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

Nimzo-Indian 4.e3 0–0 5.Nge2 d5 [E46]-TWIC 977

TWIC 977
The Rubinstein variation 4.e3 remains a popular line but black holds his own. White achieved nothing special in the feature game with Nge2 as black obtained good counterplay with the ...a5 undermining plan.

The Strategic Nimzo-Indian-Sokolov

More about Varna, Bulgaria-Host of the Varna Open
As the third largest city in Bulgaria, and one of the country's most attractive towns and a popular holiday destination, Varna is known as Bulgaria's Seaside Capital and the 'Pearl of the Black Sea Coast'. 

The town is arranged in tiers along the curve of Varna Bay, and besides being a popular beach resort, it rivals the important cities of Sofia and Plovdiv in its wealth of museums, art galleries, historical buildings and cultural entertainment, and as such is a year-round holiday destination.



Shyam,SM (2502) - Mekhitarian,K (2544)
Nimzo-Indian 4.e3 0–0 5.Nge2 d5 [E46]
7th Varna Open 2013
Varna BUL (6.1), 24.06.2013

Position 1
White has opened up the position and initiated active piece play. What do you recommend for black?

Black to Play

21.Qe3

Complete Slav II-Sakaev-Coming Soon

Complete Slav II-Sakaev
Coming soon!

Covers Main line Slav and Semi-Slav and anything not presented in Complete Slav I. There are no complete games, just professional level analysis.

Game of the Day Rd 2 GB Ch 2013

Game of the Day Rd 2 GB Ch 2013

Exciting new ideas in the King's Indian.
Tavares-YF Zhou.

Presented by IM Andrew Martin

Game of the Day Rd3 GB Ch 2013

British Ch Rd3
IM Palliser-GM Arkell presented by IM Andrew Martin.