Hello chess friends,

The new issue of Modern Chess Magazine is here! We present four articles that
combine opening, middlegame, endgame, strategy and psychology in chess.

 In the second part of “Endgame Series” GM Davorin Kuljasevic explains

importance of pawns in endgames through interesting examples from both
classical and modern Grandmaster practice. Start with the impersonation of the
famous movie “Searching for Bobby Fischer”, go through the classical
theoretical positions from 70’s and 80’s and find out how Polish GM Bartel used
impeccable endgame technique to defeat World #28 Navara. And, of course, make
sure to “Test Yourself” at the end of the article.

 GM Boris Chatalbashev continues analyzing the initiative in different stages of

the chess game. In this issue he pays attention to initiative in middlegame and
suggests how to find the best move in complex middlegame positions relying on
chess logic. He subtly explains how to let go of the “materialistic mindset” in chess
and rather look for dynamic solutions that pose, sometimes insurmountable,
practical problems to opponent.

 GM Petar Arnaudov launches a new roubric for the 1.e4 fans – full repertoire for
White pieces. The first article features Alapin Variation of Sicilian Defence. One
of Black’s main answers 2…d5 is analyzed in-depth with a plenty of fresh
examples from grandmaster practice. You will find a good mix of important
forced lines and typical ideas, plans and motifs.

 Those of You who prefer more aggressive and attacking style of play will enjoy
the second part of Dragon Variation in Sicilian Defence. IM Spas Kozhuharov
prepared a sharp and double-edged repertoire for Black pieces against the main
lines 9. 0-0-0 and 9. g4. In addition to presenting typical attacking ideas,
Kozhuharov proves that certain lines are unjustifiably neglected by the
mainstream theory by analyzing improvements that contain a lot of venom.

 Viktor Gavrikov’s strategical tips will boost Your attacking abilities in positions
with an isolated pawn. He visualizes three important plans: transferring the rook
on the third horizontal, movement of the isolated plan and knight sacrifice on “f7”.

Enjoy reading!
 Table of content

Endgame Series – Part II (GM Davorin Kuljasevic)……………………….………............………....3

Searching for Bobby Fischer.........................................................…………………………………..............………..…………..4
Alcazar Jimenez – Kuljasevic/ Oropesa del Mar 1998…………....................................................................................5
Shkril, 1979.............……………………………................................................………………………………………..………………..8
Navara – Bartel/ Israel, 2015..........................................……..............................……………………………………………..12
Beier – Polasek/ Luxembourg, 1986..................................................................................................................................13
Test yourself.................................................................................................................................................................................15

Fighting for the initiative – Part II (GM Boris Chatalbashev) ....................................16

Cifuentes - Zvjaginsev/ Hoogovens op Wijk aan Zee, 1995.....................................................................................17
Karjakin – Nezad/ Tromsoe, 2014......................................................................................................................................20
Korchnoi – Georgiev/ Lugano, 1986..................................................................................................................................22
Marin - Steffansson/ Istanbul, 2000...................................................................................................................................26

Alapin Variation of Sicilian Defence – Part I (GM Petar Arnaudov)………………28

Variations with 4...f6.............................................................................................................................................................29
Variations without 4...f6......................................................................................................................................................38

Dragon Variation of Sicilian Defence – Part II (IM Spas Kozhuharov)…………47

Attack with an isolated pawn – (GM Viktor Gavrikov)……………………………………….…61

Transfer of the rook on the third horizontal....................................................................................................................62
Movement of the isolated pawn.............................................................................................................................................66
Knight sacrifice on “f7”…………................................................................................................................................................69

Editor: GM Davorin Kuljasevic

 Modern Chess
Endgame Series – Part II Kramnik-Kasparov/ Wch London, 2000
(GM Davorin Kuljasevic)

Among many existing definitions of the

endgame, I have recently encountered an and Aronian – Anand/ Bilbao 2014
interesting one by Romanian Grandmaster
Mihai Suba. In his interesting book „Dynamic
Chess Strategy“, Suba suggests that „The
endgame is a part of the game where temporary
placement of pieces is not of primary
importance.“ He then elaborates:
„More significant are:
1) Material advantage
2) Promotion races between pawns
3) Qualitative advantage in pawn
structure or pieces
4) The possibility to bring the king into
the fight“

There are some interesting points about

Suba's definition. Chess theoreticians have are on the borderline between middlegame
generally agreed upon a broad definition of and endgame. Both endgame and middlegame
the endgame, although some grey areas still principles may apply in such positions.
remain. For example, positions such as
Our goal here is not to indulge into a
philosophical discussion about the nature of
endgames. The reason I brought up Suba's
definition is that it definitely points out two

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key features of the endgame that I would like to Searching for Bobby Fischer - final
focus on. These are: [GM Davorin Kuljasevic]
1) Increased value of pawns due to their
promotion ability („Promotion races
between pawns“ - Suba), and
2) Increased value of the king due to his
ability to actively join the fight („The
possibility to bring the king into the fight“ -
Suba)

One can easily make a distinction between the

endgame and the middlegame based on these
two factors. In the middlegame, pawns and the
king are the most vulnerable pieces, while in the
endgame, their strength (or lack thereof) often
decides the outcome of the game. In this issue,
we will specifically deal with the pawns. As the young movie hero playing Black quickly
pushes the pawn forward

Increased value of pawns in the 1...a5 it becomes obvious that none of the
kings are able to catch the passed pawns and
endgame that the pawn race is inevitable. The dramatic
moment is amplified by both players quickly
Have you seen the movie „Searching for Bobby pushing their pawns to the end of the board...
Fischer“? If you have, the story that I am about
to tell will be familiar. If you haven't, I would 2.h5 a4 3.h6 a3 4.h7 a2
warmly suggest you to see it.
In this famous chess movie, a young and
talented chess player from New York (Joshua
Waitzkin) is making his first chess steps as he
tries to win the National Championship in the
youngest age category. In his pursuit of the title,
in the final round he meets with another
similarly talented boy, who is also his nemesis.
In the final scene of the movie boys reach a
pawn endgame where both of them have
passed pawns on a- and h-files:

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...and putting queens in their places. Alcazar. However, after a long struggle, a
glimmer of hope appeared:
5.h8 a1+
Alcazar Jimenez,V – Kuljasevic,D [B45]
Wch U12 Oropesa del Mar (10), 1998

At this point White player wants to give check

with his queen, but he is warned that his own
king is in check. Only then he realizes that Naturally, I pushed the pawn forward
black pawn was promoted with a deadly check
along the diagonal. He reluctantly moves his 57...h3 Young and naive as I was, I got excited
king about the possibility of a drawn endgame after
"forced move" 58.a6. However, my opponent
6.f5 and Black happily takes the queen completely surprised me with
6...xh8 and the game. 58.e5!
When I saw this movie as a kid, I was
fascinated by the pawn race and the final
combination winning the queen by a skewer
along the diagonal.
Little did I know that a few years later
something similar would happen to me.
In 1998, as a 11-year old I played in my first
World Youth Championship in Oropesa del Mar,
Spain. In the penultimate round, for a long
time I defended a pretty much lost endgame
against a Spanish player Victor

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 Modern Chess
What a shock this was! "Is white trying to
lose?", I thought to myself at first.

58.a6 h2 59.a7 h1 60.a8 would be a dream

come true

I confidently played

58...g3 trying to figure out why my

opponent allowed me to promote my pawn
before him, when the cold shower came...

59.f3!

"OK, I will not fall for that trick", I thought.

"But, isn't the endgame with the h-pawn against
the queen drawn?" – another light in the dark
appeared. I proceeded to play the next
sequence of moves with a new-found
confidence.

61...g2 62.a8+

The only winning move for white, stopping the

h-pawn and at the same time luring the king
onto the long diagonal. Is this "Searching for
Bobby Fischer" deja vu?

59...xf3 60.a6 h2 61.a7

62...g1 63.a1+ g2 64.b2+ g1

65.c1+ g2 66.d2+ g1 67.e1+ g2
68.e2+ g1 69.g4+ h1

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 Modern Chess
Despite sentimental, this endgame also holds
educational value. It shows how important it is
for a chess player to learn all aspects of
endgame – the principles, the theoretical
positions and the standard winning methods.
Obviously my opponent was more proficient in
these aspects at that point and he deservedly
won the game.
Pawn races with single passed pawns, as those
that we have just seen, are a trademark of pawn
endgames. Naturally, when there are more
pieces on the board, these passed pawns are less
dangerous as pieces can catch them more easily
than the king can. For example, the bishop can
catch a single passed pawn in one move. Even
the short-legged knight can be very effective in
Standard stuff – now Black gets a draw by catching a passed pawn, like in the next
stalemate, right? endgame study:

70.g3! The second cold shower. Only now I Shkril 1979

came to realize that I was not getting
stalemated, but rather checkmated thanks to
my extra g-pawn. This, of course, is a theoretical
position that I was not aware of at the time.

70...g5 71.f2

In this tense position white has a single

winning move:

and with f1 checkmate on the next move, I had

to resign after all.

1–0

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 Modern Chess
1.b2! This is a well-known method with
knights - they are better at defending passed
pawns from the back than the front.

A clear example of this is 1.b6? h5 2.a4 b4

and black will force the knight to abandon
defence of a-pawn, so the game is drawn.

1...h5 The most consistent approach.

Obviously with 1...xb2 black king steps out

of the square of white pawn and white wins
the familiar pawn race after: 2.a4 h5 3.a5 h4
4.a6 h3 5.a7 h2 6.a8 controlling the
promotion square h1.; 1...b3 just loses the
tempo, so after 2.a4 b4 white steps into the Obviously threatening to step into the square
square of h-pawn 3.e6 h5 4.f5 and the rest of the h-pawn so the following move is forced
is a matter of technique. Notice how white
knight and pawn are "untouchable". 3...h4 3...a5 4.d5 is simply won.

2.a4 b4 Again, the most stubborn defence. 4.b6! The key move! White king and knight
are switching their roles.
If black attempts to win the pawn race with
2...h4 3.a5 h3 4.a6 h2 he is in for a 4...h3 5.a5 h2 6.d3+
disappointment as white knight joins the
battle: 5.d1+! d2 6.f2 Right on time.
6...e2 7.h1 f1 8.a7 g1 9.a8 Again,
right on time. The queen protects the knight.
(Funnily enough, the only other
underpromotion that wins is 9.a8 (a8 is a
draw!) Of course, white would need to apply his
knowledge of checkmating the king with 
+ !)

3.c6

Essential check. The knight proves to be an

amazing piece once again.

6...c3 7.f2 d2 8.a6 e2 9.h1 f1

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 Modern Chess
10.a7 g1 11.a8 Passed pawns v. Rook

In this position it is white's move, but he has

and white wins.
no answer to black's threat of pawn promotion.
An important rule to remember is that rook can
A beautiful example that not only shows the
not stop two connected pawns if they have both
miracle of knight jump, but also exemplifies an
advanced to the 3rd rank.
important winning strategy in endgames (that we
will talk about in depth in later issues) – „the
1.b8 Similarly 1.c8 b2 2.b8 c2 3.xb2
distribution of work load“. To clarify this
definition, let me summarize how it played c1
out in this example: The knight has done a
wonderful job of protecting white's passed a- The attempt to stop them from the front also
pawn at first and then white king stepped in by doesn't work 1.d1 c2 2.c1 b2 3.xc2 b1
threatening to catch black h- pawn. But at the
appropriate moment, white pieces switched 1...c2 2.c8 b2 3.xc2 b1
their roles and white king took guard of the a-
pawn, while the knight used its power to reach
from b2 to h1 and catch the h-pawn.

In conclusion, single passed pawns are usually

dealt with (caught or blocked) by pieces relatively
easily. But even strong pieces such as rook can
be defenceless against connected passed pawns.
The classical example is:

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 Modern Chess
and black reaches a theoretically won  v.
endgame.

Endgames with connected passed pawns come

in all shapes and colors and they definitely deserve
a chapter of their own. We will return to them
later. Before we do that, we need to attend to
several elementary principles relating to passed
pawns. The first one of them is breakthrough. Let
us first look at the textbook example:

Breakthrough 1

Clearing the way for the a-pawn.

2...bxc6

2...bxa5 3.cxb7

3.a6

White wins with a double pawn sacrifice:

1.b6! axb6 or 1...cxb6 2.a6 bxa6 3.c6

2.c6!

and white gets the queen in 2 moves.

We can see another typical breakthrough

motive in the following position:

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 Modern Chess
Breakthrough 2

Giving way again

In order to win this game, white will use the
threat of the breakthrough. Since the attempt at opposition again fails to
2...e8 3.b6! d8 (3...cxb6 4.c7) 4.b7 and
1.d5 d8 Black has to give way white promotes the queen with checkmate.

because with 1...f6 3.e7 b8 4.d7

he would step out of the square of the c6– and white wins by simple means.
pawn and white would use his sacrificial lamb
2.b6! cxb6 to promote the c-pawn. 3.c7 Let's now see the breakthrough in practice. A
fresh game Navara – Bartel, Jerusalem, 2015,
2.e6 c8 features an instructive moment in same-
colored bishops endgame:

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 Modern Chess
Navara,D (2735) – Bartel,M (2631) [C07]
16th ch-EUR Indiv 2015 Jerusalem ISR (6.2),
02.03.2015

This is the point that Bartel predicted when he

played 54...f4. White is forced to enter the pawn
endgame

Black completely dominates and he only needs 60.xc3 xc3+ 61.xc3 which black
to find where to break through. Pushing c3 decides with...
would be premature as it would allow white
king to get to b3. White b-pawn presents 61...c5 62.d3 d5 63.c3 g5!
another distraction. Bartel fixes white's pawn
structure with

54...f4! This move also puts white in some

sort of zugzwang.

54...c3 55.b3

55.b2 Forced.

55.g1 loses the h-pawn to 55...e1; while

55.b6 loses the b-pawn in 2 moves. 55...c6
56.d4 a5

55...c5 56.e1 d4+ The king was lured to

b2 so this important move comes with a check. ... breakthrough! White resigned because after
57.a3 c5 58.b6 xb6 59.b4 c3! 64.hxg5 h4 65.g6 e6

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 Modern Chess
possible setup for his pieces and now he needs
to break through

1.g6+ 1.f6? would be the wrong breakthrough

on the account of 1...gxf6 2.g6+ g7 3.b7+
g8 4.h6 a8! and black draws according to
the rule that even "passive defence" (rook on
eight rank) draws against the g- and h- pawns.
Active defence is required with f- and e-
pawns.

1...f6 1...e7 only postpones the inevitable

2.g8 f6 3.f8+ and we reach the game
position

Black king is in the square of the passed pawn, 2.f8+ e5 3.f6!
but the same can not be said about his colleague
on the other side of the board.

0–1

In rook endgames, breakthrough is just as

important. Let's see how white used it to win
the following position:

Beier – Polasek/ Luxembourg, 1986

An intelligent breakthrough.

It seems that 3.f7 is winning on the spot, but

Black has counterattack 3...a1 and it would
be a huge mistake to play 4.xg7? because
white is checkmated out of the blue after
4...f4!; Neither does 3.g5 bring victory.
Again, black switches to active defence with
3...a1! and achieves a draw by checking the
king from behind 4.e8+ d6 5.e4 g1+
6.g4 f1 7.f4 g1+=
In this rook endgame, white achieved the best

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 Modern Chess
3...xf6 4.f7!

and winning this position is a matter of

The key move that puts black in zugzwang! He technique (read: knowing the "bridge
can not stretch his rook to the first rank as he technique").
did before.
With this nice example we complete Endgame
4...e6 In case of 4...f5+ white wins by
series for this issue. The most important
"triangulation" 5.g4 f6 6.g5!+– and the g-
pawn finally falls. lesson to take away is that the importance of
pawns in endgames rises significantly
5.xg7 f1 Now it is too late for checks from compared to the middlegame. In the „Test
the behind because white king hides on g7 after yourself“ section you can find puzzles
involving pawn races and breakthrough
6.a7 h1+ 7.g5 g1+ 8.h6 h1+ motives to test your understanding of these
principles.
8...f6 is insufficient due to 9.f7+! e6
10.g7 In the next issue, join us for further
elaboration on importance of pawns in
9.g7 endgames, including themes of „electric
pawns“, the common square of passed pawns,
and connected passed pawns.

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 Modern Chess
Test yourself
Puzzle 1 Puzzle 3

White to move
White to move
Puzzle 4
Puzzle 2

White to move
Black to move

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 Modern Chess
Puzzle 5 Fighting for the initiative – Part
II
(GM Boris Chatalbashev)

White to move

Initiative in the middlegame

The fight for initiative is most often associated

with the middlegame. With many pieces on
the board, dynamic factors tend to be more
important than positional ones (but not
always!). In addition to piece placement,
safety of the king plays an important role. So
in many positions when the kings are under
attack every tempo is critically important -
you must be the first one to take the initiative!
You can see excellent examples of initiative in
the article of my colleague on Dragon
variation, which is perfect for young players to
learn the dynamic play and how to attack the
king! For such attacks to be successful, needless
to say, your pieces must be active.

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 Modern Chess
Cifuentes Parada,Roberto (2535) – little weak now. Also he has some ideas with
Zvjaginsev,Vadim (2585) [D45] f5, trying to use the weaknesses around the
Hoogovens op Wijk aan Zee (1), 01.1995 opponent's king. Black pieces are well placed,
he will try to play b5 and ad8 targeting the
central pawn. White's last move is not very
good, though; he should have played the
prophylactic 17. a4 first. The text threatens
18.f5, but Black's energetic play did not give
him time for that!

17...d6 18.g3 18.f5 is possible, but just

not quite enough 18...xh2+ 19.h1 e5
20.d6 b8

I find the following game, although a little

unknown, to be quite instructive. It is a nice
display of how Black gets active and then
executes a direct assault, mating the enemy's
king.

17.d2?!

(20...d8 21.e7+ xe7 22.dxe7 xe7)

18...b5 19.f3

Again 19.f5 b4 20.xd6 xd6 21.a4 xd5

The position is complex, but more or less

balanced. White has a passed pawn which can
become dangerous in future, though it is a

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 Modern Chess
leaving g4 insufficiently protected... But this is
what happens when you put your opponent
under pressure. He has to decide which of
your threats are real and which are fake – and
he usually blunders.
24.a3

24...xf2! 25.xf2 xe3!

19...b4 20.e2 e4 21.c2 df6 22.g2

d7 23.e3 ad8 Black has improved his
position a lot. You may take a note how he has
taken over the initiative – attacking on h2,
then the knight on c3, going forward with both
his knights, the queen is ready to jump on h3
in some lines and finally the last piece comes
into play - the rook on d8. Sometimes to be
active you do not need to sacrifice material -
just do not be shy and go forward! 26.xe3

24.g2?

Objectively 26.xe3 was better, but the

position after 26...g4+ 27.d2 xh6 is no
fun for White - his king is left floating in the
This move looks quite normal, but leads to a
middle of the board and black pieces are still
disaster. Just for the innocuous reason of
active.

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 Modern Chess
26...g4+ 27.f3 xh2+ Before considering
how to proceed, it is always useful to take a
pawn.

28.f2 g4+ 29.f3 e6!

Very beautiful – this excellent game is

completed with queen sacrifice!

32.xe3 xe3+ 33.xg4 c8+ 34.g5

34.h4 e7

A neat move! The black queen attacks on e3

and is still defending the knight on g4.

30.f4 This allows a brilliant finish, but there

is no escape.

30.e4 xe4+ 31.xe4 e8+ 32.d3

xe3–+; 30.d2 e8

30...e8 31.c4 e3+!!

34...h6+ 35.xh6 e5

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 Modern Chess
Here Karjakin has not played a great game and
if he plays naturally exchanging the bishops and
defending the pawn on e3, he is just slightly
worse. But in this case, he is doomed to
passive defence till the end of the game. He
has two weak pawns - on e3 and c5, and Black
only one - c6. To make things worse, the
pressure on e file and knight jumps on e4 are
very annoying. So instead, he decides to
sacrifice the pawn in order to cut the Black`s
bishop out of play. The engines, of course, do
not approve, but from practical point of view
it is the only decision possible. And most GMs
would play that way.

White is queen and a rook up, but there is no 28.f5

defence to the threats of f8# and h5#!

0–1

Karjakin,S (2786) – Nezad,H (2365)

41st Olympiad Open 2014 Tromso NOR (2.1),
03.08.2014

Sometimes the initiative play comes more out

of necessity. That is when the strategical factors
are not in favour of the player and he searches
for dynamic solutions, even if he feels they
are not that convincing.

28...xe3 29.xe3 xe3 30.bxc6 bxc6

31.b8+ g8

31...e8 32.d6

32.f1 e4 33.d1 h5 The computers

favour 33...e8

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 Modern Chess
35...b4 was much stronger,

preventing d6. Even if it is the best move

(not quite sure about that), it is the one that is
when Black manages to reach the weak
too difficult for humans to make. The bishop squares around White's king. In that case he is
on g8 is already funnily placed and now the immune to loss, having at least perpetual in
knight goes to passivity too. Yes, White does not many variations. For example: 36.f3 c3
have any threat, but he can calmly improve (36...a3)) 36...e1 37.xe1 xe1
with 34.a4. Generally Black's choice in the 36.a4 e3 37.c6 c3 38.xa7 e4
game is reasonable as he is also looking for the 39.e2 xc6 40.xd5 c2 41.e3 f6
initiative! 42.a5

34.d6 b7 35.xc6 b2?

White consolidated and went on to convert

the extra pawn.
Now this is a serious mistake. With his next
move White frees his c pawn, the queen goes 42...c8 43.d4 b1 44.c3 e1
back into defence and the knight on d4 is strong 45.c5 xc5 46.xc5 h4 47.e2 e4
enough. The pin does not matter at all.

21
 Modern Chess
48.d4 d2 49.f2 xf2+ 50.xf2 f6 The opening has finished and both sides have
51.a4 c4 52.g4 hxg3+ 53.xg3 xf1 placed their pieces perfectly for the given
54.xf1 g6 55.e3 d3 56.fxg6 xg6 pawn structure. Neither White nor Black can
57.d5 g7 58.e3 e8 59.a5 g6 60.a6 try some active idea immediately. In chess, such
situations happen very often. Then, usually
after some manoeuvering, one side tries
regrouping and executing a certain plan. But
meanwhile, his opponent can also try grabbing
the initiative, using the temporary disharmony
which comes with the change of piece
placements and plans.

15...a7 The idea is to play b5 thus

provoking White to answer with a4, then the
knight simply goes back. In future the weakness
of b4 square might become very useful for
Black.

16.d4!? First it might look like White has lost

a tempo - playing d3 and the next move d4.
1–0 But in fact he tries to take the initiative only
because Black's knight is misplaced on a7,
feeling the complications will turn in his
Korchnoi,V - Georgiev,Kir [A14] favour.
Lugano, 1986
16…cxd4?!
1.f3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.g3 f6 4.g2 e7 5.0–
0 0–0 6.b3 b6 7.b2 b7 8.e3 c5 9.c3
dxc4 10.bxc4 c6 11.e2 a6 12.fd1 c7
13.ab1 ab8 14.Ba1 fd8 15.d3

A natural move, but not the best. Black should

have continued with his plan of playing b5
immediately. In that case a future d5 break

22
 Modern Chess
would not amount to much as e file is closed. 19.cxd5 xd5 20.xd5 xd5 21.e1!

16...b5!

21...f8 22.e5 d6 23.xd6

23.bc1 was even stronger
17.cxb5 axb5 18.dxc5 (18.xb5?! xb5
19.xb5 a6) 18...xc5=

17.exd4 b5 Fighting for d5 square.

18.d5!

but the proof is rather in computer-style:

23...c6 (23...d8 24.cd1!) 24.xg7!!

18...exd5 18...xc4 looks very dangerous,

though it is not losing 19.xc4 bxc4 20.dxe6
fxe6 21.xd8+ xd8 22.g5 (22.Bh3)
22...b5 23.a4

23
 Modern Chess

24...xg7 25.e4 c5 26.xc5 xc5 Again there was a better move, but the text
27.g5 with decisive attack. I suppose it is surely looks more natural, more human-like.
hard even for someone like Kasparov to find Objectively the advantage is slipping away,
such possibilities. It just shows how powerful but White still has a pressure.
White's initiative really is! Kortchnoi simply did
not want to let Black's knight back into the 24.e5! d4 (24...d8 25.c4! f8
game. 26.xd5 xd5 27.e3±) 25.xf7! xf7
26.xb7 g8 (26...xb7? 27.f3+)
27.g2±
23...xd6 23...xd6??
24...g5 24...h6!

24.e8+ with checkmate.

One of the ways for Black to use White's
24.h4?! inaccuracies and equalise. But the good thing
about having the initiative is that even if it is not
easy to attack, it is even tougher to defend!

24
 Modern Chess
25.bd1!? (25.xd5 xd5 26.f3 g5 27.g2 28.xb7 xb7 29.d5 b8 30.f5
c6) 25...xd1 26.xd1 e6 27.xe6 fxe6
28.d6 Bxg2 29.xg2 a5= Now even though Black's position is not lost,
practically it is all over. Full domination plus
25.bd1 xd1 25...gxh4? 26.xd5 xd5 weak king, White's play is easy and Black must
27.h5 d8 28.e5+– find only moves all the time. Virtually
impossible.

30...c6 31.e4 e6 32.g4 h8

33.d6 e5 34.e4 e8 35.f4 gxf4?!
Losing.

Even after 35...g4 Black must be ready to

suffer a long time... 36.e7 (36.d4+ f6
37.fxg5 c8 38.d2±).

(28.g5+)

26.xd1 e6 27.d2 f6?! 27...gxh4!

36...f8 37.h3 e8 38.d4+ f6 39.f5 e1+

40.g2 e3+ 41.xe3 xe3 42.d8 e8
43.xe8 xe8 44.xf6+ g8 45.xg5+±

was the only way to keep the balance.

28.g5+ g6 29.e5 c6! 30.xc6 xc6
31.xb8+ g7

25
 Modern Chess

36.gxf4 g4 37.d4+ f6 38.xf6 e1+ A nice game by a great player!

39.g2 e2+ 40.g3
1–0

Marin,M (2557) – Stefansson,H (2557)

Istanbul ol (Men) Istanbul (7.1), 04.11.2000

Often fighting for the initiative is not directly

connected with an attack on the enemy's king.
Sometimes it is just domination all over the
board.

17. a1!

40...xh2+ 41.xg4 g2+ 42.g3 h5+ 43.

g5 xg3+ 44.h6

26
 Modern Chess
17...a2 It is not clear whether Stefansson
considered last White's move as a blunder or
not, but he should have been more careful.
Next several moves are forced and for the
minimal material advantage he has to part
with both bishops, the central pawn and some
tempis...

Instead 17...b6 was interesting – with the idea

18.c2 (Both 18.d2; and 18.e3 are better.
White should not be greedy also!) 18...c5
19.xc5 xc5 20.xa8 xa8 – we saw some
similar sacrifices in the first issue of the
magazine. With the control of the white squares
all over the board it is Black who has the
initiative. and nothing would be clear.

18.c2 xb1 19.xb1 b6 20.c5 xc5 27.xb6 27.d4!

21.xc5 b8 22.xd4

is even more convincing.

22...d7 23.c3 a4 24.a5 fe8 25.f3 27...xb6 28.d4 ee8 29.xa4
25.d4 was beter h8 (25...xe2? 26.xb6
cxb6 27.c4+ e6 28.d5) 26.e3 achieving a
very nice setup in the center.

25...e5 26.b4 e6? 26...e7!

27
 Modern Chess
Alapin Variation of Sicilian
Defence
(GM Petar Arnaudov)

29...a8 30.c4+ h8 31.a4 ed8 32.e3

Dear chess friends,

I’m GM Petar Arnaudov and I will present a
repertoire for White pieces against the so
popular Sicilian Defence. My choice is Alapin
Variation (1.e4 c5 2.c3). Nowadays, more and
more people avoid complicated lines after the
open Sicilian 2.f3, followed by 3.d4, because
they are analyzed in-depth by many books and
computer databases, where the opening battle
goes on after move 20 and even 30.
My idea is not to give you 20 moves in every
Full domination. And Black has not an even subline but rather introduce the strategy of
single active idea! In such positions White can the position, so that you can feel the Alapin
do whatever he wants, but he should better Variation better and play the forthcoming
not hurry. For example h4–h5, g2 looks positions with understanding and pleasure.
good for beginning. The game went on
The 2.c3 variation fits my conception perfectly
differently, but still White converted with well. The arising positions are playable, there
ease... are no forced draws and it’s more important
to understand the opening than to memorize
plenty of variations.
1–0

28
 Modern Chess
Game 1 – Variations with 4...f6
[B22]

1.e4 c5 2.c3

3.exd5 xd5 Black’s struggle for center

succeeded but the queen is exposed on d5,
thus White can gain some tempi.

White’s idea is 3.d4, struggling for the centre. 3...f6

Black has many possibilities and I will split
them in three parts. The first contains the side
lines 2...b6, 2...g6, 2...a5, 2...d6. All these
moves do not attack the e4-pawn directly and
leave the center in White’s hands. They will be
analyzed in details in the third part of article,
which will be published in August.
The second part of the article will deal with
one of the main moves in the position 2... f6.
This attacking continuation provokes "e4–e5"
and doesn’t allow White to fully control the
center.
In this issue I will analyze in-depth the central
breakthrough 2...d5, where positions with IQP
(isolated queen pawn) arise. Such IQP
positions were analyzed in detail by GM Viktor This move is less popular, because it leads to
Gavrikov in the previous issues of the magazine. an inferior position after 4.a4+ bd7 5.c4
e6 6.dxe6 fxe6 7.c3 d6 8.d3. Black had no
2...d5 sufficient compensation for the sacrificed
material in the game Howell,D (2614)-
Ivanisevic,I (2629) Kallithea 2009, 1–0 (46)

4.d4 f6

29
 Modern Chess

The first part of the article will deal with the A relatively new move that gained popularity
lines arising after 4...f6. lately. 6.e3 c6 7.bd2? This natural looking
move is a mistake, in view of 7.a3!
5.f3 Black is on the crossroads. He can
either develop the bishop 5...f5, 5...g4, or
leave it defending the queenside and hurry up
with the kingside development by 5…e6. All
these possibilities deserve attention.

5...g4 Maybe the most popular system after

2…d5, played quite often by the former World
champion Garry Kasparov. Black goes for an
ideal setup – first developing the light-squared
bishop and later …e6, followed by e7 and
castling. Nevertheless, this choice can be risky,
since the bishop does not protect the
queenside anymore. I will offer a not so popular
line, starting with 6.d2.

5...f5 The outcome of the tactical battle will favor

White. 7...cxd4 7...e6 8.a4!

30
 Modern Chess
Lagrave,M (2758)-Krasenkow,M (2635) Saint
Quentin 2014, 1–0 (36) 8.c4! a5 9.xd4
xd4 10.xd4 e5 11.b5+ d7 12.xd7+
xd7 13.c4 d5 14.e2 e7 (14...f6 15.0–
0 e7 16.ad1 e6 17.f4 with initiative)
15.xe5 xe5 16xe5 White wins a pawn
16..xg2 17.b5+ f8 (17.c6 18xc6+
bxc6 19.xg7 With a clear extra pawn in the
endgame) 18.0–0–0 g5+ 19.xg5 xg5+
20.c2 e7 21.he1 f6? A blunder in a difficult
position. 22.xa7!

It’s obvious that the French GM analyzed the

variation in-depth, so his two victories against
players with Elo rating 2700+ are not an
accident. In both games he showed great
understanding of the position’s nuances.
8...0–0–0 9.c4 e4 10.0–0 h3 At the first
glance Black gets the initiative but the
forthcoming move dispenses the illusion.
11.e1!

22...d8 (22...xa7 23.d7+–) 23.c5 Even

players from Club “2700+” are in danger in the
Sicilian Alapin Variation if they don’t play
carefully. This was exactly the case in the
game Vachier Lagrave,M (2719)-Moiseenko,A
(2699) Biel 2013, 1–0 (23) 7...cxd4 8.c4
(8.xd4!? It’s not yet too late to save the day
with 8...xd4 9.cxd4 c8. It’s obvious that
Black stands better but the position is more or
less level.) 8...dxe3!!

11...d5? Krasenkow overestimates his

attacking resources. 12.gxh3 cxd4 13.cxd4
xe3 14.fxe3 xe3+ 15.h1 xa3 16.bxa3
xd4 17.f3+– Black has no compensation
for the sacrificed piece in the game Vachier

31
 Modern Chess

Even the computer engines need time to A shocking loss in a 20-move miniature game
estimate the queen sacrifice precisely. for Sergei Tiviakov, who is one of the “knights”
9.xd5 exd2+ 10.xd2 0–0–0 11.xc6? of the variation 0–1 (23) Tiviakov,S (2652)-
(11.c4!? e6 12.f4 d6 13.g5 b4+ 14.f1 Ruiz Sanchez,O (2420) Panama City 2013.
d3+ 15.g1 exd5
5...e6 is the other main line. Black keeps the
light-squared bishop on "c8". Black’s position
remains solid, but there is no pressure at the
center, which give us tempo for an attack.
6.a3! This is the best square for the knight.
From here it can be re-routed either to "c4", or
to "b5". Black has a couple of possibilities but
neither of them leads to full equality. 6...d8

a) 6...cxd4 7.b5!

Black has a very good position and alas, this is

the best possibility for White.) 11...xd2
12.xb7+ xb7 13.xd2 e6 with decisive
material advantage for Black. 14.e2 d6
15.hd1 c7 16.d4 e4 17.g3 g6 18.c4
h5 19.d2 h4 20.g1 hxg3 21.hxg3 h2
22.f1 e4 23.e2 b6

32
 Modern Chess
The knight on “b5” bothers Black. (Of course 7...bd7 8.e2 e7 9.0–0 0–0 10.a4 c6
not 7.cxd4? xa3) 7...a6 8.xd4 c5 Black has difficulties to develop. 11.fe5
9...xd5 xd5 10.c4 (10.a3) 10...0–0 xe5 12.xe5 c7 13.f4 d6 14.f3 d8
11.xd5 exd5 12.0–0 e8 13.f4 15.dxc5 xc5 16.e2 White has development
advantage and strong bishop pair. Further
plan is to advance “b” and “c” pawns.
16...e7 17.fd1 e8 18.c4 d7 19.d6
h4 20.xc5 xc5 21.b6

White can hope for advantage due to the

better pawn structure and moer active pieces.
13...g4 14.fd4 xd4 15.xd4 c5 16.f3
d7 17.g3 e6 18.f5 1/2 (58) Tiviakov,S
(2668)-Matnadze,A (2361) Banyoles 2006; A true opening catastrophe! Black’s queenside
remained undeveloped until the end of the
a) 6...a6 7.c4! game 1–0 (21) Tiviakov,S (2656)-Pires,G
(2145) Porto 2013;

b) 6...c6 7.e3 cxd4 8.b5 d7 The

idea of the move is to defend the c6-knight
8...d8 9.bxd4 White returns the pawn
comfortably and has an easy play. 9...d5
10.g5 b6 11.c4 xd4 12.xd4 c5
13.xd5 xd4 14.0–0 c5 15.e2 h6 16.f4
0–0 17.c4

The “b5” square is out of reach, but now the

weakness of “b6” becomes significant.

33
 Modern Chess

The position looks equal but actually White Pretty good calculation, White remains a pawn
has a huge advantage. Black’s king is not up. 22...xg3 23.xg3 c5 (23...fe8
defended by any piece, while White can easily 24.e5+–
regroup his pieces for an attack. Tiviakov
continued brilliantly to become the European
champion in the following game.
17...d7 18.ad1 ad8 19.d3

With an inevitable checkmate!) 24.xf8 xf8

25.b3 Tiviakov converted his advantage
slowly but methodically 1–0 (59) Tiviakov,S
(2635)-Sutovsky,E (2630) Plovdiv 2008)
Bringing the rook to the third rank is an
important attacking motif. 9.bxd4 d5 10.d2 d6 11.xc6 xc6?!
19...c8 20.g3 d6 21.g4 g6 22.xh6! This move loses an important tempo
(11...bxc6!? 12.c4 f6 13.d3 with a minimal
advantage for White.) 12.d4 b6 13.b5+
Black cannot castle anymore, it’s obvious that
he lost the opening battle. 13...f8 14.0–0

34
 Modern Chess
c7 15.c4 f6 16.c5 (The simple move 16.h3
keeps the advantage) 16...xh2+ 17.h1

10...xd7 (10...xd7 11.xd4 xd4 12.xd4

a6 13.a4 b5 14.c2 f6 15.xd8+ (15.h4!

with a double-edged game: 1–0 (50) Salgado

Lopez,I (2622)-Wojtaszek,R (2715) Dubai
2014;
7.c4!

White has a bishop pair and good chances for

an attack.

15...xd8 16.e2І 1–0 (50) Tiviakov,S (2650)-

Quparadze,G (2489) Nakhchivan 2013)
I think that this move is more active and gives 11.xd4 c5 12.xc6 bxc6 13.f3 d5
more chances for an opening advantage than 14.a4 0–0 15.0–0 ab8 16.d
7.c2 c6 8.ce5 cxd4 (8...xe5 9.xe5 a6
10.e3 c7 11.a4+ d7 12.xd7 xd7
13.xd7+ xd7 14.0–0–0 cxd4 15.xd4 1/2
(21) Tkachiev,V (2657)-Malakhov,V (2689)
Dagomys 2008) 9.b5 d7 10.xd7!

35
 Modern Chess

Here too, the bishop pair and better pawn 8.a4? Unfortunately, this move is a blunder.
structure promise White long-term advantage 8...d1!
1–0 (36) Berkes,F (2677)-Horvath,C (2537)
Gyula 2013

6.bd2 c6 6...cxd4 7.c4 h5?! After this

move Black’s queenside remains unprotected.
(7...d7!? 8.b3 e6 9.e5 c7 10.b5+ c6
11.dc4 with an initiative: 1–0 (40)
Gaponenko,I (2428)-Belic,J (2320) Pozarevac
2009) 8.b3 bd7 9.cxd4 e6 10.xb7 b8
11.c6 White has an extra pawn and an
attack. 11...b4 12.e5 0–0 13.xd7 xd7
14.xd7 Black resigned only a couple of
moves later because the compensation for the
sacrificed piece is insufficient 1–0 (26)
Sveshnikov,E (2580)-Belikov,V (2480) Elista
1995
(8...g5? looks tempting but loses almost by
7.c4 xf3 8.b3! force after: 9.xf3 xg2 10.e2 xh1 11.d5
c8 12.dxc6 bxc6 13.a6 White crushed his
opponent in the game Tseshkovsky,V (2500)-
Istratescu,A (2550) Niksic 1997, 1-0, (19))
9.xd1 xg2 10.f3 xf3 11.xf3 and
White should work hard for a draw; 8.xf3
xf3 9.xf3 cxd4 10.xd4 xd4 11.cxd4 a6
Black’s future is optimistic.

8...a5 The only move, but good enough.

9.b5+ 9.xd5?! xb3 10.xb3 (10.xf3!?

36
 Modern Chess
xd5 11.axb3 cxd4 12.xd4 a6 Black reaches (16...c5 17.g4 xd4 18.xd4 f5 19.c4 f6
a comfortable equality.) 10...xg2 11.a4+ 20.xd7+ xd7 21.b3. and White has a stable
d7 12.g1 d5 advantage in the ending because the
combination  is stronger than +when
9...d7 10.xf3 xc4 11.xc4 cxd4 fighting on both flanks!) 17.0–0 0–0 18.c4 f6
12.xd4 This is the key position of the 19.f5 e8 20.xh6+ gxh6 21.xh6
6.d2 variation. I think that White retains a
minimal advantage. The queenside majority
promises an advantage. White should develop
the dark-squared bishop and centralize the
rooks on d1, e1. Only after this can he advance
the pawn majority. Besides, Black king is still
in the center, which is a good pre-requisite for
additional tactical motifs.

12...e6 12...e5 This apparently active move

gives White a subject of attack 13.c2 d5
14.e3 xc4 15.xc4 White seized the
initiative in the endgame 1–0 (62) Tiviakov,S
(2648)-Aveskulov,V (2539) Ottawa 2007

13.g5 The most active square for the bishop.

With a promising attacking position.
13...d5 [13...c8 14.e2 d5 15.d1 h6
1–0 (36) Tiviakov,S (2663)-Spoelman,W 14.b5+
(2428) Hilversum 2007 16.c1!N
14.a4+

14...d7 15.xf6 gxf6 16.0–0–0 xb5

17.xb5

White’s rook is already developed and the

bishop can comfortably return to “c1”, from
where it controls both wings. 16...e7

37
 Modern Chess
White’s advantage is microscopic but stable.
In the following game the better pawn structure
and more active pieces gave the opportunity for
a clear winning plan. After almost 100(!) moves
White converted the advantage into a full point.
I leave the rest of the game without
commentaries but you can enjoy the filigree
technique of the Alapin Variation maestro
Evgeny Sveshnikov.

17...b8 18.xa7 c5 19.b5 xf2

20.hf1 e3+ 21.b1 e7 22.d3 b6
23.df3 hg8 24.xf6 bf8 25.g3 h5
26.h6 h8 27.xh8 xh8 28.b4 h4 29.c4
hxg3 30.hxg3 e3 31.c5 f5 32.f3 g1
33.a4 a8 34.a5 xc5 35.bxc5 xa5
36.d4 xc5 37.e3 f6 38.xe6+ g5
39.e3 g4 40.e2 c4 41.f4 b5 42.d3 1–0 (97) Sveshnikov,E (2517)-Nunn,J (2602)
g5 43.f2 f6 44.b3 b4 45.f3 g5 Katerini 2014
46.b2 d4 47.c2 d5 48.b3 d4
49.a4 c4 50.b3 d4 51.c2 d8
52.f4 c8+ 53.d2 b8 54.d3 b3 Game 2 – Variations without 4...f6
55.c3 e8 56.d2 b8 57.b2 e8
58.c4 b8 59.c3 b5 60.b2 b4 1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 xd5 4.d4 The
61.h4 f6 62.d4 g5 63.f4 b5 second part of the article will deal with the
64.d2 b8 65.f3+ h5 66.d4 b4 alternatives: 4...е5, 4...g6, 4...e6, 4...cxd4 and
67.e6 b5 68.h4+ g6 69.f4+ g5 the most important 4...c6.
70.h3+ g6 71.f4 f6 72.f2 e5
73.d3+ f6 74.f3 b8 75.e3 b5 4...c6
76.f4 g5 77.h3+ f6 78.f2 e5
79.f3 g5 80.xb3 a5 81.c2 a2+
82.d1 b2 83.e1 a2 84.f1 b2
85.g2 a2 86.c3 b2 87.f3 b4
88.d3 a4 89.f4 b4 90.h3+ h5
91.d3 a4 92.f4+ g5 93.g2 a6
94.e3 g6 95.b3 c6 96.b5 c3
97.f4

4...g6

38
 Modern Chess

This move gained popularity lately. Black’s idea White must accept the sacrifice. 10...e6
is to put pressure on “d” pawn and develop his 11.b5 h5 12.e5 xe5 13.xe5 d5
pieces without playing е7. Black must play 14.d4 and the compensation has yet to be
actively in search for dynamics, otherwise he risks proved) 10.c4 b7 11.0–0 0–0 12.h4
to fall into a strategically worse position! White has already developed his pieces, so his
5.a3! 5.f3!? The most natural move gives position was naturally better in the game
satisfying results, as the latest two games of GM Smirin,I (2663)-Kanter,E (2417) Baku 2013,
Anton Korobov show: 5...g7 6.a3 h6 (6...cxd4 1–0 (27)) 6.b5 d8 7.f4 a6 8.e5
7.c4 e4+ 8.e3 h6 9.cxd4 0–0 10.0–0 f5 (8.xd4 xd4) 8...f6 9.xd4 xd4 10.xd4
11.e1 xe3 12.xe3f4 13.e5 c6 White was g7 11.xa7 e5 12.e3 (12.xc8 exd4
the one to fight for equality in the game 0–1 (38) 13.b6 d8) 12...e6 13.b5 e7
Potapov,P (2477)-Korobov,A (2708) Sochi
2015) 7.b5 a6 8.e2 0–0 9.0–0 f5 10.c4
d8 11.d5 d7 12.c3 e5 13.dxe6 xe6=
Zhigalko,S (2678)-Korobov,A (2680) Dubai
2014, 0–1 (30)) 5...cxd4 (5...g7 6.b5 The threat
of с7 forces Black to develop the knight on a
relatively unpromising square a6! 6...a6 7.e3
forces Black to take on d4. 7...cxd4 8.f3 f6
9.xd4 b6?! 9...0–0 10.xa7!?

Black is better developed, but this is hardly

enough compensation for the lack of a pawn. If
the counterplay is not organized fast, White

39
 Modern Chess
will soon convert the extra pawn.
14.f3 d5 15.d2 c5 16.c4 b6 17.b4
hc8 18.d2

With a decisive advantage in the game

Sveshnikov,E (2555)-Osnos,V (2440) Rostov
on Don 1993, 1–0 (25));
1–0 (34) Berkes,F (2665)-Donchenko,A (2498) 4...cxd4 After this move, the game can
Zalakaros 2014; 4...e6!? 5.f3 After the moves transpose to already known variations. Only
5...с6 and 5...f6 the game transposes to the move 6...е5 has an independent value:
the above-mentioned variations. (5.a3 5.cxd4 c6 6.f3 e5!? Black tries to attack the
White can try using the move order in his center as faster as possible. 7.c3 b4 8.d2
favor. 5...cxd4 6.b5 a6 7.xd4 f6 8.e3 xc3 9.xc3 e4 10.e5 xe5 11.dxe5 e7
c5?? 12.e2! After this quiet move there is no
equality for Black. 12...d7 13.0–0 c6
14.c1 The queen offers the “d1” square to its
college – the “a1” rook and goes for "g5" itself
14...e6 15.d1 d6 is an unpleasant threat.

15...d5 16.c4±

(8...e7! 9.f3 0–0 10.c4=) 9.xc5! xc5

10.xc5 xc5 11.c7++–

40
 Modern Chess

1–0 (45) Gharamian,T (2615)-Draftian,A Despite the queen exchange, White retains an
(2333) Belgium 2009; 4...e5 advantage. He is a tempo up and threatens
b5+, followed by 0–0 and е1+. 8...a6
(8...b4+ 9.c3 f6 10.db5 a6 11.a3
xc3+ 12.xc3 White has a bishop pair in an
open position, which is a huge advantage. 1–0
(91) Bedouin,X (2328)-Oger,C (2007)
Elancourt 2007) 9.c3 b4 10.e2 e7
11.0–0 xc3 12.bxc3 0–0 13.a3 e8
14.f3±

5.f3 exd4 (5...c6) 6.cxd4 cxd4

7.xd4xd4 8.xd4

The bishops on a3 and f3 control the whole

board, thus it’s hard to suggest any constructive
idea for Black. 1–0 (39)

41
 Modern Chess
Pavasovic,D (2475)-Maccapani,M (2245)
Elista 1998]

5.f3 Black is on the croassroads. He has at

least four continuations worth mentioning.

5...e6 5...f6 6.e3 e6 (6...cxd4 7.cxd4 e6

8.c3 d6 A classical IQP position is on the
board. 9.a3 e7 10.d3 0–0 11.0–0 b6 12.e2
b7 13.ad1 h6 14.b1 Adams prepares a
battery along the b1-h7 diagonal. 14...fd8
15.c2 ac8 16.d5!

Once again following the familiar itinerary

with the knight: – b1–a3–b5–d4 7...cxd4
8.b5 d8 9.bxd4 xd4 10.xd4 e7
11.d3 c7 (11...0–0 12.e2 d5 13.0–0
d7 14.e4 g6 15.e5 f5 16.f3±

Remember this central breakthrough. The

knight on f6 should protect the “h7” square, so
this is the perfect moment to open up the
position.
16...e5 17.xe5 xe5 18.d4 g5 19.xf6
xf6 20.h7+ White has an advantage. 1–0
(59) Adams,M (2660)-Poluljahov,A (2480)
New York 1996)
White has more active pieces and a clear
7.a3 target in sight – the “e6” pawn: 1–0 (32)
Brandenburg,D (2527)-Schut,L (2290) Wijk
aan Zee 2012) 12.0–0 0–0 13.e1 d7
14.g

42
 Modern Chess

With initiative. 14...g6 15.f3 c6 16.e2 8...ge7 (8...xd4!? 9.xd4 e7 10.c4 c6
fd8 17.e5 d5 18.f4 h6 19.f3 g7 20. 11.e3 a5 12.xf5 xf5 13.d3 with a
e4b5 21.a4 a6 22.b4 xa4 23.e5 minimal advantage for White) 9.b3?!
ac8 24.h4 h5 25.g4 hxg4 26.h2 (9.a4! d8 10.e2 a6 11.d1±

1–0 (26) Almasi,Z (2663)-Ronchetti,N (2414) It is not easy to suggest a continuation for
Black.) 9...xd4 10.xd4 a6 11.e2 c6
Reggio Emilia 2008;
12.xd5 exd5 13.b6 d6 14.0–0 0–0
15.fd1
5...f5 This move is extremely popular
nowadays. 6.e3 cxd4 (6...f6 leads to a
position which is analyzed in-depth in the first
game. 7.xd4 xd4?! This is the beginning of
a wrong idea. (7...e6 8.d2!

43
 Modern Chess
6.e2 cxd4 7.cxd4 e6 8.c3 a5 (8...b4
9.0–0 a5 10.d5!?

White’s position is easier to play and contains

no risks 1–0 (75) Gormally,D (2504)-Jones,G
(2648) England 2014) 8.cxd4 xb1? (8...a6
9.c3 d7 10.a4 d8 11.e2? (11.c5! A typical idea, aiming to open lines and
c7 12.c1+– with a huge development diagonals against the enemy’s king! (10.e3
advantage and a winning position.) 11...e6 ge7 11.b3 0–0 12.fd1 fd8 13.h3 h5
12.0–0 f6 13.b6 c6 14.c4 d6 15.c1 14.ac1 with an interesting double-edged
0–0= 1/2 (34) Zhigalko,S (2661)-Korobov,A position 1–0 (34) Ghaem Maghami,E (2594)-
(2715) Kiev 2013) 9.a4+! Leon Hoyos,M (2579) Khanty-Mansiysk 2010)
10...exd5 (10...d8 11.d2 exd5 12.a3 e7
13.h3 xf3 14.xf3 with huge compensation
for the pawn.) 11.xd5 (11.d2 f6 12.a3
(12.d4) 12...e7 13.b4 d8 14.b5 xf3
15.xf3 e5 16.f4 xf3+ 17.xf3

Black’s king remains in the center 9...d8

10.xb1 f6 11.f3 e6 12.c4 c6 13.b5
d6 14.d2± 1/2 (43) Zhigalko,S (2660)-
Guseinov,G (2623) Legnica 2013; 5...g4

44
 Modern Chess
White’s active pieces are sufficient
compensation for the sacrificed pawn, but
hardly more than that.) 11...f6 12.xa5
xa5 13.e3=) 9.h3 h5 10.d5! White
sacrifices a pawn for an initiative. As a result, he
seizes an open “e” file and deprives Black of
castling. It is more than enough compensation
and the theory considers this variation as a
dubious for Black. 10...exd5 Here White has two
methods to fight for the initiative. (10...0–0–0
11.d2! exd5 12.c1 Underlines the
weakness of Black’s king. 12...d4 13.b5 b4
14.c5? This is an inaccuracy which spoils the
advantage and even leads to a better position
for Black. (14.xa7+!N xa7 15.xb4 d3
16.xd3 g6 17.e5+– Black is 400 Elo rating points “lighter” than
White, but this is not a justification for
accepting a draw in a winning position. 1/2
(21) Pavasovic,D (2595)-Makaj,M (2266)
Sibenik 2008 21...c1+ 22.e2 xh1
23.b5+ d8–+) 11.0–0 (11.d4 xe2
12.xe2+ e7 13.xc6 bxc6 14.0–0 f8
15.d2 f6 16.fe1 d8 17.ac1 h6 18.f4
with more than enough compensation for the
pawn.) 11...d8 12.d4 xe2 13.xe2+ e7
14.cb5 xd4 15.xd4 f8 16.e3

14...d3 15.xh5 dxe2 16.xe2 xd2+

17.xd2 b4 18.a3 xb2 19.g4+ d7
20.d6+ c7 21.f4

Black’s position is very unpleasant and hard to

defend. White’s rooks will seize the open files
soon, the knight will take the “f5” outpost,

45
 Modern Chess
while the bishop will be re-routed to "d4" or 26.be5
"f4". 1–0 (35) Mammadov,Z (2432)-Plischki,S
(2440) Marianske Lazne 2014

6.a3 d8

6...f6 transposes to 5...f6

7.c2 f6 8.f4 cxd4 9.cxd4 xd4

10.xd4 xd4 11.xd4

1–0 (26) Sveshnikov,E (2570)-Batsanin,D

(2360) St Petersburg 1997

Easy win for the eminent Grandmaster. You

can see how dangerous the middlegame can
be without queens.

Conclusion: I hope you enjoyed the

introduction to 2.c3 2...d5 Variation of Sicilian
Once again it’s a typical position for the Defence.
variation. No queens on the board, more I do not pretend to prove that White has a
active white pieces and pawn majority on the definite advantage in every line, but I tried to
queenside. It can be evaluated as += showcase modern treatment of the variation
with plenty of plans, ideas, manoeuvres and
11...a6 12.e2 e7 13.0–0–0 tactical blows. The variation is perfectly
playable and can be used equally well against
Sveshnikov prefers 13.0–0–0, but the plan amateurs and grandmasters. The next issue will
with 13.0–0 and pawn advance on the cover other possibilities for Black and I
queenside looks more logical. wish you many victories until then!

[13.0–0 0–0 14.f3±]

13...0–0 14.f3 d5 15.g3 b5 16.c6

g5+ 17.b1 a5 18.d6 e8 19.he1 d7
20.b8 A beautiful move.

20...d8 21.xd5 exd5 22.xd7 xd7

23.xd5 ad8 24.xg5 xd6 25.xb5 d2

46
 Modern Chess
Dragon Variation of Sicilian This is our starting position. White’s idea is to
start an immediate kingside attack without
Defence – Part II losing any tempi for c4. The thematic play
(IM Spas Kozhuharov) …d7, …c8, …e5–c4 will lead to a
position from the 9.c4 variation, but with
two extra tempi for White, which can be
decisive in such types of positions. Fortunately,
the Dragon player has alternatives. For
example: 9...e6 or 9...xd4. Although
playable, these moves are quite risky. That’s
why I’m suggesting the most ambicious and
popular continuation 9...d5.

9.g4

Hello dear friends of “Modern Chess”

Magazine. The second part of the Dragon
Variation article is in front of you. Here I will
show the ambitious continuations 9.0–0–0
and 9.g4 and I will suggest how to fight
against them.

1.e4 c5 2.f3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6

5.c3 g6 6.e3 g7 7.f3 0–0 8d2 c6
9.0–0–0
This move avoids the long theoretical lines
after 9.c4 and the arising positions are
similar to those after 9.0–0–0. 9...e6 This is
the main move. (9...d5? is a big mistake after
which White will have a material advantage:
10.g5 h5 11.xd5±)

47
 Modern Chess

10.0–0–0 White’s hopes for an advantage rest 20.bxc4 c8 21c1 xc4–+
with this continuation. (10.xe6 fxe6 11.0–0–
0 The attack on the “e6” is not effective, so it’s
time to take a look at the other main line for
White. (11.c4 c8 12.b3 (12.0–0–0? e5!)
12...a5 13.0–0–0 xb3+ With a comfortable
position for Black. 14.axb3 (14.cxb3 d7
15.hf1 xc3 16.bxc3 e5 17.f4 d3+ The
position is close to equal, but still I would prefer
to play with black pieces here.)
14...d7 15.df1 (15.hf1 xc3! 16.bxc3 a5!
White rook left the “h1” square, so White will
need much time to organize any attack along
the “h” file, while in the meantime Black is
ready to crush the shield of the enemy’s king
by ...a5-a4.) 15...xc3 16.bxc3 e5 with the
idea 17.f4 xf4! 18xf4 xc3 19.b1
c4!! With a decisive attack.) 11...e5 Black attacks
“f3” and threatens c4. 12.e2 c8!?

48
 Modern Chess

A very interesting move which I suggest 13...fd7 14.f4 c4 15.xc4 xc4 16.e5 The
instead of the main line (c8). 13.h4 The position remains very sharp. 16...ad8! The
pawn race starts. White’s attack is in progress. best move. 17.exd6 f6! The idea of the
(13.b1 c4 14.xc4 xc4 Black stands good previous move becomes clear now. (17...exd6?!
in this position. Further possibilities are …c8, 18.h5! White has a dangerous attack.) 18g2
…d7, …b5–b4.; 13.h6 xh6 14xh6 c5 xd6 19.xd6 exd6 20.d1 d5 21.b1 b5
15.h4 ac8 with counterplay. 16.h5 with a promising position for Black in the
game Zhou,Yang Fan 2475-Pert,Richard 2430/
2014, 0–1) 10...xd4 11.xd4 a5 Black is
forced to play …d8 – …c7 – …a5 in
plenty of other variations, but here he is a
clear tempo up, immediately activating the
queen in one move (…d8 - a5) 12.a3 This a
necessary move, although White tried also
12.b1 (12.b1 fc8 13.h4?! This is the
most natural move, but Black has a typical
combination to obtain advantage.

a) 13.d5

The main attacking mechanism doesn’t work

well for White here. 16...gxh5 17.g5?? f7–+

49
 Modern Chess

Thematic idea, basically transposing directly The last subtlety:

from opening into the endgame. In such types b2) 14.g5 h5 15.d5 xd2 16.xd2 xd5
of endgames Black stands more than fine. 17.exd5 xd4 18.xd4 This position was met
13...xd2 14.xd2 xd5 15.xg7 (15.exd5 several times so far and the practice shows
xd5!) 15...b4!; that Black has enough counterplay. 18...f6;

b) 13.g5 h5 14.xg7 xg7 15.d5 xd2 b3) 14.d5 xd2 15.xd2 xd5 but not …d5?
16.xd2 After 16...f8 or 16...xd5 Black 16.xg7 (16.exd5? xd5!
has equal play.; 13...xc3! 14xc3 xa2+
15.c1 xg4! 16.fxg4 a1+ 17.d2 xe4+
18.e1 xc3 19.xa1 xd4 Only Black can
be better in this position.) 12...ab8 Black
prepares …b5–b4 and White is forced to enter
a level endgame. 13.h4 The most logical
continuation.
a) 13.d5? This move is a blunder in this
particular moment of the game. 13...xd2+
14.xd2 xd5 15.exd5 h6 Black is winning
material and obtaining a decisive advantage.;
b) 13.b1 fc8 14.h4
b1) 14.xf6 xf6 15.d5 xd2 16.xf6+
g7!

17.xg7 xf3) 16...e3 17.d4 xf1 18.xf1

with a level game.; 14...b5 15.d5 This move
is compulsory, because after 15.h5 b4!,
Black’s attack is faster. 15...xd2 16.xd2
xd5 17.exd5 a5 It’s also possible 17...c7,
but the text move is more active. 18.c3 It gives

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 Modern Chess
Black more chances, because not the
continuation …b5–b4 is even stronger. (18.g5
h5 19.xg7 xg7 20.h3 c4! 21.g4 f4
22.e1 f5!? 23.gxf6+ xf6

An immediate counter-attack in the center is

necessary, even if connected to a pawn
sacrifice. In positions with opposite-side
castling opening files for the rooks and
diagonals for the bishops is more important
This endgame looks preferable for Black.) than material.
18...d7 19.f4 c5 Despite queen exchange,
Black retains enough counterplay, connected 10.exd5
to …b5-b4 advance. This happened in the
game Baadur Jobava – Le Quang Liem/ 10e1
Moscow 2008 0–1;

13...b5 White is practically forced to enter a

futureless ending. 14.d5 xd2+ 15.xd2
xd5 16.exd5 a5 with a comfortable position.

9...d5

The other main line in the position: White

tries to get advantage of the X-Ray attack (d1
– d8) 10...e5 There are other continuations

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 Modern Chess
as well, but this one is the most ambitious. 17.xd5 c4 18.a5 c7 (18...fc8 19.e4)
11.xc6 bxc6 12.exd5 cxd5 19.b5 c4 20.b3 a5 21.e4 e6 22.b1)
15...dxc4 16.xg7 xg7

I think that this move is unreasonably

underestimated. The most common reply is White’s hopes for an advantage are connected
12...xd5 13.g5 and both central pawns are with controlling the “d” file. However, Black
in danger. 13...e6 14.c4 (14xe5?! has a very solid position and counterplay
along “b” file.
Please follow the commentaries below closely,
so that you can get deeper into the character
of the position and its nuances.

17.d5

a) 17.e4 ad8 18c3 d5 19.de1 fe8

Black didn’t have any difficulties in the game R.
Mainka-A.Kalka/ Dortmund, 1999.;

b) 17e3 ab8 18.he1 f6 19.e4 (19.f4

b7 20.b3 cxb3 21.axb3 b4 Gives a very
strong attack. For example: 22.fxe5 a3+
23.d2 bd8+ 24.e2 g4+) 19...b6 20.c5
c8 21.xe6+ xe6 22c3 d6 23.xd6
xd6 1/2–1/2 was M.Mьller-S.Berndt,
It’s dangerous for White to open up the a1-h8
German League 1998.;
diagonal for black’s monsterous bishop. 14...h6
15.h4 g5 16.e1 e4 Suddenly, white
17...xd5 18.xd5
queen is trapped in the center of the board
and Black gets material advantage.) 14...c7
15.xf6 (15.xd5 xd5 16.xd5 xd5

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 Modern Chess

White cannot expect any advantage after the The dark-squared bishop is just temporarily
queen exchange. 18...fe8 19c3 g8 closed. Meanwhile, Black opens the “e” file.
20a5 This major pieces endgame didn’t give (12...xf6 This is the alternative 13.xd5
any trouble to the future World champion, just xe3?? (13...xd5! 14xd5 xe3 15d2
18 years old at the time: Leko- Carlsen rapid xd1 16xd1 The position is close to equal,
match 2008; but I would rather have the queen. If you like
positions with material imbalance, this is a
10.b1 completely playable option.) 14.xf6++–)
13.c5 (13.xd5 xe3 14xe3 e6 followed
by …f5. Black has more than enough
compensation for the sacrificed pawn, due to
the open files and diagonals.) 13...d4 The
powerful bishop pair and the extra pawn are
sufficient compensation for the exchange.
(Flabby 13...e8 leads to a position with a pawn
less and no compensation 14.xd5)
14.xf8 xf8 15.b5 e3 16.c1 h6
17xd4 f5 18c3 xc1 19.xc1 d7
20.d3 c8 21d2 xb5 22.xb5 c5

An ambitious move. The idea is that 10...dxe4

is impossible due to10...xd4 (10...dxe4??
11.xc6 xd2 12.xe7++–) 11.e5 (11.xd4
This move doesn’t set any problems for Black
11...dxe4 Black has at least equal game.)
11...f5 12.exf6 exf6!

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 Modern Chess

Black had a comfortable position in the game White can accept the pawn sacrifice but it
1/2 (71) Short,N (2707)-Carlsen,M (2801)
gives Black an easy play and an attack.
London 2009
12...cxd5 13xd5 c7!
10...xd5 11.xc6 bxc6 12.d4

This positional suggestion is the main line of Black can even leave the rook on “a8”
the variation nowadays. undefended, because of his active pieces and
relatively exposed white king. a8 14c5
12.xd5 This continuatioin is more logical than
14.xa8. White goes for a queen exchange,
where the extra pawn will be more valuable
and Black’s attack will be less dangerous.
(14xa8?! Accepting the “Greek gift” leads to

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 Modern Chess
a dangerous position for White. 14...f5
15xf8+ xf8 16.d2 (16.d3? e5) 16...h5!

Attacking the “a2” pawn and threatening c2.)

14...b7 Of course, Black’s plan is different.
The real threat is b2. White has a few
An important move which doesn’t allow 17.g4, possibilities, but each of them leads to enough
frees another escape route for the king and counterplay for Black. 15.a3 Finally, the
consolidates the position of the light-squared main move in the position.
bishop on “f5”. Black has impressionable
statistics in this position. Let me show you a a) 15b5? xb5 16.xb5 b8
recent example: 17.e2 f6 18.g3 b7 19.c4
b4! С идея (19…a6 20.a3 a4 21.g4 hxg4
22.fxg4 xg4! 23.xg4 xc4+ 24.c2 xg4
25.xa7 Despite the equal material, White’s
position is very unpleasant because his pieces
are not coordinated. 25...d7! 26.c5 xb2+!
27.xb2 (27.xb2 b7+) 27…c6 Black has a
winning position in the game E. Kislik – S.
Husari/ 0–1 Budapest, 2010) 20.d4 xd4
21.xd4 a4!‚

Black returns the pawn and the enemy’s king

feels even more unsecure without queens on
the board.;

b) 15.c3 f5

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 Modern Chess
17.a5 (17.xa7 xd3 (In case you want to
avoid a draw result, you can try 17...d5!? and
black active pieces neutralize the material
deficit.) 18.xd3 (18xb7 xc2+ 19.b1
b2+ with perpetual check.) 18...c6 19.c4
f6 leads to a draw but White should be
careful. For example: 20.d4 is a mistake,
which leads to a difficult position. 20.d4
(20.d4? g5+!) 20...a6 21.a7 f6
22d4=) 17...c3! 18.xf5 xe3 19.e4
b8 20.g3 c8

Pay attention to how each black piece points

at the enemy’s king. After including the last
reinforcements in attack (c8 and b8) White
will be demolished. 16.a3 ab8 17.a6 c6
18.d3 d5 19.c2 b5 White retains the
extra pawn but the position is hard to defend.
Ruiz C,Joshua Daniel 2366–Arenas,David 2436
½ - ½, 2014;

c) 15.d4 f5 with the idea of fc8 with

dangerous attack

b) 15.b3 This move significaly weakens The position is very typical for the variation.
the black squares around white king. White is a pawn up, while Black’s pieces are
15...f5 16.d3 ac8! more active and attack along the dark squares
indeed looks menacing. The position was
practically examined in the last few years and
Black proved to have at least equal chances.
15...f5 16.d3

a) 16.c4 fc8 17.b3 a5 gives Black

excellent chances.

b) 16.b1? ab8 17.c1 xc2+! 18.xc2

fc8+ 19.b1 xc1+!–+

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 Modern Chess

c) 16.a6 c7 17c5 b6! 18xb6 axb6

This fantastic move was found by
19.c4 (19.d3 xd3 20.xd3 xa2 Black Grandmaster Golubev. Black sacrifices a piece
has a preferable ending.) 19...fc8 20.b3 but the attack is so strong that White should
xa2! 21.d8+ xd8 22.xa2 h5! Black has at be very careful in order to survive. 19.c5
least equality.; The only move which keeps the game tense.
(19.d3? A very popular mistake. 19...bc8
16...ab8 with the idea to provoke 17.b3. with the idea …fd8 – …xd3 and …xc2#
17.b3 c6! The threat is 18...c3 18.xf5 20.hf1 planning to bring the rook into defence
(18xe7? Taking poisoned pawns can be too (f2) 20...fd8 21.f2 xd3! 22.xd3
greedy in such kind of positions, where each xd3 The material balance is restored but
tempo matters. 18…c3!–+ is immediately Black’s attack is going on.
winning for Black.; 18.c4 f6 19.d2 xc2
20.c1 f5 21.e2 The material is equal, but 23xa7 (23xe7 c3 24.d1 f8! 25e4
it’s obvious that white king is insecure in the c5! 26.xc5 d8+–+
center of the board.; 18.a5 f6 19.xf5
b2+ 20.d2 gxf5 21.e2 fc8 22.c1 xc2+
23.xc2 xc2+ 24d2 c7 25.f4 e5 This
long variation leads to a relatively equal game.;
18.c4? Such a move can only weaken the dark
squares around the king. 18...f6 19.xf5
c3+ 20.b1 xe3 Remember that the attack
is even stronger with the presence of
opposite-coloured bishops. It’s like attacking
with a piece up. For example, compare the g7-
monster to his colleague.) 18...c3!!

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 Modern Chess
A splendid end of the game is approaching:
27.e2 d2+ 28.e1 xc2+ 29.d1 c1+
30.e2 e1#) 23…c3 24.d1 a1+ 25.e2
(25.d2 d8+) 25...xc2+ 26.d2 c3
27.d3 d1–+

I decided to recommend this variation

because it’s a solid one and there is not so much
theory to remember compared to the main
lines.

13xc3 h6+ 14.e3

19...b2+ 20.d2 gxf5 21.e2 (21xf5? As
usual, taking poisoned pawns is not 14.b1? e5 This is the end of many blitz games.
recommendable. 21...e6 22e4 f5 23xe6+
h8 with plenty of threats.) 21...bc8! 14...xe3+ 15xe3 b6 It’s important to
22xf5 e6 23d3 c3 24d7 xc2+ activate the pieces as soon as possible, even at
25.d2 xa2 26d3 xd2+ 27.xd2 c8 the cost of a pawn sometimes.
(27...b2!?) 28.c1= with a drawish end in the
game G.Morrais – G.Walter, correspondance 16xe7
2009
16xb6 axb6 with a dead drawn position;
12...xc3 16c3 e6 17.h4 ad8 18.d3 d5 19.h5
c5 20e1 b8 21.b3 b4

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 Modern Chess
a) 20.de1!? This move was tried on the top
level. 20...c5?! with the idea …с4 (20...d4!?
21.e5 8d5 22.xd5 xd5 23.e1 f2 with a
level game: 1/2 (31) Alekseev,E (2688)-
Lintchevski,D (2539) Olginka 2011) 21.c4
d2 22.xe6 fxe6 23.d1? this move leads to
a balanced position. (23.g3 f2 24.d1 d4
25.f4 d6 26a5 White managed to
consolidate the position and retained the
extra pawn in the game Volokitin,A (2687)-
Pavlidis,A (2338)/ 1–0 (46), Rijeka 2010)
23...xd1+ 24.xd1 xd1+ 25.xd1 c4
26e7 g1+ with perpetual check.;

b) 20b2 f2!N with the idea to meet

And Black simplifies the position right on time, 21.d2? (21.hg1 f5 and White will be the
just before White’s attack increases. one who will fight for a draw.) with 21...e3!
22.hd1 c5!
16…e6 17.d3 17.a3 This move retains
the extra pawn but the practice shows that
Black has sufficient compensation for it.
17...ad8 18.d3 d5!

Black has a strong initiative.; 20...f5! and

Black is out of any danger.

17…e3+ This move has been considered

This strong manoeuvre keeps Black’s chances. weak for a long time, but Australian
The idea behind it is to double the rooks on “d” Grandmaster Smerdon proved that Black is no
file, meanwhile threatening …а5 19.b3 fd8. worse after it.
White has a couple of equally good
continuations but none of them leads to 18.d2
advantage. 20.he1

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 Modern Chess
18.b1? xa2+
18...fe8! This is the improvement of the
variation.

It seems that Black has more than enough

compensation for the sacrificed pawn.

19f6 Conclusion: The variations 9.c4 and 9. 0–

0–0 have been analyzed in-depth in the first
19h4?! xa2! 20f2 e5 21.e4 e6! and the second part of the article. I hope that I
22d4 a5 23.b4 a4 Black has dangerous managed to awaken the Dragon inside You!
attack – …b8 and …a5 and White is in trouble.; The positions are dangerous, but sharp and
19a3 ad8 20.hd1 f5 21c3 double-edged and both players play for a win.
xd3 22.cxd3 c5! Now You are armed with enough theory and a
reserve of tactical and strategical ideas, which
19...ad8 20.h4 f5 21g5 e6 22.b1 You can successfully implement in practice.
Good luck!
22.xf5?? e1+

22...xd3 23.cxd3 d5

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 Modern Chess
The attack with an isolated pawn series – the switch to a symmetric pawn structure
after the exchange on “d5”, the movement of “f”
(GM Viktor Gavrikov) pawn and the movement of “h” pawn. Once our
readers are familiar with the offensive potential
of the isolated pawn, they can move forward to
the closing article of the course, which stresses
the methods of playing against such a pawn.

1) The transfer of the rook on third

horizontal

For a better understanding of this manoeuvre, it

is necessary to make some general
clarifications.

The main advantage of the isolated pawn is that

it provides spatial advantage. While the isolani
controls the “e5” and “c5” squares ( “e4” and
“c4” for black, respectively), they can be perfect
outpost for the knights. Another essential
Dear chess friends, this article marks the advantage is the possession of the semi-open “e”
beginning of a training course designed to file which is often used as a springboard for the
acquaint the readers of the magazine "Modern development of an attack against the enemy’s
Chess" with one of the most important type of king.
positions in middlegame - isolated pawn.
Taking into consideration the above-mentioned
The importance of this topic is related to the fact advantages, the side playing with an isolated
that it can arise from a huge number of openings. pawn should seek for attack on the kingside and
Several examples are Queen’s Gambit, Slav avoid pieces exchanges. The readers should
Defense, Tarrasch Defense, New Indian Defense, know that in endgame such a pawn is a
Nimzowitsch Defense, Sicilian Defense and many weakness rather than a strength.
other openings. Therefore, good knowledge of One of the classic methods of attack is the
these positions is necessary for any chess player, transfer of the rook to the kingside. This is
regardless of his repertoire. maneoeuvre is possible due to the spatial
advantage provided by the isolated pawn. We
Our magazine provides a full course of study on can say that quite often the isolani acts as a
the isolated pawn, which contains three logically “screen”, behind which the regrouping of the
linked articles. The first two published materials pieces is performed, aiming to start an offensive
focus on the methods of playing with an isolator. against the king. A relevant example, which fully
illustrates the idea of the transfer of the rook on
This article will explain in depth the three most the third rank, is the classical game between the
important attacking ideas for the side playing with an two Russian Grandmasters, Lev Polugaevsky
“isolani”, which are – the transfer of the rook on third and Anatoli Lutikov, played back in 1957.
horizontal (rank), the movement of the isolated pawn,
and the sacrifice of the knight on “f7”. No less
important are the positional and attacking techniques,
which will be discussed in the second article of our

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 Modern Chess
Polugaevsky,L – Lutikov, А [D37] the “b1- h7” diagonal and the transfer of the
URS-ch sf Sverdlovsk (15), 1957 rook to the third rank through “d3”. 9.a4 c6

1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.f3 c5 4.e3 e7 5.c3 0–0

6.d3

Move d4-d5 deserves attention, leading to

Benoni’s pawn structure, favorable for white: 6.d5
exd5 7.cxd5 d6 8.e4 White’s advantage is due to
the fact that the “e7” square is not suitable for the
bishop – in this type of structures the best place
for it is on the big diagonal (a1-h8).

6...d5 7.0–0 dxc4 8.xc4 bd7

9e2 A typical move for queen’s structure

Very crucial moment! When Black develops the

knight on “d7”, they seek for harmonious
development of the queenside. Their plan includes
moves а7–а6, b7–b5, b7, b6, ac8 и fd8.
However, the early development of the knight on
“d7” is premature, because White can oppose a7- It is obvious that soon enough this will lead to a
a6 with a2-a4. In that situation, the black knight position with an isolated pawn and White will
will be far from the weakened square “b4”. start to place its pieces on the best squares. The
queen occupies the “e” file, which will become
Therefore, the modern theory recommends semi-open after the inevitable pawn exchange
starting with 8...a6, which aims to provoke a2-a4 on d4, while the rook should be placed on “d1”,
and thus weaken the square “b4”. The difference where it will create a dangerous confrontation
here is that the black knight is still on “b8” and against black queen.
may move easily to “b4”, from where it does not
only control the “d5” square, but also prevents 9...a6 10.a4 cxd4 11.exd4 b6 12.b3
offensive ideas of white queen – bishop battery on

62
 Modern Chess
Тhe best place for the bishop in this kind of
position. The control of the “d5” square is crucial
when the black knight is on “b6”.

12...d7 13.e5

The position that occurred is very interesting

and popular, but often incorrectly evaluated.
The “c6” + “e6” structure, against “d4” is called a
“saw”. It is important to know that this type of
structure is favorable for Black, only if the light-
squared bishop is not on “c8”, otherwise it will
13...e8? A very instructive mistake. become the prisoner of his own pawns. Black
also controls the semi-opened “b” file, which
fully compensates for white’s pair of bishops.
This would lead to a very interesting and
complex game.

14.d1 bd5

The bishop on “e8” disturbs the coordination

between the heavy black pieces and limits the
movement of the rook from “f8”.
Black should prefer the following option: 13...c6
14.xc6 bxc6

15.d3! White chose the best moment to swing

the rook over to the kingside. Where exactly the

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 Modern Chess
rook should be placed next, on “g3” or “h3”, will
depend on black’s subsequent actions.

15...c8 16.g3! An important moment from a

practical point of view. When we transfer the rook
to the third horizontal in positions with isolated
pawn, it is necessary to choose the square from
which the rook confronts the black king. White
threatens h6.

16...h8 17.g5 b4 18.d1

After this move all white pieces are in play. Thus,

it is time to trigger an attack on the kingside.

18...c7 19.h3! White’s idea is logical. He seeks to exchange

f6, the only piece defending the kingside. Here
is how it could develop: 20...bd5 21.xf6+
xf6 22d3 …h6 (after 22...g6 23.h6 black
rook is blocked.) 23.xh6! gxh6 24e3+–

Reader would do well to pay attention to the

positioning of white rook against black king. A real
storm will start soon on the kingside!

19...g6 Checkmate is inevitable.

With his last move, Black caused irreparable 20f3!

weaknesses around his king. However, it should
be noticed that it is not easy to find a better move
in the absence of black counterplay in the center
or the queenside.

Obviously, 19...g8 stumbles upon a typical move

for this type of position 20.e4

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 Modern Chess

White not only highlights the unstable position of A picturesque position!

the knight on “f6”, but also prepares the
breakthrough d4-d5. 21...h5 Black tries to close down the “h” line,
but now the “f7” became terribly weak.
20...g8? A serious mistake in a very difficult 21...xe4? 22.xh7+! xh7 23h3+ g7
position. 24h6#
20...c6 would not save black either, because of
21e3. After the exchange on “f6”, white queen 22xf7!
moves to the “h6” square.

21.e4 Undoubtedly, the most natural move.

White, however, missed a more elegant and quick
win: 21.d5!

The last shot! Black’s position is falling apart.

The rest does not need any comments.

22...c6 22...xf7 23.xf7+ g7 24.xd8

xd8 25.g4 f6 26.h6+ h8 27.g5+–;
21...exd5 22.xd5 bxd5 23.xd5! …xd5 22...xg5 23.xg5+–
24.xh7+! xh7 25h3+ g7 26h6#

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23xe6 g7 24.d5 d7 25.xe7 xe7
26d6 e8 27.f6 xf6 28xf6+ g7 29.d6

1–0

2) The movement of the isolated pawn

Considering the spatial advantage and the

reference squares, the isolated pawn provides
many other dynamic possibilities, linked to the
movement of the isolani. Here, it is crucial to ask a
basic question, the answer to which confuses even
the experienced chess players: In which
circumstances is necessary to push the isolated
pawn? Although the answer to this question is not
obvious, we will try to give a general rule, easy to This is one of the most popular positions in
understand for everyone: The isolated pawn Rubinstein system of the Nimzo-Indian defense.
should be moved forward, when the side playing By placing the knight on “c6”, Black seeks to put
with it has development advantage. This rule is pressure on the isolated pawn. However, the
based on the fact that the player, whose pieces are knight is not very well placed on “c6”, because
better developed, seeks to open the position and the black’s light-squared bishop cannot control
seize the initiative. Despite this, there are the “d5” square. All these facts contribute to the
positions in which the isolated pawn is a weakness plan of moving the isolani forward.
and the side playing with it tries to get rid of it by It is safer to play: 11...xc3 12.bxc3 bd7
means of pushing it forward and trading it for the followed by c7. This is a different type of
adjacent pawn. This usually happens in the middlegame position – a pair of isolated pawns
endgame. Now, we would like to give you an “c3”+”d4”. Please notice that this specific pawn
example of a game, played by one of the greatest structure will be subject to a separate topic in
Hungarian theoretician Lajos Portish. our magazine.

12.a3 A key move! White prepares to play d3,

Portisch,L (2625) – Sosonko,G (2505) [E57] while preventing b4. Once the queen is on
Biel Interzonal Biel (18), 04.08.1976 “d3”, White intends to play аd1, in order to
prepare the d4-d5 move or to build a battery on
1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.e3 0–0 5.d3 d5 the diagonal “b1-h7”, using а2 - b1 maneuvrе.
6.f3 c5 7.0–0 cxd4 8.exd4 dxc4 9.xc4 b6
10.g5 b7 11.e1 c6 12...e7 13d3

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13...h5?! Black made a typical mistake for such The knight on “h5” is under attack, but so is
positions. With his last move, Black seeks to white bishop on “d2”. However, Black loses
exchange the dark-squared bishops with 14. xe7 because of the limited mobility of the other
14...xe7. Afterwards, the knight from “h5”, goes knight on the rim (а5). 17.ad1 f6 18.b4!!+–
to “f6” and Black would completely totally control and Black is defenseless as the knight has
the key square “d5”. It should be also noted that nowhere to go - 18...с4 is followed by 19.f4.
the exchange of the dark-squared bishops
diminishes white’s offensive potential and as we 15.ad1 a5?! The beginning of a wrong plan
know, the side playing against the isolated pawn – Black neglects the development of his heavy
seeks for the exchange in order to get to the pieces, while helping White to implement his
endgame. However, the move 13...h5 is idea (a2–b1). It is necessary to point out that
premature, because White is not obliged to by putting the knight on “a5”, grandmaster
exchange the bishop – instead he can put it on Sosonko intended to strengthen the control over
“d2”! the strategically important square “d5”.
However, as we will see later, White has a very
Therefore, it was better for Black to choose this convincing antidote.
move order: 13...h6 14.h4 h5 15.xe7 xe7 More recommended: 15...c8
followed by f6. Black has a normal game ahead.
16.a2 d5?
14.d2! This is the difference! Black not only
failed to exchange the dark-squared bishops, but
also removed his knight from the center. “d4-d5”
threat begins to take real shape.

14...f6 The gain of the pawn also looked

attractive: 14...a5 15.a2 xf3? 16xf3! xd4

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It was necessary to play: 17...c6 18.xd5 exd5

Black continues to follow his wrong plan – in

pursuing his strategical goals, he forgets about the
tactical resources of his opponent. The problem is The position has changed from the structural
that we cannot block an isolated pawn with a point of view. We have the so-called
piece. “symmetrical pawn structure” on the board,
Again, it was better to develop the rook16...c8. which will be discussed in details in the next
issue of our magazine. For now, we will say that
17.b4! This particular move escaped Sosonko’s in this type of middlegame, the side that has a
attention. better piece development has also the
advantage. In the position on the diagram, White
17...xc3? has a very typical attacking idea: 19.h4!? at his
disposal, intending to play b1 and to confront
g7-g6 with h4-h5. Of course, before pushing the
“h” pawn, it is advisable to use new weaknesses
on the dark squares with h6. It is important to
note that the pawn cannot be won: 19...xh4
20.b5 a5 21.b4

The third and last mistake. Now, the only passive

white piece (d2) steps on the big diagonal.
White has a huge advantage in development and
he is ready to push d4-d5.

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18.xc3 c6 19.d5! The white light-squared bishop must be put on
the “a2-g8” diagonal;

The black light-squared bishop must have left

the “c8-h3” diagonal.

To understand the practical application of the

theoretical concepts mentioned above, we
propose to your attention the game between
Rubinstein – Burn, played in Ostend, in 1906.
The position that we are interested in arose
after the moves:

Rubinstein,A - Burn,A [D40]

Ostend, 1906

1.d4 d5 2.f3 f6 3.c4 e6 4.c3 bd7 5.e3

When your pieces are in their optimal squares, as e7 6.d3 0–0 7.0–0 dxc4 8.xc4 c5 9e2
is the case in this position, it is a sign that the b6 10.b3 cxd4 11.exd4 d7
moment is ripe to push the isolated pawn! The
Black’s position is falling apart.
19...exd5 20.xd5 c7

20...f6 21c4+–

21.b5! a5 22.e5! The last accurate move -

now material losses are for black inevitable.

22..c5 [22..c8 23.xg7+–; 22..d8 23.xb7

xb7 (23..xd3 24.xd3 xb7 25.d7+–)
24d7 d6 25g4 g6 26f4+–]

23.xb7 xb7 24d7 a5 25.d4

1–0
With his last move, Black clearly shows the
3) The sacrifice of the knight on “f7” intention to place his light-squared bishop on
the “a8-h1” diagonal. It is obvious that the
The sacrifice on “f7” is the last attacking idea bishop situated on “c6” will exert a stable
which will be discussed in this issue of our control over the “d5” square. Along with its
magazine. Of course, such a blow on black’s advantages, this maneuver hides its own risks.
position cannot come from nowhere - there are As already mentioned, the abandonment of the
certain premises. Our readers should remember “c8-h3” diagonal weakens the “e6” pawn, which
that the sacrifice on “f7” is always followed by the is under attack by the white bishop on “b3”. This
gain of the pawn on “e6”. In order to achieve this is why Black has to be extremely careful.
scenario, two conditions need to be met:

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12.e1! A great idea of Akiba Rubinstein. Some of
the keenest readers, probably already noticed that
as in previous games, White always places the
rook on “d1”. However, the polish chess virtuoso
did not play as usual. Anticipating the future
vulnerability of the “e6” pawn, he decided to place
his heavy pieces on the “e” file.

12...c6 13.e5! Now, on any move, Black

should consider the sacrifice of the knight on “f7”.

13...d5 Black tries to neutralize the pressure on

the “a2-g8” diagonal. However, the move 13...d5
gives White the opportunity to take the bishop
with the knight. In this situation, b3 remained
without an opponent and now the sacrifice on “f7” Although this position looks drawish at first
becomes even more dangerous. It was better to sight, in practice Black has to work hard in order
play 13...bd5. to make a draw.

The tempting gain of the pawn 13..xd4 can be 14.xd5 bxd5 Black took with the right
confronted with the thematic sacrifice on “f7”. knight. It is necessary to notice that in this kind
14.xf7! of position with an isolated pawn, the removal
of the “f6” from the kingside usually invites
problems for his monarch.

Here is one of the variations: 14...fxd5 15g4

A typical move.

14...xf7 15xe6 d5 (15...bd5?! 16.e3 b4

17.xd5 xd5 18.xd5 xd5 19xd5±)
16.xd5 bxd5 (16...fxd5? 17.e3+–) 17.e3
xb2 18.ab1 a3 19.xd5 xd5 20xd5 d8
21xb7 xa2 22xa7 xa7 23.xa7 b4
24.xb4 xa7 From the “g4” square, the queen not only
threatens black king, but also intensifies the
pressure on the “e6” pawn. Now, it is already too

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late for the black knight to come back to “f6”: 16...xf6
15...f6? 16.xf7!

16...xf6? 17.xf7!; 16...gxf6? 17g4+ h8

16...xf7 (16...xg4 17.xd8±) 17xe6 fd5 18.xf7+! xf7 19xe6 f8 20.xd5
(17...bd5 18.e5±) 18.e5±
17.xf7! The logical conclusion of Rubinstein’s
15.g5 c8? strategy. The pressure along the “a2-g8”
diagonal is crushing.

A very serious mistake, Burn completely ignores

white’s tactical threats. Had he predicted white’s The rest of the game does not need any
next move, Black would have defended the pawn comments.
on “e6” by playing 15...d6.
17...xf7 18xe6 xd4 19.xd5 xf2+
16.xf6! A known rule – if you exchange one of 20.h1 f8 21.f1 c2 22.ac1 xc1
the interconnected knights, the other one losses 23.xc1
its support. Now, after any black’s move, White
sacrifices on “f7”. 1–0

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