[White "V.

Kovacevic"]
[Black "S. Nikolic"]
[Site "Vrnjacka Banja"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Round "1"]
[ECO "D00"]
[Date "1965.??.??"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bf4 e6 4. Nbd2 c5 5. e3 Nc6 6. c3 Bd6 7. Bg3 O-O 8. Bd3 Re8
9. Ne5 Bxe5 10. dxe5 Nd7 11. f4 c4 12. Bc2 Qb6 13. Bf2 Qxb2 14. Rc1 b5 15. O-O b4
16. Qh5 Nf8 17. Nf3 Ne7 18. Ng5 g6 19. Qh6 b3 20. axb3 cxb3 21. Bd3 Nf5 22. Bxf5
exf5 23. Bh4? Qa3 24. Ra1 Qc5 25. Rf3 Qxc3 26. Raf1 Rxe5 27. fxe5 Qxe5 28. e4 b2
29. Bg3 Qd4+ 30. Bf2 Qc4 31. Re1 Rb8 32. Nxh7 Nxh7 33. Rh3 b1=Q 34. Qxh7+ Kf8 35.
Qh8+ Ke7 36. Bh4+ Kd6 37. Qf8+ Ke5 38. Bf6+ (1-0)

[White "Sv. Johnsen"]

[Black "W. Kristiansen"]
[Event "Norwegian Cht"]
[Site "Trondheim"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Round "1"]
[ECO "D00"]
[Date "2004.??.??"]

1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 Nf6 3. e3 e6 4. c3 Be7 5. Nd2 0-0 6. Bd3 c5 7. Ngf3 {standard

London
system position} Nc6 8. Ne5 {controlling & occupying e5 is standard plan when black

has played an early ...d5} Qb6 {due to early Bf4, the b2 pawn is weak & vunerable}
9. Rb1 {protects pawn} Rd8 10. Qf3 {generally white will get his pieces kingside...

especially if the black king is over there} Bd7 11. Qh3 {despite sensible black
moves, he lacks counterplay whereas white kingside attack looks strong} Rac8 {black

has queenside initiative but it at least distracts from the kingside defense so
is good for white} 12. g4 $5 {not clear it achieves much but black is unlikely to
create a counter attack on the kingside} g6 13. Ndf3 cxd4 14. exd4 Ne8 $4 {blunder
in difficult position} 15. Nxf7 Kxf7 16. Qxh7+ Ng7 17. Bxg6+ Kf6 18. g5# 1-0

[White "Velaquez"]
[Black "Acosta"]
[Event "Villa Ballester"]
[Site "WWTLS page 12"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Round "2"]
[ECO "D02"]
[Date "2003.??.??"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 e6 {black will have difficulty developing light bishop} 3. Bf4 c5

4. c3 {to be considered when facing a stronger opponent who wouldn't head for a
draw} (4. e3 Qb6 5. b3 $5 {better for winning opportunities} cxd4 6. exd4 Nc6 7.
Bd3 Bd7 8. c3 Nf6 9. 0-0 {reaching a rich position with a small but long-lasting
advantage because black's queen is poorly placed} ) Nc6 (4... cxd4 5. cxd4 Nc6
{black
could head for draw with symmetrical pawn structure} ) 5. e3 Nf6 6. Nbd2 Be7
{preparation
to hunt the white bishop with Nh5} 7. Bd3 c4 $2 {common error by weak players.
decreases
pressure on centre and allows white a freehand to attack kingside} 8. Bc2 0-0 $6
{it's better for black to simply prepare to castle but develop counterplay before
castling} (8... b5 9. Ne5 Nxe5 10. dxe5 Nd7 11. h4 b4 {with queenside counter is
better} ) 9. Ne5 Nxe5 {this allows a kingside attack} (9... Bd7 10. h4 $1 b5 11.
g4 b4 12. g5 Ne8 13. Bxh7+ $3 Kxh7 14. Nxf7 $1 Rxf7 15. Qh5+ Kg8 16. g6 Nf6 17.
gxf7+ Kf8 18. Qg6 {no good defense for black} ) 10. dxe5 $1 {it's important to
drive
the knight away from defense of the king} Nd7 11. h4 $5 {Standard way to attack
black's castled king in the London. Main idea to support Ng5} f5 {stops white's
direct attacking ideas but from a longer perspective allows white to open the g
file against black's king} (11... b5 12. Bxh7+ Kxh7 13. Qh5+ Kg8 14. Nf3 f6 15.
Ng5 $3 fxg5 16. hxg5 Rf5 17. Qh7+ Kf7 18. g6+ Ke8 19. Qxg7 Bf8 20. Qg8 $1 Nc5 21.
g4 Nd3+ 22. Kd2 Rxf4 23. exf4 Kd7 24. Rh8 Qb6 25. Rf1 ) 12. Nf3 (12. g4 $1 {g4 is
even better} Qb6 13. gxf5 exf5 14. Rb1 Nc5 15. Nf3 Qa5 16. Bg5 Bd8 17. Nd4 Qxa2
18. Qf3 Qa5 (18... Nd3+ 19. Kd2 Nxe5 20. Qxd5+ Nf7 21. Ra1 Qxb2 22. Rhb1 $18 ) 19.
Qxd5+ Be6 20. Qg2 $18 ) Nc5 (12... Qb6 {attacking b2 and preventing castling long
is better} ) 13. Qe2 a5 {early c4 allows d4 outpost} 14. Nd4 h6 $2 {prepares to
capture whites h pawn without worrying too much about Qh5 and threats to h7.
however
this is too optimistic and creates permanent kingside weaknesses} 15. g4 Bxh4
{opening
the h file to win a pawn seems rather suicidal but black isn't able to keep the
kingside closed for long anyway... eg. ...Bd7} (15... Bd7 16. gxf5 exf5 17. Qf3
Ne4 18. 0-0-0 Qb6 19. Rdg1 a4 20. a3 Kh8 21. Qg2 Rg8 22. e6 Be8 23. Bxh6 $18 $1
) 16. gxf5 exf5 17. 0-0-0 Ne4 18. Bxe4 fxe4 19. Rdg1 Bg5 {white was threatening
Qh5 followed by Bxh6. Ra6 would be met with 20. e6! renewing the threat.} (19...
Ra6 20. e6 Bxe6 21. Nxe6 Rxe6 22. Qg4 {costs black a piece} ) 20. Bxg5 hxg5 21.
Qh5 {black resigned} Qe8 22. Qxg5 Rf7 23. e6 Re7 24. Qh4 Bxe6 25. Qh8+ Kf7 26.
Qxg7#
1-0

[White "Blackburne"]
[Black "Harmonist"]
[Event "DSB Congress "]
[Site "Breslau"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Round "3"]
[ECO "D02"]
[Date "1889.??.??"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. Bf4 e6 4. e3 Be7 5. Bd3 {inaccurate due to ..c5 variation}

0-0 (5... c5 6. c3 Qb6 7. Qb3 $6 (7. Qc2 $11 ) c4 $1 8. Qxb6 axb6 9. Bc2 b5 {black
has good queenside pressure} ) 6. Nbd2 b6 7. Ne5 Bb7 $6 (7... Ba6 {another line
trying to exchange light squared bishops diminishing white's kingside attack} 8.
Nc6 Nxc6 (8... Qe8 9. Nxe7+ Qxe7 10. Bxa6 Nxa6 11. 0-0 ) 9. Bxa6 Nb4 10. Be2 c5
11. c3 Nc6 $11 ) 8. Qf3 {fighting for control over e4 while transferring pieces
to the kingside} c5 9. c3 Nbd7 10. Qh3 {this queen manouvre is almost routine in
double d-pawn London} Re8 $6 {introduces defensive possibility ...Nf8 but weakens
f7} (10... Ne4 {doesn't help either due to white's pressure kingside} 11. f3 Nef6
12. Nxd7 Qxd7 13. g4 g6 14. Qg3 {followed by h4 gives good pressure on the
kingside}
) 11. Ndf3 Ne4 $6 {surprisingly this comes close to losing by force. However
black's
position is already difficult. similar to Stefanova - An.Rodriguez. Madrid 1997}
({Stefanova - An.Rodriguez. Madrid 1997}11... Nxe5 12. Nxe5 c4 13. Bc2 b5 14. a3
a5 15. Ng4 {forces crucial weakness of dark kingside squares} g6 16. Nh6+ Kf8 17.
Be5 Qd7 18. f4 Bd8 19. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. Ng4 Ke7 21. Ne5 $18 ) 12. Nxd7 Qxd7 13. Ne5
Qd8 (13... Qa4 14. f3 Nf6 15. Ng4 $1 {forcing weakening of dark squares around
king}
) 14. f3 Nf6 15. Ng4 ({Blackburne isn't distracted by this line}15. Bb5 Rf8 16.
Nc6 Bxc6 $1 17. Bxc6 Rc8 18. Bb7 Rb8 $1 19. Bxb8 Qxb8 20. Bc6 cxd4 21. exd4 b5
{here
black has excellent chances} ) g6 {loses material but best black can do} ({this
line is worse:}15... h6 16. Bxh6 $1 {he must play:} Nxg4 ({because after:}16...
gxh6 17. Qxh6 Ne4 {stopping mate} (17... Nxg4 18. Qh7+ Kf8 19. Qh8# ) (17... cxd4
18. Nxf6+ Bxf6 19. Bh7+ Kh8 20. Bg6+ Kg8 21. Qh7+ Kf8 22. Qxf7# ) ) 17. Qxg4 Bf6
) 16. Bb5 $1 {white spots an opportunity to disrupt black pieces} Nd7 ({black has
no real compensation after:}16... Rf8 17. Bh6 Nxg4 18. fxg4 {eg.} Bh4+ 19. Ke2 $1
a6 20. Ba4 cxd4 21. cxd4 b5 22. Bxf8 $18 ) 17. Nh6+ Kg7 18. Nxf7 $1 {this doesn't
take much calculation. white's material investment is small and black's king
position
is completely destroyed} Bh4+ {white of course had to take this check into
consideration}
(18... Kxf7 19. Qxh7+ Kf6 20. g4 g5 (20... Nf8 21. Be5+ Kg5 22. h4# ) (20... e5
21. Bxd7 exf4 (21... Qxd7 22. dxe5+ Ke6 23. Qxg6+ Bf6 24. Qxf6# ) 22. g5+ Kxg5 23.
Rg1+ Kf6 24. Rxg6# ) 21. Bxg5+ Kxg5 22. h4+ Kf6 23. g5# ) 19. Bg3 Kxf7 (19... Bxg3+

20. hxg3 Kxf7 21. Bxd7 {white immediately wins back his material with interest!}
) 20. Bxh4 $2 {this doesn't spoil anything.. white is material up with a better
position. Nevertheless 20 Qxh4 is better} (20. Qxh4 Kg7 (20... Qxh4 21. Bxh4 {costs

black at least the exchange} ) 21. Bxd7 Qxd7 22. Be5+ Kf8 23. Qh6+ $1 Kg8 24. h4
Qf7 25. h5 Ba6 26. 0-0-0 {followed by Rh4 and an easy win} ) Qc8 21. Bg3 {now
follows
a consolidation phase}Kg8 22. 0-0 a6 23. Bd3 e5 24. Rae1 Qc6 25. e4 {white is fully

developed and ready to open up the centre} cxd4 26. exd5 Qc8 ({obviously not:}26...

Qxd5 27. Be4 $18 ) 27. cxd4 Bxd5 28. dxe5 Qc5+ 29. Bf2 Qe7 30. f4 Bxa2 31. Bh4 (31.

Be4 $1 {would have won immediately} Be6 (31... Rad8 32. b3 $1 Nc5 33. Bh4 ) 32.
Qg3 Rad8 33. f5 $18 ) Qg7 32. Bc2 Rac8 33. Bb3+ Bxb3 34. Qxb3+ Kh8 35. Rd1 h6 36.
Qh3 Rc7 37. Rd6 Kh7 38. Rfd1 Nf8 39. Bf6 Qf7 40. R6d3 {white has a specific idea
in mind...} Qe6 41. g4 b5 ({...h5 would only have prolonged the inevitable}41...
h5 42. f5 Qf7 43. gxh5 g5 44. Qg3 Qxh5 45. e6 Rc4 46. Rd4 Kh6 47. h4 Nh7 48. hxg5+
Nxg5 49. Bxg5+ Qxg5 50. Qxg5+ Kxg5 51. Rxc4 ) 42. Qxh6+ $1 Kxh6 (42... Kg8 43. Qh8+

Kf7 44. Qg7# ) 43. Rh3# 1-0

[White "J. Pribyl"]

[Black "Penrose"]
[Event "Nice OL"]
[Site "page 15"]
[Result "*"]
[Round "4"]
[ECO "D02"]
[Date "1974.??.??"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 c5 $5 {Very challenging! Black takes initiative in the centre even

though White has developed actively} ({more conservative:}2... Nf6 3. Bf4 c5 )
({more
conservative:}2... e6 3. e3 c5 ) 3. c3 ({more ambitious}3. c4 ) ({more ambitious}3.

dxc5 ) (3. Bf4 $5 {poor due to:} cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nd7 ) e6 4. Bf4 Nf6 5. e3 Be7 {In
principle black's dark bishop should be better. (central pawns don't block it.)
But in practice white's is more influential. However if black can trade his knight
for the bishop his remaining bishop will be strong. So protect the dark squared
bishop if possible} 6. Nbd2 0-0 7. Bd3 b6 8. Ne5 {No coincidence that this move
appears in most d4 d5 games we examine} Bb7 9. Qf3 Nc6 10. Qh3 {White is aiming
directly at black's king. Black can't attack much queenside as he needs to defend
kingside} g6 11. Bh6 Re8 12. f4 {With this important move White secure's his centre

and ensures that in case of an exchange on e5, the f-file will be openened for an
attack against black's weak poont at f7} Nd7 13. 0-0 f5 {Black may have withstood
the attack. However, it soon becomes clear it was only the first wave. There is
no way to stop g4 and h4-h5 pawn levers.} 14. Ndf3 (14. g4 $5 Bf8 15. gxf5 exf5
{A dangerous attacking idea. White can them choose between the 'normal' 16. Ndf3.
and the very sharp 16. Bxf5!?} 16. Ndf3 {normal} ({super sharp:}16. Bxf5 $5 Ndxe5
17. fxe5 gxf5 18. Rxf5 Ne7 19. Rf6 Ng6 20. Raf1 Ba6 21. R1f2 {Strong attack} ) )
Ncxe5 15. fxe5 $1 {it seems more likely that white can make use of the f file and
f4 square than the d file and d4 square. Nevertheless 15. dxe5 is also good for
white...} ({also good for white:}15. dxe5 a5 16. Rad1 $1 Ba6 17. Bxa6 Rxa6 18. c4
$1 dxc4 19. e4 Qc8 20. Nd2 b5 21. exf5 exf5 22. a4 $16 ) Bf8 16. Ng5 Bxh6 17. Qxh6
Nf8 ({No better for black:}17... Qe7 18. g4 Qg7 19. Qxg7+ Kxg7 20. Bb5 $1 Rad8 21.
gxf5 gxf5 22. Nh3 {followed by Nf4} ) 18. Rf3 {Black is totally pacified & white
calmly organises his forces before the final onslaught} Re7 {Black's play so far
is quite illogical. First he ignores the ...Bd6 lines to swap off the dark squared
bishops early & then he fixes all his pawns on light squares making his light
squared
bishop very weak. Finally he decides to exchange dark bishops so he's left with
a weak bishop and vunerable dark squares. A better defensive plan would have been
18...Qe7 and 19...Qg7, probably preventing white from winning by a direct attack}
19. g4 {Whenever black blocks mating threats against h7 with ...f5, this is the
standard way to open up new lines against the black king. White has to of course
show caution as he's weakening his own king's shield, but black is rarely in a
position
to counterattack kingside.} Rg7 20. Raf1 Qd7 21. Kh1 Qe7 22. h4 {The time has come
to break down black's fortress. There is little risk involved in weakening the
white
king's position as black has absolutely no counterplay.} Bc8 23. Rg3 a5 24. Rfg1
Ra7 25. Nh3 Qd8 26. Nf4 c4 27. Be2 Raf7 28. gxf5 exf5 29. Bf3 Be6 30. Qg5 $2 {White

unnecessarily simplifies into an ending. 30 h5! would win easily} ({would have won
easily:}30. h5 $1 Rd7 31. hxg6 hxg6 32. Nxg6 ) Qxg5 31. Rxg5 Rd7 32. h5 Kf7 {Black
can't close kingside files with 32...h6} ({Black can't close kingside files
with:}32...
h6 33. Rxg6 $1 Nxg6 34. Rxg6 Rxg6 (34... Bf7 35. e6 $18 ) 35. hxg6 Rg7 (35... Re7
36. Nxe6 Rxe6 37. Bxd5 $18 ) 36. Nxe6 Rxg6 37. Bxd5 Rg3 38. Bxc4 {white winning}
) 33. R1g2 Ke8 34. hxg6 hxg6 35. Kg1 Kd8 36. Bh5 {the g-pawn will now fall and in
reality the game is decided} Rh7 37. Bxg6 Rh3 $4 {This is a horrible blunder, even
with time pressure. But his position was lost anyway} 38. Nxh3 *

[White "V. Kovacevic"]

[Black "Ree"]
[Event "Maribor"]
[Site "page 17"]
[Result "*"]
[Round "5"]
[ECO "D02"]
[Date "1980.??.??"]

1. d4 Nf6 {Statistically this is slightly more common than 1...d5. It's more
flexible
& often signals that black is looking for counterplay rather than equality} 2. Nf3
{Excellent move for the flexible player - maybe even rivalling 2 c4 as objectively
best move. However, an insistent London player may find 2...c5 an irritating reply
as:} d5 {2...e6, 2...c5 and 2...g6 are all more consistant with 1...Nf6. However
black is probably expecting a Queen's gambit where the White's knight has been
commited
early depriving him of some of the more pronising versions of the exchange
variation.}
(2... c5 3. Bf4 $6 cxd4 $1 4. Nxd4 $4 e5 $1 5. Bxe5 Qa5+ {white loses a piece. 3.d5

is naturally a better move but not London-like. Therefore we advocate 2 Bf4!?} )

3. Bf4 {No intention of entering the Queen's Gambit with 3 c4.} e6 4. Nbd2 {Quick
development is a main characteristic of the London System, but for practical
reasons
we shall recommend immediate fortification of the centre with 4 e4 followed by c3
whenever Black plays ...c5} c5 5. e3 Be7 6. c3 0-0 ({Critical move:}6... Nh5 $5
7. Bxb8 Rxb8 8. Ne5 Nf6 9. Qa4+ Bd7 10. Qxa7 $6 {Seems to give Black more than
enough
for his pawn.} ) ({Also:}6... Nbd7 {seems more precise than the text-move, as black

could then contemplate ...Nxg3 without opening the h-file as a direct attacking
avenue to his king} ) 7. Bd3 {This completes the basic London setup. There are
certainly
more standard moves like 0-0, Ne5, Qf3 & h3, but they are less essential and more
depending on Black's play.} Nbd7 {This set-up is discussed in more detail in line
5D. The knight development sometimes prepares the defensive move ...Nf8, protecting

h7. Normally it also signals that black will fight for e4, planning ...b6, ...Bb7,
and eventually ...Ne4 followed by ...Ndf6 or ...f5. In this game however, Black
finds the time to complete his development scheme. 7...Nh5 may still be considered,

but after 8Bg3 Black shouldn't be too eager to open the h-file against his own
king.}
8. h4 $5 {White declares that he considers his development sufficient and his
centre
secure enough for an all-out kingside attack! A more restrictive strategy can be
initiated by 8.Ne5} b6 9. Ne5 Nxe5 $6 {As this leads Black into serious
difficulties,
the consistent 9...Bb7 should be considered. However, black's difficulties are well

illustrated by S. Kovacevic - Vilar Lopez, Linares 1996:} ({S. Kovacevic - Vilar

Lopez, Linares 1996:}9... Bb7 10. Qf3 cxd4 11. exd4 Rc8 12. Rh3 $1 {Another reason
behind h4} Re8 $2 13. Bb5 $2 ({White could have taken advantage of the restricted
queen with:}13. Bxh7+ Nxh7 (13... Kxh7 14. Nxf7 {winning material} ) 14. Nxf7 Kxf7
15. Bc7+ $18 {discovered check attacking the queen} ) Nxe5 14. Bxe5 Rf8 15. Rg3
Kh8 16. Bd3 Bd6 17. Qe2 Rg8 18. Nf3 h6 19. Ng5 $1 Rc7 {When white again missed an
immediate win} ({no better for black:}19... Rf8 20. Bxf6 Qxf6 21. Nh7 {forking
queen
& rook} ) 20. Bxf6 Qxf6 (20... gxf6 21. Qh5 Rxg5 22. Qxh6+ Kg8 23. hxg5 $18 ) 21.
Rf3 Bf4 {when white breaks through with:} 22. Nh3 g5 23. hxg5 hxg5 24. g3 $18 )
10. dxe5 $1 {Driving away the main defender of the kingside} Nd7 11. Bxh7+ $5 {This

would have been a standard sacrifice hardly requiring calculation at all, had the
knight already been on f3. With a tempo less, Black's defensive resources are
greatly
increased.} Kxh7 12. Qh5+ {This demonstrates one advantage of not having the knight

on f3. In similar positions after Ng5+ Black can often consider ...Kg6 (but with
a white pawn already on h4, the king march would unlikely succeed)} Kg8 13. Nf3
f6 $2 {Obviously Ng5 is a serious threat, but this doesn't really help as now the
rook enters the attack along with a very annoying pawn. With accurate defence black

can probably still hold the position:} ({Simplest is: a)}13... Ba6 14. Rd1 (14.
0-0-0 Be2 $1 15. Rd2 g6 16. Qg4 Bxf3 17. gxf3 ) Re8 (14... g6 $2 15. Qh6 Re8 16.
Ng5 Nf8 17. h5 Bf6 18. hxg6 fxg6 19. exf6 $18 ) 15. Ng5 Nf8 16. Qxf7+ Kh8 17. b3
Qd7 $1 {And because of the threat of ...Bd8, white must make do with a perpetual
check.} ) ({b)}13... Re8 14. Ng5 Nf8 {is probably also sufficient but much more
complicated. However, it isn't very tempting to allow White a certain draw should
his mating attempts fail:} {b1)}15. Nxf7 $2 (15. Qxf7+ Kh8 {b21) Now white can take

a draw by 16 Qh5+ Kg8 etc}16. Qh5+ ({b22)}16. h5 $5 Bxg5 17. h6 $1 {Soltis ends
his anylsis here} gxh6 (17... Bxh6 18. Bxh6 gxh6 19. Rxh6+ {mate in 1 to follow}
Nh7 20. Qxh7# ) 18. Bxg5 (18. Rxh6+ $2 Bxh6 19. Bxh6 Qe7 20. Bg7+ Kh7 $19 ) Qxg5
19. Qxe8 Bb7 20. Qf7 Qg7 21. Qh5 Kh7 {still unclear} ) ({b23)}16. 0-0-0 Qd7 17.
e4 (17. h5 $2 Bxg5 $19 ) d4 (17... Bd8 $2 18. exd5 Qxf7 19. Nxf7+ Kg8 20. Nd6 Re7
21. Bg5 $1 Rd7 22. f4 exd5 23. Bxd8 Rxd8 24. f5 Kh7 25. g4 $16 ) 18. Be3 Ba6 19.
cxd4 cxd4 20. Rxd4 Rec8+ 21. Kb1 Qe8 22. Qf3 $14 ) Kg8 17. Qf7+ ) g6 16. Nh6+ (16.
Qh8+ Kxf7 17. h5 g5 18. h6 Bf6 19. exf6 Qxf6 20. Qxf6+ Kxf6 21. Bd6 Rd8 $19 ) Kg7
17. Qg4 Nh7 $1 18. 0-0-0 Rh8 19. e4 d4 $17 ) 14. Ng5 $1 fxg5 15. hxg5 Rf5 {g6 was
the main threat} 16. Qh7+ Kf7 (16... Kf8 {loses immediately} 17. Qg6 ) 17. g6+ Ke8
18. Qxg7 {the passed pawn is now a deadly force in its own right. Black is lost}
Bf8 ({Two other possibilities a)}18... Rf8 19. Rh8 {threatening Qf7#} ) (18... Nf8
19. Qh8 Kd7 20. g7 Ng6 21. Qxd8+ {queening} ) 19. Qh8 (19. Qg8 Nxe5 20. Bxe5 Kd7
21. g7 $18 {is more effective} ) Rg5 20. Qg8 Nxe5 (20... Rf5 21. Qxe6+ ) 21. Bxe5
Kd7 22. Rh8 Bb7 23. Qh7+ {1-0} Qe7 (23... Kc6 24. g7 $18 ) 24. Bf6 *

[White "Kamsky"]
[Black "Dlugy"]
[Event "New York (exhibition game)"]
[Site "page 19 game 6"]
[Result "*"]
[Round "6"]
[ECO "D02"]
[Date "1989.??.??"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 c5 3. c3 e6 {Even though the Exchange Slav isn’t highly regarded

as a winning attempt these days. 3...cxd4 isn't particularly tempting for Black
either. White‘s extra tempo in a symmetrical position gives him some winning
chances
if Black is a weaker player or has a bad day. And if Black is the stronger player.
White will have quite realistic drawing chances. There is also a practical point:
how much experience is Black (playing 2...c5) likely to have in defending a
position
normally arising from the Slav?} (3... cxd4 4. cxd4 {same as exhange slav} ) 4.
Bf4 Nc6 5. e3 Bd6 {Black acknowledges that despite the central pawn-formation,
White's
dark-squared bishop is stronger than its black counterpart. In some ways White’s
position will now be easier to play than after ...Be7. Among other things ...Nh5
will rarely be a threat, so White doesn’t have to consider whether he should play
h3. Often the fight will now be over the e5-square; if Black can advance his pawn
to e5, he will usually have a very pleasant position. Therefore there is a certain
logic in Black‘s refusal to play ...Nf6. Quite possibly ...Nge7 followed by ...Ng6
will be a relevant option. White on the other hand would like to exchange dark-
squared
bishops and his light-squared bishop for the c6 knight, hoping to get an endgame
where his e5-knight is stronger than Black‘s light squared bishop.} 6. Bg3 {This
assures that a trade of bishops will open the h-file for White's rook.} Bxg3 {While

undeniably consistent, this makes it harder for black king to find a safe haven.
Now White can continue normal development and delay castling. 6...Nge7! is a better

try, giving Black good control of e5 - see Line 2B for details.} (6... Nge7 $1 )
7. hxg3 Qd6 {This appears to be an interesting try for a quick ...e5, but actually
black is mainly setting a trap for himself} 8. Nbd2 $1 {Kamsky sees through Black's

empty threats} Nf6 $1 {We now return to standard positions discussed in line 5F.}
({The tempting}8... e5 $2 9. dxe5 Nxe5 {fails to} 10. Ne4 $1 Nxf3+ 11. gxf3 Qd8
({white needs to be careful where he puts the queen due to a bishop pin and knight
fork}11... Qc6 12. Bb5 Qxb5 ) 12. Nxc5 {winning a pawn} ) 9. Bb5 {This move,
fighting
for control over e5, is one reason why white shouldn't be too quick to develop his
light-squared bishop.} Bd7 10. Bxc6 Bxc6 11. Ne5 0-0 {This appears risky. See line
5F for alternatives} 12. g4 Nd7 13. Qc2 f5 $6 {While stopping white's attacking
plans, this allows white full control of e5 and further weakens the light-squared
bishop} 14. Nxd7 $1 {This ensures white a powerful position and an 'eternal' knight

on e5, which will be stronger than black's hemmed in bishop in almost any endgame.}

({a promising alternative:}14. f4 Nxe5 15. dxe5 $1 Qc7 16. Nf3 {with a kingside
attack} ) (14. gxf5 $2 {is less effective due to:} Nxe5 $1 15. dxe5 Qxe5 16. fxe6
h6 17. Nf3 Qf6 $1 {black equalises} ({black should avoid:}17... Qxe6 {since the
tactical finesse...} 18. Qh7+ $1 Kxh7 19. Ng5+ Kg8 20. Nxe6 {ensures white has a
clear advantage} ) ) Bxd7 15. Nf3 cxd4 16. exd4 Qf4 17. Ne5 Bb5 18. a4 Ba6 19. g3
Qe4+ 20. Qxe4 fxe4 21. Rh2 {White's knight proves stronger than black's bishop.
In itself, this probably shouldn't be decisive. However, the slight imbalance
resulting
in white's h-file control versus black's play on the f-file underlines the
difference
and generates tactical possibilities.} Rac8 ({after:}21... Rf6 22. Kd2 Raf8 23.
Ke3 Rh6 $1 (23... h6 $6 24. Rah1 b6 25. g5 $18 ) 24. Rxh6 gxh6 {white has to find:}

25. b3 $1 Rc8 26. c4 b6 (26... Kg7 27. c5 ) 27. Rc1 Kg7 28. c5 $18 {to keep his
advantage} ) 22. Kd2 g5 {This may seem necessarily weakening but 22 ...Rc7...}
(22...
Rc7 23. Rah1 Rf6 (23... g6 $2 24. Nxg6 hxg6 $2 25. Rh8+ $18 ) 24. g5 Rf5 25. g4
Rf8 (25... Rxg5 26. Rxh7 Kf8 27. Rh8+ Ke7 28. Ke3 {followed by Ke4 also wins for
white} ) 26. Rxh7 Rxf2+ 27. Ke3 Re2+ 28. Kf4 Kf8 29. Rh8+ Ke7 30. R1h7 Kd6 31. Rd8+

Ke7 32. Rhh8 {wins for white} ) 23. Rah1 Rc7 24. Ke3 b6 25. Rh6 Bc8 26. f4 {This
far from obvious move wins material. Nevertheless 26 R1h5!} ({Even more
effective:}26.
R1h5 $1 Rg7 27. b3 {as black is in a virtual zugzwang:} Bd7 (27... Rc7 28. Rxg5+
$18 ) 28. Nxd7 Rxd7 29. Rxg5+ Rg7 30. Rxg7+ Kxg7 31. Rxe6 Rf3+ 32. Ke2 Rxc3 33.
Rd6 Rxb3 34. Rxd5 a5 35. Rd6 $18 ) exf3 {This at least destroys white's pawn
structure}
({utterly hopeless}26... gxf4+ 27. gxf4 Re8 28. g5 Ree7 29. Ng4 ) 27. Nxf3 Rg7 28.
R6h5 Bd7 29. Nxg5 $1 {This requires some calculation, but is, of course, no
challenge
for Kamsky.} Be8 30. Rxh7 Rxg5 31. Rh8+ Kg7 32. R1h7+ Kg6 33. Rxf8 Kxh7 34. Rxe8
Rxg4 35. Kf3 {It's time to assess the position and the verdict is clear: white wins

easily.} Re4 36. Re7+ Kg6 37. Rxa7 e5 38. Re7 Re1 {Black resigns} {1-0}39. --
{Lessons
to be learned: 1) Quite frequently white's best reaction to a challenge on the b8-
h2
diagonal is to retreat his biahop to g3, ensuring that an exchange of dark-squared
bishops will hand him the open h-file. 2) If black fortifies his king's position
with an early ...f5, white may look for possibilities to reach an endgame with a
strong knight (on d4 or e5) versus a weak light squared bishop. 3) The e5 square
is very important in the lines with an early ...Bd6, and white may consider
delaying
the development of his king's bishop in case it turns out to be needed on b5.} *