separately in our Chapter S.). Presently, it has almost rendered obsolete the much more passive Classical System.
It is premature and too risky for Black to play 9 ... e5? ! , because after 10.0-0 exd4 1l.ttJe4!?, or 1O ... ie7 1l.ttJe4, he lags behind considerably in development and White has a dangerous initiative.
1 0 . 0 - 0
He would not achieve much with 1O .ttJe4 and after 1O ... ib4+ 1l.@e2 (11.ttJfd2 �e7 12 .a3 ia5 13.b4 ic7=) 1l ... �dS !? (It is also
6.hJ6 VNxJ6 7.e3 11J d7 B. i.d3 dxc4 9. hc4 .ld6
good for Black to play 11 ... VNe7 12.a3 �a5 13.VNc2 0-0 14J!ac1 j.c7= Salov - I.Novikov, USSR 1984.) 12.'&c2 0-0 13J!hd1 '&c7 14.a3 .le7 15J!ac1 �d8 16.h3 b6, he equalized without any prob lems in the game Ribli - Dreev, Calcutta 1992.
Black should not fear at all the immediate move W.e4, because of the standard counterstrike 10 ... e5 with a very good game for him, since he has a bishop-pair, which
beco
�
es much more powerful after t e opening of the position. 1 ••• Be7
situation is in fact the of the Classical System. BI ck plays only very seldom 10... -0, because after 11.l1Je4 VNe7 2.l1Jxd6 '&xd6 13.�c1, White succe ds in exchanging his oppo nent' important dark-squared bisho for his knight, ending up with a slight positional advan tage.
In the "tabia" of the Classical Syste , White has two basic pos sibili ·es: A) 1l.e4 B) 11.c� e4!? After 11.�c1 0-0 12 .i.b3 �d8 13.l1Je4 .lc7, or 11.�b3 0-0 12.l1Je4 i.c7 13.�c1 �d8, or 11.'&c2 0-0 12.l1Je4 .lc7, there arise by trans positions, schemes which we will analyze in the main line of varia tion B.
We will deal here with some relatively rarely played original positions, in which White refrains from the immediate move 11.l1Je4 and not belonging to the main line of variation B. I would like to em phasize immediately that White does not achieve much in them.
11. VNd3 - his move is not dan gerous for Black, because after
11 ... 0-0 12.�adl (White would not change much with 12.i.b3 �d8!?=; he plays only very rarely in tournament practice 12.l1Je4, since after 12 ... i.c7, Black has no problems. In the game Beliavsky - Dolmatov, Minsk 1979, there followed 13.l1Jg3 - 13.�ac1 �d8= - 13 ... e5 14.i.b3 �e8 ! ? 15.i.c2 I1Jf6 16.dxe5 be5 17.l1Jxe5 '&xe5 and Black's prospects were not worse, while in case of 18.e4? ! i.e6 19.b3 �ad8 20.'&e2 h5 21.�fd1 h4, he seized the initiative altogether.) 12 ... �d8 !?
(diagram)
Black has a good counterplay. because White's queen on d3 re mains in a potential juxtaposition with the rook on d8 and it is rath er unstable.
Chapter 7
In this position White usually plays 13.i.b3 (In case of 13.e4 eS !? he can even have some problems.) and the most active move for Black seems to be 13 ... b6! ? (It is also quite possible for him to opt for 13 ... ic7 14.ic2 tLlf8:;; Ljubo jevic - I.Sokolov, Netherlands
1997.) 14.e4 (14.,ic2 g6 !?oo; Black has nothing to worry about after 14.tLle4 ib7:;; , or 14 ... aS:;;) 14 ... tLlcS!? (He can also continue in a standard fashion 14 ... eS:;;) IS.\Wc2 tLlxb3 16.\Wxb3 ib7, or IS.dxcS ixh2+ 16.tLlxh2 ! (After 16.�xh2?! l'!xd3 17J'!xd3 ia6 18.l'3fdl ixd3 19.1'3xd3 \WxcS, Black is better.) 16 ... l'3xd3 17.l'3xd3 ia6 18.l'3d6 hil 19.tLlxfl bxc5 20.l'3xc6 l'3d8 and he is not worse at all.
1l.l'3c1 0-0:;; 12.\We2 eS!? (This is a simple and reliable road to equality for Black.) 13.tLle4 (If 13. l'3fdl, then 13 ... e4!? 14.tLld2 tLlf6't; in case of 13.dS, White must con sider the possibility 13 ... e4!? 14. tLld4 tLleS IS.dxc6 bxc6, with a complicated position in which Black's prospects seem even bet ter, since he has a powerful bish op-pair.) 13 ... exd4 14.tLlxd6 \Wxd6 IS.l'3fdl \We7:;;. In the game Geor- S8
Moscow Variation
giu - B.Larsen, Buenos Aires 1979, there followed 16.l'3xd4 (White would not achieve any thing much with 16.tLlxd4 tLlf6:;;, because after 17.f3, Black has the resource 17 ... a6 with the idea c6- cS.) 16 ... tLlf6 17.h3 (In case of 17. l'3cdl ig4 18.h3 ihS!?, Black has no problems whatsoever.) 17 ... bS!? 18.ib3 cS 19.1'3ddl l'3b8:;;
The move 1l.a3 is a bit slow and in general harmless for Black. After 11...0-0, he has no prob lems.
In case of 12.\Wc2, the simplest reply for him would be - 12 ... b6! ? (It i s also possible for Black to play 12 ... l'3d8 with a complicated position.) 13.tLle4 ib7 14.tLlxd6 \Wxd6:;; . Now, he should not be afraid of IS.b4, due to IS ... aS 16. \Wb3 l'3a7! ? and he is not worse. Following 12.\We2, Black can play 12 ... aS!? 13.tLle4 b6! ? 14.tLlxd6 \Wxd6:;;, as well as 12 ... eS! ? 13.tLle4 exd4 (13 ... ic7:;;) 14.tLlxd6 \Wxd6 IS.l'3fdl \We7 16.l'3xd4 tLlf6:;; . In case of 12.tLle4, Black's prospects are inferior neither after 12 ... ic7, nor following 12 ... b6!? 13.tLlxd6 \Wxd6 14.l'3cl ib7, or 14.\We2 as IS.e4
6. fJ.xf6 Wixf6 7.e3 0, d7 B. id3 dxc4 9. hc4 id6 YHxd6= . In the game Vakhidov - lLlfB, hreatening with the themat- Dobrov, Abu Dhabi 2002, there
ic m ve c6-c5. followed later 16.YHe4 l=%acB 17.a3?!
A er 1l.YHc2 0-0, the position YHc7 1B.ic2 c5!? 19.YHh7+ 'ttifB and
is about equal. the position was very sharp, but
In case of 12.�ac1 b6!? 13.0,e4 ib7 14.0,xd6 Wixd6 15.�fd1 �fdB, Black has no problems.
After 12.a3, it is again good for him to continue with 12 ... b6!? (12 ... �dB !?oo) 13.0,e4 ib7 14. 0,xd6 Wixd6=
llowing 12.0,e4 ic7, Black can ranspose to the main line of vari tion B, but it deserves atten tion for him to opt for 12 ... b6!? 13. xd6 YHxd6 14.�fd1 ib7 with app oximately equal chances.
ite plays only rarely in tour ament practice 12 .ib3 and Blac should better counter this 12 ... b6! ? 13.0,e4 ib7 14. Wixd6= ; or in a standard fash on by playing 12 ... �dB 13.� d1 b6!? 14.0,e4 ia6 !? - this is t e simplest road to equality. 15.� e1 ib4=; 15.ic4 ib7 16. 0,xd YHxd6 17.e4 �acB 1B.YHe2 c5 19.d exd5 20.ixd5 ixd5 21.�xd5 YHe7
f
Z.Szabo - Dreev, Capelle la Gra de 1992; 14 ... ib7!? 15.0,xd6Black seemed to be better.
12 .l=%ad1 �dB (12 ... b6!? 13.0,e4 ib7=) 13.a3 (13.ib3 b6!? 14.0,e4 ia6!? 15.ic4 ib7=) 13 ... b6!? - This is a simple and reliable road to equality (In case of 13 ... ic7 14.ia2, or 13 ... a5!? 14.ia2 , there arises a position, in which Black may have problems equalizing.) 14.0,e4 ib7 15.0,xd6 YHxd6=
1l.�c1 0-0
and now:
12.0,e4. In case of 12 ... ic7, there arises by transposition a complicated situation from the main line of variation B, but Black is not forced to play 12 ... ic7. He demonstrated an interesting plan in the game Bocharov - Dobrov, Russia 2007, in which after 12 ... b6 13.YHd3 a5 14.0,xd6 YHxd6 15.e4 ib7 16.�fdl �fd8 17.e5 YHe7 lB. YHe4 0,fB 19.YHe3 �abB 20.id3 c5 21.ie4 ixe4 22 .Wixe4 �d5 23.dxc5 �xc5, he equalized effortlessly.
Chapter 7
to equality for Black is 12 ... b6!? 13.lDe4 i.b7 14.lDxd6 VMxd6, be cause in the next few moves (after Black improves his position with the moves l'U8-d8, VMd6-e7, �a8- c8) White would be incapable of preventing the thematic pawn break c6-cS.
12 .e4. Now, it is good for Black to continue in a standard fashion - 12 ... eS!? 13.dS lDb6 14.dxc6 bxc6 (14 ... lDxc4?! IS.lDdS±) IS.i.e2 ie6!? 16.VMc2 �ab8 !?, or IS.ib3 �d8, with a good game for him, just like in the lines we have seen in variation A.
12 .'lWd3 - Black can counter this move with 12 ... �d8 ! ? with a complicated and an approximate ly equal position, or he can try to simplify with 12 ... eS, entering af ter 13.lDe4!? (The line: 13.dS bS! ? 14.Ab3 lDc5 IS.'lWc2 b4, provides Black with a good counterplay.) 13 ... exd4 (In case of 13 ... Ac7, White can continue with 14.dS!? cxdS IS.hdS lDb6, or IS.VMxdS lDb6 16.'lWcS VMxcS 17.lDxcS lDxc4 18.�xc4, reaching complicated and rather unclear positions, which seem a bit dangerous for Black, because of the unstable placement of his dark-squared bishop on c7 and White's lead in development.) 14.lDxd6 (14.exd4 lDb6 IS.�fel 'lWd8=) 14 ... 'lWxd6 IS. 'lWxd4 (IS.exd4 lDb6 16.Ab3 �e8 17.�fel Ae6=) IS ... 'lWxd4 16.lDxd4 �d8, entering an endgame with approximately equal chances.
12.'lWc2 . This move is not dan- 60
Moscow Variation
gerous for Black at all and he can counter it simply with 12 ... b6! ? 13.lDe4 Ab7 14.lDxd6 'lWxd6 IS. �fdl �fd8, equalizing, because White can hardly prevent the the matic move c6-cS. It is also possi ble for Black to play 12 ... eS; in the game Stone - L.B.Hansen, Gron ingen 1992, there followed: 13. lDe4 exd4 14.lDxd6 VMxd6 IS.�fdl lDb6 16.�xd4 VMe7 17.ib3 i.e6 18.VMe4 �fe8 19.he6 VMxe6 20. VMxe6 l'!xe6, with an approximate ly equal endgame, since White can hardly exploit effectively his dominance over the d-file. Still, Black's position seems to me to be a bit passive and I think he should prefer 12 ... b6 !?
A) 1l.e4
This move is not dangerous for Black.
1l • • • e5
He obtains a good counterplay after this standard move, because the position is opened and his bishop-pair becomes a powerful force.
hf6 Yflxf6 7.e3 ttJ d7 B. 1J.d3 dxc4 9. hc4 1J.d6 1 O . 0 -0 Yfle7 11.e4
tage.
is the only move for White for the opening advan In case of 12 . .tb3 0-0 13.d5
12.dxe5?! ttJxe5 13.ttJxe5 White might even end up in
position.
12 • • . �b6
This move is played much more often than 12 ... 0-0, al though I think castling is not worse at all.
The point is that after 12 ... ttJb6 13.dxc6! ? bxc6 14.1J.b3, besides the usual calm move 14 ... 0-0, Black can play a sharper move 14 ... 1J.g4, which leads to rather unclear positions, while in case of 12 ... 0-0 13.dxc6 bxc6 14.ttJh4!? he does not have that possibility and after 14 ... ttJb6 15.1J.b3, he is forced to enter a calmer forced variation. As you will see later however, he has nothing to fear in that case either.
13.dxc6!?
White creates a weak pawn for his opponent on c6, but the posi-
tion is so dynamic that he can hardly exploit this later.
He should not avoid playing 13.dxc6, because after 13.1J.b3, Black has the response 13 ... 0-0, or 13 ... 1J.g4 and White has nothing better in that case than 14.dxc6. The main point is that Black has another very interesting possibil ity, which has not been analyzed yet - 13 ... c5!?, trying to block the position. Later, he plans, depend ing on circumstances, to play on the kingside (with the idea to push g7-g6 and f7-fS), or on the queen side (planning after the regroup ing of his forces to continue with the maneuver b7-b5).
13 . • • bxc6
It is bad for Black to capture 13 ... ttJxc4?, because White has the resources 14.ttJd5 Yfle6 15.cxb7 hb7 16.Yfla4+, as well as 14.cxb7 hb7 (14 ... Yflxb7 15.Yfla4±) 15. Yfla4+, regaining on the next move his piece on c4, ending up with an extra pawn and a great positional advantage.
Chapter 7
The retreats of this bishop to less active positions are not dan
gerous for Black at all. After 14. �e2 0-0 lS.�c2 (or lSJ'k1 �e6! ? 16.�c2 gab8! ?) 15 .. . �e6! ? 16.gfd1 gfd8, his prospects are not worse. His powerful bishops and active pieces compensate the vulnerabil ity of his pawn on c6.
Now, Black can choose be tween the calm and solid move A2) 14 • • • 0 - 0 ( and the sharper and not so clear Al) 14 • • • .ig4.
Al) 14 • • • .ig4 15.h3 .ih5! ?
Moscow Variation
16 ... 0-0, play 17.g4!? (In case of the calmer lines: 17.ti'e2 !!ac8 !?, or 17 .. J3fd8 18.tt:ld1 !?, there arise complicated positions, in which Black is not worse.) 17 ... �g6 18. tt:lh4, reaching a complicated dou ble-edged position. In the game
Beliavsky - Bagirov, Yaroslavl 1982, there followed: 18 ... !!fd8 19.tt:lxg6 ti'f6 20.tt:le2 (20.tt:lh4!? ti'xh4 21.ti'f3oo) 20 ... !!ac8 21.tt:lg3 ti'xg6 22.ti'f3 c5 23 . .ic4 .if8 24. ti'e2 ti'g5 25J3fd1 g6 26.h6 !!xd1 + 27.gxd1 !!d8=
The immediate move for White - 16.g4 looks premature, prior to his opponent's castling short, since in that case Black has nu merous possibilities to organize an active counterplay. For exam ple, after 16.g4, in the game Smi rin - I.Novikov, USSR 1982, there followed later 16 ... �g6 17.tt:lh4 !!d8 (It also deserved attention for Black to play 17 ... 0-0-0!? with a sharp position, in which he would not be worse at all.) 18.tt:lf5
hfs 19.exf5 h5 ! 20.ti'f3 hxg4 21.hxg4 ti'h4 with an excellent counterplay for Black.
A2) 14 • • • 0 - 0
This is a reliable and solid move providing Black with a suf ficient counterplay.
(diagram) 15.tt:lh4
This is the fashionable move White should better continue for White and the alternatives are here with 16Jkl!? and only after only seldom played in practice. 62
h/6 VlfxJ6 7.e3 liJd7 8. �d3 dxc4 9. hc4 �d6 1 0 . 0-0 'fge7 11.e4
game Volodin - Klovans, 2008, White played 15. after 15 ... �d8 16. Vlfc2 �g4,
problems and Black seized is the most logical reply can also play here 15 ... Vlff6 (The move 16.g3 would White anything positive game Beliavsky - Ljubo Barcelona 1989 continued 16 ... g6 17.�c1 �h3 18.�el 18 ... �fd8! ?+ - 19.Vlfe2 �ad8
�b4+; Or 16 ... �d8! ? 17. !? and Black is not worse.) 17.Vlff3 with a complicat an approximately equal
which has been tested in practice only very rarely.
16.'f9h5
Black should not fear 16.liJf5. After 16 ... hf5 17.exf5 �c5 18.'f9f3 �ac8 19.1iJe4 liJd7! 20.�ac1 (20. liJxc5 liJxc5=) 20 ... �d4 21.�c2 liJf6 22.�c4 c5 23.b3 �b8 24.�el �b6, in the game Polovodin - Fili penko, Moscow 1985, he equal ized effortlessly.
16 • • • a5!?
This move was introduced by
1M Alexander Filipenko and it enables Black to obtain at least an equal position without too much of an effort. Its idea is to weaken White's queenside after 17.a3 a4 18.b2, or 17.a4, and only then to follow with �cB-e6, exploiting later, after the exchange of the light-squared bishops, the weak ness on the b3-square.
The immediate move 16 ... �e6, presents White with more possi bilities to fight for the opening ad vantage. For example, in the game Vaganian - Dolmatov, Yerevan, 1982, there followed later: 17.liJf5 V!ff6 18.he6 'f9xe6 19.�dl �c5 20. 'f9h4 �dI 2 1.�dl, with a slight edge for White.
17.a4
It is hardly better for him to play 17.a3, because after 17 ... a4 IB.b2 �e6 19.1iJf5 'f9f6 20.he6 'f9xe6 21.�fdl .teB Black's chances are at least equal, in view of the weaknesses of the b3 and c4-
squares in his opponent's camp. White achieves nothing much
Chapter 7
after 17.tDf5 ixf5 18.�xf5 a4 19. ic2 ic5+; or 17.tDa4 tDxa4 18. ixa4 13b8=, while in case of 19.b3, it looks very good for Black to play 19 ... Wlf6 ! ? (threatening g7 -g6) and now it is bad for White to opt for 20.ixc6? 20 ... g6 21.Wlxh6 if8-+, as well as 20.13ad1? g6 21.Wlxh6 if8 22.13xd8 Wlxd8 23.Wle3 Wlxh4 24.ixc6 ie6-+
17 . • • .ie6 18.�f5 Wlf6 19. he6 Wlxe6 2 0 .gadl .if'S
It is dubious for Black to choose 20 ... g6? ! 21.tDxh6+ 'it>f8 (It is even worse for him to con tinue with 21...'it>g7? ! 22.Wlg5 f6 23.�g3 'it>xh6 24.Wle3+ 'it>g7 25. Wlxb6±; or 21...'it>h7? 22.tDxf7+ ! gxh5 23.tDg5+ 'it>g6 24.tDxe6+-) 22 .Wlh4 and he has no compensa tion for the pawn.
21. Wlh4 gxdl 22.gxdl ti'b3 23.h3
Black's prospects in this posi tion seem preferable, Karpeshov - Filipenko, Dezh 1988. He should better continue with 23 ... 'it>h7!? (but not 23 ... �xb2?, because of 24.Wlg3 ! +-, threatening tDf5-h6 64
Moscow Variation
and 13d1-b1), maintaining a slight edge.
B) 1l.�e4!?
This is a fashionable move in the Classical System and it ena bles White to fight for a slight opening advantage. He should try if possible to prevent the thematic pawn-breaks e6-e5 and c6-c5, with the idea to exploit his space advantage.
1l ... .ic7 12J:'icl!
This is the best move and White obtains a slight edge with it.
The positions arising after 12. �c2 0-0 13.13ac1 13d8 14.ib3; 14. 13fd1 and 14.a3, will be dealt with in the main line of variation B, af ter another move-order - 11. tDe4!? ic7 12.13c1 ! 0-0 13.Wlc2 13d8 14.13fd1; 14.a4, or 13.ib3 13d8 14.�c2.
There arise original positions only after the rarely played varia tion 12.�c2 0-0 13.ib3 13d8 14. 13fdl.
6.ixJ6 'fixJ6 7.e3 ttJd7 8. �d3 dxc4 9. hc4 �d6 1 O . 0 - 0 'fie7 11. ttJe4
w11ite is slightly better, thanks to his' extra space, but not more. BlaCk
�
has no weaknesses and he can h pe for a successful defence. For e ample, in the game Shirov - Dr ev, Linares 1995, there fol lowed,: 14 ... ttJfS (14 ... !!bS!?) 15. �e5�
d7 16.f4 (The transfer intoan e
r¥
game would not bring toWhite anything much after 16.'fic5 'i!Yxc5 ! 17.ttJxc5 and in the game F.Le
�
n - Filipenko, Lvov 1995, following 17 ... !!abS lS.!!ac1 i.eS 19.f4�
d7 20.ttJexd7 hd7 21.g3 J.d6 22 .e4 fie7 23.e5 fieS 24.cj;>f2 c;t>f8 25.cj;>e3 as 26.!!c3 b6 27.ttJe4c5 2S.dxc5 bxc5 29.!!xdS hdS
30.ttJxc5 ib6 31.cj;>e2 hc5 32. Ilxc5
f,
4 33.i.c2 !!xb2 34.a3 !!a2 35.!!c g5, Black equalized gradu ally.) 6 ... fieS 17.ttJc5 i.d6 lS.!!ac1 with a reliable and solid position for Black. Here, instead of the move lS ... cj;>hS, played in the game, he had better choose IS ... gacS ! ?, after which White had to adhere to waiting strategy; other wise, after the straightforward move 19.f5, Black would have a good position, thanks to the line: 19 .. . .he5 20.dxe5 !!xd1+ 21.!!xd1exfS 22.'fixf5 !!c7= and he would
not mind 23.e6, because of 23 ... b6! 24.ttJa6 !!b7=
The positions arising after 12JWe2 0-0 13.!!ac1 !!dS 14.i.b3 and 14.!!fd1, will be analyzed in the main line of variation B after the move-order - l1.ttJe4!? i.c7 12.!!c1! 0-0 13.'fie2 !!dS 14.fib3 and 14.!!fd1.
The variation 12.i.b3 0-0 13. !!c1, again transposes to the main line of variation B - 1l.ttJe4!? i.c7 12.!!c1! 0-0 13.fib3. Still, instead of 12 ... 0-0, it deserves attention for Black to play 12 ... b6!? with ex cellent chances of equalizing with out any problems, for example: 13.!!c1 fib7 14.fia4 !!cS 15.'fic2 0-0 16.!!fd1 !!fdS and he is not worse, because White is incapable of preventing the thematic pawn break c6-c5.
White plays very rarely 12.a3 and the easiest way for Black to equalize is to play 12 ... b6! ? Now, if 13.'fie2, then 13 ... a5; while Black can counter 13.!!c1 with 13 ... i.b7= In case of 12.ttJg3, it is also good for Black to play 12 ... b6!? 13.!!c1 fib7, equalizing easily. If now 14.�e2, then 14 ... a5 15.e4 0-0 16.e5 c5=, or 15 ... .hg3 16. hxg3 0-0 17.!!fd1 !!fdS=
12 . . . 0 - 0
Here, the move 1 2 .. . b6? is bad because of 13.d5! exd5 (13 ... cxd5 14.hd5 exd5 15.'fixd5+-) 14. .hd5 i.b7 (14 ... ttJe5? 15.!!xc6+-) 15.ixc6 ixc6 16.!!xc6 ixh2+ 17.cj;>xh2 �xe4 lS.'fid6 'fie7 19. 'fig3 g6 20.!!d1 ttJc5 21.!!c7 and
Chapter 7
Black's position is very difficult and probably defenceless.
After 12 ... 0-0, White must choose between three basic alter natives:
Bl) 13.1Ye2 B2) 13 • .ib3 B3) 13.1Yc2 Bl) 13.1Ye2 �d8
The immediate move 13 ... eS seems premature, because after 14.dS! White has excellent pros pects thanks to his lead in devel opment. In the game Razuvaev - Dolmatov, USSR 1980, there fol lowed 14 ... ttJb6 (In case of 14 ... ttJf6 lS.ttJxf6+ %Yxf6 16.dxc6 bxc6 17 . .id3 !?, White has a stable posi tional advantage, in view of the vulnerability of Black's c6-pawn; after 14 ... cxdS lS.hdS, White maintains his positional pressure, for example: lS ... ttJb6 (lS .. . .ib6?! 16J:ifd1 ttJf6 17.ttJxf6+ VNxf6 18. %YbS!?±) 16.ttJc3 (16.,ib3 ! ?;!;) 16 ... l':id8 17.l':ifd1) lS.dxc6 bxc6 16 . .ia6 fS 17.ttJg3 c5 18.hc8 l':iaxc8 19.e4! 66
Moscow Variation
with an obvious positional edge for him.
14 . .ib3
Black should not be afraid of 14.a3, because of 14 ... eS!? and he has a good game and in case of 1S.dS, he has the resource 15 ... cxdS 16.hdS ttJb6 17.,ia2 .if 5 = , or 17 . .ib3 .if 5=
White plays only very seldom in the tournament practice 14. l':ifd1 and it deserves attention for Black to counter that with 14 ... as!? (In the game Razuvaev - Dreev, Moscow 1989, Black react ed in the standard fashion - 14 ... ttJf8 and after 1S.ttJeS .id7 16.f4 .ie8 17.a3 as 18.,ia2, White's po sition was a bit better thanks to his lead in development. Still, Black had no weaknesses in his camp and he could rely on a suc cessful defence.). White cannot find an easy way to fight for the opening advantage, for example: lS.h3 b6!? 16 . .ibS ttJb8 ! ? 17.,ia4 (17 . .id3 ib7=) 17 ... ia6!? 18.%Ye1 .ib7= ; 1S.a3 b6! ? 16 . .ibS hh2+ ! ? (16 .. . ttJb8!?=) 17.�xh2 cxbS 18. l':ic7 .ia6=; 1S.%Yc2 b6! ? 16.,ibS hl2+ 17.�xh2 cxbS 18.%Yc7 i>f8!? 19.dS (19.ttJd6 ttJf6 20.ttJxbS ,id7=) 19 ... .ia6 20.dxe6 (20.d6 %Ye8=) 20 ... %Yxe6=
(diagram) 14 . • • �b8!?
This waiting move is only very rarely played; nevertheless it seems quite reliable and logical. Its idea is to wait until White plays 1S.l':ifd1 (He has no other active
6. hf6 Y!!xf6 7.e3 4:Jd7 B.i.d3 dxc4 9. hc4 j.d6 1 O . 0 - 0 Y!!e7 11. 4:J e4
moves, though ... ) and play 15 ... 4:Jf8 only then, having in mind the position after 16.4:JeS i.d7 17.f4 .le8, which looks a bit more pleas ant for White indeed (He has a space advantage.), but not more than that. His rook on d1 is not so active as in the variation 14 ... 4:Jf8 (instead of the waiting move 14 ... gb8 ! ?) lS.4:JeS .id7 16.f4 .ie8, in which he is threatening to push f4-fS at an opportune moment. It looks like White has an useful move - lS.a3, but Black can coun ter it with lS ... eS!? with a good counterplay for him and White not achieve anything with the tandard move 16.dS, because of 1 ... 4:Jf6 17.4:Jxf6+ �xf6 18.dxc6 (18. fd1 e4!? 19.4:Jd4 Y!!eS+; 18.e4 kg4 ) 18 ... bxc6 and Black has ex celle t prospects thanks to his pres ure along the b-file. Now, in tion for him would be 19 ... e4!? 20. d4 cS! 21.Y!!xcS (21.4:Je2? j.a6 22.1'! e1 .laS 23.4:Jc3 i.d3 24.y!!d1 c4-
t
) 21...j.b6 22.Y!!c3 hd4 Y!!b6 and his position isIt is also interesting for Black to try the seldom played move 14 ... aS!?, which was tested for the first time in the game Bareev - Anand, Linares 1992 and there