gefunden, wo sie nicht
angegriffen werden kann. Da die
Bauernstruktur völlig symmetrisch
ist, hat der jenige Vorteil, der
besser platzierten Figuren hat, um
Initiative zu entwickeln. Das ist hier
natürlich Weiß, weil seine Springer
besser stehen.'

B2a) 8...Bf5 9.Bb5

B2a1)  9...Be7  10.Nd4  Qd7
(  10...Bd7  11.Bxc6  Bxc6
12.Nxc6  bxc6

Another type of long term

advantage that White should be
aiming for.

13.0-0  0-0  14.Qa4  Qd7
15.Nd5  Rfe8  16.Be3  Rab8
17.Nxe7+  Qxe7  18.b3

One of White's goals in this
position is to trade all the
pieces and to win the pawn
endgame by placing Kc5. His
task is easier now since the
bishop is userior to the knight in
positions with pawns on both
wings. )

11.Nxf5 Qxf5 12.Qxf5 Nxf5
13.Bd3 Nfd4 14.Be3 0-0-0
15.0-0-0²

To do list:
-bring the undeveloped rook on
e1
-place the bishops on adjacent
diagonals on e4 & e3
- keep a rook on the board as
play coordinating piece
-restrict the knights activity by
slowly advancing the pawn
-create weaknesses in the
enemy camp as the bishops
have better mobility. ;

B2a2)  9...Qe7+  10.Be3  Nxb5
11.Nxb5  Qb4+  12.Qxb4
Bxb4+  13.c3  Bd6  14.Nxd6+
cxd6  15.0-0-0² Matulovic-

Kholmov/Sochi/1968/
After the opening White gets a
long term advantage and at the
next moves will increase th
pressure along the d-file. ;

B2b) 8...Nf5!

A natural move preparing the
development of Bf8 discovered
by Karpov's coach Igor Zaitsev.

9.Bb5 Bd6 10.Qe4+

B2b1) 10...Qe7 11.Bd2

This is an improvment of
Kasparov's next idea.

(  11.Bg5  f6  12.Bd2  Bd7
13.0-0-0  Qxe4  14.Nxe4  Be7
15.g4  a6!  16.Bc4  Nd6
17.Nxd6+  Bxd6  18.Rde1+

½-½ Kasparov,G (2800)-
Karpov,A (2730)/Lyon/New
York 1990 )

11...Bd7 12.0-0-0 Qxe4
13.Nxe4 Be7 14.Rhe1
( 14.g4

÷ ½-½ Karjakin,S (2694)-

Bu Xiangzhi (2692)/Bilbao 2007/
CBM 120 ext (28) ) 14...0-0-0

15.Neg5

Provoking Black to give up the
pair of bishops.

Rdf8 16.Bc3

The pawn structure is
symetrical, but White has a
better pieces setup. In the
following line I tried to give an
exmple of how White should
use the initiative and to get a
long term postional advantage
like the pair of bishops.

h6 17.Ne4 f6

In order to restrict the activty of
Bc3 and to release Nf5.

18.Rxd7 Kxd7 19.g4 Nd6
20.Nc5+ Ke8™ The only

defense against the strong
threats Ne6 and Bxc6.

21.Ba4

With the idea of 22.Nxb7
followed by 23.Bxc6+

b5  22.Bb3  h5  23.g5  Nc4
24.gxf6  gxf6  25.Ne6  Kd7
( 25...Rf7??  26.Nxc7+  Kf8
27.Nxb5  N4e5  28.Bxf7  Kxf7
29.Nxe5+  fxe5  30.Bxe5  Nxe5

31.Rxe5

+− ) 26.Nxf8+ Rxf8

27.Nd2  Nxd2  28.Be6+  Kd8
29.Bxd2² ;
B2b2)  10...Nfe7  11.Bg5  Bf5
12.Qxf5  Nxf5  13.Bxd8  Kxd8
14.0-0-0  Re8  15.g4
(  15.Ng5  f6  16.Nge4

Karjakin,S (2730)-Polgar,J
(2711)/Dresden 2008 )

15...Nh6 16.h3²

To do list:
-restrict the activty of Nh6
-try to gain one of the pawns h7
or f7 with the help of the threats
Bd3 & Ng5
-create a free pawn on the king
side using threts against Nh6. ;

B2c) 8...Be7 9.Be3 Be6

From now on White will focus on
exchanging Nf3 for Be6 in good
conditions. For this purpose the
long castle is indicated since
White's attack on the king side
will gain momentum in the
absnce of Black's light squares
bishop.

10.0-0-0  0-0
(  10...a6  11.h4  Qd7  12.Ng5
0-0-0  13.Nxe6  Qxe6  14.g3

² )

11.Bd3 Re8 12.h4 Qd7
( a major concession is 12...h6?!

because White's task on the king
side will be easier using the
"hook" h6 to play g2-g4-g5
opening the g-file. 13.g4 Bf6

14.Nb5  Bd5  15.Bh7+  Kxh7
16.Rxd5  Re4  17.Rxd6  Rxf4
18.Rxd8  Bxb2+  19.Kxb2  Rb4+
20.Kc3  Rxd8  21.Nxa7  Rxg4
22.Nxc6  bxc6  23.Rb1

± )

13.Ng5 h6 14.Nxe6 Qxe6
15.Nd5 Bd8 16.g4 Kh8 17.Bf1±

White prepares g5,Bg2 and Rhe1
having as principal target the
black queen. ;

B2d) 8...g6

Black ambitiously wants to
develop the bishop on the long
diagonal despite the extra tempo
involved in the process.

9.Be3 Bg7 10.0-0-0

B2d1) 10...Be6 11.Ne4 0-0
12.h4 There's no need to rush

with Nxd6 as Black gains
aditional room for the queen.

h5  13.Kb1  Qe7  14.Nxd6
cxd6  15.Be2  Rac8  16.Rhe1
Ne5  17.Nd4  Nc4  18.Bc1÷ ;
B2d2)
10...Bxc3  11.bxc3  0-0
(  11...Bf5  12.g4  Be6  13.c4
Qe7  14.c5  Nc8  15.Ng5

± )

12.h4 h5 13.Bb5

The most principled developing
move as White will be ready to
invade the dark squares in the
absence of Nc6. Bf5 14.Bxc6

bxc6  15.Bc5  Re8  16.Rhe1
Qd7  17.c4  Re6  18.Rxe6
Qxe6  19.Re1  Qxc4  20.Qxc4
Nxc4  21.Re7  Be6  22.Rxc7  a5
23.Rxc6² ;
B2d3)  10...0-0
11.h4

B2d31)  11...Be6  12.h5  Qe7
13.Bd3  a6  14.Bc5  Qf6
15.Qg3  Rfe8  16.hxg6  hxg6
( 16...fxg6  17.Ng5

± ) 17.Ng5

Qe5  18.Bxd6  Qxd6  19.Qxd6
cxd6  20.Nxe6  Rxe6  21.Bc4
Ree8  22.Rxd6  Bxc3
23.bxc3² ;
B2d32)  11...Qf6  12.Qxf6
Bxf6  13.Nd5±  Bd8  14.h5

Bg4  15.hxg6  fxg6  16.Be2² ;
B2d33)  11...h6  12.Bb5  Bd7
13.Bc5  Rc8  14.Ba4  Na5
15.Bd4  Bxa4  16.Bxg7  Kxg7
17.Qxa4  Nac4  18.Nd5²

White king looks safer then
the black king and with his
last move White wants to
provoke c7-c6 which realeses
Black's grip on d6. ;

B2d34) 11...h5 12.Bc5

B2d341)  12...Bf5  13.Bd3
Bg4  ( 13...Bxc3  14.bxc3
Bxd3  15.Rxd3  Re8

Reaches the main line with
12....Bxc3 by moves
transposition. )

14.Kb1  Bxf3  15.gxf3  Be5
16.Qd2  Qf6  17.Nd5  Qxf3
18.Nxc7  ( 18.Qg5  Rfd8
19.Bxg6  fxg6  20.Qxg6+
Bg7  21.Rdg1  Qf7  22.Nf6+
Kf8  23.Nh7+  Kg8
24.Nf6+= ) 18...Rad8
19.Qe3  Qxe3  20.fxe3  b6
21.Ba3  Rd7  22.Nd5  Bg7
23.c3  Ne5  24.Bc2  Rfd8
25.e4÷ ;
B2d342)  12...Bxc3

At first sight it seems like a
justified move to spoil
White's pawn structure on
the queen side , but White
has the lead in
development and it will be
able to exploit the weak
dark squares around the
black king. For this goal it
has to complete the knight's
manover Nf3-g5-e4-f6-d5.

13.bxc3 Bf5 14.Bd3 Bxd3
15.Rxd3 Re8 16.Ng5 Qe7

17.Rhd1 Rad8 18.Re3 Qf8
19.Ne4 Re6 20.Nf6+ Kh8
21.Nd5± ;

B2e) 8...Be6 9.Be3 Nf5

Attacks Be3 & releases d6 for the
bishop.

10.Nb5

Uses the CSQ of Black's last
move.

B2e1)  10...Bd6  11.Nxd6+
Qxd6  12.Qxd6  Nxd6
(  12...cxd6  13.Bd2  0-0
14.Bd3  Rfe8  15.0-0-0

To do list:
-Bring the rooks along the
central files Rhe1
-transfer the knight to e4 Nf3-
g5-e4 increasing the pressure
against d6
-create long range threats with
the bishops. )

13.0-0-0 0-0-0 14.b3²

To do list:
-bring the undeveloped rook on
e1
-place the bishops on adjacent
diagonals on d3 (f3)& e3
- keep a rook on the board as
play coordinating piece
-restrict the knights activity by
slowly advancing the pawn
-create weaknesses in the
enemy camp as the bishops
have better mobility. ;

B2e2) 10...Bb4+ 11.c3

B2e21) 11...Ba5 12.Bc5
Qd5 13.b4 a6 14.Rd1 Qxa2

White has to play against the
black king remained in the
center, by using his local
forces superiority and better

coordination.

15.Qxc7

The queen is untouchable
due to 16. Nxc7 mate.

Rd8
( 15...axb5 16.Qxb7

+− )

16.Rxd8+  Nxd8  17.Nd6+
Nxd6  18.Qxd6  Qb1+  19.Kd2
Qb2+  20.Ke3  Qc1+  21.Nd2
Nc6  22.bxa5+− ;
B2e22)  11...Bd6  12.Nxd6+
Qxd6  13.Rd1  Qxf4  14.Bxf4
Bxa2  15.Bb5  0-0  16.0-0
Rac8  17.Bxc6  bxc6  18.Ra1
Bd5  19.Rxa7  Bxf3  20.gxf3
Rfe8  21.Rfa1  Nh4  22.Bxc7
Nxf3+  23.Kg2²

White has the bishop ith
pawns on both wings and
good perspectives to double
the rooks along the 7-th rank
with Rb7 and R1a7. ]

[
3...d6

leads to the Philidor Defence and it
makes the subject of a different
opening file. ]

[
3...d5 4.dxe5 Nxe4 5.Nbd2

leads by transpotion to the main line
with 3....Nxe4 4.dxe5 d5. ]

[
3...Be7 4.dxe5 Nxe4 5.Qd5

This time the queen will use a central
square for a tempo gain .

Nc5  6.Nc3  d6  7.exd6  cxd6  8.Bb5+
Nbd7  9.Bf4² ]
[
3...Nc6  4.dxe5

Leads to similar position with the
Budapest Gambit , but here White
didn't push c2-c4 which makes Black's

counterplay on dark squares less
efective.

Nxe4
(  4...Ng4  5.Bf4  Bc5  6.Bg3  d6  7.exd6
cxd6  8.h3  Nf6  9.Nc3  0-0  10.Bd3
Re8  11.0-0

² )

5.Bc4 Nc5
( 5...Bc5 6.Qd5 Bxf2+ 7.Ke2 Qe7
8.Qxe4

+− )

6.Nc3 Be7 7.0-0 0-0 8.Nd5

White gains easily the pair of bishops
an has to reckon the freeing move d7-
d6. The dark sqaures bishop can be
deployed on b2 on the long diagonal
and White can use the typical central
pressure with rooks along the open
files "e" & "d".

d6 9.Nxe7+ Nxe7 10.exd6 cxd6
11.Re1 Be6 12.Bf1 d5 13.b3 Rc8
14.Bb2² ]

4.dxe5

The purpose of this move is to break the
symetrycal pawn structure wanted by
Black and to use e5 as a shield for the
central squares where White can deploy
his pieces.

[ 4...Bc5

This move is evaluated as dubious, but
we couldn't find a clear refutation.
Anyway if White enters in the tactical
complications his lead in development
and the strong e5 pawn give him a
dangerous initiative and if Black plays
carelessly it will be mated.

5.Bc4
( The quiet approach is:
5.Be3  Bxe3  6.fxe3  d5  7.exd6  Nc6
8.Bd3  Nxd6  9.Nc3  Be6  10.0-0  Qe7
11.Nd4  Ne5  12.Qe1  0-0  13.Qg3  f6

14.Ne4 Nxd3 15.Nxd6 cxd6 16.cxd3

When White's knight form d4 assures a
least equality. )

5...Nxf2 6.Bxf7+

A)  6...Kf8  7.Qd5  Nxh1  8.Qxc5+
Kxf7  9.Nc3  d6  10.Qd5+  Kf8
( 10...Ke8  11.Bg5  Qd7  12.0-0-0  h6
13.Be3  Nc6  14.exd6  Qxd6
15.Qh5+  g6  16.Qb5  Qb4  17.Qd5
Qd6= ) 11.Be3  Nc6  12.0-0-0  Qe7
13.Rxh1  Be6  14.Qb5  Rb8  15.exd6
cxd6  16.Rd1  h6  17.Rxd6  Re8
18.Bc5  Kg8  19.b3  Qf7  20.Kb2 ;
B)  6...Kxf7  7.Qd5+  Kg6

( 7...Ke8 8.Bg5 Be7 9.Bxe7 Qxe7
10.Kxf2

White will quickly bring his rooks into
the battle while the e5 pawn assures
good outposts for the knights :c4,d4,
e4.

Qb4  11.Re1  Qb6+  12.Kf1  Qxb2
13.Nbd2  Nc6  14.Nc4  Qc3  15.Kg1
Rf8  16.Rad1

White is helpless against White's
local forces superiority.
The immediate threat is 17.e6 and
after: Qxc2 17.Na3 Qf5 18.Nb5

Kd8

White's goal is to remove Nc6 the
last defender of the black king.

19.Nbd4 Nxd4 20.Nxd4 Qf2+
21.Kh1 Ke7 22.e6 d6 23.Qg5+

+− )

8.Qxc5  Nxh1  9.Nc3  Nc6
(  9...h6  10.Nd5  Kh7  11.Qc4  Rf8
12.Qe4+  Kh8  13.Bxh6  gxh6
14.Qg6  Rxf3  15.Qxh6+  Kg8
16.gxf3  Na6  17.0-0-0

+− )

10.Qc4  h6
(  10...Qf8  11.Nh4+  Kh5  12.Qe2+
Kxh4  13.Ne4  h6  14.Bg5+  hxg5

15.g3+ Nxg3 16.hxg3+ Kh3
17.0-0-0

+−

And mate in few moves with Rh1. )

11.Nd5
(  11.Nh4+  Kh7  12.Qe4+  Kg8
13.Qd5+  Kh7  14.Qe4+= ) 11...Rf8
12.Qe4+  Kf7  13.Bxh6  gxh6
14.Qh7+  Ke8  15.Qg6+  Rf7
16.Qg8+  Rf8  17.Qg6+=

with a perpetual check. ]

[
4...Be7 5.Qd5

Transposes to 3....Be7. ]

5.Nbd2

White wants to exchange or to deflect
Black's active knight, while Nd2 will head
for d4 via b3.
The pawn structure and Ne4 resembles
the Open variation from Ruy Lopez, so it
may be helpful to study it, in order to
understand the typical play related to this
pawn structure. As a diferrence White
didn't commit yet to develop the light
squares bishop, while Black didn't
blocked the c7 pawn with Nc6. This may
prove useful, as Black can consolidate
the centre with c7-c6 or even to play c7-
c5, if White uses d4 for a knight.

Nxd2

[ 5...Be7 6.Nxe4 dxe4 7.Qxd8+ Bxd8

A) Another possibility is:
8.Nd4  0-0
(  8...c6  9.Bf4  Nd7?!  10.Nf5  0-0
11.Nd6  Ba5+  12.c3  Bc7  13.0-0-0
Bxd6  14.exd6  Nb6  15.c4  Be6
16.b3  a5  17.Be2  a4  18.Kb2  axb3
19.axb3  Nd7  20.Ra1

½-½ Ivanchuk,V (2781)-Wang Yue
(2704)/Sochi 2008 ) 9.Bf4 Nd7

10.0-0-0 a6 11.h4 Re8 12.Be2
Nc5 ( 12...Nxe5? 13.Bxe5 Rxe5

14.Nc6

± )

13.Kb1 c6 14.Bc4÷

White tries to use the cramped
position of the black pieces, but it
isn't clear how to create an
advantage of it. ;

B) 8.Ng5

B1)  8...Bf5  9.e6  fxe6
(  9...f6  10.Nf7  Rg8  11.Nxd8
Kxd8  12.Bf4  Bxe6  13.0-0-0+

In return for the sacrified pawn
White will create a local forces
superiority on the king side, while
Black has difficulties to activate
Ra8.

Kc8  14.Be2  Nc6  15.f3  g5
16.Bg3  exf3  17.Bxf3  Rd8
18.Rde1  Bd7  19.Rhf1

White is threatening 20. Bxc6
followed by 21. Rxf6-f7 or 21. Re7
attacking both weaknesses h7 & c7.

)
10.Bc4  Bxg5  11.Bxg5  Nd7
12.0-0-0  h6  13.Bf4  0-0-0  14.h3
Nb6  15.Bb3  Nd5  16.Be5²

To do list:
-restrict the activity of the black
pieces (especially the knight)
-keep the rooks on the board
-provoke Black to advance the king
side pawns creating weaknesses. ;

B2) 8...Bxg5

9.Bxg5

Gaining the pair of bishops and a
long term positional advantage.

Nc6 10.0-0-0 0-0 11.Bb5 h6
( 11...Nxe5? 12.Be7

± )

12.Bf4 Zelcic-Delanoy, Geneva

1993 Ne7 13.Rhe1 Ng6 14.Bg3

c6 15.Bc4² ]

[

5...Nc5 6.Nb3

A)  6...Nxb3?!  7.axb3  Be7  8.Bd3
(  8.h4  c5  9.c4  Be6  10.Ng5  Bxg5
11.Bxg5  Qc7  12.cxd5  Qxe5+
13.Qe2  Qxe2+  14.Bxe2  Bf5  15.g4
h6  16.Bf4  Be4  17.Bb5+  Nd7
18.Rh3  Bxd5  19.0-0-0  Be6
20.Rhd3

± 1-0 Savchenko,B (2638)-

Volokitin,A (2692)/Moscow
2010(71) )

8...c5  9.0-0  Nc6  10.Qe2  Be6
11.Rd1  0-0  12.c3  Qc7  13.Bf4  a6
14.Bc2  Rfe8  15.h3  Rad8  16.Ng5
Bxg5  17.Bxg5  Rc8  18.f4²

Using the threats against h7 White
gained the pair of bishops and kept
the king side pawn majority.
To do list:
-prevent Black's central counterplay
based on d5-d4
-increase the pressure on the king
side, especially against the "focal"
point g7. ;

B) 6...Bg4 7.h3

Forcing Black to decide where to
instal the bishop. After 7....Bh5 , the
d5 pawn will remain vulnerable,
otherwise Black just loses a tempo.

Bh5  8.Be2  Nc6  9.0-0  Be7  10.Be3
Nxb3  11.axb3  0-0  12.Qd2  Qd7
13.Rfd1  Rad8  14.c4  Bxf3  15.Bxf3
Nxe5  16.Qxd5  Qxd5  17.Bxd5  c6
18.Be4  a6  19.Bb6  Rxd1+  20.Rxd1²

White has a steady advantage due to
the pair of bishops, while Black can't
find stable or useful positions for his
minor pieces. ;

C) 6...Ne6
7.Nbd4

Since Black is threatening the freeing
move c7-c5, Nb3 will be out of play
so this attempt to exchange the

blockading knight from e6 is fully
justified.

Nxd4  8.Qxd4  h6
(  8...Nc6  9.Qf4  Be7  10.Be3  0-0
11.0-0-0  Be6  12.Kb1  Qd7  13.Qg3
f6  14.Bf4  Bc5  15.Bb5  a6  16.Bxc6
bxc6  17.exf6  Rxf6  18.Ne5  Qd6
19.Rhe1

White managed to achieve control
over the central files.
Massive simplifications are in White's
favor as his king is closer to the black
weak pawns from the queen side. )

9.Qf4

Preserves queen's flexibility ,as the
queen will be hunted anyway with c7-
c5 or Nb8-c6.

( 9.Bd2 Be6 10.h4 c5 11.Qf4 Nc6
12.h5 Qd7 13.c4 0-0-0 14.0-0-0
Be7

÷ ½-½ Nepomniachtchi,I (2695)-

Alekseev,E (2700)/Havana 2010 )

9...c5  10.Bb5+  Nc6  11.0-0  a6
12.Bxc6+  bxc6  13.Re1  Be6  14.h3
Be7  15.Qg3  Qd7  16.Bd2÷

The position is unclear, but White
has a healthier pawn structure and
can quickly activate his rooks along
the central files.
Black is confronted with a difficult
decision: should he castle by hand
with Kf8-g8-h7 or to create new weak
squares on th king side with g7-g6
and h6-h5 in order to assure his
king? ]

[ 5...f5 6.Be2 Be7 7.c4

This pawn breaktrough must be
remembered as it fights against Black's
center and it aims to open the a2-g8
diagonal. c6

( 7...dxc4

A wrong strategical decision because it
exchanges a central pawn for a lateral

one and soon Qd8 will fall under attack
along the opened d-file.

8.Bxc4  Nc6  9.Qe2  Nd4  10.Nxd4
Qxd4  11.0-0  Qxe5  12.Nf3  Qf6
13.Bf4  Be6  14.Bxe6  Qxe6  15.Nd4
Qd7  16.Qc4

After a sequence of forced moves
Black found himself forced to castle
long, but in the absnce of the bishop
he can no longer cover the weak light
squares.

0-0-0 17.Ne6 Bd6 18.Nxd8 Bxf4
19.Rad1 Bd2 20.Ne6

± )

8.0-0 0-0 9.Nb1

A wise redepoyment of the knight.
After f7-f5 Black weakened a2-g8
diagonal, but White can't take Nd2xe4
because it helps Black connecting his
central pawns. Nb3 is the other option
but it takes the b3 squares which
belong to the queen.
After f2-f3 chasing out Ne4 the
manover Nd2-b1-c3 becames possible.

Be6  10.Nd4  Qd7  11.f3  Nc5  12.cxd5
Bxd5  13.Nc3  Ne6  14.Kh1  Bc5
15.Be3  Bb6  16.Nxd5  cxd5  17.f4²

White has an edge due to the passed
defended pawn and the powerful light
squares bishop which has no rival. ]

[
5...Nc6  6.Bb5  Bd7  7.0-0  Nxe5
8.Nxe5  Bxb5  9.c4  Qe7  10.Nxe4
dxe4  11.Bf4  Bd7  12.Re1  f5  13.Qd5
c6  14.Qd2

The purpose of the manover Qd1-d5-
d2 was to provoke c7-c6 and the
subsequent weakening of a5-d8
diagonal, preparing Qd2-a5-c7.

Be6  15.Rad1  Qf6
(  15...Rd8  16.Qe3  Bc8  17.Bg5  Rxd1
18.Bxe7  Rxe1+  19.Qxe1  Bxe7

20.Qa5 0-0 21.Qc7

To do list:
-prevent Black's pieces coordination
and the counterplay based on f5-f4 and
e4-e3
-Ne5-d7 to trade the pair of bishops
-double attacks against the black
pawns sitting onlight squares. )

16.Qa5 Be7 17.Qc7 0-0 18.Nd7
Bxd7 19.Rxd7 Rfe8 20.Qxb7²

White regained the pawn and
penetrated along the 7-th rank while
Black's pieces are tied up in defense. ]

[
5...Bf5  6.Nxe4  Bxe4  7.Bd3  Nc6
8.0-0  Be7  9.Re1  0-0
(  9...Nb4  10.Bxe4  dxe4  11.Nd2!?

Avoids queens exchange and prepares
a2-a3 and Nxe4.

Qd5  12.a3  Nc6  13.Nxe4  Qxd1
14.Rxd1  Nxe5  15.Bf4  Ng6  16.Bxc7
Rc8  17.Nd6+  Bxd6  18.Bxd6  Rxc2
19.Rd4

Black is still with the king in the center,
while White will attack it with 2 rooks
and bishop. After Re1 , White has to
chase out Ng6 and to penetrate along
the 7-th rank. )

10.Bf4 Bxd3 11.Qxd3 Qd7 12.c3 h6
13.Rad1 Rad8 14.b4 a6 15.h3 Qe6
16.a3²

White has the space advantage and
subsequently a better mobility of the
major pieces.
To do list:
-triple up along the d-file Re3, Qc2,
Red3 followed by Qd2 or R1d2 and
Qd1
-be ready to use the blow c3-c4
-restrict the activity of black minor
pieces
-avoid exchanges

-use the 3-rd rank to create threats
agaisnt the black king. ]

6.Qxd2 Be7

[ 6...c5 7.c4
( The position arising after 7.Qf4 h6
8.Bb5+ was analyzed after the moves

5....Nc5 6.Nb3 Ne6 7.Nbd4 Nxd4 8.
Qxd4 h6 9.Qf4 c5 10.Bb5 )

A)  7...Be6  8.Ng5  Nc6  9.Nxe6  fxe6
10.Be2
(  10.cxd5  Qxd5  11.Qxd5  exd5
12.Bb5  Kf7  13.f4  Nd4  14.Ba4  b5
15.Bd1  c4  16.Be3= 1-0 Bacrot,E

(2728)-Alekseev,E (2716)/Nalchik
2009 )

10...Nd4 11.0-0 Be7
( 11...Nxe2+ 12.Qxe2 d4 13.Rd1

White's queen and bishop have
better mobility and he can use the
third rank for a rook lift. A possible
setup would be Rd1-d3, Bc1-d2,
Ra1-e1 & Qe2-e4. )

12.Bd3 0-0 13.b3 Qd7 14.Bb2
Rad8 15.Rad1 dxc4 16.bxc4 Qa4
17.Qe3

Black dominates the d-file but it has
difficulties coordinating his pieces.
White can easily create threats on
the king side, especially on light
squares. Once the attack premises
created White can even afford to
exchange the annoying knight from
d4. and to combine the threats
against the pawn weaknesses e6 &
h7.

A1)  17...Qxa2  18.Bxd4  Rxd4
19.Ra1  Qb2
(  19...Qb3??  20.Bxh7+

+− )

20.Rfb1 Rxd3 21.Rxb2 Rxe3

22.fxe3  Bg5  23.Rb3  a6  24.Ra5
Rc8  25.Rxb7± ;
A2)  17...g6 ;

B)
7...d4

At first sight Black created a free
supported pawn, but now the position
is settled, and White has a better grip
on central squares ( he can use e4
while Black can't use d5 to improve
pieces positions or even to start a
king side attack).

8.Bd3 Nc6

B1)  9.Qf4  h6  10.Qg3  Be6
11.Nd2  Qd7?!  ( 11...Qc7  12.f4
0-0-0  13.0-0  g5

And Black is the first to open a file
against the enemy king. )

12.0-0 0-0-0 13.f4 Bf5 14.a3
h5„ Howell,D (2612)-Saric,A

(2483)/Rijeka 2010/ (1-0, 36) ;

B2) 9.0-0

Be7
( 9...h6 10.Qe2 Be6 11.Bd2 Qd7
12.a3

The purpose of this move is to
provoke a5 and to create the
premises of a pawn breaktrough in
case that Black castles long.

a5  13.Bf4  Be7  14.Nd2  Bf5
15.Ne4  0-0  16.Rae1  Qe6  17.Qc2
Bg6  18.Bg3  a4  19.f4

White can simply double the rooks
along the f-file threatening f4-f5.
White's pawn structure on king side
is a dynamic one while Black's
pawn structure is rather inflexible.

)
10.Qf4

The manover Qd2-f4-g3 has more
impact after 9...Be7 since Black

can't stop the secondary threat Ng5.

Be6  11.Qg3  Qc7  12.Ng5  Bxg5
13.Bxg5  h6  14.Bd2  g5  15.Rfe1
0-0-0  16.a3

B2a) 16...Qd7?! 17.b4 Bf5
18.Bxf5
( 18.b5

² Almasi,Z (2691)-Socko,

B (2646)/Khanty-Mansiysk 2007 )

18...Qxf5  19.b5  Nb8  20.e6
fxe6  21.Re5  Qf8  22.Rxe6  Re8
23.Rxe8+  Qxe8  24.Re1  Qf8
25.h4² ;
B2b)  16...Rde8  17.b4²

To do list:
-open the b & f files and
diagonals in order to activate the
bishops
-try to undermine the rigid black
pawn structure h6 g5 with the
help of the thrust f2-f4
- avoid pieces exchanges and try
to take advantage of the exposed
position of the black king.
For example: Bd7 18.f4 gxf4

19.Bxf4 Rhg8 20.Qf2 Nxe5
21.Be4 b6 22.Rab1 f6
23.Bd5² ]

[
6...h6 7.Bd3 c5 8.c3 Nc6 9.0-0 Be6
10.h3 Qc7 11.Re1 0-0-0 12.a3 c4 ]
[ 6...g6

Black is already lagging in
development so White can launch a
king side attack after the long castle
and the typical advance h2-h4 aiming
to exchange the dark squares bishops
on h6.

7.Qc3  Bg7  8.Bg5  Qd7  9.0-0-0  0-0
10.h4  Re8  11.h5  Nc6  12.hxg6  hxg6
13.Bh6  Bh8  14.Bf4  Bg7  15.Kb1  a6
16.g3‚

White's attack on king side is going on
with threats like Bh3 or Bg2, while
Black doesn't have any counterplay on
the other wing. ]

7.Qf4

[ 7.Bd3 Nc6 8.Qf4 0-0 9.0-0 f6
10.exf6 Bxf6 11.Qg3

This is the pet manover of Ian
Nepomniachtchi. The white queen
"eyeballs" the black king while the
black queen is still passive. The trumps
of this line are the natural pieces setup
with Bc1-f4 and Rae1 and a safer king
as Black weakened a2-g8 diagonal.

Nb4 12.Bf4 Rf7 13.Ne5 Re7
14.Rae1 Nxd3 15.cxd3 Bf5

Nepomniachtchi,I (2628)-Iordachescu,
V (2584)/Moscow 2009 16.Bg5 Qf8

17.d4 Bxg5 18.Qxg5 Rae8 19.Qg3²

Ne5 has a stable position as it can be
supported also by f2-f4 and agian the
most important feature is the dynamic
White's pawn structure versus Black's
inflexible one on the king side.
This subsequently means that White's
king is better protected. ]

7...c5

[ 7...Qd7 8.c4

Black prepares Qd7-g4, so White
wants to open a second front aiming to
exchange Black's only central pawn.

Bb4+ 9.Bd2 Bxd2+ 10.Qxd2 dxc4
11.Bxc4
( Another interesting possibility in order

to avoid the queens exchange is:

11.Qc3  Qg4  12.Bxc4  Qe4+  13.Kf1
0-0  14.Re1  Qc6  15.Nd4  Qb6  16.h4
Nc6  17.Nxc6  Qxc6  18.h5

White preserves his central and king
side forces superiority, and Rh1 will be
activated trough h4. )

11...Qxd2+ 12.Kxd2 Nc6 13.Kc3

Ke7 14.Bd5 Nd8 15.Nd4 c6

Nepomniachtchi,I (2628)-Petrushin,A
(2455)/Moscow 2009 16.Bc4² ]

[
7...0-0  8.Bd3  Nc6  9.0-0  Nb4  10.Qg3
Kh8  11.Bg5  Nxd3  12.Bxe7  Qxe7
13.cxd3  c5  14.Rac1  Be6  15.Nh4
Rae8  16.f4²

White has better chances again due
to:
-the space advantage which is
equivalent to better rooks mobility
- his king side mobile pawn majority
- the active knight which supports the
pawns while Black's bishop is
restricted. ]

8.c4 Be6 9.Qg3 g6

[ 9...dxc4  10.Qxg7  Rf8  11.Be2  Nc6
12.0-0  Qd7  13.Rd1  Nd4  14.Nxd4
cxd4  15.Be3  d3  16.Rac1
(  16.b3  0-0-0

÷ ½-½ Nepomniachtchi,I

(2600)-L'Ami,E (2581)/Wijk aan Zee
2008 (37) )

16...b5 17.Bf3 Bd5 18.Qg3 Bxf3
19.Qxf3²

White has to use the exposed position
of the enemy king & the uncoordinated
position of the black rooks.Of course
he should also prevent the further
advance of the dangerous black free
pawn from d3.
A good idea would be to create a
second pawn weakness on b5 after a2-
a4xb5 and afterwards he should try to
gain one of the pawns h7 or b5.

]

10.cxd5 Qxd5 11.Be2 0-0 12.0-0 Nc6
13.Bg5 Rad8

[ 13...Bxg5 14.Qxg5 Rad8 15.Qh6² ]

14.Bxe7 Nxe7 15.Qf4