Grunfeld Exchange Be3/Be2[D85]-TWIC 981

TWIC 981
The Be3 Exchange variation remains popular in the topical Grunfeld Defence. Jorge Cori defends without playing ..Qa5 in the feature game.

More on Cori Jorge
Interview with Jorge and Deysi Cori, in Tromso, Norway. World Chess Cup 2013.



Alcaraz Ortega,J (2350) - Cori,J (2569)
Grunfeld Exchange Be3/Be2[D85]
15th Sants Open 2013
Barcelona ESP (3.8), 25.08.2013

Position 1
White had advanced in the center earlier but is now left with a vulnerable e-pawn that black is playing to undermine. What do you recommend for black now?

Black to Play

24.Bf4

Position 2
Black has emerged with a clear extra P in a R-R ending. The technical conversion phase is of some interest. What do you recommend for black now?

Black to Play

49.Rxd2

Grunfeld Exchange 7.Be3[D85]-TWIC 981

TWIC 981
Kramnik massaged his way to victory in a RRB-RRB with opposite color bishops ending but black has a key improvement(17..Rac8) to keep the Grunfeld healthy.

More on Kramnik at Tromso
A candid interview.

Kramnik,V (2784) - Areshchenko,A (2709)
Grunfeld Exchange 7.Be3[D85]
FIDE World Cup 2013
Tromso NOR (3.3), 19.08.2013

Position 1
White is looking for a way to release the f-pawn. What do you recommend for white?

White to Play

29..ef

Complete Slav II-Sakaev Now Available

Now Available!
Good news for 1.d4 players.

Complete Slav II

330pp

Blog Activity

I am playing in a Tournament Aug 9-11 so there will be limited blog activity.

Grunfeld Report-TWIC 978

TWIC 978
Here are two game in the major lines of the Grunfeld.

More About Germany-Host of Dortmund 2013



Game 1
GM Kramnik played the ending in enterprising style with an enterprising exchange sacrifice but it took a late blunder to decide the game.

Kramnik,V (2784) - Caruana,F (2796)
7.Be3[D85]
41st GM Dortmund GER (8.4), 03.08.2013

Position 1
The position is complicated. What do you recommend for white?

White to Play

64...Rc5

Game 2
GM Cheparinov's novelty 12...Bg4!? was good enough for equality but white was cooperative and blundered a pawn in the ending.

Maze,S (2547) - Cheparinov,I (2678)
Fianchetto 9.d5[D76]
Politiken Cup 2013 
Helsingor DEN (5.1), 30.07.2013

Position 1
Black has a clear extra pawn. What do you recommend for black?

Black to Play

48.Rf4

Benko g3 12.a4[A59]-TWIC 977

TWIC 977
The solid g3 variation continues to be an effective weapon against the Benko. GM Vovk went with the 12.a4(!) line which is the big fashion now.

More About La Massana Andorra-Host of the Andorra Open



Here is the feature game by the clear winner of the 31è Open Internacional d’Andorra, GM Vovk.

 GM Andrey Vovk

Photo-Chessbase on the Andorra Open

Vovk,A (2567) - Cuenca Jimenez,J (2477)
Benko g3 12.a4[A59]
31st Andorra Open
La Massana AND (4.4), 23.07.2013

Position 1
The 12.a4 line aims for a quick Nb5 to block the a,b files.

12.a4

Position 2
Black's position is loose. What to you recommend for white now?

White to Play

26...Nb4

Benoni 7.h3 with no e4[A61]-TWIC 976

TWIC 976
The Modern Benoni is now a very popular defence. GM Flores Rios achieves nothing but a complex equal position with the 7.h3/e3 variation and eventually prevails in long maneuvering struggle. The result was not related to the opening so the Benoni remains secure.

More About Barcelona ESP



Flores Rios,M (2492) - Dvirnyy,D (2549)
Benoni 7.h3 with no e4[A61]
XV Sant Marti Open A
Barcelona ESP (6.2), 18.07.2013

Position 1
Black sacrificed a pawn for enough compensation early in the middlegame but white kept maneuvering and is now on the verge of consolidating. What do you recommend for white now?

White to Play

43...Qa6