l.e4 c5 2.tLla d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.YNxd4 4 ... tLl c6 5.i.h5 i.d7 6.hc6 hc6 B) 7.tLlc3 tLl£6 8.i.g5 e6 9.0-0-0 i.e?
8 7 6 5 4 3 2
a b
B1) 10.YNd3 B2) 10J:!:he1 0-0
B21) 11.e5 B22) 11.YNd2 B23) 11.�b1
A) after 1 7 .i.e3
c d e f g h
1 7...�d8!N
B22) after 1 8.�xd5
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
a b c d e f g h a
18 ... �c6!N
a b c d e f g h
B23) after 1 9.'Llf4!?
b c d e f g
1 9 ... �dc8!N
134 136 137 139 140 141 143
h
Le4 c5 v!l:Ja d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.'1Wxd4
Chess novices trying to improve their game will be taught to avoid playing with the queen too early, but experienced players wanting to win the game will occasionally do just that!
The variation examined here is one of the exceptions to the general rule, with the White queen appearing boldly in the centre as early as the fourth move. Although the general pawn structure remains the same as in the traditional Open Sicilian, the unusual queen position gives the present variation a unique character so I would advise the reader to study it carefully.
4 ... �c6
Sometimes Black prevents the following pin with 4 ... a6 or 4 ... j,d7, but the text move is the main line and the one I have chosen to recommend.
5.i.b5
White is ready to part company with his light-squared bishop very early, since it maintains the position of the queen on d4 and facilitates the rapid development of all the remaining pieces.
5 . . . i.d7 6.i.xc6
a player with a rating over 2 1 00 forgot to exchange on c6 and allowed Black to take the queen!)
6 ... i.xc6
a b c d e f g h Now we will consider the unusual A) 7.c4, followed by the main line of B) 7.�c3.
A) 7.c4
White can try for a Maroczy Bind set-up, hoping that the centralized queen will support his actions across the board.
7 ... �£6 8.�c3 g6
I think this is the most convenient solution for Black's development. It will also force the centralized queen to spend time moving, as she will hardly be able to remain on the al-h8 diagonal for much longer.
9.0-0 i.g7 10.�d3
Strictly speaking White is not obliged to retreat the queen immediately, but it will clearly have to happen once Black has castled.
In practice most players have chosen to retreat at this turn in order to improve the f3-knight at the earliest opportunity.
(I found one game on the database in which 10 ... 0-0
8 .i
7 •
6
5
2 1
a b c d e f g h 1 I.tlJd4
A glance at the database reveals that White has tried just about every legal move here. It would be pointless to analyse all of them, as in most cases Black will proceed in a similar fashion as seen in the examples given below.
The quoted games should be enough to illustrate all of the essential ideas needed to handle the black position.
l l.
..
:B:c8The text move prepares an interesting tactical moti£ which is why I decided to offer it as the main line. However, I also advise the reader to pay close attention to the following plan:
1 1 .. .lt:ld7 12.b3 Ele8 13.i,b2 tt:lc5 14.'We3 '1Wb6 1 5.Eifd1 a5
a b c d e f g h
This is a model set-up for Black, which we have 'borrowed' from the Accelerated
Dragon. Black's pieces are all ideally placed, and the ... a5-a4 plan is an effective source of counterplay.
1 6.Eiab1 a4 17.CtJd5 i,xd5 1 8.exd5 axb3 1 9.axb3
This position occurred in Z. Almasi - Anka, Zalakaros 1 992, and now I think Black should have opened the centre with:
1 9 ... e6!?N
Such a move should not be taken lightly, as Black's pawn structure might suffer. In this position, however, it is justified by the improvement in the activity of his pieces.
20.dxe6 tt:lxe6
a b c d e f g h
2 l .CtJb5
2 I .tt:lf5!? also leads to equality after 21...'1Wxe3 22.CtJxe3 CtJc5 (another possibility is 22 ... 2::\edS 23.h4 h5) 23.i,xg7 �xg7 24.b4 tt:le4 25.Eib3 f5 26.f3 tt:lf6 27.Eixd6 2::\al t 28.�f2 Ela2t 29.�fl f4 30.tt:ldl Elee2 3 1 .Eia3 Elac2 32.Eic3 Ela2 and the game ends in a repetition.
2 1 ...Ct:lc5! 22.'1Wf3
The evaluation is not changed by 22.'1Wd2 tt:le4 23.'1Wf4 g5! 24.'1Wf5 (24.'1We3 '1Wxe3 25.fx:e3 Ela2=) 24 ... Eia2 25.i,xg7 �xg7 26.tt:lxd6 tt:lxd6 27.'1Wxg5t �f8 28.'1Wh6t
�g8 29.'1Wg5t with a perpetual.
22 ... tt:le4 23.i,xg7 �xg7 24.Ct:lc3 tt:lxc3 25.'1Wxc3t �g8
Black's problems are only optical - in reality his chances are not harmed by his slightly inferior structure.
12.b3
This is the most natural reaction to the appearance of the rook on the c-file, and has been by far White's most common choice.
Alternatives should not worry Black, as illustrated by the following example from grandmaster praxis: 1 2.Eid1 '®a5 13.b3 a6 14 . .tb2 Elfe8 1 5 .Eiab 1 '®h5!? ( 1 5 ... .td7 1 6.h3 Elc7=) 1 6.h3 lt'ld7 1 7.Eie1 '®c5 1 8.lt'lxc6 Elxc6= White achieved nothing in Predojevic - Timofeev, Sarajevo 2007.
12 ... ltlxe4!
This well-camouflaged combination might come as an unpleasant surprise to some opponents. It has only been played once to my knowledge.
13.ltlxe4 d5 14.ltlxc6 ihc6 15J�bl dxe4 16.'!1Nxe4 '!1Nd7 17 . .ie3
This position was reached in Ni Hua - Li, Xinghua Jiangsu 2009. At this point I found a modest but definite improvement for Black.
8
immediately achieves comfortable equality.There is no reason to defend a7, as 1 8 . .txa7 loses to 1 8 ... Eie6! when the bishop will be trapped after a subsequent ... b6, for example 1 9.'®g4 h5! -+ .
This is the main line. Indeed, the plan of developing quickly certainly appears more consistent with White's previous few moves.
8 �,
pawns arising after 9 . .txf6 '®xf6 10.'®xf6 gxf6 1 1 .0-0-0 Elg8. On the other hand Black's bishop pair could become a tremendous asset later in the endgame.9 ... .ie7
At this point White has two main options:
Bl) 10.'11Nd3 and B2) lO.ghel.
Sometimes he shuffles the move order around with:
1 0.�b 1 0-0
From here the most common continuation has been 1 1 .Eihel, transposing to line B23.
However, some players have experimented successfully with:
1 1 .'®d3!?
White is angling for an improved version of variation B 1 , avoiding the plan involving delayed castling which I have chosen to recommend against the earlier 10.'®d3.
However, White's chosen move order brings its own disadvantages, which can be highlighted by the following accurate move:
a b c d e f g h
1 I ...h6! 1 2.h4!?
The trouble for White is that the normal 1 2.i.h4 runs into 1 2 .. .ltJxe4! as a subsequent capture on c3 would come with check.
Instead White has to settle for 1 3.tt:'lxe4 i.xh4 14.tt:'lxd6, Madurga Lopez - Noval Toldos, Madrid 2009, and now after 1 4 ... i.xf2N there is no reason why Black should not go on to convert his material advantage.
Another game continued 1 2.i.c l , Mostertman - Timmerman, corr. 1 99 1 , and now after 1 2 ... d5!N 1 3.e5 tt:'le4 Black is already for choice.
Finally, there is nothing to fear from:
1 2.i.xf6 i.xf6 1 3.lL\d4 Wb6 14.f4 l'=lfd8 1 5.1'=\hfl l'=lac8=
1 2 ... Wa5 13.tt:'ld4
1 3.i.xf6 i.xf6 1 4.tt'ld4 d5=
a b c d e f g h
1 3 ... hxg5!?
If Black prefers to avoid the complications he can also 1 3 ... 1'=\fdS!?N with even chances.
resulting consider
14.hxg5 Wxg5 15.Wh3 Wh6 1 6.Wg3 Wg6 1 6 ... tt'lh5!?N 17.Wf3 g6 is also possible.
17.Wh4?
It was necessary to play 1 7.Wh3! tt:'lh7!?
(If Black is content with a draw he can of course repeat the position) 1 8.f4 f5 1 9.tt:'lxe6!
Wxe6 20.\Wxh?t <j{f7 2 1 .exf5 Wf6 22.Wh5t
<j{gs 23.1'=lde1 Wxf5! 24.1'=\xe? Wxh5 25.1'=lxh5 l'=lxf4 26.b3 l'=laf8 with equality.
17 ... "\Wh?+ 1 8.Wg3 tt:'lxe4 1 9.tt:'lxe4 Wxe4 20.Wh3
Malec - Ivanov, Warsaw 2009. Here Black should have played:
a b c d e f g h
20 .. .f5!N
Black survives the attack and should win with his extra material.
Bl) 10.V!id3
With this move White intends to reposition the f3-knight on d4, followed by advancing the kingside pawns.
lO . . . YMaS!
I believe this to be the most accurate response. By eyeing the bishop on g5, Black inhibits his opponent's plan for the time being, while creating the incidental threat of ... ctJxe4.
ll.h4
The main alternative is:
1 1 .mb1 hG 12.iJ4
After 12.id2, Pulyaev - Chulivska, Lvov 2007, I suggest 1 2 ... 1Mi'a6N=.
The untested 1 2.ih4!?N looks quite sensible, although Black should obtain satisfactory play after 1 2 ... 0-0 1 3.tLld4 1Mih5 1 4.ig3 l'l:fd8=.
1 2 ... d5
a b c d e f g h
This thematic break equalizes comfortably, although there does not seem to be anything wrong with 1 2 ... e5!?N either.
1 3.tLld4
1 3.exd5 tLlxdS 1 4.tLlxd5 ixdS 1 5.c4 ic6 1 6.tLld4 0-0 17.tLlxc6 bxc6 1 8.id2 ( 1 8.1Mi'e4 if6=) 1 8 ... 1Mih5! After this precise move White has no claim to an advantage.
1 3 ... dxe4 1 4.tLlxc6 bxc6 1 5.ctJxe4 0-0 Black's split queenside pawns are balanced by his active pieces and slightly safer king, so the chances were balanced in Macieja - Leitao, Turin 2006.
l l .. . h6
Castling is also possible, but I prefer to take
the opportunity to pose an immediate question to the bishop.
12 . .id2
Sometimes White relinquishes his second bishop in order to gain additional time:
1 2.ixf6 ixf6 1 3.tLld4
This plan has made a higher score than the main line, but it should not threaten Black if he responds accurately.
a b c d e f g h
1 3 ... 0-0-0!
I prefer this over the more common 1 3 ... 0-0 1 4.f4. Black should be alright in this position, but White has a clear plan of attacking the kingside and has scored quite well in practice.
Black should be able to hold this endgame, but he certainly has the worse side of the equal position and has absolutely no winning chances. It might be possible to improve his play around move 1 9-20, but overall still I find the text move more appealing.
14.f4 'IMicS 1 5.ctJxc6 1Mi'xc6 16.l'l:h3 a6 1 7.g4 These moves occurred in Belkhodja -Movsesian, Cappelle la Grande 2002, and here I rather like the straightforward:
1 7 ... mbsN
I see no real problems for Black here, and perhaps one day his unopposed bishop could become a force.
8 7
6
5 4
3 2
1
a b c d e f g h 12 ... �a6
This virtually forces a queen exchange, thus guaranteeing Black a safe position with some prospects to make his bishop pair count in the long term.
1 2 ... 'Llg4 is a reliable alternative, but I find the text move more straightforward.
13.�xa6 bxa6 14J'!he1 tl::!g4
In some games Black has opted for a set-up with ... e5 either here or in the next few moves.
There is nothing wrong with that, but at the same time I think I prefer the treatment seen in the present game, by which Black keeps a flexible centre and gradually strengthens his position on the queenside.
White's centre and activate the light-squared bishop.
16 ... .id7 17.£3 tl::!e5 18.h5
1 8.ie1 l':lfc8 19.b3 has been recommended as an improvement, but it seems to me that Black's chances are still higher after 1 9 ... %:\cS+.
18 .. J'Uc8
There is nothing much to be gained from 1 8 ... 'Llc4 1 9.if4! (but not 1 9.ie 1 ?! ig5t 20.mb1 l':lab8 2 l .b3 l':\fc8 when Black keeps some pressure) 1 9 ... if6 20.b3 l':lfc8 2 l .ig3 with approximate equality.
8
7
.t.
6 ____
5 4
3 2
a b c d e f g h We have been following the game Kaminski
Gelfand, Polanica Zdroj 1 997. Black's doubled pawns are not causing him any discomfort, and White was ultimately unable to withstand the pressure on the queenside.
In the event of 1 6.if4, Sanduleac - Golubev, B2) 1 OJ'!he1 Romania 2003, it looks logical for Black to
play 1 6 ... %:\fdSN. The light-squared bishop can This is the main line, developing the last drop back to e8 if needed, and the other rook piece.
can find an active role on the queenside.
An interesting alternative would have been 10 ... 0-0 1 6 ... e5!?N followed by .. .f5 , hoping to erode
In this position White can choose between immediate action with B21) ll.e5, the queen retreat B22) l l.�d2 intending Lt:ld4, and the prophylactic king move B23) I I.c;t>bl.
Let us briefly note that the feeble 1 1 . .L:f6?
brings White nothing but problems after 1 I ...j,xf6 1 2.1Mfxd6 j,xc3 (12 ... 1Mfa5 is also strong) 1 3.1Mfxd8 (13.bxc3 1Mfa5) 1 3 ... j,xb2t 14. <j;Jxb2 1"\fXd8+ White will have to suffer in the ending, Trajkovic - Romani, Caorle 1 982.
B21) l l .e5
The opening of the centre looks logical since all White's pieces are mobilized and ready for action. Black, on the other hand, benefits from the bishop pair and is only slightly behind in development. Ultimately it seems that these two factors should cancel each other out, resulting in eventual equality.
l l ••• dxe5 12.�h4
White is unlikely to achieve much with 1 2.ctJxe5, when Black can choose between the solid 1 2 ... 1Mfc7 and the ambitious 1 2 ... .L:g2!?, which looks risky but is by no means easy to refute.
12 •. JWc7 13.lLlxe5 1"\fdS 14.llJg4
Less accurate is 1 4.1"\xd8t?! 1"i:xd8 1 5.ctJg4 ctJxg4
a b c d e f g h
1 6.j,xe7? (White should settle for 1 6.1Mfxg4 j,xg5t 1 7.1Mfxg5, Sochacki - Alonso Roselli, Belfort 2005, although only Black can be better here.) 1 6 ... 1Mff4t 1 7.<j;Jb 1 1"1d2 1 8.f3 ( 1 8.1"1d 1 ? j,e4! 1 9.1"\cl .L:c2t! 20.�al, Janaszak - Smolak, Wisla 2000, 20 ... h6N-+) 1 8 ... 1Mff5 1 9.1"\cl ctJe3 20.j,g5 (20.ctJe4 1"i:xg2+) 20 ... 1"1xc2 2 1 .j,xe3 1"1xc3t 22. <j;Ja1 1"\xcl t 23 . .L:c1 1Mfd3 and Black soon won, Jooste -Goze, e-mail 2004.
14 •.• lLl:xg4 15.i.xe7
a b c d e f g h 15 •• J��xdl t
Another safe route to equality is 1 5 ... 1Mff4t 1 6.�bl 1"\xdlt 17.1"1xd1 1Mff5 1 8.f3 ctJe3 1 9.1"1d2 h6 20.1Mfd4 Lt:ld5 2 l .ctJxd5 Y2-Y2 Adorjan - Tal, Sochi 1 977.
16J�xdl lLlh6 17.i.d8!?
This tricky move is the only way to try for anything, but Black still has no problem staying out of trouble.
1 7.�d6 is even more harmless due to 17 ... tt:lf5 1 8.�xc7 (Only Black can benefit from 1 8.'\Wxh?t? cl?xh7 1 9.hc7 �xg2 due to the split kingside pawns.) 1 8 ... tt:lxh4 1 9.g3 tt:lf3 20.h4 f6
a b c d e f g h
At first glance the game looks to be heading for a draw, but Black does have certain minor advantages (extra central pawn, more active minor pieces) and in Dueckstein - Sosonko, Amsterdam 1 978, the second player eventually prevailed.
17 .. .'11Ne5 18 . .ib6!?
After 1 8.g3 tt:lf5 1 9.'\Wg4 :8c8 Black was slightly for choice in Reinders - Parrilla, e-mail 2003.
18 ... £6!
This prevents any tricks, as well as generally improving Black's position by increasing his influence over the dark squares.
19.£4 Wff5 20 . .id4 b5
Black has no problems whatsoever, Podkrajsek - Merilo, corr. 1 999.
B22) 11.�d2
This move is played with the intention of clearing the d4-square for the knight.
This is an absolutely standard idea for the present variation, but in this particular position it exposes White to certain tactical problems.
12 . .if4
I only found one game in which White was brave enough to venture 1 2.�xh6? gxh6 1 3.'\Wxh6, when 1 3 ... tt:lh7! should enable Black to repel the attack. In the game Tomin - Draskovic, Herceg Novi 2006, White's eventual win was certainly not a reflection of the objective merits of his position at this stage.
The main tactical point behind Black's last move is revealed after:
12.�h4? tt:lxe4! 1 3.ctJxe4
After 13.:8xe4? hh4 14.:8g4 ( 14.:8xh4
�xf3-+) 1 4 ... h5! 1 5.:8d4 hf3 1 6.gxf3 d5 Black's advantage should already be enough to decide the game, Jedryczka - Grabarczyk, Griesheim 2002.
1 3 ... hh4
8
7 6 5 4 3 2 1
a b c d e f g h
14.'1Wxd6
Keeping the queens on with 1 4.tt:lxd6 ie7 did little to change the overall evaluation in Vetemaa - Veingold, Jyvaskyla 1 999.
14 ... Wfxd6 1 5.l:hd6 ie7 1 6.l:�dd1 Ei:fd8 This position was reached in Schoeneberg -Gaponenko, Germany 2006. It is clear that the black bishops have good chances to become a dominant force over the enemy knights.
12 ... e5 13 . .ig3
Once again 1 3.ixh6?! gxh6 1 4.Wfxh6 tt:lh7 can hardly offer White enough for the piece.
13 ... gc8!
This is more accurate than the often played 13 ... b5.
becomes extremely powerful. 1 5.Wfe2 b4 1 6.ltld5 tt:lxd5 1 7.exd5 id7 1 8.tt:ld2 Wfc7 1 9 .Ei:cl if5+ Black was miles ahead in fulfilling his attacking dreams in Karjakin - Topalov, Dubai 2002.
14.ih4 is not such a bad move, but Black can still eliminate any hint of an enemy advantage with 14 ... tt:lxe4! 1 5.tt:lxe4 ixh4 1 6.Wfxd6 ixe4 1 7.Ei:xe4 Wfxd6 1 8.Ei:xd6 ixf2 1 9.Ei:xe5 Ei:fd8=
The position is absolutely equal, although ambitious endgame players might tty to make use of Black's potentially superior minor piece.
14 .. .lt�d7! 15.\t>bl
The following game was highly instructive:
1 5 .ltld5 ixd5 1 6.Wfxd5 Ei:c6! 1 7.Wb 1 Wfc7 1 8.c3 Ei:c8
a b c d e f g h
Black has a theoretically bad bishop and White controls the d5-square, so it would be easy to think that White stands better.
In reality, the opposite is true. White's main problem is that his minor pieces are not working properly due to the restraining action of the enemy pawns. In the time it takes him to coordinate his position, Black will be able to create unpleasant threats on the queenside.
1 9.ih4 tt:lb6 20.Wfd3 g5!
Black continues to restrict the opponent's pieces. It is becoming clearer which side truly has the bad bishop.
2 1 .i.g3 ttJa4 22.l"le2 b5
It is already hard to suggest a satisfactory defence, and in the game Black was able to smash through quickly.
23.l"lc2 b4 24.'1Wb5 ttJxb2! 0-1
Hasangatin - Yakovich, Krasnodar 2002.
15 ... a6 16.'?Me2 b5 17.�d5
By delaying this knight move, White has managed to obtain a slightly improved version of the position reached in the game from the previous note. Nevertheless Black still has no problems.
17 ... hd5 18J�xd5
At this point I found an improvement for Black:
A previous game continued 1 8 ... l"lc5 1 9.l"ledl l"lxd5 20.l"lxd5 1Wa8 2 1 .i.h4 f6 22.ttJd2 ttJb6 23.l"ld3 d5 with equality, David - Tiviakov, Saint Vincent 2000.
Another reasonable continuation would be 18 ... tL'lb6N 1 9.l"ld3 1Wc7 20.i.h4 ttJa4 with a comfortable game for Black. The text move is more ambitious.
19.he5!?
This looks like the critical continuation.
Quieter moves would be met by ... 1Wc7 and ... l"lc8, with similar play to the Hasangatin -Yakovich game we witnessed earlier.
19 ... dxe5
The next few moves are forced:
20J!edl l"lc7 21.�xe5 �xeS 22.l"lxd8 l"lxd8 23.l"lxd8t hd8
The computer assesses this endgame as equal, but it is surely Black who will be pushing for the win.
B23) I I .<i>bl
This is the main line. Now that we have witnessed the tactical resources available to Black in the previous variation, the need for this prophylactic move becomes clear.
s
7 6
5 4
2
1
a b c d e f g h l l ... '?Mc7
This is the main line, and my primary recommendation. However, I would also like to draw your attention to an interesting and fully viable alternative:
l l . .. h6!?
Readers who are in any way unconvinced by the main line should examine this move closely.
1 2.i.h4
1 2 . .tc1 makes a strange impression. 1 2 ... Wc7 (Also interesting is: 1 2 ... lLlg4!? 1 3.1"ie2 if6 1 4.\Wxd6 Wb6 1 5.Wa3 Eifd8�) 1 3.Wd3 This position was reached in Titova Boric - Gocheva, Cetinje 1 99 1 , and now Black could have obtained the better chances with
1 3 ... d5!N 1 4.exd5 lLlxd5 1 5 .lLle5 if6+.
1 2.ixf6 ixf6 1 3.Wxd6 1he loss of the d6-pawn in this line is far from tragic, as Black usually gets ample compensation. Here I found a new and promising idea:
a b c d e f g h
about holding the endgame.
1 2 ... 1"ie8!?
The position is brimming with possibilities, with 1 2 ... Wc7 and 1 2 ... a6 being valid
In the event of 1 5.ih4, hoping to exchange on f6 in order to control d5, Black can seize the initiative with 1 5 ... g5!? 1 6.ig3 b5!.
14.e5
So far nobody seems to have tried 14.exd5N lLlxd5 1 5.l2Jxd5 ixd5 1 6.c4 with equality.
14 ... l2Je4 1 5.lLlxe4 dxe4 1 6.Wxd8 1"iexd8 1 7.lLld4 ie8
There is also 1 7 ... id5 1 8.b3 (1 8.'Llb5 h5 1 9 . .tf4oo) Ciubara - Huda, Predeal 2007, and now after 18 ... ic5N Black is absolutely fine.
1 8.c3
1 8.1"ixe4 ic6 1 9.1"ie2 ixg2+
1 8 ... 1"iac8 1 9.Wc2 b5 20.1"ixe4 b4�
Black kept enough counterplay for the sacrificed pawn in Svidler - Kasparov, Linares
1 999.
12.�d2
White continues with his standard regrouping method, which typically involves lLld4 next. It seems strange that White should develop his queen to d4 early and relinquish the bishop pair, only to reorganize his position making it resemble something from the standard 4.'Llxd4 positions. Still, practice has shown that Black should be on guard in the resulting positions.
a b c d e f g h 12 .. J3fd8
Paradoxically, even in the positions without the early ... h7 -h6, Black must remain fully alert to the possibility of allowing a favourable exchange on f6. For instance, after 1 2 ... l"i:ab8 1 3.CDd4 b5 14.�xf6! �xf6 1 5.CDxc6 '1Wxc6 1 6.'\Wxd6± Black does not have full compensation for the pawn.
13.tlJd4 l3ab8 14.f3
This looks better than 14.f4?! b5 1 5.e5 (1 5.f5 b4 1 6.fXe6 is not quite sound:
1 6 ... bxc3 17.exf7t �xf7 18.'1Wxc3 l"i:dc8 19.�xf6 [1 9.'\Wc4t �g6! 20.'\Wd3 Wb7!-+] 1 9 ... �f6 20.'\Wc4t d5 2 l .exd5 This was Chebotarev Shomoev, Internet 2004, and now 2l...�a8N should win easily.) 1 5 ... dxe5 1 6.fXe5 CDd5 (16 ... �c5!?) 17.ltlxc6 �g5 1 8.'1Wxg5 '1Wxc6 1 9.CDxd5 (1 9.CDe4 b4+) 1 9 ... l"i:xd5 White's active play in the centre amounted to nothing and he was left facing a difficult defence in Vijayakumar - Stojic, Mount Buller 2005.
14 ... b5 15.g4 .ieS
Another promising continuation is 1 5 ... b4 1 6.CDce2 �aS!?, which has scored quite highly for Black.
16.tlJce2
White's typical attacking plan involves transferring this knight to h5, where it can
exert unpleasant pressure against the black kingside. Black can of course exchange it, but that would open the g-file.
16 ... h6!?
The pawn move in front of the king is risky, but the reward might be sweet. The older line goes:
The point behind Black's last move is revealed after 1 8.CDh5N CDxh5! ( 1 8 ... CDg8 is playable but a little worse for Black) 1 9.gxh5 �g5 20.'1Wxg5 h6 2 1 .'1Wg3 �a4! 22.l"i:e2 l"i:bc8 23.l"i:g2 l"i:g8 With g7 firmly under control Black can try to look to advance his own attack on the opposite side.
The only game I found on the database continued with 1 8.h4 l"i:b6 1 9.h5 l"i:a6 20.CDb3 l"i:c8 2 l .h6 g6 22.l"i:cl l"i:c6 with chances for both sides Sieiro Gonzalez
The only game I found on the database continued with 1 8.h4 l"i:b6 1 9.h5 l"i:a6 20.CDb3 l"i:c8 2 l .h6 g6 22.l"i:cl l"i:c6 with chances for both sides Sieiro Gonzalez