Andrew Soltis - The Fighting French PDF

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Copyright ©1993
Andrew Soltis
·
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Authors: Andrew Soltis

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Table of Contents 3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
INTRODUCTION 5
Illustrative Games 5
Boleslavsky-Ufimtsev, Omsk 1942 5
Estrin-Nikitin, USSR 1957 8
Kaplan-Bronstein, Hasting 1975-76 10
CHAPTER ONE 15
Alternatives to 6 Bxf6
1 e4, e6 2 d4. d5 3 Nc6,. Nf3 4 B g5. dxe4
5 Nxe4, Be7
(a) 6 Nc3 16
(b) 6 Nxf6ch 17
(c) 6 B d3 19
{d) 6 Ng3 20
(NOTE: 6 B xf6 will be the main line and covered
in Chapter Two)
Illustrative Games
(1) Najdorf-Guimard, Mar del Plata 1945 21
(2) Margoulis-Kniajer, 19 1 1 23
CHAPTER TWO 26
Seventh Move Choices
1 e4, e6 2 d4, d5 3 Nc3, Nf6 4 Bg5, dxe4
5 Nxe4, Be7 6 Bxf6, gxf6!
W7�! n
007� �
(c) 7 Qd2 31
007� �
(e) 7 Bc4 36
(f) 7 Ne2 37
CHAPTER THREE 38
The Sharp 7 ... f5
1 e4, e6 2 d4, d5 3 Nc3, Nf6 4 B g5, dxe4
5 Nxe4, B e7 6 Bxf6, gxf6 7 Nf3, f5
(a) 8 Ned2 40
(b) 8 Ng3 (NOTE: 8 Nc3 in next chapter) 41
4 The Fighting French
Illustrative Game 44
(3) V. Ivanov-Danielian, Moscow 199 1 44
CHAPTER FOUR 46
Main Line 7 ... f5 8 Nc3
1 e4, e6 2 d4, d5 3 Nc3, Nf6 4 Bg5, dxe4
5 Nxe4, Be7 6 Bxf6, gxf6 7 Nf3, f5 8 Nc3, B f6
9 Qd2, c5
(a) 10 0-0-0 48
(b) 10 dxc5 50
(c) 10 Bb5ch 51
(d) 10 d5! 53
Illustrative Games
(4) Liberzon-Botvinnik, Moscow Team Ch 1966 55
(5) Sax-Andersson, Reggio Emilia 1988-89 58
CHAPTER FIVE 62
The Old Main Line I
1 e4, e6 2 d4, d5 3 Nc3, Nf6 4 Bg5, dxe4
5 Nxe4, Be7 6 Bxf6, gxf6 7 Nf3, b6
(a) 8 g3 63
(b) 8 B d3 64
(c) 8 Bb5ch 67
(d) 8 c4 (NOTE: The Main line 8 Bc4 in 69
final chapter)
Illustrative Games
(6) Hellers-Andersson, Haninge 1989 71
(7) Ernst-B arges, Tallinn 1989 74
(8) Bagasic-Padevsky, Sofia 1979 78
(9) Byshev-Boleslavsky, Soviet Ch. 1956 81
( 10) Izvozchikov-Vekshankov, Moscow 1977 84
CHAPTER SIX 87
The Old Main Line II
1 e4, e6 2 d4, d5 3 Nc3, Nf6 4 Bg5, dxe4
5 Nxe4, Be7 6 Bxf6, gxf6 7 Nf3, b6 8 Bc4
Illustrative Games 92
(1 1) Klovan-Petrosian, Soviet Ch. 1975 92
(12) Ljubojevic-M. Furevich, Amsterdam 199 1 96
Introduction: The Fighting French 5
INTRODUCTION
There are many ways of counterattacking after 1 e4, and in recent
years the preference has been for such naturally aggressive openings as the
Sicilian, Pirc and Modern Defenses, and the Winawer Variation of the
French. But there are several fighting defenses that are out of fashion and
forgotten simply because ... they are unfashionable.
One that deserves more attention, particularly in the ranks of

amateur and aspiring players, is the Burn Variation of the French. Amos
Bum's intention when he began experimenting with 1 e4, e6 2 d4, dS 3
Nc3, Nf6 4 BgS, dxe4! ? a century ago was to find an improved version of
the Rubinstein French (3...dxe4). by luring White's Bishop at move four to
gS, Black was able to force either a retreat at move six or an exchange of
minor pieces that eases Black's game.
The Burn Variation is a relatively simple variation to play since

after gxf6 Black knows he will most likely post his Queen at c7 and cas
.••
tle Queenside. This appeals to players who like the French Defense but
don't want the constant obligation of defense. Instead, with a half-open g
file and control of long diagonals ranging from b7 to g2 and c7 to h2,
Black has reason to be aggressive. Suddenly, it's the Fighting French.
BOLESLAVSKY -UFIMTSEV
Omsk 1942
1 e4 e6
2 d4 dS
3 Nc3 dxe4
The Burn is sometimes called the Delayed Rubinstein Variation

and in this case we get a true Rubinstein. But this game bears a close re
semblance to the Burn line that we recommend, except that it is a Knight,
not a Bishop that White surrenders on f6.
4 Nxe4 Nf6
5 Nxf6ch gxf6! ?
6 Nf3 b6
7 Bb5ch c6
8 Bc4 Ba6?!
6 The Fighting French: Introduction
9 Bb3?
With the simple 9 Bxa6 White obtains a fine game. Generally it is

White who wants to exchange off these Bishops because of the vari ous
light-squares that he can later exploit (a6, for example).
Here White has a curious idea of preparing d4-d5 with a B ishop

on b3 - and with Kingside castling. But in the main lines of the 6 gxf6
.•.
Bum Variation, White's King is much better placed on the Queenside.
9... Qc7
10 c4 Nd7
1 1 0-0?! 0-0-0
12 Qe2 Bd6
The opening so far may not seem much like a Bum Variation, but
the diagram reveals certain similarities:
Black castles Queenside in both cases and prepares to use the g
file. His Queen, with the help of his Bishop, can attack h2. And he can
open the center with c6-cS.
•••
13 a4 Rhg8
14 aS cS
15 axb6 Qxb6
16 Be3 Bb7!
17 dxcS NxcS
18 Bd l Rg4!
This is a good way to double Rooks (compared with 18. . Rg6 19

.
Nh4). Black i s beginning to think ambitiously, with sacrifices looming on

g2 or, after g2-g3, on g3.
19 Qd2 Ne4!
20 QaS Rdg8!
The first of a series of wonderful shots. It is based on 21 Bxb6,

Rxg2ch 22 Khl, Nxflch ! ! 23 Bxf2, Rxh2 mate.
21 Net Rxg2ch!
22 Nxg2 Nd2!
8 The Fighting French : Introduction
Another hammer blow which clears the long diagonal: Now 23

Bxb6, Rxg2ch 24 Kh1, Rxh2ch 25 Kg1, Rh1 mate.
White has no way of slowing the attack ... except to block the b7-
g2 diagonal with the feeble:
23 QdS! ? Bxd5
24 cxdS Qxb2
25 Bxd2 Qxa1
26 Bf3 Bxh2ch!
White resigns.
While Black has chances to open the center favorably with c6-
...
c5 and sometimes even e6-e5, White looks towards the d4-d5 break.
..•
Since all these moves may lead to the exchange of White's d-pawn, the
prime difference lies in timing. White wants d4-d5 when Black is unpre
pared for it, such as when the long diagonal is vulnerable or Black is un
castled.
For example:
ESTRIN-NIKITIN
U.S.S.R. 1 957
1 e4 e6
2 d4 d5
3 Nc3 Nf6
4 Bg5 dxe4
5 Nxe4 Be7
This is the preferred form of the Bum Variation we recommend.

White should take on f6 if he has any hope of advantage, after which
6 gxf6! ? significantly sharpens the position.
•.•
6 Bxf6 gxf6
7 g3 fS
8 Nc3 c6?
This and Black's next move are too passive, although for many
years they were routinely- and successfully- played by masters (e.g. 9 Bg2,
b6 10 Nge2, Bbl 11 Nf4, Qd6 followed by . . Ndl and . 0-0-0).
. . .
The intent of 8 c6 is, of course, to stop d4-d5. The drawback? It

...
doesn't do what it is intended to do.
9 Bg 2 b6
10 dS!
The advance is structurally bad for Black since it exposes his e6-
pawn to attack and the f7 square behind it. Black cannot afford the crip
pled pawn structure that results from 10 exd5 1 1 NxdS or the loss of
... -
material after ll cxdS 1 2 BxdS.

...
Now White obtains a wonderful outpost square at d4 and targets

at c6 and e6.
10••• Bb7
1 1 dxe6 Qxd 1 ch
12 Rxd1 fxe6
1 3 NbS! Na6
14 Nd4!
Rolf Schwarz points out the inferior variation 14 Nd6ch, Bxd6 1 S

Rxd6, Ke7 and now 16 Bxc6, Kxd6 17 Bxb7 ends u p favoring Black after
17 Rab8 18 Bxa6, bS! 19 c4 (else .Rb6), bxc4 20 Bxc4, Rxb2 21 Kfl,
••• ..
Rc8.
14... Bf6
1 S Nxe6 Bxb2
1 6 Ne2 Ke7
17 N6d4
This assures White of winning at least a pawn, as both fS and c6

now hang.
17 ••. Kf6
18 Nxc6 Bxc6
19 Rd6ch ! Kg7
20 Rxc6 Rhe8
21 Bf3 Rad8
22 0-0
A little late to be castling, but perfectly OK here. The Bishops of

opposite color will only be significant if B lack can mount as much pressure
against c2 and a2 as White can against fS and h7.
22 ••. Re7
23 Nf4 Kh8
24 NdS Red7?
This shortens what was virtually a lost game anyway. After

24 Rt7 25 a4!, Nc5 25 aS White makes obvious progress.
•..
But now White has a winning combination that leaves him three
pawns up.
25 Nxb6! axb6
26 Rxb6 Bd4
27 Rxa6 f4
28 Kg2! fxg3
29 hxg3 Resigns
On the other hand, Black has certain natural strength, beginning

with his dark-squared Bishop. White loses some of his control over the
dark squares because of the exchange of his Bishop on f6. If he allows his
strong point at d4 to collapse early on, White may be headed towards a
dark-square disaster.
Case in point:
KAPLA N-BRONSTEIN
Hastings 1975-76
1 e4 e6
2 d4 d5
3 Nc3 Nf6
4 Bg5 dxe4
5 Nxe4 Be7
6 Bxf6 gxf6
7 Nf3
7 ••• Nd7
The most active plan here is 7 f5 followed by attacking the d

...
pawn with Bf6. A reasonable alternative, 7 b6, is explored towards the

••• ..•
end of this book. Too passive is the third natural idea 7 c6.
..•
The text carr ies with it a number of ideas such as the shift of the
Knight to f8 and then g6 followed by Kingside castling . Bronstein has a
,
different idea.
8 Qd2 cS
9 dS fS! ?
A similar position (8 Bc4, c5 9 d5) i s known to result in a Black

disadvantage following 9 Nb6 10 BbSch, Bd7 1 1 Bxd7ch, Qxd7 12 d6! .
•••
Black's sharper ninth move should now be answered by 10 Nc3, eS 1 1 0-0·

0.
10 dxe6? fxe4!
1 1 exd7ch Qxd7!
I n th e endgame, Black's Bishops more than compensate for any

weak squares.
12 Qc3 0-0
l3 Nd2 QfS
14 0-0-0! Qxf2
15 Nxe4 Qf4ch
16 Nd2
This turns out to be a fatal pin, from which White never recovers.
16... Bg4
17 Ret Bg5
18 Bd3 Rae8
19 Refl Qe3
20 h3 Be2!
Now 21 Bxe2, Qxc3 and 22 ... Rxe2 would win in the same man
ner as the game.
21 Rf5 Bh6
22 Bxe2 Qxc3
23 bxc3 Rxe2
24 Rd5 Rxd2!
Leading to what is usually (and mistakenly) called "Zugzwang".

14 The Fighting French: Introduction
2 5 Rxd2 Rd8
26 Rdl c4!
White resigns
When he runs out of pawns moves, White will have to move his
King and loses a Rook. A devastating illustration of the White's vulner
ability on the dark squares.
In our analysis of specific lines, we'll consider the Fighting French

in this sequence:
Chapter One: Alternatives to 6 Bxf6

Chapter Two: Seventh Move Choices
Chapter Three: The Sharp 7 f5 ...
Chapter Four: Main Line 7 f5 ...
Chapter Five: The Old 7 b6 ...
Chapter Six: Main Line 7 b6 ...

Chapter One: The Fighting French 15
CHAPTER ONE
Alternatives To 6 Bxf6
A major advantage of the B um Variation is that it is relatively
forcing once White has played 4 Bg5. Black can lead matters into our main
lines of Chapters Four and Six because diversions by White generally lead
to quick equality or to complex, double-edged positions in which Black's
chances are no worse than White's.
1 e4 e6
2 d4 d5
3 Nc3 Nf6
4 Bg5 dxe4
This was Burn's improvement over Akiba Rubinstein's favorite
capture, dxe4 at move three. The Rubinstein line can transpose into the
••.
Bum - but only if White cooperates (3 . dxe4 4 Nxe4, Nf6 and now instead
..
of 5 Nxf6ch!, 5 Bg5 transposes).

5 Nxe4
Too cooperative is 5 Bxf6 after which 5 Qxf6 6 Nxe4, Qh6 is
.••
one good continuation. However we prefer something more consistent with

subsequent chapters: 5 gxf6 6 Nxe4, f5! 7 Ng3, c5 or 7 Nc3, Bg7 ! as in
...
Illustrative Game 1 and 7 Nc5?, b6 as in Game 2.

5... Be7
By unpinning the Knight, Black makes a threat and forces White

into either a retreat, or a dubious sacrifice or exchange of pieces. We'll
consider (a) 6 Nc3, (b) 6 Nxf6ch, (c) 6 Bd3, (d) Ng3 and, or course, 6
Bxf6, our main line.
(a) 6 Nc3
6Nc3
This strange move has one goal, to avoid an exchange of pieces,

but little else to recommend it. The Knight is misplaced on c3, denying
White the opportunity to support his center with c2-c3.
Unless White can use the Knight to raid the Queenside with NbS
later on - or support a well-timed d4-dS - Black should have no difftculty
in equalizing.
6 ..• 0-0
B lack could also play 6... cS 7 dxcS, QaS immediately.
7Nf3 Nbd7
This prepares 8... cS and if 9 dxcS, then 9 ... NxcS. On the natural 8
Bd3, cS 9 Qe2 or 9 0-0, Black can respond 9 c xd4 10 Nxd4, NcS with a
.•.
good game.
8 Be2 cS!
After this, Black has few problems . White's usual lead in devel
opment in the French does not exist here, thanks to White's sixth move.
Note that 9 dS,NxdS! costs White a pawn (10 Bxe 7, Nxel).
9 0-0 b6
10 Qd2 Bb7
We are following Botvinnik-Rauzer, Soviet Championship

1929, which led to a draw after 11 Rad1, NdS!? 12 Ne4, h6 13 Bxe7,
Qxe7 14 c4, NSf6 15 Nc3 (adhering to his sixth move policy), Rad8! 16
dS, exdS 1 7 cxdS, Qd6. White's dS-pawn is as much as weakness as it is a
strength.
Since 6 Nc3 loses time, we turn our attention to . ..

(b)
6 Nxf6ch
(After 1 e4, e6 2 d4, dS 3 Nc3, Nf6 4 Bg5, dxe4 5 Nxe4, Be7)
6 Nxf6ch
This natural-looking move is faulty because it leads to an ex

change of too many minor pieces.
6.•• Bxf6
Now 7 Be3?!, c5 would only help Black out.
7 Bxf6 Qxf6!
True, White's slight spatial edge remains - as does the trouble

some Bishop at c8. But with an e xtra pair of pieces off the board, Black's
defensive chores are eased considerably. (There is no compensation for the
doubled pawns after 7 gxf6, as there is after 6 Bxf6, gxf6).
...
8 Nf3
An exampl e of how q ui ckly White can get the worst of it was

Mecking-Petrosian, San Antonio 1972: 8 c3, 0-0 9 Bd3, Nc6! 10 Qh5,
g6 1 1 Qf3, Qg7! 12 Ne2, e5 13 d5, Ne7 14 0-0, f5 with excellent pros
pects (15 Bc4, Kh8 16 Radl, f4! and ... Nf5-d6).
8... 0-0
18 T he Fighting French
9 c3
This tries to solve the problem of the d-pawn before Black pres
sures it with Rd8 and c7-c5. After 9 Bd3, c5! Black may even end up
... ...
with an edge (10 dxc5, Qxb2 or 10 0-0, cxd4 1 1 Nxd4 and then 1 1 Rd8!).
.. .
9 ... Nd7
And Black will equalize with e6-e5. Efforts to prevent that, such
as 10 Qe2, c5, lead to little.
Since White is losing the race for development in some of these

variations, we will now examine a developing move:
(c) 6 Bd3?!
(Af ter 1 e4, e6 2 d4, d5 3 Nc3, Nf6 4 Bg5, dxe4 5 Nxe4, Be7)
6 Bd3?!
This move has some tricky tactical possibilities, such as the sim
ple trap 6 Qxd4?? 7 BbSch and desperado possibilities after 6 Nxe4 7
... ...
Bxe7, Nxf2. But simple moves give Black at least equality.
6 ... Nxe4
7 Bxe7
The only move to avoid losing a piece.
Now 7 Nxf2 8 Bxd8, Nxd 1 is attractive, but 9 Bxc7!, Nxb2 10

•..
Be2 should work out well for White. Better is...

7... Qxe7!
8 Bxe4 Qb4ch
Why not? White's compensation is not visible after 9. Qxb2. The
..
best White can do is.

9 c3 Qxb2
10 Ne2 c6
And Black's Queen will re-emerge by way of Qa3-d6. Black has
..•
an extra pawn and White has little to show for it.

Finally, before moving on to our main line, we'll consider one
other retreat:
(d) 6 Ng3
(After 1 e4, e6 2 d4, d5 3 Nc3, Nf6 4 Bg5, dxe4 5 Nxe4, Be7)
6 Ng3
The Knight is not particularly well placed here, but at least its
better than on c3.
6... Nbd7
Black needs the liberation of his Queenside pieces that .•• c7-c5
provides. Again 6 . c5 7 dxcS, QaSch is possible.
. .
7 Nf3 cS
8 Bd3
Or 8 dxcS, QaSch 9 Qd2, Qxd2ch 10 Nxd2, NxcS with a level

endgame, as in Canai-Samisch, Karlsbad 1929.
8 .•• 0-0
Black can also achieve good play with 8 ...cxd4 and 9 Nxd4, NcS,
but the is simple enough.
text
9 0-0 b6
1 0 Qe2 Bb7
With rough equality, e.g. 11 Rad 1, Qc7 and 12 ...Rad8 (not 12
Nf5?, exf5 12 Qxe7, Rae8).
ILLUSTRATIVE GAMES
(1) NAJDORF-GUIMARD
Mar del Plata 1 945
1 e4 e6
2 d4 d5
3 Nc3 Nf6
4 Bg5 dxe4
5 Bxf6?! gxf6
6 Nxe4 f5!
7 Nc3
7... Bg7
Not 7 c5? because then White's last move is justified by 8 d5.

...
With the Bishop placed at g7 Black is virtually a tempo ahead of the posi
tion reached via 5 Nxe4, Be7 6 Bxf6, gxf6 7 Nf3, f5 8 Nc3, Bf6 and ana
lyzed in Chapter Four.
8 Nf3 c5
9 Bb5ch Bd7
10 Qd3 cxd4
1 1 Nxd4 0-0
12 0-0-0
The lines are drawn: Kings on opposite wings and minor pieces
ready to invade. Black now finds an easy road to equality despite allowing
White to plant a Knight on d6.
12••. Bxb5!
13 Ndxb5 Nc6
14 Qg3? Qb6
1 5 Rhe1 Rad8
1 6 Nd6 Nb4
17 Nc4
White sees that he's in trouble on the b2 square, which can be

exposed by 17 Re2, Nxa2ch ! or 17 Kb 1, NdS!.
17•.• Qa6
1 8 Na3 Rxd1ch
19 Rxd1 ReS
20 Kb1 h6!
Black can sacrifice on c3 whenever he wants - so he safeguards

his King position a bit first. To avert 21 Rxc3, White now gives up a
.••
pawn (21 NabS, Nxa2 22 Nxa2, Qxb5).
21 NabS Nxa2!
22 Rd3 Nxc3ch
23 Nxc3 Qc6
24 f4 bS
25 Qf2 b4
26 Nd 1 aS
27 Ne3 a4
The easiest way to destroy White's remaining strength on the dark

squares is 28 ... a3 followed by getting the Queen to the g7 -b2 diagonal.
28 Qd2 a3!
29 Qxb4 axb2
30 Rb3 Qa6!
31 Ra3 Qe2
32 Qd6 Rxc2 !
White resigns.
It's over because of 33 Nxc2, Qflch 34 Kbl, bl(Q) mate.
((2) MARGOULIS-KNIAJER
1911
1 e4 e6
2 d4 dS
3 Nc3 Nf6
4 Bg5 dxe4
5 Bxf6?! gxf6
6 Nxe4 fS
7 Nc5?
-t-t
-
B
The maneuver of the Knight via c5 to bj has been tried - even by

Bobby Fischer - in the Caro-Kann after 1 e4, c6 2 d4, d5 3 Nc3, dxe4 4
Nxe4, Bf5 5 Nc5. But here it only gives Black a free tempo that he can
really use. Besides, the Knight will not be well placed on b3.
7... b6
8 Nb3 Bb7
9 Nf3 Nd7
10 Bb5
A typical idea, tempting Black to block his Bishop's diagonal with

10 c6. Black's next move is a better way of meeting 1 1 Ne5, since it
.•.
would be met by 1 1 Qb4ch.

•••
1 0... Qe7!
1 1 c3 0-0-0
12 0-0?
An instructive error. Here the King is an obvious target at g1,

while White's own attacking prospects (a2-a4-a5) never get rolling. As the
game goes 13 a4 would have been met by 13 Ne5, as Black later plays.
..•
12... RgS
13 Nbd2 Bh6
14 Be2 Ne5!
Despite White's last two defensive steps, Black can play sacrifi
cally. Now, clearly 15 Nxe5, Rxg2ch will get White mated, so 15 g3 is
necessary. Perhaps White only counted on 15 dxe5, Bxd2.
15 dxe5? Rxd2!
16 Qe1 Rxg2ch!
17 Kxg2 Qg5ch
18Kh 1 Rxe2!
The point of the combination. White cannot sufficiently defend

the f3-Knight now.
19 Qxe2 Qg4
White resigns.
Black will emerge with a Queen and Bishop against two Rooks.
CHAPTER TWO
Seventh Move Choices

Few experienced players are going to diverge from our main line,
at least un til the seventh move. The Fighting French really begins after
6 ...gxf6.
1 e4 e6
2 d4 dS
3 Nc3 Nf6
4 BgS dxe4
5 Nxe4 Be7
6 Bxf6 gxf6!
The recapture with the B ishop on f6 also comes into fashion
periodically (during the early 1960s and again in the late 1980s) but the
text is more ambitious.
Following the doctrine of "Knights before Bishops!" theory has

endorsed 7 Nf3 as White's best move here. And it stands to reason:
White hasn't decided yet whether to put his 0-Bishop at c4 or d3
or g2 or to provoke a response with BbSch . Also, he may put his Queen
-
at d2 or e2, depending on circumstances. But there is no reason to make

that decision here.
Nevertheless, some alternatives to 7 Nf3 have been tried - and at
the highest level. We'll examine them here. They include: (a) 7 g4?!; (b) 7
g 3; (3) 7 Qd2; (d) 7 c 3; (e) 7 Bd4; (7) Ne2
Chapter Two: Seventh Move Choices 27
(a) 7 g4?!
7 g4?!
The Russian theoretician A. Suetin called this an "extravagant

continuation." The idea behind this is to get the benefits of 7 g3, with
additional restraining impact (directed against .f6-f5).
..
7 ••• Bd7!
Better here than 7 ... b6 since on c6 the Bishop will be protected

and he will be the player who will threaten the win of material along the
long diagonal. In contrast, 7 b6 8 Bg2 sets up a threat of 9 Nxf6ch and 10
•••
Bxb7.
(Although, it should be noted that Black is perfectly all right after

8. . c6 9 Ng3, Bbl 10 Qd2, Ndl 1 1 Qh6, Bf8 12 Qh5, Qcl 13 Nle2, Bgl
.
and . Nj8-g6 - as in Pantaleev-Padevsky, Bulgaria 1968).

. .
8 Ng3
Continuing in the restrictive manner of his seventh move. After 8

Bg2, Bc6 Black threatens 9 . f5 which is not easily met (9 Qe2, Qxd4).
..
Better is 8 Nf3.
8... Bc6
Now 9 f3!?, hS 10 gxh5, fS 1 1 Qd2, BgS 12 Qc3, f4 and Black's

advantage is apparent (Hector-Pytel, Nantes 1987) .
(b) 7 g3
(After 1 e4, e6 2 d4, dS 3 Nc3, Nf6 4 BgS, dxe4
5 Nxe4, Be7 6 Bxf6, gxf6)
7 g3
This has the endorsement of Bobby Fischer, who played it in a

197 1 candidates match game against Tigran Petrosian. The Bishop stands
well on this diagonal if White can push his d-pawn one square. And it fits
in perfectly if Black had intended an immediate Queenside fianchetto
(7 . b6?! 8 Bg2, Bb7 9 Nxf6ch and 10 Bxb7).
. .
7 ••• f5
This is consistent with our main line. The altemative of 7 Bd7

...
and 8 Bc6 has been under a cloud since Fischer-Minev, Havana 1966:
•••
7 Bd7 8 Nf3! , Bc6 9 Qe2, fS?! 10 Ned2, Bf6 1 1 c3 and now the hole at
...
eS began to count.
8 Nc3
In this situation, White does not have the choice of 8 Ng3 or 8

Ned2 that he does after 7 Nf3.
8... Bf6
9 Nge2
This was Fischer's preference. The other Knight move is faulty

because of 9 Nf3, cS! (also good is 9 .Nc6 and if 10 Ne2, then JO e5) 10
.. ...
dS, Bxc3ch!.
If White has to play 1 0 dxcS Black should equalize easily with

10 Qa5ch, e.g. 1 1 Qd2, Bd7 12 Nd4, QxcS (although in Psakhis-King,
•••
Dortmund 1989 Black lost the 13 0-0-0, Bxd4 14 Qxd4, Qxd4 15 Rxd4,
Nc6 16 Rh4 endgame)
9 •.• Nc6!
Here 9 c5 would allow 10 dS strongly. The text forces White's

•••
hand since he has no other way of defending d4.
10 d5 exdS
1 1 NxdS
After 11 QxdS Black is supposed to eq ual ize after giving up his

dark-squared Bishop, either from 1 1 ... Qxd5 12 NxdS, Bxb2! 13 Nxc7ch,
Kd8 14 Rb1, Kxc7 or 1 1 .Bxc3ch 12 Nxc3, Qe7ch.
..
However, 1 1 ...Be6, which involves a pawn sacrifice (12 Qb5, 0-0

13 Qxb7, Na5) looks more hopeful.
1 1 ... Bxb2!
12 Bg2 0-0
We are following Fischer-Petrosian, Candidates 1971 in which

Fischer offered the Exchange because of the sterility of 13 Rb1 , Bg7 14 0-
0, Ne7. But 13 0-0, Bxa114 Qxa1 offers White promising chances.
In the game cited, after 13 0-0, Bh8?! 14 Nef4, Ne5 15 Qh5 and
Rad1 Fischer obtained some compensation.
However, B lack's 13th move looks suspicious. With 13 Be5 and

.•.
14 Rb1, Na5 White has a harder time proving his pawn sacrifice was
justified. In Bellon-Marovic, Medina del Campo 1990, Black stood well
after 15 Qe1 , c6 16 Rd 1, ReS 17 Ndf4, Qc7 18 Nh5, Nc4 although he
later got into tactical trouble and lost.
Turning now to a more aggressive Queen move at the seventh

tum:
(c) 7 Qd2
(After 1 e4, e6 2 d4, d5 3 Nc3, Nf6 4 Bg5, dxe 4
7 Qd2
The Queen is positioned here to penetrate the Kingside at h6. But

experience has shown that the Queen may be more useful at e2 in support
of an exchange of Bishops (Ba6) after Black fianchettoes on b7.
Therefore, to exploit White's last move Black should continue:
7 ••• b6
One important difference here is that 7 .. fS 8 Nc3, Bf6 allows 9

.
dS, since 9...B xc3 10 Qxc3 and White's Queen attacks the h8-Rook. This
means Black may have to take time out for 8 c6 and if that is true, then
... -
his middlegame is not going to be as active as he would like.
Nevertheless, 8. c6 used to prove perfectly adequate (e.g. 9 g3, b6

..
10 Bg2, Bb7 1 1 0-0-0, Nd 7 12 Nh3!?) and now instead of 12 ... Qc7 13

Qe2, Nf6 14 Rhe1 a s i n Euwe-Flohr, match 1932, Suetin recommends
12 ... Nf6 and 13 ... Qd6 with sufficient chances.
Now 8 0-0-0, Bb7 hits the White Knight in an awkward way.

After 9 Qe3, fS! 10 Nc3, c6 1 1 Nf3, Nd7 Black obtains excellent chances
after ... Qc7 and Queenside castling .
For example, 12 Bd3, Qc7 13 Kb1 , f4 14 Qe2, 0-0-0 15 Rhe1,

Rdg8! 16 NeS, NxeS 17 dxeS, Rxg2 18 Qf3, RgS 19 Qxf4 and in Aronin
Krogius, U.S.S.R. 1958, Black found eq uality after 19 ... f6! 20 Qc4, RxeS.
8 BbSch
This is a common finesse, designed to provoke 8 ... c6 and block

the Bishop's b7-f3 diagonal.
It is too late to try 8 Bc4, with the idea of 9 dS, because Black
controls that square immediately with 8 ... Bb7. A better way of achieving
that push is 8 Be2, Bb7 9 Bf3. However, then Black preserves his two
Bishops as the expense of piece activity with 9 ... c6!.
White has not been able to demonstrate any superiority in such

positions, mainly because he doesn't have a good square for his g1 - Knight .
For example, 10 Nh3, Qc7 1 1 0-0-0, Nd7 12 BhS (so that 12 ... 0-0-0? 13
Bxj7), c5! 13 Rhe1 , cxd4 14 Nf4, 0-0! and Black stood well in L.
Bronstein-Fiorito, Buenos Aires 1990.
8... c6
9 Bc4 Bb7
10 0-0-0
Because White cannot continue Ba6xb7 - as he would in the

comparable variation 7 Nf3, b6 8 Bc4, Bb7 9 Qe2, 0-0 10 0-0-0 - B lack
should be able to castle Queenside without much risk and eventually
liberate his game with .. c6-c5.
.
In one recent example, Renet-Andersson, Cannes 1989, Black

tried the more adventursome 10 b5! ? and then 11 Be2, Nd7 12 Nf3, Qc7
•..
13 Rhe1, 0-0-0 in preparation for 14 ... a6 and 15 ... c5.
White tried to subvert that continuation with 14 Qh6, but was

repulsed by 14 ... Rdg8 15 g3, fS! 16 Ned2, Bf8 and 17 ...h5. Usually, a
better method of testing Black's idea is c2-c4, although 14 c4, bxc4 15
Bxc4, cS can get mutually sticky o n the c-file.
(d) 7 c3
(After 1 e4, e6 2 d4, cS 3 Nc3, Nf6 4 BgS, dxe4
7 c3
The pawn move is solid but rather uninspired. In return for

making d4 rock solid White gives up the opportunity at least temporarily
-
- of changing the position dynamically by d4-d5! .
7 ••• fS!
Once again Black activates his pieces with this move. It is

effective here even though the attack on the d-pawn with 8 Bf6 is not his
•.•
intended follow-up.
8 Ng3
Since c3 is now occupied, this is White's best bet. His other

Knight can be used to occupy eS.
8... cS
Immediately exploiting White's inability to respond 9 dS.
9 BbSch
With this, White seeks rapid mobilization of his Kingside. After 9

Nf3 Black should avoid the pinning 9 Nc6 10 BbS in favor of 9 . Qb6 ! .
... ..
9••. Bd7
10 Bxd7ch
There is nothing at all in the endgame of 10 Qa4, BxbS 1 1

QxbSch, Qd7 12 Qxd7ch.
10... Qxd7
1 1 Nf3 Nc6
Now if White accepts the isolated d-pawn (12 0-0, cxd4 13 cxd4,
Rd8) Black stands at least equal, and probably holds a slight edge . But
liquidating the d-pawn leads to an equal endgame.
12 dxcS Qxd lch

13 Rxd1 BxcS
And in Ljubojevic-Lautier, Manila 1990 White had to play

carefully to avoid disadvantage (14 0-0, Rd8 15 Rxd8ch, Kxd8! 16 Rd1ch,
Ke7) because of his centralized King and Bishop. White's Knights have
little scope in such a position.
(e) 7 Bc4
(After 1 e4, e6 2 d4, d5 3 Nc3, Nf6 4 BgS, dxe4
7 Bc4
This prepares to push the d-pawn, a thematic plan once Black has
doubled his f-pawns because d4-d5/ exd5 would leave his pawns in three
••.
islands.
7 ... b6!
Here this move appears most accurate and leads directly into our
later chapters. It is probably a little too risky to play 7 f5 8 Ng3 here
...
because of results such as 8 c5 9 dS or 8 Rg8 9 Nf3, Nd7 10 Qe2, Nb6

••• •..
1 1 Bb3, NdS 12 0-0-0, Nf4?! 13 Qd2 and Rhe1 (Minasian-Savchenko,

Belgrad 1989).
8 Nf3
This transposes into Chapter Six, which is not quite as

comfortable for Black as other main lines - but safe enough to be a favorite
of players like Tigran Petrosian and Salo Flohr.
White would love to play 8 dS but this walks into the pinning
8 Bb7 ! .
••.
Now that we've considered almost all the good moves, there i s at
least one dubious one that you may encounter:
(0 7 Ne2?!
(After 1 e4, e6 2 d4, dS 3 Nc3, Nf6 4 BgS, dxe 4
7 Ne2 ?!
There is little to recommend this move, which aims at bringing

the Knight to f4, a square on which it will become vulnerable.
7 ••• b6
The immediate 7 f5 is also good, but Black might as well wait

••.
until White has moved the e2-Knight that currently defends his d-pawn.
8 Nf4 fS
And here 7 ... Bb7 is also reasonable.
9 Ng3 Qd6!
10 Qf3 Nc6
Each Black move comes with tempo. We are following Zagory

ansky-Uftmtsev, Moscow 1949 which even led to a Black edge after 1 1 0-
0-0, Bb7 (since 12 d5 allows 12. . . Na5!).
CHAPTER THREE
The Sharp 7 ...f5

What has turned the quiet Bum Variation that was a favorite of
Salo Flohr in the 1930s into the aggressive weapon of the last several years
is the more antagonistic attitude towards the White center.
Instead of sitting back and waiting for White to open the position
inaccurately, Black decides that his Bishops should play a role in the early
middlegame. Characteristic of this attitude is Black's willingness to strike
with f6-f5. Yes, this move partially surrenders control of eS to White's
•••
minor pieces. But this tends to be balanced by the benefits that accrue to
Black's minor pieces, principally his B ishops.
1 e4 e6
2 d4 d5
3 Nc3 Nf6
4 Bg5 dxe4
5 Nxe4
The Knight assumes such a fine square here that it is natural for
B lack to begin considering means of ousting it. Note that the Knight does
not have such wonderful retreat squares, as we discover later in this
chapter.
5... Be7
6 Bxf6 gxf6
7 Nf3
Besides 7 . b6 and 7 f5 B lack has also tried quiet strategies such

.. •••
as 7 Nd7 8 Qd2, Nf8! ? with some success. Black can then develop con
•••
servatively with Bd7 and castle Queenside without b7 b6.

.•• ••• -
For example, 9 0-0-0, c6 10 Bc4, h5 1 1 h4, Qc7 12 Rhe1 , Bd7

13 NcS and Benjamin-Seirawan, U.S. Championship 1991 was drawn at
this point, although one wonders what would have happened in a real
game.
Chapter Three: The Sharp 7 f5 ..• 39
7 ••• rs
The most enterprising move at Black's disposal. Black clears away

one annoying minor piece from e4, but at the risk that eS will later be oc
cupied.
Here the most popular retreat is 8 Nc3, and we'll examine it in

greater detail in the next chapter. The choice of retreat square is so impor
tant to White's middlegame plan, that it's worth considering the alterna
tives in some detail here.
They include 8 Ned2 and 8 Ng3. There doesn't seem to be much

experience with 8 NcS!?, perhaps for the same reasons that led White into
trouble after 1 e4, e6 2 d4, dS 3 Nc3, Nf6 4 BgS, dxe4 5 Bxf6?!, gxf6 6
Nxe4, fS 7 NcS?! in Chapter One.
One difference is that in our current position, 8 NcS, b6 9 Nd3 is

possible, since the d4-pawn is protected. But 9 Bb7 is fine as long as
.••
Black doesn't fall for 10 NdeS, Nd7 ? 1 1 BbS.

(a) 8 Ned2
8 Ned2
From here the Knight is headed to c4 and then eS. The other
Knight, at f3, is not used to occupy eS but to support d4.
8 ... c5!
Better than 8 ...Bf6 9 Nc4, which fits in nicely with White's plan.
Also 8 .. b6 allows the useful finesse of 9 BbSch ! , so that 9. c6 1 0 Bd3
. ..
closes Black's b7-d5 diagonal and 9 ...Bd7 10 Bd3 misplaces the Bishop.
9 Bb5ch Bd7
10 Qe2 cxd4
Now 1 1 NeS, Qc7! is quite comfortable for Black (12 Ndf3?, Qa5
or 12 0-0-0, Bxb5 13 Qxb5ch, Nc6 14 f4, ReB 15 Ndf3, 0-0 with a fine
game for Black in Vitolinsh-Atlas, U.S.S.R. 1989).
11 Bxd7ch
Since Black's King is headed to the Kingside, 11 0-0-0 is appeal

ing (and if 1l. .. Qa5 then 12 Qe5!) . But 11 ... Nc6 appears more than ade
quate
1 1... Qxd7
12 QeS! ? 0-0
The position is quite even, according to GM Boris Gelfand and
the Soviet Master V. Atlas.
Chapter Three: The Sharp 7 . f5 .. 41
(b) 8 Ng3
(After 1 e4, e6 2 d4, d5 3 Nc3, Nf6 4 Bg5, dxe4
5 Nxe4, Be7 6 Bxf6, gxf6 7 Nf3, f5)
8 Ng3
This retreat was given an exclamation point by Nigel Short in his

1990 book on the French Defense. The Knight goes to this square in com
parable positions of the Caro-Kann Defense. Here the move carries some
additional logic, since on g3 the Knight will block the half-open g-file and
also be able to jump into duty at hS once Black plays ... Bf6.
There is also the little matter of Nxf5 after a sacrificial advance of

the White d-pawn. See next note.
8 ... cS!?
Much more aggressive than 8 Nd7 and 8 c6, which were once
... ...
routinely played.
The text, which has a long history - having been tested in the
Tchigorin-Salwe Match of 19 10 - was regarded as dubious until recently
because of:
9 Bb5ch
Now 9 ... Nc6 10 c3, cxd4 1 1 Nxd4 leaves Black will weak pawns
on both wings. (But White can't be too quick to exploit those pawns, e.g.
10 0-0, cxd4?! 11 Nxd4, Bd7 12 Nxc6, bxc613 Bc4, h5 14 Nxh5?!, Qc7 15
Qf3, Rb8 1 6 Ng3, Bf6 17 Rfe1, Bxb2 and Black even won in Espig-Pribyl,
Erevan 1982) .
9... Bd7
10 Bxd7ch Qxd7
Not 10 Nxd7 because of 11 d5! (ll. . . Qb6 12 Qe2). The Black

•••
Queen is vulnerable on d7 to attack from Ne5, but first White must deal
with the problem on d4.
1 1 d5?!
This is supposed to refute Black's play. Clearly, 11 dxc5 is not

much of a threat to Black, who can equalize with any of several moves
(ll. . . Bxc5; 1l...Nc6; ll ... Qb5!?).
For example, 1 1 dxc5, Nc6 12 Qe2, 0-0-0 or 12 Qxd7ch, Kxd7

13 c3, aS! and the endgame can even favor B lack because his Rooks and
minor pieces have greater activity (14 Ke2, Rhg8 15 Rhd1, Kc7 16 Kf1,
Bxc5 as in Ciemniak-Danielian, U.S.S.R. 1991).
1 1... exd5
12 Qd3 Nc6
Chapter Three: The Sharp 7 rs ... 43
Trying to hold onto the temporarily sacrificed pawn is much too

risky (12.../4 13 Nh5), since the holes at fS, g7 and eS are more easily
exploited.
13 0-0-0
We are following Shabalov-Savchenko, Tbilisi 1989 which lead
to a sizable White superiority after 13 ...f4 14 NhS, Qg4? 15 QxdS, Rd8 16
QfS!, QxfS 17 Ng7ch and 18 NxfS.
In retrospect 13 0-0 may be best although 13 f4 14 Ne2 (not 14
, ..•
Nh5, Qg4), Rg8 1 5 Nxf4, Qg4 can hardly be palatable to White.
13.•• f4
Black's intent with this move should be to surrender the pawn and
achieve material equality in a middlegame in which Black has the better
center.
14Nh5
14••• 0-0-0!
This neatly turns the tables. White regains the f-pawn, but finds
himself with an inferior King position (... Nb4 and ... Qa4). Opinion about
this position was altered by Illustrative Game 3.
ILLUSTRATIVE GAME
(3) V. IVANOV-DANIELIAN
Moscow 1 991
1 e4 e6
2 d4 d5
3 Nc3 Nf6
4 Bg5 dxe4
5 Nxe4 Be7
6 Bxf6 gxf6
7 Nf3 rs
8 Ng3 cS
Another version of the temporary sacrifice of the d-pawn is 9 c3,

a6!? and then 10 dS, exdS 1 1 Bd3. After 1 1 f4 12 Qa4ch, Nc6 13 Qxf4
.••
B lack equalized with 13 ...Bd6 14 Qh6, Be6 in Sax-Andersson, Rome

1986.
9 Bb5ch Bd7
10 Bxd7ch Qxd7
11 dS?! exdS
12 Qd3 Nc6
Chapter Three: The Sharp 7 ... fS 4S
Black needs to castle and safeguard his d-pawn . After 12 ...f4 13

NbS, Nc6 14 Nxf4 White stands OK.
Now on 13 QxfS Black responds 13...Qe6ch! and stands better.
13 0-0-0?! f4
14 NbS 0-0-0 !
15 Nxf4 Nb4
Now 16 Qd2 allows Black to grab the a-pawn with impunity.
16 Qa3 c4!
17 Ne5 Qc7
18 Qh3ch Kb8
Black is better now after 19 Qf5!, c3 or 19...Qa5. But White is

gearing up for a blunder that ends the game immediately.
19 Rhe1 Bg5 !
20 QfS??
White was clearly in trouble after 20 g3, c3 and now 21 QfS,

cxb2ch 22 Kxb2, d4! (and 23 Nxj7, Bf6!) or 21 b3, Nxa2ch 22 Kb1 , Nb4.
Now he drops a piece.
20... f6!
White resigns.
Surprisingly, it is on the Kingside that White loses.
CHAPTER FOUR
Main Line 7 ... f5

Of the four reasonable Knight moves that follow 7...f5, the one
that appears far more often than all the rest is 8 Nc3. The Knight watches
the crucial dS square from here. It also may, after Black castles Queenside
and/or advances his c-pawn to cS, go to bS with effect.
1 e4 e6
2 d4 dS
3 Nc3 Nf6
4 Bg5 dxe4
5 Nxe4 Be7
6 Bxf6 gxf6
7 N f3 fS
8 Nc3
"Correct! ," wrote Mikhail Botvinnik, pointing out how White can
now meet the intended 8 ... c5 with 9 dS.
8... Bf6
B lack wastes no time in attacking the d4-pawn, which, thanks to
White's last move, cannot be defended by 9 c3. (However, since the Knight
is somewhat misplaced at c3 B lack may also be able to equalize with 8.. . c6
9 g3, Nd7 and Queenside castling.)
9 Qd2
Chapter Four: Main Line 7...f5 47
This enables White to answer 9. . Nc6 with 10 0-0-0 or 1 0 Bb5.

.
On the other hand, 9 Bc4 is questionable because of 9...Nc6. If 10 d5, then

10...Na5! with no major problems ( 1 1 Be2, Bxc3ch; 11 Bb5ch, c6).
In answer to 9. Nc6 White may have to concede his error and
..
play 10 Bb5 after which 10 Qd6 1 1 Qd2, Bd7 was played in Rohde
...
Speelman, London 1 984 and led to equality after 12 Qh6, Qe7 13 0-0-0,
0-0-0 14 Rhe1, Nb4! 15 Kb 1, Bxb5 and 16...a6/1 7 ... Rd6.
In Shakhmatny Bulletin, Lepeshkin and Vasiliev mention 10 ... 0-0
11 Bxc6, bxc6 as an alternative. Black seems to get just enough play from
the b-file after 1 2 Na4, Rb8 13 b3, Rb4 (14 c3, Rxa4! 15 bxa4, Ba6).
9... c5!?
The 9...Nc6 move that worked in the last note turns out wretch
edly here because of 10 Bb5, threatening 1 1 Bxc6ch, bxc6 12 Na4 and 13
b3 with a big positional edge. White stands comfortably well after 10 Bb5,
Bd7 1 1 0-0-0.
Black does have a major alternative to 9 . c5 in the form of the
..
quiet 9 0-0. This allows White to train his sights on the Kingside, as in
...
Gipslis-Chernin, St. John 1 988, where he played 10 g4!?, fxg4 11 Rg1 ,

e5 (ll...Kh8 12 Bd3!, Rg8 13 Qh6, Rg7 14 Rxg4 with advantage) 12 Bd3,
Bg7 13 dxe5, Kh8 14 0-0-0, f5! and obtained unclear attacking chances
(not 14. .. g:if3 ? ? 15 Rxg7).
White now has several choices: allowing the liquidation of his

pawn on d4, such as with 10 0-0-0 or 10 dxc5, or forcing matters with 10
Bb5ch and 10 d5.
(a) 10 0-0-0
10 0-0-0
This is the soundest move, but because of the possible Queen trade
at move 1 1 , it is less ambitious than the alternatives.
1 0... cxd4
1 1 Nxd4
Here the endgame resulting from 1 1. . Bxd4 12 Qxd4, Qxd4 13

.
Rxd4, Bd7 is fairly equal, but White's chances must be considered just a
little bit preferable.
1 1 ... Nc6
Now 12 Nxc6, Qxd2ch leaves Black w i th a weak, isolated c

pawn, but the dark-squared Bishop is ample compensation. White does
better in a m iddlegame in which Black can be mated.
12 Bb5 Bd7
13 Nxf5!?
Given an exclamation point when introduced, this is now seen to

lead only to equal play.
13... exf5
14 Qd6!
Chapter Four: Main Line 7 f5••• 49
Threatening to overwhelm Black with 1 5 Rhe1ch, Be7 16 Nd5.

The immediate 14 Rhe1ch, Be6 leads nowhere.
14... Be5!
This was Liberzon-Botvinnik, Moscow 1966 (Illustrative Game

4). White has a dangerous-looking attack, but accurate defense leads to a
position that is at least equal for Black.
Since the Liberzon game was widely analyzed, attempts at
strengthening White's play via conventional means naturally followed.
One natural attempt is the voluntary liquidation of the center:
so The Fighting French
(b) 10 dxc5
(After 1 e4, e6 2 d4, dS 3 Nc3, Nf6 4 BgS, dxe4
5 Nxe4, Be7 6 Bxf6, gxf6 7 Nf3, fS 8 Nc3, Bf6 9 Qd2, cS)
10 dxcS
This invites Black into an endgame - but one in which White is a
bit better off than usual in the B urn Variation.
10... Nd7
After 10 ... Qxd2ch 1 1 Nxd2, Nd7 12 Na4 or 12 NbS retains a
slight edge for White.
1 1 BbS
White can inflict some damage on B lack's pawns with 11 c6,
bxc6, but after a later Rb8, the enemy gets plenty of counterplay along
•••
the b-file. The text is an attempt to keep the extra pawn.
1 1 ... 0-0!?
Now 12 Rd1 would transpose into Fernandez-Armas, Santa
Catalina 1987, which allowed Black simple equality after 12 NxcS (13
•••
Qf4, Qe 7 14 0-0, a6!).

12 c6 bxc6
13 Bxc6 Rb8
And Black has good play according to Suetin, in his 1982 mono
graph on the French Defense. Suetin gave no further analysis, but we can
imagine Black enjoying himself after 14 Rb1 ?, Rxb2! or 14 Qcl , Qc7 or
14 Na4, Qc7ch .
If White is going to put his Bishop at bS, then it makes more

sense to do it at move 10:
Chapter Four: Main Line 7 f5
.•. 51
(c) 10 Bb5ch
(After 1 e4, e6 2 d4, d5 3 Nc3, Nf6 4 BgS, dxe 4
5 Nxe4, Be7 6 Bxf6, gxf6 7 Nf3, fS 8 Nc3, Bf6 9 Qd2, cS)
lO BbSch
The Bishop check is almost an automatic reaction in some Bum

Variation lines when Black advances his c-pawn (when c7-c6 is not pos
...
sible).
10... Bd7
Yes, lO Ke7?! has been tried, but after l l dS, a6 12 Be2 Black
•••
has nothing to show for his extravagant l Oth move. And Botvinnik even
suggested 10 Kf8, but said it could only help White.
•..
11 dxcS!
This is the only way to try for an advantage. After ll Bxd7ch,

Nxd7 (or l l . . . Qxdl 12 d5, e5!) B lack's Queen comes out to aS preparing
0-0-0 and approximate equality. For example, 12 0-0-0, QaS! 13 Kb l , 0-
•••
0-0 14 Qh6, Rhg8 and Black soon got the upper hand in Sax-Andersson,
Reggio Emma 1988-89. See Illustrative Game 5.
l l ... a6
12 Bxd7ch Nxd7
This position has occurred more than once in the games of Swed
ish GM Ulf Andersson . After 1 3 0-0-0, Qc7 14 Qd6 (or 14 Na4, transpos
ing into the main line), ReS 15 NdS!? the game A. Sokolov-Andersson,
Brussels 1 988 was instantly drawn (15... Qxc5 16 Nxf6ch, Nxf6 1 7 Qxc5
draw).
1 3 Na4
With this White watches the Queenside hole created by Black's

1 1 th move and makes it harder for Black to recover his temporarily sacri
ficed pawn. However, the positio n quickly liquidates with ...
1 3... Qc7
14 0-0-0 NxcS!
And in Wedberg-Andersson, Haininge 1 988 Black reached

equality after 15 NxcS, QxcS 16 Qd7ch, Kf8 17 Qd6ch (nothing better),
Qxd6 18 Rxd6, Rg8 19 g3, Ke7.
Chapter Four: Main Line 7 f5 .•• 53
(d) 10 dS !
(After 1 e4, e6 2 d4, d5 3 Nc3, Nf6 4 Bg5, dxe4
5 Nxe4, Be7 6 Bxf6, gxf6 7 Nf3, f5 8 Nc3, Bf6 9 Qd2, c5)
10 dS!
This now stands as the only bid by White for an advantage. Now
Botvinnik and Suetin have suggested 10 ... e5 and a s ub seq uen t ... e4, but
this has not been sufficiently tested.
10... 0-0
White's l Oth move is based on lO. . exdS 1 1 0-0-0 and the pawn is
.
returned favorably after l l ... Qb6 12 BbSch, or 1 1 NxdS, Bxb2 12 Rb1 or

even 1 1 Qe3ch! ? (ll. . . Be6 12 Qxc5, Nd7 1 3 Bb5, ReB 14 Qe3 and Nd4,
Arnason-Skembris, Thessalonlki 1988).
1 1 0-0-0 eS
Here ll . . QaS and 12 Rd8 would work well if White con ti n ued
. •••
12 dxe6 (hoping for 12 .. .fxe6 13 Bc4), 12 . . .Bxe6! followed by 13 ... Rd8 or

13 ... Bxc3. That creates problems for White in terms of King safety .
However, White does much better w ith 12 Kb1 ! , since 12 ... Rd8
allows 13 Ne4, Qxd2 14 Nxf6ch and the endgame is bad after 12 ... Bxc3
13 Qxc3, Qxc3 1 4 bxc3, Rd8 15 bc4.
12 h4
This controls gS, so that White can move his Knight from f3 and
not fear BxgS.
•••
12 •.. Nd7
Also reasonable is 12 ... a6 and 13 b5. Black's play should be on

.••
the Queenside. He would like to play e5-e4 at some point followed by

•••
NeS, but Nb6 makes more sense.

... •••
Now 13 d6, Nb6 14 Qe3, e4 gives Black reasonable chances.

Chapter Four: Main Line 7 ...f5 55
ILLUSTRATIVE GAMES
(4) LIBERZON-BOTVINNIK
Moscow Team Championship 1 966
1 e4 e6
2 d4 dS
3 Nc3 Nf6
4 Bg5 dxe4
5 Nxe4 Be7
6 Bxf6 gxf6
7 Nf3 rs
Botvinnik's comment was: " This move is rejected by theory but,

perhaps, without sufficient foundation. "
8 Nc3 Bf6
9 Qd2 cS
10 0-0-0 cxd4
1 1 Nxd4 Nc6
12 BbS
Now 12 ...Bxd4 would be met by 13 Bxc6ch!, bxc6 14 Qxd4,

Qxd4 15 Rxd4 with a slight edge for White because of the possibility of
his planting a Knight on cS, dominating the remaining Bis h op , in the e nd

game.
1 2... Bd7
13 NxfS! exfS
14 Qd6 BeS
After the more natural 14 ...Be7 1 5 Rhel Black finds it harder to

unravel his pieces (15. . . Be6 1 6 Bxc6ch; 15. . . Kj8 16 Qxdl). The point of
14...Be5 is revealed by B lack's next move.
15 Rhel QgS c h !
This is a risky but necessary means o f getting the King to safety.

Black has no problems after 16 Qd2, Qxd2ch 17 Rxd2, 0-0-0! (18 Bxc6,
Bf4) or 1 6 Rd2, 0-0-0 17 RxeS, Be6!.
16 Kbl 0-0-0
17 RxeS!
His idea is 17...Nxe5 18 NdS! and White mates.
1 7... Be6 !
1 8 QcS Rxdlch
19 Nxdl RdS
20 Nc3 Qxg2
Chapter Four: Main Line 7 .fS.. 57
Now everything is protected and Black threatens a last rank mate.

The crisis is over.
21 Ret Kb8
22 Bxc6 Qxc6
23 QeSch
Simpler, according to Botvinnik, was 23 Qxc6, although White's

chances of winning such an endgame are slim.
23... Qc7
24 Qxc7 ch Kxc7
25 Ne2!
This secures the second rank (25. . . Rd2 26 Kcl) and g-file
(25 . . Rg8 26 Rgl ) . Botvinnik notes that while Black cannot correct his
.
Kingside pawn structure, his active King gives him at least equality.
25 ... Rg8
26 Rgl Rg4!
27 f3 Rxglch
28 Nxgl Kd6
Because of the weakness at f3, White cannot free both his King
and Knight.
29 b3 KeS
30 Kcl BdS
31 Kd2 bS
32 a3 f4
33 Kd3
Draw
Botvinnik made the Winawer Variation (3 Bb4) famous. But

. . .
here, in one of the last times, he played the French Defense, he preferred
the Bum.
(5) SAX-ANDERSSON
Reggio Emilia 1988-89
1 e4 e6
2 d4 dS
3 Nc3 Nf6
4 BgS dxe4
5 Nxe4 Be7
6 Bxf6 gxf6
7 Nf3 rs
8 Nc3 Bf6
9 Qd2 c5
10 Bb5ch Bd7
11 Bxd7ch Nxd7
12 0-0-0
Chapter Four: Main Line 7 ... f5 59
More enterprising is 12 d5 and if 12 e5, then the positional

..•
treatment of 13 0-0 and 14 Rad 1 as in Ivanovic-Lautier, Berlin 1989.
12... Qa5
13 Kb 1 0-0-0!
14 Qh6 Rhg8
1 5 g3 Bg7
16 Qf4
And not 16 Qxh7, Nf6 1 7 Qh4, Ng4.
16 ... cxd4
17 Nxd4 a6
18 Rd2 Qe5 !
19 Qh4 Qf6
20 Qxf6 Nxf6
B lack has excellent chances on the dark squares and can attack f2
and g3 with his Knight and h-pawn.
21 f3 h5
22 Rd3 h4
23 Nde2 Rxd3
24 cxd3 Rh8
The threat of 2S ... hxg3 26 Nxg3, Rh3 and Bh6-f4 forces new
•••
concessions. B lack has serious winning chances now, so White begins to

liquidate pawns.
25 Rgl hxg3
26 hxg3 Rh2
27 g4! fxg4
28 fxg4 Kd7
29 Kcl NdS!
Now 30 NxdS, Rxe2 surrenders the seventh rank. Black also has a
nice Knight maneuver in mind.
30 Kdl Ne3ch
31 Kd2 Ng2
32 gS Nh4
33 Rfl NfS
34 Ne4 Bd4
3S b3 Ke7
36 Rf3 Bb6
37 Ng3 Nd4
38 Rf4 Rg2
39 Re4 Nxe2
40 Nxe2 RxgS
The final stage, promoting the f-pawn while attacking the Queen
side pawns, is fairly straightforward.
Chapter Four: Main Line 7 fS
..• 61
41 Kdl BcS
42 Rc4 Bd6
43 Nc3 rs
44 a4 Rglch
45 Ke2 Rg2ch
46 Kf3 Rb2
47 Ke3 Rxb3
48 Ne2 Rb4!
49 Rxb4 Bxb4
SO d4 Bd6
51 Ncl
White resigns.
CHAPTER FIVE
The Old Main Line I

The sharp positions that arise after 7 rs and an attack on the d4-
••.
pawn with c7-c5 are not to everyone's taste, even to the taste of everyone
••.
who plays the French Defense. In this chapter and the next, we'll examine
the more solid system involving a Queenside fianchetto in connection with
c7-c6 and Qc7.
••. .••
1 e4 e6
2 d4 dS
3 Nc3 Nf6
4 Bg5 dxe4
5 Nxe4 Be7
6 Bxf6 gxf6
7 Nf3 b6
This modest move was once the clear favorite of defenders as

Black. In recent years it has been championed by Ulf Andersson, and in the
past by Tigran Petrosian.
White's choices here are limited mainly to a decision on how to

use his fl-bishop. They include: (a) 8 g3, (b) 8 Bd3 (c) 8 BbSch?!, (d) 8
,
c4 and the main line 8 Bc4, which we'll examined in the final chapter.
Chapter Five: The Old Main Line I 63
(a) 8 g3
8 g3
White decides to answer a fianchetto with a fianchetto. This may

lead into positions similar to (b) in Chapter Two, but Black can exploit the
addition of Nf3 by White by playing:
8... Bb7
9 Qe2 QdS!
Now the e4 Knight is attacked and cannot retreat to c3 because

then its brother would hang on f3. White's hand is forced.
10 Ned2 Nc6!?
1 1 c3 0-0-0
This is a fine illustration of the forceful play Black's position is
capable of. B u t to make his lead in development work he needs to open the
position and this means e6-eS.
•••
12 Bg2 QhS
13 0-0 eS
We are following Hellers-Andersson, Haninge 1989 which of

fered equal chances after 14 Rad 1, exd4! 15 Nxd4, Qxe2 despite the dou
bled f-pawns. See Illustrative Game 6.
(b) 8 Bd3
(After 1 e4, e6 2 d4, d5 3 Nc3, Nf6 4 BgS, dxe4
5 Nxe4, Be7 6 Bxf6, gxf6 7 Nf3, b6)
8 Bd3
This Bishop is not badly placed here, it's just not as ambitiously
posted as in similar lines when it appears on c4 and watches the dS square.
White will most likely continue Qe2 and plan to exchange off Bishops
later on with Ba6.
8... Bb7
9 Qe2 c6
Why should Black spend a tempo on this move? Because it is so

useful that it is hard to dispense with in these positions - and also because
the other natural move, 9 Nd7, allows White to carry out a plan with 10
•••
Ba6!, weakening the light squares.
10 0-0-0
Castling Kingside, and retaining the option of advancing the

Queenside pawns, has never proven particularly successful for White.
For example, 10 0-0, Nd7 II a4, Qc7 1 2 aS and now 12 bxa5 13

•..
c4, cS 1 4 dS!?, exdS 15 cxdS, BxdS 16 Nc3, Be6 and Black survived the
White attack in Maus-Landenberke, Budapest 1990 (1 7 Be4, Rd8 1 8

Nh4, Ne5 1 9 f4, Bc4 20 Qh5, Bxj1 21 Rxf1, Ng6 w i th an eventual draw) .
10 ••• Nd7
This may also be delayed in favor of 10 ... Qc7 ! so that 1 1 Ba6 is

avoided for another move.
1 1 Kb 1
At one time it was thought that White should trade off a pair of
Bishops here with 1 1 Ba6 to reduce Black's counterplay and soften up the
light-colored squares. However, l l ...Bxa6 12 Qxa6, Qc7 sets up a threat
of 13 ... b5! and 14 ... Nb8, trapping the Queen.
After 13 Qe2, 0-0-0 14 Kb1 Black gets excellent chances from

14 ...f5! 15 Ned2, Bf6, e.g. 16 Nc4, b5! 17 Nce5, NxeS 18 Nxe5, Rd5 19
c4, bxc4 20 Nxc4, c5 (de Firmlan-Andersson, Reggio Emilia 1990).
1 1 ... Qc7
The position now closely resembles our main line, in Chapter Six,
except that White's Bishop lies on d3 rather than c4. The most significant
difference is that in this position White can play:
12 c4
With 12 Rhe1 we get positions resembling those in Chapter Six.
12 .•. 0-0-0
Now 13 d5 is a sound sacrifice (13... cxd5 14 cxd5, Bxd5 ? 15 Rcl,

Nc5 16 b4 or 14 .... exd5 15 Rcl, Nc5 16 Ng3).
It is best declined with 13 Ne5!, e.g. 14 dxe6, Nxd3 15 Rxd3,

•••
Rxd3 16 Qxd3, fxe6 with two excellent Bishops, or 14 Nxe5, fxeS 15

dxe6, f5! See also Illustrative Game 7 .
(c) 8 Bb5ch? !
(Af ter 1 e4, e6 2 d4, d5 3 Nc3, Nf6 4 Bg5, dxe4
5 Nxe4, Be7 6 Bxf6, gxf6 7 Nf3, b6)
8 Bb5ch?!
This is an overfinesse here, giving Black a move he would most

likely play without provocation. It amounts, in most cases, to a loss of
tempo for White.
8... c6
9 Bc4 Qc7
1 0 Qd2
White seems concerned that 10 Qe2, Qf4! ? prevents Queenside

castling. If, instead, Black continues 10 ...Nd7 we reach standard positions
with an extra move for B lack.
A cautionary tale for White would run 10 Qe2, B b7 1 1 g3?!

(useful later, but premature here), Nd7 and now 12 Ba6? was played in
Holaszek-Magnusson, Skopie 1972 - but after 12 B x a6 ! 13 Qxa6, f5 14
..•
Nc3, b5! White realized his Queen was trapped. He desperately tried 15
Ne5, Nb8 16 Nxb5, but after 16 Qxe5ch ! he resigned.
•••
If White's intention is to castle Kingside, he runs the usual risks

as seen in Illustrative Game 8.
10 . . . Nd7
1 1 0-0-0 Bb7
12 Kb1 0-0-0
1 3 Qe2
This is a concession that White has lost his way. If White is going
to justify his play so far, he should at least keep Qh6 in mind. After 13
Rhe 1 , Rhg8 1 4 g3 Black should avoid 14 c5? 1 5 d 5 in favor of 14 . .Ne5.
••• .
See also Byvshev-Boleslavsky, U.S.S.R. Championship 1 956,

(Illustrative Game 9)
(d) 8 c4
(Mter 1 e4, e6 2 d4, d5 3 Nc3, Nf6 4 B gS, dxe4
5 Nxe4, Be7 6 Bxf6, gxf6 7 NO, b6)
8 c4
This is a relatively new try, having received attention when used

in the final Soviet Championship. In the game Minasian-Dreev, Moscow
1991 White obtained excellent chances after B lack accepted his challenge
and played 8 Bb4ch 8 Nc3, cS 10 Bd3!, Bb7 11 0-0, cxd4 12 Nxe4.
••.
8 ... Bb7
But this makes more sense. Now on 9 Bd3, c6 10 Qe2 we will

have transposed back into line (b) above.
9 Nc3
For once, this retreat does not block White's c-pawn.
9 ••• fS
Even though this attacks only a "phantom Knight" on e4, it is the

best way of bringing pressure to bear on d4. Now 10 Bd3, Nc6 11 dS, Nb4
is one way of continuing.
10 d5 Bf6
1 1 Qd2 c6
This liquidates the d5-point by force and gives B lack an excellent

game, as illustrated by 12 0-0-0, cxd5 13 cxd5, 0-0 14 dxe6, Qxd2ch 15
Rxd2, fxe6 16 Bc4, Bxf3!.
In Kindermann-Knaak, Baden-Baden 1992, Black got the up

per hand after 12 ... 0-0 13 g4!?, cxd5 14 gxf5!, Kh8 because White tried 15
Rg1?, Nd7 1 6 cxd5, BxdS 1 7 NxdS, exdS and 18...Rc8ch instead of the
more positional minded 1 5 B g2! .
ILLUSTRATIVE GAMES
(6) HELLERS-ANDERSSON
Haninge 1989
1 e4 e6
2 d4 d5
3 Nc3 Nf6
4 Bg5 dxe4
5 Nxe4 Be7
6 Bxf6 gxf6
7 Nf3 b6
8 g3 Bb7
Compare with 7 g3, b6 8 Bg2 and now 8 Bb7 9 Nxf6ch and 10

.••
Bxb7.
9 Qe2 Qd5
10 Ned2 Nc6
1 1 c3 0-0-0
12 Bg2 Qh5
13 0-0 e5
Without having to face this move, White can make trouble with
b2-b4-b5.
1 4 Rad 1 exd4
1 5 Nxd4 Qxe2
16 Nxe2 hS
17 h4?!
White needs to get his Knights moving (1 7 Nf4, Ne5 1 8 Bxb 7ch
followed by Kg2 and Nf3-d4).
1 7... NeS
18 Nd4 BcS
1 9 Nf5 Ba6!
Now 20 Rfe1, Nd3 takes White apart. He must begin to shed rna-
terial.
20 c4 Bb4
21 Ne4 Bxc4
22 Rxd8ch Rxd8
23 Ra1 !? Be6
24 Ng7 f5!
25 Ng5 Rd2
Correctly evaluating the Rook-on-the-seventh's value.
26 N5xe6 fxe6
27 Re1 Bd6
28 Nxe6 Nd3
29 Re3 Nxf2
30 Nf8
Playing for tricks (30... Bxf8 31 ReSch, Rd8 32 Rxd8ch, Kxd8 33

Kxf2) in a lost position.
30... Ne4
31 Bxe4 Bc5!
32 Bxf5ch Kb7
White resigns.
(7) ERNST-BORGES
Tallinn 1 989
1 e4 e6
2 d4 dS
3 Nc3 Nf6
4 Bg5 dxe4
5 Nxe4 Be7
6 Bxf6 gxf6
7 Nf3 b6
8 Bd3 Bb7
9 Qe2 Nd7
10 0-0-0 c6
1 1 Kb1 Qc7
1 2 c4 0-0-0
In this familiar position 13 d5?, NeS is known to be excellent for

Black but. ..
13 dS Nf8?!
B lack appears unaware of it. Alternatives such as 13 e5 14 Ng3
...
and NfS or 14 Nc3 only help White.
14 dxe6 Nxe6!?
15 g3 Kb8
16 Nc3 Bb4
17 Qc2
17... Bxc3
Black makes sure there will not be a Knight headed into b5 or d5

after he advances his c-pawn. Against the immediate 17 c5 White might
. .•
have sacrificed a pawn with 18 Nd5, Bxd5 19 exd5, Rxd5 20 Be4.
18 Qxc3 c5!
19 Qxf6 Nf4
20 Bc2 ! Bxf3
21 Rxd8ch Rxd8
22 Ret
To keep his extra piece, Black comes up with a fine idea, which
however, gives White compensation nonetheless.
22... Ng2!
23 Re7 Qd6
24 Qxf7 Bc6
25 Qxh7 Qf6?
White's compensation would be evident even after the superior

25 ... Qd2 26 a3, Net 27 Be4!, Bxe4 28 Qxe4, Qd3ch 29 Qxd3, Nxd3 30
f4 and the pawns are ready to march.
26 Rxa7 Qd6
27 Re7 ReS
28 Rxe8ch Bxe8
29 Qe4 Bc6
30 Qe2 Qf6
3t h4
Black is worse, but defense is possible (not 3l ... Qf3 32 Qxf3, Bxf3
33 Bg6). However, he has to find a way of making his Knight work.
31. .. Bf3
32 Qe8ch Kc7
33 a3 Bc6
34 Qe2 Bf3
35 Qe8 Bc6
36 Qe2 Bf3
37 Qd2 QeS
38 Bg6 Qe6
39 Bd3 Net
The Knight re-emerges after 1 7 moves behind enemy lines.

40 Qf4ch Kb7
41 QfS Qc6
42 Ka2 Ka6?
Now Black begins to lose control. After 42 ... Nxd3 he retains
drawing chances.
43 Bbl Qa4
44 Qf4 Qdl
45 Qe3 Be2
46 Qe4 Bf3
47 Qe8 Qc l
48 Qe6 Nc2?
49 Qc8ch Ka7
Or 49 ... Bb7 SO Qe8 and there is no perpetual check (50. . . Nb4ch
51 axb4, Qxc4ch 52 b3 and White wins).
SO Qd7ch Kb8
51 Qe8ch
Black resigns
The Bishop falls after 52 Qf7ch . Black made too many mistakes.
See above notes.
(8) BAGASIC-PADEVSKY
Sofia 1979
1 d4 e6
2 e4 dS
3 Nc3 Nf6
4 Bg5 dxe4
5 Nxe4 Be7
6 Bxf6 gxf6
7 Nf3 b6
8 Bb5ch?! c6
9 Bd3 Nd7
1 0 0-0 Bb7
1 1 Qe2
B lack now begins an unusual strategy of Kingside castling.
1 1... 0-0!?
12 Ba6 Bxa6
13 Qxa6 Qc7
14 Qe2
In view of the threat of 14 ... b5! and 15 Nb8.

.•.
14... Kh8
15 c4 fS
1 6 Nc3 Bf6
17 Rfe1 Rfe8
18 Qc2 Rad8
19 Rad l a6
20 a4
Who has benefited from the exchange of Bishops? With Black's

King on the other wing, it might seem that he has. But White is the player
who can open the position (with d4-d5).
20 ... Qf4
21 Re3 Qb8
22 Rdel aS
23 h3 Qc8
24 Qe2 Rg8
2S d5
White might have swung his e3-Rook to the Kingside before this
break.
25... cxdS
26 cxd5 NcS!
27 NeS Rg7
28 Rg3 Qc7
29 Rxg7 Kxg7
30 Nc4? Bxc3!
The Fighting French
This rapidly turns the tables as White cannot save the d-pawn.
31 d6 Qc6
32 bxc3 Ne4
33 f3 QcSch
34 Kh2 Nxd6
35 Ne5 Qxc3
36 f4?
And after this, White loses a second pawn and then the Exchange.
36... Ne4
37 Rb1 Qg3ch
38 Kg1 Qxf4
39 Nd3? Qd2
40 Ncl Qd4ch
41 Kh2 Nc3
White resigns.
(9) BYSHEV -BOLESLA VSKY

Soviet Championship, Leningrad 1956
1 e4 e6
2 d4 dS
3 Nc3 Nf6
4 Bg5 dxe4
Harry Golombek's comment in British Chess Magazine was: "A

line rather better than its reputation and one that seems to assure Black
full equality" .
5 Nxe4 Be7
6 Bxf6 gxf6
7 Nf3 b6
8 BbSch?! c6
9 Bc4
It's surprising how often this over-finesse is played by good play-

ers.
9... Qc7
10 Qd2 Nd7
1 1 0-0-0 Bb7
12 Kb 1 0-0-0
13 Qe2?!
White has, in effect, lost two tempi, one with his Bishop at move
eight and now with his Queen. Among other things, this allows Black to
avoid the exchange of light-squared Bishops with his next move.
13... Kb8
14 Rhe1 Rhg8
15 g3 fS!
16 Nc3 Bf6
17 a3 Rg4
18 h3 Rg7?!
19 Na2! R7g8
Now Black has returned one of those tempi, but that may not
matter much here. Now 20 Nb4, cS is fine for B lack, so White prepares for
it.
20 c3 hS
21 Nb4 h4!
22 gxb4
On 22 Nxh4 B lack has a strong 22 ... f4.
22... Rh8
23 hS Qf4!
24 Nd2 cS
25 Nd3 Qc7
26 NeS NxeS
27 dxeS
27... BgS!
28 Bd3 Bf4
29 Bc4 Rd7
30 Bb5 RdS
31 Nf3 Rfd8?
Black regards the forward h-pawn as so weak that he can take it

any time. Now was the time: After 3t . .. Rxh5, he could work against the
various weaknesses (h3, e5, f3) with good winning chances . Black thinks
he has a draw in hand - until it's too late.
32 Bc4! Rxdtch
33 Rxdt Rxdtch
34 Qxd t a6?!
35 Be2 Ka7
36 Kat Qc6?
Last chance to regain his pawn with 36 ... Bxf3. Black apparently
counted on playing 37 ...Qe4 next, but then saw that it could be met by 38
NgS, QxeS 39 h6!, Qh8 40 Qd7 with a winning penetration.
37 h4! Qc7
38 Qd6! Qxd6
39 exd6 Bxd6
The point of White's 38th was that 39...Bxf3 allows 40 d7!, Bc7
41 Bxf3 and the h-pawn races on.
40 Ng5 Bf8
41 Nxt7
Black resigns
Since 42 h6, h6 43 h7 and 44 h8(Q) cannot be stopped. See notes

for Black improvements.
(1 0) IZVOZCHIKOV-VEKSHENKOV
Moscow 1977
This game begins looking like anything but a French.
1 d4 Nf6
2 Nc3 dS
3 Bg5 e6
4 e4 dxe4
But voila!
5 Nxe4 Be7
6 Bxf6 gxf6
7 Nf3 b6
8 Bb5ch c6
9 Bc4 Bb7
10 Qe2 Qc7
11 0-0-0 Nd7
12 Kb1 0-0-0
13 Rhe1 Rhg8
The point of this move is manifold. Black wants to remove gS as a

square for the e4 Knight after his next move. He also wants to exchange
-
off his h-pawn on g3. And there was no better square for this Rook.
14 g3 fS
15 Nc3 Bf6
16 Qe3 Kb8
17 Ngl bS
Seeing White prepare a vise-grip on eS (18 f4 and 19 N.f3/20

Ne5), Black begins action on the other wing.
18 Bfl Nb6
19 f4 b4
20 Nce2 cS
21 Nf3 Be4!
22 dxcS Nc4
23 Qb3 Qxc5
24 Ned4 Nb6
25 a3?
This opens the wrong side of the board at the wrong time for the
wrong pieces.
25... bxa3
26 Qxa3 Qxa3
27 bxa3 Rd7
28 Be2 Na4
29 Nb5 Rb7
White resigns.
Chapter Six: The Old Main Line II 87
CHAPTER SIX
The Old Main Line II

Finally, the main 7 b6 system, which Alexander Alekhine - at
•.•
the peak of his strength - brought into brief fashion in the early 1 930s . It's
greatest strengths are its solidity and the simplic ity of Black's development:
he's going to play ... Bb7, ... c7-c6, ... Qc7 and then ... Nd7 and 0-0-0 al
...
most regardless of White does.
But what should White do? Let's see his best try:
1 e4 e6
2 d4 dS
3 Nc3 Nf6
4 Bg5 dxe4
5 Nxe4 Be7
If Black is concerned about the doubled f-pawns, he can of course,

play S ... Nbd7 and recapture on f6 with a piece. But that's a different story.
With 5 ... Be7 and 6 ... gxf6 he is announcing his interest in sharpening the
middlegame.
6 Bxf6 gxf6
7 Nf3 b6
8 Bc4
Remember, this position could also have come abut via 7 Bc4 -
which discourages 7 ...f5 - and then 7 ...b6 8 Nf3! (8 d5 ?, Bbl) . So even if
you prefer meeting 7 Nf3 with 7 ... f5, you may end up with the text position
because of the 7 Bc4 transposition possibility.
8... Bb7
9 Qe2 c6
10 0-0-0!
Only this way can White bid for initiative. The quiet 1 0 0-0 policy
leaves Black with a choice between the aggressive 10 ... Qc7 followed by
...Nd7 and . . 0-0-0, and the Knight maneuver to g6, e.g. 1 0... Nd7 1 1 Rfe1,
.
Nf8 12 Qe3, Ng6 13 Qh6, Bf8 14 Qh3, Be7 and now 15 Qh6, Bf8 was
the way Vasiukov-Minev, Varna 1971 was agreed drawn.
The Knight maneuver is effective when Black is not threatened in

the center.
10 ... Qc7
More exact than 10 . .. Nd7, which allows White the immediate 1 1

Ba6. Then 1 l ...Bxa6 1 2 Qxa6, Qc7 1 3 Qe2, f5 1 4 Ng3 favors White
slightly (14. . . Qf4ch 15 Kb1 , 0-0-0 16 d5!, cxd5 17 Nxf5 as in Spassky
Dankert, Munich 1979).
With 10 ... Qc7 Black leaves White without an obvious method of

continuing . The choice is usually between a final developing move (11
Rhe l ) and the prophylactic 11 Kb l .
1 1 Kb1
A standard move, which secures the King from Queen checks at

f4 and defends the a2 pawn against ... Qa5. With 1 1 Rhe1 we will prob
-
ably transpose into our main line below.
An old idea of Leonid Shamkovich's is 1 1 Nfd2, clearing the

Queen's way to the Kingside. Shamkovich's analysis leads to a slight White
advantage after 1 1 ... Nd7 12 Qh5, Nf8 13 f4, f5 14 Ng5, Bxg5 15 QxgS,
Qe7 16 h4.
But another old analysis that g ave 11 ... (5 12 Ng3, Nd7 13 Rhe1
as favoring White doesn't check out. After 13 Nf8 14 Nf3, b5! 15 Bb3,
...
Ng6 Black obtains counterplay (Spassky-HotTman, Salamanca 1991 16 -
Ne5, Nf4 1 7 Qd2, Rg8!) .
With 1 1 Rhe1 , Nd7 12 Kb 1 we transpose into out main line. A

different idea is 12 Nc3, instead of 12 Kb1, with the tactical trick that
12 ... 0-0-0 can then be met by 13 d5! , cxd5 14 Nxd5, Bxd5 15 Bxd5, exd5
16 Qxe7. See Illustrative Game 12.
11 ... N d7
12 Rhe1
Here again there's the 12 Ba6? trap sprung by 12 ...Bxa6 13

Qxa6, b5! and 1 4 ... Nb8.
Another plan is preparation of the d4-pawn's advance. After 12

Bb3, 0-0-0 13 c4, Rhe8 1 4 d5 B lack equalizes with 14 ... Nc5 as a 1962
Korchnoi-Petrosian game shows.
12 ... 0-0-0
13 Ba6
Basically, this is a good plan because it e l im i n ate s the two-Bishop

advantage and softens up the light squares.
The decentralizing 13 Ng3 doesn't make much sense since 14

Nf5, Bf8 would accomplish little. After 13...Bd6 14 Ne4, Bf8! Black is the
only one who has improved his position.
A reasonable alternative is 13 g3, which safeguards the Kingside

(not 13 Nfd2 now because of 13 ... Qxh2!). But after 13 ... Rhg8 (or even
13 . . h6) Black is ready to equalize with 14 f5 15 N-moves, Bf6.
. •••
13 •.• Rhe8!
A major improvement over 13 Bxa6 14 Qxa6ch, Qb7, which

•••
favors White slightly (see Illustrative Game 1 1 ).
There were quite a few game pre - 1 980 that went 14 Kb8 15
•••
Qe2, Rhg8 16 g3, f5 and led to relative equality after Black repositioned
his Knight on e4. For example, 17 Nc3, Nf6 18 Ne5, Bd6 19 f4, Bxe5! 20
dxe5, Nd5 is a lifeless position headed straight for a draw.
Note that Black can also play 13 Nf8 first, as in Janovsky

..•
Savchenko, Moscow 1991 which saw equality after 14 Bxb7ch, Kxb7 15

g3, Ng6 16 c4, f5 ! 1 7 Nc3, Bf6 18 Rd3, Rd7 when the d-pawn has become
a problem for White.
Another relatively new idea is to put the h8-Rook directly on g8.

The game Landa-Budnikov, St. Petersburg 1993, went 13 Rhg8 14 g3,
.••
f5! 15 Ned2, h5 and Black had considerable Kingside play. In fact, after
16 Bxb7ch, Kxb7 1 7 Nc4, h4 18 Rd3, hxg3 19 hxg3, b5! 20 Ne3, Bf6 and
f5-f4 he soon had the upper hand and won a nice game.
.••
14 Bxb7ch Kxb7
15 c4 Nf8
This is Korchnoi-Andersson, Reykjavik 1988. Black now

mounted an attack on the d-pawn with 16 Qc2, f5! 17 Nc3, Bf6 18 Re3,
Re7 and equalized ( 1 9 Red3, Ng6 20 d5, Red7 21 Qa4, Ne7).
ILLUSTRATIVE GAMES
(1 1 ) KLOV AN-PETROSIAN
Soviet Championship, Erevan 1 975
1 e4 e6
2 d4 dS
3 Nc3 Nf6
4 Bg5 dxe4
5 Nxe4 Be7
6 Bxf6 gxf6
7 Nf3 b6
8 Bd3
This will transpose into our main line at move 1 3 , the only differ
ence being that this Bishop will sit on d3 rather than c4 for the next four
moves.
8... Bb7
9 Qe2 Nd7
An interesting move order: Now 10 Ba6, Qc8 ! ? 11 Bxb7, Qxb7

places fbe Queen well.
10 0-0-0 c6
1 1 Kbt Qc7
12 Rhe1 0-0-0
13 Ba6 Bxa6?
14 Qxa6ch Qb7
Against both this and 14 Kb8 White usually retreats the Queen
•••
to e2 and prepare the opening of the center, ideally with c2-c4 and d4-d5.
In fact, after 14 Kb8 he can play 15 c4 immediately, e.g . 15 ... Rhe8 1 6
••.
Qa4, N f8 17 d 5 ! (Am. Rodriguez-Gonzalez Garcia, Mexico 1 992 ) .
15 Qe2 Rhg8
16 g3 Kb8
17 a3 b5
A bold decision by Black, prompted in part by White's last move.

Now on Nb6-c4, White will not be able to drive the Knight back with
•••
b2-b3 unless he's willing to sacrifice the a-pawn.
The way for White to punish b6-b5 is to occupy c5 and prove

•••
that his outpost is better than Black's . And White would like to push his c
pawn two squares and thereby expose c6 as a weakness.
18 Rd3 Ka8
19 Rcl Nb6
20 Nc5 Qc7
21 Nd2 Rd5
22 Ncb3 Rb8!
This frightens White out of 23 c4 and gains some maneuvering

time and room.
23 Nfl!? Nc4
24 Ne3 Rdd8
25 Rc3 Nxe3
26 fxe3
White is free to raid the Kingside (Qh5) now that his d4 is rock
solid. So B lack works the Queenside.
26 .•• b4
27 axb4 Bxb4
28 Rc4 RdS
29 Rfl fS!
30 e4 fxe4
31 Qxe4 hS
This invites White's Queen on a Kingside raid. In the next several

moves White seems to be about to win a pawn, but backs off when he can
repeat the position.
32 Qh7 Rb7
33 Qh8ch Rb8
34 Qg7 Rb7
35 Qg8ch Rd8
36 QgS RdS
37 Qg8ch Rd8
38 Qh7 RdS
39 Qe4
Refusing the draw. Now B lack toys with the idea of bringing his
Queen and Rook to the a-file, then decides to blow open the d-file.
39 ••• Qb6
40 Rf3 QbS
41 Qd3 a6!
42 Ncl cS
43 b3 Rbd7
44 c3 BaS
45 Ra4 Qb7!
Not 45 Qxd3ch 46 Nxd3! and then 46 cxd4 47 c4, winning
... ...
material because of the vulnerable aS-Bishop.
46 Qe4 cxd4
47 c4 RgS
48 Qxb7ch Kxb7
49 h4 ReS
50 Nd3 Re3!
51 Nc5ch Kc8
And now 52 Rxe3, dxe3 53 Nxd7, e2 queens the pawn . As

played, White wins the Exchange and two pawns - and can't stop the d-
pawn .
52 Rfl Bel
53 Nxd7 Kxd7
54 Rxtich Kd 6
55 Rxa6ch KcS
56 Kc2? d3ch
57 Kdl Bc3!
All of a sudden White is getting mated (58 Rc7ch, Kd4 59 Rd7ch,

Ke5) .
58 Rfl Re2
59 Ra8 Rb2
60 b4ch Kxc4
White resigns.
(1 2) LJUBOJEVIC-M. GUREVICH
Amsterdam 1991
1 e4 a6
2 d4 dS
3 Nc3 Nf6
4 Bg5 dxe4
5 Nxe4 Be7
6 Bxf6 gxf6
7 Nf3 b6
8 Bc4 Bb7
9 Qe2 Nd7
Employing the same move order as Petrosian in the previous

game.
10 0-0-0 c6
1 1 Rhe1 Qc7
12 Nc3!? Nf8
This discourages the d4-d5 sacrifice and brings the Knight to the
useful g6 square.
13 Ba6 Bxa6
14 Qxa6 Ng6
15 Qc4 Qd7
Also 15 0-0-0 after which 16 g3 leads to a slight edge for White.

•••
Black has a different idea in mind - castling King side 'by hand" .
16 g3 hS
17 h4 bS
18 Qd3 Kf8!
1 9 Nd2 Rd8
20 Nb3 Kg7
21 Kb1 Bb4
22 Qf3 rs
23 Nc5! Qc8
Or 23 B xc5 24 dxcS, Qc7 25 Rxd8 with a growing edge because

•..
the hS -pawn hangs in many variations.
24 a3! BaS
25 b4 Bb6
26 Ne2 BxcS
27 dxcS eS
28 Rd6!
Now B lack has weaknesses at c6, fS and h5, and to eliminate one
of them, he ends up creating a dangerous passed d-pawn.
28... Rxd6
29 cxd6 cS
30 Qd5! cxb4
31 axb4 Qc4
32 Qxc4 bxc4
33 Kb2
The c4 -pawn is doomed and the a7-pawn isn't much healthier.

Black must go into a poor Knight-and pawn endgame.
33 .• Kf6
34 Kc3 Rd8
35 Rd 1 Ke6
36 Kxc4 Rxd6
37 Rxd6ch Kxd6
38 Nc3 Kc6?
The last try was 38 ... a6. Now White's Knight can land on f6,
winning the fixed pawn at h5.
39 Nd5! f4
40 Nf6 fxg3
41 fxg3 Ne7
42 Nxh5 Nd5
Knight and pawn endings are much like King and pawn endings
in that there are few opportunities to obtain sufficient compensation for
being a pawn down. Here Black has none.
43 Ng7 Nb6ch
44 Kb3 Kd5
45 h5 e4
46 h6 e3
47 NbS!
Black resigns.
The Knight stops the e-pawn with 48 Nf4, after which the h-pawn
can't be stopped. 15 0-0-0 is recommended.
...
NOTES

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otherwise without prior and current permission from the publisher.

Authors: Andrew Soltis

One that deserves more attention, particularly in the ranks of

The Burn Variation is a relatively simple variation to play since

The Burn is sometimes called the Delayed Rubinstein Variation

With the simple 9 Bxa6 White obtains a fine game. Generally it is

Here White has a curious idea of preparing d4-d5 with a B ishop

Bum Variation, White's King is much better placed on the Queenside.

This is a good way to double Rooks (compared with 18. . Rg6 19

Nh4). Black i s beginning to think ambitiously, with sacrifices looming on

The first of a series of wonderful shots. It is based on 21 Bxb6,

Another hammer blow which clears the long diagonal: Now 23

This is the preferred form of the Bum Variation we recommend.

The intent of 8 c6 is, of course, to stop d4-d5. The drawback? It

doesn't do what it is intended to do.

material after ll cxdS 1 2 BxdS.

Now White obtains a wonderful outpost square at d4 and targets

Rolf Schwarz points out the inferior variation 14 Nd6ch, Bxd6 1 S

This assures White of winning at least a pawn, as both fS and c6

A little late to be castling, but perfectly OK here. The Bishops of

This shortens what was virtually a lost game anyway. After

On the other hand, Black has certain natural strength, beginning

The most active plan here is 7 f5 followed by attacking the d­

pawn with Bf6. A reasonable alternative, 7 b6, is explored towards the

A similar position (8 Bc4, c5 9 d5) i s known to result in a Black

Black's sharper ninth move should now be answered by 10 Nc3, eS 1 1 0-0·

I n th e endgame, Black's Bishops more than compensate for any

Leading to what is usually (and mistakenly) called "Zugzwang".

In our analysis of specific lines, we'll consider the Fighting French

Chapter One: Alternatives to 6 Bxf6

Chapter Four: Main Line 7 f5 ...

Chapter Five: The Old 7 b6 ...

Chapter Six: Main Line 7 b6 ...

of 5 Nxf6ch!, 5 Bg5 transposes).

one good continuation. However we prefer something more consistent with

Illustrative Game 1 and 7 Nc5?, b6 as in Game 2.

By unpinning the Knight, Black makes a threat and forces White

This strange move has one goal, to avoid an exchange of pieces,

B lack could also play 6... cS 7 dxcS, QaS immediately.

We are following Botvinnik-Rauzer, Soviet Championship

Since 6 Nc3 loses time, we turn our attention to . ..

This natural-looking move is faulty because it leads to an ex­

Now 7 Be3?!, c5 would only help Black out.

True, White's slight spatial edge remains - as does the trouble­

An exampl e of how q ui ckly White can get the worst of it was

Since White is losing the race for development in some of these

Bxe7, Nxf2. But simple moves give Black at least equality.

The only move to avoid losing a piece.

Now 7 Nxf2 8 Bxd8, Nxd 1 is attractive, but 9 Bxc7!, Nxb2 10

Be2 should work out well for White. Better is...

best White can do is.

an extra pawn and White has little to show for it.

Or 8 dxcS, QaSch 9 Qd2, Qxd2ch 10 Nxd2, NxcS with a level

Not 7 c5? because then White's last move is justified by 8 d5.

White sees that he's in trouble on the b2 square, which can be

Black can sacrifice on c3 whenever he wants - so he safeguards

pawn (21 NabS, Nxa2 22 Nxa2, Qxb5).

The easiest way to destroy White's remaining strength on the dark

The maneuver of the Knight via c5 to bj has been tried - even by

A typical idea, tempting Black to block his Bishop's diagonal with

would be met by 1 1 Qb4ch.

The most active plan here is 7 f5 followed by attacking the d

This natural-looking move is faulty because it leads to an ex

True, White's slight spatial edge remains - as does the trouble

Each Black move comes with tempo. We are following Zagory

Since Black's King is headed to the Kingside, 11 0-0-0 is appeal