MODERN CHESSMAGAZINE

ISSUE 10

PracticalDecision-Making

Endgame Series -Part 10

Methods of Playing in Positionswith Closed Centre - Part 2

KID Manual - Understandthe Botvinnik Structure

Master the Grunfeld Structure - Part 1

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Master the Grunfeld Structure - Part 1 (GM Mihail Marin)

The Exchange Gruenfeld - White plays e4-e5Carlsen,Magnus (2690) - Ivanchuk,Vassily (2750) Morelia/Linares 24th 2007Vladimirov,Evgeny (2525) - Semeniuk,Alexander A (2380) USSR, 1987Parligras,Mircea Emilian (2598) - Nepomniachtchi,Ian (2729) EU-ch 12th Aix les Bains 2011Gligoric,Svetozar (2595) - Tukmakov, Vladimir B (2560) Leningrad Interzonal 1973Gligoric,Svetozar - Smyslov,Vassily URS-JUG Kiev 1959Naumkin,Igor (2412) - Kortschnoj,Viktor (2642) Saint Vincent 2003Lilienthal,Andor - Kortschnoj,Viktor URS-ch21 Kiev 1954Kasparov,Garry (2690) - Kortschnoj,Viktor (2610) Candidates sf1 London (1) 1983TestTest Solutions

Methods of Playing in Positions with Closed Center - Part 2 (GM GrigorGrigorov)

KID Manual - Understand the Botvinnik Structure (GM Petar G. Arnaudov)

Flohr,Salo - Petrosian,Tigran V Moscow Moscow (9), 24.11.1950Botvinnik,Mikhail - Boleslavsky,Isaak URS-ch12 Moscow (2), 06.09.1940Petrosian,Tigran V - Stein,Leonid October Revolution 50 Moscow (15), 1967Bronstein,David I - Petrosian,Tigran V Candidates Tournament Amsterdam/Leeuwarden (11), 16.04.1956Kuzmin,Gennadi P - Taimanov,Mark E URS-ch35 Kharkov, 12.1967Arnaudov,G (2474) - Kovalenko,I (2651) Oslo Open 2016 Fornebu NOR (4.1), 03.10.2016Exercises

Practical Decision-Making – Part 1 (Boris Chatalbashev)

Zugzwang 1 - 7Saemisch,Fritz - Nimzowitsch,Aaron Copenhagen Copenhagen, 1923Ambroz - Tomorhuyag 28.09.2016Gelfand,B (2743) - Li,Chao b (2746) 10th Tal Mem 2016 Moscow RUS (4), 30.09.2016Mutual zugzwang 1 - 4Exercises

Zhigalko,S (2655) - Deepan,C (2496) 4th Al Ain Chess Classic Al-Ain UAE (4.15), 26.12.2015Nepomniachtchi,I (2725) - Bu Xiangzhi (2723) 7th Hainan Danzhou GM Danzhou CHN (8.4), 16.07.2016Anand,V (2770) - Van der Sterren,P (2555) Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee NED (7), 24.01.1998Exercises

Endgame Series - Part 10 (GM Davorin Kuljasevic)

Carlsen,M (2855) - Giri,A (2785) 9th Masters Final 2016 Bilbao ESP (9.2), 22.07.2016Caruana,F (2804) - Giri,A (2790) Vugar Gashimov Mem 2016 Shamkir AZE (7.3), 02.06.2016Chatalbashev,B (2545) - Skomorokhin,R (2396) 7th Vaujany Open 2016 Vaujany FRA (8.3), 23.07.2016Exercises

3

Master the Grunfeld Structure -Part 1

GM Mihail Marin

The Exchange Gruenfeld - White plays e4-e5

The provocative hyper-modern spirit of the

Grunfeld defence consists in allowing White to

build a strong centre with a wide range of

systems grouped under the generic name "The

exchange variation":

White's space advantage would make a

dogmatic like Tarrasch suspicious about Black's

chances, but decades of practice have shown

that he can get counter-chances by attacking d4

with all available resources (starting with

and ). True, White has several ways

of dealing with the increasing pressure against

his centre, but how to make use of the d4 and e4

tandem remains an open question.

Theoretically, we can identify two main

approaches:

1) playing

2) playing –

This article will deal with the first situation. It

doesn't take a skilled eye to understand that

is White's most committal plan. After the

exchange onBlack gets a perfect blocking

square on while most of the endings are bad

for White as his central majority is immobile

while Black's queenside majority can advance

unhindered.

Advancing the e-pawn usually makes sense if

Black has previously played or, due to

the threat , he needs to react this way to

The weakened f6–square offers White

chances for a slow attack based on and

followed by eitheror an

exchange on g6 followed by somehow doubling

the major pieces along the h-file. Sometimes, the

knight transfer to or is possible, but since

White has to use for the transit e4–square, Black

can usually prevent this plan with .

Another thematic idea is breaking the blockade

with –. In order to be effective, White

typically needs his knight on f4 while Black's

queenside minor pieces should be placed far

from the d5–square (for instance the bishop on

c8 after general rook exchanges on the c-file and

the knight on ).

For Black, a good control on is essential in

order to maintain the equality or even take ov er

the initiative. Another important aspect is the

status of the –bishop. After – its direct

pressure on d4 disappears and in many cases

Back's usual "pride" in the Gruenfeld can

4

become the most passive piece. In manoeuvring

games, the bishop is supposed to look for new

horizons with but this can happen only

if there are no immediate kingside dangers.

Alternatively, tactical blows onorare

possible but even if Black's coordination is

superior.

We will start with a few games illustrating some

of White's main ideas.

Carlsen,Magnus (2690) - Ivanchuk,Vassily

(2750)

Morelia/Linares 24th 2007

When I included the Exchange variation in

my repertoire with White about a quarter of a

century ago, Black's system of developing was

considered at least risky. Freed of the usual

pressure in the centre, White can build up a

dangerous positional kingside attack. In this

modern game the then still future World

Champion proves that some things do not

change that much over the decades.

If White traps the daring

queen:

is even worse

with insufficient material compensation for the

queen.

This is a good moment to advance the e-pawn since Black's blockade with can be easily questioned with when Black has no reserve minor piece to sustain the bishop.

Black has managed to carry out the main idea of this variation, bringing the game closer to an ending. But with queens on board this does not diminish White's attacking chances.

As we will see, this is not the best square for the queen as Black will get under a deadly pin soon. was more stubborn. White's most dangerous plan would have been the same as in the game: (The best chance as wins) (It is important to exchange the knight while still possible. If with powerful attack.) is also unpleasant, but not necessarily lost for Black.) Black seems on the edge of losing but after the

apparently decisive he has drawing

5

chances with for if

with a perpetual.

The start of the invasion on dark

squares. With the knight on d5 and the bishop

on b7 Black would have a dream position but he

does not have time for such a perfect

regrouping.

The most stubborn defence.

Threatening .

followed by wins; or if

the simplest is

The most accurate move order.

Inserting the bishop exchange before activating

the queen justifies Black's last move:

followed by the

knight transfer to d5.

Against the thematic Carlsen gives

the beautiful (though not only) winning line:

Not the only winning queen retreat but

the most spectacular one. White keeps an eye on

the kingside while pinning the knight.

The only way of maintaining the kingside

integrity.

A thematic break clearing the

d4–square for the knight.

The rest is simple.

After seeing this game I was curious to check my lines in my old notebook and found the following instructive example on the same theme:

Vladimirov,Evgeny (2525) - Semeniuk,Alexander A (2380) USSR, 1987

So far play has been similar to that in the previous game, with the difference that White has delayed e4–e5. But now the right time has come for it: Vladimirov considers insufficient due to but he underestimated White's attacking resources. You will find this position in the test section. is relatively harmless since after Black can start checking.

Desperation. mates while if the threat d4–d5 followed by e5–e6 is killing. The only way to parry it is but the hanging knight offers White such a tactical possibility: The connected passed pawns combined with the permanent danger on g7 make Black's position hopeless.

is premature due to (Vladimirov)

and White won.

1–0

6

In the previous games, Black's bishop turned being a bad one despite the optically spectacular activity along the h1–a8 diagonal. But Black's task is not easier if he exchanges this bishop for a knight, especially if he cannot transfer his own knight to d5 at once. Here is an illustrative example. Parligras,Mircea Emilian (2598) - Nepomniachtchi,Ian (2729) EU-ch 12th Aix les Bains 2011

The familiar signal to the kingside attack.Unblocking the centre yields very little after

Black usually faces a difficult choice of principle about how to meet the advance of the h-pawn.Ignoring the kingside plan is not without dangers: (The most principled continuation even though the central break makes some sense, too, under the changed circumstances: The main difference with respect to the similar line above is that Black should be aware of the potential pin along the e -file as, for instance, after

A typical way of activating the rook along the h-file. followed by and with a decisive attack. Black's

kingside fortress does not seem too reliable after either, for instance

The plan of transferring the knight to d5 is time-consuming but there was little Black could do anyway.

Black has maintained his kingside stability, but the weakening of the diagonal will soon tell.

Preparing to set up the battery

against the black king.

This loses a pawn but after Black's position is joyless.

The most elegant and probably strongest continuation is followed by

Here, too, would have been strong but there is no reason for rejecting the offered pawn.

and White had little trouble converting his material and positional advantage. 1–0 The Gruenfeld fans can now breathe a deep sigh of relief: the worst is over! We will now switch to situations when Black can make full use of the weaknesses induced by e4–e5. We will start with two classical examples.