Search This Blog

Monday, April 29, 2013

King’s Indian Classical …Nbd7 7.Be3 Nbd7 8.0–0 Re8 9.d5 Nh5 [E94]-Bologan

Introduction to the King's Indian
Here is a brief introduction to the highly combative King's Indian Defence. I've been looking at GM Bologan's black repertoire against 1.e4(Modern, Pirc and Philidor) and now am turning my attention to his 1.d4 defences.



The ...Nbd7 Classical-7.Be3 Nbd7 8.0–0 Re8 9.d5 Nh5 10.Re1 Bf8(diagram)

10...Bf8

GM Bologan does very well with the ...Nbd7 Classical King's Indian. Here is one of his games illustrating the ...Nh5-g7 knight fianchetto.

Feller,Sebastien (2431) - Bologan,Viktor (2658)
King’s Indian Classical …Nbd7 7.Be3 Nbd7 8.0–0 Re8 9.d5 Nh5 [E94]
FRA-chT Top 16 Gp Haute France (8.1), 31.05.2007

Position 1

White has just infiltrated the c-file with 29.Rc7. What do you recommend for black?

Black to Play

29.Rc7

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Grunfeld g3 6.c4 dxc4 7.Na3 c3 8.bxc3 c5-TWIC 963

TWIC 963
GM Bartel got nothing from the opening using 9.Qb3 but later made the most of his chances in the sharp RB-RB ending.

Bartel,Mat (2619) - Tazbir,M (2555)
Grunfeld g3 6.c4 dxc4 7.Na3 c3 8.bxc3 c5 9.Qb3 [D77]
ch-POL 2013 Chorzow POL (4.5), 16.04.2013

Position 1
Black played 28...g5 to fight for some freedom for the passive Grunfeld bishop. What do you recommend for white?

White to Play


28...g5



Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Anti-Moscow Gambit 9.Be2 Bb7 10.0-0(D43)-TWIC 955

TWIC 955
GM Dreev analyzed the Anti-Moscow Gambit deeply in The Moscow and Anti-Moscow Gambit(Chess Stars 2010) but inevitably new paths have been discovered. 14...b4 (instead of Dreev's 2010 repertoire proposal 14...e5) looks like a good equalizer in the complex Anti-Moscow Gambit.

So,W (2684) - Andersen,Mad (2462) 

Semi-Slav Anti-Moscow Gambit 9.Be2 Bb7 10.0-0[D43]
Reykjavik Open 2013 Reykjavik ISL (3.5), 20.02.2013


Position 1
Black has played well and has an even ending where piece activity compensates fully for the broken queenside pawns. What do you suggest for black now?

Black to Play
34.f3

Position 2
White has been pushing hard but the ending is still even with the passed a-pawn giving black enough counterplay for the 2 pawn deficit. What do you recommend for black now?

Black to Play
50.Rxf4

Monday, April 15, 2013

Nimzo-Indian 4.e3 Karpov Variation 9…b6 10.Bg5 Bb7 11.Qe2 Nbd7-TWIC 922

TWIC 922
GM Navara used relentless pressure to overcome the Karpov Variation in the TCh-GRE 2012. Ultimately, black's poor pawn structure lead to the loss.

Navara,D (2706) - Svetushkin,D (2597)
Nimzo-Indian 4.e3 Karpov Variation 9…b6 10.Bg5 Bb7 11.Qe2 Nbd7 [E54]
40th TCh-GRE 2012 Achaea GRE (6.7), 04.07.2012

Position 1
Black's kingside structure has been shattered but there is still the matter of how to continue. What do you recommend for white?White to Play


24...ed


Nimzo-Indian 4.e3 Karpov Variation 9…b6 10.Bd3-TWIC 961

TWIC 961
Karpov Variation 9…b6 10.Bd3
GM Salem won with a nice attack in rd2 of the Dubai Open against the rock solid Karpov Variation. 

20...Re8

The fireworks started with 21.Nf5+!? 

Here is the feature game.

Salem,AR (2530) - Das,Say (2299) 
Nimzo-Indian 4.e3 Karpov Variation 9…b6 10.Bd3[E53]
15th Dubai Open 2013 Dubai UAE (2.27), 08.04.2013


Position 1
White previously offered a knight with Nf5+ and now must follow up with some accurate play. What do you recommend for white?

White to Play

21..gf


Nimzo-Indian 4.Qc2 0–0 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 d5-TWIC 960

TWIC 960
Nimzo-Indian 4.Qc2 0–0 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 d5
GM Turov won a nice bishop pair ending in rd5 of the Norwegian Open with thematic and relentless play in the topical 6...d5 variation.

Turov,M (2599) - Tari,A (2293) 

Nimzo-Indian 4.Qc2 0–0 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 d5 [E32]
Norwegian Open 2013 Fagernes NOR (5), 24.03.2013


Position 1
White has the better pawn structure and the bishop pair. What do you recommend for white?

White to Play


26...Kg7


Friday, April 12, 2013

Nimzo-Indian 4.e3 0–0 5.Nge2 d5 6.a3 Be7-TWIC 961

TWIC 961
GM Gormally took some liberties with his kingside and went down in a nicely played attack by Thorfinnsson.

Thorfinnsson,Br (2484) - Gormally,D (2507) 
Nimzo-Indian 4.e3 0–0 5.Nge2 d5 6.a3 Be7 [E46]
4NCL 2012–13 Hinckley ENG (7.171), 23.03.2013


Position 1
Black's kingside has been stripped bare. How should white continue?(more than one possible move)

White to Play

20...Bf8

Nimzo-Indian 4.e3 0–0 5.Nge2 d5 6.a3 Bd6-TWIC 961

TWIC 961
GM Braun won a nice game with a combination of a kingside massage that spread to the whole board and capped off the game with an attacking finish.

Braun,A (2556) - Croad,N (2272) 
Nimzo-Indian 4.e3 0–0 5.Nge2 d5 6.a3 Bd6 [E46]
e2e4 Dublin Masters Dublin IRL (4), 30.03.2013


Position 1
White's buildup does not look particularly threatening. Rf2 is passive and the bishop pair are not so active. What do you recommend for white now?

White to Play


27...hg