Avoiding symmetry in the Italian Game

8/7/2019 Avoiding symmetry in the Italian Game

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Avoiding symmetry in the Italian Game (or the fianchetto Italian)byMihail Marin

Although Black usually does not find himself under immediate pressure in the Giuoco Pianissimo setup of

the Italian Game, it certainly is irritating that he cannot obtain active counterplay easily in the almostsymmetrical positions that arise. For decades, Black's main hope for generating winning chances hasbeen considered the somewhat experimental variation 1.e4 e5 2.f3 c6 3.c4f6 4.d3 h6!? with theidea of continuing with ,,,d6 and ...g6, aiming for a Pirc or deferred Steinitz RL type of position. I havebeen playing this line with relative success over the past few years, but recently I lost a crushing gamewhich made me wonder whether Black can really afford to spend a whole tempo on a move like ...h6 in anopen game. In the notes to Zambrana,O - Marin,M 1-0, where the game continued with 5.0-0 d6 6.e1 g67.d4 e7 8.c3, I have indicated the type of positions Black is aiming for as well as the concrete problemsin the diagram below.

Although this had been played before, I feel that Zambrana's handling of the position, based on rapid andharmonious developing of pieces, casts some doubt on the viability of Black's plan.

Immediately after the game, I started thinking about possible ways to save playing the move ...h6 and Ifound out that 3...d6 might be worth a try. I was surprised to discover that the move had been played inserious games over the decades already, although there is almost no mention of it in opening books.
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By keeping the h4-d8 diagonal open (no ...f6 yet), Black prevents the knight move to g5 and plans todevelop with ...g6, ...g7 and finally ...f6 and ...0-0. This is the starting point of our article. Theory is nottoo well developed here and I have aimed to examine White's main tries to question the viability of Black'sslow way of developing. From Black's point of view, I have only considered the plan based on ...g6 and ...g7, consistent with the initial idea, expressed in the introduction.

A) Since Black has not put the enemy centre under pressure yet with ...f6, the active 4.d4 looks logical.After4...exd4 5.xd4 Black is at a crossroads.

If he intends to develop the bishop by fianchetto, he is best advised to do so immediately, because in theevent of the seemingly natural 5...f6 6.c3 g6?! the force of the Italian bishop is revealed after 7.xc6bxc6 8.e5! with a favourable opening of the position. See Boe,M - Nielsen,P 0-1.
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After the more cautious 5...g6, White's attempts to prepare the same kind of operation fail, although hecan choose between different move orders.

For instance, 6.0-0 (or 6.c3) 6...g7 7.e3 f6 8.xc6 bxc6 9.e5 is strongly met by 9...g4, attacking thee3-bishop, as inHoiberg,N - Jacobsen,B 0-1.

Another premature attempt to put Black under pressure was seen in Darnstaedt,F - Dreev,A 0-1.

If White intends to prevent ...f6 because of the threat e5, he has to play 6.0-0g7 7.xc6 (this is thepoint where White refrains from e3) 7...bxc6 8.c3. Now, indeed, 8...f6 9.e5! is to be avoided, butWhite's move order implies a double commitment. First of all, he has deprived himself of the possibility ofcastling long, which reduces the chances of a kingside attack. Secondly, he has prematurely exchanged

on c6, increasing Black's control in the centre and reducing his own influence in this important area.Therefore, Black can deviate with 8...e7, with an entirely viable position, as in Browne,W - Larsen,B -. A similar situation can be seen if White plays 8.e1 instead of 8.c3, as in Pouw,P - Werle,J 0-1.

A more consistent plan looks to be castling long - 6.c3 g7 7.e3 f6 8.d2 0-0 9.0-0-0 e8 10.f3.
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However, if we compare this with a similar line from the Philidor Defence, the white king's bishop hasbeen prematurely developed, which allows Black to win time for his counterplay with 10...e5. For 11.e2see Palkovi,J - Hammergren,P 1-0 and for 11.b3 see Solomon,S - Reinderman,D 0-1.

It should be mentioned that if White castles short, maintaining the tension in the centre, the same plan forBlack remains very effective. SeePalacios de la Prida,E - Wojtkiewicz,A 0-1, a game that started as aPirc!

We can conclude that the early opening of the centre leads to comfortable (for Black) forms of... the PircDefence.

B) A strategically more consistent plan is to prepare the occupation of the centre with 4.c3, takingadvantage of the fact that White has not been forced to define the intentions of his d-pawn yet (as wouldbe the case after 3...f6 4.d3). After4...g6 5.d4 we reach an important moment.
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Although 5...g7 is possible, after the exchange on e5 White's position seems to remain more active, asinTomcsanyi,P - Klovans,J 0-1 (please notice the curious move order played in this game).

Therefore, 5...e7 is safer, when 6.dxe5xe5 7.xe5 dxe5 is entirely safe for Black, as inMednis,E -Kortschnoj,V 1-0. If White intends to exchange on e5, he should wait until Black develops his bishop to g7(6.0-0 g7 7.dxe5). In this case, Black is required to demonstrate greater accuracy, but the position

remains balanced in principle. SeeGavrilakis,N - Baumgartner,H -.

The only chance for White to retain a strategic superiority consists of maintaining the tension in thecentre. A logical continuation is 6.0-0g7 7.e1 f6 8.bd2 0-0 9.h3.

However, this position is very similar to those aimed for by Black when he plays 3...f6 4.d3 h6. The only

difference is that the h-pawn is on its initial square, preventing the manoeuvre ...h7-g5. On the otherhand, the black kingside has not been weakened. It is hard to say whether this small difference influencesthe overall evaluation of the position, because there is little practical material available. However, myfeeling is that each player has got what he wanted: White retains an advantage in space, while Black isperfectly regrouped and has no weaknesses, hoping to prepare his counterplay in the long run. SeeMorozevich,A - Malaniuk,V -. It is inspiring to notice that the main expert of the 3...f6 4.d3 h6 linealso goes for 3...d6.

Although c3 followed by d4 is very sound strategically, it should not prevent Black from playing theFianchetto Italian.

C) Finally, we shall examine some games in which White employed more violent means. Since Black has

not covered the g5-square, it is tempting to prepare a knight move there. However, 4.d3 looks harmlessfor Black, as inSeret,J - Bricard,E 0-1.

Things are more complicated after the more refined move order4.0-0 g6 5.d4 exd4.
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Now, capturing on d4 would transpose to familiar lines, but White can play more energetically.

6.g5 is neutralised by 6...e7 as inYudasin,L - Vorotnikov,V 1-0, while the neo-romantic 6.c3!? isadequately met by 6...d3! and the Pirc character of the position is not altered in any way. See Fauland,A -Chernin,A -. Seeing these two games, the reader will understand why I did not suggest 3...g6 as themain move order. In that case, the absence of the moves ...d6 and 0-0 is likely to favour White after 4.d4exd4 5.c3 or 5.g5.

Shortly before the article was published, Rainer Knaak asked me whether there is a clear refutation of3...g6 instead of 3...d6, with the idea of transposing to the same lines. Remarkably, I had asked myselfthe same question during the Reggio Emilia tournament, while preparing for a speciffic opponent by...reading my own article. I believe that 3...g6 may be just as good as 3...d6, but, for abstract reasons, thelatter looks a bit safer, by consolidating the centre and opening the diagonal for the c8-bishop beforedefining matters regarding the other bishop.

I believe that on the basis of the material examined, we can conclude that 3...d6 followed by ...g6 is

entirely sound. In my opinion, the critical lines are those played in Browne,W - Larsen,B - and

Morozevich,A - Malaniuk,V -.

(4) Hoiberg,Nina (2285) - Jacobsen,Bo (2280) [C41]Aarhus-B Aarhus (3), 1988[Mihail Marin]1.e2-e4 e7-e5 2.Ng1f3 Nb8-c6 3.Bf1c4 d7-d6 4.d2-d4 e5xd4 5.Nf3xd4 g7-g6 6.00 [6.Nb1c3 is not better from the point of view of White's plan to refute her opponent's

plan. 6...Bf8-g7 7.Bc1e3 Ng8-f6 8.Nd4xc6 b7xc6 9.e4-e5? Nf6-g4! 10.e5-e6 Ng4xe3 Withthe white king in the centre, the c4-bishop is hanging, which makes the position lost forWhite. 11.Qd1f3 (11.e6xf7+ Ke8-f8 12.f2xe3 Qd8-h4+ 13.Ke1d2 Qh4xc4+) 11...Ne3xc2+12.Ke1d1 00 13.e6xf7+ Kg8-h8 14.Kd1xc2 Bc8-f5+ 15.Bc4-d3 Rf8xf7+ Gross,H-Rivise,I/California State Ope 1964 (01, 19)] 6...Bf8-g7 7.Bc1e3 Ng8-f6 8.Nd4xc6 b7xc69.e4-e5 This variation has been submitted to thorough practical examination in none lessthan 3 games between Nina Hoiberg and Jakobsen! [9.Be3-d4 00 10.Nb1d2 d6-d5=Germann,S-Von Herman,B/Germany 1992/EXT 97-B (1/2, 83)] 9...Nf6-g4! [9...Nf6-e4 10.f2-f3 Ne4-c5 Hoiberg,N (2280)-Jacobsen,B (2285)/Aarhus 1987/EXT 97 (01, 39) 11.Be3xc5
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d6xc5 12.Qd1xd8+ Ke8xd8 13.f3-f4] 10.e5-e6 Bc8xe6! [10...f7-f5?! is rather riskybecause of 11.e6-e7! (11.Be3-f4 d6-d5 12.Bc4-b3 00) 11...Ke8xe7 12.Be3-g5+ Ng4-f6(12...Bg7-f6 13.Rf1e1+ Ke7-f8) 13.Rf1e1+ Hoiberg,N (2180)-Jacobsen,B (2285)/Aarhus1986/EXT 98 (01, 61); 10...Qd8-h4 11.e6xf7+ Ke8-f8 12.Be3-f4 Bg7xb2 13.c2-c3!?]11.Bc4xe6 Ng4xe3 12.Be6xf7+ [12.f2xe3 f7xe6 13.Qd1f3 Ke8-d7!] 12...Ke8xf713.f2xe3+ Kf7-e7? It does not make any sense to stay with the king in the centre.

[13...Bg7-f6! would have left Black with a very pleasant position.] 14.Qd1f3 [14.Nb1c3Qd8-d7 15.Qd1d3 Rh8-f8 (15...Ra8-f8 16.Qd3-a6) 16.Qd3-e4+ Bg7-e5 17.Qe4-h4+ Ke7-e818.Nc3-e4] 14...Qd8-e8 15.Nb1c3 Ke7-d8 16.Qf3-h3 Ra8-b8 17.Nc3-e2 Rb8-b518.Ne2-d4 Rb5-e5 19.Rf1f7 c6-c5 20.Qh3-f3 Re5-e4 21.Nd4-b5?! [21.Rf7xg7!]21...Rh8-f8! 22.Rf7xf8 Bg7xf8 23.Nb5xa7 Bf8-h6 24.Ra1e1 c7-c6 25.Qf3-h3Bh6xe3+ 26.Kg1h1 Kd8-c7 27.Qh3xh7+ Qe8-e7 28.Qh7-g8 Qe7-e6 29.Qg8-a8Qe6-e8 30.Na7-c8 Qe8xc8 31.Qa8-a7+ Qc8-b7 32.Qa7-a3 Qb7-b4 33.Qa3-a7+ Qb4-b7 34.Qa7-a3 Qb7-b4 35.Qa3-a7+ Kc7-d8 36.Re1f1 Re4-f4 37.Rf1d1 Be3-d438.Qa7-a8+ Kd8-d7 39.Qa8-a7+ Kd7-d8 40.Qa7-a8+ Kd8-d7 41.Qa8-a7+ Kd7-c842.Qa7-e7 Qb4-b8 43.Qe7-e6+ Kc8-c7 44.Qe6-e7+ Kc7-b6 45.a2-a4 Qb8-f8 46.a4-a5+ Kb6-a6 47.Qe7-e2+ Ka6-a7 48.h2-h3 Rf4-f2 49.Qe2-c4 Qf8-f4 50.Qc4-b3 Rf2-f1+ 51.Rd1xf1 Qf4xf1+ 52.Kh1h2 c5-c4 01

(5) Browne,Walter S - Larsen,Bent [C41]San Juan San Juan (13), 1969[Mihail Marin]1.e2-e4 Larsen,B 1...e7-e5 2.Ng1f3 d7-d6 3.d2-d4 e5xd4 4.Nf3xd4 g7-g6 5.Nb1c3Bf8-g7 6.Bf1c4 Nb8-c6 7.Nd4xc6 b7xc6 8.00 Ng8-e7 9.f2-f4 [Another interestingattempt to put Black under pressure is 9.Qd1f3 00 10.Bc1g5 Bc8-e6 11.Bc4-b3 Ra8-b8(11...Qd8-d7 12.Bg5-f6 left Black with some problems freeing himself, although White couldnot develop his initiative in Bekavac,V-Sokolov,V/Tuzla 1958/EXT 2004 (1/2, 20)) 12.Ra1d1

This is the most logical move, putting pressure on Black's centre. However, the rook isslightly exposed on d1, allowing Black to win a tempo with his next move. (12.Rf1e1 h7-h613.Bg5-f6 Bg7xf6 14.Qf3xf6 Ne7-c8 15.Qf6-f4 Qd8-g5=) 12...Qd8-d7 13.h2-h3 f7-f6 14.Bg5-e3 f6-f5! 15.Be3xa7 Be6xb3 16.a2xb3 Rb8-b4 17.e4xf5 Ne7xf5 18.Rf1e1 Rb4-h4 Whitehas no easy way to recycle his bishop. For instance, 19.Ba7-e3 allows an immediate draw by

repetition with 19...Nf5-d4 20.Qf3-g3 Nd4-f5=; 9.Bc1g5 00 (9...Bc8-e6 10.Bc4xe6 f7xe611.Qd1f3) 10.Qd1f3 only transposes.] 9...Bc8-e6 10.Bc4-d3 [10.Bc4xe6 f7xe6 11.Bc1e3 (11.Qd1g4 Qd8-d7 12.e4-e5!? Larsen,B 12...00 13.Nc3-e4 Ra8-b8 14.Rf1d1 Ne7-f515.Qg4-f3 h7-h5) 11...00 12.Be3-d4 e6-e5 13.f4xe5 c6-c5 14.Bd4-e3 Bg7xe5 15.Qd1g4Qd8-c8 16.Rf1xf8+ Qc8xf8 17.Nc3-b5 Qf8-c8= Lanc,A (2395)-Haik,A (2435)/Bucharest1979/EXT 2002 (01, 31); 10.Bc4-b3 Qd8-d7= leaves the white bishop far from theimportant attacking d3-h7 diagonal.] 10...Qd8-d7 [A safer move order seems to be 10...f7-f5!? blocking the f4-pawn at once. 11.e4xf5 Be6xf5 12.Bd3xf5 Ne7xf5 13.Rf1e1+ Ke8-f7looks rather double-edged. 14.g2-g4 Nf5-h4 15.Nc3-e4 Rh8-e8] 11.Qd1f3 [11.f4-f5! '?!'Larsen,B. 11...g6xf5 12.e4xf5 Ne7xf5 13.Qd1g4 h7-h5 14.Qg4-a4 (14.Qg4-g5 Bg7-d4+15.Kg1h1 Nf5-e7 Larsen,B) 14...Nf5-e7 15.Bc1d2 c6-c5 16.Qa4-h4 d6-d5 (16...00017.Ra1e1 Rd8-e8 18.b2-b4) 17.Ra1e1 000 (17...c5-c4 18.Bd3-f5 00 19.g2-g4)Gullaksen,E (2320)-Mulligan,S (2220)/Copenhagen 1997/EXT 2000 (10, 34) 18.Rf1xf7! ]11...f7-f5 12.Bc1d2 00 13.Ra1e1 Ra8-e8 14.b2-b3 f5xe4 [14...Kg8-h8!? Larsen,B]15.Nc3xe4 Ne7-f5 16.Ne4-g5 Be6-d5 [16...Nf5-d4 Larsen,B] 17.Qf3-h3 h7-h6 18.c2-c4Bg7-d4+ 19.Kg1h1 Bd5xg2+ 20.Qh3xg2 h6xg5 21.Qg2xg5 [21.Bd3-e4?! Larsen,B21...Re8-e7! 22.Be4xc6 Nf5-g3+] 21...Kg8-f7 22.Re1xe8 [22.Rf1g1! Larsen,B]22...Rf8xe8 23.Rf1e1 Re8xe1+ 24.Bd2xe1 Qd7-e6 25.Be1d2 d6-d5 26.Qg5-g4Qe6-f6 27.Qg4-f3 [27.Qg4-g5 Larsen,B] 27...Bd4-b6 28.Qf3-h3 Qf6-a1+ 29.Qh3-f1Qa1xa2 [Curiously, all these moves have been repeated in a correspondence game, whichcontinued with 29...Qa1d4 Oliana Rectoret,P-Garces Perez,S/ESP-Cup3 corr 1984/Corr 2000(01, 40). Unfortunately, the rest of the game is a comedy of errors and does not deserve tobe inserted here.] 30.Qf1d1 Kf7-e6 [30...Nf5-e7 Larsen,B 31.f4-f5] 31.Qd1g4 Qa2-a1+


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32.Kh1g2 Qa1g1+ 33.Kg2-h3 Bb6-d4 34.Qg4xg1 Bd4xg1 35.Kh3-g2 Bg1c536.b3-b4 Bc5-d4 37.Kg2-f3 Ke6-f6 38.Kf3-g4 Nf5-d6 39.c4xd5 c6xd5 40.Kg4-f3 c7-c6 41.Bd2-e1 Nd6-c4 42.Bd3-c2 Nc4-a3 43.Bc2-d3 Na3-b5 44.Kf3-g4 Bd4-b245.Be1h4+ Kf6-f7 46.Bh4-e1 Nb5-d6 47.Be1f2 Bb2-c3 48.Bf2-c5 Nd6-b749.Bc5xa7 Bc3xb4 50.f4-f5 [50.Kg4-g5 Larsen,B 50...Bb4-e7+ 51.Kg5-h6 Be7-c552.Bd3xg6+ Kf7-f6 53.Ba7xc5 Nb7xc5 54.Bg6-e8!=] 50...g6xf5+ 51.Kg4xf5 Kf7-e7

52.Ba7-d4 Nb7-d6+ 53.Kf5-e5 Nd6-f7+ 54.Ke5-f5 c6-c5 55.Bd4-f6+ Ke7-d6 56.h2-h4 Bb4-d2 57.Bf6-g7 Nf7-h6+ [57...Bd2-h6 Larsen,B 58.Bg7xh6 Nf7xh6+ 59.Kf5-g6 c5-c460.Bd3-b1!=] 58.Kf5-g6 Nh6-g4 59.Bd3-e2 Ng4-e5+ 60.Kg6-f5 Ne5-f7 61.Be2-d3 c5-c4 62.Bd3-b1 Nf7-h6+ 63.Kf5-g6 Nh6-g4 64.h4-h5 Bd2-e3 65.Kg6-f5 Ng4-h6+66.Kf5-g6 Nh6-g4

(6) Palkovi,Jozsef (2350) - Hammergren,Paer [C50]HUN-ch op Eger, 1987[Mihail Marin]1.e2-e4 e7-e5 2.Ng1f3 d7-d6 3.d2-d4 e5xd4 4.Nf3xd4 g7-g6 5.Nb1c3 Bf8-g76.Bf1c4 Nb8-c6 7.Bc1e3 Ng8-f6 8.f2-f3!? [The correct move order is 8.Qd1d2 009.000 Rf8-e8 (9...Nf6-g4 does not bother White because of10.Nd4xc6 b7xc6 11.Be3-d4)10.f2-f3 Nc6-e5] 8...00 9.Qd1d2 Rf8-e8 [9...Nc6-e5!? 10.Bc4-e2 d6-d5=] 10.000 Nc6-

e5 11.Bc4-e2 The bishop is safe here, but it can be argued that White has simply lost atempo. 11...a7-a6 12.Be3-g5 [12.h2-h4 b7-b5 13.h4-h5 (13.Nc3-d5 c7-c5 14.Nd4-b3 Ne5-c4 15.Be2xc4 b5xc4 Glaz,L-Soppe,E/La Valetta 1980/EXT 2000 (01, 23); 13.g2-g4 c7-c514.Nd4-b3 b5-b4 15.Nc3-b1 Ne5xg4 16.f3xg4 Nf6xe4 17.Qd2-d3 Qd8-f6) 13...c7-c5 14.Nd4-b3 c5-c4 15.Nb3-d4 b5-b4 16.Nc3-b1 German,S-Belfiore,D (2220)/Buenos Aires 1993/EXT 98(10, 53) 16...Ra8-b8 17.h5xg6 f7xg6; 12.g2-g4 b7-b5 13.Be3-g5 (13.g4-g5 Heyken,E(2350)-Jacobsen,B (2280)/Copenhagen 1985/MCD (1/2, 35) 13...b5-b4 14.Nc3-a4 Nf6-h515.Qd2xb4 c7-c5 16.Na4xc5 d6xc5 17.Qb4xc5 Bg7-f8 18.Qc5-c3 Bc8-d7) 13...c7-c5 14.Nd4-b3 (14.Nd4-f5 g6xf5 15.g4xf5 b5-b4 16.Nc3-d5 Bc8-b7 17.Rh1g1 Bb7xd5 18.Bg5-h6 Ne5-g6) 14...c5-c4 15.Nb3-d4 b5-b4 16.Nc3-d5 c4-c3! Just,A-Von Herman,B/Germany 1992/EXT97-B (01, 37)] 12...b7-b5 13.Nc3-d5 Bc8-b7 [13...c7-c5! 14.Nd4-b3 Bc8-e6 15.Nd5xf6+(15.Nd5-f4 Nf6xe4! 16.Nf4xe6 Ne4xd2 17.Ne6xd8 Nd2xb3+ 18.a2xb3 f7-f6 19.Rd1xd6f6xg5=) 15...Bg7xf6 16.h2-h4 Ne5-c4 17.Be2xc4 b5xc4 18.Nb3-a5 Ra8-b8 19.Bg5xf6 Qd8xf6

20.c2-c3 Rb8-b6] 14.h2-h4 [14.Nd5xf6+! Bg7xf6 15.h2-h4] 14...c7-c5 [14...Bb7xd5!15.e4xd5 Qd8-d7 16.Bg5xf6 Bg7xf6 17.h4-h5 c7-c5!] 15.Nd5xf6+ Bg7xf6 16.Nd4-b3c5-c4 17.Nb3-a5 c4-c3 18.Qd2xc3 Bf6xg5+ 19.h4xg5 Qd8xg5+ 20.Qc3-d2 Qg5xd2+21.Rd1xd2 Bb7-c8 22.Rd2xd6 h7-h5 23.c2-c4 Bc8-e6 24.c4-c5 Re8-c8 25.b2-b4Be6xa2 26.Kc1b2 Ba2-e6 27.Rh1d1 Kg8-g7 28.Kb2-c3 Ra8-a7 29.Kc3-d4 Ne5-d730.e4-e5 Kg7-f8 31.f3-f4 Kf8-e7 32.Be2-f3 Ra7-c7 33.Na5-c6+ Rc7xc6 34.Bf3xc6Nd7-b8 35.Bc6-d5 a6-a5 36.Bd5xe6 f7xe6 37.Rd1a1 a5-a4 38.Rd6-b6 Ke7-d739.Kd4-c3 Rc8-d8 40.Rb6xb5 Nb8-c6 10

(8) Palacios de la Prida,Ernesto (2220) - Wojtkiewicz,Aleksander(2535) [C50]Dos Hermanas op Dos Hermanas (3), 1998[Mihail Marin]

1.d2-d4 g7-g6 2.e2-e4 Bf8-g7 3.Nb1c3 d7-d6 4.Bf1c4 Nb8-c6 5.Ng1e2 e7-e56.Bc1e3 e5xd4 7.Ne2xd4 Ng8-f6 8.f2-f3 [8.00 00 9.Qd1d2 Rf8-e8 10.f2-f3 is themore relevant move order 10...Nc6-e5] 8...00 9.00 [9.Nd4xc6 b7xc6 10.00 Rf8-e811.Rf1e1 (11.Qd1d2 d6-d5) 11...Nf6-d7 12.Qd1d2 Nd7-e5 13.Bc4-b3 Bc8-e6] 9...Nc6-e510.Bc4-e2 Rf8-e8 11.Rf1e1 [11.Qd1d2 a7-a6 12.a2-a4?! (12.Ra1d1 b7-b5 13.a2-a3Bc8-b7) 12...d6-d5 13.e4xd5 Nf6xd5 14.Be3-g5 Qd8-d6 15.Ra1d1 (15.Nc3-e4 Qd6-b6)15...Nd5xc3 16.Qd2xc3 Ne5-c6 17.Nd4xc6 Bg7xc3 18.Rd1xd6 c7xd6 19.Nc6-e7+ Kg8-g720.b2xc3 f7-f6 (20...h7-h6!) 21.Ne7xc8 (21.Bg5xf6+ Kg7xf6 22.Ne7-d5+ Kf6-f7 23.Nd5-c7Re8xe2 24.Nc7xa8 Re2xc2) 21...Ra8xc8+ 01 Blimke,D (2220)-Gdanski,J (2540)/Warsaw2005/CBM 110 ext (31)] 11...a7-a6 12.Qd1d2 [12.a2-a4 d6-d5=] 12...d6-d5 13.e4xd5


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Nf6xd5 14.Be3-g5 Qd8-d6 15.Nc3-e4 Qd6-b6 16.c2-c3 Ne5-c6 17.Ra1d1 Bc8-f5=18.Be2-c4 Bf5xe4 19.f3xe4? [19.Re1xe4! Nc6xd4 (19...Re8xe4 20.f3xe4 Nd5-f6 21.Qd2-f4) 20.c3xd4 c7-c6=] 19...Nd5-f6 20.Bg5xf6 [20.Qd2-f4 Nc6-e5] 20...Bg7xf621.Kg1h1 Ra8-d8 22.Qd2-f4 Nc6xd4 23.c3xd4 Rd8xd4 24.Rd1xd4 Qb6xd425.Qf4xc7 Re8-e7 26.Qc7-f4 Qd4xb2 27.Re1f1 Kg8-g7 28.Bc4-d5 h7-h5 29.g2-g3Qb2-e5 30.Qf4-f3 Re7-c7 31.Rf1f2 Qe5-c3 32.Qf3xc3 Bf6xc3 33.Rf2-c2 b7-b5

34.Kh1g2 b5-b4 35.Kg2-f3 Kg7-f6 36.Kf3-e3 Kf6-e5 37.Ke3-d3 a6-a5 38.Rc2-e2a5-a4 39.Kd3-c2 f7-f6 40.Kc2-b1 Ke5-d4 01

(9) Darnstaedt,Frank (2330) - Dreev,Alexey (2610) [C50]Berliner Sommer 9th Berlin, 1991[Mihail Marin]1.e2-e4 e7-e5 2.Ng1f3 d7-d6 3.Bf1c4 Nb8-c6 4.d2-d4 e5xd4 5.Nf3xd4 g7-g66.Nd4xc6 b7xc6 7.00 Bf8-g7 8.f2-f4 With the queenside undeveloped, this "attack" isnot serious. 8...Ng8-f6 9.f4-f5 [The advance of the other pawn is not dangerous either.9.e4-e5 Nf6-d5! 10.Bc4xd5 (10.e5xd6 Qd8xd6 11.Nb1d2 00 12.Nd2-e4 Qd6-b4 13.Bc4-d3Bc8-f5) 10...c6xd5 11.Qd1xd5 (11.e5xd6 Qd8xd6 12.Nb1c3 00!?) 11...Bc8-e6 12.Qd5-c6+Be6-d7 13.Qc6-d5 00 14.e5xd6 (14.Nb1c3 Ra8-b8) 14...Bd7-e6 15.Qd5-f3 (15.Qd5-d1c7xd6 16.Nb1c3 Ra8-b8) 15...Qd8xd6 16.c2-c3 Tolonen,J (2145)-Hermlin,A (2285)/Kemi

1998/EXT 2000 (01, 44) 16...Ra8-b8 Black is better developed and White's camp is full ofweaknesses.] 9...00 10.f5xg6?! Now, there will be no attack left at all. [10.Nb1c3!?]10...h7xg6 11.Bc1g5 Qd8-e7 12.Nb1c3? Qe7-e5! 13.Bg5xf6 Bg7xf6 14.Qd1f3Kg8-g7 [14...Qe5-d4+ 15.Kg1h1 Bf6-e5 16.Bc4-b3 (16.Bc4xf7+ Kg8-g7) 16...Bc8-a617.Rf1e1 Ba6-c4 01 Kakulia,S-Meszaros,T (2115)/Tallinn 1997/EXT 98] 15.Kg1h1 Ra8-b8 16.Nc3-d1 Qe5-g5 17.c2-c3 Bf6-e5 18.Qf3-f2 f7-f6 19.Kh1g1 Rf8-h8 20.g2-g3Rh8-h3 21.Kg1g2 Qg5-h5 22.Kg2-g1 Bc8-d7 23.Ra1c1 Rb8-h8 24.Rc1c2 Rh3xg3+01

(10) Pouw,Pieter - Werle,Jan (2311) [C50]NED-ch U20 Leiden (2), 02.05.2000[Mihail Marin]1.e2-e4 e7-e5 2.Ng1f3 Nb8-c6 3.d2-d4 e5xd4 4.Bf1c4 d7-d6 5.Nf3xd4 g7-g6

6.Nd4xc6 b7xc6 7.00 Bf8-g7 8.Rf1e1 Ng8-e7 [8...Ng8-f6? 9.e4-e5] 9.Nb1c3 [9.c2-c3 is solid, but rather passive and should not trouble Black. 9...00 10.Bc1f4 Bc8-e6 11.Bc4-b3 Ra8-b8 12.Nb1d2 c6-c5 13.Qd1c1 Ne7-c6 14.Nd2-c4 a7-a5 Gankin,S (2308)-Vorotnikov,V (2425)/Moscow 2008/CBM 122 Extra (01, 30)] 9...00 10.Bc1g5 h7-h6[10...Bc8-e6; 10...Ra8-b8] 11.Bg5-e3 [11.Bg5-h4 g6-g5 12.Bh4-g3 Ne7-g6 13.Qd1d2 Ra8-b8 Al Modaihki,A-Alarcon Tirado,C (2135)/Elista 1998/CBM 066 ext (01, 24)] 11...Ra8-b812.Qd1d2 Kg8-h7 13.Bc4-b3 c6-c5 14.Nc3-d5 Ne7xd5 15.e4xd5 [15.Bb3xd5 Rb8xb216.Bd5-b3 Bc8-e6] 15...Qd8-h4 16.c2-c3 [16.Qd2-a5?! Bg7-e5! 17.f2-f4 (17.h2-h3Bc8xh3 18.g2xh3 Qh4xh3; 17.g2-g3 Qh4-f6 18.Qa5xc7 Bc8-h3) 17...Be5xf4 18.Be3xf4Qh4xf4 19.Qa5xc7 Rb8-b7 20.Qc7-c6 Rb7-b6] 16...Bc8-f5 17.Bb3-d1 Rf8-e8 18.Bd1f3Qh4-a4 19.b2-b3 Qa4-a3 20.Bf3-e2 a7-a5 21.g2-g4?! Bf5-d7 22.Qd2-c2 a5-a423.Re1b1 Rb8-a8 24.Be3-c1 a4xb3 25.Rb1xb3 Qa3-a4 26.h2-h3 c5-c4 27.Rb3-b2Qa4xc2 28.Rb2xc2 Bd7-a4 29.Rc2-b2 Bg7xc3 30.Ra1b1 Bc3xb2 31.Rb1xb2 c4-c3

01

(12) Mednis,Edmar John (2455) - Kortschnoj,Viktor (2635) [C50]Vienna op Vienna, 1986[Mihail Marin]1.e2-e4 e7-e5 2.Ng1f3 Nb8-c6 3.Bf1c4 g7-g6 4.c2-c3 d7-d6 5.d2-d4 Qd8-e76.d4xe5 [6.Bc1g5 Ng8-f6 is entirely normal for Black.; 6.Nf3-g5 can be met in two possibleways. 6...Nc6-d8!? This takes full advantage of the previous move. (However, 6...Ng8-h6 isplayable, too, for instance 7.h2-h4 Bf8-g7 8.d4-d5 Nc6-d8 9.h4-h5 f7-f6 10.Ng5-f3 g6-g5)7.00 (7.f2-f4?! e5xf4 8.Bc1xf4 h7-h6) 7...h7-h6 8.Ng5-f3 Bf8-g7= and the insertion of the


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moves ...d8 and ...h6 certainly favours Black. Later, the knight could go to e6-g5.]6...Nc6xe5 [6...d6xe5 may also be playable, but generally Black prefers to get rid of theknight that could get attacked with b4-b5. 7.b2-b3 Zentgraf,R (2114)-Mickiewicz,P(2271)/Koszalin 2007/CBM 119 ext (01, 143) 7...Bc8-e6 8.Bc4-b5 (8.Nb1d2 000; 8.Bc1a3 Qe7-f6) 8...Be6-d7 9.Bc1a3 Qe7-e6 10.Bb5-c4 Qe6-g4 11.00 (11.Ba3xf8 Ke8xf8 12.00Ng8-f6 13.Rf1e1 Kf8-g7=) 11...Ng8-f6 12.Qd1e2 000 13.Bc4xf7 Bf8xa3 14.Nb1xa3 Rh8-

f8 15.Bf7-c4 Nf6xe4] 7.Nf3xe5 d6xe5 8.00 [8.b2-b3 is inoffensive because of 8...Bc8-e69.Bc1a3 Qe7-f6 10.Qd1e2 000=] 8...Ng8-f6! For the time being, Black leaves thebishop on f8, anticipating an eventual b3 followed by a3. [8...Bf8-g7 is entirely playable,though, transposing to a game listed below.] 9.Qd1f3 [9.b2-b3 Nf6xe4 10.Bc1a3 Ne4-d6]9...Bc8-e6 10.Bc1g5 Bf8-g7 11.Nb1d2 h7-h6 12.Bg5xf6 Bg7xf6 13.Bc4xe6Qe7xe6 Black has no problems at all, but my feeling is that Korchnoi was playing for a winalready. 14.Nd2-c4 Bf6-g5 [14...Qe6xc4 15.Qf3xf6 00 16.Qf6xe5 (16.Rf1e1 Rf8-e8=)16...Rf8-e8 17.Qe5-f4 Re8xe4 18.Qf4xh6 Ra8-e8] 15.b2-b3 [15.Nc4-e3 000=] 15...000 16.Ra1d1 c7-c6 17.Rd1xd8+ [17.a2-a4 Kc8-c7 18.a4-a5 h6-h5] 17...Rh8xd8 18.Rf1d1 h6-h5 19.Rd1xd8+ Bg5xd8? [19...Kc8xd8=] 20.Qf3xf7! Qe6xf7 21.Nc4-d6+ Kc8-c7 22.Nd6xf7 Bd8-f6 23.Kg1f1 [23.Kg1f1 Kc7-d7 24.h2-h4 Kd7-e6 25.Nf7-g5+] 10

(13) Gavrilakis,Nikolaos (2295) - Baumgartner,Heinz (2285) [C50]

Thessaloniki ol (Men) Thessaloniki (12), 01.12.1984[Mihail Marin]1.e2-e4 e7-e5 2.Ng1f3 Nb8-c6 3.Bf1c4 g7-g6 4.00 d7-d6 5.c2-c3 Bf8-g7 6.d2-d4Qd8-e7 7.d4xe5 Nc6xe5 8.Nf3xe5 d6xe5 [8...Qe7xe5 9.Nb1d2 Ng8-f6 10.Nd2-f3 Qe5-e711.Rf1e1 Velicka,P (2420)-Pachman,L (2370)/Czechia 1993/TD (1/2, 22)] 9.b2-b3 This isthe only way to prevent Black from obtaining a comfortable form of the Pirc Defence.[9.Bc1e3 Ng8-f6 10.f2-f3 00 11.b2-b4 b7-b6 12.Qd1b3 a7-a5 (12...Nf6-h5!? 13.a2-a4 Nh5-f4 14.a4-a5 Bc8-d7 15.Nb1a3 Qe7-g5) 13.a2-a4 Bc8-b7 14.Nb1a3 Sikora Gizynska,B(2180)-Gorbatow,A (2385)/Katowice 1993/EXT 98 (01, 44); 9.Qd1e2 Ng8-f6 10.f2-f3 0011.Bc1e3 Dave,D (1990)-Melekhina,A (2088)/Batumi 2006 (10, 56) 11...Nf6-h5=] 9...Ng8-f6 [9...Bc8-e6 10.Bc1a3 Qe7-f6 11.Bc4xe6 Qf6xe6 12.c3-c4 Bg7-f8 13.Ba3-b2 (13.Qd1d5!?) 13...Ng8-f6 14.Nb1c3 c7-c6 15.Rf1e1 Bf8-e7 16.Nc3-d5!? c6xd5 17.e4xd5 Qe6-d718.Re1xe5 Maciejewski,A (2345)-Adamski,A (2315)/Piotrkow Trybunalski 1977/EXT 2003

(1/2, 43)] 10.Bc4-b5+ [After 10.Bc1a3 c7-c5 White should transpose with 11.b5+, since11.Nb1d2 00 leaves several of his pieces misplaced> 12.b3-b4 Bc8-e6 13.Qd1e2 Rf8-d814.Bc4xe6 Qe7xe6 15.b4xc5 Bg7-f8 16.Nd2-f3 Ra8-c8 17.Ra1b1 b7-b6] 10...Bc8-d711.Bc1a3 c7-c5 12.Bb5xd7+ Qe7xd7 White has managed to weaken the d5-square, buthis bishop is somewhat misplaced and his development is incomplete. Will he be able toinstall a knight on d5? This is the crucial question. [12...Nf6xd7 13.c3-c4 00 14.Nb1c3]13.Qd1e2 [13.Qd1xd7+ Ke8xd7! (13...Nf6xd7 14.c3-c4 000 15.Nb1c3) 14.Rf1e1(14.Nb1d2 Kd7-c6; 14.f2-f3 Kd7-c6 15.c3-c4 Bg7-h6 16.Nb1c3 Bh6-e3+ 17.Kg1h1 Be3-d4) 14...Kd7-c6 15.c3-c4 Bg7-h6 16.Ba3-b2 (16.Nb1c3? Bh6-d2) 16...Rh8-d8 (16...Rh8-e817.Re1e2 Ra8-d8 18.Nb1c3 Rd8-d2 19.Ra1e1) 17.f2-f3 (17.Bb2xe5 Nf6xe4=) 17...Nf6-h518.Bb2xe5 Rd8-d3 Choosing the move order is very important, because White only needsto play c4 and c3-d5 in order to get a stable advantage.] 13...Qd7-c6 14.f2-f3 00?![14...b7-b5! 15.Qe2-f2 (The immediate 15.c3-c4 b5-b4 16.Ba3-b2 Nf6-h5 leaves the queenexposed.; while 15.Qe2-e3 takes away an important square from the knight.) 15...Ra8-c816.c3-c4 b5-b4 17.Ba3-b2 Nf6-h5! It is better to hurry with this move before White regroupswith d1 and d2-f1. 18.g2-g3 (18.Rf1d1 Nh5-f4 19.Nb1d2? Nf4-d3 20.Qf2-e3 Nd3xb221.Rd1b1 and now Black has several ways to get a small advantage.) 18...00 19.Nb1d2Rf8-e8 20.Rf1d1 Bg7-h6 21.Nd2-f1 Nh5-g7 22.Nf1e3 Bh6xe3! 23.Qf2xe3 f7-f6=] 15.c3-c4Nf6-e8 16.Nb1c3 Ne8-c7 17.Nc3-d5 Rf8-e8 18.Nd5xc7 [18.Ra1d1 Nc7-e6 19.Ba3-b2] 18...Qc6xc7 19.Ra1d1 Ra8-d8 20.Rd1d5 Rd8xd5 21.c4xd5 Bg7-f8 22.Ba3-c1Bf8-d6 23.Bc1e3 Re8-c8 24.Rf1c1 Qc7-a5 25.Qe2-d2 Qa5xd2 26.Be3xd2 f7-f627.Bd2-e3 b7-b6 28.Kg1f2 Kg8-f7 29.Kf2-e2 Kf7-e7 30.Ke2-d3 Ke7-d7


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(14) Morozevich,Alexander (2625) - Malaniuk,Vladimir P (2590)[C50]RUS-chT Sochi (5), 02.09.1998[Mihail Marin]1.e2-e4 e7-e5 2.Ng1f3 Nb8-c6 3.Bf1c4 d7-d6 4.c2-c3 g7-g6 5.d2-d4 Bf8-g7[5...Qd8-e7 6.00 Bf8-g7 is the safer move order] 6.00 [6.d4xe5!] 6...Qd8-e7 7.Rf1e1

Ng8-f6 8.Nb1d2 00 9.h2-h3 A necessary move. [9.Nd2-f1 Bc8-g4 would leave White'scentre instable.] 9...Bc8-d7 [9...Nf6-h5 looks like a premature display of activity, sinceBlack's development is incomplete. 10.Nd2-f1 Nh5-f4 11.Nf1e3 Nc6-d8 12.a2-a4 Nd8-e613.h3-h4 c7-c6 14.g2-g3 e5xd4 15.c3xd4 Nf4-h3+ 16.Kg1g2 Ne6-c7 17.Bc4-d3 Yudasin,L(2460)-Vorotnikov,V (2475)/Leningrad 1984/MCL (01, 30)] 10.a2-a3 [10.Nd2-f1 Ra8-e811.Nf1g3 Kg8-h8 12.Bc1e3 (12.Bc1d2 Kudrin 12...Nf6-g8 In this line, it is important thatthe g6-square has not been weakened.) 12...e5xd4!? 13.c3xd4 Nf6xe4 Kudrin,S (2540)-Vorotnikov,V (2460)/Moscow 1995/EXT 2000/[Kudrin] (10, 42)] 10...Ra8-e8 11.b2-b4 a7-a6 12.Bc4-f1 Bd7-c8 13.Bc1b2 h7-h6 After thorough regrouping, Black finally plays thismove. It should be noticed that he does so only after the enemy bishop has relieved thelatent pressure against Black's kingside. [13...Nf6-h5 14.g2-g3] 14.Ra1c1 Nf6-h7 15.d4-d5 Nc6-d8 16.c3-c4 f7-f5 The position is very sharp, with attacks on opposite wings.However, the bishop fails to impress on b2. 17.c4-c5 Nd8-f7 18.c5xd6 c7xd6 19.e4xf5

g6xf5 20.g2-g3 Nf7-g5 21.Nf3xg5 Qe7xg5 22.Rc1c7 f5-f4 23.g3-g4 h6-h5 24.Nd2-e4 Qg5-h6 25.f2-f3 h5xg4 26.h3xg4 Nh7-g5 27.Qd1e2 [27.Ne4xg5 Qh6xg5 28.Qd1e2 (28.Qd1c2 Bc8-f5 29.Qc2-g2 Bf5-g6) 28...Rf8-f7 White has problems preventing ...e4.]27...Ng5xe4 28.Qe2xe4 Bc8xg4! The draw offer is premature, of course.[28...Bc8xg429.f3xg4? f4-f3 30.Re1d1 Rf8-f4+]

(15) Seret,Jean Luc (2420) - Bricard,Emmanuel (2485) [C50]FRA-ch Strasbourg (14), 1992[Mihail Marin]1.e2-e4 e7-e5 2.Ng1f3 d7-d6 3.Bf1c4 Nb8-c6 4.d2-d3 g7-g6 [Soon after writing thisarticle, I played in Reggio Emilia. While preparing for an opponent who had the Italian gamein his repertoire, I discovered that 4...h7-h6 is entirely playable now. Since White hasrefrained from an early d4, Black can also spend a tempo on a pawn move. The difference if

compared with my game against Zambrana is that the knight is on g8 still and Black cancontinue with ...g6, ...g7 and only then ...f6, very much in the spirit of the rest of thisarticle.] 5.Nf3-g5 Ng8-h6 6.h2-h4 [6.f2-f4 Nc6-a5 7.00 Na5xc4 8.d3xc4 f7-f6= Black hasthe more compact pawn structure and the pair of bishops.; I was impulsed to look for animprovement on the 4th move by the apparently inoffensive move 6.a2-a3!? keeping thebishop alive. Next, White would play c3 and eventually d5. Black would have a hard timefreeing himself.] 6...Nc6-a5 7.h4-h5 Na5xc4 8.d3xc4 f7-f6 [8...Bc8-g4 9.f2-f3 Bg4-d710.Nb1c3 Bf8-e7] 9.Ng5xh7 Interesting, but insufficient. [9.Ng5-f3 Bc8-e6] 9...Rh8xh710.h5xg6 Rh7-h8 11.f2-f4 f6-f5 [11...Bc8-g4 12.Rh1xh6 Bg4xd1 13.Rh6xh8 Qd8-d7+]12.Nb1c3 Bf8-g7 13.f4xe5 f5xe4 14.Qd1d5 c7-c6 15.Qd5xd6 Qd8xd6 16.e5xd6Bc8-f5 17.Bc1g5 Ke8-d7 18.000 Bf5xg6 19.Nc3-a4 b7-b6 20.Rh1h3 Nh6-f721.Bg5-e3 Rh8xh3 22.g2xh3 Bg6-h5 23.Rd1g1 Bg7-f6 24.Be3xb6 Nf7xd6 25.c2-c3Kd7-e6 26.Na4-c5+ Ke6-f5 27.Bb6-c7 Nd6-f7 28.Rg1f1+ Bh5-f3 29.a2-a4 Ra8-c8

30.Bc7-g3 Bf6-d4 31.Nc5-b7 Rc8-g8 01

(16) Yudasin,Leonid - Vorotnikov,Vladislav V (2410) [C50]Leningrad-ch Leningrad, 1979[Mihail Marin]1.e2-e4 e7-e5 2.Ng1f3 Nb8-c6 3.Bf1c4 d7-d6 4.00 g7-g6 5.d2-d4 e5xd4 6.Bc1g5Bf8-e7 [6...Qd8-d7 is over-ambitious. Black preserves his bishop from being exchanged, buthis development will most likely suffer. 7.Nf3xd4 Bf8-g7 8.Nd4xc6 (8.c2-c3 Ng8-f6 9.Nd4xc6b7xc6 10.Qd1d4 Nf6-h5 11.Qd4-d2 00 Haznedaroglu,K (2438)-Atalik,S (2618)/Istanbul


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2006/CBM 111 ext (1/2, 44)) 8...b7xc6 9.Nb1c3 Ra8-b8 (9...Ng8-f6? 10.e4-e5 d6xe5?11.Qd1f3+-; 9...Ng8-e7) 10.Bc4-b3 Ng8-e7] 7.Bg5xe7 Qd8xe7 8.Nf3xd4 Ng8-f6[8...Nc6xd4 looks premature, but is not easy to refute. 9.Qd1xd4 Qe7-e5 10.c2-c3 Ng8-f611.Nb1d2 00 12.Ra1e1 c7-c6 13.Qd4-d3 Bc8-e6= Dueckstein,A (2370)-Baumgartner,H(2350)/Austria 1990/TD (1/2, 58)] 9.Nb1c3 [9.Rf1e1 00 10.Bc4-b3 Nc6-a5 A typicalmistake. Black should not exchange any of his knights for the bishop. Not at this high point

in the game, at least. (10...Qe7-e5 11.c2-c3 Bc8-d7=; 10...Bc8-d7 11.Nb1c3 Ra8-e8)11.Nb1c3 Na5xb3 12.a2xb3 c7-c6 13.h2-h3 Bc8-d7 14.Qd1d2 a7-a6 15.Ra1d1 Kobalija,M(2537)-Polovodin,I (2468)/Novgorod 1999/CBM 069 ext (1/2, 50)] 9...00 10.Rf1e1 Qe7-e5 11.Nd4-f3 [11.Nd4-b5 Nf6-g4 12.g2-g3 Qe5-c5 13.Qd1e2 a7-a6 14.Nb5xc7 Nc6-d4+; 11.Nc3-b5 a7-a6; 11.Nd4-b3 Nf6-g4 12.g2-g3 a7-a5] 11...Qe5-c5 12.Bc4-b3 Bc8-g4

The exchanges that follow reduce the significance of White's advantage in space. 13.h2-h3Bg4xf3 14.Qd1xf3 Kg8-g7 15.Ra1d1 Nc6-d4 16.Qf3-d3 Nd4xb3 17.a2xb3 Rf8-e818.Rd1d2 Re8-e7 19.Kg1h1 Ra8-e8= Black has a very comfortable position. 20.f2-f4?! b7-b5 21.Rd2-e2 b5-b4 22.Nc3-b1 h7-h5 23.Nb1d2 h5-h4 24.Qd3-f3 d6-d5[24...Nf6-h5 25.Nd2-f1 a7-a5 26.Qf3-g4 Qc5-d4 27.Re2-d2 Qd4xb2 28.Qg4xh4? Re7xe4+]25.e4-e5 Nf6-h5 26.Nd2-f1 Qc5-d4 27.Re2-f2 f7-f6 28.c2-c3 b4xc3 29.b2xc3 Qd4-b6 30.Nf1e3 c7-c6 31.Qf3-g4 Nh5-g3+ 32.Kh1h2 f6-f5 33.Qg4xh4 Ng3-e4 34.Rf2-f3 [34.g2-g4 f5xg4 (34...Ne4xf2 35.g4xf5!!+-) 35.Rf2-g2 (35.Ne3xg4 Ne4xf2 36.Qh4-h6+Kg7-f7 37.e5-e6+ Re7xe6 38.Qh6-h7+ Kf7-f8 39.Qh7-h8+ Kf8-f7 40.Ng4-h6+ Kf7-e741.Re1xe6+ Ke7xe6 42.Qh8xe8+) 35...g4-g3+ 36.Rg2xg3 Ne4xg3 37.Qh4xg3 Kg7-f738.f4-f5] 34...Re7-f7 35.Re1g1 Qb6xb3 36.g2-g4 Re8-h8 37.Qh4-e1 Kg7-f838.g4xf5 g6xf5 39.e5-e6 Rf7-f6 40.Qe1a1 Qb3-b8 41.c3-c4 Rh8-h7 42.c4xd5c6xd5 43.e6-e7+ Rh7xe7 44.Ne3xd5 Qb8-b5 45.Nd5xf6 Qb5-e2+ 46.Rg1g2 Qe2xf347.Nf6xe4 Qf3xf4+ 48.Ne4-g3 Qf4-e5 49.Qa1xe5 Re7xe5 50.Rg2-f2 a7-a551.Ng3xf5 Kf8-f7 52.Nf5-d4+ Kf7-g6 53.Rf2-a2 Kg6-h5 54.Nd4-c6 Re5-c555.Ra2xa5 Kh5-h4 56.Ra5-a4+ 10

(17) Fauland,Alexander (2475) - Chernin,Alexander (2605) [C44]Altensteig Altensteig (1), 1991[Mihail Marin]1.e2-e4 e7-e5 2.Ng1f3 d7-d6 3.d2-d4 e5xd4 4.Bf1c4 Nb8-c6 5.00 g7-g6 6.c2-c3

d4-d3! Black returns the pawn in order to hinder White's development. [6...d4xc3 7.Qd1b3Qd8-d7 (7...Qd8-e7 8.Nb1xc3 Nc6-a5? 9.Qb3-a4+ Na5-c6 10.Nc3-d5) 8.Qb3xc3 f7-f69.Nb1a3 Bf8-g7 10.Na3-b5 Ng8-e7 11.Bc4-e6 Qd7-d8 12.Nf3-g5; 6...Bf8-g7 7.c3xd4]7.Qd1xd3 [7.Nf3-g5 Nc6-e5 I find this natural move best. (7...Ng8-h6 is also playable,though. 8.f2-f4 Bf8-g7 9.Qd1xd3 00 10.h2-h3 Nc6-a5 11.Bc1e3 Na5xc4 12.Qd3xc4 Kg8-h813.Nb1d2 Qd8-e7 14.Ra1e1 f7-f6 15.Ng5-f3 Bc8-e6 16.Qc4-a4 a7-a6 17.Qa4-c2 Be6-g818.a2-a4 b7-b5 Bologan,V (2510)-Hracek,Z (2485)/Nimes 1991/EXT 97 (10, 42). Black iswell regrouped and has the pair of bishops. His chances are not worse.) 8.Bc4xd3 Ng8-f69.Bd3-c2 (9.f2-f4 Ne5xd3 10.Qd1xd3 h7-h6 11.Ng5-f3 Bf8-g7 12.e4-e5) 9...h7-h6 10.Ng5-f3(10.f2-f4 h6xg5 11.f4xe5 Nf6-g4!) 10...Ne5xf3+ (10...Bc8-g4 11.Nb1d2 Bf8-g7 12.h2-h3)11.Qd1xf3 Bf8-g7=] 7...Bf8-g7 8.Bc1g5 Ng8-e7 [Black should not shy away from thenatural 8...Ng8-f6 9.e4-e5!? The only way to fight for initiative, but with the knight on b1still, there is little chance for success. (9.Nb1d2 00 10.Rf1e1 h7-h6 11.Bg5-f4 Nf6-g4)9...d6xe5 (9...Bc8-f5?? 10.e5xf6! Bf5xd3 11.f6xg7+-) 10.Qd3xd8+ Nc6xd8 11.Nf3xe5 Nd8-e6 12.Bg5-h4 Nf6-e4 13.Rf1e1 Ne4-d6=] 9.Nb1d2 h7-h6 10.Bg5-h4 00 11.Rf1e1 g6-g5 12.Bh4-g3 Ne7-g6= Black has nice control over the dark squares, although his lightsquares are slightly weakened. 13.Ra1d1 g5-g4 14.Nf3-d4 h6-h5 15.Nd4xc6 [15.Nd4-f5 h5-h4; 15.f2-f3 h5-h4 16.Bg3-f2 h4-h3] 15...b7xc6 16.Qd3-e3 Bc8-e6 [16...h5-h417.Bg3-f4 Ng6xf4 18.Qe3xf4 Qd8-f6=] 17.Bg3-f4 Ra8-b8 [17...Ng6xf4 18.Qe3xf4 Qd8-f6=]18.Bf4-g5 Qd8-c8 19.Bc4-b3 a7-a5 20.Bg5-h6 Rf8-e8 21.Bh6xg7 Kg8xg7 22.f2-f4g4xf3 23.g2xf3 a5-a4 24.Bb3xa4 Qc8-a6 [24...Rb8xb2 25.Ba4xc6 Re8-g8] 25.b2-b3[25.Ba4-b3 c6-c5!?] 25...Qa6-b6 26.Nd2-f1 Qb6xe3+ 27.Nf1xe3 Rb8-b6 28.Kg1f2Re8-a8 29.Re1g1 Kg7-f6 30.Ne3-g2 Be6-h3 31.Kf2-e3 Bh3xg2 32.Rg1xg2 Ng6-e5


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33.f3-f4 Ne5-d7 34.e4-e5+ Kf6-e7 35.e5xd6+ c7xd6 36.Rg2-d2 d6-d5 37.c3-c4Nd7-c5 38.c4xd5 Nc5xa4 39.b3xa4 Ra8xa4 40.d5xc6 Rb6xc6 41.Rd2-d5

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Avoiding symmetry in the Italian Game