Table of Contents

Author
Key to symbols
Preface
CHAPTER 1. THE BUDAPEST GAMBIT
CHAPTER 2. THE BLUMENFELD GAMBIT
CHAPTER 3. THE TARRASCH AND MARSHALL GAMBITS
CHAPTER 4. THE VON HENNIG-SCHARA GAMBIT
CHAPTER 5. SLAV GAMBITS
CHAPTER 6. DUTCH GAMBITS
CHAPTER 7. EASILY REFUTED GAMBITS
CHAPTER 8. THE ALBIN GAMBIT
MODEL GAMES WITH EXERCISES
EXERCISES ON THE BLUMENFELD GAMBIT
EXERCISES ON THE VON HENNIG-SCHARA GAMBIT

2
 GAMBIT KILLER

by
Ivan Salgado Lopez

Thinkers Publishing 2018

www.thinkerspublishing.com

Editor in Chief
Romain Edouard

Consulting Editor
Daniël Vanheirzeele

Proofreading
Chris Tilling

Graphic Artist
Philippe Tonnard

Cover design
Iwan Kerkhof

Back cover photo

Irina Petrova

3
Typesetting
i-Press ‹www.i-press.pl›

First edition 2018 by Thinkers Publishing

Gambit Killer
Copyright © 2018 Ivan Salgado Lopez

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise,
without the prior written permission from the publisher.

ISBN 978-94-9251-026-6
D/2018/137730/8

All sales or enquiries should be directed to Thinkers Publishing, 9850 Landegem, Belgium.

e-mail: info@thinkerspublishing.com
website: www.thinkerspublishing.com

4
 Keys to symbols used
² White is slightly better
³ Black is slightly better
± White is better
µ Black is better
+– White has a decisive advantage
–+ Black has a decisive advantage
= equality
© with compensation
„ with counterplay
ƒ with an initiative
÷ unclear
? a weak move
?? a blunder
! a good move
!! an excellent move
!? a move worth considering
?! a move of doubtful value
™ only move
# mate

5
6
 Preface
What Can You Expect from This Book?
In the beginning, books were the place where you could find information. We did not have the Internet,
so a place was required to store information in case we needed to check something.

Things have changed dramatically over the years. Every year, the amount of information increases. It’s
impossible to know everything, because we don’t have the time or the ability to store all the information
in our heads.

Chess is, after all, a game. It’s important to find the best moves. You don’t need to know everything
about chess; what you need to know is the right things! This is why children now learn the game more
quickly – they get the right information. Even if they don’t know many things, they have the right
patterns in their heads!

This is my first goal in this book. I want to give you ONLY the information that you need, no more, no
less. Of course, this was not an easy task, but I tried my best.

Another thing I consider important is how the information is organized. The same information can be
presented in many different ways; sometimes we will understand it perfectly, sometimes not. In my
opinion, it is very important that a chess book should follow pedagogical principles to improve the
learning process! I therefore decided to separate the material as follows:

1. Introduction. Before entering the main lines, I think it is a good idea to show you some basics about
the line. If I give you loads of lines, and you haven’t met the line before, everything will be much more
difficult.

2. Historical games. When we were kids, we loved stories. Let’s go back to those times. I will show you
some games I consider important; I will show you chess patterns. If you remember them, it will be much
easier for you to understand what follows.

3. One page of theory. How can you know what to do if you don’t know where you’re going? On this
page I will show you briefly the path we will follow later.

4. The theory. You know some history, you know the patterns, now it’s time to know the good moves! I
have tried to show you the most important lines. Of course everything was checked with a computer, so
normally you can trust my analysis, although I’m a human and can make mistakes!

5. Understand it! In some variations, we will get typical middlegames where the concrete lines are not
so important. Here I would like to check some positions more deeply, so that if you get them, you will
have a clear plan.

6. Complete games and try it!I have given some model games and exercises which you can solve or not.

7
The idea of these exercises is that you don’t just follow a game passively. At some point, I will ask you
something and you should be ready to answer!

It would be easy for me to provide you only with opening knowledge, but you probably wouldn’t
understand most of it, so this book will be your trainer. I will not only teach you how to kill these
gambits, I will teach you middlegame and endgame principles; I will teach you why some moves are
better from a practical point of view, no matter what the engine says; I will tell you some funny stories
from time to time, just to make the book more interesting.

Most of the opening information was ready a year ago, but I have been checking and adding to it
constantly. The result is the book you have in your hands right now. I gave it my best; I hope you
appreciate it!

Ivan Salgado
May 2018

8
9
CHAPTER 1

10
THE BUDAPEST GAMBIT

INTRODUCTION

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5

The Budapest Gambit! It is very popular at the amateur level, which is understandable. By playing it, you
don’t have to study the Nimzo-Indian, Grunfeld or King’s Indian! You immediately get an open game
with some tactical tricks if White is not careful enough!
White is often not ready for this gambit. He may know some variation but not very deeply, while black
players know the tricks of the position quite well so White can quickly end up in trouble! But once you
have read my book, believe me, this is not going to happen to you anymore!

3.dxe5 Ng4

3...Ne4 is the Fajarowicz which is simply bad. We will have a look at it later.

4.e3!

This is my concept! We push e3 and f4 and only then develop the pieces. Our pawns easily take control
of the center! In the theoretical chapter we will see how powerful this concept is. I will also share with
you why the other options don’t convince.
a) 4.Nf3 Bc5 5.e3 Nc6 The ideas here are similar to my recommendation but there is one big
difference: I cannot play f4, and I should exchange at least one pair of knights. This makes Black’s

11
defense easier, in my opinion.
b) 4.Bf4 This is White’s try to keep the pawn. The problem is that things are not so easy and Black has
some interesting lines.

4...Nc6 (4...g5!? It’s a tricky line. In theory White should be completely fine, but in a practical game
things are not so easy. 5.Bg3 Bg7 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.h4 Ngxe5 8.Nxe5 Nxe5 9.Nc3 g4 10.e3 d6 11.Be2 Be6
12.Rc1 0-0 Both sides played very normal moves and the computer considers White better, but even a
great player like Wojtaszek misplayed the position. 13.b3 c6 14.h5 f5 15.h6 Bf6 16.Qd2 Qe7

17.f4?! Creating a weakness. From here on, Jobava plays excellent. 17...gxf3 18.gxf3 Kh8 19.f4 Rad8
20.Qc2 Ng4 21.Bxg4 Rg8 22.Ne2 Rxg4 23.Kf2 d5 24.Rcd1 Re8 25.c5 Bf7 26.Qc1 Qe4 27.Nd4 0–1
(27) Wojtaszek,R (2711)-Jobava,B (2710) Wijk aan Zee 2014. This can happen if you follow a

12
 computer main line; you get an interesting position but it turns out to be not so easy to play in practice.
Black is more familiar with the position and outplays you. We will avoid this.) 5.Nf3 Bb4+ 6.Nc3
Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 Qe7 8.Qd5 f6 This is a very famous variation where, in my opinion, Black has good
compensation.

4...Nxe5 5.f4!

This is the main point! What will we do now? First, let’s look into the history of the variation, checking
some of the most important games in the development of this gambit. I suggest doing this first for a few
reasons:
1. The Budapest Gambit is the kind of gambit that you will likely face quite often. In my practice I have
faced it twice in long games... and I’m normally an e4 player! We should have a deep knowledge of the
things we play the most. To under stand something deeply you need to know more than just the moves.
You also need a feeling for the positions, something you can get by learning the history of the variations.
This will also help you memorize everything!
2. The games where not chosen by chance. You will always gain valuable ideas from the best chess
players in the world. Moreover, it’s a very entertaining way to show you the strategical subtleties of the
position, and maybe you will learn them without realizing! I will do something very similar in the
chapters about the Blumenfeld and the Von Hennig-Schara, because I consider them to be the most
popular and correct gambits. Without further ado, let’s get to the games.
THE FIRST IMPORTANT GAME IN THE BUDAPEST

J. R. Capablanca
J. H. White
London, 06.08.1919

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4

13
The World Champion Capablanca faces the Budapest Gambit. How to play against it for the first time?

4.Nf3

He follows the rule, first the knights, then the bishops!

4...Bc5 5.e3 Nc6 6.Bd2!?

Very interesting move. Capablanca is looking for harmony. He understood that the bishop on c1 is the
most difficult piece to develop.

6...0-0 7.Bc3 Re8 8.Be2

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8...d6!?

But Black doesn’t want a calm game. He is ready to sacrifice whatever is needed to get a sharp position!
8...a5 would be the positional way. 9.0-0 Ngxe5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Nd2 d6 The position is more or less
equal, although maybe a bit easier for White to play.

9.exd6

Capablanca accepts the challenge!

9.0-0 Ngxe5 10.Nxe5 dxe5=

9...Bxe3!?

Very interesting, but not enough. Any way, we are playing gambit style, so we should allow ourselves
these things!
9...Rxe3!? This was another fantastic sacrifice.

10.0-0! This time it is better not to accept it!

[10.fxe3?! Nxe3 11.Qd2 Bf5! Black simply puts all the pieces into the game. 12.Na3 (12.g4 Bg6 would
not help White.) 12...Nxg2+ 13.Kd1 Now Black should react very fast. White is ready to play Bd3,
exchange pieces and get a better position with a rook up. 13...Be3 14.Qd5 Bf4! One of the key moves!
Black tries to play ...Ne3, so the only way for White is 15.Bd2, and now Black continues by including all
the pieces in the attack, which is one of the main things that we should do when we have the initiative.

15
15...Qf6!! Next move, if possible, is ... Rd8, and then we see what we can collect. The computer says that
the position is equal, but actually anything can happen. What is clear is that Black has more than enough
compensation for the rook.]
10...Re6 The rook is ready to go to h6 in the right moment. 11.Nbd2 cxd6!? (11...Rxd6 12.Qc2 Black has
problems with the bishop on c8 and cannot create real threats, so White is better.) 12.Nb3 Bb6 13.h3
Nge5 14.Nxe5 dxe5 15.c5 with a slightly better position for White, although not much.

10.fxe3!

10.0-0!? was good enough and now Black doesn’t have the possibility to develop the rook on the third
rank. But Capablanca didn’t see any reason not to take the piece, or maybe he was overconfident! He
almost didn’t lose any games during this period of his chess career!

10...Nxe3 11.Qd2 Nxc4

16
Now comes one of these difficult moments in chess when you have two interesting moves with the queen
and you don’t know which one to play. At the end of a think you often decide almost randomly to play
one of them and only then see what happens. Here the choice was not easy.

12.Qg5!?

12.Qf4! seems to be more accurate 12...Ne3 White has a fantastic zig zag manoeuvre now that reminds
me of many different sports, but not chess! 13.Kf2 Ng4+ 14.Kf1 Ne3+ 15.Kg1! Nc2

Now Black wants to take the rook to gain some compensation. 16.Ng5! Counterattack! 16...Be6 17.dxc7
Qd7 18.Kf2! Again!! White’s king steps out of the way to get the rook into the game. 18...Nxa1 19.Rd1
Qe7 20.Bd3 and at the right moment White will play Na3 and take the knight on a1. The attacking ideas

17
on the kingside would still be there. But who is mating who?

12...f6 13.Qd5+

Very risky but interesting.

13.Bxf6 This was the calmest way. 13...Qxf6 14.Qxf6 gxf6 15.Nc3 Ne3!? or maybe not so calm! Now
the queens disappear, but the tactical ideas are still in the air! 16.Nb5! Nxg2+ 17.Kf2 Nf4 18.Bf1 and
White seems to be slightly better in this position, but this was really difficult to see after 12...f6.

13...Be6 14.Qd3 Nxd6!

Now ... Bc4 is coming, and ...Bf5 at some point. The position is not funny. Maybe the Cuban now
regretted his move Qg5. He decided to get his king to safety and give material back.

15.0-0!?

Giving the queen, which is a very interesting concept, but in this position it doesn’t seem to be enough.
15.Nbd2 Bf5 16.Qd5+ Kh8 17.Kf1 Capablanca probably didn’t like this kind of position; it was not
clear enough for him.

15...Bc4 16.Qxc4+ Nxc4 17.Bxc4+ Kh8 18.Nbd2

Now we get a position where Black has a queen and two pawns for 3 pieces.

18
Shouldn’t that be enough for an advantage? I’m not sure at all. The computer always overestimates the
queen, but right now the white pieces are extremely well coordinated, and if they are able to create threats
on the kingside the position could be very dangerous for Black. I find it quite amazing that Capablanca
came up with this concept as early as 1919. Capablanca won the game even though he was probably lost
at some point. These positions are very difficult to play simply. The most important result is that after this
game, the best players in the world understood that the Budapest Gambit was not so stupid! They should
take it seriously! Let’s check what happened till the end, mainly because of its historical interest!

18...Qd6 19.Kh1 Rad8 20.Rae1 Qc5 21.Rxe8+ Rxe8 22.a3 b5 23.Ba2 a5 24.Nb3 Qc4 25.Nfd2 Qe2
26.Nc1 Qe3 27.Nf3 Rd8 28.Re1 Qc5 29.Nb3 Qb6 30.Nbd4 Nxd4 31.Bxd4 c5 32.Bg1 Qc6 33.h4

The engine gives a decisive advantage for Black. The easiest way was to push the kingside with 33...c4 or

19
33...b4. Black decided to make some air for his king and after that, everything went wrong!

33...h5 34.Bf7 f5?

More holes!
34...c4!

35.Ng5 Qc7 36.Bxh5+

One wrong move with ...h5 and everything went wrong!

36...Qg3 37.Nf3 Qd6 38.Ne5 Qf6 39.g3 Rd2 40.Bxc5 Rc2 41.Bd4 Qa6 42.Nf7+ Kh7 43.Ng5+ Kh6
44.Bf3 Qc8 45.Re6+ g6 46.Re7 Rc1+ 47.Kh2 Rc2+ 48.Kh3 f4+ 49.g4 Qg8 50.Nf7+ Kh7 51.Ne5+

1–0

UNDERSTANDING THE BUDAPEST THANKS TO ALEKHINE

A. Alekhine
M. Euwe
Amsterdam, 1921

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5

Euwe is playing against the great Alekhine a sharp opening? Looks quite risky. Probably he thought that
it was better to get the initiative against Alekhine than give it to him. Did he manage?

3.dxe5 Ng4 4.e4!?

20
Alekhine comes with a new concept! It’s clear that he was aware of Capablanca’s game, so he
presumably thought that playing with e3 was too passive and that he should roll his center as fast as
possible.

4...h5!?

Black continues to play aggressive and wants to provoke h3, which makes a lot of sense. Anyway, this
move could create weaknesses at some point.

5.Nh3!?

I would never play such a move, but it actually looks quite strong! At some point, the knight can jump to
g5, making way for f4... By the way, this is considered really good by the engine! It is important to notice
that Euwe, after this game with Alekhine, employed Alekhine’s way of playing!

5...Nc6

5...Nxe5?! This makes the things easier for White. 6.Nc3 d6 7.Nf4 Nbc6 8.Be2 g6 9.Nfd5 Euwe simply
places the pieces in the most normal squares, and that’s sufficient. 9...Be6 10.Nb5 Rc8 11.f4! and White
was clearly better in Euwe, M-Spielmann, R Bad Pistyan 1922 HCL.

6.Nc3

6.Bg5 Be7 7.Bxe7 Qxe7 8.Nc3 seems stronger than the game. The point is that the f8 bishop is stronger
than the one on c1 because, after e4, some weaknesses were created on the g1–a7 diagonal.

6...Bc5

21
7.Nd5!?

Playing according to his active style, he puts his pieces in the most active squares. Normally this is a
good policy, but here it is not so good.
7.Be2 was easier. After 7...Ngxe5 8.Bg5! f6 9.Bd2 White is better here. Now we see that the pawn on h5
is misplaced.

7...Ncxe5

7...Ngxe5?! This was played in a later game. 8.Bg5! f6 9.Be3 First, White creates weaknesses, then he
develops. 9...d6 10.Nhf4 Bg4 11.Be2 Very simple again. 11...Qd7?! (11...Bxe2 12.Qxe2 Bxe3 13.Nxe3
and Black would be worse, but the position is holdable.) 12.f3 Bxe3 13.Nxe3 Be6 14.Nxe6! Qxe6 15.0-0
0-0 16.Nd5 and White was falling apart positionally, again, in Euwe,M-Mieses,J Hastings 1923.

8.b4!?

We see the difference between Capablanca and Alekhine. The first played as calm as possible, the second
as active as possible! Now this is rather typical of the manner in which Alekhine played his games. He
put pressure on his opponents all of the time, and every move was very important. Euwe played careless
with his next move. Who would think that a bishop move would decide the fate of the game?

8...Be7?

Allowing White the advantage of the bishop pair.

8...Bf8! with the idea of ...c6, would give Black an interesting game. This was the best, but they couldn’t
find it yet. In 1920s they were not thinking about these kind of moves... But, in 1925, a French player
called Gaudin found the idea! 9.Bb2

22
[9.Bg5?! f6 10.Bd2 c6 11.Ndf4 g5! 12.f3 d5!?

Gaudin is playing like Alekhine!! 13.cxd5 gxf4 (13...Qb6 was the best) 14.fxg4? Bxg4µ Black was better
in Renaud, G-Gaudin, R Nice 1925]
9...c6! and now White cannot take the bishop on e7, as in the game.

9.Bb2! c6?!

9...d6 was more stubborn.

10.Nxe7 Qxe7 11.c5!

23
Please, friends, don’t allow yourself to end up with a bishop on c8 like this one!

11...a5 12.Qd4 axb4 13.f3

And soon White won. It looks like Alekhine simply destroyed the gambit, but objectively things were not
so easy. Anyway, we should pay attention to the concept of playing as active as possible. Not only in this
gambit, but in chess in general!

1–0

A. Alekhine
Kralicek
Czechoslovakia (simul), 1925

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.e4 Nxe5 5.f4 Ng6!?

6.Nf3

6.Nc3 Bb4 7.Nge2 This would be much better. It’s important for White to protect the weakest point in
the position, the e4 pawn.

6...Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Qe7!

White’s center is under attack!

8.Bd3?

8.g3! It was the only move but a great resource! 8...Qxe4+ 9.Be2 Bxd2+ 10.Qxd2 White is clearly better.

24
White is a pawn down but the black queen is completely misplaced. After Nc3 White can decide where
to castle, either on the queenside or on the kingside. Then, at some point, play f5 and mate Black!

8...Nxf4

Black won a pawn and, later on, the game. Did this really happen? Maybe the colours are wrong? Would
be interesting to know if Alekhine really blundered like this, even in a simul. Anyway, the concept is
important: The central pawns can be weak!

0–1

J. Kracmar, Jindrich
A. Alekhine
Czechoslovakia (simul), 1925

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.e4

Yes, you are not dreaming. Alekhine plays the Budapest gambit with Black and he is facing his own
medicine! What will happen now?

4...Nxe5

25
The move ...h5 is not needed, Black has something different in mind!

5.Nc3 Nbc6

5...Bc5!? This was more accurate! Later you will understand why!

6.f4 Ng6 7.Nf3

7.Be3!? Taking control of the g1–a7 diagonal was important.

7...Bc5!

Now we see one of the problems of the pawn on e4. White’s king is a bit weak and to compensate this
White should play extremely actively.

8.Bd3?!

8.h4! This is, nowadays, a typical way to fight against such knights on g6. 8...h5 9.Be2 following with
Ng5 at some point, and White is better.

8...0-0?!

26
8...d6! was better. The bishop is ready to go to g4 and the knight can jump to h4. 9.g3 0-0 and Black ’s
pieces are perfectly placed.

9.Na4?

9.h4! again was good. No one doubts that Alekhine would play this way with White, right?

9...Qe7?

But this is a mistake, similar to the one we saw in his game with Euwe. 9...d6! 10.Nxc5 dxc5 was better.
Black gives the bishop but gets the d4-square for the knight.

10.Nxc5 Qxc5 11.Qe2 Nb4 12.Bb1

27
12...d5!?

Changing the nature of the position as soon as possible.

13.a3?

13.Be3 Qxc4 14.Qxc4 dxc4 15.Bc5! and White would have been better.

13...dxe4 14.Qxe4 Qc6

14...Nc6 15.Be3 Qe7 was a better.

15.0-0 Qxe4 16.Bxe4 Nc6

White was slightly better in the endgame and eventually won. It was a simul and, in my opinion, because
of that Alekhine couldn’t find the best moves, but he was aware of the problems after 4.e4.

1–0

A. Alekhine
I. L. Rabinovich
Baden-Baden, 02.05.1925

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.e4 Nxe5 5.f4 Ng6

5...Nec6! is a better option, avoiding the suffering Rabinovich experienced.

6.Nf3 Bc5?!

28
Yes, Black takes the important diagonal, but Alekhine has a very active possibility!

7.f5! Nh4 8.Ng5!

Fighting against the knight on h4. The queen will move to g4 or h5 and Black will have big problems.

8...Qe7 9.Qg4 f6 10.Qh5+ g6 11.Qxh4 fxg5 12.Bxg5

And White was completely winning. Again, Alek hine plays extremely actively. Hopefully, you can play
with the same energy as him from time to time after seeing his games!

1–0

A. Alekhine
J. A. Seitz
Hastings, 31.12.1925

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.e4 Nxe5 5.f4 Nec6!

29
The best way for Black. We have already seen how many problems appeared because of the knight on g6.

6.Be3!!

This move... it’s clear that Alekhine understood how important the diagonal was. Almost anyone
(included me) would play Nf3 or Nc3 automatically, but not Alekhine. First, he controls the important
diagonal. Although White is not better, his concept is very nice and easy to miss.

6...Bb4+ 7.Nc3 Qe7

7...Qh4+! 8.g3 Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 Qe7 10.Bg2 d6 with chances for both sides.

8.Bd3?!

8.Nge2! A computer sacrifice, but no less brilliant because of that. Once again, it is possible to give the
pawn on e4 away in search of the initiative. 8...Qxe4

30
9.Kf2!! Qe7 10.Nd5 White is much better.

8...f5?

With the queen on e7, Black is not ready for such moves.

8...Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 Na6∞

9.Qh5+

9.Nge2! fxe4 10.Bc2 Again, this sacrifice was good.

9...g6

31
Creating holes on dark squares.

10.Qf3 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3

11...fxe4?

This activates the white pieces to the maximum.

11...d6! 12.Ne2 fxe4 13.Bxe4 Bg4! exchanging the light squared bishop.

12.Bxe4 0-0?

12...d6!

13.Bd5+ Kh8 14.Nh3

32
White wants to play 0-0 and Ng5. Black ’s position collapsed quickly. Now it is time to jump a bit in
history and get to one of the biggest Alekhine admirers and the best chess player in history, at least in my
opinion.

1–0

UNCLE GARRY KNOWS ALMOST EVERYTHING

G. Kasparov
Mercury Asset Management
London (simul), 02.1993
It’s time to follow Kasparov. It was well known that he tried his best even in the simuls. Before I played
chess (being either too little or unborn!) he came to Mondariz, a place that became the center of chess in
Spain and Galicia thanks to the efforts of the Marcote family, especially Fernando and his son Javier.
Thanks to them, Spanish chess jumped to another level. Actually, the name of the school in Mondariz is
Kasparov-Marcote. People who attended this simul told me how angry Kasparov got when he didn’t win
as many games as expected... So we can expect that he was playing serious lines!

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.Nc3

He doesn’t care about the pawn and simply develops.

4...Nc6 5.e3!

Here is Kasparov’s great point.

33
With a pawn on e3, like this, White doesn’t have so many weaknesses! Of course, I have no doubt that
Kasparov was familiar with Alekhine games and he decided to improve upon them!

5...Ngxe5 6.a3?!

the concept was right, but not the execution.

6.f4! as we know, the knight on g6 is misplaced in many lines.

6...a6?

Black wants to have the a7-square for the bishop after ... Bc5, but this is too slow.
6...d6! 7.f4 Nd7 and Black would be completely fine. The point is that after ...g6 and ... Bg7 all the
pieces will be on the best squares.

7.f4 Ng6 8.g3!?

34
This is what I would like to call Kasparov’s set up against the Budapest. Look at the knight on g6 and the
white pieces. The bishop will go to g2, and one knight will go to d5, while the other jumps maybe to g5
or c3, depending on Black ’s bishop. Simply pure harmony between pawns and pieces.

8...Bc5 9.b4 Ba7 10.Nf3 d6 11.Bg2 Be6 12.Qd3 Qd7 13.0-0 Nge7 14.Kh1 Bg4 15.Nd5 Rb8 16.Bb2

And Black ’s position is extremely bad. A diagram would be nice to remember such a set up. 1–0

G. Kasparov
EuropChess
Madrid (simul), 11.06.1997

35
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.e3 Nxe5 5.Nc3 Nbc6 6.a3?!

Years later Kasparov didn’t realize this was a mistake! It is probably one of the few Kasparov games he
didn’t analyze.

6...Be7

6...d6!

7.f4 Ng6 8.g3!? d6 9.Bg2 Be6 10.Nd5 Qd7 11.b4 Bg4 12.Qd3 0-0 13.Nf3 a5 14.b5 Nd8 15.Bb2

Looks familiar, doesn’t it? Alekhine and Kasparov had this in common: they worked really hard and
always tried to find the best variation in the opening.

36
Because of that they are ideal for this chapter. But there is one more player who does the same in today’s
era...

½-½

THE OPENING KILLER

V. Kramnik
S. Mamedyarov
Nice (rapid), 17.03.2008
Until recently, when Kramnik’s style became, let’s say, a bit more practical, he was well known for
playing extremely well analyzed variations and, normally, the best lines. I remember when I was a kid,
one Grandmaster was horrified upon seeing Kramnik play, with Black, against one of his main variations,
which he had analyzed quite deeply. And I really mean “horrified”! Shouting was involved, as well as
exclamations of disgusted about Kramnik’s existence in this world! I asked him: What’s wrong? He
replied: “I like this line a lot, and nobody yet knows that there is only one variation where Black
equalizes. But for sure he will now play that variation and then everyone will know it!” No need to tell
you what happened...

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.Nc3 Nc6 5.e3 Ngxe5 6.a3?!

Ma k ing t he sa me mista ke as Kasparov. Did he forget about his lines or did he blindly repeat without
enough investigation? Who knows?

6...a5 7.f4 Ng6 8.Bd3!

37
But this is new. He doesn’t play like Kasparov and decides to play more actively. We can call it Kramnik
’s set up against the Budapest.

8...Bc5 9.Qh5!?

9.Nge2! I like this more, as you will see later.

9...d6 10.Nf3! a4 11.Bd2

Again, we have harmony, but in a different way. White is ready to castle queenside and mate Black.

11...0-0 12.Ne4

12.0-0-0 was more logical, maybe d5 is for the knight. I don’t see any move for Black, and White is
perhaps already winning.

12...Qe8 13.0-0-0 f5 14.Nxc5 dxc5

38
15.Kb1?!

15.g4! was more accurate, with a winning position.

15...Nge7 16.Qh4 h6

And it’s not so clear anymore. Once again Kramnik gets to the right concept and kills a line. Kasparov
and Kramnik only neglected the d6 opportunity for Black, which gets the knight to d7. Anyway, it is
fascinating that all the main ideas that you will find in the chapter are connected with the ideas of three
World Champions. It is not by chance that we are going through this history first. Like this, things get
fixed in our mind much more easily.

0–1

GET IT FAST!

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.e3!

Forcing the knight to move.

4...Nxe5

a) 4...Bb4+ 5.Bd2! Bxd2+ 6.Qxd2 Nxe5 7.f4! and the plan is very easy. 7...Nec6 8.g3! Kasparov’s set
up.
b) 4...h5?! 5.f4! Bc5 6.Qf3±

5.f4!

39
The main point. We should avoid ...d6 allowing the knight to d7.

5...Ng6

a) 5...Nec6 6.Nf3! Now Black should decide how to play. 6...g6 (6...Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Qe7 8.Kf2!

8...0-0 9.Bxb4 Qxb4 10.Qc2 Qc5 11.Nc3 d6 12.Bd3 h6 13.a3²; 6...Bc5 7.Bd3 0-0 8.Nc3 d6 9.a3 a5
10.Bd2 h6 11.Qe2!± Kramnik ’s set up.) 7.Bd2! Like this we make use of the weaknesses on the
kingside. 7...Bg7 8.Bc3 0-0 9.Bxg7 Kxg7 10.Nc3²
b) 5...Bb4+ 6.Bd2! Bxd2+ 7.Qxd2 Nec6 8.Nc3²

6.Nc3!

40
The most accurate move. Before developing our bishop to d3, it is very important to take control of the
d5- square.

6...Bc5!

6...Bb4 7.Nge2 0-0 8.a3 Bxc3+ 9.Nxc3±

7.Bd3! d6 8.Nge2!

If I play the knight to f3, Black will play ...Nh4 exchanging the knights. Moreover, there are tricks with
...Nxf4 if we castle. We can call this Salgado’s set up.

8...0-0 9.0-0 Re8

9...a5 10.Bd2 Nd7 11.Qc2 Re8 12.Ng3²

10.Bc2!

We postpone deciding where to place the knights and leave the square d3 for the queen.

10...Bxe3+?!

10...Nd7 11.Ne4! Bb6 12.N2c3 Placing the knights like this is very typical. 12...Ne7 13.Qh5 g6
14.Qe2² And Black ’s position has holes on the dark squares.

11.Bxe3 Rxe3 12.Qd2 Re8 13.f5 Ne5 14.f6!‚

41
 FIRST MOVES AND KNIGHT TO C6

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.e3!

Now Black has several options but only one is reasonable.

4...Nxe5

a) 4...h5?! Defending the knight like this is not so good. 5.f4! Bc5 6.Qf3± Here we see the difference.
The diagonal g1–a7 is not weakened.
b) 4...Bb4+ Trying first to exchange the bishop and then castle as soon as possible. 5.Bd2 Bxd2+

42
 6.Qxd2! Better to recapture with the queen. Our knight belongs on c3 to control d5. 6...Nxe5 7.f4! and
we will get similar positions to the ones we will see later.

5.f4!

There are almost no games with this move (I don’t like to count myself!). I could find only some
correspondence games, but not a single GM has tried it! The point is very easy: I want Black to commit
the knight, first. Once the knight is played to g6 or c6, I can plan how to place my pieces accordingly.
Hence, this is the most flexible way of playing. One important point to note is that the best square for the
black knight is c5, because from there he can attack the weakest point in White’s position, the e4-square.
We will always be very carefully not to allow that.

5...Nec6

5...Bb4+ 6.Bd2! Bxd2+ 7.Qxd2 Nec6 8.g3! I like this move very much, playing like Kasparov. We place
our bishop on the best diagonal, protect our weakest square and avoid the possible pawn break, d5, which
would allow Black to liberate the position.

8...0-0 9.Bg2 Re8 10.Nc3 d6 11.Nge2² Here every Grandmaster would finish their analysis with a
positive evaluation for White, and that White’s position is much easier to play. But this is not enough for
me. In the “Understand it” chapter we will try to figure out how to play this position and lay out all the
possible ideas for both colours.

6.Nf3!

This way of playing is the most active and the one I like the most. Anyway, I have a recipe for extremely
positional and lazy people!
6.g3!?

43
Trying to play like Garry once again. 6...Bc5! If there is a problem, this is it. The point is that the
pressure on e3 is a bit annoying. I like Kasparov’s set up much more when the dark-squared bishops are
exchanged.
[6...Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Qe7! Trying to annoy White’s coordination. 8.Kf2! We will find this move in the
Budapest several times. We lose the right to castle but the king has no problems at all. 8...0-0 9.Bg2 Re8

10.Nf3 (10.Ne2?! Bc5! 11.Qc1 Nb4! and some threats are coming!) 10...Na6 11.Re1 Nc5 12.Kg1 and
according to the computer, White is slightly better, although not as much as I would like!]
7.Bg2 0-0 8.Nf3! (8.Ne2?! Re8! Again, the pressure on e3 doesn’t allow us to develop our knight to e2.
9.Nbc3!? Bxe3 10.Bxe3 Rxe3 11.Nd5 Re8 But in this case, White doesn’t have enough compensation.)
8...Re8 9.0-0!

44
9...d6
[9...Bxe3+? here we have an idea! 10.Bxe3 Rxe3 11.Ng5! (Qh5 is coming!) 11...h6 12.Ne4 and the rook
is trapped! We will take the exchange with a winning position.]
10.Ng5!? h6 11.Ne4 Bb6 12.Nbc3 and White seems to be slightly better once again, although I get the
feeling that, with g3, we didn’t get the maximum from the position.

6...Bc5

This is always the most logical way.

a) 6...Bb4+ 7.Bd2! (7.Kf2!? is interesting here as well.) 7...Qe7 8.Kf2 I like this move order a bit more
because now the queen is on e7.

45
Maybe we will manage to gain a tempo with Nd5 in the future. 8...Bxd2
[8...0-0?! 9.Bxb4 Now the black pieces are misplaced. 9...Qxb4 (9...Nxb4 10.a3 N4c6 11.Nc3 d6
12.Bd3± all the white pieces are on the best squares.) 10.Qc2 Qc5 11.Nc3 d6 12.Bd3 h6 13.a3²

It is important to remember this position. White’s pieces are perfectly placed.]

9.Qxd2 Na6 10.Nc3 Nc5 11.g3! Again, we play like Kasparov. 11...0-0 12.Bg2 d6 13.Nd4²
b) 6...g6 Trying to get the bishop onto the long diagonal.

46
 We should fight this. 7.Bd2! A very important move. Now we will get the same as in the ...Bb4
variations, and the pawn on g6 will leave a hole on f6. 7...Bg7 8.Bc3 0-0 9.Bxg7 Kxg7 10.Nc3²

7.Bd3!

My favourite set up, with the idea of mating Black in the future.

7...0-0

a) 7...Nb4?! 8.Be2 and at some point we can follow with a3 and b4.
b) 7...a5 8.Nc3 d6 9.Bd2 nothing changes.

47
 c) 7...d5 8.cxd5 Qxd5 9.Nc3! We get many tempi. 9...Qd8 10.a3 following Qc2 or b4-Bb2 at the right
moment. White is much better.

8.Nc3

8.Bxh7+!? This is an interesting try, but I couldn’t manage to make it work. 8...Kxh7 9.Ng5+ Kg6!
10.Nc3 d5! The lines are really complicated. Probably White is slightly better, but we don’t need to
examine the details here.

8...d6 9.a3!

I like this move: Nb4 is not possible anymore, and at the right moment we can play b4.

9...a5 10.Bd2!

Completing development and not showing our cards about our king. Are we going to the kingside or to
the queenside?

10...h6!

It’s important to play this move. The sacrifice on h7 would come at some point!

11.Qe2±

The computer gives a very big advantage for White, and not without reason. All the pieces are developed
and only the king needs to move. Thanks to our attacking ideas with Bxh7 Black was forced to play h6,
and there will consequently be a hook on g5 for our g pawn. We will check this position more deeply in
the “Understand it” chapter. I don’t want you to get this position and get lost afterwards!

48
 THE KNIGHT GOES TO g6

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.e3! Nxe5 5.f4 Ng6

I consider this to be the main line. I know that this is not the best square for the knight, but it does have
several advantages:
1. The c6-square is available for the knight on b8.
2. If the white knight jumps to f3, ...Nh4 is possible.
3. Black has one more piece next to the king, and because of this it is more difficult to get mated!

6.Nc3!

The most solid variation. Before developing our bishop to d3, it is very important to take the d5-square
under control.
a) 6.h4!? This is a very interesting sacrifice. I was going to analyze it in more depth until I realized that
it was better to keep things simpler. 6...Nxh4 7.Nc3! and we play a pure gambit! 7...Nf5 8.Bd3 d6 9.g4
Ne7 10.e4² This is really interesting, but probably unnecessary. If you like it very much, you can check
it deeply by yourself. You will have a lot of fun!
b) 6.Bd3?! d5!=

6...Bc5

6...Bb4 Here, this doesn’t make so much sense, because after 7.Nge2! 0-0 8.a3 Black should exchange
the bishop. 8...Bxc3+ 9.Nxc3±

7.Bd3

49
Again, the bishop is directed towards the black king.
7.g3!? Again, it is possible to play like this, but you know what I think about this set-up already.
Anyway, it is so nice when you have two possible and very interesting options... 7...0-0 8.Bg2 Re8
9.Nge2 Bxe3 10.Bxe3 Rxe3 11.Be4! and the rook is trapped again!

7...d6 8.Nge2!

Actually, here comes my new idea for facing this variation. With our knight on f3 we should be worried
about ...Nh4. Moreover, we would not be able to castle because of ...Nxf4!

8...0-0 9.0-0 Re8

9...a5 10.Bd2 Nd7 11.Qc2 Re8 12.Ng3!

50
Remember this set up. The white pieces are in full harmony. 12...Nf6 (12...Bxe3+? 13.Bxe3 Rxe3
14.Nd5 Re8 15.f5± Black will be mated soon.) 13.Rae1²

10.Bc2!

I was very surprised when the computer gave this move as the main choice. I will try to explain to you
why this move is so good. First, the bishop would be under attack after the manoeuvre ...Nd7- Nc5, so
we will need to move him anyway. Another point, is that the queen gets to the d3-square to attack at
some point. The last thing, is that it keeps the position flexible, something very important in chess.
Maybe we want to play Ng3, maybe Ne4, Nd4... Our opponent would then need to be alert to all of these
ideas. White has very good attacking possibilities, I will try to show this in the next few moves. I
consider this to be the most important line and I will examine the lines carefully.

51
10...Bxe3+?!

a) 10...Nc6 A normal developing move. 11.Ng3! We improve our pieces. We are ready for Ng3-e4 and
f5 at the right moment. Black ’s only target is the e3 pawn and he cannot take even this. 11...Bxe3+
12.Bxe3 Rxe3 13.Qd2! Re8 14.f5 Nge5 15.f6+

Look at the white pieces! All working together for the mate!
b) 10...Nd7!? This is more flexible. The knight is ready to go to f6 or f8 and protect the king. 11.Ne4!
(11.Ng3?! Nf6! This is the difference.) 11...Bb6 12.N2c3!

Our knights control the most important squares on the board. 12...Ne7 (12...Nf6 13.Nxf6+ Qxf6
14.Nd5 Qd8 15.b3! following Bb2, White’s position is fantastic.) 13.Qh5! g6 14.Qe2² We created

52
 some weakness and we keep all our pluses. We should simply complete the development of our
queenside to get a big advantage.
c) 10...Qh4

Trying to cause some disturbance. 11.Ng3! (…Nge4) 11...Nd7 (11...Bxe3+ again, the pawn is poisoned.
12.Bxe3 Rxe3 13.Nd5+–) 12.Nge4! Bb6 Black is ready to exchange the knights with ...Nc5, so we
should do something concrete. 13.Na4!± An important point. We will get the pair of bishops with a
clear advantage.

11.Bxe3 Rxe3 12.Qd2! Re8 13.f5 Ne5 14.f6!

White has a winning attack.

53
 UNDERSTAND IT

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.e3 Nxe5 5.f4 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Bxd2+ 7.Qxd2 Nec6 8.g3 0-0 9.Bg2 Re8
10.Nc3 d6 11.Nge2

We are again in this position.

Let’s cover some general considerations about it:
1. White has more space, so he should try to avoid exchanging pieces unless it is necessary.
2. Black has a big problem, namely the bishop on c8. The bishop on g2, in contrast, is a monster.
3. Black’s only trump card is the c5- square, but nothing can be attacked from that position.
4. White is the one who should find active play to break Black’s position, while Black should try to hold
and wait for an opportunity for counterattack. This means that White’s position should be improved
slowly but surely.

11...a5!?

11...Nd7 12.0-0 Nc5 13.Nd4! I like this move. Black was ready to play ...Bf5 and jump into e4 with the
knight. (13.Rae1!? The computer likes this possibility as well, but it is not a very human move in my
opinion. 13...Bf5 14.Nd4 Ne4! 15.Bxe4 Bxe4 16.f5 and the bishop is somehow trapped in the center of
the board. White is probably slightly better, but it is not necessary to complicate matters.) 13...Nxd4!?
(13...Bd7 14.Rad1 now Nxd4 will not be possible anymore and it is more difficult for Black to develop.)

54
This moment is ver y interesting. White can decide to change the structure or keep it the same. I will
analyze both options. 14.exd4 Something that we should ask ourselves every time the pawn structure
changes is what really changed in the position. White will not have any more pressure on the d-file but
now the knight is no longer stable on c5. White has some lead in development so maybe he can initiate
something on the e-file at the right moment.
[14.Qxd4 a5 White is slightly better again but it is not so clear how to breakthrough. It’s difficult to get
something going on the queenside. b3/a3/b4 looks too slow, to me. We could try e5 in the center at some
point. It’s not so clear if we will get something out of it or if we will simply end up exchange pieces.
Here, it is necessary to play really slow, like Karpov would. 15.e4 f6! (15...Bd7!? 16.e5 Now this is good,
because the knight on c5 doesn’t have so much protection.) 16.Rae1! again, trying to play e5. 16...Ne6!
17.Qd2 Nc5

55
After some accurate moves, Black managed to stop e5. Now we should think about something else. 18.b3
First we defend the c4 pawn. (18.Nb5!? The idea is to prevent ...c6. 18...Be6 19.Qd4 Na6! Always be
careful about e5! 20.b3 Bf7 White is slightly better, although Black’s position remains solid.) 18...c6!
Black should try to get some counterplay! 19.f5!? (19.Kh1?! Be6 20.Rd1 Qb6 21.Qxd6? Rad8–+) 19...a4
20.b4 Nd7 21.Qxd6 Ne5 and Black has compensation.]
14...Nd7

15.h3!! An extremely deep move. We should first analyze two different moves.
[15.Rae1 Rxe1 16.Rxe1 Nf6 The bishop on c8 will come alive. Although we are still slightly better, there
was no need to exchange the rooks yet.; 15.f5!? I like this move very much. The idea is to limit the
bishop on c8. Unfortunately, Black manages to equalize. 15...Nf6 16.Qf4!? We keep on improving the
position of our pieces and then we are ready to become more active... 16...Bd7! 17.g4! Black is left
without much space... 17...h6 18.h4 Nh7! Somehow, Black manages to survive, here. 19.Qg3 Bc6
20.Rf2²]
15...f5! The best defence. After this my pawns on the kingside are not rolling, but White created a
weakness on e6.
[15...Nf6?! 16.g4! Thanks to the pawn on f4, it is now possible to play with g5! 16...c6 17.Rae1! Now is
the moment, after we have improved our position to the maximum! 17...Bd7 18.g5 Nh5 19.Kh2 In this
way White protects h3 and the g3-square if it’s needed. 19...g6 20.Rxe8+ Qxe8 21.d5!± Now we create a
permanent weakness on d6 and we have an excellent square for the knight on e4, as well as on f6. Maybe
White is not winning but Black will have a really hard time.]
16.Rfe1 Rxe1+ 17.Rxe1

56
17...c6! Black should already be really careful. Now White has several plans to get a slightly better
position. (17...Nf6? 18.Nd5! c6 19.Nxf6+ Qxf6 20.Re8+ Kf7 21.Qe3 Black is not getting his pieces
out!) 18.d5! (18.b4!? This is another standard plan in this kind of position. 18...Nf6 19.Kh2 a5 20.b5
with some pressure on the long diagonal.) 18...c5 19.g4

Leaving Black without space. 19...Nf8 (19...fxg4 20.hxg4 Nf6 21.g5 would be even worse.) 20.g5 a6
21.Bf3 b5 22.h4 bxc4? 23.Nd1! Following with Ne3 and Black is left without any counterplay.

12.0-0 Nd7 13.Rae1

57
After analyzing the normal continuation deeply, we can understand why our rook should come to e1 and
why we shouldn’t play Nd4 so fast.

13...Nc5 14.Nd4! Bd7

14...Nxd4?! 15.exd4 Rxe1 16.Rxe1 Nd7 17.Nd5! White is winning.

15.Ndb5!

The other typical way of playing! Black didn’t take on d4, so now we jump to b5.

15...Na7

Black should try to exchange pieces to make his life easier.

16.Nxa7 Rxa7 17.e4

And now we are ready to play e5, at the right moment.

17...Ra8

17...f6? 18.e5!±

18.b3

In this way we avoid ...a4.

18...Bc6 19.Re3 Qd7 20.Rfe1

58
Again, another set-up which we must remember. We didn’t manage to get e5, but we improved our
position to the maximum. Now we should combine e5 at the right moment with some calmer moves.

20...Re7 21.Qd1!?

Multitasking! Now a3/b4 becomes possible at some point.

21...Rb8

21...Rae8?! 22.a3! and the black pieces are in big trouble! 22...f5 23.Nd5! Bxd5 24.Qxd5+ Kh8 25.e5!
Dream achieved!!

22.Bf3!?

Trying to play slowly. It’s funny that, after this move, Black can only wait; there are no active moves for
Black!
22.a3!? This move gets a lmost by force in the endgame. 22...b5 23.b4! axb4 24.axb4 Na6 25.Qb3 bxc4
26.Qxc4 Bb5 27.Nxb5 Qxb5 28.Qxb5 Rxb5 29.Bf1 Rb6 30.b5 Nc5 31.e5 White has a better endgame,
but not so clear if it’s possible to win.

22...Ree8 23.Bg4 Qd8 24.Qe2 Re7 25.Bf3 Re8

59
Sometimes it is good to make waiting moves and show our opponent who is boss!

26.Rd1!?

Now he is so dizzy he might blunder e5?

26...f6 27.Re1 Re7 28.Qd1

Again White plans a3 and b4. Maybe the weakness on the a2/g8 diagonal will be important. I think I have
shown enough ideas about the middlegame in this position. The most important thing: focus on the
concepts!
MIDDLEGAME POSITION MATE WITH LONG CASTLE!

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.e3 Nxe5 5.f4 Nec6 6.Nf3 Bc5 7.Bd3 0-0 8.Nc3 d6 9.a3 a5 10.Bd2

60
10...h6

10...Nd7!? Trying to live without playing h6. 11.Qc2 Nf6 12.0-0-0 Re8 13.Rhe1 We are perfectly
coordinated. It’s time to start the attack! 13...Bd7 14.Kb1!? You never know when this move is needed!
14...h6 15.h3 following g4/g5. Black has no counterplay at all.

11.Qe2

As I mentioned above, the position is much better for White, but we should know exactly what to do and
how to do it!

11...Re8

11...Bg4 12.h3 Bxf3 13.Qxf3 Nd7 14.0-0-0±

12.0-0-0 Bg4

12...Nd7 13.g4! We play for mate! 13...Nd4 14.Nxd4 Bxd4 15.g5 hxg5 16.Rhg1±

13.h3!!

61
Great queen sacrifice!

13...Nd4 14.exd4 Rxe2 15.hxg4 Rxd2 16.Rxd2 Ba7 17.g5!±

We are a queen down but all of our pieces are developed, plus Black has no pieces around the king. If we
use Mikhail Tal’s ratio of attackers vs defenders, then the attack looks promising as there are not many
black defenders!

17...Nc6 18.Be4 Qd7

18...hxg5 19.g4!! gxf4 20.Rdh2+

19.gxh6 g6 20.Nd5+

THE FAJAROWICZ GAMBIT

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ne4?

62
The Fajarowicz gambit. Probably one of the worst gambits (objectively), but it has still been played by
many Grandmasters! I will show you only the moves as the refutation is not complicated.

4.a3!

The idea is very simple. Black cannot play ...Bb4 anymore. The knight on e4 is in the center, but it’s an
extremely bad placed piece because it can be attacked very easily. We will have a look at some moves.

4...Qh4

This move is very strange because it helps White to complete development. I include it because I found a
strong Grandmaster game that played it, and we can learn some strategical ideas as a result.
a) 4...d6 5.Qc2!

63
Somehow, this is the move that many people missed and the one that simply makes the Fajarowicz a
bad gambit. I found out that Kiril Georgiev already recommends this move in his book Squeezing the
Gambits. 5...Bf5
[5...Nc5 6.exd6 Bxd6 7.b4 Be5 8.Ra2 Ne6 9.Nf3 Nc6 10.e3 Qf6 11.Nxe5 Qxe5 12.Be2+ 1–0 (28)
Obolensk i k h, D (2539)-K hipkhenov, I (1996) Irkutsk 2017; 5...d5 6.cxd5 (Instead 6.e3 is the best
move according to the engine, but the lines are more complicated and we have a simpler alternative.)
6...Qxd5 7.Nc3 Nxc3 8.Qxc3 Nc6 9.Bf4 White simply holds the pawn and completes development
Fodor, T (2511)-Weitzer, S (2224) Germany 2017]
6.Nc3!

The whole point! It’s very funny that a few months before publishing this book I managed to get this

64
position in a blitz game! 6...Nxf2 (6...d5 7.cxd5 Nxc3 8.Qxf5 Nxd5 9.e6+Roeder,M (2435)-
Stefanova,A (2365) Groningen 1996) 7.Qxf5 Nxh1 8.g3+This was my game. Anyway, I must confess
that things were not so clear at some point. I admit it: I messed it up!
b) 4...Nc6 5.Nf3 d6 6.Qc2! This move is very important. We should ask the knight what he wants to
do.

6...Nc5
[6...f5 7.exf6 Nxf6 8.g3 g6 9.Bg2 Bg7 10.0-0 Bf5 11.Qb3 Qc8 12.Nc3 White was simply a pawn up in
Alonso Rosell, A (2477)-Sanchez Ibern, M (2298) Barcelona 2011; 6...Bf5?! 7.Nc3! This is the whole
point! 7...Nxf2 (or 7...Ng3 8.e4 Nxh1 9.exf5) 8.Qxf5 Nxh1 9.g3 and the knight is trapped on h1.]
7.b4 Ne6 8.exd6 Bxd6 9.Bb2 0-0 10.e3 a5 11.c5 Be7 12.b5

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 White is already crushing Black. You will see how a top Grandmaster doesn’t lose his cool but keeps on
pushing when he has the advantage. 12...Nb8 13.Nc3 Nxc5 14.Rd1 Bd6 15.h4 Qf6 16.Na4 Qg6
17.Qxg6 hxg6 18.Nxc5 Bxc5 19.h5 Be6 20.hxg6 f6 21.Rh5 Bd6 22.Nd4 1–0 Harikrishna, P (2740)-
Ahmedov, Z (1943) Kocaeli 2015;
c) 4...b6 5.g3! Not obvious, but this is the move I like the most. White puts pressure on the knight on e4
and completes development without problems. 5...Bb7 6.Nf3 a5 7.Bg2 Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.Qc2 Nc5
10.Nc3± Kirkov, T (2277)-Gerard, A (1934) ICCF email 2014.

5.g3 Qh5 6.Bg2! Qxe5

Black got the pawn back, but lost too many tempi in the process. Moreover, both the knight and the

66
queen are placed in such a way that they are likely to lose more time, because White can attack these
pieces.

7.Qc2 Nf6 8.Nf3 Qh5 9.Nc3 Be7 10.h3 c6 11.e4! d6 12.b4!

I very much like how White has played. He has taken control of all the squares with the pawns.

12...Nfd7 13.Ne2 f6

When you have to make this kind of move, you will probably ask yourself: why the hell did I play the
Fajarowicz?!

14.Nfd4 Nb6

15.Nf5!?

15.Be3 0-0 16.0-0 would be more classical.

15...Bxf5 16.exf5

White decided to change his dynamic advantage for a static one: the permanent hole on e6.

16...Qf7 17.c5 dxc5 18.bxc5?!

18.Nf4! 0-0 19.bxc5 Qc4 20.Qxc4+ Nxc4 21.Bf1±.

18...N6d7 19.Be3 Na6

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20.Nf4?!

20.Rb1! was better, to force ...Nxc5: 20...Naxc5 21.0-0 0-0 22.Rfd1 Black is a pawn up but has no active
play at all. At some point White will enter on e6 with a decisive advantage.

20...Naxc5?!

20...Bxc5! 21.Ne6 Bxe3 22.fxe3 Qe7! Black’s position is not so easy to break.

21.0-0 0-0 22.Rfd1 Rfc8 23.Ne6! b6

23...Nxe6 24.Rxd7 Nf8 25.Rxb7+

24.a4 g6 25.Nd4

White later won in Van Wely, L (2570)-Alburt, L (2560) New York 1994.

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CHAPTER 2

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THE BLUMENFELD GAMBIT

INTRODUCTION TO THE BLUMENFELD

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 b5

The Blumenfeld Gambit is quite popular and dangerous, if you don’t know exactly how to respond. Many
ways to fight the gambit have been explored, recently, and they claim to prove some advantage for
White, although I’m not so sure. I will now explain to you why I believe this is the case and present what
I think is the best way forward.

5.dxe6!

In my opinion, this is the only move that leads to an advantage for White.
a) 5.Bg5 This is the main recommendation and the move preferred by the best chess players in the
world. In many books it is considered to be the best move, but some questions remain unanswered:
5...exd5! Objectively, the best move. (5...b4!? is interesting as well, but maybe a bit too risky.) 6.cxd5
h6 7.Bxf6 Qxf6

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This position is found in many Grandmaster games. Nisipeanu and Vallejo Pons are the best players
with Black. I have played it as well. The main line goes as follows. 8.Qc2 Be7! 9.e4 Qb6 For some
reason, the books discussing the Blumenfeld do not analyse this variation. 10.a4 bxa4! This move is the
key. It’s important to generate counterplay on the b-file and to keep the b4-square for the knight.

11.Nbd2?! (11.Qxa4 Objectively the best move, but after 11...Qxb2! 12.Nbd2 0-0 13.Rb1 Qf6 14.Bb5
d6 15.0-0 Rd8 White has compensation for the pawn, but no advantage.) 11...Na6! 12.Qxa4 Nb4
13.Be2 0-0 14.0-0 d6 and Black was completely fine in Blagojevic, D-Salgado Lopez, I Warsaw 2013;
b) 5.Bf4 A fresh idea which has recently been seen in practice. 5...exd5! Here I couldn’t find any
advantage for White. 6.cxd5 Bb7

71
7.d6 (7.e4!? Nxe4 8.Nc3 Nxc3 9.bxc3 a6 White has compensation, but no more.) 7...g6! Black seems
to be completely fine. 8.Nc3 Bg7! 9.Qd3 (9.Nxb5 Qa5+ 10.Nc3 0-0 This looks like a very interesting
Benoni!) 9...0-0 (9...Na6 10.Qe3+ Kf8 was interesting and better, according to the computer.) 10.Qxb5
Qc8 11.g3 Ba6 and Black had compensation in Bykhovsky, A-Molner, M Lubbock 2011;
c) 5.e4!? A very interesting gambit to fight for the initiative, but again, it fails to demonstrate an
advantage. 5...Nxe4 6.Bd3 Nf6 7.Nc3 bxc4 8.Bxc4 Ba6! 9.Bxa6 Nxa6 10.0-0

Now Black needs to play accurately in order to equalise. 10...Nc7! (10...Nb4? This is too optimistic.
Such moves should be avoided when your king is in the center of the board. In this case, if you can keep
the knights close to the king, then do so! It’s not a coincidence that the knight is considered to be one of
the best defenders, as it covers many squares around the king. The game continued 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bxf6

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 Qxf6 13.Re1 Ne5 is coming with decisive threats. White eventually won in Tari, A Antipov, M Izmir
2016; 10...Qc8!? This seems to be ok, too, but it looks a bit slow to me.) 11.Re1 (11.d6 Ncd5 12.Nxd5
Nxd5 13.Re1 Nf6 later Black will play ...g6 and ...Bg7 with a normal position.) 11...d6! 12.dxe6 fxe6
13.Bf4 Be7 and it seems that Black can hold, here.

5...fxe6 6.cxb5!

Why don’t people take the pawn more often?

First, if you check the results of Grandmaster games, Black wins a lot of them! The reason is probably
that Black is much better prepared, and if you don’t know what you are doing as White, you will
probably go wrong at some point. I believe that this chapter will solve this problem!
I will give concrete guidelines for White in every position and I will show you that the Blumenfeld is not
as dangerous as it looks. What you find in this chapter, you cannot find anywhere else!
WHEN THE BRAVE DOESN’T BECOME A HERO

S. Tarrasch
A. Alekhine
Bad Pistyan, 07.04.1922
The Blumenfeld Gambit became popular at the beginning of the 20th century. People were afraid of
taking the pawn until 1922, when Siegbert Tarrasch decided to do so against... Alekhine! This was
probably not the best idea against the most dynamic Grandmaster of the time, precisely the player to
whom you would not want to give the initiative! Let’s see what happened!

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 b5 5.dxe6 fxe6 6.cxb5 d5 7.e3 Bd6

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8.Nc3?!

Is this a mistake? Not according to the computer. But the concept is wrong. Playing this means that it is
not so easy to fight against the rolling of Black’s central pawns.

8...0-0 9.Be2 Bb7 10.b3 Nbd7 11.Bb2 Qe7 12.0-0 Rad8

The position is very difficult for White, already. The central pawns are nearly impossible to stop.
Curiously enough, 70 years later a similar position appeared. But because one white piece was in a
different position... White was clearly better! Can you guess which piece, and where it was placed? Take
1 one or two minutes to think about the position, if you have time!

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13.Qc2 e5! 14.Rfe1 e4

What a disaster for White; he has no space at all.

15.Nd2 Ne5 16.Nd1 Nfg4–+

Black is completely winning. This is an example of what not to allow if you are White. If Black plays
...e5 and you cannot somehow fight it, the situation isn’t good. This game became so famous that, even
today, nobody takes that pawn against the Blumenfeld! But there are always some heroes...

17.Bxg4 Nxg4 18.Nf1 Qg5!

All black pieces are attacking and ...d4 will come at the right moment, winning the game. Please, don’t
get into this kind of position!
I could analyze the game more, but you can find it in many books, so I didn’t want to double your work.

0–1

THE NEW HEROES

W. S. Browne
M. A. Quinteros
Buenos Aires, 1980

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 c5 3.d5 e6 4.c4 b5 5.dxe6 fxe6 6.cxb5 d5 7.e3!? Bd6 8.Nc3 Bb7

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Ouch!! Maybe the previous game came to Browne’s mind at this point? It was played long ago, but who
knows? He certainly wouldn’t want to be punished like Tarrasch.

9.e4!?

Trying to destroy the center as soon as possible.

9...dxe4?

The pawns looked so pretty... why separate them?

9...d4?! This is not good either, because of the typical reply 10.e5! Bxf3 (10...dxc3 11.Qxd6 Qxd6
12.exd6±) 11.Qxf3 Bxe5 12.Ne4! Now the situation is clear. White’s bishop will go to c4 and, after
castling, White will have achieved a much better position. (12.Qxa8? dxc3–+) 12...Nbd7 13.Ng5±;
9...Nbd7! Simply keeping the pawns together. 10.exd5 exd5

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11.Be2 (11.Qe2+?! Kf8! and Black will try to remove the queen and, afterwards, play ... Re8 with a huge
initiative.) 11...0-0° At some point d4 will come, and then the bishops will cut into the white kingside.

10.Ng5 Bd5 11.Qc2 Nbd7 12.Ngxe4±

We won’t analyse any further as we have seen the main point. The key is this: White should try to break
up the pawns, if possible. 1–0 (43) Browne, W (2540)-Quinteros, M (2515) Buenos Aires 1980

1–0

J. Ehlvest
I. Rogers

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 Tallinn, 1985

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.d4 e6 3.c4 c5 4.d5 b5 5.dxe6 fxe6 6.cxb5 d5 7.Nc3!

Years later, Ehlvest came up with the following idea: can’t I break up Black ’s center immediately? Let’s
see if it’s possible!

7...Bb7

a) 7...Bd6?! 8.e4± with the double threat of exd5 and e5.;

b) 7...d4 8.Na4! This knight on the rim is not dim at all! Thanks to the pawn on b5 it is very stable and
puts pressure on c5. 8...Nbd7 9.e3! e5?! This is the only way to keep the center together, but after
10.Ng5 White makes use of the weak light squares. White will later play Bc4 (the knight on a4 covers
b6 as well!) and castle, ending up with a crushing position.;
c) 7...Nbd7 8.e4! The same idea, again. 8...d4 and White has many possible moves. According to my
engine the best one is 9.Na4 Nxe4 10.Bd3 Bb7 11.0-0 and after Re1 Black will have a very hard time
keeping his position together. Qc2 and B f4 or Bg5 will also likely follow.;
d) 7...Be7 8.e4! works as well.

8.e4!

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Even after 7...Bb7 this is possible! So we can say that after Black plays ...d5, Nc3 and e4 work all of the
time!

8...dxe4?!

8...d4 is the critical move, but after 9.e5! dxc3 10.Qxd8+ Kxd8 11.exf6 gxf6 12.bxc3 the endgame is
clearly better for White.

9.Qxd8+ Kxd8 10.Ne5! Ke8 11.Bf4 Bd6

11...Nbd7 12.Nxd7 Kxd7 13.0-0-0+ Ke7 14.Bc4 Kf7 15.Be5±

12.Rd1±

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The black pawns were completely destroyed. This was no doubt very painful for Blumenfeld followers to
witness, as it previously seemed so easy for Black to push the pawns and outplay White. After White
found an antidote against d5, what can Black play to resurrect the Blumenfeld? 1–0 (46) Ehlvest, J
(2505)-Rogers, I (2485) Tallinn 1985.

1–0

BLUMENFELD’S DARK KNIGHT BY ALBURT

M. Gurevich
L. O. Alburt
New York, 1989

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 c5 4.d5 b5 5.dxe6 fxe6 6.cxb5 Bb7!?

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Lev Alburt is a very interesting Grandmaster who nowadays lives in the United States, writing books and,
probably, teaching. In the last years I have seen some of his games in which he develops a very
interesting system. He has played extremely sharp and concrete variations (the Alekhine against e4, for
example), which he clearly analysed deeply, and consequently his results have been good! I have been
inspired by some of these games. In fact, I play the Blumenfeld myself, and most of my main ideas were
invented by Alburt.
Oddly enough, and when I was a kid, I didn’t like Alburt at all! He wrote a book called Test and Improve
your Chess in which he advocated using numerical evaluations in your assessment of positions, which I
didn’t care for at all (I was 10 so just wanted to play. I was not using the computer, so such numerical
evaluations didn’t make much sense to me. I would simply think that I’m better, worse, winning, lost,
etc., and I wasn’t too concerned about anything else!). Sure, he presented a great method for analyzing a
position for hours on end, but my goodness it was boring! But fast forward more than ten years and I’ve
converted to Alburt’s ways! For example, I spoke with Ivan Sokolov about some variation and I caught
myself saying: “I checked this position in depth with the computer, and tried all the possible plans. At the
beginning the computer gives 0.10, but if you go deeper it normally gets to 0.40”. So Alburt was a
visionary! Next time he writes about the future of the stock market I’ll believe him! The reason why I’m
showing Alburt’s games is that he clearly understood that ...d5 is not good. His solution was to first
develop his pieces and to avoid the e4 strike in the center. He has been quite successful in his games, as
you will see.

7.g3

I don’t normally like this kind of move when something is happening on the a6–f1 diagonal. You can see
these ideas in the Volga, and in some Sicilian Scheveningen variations when the c4-square is unprotected
and a knight can jump to c4. You will probably be able to come up with more examples if you think
about it.

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7...Be7 8.Bg2 0-0 9.0-0

9...a6!

As I wrote before, the bishop on g2 makes it more difficult to fight for control of some squares on the
queenside.
9...d5?! 10.Ng5 Qd6 11.e4! Black is not yet ready to advance the pawns.

10.Nc3 Nd5!?

A very instructive move. It leaves the f6-square for the bishop and, after that, all of Black’s pieces will be
in the game.

11.Nxd5

11.bxa6 Nxa6 12.h4 is better for White, according to the computer. The point is to play Bg5 at the right
moment. Playing this means that the pressure on the h8–a1 diagonal decreases. White is probably better,
but it isn’t so easy to play. I’m quite sure that this idea never entered Gurevich’s mind!

11...Bxd5 12.bxa6 Rxa6!

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Here we have it! A perfect Volga!

13.Ne5

13.a3 Nc6°

13...Bxg2 14.Kxg2 Qc7 15.Nf3 Qb7 16.Bf4 Bf6

The black pieces are perfectly placed and I would prefer to play Black, here. The game was eventually
draw. ½–½ (41) Gurevich, M (2590)-Alburt, L (2520) New York 1989.
A. Miles
L. O. Alburt

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 Philadelphia, 1989

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 c5 3.d5 e6 4.c4 b5 5.dxe6 fxe6 6.cxb5 Bb7 7.Nc3 Be7 8.e3 0-0 9.Bd3

9...d5

Now that the knight is on c3 and e4 is not possible, it looks interesting to play like this.
9...a6!? was possible as well. According to the engine, Black practically equalizes after a6! 10.0-0 axb5
11.Bxb5 d5°.

10.0-0 Qd6!?

Black has ideas with Ng4 at some point. White is better, but Black has some attacking ideas which are
difficult to meet because it’s impossible to counterattack with e4.

11.Re1?

White understood the idea, he should play e4, but not with the rook on e1!
11.b3

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White still had time to develop his pieces. 11...Nbd7
a) 11...e5?! 12.e4! White is on time, thanks to the check on c4. 12...d4 (12...dxe4? 13.Bc4++–) 13.Nb1
Nxe4 14.Qe2! White can play this as well because Black doesn’t have the move ...Nd7–f6!;
b) 11...Kh8 12.Qe2! e5 13.e4!±;
12.Qc2! Bd8!? (12...e5?! 13.e4 d4 14.Na4±) 13.Bb2 The engine claims that White is better, but in a
practical game it wouldn’t be easy to defend. 13...Ng4! (13...Bc7!? 14.g3! not an easy move to make, but
it apparently works.) 14.Bxh7+ Kh8 15.Qg6 Ndf6

It is not clear what is going on here at all. But either way, we don’t need to examine this in any more
detail.

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11...Nbd7?!

Alburt doesn’t use his chance at the first shot.

11...Ng4! 12.h3 Nxf2 13.Kxf2 Qh2!!

What a great position! Importantly, the white king cannot return to safety. This is a great example of how
to keep the king in the Killing Zone! 14.Rg1 Bh4+ 15.Ke2 (15.Kf1 Nd7 Following ...Ne5 or ...d4, with a
winning attack.) 15...Rxf3! 16.Kxf3 Qg3+ 17.Ke2 Qf2#

12.b3?!

12.h3 was the least bad.

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12...Ng4!

He found it this time!

13.h3 Nxf2 14.Kxf2 Bh4+?!

But he didn’t find the best continuation!

14...Qh2!

and Black is winning, as before. It is no doubt not so easy to find this move. The key to finding such
moves is that when you want to mate your opponent, it is very important to keep the opponent’s king in
the Killing Zone, an idea you can find in some books on attacking chess. With ...Qh2 Black cuts the
white king’s path back to safety, and after that, we mate him!

15.Kg1 Rxf3 16.Qxf3 Bxe1

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Black later won without any problems. Black’s game, in the hands of Alburt, poses some practical
problems for White. So what should White do now? 0–1 (25) Miles, A (2520)-Alburt, L (2520)
Philadelphia 1989.

0–1

KARPOV AND HIS SYSTEM

A. Karpov
E. Lobron
Walldorf m rap Walldorf, 1997

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 b5 5.dxe6 fxe6 6.cxb5 d5

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7.e3!?

Karpov arrives on the scene and presents a universal system against the Blumenfeld. Once again, these
kind of gambits suffer after a World Champion puts them to the test!
7.Nc3! is more accurate, but Karpov had his own style. He would prefer a good system of piece
placement over concrete lines. He just needed harmony for his pieces.

7...Bd6 8.Be2!

Accurate. First, he develops the kingside and doesn’t show what he plans to do with the b1 knight.

8...0-0 9.0-0

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Black cannot roll the pawns yet, so he is not in a hurry to develop his pieces. First, he gets his king to
safety.

9...Nbd7

9...e5?! 10.e4! d4 11.a4± Nxe4? 12.Bc4+ Kh8 13.Bd5! and Black loses the rook! A trick to be
remembered!

10.Nbd2!

He is playing the moves in the best order. Is this the result of a complete analysis, or rather due to his
intuition? I would guess the latter.
10.b3 looks the same, but gives Black some extra options. 10...Ne5!? 11.Bb2 Nxf3+ 12.Bxf3 a6 and the
position is not so clear.

10...Bb7

a) 10...Ne5 11.Nxe5 Bxe5 12.f4!

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 After this move, Black ’s attack on the kingside has been rendered impossible. 12...Bd6 13.a4 White is
much better. I must confess that I don’t see Karpov playing f4. He would probably play b3.;
b) 10...a6!? 11.b3! following the set up.

11.b3! Qe8 12.Bb2

This is the set-up Karpov likes. Amazingly enough, Black doesn’t have a plan and cannot create any play.
Consequently, Black’s position is almost lost!

12...e5

Black didn’t have any other moves.

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13.e4!

This is the key move to remember when Black plays ...e5, as we saw earlier.

13...dxe4 14.Nh4!

Now the white knights have squares on f5 and c4, both heading to d6.

14...Bc7 15.Rc1!?

A simple move. Karpov improves his worst placed piece.

15...Rd8 16.b4!

Vacating the b3-square for the queen, and threatening on c5.

16...Nd5?!

Playing for tricks should not work, but in a practical game mistakes can happen.
16...Bb6 was more stubborn, but after 17.Nc4 Bd5 18.Ba3 White is better.

17.bxc5 Nxc5 18.Rxc5 Bb6 19.Nxe4?

A mistake at the worst moment!

19.Rxd5 Bxd5 20.Nc4 was better.

19...Nf4?

19...Qe7! This would have been annoying, and White’s advantage almost disappears as a result! I’m sure

92
that neither of the players saw this resource. There are so many attacking possibilities, but the best is a
basic threat! While this is difficult for us, humans, it isn’t for computers!

20.Qb3 Qxh4 21.Bf3 Bxc5 22.Nxc5 Ba8 23.Bxe5 White is better, but not as much as before!

20.Bc4+ Kh8 21.Qg4!

No second chances for Lobron.

21...h5

21...Bxc5 22.Nxc5+–

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22.Qg5 Bxc5 23.Bxe5 Rd7 24.Qh6#

A very interesting game by Karpov. In my opinion, he showed a very easy and reliable system to play
against the Blumenfeld.

1–0

A. Karpov
I. Rogers
Cap d’Agde, 25.10.1998

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 b5 5.dxe6 fxe6 6.cxb5 Bb7

Rogers tries the Blumenfeld. As usual, Karpov would not change his variation if he believed it was good.
Actually, this is very typical from the best chess players in the world. They have very strong opinions!

7.e3 Be7

8.Nbd2

Again, the accurate move order.

8.Be2 a6! and then White should lose a tempo with Bxb5!

8...0-0 9.Qc2

Strange move, in my opinion, but not bad at all.

9.b3! It’s not clear to me why he didn’t play this. 9...Ne4 The only reason not to play 9.b3 I can find, but

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White has many attractive options. 10.Bd3!? is the sharpest option. (10.Bb2 Bf6 11.Bxf6 Qxf6 12.Nxe4
Bxe4 13.Rc1 and Black has no compensation at all.; 10.Nxe4 Bxe4 11.Bb2 I don’t see any problem for
White.) 10...Bf6 11.Nxe4 Bxa1 12.Nxc5! and it seems that White is much better. The pawn on b5 is very
annoying, as Black cannot develop the queenside.

9...a6 10.b3 axb5 11.Bxb5

11...Na6?!

It looks very logical to attack the queen, but the queen is arguably better on b1 than on c2!
11...Qb6!? 12.Be2 Ba6 was the best try, for Black, and now White should play 13.Qd1 to keep some
edge. This means that Qc2 was not accurate.

12.0-0 Nb4 13.Qb1 Ra5

It makes sense to put pressure on the queenside.

14.Be2 Qa8 15.a3±

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It was probably around here that Rogers realised that his position was collapsing. He made normal,
sensible moves, but he’s ended up in a completely lost position. He cannot put pressure on the kingside or
on the queenside.

15...Ne4!?

Rogers tried to change the nature of the position, which was probably the best practical chance.
15...Nbd5 16.Bb2±

16.Bb2!

Now a forced line appears.

16...Nxd2 17.Nxd2 Bxg2 18.axb4 Bxf1 19.Nxf1 Rxa1 20.Bxa1 cxb4 21.Ng3±

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The two pieces are much better than the rook. Karpov played pretty well and eventually managed to win
the game. 1–0 (36) Karpov, A (2725)-Rogers, I (2605) Cap d’Agde 1998.

1–0

EXPERIENCE VS YOUNGSTERS

V. Kortschnoj
A. Volokitin
Igualada, 22.08.2005

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 b5 5.dxe6 fxe6 6.cxb5 a6!?

Let’s break the structure as soon as possible!

7.e3 d5

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8.Nc3!

Once the pawn is on a6, the knight should go to c3 to protect the b5- square.
8.Nbd2?! c4! 9.bxa6 Nxa6 and White cannot develop his pieces on the queenside!

8...c4

This is the idea. Black defines the position of the pawns, and now the right squares for the pieces are
clear: knight on c5, bishop on b4, and bishop on b7 or a6. Black can then try and prove some initiative.
Unfortunately for Black, this is not enough.

9.Bd2 Bb4 10.bxa6 Nxa6

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11.a3?!

A bit inaccurate in my opinion. It’s important to have the pawn on a2 as it makes b3 much easier to play.
11.Be2 is better.

11...Ba5 12.Be2 Nc5 13.Nd4!

White should try to play b4 at any cost.

13...Bd7 14.b4!? cxb3 15.Nxb3

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15...Nxb3?!

After this, White has some small edge and without any risk.
15...Bxc3! 16.Bxc3 Ba4 17.Bb5+ Bxb5 18.Nxc5 Qb6 Black has enough compensation for the pawn.
White has difficulties to castle and right now it is not easy to make use of the extra pawn.
It was, of course, difficult to anticipate this when White played a3, but if we play correct positional chess,
and we know that we have to play b3, we should not play a3.

16.Qxb3 Rb8 17.Qc2 Qc7 18.Rc1 0-0 19.0-0 Qd6 20.a4±

White has a healthy extra pawn.

20...Bxc3 21.Bxc3 Ne4 22.Ba1 Qa3 23.Qc7 Qxa4 24.Bg4 Rbe8 25.Bd1 Qb5 26.Be2 Qa4 27.Bd4 Nf6
28.Bxf6 Rc8 29.Qd6 Rxf6 30.h3 Rcf8 31.Bd1 Qb5 32.Rc5 Qb4 33.Bg4 Be8 34.Rxd5 Qxd6 35.Rxd6
Bf7 36.Ra1 e5 37.Rd2 Be6 38.Bd1 Rg6

In the database it is written that Black won, but on move 38 he had a losing endgame. Maybe Black won
on time? 0–1

A. Karpov
R. Edouard
Cap d’Agde, 23.10.2014

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 b5 5.dxe6 fxe6 6.cxb5 a6 7.e3 d5 8.Nc3 c4! 9.bxa6 Nxa6 10.Be2 Bb4
11.Bd2 0-0 12.0-0

Karpov decides not to move the a2 pawn, just in case.

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12...Nc5 13.Qc2

Karpov has made normal moves, and now he threats b3. Extremely easy, extremely powerful.

13...Bd7?!

After this, White has a very easy game, as in the previous one.
13...Ba6!? was the best chance for Black. 14.b3!N

It’s important to break the pawns apart as quickly as possible. (14.Nd4 Qe8 15.Ne4 Nfxe4 16.Bxb4 e5
Vaclav, J-Ballow, J ICCF email 2015) 14...Rc8 (14...cxb3 15.axb3 Bxe2 16.Nxe2±) 15.bxc4 Bxc4
16.Bxc4 dxc4 17.a3 Ba5 18.Nb5!± White has a healthy extra pawn and Black cannot create any serious
threats.

14.b3!

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Now White completes the plan.

14...cxb3 15.axb3 Rc8 16.Qb2 Rb8 17.Na2 Bxd2 18.Nxd2±

White managed to convert the extra pawn. It is very interesting that Kortschnoj and Karpov played the
position in a similar fashion. Did they know each other’s games or did they simply think in the same
way? 1–0 (62) Karpov, A (2623)-Edouard, R (2659) Cap d’Agde 2014.

1–0

ATTACK IN THE CENTER

6...d5?!

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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 b5 5.dxe6 fxe6 6.cxb5 d5?! 7.Nc3!

We have already checked some of the ideas in this position, but I want to go deeper now.

7...Bb7

The most stubborn line.

a) 7...d4 8.Na4! This move only helps White. 8...Bb7 9.e3!± Black cannot hold the center.;
b) 7...a6 8.e4! d4 9.e5 (9.Na4!? is possible as well.) 9...dxc3 10.Qxd8+ Kxd8 11.exf6 gxf6 12.bxc3±
Jovanic, O (2492)-Cebalo, M (2550) Sibenik 2007;
c) 7...Nbd7 — see the following analysis.

8.e4! d4

8...Nbd7?! 9.e5!? (9.Ng5!?N 9...Qe7 10.Be2 d4 11.Na4 Once again, White is much better.) 9...Ng4
10.Ng5 Ngxe5 was a draw in Kogan, A (2567)-Abergel, T (2477) Tarragona 2006.

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White failed to spot 11.Qh5+!N (11.Nxe6? This was played in the game. 11...Qe7 12.Nxd5 Nf3+
13.gxf3 Qxe6+ 14.Ne3 Ne5 15.Be2 and in a clearly worse position for Black, Abergel agreed to make a
draw. Strange, but it sometimes happens. I had a worse case a few months ago when I allowed a
perpetual to Movsesiann in a winning position! Please, forgive us!) 11...g6 12.Qh3! Qe7 13.Be2 d4 14.0-
0! dxc3 15.Nxe6 and White was a piece down, but Bg5 is coming. After this a rook is coming to e1. The
position looks like a great version of the Bg5 Najdorf!

9.e5!

The key move for White to gain an advantage. Even some engines need a good bit of time to find it.
9.Na4?! Bxe4 10.Bc4 Bd5 11.Bxd5 Qxd5 12.0-0 Nbd7 13.Re1 Bd6 14.b4! cxb4 15.Nxd4 Kf7 16.Nxe6

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Rhe8 and the position was more or less balanced in Sakaev, K (2633)-Alekseev, E (2679) Kirishi 2007.

9...Nfd7

9...dxc3? 10.Qxd8+ Kxd8 11.exf6 gxf6 12.bxc3± This was too easy for White, in Stocek, J (2592)-
Balogh, C (2537) Gothenburg 2005.

10.Ne2!

This is a novelty by... Rybka! In Santiago de Chile, some years ago, someone decided to create a
tournament in which one of the players was a computer! Arguably Flores didn’t make the best choice in
playing such a sharp line against it?
10.Nb1? Some games continue with this move, but after 10...a6! 11.Qb3 Bd5 12.Bc4 Nb6 13.Bxd5
Qxd5 14.Qxd5 Nxd5 the endgame is more or less equal.

10...Bxf3

Black shouldn’t leave the pawn on e5 alive.

10...Qc7 11.Nf4 Nxe5 12.Nxe6 Nxf3+ 13.Qxf3 Qa5+ 14.Bd2 was winning for White in Comp Rybka-
Flores Rios, M (2332) Santiago de Chile 2006.

11.gxf3 Nxe5 12.Bg2 Nbd7 13.f4!±

White at least obtains the exchange, but I would prefer to play b4 or Qb3 at the right moment to try and
attack the weaknesses in Black’s position.
ATTACK IN THE CENTER
6...d5?! & 7...Nbd7

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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 b5 5.dxe6 fxe6 6.cxb5 d5?! 7.Nc3! Nbd7

Nisipeanu and Vallejo played this way, so this should be considered the main line.

8.e4!

As we know, we attack the center at the first opportunity.

8...d4 9.Na4!

The best move! It’s not a very natural move but it does make sense: it puts pressure on c5. We don’t care
about the pawn on e4, because, in the future, we will attack the pawn on e6 with the bishop, the rook and
even the queen! I found only four games in my database with this continuation, so your opponents may
not be ready for this!
9.e5?! This is what happened in practice and was considered the best line for a long time. 9...Ng4!
(9...Nd5 10.Nxd5 exd5 11.Be2!± b2-b4 will come in the right moment, with a clear advantage for
White.) 10.Ng5
[10.Ne4?! Bb7! 11.Nfg5 (11.Qe2?! Bd5 12.Nxd4 cxd4 13.Qxg4 Nxe5 14.Qh5+ Ng6 15.Bd3 Bb4+ was
really messy in Ehlvest, J (2610)-Alekseev, E (2661) Moscow 2007, but Black eventually won the game.)
11...Ndxe5 12.f4 Bxe4 13.fxe5 Bf5 14.Bd3

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14...Bxd3? (14...c4!N 15.Bxf5 Bb4+ 16.Bd2 Bxd2+ 17.Qxd2 exf5 Black is fine in this complicated
position.) 15.Qxd3 Nxe5 16.Qh3 Qf6 17.Nxe6? (17.Rf1! Qg6 18.Nxe6 was the right move order for
White.) 17...Nd3+! 18.Ke2 c4! 19.Nc7+ Kd8 20.Ne6+ Ke8 21.Nc7+ Kd8 22.Ne6+ Ke8 This was a
very interesting draw: Mamedyarov, S (2757)-Nisipeanu, L (2693) Sofia 2007.]
10...Ndxe5

11.f4! This is the only try to fight for an advantage. (11.Nce4? h6 12.Nf3 Qd5 was clearly better for
Black in Malakhatko, V (2549)-Vallejo Pons, F (2705) Caleta 2010. Black won the game in 27 moves.
Here we see one of the dangers of the Blumenfeld: if you don’t know exactly what to do, you can have a
very bad time!) 11...Be7 12.fxe5 Nxe5 13.Nf3 Nxf3+ 14.Qxf3 dxc3!

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15.bxc3 (15.Qxa8? cxb2 16.Bxb2 Qa5+! and Black is winning!) 15...Bf6 and the position is balanced.
Back to the main line!

9...Nxe4

The most natural move.

9...Bb7 10.Bd3 Bxe4 (10...Bd6 11.0-0 0-0 12.Qe2 Rc8 13.b3! This was clearly better for White in
Wurtinger, R (2149)-Ebert, J (2156) email 2013) 11.Bxe4 Nxe4 12.0-0 Ndf6 13.b4!± Black’s center
collapses.

10.Bd3!

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10.b4?! This is very typical, but not good at this point. 10...c4! 11.Bxc4 Bxb4+ 12.Kf1 Ndf6?!
(12...Nb6! 13.Nxb6 axb6 and Black would be better.) 13.Bb2 0-0 14.Qb3 Qe7 with a very unclear
position in Karolyi, T (2325)-Csiszar, C (2429) Hungary 2010.

10...Qa5+

10...Nef6 11.0-0 Bd6 12.b4!±

11.Nd2

11...Nef6

11...Bb7?! 12.b4! Qxb4 13.0-0 Nd6 (13...Nxd2 14.Bxd2 Qa3 15.Bc1! Qb4 16.Re1 and Black cannot
defend his position. It’s quite something, but according to the engine the best move, for Black, is Qxe1.)
14.Nc4 Nxc4 15.Rb1! Qa5 16.Bxc4 0-0-0 17.Bxe6 and the black king was extremely weak in Keijzer, R
(2119)-Klajnscak, B ICCF email 2016.

12.0-0 Bb7 13.Re1

13.b4!?N 13...cxb4 14.Re1 looks very good for White, too.

13...Bd5 14.Nc4 Qc7 15.b4 cxb4 16.Bb2±

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White completed development; all his pieces are active and Black’s king is weak. This appeared in the
game Maduekwe,C (2429)-Boschma,B (2247) ICCF email 2007, where White had the initiative but
failed to convert it into a full point.
6... Bb7 BY ALBURT

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 b5 5.dxe6 fxe6 6.cxb5 Bb7 7.e3!

Always this move.

7...Be7

a) 7...a6 8.Nbd2 (8.a4!? is possible as well.) 8...Be7 (8...d5!? 9.bxa6 Bxa6 10.Bxa6 Nxa6 11.0-0²) 9.b3

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0-0 10.Bb2 Qe8 11.a4 Qg6

Everything was very logical until this moment, but now White should play ver y energetically. 12.h4!N
White is the one who attacks! (12.Ne5? Qh6 13.b6 a5 14.Ndf3 d6 15.Nc4 d5 16.Nce5 Nbd7 and Black
was doing fine in Volke, K (2472)-Firman, N (2526) Germany 2007) 12...d5 (12...Ng4 13.Nc4 d5
14.Bd3! Qf7 15.Na5±) 13.Ng5 Qf5 14.Rh3! A fantastic rook lift! 14...Nfd7 15.Rf3+–;
b) 7...d5!? 8.Ng5!?

This was played to allow a later f4. (8.Be2 Bd6 9.0-0 0-0 10.Nbd2 is the normal way to play, but I want
to show you some extra options as well.) 8...Bd6!? (8...Qd7 9.Be2 Bd6 10.f4! 0-0 11.0-0 Qe7 12.a4²)
9.Nxe6 Qe7 10.Ng5 0-0 11.Be2 Nbd7 12.0-0 Rad8 13.Nd2² Black doesn’t have enough compensation.

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8.Nbd2 0-0 9.b3!

Improving Karpov’s play.

9...a6

9...d5 10.Bb2 Qd6 11.Be2 Nbd7 12.0-0 Once again, White gets a dream position.

10.Bb2 axb5 11.Bxb5 Qb6 12.a4! Ba6 13.Qe2!?

13.Nc4 Qb7 14.Na3 is more solid and better for White, but the other concept is interesting too.

13...Bxb5 14.Qxb5 Qxb5 15.axb5 Rxa1+ 16.Bxa1+=

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And the pawn on b5 annoys Black ver y much. It’s not possible to gain space with 16...d5 because of
17.Ng5±.
MODERN SYSTEM
6...a6 AND 7...d5

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 b5 5.dxe6 fxe6 6.cxb5 a6 7.e3 d5 8.Nc3

We will follow Karpov-Edouard, but now we will go deeper into some variations.

8...Be7!?

A very interesting move for Black. Once the knight is on c3 it is impossible to play e4 because Black can

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play ...d4 with tempo. Given this, Black has a free hand to attack on the kingside. This is probably the
best variation for Black in the whole system, but I didn’t realise this until I decided to write this book. So
it’s fair to assume that other people won’t realise this either.
a) 8...Bd6?! 9.e4!;
b) 8...c4 9.bxa6 Nxa6 10.Be2!

10...Nc5!? Probably the most annoying move. (10...Bb4 11.Bd2 0-0 12.0-0 Nc5 13.Qc2 We have
already seen this, and nothing else needs to be said. Karpov, A (2623)-Edouard, R (2659) Cap d’Agde
2014) 11.0-0 Bd6 (11...Be7 12.Nd4 Bd7 13.b3!²) 12.Nb5! Bb8 13.Bd2! White develops all the pieces.
13...Qd7 (13...0-0?! 14.Bb4! Nfe4 15.b3! We have managed to break the pawn chain, with advantage.)
14.a4! Nb3 15.Ra3 Nxd2 16.Qxd2

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 16...Qe7 (16...0-0!? 17.b3! Once again, this move is important. 17...cxb3 18.Rxb3 Rxa4 19.Nbd4 Ra8
20.Bb5 and White is better because of the control of the c-file and the c6- square. The pawn on e6 will
likely become a target for White to attack, in the future.) 17.b3!N The easiest move for White. (17.Ra2
Bd7 18.Nc3 0-0 19.a5 Kh8 20.g3 Bd6 was not so clear in Baciak, M (2183)-Pavlicek, M (2292) ICCF
email 2015) 17...Bd7 18.Raa1 cxb3 19.Rfb1 and White is better because of the passed pawn.

9.b3

9.Be2 0-0 10.0-0 axb5 11.Bxb5 Bb7 Black has good play. The knight on c3 is misplaced, as you already
know.

9...0-0

10.a4!

We should learn from the Russian Grandmaster, Volkov, who has shown some interesting ideas, here.
This move looks safer than the main line because we can always play Bd2 against Qa5 ideas. Anyway, it
is important to understand the point behind 10.Bb2
10.Bb2 Qa5
[10...axb5!? A very concrete line appears. 11.Bxb5 Qa5 12.Bd3

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12...d4!? (12...Nc6 13.0-0 following Ne2, Black doesn’t have enough compensation.) 13.exd4 cxd4
14.Nxd4 Ba3!? 15.Qd2 Qe5+ 16.Nde2 Bxb2 17.Qxb2 Ng4

Black has sacrificed everything to obtain the initiative. But was it enough? 18.f3!N White was afraid of
the knight on e3, but nothing dramatic happens. (18.Qc2? Bb7 19.Bxh7+ Kh8 20.Be4 Nc6! and Black is
three pawns down but so active that he is almost winning! Dautov, R (2535)-Blees, A (2355) Kecskemet
1989.) 18...Ne3 19.Be4 Nxg2+ 20.Kf2+–]
11.Qc2! (11.Qd2? axb5 12.Nxb5 Qb6! 13.Nc3 According to my database, the players agreed to a draw
in Dokutchaev, A (2442)-Nyback, T (2599) Finland 2013, but after 13...Nc6 14.Be2 d4 15.Nb5 Ba6
16.a4 c4! it is White who seems to be in big trouble!) 11...axb5 12.Bxb5 Bb7

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13.Be2! (13.0-0?! d4 14.exd4 Bxf3 15.gxf3 cxd4 White loses a piece.) 13...Nc6 14.0-0 d4 15.exd4
(15.Na4 Nb4 16.Qc1 d3 looks a bit scary, although after 17.Bd1 Ne4 18.Ne5 White may not be worse.)
15...Nxd4 16.Nxd4 cxd4 17.Nb5 Rac8 18.Qd1 e5

Black has compensation for the pawn. White’s pieces are not really active.

10...Bb7 11.Be2

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11...axb5

11...Qa5 12.Bd2!

12.Nxb5 Ne4

This is the only way for Black to prove some initiative.

13.0-0 Bf6 14.Rb1 Na6 15.Nd2!

White made normal moves and now decides to fight against the centralized knight.

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15...Ng5 16.Ba3!N

Followed by Rc1, and White is much better. If Black plays 16...e5 then 17.e4! would follow, with the
better position.
16.f4!? typical, but not the best. 16...Nf7 17.Nf3 Qe7! 18.Bd2?! (18.Ba3 is more logical.) 18...e5 19.fxe5
Nxe5 20.h3 Rae8 Black got some compensation, but eventually lost in Volkov, S (2607)-Stopa, J (2460)
Rasht 2016.
GET IT FAST!

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 b5 5.dxe6 fxe6 6.cxb5

6...d5?!

a) 6...Bb7 7.e3! We follow the normal plan of development. 7...Be7 (7...d5!? 8.Ng5!? The pawn on f4
will take Black ’s center under control.) 8.Nbd2 0-0 9.b3! White develops the pieces in the most
common way. 9...a6 10.Bb2 axb5 11.Bxb5 Qb6 12.a4!±;
b) 6...a6 7.e3 d5

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 8.Nc3! The knight on c3 is important as it needs to take control of the b5-square. 8...Be7!? 9.b3 0-0
10.a4! The bishop on c1 prevents Qa5. White will have the possibility to play Bd2.

7.Nc3

Next move, e4!

7...Bb7

7...Nbd7 The move played by the best players! 8.e4 d4

9.Na4! Sometimes, the knight on the rim is good! 9...Nxe4 10.Bd3! Qa5+ (10...Nef6 11.0-0 Bd6 12.b4!
±) 11.Nd2! White will complete development and have a nice initiative on the e-file.

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8.e4!

8...d4

8...Nbd7?! 9.Ng5!N 9...Qe7 10.Be2 d4 11.Na4 Once again, White is much better.

9.e5! Nfd7

9...dxc3? 10.Qxd8+ Kxd8 11.exf6 gxf6 12.bxc3±

10.Ne2!

White doesn’t worry about ...Bxf3.

10...Bxf3 11.gxf3 Nxe5 12.Bg2

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The bishop gets a fantastic diagonal!

12...Nbd7 13.f4!±

CONCLUSION
I think that I have shed some new light on a very important gambit. When this book appeared, the
Blumenfeld was considered a bit risky but perfectly playable. The next step will be to see if anyone takes
my ideas seriously and wins some games. Did I kill the Blumenfeld? Maybe not, but I tried my best!

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CHAPTER 3

123
THE TARRASCH AND MARSHALL GAMBITS

INTRODUCTION

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5

The Tarrasch Defense is considered a second class opening because Black normally has difficulties
equalizing. But there are some interesting gambits, as well!

4.cxd5 exd5

4...cxd4 The Von Hennig-Schara could be a part of this chapter, but it is so important that it needs its own
chapter.

5.dxc5

Maybe you didn’t realise this, but the Tarrasch Defense is also a gambit! What is the current evaluation
of these positions? Is Black good enough despite being a pawn down? You will soon know!
5.e4!? The Marshall Gambit! Extremely sharp and interesting, if Black is not prepared! But after some
analysis, I think that I have managed to kill it!
THE TARRASCH GAMBIT

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.dxc5!?

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Normally, White does not play like this, but this is the first move we should check!
5.Nf3 Nc6 6.g3 is the most commonly played variation, where White is considered to have a small
advantage.

5...d4!

Black tries to obtain the initiative as soon as possible. Now White has two possibilities.
5...Nf6?! this move is too slow, apparently. 6.Be3! Nc6 7.Nf3 It’s not so easy to get the pawn back!

6.Na4

6.Ne4!? The Grandmaster, Ivanisevic, has played this variation with White several times. 6...Nc6
(6...Nf6!? This is an interesting move. There is a recent correspondence game which continued 7.Bg5
Bf5 8.Nxf6+ gxf6 9.e4! Bxe4 10.Qe2 fxg5 11.Qxe4+ Qe7 12.Bd3 Nd7 and the endgame was
approximately equal in Bredenhof, B (2234)-Ruokokoski, H (2225) ICCF email 2016) 7.Nf3

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This is the main position. Now Black has several options. (7.e3!? Nf6 8.Bd3 Nxe4 9.Bxe4 Bxc5=)
7...Qd5!? This attempt almost equalizes.
a) 7...Bf5?! 8.Ng3 Bg6 (8...Bg4 9.h3 Bxf3 10.exf3 Bxc5 11.a3 Nf6 12.Bd3 0-0 13.0-0 Bb6 14.Bg5² 0–
1 (41) Ivanisevic, I (2544)-Todorovic, G (2540) Budva 2004) 9.h4! h6 10.h5 Bh7 11.e4 Bxc5 12.Bd3
was better for White in Ivanisevic, I (2588)-Zelcic, R (2514) Cannes 2006;
b) 7...Nf6!? This is the sharpest attempt. 8.Bg5 (8.Nxf6+ Qxf6 9.Bg5 Qf5 10.e3 dxe3 11.Bxe3 Bxc5=)
8...Bf5! 9.Nxf6+ gxf6 10.Bd2 Bxc5 11.g3 Nb4 12.Qa4+ Bd7 13.Qb3 Be6 and a draw is achieved, by
constantly attacking the queen.;
8.Nd6+ Bxd6 9.cxd6 Qxd6

10.e3! (10.g3?! Nf6 11.Bg2 Bf5 12.0-0 Be4 13.e3 d3 14.Bd2 0-0 15.Bc3 Rad8³ 1–0 (72) Ivanisevic, I

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(2577)-Todorovic, G (2491) Vrnjacka Banja 2005) 10...Qb4+ (10...Bg4!? 11.Be2 Qb4+!? 12.Bd2 Qxb2
is imbalanced, as well.) 11.Bd2 Qxb2 12.Rb1 Qxa2 13.Nxd4 Nxd4 14.exd4 and White has good
compensation for the pawn, although it may not be enough for an advantage.

6...b5!!

This impressive move gives Black a very good game.

7.cxb6 axb6! 8.e4!

It’s very important to avoid ...b5. Black needs to play accurately to stay in the game.
a) 8.b3?! Trying to leave a square for the knight. 8...b5! 9.Nb2 Bb4+ 10.Bd2 Nc6! 11.Nf3 Bxd2+
12.Qxd2 Nf6 Black will play ...Ne4 and get an advantage.;
b) 8.e3 Bd7 9.b3 b5 10.Nb2 Bb4+ 11.Bd2 dxe3! 12.Bxb4 Qh4! This line is the reason why White
should play 8.e4.

8...Bd7

8...Bb4+!? is a very concrete line, but after 9.Bd2 Bxd2+ 10.Qxd2 Rxa4 11.Bb5+ Bd7 12.Bxa4 Bxa4
13.Nf3 White’s chances are slightly better, in my opinion. The c and the d files will probably be opened,
and this will give the white rooks a lot of activity.

9.b3

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Now Black has three moves, but all three of them end up the same way. We don’t see this every day!

9...b5

a) 9...Nf6 10.Bd3 b5 11.Nb2 Bb4+ 12.Bd2 Ba3 transposes.;

b) 9...Bb4+ 10.Bd2 Ba3 11.Qb1 Nf6 12.Bd3 b5 13.Nb2 transposes as well.

10.Nb2 Nf6 11.Bd3 Bb4+ 12.Bd2 Ba3 13.Qb1 Nc6

This position is more or less forced. White has an extra pawn, but Black has very active pieces. The
situation is more or less balanced. One possible line is:

14.Ne2 Ne5 15.Nd1 Qe7!

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16.0-0 Nxd3 17.Qxd3 Qxe4 18.Qxd4 Qxd4 19.Nxd4 0-0

...where White is pawn up and but the pair of bishops are more than enough compensation. Another pla
able gambit!
MARSHALL GAMBIT
6.d5

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.e4!?

Frank Marshall played this gambit many times and with very good results. Later, Grandmasters like
Bronstein, Knaak and Mamedyarov would do the same.

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It’s not very dangerous, but Black needs to know exactly how to answer it.

5...dxe4!

Now White has several options, but none give him advantage.

6.d5!?

Some kind of Albin Gambit.

6.Bc4!? and 6.Bb5 will be covered in the following analysis.

6...Nf6 7.Bg5 Nbd7!

Very good move. It’s strange that no one played like this in the past.

8.Qe2!

The best attempt to fight for compensation.

a) 8.f3 doesn’t help White: 8...Bd6! 9.fxe4 0-0 Black will later play ... Re8 and will try to gain space on
the queenside with ...a6 and ...b5. The e5-square is weak as well. Taken together these factors give
Black a very good position.;
b) 8.Nxe4 Be7! 9.Nxf6+ Nxf6 10.Bb5+ Kf8! The d5 pawn will fall.

8...Be7

Black wants straightforwardly to complete development.

8...Qa5!? 9.0-0-0 Be7 This avoids the double pawn sacrifice that we will see later.

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9.d6!?

Interesting second pawn sacrifice, but Black can hold after 9.0-0-0 Qa5! 10.Nxe4 (10.Qb5!? Qxb5
11.Bxb5 a6 This is probably the best continuation for White, but such play is hardly what White was
planning to do following his opening sacrifices.) 10...0-0 11.d6 Bd8!µ The pawn on d6 is not dangerous
at all, and White’s king is weak.

9...Bxd6 10.Nxe4 Be7 11.Nd6+ Kf8 12.0-0-0!?

12...Bxd6

The sharpest try.

12...Ne8!? 13.Bxe7+ Qxe7 14.Nxe8 Qxe8 15.Qxe8+ Kxe8 16.Nf3 White has enough compensation to
fight for equality.

13.Rxd6 Qa5!

Risky, but this seems to be ok. White still needs time to develop the kingside and cannot create serious
threats.

14.Nf3!?

14.a3 h6! 15.Bf4 Kg8 16.Nf3 Nf8! The black king will be safe on h7, and the bishop will develop to e6.
White has compensation, but not enough for an advantage.

14...h6 15.Bxf6

15.Bf4 Qxa2µ

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15...Nxf6 16.Qe5 Bg4!

Black completes development with ... Re8, so White should play very fast.

17.Rxf6!

Now a very concrete line appears.

17...gxf6 18.Qd6+ Kg7 19.Qg3 h5! 20.h3 Qxa2 21.Bd3! Rad8 22.hxg4 Rxd3 23.gxh5+ Kh7 24.Ng5+
fxg5 25.Qxd3+ Kh6 26.Qd6+ Qe6 27.Qxe6+ fxe6

The position is almost equal, although I still prefer Black.

MARSHALL GAMBIT
6.Bb5 & 6.Bc4!?

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.e4!? dxe4!

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6.Bc4!?

Mamedyarov’s way.
6.Bb5+ This is objectively the best move, but it’s hardly in the spirit of the gambit! 6...Bd7 7.Nge2!? Nf6
8.0-0 Bxb5 9.Nxb5 a6 10.Nbc3 cxd4 11.Nxd4 Bc5= The position has simplified. White will probably
take on e4 sooner or later, and the position will be balanced.

6...cxd4!

We can take all the pawns! We are not scared of cheap tricks!

7.Qb3!?

This is Mamedyarov’s idea, which managed to scare one of his opponents.

7.Nxe4 Nf6³

7...Nf6!

But after this accurate move, Black is better.

7...Qd7? 8.Nxe4 Nc6 9.Bd2 a5 10.a4 Bb4 11.Bxb4 axb4 12.Bxf7+ Kf8 13.Bxg8 Rxg8 14.Ne2 and
White eventually won in Mamedyarov, S (2757)-Ginsburg, G (2514) Mainz 2007.

8.Bxf7+ Ke7

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9.Nf3!?

A very amusing double knight sacrifice! You don’t see this every day! Now it is important that we take
the right one!
9.Bf4!? Nc6 (9...dxc3?! 10.Rd1 Qb6 11.Bd6+ Qxd6 12.Rxd6 Kxd6 13.Qxc3 Black is probably still
better, but I don’t think it is necessary to sacrifice the queen.) 10.Bc4 Na5! 11.Qb4+ Ke8 12.Qb5+

12...Bd7?! (12...Nc6! This seems to be an improvement. It’s important not to allow Qe5. 13.0-0-0 Bd7
14.Nge2 dxc3 15.Nxc3 Be7 and White doesn’t have enough compensation. Black is ready to play ...Qb6,
and his king is no longer as vulnerable in the center.) 13.Qe5+ Be7 14.Qxd4 Nxc4 15.Qxc4 Rc8 16.Qb3
Qa5 17.Nge2 Qa6 18.0-0 White had the initiative in Williams, S (2480)-Williamson, R (2129) Liverpool

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2007.

9...dxc3!

9...exf3? 10.0-0 Qa5 (10...dxc3? 11.Re1+ Kd7 12.Bf4 White will soon mate Black.) 11.Bf4 Bd7
12.Rfe1+ Kd8 13.Nd5 Black is piece and pawn up but the king is extremely weak. Unless Black plays
very accurately, he will capitulate in few moves.

10.Be3 Na6

The most normal way to avoid Bc5.

11.0-0

11.Rd1 Qa5 doesn’t change a thing.

11...Qd6

There are many moves but this one is the most practical. Black is ready to play ...Qb4.

12.Ng5 Qb4! 13.bxc3 Qxb3 14.Bxb3 h6–+

Black is a piece up.

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CHAPTER 4

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THE VON HENNIG-SCHARA GAMBIT

INTRODUCTION

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 cxd4!?

The famous Von Hennig-Schara gambit!

I couldn’t find much by way of interesting information about this gambit. Except I soon realized that
even some Grandmasters don’t know exactly how to play against it! I therefore decided that it would be a
very interesting gambit to analyze in this book.
Black ’s idea is to sacrifice all the pawns in the center to get free play for the pieces. In fact, and even if I
am convinced that White is better, I would play it with Black too, especially as there remain so many
unexplored to play...
Let’s have a look at White’s possibilities.

5.Qa4+

This is considered to be the main line. In theory, the bishop on d7 is not so well placed because Black
cannot play Nc6 after Qxd4, as in the other variation. But I’m not so sure about this.
5.Qxd4 Nc6! This is the idea. Now White should decide where to move the queen, and no matter where
it goes we reach the same position. 6.Qd1 exd5 7.Qxd5

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Now Black has a big choice, and it’s not so clear which option will give Black more counterplay.
7...Be6?! Black is looking for compensation in the endgame. (7...Bd7 is the most popular move for
Black, but in my opinion there are more interesting moves. You should dig deeper in this chapter to see
my recommendation!) 8.Qxd8+ Rxd8 9.e3! Probably the simplest. Here we will follow two games from
the ex-World Champion Smyslov. 9...Nb4 The main idea. If this is not played, Black will not have
enough counterplay. 10.Bb5+ Ke7

11.Kf1! (11.Ke2?! was played in a previous game by Smyslov. As we will see, six years later he learnt
his lesson and found the best move. 11...Nc2 12.Rb1 a6! Suddenly, White cannot escape from an
amusing perpetual check! 13.Ba4 Bc4+ 14.Kf3 Ne1+! 15.Kg3 Rd6 16.f4 Rg6+ 17.Kf2 Nd3+ 18.Kf3
Ne1+ ½–½ Smyslov,V-Aramanovich,I Moscow 1945) 11...Nf6 (11...Nc2 12.Rb1 a6 13.Be2! This is the
key difference!) 12.Nf3 (12.Be2!? This was a bit more accurate, according to the computer. 12...Nc2

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13.Rb1 Ne4 14.Nxe4 Bxa2 15.Nc3!) 12...Nc2 13.Rb1

13...Bf5?!
[13...Ne4! was a better practical try: 14.Be2 (14.Nxe4 Now a forced line appears. 14...Rd1+ 15.Ke2
Rxh1 16.Ng3 Bxa2 17.Nxh1 Bxb1 18.Bd3 g6 19.Nd2 Nxe3 20.Nxb1 Nd5 Maybe White is slightly
better in this endgame, but it will be very difficult to convert the advantage because there are many open
lines and Black will likely find ways to create threats in White’s position.) 14...f5 15.g3 g6 16.Kg2 Bg7
Black managed to get some compensation, although, according to the engine, White is still better after
17.Bd1!]
14.Bd2 Black’s activity has come to an end and his position collapsed few moves later. 14...g5 15.Rc1 h6
16.e4! Nxe4 17.Rxc2 Nd6 18.Nd4 Nxb5 19.Nxf5+ Kf6 20.Nxb5 Kxf5 21.Ke2 1–0 Smyslov, V-Estrin,
Y Leningrad 1951.

5...Bd7 6.Qxd4 exd5 7.Qxd5

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7...Nf6!

This is the modern way for Black, who is not afraid to sacrifice a second pawn!
7...Nc6 This was considered the main line for many years, but here I think Black is much worse. 8.Nf3
Nf6 9.Qb3! White is much better, here, as you will be able to see later in this chapter.

8.Qd1 Nc6 9.Nf3 Bc5

Now we get to one of the main lines of the gambit, but we have happily avoided the annoying Qb3 line!

10.e3 Qe7 11.Be2

Here we will analyze two plans. The most typical involves castling queenside, and a new plan with castle
kingside. Anyway, before entering into the variations it will be nice to check some games from the past!

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 FIRST GAMES IN THE GAMBIT

F. Eppers
H. Von Hennig
Duisburg, 1929

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 cxd4 5.Qxd4

5...Nc6!

Von Hennig knew what to do. You should develop as quickly as possible!

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5...Nf6 This was the first game featuring this gambit, and it’s clear that Black was not particularly
inspired! 6.e4 exd5 7.exd5 Be6 Here White wins with several moves, the best being 8.Bc4. The rest is not
so interesting, but I’ll include the rest of the game until the end because of its historical value. 8.Bb5+
Bd7 9.d6 Nc6 10.Qd3 Be6 11.Bf4 a6 12.Bxc6+ bxc6 13.Nf3 Qb6 14.0-0 Rd8 15.Rfe1 Nh5 16.Rad1 Qb7
17.Be5 Nf6 18.Bxf6 Rxd6 19.Nd4 gxf6 20.Ne4 c5 21.Nxd6+ Bxd6 22.Nxe6 1–0 Marshall,F-Howard,K
Sylvan Beach 1904.

6.Qd1 exd5 7.a3?

White was really scared, for some reason.

7.Qxd5! Of course, White should take the pawn!

7...d4!

Of course, if they let us we should rock White’s position with our d-pawn!

8.Ne4 Bf5 9.Nd2 Bc5

The position is a bit embarrassing for White. Black has almost completed development and White’s
bishops are still crying for some “fresh air”.

10.Nb3 Bb6 11.Nf3 Nf6 12.Bg5 h6 13.Bd2 0-0 14.g3 Re8 15.Bg2

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15...Qd7?

But with this Black is not making use of the tactical possibilities in the position.
a) 15...Bc2!! This would have been the most beautiful finish: 16.Qxc2 d3 17.Qc4 Rxe2+ 18.Kd1 Rxf2
19.Rg1 Rxf3 Black is winning.;
b) 15...Bd3!? 16.Nc1 Bxe2 17.Nxe2 d3 was winning as well.

16.0-0 Re7 17.Re1 Rae8 18.Rc1 Ne4

Black may not have played in the best way, but he at least managed to coordinate his pieces very well.

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19.Nh4 Bh3 20.Bxe4 Rxe4 21.Ng2 Qd5 22.f3

22...Rxe2!

One small tactic to end the game.

23.Rxe2 d3+ 24.Be3 Qxf3 25.Rf2 Rxe3 26.Nxe3 Qxe3

0–1

V. Pirc
A. Alekhine
Bled, 31.08.1931

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 cxd4

Of course, once again we return to Alekhine. No gambit could resist him, or more acccurately, he could
not resist gambits.

5.Qa4+!? Bd7 6.Qxd4 exd5 7.Qxd5 Nc6 8.Bg5

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This looks entirely logical as it continues development, but White will have some problems with the dark
squares on the queenside.

8...Nf6 9.Qd2

9.Bxf6 This happened 30 years later. It’s clear that Zaitsev was aware of Alekhine’s play. 9...Qxf6 10.e3
0-0-0!? 11.Qb3 Be6 12.Qa4? (12.Bc4! Would have been important when White would have been better.)
12...Bb4! 13.Rc1

13...Rd2!! A fantastic shot! 14.Kxd2 Qxf2+ 15.Nge2 Bf5! A wonderfully calm move. The idea is very
simple: Black wants to keep White in the killing zone, in this case the d-file. Now the king cannot go to
c2 and Black only has to play Rd8. 16.Qxb4 Rd8+ 17.Qd4 Nxd4 18.Nb5+ Nc6+ 19.Nbd4 Kb8 20.Kd1

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Qxe3 0–1 Gaisert-Zaitsev, I Moscow 1960.

9...h6

10.Bxf6

10.Bh4?! g5 11.Bg3 Bb4! White should play very carefully to hold this position. I’m 100% sure that
Alekhine would play in this way, as well as his opponent!

10...Qxf6 11.e3 0-0-0!

Only two pawns on the queenside but, of course, Alekhine is only thinking about developing the
initiative!

12.0-0-0

12.Nge2 was more solid.

12...Bg4 13.Nd5

White thought that this would be able to hold, but Alekhine finds the best continuation for Black.

13...Rxd5 14.Qxd5 Ba3!!

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Very beautiful! It’s because Alekhine could discover these kind of tactical ideas that he became famous!

15.Qb3

15.bxa3 Qa1+ 16.Kc2 Bxd1+ 17.Qxd1 Qxa2+ 18.Kc1 Rd8–+

15...Bxd1 16.Qxa3 Qxf2

The position is completely winning. The rest doesn’t require comment.

17.Qd3 Bg4 18.Nf3 Bxf3 19.Qf5+ Kb8 20.Qxf3 Qe1+ 21.Kc2 Rc8 22.Qg3+ Ne5+ 23.Kb3 Qd1+
24.Ka3 Rc5 0–1

N. A. Novotelnov
B. Spassky
Leningrad, 1956

1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4 c5 4.cxd5 cxd4

Even the young Spassky was ready to play the gambit!

5.Qa4+ Bd7 6.Qxd4 exd5

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7.Nf3?!

Maybe this wasn’t the most accurate move.

7.Qxd5 Nf6 8.Qd1 Nc6 9.Nf3 would have transposed, but it would have avoided 7...N f6, which was
possible in the game continuation.

7...Nc6

7...Nf6! 8.Nxd5 Qa5+ 9.Nc3 Nc6 This would have been an improved version of the gambit, for Black.

8.Qxd5 Nf6 9.Qd1

This is the most normal move, if White doesn’t know the theory, or know what’s going on!
9.Qb3!? This is considered to be a potential refutation, at least in the minds of many Grandmasters.

9...Bc5

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Of course, Black places the bishop on the most active square.

10.e3 Qe7 11.Be2 0-0-0!?

11...0-0 12.0-0 Rfd8 Black would get interesting positional compensation in this line, and it resembles
some kind of Morra Attack. Nevertheless, Spassky had something else in mind!

12.0-0 g5!?

Trying to mate White. In my opinion, this is too slow, but White should nevertheless play accurately.

13.Nd4

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A normal move if this is the first time the white player has seen the position.
13.b4 This is considered to be the refutation, but this may be due to the fact that few have taken this
gambit seriously enough. 13...Bxb4 14.Bb2 Kb8 This position is not so clear.

13...h5

13...g4 was played later. We will see how the great theoretician Polugayevsky plays here. 14.b4!?
(14.Bb5!? ’This is a strange move favoured by the computer. As ...Ng4 is not a threat any longer White
can remove the bishop from e2 and try to exchange some pieces.) 14...Bxb4

15.Bb2 (15.Ncb5!?) 15...h5? Black doesn’t seem to appreciate that his king could be weak as well!
(15...Kb8! 16.Ncb5 Nxd4 17.Nxd4 h5 The position is completely unclear.) 16.Ncb5! White makes use
of the weaknesses on the queenside. 16...Kb8 17.Qa4 Polugayevsky opts for a very concrete
continuation, typical of his style. But there was a better option. (17.Rc1 a6 18.Nxc6+ Bxc6 19.Nd4
Followed by Qb3.) 17...a6 18.Nxc6+ Bxc6 19.Bxf6

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19...Qxf6? I’m convinced that both players thought that this capture was forced. But you should always
remember, you are not forced to take back the pieces, so always think if you can create a stronger threat!
(19...Qe4! 20.f3 Qxe3+ 21.Kh1 Bd2!

What a fantastic position in which almost everything is hanging or pinned. You can examine this position
in greater depth if you like, but I will simply tell you the position is more or less balanced.) 20.Qxb4
axb5 21.Bxb5

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Now it is clear that White is better, and he converted his advantage without any problems. 21...Qd6
22.Rab1 Bd5 23.a4 f5 24.Qxd6+ Rxd6 25.Rbd1 Rhd8 26.f3 Be6 27.Rxd6 Rxd6 28.fxg4 fxg4 29.Rf8+
Ka7 30.Rh8 Rd5 31.Kf2 Rc5 32.e4 Rc2+ 33.Kg3 Rc3+ 34.Kf4 Rc2 35.Rxh5 Rxg2 36.Rh6 Bb3 37.e5 Ra2
38.e6 Bxa4 39.Bxa4 Rxa4+ 40.Kf5 Ra2 41.e7 1–0 Polugaevsky, L-Zaitsev, I Alma-Ata 1968.

14.a3?!

But this is too slow.

14.b4! This is better! 14...Bxb4 15.Qb3 Nxd4 16.exd4 Be6 17.Bc4 White has a very nice initiative.

14...g4?

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This move is very strange. This square is for the knight!
14...Kb8! This prophylactic move is very helpful. 15.b4 Bb6 16.Bb2 Nxd4 17.exd4 Qd6! and White
should really start worrying about the mating threats.

15.b4 Bd6

15...Bb6 16.Ndb5 Bf5 17.Qb3 h4 18.Na4 And according to the engine, Black won’t be mating White
any time soon. In my opinion, it was more dangerous to attack with the pieces, and would thus suggest
putting the bishop on the b8-h2 diagonal.

16.Ncb5 Bb8 17.Bb2 Ne4 18.Qc2 Rhg8 19.Bd3

Black’s position is collapsing. It was not Spassky’s best day, although we should add that he was still
very young!

19...Nxf2 20.Qxf2 Bxh2+ 21.Kh1 Ne5 22.Nf5 Bxf5 23.Qxf5+ Kb8 24.Kxh2 Nxd3 25.Bf6 g3+
26.Kh1 Qxe3 27.Rf3 Nf2+ 28.Rxf2 gxf2 29.Be5+

1–0

These three games suffice to show the practical ideas involved in the position. If Black plays very
actively White should be able to consolidate his position, and then sometimes even to go on the attack.
Now it’s time to check the lines one by one.
THE MODERN VARIATION

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 cxd4 5.Qa4+ Bd7 6.Qxd4 exd5 7.Qxd5 Nf6!?

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A double gambit! This is the computer’s recommendation, but there are not so many games in the
database which play this variation, compared to 7...Nc6! Still, it seems to be an extremely interesting
practical choice, because Black now has two possibilities, either to play with Nc6 or with Na6,
depending on where the white queen goes.

8.Qb3

White tries to play the official refutation, but Black has an idea...
8.Qxb7 This is more principled, but too risky, in my opinion. 8...Nc6 9.Qb3! This seems to be the best
move. The idea is to put the queen on a safe square as soon as possible. I could only find one game in my
database.
a) 9.Bf4

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The most logical move and the most frequently played. 9...Bb4! Black tries to complete development as
soon as possible. Now White has six(!) logical moves. (9...Nb4?! 10.Rc1 Rc8 11.Nf3 Bc5 12.Ne5
Black didn’t have enough compensation in Gomez, J (2507)-Abhishek, D (2264) Mumbai 2012) 10.g3!
The best choice, according to the engine, but I should confess that this would never have occurred to
me. The idea is to play Bh3 and then try to exchange some pieces.
a1) 10.Rd1? Black tries to pin the bishop, but it would be better for White to develop his kingside.
10...0-0 11.e3 Qa5! and it’s clear that White has big problems.;
a2) 10.e3 0-0 11.Nge2 a6! Trying to trap the queen! 12.0-0-0 Ra7 13.Rxd7 Rxb7 14.Rxd8 Rxd8 and
this endgame is approximately equal.;
a3) 10.Nf3?! 0-0 11.e3 (11.Rc1 Qe7 12.a3 Bxc3+ 13.bxc3 Qxa3³) 11...a6!

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 Again the same idea. 12.Qc7 Qe7 13.Rd1 Rfc8 14.Qb6 Ba5 15.Qb3 Rab8! This is fighting for the
initiative! 16.Bxb8 Rxb8 17.Qc4 (17.Qc2 Nb4 18.Qb3 Bf5–+) 17...Rxb2 18.Be2 Ne5 19.Nxe5 Qxe5
20.0-0 Bxc3 21.Qxa6 Ba5 Black is better, and in this case the two pieces are better than the rook.;
a4) 10.Bc7!? White tries to exchange the queens, which is probably the safest choice. 10...Qc8
11.Qxc8+ Rxc8 12.Bf4 Now Black has two ways to obtain compensation.

12...Ne4 (12...Nd4 13.Rc1 Nd5 14.Bd2 Nxc3 15.Bxc3 Nb5°) 13.Rc1 Na5 14.a3 Bxc3+ 15.bxc3 Nb3
16.Rc2 Nd4=;
a5) 10.a3 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 Qa5! 12.Qb2 (12.Qxa8+? Ke7 13.Qxh8 Qxc3+ 14.Kd1 Nd4! White gets
mated!) 12...0-0 13.e3 Nd5ƒ;
10...0-0 11.Bh3 Bxc3+ 12.bxc3 Qa5

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Black tries to develop the initiative as soon as possible. 13.Rb1 An illogical move, but it seems to be the
best! The idea is simply that Black’s response, ...Qxc3, does not attack the rook on a1. (13.Qb2
Definitely the most normal move! 13...Bxh3 14.Nxh3 h6 15.0-0 Qf5 16.Kg2 g5 17.Bc1 Rab8 Black is
two pawns down, but all his pieces are playing. The compensation is more than enough.) 13...Qd5!?
The best try to get a sharp game. (13...Qxa2!? This is the safest. 14.Bxd7 Nxd7 15.Qb3 Qxb3 16.Rxb3
a5 17.Nf3 a4 18.Ra3 Nb6 19.Nd2 Na5 Black shouldn’t have too much trouble making a draw, thanks
to his activity on the queenside.; 13...Rab8?! This was played in an email game, but I think that Black
has much better options. 14.Bxb8 Rxb8 15.Qxb8+ Nxb8 16.Rxb8+ Be8 17.Nf3 Qxc3+ 18.Kf1 g5
19.Rc8 Qa5 20.Kg2 Kg7 21.Rhc1 h6 22.e3± ½-½ (55) Ederer, K (2110)-Tomassi, E (1537) LSS email
2012; 13...Qxc3+? 14.Kf1! Bxh3+ 15.Nxh3±) 14.f3 Qxa2 15.Kf2 Be6 16.Qb2 Qc4 The position is
very complicated but I think that the chances are more or less balanced.;
b) 9.e3? Nb4 There is no way for White to avoid ...Nc2.;

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9...Rb8! The most logical move. Black activates all of his pieces.
[9...Nd4?! 10.Qd1 Bf5 11.e4 Nxe4 12.Nf3 Bc5 13.Nxd4! (13.Nxe4? Bxe4= Hohm, K-Clauss, A ICCF
corr 1988) 13...Bxd4 14.Bb5+ Kf8 15.0-0 Nxc3 16.bxc3 Bxc3 17.Ba3+ This was a straightforward way
to gain an advantage.]
10.Qd1 Bb4

Once again, every piece is placed on the most active square. 11.Nf3 0-0 12.e3 White is about to complete
development so it is time for Black to start active operations. 12...Ne4 13.Bd2 Bxc3 14.Bxc3 Nxc3
15.bxc3 Qf6! The position has transformed. Black exchanged some pieces, White cannot castle yet, and
now there is a weakness on c3.

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16.Qc1! The safest for White.
[16.Nd4 Rb2! 17.Be2 Nxd4 18.Qxd4 Bb5! White is lucky that this is not losing immediately! 19.c4!
Qxd4 20.exd4 Re8 21.0-0 Rexe2 22.cxb5 Rxb5=; 16.Qc2? Bf5 17.Qd2 Rfd8 18.Nd4 Nxd4 19.cxd4 Qg6
20.f3 Seems like White is about to consolidate, but Black makes use of every resource.

20...Rdc8! 21.g4 Bb1!! Great play. Black is ready to enter on c2. 22.Be2 Qd6 23.0-0 Rc2 24.Qe1 Rbb2
25.Qg3 Qb6µ]
16...Qg6 White cannot complete development so easily. (16...Bh3!? ’This is a very funny move, but after
17.Nd2 Bg4 18.Bd3 Ne5 19.Be4 Black doesn’t have sufficient compensation.) 17.Be2 Qxg2 18.Rg1
Qh3° Black is a pawn down but his king is safer. The computer gives some minimal advantage for White
but in a practical game anything could happen. I would even prefer to play with Black, here.

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8...Na6!

A very logical move yet almost unknown! The idea is very simple: Black wants to play ...Nc5 and gain
one more tempo on the white queen.

9.Nf3

a) 9.e3 Nc5 10.Qc2 Rc8 (10...g6!? 11.Nf3 Bg7 This could be another option! It looks like some kind of
Grunfeld or Catalan, except without the pawn on the e-file!) 11.Nf3 Bd6 We will check this after
9.Nf3;
b) 9.Bf4?! After this normal move the position is already critical for White! 9...Nc5 10.Qc2 Rc8! 11.e3
Qa5 12.Nf3 Na4 Black was much better in Vallin, G (2270)-Treffert, P (2325) Bischwiller 1998;
c) 9.Bg5?! Things are very similar to continuations following 9.Bf4. 9...Rc8 10.e3 Bb4 11.a3 Bxc3+
12.bxc3 Nc5ƒ

9...Nc5

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10.Qd1

White doesn’t allow Black to play ... Bd6.

10.Qc2 Rc8 11.e3
[11.Bg5?! Nce4 (11...Na4! This was even better! 12.Bd2 Bb4 13.e3 0-0³) 12.Bxf6 Nxf6 13.Ne5 Bb4
14.e3 Qa5„ 1–0 (38) Rebaudo,N-Mazzeo,A SEMI email 2001]
11...Bd6!N I like the positional approach. Black ’s play seems to be much easier. Let me explain the
strategy: Black castles and the queen goes to e7. Afterwards, Black tries to push the queenside pawns
(...a6–...b5) and the kingside as well (...g6–...h5). This will force White to create some weaknesses on
both f lanks (namely the b3-square, if White plays a3, and White may also need to play h3, as well).
White has an extra pawn but how to make use of it? Thanks to our good centralization we have control
over the e4-square. It’s clear that White needs to exchange some pieces, but we shouldn’t allow it if
possible. In a practical game, with short time controls, I don’t believe that Black’s chances would be
worse.
[11...Nce4?!

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Very concrete. It seems as though Black ca n’t quite ma nage to equalize. 12.Bd3! (12.Bd2 Nxd2
13.Qxd2 — 13.Nxd2!? Bb4 14.Bd3 0-0 15.0-0² — 13...Bb4 14.Rc1 0-0 15.Bd3 Bc6 16.0-0 Qa5 17.a3
Bxf3 18.gxf3 Qg5+ 19.Kh1 Qh5° 0–1 (47) Pusch, T (1873)-Rivinius, O (1863) Duisburg R heinhausen
2009) 12...Nxc3 13.bxc3 Bd6 14.0-0 Qc7 15.Bb2± 1–0 (26) Nita, C (1800)-Mosshammer, M (1873)
ICCF email 2008.]
12.Be2 0-0 13.0-0 Qe7 14.Bd2 g6! Black is ready to play ...Bf5.

15.Nd4 Now I will show two possible plans for Black. 15...Rfe8!? This is the plan I like the most.
(15...Rfd8 16.Rfd1 a6 17.Rac1 b5 18.a3 Ne6!? 19.Be1 Nxd4 20.Rxd4 Be5°) 16.Rac1 a6 17.Rfd1 b5
18.a3 Nce4! 19.Nf3 (19.Be1 Nxc3 20.Bxc3 Ne4³; 19.Bf3 Ng5! 20.Be1 Qe5ƒ) 19...Red8 20.Qb1 Nxf2!?
21.Kxf2 Bf5 22.Qa2 Ng4+ 23.Kf1 Bc5!

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The computer claims that the position is equal, here! Let’s go a bit deeper. 24.Nd5 Qe6 25.b4 Rxd5
26.Rxc5 Nxe3+ 27.Kg1 Rcxc5 28.bxc5 Nxd1 29.Bxd1 Bd3 30.Bb3 Qe2! 31.Qa1 Bc4=

10...Nce4! 11.e3 Bb4 12.Bd2

12...Qa5

12...Bxc3 13.Bxc3 Nxc3 14.bxc3 Qa5° Black will recover the pawn and then should have no problems.

13.Bd3 Nxd2

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13...Nxc3 14.bxc3 Bxc3 15.Rc1 Bxd2+ 16.Qxd2 Qxd2+ 17.Kxd2 0-0=

14.Qxd2 Rc8 15.Rc1 Nd5 16.0-0 Bxc3 17.bxc3 Nxc3=

½–½ (24) Kohler, J (1998)-Jepson, C (2315) ICCF email 2016.

THE OLD MAIN LINE — BLACK CASTLES LONG

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 cxd4 5.Qa4+ Bd7 6.Qxd4 exd5 7.Qxd5 Nf6 8.Qd1!

8...Nc6

I’ve tried to find some alternatives, but White is doing fine in this case.
a) 8...Bc5 9.Nf3 0-0 10.a3! This doesn’t change a thing;
b) 8...Bb4!? 9.Nf3 0-0 10.e3 Qe7 11.Be2 Rd8 12.0-0 Nc6 13.Qc2 Rac8 14.Rd1 Ne5 15.Bd2 Bd6
16.Nd4 Bb8±

9.Nf3

This is the main position for our gambit. According to the engine, White has an advantage, but there are
many possibilities which have not yet been sufficiently analyzed. White’s idea is very simple: e3–Be2–0-
0– Bd2. After this White will try to connect the rooks and consolidate his pawn advantage. At some
point, a3 might also be played in order to stop Nb4, which would challenge White’s queen that wants to
go to c2.

9...Bc5!

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This is the best move and the main line. Normally, Black tries to play Qe7, 0-0-0 and mate White on the
kingside, but I have something different in mind.
a) 9...Qb6

Black ’s idea is to place something on the d-file as soon as possible. 10.e3 0-0-0?! But this is very risky.
(10...Rd8 11.Bd2 Be7 12.Be2 0-0 13.0-0 Bf5 14.Qc1²) 11.Bd2 Qxb2 12.Rb1 Qa3 13.Be2 Bg4 14.0-0
Bb4 15.Nd4+– Lerner, K (2475)-Lputian, S Beltsy 1979;
b) 9...Bf5?! 10.Qxd8+ Rxd8 11.e3 a6 12.Bd2²;
c) 9...Bb4?! 10.e3 0-0 11.Be2 Qe7 12.0-0 Rfd8 13.Qc2 Rac8 14.Bd2²

10.e3

The old main line.

10...Qe7 11.Be2

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Now Black has two very interesting plans based on whether he castles queenside or kingside. The first is
more popular, risky and interesting, although probably, objectively speaking, White is better. The second
option, castling kingside, is more positional and sound and I’m not sure at all if White can claim any
advantage. Black ’s initiative is annoying.

11...0-0-0?!

Many games have been played with this move. I checked quite deeply, but it always seems as though
White is always better. Black’s king is weaker than White’s, most of the time. But I did find some
interesting games that I would like to share with you. If you remember the ideas I show, you will obtain
good practical chances against those players who are not so good in defence.
11...0-0! — see the next game.

12.0-0!? Kb8!

A very logical move! In the end, this is always necessary, so why not play it now! Here we will follow
some games of the Romanian International Master Miron (among others). He has had tremendous results.
I don’t say that Black is better after Kb8, but it is probably the move that gives most chances for Black.
Hopefully, you will get inspired by some of the following games!
12...g5

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This has been the main line for many years. I will not go too deep because it would take me pages to
show, in a clear way, what’s going on. I will simply offer two ideas which I consider good for White.
13.Qc2!? This is found in very few games, but the move is very useful in many lines. (13.b3!?N White
simply completes development. Against ...g4, Nh4 defends everything. You can check it deeply, if you
wish, but Black doesn’t have enough resources to mate White, in my opinion.) 13...g4 14.Nh4 Kb8
15.a3! (15.b4? Miguel Illescas, our best player in Spain for many years, makes a mistake I’ve seen very
often: he gives up the b-pawn without good reason! I remember as a kid reading articles in which the
author claimed b4 was a good move, followed by mate on the b-file. Unfortunately, in the computer era,
things are not so simple. 15...Nxb4 16.Qb3 Be6 17.Bc4 Nfd5 18.g3 Nxc3 19.Qxc3 Rc8= ½-½ (48)
Illescas Cordoba, M (2605)-Ibarra Chami, L (2364) Morelia 2008) 15...Ne5 16.b4

16...Ng6?! (16...Bd6 17.Nf5 Bxf5 18.Qxf5 Ng6 19.Bb2 Be5 20.Rfd1± White completed development

167
and Black doesn’t have any active possibilities.) 17.bxc5! (17.Nf5?! Bxf5 18.Qxf5 Bd6 19.g3 Be5
20.Bb2 Rd2 21.Rab1 h5! Black had compensation in Van Wely, L (2665)-Ikeda, J (2403) Canberra 2015)
17...Nxh4 18.e4! White’s dark squared bishop will enter the game with devastating effect.
Back to the main line!

13.Qc2!

This is the move favoured by the computer, and seems to be quite annoying. But I have only found three
games that continued like that.
a) 13.Bd2 g5!? (13...Bg4 14.Rc1 h5 15.Na4 Bd6 This is very interesting, for Black. Unfortunately, it
seems as though White is better after. 16.Rxc6! bxc6 17.Qb3+ Ka8 18.Qc4 Qe4 19.Qa6! But this line is
not so easy to find!) 14.b4 (14.Qc2 Nb4 15.Qc1 g4 16.Nh4 Bd6ƒ) 14...Bxb4 15.Nb5 Bc5 16.Bc3 g4
17.Nfd4 Ne4! 18.Bb2 Rhg8 19.Nxc6+ Bxc6 20.Nd4 Bxd4 21.Bxd4 Nc3 22.Bxc3 Qe4 0–1 Amoyal, P
(2155)-Miron, L (2506) Agneaux 2012;
b) 13.a3?! This is not the best move but I give it as a main line because many people will likely play in
this manner. 13...g5 (13...Ne5!? This would be my favourite move. I want to attack the kingside with
my pieces! 14.Nd4 h5 15.b4 Bd6 Following up with ...Neg4, which seems to offer Black great practical
chances. Although it should be noted that the black pawn on g5 can actually restrict Black’s attacking
chances, as it closes the g-file.) 14.b4 g4!?

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15.Nd4
b1) 15.Nd2 Bb6 16.Bb2 h5 17.Qc2 Ne5!? Both ...g3 and ...h4 are coming, which makes Black ’s
attack rather scary!
b2) 15.bxc5? gxf3 16.Bxf3 Ne5! 17.Bd2 (17.Qe2 Be6 18.Rd1 Bc4 19.Qc2 Nxf3+ 20.gxf3 Rdg8+
21.Kh1 Qe6 22.e4 Nh5 23.c6 Qh3 24.c7+ Ka8 0–1 (24) Uhlmann, W (2440)-Cech, P (2331)
Germany 2003; 17.Be2 Bh3 18.Qb3 Rhg8 19.g3 Bxf1 20.Bxf1 Nf3+ 21.Kh1 Ng4µ Richardson, J
(2331)-Pert, R (2455) London 2011) 17...Rhg8 18.Kh1 Be6! Black should be much better.
(18...Nxf3?! 19.Qxf3 Bc6 20.e4 Ka8 21.Qe3 Nxe4 22.Nxe4 Qxe4= Firt, S (2344)-Cech, P (2312)
Ostrava 2003);
15...Bd6!

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 Black’s bishop should point to h2!
[15...Bb6?! 16.Ndb5 (16.Re1?! Qe5 17.Bf1 Rhg8 18.Bb2 Qg5 19.Nce2 h5 20.Nxc6+ Bxc6 21.Nd4
Bd5 22.Qc2 Ne4 23.Rac1 h4 24.Bd3 Rc8µ 0–1 (31) Dubessay, B (2378)-Miron, L (2543) Fourmies
2013) 16...Bc8 17.Qb3 h5 18.Na4 was better for White.]
16.Bb2 Nxd4 17.exd4 h5 Black’s position is easier to play.;
c) 13.b4!? Bxb4 14.Bb2 Rhe8 The position is complex and both sides have chances.

13...g5 14.a3

14...Ne5

14...g4 15.Nh4 Bd6 16.b4 The knight on h4 defends the kingside quite well.

15.Nd5!

This is a very typical trick in this position.

15...Nxf3+ 16.Bxf3 Nxd5 17.Bxd5

And without knights it is difficult for Black to mate White.

THE OLD MAIN LINE — BLACK CASTLES SHORT

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 cxd4 5.Qa4+ Bd7 6.Qxd4 exd5 7.Qxd5 Nf6 8.Qd1! Nc6 9.Nf3 Bc5!
10.e3 Qe7 11.Be2 0-0! 12.0-0 Rfd8!

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The main position. White is a pawn up, but it is almost impossible to make use of it. Black’s play is very
easy: 1. The a8 rook will go to c8. 2. The bishop on c5 has two options. One is to be placed on b6. In this
case, White will never be able to play e4 because the f2-square would be too weak. The other possibility
is place it on d6 and then b8, which eventually puts pressure on h2. 3. The jump ...Nc6–e5 is very
annoying. It opens the c file for the rook and vacates the c6-square for the black bishop.

13.Qc2

13.a3 Ne5! The ideas are the same.

13...Rac8 14.a3

Many games reach this position and Black often manages to outplay White. It’s thus rather interesting
that the engine gives some edge for White! But in a practical game it is really difficult to make use of that
supposed advantage. In the next few games I will show you what I mean.

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14...Bd6

It’s very difficult to choose a move here as Black has many interesting moves. Probably White is
objectively better after all of them, but in practical games White has failed to show any advantage.
a) 14...Ne5 15.Nd4! White is the one who should avoid the exchange of pieces, which is not obvious, at
all. The knight on d4 somehow controls the position very well. (15.Nxe5? This seems to be a mistake,
even though it actually looks like a very natural move! 15...Qxe5 16.f4 Bxe3+ 17.Kh1 Qc5 18.Bxe3
Qxe3 19.Bf3 Bc6³ ½-½ (44) Bronowicki, M (2307)-Koziak, V (2484) Barlinek 2008) 15...Bb6 16.Rd1
Bg4!? 17.h3 Bxe2 18.Qxe2 Black doesn’t have full compensation.;
b) 14...Bb6 15.Rd1 Na5!?

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A very different idea. Black tries to make us of the weaknesses on the queenside. 16.Bd2 (16.Nd4?! But
now this move is bad! The point is that the e5-square can now be used by the black queen. In the
previous line, the knight on e5 was obstructing the path! 16...Qe5 17.Bf3 h5! 18.b4 Nc6 19.Nxc6 Bxc6
20.Rxd8+ Rxd8 21.Bb2 Bc7 22.Kf1 Qxh2 23.Ke2 Ng4µ 0–1 (37) Lalic, B (2510)-Collins, S (2474)
Kilkenny 2013) 16...Be6 17.Be1! This was the most straightforward way, and White is better.;
c) 14...Bg4

15.Rd1 (15.Bd2? Too soon. Now White cannot fight against Black’s initiative. 15...Ne5! 16.Nxe5 Qxe5
17.Rae1 h5 18.Bxg4 hxg4 19.f4 gxf3 20.Rxf3 Ng4 21.Rh3 g6 22.Qd1 Qe6„ 0–1 (33) Khalesi, P
(1838)-Mousavi, S (2435) Shiraz 2017) 15...Ne5 (15...Bd6 16.h3 Bh5 17.Bd2±) 16.Rxd8+ Rxd8
17.Ne1²;
d) 14...a6!? I like this slower play, as well. Black doesn’t show his cards, and simply starts pushing
pawns. 15.Rd1 Ne5 16.b4 Ba7

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 This line, followed by ...Bb8, presents Black with some attacking ideas. Once again, however, the
engine claims the advantage for White. But the fact that the only move to realize that advantage is 17.h3
shows how narrow the path for White is, and therefore how difficult it would be to find in a practical
game.

15.Bd2!

White tries to complete development.

15.h3 Bb8 16.Rd1 Ne5 Black has a good initiative.

15...Ne5

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16.Nd4!

Once again we see this idea.

16.Rad1 Nxf3+ 17.Bxf3 Be6! Black follows up with ...a5–...b5 and ...h5, which will mean Black is able
to create annoying threats.

16...Nc6!?

Objectively the best.

17.Rfe1 Ng4 18.Bxg4 Bxg4

The pair of bishops gives Black good compensation.

WHITE PLAYS 5.Qxd4

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 cxd4 5.Qxd4

This is not the main line, but it is the most often played, so we should check it first.

5...Nc6! 6.Qd1

No matter where the queen goes we will reach the same position.

6...exd5 7.Qxd5 Qc7!

This is the great point behind Black’s play! There is only one game in my database that follows this line,
and the situation doesn’t look clear at all. Black has other options, but it appears that White is doing fine.
It’s difficult to analyze in much depth because there are no example games to check. I will simply show

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some variations and hopefully, in the next few months, some people will start playing these lines!
a) 7...Bd6?!

8.g3!N This is the suggestion of the engine and it seems very logical. Once the bishop moved to d6,
Black would have to lose another tempo to attack the typical weak square on f2. Because of this’ it isn’t
necessary to play e3, so we can choose other kinds of development.
[8.Bg5 This is the most played move, but White hasn’t managed to pose Black any serious problems.
8...Nge7 9.Qd2 h6 10.Bxe7 (10.0-0-0 hxg5 11.Qxd6 Qb6 12.e3 Be6 13.Bb5 0-0 14.Nf3 Rad8° ½-½
(21) Wickstrom, L (2374)-Jepson, C (2430) Sweden 2016) 10...Qxe7 11.Rd1 Bb4 12.a3 Ba5 13.e3 Bg4
14.Be2 Rd8 15.Qc2 Rxd1+ 16.Kxd1 Be6° ½-½ (19) Cardelli, G (2440)-Eckhardt, T (2460) ICCF email
2011]
8...Nf6 9.Qd1 0-0 10.Bg2 Qe7 11.Nf3 Rd8 At first sight it might seem that Black should have enough
compensation because he is very active, but I couldn’t find a concrete way to prove this.

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 12.Qc2! Nb4 13.Qb1 Nbd5 14.Nxd5 Nxd5 15.0-0! Qxe2 16.Re1 Qa6 17.Bg5 White seems to have a
small initiative.;
b) 7...Bd7 would transpose to 5.Qa4, but Black would then allow the refutation with 9.Qb3 (see the
next game).;
c) 7...Be6?! 8.Qxd8+ Rxd8 9.e3! We have already checked this line in the introduction.

8.Nf3

The most normal move. White simply continues development.

8.Qg5?! This was played in the only game I found in the database, but it is a bit artificial. 8...Nf6 9.Nf3

177
Be6 10.e4 h6 11.Bf4 Qc8 12.Qb5 a6 13.Qa4 Bc5 14.Be2 0-0 15.0-0 Rd8 16.Rad1 b5 17.Rxd8+ Qxd8
18.Qc2 Qb6 19.h3 Rc8° ½-½ (38) Seris Granier Gonzales, M (1985)-Carrettoni, A (2207) ICCF email
2009.

8...Nf6 9.Qb3

9.Qd1?! Bb4 10.Bd2 0-0 11.e3 Rd8 12.Qc2 Bg4! Black has a great initiative. For example: 13.Be2 Ne5
14.Nxe5 Bxe2 15.Kxe2 Qxe5³.

9...Be6!

This is the most logical move. I tried other moves, but they don’t offer enough.
a) 9...Bb4 10.e3 0-0 11.Bd2 Be6 12.Qa4 Rfd8 13.Be2 Bg4 14.Rc1 In this line, followed by a3, Black ’
doesn’t manage to create rea l threats.;
b) 9...Bc5 10.e3 0-0 11.Be2 Be6 12.Qc2! I don’t want to give White this possibility. From c2, the
queenprotects the bishop on d2, in many lines.

10.Qa4

10.Qc2 This is the other possibility, and now the fun really starts! 10...Nb4!? 11.Qb1 0-0-0! I really like
to make this move when it’s good! It feels as though you can do everything!

12.a3 (12.e3? is refuted by the simple 12...g6! and White has no way to avoid ...Bf5. 13.Nd4 Rxd4!
14.exd4 Bf5–+) 12...Rd1+!! What a pleasure it is to make such a move. It’s simply an amazing resource.
13.Nxd1 (13.Kxd1 Bb3+ 14.Ke1 Nc2+ 15.Qxc2 Bxc2 16.Be3 Bf5 17.Rc1 Kd8 The position is unclear
but balanced, according to the engine.) 13...Nc2+ 14.Qxc2 Qxc2 15.Bf4 Qf5 16.Rc1+ Kd7 Black ’s king
is in the center,but it is difficult for White to create winning threats. Black will play ...Bd6 followed by
...Rc8 and the position will be more or less equal.

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10...Bc5

This is usually the most active square for the bishop, in this gambit.

11.e3 0-0 12.Be2 a6 13.0-0 Rad8!

This is a typical position. Black is pawn down, but it is not so easy for White to develop. I consider this
kind of position great for blitz games. I will try to go a bit deeper to make it easier to understand what is
going on.

14.Rd1

a) 14.Bd2 Ne5! A typical resource, now that the bishop on d2 is hanging. 15.Rfd1
[15.Qc2 Ba7! I like this manoeuvre very much. The bishop will go to b8 and will threaten mate.
16.Rac1 Nfg4 Black plays for mate. (16...Nxf3+ This is an easy way to get compensation. 17.Bxf3 Ng4
18.Bxg4 Bxg4° White is pawn up, but it’s very difficult to make use of the extra material. If White
plays e4, the bishop on a7 will put pressure on the kingside. But what else should White play?
Moreover, when Black plays ...Bb8, White should decide if he should play g3 or f4.) 17.g3 Nxf3+
18.Bxf3 Ne5° Now the compensation is of a different kind. White cannot protect all the squares. f3 and
d3 are weak and White has no activity. I would prefer Black in this position. It’s instructive to note that
, unless White wants to get into trouble, the best move, according to the engine, is the uninspiring
19.Be2...]
15...b5! One more typical resource. Black pushes the kingside to gain some space. 16.Qf4 Bd6 17.Nxe5
Bxe5 18.Qh4

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 White has managed to place the queen on the kingside. Black doesn’t have attacking possibilities
anymore. But another kind of compensation appears. The queen on h4 doesn’t coordinate well with rest
of White’s pieces. It’s like a soldier sent alone into battle, unable to cause any serious problems by
herself. Black will simply play on the other side. 18...Qb8 19.Be1 b4 20.Na4 a5° Black ’s pieces are
involved in the game, while White has no active possibilities. Despite the 0.00 computer evaluation,
Black will normally prevail in a practical game.;
b) 14.a3 Na5!? Another possibility in this kind of position. 15.Rb1 Bb3 16.Qh4 Be7° All the black
pieces are very active and White is still struggling to get his pieces into the game.

14...b5!

Once again we make us of the b-pawn.

15.Qc2 Nb4 16.Qb1 Rxd1+ 17.Bxd1

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17...Qd7!

I like this queen move very much. Easy and effective. Black improves the position of the queen, and as a
result creates some threats on the d line. Moreover, Black plans to play ...Bf5, forcing White to play e4.
After that, Black’s bishop on c5 will put pressure on f2.

18.Bb3 Bf5

18...Bg4!? Another option. White’s queen is far from the defence of the king, which justifies starting an
attack. 19.Ne5 Qd6 20.Nxg4 Nxg4 21.g3 Qh6ƒ

19.e4 Bg6 20.Be3

Sad, but the only way to hold the position.

20...Bxe3 21.fxe3 Rd8°

WHITE PLAYS THE INTERMIDIATE 5.Qa4+

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 cxd4 5.Qa4+ Bd7 6.Qxd4 exd5 7.Qxd5 Nc6?!

This is the move order played by most people. It’s quite incredible, but this is a mistake!

8.Nf3 Nf6 9.Qb3!

This is considered to be the refutation of the gambit. I agree that White is already better, in this position,
but as we will see later, Black can avoid it!

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9...Bc5

a) 9...Bb4 10.e3 0-0 11.Be2 Be6 12.Qc2 Rc8 13.Bd2 White managed to consolidate.;
b) 9...Be6 This was played by the Romanian Master, Miron, but it is not enough. 10.Qc2 Bb4 11.Bd2 0-
0 12.e3 Rc8 13.a3 Bd6 14.Be2 Qe7 15.0-0 Bg4 16.h3 White was better in Parligras, M (2565)-Miron, L
(2517) Targu Mures 2014.

10.Bg5!

This is the basic point. White manages to develop the bishop and Black won’t be able to develop any
kind of initiative.

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10...h6

10...Qa5? 11.Bxf6 gxf6 12.e3 0-0-0 13.Bc4 Rhg8 14.0-0 Bh3 15.Bxf7!? (15.Ne1!? This would be closer
to my taste.) 15...Bxg2 16.Bxg8 Bxf3 17.Rfd1+– Priehoda, V (2371)-Nun, J (2376) Czechia 2013.

11.Bxf6

11.Bh4!? 0-0 12.e3 This seems to be good for White, as well.

11...Qxf6 12.e3

12.Ne4 Qe7 13.Nxc5 Qxc5 14.e3 This is also slightly better, for White.

12...0-0 13.Be2

Black has no compensation at all.

THE NEW MAIN LINE?

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 cxd4 5.Qa4+ Bd7 6.Qxd4 exd5 7.Qxd5 Nf6 8.Qd1 Nc6 9.Nf3 Bc5
10.a3!

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I was very surprised when I saw the computer giving this move as the best by far. There is a point behind
it, as you will see later. I must confess that this is the only place in the whole gambit where I found some
real advantage for White!

10...0-0 11.Bg5

The moves a3 and Bg5 seem a bit strange, one after another, but there is a point behind it. If Black plays
...Qb6, at some point, he doesn’t really threaten ...Qxb2 because the queen, on b2, would be trapped!
a) 11.Bf4!? Another attempt to develop the bishop, and afterwards play e3.

11...Qb6 (11...Qe7 12.e3 Rfd8 13.Qc2²) 12.e3 Honestly speaking, White is better here, but the moves
are not easy to find. 12...Rfd8 (12...Bf5!? 13.Bb5 Ne4 14.Qe2 Nxc3 15.bxc3 Rad8 16.0-0 a6 17.Bc4

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 Na5 18.Nd4 Nxc4 19.Qxc4 Be4 Once again White is better, but Black has some compensation.)
13.Be2! The only reason anyone would play like this is because they have this book, too! (13.Qb1?!
Bf5! 14.Qa2 Bb4!? This is a funny variation, and Black has good compensat ion — 14...Na5 15.b4
Rac8! is is perhaps even funnier!) 13...Bf5 (13...Bh3 14.Nd2 Bxg2 15.Rg1 Ne4 16.Rxg2 Nxd2
17.Qc2±) 14.Qc1!

14...Be7 (14...Na5? 15.Na4!+–) 15.0-0 Ne4 16.Nxe4 Bxe4 17.Qc4! Bd5 18.Qb5 Qxb5 19.Bxb5 a6
20.Bxc6 Bxc6 21.Nd4 Bd7 Black is worse but has some survival chances thanks to the bishop pair.;
b) 11.b4?! Bb6 12.e3 Qe7 White has simply created weaknesses on the queenside.

11...h6!

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Following Alekhine’s ideas!
11...Qb6?! 12.e3 Be7 13.Bd3 Bg4 14.Qc2 h6 15.Bh4 Rfd8 16.0-0 Bxf3 17.gxf3± 1–0 (32) Wang, Y
(2702)Wang, C (2490) Xinghua 2012.

12.Bh4!N

This move seems to be very dangerous, in my opinion. The pawn on b2 is weak, Black has the possibility
to gain more tempi with g5 and, who knows, maybe g4 as well. Black ’s pieces seem to be able to enter
the game extremely easily... I thought Black should be ok, somehow, but I couldn’t manage to find a
reasonable continuation. Given this, we are probably looking at the REFUTATION OF THE GAMBIT.
12.Bxf6?! Qxf6! The computer doesn’t realize how strong this is! Now the situation becomes extremely
interesting! 13.Qxd7 Rfd8 14.Qg4N (14.Qh3

14...Bxa3!! Another great move! This gambit is full of life! 15.Rxa3 Nb4 16.e3 Nc2+ 17.Ke2 Nxa3
18.Nd4 Qb6 19.Kf3 Qxb2 20.Nce2 Nc4³ ½-½ (31) Bredenhof, B (2124)-Andersen, J (2168) ICCF
email 2011) 14...Ne5 15.Qg3 Qb6!

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Black attacks the weaknesses on the queenside. 16.Rb1 But now comes one of the best moves I’ve seen
in my chess career. 16...Rac8!! Black plays according to that principle of attacking chess: get all your
pieces into the party. But to do this Black simply leaves his knight on e5 hanging, which is simply
amazing! 17.e3 (17.Nxe5 Bxa3 18.Nd3 Rxc3 19.e4 Bb4 20.bxc3 Bxc3+ 21.Ke2 Qxb1 22.Qe3 a5∞ A
piece down but the a-pawn is very fast...) 17...Bxa3 18.Bb5 Bxb2 19.0-0 Nxf3+ 20.Qxf3 Rxc3 21.Rxb2
a6 22.Qe2 axb5 23.Qxb5 Qxb5 24.Rxb5 Rd7

Black has to suffer a little bit, but the endgame is equal. Anyway, the probability that White will make a
mistake on the way is extremely high!

12...g5 13.Bg3

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I had the feeling that Black should have something in this position, but I failed to prove it. I could only
find one variation where White needs to play extremely accurately to gain some advantage. So,
objectively, White is better.

13...Qb6

13...g4?! 14.Nd2 Black ’s position hasn’t improved and he should now worry about B h4 ideas, in the
future.

14.e3

As I said before, the pawn on b2 is untouchable.

14...Rad8!?

The best practical chance.

a) 14...Bf5!? This is very interesting but White has a very strong move. 15.Bc4! (15.Be2 Rfd8 16.Qc1
Nh5 17.0-0 Nxg3 18.hxg3 Bf8 Black has some compensation, thanks to the bishop pair.) 15...Na5
(15...Qxb2? 16.Na4+–) 16.Na4! Qc6 17.Nxc5 Nxc4 18.Qd4 Ne4 19.Nxe4 Qxe4 20.0-0 g4 21.Qxe4
Bxe4 22.Ne5 Nxe5 23.Bxe5± This endgame is not the kind of thing we wanted when choosing to play
this gambit...;
b) 14...Qxb2? 15.Na4!+–

15.Qc1!

This is not an easy move to make! White allows ...Na5–...Nb3.

a) 15.Qb1? Bf5 16.Bc7 (16.Qxf5 Qxb2) 16...Qb3! 17.Qa2 Qxa2 18.Rxa2 Rc8°;

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 b) 15.Bc4!? This is quite good. 15...Na5 16.Na4!

These kind moves are not easy! Now Black has two options. 16...Bxa4 (16...Qc6!? 17.Nxc5 Nxc4
18.Nxd7 Rxd7 19.Qc2 g4 20.b3! gxf3 21.Qxc4 Qxc4 22.bxc4 fxg2 23.Rg1 Re8 24.Rxg2 Kh7 25.Rd1
Re4 Black is close to equality, but will still need to fight.) 17.Qxa4 Nxc4 18.Qxc4 Rc8 19.0-0 Bxa3
20.Qa4 Bc5 21.b4 Qxb4 22.Qxb4 Bxb4 23.Rxa7 White is slightly better, but with good play I think that
Black can hold.;
c) 15.Qc2? allows 15...Bf5!

15...Na5

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16.b4!

White has no fear!

16.Qc2?! Bf5 17.Qxf5 Qxb2 18.Be5 It seems as though White is completely winning, but things are not
so simple.

18...Ng4!! Great counterattack! (18...Qxa1+? 19.Nb1! This was white’s idea.) 19.Ne4!
a) 19.Qxg4 Qxa1+–+;
b) 19.Ra2 Qc1+ 20.Ke2 Nc4 21.Rc2

21...Ncxe3!! There are tactics all over the place! 22.Qxf7+ (22.Qxg5+ hxg5 23.Rxc1 Bxa3 24.fxe3
Bxc1 The computer considers the position to be equal, but the game has just started!) 22...Rxf7 23.Rxc1

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 Nxf1 24.Ne4 (24.Rhxf1 Nxe5 25.Nxe5 Re8³) 24...Bxa3 25.Ra1 Nxe5 26.Nxe5 Rf4 27.f3 Bb2
28.Rhxf1 Bxe5 29.Rxa7=;
19...Nxe5 20.Qxe5

20...Bd4! 21.Nxd4 Qxa1+ 22.Ke2 Nb3 23.Nf6+ Kh8 Luck ily, for Black, it seems that mate cannot be
delivered. 24.Qf5 Kg7 25.Nh5+ Kg8 26.Kf3!? Qd1+ 27.Kg3 Nxd4 28.Nf6+ Kg7 29.exd4 Qxd4 The
position seems to be more or less balanced.

16...Nb3

16...Bxe3? 17.Qxe3 Rfe8 18.Ne5 Nc6 19.Qxb6 axb6 20.0-0-0 Nxe5 21.Kb2±

17.bxc5

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17...Qxc5

17...Qa5 18.Qb2 Nxa1 19.Qxa1 Ne4 20.Be5! This move is the key! (20.Bc7? Qxc3+ 21.Qxc3 Nxc3
22.Bxd8 Rxd8=) 20...Rfe8 21.Bd4 Bg4 22.Qb2 Rxd4 23.Nxd4 Qxc3+ 24.Qxc3 Nxc3 25.Bd3 Rc8 26.c6!
bxc6 27.Kd2± Black has too many weakness in the endgame and probably won’t be able to hold the
position.

18.Qb2 Nxa1 19.Qxa1 Rfe8

The position doesn’t look so clear. White’s king is still in the center and Black will probably have some
activity. Unfortunately, for Black, White manages to consolidate.

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20.Qb2!

An impossible move to find in a practical game, I would say. The idea is to play Qb4 and exchange
queens, but you really need to be cold-blooded to play such a move.
20.Be2?! Rc8! 21.Na2 Ne4 22.0-0 Qxa3 23.Be5 Be6 24.Nc1 Qxa1 25.Bxa1 Nc3 26.Bd3 Bc4! And if
White doesn’t have the bishop pair, I doubt he has an advantage.

20...Rc8 21.Nd1 Qa5+ 22.Qb4 Qxb4+ 23.axb4 Nd5 24.Nd4 Nxb4 25.h4²

White has some edge. The pair of bishops will prove strong, at some point.
Anyway, Black still has two passed pawns on the queenside, so the position is not without chances for
Black. We will need to see practical examples!
CONCLUSION

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 cxd4!?

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So, what to say about this gambit?
Objectively, White is better, no doubts about it. But I would still recommend it for Black, at least in blitz
and rapid time controls, because of the following reasons:
1. Most don’t know particularly well how to play against it, with White. They have some basic
knowledge, but with the information in the book, you will be much better prepared.
2. Black’s play is extremely easy. The pieces can be placed on very active squares.
3. It’s not easy to put pressure on White with Black from the very beginning. But this gambit manages to
do so.
4. The only way White will be well prepared is to read this book! I think, therefore, that you will be able
to play this gambit safely until about 2020! You would be very unlucky to face someone playing this
variation who has also studied this book, if you think about how many people actually play chess! If you
are that unlucky then my book has become a bestseller, and that means I’m very lucky!

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CHAPTER 5

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SLAV GAMBITS

INTRODUCTION

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6

The Slav is one of the most solid variations against 1.d4. Not only that, it contains some interesting
gambits:

3.Nc3

This is one of the main moves. White’s idea is to hinder the development of the Black’s c8 bishop to f5.
3.cxd5 cxd5 4.Nc3 Nc6 5.Bf4 e5!? The first Grandmaster game with this line was between Yusupov and
Timman. The game was really interesting and was analysed in many books.

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6.Bxe5 Nxe5 7.dxe5 d4 8.Ne4! Qb6 (8...Qa5+ A player called Henshaw found this gambit nine years
earlier! Unfortunately, he didn’t play in the spirit of the variation. 9.Nd2 Nh6 10.a3 Nf5 11.Ngf3 Be6
12.g3 Rd8 13.b4 Qb6 14.Qa4+ Bd7 15.Qc2 d3 16.Qxd3 Be6 17.Qe4 Nd4 18.Nxd4 Rxd4 19.Qc2

Black didn’t get any compensation. Henshaw decided to give a piece to complicate matters, but it didn’t
work. 19...Bxb4 20.axb4 Rxb4 21.Bg2 0-0 22.0-0 Rb2 23.Qc1 Rc8 24.Qe1 Rcc2 25.Ne4 h6 26.Qa5 Qd4
27.Rfd1 Qc4 28.Qd8+ Kh7 29.Nd6 Qxe2 30.Be4+ g6 31.Bxc2 Rxc2 32.Qf6 1–0 Burnett, J-Henshaw, J
Brighton East Sussex 1980) 9.Nf3 Qxb2

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10.Rb1 Bb4+ 11.Ned2 Bxd2+ 12.Nxd2 Qxa2 13.e3 dxe3 14.fxe3 Be6 15.Rxb7 Rd8 16.Qc1 g6 17.Qc3
Kf8 18.Bd3 Rc8 19.Qb4+ Kg7= ½–½ (30) Jussupow, A (2610)-Timman, J (2610) Linares 1989.

3...e5!?

The Winawer Gambit! Its first outing was a great success, and against one of the best players at the time,
Frank Marshall!

4.cxd5 cxd5 5.e4?!

5.dxe5 d4 6.Ne4 — we will check this later.

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5...dxe4 6.d5?

In t he prev ious centur y people seemed to have no respect for pawns! Instead, 6.Bb5+ Bd7 7.dxe5 is
about equal.

6...Nf6 7.Bg5 Qb6 8.Bxf6 gxf6 9.Bb5+ Bd7 10.Bxd7+ Nxd7 11.Nge2 f5

The black pawns are really strong! Around now White probably regreted not taking the pawns he was
offered!

12.Qa4 0-0-0 13.d6 Kb8 14.Qc4 Nc5 15.0-0 Qxd6 16.Qxf7 Qg6 17.Qc4 Rg8 18.g3 Qe6 19.Qxe6 Nxe6

Black won this endgame without problem.

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20.Rad1 Nd4 21.Kg2 Bc5 22.Na4 Be7 23.Nac3 h5 24.Nxd4 exd4 25.Ne2 Bf6 26.b3 Be5 27.Rfe1 d3
28.Ng1 h4 29.Nh3 Rc8 30.Rc1 hxg3 31.Rxc8+ Rxc8 32.hxg3 Rc2 33.Nf4 Bd4 34.Rf1 Bxf2 35.Kh3
Rxa2 36.Kh4 d2 37.Rd1 Bd4 38.Ne2 Ra1 39.Rxd2 Be3 40.Rd8+ Kc7

0–1 Marshall,F-Winawer,S Monte Carlo 1901.

Great game. Are these gambits good enough? Don’t worry, you will soon find out!
In this chapter I will be more focused on the concrete moves rather than general positional ideas, for the
following reasons:
1. These gambits are popular, but the positions demand concrete play. It is not like the Budapest where
sometimes White is better but some strategical knowledge about the middlegame is needed.
2. Because these lines are very concrete, every move is very important. I couldn’t justify cutting the lines
down.
3. I want to be efficient and give you only the most useful information!
WINAWER COUNTERGAMBIT

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3

3.cxd5 cxd5 4.Nc3 e5 5.dxe5 is another way to get into the Gambit.

3...e5?!

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It’s rather interesting that this gambit is quite popular even among very strong Grandmasters. For
example, Nikolic has played it more than 10 times! Brief analysis of the position will prove that White is
much better.

4.cxd5 cxd5 5.dxe5 d4 6.Ne4

The best square for the knight. The idea is simply that, once the knight is attacked it will drop back d2.

6...Qa5+

The most popular move.

6...Qd5!? This features in almost no games, but White will be forced to solve more problems than in the
main line. 7.Nd2! (7.Nd6+?! Bxd6 8.exd6 Qxd6 9.Nf3 Nc6 10.e3 Bg4 Black has active piece play.)
7...Nc6 8.Ngf3

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8...Bf5!?
[8...Bb4 Black tries to complete development as fast as possible. 9.a3 (9.g3!? is interesting as well. Now
Black should enter a forced variation: 9...d3 10.a3! Nd4 11.Nxd4 Bxd2+ 12.Bxd2 Qxh1 13.e3 Ne7
14.Bb4 Bh3 15.Qxd3 Qxf1+ 16.Qxf1 Bxf1 17.Kxf1 I’m not sure if the endgame is won, but it is
certainly much better for White. Black ’s rooks don’t have open lines and, in the future, White can make
use of his advantage on the kingside by playing e4–f4–f5.) 9...Bxd2+ 10.Bxd2 Nge7 11.e3! dxe3
12.Bxe3² White is better thanks to the bishop pair.]
9.a3! (9.g3? Nb4!–+) 9...Rd8 10.g3! Now is the right moment! 10...Nxe5 11.Bg2 Nxf3+ 12.Bxf3 Qd7
13.0-0² White’s next moves are b4– Nb3–Bb2 and the pawn on d4 will have a very hard time. In case
White doesn’t take the pawn, it will be possible to drum up some initiative on the c-file, with Rc1 and
Nc5.

7.Nd2!

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It’s important to block the check with the knight. Standard chess wisdom states that the knight is best
placed in the center, but here things are different. The knight is good in the center when it lands on an
outpost, a square from where he cannot be chased. In this case, however, there are no stable squares, so
the knights are better remaining close to our territory while they wait for the right moment to enter into
the game. If the knight stays in the center, he will simply lose tempi by being attacked, as it will have to
move.
7.Bd2?! Qxe5 8.Ng3 Nf6 9.Nf3 Qd5 The bishop on d2 is extremely badly placed. Black will play ...Nc6
and ...Bc5 with a great position.

7...Nc6 8.Ngf3

Black has several options, but this will not change the plan: White will play g3– Bg2–0-0 and then try to
take the pawn on b4. It’s that simple!

8...Bg4

8...Nh6 9.g3 Ng4 10.Bg2 Ne3!? Visually nice, but this is not enough. 11.fxe3 dxe3 12.0-0 exd2 13.Bxd2
Qb6+ 14.Kh1² Guliev, S (2445)-Morozevich, A (2590) Moscow 1998.

9.g3!

This can be played even here! White doesn’t worry about entering the endgame. It’s true that Black will
have a passed pawn on the d-file, but he will have more weakness than anything else.

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9...Bxf3

9...Nxe5?! 10.Nxe5 Qxe5 11.Bg2 d3 (11...Nf6 12.h3 Bh5 13.f4! and Black loses the bishop after g4–f5.)
12.Bxb7 Rd8 13.Bc6+!±

10.exf3 Qxe5+ 11.Qe2 Qxe2+ 12.Bxe2

Now we will have a look at two games where White managed to win. Take them as good lessons in
technique.

12...Nge7

12...0-0-0 13.Bc4! The bishop should be placed on an active square! 13...Bb4 14.a3 Bxd2+ 15.Bxd2 Ne5
16.Be2 d3 17.Rc1+ Kd7 18.f4! (18.Bd1!? This would be good as well. White will later play Bf4 and Kd2
and, eventually, take the pawn on d3.) 18...dxe2 19.fxe5 Ne7 20.Kxe2± 1–0 (47) Fridman, D (2661)-
Hector, J (2568) Germany 2010.

13.0-0 0-0-0

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From this point forward the game is a fantastic model of technical chess, so I would like to take my time
in explaining it. First of all, White tries to place all of his pieces on the best squares.

14.Rd1 g6 15.Ne4 h6 16.Bd2 Nd5 17.Rac1 Nc7 18.Kg2

The first part of the plan is completed, and now we have two possibilites: 1. Push our pawns slowly to
attempt to gain some space advantage. 2. Jump to c5 with the knight. At some point Black will likely
exchange the bishop which would offer White an extra advantage.

18...Kb8 19.h4 Be7 20.Nc5 Bxc5 21.Rxc5

After gaining the pair of bishops, White’s advantage increases. I would like to note, once again, that the

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pawn on d4 is not dangerous for White at all. Black cannot make use of it.

21...Ne6 22.Rcc1 Rd6 23.Bc4!

The bishop is on the best square!

23...a6 24.a4!

Now White starts, slowly but consistently, improving the positioning of his pawns on both sides of the
board.

24...a5 25.h5 Ka7 26.f4 gxh5 27.Rh1 f5 28.Rxh5 Ng7 29.Rh4 Ne6 30.Rch1 Ng7

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Once again, all the pieces are on the best squares, so it’s time to improve the position of our pawns!

31.f3!

Black has no counterplay and White keeps on improving his position.

31...h5 32.g4 Re8 33.gxh5!

Now White is pawn up. The rest is very easy.

33...Rh6 34.Kf2 Reh8 35.Rg1 Ne6

36.b3!

Do not hurry! It’s ideal to keep everything protected, if you can!

36...R8h7 37.Bc1 Rh8 38.Rhh1 Kb6 39.Bxe6!

Transformation at the right moment. These moves are not so easy to play.

39...Rxe6 40.Rg5 Rf6 41.Ba3

It’s great to see how a little move like Bc1 can change so much. Now Black’s knight is tied down.

41...Rh7 42.Rc1 d3 43.Rd1 Rd7 44.Bb2 Re6 45.Bc3

1–0 De Oliveira, J (2578)-Brodda, W (2599) ICCF email 2015.

A great game by De Oliveira! It was so good, I wouldn’t have been surprised if it had been played by

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Carlsen! It’s true that this was a correspondence game, but he used all of the principles of human chess
technique in the endgame.
TIMMAN’S GAMBIT

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.cxd5

The exchange Slav, one of the most boring openings there is... or maybe not? Indeed there is some fun to
be had, as I will show you now!

3...cxd5 4.Nc3 Nc6

5.Bf4

a) 5.e4!? is a way to avoid the gambit, but Black seems to be ok. 5...Nf6!? 6.e5 Ne4 7.Bd3 Nxd4
8.Qa4+ Nc6 9.Nxe4 dxe4 10.Bxe4 Bd7=;
b) 5.Nf3 This looks like a safe way to avoid Timman’s Gambit. But some players don’t want to play
this move, as they prefer to play Bf4/e3/Bd3 and delay the development of the g1-knight. 5...e5?!
Apparently, this gambit is more interesting that I thought, even if, with the right moves White is much
better. This can be called the Otto gambit, because he was the first one to play it! (5...Nf6 6.Bf4 Nh5!?
This is interesting for Black. I doubt that White has something here.) 6.Nxe5 The engine thinks that
White is winning, but things are not so easy in practice.
b1) 6.dxe5 is probably the best move. 6...d4 7.Ne4 and we transpose to the Winawer Countergambit.;
b2) 6.e3? Once again, the opponent got scared... I will analyse this game a little in Otto’s honour!
6...exd4 7.Nxd4 Nf6 8.a3 Be7 9.Be2 0-0 10.Bf3 Ne5 11.Be2 a6 12.0-0 Bd6 13.Nf3 Be6 14.Bd2 Ne4
15.Be1 Rc8 16.Rc1 Bb8

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 17.Qd4? (17.Nd4 was needed, to prevent the attack.) 17...Nxf3+ 18.Bxf3 Ng5 19.Bd1 Rc4! 20.Qd2
Otto attacks with everything and finds a nice trick. 20...Ne4 21.Nxe4 Check is not checkers! 21...Qc7!
Threatening both mate and the rook! 22.f4 Rxc1 23.Nc3 Ra1 24.Bc2 Re8 25.Qd3 g6 26.Qd4 b5
27.Nxd5 Bxd5 28.Bc3 Rxf1+ 29.Kxf1 Qc4+ 0–1 Ruppe, O-Otto, A Soemmerda 1950.;
6...Nxe5 7.dxe5 d4

8.Qa4+! (8.Ne4 Qa5+ 9.Bd2 Qxe5 Black more or less equalizes.) 8...b5! Black keeps on sacrificing
pawns! 9.Nxb5 Bd7 10.Qa6 This is the only way to keep the knight alive because a6 was coming.
10...Bb4+ 11.Kd1!? (11.Bd2 This is not as good as Kd1. 11...Bxd2+ 12.Kxd2 Qg5+ 13.Ke1 Qxe5
14.Nd6+ Ke7 15.Nc4 Qc5 16.Qa3 Rc8 17.Qxc5+ Rxc5 18.e4² The endgame is better for White, but
converting it to a win is not so easy.) 11...Ne7

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 12.Bd2!N (12.Nd6+?! Bxd6 13.exd6 Nc6ƒ Trufanov, A (2243)-Toropov, V (2096) Novosibirsk 2002)
12...Rb8 13.Bxb4 Rxb5 14.Bd6 Rxb2 15.Qa3 and White seems to be better, because the bishop on d6
cuts across Black’s position.

5...e5!

I can tell you in advance: this gambit seems to be good!

6.Bxe5!

6.dxe5?! d4 7.Ne4 Bf5! 8.Nd2 Qb6! Black becomes very active and the bishop on f4 is doing nothing.

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6...Nxe5 7.dxe5 d4 8.Ne4!

This is very similar to the Winawer Countergambit, but now Black has the pair of bishops.

8...Bb4+!

The trickiest variation. I like it a lot!

a) 8...Qa5+!? This is the safest choice. It seems as though Black can equalize without many problems.
9.Nd2 Ne7! Black simply develops, with the idea of taking the pawn later. (9...Qxe5? 10.Ngf3 Qd5
11.g3±) 10.Ngf3 Nc6 11.g3 (11.a3 Be6 12.b4 Qd5 13.g3 a5=) 11...Nxe5 12.Nxe5 Qxe5 13.Bg2

13...d3! The simplest move. 14.e3 Qxb2 15.0-0 Be7 16.Nb3 d2 17.Nxd2 0-0= The position is
completely equal.;
b) 8...Qb6? This is very risky for Black. As you know, Timman played like this. I simply want to check
it a bit more deeply, here. 9.Nf3 Qxb2

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 10.Rb1!? (10.Qxd4! Bb4+ 11.Kd1! This was better, but it’s not so easy to play like this over the board.)
10...Bb4+ 11.Ned2 Bxd2+ 12.Nxd2 Qxa2! Black should keep on grabbing pawns! (12...Qc3 13.g3 Ne7
14.Bg2±) 13.e3! White should play very actively. Dynamic chess is demanded. 13...dxe3 14.fxe3 Be6
15.Rxb7 Rd8 16.Qc1?! (16.Bb5+ Kf8 17.0-0 This was more accurate. 17...g6 18.Rf2 Nh6 19.Qc1² The
knight is going to d6 after Nc4.) 16...g6 17.Qc3 Kf8! Jussupow, A (2610)-Timman, J (2610) Linares
1989. The game ended as a draw, although things are not clear at all in this position.

9.Nd2 Ne7

Now White has several options.

10.g3

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 a) 10.Ngf3 0-0 and now g3 or a3 are the best moves.;
b) 10.a3 Ba5 11.b4 Bc7 12.Ngf3 Nc6 13.g3 Nxe5=

10...0-0 11.Ngf3

Now Black has different moves, but only one maintains the initiative.

11...Nd5!

This move is extremely tricky to meet.

11...d3?! 12.a3 Ba5 13.b4 Bc7 14.Bg2 Bg4 15.Rc1²; 11...Bf5 12.a3 Ba5 13.b4 Bb6 14.Nc4²

12.a3!?N

The engine initially likes this move, but...

a) 12.Nxd4 Bg4!

Gambit style! 13.Bg2

[13.h3 Bh5 14.Bg2 Qb6! (14...Bc3? is losing because of 15.Nf5! Bxb2 16.Bxd5+–) 15.a3 Qxd4
16.axb4 Rfd8°)
13...Bc3! One more shot!

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 14.bxc3 (14.h3 Bxd4 15.hxg4 Bxf2+ 16.Kxf2 Qb6+ 17.Ke1 Ne3 18.Be4! Nxd1 19.Bxh7+ and we
have a draw by perpetua l check!) 14...Nxc3 15.Qb3 Qxd4 16.e3 Qxe5=;
b) 12.Bg2? Ne3! 13.fxe3 dxe3³

12...Ba5 13.Qb3

White avoids tricks with ...Ne3, everything seems to be under control, but...

13...Nc3!!

What a bomb!! Now White is in serious trouble. Even the engines cannot find this move right away; it
takes some time! It may be that nobody has found this move simply because Black doesn’t often play this

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line?

14.Qc4

White tries to take the pawn on d4.

14.Qc2 Be6 15.Qd3 Rc8 16.Bg2 Na4³; 14.bxc3 dxc3 15.Ne4 c2+ 16.Ned2 Bf5µ

14...Bf5 15.Qxd4 Qc8!

Of course, Black doesn’t want to exchange queens.

16.Rc1 Rd8!

16...Nb5!? 17.Rxc8 Raxc8 18.Qa4 Rc1+ 19.Qd1 Rxd1+ 20.Kxd1 Rd8 Black has enough compensation,
but it may be that White can still hold.

17.Qh4

17...Bg4!

This seems to be the best, objectively, but there is a very beautiful move which I cannot resist showing
you... 17...Nb1!! This is simply fantastic. 18.Rxc8 Raxc8 19.Qxd8+! Unluckily, White can save the day
with this move. 19...Bxd8 20.Nxb1 Rc1+ 21.Kd2 Rxb1°

18.bxc3 Rxd2 19.Nxd2 Bd8!

The queen is trapped!

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20.Qxg4 Qxg4 21.Bg2

Black should be slighly better, here, but winning won’t be easy.

CONCLUSION
This gambit is perfectly playable! We should try to avoid it or, if we are Black, try to win some games
with it!

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CHAPTER 6

217
DUTCH GAMBITS

INTRODUCTION

1.d4 f5

The Dutch is very popular nowadays. Black plays it when looking to play for a win. Here we will check
two interesting gambits.

2.e4

2.g4!? The Krejcik Gambit. Not so famous, but very interesting!

2...fxe4 3.Nc3

The famous Staunton Gambit. According to my analysis, Black is fine in both gambits. The only problem
is that people are not very familiar with the subtleties of this position!
I think I will solve this in the next few pages.
THE KREJCIK GAMBIT

1.d4 f5 2.g4!?

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This gambit is not as bad as one might think. Actually, Black should know exactly what he is doing if he
doesn’t want to get into a worse position. Maybe it will become popular for White in the future? Thus far
the only Grandmaster who played it regularly is Teske!

2...fxg4

a) 2...d5 This is the recommendation you will find in every book, but at the end of the lines they give,
Black should take on g4. So maybe it is better to take directly. 3.Bg2!? There are almost no games with
this move, but it may be the best. Now Black should take. (3.g5 c5 4.e3 Nc6 should be fine for Black;
3.gxf5 Bxf5 Black is already ahead in development and I don’t consider this to be the idea behind 2.g4)
3...fxg4 4.Nc3 (4.h3 Nf6 5.Nc3 is the same.) 4...Nf6 5.h3 This is our main line.;
b) 2...d6? This move doesn’t make sense. White immediately gets an advantage in the center. 3.gxf5
Bxf5 4.Bg2 c6 5.e4 Bg6 6.Nc3 Nd7

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 7.f4 (7.d5!? with the idea of playing Nh3– Nf4. This was more interesting, in my opinion.) 7...e5 8.Nf3
exd4 9.Qxd4 Qb6 10.f5 Qxd4 11.Nxd4 Bf7 12.Bf4² 1–0 (27) Teske, H (2536)-Dornreiter, M (1846)
Frankfurt 2009.;
c) 2...e6?! I don’t like this as much. 3.gxf5 exf5

4.e4!? (4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 was simply better for White, but David, my friend, was looking for some fun!)
4...d6 5.exf5 Bxf5 6.Nc3 Nf6 7.Qf3! Qe7+ 8.Be3 Be4 9.Nxe4 Qxe4 10.Qxe4+ Nxe4 11.Bg2 d5
12.Bxe4 dxe4 13.Ne2 and White won the endgame in Larino Nieto, D (2491)-Arroyo Rodriguez, J
(2054) Linares 2013.

3.h3

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3...d5

3...g3?! 4.fxg3 Now we get a symmetrical position. White is slightly better because he is one tempo up
and the pawn on g3 allows White to de velop faster with Bg2: 4...Nf6 5.Nc3 d5 6.Bg5² etc.

4.Bg2

I like this move order because it is rarely played.

a) 4.Nc3!? White has had great results with this move. It does indeed contain poison. 4...Nf6 5.hxg4
[5.Bf4!? Bf5?! (5...c5! This counterattack is always very important in the Dutch. Now a very concrete
line appears, but Black seems to be fine. 6.e3 cxd4 7.exd4 Nc6 8.Nb5 e5! 9.dxe5 a6! 10.exf6 axb5
11.f7+ Kxf7=) 6.hxg4 Bxg4 7.Qd3!

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Black cannot play ...Bf5 anymore and White is ready to castle and then play f3 and e4. 7...Nc6 8.0-0-0
e6 9.f3 Bh5 10.Bh3 Bd6 11.Bg5 Qe7 12.e4 dxe4 13.Qb5! What a great use of the tactical motifs!
13...0-0 14.Bxf6 Qxf6 15.Qxh5 g6 16.Bxe6+ 1–0 Cornette, M (2552)-Panbukchian, V (2375) Malakoff
2010.]
5...Bxg4 6.f3!

Now Black should decide what to do with the bishop. 6...Qd6! This seems to be the simplest. Black can
make a draw by perpetual. (6...Bf5?! 7.e4! I like this double sacrifice very much! 7...dxe4 8.fxe4 Nxe4
9.Qf3 Nd6 10.Bf4 e6 11.0-0-0 Nd7 12.Nge2° White is two pawns down but all his pieces are active
and Black has problems with his king. It’s clear that White’s position is easier to play.; 6...Bh5?! 7.Bg5
Bg6 8.Qd2²) 7.fxg4 (If White tries to play for a win with, 7.Nh3, Black would play 7...Bxh3 8.Bxh3

222
 Nc6 9.Be3 e6 10.Qd2 0-0-0 11.0-0-0 Kb8 and White doesn’t have enough compensation for the pawn.;
7.Qd3?! Bd7 8.e4 seems very interesting, but Black has a counterattack in the center 8...dxe4 9.fxe4 e5
and Black is OK.) 7...Qg3+ 8.Kd2 Nxg4 9.Nf3 Qf4+ 10.Ke1 Qg3+=;
b) 4.hxg4 Bxg4 doesn’t have any independent value: 5.f3 Qd6 6.fxg4 Qg3+ 7.Kd2 Nf6 8.Nc3 Nxg4=.

4...Nf6

4...Qd6?! 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.Qd3 c6 7.e4! is great for White: 7...dxe4 8.Nxe4 Nxe4 9.Bxe4 Na6 10.c3 Be6
11.Ne2 0-0-0 12.Bf4± 1–0 (38) Toth, E (2472)-Karacsony, A (2314) Hungary 2012.

5.Nc3

Now Black has many possibilities.

5...Nc6!

Black first develops the knights, following Lasker’s rule!

a) 5...c5?! One of the most logical moves, but in this case it’s not good. 6.dxc5! g3 7.fxg3 e6 8.e4!
White counterattacks in the center. Now a very sharp struggle is ahead. 8...Bxc5 (8...d4? 9.e5!±) 9.exd5
0-0 10.Nge2 Black has several options, but it seems as though it is not possible to fully equalize.

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10...exd5!
[10...Nxd5!? Black sacrifices a piece to gain the initiative. 11.Nxd5 Bf2+ 12.Kf1 Bxg3+ 13.Kg1

13...Bf2+! This is the best option for Black, although a bit sad. (13...Bh4?! 14.Ndc3! Qb6+ 15.Kh2
Qc7+ 16.Nf4! Only move, but good enough! 16...Rxf4 17.Nb5! Qf7 The position is not clear, and even
a small move can change everything. 18.Rg1!! A small move, but it offers a small amount of Luft. I
remember my trainer Alejandro Hoffman exhorting me, in certain middlegame positions, “to create
some air” around the king with h3. This is actually the same positional idea, but in this case Luft is
created with the rook! Now we get our king into safety and we maintain our threats. 18...Rf2 19.Be3±;
13...Bc7?! 14.Ne3! Qh4 and now comes a defensive move that I love. 15.Rh2!! This kind of defensive
idea is more common than you might think! I’ve seen this kind of very short castle many times. With a

224
short rook move, our king gets into safety. 15...Nd7 16.Bd2 Ne5 17.Qe1 and the worst has already
passed.) 14.Kh2 exd5 15.Rf1! Kh8 16.Qxd5 Qxd5 17.Bxd5² The endgame is slightly better for White,
thanks to the pin on the f-file and the pressure on the h1–a8 diagonal.]
11.Bg5 Qb6 12.Na4! The best move! [12.Rf1 The most human move. 12...d4! 13.Bxf6 dxc3

The position is extremely complicated, but objectively it seems to be balanced. 14.Qd5+! (14.b4 Be3
15.Qd5+ Be6 16.Qxb7 Bd2+ 17.Kd1 Qxb7 18.Bxb7 Nd7 19.Bxa8 Nxf6 20.Bg2 Rd8 The king is stuck
on d1 and Black has very good activity.) 14...Be6 15.Qxb7 Qxb7 16.Bxb7 Nd7 17.Bxa8 Nxf6 18.b4
Be3! 19.Bg2 Bd2+ 20.Kf2 Bc4 21.a4 Nd5+ 22.Kg1 Nxb4 The engine says that White is slightly better,
but in my opinion Black’s activity compensates for being down the exchange.]
12...Bf2+ 13.Kf1 Qd8!

225
 14.Kxf2 Ne4+ 15.Kg1 Qxg5 16.Nac3 Be6 17.Nxe4 dxe4 18.Nf4 And White’s position seems
preferable. After Kh2 everything is under control, and the weakness on e4 remains.;
b) 5...c6 This is simply a bit too passive, but it is not easy to refute. 6.e4! The most active move.
6...dxe4 7.Nxe4 e5!

Thanks to this resource, Black is more or less holding the position. 8.Be3! (8.hxg4 Qxd4 9.Qxd4 exd4
10.g5 Nxe4 11.Bxe4 This seems to be very close to equality.) 8...Nd5! (8...exd4? 9.Bxd4 Be7 10.c3!
and the white pieces are very active.) 9.hxg4 Nxe3 10.fxe3 Be7 11.Qd3 According to the computer, the
position is equal. But in practical play, White is better. White’s king will be very safe on the queenside,
and the pressure on h7 will always be annoying.;
c) 5...g3 6.fxg3 g6?! (6...c5 7.dxc5! It’s a transposition.) 7.e4 dxe4 8.Nge2 Bg7 9.Be3 Nc6 10.Qd2 e5
11.d5 Ne7 12.0-0-0 Nf5 13.g4 Nd6 14.Ng3 0-0 15.Ngxe4± Teske, H (2479)-Danner, G (2443) Austria
2000.;
d) 5...gxh3? 6.Nxh3! e6 7.e4 dxe4 8.Nxe4 Nxe4 9.Bxe4 Bd7 10.Qh5+ g6 11.Bxg6+ Ke7 12.Qg5+
Kd6 13.Qc5# 1–0 (13) Sanz, J (1900)-Kehayov, Y (1115) FICGS email 2010.

6.Bg5

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This is the only way to put pressure on d5.
6.hxg4 Bxg4 7.Bg5 Qd6 8.Qd2 0-0-0³

6...Qd6!

This is the only move to keep the balance! Not an easy move to find, in my opinion.
a) 6...e6? 7.hxg4±;
b) 6...g3?! 7.fxg3 Bf5 8.e3 e6 9.Nge2²

7.e3

Now Black has a choice of moves to obtain a reasonable position.

7.Bxf6?! exf6 8.Nxd5 Be6! Following long castle Black finally has no problems!

7...gxh3!

This is the right moment to take on h3!

a) 7...e5?! 8.Bxf6 gxf6 9.Nxd5 Bg7 10.Qe2²;
b) 7...Be6!? 8.Bf4 (8.Qd2 0-0-0 9.0-0-0 Kb8 White has some compensation, but no more.) 8...Qd7
9.Nb5!? Rc8 10.Nc3 gxh3 11.Bxh3 Bxh3 12.Nxh3°

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 The position is very interesting. Black ’s king cannot castle on the queenside anymore, so the only place
to go is the kingside. But even the kingside is dangerous because of the open h and g files. The
computer evaluates the position as 0.00, but in a practical game it would be much easier to play with
White.;
c) 7...g3!? 8.Bf4! gxf2+ 9.Kxf2

9...Qd7! ( 9...e5? 10.dxe5 Nxe5 11.Qd4+–) 10.Nxd5 Nxd5 11.Qh5+ g6 12.Qxd5 Bg7 13.Qxd7+ Bxd7
14.Nf3= Black will play ...e5 at the right moment and multiple exchanges will likely lead to a draw.

8.Nxh3 Bg4!

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Black exchanges one piece and relieves the pressure.

9.Bf3 Bf5!?

The best chance, if Black wants to play for a win.

9...Bxh3 10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.Rxh3 e6=

10.Bxf6

10.Nf4 0-0-0! 11.Nfxd5 Nxd5 12.Bxd5 Qg6! 13.Bxc6 Qxc6³

10...exf6 11.Bxd5 0-0-0 12.Nf4 Nb4 13.Bb3 c5∞

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The position is extremely chaotic, and anything could happen. I will give you a sample line.

14.dxc5 Qe5 15.Qe2 g5!

15...Bxc5? 16.a3 Nc6 17.Nd3!²

16.Rh5! gxf4 17.e4 Nxc2+ 18.Qxc2 Bxe4 19.Qe2 f5 20.Nxe4 Qxe4 21.Qxe4 fxe4 22.Bd5

And this will be a draw!

THE STAUNTON GAMBIT
3.f3!?

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1.d4 f5 2.e4!?

The fa mous Staunton Ga mbit against the Dutch! Although it is not seen often, these days, my extensive
analysis suggests that this is one of the most correct gambits.

Even if White gives a pawn on move two, it is justified because, after ...f5, Black ’s king is weakened. I
would highly recommend anyone playing 1.d4 with White to include this Gambit in their repertoire for
the following reasons:
1. If Black plays the Dutch, he cannot avoid it. If you play other systems, you might have to face
Stonewall positions or the Leningrad, neither of which are easy to handle.
2. For rapid and blitz games this is a very interesting weapon. Black needs to remember exactly what to
do, and in short time controls it is not so easy.
3. I couldn’t find an advantage for Black, so even if our opponent finds the best moves, we will have a
playable position! Now it’s time to check the lines!

2...fxe4 3.f3!?

I decided to write the book the first time I saw this gambit! The first two games featuring this gambit
(with both colours) are from Tartakower, so let’s call it the Tartakower Gambit!
3.Nc3 — see later in this chapter.

3...d5

a) 3...Nf6 4.fxe4!? (4.Nc3 This is one of our main lines.) 4...Nxe4 5.Nc3!

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5...Nxc3 6.bxc3 g6 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.Bd3 and White has some initiative. But according to my analysis, it is
only enough for a draw. 8...0-0 9.0-0 Nc6 10.Ng5!? Rxf1+ 11.Qxf1 Qf8 12.Qe1 Qf6 13.Ne4 (13.Be3!?
This is an attempt to play for a win.) 13...Qf7 14.Ng5 Qf6 A strange repetition, but it is probably the
best, for both sides.;
b) 3...e6!? 4.Nd2 (4.Nc3?! Bb4! and Black can keep the annoying pawn on e4 a bit longer.) 4...exf3
(4...e3 5.Nb3²) 5.Ngxf3 Nf6 6.Bd3 d5!

Black needs the bishop on d6, but it is better first to play this move. (6...Bd6?! 7.Ne4!‚ ) 7.Ng5! Direct
for the king. 7...Nc6 8.Ndf3 Bd6 9.0-0 0-0 and now, apparently, White must force the draw. 10.Bxh7+
Nxh7 11.Nxh7 Kxh7 12.Ng5+ Kg8 13.Rxf8+ Qxf8 14.Qh5

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 14...Qf6 (14...Qf5 15.g4! does not change much.) 15.Qe8+ Bf8 16.Qh5 Bd6= (16...Qxd4+? 17.Kh1
would cost Black the game as the white queen now has access to the f7– square.);
c) 3...exf3?! Too risky, in my opinion. 4.Nxf3 g6 5.Bd3 Nf6 6.0-0 Bg7 7.Qe1!? Nc6 8.Qh4ƒ

4.Nc3

4.c4?! This happened in Tartakower’s games, but after 4...e6 5.Nc3 Bb4! Black is much better.

4...Nf6 5.fxe4

The only independent choice.

5...dxe4

Now White has two options, but they end up in the same position.

6.Bg5

6.Nge2!? Nc6 7.Bg5 and we transpose into the same position.

6...Nc6

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7.Nge2!N

Incredibly enough I couldn’t find a single game featuring this position. Now starts a very interesting
fight. When I wrote this book I did not expect to have to analyze so many possibilities after one move.
But this time it is needed!
a) 7.d5 Ne5 8.Qd4 Nf7 9.Bxf6 exf6 10.Qxe4+ Qe7 and Black is slightly better in the endgame.;
b) 7.Bb5 Qd6!

This move is not so easy to find, but it has the simple idea to take on c6 with the queen, which maintains
a healthy pawn structure. 8.Nge2 (8.d5 a6 9.Ba4 b5³) 8...a6 9.Bxc6+ (9.Ba4 b5 10.Bb3 Na5³) 9...Qxc6
10.d5 Qb6 11.Qd4 Qxd4 12.Nxd4 h6 And if someone is better in the endgame, it is Black.

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7...e5

A bit risky for my taste, but playable. Although, with Black, I would rather pick 7...Nb4. Indeed, I will
promote this move since analysis of the resultant positions is the most complicated.
a) 7...e6?! trying to complete development as fast as possible, but it is very passive. 8.Nxe4 Be7 9.Bxf6
Bxf6 10.c3²;
b) 7...Bf5? 8.d5! Ne5 9.Ng3±;
c) 7...g6?! 8.Qd2 Bg7 9.0-0-0ƒ;
d) 7...Nb4!? One of the best moves. You would need to be a computer to come up with it. 8.a3 (8.Ng3?
Qxd4! This is the whole point of 7...Nb4!) 8...Nbd5 9.Nxd5 Qxd5 10.Qd2 Bf5 11.Nc3 Qd7 12.0-0-0°

The position is balanced, but we need examples from practical play to better evaluate which side is
easier to play.;
e) 7...a6!? This is the other computer move but, sorry, I’m not the kind of guy who is going to analyze
that! It’s just too deep for me, although maybe it is good! I will only tell you that the best move for
White is probably now 8.a3 Hmmm chess is like this, nowadays! (8.d5!? Ne5 9.Qd4 Nf7 10.h4!? e5
11.dxe6 Bxe6 12.0-0-0 and White has compensation.)

8.d5

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8...Nb4

8...Ne7?! 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.Ng3 White recovers the pawn and is better thanks to the more secure king. A
possible line would be 10...Ng6 11.Bb5+ Kf7 12.0-0ƒ.

9.Bxf6 Qxf6

Now White should be precise with the move order.

10.Ng3!

10.a3?! e3! 11.Ne4 Qg6 12.N2c3 Bf5!³

10...Qf4!

The only move to keep the balance. The line now becomes forced.
10...e3?! 11.Nce4 Qf7 12.Bb5+²

11.a3 Bc5! 12.Ncxe4 0-0!

236
Now White should go for the endgame.

13.Qd2

13.Nxc5 Qf2#

13...Na6

Now White has several moves, but only one of them offers an edge.

14.Nxc5

This is the one I like the most.

a) 14.d6 Qxd2+ 15.Kxd2 Bxd6 16.Bc4+ Kh8 17.Raf1 Bd7=;
b) 14.Qxf4 exf4 15.Bxa6 Be3! 16.Nf1 bxa6 17.Nxe3 fxe3 18.Rf1 Rxf1+ 19.Kxf1 Bf5 20.Nc5 Bxc2
21.Rc1 Bg6 and after a long, forced line, we get an equal endgame.

14...Nxc5 15.0-0-0 Bg4 16.Re1 Rad8 17.b4! Nd7 18.Ne4

237
And according to t he engine, White’s position is slightly better because of the strong pawns on the
queenside.
THE STAUNTON GAMBIT
3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Nc6?!

1.d4 f5 2.e4!? fxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6

4.Bg5

4.f3 d5! — we have already checked this.

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4...Nc6?!

This was considered to be the main line for many years, but Black needs to be really careful!
4...g6! — see the next ana lyzed game!

5.d5 Ne5

This is the main line, but after...

6.Qe2!

...it seems as though the gambit is going to work!

a) 6.f4!? This is yet another interesting way of playing: 6...exf3 7.Nxf3 Nf7 8.Bc4 White seems to have
a serious initiative for the pawn.;
b) 6.Qd4?! This is the main line, but Black is doing fine. I really don’t understand this move. It’s very
common in the opening to use unstable knights on e5 to gain tempi to develop the other pieces. But
simply attacking it to force the knight into a better position is not very logical. 6...Nf7! 7.Bxf6 exf6

239
 8.0-0-0!? A new idea, but it does not offer enough for White. (8.Nxe4 f5 9.Ng3 g6 10.0-0-0 Bh6+!
Black will castle and have the advantage of the bishop pair.) 8...f5 9.f3 Bd6! A very important move to
complete development! 10.fxe4 (10.Qxg7? Be5 The queen is trapped!) 10...Be5 11.Qd2 0-0! Now
Black is playing a gambit! 12.exf5 d6 and Black has enough compensation. The game could continue:
13.g4!? Qh4 14.Qg2 Bxc3 15.bxc3 Ne5°

6...c6

a) 6...Nf7 7.Bxf6 exf6 8.Nxe4 Qe7 (8...Be7 9.d6 cxd6 10.Nc3²) 9.d6! Black’s pawn structure is
destroyed and White is better.;
b) 6...d6 7.0-0-0! White is better because it is difficult for Black to complete development.

7.f4!

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A very nice idea! This is found in the games of the talented chess player from Czech Republic, Vojtech
Plat.

7...Nf7

7...exf3 8.Nxf3 Nxf3+ 9.Qxf3 The white lead in development is too much.

8.Bxf6 gxf6

8...exf6!?N This is probably the best try! 9.Qxe4+

[9.Nxe4 looks scarier, but leads to an amazing position: 9...Qa5+ 10.Nc3+ Kd8!

241
The king feels quite safe in the center! 11.0-0-0 Bb4! 12.Qg4 (12.Qf3?! Bxc3 13.Qxc3 Qxc3 14.bxc3
Kc7! and Black has the better endgame.) 12...Bxc3 13.Qxg7 Bxb2+ 14.Kxb2 Qb4+ 15.Ka1 Qc3+
16.Kb1 And Black should probably go for the perpetual.]
9...Qe7 10.0-0-0 Qxe4 11.Nxe4 Nd6 12.Nxd6+ Bxd6 13.g3 It may be that White is slightly better in this
endgame, but Black can probably hold.

9.Qxe4!

This was the choice of Robert Aloma Vidal, an International Master who has excellent knowledge of
opening theory. At least he outplayed me, once...
9.Nxe4?

This was Plat’s choice, but it is not correct! Ok, I understand why it is so tempting ... maybe our
opponent will overlook Nxf6 mate! 9...Qa5+! (9...cxd5? 10.Nxf6#) 10.c3?! (10.Nc3! Bh6 with a
complex battle ahead.) 10...cxd5? (10...f5!µ Black will simply win a pawn.) 11.Nxf6+ Kd8 12.Qh5±
Plat, V-Wozniak, M. Marianske Lazne 2016, and White eventually won.

9...e6

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10.0-0-0!

This seems to be the most accurate.

10.dxe6!? dxe6 11.Bc4 f5?! (After 11...Nd6!, Black would be close to equality.) 12.Qe2² Aloma Vidal,
R -Yepes Martinez, E and White eventually won.

10...cxd5 11.Rxd5 Qe7 12.Rd1²

Leisebein, P-Klein, R DESC email 2006.

THE STAUNTON GAMBIT
3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 g6!

1.d4 f5 2.e4!? fxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 g6!

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This is a new way to fight the Staunton Gambit! It is probably quite good because the chief expert in the
Dutch, these days, is my friend David Antón, and he plays it!

5.Bc4

A very interesting move, which enjoys really good results at the amateur level! White simply develops
the pieces to the most active squares! I think I would be willing to try this line at least once, with White!
a) 5.h4!? Trying to punish the g6 move, which looks very logical. 5...d5 6.h5 Bf5! We develop our
bishop and defend g6, a multipurpose move.

7.Bxf6 exf6 8.g4 Be6 9.hxg6 Qd7! David Antón has two games involving this position. 10.g5! (10.f4?
Bxg4?! A very easy mistake to make. (10...Qg7! An extremely difficult move to find, but it is very

244
good. 11.f5? hxg6! 12.Rxh8 Qxh8 13.fxe6 Qh4+ 14.Ke2 Qh2+–+) 11.Bh3! Bxh3 12.Rxh3 Nc6 13.Qh5

13...0-0-0µ Alvarez Fernandez, E-Anton Guijarro, D Linares 2013, and the game was eventually drawn,
but it was clear who had the upper hand.) 10...fxg5 11.Qh5 Qg7! I was at this tournament and saw the
game, live. I was particularly surprised by this move, but it is easier to find this kind of move, of course,
if you played a similar game a couple of years ago. At the end of the day, hard work delivers results!
(11...Bg7 was the normal move: 12.gxh7+ Qf7 13.Qxg5 Nc6 and Black has compensation.) 12.Qxg5
c6!

13.Nge2?! (13.f3! hxg6 14.Rxh8 Qxh8 15.fxe4 Be7 16.Qxg6+ Bf7 17.Qf5 Bh4+ 18.Kd2 Qxd4+
19.Bd3 is balanced, according to the computer, but who would be able to play like this?) 13...hxg6
14.Nf4 Rxh1 15.Nxe6

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15...Qh6? The Dutch is difficult to play! Even the best chess players regularly fail to find the best
moves! (15...Qe7! 16.Qxe7+ Kxe7 17.Nc7 Bg7 18.0-0-0 Kd6 19.Nxa8 Rh8! and Black will take the
knight on a8 with the rook, and end up in a much better endgame.) 16.Qd8+ Kf7 17.Ng5+ Kg8 18.Qf6!
And White gets a perpetual! 18...Na6 19.Qe6+ Kg7 20.Qe5+ Kg8 21.Qe6+ Kg7 22.Qe5+ Kg8
23.Qe6+ ½–½ Trent, L-Anton Guijarro, D Gibraltar 2015. A truly exciting game!;
b) 5.Qe2 d5 6.f3 (6.0-0-0 Nc6 7.f3 Bg7 This is similar to the main line.) 6...Bg7

7.0-0-0 (7.fxe4 Nc6! 8.Bxf6 Bxf6 9.Nxd5 Nxd4 10.Nxf6+ exf6 11.Qf2 Nc6=) 7...Nc6 8.Kb1! This is
a difficult move to make, but it will likely be useful in the future. Besides, it is not so clear how White
should play, at the moment. After this, Black has two different, but interesting, moves. (8.fxe4?! Nxe4
9.Nxe4 dxe4 10.Qxe4 Bf5! and all the black pieces are playing. Later, Black will play ...Qd7 or ...Qd6,

246
 followed by long castle and a better game.; 8.Bxf6 Bxf6 9.fxe4 Nxd4!³) 8...0-0 (8...Bf5 9.Qe3 0-0
10.g4 Be6 Black seems to be fine here, too, but the position is a bit more unclear.) 9.Qe1 White wants
to develop the bishop and play Qh4, at some point. 9...a6!? 10.Bxf6 exf6 11.fxe4 dxe4 12.Qxe4 f5 with
a balanced position, although I prefer to have the pair of bishops.;
c) 5.f3 d5! (5...exf3 6.Nxf3 Bg7 This may be fine for Black, but I’m not a fan of giving White such a
great advantage in development.) 6.Qd2 (6.fxe4?! Nxe4 7.Nxe4 dxe4 8.Bc4 Nc6! 9.Ne2 Na5! and
Black will have an extra pawn and the pair of bishops.; 6.Qe2 we analyzed this before after 5.Qe2)
6...Bg7 7.0-0-0 Nc6! This puts pressure on d4. Now a forced line appears on the board.

8.Bxf6 exf6! 9.fxe4 dxe4 10.Nxe4 Qxd4 (10...f5!? This is a riskier way of playing. 11.Ng5 Qxd4
12.Qe1+ Qe5 13.N1f3 Qxe1 14.Rxe1+ Kf8 15.Bb5 and White has compensation, but nothing more.)
11.Qxd4 Nxd4 12.Rxd4 f5 13.Rc4 fxe4 14.Rxe4+ Kd8³ The endgame is slightly better for Black, but
not that much because the king doesn’t look particularly comfortable on c8.;
d) 5.d5 Bg7 6.Bc4 This transposes to the line following 5.Bc4.

5...c6!

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The most logical move. I want to close the bishop’s diagonal.

6.d5!

This is the key move!

6...Bg7 7.Nge2!

Simply developing pieces. Now Black has at least two options to obtain a comfortable game.
7.Qd2?! Natural, but very slow. 7...e6!!

This is a great positional idea. 8.d6 (8.dxe6 d5!µ; 8.dxc6 d5 9.cxb7 Bxb7µ) 8...b5 9.Bb3 a5 10.a3 0-0 and

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the pawn on d6 is completely useless because it does nothing to hinder the development of our pieces.
We have b7 for the bishop, b6 for the queen and a6 for the knight. Don’t be afraid!

7...e6!

The safest choice. This is the move I like the most.

7...b5 is a very aggressive choice. The engine assesses the position as unclear, and I believe only practice
will tell us who is better! 8.Bb3 a5

9.dxc6 (9.a3 This could lead to a funny draw after 9...a4 10.Ba2 Bb7 11.d6 e6! 12.Nxe4 Qa5+ 13.Bd2
Qb6 14.Be3 Qa5+=) 9...Nxc6 (9...dxc6 10.Qxd8+ Kxd8 is fine for Black.) 10.a4! bxa4 (10...b4?!
11.Nb5! White gets an outpost for the knight on b5, which is something to avoid.) 11.Rxa4 e6 and the
position is balanced.

8.Nxe4!

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8...0-0!

8...cxd5?! 9.Bxd5! exd5 10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.Qxd5! The computer says that the position is balanced, but in a
practical game Black would probably constantly get mated.

9.dxe6 d5! 10.0-0 Bxe6 11.Bb3 Nbd7=

Black has solved all of his problems and can start thinking about fighting for the advantage.

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CHAPTER 7

251
EASILY REFUTED GAMBITS

INTRODUCTION
In this chapter we will have a look at the more difficult task to classify gambits. It makes sense to discuss
them together.

1.d4 d5

1...e5?

The Charlick Gambit! It’s not sound, but you’ll still find people using it from time to time in blitz games.
In what follows I present you with an easy refutation!;
1...Nf6 2.g4?! The Gibbins-Weidenhagen Gambit. The situation is very similar to the previous line.
If Black knows a few moves, the job is done!

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2.e4

The Blackmar-Diemer Gambit is very popular! In just 2017 alone I could find more than 50 games
playing this variation! This means that there is some probability that you will face this gambit at some
stage in your games!

2...dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3

Here comes my fresh idea! Keep on reading!

THE GIBBINSWEIDENHAGEN GAMBIT

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1.d4 Nf6 2.g4?!

This seems a bit stupid, so let’s kill it!

2...Nxg4 3.e4 d5!

I like this the most.

3...d6 4.Be2 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.h4!? White has some compensation.

4.Be2

4.exd5 Qxd5 5.Nf3 g6 6.Nc3 Qe6+ 7.Be2 Bg7³

4...Nf6 5.exd5

5.e5 Nfd7 6.Nf3 e6 Black has the best French ever!!

5...Qxd5 6.Nf3 Bg4³

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Yes, it’s not the Scandinavian — since White is missing something on g2!
THE CHARLICK GAMBIT

1.d4 e5?!

This is not the best gambit. Black gets some lead in development, but a central pawn is too much to
sacrifice!

2.dxe5 Nc6 3.Nf3

3...Qe7

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3...d6 Black tries to develop as fast as possible, but White doesn’t allow this. 4.Bg5! (4.exd6?! Bxd6
5.Nc3 Nf6 6.e3 0-0 This is the kind of game Black wants.) 4...Qd7 (4...f6 5.exf6 Nxf6 6.Nc3±) 5.exd6
Bxd6 6.Nc3 Now the bishop is developed on g5 and the queen is misplaced on d7. White is much better.
6...h6 7.Bh4 Nge7 8.e4±

4.Bg5!

I like this the most, although other moves are good as well.
4.Nc3 Nxe5 5.e4²

4...Qb4+

4...Qe6 5.Nc3 Nxe5 6.e4! Bb4 7.Qd4±

5.Nc3! Qxb2

6.Bd2!

The key move. Now Black’s queen is almost trapped.

6.Nd5?! Bb4+! 7.Bd2 Bxd2+ 8.Nxd2 Nb4!? is not so clear.

6...Bb4 7.Rb1 Qa3

7...Qxc3 8.Bxc3 Bxc3+ 9.Nd2+–

8.Nd5! Bxd2+ 9.Qxd2+–

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 THE BLACKMAR-DIEMER GAMBIT

1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6

4.f3!?

This is not particularly good, but Black should be careful. I want to alter the position immediately!
4.Bg5!? The other active possibility. 4...c6! Very intelligent waiting move. I don’t want to play ...e6
because I’m keen to play the bishop to f5 at the right moment! (4...Bf5 5.Qe2 c6 6.Bxf6 exf6 7.0-0-0∞)
5.f3 (5.Qe2 Qxd4!) 5...exf3 6.Nxf3

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6...h6 (6...Bf5!? This is possible as well. 7.Bd3 Bxd3 8.Qxd3 Nbd7 9.0-0-0 e6 10.Kb1 Be7³ White
doesn’t have enough compensation for the pawn.) 7.Bh4 Bf5! 8.Bd3 Bxd3 9.Qxd3 e6 10.0-0-0 Nbd7³

4...c5!

I like this move very much. I don’t want to allow White free development.
4...exf3 5.Nxf3 e6 This is the computer’s main line, but in a practical game I think White’s play is much
easier. Simply Bd3, 0-0 and mate at some point, if possible!

5.d5

Playing in the same fashion as the Albin. But as in the Albin, this f3 idea is not very good.
5.dxc5 Qxd1+ 6.Kxd1 e6 7.fxe4 Bxc5³

5...exf3! 6.Nxf3 g6!

Black simply completes development. In the Albin it is possible to play like this as well.

7.Bb5+

a) 7.Be3 Nbd7 8.Qd2 (8.Bb5 Bg7 9.Bxc5 0-0 10.Bd4 Nb6! and the pawn on d5 falls.) 8...Bg7 9.Bh6 0-
0 10.Bxg7 Kxg7 11.h4 h5µ;
b) 7.Bc4 Bg7 8.0-0 0-0 9.Qe2 Nbd7 10.Bf4 Nb6 11.Bb3 Bf5µ

7...Nbd7 8.0-0

8.d6 Bg7 9.0-0 0-0 10.dxe7 Qxe7 11.Bf4 a6! 12.Re1 Qd8 13.Bf1 Qb6³

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8...Bg7³

Black is pawn up and, after castling, will try to attack the pawn on d5 with everything.

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CHAPTER 8

260
THE ALBIN GAMBIT

INTRODUCTION

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 d4

This is the beginning of the Albin Gambit. Black ’s idea is to disturb White’s development with the pawn
on d4. The great Frank Marshall played it with very good results. Nowadays, the always creative
Alexander Morozevich does the same. White should know exactly what to do! I initially considered
making this a long chapter. I found a very interesting and new idea and I thought I could present it as the
main line. Just a few weeks before sending the book in for editing, however, I saw a variation that turns
out to be much easier and just as good! So I decided to be practical.

4.Nf3 Nc6 5.a3!

This is one of the main continuations, and supported by the computer. This is the easiest way to get the
advantage!
5.g3!? I like this option a lot and it was my main idea when I started the book.

5...Nge7

5...a5!? To avoid b2-b4, but White has two interesting ways of playing. 6.e3 My favourite move.
(6.Nbd2!? This is supported by the engine and gives some edge, as well.)

6.b4 Ng6 7.Bb2 Ncxe5 8.Qxd4!

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This endgame is the key. White is much better. You will understand more about it by studying the next
few games.
ALBIN EASY REFUTATION
5...a5 6.e3!

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 d4 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.a3!

5...a5

Black doesn’t allow b4. This was the reason why I didn’t like a3. Before writing the book, I had a look at
Kiril Giorgiev’s book about gambits, and I didn’t like the endgame he recommended.

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 a) 5...Bg4?! 6.h3 Bh5 7.g4 Bg6 8.b4±;
b) 5...Nge7! — see the final piece of analysis in this chapter.

6.e3!

This is the key move! White has had excellent results in top games and the following positions are very
easy to play.
6.Nbd2!? This is the main line, according to theory — see the following analysis.

6...Bg4!?

6...Bc5 7.exd4 Bxd4 8.Be2 Nge7 9.0-0 0-0 10.Nc3!

Excellent idea! The pair of bishops are much more important than the pawn structure! 10...Bxc3 11.bxc3
Ng6 12.Bg5 Qe8 13.Re1 a4 14.Be3 Qe7 15.Qc2 Re8 16.Bf1 Ncxe5 17.Nxe5 Qxe5 18.Qb2 Qe4
19.Qb5± 1–0 (44) Bareev, E (2665)-Morozevich, A (2595) Elista 1997.

7.Be2

It’s good to force the endgame.

7.h3?! Bxf3 8.Qxf3 g6° Black completes development very fast.

7...dxe3 8.Qxd8+ Rxd8 9.Bxe3 Nge7

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10.Nc3!

White gives back the pawn. Instead, after 10.Nbd2?! Nf5° Black activates his pieces.

10...Bxf3 11.gxf3!

Not particularly “logical”, but very strong.

11.Bxf3 Nxe5 12.Bxb7 Nf5 13.Ba7 This is good as well, according to the engine, but I find it difficult to
play chess like this!

11...Nxe5 12.Nb5 c6 13.Nd4²

This endgame initially looks as though it is nothing special, for White. But when you check it carefully,
you’ll soon realize that this is very bothersome for Black. White will play 0-0-0 and f4, at the right
moment. At some point the a5 pawn will be attacked with N b3. The pawns on f2 and f3 are not a
weakness because they cannot be attacked. Black is in big trouble! The only chance for Black is the
following ugly move.

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13...c5 14.Nb5 Nf5

It’s very difficult for Black to play like this in a practical game. Either way, White is better after...

15.Rd1 Rxd1+ 16.Kxd1 Be7 17.f4 Nc6 18.Bf3²

With strong pressure on the queenside.

ALBIN EASY REFUTATION
5...a5 6.Nbd2!?

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 d4 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.a3! a5 6.Nbd2!?

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This is the main line in theory.

6...Nge7 7.Nb3 Nf5 8.Bg5!?

An interesting idea for White. There are almost no games that feature this continuation. More practical
examples are needed to make clear which variation is better.
8.e4 dxe3 9.Qxd8+ Nxd8 10.fxe3 This endgame is the main recommendation of the computer, but I’m
not very happy about this. If White doesn’t play accurately, he might end up losing the pawn on e5, and
will get a worse endgame.

One possible line would be: 10...Nc6 11.Bd2 a4 12.Nbd4 Bc5 13.Nb5 Kd8 14.e4 Ne3 15.Ke2 Nxc4
16.Bg5+ Be7 17.Kf2 N4xe5 18.Rd1+ Bd7 19.Bxe7+ Kxe7 20.Nxc7 Ra5²

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This was the first line of my engine. I analysed more options, but it doesn’t make sense to give them all.
Here we are in a typical scenario for this endgame. According to the engine, White is better. The problem
is that White should be careful because of the weakness on e4. If White doesn’t play accurately, he can be
worse!

8...Be7 9.Bxe7 Qxe7 10.Nbxd4

10...Nfxd4!

10...Ncxd4?! Black doesn’t have enough compensation in this position. 11.Nxd4 Qxe5 12.e3 0-0
13.Nxf5 Bxf5 14.Qd4!

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14...Qe7 (14...Qxd4 15.exd4 Rad8 16.0-0-0 Rfe8 17.b3 g6 18.Kb2 h5 19.Kc3 White won the endgame
without problems in Riazantsev, A (2646)-Pankov, G (2404) Minsk 2015) 15.Be2 Rfd8 16.Qc3± White
was pawn up but didn’t manage to win in Khenkin, I (2551)-Berelowitsch, A (2523) Belgium 2017.

11.Nxd4 0-0!?N

This move has not been found, yet!

12.Nxc6

12.e3 Rd8 13.Be2 Qc5=

12...bxc6 13.Qd2 Qxe5 14.0-0-0 Rb8

The engine considers White to be better, but I’m not so happy with my king on the queenside. Black will
always have some counterplay. For example:

15.Qd4 Qe7 16.e4 c5 17.Qe3 Bd7

Followed by ...Ba4 and ...Rb3 in some lines. White is better, but how much, I’m not sure.
ALBIN EASY REFUTATION
5...Nge7!

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 d4 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.a3! Nge7!

Black should try to recover the pawn on e5 as soon as possible.

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6.b4! Ng6 7.Bb2 a5!

Black hopes to create some weaknesses on the queenside.

7...Ngxe5 8.Nxe5 Nxe5 9.e3 Be6 10.Bxd4 Nxc4 11.Qc2 Nd6 12.Bd3±

8.b5 Ncxe5

Many games arrive at this position. The computer gives a huge advantage for White. I was initially
unconvinced, but some new games were played that showed me just how much better White really is.

9.Qxd4!

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This move seems to give White a very large advantage! In most of the games White played 9.Nxe5, but
this is not so good.
9.Nxe5 Nxe5 10.e3 Be6 11.Bxd4 Nxc4 White is still better but I like to keep the knights. My knight on
f3 seems better than his colleague on g6.

9...Qxd4

9...Nxf3+ 10.gxf3 Qxd4 11.Bxd4± White is simply pawn up.

10.Bxd4 Nxc4

10...Nxf3+ 11.gxf3±

11.e3!

There is a very recent game following this line in which White managed to win.

I wouldn’t normally think that White’s advantage is so big, but somehow, in a practical game, the
position is very difficult for Black. Let’s explain why the position is so bad for Black:
1. The pawn on c7 is a weakness. Black will have big difficulties trying to get rid of it with ...Bd7 and
...c6, as we will see in some variations.
2. The knight on g6 is completely out of place. It will need at least two tempi to get to a more useful
square.
3. The knight on c4 is under attack and no matter where he goes, it doesn’t look promising!
4. White’s moves are easy to find.

11...Nd6

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This is probably the best move. Black wants to put some pressure on b5 and, at some point, perhaps
wants to play ...Nf5.
11...Nb6 The downside of this move is that ...c6 is more difficult to play. White should now try to put
pressure on c7. 12.Nbd2 Be6 13.Be2 0-0-0 14.0-0 f6 It may seem as though Black is not so bad, but
things are different in reality. 15.Rfc1 Kb8 16.Bc3!

This move is the key. The bishop leaves the d4-square for the knight and forces ...a4. This pawn will be
weak in the future. 16...a4 17.Ba5 Bd5 18.Bd1 And White will always have the possibility of playing
Bxb6 and Bxa4. The endgame is much better for White.

12.Nbd2 Bd7

12...a4?! This doesn’t help at all. Trying to fix the weakness on a3 is too optimistic. 13.Rc1 Kd8

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14.h4!? (14.Be2 is good as well.) 14...h5 15.Bd3 Bf5 16.Bxf5 Nxf5 17.Ng5 White was clearly better in
Blue baum, M (2643)-Trent, L (2435) Germany 2018.

13.a4

13...f6

13...Nf5 Black tries to develop as quickly as possible, but this is not enough. 14.Bc3 Bb4 15.Bxb4 axb4
16.Bd3 0-0 17.0-0 White is much better thanks to the future passed pawn on the a-file and the weak b4
pawn.

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14.Be2

Here we get to the critical position of the endgame. In my opinion, Black doesn’t manage to equalize.

14...Be7

Completing development looks more logical to me. I couldn’t find any games in my database with this
position.
a) 14...Ne7?! 15.0-0 Nd5 16.Rfc1 c6 17.bxc6 Bxc6 18.Bc5!

Peralta plays excellently. He wants to play Nd4 followed by Bf3. 18...Nf5 19.Nb3 Nb4 20.Bb6 Bd7
21.Bxa5 White converted his extra pawn in: Peralta, F (2574)-Perez Candelario, M (2496) Ayamonte
2006;
b) 14...c6 15.bxc6 Bxc6 16.0-0 Nf5 17.Bc3 Bc5 18.Rfb1 0-0 19.Nc4 Rfc8 20.Bxa5 White was a pawn
up in Ter Steeg, R (1458)-Evsin, I (1299) LSS email 2014.

15.0-0

Here Black has several ideas:

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15...c6

a) 15...0-0 16.Rfd1! White tried to make use of the tactical possibilities in the position. Now Black can
play ... Rfd8 but not 16...c6?: 17.Bc5! This is the idea of 16. Rfd1. 17...cxb5 18.Nf1 Ra6 19.Bxd6 Rxd6?
(19...Bxd6 20.axb5 Rb6 21.Rxa5±) 20.Rxd6 Bxd6 21.Rd1 and White wins a piece.;
b) 15...b6 This move is very strange, but it’s the computer’s first choice. It stops Bc5. 16.Rfc1 Rc8
17.Bb2!

This is the same idea as was seen in Peralta’s game. Now the knight is going to d4. 17...0-0 (17...c5
18.bxc6 Rxc6 19.Rxc6 Bxc6 20.Bd4 Bd8 21.Rb1 Bxa4 22.Bxb6 Black will lose the pawn on a5 and end
up in a very difficult to defend endgame.) 18.Nd4 Followed by f4, White has a position of total

274
 domination.

16.bxc6 Bxc6

This is a very critical position. Now the situation is double edged and accuracy is needed. If White plays
imprecisely, Black will manage to equalize.

17.Bb6!

The most accurate. White is ready to play Nb3 and grab the pawn.

17...0-0 18.Nb3 Rfc8 19.Nxa5

The position is not winning but it’s much easier to play with White, of course.

275
MODEL GAMES WITH EXERCISES

276
WHY THIS CHAPTER IS IMPORTANT
You’re probably surprised that this chapter is at the end of the book. Normally, exercises are at the end of
the chapter related to the topic. This makes sense when we are learning some new skill; unfortunately,
chess openings require memorization (you probably don’t like this word, but believe me, this is part of
the job), therefore you shouldn’t do the exercises after reading the chapter. You will understand why.
I have two goals with this chapter:
1. I want to refresh your memory. If you read the chapter and do the exercises immediately, you will have
the feeling that you understand everything, but this is wrong. Now is the time to tell you a little bit about
how memory works.
You understand things because of your short-term memory. The problem is that two days later, you will
remember only 50% of the things and five days later only 10%. (Believe me, I read almost everything I
found about memory and studied a huge book about it at university, so I think I understand something
about it.) When we play chess, we need our shortterm memory to be empty and our long-term memory
full of ideas! The only way to achieve this is by REPETITION. Yes, this boring word is the key. The
more you repeat things, the more easily you remember them. If I repeated some concepts more than once,
it was not a coincidence. According to the experts, you will fix something perfectly in your longterm
memory when you repeat it around five times, but these repetitions should be made on different days, not
the same one. If you are interested in this, you can read a bit about the program SuperMemo.
Another interesting thing is that you remember most when this memorization is active! Reading the same
text many times will help you much less than closing your eyes, thinking about the topic and writing
down all that you remember. I’m here to help you with this. I give you some questions to remind you of
some concepts. The more concepts you remember, the easier it is to connect them and the more you will
learn!
2. I want you to practise. The exercises are along with the game, not separate as in most books. Why?
Because this is closer to a chess game and we should train as close to tournament conditions as possible.
Solving exercises is also good, but many people find it difficult. I’ve met extremely strong chess players
who were quite bad at solving random positions, but during the game they were very strong. The point is
that while you are checking or playing a game, some chess patterns are popping into your head and when
you reach the critical moments, these patterns help you to solve the position. If a random position
appears, some people are much faster! Why? Probably this is connected to genetics but we will need time
to prove it.

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HOW TO WORK ON THIS CHAPTER
1. Use a chessboard. Unless you are a pro, the chessboard will help you to memorize things better. Chec
the game slowly until an exercise appears.
2. Don’t worry about solving or not solving the position! This is the key! If you don’t solve a position,
don’t feel like it’s the end of the world. We are all different and beating ourselves up when we don’t
solve a problem won’t help. Believe me, I’ve done it many times! Take ten minutes maximum for each
exercise and decide on a move. Or you can solve the problem in two minutes — it depends on you! Then
write the solution down, or simply remember it, and continue with the game until the end.
3. The solutions are just after the game. This is not a coincidence. Learning is about feedback. It’s not so
interesting if you do the exercises and can’t check the solutions almost immediately. If the solutions are
at the end of the book, it’s tricky to check the solution and not see the solutions to other exercises!
Sounds familiar, right? Many times I’ve checked a page with only one eye in order not to see what was
next.
4. Once you finish a game, go back to the theory chapter in case there is something you don’t remember.
Maybe you’ll feel like you want to check it again. Believe me, if we recheck something each time we
don’t understand it, we will learn it. It’s not about talent, it’s about persistence!
5. Continue like this game by game until you finish the book. There are no points for solving the
exercises. I’m not here to evaluate you. People of different levels will read the book. You shouldn’t care
about the result; instead, think about the effort, the only thing that depends on you. This will make the
task more pleasant.
I’ve given you enough information! Now it’s time to prove yourself!

278
EXERCISES ON THE BUDAPEST GAMBIT
I. Salgado Lopez
M. Huerga Leache
San Sebastian, 19.03.2008

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4

This was my first time against the Budapest Gambit, and it’s clear that I was not very well prepared!

4.Nf3 Bc5 5.e3 Nc6 6.Be2

I decided simply to make normal moves. I’ve always been a 1.e4 player, but I decided to experiment with
other options in this tournament. I was 16 and thought that anything was possible!

6...0-0 7.0-0 Ngxe5 8.Nc3 Re8 9.b3 Nxf3+ 10.Bxf3 Ne5 11.Bb2

My play is far from impressive, but it is at least practical.

11...a5 12.Na4

White has managed to get a slightly better position. Now Black needs to decide what to do.

EXERCISE 1
You can choose among the following possibilities:
1. Black should play the bishop on a7, hoping to put some pressure on f2 in the future.

279
2. Black should take the bishop on f3 and then play the bishop to f8, hoping to obtain a solid position.
3. Black should play ...d6. If White takes on c5, Black can always take on f3 and will probably hold the
resultant position with its opposite colour bishops.
4. Black plays ...Bf8 as in the game.
You should make your decision by intuition; 1–2 minutes should be more than enough. There is not
much to calculate!

Go to the solution

12...Bf8

EXERCISE 2
Now White has a difficult choice. Where to move the bishop?
1. White simply plays 13.Be2, and in the future will try to play f4.
2. White plays 13.Bd5 hoping to provoke ...c6, which would create some weaknesses on Black’s
queenside.
3. White plays 13.Bh5 hoping to provoke ...g6. This would mean that Black wouldn’t be able to play
...Ra6–...Rh6 later.

Go to the solution

13.Be2 Ra6 14.g3!?

280
I was worried about ...Qh4 coming, so I decided to prevent it. Now Black has two possibilities, ...Rh6 and
... Rg6, both of which are interesting.

14...Rg6

14...Rh6!? 15.e4 b6! 16.f4 Nc6 17.Bf3 And it looks like White is much better, but the position is not so
clear. 17...Bb7= I would like to explain to you what’s going on. White has everything in the center, the
knight is ready to go to d5, after Nc3, but the engine assesses it as equal! What’s going on? White has
control of the center, but he cannot make use of it! All the black pieces have found good squares where
they cannot be disturbed but, at the same time, they can press White. For example, after Nc3, the bishop
is going to c5. The game could follow like this: 18.Qe2 Qa8! 19.Rad1 Nb4! 20.Rfe1? Rhe6!µ It’s good to
have the center, but if it can be attacked it’s not so good!

15.Qd5

I was very happy with this move. My queen attacks the kingside and, at the same time, is ready to defend
the kingside from g2.

15...d6!

Black correctly decides that taking the pawn is too risky.

16.Rfd1

16.Qxa5 h5!ƒ

16...Bd7!?

Risky, but after ...Bc6 the position would be very tricky.

16...c6 This was the safest choice, and after 17.Qg2 Rh6 18.h4 the game is completely unclear, although
it would probably be easier for Black, thanks to the weaknesses created on the kingside.

17.Qxa5

I didn’t have a choice! I might get mated, but at least I go down with a full stomach! My opponent has
many ways to continue the attack, and he decided to go all in.

17...Qh4!?

17...h5!? 18.Bxe5 Rxe5 19.Rd5 b6 20.Qd2 h4 would be more positional.

18.Bxe5 Rxe5

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 EXERCISE 3
The position is really complicated. White has three options.
1. Let’s eat a bit more and take the pawn on c7! Maybe there is nothing wrong with it!
2. 19.Qe1 and the queen is close to our king. It will be much more difficult for Black to mate me.
3. 19.Rd5 trying to exchange some pieces.

Go to the solution

19.Qxc7 Bc6 20.Rd4

There were no tricks with Qxh2 anymore, so I could breathe calmly.

20...Re4 21.Bd3!

The most accurate!

21...Rxg3+ 22.fxg3 Qh6 23.Rxe4 Bxe4 24.Rf1

One rook was enough for me to win.

24...Qxe3+ 25.Rf2 f5 26.Bf1 d5 27.cxd5 b5 28.d6 Ba8 29.Qc5

1–0

I. Salgado Lopez

282
 P. Dimitrov
Chotowa, 03.08.2010

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.e3 Nxe5 5.Nc3

5...Bb4

It was better for Black to play 5...d6 with the idea to meet 6.f4 with 6...Ned7, followed by ...g6– Bg7,
with a good position for Black.

6.Bd2 Nbc6 7.a3

I decided simply to obtain the pair of bishops, which I thought was good enough. But 7.f4! seems to be
stronger. After writing this book, I would play this without thinking... 7...Ng6 8.a3 Bxc3 9.Bxc3±

7...Bxc3 8.Bxc3 0-0 9.Nh3!?

A normal positional plan, trying to take control of the d5-square. 9.f4 is the best, according to the engine.

9...d6 10.Nf4 Bg4

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 EXERCISE 4
Two possibilities: 11.f3 or 11.Be2?

Go to the solution

11.Be2 Bxe2 12.Qxe2 a5 13.0-0 a4 14.Rad1 Qh4?!

It’s not good to make active moves when you are slightly worse.

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 EXERCISE 5
How should White play now?

Go to the solution
Instead, Black should have played 14...Nd7!. He is slightly worse, but his position is very solid and
difficult to break.

1–0

I. Salgado Lopez
F. Galvez Extremera
Linares, 29.08.2013

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.e3 Nxe5 5.f4!

Finally I learnt the lesson!

5...Ng6 6.Nc3 Bb4 7.Nge2 a5 8.a3

EXERCISE 6
Three options for black:
1. 8...Bxc3.
2. 8...Bc5.

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3. 8...Be7.

Go to the solution

8...Be7 9.Ng3

9.g3 Playing like Kasparov seems quite good, as well. At this point I was unacquainted with Kasparov’s
games! I prefer to mate my opponents, if possible!

9...d6 10.Bd3 Nd7 11.0-0 0-0

I have placed all the pieces on the best squares. Now there are many possibilities, but I decided to
improve the position of my pawns.

12.e4

12.Bc2!? This move is already well known to us, as long as you have carefully read the previous
chapters! If not, read them again!

12...Nc5 13.Bc2 Bd7 14.Be3 Bf6?

15.e5!

I guess that Black simply missed this tactical possibility.

15...Be7 16.Bxc5 dxc5 17.Qh5! f6 18.Rad1!

Please, pay attention to how I will try, with every move, to activate my pieces. This is the key thing we

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should do when we have the initiative!

18...fxe5 19.f5! Nf4 20.Rxf4 exf4 21.f6! Rxf6 22.Qxh7+ Kf7 23.Nh5

1–0

SOLUTIONS TO THE BUDAPEST GAMBIT

Solution 1

12...Nxf3+!

Most of the time, if you can take a bishop, take it!

a) 12...Bf8?! It’s too passive. You should always try to play the most active moves, if possible!;
b) 12...Ba7?! 13.c5! This was very annoying. Now the bishops are out of the game. 13...Nxf3+
14.Qxf3²;
c) 12...d6?! A bit passive, but playable. According to the engine it is quite good, but in a practical game
that type of position is difficult to handle. 13.Nxc5 Nxf3+ 14.Qxf3 dxc5 15.e4². In the future White will
try to play f4–f5 and Black will have problems on the kingside. If you want to learn more about these
positions, check out Karpov’s games with queens and different colour bishops. He really knew how to
play these positions!

12...Nxf3+! 13.Qxf3 Be7 14.Rad1 Ra6²

White is slightly better, but this was the best option for Black. The rook will go to g6 and Black has no
serious weaknesses. If White makes a mistake, the pair of bishops will enter the game.
Go back to the test

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 Solution 2

13.Bh5!

These are the moves that can make the difference between a strong player and a very strong player. This
is a typical move, for Carlsen. With the bishop there Black needs to decide whether to play g6 or not.
This puts some pressure on your opponent and you don’t risk a thing!

13.Be2?! is normal, but not accurate: 13...Ra6 14.f4 Rd6! 15.Qc2 Nc6! and the rook will be active!;

13.Bd5!? is similar to Bh5, but in this case Black will take the pair of bishops: 13...c6 14.Bf3 Nxf3+
15.Qxf3². Thanks to forcing ...c6, the rook lift is impossible and White will put pressure on the d-file.

13.Bh5! Ng6!

Avoiding f4, but the rook lift is not possible any more. Anyway, who would play this move? Almost no
one in my opinion.
13...Ra6?! 14.f4! Rd6

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15.fxe5!! This is an extra tactical possibility. 15...Rxd1 16.Bxf7+ Kh8 17.Raxd1 Re7 18.Rf3+– Black has
no moves!; 13...g6? 14.Be2! Bg7 15.f4 Nc6 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.Bf3±

14.Rc1²

Go back to the test

Solution 3

19.Rd5!

This was the best move without a doubt. I cannot understand how I didn’t play this move. Maybe I

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miscalculated something.
a) 19.Qe1!? This would be the best move, according to the rule that the queen should always be close to
the defense. 19...Bc6 20.Rd4 Qh3 21.Qf1 Qxf1+ 22.Bxf1 Bxa4 23.bxa4 White is better but I’m not sure
if the endgame is won.;
b) 19.Qxc7? Rxe3! 20.Qxd7 (20.fxe3 Rxg3+ 21.hxg3 Qxg3+=) 20...Rxe2 21.Qf5 I probably stopped
here. I threaten Qxg6 and the game should be over but... 21...Rf6 The initiative continues! 22.Qd5 Qh6
23.Rf1

Everything seems under control, once again, but... 23...Rexf2 24.Rxf2 Rxf2 25.Kxf2 Qf6+ 26.Kg2 Qxa1
27.Qd2 and the game is far from over. The engine says 0.00, but I would prefer White with the knight.

19.Rd5! Bc6

19...b6 20.Qd2 Bc6 21.Rd4! I probably didn’t see this. These kind of backward moves are not easy to
find when your king is getting mated! 21...Qh3 22.Bf1±

20.Rxe5 dxe5 21.Qxe5 Qh3 22.Bf1! Qg4

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Here White has several possibilities, but the best one is probably to close the h1–a8 diagonal with the
knight.

23.Nc3 Qf3 24.Nd5 Rf6 25.Qb2!±

Another backward move!

Go back to the test
Solution 4

It’s not good to be lazy in chess. This is the deciding factor, many times. You make a move, thinking that
it is good enough, but you lose the advantage. The laziness continues for a few moves and, all of a
sudden, after 4 moves, you’ve lost a significant part of your advantage. Sounds familiar, right? Because

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of that, we should calculate when it is necessary!

11.f3!

Don’t be scared of a simply check! If this move is good, you should calculate the consequences and then
make it!

11.Be2?! Bxe2 12.Qxe2 I’m still better, but I’ve lost part of my advantage.

11.f3! Bd7

11...Qh4+?! This is the only thing that could annoy me. 12.g3 Nxf3+ 13.Kf2 Qg5 14.h3! That easy!
Some forcing moves and the problem is solved! 14...Nfe5!? To continue playing aggressively. 15.hxg4
Nxg4+ 16.Kg1+– Black doesn’t have enough compensation. If you found all this, bravo, you made a
great job!

12.Be2 Ng6 13.Nd5±

I keep my pair of bishops!!

Go back to the test
Solution 5

15.Nd5!

Yes, sometimes I make good moves, as well!

15...Qxc4 16.Qh5!

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This was the key move! I gave a pawn but suddenly all of my pieces are working together!

16...f5

16...Rac8? 17.f4 Ng6 18.Rf3! Followed by R h3 and mate!

17.f4

17.Nxc7 was simple, but I wanted more.

17...Nd7 18.Rf3 Rf7 19.Rg3 Ne7 20.Bxg7 Rxg7 21.Nxe7+ Kh8 22.Rxg7 Kxg7 23.Nxf5+ Kh8 24.Nd4

Here the position is completely winning. Anyway, have a look at the game till the end. I didn’t lose a
single bit of my advantage.

24...Rg8 25.Qb5 Nb6 26.Qf5!

The knight is worse on b6 because it cannot defend the kingside.

26...Nd5 27.g3!

After this move, the pressure on the g-file disappears. Now I will try to create threats on the kingside.

27...Qc5 28.Kf2 c6 29.e4 Nb6 30.Qf6+!

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Many people wou ld excha nge queens to make things easier, but please, if you can, mate him!

30...Rg7 31.Kg2 Qh5 32.Re1 Qf7 33.Qd8+ Rg8 34.Qxb6

Now you can stop studying the game, if you want! But if someone wants to check it till the end, be my
guest.

34...Qxf4 35.Nf5 Qd2+ 36.Qf2 Qd3 37.Qd4+ Qxd4 38.Nxd4 Re8 39.Kf3 Re5 40.Nf5 Rb5 41.Re2
Rb3+ 42.Kf4 Rd3 43.e5 dxe5+ 44.Kxe5 h5 45.Kf6 Kh7 46.Re7+ Kh8 47.Rxb7 Rd2 48.Kg6

1–0 (48) Salgado Lopez, I (2607)Dimitrov, P (2365) Chotowa 2010.

Go back to the test
Solution 6

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8...Bc5!

The bishop should be posted here, on the most active square!

a) 8...Bxc3+? 9.Nxc3± Don’t give your bishops up so easily!;
b) 8...Be7?! This would be very passive.

8...Bc5! 9.g3 0-0 10.Bg2

White is better, but Black has some activity!

Go back to the test

295
EXERCISES ON THE BLUMENFELD GAMBIT
A. Gurbanov
T. Kett
Baku, 09.09.2016

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 c5 3.d5 e6 4.c4 b5 5.dxe6 fxe6 6.cxb5 Bb7 7.e3 d5

REMEMBER! What was important in this position? Think and, if you don’t remember, you know what
to do!

8.b3?! Bd6 9.Bb2 Nbd7 10.Nbd2 Qe7 11.Qc2

White tried to get control of the e4- square.

11.Be2 This was the other option. We are somehow not in time for e4. 11...e5

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12.Nh4! I don’t like to make this kind of move, but sometimes it is necessary. (12.e4!? is very risky:
12...Nxe4 13.Nxe4 dxe4 14.Nd2 White is about to consolidate with Nc4, but Black has something to say
14...e3! A very important clearance sacrifice. Black ’s bishop is alive! 15.fxe3 Bxg2 16.Nc4 Bc7 17.Rg1
Qh4+ 18.Kd2 0-0-0 An extremely odd position. We have equal material, but everything else is
completely imbalanced! The game could follow 19.Kc1 Be4³ Black is more active, the pawn is hanging
on h2 and, believe it or not, Black’s king is safer! Nothing can attack it!) 12...g6 13.e4 c4! Black should
not allow White to maintain such good control of the c4-square. (13...dxe4 14.Nc4±) 14.0-0 Nc5!
15.bxc4 d4°

One more position in the Blumenfeld spirit! Black is two pawns down, but all the pieces are active! Black
threats to take on e4 and the knight on h4 is misplaced. The engine evaluates the position as equal, but in
a practical game I think that Black would have better chances!

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11...0-0

12.Bd3

12.Be2!? This is the best way, according to the engine, but I don’t like the position at all. 12...e5 13.e4
(13.Nh4 g6 14.e4 c4! This move should not anymore be a mystery. 15.0-0 c3! This is what I call full
activity! 16.Qxc3 Rac8 17.Qe3 Rc2! 18.Bc1 Bc5° All the black pieces are attacking something!) 13...c4!
14.0-0 Rac8! 15.bxc4 Nxe4 16.Nxe4 dxe4 17.Nd2 Nc5° Once again, Black is really active. ...Qg5 is
coming with ...e3 ideas.

12...e5! 13.e4 c4!

Seems like Timothy knew what he was doing! Bravo!

14.bxc4 dxe4 15.Nxe4

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 EXERCISE 1
Up to this point all the moves were quite logical and positionally sound. But chess is a bit more
complicated as, at some point, everything becomes extremely concrete.
We have three options and we should choose the most accurate one. So, now it’s time to train yourself!
1. Black plays 15...Bxe4.
2. Black plays 15...Nxe4.
3. Black plays 15...Bb4+.

Go to the solution

15...Nxe4 16.Bxe4 Bxe4 17.Qxe4

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 EXERCISE 2
Two options:
1. 17...Bb4+.
2. 17...Nf6.

Go to the solution

17...Nf6 18.Qe2 Bb4+

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 EXERCISE 3
Sorry for disturbing you, but again you have three options!
1. 19.Kd1 and then run away to c2!
2. 19.Kf1 hoping to find safety on the kingside.
3. 19.Nd2 pinning yourself.

Go to the solution

19.Kf1 e4 20.Nd4 Bc5 21.Nf5?

White made a mistake in a difficult position. 21.Kg1 was more stubborn.

21...Qd7! 22.Bxf6

22.Ne3 This was probably White’s idea, but after 22...Bxe3 23.Qxe3 Ng4 24.Qd4 Qe7 followed by
...Rad8 and ...Rxf2, White’s position collapses.

22...Qxf5 23.Bh4 g5! 24.Bg3 Rad8

Two pawns down but everything is active. Every Blumenfeld player wants this!

25.Kg1 Rd3 26.Rf1 e3 27.Rc1 Rd2 28.Qf3 Qd7

A great game played at an extremely high level, bearing in mind that neither were Grandmasters!

0–1

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 A. Riazantsev
T. Nyback
Plovdiv, 21.10.2010

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 b5 5.dxe6 fxe6 6.cxb5 a6 7.e3

Rather interestingly, Riazantsev plays like Karpov. “Indeed, many years ago Riazantsev was Karpov’s
second, from time to time, meaning that he helped him prepare for tournaments. As I don’t believe in
coincidences, I think it likely that they checked some of these positions together!

7...d5

Do you remember the important point?

8.bxa6 Bd6!

The pawn on a6 is not going to run away. Black first completes development, on the kingside.

9.Bb5+!

Very important! White is a pawn up and should try to exchange pieces. This is how to play against
Black’s initiative.

9...Bd7

9...Nbd7!? This was the other option, but it seems as though White is doing fine. 10.0-0 0-0 11.b3 Bxa6
12.Bxa6 Rxa6 13.Nbd2 Qa8 14.a4²

10.Bxd7+ Qxd7 11.0-0 0-0 12.b3 Nc6

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Riazantsev plays as a good pupil of Karpov, but here he allows Black some initiative.

13.Nbd2

13.Nc3! I like this the most. It prevents ...e5 completely and Black has no active counterplay.

13...e5!?

Black is looking to create complications, and he manages!

14.e4 Nd4!

White is still better, but at some point he should exchange on d4 and all the black pieces will look at the
enemy king. Very accurate calculation is needed.

15.Nxd4 exd4 16.exd5 Qf5 17.Nc4 Bxh2+!?

Now the show starts. The position looks dangerous for White, but that’s no reason to surrender yet!

18.Kxh2 Ng4+ 19.Kg3

19.Kg1? Qh5 and White should give up the queen to avoid getting mated.

19...Nxf2

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 EXERCISE 4
What to do as White? I’m not offering any options, this time!

Go to the solution

20.Qf3 Qg6+ 21.Kxf2 Rxf3+ 22.gxf3 Qh5

22...Rf8 23.a7 Qe4 24.f4 d3! 25.a8=Q Rxa8 26.Be3 Qxd5 27.Nd2 This was the best chance, for Black,
but I still prefer White.

23.Bf4 Rf8 24.a7 Qf7

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 EXERCISE 5
Imagine that you’ve spent a lot of time already, and the clock is running... You only have 2 minutes left
on the clock... What to do?

Go to the solution

25.Bd6 Qxf3+ 26.Kg1 Qg4+ 27.Kh2 Qh5+ 28.Kg1 Qg5+ ½-½

SOLUTIONS TO THE BLUMENFELD GAMBIT

Solution 1

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15...Bb4+!

When you have to choose between many options, make the one that forces the position the most!
Sometimes we decide to exchange some pieces, first, to clarify the situation in our heads. Indeed,
objectivity in chess and comfortable calculation are not always the best of friends! Generally, we have to
be a little bit practical.

15...Nxe4 16.Bxe4 Bxe4 17.Qxe4 was played in the actual game.

One rule that you should follow is that when you have the initiative it is not normally good to exchange
pieces, unless such exchanges lead to a forced win! The fewer the pieces, the more difficult it is to
develop the initiative!

15...Bb4+! 16.Kf1™

a) 16.Ned2? e4 gaining a piece.;

b) 16.Kd1? Rad8! One more piece into the attack. 17.Kc1 Nxe4 18.Bxe4 Bxe4 19.Qxe4 Nc5!°

16...Rad8!

This was the most difficult move, but only if you don’t know the basics of attacking chess. One of the
rules of attacking chess is to activate all of your pieces before striking!
16...Bxe4 17.Bxe4 Nxe4 18.Qxe4 Nf6? 19.Qxe5! Black probably didn’t want to allow this, hence he
took on e4, first.

17.a3 Ba5!

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Of course, Black doesn’t need to rush. The e1-square is under control. White doesn’t have an easy move.

18.Rd1 Nxe4 19.Bxe4 Bxe4 20.Qxe4 Nc5! 21.Qe2 Rxd1+ 22.Qxd1 Rd8!–+

The black pieces were put on the best squares. Then Black struck and obtained a winning position!
Go back to the test
Solution 2

17...Bb4+!

It was important to force the king to move, while he is on e1, so that he cannot later castle kingside or

307
queenside. It would be very strange if we had resources to mate the king on both sides. This may seem
obvious, but many people forget it!

17...Nf6 This was the game continuation.

17...Bb4+! 18.Kf1

18.Kd1? Nc5 19.Qxe5 Qf7! Followed by ...Rad8, and mate is coming.; 18.Ke2 Nc5 19.Qd5+ Kh8 It
does not look very sensible to place the king on the same line as the black queen.

18...Rae8!

Preparing ...Nf6. Once again, Black improves the position before striking!

19.Kg1

Black has every piece on the best squares, so it’s time to initiate active play!

19...Nf6 20.Qxe5 Qd7 21.Qd4 Qf5°

Three pawns down, but all the black pieces are active and White cannot coordinate the rooks. Black is
better.
Go back to the test
Solution 3

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19.Nd2!!

Very difficult but very good! The queen goes to the queenside but the difference compared with Kd1 is
huge for two reasons:
1. The knight on d2 will be close to help the defense.
2. The rooks are connected! Of course, being pinned is not nice, but sometimes the bad is needed for the
best!
a) 19.Kd1 Ba3! An extremely difficult move to find, so let me explain the concept: we are fixing the
Killing Zone, namely the queenside. Once the king goes to b2, the bishop is the only piece protecting
him! We exchange our bishop because he was pointing to the kingside, but now we are attacking the
queenside and don’t need him anymore! (19...e4?! This would be the normal move. 20.Nd4 e3 Black has
the initiative, as well, but White’s position is not so easy to crack.) 20.Bc3! I don’t know of a single chess
player who would be able to make such a calm move, simply controlling the b4-square. Only after a long
think could anyone arrive at this move, by a process of elimination. (20.Qxe5 Qb4! 21.Bxa3 Qxa3µ)
20...Rac8!° The engine evaluates the position close to equal, but it’s very hard to find the best moves for
White.;
b) 19.Kf1 was played in the game.

19.Nd2!! Rfd8 20.0-0-0!

The most normal move.

20.Bc1!? is another possibility, planning to castle kingside. 20...Qd7? (20...Bc3 21.Rb1 Rac8 22.0-0±)
21.0-0! Bxd2 22.Rd1+–

20...a6 21.Nb3±

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White has too many pieces on the queenside so mate cannot be delivered. It’s good to practise calculating
this kind of position. It can train you in the art of defense as well as attack!
Go back to the test
Solution 4

20.Qf3!

The best practical move! Sometimes, if we are up materially and defending, it’s a good idea to give some
material back to nullify the opponent’s initiative.
a) 20.Qe2 Not bad, but not good, either. It’s not a forcing move and allows two interesting possibilities.

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20...Ne4+ (20...Qg6+ 21.Kh2) 21.Kh2 Qxf1 22.Qxe4 Rae8 23.Qg4 h5! 24.Qxh5 Re1 25.Qg4 Rf2=;
b) 20.Rxf2 This is the best move, according to the engine, but not so practical in my opinion. 20...Qxf2+
21.Kh3! The only move! (21.Kh2? Qh4+ 22.Kg1 Rae8 23.Bd2 Qf2+ 24.Kh2 Re2–+) 21...Rf6! Black
keeps his options open. ...Raf8, ...Re8 and ...Rg6, three different moves. The more options you have the
more difficult it is for your opponent to defend. 22.Bd2!

A difficult to find calm move, but there are no killing ideas, in this position, and by playing this our rook
takes control of the a-file. 22...Qf5+ 23.Qg4 Qxd5 24.Re1² White is better and managed to consolidate.
But you would need to find the calm 22.Bd2, if you decide to play
20.Rxf2. I guess that Riazantsev didn’t see that, or maybe his intuition told him that giving the queen was
safer.

20.Qf3! Qg6+ 21.Kxf2 Rxf3+ 22.gxf3

White is better. Two pieces and a rook, if they are well coordinated, are normally good enough to outplay
a queen, in the long term.
Go back to the test
Solution 5

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25.Be5!

This is the computer move. I find it quite difficult to make.

a) 25.Bd6? White was probably short on time and lost all his advantage. 25...Qxf3+ 26.Kg1 Qg4+
27.Kh2 Qh5+ 28.Kg1 (28.Kg2 Qxd5+! This is the problem behind having the bishop on d6!)
28...Qg5+=;
b) 25.a8=Q!? This move is good enough. 25...Rxa8 26.Bg3 Rf8 27.Kg2 Qxd5 28.Rae1+– The white
pieces are very stable, and the advantage should be more than enough to win.

25.Be5! Qxf3+ 26.Kg1 Qg4+ 27.Kh2 Qh5+ 28.Kg2!

Now Black doesn’t have ...Qxd5!

28...Qg5+ 29.Bg3 Qxd5+ 30.Kg1! Ra8 31.Bb8!

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The rook is locked out of play and Black doesn’t have a perpetual check to save him. It’s only a matter of
time before White wins.
Go back to the test

313
EXERCISES ON THE VON HENNIG-SCHARA
GAMBIT
M. Esserman
T. Gareyev
Mesa, 01.06.2009

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 cxd4 5.Qxd4 Nc6 6.Qd1 exd5 7.Qxd5 Bd7

This is not the best move.

REMEMBER: What was the best for Black?

8.Bd2

White decides that the king will be better placed on the queenside. Strange logic, given that there are only
two pawns, on that side!

8...Nf6 9.Qg5 Be7!

There are other moves, but I like this one the most. Black gives up another pawn but speeds up his
development.

10.Qxg7 Rg8 11.Qh6 Qb6 12.0-0-0?

According to the engine, this is a terrible mistake. The king will be mated, there!

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12.e3 0-0-0° Rather amusingly, the funny engine assesses this as 0.00... Any way, it is surely better to be
Black, here!

12...0-0-0 13.f3 Be6 14.e4

EXERCISE 1
Black has many options. The position looks winning in many ways, but unfortunately, appearances can
be deceptive. Black should be accurate and find the best move. How should he proceed?

Go to the solution

14...Ne5

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 EXERCISE 2
Is there any defense for White in this position?

Go to the solution

15.Nh3 Rxg2! 16.Kb1

16.Bxg2? Nd3+ 17.Kc2 Qxb2#

16...Nxe4 17.Bxg2 Nxc3+

0–1

A. Braun
L. D. Nisipeanu
Germany, 05.04.2014

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 cxd4 5.Qa4+ Bd7 6.Qxd4 exd5 7.Qxd5 Nc6 8.Nf3 Nf6

REMEMBER! What was the refutation, here?

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9.Qd1 Bc5 10.e3 Qe7 11.a3!?

Interesting, but in my opinion not so accurate. I would like to castle, first. We will do it anyway!

11...0-0-0

11...0-0 12.Be2 Ne5!? is interesting as well, as you already know.

12.Qc2 g5

I don’t like this plan, but everybody plays it.

13.Be2 g4

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 EXERCISE 3
Difficult question: 14.Nh4 or 14.Nd2?

Go to the solution

14.Nd2

This was White’s choice in the game.

14...Kb8 15.b4 Bb6

15...Bd6!? seems more logical to me. 16.Bb2 Ne5 White needs to find some strange moves. 17.0-0
Rhg8!? with ideas involving ...Rg6–...Rh6 or ...h5. This position is not so easy for White to defend in a
practical game.

16.Nc4?

This move is so logical... but at the same time a mistake! The bishop is much better placed on c7 because,
from there, it attacks the kingside. The knight move is very aesthetic but not useful at all!
16.Bb2 h5 17.0-0 h4? (17...Ne5 18.Nce4 as well) 18.Nce4! This is the point! With the knight on d2, we
have control of the central squares.

16...Bc7 17.Bb2 Ne5!

Once again, all the pieces are working together. Now the compensation is real, and I even prefer Black!

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18.Nxe5 Bxe5 19.0-0 Rc8!

Before improving his pawns, Nisipeanu improves all of his pieces.

EXERCISE 4
What to do as White? Note: This one is very difficult. Good luck!

Go to the solution

20.Rac1 h5 21.Rfd1

All the white pieces are on good squares, but they are ineffective!

21...g3!

Typical resource from the Sicilian!

22.f3

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 EXERCISE 5
How should Black play, now?

Go to the solution
a) 22.Bf3!? would be the typical, Scheveningen move, but after 22...gxf2+ 23.Qxf2 Ng4 24.Bxg4 hxg4
25.g3 Qe6 Black ’s pair of bishops compensate for the pawn.;
b) 22.fxg3 h4 23.gxh4? (23.Qd2! hxg3 24.h3 Rcd8 Black has a good initiative, but at least White is not
mated!) 23...Bxh2+! 24.Kxh2 Rxh4+ 25.Kg3 Qxe3+ 26.Kxh4 Qf4+ 27.g4 Rh8+ 28.Qh7 Rxh7# Mate!;
c) 22.hxg3 h4 23.gxh4 Rxh4 Mate will probably be delivered at some point on the h-file.

22...h4 23.h3 Bxc3 24.Bxc3 Ba4 25.Qxa4 Qxe3+ 26.Kh1 Rxc3 27.Rxc3 Qxc3

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White’s position looks terrible. The king is locked out forever and the black knight is planning to jump to
f4, at some point.

28.b5?

28.Bf1! White prevents ...Nd5. 28...Re8 29.Qa5! Now the queen enters the game. Rd1-d8 is coming.
29...b6 30.Qa6 It’s not so easy for Black to continue with an initiative, despite the bad position of the
white king.

28...Nd5!

Positional trick. The knight activates with decisive effect.

29.Qe4 Ne3 30.Rg1 f5 31.Qe7 f4 32.Bd3 Qc7 33.Qf6 Rd8 34.Be2 Nd5 35.Qxh4 Nc3 36.Bc4 Nd1
37.Re1 Qd6 38.Bf7 Rc8 39.Bd5 Nf2+ 40.Kg1 Nd3 0–1

This previous example is great. Against this gambit it’s possible to make normal moves and lose!
J. Kipper
M. Kuijf
Germany, 1998

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 cxd4 5.Qa4+ Bd7 6.Qxd4 exd5 7.Qxd5 Nc6 8.e3 Nf6 9.Qd1 Bc5
10.Nf3 Qe7 11.Be2 0-0 12.0-0 Rfd8 13.a3 Ne5 14.b4 Bd6

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Both players played normal moves.

EXERCISE 6
What to do as White?
1. 15.Bb2. 2. 15.Qc2. 3. 15.Nd4. Try to make the decision in less than 2 minutes!

Go to the solution

15.Qc2 Rac8 16.Bb2 Nfg4!

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Black immediately puts pressure on the kingside.

EXERCISE 7
How to defend, 17.h3 or 17.g3?

Go to the solution

17.g3

EXERCISE 8
Black needs to continue playing with his initiative. Is the next move the best one? Otherwise, suggest
one!

Go to the solution

17...Qf6 18.Nxe5 Bxe5

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 EXERCISE 9
White is under a lot of pressure. ...Bxc3 is a threat. What to do now?

Go to the solution

19.Rac1 Nxh2 20.Kxh2

EXERCISE 10

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Black played 20...Qh4+. Was there something better?

Go to the solution

20...Qh4+ 21.Kg1 Bxg3 22.fxg3 Qxg3+ 23.Kh1 Qh3+ 24.Kg1 Qg3+ 25.Kh1

Black was not happy with the draw!

25...Rc6!? 26.Bh5 Rh6 27.Qh2 Qg5?!

27...Bc6+! This, first, was more accurate. The point is that White doesn’t manage to exchange queens, as
in the game. 28.e4 Qg5 29.Bxf7+ Kh8 30.Rc2 Rxh2+ 31.Rxh2

Normally, when you have a queen against other pieces, it’s best to exchange the rooks. It will then be
easier for the queen to attack the other pieces! 31...Rd2! 32.Rxd2 Qxd2 33.Bh5 h6 The engine claims that
the position is completely equal. It probably gives this evaluation because Black has a perpetual check.

28.Ne4! Qxh5 29.Qxh5 Rxh5+ 30.Kg1 Bc6 31.Rcd1 Re8 32.Rf4 f5

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Black continues to exert pressure.

EXERCISE 11
You are White, and you managed to defend for long time. You have 1 minute left on your clock and you
have to decide what to do with your knight! 60, 59, 58...

Go to the solution

33.Nf2 Rg5+ 34.Kf1 Rxe3 35.Nd3 Rh3 36.Rf2 Bb5 37.Ke2 Rgg3 38.Rc1 Re3+ 39.Kd2 Rxd3+ 40.Kc2
Rdf3 41.Rxf3 Rxf3 0–1

SOLUTIONS TO THE VON HENNIG-SCHARA GAMBIT

Solution 1

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14...Rg6!

Black has so many tempting moves that it’s not so easy to focus and find the best one. This can lead to
mistakes. When I was little someone told me a story about the Russians. Normally, they play calmly and
they look more or less relaxed. But when they have advantage they become wolves and look at the
position with ten eyes, in order to find the best continuation. I believe this is an overstatement, but still,
applying that philosophy would surely improve anyone’s result a lot!

15.Qe3

15.Qf4 Bd6 16.Qe3 Bc5 would be the same.

15...Bc5!

This was quite easy to find. We simply make use of the unprotected knight on g1.

16.Qe1 Bf2! 17.Qe2 Bxg1–+

Go back to the test

Solution 2

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Black has just made a good-looking move. When defending there is a question we should always make to
ourselves: WHAT IS MY OPPONENT’S IDEA? We forget to ask this so many times... But if we want to
defend well, we have to ask it.

15.Kb1!

That easy! Black’s threat was ...Rxg2 followed by ...Nd3. In the game, White overlooked this or, maybe,
he was so depressed about his position that he thought that nothing could help. But after this move,
Black’s advantage completely disappears! Black cannot create concrete threats.

15...Nd3

15...Ba3 16.Na4! Qd4 17.bxa3 Qxa4 18.Rc1+ Kb8 19.Qxf6! White has managed to defend. The queen is
coming back into play!

16.Bxd3 Rxd3 17.Nge2 Rxg2 18.Ka1²

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White managed to coordinate his pieces and is now a pawn up. Black made only one bad move, but
everything changed as a result! In checking gambits I’ve come to realize that the price of each move is
much higher than in non-gambit variations. This is why I want you to pay close attention!
Go back to the test
Solution 3

14.Nh4!

This is my favorite idea, although almost no one chooses this move.

14...Kb8 15.b4 Bd6 16.Bb2 Ne5

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I’m playing the same moves, but the difference with the previous line is huge.

17.Nf5! Bxf5 18.Qxf5 Ng6

Now, one of my favorite ideas:

19.0-0-0!

White has a perfect Sicilian with an extra pawn!

Go back to the test
Solution 4

This position is very interesting. Black threatens ...Bxc3 and ...Ne4. There are many ways to prevent this,
but only one offers White an advantage.

20.Rfd1!

A very difficult move to discover. How to find it? To understand it you’ll need to follow a few steps:
1. Understand the threat of your opponent.
2. Don’t only think about defensive moves! This is the key! Many times, when our opponent has some
active idea, we get scared and we try to prevent his idea. But this is not the right approach, here! We
should think: What move can I make that improves my position and prevents their threat?
3. Choose some candidate moves and you will likely find the best one!

20...Bxc3

20...h5 21.Qd2! Now White is ready to exchange pieces on the d-file. 21...Rcd8 (21...Bc6 22.Nb5! This

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is the other way to exchange pieces. 22...Bxb2 23.Qxb2 h4 24.Qd4! Bxb5 25.Bxb5± White’s queen is
very well centralized, making it impossible for Black to mate White.) 22.Nd5 Nxd5 23.Bxe5+ Qxe5
24.Qxd5 Qxd5 25.Rxd5±

21.Bxc3 Ne4

It seems as though Black has managed to play all the moves he wanted, but now we will see the point of
White’s play.

22.Rxd7! Qxd7 23.Qxe4 Rxc3 24.Qe5+!

The whole idea is not so easy to find from a distance. But if you think about, chess is all about basic
tactics!
Go back to the test
Solution 5

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Here Black didn’t realize that he was winning by force. I guess he stopped his calculations too early, a
mistake that we should avoid! As long as we have forcing moves, we should calculate till the end!

22...Bxc3!

22...Ng4!? with the same idea.

22...Bxc3! 23.Bxc3 Qxe3+ 24.Kh1 Ng4!!

This was the point. We should always check moves which threaten mate!

25.fxg4 hxg4

Again, mate is coming with ...Rxh2.

26.Bxh8 Rxh8 27.Qc7+ Ka8 28.h3 gxh3

Mate is coming on the next move!

Go back to the test
Solution 6

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15.Bb2!

The best move. I know, it is difficult to leave the queen on the d-file, but this doesn’t seem to be a
problem here.
a) 15.Nd4?! One of the ty pical moves. Unfortunately, Black develops a very strong initiative. 15...Rac8
16.Bb2 Neg4! The black pieces are working together in great fashion! White should be careful to
maintain the balance.

17.Bxg4 Nxg4 18.h3 Nh2 19.Re1 Bxh3! 20.gxh3 Qg5+ 21.Kh1 Qh4 22.Kg2! Qg5+ Draw!;
b) 15.Qc2 happened in the game and is not so good.

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15.Bb2! Rac8?! 16.Rc1!

White continues playing with nerves of steel!

16...Nfg4 17.g3!±

Now the kingside is better protected, thanks to the queen on d1.

Go back to the test
Solution 7

How to arrange our pawns? What a difficult question! There are very few players in the world who
usually manage to place them correctly. And here the question is not easy to answer, but let’s have a

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closer look, as it will help us better to understand the key ideas in this kind of middlegame.

17.h3

In my opinion, this is the best practical chance, although it is difficult to say what is best! Instead, 17.g3
was played in the game.

17...Nxf3+ 18.Bxf3

There are three different ways to continue the attack, all of them are interesting!

18...Qe5

a) 18...Nh2 19.Bxb7 Rc7 20.Rfd1! Rxb7 21.Qe2

A very strange position. For now, White is piece down, but Black ’s knight is trapped on h2, and f4 is
coming. The game could continue 21...Bc6 22.f4 Rbd7 23.Qf2 (23.Kxh2? Bxf4+ 24.exf4 Qxe2
25.Nxe2 Rxd1–+) 23...Nf3+ 24.gxf3 Bc7 Black is two pawns down, but the white queen is very poorly
placed. The engine says 0.00, but I can assure you that I would prefer Black!;
b) 18...Bh2+!? This is the positional approach. 19.Kh1 Bb8

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 Now Black wants to play ...Qd6. 20.Bxg4 Bxg4 21.Qe4! Of course, White tries to exchange queens.
21...Qxe4 22.Nxe4 Bf5² White is slightly better thanks to the extra pawn, but Black has the pair of
bishops and very active pieces. This should be enough for a draw.

19.g3 Nxe3!

Of course, I didn’t consider retreating!

20.fxe3 Bxh3 21.Qf2! Rxc3 22.Bxc3 Qxc3

Black is the exchange down but White’s kingside is extremely damaged. The g3 pawn will suffer, in the
future. Plus, Black has no weakness. So, besides the deficit in material, the position is more or less

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balanced.
Go back to the test
Solution 8

17...Qf6!

Yes, he played the best move in the game!

a) 17...Bc6 18.Nd4! The knight on d4 will defend everything.;
b) 17...h5?! This is too slow. 18.Rad1 Nxf3+ 19.Bxf3 h4 20.Qe4! Once again, the queen in the center
means that there is no mate!
Go back to the test
Solution 9

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I have hopefully already successfully taught you how to think in this kind of situation. If you have learnt
that fast, I’m proud of you!

19.Rad1! Bxc3?

19...Nxh2! This is the best chance. 20.Kxh2 Qh4+ 21.Kg1 Bxg3 22.fxg3 Qxg3+ 23.Kh1 Qh3+ 24.Kg1
and Black should give perpetual.

20.Rxd7! Bxb2 21.Rxd8+ Rxd8 22.Bxg4 Bxa3 23.Qa4 Qb2 24.Qxa7 Qxb4 25.Bf3²

The position is a draw, but Black should still suffer a little bit longer.
Go back to the test

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 Solution 10

20...Bf5!

Once again, we should calculate the forced moves in this position. Do it all of the time!

21.e4 Rxc3

21...Qh4+ 22.Kg1 Bxg3 23.fxg3 Qxg3+ 24.Kh1 This is good only for a draw.

22.Bxc3 Qh4+ 23.Kg1 Bxg3 24.fxg3 Qxg3+ 25.Kh1 Qh4+ 26.Kg1 Bxe4!

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This is the difference! Now White should give up the queen.

27.Qxe4 Qxe4µ

Black will start slowly pushing the pawns on the kingside and probably manage to annoy White a little
bit. Although the engine is very happy with Black, one should be extremely careful in this kind of
position. If White’s pieces coordinate, everything could go wrong! I have already mentioned before, in
this book, how I once made a draw against Movsesian in a winning position. It’s time to show you how to
win, because the same topic is connected to this game!
Go back to the test
Solution 11

33.Ng3

33.Nf2? This was the game and White lost easily.

33.Ng3 Rh3

I’m sure that White didn’t realize he had the following resource.

34.Nf1!!±

The knight defends absolutely everything! Remember this, when you are defending: if you put a knight
close to your king, you can protect almost everything. Think about it:
1. The e3 pawn is protected.
2. The invasion squares g3 and h2 are protected, as well.

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3. The first rank is protected! Black cannot take our rook.
Go back to the test

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Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1 10
CHAPTER 2 69
CHAPTER 3 123
CHAPTER 4 136
CHAPTER 5 195
CHAPTER 6 217
CHAPTER 7 251
CHAPTER 8 260
WHY THIS CHAPTER IS IMPORTANT 277

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