Chess Software
Chess Playing Chess Training Database Mgmt Chess Databases Chess for MAC Chess Handhelds
Chess Equipment
Chess Sets/Pieces Chess Boards Chess Boxes/Bags Chess Computers Chess Clocks Schools/Clubs
Chess by Subject
Beginners Chess for Kids Chess Openings      King's Pawn      Queen's Pawn      Various  Middlegame  Endgame   Biographies  Tournaments  Classic Chess  General
Chess by Format
Chess in Print Chess on CD Chess E-Books Chess Download Chess DVDs Chess Magazines
Chess & Beyond
Chess Accessories Chess Art Variant Software eClassics Gift Ideas Gift Wrap
Ordering Info
Shipping Rates Delivery Time Returns Privacy Security Help Contact Us Affiliate Program Link to Us

Chess Goldmine!

Battle Chess and Battle Chess 4000
Chess Software
FREE Demo
 Chess Download!

Read about ChessCentral
 in the
 New York Times

Chess Forum
Help, Tips and
Discussion

Opening Theory

A67 Benoni Chess Opening Theory

“Return of a forgotten variation” is the title Albert Kapengut gives his article on a variation that is taken from the basic positions from the pawn storm system of the Modern Benoni. It comes after the moves:

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.f4 Bg7 8.Bb5+ Nbd7!?

Kapengut writes: “Since the first game where a check on b5 occurred (Alatortsev,V – Aronin,L 1/2/18 ch Moscow 1950), this system was traditionally considered dangerous for Black, and although this more natural move than Nfd7 caused some interest, it was always considered as insufficient for achieving equality. The latest discoveries have corrected this assessment. By the way, after a game Taimanov,M – Trifunovic,P 1-0/USSR-JUG m Leningrad 1957 this system was for some reason named after Mark Taimanov although he had played merely this one single game, unlike other Soviet masters before him.”

In the article the author analyses the position arising after 9.e5 dxe5 10.fxe5 Nh5 11.e6 Qh4+ 12.g3 Nxg3 13.hxg3 Qxh1. His conclusion: “This variation is important for players who reach the Modern Benoni via the classical move order rather than from the King's Indian Defence. The system 8.Bb5+ Nfd7 is one of the most aggressive and dangerous lines against the Benoni. Black must play very carefully not to get under a strong attack. Frequently the second player tries to provoke a crisis at an early stage by selecting the most natural but at the same time sharpest continuation 8...Nbd7 which is analyzed in detail in this article. In spite of the fact that the statistics of the variation obviously benefit White, this sometimes reflects only a difference in playing strength. The author hopes that some of his recommendations will pass the test of time.

The attached database contains 105 games and an additional openings report on this variation.

B09 Pirc Defence Chess Opening Theory

The main position of this opening database, compiled by IM Michael Roiz, arises after the moves 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.0-0 e5. This variation is very popular in grandmaster practice, and such experts of this opening like Igor Zakharevich and Roman Slobodjan use it as a weapon against 4.f4. The database contains 109 games, 21 of them with annotations by the author, at least at the opening stage of the game.

B33 Sveshnikov Sicilian Chess Opening Theory

GM Dorian Rogozenko examines the variation that arises with the moves:

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bf4 e5 8.Bg5 a6 9.Na3 b5 10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.Nd5 f5 12.Bd3 Be6 13.0-0 Bxd5 14.exd5 Ne7 15.c3 Bg7 16.Qh5 e4 17.Bc2 0-0 18.Rae1 Qc8.

Rogozenko writes: “This strategically very complex and complicated line was the main direction of developments in the Sveshnikov Sicilian in the last ten years. The White players have been trying very hard to break through the bastions of the most popular opening in modern chess theory, and the presented line is a product of joint efforts of numerous strong grandmasters. In the diagram position the main priority for White is to win the central battle, after which all his pieces will exert decisive pressure (usually the following attack against the black monarch is unstoppable).

This approach to bring the Rook from a1 into play and then attack Black's pawn formation was first implemented by Dolmatov and Kovalev in 1992. Then Almasi transformed into a dangerous opening weapon and later, when it became clear how serious Black's problems are, many other grandmasters started to use this line and contributed to its development.” The database contains 30 instructive games.

C40 Latvian Gambit Chess Opening Theory

In part two of their article on the Latvian Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f5) the authors Alexander Bangiev and Peter Leisebein examine the continuation 3.Nxe5 Qf6. The database attached to their article contains 4,059 games and a specialised opening key.

C45 Scotch Chess Opening Theory

GM Evgeny Postny investigates the relatively new line that arises after the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bb4+ 5.c3 Be7.

As can be seen from the opening moves, Black makes two moves with his dark-squared Bishop. The idea of this loss of tempo is to provoke White's c2-c3 which deprives his Queenside Knight of his natural development square c3. This variation gained popularity in the 90s, and nowadays is a frequent guest in modern practice. There are many strong players who use it as a surprise weapon, and several grandmasters like Yandemirov, Malaniuk, Balashov and Sermek use it consistently.

GM Postny has done a huge amount of analytical work. His conclusion: “Black can equalize easily in most of the lines. However, White has good chances to seize the initiative in the main line 6.Bc4 or 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.Bc4. If Black wants to continue to play this opening variation, he needs to find new ideas in the main line. There should be still enough scope for more research...”

There are 75 selected games in this database, 21 of them are annotated by the author especially for this database. The database includes almost all fresh practical material – up to September 2003.

D31 Slav Gambit Chess Opening Theory

The Slav Defence is enjoying extraordinary popularity in current tournament practice. Without any doubt, this is because this defence belongs to the more solid defensive systems of today's opening theory. The subject of Jerzy Konikowski's article is a gambit which can be considered as a fighting weapon against the Slav Defence, because recent tournament experience has shown that the Slav Gambit, with its intrinsic sharpness and positional complications, is a system which can produce many sorrows for the adherents of the Slav Defence.

The Slav Gambit occurs after the moves 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 e6 4.e4!? dxe4 5.Nxe4 Bb4+ 6.Bd2. A pawn sacrifice for the initiative, for the first time introduced into practice in 1902 by Marshall against Schlechter in Monte Carlo. 6...Qxd4 7.Bxb4 Qxe4+ 8.Be2 Na6. The most popular continuation today, and probably also the best, is 9.Ba5 (the alternatives 9.Bd6 or 9.Bc3 are not considered in the article).

Konikowski's conclusion: “The Slav Gambit offers a lot of sharp variations for the belligerent White player which, however, should not pose any major opening problems for Black with precise counterplay.”

D39 Vienna Variation Chess Opening Theory

Zoltan Ribli has written an article on this variation which arises after the moves 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.e4 Bb4 6.Bg5 c5 7.Bxc4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 Qa5 10.Bb5+ Bd7 11.Bxf6 gxf6 12.Qb3 0-0 13.0-0.

GM Ribli writes: “I must point out, that instead of 12...0-0 Black often plays 12...a6 (12...Ke7!? is also worth considering) or 12...Bxb5. In our article, we will also examine the variation with 12...Bxb5, but arrived at via a transposition of moves.”

In his analysis Ribli, substantiated with 20 meticulously annotated games, comes to the following conclusion: “This variation is not so popular, because there are several chances for Black to avoid it – instead of 10...Bd7 the alternative 10...Nbd7 is more popular and on move 12 instead of 12...0-0 players more often try 12...a6. In my opinion the variation I. 13...Nc6 is not so good for Black and White also has the initiative after II. 13...Qb6 14.Rfd1, but in variation III. 13...Bxb5 14.Nxb5 Black gets good chances for equality both after 14...Nd7 and 14...Nc6!?”

D39 Vienna Variation II Chess Opening Theory

This variation starts after the moves 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.e4 Bb4 6.Bg5 c5 7.Bxc4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 Qa5 10.Bb5+ Nbd7 11.Bxf6 Qxc3+ 12.Kf1 gxf6 13.h4 a6 14.Rh3 Qa5 15.Be2 Nc5 16.Nb3 Nxb3 17.Qxb3.

GM Ribli explains: “Black has an extra pawn, but his King is vulnerable in the centre of the board, whereas White can rapidly mobilize his pieces (especially the Rooks and the Queen). It is not easy for Black to develop his Bishop. Nevertheless, in the variations he can – especially if he returns the pawn – consolidate his position and reach equality.”

Ribli provides 18 annotated games and concludes: “After 17...b6 the three options I. 18.Qb2 II. 18.Rc1 and III. 18.Rd1 Black does not land up in trouble. Only in variation IV. 18.Rb1 does he have to be careful – if he plays 18...Bb7 19.Re3 he can have problems, but the alternative 18...Bd7 seems perfectly playable to me.”

Learn about the main chess database
Learn about the chess other databases
Learn about the chess multimedia
Learn about the updates and the chess media system

ChessCentral
Guarantee:
Easy Returns
Low Shipping Rates
Prompt Delivery
Secure Servers
Privacy
Customer Support
Post Purchase
Customer Feedback

Chess Sets and
Chess Boards

Chess For Kids
Chess Software and Videos

Join our 
Member's Area for FREE Chess to Download!

Car Books
Helping you buy Porsche Books, Ferrari Books & all automotive books at great prices.