Chapter s The Rubinstein System
Chapters 5.�c4 in the Rubinstein
The present chapter is one of the key ones in the book. It is the line examined here that brought renewed interest in this ancient opening. It is remarkable that in John Nunn's outstanding 1 9 9 3 book, New Ideas in the Four Knights, which has become a classic, the move 5 .�c4 is not mentioned at all! Nunn looks at 5 .�a4 as the only method of fighting for an advantage. However, in the 1 7 years since his book ap peared, the face of theory in the Four Knights has changed beyond recognition. The decisive word in this surprising transformation has been spoken by such players as Motylev, Naer, Sutovsky, Bacrot, Rublevsky and Howell. Black's defences have been manned by such great names as Kramnik, Aronian, Gelfand, Shirov, Bologan, Naiditsch and Inarkiev. (I sincerely ask for forgiveness, if I have missed anyone out.)
The main variation in this line begins with the moves S ... �cS 6.tLlxeS 'ii'e7 7.tt:Jf3 dS! S.�xdS! . However, for the sake of presenting a complete picture, we will first look at Black's numerous possibilities at move 5 :
1 ) S ... tt:Jx£'3+ (Game 5 0) ;
2) S ... c6 (Game 5 1 ) ;
3 ) S .•• d6 (Games 5 2 and 5 3 ) ; and, finally, the main line
4) S ••. kcS 6.tLlxeS! 'ii'e7 (6 . . . d5 - Game 5 4) 7.tLlf3 dS S . .tdS kg4 (8 . . . tt:Jd5 -
Game 5 5 ) 9.d3 tLld7! (9 . . . 0-0-0 ! ? - Game 5 7 ; 9 . . . c6 ! ? - Game 5 8) 9.�e3
(9 .h3 - Game 5 6) 9 .•• tt:Jes lO.tLlxd4!? - Game 5 9 . Game N o 5 0 [C48] Bacrot,Etienne Sargissian,Gabriel Antwerp 2009 (I) 1. e2-e4 2. tt:Jg1-f3 e7-e5 tt:Jb8-c6 3. tt:Jb1-c3 4. .tf1-b5 5. �b5-c4 tt:Jg8-f6 tt:Jc6-d4 tt:Jd4xf3+
Amongst the rare continuations in this position, the aforementioned exchang ing line deserves attention: 5 ... tt:Jxe4? !
The Four Knights Game
Analysis diagram
6.tt:lxd4 Less is promised by 6.tt:lxe5 tt:ld6 7 .Ad3 g6 8 .'it'g4 tt:lc6 9.tt:lf3 �g7 1 0.0-0 0-0 1 1 .b3 tt:le8 1 2..�b2 d6 1 3 .'iff4 lLleS . The game is equal, Malisauskas-Sulskis, Kaunas ch-LTU 2 00 1 . 6 ... tt:lxc3 6 . . . exd4? ! 7.�xf7 + �xf7 8 .'ifh5 + g 6 9 .'it'd5 + �g7 1 O .tt:lxe4 The pawn on d4 will be lost and compensation is hard to see. 7 .dxc3 exd4 The simple 8.'it'xd4 suffices for an advantage. However, also interesting is 8 . 0-0 dS 9.l:te l + �e6 1 0 .'it'h5 dxc4 ( 1 0 .. . 'it'd7 1 1 .�xd5 0-0-0 1 2 .�xe6 fxe6 1 3 .cxd4 also leaves White a clear advantage) 1 1 Jhe6+ �e7 1 2 .l:te4 0-0 1 3 .l:txd4 with some advantage to White.
8 •.• c6 8 . . . 'iff6 9 .'ifxf6 gxf6 1 0 .0-0;t.
9.�f4 dS In case of 9 . . . 'ife7 + 1 0 .�fl dS ll.l:te 1 �e6 1 2..�.d3 it is hard for Black to complete his development.
10.0-0-0 'it'b6 11. 'if eS + �e6 The threat of opening the position by means of c3 -c4 gives White the advantage.
For a long time, it was considered that the simple exchange on f3 solves Black's problems. However, the surprising
6. g2xf3
poses him new questions.
Black's task is easier after the natural 6.'it'xf3 , for example: 6 . . . d6 7 .d3 �e7 8 .h3 c6 9 .g4? ! (9.a4;t) 9 . . . b5 1 0 .�b3 0-0 1 l .g5 tt:ld7 1 2 .h4 tt:Jcs 1 3 .Ae3 tt:lxb3 1 4 . axb3 Ae 6 1 5 .d4 exd4 1 6 .�xd4 b4 1 7 .tLle2 cS 1 8 .�e3 dS 1 9 .tt:lf4 d4 2 0 . Ad2 'it'd7 2 1 .l:tg 1 aS 2 2 .tLlh5 'it'c6 2 3 .'it'f4 �h8 24.f3 c4 2 5 .bxc4 'ifxc4 2 6 .'it'e5 l:tg8 2 7 .f4 'ifxc2 2 8 . l:tc 1 'it'd3 2 9 .l:tg3 'it'a6 3 0 .'iixd4 l:tad8 3 1 .'iff2 'ifb7 3 2 .'ife2 l:td4 3 3 .l:te3 l:tgd8 3 4 .l:td 1 Ac4 3 S .'ifg2 b3 White resigned, Wehmeier Romanishin, Calvia Open 2006.
•
.t
• Kiii iii
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�
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i
8 8 8An important role in the development of this line was played by the sharp game Naer-Mamedyarov, Khanty Mansiysk 2 0 0 5 .
6 . ... �f8-c5
Black has tried various continuations in this position, but is yet to demonstrate
full equality:
• 6 ... d6 7 .d4 �e6
Analysis diagram
8.d5!:t �h3 Hardly any better is 8 ... �d7 9 .f4 exf4 1 0 .hf4 g6 1 1 . 'if d2 (another
set-up deserves more consideration: 1 1 . l:rg 1 kg 7 1 2 .'ti'f3 :t) 1 1 . . .kg 7 1 2 . 0-0-0 0-0 1 3 .l:rde 1 l:re8 1 4.kg5 b5 1 5 . ..txb5 .txb5 1 6 .tLlxb5 l:rxe4. Now Black obtains a difficult ending by force: 1 7 .l:rxe4 tt:Jxe4 1 8 .�xd8 tt:Jxd2 1 9 .�xc 7 �h6 2 0 . tLlxd6 ! tLle4+ 2 l .<it>b 1 tLlxf2 (2 1 . . .tLlxd6 2 2..�xd6 l:rd8 23 . .tc5 l:rxd5 24 . .txa 7 +- ) 2 2 . l:rfl tLlg4 2 3 .tLlxf7 �g 7 24.tLld8 tLle3 2 5 .l:re 1 l:rxd8 2 6 .�xd8 tLlxd5+- , Naer-Mamedyarov, Khanty-Mansiysk 2 0 0 5 . 9.£4 exf4 Bad is 9 . . . kg 2 ? 1 O . l:rg 1 both because of 1 0 . . . kxe4 1 1 . tt:Jxe4 tt:Jxe4 1 2 .'ti'e2 tLlc5 1 3 .fxe5 dxe5 1 4.�b5 + tLld7 1 5 . 'i¥xe5 + 'ti'e7 1 6 .'il'xe7 + <it>xe7 1 7 .�f4 with the better chances, and because of the in termediate 1 0 .�b5 +. 1 o.�xf4 tLld7 11.l:rg1 'ifcs n.'t/Vf3 tLlb6 13.�b3
1 3 . 1it..d3 ± . 13 .•. h5 14.'il'e3 f6 15.'il'd3
aS 16.a4 �d7 17.0-0-0 <it>£7
Analysis diagram
Now there follows a lovely example on the theme of 'the blow against the strong point' : 18.e5! fxe5 19.'ti'g6+ <it>g8 20.tLle4! 'iVdS There is no other defence against mate ( 2 0 .. . exf4 ? ? 2 I .tLlf6#) . 21.�xe5! �g4 22.tLlf6+ 'it'xf6 23.�xf6 l:rh6 24.'it'xh6! Naer Ippolito, Philadelphia 2 0 0 7 .
• Untested in practice, but worth con sidering, is 6 ... .tb4 7 .d4 7 .l:rg 1 ! ? g6 8 .a3
Chapter 6 - 5 . �c4 in the Rubinstein �d6?! (8 ... Jla5 ! ?) 9.d4 tLlh5 ? 1 0.dxe5 he5 1 l .kxf7+ <it>e7 1 2.. �g5+ 1if6 1 3 .kxf6 + tLlxf6 1 4.kb 3 +- l:re8 1 5 .'ii'd2 c6 1 6.0-0-0 d6 1 7 .e5 dxe5 1 8.'ifh6 Black resigned, Anil Kumar- Juneia, India 1 999. 7 ... 'iVe7 8.ke3 d6
Better is 8 .. . .ixc3 + 9.bxc3 d6 1 0 .l:rg 1 g6 and Black has a solid position. 9.'ti'd3 a6?! 10.0-0-0± hc3 11.'i'ixc3 tt:Jhs 12.dxe5 'it'xe5 13.�d4 'ti'e7 14.l:rhg1
Analysis diagram
White has achieved everything he could dream of in the opening, Nebolsina Glukhov, Tomsk 2 0 0 8 .
• 6 ... c6?! A logical move. Black fights for the centre. 7.d4 d5 8.exd5 It was simplest to go straight into an ending, typical of the Exchange Spanish: 8 .dxe5 dxc4 9 . 'i'ixd8 + <it>xd8 1 O .exf6 gxf6 1 1 . l:rg 1 �d6 1 2 .h4 and White has a small, but stable positional advantage.
The Four Knights Game
8 ... tt::lxd5 Maybe it was better to con tinue in gambit style : 8 . . . �b4! ? 9.dxe5 tt::lxdS 1 O .�xdS cxdS 1 1 .'ifd4 �xc3 + 1 2 .'ti'xc3 �fS with a more or less play able position. Now, instead of 9 .�xdS (H. Andersen-Groenli , Sarpsborg 2 0 0 1 ) , an advantage was promised by
9.tt::lxd5 cxd5 10 . .tb5+ �d7 11.�xd7+ 'ti'xd7 12.dxe5 'ife6 13.'it'd4. Black does not have full com pensation for the sacrificed pawn. Back to the game.
7. l:[h1-g1
The less logical 7.d3 has also been seen:
7 ... d6 8.l:tg1 g6 9.f4 Worth consider ation is 9 .tt::la4! ? �b4+ 1 0 .c3 �aS
1 1 .b4 �b6 1 2 .f4. 9 •.. �e6 10.�xe6
fxe6 11.fxe5 dxe5 12.�g5 l:[f8 13.'it'f3 'it'd7! 1 3 .. . 'i¥e7 1 4. 0-0-0;!;. 14.�xf6 �e7 15.'it'h3 �xf6 16.0-0-0 0-0-0
Pihlajasalo-Molander, Finland ch-FIN jr 1 9 9 6 . Black is in no way worse.
7 . ... tt::lf6-h5
Black's move looks very logical, but .. . • Untried in practice i s 7 ... 0-0!? , for example: 8.d3In the event of 8 .d4? ! �xd4 (also good i s 8 . . . exd4 9 .�h6 g6 1 O.�xf8 'it'xf8 with compensation) 9.�h6 g6 1 0 .�xf8 'i¥xf8 1 1 .'i¥d2 c6 Black has more than sufficient compen sation for the exchange. 8 ... c6 9.�h6
tt::le s 10.�d2 'ti'h4 11.0-0-0 bs 12.�b3 The position has a double
edged character.
• Allow me to add my two cents' worth to the theoretical purse:
7 ... l:[g8?! 8.f4 d6 9.d3 c6 10.'ti'f3 .td7 11.fxe5 dxe5 12.�g5 �e7 13.0-0-0±
Obodchuk-M. Bezgodov, Khanty Mansiysk 2 0 0 9 .
8. d2-d41 �c5xd4
8 ... exd4 9 .l:[gs! and now:
e9 ... dxc3 10.l:[xc5 tt:lf6 11.�d4
1 I . l:[eS + 'it>f8 1 2 .'iVd4 d6 1 3 . l:i.g5 cxb2 1 4.�xb2 also looks quite unpleasant for Black. 11 ... 0-0 Completely bad is l l . . .cxb2 ? ! 1 2 .�xb2 0-0 1 3 . 0-0-0.
n.'it'xc3 d6 1 2 . . .h6 1 3 .�b3 ;!;. 13.l:[gs
White's chances are superior;
e 9 • . . �e7 10JH�! tt:lf6 11.'it'xd4 d5
The most principled ( 1 1 . . . 0 - 0 1 2 . l:[g S ;l;) . 12.l:txd5 The only move. 12 ... tt::lxd5 13.tt:lxd5 and now:
A) 13 ..• �f6 14.�c5 �e5 15.�e3 c6
16.l:[dl! 1 6 .0-0-0 'iYd6 , and Black holds. 16 .• .'iVd6 17Jii'a5 'i¥b8
1 7 .. . cxd5 1 8 . l:[xd5 ±. 18.�f4! This re source would not have been available after 1 6 . 0 - 0 - 0 . 18 •.. �xf4 1 8 .. . b6
1 9 .'ti'b4 cS 2 0 . 'i\Ya4++- ; 1 8 ... cxd5 1 9 Jhd5 +- . 19.tt::lxf4 Black is in trou ble, since after 19 ... 0-0
both the human move 2 0 .tt::lh5 fol lowed by 'ifc3 or 'iYgS , and the com puter blow 20 . .l:!.d8 ! ! g6 2 1 .tt::lh5 win.
B) 13 ... 0-0 14.�f4 Also worthy of study is 1 4.i.d2 ! ? followed by �c3 and 0 - 0 - 0 . In that case White has good compensation for the exchange, and his position looks superior. A pos sible variation is: 1 4 .. . �e6 1 5 .�c3 f6
1 6 . tt::lxc7 'i¥xc7 1 7 .�xe 6 + �h8 1 8 . 0 - 0 - 0 .l:!.fd8 1 9 .�d5 . 14 ... �d6
Possible is 1 4 .. . c6 1 S . tt::lxe 7 + 'ti'xe 7 1 6 . �d6 'i¥d8 ( 1 6 .. . .l:!.d8 1 7 .'ifxg 7 + ;!;) 1 7 . 0 - 0 - 0 .l:!.e8 1 8 . .l:!.g l g 6 1 9 .eS and White has sufficient compensation for the exchange, but no more than that. 15.e5 �b4+
1 5 .. . �e7 1 6 . 0 - 0 - 0 c6 1 7 . tt::lxe 7 + "iYxe 7 1 8 . e 6 fxe 6 1 9 . i.d6 'i!:Yf6 2 0 . �xf8 'i!:Yxd4 2 1 . .l:!.xd4 �xf8 2 2 .�d3 g 6 2 3 . .l:!.d8 + �f7 24.f4±. 16.c3 �e6! 17.0-0-0 c6 Analysis diagram 18.tt::lf6+ gxf6 19.'i!:Ye4 fS 1 9 .. . 'iVxd l + 20 .�xd 1 fS 2 1 . 'i!:Ye3 ..itxc4 2 2 .cxb4 with a clear advantage for White.
20.'ife2 'i!:Ye8 21.cxb4 ..txc4 22.'ifxc4
and also in this case, White certainly has sufficient compensation for the ex change.
Back to the game.
Chapter 6 - S . �c 4 in the Rubinstein
9. tt::lc3-e2
Probably it is more accurate to play 9 .tt::lb5 dS l O .�xdS c6 l l .tt::lxd4, reaching a position from the game.
9 . ... d7-d5
Black had the interesting tactical re source 9 . . . 'ife7 ! 1 0 .tt::lxd4 'ifb4+ l l .c3 'ifxc4 with sufficient counterchances.
10. �c4xd5 11. tt::le2xd4 12. .l:!.g1-g5 13 . .l:!.g5xd5 14. .l:!.d5xh5 15. b2-b3 c7-c6 c6xd5 e5xd4 'ifd8-b6 �c8-e6
White has a healthy extra pawn and no compensation is to be seen. 15. 16. �c1-b2 17. �b2xd4 18. �d4-f6 Black resigned. Game No 5 1 [C48] Varga,Zoltan Zherebukh, Yaroslav Budapest 2009 (10) 1. e2-e4 2. tt::lg1-f3 3. tt::lb1-c3 0-0?1 g7-g6 "iYb6-c7 e7-e5 tt::lb8-c6 tt::lg8-f6
The Four Knights Game 4. �f1-b5 5. �b5-c4
tt:Jc6-d4 c7-c6
An interesting gambit idea, first seen back in the game Nimzowitsch Levenfish, St Petersburg 1 9 1 3 / 1 4. Black's poor play in that game took the idea away from public attention for a long time ....
6. tt:Jf3xe5
Declining the sacrifice means giving up the fight for an opening advantage. Thus, after 6.0-0 the simple 6 ... tt:Jxf3+ 7.'tlfxf3 �c5 equalises (worse is 7 . . . d6 8 .d3 �e7 9 . 'tlfg3 0-0 1 0 .�h6 tt:le8 1 1 .�e3 with a small advantage to White) .
In reply to 6.d3 plans af forcing the ex change of the bishop on b3 for the knight d4 are considered to be a solid route to equality, for example :
• 6 ... 'tlfa5 7 .�d2 �b4 8 .�b3 tt:lxb3 9 . axb3 'iYc7 1 0 .0-0 �e7 ( I O ... �xc3 l l .bxc3 d6 should also suffice for equality) 1 1 .h3 0-0 1 2 .tt:le2 dS and Black has comfortable play, Conquest Hebden, Hastings 1 9 9 6 / 9 7 ;
• Or 6 ... b5 7 .�b3 'iYaS (also sufficient is 7 . . . tt:lxb3 8 . axb3 d6= ; or 7 . . . tt:lxf3 + 8 .'iYxf3 aS 9 .a3 d6 1 0 .0-0 a4 1 1 .�a2 �e7 =) 8 . tt:lxe5 (8 .�d2 'iYc7 9 .0-0 b4 1 O . tt:le 2 tt:lxf3 + 1 l . gxf3 g S ! =F) 8 . .. tt:lxb3 9 . cxb3 b4 1 0 .tt:lc4 'iYd8
l l .tt:le2 dS with good compensation for the pawn.
6 . ... 7. e4xd5
d7-d5 �f8-d6
In the aforementioned game
Nimzowitsch-Levenfish, there followed 7 . . . cxdS 8 .�bS + tt:lxbS 9 . tt:lxbS a6 1 o.'iYe2 �e7 1 1 .tt:ld4 0-0 1 2 .0-0 .l:f.e8 1 3 .tt:ldf3 'iYc7 1 4.d4 �fs 1 5 .c3 , and Black did not obtain sufficient compen sation for the pawn.
8. tt:Je5-f3
The complications arising after S.tt::lx.£7?!
'oir>x£7 (also good for Black is 8 . . . 'iYe7 +
9 . tt:le2 (9 .�fl 'iYxf7 +) 9 . . . �xf7
1 O.dxc6+ �e6 1 1 .�xe6+ 'iYxe6 1 2 .d3 ( 1 2 .cxb7 .l:.ae8-+) 1 2 .. . .l:.he8 1 3 .�e3 tt:lxc6=F) are of only theoretical interest:
9.dxc6+ �f8 I O.d3 �g4 Simpler is 1 0 .. . tt:lxc6=F. Three pawns for the piece do not constitute sufficient compensa tion in this position. ll.f3 'tlfe7+ 12.tt:le4 tt:lxe4 13.dxe4 �c5 1 3 .. . .l:.d8 1 4.fxg4 'iYh4+ I S .�fl ( 1 5 .�d2 'iYf2 + 1 6 .'oir>c3 �b4+ 1 7 . �xb4 tt:lxc6 + 1 8 .Wc3 'ti'f6++) I S .. . 'iff6+ leads to perpetual check. 14.cxb7 .l:l.d8 15.b8'it'
1 S .fxg4 'iYxe4+ 1 6.�fl �e7 1 7 .�g5 + �d6 1 8 .�e2 .l:l.df8 + 1 9 .�f3 �c7 20 .'iYd3 tt:lxf3 2 1 .'iYxe4 tt:ld2+ 2 2 .�e2 tt:lxe4+. 15 ... .l:l.xb8 16.�e3! Worse is 1 6.c3 'ir'h4+ 1 7 .�d2 'iff2 + 1 8 .<;itd3
tt::lc6 1 9 .'il:fe2 ( 1 9 . .if4 .l:i.xb2-+ Schu bert-Baturinsky, correspondence 1 9 60) 1 9 . . . tt::leS + 2 0. Wc2 �xf3 2 l .gxf3 tt::lxc4 2 2 . 'il:fxf2 �xf2=F ; or 1 6 .fxg4 'il:fxe4+ 1 7 .Wfl We 7 -+ . 16 ... �e6 1 6 .. . tt::lxf3 + I 7 .gxf3 �xe3 I 8 .fxg4 'ir'h4+ I 9 .We2 'iff2 + 2 0 .Wd3 ..tf4 2 1 .';We2+- 17 • .ixd4 �xc4 with un clear play.
8 . ... tt::ld4xf3+
Interesting is the intermediate 8 . . . 'ir'e7 + 9 . Wfl tt::lxf3 I O .'ifxf3 0-0
Analysis diagram
11.h3?! Here this move is not quite ap propriate. Better is I I .d3 .ig4 1 2 .'ti'e3 'ti'c7 (in case of 1 2 .. .'ti'd7 I 3 .dxc6 bxc6 1 4.f3 l:tfe8 1 S .tt::le4 tt::lxe4 I 6 .dxe4 ..te6 I 7 .�xe6 .l:i.xe6 I 8 .'iYd3 Black does not have any particular compensa tion for the pawn) I 3 .dxc6 l:tfe8
I 4.tt::le4 tt::lxe4 1 5 .dxe4 'ti'xc6 I 6 . ..td3 and the solid pawn structure and healthy extra pawn allow one to assess the position as better for White.
11. .. .l:i.e8 12.g3 bS 13 . ..tb3 b4 14.tt::ldl cxdS Black has rich counterplay for the pawn. 15.tt:le3 �b7 He can fight for the initiative with I S .. . d4! . 16.d4 White has got off lightly. The advantage is on his side. 16 ... tt::le4 17 .tt:lfS 'iff6 18. 'itg2 �f8 19.�e3 1 9 .tt::le3 ! ? 'iYxd4 2 0 . .l:i.di ;t.
19 ... a5 20.�a4 .l:i.ec8 21.tt::lh4 2 I . .l:i.he I .
Chapter 6 - S . � c4 in the Rubinstein
21. •. 1tc6 22. �xf6 tt::lxf6 23 . ..txc6 .l:i.xc6
24.l::thcl .l:i.ac8 25.tt::lf3 .l:i.xc2 26.tt::le1 .l:t2c4 27.b3 .l:i.xcl 28.l::!.xc1 .l:i.xcl 29.�xcl tt::le4 30.�b2 �d6 31.tLlc2 g6 32.tt:le3 tt::lf6 33.'itf3 draw, Keitling haus-Karpachev, Germany tt 2 0 0 0 / 0 1 .
9. 'il:fd1 xf3 0·0 10. h2·h3
In principle, it was possible to ignore Black's threats and play 1 0 .0-0 tt::lg4 I l .g3 tt::lxh2 1 2 .Wxh2 'ti'h4+ I 3 .Wgi 'ifxc4 I 4.d3 with some advantage.
10 . ... .l:i.f8·e8+
• Also seen is 1 O ••• bS 11.�e2 More chances of an advantage are offered by I L�.b3 .l:i.e8 + 1 2 .tt::le2 cxdS 1 3 .0-0;t.
11. •. b4 12.tt::le4 1 2 .tLldi cxdS I 3 .0-0 .ic7 with counterplay. 12 .•. tt::lxe4
13.'ifxe4 .l:te8 14.'ti'f3 cxdS 15.d4 ..ta6 16.�e3 �xe2
The Four Knights Game
17.'ilhe2 No better is 1 7 .�xe2 'ifc7 1 8 . .l:f.hd 1 'ir'xc2 + 1 9 . �fl l:re4=F 2 0 .'ir'f5 'ir'c6 2 1 . l:rdc 1 'ir'b7 2 2 . l:rc2 g6 2 3 .'ir'g5 �e7 24.'ir'g3 'ir'a6+ 2 5 .�g 1 b3 2 6 . l:rcc 1 bxa2 2 7 .Wic7 .l:f.e6 2 8 .b3 .td8 29 .'ifd7 'ir'd6 3 0 .'iYxd6 .l:f.xd6 3 1 ..l:f.xa2 �b6 3 2 .�fl l:re8 3 3 . .l:f.a4 l:rdd8 34.�e2 .l:f.c8 3 5 . .l:f.xc8 .l:f.xc8 3 6 .�d3 f6 3 7 . .l:f.a 1 �f7 3 8 . .l:f.c l .l:f.xc 1 3 9 .�xc 1 �e6 40.f3 �d7 4 1 .i.a3 a6 4 2..�b4 draw, Keitlinghaus-Van den Doel, Germany Bundesliga pff 2 0 0 3 / 04.17 .. .'ii'b6 1 7 .. . f5!?. 18.'iYd3;!; .i:[e4 19.0-0-0 1 9 . 0 - 0 ;!;. 19 ... a5 20 . .l:f.he1 a4 21.�b1 .l:f.e7 2 l . . . a 3 2 2 . b3 ;!;. 2 2 . .tc1 .l:f.b7 2 3 • .l:f.e2 b3
24.cxb3 axb3 25.a3 .l:f.c7 26.l:rde1 .if'S 27 . .td2 .l:f.c4 28.�c3 'ii'c6 29.l:rcl l:rc8 30.l:ree1 'ifa6 31.'ii'd1 l:rb8 32.l:re3 l:ra4 33.'ii'd3 'ifa7 34.l:rce1 'ii'd7 35.g4 g6 36.'ife2 l:raa8 37.f4 �h6 38.l:re7 'ii'c6 39.f5 .tf8 40.l:re3 .th6 4 I.l:re7 .if8 42.l:re3 .th6;!; draw, Arm . Petrosian-Remille, Salon de Provence 2 0 0 6 ;
• Definitely weaker i s 1 O ••• cxd5?! 1 1 . tLlxd5 tLlxdS 1 2..�xd5 .l:f.e 8 + 1 3 .�d 1 �e6 1 4.l:re 1 'ir'b6 1 S . .txe6 .l:f.xe6 1 6 . .l:f.xe6 fxe6 1 7 .'ir'b3 'iYxf2 1 8 .'ir'xe6+ �h8 1 9 .c3 .tg3 2 0 .'ir'e4 h6 2 1 .�c2 l:rd8 2 2 .b4 �h4 2 3 .�b3 .tgs 24.d3 'ir'f7+ 2 5 .'ir'c4 'ife7 2 6 .�xg5 'ir'xgS 2 7 .'ir'e4 'ir'd2 2 8 . .l:f.fl bS 29 .d4 l:.c8 3 0 .'ir'c2 'ir'e3 3 1 .l:!.d 1 aS 3 2 .'ir'd3 'ir'e6+ 3 3 .d5 'ir'a6 3 4.a3 axb4 3 5 .cxb4 'ir'd6 3 6 .'ti'xb5 'ttg 3 + 3 7 .'ir'd3 'ir'xg2 3 8 .d6 1 -0 , Z. Varga-Roussel Roozmon, Balatonlelle 2 0 0 5 .
11. .tc4-e2 c6xd5
Slightly more accurate is 1 1 . . . tLlxd5 1 2 .tLlxd5 cxdS 1 3 .d4 'ti'b6 1 4.c3 g6 1 5 . 0-0 �fS . The realisation of the extra pawn in this position is an extremely
difficult task for White, although of course, he is taking hardly any risk at all . . .
12. d2-d4
At a minimum, White is not better af ter 1 2 .tLlxd5 ? ! tLlxdS 1 3 .'ifxd5 �d7 !
(but not 1 3 .. . 'ifc7 1 4 . c 3 �e6 1 S .'iff3 ± or 1 3 .. . �e6 1 4. Wif3 Wlas
1 5 . 0-0 'ifes 1 6 .'ir'g3 'i!Vxg3 1 7 .fxg3 .ixh3 1 8 .�bS .l:f.eS 1 9 .gxh3 .l:f.xbS 2 0 .c4±) with good compensation for the pawn for Black, for example : 1 4.0-0 �c6 1 5 .'ir'd3 'iff6 .
12. ... ttJf6-e4
1 2 .. . 'ir'b6 1 3 . 0-0 ( 1 3 .'ii'd3 �c7 1 4.0-0 'ir'd6 1 5 .f4 .td7 1 6 .�f3 a6 1 7 . .td2±) 1 3 .. . �b8 1 4.�b5 .l:f.d8 , and now in stead of 1 5 .�f4? 'ir'xd4 1 6 .�xb8 .l:f.xb8
1 7 .�d3 �e6 1 8 . .l:f.ab 1 draw (Podlesnik-S. Polgar, Ljubljana 1 994) a clear advantage is retained by 1 5 .i.g 5 , planning to answer 1 5 .. . 'ir'xd4 with 1 6 . .l:f.fd 1 'ifes 1 7 . .txf6 gxf6 1 8 .tLlxd5 ±. 13. 0-0 14. b2xc3;!; 15 . .te2-b5 16. a2-a4 17. �c1-d2 18. .l:f.f1-e1 ttJe4xc3 �c8-e6 .l:f.e8-f8 .l:f.a8-c8 �d6-b8 Simpler is 1 8 . .td3 'ir'd6 1 9 .g 3 ;!;.
18 . ... 19. g2-g3
20. �e1-e5
'tlt'd8-d6 �e6xh3
2 0 .�c l 'ii'g6 2 l .�a3 wins the ex change.
20 . ... 21. �g1-g2
�h3-e6 f7-f6?! A serious weakening. After 2 1 . . . a6 2 2..�.d3 �fe8 there is nothing too terri ble for Black.
22. �e5-e2 23 . .tb5-d3 24. �a1-e1 25. 'iff3-g4 a7-a6 g7-g6 �e6-f7 A nice advantage could be assured by 25 . .l::!.e7 'ifc6 2 6 .c4! ? with the idea of meeting 2 6 .. . dxc4 with 2 7 .�e4± .
25 . ... 26. 'ifg4-f3 27. �e2-e7 h7-h5 �b8-c7 �f8-e8?
2 7 .. .fS allows Black to hold.
28.�e 7xe8+ �f7xe8 29.�e1 xeS+!
�c8xe8 30.it..d3xg6 �e8-e7
31.'iff3xh5 'tWd6-e6 32.it..g6-d3
b7-b5 33.a4xb5 a6-a5
34.�d2-h6 a5-a4 35.'tlt'h5-g6+
�g8-h8 36.�h6-f8 f6-f5
37.�f8-g7+ �h8-g8 38.�g7-f6+
Chapter 6 - 5 . .£c4 in the Rubinstein
�g8-f8 39.�d3xf5 'tWe6-f7 1-0 40. 'if g6-h6+ Game No 5 2 [C48] Rublevsky,Sergey Bologan, Viktor Poikovsky 2008 (4)
In the notes to this game, we have made use of variations and assessments from Rublevsky's commentary in Chess Infor
mant 1 04. 1. e2-e4 2. tt:Jg1-f3 3. tt:Jb1-c3 4. �f1-b5 5 . .tb5-c4 6. tt:Jf3xd4 e7-e5 tt:Jb8-c6 tt:Jg8-f6 tt:Jc6-d4 d7-d6
Nothing special is promised by 6.tt::lgs dS! 6 . . . �e6 7 .tt::lxe6 fxe6 8 . 0 - 0 = .
7 .exdS 7 . tt::lxdS tt::lxdS 8 . tt::lxf7 'it>xf7 9 . 'ifh5 + (9.c3 tt::le6 1 O . .txdS c6 l l . .tb3 g6+) 9 ... g6 l O .'tlt'xeS �g 7 I 1 .�xd5 + �e6 with advantage to Black.
7 .•. h6 s.tt:Jf3 �g4 9.�e2 �xf3 I O • .itxf3
.itb4 with a good game for Black, Vallejo Pons-Kramnik, Monaco rapid 2 0 0 5 .
6 . ... 7. tt:Jc3-d5
e5xd4 tt:Jf6-g41? The move 7 . . . tt::ld7 , which is now con sidered the main line, will be examined in the next game.
The Four Knights Game
8. d2-d3 c7-c6
After 8 . . . tt:Je5 9 .�b3 c6 1 0 .tt:Jf4 White is a little better.
9. tt:Jd5-f4 'ii'd8-h41? Here too, 9 . . . t2le5 ? ! 1 0 . .tb3 1l.e7 (du-
bious is 1 O . . . .tg4 1 1 .f3 'ii'h4+ 1 2 .g3 !
tt:Jxf3 + 1 3 .�£'2 'ii'f6 1 4.h3 ! gS 1 5 .hxg4 tt:Jes 1 6 .�g2 gxf4 1 7 .gxf4±) 1 1 .0-0 0-0 1 2 .c3 assures White an opening ad vantage.
10. g2-g3 'ii'h4-f6
11. f2-f31
1 I ..tb3 ! ?.
11. . .. tt:Jg4-e5
Interesting is 1 1 . . . tbe3 ! ? 1 2 . .txe3 dxe3
1 3 .c3 bS ! ? ( 1 3 .. . d5 1 4.exd5 .id6 1 5 .t2lg2 0-0 1 6 .'ii'e2 bS 1 7 .�b3 .tb7 1 8 . 0 -0 ! ? cxdS 1 9 .d4 b4 2 0 . t2lxe3 ± Rublevsky) 1 4.�b3 aS 1 5 .a4 b 4 with a double-edged position.
12. 0-0 tt:Je5xc4?1
Black is slightly worse after 1 2 .. . g6 1 3 .�b3 �g7 1 4.c3 tLld7 1 5 .�d2 ;!;. However, after 1 2 .. . �e7 1 3 .�b3 1l.d8 ! ? 1 4.c3 �b6 his position seems perfectly playable. 13. d3xc4 14. b2-b3 g7-g6 �f8-g7 15. 1l.c1-b2 0-0 16. 'ii'd1-d2
Probably more exact is 1 6 .'ii'd3 .ie6 1 7 .tt:Je2 cS 1 8 .c3 ;!; , retaining the same pluses of his position, as in the game, but not giving the opponent the tactical chance he had in the game.
16 . ... 17. tt:Jf4-e2 18. c2-c3 18 . ... 1l.c8-e6 c6-c5 b7-b51?
A remarkable chance in a dubious posi tion! Bologan sacrifices several pawns one after another, so as to open lines for his bishops. Bad is 1 8 .. . dxc3 1 9 . ..txc3 'ii'e7 2 0 .�xg7 �xg7 2 l ..:f.ad 1 .:f.ad8 2 2 .tLlc3 ± .
19. c4xb5 d4-d3
20. 'ii'd2xd3 c5-c4
21. 'ii'd3xd61
Principled! After 2 1 . bxc4 .l::[ac8 2 2 .'ii'xd6 �xc4 2 3 .'ii'xf6 �xf6 24 . .:f.f2 .txbS 2 5 .tLld4 �c4, despite his pawn deficit, Black has good drawing chances in the endgame - Rublevsky.
21 . ... 22. a2xb3 23. 'ti'd6-f41
c4xb3 .:t.f8-d8
A practical decision. 2 3 .'ii'a3 l:l.d2 24.l:l.f2 'iY gS looks too risky.
23. ... 'iVf6xf4
24. tt:le2xf4 �e6xb3
25. l:l.f1-f2 l:l.d8-b8 26. tt:lf4-d5
Black retains drawing chances after 2 6 . l:l.a5 kc4 2 7 .l:!.d2 l:l.xbS 2 8 .l:l.a4 �e6 (28 .. . l:.c8 2 9 . lhc4±) 29.tt:lxe6 fxe6 . 26 . ... �b3xd5 27. e4xd5 l:l.b8xb5 28. l:l.a1-d1 l:l.a8-d8 29. d5-d6 �g7-f8 30. c3-c4 l:l.b5-c5 31. l:l.f2-e2?1
In time-trouble, White misses a win, which he could achieve by means of 3 l .d7 ! ? l:!.c7 3 2 .l:l.fd2 �e7 3 3 .�c3 l:l.xc4 34.l:l.d3 ! �f8 3 S .�a5 �cS + 3 6 .�g2 �b6 3 7 .1it.c3 l:l.xd7 (3 7 . . . �c5 3 8 . .l:f.c 1 �g8 3 9 .l:l.e 1 +-) 3 8 .l:l.xd7 l:l.xc3 3 9 .f4 with a technically winning endgame - Rublevsky.
31 .. .f7-f51 32.d6-d7 �g8-f7 33.�b2-c1 l:l.c5-c7 34.�c1-e3 it.f8-c5 35.�e3xc5 l:l.c7xc5 36.l:l.d1-d4 l:l.c5-c7 37.l:l.e2-d2
�f7-e7 38.l:l.d2-e2+ �e7-f7
39.l:l.e2-d2 �f7-e7 112-112
Chapter 6 - S . .£c4 in the Rubinstein
Game No 5 3 [C48] Svidler,Peter Gelfand,Boris Astrakhan 2010 (12) 1. e2-e4 2. tt:lg1-f3 3. tt:lb1-c3 4. �f1-b5 5. kb5-c4 6. tt:lf3xd4 7. tt:lc3-d5 e7-e5 tt:lb8-c6 tt:lg8-f6 tt:lc6-d4 d7-d6 e5xd4 tt:lf6-d71 Nowadays considered strongest. Simply bad is 7 ... tt:lxe4? 8 .'iYe2 fS 9 .d3 c6
1 0 .dxe4 cxd5 1 1 .�xd5 +- .
Other continuations have also been tried:
• 7 ... i.e6 White is a little better after 7 . . . c6 8 . tt:lxf6 + 'iYxf6 9 . d3 � e 7 1 0 . 0 - 0 0-0 1 l .f4. 8.0-08 .d3 ! ? c 6 (8 .. . tt:lxd5 9 . exd5 .t d 7 1 0 . 0 - 0 �e7 1 1 .'iYhS ;!;) 9 . tt:lxf6+ 'iYxf6 1 0 .�b3 ;!; (L.Kritz) . The threat o f the advance f4-f5 gives White some advantage. 8 ..• c60n 8 . . . tt:lxe4 9 .'iYe2 ( 9 . l:l.e 1 tt:lf6 1 O .b3 c6 1 I .tt:lf4 dS 1 2 .tt:lxe6 fxe6 1 3 .�d3 ;!;) 9 ... tt:lf6 White has a pleas ant choice between 1 O . tt:lf4 dS
1 1 . tt:lxe6 fxe 6 1 2 . 'iYxe 6 + and 1 o. tt:lxf6 + 'iYxf6 1 1...t xe 6 fxe 6 1 2 .'tWbS + �f7 1 3 .'i¥xb 7 , retaining some advantage in both cases.
9.tt:lxf6+
The Four Knights Game
Worthy of attention is 9 .'i¥e2 , 'transfer ring ' the move to the opponent.
9 ... 'i¥xf6 10.d3 0-0-0 1 I..ixe6+ fxe6 12.f4 g6 13.�d2 .ig7 14.'ti'g4 with a roughly equal game, T. Willemze-Van der Veen, Hoogeveen 2 0 0 9 .
• A line hardly seen i n tournament practice is 7 ... tt:lxd5 8 . .txd5 c6 9 . .tb3 g6 9 .. . Ji...e7 1 0 .0-0 ( 1 0 .d3) 1 0 .. . 0-0 1 l .d3 ;;!;. 10.'ti'f3 More natural is 1 0 .d3 �g 7 1 1 .0-0 0-0 1 2 .�f4 when White's advantage is not great, but it is stable; it is unpleasant to play such a position as Black. 10 ... 'ti'e7 11.d3 h6?! 1 1 .. . .ie6 . -
12.0-0 i.g7 13.'ti'g3 i.e6 14.f4 ..ixb3 15.axb3 a6 16.f5 gS 17.'ti'f2 .if6 18.�d2 cS 19.b4 0-0-0 20.c4 dxc3 21.�xc3 �xc3 22.bxc3 c4 23.'ti'd4 cxd3 24.'ihd3 l::the8 25.l::tfe1 'i:Vc7 26.l::ta5 dS?? 27.l::tc5 Black resigned, Lugo-Lopez, ICC 2005 .
• 7 ... tt:lg4-see Game No 5 2 .
8. 0-0
• The game Carlsen-Gelfand, Nice (blind) 2 0 1 0 , developed in similar vein: 8.d3 c6 9.tt:lf4 g6 10.a3!? The im minent appearance of the bishop on g 7 suggests the idea o f advancing the h-pawn in one fashion or another: 1 O.h4 bS 1 I ..ib3 tt:lcS 1 2 .h5 .ig 7 1 3 . 'iV f3 , with a double-edged game.
1 O ... ..ig7 11.0-0 Here too possible was
1 1 .h4 tt:les 1 2 . Ji...a2 'ir'b6 ( 1 2 . . .h5 1 3 .c3 ;;!;) 1 3 .h5 with unclear play.
11...0-0 12.�a2 tt:lcs 13.�d2 'i!Vh4 14.tLle2 �e6 15.tLlg3 Tempting is 1 5 .f4! ? �xa2 1 6 .l: ha2 l::tae8 ( 1 6 .. . d5 1 7 .b4 tt:ld7 1 8 .exd5 cxdS 1 9 . .te 1 'ife7 2 0 .kf2 ;;!;; 1 6 .. .f5 1 7 .exfS l:rxfS 1 8 .tt:lg3 l:rf7 1 9 . .l:i.a 1 .l:i.af8 2 0 . .l:i.e 1 dS 2 l .'ti'e2 tt:la4 22 . .l:i.ab 1 kh6 2 3 .tt:lfl with a com plicated battle) 1 7 .fS .iteS 1 8 . tt:lf4 and White is slightly better. 1 5 .. . kxa2 1 6 . .l:i.xa2 dS 1 7 .exdS cxdS 1 8 .a4 l:rac8. Black has comfortable play, although White later won after a tough battle; • I will allow myself here to present a personal recommendation: bring the knight to f4 earlier, so as to be able to meet g6 with the move h4: 8.tt:lf4 g6 9.h4 tt:leS l O .i.e2 �g 7 l l .c3 (or
1 1 .h5 ) .
8. ... g7-g6
Considered more accurate than 8 ••. c6
9.tLlf4 and now:
• 9 .•. g6 1 O.c3 'iff6 11.d3 dxc3
12.bxc3 'ti'xc3?! Brave, to say the least.
13.l:tb1 'ti'as 14.�b2 tt:les 15.tLle2 J::tgs 16 . ..ib3 'iV a6 17 .tt:lc 1 ..ig7 18.f4 tt:lg4 19.'ti'd2 �e6 20.i.xg7 .l:i.xg7 21.h3 tLlf6 22.'i!Vc3, and White obtained excellent compensation for the pawn, Andreikin Stefanova, Moscow 2 0 0 6 .
A) 1 O • .ie2 has also been seen, mov ing out of the attack: 1 O ••• g6 11.c3 .ith6 Worse is 1 1 .. . .tg 7 1 2 .a4 with the better chances for White. 12.d3 .itg7 13.'i:Vc2 dxc3 14.bxc3 0-0 15.d4 1S .• .tZlb6
16 • .ie3, and White's chances are supe rior, thanks to his preponderance in the centre, Sutovsky-Bacrot, Khanty Mansiysk 2005 .
B) However, the less subtle 10.i.b3
also deserves consideration, and if
1 O ••• tL:lcS 11.c3 ( 1 l .d3 .te7 1 2 . tLle2 i.f6 1 3 .c3 tL:lxb3 1 4.axb3 cS 1 5 .cxd4 cxd4 1 6 .tLlf4 0-0 1 7 .t2Jds i.e6=)
11. .. d3 12.'i:Vf3 'i:Vf6 13.'i:Ve3 'iVgS!? (L. Kritz assesses this position as unclear)
14.�d1 aS (slightly better is 1 4 .. . �e7 1 5 .b4 tLla4 1 6 .g3 0-0 1 7 . .l:!.e 1 and the pawn on d3 falls) 15.b4 axb4 16.cxb4 tL:la4 17.g3 ( 1 7 . tL:lxd3;!;) 17 ... �e7 18.'i:Vxd3 White has a healthy extra pawn.)
9. a2-a3
Tournament practice in recent years has shown that the plan involving the break c2-c3 does not promise White a scrap of advantage: 9.c3 �g7 10.cxd4 .txd4
Or 1 0 . . . 0-0 1 1 .d3 �xd4 1 2..�h6 c6 1 3 .tL:lc3 .lle8 1 4.'il'd2 bS 1 5 .�b3 tL:lcS 1 6 .�e3 �xe3 1 7 .'i:Vxe3 b4 1 8 .tLle2 'ii'b6 1 9 .�c2 draw, Rublevsky-Inarkiev, Moscow 20 1 0 .
Chapter 6 - S.�c4 in the Rubinstein • 11.tLlc3 0-0 1 l . . .c6 1 2 .tLle2 .tg 7 1 3 .d4 0-0 1 4 . .tb3 t2Jf6 1 5 .f3 �e6 1 6 . �xe6 fxe6 1 7 .'iYb3 'iYd7 1 8 .�e3 led to a small advantage to White in the game Ivanchuk-Gelfand, Nice (blind) 2 0 0 8 . 12.tt:le2 'ti'e7! 13.'ii'c2 �g7 14.d4 tL:lb6 15.�b3 .lle8 16 . .i.e3 'i:Vxe4 17.'i:Vxc7 'ife7 18 . .llfcl �e6 19.'il'xe7
draw, Radj abov-Aronian , Novi Sad Ech-tt 2 0 0 9 ;
• The game Motylev-Shirov, Poikovsky