Chapter 22 - Miscellaneous 423

21. ..ib7 22.ixf6 27.ltlxh6t

22.f3? is met by: 22 . . . lll xe4! 23 .ixe4 '\Wxd4H Instantly hopeless is 27.'\Wxh6? Elxd l t 28 .ixd l
gxf5 .
22 ....txf6 23.l'!adl?
Th e last mistake. 27 ... ©g7 28.Wfcl :i"!:xdlt 29.hdl e3!
Winning a decisive tempo by attacking the
White puts up a better fight after 23.lll f3! knighc.
Elac8! (but not 23 . . . ixb2?! 24.�xh6! with good
compensation) 24.ib3 Wg7+ when White's
pawns on e4 and b2 are vulnerable.

23 ... dS!-+
The 'weak' d6-pawn arrives to decide the
game. Black is winning a pawn with a decisive
advantage.

a b c d e f g h
30.ltlg4 exf2t 3 1 .©fl id4
The rest is simple.

32.Wfh6t ©gs 33.Wi'f4 Wi'c6 34.i.f3 Wfc4t

35.ie2 ixg2t 36.©xg2 Wxe2 37.ll:ih6t ©h7
0-1

Final remarks
1 . The d6-pawn was never a weakness. Instead,
the e4-pawn was quite vulnerable, since
playing f2-f3 would severely weaken the g l -a7
24.e5 is also inadequate: 24 . . . ixe5 2 5 .lll f3 ig7 diagonal.
26.ib3 d4!-+ 2. One of White's biggest problems was not
having the dark-squared bishop on b2 or e3, to
24.. Jhe4 25.Elxe4 dxe4 26.liJfS!? parry the threats.
A good try in a lost position. 3. Black's counterplay was particularly successful
because of White's poor coordination. The
26 .. J3d8! double pawn trade on d4 would not work as
But not 26 . . . gxf5 ? 27.�xh6! when Black well if White could manage to stabilize the
has nothing better than a draw after: 27 . . . id4 position.
28 .°1Wg5 t Wh8 (28 . . . WfS?! 29.�xf5±) 29.�h5t
Wg8 30.�g5t=
Chapter 23 Exercises

Level 1
Granda Zuniga - Vega, Bahia Feliz 20 I I Carlsen - Radjabov, Moscow 20 1 2

How should White consolidate his positional Find White's best continuation.
advantage?

Mareco - Werjivker, Montevideo 20 I 3 Zvjaginsev - Cvitan, Vienna 1 996

a b c d e f g h
Find White's strongest continuation. Find White's best continuation.
 Chapter 23 - Exercises 425

Khairullin - Goganov, St Petersburg 20 1 2 lturrizaga Bonelli - Papin, Moscow 20 1 0

Find VV'hite's best continuation.

Level 2

Naroditsky - Kamsky, Saint Louis 20 1 1 Leitao - Robledo, Mar del Plata 2009

What is your evaluation ofthe position? How Find three moves which each obtain a big
should Black proceed? advantage for White.
 426 Training

Leitao - Di Berardino, Mana us 20 1 3 Vuckovic - Damljanovic, Valjevo 2000

How should White proceed? Evaluate the position. How should Black
proceed?

Braun - Polzin, Germany 2008 Rosell - Nikolic, Barcelona 20 1 2

7
@

a b c d e f g h
How should White proceed? How should Black proceed?
 Chapter 23 - Exercises 427

Dzieczkaniec - Madeja, Wroclaw 20 1 1 Mista - Navara, Czech Republic 2005

a b c d e f g h
What should White play?

Akesson - Gabrielian, Pardubice 20 1 0 Cordova - Cabrera, Yucay 200 1

What is White's thematic continuation in this

position?
 428 Training

Cvek - Navara, Ledec nad Sazavou 20 1 3 Sprenger - Navara, Sibenik 20 1 2

® @

4
3
2
1
a b c d e f g h
Evaluate the position and suggest a continuation Find Black's best continuation.
far Black.

Granda Zuniga - Latorre Lopez Moreira,

Cochabamba 20 1 3 Szabo - Flores Rios, Belfort 2005

Find White's strongest continuation.

 Chapter 23 - Exercises 429

Harikrishna - Dominguez, Mel ilia 20 1 1

White's fast move was 23. e4-e5. Evaluate this

move and describe how the game may develop.

Level 3

Landa - Ponomariov, Sochi 20 1 2 K.ramnik - Van Wely, Wijk aan Zee 20 1 0

a b c d e f g h
How should White proceed?
430 Training

Mareco - Ivanov, Buenos Aires 2009 Collins - Madeja, Freemont 20 1 2

Ftacnik - Cvitan, Germany 1 997 Bachmann - Britez, Foz do Iguacu 20 1 3

How should Black continue, and what is the Find White's thematic response in this position.
evaluation ofthe position?
 Chapter 23 - Exercises 43 1

Geller - Khismatullin, Taganrog 20 1 3 Vasquez - Rios, Santiago 20 1 0

Find the strongest continuation fo r Black. How should Black create counterplay?

Gharamian - Mamedov, Aix-les-Bains 20 1 1 Quintiliano - Mareco, Maringa 20 1 2

How should White use his spatial advantage?

432 Training

Arencibia - Vera, Havana 1 986 Kramnik - Polgar, Dortmund 1 997

Black has an excellent position. How can he

consolidate his Lead?

Granda Zuniga - Milos, Quito 20 1 2 Epishin - Cvitan, Switzerland 1 997

Find Black's strongest continuation.

 Chapter 23 - Exercises 433

Qingnan Liu - Bu Xiangzhi,

Ehlvest Kuipers, Gibraltar 20 1 3
- Qinhuangdao 20 1 1

Evaluate the position and suggest a move for

Black.

Leitao - Diamant, Rio de Janeiro 2009 Kunin Volokitin, Austria 20 1 2

-

Find Black's strongest move.

434 Training

Agrest - Caruana, Arvier 2007 Flores Rios - Alonso , Magistral Endesa 2007

White's last move was 18. a3. How would)'OU

rate this move?

Almasi - Madeja, Khancy-Mansiysk (ol) 20 1 0 Edouard - Cebalo, Biel 20 1 2

How should White proceed? Find a strong continuation fo r White.

 Chapter 23 - Exercises 435

Gelashvili - Timman, Saint Vincent 2000 Lemos - Larrea, Asuncion 20 1 1

Find a good continuation for White.

Level 4

Radjabov - Guseinov, Baku 20 l 0 Leitao - Barreto, Campinas 2009

How should White continue?

 436 Training

Cori Tello - Melkumyan, Moscow 20 1 2 Garcia - Henriquez, Punta Arenas 20 1 4

@ s
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
a b c d e f g h
Evaluate the position and suggest Black is to play and will surely choose
a plan for White. 14. 0,xd5. How should White respond?
. .

What is the evaluation?

Nielsen - Berzinsh, Eretria 20 1 1

How should White continue?

Chapter 24 Solutions

Level I 2. Magnus Carlsen - Teimour Radjabov

Moscow 20 1 2
1. Julio Granda Zuniga - Sabrina Vega
Bahia Feliz 20 1 1 The reader should note chat the squares around
Black's king are weakened, and there are no
The key in the Slav structure is to prevent the pieces to provide immediate protection, hence it
central release with . . . c6-c5 or . . . e6-e 5 , hence the makes sense to open up the position with:
typical sequence:
26.fS!±
17.�xf6! �xf6 18 . .!Lie4 The standard break in the French structure.
This leaves Black in a desperate situation as
White has gained undisputed control of the 26 exfS?
•.•

c5-square, and . . . e6-e5 does not work either. Making things easier for White.

18 ...�e? The only defence was 26 . . . tt'i e4, though White

Or l 8 . . . '1Mf e7 l 9 . tt'ixf6t '1Mfxf6 20.E!:c5 is has many attractive options such as 27.ixe4
crushing. dxe4 28.Wff4!? exf5 29.'ll xf5 ! when the attack
continues, since 29 . . . gxf5 ? loses immediately to
19 . .!LicS �xc5 20.:gxc5 30.'1Wg3t! 'itih7 3 1 . E!:xf5 .

27 . .!LixfS! gxf5
27 . . . Wfe6 loses to 28.Wfxc5 gxf5 29.ixf5 .

28.Wfg3t!
Black resigned due to the unavoidable mace
after 28 . . . 'itih7 29.E!:xf5 .
1-0

3. Sandro Mareco - Paulo Werjivker

Montevideo 20 1 3

White's bishops o n b 2 and d3 have strong

attacking pocencial, and White's pieces are
excellently coordinated, hence it makes sense to
White won easily by pressing on che c6-pawn,
break in the centre with:
bringing the king to the queenside, and then
expanding his kingside pawns. 16.dS!+-
... 1-0 Demolishing Black's defence.
438 Training

16 exdS?
•.• 5. lldar Khairullin - Aleksey Goganov
Making things easier for White.
St Petersburg 20 1 2
The try 16 . . . tll d8 is nicely refuted by 1 7. tll g5 h6
1 8.�e5 tll e8 1 9. tll h7 winning an exchange and
1 6..ixh7t!+-
This sacrifice is a valuable resource in French
the game.
structures and here it gives White a winning
17.cxdS attack. I said I would not cover the Greek Gift in
Winning a piece. Chapter 2 1 , but I never promised it would not
be in the exercise section . . .
17 ... lLixdS 18.'We4
1-0 16 ... <iixh7 17.Wh4t <bg8
Or: 1 7 . . . ©g6? 1 8 .f5t! exf5 ( 1 8 . . . ©xf5
1 9. tll g3t ©g6 20.�h5#) 1 9 .tll f4#
4. Vadim Zvjaginsev - Ognjen Cvitan
Vienna 1 996 1 8.lLlgS l:Uc8 19.f5!
Bringing the rook into the attack.
As we studied in Woj taszek - Fedorov (page 283)
it is crucial to hit the base of the e4-f5 chain with: Or 1 9.�h?t ©f8 20.�h8t ©e7 2 l .�xg7 Ei:f8
22.f5 and White wins.
24.g4!+-
Black's position is completely destroyed.

24 ... fxg4 25.hxg4 lLid3

There i s nothing better.

26.gS!
Threatening g5-g6.
1-0

Black resigned because the kingside attack is

irresistible, for example:

26 Wd7
..•

26 . . . hxg5 is an even quicker loss 27.fXg5 ©h8

28.g6 followed by �h5 .

O r 2 6 . . . ©h8 27.f5 tll e5 when White wins with

28.f6 or the even stronger 2 8 .tll g6t! .
23.:;glf5!
27.f5 gxf5 Instead, after 23.tll d4 © e 8 24.�h7? Ele7 Black
27 . . . �e5 28.�h 5 +- found some defensive resources and eventually
won!
28.lLixfS Wxf5 29,:;gfl 'Wd7 30.gxh6 .ixh6
31 .'WhS The text move wins on the spot, say after:
With unavoidable mate.
23 <.f.ie8
..•
 No better are 23 . . . exf5 ? 24.E!xb6 or 23 . . . Ci:'i c4 29.axb4 axb4 30.©d2
24.E!xf7t E!xf7 2 5 . E!xf7t We8 26.'\MfhS#. If 30.cxb4 Elc4+ and Black is beccer since 3 l .f5 ?
n o longer works due c o 3 l . . . Elxb4!+ threatening
24.l'!xeS+- . . . E!b3 winning the rook on g3.

6. Eduardo lturrizaga Bonelli - Vasily Papin 30 ... d4!? 3 1 .gcl?

An understandable mistake.
Moscow 20 1 0
White could have secured a draw with:
3 l .cxb4! Elc2t 32. Wd3 Elxb2 33. We4! {bur not
Whice convened his superior coordination into a
33.Wxd4? Elxb4t 34.We3 Eidt 3 5 .Wd2 Elxg3-+)
winning arrack after:
33 . . . i':lxb4 34.Eld3 Elcc4 3 5 .E!fd l =
16.liJxf7! ©xf7 17.llJeSt llJxeS
Or 1 7 . . . WfS 1 8. Ci:'i xc6 �xc6 1 9.E!xc6 and wins.
3 1 ..J'k4 32.gf3 dxc3t
Interesting was: 32 . . . We7!?+
18.dxeS liJ dS 19.Wfhst ©£8 20.Wfxb7 �cs
21 ..ig6! 33.bxc3 gd8t!? 34.©e2?
Better was 34.Wc2 although ic is scary co cut
Preparing '\M!h8xg7.
one's own king off from the kingside pawns.
2 1 ...gec8 22.Wfhst ©e7 23.Wfxg?t ©d8
There are many ways co win, and che game 34 ... ge4t 35.©fl
finished with: 3 5 .E!e3 E!xf4+

24.gxcS 35 ... :gcs

Or 24.h4!? co promote on h8. And now che c3-pawn is lose.

24.. J!xcS 2S.Wff8t ©c7 26.Wfd6t ©c8 27.�fl 36.g3 l:!ec4 37.©e2 bxc3+
�c6 28.�xe6t ©b7 29.l:hdS °1Wb8 30Jhc5 And Black was able co exploit his advantage.
Wfxd6 3 1.exd6 bxcS 32.�f6 ge8 33 ..ie7 ... 0-1

8. Rafael Leitao - Manuel Robledo

The advance f4-f5-f6-f7 is unstoppable.
1-0

Level 2
Mar del Plata 2009

The advantage is based on White's ideal piece

7. Daniel Naroditsky - Gata Kamsky
placement and che vulnerable d6-pawn. The
Saine Louis 20 1 1 strongest choice is:

The posmon is quire simplified and should 17.e5!

be drawn with correct play. Black can gain Undermining the knight on c5 and chreacening
some practical winning chances if he seizes che 1 8 .exd6.
initiative wich che chemacic:
White also obtains a big advantage after:
28 b4!
..• l 7.Ci:'idb5 cxb5 l 8 .Ci:'ixb5 '\M!e7 l 9.Ci:'ixd6 Ci:'i bd7
The slow 28 . . . E!c4?! (preparing . . . b5-b4) is mer 20.Ci:'ixeS '\M!xe8 2 l .e5±
by 29.f5 exf5 30.i':lxf5 b4 3 1 .axb4 axb4 32.E!gf3
E!8c7 33 .e6! f6 34.i':lxd5 bxc3 3 5 . bxc3 E!xc3t Or l 7 . Ci:'i cb 5 ! cxb5 l 8.Ci:'ixb5± transposing co
36.We4 with a likely draw. l 7.Ci:'i db5 .
440 Training

17... dxe5 26.:8.dl Vfic8 27.f4

1 7 . . . �fS is refuted by: 1 8. ltJ db 5 ! cxb5 1 9 .exd6 Better was 27.�b5 Elc2 28 .\Wfl �a8 , though
�xd6 20.ltJxb 5 +- the threat of . . . Ela2xa3 is promising for Black.

18.ti)xc6! bxc6 19.hc5± 27 ... :8.c2 28.Vfif3 i.g7

Black's position is destroyed; the c6-pawn is Or 28 . . . �b2!? is equally strong.
particularly weak.

9. Rafael Leitao - Diego Di Berardino

Manaus 20 1 3

In addition to the plans described i n Chapter

3, if White's pieces are active enough, then che
following break is possible:

22.d5!+-
This gives White an overwhelming initiative as
Black lacks time to organize a defence. The game
continued:
a b c d e f g h
22 cxd5 23.ti):xf6t i.:xf6 24 ..i:xfG gxf6
•..

25.cxd5 Vfie7 White's position is hopeless, as his pieces are

25 . . . exd5 doesn't help: 26.Eld4! (threatening crapped in a cage and the a3-pawn will be lose.
Elg4 and �xf6) 26 . . . \Wd8 27.Elxd5 '1Wb6 28.Ele4
Followed by Elg4 or Elh5 with a decisive attack. 29.J\b5 :8.a2 30.ha4 :8.xa3 3 I .i.b6
3 l .�xb3 doesn't help after 3 1 . . .Elxb3 32.�e2
26.V!ig4t @h8 27.dxe6 fxe6 28.:8.xe6 �c3 33.�d2 �d4t 34.©fl !!b2.
And the game soon turned into a won
endgame. 3 1 . ..Vfic2
Even stronger 1s 3 1 . . .�c4! and Black 1s
10. Bojan Vuckovic - Branko Damljanovic winning.

Valjevo 2000 32.Vfid3 Vfixd3 33.:8.xd3 :8.al t 34.@fl ti)cI

35.:8.dl :8.xa4 36.:8.xcl :8.xb4+
Black gains a powerful queenside initiative after: And Black later exploited his advantage.

2 1 . .. a4! 22.b4? 1 1. Arik Braun - Rainer Polzin

This causes White co lose control of the c-file.
Germany 2008
Better was 22.bxa4! Elxa4 23 .�c l Elca8 24.Ela2
�d4 when White muse fight for equaliry. One of White's standard plans in chis position is
the c4-c5 break. This idea is often stronger once
22 ti)b3 23.Vfifl :8.xc2 24.Vfixc2 :8.c8 25.Vfifl
.•. Black has played . . . b7-b5 because the c6-pawn
:8.c3 becomes vulnerable, hence:
Unlike the game Polugaevsky - lvkov
(page 207) , White cannot prevent a c-file 1 2.c5!
invasion, thus he is certainly worse. This yields a big advantage to White.
 Chapter 24 - Solutions 44 1

12 dxc5
..• 1 5.c5 .ic4 16.e3 b5
Worse is: 1 2 . . . exd4 1 3 .cxd6 �xd6 1 4 .lll xd4 Now that Black's bad bishop is outside the
�c7 1 5 .if4 �b6 1 6.e5+- chain, it makes sense to close the queenside.

13.dxe5 lLlxe5 14.lL!xe5 '!Wxe5 1 5 ..if4 '!We6 17.lLlc3 a5! 1 8.a3 a4

16 . .id6 ge8? The queenside is completely closed and now
Aggravating the situation. . . . ib3 is a threat.

A better try was: 16 . . . !'!d8 l 7 .ixc5 (l 7.e5?! lll e8) 19.llJd2 lLlxd2 20.gxd2 g5!i
17 . . . ib? 1 8 .f4 lll d7 1 9 .id6±

17.e5 lL!d7 1 8.f4 .ib7 19.lL!e4

White has a decisive advantage, which he 13. Piotr Dzieczkaniec - Bartlomiej Madeja
exploited as follows:
Wroclaw 20 1 1
19 f6 20 ..ixc5 gad8 21.lL!d6 lL!xc5 22.lL!xeS
••.

'!Wxe8 23.'!Wxc5 fxe5 24.fxe5 gxdl t 25.gxdl When White has a hanging-pawns structure and
.ixe5 26. \Wb6 his pieces are actively placed, then the d4-d5
1-0 break is both natural and strong:

12. Alvar Rosell - Predrag Nikolic 16.d5! exd5 17 ..ixd5

Black's position is very delicate, due to multiple
Barcelona 20 1 2 threats, including ixf7t.

Black's biggest problem in the Stonewall is 17 '!Wc7?

••.

making use of his light-squared bishop. A good An understandable mistake in a difficult

solution is: position.

14 ....ia6! The only defence was 1 7 . . . �c8 1 8 .�d2 �f5

A decent alternative 1s 1 4 . . . a5!? 1 5 .a3 .ia6 1 9.!'!fe U when White has a pleasant position.
1 6.c5 ic4.
1 8.i.xf7t!+-
442 Training

Type I structure. Here it works particularly well

because White's pieces are poorly placed; it looks
as if White was not expecting this blow.

19.gxf3
Or l 9.'&xf3 tt:l xd4 when Black has an extra
pawn after 20 . . . lll xc2. This is why 1 8 .gc2 was
a bad idea.

19 ... llJxd4 20.!i:d2 .icS 2 1..ig3 i!f'8 22.i!d3

Wff6 23.©g2 llJf4t 24.i.xf4 Wfxf4 25.llJe4 .ih6
26.llJg3 eS-+
a b c d e f g h
White gains a decisive attack.

18 ... @xf7 19.'Wb3t ©f6 20.llJgS

Another winning path was 20.g4.

20 .iffi 21.hfs ©xgS

•••

2 1 . . .gxf8 is also inadequate due to: 22.'&e6t!

Wxg5 (or 22 ... Wg7 23 .gd7t) 23.f4t! Wh6 (or
23 ... !i:xf4 24.gd5t ©h6 25 .'&h3t ©g7 26.!i:d7t)
24.!i:d7! Wxd7 (24 . . . \Wc8 ?? 2 5 .\Wh3#) 2 5 .\Wxd7
And White wins.

22.f4t
Instead the game continued: 22.�d6?! '1Wc8 White's position is catastrophic; the pressure
23.'&d5t?? (23.'&f7! still wins) 23 . . . Wf6-+ against the doubled f-pawns decides the game.
Black's king is completely safe, and White lost.
27.i!de3 ©h8 28.Wfd3
After the text move, White's attack is easily 28J!xe5 is of no help: 28 . . . lll x f3 29.�xd5
winning, for example: lll xe l t 30.'&xe l '&f3t 3 1 .Wgl �xf2t-+

22 @5 ..• 28 ... e4! 29.Wfc3 gf6

Or 22 . . . �f6 23.!'id6t Wf5 24.W'd5t and wins. Preparing ... lll xf3.

23 .id6 'Wg7 24.WfdSt ©f6 25 ..ieSt! llJxeS

• 30.llJxe4 dxe4 3 1 .he4 .ic7 32.ghl .ihS
26.fxeSt ©gs 27.Wfd2t ©hs 28.g4t! 33.h4 llJe2 34.WfcS llJg3 35 ..ixh7 llJxhl
Forcing mate. 0-1

14. Aleksander Mista - David Navara 15. Ralf Akesson - Artur Gabrielian
Czech Republic 2005 Pardubice 20 1 0

1s i;xa1+
.•. White's main plan i n the asymmetric Benoni is
This sacrifice is a thematic idea in the French the break e4-e5. In chis position Black has failed
 Chapter 24 - Solutions 443

to prevent it, so after checking some variations 17. Robert Cvek - David Navara
we should be confident to proceed with:
Ledec nad Sazavou 20 1 3
18.e5!+-
Black i s doing very well despite the isolated
0btaining a crushing central attack. The game
queen pawn and the simplified position. The
continued with:
reason is that White does not quite have enough
time to organize his pieces and fight for the c-file.
1 8 ... llid7
l 8 . . . dxe5 doesn't help after l 9.fxe5 lll d7 The right continuation is:
20.ig5 .
19 ... .!'!acS 20.c;t>e2
Connecting the rooks.
19.llie4! b5
The try 20.l"1c l is met by 20 . . . l"1c6 2 1 .'iii e2
Desperation. Instead 1 9 . . . dxe5 is met by 20.d6!
l"1dc8 22.'iii d 2 '1Wc7+ with strong pressure.
l"1e6 2 I .lt:l eg5 lt:\ f8 22.fxe5 and White will win.

20.axb5 axb5 2 1 .bb5 dxe5 22.d6 .!'!e6 20 ...�g5

20 . . . l"1c6!? is strong too.
23.llifg5
White is winning at least an exchange, and the
game finished quickly afterwards.
2 1 .g3 Ag4t 22.c;t>d2?
This makes things easier for Black.
... 1-0

16. Emilio Cordova Alexis Cabrera

-
White was losing a pawn after: 22.f3 ixf3t
23.iixf3 'Wf5 t 24.'lii e2 'Wc2t 2 5 .'Wd2 l"1xc3+
Yucay 200 1
22 ... .!'!c4!
Since Black's light-squared bishop is inside the Creating a decisive attack.
pawn chain, it makes sense to further restrict this
bishop with:

13.c5!
Preventing a future . . . c6-c5, and now:

13 ... b6
Hoping to undermine the c5-pawn and
opening space for the bishop on c8, but
weakening the c6-pawn.

The alternative 1 3 . . . lt:\ f6 is met by 1 4. lt:\ d6 lt:l e8

1 5 .lt:\c4 when White has pleasant control of
many key squares.

14.b4 a5 1 5.a3;!;
This gives White a small but durable advantage,
due to the strong d6-square and the weak c6-
pawn. White eventually won. 23 ... �f6 24.bxc4 dxc4t 25.©c2 1.Wxflt
26. c;t>c1 AfS
0-1