MODERN CHESSMAGAZINE

ISSUE 11

Practical Decision-Making -Part 2

Endgame Series -Part 11

King's Indian Structures - BlackReleases the Tension in the Centre

Alert Defence -Part 1

Master the Grunfeld Structure - Part 2

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Alert Defence - Part 1 (GM John van der Wiel)

Van der Wiel,J ­ Timman,J / OHRA, 1987Alert Defence ­ Test 1 ­ 4Tests 1 ­ 2 Solution

Master the Grunfeld Structure - Part 2 (GM Mihail Marin)

King's Indian Structures - Black Releases the Tension in the Centre (GM Petar G. Arnaudov)

Hecht,Hans Joachim (2357) ­ Weindl,Alfred (2329) / AUT­chT2W 1213 (7.2), 12.01.2013Van der Sterren, Paul (2605) ­ Glek,Igor V (2615) / Bundesliga 9495, 1995Topalov,Veselin (2780) ­ Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar (2760) / Amber­rapid 17th (4), 18.03.2008Bacrot,Etienne (2722) ­ Guseinov,Gadir (2621) / Gashimov Memorial­B, 22.04.2014Wang,Hao (2701 ­ Paehtz,Thomas Sr (2356) / Douglas IoM op (1), 01.10.2016Test 1­5

Practical Decision-Making – Part 2 (Boris Chatalbashev)

Mined squares 1 ­ 5Correspondent squares 1 Kuljasevic,Davorin 2297 ­ Selbes,Tarik / EU­chT U18 Balatonlelle (5) 17.06.2002Correspondent squares 2Socko,B (2617) ­ Kuljasevic,Davorin(2561) / TCh­AUT 2012­13 (5.2), 18.01.2013Giri,A (2767) ­ Papp,Ga (2587) / 32nd ECC Open 2016 (2.14) 07.11.2016Correspondent squares 3Exercise 1 ­ 5

Kasparov,Garry (2595) ­ Pribyl,Josef (2395) / EU­chT (Men) 07th (5.8), 24.01.1980Yermolinsky,Alex (2597) ­ Kasparov,Garry (2812) / Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee (3), 19.01.1999Podgaets,M ­ Chekhelian,S / USSR 27/561, 1979Karpov ­ Kasparov Test / SolutionPortisch,L ­ Adorjan Test / Solution

Endgame Series - Part 11 (GM Davorin Kuljasevic)

Carlsen,Magnus (2733) ­ Topalov,Veselin (2780) / Morelia/Linares 25th (12), 04.03.2008Carlsen,Magnus 2872 ­ Gelfand,Boris 2777 / Zuerich Chess Challenge (1) 30.01.2014Kasparov,Garry (2740) ­ Kortschnoj,Viktor (2650) / OHRA­A Brussels (2), 12.1986

Optically and not only, playing d4-d5 implies a completely different approach with respect to e4-e5 examined in the previous article. Instead of restricting the g7-bishop, White actually opens the whole long diagonal for it. This is especially effective if he had managed clearing in advance the diagonal. In our featured structure this means removing the queen's rook from the bishop's range and inducing a previous exchange on d4 so that the c3-pawn is not hanging. This can lead to a paradoxical situation when the bishop is actually useless, since attacking empty squares does not contribute to the fight. Things are different, of course, if the bishop sustains other pieces' activity, for instance of a knight could jump to b2 or c3, paralyzing White's army. Due to the dynamic character of the opening, there is not always time for clearing the diagonal before playing d4-d5 and in many theoretical lines White sacrifices an exchange or a pawn.

In order to understand whether the price is worth paying, we should mention the main virtues of advancing the queen's pawn so far. If Black had previously played ... e7-e6 in the hope of restricting White's centre's mobility, d4-d5 implies creating a passed pawn. Whether it is strong or weak largely depends on each side's piece placement and activity. With the pawn on e7 still, the central advance could cause some discomfort to Black's knight (usually developed on c6) and allow the occupation of the c6-square (if Black had advanced his b-pawn). On the negative side of thistypical operation we have three mainelements. 1) In the systems with Ng1-e2,handing in the control over e5 could lead tostrong black initiative after ... Nc6-e5. True,if White manages to extinguish it, Blackwould soon be crushed by White's spaceadvantage. 2) The second aspect refers tothe relative weakness of the daring pawn.After losing the support of his colleaguefrom the c-file, the intruder could easily belost if his advance is not properly sustainedby pieces. 3) Finally, even if after ...exd5,exd5 White manages defending his passerwith c3-c4, a blockading knight on d6 couldwell yield Black a favourable ending. Wewill start with a typical example where thepassed pawn will be the main hero, whilethe minor pieces will gladly offer their livesto ensure its glorious career.

Master the Grunfeld Structure - Part 2

2595 2395

24.01.1980

Kasparov,GarryPribyl,Josef

EU-chT (Men) 07th (5.8)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 b68.Bb5+ c6 9.Bc4 0-0 10.0-0 Ba611.Bxa6 Nxa6 12.Qa4 Qc8 13.Bg5 Qb714.Rfe1 e6 15.Rab1

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With a bishop on g5, this pawn becomes a dangerous candidate to promotion. Since Black's majority is immobile and the d4-square not easy to occupy, winning the c3-pawn is a feeble consolation for Black. Bxc3 17.Red1 exd5 18.exd5 Bg7

[ In his comments from an old book(Ispitanije Vremenem) Kasparov considers 18...Nc7 Since Black is notcoordinated, White could also trylaunching a kingside attack with:

A) insufficient due to 19.Be7 Rfe820.Qd7 but in his newer two volumework on his carrer he changes hismind mentioning the paradoxicalReb8 as offering good equalizingchances.;B) But White has other promisingmoves instead of 19.Be7. Forinstance 19.Qc4 Bg7 20.Qxc5retrieves the pawn with reasonablechances for maintaining a small pluseven though his position is hangingslightly. Rac8 ( 20...bxc5?21.Rxb7offers White the initiative. ) 21.Bh4;C) 19.h4!? Nxd5 ( Or if 19...Bg720.d6 Ne6 21.h5 with dangerousthreats. For instance Nxg5?!22.Nxg5 Rad8 23.hxg6 hxg624.Qh4 Rfe8 25.Rb3 Rd7 26.Rf3causes the black king seriousproblems. ) 20.Qe4 f6 21.Rxd5 fxg522.Qc4 Rf7 23.Rxc5 Bf6A necessary loss of time due to thethreat Nxg5. 24.hxg5 Bg7 25.Rc6

Black has treated the opening quite originally, but by now it became clear he had to resort to the typical advance of the c-pawn. After removing the rook from thelong diagonal White already threatened c3-c4 and if ...c6-c5 then d4-d5 with all thecomfort. indeed, Black's knight would havelittle chance of reachingthe blockading d6-square. c5 16.d5!

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[ The crucial line goes 20...Rad8 21.Qc4+ Kh8 22.Ne5!!

piece en prise! The followingillustrative lines are taken fromKasparov's extensive analysis. fxe5 ( Or if 22...fxg5 23.Nf7+ Rxf724.Qxf7 Qc6 25.Rb3 threatening Re3and if Qf6 26.Qe8+ Qf8 27.Re3 Nc728.Rde1 soon winning an exchange. )23.Bxd8 Rxd8 24.Qe6! With the helpof the far advanced pawn, White'spieces feel at home in the enemyterritory. Nc7 ( Mechanicallyapproaching with the knight does nothelp, but even after the objectivelybetter 24...Qb8 25.Rb3 planning Rh3remains very strong. ) 25.Qe7 Qb826.Rb3 Threatening Rf3-f7. e427.Re3

and Black is helpless after Rxe4. ]21.Qc4+ Kh8 22.Nxg5 Bf6

[ Relatively best for if 22...Bd423.Rxd4 cxd4 24.Qxd4+ Kg825.Ne6+- (Kasparov) ]

With at least some pressure. ]19.d6 f6 Black has managed interferringthe important diagonal, but his troublesare not over yet. 20.d7!

Under the actual circumstances the pawn does not threaten promoting yet, but its force consists of cutting Black's position into two parts, leaving the king vulnerable. fxg5?! This makes things simpler for White.

A fantastic moment! For the sake of ensuring the pawn's vitality White not only does not retreat with the attacked bishop, but puts another

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Black has been forced to return part ofhis material advantage without solvinghis main problems. 25.Rd6

[ This is strong but 25.Qf4 is a worthyalternative, not analyzed by Kasparov.

Kg7 Parrying Qxf6!+. 26.Rd6 Ne6 ( Black has to give his knight for thedangerus pawn for if 26...Bd827.Qe5+ Kg8 28.Rb3 followed by Rf3he would be lost. ) 27.Rxe6 Qxd728.Rbe1

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With every chance to convert hismaterial advantage. The structureand material are similar with the tenthgame of the reykjavik 1972 Fischer-Spassky World title match. ]

25...Be7

[ Kasparov proves with extensiveanalysis that both 25...Qb8 26.Rbd1

Qd8 27.Rc6 ] [ and 25...Bd8 26.Rb3 are won forWhite. ]

26.d8Q!

[ 26...Rxd8 27.Rxd8+ Bxd8 28.Rd1followed by Qf7 wins. ]

27.Qc3+ Kg8 28.Rd7 Bf6 29.Qc4+Kh8 30.Qf4 Putting the dot on the I.Black loses one of his minor pieces.

23.Ne6 Nc7 24.Nxf8 Rxf8

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Being a hero until the end, the pawn offers its life in order to clear the seventh rank for the attack and spoil even more Black's anyway poor coordination. Bxd8

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Qa6? But this makes things worse:31.Qh6

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