CONTENTS

Contents

Symbols 7 Steinitz Defence (3...d6) 95

Author’s Note 7 Berlin Defence 96
Berlin Defence: Main Lines 98
Introduction 8 5 d4 98
5 Îe1 100
Exchange Variation (3...a6 4 Íxc6) 102
Open Games 13 3...a6 4 Ía4: Introduction 104
Deferred Steinitz (3...a6 4 Ía4 d6) 105
Centre Game 13 Central Attack: 5 d4 107
King’s Gambit 15 5 d3 and 5 0-0 Íe7 6 d3 108
King’s Gambit Accepted 17 Arkhangelsk and Lines with ...Íc5 112
King’s Gambit with 2...d5 20 Open Ruy Lopez (5...Ìxe4) 114
Vienna Game 23 9 c3 115
Bishop’s Opening 26 9 Ìbd2 116
1 e4 e5 2 Ìf3: Introduction 29 Closed Ruy Lopez 119
Petroff Defence 31 Chigorin Defence: 9...Ìa5 122
3 Ìxe5 Sidelines 31 Zaitsev: 9...Íb7 123
The Fashionable 5 Ìc3 36 Breyer: 9...Ìb8 126
3 d4 40 Marshall and Anti-Marshall 128
3 Ìxe5 Main Line with 5 d4 d5 6 Íd3 43 Anti-Marshall 8 a4 129
Ponziani Opening 48 Anti-Marshall 8 h3 131
Scotch Game 49 Marshall Attack 134
4...Íc5 50
Main Line with 4...Ìf6 53 Semi-Open Games 138
Four Knights Game 56
Italian Game 59 Nimzowitsch Defence 139
Two Knights Defence 61 Pirc, Modern and Philidor Defences 140
4 d4 61 Modern Defence 140
4 d3 64 Pirc Defence 142
4 Ìg5 65 Austrian Attack: 4 f4 143
Giuoco Piano 68 Classical Pirc: 4 Ìf3 143
Evans Gambit (4 b4) 69 The Modern 4 Íe3 144
Immediate Central Play: 4 c3 Ìf6 5 d4 72 Philidor Defence 145
Simple Development: 4 d3 Ìf6 5 Ìc3 77 Old Philidor 145
4 c3 Ìf6 5 d3 and Related Lines 79 Modern Philidor 146
Lines with ...d5 81 Alekhine Defence 148
6...a6 and ...Ía7 82 Exchange Variation 148
6...a5 85 Four Pawns Attack 149
Ruy Lopez 89 4 Ìf3 150
Schliemann: 3...f5 90 Scandinavian Defence 152
Fianchetto Defence (3...g6) 92 2...Ìf6 152
Classical Defence (3...Íc5) 93 2...Ëxd5 153
4 PRACTICAL CHESS OPENINGS

Caro-Kann 155 Rossolimo (2...Ìc6 3 Íb5) 239

2 Ìf3 d5 3 d3 155 Rossolimo Main Line: 3...g6 242
Two Knights Caro-Kann 156 Kalashnikov (and Löwenthal) 245
Panov Attack 157 Sveshnikov Variation 248
Caro-Kann Main Lines 159 7 Ìd5 249
4...Ìd7 159 7 Íg5 250
4...Íf5 160
4...Ìf6 161 Closed Games
Advance Caro-Kann 164
3...c5 164
and Indian Systems 254
3...Íf5 165
French Defence 169 Queen’s Gambit 256
Advance French 170
Tarrasch French 174 Rare Replies to the Queen’s Gambit 256
French with 3...dxe4 177 Albin Countergambit: 2...e5 256
French with 3 Ìc3 179 Baltic Defence: 2...Íf5 258
Winawer Variation 179 Chigorin Defence: 2...Ìc6 260
Classical French 181 Queen’s Gambit Accepted (QGA) 262
Sicilian Defence: Intro and Sidelines 183 QGA with 3 Ìf3 262
Morra Gambit 184 QGA with 3 e4 269
Alapin Variation (2 c3) 185 Queen’s Gambit Declined (QGD) 273
Closed Sicilian (2 Ìc3) 190 Exchange QGD 273
2 Ìf3: Rare 2nd Moves 192 3...Íe7 4 cxd5 273
Nimzowitsch Sicilian 192 3...Ìf6 4 cxd5 274
O’Kelly Variation 193 QGD: Main Lines and Move-Orders 278
Hyper-Accelerated Dragon 194 Classical QGD (4 Ìf3 Íe7) 280
Sicilian with 2 Ìf3 d6 195 5 Íg5 281
The 3 Íb5+ Line 196 5 Íf4 284
2...d6: Open Sicilian 200 The Nameless 4 Ìf3 Ìbd7 286
Keres Attack 201 5 e3 287
Najdorf Variation 202 5 Íf4 288
6 Íc4 204 5 cxd5 289
Classical (6 Íe2) 205 Ragozin Defence (4 Ìf3 Íb4) 293
Classical Scheveningen (6 Íe2 e6) 205 5 e3 294
Classical Najdorf (6 Íe2 e5) 207 5 Ëa4+ 296
English Attack (6 Íe3) 210 5 cxd5 297
Najdorf Main Line (6 Íg5) 214 5 Íg5 298
Poisoned Pawn: 7...Ëb6 216 Janowski Variation (4 Ìf3 a6) 300
7...h6 216 5 Íg5 300
7...Ìbd7 217 5 c5!? 301
7...Íe7 217 5 cxd5 302
Classical Sicilian 218 Vienna Variation (4 Ìf3 dxc4) 305
Dragon Variation 221 6 Íxc4 306
Accelerated Dragon 224 6 Íg5 308
Sicilian with 2 Ìf3 e6 226 Tarrasch Defence (3...c5) 311
Paulsen Variation 227 Hennig-Schara Gambit: 4...cxd4 311
Taimanov Variation 230 Main Line Tarrasch: 4...exd5 312
Four Knights Sicilian 234 6 dxc5 313
Sicilian with 2 Ìf3 Ìc6 237 6 e3 313
 CONTENTS 5

6 g3 315 7 Íd3 379

Semi-Tarrasch (4 Ìf3 c5) 321 Semi-Slav with 5 Íg5 381
5...Ìxd5 322 5...Ìbd7 381
5...cxd4 323 5...dxc4 382
Catalan Opening 324 5...h6 384
Catalan: Early ...dxc4 325
5...Ìc6 325 Indian Defences 388
5...c5 326
5...c6 327 Benoni and Related Defences 388
5...Íb4+ 329 Modern Benoni 390
5...Íd7 330 6 Ìf3 390
5...a6 330 6 e4 392
Catalan with ...Íb4+ 333 Benko Gambit 394
5 Ìbd2 333 King’s Indian Defence 397
5 Íd2 334 Fianchetto King’s Indian 397
Catalan: Traditional Main Lines 337 King’s Indian Main Lines 399
Closed Catalan 337 Sämisch Variation 400
7...Ìbd7 338 Classical King’s Indian 401
7...b6 339 7...exd4 402
Open Catalan 341 7...Ìa6 402
7 Ìe5 342 7...Ìc6 403
7 Ëc2 344 Grünfeld Defence 405
7...b5!? 345 Fianchetto Grünfeld 406
7...a6 346 Grünfeld Main Lines 407
Slav Defence 349 4 Ìf3 and the Ëb3 Line 408
Exchange Slav: 3 cxd5 349 Exchange Variation: 4 cxd5 409
Slav Sidelines with 3...e6 and 3...dxc4 352 7 Íe3 410
3 Ìc3 dxc4 352 7 Ìf3 410
3 Ìc3 e6 353 7 Íc4 411
3 Ìf3 dxc4 355 Nimzo-Indian Defence 416
3 Ìf3 e6 357 Modern Sämisch (4 f3) 416
Slow Slav (4 e3) and Other 4th Moves 358 4...c5 417
4...g6 360 4...d5 418
4...Íg4 361 4 g3 420
4...Íf5 362 4 Ìf3 and the Queen’s/Nimzo Hybrid 421
3 Ìf3 Ìf6 4 Ìc3: Intro and 4...a6 364 The Classical 4 Ëc2 423
5 a4 365 4...d5 423
5 e3 366 4...0-0 424
5 c5 367 Rubinstein (4 e3): Intro and Ìe2 Lines 427
Main-Line Slav: 4...dxc4 368 4...b6 427
5 e3 369 4...c5 428
5 e4!? 369 4...0-0 430
5 a4 371 Rubinstein Main Lines with Ìf3 433
Semi-Slav 373 Queen’s Indian Defence 436
5 e3 and the Meran Variation 374 4 a3 437
6 Íd3 375 4 g3 438
6 Ëc2 377 4...Ía6 439
7 b3 377 4...Íb7 440
7 g4!? 378 Bogo-Indian Defence 443
6 PRACTICAL CHESS OPENINGS

Blumenfeld Gambit 446 Reversed Sicilian with 2 Ìc3 486

Budapest Defence 448 2...Íb4 486
1 d4: Miscellaneous 1st Moves 450 2...Ìc6 489
1...e6 452 2...Ìf6 and the Four Knights 490
1...d6 453 4 e3 492
Dutch Defence 454 4 e4 493
2 Íg5!? 454 4 g3 494
2 Ìf3 and the Main Lines 455 Reversed Sicilian with 2 g3 497
3...e6 455 2...c6 497
3...g6 457 2...Ìf6 498
Symmetrical English 499
Queen’s Pawn 459 Symmetrical English with 2 Ìf3 500
3...e6 (Hedgehog) 501
London System 459 3...Ìc6 (Four Knights) 504
3...Íf5 460 Symmetrical English with 2 g3 510
3...e6 461 5 d3 511
3...c5 462 5 a3 512
Jobava London 466 5 e3 513
3...Íf5 467 5 Ìf3 514
3...e6 468 1...Ìf6 and Other Moves 517
3...c5 469 Mikenas Attack with 3...c5?! 519
Trompowsky: 2 Íg5 470 Mikenas Attack with 3...d5 520
2...c5 472 Réti Opening: 1 Ìf3 522
2...e6 472 3...e6 and the King’s Indian Attack 527
2...d5 474 3...c6 and the Réti Main Lines 528
2...Ìe4 475 4...Íf5 529
2 Ìf3: Various Lines 477 4...Íg4 529
Colle and Zukertort: 2 Ìf3 and 3 e3 481 Bird Opening: 1 f4 531
6 b3 482 Larsen and Sokolsky: 1 b4 and 1 b3 532
6 c3 482 The Twilight Zone (Everything Else) 533
OK (1 g3, 1 Ìc3, 1 a3, 1 c3, 1 d3, 1 e3) 533
Flank Openings 484 Dubious (1 h3, 1 a4, 1 h4, 1 Ìa3) 534
Rotten (1 Ìh3, 1 f3, 1 g4?) 535
English Opening 485
Reversed Sicilian 485 Index of Variations 536
 ITALIAN GAME 83

This is in some sense the classic set-up for position, as 11 Ìxe5?? Ëh4! gives Black a de-
Black. It was a standard choice long before the cisive attack. In any case, the calm reply 11
d3 variations became popular for White, and it Ìf1 Ëf6 12 Íe3 gives White good chances to
still remains one of the main lines. Black will gain an advantage. He is planning d4, and if
voluntarily drop the bishop back to a7, so that Black exchanges bishops on e3, then the white
White’s d4 advance will not come with tempo, knight can quickly reach d5. The attempt to
and waits for White to play Ìbd2 before he will start an attack with 12...Ìf4 makes little head-
castle, as this avoids having to deal with Íg5 way because after 13 Ìg3 the white king is re-
lines. liably covered.
Having played ...a6, Black controls the b5- 11 Ìf1 Íe6
square and plans to hunt down the c4-bishop This position has been well explored. Objec-
with ...Ìa5. So now we have two main moves: tively, it is close to equality, but there is still
7 Íb3 and 7 a4. scope for a lot of fighting ahead.
12 Íc2 d5 13 Ëe2 (D)
7 Íb3
1 e4 e5 2 Ìf3 Ìc6 3 Íc4 Íc5 4 c3 Ìf6 5 d3 r+-wr+k+
d6 6 0-0 a6 7 Íb3 B vpz-+pz-
This move used to be the main line. The prin-
cipal benefit compared to 7 a4 is that the bishop
p+n+ls-z
can, if necessary, go to c2, but there is also a se- +-+pz-+-
rious drawback: White can no longer advance
his queenside pawns.
-+-+P+-+
7...Ía7 8 Ìbd2 +-ZP+N+P
If White plays Îe1 then he must constantly PZL+QZP+
take into account the possibility of ...Ìg4, so
White is usually in no hurry to play this move. T-V-TNM-
8...0-0 9 h3 h6 10 Îe1 (D)
This is typically chosen by strong players
hoping to outplay the opponent in a manoeuv-
r+lw-tk+ ring struggle – which is true for the Giuoco Pi-
B vpz-+pz- ano as a whole, in fact. White will place the
knight on g3, the bishop on d2 and bring the
p+nz-s-z rook to d1. Black, in turn, can put his queen on
+-+-z-+- d7 and rook on d8.
-+-+P+-+
+LZP+N+P 7 a4
PZ-S-ZP+ 1 e4 e5 2 Ìf3 Ìc6 3 Íc4 Íc5 4 c3 Ìf6 5 d3
d6 6 0-0 a6 7 a4
T-VQT-M- The previous section hinted at the motiva-
tion for this move: preserving the bishop while
10...Îe8 also retaining the option of a general queenside
10...Ìh5 can be considered too. As a gen- pawn advance.
eral point in positions of this type, sometimes 7...Ía7 8 Îe1 0-0 (D)
...Ìh5 is impossible due to the standard tactic Black can first play 8...h6 to prevent Íg5,
Ìxe5, but then an important question is whether but as we shall soon see, this bishop move is not
(as here) the d3-pawn is hanging. In fact, there very good here. So the two moves will gener-
is a bigger problem for White in this specific ally transpose.
84 PRACTICAL CHESS OPENINGS

We have reached one of the main positions

r+lw-tk+ of the whole Giuoco Piano complex. Black can
W vpz-+pzp choose from two well-established moves and
two interesting alternatives. All of them pro-
p+nz-s-+ vide a lot of scope for fighting chess.
+-+-z-+- 10...Îe8
P+L+P+-+ The most solid move and the main line.
Black wants to exchange bishops on e6, but
+-ZP+N+- avoid doubled pawns. With no weaknesses to
-Z-+-ZPZ attack, White will have to pin his hopes on a
queenside pawn advance.
TNVQT-M- Otherwise:
a) 10...Íe6 is quite an aggressive move.
9 h3 Black accepts an inferior pawn-structure in the
It is important for White to cover the g4- hope of developing an attack on the kingside.
square. After 11 Íxe6 fxe6 12 b4 Ìh5 13 Ìf1 Ëf6 14
White gains nothing by 9 Íg5 h6 10 Íh4 g5 Îa2 White will seek to neutralize Black’s king-
11 Íg3 (11 Ìxg5? hxg5 12 Íxg5 is bad in view side activity and then focus on the queenside.
of simply 12...Êg7 or even 12...Íg4 13 Íxf6 b) 10...Ìh5 seems an attractive set-up: Black
Íxf2+!, when the bishop cannot be taken, and will bring his queen to f6 and knight to f4 with
after the exchange of queens, Black will imme- the aim of attacking the white king. But prac-
diately take the rook on e1) 11...Ìh7 with ...h5 tice has shown that White has good chances of
and ...Ëf6 to follow. We can see that Black has an advantage here. After 11 Ìf1 Ëf6 12 Ì1h2
seized the initiative. Ìf4 13 Ìg4 Ëg6 14 Íxf4 exf4 White can’t
9 Ìbd2 can be met by 9...Ìg4 10 Îe2 Êh8!. move the knight from g4 because the h3-pawn
The trick is that on 11 h3, instead of retreating is hanging, but the strong strategic pawn sacri-
the knight, Black plays 11...f5!. Taking the fice 15 d4! Íxg4 16 hxg4 Ëxg4 17 a5 tips the
knight is risky because after 12 hxg4 fxg4 13 scales in White’s favour. Black has a bad bishop
Ìh2 the move 13...g3 will follow, while 12 on a7 and a weak pawn on b7. White will put
exf5 Ìh6 gives Black a good position. It is not his queen on b3 and seek to open the e-file for
worth defending the pawn with 13 g4 because his rooks by playing e5.
13...Ìxf5! 14 gxf5 Íxf5 gives Black powerful c) 10...Ìe7 (D) is a typical knight transfer
compensation for the piece. In addition to the to g6, to be followed by ...c6 and ...d5.
loose pawn on h3, White must also address the
threat of ...d5.
9...h6 10 Ìbd2 (D) r+lw-tk+
W vpz-spz-
r+lw-tk+ p+-z-s-z
B vpz-+pz- +-+-z-+-
p+nz-s-z P+L+P+-+
+-+-z-+- +-ZP+N+P
P+L+P+-+ -Z-S-ZP+
+-ZP+N+P T-VQT-M-
-Z-S-ZP+
The key position arises after 11 Ìf1 Ìg6 12
T-VQT-M- Ìg3 c6 13 Íb3, when if Black supports the
 ITALIAN GAME 85

e5-pawn with 13...Îe8 then White will get his maintain a rough balance and then everything
central pawn-break in first with 14 d4, seizing will depend on who plays better chess.
the initiative. Therefore, it is better to play the
immediate 13...d5! 14 exd5 Ìxd5, when White 6...a5
can’t take the e5-pawn because of the ...Íxf2+
idea. So White continues 15 d4 exd4 16 Ìxd4 1 e4 e5 2 Ìf3 Ìc6 3 Íc4 Íc5 4 c3 Ìf6 5 d3
with a slight initiative. If Black replies 16...Íd7 d6 6 0-0 a5 (D)
or 16...Îe8 then it makes sense to take the d5-
knight to weaken Black’s pawn-structure, al-
though the bishop-pair provides partial com- r+lwk+-t
pensation, and it can hardly be said that Black W +pz-+pzp
has a bad position.
11 b4 Íe6 12 Íxe6 Îxe6 13 Ëc2 (D)
-+nz-s-+
z-v-z-+-
r+-w-+k+ -+L+P+-+
B vpz-+pz- +-ZP+N+-
p+nzrs-z PZ-+-ZPZ
+-+-z-+- TNVQ+RM-
PZ-+P+-+ In this variation, both sides tend to play al-
+-ZP+N+P most the same basic moves as in the lines with
-+QS-ZP+ ...a6, so we will often be comparing them to un-
derstand the key differences. Black’s main idea
T-V-T-M- with ...a5 is to deprive White of play on the
queenside; in positions with ...a6 and ...Ía7,
White has a little more space on the queen- we often saw an advance with a4 and b4. But in
side, which is where he wants to concentrate his return, here White gets control of the b5-square
efforts. If Black plays the immediate 13...d5 and does not need to worry about Black ex-
then after 14 Ìb3 dxe4 15 dxe4 White has the changing off his influential light-squared bishop
idea of exchanging dark-squared bishops and by ...Ìa5. Which factors are more important? It
putting the knight on c5. That’s why Black is hard to say, but practice has shown the idea of
more often chooses 13...Ëd7 to see where putting the pawn on a5 to be both viable and a
White will put his d2-knight. If 14 Ìb3, he serious alternative to the more modest approach
makes the standard manoeuvre 14...Ìe7 in- with ...a6.
tending ...Ìg6, and if 14 Ìf1 then it’s a better 7 Îe1 0-0
time to play 14...d5. The computer assessment Or:
is ‘equal’, but this is not a case where the game a) 7...h6 is directed against White’s Íg5
should end calmly in a draw. In such a complex idea, but the drawback is that now White can do
position both sides have chances, and in prac- without the move h3, as he need not fear the
tice any result is possible, even among the high- possibility of ...Ìg4 (compare the line 6...a6 7
est-level players. a4 Ía7 8 Îe1 0-0 9 Ìbd2 Ìg4 in the previous
section): 8 Ìbd2 0-0 9 Ìf1 Íe6 10 Íb5 gives
Conclusion White a slight advantage. Unlike the main line
The set-up with ...a6 and ...Ía7 is one of the (i.e. with 7...0-0 8 h3 h6 below), 10...Ëb8? is
most popular and solid for Black. However, it too slow here in view of 11 d4.
cannot be said that Black easily equalizes, but b) The immediate retreat with 7...Ía7 (D)
rather that Black gets enough counterplay to gives White a useful extra option:
86 PRACTICAL CHESS OPENINGS

after which it is risky for White to take the g4-

r+lwk+-t knight) 9...h6 10 Ìb5 Íb6 11 Íe3 Íxe3 12
W vpz-+pzp Îxe3. Perhaps it is a little more pleasant for
White to play this position with a knight on b5
-+nz-s-+ rather than g3. But objectively, Black still has a
z-+-z-+- solid game, and it is closer to equality than a real
-+L+P+-+ advantage for White.
We now return to 7...0-0 (D):
+-ZP+N+-
PZ-+-ZPZ r+lw-tk+
TNVQT-M- W +pz-+pzp
b1) White normally replies 8 Ìbd2 0-0 9
-+nz-s-+
Ìf1, with a very similar position to the ...a6 z-v-z-+-
line. If he wishes, White can avoid the ex-
change of bishops by playing Íb5, but this can
-+L+P+-+
hardly be considered an achievement. For ex- +-ZP+N+-
ample, after 9...Íe6 10 Íb5 (10 Íxe6 fxe6 PZ-+-ZPZ
leaves Black a little better off than in the lines
with the pawn on a6 because here White cannot TNVQT-M-
create play on the queenside with b4) 10...Ìe7
11 d4 Ìg6 Black doesn’t seem to have any Now (after 7...0-0) we have two sections: 8
problems. It’s not advantageous for White to Íg5 and 8 h3.
play d5, and 12 Ìg3 can be met by 12...c6,
driving away the light-squared bishop. 8 Íg5
b2) 8 Ìa3!? (D) is the extra idea, planning to
move the knight to b5. 1 e4 e5 2 Ìf3 Ìc6 3 Íc4 Íc5 4 c3 Ìf6 5 d3
d6 6 0-0 a5 7 Îe1 0-0 8 Íg5
This is an uncompromising and principled
r+lwk+-t variation that leads to a complex game. With
B vpz-+pzp the pawn on d6, Black can no longer return the
bishop to e7 and must break the pin by more
-+nz-s-+ radical means.
z-+-z-+- 8...h6 9 Íh4 g5 (D)
-+L+P+-+
S-ZP+N+- r+lw-tk+
PZ-+-ZPZ W +pz-+p+-
T-VQT-M- -+nz-s-z
z-v-z-z-
8...0-0 9 h3 (while they shouldn’t be played
automatically, moves like h3 and ...h6 are quite
-+L+P+-V
standard in the Giuoco Piano, since control +-ZP+N+-
over the g4- and g5-squares is important; in PZ-+-ZPZ
some lines we have seen that Black has the idea
of attacking the f2-pawn with ...Ìg4, and then TN+QT-M-
moving the king aside to h8 to meet h3 with ...f5,
 ITALIAN GAME 87

10 Íg3 than its execution’ did not work and White

The sacrifice 10 Ìxg5? fails because White is played 13 Ìc2.
not in time to develop an attack. After 10...hxg5 12 h3 Íh5 13 Ìc2
11 Íxg5 Íg4 (perhaps the calm 11...Êg7 12 After 13 Ìb5 Íb6 the knight looks beautiful
Ëf3 Îh8 is even a little better; the clever idea is on b5, but in reality serves little purpose. There-
to play ...Êg6 followed by ...Íg4, since White fore, most players move it via c2 to e3.
will no longer be able to take the f6-knight with 13...Êg7
check) 12 Ëd2 (no better is 12 Íxf6 Íxf2+! The result is a complex position with chances
and after the exchange of queens, Black will for both sides. Black has a weakened f5-square,
take the rook on e1) 12...Êg7 and if White cap- but if 14 Ìe3 it can be covered by 14...Ìe7.
tures the f8-rook with his bishop, then Black, in Therefore, it is more cunning for White to bide
addition to having two pieces for a rook, will be his time with moves like 14 Îc1. White keeps
able to attack along the g-file. the Ìe3 idea in reserve while also thinking of
10...Ía7 playing d4 if the opportunity arises. Then it will
The immediate 10...g4 is met with the amaz- be possible to play Íb5, putting pressure on the
ing idea 11 Íh4! gxf3 12 Ëxf3 Êg7. Why is knight that may need to defend via e7. How-
this sacrifice better than the 10 Ìxg5? line we ever, Black also has his own ideas too; for ex-
just examined? First, White has gained a tempo ample, 14...Îg8!? is interesting, with a view to
by taking the pawn with Ëxf3. Secondly, the playing ...Êh8 and ...g4. The computer evalu-
fact that the h6-pawn is still on the board is, ates the position as equal, but from a human
oddly enough, in White’s favour, as now Black perspective it is very complex and both sides
cannot place a rook on h6 to control the h-file. can aspire to victory.
Objectively, Black still has adequate defensive
resources, but must play very precisely. A few 8 h3
years ago, Black lost quickly in a game be-
tween two 2600+ grandmasters following 13 1 e4 e5 2 Ìf3 Ìc6 3 Íc4 Íc5 4 c3 Ìf6 5 d3
Ìd2 Îh8 14 Íd5 Ìb8? (with the idea of mov- d6 6 0-0 a5 7 Îe1 0-0 8 h3 h6 (D)
ing the knight to d7) 15 d4! exd4 16 Ìb3 and
White had too strong an attack.
11 Ìa3 (D) r+lw-tk+
W +pz-+pz-
r+lw-tk+ -+nz-s-z
B vpz-+p+- z-v-z-+-
-+nz-s-z -+L+P+-+
z-+-z-z- +-ZP+N+P
-+L+P+-+ PZ-+-ZP+
S-ZP+NV- TNVQT-M-
PZ-+-ZPZ
9 Ìbd2
T-+QT-M- The immediate 9 d4 Ía7 is not considered
dangerous for Black. For now, it is impossible to
11...Íg4 move the knight to d2, and on 10 Íe3, expecting
11...g4 12 Íh4 Êg7 tries to scare White to win the knight if it takes the e4-pawn, Black
with a possible capture on f3. But in several can reply 10...Îe8, but even 10...Ìxe4 11 d5
games in which this position was encountered, Íxe3 12 Îxe3 Ìxf2! 13 Êxf2 Ìe7 gives Black
the famous expression ‘the threat is stronger sufficient compensation for the knight because
88 PRACTICAL CHESS OPENINGS

the white pieces are heavily restricted by the would have thought that in the ‘quiet’ Giuoco
black pawns. Piano with d3 such a chaotic position would
9 Íb5!? is more interesting. The idea is that arise so soon? After 14 Ía4 Íxf2+ 15 Êh2
in the main line White plays Íb5 after the Íxe1 16 Ëxe1 Black should not take the b2-
move ...Íe6, and here Black can’t put the pawn because White’s dark-squared bishop
bishop on e6 because of the reply d4. Then if would then be too strong. The correct approach
9...Íd7 10 Ìbd2 Ëb8 we get a position similar is 16...d5 or 16...Ëc5 with an unclear game.
to the 9 Ìbd2 line but with the black bishop on This double-edged line has been tested in a
d7, and this favours White. Perhaps it is easier modest number of games.
for Black to abandon the ...Ëb8 idea and play 12 Îe2 enables White to keep the bishops
9...Ía7 10 Ìbd2 Ìe7 11 d4 Ìg6, with an un- on the board, but the black one on c5 is hardly
clear position. weaker than White’s on c1. Still, the motiva-
9...Íe6 10 Íb5 tion for White is more to keep the position
As noted earlier, 10 Íxe6 fxe6 is a better complex by avoiding exchanges. Most often,
trade for Black than in the variations with the Black forces the exchange of the b5-bishop by
pawn on a6. Here White has no opportunity to 12...a4 13 Ìg3 Ëa5 14 Íxc6 bxc6, with a
advance his a- and b-pawns and the struggle is playable game and chances for both sides.
concentrated on the kingside. 12...Íxe3 13 Ìxe3 Ìe7
10...Ëb8! This knight redeployment to g6 is a standard
An excellent transfer of the queen: Black plan. In addition, White will have to take into
creates pressure on the f2-pawn and prevents account the possibility of Black playing ...c6
d4. Of course, White can exchange the dark- and meeting Íc4 with ...d5.
squared bishops, but this will lead to a simplifi- 14 a4 (D)
cation of the position.
10...Ìe7?! 11 d4 exd4 12 cxd4 allows White
to seize the initiative in the centre and gain an r+-+-tk+
advantage. B wpz-spz-
11 Ìf1 Ëa7 (D)
-+-zls-z
zL+-z-+-
r+-+-tk+ P+-+P+-+
W wpz-+pz- +-ZPSN+P
-+nzls-z -Z-+-ZP+
zLv-z-+- T-+QT-M-
-+-+P+-+
+-ZP+N+P This move is useful because it prevents Black
PZ-+-ZP+ from gaining space on the queenside. White
seems to be allowing Black to advance his c-
T-VQTNM- and d-pawns with gain of time, but this is in fact
deliberate provocation.
12 Íe3 14...Ìg6
The most reliable and popular move. 14...c6 15 Íc4 d5 16 exd5 cxd5 17 Íb5
12 d4 exd4 13 Íxc6 looks appealing be- suddenly leaves Black with problems defend-
cause 13...bxc6 14 cxd4 gives White a slight ing the e5-pawn. After 17...Ìg6 18 Ìf1 the
advantage. However, it leads to great complica- queen must return to b8 because advancing
tions after 13...dxc3!?, an aggressive continua- with 18...e4 gives White the opportunity to
tion in the style of the Sicilian Defence. Who place the knight on d4.