CONTENTS Contents

Symbols, Sources & Thanks 5 31 Najdorf-Sozin: 10 Íg5!? 45 Introduction to the New Edition 6 32 Accelerated Dragon: Uogele: Introduction to the First Edition 7 9 a4 and 11 Ëh4 47 33 c3 Sicilian: 5...Íg4 6 dxc5 48 Part 1: Open Games 34 c3 Sicilian: 5...Íg4 6 dxc5 Ëxd1+ 49 1 ’s : Fischer 9 2 King’s Gambit: Rosentreter 9 Part 3: Other Semi-Open Games 3 King’s Gambit: Rosentreter: 4...g4 10 35 Caro-Kann: Gunderam 52 4 King’s Gambit: 2...Ìc6, 3...f5 11 36 Caro-Kann: 4...h6 53 5 King’s Gambit: Capablanca’s Barry 13 37 Caro-Kann: 3 Ëf3 54 6 Philidor with an Early ...Ìb6 14 38 Caro-Kann: 3 Ëf3 dxe4 56 7 Danish Gambit 15 39 Caro-Kann: 5 Ìf3 and 6 Ìc3 58 8 Scotch Opening: Malaniuk’s Idea 16 40 French Winawer: Icelandic 59 9 Scotch Four Knights: 5...Ìxe4 18 41 French Winawer: Paoli Variation 60 10 Hamppe-Allgaier Gambit 19 42 French Winawer: Paoli, 11...dxc3 62 11 Hamppe-Allgaier Gambit: 8 Íc4+ 20 43 French with 4 c4 63 12 : 5 d4 and 6 0-0 21 44 : 13 Italian Game: 9...Ëd3 22 Winckelmann-Reimer Gambit 64 14 Closed : 9...a5 23 45 Modern Defence: 15 Ruy Lopez: Berlin/Steinitz Accelerated Gurgenidze 66 with 4...Íe7 and ...d6 24 46 Modern Defence: 3...d5 67 16 Ruy Lopez: Bulgarian Defence 26 47 Scandinavian Defence: Portuguese Gambit: 5 Íb5+ 68 Part 2: 48 Scandinavian Defence: 17 Sicilian: Gaw-Paw 27 Portuguese: 5 Íb5+, 6...a6 70 18 Sicilian: Gaw-Paw (2) 28 49 Alekhine Defence: 19 Dragon: Yugoslav Attack: 10...Ëc7 29 2 Ìc3 with 4...f6 71 20 Dragon: Yugoslav Attack: 50 Alekhine Defence: 3 Ìa3?!! 72 10...Ëc7 (2) 30 21 Sicilian: Variation with 6...Ìe4 31 Part 4: Flank and Irregular Openings 22 c3 Sicilian: Sherzer’s Line 32 51 : 23 Sicilian: 2...Ìc6 and 4...d5 33 Anti-Anti-Grünfeld 73 24 Sicilian: Kupreichik’s 5...Íd7 34 52 Adorjan English 74 25 Kan Variation: 5 Íd3 g6 6 b3 37 53 English Opening: Botvinnik 6...f5 75 26 c3 Sicilian: Milner-Barry’s 54 Avoiding the Other Gambit 38 King’s Indian 76 27 c3 Sicilian: Milner-Barry: 55 Reversed Alekhine 77 8...e4?! 9 0-0! 39 56 English Opening: 28 c3 Sicilian: An Unrefuted Line 40 Zviagintsev’s 4 g4 78 29 c3 Sicilian: 7...Ëc7 8 Ëe2 g5 43 57 English Opening: Pseudo-Sämisch 79 30 c3 Sicilian: 8...g5: 58 Réti Opening: Aggressive Responses 44 Wahls’s Anti-KIA/Réti Idea 81 4 125 SURPRISES

59 Réti Opening: 92 Benko Gambit: NFA: Wahls’s Idea: The Main Point 82 The Solid 8...Ìbd7 128 60 Réti Opening: Reversed Budapest 83 93 : Íd3 – 61 Anti-Sokolsky Ideas 85 A Try for Black 130 62 English Opening: Myers Defence 86 63 English Opening: Part 7: ’s Openings Myers Defence with 2 d4 87 94 Budapest: Fajarowicz: 4 a3 b6 132 64 A More Palatable Modern 88 95 Dutch: Bellon Gambit 133 96 Dutch: Bellon Gambit 5...c5 134 Part 5: Queen’s Gambit 97 Dutch: Bogoljubow Gambit 135 65 QGD Tarrasch: A Quick ...Íg4 91 98 Trompowsky: 2...e6 3 e4 c5 136 66 Semi-Slav: 7 a4 Ëb6 with d5 92 99 Trompowsky: 2...d5, 3...gxf6 137 67 Semi-Slav: 7 a4 Ëb6 (2) 93 100 Schmid Benoni 5...0-0 6 e5! 139 68 Semi-Slav: Ragozin Gambit 94 69 Chigorin Queen’s Gambit: Part 8: Latest Ideas Costa’s Idea 95 101 The New Barry 140 70 QGD Tarrasch: 102 King’s Indian without c4: 6 b3 141 The Chandler Variation 96 103 Exchange Alekhine: 6...Ìc6 142 71 QGA: 7 e4!? Pawn 98 104 Alekhine: Miles Variation: 72 QGA: 7 e4!? Ìxe4 100 Ideas for White 144 105 Exchange Caro-Kann with 5 Ìe5 146 Part 6: Indian Defences 106 Sicilian Sozin with 6...g6 147 73 Old Indian 4...Íf5 5 Ìg5!? 102 107 Vienna: 2...Ìf6 3 f4 d5 4 exd5 148 74 King’s Indian: Epishin’s 10 Ëc2 103 108 Petroff with 3 Ìxe5 d5?! 150 75 King’s Indian: Four Pawns: 109 Scotch with 8 h4 151 6...Ìa6 7 e5 104 110 Scotch with 6 Ëe2 152 76 King’s Indian: Averbakh: 111 Reversed Exchange Grünfeld (1) 154 6...Ìa6 7 Ëd2 c6 105 112 Reversed Exchange Grünfeld (2) 155 77 King’s Indian: Ko‰ul Gambit 107 113 The Not-So-Lame Torre 156 78 King’s Indian: Kazakh Variation 109 114 Albin Counter-Gambit: 5 Ìa3 158 79 Grünfeld: 5 Íg5 c5 111 115 A Gambit in the Slow Slav 159 80 Exchange Grünfeld: 6...c5 112 116 QGA: 3 e4 e5 4 Ìf3 Ìf6 161 81 Grünfeld: 5 Íg5 with 8 Ëa4+ 114 117 QGD: Íg5 and Ìbd2 162 82 Grünfeld: h4 Ideas 115 118 Semi-Tarrasch with 5...cxd4 163 83 Nimzo-Indian: 4 Ëc2, 6...Ëf5 117 119 Exchange Grünfeld: 4 Ìf3/6Íg5165 84 Nimzo-Indian: 4 Ëc2: A Sharp Line 118 120 Grünfeld: Russian with 7...Íe6 166 85 Queen’s Indian: 7 e4 Gambit 119 121 Queen’s Indian: Aronian’s 9 Íe1 168 86 Queen’s Indian: 7 e4 Gambit: 122 Queen’s Indian: 8...f5 9 Ìe5 169 9...Ëh4 121 123 King’s Indian Sämisch: 87 4 a3 Queen’s Indian: 5...g6 6 Ëd3 122 6 Íe3 Ìc6/8...Ìa5 170 88 Bogo-Indian: A Violent Line 123 124 King’s Indian Sämisch: 89 Benko Gambit: 4 f3 124 6 Íg5 Ìc6/8...Ìa5 172 90 Benko Gambit: Nescafé Frappé Attack 125 125 And Finally... 174 91 Benko Gambit: NFA: The Chaotic 8...g6 127 Index of Openings 175 PART 8: LATEST IDEAS Part 8: Latest Ideas

Surprise 101 W devastating attack; e.g., 8...c6 9 Íd3 f5 10 Ìf3 Ìd7 11 0-0-0 Ìf6 12 Ëh3 Ìg4 13 Îh1 h6 14 Soundness: 2 Surprise Value: 4 Ëg3 threatening Ìe5 or Íxh6) 7 hxg6 hxg6 (this severely exposes Black on the h-file, but 7...fxg6 8 dxc5 left Black positionally worse in The New Barry Tuncer-Nevednichy, Izmir 2017) 8 Ëd2 Ìc6 9 Ìge2 b5 10 f3 b4 11 Ìa4 cxd4 12 exd4 Îe8 13 The Old Barry, in case you didn’t know, is 1 d4 Íh6 Íh8 14 0-0-0 æ Kleinert-W.Class, corr. Ìf6 2 Ìf3 g6 3 Ìc3 d5 (3...Íg7 4 e4 leads to a 2013. Pirc) 4 Íf4. White plans kingside play (in b) 5...c5 has a significant and surprising dis- some lines he breaks open lines with h4-h5), advantage: White can tie Black up on the queen- but 4...Íg7 5 e3 0-0 6 Íe2 c5 forces attention side and then go about pursuing his kingside back on the centre, and is pretty well worked and central ambitions: 6 Ìb5 Ìa6 7 c3 (7 a4 out by now to give Black equal play. and in particular 7 Íe2!? could also be tried) In the New Barry, White first of all places the 7...0-0 (7...Íg4 is an annoying reply, and an ar- on f4 (as part of a new awareness of the gument in favour of the 7 Íe2 move-order) 8 benefits of playing 1 d4 followed by 2 Íf4 – for Íe2 h6 (8...h5 9 Ìf3 gives White a nice grip more on this, see Win with the by on the centre) 9 Ìf3 (9 a4!?) 9...Ìe4 (9...Íg4 Johnsen and Kova†evi‡) and sets the h-pawn 10 Ìe5 Íxe2 11 Ëxe2 with good attacking quickly in motion: 1 d4 Ìf6 2 Íf4 g6 3 Ìc3 d5 chances, because h5 is already a threat, meeting (3...Íg7 4 e4 d6 5 Ëd2 is an unusual Pirc line – ...g5 with Íxg5!) 10 Ìe5 À Zhang Zhong- though it may transpose to a ‘150 Attack’ if Praggnanandhaa, Dubai 2017. White went on White plays Íh6 – where White has scored to claim a scalp that will perhaps become rather well; in comparison, the Old Barry committed prized before long. White to Pirc lines with Ìf3) 4e3Íg7(4...c6 5 c) 5...c6 6 Ìf3 (6 h5?! Ìxh5 7 Îxh5 gxh5 8 Ìf3 transposes to an ‘Old’ Barry, having side- Ëxh5 Ìd7 clearly shouldn’t be enough com- stepped Black’s best response with a quick ...c5; pensation, even though it may be tricky for 5 h4 is of course also possible) 5h4(D). Black to defend in practice; 6 Íe2 h5 7 Ìf3 and now 7...Íg4 transposes to line ‘d1’, while rslwk+-t 7...Íf5 can be answered by 8 Ìg5!?) 6...Íg4 zpz-zpvp (6...Ëb6!?) 7 Íe2 Ìbd7 8 Ìe5 Íxe2 9 Ëxe2 B Ìh5 (9...h5 is again line ‘d1’) 10 Íh2 and now -+-+-sp+ 10...Íxe5!? 11 dxe5 Ëa5 looks like Black’s +-+p+-+- best option. Instead 10...f5 led to unclear play -+-Z-V-Z after 11 0-0-0 Ìxe5 12 dxe5 Ëc7 13 f4 0-0 14 +-S-Z-+- g4 fxg4 15 Ëxg4 Ëc8 in Nemcova-Gaponenko, PZP+-ZP+ Women’s World Team Ch, Khanty-Mansiisk 2017, but 11 Ìd3, intending 0-0-0, f3 and g4, T-+QMLSR looks more promising. d) 5...h5 (chosen by Carlsen) 6Ìf3(D) and Then it is yet to be determined how Black then: should best respond: d1) 6...Íg4 7 Íe2 c6 8 Ìe5 Íxe2 9 Ëxe2 a) 5...0-0?! is really asking for it. 6 h5 c5 Ìbd7 10 0-0-0 Ëa5 (10...Ìxe5 11 Íxe5 Ëd7?! (6...Ìxh5? 7 Îxh5 gxh5 8 Ëxh5 gives White a 12 f3 b5 13 e4 À Kariakin-Li Chao, Doha blitz PART 8: LATEST IDEAS 141

rslwk+-t This line, 1d4Ìf62Ìf3g63g3Íg74Íg2 zpz-zpv- 0-0 5 0-0 d6 6 b3 (D), is nothing especially B new, but following Kramnik’s use, it suddenly -+-+-sp+ appears a lot more dynamic. We shall just take a +-+p+-+p look at some of the more notable lines and new -+-Z-V-Z ideas. +-S-ZN+- PZP+-ZP+ rslw-tk+ T-+QML+R zpz-zpvp B -+-z-sp+ 2016) 11 Êb1 Îc8 (intending ...b5) 12 e4 gave +-+-+-+- White good central play and some advantage in -+-Z-+-+ Kariakin-Giri, Stavanger blitz 2017. +P+-+NZ- d2) 6...0-0 7 Íe2 (7 Ìe5 is an untested idea, though the h-pawns’moves may well help P+P+PZLZ White in comparison to the related Old Barry TNVQ+RM- line) 7...c5 8 dxc5 is analogous to the Old Barry’s old main line. Now 8...Ìbd7 was the Before proceeding further, let’s note that move that ended White’s interest in that varia- many King’s Indian players will be keen to tion, but here sacrifice 9 Ìxd5 smash out an ...e5 advance and exploit the pin Ìxd5 10 Ëxd5 Íxb2 11 0-0 Íxa1 12 Îxa1 on the long diagonal. This urge can lead to has more bite since Black’s kingside is weaker, problems if it is not implemented precisely. and White’s control of g5 shows up in lines a) 6...c5 and now 7c4is the most topical re- like 12...Ëa5 13 Íh6 Ëxc5 14 Ëb3 b6?! 15 sponse: Îd1 Ìf6 16 Íxf8 Êxf8? 17 Ìg5 +ø. 8...Ëa5 a1) 7...Ìc6 8 Íb2 Ìe4 (8...cxd4 9 Ìxd4 9 0-0 (9 Ëd2!? Ëxc5 10 0-0-0 has its logic; 9 transposes to ‘a2’) 9 Ìbd2 (even the simple 9 Ìd2 Ëxc5 10 Ìb3 Ëb6 11 Ìb5 Ìa6 12 Íe5 h3 Íf5 10 e3 denied Black full equality in is analogous to the ‘old’ line, but the h-pawns Kramnik-Caruana, Zurich rapid 2015, and 9 e3 argue against it here) 9...Ëxc5 10 Ìb5 a6 11 is also a sensible move) 9...Íf5 10 Ìh4 Ìxd2 Ìc7 Îa7 12 Ìb5 (12 a3!?) 12...axb5 (reject- 11 Ëxd2 Ìxd4 (otherwise Black is pushed back ing a repetition) 13 Íxb8 Îa8 14 Íe5 led to or suffers structural weaknesses) 12 Íxd4!? (12 unclear play in Naiditsch-Carlsen, Karlsruhe Ìxf5 is also a little better for White) and how- 2017. ever Black recaptures, White will get an oppo- site-bishops middlegame where his is the safer Assessment: Clearly the New Barry is play- king: 12...Íxd4 13 Ìxf5 gxf5 14 Îab1 (Zara- able, and White whips up an attack or a central gatski-Sethuraman, Leiden 2013) and if Black in many lines. But it isn’t obvious if it tries to keep the extra pawn with 14...Ëd7?!, is truly an improvement over the Old Barry – then 15 b4! comes with great force; 12...cxd4 Carlsen’s response looks sensible. As the lines 13 Ìxf5 gxf5 14 Íxb7 Îb8 15 Íg2 and become better worked out, it will become clearer White’s game is the easier to play, D.Fridman- if White can make something of the differences Mamedov, European Ch, Plovdiv 2008. in the position. a2) White scores quite well after 7...cxd4 8 Ìxd4 Ìc6 9 Íb2 when following 9...Íd7, 10 Ìc2 simply avoids exchanges while retaining a spatial plus. Surprise 102 W a3) 7...d5 8 Íb2 and it is not so easy for Black to resolve the central tension in a fa- Soundness: 3 Surprise Value: 2 vourable way: 8...dxc4 9 dxc5 Ëc7 10 Ëc1 Ëxc5 (So – Vachier-Lagrave, Stavanger 2017) KID without c4: 6 b3 11 Ìe5 leaves Black with some problems to 142 125 CHESS OPENING SURPRISES solve; after 8...cxd4, 9 Ìa3!? is a good way to rslw-tk+ retain all options about how to recapture and zpz-+pvp thus make Black’s choice of move harder. B a4) 7...e5 was Avrukh’s suggestion. Here is -+-z-sp+ a recent example: 8 dxe5 dxe5 9 Íb2 e4 10 +-+-Z-+- Ëxd8 Îxd8 11 Ìfd2 Íf5 12 g4 Íxg4 13 -+-+-+-+ Ìxe4 Ìxe4 14 Íxg7 Êxg7 15 Íxe4 Ìd7 16 +P+-+NZ- Ìc3 (finally deviating from Avrukh’s analysis) 16...Îab8 17 Îfd1 Îe8 18 Îd2 Ìf6 19 Íg2 P+P+PZLZ (19 f3 Îe5) 19...Íf5?! 20 Ìb5 a6 21 Ìd6 À TNVQ+RM- D.Fridman-G.Jones, European Ch, Minsk 2017. b) 6...Ìbd7 7 Íb2 e5 8 dxe5 Ìg4 9 c4 (D) Ìd5 hxg5 11 Ìxc7 Ëd8 (Risti‡-Marjanovi‡, gives Black a tricky choice: Smederevska Palanka 1980) 12 Ëxd6! is dread- ful for Black thanks to the comical queen trap r+lw-tk+ 12...g4 13 e6 gxf3 14 e7. zpzn+pvp c3) 7...dxe5 8 Ía3 Ëxd1 (8...Îe8 9 Ìc3 B scores well for White, though any advantage is -+-z-+p+ small) 9 Îxd1 Îe8 10 c4 e4 (10...c6 11 Ìc3 +-+-Z-+- Íf5 12 h3 h5 looked rather solid in Ashiku- -+P+-+n+ Bailet, Menton 2016) 11 Ìd4 c6 (11...e3 12 f3 +P+-+NZ- c6 13 Ìc3, as in Salomon-B.Amin, Dubai 2017, is not easy for Black, but 11...Ìg4 could PV-+PZLZ be tried) 12 Ìc3 Ìa6 13 e3 Íg4 (13...Ìc7!?) TN+Q+RM- 14 Îd2 Îad8 15 h3 Íc8 16 Îad1 h5 and in the game Kramnik-Vocaturo, Baku Olympiad 2016, b1) 9...dxe5 10 h3 forces 10...Ìh6, when 11 White struck with the beautiful 17 Íe7!? Îxd4 e4 gives White a mildly pleasant version of a 18 Îxd4 Îxe7 19 Îd8+ Ìe8 20 Ìxe4 Íe6 21 ‘regular’ King’s Indian. Îa8 and went on to win in impressive fashion. b2) 9...Îe8 10 Ëc2 Ìgxe5 11 Ìc3 Ìxf3+ and now White has scored quite well with 12 Assessment: The 6 b3 line can be recom- Íxf3, but there is also 12 exf3!? with a view to mended to patient players who don’t mind sim- playing f4, denying Black the e5-square and plified positions and are willing to work with looking to dominate the central files. very slight advantages. The primary danger for b3) 9...Ìgxe5 10 Ìxe5 dxe5 (10...Ìxe5 11 Black is responding in overly aggressive fash- Ìc3 is a position where it is hard for Black to ion. generate counterplay; White will advance his e- and f-pawns once he is good and ready) 11 Ìc3 f5 12 Ía3 Îe8 (12...Îf6 13 e4 f4 14 Ìd5 Îf7 Surprise 103 B 15 Íh3 puts Black under pressure) 13 e4 À. c) 6...e5 7 dxe5 (D) and here Black should Soundness: 3 Surprise Value: 2 just play the sensible move (though more often than not he doesn’t): c1) 7...Ìg4?! 8 Íg5 (just because White Exchange Alekhine: 6...Ìc6 has played b3, it doesn’t mean that the bishop has to go to b2) 8...Ëd7 9 Ìc3 and the In recent years, the Exchange Variation has be- coming to d5 causes Black problems. 9...h6 10 come almost the main line of the Alekhine, due Íd2 is pleasant for White, as the black queen is to some relatively simple plans for White that clumsier than White’s ‘unfianchettoed’bishop. have a degree of sting while avoiding most of c2) 7...Ìfd7?! is a similar story: 8 Íg5 the specialist ‘rabbit holes’ that abound in this Ëe8 9 Ìc3 favours White. Don’t be put off by opening. Here we look at Black’s symmetrical his 0/3 in the database after 9...h6?!, since 10 recapture with the e-pawn, followed by quickly PART 8: LATEST IDEAS 143 putting the knight on c6 to keep pressure on r+lwk+-t White’s centre pawns. The point is that White zpz-vpzp is generally seeking a set-up with Ìc3, Íd3 W and Ìge2, and Black should disrupt this in -snz-+-+ some way. White has other ways to develop, of +-+-+-+- course, but Black finds counterplay more easily -+PZ-+-+ against them. +-S-V-+- 1 e4 Ìf6 2 e5 Ìd5 3 d4 d6 4 c4 Ìb6 5 exd6 exd6 (the other main line runs 5...cxd6 6 Ìc3 PZ-+-ZPZ g6 7 Íe3 Íg7 8 Îc1, when a critical line is T-+QMLSR 8...0-0 9 b3 e5 {9...Íf5!?} 10 dxe5 dxe5 11 Ëxd8 Îxd8 12 c5 Ì6d7 13 Íc4 Ìc6 14 Ìf3 b1) 8Ìf3Íf6!? (8...Íg4 9 h3 puts a ques- h6, when Black should claim equality, though it tion to the bishop that it isn’t yet ready to an- is a little dry) 6 Ìc3 (if White starts with 6 Íd3 swer; after 8...0-0 9 d5 Ìe5 10 Ìxe5 dxe5 11 Ìc6 7 Íe3, then 7...Ìb4 hunts down a white Íd3 f5 12 0-0 White has changed the structure bishop; 6 h3 allows Black more freedom with mildly in his favour) 9 h3 (9 Ìe4 Íg4 steps up his set-up – he should probably develop his the pressure on d4, while 9 d5 can be answered kingside before deciding how to deploy his by the simple 9...Ìe5 10 Ìxe5 Íxe5 or the queen’s knight) 6...Ìc6 (D) (6...Íe7 7 Íd3 more unbalancing 9...Íxc3+!? 10 bxc3 Ìe7) Ìc6 8 Ìge2 sees White achieving his desired 9...0-0 reaches a rather traditional Exchange set-up, and the attempt to sabotage it with Variation position, though care is needed from 8...Íg4 9 f3 Íh4+ 10 g3 Íxf3 fails to 11 0-0! Black to make sure he gets a decent central Íxe2 12 Ëxe2+ Íe7 13 Ìd5! æ). transformation and doesn’t get squeezed on the kingside. 10 Îc1 Îe8 (10...Íf5 unwisely in- r+lwkv-t vites 11 g4) 11 b3 (after 11 Íe2 it is time for zpz-+pzp 11...d5 12 c5 Ìc4, a point being 13 Ìxd5 W Ìxe3 14 Ìxf6+ Ëxf6 15 fxe3 Îxe3, as in -snz-+-+ Kulik-M.Kopylov, Nuremberg 2008) 11...h6 +-+-+-+- (11...Íf5 is still hit by 12 g4, while 11...Íg5 -+PZ-+-+ 12 Ìxg5 Ëxg5 13 Ëd2 achieves nothing, but +-S-+-+- 11...Ìe7!? is worth considering) 12 Íe2 Íf5 13 0-0 d5 14 c5 Ìc8 intending ...Ì8e7 gives PZ-+-ZPZ Black a playable game and a standard Alekhine T-VQMLSR set-up. b2) 8 Íd3 0-0 9 b3 (9 Ìge2 Ìb4 again White now has three main options: accept demonstrates the point of Black’s early ...Ìc6) that he will need to put his bishop on e3 in order 9...Îe8 (9...a5!?) 10 Ìf3 (10 Ìge2 invites to continue with the planned Íd3 and Ìge2; 10...Íg5, as in Delgado-Nogueiras, Santa Clara use a different set-up; or play directly against 2008) 10...Íg4 11 0-0 Íf6 12 Íe4 and now the the irritating c6-knight. plan of 12...a5 and ...a4 looks more effective a) 7Ìf3Íg4 8 Íe2 (8 Íe3 g6!?) 8...Íe7 9 than is often the case. 0-0 (9 d5 Íxf3 10 Íxf3 Ìe5 11 Íe2 0-0 12 b3 c) 7 d5 Ëe7+!? (Sam Collins drew atten- Íf6 13 Ëc2 {13 Íb2 a5} 13...c6! gave Black tion to this tricky move, which is preferable to good play in Ghaem Maghami-Maghsoodloo, 7...Ìe5 8 f4 Ìg4 9 Íd3 Ëe7+ 10 Ëe2 Ëxe2+ Teheran Zonal 2017) 9...0-0 10 b3 (10 d5 Íxf3) 11 Ìgxe2) 8Íe2Ìe59f4(9 b3 g6 10 Íe3 10...Íf6 (10...d5 11 c5 Ìc8 12 Íf4 explains Íg7 =; 9 Íe3, as in Akopian-Maghsoodloo, the need for one more preparatory move) 11 Sharjah 2017, should also be met by 9...g6, a Íe3 d5 12 c5 Ìc8 13 h3 offers Black a choice tactical point being 10 f4? Ìexc4 11 Íd4 between 13...Íe6 and 13...Íxf3 14 Íxf3 Ì8e7 Íh6! 12 Íxh8 Ìe3 – messy but good for – both are playable. Black) 9...Ìg4 (D) (not 9...Ìexc4?? 10 Êf2! b) 7 Íe3 Íe7 (D) and then: +ø) is an untested but critical position: 144 125 CHESS OPENING SURPRISES

r+l+kv-t dxe5 5 Ìxe5 c6 (D), led to it becoming the zpz-wpzp main line of the whole opening. W -s-z-+-+ rslwkv-t +-+P+-+- zp+-zpzp -+P+-Zn+ W -+p+-+-+ +-S-+-+- +-+nS-+- PZ-+L+PZ -+-Z-+-+ T-VQM-SR +-+-+-+- c1) 10 Ìf3 Ìe3 11 Ëb3 Ìd7 (but not PZP+-ZPZ 11...Ìxg2+? 12 Êf2 Ìh4 13 Îe1) 12 Íxe3 TNVQML+R (12 Ìb5?! Ìxg2+ 13 Êf2 Ìc5 14 Ëd1 Ìh4 15 Îe1 Êd8!) 12...Ëxe3 13 Ìb5 Ëb6 looks It was also advocated for Black by Evgeny roughly level. and Vladimir Sveshnikov in their blitz/rapid c2) 10 Ëd4 c5 (10...Ìf6 11 a4) and now repertoire book. I hope my fellow Alekhine en- Collins gave 11 dxc6 bxc6 12 Ìf3 c5 13 Ëe4 thusiasts will forgive me if I present a few ideas as advantageous for White, but 13...Ëxe4 (or for White against it. We’ll start with 6 Íe2 Íf5 13...Íb7!?) 14 Ìxe4 Íe7 looks equal. 11 Ëe4 (other moves are less good: 6...Ìd7 7 Ìf3 h5 (I prefer this over 11...g6 12 h3 or 11...f5 12 makes it hard for Black to develop his bishop Ëxe7+ Íxe7) 12 Ìf3 (12 a4 Ëxe4 13 Ìxe4 effectively, while 6...g6 discards the main ben- Íe7 14 Ìf3 Íf5 15 Ìg3 Íc2 with counter- efit of the ...c6 line, viz., the fact that Black play) 12...Ìh6 (12...g6!?) 13 a4 Íf5 14 Ëxe7+ has complete flexibility in how to develop his Íxe7 15 a5 Ìd7 16 a6 bxa6!? 17 Îxa6 0-0 18 king’s bishop; after 7 c4 both 7...Ìb6 8 0-0 Ìb5 Ìb6 looks OK for Black; for example, 19 Íg7 9 Ìc3 0-0 10 Íe3 Ì8d7 {10...c5 wastes a Ìxa7?! Îfe8 gives Black excellent compensa- } 11 f4 Ìxe5 12 fxe5 and 7...Ìc7 8 Ìc3 tion; 19 b3 Íd7; 19 Îxa7 Îxa7 20 Ìxa7 Îa8 Íg7 9 f4 Ìd7 10 0-0 {10 Íe3 Ìxe5 11 fxe5} 21 Ìb5 (21 Ìc6 Íf6) 21...Íd7 22 Ìc3 (22 10...Ìxe5 11 fxe5 c5 12 dxc5 Ëxd1 13 Îxd1 Ìa3 Ìa4 and ...Íf6) 22...Ìa4 with compensa- Íxe5 14 Íf3 favour White). Then I shall offer tion. both a hyper-aggressive option and a sensible (and promising) main line: Assessment: Black must play a delicate bal- a) 7g4Íe68f4is an attempt to run Black ancing act, but he seems to stay afloat while off the board. Then: keeping prospects for an interesting struggle. a1) 8...g6 9 c4 Ìc7 10 f5! (10 Îf1 gives The young Iranian GM Maghsoodloo is gener- Black time for 10...f6) whips up strong threats, ating some new ideas in these lines, so look out though Black has resources: 10...gxf5 11 gxf5 for new games from him. Íxf5 12 Íh5 Íg6 13 Îf1 e6 14 Ëg4 (14 Íxg6?! Ëh4+) 14...Ìd7 15 Ìxf7 Ìf6 16 Îxf6 Ëxf6 17 Ìxh8 Ëxh8 18 Íxg6+ hxg6 19 Surprise 104 W Ëxg6+ Êd7 20 Ëf7+ Íe7 21 Íg5 Îe8 22 Ìd2 À. Soundness: 4 Surprise Value: 2 a2) 8...f6 9 f5!? (D) (9 Ìf3? Íxg4 can’t give White enough , while 9 Ìd3 Íf7 {9...Ìa6 is a reasonable alternative} is the Alekhine: Miles Variation standard line, for which the assessment is far from clear, but Black has scored well). In his final years, the legendary English GM This move has never been played, and it is Tony Miles developed a liking for the Ale- not mentioned in the Sveshnikovs’ book. It is khine, and in particular systems with ...c6. His highly likely that your opponent will be com- efforts with 1e4Ìf62e5Ìd53d4d64Ìf3 pletely on his own from this point on, and