Sveshnikov/Kalashnikov [B3233]

Written by GM John Fedorowicz, GM Tony Kosten & IM Richard Palliser

Last updated Sunday, 17 July 2011
The Sveshnikov

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvl-tr0
9zpp+p+pzpp0
9-+n+-sn-+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
9-+-sNP+-+0
9+-sN-+-+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9tR-vLQmKL+R0
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he Lasker/Pelikan/Sveshnikov is one of Black's sharpest choices but White can

sidestep the wild tactical lines with the positional choice by not doubling Black's f

pawns.
The LPS is for players with nerves of steel and an attraction to piece play.
The Kalashnikov

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvlntr0
9zpp+-+pzpp0
9-+nzp-+-+0
9+N+-zp-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9tRNvLQmKL+R0
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The Kalashnikov Variation has become very popular of late. I think White should
retain some advantage with patient play. The d5 square and the d6 pawn should be what he
looks to.
All the game references highlighted in blue have been annotated and can be downloaded in
PGN form using the PGN Games Archive on www.chesspublishing.com.

Contents

1 e4 c5 2 f3 c6 3 d4 cxd4 4 xd4 f6
4...e5 5 b5 d6 (6...a6 Kalashnikov Intro, Lowenthal & other 4th [B32])
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9r+lwqkvlntr0
9zpp+-+pzpp0
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9+N+-zp-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9tRNvLQmKL+R0
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6 c4 (6 1c3 Kalashnikov Intro, Lowenthal & other 4th [B32]) 6...e7 7 1c3 (7 b3
KalashnikovPositional line other 7th [B32]) 7...a6 8 a3 KalashnikovPositional
Mainline [B32]
4...d5!?, 4...b6!?, etc. Kalashnikov Intro, Lowenthal & other 4th [B32]

5 c3 e5
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9tR-vLQmKL+R0
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6 db5 d6 7 g5
7 d5 Sveshnikov 7 Nd5 & sidelines [B33]
7 a4 Sveshnikov 7 Nd5 & sidelines [B33]

7...a6 8 a3 b5
3

8...e6 Sveshnikov/Pelikan 8...Be6 [B33]

9 xf6
9 d5 e7 10 xf6 xf6 Sveshnikov9 Nd5 Positional Line [B33]

9...gxf6 10 d5
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9-+-+P+-+0
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9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
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10...f5 Sveshnikov with ...gxf6 10...f5 [B33]
10...g7 Sveshnikov with ...gxf6 10...Bg7 [B33]

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Kalashnikov Intro, Lowenthal & other

4th [B32]
Last updated: 11/03/11 by Richard Palliser

1.e4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 e5

Other moves:
4...b6!?

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9+-+-+-+-0
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9tRNvLQmKL+R0
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The socalled Grivas Sicilian. Black is happy to lose a tempo with his queen to force
White's knight back to b3, after which he hopes to have gained an improved version
of the Taimanov or Scheveningen. This is a decent side line for players who want to
avoid serious theory, 5.b3 f6 6.c3 (6.d3 d5!? this break looks very premature
to me, Dervishi,ESax,G/Bratto ITA 2004.) 6...e6 7.e2!? a critical test, (7.e3 c7
8.f4 is very sharp, Caruana,FZhang Pengxiang/Ruy Lopez Masters, Merida 2008,
7.d3 a6 8.e2 d6 9.g4!? rare, but also pretty aggressive, Smits,MGolod,V/Belgian
League 2007.) 7...b4 the most ambitious move and the one which Black would
really like to make work, (7...d6 Tukhaev,AOleksienko,M/Ukrainian Championship,
Poltava 2008) 8.d2 0-0 9.a3! (9.e5!? Ivanchuk,VPolgar,J/Mexico City 2010)
9...e7 10.0-0-0 d5!? Robson,RYermolinsky,A/US Championship, Saint Louis
2010.
4...c7!? 5.c4!? the most ambitious reply, 5...f6 6.c3 xe4!? the point, 7.xe4 e5
regaining the piece, but getting behind in development, Ivanchuk,V
Movsesian,S/Warsaw POL 2005.

4...d5!? a suggestion in 'Dangerous Weapons'. 5.b5 a critical choice, (5.xc6 aiming for a
small pull, 5...bxc6 6.exd5 xd5 7.e2 Sokolov,AZozulia,A/Basel Open 2007., 5.exd5
xd5 Shirov,ARaupp,T/Mainz (rapid) 2010, when 6.e3! is best.) 5...dxe4 6.xc6
xd1+ 7.xd1 a6 8.a4 d7 and so Black saves his piece, Kotronias,V
Todorov,T/French League 2009.

5.b5
5.f5 is an unusual sideline, 5...d5 (5...f6!?) 6.xd5 xd5 7.exd5 xf5 8.dxc6 bxc6 with
equality, Khachiyan,MAdams,M/Chicago Open 2010.

5...d6

XIIIIIIIIY
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9PzPP+-zPPzP0
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I'm sorry, maybe it's just me (Fed), but the Kalashnikov seems like a positional atrocity.
Doesn't Black get better play from the Sveshnikov?
5...a6 the rare Lowenthal Variation, ("why anyone would play such a line is beyond me"
Fed!) 6.d6+ (6.5c3 aims for a Kalashnikov, but Black can try 6...c5!? as in
Djukic,NTodorovic,G/Kopaonik SCG 2005.) 6...xd6 7.xd6 f6 8.xf6 Fed
always thought that this was the easiest road to an advantage,
a) 8.d1 is the traditional main line, 8...g6 (8...ge7 9.c3 0-0!? Bauer,C
Markos,J/European Club Cup, Kallithea 2008) 9.c3 d5!? Black's sharpest
approach, (9...ge7 is a decent alternative, 10.h4 h5 11.g5 d5 12.exd5 d4
(12...b4 13.xe7 xe7 14.d3 xd3+ 15.xd3 is Black's old choice, Amanov,Z
Shtyrenkov,V/Alushta 2009) 13.d3 f5 14.xf5 dxf5 15.d3 (15.f1!? Fusco,L
Molina,R/Villa Martelli 2008) 15...f6 16.e3 see Efimenko,ZVallejo
Pons,F/Khanty Mansyisk RUS 2005) 10.xd5 xe4+ 11.e3 d4 12.c7+ e7
when 13.c1 has generally been considered most critical. (13.d3 xc2+ 14.d2
Barua,DTiwari,A/Commonwealth Championship, New Delhi 2007) 13...g4
14.d3 xd3 15.xd3 d8 see Yankovsky,RCollins,S/Berkeley Open 2011.
b) 8.c7!? I've always considered this to be at least as testing as the theoretical main
line, 8...ge7 9.c3 b4 (9...b5!? is a tricky sideline and one which Black would
like to make work, Jelecevic,IBaci,V/Croatian League 2008) 10.d3 d5 11.f4!?
Skaperdas,KKaloskambis,M/Attica Team Cup Final 2007
6

c) 8.a3!? Spassky's move and one which is not without its dangers. 8...ge7 9.c3
b8! see Llaneza Vega,MExposito Amaro,J/Montcada Open 2009.
8...xf6 9.c3 (9.f3?! Berenguer Martinez,JSarmiento Alfonso,S/Las Palmas ESP 1999)
9...b4 best, (9...d5?! this gives White an edge, 10.exd5 b4 11.d3 xd3+
(11...fxd5 12.xd5 xd5 13.d2 White has the bishop pair and the queenside majority,
Videki,SGiordanengo,O/Lenk SUI 2000.) 12.cxd3 f5 13.0-0! (13.g5 Al
Qudaimi,BTurov,M/Dubai Open 2009) 13...0-0 14.g5 xd3 15.fd1 f5 16.xf6
gxf6 favours White, Ilfeld,EMcCollum,P/San Francisco USA 2000) 10.d3
(10.d2 d5?! see Kotronias,VStankovic,M/Kavala GRE 2002) 10...d6!? 11.g5
e6!? 12.0-0-0 g4 13.h4 g5 14.g3 e7 15.h4 (15.e2!? Nisipeanu,L
Polgar,J/KhantyMansiysk 2009) 15...xd3+ 16.xd3 Nisipeanu,LVallejo
Pons,F/Heviz 2008.
5...h6!? 6.d6+ (6.1c3 transposes to a rare Sveshnikov after 6...f6) 6...xd6 7.xd6 e7
(7...f6!?) 8.d1 White must retain the queens if he wants an edge, (8.xe7+ is
toothless: 8...gxe7 9.c3 b4) 8...f6 9.c3 0-0 10.f3 d8 Black is so well
centralized that he can count on equality even in the face of White's Bishop pair,
Bryn,TBryn,A/Gausdal 2004.

6.1c3
This is totally the opposite of the positional 6 c4. It leads to wild positions, but I prefer
White.
6.c4 This provides Black with a target. 6...a6 7.5c3 f6 8.0-0 e7 9.g5 0-0 10.b3
g4 11.d3 c8 12.d2 d4 13.fe1 h5 14.e3 g5 15.xd4 f4 Joecks,C
Shabalov,A/Hamburg GER 1999.
6.a4 a6 (6...f6 7.1c3 a6 8.a3 transposes to the Sveshnikov, when 8...g4! is a pretty easy
equalizer) 7.5a3?! Losing control of the center. 7...f5 8.c3 fxe4 9.xe4 d5
10.g3 f6 11.c3 e7 12.d3 0-0 13.0-0 g4 14.h3 xf2 15.xf2 c5-+ Isaza,Y
Gamboa,N/Cali COL 2001.

6...a6 7.a3 b5!?

If Black doesn't play this the knight on a3 returns to play immediately.
7...e7!? 8.c4 (8.d5 f6 9.e3 (9.xf6+ xf6 10.c4 is critical) 9...xd5 10.exd5 d4!
an active and effective leap, Socko,BRadjabov,T/European Team Ch., Novi Sad
2009.) 8...b5 9.e3 f6 10.g3 (10.d3 0-0 11.0-0 b4! Bacrot,E
Ikonnikov,V/Bundesliga 2009) 10...h5!? A terrible waste of time. 11.g2! (11.h4 b4
12.cd5 b8 Souleidis,GNaiditsch,A/Rilton Cup, Stockholm 2010) 11...h4 12.0-0
d4 Wasting even more time. 13.cd5 xd5 14.xd5 e6 15.e3 hxg3 16.hxg3
d7 Black is hoping for a miracle mate on the h file. 17.c3 c6 18.e1 b8 19.a4
Anand,VRadjabov,T/Linares ESP 2003.
7...f6 could transpose to the above, but allows an immediate transposition to the
Sveshnikov after 8.g5

8.d5 ce7?!

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvlntr0
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9tR-vLQmKL+R0
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8...ge7 9.c4 xd5 10.cxd5!? This looks like a good positional alternative to 10ed5
10...e7 11.c2 d7 12.d3 g6 13.0-0 g7 Now play resembles a Kings Indian
defense with black's queenside weakened for no good reason. 14.e3 0-0 15.c1 f5
16.f3 f4 17.f2 g5 18.b4 g6 19.e2 h5 20.h1 f7 21.a4! Completely
exploding the queenside while on the other flank black hasn't started. 21...bxa4
22.xa6 f8 23.c6!+ Kasparov,GLautier,J/Moscow RUS 2002 A very rude
way of winning the a4 pawn.
8...f6 offers a transposition to the Sveshnikov, 9.c4 (9.g5 is B33) 9...b4 10.xf6+ xf6
11.c2 g6 12.e3 e7 13.g3 d4! Black needs to act quickly, Topalov,V
Radjabov,T/MTel Masters, Sofia 2008.

9.c4
This leads to very sharp situations.
Ivanchuk's move 9.b4!? has been catching on recently, 9...f6 10.c4! xe4 11.cxb5 a5
12.d2 with unclear play, Abrahamyan,THahn,A/San Diego USA 2004.
9.g5 h6 10.xb5+! is dangerous, Jobava,BKusnetsov,S/Ukrainian Team Championship
2010.

9...xd5 10.exd5
10.cxd5 f6 Black can look forward to good counterplay on the dark squares.

10...bxc4 11.xc4 f6
11...e7 12.e3 (12.d2 a5 13.b3 also worked well in Karjakin,SKosteniuk,A/Lausanne
SUI 2003) 12...b8 13.a4 f5 14.a5 f6 15.a7 b7 16.b6 d7

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+l+k+-tr0
9+r+qvl-zpp0
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9zP-+Pzpp+-0
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9+-+-+-+-0
9-zP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
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Black's Qside is blown out. 17.e2 0-0 18.0-0 f4 19.f3 f5 20.c1 h8 21.e1 g6
22.d3 f7 23.f2 xd5 24.e4 e6 25.b6 c7 26.xd5 xc1 27.xc1 xd5
28.c7 Ivanov,AFedorov,A/New Delhi IND 2000.

12.e3 b8 13.e2
13.a4 g4 14.d2 d7 15.e2 e7 16.0-0 0-0 17.a5 f6 18.b6 f5 19.f4 d8 20.fxe5
xb6+ 21.axb6 xe5 22.f4 e7 23.g5 xb6 24.d4 b8 25.xa6 e5=
Svetushkin,DFedorov,A/Istanbul TUR 2000.

13...e7 14.a4 0-0

14...d7 15.0-0 b7 16.a7 d8 17.b6 f5 18.c1 e4 19.c7!

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9-+-trk+-tr0
9vLltR-vlpzpp0
9psN-zp-sn-+0
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9P+-+p+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-zP-+LzPPzP0
9+-+Q+RmK-0
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19...xd5 20.xa6 e6 21.c2 h5 22.d1 g4 23.h3 e5 24.c8+ Shirov,A
Fedorov,A/Istanbul TUR 2000.

15.0-0
These positions look like real suffering for Black and the results prove it.

15.c1 a5 16.d2 a8 17.xa5 xa5 18.xc8 xc8 19.xa5 c5 20.b4 xd5 21.xd5
xd5 22.f3 c3 23.d2 xa4 24.a1+ Bauer,CNataf,I/Clichy FRA 2001.

15...b7 16.b6 d7 17.a5 xb6

17...xb6 fared little better in KarjakinKosteniuk/Dannemann Match 2003
17...f5 18.f3 xb6 19.xb6 d7 20.d2 (20.b4 d8 21.xd8 fxd8 22.c4 c8 23.b1 Van
den Doel,ENataf,I/Esbjerg DEN 2001.) 20...d8 21.f2 h6 22.e3! Black is too
passive, Pavlovic,MKosteniuk,A/Biel SUI 2003.

18.xb6 d7 19.b4 d8 20.e3 f5 21.f3 f6 22.b1 f7 23.c4 fc8

24.d3
White was carrying the play while Black's counterplay was bottled up, Karjakin
Kosteniuk/Dannemann Match 2003.

10

Kalashnikov Positional line other 7th

[B32]
Last updated: 21/07/10 by Richard Palliser

1 e4 c5 2 f3 c6 3 d4 cxd4 4 xd4 e5 5 b5 d6 6 c4!? e7 7 b3

XIIIIIIIIY
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9P+-+-zPPzP0
9tRNvLQmKL+R0
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At first sight these b3 lines look good for White, but Black manages to get his share of the
play.
Other alternatives to 7 1c3:
7 d3 f6 (7...e6 8 0-0 c8 9 b3 f6 10 1c3 a6 11 a3 0-0 12 c2 b5 13 cxb5 a7 14 b2 xb5
15 xb5 axb5 16 e2 b6 17 h1 fd8 18 e3 b7 19 f3 b8= Lutz,C
Kaeser,U/Altenkirchen GER 1999., 7...a6 8 5c3 g5 is seen in Jobava,B
Kotanjian,T/Batumi GEO 2003) 8 0-0 0-0 (8...e6 9 1c3 a6 10 a3 0-0 11 d5 c8 12
e3 d7 13 xe7+ xe7 14 f3 f5 15 exf5 xf5 16 e2 c5 17 d2 c7 18 fd1
Bezgodov,ANilssen,J/Aars DEN 1999.) 9 1c3 (9 5c3 d7 10 b3 g5 11 b2 c5 12
d5 h6 13 bc3 e6 14 e1 e7 15 c2 c8 16 xe7+ xe7 17 b5 Yagupov,I
Nilssen,J/Aars DEN 1999.) 9...a6 10 a3 g4 11 f3 e6 12 e3 c8 13 d2 e8

14 d5 h6 15 b6 d7 16 e3 d8 17 b6 d7 18 b1 g5 19 e1 d8 20 bc3
b4 21 e3 Jedryczka,KNataf,I/Cappelle La Grande FRA 2000, Black has
trouble breaking White's grip.
7 e2 a slightly unusual and committal move order, 7...f6 8 1c3 a6 9 a3 0-0
a) there seems to be a fashion to delay castling, 9...e6 10 c2 (10 e3 0-0 11 0-0 c8
12 c1 h6 13 d2 Polgar,JRadjabov,T/Baku (rapid) 2010) 10...c8 11 b3 0-0 and
Black soon equalised in Kramnik,VRadjabov,T/Baku (rapid) 2009
11

b) 9...d4!?
10 0-0 e6 11 c2 c8 (11...b8 12 g5 h6 13 e3 c8 14 f3 a7 15 d5 xd5 16 cxd5 d7 17
d2 b5 18 a4 c7 19 d3 e8 20 f2 f6 21 h1 Rocha,WD'Israel,D/Sao Paulo
BRA 1999.) 12 e3 (12 b3 Luther,TAtarov,E/playchess.com INT 2004) 12...d4 13
ed5 xd5 14 cxd5 xe2+ 15 xe2 d7 16 e3 f5 17 f3 f4 18 f2 h4 19 fc1
xf2+ 20 xf2 a5 21 a3 c4 22 a2 fc8 23 xc4 xc4 24 c1 xc1+ 25 xc1
h6= Haznedaroglu,KNataf,I/Batumi GEO 1999.

7...f5
7...f6 8 d3 0-0 9 0-0 d7! (9...a6 10 5c3 e6 11 a3 d7 12 c2 c8 13 e1 c5 14 f1 f5
15 exf5 xf5 Aseev,KIvanov,V/St Petersburg RUS 1999.) 10 1c3 a6 11 a3 c5
12 d5 g5 with good play, Atakisi,UAdams,M/Turkish Team Championship
2010.

8 a3

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqk+ntr0
9zpp+-vl-zpp0
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9tRN+QmKL+R0
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On first sight this looks great for White, but I've seen Shabalov win easily from this
position more than once.
8 exf5 f6 9 d3!? Provoking e4 giving white d4. 9...e4 10 e2 xf5 11 0-0 a6 12 d4
xd4 13 xd4 0-0 14 c3 e8 15 f4 d8 16 ad1 h8 17 f3 g6 18 fxe4 xe4
19 d5 Ponomariov,RZubarev,A/Kharkov RUS 2001.

8...f6 9 1c3
9 xd6 xe4 10 xe7 xd1+ 11 xd1 xe7 12 e1 e6 13 1c3 xc3 14 xc3 hd8
15 e2 e4 Schneider,DShabalov,A/Philadelphia USA 1999.

9...0-0 10 xd6 a6 11 xe7 xe7 12 d6 fxe4 13 c5 e6 14 c4 ad8 15 00 b6

Gelfand,BTregubov,P/Shenyang CHN 2000.

12

Kalashnikov Positional Mainline 6.c4

[B32]
Last updated: 17/07/11 by Richard Palliser

1.e4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 e5 5.b5 d6

The Kalashnikov aims to create an imbalance similar to the Sveshnikov.

6.c4!?

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvlntr0
9zpp+-+pzpp0
9-+nzp-+-+0
9+N+-zp-+-0
9-+P+P+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tRNvLQmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
This is the positional method. White wants to pound on the backward d6 pawn.

6...e7 7.1c3 a6 8.a3

13

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqk+ntr0
9+p+-vlpzpp0
9p+nzp-+-+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
9-+P+P+-+0
9sN-sN-+-+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-vLQmKL+R0
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8...f5!?
This move gives me the creeps, but isn't easy to refute.
8...e6 9.e2 the solid old main line,
a) 9.d3 g5 10.0-0 (10.c2 xc1 11.xc1 g5 12.e3 ge7 13.cd5 0-0 14.h4 g6
15.b1 ad8 16.0-0 h8 17.c3 f6 18.xe7 xe7 19.d3 Nijboer,F
Ikonnikov,V/Vlissingen NED 2001.) 10...xc1 11.xc1 ge7 12.c2 0-0 13.d2
White has a nice grip on the position with control of d5 and play vs d6. 13...f5
14.exf5 xf5 15.xf5 xf5 16.e3 h5 17.f4 Black's pieces are scattered. 17...d4
18.e4 d5 19.g3 dxc4 20.cd1 xh2 21.xh2 h4+ 22.g1 xg3 23.fxe5
Arakhamia,KGohil,H/Amsterdam NED 2001.
b) 9.e3?! Losing time. Black was going ...g5 anyway. 9...g5 10.d2 xe3
11.fxe3 f6 12.e2 0-0 13.0-0-0 b6 14.b1 a7 15.h3 fb8 16.g4 b5 17.g5 e8
18.cxb5 axb5 19.xb5 b4 20.xe8 xa2 Baczynskyj,BStripunsky,A/Hatfield,
PA USA 1999.
c) 9.c2 g5 10.e2 xc1 11.xc1 f6 12.0-0 0-0 13.d1 c8 14.e3 Black is
very passive. Gofshtein,LFernandez Alonso,M/Salou ESP 2000.
d) 9.d5!? c8 10.e3 g5! an instructive move order which avoids any accidents
on b6, Ponkratov,PMoiseenko,A/Russian Team Championship, Dagomys 2010.
9...g5 10.0-0 xc1 (10...h6 11.c2 ge7 12.e3 (12.xg5 hxg5 13.d2 g6 14.fd1 looks
pretty good.) 12...xe3 13.xe3 0-0 14.d2 d4 15.c2 xc2 16.xc2
Anisimov,PEljanov,P/St Petersburg RUS 1999.) 11.xc1 f6 12.c2 (12.d2 0-0
13.fd1 d4 14.c2 xc2 15.xc2 c8 16.xd6 (after 16.b3 White has pressure on
d6. What does Black have?) 16...xd6 17.xd6 xc4 Tselutin,E
Annageldyev,O/Ashgabat TKM 2000.) 12...0-0 13.d3 b6 14.b3 b4!?
Navara,DMoiseenko,A/French League 2011.

9.exf5
9.c2 f6 10.exf5 xf5 transposes.
9.d3 f4 10.c2 f6 11.d5 0-0 12.b4 h8 13.a4 e8 14.f3 d8 15.a3 e7 16.0-0?
White's king was safer in the wide open spaces. 16...exd5 17.exd5 b5 18.c5 xd5
14

19.e4 c3 20.xd6 xe4 21.fxe4 b7 Stearns,AShabalov,A/San Francisco

USA 2000.

9...xf5

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqk+ntr0
9+p+-vl-zpp0
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9+-+-zpl+-0
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9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-vLQmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
10.c2!
The knight comes to control the key light squares immediately.
10.d3 also fighting for control of the light squares, 10...e6 11.0-0 f6 12.g5 0-0
13.b1 h8 14.c2 h5 15.d2 f4 16.xf4 xf4 17.e3 h4 18.e4 g5
19.d3 c7 20.cd5 f7 21.g3 h6 22.f4 exf4 23.xf4 xf4 24.xf4 h5
25.h4 Wedberg,TNataf,I/Hasselbacken SWE 2001.
10.e2 f6 11.c2 0-0 12.0-0 c8 (12...d7 13.e3 e6 14.f3 d4 15.d5 xd5 16.cxd5 d8
Improving over the above game. 17.b3 b5 18.b2 f5 19.xf5 xf5 20.a3 bxc4 21.bxc4
e4 Meijers,VShabalov,A/Istanbul TUR 2000, Black's position has good
prospects.) 13.e3 (13.e3 e6 14.f3 h8 15.d5 d7 16.b3 b5?! Loosening the Qside
for no real gain. 17.b2 b4 18.e2 e8 19.ad1 g6 20.a3 a5 21.xb4 axb4 22.xb5
h5 23.d3 g5 24.e4 Vokarev,SShabalov,A/Linares ESP 2000.) 13...b5!?
Hoping to clear out the center. 14.d5!? White's safe move keeps things from
getting out of control. (14.cxb5 axb5 15.xb5 xc2? (15...d5!? Black's center has
good creeping chances.) 16.xc2 d4 17.xd4 exd4 18.b3++) 14...xc2
15.xf6+ xf6 16.xc2 a5 17.b3 d5 18.g5 f7 19.xe7 xe7 20.g4 c6=
Dominguez,LFedorov,A/Linares ESP 2002, Black's opening looked shaky, but
now it's around equal.
10.g3 f6 11.g2 c8 12.0-0 0-0 13.e3 doesn't impress, Morozevich,A
Radjabov,T/Melody Amber (rapid), Nice 2009.

10...f6 11.e3
11.d3 e6 12.0-0 0-0 13.g5 (13.b3 d7 14.b2 d8 15.e4 xe4 16.xe4 b6 17.d3 f5
18.ad1 ad8 19.c1 xe4 20.xe4 White has a nice positional edge. 20...f5 21.xf5
xf5 22.e3 xe3 23.xe3 f4 24.d5 Leitao,RNataf,I/New Delhi IND 2000.)
15

13...g4 14.xe7 xe7 15.e3 h4 16.xg4 xg4 17.f3 e6 18.e2 d4 19.e4

h6 20.ae1 f7 21.e3 xe3+ 22.xe3 c8 23.e4 Dvoirys,SNataf,I/Koszalin
POL 1999, White can play for f4.

11...e6 12.g3 c8 13.g2 a5 14.0-0!?

White offers the cpawn, Leko,PShirov,A/Monte Carlo MNC 2004.

16

Sveshnikov 7 Nd5 & sidelines [B33]

Last updated: 22/12/10 by Richard Palliser

1.e4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.c3 e5

5...b6?! is inaccurate, 6.e3! a strong pawn sacrifice. (6.b3?! transposes to the Grivas
Variation.) 6...xb2 7.db5 b4 8.d2! White is already close to winning,
Lastin,AKononenko,D/Russian Team Championship 2009.

6.db5
Other continuations don't pose Black too many problems:
6.b3?! b4 (6...d6?! 7.g5 e7 8.xf6 xf6 9.d5 is Hracek,ZVokac,M/Opava CZE 2000 in
B54) 7.d3 d5 8.exd5 xd5 9.0-0 xc3 10.bxc3 xc3 11.a3 I don't believe this
for a second. Black's king might be in the middle for a short time, but in no danger
and that's alot of material. For this and other 6th moves see Crepan,M
Sveshnikov,E/Celje SLO 2003.
6.f5!? White threatens both d6+ and e3d5, and so virtually forces Black's reply:
6...d5 7.exd5 xf5 8.dxc6 bxc6 9.f3 d7 10.g5 e4 Volokitin,A
Kuzubov,Y/Moscow RUS 2007.
6.de2!? John Emms and Richard Palliser suggest playing this move in their book
'Dangerous Weapons: The Sicilian'.

6...d6
6...h6!? stops g5, and invites Lowenthalstyle play: 7.d6+ (7.e3 d6 8.d5 xd5 9.exd5
b8 10.a4 a6 11.a3 e7 Ivanov,AEfimov,I/Minsk 1985, 7.d5 xd5 8.exd5 a6 9.dxc6
axb5 is nothing special, 7.f4!? is unusual and dangerous, 7...a6 8.d6+ xd6 9.xd6 e7
10.fxe5 xe5 11.d4 d6 Black's reinforcement of the powerful central knight once
again gives him easy equality, Magem Badals,JOms Fuentes,L/Pamplona ESP
2006) 7...xd6 8.xd6 e7 9.d2!? (9.xe7+ xe7 10.e3 d6 11.f3 offers a plus) 9...00 10.c4 d6 11.b3 e6 equal, Honfi,KBilek,I/Kecskemet 1966.

7.d5!?

17

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvl-tr0
9zpp+-+pzpp0
9-+nzp-sn-+0
9+N+Nzp-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9tR-vLQmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
White looks for a mobile queenside majority. With White searching for some way to play
for advantage this move could be on it's way back.
7.a4 Aiming to retard Black's queenside expansion. 7...a6 8.a3 g4!

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqkvl-tr0
9+p+-+pzpp0
9p+nzp-sn-+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
9P+-+P+l+0
9sN-sN-+-+-0
9-zPP+-zPPzP0
9tR-vLQmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
This discovery equalizes on the spot. GM Alexander Ivanov specializes in this line from
White's point of view. (8...e6 9.g5 c8 10.c4 b4 11.xf6 xf6 12.b3 g6 13.0-0 c5
14.f4 exf4 15.e2 Ivanov,AHossain,E/Stratton Mountain USA 2000., 8...e7 9.f3 e6
10.c4 c8 11.d5 0-0 12.e3 xd5 13.xd5 a5+ 14.c3 xd5 15.exd5 b8 16.b3 c7
17.b6 d7 18.0-0 d8 19.e3 c7 20.ac1 d7 21.c4 c5 Tomic,B
Kanellopoulos,G/Patras GRE 1999.) 9.f3 (9.e2 xe2 10.xe2 d5 Panarin,M
Moiseenko,A/Russian Team Championship, Dagomys 2010.) 9...e6 Now White
has been weakened on the a7g1 diagonal. 10.g5 (10.c4 c8 11.0-0 b4 Black
keeps d5 under control with a comfortable game, 12.d5 bxd5 13.xd5 xd5 14.exd5
d7 and Black had no problems in Ivanov,AParligras, Bled Ol 2002) 10...e7

11.c4 0-0 12.xf6 xf6 13.d5 h4+ 14.g3 g5 15.0-0 h8 16.g2 f5 17.exf5
xf5 18.d3 e6 19.e4 c8 20.c3 a5 Vescovi,GShabalov,A/Paget Parish
BER 2001.

7...xd5 8.exd5

18

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvl-tr0
9zpp+-+pzpp0
9-+nzp-+-+0
9+N+Pzp-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9tR-vLQmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
8...b8!?
I prefer this to the alternative:
8...e7!? as Black must be on alert for a variety of pitfalls in the early going, 9.c4 (9.c3 f5
10.a4 e7 11.d3 0-0 12.0-0 a6 13.a3 g5?! I understand this positionally motivated
move, but it leads to a very passive game, Naumann,ABabula,V/Graz AUT 2003)
9...g6 (9...f5! 10.d3 e7 11.0-0 0-0 The knight is better placed on f5 than g6.)
10.a4!? (10.e2 e7 Laurin,ESevillano,E/Los Angeles USA 2003) 10...d7
11.b4 b8 12.h4! I was impressed with the way White handled the position.
12...h5 An ugly move to have to play, but the g6knight is in trouble. 13.g5 f6
Black's kingside is full of holes. 14.e3 a6 15.c3 White can consider Na4 to b6.
15...f5 16.g3 e7 17.e2 f4 18.gxf4 exf4 19.d4 0-0 20.xh5 xh4 21.0-0-0+
Bhat,VWang,P/Dallas USA 2002 Black's king is sitting on 2 very open files. It
reminds me of castling queenside in a Benko Gambit.

9.c4
9.f3!? The beginning of an incredible idea that to me looks artificial. I can't see why
though! 9...a6 10.a3 e7 11.g5!? f6 (11...xg5? 12.xd6+ f8 13.xc8+ g8 14.d6
e7 15.xb7 The tactics work nicely for White.) 12.d2 a5? Amazing enough this
loses a pawn for nothing. (12...b6 13.b4 Other moves allow Bb7 unraveling. 13...0-0
14.xd6 axb5 15.xe7 xd5 16.d3 xd3 17.xd3 The entire thing is amazing.) 13.c3!
a6 14.xa5 b6 15.a4 0-0 16.c4 f5 17.d1!+ Iordachescu,V
Genocchio,D/Lido Estensi ITA 2002 The troublemaking queen returns to homebase
after snatching a pawn.
9.a4 aims to fix a weakness on b6, 9...e7 10.e3 a6 11.a3 f5 12.c4 d7 13.a5
Ganguly,SRis,R/Amsterdam NED 2004.

9...e7

19

9...f5!? This may transpose to the main line, but it looks premature, 10.f3?! a very strange
looking move, I guess it's meant to prevent Black's e4 push, see Dutreeuw,M
Daels,M/Eupen BEL 2003.

10.d3
10.e2 0-0 (10...a6 11.c3 f5 12.0-0 0-0 13.f3 g5 14.xg5 xg5 15.c1 h4 (15...d8!?
Black should blockade with ...a5 and ...a6 to c5) 16.e1 e7 17.f2 d7 18.b4 a5
19.a3 e4 20.e3 e5 21.f4 e7 22.b5 Mezentsev,VKeatinge Clay,A/San
Francisco USA 2000.) 11.0-0 a6 12.c3 d7 (12...f5 Black develops, but without
a point. Organizing counterplay is crucial. 13.b4 I think this is premature. 13...d7
(13...a5!? Securing the c5 square looks best.) 14.a4 c8?! Black misses the boat.
(14...a5 was Black's last chance,) 15.a5! Now Black's queenside is in terrible shape.
15...e4 16.a4 f6 17.a3 e5 18.c5 dxc5 19.xc5 Paragua,M
Harikrishna,P/Heraklio GRE 2002 White has all the play.) 13.h1 f5 (13...a5!?) 14.f4
f6 15.c2 g6 (15...exf4 16.xf4 e5 17.d2 White has achieved very good results with
this move in practice, Apicella,MWagner,C/Clichy FRA 2007) 16.b1 (16.d2 e8
17.fe1 c5 18.b4 e4 19.xe4 fxe4 20.ad1 f5 21.g4 d7 22.c5 c8 23.g5 g7
Bronnikova,ERybenko,K, Essentuki RUS 2003) 16...e7 17.a4 a5 18.e1 b6

19.f1 b8 20.b4 axb4 21.xb4 Apicella,MTirard,H/Cappelle La Grande FRA

2000.

10...a6
Black should kick the knight.
10...0-0 11.0-0 d7 (11...d7 12.h1 (12.c2?! g6 Seems to help Black.) 12...f5 13.f3 c5
14.e3 (14.c2!? White should keep the bishop pair.) 14...xd3 15.xd3 b6 16.b4 f4
17.g1 f5 Stellwagen,DVan Wely,L/Leeuwarden NED 2003 With balanced
play.) 12.a4 f5 13.c5!? Black let the knight hang around on b5 a little too long.
13...xb5 14.axb5 e4 15.c6 d7 16.e2 e5 17.f4 exf3 18.gxf3 f6 19.h1 b6
20.a2 c7 21.f4 g6 22.b3 Anand,VTopalov,V, Monte Carlo MNC 2003.

11.c3 0-0 12.0-0 f5

20

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9+p+-vl-zpp0
9p+-zp-+-+0
9+-+Pzpp+-0
9-+P+-+-+0
9+-sNL+-+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
13.f3!?
White takes it slow, keeping Black's center under control and looking for queenside
expansion.
13.f4 d7 14.e3 exf4 Releasing the tension gives Black the e5 point immediately, and as
White is getting the b4 stuff going I agree with this decision, Prathamesh,S
Sharma,V/Mumbai IND 2004.

13...g5
13...d7!? 14.e3 (14.h1 c5 15.c2 a5 When White will have to work to get in b4., 14.b4?!
a5! Secures c5 for the Nd7.) 14...g5 (or: 14...c5 15.b4 xd3 16.xd3 Black has the
bishop pair, but White's c5 looks fast,, 14...e8 15.b4 Black's queenside pieces are
unlikely to see the light of day, Cerda,GPlazaola,M/Buenos Aires ARG 2003)
15.f2 f6 Preventing b4 while developing, Matulovic,MMilanovic,D/Belgrade
YUG 2002.
13...e8 14.e3 f4 15.f2 f6 play resembles a Kings Indian Defense, Leenhouts,K
Zhigalko,S/Hengelo NED 2004.

14.h1 d7 15.b4!
This welltimed and wellprepared push keeps Black's queenside under control.

15...a5
Alternatively:
15...xc1 this is similar to LekoKrasenkov, but Black has problems nevertheless, 16.xc1
(16.xc1 Rodriguez Guerrero,ERamirez,A/Havana CUB 2003) 16...b6 (16...h4
17.e1! xe1 after the queen swap Black's hope is grim defense, Matsuura,E
Zambrana,O/Sao Paulo BRA 2003) 17.a3 (17.b3 h8 18.a4 Wojtazek,RPoobesh
Anand,S/41st World Junior 2002) 17...h8 18.d2 b7 19.c2 c8 20.fc1 h4

21

21.g3 e7 22.f4 Ivanchuk,VBabula,V/Bled SLO 2002, Black's Bishop on b7 isn't

functioning and Black's counterplay is nonexistent.
15...b6!? slows down White's c5 stuff, but is mighty passive.

16.a3 axb4 17.xg5 xg5 18.axb4 xa1 19.xa1 e3 20.e2 b5!?

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+l+-trk+0
9+-+n+-zpp0
9-+-zp-+-+0
9+p+Pzpp+-0
9-zPP+-+-+0
9+-sN-wqP+-0
9-+-+L+PzP0
9wQ-+-+R+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
An interesting attempt at activity and the best idea I've seen so far. Espinoza's idea keeps
Black in the game.
20...e4?! 21.c1 Leko,PKrasenkow,M/Essen GER 2002 White's space, control of b5,
and structure give him a nice edge.
20...b8!? 21.b2 a6 worked well for Black in Svidler,PTimofeev,A/Moscow RUS
2004.

21.c1
21.cxb5 b6 followed by ...b7 or ...d7 looks decent. Black can follow up with ...c8
getting pressure on d5.

21...xc1 22.xc1 bxc4 23.b5 b7 24.xd6

24.xc4 f6 was also insufficient in Kasimdzhanov,RSmirnov,P/Rethymnon GRE 2003.

24...xd5 25.xc4 xc4 26.xc4 e4 27.fxe4 fxe4

27...e5 KovacevicEspinoza, Bled Ol 2002.

28.g1=
Leko,PKramnik,V/Monte Carlo MNC 2003.

22

Sveshnikov/Pelikan 8...Be6 & 8...Be7

[B33]
Last updated: 19/04/11 by Richard Palliser

1.e4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.c3 e5 6.db5 d6 7.g5 a6

8.a3 e6

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqkvl-tr0
9+p+-+pzpp0
9p+nzplsn-+0
9+-+-zp-vL-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9sN-sN-+-+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
Bird's Variation. Black lets the offside knight on a3 back into the game. This variation,
while being tricky, should be easy for White to handle.
8...e7!? is a speciality of Roeder, it is very rare but perhaps not so bad, 9.c4 0-0 10.xf6
xf6 11.xd6 d4!? Korneev,OMaze,S/Elgoibar ESP 2005. (11...xd6 12.xd6 e6
is the main continuation here.)

9.c4 c8
9...b8!? 10.d5 xd5 11.xf6 xf6! with good play, Vallejo
Vedmediuc,S/European Championship, AixlesBains 2011.

Pons,F

10.d5 xd5 11.xf6 gxf6 12.xd5

23

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+rwqkvl-tr0
9+p+-+p+p0
9p+nzp-zp-+0
9+-+Qzp-+-0
9-+N+P+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9tR-+-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
12...d4
12...b4 13.d2 d5 14.exd5 xd5 (14...xc2+ 15.xc2 b4+ 16.d1 xd5+ 17.c1 is good
for White) 15.xd5 xd5 16.0-0-0 b4 17.a3 (17.c3 c6 18.d3 is a nice edge)
17...c6 18.b6 d8 19.xd8+ xd8 20.c4 c5 21.d1+ e8 22.d5 xf2
23.xf6+ e7 24.d5+ f8 25.f1 h4 26.b6 Sameeh,HElgabry,M/Cairo
EGY 2000.

13.0-0-0!?
13.d3 is better, 13...e7 14.a5! xc4 15.xc4 xc2+ 16.e2 xa1 17.c1! is very
strong.

13...e7 14.b1 c5 15.xd6+ xd6 16.xd6 xd6 17.c3 e7 18.cxd4

exd4 19.g3 d8 20.d3
Rantanen,YCifuentes Parada,R/Hoogeveen NED 1999.

24

Sveshnikov 9 Nd5 Positional Line [B33]

Last updated: 17/07/11 by Richard Palliser

1.e4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.c3 e5

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvl-tr0
9zpp+p+pzpp0
9-+n+-sn-+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
9-+-sNP+-+0
9+-sN-+-+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9tR-vLQmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
This dynamic move creates an unbalanced situation. Black accepts a backward pawn and
gives White control of d5. In return Black pushes White's knight to a3 and can
contest the d5 point.

6.db5 d6 7.g5 a6 8.a3 b5 9.d5

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvl-tr0
9+-+-+pzpp0
9p+nzp-sn-+0
9+p+Nzp-vL-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9sN-+-+-+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
This is a quiet line, White abstains from giving Black doubled fpawns, and tries to keep a
small plus due to his control of d5.

25

9...e7
9...a5+ 10.d2 d8 11.xf6+ (11.g5 a5+ is a common way of making a quick draw,
11.c4 is critical) 11...xf6 12.d3 g6 13.0-0 e7 14.c4 with a plus, Tiviakov,S
Reinderman,D/Rotterdam NED 2000.

10.xf6
The Positional line.
10.xe7!? was played a lot over twenty years ago: 10...xe7 11.d3 (11.f3 is slow,
Petrov,MRavagnani,T/Padova ITA 1999) 11...d5!? the most principled response,
(11...b7 is also popular, 12.xf6 gxf6 13.h5!? (13.c4 bxc4 14.xc4 d5 has been seen
a lot) 13...d5 14.0-0-0 with sharp play in Naiditsch,ASutovsky,E/Dortmund GER
2005.) 12.exd5 (12.xf6 gxf6 13.c3 g8 Grosar,APodlesnik,B/Bled SLO 1999)
12...xd5 13.d2 e4 depriving White of the bishoppair, Morozevich,A
Radjabov,T/European Team Championship, Crete 2007.

10...xf6

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqk+-tr0
9+-+-+pzpp0
9p+nzp-vl-+0
9+p+Nzp-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9sN-+-+-+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
11.c3
11.c4!? aims for a more closed position, where Black has practically no counterplay, 11...b4
(11...e7! 12.xf6+ gxf6 13.cxb5 0-0 14.d2 b7 with good play, Kovchan,A
Moiseenko,A/Ukrainian Championship, Kiev 2011.) 12.c2 a5 Rogozenko
considered this advance more precise than
a) 12...b8 13.b3 g5 (13...0-0 14.g3 e6 15.h4 a5 Areshchenko,A
Jakovenko,D/Russian Team Championship, Dagomys 2008) 14.g3 0-0 15.h4 h6
16.h3 White has no real advantage, Morozevich,ALeko,P/San Luis ARG 2005.
b) 12...0-0!? this gambit seems fine for Black, 13.e2 (13.cxb4 xb4 14.xb4 b6
see Anand,VRadjabov,T/Bilbao 2008, 13.g3 e6 14.g2 Nisipeanu,L
Radjabov,T/Kings Tournament, Medias 2010) 13...a5 14.d3 e6 15.0-0 g5
16.ad1 Karjakin,STimofeev,A/KhantyMansiysk 2009.
26

13.g3 (13.f3 e6 14.d1 a4! Black is happy to allow his kingside to be broken up so long as
he can obtain some counterplay on the queenside, Movsesian,S
Papadopoulos,I/Greek Team Championship 2008) 13...g5 (13...0-0 14.h4!? e6
15.h3 (15.g2!? a new approach, 15...g6! Morozevich,AShirov,A/Tal Memorial,
Moscow 2008) 15...a4!? this bold pawn sacrifice is the most forcing way to fully
equalize, 16.b3 (16.cxb4 xb4 17.xe6 fxe6 18.xb4 b6 Nisipeanu,LShirov,A/Foros
2008) 16...xd5 17.cxd5 d4 18.xd4 exd4 19.0-0 e8 with comfortable equality,
Nepomniachtchi,INi Hua/RussiaChina, Sochi 2009.) 14.g2 modest, but safe and
strong, 14...0-0 15.0-0 e7 16.ce3 (16.b3?! Movsesian,STregubov,P/Russian
Team Championship, Dagomys 2008) 16...xe3 17.xe3 e6 18.d3 c7!?
(18...d7 Korneev,ONataf,I/Ourense ESP 2007) 19.ac1 ac8 was quickly drawn in
Movsesian,STregubov,P/European Championship, Plovdiv 2008.

11...0-0
Black can also delay this obvious move:
11...g5 This idea looks best either now or after ...0-0. Black prepares ...f5 and might have
...xe3 later. The advantage of playing it immediately is to avoid castling too soon.
12.c2 e7 challenging the pride of White's position immediately, (Alternatively,
12...b8 tries to hinder White on the queenside, 13.a4 this move is "the only way to
fight for an advantage" according to Rogozenko,
a) 13.e2 0-0 14.0-0 a5 15.d3 (15.b4 e7 16.xe7+ xe7 17.bxa5 c7 18.a4 bxa4
19.xa4 xc3 20.a6 e6 21.a7 a8 22.d3 Vescovi,GMatsuura,E/Brasilia BRA 2000,
White's guy on a7 is alive and well.) 15...e7 16.ce3 xe3 17.xe3 c7 18.fd1
d8 19.d2 e6 20.g4 Almasi,ZIllescas Cordoba,M/Pamplona ESP 1999.
b) 13.a3 a5 14.d3 e7 15.xe7 xe7 16.e2 0-0 (16...b7 17.0-0 0-0 18.b4 a4 19.c4
De Firmian,NSutovsky,E/Julian Borowski GM 1999, Black's a4 is gonna need
attention.) 17.0-0 d7 18.b4 axb4 19.xb4 fc8= White controls d5, but has targets
on a3 and c3, Kasparov,GKramnik,V/Frankfurt GER 2000
13...bxa4 (13...0-0?! 14.axb5 axb5 Shivaji,SDelaune,R/Philadelphia USA 2001 Black
should avoid this type of thing as b5 is a permanent target.) 14.cb4 d7 (14...xb4
15.cxb4!? 0-0!? Bacrot,ERadjabov,T/FIDE GrandPrix, Baku 2008) 15.xa6 xb4
16.xb4 (16.cxb4 0-0 17.0-0 c6 18.xa4 is an interesting positional exchange sacrifice,
Berg,ESmith,A/Stockholm SWE 2007) 16...a5 17.xd6! but Black might be OK
here, see Volokitin,AVan Wely,L/Merida ESP 2005.) 13.a4
a) 13.h4!? h6 14.a4 bxa4 15.cb4! 0-0 (15...d7 16.xa4! looks strong, see the
brilliant Karjakin,SRadjabov,T/Warsaw POL 2005) 16.xa4 a5 17.b5 xd5
18.xd5 e6 and Black held the balance in Grischuk,AIllescas
Cordoba,M/Dresden Olympiad 2008
b) 13.cb4 0-0 14.a4 bxa4 15.xa4 transposes
13...bxa4 14.cb4 (14.xe7 xe7 15.xa4 b7 16.d3 0-0 17.0-0 d7 18.a1 c7 19.a2 a5
20.a1 d8 21.e3 c6 22.a3 Ivanovic,BShariyazdanov,A/Budapest HUN 1999.)
14...0-0 15.xa4 (15.xa4 xd5 16.xd5 d7 17.a2 a5 18.c4 Zapata,A
Echavarria,J/Cali COL 2000) 15...a5 16.b5 e6 (16...xd5 17.xd5 f5 18.exf5 xf5
19.0-0 c8 20.c4 c5 21.e2 e6 22.c3 Tiviakov,SHaag,M/Bergen NOR 2000.,

27

16...d7! should equalise) 17.xe7+ xe7 18.c6 ab8 19.xa5 c7 20.b5

Maiorov,OBeshukov,S/Krasnodar RUS 1999.

11...b8 Unusual, these days, but gives White the 'problem' of committing himself 12.c2
0-0 13.h4 e7 (13...e7 14.xf6+ gxf6 15.d3 d5 16.exd5 xd5 17.e3 e6 18.c2 f5
19.h5 g6= SolozhenkinSitnikov,D/RUSchT Saint Peterburg 1999.) 14.ce3
a) 14.a3 h8 15.ce3 e6 16.d3 d7 17.g3 d8 18.h5 e7 19.0-0-0 b6
20.xb6 xb6 Cioara,AJianu,V/Bucharest ROM 2000.
b) 14.g3!? e6 15.a3 (15.g2 d7 16.ce3 d8 17.0-0 e7 18.xe7+ xe7 19.f5 d7
20.d2 d5 21.ad1 a7= Mueller,KKhalifman,A/Porz GER 2000.) 15...a5 16.ce3
e8?! 17.a4! Karjakin,SShirov,A/European Team Championship, Crete 2007
14...e6 15.f3 d7 16.d1 (16.g4 with sharp play, Motylev,AFilippov,V/Sochi RUS
2005.) 16...d8! 17.e2 (17.d3!? Karjakin,SEljanov,P/Warsaw POL 2005.)
17...e7 18.h5 h6 19.0-0 c8! flexible, 20.xe7+ xe7 21.f5 (21.b3!? g5 offering
a pawn, Jakovenko,DIvanchuk,V/Foros UKR 2007.) 21...c7 22.g3! (22.d3 is
not so dangerous for Black, Karjakin,SYakovich,Y/Dagomys 2007) 22...g5!?
sacrificing the dpawn for activity, Landa,KEljanov,P/Bundesliga 2007.
11...e7 12.xf6+ (12.xe7 xe7 13.c2 b7 14.d3 d5 15.exd5 xd5 16.xd5 xd5 17.e3 c6
18.f5 f6 19.0-0-0 d8 20.xd8+ xd8= Werle,JBosch,J/Hoogeveen NED 1999.,
12.c2 xd5 13.xd5 b8 14.b4 b7 15.d3 0-0 16.a3 g5 17.e2 f5 18.f3 g6 19.0-0 a5
20.d5 a8 21.b4 h8 22.ad1 h6 23.fe1 g7 24.e2 c8 25.xb5 Van den Doel,E
Wiersma,E/Groningen NED 1999.) 12...gxf6 13.f3 (13.d3 d5 14.c2 b7
15.exd5 xd5 16.e3 e6 17.h5 (17.a4 d8 18.c2 b4 19.c4 b6 20.a5 c6 21.b3
0-0 22.xb4+ Shabalov,AGamboa,N/New York USA 2000.) 17...0-0-0 18.c2 f5

19.xf5 g6 20.e3 b8 21.f5 e7 Stefansson,HShabalov,A/Paget Parish

BER 2001.) 13...f5 14.exf5 xf5 15.d3 e6 16.0-0 0-0 17.fe1 f5 18.f1 f4 19.c4
f5 20.ad1 b6 21.cxb5 axb5 22.xb5 xa2 23.g4+ Tiviakov,S
Bosch,J/Hengelo NED 2000.
11...b7 In my opinion this is an inferior way to fight for the d5 point. 12.c2 b8
(12...e7 13.cb4 0-0 14.a4 a5 15.xe7+ xe7 16.d5 bxa4 17.xa4 c8 18.c4 c5 19.d3

Sibarevic,MSermek,D/Ljubljana SLO 1999, White's control of d5 gives a slight

pull. ) 13.g3
a) 13.ce3 d7 14.d3 0-0 15.0-0 g5 16.a4 bxa4 17.xa4 c5 18.c2 a5
(18...xe3 19.xe3 g6!?) 19.fe1 g6 20.c4 a4 21.ad1 Ehlvest,JHossain,E/Dhaka
BAN 2001.
b) 13.a4 bxa4 14.xa4 0-0 15.h4 an important move that indirectly strengthens the
d5 point by eliminating ...g5 x e3 ideas. (15.ce3 d7 16.b4 g5 17.c4 f6 18.xf6+
xf6 19.d3 d5 Brinck Claussen,BMcShane,L/Copenhagen DEN 2000, Black won
the fight over the d5 point.) 15...d7 16.ce3 a5 17.a2 g6 18.f3 g7 19.h5 xd5
20.xd5 b6 21.xb6 xb6 22.c4! Korneev,OArizmendi Martinez,J/Albacete
ESP 2001
13...d7 (13...g5 14.h4 h6 15.a4 bxa4 16.xa4 d7 17.g2 a5 18.0-0 0-0 19.a2 c5 20.b4 axb4
21.xa8 xa8 22.cxb4 e6 23.d3 xd5 24.exd5 Suba,MRodriguez Vinueza,A/Malaga
ESP 2001 White has a dangerous passed pawn while Black lacks active play.)
14.h4 0-0 15.ce3 b6 16.g2 c8 17.0-0 xd5 18.xd5 xd5 19.xd5 b6
20.fd1 e7 21.f1 c5 22.b3 c6 23.a4 Ashley,MCasella,M/Los Angeles
USA 2000, White's lightsquaredbishop is stronger than Black's bishop.
28

12.c2
The knight heads for e3 or b4 to bolster d5.
12.e2 g5 13.c2 e6 14.0-0 e7 15.cb4 h8 16.a4 bxa4 17.xa4 a5 18.xe7 xe7
19.d5 b7 20.b4 f5 21.bxa5 fxe4 22.b6 ad8 23.b4 d5 24.a6 a7 25.a4 e7
26.b5 e3 Fedorov,AGrishin,E/St Petersburg RUS 2000, White's a7pawn is
halted and the white king looks very exposed.

12...g5
12...b7 13.h4 e7 14.xf6+ gxf6 15.d3 h8 16.e3 f5 17.exf5 f6 18.b3 d5 19.0-0-0
c7 20.b1 c5 Shabalov,AHalkias,S/Linares ESP 2000.

13.a4

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9+-+-+pzpp0
9p+nzp-+-+0
9+p+Nzp-vl-0
9P+-+P+-+0
9+-zP-+-+-0
9-zPN+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
With this move White can force concessions on the queenside.
13.g3 e7 14.cb4 e6 15.g2 a5 16.xe7+ xe7 17.d5 b7 18.0-0 b4 19.c4 fc8
20.d3 a4 21.fd1 xd5 22.exd5 g6 Xie JunGalliamova,A/Kazan RUS 1999
White has nothing to do.
13.h4!? h6 14.g4 f4! this pawn sacrifice is considered Black's main try, see Smerdon,D
Mikhalevski,V/Queenstown Classic 2009.

13...bxa4 14.xa4 a5
This is Black's best vs the positional line. Black avoids weak pawns and has the ...f5 break.
14...h8 15.ce3 xe3 16.xe3 a5 17.c4 e7 18.0-0 f5 19.exf5 xf5 20.d2 xe3
21.fxe3 xf1+= Tiviakov,SVan der Wiel,J/Rotterdam NED 2000.

15.c4

29

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9+-+-+pzpp0
9-+nzp-+-+0
9zp-+Nzp-vl-0
9R+L+P+-+0
9+-zP-+-+-0
9-zPN+-zPPzP0
9+-+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
15.b5 is Smyslov's line, 15...e7 (15...b7 16.0-0 e7 17.c4 h8 (17...b8 18.xe7+
xe7 19.d3 c7 20.a2 c6 21.b4 axb4 22.xb4 a8 23.xa8 xa8 24.d5 xd5 25.xd5
c5 26.g3 Asrian,KPridorozhni,A/Yerevan ARM 2000.) 18.b4 f5 19.xe7 xe7

20.d5 axb4 21.xa8 xa8 22.xa8 xa8 23.xb4= Palac,MNedev,T/Pula CRO

2000, White's c3 pawn offsets his control of d5.) 16.xe7+ (16.cb4 is possibly the
most precise, but should transpose) 16...xe7 17.b4 h3!? Adorjan's surprising
idea, Black hopes to open up White's king for the duration, but White will get light
squared control, 18.c6 ac8 19.xa5 (19.d5!?) 19...xg2 20.g1 h3 21.h5
(21.a6 Zapata,ARamirez,A/Decameron DOM 2003) 21...h4 was the impressive
game Korneev,OShirov,A/Pamplona ESP 2006, but I think White should play
22.d5 d8 23.h6 here.

15...b8
The most natural, attacking b2, but Black has been investigating other possibilities:
15...e7 16.0-0 xd5 17.xd5 d7 18.a2 c8 19.a3 (19.d3 b6 Naiditsch,A
Carlsen,M/Dortmund 2009) 19...e6 20.d3 xd5 21.xd5 c5= Vescovi,G
Mecking,H/Sao Paulo BRA 2000, White's knight can't get to d5.
15...b7 16.0-0 b8 17.b4 d7 18.d3 axb4 19.xa8 xa8 20.cxb4 b6 21.xb6 xb6
22.a1 Dervishi,ECacco,C/Padova ITA 1999, White's passed pawn and control of
d5 make Black's life difficult.
15...d7!? is an old suggestion of Sveshnikov, intending ...b8, and ...d8b6, 16.0-0 (It
might seem strange to leave the rook exposed, but it does currently block the a
pawn and practice has shown 16.a2 a4! 17.0-0 a5 to be fine for Black.) 16...b4!?
(16...e7 looks better, 17.a2 xd5 18.xd5 c8 transposes to 15...e7, above.) 17.a3
c8 with complications that may slightly favour White, Volokitin,A
Radjabov,T/Biel SUI 2006.

16.b3

30

XIIIIIIIIY
9-trlwq-trk+0
9+-+-+pzpp0
9-+nzp-+-+0
9zp-+Nzp-vl-0
9R+L+P+-+0
9+PzP-+-+-0
9-+N+-zPPzP0
9+-+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
This and 16.a2 can transpose, but the rook move gives White the extra option of playing
b4 in one go. 16...h8 Black clears the a2g8 diagonal ready for ...f5. (16...g6!? can
be played too, 17.0-0 (17.ce3 g7 is the point) 17...h8 18.b4! d7! (18...axb4 19.cxb4
e6 20.b5 with some advantage, Anand,VLeko,P, San Luis ARG 2005) 19.e2 axb4
20.cxb4 a5 21.fa1!? with an edge playing with two knights against two
bishops, Kasimdzhanov,RLeko,P/San Luis ARG 2005.) 17.ce3 (17.0-0 f5
18.exf5 xf5 19.ce3 g6 20.f3 (20.a4 c8 21.d1 e4 22.b3 f7 23.a3 d7 24.f1
e5 Socko,BKrasenkow,M/Plock POL 2000. The Polish GM is a Sveshnikov
expert. Here Black has good attacking chances.) 20...f7 21.e2 xe3+ 22.xe3 d5
23.d1 b6 24.xd5 bd8 25.f1 e4 Blehm,PCyborowski,L/Warsaw POL
2001.) 17...g6

XIIIIIIIIY
9-trlwq-tr-mk0
9+-+-+p+p0
9-+nzp-+p+0
9zp-+Nzp-vl-0
9-+L+P+-+0
9+-zP-sN-+-0
9RzP-+-zPPzP0
9+-+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
Black wants to support ...f5 with his gpawn.
a) 17...e6!? has been tried a few times recently, 18.b3!? (18.a4 d7! 19.b5?! b4!
was soon catastrophic for White, Nepomniachtchi,IZhigalko,S/Kirishi RUS 2005)
18...xe3 19.xe3 b6 20.0-0 Ganguly,SAl Sayed,M/Abu Dhabi UAE 2005,
when 20...xc4 is simplest.
b) 17...xe3 18.xe3 e7 is a solid alternative, and may be best, 19.b3!? f5 20.exf5
xf5 21.d5 (21.xf5 xf5 22.0-0 was equal in Carlsen,MVan Wely,L/Schagen
NED 2006) 21...b7 22.0-0 c8 and White only had a small edge in Karjakin,S
Topalov,V/Wijk aan Zee NED 2006.
31

18.h4! This is the most dangerous for Black. (18.0-0 f5 19.a4!? gave Black problems in
Anand,VKasparov,G/Linares ESP 2005.) 18...xh4 19.g3 g5 20.f4 with sharp
play in Kramnik,VVan Wely,L/Monte Carlo MNC 2005.

16...h8 17.ce3
17.0-0 f5 18.exf5 (18.f3 Bologan,VNataf,I/Moscow RUS 2001) 18...xf5 19.ce3 g6
(19...e6 is worse, 20.d3 xe3 21.xe3 xc4 22.xc4 (22.bxc4!) 22...e7=
Vescovi,GMecking,H/Sao Paulo BRA 2000.) 20.e2 (20.d3 f7!? (20...xd3
21.xd3 xe3 22.fxe3 xf1+ 23.xf1 xb3 is fairly equal) 21.e4 e7 22.xe7 xe7
23.d5 b7 24.b4 axb4 25.f6! Konguvel,PHarikrishna,P/New Delhi IND
2001.) 20...f7 21.c4 g8 22.f3 b5 23.e4 e7 24.xe7 xe7 25.c2 c5
26.e1 e4 27.e3 d5 Rodriguez,ASan Segundo Carrillo,P/Cala Galdana ESP
1999.

17...g6
17...xe3 18.xe3 e7 is a bit meek, and in Leko,PRadjabov,T/Morelia 2008 Black was
ground down in textbook manner.

18.h4!?
18.e2!? is a new approach in a position which has been topical for a while now, 18...f5
19.h4 xe3 20.xe3 f4! (20...fxe4 21.h5! with some pressure for White in Anand,V
Shirov,A/Linares 2008.) 21.d2 see Volokitin,AShirov,A/Poikovsky 2008.

18...xh4 19.g3 g5 20.f4!?

XIIIIIIIIY
9-trlwq-tr-mk0
9+-+-+p+p0
9-+nzp-+p+0
9zp-+Nzp-vl-0
9R+L+PzP-+0
9+PzP-sN-zP-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
This is a highly committal move of Topalov's.
Instead, with 20.a2 White opens the hfile and hopes to swing his rook to h2, this was the
actual move order of Topalov,VLeko,P/Linares ESP 2005.
20.e2!? is a dangerous idea, planning to swing the queen across to h2, Karjakin,S
Shirov,A/FIDE World Cup, KhantyMansiysk 2007.
32

20...exf4 21.gxf4 h4+ 22.d2

22.f1 f5 23.exf5 led to a quick disaster for White in Delchev,AKotanjian,T/Kusadasi
TUR 2006.

22...e7
Leko's choice.
22...f5!? is riskier, 23.d3 Ponomariov,RVan Wely,L/San Sebastian ESP 2006, but White
has other, more dangerous alternatives, see the notes.

23.c1
23.c2 is somewhat more logical.
23.g1 is Karjakin's latest try, see Karjakin,SIvanchuk,V/FIDE GrandPrix, Nalchik
2009.

23...xd5 24.xd5 e6 25.d4+ g8 26.a2

26.b1 xd5 27.xd5 f6 28.c2 b6 Jakovenko,DShirov,A/Foros UKR 2007.

26...xd5 27.xd5 f6 28.d2 g3 29.f1

XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-+-trk+0
9+-+-+p+p0
9-+-zp-wqp+0
9zp-+-+-+-0
9-+L+PzP-+0
9+PzP-+-vl-0
9R+-wQ-+-+0
9+-mK-+R+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
29...d5!
This is Rogozenko's strong suggestion that either deflects White's bishop from the defence
of f1, or closes the a2g8 diagonal.
29...h5?! is worse, see Topalov,VLeko,P/Linares ESP 2005 in the archives.

30.xd5!? g5!
This attack on the dark squares is possible now that the f1-rook is loose, see Korneev,O
Devereaux,M/Port Erin IOM 2006.
33

Sveshnikov with ...gxf6 10...Bg7 [B33]

Last updated: 07/01/10 by Richard Palliser

1 e4 c5 2 f3 c6 3 d4 cxd4 4 xd4 f6 5 c3 e5 6 db5 d6 7 g5 a6 8

a3 b5 9 xf6 gxf6 10 d5 g7

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqk+-tr0
9+-+-+pvlp0
9p+nzp-zp-+0
9+p+Nzp-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9sN-+-+-+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
Black protects the fpawn so as to be able to exchange the d5knight without allowing
mate in 1 (!) This is sometimes called the Novosibirsk Variation, and tends to
become more popular whenever the mainline is having problems.

11 d3
11 g3 f5 12 exf5 xf5 13 g2 e6 14 c3 Leko,PKramnik,V/Linares ESP 2000. (27)
11 c3 is a good alternative for White, when Black should return to the mainlines with
11...f5 as 11...e7?! is not so good now, because of 12 c2 f5 13 xe7 xe7 14
exf5! when 14...b7 (14...xf5?? is impossible, 15 f3 hitting f5 and a8 and Black can
resign.) 15 e3 0-0 16 e2 h8 17 a4! White has an extra pawn and control, and
now begins to exert some typical queenside pressure, Ivanchuk,VRadjabov,T/Cap
d'Agde (rapid) 2008.
11 c4!? this uncompromising approach is quite a rare choice these days, 11...f5! 12 cxb5
d4 13 b6!? Malisauskas,VShirov,A/Amplico Life rapid, Warsaw 2009.

11...e7 12 xe7 xe7 13 0-0 0-0 14 c4

34

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0
9+-+-wqpvlp0
9p+-zp-zp-+0
9+p+-zp-+-0
9-+P+P+-+0
9sN-+L+-+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
This is critical, but doubleedged.
14 c3 is the quieter move, although Rogozenko feels that this is "a promising way to meet
the 10...Bg7 system." 14...f5 15 c2 b8 The mainline, dissuading White from
playing a4. (15...f4 is a dangerous alternative, planning a kingside attack, and was
chosen by Kasparov, 16 h5! White should stop Black from playing ...g5 (16 a4
bxa4 17 xa4 g5 18 f3 f6 19 c4 h8 was unclear in Polgar,JKasparov,G, Prague
2002) 16...h8 17 b4 e6 18 a4 bxa4 19 xa4 a5 20 fa1 White is clearly on top
on the queenside, and Black's kingside attack has failed to materialise, Nolte,R
Isaev,J, Calcutta 2001.) 16 exf5 e4 17 e1 (17 e2 xf5 18 b4 g5 19 h1 e5
Adams,MKramnik,V/Wijk aan Zee NED 2001. (33)) 17...xf5 18 e3 g6 19
d5 e5 20 c2 a5 21 f4 e6 22 d2 h8 A useful move that avoids any potential
problems along the a2g8 diagonal, Anand,VRadjabov,T/Mainz GER 2006, where
Black was soon in total control.

14...f5 15 f3

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0
9+-+-wqpvlp0
9p+-zp-+-+0
9+p+-zpp+-0
9-+P+P+-+0
9sN-+L+Q+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
The most popular reply here.
15 h5!? is the older line, 15...b8! best (15...b7 16 fe1 bxc4 17 xc4 d5 18 exd5 xd5 19 xf5
xf5 20 e3 g6 21 xg6 hxg6 22 xd5 fb8 23 b3 a5 24 ac1 a4 25 b4 Chandler,M
Darnstaedt,F/Solingen GER 2000.) 16 exf5 e4 17 ae1 The only move to counter
35

both the threats of ...xb2 and ...exd3. 17...b7 18 g4! (18 cxb5!? Black does well
here, see Horvath,TNedev,T/Feugen AUT 2006) 18...fe8 (Kolev and Nedev,
following Cox, suggest 18...h8!?, which looks like a pretty decent alternative. 19
xe4 xb2 (19...fe8!) 20 e3! Shirov,AMarkos,J/Spanish Team Championship
2009) 19 cxb5 d5 20 bxa6 c6 21 b3 (21 e2!? White simply gets his bishop off prise
and prepares to improve his rooks, Najer,EYakovich,Y/Novokuznetsk 2008., 21
c1!? Topalov,VCarlsen,M/Nanjing 2009) 21...h8!? Shirov,ACarlsen,M/MTel
Masters, Sofia 2009.
15 cxb5!? is met by 15...d5 16 exd5 e4 17 e2 and now 17...b8 18 ab1 b6!? led to a
brilliant Black win in Cheparinov,ICarlsen,M/Wijk aan Zee NED 2005

15...b7!?
The queen moves off the efile to unpin the epawn.
Alternatives:
15...e8 stopping exf5, 16 fe1 b4! 17 c2 f4! subtle constraining strategy, Black stops the
white knight from landing on d5, 18 e2 b8 19 b3 h8 20 h5 d5! freeing the
sixth rank, Shirov,AKramnik,V/Linares ESP 2000.
15...bxc4 used to be the favourite move here, but after 16 xc4 d5 17 exd5 e4 18 e3 b7
19 d6 f6 (19...h4!? 20 g3 h3 21 e2 h6 is interesting, Kotsur,PSharbaf,M,
Hyderabad 2005) 20 c2 f4 21 h3 ac8 22 b3 g5 23 d7! c6 24 xe4 h6 25
f5 h4 (25...xf5! 26 xf5 xa1 27 xa1 d8 is the best chance, and Black managed to
draw in Ceteras,MSerradimigni,R, Coppa Latina VI B1 corr 2003) 26 h3 h5
(26...f6? 27 d8 wins, Anand,VKasimdzhanov,R, Hyderabad 2002) 27 g4 xe4
28 xh4 xh4 29 ad1 d8 30 fe1 Black is in trouble, Yagupov,IAtaman,A,
Istanbul 2003.
15...d5!? 16 cxd5 fxe4 17 xe4 b8 18 fd1 f5!? is Anand,VRadjabov,T/Linares 2009.

16 e2!

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0
9+q+-+pvlp0
9p+-zp-+-+0
9+p+-zpp+-0
9-+P+P+-+0
9sN-+L+-+-0
9PzP-+QzPPzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
16 exf5 xf3 17 gxf3 e4! 18 xe4 d5! 19 xd5 xf5 20 xa8 xa8 21 ae1 d3 and
practice has shown that Black has no problems to draw, despite the apparent material
deficit, FilipMadan, Iasi 2003.
36

16 cxb5?! is doubtful: 16...d5 17 exf5 e4 (the point of removing the black queen from e7)
18 f4 e7 19 e2 xb2 White was in trouble, and went on to lose, Shirov,A
Gullaksen,E, Bergen 2001.

16...bxc4 17 xc4 fxe4 18 xe4 xe4 19 xe4 b8 20 ad1!?

Instead, Rogozenko mentioned 20 fd1 e6 21 d5 with a plus.

20...e6 21 d5

XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-+-trk+0
9+-+-+pvlp0
9p+-zpl+-+0
9+-+Lzp-+-0
9-+N+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9+-+R+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
21...fd8 22 b3
with an edge for White who has two strongly placed minor pieces and a queenside pawn
majority. Black's centre and bishop pair are not to be underestimated, though,
Oleksienko,MZherebukh,Y/Lviv UKR 2006.

37

Sveshnikov with ...gxf6 10...f5 [B33]

Last updated: 17/07/11 by Richard Palliser

1.e4 c5 2.f3 c6
There is an alternative moveorder: 2...e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.c3 c6 6.db5 d6
7.f4 e5 8.g5 Reaching the same position with an extra move.

3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.c3 e5 6.db5 d6

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvl-tr0
9zpp+-+pzpp0
9-+nzp-sn-+0
9+N+-zp-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+-sN-+-+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9tR-vLQmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
7.g5 a6 8.a3
8.xf6 gxf6 9.a3 f5!? (9...b5 will transpose to the mainline) 10.c4
a) 10.h5 is more critical
b) 10.d3 f4 (10...g7) 11.d5 b5 12.c3 e7 13.c2 e6 14.g3 fxg3 15.hxg3 a5
16.ce3 b7 17.b4 Rocha,WArruda,W/Sao Paulo BRA 1999 Black's play
made no sense.
c) 10.exf5 xf5 11.c4 transposes
10...d4 11.exf5 xf5 12.e3 g6!? 13.cd5! Nakamura,HShirov,A/Wijk aan Zee
2010.

8...b5 9.xf6 gxf6 10.d5 f5

38

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvl-tr0
9+-+-+p+p0
9p+nzp-+-+0
9+p+Nzpp+-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9sN-+-+-+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
The sharpest and most popular move.

11.c3
11.d3 is the main alternative: 11...e6 12.0-0
a) 12.h5 g8 (12...b8 13.0-0 g8 14.xh7 g6 15.g3 h6 16.g8 fxe4 17.xe4 f5
Walsh,HVan Riemsdijk,H/Mar del Plata Open, Argen 2000.) 13.g3 g5 (13...d4
led to a draw in Romanenko,VUesugi,S/World Open, King of Prussia 2010)
14.d1 g4 15.f3 g8 16.d2 c8 17.c3 h5 18.c2 h4 19.a4 a5 20.e2 h6
21.axb5 f8 22.bxa6 b3 Vallejo Pons,FMoreno,J/Cala Galdana ESP 1999.
b) 12.c4!? A sharp approach and one which hasn't been popular since around the
time that the Soviet Union came to an end, Hou YifanKrush,I/Istanbul 2008.
12...a5+!? 13.f1 fxe4 14.xe4 0-0-0 is then critical.
12...xd5 (12...g7 13.h5 f4 (13...c8 14.c3 h6 15.c2 f4 16.h1 0-0 17.g3 g5 18.xg5 hxg5
19.a4 bxa4 20.xa4 a5 21.a3 Walsh,HIdigoras,A/Buenos Aires ARG 1999.) 14.c4
bxc4 15.xc4 0-0 16.ac1 d4 (16...b8 17.xf4!? is Volokitin,A
Yakovich,Y/Moscow RUS 2007) 17.c2 xc2 18.xc2 c8 19.fc1 h8 20.g4
c5 21.f3 Acs,PGagunashvili,M/Athens GRE 2001 this could be White's best in
the ...gxf6 lines.) 13.exd5 e7 14.c3
a) 14.c4?! This gives up too many dark squares. 14...g7 15.d2 e4 16.e2 b4
17.xb4 b8 18.a4+ f8 19.ab1 g8 20.c2 g6 21.c5 d4 22.h1 dxc5 23.f3
f4 24.fxe4 xg2 25.xf4 g5 26.g4 xg4 27.xg4 xg4 28.c4 f3+ 29.g2
d3 Rodriguez,AMoreno,J/Cala Galdana ESP 1999.
b) 14.xb5?! e4 15.e2 g7
c) 14.e1 was popular a few years ago, but since then Black has uncovered
sufficient defensive resources. 14...g7 15.c3 (15.b1 White protects the b2pawn
and plans queenside play with c2c4, see Czarnota,PFelgaer,R/Lugo ESP 2007)
15...0-0 16.h5 e4 17.f1 e8 18.ad1 g6!? Smikovski,I
Tregubov,P/Novokuznetsk 2008
d) 14.h5 e4 15.e2 g7 16.c3 0-0 17.c2 f4 18.f3 breaking up Black's pawns like
this is White's main try, Shabalov,AMoiseenko,A/Edmonton Open 2008
14...g7 15.h5 e4 16.c2 0-0 17.ae1 (17.ad1 c8 18.fe1 b4 19.cxb4 xb2 20.e3
xa3?? (20...g7!? Looks very reasonable.) 21.h3+ GeirnaertAksay 41st World
39

Junior Goa 2002) 17...c8 18.h1 (18.f3!? is more direct, see Nataf,I
Spasov,V/Calvia ESP 2004) 18...g6 19.b1 (19.f4 exf3 20.xf3 e8 21.ef1 e5 22.xf5
e8 23.c2 Singh,GHarikrishna,P/Calcutta IND 2001.) 19...b4 20.cxb4 xb2
21.c2 c3 22.e2 (22.c1 b2 23.ce1 c3 24.c1 b2= Galkin,A
Krasenkow,M/Saint Vincent ITA 2000.) 22...g7 23.f4 exf3 24.xf3 f4 25.e1 c4
26.e4 fc8 27.d3 a5 28.bxa5 xe4 29.xe4 Leko,PKrasenkow,M/Batumi
GEO 1999.
11.xb5!? this piece sacrifice was popular many years ago, 11...axb5 12.xb5 a4
13.bc7+ (13.b4?! xb4 (13...h4!? This looks like Kasparov preparation. The threat
of ...e4+ forces White to castle, 14.0-0 g8 White is down a piece and completely
lost. 15.f4 d8 16.c3 a6 17.a4 In many cases White's knight on d5 gets in the way,
17...fxe4 18.f5 b7 19.a2 e3! The rook on g8 and bishop on b7 form a murderous duo
from long distance! 20.xe3 e4 21.e1 xb4!-+ Breaking what was left of White's
resistance, Shirov,AKasparov,G/Linares ESP 2002.) 14.bc7+ d7 15.0-0 b7
(15...g8!) 16.h5 e7 17.xf7 c6 18.ab1 fxe4 19.xb7 xb7 20.b1+ c6
21.b6+ c5 22.b3+ Shirov,ALautier,J/Monaco MNC 2000 keep in mind this
was a blindfold game.) 13...d7 14.0-0 xe4 15.h5 d4 16.c3 e2+ 17.h1 c6
18.g3 Vallejo Pons,FSan Segundo Carrillo,P/San Sebastian 2009.
11.g3 not White's main continuation, but a fairly sensible one nonetheless, 11...fxe4 12.g2
g7 13.xe4 e6 14.h5! c8 15.c3 e7 16.d1 xd5 (16...c5 17.b4 b6 18.g5
f8 19.e3 f5 20.g2 e4 21.ac2 f7 22.d4 Sax,GShariazdanov,A/Bihac BIH 1999.)
17.xd5 Volokitin,AMoiseenko,A/Ukrainian Championship, Kiev 2011, when
17...d7 is natural.

11...g7 12.exf5
12.d3!? this might be White's most aggressive course of action. Most of the time White
gets a safe king, while Black's is a bit drafty, 12...e6 13.h5 (13.xb5!? axb5
14.xb5 is dangerous for Black, 14...d7 (14...c8 see Almasi,ZSutovsky,E/Paks
HUN 2005) 15.exf5 b8! this move makes a lot of sense to me,
a) 15...0-0 16.0-0! (16.g4 h8! Istratescu,AMoiseenko,A/Canadian Open,
Montreal 2008) 16...e4! (16...b8 17.a4 e8 (17...f6?! Stefansson,H
Stany,G/Parsvnath Open, New Delhi 2011) 18.g4 h8 19.e4! the queen eyes the
knight on c6, Almasi,ZWang Yue/Paks HUN 2006) 17.a4 e8 18.g4 h8
19.ad1 Kotronias,VPapadopoulos,I/Greek Championship, Rhodes 2008, when
19...b8 seems best.
b) 15...b8 16.a4 g8!? is interesting (16...0-0 17.0-0 transposes to 16...b8 above)
16.a4! undoubtedly critical, (16.g4 0-0 17.0-0 h5! Almasi,ZNi Hua/Reggio Emilia 2009,
16.d3 a5!? an active and complex choice, Gutsche,DHamarat,T/correspondence
2004) 16...0-0 17.0-0 Kaidanov,GPolgar,J/Hilton Head theme match 2010, when
17...xb5 is best.) 13...0-0 14.0-0 f4 15.ad1 h8 16.g3 g8 17.h1 f8 18.e2
g5 19.f3 f5 20.gxf4 (20.exf5 xf5 21.xf4!? led to sharp play in Svidler,PVan
Wely,L/Wijk aan Zee NED 2004) 20...exf4 (20...fxe4 21.xe4 f5 22.e3 exf4 23.xf4
e5 24.d5 g4 25.xg4 xg4 26.g1 g7= Anand,VLeko,P/Wijk aan Zee NED 2001.
) 21.xf4 xa2 22.exf5 xf5 23.e4 f7 24.h5 f6 25.c4 e5= Anand,V
Topalov,V/Monaco MNC 2001, with equal chances in a sharp position.
40

12...xf5

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqk+-tr0
9+-+-+pvlp0
9p+nzp-+-+0
9+p+Nzpl+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9sN-zP-+-+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
13.c2 0-0
13...e6 14.a4
a) 14.g3 This line is no problem for Black. 14...0-0 15.g2 f5 16.0-0 a5 17.e1
a1) 17.h5 a7 (17...b8!?) 18.a4! bxa4 19.xa4 e7 20.ce3 xd5 21.xd5 xd5
22.xd5 b7 23.h4! f6 24.c4 d7 (24...g7 25.b4) 25.a1 d8 26.b4 b5
27.d1 Nunn,JDelaney,P/Bunratty IRL 2000, Black's K is wide open.
a2) 17.e2 b8 18.fd1 d7 19.a3 a7 20.d2 f7 21.ad1 h8 22.f4 b4
23.c4 b5 24.fxe5 bxc3 25.bxc3 xc3 26.xc3 xc4 27.e3 dxe5 28.d5 xd5
29.xd5 f4 Mohr,GJelen,I/Bled SLO 1999.
17...c8 18.a3 a7 19.d2 e4 20.ad1 e5 This unopposed B defends d6 and could do
serious damage on the dark squares. 21.c2 h8 22.h6 e8 23.ce3 c6 24.a3
g6 25.h4 f7 26.d2 b8 27.ed1 xd5 28.xd5 e7 29.5d2 g8 30.h1
g6 31.f4 exf3 32.xf3 g7 Ivanchuk,VLeko,P/Monaco MNC 2001, Black has
good attacking chances.
b) 14.ce3 e7 15.g3 xd5 16.xd5 0-0 17.g2 f5 18.0-0 a5 19.d2 b8 20.ad1
h8 Sometimes White's knight on d5 gets in the way. 21.h1 d7 22.f4 e4 23.e3
xa2 24.a1 c4 25.xc4 bxc4 26.xa5 b3 27.fa1 b7 28.xd6 xb2 Wang
PinKrasenkow,M/Shanghai CHN 2000.
14...0-0 (14...b8 15.axb5 axb5 16.a6 (16.cb4!?) 16...c8 17.cb4 xb4 18.xb4 d5!
With the B pair and a formidable center Black gets good play. 19.a5 0-0 20.xb5
d4 21.xb8 xb8 22.e2 e4 Borriss,MMcShane,L/Dresden GER 2000.) 15.axb5
axb5 16.xa8 xa8 17.ce3 b7 18.g4 White clamps down on Black's f5 break,
but is lagging in development. 18...e7 19.g2 xd5 20.xd5 e7 21.h4 c8
22.g5 c5 23.e4 d5

41

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+k+0
9+-+-wqpvlp0
9-+-+l+-+0
9+ptrpzp-zP-0
9-+-+L+-zP0
9+-zP-sN-+-0
9-zP-+-zP-+0
9+-+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
24.xd5 xd5 25.xd5 e4 26.e2 e5 27.b3 c7 28.g1 b4 29.g6 hxg6 30.xg6 f8=
Kasparov,GLeko,P/Wijk aan Zee NED 2000.

14.ce3 e6
Returning to survey d5.
14...g6!? provokes White into a sharpening of the struggle, 15.h4 e4?! (15...h6!? 16.g4
e4! is probably a better try, Mista,AMoiseenko,A/Warsaw (rapid) 2007.) 16.h5
(16.d3 xd5 17.xd5 f5 18.g4! takes the fight to Black, Yu YangyiWang
Yue/Chinese Championship, Xinghua 2011., 16.a4 xd5 17.xd5 b4 18.cxb4 h8
Ponomariov,RRogozenko,D/Istanbul TUR 2000., 16.e2 xd5 17.xd5 f5 Palac,M
Vaisser,A/Cannes FRA 2000) 16...g5 17.e2 (17.h3 h8 18.g3 (18.g4!? White
plays for a kingside light square bind. 18...f5! It's now or never.. White had the strong
positional threat of d3. 19.gxf5 xf5 20.g3 h6 21.xf5 xf5 SadykovNi Hua 41st
World Junior Goa 2002 White's king is in bad shape.) 18...h6 19.d3 xd5 20.f5
f6 21.c2 e6 22.xg7 d5 23.d2 b4 24.h6 e4 25.h5 e5 26.g5 f5 27.f4
exf3+ 28.f2 bxc3 29.bxc3 e2+= TimmanLeko/Sarajevo 1999.) 17...a7 18.f3
xf3 19.xf3 f5 20.h6 xh6 21.h5 g6 22.xf5 af7 23.xf7 xf7 24.g4 xe3
25.xe3 xg4 26.xg4 f8 27.e2 b4= Polgar,JLeko,P/Wijk aan Zee NED
2000.

15.d3 f5 16.h5

42

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9+-+-+-vlp0
9p+nzpl+-+0
9+p+Nzpp+Q0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-zPLsN-+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
9tR-+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
16.a4 b4 17.0-0 bxc3 18.bxc3 h8 19.b1 e4 20.f4 d7 21.c4 e5 22.e6 xe6
23.xe6 g5 24.d5 ac8 25.c4 e7 26.xe5 dxe5 27.c4 g6 28.h1 cd8
29.b6 Leko,PKramnik,V/Frankfurt GER 2000.
16.0-0 a7! (16...e7 17.xe7+ xe7 18.xf5! Aronian,LHarikrishna,P/Lausanne SUI 2001.
(31), 16...h8!? J.PolgarIllescas/Dos Hermanas 1999) 17.a4 (17.f4 e7!
McDonald,NKwiatkowski,F/Hastings Challengers 2001) 17...e7 18.xe7+ xe7
19.axb5 axb5 20.xb5 d5 gave Black reasonable compensation for the pawn in
Anand,VLeko,P/Wijk aan Zee NED 2005.

16...e4 17.c2 e7 18.d1

18.f4 f7 19.b3 d5 20.g5 g6 21.xd8 axd8 22.exd5 xf4 23.xf4 b4 24.e6
xe6 25.xe6+= Anand,VKramnik,V/Frankfurt GER 2000.

18...g6
18...b4!? This is an original pawn sacrifice in order to drive the knight away from the
centre, GoloschchapovVolzhin/RUSCup 1999.

19.f4 exf3 20.gxf3 d7 21.0-0 f7

43

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0
9+-+-+qvlp0
9p+-zpl+n+0
9+p+N+p+Q0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-zP-sNP+-0
9PzPL+-+-zP0
9+-+R+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
22.f4 ac8 23.f3 c5 24.h3 h6 25.g3 h7 26.b4 cc8 27.d2
Ponomariov,REljanov,P/Kharkov RUS 2001.

44