No.

5, February 4, 2009

OPENINGS
what’s hot and what’s not?
XIIIIIIIIY
A closed chapter 9r+lwqk+-tr0
9+-zp-+pzpp0
9p+n+-sn-+0
in the Archangelsk 9+pvl-zp-+-0
9-+-zPp+-+0
9+-zP-+N+-0
By IM Merijn van Delft & IM Robert Ris 9PzPL+-zPPzP0
9tRNvLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
The Corus Chess Tournament had a spectacular finish Frequency
and we give you a final round-up. Meanwhile, events
like the GibTelecom Masters in Gibraltar and the
German Bundesliga are drawing our attention.

what’s hot?
The Petroff did not receive any real testing in Wijk aan Zee after Score
all and therefore it’s still is the toughest defence against 1.e4. Of
course the risk of losing is limited for White; otherwise it would
attract more Black players.

The Ruy Lopez on the contrary leads to more varied play. The
Marshall is generally doing very well, but Dominguez managed
to inflict a rare loss on Aronian. At first it seemed that White had
finally found ways to make Black suffer in the Berlin Wall (which
did take some years after Kasparov-Kramnik), but Black also
keeps on finding new ways, as was shown by Wang Yue.

As the tournament in Wijk aan Zee progressed, more Sicilians

were played and the decisive last round encounter between
Najdorf experts Dominguez and Karjakin showed that 6.¥e3 ¤g4
is still a valid option to battle in the Najdorf. Karjakin won the game,
and with it the tournament.

While 1.e4 is clearly hot this week, we did notice that in the
German Bundesliga Shirov showed his universal style by beating
Landa with White in an active, positional Catalan. Source: Megabase + TWIC, 2500+ only

A Ruy Lopez line that seems to really suffer lately is the Archangelsk Variation. In our Game of the Week, Svidler shows that 7...d5 is
probably no longer an equalizer due to 9.dxe5! (see diagram) and as our investigations show, Black doesn’t have an easy life in the
other lines either. Everything that’s not an absolute first-class opening has been under pressure in the passed few weeks. The French
Winawer was beaten in both encounters and the Caro-Kann also had a terrible score.
Against 1.d4, lines like 1...d6 and the Dutch Defence had a similar fate.
what’s Not?
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ChessVibes OPENINGS what’s hot and what’s not? No. 5, February 4, 2009

A Svidler improvement upon a Svidler game

Four years ago, Alexander Onischuk drew quickly with Peter Svidler using the move 7...d5
against 7.¥c2!? in the Archangelsk Ruy Lopez. This week in Gibraltar, former world champion
Antoaneta Stefanova tried the same against Svidler, but was unpleasantly surprised.

game of the week  ¥f5 20.¦dd1 ¥e3 and Black is comfortable

with his pair of bishops. Two days before
in Wijk aan Zee the third option was tried:
Svidler,P (2723) - Stefanova, A (2557) side with 12...b4!) 10.£xf3 ¤a5 11.¥c2 b4 9.¤bd2!? exf3 10.£xf3 ¥e7 11.£xc6+
Gibraltar Chess Festival, February 2, 2009 12.d3 ¦b8 13.¤d2 0–0 14.£e2 (we prefer ¥d7 12.£f3 exd4 13.¤e4 0–0 and now the
C78: Ruy Lopez Archangelsk 7.¥c2 the profylactic 14.¦b1!? with the idea of novelty 14.¦d1! which soon gave White a
¤b3) 14...¦e8 15.¤f3 bxc3 16.bxc3 ¤b3 strong initiative in Nijboer-Holzke. The
1.e4 e5 2.¤f3 ¤c6 3.¥b5 a6 4.¥a4 ¤f6 17.¥xb3 ¦xb3 18.d4 exd4 19.cxd4 ¦xf3! computer wants to close the d-file here
5.0–0 ¥c5!? (this exchange sacrifice is known from with 14...c5! 15.cxd4 c4 which prevents
After the more usual move-order 5...b5 the second matchgame Anand-Karpov, immediate disaster.
6.¥b3 ¥c5 White can play the main line with Lausanne 1998. 19...¦xe4 20.¥e3 ¥b4 9...exf3
7.c3 but he can also opt for the immediate 21.£xa6 gives White a dangerous passed 9...£xd1 10.¦xd1 ¥xf2+ 11.¢f1! exf3
7.a4!? after which Black cannot react with pawn) 20.£xf3 ¥xd4 21.¦a2 ¤xe4 22.£d3 12.exf6 with the idea of taking on g7
¥g4 (line c below). Black in return then has £f6 (Karpov played 22...c5) 23.¦e2 followed by ¥h6 is very good for White.
the extra possibility 7...¦b8 8.c3 0–0!? with (23.£xa6 ¤g3!) 23...d5 24.¥e3 ¥e5 25.¦c1 10.exf6 £xf6 11.¤d2!
the idea 9.d4 ¥b6. and here Black got into trouble after 25... Svidler improves on his own game: 11.¦e1+
6.c3 b5 7.¥c2!? c5? 26.£xd5 ¤c3 27.¦xc3 ¦d8 28.¦xc5 ¥e6 12.¤d2 0–0–0 13.£xf3 £xf3 14.¤xf3
White is trying to take advantage of the ¦xd5 29.¦xd5 and White eventually won ¥d5 15.b4 ½–½ Svidler-A.Onischuk
particular move-order. The main line runs in B.Socko-Stefanova, Gibraltar 2009, Beersheba 2005.
7.¥b3 d6 8.a4 with the following options: whereas 25...h6! gives Black very decent 11...0–0
a) 8...¥b7 9.d4 ¥b6 10.¥g5 h6 11.¥xf6 £xf6 play. 11...fxg2 12.¦e1+ ¥e6 13.¤e4! and the
12.¥d5 gives White a small but steady edge. 7...d5?! knight covers all vital squares.
b) 8...¦b8 9.d4 ¥b6 10.¤a3 (10.a5!? is a For over a decade this move has had the 12.¤e4 £g6 13.¤g3 £f6
tricky alternative.) 10...0–0 11.axb5 axb5 reputation of an equalizer, but the current 13...£g4 is met by the strong 14.£d5! and after
12.¤xb5 ¥g4 (12...exd4 13.cxd4 ¥g4 game is putting this in question. the tricky defence 14...fxg2 15.¦e1 £c4! White
14.¥a4 and now 14...¥xf3 15.gxf3 d5 8.d4 dxe4 simply plays 16.£xg2! and suddenly Black is
16.e5 ¤h5 17.¢h1 Leko-Topalov Monaco XIIIIIIIIY defenceless against the many threats.
rapid 2005 or 14...d5 15.e5 ¤e4 16.¥e3 f6 9r+lwqk+-tr0 14.£d3 g6?
17.£c2 ¤b4 18.£b3 ¥a5 19.¤d2 Kramnik- 9+-zp-+pzpp0 14...£g6 15.£xf3 ¥g4! (15...£xc2 16.£xc6 is
Topalov, Monaco rapid 2004) 13.¥c2 9p+n+-sn-+0 a double attack) 16.£d5 £xc2 17.£xc5 ¥d7
¥xf3 (after 13...d5 14.exd5 £xd5 15.dxe5 was the only defence, but after some accurate
9+pvl-zp-+-0
£xb5 16.exf6 ¦fd8 interesting is 17.£e1!? moves starting with 18.£d5! ¥e8 19.¥e3 ¦d8
while 13...exd4 14.¤bxd4 ¤xd4 15.cxd4
9-+-zPp+-+0 20.£b3 £xb3 21.axb3 f6 22.¦xa6 White has
¥xf3 16.gxf3 ¤h5 17.¢h1 £f6 18.¥e3
9+-zP-+N+-0 a serious endgame advantage, enough to put
¦a8 19.¦xa8 ¦xa8 20.¦g1 was Karjakin- 9PzPL+-zPPzP0 Black off the 7...d5 line.
Adams, Baku 2008) 14.gxf3 ¤h5 15.f4! 9tRNvLQ+RmK-0 15.¤e4 £f5 16.¤xc5 fxg2 17.¦e1 £xc5
(Black was looking forward to play ¤e7-g6 xiiiiiiiiy 18.£f3 ¢g7?
followed by installing a knight on f4, but now 9.dxe5! The last mistake. 18...¤e5 19.£xa8 ¥f5
he can forget about this beautiful square) Well tested is 9.¤xe5 ¤xe5 10.dxe5 £xd1 20.£xg2 ¥xc2 21.¥e3 and because of the
15...¤xf4 (15...£h4 16.£f3 ¤xf4 17.¥xf4 11.¦xd1 ¤g4 12.¥xe4 ¤xf2 13.¥c6+ ¢e7 threat f4 Black now sadly has to exchange
exf4 18.¢h1 is similar but also interesting is 14.¦d5 ¥b6 15.¥xa8 (15.¥g5+ f6 16.exf6+ queens with 21...£c6 22.£xc6 ¤xc6 after which
16.fxe5!?) 16.¥xf4 exf4 and now 17.£g4 or gxf6 17.¥h4 ¤g4+ 18.¢h1 ¦b8 19.¤d2 White is technically winning.
the profylactic 17.¤a3!? with a solid edge. ¥e6 20.¦h5 ¤f2+! 21.¥xf2 ¥xf2 22.¦f1 19.¥e3 £c4 20.¥b3 ¤e5 21.£g3 £h4
c) 8...¥g4 (this is what Stefanova played in ¥e3 is also fine for Black) 15...¤d3+ 16.¢f1 22.£xe5+ 1–0
round three of the same tournament) 9.h3 ¤xc1 17.¤a3 ¥e6 18.¦xc1 ¦xa8 19.¦d3
¥xf3 (9...¥h5!? is critical as well, because
when White tries to unpin with 10.d3 ¦b8
11.¦e1 0–0 12.¤bd2 intending ¤f1–g3,
Black can start some play on the other
svidler - stefanova
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ChessVibes OPENINGS what’s hot and what’s not? No. 5, February 4, 2009

this week’s harvest

Sicilian Najdorf 6.¥e3 ¤g4 Ruy Lopez Anti-Marshall Ruy Lopez, Berlin Wall Nimzo-Indian 4.£c2
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0 9r+lwqntrk+0 9r+l+k+-tr0 9rsnl+qtrk+0
9+-+-zppvl-0 9+-zp-vlpzpp0 9zp-zp-vlpzp-0 9zppzpp+pzpp0
9p+p+-sn-zp0 9p+-zp-+-+0 9-zpp+-+-+0 9-+-+psn-+0
9+-+-vL-zp-0 9+p+LzP-+-0 9+-+-zPnvLp0 9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+P+0 9-+-+-+-+0 9-+-+-+-+0 9-+PzP-+-+0
9+-sN-+-+P0 9+-sN-+-+-0 9+-+-+N+P0 9zP-wQ-+-+-0
9PzPP+QzP-+0 9PzP-+-zPPzP0 9PzPP+NzPP+0 9-zP-+PzPPzP0
9tR-+-mKL+R0 9tR-vLQtR-mK-0 9tR-+-+RmK-0 9tR-vL-mKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
1.e4 c5 2.¤f3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.¤xd4 ¤f6 1.e4 e5 2.¤f3 ¤c6 3.¥b5 a6 4.¥a4 1.e4 e5 2.¤f3 ¤c6 3.¥b5 ¤f6 4.0–0 1.d4 ¤f6 2.c4 e6 3.¤c3 ¥b4 4.£c2
5.¤c3 a6 6.¥e3 ¤g4 7.¥c1 ¤f6 8.¥e3 ¤f6 5.0–0 ¥e7 6.¦e1 b5 7.¥b3 0–0 ¤xe4 5.d4 ¤d6 6.¥xc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 0–0 5.a3 ¥xc3+ 6.£xc3 £e8
¤g4 9.¥g5 h6 10.¥h4 g5 11.¥g3 ¥g7 8.d4 ¤xd4 9.¤xd4 exd4 10.e5 ¤e8 ¤f5 8.£xd8+ ¢xd8 9.¤c3 ¢e8 10.h3
12.h3 ¤f6 13.£e2 ¤c6 14.¤xc6 bxc6 11.c3 dxc3 12.¤xc3 d6 13.¥d5 h5 11.¤e2 ¥e7 12.¥g5 b6
15.e5 dxe5 16.¥xe5 0–0 17.g4
This little £-move is by no means
For the important last-round game In another attempt to avoid the In the Berlin Defence the move 10... a new idea as Timman and Keene
against Dominguez, Karjakin chose Marshall, Dominguez brought h5 is a well-known idea to prevent have played as early as 1973, but
6...¤g4, whereas 6...e5 is the more new life into a less explored (8.d4) White's expansion on the ¢-side, it is certainly not very well known.
popular response to the English line. Instead of the more common but in the given position it’s rarely Black sidesteps the pin on g5,
Attack. White replied with 13.£e2 13.£f3, the Cuban theoretician seen on top level. At Corus, Wang remains very flexible and seems
instead of the more common 13.£f3 went for 13.¥d5, which forces Yue tried this setup twice. Where to follow a futuristic white-squared
and followed up with the scary novelty Black to accept a slight material Dominguez went for the harmless strategy involving the moves a5-a4,
17.g4!?. This blocks the g5 pawn so disadvantage. Aronian was not able 11.¥f4, Stellwagen aimed for the b5, ¦a7 and ¥b7. In the Bundesliga
that h4 will come with extra force. In a to get full equality and eventually exchange of black-squared bishops, game between Sipke Ernst and
fantastically wild game with chances lost. Further tests are required to but with the exact 12...b6! the Oliver Reeh, Black sacrificed up to a
for both sides, the Black ¢ walked show whether Black can hold or has Chinese GM neutralised this idea, by rook to feed his initiative, but had to
out of the checks towards victory. to switch to 8...d6. meeting 13.¥xe7 with 13...¥xe2!. acknowledge defeat in the end.

opening expert
Who: Sergei Movsesian Expertise: Black: Scheveningen and
Born: November 3, 1978 Chebanenko Slav. White: Italian.
Nationality: Slovakia Why: Deep positional understanding
Rating: 2751 and very strong in tactical phase.

Since winning last year’s Grandmaster Group B of the Corus Chess Tournament, the Georgian-born GM made a
big jump in the world rankings. It is remarkable to see that he stayed faithful to his openings and that his opening
repertoire is still valid. His wins over the ever-creative Ivanchuk and Svidler are true model examples of how to
play the Scheveningen and illustrates perfectly Movsesian’s class.

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