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THE CHESS COMBAT SIMULATOR



for Tobias



M ML

Jeroen Bosch

N I N



© 2006

Published by New In Chess, Alkmaar, The Netherlands

w.newinchess.com

Al rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a

retrieval system or ansmied

i any form or by any means, electonic mechanica, photocopying

recording or otheise, without the prior written permission from the

publisher

Cover Design: Steven Boland

Production Joop de Groot

Proofreading Ren Olthof

Printing A-D Druk BY Zeist

Printed in the Netherlands

ISBN-10

ISBN13

90-569864

97890-5691-186-7



NN

Preface 7How to Use this Book

R

Combat 1 - KaparovShirov 1 0

Cmbat 2- KamniNaiditch 5

Combat 3- GrichukKtur 19

Combat 4 AkpianOnichuk 24Combat 5- W iermaSlv 29

Cmbat 6- Motylevkunih 34

Cmbat 7- EuweKotv . 38

Cmbat 8- Van den DelSonk 43

Cmbat 9- BeliavyKvchan 48

Combat 10 Van WelySklv 53

Your Round 1 Perfrmance 58

R

Combat 1I NielenKarjakin 59

Cmbat I2 vanvFilippov 63

Combat I3- KarpovLautier 68

Cmbat I4- TimmanBoch

73Cmbat I5- PonomarivKramni 78

Cmbat I6- KaparovVallej 84

Combat I7 KhalifmanMarin 90

Cmbat I8 - GlekFrog 95

Combat I9- AdamKaimdzhanv 98

Combat 20- Van WelyDelemarre I 03

Your Round 2 Perfrmance

I 08

R

Cmbat 2I - HdgnSuhariingh I 09

Cmbat 2 2- MveianBrri . I I3

Cmbat 23 PnmarivKramni II7

Cbat 24- KaparvMrzevch 22

Cmat 25 MalakhvDvr I28



Combat 26- KaparovKaimdzhanov 33

Combat 27- LjubojevicSmeet 38

Combat 28 Van HaatertGle I43

Combat 29- DreevVallejo . 48

Combat 30- KramniSoolov 53

Your Round 3 Performance I 59

R

Combat 3 - EuweCapablanca 60

Combat 32 - TiviaovKulaot I 66

Combat 33 - braimovTate 72 pKpv

LM

Combat 36- LupulecuTimocheno I85

Combat 3 7 NijboerBoboom 90

Combat 38- NiolicVan der Sterren 95

Combat 39- OnichuHertnec 200

Combat 40- PolgarZviaintev 204Your Round 4 Performance 209

R

Combat 4I - KhalifmanPolgar 20

Combat 4 2- SadvaaovVan Wely 2I 5

Combat 43- ConquetASoolov 220

Combat 44- TopalovAdam 224Combat 45- SaaevKaparov 23

Combat 46 TopalovKamy 236

Combat 47- VaanianMein 24I

wk 4

Combat 49- DautovPatriarca 250

Combat - AnandTimman 255

Your Round 5 Performance 260

Your Performance 26

ndex of Opening 262



PRFA

How should you train and improve yourchess results We the urgency of thsquestion may vary depending uponhether you are a beginning chess payeran aspiring junior a club player or a sea-soned professional the question itself wilbe familiar to all chess players Traditional

and accepted forms of chess trainng include the solving of tactical exercises analysing your own games (preferably withexperienced trainer) analysing the gamesof strong players studying (theoretical)endgame positions and so on and soforth f done in a proper and serious wayall these forms will be benecia

Yet these methods are also articial tosome extent you are given the assignment to mate in four moves you calculateand yes it works But how often did some-one tell you to mate n four during a chessgame? imiary analysing games in thecomfort of your home (or chess club)

perhaps even with some computer soft- ware humming in the background is a farcry from the tournament hall where youhave to nd the best move in a tense situa-tion against a reallife opponent. ndeed itis not for nothing that the words most fa-mous chess trainer Mark Dvoretsky hasnoted that Training is more eective the

more successfully the atmosphere of a realtournament game is imitated

T C Cmbt mut aims to recreate the circumstances of a rea chessgame n this book you wll nd 50 in-structive games. Your task is to nd thebest move This may be the start of a

strategical operation the beginning of acombination a pawn sacrice to open

les an intermediate move a move tocompete your deveopment or simpythe recapturing of materia You dont havea clue just like in a real tournament game.

This type of solitaire chess is not new. nthe Netherands for exampe there was aseries of such books coauthored by Ma

Euwe From the 50 games in ths booksome 40 games were preously pubishedin a derent format in the periodcal of theDutch Chess Federation: kmgzThe origin of this book may be traced to thefestivities celebrating the rst decade of theM Euwe Centre in 1996 when wasasked by the edtorinchief of k-mgz if wanted to wite a columnalong the lines of Euwes books. This mayexplain why there e two games played byEuwe in C Cmbt mut. tilthe vast maority of the seected games waspayed in the period 19962006 A perod very much dominated by Gary Kaspaov

who features in six gamesMore important than your perfor

mance in each of these 50 Combats isyour actual performance in a cub ortournament game. t is my rm conviction that you wil signicanty increaseyour chesspaying skils by workingthrough the games in T C Cmbtmut

Njmg, Otb

7



HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

This book is dided into Rounds of 10Combats each. At the end of each Roundthere is scorecard to kep track of your resuts. At the end o the oo there is ascoresheet for comping your AverageRound Combat Peformances per Round.

Start in Round 1 wth Combat 1 Play

through the opning moves up to the dagrmed position. The comentary llprovde you wth some basic informationfor th upcoming battle. When you havereached the dagr med position you retold whther to play with Whte or Black.T up your position behind th boad.

Now, you cover the next pag th a

sheet of paper and you try and guess theright move. When you are suciently sureof your move (if you want to perform under time pressure: place a chess cock nextto your board), you ite it do, and

lower the sheet of papr. You execute themove that was actually played in the game,

you do the same th 'the opponents rply, and the whole procss stts agan.

A competitiv elemnt is added by thepoints that you score for each mov.Points may also be scored for alternativemovs, so even if you dd not opt for thegm continuation you may still rnsomething. At the end of each game you

P Cm S

Se 46- 50 Poins

Perfrce > 200

S 1 43 45

Perfrce 2420 2440 260 280 200

Sce 36 37 38 39 40

Perfrce 2320 2340 2360 2380 2400

Se 31 3 33 35

Perfrce 2220 220 2260 2280 2300

S 6 8 9 30

Perfrce 220 20 260 280 2200

Se1 22 3 2 25

Perfrce 80 200 2040 200 200

S 16 1 18 1 0

Perfrce 830 860 80 920 0

Se 11 1 13 1 1

Perfre 20 � 60 80 800

Sce 6 8 9 10

Perfrce 620 60 660 680 00

Se 0- PonPerfrce < 600



rt yr prrmn T nrmaximm prt rm th wh xri y shld g vr th nt t th gm

Cmpar yr his with th thr r n t

bk In gm y n rn tt I pint, bt in I gam th mximm nmbr o pint invvd i

T gaued.morqy i m in at.

Th tw typ gm r mixd vymng th Rnd (tw hrtr gmpr Rnd) Y d nt knw in dvn whthr y n rn r I pint; in r gm y hv n h knwdgithr It wld hv bn y t dbth pint in th hrtr gm tht w wd hv ndd y n typ Cm-

bt Sring Tb Hwvr, thi wdhav rtd th imprin thtmv pyd in th I shrtr gs ar

mh strongr than tho in th

ongr At t nd ma y n to n

th tbs blw r n timtin yr prrmn t tht both tbr nt trity inr thrght Thi is on � t yu c ·W

mv tht r nt niy trngt

OOP Cm S

Sce 9 I00 oints

Perfce > 500

Sce 81 8 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90

Pefrce 4 40 40 440 45 460 40 4 49 500

Sce 7 7 7 74 75 6 77 78 79 0

Pefrce 0 0 0 40 50 60 0 8 9 400

Sce 6 6 6 64 6 66 67 68 69 70

Perfce 0 0 0 40 50 60 0 90 00

Sc 1 52 53 4 55 6 57 8 59 60

Pefce 0 0 4 50 6 0 0 9 00

Sce 4 4 43 44 45 46 4 4 49 50

efce 965 90 995 0 05 040 055 00 05 0Sce 31 4 6 3 7 39 40

Perfce 5 0 45 6 75 90 905 9 95 95

Sce 3 4 5 6 27 28 29 30

efrce 70 0 0 4 50 760 70 0 90 0

Sce II 12 4 15 6 8 9 0

efce 6 60 6 640 650 660 60 60 69 700

Sce 0 0 oits

Pefrce $6

9



The Chess Combat imuator Round 1

Cobat 1

pov-SovWijk aan Zee 2001

1.e4 e5 2f3 f6 3.xe5 d6 4.f3

xe4 5.d4 d5 6.d3 d6 7.0-0 0-0

8.c4 c6 9.c2

Not the most customary move. A popular

main ine is 9 .cdS cdS .c3 c31bc3 �g 12b1 d7 13h3 hS1. bS b6 1 Sc as payed in for in-stance Kasparovhirov Linares 2000.9 ...a6

Back develops with tempo due to thethreat of b.10.a3

This is stronger than accepting Backspawn sacrice. ndeed in Kruppa-Rozentais UR 1985 Back had verydecent compensation aer 1 0.e de11.e e8 2.d3 g.10...g4 11.e5 h5

Ts is sedom payed and dubious

Wekown was the sharp .�eS2.deS acS 3.f3 d3 1.'d3 S1S'd b3 6'g a1 17h6 g6 when hirov found a big improvement forWhite wth 18.c3! 'b6+ 19 . fe820.'f with ecelent compensation inhirovLeko Linares 2000.Another hirov game (again with white!)is also of theoretical importance:1..�f 12.b 'h 13.c3 c71f3 'hS 1 S.e de 16ee 7 .'e fe8 8.'d3 and Backdid n _have enough for the pawn inhirovAdams arajevo 200012.cxd5 cxd5 13.c3

Kasparov coud hardy anticipate thathirov woud pay the dubious 11...hS.

10

And yet the boss conded that he hadanaysed the move before together withMakarichev That analysis must have been

based upon the game TimoshenkoMakaiev Mosow 1990 whih went3.e de 1'e e8 1 �fc7 16'f �g6 17 .'g e618.g6 f 19 .f and draw agreedbecause of 19..'d 20.c3 'f.Now tis is not where the story ends forYusupov has indicated that White can

gain an edge with te simpe 6. 'b7.o hirov must have found an improvement for Black somewhere in this ine.The depth of Kasparovs preparationhowever is far more staggering. n an ob-scure opening variation he has not onyfound the same improvement as hirovbut aso prepared a novelty that swingsthe pendulum in Whites favour13... xc3 14.bxc3 h8

This is probaby best. Kasparov gave thefollowing ong line to prove that1...eS is inferior. After 1S.h7+h8 16deS g6 17'd2! h718.'h6+ g8 9�gS f6 20.�f6 f6

21ef6 'f6 Black would be al right if it were not for the fact that 22.f3! winsBacks bishop However after the tetKasparov was also abe to uphold Whitescause. Can you do the same?

The Combat begs Good Luck!



You e Wte

Your core:

1 xe

Your core:

16 g6

Your core:

17 'd7

Your core:

18 8

Your core:

19 g6Your core:

0 b6

Your core:

1 c7

Your core:

..ac8

Your core:

3 h6

Your core:

'g

Your core:

h

Your core:

Combat 1Kasparov-Shirov

Your Move: 15 15.f (8) 15h7+(3) 15b1(1) 15f(1)

Your Move: 16 16.e () 16de5(1)

Your Move: 17 17g6() 17b1() 17f3()

Your Move: 18 18 a3 (3) 18g6(1)

Your Move: 19 19 xg6 (6) 193()

Your Move: 20

0b3 (8) 20 d6() 20 ()

Your Move: 21 1d6 () 2I'b5(1) 2c(3)

Your Move: 22 (7) 22c(3) 22c7 ( 1)

Your Move: 23 3afl (3)

Your Move: 2 c (8) 27( )

Your Move: 25 g3 (7) 25f(3) 25f7(3)

Your Move: 26

6xc7 (8) 26h3() 26'a2(2) 26(6)

11



The Chess Combat imulator Round 1

26c7 Your Move 27.

Your core 27xg6 (2) 27.xg6(1)

27 h Your Move 28.

Your core 28h3 (7) 28.d3(3)

28 xd+ ur Move 29

Your core 29cxd (1)

29 c2 Your Move 30.

Your core 30JH () 306(2)

30 g8 Your Move 3.

Your core 31d6 () 31a7(3)

31 c Your Move 32Your core 32xd5 (2)

32 xa Your Move 33

Your core 33dd7 (4) 33.e6(1)

And White was compleey winnng.

�score:lOO

You Combat coe: You Combat Pefomce:

Why d Kasparov play he d?

15.f4

This is by far the bes option You are re- warded for our courage if you chose1 5 .�xh7. At t sight ths ooks goodfor White folowing 15g6 16d2xh7 17.h6+ g8 18.�g5. Black candefend however with 18 ...�e7! whenKasparov gives wo variations

12

9.f4 6 206 x6 21. 'fs and 19 .�e7 xe7 20 . ae 1 f6 21d7'g7 22f4 f6 23.xf8 x 24g4 g5.n boh cases Black saves himselNothing much s ganed by the aterna-ives 1 5.b 1 and 15.�f4 15 .b e516.de5 c5 and 15.�4 f6 16.c6 bxc617 .d6 'xd6 18.�xa6



15 .. xe5Ths s obvously bad I. f6 I6f3id7 7h4 g6 s beer for Whe ac

cordng o Kasparov, bu a leas sll playable16.xe5Ths opens he f-le and keeps Black'skngh ou of he game nferor was6dxe c I7f d4 I8c4 f6 I9e6�e8 and Whe holds only a margnaledge (Kasparov)

16. g 7.a4Ths s bes Playable are also I7�xg6fxg6 I8xf8+ xf8 I9 b3 20a4f 23!? (Kasparov), as well as7 b I and I7 .317 .. d7 8 a3nsead I8�xg6 fxg6 I9 a3 xf+20xf rades a par of rooks whch fa vours he defender18. e8Whe wns afer I8d3 I9xd3 fc820 c7 2af e6 223 g623xg6 fxg6 24.e6 as noed by Kaspov19. xg6Sronger an I9 whc aso kees

edge19... xg6Black can hardy proec f7 foownI9 hxg6 20 Besdes would open 20.b3

Comba IKasparov-Shirov

excelen prophylacc move Kasparov prevens c7 for he momen , e removes he queen from he c-le, and

places her majesy on he a2g8 dagonal.Second bes are 20�d6 and 2020 . b6Prey opeless are 20 :ac8 2I�d6c4 2b, and 20c7 2Ib7eb8 22e6 d8 23e7 xb724exd8+ xd8 2 wnnng2 d6

Logca and song No so clear s2Ib xb 22axb c7 23ec8 However, 2c4 s aso hghlypromsng2 c7 223Preparng o double rooks on he f-eKasparov nvolves l hs peces n egame before he srkes Agan 22c comes no consderaon Less clea hogs 22xc7 xc7 23xd xc322 ac8 23a h6

24c2n cae of 24 Kasparov has ndcaed24 c6 2�xc7 (perhaps Wheshould prefer 2If3!?) 2xc726xc xc7 27xd xc3 28d7c8 29h3 e3+ 30th2 c andWhe mus ry o avod a pepua checkn he queen endng whch s no ha ele

menary24..g4

I3



The Chess Combat mulator Round 1

Other moves wll not save Black ether 24.e6 2S.f7 c6 26.f8+ xf827 Jf8+ \h7 28c8, and

24e6 2Sg6 xa4 26.f6 'd27 c6 28.xg7 xg 297.25g3

tronger than 2Sf4 and 2S.7 e626d3.25 ... h5

Whte wns aer 2S.. e4 26e4dxe4 27�xc7 xc7 28.e26. xc7

Lqudatng nto a wnnng endng wherehrov obtans not even a hnt of counterpla Note, that have slghtly

adapted the course of the game for ourpurposes n realty Kasparov rst re-peated moves before he contnued wththe text: 26.h3 gS 27g3 hS28�xc7. Four ponts for 26h3 f youthought ths was the best way to con-tnue. The maxmum 8 ponts f you sawthat Whte can just repeat moves andpostpone hs choce especally f you

were then plannng to take on c7 anyway!Black does not lose mmedately after26a2 ed8! Also very strong was26.f7 Whte just wns after 26. e627 xg6 xd4 28gxg7.

14

26...xc7 27.xg6

lghtly better than 27 .xg627... h4

Here 27 . Jc3 s met by 28xh6+, and27 ..ec8 y 28g3.28.h3

A safe way to lqudate nto an elementary wnnng double rook endng. 28d3 sbest met by 28. ec828.xd4+ 29cxd4 xc2 30.f7

Frst forcng Blacks rook nto a passveposton before he reaps30d6 c4 31.dS xa4 s thereforeless accurate30. g8 31.d6

Whte ams for two central passed pawns,

snce they are further advanced thanBlacks queensde pawns the wn s nevern doubtAlso wnnng s 31.xa7 c4 32xb631... c4 32xd5 xa4 33.dd7

Agan Kasparov plays the most accuratemove. After 33.e6 e8 34.e7 g83S.dfS \h7 36dS d4 37eS \g8Whte has not won yet33 a + 34f2 a2+ 35f3 h7

36e6 �g6 37d5 c8 38.c7 e8

39.g4 a5 40.xg7+ f6 41.gf7+ we5

4A5+ \d4 43.e7

Black resgned.



obat 2

k-NdchTurin Olympiad 2006

1f3

After a period of relative inactivity and noconsiderable successes, Kamnik made acomeback at the 2006 Olympiad. With

6,5 out of 9 on Board I he scored thehighest Elo performance in Turin. Here,instead of e4 which he played regularlyas of 2003, we see him returning to hisfavourite rst move of yore I . f3.1 f6 2c4 c5 3g3 d5 4d4

Going for a Catalan type of position,rather than staying within the territory of the English Opening.4cxd4

Aiming to liquidate the centre. Black canpreserve the tension with 4 ..e6 when5 g2 leads to a regular Catalan after5 ...dxc4, while 5cxd5 exd5 is theTarrasch Defence

Black can also take on c4. After 4..dxc4,Kramnik would surely have played5.a4+ d7 6.xc4 as he did againstboth Kasparov and Leko in 2000.5 g2

5.cxd5 xd5 6.xd4 c6 is nothing forWhite5 e6

Here 5 c6 6.xd4 is a Grnfeld withcolours reversed. Also possible is5..dxc4600 dxc4 7xd4

This is more ambitious than 7 xd4, or7.a4+ �d7 8.xc4 a6 9xd4 c6I .c3 xd4 xd4 xg2 1xg2

c5 13.db5 as in KortchnoiMiles,London 1984.

Combat 2KamnikNaiditsch

7d5?

A novelty that will not nd a huge following Black shields the ha8 diagonal

and hopes that the central position of hisknight will enable him to develop hisqueenside. The tempoloss involvedmeans a valuable delay in development while the position of the knight on d5 will turn out to be insecure.8a4+ d7

Here 8 .d7 9xc4 is also pleasant for

White.9xc4 7b6 10b3 d7

Black has achieved his aim the centralized knight on d5 covered by its colleague, and the development of thelightsquared bishop White must playenergetically to prove an advantage11c3 c5?

t was not consistent to play .. xc3 although Naiditsch should probably havepreferred this till, after 12.xc3 c813.d3 White has preserved an edgeowing to his powerful Catalan bishop.12xd5 xd5

White just grabs the pawn after

12..xd4 13xb6 xb6 14xb6xb6 I 5 .xb7 The text leaves Whitesknight under attack, is this enough forBlack to castle into safety?

The Combat beg Good Luck!

I5



The Chess Comba imulaor Round 1

You e te

Your core:

13.0-0

Your core:

14f6

Your core:

15.'e7

Your core:

166

Your core:

17

h8Your core:

18bx6

Your core:

19d6

Your core:

20... g8

Your core:

21. .. xe7

Your core:

22.xh6

Your core:

16

Your Move: 13 13. (8) 13 xd5(3) 13d(3

Your Move: 14. 14.xg7 (9) 14 xd5()

Your Move: IS. 15.6 (4) 1 .c4()

Your Move: 16 16.' (5) 16.xb7(5) 16.c4(5 6.ac1 (5

Your Move: 17. 17.'f4 (4) 17 .fS( 1) 17.c3( 1)

Your Move: 18

18x6 (4) 18.ac, 18fc, 18.h4(4)

Your Move: 19 19a1 (4) 19fc(4) 19.h4(4)

Your Move: 0. 20.h4 (4) 20.gS(4) 0.d4(1)

Your Move: 1. 21.'xe7 (3) 1xe6(1)

Your Move: . 22.xe6 (3)

Your Move: 3 23.x (1)



Combat 2 KramnikNaiditsch

23...�£ Your Move 24. Your core 246 (1)

And White won �nsoe:50

u Cmt ce: u Cmt Pemce:

Why did play as he did?

13f5

his is clearly the most aggressive and thebest move As our rst World Champion,

Wilhelm teinitz, already remarked he who holds the advantage must attackOf course one· must look at 13 .�xdS af-ter 13 .. �xd4 14�xb7 b8 S.dWhite could easily end up with the betterchances after the complications have dieddown. he problem is that 13 .exdS14.xd5 �xd4 1 .xd4 00 leaves

Black with very good drawing chancesdue to the oppositecoloured bishopsust a decent move is 13.d, but this isnowhere as strong as Kramniks move13 0-0

here is not much choice 13 ...exf514 .xd5 loses a pawn after either

14 ..'e7 1 S.'xb7 or 1400 1 S�xb7b8 16�f4.

14xg7

This tactical blow is the rea point of Kramniks play He tes full advantage of the unprotected position of the cSbishop.The simple 14.d5 exdS S.xdS doesnot bring much after 1S. J8 with decentcompensation for the pawn

14 f6 ds not ap the ght, but it woud atlet se to the st ghng chance14.. g7 SdS exdS (S .. +16. exdS 17�e3 pres the materiabnce for the moment, but len Wites attack exa m) 16c3+ w of coue

the jcaon. spite theopsitecolod bishops ite g.Blacks suc agmented d ng

not se Compa to e note on Wtes13th move (13.d5 exdS don).15 h6

imply the best move nstead 1 S.c4�e7! (but not 1S.. J8 16'h4! xg7

17h6+ h8 18. g e7 19�e4xe4 20xe7 winning) 16.h6 c8 ismuch more complicated15 e7

Here 1 S.. g4 does not work because of 16.hS xh6 17c3 again a doubleattack on cS and g7. Now, after 1 S e7

(defending the bishop) White mustreckon with 16 ...g4

17



he Chess Combat imulator Round 1

16.f3

Not the only way to prevent 16 .g4 n-deed White has several ways to demon-strate the orretness of his onept hegreedy 16.xb7 seems to work after16..g4 17h5 (17..xh6 18'xd7).ikewise better for White are 16.'4 and16 . a1 g4 17 .'3.16 ... c6 17.f4

hs ws alost by fore A more omplex(and less song) solution is 17.f exfS18.'xf5 h8 19.6 bx6 0.xf8 1a1 ess is prosed by 17'3 g 18.xg fd8 and White must stilnd a way to exiate hs knht althouhadttedly it is hard for Blak to win it.

17...8he big threat was 18.fS.

18.xc6

Again there are more ways that lead toRome:

18. a1xg 19xg (not 19 . x5xf !) 1 9 ... f8.

18

18.f1!? d6 (18 ...xg 19 x5! )19.'h4 g8 0.'xe7 xe7 1.h5.And also better for White is 18.'h4 g8

(18 ..d5 19.'xe7) 19h5! xh6(19...'xh4 0g7 mate!) 0f6 xg1xg g8 .'xh6 g7 3 ad.18 bxc6 19.ac1

Here 19.f1 and 19.'h4 are reasonablealternatives.19..d6 20.4

Of ourse 0.'gS dS 1.'xe7 xe7

.hS also wins. Worse than the textthough is 0'd4 beause of 0 ...5 andnow White must play as in the game when Blaks pawn wont fal20... g8 21.xe7

xe6 'xe6 xf8 xf8 is notnearly as lear as the game ontinuation.21..xe7

Or 1 ..xe7 .h5.22.xe6

With this desperado move White grabs asmany pawns as possible to liquidate intoan elementary winning ending.22x6 23xf8 xf8 24xc6

With a rook and three pawns versus twopiees White is easily winning. here fol-lowed:24. d8 25fc1 g7 261c2 f5

27.e3 a5 28Ja6 d5 29.e4 d1 +

30.g2 d4 31.c7 b5 32.b7 d6

33.d7and Blak resigned.



onbat 3

Grisch-KotsurElista 2000

e4 c5 f3 c6 3b5

The Rossolmo Variaon A popular wayo mee he clan and aod man lineslke he eshnko. ee also he games

PonomaroKramnk and adakasoVan Wely elsewhere n hs book.3e6 400 ge7 5c3 a6 6a4

Whie plays a knd of Ruy opez seup ersus he iclan The alernae is6.�e2 dS 7exdS xdS 8.d4.6 b5

Very popular is also 6...dS 7 .exdS xdS(7 ..xdS is bad because of he smple8xc6+ bxc6 9.d3 KarpoOrzechsimul Koszaln 1997) 8.d4 and now i soo lae o play 8 ..bS as 9.c4! xc4?1 b3 b4 11.d2 caches he queen7 c2 b7 8e2

A excellen moe. Whie prepares e

adance d2d4 wh e2 and d1. Thereare pleny of alernaies Whe can playon he queensde wh 8a4. ogcal isalso 8d4 bu afer 8 ..cxd4 Whie has oake back wh he kngh on d4 for afer9.cxd4 Black has he annoying 9 ...b4.We see he same moif afer 8.e 1 Thismoe can be me by 8 .. 8 because of 9d4 cxd4 10.cxd4 (10.xd4) 10..b411 b3 xc1 12.xc d3 13d2xe 1 14xe1 wh equaliy8 b6

Wh 8. g6 Black ams o proe haWhies cenre s ulnerable afer 9d4cxd4 1 .cxd4 h4. Whe keeps an edge

hough afer boh 11.bd2 and 11.d1nsead 8..dS 9eS d4 resembles he game

Comba 3 GrschukKosur

afer 1 .e4 g6 11d3 e7 12cxd4cxd4 13bd2 b6 14.b3 c8 1 d200 16.h4 Whie was beer n Bur-

neVan der Weide Gronngen 1999.9d1 d5 0e5 d4

As oherwse Whie will play d4.11e4

mmediaely aking adanage of he facha he e4square has become aalable.The bshop s excellenly posioned onhs cenral square nsead 11 cxd4 xd4

12.xd4 cxd4 13 .e4 d3!? 14.xd3c6 1 S.f3 cS+ was Rublesky-Mnasan Monecan 2000. d8 12d3 h6

Preparing ..dS and no wishng o bedisurbed by a fuure gS.13bd2 d5 14cxd4 cxd4

Whie obans more possblies afer14..xd4 1 S.xd4 cxd4. Wh hs adanage n space Black should no olun-arly rade peces n he course of hegame Grschuk is able o demonsrae haWhe may lack some space bu s neer-heless beer here. Whies ask s farfrom simple ough He has rouble nd-

ng he rgh squares for hs pieces Espe-cally he knigh on d2 and he bshop onc 1 hae no clear fuure a presen Canyou nd he righ plan jus as Grschukdd?

The Combat beg Good uk!

19



Th Chss Combat imulator Roun 1

You e Wte Your Mov: 5 _Your cor: 15a (10) 15b3(3) 15.f1(4)

15 e7 Your Mov: 16 _Your cor: 16axb5 (2)

16axb5 Your Mov: 1 _Your cor: 17 b3 (7)

170-0 Your Mov: 18 Your cor: 18 d2 (6)

18..•b Your Mov: 19. Your cor: 19 l (12)

9.h4(2) 9.h3(2) 9dc(2) 19.a2(2)

19a6 Your Mov: 20.

Your cor: 20 bxd (10)

20.xd Your Mov: 21. Your cor: 21xd (I)

21.£ Your Mov: 22. Your cor: 22exf6 (6) 22 f3(2)

22..xf6 Your Mov: 23. Your cor: 236 (7) 23xe6(6)

23 Your Mov: 24. Your cor: 2xd8 (2)

2..xe Your Mov: 25. Your cor: 25e (6)

20



The Chess Combat mulator Round

Why did Grisch play as he did?

15.a4

Less good are S.b3 and Sf.15 ...e7

Naturaly Black does not relnqushsquare c4 After Sf4 61 theknght on f4 s hangng n the air16.axb5 axb5 1 Vb3 o-o 18.d2

Quetly completng hs development andpreparng aS18... b4

Preventng Whites aS plan. Howeverafter Grschuks excellent reply the rem-edy turns out to be worse than the ds-

ease. Preferable was 18 ...d7.19.c1

Any of the followng moves slghtly m-proves Whtes poston 19.h4 19h319dc and 19a219...a6

19 ...d7 20.bd2 a8 21xa8+ xa822.c4 and Whte s somewhat better.20.bxd4

20.fxd4 xeS.20...xd4 21.xd4 f5

21...xd4 22xa6 s better for Whte as22 ... xe5 s mpossible due to23 .h 7 + Whte s also superor after21. . c 22.b3.

22.exf622. s less strong.

22

22 ...xf6

Whte wns after 22 . xf6 23xe6!xe6 24.h7+ f7 2S.g6+ e726.xe6+ xe6 27 xa6+. Compara-tively best was 22 ..xf6.

23.c6

Equally good s 23.xe6! as long as youtake the rght rook after 23 ...xe4 Not 24.xf8 xd3! 2S.xd3 xd3 with excellent counterplay. Correct s 24xd8 x +(24..xd8 2S.xa6 xa6 26.xe4)2S.x x 26.e and wns.23... c5

23 .. xe4 24.xe7+ f7 2S.g6!xg6 26.xe4+ f7 27 e324.xd8 xe4 25.xe4

The only move to wn the game ome-times chess can be unfar Havng playedan excellent game so far Grischuk muststill enter a tactcal mneeld to actually wn the game. Thus after 2S.xe6 x26.xe4 d2+ 27xc5 xcS+ 28.d4xd+ 29. c4 Whte may counthmself lucky to make a draw wth30e8+ h7 31.e4+. 2S.a6xa6 26xe6 xe6 27.'xe4 xe428.dxe4 x 29.h e2 and t s clearthat Whte certanly cannot hope to gan

more than half a pont25 ...xf2+ 26.h1 xd8 27.xh6



his is absolutely the best move 27g6ad 27.�f4 �b7 28e2 are ot earlyas god.... b7

27gxh6 28.g6+ f (28 . h829a6 xa6 30xh6+ g831.g5+) 29f6+ e8 30.f adis8.g6

r the slightly iferior 28.g48 ... d4 291

Agai Grischuk plays the strogest moveut by ow there are several roads leadig Rome 29�g5 f8 30d2 29.d2u 29e ! �xb2 30.xe6 (better are30gS ad 30.e3) 30.. �xg2+! is a vicious trap9.. c6

29 .�xb2 30.ab c3 3I.7 adhite wis30 . ac1

30.ae I �xb2 3 e6 xg2 +32xg2 �xg2+ 33.xg2 gxh6 is tech-ically somewhat harder30 ..xg2+

f 30 .. d the 3 I7.

ombat 3GrischukKotsur

31xg2 xg2+ 32.txg2 gxh6

33.c4

Agai the best but ay reasoable move will gai you I poit.he rest is elemetary Grischuk makes omistakes.33.xb2 34 xb4 g7 35 . f3 d

36.e4 e7 37:h3 h7 38.fe3 e5

39.3 d7 40.wh4 b7 41.h3 a7

42 . c4 ld7 43<g4 a7 44Wf5 f7+

45.we4 d7 46c6 h5 47a6 h8

48.b6 g7 49.c6 h8 50.f5 d4+

51.'e3 h4 52. f7+ g8 53.f3 d4

54.c7

Black resiged

23



The Chess Cobat iulator Round I

Cobat 4

AkopiOnischukGroningen 1 996

1.f3 f5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d6 4.d4 g6

5.c3?

Not a bad way to cobat the LeningradDutch Playing Sc3, rather than the ore

coon S.c4 does not ean that Whitehas odest intentions. One of the ainideas is that, with d4 wellprotected,White ay nd it easier to push e2e4.On top of that White also intendsd b3 to play along the a2g8 diagonalto prevent Black fro castling5 ... g7 6.ib3

As proised White ay follow up withf3gS. Black needs to do soethingabout the doinant position of Whitesqueen. Onischuk therefore opts for asetup with ..c6 and . .b6 and this co-es ost naturally to the eningradplayer. A totally different recipe is ...c6and dS to transfer play into a kind of tonewall. However, such a static pawnstructure does not coe easy to those ac-custoed to the dynaic Leningrad

6... c6 7.0-0 ib6 8.c2()After the exchange of queens White

24

would be only slightly better at best.Akopians ove is ore abitious Thequeen is excellently placed on c2 because

of the strategically desirable e2e4advance.8 ... 00 9.bd2 h8

This is a logical ove, but possibly notthe best. The gae VezzosiMagalotti,Forli 99, deonstrates how wellposi-tioned Whites pieces are for tacticaltricks along the a2g8 diagonal 9 aS?!

I a4 a6 c4 d8 2.b3! c73gS! fdS 4.b6 b8 IS.xdScxdS 6�xdS+ and White won.Possibly best is the tonewall ove 9.dSto close o the diagonal. After I .c4 e4e3 �e6 2.b3 aS 3a3 d7 4.bWhite had a slight edge in DlugyLeow,New York 992 However if Black hadnow played 4 .. h8! instead of 4..a6 he would have had a reasonableposition nevertheless.After 9 ..<h8 it is your ove. Good luckin capitalizing upon your positional advantage!

The Combat begs. Good Luck!



You are e

our Score:

0e4

our Score:

1�£

our Score:

2xe4

our Score:

3�xe4

our Score:

4

e5our Score:

5dxe5

our Score:

6c7

our Score:

7d7

our Score:

18f6

our Score:

19U8

our Score:

20.e7

our Score:

Combat 4Akopian-Onischuk

Your Move: 10

10.e4 (4) 10a4(2)

YourMove: 11

11.xe4 (1)

Your Move: 12.

1.h4 ()

ourMove: 13.

13.�xe4 (1)

Your Move: 14.

14.xe4 (1)

Your Move: 15.15.dxe5 ()

Your Move: 16

16.�e3 (6)

YourMove: 17.

17. (10) 17 ad1 (3)

Your Move: 18

18.5 (7)

Your Move: 19.

19.h4 (7) 19.'c4(3)

Your Move: 20.

0•adl (5) 20 . fd 1 (5)

Your Move: 2 1.

1.d6 (8)

25



The Chess Combat Simulator Round 1

I...h6

Your Score

<g8

Your Score

3

Your Score

4"xf6

Your Score

5"

Your Score

6

<xYour Score

7<g8

Your Score

8a5

Your Score

9eb8

Your Score

30

Your Score

3 I.<h8

Your Score

3c5

Your Score

26

Your Move 22.

l (6)

Your Move23

3.e4 (6)

Your Move 24.

4.xf6+ ()

Your Move 25.

5."c4 (5) 2e4(2) 2 xf6(2)

YourMove26

6."x+ (3)

Your Move 27.7d7+ ()

Your Move28.

8xb7 (I)

Your Move 29

9d6 (4) 29. dd7(3)

Your Move 30

30bd7 (4) 30. bc7(4)

Your Move 3 1.

3I.g6+ (3)

Your Move 32.

3.b3 (3)

YourMove 33

33.c7 (3) 33. c6(3)



Combat 4 Akoian-Onischuk

3 ... c8 Your Move: 34.

our Score: 34.gc6 (4)

ck resigned. Mw score 100

Yor Combat Score: o Combat Performance:

W A

10.e4

his was planned all along. However, theconsequences of the coming exchanges

had o be evaluated now. An interestingep o sharpen he game after O.e4is O...f4!?, afer gxf4 h lack hascounterplay nstead of the text O.a4 socoes into consideration.10...fxe4 Vx4 �f5 h x4

13.�xe4 �xe4 4.e4

he end of a forced sequence of moves.

kopian has evaluaed he position correcty. White is better due o the domint posiion of his queen on e4. f now14...'c7 then .f4 when White has tol control of he cenre. nischuk prefers isolated central pawn to a backwardpawn.

14 ... e5 15.dxe5 dxe5 ny case this is beer han aking wih

the bishop. After .�xe 16.�e3 'c7White plays 17.f4 and f, and in reply to16...'xb2 White plays 17 .ab and18.xb7 with good atacking chances.6.�

f no for his pawn sacrice lack wouldobtain an excellent game. After16 ...'xb2 17.ab 'xc3? 18.xb7a6?! 19.c a3 20xg6+ hxg621'xg6 Whie wins. Stronger is17...'xa2 18.b7 when White has

lovely compensaion for the pawn( 18 .. 'd 19'a4; 18.. 'e6 19.d).6.. c7 7.f

n regrouping he queen and knightAkopian increases the pressure uponlacks position A decen alternaive is17.ad.

17 ... d718.g5 f6 9.h4Less good is 19 'c4.

27



The Chess Combat Simlator Rond 1

9...f8 2.ad1

White also controls the dle after20

2 . 7 2.d6

Akopian prepares to dobe the rooks. Therook may not be taken, and another important point is that 21.. ad8? is impossibe de to 22d8d8 23xh7! 2...h6 22.fd g8 2.t g5

2xf6+ xf6

deed after 25f6 gxh4 26fd6!(26g6 h7 27dd6 ad8!) After thetext White has gathered so mch posi

tional capital that he wins a pawn in theending25 '7 26'x7+ �x7 277+ �8White gains even more material after27.. e7 28�c5.28xb7 a5 29d6

White also wins after 29dd7.29...b8

.bd7

Eqally good is 30.c7. Akopian does nottrade rooks yet, as he now wins a secondpawn by force....�f8 .g6+ h8 2.b c5 c7

c8 gc6Very accurate Weaker is 34.xc8 xc835a6 c4! The ast two moves of thegame may be interchanged. Ths playing33.c6 rst and 34.dc7 next is just as

25c+ goodWhite is also better after 2 5.e4, and in nischk resigned.

28



CombatS

Wiersma-SokolovNetera n !/

1e4 e5 f c6 �b5 f6 4.-

c5 5.c 6d4 �b6

7.�g5

he main alternative here is 7 .e 1, fornstance: 7...d6 8.h3 h6 9.�e3 �d710.�a4 e8 11.bd2 exd4 12.xd4xd4 13 .�xd7 'xd7 14.�xd4 e6 andlack had easy play in StefanssonSokolov,

opavogur 2000After 7 .e 1 d6 the interpolation of 8.a4a worked out well for lack in Van denDoelSokolov, Dutch championship1999. White had lost control over theb4square aer 9.h3 h6 10�e3 exd4!?1cxd4 ( 1�xc6) 1 ..b4 whenlack had again a decent game.7 d6

heory advises lack to include ...h6 and..h4 here. Sokolov has his own ideasabout the usefulness of this. The bishop c

e vulnerable on g as become clearlater on in the game.An older game, by a namesake of our

present protagonist, went 7 ...h6 8.�h4d6 9.xc6 bxc6 10.dxe5 dxe 1a4

Combat 5WiersmaSokolov

(11bd2 is stronger) 1..d612.bd2 d7 with equal chances inoc.Sokoov, Vrnacka ana 6.8�xc6

lack obtained active play in LankaSokolov, atumi 1999, after 8a4 a9Je1 h6 10.�h4 exd4 11.xc6(11.cxd4) 1...bxc6 12.xd4 e813.d2 c 14.c2 g ! 1 g3 b7.8...bxc6 9.dx5 dx5 .bd2

1O.a4 d6 1 1bd2 is an old recom

mendation of Keres....d6 1c2

White threatens 12.c4. How does lackget active counterplay?

The Comb beg. Good Luck

29



The Chess Comba Simulaor Round 1

ou e Bck Your Move 1 1 Your Score h (8) ...d7(4) ...a6(4)

1 YourMove 12 ... Your Score 1

12.f6(2) 12. a6(2) 12...�e6(1)

13 e3 Your Move 13 . _Your Score 13f4 (S) 13 ...�h3 (2) 13 ..e8(2) 13 .f6(3)

14g3 Your Move 14... Your Score 14 (S)

1S4 YourMove ... Your Score 1S �e6 (S) ...�a6(2)

16S YourMove 16 Your Score 16�xe3 (1)

17xe3 YourMove 17 Your Score 17d8 (S)

18b3 YourMove 18 Your Score 18hS (7) 18... d6(4)

19h4 Your Move 19... Your Score 19h3+ 19.. d6(4) 19...<h8(3)

< Your Move 20 .. Your Score (S)

1c Your Move2 1 . Your Score 1�h3+

< Your Move22 ...

30



ur Scre

2tg

ur Score

c

our Score

2x

ur Score

.x

ur Score

7g

ur Score

28.g

Yur Score

g

ur Score:

Your Score:

hte resigned.

Yo Combat Score:

Combat 5 WiersmaSokolov

g4 (8)

Your Move ... 3 ... d (8)

YourMove 24..

4.£ (10)

Your Move 25 .. 5' (4)

Your Move 26... 6... 3+ ()

Your Move 27 . .

7x (3)

YourMove 28.. 8 ... + (4) 28.

Your Move 29 ..

9

h3+ (4)

Your Move

30d+ ()

MscorelOO

o Combat Performce:

3 1



The Chess Combat Simuator Round

Wh kv p h

h5

Tacticay defending e, and enabing thequeen to switch to the kingside. Less active are ..d7 and ..a62f

n case of 2.c4 Back has 2... e6 when e cannot be taken because of thefork foowing ..f6 here we see thepoint of omitting 7..h6 8 .h4.2 6

Direct pay by Sokoov, he is immediateyheading for the opponents king Weakerare 2 f6, 2 ..a6 and 2 �e6

3d�

To take on e after a. f4

White simpy answers 3 .h3 with4.g3 Less good than Sokoovs choiceare aso 3 ..e8 and 3 . f646

Here Back shoud not incude a check onh3: 4h3+ g2 f6, because of 6.h4 h 7 f.5a4

Too ambitious, preferabe was .h4.5 6

Quiety competing his deveopment

ther moves are weaker Thus, ..a6is met by 6.xf4 exf4 7.a c 8.b4.

32

f a then 6.c4, and it i s not nec

essary to pay ..xe3 yet.6a5 �x 7l

7.fxe3 h3+ 8.g2 g and Backhas a ceary favourabe position.7 ad8

Pease note how Sokoov rst invoves ahis pieces before embarking on an aoutoensive

8bThis is not good, but suggesting a payabe aternative is not so simpe.8 h5

Back may aso doube rooks on the de with 8 .Jd6.9h4

For, if 9.gxf4 then 9..exf4 20.d3d3 2 xd3 xb3 22.c4 c2!9h+

Payabe are aso 9. d6 and 9. h8.22 5 2c5 h+ 22

�4

This move is hard to nd. The purpose isto contro square d and at the same timeto introduce the threat of . .f3 +.22 �d

Another great move. The queen is forcedto a worse square.24c

r 24 . b d2.2f5



penn the f-e l be desve hs . T geplanaton s not so dt thoh

lack s spl nvovn a hs pees ne atak5exf5

ere 2f s et b 2 h3+55 26xf5 "ih+ 7g "ixf5

o o hr27..f3+ 28 f3 f3 2h d+0.d d 3.d n ase of

27 f3 Whte has 28h8.g2

o he ast te Whtes kn oes to 2to tr to protet the eak ht saressrrondn hs aste

Cobat 5WersaSokoov

28 _f+

After 28"h3+ 2 + (2 .. 3f) 3 3 1f Bakst st ork hard for the .

2�g h3+ 30' Jd +

Whte resned

33



The Chess Coba Suao Round I

obat 6

Molev-IskuskhSoci 6

1.e4 c5 :f d6 .d4 cxd4 4.xd4

f6 5.c c6 6. g5 e6 7.d2 e7

8.-- b6?

No a bad lne o avod sevea ads of

Rauze vaaons The ea queen ove(a of n nueous Sans) aeon een n vogue9.db5

Whe as o efue he hoe ne h hs de ove he hopes o nhe d6pan hou akng an ones

sons.Moev had no fond eoes of heendng asng afe .f3 'xd IO.'xdxd II d a6. He as sol oupaed n Moev-Koolev, RussanChaponshpMoso 200n he gae Kunosov-Molev, Wasa2005, lak on a sa endng foo

ng .�e2 a6 IOf 'xd .'xdxd 12.xd �d7.The ove �e3 shoud be e b . g, he .b3 0-0 I Of3 s aansposon o a an lne (7 .�e78.0-0-0 0-0 .b3 'b6 IO.f3) henlak has uvened ean nes.9... - 1.e1

An neesng ove ode Whe asng o avod IO.f a6!? hh asequa n Moev-Kosenuk, Moso2006, ae xd6 xd6 12xf6gxf6 13.'xd6 d8 1a3 'e3+I.b xd+ 16.xd 'xf 17.'f3'xf3 18gxf3 b.

A he sae e he hopes o anspose oIO.f d8 II eI e8? 12.a 'a6

3a3 and Whe as nnng, ahough Moev anaged o s upenough opaons afe 13 ...�xg!?

1.�xa6 xf+ 1.b I bxa6 o da nhe end LahnoMoev, Wjk aan Zee2006A opee deen saega pan sIO..1... a6

Wh hs shap ove ak s ng oavod he ansposon IO ...d8 f,

bu a ae gae shos ha pehaps akshoud no fea hs as ong as he doesno pa ..e8 as Moev dd vesusLahno. So ae I O ..d8 I I.f pla hasansposed o Lahno-Molev above.Hoeve, nsead of he hoe...e8?, Spagge no podued heneesng d7!? 12.xf6 �xf613 .xd6 �x3 1.bx3 'a Ib2 b16.e5 b8 h opensaon n a oplaed poson, Naaf-Spagge, voa2006 n ove 1 akes sense ohek ha happens afe 1'x3. lakhas 1 b I.'d2 xa2+ 16.bxd6 17.xd6 3+ 18. e3+

1 .d2 ( 1 'd2 xdI) 1...eI+20.d 'e3+ h a da, and hs usbe he aal pon of Spagges pa.

The Comba begns. Good Luck!



Yu e e

our Score

e

our Score

2 xc4

our Score

ic5

ur Score

ixc4

ur Score

5

xf6our Score

if4+

our Score

7 ixf6

our Score

b5

our Score

• •h4

our Score

20•ia4

our Score

Combat 6 Motylev-skusnikh

Your Move 1 1. _11xd6 (4) 1 e3 ( 1) 1.xf6(2)

YourMove 12 12c4 (6) 12e3 (6) 12xc8( 1) 12 .xf6(2)

YourMove 13. 13 •xc4 (1)

Your Move 14. 14e5 (3)

YourMove 5. __15exf6 (1)

YourMove 16._

16�xf6 (1)

YourMove 17. _7ie3 (5) 17Jd2(2)

YourMoe 18. 18 d6 (6) 18 d2(2) 18 d4(2) 18.e4

8h4 18.a4( 1)

YourMoe 9. _9d5 (4) 19 hd 1 (1)

Your Moe 20. 20g3 (4) 20b6(1)

Your Move 2 1 _21f6+ (6) 2.e7+ (6)

35



he Chess Cobat Sator Rond

Yor Move: 22. Yor Sore: .d4 (5)

.. a Yor Move: 2. Yor Sore 3.h4 (4)

And Blak resned after 2 . a + 2d 2 ' a+ 25.e2.

sore50

our Combat Score: our Combat Performance:

Wy Myv py

xd6

hs s onsstent th Whtes set-p.Dbos s .a bease of ...d5(..7) 2ed5 a .ba dd ed d5 e6After Ie Blak has I...d8(I.a5) 2.d

f f6 then .�f6 2d6 andBlak has sent opensaton, btWhte an tr the nteredate 2.ad8 before plan d6. After ..d ( . 7 e) ( e5) b5 the oplatons ontne nstead of .f6 Blak ansood onterpla th ..ab2.e e7 b d .

6

5

Blak spl loses a pan afte . d62d6 se the doble attak 2 ..5

s eas parred b .d2. d8 2.e5 s also klln as 2..efas to .8 a8 .e5 5e! and Blak does no retreve hspee on to ths nteredate ove2c

he han ove, the ae ontnaton

s not so dlt to aate.A opter old o fo 2e 7(2 . e+ e s jst a pan) ! ths s the ove that has to beallated oret. t orks aer both . �d6 �f6 and .. d8e5 d6 s f6!.Less ood s 28 f8 and Bak

has opensaton. Not ood s �ebease of ... �5 f s et b.b And nal thee s .f e.e5 ! . e th onon opatons.n ase of 2.�f6 f6 . 7e fe Blak has opensatoaordn to Motlev2 xc



Combat 7 EeKotov

You e We YoMove: 17 o Scoe: 17.�e3 (8) 17e1(8) 17.'c2(4)

7fd7 YoMove: 18. o Scoe 18.3 (10) 18.'c2(4) 18.h2(4) 18Je1(4)

8f6 YoMove: 1. ou Scoe: 9:fc1 (10)

1 fd 1 ( 4) 1 . fe 1 ( 4) 1 .h 2 ( 4)

9d7 Yo Move: 20 o Scoe 0.d1 (1 0)

:xe3 Yo Move: 2 1. ou Scoe 1.e3 (1)

6 Yo Move 22 ou Scoe: .d3 (8)

:e8 Yo Move 2. ou Scoe: .\ (4)

:xe3 Yo Move 24. ou Scoe: 4.xa6 ()

:e5 Yo Move: 25. ou Scoe: 5f (5)

5c8 Yo Move 26. ou Scoe 6.b (4)

6d7 Yo Move: 27. ou Scoe: 7.c6 (4)



The Chess Combat Simlato Rond 1

7• •.;g7

Yo Scoe:

8 •• •c8

Yo Scoe:

9•.xb8

Yo Scoe:

30•�£

Yo Scoe:

Yo Scoe:

Yo Scoe:

33 •• xe5

Yo Scoe:

34• • •xd7

Yo Scoe:

White is innin

o Combat Score:

0

Yo Move: 8 8.a6 (6)

Yo Move: 2. _9.b8 (4)

Yo Move: 0. 30.xb8 (1)

Yo Move: 1. 31.c6 (8) ( ) c6()

Yo Move: .

3.e4 (4)

Yo Move: .

33.e5 (9)

Yo Move: 34.xd7 (1)

Yo Move: 5 35.xc8 (1)

score100

our Combat Performance:



Comba 7 Eue-oov

Why d Ew ply s h did?

7.�

he develomen of he bisho o e3 haseen reared by 163 The bishoshields he e2-an from Blacks rookalong he ele Eualy good as17 e 1. No so bad eier is 17.c2 Nogood is 17.c6?! since Black obains anexcellen game ih 17 ..xc6 18dxc6d!.7...fd7 8.b

hie connecs is rooks and increaseshe ressure on he ueenside ih hisan sacrice. The hole an of

17 e3 18b3 19 and 2d 1is worhy of a World Camion, and noso easy o nd for mere morals. Sandardoves are 18.c2, 18h2 and 18Jehe laer as layed in Alexanrescurasulescu, Rumania 19, hic en:18 .e 19b3 bc4. No e can apreciae he srengh of Eues 18.b3once ore: i revens he knigh fromcoing o c48...f6?

An ignominious reurn o f6 o revenhie from aking on b Acceing hesacrice ih 18 .xc3 ?! is no advisale. Whie has excellen comensaion

afer boh 1 9.bxc3 xe2 2Jfe 1 c4(2 ...�d3 2c4!) 21b4 d3 22.c6

and 19.xc3 xe2 2. fe1 b

2 1�h6 f6 22e6Far sronger is 18 ab8! as indicaed byEue. Afer 19.xb axb 2.c6 b7Whie should no lay 2 1.xb? becauseof 2 1..xd. Ye, Whie kees an edge ih 2 1c2! c4 22c 1 foloed bya2 and b3.9.fc

Par of he overall lan Wie roecs c3and indirecly aacks he enemy ueenDecen moves are also 19.fd 1, 19. fe 1,and 192 Wrong is 19xb? axb2.xb bxd and Black is beer9. d7 2.d

While Black as merely os ime ih .f6-d7f6 and .. d7-b-d7 Whie isno ready for b2-b4.2...x?

ne year earlier oov had on heinerzonal ournamen 3 (!) oins aheadof Perosian and Taianov. Here he isosiionaly oudone and he ulls heemergency break. he exchange sacriceis deniely his bes racical chance ascan e seen fro 2 ..d8 (rohylaxisagains b2-b4) 21c6 xc6 22dxc6c4 23.g ih a large advanage

2.fx h6 22dWhie us lay accuraely afer he ex-

4 1



The Chess Comba Simulaor Round 1

change sacrice Black has more hanenough comensaion afer 22'd2 e823 d 1 e4

22...8Here 22 f is refued by 23 e4! xc124xc d7 2e!2.wh2 24.a6

24...5?

oov misses his nal racica chance ih 24 h! (as shon by Eue) Ye, hink ha Whie i in in he end folloing 2 f3!25.f c8 26."ib5

oovs revious move is a nea ra26b? ooks like an immediae in

Hoever, Back has he diaboical26 d7! 27xb6 xe2! ih hehrea of 'xh3+ For, if 28h 1 hen28 g2 29xg2 'xh3+ 3'h2 maes26... 7 27.c6 wg7 28.a6

42

Again he mos accurae move The sevenh rank is no he righ lace for herook here: 28a7? 'xa7 29xa7

xb 3axb c428 ...c8 29.b8

Forcing he exchange of queens and he in29 ... b8 30.xb8 f5 3.c6

Eue os for he mos direc in Blackno loses an d6 or, as in he game,even more maerial Also srong are 3 1g4and 3 1c6...8 2.4 7 .5

The rook is overloaded The sixh rank isceared afer 33 dxe 34cxf6

...5 4.7 7 5Jc8 Whie is inning and he remainder requires no commen6.c6 5 7.6 8.1

9.c6

Black resigned



Conbat 8

V den Doel-SosooRotteram 997

f3

den Doel usually plays .e4, but hehd something speial in mind for thisge

1 c5 2g3 d5 3�g2 c6 4.- e5 5dhite plays the Kings ndian withlurs reversed He is thus a tempo up a regular Kigs ndian, but things arever that simple With White you usuly play for n openig advantage, whileith lack you are satised if you haveequalized after the opening.5.. �e 7 6.e4 f6 7.c d4

iftee years earlier Sosonko achieved astisfatory position with 7 ...dxe4, afterte further 8.xe4 00 9.xf6+ �xf6Od2 �e6 e4 e 12 .e3 b6iegelSosonko, undesliga 19828e2d7

understand what Van den Doel hadrepared it makes sense to see howsonko usually plays against the Kingsdian with White, ie .d4 f6 c4 g63 �g7 4e4 d6 5f3 00 6.�e2 e700 c6 8d5 e7 9e d7Od3 f II.d2.

Combat 8 Van den DoelSosonko

So, if lack would reply 8 00 9d2e8 I O.f4 d6 he would really be atempo down on a wellknown position

(there is no bishop on d7). Sosonko wisely adopts a different strategy ad thisis one of the disadvantages of playing anopening with reversed colours Your opponent may be able to use his extra information (the tempo that he is behid) tohis advantage.9d2

From the previous comment we havelearned what Van den Doel aims forHowever, do you see what Sosonko hasplanned with his previous move? Take your time for the rst move to consider your game plan

The Comba beg. Good Luck!

43



2b

or Sore

2d

or Sore

23 xf4

or Sore

2xc4

or Sore

2g3

or Sore

26 x or Sore

or Sore

28x

or Sore

29g

or Sore

30xh

or Sore

hite reigned

Your Combat Score:

Combat 8 Van den DoelSoonko

Your Move 1.. 1••c4 (7)

Your Move __• • •exf4 (5)

Yor Move 3 3 •e5 (5)

Your Move 4

4• • •xg3 (8) 4..f3+(3)

YourMove5 5•••+ ()

Your Move 6

6• • •h+ (6) 6 x(2)

Your Move 7 7•• •�x (I)

Your Move 8 8 ••.g4+ (3)

YourMove 9 9•••h+ (5)

Your Move30

30h3+ ()

scoreIOO

or Combat Performce:

45



The Chess Combat Simulator Round I

Why ply h

9... h5

A great move which reects a deep understanding of the position. n case of 9...00 Van den Doel would haveachieved his aim: a Kings ndian with re versed colours and an extra tempo White would then continue with f4 to set upan attack on the kingside, while lack would have to develop his queenside playWith 9. h5, and also with 9... g5, lack isusing the fact that he hasnt castled yet tostart an attack on the kingside He is, thus,turning the disadvantage of being a

tempo down into an advantage (using theknowledge that White has alreadycastled).The diculty for White is that if he

would now decide to close les on thekingside (to slow down the attack), thenhe would end up losing all possibilities of counterplay here So that if lack wouldswitch to his traditional queenside playafter all, White would have nothing toplay for..f4 h4 f h

Taking possession of the g4-square andforcing White n the defensive. White would obtain counterplay in case of

ll

hxg3.2. h f6 .2

46

This is only making matters worse. Stron

ger was 13 .xe5 xe5 14.fxe5 g4I5.f4 xe5 16.d5 which would havekept lacks advantage within bounds.... g4 4.b g5

lack goes all out for the win with thisenergetic move. est now would havebeen I 5 f5 to close the les in front of hisking.However, this was certainly unattractiveas it would give lack a free hand on thequeenside.5. f gxf4 6.gxf4 g8 7.g h4

8. xg4White hates to do away with hisanchetto bishop, but the threat of 18 . xh was very strong.8... xg4 9 7

lack has time enough to bring his kinginto safety before embarking on the nalattack.2.a -- 2.b4 c4

n this way lacks king remains safe onthe queenside.n case of dxc4 there would now follow ...d3. And .b5 e7 3fxe5g6 also wins for lack22.2 xf4 2.xf4 5 24.xc4

xgDid you spot this combination? r were



Combat 8 Van den DoelSosonko

yo satised with 4f3+? n that case yo still have a technical job to do following 5xf3 x 6 f425.hxgf+ 26.xf h2+

Again the fastest road to victory n case of 6 �xf3 7h e6 8 f4 Whitesking wold be protected by the hpawn!27.f2

or 7xh xf3 8e5 leads to mateafter 8 h3+! 9xh3 h8+30h6 xh6 29..h + .wxh h+

27 ... xf 28.'xf g+ 29.g2 White resigned

47



The Chess Combat Smlator Rond I

ombat 9

Beliavs-KovchWaraw 5

.c . c5 .f � . cx

5.x c .� f .c

8.� - 9.- �7 .

Whte can avod the exchange of knghts

by playng I b3 or I c The otherman lne s I cI hen Black sholdcontne th I xd4 I �xd4 �c61f3 d7 13�e3 a 14b3 c henWhtes rook old have been betterplaced at bI to spport the advance onthe eensde th a3 and b3b4 compare th the game... .� �c6 .f

The postonal varaton Whte can alsoembark on an attack th 1�d3 a andplayng ether rook to eI Belavsky asonce successf th 13 feI d714�xg7 xg7 Ie3 f6?! 16db6 ( 16 a4) 17d �xd 18exd

fe8 19�f b4 0d4 a4 b3g8?! (better as axb3 xb3c) bI d7 3 a3! xa3? 4b4a 'd! a3 6eb3 and Black resgned snce 7 aI cannot be parredBelavskyHjartarsonBarcelona 1989...a5 .b 7

Black manoeuvres hs knght to theeensde and ndcates that he oldlke to trade the darksared bshopsThs s nderstandable f yo consderthat hs pas at a d6 and e7 are controllng mportant dark suares aready.�f?

Ths s a sbtle move t s clear that

14�xg7 xg7 gans nothng Mostgames nvolng the exchange contne

48

th Id4+ g8 hen Black tradeseens on the next move th 16 'b6 th an ea endng The man lne s

14�e3 hen pay goes 14cIab 'b6 16fc fc8 d no norder to nderstand Belavskys 14� eshod see hat happens after the natura17 a3 ?: Black has the tactcal shot17xb3!..�5

Kovcha dsregards the natral 14 c

The dsadvantages of ths may be demonstrated by the reader (follong Belavskysexample) The sal move after 14 cs I aband f b6 then I6a3!llstratng hy the bshop s tactcallybetter placed at For no 16 xb3fals smply to I7dI nnng a pece5.ab 6

Controlng sare d and openng thedagonal h4d8 for the ueen Ths sconsstent th 14 .�e The dsadvantage s that d6 may become eak6.a

Belavsky prepares the push b3b4 Blackams to gan conterplay along the man

dagonal th hs next move6..f6

Black attacks the knght on c3 Are yo ableto demonsate lke Belavsky that Whtecan obta a sgncant postonal edge?

The Comba begns Good Luck!



You are e

Scre:

7 ... exd5

Scoe:

8 .. f4

Scoe:

9 .. e7

Score:

2 .bxc6

Score:

2..�h6 Scoe:

n.c5

Score:

2 .. 8

Score:

24 ...�g7

Score:

5.. J6

Score:

26 .. ab6

Score:

27 ...

Score:

Combat 9Beliavk-Kovchan

YourMove: 17 17.d5 (10) 17 f 1(5) 17b5( 1)

YourMove: 18 18.cxd5 ()

YourMove: 19 19.idl (5)

Your Move: 20 0.dc6 (1) 20g3(1)

Your Move: 2 1 1.g3 (6) 2 12(6)

YourMove: 22

.c (6)

YourMove: 23 . 3l (6) 23f4(5) 23 bd1 (3)

Your Move: 24 _4f4 (5) 24g2(3) 24d3 ( 1)

You Move: 25 _5.� (5) 2d3(2)

Your Move: 26 _6.d3 (8)

You Move: 27 7.e5 (6)

YorMove: 28 8.exd6 ()

49



Te Ce Combat imuato Round

28..

You coe

29...�xd6

You coe

30...e7

You coe

3 1 .. .a4

You coe

. . .g

You coe

3 3 .. .a6You coe

34.. .xd8

You coe

3S ...g4

You coe

36.. .gx+

You coe

Back eigned.

Cmbat Scre:

s

You Move 29 29 .c4 (S) 29e4() 29c2(4)

You Move 0. 30.e 1 (8 ) 0.d(6) 0d5(6)

You Move 3 1 .g2 (6) xaS(S) .g2(5) .d(4)

You Move 2. 32.xa4 (1)

You Move . 33 .�aS (7)

You Move 4.

34.�d8 (7 )

You Move 5

3S.xa6 (1)

You Move 6

36.xd6 (2) 6.xg4(2)

You Move 7. 3 7.x (1 )

axscre: 1 00

r Cmbat Perfrmance:



Combat 9Beiavky-Kovchan

Why elsky ly s he ?

15Ti i a vey tong move of coue.eiavky take advantage of te fact tatack a eft i knigt on d7 (atetan pay te tandad 14 .cS) inibiting te igt-quaed biop.tiey poible i te taigtfowadfc but afte 17 fc8 Wite aeey a pace advantage and noting diect Fo e good now i 18b4 axb49.axb4 a and Back a excelentounterpay Peae note tat afte te peiinay 17fc fc8 te move 18S

i e trong becaue of 18...exdS 19.cxdSf4 20e �xe + 2 .xe �xdS.Te diect 17 bS gain noting peciaafte 17..�xbS 18.cxbS �f4 folowed byfc8Too paive i 17.d1 panning te manoeuve e g4) 17 .fd8 18.egS and wit ..fS an . cS a activepoibiitie Back i aeady igtybetter.1 ex5

ack may ignoe te knigt wit17 .d8 but afte IJfd1 cS19. e (Roiz) Wite i bette a teteat of 20g4 i toubeome Te ex

ange 17...�xdS 18cxdS i omewatbette fo Wite.

1cx5

Back obtain countepay aong te eeafte 18 .exdS fe8 9 .dxc6 bxc6. �f4 91

Wite mut keep dS potected in ode totake back wit e majety on dS Bad i19�e ? �xe 20.'xe xdS2.exdS fe8 and Back i better a tereae a ot of weaknee in Wite

camp. 9 e

ooner o ate te queen a to leave tediagonal anyway. Wite i panning g f4and �d4xc6Fit 20g to take back on c6 on te nextmove i equay good bxc6 g3

ut a good i 2.'c21 �h6 cAn exceent muti-pupoe move. Witeconnect te ook attack c6 and defend pawn e4 tu peparing -f4Beliavky o a uge poitiona advan

tage owing to i biop pair and uperio pawn tuctueLe good i 22.�d4 �g7 ince tadingte dak-quaed biop ti favouBack. c5

Hee it wa tonge to pay 22..fc8pepaing 2 .dS. Afte te text Back ie wit i infeio tuctue.3f

Neay jut a tong i 2.f4. t i ome wat weake to take te ote ook wit2.bd a ti ook i pefoming auefu tak on b 1 defending te pawn3 fb 4f4

nfeio i 24'd becaue of 24 ..�f82S.f4?! a4! and Back a at leat ome

51



Te Ce Combat imuato Round I

countepay. Te move 24g2 alwaycome in uefu.4 �g 5 �f3

2S.' f6 26� 5 a6Te touget efence wa 2S... a726.' b6 but Back tak emainunenviable63

i

A poweful ouble attack. Black mt oometing about i unpotecte ook ona6 keep d6 potected wilt conieingte iniect attack along te -le6 ab6 e5 �f ex6 f6n cae of 28 .. xd6 29.'xd6 'xd60.6 �x6 b6 Wite a

2b4 axb4 axb4 winning9c4Reaonabe altenative ae 2 9.'e4 and29.'c29 �x6Black oul ave tae a pai of ook wit 29 . xd6 0 x6 �xd6. Howeve afte I Wite keep a lagepoitional avantage (e ti a a pai of biop and a upeio pawn tuctue)3�e1Te bet move Beliavky attack te weakpawn aS an ao teaten I�c Black

52

jut abot manage a counteteat wit0...'e7. Ao good wa doubing ookon te d-e wit eite 0 d o

0 5.3e31gTe mot impe oution Beiavky pe vent te ceck on e He coul alo avetaken on aS Did you pot tat I.�xa5'e + 2.g2 xb .xb xb4.'e2! ao win ince one of Backpiece on te de wil fa?

Muc moe complicated i te win ae I. d a4 2.'xa4 c4 .'xc4 cS4.d6! 'xd6 S.d 'e7 6�xb 7 .�xb6 xb6.Ao good i .�g2 f6 2! butcetainy not 2 �xa5? 'e + .xb 4. xb xb 31 a4 3 xa4 g5

Depeation but in cae of 2...c4 Witejut play b4.33�a5n combination wit te next move ti win an excange.33 a6

34� x 35xa6 g4 36x6Equay good i 6.�xg4.36 gxf3+ 3xf3

Black eigned.



obat 0

V Wy-kegrade 1999

14 f6 c4 e6 3f3 5 4c3 bc5 e5 6�g5 e e3 83 e 9 f c c6o comment egading te peviou

ove We ave eaced an impotanttabiya poition fom te Queen Gambitcange Vaiation. ome excange vaiation (ike te Fenc o te av) aeayed to poduce a ifee daw. Howe wit gte ike okoov and Vaney one need neve fea uc ine.ee te aymmetica natue of teawn tuctue guaantee tat tee wiaway be ome ife eft in te poition. ti becaue of ti tuctue tat te panfo bot ide may be dawn up Wite wi often pay fo te o-caed minoityattack pu b2-b4-b5 to utimatey ade Back wit a weak pawn on c6. Back

on te ote and may ue i contoove quae e4 to tat a kingide attack.oud tat pove too ambitiou ten e wi ty to daw te ting out of Witeay on te queenide. h3A uefu itte pawn move tat Kapov aoiked to pay. Wite pevent te manoeuve ...g4-5-g6 by mean of wic Back woud aim to excange ibad biop fo Wite good oneAnote idea beind . i given tecicumtance to pay eS and f4. Teimmediate .eS i met by ..g412.xe7 xe7 1.xg4 �xg4 and

Back a few pobem g6

Combat I 0 Van Wey-Sokoov

Te tat of a ogica pan. Back wi egoup i piece wit ...e6-g7 wen ecan once again pay fo te excange of

te ig-quaed biop wit .c8-f51abVan Wey pepae b4 and okoov decide to pevent ti move wit a5

n ti tandad type of poition you object i to poduce a poitiona matepiece. Good uck

The Cmba begns. Gd Lck!

53



Te Ce Combat imuato Round

are We You Move 1.

You coe 13.a3 (4)

1 3e6 You Move 4

You coe 14.4 (4) 4xf6(4) 46(4)

1 4g7 You Move 5

You coe 1 5 .b4 (4)

1 5axb4 You Move 6.

You coe 1 6.axb4 ( 1 )

1 6 You Move 7

You coe 1 7.�x (4) 7b5(4)

1 7...x You Move 8.You coe 1 8xf6 (4)

1 8�xf6 You Move 19.

You coe 19.b5 (4)

1 9. ..a5 You Move 20.

You coe 20.bxc6 (3)

20bxc6 You Move 2

You coe 2 1 . e2 (8) 2.b() 2fc()

21 ec8 You Move 22.

You coe 22.f4 (5) 22. fc ()

22.d8 You Move 2 .

You coe 23.d3 (4)

23d6 You Move 24.

You coe 24a1 (6) 24.d2(2)

54



24. .a1

ou coe:

25 c4

ou coe:

6 ...e8

ou coe:

27�e7

ou coe:

28c5

ou coe:

29

xe5ou coe:

30 .. .xc5

ou coe

3 1 .c8

ou coe:

3c1+

ou coe:

33c3

ou coe:

34 .. .tg7

ou coe:

35 . . .h5

You coe:

Combat 10Van We-Sokoov

You Move: 25 25a1 ( 1 )

You Move: 26. 26.a6 (6) 26.c5(1) 26.a7(2)

You Move 27 2 7.h1 (8)

You Move 28. 28.fe5 (5) 28de5(1)

You Move: 29 29.dxc5 4)

You Move: 0.

30.xe5 (1)

You Move: 1. 3 1 .b2 (5)

You Move: 2

32.g4 (5)

You Move: .

33.th2 ( 1 )

You Move: 4. 34b8+ (4)

You Move: 5. 35.a7 (4)

You Move: 6 36.e5 (5) 6.xe7(1) 6e8(1)

55



Te Ce Combat imuator Round 1

And Wite i competey winning M score:

r Cmbat Scr: r Cmbat Prfrmanc:

Why V Wely ly s he ?

1 3a3 e6 1 4�h4

Not te ony biop move. Wite can aoopt for 14.xf6 xf6 1S.b4 or 14.6g7 1S.b41 4 g 1 5b4 axb4 1 6axb4 �f1 �xf5

Te excange of te igt-quared bi

op coud not be avoided. Bot ide avepayed conitenty. Wite i ready for bSBack a managed to get rid of i badbiop Wit te text Van Wey decide tokeep i queen on c2. He coud ao pay17bS �xd 18d f 19�xf6xf6 a in te game okoov-Van der

terren Amterdam 1988 okoov wontat game o e wa we aware of wate wa etting imef in for!1 xf5 1 �xf6Ti peed up te minority attack Beide Back woud be ne afte 18�gSd6.1 �xf6 1 9b5 a bxc6

Potponing ti excange wi not gainWite anyting. n a fairy identica poi-

56

tion veru Hjartaron Van Wey oncepotponed te excange ony to be unpeaanty urpried wit . ec8. Becaueof te indirect attack on te queen aongte c-e Hjataron coud pevent bxc6. bxc6

1e

Ti i a good move. Van Wey manoeuv

re te knigt to d . Poitionay 21.d2?ook attractive However after te tacticaot 2.xd4! Back win materia foowing 22.exd4 xd4 2.d xc f 21.b7 ten 21 ..d6.tronger tan tee two aternative to tetext are bot 2 b d6 22 . 1 (or

22d2) 22 ... c4 and 2 .fc1 d6.1 ec f4To bring te knigt to d from were itcontro cS and eS Payabe i 22.1 3 3 6 4 a1

Van Wey want to excange a pai of ook to inceae te vuneabiity of c6Paive i 24.d2

4 a1 5 xa1 c4 6a6Te bet move. Wite i keeping a i



itional avantages Not 262? beaue of 26 x2 272 cS f 6S ten 26e7 Ae 26a7

ak will play 26 a an with allk excange te weakne of c6 iw ae to attack e h

ueb popylaxi Te move is eminient of te game Ficemylov Havana1965 whee White alo nexpectelyaye g 1- I to pevent Black fomeeing imelT unetan Van Welys move we mutanalye the logical 27 2 Black noway 27 xe! wen afte 2fxexe + 291x e wol be ne

ePotecting quae cS but enabling Witet tae knights wit is next movetonge wa 27 afe5

But not 2eS cS c5 9dxc529xc cx an Black has le all istoubles bein9 xe5 3xe5 xc5 3 b

Black has cceee in getting i of ibackwa pawn Te pice a been higtoug His king i in touble te mainteat is 2g okolov next oes notpevent this

3c

Combat 10Van WelSokolov

f 1S ten Wite a 2 o2b6 an in bot case Black will goon ueing

3g4 c +mpoible wa 2 a6? 6+f mate But 2 gS b6i no picnic eite33wh c3

34b+

Black wol aw the eng aftexc xc S aS Wit the text VanWely tats a ecisive attack on Black g34 g Wite wins ae c SeS gS6 b6 Also loing i f S ac7+ 6xc7 xc7 7f6+ g7

e+35a

Cetainly not S a c 7 +35 h5 36e5Muc bette tan 6 xe7 xg7xg o 6e xg 7xe7 f6an Wite still ha a tecnical job to o36 b

okolov give p te excange to avoi animmeiate los Afte 6 cS Wite win wit 7e an 6 f6 bingsno salvation following 7b6+ xeS xe 7 + fS 9 6 an mate3xb xe5+ 3'g d6 39bf 4a5

Black eigne

57



YOURROUNDl

PERFORMANCE

T ee trac f ret, t th crecard.

N Yu Yu Pfn

Cm

Cm

Cm

Cm4

CmS

Cm

Cm 7Cm

Cm

Cm 0

Your verage Combat Performance in Round

d c Rd

8



obat

Nisn-KjnHastings 0003

1 4 5 c4 xc4 3e4

ite fom i ideal cente. Blackoud attack it a oon a poible wici wy teoy conide ... e5 ...f6

... c6 and Kajakin coicec5 45

oo oid i 4. cxd4 Sxd4 xd46xd4 wen mot game end in a daw.4f6 5c3 b5i i an extemey iky ine.6f4etting up ome eementay tick witf4 and bS in cae of 6 ...b4. Note tatack i ne afte 6.xbS aS+ 7.cxe4. popua altenative i 6.e5 b4 7.exf6xc 8.bxc wen a peviou Kajakinecounte fom a junio ympiad went8..exf6 (te ap 8.. d7 alo occu)

9xc4 d6 Oe2 + e7 .xe7+xe7 2.e2 d7 .f4 b6 4bSd7 S.xd7 xd7 and Black waette in te ending Nai-Kajakin Kuaaumpu 2002.6 a6

ack eintoduce te teat of ..b4 witti unuua biop move. Te ote inei 6..aS but 7.d2 b4 8.e5 bxc9.xc folowed by O.exf6 eem to faou Wite.f3 vey concete ine. t al depend on tefoowing tactic. ntead 7.f i met by7... e6 wie 7e5 b4 8.exf6 bxc 9.bxc

gxf6 a occued evea time in pactice.

Combat Nielen-Kajakin

b4

Te only conitent move�xb bxc3

Ti i foced bot paye wil avececked wit tei compute pogamtat taking on b8 i wong: 8..xb8 9 .a4+ d7 O.xa6 bxc.bxc and now ...b2 ook dangeou but Wite imply goe 2.dxc + .d2 wen e win back tec-pawn and obtain a tuctua edge a

we a a ead in development. 8.. xb8 9.a4+ d O.xa6 bxc.bxc xe4 2.e5 alo favouWite.9a4+

9.e5 cxb2 neve wa Wite intention.9 xa6 cxb Ub xbAt t igt a competey andom poition a aien. Back appea to be ne wit i paed pawn on b2. Howevecloe inpection eveal tat Wite kingi a ot afe tan Back and tat i atcount ee. Epeciay te diagona a4-e8i vuneabe. Can you ike Nieen folow toug wit te attack?

The Cmba begns G Lck!

59



Te Cess Cmbat imulatr Rund 2

are Whe

Yur cre:

1 2.. .b6

Yur cre:

1 3 .. .e4

Yur cre:

1 4.. .ib7

Yur cre:

1 5 .. .ib6

Yur cre:

1 6.. .f6Yur cre

Yur cre:

1 8.. .e5

Yur cre:

1 9...ib7

Yur cre:

20. . .ib6

Yur cre

And Wite wn.

Cmbat Scre:

60

Yur Mve: 12.

1 2.c4 (4) e(3)

Yur Mve: 13

1 3 .ia3 (4) 13.e(2)

Yur Mve 14

14b2 (4) 14.e(4) 140-0(2)

Yur Mve: 1.

1 5 .b6 (4) 1.'a4+(3)

Yur Mve: 16

1 6.0-0 (4) 16'a4+(4) 16�d3(2)

Yur Mve: 171 7.ia4+ (5) 17 d3(2)

Yur Mve: 18

1 8 .6 ( 1 0 ) 18.'c2(8) 18.c1() 18.d3(2)

Yur Mve: 19.

1 9e6 (5)

Yur Mve: 20

20 .ia5 + (5)

Yur Mve: 21

21.bl (5)

amscre: 50

r Cmbat Perfrmance:



Comba 11 Nlsn-Karjakn

Wy y ?

1 2 bc4

othng could b mor logcal than ths.hte aks a pawn, dlops a bshopad prpars o casl. Thr s a ry atract alrna hough ha alsoorkd wondrs n pracc. Black has otake grat car aer 12.S! ? for now12..'b7? ? fals to 13.xb2!

and Black had to rsgn nhro-Moyl Moscow 2001 as3...'xa6 14xb8+ mats as dos13 .. xb2 14.c6+ d8 1S.x+.ccordng o Nlsn h could nd noadanage for Wh afer 12 ..'c7(hch s why h sard nsgang12xc4 n th gam anschatalbash Analya 2002, thr fol

owd: 13a4+ d7 14.xc4 g61S c6 d8 16.'xc7+ xc7 17.xb2

xb2 18.xb2 g7 19.d 1 b8 and

Black was br.1 b6

Black s alrady n dr sras as s shownby h followng sample lns: Not 12...x4 13.S b7 whnhros rck s sll on: 14 b2!.

12 . 'b7 13.'a4+ d 14.a3 b715.0-0 and Wh should wn for how s

Blacks kng gong o scap n tm? Nlsn wro ha 12... b4 13Sb7 14.c6+! d7 1 S�a6! xc616.dxc6 b6 17c7 6 18c4 xc419.�xc4 d7 20�b5+ xc7 21xb2 was stll part of hs (xcllnt prparaon 3a3

Drawng the sng out of hs sh Wh wll wn h passd pawn on whch all of Blacks counrplay s basd. Lss good sth ntrprsng 13.S afr 13.. b7not 13 xa6 14.xd7 losng an xchang, whn 14 a4+ (14.xb7xb7 1S.a4 x4! 16. bS+ xbS

17.axbS gS gs Black nough asKhuzman has shown 14..d7 1S.xd7'xd7 16'c2 promss only a slghdg. 3 xe4Prhaps hngs ar hardr for Wh n apractcal gam afr 13 b 7 f Whtconnus 145 hn Black should ry14 ... b4! ? (rahr than 14 ..xdS1S.a4+ d8 16.�xd5 xdS 17.0-0 whch s gam or 1 S.�a6 xdS16.xf6 4+ 17 .d2 gxf6 18 xb2�h6+ 19.c3 00 and Wht s a pcup, but at last t s Whtes kng that s ndangr now!

14bThs s wnnng: Wht rmos b2 and

61



Th Chss Combat imulator Round 2

succds in castling. Wors looks 14.Sbcaus of th doubl attack 14...fSHowr surprisingly strong is th com

putr mo 1S.f4! as Black cannot tak onf4 (bcaus of 16.a4+ Whit just wins outright. A rasonabl mo is14.0-0 rtaining th option of taking onb2orS. 4... b7 5.xb61S.a4+ d 16.xb6 is also rypowrful.

5 xb6Thr ar too many wins in th air aftr1S.. axb6 for xampl: 16.a6! xdS17. bS+ d 18.a7 or 16.a4+d and now 17.0-0 or 17.S6Equally good is 16.a4+ and 16.d3x 17.a4+ should also suc in thnd. 6 . .f6

This prnts S but Black is byondsalation.7.a4+trongr than 17.d3 d6 18.b1 c719.c1 7 20cS whn Whit also

wins. 7... d8r 17... 18.d6+ curtains.8d6A grat mo to mak but thr ar sral ways to win. trong is 18.'c2 d619.b and I.c followd by �d3 isalso good. Aftr 18 d3 Black has a tnacious dfnc with 18...c3! 19'c4b4!.

62

8 e5Taking th pawn loss as wll: 18.. xd6 19.6 'b7 (19..'c720.b1 20.d2! and th nxt mo is2 I.b. 18..xd6 196 (19.7 19 . 'b720. wins as 20 .. c3 is impossibldu to 21aS+ whil 20...dS 21.xdSxdS 22d I is no bttr. 9.e6 b719...xd6 20.d 1. a5+And Black rsignd bcaus 20...b6

: :''•

is mt by th loly 21.b 1 ! .



obat 2

Ivv-FiippvRethymnon 003

1 5 tf3 6 3.d4 xd4 4.xd4f 5.3 e5 6.db5 d6 7.g5 a6a3 b5 9.xf6 gxf6 .d5 f5 reur for hs fracured pawn srucure

he weak square on dS, Black has anpresse pawn cenre whch he nowes moon.11xf5g 1.c3 �g7 ( 11...fxe4 s bad due ohe sacrce 2.�xb5 axbS 13.xbS2exf5 �xfS 13.c2 would ranspose.oher man connuaon s 11.�d311 .xf5 .3 g7 3. e6

recauon. Whe wll play ce3 anyy. Black ghs for conrol of he square wh 3...�e6 and 4...e7.1 .e3 e7

her han caslng, Black bales for heenr square. A bale ha he wl w

he We should ae on e7. Two games ppo o llusrae s: S.xe7xe7 6 0-0 7�d3 ad 1"hh6 9.0-0 dS and Black was ne nedorchu-Flppo, Bydgoszcz 1999S.xe7 xe7 16.g3 dS 17 .�g2 dd Whe canno ke on dS because of c. olodonchenko-Flppo, Bydgoszcz 1999 Because of he beauful nsh wll ge you he remander of hegame: 1.O-O 0-0 19.e2 fS 20.fd1 e421c2 f4 22f3 �eS 23 .fxe4 fxg324h gxh2+ 2S•h1 g7 26.e3dxe4 27.�xe4 �f4 2xd xd29 .g2 �c7 30e1 �xa2 31.b3! �xb3

32.c4! �xc4 33.�d5+! �xdS 34.e+xe 3Sxe+ f 36.xf+ xf

Comba 12 IanoFl

alemae!5.g3

Whe wll poson hs bshop on heman dagonal As always n heeshnko square dS s of he umos mporance. Anoher mporan ssue sBlacks mass of cenral pawns. Wll hsbrng he second plyer space and aackng chances? r do hese pawns add o

Blacks srucural weaknesses? Noe haWhe ams o rade he lghsquaredbshops deally, he would lke o reman wh a kngh ersus Blacks dark-squaredbshop. uch a good kngh-bad bshopscenaro mus be aoded by Black a allcos. The eshnko player should focuson acy and play for n aack. Canyou, lke grandmaser Flppo, play amodel game wh he eshnko?


63



Th Chss Comba mulaor Round 2

e Back

Your cor

16.5

Your cor

1.g2

Your cor

18.00

Your cor

19.2

Your cor

20.e3Your cor

21 .5

Your cor

22.b1

Your cor

23.g2

Your cor

24.e2

Your co

25.fl

Your cor

26.gf4

Your cor

64

Your Mo 15 ... 1 55 (6) 15..0-0(3)

Your Mo16 ... 1 60-0 (4)

Your Mo17 ... 1 a5 (6) 17 ..f5(6 17 ... b8(4 17... h8(4

Your Mo 18... 1 8b8 (6) 18...f5(6

Your Mo19 .. 1 9 (6) 19..'d7(5

Your Mo20.

20h8 ()

Your Mo21.. 2 1 . (4)

Your Mo22.. 22£4 (6)

Your Mo23.. 2 3f6 (8) 23 ...'b6(7

Your Mo24 .

24ib6 ()

Your Mo25 .. 25b (6)

Your Mo26. 26ef4 (2)



ur cor:

ur cor:

29gl

ur cor:

30.e4

ur cor:

31.e6

ur cor:

32Yur cor:

h rsgnd.

Cmat Scre:

Comba 12 Iano-F

Your Mo: 27

2 7.. .h6 (7) 27..Jg6(6

Your Mo: 28.

28. .8 (7 )

Your Mo: 29 . 29.. . h3 (5 ) 29.'gS(S

Your Mo: 30... 30..g5 (5) 30 ..�S(4 30 .. f6(4

Your Mo: 31 ... _3 1 .. h2 + (6) 3�x6(6

Your Mo: 32.

32 .. .h6+ (2) 32 .hS+(2

scre: l OO

Cmat erfrmce:

Wy F y ?

hould Black dlay h xchang hanWh wll ak back on dS wh hbshop. o, afr 1S..0-0 16.�g2 b817.00 xdS 18.�xdS Wh s br,

Adams-alo, Dormund 1992Th man dffrnc wh h gam s haWh s closr o hs posonal arg:h xchang of h lgh-squard bshops 6xd5 7�g a5A hs sag hr ar sral good alr-

1 5 xd5 nas: 17..fS, 17 b8, and 17. h8.Tradng pcs a h rgh momn 8- b8

65




Black prns h sandard a4. A dcnopon s 18... f 19.'hS b4 or 19 . a79d

Cranly no h only mo. n cas of 19.'hS Black should rply 19... h8 19...d7 20.f4 fS 21.ad s somwhabr for Wh 20ad fS 21d2�f7!Black was K n Yakochshnko,och 1986, afr 19.'2 d 20ad f 21.f4 d2.

Wh has also playd 9 a3 o prn...b4.Fnally, 19.3 s nrsng wh h nnon of playng h bshop o dS. Luhr-Arakhama, Hasngs 1994/95, now wn: 19...d 20.'hS fS 2�dS, whn 21 ... f6 would ha ld o an un-clar poson. 9 f5A naural shnko mo, and mospopular n pracc Black may also connc hs rooks wh 9 ... d 7.e3

Th da bhnd hs mo s corrc.Wh nnds o play �dS o radbshopsHowr, Black can asly prn hs,and manwhl h x ns ...fS-f4.Thrfor would ha bn br o

play 20.ad Wh8

66

Ths prns h xchang of bshopsNo 20 . f4 bcaus 21.�dS d722 x6+ x6 23.dS s ry plasan

for Wh.d5rongr s 21.f4. d7 fb

Prparng b4 wh h kngs rook s ouragous, and Wh wll soon b forcd oacknowldg hs Corrc was 22.g2 f4 3g f6

A mul-funconal mo. Black procsd6, h may doubl on h f-l n h fuur, and . g6 or ... h6 ar aracpossbls from now on.Also good was 23 ...b6.4e

24gxf4 �h6 s good for Black4 b6An xclln mo. Black pns hf-pawn whch blongs on f3 o ak hsng ou of h comng aack Bsds,h qun mo allows Black o doublhs rooks. f 24 ...f8 hn 2S.f3

5f

Admng ha hs 22nd mo was a msak5 bf8

Thranng . .f3, and fullng hs aack wh mor r powr Wh s n roubl,

manly bcaus hs f-pawn s pnnd.6gxf4 exf4 7if3



Comba 2 IanoFlo

ppng h rs wa of aack, buhs poson holds no promss . .h6

r 27g6 was almos jus as srong.hr 28xf4 �S 293 'd8 and Black ns. d8

hough ar 30�5 and 30f6

A n mo, bu 28 h3 s good oo Br nsanc, 29'4 �S 30f3 f6 and l�ns

9.g h3 3 .e6 xh+r 3�x6 32'x6 'hS and wns3.xh h6+

mlar s 3 2 hS +33.h4 "xh4+

lack may also connu hs aack wh9.'g5 H would ma afr 303xh+ 3xh2 'h4+ 32g2 fx333'x3 x+ 34x h3+3e4 g5No Black s wnnng No much wors

And Wh rsgnd bcaus of 34 g2f3+

67



The Chess Comba mulaor Round 2

bat 3

Karpov-LauterBe 1997

d4 f6 c4 e6 3f3 d5 4c3 dxc45e4 b4 6g5 c5The old Venna Varaon played by Ausran grandmaser Erns Grnfeld n he

930s usually leads o a sharp game7xc4 cxd4 8xd4 xc3+ 9bxc3ia5 b5

Many grandmasers prefer he abya poson followng I O�xf6 'xc3+ .fgxf6 2. c 'aS here For he oherman lne I O�bS+ see he gameKhalfmanPolgar n hs book.Karpo has always subbornly supporedhe ex. was only afer hs FDE WorldChamponshp mach n 1993 ersusTmman when he scored 2 '/2 ou of 3 wh he ex ha heory sared nesgang he moe serously xe4

Accepng he pawn s he only crcalanswer. Thus I 0 .. 0-0 .�xf6 gxf612.'g4+ h8 13'h4 s awful. n hesxh mach game Tmman wen for hedubous I O �d7?! and was worse afer.d6+ e 12'd2 �c6 3.f4 d714. d hd8 IS'd4! Karpo-Tmman,Arnhem 993. Fnally, I O ..a6 s knowno be bad afer .d6+ e7 12 f4!.f4Nohng s ganed by 'd4 Afer 0-0 12'xe4 a6 13�e7 axbS 4�b4'c7 Black was more han K he 8hmach gae Kpo-Tan Aserd1993 Wh he ex Karpo sacrces a

pawn for long erm compensaon genhe excellen cooperaon of hs peces.

68

d7

n he 14h game of he aboemenonedWorld Champonshp mach Karpo

quckly go no a los poson afer12.. d7 13 c7 ? eS 14.xa8 exf4I S�dS?, and now Tmman would haebeen wnnng afer I S. ef6 nsead of he nrepd 3.c7 Whe should answer 2.d7 wh 3 e as n a laergame KarpoPke, Monaco 1999.3a4

Here also 13.c7 s oo opmsc Afer 3eS 14xa8 exf4 he kngh s cornered 3 c6A healhy moe. f course Karpo doesno sacrce wo pawns for nohng sno hard o see ha Black experencesmajor problems afer 13 ... �xbS?14.axbS 'xc3 S.'e24g4

Drng he kngh from he cenre, snceIS�h6 s a nasy hrea. 4 f6 5ie a6Ths moe was condemned by Karpo, who also ndcaed ha Lauer should

hae gone for 1S.. a6 16.�e5 d7 7.�d6 when Whe has also an edge byhe way. Now s up o you o ransferWhes lead n deelopmen no somehng more subsanal!

•

iiii

�

n \

The Cmba begns. G Lck!



You are We

our cor

6 .a

our cor

7 b6

our cor

8 d5

our cor

9 ..e6

our cor

20 our cor

2. . .e8

our cor

22 . .. h8

our cor

23...f6

our cor

24 .. e4

Your cor

2S . . .d6

Your cor

26...f5

Your cor

Comba 13Karo-Lautr

Your Mo16. 16.c {4)

Your Mo17. 1 .e3 {3)

Your Mo 18. 1 8.e6 (8) 18 1(2

Your Mo 19. 1 9.g3 {3)

Your Mo20 20b8 {1)

Your Mo21.

21.d6 {4) 2.S(2

Your Mo22. 22JUl (6)

Your Mo23. 23.e {4)

Your Mo24

24.4 (5) 24 . d3(S

Your Mo 25.

2S .h4 (2)

Your Mo26 26d3 (3 26. 5! {6)

Your Mo27

2.hS (3)

69



Th Chss Combat mulator Round 2

2 7g8 Your Mo28

Your cor 28e5 (4)

28b5 Your Mo29.

Your cor 29.ae l (6) 29�xf5(3

29g6 Your Mo30.

Your cor 30 .e2 (2)

304 Your Mo31.

Your cor 3 1 .c4 (1 )

3 1 .8 Your Mo32

Your cor 32.ab5 (3)

32

ab5 Your Mo33.Your cor 33 .e3 (3)

33 e Your Mo34.

Your cor 34.e2 (8)

34£4 Your Mo35

Your cor 35.e6 (3)

35 ..4 Your Mo36

Your cor 36c2 (6)

366 Your Mo37

Your cor 3 7. b3 (5 )

3 7h8 Your Mo38

Your cor 38.c3+ (5)

38£6 Your Mo39.

Your cor 39.6 (3)

70



Comba I3Karpo-Lautr

39 d6 Your Mo: 40. ur or: 40e6 (2)

resgne.

Yo Cmat Scre:

Mmw score 9 ( 1 00)

Cmat Perfrmce:

Why pov play as he ?

. . •

t � �

V

1l7hng s gane by I6.7 b6, as hngh on bS s hangng. By h way, h

anour I6.7 b6 I7.6 woulhve ben wnnng afr I S .. 7?.1 a7 e3 b6ere I7...S I8.xa7 xf4 s m by helegan I9 .bS! .8lxe6

h hs ombnaon Karpo wns bahs sar pawn I8. I an b an

swere by I8...b7 I9.x6 8.1 8ld5he lssr l was prhaps I8...fx6I9 .xb8 xb8 20.x6+ h82x6 x3 22a. No brhough was I8 .. 7 I9.6! .19'3 6 20 :t7 21 d6

hs rles he pressure aong h f-lean s hrefor srongr han 2 I5

e8

Hr 21.8 22b4! xb4 23 .xb4 shghly aanagous for Wh bauspawn a6 an pawn 6 ar hangng.:e

An xlln mo ha nrly nrass h prssur on 6. Laur subsqunly rmos hs ng from he a2-g8agonal, bu hs nrass h srnghof 23.. Wh8 3 je5 lf 4jd4Aang 6 on agan, an nroung I-S. us as goo s 243.4 e4 5,h4d6

6jd3Bu her Karpo fas o n h mos aura mo. H orloos ha n hgame Bla an efn hmslf agansh irc hrs wih ... �g8!. Kpv

ar na ha h mor naural265! woul la o a hnaly wn



Th Chss Comba mulao Round 2

nng poson af 26 .. xc4 no26 ..d 2hS 2.a5 bxaS 28J28 xg +? xg 29c4 xg228 .. d 29.f3.6 . f5 7.h5 gSI

Wh wns by foc af 2 . wh285 bS 29 x6! x6 30 xfS xfS3xf5 8 32' g8 33 xg+xg 34f8+ g8 3S.f6+ g36.'xc6. Laus 2 .. g8! nsusha Blac wll ha h nmda g6somwhe5 5 9ae

Ths powful mo s had o nd, buncssay Wh s only magnally b

af 29 xf5 xfS 30 . x8+ x83I2.9 g6 30e2 xd4 3 cxd4 d3ax5 ax5 33e3ef 34e

2

s possbl o oloo ha af 34.f3Blac has h pc sacc 34 xf3!3S.gxf3 3S.x6! 3S ...xf3 36.'2'xd4+ 3 3 b4 o gan h bchancs34 Jf4 35 xe6 xd4 36 c

Af hs mul-funconal mo hbshop s aac and dfnd a hsam m Wh has a wnnng aac s wondful o s how Kapos dpundsandng has ld hm o aodspndng a mpo on cang a luflochsomwh Blacks bac an has asll no dangous.36 d6 37 3 h

H 3 g 38 + h8 39h3!

only now! also wns fo Wh No39.h6? f! 40.x x! hough3c3+ f6 39xd6 ixd6 40e6Blac sgnd



nbat 4

TiBoschBeda 001

1.e4 c5 f3 d6 3�b5+

h 3b5+ or Moscow Varaon s notoo dangrous for Black, bu has hr of aodng all sors of ramcaons

i any of h man horcal lns afr3.d4. ..�d7 4ie

o ry common, alhough Tmmanhad playd hs mo bfor Th manli s 4xd7+ 'xd7 5c4 or 500hl Black can also ak back on d7 whhis kngh on mo 4.4 �xb5Kpng smpl Wh mus hr ntr an qual ndgam (and adm ha hhs no opnng adanag, or los mlatr on (s h qun wll no b ryll-placd on bS . an mporan gam Tmman ncoun

trd 4..f6 Afr Sxd7+ (SS dxS6x5 xbS 7.'xb5+ bd7 s alsoqual accordng o Facnk . 5 ..'xd76.5 dxS 7.xS 6 8.3 fd79.ac4 xS 1 OxS f6 11.c4x2+ 12x2 c6 13c3 S 14.a47 15.d3 an qual ndng had arsn nman-anchuk, Amsrdam 1994mman lar won an nsruct knght vrsus bshop ndng.h othr kgh mo 4 . c6 ladso slghtly mor complx play. h Moscow 1993 bltz ournamnimma suffrd wo dfas. Alhoughth oucom n boh gams had ll o

o wh h opnng: 4.6 50-0 7 6d4 cxd4 7.xd4

Comba 14Tmman-Bosch

f6 8 c4 00 9.c3 a6 1 0 xd7 bxd71I.3 c8 12.ac1 aS wth qualTmman-Khalfman, Moscow blz 1993.

4. g6 5.0-0 (SS! ? 5 ...g7 6c3 c67.xc6 xc6 8.d4 f6 9.d5 d7 10.h30-0 11.f4 8 12.bd2 6! 13.xd6xdS 145 b6 15d 4! adBlacks chancs wr slghly prfrabl nTmmanhro, Moscow bliz 1 9935.ixb5+ id7 6 .a3Ths s dubous. Th kngh rarly looks

good on hs squar Tmman was prhaps nuncd by hs gam agansanchuk whr 8a3 workd ou n.Wht usually ops for h qual ndngafr 6xd7+ xd7 or whdraws hsqun wh 6.2 Nhr opon promss anyhng6 c6 7.0-0 f6 e

was wsr o sl for 8.'2 whn hgam s sll qual. .e6 9.b3

Black has a comfortabl gam, but nomuch mor Can you connu snsblyand m h dmands of h poson?

The Cmba beg. G Lck!

73




are Back

Your cor

1 0b2

Your cor

1 1 .a1

Your cor

12 .e5

Your cor

13.e2

Your cor

14.3Your cor

15 .c4

Your cor

16.c2

Your cor

17.4

Your cor

18.ab3

Your cor

19.bc4

Your cor

74

Your Mo 9 9 .. .e7 (5)

Your Mo 1 0

1 000 (5)

Your Mo 11

1 1 . .. 5 ( 1 0) 11ac8 11ad8 11f8(3

Your Mo 12

1 2e8 (3) 12 g4(2

Your Mo 13

1 3 .. .c7 (7) 13 a5(5

Your Mo 14 1 4a5 (9) 14b5(6

Your Mo 15

1 5 ...a4 (3)

Your Mo 16

1 6. . b5 ( 1 0) 16 b4(3 16 axb3(3

Your Mo 17

1 7ab3 (4)

Your Mo 18

1 8 bc4 (3)

Your Mo 19

1 94 (4) 19cxd4(4



20xd4

ur cor:

2d3

ur cor:

22ixa4

ur cor:

23xd5

ur cor:

24b1

ur cor:

2.xd4ur cor:

26Jld2

ur cor:

27x4

ur cor:

ht rsgnd.

Your Combat Score:

Comba 14Tmman-Bosch

Your Mo: 20

20cxd4 (1)

Your Mo: 2 ..

2 1 .ia4 (9) 28(9 28(5

Your Mo: 22

22a4 (1)

Your Mo: 23 .2 3.. . x5 (2)

Your Mo 24

24.. .b8 (8) 24 �c5(5

Your Mo: 25 25 .. .f4 (8)

Your Mo: 26

26x4 (6)

Your Mo: 2

2 e2+ (2)

scre: 1 00

ou Combat Perfrmce:

75




Why sch ly s he ?

9 �e7Black rs compls hs dlopmn wh a fw naural mos 0�b 0-0 Uad d5 Taccally hs mo s possbl du o hbad poson of h kngh on a3 Noha Whs qun s msplacd on bSThr s no nd for Black o chas hrmajsy away wh a6 n hs way Black wll wn a mpo nually whn hqun whdraws o, I a6 s m by12'2 dS 13d3n a somwha lss ambous mood Black

may also op for any usful rook mo: ac8, I I ad8 or f8 No b4, hough, bcaus of 12'2,and Black canno ak h forbddn fruon a2 (12 xa2? 13c3e5

Closng h dagonal of hs own bshop,bu 12xd5 xdS ( IxdS gsBlack a nc cnr, as 13�xf6 �xf614'xc5? s forbddn bcaus of 14�7 Mananng h nson whI2 d3 looks slly wh a qun on bS e

Amng o gan a mpo on h qun andprparng o suppor a bS adanc afr

13 c7 ll I g4 s also rasonabl wh h6-fS n mnd

76

3ie c7

r h mmda 13 aS4d3

Hr 14b I was a lssr 4a5

Black aks full adanag of h dmkngh on h rm Wh canno prna4 opnng h a-l Ths moblzsBlacks rook (whl Whs cnrallyplacd rooks ar no parcularly acand mphaszs h msplacd mnorpcs on h qunsd Anohr dcnmo s 14 b5

5c4 a4 6c b5Ths s mor ambous han 16 b417'b axb3 18axb3 bS 19c2, or16axb3 17'xb3! ? ( 17axb37d4

Aso unarac was 17xbS xbS18cxb5 b4 and 19'xb5 7 axb3

Black opns ls on h qunsd whrWhs pcs ar bady placd axb3 bxc4 9bxc4 xd4Alrnaly, 19cxd4 20cxd5 xdS21c4 cb4 22'4 d3 s jus a pawn,and also good for Black ll Whsqun hasn lookd hs good for a long

m0xd4 cxd4 d3



h s sll harbourng som ambons

amng o combn dfnc procin of h a3-kngh and aack somhng lk h3 Bu h x n ralynl aggraas h problms. Th pass .b 1 had o b rd1...ia4Pung an nd o all of Whs ambins. uch a mo can b ry dsharnng for a srong playr all h can don s play for a dra. n mld imrssur was prcularly arac osmplfy whl kpng a clar adanag. Thr as nohng obclyrong hough h my ohr candidamo 21. fc8! A hrd alrna s h

Volgalk 21 ...8.xa4 xa4 3cxd5 xd5 4bHr 24bS b4 loss on h spo and4.c2 a2 2S.b3 d3 263 x3

Comba 14TmmanBosch

27 fx3 c8 s also curans No br nhs las ln s 26d4 bcaus of 26 .b4!: 27.b 1 c8 wns as dos

27.d1? xb2! 28.xb2 �c34 .. bEn srongr han 24�c5 hch kpsh pawn wih a sold plus5.�xd4

No Whs ak back rank wll b haccal moif for a doubl aack ha wnsh gam. Wh also loss afr 2S.xd4

a2 26.�c3 xb1 27xb1 xc32S�a3 was rlaly spakng h bschoc bu i also loss afr 2S f426 f3 g6 27�x7?! a 1 ! .

5 f4 6.d xd4 7xd4 e+Wnnng a pic and hrfor muchbr han 27xb1 28.xb1 2 +Wh rsgnd

77




obat 5

Ponomiov Wjk aan Zee 003

d4 f6 c4 e6 3c3 �b4 4e3 0·05e d5 6a3Forcing the bishop to show his hand Taking on c3 would favour White so that

Black must withdraw his bishop to d6 ore The former looks more active, but itoften leads to a kind of trench warfareThus, the game PonomariovPolgar, fromthis same Wijk aan Zee tournament continued: 6 �d6 7c5 �e7 8b4 b69d2 White has a space advantage, butBlack has no weaknesses amnik prefers6 �e7 7cxd5 xd5Most exible, but 7exdS is equally playable�dA modest-looking move that clears thec-square for the rook n case of an eventual xc3 White aims to take back with

the bishop The alternatives 8c2 and8g3 are popular too d 7

Black cannot free his game with 8 c5,after 9 dxcS �xS I Og3 b6 xdSxdS 1c3 the game Graf-Nikolaidis,Aegina 1995, demonstrated that the ending after 12 xd+ 13d �b7 isnot equal following 14h5! f6 ISc4 with a clear edgen GrafXu un, Bled lympiad 2002, theGerman grandmaster also had an edge after 8f6 9 g3 bd7 I Og2 c6c2 eS 12Jd I9g3

The anchetto works well for White hereBlack has no simple road to equality

78

After the simplifying 9 xc3 I Oxc3cS White keeps an edge or example11g2 cxd4 12xd4 f6 13d6

b6 14xd8 xc3+ I Sxc3 d816a4! with the better ending in Volkovakaev, New Delhi 2000n MalakhovNielsen, stanbul 2003,Black did not sove his problems with9 Sf6 I Og2 eS 110-0 c6 12c2exd4 13xd4 b6 14d cS because of the ne manoeuvre ISe4

xd4 16b4! with a clear edgeamnik decides to leave his knight on dSand wants to oppose his bishop on thelong diagonal with9 b6

While this is understandable, it does allow White to x the pawn structure After Oxd5 exd5

Black has a clear weakness on thequeenside n the future White will havepressure along the c-le With a blackpawn on b7 the move c6 would lead toa solid pawn chain b7c6-d5 Now thatthe bpawn is no longer on its originalsquare the cpawn will remain vulnera

ble �g f6 0·0 e4

White has a small but denite edge, andmust now adopt the right plan

The Cmba begns. G Lck!



You e We

ur ore

1b7

ur ore

14c8

ur ore

1S•6

ur ore

1f6

our ore

1 7

c3our ore

1 8c6

our ore

196

our ore

20 c7

our ore

2 1 .c8

our ore

22a6

Your ore

23b5

our ore

Combat 15 - Ponomariov-amnik

Your Move 13. 13.c1 (3) 13c2(2)

Your Move 14. 1 4.c2 (3)

Your Move 15. 1 5.f1 (5) 15.b4(1) 15.�h3(1)

our Move 16 16.b4 (7) 16c3(2) 16.b4(2)

our Move 17 1 7.c3 (4) 17.f4(1)

Your Move 18.

1 8 .c3 ( 1 )

Your Move 19. 19.6 (3)

Your Move 20

20.b4 (4)

Your Move 21.

2 l .a4 (5) 21.c2(2) 21.d2(2)

Your Move 22. 22.a5 (4) 22a1(2)

Your Move 23 23.a1 (3) 23axb6(3)

Your Move 24. 24c1 (4) 24axb6(3)

79




24.. .e8 Your Move 25

Your core 25.ab6 (2)

25 . . .ab6 Your Move 26

Your core 26.f ()

26.. .f Your Move 27

Your core 2.'f (2)

2 . .b8 Your Move 28

Your core 28. 6 (3 )

28. .. Your Move 29

Your core 29.g (3) 29g2(2)

29.. .h6 Your Move 30Your core 30.3 (4)

30.. .cc8 Your Move 31

Your core 31.h4 (4) 31a7(3) 31'a4(3)

3 1 . . .' Your Move 32

Your core 32. (4)

32...g5 Your Move 33

Your core 33 .h5 (3)

33. . .' Your Move 34

Your core 34.i3 () 34'a4(1) 34a6(3)

34.. ,<h8 Your Move 35

Your core 35 .ia6 ( 5) 3Sd7(5) 3Sca1 (4)

35 . . .g Your Move 36

Your core 36 .b5 (6) 36'a4(3) 36b7(1)

80



Combat 5Ponomariov-Kramnik

36. . .c5 Your Move 37

Your core 37.c5 (I)

3 7.. .bc5 Your Move 38 Your core 38.g6+ (3)

Back resigned. scre: I OO

r Cmbat Scre: r Cmbat Perfrmance:

Why py s he ?

13.c1Ao reasonabe is 3.c2.1 3.. .�b7 1 4.c c 5fdhis prevents c5. After 5.b4 Back canpay 5 ... d6 or 5 ...c5. Another optiona 5�h31 5.�d6 1 6.�b4

onomariov exchanges Kramniks goodhop Payabe aternatives incude16c3 and 6.b4.1 6. f6

ot 6. �xb4 7axb4 and both the aand the c-pawn are weak. n cae of 6...c5 7.dxc5 xc5 8.e I the hangng pawns are a iabiity. nstead of the

na move in thi ine White shoud notpay 18�xe4 because of 8...cxb4!. or

instance 9.xh7 + h8 20f5 xc 2.xc g6 22h3 g7 and Back wins.

c3his is superior to 7.f4 c5 8dxc5bxc5 foowed by ...xf4. 7.xc3 xc3 c6

Here 8c5 woud ose materia after 9.dxc5 e5 20.b3 xb2 2I.c6! 9�xd6 xd6 0.b4 c7 a4

Pushing the apawn to open the e.White can aso prepare this with the rookmoves 2I.c2 or 2I.d2. .. fc .a5

Ao good is 22a . However, not 22b5�d7 and the white apawn may become weak as we. �a6

his appears iogica considering the pre vous move, ut now that White hasgiven up contro over the b5squareamnik prefers to cover c6 from b5rather than from the passive d7-square.3.ar 23.axb6 axb6 24a 3 .. �b5

f 23..�c4 then 24.e4.4dc

8




r 24.axb6.4 e 5axb6 axb6 6 �f1

Ponomariov removes the most importantdefender of c6. This is consistent with hisstrategical plan, and calling Blackslight-squared bishop bad is articial inthis case (The bishop performs a usefultask and is no worse than its opponent.)6 �xf1 7xf1Naturally not 27f c5 28.bxc5 bxc5and Black has got rid of a lot of problems7 b a6 id7 9g 1This is slightly stronger than 2 9 g29 h6 30ia3 cc 31 h4As Black cannot do anything anyway,

Ponomariov makes a useful move on theother side of the board He is remarkablysuccessful with this provocation asamnik is tempted to become active which merely increases his end. Also notbad were 31 7 and 31a4.31 if5This is a mistake, ramnik should havedefended passively.3a7 g5 33 h5Not 33.hxg5 hxg5 and after ..g7 and.Jh8 the tide would turn against him.33 f3Not so easy to refute is 33..g4. After34.a4 c5! 35.bxc5 bxc5 36.dxc5 (or

36.d7 xh5) 36...c5! 37 c5?b 1 + Black mates!

82

Correct is 34.a6 xh5 35.b7 xb736.xb7 f5 37.b5 c5 38.xb6 with ahuge edge for White.

34d3

This excellent move is not that easy tond, despite the fact that Black is almostin zugzwang There are two tempting alternatives: 34.a4 cS! 35.bxc5 bxc5 36dxc5(36.a6 xh5) 36 . xc5 34a6 xh5 35b5 (in case of 35.b7 Black has 35 a8) 35 ..g6.n both cases Black is far better o than inthe game34 h

This is a very awkward move. However,there is the touch-and-move rule!ramnik wanted to play 34...g7, but hespotted just in time that it loses immediately after 35.g6+. Thus, he had nochoice but to play the poor text move.Admittedly, 34 ...xh5 would not havehelped him. After 35.f5 g636xg6+ fxg6 White wins the doublerook ending Both 37.ca1 c5 38.bxc5bxc5 39.dxc5 xc5 40.1a6, and37.e7 a8 38.e6 will win.35ia6

imilarly, White would also win after35.d7 and 35 .a 1

35 g7Here is the move he already wanted to



lay Afte 3S xhS White wins with b5 (36b) 36 c5 3xc5 bxcSd

stead of 36..c5 Black does not have..g6 because of 3.bxc6 xc6c6 'xc6 39x This line showsta the king is baly place on h8b5lso goo is 36'a4 'xhS 3.xc6 butot 36b a8 d Black has counterplay

Combat I 5 Ponomariov-Kramnik

36 c5

nce again overlooking that the f-pawn ispinne (see the comment at move 34)

but i was impossible o save the gameanywa n reply to 36...f6 there is theneat 3 .bxc6 xc6 38 x +! x39a+ e 40xe+ xe4.xc6 and wins.37dxc5 bxc5 3g6+Black resigned

83




bat 6

KaspovVejoLinares 005

1 d4 d5 c4 c6 3f3 f6 4e3

This prevents the main line of the lav after 4c3 dxc4 (here 4 f5 is stronglymet by ScxdS cxdS 6b3), but it does

give Black the opportunity to develop hislight-squared bishop without giving upthe centre4 f5

Developing his bishop outside the pawnchain, and thereby solving the perennialproblem that Black faces in the rthodoxQueens Gambit5c3 e6 64

This is the only way to worry BlackWhite will exchange his knight forBlacks bishop and thus gain the pair of bishops Black has no problems aer6�d3 �xd3 xd3 e6 with a solid position

6 g6More provocative are the alternatives6 �e4 f3 g6 8b3 and 6 �g4b37xg6 xg6

o, White has traded his knight for Blacksbishop However, Blacks position is suciently solid He has managed to get rid of his light-squared bishop (which is important with pawns on c6, dS and e6), andthe hle may come in usefu later on d

A modest-looking move, but Kasparovsimply aims to complete his queensidedevelopment rst n this way, he remains

exible on the kingside (should he playg3 or not?) Besides, he hopes to gain a

84

tempo by postponing �d3 or �e2 which would be met by dxc4 bd 7 9c1 a6

Vallejo places yet another pawn on a lightsquare This move is in full accordance with Blacks strategy to play for bS andcS after a preliminary exchange on c410�d3n a later game VolkovLastin, ochi2005, White continued the battle for atempo with I Oa3 Lastin now complied

with I O dxc4 and after �xc4 c5 ?12�e2 cxd4 13exd4 b6 14�f3xd4 IS�xb b8 16 xa6 cS!1�e3 eS 18e2 xe3 19xe3xe3+ 20fxe3 b2 the game eventually ended in a draw after considerablecomplications1 o .dxc4 1 1 �xc4 b5

Here it also makes sense to play I I cS by analogy to Volkov-Lastin1 e c5

Black has acted according to his plan Hehas gained space on the queenside andinuence in the centre with the levercS The drawback of his previous moves

is the opening up of the position whichin principle should favour the bishopsAre you able to convert your tiny advantage just like Kasparov?

he Cmba beg. G Lck!



Yo e We

Yor cor

1 3 ... b8

Yor cor

14...6

Yor cor

1 5 .. .0-0

Yor cor

1 6...e5

Yor cor

1 ...c5Yor cor

1 8...ib6

Yor cor

1 9. .b

Yor cor

20..6

Yor cor

21 . ..5

Yor cor

22..bc8

Yor cor

23 .. .

Yor cor

Combat 16 asarov-Vao

Yor Mov 13. 1 3 . (5) 13xc5(2) 13.00(1)

Your Mov 14. 1 4.e2 (6)

Yor Mov 15 15.g3 (4) 15.3(1) 15.xc5(2)

Your Mov 16 1 6 .0-0 (2)

Yor Mov 17 1 c5 (4)

Your Mov 18

1 8b4 (6) 18g2(3) 18.b3(3) 18.'c2(3)

Yor Mov 19 1 9c3 (6)

Yor Mov 20. 206 (3) 20'b3(2) 20 xb7(1)

Your Mov 21. 2 1 .5 ( 4)

Your Mov 22. 22.5 (2)

Your Mov 23. 23 ig4 (5 ) 23.'b3(3) 23'3(3) 23.4(3)

Your Mov 24. 24.ie4 (4) 24.4(3) 24g2(2)

85




Your core:

256

Your core:

26f8

Your core:

2 7ba4

Your core:

28c 1

Your core:

29

b5Your core:

30c7

Your core:

3 1 6

Your core:

Your core:

33e6

Your core:

34.. .e4

Your core:

35g5

Your core:

86

Your Move: 25. 25.f1 (4) 25.g2(3

Your Move: 26 26.b4 (5) 26.g4(3 26f3(3

Your Move: 27

2 7.a4 (6) 27.xc8(3

Your Move: 28

28 .a4 (1 )

Your Move: 29 29 .cl ( 1 )

Your Move: 30.

30.1 (6) 30.c6(2

Your Move: 31 31.c4 (4)

Your Move: 32 32 .6 (4)

Your Move: 33. 33.b3 (5)

Your Move: 34 34.h4 (5) 34b7( 5

Your Move: 35. 35.5 (4)

Your Move: 36.

36.h5 (3) 35.g2(2 35.b7(2



Combat 16asparovVaeo

36 ...g4 Your Move 37. __our core: 3 7.e4 ( 1 )

ite as won a pawn and won witout dicuties.

Mmm scre: 1 00

ur Cmbat Scre: ur Cmbat Perfrmace:

Why did asarov lay as he did?

13.�f3

ac woud obtain an easy game after

13dc5 S. Wile after 13.00 cd44.ed4 d6 Blac could even claim anedge.1 3 .. b 1 4.easparov avoids ending up wit an isolate dpawn. Neiter 14.d5 eS! nor14dc5 cS ISc6+ fd7 can berecommended. Blacs game is preferabein bot cases.14... �d6 1 5.g3is is stronger tan I S.3. Payabletoug is ISdcS1 5... 0-0 1 6.0-0 e5is oos active. Bacs positional treatis now I 7ed4 8.ed4 c4. Wit is

net move asparov terefore nalytaes on cS. He as cleverly postponed

tis ecange until Blac weaened imself wit 16 e5Vallejo soud ave preferred te soid16.b617.dxc5

ac would be ne after te alternatives 17 g2 ed4 18ed4 c4 17.c3 ed4 18ed4 c4 17 deS eS 8g2 d31 7... xc5 1 .�b4e sarpest move. ere are severa natura moves lie 18g2, 18b3, and18c2 tat ony bring equaity

1 .. .b6

Valejo misses a better cance to simpifyte game ere wit 18...ce4! (as indicated by Dooian). After 19.�d6

d6 20.�e4 ? e4 21.d6 d622 Jfd I Wite is sti better toug due

87




to the fact that his rooks are already positioned on the open les.A similar verdict applies to I8...d3

I9.xd3 xb4 20b3 followed by2 I.fd I. With queens on the boardthings are even more dangerous for Black9c3

This move is hard to nd. 9 b7At rst sight it appears that Black can fullyfree his game with the tactical I9.e4.

or aer 20xc5 xcS 2Ixe4 xe422.xe4 Black has the shot 22 ...xe3!However Kasparov has calculated stillfurther in this line. White obtains a hugeadvantage with 23.c6!

0 xd6This is best. Kasparov liquidates into a position where he keeps the superior minorpiece. ther possibilities include 20.b3and 20xb7 xb4 2I.g2.0 xd6 d5 xd5 xd5

Whites only advantage consists of hisbishop which in this open position ismuch stronger than the knight. bc 3 g4The most aggressive move grasping theinitiative due to the attack on g6 At thisstage there are several other reasonablemoves available 23b3 23.d3 and23.e4.

3 f5 4e4Not so bad is 24.e4 xc I or 24...e7

88

2S.b3 2S.xc d4 26.c8. Bad is24.h4? c 2S.c xe3! The neutral24.g2 always comes in handy.

4 f6 5fdr 2S.<g2.5 d6

White would also be better after25 ... fd8 26xc8 xc8 27.b3 for example 27 . d6 28.d5 d8 29.'c6 with annoying pressure.6b4

White also preserves an edge wit26.g4 or 26.6 fd

7a4

Kasparov opens a second front on thequeenside The knight has diculties defending on both wings.Here 27xc8 should be met by27 ... xc8 and not with 27 ... xc8?2 8.d 6 xd6 29 .xf + <xf730.xd67 bxa4 xa4 xc 9xc b

30d White aims for the exchange of rooksrather than to play for pseudo-activity with 30.c6. After that move Dokhoiananalyses 30 f 3 Ic4 d6 32.bbS 33e4 g4 34.e7 xdS! whenthe game would end in perpetual chec

after 3S.exd5 d+ 36.<g2 'xdS+37.<g xc6 38.d8+ <h7 39.h4+



c7 3 �c4iig his bishop at two weaknesses: theawns a6 and

1 .d6 3xd6 xd6 33b3

he existence of two weaknesses in hisppoents camp is enough for White toecide the game in his favour3 e6f 33 'd7 then 34'b74h4

Combat 16 Kasparov-Vallejo

Very patient Equally good is the liquidatio ito a won queen endig with34'b7 aS 3Sxe6 'xe6 36a8+

h7 37'xaS34 e4 35 d5Also good are 3Sg2 ad 3S.'b735 g5 36h5Black would suddely gai sucientcouterplay after 36.hxg5 xgS t wasalso bad to play 36 xe6 'xe6 37xe6fxe6 38hxgS with a draw i the

pawn ending.36 g4 37 xe4 g 5 3d5 xe4

39\xe4 d + 40g f 4 a+<;e7 4b7+ e 43xa6 d5+44g xh5 45c6+ d 46e4re7 47c7+ re6 4c+ e749b7+ e 50b4 g5 5 c6+<;e7 5b5 d 53c5+ d6

54g5+

Black resigned

89




obat 1 7

ifanMarin Istanbul Olympiad 000

1e4 e5 f3 c6 3b5 a6 4a4f6 50-0 xe4Rumanian grandmaster Mihail Marin isan expert in the pen panish nterest

ingly lexander halifman may also befound on the black side6d4 b5 7b3 d5 dxe5 e6 9bdr the alternative move order 9c3 c5 O�c2 �g4 e �e7 2bd2 d 3f d8 4e3 and we have transposed to the game9 c5 1 0c3 e7

mportant alternatives at this stage are O d4 and O �g41 1 c g4 1 e1nother possibility is 2h3 However inthe game White wil win gain a tempo with 4e3 which is why 2h3 is lesslogical fter 2 h5 3e 0-0

4b3 e6 5g4 �g6 6�f5 d 7�e3 Marin has played 7 cd8 acouple of times

1 d7

First completing his development on thequeenside There are two important argu-

9

ments in favour of this strategy FirstBlack prepares the central d5d4 ndsecondly as a prophylactic against a fu

ture a4 Nevertheless the natural 2 0-0is also played 3 f1 d 14e3

Here 4g3 d4 5h3 d3! 6hxg4 dxc2 7xc2 xg4 was Thipsay-MarinLinares 9961 4 h5 1 5b4Fixing the queenside The alternative is

5f5 as was played for instance iBrodsky-Marin Bucharest 994fter 5 0-0 6h3 e6 7e3 fe88g4 �g6 9a4 �c5 20axb5 axb52 5d4 �xd4 22cxd4 �e4 23g5cxd4! Black was ne1 5 e6

tense middlegame position that is important for the whole evaluation of this variation Black aims to push d5-d4 although he should not pay it too early as�e4 may be inconvenient to meet Whitmust try to contro the centre before heembarks on his play on both wingshalifman demonstrates in a comple

game that White has a good game Cayou folow in his footsteps?




o are e

our core

6 ... �g6

Your core

7.. . 0-0

our core

8..8

our core

9...axb5

our core

20 .. .b8Your core

...cd8

our core

22 ...d4

our core

23 . . .c6

our core

...g5

our core

25 .. . xe6

our core

Combat 17 alifman-Marin

Your Move 16 1 6.g4 (8) 16.f5(8) 16'xd5(2)

Your Move 17. 1 7 ( 5 )

Your Move 18. 1 8.a4 (7) 18.'e2(5)

Your Move 19. 19.axb5 (1)

Your Move 20 20 . d3 (7) 20.'d3(5)

Your Move 21.

2 1 ie2 (4)

Your Move: 22. 22 a5 (8) 22.a7(6)

Your Move 23 23 d1 (9) 23.xe7(2) 23. xb5(2)

23.Sxd4(2) 23.3xd4(1)

Your Move 24 24. 3xd4 (6)

24e4(5) 24Sxd4(5) 24.xe7(2)

Your Move: 25 25 .xe6 (5) 2S.xg5(3)

Your Move 26 26 .�c4 (7) 26.xg5(5) 26.xg7(5)

91



Te Cess Combat imulator Round 2

26.. .c

Your core

Your core

28.. .'b6

Your core

29.. .�

Your core

30... a8

Your core

3 l .. .a8Your core

And Back resigned

ur Cmbat Scre:

Your Move 27 _2 .�e6 (3 )

Your Move 28 28d ()

Your Move 2 _29.�+ ( 0) 2�b3(5)

Your Move 30 _

30 .aa (5)

Your Move 31 _3l.a8 (4) 3e6(4) 31ab7(3)

Your Move 32_

32.e6 (4)

a scre: l OO

ur Cmbat Perfrmace:

Why lay as he ?

poses to te game after 16 0-0 17 a4g6 18g4! nstead te gameRVasquezMarin Andorra 11 went18�e3 d4 1axb5 axbS 20Sx4

cxd4 2xd4 xb4! 22�xg6 xg623'b3 xd4 24�xd4 e7 2Sa7'c6 263 and draw agreedBlack is ne after 16'xd5 xdS17xd5 �xf3 18gxf3 xdS 1�e4xb41 6.. .�g6 1 7.f

16.g4 Tere are no real aternatives Note taEqually strong is 16fS wic trans- te treat of d5d4 is anging in te ai

2



the whoe point of Backs setup with d7 and d81 7 0-0

Here 17h5?! 18h d4 19�e4 f820a4 favours White as in the rst matchgame Hjartarson-Kortchnoi, aint ohn1988 The immediate 17 d4 18�e4 isaso good for White1a4his is best, but 18'e2 is a reasonabesecond choice

1 feack makes another usefu waiting movebefore pushing the d-pawn Marin had aeady payed 18 d4 twice before Thestongest repy in that case is 9axbSxbS 20�e4 to position the bishop onthis exceent square1 axb5 axb5 0�d3

Aso not bad is 20'd0 bhite was bette in Gakin-orokin,kterinburg 1997, after 20 b82 e ! which prevents d4e cd

1 I •l . l l l

l l t/

� '

a � : a5he rst new move in the game, and astong novety Khaifman improves upon22a7 d4 2xd4 xfS 24gxf5xd4 2Scxd4 'xd4 26xc7 xb4

27b2 and according to thencycopaedia White is better, but that

Combat 17 Khaifman-Marin

seems exaggerated Back has very decentcounterpay after 27f4 Zarnickiorin, Argentina 1996, and habaov

orin, Bie 992 d4This is a mistake Marin has indicated22 c6 2�e c7 24ea as some what better for White3dThis is the kind of move that wi win youa game There are a sorts of other moves

that come into consideration, but none of them bring White much in the way of anadvantage 2xe7+ xe7 is K for Back 2 xb5 c6 2�c4 dxc and againBack has no probems since he has succeeded in breaking down Whites structure 2 cxd4? �xb4 wins materia 2 Sxd4 �xd 24xd c62Sxb5 exd4 26xd4 xg4+ andWhite has nothing 2xd4 xd4 24cxd4 (24xd4�xd 2S'xd xg4+ 24 �xb4oses an exchange

3 c6 43xd4

Fairy good are aso 24e4 and24Sxd4 Back is equa after 24xe7 +'xe7 2Sxg6 hxg6 26xd4 xd4

27xd4 xeS 28xe5 xeS 29 f4e+ 0g2 c8

9




4 �g5

Black settles for the loss of a pawn hoping to gain reasonable compensation ow

ing to the White pawn on g4 Losing is24�xb4? 2Scxb4 xd4 26xd4xd4 27 �xg6 xb4 28�d2 Likewise24xd4 2Sxd4 �xd3 2S�d626�f5) 26d3 is very favourable forWhite5xe6

White also gains an edge with 2S�xg5

xgS 26e3 5 xe6 6�c4

The strongest move although that isquite hard to see Also possible is26�xg5 xgS 27 e3 or 27�xb5h3+ 28f c7 29�c4 pectacularis 26xg7 xg7 27 �xgS 27 �xg6c7 28�c2 planning 28 �xc29c f4 30e4 is better forWhite) 27 xg5 28�xg6 c7 andBlack has counterplay6 c7 7�xe6Eliminating a defender7�xc

27 fxe6 28d6 wins

Jd7Khalifman must have planned this strongintermediate move way ahead 28c

94

xe6 and Black is back in the game Ngood idea either is 28�xf7 +

b6 9�xf7+

n style 29b3 �f4 29�g530 aa7) 30f3 also favours White9 �xf7 30aa 7 a

30�g6 31a2+ h8 32a6 catchesthe queen 31xg7+ h8 32e6 is alsgood 32 �f4 to prevent 33e5) ismet by 33c4 the queen goes to themain diagonal with devastating eect3xaWinning alternatives are 3e6 and3 ab73 xa 3e6

Black resigned There is nothing to be

done against the double threat of eand ex7+ For example 32b833exf7+ h8 34 e7 f8 3S e8



obat 1 8

Glek-FgElista 1

1 4 f3 c6 3.c3 f6 4.g3 ek Variation of the Four ightsre usual are 4d4 or 4�b5 (the cotis and the panis Four nigts) At

s sight leks move is a little carefult he has been remarkably successfulit the anchetto4.. .d4e most common replies are 4d5dS dS 6�g2 c3 7bc3 and cS S�g2 d6 6d3 a6 The tet isiniscent of the Rubinstein Variation in panish Four ights However afterb d4 Black gains time as theisop is attackedg xf3+ 6.xf3ere is nothing wrong with 6f3 of urse ...b4 70-0 d6 .d4 xc3

aking on c3 is a little premature Blackliminates a defender of pawn e4 andsaddles White with doubled pawns butn the game White succeeds in keepingis centre by means of tactica devices tas therefore better to play 8 0-0 or8h3 9e 0-0..bxc3 0-0 0g eack consistently increases te pressurepon the centre lek indicates that heould now have played gS h62f6 f6 13f4 e7 However itseems to me that in this relatively simpleposition Black runs no particular dangert is more sensible to keep the pair of

bishops which promises attackingchances

Combat 18 Glek-Frog

d3 b6 f4

Here we see one of the main strategicideas behind 4g3 White has good

chances of realizing f4 wic gains iminuence in th centre and promises attacking chances on the kingside h6 3b b7 4ae e7Black now threatens to win a pawn withIS ed4 and 16 �e4 With his netmove lek prevents this indirctly5a3c5

For IS ed4 is met by 16e5! g217 g2 with advantage6.d5Closing the centre which in principle isunfavourable for the side with the bishoppair However here it is more importantthat White frees his hands to embarkupon a kingside attack 6 d7 7c4 a6An ambitious move iven time Black intends to win the c4-pawn withd7-a4 Can you like grandmasterlek show that Blacks last move is basedupon a too optimistic evaluation?

l, 1 1 1 1 1 1

1 8 1·-

8 8 8� ' 88 8 � 8

z \


95



The Chess Combat mulator Round 2

e Whe Your Move: 8

Your core: 1 8.e5 ()

1 8•••e5 Your Move: 19

Your core: 1 9. xf6 ()

1 9.. .gxf6 Your Move: 20

Your core: 0.�cl (6) 20 f1(4

0. ..g4 Your Move: 2

Your core: 1.fl (4) 2 �xh6(2

1 . ..g Your Move: 22

Your core: .� (6)

. ..h3 Your Move: 23Your core: 3 .e ()

3 . . .�c8 Your Move: 24

Your core: 4.5 (5 )

4... Your Move: 25

Your core: 5 . (6) 2Sg4(6

5 . ..6 Your Move: 26

Your core: 6 .g4+ ()

6 . . .h8 Your Move: 27

Your core: .�6 ()

. .g8 Your Move: 28

Your core: 8.h4 ()

96



Coba£ 8Glek-Frog

28 � Your Move 2 9 _ur core

ck resigned scr: SO

Yor Combat Scre: r Cmbat erfrmance:

Why Gek ay as he ?

1 8fxe5 dxe5 9f6An excellen£ exchange sacrice on posiional grounds Whie has long er

compensaion due o £he peranen£eakness of Blacks kingside £ is nowbvious £ha Blacks 17£h ove shouldave been replaced by 17 h71 9 gxf6 20�cThe bishop us£ of course be direced ords £he kingside ternaively £here is20f0 g4 2 fThis is sronger £han 2 �xh61 ...g7 22 . f3

And ye anoher bishop is oving oards Blacks king nsead 22fS wouldhave been e by 22 c8 ..h3 23e2 ea

f 23 h8 £hen Whie should no£ play24g4? xc4!, bu£ 24g2 'd7

2Sh or 2Sf 24 h5Threaening o £rap £he queen wihg3-g424 ...d7255Equally good is 2Sg4 in£ending�d2e-h4 o aack f625 d6 26g4+

her king oves are no beer 26f8 27 xh6+ e7 28'g7 26h7 27�x xfS 28'xf5+g7 (28 h8 29'g6 'f 30xh629�xh6+27 xh6

Weaker is 27x7 f8 28'g6 xfS27. g 2h4 xf5 29 f

A wohy nal ove Black can defend afer 29exf5 g7 Now, however, Black is

aed aer 29 /f8 30�g6+ g73 'h7 Therefore, Frog resigned

97



The Chess Combat imuator Roun 2

�bat 1 9

Aams-KasimzovTripoi 00

n 2004 Rustam asimzhanov won theFDE knock-out Wor Championship bybeating Michae Aams in the na (anVesein Topaov in the semi-na) .

e4 c5 f3 e6 3 d4 cxd4 4xd4 a6The reiabe an Variation. Earier on inthe match asimzhanov ha score acomfortabe raw with this soi icilian.5c3Two ays earier the most exibe move S�3 ha been Aams choice AfterS.. �cS 6.b3 �a7 7c4 c6 8.c3ge7 9.0-0 6 IO.h eS! f4 exf412xf4 g6 13.�g3 geS Back ha aneasy game ue to his contro over the important eSsquae. Aams-asimzhanovTripoi 20045 b5

There is nothing wrong with the typica

an move S. 'c7. The text move become popular when peope starte appreciating the possibiity of combining it with the typica iciian manoeuvre...'b6 an ..'c7 (after the knight has withrawn from 4 The tempo is we-spent as the knight is best place onthe central 4square6�d3 ib6 7f3This sighty unnatura move (f4 is no onger possibe is making ife haest forBack. After 7.b3 'c7 80-0 f6 9.a3�b7 1 .'e2 6 .f4 b7 12�2e7 I3.ae I 0-0 Back ha a comfortabecheveningen in Baruaasimzhanov Te

heran I998.The main ne is 7�e3 �cS 8.�e2 c6

98

9xc6 xc6 (9.. e3 I O.fxe3 xcII.4) I O.�xcS xcS I I.3 I2.f4 eS I3.f5 as was paye for instance

erasimhanov Wijk aan Zee I999Finay there is Larry Christiansenspectacuar 7�e3 �cS 8'g4!? �x9e5! t has since been iscovere thaBack is ne after 9c6 I Oxg7 �xeI I.xeS xeS I xb6 �b7.7 c7 8- �b7 9Je �c5 d?A remarkabe novelty. Aams w

threaten at the right moment gS aprepares to eveop his queens bishop othe main iagona. asimzhanov ha ia ikeihoo prepare foun some iprovement upon I OeS fS I I.exf6 xI2.e4 �xe4 I3�xe4 c6 I4�xc6!'xc6 I SeS 'c7 16.�f4 00 I7 �g3an White was slighty better in Aams-Topaov Tilburg I998. �e7

This prevents II.gS. n case of the naura I O ... f6 there wou have fooweI.'gS 0-0 I2�f4 an White is better. b3 f6 �b d6

Back has paye in the style of the

cheveningen. However he is not fy e veope yet. White on the other han ireay for action. Can you ike Aamemonstrate that Whites ege in eveopment is sucient to grasp the initiative?

The Cba begns G Lck!



You e We

r cor

13 . .b4

r cor

14 . c6

r cor

15 . . xd4

r cor

16 . a5

r cor

1 7... 0-0or cor

18 . . .bxc3

Yor cor

9. 8

Yor cor

20 ...e5

r cor

1 . ..exd4

Yor cor

2...d5

Yor cor

3 . .�b4

Yor cor

Combat 19Adams-Kasimdzhanov

Yor Mov 13.

13.a4 (8)

Yor Mov 14

1 4.a2 (5)

Yor Mov 15

1 5 .d4 (9) 15 ac1(6) 15.ad1(4)

Yor Mov 6.

1 6.xd4 ( 1 )

Yor Mov 7.

1 7.ac 1 (8) 7.b5+(5)

Yor Mov 1818.c3 (4)

Yor Mov 19

19.xc3 (6) 19.xc3(3) 9xc3(2)

Yor Mov 20.

20.b5 (6) 203(3)

Yor Mov 2 .

2 1 .c7 (8) 2Ic3(2) 2Ib2(2)

Yor Mov 22.

22.xb7 ( 1 )

Yor Mov 23.

23 .f4 (8) 23xd4(3) 23x7(3)

Yor Mov 24.

24. d1 ()

99



Te Cess Coba ulaor Roud

24dxe4 our Move

our core 25�xe4 (1)

25xe4 our Move 6

our core 26e4 (1)

26if6 our Move 7

our core 27c7 (8) 7d4() 7d7()

27ad8 our Move 8

our core 28d5 (4)

28id6 our Move 9

our core 29ixd4 (2)

29

ie6 our Move 30our core 30g3 (5) 303()

30d6 our Move 31

our core 31xb4 (7) 31c4()

31 axb4 our Move 3

our core 32e7+ (3) 3f6+(1)

32 'xe7 our Move 33

our core 33ixd6 (1)

Ad We s wg because b4 also falls

score100

Yur Cmbat cre: Yur Cmbat Perfrmace:

100



Coba 19AdasKasdzaov

Why did Adams play as he did?

3.a4 b4 14.a

e oly correc kg ove Weus bd lack o e defece of eb4paw case of 14d I ere folows14d4... c6 15.d4

o weake e defece of paw b4 Nogood s 1xb4? xb4 16xb4 dossble are I ac I!? ad I ad I5... xd4

Gaes played for e World Caposp usually ave a reedous followup Eve ose gaes payed for e

FDE kockou caposp orly afer s gae wo Cese gradasersrepeaed everyg up ul ere Zag Zoge agcua, Tayua004, lack ow we I a (atag e eso, te dsadvaage sWes ex ove) 16b ( prcplecorrec o pus lack for otg eexcage 1xd4) 16 d7 17 ad(17c3 or 17c4) 1700 18e? (opts or a error calculao)18 xe 19�f (probably We adoverlooked at lack ws afer I9 xec6! u o 19 dxe? 0�x7+x7 xd7 xd7 xd7 ad

We ws a pece e copuer ove19 xd6 s probably e bes cace,

lack s soewa beer afer 19 xd3

0xd3 xd6 1xd6 �xd6 xd6 fd8) 19 'c6 0f4 g616.�xd4 a5 17.ac1

No I7 c3 e! Playable oug s17�b+17... 00 18.c

lack as casled, bu Adas opes ecle e Afer te forced 18 bxc3

19xc3 e as gaed full corol over e pora bsquare, owg o sclever provokg of 16a 18... bxc 19.xc

Te bes ove, e kg s o s way ob oewa less good are 19xc3 ad19�xc319... id8 0.b5

Or 0e30 ... e5 1.c7

We olds a large advaage owg os eredae ove No 1c3 or 1b bo cases lack plays 1 d

1... exd4

1 �a6 �b6 s probleac for lack.xb7 d5

Kasdzaovs defece s based o saccal so Oerwse We wouldsply w e weak d4paw3• 4

Leavg e ae1 dagoal ad creasg e pressure Te aleraves (wo

10 I



he Chess Cob ulo Roud 2

exchge scces) e eke 23xd4 b4 24 xb4 xb4 2Sc6c7 26exd xdS 27xh7+ xh7

28 xd fe8 s bou equl 23e7 xe7 24exd b4 h excig edge3...�b4

hs eely helps Whe he ooksds bee o d1 h o e1 he besdefece s 23 xe4 Bu o23 dxe4 24e4 fo 24 xe4 is

e by 2Sxe4 ig4. d1

Weke s 24 c dxe4 2Sxe4 d3 hexcelle coueply4... dxe4 5.�xe4 xe4 6.xe4

Whe s he ek dp bu echclly he sk s sll o so spleKsdzhovs ex ove s o he bes

y o gve up he p6... 6 .c

he gh y o ke o d4 No27xd4 d8 o 27xd4 d828 d7 xd7 29 xd7 g627d7 d8 28xd4 xd7 29 xd7g6 sposes o he pevious le

...ad8 8.d5 d6 9.xd4 e630.g3

is sesible o mke lufloch he exis soge h 30 h330 .. Jd6?

A blude coec s 30 fe8 d

102

Whe us sll show soehig31.xb4

qudig io wo edge and

heefoe bee h 31c431 ... axb4 3.e+

lghly soge h 32f6+ xf633xd6 c3

he eiig moves wee:3...xe 33.xd6 e 34.d4 h

35.xb4 3 36.h4

O 36b636... c8 3.d c3

37 xb3 38 d8+ xd8 39 xd8+h7 40 b+ 412 ad Whiews becuse of 42b6 followed by

a6-738.4 c6 39;h xb3 40.d

h 4U'd1 b 4.xh5+ g

43.d4 & 44.d a 45.a5 g

46.b5 h 4.b6

Blck esged



nbat 0

V WyDLeeuarden 2003

d5 .c c6 3.3 e6 .e3 6

3

I ce of S.c3 we would ech heai lie of he Me . hi ge V

ely i goig o develop hi kigh o d2y be oe pively placed hee bue avoid he i lie wih dxc4 d bS. b 600 d6

ned 6 ..dxc4 7xc4 bS 8.d3 wouldbe vey good fo Whie followig e4 o a4.bd

Now 7 dxc4 would eve be weed by 8xc4 The didvge of developighe kigh o d2 i h i doe o coolhe dS-que..00 .e

Thi i he oly coec pl fo Whie ihi poiio. f 8.b3 he Blck would behppy o ply 8 .. e ... e5

Blck chieve hi egiclly deible

dvce becue Whie h iuciecool ove dS.

Cob 20 VWel-Delee

9.cxd5 cxd5 1 O.exd5 exd4

A lovely yeicl poiio! The d-lei copleely lled up wih piece Lev

ig eheic e ide fo oei yeicl poiio he ecodplye i ely lwy foced o give uphe yey oe poi. C youhow ju like V Wely h Whie ioewh bee i he digedpoiio


103



he Chess Cob ulo Roud 2

You are Wte ou Move 11. _ou coe 11e4 (10)

11c4(7) 11.xd4(1) 1c4(2)

11xe4 ou Move 12. _ou coe 12xe4 (1)

12 f6 YouMove 13 _ou coe: 13'xd4 (5) 13.gS(2) 13.c2(3)

13 xe4 ou Move 14. _ou coe 14'xe4 (1)

14 e8 ou Move 1S. _ou coe 15'd4 (7) 1S.d3(3)

15b6 ouMove 16. _ou coe 16g5 (6) 16.b3(2) 16 . d2(2)

16 £6 ou Move 17 _ou coe: 174 (7) 17e3(2)

17 b7 ouMove: 18. _You coe 18fd1 (7) 18 d 1(6) 18 fe1(3)

18c8 ouMove 19. _ou coe 19'a4 (8) 19 . d2(3) 19b4(3)

19 e7 ou Move 20. _ou coe 20d2 (8) 20.d4(2)

20 c5 ou Move 21 _ou coe 21ad1 (5)

104



•d7

ou coe:

ou coe:

3 �c7

ou coe:

•xd6

ou coe:

ou coe:

ou coe:

7••'a8

You coe:

Now White is siply piece up

Cmbat cre:

Cobt 20VWel-Delee

ou Move: 22. 22g4 (8) 22d4(2)

ou Move: 23 23h1 23d4(2) 23b4(2)

ou Move: 24 24d6 (10)

ou Move: 2 25d6 (1)

ou Move: 26 _26e6 (3)

ou Move: 27

27gx (1)

ou Move: 28 28xd6 (2)

score100

ur Cmbat Perfrmace:

10



he Chess Combat imulator Round

Why did V Wely play as he did?

1e4

his is the strongest option he best anser to I c4 is �cS n case of xd4 Black breaks the symmetry ith e5, hich equalizes completelyWhite also gains no advantage after �c4 b611 xe4 1�xe4 6 1xd4

f gS, then �e7! 4�c xdSI S�xe7 xe7 6xd4 ith balancedchancesnteresting is �c!? xdS?!( g4) 4d! f6 (4 g6

Sxd4) IS�gS1 xe4 14xe4 e8 15id4

his is stronger than Sd hen Blackresponds ith IS f6 n this ay, heattacks b, and prepares �fS Black ould obtain good play for the pan15 b6

his logical move is not very popular inpractice Yet Black achieves an almostideal setup in this ay �b7, sometimes �cS and possibly doubling rookson the dleMore common is S �fS hen Whitekeeps a small edge ith 6�g516�g5

Developing ith tempo he bishop may (eventually) be on its ay to g (via h4)

06

to exchange a blockading piece Oter

possibilities include 6b and 6 d16 6 17�h4

Less good is I7�e after 7 a8fe d 9 ad %ac8 0 d'f h c Black had excellecounterpay in the game HalkiasoliakoAviles 00017 �b7 18d1

Or 8 ad I , but inferior is 8 fe For example: 8 e+ 9e �c0g4 �xdS d d6 xf'xf6 3d xb 18 c8 19a4

tronger than any of the alternaiveshus, 9 d is met by 9 Black retrieves pan dS after 9 g3cS 0 �xd6 xd6 'a4 e(xa7?? %a5) And if 9b4 te9 %e7 (9 d) 0 g4 d 19 e7

0 d

is is clearly te best move in the position A blunder ould be 0xa7%a8 White loses dS after 0�g xg3hxg �xdSBeautiful variations may be calculaed folloing 0 d4!?: 0 xdS f

%d7 �xf6! ( xd5 xxh dS i s less clear) gxf



�xh+ .xh gxf6 4xd5c7+ Sg xdS 6b eS7xd5+) .g4+ h8

4xdS±. Hoever, rather than0 ..�xd5 Black should play 0 ...e4!en he even gains a small edge after �g xg .hxg xdS.i orse is xa7? xh+ xhh4+ .g xdS and Black ins.20.. c5 ad1

N .xa7?? aS.

2 .. d7so playable as . a8 'b8.22g4

N good is .d4 due to .. xd5... �xd5?! fS) .e6 xd4.xd (4xd8 xd+ Sxdxh+ 6.xh xd 7xb7d 7-+) 4 . e8 and Black is better22.. h8 3.h1

n ingenious move in a position herehite in all likelihood is not better. nmany tactical lines Black has the move.xh check at his disposal Van Wely moves his king to h to avoid this annoying check. Besides, he sets Delemarre aneat trap And in time trouble Black fallsfor it as ell. Not good as .d4xdS 4.e6 (f f8) 4 .. xdS.xd8 xd+ 6.xd �xh+

Combat 0 VanWelyDelemarre

7.xh xd 8xb7 d7 and theknight is trapped Also after .b4 xdS4xd5 xdS Sxd5 xh+

6xh xdS White is certainly notbetter3... �c7

Here Black should have played . g5!.his looks dangerous, but White hasnothing decisive 4g xg S.hxg cxd5 4xg5 fxgS S.xgS g7!

6xd8 xg4 and Black is better. 4b4 cc7 (4 bS!) Sg xg6.hxg xdS 7'f c6 8d4

ith a slight plus4.d6

Not 4d4 cxdS Se6 'xd6d e7 7 xd7 xd7 d Blackis better4 ... xd6

here is nothing else: 4 xd6 fails tothe lovely Sxd7! xd7 6xd6'e8 (6 xd6 7 .xd6 c+8.g+-) 7 .d8 and ins, hile4 b8 Sg leaves Black in a horrible mess

5.d6 �xd6 6.e6 �x3White also ins after 6. c6 7g'e7 8 xe7 xe7 9 d7 c+0g7gx3 as 8xd6

Naturally White must avoid 8xd6?xf+ 9.g c+n time trouble Black played on until thetime control8...x3+ 9.g1 h5 30.id8+ Wh7

31.d3+ xd3 3.xd3 c 33.b3

c5 34.�g3 a5 35.a3 g5 36.h4 g6

37c3 b5 38.b4 a5 39.c4 axb4

40.xb4 xb4 41.axb4 b5 4.Wg

Black resigned.

07



YOUR ROUND 2PERFORMANCE

T eep trac f yur reut, ut t crecar.

N r Sr r P

Cbt

Cbt 2

Cbt

Cbt4

Cbt

Cbt6

Ct

Cbt8

Cbt9

Cbt2

Your verage Combat Performace i Roud

uc Ru

108



bat 1

Hodgson-Shising hGermany Bundesga 1996/97

4 6 .�g5

e rompovsky Opening, but considerg the many successes of the Whitelayer it might ell be named the

odgson Attack2 ... e4 3.�4

e other logical bishop retreat is h4odgson has also experimented extensively ith the bizarre h4!? Ho aboute folloing game against ia Cramling,os Hermanas 99 3h4 cS 4dS g6S"d xgS 6c g8 7hxgS g78b3 c4 9a bS 0xh7 and Whiteon after a long ght3...5

ere cS 4f3 aS+ represents a major alternative4.e3 �5 5.3 6 6.c4

t is too early to start a pan oensive on

the kingside After 6g4 g6 7 h4 hS!8gS fd7 Black as OK in Hodgsonunn, Germany 99 S, and MilesVanely, Linares 99 S First the situation inthe centre must be resolved6... c6

oo aggressive is 6 cS for after 7 cxdSxdS 8 xb8! xe 9 bS+ d70 xd7+ xd7 e xg+xg xb8 dxcS White as ining in AdamsVan Wely, ilburg 996,although Black managed to dra someho7 c3 e6 8.b3 "cB

his is a rather passive ay of protecting

b7 Hoever, 8 b6 9cS xb3axb is clearly better for White Black

Combat HodsonSukharisinh

cannot prevent b4bS Best is perhaps8 b6, yet, this also brought White apleasant edge in Hodgsonriyl, Ger

many 996, after 9 g4 g6 h4 h6h �d6 0 0 09lc1

Hodgson immediately takes advantage of the bad position of the queen on c8From no on Black must constantly guard against threats along the cle9... bd7 10.g4

Gaining space on the kingside is the correct strategy Black is too passive to protfrom any eaknesses that may ensue Besides the text is the only right ay tocomplete development, since gedxc4 xc4 b6 b fdS ould allo Black some breathing space1o... �g6 11.h4 h6 1.h3 dxc4

Giving up the centre to in soe time tofree his game With hindsight e7 ould have been a better attempt13.�xc4 b6

As e have seen in the above game fragments Hodgson is a very creative playeo use your imagination to so that

White is much better here


09



he Chess Combat imulator Round

Y e Wte

Your core

4 fd

Your core

xd

Your core

6 xf4

Your core

17 7

Your core

8 exdYour core

9 c8

Your core

20 f6

Your core

2�

Your core

Your core

23c

Your core

Your core

0

YourMove 4. _4b 0) 4.e4(4)

Your Move 5. _�xd (6)

YourMove 6. _6e4 (8) 6.�d6() 6d6+(1)

Your Move 7

7xf4 ()

Your Move 8

8d (0)

Your Move 9.

9xd (3)

Your Move 0. _20c3 (9)

Your Move _20 (7) .(5)

Your Move . 22•fd (6)

Your Move . _23exd (4) xd5()

Your Move 4. _24 el+ (3) 4.c4()

Your Move 5.

2c4 (6)



d6

our core

6 $.b8

or core

7 he8

or core

hxg5

or core

9 6

our core

0

cd8our core

Black resigned

Cmbat cre:

4.b5

Combat 21Hodgson-Sukarising

Your Move 26 26e6 (4)

Your Move 27 27cel (4)

Your Move 28

28g5 (0)

Your Move 29

29hxg5 (I)

Your Move 30

30g4 (6) 30g6+1)

Your Move 31

3 h5+ (2)

scoreIOO

Yur Cmbat Perfrmace:

Why d Hodgson play as he did?

due to is lead in development and teawkward position of Blacks queen on c8Blacks reply is forced Weaker wouldave been 14�e2 fdS However, wit

14e4 xc4 15xc4 Wite could avecaimed a tiny edge4... d5 5.�xd5 xd5 6.e4

Again we see tat Hoon pays dynamiccess Wite would ave very little after 16d 6 d7 17 �xf8 xf8 ikewise,te ceck on d6 promises noting

16d6+ xd6 17 xd6 dWel played! White grasps te initiative 6... x4 7.x4 d7

1 11



he Chess Combat imulator Roud

he best chace No 8xg6 fxg6

9c 000 ould eve be muchbetter for Black so White is forced to play ivetively Note that 7 'd8 ould failto 8xe6 ith a istat i18.d5 exd5

Forced as 8 cxb5 fails to 9 dxe6 'd49 fxe6 0xg6) 0'xb5+ e7c7 + f6 g5+ ad mates19.xd5

White volutarily forks both his kightsbut his poor oppoet ca take either of them because of the check o c719... c8 0.c3

he trap that Black had set as 0xa7d8 bS �d6! ad it is Black ho

is! Not cxb5? though becausec7+ e7 0-0 should i for White0 ... 6

For ho else to develop the f8-bishop?O top of that Black prepares �f7 to atleast give oe of his miserable bishops for a kight

1.00Hodgso quietly completes his developmet ad ivolves the h-rook ito thegame he same objective is reached ith1 ... �7 .d1 �xd5 3.exd5

Black has maaged to close the d-le ithe ick of time but o he caot avoidWhite becomig active alog the e-leNot completely illogical is xdS tokeep the d-le ope Blacks best chacei that case is the edig folloig cxd5 4c8+ xc8 Sxc8d7 6c7+ e63... c5 4.e1 +

ust as good is the traspositio 4cad Se+

4... w7 5.c4 �d6 6.e6 �b7.ce1 he8 8g5

For a brief momet it appeared as if Blackhad reached a reasoable positio bu

the text eds all uncertaity Black canoprevet Whites quee from decisiveleterig o the kigside8 ... hxg5 9.hxg5 a6 30.fg4

Weaker is 0g6+ after 0 xg6 0 f8 'h4) g4+ f6+ xf6 'xd7 xe4 ce8

After Hodgsos move there is the threaof xf6+ ad 0 b5 is met b'hS+ f8 g6 xe6 xe6 admates30 ... cd8 31.ih5+

Black resiged



obat

Movses-BorrssBundesga 2005/06

e4 e5 3 6

Rui o Poff Dfc h drawi puio, bu play c bcomry p if boh ply willig

3.4 xe4Black h olid liv i 3 ...xd445 4 5xd4 d5 6xd6 xd6 .3 d5

mo ul mov d i fc hai gic id bhid h PoffBlck pv hi kigh i h c,w Whi h o u i ligh ld idvlopm by ih ackig hknig o udmiig i poiio.For ply who ov o hock i oppon h i 4 . c6 Muy highly origil ivio. Blck iv pic f boh 5. x4 d5 d 5d5c5 6dxc6 4.

5xe5 7H 5 ..d6 i lo playd.6.c3?

i i icky li wic uiMovi yl wll. Th mi li u6.xd7 xd7 70-0 d ow 7 .. d6 o 7... 4.6... xe5

T mo popul mov, bu Blck calo go fo 6 .. xc3 7.bxc3 d6.7.xe5 b4

A piig mov. Movi dom xpic wih 7 . xc3 8.bxc3ad ow 8 . �6?! fily olid i 8 7 9.00

00 10 .h5 g6 1 I. �6 AiaEbug, oci Ruia 2006) 9b1

omb 22MoviBoi

wi gi of mpo Whi impov hiook) 9 c8 10 . g5 h6 1 Ih4 �c51200 c6 12... 0-0 1h1 pl h

oyig f4f5) 1h1 g5 ?! ow Blckkig will v b f gi) 14.�g3d 15.f4 gxf4 16 h4! �7 17 xf400-0 18f b6? 197! d Blck igd i Movi-Wglz, iomyl1995. Uully Blck dvlop h bihopmo civly o c5 wih 8 ... c5

9.h5!? 6 10b1 10.0-0 d11 g5 �f5 12.ab 1 xd3 13cxd3 0-014d4 b6 15 . 3 ac8 16.f4 wb fo Wi i Movi-Nv,Pgu bliz 2005) 1 .. d7 1 .. b611.0- d 12�g5 6 13h3?! �f5144?! xd3 15cxd3 f5 w good fo Blck i i bliz gmMoviDidm, plychcom2005) 11.�g5 h6 120-0 g8 13 d20-0-0 14.1 d8 15.f3 g416.g3 d Whi poiio w pfbl i Movi-Hb, zchi 2004

omig bck o 7 . b4, i i cl h

Blck mp o gp h iiiiv Him o xploi h pi, d i dy ocl kigid d big i kig iofy. How would you pod o challg?


113



Te Cess Combat imuator Round 3

You e Whte Your Move: 8

Your core: 800 (5)

8•x3 Your Move: 9

Your core: 9bx3 ( )

9 �x3 Your Move: 10.

Your core: 0 b (3) 10.�a31)

0 �e6 Your Move: 11

Your core: :xb7 (4) 11.f42) 11 a32)

�xe5 Your Move: 12

Your core: 2h5 (6) n. e1 5) 12.f42)

2�f6 Your Move: 13Your core: 3:e (5) 13�f45) 13�a32)

3g6 YourMove: 14.

Your core: 4 h6 (4)

4 6 Your Move: 15

Your core: 5�f4 (5)

5�3 Your Move: 16.

Your core: 6 :xe6+ (7)

6e6 Your Move: 17

Your core: 7 xg6+ (5) 17 . xc7 5)

7 hxg6 Your Move: 18.

Your core: 8xg6+ ( )

114



Comba 22MovssanBorrss

8 Your Mov: 19. ur cor 19�xc7 (4) 19c7(2)

Black rsgnd nscoreSO

Cmbat cre: Y Cmbat Perfrmace:

Why did ovsesian play as he d?

80·0t s forcd o sacrc a pawn, for rspndng o ra mans long a v

tal tmpo and advanag Tus8 x4 �xc3+ 9bxc3 dx4 10.xd8+xd8 s mrly qual Wl 8 . d2 dos com no consdraon bcaust 8 . xd2 and 8 .. xc3 9 xc3xc3 1 bxc3 00 ar or an n for Black.8 xc3

s s rky. T altrnatv s 8 �xc39bxc3 and now no 9 .. xc3 101 xclln compnsaon for pan, bu 9 . 0-0 or 9 . �6 ar br r w abou qual cancs Wrong s9 c5? 10 . a3! b6 1Ixc5 bxc512.c4 d4 13f3 d7 14.d5 w a

nnng dg n Oral-Roznals, Montral 200 1 A rmarkabl opnng dsasr

by Proff xpr Roznals. Ts dmonstrats a 6c3 s wll wornvsgangA blundr s 8 ...c5? du o 9 xd5wnnng a pawn. KornvRazmylov,Cora dl Ro 2005.9.bxc3 xc3 0b

T mpl mov kps prssur (asI0 ... 0-0 dos no solv Blacks problmsdu o .�x7+ s nx commn).Havng nvsd only on pawn Wscompnaon s mor an sucnMor magnav s I.�a3 wc mgwork afr I0 ... xa I I1.xa I �6

(.b6 126) 12.f4 and a vry last W a dangrous aackngcancs for xcang: Blacks kng sno saf n cnr and as dculy capng.Howvr, Black can now dvlop wI.. �6. n gam afr Ib W now rrvs pawn. Hr afr

I Ib I Black a .�x5 and now 12.5 �d6 13�b2? f andWs nav s ardly wor wopawns, or 13 . xd6 xd6 14.xb7 615f4 00 16.f5 �c8 w a aly pawnup.

12.xb7 �d6

14 . xd6+ xd6 wn as clarly lss worrs an n gam.

115



T C Coba iulao Roud 3

10 �e6

Picipld bu dagou. u b ada alaiv o o lif i

a val ga of Olg Kov ifyVy bad i I ...f8 .f4 12d2g4 13. �d4+ 14.3 b6 1.f

c 16.c4! d4 17.�d2 ad Wi a alady iig i Kov-GozalzMaco, Navaloa 2000.u a upc i I..7 .f4 .b3�xS? ..�b4) 12. 0-0 13'

f 14.�f4 ad Black i ol10 ax-Nu, Bul 198) ..c612. 3.b3 �b4 14.f i aug advaag i Kov-vd,ig 2004.Pap Black oud acquic I0 ...0-0.�x7+ x7 12.d3+ g813.xc3 ad Wi a ivd ipa, i a ligy b poio. Dp oppoicoloud bop Blacka o ay lf a pacic a bo ou.13 ..'d7 13 ..d4 14.'g3 d 1.c3d3 16d I i b cacRoizFda, Padubc 2002) 14.b4c6 1.xc6 bxc6 6. 3 f 17.c3

8 18 xb8+ xb8 19 xa7 a820 3 xa2 Ti ay look dai duo oppoi-coloud biop. Kov ciqu a ll o igad o Kov-Kolv, ModaizBalaio 2002.11xb7

T i o i If4 bu Black aa ubbo dfc i fo of I I . .f12.'+ g6 13.'6 7 a Moviaa poid ou. I .a3 apo o apviou o.11 xe5

Vy dagou, bu ply o 11...00Wi ill a 12.�x7+.

1h5A og ov of cou, Wi ivov

116

qu i aack. Y o ovsalo kp aack goig. Qui good is12., ad 12.f4 �d4+ 13. i als

oa b fo W.1 �6 1e1

Agai Wi poiio i o og ati i o oly ig ov. ulak o volv dak-quadbiop aig aay i 13.f4 13.a3.1 g6

ik i o o, Black ad o play 13...f8 14.f4 giv Wi all cacs.14h6

Ti kp Back kig c ada 1. b +), ic i y npoi a giv fo 14.�b+ f81.f3 g7 Wi i b af 16f4 bu o iig a i ga14 a6 15�4 c

No Black lo pcacualy.

16 xe6+ xe6 17�xg6+

Movia coo a py li, bu poaic 17 c7 i ju a quickly17 hxg6

T i o capig a I7...d7 fail 18.�f7.18xg6+ t 8

O 18 ...d7 19c7+ 'xc7 20f7+.19 xc7

og a 19.xc7 xc7 20.�xc7

c ould alo i i d. Af x Black igd.



nbat 3Pnmv-kLnares 2003

.e4 c5 3 c6 3.�b5 g6

For 3 e6 see advakasov-Van Wely4 .bc6

is system has gained in popularity incent years White opts for a strategicaly siple position where he hopes to exploit is slightly superior pawn structureey used to play 40-0 �g7 Sc3 f6 I 0-0 7 d4 cxd4 8 cxd4 dS 9e5 e4

I0.c3 n the game Kasparov -hirov,inares 2002, Black was no worse after I �f h4 �e6 12�xc6 bxc613a4 gS! 4f3 f64.dxc6

re it is correct not to take back towardste centre The open dle brings himcntral control, and the light-squared

isop can be developedh3

is little pawn move ts in with theole set-up Ponomariov intends c3,d3, �e3 and d2 By playing Sh3 hevoids both �g4 which brings controlover square d4), and g4 attacking

te important dark-squared bishop) g7 6.d3 6 7.c3 d7

is gives White fewer possibilities than 0-0 when White goes 8�e3 andd2 to possibly trade the anchettoisop n that case, White retains the option of castling kingside or queenside.e3 e5

Black intends to fully control the d4-suare Given the right circumstances will start the manoeuvre d7-f8-d4

Combat 23 Ponomariov-Kamnik

9.dh6

This prevents �h6, but it has the drawback that Blacks king will remain in thecentre for some time to come0.00e7

ince the centre is closed, play will de velop along the anks White may prepare the advance of the f-pawn wit 2 He can also play on the oter side pushing b4 Ponomariov starts onthe queenside with:1.a3

A complex situation with chances for both sides Black must still complete hisdeveopment and anticipate Witesbreaks with either b4 or f4 n the long

run, Blacks chances could be preferablein viw of his bishop pair Can you play like Kramnik?





You re Bck

Your core:

12b

Your core:

13

Your core:

1h2

Your core:

15

Your core:

16�Your core:

17bxc5

Your core:

18b2

Your core:

19d

Your core:

20d3

Your core:

21xc5

Your core:

22fd1

Your core:

118

Your Move: 11

11•• (6) 1a5(4) 1b6(4)

Your Move: 12

12•••e6 ()

Your Move: 13 _13•••b6 () 13 d4(3)

YourMove: 14 _1• (8) 14 �a6(4) 14 �b(4)

Your Move: 15 _15•••f (7)

Your Move: 16 _

16••h5 (5) 16 g5(4)

YourMove: 1 17•••b5 (5)

YourMove: 18 _1••g5 (7)

Your Move: 19

19•••exd (3) 19 xd4(1)

Your Move: 20

20••xc5 (2)

Your Move: 21 _2I•c5 ( 1)

Your Move: 22 _22•••e6 ()



or core

or core:

xb5+

or core:

6xb5

or core:

5

or core:

for core

d

or core:

7+

or core:

8

or core

x8

or core

nd Black is winning.

Cmbat cre:

Combat 23 onomariov-amnik

Your Move: 23 . 23b6 (8) 23 xb4(5) 23 xc2(1)

Your Move: 24 ... _2•c5 (5)

Your Move 25

25•xb5 (2) 25 (1)

Your Move 26

26• (3) 260-0(1)

Your Move: 2 27•••hb8 ()

Your Move: 28 .

28•••�e5 (6) 28 b(3) 28 c4(3)

Your Move 29 . _2d3 () 29 b(4) 29 f6(4)

Your Move: 30 _3 £6 (5)

Your Move: 31 ...

3 ••x8 ( )

Your Move: 32

3 dxc2 ( )

xscore00


119



he Chess Combat imuato Round 3

Wy did a lay as e did?

11...8

he stat of the eaie-mentioned nightmaoeuve ac can aso pevent b4 ith I I aS o potect cS and pepae todeveop his queenside ith b61.b4 e6

his is ceay stongest Wea is2 cb4?! 3ab4 b4? 4 a7!and White ins because of: 4 d6(4 b6 IS; 4 e7 IScS) c b8 6 d6Unattactive is 12 b6?! due to 3bcSbcS 4a4e6 ISc3

13.a4 b6Wong is 13 cb4?! 4ab4 and because of the theat of ISb6 ac isno foced to pay 4 c7 Hoeve,aso good as 3 d4!? 4h2 b6 asin Uibin-Degeman, tochom 99614.h

Pepaing to attac h6 ith g4, and topay f4 eventuay n case of 14bcSthee oud ave fooed 14bS And4c3 oud have been stongy met by 4 d4!14.. .5

With this poefu move ac gasps theinitiative The theat is f4 inning a

piece Aso not bad ae: 14 a6 and4 b7

20

15.34

Gaining space on the ingside and pepaing a pa stom just ie in theKings ndian16. h5

Aso good is 6 gS White cannot aodto ait passivey hich is Ponomaiov no pays 7bcS17.bxc5 b5

t as simpy bad to pay I7bcS? because of 8c3 d4 9 d4 ed20cS18.b g5

Much stonge than 8 cS 19 c3!f8 20d4 and White is bette

19.d4

What ese? Otheise ac i just pa9 d4 ith g4 to foo A sampeine 19c3 d4 20fe aS! (evebette than 20 g4) and g419... exd4

Less cea is 19 d4 20 d4 ed21d30.d3xc5

his is foced fo otheise White gaicountechaces ith 2eS1.xc5 ixc5 .d1 �e6

An attac on the ing is no onge on te

cads, but Kamni has a temendous positiona edge by no



23.b4

feri s x4 x4+ 4'x4x4+ S4 e7 h g is

us ls.23.. b6

echiclly fe s 'x4 ue 24.x4 S.cx! x x. Dspie he ss f xchg Whe hscsele wg chces.2...'xc es yu p s g su iee cue fe 4.x4

ih 4 ..-. Hweve, ise f 2x4 Wh hs 4.', 4c S.x4 'x4 x4 x4+2 .x4 c4 28 Whe s caily ws.2.a4

lc ws wihu r f 4'cS2... c5

xcele ply y Km wh ses heame ws supe gm s24.a5? S'. Wh ls ges fully c h gme fe 4 c4 55c7 c5 Fr exmple .(26. S 7.x4 7cx x

(27.. � 8.'xg5 8.xc4.

2.xb5+ xb5

hs s slghly ee h 25. f7

m Pmv-m

6.xb5 7

he g c play pupsefully heeg, whch s why he ex is pefe

le ..-.7.a5 hb8 8.1 �e

heaeg 9 me r essfcg h gme cu Als e 8 7 8 .. c49.da1 d

Accu l h hs cmcsues he fses w. Als g e

9 ...7 9 f. , hweve, s9 c4? x .c5 Wh s e!30.x7 + 6

hs ws h p. , f cus, s.x7 x7+ f cx.1.x8 x8 .x8 dxc .8+

g6

Als g s 7.4.e8 7 5.8+

5...g6

h c ws Sxf8 xc5+ <[7.. Hwever, eve he lc wswh 7..4+ 8.h c4 9.xS 4 e6.e8 c4 7.e5 c1 8.xc5

ix1 + 9.h x 40.xc4 g4

A Pmv esge. he gme sve fe 4.hxg4 hxg4 4 .fxg4 f.




Conbat 24

Kasparov-MorozevichWijk aan Zee 2000

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 lf6 4.lf3 dxc4

5.a4 �f5 6.le5 lbd7

An old variation that was tested extensively in the matches for the World

Championship between Alekhine andEuwe. Entering the long theoretical line6..e6 7.f3 �b4 8.e4 �xe4 9.fxe4 xe41o. d2 "xd4 11.xe4 "xe4+ 12."e2�xd2+ 13.xd2 is of course not the sortof thing to do against Kasparov who may be expected to have something up his

sleeve. In general, deep opening preparation is clearly not Morozevich's forte Hefounders in slightly unusual positionswhere he can use his imagination to goodeffect However, for this game he had prepared a remarkable opening concept.7.lxc4 'c7

Black intends to push ...eS to do some

thing about his space disadvantage. At thestart of the 21st century 7 ..b6 8.e5aS became a popular alternative8.g3

Not only preparing the bishop anchettobut also jf4.8... e5 9.dxe5 lxe5 10.�f4 tfd7

1.�g2

This is str onger than releasing the tensionwith 11xe5 xeS as occurred in twoofMorozevich' games:

11... g5?

At the highest level this may be called stem game of what has in the last siyears become a fullgrown theoretic

variation It would be highly deserving i eventually the whole line would be callthe Morozevich Variation. Not only because of his cheek to play it againsKasparo v in such an important game, bualso because of his efforts in the years tcome to uphold his line against impressive oppositionBy the way, later in this same tournamenMorozevic went for the respectabl' 11...f6 against Anand.

12.le3A strong positional' continuation that inthe years that followed this game has become the main line. But that is only natural, for who would not want to follow iKasparov's footsteps? Black has experienced no particular diculties after 12xe5 xeS 13"d4 f6. White wins pawn after 12.xe5 gxf4 13xd7 andnow 13 ... 000! 14.d4 "xd7 15."x�d6, when Black has sucient compen-

12.�g2 "a 13."b3 000 sation as was demonstrated in numerousRogozenkoMorozevich, Kishinev 1998. 12."d4 f6 13.a5 a6 14.�g2 d815"a4 �cS 16.00 d4 17."a2 "e7

18ac b4 and Black was ne inIskusnikMorozevich, t Petersbug 1998

122

games.12 ... gxf4 13.lxf5 0-0-0 14.c2

No good is 14gxf4, for Black gets to

much for the pawn after 14 ..c515"c2 c4



en wore in ti ine i IS.dS cxdS.fxeS xeS d Back i e a 17.d4?et by 17.xfS 18.xh8 d3+.

14

.. 4?t i ony ti dubiou ove tat getlck into troube. n te gae Kranikorozevic, Atana 200 I, Back payed4 c 1S.0-0 e IS.fxg3 1.xg3 i good too) 1d 1 cS 17e4b4 Morozevic repeated ti equenceint Bareev in te 2002 Coru tourna

et. He ater ao teted 14 fxg3 and4 .. b8.e text ead te knigt atray, atougt take Kaparov next briiant ovet concluivey prove ti155

. . .

� • t

..t �

�" ��I w :

e tar move Not ony doe Witetreaten to detroy Back defence wit, e alo prepare to ue te rook aongte fourt rank wit a4 wen it uddeny becoes cear wy te knigt idly paced on g4. case of IS.0-0 Back coud pay for akngside attack wit S ..S To ilutratete dept of Kaparov opening preparatn in genera after ti gae i econdkoian entioned tat Kaparov adlredy teted IS0-0 in oe trainingbitz gae o te Kaparov tea ad aredy found te nove ..gS teeve,

nd d anayed it15...x

Cobat 24 Kaparov-Morozevic

Here IS...a 1.a4 woud be evenwore16hx a6 .a4

Consitent and trong. 17.0-0 S i stiOK for Back.... d6 8.e4

After 18�3? Back a to nd te accurate 8 ...e S wen Wite a no dangerou dicovered ceck .18 xe4

Muc better according to Kaparov wa

18 . dS wen te ine fork 19.ed+ �xd 20xd+ xd2.fS+ b8 22.xg4 wit a omewat better poition. 19.cS and Wite a a sligt edge,but Back a two payable ove in19 .S and 19 ... b8. Bad, however, i19 ...b4? because of 20.xb4 xaS2.e7 + �xe7 22.fS+ b823.d7+ xd7 24.xaS.9. xe4

Not 19.xe4 d+ or 19.xe4 xaS+19... h5 0.1

Wite want to bring i king into afety,but not by cating Dangerou i 2000

4, wie 20 . f3 i et by 20 ..eS.0 ...b8

Wite a a coniderabe poitional ad vantage. Can you bring te point oe aKaparov did?

•

� t : .

��

:

The Combt begs Good Luck!

123



e Cess Combat imuator Round 3

You e Whte Your Move: 21

Your core: 2I<g2 (3)

21••�e7 Your Move: 22

Your core: 22xe7 (7) 22f3(2

22••e7 Your Move: 23

Your core: 23� (5)

23•••e5 Your Move: 24

Your core: 24�xh5 (4)

24•••'e6 Your Move: 25

Your core: 25'c3 (7) 2S 4(3

25•••

£6 Your Move: 26Your core: 26J4 (4)

26••' Your Move 27

Your core: 27� (4)

27•••h4 Your Move: 28

Your core: 28xh4 (1)

28•••'b1 Your Move: 29

Your core: 29•h1 (4)

29•••d1 Your Move: 30

Your core: 30•xd1 (1)

30•••'xd1 Your Move: 31

Your core: 31b4 (4 3'c5 (7)

3I••c7 Your Move: 32

Your core: 32'c5 (5)

14



6

ur coe:

•d6

ur coe:

4c4

u coe:

S•••b2

ou coe:

dl

ou coe:

7•••

e3+our coe

38••d5

ou coe:

39•••xb4

You coe:

40•••c5

Your coe:

41•••g5

You coe:

42••e7

You core:

c2

You coe:

Combat 24Kasaov-Moozevc

You Move 33 33d6+ (5)

You Move: 34 34•e4 (4)

You Move: 35 35•d3 (5) 353(2

You Move: 36 36f4 (4) 36g4(3 36f3(1

You Move: 3 7

37g4 (3) 37f3(3

You Move: 3838 (2)

You Move: 39 _39e4 (4) 39 c4(4

You Move: 40 40•c4 ( 4) 40 f5(4

You Move: 41 41g5 (3) 41f5(3

You Move: 42 42g5 (1)

YourMove: 43. 43 (3)

You Move: 44

44e5 (5)

125




43 e3 Your Move 45

Your core 45 e6 (5)

And Morozevic resigned.

Yur Cmbat cre:

Mwscore97 (100)


Why did asparov play as he did?

.e xe

A move tat is reminiscent of te famousFiscer-etrosian game were Fiscer

also gave u a strong knigt for a seemingly worse biso. Always remember tat it is not imortant wic ieces aretraded, but wic ieces remain on teboard.n te resulting osition Kasarovsbiso will be suerior to te knigt. Lessgood is 22 .f3 wen Black lays

22 ...f6 keeing is biso Te oositecoloured bisos romise im drawing cances.ven worse is 221 ?! xd 23.xd4.... xe . e5

Wite as a uge ositional advantage in

all lines: 23 .. f6 24.fS, 23 .. gS24.b4, 23 e6 cS f6 2S.b4.

126

.xh5

Certainly not 24.x5? xf3 winning .. e6 5c

A owerful move defending te aSawand rearing to double on te le.A layable alternative is 2S.4. Weak,owever, is 2S.a4 dS+!.5...6

Or 2S fS 26f4 gS 24.6.ah 5 . xh 8.xh

b1 9.h

Not allowing is oonent acounterlay as in te cases of 29 .d8 and 29 . e4 d.

9 ... d 0.xd xd

.b?

Here it is ossible to imrove uoKasarovs lay! You will gain mo

oints fo 3 .cS!. Tat move, immediately indicated after te game b



asparov, does ot allow lacks queeccess to te d6-squre A sample lierus 31.. xf3 3 2 x3 'b3+ 33 'c3

everteless, te edig after 3.b4 reais wo for Wite31...c 3.c5 d6 33.xd6+ xd6

3.�e4 c4 35.�d3

r 3 5 3 eS.35 ... b 36.4

Not muc worse is 36.g4, but 36.f3 iseaker, as Wite eeds a passed paw assoo as possible36 ... d1 3.g4

r 37 .f3.3... e3+ 38.3 d5 39.e

qually good is 39.c4.

Combat 24Kasparov-Morozevic

ut ot 39.g5 fxgS 40fxg5 eS.39 ... xb4 40.�c4

Or 40.f540... c5

40 ... d5 4 Ixd5 ad Wite wis tepaw edig.41.g5

4I.f. 1.g5 xg5 4.xg5 e 43.W5 c

4.e5 e3 5.�e6 c

Morozevic resiged witout waitig for

Ksparovs reply

Wite wis te paw race after 46.g6 c347.g7 c2 48.g8' c' 49.'+ d8S.'d7 mate

127



Cob hovDvoiris

ou are Back Your ov: 11 our cor: 11d5 (12) 11d8(8)

exd5 Your ov: 1 _our cor: 12 b4 (12) 12xd() 1 exd(3)

dxe6 Your ov: 13 our cor: 13xe6 (2)

4d4 Your ov: 14 our cor: 14ad8 ( 0)

14 fd8(7) 14fd() 14 bd()

5a Your ov: 1 our cor: 15bd5 (4)

6xe6 Your ov: 1 our cor: 16e6 (1)

17xd5 Your ov: 17 our cor: 1xd5 (6) 17 d()

18d3 Your ov: 18 our cor: 18e5 (10) 18 f(8)

19e4 Your ov: 19

our cor: 19f6 (11) 19 xb2(4) 19 xe3(4)

Your ov: 0 our cor: 20xa (12) 0 xb(3)

10-0 Your ov: 1 Your cor: 21xb2 (3)

19




d Your Move: 22... Your core 22 dl (4) 22 .. a8(3)

23xdl Your Move: 23 ... Your core: 23a5 (5) 23 .. xe4(4)

24�cl Your Move: 24 .

Your core 24�d4+ (4) 24 ... �xc(4)

Your Move: 25...

Your core: 25xe4 (4)

And Black went on to win. scoreIOO

Yur Cmbat cre: Yur Cmbat Perfrmce:

Why did voiris play as he did?

dA very powerful move at least as long asBlack is prepared to sacrice a pawn.Normal (and not bad) would be .. d8ess good toug is I1..a6 ?! because of 12.a4.exd b4

Tis sacrice is justied in view of Wites (lack o development. Wite

130

would be sligtly better after bot12 ... xd5 13.xd5 exdS 14.00-0 and12... exd5 13.0-0-0.1dxe6

Black as an excellent position after 13.b5 eS! (even stronger t13 ... xc2 14.d6 �d8) 14.d6 xc2IS.xc2 xe3+ 16e2 xe217.�xe2 �d8.�xe6

Black as completed is development

Wites main problem is is king wiccannot nd a good iding place at present4d4

n order to eliminate the powerful bisoon e6, and to protect c2.Castling queenside is no good and long as te ligtsquared bisop is notdeveloped it is impossible to castle



ingsid. Nu 14000 is m b4...x2+ 1 x2 �xb3 ...ad8

h pn of sonb nivs: 14 ... fd8, 14 .. fd nd4 . bd.

5.a

hi mus chs w h knigh obing his king ino sf. om viionso ius his pigh: 1 .000 x2+ 16.x2 �x2hn I 7.b3 ?? fis o o of hings:17 ...3+, 17.. c3 nd 17 . �xb3 I . b bd 16.xd xd17 .x6 fx6 18.000 c3! is n xc

n joind. Fo xmp, I 9. bxc33+ 20.b I 'xc3 I.�d4 'b4+22. I 'xb. 1.�2? d4 16.xd4 xc2+ ndwins. I S.x6 fx6 nd h posiion of his king mins pobmic15... bd5 16.xe6 xe6 17.xd5 xd5

No 17 ..xd? 18d2.Howv, so no bd is I 7 ...xd!?18 d3 ! bcus of 19.000(19.'2 �c) 19 . g4.18. d

Rmkb nough Whi is d osif h woud cs h h cics f

18000 x3 19x3 (9.xd8??'xd8 20.'x3? g) 19 ...'b6!

Comb 2 MkhovDvoiis

20 ' (20 'xb6 gS+) 20 ...gS+2I.b1 f6 22b3 23.2 'c3!24.xc3 xd I! su in h win of

xchng.18.. .e5

his doub ck is v song ndfocs Whis x. Anoh good movis 18 ... f6.Howv, ck shoud o p18 .. x3? 19.'x3 �c whn hwhi king scps f 20.'x6+ h8

2100019. e4 6

Agin Dvoiis coninus i h mos dnmic w. Whi m sv himsf f oh movs. Fo xmp, 19 ..'xb220 00 nd 19 .. x3 20x3 xb221.00 wih sigh bck pus in bohcss.0ih4

his mov pps o sv hi, buDvoiis hs ppd n isic o.Oh movs woud os oo: 20 . d3 g4. 2000?? x4 o 20 .g4 0.'2 x4 21.fx4 'xb.

20'g3 'xb2 21.00 x4 22.fx4'xc2.

0 ... xa

his chos o of h mos fmous com

binions in h hiso of chss,Miknsonsin, inn 196:

131



h h iu Ru 3

23

f h uifu 2 3 h u 2 2 2 ul u pii100

pi i 23 2 227+ 23£ h i1 �xb

l i ipy p up ,

32

227? fi 22 ad1 xd1

Al g i 22 8 h ih hp N 22 ? 23 d8hughxd1 a5

Ev g h h ii23 4 c1 d4+

i f 2 2S+ 26h I 27 4

28f5h1 xe4

iuiig i iy ig

ig lu ul 2S426 27h+6xe4 xe4 7xe4 b5 8g 59 d b4 0 e1 c8

Whi ig



onbat 6

Kv-KimvWijk aan Zee 1999

. 6 .c g6 3.g3 �g .�g 5

teering te ge towrds te Grnfeldrter tn te Kings ndin.cxd5 xd5 6.e b6 e

e best squre for te knigt On tenigt would inibit te ncettobisop, nd, ore iportntl, te pinwit g4 (s in te ge) would berder to eet... 00 8.00 c6

Delibertel provoking te d-pwn forwrd in order to ttck nd trde it subsequentl.5 a5 Obc3 c6 .b3

A prdoxicl ove incresing te power of Blcks g7 -bisop, but keeping teknigts out of c4 After dxc6 xc62b3 b4 Blck obtined ver decentpl in te Bundeslig ge cneKsidznov Ksprov ust ve beeninuenced b tis ge in is decision toopt for 3g3 . cxd5 .ex5 g

is ggressive pin is te nturl etodto diinis Wites possibilities Ks-

Cobt 26 Ksprov-Ksidznov

provs next, odest, ove ws novelt13.�

is is stronger tn 3f3 d7 wen

Blck s provoked Wite to close telong digonl After 3b2 eiter knigt jup to c4 wen fter 4bxc4 xc4 Blck will retrieve is scriced teril b force13.. e6

One gin Ksidznov is ttcking teforwrd dpwn is is not onl te

tic, but lso necessr s oterwise teS-knigt would soon end up in serioustrouble.dxe6 �xe6

We ve reced position wit fullsetricl pwn structure Moreover,bot sides ve developed teir piecesAnd, et, Wite grsp te inititiveCn ou, like Ksprov, sow tt Witeis better nd defet Ksidznov in odel ge?


33




You are te YourMove: 15

Your core: 15e4 (7) 15 c1(2)

15 c6 Your Move: 16

Your core: 16�g5 (4) 16c3(1)

16 dl Your ove: 1

Your core: 17• (I)

1h6 Your Move 18

Your core: 18•e3 (4) 1f6(1)

18 ad8 Your Move: 19

Your core: 19d6 (5)

19 g4 Your Move: 20Your core: 20 (7)

20 �c8 Your Move: 21

Your core: 21�c5 (7) 21xc8(2)

21 �f6 Your Move: 22

Your core: 22f4 (7)

22 g4 Your Move: 23

Your core: 23e4 (9) 23 fe1(1)

23 xe2 Your Move: 24

Your core: 4xf6+ (1)

24 g7 Your Move: 25

Your core: 25•xd8 (2)

25 xd8 Your Move: 26

Your core: 26•e1 (1)

134



d2

Your core:

7••g8

Your core:

8•••d7

You core:

9 2

Your core:

30•••d8?

Your core:

31b2Your core:

32•••g

Your coe:

33••e

Your core:

34••b1

Your core:

35••1

You core:

Blac resigned

Yur Cmbat cre:

ombat26KasarovKasimdzanov

You Move: 27 27 e8 1)

Your Move: 28 28d )

Your Move: 29

29Ae3 7)

You Move: 30 _30d5 5) 30xb7(1)

Your Move: 31 _31b4 5)

Your Move: 32

3 7) 32xa7(2)

Your Move: 33 33x 1)

Your Move: 34

34�cl 7) 34x6+(2)

You Move: 35 35•e4 3)

Your Move: 36 _3e7 3)

xscore00


135



h h d 3

Why d Kaspov play as he dd?

15e4

W-pyd! ck c hdy k h xch. cy pp hkh y h I .c I15 c6

Accp h ff d: ..x x f .. d7 h) d 7! h pf f16 g5

h cv v h u ck ch-hp h c3

16 "xd1 17xd1 h6 18 e3 xch pc h c f . f xf xf+ 718d8 19d6 g4 03

ck h qu 20.fc!.0 c8 1 c5

h c h pu, d hf h 2xc h hp d h hp p1 �6 4

vz h chhp d c Wh c h c. �g4 3e4

ck h f

23.x7? x2 24.xd xd2 .xf xf .

36

h h d f 23 .f I

F, 23 ...c? h 244Hv, 23 .. 7! 24.h3 x2 2.x2d4+ 2.xd4 xd d ulzy lf Wh dv.3 xe

H 23..7? 24x7 xd 2.f6h 2.xd x2 27xf xd2.xh p, h Wh s

kp h p p4x6+ g7 5xd8

Wh c d fcd qud h 2.xf+. Af 2 .. xf82.xc xc 27.d xf 2xf c2.c ck h 2 ..c4! 30.xc4 xc43h+ xh 32xc4 h h

d h k d.5 xd8 6e1 d

H xcpy Kpv pys!H h pupfuy f h ps h h pp tck h h cupy d sk h cd k N h xcp h u, h h ccy vud h Wh ck h d sf d.7e8+ rgS 8d6

h kh h xcnt

qu. h pu g h h - d cd



8 d7

hte pee e h e te te 28 2 29x7 8

0 Kp h ee�e

hte tepy g pth 29x7 xS 30x , te he e y th h pt ege the pe tepee pe h etmpet

Rthe th t p h y,Kp pee t e e h te x 0�d5

hte hy ette te 0x70 0 d8?

Th t pe te x7 + g7 peee1b4 b 5

Kp t the tt th geteegy ee te h yy he etg h ege th y teh

t 2KpKh

eg Le pe 2 x7

gx5Nt 32 ? 3 x5 e6 4�c1

he tete 3xh+ 8S x7, t Kp e g eee te4 b1

3 2 S xe xe 3 Whte 5 e4 1 6e7+

A Kh ege ee thepg he the hp e h h 1

17



Te Ce Coba uao Round 3

obat 7

Ljubojc-SmtsAmsterdam 2006

1.c4 6 .3 e6 3.g3 d5 4.�g dxc4

Gvng up e cene bu We oeoe e eganng e pan. Backoud ue ee ep o gan nuence

n e cene cS ove de veopng pobe on e queende.5a4+ bd7

S . c6 6xc4 S 7c2 �7 anoe eabe ay of eeng We e-up.6.00

Nauay We can ao ake eaey on c4 6xc4 a6 7 c2 cS 8 d4 (8.0-0 oud anpe e an gae) 8 .b69.00 �b7 10 . d1 c8 Back a ovede pobe of o o deveop queende and a eefore equazed.TkacevDng Gonfeve 20066... a6 7xc4 c5

Ganng nuence n e cene Back

ay ao obze queen bop 7 ...S 8.c2 (or 8c6 b8 fooed by 9 .�b7 and 1 .cS) 8 .. �b78.c �e7?

Back eadved o negec kngde fo e oen and pay 8 ...bS.Gven e We pay d4 and d1 ong preure. Te acca jucaon of 8 ...bS e n 9e d andWe a nong: 1 .xd7 xd7 fooed by ... �b7 ead o equayTerefoe We oud connue afer 8 ..bS 9 a4 �7 fo exape: 1 .axbS axbS 11 . xa8 xa8( 1...�xa8) 12.a3 �c6 13.d3 �e7

14.�d2 0-0 1 Sc b7 equacance n Taanov-Kee Baku 1961.

138

1c3 b6 11d3 �e7 12.axbS axS13xa8+ �xa8 14.b3 en 14 .. dS e a n Kocev-Beavky Le avre

19 77. Noe a We canno ae on bS1S.xbS? (1SxbS? �c6) 1S ... xc16.xb6xe2+ 171 xb6.Afe 8 e7 Back poon guncofoabe. Ljubojevc deonrae n an ogna anner9Jd1?

Mo coon 9d4 0-0 and ony no

1 .d 1 en We oea beter due o e peue aong e c- andd-e and e poerfu Caaan oon g2 Wt 9d1 Ljuojevc appear gve opponen a econd cance.9... e5

And ee fa fo e a o pre ven d4 abou ove bu no avng cpeed one deveopen one canno oe vauabe e

e openng unpuned. Adedy iteque enegec pay fo Ljujevic tdeonae Meane a no onger pobe tpay 9 ..S W e nerpoaon f

8 �e7 and 9.d1 We a 10eSdS 11.c6 fooed by 1 2xe7 wta cea edge. o Back oud ave etedfor 9 .. 0-0 1 .d4. Afer e ex can upove a Back a gone too far?

The Combat begs Good uck!



Combat 27 Luboevic-Smeets

You are We YourMove 10. Your core lOc (6) 10.e3(4) 10a4(3) 10.d3(1)

YourMove 11 _Your core ll e3 ( ) 1.a4(3) 1.d3(1)

l d6 Your Move 12. _Your core 1d4 (5)

e7 Your Move 13 _Your core 13g5 (11)

13.xe5(2) 13.dxe5(2) 13.dxc5(2)

3exd4 Your Move 14. _Your core 14d5 (7) 14.exd4(4)

Your Move 15. Your core 15exd4 ()

5cxd4 Your Move 16 Your core 16f4 (8) 16 . xd4(4)

16xf4 Your Move 17. _Your core 17gxf4 (8)

Your Move 18 _Your core 18xd4 (4)

18g6 YourMove 19 Your core 9adl (7)

19.d2(5) 19.c3(5) 19.e1(3) 19c1(3)

19xd5 Your Move 20 Your core 0xd5 () 20d5(2)

139



Te Cess Combat mlato Rod 3

20 f6 Yo Move: 2

Yo coe: 21'c7 (8) 2 xf (8)

21'b6 Yo Move: 22

Yo coe: 22�x+ (8) 22c4(8)

22 x Yo Move: 23

Yo coe: 23c4 (3)

23 'f6 Yo Move 24 Yo coe: 24 xd7 (4) 24xf7(2)

24 �xd7 Yo Move: 25 Yo coe: 2 xd7 (2)

2 Yo Move: 26

Yo coe: 26x (3)

26 x Yo Move: 27 Yo coe: 27 xb7 (2) 27c8+(2)

Black esged score l

Your Combat Score: Yo Combat Performace:

Why d Ljubojec play as he dd?

10.cmple ad stog Wt a4 Wtetes to x Blacks qeesde Wte may cosde te mmedate 0 e3 Nomalbt too modest gve te ccmstaces s0d310... 0-0 11.e

Ts s te sta move Ljbojevc decdestat opeg p te posto wll favo

40

Wte t s especally ad fo Black tod a good (dg) place fo s queead to complete s qeesde developmet Less ambtos ae a4 add311 . �d6

Aote tempo-loss (t eseves tee7-sqae fo te qee) tat sows tatBlack s seg



.d4 e7

Thi w Bck ide t it meet with nenergetic retort ed on we-known

tctic moti3g5

13xeS xeS 14dxeS �xeS int tht mch No doe 13dxcS xcS14gS g6 pper tht peci3.exd4

Here 13 6 w perhp eer ei13 cxd4 14dS e8 ISexd4 jt

tpoe Bd i 13 h6 ece of 14dS! e8 (14 d8 ISdxeS)ISdxcS4.d5

More energetic thn the tomtic14exd4 which i o not d4.. e8

yed with ide t perhp hehod he etted fo the ttrctie14 d8 ISexd4 cxd4 6xd g615.exd4 cxd4

16�4

Thi i mch etter th tking ck ond4 when the point of 14 e8 wodhe een reeed 16d4 e I+(here 16 h6 17 xf6+ xf6 8 xd6e+ 19�f hxgS ort of work for Bck t White h I7 �f4! �xf418 gxf4 with trong prere) 7 �f h6

18d I ( 8 xf6+ xf6 19 d6hxgS) 18 S 9xf6+ (19e4

Comt 27 oeic-Smeet

xdS 20xd6 7f6 21�g2 d8wod e eief thogh ti etter for White) 19 xf6 20x xf7

21xd6 �fS 223 nd Bck doe nothe enogh temporry ctiity for thepwn16... �x4 17.gx4

he ctiity of hi piece i more importnt to Ljojeic thn hi pn trcreWhite oe igict prt of hi dntge with 17 xf4 h6 18 f3 eS

After the text Bck mt rt preet thehetened o of mteri foowig8c717.. .d8 18. xd4

Theteing 19xf6+ ece of thepin og the d-e Bck repy i ginforced18... g6

8 S I9 4 oe immeditey foBck19ad1

Doing on the d-e nd inirecty ttcking the qee i cery et Neeeto y tht White poitio i o trog tthi tge tht y eoe moe i

preere n edgeFie i I9 d2 Bck otin omeconterpy fte I 9c3 xdS 2 0 xSf6 21h3 hS 22xd7 x2 ye of coe re the rook moe I9 e Id I9 c I

41



obat 8

V aaseGlekBelgium tt 2004/05

.e4 e6 .d4 d5 .c 6

igts befoe bisops is o applicalegeeal ule ee. Te complex 3 .b4leads to te Wiawe Vaiatio. Wit

bot developig moves lack is gtigfo te e4squae ate ta gig it upwit te moe simple Ruistei Vaiatio: 3 . dxe4.4e5

Va Haastet opts fo te teiitz Vaiatio Te classical 4g5 would mostpobably ave bee met by te sap4 . �4 (te alteatives ae 4 �e7 ad4...dxe4) te so-called MacCutceoVaiatio of wic go Glek is cosideed a expet A complex positio aisesi te mai lie afte 5.e5 6 6 . d2xc3 7.bxc3 e4 8g4. tis same peiod, oweve, Glek took

up a old idea of Alekies te absudlookig 4 ..6 te idea beig tat afte te stogest cotiuatio 5xf6 xf66.exd5 b4! 7.b5+! c6 8.dxc6 bxc6!(Alekie played 8 ..xc6 agaistCapalaca i t etesug 1914 ad lostwitout a cace) 9 . e2 0-0 10 c511.0-0 d8 lack as cosideable pessue fo te paw. Moozevic-Glek,Maiz apid 2005.4 . d7 5.4

Ovepotectig e5 ad tus stegteig is cetal paw cai. Wit is extmove lack obeys te stategic laws of cess ad attacks Wites cai at te

base.5.. c5 6. c6 7.�e cxd4

Combat 28 Va Haastet-Glek

Util ow eveytig was clea otsides wee attackig ad defedig ted4squae. Followig tis pocedue tey

used to cotiue wit 7 .b6, but tepositio afte 8 a4 aS+ 9.c3 c4 10b4is ot eveybodys cup of teaMoe popula is 7..a6 8.'d2 b5, we9.dxc5 �xS 10.�xc5 xc5 1I'b6 is a lie tat Glek as played extesively ove te yeas.Te text eleases te tesio somewat,

ut lack cotiues to gt fo ted4-squae by vacatig te c5-squae fo is bisop8.xd4 �c5 9.d xd4

Tadig pieces to ete a magially wose edig A complex middlegameaises afte 9 ...00 10 00-0 a6.1o.�xd4 xd4 .d4 ib6

Agai cosistetly gtig fo cotolove d4, ad cotiuig te vacuumcleaig stategy tat e stated omove91.d

Te sapest move. Wite pefes to keepte quees o te boad ate ta

squeezig a sligtly bette edig Tus,afte 12000 xd4 13.xd4 e7 teedig is vey sligtly bette fo Wite.Glek as some expeiece i te edigafte 12.x6 x6 ad ow 130-00is possile, as ae 13.b5 e7 14.0-00 d7 15d4a4 16d3 c 17d2 ag8!18f f5 19.g3 g5 20e3 g4 211!5 22.3 ad Wite wo i te edEmeko-Glek, Gemay 2004/05 13a4 e7 14.a5 d7 15.d3 b8!16.0-0 c6 17 a4! a6 18 e2 �d719.a3 g5 20.g3 ag8 2 522.e3 4 ad tis time lack wo.

Fejzullau-Glek, zmi 2004Quite atual is 125 as afte

143



h h i Rd 3

d4 3d4 h ih hdd p h diq h Gih, Gi

, 3 7 4h4 ii p h iid, p hi ih h d44 h 3 h 7 d3d7 d i h h 7 3 h4! d Whi iFdGl, hi Ri

h3 h 3 dpyi h di y pi d izih , i diy p Whi1 c5

l p h y ii h i i 3 3 4 + <7 <d 7 14 ih y i hi, Wi Z 3 N 4 S7+ <d 17+ 7 <7 d7+ < 'l2-'l2

h hi A

pid 3 i ih pi h p di p i h i i y ! 7 1 3 1 + <h 4 d7 3 3 44 ih ii d ilP, i Oypid 1000 d7 14b1

A semi-usefu move in case of exh q i , hi i pd 1 h ii h Whi y h pi d h l h

h d Fh ihpWhi h d dq ,

44

h hd q d4 piip h ih h ih ih p 4 e

h Whi d h m d4, h y y piid h Whi hldpy h iid ly hih i h h h p d d e hi p hi p i y h h ihqdihp , hih i hy i y

i ii q h i iA d p h py ih dep i h KpiH , hih 4d4 6h4 h3 7 <b3 4 d4d Whi hd i dWhi i pi wit4h4 4 < 4 !7' 3 ih dei , Ai Hver, hd h pyd 414 000 15h4

Whi i i p h iideWhi pyd dy i KppKi,

ihi 1 1 < 164d4 7 'd4 4 h x1 h4 d7 1<1 d4 1H hd i 1h4 iv i

The Combat beg Good Luck!



Combt 28 V Hstert-Gek

ou are Back Your Move: I 5 Your core: 15d4 (7)

I5 �c6( I) I 55( I) I 56( I) I 5b8( I)

6e2 Your Move: I6 _Your core: 16e4 (3) I6a(I)

17el YourMove: I7 Your core: 17�a4 (7) I7 d3(2)

18cl YourMove: I8 . Your core: 18b8 (4) I8 f6(3) I8 b5(3)

19g3 Your Move: I9 Your core: 19c3+ (3) I9 c5( I)

0al Your Move: 20 _Your core: 20 d5 (4)

2d2 Your Move: 21 _Your core: 21 e3 (4)

2I c6() 2 Ic8( I) 2 If6( I) 2 If5( I)

22e4 Your Move: 22 _Your core: 22c6 (7) 22 d5(2)

23d6 Your Move: 23 Your core: 23xd6 (7) 23 xg2(3)

24exd6 Your Move: 2 . Your core 24 �xg2 (4)

Ad Bck wo scoreSO

Y Cmbat cre: Yur Cmbat Perfrmce:

15




Why did Gle play as he did?

15 ... d4

Exceent pay by Gek who takes advantage of the fact that White has negectedto play 'd4 mechanicay stopping thed-pawn A other natura moves( IS c6, IS hS, IS h6, I S b8)pae in signicance by comparison16e

The probem is that Back has a ead in de veopment (Whites bishop is sti on fwhich means that the rooks are not connected) when the position is opened after I6'xd4 c6 I7'e3 e4 (or

I7a4) I8d8+ (I8e 'xe3I9xe3 xc3+ 20bxc3 d+ 21b2hd8 is hardly different) I8 xd8I9'xb6 xc3+ 20bxc3 d + 2 Ib2axb6 with fantastic play for Back whocontrols the only open e, the rst rankand the main diagona16 e4

ushing White backwards, and better than I6 a4 which does give Back aitte something after I7b3 (I7 c3 dxc3I8xc3 xc3+ I9'xc3+ �c6)17 �c6 18xd4 d7 19c3 hd8 andBack wi take on c3 at some point to winback his pawn

Nothing concrete is promised by the pawnsacrice 16d3 17 cxd3 �c6 18 'e3

146

1e1

The ony move as I7'xd4?? oses t17 c6, and I7 'c I? to I7 1... �a4

Backs pieces jump out of their holes tattack Whites weakest spots Both min pieces and the d-pawn coordinate wderfuy something which is most evident from the tactica refutation 18h3n case of I7 d3 18xd3 ( I8cxd ) 18 bS White sti has 19d4 tstay in the game

The natural 17 c6 is met by 18when White is somewhat better, since trook performs both attacking and dfending duties18.c1

Highy reevant is the fact tat Whtcannot now (as compared to 17a4bring the h-rook into pay 18f2 winning an exchange, as 19 'xf2d3 20'xb6 dxc2+ mates Ceal17 �a4 was an exceent prophyactmove designed to attack c2, cear td-e, and quite impotanty to pevet18 h3f I8 d3 then simpy I8 b8 a

White is competey tied up t is too ealfor the direct 18 �bS 19xd4 d4



20d4 d4 (r 20 f 2e4g2 2 d8 22c3 22g2d4 23g7 d8 24a3 f4

257 2b5 ad Black as oig special <b8

useful propylacic mve efre akigctio Possible bu o as strog asleks move are 8 f6 ad 8 �b5g3

t was bes o ivolve e rook i te

game wit I9 J3c3+

e start of a ice pirouee o ur ekig io a veriale octopus o e3 (isteacles will be resposible for Witesquick demise No 9 g3!20g3 ad Black as los is advaagead is eve worse ow No early asgood as e e is I9 cS wic alsoavoids e kigts ecage0a1 d5

ackig f4 ad tereby gag atemp o complee e maoeuvre of ekig o e31d e3

Black ca als cage e move order wi 2 �c6 Less strog are 2 c82 f6 ad 2 f5e4

22�d3 �c6 23g (23e4 e424 �e4 c4+ ad ow 23 f6 oope sme les�c6

gai kig ad bisop perfrm woders ogeer Black is virually wiig

Comba 28Va HaaserGlek

Less pwerfl a e e is 22 d5Noig mc is gaied by 22 823�d3 d8 24e

3d6is loses but e aleraives are omuc beer Wie sould probably make do wi 23d3 we e loses aecage afer 23 f 24f �bSHere 23g5 fails o e same rick as ie game 23 �g2!

3 :d6

e correc move order Note at afer 23 �g2 24�g2 d6 Wite as25 c4! ad Black is clearly beer bu ocompleely wiig as i e game4exd6 �xg

e poi Black wis back te maerialwi ieres5g1

Everyig loses ow 2Sg2 c4 or 25�d3 � 26 d65 �x1 6c4

Or 26 gf c4 ad 26cf f(26 c4 27c 27f d66 �xc4 g xd6 8 e5

d Wite rew i e owel

47



Te Cess Combat imulato Round 3

obat 9

Dv-VajoBiel 2002

1.d4 6 .c4 e6 . b6 4.a

Deev opts fo te etosian Vaiation of te Queens ndian4... �a6

Te natual �b7 is also vey commonHoweve, �a6 is an attactive option lack wants to lue Wites pieces to infeio squaesn case of Sbd2 lack would ague tatte knigt is bette placed on c3 n caseof Se3 Wite cannot move isdaksquaed bisop outside te pawncain While Sb3 would not coodinatewit a3 (Wites pawn stuctue wouldbe somewat weakened)5.c

otecting te pawn wit te queen alsoas its disadvantages Te queen may beexposed on te c-le, bu oe impo

tantly pawn d lacks some potection5... c5

lack immediately tagets d Entiey playabe is S �b7 so lack as lost aove easoning tat te queen is betteplaced on d I tan on c2 he elevance of tis becomes clea afte 63 cS! 7ecxd 8xd and tis is te main ine6.d5

Aiming fo a stuctue tat is caacteistic of te enoni Afte 6e cxd Witemay sac a pawn wit 7 eS o simply takeback wit 7xd6...exd5 7.cxd5 g6

Tis is stonge tan 7 b7 8e e7

9�d3 xdS 000 White has excellentcompensation fo te pawn

8

8.�4

Te most common continuation is 8c�g7 9 g3 wit a enoni type of position

8... d6 9.c �g7 10.a4+

Te beginning of a faily foced liquidation into an ending tat is maginallbette fo Wite10... d7 11.�xd6

This is te point of Wites concept11 ... xa4 1.xa4 xd5

Hee we ave aived at te maginally bette ending we just mentioned Witas a mino lead in developent Cayou convet tis small plus?

Th Combat bgs Good Luck!



o e Wte

You coe:

3 e7

You coe:

1 �xf1

You coe:

5 bc6

You coe:

6 �xc3

You coe:

7 d8You coe:

18 xd1+

You coe:

19 xe5

You coe:

20 f6

You coe

You coe:

22 c8

You coe:

Combat 29DeevVallejo

You Move: 13 _13000 (5) 13e4(S)

YouMove: 14. 14e4 (5)

YouMove: IS 15 hxfl ( 1)

You Move: 16. 16c3 (8)

YouMove: 1 17bxc3 (1)

YouMove: 18.18e5 (8) 18�c()

You Move: 19. 19d1 (1)

You Move: 20. 20xe5 (1)

You Move: 21 21d7 (7) 21c4(2) 21.g4(3)

You Move: 22. 22d6 (5) 22eS(1)

You Move: 23. 23c6 (3)

149



The Chess Combat imuato Round 3

23 d8 You Move : 24 You oe : 24e5(8) 24 2 ( 2)

24 You Move : 2 5 You oe : 25f6(3) 2S 7 ( 1 )

25e7 You Move: 26

You oe: 26c7(1)

26e6 You Move: 2 7 _You oe : 27f4 (8) 27 xa7(2)

27 h6 You Move: 2 8 _You oe : 28a7(1)

28

g5 You Move: 2 9

You oe : 29h5(8) 29 g 3 ( 5 )

29 g6 You Move: 3 0 _You oe: 30g7+ (7) 30 g3 (4 )

30d5 You Move: 3 1 You oe: 31e6(7) 3 xg5 (2)

31d6 You Move: 3 2 You oe: 32g4(9)

32 x5+(2) 32 xg5(2) 32 b7(5)

32 gxf4 You Move: 33 _You oe : 33gx (1)

33£ You Move : 3 4 . _You oe: 34g6 (1)

S O



Combat 2 9 Deev-Vaejo

34 You Move 3 5 You oe: 35 (1)

nd Bak esigned ate 3 5 g8 36e7

�score:IOO

Yur Cmba Scr: Yur Cmba Prrmanc:

Why Dv pay as h

13.000

Tansposition is 1 3 e4 x 1 4 e7 and now 1 5 0 00 13 ... e7 1.e �xf1 15.hxf1 bc6

16.c3

The knight ooked bad on the edge o theboad16 ... �xc3

Removing the knight beoe it an jumpto b5 White's stutue is weakened aswe neio was 1 6 d8 17 b5 d71 8 �4 xd + 1 9xd 0- 0 2 0 d7 andWhite had a huge endgame pus inKaspaovGigoi, Bugojno 1 9 8 2 17.bxc3 8

t makes sense to pae a ook on the opende neio is 1 7 0-0-0 due to1 8 g 5 Payabe though is 1 7 0-0 ashappened o exampe in AtaikFedoowi, an Faniso 20 02

18.�e5 eve move, White wants to povoke1 8 0-0, whih woud be met by the poweu 1 9�6 so good is 1 8 7 d7( 1 8 xd+ 19 xd 6 20 e5 xe52 1 xe5 8 was Deev-Yemein, Mosow20 02 ) 1 9 �4 6 20 d7 xd7 2 1 d +8 2 2 d6 8 wth about equa hanesin Bowne-Timman, Las Pamas 1 982

18 ... x1+ 19. x1 xe5 20.xe5

Theatening 2 1 d7 , so that Bak's epyis vituay oed20...f6 21.7

Poweu, but it is neessay to auatethe onsequenes oet Deev musthave spotted 24e5 ! hee aeady Nothingspeia is 2 1 4 8 oowed by e7and Bak is ne The same goes o2 g4 ate 2 1 8 (2 1 0-0 2 2 d7

2 5 22 6+ £7 2 3 e5) 22 d6g8 and stangey enough White annotpot om his tempoay ativit Bakwi hase bak White's piees with e7 and an eventua h5 Note that2 3 6 ? ? woud be a gave mistake ate2 3 d7 and the ook is tapped21...f7 22 . 6

Nothing muh is gained by 22e5 xe5

5



The Chess Combat imulator Roun 3

2 3 .xe5 + 622... 8

But not 2 2 . .S 2 3 .eS .

23.White loses his knight ater 23.6+e7 . Blak woul be better aer 2 3 3e623 ... 8

This is preerable to 23 . S 24 .exS (or24 eS) 24. . gxS 2S eS + .2.5

The move you really ough to have seen inavane, or 24.2 x7 2S.x8 is notbeter or White, an 24x6 e7 losesthe ight again, as oes 24 b8 e7 2 ... 5

None o the Valleo's other options issronger: 24 . . .x7 2Se6+ e726 ex7 x7 27 .x6 , or 24 . xeS2 S xeS + e7 (2S . g8 2 6.7 wihan enormous ege the threa is 6 anx8 ollowe by e7 +) 2 6 .4 with asigniant plus25.

Again well-playe by Dreev 2Se6+then 2 S e7 ollowe by . .6 an

White will lose his epawn Blak has exellent ounterplay ater 2S.7 e626 . 4 gS 2 7 .g3 gx4 2 8 .gx4 x7(28 . .e7 29.6 g6 30.hS)2 9 .x8 3.25... 7 2.7 27.

Consoliating his position while thepawns on a an h7 are still hanging.2 7 xa7 8 2 8 .xh7 xeS an herethe win is tehnially rather iult.Blak's ative king ompensates the pawnin a sample line like 297+ 630 .b8 e8 3 .7 + e6 27 ...

Not 27 . . . gS 28xh7 gx4 29.g5+

xeS 3 0 7 + .28.a7 g5

S 2

Beter rawing hanes were oere 2 8 .S 29.xS xS 30b7 g3xb6 gx4.

2.5Preventing ...S an thereore superito 29 g3 gx4 3 0 gx4 S ( 30 . .d3)an now you must n hS ! ater alFor example, 3 . . .x3 3 2 .g 7+ 3 3 . e 6 .2... g

Neither 29 . gx4 30g7+, r

29 . .S 3 0 .g7 mate30.g7+

Better than 30 g3 gx4 3 gx4 aWhite no longer has g4 as in the game30... 5 3.

.e6 3 .xgS hxgS 3 2 e 6 is a weaker ion3... 32.g

A lovely move that brings White onete passe pawns Now we see hDreev i not take on gS, or allo30g3 an gx4 White is omletlwinning nowThe alternaives at this stage er3 2 x5 + , 3 2xg5 , an 3 2. b7 32... g

r 32 . . .xg4 3 3 S 33.g5 3

This is utter espair, but 33 . . .e7 34also loses on the spot

3.g 2 35.7 g8 3.7 Blak resigne



obat 0

nk-SokolovWijk Zee 2005

1. 5 3 3 . b5 a . a

5.0-0 7 . b5 7 . b3 8.3

0-0 .3 a5 O .2 5 11.

Reesing he ensin in he enre is n

igry, here re mny plyle mves(mng hem he slue min ine wih . 7 ) nee, he igrmme psiin elw is en rehe vi he mverer . 7 1 2 .2 x4 1 3 .x47 1 45 8 .12. �b7

Frm erin perspeive his is Blk'sms ive mve. Frm 7 he ishpwill k e4 n prepre .6-5 Mrever, he -e is lere r nree in er . . 8 n . 7 he ishpn 2 is ke Bk ls pns ex4 when he wek 6 -pwn is en mpense y ive piee ply. There is n

imprn wnsie he ex, hwever.Flwing Krmnik's nex mve heishp is immilie while heS-knigh remins u he gme (mmn prem in he Chigrin) .3.5 :

niiing ive unerply ng he-e, u eving he ishp pssivelype r sme ime. Fr h resnklv h pye 1 3 �8 ereWhie h sligh ege inHnke-klv, Amserm 2002, er14 3 7 S .�2 8 16 .2 g61 7 hS 1 8 g3 xg3 19xg31.b2

The ms gil mve. mnik srs hewell-knwn mneuvre 1 -2 - -g3

Cm 3 0 Krmnik-klv

r e3 Als nsisen is 1 4 3 resrihe Chigrin knigh n he rim Aer1 4 . .7 S 3 hS w gmes

klv re ineres 1 6 .4 4 1 7 �2 S 1 8 . x4 4 9 3 x3 wih shrp ply inGrishuk-kv, Pikvsky 2 004 1 6 2 4 1 7 .�x4 ex4 1 8 .26 1 9 . 6 2 0 .e2 4 2 1 .e5 xeS22xe5 8 23.3 xeS 24xe5xS 2S . x6 xeS 26 xe5 �x6

2 7 xS 8 wih n equl ening.hirv-klv, rjev 2 004 B is 1 44 7 S 3 4 1 6 .�e34 1 7 .e2 xe3 1 8xe3 hS 1 9 .g37 20 .h2 S 2 1 .ex5 6 n Blkws eer in Ne-klv, Amserm2004 ...7

Up uni nw Krmnik wil n hve eensurprise y klv's pening hie n previus gme he Duh grnmserwen r 1 4. . .7 S . 7 1 6 . 14 1 7 .g3 g6 1 8 .3 6 9 �h6e8 20 3 2 .2 2 2 . 1e7 2 3 . �g7 n he gme ene

in rw er ng le (levelkv, Amseram 2004). Nw i is up yu. Cn yu nver Whie's ypilpnish pening pus jus as Krmnikes

The Cmbat beg.Gd Lck

1 5 3



The Chess Combat imuato Round 3

o e Whte You Move: 1 5

You oe: 15.3 (3) 1 5 � b 1 ( 2 )

15 ... 7 You Move: 1 6

You oe : 16.fl(3)

16 ...c5 You Move: 1 7

You oe : 17.b3(7) 1 7 g 3 ( 2 )

17 ... You Move: 1 8

You oe: 18.ex (4) 1 8 g 3 ( 2 ) 1 8 a3 (2)

18 ... £6 You Move: 1 9

You oe : 19.e4 (4) 1 9b ( ) 1 9 e2(2)

19 .. You Move: 20 You oe: 20.g3(4) 2 0 d 2 ( 1 )

20 ... xe4 You Move: 2 1

You oe : 21.xe4(1)

21 .. .x5 You Move : 2 2

You oe: 22.2(8) 22 �a3(4)

22 ... c6 You Move : 2 3

You oe : 23.g5(7) 23 x6+(1 )

23 ...b4 You Move: 24

You oe : 24.xf6 (3)

24 ... gxf6 You Move: 2 5

You oe : 25.x6(4)

25 .. .x1 You Move: 2 6

You oe : 26.ex1 (2)

1 54



Combat 3 0 amnik -okoov

•••x You Move 2 7 You oe 27.gx (1)

.. c You Move 2 8 _You oe 8.a4 (8) 28h2(S)

8 ..b You Move 29 You oe 29.axb5 (1)

9 ...axb5 You Move 3 0

You oe 0.<h2(9)

... <g You Move 3 1 _You oe 1. g1 (4) 3 1 a7 + (4)

0 ... <h6 You Move 3 2

You oe 2.g4 () 3 2 a7 (S )

1 ... c You Move 3 3 You oe .ag (5) 3 3 h4+ (2 )

2 ... <hS You Move 34 You oe 4. g7(4)

... h6 You Move 3 S _You oe S.e4()

4 ... x You Move 3 6 You oe 6.1g4 ()

36 g6(6) 36 7g4( 1 ) 36 g3+(1 )

Bak esigned �mscore:100

Y Cmba Scr: Y Cmba Prrmanc:

S S



The Chess Combt imuto Roun 3

Why K ay as h

5.�3

ighty moe tive thn 1 S b 1 whihwou tnspose to oevel-okoov(see the omment t move 1 4) te1 . . 1 6 45 ...7

1 S . 4 n now nothing muh isgine with 1 6 .x4 te 1 6 bx41 3 , Mikhhishin-Moh, Mibo2 00 3 . tonge is 1 6 . olowe by b3n g3 ..

Cetiny not 1 6. b3 ?? 3 .

. t5This is ess ommon th the shp 1 6 . S1 .g 3 4 1 8 .S n now White ginsn ege te 1 8 . . �8 (the exhge sie 18 .. . ?! is sometimes pyehee) 1 9. b3 g6 20 .h6+ g 2 g4sine Bk's mino piees e ineioype. By the wy, the ogi 1 6 . . .4nnot sove the pobems eithe, o, te1 b3 b6 1 8g3 g6 1 9 .h6 e820 .�2 S 2 1 . b8 22 .2 23h2 6 24.g4 b 2S.h6+g 263 White hs ngeous ttk. m-Hennings , Kpenbeg 1 90 .7.b3

nie move White is pepe to give uphis ttking' bishop so tht Bk's

1 6

knight wi emin out o bouns on a

The text is stonge thn 1 g3 .

7 ... 5

isky pwn sie, but wht ese?okolov oety sives o otepy

must emte s bishop somehow. Notgoo ws 1 x3 1 8 .x3 now: 1 8 2 1 9 .x2 ( 1 9 2 is sonot b) 1 9 . 2 2 0 e3 8 2 .ollowe by 2 2 .3 o 2 2 .2 wins oWhite 1 8 S 1 9 exS 6 20e4 2 (oese White onsoites with 2 1 e3)

2 1 x2 2 22 .e3 8 2 3 .�2 424h2 �3 2Sh n White is apwn up in supeio position .8.5

The ony move to use Bk ny woies neio to the text e 1 8 .g3 an1 8 .3 8 ... �

The move 1 8 . . .xS gives White toomny possibiities Best is: 1 9 .e2 ! �x20x 6 2 1 .e3 h8 2 2 .S 823e3 �6 241 with huge pus. x-Tseshkovsky, Wijk n ee 1 989 , Batie 24 . . e4, but White's ege eminte 2S.�xe4 xe4 26�b6 x

2x8 x1 28 �x6 gx6 29 .ex .�



Boking he e-pawn This is ar beerhan 9 b ?! �xd5 2 0 .e2 �e4 and1 9e2 ! 9 e4 20d4 �xd4

2 .xd4 axb3 2 2 .axb3 xb3 2 3 .b2xa 1 24 xa xd5 2 5 xa6 is someha beer or Whie) panning o anser 2 0 b4 wih 20 . e419 7

Bak has no ompensaion or he pawnae 9 xe4 20 .xe4 2 .e3 20.g3

Less arae is 20 . d2 bease o20 . . .xd5 20 xe4 2 xe4 woldanspose o he game). Whie has onsoidaed his game aer 20g3 andheaens o improve his posiion sil rher wih 2 .d2 or 2 .�a3 okoovhereore regains he pawn.20... 2 . 5 22.�2

The sar o an aeshei manoevreWhie old pay or a smal and sae psih 22�a3 Howeer aer 22 xd 23 axd 1 xe4 24. xe4 b7 Whieus rs proe his seond rank whenBak shod have no problemsKramnik's move is sharper Whie ends p

i roble aer 2 2 .xd6 e4 ! .22 ...

Whie wold win pawn e5 as wel aer22 . . .�d8 2 3 �b4 xd 1 24 axd �xe425 .e4 x5 26 .�xd623.�g5

Comba 3 0 Kramnik-okoov

The poin he qeen on d5 is nproeed de o he inerpoaion o 2 2 .�d26. No 2 3 x6 + gx6 24 .h6 xd

2 5 .axd d8 and Bak is beer !23 .. b

No 2 3 d 24. axd 1 and d6 drops2.� g 25.

The orre move order Whie woldlose o orse aer 2 5 .xd5 + ? ! �xd526 xd6? ? d825. i

Blak's emporary iniiaive ends aer2 5 d8 2 6 xb7 xb7 2 7 e2 d32 8 .e4 g7 2 9 e 3 4 30 .e d43 .6 A osing blnder is 25 2? ?26x82.

Aer 26 .axd pawn a2 wold hang.2...�3 27.g3 3

okolov has deended we and appearso have reed his game sessly.Whie's exra pawn is par o some insignian ripled pawns. Besides boh herook on 3 and he knigh on b4 are veryaive Kramnik now demonsraes qierilianly ha Whie is beer de o he

vnerable posiion o Bak's king !28.a

A grea way o play or a win Wih hesame mae in mind as in he game Whieod aso ry 28h2!?. For insane28 x3 29d2 wih he hrea o3 0 g + h8 3 +) n ase o29 . . .d3 here wod olow 30.g2 e43 .xe4 e5 3 2 d6 x5 3 3 xa6However on move 2 9 Bak has 29 d83 0g + 8 a hi s disposa.28.. b3

n ime robe okoov goes wrong. Theaenaive 28 . . . x is sronger o aer29 .axb5 axb5 30 g2 xb3 3 h2! ?

Bak has managed o remove he3-pawn rom he board ompared o

5 7




the game) White has a poweru matingattak here as we though For exampe,3 1 <g7 (3 1 <h8 32g hS

33 7 ) 3 2 g + <h6 33 g4Worse is 28 bxa4 29a4 xb330e4 and White is better due to thethreat o 3 d62.ab5 ab5 30.2

This stuy-ike move is the point oKramnik's pay uddeny, Bak's king isin grave danger30... g7

There is nothing better For exampe:3 0 <h8 3 1 g hS 32 a7 and wins;3 0 3 ? 3 1 g + <h8 3 7 + x7

33a8+ and mate wi oow; 30 hS3 1 g + <h8 3 2 a7 x3 3 3 gg7winning3.g+

Aso good is 3 1 a7 + <h6 3 2 g andwins, or instane, 32 x3 33gg7h8 34g43...

r 3 1 <h8 3 2 + winning32.g

Here 3 2 a7 wou aso win

1 5 8

32 ...

r 32 d3 33e4 4 34a7 andwns there is no good deene against

3 S h4+ h 36 xh5 + <xhS 3 7 xh7mate33.ag

onger 33 h4+ <g 347 33... 5

Tougher was 3 3 b4 34 e4 <hS 3.g7

Not 34 e4 d4 !

3 ... r 34 <h6 3S 7 + x 3 6 x7 35.

Cosing the mating net35 ... 3 3. g

And ater this aurate move okoov rsigned n repy to 36g4, 36 d4woud be insuient due to 3 7 g3xg3 38xg3 xS 39h4+ xh440 g4 matet was not too ate to go wrong Aso winning is 3 6 g6 , but not 3 67g4? d43 7 g 3 + xg 3 and Bak an endLikewise, 36g3+? xg3 37xg3 d4is better or White, but sti a ong warom the win



Y OUR ROUND 3PERFORMANCE

To keep track of your results, ll out this scorecd.

N Yur Sre Yur Perfrne

Comt

Comt

Comt

Comt

Comt

Com6

Comt

Comt

Comt

Comt0

Your Average Combat Performace i Roud

Good luck in Round

1 5 9




onbat 1

EuweCa pablca Hiversum AVRO 938

ne of the strongest tournaments in thehistory of chess was the AVR tournament of 1 9 3 8 . The tornament was adouble roundrobin with eight partici

pants. Apart from reigning World Champion Alekhine, two former World Champions took part Capablanca and Euwe as well as the future World ChampionBotvinnik. The four remaining participants were all potential challengers to tethrone: Flohr, Fine, Reshevsky and Keres.

The tournament ended in resoundingvictory for Fine and Keres (both 8 ' oto f 1 4 ) n the nal round Euwe beat Capablancain a ne positional game.. 2. 3.3 b .g3 b 7

The alternative here is Nimzowitsch's4 a6 which became highly popular in

later years5.�g2 � 7 .0-0 0-0 7.3

7 ... 5

n the classical main line of the Queen'sndian Black normally plays 7 . . .e4.

Black then tries to trade pieces withoutxing his pawn strcture

1 60

8.5

This is an excellent response The actiknight move frees the anchetto bish

and pts pressure on the centre 8...

This manoeuvre is now weaker than the previous move. Also bad a8 bd7 9 cxd5 exdS 1 O .a4 hBlack's best option is an ignominious rtreat with 1 0 . . b8 . The rigid 8 . c6 possible , but best is 8 . . a6 to prepar

. . .c Can you, j ust like Euwe, demonstrate thathe combination of 7 . d5 and 8 . . .e4 iillfonded?

The Combat begs. Good Lck



o are Wte

Your core

9 exd5

Your core

10 ... dxe4

Your core

11

Your core

12 ...a6

Your core

13

d5Your core

14 ...xc6

Your core

15c6

Your core

16f6

Your core

17xc6

Your core

18d6

Your core

19e8

Your core

Combat 3 EuweCaablanca

Yourove 9. 9.cxd5(6) 9 .xe4(3) 9 .c()

Yourove O . 10.xe4(6) O .c() O .a4() O b3()

Yourove . 11.c2(8) f4 ( ) .e3 ( 3 )

Yourove . 12.e (5) g 4 ( 5 ) f4( ) ( )

Yourove 3 . _13.acl(5) 3 . a 3 ( ) 3 . c 6 ( )

Yourove 4

14.c6(6) 4 f 3 ( ) 4 a 3 ( )

Yourove 5 _15.xc6(1)

Yourove 6 . _16c6(1)

Yourove 7 . _17.fcl(5) 7 xf6 (4)

Yourove 8 18xc6(1)

Yourove 9 19.a3(5)

Yourove 0.

20 .f4(8) 0 .b4()

6



The Chess Combat imulator ound 4

20 ... xf4

Your core :

Your core :

22 ... e

Your core :

2 ... b5

Your core :

24 ... c

Your core :

25 ... gYour core :

2 ... e4

Your core :

27 ... bxa4

Your core :

28 .. .f

Your core :

29 ... c5

Your core :

0 ... cxd4

Your core :

I ... dxe

Your core :

1 6

Your Move: 1 . 21.gxf4(I)

Yo ur Move : . 22.e (5) .b4()

Your Move: 3 . 2 .c4 () 3 c3( ) 3 c( ) 3 c ( )

Your Move : 4. _ 24.c ( 4) 4 . ( 1 )

Your Move: 5 25. () S a4(3) S � ( )

Your Move: 6 ._

2.e4(I)

Your Move: 7 . 27.a4() 7 .� ( 3 ) 7 .�h3( 1 )

Your Move: 8 28.c4( ) 8 a3(3 )

Your Move: 9. 29.xa4(I)

Your Move: 3 0 . _0.fl( ) 30 .d5 ( 3 )

Your Move: 3 1 . 1.a() 3xa6()

Your Move: 3 . _

2.xe (I) 3 .�c4( 1 )




.

Again the strongest move. Black answers14.f3 with 14 gS ! forcing 1 S .f4,

when the anchetto bishop is still notready to take part in the battle ittle isgained too by 1 4 a3 cS 1 S1 e6 While 1 4 fd 1 merely invites 14 xa ... � 5

White is better after 1 S xa 16 .a1b4 1 7 xc7 . Also worthy of attention in reply to 1 S . . .xa is 1 6 dS .

. 7.White has nothing aer 1 7 .xf6 �xf61 8 f3 exf3 1 9 .xf3 e8 owever, instead of 1 8 f3 White can break with1 8 . g4 ? and White is better due to hispair of bishops ou ought to have seen1 8 g4 to claim the four points allotted to1 7 .f6 .7 ... 8. � .a3 8

n this way Capablanca prevents g4 andf3 Thus, Black's disadvantage stays withinlimits.20.�

Elimiatin a strong defender case of0 b4 Black would regroup his badly-posi

tioned ight w 0 . b8 1 c d7.20... �

Also not bad was 0 b8 1 c4 �xf4.gxf4 c6 and White is only slightlybetter.2.g

1 64

2...7

t is only here that Capablanca really goeswrong Correct was . e7 ! planning

. . . b8 as indicated by Euwe.22.3

The right response The bishop might bemanoeuvred to f in the future Weaker is .b4 e6 ( . . e7) 3 c1 c6 4 e3c7 Bad is .f3 e3 .22... 23.

Threatening to continue with 4 a4 and

thus provoking a further weakness f yourealized that White should not traderooks ( 3 c3 , 3 .c and 3 .c 1 ) yougain points.23 ...b5 23

4 .c 1 .2 ..

lightly stronger was 4 . . .g6.25.3

Now Black will be saddled with a weapawn on e4 Alternatives are S.a4, andS .�f g6+ 6 .h1 c7 (or 6 . .7 7 .a4 White is somewhat better) 7 .cSf6

25...g

o that after 6.fxe4 fxe4 at least 7 fS isprevented The alternatives are S . . .exf3 6xf3 b8 7 .dS g6+ 8 cxdS 9 .�h5; S c7 6 fxe4 fxe4 7 fS , and

S .b4 the best chance 6 .b3(6.axb4 ex 7 .�xf3 xb4) 6 . .cS



7 fxe4 cxd4 8 exd4 fxe42 27a

Aernaively, here is 7 f and 7 h3

d6 8 c8 ( 8 g e6) 8 b827 ba

There is no salvaion 7 c7 8axb5xbS 9c5 and he hrea is dS Aer 7 b4 8b3 f6 9f Black alsoloses he bpaw28

Equally good is 8a3 cS (8 f6

9 xa4 is he game) 9 d5 28

r 8 c7 9 xa4 a6 3 0 f e73 1 xa6 2a 5 30�

Also very powerfl is 30d5 B no30 dxc5 xcS 3 1 xa7 (3 1 c4 d3 )3 1 b6 3 c7 e6 wih excelledrawing chances30

ere 3 0 b4 3 1 dxc5 also loses3a

The cleares win owever, Whie alsowins by aking wih he bishop A sampleline rns 3 I xa6 dxe3 3 b b6

Comba 3 1 EweCapablanca

3 3 xe4 xb 34 a6+ b6 3 S xb6+axb6 3 6 f

3 3

r 3 1 xa6 3 xa6 dxe3 3 3 c8 32 33�3

This preves fS Ye, 33 c4+ wllalso win 3 3 f5 34 g8 xf4 (34 h635 aS 36f xf4 37 xg6)3S xh7 3 6 f gS 3 7 b4Now Whie wins in elemenary fashioThere followed33 5 3 352 b3

3� b2 37�g8 a5 38�7 a

3 g

Black resigned

1 6 5




onbat 2

Tiviakov-KulaotGausda 005

. 5 2.3

The Alapin Variation suits ergeyTiviakov's style perfectly. e is a master inexploiting the type of small advantage that

White may obtain in the c3 icilian.2 .. 35 d5 .3 5�

b .�b3 d5

This natural move is most common, butBlack has an interesting alternative in thesharp 6 . c4 7 .�c c7 8 .e g S ! ?.7.d d 8a3

To gain active play following bS Thenatural 80-0 gave Black no worries after8 . . �e6 9a3 �xb3 1 0 .axb3 d3 !1 1 .c ! ? d8 1 .xd3 xd3 equal inTiviakov-hang Pengxiang, Bad Wrishofen 0 0 5 8 �

n the st round of the same tonament

agnus Carlsen had played 8 . e6 and soonended up in trouble after 9.d4 �e7?!(9 . . a6) O .bS d8? ( 10 . . b8) .dxcS cS 1 .xd8+ xd8 1 3 �f4a6 4Jd + �d7 ? ! and White won afterthe neat manoeuvre 1 S .c7 ! c8 1 6 .g S !in Tiviakov-Carlsen, Gausdal 0 0 5 .d �b3

Black can also take immediately on d4, after 9 . .cxd4 O .bS d7 bxd4�xb3 1 .xb3 xd4 1 3 xd4 White'sposition is slightly preferable with hispawn majority on the queenside and hiscentralized knight. This is however howKulaots played in later (rapid) game

1 3 . . . e6 1 4.0 -0 �cS S �e3 c81 6 ad xd4 1 7 .xd4 c6 1 8 .fd

1 66

with a considerable advantage in RauiKulaots, Liepaja 0 06 0.b3 d .b5 b8

t simpler to play 1 1 . . d7 we1 .bxd4 xd4 1 3 .xd4 transpose ta previous note (see 9 . . cxd4 instead 9 �xb3) 2.g3

A surprising choice considering the atthat the safe 1 .bxd4 xd4 1 3 .xdpromises White a little something a

would be entirely in keeping witTiviakov's style. Perhaps he was inuenceby the way this tournament had deveoped After 8 rounds he was leading epack with an outstanding 7 out of 8 score.2... d8

Prophylaxis Black moves her majet

before she is molested by f4 oweverhe should have preferred either of temore principal (and complex) optio1 . .dxc3 and 1 . . .d3 ! ? The main idea 1 .g 3 is shown after 1 . . . e6? 1 3 .�f4 eS1 4.xeS ! xeS S cxd4 when White agained a pawn for nothing.3� 8

Black defends against the elementarthreat of 1 4.c7 +. t's your move noAre you able to exploit White's edge idevelopment?

The Combat begs. Good Lck



Combat 3 2 TiviakovKulaots

You are Whte Your Move: 1 4.

Your core : 14.0-00

14.bxd4, 14.xd4, 14. d , 1 4 . 00 ( 1 )

14 .d Your Move: 1 5 .

Your core : 15.d4() 1 5 . he (3) 1 5 .bxd4(3)

15d4 Your Move 1 6 .

Your core 1.xd4( )

1xb Your Move 1 7

Your core : 17.ab ( )

17 e Your Move: 1 8

Your core : 18 he1 18b5(4) 18 .c2(2)

18c Your Move: 1 9 .

Your core : 19.b5() 1 9 .5 (2 ) 1 9 c2 ( 1 )

19a Your Move : 2 0 .

Your core : 20.d+ (2) 2 0 c 7+ ( 1 )

20d Your Move 2 1 .

Your core : 21.xd( ) 2 I . x d 6 ( 1 )

21. c Your Move 2 2 .

Your core : n . xc(5) 22 . ed (2)

n ... bxc Your Move 2 3 .

Your core : 2 .e (10) 23 .c2(2 ) 23 . d ( I ) 23 . c4 (2 )

2 Your Move: 24

Your core : 24 e4(9) 24 c2(2)

Your Move: 2 5 .

1 6 7




Your core :

25d7

Your core :

26 f6

Your core :

27b8

Your core :

28 xb

Your core :

Your core :

0 c5

Your core :

1. c4

Your core :

2e5

Your core :

Your core :

And Black resigned

Yur Cmba Scr:

1 68

25b4(4)

Your Move: 26

26.b7( )

Your Move: 2 7

27.d4( )

Your Move: 2 8

28.a7 (4)

Your Move: 2 9

29.c5+ (6)

Your Move: 3 0

0.b4(4)

Your Move : 3 1

1.c2( )

Your Move: 3 2

2.xa6 (2)

Your Move: 3 3

.d6+ (4) 33e6(3)

Your Move : 3 4

4.d4(4)

�Uscore:lOO

Yur Cmba Prrmc:



Comba 3 TiviakovKlaos

Why Tvv ay as h

.0-0-0

This is he bes move. Whie is almosflly mobilized and he will win back hepawn anyway. Black i s in danger of beingrn over and is herefore forced o exchange qeens now. There are a nmberof lesser alernaives: 1.bxd,1.fxd4, 14.d d and 100a. . i5

Too dangeros is 1 . . .d3 1 .he wihhe big hrea of 1 6 .d6 + . Also bad is1 . . . e6 1.fx and now . . .d is

me by he winning 1 6 .f5

perior o .he xf3 1 6 .d 6+d7 1 7 .x which is less good following 1 7 . . d wih complicaed play (heknigh will be sck on h8 ) is illogicalo ake on d wih he acive bknigh:1 .bxd4 xb3 1 6 .axb3 d or1 6 . . .e6 .5... .

No good is 1 6. xd5 ?! xd 1 7 .d4xf4, or 1 6 . . e+ 1 7 .d xd1 8 .xe xf4+ 1 9 gxf4 a6 . A bad blnder wold be 1 6 .xd4?? xh 1 + ... b3 7.ab3

Whie is clearly beer in his ending. esill has a considerable edge in develop

men, and Black's qeenside is very vl

nerable. 1 7 xb3 ?! wihdraws he knighfrom is cenralized spo.7 ...

8.

This is sronger han 1 8 .b a619.c7+ e7 0.he f6! and Blackshold draw afer . e3 xc7 . xb6c6 3 . d4+ g 6 . Alernaively,1 8 c is me by 1 8 . . .d.8... 5

Developing a bishop ha he will have oexchange soon. Black also experiencesproblems afer 1 8 . . . d7 1 9 .b! ? a6

0 .c7 + ! ? , or 0 .d6+ .An imporan idea behind Tiviakov's 1 8 hmove was ha 1 8 . .d? is now forbidden de o 1 9 .xe6! fxe6 0 .xd5 b5

ere 19 .f (19 .c 00) 19 . . . 000 .d6 xd6 .xd6 fd8 is nohingspecial.. a

Now 19 . . . 00 is me by 0.d6! xd6(0 . .fe8 .xc5 xc .d6 b8 3 .xb7 !) . xd6 which wins a pawn.For example: 1 . . .xa7 a3 .xb6 a+ 4 .d d8+ .exa7 6.d and he rook ending

shold win.20

1 69




Not entirely stupid is 0 .c7 + e(stronger is 0 . .f8) 1 b4 �xb4( . . �x e) Je �cS 3 b4

20... � 2This forces Black to compromise hisstructure and is therefore better than �xd6 .2..

f 1 . . .d7 then .ed 1 cS 3 . b6and Black has nothing better than to play 3 . . c6 which is even worse than in the

game.22

Now Black ends up with two isolatedpawns on the queenside Given time,however, (say d7 and a8) this won'tbring anything. o, White must actquickly (still using his lead in development) ed1 promises nothing after . d6 or . .d5 3 . xc6 bxc6.22... b

23.�5

This is the most dicult move in thegame, and it is absolutely crucial to demonstrate White's advantage. The point isthat White can only exploit Black's weakpawns as long as Black oes not succeedin bringing over both his king and hisrook to the queenside.The text binds either the king or the rook

to the defence of g7 Thus, gainingenough time to attack the weak pawns n

1 7 0

case of 3 .c Black just plays 3 . . 7and now 4 .a 1 can be met by 4 . .a8Nothing is also gained by 3 .d 1 dS r

3 . c4e7 23 ... g8

3 . 0-0 was perhaps the lesser evi, butwith Black's king so far away from tbattleeld White shoud have a nearwinning advantage 2

The start of a beautiful manoeuvr

(e4b4b7). Employing the rook athe fourth rank is stronger than 4.c2e ! ? ( 4. . d7 S . d 1 + c86d6) S.a1 when Black can stilgrovel with S . . .d7 ! (S . a8 6.�xg7) 6. �d4 cS 7 �e3 a8.2 ... 7

r 4 . d7 S.d6 f6 6b4 d7 7 .�eS and wins25.b 7 2.b7

White has succeeded in penetrating teseventh rank2 ... 27.�

7�c7 can be met by 7 a8. Notethat 7 �f4 eS 8 �e3 a8 brings nothing special27 .. b8

Best was 7 . . . e5 8 .c5+! (8 .�e3a8) 8 . .e6 9�a3 b8 307b6 3 1 c an Tiviakov indicates that

White will continue with b4-a5 to wia pawn. n case of 3 1 . aS there follows



3.a7 bS 33.c4. Whie dominaes afer boh 7 . . .a8 8cS+ d8 9.d6and 7 . . .\d6 8 a7

28.a7

Naurally Whie does no exchange hisacive rook for Black's passive one. Blacknow loses he apawn as he canno keephe maerial balance wih his nex move28b3 2�5+ 8 30.�b

Puing he inrepid rook behind bars

Comba 3 TiviakovKulaos

30 5 3.2 32a 5

3 . e5 33 c6 also loses33.+

Also good is he simple 33.e6 c734.e7+ \c6 3Sg7 and Black iscompleely los33... 7 3.

And Black resigned There is no sensibleway o mee he hrea of 3S.f4 followedby 3 6c4.

1 7 1




onbat

Ibra govTateLas Vegas 2005

. 5 2.5 5

Black aims to setup the Benoni Wall Withpas on cS, d6 and eS he is going toerect a daksquaed wal in the centre

With the centre closed he hopes to gaincounterplay on the anks by means of fSand bS is usual strategy inclues theexchange of the darksquared bishops3.3

White is holding back his cpaw This hasthe avantage of keeping open the diago

nal f a6 for the lightsquared bishop adthe square c4 for a knight That is why ifyou intend to play the Benoni Wal itmight be a better idea to adopt the moveorder d4 f6 c4 cS 3 d5 eS 4c3 d6S e4 (though in that case Black canot playthe pla with e gS as in the game) 3 ... . �7

ere we are, Black plays the bishopmoveto exchange the darksquared bishops tokeep rm control over the dark squaresowever, such a strategically ambitiousplan almost guarantees Black a dicultlife (it costs valuable time) White hasseveral ways to achieve a satisfactory position Thus, after S�e gS 6f3 �xc7 c Black has achieved his positionalai bt Whit is tt awy iwise g4 6 h3 �x3 7 f3 , andS bS+ also favour White bragiov'snext is even more abitious5.

White immediately attacks the Benoni

Wall, this move was rst played byAlekhine and later adopted by Beliavsky

1 7

5 ... �

Tate, not illogically, tries to take advantageof Sf4 by immediately placing the

bishop on the main diagonal The main line is S exf4 6xf4 and nofor example 6 f6 7e 00 8f3 hS?(8 g4 9 d ! and 8 bd7 900e8 O eS ! are both better for White)9 e3 fS O exfS xfS 1 1 00 �g61 eS ! with a considerable edge i

Beliavskyvanovic, Yugoslavia tt 1 99 5 Note that 6 �g5 7 d �xf48xf4 f6 9xf6 xf6 does not relieve Black's plight either Beliavsky norecommends the pawn sacrice O bS !d7 f3 ! ore spectacular was thecourse in turuaimdan, Dubai 006,

after 6 �g5 7 xgS xgS 8 e7(8 e3 + 9 e xe + O �xe d7is better) 9 �b S+ d7 0 00 f6 andnow the spectacular e S ! ! fxeS1 xeS! xeS 13 d6 e6 14 d5winning back all material with interest.3 �g

Black increases his control over square eS

with this pin Black has problems after6 exf4 7 �xf4 A quick e4e5 can be anoying, j ust like the occasional c3b5 owever, after the text his prospects arenot so rosy either

The Combat beg.Good Lck



ou e te

Your core :

7

Your core :

8 exf4

Your core :

9a6

Your core

10 x

Your core :

11

.e7Your core

12 de5

Your core

13d7

Your core

14 h5

Your core :

15b6

Your core :

16g8

Your core :

17c8

Your core :

Combat 3 3 IbragimovTate

Your ove 7 7.b5+ (6) 7 �e() 7 fxe5()

Yourove: 8

8.0-0(4) 8 �e() 8 a 4 ( 1 )

Yourove 9 9.xf4(1)

Yourove: 1 0 _10.e2(1)

Yourove: 1 1 11.x (1)

Yourove 1

12.e5(9) 1 �h5 ( ) 1 �g4() 1 �g3 ( )

Yourove : 1 3 13.e3 (5) 1 3 d 6 ( )

Yourove 1 4 14.g4(5)

Yourove 1 5 _15.xh5(5) 1 S �xd7(4) 1 5 �h3(5 )

Yourove 1 6 16.d6(5) 1 6 �xc5(3 )

Yourove: 1 7 _17.e4(3) 1 7 �xc5(3 )

Yourove 1 8 _

18.xc5(3) 1 8 g5 (3 )

1 7 3




18 ... Yourove : 1 9

Your core : 19.e3(2)

And White is winning

Yur Cmba Scr:

�nscore:SO

Y Cmba Prrmanc:

Why dd Ibr gmov ply s h dd?

7.�b5+

This is much stronger than merely unpinning with 7 �e , or releasing the tension

with 7 fxeS (when after 7 xeS it isbest to play 8bS+ ) ther bishopmoves are not good: 7 �e3 would lose atempo after a future exf4, and 7 �d3 or7 c4 are only semiuseful (they do notunpin the knight or gain time) 7 ... 8

Awkward, but the ternative is no better:

7 d7 8 00 a6 9xd7 + xd7 1 0 fxe5�xf3 ?? 1 1 exf6 ! wins on the spot! nmove 10, 10 �xe5 1 I xe5 dxeS1 e 1 leads to a huge positional advantage for White, while 1 O dxeS 1 1 e 1 is,likewise, much more favourable for WhiteWith the text Black reasons that he will

later gain time on the queenside bymeans of a6 (and perhaps bS), and

1 74

that moving the king is less bad in

closed position8.0-0

Best, although, in order to prevent a possible a6 and bS, the prophylact8 e and 8 a4 come into consideration8...

A novelty for what it is worth Black illnot be in time to control the eS -square naksimovicDjuric, Bjelovar 1 9 79 ,8 xf3 9 xf3 e7 was played Whitnow continued strongly with 1 O g4! .� a

would prefer 9 e7 though this ma

be answered by 1 O eS dxeS 1 1 �e3 aswell oves like e4 and dS -d6 are in theair0.�2 �3

After 1 0 e7 1 1 e5 g6 ( dxeS1 xe5±) 1 exf6 xf4 1 3 fxg7+xg7 1 4d xe+ 1 S xe Black'sking is in mortal danger.�3 7 2.5A ne positional pawn sacrice that fullutilizes all of White's advantages Blacshould not be allowed to consolidate angain full control over square eS That iswhy all normal moves like 1 g41 hS ! ? or the prophylactic 1 �g3

(now 1 g6 does not gain time, butstill how to continue after it?) are inferior



12 ... d5

ere 1 . .�xe5 1 3 .�xe5 dxe5 1 4.d6ec6 1 5 �d5 wins , for example 1 5 . f61 6 .h5 e8 7 f6+ gxf6 1 8 .h6mates13.�3

This simple retreat (attacking pawn c5) isstronger than the complex 1 3 d6 exf41 4 dxe7 + which is much more doubleedged. n the game Black gets nocounterplay at all .13 ... d7 1.�g

This opens the fle and attacks an important defender. Moreover, it prevents1 4 . . .f5 (which Black would play after amove like 1 4 e4 or 1 4 .d6) . t must be

said that after bragimov 's excellent thmove there are more ways that lead toRome The text is the most consistentcontinuation though1 ... h5 15.�h5

Even stronger than 1 5 .�xd7 xd71 6 .�xc5 . urprisingly White can alsokeep the pressure with 1 5 .�h3 15 ... b 1.d

Combat 3 3 IbraimovTate

Cutting through the centre, but 1 6 �xc5is also ne1.. .g8

The alternatives are no fun either. Thus,1 6 . . .c6 is simply met by 1 7 .�xS and1 6 . . .ed5 1 7 .xd5 xd5 1 8 .xd5xh5 1 9 .d 7 just wins.17.

r 1 7 �xc5 .17 ... 8

r 17 . . .c4 1 8 .�xc5 , and if 1 8 . . . b6 ,

then White has both 1 9 .�xf7! and1 9 .g518.�5

1 8 .g5 was also very strong.18... d7 1. 3

White has a material and a positional advantage The Benoni Wall has been welland truly destroyed . White won after 1... : 20. g

f 0 . . .xc4 then d5 or .g5winning.21.�g 22.d5 b 23.b7

b 2.a1 g7 25.7

And Black resigned.

1 7 5



Th Chss Cmt imultr Rund

ombat 4

LpuKpovTbilisi I 9 7 6

At th tim whn this gm ws plydth yung Grry Ksprv ws nlytwlv. His ppnnt (ltr ssndgrndmstr) is ls tngr ut nv

rthlss v yrs ldr 2 g 33 �g7

53

Th misch Vritin is chrctrid ythis mv Whit hs st up clssiclcntr which cn srv s th sis fr ithr dirct ttck n th kingsid r

mr psitinl pln n th qunsid.Th vritin is ppulr mng WrldChmpins pssky Krpv Ksprvnd Krmnik hv dptd it s Whit ndditin pssky nd Ksprv hv ftnttld ginst th misch s wll 5 �3 a 72 b8 8b

Whit disrgrds his dvlpmnt n th

kingsid in rdr t gin sm spc nth qunsid This pln clrly hs crtin drwcks Whit lss th ptin tcstl qunsid nd Blck cn tin ctiv cuntrply in th cntr 8 0-0 b 5

Th yung Ksprv gs fr th shrpstslutinAls strng is 9 . �d t cmplt dvlpmnt nd t ply O . . . S in rply t O g2 .05

Th nly crrct mv. Whit wuld gtll h wntd ftr O . . . Aftr thtt .�d d 2 .d fils t

2 . . nd Blck wins.g2

6

Whit must chllng Blcks cntraknight . inc . . .2 ? 2 �2 anly fvur Whit Blck is frcd to sa

ric pwn 5 2 b 3 exd4

� 8

This is vry snsil. Gufld hs nysedth shrp . c5 Aftr S cS e 6 .f h+ Whit s king must eewith . d whn Blck cn rtrieehis pic ftr . . + 8 I

till th nding ftr 9 .g + 20 .c �g+ 2 d2 c 2 2 .c g 2 3 cd6 is n picnic5 2

Whit cn ls dvlp with 5 .d3 tht cs Blck wuld scric pwwith S d S ?

Aftr th tt Whit is rdy t cstewhich mns tht Blck is frcd t ctCn yu dmnstrt lik th yungKsprv tht with nrgtic ply Blk'schncs r t prfrrd?




Cmt 3 LutinKsrv

ou e Back ur Mve 5 ur cre 15 ... c5(12) 5 d 5 ( ) 5 e6(2)

16.bxc5 ur Mve 6 ur cre 16 ...xe4(13)

17.e4 ur Mve ur cre 17 ... h4+ (8)

18.g3 ur Mve 8

ur cre 18 ..Jb+ (2)

ur Mve 9 ur cre 19 ...b2(13)

20.gxh4 ur Mve 20 ur cre 20 .. .d2 (1)

2I.jxg7 ur Mve 2

ur cre 21. .. xg7 (1)

ur Mve 2 2

ur cre 22 ...c2 (8) 22 e2+(3)

ur Mve 2 3 ur cre 23 ...xc3+ (10) 2 3 e2(3)

24.xc3 ur Mve 2 ur cre 24 ... dxcS (2)

25.d3 ur Mve 2 5 ur cre 25 ...b7(7)

2 5 Je5 ( ) 2 5 g(5) 25 f5()




26el ur Mv 2 6 ur cr 26 .. e (8) 2 6 f (8)

27.a4 ur Mv 2 ur cr 27 ...B (6)

28. bl ur Mv 2 8 ur cr 28 ...xe4(2)

29.b6 ur Mv 29 ur cr 29 ... f4 (7) 2 9 �d3 () 29 5 ( )

And Blck ws winning �axscore:IOO

Yu Cmba Scr: Yur Cmba Prrmanc:

Why dd asaov lay as he dd?

15 ...c5Aftr I 5 dS I 6 cd5 cdS Whit hs chic twn I S d I 8 f, ndI dS �fS I 8 3 Nt gd isI S �6, fr Blck hs insucint cmpnstin fr th pwn ftr I 6 0 0 16bxc5

Whit must ntr th cmplictins, sBlck's King's ndin ishp wuld

I 8

mnstr ftr I 6 �f6 �f6 I 3 �d6 xe

This ws th pint f Ksprvs prus

mv Th mv rdr cnnt invrtwith I 6 + , cus f I I 8 f h+ I 9 � whn fterI 9 20 00 2 th mv 2 I wins n th spt n th gm (s withutth trd n I ) Blck cn tk th knightn c3 ftr � s th nt cmmnt17.fxe h+ 18.g3

Bck is smwht ttr in th ndingftr I 8 � �c3 I 9 �h 2 0 �d2 2 I dcS Wrs isI 8 f + I 9 2 0 �g + 2 I d fS + 22 f3 g 2 3 cd6 cS with n clnt psitin18 b1+ 19/f2

Blck wins n th spt ftr I 9 I



19... b2

�

Ksprov must hv ;een this mov whnh dcidd to ply I S cS Whit wouldust winning ftr ny othr mov20.gh

20 2 ? d+ 2 I c3 +22 c3 nd wins20...2 21.�g7 'g7 22.e3 :c2

Although wors thn Ksprovs solutionit is lso possil to ply 2 2 2+Not tht th mtrilistic 2 2 J 2 dosnot work, cus Whit hs dngrouspssd pwns ftr 2 3 cd6 23.3 c3+

trongr thn 2 3 2 23 2 wouldonc gin b nswrd y 2 cd6

2. <c3 c5Blck is winning in this nding cus

Comt 3 LutinKsrov

of Whits wk pwns nd his dishop No good ws 2 2 S �d36 26 c6

25.�3 �b7 qully good is 2 S 5 thr possiilitis includ 2 S �g nd 2 S f5 26Je :es

Agin thr is n ltrntiv solution inth form of 2 6 f5 2 S � 27.a f5 28Jb �e 29.:b6 f

Mny rods ld to om in this nding,

ut mrching with th fpwn is simplstAlso winning r 29 �d3 nd 29 5

30.a6 f3 31.�f1 �f5 32.a7+ h6

33.2 f2 3.�e2 �g 35.�3 e1

36.f7 �f5 37.a5 �3 38.f2 f1Whit rsignd

9




obat 5

LuterMcSeLppstadt 997

e c5 Vf3 c6 3 c

g6 5c

Luthr dpts th Mrcy Bind gd chic ginst furtnyrld

y Luk Mchn hs y nw dvlpd int strng grndmstr f curs 5 �g7 6�e3 f6 7c3 0-0

A prsnl fvurit f Tigrn Ptrsinws g 8 g d 9 d 6Mst fmus is his lss ginst BntLrsn O d2 d6 2 d 2 0 00 0 3 d �c6 dS 8 ? S fc 6 f5 6 �g cS 8 fg6hg6 9 f8

20 5 S 2 h �dS 22 d56? 23f3 �f6 2h6 �g?25g6 nd Whit ws winning in lllins, LrsnPtrsin, Pitigrsky Cup 9 6 6 Aftr O d2 Lrsn himslf liks t ply O S c 6 2 2 � 3 f3g 5 Alrdy in 9 5 h plyd likd thisginst Gligric in Dlls t ws smthirty yrs ltr tht th systm cm

ppulr ftr Lrsn gind victry vrhrt

80

8�e2 6 90-0

n Btvinnik's dys ppl usd t thiktht th Mrcy Bind (s th stup ith

c nd vrsus th Acclrtd Drgois clld) ws trmly fvur oWhit ndd, Whit hs cnsidralespc dvntg whil Blck has ocuntrthrusts in th cntr t his dispsl, nd cnsquntly n ceacuntrply9

Th min lin is 9 d (s th geBlivskyKvchn, lswhr in thisk) This systm njys slid rputatin ths dys o� �e6 e1

Als nt d is f c8 2 3 adWhit hs vry plsnt dg Hw,thr is nthing wrng with Luthr's nturl mva5

A chrctristic qun slly in this lineBlck ims fr ctiv ply with mvs like fc8, 6 nd 5 n th gm hegts nwhr fst, nd this is du t Luthrs cnsistnt ply Cn yu rpt his

prfrmnc?




Cmt 3 5 LutherMchne

You are te ur Mve 2 ur cre 12.d5 (7)

2 (6) 2 3 () 2 c () 2 ()

12xd5 ur Mve 3 ur cre 13.exd5(2)

3fe8 ur Mve ur cre 14.fl(6)

14 a6 ur Mve 5 ur cre 15.e3(7)

15 d7 ur Mve 6 ur cre 16.xg7(4)

16 ...xg7 ur Mve ur cre 17 .d4 (3)

17 ...f6 ur Mve 8 ur cre 18.ael(5)

18 ... b5 ur Mve 9

ur cre 19.g4(8)

19 h6 ur Mve 2 0 ur cre 20.h4(6)

20 ur Mve 2 u 2 .g (3)

2 g5 ur Mve ur cre 22.hxg5(I)

8



The Chess Cmb imur ud 4

g8 ur Mve 2 3 ur re 3cxb5 (4)

3axb5 ur Mve 24 ur re 4b4 (6)

4a ur Mve 2 5 ur re 5 xb5 (5)

5 ec8 ur Mve 26

ur re 6c6(5) 26 �d33 )

6 ab8 ur Mve 2

ur re 7b5(3) 2 (3 ) 2 h3 ( 3 )

7 c ur Mve 2 8

ur re 8 £ (4)

8c7 ur Mve 29 ur re 9g (6)

9 cb7 ur Mve 30 ur re 30h (7) 30 �xb(2)

30 c5 ur Mve 3 ur re 31x + (8)

Bk resiged �aXscore: OO

Yur Cmbat Scr: Y Cmbat Prfrmanc:

8 2



Cmt 3 5 Luthr-Mchn

Why d h pay as h dd?

15

Dirct ply y Luthr Th nswrI 2 �d5 is mr r lss frcd( 2 d5 I 3 d5 is vn wrs) whnWhit will hv grt ply lng th-lthr rsnl mvs includ I 2 f ,I 2 3 , I 2 nd 2 Bd isI 2 d2 which lss pwn ftr thstndrd cmintin I 2 I 3 d2 I d2 �d12 �x5 13ex5 e8 1�1 a6

dn't lik this mv which is t slw

Much ttr is th immdit I d7whn Blck stys liv ftr I S �g7g 7 I 6 d+ f6 I 7 3 cS I 8 h S cus I 9 h3 cn mty I9 h5 5 e3

n cmintin with his prvius mv

this is th right pln Whit is rdy tdul n th -l, nd th rk mysuddnly switch lng th third rnk twrds th kingsid 15 7

Blck shuld sk rlif y trding pics A wll-knwn strtgy fr th dfndingsid Mrvr, in this typ f Mrcy

Bind psitins Blck lwys tris t chng th drk-squrd ishps Hims t rch n nding f gd knightvrsus d ishp (whr th pwns nc nd dS r d n th clur f thishp) , clrly, Blck's chncs li inth nding, whil Whit shuld try twin th middlgm Whit is ging tkp th hvy pics n th rd frdditinl r pwr16�xg7 xg7 17+ 6 18 ae1

b5

imply hrril is I 8 2 I9 7 ,whil I 8 c7 wuld cndmn Blck t pssiv dfnc Th yung Mchn

thrfr pts fr th ctiv I 8 5, indirctly prtcting pwn 7 if I 9 7thn I 9 20 withcmpnstin fr th pwn Hwvr, ftr Luthr's nswr it cms pprnttht Blck is vn wrs f19g h6

t is vius tht I 9 g8 fils t20 7 2 I 2 2 f6 Prhps i t ws ttr, thugh, t immditly ply I 9 f8 fr th pning fth h-l (s in th gm) just fvursWhit20h 8 21g5 hxg5 22hxg5 g8

23cxb5 axb5 2b

With this mv Luthr strsss tht h iswinning n th th kingsid nd th

I 8 3




qunsid Th sclld d ishp ctivly tks prt in th gm which ismr thn w cn sy f th crippld

knight n g8

2 a2 25b5 c8 2c

A plyl ltrntiv is 2 6 d3 2 ab8 27b5

Als nt d r 2 f3 nd 2 h3 27 c2 28f3

8

Blck cn kp th gm ging fr awhil lngr ftr 286 c6! 29dc628 c7 29g2 cb7

301

Thr is n rl rsn t tk th insignicnt rk 3 0 30c5 31f7+

Blck rsignd



obat 6

Lu pescu-TioscheoCalvia Olympiad 2004

1. 2f3 c 3.� a .�a

f .0-0 �7 1 7.�3 8.c3

0-0 9 �g

Nw that Whte ha tte 9h3 (the

an lne n the cle panh) Blackhul ue the pptunty t nceaethe peue n 10�3

t ecaue f th ve that Whte playe tate playng 9 agan n the tcentuy The altenatve S , pelttle afte aS �c c6 ( c8 h3 fllwe y c6) h3 c8 (ut nt ? 3 e eS 6 wth an ege f Whte) 3 c6 c when Black wll e ale tucently cntl the S quae10...

Gvng up the cente, ut hpng t gan

enugh cental nuence wth the aneuve aS fllwe y cS Blackcan nceae the tenn wth Swhen Whte keep a lttle ethng wth e e 3 c c3 c3 S c3 S6 3 11.c a 12�c2 c

All accng t plan Al playale c 3 c whch appea t gan atep Hweve, afte 3 c 3Whte egan the ve Bet nw wule 6, when Whte lghtlyette afte S nfe afte 3 a ue t S when Whte

ha a pleaant ege ue t the alyplace knght n a S , n tp f a pace a-

Cat 3 6 upulecu Tchenk

vantage Th happene t ntaly nFcheKtchn , altjaen 96 13.c

Th nt the t atu ve nthe ptn The Ruan ganateGchuk ha entate n nueugae that 3 h3 ffe chance f anavantage13 ... c 1.c3

An actve ve Whte e nt pevent c n e he uppt h pnne

knght n f3 nee, c6 S c 6 h3 hS e nt lkvey png f Whte Wth the tetWhte a t play n the cente, an hetheefe evelp the knght n the tactve pt1 ... c

A lgcal ve Whte une peuenw Pawn hangng, the hp ne3 ght well e tae, an the knghtn f3 tll pnne Bee t appea af Black ha uccefully attle Whte fthe cntl ve the cental eS -quae Clealy, we have ave at a ctcal ent n the gae Allw yuelf e

te t cne yu t ve, an ueyu chance hul yu ppnent the et efence

The Combat beg Good Lck

8



The Chess Cmt imultr Rund

ou e Whte

Yur re

15�

Yur re

6d8

Yur re

17 e8

Yur re

18• • c6

Yur re

19

e8Yur re

20b2

Yur re

21c4

Yur re

22c6

Yur re

23d6

Yur re

24 d7

Yur re

25e6

Yur re

8 6

Yur Mve 5 15.e5(2) 5 e 2 ( ) 5 � 1 ( 2 ) 5 3 ( )

Yur Mve 6 16.d8(4) 6 f3(2)

Yur Mve _17.c5(6) ef6(2)

Yur Mve 8 18.ef6 (2)

Yur Mve 9 _19.e8+ (3) 9 fg ( ) 9 d5 (2)

Yur Mve 20

20.d5(7) 2 0 e ( )

Yur Mve 2 21.d4(7) 2 e ( )

Yur Mve 22 22.g7 (3) 22 e (3 )

Yur Mve 23 _ 23 .el(8) 23 f6+() 23 �e(3)

Yur Mve 2 24. e3 (8) 2 e5(8) 2 f6+(5) 2 e+(2)

Yur Mve 2 5 _ 25.h4(6) 2 5 e+ (2) 2 5 e (6) 2 5 f(6)

Yur Mve 26 _ 26.f4(10) 26 e5 (8 )




26 ...�a 2 Yur Mve 2 Yur cre 27.c5(7)

27 ... c7 Yur Mve 2 8

Yur cre 28.h5( 6)

28 .c4 Yur Mve 2 9

Yur cre 29. (7) 29 e8( ) 29 f6( )

29 ... Yur Mve 2 9 Yur cre 30.7+ (4)

Black regne Mmum score:100

Y Cmbat Scr: Yur Cmbat Prfrmanc:

Why dd Lpesc py s he dd?

15e5Th trng mve e after ale calculatn wa requre tugHarle S e2 e8 (rker S x2 6 e ) 6 h3 xe3 xe3�x 8 xf3 �6 9 a c anraw agree n Dlatv-Pakh vetChan Mnk 98 ecaue f20 xS 2 x

S �c ave fr exale S c an Black ne S 3 a3 ? ( S xe3 g t) alreay annyng fr Whte

a 6 �3 et y 6 �xf3 gx c4 8 xc4 �4 wth a trng ntatve15 ..xf3

Th a a ve Whte wll take fulavantage f th errr n the gae Black ut eter lquate wth S x 6 ax �xf3 exf6�x 8 fxe �xc2 9 exf8 xf8

20 �xc c8 2 S nu nt fyu calculate th far 2 h822 �4 (22 6 V2- 1l2 Zatev-BeavkyMnk 9 8 3 ) an nw Black can rawwth accurate lay 2 2 6 23 4 aS24xc2 xc2 2S h3 6 26e a42c 2 28e a3 29xa3 c430 x 1l2 l2 Brun-Aa Wjk aanZee 20 0

8



The Che Cat ulat Run

he hul wthaw the knght, whch al nt a, f all the avantage fthe ptn that we ue up afte

c tll hl tue S 6 �f(afte 6 �e Black ha 6 e ? an ecellent echange acce �a8a8 8 �6 9J 8 20 3f3+ 2 gf3 h2+ 2 2 h2 San Black wa wnnng n ZatevKlvan, atka 200) 6 6 e2c8 8 �e a 9 3 an nw

Whte ege n ZatevBalahv, Mcw 2 00 2 , wa neglgle afte 9 a32 0 c 2 a3 a3 2 2 S2 3 � 8 2a f 2 3a 26 e �f3 2 f3 f328gf3 1/ 1

.8

Th the ve that tat all the ple f Black 6 f3 eS fSgve e cpenatn f the pawn,ut afte f ntance g6 Whte halttle ette than t eteve the pawn afte 8 c �S 9 c wth equalty ... �8

Thee nthng ele; thewe tany pece ae hangng nucent 6 a8 f afte ef6 �f6 8 gf3 2 Whte ha 9 e, whenBlack e nt have enugh f the pece

7.�c5tnge than ef6 e3 8 e3

8 8

�c6 8 �h an Whte ha nly tny ege Weak f cue gf3eS

7 ... 8 g 8 gf3 geS 9 �e Whte ean an echange ahea 8.

ntea 8 gf3 eS 9 e e20 g2 wul lea t an equal pt8... �c .8+

Black ha cunteplay afte 9 fg �f

when pawn 2 hangng 9 �f2 0 f6+ gf6 2 � an Whte clealy ette, ut the tet upe... �8 .5

Agan Black chance wul pve afte 20 fg �f6 2 �e 8 Whte tan a png enng afte 20 e ( ) f6 2 a Whte wll cnquerthe hp pa T gan pnt fr2 0 e yu hul eally have ee2 t... b

.

qually g 2 e , when the lefk 2 �c6 22 � c 2 3 fg tpe t the gae 2 2 2 2 �f6 22 f6+ ( 22 c)2 2 gf6 2 3 e3 c8 2 g3+ h

2 � c6 2 6 �2 wnnng 2 �a 2 2 e + h8 2 3 fg 7



g7 2f g8 2 S e3 an wn21...c 22.fg7

22 Je �c6 2 3 fg 7 yet anther tran

ptn22 ...c6 23.e1

Whte nvlve all h pece Whte ptn alreay g that u-ptalve al lea t an avantage Fr eaple 23f6 g7 2h7 an23e23 ... 6

r 23 �h 2e7 �e7 2 S e7e8 26e8 �e8 27 f an Whtewll ealy wn the enng2.e3

Threatenng 2 S �h7 an t e etent 2Sh3 Alternatve are 2eprtectng the knght an threatenngh 2f6 �f6 2S�f6 e826 �c3 g7 27 e3 naturally alavantageu fr Whte nferr 2e7 �e7 2Se7 e8 an Blackretreve pawn g7 2 ... 7

Nt 2 �? 2S�h7 h72 6 h3 an wn

2. Dng ethng aut h ack rank,an ettng a trap e g 2Se7�e7 26 e7 e8 an ecaue f theack rank Black wn ack pawn g 7 Alg are 2 S Je7 �c6 26 e an 2 S f2... e6

Nt 2S �h? 26�f6 wnnng But2 S c8 wa trnger than the tet 26.f

upulecu ha accurately calculate thewn The pnt reveale n the net


ve Al trng 26e Hwever,nt 26f6 ecaue f 26 �f62 7 �f6 �a2

2 6... 7.c c7 r 27 c8 28�6 an Whte reana pece t the g.

Nt 28 e7 c82... c

After 2 8 f6 29e7 e8 30e8e8 3 f6 f 3 2 e8 e8

33�h7 Black cannt prevent the pawfr prtng.

The t pwerful ve, Whte wnwth a nce cnatn Al wnnng 2 9 e8 e8 3 0 f6 g73 e8 g8 3 2 c7 Nt very accurate 29f6 g7 30e8 g83 c7 e3 3 2 �e3 an Black tllha tw angeru pae pawn

2... f

The gae en n ate after 29 e330f6 Whte al wn fllwng2 9 �8 30 e83.7

Black regne

89



The Che Cmat imulat Run 4

obat 7

NijboerBobooeeuwarden 200

1e c6 2 5 3 c3 g6

nt a egular CaKann, ut thecalle Gugenize ytem3 h6

Vey pvcative, ut nt necearily aBlack i aiming f a ytem with h6, f6 , �g7 , an f7 t play f eS ata late tage A me cmmn mve eri 4 �g7 5h3

Thi lk a litte tame, ut i quite ueful

in fact White prevent a pin fllwing �g4An aggeive et-up with S�f4 cmeint cnieatin: S�f4 f6 6ecS 7 a6 8 c4 e6 9 �3 �4 c3 0 -0 0-0 2 "3 anWite t et te in ietke-Vrtnikv,Gieen 99 2

A cunte eample t illutate me fte ange that face White: Se2 f66 0-0 g7 7 �f4 (Black i eay f eS , the ihp i miplace n f4 nw)8 e cS 9 S ? (ette wa 9 88 0 � �7 "e2) 9 e(White iea ha faie ; he nw pull theemegency eak) 0 g3 a6 e ?feS ( a 2 ef6 �f6 3 � c6 4 e f8) 2 ? aS 3 c6 4c6 c6 S c6 �7 6 "e4 00 7 e ?? ,a ig luner t en the game; Blackwin a piece flwing 7 e8 0-DvkyKalik, Kavina 99 2

5 �g7 6� 6 7�3An ecellent ptin hee i 7 eS cS

90

8 fllwe y c ccainally, tiytem i playe n the highet leveTpalv-hiv, inae 994, wet

7 �e2 8h2 (8 0 0 eS) 8 09 0-0 6 0 e 7 7 7 800

An entiely iffeent et-up i 8"e2 fllwe y catling queenie8 00 9�g3

T pevent Black fm playing eS witgain f temp

9 e6Nice an li fr the mment Clear,9 eS wul e t iky, ince Black iehin in evelpment Aking fr tle i 9 e4 O e4 fS c3 2 4 "4 3 "e2 10e1

White ha chen a li et-up an cant e we Can yu, nevethee,hw, a Bm e, that Black alha ppect?

The Combat begs. Good Luc!



You e Back

Your ore

ll.'d2

Your ore

12.h4

Your ore

1.e2

Your ore

4.exd5

Your ore

15.cYour ore

6.fl

Yur ore

17.'dl

Your ore

18.h2

Your ore

19.e2

Your ore

20f4

Your ore

21.xh6

Your ore

Combat 3 7 NiboerBosboom

our Move 1 0 10d7 (5) 1 0 b6(4) 10 a5(4)

Your Move 1 1 _ll a (4) 1 b6 ( 3) 1 1 e8(3)

Your Move 1 2 _12 ...a4 (6)

Your Move 1 3 _1 ... e5(8) 1 3 dxe4( 6)

Your Move 14 14 cxd5 (1)

Your Move 1 5

15a5(8) 1 S a5(6) 1 a 3 ( 2 )

Your Move 1 6 _16h6 (8) 1 6 e4(5)

Your Move 1 7

17 e4(4)

Your Move 1 8 _18 (4)

Your Move 1 9 _19f6(6) 1 9 b6 ( 3 ) 1 9 e8 (3 ) 1 9 b6 (4)

Your Move 20 _ 20h5 (6)

Your Move 2 1 _ 21. 6(1)

1 9 1



Th Chss Comat imulator Roun 4

22id2 Your Mov : 2 2 Your or: 22£4 (4)

23c4 Your Mov : 2 3 . . . Your or : 23g4(10)

2 3 fS (4 2 3 ( 3 2 3 6(6 23 6(S

24xg4 Your Mov: 24 _Your or : 24 xg4(1)

25c3 Your Mov : 2 _Your or : 25i4(6) 2 S 3 ( 3

26e2 Your Mov : 2 6 . _Your or : 26xe2(6) 2 6 3 (6 26 aa8(4

27.i Your Mov : 2 . . Your or : 27g3 (8) 2 f ( 2 3(

28ixd5+ Your Mov: 2 8 . Your or: 28 (4)

Whit rsign �score:100

Yur Cmb Sr: Yur Cmb Prrm:

1 9 2



at 3 Nje-B

Wy did ply did?

0...

Th eelp a pece an cntl the ptant eS quae ntea 0 6 t play a6-c al ce nt cneatn Ganng pace n thequeene wth 0 a (an t nceagan pepae a6-c ) al gU 2 a5

Qute eanale ae 6 an e8 But nt h6? f2.

Th cannt e faulte, althugh Neay hae egette t late n n the gae

T peent Black f ganng epace t wa ple t play n the theank wth a2 .. a

Ganng een e pace an pepangethng lke a3 an aS 3.2

Ne want t pepae c, an pehapplay f n the futue tll, th a ae an the uce f Whte futueple, f Black can nw play eSune fauale ccutanceect wa 3 e eS a 3 Blackcannt take ack wth the cpawn ue t : 3 c? (e6 eS)

e c, f nw e? wul falt 6 c e c Bette than the

tet wa al 3 a3 3 5

Hee Black ay al pt f 3 e e fS S 3 e S Whte ha nthng pecal afte 6 c f h 6 8 + 9 eS ( 9 a 0 c e (0 e f) e eS e e 3 an Black wllegan ethng n h) 9

0 eS wth equaltynfe thugh 3 S (t peent c) ,ecaue f f 6 e eS 6 c3 .5 5 5.3 a5

An gnal aneue The k efenS, thu theatenng e B keepthe queen n 8 t attack h Qute g al a ? nfe a3? 6 a a Ba wa e? 6 e3 c wnnng the queen thwa the tck n whch Ne peuve wa ae.

Th tnge than 6 e h annw Whte can anwe h6 wth 8 f 8.2 5

Hee t ece appaent hw pwefulthe nteplatn f 6 h6 wa Black

9 3



The Chess Comat mulator Round 4

threatens to wn a pee wth . f419.e2 f6

To play 0 . . h5 . There are plenty of rea

sonale alternatves avalale at ths stage 9 . . . 6, 9 . . e8, and 9 . . 6.2.�f

0 f4 was etter20... h5

f ourse Blak does not play 0 . . .�f4 .f4. After the tet Bosoom hasganed ontrol over square f4

21.�h6 h6 22.' 2 f

Now Whte s n dre strats Blak hasamed nearly all hs pees at the kngsde.The pawns e4 an f4 form a powerful

par, and the h4 pawn s n onstant danger.23.c g

Tradng a defender, and learly est . omeother possltes . . . f 4 .f4 f4 f4h4 6 d . . .f 4 gf (4h6 fe e h4 6 . e6=) 4 e . f 6 .f and Whte s etter . . e6 and Blak s etter . 6 s nterestng.2.g �g 25.c3 h

Blak wns n the attak. nsuent s e 6 . fe h4 .ef4 f4

94

8d5, whh leads to a draw after either 8 .d5 9 d5 g 0 h

( 0 . . .h4+ .g g ) e5h4+ .g g , or 8 . e+ 9e (9.e e 0 e d4+ h h4 g d4+) 9 . . . + 0 hh4+ .g + 26.e2

6.e4 de4 a g 8 . g3

fg 9 d5 + f wns y analogy tthe game. The same goes for 6.dd d5 g .26... �e2

6 . . . e .fe g also wns quteeautfully due to 8 .ef4 ( 8 .a5h+ 9 e4 mate ) 8 . .h 9. e4+ wnnng the queen. nstead 6 . . .aa8 (or any other normalrook move) also wns.27.5

There s no salvaton 7 .e g or .e g .27 ... g3

Aways a key move. There are two alterna

tve wns . . �f 8 d5 + ( 8 f f) 8 . 9 .e4 (9 f f and wns)9 6! . . 8 .d5 + ( 8 .e fg)8 . . f 9 e6 fg .28.5+ f7

Auray s stll requred. t was not tolate to lose wth Blak. n ase o 8 .g ?? 9 fg fg 0 d7 Whte has h to over the matekewse, h8 9.fg fg3 0 e5 + f6 .e8+ g .d7+sees Whte defendng wth h Aer the tet Whte resgned



obat 8

Nikolicv er SterreRotterdam 999

1. f6 2.c e6 3.f3 5 .c3 �e7

5.�g5 0-0 6.e3 h6 7.�xf6

White gives up his bishop to developspeedily He thus avoids main lines after

7 h4 like the Tartakower Variation(7 b6) and the Lasker Defence(7 e4) The 7 xf6 system gained tre-mendously in popularity following itsadoption in the Kasparov-Karpov matchesin the mid I 9 80s7 ... �xf6 8.b3

ncreasing the pressure on dS, somethingBlack may ignore with the pawn sacrice8 c5 (9dxc5 d7 IOcxdS xcS givescompensation) Van der terren's answeris more logical thoughs...c6 9.1 7 1 o.�3 b8

How should Black develop his queenside?Wrong is I O b6 I I c2 c7 ?

1 2 cxd5 cxdS I 3 xdS xc2 I 4xf6+and White is a pawn up and won inPiketWedberg, Lugano I 98 9 ntirelypossible is I O b6 With the text Van derterren prepares bS 11c2

Prophylaxis, Nikolic prevents the freeingadvance b7 b5 The game Yusupov-Vander terren, Munich I 99 0 , saw I I 0 -0 bS 2 cxb5 cxbS I 3 c a6 and Black wasdoing ne11.b6

ther methods of play include I I aSand I dxc4 1 2 xc4 bS 12e!?

White cannot do without this centra advance n a previous game Nikolic had

Combat 3 8 Nikolic-Van der terren

postponed this for a few moves withI 2 00 a6 I 3 b3 c8 , to play it nowI 4e4, Nikolic-Bnsch, Bundesliga I 998 12 ... xe 3.�xe b5

Van der terren is seeking activecounterplay Black would be solidly, butpassively, placed after I 3 b7 1.c5

ntending to constrict Black in a majorway Van der terren would have obtainedhis desired counterplay after I4xc6

bxc41 .b 15e2 c7 160-0 a6

n this fairly closed position Van derterren is happy to exchange one of hisbishops for a knight17.fe1 �xe2 18.xe2 e5

Following his plan Black makes this freeing advance Can you show, like Nikolic,that this strategy is too ambitious ?

•

j jA j

� j�

t W �

The Combat begs. Good Luk

I 9 5



The Che Combat imuator Round 4

o are Whte our Move: 1 9 .

our ore : 19.d5(6) 1 9 ed2(3 ) 1 9 .h7+(2 )

19 ... cxd5 our Move: 20

our ore: 20Jd5 (1)

20 ...fd8 our Move: 2 1

our ore : 21.c6(5) 2 1 ed2 (2 )

2I. .. our Move: 2 2

our ore : 22.ed2(5)

22 ... g6 our Move: 2 3 .

our ore : 23.h4(7)

23 ...xd5 our Move: 24.our ore : 24.xd5(1) 24 .d( 1 )

24 ... h5 our Move: 2 .

our ore : 25.c4(5) 2 S g3 ( 4)

25 ...a5 our Move: 2 6 .

our ore : 26.e4 (5) 26 g 3 ( )

26 ... g7 our Move: 27.

our ore : 27 .d5(5) 2 7 g 3 ( )

27 ...b6 our Move: 2 8 .

our ore: 28.d3(5) 2 8 .d1 (4) 2 8 a ( 1 )

28 ...b8 our Move: 2 9

our ore : 29.g3 (5)

29 ...d8 our Move : 3 0 .

our ore : 30.8 (4) 30 .g2(2 )

1 96



Cmbat 3 8 NikiVan dr trrn

30 ...xd8 Yur Mv : 3 1 _Yur r: 31.id5(6) 3 1 .b5 (3

31f6 Yur Mv: 3. _Yur r: 32.d2(7)

32 e6 Yur Mv: 3 3 . _Yur r : 33.c4(4)

33a4 Yur Mv: 34 . Yur r : 34 .c2(4)

34 b3 Yur Mv: 35. Yur r : 35.axb3 (1)

35 ...d4 Yur Mv: 3Yur r: 36.d6(10)

Yur Mv: 3 7 . _Yur r: 37.bxa4 (7) 37 .f7+(4 37 .b5(3

37 xc2 Yur Mv: 38 _Yur r : 38.b5(5) 3 8 .f7 + (5

38 c8 Yur Mv: 3 9 _Yur r: 39.ic5+ (2)

Bak rsignd �mscore:100

Y Cmb Sr: Y Cmb Prrmn:

1 9 7



Th Chss Coma imulaor Round 4

Wy dd kl ly dd?

95!

An cllnt rspons. Th advancdcpawn is going to a ral nuisanc orBlack. Not that in th gam Van drrrn will orcd o lock th passdpawn with his strongst pic Rasonal ar also 1 9 Jd2 and1 9. �h7 + h8 2 0. �5 .9cx5 20x5 f8 2c6

trong dirct play Also not ad is2 1 .d2.2 f8 222 g6 23h

Whit prpars h4h5 to otain complt

control ovr th light squars aroundBlacks king.23 x 5 2�x5

r 24 .d5 .2 h5 25c

Nikolic slowly improvs his pics. Now,or on th nt mov, it was also usul toplay 2 5 g 3 .25 a5 26�

r 26 .g3 .26 g7 275

Again 2 7 .g3 coms into considration.27 lb6 283

Also good is 2 8 .d 1 , ut wakr ar2 8 .a5 c6 and 28 .c5 6.

28 b8Black has nothing ttr, narly all his

1 9 8

pics ar ound. Nikolic has all h tim

in th world to urhr strngthn his position.29g3 8 30x8

This is strongr than, say, 3 0 .g2 6.30 �x8 35

lightly inrior is 3 1 .5 bcaus o3 1 . . 5 . Ar th t 3 1 . .5 is stronglymt y 3 2 .�d3 4 3 3 �c4! .

31 �f6

' , .8

' � 8

Cj/88 • 8

322!

Nikolic manouvrs his knight to thqunsid, whr Black's pawns ar sp

cially vulnral 32 6 33c a 3�c2

Winning matrial. Van dr trrn nowcluchs his nal straw3 b3 35axb3

Black would hav no prospcts atr3 5 a3 3 6. 3 366 f8

A rst sight it is compltly ovious that3 6 . . .a3 loss o 37.8+. Howvr, itstill rquirs a crtain amount o prcision 37 . . .h6 38.c7 (also good ar38 �4 or 38 .�g6) 38 . . c2 39.c4 2+ 40 . ! (ut not 40 2 c 4 1 .h2 c6) 40 . c + 4 1 c +

c and now Whit wins with 42 6 6 4 3. c7 .



Combat 3 8 - NkolcVan der Sterren

37.bxa41Ths s most accurate.The aternatves are: 37ix+ x£

38x xc6 39�xg6 b3, and37b 'xc6 38.xc6 xc6 39bxa437... xc2 38b5Ths s the smplest way to end t However, you also deserve 5 ponts f youcculated the folowng lne correctly38.ix+ ix£ 39.x e7 40c7d7 4 d6 xc7 4 2 e8+ and Whte 38.c8 39.c5+

wns Black resgned.

1 99




20x Your Move 2 1 . Your core : 2 I .d6+ (2)

2 I .e8 Your Move 2 2 . Your core : 22.b5+ ( I )

2 2d7 Your Move: 2 3 . Your core : 2 ( I )

Mate. mscore: SO

Yo Combat Score: Yo Combat Performance:

Why did Onisch play as h did?

9f4

This is stronger than 9 .dxe6 fxe6 0 . f4exf3 . xf3 e 7 9 exd5

Black will also be trampled underfoot following 9 exf3 O.xf3 e7 1 1 0- 0 0-01 2 d 6 .10d5

Less clear is O xdS g6 .e2 fS because the combination 1 2 exf6 xf61 3 xb7 ? fails to 1 3 . . .xb7 14bS+

d 7 S .xb7 b8 and 1 6 . . xg2.10 g6 11e2

202

t i s obvious that Black cannot take on gso this developing move keeps up thepace.11�e 1g3

Going for the weak pawn and thereforemore consistent than 1 2 . 0-0 001 3 .g3 ? b6 . nstead of 1 3 .g3?

stronger is 1 3 .fS 12 �h4 130-0 �xg3 14hxg3 0-

15f5

Best White rightly ignores g3 Blacwould gain counterplay after S e 6 b6 1 6 .ex + h8 1 7 .xcS h3.



Combat 3 9 nischuk-Hertneck

15 xg3 16�f4 g4 17e6

This advance forces the win but there islittle wrong with 1 7 xe4 b6 1 8 d3 17 fxe6

After 1 7 b6 1 8 ex + h8 1 9 xc5xfS 20d6 Black's suerings will endquickly too18fxe6 b6 19e7 +

Also winning is 1 9 d619 xd5 20exf8 + xf8 21�d6+

e8 22�b5+ �d7 23f8 Mate

2 0 3




obat0

l-ZvansvLas Vegas 1999

1e4 c5 2f3 e6 3d4 cxd4 4xd4

c6 5c3 d6

Via a Taimanov move order Zviagintsevtransposes into the cheveningen Varia

tion. Many adherents of the cheveningenavoid the traditional move order 1 .e4 cS.f3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 .c3e6 because they dislike the Keres Variation following 6 .g4 .6�e2 f6 70-0 �e7 8�e3 0-0 9f4

�d7 10e1

Her maesty is directed towards thekingside. Polgar does nothing to avoid thetypica manoeuvre ...xd4 and .. .c6With this in mind, Benin-Zagintsev,Groningen 1 99 7 , went 1 O .b3 . After1 0 .c8 1 .f3 a6 1 a4 eS 1 3 f5 b41 4.g4 Black appeared to be under siege.

However, after the active defence 1 4. . h5 1 5 .g 5 g4 1 6 .xg4 xgS Black was already better. Excellent play by Zviagintsev10 xd4 11�xd4 �c6 12g3

ndirectly defending the e-pawn which isthreatened again after Black's reply.

04

12 g6 13�d3 d7

This hardly the best way to continue. tappears almost as if Zviagintsev is mixing

up two dierent systems. A common response to 1 3 .3 is 1 3 .d 7 thebishop is not very active on 3. However,it does perform a useful task there protecting the hSsquare. n reply to Polgar's1 3 .d3 , Zviagintsev could have continued with 1 3 . . h5 followed by ...xf4and . eS regaining the piece .

After the text White is better in a characteristically complex icilian Can you outplay Zviagintsev, ust like Polgar does ?

The Comba begns. Good Lck!



Yo are Whte

Your core:

1 4.. .h4

Your core :

1 5e5

Your core :

1 6exf4

Your core :

1 7.. .e5

Your core:

1 8

dxe5Your core

1 9�g5

Your core

20c8

Your core:

2 1 .3

Your core

22x

Your core

2 3 .. .b8

Your core :

24b5

Your core :

Combat 40 Polgar-Zviagintsev

Your Move 1 4

14.hl (5) 1 4 .f5 (4) 1 4 .ad 1 (4)

Your Move 1 5 15.h3 (4)

Your Move: 1 6 . 1 6.�e3 (3) 16 .fxe5(2)

Your Move: 1 7 . _1 7xf4 (2)

Your Move : 1 8 . 18.�xe5 (2)

Your Move 1 9

1 9. adl (4)

Your Move : 2 0 . 20. c4 (4)

Your Move 2 1 21.x (8) 2 I . g 3 ( 2 )

Your Move: 22 22.+ (4) 22 .+(2 )

Your Move 2 3

2 3.gxh3 ( 1 )

Your Move : 2 4 24.g2 (4) 24 d5 (4)

Your Move 2 5 . _

25 .�d5 (5)

205




25e8

Your core

26.. .g7

Your core

2 7a5

Your core :

28b6

Your core

29f4

Your core

30.. .g5Your core

3 1 .. Jh6

Your core

32. .2+

Your core

3 3Jxc2

Your core

34exf4

Your core

35 xb2

Your core

36b1+

Your core

206

Your Move 26 26+ (3) 26 a 3 ( 3 ) 26 .e2 ( 3 )

Your Move 27. 2 7.a3 (5)

Your Move 28 . 28 .e2 (6)

Your Move 2 9 . 29.cl (6)

Your Move 3 0 . 30.d3 ( 4)

Your Move 3 1

3 1 .h4 (5) 3 . b 4 ( 5 ) 3 1 c 5 ( 5 )

Your Move 32. _32.hxg5 (1)

Your Move 3 3 . 33.g1 (1)

Your Move 3 4 34.xf4 (1)

Your Move 3 5 . 35.xf4 (1)

Your Move 3 6 . 36.f6 (8)

Your Move 3 7

37. (2) 37 g2 (2 )



Combat 40 PolarZviaintsev

3 7. . .a l Your Move: 3 8

Your core 3 8.a6 (5)

38 . . .xa3 Your Move : 3 9

Your core : 39.a8 (6)

And White went on to win score: I OO

Your Combat Score: Your Combat Performance:

Why d Plgar play as sh did?

14'h1

Always a useful move Also good are14f5 and 14ad eS (or 14 h4S h3 eS ) S fxeS h414 �h4 15h3

This queen move is stronger than S e3eS or S g4 eS 1 6 e3 exf4 1 7 xf4

eS 15 e5 16�e3

1 6 fxe5 gives Black extra option ustlike in the game he can play 1 6 xe5but 16 dxe5 1 7 e3 gS is so possible16 exf4 17�xf4

7 f4 gS is very s trong for Black17 e5 18�xe5 dxe5 19ad1 �g5

20�c4 c8

20 e7 2 d5 xdS 2 2 xd5 andWhite is better due to the opposite-col

oured bishops White 's bishop is far moreactive than Black's2xf7

Black is more or less ne after 2 g3f421xh3

2 1 xf7 2 2 xf7 + xf7 2 3 xh7 +

and i t must be clear that Black i s not going to survive this onslaught For instance 23 f8 24xg6! e3 25d6!or 24 f4 2 5 d622xf8+

2 2 f3 + g7 2 3 h3 and Blackhas reasonable compensation owing tohis active pieces and the fact that the rook

is still out of play on h3 Here 2 4 f ismet by 24 xf + 2 5 xf f8 22 'xf8 23gxh3

White has won a pawn but the technicalob is not at all elementary Black hascompensation because of his pair ofbishops

Zviagintsev now seeks counterplay on thequeenside

2 0 7



he Chess Comat imulato Round 4

23 b8 24g2

Polga ings in the king, alwas a stongpiece in the ending Equall good is24d524 b5 25�d5 �e8 26f1 +

hee ae othe useful moves too, like26 a3 and 26 e226 g7 27a3

But not 2 e2 4 27 a5 28e2

Polga manoeuves the knight to d3 to tiea lack piece to the potection of e S 28 b6

nl White would pot fom the opening of the a-le afte 28 4 29ax4ax4 30a 1

29c1 �f4 29 f6 3 0 3 a4 3 cS with active pla30d3 g5 31h4

White gets id of a weak pawn, utZviagintsev's susequent action gives himenough countepla to hold he attempts 3 4 and 3 1 cS offe similachances of success 31 h6 32hxg5 xh2+ 33g1 xc2

34xf4 exf4 35xf4 xb2

Because of the limited amount of mateialthe game is likel to end in daw Polga

2 08

has a nice tick up he sleeve though f3 S g6 then 36f8 d 3g8+h S 3 8 e 5 and Black is sueing

36f6 b1 +T i ng, e opnt's ng w t od old not e Zagnw to a n at out to in Nal d g w 36 4 3 3 8 6 d B old ae to 37f2

3 g2

37 a1 slt of e 3 38 39 4 . d s � m a ce d K a 3 6 ? 38 6 g6 39 3 df g 38a6 xa3 39a8

he ishop can't move ecause of mateon g8, and is lost due to a pin 39 f840c6 and 39 f 40 a Because oths tick White wins a piece d the game39 g6 40xe8 xg5 41e5 b4 42e6

d3 43g8+ f6 44f8+

Black esigned The e-pawn is ustoppaleFo example, 44 e 4S + and now:4S e8 46c6+ , o 45 d8 46c6o 4S d6 46d+ cS 4 e




To keep track o yo results, ll out this scorecard.

Comba No Your Sor Your Porman

Cob 3

Comb 3

Cob 3 3

Cob 34

Cob 3

Cob 3

Cob3

Cob 3

Cob3

Cob40

Your Average Combat Performance in Round 4

Good luck i Rod

209



The Chess Combt imultor Round 5

onbat 1

-rLas Vegas 1999

f3 f6 2c4 e6 3d4 dS 4c3 dxc4

5.e4 �b4 6�g5 cS

Polgr hs opted for the shrp ViennVrition Although this line ws re

serched in the times of Euwe, it is stillpopulr mong grndmsters Due to itscomplex chrcter this opening is suitble for Blck to ply for win �xc4 cxd4 8.xd4 �xc3+ 9.bxc3

a5 0.�b5+

For I ObS see the gme Krpov-Lutierin this book.0 ... �d

r IO . bd7 I I �xf6 xc3 + 1 2 .fgxf6 I 3 .h4 nd White hs dngerous ttcking chnces for the pwn�xf6 gxf6

Clerly not I I . . .xc3+? I2 .f gxf6I 3 I nd White wins on the spot.

i

2.b3 a6 3.�e2 c6 400 c

After number of more or less forcedmoves we hve reched n interestingmiddlegme position. White hs slight

led in development, nd this is ugmented by the fct tht Blck's king is not

2 I O

entirely sfe. hould Blck succeed inbringing his king into sfety then shemy even hope for n dvntge ndeed,

Wite's queenside is not pretty sightwith its isolted pwns on 2 nd c3 .Plese note tht both plyers were not yeon their own. n prctice this posit ion hsoccurred numerous times, nd we cnsfely ssume tht Khlifmn nd Polgrwill hve exmined it in detil too5ab aS

Polgr covers the pwn with gin otempo nd spires to stress the weknessof the squres c4 nd cS in the future (notto mention the eventul win of thec-pwn) . White must ply dynmiclly tdemonstrte this his chnces outweighBlck's stticl pluses. Cn you do justthis, nd follow in the footsteps of lKhlif'?

The Combat begns. Good Luck!



You e te

Your core

1 6. . .c8

Your core

1 7 .. .'ic5

Your core

1 8.. .e5

Your core

1 9...xb3

Your core

20. . .a5Your core

2 1 .. .�e6

Your core

22.. .00

Your core

2 3 ...h8

Your core

24.. .'ie7

Your core

25 ... g8

Your core

Combt 4 1 -KhlifmnPolgr

Your Move 1 6 1 6.'ia3 (5 ) 1 6 b2 (2) 1 6 c2 (2 )

Your Move 1 7 1 7 .c4 (8) 1 7 fd 1 ( 8 )

Your Move 1 8 1 8 .'ic3 ( 5)

Your Move 1 9

1 9.b3 (5) 1 9 c2(2

Your Move 20 _20.axb3 (2)

Your Move 2 1 _

21.fd1 (6) 2 I bd 1 (6 ) 2 1 g3 (2 )

Your Move 22 22.h3 ( 1 0) 22 d3(7 ) 22 d2(5 )

Your Move 23 23 .'ig3 (4)

Your Move 24 24.'ih4 ( 4)

Your Move 2 5 . 25 .�g4 (8) 2S d3 ( 3 )

Your Move 2 6 26. d3 (5)

2 1 1



The Chess Combt imultor Round S

26.. .g5 Your Move: 2 7 Your core : 27.�xe6 (6) 2 7 .bd (6)

2 7. .e6 Your Move: 2 8 .

Your core : 28Jbdl (5)

28...cg8 Your Move: 2 9 . Your core : 29.d6 (1 0) 9 .g3 (S )

29. .c8 Your Move: 3 0 Your core : 30.g3 (4)

30.. .g7 Your Move : 3 1 . Your core : 31 .ld5 (5)

3 1 . . .h6 Your Move: 3 2

Your core : 32.xe5 (8) 32 x5(6)

Blck resigned score: I OO

Your Combat Score: Your Combat Performce:

Why did if play as h did?

Weker re 1 6 .b2 chneider-Bikhovsk,Belin 99 0 , nd 1 6 .c2 LubojevicPiket, Monte Crlo I 9 99 16 c8 17c4

A dicult choice. Here I 7 .fd I so looksgood After I 7 . .xc3 ? 1 8 d6 c7 9 fS White hs too strong n ttck forthe single pwn tht he hs lost. The geKsprovHjrtson, Tilburg 9 89 , endeconvincingly fter 1 9 . . exfS 20xf6 002 1 .d3 f4 22 .d h6 23 .xh6 f

16a3 24b6 �c6 2S.x5 h7 26xfWhite must prevent Blck from cstling 1 -0 . However, insted of 1 7 . .xc3? it i

2 1 2



much better to py 1 7 cS (s olgrso does fter 1 7 c4) ow, 1 8 c1 cnbe met by 1 8 g5 17..."c5

repring to cstle Agin Bck shouldnot be mteriistic nd ply 1 7 xc4?when EingornYudsin, Moscow 1 98 8 ,went 1 8 xc4 xc4 1 9 fd 1 c3 Andnow White would hve hd superiorposition fter 2 0 b 3 18."c3 e5

Whie Khifmn plyed this gme in LsVegs, Vn Wey hd the sme positionginst Rustemov on the other side of theglobe n the olish town of onicZdro Rustemov opted for 1 8 e7 , buteventuly lost due to his bd king ncidently, 1 8 0-0 19 fd1 4 20b3would lso fvour White19.b3

A resonbe ide is 1 9 c 2 plnning themnoeuvre e3-d5 However, Blck cngin equl chnces in tht cse with1 9 xc4 20 b7 d6 2 xc5 cS22 b8+ c8 19... xb3 20.axb3

White hs improved his pwn structurend thretens b4 (so no points for20xb3) He hs cer position dvntge due to his led in deveopment(Bck still hsn't mnged to cstle ) ndBck's inferior pwn structure on thekingside20 ... 5 21.fd1

ighty less ogicl but eqully good is2 bd 2 g3 helps Blck er2 h5 followed by e21 ... e6 22.3

A lovey move in its simplicity Khlifmnnot ony prevents ny eventu bck rnkmtes, but lso prepres to trde bishops

with g4 Also plyble re 22d3 nd

Combt 4 1 Khlifmn-or

22 ... 0-0 23."g3+

Bck's queen is forced bck with this ndKhlifmn's next move23 ... 8 24."4 e7 25. g4

The exchnge of bishops fvours Whitewho my use the light squres for hisrooks Weker is 25 d3 cd825... g8

The rel point of Khlifmn's mnoeuvreis seen fter 2 5 cd8 26d5 (2 bonuspoints if you spotted this) Now2 6 xdS ? fis to 2 7 f nd mte fol-ows26Jd3g5 27 . xe6

Eqully good of course is 2 7 bd 1 cg828 xe6 , which trnsposes to the gme

for 2 8 xg2+? 29 f g + 30 e2xd 1 3 1 f oses27 ... xe6

r 27 fxe6 28bd1 nd the weknessof the 7 th rnk decides28.bd1 cg8

22 d2 29.d6

2 1 3



The Chess Combt imultor Round 5

You are Back

Your core :

17Jael

Your core :

18 .bl

Your core :

19 JU

Your core :

20.e5

Your core :

21 .d2Your core :

22.cxd3

Your core:

23.c4

Your core:

24.g3

Your core :

25.xg3

Your core:

26.d6

Your core :

27.cl

Your core :

2 1 6

Your Move : 1 6 1 6. . .a6 (6) 1 6 g7(2 )

Your Move : 1 7 1 7.. .d4 (5)

Your Move: 1 8 .

1 8 ...c4 (4)

Your Move: 1 9

1 9 . ..f6 (7) 1 9 cxd3(4) 19 c5(4)

Your Move : 20 _20.. . (3)

Your Move: 2 1

2 1 . .. cxd3 (3) 2 1 . . b8 ( 1 )

Your Move: 2 2 22.. .c5 (4) 2 2 d7 ( 3 ) 2 2 b8(2)

Your Move : 2 3 2 3 .. .b7 (4)

Your Move : 24 24.. g3 (2)

Your Move : 25 25 . . .d7 (5)

Your Move: 26 .

2 6...a6 (6) 2 6 d5(3)

Your Move : 2 7

2 7 .. .xd3 (2)



Combt 4 2 dvksov-VnWey

28.xc5 Your Move 2 8 Your core 28b8 (5)

29.b3 Your Move 29 Your core : 29b6 (8) 2 9 . . .h6(4)

30.cl Your Move 3 0 . Your core 30h6 (5)

3 1 .el Your Move 3 1 . Your core : 3 1 .a6 (6) 3 1 . . e3+ (4) 3 1 . . . d2 (4)

32. Your Move 32 Your core : 32xa2 (2)

3 3

xd4 Your Move 3 3

Your core 3 3 . . .c6 (4) 3 3 . . 5 ( 3) 3 3 . .d2(3)

34.c4 Your Move 34 .

Your core 34e4 (5) 34 d5(4)

35 . Your Move : 3 5 . .

Your core 35 .. .a5 (5) 3 5 .�c2(4)

36.h3 Your Move : 36 .

Your core 36d5 (5) 3 6 . .c2(4)

3 7.bl Your Move 37 . . Your core 3 7a4 (3 )

38.g3 Your Move 3 8 Your core : 3 8axb3 (1)

White resigned. axscore: I OO


2 1 7




Why did V Wely play as he did?

16 ... �a6

Bad is 1 6 . .d4? due to 1 7 .a4 followedby b3. As we will see on the next move,Black should only play ... d4 when he canfollow-up with . . .c4.Weaker than the text is also 1 6 g7 .White i s better after 1 7 .exdS and now: 1 7 . . .exd5 1 8 .ae + e6 1 9 . e5 . 1 7 . .d4+ 18 .h exdS 19 ae+e6 20 .�e5 . 1 7 .cxd5 1 8 bS d7 1 9 .ae .17.ae1

Here 1 7 . exdS cxdS 1 8e I can be sim

ply met by 1 8 . d7. However, not1 8 . .e7 ? I 9 .xdS ! .17 ... d4

Now this is correct since Black can continue with . c4 before White can preventthis with b3 Black thus succees in traing one of his doubled pawns.18.b1 c4 19. f3 f6

Threatening to gain space , and preventingWhite from playing e4-e5 when Blackwould end up with a vulnerable pawnonf7 Also playable are 1 9 . . cxd3 and 1 9 . . cS .However, not good is 1 9 . .b4?! as thebishop performs no useful task on this

square.20.e5f5

2 1 8

Black keeps the centre closed and winseven more space.21.d2 cxd3

Weak is 2 . . . c3 ? which leaves Black onlyweak pawns after 22.bxc3 dxc3 Aso badis 2 I . . . b4 2 2 .b3 . omewhat better is

2 b8 22 b3 cxd3 2 3 . cxd3 .22.cxd3 c5

Also quite reasonable are 2 2 . . .d7 and2 2 . .b8 .23.c4 b7

But not 2 3 . .xc4? 24.dxc4 and White'sposition has signicantly improved.24.g3 xg3

Not 24 . g4 due to 25xg4 hxg426 d6+ xd6 2 7 .exd6.25.xg3 d7

This prevents the fork d6+ , and deploysthe king in the centre.26.d6 a6

This is far stronger than 26 . . .d5

27 .c ! ( 27 b3 h6) 27 . xa228 xc5 b8 (28 . . b I 29 .c4!)2 9 .aS xb2 3 0 .a7 + c6 3 1 .a6+with a repetition.27.c1

f 2 7 .d I then Black has the tactical reply 2 7 . . .h6.27 ... xd3 28.xc5 b8

An important move, for Black would los



all his advantage with 2 8 . �h6 29.�.29.b3 b6

l

Ql 81

l

This is best. The threats are ...�b 1 and c6 . Another good point of Van Wely'smove is that it prevents 3 0 . .Yet , it is true that 29 . . h6 is much betterhere than on the previous move. For example 30 . b4 3 1 c4 f8 3 2 .a5xc4.30 . :c1 h6

f 30 . c6 then 3 1 .d 1 .31. :e1:a6

By now Black has gained so many plusesthat several moves would do the trick:3 . .e3+ 3 f4, or 3 . . .�d2

32 .d 1 e3+ 3 3 c2.31 ... a6 32 . f2

Combat 4 2 advakasov-VanWel

f course 3 2 .a4 is met by 3 2 . .c2.32 ... xa2 33 . xd4 c6

Also strong are 3 3 . a5 and 33 . .d2

34d1 �e2 35.b1 �b4.34.c4e4

r 34. . d5 .35. f2

35... a5

Almost equally good is 3 5 . . c2 36b4b36.h3d5

Alternatively, Black has 3 6 . . .c2.37 . :b a4 38.g3

Black also wins after 38.a5+ b539 .b4�f8 .

38 ... axb3White resigned

2 1 9




obat3

Conq uest-SokolovEvora 2006

1.d4 f6 2.c3

The Veresov pening Play oten developsalong e4 lines2 ... d5

topping e4 and punishing White orhis previous move After 2 e6 3e4 d5we have the Classical Variation of theFrench, while 2 g6 3 e4 d6 is the Pirc3.�g5

Fairly dubious is the attempt to transposeinto the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit with3 e4 as instead o 3 dxe4 which wouldlead to a Blackmar Diemer proper (not areal achievement) Black has 3 xe4!3 ... bd7

n practice this is clearly the most popularmove Black prevents White rom racturing his paw structure Most other moveswould be met by 4 �x6

4.d3?White brings out the queen early in thegame, but he is simply determined to playe4 A crude strategy perhaps , but it is notso easy to meet Another advantage o thequeen move is that queenside castling isprepared okolov now puts the questionto the bishop4... h6

Black oten goes 4 c6 which opens thediagonal d8-a5 or the queen After 5e4play continues 5 dxe4 6xe4 xe47xe4 and now 7 b6 ! ? is interesting;the point is revealed after castlingqueenside 80-0-0 a5! and a2 and g5

are attackedHere 4 g6 can be met by 5 0- 0 -0 5 e4

2 2 0

o r 5 3 ! ? �g 7 6e4 depending upon yourpersonal taste4 c5 ! ? 50-0 -0 (5 dxc5) 5 cxd4

6xd4 is a little better or White nHectorKirkegaard, Copenhagen 2006,Black soon had to resign 6 e6 7 e4 dxe48xe4 a5 ? ? (missing Hectors 1 2thmove) 9�xf6 gxf6 Ox6+ xf6 x6 g8 1 2�b5 + ! hort but sweet!5.�h4 e6 6.e4

course, play now resembles the

Rubinstein Variation o the French6... dxe4 7.xe4 e7

There is something to be said for7 �b4+ 8c3 �e7 which may dissuadeWhite rom castling queenside ( c3 wouldbe a minor weakness in that case) 8.xf6+ xf6

Black aims to exchange as many minorpieces as possible White has just an edgeafter 8 x6 939.xf6xf6

Not 9 x6 when it is harder or Blackto push c5 or e5Black has succeeded in exchanging twpairs o minor pieces, but he is still suf

ering rom a slight lack of space okolovalso has to solve the problem of how tdevelop the light-squared bishop Whiteis better as Conquest demonstrates Cayou follow suit?

The Combat begns. Good Luck!



You are Wte

Your core

1 0.. .00

Your core

1 1 . . .c

Your core

1 2 .. .b6

Your core

1 3 . . .cxd4

Your core

1 4.. .e7Your core

1 .. .f6

Your core

1 6. . .xgS

Your core

1 7. . .�b7

Your core

1 8.. .g6

Your core

And White won

Your Combat Score:

Combat 43 ConquestASokolov

Your Move 1 0

1 0. (3) 1 0 0 - 0 - 0 ( 1 )

Your Move : 1 1 .

1 1 .'ie3 (9) 1 1 00 0 ( 2)

Your Move 1 2

1 2 .000 (S)

Your Move 1 3

13.�bS (8) 1 3 .e4(2 )

Your Move 1 4.

14.d4 (3) 14 .xd4( 1 )

Your Move 1 5 .1 S .g4 (9) 1 S .�c6(9 )

Your Move 1 6 .

1 6.gS (3) 1 6 g 1 ( 1 )

Your Move 1 7

I7.g (I)

Your Move 1 8

18.g1 (4) 1 8 d7(4 )

Your Move 1 9 .

1 9.d7 (S) 1 9 .eS ( S )

amum score: SO

Your Combat Performance:

2 2 1




Why did Conquest play as he did?

10f3

!

!l l l l l l t

10 .0-0-0 al lows 10 . . . 0 - 0 ( I O . . .x??I . loses) I f3 e5 see the nextnote.10 0-0 1Ue3

This move is essential . Black would equalize after 1 1 .0 -0-0 e5 1 1 c5

n this particular case it is not enough forBlack to be able to play ... c5. White willprot from the opening of the position:he has an edge in development and hecan use the d-le rst.

120-0-06Black wants to develop his queenside inthe most straightforward manner. Yet, heexperiences serious problems aerWhite's next .1 2 . . . cxd4 1 3d4 c5 1 4. e5 is alsobetter for White .13�5

White develops and prevents ...�b7 . Not1 3 .e4 b8 1 4.�d3 d8 ! and now1 5 .h7 + f 1 6 .d5 �b7 ! 1 7 .dxe6 fxe6promises nothing.13 cxd4

Here 1 3 . . .d8 solves nothing after14 .e5! xe5 (14. . . cxd4 1 5 .xd4)

1 5 .dxe5 e7 1 6 .xd8+ xd8 1 7 .de7 ( 1 7 . . .c7 18 d6) 18 c6 b8

2 2 2

1 9 .d6 and White i s rmly in the

driver's seat .14d4

1 4xd4 is a slightly better ending.1 4. xd4 c5 and Black has equalized.14 e7

Here 14. . c5 I 5.e 5 was stronger, butstill unpleasant .

15g4

Conquest (what's in a name) never shiesaway from an all-out kingside attack n agame Hector-Koneru, Wijk aan Zee 2003 ,Black ad omitted the inclusion o f 4 . . h6

5 . h4. o, the players reached the sameposition as in this game (on their thirteenth move) with the pawn on h7 andnot on h6. n that case, Wite is muchbetter too as Hector demonstrated with1 4.�c6 b8 1 5 . hd f6 1 6 e 5 ! .Hence, Conquest could also have obtained a virtually winning position wih1 5 .�c6 ! b8 1 6 . hd for if 1 6 . . .f6( 1 6 . . .c5 1 7 .b4 a6 1 8 .a3) then1 7 .e5 ! �a6 ( 1 7 . .�b7 18 .d7)18a4.15 f6?

Bringing a defender to the king , but actually making things worse.

16g5 There is no need to hesitate with 1 6g I .



16 hxg5 1xg5

The f6knight is pinned and there isnothing to be done against 1 8 g I and acomplete onslaught on Black's king.1 �b

White is winning in all lines as is demonstrated by 1 7 . .d5 1 8 xd5 1 7 . . .c5 1 8 .xf6 ! gxf6 1 9 g +gS + 20 .xg5 fxgS 2 I .xg5 + h72 2 .h4 mate.

1 7 . . d8 1 8 .g I g6 1 9 .xd8+ xd820 .e5 18g1

The immediate 1 8 .d7 is equally strong 18 g6 19d

Taking full advantage of the pin, but1 9 e5 ! cS 2 0 .h6 xd4 2 1 xg6also mates.After the text White won effortlessly after

Combat 43 Conuest-ASokolov

I x•l

l

'-·

19 xd 20�xd xd 21h4

Unfortunately for Black the attack justcontinues 21 �e4 22g4 �f5 23xf5 exf5

24xf5 ad8 25g5 c5 26h4

e8 2b3 g 28h6+ f6 294+

e6 30g f8 36+ e

32xg6 e6 33f6+ e8 34g4

d5 35h4

Black resigned .

2 2 3



Te Cess Comat imulator Round 5

ombat

Topov-AdSan Luis 005

1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3

Topalov aims for a 1 .d4 opening witoutwising to allow te Nimzo-ndian. Adams indicates wit is next move tat e

will not e tricked.3 ... c5 4.g3 b6 5. g2 �b 7 6.0-0 �e7

Now we ave reaced a position from tesmmetrical Englis ( 1 c4 cS ) 7.e1

A clever move Wite aims for ot e4and d4 witout allowing Black to tradete isops , as appens after 7 .d4 cxd48xd4 �xg2 9xg2 c8 n practice,Wite terefore often takes ack on d4wit te queen. After 7 d4 cxd4 8xd4d6 we reac a socalled edgeog position (Black plas on tree ranks) wereWite must still lose a tempo ecause ofis queen on d4 Adams as a lot of expe

rience on te lack side of tis sstem: 9 .�g5 6 �xf6 �xf6 .d30-0 ?? 1 2 g5 and Wite wins an excange llescas-Adams, Halkidiki 1 99 2 .Even strong plaers lunder ! 9 .e4 0-0 1 e3 d7 d4 c71 2 .3 a6 1 3 .�2 fe8 1 4 .ac 1 ad8 5 8 wit a standard edgeogin Karpov-Adams, Wijk aan Zee 99 8 . 9 .d1 a6 I O .�gS d7 1 1 .d2 0 -01 2 .�f4 e8 1 3 g5 �xg2 1 4xg2c8 S 3 c6 1 6 ac 6 1 7 . a81 8g 1 and draw agreed in YermolinskAdams, New Deli 2 000 .7 ... e4

Te standard answer. Black takes advantage of 7 e to trade knigts

224

8d4

Te most aggressive move. Here 8.xe4�xe4 9 .d 3 �7 O e4 is also plaed

Compared to a regular edgeog Blackas succeeded in excanging a pair ofpieces n Vaganian-Adams, Yerevan1 99 6 , Black experienced no prolems after 8 c2 xc3 9 .dxc3 c7 I O �f4 d6 ad c6 1 2 g5 �xgS 1 3 �xg56 1 4 �c 0-0 .8 ... xc3 9.bxc3 �e4

n te ueen's ndian tis isop manoeuvre often occurs Black prevents isisop from eing locked in after d4d5(or e2-e4) An example is Filippovimantev, Polanica Zdroj 1 99 9 : 9 . . . d6I O dS eS . e4 0-0 1 2 .4 d7 1 3 �3c8 1 4 2 (on it s wa to te centralsquare e3) 14 8 1 5 .a4 aS 1 6 g 2c7 7 .f �a6 1 8 e3 wit a spaceadvantage.Coming ack to Adams' 9 . �e4, it isclear tat Wite as a potentiall strongcentre owing to is douled c-pawns. Atte same time , especiall te c4-pawn canecome weak Te isop on c 1 is not et

developed ut as no clear future (justlike often in te closed Ru Lopez for example). Te isop on e4 iniitsWite's possiilities. Can ou nd tecorrect plan?

The Combat beg. Good Luck!



You e Wte

Your core:

1 0.. .6

Your core :

1 1 . . .7

Your core:

1 2 .. .00

Your core :

1 3 . ..6

Your core:

1 4.. .ex5Your core :

1 5 .. .�f6

Your core:

1 6...b5

Your core :

1 7 .. .b6

Your core :

1 8...x

Your core :

1 9.. . xc4

Your core :

20.. .e5

Your core :

Combat 44 Toalov-Adams

Your Move: 1 0 . 10.�f1 (7) 1 0 . h3 (S )

Your Move: 1 1 1 1 .4 (5) 1 1 d2 (4) 1 . d5 (4) 1 a4 (4)

Your Move: 1 2 1 2.5 (5) 1 2 .g5 ( 3 ) 1 2 .d2 (3 ) 12 a4(4)

Your Move: 1 3 . 1 3 .a4 (5) 1 3 . g 5 ( 1 )

Your Move : 1 4 14.�3 (6)

Your Move : I S

1 5.cx5 (1 )

Your Move: 1 6 . _1 6a3 (3) 1 6 b 2 ( 1 ) 1 6 d2 (2)

Your Move: 1 7 . 17.axb5 (1)

Your Move : 1 8 . 1 8 .c4 (3 ) 1 8 . d 2 ( 1 )

Your Move: 1 9

1 9.x (1 )

Your Move: 2 0 20.'ia4 (5 ) 20 .c2 (3 )

Your Move: 2 1

21.a3 (4) 2 1 b 3 ( 3 )

2 2 5




2 1 .e8 Your Move: 2 2 .

Your core : 22 .h5 (7) 22 .e4( 1 ) 22 .d2( 3)

22e7 Your Move 23.

Your core : 23.�f4 (4) 2 3 . d2 (2)

2 3b8 Your Move : 24

Your core: 24. (7) 24 .b (3)

24.e8 Your Move: 2 5 .

Your core 2S.�c2 (6)

25 7 Your Move: 2 6

Your core : 26.e4 (4)

26

g6 Your Move: 2 7 .Your core : 27 .'id3 (2 )

2 7c4 Your Move: 2 8 .

Your core : 28 .'ixc4 ( 1 )

2 8xf4 Your Move: 29.

Your core : 29f4 (1)

29e5 Your Move: 3 0 .

Your core : 30. (4) 30 .ea (3)

30'ih3 Your Move: 3 1

Your core : 3 1 .xa7 (4) 3 e4( 3)

31 J5 Your Move: 3 2

Your core : 32.e3 (4) 3 2 .e4( 2)

32'ih2+ Your Move: 3 3

Your core : 33.fl (0)

2 2 6



Combat 44oalovAdams

3 3 h3+ Your Move : 34 . ___ _

Your core 3e2 (2) 34 .g2 ( )

3e5 Your Move 3 5 . Your core 35 c ()

3 S .c (4) 3 S .b (3 ) 3 5 �d3 (3) 3 5 .ea (3 )

35 c8 Your Move 3 6 Your core 36 () 36 . b6 ( 3 )

And aer 3 6 . . 5 3 7 .xc8+ h7 3 8 h Adams resigned.

score: l OO

our Combat Score: our Combat Performance:

Why d Topalov play as he did?

10�f1

The strongest move. Topalov removes hisbishop rom the long diagonal so that ihe wants to play his knight the bishopswill not be exchanged (a typical plan isor example d2 and e4 in the game,though, opalov goes or somethingmore dynamic) Both I 0 � andI O �h3 are standard moves in similar positions rom the ueens ndian opalovs

I O .� is stronger than I O �h3 becausein lines were Black plays .�x3 and. . c6-a5 he has already protected theweak c4-pawn More importantly in contrast to I O�h3 opalov keeps the possibility to play h4. An example o I O�h3is Kramnik-Yudasin, Yerevan 1 99 6 I 0 �h3 �x3 I ex3 cxd4 I 2 cxd4 c613 .�e3 0-0 14 c8 IS 4 a16 d3 g6 17 .�g2 c7 and Black attacks the c4-pawn once more and hasequal chances

10

d6Healthy but not the most dynamic continuation. With a knight it is easier orBlack to organize counterplay against c4.Black can exchange immediately on 3I O . . .�x3 ex3 c6 ( . . . cxd41 2 .cxd4 0-0 1 3 4 c6 1 4�e3 andWhite is a little better) I 2 d5 aS and

here too it is useul that c4 is already cov-

2 2 7




ered. akaevbrahimov, Dubai 1 999 .However, asikiran-Annageldyev, Hyderabad 2005 , demonstrated that I 0 0 -0

h4 c6 is a good option After12 .d2 �g6 13 e3 ? ! h6 14 .h5 �h7IS .b3? ! d6 16 .�g2 c 17 . e4 b818 .�f eS 1 9 .a4 d7 20.a5 (if 20.dSthen 20 . . .f5 or 20 . . �gS) 20 . cxd42 1 .cxd4 exd4 2 2 .xd4 eS Black hadexcellent counterplay.11h4

This gains space and given the right circumstances it makes g possible Alsoplayable are I I .d2 , dS , and . a4 11 d7 12d5

Here too there are decent alternativesavailable : 1 2 .g S, 1 2 d2, and 1 2 .a4 12 0-0

13a4

Topalov shows his ambitions, now hewins space on the queenside too. thermoves are weaker : 1 3 .d2? ! exdS 1 4 . f3 ( 1 4 cxdS �xdSen 1 4.xe4 dxe4 I S .�g2 fS) 1 4 . .�g6I S cxdS f6 ! 1 6 .e4 hS 1 7 .g4 �xh4!with advantage to Black. 1 3 �h3 ? ! exdS 1 4 cxd5 bS 1 3 gS �xgS 1 4 .�xg5 f6 promisesnothing either Finally, 1 3 .dxe6 ? ! is only good when it

wins material, here this is not the case after 1 3 . . fxe6 1 4.�h3 �fS

2 2 8

13 h6 14�h3

Forcing Black to exchange on dS 14 exd5

Whites chances are preferable after1 4 . . e5 I S .d2 �h7 1 6e4 fS 1 7 .xf5�xfS 1 8 exfS xfS 1 9 .g4.15cxd5 �f6 16a3

The strongest move. Topalov not onlyprotects the pawn but also prepares c4.Among other things that is the reasonwhy 1 6 .b2 or 1 6 .�d2 would be

weaker. Note how long the bishop remains on c I in this game.16 b5

This (temporary) pawn sacrice cannotcompletely solve Blacks problems However, 1 6 . .eS 1 7 xeS �xeS 1 8 .c4 alsogives White a small edge, as does 1 6 . . .c41 7 d2 �xdS 1 8 e4 �e6 1 9 .xe6 fxe620 xc4 eS 2 1 .xeS xeS 2 2 .f4 f623 .g4.17axb5 b6

18c4

The game would end in a repetition after1 8 d2 �xdS 1 9 .e4 c4 20 .xc(20 . f �xf 2 f dS with an easgame, and 20 g2 xbS 2 1 .e 5 dxeS22.�xa8 xa8 with two pawns for eexchange) 20 . .xc4 2 1 a4 b622 .a3 c4.

18 �xf3Here 1 8 . . xc4 1 9 .a4 x (nt



1 9 .xd5? 20.e4 b6 2 exd5 xa42 2 .xa4) 20 .c4 �hS leads to a somewhat better game for White, but this

promises Black better chances for a successful defence than the text .19.xf3

1 9 .ex xc4 would not be better forWhite.19... xc4 20a4

The most active move, but 20.c2 isplayable too. For, the reply 20 . aS fails

to 2 1 d I xbS (2 1 eS 22 xf6gxf6 23.xh6) 22xh6. Note that20 eS is met by 2 1 .a3 20 .. .le5 21.a3

r 2 1 b3 .21 ... e8 22.h5

Topalov gains even more space, and prepares his attack along the b -h7 diagonalt is useless to place the bishop on that diagonal immediately because of 2 2 fSg6 23 .�c2 hS After 22.e4 d7 followed by . d4Black obtains a decent game A decentbishop move is 22d2, but weaker is2 2b 2 ?! f3 + 2 3 xf3 xb2 .

22 ... e7 23.f4

At last the bishop is developed. Topalov'schoice is stronger than 2 3 d 2 23 ... 8 24.�f5

The start of a strong plan. The alternativeis b .

Combat 44 Topalov-Adams

24.. e8 25.�c2

Black cannot take on bS : 2 S xb526 .e4 g6 (26 g6 is stronger)

27.fS and White wins because d6 ishanging as well. Likewise White obtainsa material edge after 2S . .xb5 26e4eb7 (to make space for the king)27 .b xb+ 28 xb xb+29 .g2 .25... d7 26.e4 g6

r 26 . . g6 27hxg6 xg6 28d3 g7

( 2 8 . xf4?! 29h7+ f8 30.xh6+�g7 3 xf4) 2 9 .d2 with a clear edgefor White Less good is 27 .�xh6 due to2 7 . .h3 ! 2 8 .h I xh I + 29 xh IxbS n this nal variation 27 g4?brings White a winning attack after2 8 xa7 ! xa7 2 9 xg427.d3

White keeps his queen and bishop linedup 27 ... c4

Adams hopes to save himself by removingone of White's bishops (so that only opposite-coloured bishops would remain) f course taking on f4 fails to an immedi

ate mate: 27 xf4? ? 2 8 h7 + f829.h8 mate. Much tougher thoughwas 27 . f8 2 8 .f3 eS 2 9 .�xe5xeS 30ea and White is better but hestill has a long way to go28.xc4 xf4 29xf4 e5

229



he Chess Combat imulator Round S

30.f3

uite reasonable too is 3 0 ea 1 . omesample lines :

3 0 xbS 3 .b I e8 3 2 . xb8xb8 333 and White has attackingchances due to the opposite-colouredbishops 3 0 h3 3 xa7 xhS 3 2 e4 xa33.x+ h8 34.xa th more thanenough pawns for the exchange 30 xe2 3 1 xa7 xbS 3 2 .b

xb + ( 3.e8 3 3 fS) 3 3 .xb xb + 34 .g2 . 3 0 .xhS and now 3 I e4 i s lessgood due to 3xa 32h7+ f833.h8+ e7 34.xb8 d4. uperioris 3 xa7 ! h3 3 2 e4 xa 33x7+ h8 34xa which transposes to the variation after 3 0 . . .h3 .30 ... h3 31.xa7

Even stronger than 32e4 h2+3 3 f h3+ 34 .g2 .32 ... h2+ 33.f1 h3+

A slightly tougher defence was3 3 .h I + 34xh I xh I + 3 S e2xe + 3 6 .xe c3 + 3 7 e2 b4 34.e2

r 34. g2 .34 ... e5 35c7

White has several ways to win by now:3S c h 36 .xhS xhS 37 .b6

xdS 3 8 .b7 d8 3 9 a8 40.h7+xh7 4 .xc7 r 3S .b c8 36 .d3 c 37 b6 .Also winning are 3 S .d 3 and 3 S.ea I 35 ... c8

Black would also lose after 3 S . .h3 6 xhS xhS 3 7 e4 eS 3 8 .d3 .

Also strong is 3 I e4 3 xhS 3 2 xa7 h2 + 3 3 f h3 + 34g2 31.. h5

r 3 xhS 3 2 .xhS xhS 3 3 .b6 !and the ending wins .

32.e3

2 3 0

36.f5

Very nice, but 36b6 xc7 37.bxc7 c83 8 .c ! also does the job36... xf5

r 3 6 xfS 37 xfS xfS 38xc8+.37c8+ h7 38h1Black resigned



obat

Sakaev-KasparovRethymnon 2003

1d4 d5 f3 f6 3c4 c6 4c3 dxc4

n this line Black appears to give up thecentre, but he solves the perennial problem that Black faces versus 1 d4: how to

develop the light-squared bishop.At the start of the 2 1 st century Kasparovincluded the lav into his repertoire. Possibly, because i t enabled him to play for awin with Black against weak' 2600grandmasters Here he adopts the classicalline, while he has also played the fashionable Chebanenko Variation with 4 . . . a6 5a4 �f5 6e3

The so-called Dutch Variation The alternative is 6.eS. Vallejo Pons-Kasparov,Linares 2 0 03 , went: 6 . . .bd7 7 .xc4b6 (for 7 . . c7 see the gameKasparov-Morozevich) 8eS aS 9.f3fd7 1 0 .e4 xeS 1 1 .dxeS xd 1 +

1 2xd 1 �e6 1 >c2 f6 and Black wasne6 e6 7�xc4 �b4

nce again increasing his control over thee4square800 bd7 9h4

With white Kasparov has also adoptedthis lineternatives are 9. e 2 (to place the rookon d 1 and to push e4 eventually) , and9b3 (to grasp the initiative by attacking the bishop) 9 �g6

The other bishop move 9 . �g4 provokes1 O f3 which has certain advantages but

some drawbacks as wellnterestingly, Black may even leave the

Combat 4S Sakaev-Kasparov

bishop on fS with 9 . . . 0- 0. After 1 0 xfSexfS Black may have lost his bishop, butowing to the pawn on fS he is able to

keep White 's centre in check .10h3

Black equalized in Krasenkow-vanchuk,Polanica Zdroj 2 000 , after 1 O xg6 hxg61 1 h3 0-0 1 2 .f3 a 1 3 .�d2 ad81 4.fd 1 fe8 1 S .�e 1 eS Pushing .e6-eS (sometimes .c6-cS) is an important strategic goal in the lav

n an old' game Kasparov-Beliavsky,Til burg 1 9 8 1 , there followed 1 O . g3 001 I .b3 b6 1 2 xg6 hxg6 1 3d 1 aS ,and now, according to Kasparov, Whitecould have kept a small opening advantage with 1 4�f .10 �h5

Now that White has already played h3 itis less attractive to play 1 1 f3 . Less accurate is 1 0 . . . 0 -0 , for after 1 1 .xg6 hxg61 2 .c2 c8 1 3 .d 1 b6 1 4 .e4 cS1 S dS eS 1 6 e2 exdS 1 7 xdS xdS18 xdS c6 19 c4 White was betterin Kasparov-Anand, Linares 1 9 9 3 .11b3

A characteristic lav posit ion . Can you deliver a strategic masterpiece, just likeKasparov?

The Combt beg. Good Luck!

2 3 1




You are Back Your Move: . . Your core : 1 1 . .. a5 (4) . . a5 ( ) . . b 6( 2)

12.g4 Your Move: 2 . . .

Your core : 1 2•••�g6 (5) 2 . . .xg4(5)

13.g2 Your Move : 3 . .

Your core : 1 3 .. . 0-0 (4) 3 . . .b6(2)

14.f4 Your Move : 4 . . . Your core : 1 4•••e5 (7)

4 . . .b6 (3 ) 4. . .e7 ( 3 ) 4 . . .c8 ( 3 )

15.xe5 Your Move: 5 . . . Your core : 1 5 •••xe5 ( 1 )

1 6•e2 Your Move: 6 . . Your core : 1 6•f7 (8 ) 6 . . .e7 (3 )

1 7.xg6 Your Move: 7 . . . Your core: 1 7•••xg6 (2)

18.1 Your Move : 8 . . Your core : 1 8••c5 (8) 8 . . .e7(4)

19.x8 Your Move: 9 . . .

Your core: 1 9•••xb3 (1)

20.xa8 Your Move: 20 . .

Your core : 20•••xa8 (2)

2.b1 Your Move : 2 . . Your core : 2 1 .••8 ( 4)

2 3 2



Combat 45 akaevKasarov

22.�l Your Move : 2 2 . . Your core : 22...xcl (6) 2 2 . . d2(2 ) 22 . . .�xc3(4)

2 3•xc l Your Move 2 3 . . Your core : 2 3. . .e5 (8) 2 3 . .d2 ( 3 )

24.�b3 Your Move: 24 . . Your core: 24.. .2 (5)

25•c2 Your Move: 25 . . Your core : 25. . .xc3 (6) 2 5 . . .f3+(6)

26.bxc3 Your Move: 2 6 . . Your core: 26... (6) 26 . . d + (6)

27.fl Your Move : 2 7 . . .Your core : 2 7. . . (7) 2 7 . . .b 5 ( 3 )

28•c l Your Move: 2 8 . _Your core: . . .g5 (7)

29. c2 Your Move: 29 . . . _Your core 29.. .e4 (5 )

30.el Your Move : 3 0 . . _Your core: 30. . .xc2 (2)

3 .xc2 Your Move: 3 1 . .

Your core: 3 . . .xc3 (2)

And Kasparov won the ending M score: 1 00


2 3 3



than the game continuation is 22 c32 3 .xb3 �b4 24.f423xc1

23 e5

ntroducing the threats of 24 d3 or24 . .c4. Accuracy is required. After2 3 d2 24 . c2 c3 2 S .bc3 eWhite has 26 . d 1 . And if 2 S . . .f8 then2 6 g6 hg6 2 7 b 1 24b3

More stubborn is 24 c2 For eample :24 . . c4 (24 . �c3 2 S .bc3 d226 . d 1 ) 2 S .a2 xb2 26 b4 ab42 7 . b .24 d2

Now the time has come to invade the second rank Not 24. .d3 2S . d 1 The correct reply to 24 . f3 + is 2S .g2 .25 c2 25 c2

Worse i s 2 S . d 1 b2 2 6 . d8+ �f825 �xc3

2 S . .f3+ 26.f �c3 27.bc3 is thegame and would also earn you 6 ponts .26bxc3 f3+

At rst sight 26 . . d 1 + is less good sinceafter 2 7 .g2 b 1 White has the saving2 8 . d2 owing to the back rank mate.Even the witty 28 . . g 1 + 29 .xg 1f3 + 3 0 g2 xd2 3 1 �c2 does not

Combat 4 S akaev-Kasparov

promise Black anything However if yousaw that after 26 . d 1 + 2 7 g2 Blackhas 27 . . d3 ! 28 . cS 2 9 e2 h 1

then you may award yourself with awell-deserved 6 points27f1 f8

Bringing the king toward the centre andavodng any back rank mates Less clearthan the game continuation is 2 7 . . .bS28 . c 1 .28c1

28 g5

This is not so easy to nd but it wins material by force29c2 e4

Black would spoil everything with

29 . . xc2 ? ! 3 0 .c2 h3 ? since 3 1 f4traps the knight30e1

r 30 .c4 d3 3 1 a2 a3 and Blackwins.30 xc2 31xc2 xc3

Black has a healthy etra pawn. He wonthe ending fairly eortlessly after:32d2 d5 33b3 e7 34d3 d6

35d4 f6 36h4 h6 37h5 c7

A nice manoeuvre to nish the game.38f4 e6+ 39c4 c5 40�c2 xa4

41d4

and White resigned at the same tme.

2 3 5




obat6

Topov-KWik n Zee 2006

1.4 d5 2.xd5 f6 3f3

After his studies Kamsky carefuly prepared for his comeback to the chessworld. n New York he took part in sev

eral rapid tournaments n one of thesegrandmaster Yudasin chose: 3d4 d54c4 and aer 4 . .b6 5 .c3 g6 6 . e3�g7 7 .h 3 00 8 f3 c6 9 .d2 e5I O. d5 e7 I I .g4 f5 an eciting battle layahead Yudasin-Kamsky New York 2 004 .3 ... xd5 4.d4 f5

Much more common is 4 . .g4 pinningthe knight The position after 5e2 hasoccurred several times in Kamskys practice: 5 e6 6 . 0 0 e7 7 .e5 �e2 8 e20-0 9 d I d7 I O .c4 5f6 I I �f4 c6I 2 .c3 and White was a little better inLekoKamsky Groningen I 99 5 .

5 . . e 6 6. 0 0 e7 7 .c4 b6 8 .c3 0-09 h3 f3 (here 9 . . .�h5 I O.�e3 c6 ismore popular) I O �f3 c6 I I c 5 d51 2 .d5 ed5 I 3 .�e3 f6 I 4.d3 andagain White had some advantage].Polgar-Kamsky Monte Carlo bind I 995 5 c6 6 .c4 b6 7 d 5 �f3 8 . gf3 ! ?( 8 . f3 e5 9 .�e2 c 6 I O .d4 g6I I .c3 e5 is K for Black) 8 . e5 9f4ed7 I O .c3 c6 I dc6 bc6 1 2 �e3e6 was played by Kamsky in a rapid playo following his Candidates match versusAnand in I 994 . Kamsky won eventually.5. d3

This is probably best. White echanges a

piece but wins a tempo for his development. After 5c4 b4 6.a3 e6 Black is

2 3 6

not doing so badly because the knight isawkwardly placed on a3 .5. xd3 6xd3 6 70-0

Naturally White cannot win a pawn with7 .b5 + c6 8. b7 due to 8 . . .db4.7 . c6

n several games Black has adopted themodest 7 . . d7 after 8.c4 5f6 9.c3�e7 I O f4 00 I .ad I c6 White isbetter due to his space advantage.8.c4 b6 9c3 �7 1O f4

Until now both players have simply developed their pieces Had Kamsky nowplayed I 0 . 0-0 then he would have hadmerely a slightly worse position afterI I .ad I but nothing out of the ordinaryWe will never know what possessedKamsky when he played his net move.10 ... g5? 11. g3 g4

Consistent but etremely risky Blackwins a central pawn but he ignores hisdevelopment and especially the safety ofhis king.12.5 xd4

n case of I 2 . . .d4 Black would be inmaor trouble after I 3 .e2 folowed by

I 4ad I . After the tet Black has won apa but his king is stuck in the middleand he can never hope to hide his maestyon the kingside. Can you demonstrate likeTopalov that Kamsky has gone too far?

The Combat begns Good Luck!



Combat 46 Toalov-Kamsk

You are Wte Your Move: 1 3 . Your core: 1 3 .c5 (5) 1 3 ad (S ) 1 3 . fd 1 (3 )

1 3••�xc5 Your Move: 1 4. _Your core : 1 4•al (5) 1 4 fd 1 ( 3 )

14•••00 Your•ove : 1 5 . Your core : 1 5 .e4 (4) 1 S . xg4(3 ) 1 S .b4(2)

1 5 •••�e 7 Your Move: 1 6 Your core 1 6.xg4 (6) 1 6d4( 2)

1 6••c5 Your Move: 1 7 . Your core : 1 7.b4 1 7 .�e5 ! 1 7 .h6+(5 )

1 7•••

5 Your Move : 1 8 .

Your core : 18.bxc5 ( I ) 1 8 . e5 !

1 8• Your Move: 1 9 . Your core : 1 9.'i (4)

1 9 .b3 (3) 1 9 d6(3 ) 1 9 .e5 (3 ) 1 9 .d6(3 )

1 9•••c8 Your Move : 20 Your core: 20 .�6 (4) 20 . e5 (2) 20 d6(3 )

20•••x6 Your Move: 2 1 . Your core: 21.cx6 (2) 2 1 .xd6 ( 1 )

2 1 .••4 Your Move : 2 2 . Your core: 22 .7 (4) 22 .e3 (2 )

22••c6 Your Move: 2 3 . Your core : 23 .e5 (2)

2 3 7



The Chess Combat imulato Round S

2 3 c7 You Moe 24 _You coe g+ (3)

24 You Moe 2 5 _You coe 25 .d6 (3)

And Kamsky esigned

Your Combat Score:

Mw score: 46 (50)

Your Combat Performce:

Why d Tpalv play as h d?

13c5

This is typical of Topalo's style , he sacices anothe pawn fo a huge initiatieNatual and good is 1 3 ad 1 White isbette afte 1 3 fS 14e2 c8 andnow I S c S o I S xg4 Following1 3 ad I Black can also eply with

1 3 cS!? when he would be ne afte14 xg4hS ! I S eS ( I S e3) I S g816 h6 g6 1 7 b xh6 1 8 c7 +f8 I 9 xa8 Howee instead of1 4xg4 White has the stonge 1 4e4Moing the othe ook to d I I 3 fd I is slightly less good

13 �xc5 14ad1Again this is the ight ook, although

2 3 8

1 4 fd I is not bad Clealy wose thoughis 1 4 bS ? due to 1 4 c 6 ! ( 1 4 xbS??I S xbS+ wins a piece) I S xd4 �xd41 6 ad I �xeS 1 7 e4 dS and Whitedoes not hae enough fo two pawns14 00

Black can also ty to pepae castlingqueenside with 14 e7 Howee, afteI S b4 0- 00 1 6 bxcS f3 + 1 7 gxf3xd3 1 8 xd3 dS (what else? f

1 8 xcS then I 9 fd I and x7 is amajo theat) 1 9 xdS exdS 2 0 c6White 's pieces (ook bishop and knight)ae much stonge than Black's queenAlso nothing is 1 4 c6 as I S bS d616 e4 a6 1 7 e2 xeS 1 8 xd6+cxd6 I 9 xeS just wins fo White 15e4

I S xg4 when I S fS? 16 h6+ g 7 1 7 �eS+ xh6 gies Whte loadsof attactie possibilties Fo example:1 8 b4 xb4 1 9 h3+ g6 20 xd4�d6 2 1 e , o 1 8 h3+ g6 1 9 d3( 1 9 b4 c4 ! ) 1 9 f4 20 e4 nstead ofI S fS ? Black should play hi s knight to

this squae White s only somewhatbette afte I S fS ! 16 �eS xd3



1 7 d3 fd8 1 8 .f+ f8 However, amore powerful reply is 1 .f3 ! .Another alternative for the text is I S.b4.

Play is unclear, though, followingI S . . xb4 1 xg4 �xc3 1 7 .h+g7 1 8 .xc3 cS ( 1 8 . . .xh 1 9 .f4+and xd4 wins for White) 1 9 .xc5e2+ 20 .h xg3 + 2 I .fxg3 d2 2 .fS + h8 (but not 22 . . .g8? ?2 3 dS ! exdS 24 d4 and wins) .nferior is I S .e4 because of I S . . . fS .

15. �e7 16.xg4n case of the materialistic 1 xd4Black would escape after 1 . . .xd41 7 .xd4 fS 1 8 .c3 cS and now 1 9 f4�gS , or 1 9 .dd f4 20 xg4 fxg32 1 .hxg3 ad8 .16 .. c5 17b4

Kamsky's previous move was a big blunder which should have lost on the spot.opalov's I 7 b4 returns the favour tosome extent (although he keeps a winning advantage). uperior to opalov'smove is 1 7 .eS ! f 1 8 .gS ! fxgS( 1 8 . . . f 1 9 .h+) 1 9 .h mate !

he story goes that Kasparov saw this in asplit second when he was told the courseof the game by phone.Also very powerful would have been1 7 . h + ! g7 ( 1 7 . . . h8 18 .�eS+ f1 9 .gS and the same manoeuvre de

cides) 1 8 .�e5 + xh 1 9 . h3 + g20 .g 3 + and White wins due to

Combat 4 opalov-Kamsk

20 . . .f5 2 .xd4 cxd4 2 2 .f4 d3 (or2 2 . . xe4 23 .3 + fS 2 4. d3 + g42 S .h3 mate) 2 3 d+ winning the

queen, as 2 3 . .�xd 24xd3 + g42 5 .h3 mates. 20 . . .h 2 I .g7 20 . .�g5 2 1 .�xd4 cxd4 2 2 d4dS 2 3 xg5 xgS 24 .g4 and wins.17.d5

f 1 7 f then White obtains a winningattack after 1 8 .c3 dS I 9 .xdS exdS

20 .ef+ h8 2 1 .�e5 .18bxc5

Again White can win on the spot with1 8 .�e5 . For instance 1 8 . . e8 (18 . . . f1 9 . gS is what opalov missed now aswell) 1 9 h+ f8 2 0 .xc5 .18 . f5 19 f3

White reigns completel. he followingmoves are all equally strong 1 9 .b3 ,1 9 . d, 1 9 .�e5 f 20 .b2 and 1 9 . d.After the latter there may follow1 9 . . . �xd 2 0 .�xd xd 2 .cxdxd 22 .f+ g7 2 3 .d4.19. c8 20.�d6

Also good are 2 0 eS and 2 0 . d .

20 . xd6

•

Black's game is equally hopeless after2 0 . . .xd 2 1 .xdS ! (or 2 1 cxd , but not2 1 xd xd 2 2 .cxd h4)2 I . . . xh2+ 2 2 .xh2 h4+ 2 3 .g

exdS 2 4. ef+ h8 2 S .xfS and wins21.cxd6

2 3 9



The Chess Comba Smuaor - Round 5

Ths s sronger han 2 I .xd6.21 ...h4Whe wns afer 2 1 . . .�xd6 wh2 2 .xd5! exd (2 2 . . .xh2+ 2 hl)2 3 . gf6+ h H.'f.

240

22.d7Ths wns by force. Less good bu snnng s 22.e3. f 22.xd5 henBack has 2 2 . . .exd5 23.ef6 xf62 .xf6+ tg 7 .22 ...:c6And here 2 2 . . .'xd7? s mpossbe dueo 23.xd5.The rook on c7 s os n he ne:2 2 . . .c7 23.xd5 exd 24.ef6+ �xf62.xf6+ g 7 26.e8+ xe

2 7 . dxe8i xe8 2 8 .'g3+ th829.ixc7.23.l5 Jc7 24.g4+ 'th8 25.ld6Back resgned.



obat7

Va gani-MeinsGermany Bundesliga 1 996/97

1f3 f6 2c4 e6 3c3 c5 4g3 c6

5�g2 �e 7 60-0 d5 7cxd5 xd5 8d4

After this move we reach a position fromthe so-called mproved Tarrasch' The

line has been awarded with the epithet improved' because Black has taken on dSwith the knight , thereb avoiding the isolated pawn positions that ma arise following . exdS 8.d4. Black now usuallcontinues with 8 . 0-0 when White is atcrossroads He can build up his centrewith 9 .e4 or saddle his opponent with anisolated pawn after all with 9 .xdS exdSI O dxcS . Meins has different intentionsthough However the coming exchangeof pieces does not bring Black an relie8 xd4 9xd4 xc3 10bxc3 cxd4

11cxd4 0-0

Black has managed to get rid of all theknights There is a considerable differencethough in the qualit of the pieces thatremain.12b1

This increases the pressure on Black's

queenside. White enjos an edge due tohis small lead in development and

Combat 4 Vaanian-Meins

mainl because of his powerful Catalan'bishop on g2 .12 d7 13f4 d8

Vaganian has managed to complete hisdevelopment, while Black's bishop on c8and hi s rook on a8 are still stuck on theiroriginal squares Can ou exploit this positional advantage or has Black managedto create just enough counterpla withhis attack on pawn d4? t's our move !

Te Combat begns. Good Luck!

24 1



Th Chss Combat imulator Round

You e te

Your cor :

1 4•••xd4

Your cor :

1 5 ••

Your cor :

1 6•••

Your cor :

1 7•d8

Your cor:

Your cor

1 9•�xd6

Your cor :

20...<xg7

Your cor :

2 1 ••b8

Your cor :

22•bxa6

Your cor :

2 3•••d8

Your cor :

24••a5

Your cor :

242

Your Mov: 1 4. _1 4.c2 (8) 14 .b33 )

Your Mov: 1 5 . 15.fd1 (3)

Your Mov : 1 6 . _1 6.c7 (8)

Your Mov: 1 7 . 1 7.e5 (4)

Your Mov : 1 8 .

1 8.d6 (5)

Your Mov: 1 9 .19.xf6 (2)

Your Mov : 20 . 20 .jxg7 (2)

Your Mov: 2 1 . __2 1 .xd6 ( 1 )

Your Mov: 2 2 . _22. a6 (6) 2 2 . f4 1 ) 2 2 . c ( I )

Your Mov: 2 3 . 23 .b8 ( 1 )

Your Mov : 24 . 24.�fl (6) 24.f44)

Your Mov : 2 25.f4 (4)



25•e8

You coe

26 �7

You coe

2 7••�c6

You coe

28•••a4

You coe

29•�b5

You coe

0•••

c8You coe

1 �e8

You coe

2•••xa8

You coe

••a

You coe

4 �a4

You coe

5 •••b

You coe

6•••c4

You coe

Combat 47 Vaganian-Meins

You Move 2 6 __26 ()

You Move 2 7 27b7 (4) 27 xe8!

You Move 2 8 28•xa7 ( 1 )

You Move 2 9 __29�g2

You Move 3 0 _0• ()

You Move 3 1

1 a5 ()

You Move 3 2 _2a8

You Move 3 3 _ •xa8 (1)

You Move 3 4

4•e4 () 34 e3 3

You Move 3 5 _S e (2)

You Move 3 6 _6•b1 (2)

You Move 3 7 _ 72 ()

243



The Chess Combat imulator Round S

3 7.. . Your Move 3 8 .

Your core 38 .e3 (3)

Your Move 3 9

Your core 39 .c3 (2) 39 .g4(2)

39.. .�d5 Your Move 40 .

Your core 40.g4 (5)

40 .. .f6 Your Move 4 1

Your core 4.gx ()

And Black resigned

You Combat Scoe:

M score: 98 ( 00)

You Combat Pefomce:

Why did Vaganian play as he did?

14.c2This pawn sacrice was the point ofVaganian's play. After Black has taken ond4, White can exploit the d-le. White isalso somewhat better after 1 4 b3 nstead 1 4 .e3 did not come into consideration because of 14 . . g5 1 S . �xg S�xgS 1 6 .g4 h6 1 7 . h4 f5 .14 ... xd4 15.fd1 f6 16.c7

244

ncreasing the pressure , and much stronger than immediately regaining the pawnon b7 , when White would lose all his ad

vantage16 ... f8 17.�e5

Nothing is gained by 1 7 �xb 7 . For, after1 7 . . �xb7 1 8 xb7 Black has 1 8 . . �d8!and 1 9 . .�b6.17 ... �d8 18.d6

Here 1 8 .c3 g6 1 9 �d6 e820 .�c6 ! ? does not achieve its desired aim

after 20 . .�f6 (2 0 . .bxc6? 2 1 xc6)2 1 c4 bxc6 2 2 xc6 �a6.18 ... �e7

Another only move n case of 1 8 . . .e7 ,White wins on the spot with 1 9 .d4Two sample lines are 1 9 .e8 20�xg7eS? 2 1 xe5 , and 19 . .�b6 20.b6axb6 2 1 .�xg7 .19.�xf6 �xd6 20.�xg7 xg7 21.xd6



b8 22a6

This fantastic move practically sealsBlacks fate The rook ending after2 2 a8 2 3 b7 b7 24 b7 is aneasy win as Black loses a7 as well Afterthe game continuation White is not onlypractically a pawn up (owing to the uglydoubled a-pawns) but his rook is alsomuch more active than its counterpartNot nearly as strong are 2 2 f4 or 2 2 c I 22.. bxa6 23.xb8 d8 24.�f1

This modest move is best Black obtainssucient counterplay after 24 f4 d I +2 5 �d7 2 6 b7 b5 However this last line may be improvedwith 26d8! Now White wins the

bishop ending after 26 �a4 and thepawn ending that arises after 26 f62 7 c6 e7 2 8 d7 + o this meansthat after 24 f4 d + 2 5 Blackshould make do with 2 5 .c whenWhite keeps a large advantage Vaganian's move prevents his opponentsrook from becoming active 24... a5 25.f4 e8 26.Wf2 �d7 27b7 tronger is 27 e8 after 2 7 �e28e4 White wins the bishop endingTherefore 27 e8 earns you morepoints than the tet 27 ... �c6 28xa7 a4 29.�g2 �b5

30.�f3

Covering e2 and preparing �h5 giventhe right circumstances White is a

Combat 47 Vaanian-Meins

healthy pawn up he has a superior pawnstructure and an active rook He has gathered quite a bit of positional capital30 .. c8 31.a5 �e8

3 1 b8 is simply met by 3 2 e3( 3 2 �d7 33a7 �b5 34d4) However 3 I �d7 is stronger than the tetThis would have been the way to take advantage of the inaccurate 2 7 b 7 32a8 xa8 33.�xa8 a3

To make White's task as hard as possible

The threat is �e8-a4-b3

34.�e4

The moves are interchangeable First34 e3 and then 3 5 �e4 is identical34 �a4 35We3 �b3 36.�b1 �c4

37.Wd2 f5 38e3 Wg6Black could have defended more stubbornly with 38 h6 when the kingthreatens to penetrate Whites queensideBy comparison to the game the f-pawnwould not be pinned! Yet Wite wins bymeans of some accurate moves: 39c3�d5 40d4 h5 (threatening g4)

41 h3 h6 (4 �g2 42 g4+ fg443 hg4+ g4 44�h7 ) 4 2 e5 �c4(42 �g2 43e6) 43f6 �d544�c2 �f3 45 �a4 and mate follows!39.wc3

r also the immediate 3 9 g439 �d5 40g4 Wf6 41gxf5

And Meins resigned White wins theapawn after 4 ef5 42 b4

245



Te Cess Combat imulator Round

obat8

La gows-Pota povPardubice 2003

1.d4 f5 2.c4 tf6 3.f3 g6 4.g3 �g7

5.�g2 d6 6.00 00 7.c3

Te classica main line of te LeningradDutc Black used to continue now wit

7 . c6 8 .d a or 8 e, wile teother main line stated wit 7 ... c6 and if8 .d ten 8 . . .e. n te 1980s grandmasters Gurevic and Malaniuk were successful with 7 . e 8 . And tis sstem asb now fu superseded te older lines7...e8 8.td5

n a wa White makes a direct attempt torefute te wole sstem. He attacks c7which has been left unprotected bBlack's previous move. Black's repl isforced wen the d pawn wil inibit hispossibilities for some time to come. Theabsolute main line is 8d, wile, especiall, 8 .b 3 and 8 .e I are also plaed

8 ... txd5 9.cxd5 td7 An invention of te German grandmasterKindermann. t is less risk tan tequeen sall 9 . . .b , wen pla ma continue I O. g 6 I I .e6 xe6 1 2 dxe6d 1 3 a4 c4 1 4e3 c6 I d2 a1 6 .b f6 1 7 .b4 axb4 1 8 c a61 9 .xb4 xe6 20 .ab wit a clearedge for White in cerbakov-Potapov,aint Petersburg 1 99 8 .Te move 9 . . .c 6 i s also plaed. Te gameariazdanov-Potapov, Elista 200 I , wentI O .b3 cxd I I .xd+ 8 1 2 .�e3c6 1 3 .ac a 1 4.fd a4 I c4 e61 6 .d wit te better cances As ou

ma see from te examples Potapov haslearned te ard wa.

246

10.b3

White is intending to pla �d2 and c I ,followed b the manoeuve g-e6. The

queen move also prevents te natural . . c6 . Yet , Black is not undul worried bte text. Wite often plas te logicaI O .g when Black can pla I O . . .b6followed b . . . c6 Also popular is I O .c2b6 I I xc7 xd 1 2 .c4 e6 1 3 �f4b 1 4 .b3 d7 , but in several gamesBlack experienced no problems of an

kind.10 ... b6 11.�d2

Now Black must consider the threat' ofc I . Can ou demonstrate that Black isne in tis complex position?




You are Back

Your core :

12.dxe6

Your core :

13 .c2

Your core:

1 4. b4

Your core:

15 .e3

Your core :

1 6.d2Your core

17 .a4

Your core :

18.xg2

Your core:

1 9.'ib3

Your core:

20.a3

Your core :

21 .�c3

Your core:

22.exf4

Your core:

Combat 48 - LagowskiPotaov

Your Move : 1 1 1 1 . .. e6 (7) 1 1 h8 ( 5 )

Your Move : 1 2 1 2 .. .�xe6 (2)

Your Move: 1 3 1 3 . ..c6 (5)

Your Move: 14 1 4...d7 (6) 1 4 e 7 ( 5 ) 1 4 d8 (4)

Your Move : 1 5 1 5 .. .. �d5 (8) S 5 ( 5 ) 1 S d5(3 )

Your Move: 1 6

1 6.. . .ae8 (6) 1 6 x2(5 ) 6 h8(4)

Your Move: 1 7

1 7. . .�xg2 (4)

Your Move : 1 8 1 8. . .d5 (4)

Your Move : 1 9 _1 9.. .8 (7) 1 9 (4) 1 9 e6(3)

Your Move: 20 20.. .c5 ( 1 1 )

Your Move : 2 1 2 1 .. .f4 (10)

Your Move : 2 2 22.. .e2 (7) 2 2 cxd4(5)

247



The Chess Comba imuaor Round 5

23c4 Your Move: 23

Your core : 2 3••4+ (8) 2 3 c6(6)

Your Move: 24

Your core : 24.. (8) 24 h3(8) 24 cxd4(6)

25e3 Your Move: 25 Your core 25 2+ (5)

26gl Your Move : 26 Your core : 263 (2)

Whie resigned score: I OO

Yo Combat Score: Yo Combat Performce:

Why did Potapov play as he did?

11e6This is bes, bu 1 1 h8 12 ac1 e6 !13 xc7 xd5 14 c1 b5 15 f4 d7is aso ne for Back12.dxe6

Back is a ie beer afer 1 2 g5 exd51 3 xd5 + xd5 1 4 xd5 + h8 12 . �xe6 13c2 c6 14�b4

Back's game was aread preferabe, bu

248

afer his aricia move his advanage increases14.. d7

The sronges move bu here are oheropions ike 1 4 e7 and 14 d8 15.e3 �d5

To conro he diagona nd some imporan igh squres 5 a5 is aso resonabe ahough i makes sense o eave hebishop on he awkward b4squareWeaker is 1 5 d5 1 6 d2

16d2 ae8 Aso pabe is he immediae 1 6 xg21 7 xg2 d5 , as well s 1 6 h817a4 �xg2 18.•xg2 d5 19b3

This is obigaor as 1 9 c3 xe3 osesan imporn pawn19... h8

uperior o 1 9 £7 nd 1 9 e620a3



n a clearl worse position White makes a

mistake that makes his situation critical.20 ... c5

A lovel combination .21.�c3

The onl move. White loses a piece after2 I .dxc5 ? xb4 2 2 .xb4 dxcS . Blackhits hard after the text as well though.21.. .f4 22.exf4

f 22.e4 then 22 . xc3 23.bxc3 cxd424.cxd4 xd4 simpl wins a pawn ncase of 22gxf4 cxd4 23.�xd4 xd424 exd4 e2 2 S ad Black should prefer 25 . . .xf4 over 2 S . . .e3+ 26 .xe3xe3 2 7 .fxe3 22 ... e2

Even better than 2 2 cxd4 23b423.c4

f 23 .ae then 23 . . .e3+ wins in alllines 24. g I h3 . 24 .\h h3 2S .g g4.

Combat 48 Laowski-Potapov

24 .\f3 g4+ 25 .\e4 dS+ 2 6d3c4+.lightl more resilient was 2 3 \ g I cxd4

24. b4.23 ... xf4+

This is stronger than 2 3 . . .c6 24.\gcxd4 2 S a5 b6 24.h1

r 24 .gxf4 g4+ 2 5 .\h I f3 +26 \g I xf4 and mate will follow.

24... xf2

The most beautiful win, but certainl notthe onl one Also strong are 24 . h325gxf4 f3+ 26\g xf4 and matesand 24 . cxd4.25.e3

r else a check on the diagonal decides2 S .x c6+ and 25 .gxf4 c6+ .25... xh2+ 26 . g1

r 26. xh2 h3+ 2 7 .\g I e2 mate26 .. h3

Wite resigned.

249



The Chess Combat imulator Round S

obat9

Dautov-Patriarca Istanbu Oympiad 2000

d4 f6 2c4 e6 3f3 �b4+

The so-called Bogo-ndian Defence afterthe German grandmaster Em Bogoljubow. ometimes the nomenclature of

chess openings is not so clear or not soconsistent, but in this case it quite understandable how 3 . .�b4+ came to becalled the Bogo-ndian. Bogoljubow maynot have been the rst player whocheced his opponent in this way (actually it was played against him in 1 9 20while he rst played his variation in1 9 2 1 ) , but he did so in a game againstnone other than Alexander Alehine(six years before the latter becameWorld Champion) . Moreover, he played3 . . �b4+ a couple of times more in the1 9 20 s. As all the modern 1 . . .f6 openings were called ndians, the catchy

Bogo-ndian caught on.4�d2 a5

ne of the modern main lines, butBogoljubows intention was simply4 . .�xd2+. A move that was favoured inmore modern times by Ulf Andersson.Most grandmasters prefer to eep the tension though This is possible with thetext (an old favourite of myslovs),and also with 4 . . . c5 (a line developed byVitolinsh).The main line is 4 . . e7 though, whenplay normally continues S.g3 c6 6.�g2�xd2+ 7 .bxd2 (more or less forced as7 .xd2 is met by 7 . . .e4) 7 . 0 -0 8 . 0 -0

d6.Dautov actually prefers 6.c3 �xc3

2 5 0

7 .xc3 e4 8 .c2 (8 .c i s more ambitious) 8 .xc3 9 .xc3 0-0 10 .g2d6 1 1 .d5 d8 ! 1 2 .0 -0 eS 1 3 e4 cS ! and

play was equal in Dautov-Aronian,Bundesliga 20 00 -2 00 1 .Now, if Blac prefers such a set-up with. . . c6 (as Blac does in this game) then itis preferable to play 4 . . . e 7 .5g3 c6

n combination with 4 . . . a5 this is notsuch a great idea. Blac would eep a

much more exible position with S ...d66 .�g2 00 7 .0-0 �xd2 8 .xd2 bd7.White was better in DautovHobuss,Berlin ommer 1 99 1 , after 6 . . .bd77 .0-0 eS 8 .c3 0-0 9 .c2 e8 10 e4exd4 1 1 .xd4.6�g2 0-0 7.0-0 �xd2

Blac can no longer postpone this exchange, as White was ready to play8 �g5 .8d2

t is best to tae bac with the queen asthe night belongs on c3 rather than ond2 .8 d6

The opening has clearly gone in Whitesfavour. Dautov delivers a strategic modelgame can you do the same? Hint: inconsidering your rst move also tae intoaccount your opponent s plan.

Te Combat begns. Good Luck



You are Wte

Your core

9 .. .e7

Your core

1 0 .. .�d7

Your core

l l . . .fc8

Your core

1 2 .. .e

Your core

1 3 . . .xd5Your core

1 4.. .xd4

Your core

1 S . . .exd4

Your core

1 6.. .a4

Your core

1 7 .. .£6

Your core

1 8.. .b6

Your core

Combat 49 DautoPatriarca

Your Moe 9 . 9.d1 ( 1 0) 9 c3(4) 9 .d5(3)

Your Moe 1 0 1 0.c3 (5)

Your Moe 1 1 . 1 1 .ac1 (8) 1 e4 (4) 1 . d5 ( 3 ) 1 1 .h3 ( 3 )

Your Moe 1 2 . 1 2.e4 (6)

Your Moe 1 3 . 1 3.d (9) 3 d5 (4 ) 3 dxe5 (3 )

Your Moe 4

14.cxd5 (3)

Your Moe 1 5 . __1 S.xd4 (1 )

Your Moe 1 6 .

1 6.xd4 ( 1 )

Your Moe 1 7 1 7 .£4 (9) 1 7 .b4 (7) 1 7 d2 1 7 c2 1 7 .c3

1 7 d4(4)

Your Moe 1 8 . 1 8.b4 (9) 1 8 e 1 (3) 1 8 d2 (4)

Your Moe 1 9 1 9.e 1 (7)

2 5 1




1 9••

Your core :

20•xe5

Your core :

Your core :

22••

e5Yor core :

2 3•••b5

Your core :

24c6

Your core :

25••8

Your core

And White wins

Yo Combat Score

2 5 2

Your Move 2 0 20.e5 (7) 20 c2 , 20 c3 20 .e2 20 .e3 3)

Your Move : 2 1 21.x+ (2) 2 . d 6 2 )

Your Move : 22 . 22 .e5 (2)

Your Move: 2 3 .23Je5 (2) 2 3 . d 6 1 )

Your Move : 24 . 24.6 (7 ) 24 f57)

Your Move: 25. _25 .7 (7) 2 5 [5 + 7 )

Yor Move : 2 6 26.xb5 (5)

score I OO

Yo Combat Performce



Combat 49 Dautov-Patriarca

Why d Dautov play as he did?

•A

•

9d1

. . .

Black intends to play . . . e5 , and that is whythis move (which prevents .. e5 for thetime being) is stronger than the natural9c3. The game GavrilovArbakov, Moscow Championship 1 9 8 8 , went 9. c3 e5I O. d5 b8 .e I a6 and Black wasne An alternative is 9 d 5 .9e7 10c3 �d7

n case of I O . . . e5 White has .dxe5dxe5 1 2 d5 with the better game11ac1

This is the best move, White indirectly

eyes c. Points may also be gained with .e4, .d5 and h3 .11 fc8 12e4 e5

Although this invites Whites next, Blackhas no choice since 1 3 . e5 was an annoying threat.13d5

Clearly stronger than 1 3 .d 5 b4 or1 3 .dxe5 xe5 1 4.xe5 dxe5 1 5 .d5xd5 16 .cxd5 .13 xd5 14cxd5

Nothing is gained by taking back on d5with the e-pawn 14.exd5 xd4I 5 xd4 exd4 1 6 "xd4 with equality.14 xd4

The most natural move of course, Blackshould exchange pieces to relieve the

pressure. Note that 14. b8 ? would lose

after 1 5 .dxe5 dxe5 1 6. c ! ? 1 . d 6"d8 1 8 dxc "xc 1 9 . �h3 ! 15xd4 exd4 16xd4

• • •A 'i

16 a4 17f4

.

Also strong is 1 ."b4. Each of the following rook moves earns you 4 points1 .Jd2 , 1 .c2 , 1 .Jc3 and 1 Jd3 .17 f6 18b4

1 8 .e is met by 1 8 . . . c5 1 9 .dxc6 xc6.Also playable is 1 8 .d2 .18 b6

Much stronger was 1 8 Ja6 when Black

is holding on (at least for the moment).White would gain nothing with1 9 .xb ? as after 1 9 . b6 20.axb2 he cannot take on c because of thetactic 2 1 .c ?? xc 2 2 .xc g2+ .19e1 f8

Black is in a mess after 1 9 . . Ja5 20 .e5fxe5 2 .fxe5 Jc5 2 2 e6 e8 . Dautovhiself has indicated 1 9 . . . "e8 20.e5fxe5 2 I .fxe5 dxe5 2 2 .c3 f8 2 3 .xe5as the best defensive chance20e5

The most energetic move. Fine preparatory moves are 2 0 c2 , 2 0 .Jc3 , 2 0 .e2and 20.e3 .

20 dxe52 0 . .fxe5 2 1 fxe5 dxe5 22 "xf8 + is

2 5 3



The Chess Combat imulato Round 5

identical to the game of couse

2xf8+This is ve stong and in keeping withDautov's stle quall good was 2 d 621...wxf8

2 f8 22 c7 22.fxe5 fxe5

f 2 2 ab8 then 2 3 e6 b5 24 e7 + 2 5 �h3 While 2 2 a7 is met b 23e6�b5 24 d6

2 54

23. xe5

Less clea is 2 3 d6 a7 ( 2 3 cxd6?24 �xa8 xa8) 24 xe5 cxd6 2 5 f +

g8 26 e7 ac7 23 ... �b5

This blundes the game f 2 3 a7 then f + g8 2 5 e7 and wins Relativel best was 2 3 e8 24 xe8 + xe825xc7 �b5 with at least somecountepla24.d6

White also wins afte 24f5+ g825 d6 the moves will make the win unnecessail dicult 24... c6 25.d7

ust as winning is 25f5+ g8(25 e8 26 �h3) 26 d7 Black esigned because of 25d7 d826 xb5 cxb5 27 xa8 xa8 ? 28 c8 +



olba

AnanTanWijk n Zee 2004 ( I I )

1e4 c5 2f3 d6 3d4 cxd4 4xd4

f6 5c3 c6 6�g5 e6 7d2 a6

ne of the main sstems of he Rauzer icilian. Both plaers have considerable ex

perience in this line n the next roundTimman plaed 7 . . ._e7 versus Adams.After 8.0-00 a6 9.f4 �d7 we transposeo the commen following Whites 9thmove.80-0-0 �d7 9f3

Anand defends the e4-pawn and aims o attack on the kingside with g4 White calso pla in the cene with 9.f4 The mainline now continues: 9 . . e7 IO.f3 bS1 1 f6 gxf6 I b I b6. n the previous centur a game beween both contestants went: 1 3 �d3 0-0-0 14. hf( 1 4 he b8? ! 1 5 .d5 ! Timmanvanovic Bugono 1 984 . Correct was

1 4. c5) 14. . .b8 I S .e I c 1 6.d2d4 th approximatel equal chances.Anand-Timman Amsterdam 1 992 .n this ver same Wik aan Zee tournamen Adams chose 1 3 .e2 one roundlater and afer 1 3 . . . 0-0-0 14.f5 b81 5 f4 c8 1 6 e he8 1 7 fxe6 fxe61 8 .g3 f8 1 9 .�h3 he was slightl betterAdams-Timman Wik aan Zee 20 04 ( 1 2) .9 �e7

r 9 . . . h6 IO . e3 c7 g4 e5 1 2 .h4as in Anand-Dreev Linares 1 99 7 . Againwe see Anand's preference for the EnglishAttack.10�e3

This paradoxical move calls for some explanaion. Wh does White retreat his

Combat 5 0 Anand-Timman

bishop without being forced to do so (asafter . . . h7h6)? t was rst plaed bhamkovich in 1 9 7 7 long before the Eng

lish Attack (the set-up with d2 e30-0-0 and f3 against both the Rauzer andthe Nador became popular White voluntaril loses a tempo (c g5 -e3 ) reasoning tha Black's bishop is badl placedon d7 in such posiions. For after a fastg4-g5 the knigh canno withdraw to hissquare n short Black is a empo up on a

known position but this extra tempo(�c8-d7) migh well urn out badl forhim!10 c8

The start of a dubious plan . nsead of thetext Anand has suggested I O . xd4 .xd4 e5 1 2 .d2 �e6 as an improvement. Funnil enough White has thenwon back his lost ' tempo.Possibl stronger is I O . . .b5 for example . g4 xd4 1 2 �xd4 b4 1 3 e2 e51 4.�e3 a I S b I �e 6 with mutualchances as in De a Villa-Damlanovicevilla 1 99 4Finall I O . . .h5 is also plaed to prevent

g4 and his is indeed the best move.After Timman's move in the game Whiteis better Are ou capable of building upand rounding off an attack ust likeAnand?


2 5 5




You e Wte Your Moe 1 1 .

Your core l l .g4 (4) 1 .b 1 (4)

l l .. .a5 Your Moe 1 2 .

Your core 12.bl (4) 1 2 . g 5 ( 1 )

1 2...b5 Your Moe 1 3

Your core 13.d3 (6) 1 3 . b 3 ( 3 )

1 3••c4 Your Moe 1 4.

Your core 1 4•xc4 (2)

1 4•••xc4 Your Moe 1 5

Your core 1 5.ce2 (8) 1 5 . g 5 ( 4 )

1 5•••

00 Your Moe 1 6 Your core 1 6.g5 (5)

1 6e8 Your Moe 1 7 .

Your core 1 7 .4 (5) 1 7 . f4(2)

1 7••.c8 Your Moe 1 8

Your core 1 8.b3 (6) 1 8 .f4(4) 1 8 .g3 (2)

1 8•••c7 Your Moe 1 9 .

Your core 19.f4 (9) 1 9 . g 3 ( 2 )

1 9c3 Your Moe 2 0

Your core 20.dgl (6) 20 .f5(3)

2 0b4 Your Moe 2 1

Your core 2 1 .5 (5)

21 c7 Your Moe 2 2 .

Your core 22.g6 (5) 22 fe2(2)

2 5 6



22.. .6

Your core:

2 3•••g6

Your core :

24..

Your core :

25•••7

Your core :

26. . .xg7

Your core :

2 7..e3Your core :

Your core :

Black resigned.

Yo Combat Score:

Combat S O Anand-Timman

Your Move 3

23 .6 (6) 3 .fe(3) 3 gxh7(3)

Your Move : 4 .

24.xg7 (4)

Your Move : 5

25x7 (10) S .xg6(8)

Your Move: 6.

26.2+ ( 3)

Your Move 7

2 7.xg6 (7) 7g6(5 ) 7 .hS+(S )

Your Move: 8 .28.e7+ (3)

Your Move: 9

29.xc8 (2)

score: l OO

Yo Combat Performce:

5 7




Why did And play as he did?

11g4

r the ever useful I I b I .11a5

White was better in pivak-Aseev, RostovI 993 , after I I . .e5 2 . g5 ( I 2 .b I ) 2 . . .h5 I3 .g c7 I4 .f4 c4I 5 .xc4 xc4 I 6 . b I g6 I 7 .f5 00I8 . f6 .121

lightly premature is I 2 g 5 h5 .12 5 13�d3

This may cost a tempo, but it enablesAnand to play ce2. t is important to

play ce2 before continuing the attackwith g5 or, in that case, White can answer . . . h5 with g3. A reasonable alternative is I 3 .b3 even though this weakens the position of the knight on c3 13 c4 14�xc4

The dark-squared bishop is more important than the light- squared bishop here14 xc4 15ce2

An excellent manoeuvre that prepares theadvance g 5 . I 5 . g 5 h5 I 6 .ce2 is lessstrong.15 0-0 16g5 e

Horrible is I 6 . . .h5 ? I 7 .g3, as Blackmay neither open the h-le nor allow

something like I 7 . . . g6 I 8 xh5 gxh5 tohappen

2 5 8

17h4

tarting an all-out attack with pawns onthe kingside. A well-known motif whenboth sides have castled on opposite sidesLess good is I 7 f4.17 c8

Doubling on the c-le and protecting thesquares e6 and f5 indirectl This is important when Black wants to defend in

the future with . . . f6, or when he suc-ceeds in pushing . e 5 .183

Played at exactly the right moment. ncase of I 8 .f4 and a subsequent b3 Blackwould have the chance to play . . c3 inone go. Even less accurate is I 8 .g 3 ,while I 8 .h5 e5 is even worse.18 c7 19f4

A lovely attacking move. ince I 9 . . .e5fails to 2 0 d5 , Anand uses the opportunity to direct another piece towardsBlack's king. Black answers I 9 g 3 withI 9 . . .f6 as Timman has remarked. Wrongis I 9 . h5 ? e 5

: •E

�

Cj� Cj � J

�'�

19 c3 20dg1

Anand steadily builds up his attack. Bothrooks are well-posted now, and the h- andg-pawn are ready to march. After 20.f5

�d8 there is no direct win in sight . Nevertheless, you may award yourself three



points if you did spot that White is virtually winning after 20 exfS ? 2 dS 20 b4

Not 20 eS 2 dS but 20 �d8 wasprobably the best chance According toTimman this can be met by 2 1 de2 c622 hS 21h5 c 7 22g6

Much stronger than 22fe2 xe323e3 eS and Black has counterplayBad is 22h6? g6 and suddenly Black's

king is safe22 �f6

Lines will be opened after 22 fxg62 3 xg6 Now 23 hxg6 fails to 24 hxg6eS 2Sh2 h3 26fS and wins Alsowinning though is 2 3 hxg6 h6 24 hS 23h6

uperior to 23fe2 xe3 After2 3 gx + x White has lost his advantage n case of 23 gxh + h8 White canwin material with 24fe2

23 fxg6

Black is mated along the h-le after2 3 hxg6 24hxg xg For example2 S h2 d8 2 6 h+ f8 2 xg6+fxg6 28 h6 e8 29 xg + xg30 xg6

Combat S O Anand-Timman

24xg7

Here it looks clever to play 24h2 but itenables Black's king to ee with 24 !

(24 2 S xg6 ! hxg6 2 6 h + wasthe idea) 2 S hxg g8 and Black is holding on24 f7

24 xg 2 S h2 wins on the spot25xh7

Finishing in style Also winning is2 S xg6 hxg6 (stronger is 2 S xg but

White retrieves his sacriced materialwith interest after 2 6 e + xe 2 xg+ xg 28 g2+ h829 fS ! ) 26 h8+ xg 2 xc8 Wrong is 2S h2? xg 25 xh7 26h2+

Gaining a tempo to bring in the most important attacker Black defends after26 h 1 + <xg 2 xg6 d8 26 xg7 27xg6

The easiest win but certainly not the onlyone The threat is h6+ and e + winning the queen Also winning are 2 xg6+ f8 28xf6 xf629 h8+ <f (29 <e 3 0 g + f

3 1 g6+) 3 0 h + <f8 3 hS 2 hS+ f8 28 xf6 xe3( 2 8 xf6 29h8+ <f 30h+<e8 3 1 g8+ f8 3 2 xg6+ f3 3 h ) 29 xd6+ <g (29 e30 h I ) 30 hS + <h (30 <g83 1 xg6+ h 3 2 g I followed byh 2) 3 1 g3 g8 3 2 h 27 e3 28.e7+ <f8 29.xc8

Threatening both xd6+ as well ash6+ when the rook on e3 dropsTimman therefore threw in the towel

2 5 9




T kp tck yu sults, ll ut this sccd

Comba No Your Sor Your Porman

Cmb4

Cmb4

mb43

Cmb44

Cmb4S

Cmb4

Cmb4

Cmb4

Cmb 4

Cmb S O

Your Aerage Combat Performance in Round 5

60



YOUR PERFORMANCE

You have eached the ed o the book. Cogatulatios! Did you me y pogess? Complete this al scoesheet ad see o yousel.

RounYour Avra

Comba Porman

Ro 1

Ro

Ron

Ro 4

Ro

I you wat you c put you peomce ito this gaph:

400-

O -

0 0 -

O -

0 0 1 O

1 0 0 -

0 O -

0 0 0

1 9 O -

1 9 0 0 -

1 O -

1 0 0 -

1 7 O -

1 7 0 0 -

1 O -

1 0 0 -

1 O Ro 1 Ro Ro Ro 4 Ro

2 6 1



INDEX OF OPENINGS

enon W . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Comb 33ogo-ndn Comb 49Duch Defence Combs 4 48Engsh penng Queen 's ndn se-up Comb 44rench Defence Combs 2 8 3 9Grnfed ndn Comb 26Kng's ncheo Gurgende ysem Comb 37

Kng 's ndn reversed Comb 8Kng 's ndn Comb 34Modern enon Comb 7Nmo-ndn Comb 1 5our Knghs penng Comb 1 8PeroffDefence Combs 1 2 2Queen 's Gmb Acceped Comb 1 Queen 's Gmb Combs 1 0 3 3 8 4 1 47Queen 's ndn Combs 29 3 1 peng Combs 2 2 7uy ope Combs 5 7 30 36cndnvn Defence Comb 46cn 3 �b5 (+) Comb 3 1 4 2 3 42cn A pn Comb 3 2cn pen Combs 6 9 1 2 1 9 25 35 40 50

v Defence Combs 1 6 20 24 45Trompovsky penng Comb 2 eresov penng Comb 43

2 62



ChEss sdf.iMpROVMNT foR AAUR pAyERs

Tiu CEss CoMhA SlAoR

TES ANd epRovE YouR ChHs wih :o INsRucivE NMAsR GAES

b S l i h h l kill Y

bosch the chess combat simulator

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