Sicilian: Paulsen

MARKTAIMANOV
TH E TOU RNAMENT P LAY E R'S REPERTOI RE OF OPEN I NGS
Series ed ited by R. G . Wade, O.B.E.

Sicilian: Paulsen

MARKTAIMANOV

Translated by John Sugden

B. T. BATSFORD Ltd London

First published 1 984
©Mark Taimanov 1 984
ISBN 0 7 1 34 361 9 0 ( limp )

Set by Hope Services, Abingdon

and printed in Great Britain
by Bil ling & Sons Ltd,
London, Guildford & Worcester,
for the publishers,
B. T. Batsford Ltd ,
4 Fitzhard inge Street,
London Wl H OAH

A BATS FORD CHESS BOOK

Adviser: R. G. Wade, O.B.E.
Technical Editor: P. A. Lamford
Co ntents

Symbols vi
I ntroduction and Unusual 5th Moves for White
2 5 c4 3
3 5 .lld 3 : Introduction and 5 . . . �c6 15
4 5 .lld 3 �e7 o r 5 . . . g6 21
5 5 .lld 3 �f6 29
6 5 .lld 3 Ac5 41
7 5 �c3 : I ntroduction and 5 . . . b5 47
8 5 �c3 'iitc 7 51
9 5 �c3 �c6 : I ntroduction and 6 Ae2 63
10 5 �c3 �c6 6 g3 70
11 5 �c3 �c6 6 Ae3 'iitc7 7 .lld 3 and Unusual Alternatives 78
12 5 �c3 �c6 6 Ae3 'iitc 7 7 Ae2 87
I ndex of Variations 99
Symbols

+ Check-
;!; + Slight advantage
± + Clear advantage
±± ++ Win ning advantage
Level position
Good move
!! Outstanding move
!? I nteresting move
?! Dubious move
? Weak move
?? Blunder
corr. Correspondence
OL Olympiad
IZ l nterzonal
Ch Championship
1 I ntrod u ct i o n a n d U n u s u al
Sth Moves fo r Wh i te
e4 c5
2 �f3 e6
3 d4 cd
4 �xd4 a6 (1)
The elastic opening set-up which
forms the defence exami ned in this
book was first given approval (from
Black's side) by Louis Paulsen
towards the end of the last century;
and in chess literature h is name
was appended to this scheme of
development.
However, thanks to improve­
ments by several generations of
theoreticians, Paulsen's system has
become enriched with a large
number of strategic and tactical
ideas of which its inventor, of
course, could have had no inkling.
In our own day it has become a
fu lly modernised system with wide
ramifications, one of the most
substantial within the Sicilian De­
fence - retaining from its originator
only the name and the initial
sequence of moves.
The starting position for the
Paulsen System, as shown on the
diagram - note that with an
appropriate follow-up this position
may also lead to the Scheveningen
or the Taimanov variation -
contains a range of factors which
make for a dynamic, double-edged
struggle even in the opening stage.
While conceding some central
points, Black has retained control
of territory with in 'his own ' half
of the board, and thanks to the
exchange of his c-pawn for the
wh ite d-pawn has obtained the half­
open c-file for his use. This, com­
bined with a possible advance of
the b-pawn, gives Black the pros­
pects of queen's side counterplay
wh ich constitute his chief trump
in the coming middlegame. At the
same time, considering the some­
what constricted nature of his
game, it is essential for Black to
2 Introduction and Unusual 5th Moves for White

show circumspection in attending entirely correct in view of 7 . . .

to White's possible king's side Axc3 8 be 4"lxe4 9 Af3 4"lcS 1 0
activity. Aa3 "Jtc7 1 1 4"lb3 d6 ) 7 . . . d6!?
In the diagrammed position, (a new idea; Black prepares the
Wh ite has the fol lowing basic manoeuvre . . . . 4"lb8-d7-cS. A
choices in his fight for the i n itiative: playable alternative is 7 . . . dS
S c4 (wh ich we exami ne in Chapter 8 eS 4"le4 9 0-0 Axc3 10 be4"ld7
2 ) ; S Ad3 (see Chapters 3-6) ; with double-edged play, Evans­
and S �c3 (Chapters 7-1 2) . Portisch, Stockholm 1 962 ) 8 0-0
Other tries either transpose into �bd7 9 "Jtg3 Axc3 ! ? 1 0 be4"lxe4
the main I ines or else are less strong 1 1 "Jtxg7 "Jtf6 1 2 "Jtxf6 4"ldxf6
and fail to present Black with 1 3 c4 e5 1 4 4"lb3 Ae6 and Black
serious opening problems. For has excellent prospects, Sznapik­
examp le : Gheorgh iu, OL 1 980.
a) 5 g3 d5 6 4)f3 (6 eS 4"lc6 74"lxc6 c ) 5 4"ld2 4)f6!? ( S . . . 4"lc6 is less
be 8 Ag2 "Jtc7 9 "Jte2 aS + Kots­ convincing in view of 6 4"lxc6 be
Polugayevsky, USSR Ch 1 962; or 7 e5 ! ? "JtaS 8 f4 4"le 7 9 c3 ±
64"ld2 d e 74"lxe4 eS 84"lb3 "Jtxd 1 + Radu lov-Veli kov, Bulgaria 1 97 7 ;
9 ®xd 1 4"lc6 1 0 Ae3 Ag4+ 1 1 Ae2 so is S . . . d6, because of 6 Ad 3
0-0-0+ 1 2 4"lbd2 AfS Averbakh­ 4"lf6 7 0-0 Ae7 8 c4 0-0 9 b3
=

Kan, USSR 1 9SS ) 6 . . .4"lf6 7 ed 4"lbd7 1 0 Ab2 ;1; Kapengut-Grigor­

ed (7 . . . 4"lxdS is also possible ) 8 ian, USS R Ch 1 97 1 ) 6 e5 ( if 6 Ad3,
Ag2 {lc6 9 0-0 Ae7 1 0 {lc3 0-0 and then 6 . . . eS!? 7 �4b34"lc6 8 0-0
Black has no d ifficulties, Czerniak­ Ae7 9 c4 0-0 1 0 "Jte2 d6 1 1 4)f3
Gheorghiu, Bucharest 1 966. aS ! ? with active play for Black,
b ) 5 Ae2 4)f6 6 �c3 ( if 6 4)d2, then Gershman-Suetin , USS R 1 96S; on
6 . . . dS is good; on 6 "Jtd3 an 6 c4, a good reply is 6 . . . 4"lc6 )
adequate reply is 6 . . . eS 7 4"lb3 6 . . . 4"ldS 7 Ac4 (or 7 c4 �b4
dS = Averbakh-Osnos, USSR Ch 8 a3 �4c6 9 4)2f34"lxd4 1 0 {lxd4
1 96S ) 6 . . . Ab4! ? ( the attack on d6 with approximate equality )
the white e-pawn gives Black fully 7 . . . d6 8 ed 4)f6 ! ? 9 4)2f3 Axd6
satisfactory chances. 6 . . . "Jtc7 is 1 0 "Jte2 "Jtc7 1 1 AgS 4"lg4 1 2 h 3
also playable, giving a position 4"leS 1 3 4"lxeS Axes and Black
examined in Chapter 8 ) 7 "Jtd3 successfully completes his develop­
( the pawn sacrifice 7 0-0 is not ment; Geller-Gipslis, Sousse 1 967.
2 5 c4

5 c4 (2) 6 a3! ? 4:lf6 or 5 . . . d 6 6 4:lc3 4:lf6,

amounting merely to a transposition
.of moves. On the other hand,
5 . . . d 5 ? ! is weak in view of 6 cd
ed 7 e5 ± .
6 4:lc3 (3)
After 6 Ad3 4:lc6 7 4:lc2 (or 7
4:lxc6 de 8 0-0 e5 Benko-Smyslov,
Yugoslavia 1 959) 7 . . . d 5 ! ? 8 ed
ed 9 0-0 Ae7 1 0 Af4 0-0 Black has
no d ifficulties, Olsson-Smyslov, OL
1 972.
The idea of this move is obvious 6 4:ld2 is passive. After 6 . . .
and perfectly logical . With the *c7, with 7 . . . 4:lc6 to fol l ow,
advance of his c-pawn White in­ Black easily equalises.
creases his central gains and firmly
clamps down on Black's counterplay
based on the 'stock' moves . . . d5
or . . . b5.
But then White's plan also has
d rawbacks, seeing that with the
move 5 c4 the mobilisation of his
forces is somewhat delayed and his
control over the central b lack
squares is weakened.
5 ... 4:lf6
The most natural rejoinder. In this position wh ich is rich i n
Util ising the fact that the thrust possibil ities, Black has the choice
6 e5 is unplayable because of between three basic continuations:
6 . . . *a5+, Black commences A 6 . . . d6
mobilisation with gain of tempo. B 6 . . . *c7
Other possibilities are 5 . . . *c7 C 6 . . . Ab4
4 5c4
A b) 7 . .
6 ... d6
A solid although rather passive
continuation, whereby Black aims
for a restrained deployment of h is
forces on the l ines of the Scheven­
i ngen system. Its defect is that it
gives White a great deal of freedom
in his choice of p lans.
7 .lle 2
7 .lld 3 (or 7 f4 'IJ/c7 8 .lld 3) is
also perfectly possible, leading to
positions wh ich more often arise
from a d ifferent move-order (5 .lld 3
<ilf6 6 0-0 d6 7 c4 .lle 7 8 <ilc3)
and which we shall examine in
Chapter 5 .
7 g3, aiming t o develop the
white-squared bishop on the flank,
is less active. After 7 . . . '1Jtc7
8 .lle 3 {or 8 'IJ/d2 b 6 9 b 3 .llb7 1 0
.llg2 <ilbd7 Holzl-Gheorgh iu, Baden
1 980) 8 . . . b6 9 .llg 2 .llb7 1 0 0-0
<ilbd7 (1 0 . . . 'IJ/xc4 is dangerous
on account of 1 1 §cl ) 1 1 §cl §c8
Black experiences no d ifficulties
even though h is position is a l i ttle
cramped ; janetschek-Gheorghiu,
Baden 1 980.
7 ... .lle 7
The most natural plan of devel­
opme nt. Practice h as also seen :
a) 7 . . b6? ! 8 f4 'IJ/c7 9 f5 e5
• Manila 1 975.
1 0 <ilf3 <ilbd7 1 1 .lle 3 g6 1 2 fg hg
1 3 <ilg5 .lle 7 1 4 0-0 .llb7 1 5 §c 1
and Black is in a dangerous situ­
ation, Kremenetsky-A. Petrosian,
USSR 1 980.
. <ilc6 8 0-0 .lld 7 (8 . . .
'1Jtc7 9 b 3 .lle7 1 0 .llb 2 t Alekhine­
Erdely, 0 L 1 931 ) 9 <ilc2 .lle 7
1 0 .lle 3 0-0 1 1 f3 and Black's
position, though robust, is passive;
Gheorgh iu-Titz, France 1 975.
8 0-0
The sharp 8 g4!? also merits
attention. The game Mariotti­
Gheorghiu, Leningrad 1 977, saw
8 . . . h6 (Sokolov recommends
8 . . . d 5 ! ? ) 9 .lle 3 4:lc6 1 0 <ilc2 g5
1 1 h4 §g8 1 2 hg hg 1 3 'IJ/d2
and White obtained a promising
position:
8 ... 0-0
9 f4
Wh ite's spatial advantage allows
him to fight for the initiative by
other methods too. For example :
a) 9 b3 'IJ/c7 1 0 .llb 2 b 6 1 1 f4 .llb7
1 2 .llf3 t Adorjan- Peev, Varna
1 972.
b) 9 .lle 3 b6 (or 9 . . . Bd7 1 0 a3
<ilc6 1 1 b4!? Chiburdanidze­
Rashkovsky, USSR 1 980) 1 0 f4
.llb 7 1 1 .llf3 'IJ/c7 1 2 §cl §e8
(1 2 .. . 4:lc6? 1 3 <ild5!) 1 3 g4!?
.llf8 1 4 g5 <ilfd7 1 5 .llg 2 <ilc6
(1 5 . . . '1Jtxc4 is dangerous in view
of 1 6 a3! 'IJ/c8 17 tt:ld5) 1 6 <ilde2
tt:lc5 1 7 1£1g3 t Torre- Polugayevsky,
9 ... '1Jtc7
1 0 .lle 3 §e8
1 0 . . . b6 1 1 §cl .llb 7 1 2 .llf3
leads to a position from the last
example.

1 1 'iWel .ilf8
1 2 'lth4 b6
1 3 §ael lilbd7
1 4 .ild3
The regrouping of his forces
has enabled White to create favou-
rable conditions for a king's side
attack. In the coming middlegame
his chances are preferable; N unn­
Gheorghiu, London 1 980.
B roughly equal chances, Sokolov­
6 ... "tWc7 (4)
A well motivated contin uation,
containing a fair amount of 'poison'.
Preventing the advance 7 e5, Black
sets up the positional threat of
7 . .. .ilb4.
7 a3 !
As practice shows, it's only this
modest prophylactic reply, recom­
mended by Alekhine, that enables
White to exploit 'the advantage of
the move' and acquire an opening
edge. With other tries he achieves
nothing to speak of. Some charac­
teristic examples :
a) 7 .ile3 .ilb4 8 .ild3 .ilxc3+ 9 be
5 c4 5
d6 1 0 0-0 lilbd7 and Black has
an excellent blockading position,
Durao-Portisch, OL 1 960 .
b) 7 .ild3 lilc6 8 lilde2 (8 .ile3
lile5 ! ? 9 h3 .ile7 1 0 0-0 0-0 1 1 f4
4"lxd3 1 2 'tWxd3 d6 1 3 lilf3 §d8
= Selivanovsky-Taimanov, USSR
1 965) 8 . . . .ilc5 {another playable
line is 8 . . . .ile7 9 f4 d6 1 0 0-0 0-0
1 1 'it>hl .ild7 1 2 .ile3 §ab8 with
Suetin, Moscow 1 98 1 ) 9 0-0 4"le5
1 0 h3 d6 1 1 .ilg5 lilfd7 1 2 §cl
Chi bu rdanidze-Suetin , Moscow
1 98 1 ; now Black coul d have
obtained a perfectly satisfactory
game by 1 2 . . . <£lxd3 1 3 'tW xd3
<£le5.
c) 7 .ile2 .ilb4 8 lilc2 (inferior
alternatives are 8 'tWd3 .ilxc3+
9 be d6 1 0 0-0 lilbd7 + and 8 f3 0-
0-0 9 0-0 d5!? + Spiel mann­
Tartakower, Vienna 1 923; 8 0-0?!
is incorrect in view of 8 . . . .ilxc3
9 be 4"lxe4 1 0 .ild3 4"lc5 1 1 .ilc2
0-0 + Perez-Lebredo, Cuba 1 977)
8 . . . .ilxc3+ 9 be lilc6!? (9 . . .
4"lxe4 is risky; after 1 0 'tWd4 4"lf6
1 1 .ilf4 White has a dangerous
in itiative) 1 0 f3 0-0 1 1 .ila3 §d8
1 2 .ild6 'tWa5 1 3 4"lb4 lile8 1 4 0-0
4"lxd6 1 5 'tWxd6 'tWa3!? 1 6 c5 a5
1 7 <£ixc6 be 1 9 'tWd4 d5 and Black
freed himself from the positional
pressure in Fischer-Portisch, OL
1 962.
d) 7 4:lc2 b6 (7 . . . 4"lc6 8 f4 d6 is
less logical . After 9 .ild3 .!le7 1 0
6 5 c4
0-0 0-0 1 1 Ae3 White's position Again 9 Ae3 is playable. For
is more promising, Ljubojevic­ examp le, 9 . . . .£lc6 1 0 <£ixc6 Axc6
Gheorghiu, Athens 1 971 ) 8 Ad3 1 1 0-0 Ac5 1 2 §e 1 *e5 1 3
Ab7 9 *e2 d6 1 0 0-0 .£lbd7 1 1 .£ld5 ! ? Axd 5 ! ? 1 4 ed .llx e3 1 5
Af4 (or 1 1 .£le3 Ae7 1 2 Ad2 0-0 §xe3 *d6 1 6 *f3 0-0 1 7 de fe
=} 1 1 . . . Ae7 1 2 §acl 0-0 1 3 1 8§d 1 and White has the i nitiative,
§fd l §ac8 1 4 .£le3 .£lc5 with a Chiburdanidze-Suetin, USSR 1 980.
satisfactory game for Black, Colon­ 9 ... <£lc6
Petrosian, Las Pal mas 1 980. After 9 . . . Ae7 1 0 *e2 d6
7 ... b6 1 1 f4 0-0 1 2 ®hl White has
This is more elastic than 7 .. . excellent attacking prospects in the
.£lc6, which can be answered by centre and on the king's side;
8 Ae3 Ae7 (or 8 . . . <£ixd4 9 Axd4 Chevaldonnet-Adamski, Reggio Em­
Ad6 1 0 Ad3 b6 1 1 *e2 Ae5 ilia 1 980.
1 2 Axe5 *xe5 1 3 0-0 ± Kavalek­ 1 0 <£lxc6 *xc6
Byrne, US Ch 1 973 } 9 §cl .£le5 1 1 *e2 Ae7
1 0 Ae2 <£ig6 1 1 *d2 (another 1 2 f4 Ac5+ ! ?
possibility is 1 1 0-0 b6 1 2 f4 0-0 1 2 . . . d6 would be answered b y
1 3 b4 ± as in Torre-Karpov, Bad 1 3 e 5 de 1 4 fe .£ld7 1 5 Ae4 *c7
Lauterberg 1 977 } 1 1 . . . 0-0 1 2 1 6 Axb7 *xb7 1 7 *g4 and White
0-0 b6 1 3 ® h l Ab7 1 4 f3 §ac8 has dangerous threats.
1 5 b4 and White has a tangible 1 3 ®hl
space advantage; Peshina-Rastianis, I f 13 Ae3, then 13 . . . Axe3+
Lithuania 1 980. 14 *xe3 d6 =.

The interesting tactical possi bil­ 13 . . . .lld 4

ity 7 . . .£lxe4 8 <£ixe4 *e5 has yet
. 1 4 .£ld5!?
to be tested in practice. In the game Krnic-Taimanov,
8 Ad3 Vrnjacka Banja 1 974, Wh ite played
8 Ae3 Ab7 9 f3 is also good. 1 4 e5? which led to advantage for
After 9 . . . Ae7 (or 9 . . . .£lc6 1 0 Black after 1 4 . . Axc3 1 5 be
§cl <£le5 1 1 Ae2 .£lg6 1 2 *d2 t <£le4.
Honfi-Taimanov, Copenhagen 1 965 ) 14 <£ixd5
1 0 §cl d6 11 *d2 <£lbd7 1 2 *f2 1 5 ed *d6
0-0 1 3 Ae2 §ab8 1 4 0-0 White In th is complex midd legame
has a defin ite positional plus; White's position is more active, yet
Skrobek- Pytel, Poland 1 980. with the possibility of q ueen's
8 Ab7 side castl ing Black has counterplay.
9 0-0
 5 c4 7
c Black's intentions by tactical means.
6 ... .Q.b4 (5) 7 ... Axc3+
8 be �5!?
sB�"'?B�B
....... �--� � &\ After 8 . . . .£lxe4 9 �g4 White's
w • t • t • t•t calculations woul d prove right.
t• • t • .. 9 �d3
.. .. .. .. 9 f3 is no good because of 9 . . .
�..]ft�ft
.
. 1�
..
· •
• ... ..
d 5 ! 1 0 cd ed 1 1 e5 �xc3+ 1 2
®f2 .£lfd7 1 3 ..lh3 .£Jc6 + Hasin­
.
� � � . .� Furman, USSR 1 957.
ft u
� • • u� ft �. -� "
9 �e5
��
... ���If;,-�
- �.j!L,�/::;j. 1 0 f3 d5
The most dynamic and straight­ 1 1 Aa3
forward plan. Without bothering There is no saving the pawn, but
about prophylactic measures d i rec­ White pins his hopes on active piece
ted against the advance 7 e5, Black p lay.
creates counterplay based on the 11 de
threat to the pawn on e4 and 1 2 �e3 .£!c 6
the possibility of spoiling White's 1 3 f4 �as
queen 's side pawn structure with 1 4 Ae2
an exchange on c3. I n this compl icated position
All the same, we should warn Black has some d ifficulties to
against overrating the significance overcome in return for his extra
of these th reats, sin ce after a cap­ pawn, seeing that his king is stuck
ture on e4 White has the active in the centre; Kurtecz-Forintos,
riposte �g4, and with an exchange Hungary 1 966.
on c3 the dark squares in Black's C2
camp are d ecidedly weakened. 7 e5 (6)
White now has several ways of
contending for the initiative :
Cl 7 .£!c2
C2 7 e5
C3 7 .Q.d2
C4 7 Ad3
Cl
7 .£Jc2
An interesting but scarcely con­
vincihg attempt to cast doubt on
8 ) c1
'

/\ natural reaction to Black's 'ltxf5 .llx d6 1 4 §b 1 ! 'ltc7 1 5 'lte4

bishop sortie; some l ively, forcing <i'lc6 1 6 .lld 3 g6 1 5 g4! ;!; Newman­
play now ensues, which, however - Shapiro, corr. 1 969) 1 3 'ltg3 <i'lc6
as practice demonstrates - brings 1 4 <ilh6 .llx d6 1 5 c5 ! ? .llx c5 1 6
advantage to neither side. .llc 4 §f8 1 7 0-0 and Black is in a
7 ... <ile4 dangerous p9sition- Boleslavsky.
The counter-blow 7 . . . ita.5? ! 1 1 'ltg3 d6
doesn't work i n view of 8 ef .llx c3+ 1 2 ed (7)
9 be 'ihc3+ 1 0 'ltd2 ! 'ltxal 1 1 This exchange is convenient for
.lle 2 ! ? with a dangerous initiative Black, but is not to be avoided .
for White. For example : 1 1 . . . <i'lc6 1 2 .llf4 can be countered by 1 2 . . .
(1 1 . . . gf fails against 1 2 0-0, g5 ! 1 3 .llx g5 §g8 with the un­
when Black loses h is queen) 1 2 fg answerable threats of 1 4 . . .
§g8 1 3 <i'lxc6 be {or 1 3 . . . de §xg5 ! and 1 4 . . . h6; while if
1 4 0-0 'ltxg7 1 5 g3 'lte5 1 6 .lla3 c5 1 2 f4 d e 1 3 fe <i'ld7 1 4 .llf4, as
1 7 §dl ®e7 1 8 .llb 2 'ltc7 1 9 'lth6 in Anatasov-Radev, Bu lgarian Ch
± ± Newman-Varada, corr. 1 967) 1 975, the blow 1 4 . . . g5 ! is again
1 4 0-0 'ltxg7 1 5 g3 d5 1 6 .lla3 'ltg5 h ighly u npleasant for White.
1 7 'ltb4 'ltd8 1 8 cd cd 1 9 §cl and
it's d ifficult for Black to defend;
Nielsen-Arlauskas, corr. 1 959.
8 'ltg4 <i'lxc3
Again 8 . . . 'lta5 ? is no good:
9 'ltxg7 .llxc3+ 1 0 be 'ltxc3+
1 1 ®e2 'ltxal 1 2 'ltxh8+ ®e7
1 3 .lla3+ d6 1 4 .llx d6+ ®d7 (1 4
. . . <i'lxd6 1 5 <i'!c6+! ± ±) 1 5 <i'l xe6!
and White wins, Skotorenko­
Belomestni kh , corr. 1 967.
9 a3 .llf8 12 . . . .llx d6!
This time 9 . . . 'lta5? is answered The 'point' of Black's counter-
by 1 0 'ltxg7 §f8 1 1 .lld 3 ! �e4+ play!
(1 1 . . . .lle 7 1 2 .lld 2 ! ) 1 2 ab 'ltxal 1 3 'ltxd6 'ltxc3+
1 3 0-0 and White wins. 1 4 .lld 2
1 0 be 'lta5 Similarly, after 14 ®dl 'ltxal
At last this sortie is appropriate. 1 5 .lld 3 .ll d 7 1 6 ®e2 <i'l c6!? 1 7
If i nstead 1 0 . . . d6 1 1 ed e5 <i'l xc6 .llx c6 1 8 .llg 5 'ltb2+ 1 9 ®dl
1 2 �f5 g6 {or 1 2 . . . .llxf5 1 3 .lla4+ 20 ®el f6 2 1 'ltxe6+, as in
 5 c4 9

Liebert-Abrashin, corr. 1 955, White

8 ••
a � rm�•
" ..IL�aw•
. .." . "
� �
achieves noth ing. For example,
2 1 . . . ®d8 (or 21 . . . ® f8 22 Af4 8 • t • t • t•i
g5 23 Ad6+ ®g7 24 "he7+ ®h6 t• •t• •
25 h4 §ae8 26 hg+ ®xg5 27 f4+ • • • •
®g4 28 Ae2+ "h xe2+ 29 "h xe2+ � ·�ft �
...... - •
.. ft •
� c

§xe2+ 30 ®xe2 ) 22 "hd6+ Ad7

=

23 ll.fS §e8+ 28 Ae3 §e7 (not

. "
. � . . . .
.o!).D n
." ��.o!).�-�
24 . . . "hc1 + 25 ®e2 "h xc4+ .[!.� � � ..!.!.. �

26 ®d2 "hc6 27 Ab6+ ®c8 28 §cl ��-

'·' --�� �·-g
. ���
± ± ) 25 Axd7 §xd7 26 "h f8+ I n the event of 7 . . . Axc3
®c7 27 "hc5+ with a d raw - 8 Axc3 �xe4 9 "hg4 �xc3 1 0
analysis by Boleslavsky. "h xg7 §f8 1 1 b e N i kitin-Vasyukov,
14 . . . "h xa l + USSR 1 957, or 7 . . . �c6 8 �c2
1 5 ®e2 "h b 2 Axc3 9 Axc3 �xe4 1 0 "hg4
Otherwise 1 6 Ab4 follows, with Ravinsky-Hasin, USS R 1 957, Black
a decisive attack. risks coming under attack.
1 6 ®e3 �c6 8 e5 Axc3
1 7 �xc6 "h b6+ There's no point in retreating
1 8 "hd4! "hxc6 with 8 . . . �e8 9 �c2 Ae7 . After
1 9 "hxg7 "hc5+ 1 0 .lld 3 White has a strong attacking
20 ®e2 "h xc4+ position, Stolyar-Tal, USS R Ch
2 1 ®el "he4+ 1 957.
22 Ae2 "h b l + 9 Axc3 �e4
23 Ad 1 1 0 "hc2
And since 2 3 . . . §f8 is met by 1 0 Ab4 promises nothing be­
24 Ab4, Black has to give perpetual cause of 1 0 . . . d6, and if 1 1 "he2
check; Barczay-Neishtadt, corr. (1 1 ed is strongly answered by
1 959. A 'storm in a teacup'! 1 1 . . . "hb6! 1 2 a3 �c6 +) then
C3 1 1 . . . "hb6 1 2 �c2 �c6 1 3 a3 d 5 !
7 Ad2 (8) 1 4 f3 (1 4 Axf8 i s dangerous o n
I n this manner White aims to account o f 1 4 . . . "h xb2 with
preserve the elasticity of h is q ueen 's threats of 1 5 . . . �d4 or 1 5 . . .
side pawn structure, but to achieve "hc3+) 1 4 . . . �c5 1 5 "he3 d4!
this costs him a tempo. 1 6 �xd4 �xb4 1 7 ab "h xb4+
7 ... 0-0!? and Black has his full share of
Black should use the time to the play, Korchnoi-Furman, USSR
b ring h is king into safety. 1 957.
70 5 c4
10 d5
10 . . . 4:lxc3 1 1 �xc3 f6 is
worth considering too.
1 1 ed 4:lxc3
1 2 �xc3 �xd6
1 3 0-0-0
Or 1 3 §dl e 5 ! ? 1 4 4:lf3 �g6
1 5 .Jld3 e4 1 6 .llb l f5 1 7 4:!h4
�e6 Unzicker-Tai, Zurich 1 959.
=
13 . . . �f4+
Playable alternatives are 1 3
. . . �c7 1 4 .Jld3 e5 1 5 4:lc2 .Jle6
= Boleslavsky-Shagalovich, USS R
1 958; and 1 3 . . . e5 ! ?
1 4 �e3 �e3+
1 5 fe e5
Or 1 5 . . . 4:ld7 = Boleslavsky­
Kotov, USS R 1 957.
1 6 4:lf3 4:lc6
The endgame that has resulted
offers equal chances; Kavalek­
Portisch, Halle 1 963.
C4
7 .Jld3
The most popular and l ogical
continuation. White fortifies his
pawn on e4 and speeds up the
mobil isation of his king's side. On
the other hand, the knight on d4 is
now left u ndefended, wh ich allows
Black to gain quite an important
tempo for develo pment.
7 ... 4:lc6 (9)
This is the point! The 'opposing
development' ( to use N imzowitsch 's
phrase ) in this case furthers the
activation of Black's forces. 7 . . .
�c7, which occasional ly occurs, is
less l ogical although playable.
Now the basic options for White
are as foll ows :
C41 8 .Jlc2
C42 8 4:lc2
C43 9 4:lxc6
Other continuations give Black
l ess trouble. For example:
a) 8 .Jle3 d 5 ! ? 9 ed ed 10 0-0 .llxc3
1 1 be 0-0 =.
b ) 8 4:le2 d5 (another possibil ity
is 8 . . . �c7 9 0-0 4:lg4 ! ? 1 0 .Jlf4
.Jld6, as i n Mnatsakanian-Tal , USSR
1 963 ) 9 ed ed 1 0 cd 4:lxd5
Grechkin-Abroshin, corr. 1 957.
C41
8 Ac2
An idea of Bronstein 's. White
keeps his central ised knight in its
commanding position, or consider­
ably increases the activity of his
queen i n the case of an exchange on
d4. However, this is achieved at
the cost of making another move
with a piece already developed, and
i n the opening stage such loss of

ti me can mean conceding the
initiative.
8 -IJ/c7
I n this way BI ack prepares to
expel the white pieces from the d4
point by the manoeuvre 9 . . . 0xd4
1 0-IJ/xd4 Ac5.
I t would be risky for Black to
go pawn hunting with 8 . . . 4Je5.
After 9 0-0 ! ? 4Jxc4 1 0 -IJ/e2 0e5
1 1 'le h l !? ( n ot immediately 1 1 f4?
because of 1 1 . . . Ac5 ) 1 1 . . . d6
12 f4 0g6 (or 1 2 . . . 4Jc6 13 4Jxc6
be 1 4 e5 ± ) 1 3 f5 ! ? 0e5 1 4 Aa4+ !
White has a dangerous attack for
the slight material loss; Mestel­
Shamkovich, Hastings 1 977/78.
9 0-0 0xd4
There is no point in delaying
this stock manoeuvre. On 9 . . . 0-0
the reply 1 0 Ag5 is u n pleasant
( 1 0 'iehl , as in Mestel-Miles,
British Ch 1 979, is less convincing
in view of 1 0 . . . 4Jxd4 1 1 -IJ/xd4
<ilg4 1 2 f4 Ac5 1 3 -IJ/d3 4Jf2+
1 4 §xf2 .llx f2 1 5 e5 g6 1 6 0e4
Ah4 1 7 Ad2 b 5 ! with double-
edged play ) ; and if 1 0 . . . 0xd4,
then 1 1 .llx f6 ! Now 1 1 . . . 4Jxc2
is bad because of 1 2 -IJ/g4! g6 1 3
-IJ!g5 §e8 1 4 §acl , while after
1 1 . . . gf 1 2-IJ/ xd4 tte5 1 3-IJ/d3
White has an undoubted positional
edge; Dimitrov-Popov, Bu lgarian
Ch 1 961 .
1 0 -IJ/ xd4 4Jg4
Taking advantage of the fact
that 1 1 f4 is u nplayable because
5 c4 7 7
of 1 1 . . . Ac5, Black tries to gain
some time for activating h is forces.
The more straightforward 1 0 . . .
Ac5 is also possible.
1 1 e5 ! ?
Th is is the only way to fight
for the initiative. On 1 1 g3 4Je5
1 2 ®g2 0-0 Black has an excellent
game.
11 0xe5
If 1 1 . . . h 5 ? ! then 1 2 .llf4 Ac5
1 3 -IJ/d2 ± Bronstein-Boleslavskr,
USSR 1 958.
1 2 Af4
The game Ch iburdanidze-Fisch­
dick, Belgrade 1 979, saw 1 2 0e4
d6? ! 1 3 .llf4 b6 1 4 a3 Ac5 1 5
-IJ!c3 ! ? f5 1 6 .lla4+ 'lef8 1 7 0xc5
be 1 8 §adl and White obtained a
big advantage. However, 1 2 4Je4
can be answered by 1 2 . . . 0-0,
and if 1 3 c5 then 1 3 . . . 0c6
1 4-IJ/d 3 f5 1 5 a3-IJ/e5 ! ? and Black
seizes the i nitiative.
12 . . . f6! ?
1 2 . . . d 6 ? 1 3 4Je4!? woul d l ead
to a position from the Chiburdan­
idze-Fischdick game just mentioned.
1 3 0e4
1 3 §fel achieves nothing in view
of 1 3 . . . Ac5 1 4-IJ/e4 d6.
13 . . . b6
Of course, 1 3 . . . 4Jf3+ 1 4 gf
'tt x f4 fail s against 1 5 c5.
14 .llg 3 .llb 7
1 5 §adl 0-0-0
I n this sharp situation White
certainly h as active play, yet
12 5 c4
according to Boleslavsky's analy- level, Volchok-lgnatiev, USS R
sis Black's chances, given his extra 1 969.
pawn, are no worse. 10 . . . ed
C42 1 1 .lla3
8 l£lc2 (l 0) Otherwise Black wil l be able to
castle ·and seize the in itiative,
e xploiting White's queen's side
pawn weaknesses.
11 ... .lle 6
1 2 'lte2 'ltc7
Since castl ing short is i mpossible,
the king has to be promptly 'evacu­
ate d ' to the other side. 1 2 . . .
'lta5, with the same end in view,
is inferior because of 1 3 .llb4! ?
l£lxb4 1 4 cb 'ltc7 1 5 c5 ± .
I n this manner White secures 1 3 0-0
an easing of the tension, but the On 1 3 .llf5 ? ! Black h as two
loss of tempo in retreating the possibil ities : either 1 3 . 0-0-0
. .

knight allows Black to carry out a 1 4 .llxe6+ fe 1 5 'ltxe6+ c;ftb8

standard counter-stroke in the with more than enough for the
centre. pawn, or simply 1 3 . . . 'lte5.
8 ... Axc3+ 13 . . . 0-0-0
9 be d5!? 1 4 c5
This i s the point. By breaking Otherwise the centre wil l open
u p White's pawn centre Black u p to Black's advantage.
attains equality. 14 §he8
1 0 ed 1 5 l£ld4 l£le4!?
If 1 0 cd ed 1 1 e5, then 1 1 . . . 1 6 Axe4 de
l£lxe5 is bad on account of 1 2 .lla3 ! ? 1 7 'ltxe4 l£lxd4
and the fixing of Black's king in 1 8 cd .llc 4
the centre can be the cause of 1 9 'ltg4+ 'ltd7
serious trouble. I nstead, Black 20 'ltxd7+ §xd7
should reply 1 1 . . . l£le4!? when The endgame that has now
1 2 .lla 3 achieves nothing because arisen is drawish; Hachaturov-Kan,
of 1 2 . . . l£lxc3 1 3 'lth5 l£lb5 ! +, USSR 1 955.
wh ile after 1 2 Axe4 de 1 3 ttxd8+ C43
c;Ttxd8 1 4 .llg 5+ c;Ttc7 the game is 8 l£lxc6
 5 c4 73
I n this way White saves time for endgame favours White. For ex­
the rapid mobil isation of h is forces; ample, 1 2 . . . f6 (or 1 2 . . . bS 1 3
however, it is well known that <ile4 <ilxe4 1 4 .llx e4 Ab 7 1 S Ae3
simplifications usually ease the task 0-0-0+ 1 6 ®e2 be 1 7 §ac1 as 1 8
of the defending side. a3 Ae7 1 9 Ab6 §d7 20 ®e3 ! ? ;!;
8 ... de!? Gufeld-Gipslis, USSR Ch 1 966)
After 8 . . . be?! 9 0-0 (9 eS? ! 1 3 <ile4 <ilxe4 1 4 .llx e4 fe 1 S fe
'tt a S! 1 0 ef .llx c3+ 1 1 be 'tt xc3+ AcS 1 6 Ad2 ! ? 0-0 (on 1 6 . . . Ad4,
1 2 Ad2 -tt x d3 1 3 fg §g8 +) 9 . . . a good reply is 1 7 Ac3 .llx c3
eS 1 0 <ila4!? d6 1 1 cS !? dS 1 2 ed 1 8 be) 1 7 ®c2 Ad7 1 8 §hf1 t
<ilxdS 1 3 'tt hS Black ends up in a Trabattoni-Joksic, Reggio Emilia
d ifficult position - Boleslavsky. 1 976/77.
9 eS (7 1) 10 ef Axc3+
The possibil ity of gaining space 1 1 be -tt xc3+
l ike this was the reason why White 1 2 Ad2
exchanged knights. Accordingly, The exchange sacrifice 1 2 'tt d 2 i s
9 0-0 wou l d be illogical in view of not convincing: 1 2 . . . 'tt xa1 1 3 fg
9 . . . eS!? (or 1 3 0-0 'tt xf6 1 4 Aa3 b6 1 S
§b1 'tt d 8 ! ? 1 6 'ttc 3 f6 1 7 .lle 4
Ab7 1 8 'tt e 3 ®f7 + Tompa-Honfi,
Hungary 1 973) 1 3 . . . 'tt x g7
1 4 0-0 eS 1 S f4 .llg4! ? (Tal's
recommendation ; inferior alterna­
tives are 1 S . . . .llh 3?! 1 6 Ae4
§d8 1 7 'tt e 3 ± Mukhin-Honfi,
Sukhumi 1 974, or 1 S . . . Ad7
1 6 Ab2 0-0-0 1 7 .llx eS f6 1 8 Ad6
and White has the in itiative) 1 6
Ab2 (1 6 Ae4 fS! +) 1 6 . . . 0-0-0
9 ... 'tt a S !? and White doesn 't have adequate
A sharp retort, leading to compensation for the material
interesting complications. Anal­ deficit.
ogous variations arise after 9 . . . 12 'tt xd3
'tt d 4. 1 3 fg §g8
After the quieter 9 . . . <ild7 1 4 Ah6
1 0 f4 tiles (1 1 . . . bS? ! 1 2 0-0 The pawn on g7 is White's c hief
<ilb6 1 3 cb cb 1 4 Ae4 ± ) 1 1 Ac2 trump, and it is essential to defend
-ttx d l + 1 2 ®xdl , the resulting it. After 1 4 AgS? ! 'ltc3+ 1 S ®f1
74 5 c4

�d7 ! ? Black obtains the advantage. strong.

14 . . . 't!i'c3+ 1 7 't!i'd2 f6
If the queens are exchanged, In this complex position White
White's advantage is obvious. has ful l y adequate compensation
1 5 ®fl 't!i'xc4+ for the sac rificed pawn; Karadzic­
1 6 ®gl 't!i'h4 Honfi, Bajmo k 1 975.
I f 1 6 . . . 't!i'd5, then 1 7 't!i'e2 is
3 5 Ad 3 : I n trod u ct i o n a n d 5 ... 4l c6
5 Ad3 (12)
One of the most popular devel­
oping continuations. Although, for
the moment, the b ishop's role looks
passive - it merely defends the
pawn on e4 - later on, after an
eventual advance or exchange of
this pawn, the bishop may become
very active along the b 1 -h 7 d iagonal
and participate in an attack on
Black's king's side. Another impor­
tant point is that in contrast to
variations where the bishop is
developed o n e2, the d 1 -h 5 d iagonal
is now left free for b ringing the
queen out, while the e-file is also
available for activating one of
White's major pieces.
At th is point the basic methods
of development for Black are as
follows: 5 . . . <ilc6 (examined in
the present chapter) ; 5 . . . <ile 7
or 5 . . . g6 (Chapter 4); 5 . . . <ilf6
(Chapter 5 ) ; or 5 . . . Ac5 (Chapter
6) .
Other tries either transpose into
the main lines or else are consider­
ably less effective. For example :
a) 5 . . b5? ! 6 0-0 Ab7 7 'll\'e 2
•
(the immediate 7 a4 is also good)
7 . . . <ile7 8 a4 b4 9 <ild2 <i:lbc6
1 0 <i:i4b3 <i:ig6 1 1 f4 ± Matanovic­
Taimanov, Yugoslavia 1 965.
b) 5 . . . 'll\'c 7 6 0-0 <ilc6 7 <ilxc6
'll\' xc6 8 <i:ld2 ± Luti kov-Kikian i ,
USSR 1 964.
5 ... <ilc6
The most natural reaction. The
white knight on d4 has been
deprived of support, so by means
of an 'opposing development' Black
is able to induce either the retreat
of White's centralised piece (which
would gain Black a tempo), or else
its exchange (which also, as a rule,
favours the defending side). How­
ever, in the present case, in pro­
voking an exchange on c6 Black
has to accept an impairment of his
queen's side pawn structure. I n
particular, there are several l i nes
in which the move 4 . . . a6 turns
out to be redundant.
76 5 Ad3: Introduction and 5 . . . <ilc6

6 .£Jxc6 ations, his problems are sti l l more

The principal - and best - way involved . For example :
of counteri ng Black's idea. a) 7 . . d6 8 "lte2 .£Jf6 9 .£Jd2 "ltc7
.

White achieves nothing with 1 0 b3 Ae7 1 1 Ab2 e5 1 2 f4 ±

6 <ilb3 .£Jf6 7 .£Jc3 d5, or with Geller-Hort, Sousse 1 967 .
6 Ae3 .£Jf6 7 0-0 (7 .£Jc3? ! e5 ! ? b) 7 . . . e5 8 f4! ? (another good
8 .£Jde2 d5 Ragozin-Kotov,
= line is 8 c4 .£Jf6 9 <ilc3 Ae7 1 0 b 3
USSR 1 959) 7 . . . .£Je5!? 8 h3 d5 0-0 1 1 .llb 2 d6 1 2 ttd2 Ae6 1 3
9 l£ld2 d e ! ? 1 0 l£lxe4 .£Jd5. §adl Bronstein-Vasyukov, USS R
After 6 .£Jxc6 there are two 1 97 1 ) 8 . . . Ac5+ 9 ® h l <ile7 1 0
o ptions for Black: tth5 ± Ravinsky-Vorotni kov, USSR
A 6 . . . be 1 963.
B 6 . . . de 8 c4!?
A The most energetic plan. Util­
6 be ising his lead i n development,
This recapture has its positive White works to open up the centre.
side - Black's pawn mass in the The same purpose can be served
centre is strengthened. On the by 8 ed cd 9 c4, which transposes
other hand the pawn on a6 be­ into the main line after 9 . . . l£lf6
comes weak, and later on this may (9 . . . de? 1 0 Ae4! ± ) .
tell . Other continuations are less
7 0-0 (13) dangerous for Black; for example :
a) 8 tte2 .£Jf6 9 Ag5 Ae 7 1 0
11
• �-·
a •-E..
••1fr.B!i.�
i -� i"�
Mio � '
�
. �,
:< �. .£Jd2 0-0 1 1 f4 {or 1 1 §ad l l£ld7
� ,..,__ 7. · · •••• �

Holmov-Vladimi rov, Leningrad

s m mi mi��t =

1 967) 1 1 . . . §e8 ! ? (1 1 . . . .£Jd7

t•t•t• • 1 2 Axe7 ttxe7 is worse, because
• • • • of 1 3 c4 <ilc5 1 4 Ac2 ± Holmov­
m ft B m Moiseyev, USSR Ch 1 970) 1 2 ® h l
• • • h 6 1 3 .ll h 4 Ab7 1 4 c 4 de 1 5 .£Jxe4
��
..u.. u ft -
• u ��ft �'� , x
.£Jxe4 1 6 Axe7 l£lg3+ 1 7 hg ttxe7
���n�R§�
,, - . � = -Boleslavsky.
b) 8 .£Jd2 l£lf6 9 §el (or 9 tte2
7 ... d5 a5!? 1 0 §el .lle 7 1 1 b3 a4! ?
The usual reply, with which 1 2 a 3 ttb6 1 3 Ab2 ab 1 4 c b .lla 6!
Black attempts to gain space in the = - Boleslavsky; or 9 b3 .llb4!?
centre. 1 0 .llb 2 a5 1 1 c3 Ae 7 1 2 c4 0-0
In the case of other continu- 1 3 ttc2 h 6 - unclear, Spassky-
 5 Ad3:
Petrosian, match 1 969) 9 . . . a5 ! ?
(if 9 . . . tie 7 a t once, then 1 0 e5
4ld7 1 1 't!l'g4 ± - Geller} 1 0 c4
(if now 1 0 e5 4ld7 1 1 't!\'g4, Black
can play 1 1 . . . g6 and 1 2 . . . Ag7)
10 . . . Ab4 1 1 a3 Ae 7 (or 1 1 . . .
.llx d2 1 2 't!\'xd2 de 1 3 Axe4 4lxe4
1 4 §xe4 t) 1 2 cd cd 1 3 Ab5+ Ad7
1 4 .llx d7+ 't!l'xd7 1 5 e5 4)g8 1 6
't!l'g4 ;t Geller-Vasyukov, USSR Ch
1 969.
8 ... 4)f6
9 4)c3
If 9 cd cd 1 0 ed 4lxd5 (1 0 . . .
't!l'xd5? ! 1 1 4lc3 't!l'd 7 1 2 Ag5 Ae7
1 3 'tt e 2 Ab7 1 4 §acl 0-0 1 5 §fd l
± Mi khalchishin-Gorchakov, USSR
1 972) 1 1 Ae4, then 1 1 . . . §a7 ! ?
(1 1 . . . Ae7 i s worse i n view of
1 2 4)c3 Ab7 1 3 'tta4+ 'tt d 7 1 4
't!l'xd7+ �xd7 1 5 §dl ± Averbakh­
Taimanov, USSR Ch 1 960) 1 2
.llx d5 't!l'xd5 1 5 't!l'xd5 ed Parma­
=
Pachman, Mar del Plata 1 962.
9 ... Ae7
9 . . . d4 1 0 4)e2 e5 is strongly
answered by 1 1 f4 ±; wh ile the
endgame arising after 9 . .. de 1 0
.llx c4 'tt xdl 1 1 §xdl §b8 1 2 §bl
e5 1 3 Ae3 is also unfavourable
for Black; Parma-Udovcic, Amster­
dam 1 963.
1 0 cd cd
1 1 ed ed
I f 1 1 . . . 4)xd5, then 1 2 Ae4
leads to a variation considered
above, in the notes to White's 9th.
1 2 'tt a4+
Introduction and 5 . . . 4lc6 7 7
1 2 Ae3 0-0 1 3 Ad4 is less
convincing on account of 1 3 . . .
't!l'd6!? 1 4 h3 Ae6 1 5 §el 4ld7 ;t
Parma-Suetin, Havana 1 969.
12 . . . 'tt d 7
1 2 . . . Ad7 is strongly met by
1 3 'tt d 4 0-0 1 4 Ag5 ± .
1 3 §el ! ? 't!l'xa4
1 4 4)xa4 Ae6
1 5 Ae3
White has an appreciable pos-
itional edge; Fischer-Petrosian,
match 1 971 .
B
6 ... de (14)
I n contrast to the previous
examp les, by capturing this way
Black renounces the struggle for
influence in the centre, but keeps
his pawn structure more solid and
faces fewer difficulties of mobilis­
ation.
White now h as two plans of
roughly equal value at his disposal
in h is fight for the i nitiative:
Bl 7 f4
B2 7 4ld2
78 5 Ad3: Introduction and 5 . . t;)c6
.

The continuation 7 0-0 leads, position of moves) continued 9 'l*f3

after 7 . . . e5 8 t;)d2, to positions t;)f6 1 0 Ae3 Ae7 1 1 0-0?! ( 1 1 a4! ? )
in variation B2. 1 1 . . . c5 ! ? 1 2 § d l 'l*c7 1 3 c4
81 b4 and Black obtained a good
7 f4 game.
A straightforward strategy - 9 ... Ab7
White aims to constrict his oppon­ 1 0 'l*e2
ent in the centre. But he does so 1 0 'l*f3 ! ? is also worth consider­
at a cost to the mobilisation of ing.
his pieces. The continuation 10 Ae3 usually
7 ... e5 amounts to a mere transposition
By this means, Black secures a of moves.
share of space in the centre. I n 10 . . . t;)f6 (7 5)
Kavalek-Kuijpers, Amsterdam 1 968, 1 0 . . . Ac5 can be answered by
Black tried 7 . . . Ac5 8 'l*e2 t;)e 7, 1 1 t;)d2 t;)f6 1 2 t;)b3 Bb6 1 3 Ae3
but after 9 t;)d2 t;)g6 1 0 g3 0-0 t;)d7 1 4 0-0, giving a position from
1 1 e5 he was left in a difficul t Matanovic-Vel i kov, Albena 1 975,
position . wh ich is very favourable for White.
8 f5
Of course not 8 fe because of 1s • • llfl�� B
8 . . . 'l*a5+ and 9 . . . 'l*xe5
=.
w • .t •'" " • "f • .t'
8 ... b5
Black at once forestalls the
t•t• • •
possible blockading advance a2-a4 - • t•
- - ��ft•-· "

a5. The continuations 8 . . . t;)f6 ft. .ft. •

and 8 . . . Ac5 usually transpose
into the main lines. 8 . . . h 5 ? ! is
inadvisable; after 9 t;)d2 Ac5 1 0
t;)f3 t;)f6 1 1 'l*e2 t;)g4 1 2 §fl White
has an obvious plus, Qui nteros­
Camara, Fortaleza 1 975.
9 a4
This move is necessary sooner
or later, to n u l l ify the eventual
threat of . . . c5.
The game Amason-Miles, Reyk­
javik 1 978 {which reached this
position by an unimportant trans-
• • AE •
B ft Eit • ft� -�0.
�9�
,t11 � ��
"Z-J• � �-·�
•�
1 1 0-0
1 1 Ae3 i s also played . Then,
after 1 1 . . . Ae7 ( 1 1 . . . 'l*c7 1 2
t;)d2 t;)d7 is less effective in view of
1 3 'l*f2 Ae7 1 4 0-0 ;!; Matulovic­
Popov, Zagreb 1 973) 1 2 t;)d2 0-0
1 3 0-0 t;)d7 1 4 t;)b3 Ag5 ! ? 1 5
§fdl Axe3+ 1 5 'l*xe3 'l*c7 White
can hardly count on obtaining an
 5 ..ild3: Introduction and 5 . . . 4lc6 7 9

advantage; Kurajica-Cebalo, Yugo­

]6 --
- � - ...�
-..IL�Jlf.f'fit ��·�­
�-
slavia 1 976.
11 Ae7 w • t • • t•i
1 2 ®h1 0-0 t•t• • •
1 3 {)d2 4ld7 .
• • . ��3. . . .

1 4 <ilb3 Ag5 ! ? m Bftm m

Here too this manoeuvre enables
m mAm
<!>
m� ''@
� .,,J
Black to equalise. Otherwise 1 5 <!> a " <!>
Ad2 wou l d fol l ow, with the threat .ad .a� �--�.a�-··/�
of 1 6 Aa5 and a bind on Black's �El ���
' - � �
· ' M§
queen's side. Buenos Aires 1 979.
1 5 Axg5 i*xg5 b ) 8 0-0 (th is position often occurs
1 6 i*f2 with White's 7th and 8th moves
1 6 4la5 achieves nothing after transposed ) 8 . . . Ad6 ( Wh ite has
1 6 . . . §ab8. a strong initiative after either 8 . . .
16 i*e7 4lf6 9 4lc4 Ag4 1 0 i*e 1 4ld7
1 7 §fd 1 §fc8 1 1 f4! ? Ac5+ 1 2 ®hl ef 1 3 Axf4
1 8 4la5 §c7 0-0 1 4 e5! Adorjan-Miles, Amster­
White's position is rather more dam 1 978, or 8 . . . i*c7 9 a4
active, but Black has fully adequate Ae6 1 0 Ac4 Axc4 1 1 4lxc4
defensive resources: Borngasser­ 4lf6 1 2 i*e2 Ac5 1 3 Ag5 Mariasin­
Miles, England, 1 978. Vooremaa, Moscow 1 981 ) 9 4lc4
B2 Ac7 1 0 Ae3 ( if 1 0 b3 4le7 1 1
7 4ld2 i*h5, then 1 1 . . . 4lg6 1 2 Aa3 b5
A plan containing a good deal 1 3 4le3 4lf4 14 M3 ..ild6 1 5 ..ilxd6
of 'poison'. By setting up the i*xd6 Rohde-Miles, Lone Pine
=

positional threat of 8 e5, White 1 978 ) 1 0 . . . ..ile6 1 1 i*e 1 b5

provokes the advance of the black 1 2 4ld2 4lf6 1 3 4lb3 Axb3 1 4 ab :!
e-pawn, in order subsequently to Kaplan-Bobotsov, O L 1 972.
attack it and thus gain the initiative. 8 ... Ad6
7 ... e5 (1 6) 9 4lc4 Ac7
8 i*h5 !? Or 9 . . . 4lf6 1 0 4lxd6+ ( 1 0 i*g5
The most energetic l ine. The is unconvincing because of 1 0 . . .
following have also been tried: 0-0 1 1 0-0 Ac7 Larsen-Kavalek,
=

a ) 8 4lc4 4le7 ! ? 9 0-0 (9 4lxe5?? match 1 970) 1 0 . . . i*xd6 1 1 i*e2

i*a5+ ) 9 . . . 4lg6 1 0 i*h5 Ac5 ! ..ile6 1 2 0-0 and thanks to his two
1 1 4lxe5 i*a5 1 2 Ad2 Axf2+ bishops - the black-squared one
1 3 §xf2 i*xe5 = Szmetan-M iles, may become especially active -
20 5 Ad3: Introduction and 5 . . . �c6

White's chances are preferable; 13 Ae6

J ansa-Cebalo, Smederevska Palanka 1 4 f4 Axc4
1 978. 1 5 Axc4 b5
1 0 Ag5 �f6 16 Ab3 0-0
1 1 'lte2 h6 Of course · 1 6 . . . ef is bad on
1 2 Ah4 'tte 7 account of 1 7 e5.
1 3 0-0-0! ? 1 7 Axf6 'ltxf6
I n Ligterin k-Miles, Lone Pine 1 8 §d7 Ad8
1 979, White played 13 0-0. After 1 9 ®b1
13 . .. g5 ! ? 1 4 Ag3 h 5 1 5 f3 h4 The initiative i s on White's side;
1 6 Af2 a complex position arose Tsesh kovsky-M iles, Bled-Portoroz
with roughly equal chances. 1 979.
4 5 �d 3 4le 7 or 5 . . . g6

5 Ad3 ation, with which, however, White

In th is chapter we consider: does not yet d ecide on his plans.
A 5 . . . EJe7 Some more concrete ideas also
B 5 . . . g6 deserve attention :
A a) 6 f4 EJbc6 7 EJf3 (thus White
5 EJe7 (1 7) avoids simplification and keeps
control of the central black squares;
but the price of this is l oss of
time) 7 . . . d5 (7 . . . d6 8 0-0 g6
is playable too, leading to positions
in variation B) 8 e5 'ltb6 9 EJbd2
EJf5 1 0 EJb3 with a complex and
unconventional arrangement of the
forces ; Hardicsay-Piasetski, Hungary
1 978.
b) 6 EJc3 EJbc6 7 4)xc6 4)xc6 8
'ltg4 (aiming to make Black's king's
The idea of this manoeuvre is side development d ifficult) 8 . . .
borrowed from the Taimanov sys­ d6 (8 . . . 4)e5 ! ? 9 'ltg3 4)g6 1 0 0-0
tem, and consists in preparation Ac5 - u nclear) 9 0-0 Ad7 1 0 Ae3
for the 'opposing development' 'ltc7 11 itg3 4)e5 (1 1 . . . 0-0-0 ! ? )
of 6 . . . EJbc6 fol lowed by pressure 1 2 f4 4)c4 1 3 Axc4 'ltxc4 1 4 f5
with pieces against the d4 point. and White has a considerable
At the same time, Black preserves initiative, Plachetka-Bojkovic, Novi
the options of switching to the Sad 1 976.
'early fianchetto' set-up (see vari­ 6 ... EJbc6
ation B). The minus side of 5 . . . The idea of facilitating king's
EJe7 is also obvious - the mobil is­ side development by 6 . . . 4)ec6
ation of Black's king's side is is interesting. In a game Georgiev­
held up. Peev, Bulgaria 1 980/8 1 , the con­
6 0-0 tinuation was 7 c3 (of course, after
A natural developing continu- 7 4)xc6 4)xc6 the game reverts to
22 5 !J.d3 l[J e 7 or 5 . . . g6
normal channels, but one i dea that
merits attention is 7 l[Jb3 !J.e7
8 l[Jc3 0-0 9 f4 d6 10 !J.e3 l[Jd7
1 1 t!J'e2 ;l; Rodriguez-Kochiev,
Mexico 1 978) 7 . . . !J.e7 8 !J.e3 0-0
9 f4 d6 1 0 l[Jf3 l[Jd7 1 1 l[Jbd2,
and although White has attained
a d efinite positional edge, Black
could have conveniently finished
h is mobilisation with 1 1 . . . b6
(instead of 1 1 . . . b5? ! ) 1 2 t!J'e2
!J.b 7.
7 l[Jxc6
I n this way, at the cost of some
simplification, White saves time
for working up an initiative.
After 7 !J.e3 l[Jxd4 8 !J.xd4 l[Jc6
9 !J.e3 !J.e7 1 0 c4 b6 1 1 l[Jc3 0-0
1 2 f4 !J.c5 1 3 .lhcS be White
obtains no advantage, Pogats-Haag,
Hungarian Ch 1 964; but 7 l[Jb3 ! ?
i s worth considering.
7 ... l[Jxc6
8 t!J'g4!?
We have seen this motif already,
in the Plachetka-Bojkovic game
quoted above. White aims to make
it hard for h is opponent to d evelop
h is king's side.
With other continuations it's
easier for Black to solve h is opening
problems ; for example:
a) 8 l[Jc3 b5 (8 . . . !J.e7 is also
playable) 9 f4 !J.b7 1 0 !J.e3 t!J'c7
1 1 ® h 1 l[Ja5 ! ? 1 2 t!J'e2 l[Jc4 and
Black has active play, Klovan­
Vasyu kov, USSR 1 975.
b) 8 c4 !J.e7 9 l[Jc3 0-0 1 0 b3 b6
1 1 !J.b2 f6 1 2 t!J'd2 !J.b 7 and Black
has satisfactorily completed his
development, although h is d-pawn
may become a cause for worry;
Panchen ko-Hartston, Soch i 1 979.
·8 l[Je5
9 t!J'g3 l[Jxd3
1 0 cd b5
1 1 a4 b4
1 2 !J.g5 f6
1 3 !J.e3
White has the better position;
Bed narski-Banas, Czechoslovakia
1 972.
B
5 . .. g6 (7 8}
Th is way of treating the position
is seen frequently in contemporary
practice.
Black attempts to b lock the
diagonal on which White's bishop
is placed, and, at the same time, to
util ise a tempo to attack the
u ndefended white knight on d4,
by developing h is own bishop on
the flank. The obvious d isadvantage
of this plan, however, is the loss
of control over the d6 square,
wh ich in many cases accentuates
the weakness of the backward
d-pawn .
At this point the basic methods
of development for White are:
B1 6 l[Jc3
82 6 0-0
83 6 c4
Other continuations have been
investigated less, and are experi-
 5 Sld3 �e 7 or 5 .. . g6 23

Boudy, Cu ba 1 979; n ow Black

could have obtained a satisfactory
position with 1 2 . . . �b4.
Bl
6 <ilc3
A natural developing move, even
though in the present context the
knight on c3 does n 't have active
prospects.
6 ... .l1g7 (79}
9

mental in character. For example :

7 .� ... ��-
-..JiL.�-- �
·- "'al
. ·��· -
a) 6 b3? ! .l1g7 7 .l1b2 '/li'b6 8 c3 w • t • t • t�J t
�c6 9 �xc6 (or 9 �d2 <ilf6 1 0 t• • t•t•
<ilc4 'lli'c 7 ) 9 . . . b e 1 0 0-0 �e7
=
• • • •
1 1 'lli'e 2 c5 and Black has a satisfac­ .
dJ. � �.
� ..!.!.. -�- . dJ.
tory game, Planinc-Honfi, Majdan­
pek 1 976.
••� � � rm
�-.i.w.. - rm .
b) 6 .l1e3 .l1g7 7 'ltd2 <ile7 8 f4 ft �
u ft • g �· . � ft�r�
" · · "

�bc6 9 ttf2 d 6 1 0 0-0 0-0 1 1 �d2 �§

.l1d7 1 2 §ae1 �b4 and Black has
no difficulties, Timman-Panno, Wijk
aan Zee 1 978.
c) 6 f4 .l1g7 7 �f3 {or 7 c3 d 6 8 0-0
�d7 9 .l1e3 �gf6 1 0 �d2 'ltc7 1 1
h3 0 -0 1 2 §c1 b 5 with approxi-
mately equal chances, Byrne-Torre,
Geneva 1 977) 7 . . . d6 8 0-0 �e 7
(it's important to prevent a further
advance of the f-pawn; in the event
of 8 . . . �c6 9 f 5 �f6 1 0 'lte 1 0-0
1 1 tth4, Black risks coming under
attack, Lutikov-Karpov, USSR
1 976; there is also danger in 8 . . .
ttb6+ 9 ® h 1 .l1xb2 1 0 .l1xb 2
'ltxb2, because of 1 1 <ilbd2, threat-
ening 1 2 �c4) 9 ® h 1 �bc6 1 0 �c3
b5 1 1 'lte 1 0-0 1 2 .l1d2 Sieiro-
. . - ��� � -�
-�
7 .l1e3
Some less popular· plans, which
involve withdrawing the knight and
i ncreasing the pressure on the d-file,
are also worthy of consideratio n :
a ) 7 <ilf3 �c6 8 .l1f4 d6 {or 8 . . .
d 5 9 ed ed 1 0 0-0 <ilge7 1 1
'ltd2 .l1g4 1 2 .l1e2 0-0 1 3 .l1h6
± Hardicsay-Fil ipovic, Budapest
1 976) 9 'ltd2 e5 1 0 .l1g5 f6 1 1 .l1e3
.l1e6 1 2 0-0 <ilge7 1 3 §fd 1 0-0
1 4 .l1e2 �c8 1 5 <ild5 and White has
a positional edge, Bobolovich-
Suetin, USS R 1 966.
b) 7 �de2 �c6 8 0-0 d6 9 f4 �f6
1 0 f5 with good prospects for
White, Barczay-Vasyukov, Berl in
1 968.
24 5 Ad3 li:J e 7 or 5 . . . g6
c ) 7 li:Jb3 li:Jc6 (7 . . . 'ltc7, prevent-
ing Af4, may be stronger, though
it has not been tried ) 8 Af4 d5
(Chipell o-Vel ikov, Reggio Emilia
1 980, saw 8 . . . d6 9 Ae2 li:Je5?
1 0 'ltd2 'ltc7 1 1 0-0-0 Af8 1 2 li:Jb5!
and White won quickly. In place
of 9 . . . li:Je5 ? an improvement is
9 . . . e5, on the l i nes of variation
'a' above ) 9 ed ed 1 0 0-0 li:Jge7
1 1 'ltd2 0-0 1 2 §ad1 b6 1 3 §fe1
(or 1 3 Ah6 ) and than ks to his
superior pawn structure White's
chances are preferable.
7 ... li:Jc6
The attack against White's van­
guard in the centre - h is knight on
d4 - i s the main theme of this
variation. Other continuations are
less appropriate, for examp l e :
a) 7 . . . d6 8 'ltd2 4:lf6 9 Ah6
Axh6 ( or 9 . . . 0-0 1 0 0-0-0 b5
1 1 Axg7 ! ? ®xg7 1 2 h4 and White's
i nitiative in the centre and on the
king's side is more significant than
Black's queen's side counterplay )
1 0 'ltxh6 Ad7 1 1 0-0-0 'lte7 1 2
§he1 and the centralisation of
White's pieces assures h i m the better
prospects. The game Tseshkovsky­
Hi.ibner, Las Pal mas 1 976, contin­
ued 1 2 . . . li:Jc6, and now, instead
of 1 3 Ae2?! White could have
worked u p considerable pressure
with the more energetic 1 3 li:Jxc6
Axc6 1 4 Ac4, threatening 1 5 li:Jd5.
b ) 7 . . . li:Je7 8 'ltd2 d5 (or 8 . . .
li:Jbc6 9 li:Jb3 d5 1 0 Ah6 0-0 1 1
Axg7 ®xg7 1 2 ed li:Jxd5 1 3 0-0-0
li:Jxc3 1 4 'ltxc3+ 'ltf6 1 5 'ltxf6+
®xf6 1 6 Ae4 ®e7 1 7 li:Jc5 ±
Kapengut-Vitolins, Minsk 1 978 )
9 ed ! ? ( 9 �b3 can be answered by
9 . . . de!? 1 0 li:Jxe4 0-0 ! ? 1 1 Ah6
li:Jbc6 1 2 Axg7 ®xg7 with roughl y
equal chances, Commons-Peev,
Primorsko 1 976; Peev recommends
9 li:Jde2 ! ? ) 9 . . . li:Jxd5 1 0 Ag5
'ltd6 1 1 li:Jde2 h6 1 2 Ah4 li:Jc6
1 3 Ag3 'ltd8 1 4 li:Jxd5 'ltxd5
1 5 li:Jc3 'ltd4 ( 1 5 . . . 'ltxg2 is
h azardous in view of 1 6 0-0-0)
1 6 0-0 0-0 1 7 Af4 ® h 7 1 8 Ae3
'lth4 1 9 f4 and White has an un­
doubted positional plus; Kavalek­
Olafsson, Buenos Aires 1 980.
8 li:Jb3
8 li:Jce2, fortifying h is central
outpost, also deserves consideration.
8 .-. d5
Black's counterplay is based o n
the threat o f 9 . . . d4. Another
possibil ity is 8 . . . d6. Then, after
9 'ltd2 li:Jf6 1 0 Ah6 0-0 1 1 Axg7
®xg7 1 2 0-0-0 b 5 1 3 h4, a position
arises wh ich is similar to one we
considered earlier ( note 'a' to
Black's 7th move) , and wh ich
is more pro mising for Wh ite;
Tsesh kovsky-Furman, USS R 1 976.
9 ed ed
1 0 Ac5 b6
1 1 Aa3 li:Jge7
1 2 0-0 0-0
1 3 §e1
After 1 3 4:le2 'ltc7 1 4 c3 li:Je5

1 5 lilbd4 lilc4, Black has active p iece
play, Speelman-Smyslov, Lone Pine
1 976. Now, however, the i mportant
manoeuvre 1 3 . . . lile5 is impossible
because of 1 4 he7 'tt x e7 1 5 f4.
13 §a7
1 4 'tte 2 'ttc7
1 5 h3 §d8
1 6 §adl
Wh ite's position is preferable,
but his pieces on the queen 's side
need untangli ng; Gipslis-Poutiainen,
Tall inn 1 977.
B2
6 0-0
With th is quiet, developing con­
tinuation - in contrast to the I ines
examined under Bl - White retains
more than one option for h is
queen 's knight ( which can b e
brought either to c 3 or to d2 ) , and
also preserves the mobil ity of his
c-pawn, wh ich in some cases is
important in the struggle for the
centre. On the other hand, these
assets are secured at the price of
renouncing certain sharp plans
based on queen 's side castling.
6 ... Ag7 (20)
7 c3
This possibil ity of bolstering
the central points is o ne of the
chief merits of the idea of early
castl ing.
Practice h as also seen :
a) 7 lilf3 lile 7 8 lilc3 'ttc 7 ( 8 . . . d5
9 ed lilxd5 1 0 lile4 h 6 is also worth
considering) 9 Ae3 lilbc6 1 0 'ttd 2
5 .91.d3 lile7 o r 5 . . . g6 25
0-0 1 1 Ah6 b5 1 2 §fe l , and now,
either after 1 2 . . . lile5 1 3 lilxe5
Axh6 1 4 'tt x h6 'tt x e5
· 1 5 f4
'tt d4+ 1 6 ® hl Suetin-Miles,
Du bna 1 976, or else after the more
circumspect 1 2 . . . d6, Wh ite has
some positional advantage.
b ) 7 Ae3 lile7 ( the most appropriate
reply to 7 . . . lilc6 is 8 lilxc6 ! ? be
9 lilc3 §b8 1 0 lila4 d6 1 1 'ttd 2
lilf6 1 2 §ad 1 'ttc 7 1 3 c4 0-0
1 4 h 3 ± Vasyukov-Poutiainen,
Yerevan 1 976; in th is l ine, an
interesting alternative to 9 lilc3
is 9 lild2 d5 1 0 .91..c 5 lile7 1 1 c4 t
Unzicker-Panno, OL 1 976) 8 c4
( after 8 lilc3 0-0 9 'ttd 2 d6 1 0
§adl 'ttc 7 1 1 lilf3 b5, as in Med ina­
Bellon, San Feliu 1 974, Black has
no real d ifficulties ) 8 . . . d 5 ! ?
( 8 . . . 0-0 9 lilc3 d 6 i s inferior;
after 1 0 'ttd 2 lild7 1 1 §acl b6
1 2 §fdl, Black has a cramped
position, Honfi-Suetin, Budapest
1 976 ) 9 cd ed 1 0 lilc3 0-0, and a
position has arisen wh ich will
be examined u nder variation B3
26 5 .fi.d3 Lile7 or 5 . . . g6

(below) . 0-0 1 0 0d2 0bd7 1 1 ® h 1 i!i'c7 1 2

7 ... d6 a5 0c5 1 3 .llc2 ;!; GrUnfeld­
The most elastic continuation. Tringov, OL 1 980.
In the event of 7 . . . 0e7 8 0d2 8 ... 0f6
lilbc6 (the original 8 . . . 0ec6 8 . . 0e7 i s also playable. After
,·

9 02f3 0-0 1 0 .llg5 i!i-b6 was tried 9 a4 0-0 1 0 a5 e5 1 1 04b3 .f!e6

out in Razuvayev-Kochiev, USSR 1 2 0c4 White has some positional
1 980), White can choose between advantage, van der Sterren-Popov,
the placid 9 0xc6 and the gambit Wij k aan Zee 1 977.
continuation 9 f4! ? lilxd4 10 cd 9 a4
.ll xd4+ 1 1 ® h 1 .llg 7 1 2 f5 ! ? - The game Westeri nen-Andersson,
with good prospects in both cases. OL 1 978, saw 9 i!i'e2 0-0 1 0 0c4
7 . . . i!i-c7 is also scarcely advis­ (better 1 0 a4!?), and after 1 0 . . .
able. After 8 .llg5 ! ? d6 9 0d2, e5 ! ? 1 1 0b3 b5 1 2 0ca5 .ll d 7
White has a dangerous initiative 1 3 .f!d2 0c6 Black obtained a
whether the continuation is 9 . . . comfortable game.
0d7 1 0 f4 0gf6 1 1 f5 ! Adorjan­ 9 0-0
Karpov, Skopje 1 976, or 9 . . . 0f6 1 0 §e1 i!i'c7
1 0 f4 h6 1 1 .llxf6 .llxf6 1 2 f5 ! gi 1 1 a5 0bd7
1 3 i!i' h 5 Psakhis-Rastianis, Vilnius 1 2 0c4 d5
1 978. B ed 0xd5
Note that 7 . . . 0f6 usualiy 1 3 . . . ed merits attention.
leads by transposition to positions 1 4 .llf1
considered below. White's position is somewhat
8 0d2 preferable; Geller-HUbner, Las Pal­
Some 'semi-waiting' continu­ mas 1 976.
ations, keeping open the possibility B3
of a sortie with the black-squared 6 c4 (27)
bishop to g5, are also worth con­
sidering. For example:
a) 8 i!i'e2 0f6 9 �g5 h6 10 �h4
0-0 1 1 0d2 (1 1 f4! ? ) 1 1 . . . e5
1 2 lilc2 0c6 1 3 0e3 Jle6 1 4 §fd1
;!; Geller-Popov, Wijk aan Zee
1 975.
b) 8 a4 0f6 9 .llg5 (9 0a3 0-0 1 0
.llg 5, as i n Byrne-Andersson, Gen­
eva 1 977, is also interesting) 9 . . .

The most purposeful response to
Black 's opening set-up. Taking
advantage of Black's delay i n
contesting the central squares,
White extends h is sphere of influ­
ence in this part of the board, and
conquers more space.
6 ... llg7
7 lle3
The approved contin uation,
whereby White attempts to fortify
the positions he has gained in the
centre.
A d ifferent plan, involving coun­
ter-measures against an eventual
freeing advance with . . . d7-d5, is
also possible. There are two ways of
carrying this out:
a) 7 0c2 0e 7 {after 7 . . . d5 8 cd
ed 9 ed �xd5 10 0-0 0e7 11 §el ,
Black is i n serious difficulties)
8 0c3 0bc6 {again, after 8 . . .
d5 9 cd ed 10llg5 ! ? de 11 0xe4
0-0 1 2 0-0 0bc6 1 3 §e 1 White has
a clear plus, Bielczyk-Fil ipowicz,
Pol ish Ch 1976) 9 0-0 0-0 10 llf4
0e5 1 1 lle2 and, having carried
out his project, White has excellent
chances; Ljubojevic-Olafsson, Las
Palmas 197 5 .
b) 7 � b 3 �e7 (7 . . . d 5 i s not
good, in view of 8 cd ed 9 ed �xd5
1 0 0-0 �e7 11 �e2 0bc6 12 0c3
�d8 1 3 llg5 ; after either 7- . . .
d6 8 �c3 �f6 9 llf4 0-0 10lle2
e5 11lle3lle6 1 2 §cl , Ljubojevic­
Rajkovic, Yugoslavia 1980, or 7 . . .
�c6 8 �c3 d 6 9 0-0 0f6 10lle3
5lld3 0 e 7 or 5 . . . g6 2 7
0-0 1 1 f3 b6 12 �d2 �e5 13
§fdl �c7 14 §acl §e8 l 5 llf1
llf8 16 �f2, Zagrebelny-Vasyukov,
Moscow 1981, Black is left with
a cramped position) 8 0-0 0-0
9 0c3 �bc6 1 0 lle2 b6 1 1 llf4,
and White maintains consid erable
pressure after either 11 . . . 0e5
12 lle3 �c7 13 §cl , or 1 1 . . . f5
1 2 ef §xf5 13 �d2, Lju bojevic­
Panno, Buenos Aires 1 980.
7 ... 0e7
7 . . . �c6 can be met by 8 0xc6
be 9 �c3 §b8 1 0 �d2 0f6 1 1 0-0
0g4 12llf4 e5 1 3llg5 f6 1 4llh4
± Pokojowczyk-Torre, Polanica
Zdroj 1 977.
7 . . . 0f6 8 0c3 d 6 9 0-0 0-0
leads to a position wh ich more
often arises from a different move­
order - 5 . . . 0f6 6 0-0 d6 7 c4
g6 8 �c3 llg7 9 lle3 0-0 ; it will
be examined in Chapter 5.
8 �c3 d5
8 . . . 0-0 9 0-0 d5 amounts to
a transposition. 8 . . . d6 9 0-0 0-0
leads to a position we have seen
already, in the game Honfi-Suetin,
under variation B2.
9 ed
Another tempting l ine is 9 cd ed
10 0-0 0-0 11 §cl {for 11 ed see
below, note 'b' to White's 11th
move) 1 1 . . . 0d7 1 2 �d2 (another
possibility is 12 �xd5 �xd5 1 3 ed
�f6 14llc4 �xd5 15 �b3 �xe3
16 fe llxd4 1 7 llxf7+ @g7 1 8 ed
�xd4+ 19 @h 1 ± Spasskv-Panno,
28 5 Ad3 li:J e 7 or 5 . . . g6

Manila 1 976) 1 2 . . . li:Je5 1 3 §fdl itional threat of 1 4 Af3, White

and his centralisation and superior obtains some advantage.
development give Wh ite the advan­ 11 . . . de
tage; Ziatd inov-Pinch u k, USSR White also has the upper hand
1 978/79. after 1 1 . . . li:Jbc6 1 2 li:Jxc6 be
9 ... ed 1 3 Ac5:
1 0 0-0 1 2 Axc4 li:Jd7
1 0 c5 ? ! is inappropriate in view If 1 2 . . . li:Jbc6, then 1 3 li:Jxc6
of 1 0 . . . li:Jbc6 1 1 li:Jce2 li:Jxd4 li:Jxc6 1 4 Ac5 ± .
1 2 li:Jxd4 ( 1 2 Axd4?! Axd4 1 3 1 3 t;Jf3 ! ?
tta.4+ li:Jc6 1 4 li:Jxd4 'lth4! + + By making 1 3 . . . li:Je5 harm-
Rantanen-Olafsson, Tal l i n n 1 975) 1 ess, White deprives Black of any
1 2 . . . 'lta5+ 1 3 �d2 =. counterplay.
10 . . . 0-0 13 . . . b5
1 0 . . . de 1 1 Axc4 0-0 merely 14 Ad5 ! ? §b8
amounts to a transposition. The games Tatai-Weinstein, Buda­
1 1 §cl pest 1 976, and Weinstein-Christian­
Alternatively: sen, US Ch 1 978, saw 1 4 . . . li:Jxd5
a) 1 1 §el §e8 (or 1 1 . . . h6? ! 1 5 'ltxd5 §b8 1 6 §fd 1 , and Black 's
1 2 §cl li:Jd7 1 3 t;Jf3 de 1 4 Axc4 position became critical.
li:Jf5 1 5 Af4 ± Ermenkov-Olafsson, 1 5 Af4 §b6
OL 1 980) 1 2 cd li:Jxd5 1 3 li:Jxd5 1 6 §el
'ltxd5 1 4 §cl ;!;, Wh ite's positional advantage is
b ) 1 1 e d li:Jxd5 1 2 li:Jxd 5 'ltxd5 evident.
1 3 Ae2 ! ? and than ks to the pos-
5 5 Ad 3 �f6
5 .ild3 <i:lf6 (22)
An u npretentious developing
move, wh ich doesn 't yet commit
Black to any specific plans, but
merely aims to develop the king's
side pieces as quickly as possible.
6 0-0
Other continuations which are
encountered in practice (for in­
stance 6 c4, 6 b 3 or 6 <i:lc3) have
no i ndependent significance and
merely transpose i nto variations
examined below.
We would only point out that on
6 .ile3? ! Black h as a convenient
o pportunity to equalise at once
with 6 . . . e5 ! ? 7 <i:lf3 {or 7 <i:lb3
d S ! ? ) 7 . . . dS 8 <i:lbd2 <i:lc6
=
9 .ilgS .ile7 Tal-Vladimirov, USSR
1 963.
6 ... d6 (23)
Th e most elastic reply, fore­
stall ing the positional threat of
7 eS.
The same purpose can be served
by 6 . . . "lfc7, wh ich, as a rule,
subsequently leads to analogous
positions. It may also, however,
p roduce structures of an original
type; for example, 7 <i:ld2? ! .ilcS
(7 . . . .ile7 8 a4 <i:lc6 9 <i:lxc6 be
1 0 b 3 d S 1 1 .ilb2 t Vel imirovic­
Ljubojevic, Yugoslavia 1 980) 8
<i:l2b3 .ila7 9 c4 d6 1 0 .ilg5 lclbd7
= S. Garcia-Suetin, Havana 1 968;
or 7 c4!? .ild6 (if 7 . . . <i:lc6, then
8 <i:lxc6 de 9 f4 eS 1 0 fS t) 8 'ift h 1
lclc6 9 <i:ixc6 d c 1 0 .ile3 e5 1 1 cS
.ile7 1 2 f3 0-0 1 3 <i:ld2 t Bel­
yavsky-Smyslov, USSR Ch 1 973.
Note that 6 . . . dS i s weak on
account of 7 eS <i:lfd7 8 <i:lxe6!
30 5 lld3 � f6
The d iagram shows the starting
position for a n umber of highly
i nteresting modern branches of the
Pau lsen System.
At this point White's most
important means of contending
for the i nitiative are pawn advances
which extend his central gains:
A 7 f4
B 7 c4
The moves 7 'l*e2, 7 ®hl and
7 �c3 usually lead to the main
li nes.
Other tries are less well ex­
plored, but also deserve attention;
for example :
a) 7 a4 b6 (7 . . . .£Jc6! ?) 8 �d2
.Jlb7 9 a5!? ba 10 'l*e2 �c6 11
�xc6 .Jlxc6 12 .£Jc4 t Kuzmin­
Gheorgh iu, Leningrad 1977.
b) 7 b 3 �bd7 (or 7 . . . .Jle7 8 llb2
0-0 9 c4 .Jld 7 10 f!te2 .£Jc6 11 .£Jd2
.£Jxd4 12 .Jlxd4 .Jlc6 13 §ad 1 t
Kapengut-Dzh indzhikhashvil i, USSR
Ch 1971) 8 .Jlb2 .£Jc5 9 f!te2 .Jle7
10 �d2 0-0 11 f4 'l*c7 12 E!ae1
b5 13 g4 E!e8 14 g5 md7 15 E!f3
llf8 16 §h3 g6 17 'l*f2 llg7 -
unclear, Garcia-Padron-Gheorghiu,
Las Pal mas 1 97 6.
A
7 f4 �bd7
Another contin uation of equal
worth, 7 . . . .Jle7, usually leads
merely to a transposition. 7 . . .
�c6 is weaker on account of
8 �xc6 b e 9 .£Jd2 .Jle7 (9 . . . 'l*c7
is a l ittle better) 10 e5 ! de 11 fe
'l*d4+ (11 . . . �d7 12 'l*g4 0-0
13 .£Jc4 ± ) 12 ® h 1 'l*xe5 13 .£Jc4
'l*c7 14 .Jlf4 'l*d8 15 i*f3 ±
Kuzmin-Popov, Banja Luka 1974.
8 ®hl
In the game de Firmian­
Gheorghiu, Lone Pine 1980, 8 �c3
was answered by the sharp 8 . . .
'l*b6 (another possibil ity is 8 . . .
.Jle7 9 ®hl 0-0 10 f!tf3 �c5 11
'l*g3 �xd3 12 cd .£Jd7 = Rohde­
Gheorghiu, USA 1979) 9 lle3
'l*xb2. After 10 .£Jcb5 ab 11 �xb5
'l*b4 12 �c7+ ®e7 13 �xa8
'l*a5 14 e5 .£Je8 15 ed+ .£Jxd6
16 c4 'l*xa8 the complications
ended i n Bl ack's favour.
8 ... .Jle7 (24)
The idea of developing the
bishop on the flank with 8 . . . g6
has also been seen. However, for
Black to retard his mobil isation
like th is is risky. After 9 f5 .£Je5
1 0 fe .Jlxe6 11 .Jlg5 .Jlg7 1 2 .£Jc3
White has a considerable i nitiative,
Rohde-Gheorghiu, USA 1978.
In practice this position often

arises from a d ifferent move-order.
White has considerably more space,
but Black's position is flexible and
resilient.
9 itf3
Practice has also see n :
a ) 9 c4 <i:lc5 10 <i:lc3 <i:lxd3 11
itxd3 0-0 12 e5 <i:le8 13 .lle 3
itc7 14 ed .llx d6 15 §ad1 .lld 7
Velimirovic-Hulak, Yugoslav Ch
1980.
b) 9 <i:ld2 itc7 1 0 <i:l2f3 0-0 11 ite2
<i:lc5 1 2 e5 <i:lxd3 13 itxd3 de
14 fe <i:ld7 15 .llf4 b5 16 §ae1
<i:lc5 17 ite3 .llb 7 Gaprindashvili­
= the reader; compare variation A in
Shamkovich, Lone Pine 1 977.
c) 9 ite2 itc7 10 c4 0-0 11 <i:lc3
;!; Penrose-Darga, England 1963.
9 <i:lc5
1 0 <i:lc3 0-0
1 1 .lle 3
The continuation 11 itg3 <i:lxd3
1 2 cd <i:ld7 leads to a position from
the Rohde-Gheorghiu game already
mentioned {see note to White's
8th ) . Tu kmakov recommends 11
.lld 2, with the idea of 12 §ae1.
11 itc7
12 a4 b6
13 f5 e5
14 <i:lb3
White's chances in the coming
struggle are somewhat preferable.
He h as a spatial advantage and
prospects of a king's side attack.
On the other hand, Black's position
is sufficiently solid; Tukmakov­
Shamkovich, USSR Ch 1972.
5 !J..d] <ilf6 37
B
7 c4 (25)
=
This idea is al ready famil iar to
Chapter 2, and variation B3,
Chapter 4. Of course, this position
can be reached by more than one
move-order.
We shall now examine two basic
plans for fighting against White's
set-up :
B1 7 . . . g6
B2 7 . . . .lle 7
7 . . . b6? ! 8 <i:lc3 .llb 7 is pre-
mature because of 9 f4! ? <i:lbd7
10 f5 e5 1 1 <i:lc2 ± Smyslov-Hort,
Teesside 1 975.
B1
7 ... g6
Going into what is known as
'the delayed fianchetto variation of
the Paulsen System'. By comparison
with similar positions already ex­
amined {variation B3, Chapter 4),
Black's possibilities here are more
modest - his knight is already
developed on f6, which reduces
32 5 Ad3 lcl f6

the effectiveness of the bishop on 1 1 Ag5 Ab7 1 2 'ltd2 'ltc7 1 3 §adl

the h8-a1 diagonal, and his d-pawn §c8 ( 1 3 . . . lilbd7?! 1 4 lilc2 ± ;
··

has moved to d6, wh ich means 1 3 . . . §d8? 1 4 e 5 ! d e 1 5 lilxe6!

that the plan of a pawn-break by ± ± ) 1 4 lilc2 lile8 1 5 Ah6 {if 1 5
the standard advance . . . d5 is of Af4, then 1 5 . . . liJbd7 1 5 Axd6
less value. However, Black's position lilxd6 1 7 'ltxd6 Axc3 1 8 be liJc5
is sufficiently robust and elastic, 1 9 f3 lila4 20 §e3 'ltxd6 21 §xd6
enabling the 'delayed fianchetto ®f8 =
Cabrilo-Velikov, Kladovo
variation ' to retain its viabil ity. 1 980) 1 5 . . . Ah8 1 6 lile3 ;!;
8 lclc3 Belyavsky-Gheorgh iu, Novi Sad
8 b3 Ag7 9 Ab2 0-0 1 0 lilc3 1 979.
has also been tried. After 1 0 . . . 9 ... 0-0 (26)
lclbd7 {another possibil ity is 1 0 . . .
b 6 1 1 'lte2 Ab 7 1 2 §ad 1 'ltc7
1 3 Abl 1£lbd7 ;!; Spassky-Hiibner,
Bugojno 1 978, and Honfi-Diesen,
Stip 1 978) 1 1 §el §e8 1 2 Afl
b6 1 3 'ltd2 Ab7 1 4 §adl 'ltc7
1 5 f3 , White controls more space
but has to reckon with counter­
play based on the standard break
. . . d6-d 5 ; Byrne-Andersson,
Amsterdam 1 979.
8 ... Ag7 Th is position {wh ich can be
9 Ae3 reached by various opening move­
The most natural and popular orders) is very frequently encoun­
method of development - White tered in present-day practice. I t
strengthens his central points. But gives rise to a n u mb er of interesting
the idea of bringing the b ishop to offshoots. The principal continu­
the more active square g5 has also ations for Wh ite are:
been seen and deserves attention. B1 1 1 0 §c1
For example : B1 2 10 §el
a} 9 'lte2 0-0 1 0 Ag5 b6 1 1 §adl However, he also h as some other
ttc7 1 2 ® h 1 Ab7 1 3 f4 EiJbd7 t attractive contin uations at his dis­
Holmov-Gipsl is, USS R Ch 1 967. posal :
b) 9 §e1 0-0 1 0 Af1 b 6 (or 1 0 . . . a) 1 0 Ae2 {the idea of this man­
lclbd7 1 1 Ag5 §e8 1 2 ttd2 t oeuvre is to exert pressure on the
Krnic-Cebalo, Yugoslav Ch 1 980} d-file; but th is is achieved at the
 5 Ad3 lcl f6 33

cost of a tempo) 1 0 . . . 4:Jc6 1 2 'ftd2 'ftc7 1 3 §fd l 4:Jbd7 1 4

(another possibil ity is 1 0 . . . b6 'ftf2 §ac8 1 5 ..Q.fl , White has
1 1 'ftd2 ..llb 7 1 2 f3 'ftc7 1 3 §fd l an enduring positional advantage;
§d8 1 4 4:Jc2 4:Je8 with a passive Barle-Gligoric, Novi Sad 1 97 5,
but defensible position, Matulovic- Brajovic-MaSic, Yugoslav Ch 1 980,
C iric, Yugoslavia 1 967) 1 1 'ftd2 d5 and Musil-Karpov, Portoroz 1 975,
1 2 ed ed 1 3 cd 4:lxd5 Bonsch- among other examples.
Popov, Berlin 1 979; now, after 1 1 'fte2
1 4 lclxc6 ! ? be 1 5 §fd l , White has On 1 1 f4 Black can play either
a positional plus. 1 1 . . . 4:Jc5, with 1 2 . . . e5 to
b) 1 0 'fte2 'ftc7 1 1 §acl 4:Jc6 follow, or at once 1 1 . . . e5.
(1 1 . . . lclbd7 is also playable; 11 d5!?
compare variation Bl 1 b elow) 1 2 4:Jb3
1 2 4:Jxc6 be 1 3 f4 c5 1 4 §fd 1 1 2 cd ed 1 3 ed achieves noth i ng
.!lb 7 1 5 a3 ..llc 6 (Zaitsev recom- because of 1 3 . . . 4:lb6.
mends 1 5 . . . -i)d7 1 6 b4 f5) 12 de!?
1 6 b 4 c b 1 7 a b . I n view o f the 1 3 4:lxe4 'ftc7
possibil ity of creating a passed 1 4 -i)xf6+ 4:Jxf6
pawn on the queen 's side, White's 1 5 ..lld 4 4:lh5
·

chances are preferable; Karpov- 1 6 ..llxg7 'll xg7

Hubner, Leningrad 1 973. 1 7 §fd l ..lld 7
Bl 1 Black completes his development
10 §cl satisfactori ly, and has possibil ities
White plans to place his rooks of equalising; Grunfeld -Gheorgh iu,
on the c and d-files an'd begin an Riga 1 979.
offensive on the queen's side. 81 2
10 . . . 4:Jbd7 10 §e1 (27)
The best reply. Black prepares
to carry out the 'standard' central
break with 1 1 . . . d5, which is
no good at once because of 1 1 e5.
Another method of development,
1 0 . . . b6, is less appropriate. After
1 1 f3 (another line deserving
attention is 1 1 b4 .!lb 7 1 2 f4 e5
1 3 fe de 1 4 lclc2 4:Jg4 1 5 'ftxg4
'ftxd3 1 6 4:Jd5 ;!; Spassky-Najdorf,
Buenos Aires 1 979) 1 1 . . . .!lb 7
34 5 fld3 t;J f6
I n this manner White prepares
to regroup h is forces with .Q.f1 , ili'd2
and §ad l , for active operations
along the central files.
10 . . . Ei:Jbd7
As in variation Bl 1 {above ) ,
Black prepares the advance 1 1 . . .
d5.
An alternative consists in slow
although flexible development with
1 0 . . . b6 1 1 f3 .Q.b7 1 2 .Q.f1
Ei:Jbd7 1 3 §cl ( 1 3 a4! ? ) 1 3 . . .
ili'c7 1 4 ili'd2 §fc8. This position
is si mi lar to one we considered in
variation Bl 1 (note to Black's
1 Oth ) . In the present case, as
before, White has an appreciable
spatial advantage and Black has no
real counterplay ; Gheorghiu-Tan,
Manila 1 976, and Tal-Kurajica,
Bugojno 1 980.
1 1 .Q.f1
After 1 1 §cl , the advance
1 1 . . . d5 gains in strength. For
example, 1 2 cd ed 1 3 ed Ei:Jb6
1 4 t;Jf3 Ei:Jbxd5 1 5 Ei:Jxd5 ili'xd5 =
Torre-Gheorgh iu, Manila 1 974.
11 . .. d5
1 1 . . . ili'c7 1 2 §cl b6 leads to
positions we have seen al ready; on
1 1 . . . b6 1 2 4Jc6 ili'c7 1 3 Ei:Je7+
@h8 1 4 t;Jxc8 §axc8 1 5 §cl ,
White's position is clearly better;
Gheorgh iu-Bellon, Torremol inos
1 976.
1 2 ed ed
1 3 cd t;Jb6 (28)
14 Ei:Je6 !
On the basis of the game
Ghcorgh iu-Gipslis, Moscow 1 967,
it had long been thought that with
1 4 d6! ? Ei:Jbd5 (1 4 . . . ili'xd6? !
1 5 t;Jf5 ili'xd l 1 6 Ei:Je7+ @h8
1 7 §axdl li:lbd7 1 8 §d6 ± ) 1 5
Ei:Jxd5 li:lxd5 1 6 t;Jf5 Ei:Jxe3 1 7
li:le7+ @h8 1 8 §xe3 White could
obtain the advantage, thanks to
his extra pawn. However, analysis
was to establish that after 1 8 . . .
.Q.e6 1 9 §cl ili'b6 the activity
of Black's pieces provides adequate
compensation for the insignificant
material loss. The search b egan
again for ways to secure the in itia­
tive - and an improvement was
found by Geller wh ich significantly
enhances White's prospects.
14 . . . fe
1 5 de
A remarkable spectacle ! Black
is a piece up, but is forced to h ead
for an apparently simple position
for salvation.
15 . . . Ei:Jbd5
After 1 5 . . . ili'xdl 1 6 §axdl
 5 Ad3 � f6 35

�bd5 1 7 �xd5 �xd5 1 8 §xd5 ation of his king's side, arranging

Axe6 1 9 §a5! White retains an his pieces on the lines of the
extra pawn ( 1 9 . . . Axb2 1 0 § b l Scheveningen system. Sometimes
Ac3 21 §a3 o r 1 9 . . . Af5 2 0 §a3 this set-up is in itiated with 7 . . .
Axb2 21 §b3 ) . �bd7 . For examp le, 8 �c3 b6
1 6 e7 9 .Q.e3 .Q.b 7 1 0 f3 .Q.e 7 1 1 §e 1 ±
Geller also indicates some other Timm--Shamkovich, USA 1 980.
tempting possibil ities: 1 6 Ad4 and 8 �c3
1 6 Ac5. The continuations 8 b3 and
16 . . . �xe7 8 'it1e2 generally transpose i nto
1 7 �b3+ ®h8 the main lines.
1 7 . . . §f7 is bad on account of 8 ... 0-0 (29}
1 8 Ac4 �f8 i9 Ac5 .
1 8 §adl Ad7
1 8 . . . 'it!Jc7 is strongly answered
by 1 9 Ab6.
1 9 Ab6 'i/1e8
20 'i/1a3 �fg8
21 Ac5
The game Geller-Tai , Biel 1 976,
saw 21 �d5 Ag4! 22 �c7 'it!Jc6
23 §d6 'it!Jc2 24 �xa8 §xa8 25
Ad4 �f5, and in this double-edged
situation the players agreed a d raw. The starting position for a n u m­
21 Ac6 ber of significant branches:
22 Axe7 �xe7 B2 1 9 'it!Je2
23 §xe7 B22 9 ®h l
At th e end of the fascinating B23 9 .Q.e3
complications White has emerged The flank development of White's
with an extra pawn, but exploiting black-squared b ishop is occasionally
it is not easy owing to the activity employed, but promises no particu­
of Black's far-ranging bishops. lar advantages. For example: 9 b3
B2 �bd7 (playable alternatives are
7 ... Ae7 9 . . . �c6 1 0 �xc6 be 1 1 .Q.b2
A modest d eveloping continu­ .Q.b7 1 2 'it!Je2 �d7 1 3 §adl 'it!Jc7
ation which in recent years has Raicevic-Smejkal, Amsterdam, 1 976,
become h ighly popu lar. Black l oses and 9 . . . b6 1 0 Ab2 .Q.b 7 1 1 'it1e2
no time in completing the mobilis- �c6 1 2 �xc6 Axc6 1 3 §ael
36 5 .!ld3 lil f6

'ild7 1 4 'ild5 .ilh4 1 5 g3 .ilf6 1 6 the preceding example. Here too

'ilxf6+ 'ilxf6 1 7 §dl e5 J ansa­ White has considerably more space,
Polugayevsky, Sochi 1 976; in both although Black's position is sti l l
cases Black has a satisfactory d efensible enough; Karpov-Bellon,
position) 1 0 .ilb2 §e8 1 1 ®hl Linares 1 981 .
.ilf8 1 2 f4 e5 ! ? 1 3 fe 'ilxe5 1 4 c) 9 . . " . b6 1 0 f4 .ilb7 1 1 .!ld2
'ilf3 ! ? .ilg4 and Black has ful l y 'ilc6 1 2 'ilf3 l-dd7 1 3 §ae 1 'ilc5
adequate play; Spassky-Gheorghiu, 1 4 .!lb 1 and although White's
Manila 1 976. pieces are more actively placed,
B21 Black is not without counter­
9 �e2 chances. I n the game Pokojowczyk­
A flexible developing continu­ Adamski, Polish Ch 1 980, there
ation which keeps open White's followed : 1 4 . . . b 5 ! ? 1 5 'ild5 ! ?
choice of further plans, depending ed 1 6 e d .ilf6 1 7 de .llxc6 with
on how Black reacts. complex play.
9 ... .ild7 1 0 f4 'ilc6
The idea of this move is to 1 1 t-;)f3
prepare the 'opposing' development It's clear that exchanging knights
of his knight to c6, wh ich is un­ here would ease Black's d efence.
favourable if played at once. For From this point of view, 1 1 l-dc2
example, 9 . . . 'ilc6 1 0 'ilxc6 be is also worth considering.
1 1 f4 c5 1 2 e5 :!; . 11 . .. e5
Other plans have also been tried : It is essential to prevent the
a) 9 . . . 'ilbd7? ! 1 0 f4 �c7 l l ® h l advance 1 2 e5.
(or 1 1 .ile3 'ilc5 1 2 .llc 2 :!; Rusakov­ 1 2 f5
Cherepkov, Leningrad 1 980) 1 1 . . . 1 2 'ild5 .ilg4 1 3 �f2, as in
b6 1 2 .ild2 g6 1 3 Elacl .ilb7 Suetin-Dzhindzhi khashvili, USSR
1 4 b4 Elac8 1 5 a3 and White has 1 972, also deserves attention.
a considerable spatial advantage; 12 . . . 'ild4
Commons-Peev, Plovdiv 1 976. 1 3 �f2 ! ?
b) 9 . . . §e8 1 0 §dl (an alternative Nothing i s gained b y 1 3 'ilxd4
is 1 O b3 .ilf8 1 1 .ilb2 g6 1 2 §ad l ed 1 4 l-dd5 l-dxd5 1 5 ed .ilf6 =.

.ilg7 1 3 .ilb l �c7 1 4 �d2 :!; 13 l-dxf3+

Razuvayev-Hubner, Amsterdam Adamski recommends 1 3 .
1 976) 1 0 . . . �c7 1 1 .!le3 b6 Elc8 ! ?
1 2 Elacl .!lb7 1 3 f4 .ilf8 1 4 ®hl 1 4 gf
'ilbd7 1 5 b4 §ac8 16 'ilb3. The 1 4 �xf3 can be answered by
situation that has arisen resembles 14 . . . b5 ! ? as in l vanovic-Adamski,

Zalaegerszeg 1 977, or by 1 4 .
.llc 6 with counterplay for Black.
14 '9h5
1 5 '9d 5 .llg5
1 6 'it>hl
I n this complex position White's
chances are somewhat preferable;
Fedorowicz-Miles, Lone Pine 1 980.
822
9 'it>hl (30)
The idea of th is move is o bvious
- White prepares for active oper­
ations in the centre and on the
king's side with 1 0 f4, wh ich is
not playable at once because of a
pin (9 f4?. '/tb6 ) . However, the king
move does not directly strengthen
White 's position, and to some
extent represents a loss of time.
9 ... '9c6
I n the present case the 'opposing
development' is very appropriate.
The fol lowing alternatives have also
been tried :
a) 9 . . . '9bd7? 1 0 f4 '/tc7 1 1 g4! ?
( taking advantage o f the passivity
of Black's manoeuvres, White starts
5 !J..d3 '9 f6 3 7
active play on the king's side
without delay; an alternative is the
more restrained 1 1 'l!re2 b6 1 2
Ad2 .!lb 7 1 3 §ae 1 - and here
too White has good prospects,
Ostojic-Buljovcic, Yugoslavia 1 980 )
1 1 . . . g6 1 2 g5 '9h5 1 3 f5 ! ? and
White has an appreciable initiative;
Bed narski-Peev, BalaSiha 1 97 7 .
b) 9 . . .b 6 1 0 f4 (or 1 0 b 3 Ab7
1 1 .!lb 2 '9c6 1 2 '9xc6 .llx c6 1 3
'ite2 '9d7 1 4 f4 §e8 1 5 §ad 1 '/tb8
and despite Wh ite's spatial advantage
Black has a perfectly d efensible
positio n ; Stoica-Gheorghiu, Ru­
mania 1 978 ) 1 0 . . . !J..b 7 1 1 'ite2
'9c6 1 2 '9f3 '9d7 1 3 .lle 3 '9c5 1 4
§fd l 'itc7 and Black has a satisfac­
tory game, Lederman-Gheorghiu,
Netanya 1 977.
10 .lle 3
The l oss of another tempo in
retreating with 1 0 '9c2 would allow
Black to create counterplay with
1 0 . . . '9d7 ( 1 0 . . . '9e5 is also
playable ) 1 1 f4 '9c5 1 2 .lle 2 .llf 6.
After 1 0 '9xc6 b c 1 1 f4 '9d 7,
Black has a comfortable game.
10 . . . '9xd4
1 1 .llx d4 Jld7
The manoeuvre 1 1 . . . '9d7 is
also worthy of attention.
1 2 f4 Ac6
1 3 'ite2 '9d7
The exchange of a pair of knights
has facilitated Black's manoeuvring;
it is now simpler for him to get h is
forces co-operating h armoniously.
38 5 Ad3 li:Jf6

1 4 E!ad1 e5 ! ? itions. But some original structures

The conquest of black squares may also arise, for exampl e :
in the centre compensates for a ) 9 . . . b 6 1 0 f4 Ab7 1 1 f5 ! ? e5
relinquishing the d5 square. 1 2 li:Jc2 b 5 ! ? 1 3 c b a b 1 4 li:Jb4
1 5 fe de li:Jbd7 1 5 Axb5 li:Jxe4 1 6 li:Jxe4
1 6 Ae3 a5 Axe4 1"7 li:Jc6 Axc6 1 8 Axc6 t
1 7 li:Jd5 ..Q.c5 Kurajica-Dizdarevic, Sarajevo 1 981 .
In this complex situation the b) 9 . . . f!tc7 1 0 E!c1 {this man­
chances are roughly equal ; Mednis­ oeuvre prevents 1 0 . . . li:Jc6, which
Dzhindzhikhashvi l i, New York 1 980. would now be answered by 1 1
B23 li:Jd5 ! ) 1 0 . . . b6 1 1 f4 li:Jbd7
9 ..Q.e3 (37) (1 1 . . . ..Q.b 7 is strongly answered
The most popular developing by 1 2 f5 ! ? ) 1 2 g4! ? (1 2 f!/e2 ;!;
conti nuation, with wh ich White is more sol id, and similar to vari­
remains free in his choice of plans. ation B21 , note to Black's 9th
Utilising his preponderance in the move) 1 2 . . . li:Jc5 ! ? (if 1 2 . . . g6? !
centre, h e may work u p an initiative then 1 3 g5 li:Je8 1 4 ..Q.e2 ..Q.d8 1 5
eith er on the queen 's side ( with f!/e 1 e5 1 6 li:Jd5 f!/b7 1 7 fe de
E!ac1 , a3, b4) or on the king's 1 8 li:Jf3 ± Gell er-Panno, Lone Pine
side (f4, g4) . 1 980) 1 3 g5 li:Jg4! 1 4 f!/xg4 li:Jxd3
1 5 E!c2 li:Jb4 1 6 §eel li:Jd3 with a
37 • "•v�.:.a.i
'* 16 �
= ��·-
- � draw by repetition, Marjanovic­
B •
� � t• � '
� . t � �
- i Rajkovic, Yugoslavia 1 980.
c.,) 9 . . . E!e8 1 0 f!/e2 ( 1 0 f4 ;!; is
······· ' . "

t• .. �
- i- � • .. more energetic) 1 0 . . . Af8 1 1
• • • • E!ad1 b6 1 2 f4 f!tc7 1 3 ®h 1 li:Jbd7
•
.. tt �ft-
"-' ··.. • .. 1 4 Af2 Ab7 Mednis-Mi les, Riga
=

":
. �-.;a,, � •
• � �� . 1 979.
��
.!1. U • • ��ft�- . � · ·· " ,,,
d) 9 . . . li:Jc6 (a similar 'opposing
��, lfB
, -�- � �.
lfB t:H�
development' is already familiar to
the reader from variation B22,
9 ... li:Jbd7 but there White had played the less
Bl ack normall y arranges his forceful 9 ®h 1 , so that the situation
pieces on this pattern : . . . li:Jbd7, turned out more pleasantly for
. . . f!tc7, . . . b6, . . . Ab7, . . . E!e8 Black) 1 0 E!c1 (in Murey-Zapata,
and . . . Af8. He can carry this OL 1 980, play proceeded : 1 0 li:Jxc6
out by various move-orders. Usuall y, be 1 1 f4 d 5 ? ! 1 2 e5 d4 1 3 ef
they all lead to similar key pos- ..Q.xf6 1 4 ..Q.xh7+! ? ®xh7 1 5 f!/h5+
 5 Ad3 1£l f6 39

®g8 1 6 §adl g6 1 7 t\'c5 ± ; instead Pritchett-Gheorgh iu, London 1 980.

of 1 1 . . . d5, Black shoul d have We recall that a similar position
played 1 1 . . . t\'c7 ;!;) 1 0 . . . Ad7 was examined in variation B21
1 1 §e 1 'ilxd4 1 2 Axd4 ;!; Sax­ above (note to Black's 9th move).
Gheorgh iu, Warsaw 1 979. 12 . . . g6! ?
1 0 f4 It's essential to secure a suitable
The most energetic plan, involv­ square for the knight's withdrawal.
ing an attack on the king's side. 15 g5 1£lh5
A 'central ' strategy has also been 14 f5 (32)
tried:
a) 1 0 f3 §e8 1 1 t\'d2 Af8 1 2 §fd l
b6 1 3 Afl Ab7 1 4 §acl §c8
1 5 t\'f2 ;!; Bouaziz-M iles, Riga 1 979.
b) 1 0 §cl §e8 1 1 a3 Af8 1 2 Ab 1
b6 1 3 t\'e2 Ab7 1 4 §fd l §c8
;!; Ljubojevic-Gheorgh iu, London
1 980.
10 . . . §e8
1 1 ®hl
Transferring the queen t o the
king's side with 1 1 �f3 ! ? is also
worth considering. In Ljubojevic­ Wh ite's attack looks menacing,
Bellon, Linares 1 981, White obtained but Black's defensive resources are
a strong attacking position after still substantial enough.
1 1 . . . Af8 (Minic recommends 14 ef
1 1 . . . e 5 ! ? ) 1 2 §adl �c7 1 3 �h3 1 5 1£lxf5 'ilc5
g6 14 lilf3 b6 1 5 �h4 Ab7 (1 5 . . . 1 6 1£ld 5 1£lxe4
Ag7 ! ? ) 1 6 'ilg5. 1 7 Ad4 Axf5
11 ... Af8 1 7 . . . t\'xg5 is also playable;
1 2 g4 White then has nothing better
The consistent continuation, than 1 8 .ile3 �d8 1 9 Ab6 �g5
though double-edged. A different, 20 Ae3 with repetition of moves.
quieter plan for advancing on a 1 8 §xf5 Ag7 !
broad front is possib l e : 1 2 �e2 1 9 Axg7 ®xg7
t\'c7 (1 2 . . . b6? ! 1 3 e5! de 1 4 20 .ilxe4 §xe4
1£lc6 �c7 1 5 fe 'ilxe5 1 6 'ilxe5 21 §xf7+ ®xf7
t\'xe5 1 7 �f3 ± - Rajkovic) 22 t\'f3+ ®g8
1 3 §acl b6 1 4 b4 Ab7 1 5 1£lb3 23 �xe4 �xg5
40 5 Ad3 li:Jf6

As a result of the highly inter­ initiative fully compensates for the

esting comp lications, an involved pawn minus; Belyavsky-Gheorghiu,
situation has arisen in which Wh ite's Moscow 1 981 .
6 5 .11.d 3 .11.c 5

5 ..lld 3 ..llc 5 (33) 7 . . . lfld7 8 lfld2 lflgf6 9 f4 0-0

1 0 ®h 1 e5 1 1 lflf5 ..llx e3 1 2 lflxe3
ef = Keres-Vladimi rov, USSR Ch
1 964.
A
6 c3
In th is way White sol idly fortifies
h is knight on its outpost square in
the centre. However, th is permits
Black to continue his mobilisation
u nimpeded, and furthermore the
pawn on c3 is depriving the queen 's
Th is plan of development has a knight of its most suitable develop­
good many adherents - b ringing ment square.
the bishop to an active post with 6 ... lflc6
gain of tempo is an attractive idea. I n this case the 'opposing
Yet is also has d rawbacks - the d evelopment' is good for Black.
bishop's position on c5 is insecure, Other l ines are less effective :
and i ts retreat along the a7-g1 a) 6 . . . lfle7 7 0-0 0-0 8 'ith5 d 6
diagonal will appreciably weaken 9 lfld2 lfl d 7 1 0 lfl2b3 ± Gel ler­
the square d6. Taimanov, USSR Ch 1 969.
In his struggle for the in itiative b) 6 . . . d5 7 lfld2 ..llx d4 8 cd de
White can now choose between two 9 lflxe4 lflc6 ·1 0 ..llf4 !? - unclear.
basic paths: 7 ..lle 3 'itb6
A 6 c3 8 'itb3
B 6 lflb3 The gambit continuation 8 lfld2
Also 6 ..lle 3 has been tried, but is unconvincing. After 8 . . 'itxb2
.

practice h as shown that in this 9 0-0 'itxc3 10 lfl2b3 ..lla 7, White

case Black has no worries. For doesn 't have enough compensation
examp le, 6 . . . d6 7 0-0 {or 7 lflc3 for the sacrificed material .
lfle 7 8 0-0 lfld7 9 'ite2 b5 1 0 a4 8 ... 'itxb3
'itb6 = Geller-Fi l ip, Curar;;ao 1 962) In the event of 8 . . . 'ita7 9 lfld2
42 5 ,g_dJ ,g_cs

�xd4 1 0 cd .llxd 4 1 1 Jlxd4 ttxd4 similar) play reverts to the main

lines. Black may, however, try to
1 2 4:lf3 tta7 1 3 0-0 €le 7 1 4 tta3 ! ?
Black is forced to conduct a diffi­ contend with White for control of
cult defence in return for his the a7-g1 d iagonal . Then situations
insignificant material gain. of an· original type can arise. For
9 ab .llx d4 ! ? example : 7' 0-0 4:lc6 8 tte2 �ge7
10 cd (or 8 . . . d6 9 @h l 4:lf6 1 0 4:lc3
After 1 0 Jlxd4 4:lxd4 1 1 c d d6,0-0 1 1 f4 ;l; Andersson-Portisch,
Black has no serious problems. Raach 1 969) 9 Jle3 �e5 (or 9 . . .
10 �b4 0-0 1 0 Jlxb 6 ttxb6 1 1 4:lc3 d 6
1 1 ®d2 �xd3 1 2 §adl ;l; Panchenko-Suetin,
1 2 @xd3 d5 Sochi 1 980) 10 f4 (1 0 c4! ? .llx e3
The considerable simplifications 1 1 ttxe3 ttc7 1 2 c5 ! ? 4:lxd3
allow Black to count on equal ising. 1 3 ttxd 3 b6 1 4 cb ttxb6 1 5 4:! 1 d 2
(Analysis.) d 5 1 6 e5 ;l; Karpov-Taimanov,
B USSR Ch 1 972) 1 0 . . . 4:lg4 ! ?
6 �b3 (34) 1 1 Jlxb6 ttxb6+ 1 2 @hl h5 -
u nclear. (Analysis.)
6 . . . Jle7 is inadvisable. After
7 0-0 d6 8 c4 �f6 9 �c3 0-0
1 0 Jle3 4:lbd7 1 1 f4 b6 1 2 ttf3
e5 1 3 f5, White has an obvious
advantage; Bed narsk i-M atanovi c,
Kecskemet 1 964.
7 'lte2
The main purpose of this man­
oeuvre {which sometimes is carried
out a little later) is to prepare the
The most logical continuation. 'opposing' development of the
White gains time for mobilisation bishop to e3, since with the ex­
and expels the enemy bishop from change of b lack-squared b ishops
its active position. some positional weaknesses may
6 ... Jla7 be formed in the enemy camp.
The retreat 6 . . . Jlb6 is also The continuation 7 0-0 generall y
occasionally met with . Usuall y this leads b y transposition to variation
move acquires no independent Bl below.
significance, and after 7 tte2 �c6 The sortie 7 'ltg4 is premature.
8 Jle3 .llx e3 9 ttxe3 (or something After 7 . . . 4:lf6 ! ? 8 'ltg3 (8 'ltxg7?

§g8 9 tli-h6 ..Q.xf2+ ! + ) 8 . . . d6
9 <ilc3 (9 <ill d2? ! 0-0 1 0 <ilf3 e5 +
Gipslis-Taimanov, USSR Ch 1 964)
9 . . . <ilc6 1 0 0-0 <ile5 ! ? (another
interesting l ine is 1 0 . . . h 5 ! ? 1 1
..Q.e3 h4 1 2 tli'xg7 §h 7 Parma­=
Forintos, OL 1 964; . 1 0 . . . 0-0
is inferior in view of 1 1 ..Q.g5 <ilh5 ! ?
1 2 tli'h4 f6 1 3 .l1d2 g6 1 4 §adl t
Boleslavsky-Liberzon, USS R 1 969 )
1 1 ® h l h 5 ! ? 1 2 .l1e2 ( if 1 2 .l1g5,
then 1 2 . . . h4! ? 1 3 .l1xh4 <ilh5
1 4 ..Q.xd8 <ilxg3+ 1 5 fg ®xd8 + )
1 2 . . . <ileg4 1 3 .l1g5 tli'b6 1 4 ..Q.xf6
gf 1 5 .l1xg4 hg 1 6 §adl ®e7
1 7 tli'xg4 .l1d7 Black has active play
for the sacrificed pawn ; Kapengut­
Ruban, USS R 1 976.
7 ... <ilc6 (35)
Now White can choose between
two basic plan s :
B l 8 0-0
B2 8 .l1e3
In the first case, he aims to attack
on the queen 's side and i n the
centre. In the second case, he
prepares to castle long ( the same
5 Ad3 Ac5 43
end can be served by 8 <ilc3, wh ich
as a rule merely transposes ) .
Other tries either have no
independent significance (e.g. 8 c4) ,
or else are clearly less appropriate
and not worth exami ning.
81
8 0-0 d6
9 .l1e3
Some other possibil ities have
also been tried :
a) 9 <il1 d2 <ilge7 1 0 <ilf3 <ilg6 1 1
.l1e3 0-0 1 2 ..Q.xa7 §xa7 1 3 tli-e3
§a8 1 4 §fdl tli'f6 1 5 c3 e5
lvkov-Polugayevsky, Yugoslavia v
USSR 1 964.
b ) 9 c4 <ilge7 (or 9 . . . <ilf6 1 0
<ilc3 0-0 1 1 .l1g5 h 6 1 2 .l1h4
<ile5 Kovacs-Polugayevsky, Buda­
pest 1 965 ) 1 0 <ilc3 0-0 1 1 ®hl
e5 1 2 .l1d2 .l1e6 13 §cl §c8
= Tu kma kov-Liberzon, USS R Ch
1 969. We would point out that
the critical positions in wh ich
such variations culminate are often
reached by different move-orders.
9 ... ..Q.xe3
A continuation of roughly the
same merit is 9 . . . <ilf6 1 0 ..Q.xa 7
§xa7 1 1 <ilc3 0-0 1 2 §adl b5 1 3
tli'e3 §c7 14 §d2 t Timoshchen ko­
Vasyukov, Moscow 1 98 1 .
1 0 tli'xe3 <ilf6
Another possibil ity is 1 0 . . .
<ilge 7 1 1 c4 e5 1 2 <ilc3 0-0 1 3
§fdl .l1e6 1 4 .l1f1 §c8 1 5 §d2
<ila5= - Boleslavsky.
1 1 c4
44 5 Ad3 .ilc5

I n this manner White gains space 1 4 §ac1

in the centre and makes it hard 1 4 ..lle 2 b6 1 5 §ac1 amounts to
for Black to create counterplay a transposition.
with an eventual . . . d5 or . . . b 5 . 14 b6
Other continuations are l ess 1 5 ..lle 2 ..llb 7
energetic; for example: . 16 f4
a ) 1 1 4:lc3 0-0 12 §ad 1 Y:tc7 I n Kuzmin-Veli kov, Kiev 1 978,
1 3 ®h1 b5 1 4 f4 ..llb 7 Padevsky­
= 1 6 4:ld2 §fd8 1 7 4:lf3 was tried.
Smyslov, Monte Carlo 1 968. But after 1 7 . . . 4:lg6 1 8 h3 §ac8
b ) 1 1 4:l1 d2 0-0 (or 1 1 . . . e5 1 9 ..llf1 ..lla8 White achieved nothing.
1 2 §fd1 0-0 1 3 ..llf1 d5 14 ed 16 4:lg6
4:lxd5 1 5 Y:tc5 4:lf4 1 6 4:le4 Y:th4 - 1 7 g3 §fd8
unclear, Stein-Polugayevsky, USS R 1 8 a3 §ab8
Ch 1 963) 1 2 h3 §b8 1 3 c4 4:le5 Or 1 8 . . . §ac8 1 9 4:ld4 ..lla 8
1 4 ..lle 2 b6 1 5 4:ld4 Y:tc7 1 6 §ac1 Karpov-HUbner, Graz 1 972.
4:lg6 1 7 b4 ..llb 7 1 8 §c3 e5 1 9 1 9 4:ld4 ..lla 8
4:l4b3 (1 9 4:lf5 ! ? ) 1 9 . . . <ilf4 = White's position is more active,
Smyslov-HUbner, Ti I burg 1 977. but breaching Black's sturdy defen­
11 ... 0-0 ces is very difficult; Ni kolayev­
1 2 §d1 Korolev, corr. 1 979/80.
Or 1 2 4:lc3 4:le5 ,(alternatives 82
are 1 2 . . . e5 1 3 §fd1 Ae6 :l:: or 8 ..lle3
1 2 . . . b6 1 3 §fd1 Y:tc7 :l:: ) 1 3 ..lle 2 I n this manner White brings
itc7 1 4 §fd1 (if 1 4 itd4, then about the exchange of black­
1 4 . . . b6 1 5 §ac1 §d8 1 6 §fd 1 squared bishops as planned, while
§b8 1 7 f3 Ab7 1 8 *f2 Aa8 = retain i ng the option of castling
Sakharov-Korolev, corr. 1 979/80; on either side. This i dea can also
a continuation of about the same be carried out by 8 4:lc3 d6 9 ..lle 3,
worth is 1 4 §ad1 b6 1 5 f4 4:lg6 wh ich as a rule merely transposes.
1 6 §d2 Ab7 1 7 §fd1 §fd8 Parma­ 8 ..llx e3
Liberzon, Athens 1 976 ) 1 4 . . . 9 itxe3 (36}
b 6 ! ? (a weaker choice is 1 4 . . . 9 ... d6
4:lxc4 1 5 ..llx c4 itxc4 1 6 §xd6 ± The continuations 9 . 4:lf6. .

Parma-Capelan, Solingen 1 968 ) and 1 0 4:lc3 d6 and 9 . . e5 1 0 4:lc3

.

p lay proceeds as in the main 4:lf6 lead to variations examined

variation below. below.
12 itc7 The plan of 9 . . 4:lge7 has
.

1 3 4:lc3 4:le5 independent significance. In Gurgen-

 5 Sld3 Slc5 45

11 . . . 0-0
The natural reaction - Black
hastens to mobil ise his forces.
Other plans wh ich h ave been tried
out in practice are :
a) 1 1 . . . 'li!c7 1 2 f4 §b8 (in this
way Black aims to start counterplay
on the queen's side. I f 1 2 . . . b5,
the. possibil ity of 1 3 .Q.xb5 has to
be reckoned with. On 1 2 . . . 0-0,
play transposes into the main l i n e)
i dze-Zurakhov, USS R 1 964, there
1 3 g4! ? b5 (1 3 . . . �xg4? ! 1 4 'litg3)
followed : 1 0 �1 d2 0-0 1 1 0-0-0
14 g5 l£ld7 1 5 h4 (1 5 f5 is also
d6 1 2 f4 b5 1 3 e5 l£ld5 1 4 �-g3
good) 1 5 . . . b4 1 6 �a4 and White
l£lcb4 1 5 �e4 ! ? and a sharp struggle
has the advantage, Hesse-Korolev,
developed, with White having some­
corr. 1 978/80.
what the better prospects.
b) 1 1 . .b5 1 2 §d2 ! ? 0-0 1 3
.

1 0 l£lc3 l£lf6
§hdl 'litc7 1 4 f4 b4 1 5 �e2 e5
1 1 0-0-0 (37)
1 6 fe de (1 6 . . . �xe5 ! ? ) 1 7 §fl ! ?
The mo st vigorous way of
l£ld7 1 8 l£lg3 �b6 1 9 {)f5 and
handling this variation. By castling
White's chances of attack against
queen 's side, White not only makes
Black's castled position give him
his queen 's rook immediately avail ­
the advantage; Byrne-Larsen, Biel
able for the active o perations
1 976.
wh ich he plans on the d-file, but
c) 1 1 . . e5 1 2 §d2 (other good
.

also p repares the ground for a

lines are 1 2 f4 ef 1 3 'li!xf4 l£le5
possible pawn attack on the king's
1 4 .Q.e2 0-0 1 5 h3 b5 1 6 §d4 '1ite 7
side.
1 7 §hdl § d 8 1 8 g4 Mokatsian­
Korolev, corr. 1 978/80, and 1 2 .Q.e2
0-0 1 3 f4 ef 1 4 'litxf4 �e8 1 5
l£ld4 Psakhis-Vizh manavin, Moscow
1 98 1 ) 1 2 . . . .Q.e6 1 3 §hdl 'litc7
1 4 .Q.e2 §d8 (1 4 . . . 0-0-0 ! ? )
1 5 g4! ? 0-0 ( 1 5 . . . �xg4 ? ! 1 6
'litg3) 1 6 'litg3 .Q.xb3 1 7 c b ! ? (after
1 7 ab 'lita5 1 8 ® b l d 5 ! ? 1 9 ed
�b4, with the threat of 20 . . .
�e4, Black has dangerous counter-
46 5 Ad3 Ac5
play ) 1 7 . . . <i)d4 1 8 ® b l b5
19 Ad3 t\'c6 ( 1 9 . . . b4 20 g5 !
<i)h5 21 <i)d5! ±) 20 f3 and White
has a definite positional advantage;
Leckander-Shoneberg, corr. 1 980.
1 2 f4
1 2 Ae2 , to prepare an attack
with the g-pawn, has also been
seen . In Tseshkovsky-Suetin, Sochi
1 980, after 1 2 . . . b5 1 3 g4 t\'c7
1 4 g5 <i)e8 1 5 f4 §b8 1 6 §d2 b4
1 7 <i)a4 !i:Je7 1 8 §hdl t\'c6 1 9 t\'a7
§b7 20 t\'xa6 t\'xe4, a double­
edged struggle developed, in wh ich
Black had his full share of the
chances.
12 . . . t\'c7
1 3 §hgl
The vigorous gambit continuation
1 3 g4! ? is also worthy of consider­
ation. On 1 3 . . . !i:Jxg4 1 4 t\'g3
!i:Jf6 1 5 §dgl , White has active
piece play in return for the pawn .
I n Geor.gadze-Bohlig, Halle 1 978,
Black continued more cautiously
with 1 3 . . . b5 1 4 g5 !i:Jd7, but i n
this case too, with 1 5 f5 ! ? White
cou l d have obtained a very danger-
ous initiative.
13 b5
1 4 g4 b4
1 5 g5 !i:Je8
1 6 !i:Je2 a5
1 7 !i:Jbd4 !i:Jxd4
1 8 t\'xd4 Aa6
I n this double-edged position,
Wh ite's chances are somewhat pref­
erable; Arnason-Suetin, Sochi 1 980.
7 5 4l c 3 : I ntrod u ct i o n a n d 5 . . . b5

5 lilc3 (38} The continuation 5 . . . d 6 6

.lle 2 �f6 leads to the Scheveningen
system.
Other I ines are l ess advisable,
for example :
a ) 5 . . . .llc S 6 .lle 3 .lla 7 (the
threat was 7 lilxe 6 ! ) 7 .lle 2 lile7
8 0-0 ± Traj kovic-Ristic, corr.
1 968.
b) 5 . . . lile 7 6 .llgS ! ? f6 7 .lle 3
lilbc6 8 lilb3 ± Kavalek-Cvetkov,
Polanica Zdroj 1 964.
The most popular continuation, c) 5 . . . .llb 4 6 .lld 3 lilc6 7 .lle 3 ± .
and a very flexible one. Without for 5 ... b 5 (39)
the moment deciding on h is further An energetic reaction. Without
p lans, White seeks to mobil ise his any preparation, Black starts active
pieces without delay and to streng­ operations on the queen 's wing.
then h is control over the central The drawback of this plan is the
squares. As to the defects of th is delay in mobilising the king's side
move, all that can be said is that pieces.
the knight is not entirely secure on 6 .lld 3
c3 - where it may be exposed to
attack by the pawn thrust . . .
b7-b5-b4 or, on occasion, by the
sortie . . . .llb 4 - and also that
White is blocking his own c-pawn .
Black now has various basic
methods of development at his
disposal. In the present chapter,
we consider 5 . . . b5. For 5 . . .
1!/c7 see Chapter 8; for 5 . . . '9c6,
see Chapters 9-1 2.
48 5 4Jc3: Introduction and 5 . . . b5

The best method of develop­ 1 2 c3 bc 1 3 4Jxc3 Ae6 1 4 4Jg5 :t

ment. As a prophylactic measure Hort-Portisch, Sousse 1 967.
in case of 6 . . . b4 and. 7 . . . Ab7, c) 6 . 4Je7 7 0-0 0bc6 (if 7 . . .
. .

White 'over-protects' his e4 pawn, li:lec6, then 8 4.lce2 ! ? Ae7 9 c3 Ab7

and - an important point - leaves
both the e-file and the d 1 -h5
diagonal free for possible active
operations with his major pieces·.
Other pl ans are less dangerous
for Black. For example:
a) 6 f4 Ab7 7 a3 4Jf6 8 Ad3
Ac5 + .
b ) 6 g3 b 4 (or 6 . . . Ab7 7 Ag2
4Jf6 8 �d 3 b4 Mashian-Stepak,
= Novak, Stary Smo kovec 1 979.
I srael i Ch 1 980) 7 4Ja4 (or 7 4Jb1
Ab7 8 Ag2 4Jf6 N i kol ic-Suetin,
= The natural continuation. The
Titovo Uzice 1 966) 7 . . . Ab7
8 Ag2 4Jf6 9 �e2 4Jc6 = Zinn­
Portisch, Halle 1 967.
c) 6 a3 Ab7 7 g3 4Jf6 8 Ag2 d6
9 0-0 4Jbd7 10 §e1 �c7 Keres­=
Reshevsky, Amsterdam 1 964.
d) 6 Ae2 Ab7 7 Af3 (or 7 a3 �c7
8 0-0 4Jf6 9 �d3 d6 1 0 Ag5
4Jbd7 =Evans-Tai , Amsterdam
1 964) 7 . . . 4Jc6 8 0-0 (or 8 4Jxc6
Axc6 9 0-0 4Je7 1 0 a4 4Jg6 =
1 0 f4 d6 . 1 1 �e 1 4.ld7 1 2 4.lf3 0-0
1 3 ® h 1 §e8 1 4 Ae3 ;\; Georgiev­
L. Popov, Bu lgarian Ch 1 975)
8 li:lxc6 4.lxc6 9 �g4 ! ? h 5 1 0 �e2
4.le5 (or 1 0 . . . d 6 1 1 f4 Ae7 1 2
Ae3 Ad7 1 3 §ad1 ± Gheorgh iu­
Vaisman, Ru mania 1 97 1 ) 1 1 h 3 ! ?
Ac5 1 2 Ae3 � b 6 1 3 4.ld1 !? Ab7
1 4 f4 '9xd3 15 cd ;\; Plachetka­
7 0-0 (40)
plan of castling q ueen 's sid e, which
has also been seen in practice, is l ess
appropriate. For exampl e : 7 Ae3
'9e7 8 f4 '9ec6 9 4.lf3 Ae7 1 0 �e2
d6 1 1 0-0-0 4Jbd7 and, in the
double-edged situation that has
arisen, the chances are roughly
equal ; Tu kmakov-Hubner, Bar­
celona 1 965 .

Haag-Szabo, Hungary 1 964) 8 . . .

4Jge7 9 li:lb3 4Jg6 1 0 Ah5 Ae7
1 1 Ae3 d6 1 2 f4 0-0 = Stein­
Gipslis, USS R 1 965.
6 ... Ab7
Practice has also seen:
a) 6 . . Ac5? ! 7 li:lb3 Aa7 8 �f3
.

4Jc6 9 �g3! ? ®f8 1 0 Af4 ±

Bogdanovic-Flesch, Pees 1 964.
b) 6 . .. d6 7 0-0 li:lf6 8 §e1 Ae7 At this point the principal
9 a4 b4 1 0 li:la2 e5 1 1 4Jf3 4Jc6 methods of development for Black

are :
A 7 . . . liJe7
B 7 . . . d6 {with 8 . . . c;Jf6 to
follow)
Other approaches are less advis­
able; for examp le:
a) 7 . . . .11c 5 8 liJb3 .Ila7 9 a4
b4 1 0 liJa2 liJc6 1 1 aS ± Zu idema­
Szabo, Belgrade 1 964.
b) 7 . . . liJc6 8 liJxc6! ? .11xc6 9
�e2 liJf6 {or 9 . . . d6 1 0 a4 b4
1 1 4:ldS ± Karklins-Evans, USA
1 973) 1 0 eS 4:ldS 1 1 4:lxd5 .llx dS
1 2 a4 ± Tal -Ljubojevic, Montreal
1 979.
c) 7 . . . b4 8 liJa4 {an interesting
alternative is 8 liJdS ed 9 ed .llx dS
1 0 §e 1 + .lle 7 1 1 liJf5 liJc6 1 2
liJxg7+ ®f8 1 3 liJhS, with comp lex
play in gambit style) 8 . . . 4:lf6 9
§el d S 1 0 eS 4:le4 1 1 c4 4:lcS 1 2
4:lxcS .llx cS 1 3 .11e 3 ± Bikhovsky­
Suetin, USSR 1 966.
The continuation 7 . . . �c7
leads to positions wh ich more
often arise from . . . �c7 on move
S. This is examined in Chapter 8 .
A .Iles l S .11d 2
7 ... liJe7 (4 1)
The point of th is manoeuvre
is to prepare the 'opposing develop­
ment' . . . liJbc6.
8 �hS
The most vigorous reply. The
following h ave also b een tried :
a) 8 e5 liJg6 9 §e 1 liJc6 1 0 4:lxc6
.11xc6 1 1 �h5 �h4 ! ? 1 2 �xh4
4:lxh4 = Kotkov-Gipsl is, USSR
5 liJc3: Introduction and 5 . . . b5 49
1 966.
b) 8 .11e 3 liJbc6 9 liJb 3 (or 9 ®hl
4:lxd4 1 0 .11x d4 liJc6 ) 9 . . .
=
4:laS 1 0 4:lxaS �xaS Padevsky­
=
Taimanov, Budapest 1 96S.
c) 8 §e 1 4:lbc6 9 4Jxc6 4:lxc6 1 0
.11f4 d 6 Gufeld-Taimanov, USSR
=
Ch 1 96S.
d) 8 a4 b4 9 liJce2 liJec6 1 0
4:lxc6 liJxc6 1 1 f4 .lle 7 Szabo­ =
Damjanovic, Hamburg 1 96S.
e) 8 ®hl 4:lec6 9 4:lxc6 (9 4:lb3 ! ?)
9 . . . liJxc6 1 0 �g4 (or 1 0 f4
�c7 1 1 .11d 2· 4:laS = Haag-Siladi,
Pees 1 964) 10 . . . hS 1 1 �e2 liJeS
1 2 f4 liJg4 1 3 §f3 �h4 1 4 h3
= lvanov-Karpov,
Moscow 1 979.
f) 8 .11g 5 h6 9 .11e 3 4:lec6 1 0 liJxc6
(1 0 4:lb3 ! ?) 1 0 . . . de (or 1 0 . . .
4:lxc6 1 1 f4 �c7 1 2 eS ±) 1 1 eS
(if 1 1 �g4, then 1 1 . . . liJd7 ) =
1 1 . . . 4:ld7 1 2 f4 4:lc5 1 3 .11x c5
.llx cS+ 1 4 ®hl ± .
8 ... liJbc6
9 4:lxc6
9 c;Jf3 is also worth considering.
50 5 lilc3: Introduction and 5 . . . b5

9 ... t;)xc6 Scheven ingen system, in which

In the event of 9 . . . Axc6 Black has a slightly passive yet
1 0 Af4 t;)g6 1 1 Ag3 ttb6 1 2 a4 sol id structure.
b4 1 3 lild S ! AxdS ( if 1 3 . . . ed 8 E!e1
1 4 ed Ab7, then 1 5 §fe1 + ®d8 In addition to th is natural
1 6 Axg6 fg 1 7 tteS and White developing move, practice has seen
has a strong attack ) 1 4 ed, White the following:
has a clear positional plus; Suetin­ a ) 8 a3 t;)f6 9 ®h 1 lilbd7 1 0
Gipslis, USS R 1 966. f4 Ae7 1 1 tte2 t;)c5 1 2 b4 lilxd3
1 0 Ag5 1 3 cd 0-0 1 4 Ae3 ± Kagan­
1 0 Af4, with 1 1 §ad 1 to follow, Dzh in dzh i khashvi 1 i, I srael 1 976.
also merits attention. b ) 8 a4 b4 9 lila2 lilf6 1 0 E!e 1 eS
10 Ae7 1 1 lilfS t;)c6 Fichtl-Kavalek, Czech­
1 1 Axe7 ttxe7 oslovakia 1 962 ; now 1 2 AgS ± .
1 2 f4 0-0 c ) 8 ttg4 t;)f6 9 tth3 lilbd7 1 0
1 3 fS AgS Ae7 1 1 §ae1 lilc5 1 2 a3 ±
The initiative is on White's side; Ermen kov-Dzhindzhikhashvili , Nev.
Diickstein-Polugayevsky, Le Havre York 1 980.
1 966. 8 ... lilf6
B If 8 . . . t;)bd7, then 9 a4 ba
7 d6 (42) 1 0 lilxa4 lilgf6. 1 1 Ad2 Ae 7 1 2
lilb3 ± Keres-Najdorf, Los Angeles
1 963.
9 a4 b4
10 li)a2 Ae7
1 1 AgS
Of course not 1 1 lilxb4 because
of 1 1 . . . dS.
11 as
1 2 c3 be
1 3 lilxc3
White's position is clearly pref­
This modest continuation gives erable; Tarve-L. Popov, Bulgaria
rise to positions simi lar to the 1 969.
8 5 4lc 3 'i11c 7

5 4Jc3 '{ffc7 (43) h i s opening problems with 6 . . .

A typical 'Paulsen' manoeuvre. .l1b4! ? 7 '{ffd 3 4Jf6, as in Kelvigs­
On this square the queen is con­ Portisch, OL 1 962.
veniently placed and fulfils several A
fu nctions; it keeps the square eS 6 g3 (44)
u n der control, lends strength to One of the quietest plans.
counterpla.y based on a possible White prepares the fia.nchetto of
sortie with . . . .l1b4, and prepares his white-squared b ishop, to in­
the 'opposing development' of . . . crease the pressure on the central
4Jc6. On the minus side, this squares; but this generally means
manoeuvre holds up the mobilis­ he wil l be slow in working up an
ation of the minor pieces. initiative.
44
1. mABfl�J�B
B -i�i
- �· · B i �· �· i
iB BiB B
• • • •
. � ft .
• - • .
. � •
• . �·
�Le . �z

��
..u.. u ft -
. � g g �
'��, - ���@_�
_z_�__
.i:L. -§
Now the principal schemes of Black now has three ma.in
d evelopment at Wh ite's d isposal continuations to choose from :
a.re as fol l ows : Al 6 . bS. .

A 6 g3 A2 6 . 4Jf6
. .

B 6 .l1e2 A3 6 . . .l1b4
.

c 6 f4 Al
D 6 .l1d3 6 ... b5
Also 6 .l1e3 has been played. The purpose of this move is
But in this case Bia.ck easil y solves obvious - Black prepares to oppose
52 5 <Dc3 '!Jtc 7
wh ite-squared bishops on the long
d iagonal , and is ready (if the
occasion arises) to advance his
b-pawn again for active play.
However, the further delay in
mobilising the king's side pieces
entails some risk.
7 ..Q.g2 ..Q.b 7
8 0-0 <Df6
Alternatively:
a) 8 . . . b4 9 l£ld5 ! (this sacri-
ficial theme is high l y characteristic
of the 6 . . . b5 variation; Black's
backward development and king
stil l in the centre give rise to some
sharp plans of attack) 9 . . . ed
1 0 ed �d8 1 1 §el l£lf6 1 2 ..Q.g5
'/Jtd6 1 3 c3 h6 1 4 Axf6+ '/Jtxf6 1 5
'/Jte2 ..Q.d6 1 6 §adl and White has
a dangerous initiative; Damitriev-
Sh ishov, USSR 1 97 1 .
b) 8 . . <Dc6 9 l£lxc6 Axc6 10 §el
. ..Q.d6 20 ..Q.xf6 gf 21 ..Q.xd5 and
±.
c ) 8 . . . d 6 9 §el ..Q.e7 (or 9 . . .
<Dd7 1 0 a4 ba 1 1 §xa4 l£lgf6
1 2 <Dd5 ! ed 1 3 ed+ <De5 1 4 f4
0-0-0 1 5 fe de 1 6 §xe5 ! ± Dely­
Donner, Budapest 1 961 ) 1 0 a4 ba
.
(or 1 0 . . . b4 1 1 <Da2 <Df6 1 2
..Q.d2 a5 1 3 <Db5 '/Jtc6 1 4 c3 be
1 5 Axc3 ± Sh mit-Mnatsakanian,
USSR 1 965) 1 1 '/Jth5 ! ? g6 1 2 '/Jte2
<Dc6 1 3 §xa4 <Dxd4 1 4 E!xd4 ±
Nunn-Sigurjonsson, London 1 975.
9 §el d6
In Schonwald-Fil ipovic, Biel
1 980, Black tried 9 . . . ..Q.b4.
After 1 0 ..Q.d2 '/Jtc4 1 1 <Df5 ! White
obtained a considerable initiative.
1 0 a4
White can also play 1 0 <Dd5 ! ? ed
1 1 ed+ ®d8 1 2 ..Q.g5 <Dd7 1 3 c4,
with a s� rong i nitiative for the
sacrificed piece; Horberg-Kotov,
1 959.
10 . . . b4
Or 1 0 . . . ba 1 1 l£ld5 ! ? (also
1 1 §xa4 <Dbd7 1 2 '/Jte2 ..Q.e7 1 3
§c4 ± Butnoris-Gofshtein, USSR
1 976) 1 1 . . . ed 1 2 ed+ ®d8
1 3 §xa4 '/Jtd7 14 c4 ..Q.e7 1 5 ..Q.d2
®e8 1 6 §b4 ± j ocha-Kurajica,
Yugoslavia 1 967.
1 1 l£ld 5 ! ed
1 2 ed+ �d8
1 3 ..Q.g5 ..Q.c8
If 1 3 . . . l£ld7, then 1 4 '/Jte2
®c8 1 5 c3 b 3 1 6 <Dc6 ..Q.xc6
1 7 d e l£le5 1 8 §a3 d 5 1 9 §xb3
White wins, Stein-Fu rman, USS R
Ch 1 969.
1 4 ..Q.xf6+ gf
1 5 '/Jt h 5 ! ?
For the sacrificed piece, White
has excellent attacking resources.
His chances are clearly to be
preferred; Qu inones-Higash i, O L
1 970.
A2
6 ... l£lf6
I n contrast to the plan we have
just examined, Black here makes
it his main purpose to mobil ise
h is king's side forces as quickly as
possible.
 5 '9c3 �c 7 53

7 .ilg2 .ile 7 1 7 ith4

The continuation 7 . . . d 6 1 8 f6
usually leads t o a transposition I n th is complex, double-edged
after 8 0-0 .ile7 9 f4 0-0. position the chances are approxi­
8 0-0 0-0 mately even; Dueball-Gheorghiu,
9 f4 Vraca 1 975.
The immediate 9 g4 also deserves A3
attention. In Timman-Enklaar, Hol­ 6 .Q.b4 (45)
land 1 972, there followed : 9 . . .
'9c6 1 0 '9xc6 be 1 1 g5 '9e8
1 2 f4 d5 1 3 .ile3 §b8 1 4 b3 f6
1 5 h4, with complex play and
somewhat the better chances for
Wh ite.
9 ... d6
1 0 g4 '9c6
An interesting possibil ity is 1 0
. . . d 5 ! ? 1 1 ed .ilc5 with distinct
counter-chances for Black.
1 1 '9xc6 For a long time this move was
I n Padevsky-Neukirch, Varna frowned on by theorists, since the
1 972, Wh ite tried 1 1 '9b3, b ut bishop will soon have to retreat
after 1 1 . . . b5 1 2 g5 '9d7 1 3 a3 to e7; however, in recent years
.ilb7 1 4 �h5 §fe8 he achieved p ractice has shown that this loss
nothi ng. of time is only apparent, and is
11 . . . be offset by the d isturbance to the
1 2 g5 '9e8 co-operation of White's pieces.
Or 1 2 . . . '9d7 1 3 .Q.e3 d5 1 4 7 '9de2
�e2 §b8 1 5 b 3 .ilb7 1 6 §ad l The contin uation 7 .ild2 occurs
;!; Tarjan-Shamkovich, Cleveland more rarely and has been studied
1 975. less, but also deserves consideration.
1 3 f5 ef For example: 7 . . . '9f6 (if 7 . . .
1 4 ef d5 '9c6, then 8 '9xc6 de 9 itg4 ±
1 5 'ltel §b8 Alexandria-Levitina, Moscow 1 975)
1 6 a3 8 .ilg2 '9c6 9 '9xc6 (9 '9de2 is not
If at once 1 6 �h4, then 1 6 . . . dangerous for Black, in view of
§b4. 9 . . . 0-0 1 0 0-0 d6 1 1 h3 .ilc5 =

16 . . . .Q.d6 Bellon-Darga, Lanzarote 1 976) 9

54 5 4:ic3 'it!!c 7
. . . be ( 9 . . . de!? ) 10 0-0 0-0
(or 1 0 . . . Ae7 1 1 §el e5 1 2
4:la4 d6 1 3 c4 Ae6 1 4 c5 ! ? de
1 5 Ae3 4:ld7 16 'ltc2 'lta5 1 7 §eel
± Diaz-Portisch, Biel 1 976 ) 1 1 §el
d5 ( if 1 1 . . . e5, then 1 2 4:ld5 !
4:lxd5 1 3 ed §b8 1 4 b 3 ± Vogt­
Honfi, Cienfuegos 1 976 ) 1 2 ed ed
1 3 Af4 'iifa 7 1 4 Ae5 4:lg4 1 5 Ad4
Ac5 1 6 4:le2 ± - analysis by
Moiseyev and Ravinsky.
7 ... 4:lf6
7 . . . Ae7 8 Ag2 4:lf6 amounts
to a transposition. Other schemes
of development are less effective,
for example:
a) 7 . . . h5 8 h 3 4:lf6 9 Ag2 4:lc6
1 0 Af4 e5 1 1 Ag5 ± Donner­
Keres, Zurich 1 959.
b ) 7 . . 4:lc6 8 Ag2 4:lge7 (or 8 . . .
.
4:lf6 9 Af4 d6 1 0 a3 ± ) 9 0-0 d6
1 0 a3 Ac5 1 1 b 3 0-0 1 2 Ab2 b5
1 3 'it!/d2 Ab7 14 §adl §fd8 1 5
'it!/g5 ± Zemerov-Krutiansky, USSR
1 978.
8 Ag2 Ae7
This retreat is according to
programme. The loss of tempo is
only apparent, since White too has
l ost time with 4:lde2.
8 . . . d 6 is strongly al')swered by
9 Af4! ? with the threat of 1 0 a3
Ac5 1 1 b4. The game Padevsky­
Enklaar, Amsterdam 1 972, is an
ill ustration - after 9 . . . e5 1 0 Ag5
4:lbd7 1 1 0-0 h6 1 2 Ad2 ( 1 2
Ae3 ! ? ) 1 2 . . . .llc 5 1 3 h3 ( 1 3 a4! ? )
1 3 . . . 0-0 1 4 a4 §e8 1 5 g4 4:lf8
1 6 4:lg3, Wh ite obtained a defin ite
positional plus.
9 0-0
A sharper plan of attack with
9 h3 O·O 1 0 g4 is also worth
considering. After 1 0 . . . d6 1 1 g5
4:lfd7 1 2 a4 b6 1 3 f4 fib 7 1 4 0-0
b5 1 5 ab ab 1 6 §xa8 Axa8
1 7 Ae3 White has some advantage;
Tampa-Roth, Budapest 1 977.
9 ... 4:lc6 (46)
The conti nuation 9 . . . 0-0
generally transposes.
1 0 h3
The aim of this popular continu­
ation is twofolq - to give the
bishop a post on e3 secure against
the b low . . . 4:lg4, and to prepare
a pawn attack on the king's side.
Some other plans have also been
tried in practice:
a) 10 Ae3 0-0 ( a line worth con­
sidering is 1 0 . . . 4:lg4 1 1 Af4 d6
1 2 4:ld4 4:lxd4 1 3 'ltxg4 0-0 -
U nzicker) 1 1 4:la4 b5 1 2 4:lb6
§b8 1 3 4:lxc8 §bxc8, and with
his good development Black has no
 5 0c3 itc7 55

worries; Unzicker-Smejkal, Milan Black tried 1 1 . . . d6 1 2 g4 d5

1 97 5, and Silva-Weinstein, Algarve (1 2 . . . b 5 ! ?) 1 3 ed §d8. After
1 975. 1 4 f5 ! ? ef (1 4 . . . ed? ! 1 5 0f4 ± )
b) 1 0 ® h 1 0-0 1 1 f4 d6 1 2 a4 1 5 gf 0b4 1 6 .lle 3 itd6 (1 6 . . .
§b8 1 3 0d4 .lld 7 1 4 .lle 3 §fd8 b 5 ! ?) 1 7 0f4 .llxf5 1 8 §f2, White
1 5 ite2 .lle 8, and Black's position obtained a promising position.
is ful l y harmonious; En Luan­ 1 2 .lle 3 .llb 7
Kochiev, Mexico 1 980. 1 3 g4 d5
c) 1 0 .llf4 d6 1 1 itd2 0-0 1 2 §adl 1 4 e5
0e5 1 3 h3 b5 and Black has a In the event of 1 4 ed §fd8
satisfactory game; M . Tseitl in­ 1 5 g5 0xd5 1 6 0xd5 ed 1 7 0d4
Jakobsen, Poland 1 979. 0xd4 l8 .llx d4 (1 8 itxd4 ! ? )
d) 10 b3 0-0 1 1 .llb 2 §d8 (1 1 . . . 1 8 . . . .ll
c 8 ! ? Black gradual l y l evels
b5 can be met by 1 2 e 5 ! ? 0g4 the game out.
1 3 0f4 0gxe5 1 4 0cd 5 ! ed 1 5 14 0d7
0xd5 itd6 1 6 .llx e5 itxe5 1 7 §e 1 1 5 0d4 0xd4
± ) 1 2 itd2 §b8 (on 1 2 . . . b5, 1 6 .ll
x d4
there can fol l ow 1 3 0d5 ! ? ed White has rather the more active
14 ed .llb 7 1 5 d e de 1 6 itf4 position in the centre and on the
.lld 6 1 7 itf5 ;!; Larsen-Gheorghiu, king's side, but Black has sufficient
Orense 1 97 5) 13 §adl d6 14 h3 queen 's side counterplay; Tarjan­
b5 1 5 0f4 .llb 7 and Black has a Gheorghiu, Los Angeles 1 974.
comfortable game, Silva-Miles, OL B
1 976. 6 .lle 2 (47)
10 . . . 0-0
1 0 . . . d6 1 1 .lle 3 b5 1 2 f4
.llb 7, as in Darga-Portisch, Hastings
1 978, is playable too.
1 1 f4
On 1 1 g4, two repl ies are worth
considering: 1 1 . . . h6 1 2 g5 (if
1 2 0g3, then 1 2 . . . d 5 ! ? 1 3 ed
§d8) 1 2 . . . hg 1 3 .llx g5 b5, or
1 1 . . . d6 1 2 g5 0d7 1 3 f4 b5,
with double-edged play i n both
cases. A natural d eveloping move,
11 .. . b5 which l eads to some l ines typical
I n C iric-Miles, Dortmund 1 976, of the Paulsen System. We now
56 5 4:lc3 *cl

consider: examined in Chapter 9, while

B1 6 . . . 4:lf6 7 . . . d6 gives a Scheveni ngen
B2 6 . . . b5 set-up.
Positions arising after 6 . . . 4:lc6 7 . . . b5 is weak on account of
are usually reached by a different 8 .llf3 b4 (8 . . . .llb 7?! 9 e5 ± )
order of opening moves; they are 9 e5 .llb 7 1 0 4:lcb5 ! ab 1 1 ef gf
considered in Chapter 9. 1 2 4:lxb5 Bachtiar-Cordoso, OL
B1 1 972.
6 ... lilf6 8 *d3
Black aims to develop his king's If 8 .llg 5, a good reply is 8 . . .
side pieces as quickly as possible, lilc6 (acceptance of the sacrifice
at the same time as putting pressure by 8 . . . .llx c3 9 be *xc3 is risky
on the white e-pawn ; to this end, he in view of 1 0 §b 1 4:lc6 1 1 4:lxc6
has a further reserve weapon in an de 1 2 §b3 *e5 1 4 ttd2 Tal­
o pportune . . . .llb 4. Hamann, Kislovodsk 1 966) 9 ®h 1
7 0-0 ttd6 ! ? with equal chances; Aronin­
Other continuations that have Taimanov, USSR 1 962.
been seen are l ess effective. For 8 ... 4:lc6
example: If 8 . . . d6, then 9 f4 .llx c3
a) 7 .lle 3? ! .llb 4 + . 1 0 be 4:lbd7 1 1 e5! de 1 2 fe ttxe5
b ) 7 a3 b5 8 0-0 .llb 7 9 *d3 d6 (1 2 . . . lilxe5 13 ttg3 ! ) 1 3 .lla 3 ±
10 f4 4:lbd7 = lvkov-Portisch, Ermenkov-Korchnoi, Linearis 1 979.
Halle 1 963. 9 lilxc6
c) 7 f4 .llb 4 (7 . . . d6 8 0-0 leads Other replies are weaker:
to 'Scheven ingen ' formations) 8 e5 a) 9 a3 .llx c3 1 0 be 0-0 1 1 f4 d5
lile4 (unclear play also results from 1 2 e5 lile4 1 3 .llf3 4:lc5 = Keres­
8 . . . .llx c 3+ 9 be *xc3+ 1 0 ttd2 Hasi n, USS R Ch 1 957.
ttxa 1 1 1 ef 4:lc6 1 2 fg §g8 1 3 c3 b) 9 h 3 0-0 1 0 .llg 5 .lle 7 1 1 §ad 1
lilxd4 1 4 cd *b1 1 5 0-0 §xg7 h 6 1 2 .lle 3 4:le5 1 3 ttd2 b5 1 4 f4
1 6 f5, as in J anosevic-J ansa, <ilc4 1 5 .llx c4 *xc4 1 6 e5 4:lh 7
Sarajevo 1 966) 9 0-0 4:lxc3 1 0 be 1 7 f5 f6 ! ? = Bronstein-Durie,
*xc3 1 1 4:lb3 ttc7 1 2 .llb 2 lilc6 Tall inn 1 980.
1 3 f5 .lle 7 1 4 f6 gf 1 5 ef .llf8 9 ... de
1 6 .llh 5 d 6 - u nclear, J ansa­ Sharp play results from 9 . . .
Castro, OL 1 968. be 1 0 .llg 5 d5, as in Lanc-Suetin,
7 ... .llb 4 Brno 1 975.
The most purposeful continu­ 1 0 f4 0-0
ation. 7 . . . 4:lc6 leads to positions 1 1 e5 §d8
 5 4:lc3 ttc 7 5 7

1 2 tth3 .llx c3 The usual contin uation, wh ich

1 3 be 4:ld7
1 4 .lle 3 c5
1 5 §f3
White has the more active
game, but Black's position is
stil l sufficiently solid : Olafsson­
Pilnik, match 1 957.
82
6 ... b5
With this scheme of develop·
ment Black seeks to create counter­
play against the pawn on e4,
combining the th reats of . . . b4
and . . . .llb 7.
7 0-0
Sometimes 7 .llf3 is played,
which l eads, after 7 . . . .llb 7
8 0-0, to positions examined
below. There is less point in 7 a3;
after 7 . . . .!lb 7 8 0-0 4:lf6 9 ttd3
d6 1 0 f4 4:lbd7 1 1 .llf3 .!le 7 1 2
.lld 2 §d8 Black has a comfortable
game; l l l ijin-Gheorghiu, Rumanian
Ch 1 976.
7 ... .ll b 7 (48)
has a sol id reputation. However,
attention should also be given to
an entirely new sacrificial idea which
appeared in the game Horvath­
Hulak, Virovitica 1 980. Play went:
8 §e1 ! ? 4:lf6 (on 8 . . . b4, Horvath
gives the variation 9 4:ld5! ed 1 0
ed 4:le7 1 1 .llh 5 g6 1 2 ttf3 .llg 7
1 3 d 6 ! .llxf3 1 4 §xe7+ ®d8
1 5 de+ ®xe7 1 6 .llxf3 4:lc6 1 7
4:lxc6+ de 1 8 .llxc6 §ac8 1 9 .llf4
.llx b2 20 §e 1 + ®f6 21 .lld 7 ± .
But an alternative worth consider­
ing is 8 . . . 4:lc6 9 4:lxc6 de 1 0 e5
§d8 1 1 .lld 3 c5 Mariotti-Cebalo,
Budva 1 98 1 ) 9 .llf3 d6 1 0 .llf4
4:lbd7 (1 0 . . . e5 1 1 4:ld5 ! ±)
1 1 4:ldxb5! ab 1 2 4:lxb5 'ita5
1 3 4:lxd6+ .llx d6 1 4 .llx d6 4:le5
1 5 ttd4, and for the sacrificed
piece White obtained three pawns
with an active position .
8 ... 4:lc6
I f 8 . . . d6, a good reply is
9 a4 b4 1 0 4:la2 4:lf6 1 1 §e 1
Boleslavsky-Getman, USSR 1 965.
9 4:lxc6
After 9 §e 1 , Black obtains a
comfortable game with 9 . . . .lld 6 ! ?
(better than 9 . . . 4:le5 1 0 .llf4
d6, when White has 1 1 a4 ba 1 2
.llh 5 ! ? g6 1 3 .lle 2 4:lf6 1 4 §xa4 ±
Panchenko-Agzamov, USSR 1 978)
10 g3 4:lxd4 1 1 ttxd4 .lle 5 1 2 ttd3
4:le7 Panchenko-Miles, Las Palmas
1 978.
9 ... de
58 5 0c3 i*c7

1 0 ili'e2 c
Practice has also see n : 6 f4 (49)
a ) 1 0 e5? ! ili'xe5 1 1 § e 1 ili'c7 The purpose of such a continu­
(another possibil ity is 1 1 . . . ili'd6 ation is to broaden White's central
1 2 Ag5 ili'xd1 1 3 §axd 1 Ae7 base of operations with a view to
1 4 0e4 0f6 1 5 Axf6 gf, as in king's side activity. I ts drawback is
Barie-Miles, Bled 1 979) 1 2 Ah 5 a certain delay in the mobilising
Ae7 1 3 §xe6 g6 1 4 Ele1 (1 4 of his forces.
i!i'd4 fe 1 5 ili'xh8 0-0-0 + ) 1 4 . . . ••
49 .t. • •� ��-
gh ! ? 1 5 0e4 (1 5 ili'd4 f6 + ) 1 5 . ..

®f8 ! 1 6 ili'd4 (1 6 ili'xh5 h6! + )

8 �- i R
R i 1�
� �i --- �-� i
· "
1 6 . . . f6 1 7 0c5 Ac8 1 8 Af4
ili'd8 1 9 i!i'e3 ili'd5 + Voi kevich­ t• • t• •
lonov, USSR 1 980. • • • •
b) 1 0 a4 Ad6 1 1 g3 (Or 1 1 ab cb e �ft�
.. u ..
lC?! . • e
1 2 e5 Axe5 1 3 0xb5 ab 1 4 §xa8+ . � �
� . . �
Axa8 1 5 Axa8 Axh2+ 1 6 @h1 ft6ftm m ft�-�
Ad 6 Estrin-Polugayevsky, USS R
=

1 964) 1 1 . . . Ae5 1 2 Ag2 0f6

'� "�'1�
��- - �-·§
�d;L.·
1 3 f4 E!d8 1 4 ili'f3 Ad4+ 1 5 ®hl = 6 ... b5
Liberzon-Torre, Bad Lauterberg A typical reaction t6 White's
1 977. plan. Black strives for counterplay
10 . . , e5 on the q ueen 's side.
Alternatively 10 . . . Ad6 1 1 g3 On 6 . . . Ab4 7 i!i'f3 0f6,
0f6 12 Ag2 (or 12 §e1 Ae5 1 3 Wh ite has the sharp 8 e5 (note that
0d 1 0-0 = Bell i n-Miles, Hastings 8 Ad2 d6 9 a3 is also good) 8 . . .
1 975/76) 1 2 . . . 0-0 1 3 f4 e5 0e4 (8 . . . 0d5 9 Ad2 ± ) 9 ili'xe4
1 4 f5 c5 1 5 g4 c4 1 6 g5 0d7 Axc3+ 1 0 ®f2. After 1 0 . . .
1 7 §f3 f6 with double-edged play, Axd4+ 1 1 ili'xd4 ili'xc2+ 1 2 Ae2
Dobosz-Adamski, Lodz 1 980. 0-0 1 3 Ae3, White is well ahead i n
1 1 a4 0f6 space a n d d evelopment i n return
1 2 0d 1 Ac5 for his sacrificed pawn ; Sisniega­
1 3 0e3 0-0 Honfi, Belgrade 1 977.
1 4 0f5 §fe8 6 . . . 0c6 leads to a position
1 5 E!d 1 Ac8 in Chapter 9.
The chances are approximately 7 Ad 3
even; Hort-Hiibner, Tilburg 1 977. The more restrained 7 a3 Ab 7
 5 �c3 'ltc 7 59

8 Ad3 also deserves consideration. 1 1 g5 �d7

After 8 . . . �f6 (or 8 . . . Ac5 1 2 0-0-0 �c5
9 �b3 Aa7 1 9 'l!l'g4 :t Haag-Liptay, 1 3 ®bl 4}b4
Hungary 1 963} 9 ttf3 �c6 1 0 �b3 In th is complex, double-edged
d 6 (or 1 0 . . . b4 1 1 ab �xb4 position the chances are about
1 2 Ae3 d5 1 3 0-0 de 1 4 �xe4 equal ; van der Wiel-Gheorghiu,
�xd3 1 5 cd ::!; Martin-Miles, Las Baden 1 980.
Pal mas 1 977) 1 1 Ae3 Ae 7 1 2 0-0 D
0-0, White has some positional 6 Ad3 (50)
� 11. ��
- . ..
.. �.
.B .,u. .l � ��-
-
advantage; Franco-Miles, Buenos '
Z
"' � , �:
'Ii
50 '"- �
... fW!;t · ··· � ·� ...
Aires 1 979.
7 ... Ab7
B . .&.
� .
i=
.
� .&. - .&.
v.

Note that this position often :t • t • •

arises with White's 6th and 7th • • •
moves transposed. . �
• � .!.!. � � � - .
8 ttf3 .
• � �- .
<{!. ,..EL. • •
After 8 'l!l'e2 b4 (alternatively
8 . . . Ac5 9 �b3 Aa7 1 0 e5 f5 ft �
g . u ft u
ft - � �
1 1 Ae3 Axe3 1 2 'l!l'xe3 �e7 - �� ���
' ' �g� . •§
unclear, Kavalek-Flesch, Belgrade The most popular method of
1 965) 9 �dl �f6 1 0 �f2 Ac5 development. Its merits are ob­
1 1 �b3 Axf2+ 1 2 ®xf2 d5, Black vious - the pawn on e4 is 'over­
has a comfortable game; Matanovic­ protected ', the d 1 -h 5 d iagonal
Vladimirov, Moscow 1 963. is left free, enab l ing Wh ite to
8 �c6 transfer his queen to the king's
9 Ae3 �f6 side, and the e-file can be utilised
1 0 g4 for activating the major pieces.
A double-edged plan. An alterna­ The only d isadvantage of the move
tive worth considering is 1 0 �b3, is the loss of control over the d4
on the lines of the continuation square, which allows Black to gain
given in the note to Wh ite's 7th . time with the 'opposing' develop­
10 . . . d6 ment of h is queen 's knight.
Another possibility is 10 : At this point, the main continu­
d 5 ! ? after which Gheorghiu suggests ations for Black are:
1 1 �xc6 ( 1 1 ed �b4! ?) 1 1 . . . Dl 6 . . . b 5
Axc6 1 2 ed 4}xd5 1 3 Ae4 Ab4 D 2 6 . . . 4}f6
1 4 Ad4 :t . D3 6 . . . 4}c6
60 5 -'Dc3 itc 7

D1 the sacrificed pawn - Boleslavsky.

6 ... bS 8 ... d6
A typical theme of Black's With other continuations too,
counterplay - he prepares to Black faces d ifficulties with h is
activate his white-squared bishop develo pment. For example:
on b7 and to uti l ise his b-pawn a ) 8 . . ..£lc5 9 ..£le3 �e7 ( if 9 . . .
. .

either as a 'battering-ram' or else -'Df6, then 1 0 -'Ddxb5 ! ab 1 1 -'Dxb5

as a support for th e possible sub­ itc6 1 2 ..£lxc5 itxc5 1 3 e5 ±
sequent transfer of a knight to c4. Keres-Benko, Cura\:ao 1 962 ) 1 0
All the same, in the present situ­ ith5 e5 1 1 -'Ddxb5 ! ab 1 2 -'Dxb5
ation, with the e4 pawn firmly itb6 1 3 ..£lxc5 ttxc5 1 4 b4 ttc6
protected, this plan is not very 1 5 ttxe5 ± Keres-Ojanen, Helsi nki
effective, and the d elay in mobil­ 1 960.
ising the king's side forces generally b ) 8 . . . Ad6 9 tth5 -'Df6 1 0 tth4
makes itself felt. t.
7 0-0 c ) 8 . . -'Df6 9 e 5 � d 5 1 0 ..Q.d2
.

7 f4 leads to a position already -'Dxc3 1 1 .llxc3 -'Dc6 1 2 -'Dxc6

examined under variation C. Axc6 Durasevic-Taimanov, Yugo­
7 ... .!lb 7 slavia v USSR 1 958; now White
8 §e1 could have exerted powerful press­
The most logical treatment of u re with 1 3 ttg4! ?
the position. Practice h as also seen : d ) 8 . . . �c6 9 -'Dxc6 ttxc6 1 0 a4
a ) 8 ® h 1 d6 9 f4 -'Dd7 1 0 ite2 b4 l l �d5 ! ? �f6 1 2 ..£ld2 -'Dxd5
�gf6 = Palermo-Cuasn icu, Buenos 1 3 ed ttc5 1 4 ..£le4!? ± Tal-Gipslis,
Aires 1 968. USSR Ch 1 958.
b ) 8 ite2 -'Df6 ( after 8 . . . �c6 9 .llg 5 ! ? �f6
9 -'Dxc6 itxc6 1 0 -'DdS ! -'Df6 1 1 c4 9 . . . .lle 7? 10 ..Q.xe7 -'Dxe7 is
White has a considerable i nitiative, no good because of 1 1 -'Ddxb5 !
but a perfectly playable line is ab 1 2 �xb5 ttb6 1 3 -'Dxd6+
8 . . . d6 9 a4 b4 1 0 -'Da2 -'Df6 ® f8 1 4 -'Dxb7 .
1 1 .lld 2 d5, as in Lei n-Kotkov, 1 0 Axf6 gf
USSR 1 965 ) 9 a4 ( or 9 ..£lg5 -'Dc6 1 1 -'Dd5 ! ed
1 0 -'Dxc6 itxc6 1 1 ..£lxf6 gf 1 2 -'Dd5 1 2 ed+ ®d8
f5 - u nclear) 9 . . . b4 1 0 -'Da2 1 3 itf3 Ae7
-'Dc6 1 1 c3 d5 1 2 -'Dxc6 de!? 1 4 ms §e8
1 3 -'Dcxb4 ed 14 itxd3 ..Q.d6, and 1 5 -'Dxe7 §xe7
thanks to his active bishops Black 1 6 itxf6
h as adequate compensation for For the sacrificed piece, White
 5 lilc3 itc 7 61

has a dangerous initiative; Rogoff­ 9 a3

Fuller, Bognor Regis 1 969. 9 'l:te2 4:lbd7 1 0 ..lld 2, with no
D2 loss of tempo for a prophylactic
6 ... lilf6 (51) move, is also worth considering.
9 ..llb 7
10 'l:te2 lilbd7
1 1 g4
A double-edged continuation,
lead i ng to interesting tactical com­
p lications. A quieter game results
from 1 1 ..lld 2 .lle 7 1 2 §ae1 .
11 . .. h5!?
1 2 g5 'l:tb6
Now the point of Black's 1 1 th
move is revealed. On 1 3 ..lle 3, he
has the reply 1 3 . . . 4:lg4.
A natural developing move, of 1 3 h3!?
wh ich the only defect is that Black A n ingenious retort. Taking
now has to reckon with the poten­ advantage of his knight's invul ner­
tial threat of a thrust with e4-e5. ability ( 1 3 . . . 'l:txd4+? 1 4 ..lle 3 ) ,
7 f4 White defends the g4 square.
The best reply. After 7 0-0 13 . . . d5!?
.lld 6 ! ? (7 . . . .llc 5 is inferior because Black i s not to b e outdone.
of 8 lilb3 ..lla 7 9 ..llg 5 lilc6 1 0 The th reat is 1 4 . . . 'l:txd4+ 1 5 ..lle 3
� h 1 b 5 1 1 f4 ;J; ) 8 lilf3 lilc6 9 'l:te2 'l:txe3+! 1 6 'l:txe3 .llc 5.
lilg4 1 0 g3 h5, Black has active 14 gf 'l:txd4+
play; Wolfson-Vizh manavin, Mos­ 1 5 .lle3 'l:txe3+ !
cow 1 98 1 . After 1 5 . . 'l:txf6 1 6 ed
7 ... d6 Black would stand worse.
8 0-0 1 6 'l:txe3 ..llc 5
8 ..lle 3 has also been played ; 1 7 'l:txc5 4:lxc5
Prandstetter-Gheorghiu, Warsaw 1 8 fg §g8
1 979, then continued 8 . . . b5 At the end of the forced line of
9 a3 ..!lb 7 10 0-0 4:lbd7 1 1 'l:tf3 play the position has become sim­
4:lc5 1 2 §ae 1 ..!le7 1 3 ..llf2 4:lfd 7, plified, giving an ending with
and Black achieved a harmonious roughly equal chances; Prand­
d eployment of his forces. stetter-Smej kal, Trencianske Teplice
8 ... b5 1 979.
62 5 .£ic3 ttc 7

03 9 tte2
6 ... .£Jc6 Much the same kind of position
The most logical response to also results from 9 Ag5 Ae7 1 0
White's sixth move. The 'opposi ng' ®h1 d 5 1 1 f4 Tsesh kovsky­
development means a defi n ite saving Anikayev, USS R 1 967.
of time. . 9 ... d5
7 .£Jxc6 9 . . . e5 1 0 f4 Ad6 ! ? d eserves
I n th is manner White conducts attentio n ; M ikenas-Kotov, USSR
'the fight fo r the tempo'. The 1 958.
retreat with 7 <£lde2 gives Black 1 0 Ag5 Ab7
no worries. For example : 7 . . . 1 1 f4
.£Jf6 8 0-0 Ae7 {or ·8 . . . b5 9 a3 1 1 Axf6 gf leads to unclear
Ab7 1 0 Af4 d6 = Blau-Gligoric, play, in which Black's possession
Zu rich 1 959 ) 9 f4 d6 1 0 ®hl 0-0 of 'the two bishops' partly compen­
1 1 ttel b5 with approxi mate sates for h is inferior pawn structure.
equal ity, Keres-Taimanov, USSR 11 Ae7
1 957. 1 2 e5 .£Jd7
We would point out that 7 Ae3 1 3 Axe7 ® xe7
gives a position that usually arises 1 4 <£la4 c5
from a d ifferent move-order; it 1 5 c4
will be examined in Chapter 1 1 . White 's position is somewhat
7 ... be preferable; Spassky-Petrosian, Palma
On 7 . . . de, the blockading de Mallorca 1 969.
advance 8 a4 is u npleasant.
8 0-0 .£Jf6 (52)
9 5 4l c 3 lflc 6 : I ntrod u cti o n a n d 6 Ae2
5 <i:ic3 <i:lc6 (53)
This is o ne of the key continu­
ations in the Paulsen System, and
is al l the more popular since the
resulting position can be arrived
at by various paths (for example,
1 e4 c5 2 <i:lf3 <i:lc6 3 d4 cd 4 <i:lxd4
e6 5 <i:lc3 a6; or 1 e4 c5 2 <i:lf3
a6 3 d4 cd 4 <i:lxd4 <i:lc6 5 <i:ic3
e6).
Black's formation is of an elastic
defensive type. While conceding
some central points, Black retains
control over virtually the whole
area within ' h is own' half of the
board , and has the means to create
counterplay o n the quee n 's side.
The diagrammed position is rich
in possi bil ities, and can form the
starting-point for various indepen­
dent schemes of d evelopment -
the Scheveningen variation, the
Taimanov, o r various branches
of the Paulsen System; the choice
between systems is generall y deter­
mined by whether Black's next
move is 6 . . . d6, 6 . . . <i:ige7
or 7 . . . ffc7 .
I n this book w e shall examine
the basic continuations character­
istic of the Paulsen System, arising
after 6 .lle 2 ffc7 {see the present
chapter), 6 g3 ffc7 (see Chapter 1 0)
and 6 .lle 3 ffc7 (Chapters 1 1 and
1 2) .
Some other attempts b y White
to contend for the i nitiative are
encountered in practice but are less
appropriate; for example:
a) 6 .llc 4 ffc7 7 0-0 <i:if6 8 h3
<i:ixd4 9 ffxd4 .llc 5 10 ffd3 b5
1 1 .llb 3 .llb 7 1 2 §el 0-0 1 3 .lle 3
d6 and Black has a satisfactory
game; Luti kov-Taimanov, USS R
1 978.
b) 6 <i:lxc6 be 7 .lld 3 (or 7 e5 ffc7
8 f4 d6 9 ed .llx d6 1 0 g3 <i:if6
1 1 .llg2 .llb 7 = Tringov-Taimanov,
Leningrad 1 967) 7 . . . d5 8 0-0
<i:if6 9 §el (nor is anyth ing gained
by 9 .llg 5 .!le7 1 0 e5 <i:id7 1 1
.llx e7 ffxe7 = or 9 .llf4 .lle 7 1 0 ffe2
0-0 1 1 § ad l ffa5 =) 9 . . . Ae7
64 5 'clc3 <ilc6: Introduction and 6 .!le2

1 0 e5 4ld7 1 1 i!i-g4 g6 1 2 Ah6 6 Ae2

§b8 ! ? 1 3 §ab1 §b4 1 4 i!i'e2 .!lg5 A natural move, of wh ich the
1 5 a3 §b8 1 6 Axg5 i!i'xg5 and chief aim is to mo bilise the pieces
the chances are equal, Kayumov­ as quickly as possible .
Taimanov, USSR 1 972. .6 . . . i!i'c7 (54)
c) 6 .!lf4 d6 7 4lf3 (if 7 Ag3, then The typical 'Paulsen' treatment
7 . . . <ilf6 8 Ae2 Ad7 ! ? 9 4lb3 of the position. I nstead 6 . . . 4lge7
i!i'c7 1 0 f4 §d8 1 1 Af3 Ae7 takes the game into the paths of
1 2 i!i'e2 Ac8 Vasyu kov-Furman,
= the Taimanov system.
USSR 1 972) 7 . . . b5 (7 . . . Ae7
is worse in view of 8 i!i'd2 i!i'c7 9
0-0-0 4le5 1 0 i!i'd4 ! ? f6 1 1 i!i'a4+
®f7 1 2 <ild4 ;!; Schneider-Jakobsen,
Roskilde 1 978) 8 i!i'd2 (if 8 e5, then
8 . . . de 9 i!i'xd8+ 4lxd8 1 0 4lxe5
f6 1 1 4lf3 Ab7 = Velimi rovic­
Kirov, Skara 1 980) 8 . . . §a7 ! ?
9 0-0-0 §d7, and, having securely
defended his pawn on d6, Black
h as a satisfactory game; Schneider­
Taimanov, USSR 1 978. The situation shown on the
d) 6 Ae3 <ilf6 7 Ad3 (or 7 4lxc6 diagram is fundamental to the
be 8 e5 4ld5 8 4lxd5 cd 1 0 i!i'd4 opening system we are examin ing.
§b8 1 1 a3 Ae7 1 2 Ad3 0-0 1 3 It can arise from various open ing
0-0 d 6 = Haag-Suetin, Budapest move-orders, and is h ighly popular
1 97 6) 7 . . . d 5 ! ? 8 ed ed 9 0-0 in contemporary tournament prac­
Ad6 1 0 <ilxc6 be 1 1 Ad4 0-0 tice. The principal ways for White
1 2 i!i'f3 Ae6 1 3 §fe1 c5 1 4 to strive for the initiative are
.!lxf6 i!i'xf6 with equality, Spassky­ considered to be the following:
Fischer, match 1 972. A 7 0-0
e) 6 f4 i!i'c7 {alternatively 6 . . . B 7 f4
4)xd4 7 i!i'xd4 bS 8 eS Ab7 7 a3 is less active. After 7 . . .
9 Ae3 4le7 1 0 0-0-0 §c8 Gufeld­
= bS {also 7 . . . <ilf6 8 0-0 Ad6
Romanish in, USS R 1 98 1 ) 7 4)f3 9 g3 4)xd4 1 0 i!i'xd4 Ae5 1 1 i!i'd3
b 5 8 Ad3 AcS ! ? 9 eS f5 ! ? 1 0 ef .!lxc3 1 2 be 0-0 Kostro-Suetin,
=

4lxf6 with a fully satisfactory game Tbilisi 1 969) 8 4)xc6 i!i'xc6 9 0-0
for Black; Kirov-Taimanov, Wroc­ Ab7 1 0 Af3 i!i'c7 1 1 e5 §c8
law 1 979. (1 1 . . . §d8!?) 1 2 .!lxb7 i!i'xb7
 5 4:lc3 4:lc6: Introduction and 6 lle2 65

1 3 Af4 4:le7 1 4 �e2 §c4!? 1 5 Ag3 c) 7 . . . Ad6 8 ®h l ! ? 4:lxd4

�c6, Black has a comfortable 9 �xd4 Ae5 1 0 �d3 4:lf6 1 1 f4
game - Taimanov. Axc3 1 2 be b5 1 3 e5 4:ld5 1 4 c4!
A be 1 5 �xc4 �xc4 1 6 Axc4 ±
7 0-0 4:lf6 Ljubojevic-Damjanovic, Yugoslavia
This continuation, involving the 1 976.
threat of 8 . . . Ab4, has nowadays d) 7 . . . Ab4 8 4:lxc6 (on 8 Ae3
virtually replaced all others. The 4:lf6, a position arises which we
other moves to h ave been tried shall exami ne in Chapter 1 2) 8 . . .
are : be (8 . . . �xc6? 9 �d4 ± ) 9 f4
a) 7 . . . <£Jxd4 8 �xd4 4:le7 (th is (9 �d4 Ad6 - unclear) 9 . . . d5
kind of manoeuvre, in the spirit 10 �d4 �a7 1 1 �xa7 §xa7
of the Taimanov system, is out 1 2 Ae3 ± .
of place here, since Black h as 8 ® h l (55)
al ready used up a tempo on . . . Wh ite's idea is to prepare an
�c7) 9 Ae3 <£Jc6 (9 . . . b5? 1 0 offensive with 9 f4. The move
Axb5! ± Ermenkov-L. Popov, 8 a3 is inappropriate in view of
Bulgaria 1 977) 1 0 �b6 ± . 8 . . . 4:lxd4 9 �xd4 Ad6 1 0 ®hl
b ) 7 . . . b S 8 <£Jxc6 �xc6 (after Ae5 1 1 �d3 b5 1 2 f4 Axc3
8 . . . de 9 Ae3 Ab7, White can 1 3 be Ab7 + Diaz-Larsen, Biel
play either 1 0 a4 b4 1 1 <£lb 1 c5 1 976.
1 2 <£Jd2 ;!; Rodriguez-Portisch, Las Another unconvincing line is
Pal mas 1976, or 10 f4 4:lf6 1 1 e5 §d8 8 4:lxc6 be 9 f4 d5 1 0 e5 4:ld7 1 1
1 2 �e 1 <£ld5 1 3 <ilxd5 cd 1 4 c3 ± ®hl Ae7 1 2 Ad3, as in Leh mann­
Sveshnikov-Gofshtein, USSR 1 976) Knezevic, Kiev 1 978.
9 Af3 Ab7 (or 9 . . . �c7 1 0 §el
±) 1 0 Af4 ! ? d6 (if 10 . . . <£ie7,
then 1 1 Ad6 4:lg6 1 2 e5 ± Parma­
Krnic, Vr5ac 1 973) 1 1 §e l e5 1 2
a4! ? (after 1 2 Ad2 4:lf6 1 3 a4 ba
14 §xa4 Ae7 1 5 Ag5 0-0 the game
is about even, Geller-Taimanov,
Pal ma de Mallorca 1 970) 1 2 . . . ba
(1 2 . . . ef? 1 3 e5 ± ± or 1 2 . . .
b4? ! 1 3 4:ld5 ef 1 4 c3! b3 1 5 e5
0-0-0 1 6 �xb3 ®b8 1 7 <£ib4 ± ±
Velimi rovic-Vasyukov, Yugoslavia v
USS R 1 973) 1 3 §xa4 ± .
66 5 4:ic3 4:ic6: Introduction and 6 ..Q.e2
sortie enables Black to obtain
counterplay . Other continuations
to have been seen in practice are
less energetic. For example :
a ) 8 . . . b5 9 4:lxc6 de 1 0 f4 b4
1 1 e5 be 1 2 ef gf 1 3 'l*e 1 ±
Vel imi rovic-Damjanovic, Sombor
1 972.
b) 8 . . . 4:lxd4 9 'l*xd4 ..Q.c5 1 0
'l*d 3 b5 1 1 f4 ..Q.b7 (if 1 1 . . . h5,
then 1 2 e5 4:lg4 1 3 i*h3 ! 4:lf2+
1 4 §xf2 ..Q.xf2 1 5 i*f3 *a7 1 6
4:le4 ..Q.b6 1 7 a4 b4 1 8 a5 ..Q.c7
1 9 ..Q.e3 'l*b8 20 ..Q.c5 ± Matanovic­
Matulovic, Yugoslavia 1 976) 1 2 ..Q.f3
0-0 (1 2 . . . e5 is weak in view of
1 3 {)d5 ..Q.xd5 1 4 ed with the
threat of 1 5 d6, Sax-Hort, Tees­
side 1 97 5 ; so is 1 2 . . . b4 1 3 e5 be
1 4 ef gf 1 5 'l*xc3 ..Q.xf3 1 6 §xf3
± Honfi-Fodor, Bajmok 1 975)
1 3 e5 4:le8 1 4 4:!e4 ..Q.e7 1 5 a4 ;l; .
9 {)xc6
The only way White can fight
for the initiative. Other methods
are less dangerous for Black. For
example :
a) 9 i*d3 0-0 (9 . . . 4:le5? ! 1 0 i*g3)
1 0 f4 d6 (if 1 0 . . . d5, then 1 1 e5
4)d7 1 2 ..Q.d2 ;l; Planinc-Damjanovic,
Yugoslavia 1 978) 1 1 {)b3 ..Q.d7
1 2 ..Q.d2 {)a5 1 3 a3 4:lxb3 1 4 cb
..Q.c5 1 5 b4 ..Q.b6 1 6 §acl ..Q.c6
with approximately even chances,
Shamkovich-Matera, US Ch 1 977.
b) 9 ..Q.g5 ..Q.xc3 (alternatively 9 . . .
d 6 1 0 ..Q.xf6 gf 1 1 f4 4:lxd4 1 2
ttxd4 .llx c3 1 3 be e5 1 4 'l*f2
..Q.e6= J ansa-Kirov, Bajmok 1 980;
or 9 . . . i*d6 1 0 4:Jxc6 be! ? 1 1
..Q.d 3 h6 1 2 ..Q.d2 'l*b8 1 3 f4 d5
1 4 e5 {)d7 1 5 'l*h5 {)c5 - unclear,
Bielczv. k-Damjanovic, Lublin 1 976)
1 0 ..Q.xf6 gf 1 1 be 4:le7 ! ? 1 2 'l*d2
d5 1 3 'l*h6 (1 3 ed? ! 4:lxd5 1 4 c4
4:lf4 1 5 ..Q.f3 0-0 +) 1 3 . . . de 1 4
'l*xf6 4:lg6 1 5 f3 e5 1 6 {)f5 ..Q.xf5
1 7 'l*xf5 e3 and Black has a satis­
factory game; lvanovic-Kurajica,
Yugoslav Ch 1 978.
9 ... be
If 9 . . . 'l*xc6, then 1 0 e5
{)e4 (or 1 0 . . . ..Q.xc3 1 1 be 4:ld5
1 2 ..Q.a3 ±) 1 1 4:lxe4 'l*xe4 1 2 f4,
and Black is in serious d ifficulties;
Velimirovic-Matulovic, Majdanpek
1 976.
1 0 f4
The most fashionable continu­
ation. 1 0 i*d4 used to be the normal
move, but after 1 0 . . . c5 (also
1 0 . . . ..Q.d6 1 1 'l*e3 0-0 1 2 f4 e5
1 3 f5 ..Q.e7 = Kuzmin-Prodanov,
Varna 1 976) 1 1 'l*e3 d6 (or 1 1 . . .
..Q.b7 1 2 e5 ..Q.xc3 1 3 'l*xc3 ) =
1 2 i*g3 ..Q.xc3 1 3 'l*xc3 0-0 1 4
f3 ..Q.b7, Black experienced no
d ifficulties; Kaplan-Karpov, Madrid
1 97 3 .
10 . . . d5
10 . . . .llxc3 1 1 be 4:lxe4 is
dangerous for Black in view of 1 2
'l*d4 4:lf6 1 3 Aa3. But in Larsen's
opinion 1 0 . . . 0-0 is worth con­
sidering.
1 1 e5 4:ld7
 5 '9c3 '9c6: Introduction and 6 .ll e2 67
1 2 4la4
On 1 2 't'te1 with the th reat of
1 3 4lxd5, as in Planinc-Kirov,
Maribor 1 977, Black should play
1 2 . . . § b8 1 3 .lld 2 .lle 7
=.
12 . . . 4lb6
Larsen recommends 1 2 . . . aS
1 3 c4 Aa6.
Another possibil ity is 12 . . .
0-0 1 3 c4 .lle 7 1 4 .lle 3 aS 1 S §cl
't'tb8 1 6 §f3 with double-edged
play, Matanovic-Damjanovic, Yugo­
slavia 1 977.
1 3 c4 .lle 7
1 4 .lle 3 4lxa4
1 5 't'txa4 .ild7
Or 1 5 . . 0-0 1 6 §ac1 't'tb7
. B 2 7 . . . 4lxd4
1 7 't'tc2 .lld 7 1 8 .lld 3 g6 1 9 't'tf2
§fc8 Parma-Liberzon, Athens 1 976.
1 6 't'tc2 't'tb7
1 7 .lld 3 g6
1 8 §ab 1 as
1 9 't'tf2 0-0
20 §fc1 §fc8
Wh ite's game is rather more
active, but Black's position is
sufficiently sol i d ; Liberzon-Larsen,
Biel 1 976.
B .ile3 and White has a considerable
7 f4 (56)
By this method, wh ich is typical
of the open ing under consideration,
White extends h is gains i n the
centre. Often the move 7 f4 leads
to positions already examined in
this chapte r or the previous one.
Black may, however, make the
attempt to utilise White's sl ight
delay in development in order to
obtain counterplay.
The most i mportant attempts by
Black to seize the in itiative are :
81 7 . . . b S
Other melhods are less suitable,
for example:
a) 7 . . . .llb 4? ! 8 4lxc6 (8 .ilf3 ? !
.ilxc3+ 9 be 4laS + ) 8 . . . be
(if 8 . . . 't'txc6, then 9 't'td4 .ilxc3+
1 0 be 4lf6 1 1 eS 4ld5 1 2 .lld 2 b5
1 3 a4 .llb 7 14 §b 1 ± Parma­
Tan, Beverwij k 1 963) 9 't'td4
.llf8 1 0 e5 d5 (or 1 0 . . . 4le7
1 1 .lld 3 ± ) 1 1 ed 't'txd6 1 2 't'txd6
.llx d 6 1 3 .llf3 .llb 7 1 4 4le4 .lle 7 1 5
positional edge, Dely-Navarovsky,
Hungarian Ch 1 96S.
b) 7 . . .ilcS 8 .lle 3 d 6 9 't'td3
.
(9 't'td2 4lge7 1 0 0-0-0 is also
good) 9 . . . 4lge7 1 0 0-0-0 0-0
1 1 4lxc6 .llx e3+ 1 2 't'txe3 be
(if 1 2 . . . 't'txc6? then 1 3 §d3
§d8 14 §hd1 't'tc7 1 5 't'td2 ±±
Min ic-Taimanov, Yugoslavia v USSR
68 5 <ilc3 <ilc6: Introduction and 6 .Jle2
1 962) 1 3 g4 c5 1 4 f5 <ilc6 1 5 f6!
gf 1 6 g5 and White has a dangerous
king's side attack - analysis by
Shamkovich.
c) 7 . d6 9 f5 ! ? {another possi­
. .
bil ity is 8 Ae3 Ae7 9 *d2 <ilf6
1 0 0-0-0 0-0 1 1 g4 b5 1 2 g5 <ild7
with double-edged play) 8 . . .
<ilf6 9 fe Axe6 (or 9 . . . fe 1 0 0-0
Ae7 1 1 <ilxc6 *xc6 1 2 ® h 1 0-0
1 3 e5 ! ? ;!; ) 1 0 <ilxe6 fe 1 1 0-0 Ae7
1 2 Ag4 <ild8 1 3 Ah3 *b6+ 1 4
® h 1 0-0 1 5 *e2, and White's
position is preferable.
81
7 ..
. b5
The typical recipe for counter­
p lay on the flank.
8 <ilxc6
The most i mportant reply. White
attempts to exploit the weakening
of the a8-h 1 diagonal . On 8 Af3
or 8 Ae3, Black can carry out the
simplifying manoeuvre 8 . . . <ilxd4,
with . . . <ilg8-e7-c6 to follow, on
the lines of variation 82 below.
8 ... �c6
If 8 . . . de, then 9 0-0 Ab7
1 0 Ae3 4:lf6 1 1 e5 <ild5 (1 1 . . .
b4? ! 1 2 ef be 1 3 *d4 cb 1 4
*xb2 gf 1 5 §b1 .Jlc8 1 6 *xf6 ±
Unzicker-Mi kenas, Leningrad 1 960)
1 2 <ilxd5 cd 1 3 .Jld3, and White
has a positional plus.
9 Af3 .Jlb7 (5 7)
1 0 e5
A natural continuation, wh ich
h as, however, the defect of partly
releasing the tension in the centre.
Practice has also seen :
a) 1 0 0-0? ! b4 1 1 <ilb1 {)f6 1 2 §e1
d 5 ! ? 1 3 e5 4:le4 1 4 Ae3 Ac5
1 5 Axe4 de 1 6 <ild2 0-0 and Black
h as an excellent game, Sveshnikov­
Suetin , Sochi 1 974.
b) 10 *d3 §c8 1 1 Ae3 Ab4
1 2 Ad4 <ilf6 1 3 0-0-0 with double­
edged play, Velimirovic-Brajovic,
Yugoslavia 1 976.
Note that 1 0 Ae3 leads to a
position which more often arises
from a different move-order, and
which we shal l consider in Chapter
1 2.
10 . . . *c7
1 1 <ile4
I n the event of 1 1 0-0 4:lh6 ! ?
(another possibil ity i s 1 1 . . . §c8
1 2 Axb7 *xb7 1 3 *d3 <ile7
1 4 .Jle3 <ilf5 1 5 .Jlf2 h 5 ! ? 1 6 <ile4
Ae7 ;!; Ribli-Schmidt, OL 1 972)
1 2 .Jle3 §d8 ! ? 1 3 <ile4 (if 1 3
.Jlf2, then 1 3 . . . d 6 ! ? 1 4 *e2
Axf3 1 5 *xf3 de 1 6 fe .Jlc5 +
J anosevic-Taimanov, Wijk aan Zee
 5 lilc3 lilc6: Introduction and 6 .ile2 69

1 970) 1 3 . . . lilf5 1 4 lild6+ .lhd6

1 5 ed 'ltxd6 ! 1 6 Axb7 'ltxd1
1 7 §fxd 1 lilxe3, the advantage is
on Black's side; Kupreich ik-Tal ,
USSR Ch 1 974.
11 . . . §d8 ! ?
1 2 'lte2 d5
1 2 . . . lilh6 also merits attention .
1 3 lilg3
On 1 3 ed _Q_xd6, the game
.
quickly becomes simpl ified.
13 g6 1 5 .ilc5, White has a clear positional
1 4 Ae3 h5 advantage - analysis by Bolesl avsky.
1 5 'ltd3 lile 7 9 Ae3
I n this complex position the If 9 a4, then 9 . . . b4 1 0 lila2
chances are approximately equal ; 'ltxc2 1 1 lilxb4 'ltc5! with a com­
Parma-Soos, Titovo Uzice 1 966. fortable position for Black.
B2 9 ... Ab7
7 ... lilxd4 9 . . . lile 7 i s also playable, trans­
By this means, Black tries to posing i n to the Hecht-Matulovic
gain time for mobil ising his forces game (see note to Black's 8th
on the l ines of the Taimanov move) .
system. 1 0 0-0 §c8
8 'ltxd4 b 5 ! ? (58) Of course not 1 0 . lile7,
After the straightforward 8 . . . because of 1 1 _Q_xb 5 !
lile7 9 'ltf2 ! ? (if 9 .ile3, then 1 1 a3
9 . . . b5 10 0-0 lilc6 1 1 'ltd2 It's worth considering 1 1 §ad 1
Ab7 1 2 §ad1 Ae7 1 3 a4 b4 1 4 Ac5 1 2 'ltxc5 ( 1 2 'ltxg7 _Q_xe3+
lild5 ed 1 5 ed 'ltd6 1 6 d e 'ltxd2 1 3 ® h 1 is u nclear i n v iew of
1 7 §xd2 _Q_xc6 Hech t-Matu lovic,
= 1 3 . . . ®e7 ) 1 2 . . . 'ltxc5 1 3 _Q_xc5
Hamburg 1 965 ) 9 . . . lilc6 1 0 Ae3 §xc5 1 4 a3.
b5 (Or 1 0 . . . Ae 7 1 1 Ab6 'ltb8 11 lilf6
1 2 e5 d 6 1 3 ed Axd6 1 4 lile4! 1 2 Af3 Ae7
Ae7 1 5 0-0-0 ± Kupreich ik-Babev, 1 3 §ad1 0-0
Dresden 1 969 ) 1 1 0-0 Ae7 1 2 e5 Black has n o d ifficulties;
0-0 1 3 lile4 Ab 7 1 4 Ab6 'ltb8 Ghizdavu-Matera, USA 1 976.
1 0 5 4l c 3 cilc 6 6 g3
5 '9c3 '9c6
6 g3 (59)
The idea of th is move is obvious
- White prepares the fianchetto
of his bishop, so as to increase the
pressure on the central I ight squares
and over-protect his pawn on e4.
Al l the same, it is hard for the
bishop on g2 to perform active
functions, while in several cases
the weakening of Wh ite's control
over the c4 square can make itself
felt.
6 ... VJ/c7
With th is typical 'Paulsen ' man­
oeuvre Black is usually preparing
to relieve the position with an
exchange on d4, followed by . . .
Ac5.
7 Ag2 (60)
One of the characteristic pos­
itions of the system. It is encoun­
tered fairly often in practice, and
arises from various opening move­
orders. At th is point Black's basic
methods of development are :
A 7 . . . d6
B 7 . . . '9f6
The alternatives are less advisable
I J
for exampl e :
a) 7 . . '9ge7 8 � b 3 d 6 9 a 4 Ad7
.
1 0 0-0 �c8 1 1 Ag5 Ae7 1 2 Axe7
'98xe7 1 3 VJ/d2 0-0 1 4 §adl
( 1 4 §fdl ! ?) and White has an
obvious positional plus; Vogt­
Bonsch, Halle 1 978.
b ) 7 . b 5 8 0-0 Ab7 9 E!el
. .
(9 '9xc6 VJ/xc6 1 0 §el is less
convincing on account of 1 O . . .
Ac5 1 1 �d5 �e7 1 2 Ag5 f6

1 3 tth5+ 4:lg6 1 4 .Q.e3 .Q.xe3
1 5 4:lxe3 0-0 Timman-Olafsson,
Reykjavik 1 975) 9 . . . .Q.e7 (other
replies also l eave Black in diffi­
culties, for exampl e : 9 . . . §c8 1 0
4:ld5! ttb8 1 1 a4 4lxd4 1 2 ttxd4
§c4 1 3 ttd3 ± Ci"r ic-J anosevic,
Titovo Uzice 1 966, or 9 . . . 4le5
1 0 .Q.f4 f6 1 1 a4 b4 1 2 4la2 h5
13 c3 g5 14 .Q.e3 be 1 5 4:lxc3 ±
Kavalek-Olafsson, Tilburg 1 977)
1 0 4:lxc6 ttxc6 1 1 4ld5 ! d6 1 2
ttg4 ! ? ®f8 1 3 4:lxe7 4:lxe7 1 4 .Q.d2
and White's advantage is obvious;
Gipslis-Vooremaa, Tall i n n 1 981 .
A
7 . . . d6
A somewhat passive but suf­
ficiently solid continuation, which
ai ms for a rapid mobil isation of the
pieces.
8 0-0 .Q.d7
8 . . . .Q.e7 is also playable,
l eading merely to a transposition
in the event of 9 §e 1 Ad7 . On
8 . . . �f6, a position from the
Scheveningen variation arises.
9 §e1
There is roughly the same
merit in 9 4lxc6 be 1 0 �a4 §b8
1 1 c4 c5 1 2 4lc3 Ae7 1 3 f4
;!; Smetan-Rodriguez, Quito 1 976,
and Vu kcevic-Damjanovic, Hastings
1 976/77 .
9 ... Ae7
1 0 �xc6
Exchanging the knight is usefu l ,
since after 1 0 Ae3 Black can play
5 4lc3 4lc6 6 g3 77
1 0 . . . �e5 with the idea of 1 1 . . .
4:lc4.
10 . . . .Q.xc6 (61)
I n the case of 1 0 . . . be, White
should consider 1 1 b 3 ! ? (1 1 4la4
§b8 1 2 c4 c5 1 3 4:lc3 is less
convincing in view of 1 3 . . . .Q.f6
1 4 Af4 Ae5 1 5 .Q.xe5 de 1 6 'ltg4
®f8 with complex, double-edged
p lay; Suetin-Zichichi, Tunis 1 977)
1 1 . . . �f6 (if 1 1 . . . Af6, then
1 2 .Q.b2 4:le7 1 3 'ltd2 ;!;) 1 2 e5 ! ?
d e 1 3 Ab2 0-0 1 4 'lte2 and White
h as the initiative; Korsunsky-Suetin,
USSR 1 978.
1 1 ttg4 ! ?
It pays to provoke a weakness
in Black's king's side. After 1 1 a4
4lf6 1 2 Af4 b6 1 3 tte2 0-0 1 4
§adl §fd8 Popov-Moiseyev, corr.
1 976, or 1 1 �e2 b6 1 2 4:ld4 Ab 7
1 3 a4 4lf6 1 4 b3 0-0 1 5 c4 4:ld7
Castro-Andersson, Biel 1 976, no
serious problems arise for Black.
11 . . . h5
1 2 tte2 b5
1 2 . . . h4 has also been tried.
72 5 <£ic3 <£ic6 6 g]
After 1 3 a4! ? (1 3 b3 hg 1 4 hg
<£if6 1 5 Ab2 b5 1 6 a3, as in
Honfi-Gufeld, Su khumi 1 972, is
less energetic) 1 3 . . . hg 14 hg <£lf6
(or 1 4 . . . b6 1 5 Ae3 1£lf6 1 6
§ad1 0-0 1 7 g4 ;l; Dolmatov­
Agzamov, USS R 1 977) 1 5 Ad2,
it isn 't easy for Black to create
counterplay; Nunn-GaSic, Birming­
ham 1 976.
1 3 .Q.d2 1£lf6
The game Tai-Andersson, Milan
1 975, saw 1 3 . . . ttb7 1 4 a3 ®f8 ? !
wh ich allowed White to work up a
strong initiative after 1 5 1£la2!
a5 1 6 b4.
1 4 Ag5 0-0 ! ?
Offering a pawn sacrifice for the
activation of his forces, Black may
count on equalising - analysis by
Tai .
B situation, however, this idea comes
7 ... 1£lf6
An elastic developing continu­
ation, wh ich allows Black to keep
open his choice of further plans.
8 0-0 (62)
The foll owing lines have been
tried h ere :
B1 8 . . . 1£lxd4
B2 8 . . . h 6
B3 8, . . . Ae7
Observe that 8 . . . Ac5 is
weak on account of 9 Af4 ! ? 1£le5
(9 . . . d6 and 9 . . . e5 are strongly
answered by 1 0 <£lb3 ±) 1 0 <£la4
Ae7 1 1 c4! ? d6 1 2 §cl b6 1 3
b4! ? and White has a dangerous
initiative; Browne-Langeweg, Wijk
aan Zee 1 97 4.
On 8 . .. . d 6, a position charac­
teristic of the Scheveningen vari-
ation arises.
Bl
8 <£lxd4
By this means Black attempts
to save some time in the mobil is­
ation of his forces. I n the present
up against a tactical rejoin der.
9 ttxd4 Ac5
1 0 .Q.f4 ! ?
This counter-blow makes all
the difference! Against other con­
tinuations it's simpler for Black
to solve his opening problems . For
example:
a) 1 0 ttdl d6 1 1 1£la4 (or 1 1 Ag5
1£ld7 1 2 'lte2 0-0 = Wedberg­
Karlsson , Swedish Ch 1 974) · 1 1 . . .
Aa7 1 2 Af4 e5 1 3 Ag5 Ad4 ! ?
1 4 .Q.xf6 gf 1 5 ttf3 ®e7 1 6 c3
Aa7 1 7 b3 Ae6 1 8 c4 .Q.d4 +
Goldenov-Suetin, USSR Ch 1 963.
b) 1 0 ttd3 1£lg4 1 1 'lte2 1£le5

1 2 ..t>hl d6 1 3 f4 4:lc6 1 4 b3 b5
1 5 Ab2 Ab7 = Bilek-Taimanov,
Budapest 1 961 .
c) 1 0 itd2 0-0 1 1 b3 Ae7 1 2
Ab2 §d8 1 3 §ad1 d6 =.
10 . . . d6
After 10 . . . Axd4 1 1 Axc7
d5 1 2 ed Axc3 1 3 be . 4:lxd5
14 Ae5 f6 1 5 c4 4:lb4 1 6 Ac3 4:lc6
1 7 §ab 1 , White has an appreciable
endgame initiative; Honfi-Kozma,
Wij k aan Zee 1 969.
1 1 itd2
1 1 itd3 is less convincing in
view of 1 1 . . . 4:ld7 (1 1 . . . h 6 ? !
1 2 4:la4 e5 1 3 4:lxc5 d e 1 4 Ae3 t)
1 2 4:la4 e5 (1 2 . . . 4:le5 1 3 Jlxe5
de 1 4 4:lxc5 itxc5 1 5 §fd 1 ;!; )
1 3 Ad2 (or 1 3 Ag5 h6 1 4 Ad2
b5 1 5 4:lxc5 4:lxc5 1 6 itc3 Ab7
Dahlin-Karlsson, Swedish Ch 1 974)
1 3 . . . b5 1 4 4:lxc5 4:lxc5 1 5 ita3
Ab7 1 6 Aa5 ite7 (also 1 6 . . .
itc6 1 7 §ad1 0-0 1 8 §d5 itc8 ! ?
1 9 §xd6 Jlxe4 2 0 §e1 Jlxg2
21 ..t>xg2 4:lb7 22 §d2 4:lxa5
23 itxa5 'ltc6+ 24 f3 = Adorjan)
- 1 8 ed
1 7 'lte3 0-0 1 8 §ad 1 f5 1 9 ef
Jlxg2 20 ®xg2 §xf5 with equal­
isation; Holmov-Moiseyev, USSR
1 97 1 .
11 . . . h6
It's important not to allow the
bishop onto g5. 1 1 . . . 4ld7 is
weak on account of 1 2 §ad 1 4:le5
1 3 4:la4 t.
1 2 §ad1
Here the sortie 1 2 4:la4 achieves
5 4lc3 <ilc6 6 g3 73
nothing, in view of 1 2 . . . e5 1 3
4:lxc5 de 1 4 Ae3 4lg4 J anosevic­
Vasyu kov, Skopje 1 970.
12 . . . e5
1 3 Ae3 Ag4
1 3 . . . Jlxe3 is no good because
of 1 4 fe ± ; on 1 3 . . . Ae6, White
can play 1 4 Jlxc5 de 1 5 <ild5 Jlxd5
1 6 ed 'itd6 1 7 f4 ;t Spelman­
Roos, Orleans 1 976. However, a
I ine barely tested in practice but
worthy of attention is 1 3 . . . ..t>e7 ! ?
as played by Hlibner against Ga­
prindashvil i, Wij k aan Zee 1 979. On
1 4 Jlxc5 Black now has 1 4 . .
itxc5, with 1 5 . . . §d8 to follow.
1 4 Jlxc5 de
1 5 f3 Ae6
1 6 f4! ? 0-0
= Also after 1 6 . . . §d8 1 7 <ild5
Jlxd5 1 8 ed e4 1 9 c4 0-0 20 §fe1 ,
White has the in itiative; Kurajica­
Franklin, Hasti ngs 1 97 1 /72.
1 7 <ild5
1 7 'itd6 is also good .
17 . . . Jlxd5
'itd6
1 9 . fe 'itxe5
20 c4
White's position is undoubtedly
p referable. (Analysis.)
B2
8 ... h6 (63)
This prophylactic continuation
h as only come into fashion in the
l ast few years. Black forestalls
Ag5 wh ich in a number of cases
is unpleasant for h i m, and waits
74 5 <£lc3 <£lc6 6 g3

d6 1 5 §fd1 e 5 ! ? with satisfactory

play for Black; Tal.,-Romanishin,
Yerevan 1 980.
d) 9 <£lxc6 !? de 1 0 Ae3 e5 1 1 <£la4
4:ld7 1 2 Ah3 b5 1 3 Axd7+ Axd7
1 4 <£lb6 §d8 1 5 <£lxd7 §xd7
1 6 �e2 Ae7 1 7 a4 and Wh ite has
some initiative even though the
position has been considerably
simplified; Popovic-Cebalo, Yugo­
slav Ch ·1 980.
for a suitable moment to carry out 9 ... d6
the exchanging operation famil iar We now see that the game is
to us from variation B1 . heading for Scheveningen forma­
Sti l l , the d elay in developing tions, with the move 8 . . . h6
the pieces entails definite hazards. proving useless.
9 <£lb3 1 0 a4 Ae7
The most unpleasant rejoinder, 1 1 a5 0-0
wh ich denies Black the possibility 1 2 Ae3 <£le5
of simplifying and inval i dates his 1 3 Ab6 �b8
plan. 1 4 �e2 {)fd7
Practice has also seen : 1 5 <£la4
a) 9 §e 1 <£lxd4 1 0 �xd4 Ac5 1 1 White has an indisputable pos-
�d 1 e5 1 2 <£la4 Aa7 1 3 c4 d6 itional p lus; Popovic-Rajkovic,
1 4 Ae3 Axe3 1 5 §xe3 Ad7 1 6 Kladovo 1 980.
<£lc3 0-0 1 7 §d3 �xc4 1 8 §xd6 B3
Ae6 = Calvo-Hulak, OSek 1 978. 8 ... Ae7 (64)
b ) 9 Af4 e5 1 0 <£ld5 ! ? �d8 ! ?
( 1 0 . . . <£lxd5 1 1 e d <£lxd4? 1 2
Axe5 ± ) 1 1 <£lxc6 de 1 2 <£lxf6+
�xf6 and the game ended in
a d raw, Sigurjonsson-Taimanov,
Hastings 1 975/76.
c ) 9 b3 Ac5 1 0 Ae3 ( or 10 <£lde2
b5 1 1 Ab2 Ab7 1 2 <£lf4 d6 =

Planinc-Misic, Subotica 1 97 5 )
1 0 . . . Aa7 1 1 h3 0-0 1 2 �d2
<£lxd4 1 3 Axd4 Axd4 1 4 �xd4

A natural d eveloping continu­
ation, and the one enjoying greatest
popularity.
9 §el
This plan, involving the positional
threat of an exchange on c6 fol­
lowed by a thrust with the e-pawn ,
is thought to b e the most energetic.
The following have also been
seen in practice:
a) 9 l£lxc6? ! be 10 b3 d5 1 1 Ab2
0-0 and Black has no problems,
Sarapu-Matu lovic, S kopje 1 967 .
b ) 9 l£lde2 0-0 1 0 h3 §d8 1 1 g4
d5 1 2 ed l£lb4 1 3 Af4 Ad6 1 4
Ag5 Ae7 with an equal game,
Foguelman-Lengyel, Amsterdam
1 964.
c) 9 l£lb3 0-0 1 0 f4 d 5 ! ? (1 0 . . .
d6 leads to a Scheveningen-l ike
position in wh ich it isn't easy for
Black to create counterplay) 1 1 e5
(after 1 1 ed ed 1 2 l£lxd5 l£lxd5
1 3 'fkxd5 Ae6 1 4 'fkf3 §ad8,
the activity of Black's pieces
compensates for the sacrificed
pawn; Ljubojevic-J anosevic, Vrn­
jacka Banja 1 97 1 ) 1 1 . . . l£ld7
1 2 l£le2 b5 1 3 l£led4 b4 1 4 l£lxc6
'fkxc6 1 5 l£ld4 'lkb6 1 6 Ae3 a5
1 7 'fkd2 Ac5 with approxi mate
equality, Barden-Korchnoi, OL
1 960.
d) 9 � h l 0-0 1 0 f4 d6 (after 1 0
. . . d5 1 1 e5 l£lxd4 1 2 'fkxd4
l£ld7 1 3 -tkd1 Ac5 1 4 b3 b5 1 5
Ab2 §e8 1 6 l£le2 Ab 7 1 7 l£ld4,
White has a positional edge) 1 1 Ae3
5 l£lc3 l£lc6 6 g3 75
Ad7 1 2 l£lb3 §ab8 1 3 g4 b5 1 4 a3
4:Je8 1 5 'lkd2 b4 1 6 ab l£lxb4 1 7
§f3 d 5 with complex, double-edged
play; Hubner-Ru binetti, OL 1 968.
e) 9 b3 0-0 1 0 Ab2 d6 (after 1 0
. . . §d8 1 1 l£lce2 d 5 1 2 ed 4:lxd5
1 3 c4 l£ldb4 14 'lkb 1 l£lxd4 1 5
l£lxd4 Ad7 1 6 'fke4 l£lc6 1 7 l£lf3,
White exerts pressure over the
whole board ; Korchnoi-Gipsl is, Len­
ingrad 1 962) 1 1 l£lce2 l£lxd4 ! ? 1 2
l£lxd4 e5 1 3 l£lf5 Axf5 1 4 ef d5
and Black has fu lly adequate play
although h is pawn centre needs
looking after; Parma-Matanovic,
Zagreb 1 965.
f) 9 l£lce2 0-0 1 0 c4 l£lxd4 1 1
'fkxd4 e5 (on 1 1 . . . d6 1 2 Ad2
Ad7 1 3 §acl , White has a pos­
itional plus; Taimanov-Vlad imirov,
Leningrad 1 967) 1 2 'lkd3 (1 2 'fkc3
b 5 ! ? - unclear) 1 2 . . . b5 ! ? 1 3 cb
ab 1 4 Ag5 b4 1 5 §fcl 'lkb8 and
the chances are about equal;
Tringov-Damjanovic, S kopje 1 97 1 .
9 ... l£lxd4
In the present situation this
'relieving' exchange, combined with
b ringing the bishop out to c5,
might seem belated . However, in a
numb er of cases the rook on el
tu rns out to be worse placed
than on f1 (the point f2 has been
weakened ) , so Black's loss of
tempo has its justification .
The natural 9 . 0-0 can be
. .
answered by 1 0 l£lxc6 ! ? de (or 1 0
. . . be 1 1 e5 l£ld5 1 2 <£la4 §b8
76 5 <9c3 4Jc6 6 g3
1 3 c4 4Jb6 1 4 4Jxb6 §xb6 1 5
'ltc2 t) 1 1 e5 §d8 (or 1 1 . . . <9d5
1 2 'ltg4 ®h8 1 3 Ag5 Axg5 1 4
'ltxg5 b 5 1 5 §adl Ab7 1 6 4Je4
± l n kjov-Peev, Bu lgaria 1 981 .
A good alternative to 1 3 Ag5 is
1 3 Ad2, as played in Lu kin­
Cvetkovic, Yugoslavia 1 965) 1 2
'lte2 ( 1 2 'ltf3 4Jd5 1 3 h4!? as
in Vasyukov-Damjanovic, Varna
1 971 , also deserves. attention) 1 2
. . . 4Jd 5 1 3 4Je4!? 'ltxe5 1 4 c4
4Jf6 1 5 Ag5 'ltf5 1 6 f4 h6 1 7
Ah4, and White 's initiative more
than compensates for the sacrificed
pawn - analysis by Boleslavsky.
Note that 9 . . . d6 leads to a
position typical of the Scheveningen
variation.
1 0 'ltxd4 Ac5 (65)
1 0 . . . e5 1 1 'ltd3 d6 is uncon­
vincing. After 1 2 4:ld5 4:lxd5 1 3 ed
0-0 1 4 c4 f5 (or . 1 4 . . . Af6 1 5
Ae3 Ad7 1 6 §ac1 ± Marjanovic­
J anosevic, Belgrade 1 977) 1 5 Ad2
Af6 1 6 §ac1 e4 1 7 'lta3, the initia­
tive is on Wh ite's side; Marjanovic-
J anosevic, Yugoslav Ch 1 97 7 .
1 1 'ltd1
At th is point the blow 1 1 Af4,
wh ich was attractive with the rook
on f1 (see B1 ), no longer promises
'
White anyth ing. After 1 1 . . . d6
1 2 'ltd2 4Jg4 (this tempo-gaining
manoeuvre makes al l the differ­
ence ! ) 1 3 §e2 4Je5 ( 1 3 . . . Ad7
fails against 1 4 b4! Axb4 1 5
4Jd 5 ! ± ± Alexandria-Leviti na, USSR
1 975) 1 4 4Ja4 (or 1 4 §d1 4Jc4
1 5 'ltc1 Ad7 = Holmov-Dely,
Kecskemet 1 975) 1 4 . . . Aa7
1 5 §d1 Ad7 1 6 4Jc3 (1 6 'ltxd6?
'ltxd6 1 7 §xd6 4Jc4 +) 1 6 . . .
§d8 1 7 b3 Ab8, Black has a sol id
position ; Ti mman-Langeweg, Am­
sterdam 1 981 .
1 1 'ltd3 is also i neffective in
view of 1 1 . . . <9g4 1 2 §e2 d6 =.
11 . . . d6
1 2 Ae3
Other continuations are weake r :
a ) 1 2 h3 4:l d 7 1 3 Ae3 0-0 1 4 'ltd2
4Je5 1 5 Axes 'ltxc5 1 6 §ad1
4Jc4 1 7 4Ja4!? 'ltc7 ! ? 1 8 'ltc3
Ad7 + Shamkovich-Timman, Rio
de J aneiro 1 979.
b) 1 2 <9a4 Aa7 1 3 Ae3 (or 1 3 c4
Ad7 1 4 Ae3 0-0 1 5 §cl Axe3
1 6 §xe3 Axa4 1 7 'ltxa4 <9g4
1 8 §ec3 'ltc5 1 9 'ltc2 4Je5 +
Novoselski-Matulovic, Yugoslavia
1 977) 1 3 . . . Ad7 1 4 Axa7 §xa7
1 5 'ltd4 b5 1 6 4Jc3 e5 1 7 'ltd2
§b7 + Andre-Matulovic, Dort­
mund 1 977.

12 . . . e5
A doub le-edged plan, leading to
interesting p lay. The game Timman­
Meulders, Amsterdam 1 978, saw
the 'natu ral ' 1 2 . . . 0-0, and play
contin ued : 1 3 �d2 §b8 {or 1 3 . . .
.lhe3 1 4 §xe3 lflg4 1 5 §d3
lfle5 1 6 §d4 ;!; Planinc-S. Garcia,
Moscow 1 97 5) 1 4 §ad1 lfle8
1 5 Jlf4 ! ? {also 1 5 Jlxc5 �xc5
1 6 �d4 t Vogt-Karpov, Leningrad
1 977) 1 5 . . . f6. Now, after 1 6 a3!?
Black would have experienced
difficulties.
1 3 �d2 Jle6
1 4 §ad1
Or 14 Jlxc5 �xc5 1 5 §ad 1
5 lflc3 lflc6 6 g3 77
®e7 (another possibility is 1 5
§d8 1 6 §e3 b5 - u nclear,
Ti mma n-Matu lovic, OL 1 972) 1 6
§e3 §hd8!? with comp lex play.
14 . . . ®e7 ! ?
The 'point' o f Black's plan .
The king performs defensive tasks
and doesn't mind being left in the
centre, given the closed nature of
the position.
1 5 a3 §ac8
1 6 h3 §hd8
1 7 f4 b5
I n this complex pos1t1on the
chances are approxi mately equal ;
Planinc-Matulovic, Vr5ac 1 97 5 .
1 1 5 �c3 �c6 6 A e3 tt c 7 7 � d 3
a n d U n u s u a l A l te r n atives

5 !£Jc3 !£Jc6 of development here are 7 Ad 3

6 Ae3 (examined in this chapter} and
A flexible continuation. Forti­ 7 Ae2 (see Chapter 1 2) .
fying his knight's position in the Other continuations either have
centre, White preserves a choice l ess to recommend them or else
of squares for d eveloping his lack independent significance and
white-squared bishop : not only e2 lead to the main lines by trans­
or g2, but also the more active position.
post d 3 . For example:
6 'i!lc7 (66) a) 7 !£Jb3 !£Jf6 8 f4 Ab4 9 Ad3 Axc3+
This move characterises the 1 0 be d6 1 1 0-0 0-0 1 2 §f3
'Paulsen' scheme of development. e5 1 3 f5 !£Je7 1 4 !:!g3 ©h8 1 5
6 . . . !£Jge7 leads to one of the Ag5 d5 ! and Black has a satisfac­
branches of the Taimanov system. tory game, since 1 6 Axf6 can
be answered by 1 6 . . . 'i!lb6+;
Listengarten-Suetin, USSR 1 973.
b) 7 f4 Ab4 (also 7 . . . !£Ja5 8 !£Jb3
b5 is worth considering. In the
event of 7 . . . b5 8 !£Jxc6 'i!lxc6
9 Ae2, the game transposes i nto
variation A, Chapter 1 2) 8 !£Jxc6
(if 8 't!l'g4, then 8 . . . !£Jce7 ! ?
9 Ad 3 !£Jg6 1 0 0-0 !£Jf6 1 1 'tll'f3
d6 = Bogdanovic-Matu lovic, Yugo­
slavia 1 964; 8 Ad3 can be met
by 8 . . . !£Jf6 9 0-0 Ac5 1 0 !£Jf5
This is one of the key positions Axe3+ 1 1 !£Jxe3 d6 = Schmid­
of the Paulsen System, and can Panno, OL 1 968) 8 . . . 'tll' xc6
arise from various opening move­ 9 'lll'd 4 Axc3+ 1 0 be !£Jf6 1 1
orders. White's pri ncipal methods Ad3 (or 1 1 e5 !£Jd5 1 2 Ad2 b5 =
 5 �c3 �c6 6 ile3 Y:!!!c 7 7 ild3 and Unusual A lternatives 79

Matanovic-Matulovic, Yugoslavia consideration : 8 . . . Ab 7 9 0-0

1 964) 1 1 . . . bS 1 2 a4 Ab7 1 3 §c8 =, and 8 . . . Ad6 9 Y:!!tg4 AeS =.

§bl 0-0 1 4 §b4 dS ! ? and Black
has no problems; Fischer-Matulovic,
Skopje 1 967.
c) 7 a3 �f6 8 f4 {8 Ae2 gives a
position examined under variation
B, Chapter 1 2) 8 . . . d6 (8 . . .
I n the event of 8 0-0 Ab7 9 �b3 ! ?
�f6 1 0 f4 d6 1 1 Y:!!t f3 Ae7 , a
position characteristic of the Schev­
eningen system arises) 8 . . . Y:!!! xc6
9 0-0 (9 Y:!!t f3 Ab7 1 0 Ad4 Y:!!td 6
1 1 Y:!!te 3 eS 1 2 Ab6 �f6 Petrosian­
=

�xd4? ! 9 Axd4! Y:!!t xf4 1 0 g3 Roshal, USS R 1 964; or 9 Y:!!!e 2 b4

Y:!!tc7 1 1 eS ± Vasyukov-Estrin, 1 0 �d l Ab7 1 1 O-O �f6 1 2 f3
USS R 1 960) 9 Y:!!t f3 (or 9 Ad3 dS = Ree-Mecking, Wijk aan Zee
�xd4 1 0 ilxd4 eS 1 1 Ae3 Ae7 1 97 1 ) 9 . . . Ab7 1 0 a3 (or 1 0 §el
1 2 Y:!!tf3 0-0 ) 9 . . . Ae7 (9 . . . e5 ! ?
= m6 1 1 AgS Ae7 1 2 Y:!!t f3 b4
1 0 ms ilxfS 1 1 ef �d4 = -
1 3 �e2 Y:!!!c5 = Ghizdavu-Bu kic,
Gufeld) 1 0 Ad3 0-0 1 1 0-0 �xd4 Athens 1 97 1 ) 1 0 . . . �e7 ! ? (1 0
1 2 Axd4 eS 1 3 Ae3 ( 1 3 fe de 1 4 . . . �f6 leads to a position in
Y:!!tg3 AcS ) 1 3 . . . bS 1 4 �dS �xd S
= variation A below) 1 1 Y:!!tg4 (if
l S ed e f 1 6 Y:!!t xf4 fS ! ? 1 7 Ad4 Af6 1 1 f4, a good reply is 1 1 . . . �fS
with equality, Chesnauskas-Krogius, 1 2 Af2 AcS 1 3 Y:!!t f3 �d6 1 4 Y:!!tg3
USSR 1 963. g6 = Martinovic-Krnic, Yugoslavia
7 ild3 1 973) 1 1 . . . �g6 1 2 f4 AcS
The advantages of developing in 1 3 Axes Y:!!tx cS+ 1 4 ® h l 0-0,
th is way are obvious - the pawn on Black has a comfortable game;
e4 is fortified, on occasion the Mi nic-Taimanov, Palma d e Mal lorca
bishop can take part in an attack 1 970.
on Black's castled position, and the
d 1 -hS d iagonal is left open for
possible forays with the queen .
On the minus side, placing the
bishop on d3 blocks the d-file
(where Wh ite would have prospects
of pressurising the backward pawn
with his major pieces), and weakens
White's control of the d4 point.
7 ... �f6 (67)
7 . . . bS has also been tried, and
is perfectly playable. After 8 �xc6
(on 8 a3, two replies d eserve
80 5 lilc3 lilc6 6 Ae3 VJjc l 7 Ad3 and Unusual Alternatives
following have also been tried :
a) 8 VJjd2 !£Jg4 9 Af4 e5 1 0 lilxc6
de 1 1 Ag3 Ad6 and Black has no
troubles.
b) 8 !£Jb3 b5 9 f4 (9 a3 ? ! !£Je5 ! ?
1 0 h 3 Ab7 1 1 VJje2 Ae7 1 2 0-0
0-0 1 3 f4 lilc4 1 4 Ad4 g6 1 5
e5 !£Jd5 1 6 lilxd5 Axd5 + Messing­
Krnic, Yugoslavia 1 976) 9 . . . d6
(or 9 . . . lilb4 10 0-0 Ab7 -
unclear, Kurajica-J anosevic, Yugo­
slavia 1 968) 1 0 VJje2 Ab7 (1 0 . . .
Ae7 1 1 g4 !£Jd7 1 2 0-0 !£Jc5 -
unclear, Bellin-Schmidt, Lublin
1 978) 1 1 0-0-0 §c8 1 2 ®bl Ae7
1 3 g4, and, in the complex, double­
edged position that has arisen, the
chances are approxi mately equal ;
Sindik-Cebalo, Yugoslavia 1 976.
c) 8 VJje2 Ad6 ! ? (8 . . . b5 9 0-0
Ab7 transposes i nto a line given
under variation A below) 9 g3
(or 9 h3 Ae5 1 0 !£Jb3 0-0 1 1 0-0
Axc3 1 2 be d5 1 3 ed lilxd5 = b) 8 . . . !£Jxd4 9 Axd4 Ac5 1 0
Capelan-Matulovic, Bath 1 973; or
9 0-0-0 Ae5 1 0 !£Jxc6 be 1 1 !£Ja4
§b8 1 2 g3 §b4 - unclear, Gipsl is­
Taimanov, USSR 1 959) 9 . . . Ae5
1 0 !£Jb3 (1 0 !£Jxc6 Axc3+ 1 1 be
VJjxc6 12 Ad4 b5 1 3 0-0 Ab7
1 4 §fel 0-0 1 5 Axf6 gf Lein-=
Suetin, USSR Ch 1 965) 1 0 . . . d5
(another possib ii ity is 1 0 . . . 0-0
1 1 f4 Axc3+ 1 2 b e d6 1 3 c4 b6
- unclear, Rajna-J ansa, Sarajevo
1 979) 1 1 Ad2 de 1 2 Axe4 !£Jxe4
1 3 VJjxe4 0-0 with approximate
equality; Pelitov-Lengyel, Hungary
1 966.
A position rich in possibilities,
which gives rise to these popu lar
continuations:
A 8 . . . b5
B 8 . . . Ad6
C 8 . . . lile.5
Other li nes have less to recom­
mend them, for example:
a) 8 . . . Ab4 9 !£Jxc6 be 1 0 !£Ja4
and White has the advantage,
Pavlov-Matu lo vie, Bucharest 1 966.
'
Axf6 ! ? (1 0 Axc5 VJjxc5 1 1 lil a4
VJja5 1 2 c4 is less convincing in
view of 1 2 . . . b5 1 3 cb ab 1 4 lilc3
b4 1 5 !£Jb5 0-0 1 6 e5 !£Jd5 1 7 a4
Ab7 , and although White's position
is more pro mi sing, Black does have
counterplay; Spassky-Polugayevsky,
USS R 1 963) 1 0 . . . gf 1 1 VJjg4
VJje5 (or 1 1 . . . ®f8 1 2 ® h l h5
1 3 VJjh4 Ae7 1 4 f4 f5 1 5 VJjh3 fe
1 6 !£Jxe4 d5 1 7 !£Jg5 ± Tolush­
Matulovic, USSR v Yugoslavia
1 965) 1 2 ® h l (after 1 2 VJjg7 §f8
1 3 ® h l VJjg5 1 4 VJjxh7 §g8 1 5
 5 4:lc3 <£lc6 6 Ae3 'ilffc 7 7 lk/3 and Unusual A lternatives 87
'ilff h 3 b5 1 6 f4 'i/ffg 7 1 7 §f3 §h8
1 8 §g3 'i/fff8 1 9 'ilffg4 Ab7 20
'i/ffe 2 ®e7 21 §fl §h4, Black has
the i nitiative in retu rn for the
pawn; N icevski-Cvetkovic, Yugo-
slav Ch 1 969) 1 2 . . . 'ilffg 5 1 3 'i/ffe2
Ad6 1 4 g3 h5 1 5 f4 ttg4 1 6 'i/ffd 2
Ae7 1 7 Ae2 'ltg7 1 8 Af3, and
White has an u nden iable positional
edge; Suetin-Cvetkovic, USS R v
Yugoslavia 1 97 1 .
We would point out that 8 . . . d6
9 f4 Ae7 1 0 ttf3 gives a position
characteristic of the Scheveningen
system.
A double-edged tactical play; Spassky-
8 ... b S (69)
The typical recipe for counter­
play on the flank. But it is ineffec­
tive with the pawn on e4 over­
protected.
Q <ilxc6
The most u npleasant rejoinder.
Black's queen is drawn into a
vulnerable position.
Practice has also seen :
a) 9 h3 Ab7 1 0 a3 Ae7 1 1 ® h l
0-0 1 2 f4 d6 1 3 'i/ff f3 4:lxd4 1 4
Axd4 e5 with a comfortable game
for Black; Popov-Peev, Bu lgaria
1 967.
b) 9 §e1 Ad6 ! ? 10 g3 Ae5, and
Black solves his opening prob lems
with ease. (Analysis.)
c) 9 ttf3 Ab7 1 0 §ael Ae7, and
Black completes h is development
without hindrance.
d) 9 4:lb3 Ae7 1 0 f4 d6 1 1 ttf3
0-0 1 2 a4 (or 1 2 §ael Ab7 1 3
'i/ffh 3 §fd8 1 4 g4 b4 15 g5 4:ld7
1 6 4:le2 4:lf8 - unclear) 1 2 . . . b4
1 3 4:le2 e5 1 4 f5 d5, with complex,
Tai, match 1 965.
e ) 9 a3 Ab7 1 0 ® h l 4:le5 1 1 f4
4:lc4 1 2 Acl ttb6 1 3 Axc4 be
1 4 e5 4:ld5 and the chances are
rough ly equal . (Analysis.)
f) 9 tte2 Ab7 1 0 §adl (if 1 0 a3
4:le5 1 1 h3, then 1 1 . . . §ac8
1 2 f4 4:lc4, and after 1 3 <ildxb5 ab
1 4 4:lxb5 ttc6 1 5 4:la 7 4:lxe3 ! ?
1 6 4:lxc6 Ac5 a double-edged ,
unclear position arises; Kristinsson­
Tal, Reykjavik 1 964) 1 0 . . . 4:le5
1 1 Af4 Ac5 1 2 <ilb3 Ab4 1 3 <ilb 1
Ad6 1 4 Ag3 h 5 ! ? 1 5 h3 h4
1 6 Af4 4:lf3+ 1 7 ttxf3 Axf4 =
Geller-Tai, Cu rar;:ao 1 962.
9 ... ttxc6
If 9 . . . de, then 1 0 f4 is un­
pleasant.
1 0 a3
After 1 0 e5 Ab 7 1 1 ttf3 (or
1 1 f3 <ild5 1 2 Ae4 4:lxc3 1 3 Axc6
82 5 �c3 �c6 6 .!le3 't!tc 7 7 .!ld3 and Unusual Alternatives

�xd 1 1 4 ..Q.xb 7 '9xe3 1 5 .llxa8

�xfl 1 6 ®xfl .llc 5 = Zu idema­ 70 • •.._••• � �
Matu lovic, Hamburg 1 965) 1 1 . . . w�
• t �� -iB �i� -i
'ttxf3 1 2 gf b4!? 1 3 �e4 �xe4 t• � � -
�
. .... ...... t �
- •
-
1 4 fe d6 1 5 ed ..Q.xd6, the game is •• • • •
level ; Pavlov-Smyslov, Bath 1 973. •
� LI � ft � · � •
10 . . . .!lb7
1 f 1 0 . . . .llc 5, then 1 1 'tte 2
.
• �.w,,�· � � . � . •
(1 1 e5 is inferior, since after 1 1 . . . ft �
u ft ·
� � ·
� . �
21 �·
· · " v.

.!lb 7 1 2 'tt f3 'ttxf3 1 3 gf ..Q.xe3 ,�El, •�n

1 4 fe �d5 1 5 �e4 ®e7 1 6 ®f2,
as in Spassky-Tal, match 1 965,
Black could have attained equality
with 1 6 . . . f6) 1 1 . . . ..Q.xe3
1 2 'ttx e3 .!lb 7 1 3 'ttg 3 0-0 1 4 e5
�h5 1 5 'tt h 3 f5 1 6 f4, and White's
position is preferable.
1 1 'tte 2
On 1 1 f4, a good reply is 1 1 . . .
.llc 5
=.
11 . . . .lle 7
• • l::::H �m �
An original idea. Black tries to
util ise the time gained b y the
attack on the h-pawn to b ring his
bishop to a more active position.
9 �xc6
The most thematic rejoinder.
With other continuations, White
achieves nothing:
a) 9 g3 �xd4 10 ..Q.xd4 .lle 5 1 1
.llx e5 'tt x e5 1 2 f4 'ttc 5+ 1 3 ®g2
d6 1 4 'tte 2 b5 =.

1 n th is case 1 1 . . . .llc5 is un­ b) 9 ® h l .llf4 (an interesting

suitable on account of 1 2 .llx c5 alternative is 9 . . . h5 1 0 f4 �g4
'tt x c5 1 3 e5 'ttc 6 1 4 f4 �d5 1 1 'tt f3 �xe3 1 2 'tt x e3 'tt b 6 1 3
1 5 �e4 ± . But 1 1 . . . d 5 ! ? is worth �ce2 e5 - u nclear, Tal-Vooremaa,
considering. Tal linn 1 97 1 ) 1 0 .llxf4 'tt xf4
1 2 f4 0-0 1 1 �de2 'tt h 4 1 2 'ttd 2 b5 1 3 a3
1 3 e5 �d5 .llb 7 Marjanovic-Benko, Vrnjacka
=

1 3 . . . �e8 is strongly answered Banja 1 97 3 .

by 1 4 f5 ! ? c ) 9 h3 .llf4 ( 9 . . . b5 also merits
1 4 �xd5 'tt x d5 attention. For example, 1 0 '9xc6
1 5 c4 be itxc6 1 1 a3 .llb 7 1 2 f4 0-0 1 3
1 6 .llxc4 'ttc 6 'tte 2 e5 - Boleslavsky) lO Axf4
=

1 7 §acl (if 1 0 itd2, then 1 0 . . . ..Q.xe3

The in itiative is on White's side; 1 1 itxe3 itb6 1 2 <i}f5 itxe3
Vogt-Mista, Havirov 1 97 1 . 1 3 �xe3 b5 Radulov-Andersson,
=

B Hastings 1 972/7 3) 1 0 . . . itxf4

8 ... .!ld6 (70) 1 1 �xc6 (or 1 1 �ce2 'ttc 7 1 2 itd2
 5 4:lc3 4:l c6 6 ..Q.e3 'lfilc 7 7 ..Q.d3 and Unusual Alternatives 83

d6 1 3 §ael 0-0 Tseitli n-Suetin,

= An interesting manoeuvre con­
USSR 1 971 ) 1 1 . . . de 1 2 a4 e5
1 3 a5 .lle 6
=.
9 ... be
9 . . . de is worse, in view of
10 f4 e5 1 1 f5 ± .
1 0 f4 e5
1 1 f5 .ll b 7
Black 's aim is to prepare counter­
play in the centre with . . . d7-d5,
after removing his bishop from d6.
1 2 'lfi/f3 .lle7
1 2 . . . .llb 4 is inadvisable be­
cause of 1 3 'lfi/g3 ! ? '1¥lf8 1 4 4:la4
d5 1 5 a3 .lld 6 1 6 4:lc5 ± J anosevic­
Matu lovic, Sarajevo 1 968 .
1 3 4:la4
On 1 3 'lfi/g3, Black can play
1 3 . . . d5 1 4 §ael 0-0-0 with sharp
nected with a concrete plan of
counterplay. By setting up the
threat of 9 . . . 4:leg4, Black gai ns
time for a possible transfer of
th is knight to the outpost square
c4, and in addition prepares the
active development of his bishop
to c5, wh ich would not work at
o nce (8 . . . .llc 5? 9 4:lxe6} . To be
sure, this plan entails a certain
hold-up in development, but in a
position of the semi-closed type
this isn't so significant.
9 h3 (77)
Other means of preventing the
knight sortie to g4 are less effective,
for example :
a} 9 .llf4 d6 1 0 .llg3 b5 Sukhanov­
=

play - Kupreichik. Averkin, USSR 1 964.

13 . . . d5 b} 9 .lle 2 b5 1 0 f4 4:lc4 1 1 .llxc4
1 3 . . . 0-0 is strongly answered ( 1 1 .llc l ? ! .llb 4 +) 1 1 . . . 'lfi/xc4
by 1 4 'lfi/g3 '1¥l h 8 1 5 .llb 6 'lfi/b8 1 2 e5 4:ld5 1 3 4:lxd5 'lfi/xd5 =

1 6 §ael ± Ku preichik-Popov, Wijk Penrose-Najdorf, Pal ma de Mallorca

aan Zee 1 977 . 1 969.
1 4 .llb 6 'lfi/b8 c) 9 4:lf3 d6 (9 . . . 4:leg4! ? 1 0 .llgS
1 5 c4! ? .llc 5 - u nclear} 1 0 a4 b6 1 1 4:ld2
I n Klauser-Honfi, Bath 1 973, .llb 7= Ljubojevic-Najdorf, Buenos
Wh ite tried 1 5 ..Q.c5 .llx c5 1 6 4:lxc5, Aires 1 979.
and now, instead of 1 6 . . . 'lfila7?! Now Black has two basic
1 7 b4 t , Black should have played methods of development to choose
1 6 . . . ..Q.c8
=. fro m :
15 . . . 0-0 Cl 9 . . . b5
1 6 '1¥l h 1 C2 9 . . . .llc5
White 's position is preferable. Cl
(Analysis.} 9 ..
. b5
c In this way Black strengthens
8 4:le5 his outpost on c4 and prepares the
84 5 �c3 �c6 6 .ll e3 ttc 7 7 .lld3 and Unusual Alternatives

'ltxd3 1 4 cd b4 1 5 �e4 �xd5 =

Nezhmetdinov-Tal, USSR 1 959)

1 3 . . . �d7 14 ttxc4 de 1 5 f5
�xe5 1 6 fe he6 1 7 §ael .rJd7
1 8 �xe6 · fe 1 9 Ad4 0-0-0 20 §xe6
�c5 21 §c6+ ® b7 22 §xc5
§xd4 23 §cf5 Ad6 24 §f7+ ®c6
25 §xg7 b4, Black has adequate
counterplay for the sacrificed pawn ;
Fischer-Petrosian, Santa Monica
1 966.
flank development of his wh ite­ 12 . . . �d5
squared bishop. 1 2 . . . b4 is weak on account
1 0 f4 of 1 3 ttf3 §b8 1 4 ef be 1 5 b3
White has to play energetically. ttc7 1 6 f5 ± lvkov-Portisch,
10 'lte2 can be met by 1 0 . . . Amsterdam 1 964.
b4 1 1 �b 1 d5 1 2 �d2 de {or 1 3 �xd5 ttxd 5
1 2 . . . Ab7 ! ) 1 3 �xe4 �d5 with 1 4 'lte2 Ab7
good play for Black; DUckstein­ 1 5 �b3 §c8
Taimanov, Copenhagen 1 965. 1 6 c3
10 . . . �c4 1 6 §adl can be met by 1 6 . . .
1 0 . . . �xd 3 would be incon­ 'ltc4 1 7 ttd2 Ad 5 1 8 §f2 .ile7 =

sistent. After 1 1 cd White would J ansson-Zichichi, OL 1 970.

have a decided positional plus. 16 'ltc4
1 1 hc4 1 7 ttf2 Ad5
If 1 1 Acl ? ! then 1 1 . . . Ac5, 1 8 §ad l
and Black seizes the initiative. With the possibil ity o f active
11 . . . ttxc4 operations on the king's side,
1 2 e5 White's position is preferable -
White has to try to exploit his analysis b y Boleslavsky.
l ead in d evelopment and force C2
events. The plan of 1 2 ttd3 has also 9 ... Ac5 (72)
been tried. But in that case, after By this means, Black attempts
1 2 . . . d 5 ! ? (1 2 . . . .ilb7 is inferior not only to mobilise his king's
because of 1 3 a4 !? ttxd3 1 4 cd b4 side forces rapidly, but also to
1 5 �ce2 Ac5 1 6 ®f2 d6 1 7 �b3 create pressure along the a7-g1
he3+ 1 8 ®xe3 ± Tal-Kochiev, d iagonal .
Leningrad 1 977) 1 3 e5 ( 1 3 ed 1 0 ite2
 5 4:lc3 4:lc6 6 Ae3 ftc7 7 Jk/3 and Unusual Alternatives 85

ftd2 §fd 8 1 8 §fd 1 Ae8 1 9 � h 1

AcS = Vogt-Schmidt, Leipzig 1 973)
1 S Ab 1 Ae8 1 6 fte2 AcS and the
chances are about even; Holmov­
Schmidt, Tb ilisi 1 974.
10 . . . d6
After 1 0 . . . bS 1 1 4:lb3 Axe3
1 2 f/xe3 d6 1 3 f4 4:led7 1 4 §ae1 ,
White has some positional advan­
tage; O'Kelly-Panno, Havana 1 969.
1 1 f4 4:lg6
The most natural developing On 1 1 . . . 4:led7, the game
continuation. Practice has also may transpose into the variation
see n : examined in the last note ; for
a ) 1 0 f4 4:lc6 1 1 ms ( 1 1 4:lce2 example, 1 2 §ae1 bS 1 3 4:lb3
ftb6 +) 1 1 . . . 4:le7 ! ? 1 2 4:lxg7+ Axe3+ 1 4 ftxe3. A game Suetin­
�f8 1 3 Axes fixes+ 1 4 � h 1 Matu lovic now conti nued : 1 4 . . .
�xg7 1 S eS Monin-Logi nov, eS 1 S fe d e 1 6 4:ldS 4:lxd S 1 7 ed
USS R 1 97 8 ; and now, instead of Ab7 1 8 Ae4 Elb8 1 9 §d1 ftd6
1 S . . . 4:lfdS ? ! Black could have 20 4:laS t.
cast doubt on the correctness of 1 2 4:lb 3
White's sacrifice by 1 S . . . 4:le8 The best answer to 1 2 ftf2 is
1 6 4:le4 ftc7 1 7 fthS 4:ld6. 1 2 . . . Ad7, with 1 3 . . . §c8 to
b ) 1 0 �h 1 d6 1 1 f4 4lg6 (1 1 . . . fo llow - Suetin . I t's worth con­
4:led7 1 2 ftf3 bS, as i n Tal-Najdorf, sidering 1 2 §ae1 , d eferring simplifi-
Belgrade 1 970, is also playab le) cations.
1 2 ftf3 0-0 1 3 §ae1 bS 1 4 fS 12 Axe3+
4:leS 1 S ftg3 �h8 and Black has a 1 3 ftxe3 0-0
solid position, Kuzmin-Skvortsov, 1 4 §ae1
USSR 1 980. 14 eS de l S Axg6 promises
c) 10 4:la4 Aa7 1 1 c4 d6 ( 1 1 . . . nothing in view of 1 S . . . hg!?
4:lxc4 is risky in view of 1 2 Axc4 1 6 fe 4:ld7 1 7 §ae1 bS 1 8 {)d4
f/xc4 1 3 §cl ftb4 1 4 4:lxe6 ! Ab7 Radulov-Suetin, Budapest
de 1 S Axa7 4:ld7 1 6 4:lcS ! with 1 970.
an attack, Faibisovich-Litzberger, 1 4 4:la4 can b e met by 1 4 . . .
Harrachov 1 967 ) 1 2 §cl Ad7 4:ld7 1 S fS 4:lgeS 1 6 fe fe 1 7
1 3 4:lc3 0-0 1 4 b3 §fd8 (or 1 4 . . . §xf8+ ®xf8 with a satisfactory
§ac8 1 S Ab 1 f/b8 1 6 a4 h6 1 7 game for Black . I n Dvoirys-Suetin,
86 5 4:lc3 4:lc6 6 Jle3 'l!tc 7 7 Jld3 and Unusual A lternatives

Tallinn 1 980, Black played instead 16 Axg6 hg

1 7 . . . 4:lxf8, which was answered 1 7 'l!txe5 'l!ta7 + ! ?
by 1 8 'l!tb6 ± . 1 8 ®h2 Ab7
14 b5 The chances are equal ; Hennings­
1 5 e5 de Hort, Havana 1 97 1 .
1 2 5 4lc3 4lc6 6 Ae3 'IJ/c 7
5 <i)c3 <i)c6
6 Ae3 'ttc7
7 Ae2 (73}
This is one of the key positions
in the Pau lsen System, and can arise
from various orders of moves on
either side. The mai n continuations
now diverge as fo llows :
A 7 . . . b5
B 7 . . . <i)f6
Other lines are not so well
founded, for example:
a) 7 . . . <i)xd4 8 'tt x d4 b5 9 a4!?
b4 1 0 <i)a2 ± .
b ) 7 . . Ab4 8 <i)xc6 'tt xc6 9 'ttd 4
. <i)a5
Axc3+ 1 0 be <i)f6 1 1 Af3 ± .
c ) 7 . . . <i)a5 !? ( a notable although
little tested idea for creating
queen's side play at once) 8 0-0
(if 8 'ttd 3, then 8 . . . b5 9 §d 1
<i)f6 1 0 f4 <i)c4 1 1 Ac1 Ab 7 = After 8 . . . de 9 f4 c5 (or
7 Ae2
Kudriashov-Shmit, USSR 1 970)
8 . . . b5 9 'ttd 2 Ab7 1 0 Af4 e5
1 1 Ag3 <i)f6 1 2 'ttg 5 d 6 1 3 <£if5
§g8 - u nclear, Sax-Tai manov,
Vrnjacka Banja 1 974.
A
7 ... b5
With this continuation, at the
expense of his king's side mobil­
isation, Black attempts to organise
active o perations on the queen's
side.
8 <i)xc6
Th is is considered the best way
of cou ntering Black 's i ntention.
White tries to exploit the temporary
weakening of the h 1 -a8 diagonal .
Other moves to have been tried
are :
a) 8 a3 Ab7 9 f4 §c8 (9 . . . <i)xd4
1 0 'tt x d4 <i)e7, intending 1 1 . . .
<i)c6, is also playable) 1 0 Af3 (if
now 1 0 <i)xc6, then 1 0 . . . Axc6
1 1 0-0 <i)f6 1 2 .lU3 'tt b 7 Mejic­
=
Cebalo, Yugoslavia 1 968) 1 0 . . .
1 1 0-0 <i)c4 = Kliavin­
Koblentz, USSR 1 963.
b) 8 f4 Ab 7 9 .Q.f3 <i)a5 10 0-0
<i)c4 1 1 Ac1 Ac5 = Littlewood­
Penrose, England 1 962.
8 ... 'tt x c6 (74)
88 5 �c3 �c6 6 .Q.e3 'tt c 7 7 .Q.e2
9 . . . �f6 1 0 e5 �d5 1 1 �xd5
cd 1 2 c3 ± Matanovic-Cebalo,
Yugoslavia 1 964) 1 0 0-0 Ab7 1 1
f5 ! ? §d8 (or 1 1 . . . �f6 1 2 fe fe Ae7 1 6 §d2 'tte 6 Liebert-Gipslis,
1 3 Ah5+ �xh5 1 4 'ttx h5+ g6
1 5 'ttg4 ± Stein-Taimanov, USSR
Ch 1 962) 1 2 'tte l e5 1 3 a4 b4
1 4 �d5, Black's position is notice-
ab ly worse.
9 f4 (75)
The most energetic continuation.
White extends h is central gains,
and prepares to p lay .Q.f3 in favour­ Petrosian-Taimanov,
able circumstances. True, a certain
weakening of his pawn on e4 has
now to be taken into account.
Other li nes hold less danger for
Black. For example :
a) 9 a3 .Q.b7 (9 . . . Ac5? ! 1 0 Ad4!?
�f6 1 1 e5 �d5 1 2 .Q.f3 ± ) 1 0
'ttd 4 (or 1 0 .Q.f3 'ttc7 1 1 0-0 §c8
1 2 §el �e7 1 3 Ad4 d6 Ofstad­
=
Doda, Halle 1 967 ; or 1 0 0-0 �e7 ! ?
1 1 'ttd 3 �g6 1 2 f4 .Q.e7 O'Kelly­
=
Tal , Havana 1 963) 1 0 . . . §c8 (also
1 0 . . . itd6 1 1 itxd6 Axd6 1 2
0-0-0 .Q.e5 1 3 Ad4 f6 Gurgenidze- methods of counterplay :
=
Suetin, USSR 1 963) 1 1 0-0-0 �f6
1 2 §d2 (if 1 2 e5 �d 5 1 3 Af3, then
1 3 . . . Axa3 ! 1 4 Axd5 ed 1 5 §d3
=
1 963) 1 2 . . . Ac5 1 3 'ttx c5 'tt x c5
1 4 Ax c5 §xc5 1 5 f3 <tle7, and
Black has a comfortable game .
b) 9 0-0 Ab7 (9 . . . b4? ! 1 0 Af3 ± )
1 0 Af3 § d 8 ! ? (1 0 . . . �e7 ? ! 1 1 e5
'ttc 7 1 2 Ac5 ! �g6 1 3 Axf8 <tlxf8
1 4 Axb7 'ttx b7 1 5 "ttd 6+ <tlg8
1 6 §ad l ± Parma-Damjanovic,
San J uan 1 969; or 1 0 . . . §c8
1 1 e5 'ttc7 1 2 Axb7 -ttx b7 1 3
'ttd 3 �e7 1 4 §adl �g6 1 5 f4 ;l;
Pachman-Garcia, Havana 1 964) 1 1
e5 "ttc7 1 2 Axb7 (a good reply to
1 2 Af4 is 1 2 . . . �e7 ) 1 2 . . .
=
'tt x b7 1 3 Ag5 (otherwise Black
plays 1 3 . . . d6 or 1 3 . . . d5 ) =
1 3 . . . Ae7 1 4 Axe7 �xe7 1 5
'tt
d 3 'ttb 8 ! ? and Black achieves
the freeing advance of his d-pawn ;
USSR Ch
1 969.
Black now has these basic
 5 <£lc3 <£lc6 6 Ae3 ttc 7 7 Ae2 89

Al 9 . . . Ab7 1 0 Af3
A2 9 . . . Aa3 ! ? This position is frequently en­
Other lines have less to recom­ countered in contemporary practice,
mend them; for example : and arises from various move­
a) 9 . . . b4 1 0 Af3 be (or 1 0 . . . orders.
Ab7 1 1 eS ttc7 1 2 <£la4 ± ) 1 1 eS 10 §c8
cb 1 2 §b1 Ab4+ (or 1 2 . . . ttc3+ 1 0 . . . ttc7 is also worth con­
1 3 Ad2 ita3 1 4 Axa8 AcS 1 5 ttf3 sidering. For example, 1 1 ttd3
ttxa2 1 6 'ite2 aS 1 7 ttb3 Aa6+ <£le7 (or 1 1 . . . §c8 1 2 0-0-0 Ab4
1 8 ®f3 ttxb3 1 9 cb Aa3 20 Ac3 1 3 Ad4 �f6 1 4 AeS ttc4 - u nclear)
Ad3 21 Axb2 Axb1 22 Axa3 Aa2 1 2 0-0-0 <£lc6 1 3 'itb1 Ae7 with
23 b4 ab 24 Axb4 ± l vkov-Szabo, sharp play, Veli mirovic-Olafsson,
Sarajevo 1 963) 1 3 ®f2 ttc3 1 4 Novi Sad 1 976.
Axa8 f6 1 5 Ae4 !? <£lh6 1 6 ef 1 1 a3
ttxf6 1 7 tthS+ �f7 1 8 c4 g6 I t 's as well to forestall counter­
1 9 tte2 Ac3 20 Af3 0-0 21 §hd1 play based on the threatened
and, in the comp lex play that now 1 1 . . . b4.
ensues, White undoubtedly has the Practice has also seen :
better prospects; Spassky-Suetin, a) 1 1 0-0 AcS 1 2 Af2 ttc7 1 3 eS
USSR 1 964. fS ! ? 1 4 Axb7 ttxb7 1 5 a3 <£le7 =

b) 9 . . . Ab4 1 0 Ad4 <£if6 1 1 Af3 Unzicker-Hartston, Gstaad 1 97 3 .

Ab 7 1 2 0-0 Axc3 1 3 Axc3 §c8 b) 1 1 e S ttc7 1 2 0-0 <£le7 1 3 Axb7
(if 1 3 . . . �xe4, then 1 4 Axg7 §g8 ttxb7 1 4 ttd3 �fS 1 5 Af2 hS
1 5 Ad4 ttc7 1 6 tte2 fS 1 7 c3 ± (1 5 . . . §c4! ?) - u nclear, Mi nic­
Unzicker-Dada, OL 1 964) 1 4 §e1 J anosevic, Yugoslavia 1 966.
ttc4 1 5 ttd6 ttcS+ 1 6 ttxcS 11 . . . ttc7
§xcS 1 7 §e2 §c4 1 8 §ael If 1 1 . . . b4, then 1 2 ab Axb4
and the ending clearly favours 1 3 Ad4 t .
White, who has two active bishops; 1 1 . . . ttc4!? i s worth consider­
Boleslavsky-Busalev, USS R 1 968. ing.
Al 1 2 ttd4 �e7
9 . . . Ab7 1 3 0-0-0 <£lc6
Pressure along the a8-h 1 diag­ 1 4 ttb6
onal, comb ined with play on the 1 4 ttd2 can be answered by
c-file, is Black 's chief 'trump', 1 4 . . . <£la5 ! ? 1 5 Ab6 <£lc4 ! ? 1 6
yet White has a convenient possi­ Axc7 <£lxd2, with equality.
b il ity for neutralising these active 14 ttxb6
resources. 1 5 Axb6 d6
90 5 lilc3 lilc6 6 Ae3 '/!Jc 7 7 Ae2

1 6 a4 !? b4 Black beats off the attack while

1 7 lilb 1 lilb8 retaining his extra material -
1 8 lild2 lild7 analysis by Hort.
1 9 .lla 5 lilc5 Also, 1 0 lilxb5 ab 1 1 ba '/!Jxe4
20 ® b l lilxa4 1 2 i!Jd.4 holds no danger for Black
2 1 .llx b4 in view of 1 2 . . . lilf6.
Despite the simplifications, White 10 . . . '/!Jxc3+
remains with the more promising 1 1 @f2
position; Ku preichik-Tal, USSR If 1 1 .lld 2, then 1 1 . . . i!Jd4 ! ?
=.

1 981 . 11 lilf6
A2 1 2 .llf3 .llb 7
9 ... .lla 3 !? (76) 1 3 .lld 4 '/!Jxa3
1 3 . . . i!Jc7 is also worth con­
sidering; it virtually forces an
exchange on f6, wh ich leads to
double-edged p lay.
1 4 '/!Jd3 '/!Jxd3
1 5 cd 0-0
1 6 §hcl §fc8
1 7 .llb 6
For his sacrificed pawn, White
has definite compensation in the
form of active p lacings for his
An interesting attempt to seize pieces. Therefore, in the end­
the in itiative by tactical means. game that has arisen, the chances
1 0 ba may be considered roughly equal ;
1 0 .lld 4 .llx b2 1 1 lilxb5 can be Matanovic-Vasyukov, Yugoslavia
answered by 1 1 . . . .llx al ! ? (1 1 . . . v USSR 1 966.
ab 1 2 .llx b2 '/!Jxe4 is inferior, B
because of 1 3 .llxg7 '/!Jxg2 1 4 .llf3 7 . . . lilf6
'/!Jxg7 1 5 .llxa8 '/!Jc3+ 1 6 ®e2 With this method of develop­
.lla 6 1 7 '/!Jd 3 '/!Jc8 1 8 '/!Jd4 ± ment Black generally tries to exert
Perenyi-Barczay, Hungarian Ch pressure on the e4 pawn, utilising
1 9 77) 1 2 .llx a 1 ab 1 3 .llxg7 .!ilf6 ! the resource of an opportune
1 4 .llxf6 (or 1 4 .llx h8 lilxe4 1 5 0-0 bishop sortie to b4.
+ ) 1 4 . . . §g8 1 5 0-0 .!lb 7 1 6 8 0-0
.llx b5 '/!Jc5+ (not 1 6 . . . '/!Jxb5?? I n the event of the prophylactic
1 7 '/!Jd6 ± ±) 1 7 ® h 1 .llc 6, and 8 a3, Black may attempt to exploit
 5 <i) c] <i)c6 6 .ll e3 itc 7 7 .ll e2 97

Wh ite's loss of tempo to create 9 <i)a4!? {78)

counterplay with 8 . . . .lld 6 (or The most thematic reply, after
8 . . . <i)xd4 9 itxd4 .lld 6 10 itd2 ! ? which, in several cases, White does
.Iles 1 1 .lld 4 .llf4 ) 9 itd2 <i)xd4 not shrink from a pawn sacrifice
1 0 .llx d4 .llf4. After 1 1 itd3 e5 in striving for the in itiative. The
1 2 .lle 3 .llx e3 1 3 fe ! ? ( if 1 3 itxe3, main factors giving him active
then 1 3 . . . d6 1 4 0-0 0-0 = opportunities are the weakness of
Keres-Tal, Cu rac;;ao 1 962 ) 1 3 . . . the b6 square and the somewhat
d6 1 4 0-0-0 ®e7 1 5 g4 h6 1 6 h4 insecure position of the b ishop on
.lle 6, we reach a double-edged b4.
position in which the i n itiative is, · Against other continuations
however, on White's side; Olafsson­ Black 's task is simpler; for example :
Benko, Los Angeles 1 963. a) 9 f4? ! .llx c3 1 0 be <i)xe4 1 1
8 ... .llb 4 (77) .lld 3 <i)f6 1 2 itel <i)e7 ! ? and Wh ite
8 . . . b5 would be inconsistent. doesn 't have enough compensatio n
After 9 <i)xc6 de (9 . . . itxc6? ! for the sacrificed pawn.
1 0 e5 ± ) 1 0 f4, Wh ite obtains an b ) 9 f3 0-0 1 0 ®hl §d8 with equal
undoubted positional edge. For chances, Bouaziz-Matu lovic, Sousse
example, 1 0 . . . .llb 7 ( or 1 0 . . . b4 1 967 .
1 1 <i)a4 §b8 1 2 .llf3 c5 1 3 c3 be c ) 9 §el <i)e7 ( 9 . . . .llxc3 1 0 be
1 4 b 3 ! ? ) 1 1 e5 §d8 (or 1 1 . . . <i)d5 <i)xe4 is hazardous in view of 1 1
1 2 <i)xd5 cd 1 3 c3 ±) 1 2 itel .lld 3 m6 1 2 <i)f5 ! 0-0 1 3 <i)xg7 !
<i)d7 1 3 itg3 g6 1 4 <i)e4 c5 1 5 ®xg7 1 4 .ll h 6+! ± ± Hennings­
4)g5, and White has a dangerous Kaulitz, G D R 1 965 ) 1 0 itd3
initiative; Janetschek-Andersson, .llx c3 1 1 be d5 ! =.

Copenhagen 1 97 7 . d ) 9 <i)xc6 be ( if 9 . . . itxc6, then

8 . . . d6 transposes into Schev­ 1 0 e5 .llx c3 1 1 be <i)d5 1 2 itd4,
en ingen l ines. and now Black achieves equality
neither with 1 2 . . . itxc3 1 3 itxc3
<i)xc3 1 4 .llf 3, nor with 1 2 . . . b5
1 3 c4 be 14 itg4 ®f8 1 5 §ab 1 .
However, an intermed iate 9 . . .
.llx c3 !? is worth considering; after
1 0 be itxc6 1 1 .lld 4 <i)xe4 1 2 .llf3
0-0 1 3 .llx g7 ®xg7 1 4 itd4+ f6
1 5 .llx e4 d5 1 6 .llf3 .lld 7 1 7 c4
itxc4 1 8 itxc4 de 1 9 .Q.xb7 §a7
20 E!abl .llb 5, the game is equal ;
92 5 �c3 � c6 6 Ae3 �cl 7 Ae2
Klovan-Suetin, USSR Ch 1 963) 1 0
�a4 (1 0 �d4 c5 1 1 �c4 Ab7 1 2
.lU3 �e5 ! ? + Gligoric-Taimanov,
Buenos Aires 1 960; or 1 0 �d3 d5
1 1 a3 Ae7 1 2 f4 0-0 = J i mi nez­
Filip, OL 1 960) 1 0 . . . §b8 (1 0 . . .
Ab7 ? ! 1 1 c4 ± ; 1 0 . . . Ad6 ! ? )
1 1 c4!? (if 1 1 Ad3, then 1 1 . . . d5
1 2 ed cd 13 f4 Ad6 = Eh lvest­
Sueti n, USSR 1 980) 1 1 . . . Ad6 ! ?
1 2 g 3 (1 2 Ab6 i s met b y 1 2 . . .
Axh2+ 1 3 ® h l §xb6 1 4 �xb6
�xb6 1 5 ®xh2 �xe4 - unclear,
Sznapik-Lekander, Sweden 1 980;
wh ile if 1 2 f4, there can fol low
1 2 . . . �xe4 1 3 Ad3 �f6 1 4 c5
Ae7 - u nclear, Torre-Hort, OL
1 974) 1 2 . . . c5 1 3 �d3 Ab7
1 4 §adl Ae7 1 5 �c3 d6 1 6 f4
0-0 and Black successfully solved
his opening problems in Minic­
Suetin, Ljubljana-Portoroz 1 97 3 .
I n this position wh ich affords
rich possibilities, the main continu­
ations at Black 's d isposal are :
Bl 9 . . . �e7
B2 9 . . . Ae7
B3 9 . . . 0-0
Other methods are less suitable,
for example:
a) 9 . . . �xe4? ! 10 �xc6 �xc6
°
1 1 �b6 §b8 1 2 �d4 Af8 1 3 Af3
f5 1 4 §adl ± .
b ) 9 . . . d5 1 0 c3 Ae 7 1 1 �xc6
be 1 2 ed cd 1 3 �b6 §b8 1 4
�xc8 �xc8 1 5 �a4+ �d7 1 6
�xa6 §xb2 1 7 §abl ± . (Analysis.)
c) 9 . . b5 1 0 �xc6 dc (if 1 0 . . .
.
�c6, then 1 1 �b6 §b8 1 2 e5 ± )
1 1 Ac5 ! (also 1 1 �b6 ! ? §b8
1 2 <ilxc8 §xc8 1 3 a4 t Bouaziz­
Vasyukov, Tun is 1 977) 1 1 . . .
Axc5 1 2 <ilxc5 0-0 (or 1 2 . . . �d7
1 3 �d4 e5 1 4 �c3 ± Klovan­
Abrosimov, USSR 1 966) 1 3 �d4
e5 1 4 �c3 a5 1 5 §fdl ± Suetin­
Fu rman, USSR Ch 1 963.
d) 9 . . . Ad6 1 0 �b6 ! §b8 (1 0 . . .
Axh2+ 1 1 ®hl �xb6 is dangerous
on account of 1 2 <ilxe6 �xb2
1 3 �xg7+ ®f8 14 <ilf5 ±) 1 1 g3
Ae7 (if 1 1 . . . �xe4, then 1 2 �xc6
�xc6 1 3 Af3 f5 1 4 Axe4 fe 1 5
�h5+ g6 1 6 �h6 Ae5 1 7 Af4
Axf4 1 8 �xf4 d6 1 9 <ilxc8 §xc8
20 �f6 ± Smejkal-Spassov, Orebro
1 966) 1 2 �xc6 be 1 3 �xc8 �xc8
1 4 e5 �d5 1 5 Acl Ac5 1 6 Ad 3 ! ?
t Sznapik-Matulovic, Helsinki
1 981 .
B1
9 . . . �e7
The point of this manoeuvre
is to forestall the exchange on
 5 lclc3 lclc6 6 .Q.e3 �c l 7 .Q.e2 93

c6 which would give the wh ite

pieces access to the weakened b6
square. At the same time, the
threat to the white e-pawn is
renewed . On the other hand, there
is no mistaking the d isadvantages
of this plan - the position of the
b ishop on b4 now becomes highly
precarious, presenting Wh ite with
new possibilities in h is fight for
the in itiative.
1 0 c4!? An attractive conti nuation. At­
It's only i n this way - b y tacking the knight on e4, White
threatening to cut off the b ishop's keeps a tempo for h is planned
retreat, wh ile not shying away advance c4-c5.
from a pawn sacrifice - that One other continuation, wh ich
White can expose the d efects of hasn't yet been approved in prac­
Black 's set-up. With other con­ tice, is also worth considering:
tinuations he achieves noth ing; 1 1 4lf3 (1 1 4lb 3 ! ? is interesting
for example : too) , with the threats of 1 2 c5
a) 1 0 l£lf3 b5 (1 0 . . . l£lxe4?? and 1 2 �d4. Some sample variations
1 1 �d4 ± ± ) 1 1 4lb6 §b8 1 2 l£lxc8 are : 1 1 . . . 0-0 (or 1 1 . . . 4lc6
§xc8 1 3 .Q.d3 4lg4! ? (1 3 . . . d5 is 1 2 .Q.b6 �b8 1 3 �c2 l£lf6 1 4 c5
inferior on account of 1 4 e5 4ld7 d 6 1 5 a3 .ilxc5 1 6 l£lxc5 de
1 5 a4!? ± G. Palermo-Mahia, 1 7 Jlxc5 b6 1 8 .Q.f8 - u nclear;
Buenos Ai res 1 980) 14 .Q.d4 .Q.d6 = or 1 1 . . . 4lf6 1 2 .Q.b6 �b8 1 3 c5
Dely-J anosevic, Budapest 1 965. l£lfd5 1 4 �d4 0-0 1 5 a3 4lc6
b) 1 0 4lb3 b5 1 1 4lb6 §b8 1 2 1 6 �c4 .Q.a5 - unclear) 1 2 .Q.b6
4lxc8 §xc8 1 3 .Q.d3 d5 =. �b8 1 3 c5 4ld5 1 4 �d4 f5 1 5
10 . . . 4lxe4 (79) §ac1 d6 1 6 cd .Q.xd6 1 7 .Q.c4
The pawn sacrifice has to be l£lef6 1 8 §fd 1 , and for the sacri­
accepted, since after other replies ficed pawn White has plenty of
Black faces d ifficu lties without initiative - analysis by Moiseyev
having any material compensation. and Ravinsky.
For example, 1 0 . . . .Q.d6 1 1 4lf3 On the other hand Wh ite
(1 1 g3 4lxe4 1 2 c5 ! ? is also good) achieves noth ing with 1 1 .ilf3, on
1 1 . . . 4lg6 1 2 c5 .Q.f4 1 3 �d4 ± . account of .1 1 . . . !£lc5 ! ? 1 2 a3
1 1 �c2 (80) l£lxa4 1 3 �xa4 (or 1 3 ab 4lxb2
94 5 <ilc3 <ilc6 6 .ll e3 i*c 7 7 .ll e2

1 4 <ilxe6 de 1 5 ill'd 4 0-0 1 6 ,ill' x b2 On 1 2 a3 .Q.d6 1 3 g3, Black can

<ilf5 +) 1 2 . . . .Q.d6 1 4 g3 .lle 5 1 5 c5 o btain a perfectly defensible pos­
0-0 + Klovan-Titenko, Yaroslavl ition with 13 . . <ilg6 or 1 3 . . .
.

1 966. i£lc6.
Final ly, the immediate 1 1 c5 is 12 . . . <iled5
less effective. After 1 1 . . . <ild5 Alsd after 1 2 . . . b5 1 3 cb
1 2 <ilb3 0-0 (if 1 2 . . . <ilxe3? ill' x c2 1 4 i£lxc2 .Q.d6, the complex
1 3 fe ill'c 6 1 4 .Q.f3 ± ) 1 3 ill'd 4 end ing is in Wh ite's favour.
f5 1 4 .Q.c4 <ilxe3 1 5 fe d6 and 1 3 a3 .Q.a5
Black stands a little better - 1 4 b4 b5
Boleslavsky. I f 1 4 . . . <ilxe3 1 5 fe ill'e 5, then
1 6 ba! ? ill'x e3+ 1 7 ®hl ill' x d4
so .1 •.1.me• B: 1 8 <ilb6 §b8 1 9 §adl , and White's
B •
�t� �- t ,"• t � � t
. • . v.
i nitiative assu mes a menacing char-
acter.
t• •t• • 1 5 i£lc3
• • • • The conti nuation 1 5 cb .Q.xb6
r.-- � ·� ft �
� ····· ·- •
�"'al� � 1 6 <ilxb6 ill'x b6 1 7 <ilb5 <ilxe3
.
� � - .. . " ·� 1 8 <ilc7+ ®e7 1 9 <ilxa8 .<i)xc2
ft g
��- g- -�g� � ft �. ·� "
20 <ilxb6 i£lxa1 is in Black's favour.
�,�, · -. -� · R� 15 . . . <ilxe3
1 5 . . . <ilxc3 1 6 ill' x c3 .Q.b6 is
11 . . . <ilf6 no good, because of 1 7 ill'd 2 .Q.a7
With other replies, Black risks 1 8 .llf4 e5 1 9 .llf3 §b8 20 .llx e5
ending up in a d ifficult position. ±±.
For example : 1 6 fe ill'e 5
a) 11 . . . <ilc5? 1 2 a3 <ilxa4 1 3 ab 1 7 .llf3 .llc7 ! ?
<ilb6 1 4 <ilb5 ! ab 1 5 .Q.xb6 ill'b 8 Black has to sacrifice the ex­
1 6 .llc 5 ± ± . change, since the continuation
b) 1 1 . . . f5 1 2 c 5 ( also 1 2 .llf3 1 7 . . . §b8 1 8 ba ill' x e3+ 1 9 ill' f2
.Q.d 6 1 3 .llx e4 fe 1 4 ill' x e4 .Q.xh2+ ill'x c3 20 §ac1 ill'd 3 ( 20 . . . ill'x a5?
1 5 ® h 1 .lle 5 1 6 <ilf3 .Q.f6 1 7 <ilb6 21 ill'g 3 ± ± ) 21 §fd1 ill'g6 22 c6
§b8 1 8 c5 ;!;) 1 2 . . . <ild5 1 3 .Q.f3 is very dangerous for him.
( 1 3 .Q.h5+! ? g6 1 4 .llf 3) 1 3 . . . 1 8 .Q.xa8 ill' x e3+
ill'e 5 1 4 .Q.xe4 fe 1 5 <ilb3 b5 1 9 ®h 1
1 6 cb .Q.d6 1 7 g3 ± Kol ker­ Of course not 1 9 ill' f2 because
Semenik, corr. 1 979. of 1 9 . . . .llx h2+ 20 ® h 1 ill' h 6 + + .
1 2 c5 19 . . . ill' x d4
 5 -ilc3 -ilc6 6 Ae3 -IJfc 7 7 Ae2 95

20 -ile4
Thanks to the activity of his
pieces, Wh ite's chances are prefer­
able in the complex struggle which
l ies ahead ; Rittner-Moiseyev, corr.
1 976.
B2
9 ... Ae7
I n this manner Black removes
h is bishop from its insecure post,
and clears the b-fi le for active
operations in case of an exchange 1 3 e5 -ild 5
on c6. I n addition, he threatens to 1 4 Acl
capture on e4. The drawback to I n the case of 1 4 Ad4 c5 1 5 c4
this manoeuvre is its obvious loss cd 1 6 cd *c5 1 7 Jlf3 Ag5 ! ?
of ti me . White achieves noth ing; Mecking­
1 0 -ilxc6 Portisch, Sousse 1 967 .
The most logical continuation. 14 . . . Ac5
White 'infiltrates' towards the vu l­ 1 5 c4
nerable b6 square and creates White gains nothing from 1 5
weaknesses in Black's camp. The *d3, in view of 1 5 . . . 0-0 ! ?
pawn sacrifice 1 0 c4, recommended 1 6 *g3 (or 1 6 *xa6 *xa6 1 7
by Larsen, is experi mental i n Axa6 -ilb4 1 8 Ad3 -ilxd3 1 9 cd
character. Ad4! ? ) 1 6 . . . -ile7 ! ? 1 7 Ad3
=

10 . . . be *c7 1 8 b3 ( 1 8 Axa6? ! Ad4 +)

If 1 0 . . . *xc6, then 1 1 -ilb6 1 9 . . . a 5 ( 1 8 . . . Ad4?? 1 9 *h4
E!b8 1 2 e5 ± is unpleasant. ± ± ) 1 9 Ae3 �e3 20 *xe3 -ild5
1 1 -ilb6 E!b8 21 "1fg3 f6 Tukmakov-Taimanov,
=

1 2 -ilxc8 *xc8 (87) Vilnius 1 975.

1 2 . . . E!xc8 1 3 �a6 E!b8 is However, 15 Ad3, on the lines
inadvisable. After 1 4 Ad3 E!xb2 of the Sznapik-Matulovic game
1 5 Ad4 E!b8 1 6 e5 -ild5 1 7 c4 oilb4 quoted above, is worth considering;
1 8 Ae4 c5 1 9 Ac3 -ilc6 20 f4 the d ifference in the placing of
White has an u ndoubted advan- White's g-pawn is of minor impor-
tage, thanks to h is two active tance.
bishops and the passed a-pawn; 15 oile7
Belyavsky-Damjanovic, Al icante 1 6 b3 *c7
1 978. 1 7 Ab2 d6
96 5 '9c3 4lc6 6 .ll e3 "Jtc 7 7 .lle 2

If 1 7 . . . 4:lg6, then 1 8 ® h 1 ! ? 1 8 Axe4 fe 1 9 "J/xe4, and White

when 1 8 . 4:lxe5 is answered has the i nitiative; Tal-Suetin, USSR
by 1 9 f4 ± . 1 973.
1 8 ed Axd6
1 9 g3 Ae5 s2.l mAB Bca>B
20 .llx e5 "J/xe5 w•
.· � -t� •t� -i
21 Af3
White's pos1t1on is somewhat
t•t•t• •
preferable; Gufeld-Vasyukov, Vil­ • • • •
nius 1 975. �- B ft B B
83 •
• • • !!! '� • • •
9 0-0 ft H � ft •..w.
- � �-. �" ft �-�
. "

A flexible developing continu­ �� •

ation, which for some time has
probably been the most popular.
1 0 4lxc6
This motif, familiar to us from
the preceding sectio ns, is considered
the most effective bid for the
initiative in the present case too.
1 0 c4 has also been tried, but
after 1 0 . . . Ad6 ! ? 1 1 4:lf3 4:lg4
(with 1 1 . . . 4:lxe4 Black risks
,t:;11 -�- �a
• t:::!l �
1 1 4:lb6
The most logical continuation,
with wh ich White aims to secure
the advantage of the two bishops.
Practice has also seen :
a) 1 1 f4 Ae7 (after 1 1 . . . §b8
1 2 Ad3 .lle 7 1 3 c4 d6 1 4 c5 !?
White has a d efinite plus) 1 2
4:lb6 (or 1 2 Ad3 c5 ! ? 1 3 c4 d6 =

incurring a positional bind) 1 2 Ab6 Kapengut-Vladimirov, USS R 1 975)

Axh2+ 1 3 ® h 1 "J/f4 1 4 g3 .llx g3, 1 2 . . . §b8 1 3 4:lxc8 "J/xc8 1 4 e5
Black obtains three pawns for the 4:ld5 1 5 Ac1 f6 ! ? 1 6 c4 Ac5+
piece, with active possibil ities on 1 7 ® h 1 4:le3 1 8 Axe3 Axe3
the k ing's side. 1 9 "Jtd3 Ac5=.

10 . . . b e (82) b) 1 1 c4 Ae7 (1 1 . . . 4:lxe4 is

With 1 0 . . d e, Black can
scarcely reckon on creating coun­
terplay. For example : 1 1 c4 (also
1 1 Ab6 "J/f4 1 2 f3 ;t) 1 1 . . . .lld 6
(1 1 . . . 4:lxe4? 1 2 c 5 ± ± ) 1 2 f4
4:lxe4 1 3 c5 .lle 7 1 4 "J/c2 f5
1 5 4:lb6 §b8 1 6 g4 (another
possibil ity is 1 6 .lld 3 .[)f6 1 7 Ad4
;l;) 1 6 . . .lld 7 1 7 .lld 3 .lle 8 ! ?
. ·
weak because of 1 2 c5 "J/e5 1 3
.lld 4 "Jtf4 1 4 Axg7 ! ± , while 1 1
. . . Ad6 can be met by 1 2 f4! ?
4:lxe4 1 3 .lld 3 m6 1 4 c5 Ae7
1 5 Ad4 §d8 1 6 4:lb6 §b8 1 7 4:lc4,
and Black has .a very cramped
position ; Kuzmin-Damjanovic, Kla­
dovo 1 980) 1 2 "J/c2 c5 1 3 f4 d6
1 4 .llf3 .11b 7 (or 1 4 . . . §b8 1 5

E!ad1 .Q.b 7 1 6 E!d2 Ac6 1 7 4lc3
4ld7 1 8 E!fd 1 4lb6 = Radulov­
Matulovic, Vrnjacka Banja 1 974)
1 5 4lc3 E!ad8 1 6 E!ad1 E!fe8
1 7 'ltf2 4ld7 = Panchenko-Ogaard,
Lu blin 1 975.
11 . . . E!b8
1 2 4lxc8 E!fxc8
Black can l et the pawn go,
since it is quickly regained .
After 1 2 . . . 'ltxc8 1 3 eS
(Liberzon recommends 1 3 Af4
E!b6 1 4 'ltd4 'ltb7 1 5 Ae3 c5
1 6 'ltd3 ±) 1 3 . . . 4ld5 1 4 .Q.c1 !?
(or 14 Aa7 E!a8 1 5 Ad4 cS 1 6 c4
cd 1 7 cd ± ) , Black has consider­
ably the worse position.
1 3 Axa6 E!d8
1 3 . . . E!e8 has also been tried,
but is less logical . After 1 4 .Q.d3
Ad6 1 4 ® h 1 (if 1 5 f4, then 1 5 . . .
eS 1 6 f5 E!xb2 1 7 g4 h6 1 8 h4
4ld5 ! 1 9 ed e4 20 Ae2 AcS ! = Th i s tactical stroke (the rook
Shamkovich-Doda, Polanica Zdroj
1 970) 1 5 . . . AeS ( 1 5 . . . §xb2
is met by 1 6 .Q.d4 E!bb8 1 7 Axf6
gf 1 7 f4 ± , while 1 5 . . . Axh2
is strongly answered by 1 6 f4 h5
1 7 'ltf3 4lg4 1 8 b3 ± ) 1 6 c3
E!xb2 1 7 'ltc1 'ltb7 (observe that
with the rook on e8 Black doesn 't
h ave the thrust 1 7 . . . 4lg4 which
gives him counterplay in the main
variation, exami ned below) 1 8 f4
Ac7 1 9 eS 4:ld5 20 AcS, White's
position is clearly the more prom­
ising; Kochiev-Ruderfer, USSR
1 972.
5 4lc3 4lc6 6 ..Q.e3 itc 7 7 Ae2 97
14 .Q.d3 Ad6
I t was on this double attack
that Black was basing his plan when
he temporarily sacrificed a pawn.
1 5 ®h1
After 1 5 f4 e S ! ? 1 6 f S (or
1 6 b3 ef 1 7 .Q.d4 Ae5 1 8 Axes
'ltxeS 1 9 'ltf3 d S ! ? 20 ed 4:lxd5 21
E!ael 'ltb2 ! ? 22 a4 g6 Zakharov­
=
Romanov, USS R 1 975) 1 6 . . .
E!xb2 1 7 g4 h6 1 8 h4 Af8 1 9 g5
4:ld 5 ! 1 0 ed e4 2 1 Af4 ita7+
22 ® h 1 ed 23 'ltxd3 E!xa2 24
E!xa2 'ltxa2 25 de 'lta8, the game
is completely equal ; Matulovic­
Mariotti, Al bufeira 1 978.
15 . . . Ae5
1 5 . . . E!xb2 at once is not
good, because of 1 6 .Q.d4 E!bb8
1 7 Axf6 gf 1 8 f4.
1 6 c3 E!xb2
1 7 'ltc1 4:lg4 ! ?
is immu ne, since on 1 8 'ltxb2??
Black has the annihilating riposte
1 8 . . . Axc3 ! + + ) enables Black
to solve successful l y the basic
problems of co-ordinating h is forces.
On 1 7 . . . 'ltb7 1 8 f4 Ac7 1 9 eS
4:ld5 20 Ac5, Black's position is
clearly worse.
1 8 f4 4lxe3
1 9 'ltxb2 .Q.xf4
20 'ltf2
It's o n ly by returning the
exchange that White can fight for
the initiative. After 20 E!f3 4:lg4,
Black has sufficient positional corn-
98 5 4)c3 4)c6 6 .ll e3 fie 7 7 .ll e2
pensation for the i nsignificant mat­
erial loss.
20 4)xf1
21 §xfl (83)
We here have a position from
one of the most deeply analysed
variations of the Paulsen System.
On the evaluation of what is
virtuall y an endgame situation,
the fate of an important and
thematic branch of the system
essentially depends. From the prac­
tical material that has accumu lated,
there is reason to think that Black
has adequate defensive resources
here. To take a characteristic
examp le: 21 . . . gS ! ? ( this is
stronger than 21 . . . eS, which is
met by 22 g3 ffd6 23 Ae2 .Q.gS
24 ffxf7+ ® h8 2S .Q.g4! ? .Q.f6
26 wg2 :!: Adorjan-Matulovic, Novi
Sad 1 97 3 ) 22 g3 ffd6 23 .Q.e2 ! ?
(or 2 3 .Q.c2 .Q.eS 24 ffxf7+ ®h8
2S ®g2 ffcS 26 ®h3 ffxc3 -
unclear) 23 . . . AeS 24 �xf7+
® h8 2S §dl �c7 ( 2S . . . §f8?
26 �xd7 �cS 27 ffxe6 .Q.xc3 28
�d6 ± Sznapik-Kruszynski, Po lish
Ch 1 980 ) 26 .Q.g4 ( if 26 �e7, then
26 . . . .Q.xc3 27 .Q.g4 �c8 ! ? 28
Axe6 § e8 Razuvayev-Matu lovic,
=
USSR v Yugoslavia 1 97 3 ) 26 . . .
dS 27 �xe6 .Q.xc3 28 ed cd
29 .Q.f3 (also after 29 §xdS §xdS
30 �xdS a d raw should be the
result) 29 . . . �eS 30 �xeS
Axes 31 .Q.xdS. Black has a pawn
less, but the presence of opposite
bishops, w ith the sl ight amount
of material remaining on the
board, allows him to reckon on
d rawing; Tal-Liberzon, Skara 1 980.
I ndex of Va r i ati o n s

Page numbers are italicised

1 e4 eS
2 4)f3 e6
3 d4 ed
4 .£Jxd4 a6
5 g3 2
5 .lle 2 2
5 .£Jd2 2
5 e4 .£Jf6 6 .£Je3 d6 4
6 . . . 't!!te7 5
6 . . .llb 4 7
. .£Je2 7
7 e5 7
7 .lld 2 9
7 .lld 3 4)e6 8 .lle2 7 0
8 4)c2 7 2
8 4)xc6 72

A
5 .lld 3 .Iles
5 . . b5 ? ! 7 5
.

5 . . 't!!tc 7 7 5
.

5 . .£Jc6 6 .£Jxc6 be 76
. .

6 . . . de 7 f4 78
7 .£Jd2 79
5 . .£Je7 27
. .

5 . . g6. 6 .£Jc3 23
6 0-0 25
6 c4 26
6 Others 23
5 . .£Jf6 6 0-0 't!!tc 7 29
. .

6 . . . d5 29
7 00 Index of Variations

6 . . . d6 7 f4 30
7 c4 g6 <ilc3 .11g 7 9 .11e 3 0-0 1 0 §cl 32
1 0 §e1 33
7 . . . J!i.e7 8 <ilc3 0-0 9 'i!i'e2 36
9 ®h 1 3 7
9 .Q.'e 3 38
6 <ilb3
6 c3 47
6... .11a 7
6 . . . .Q.b6 42
6 . . . .Q.e7 42
7 'i!i'e2
7 'ili'g4 42
7... <£lc6
8 0-0 43
8 .Q.e3 44

B
5 <ilc3 <ilc6
5 .
. . .Q.cS 4 7
5 .. . <ile7 4 7
5 .. . .Q.b4 4 7
5 .. . bS 6 .Q.d3 (Others 48) 6 . . . .Q.b7 7 0-0 <£le7 49
7 . . . d6 50
5 . . 'i!i'c7 6 g3 b5 57
.

6 . . . <ilf6 52
6 . . . .Q.b4 53 .
6 .11e 2 <ilf6 56
6 . . . bS 5 7
6 f4 58
6 Ad3 bS 60
6 • . <ilf6 67
•

6 . . . <ilc6 62
6 Ae3
6 Ac4 63
6 <ilxc6 63
6 Af4 64
6 Ae3 64
6 f4 64
 Index of Variations 1 01

6 .lle 2 "Jtc7 7 0-0 65

7 f4 b5 68
7 . . . lf:lxd4 69
7 . . . Others 67
6 g3 "Jtc7 7 .llg 2 d6 77
7 . . . 1£lf6 8 0-0 1£lxd4 72
8 . . . h6 73
8 . . . .lle 7 74
7 . . . Others 70
6... "Jtc7
7 Ae2
7 1£lb3 78
7 f4 78
7 a3 79
7 .lld 3 b5 79
7 . . . 1£lf6 8 0-0 (8 Others 80) 8 . . . b5 81
8 . . . .lld 6 82
8 . . 1£le5 9 h3 b5 83
.

9 . . . Ac5 84
7... l£lf6
7 . . . 1£lxd4 87
7 . . . Ab4 8 7
7 . . . 1£la5 8 7
7 . . b 5 8 1£lxc6 -IJ!xc6 9 f4 .ll b 7 89
.

9 . . . Aa3 90
8 0-0
8 a3 90
8... .llb4
8 . . . b5 91
9 1£la4 ! ?
9 . . . 1£le7 92
9 . . . Ae7 95
9 . . . 0-0 96