Sabotaging the Sicilian, French & Caro-Kann with 2.b3 Jerzy Konikowski & Marek Soszynski 2018 Russell Enterprises, Inc. Milford, CT USA 1 1 Sabotaging the Sicilian, French and Caro-Kann with 2.b3 by Jerzy Konikowski & Marek Soszynski ISBN: 978-1-941270-83-7 (print) ISBN: 978-1-941270-84-4 (eBook) © Copyright 2018 Jerzy Konikowski & Marek Soszynski All Rights Reserved No part of this book may be used, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any manner or form whatsoever or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the express written permission from the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. Published by: Russell Enterprises, Inc. P.O. Box 3131 Milford, CT 06460 USA http://www.russell-enterprises.com [email protected] Cover by Janel Lowrance Editing and proofreading by Al Lawrence Printed in the United States of America 2 Table of Contents Signs & Symbols 5 Introduction 7 Section 1: Sicilian Defense – Introduction 9 Chapter 1: 1.e4 c5 2.b3 Nc6 11 Chapter 2: 1.e4 c5 2.b3 Nf6 18 Chapter 3: 1.e4 c5 2.b3 d6 21 Chapter 4: 1.e4 c5 2.b3 e6 26 Chapter 5: 1.e4 c5 2.b3 b6 33 Chapter 6: 1.e4 c5 2.b3 d5 37 Chapter 7: 1.e4 c5 2.b3 g6 40 Chapter 8: 1.e4 c5 2.b3 a6 44 Game 1: Spassky-Quinteros, Linares 1981 46 Game 2: Spassky-Hernandez, Buenos Aires 1978 47 Game 3: Kramnik-Inarkiev, Nizhny Novgorod 2013 49 Game 4: Morozevich-Popov, Moscow 2014 51 Game 5: Skvorzov-Kariakin, Moscow 2012 52 Game 6: Carlsen-Leitao, Caxias do Sul 2014 53 Game 7: Gara-Porat, Budapest 2009 55 Game 8: Morozevich-Gundavaa, Dubai 2014 56 Game 9: Morozevich-Moiseenko, Dubai 2014 57 Game 10: Gelashvili-Arutinian, Tbilisi 2001 59 Game 11: Carlsen-Svidler, Moscow 2009 60 Game 12: Morozevich-Potkin, Moscow 2014 61 Game 13: Gelashvili-Arman, Batumi 2002 63 Game 14: Aronian-Van Wely, Monte Carlo 2006 64 Game 15: Velickovic-Ilic, Vrnjacka Banja 2014 65 Game 16: Morozevich-Ipatov, Dubai 2014 67 Game 17: Venkatesh-Shyam, New Delhi 2014 67 Game 18: Macedo-Mekhitarian, Joao Pessoa 2015 69 3 Game 19: Murphy-Rowan, Birmingham 2015 69 Game 20: Paichadze-Yakovich, Kavala 2010 70 Section 2: French Defense – Introduction 72 Chapter 9: 1.e4 e6 2.b3 e5 74 Chapter 10: 1.e4 e6 2.b3 d5 3.Bb2 without 3...dxe4 76 Chapter 11: 1.e4 e6 2.b3 d5 3.Bb2 dxe4 4.Nc3 Nf6 79 Chapter 12: 1.e4 e6 2.b3 d5 3.Bb2 dxe4 4.Nc3 f5 87 Chapter 13: 1.e4 e6 2.b3 b6 91 Chapter 14: 1.e4 e6 2.b3 Nf6 94 Chapter 15: 1.e4 e6 2.b3 Nc6 97 Game 21: Papaioannou-Atalik, Athens 2001 100 Game 22: Christiansen-Kraai, ICC INT 2010 102 Game 23: Grochtmann-Beckmann, Werther 2008 104 Game 24: Rennert-Ster, DESC 2002 105 Game 25: McShane-D’Costa, Hinckley Island 2009 107 Section 3: Caro-Kann Defense – Introduction 109 Chapter 16: 1.e4 c6 2.b3 e5 111 Chapter 17: 1.e4 c6 2.b3 d5 3.exd5 114 Chapter 18: 1.e4 c6 2.b3 d5 3.Bb2 dxe4 4.Ne2 118 Chapter 19: 1.e4 c6 2.b3 d5 3.Bb2 dxe4 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Nge2 Bg4 121 Chapter 20: 1.e4 c6 2.b3 d5 3.Bb2 dxe4 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Nge2 Bf5 6.Ng3 Bg6 125 Chapter 21: 1.e4 c6 2.b3 d5 3.Bb2 dxe4 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Nge2 Bf5 6.Ng3 e6 128 Game 26: Orlyanskaya-Volodin, Pardubice 2008 132 Game 27: Semenova-Nogin, Kiev 2008 134 Game 28: Alexandria-Heemskerk, Subotica 1967 135 Game 29: Vasiukov-Bronstein, Baku 1961 137 Game 30: Kaikamdzozov-Spiridonov, Sofia 1964 139 Afterthought: Scandinavian Defense 141 Bibliography 143 4 Introduction This book covers 1.e4 followed by 2.b3 against the Sicilian, French, and Caro-Kann defenses (and we even consider the Scandinavian Defense too as an afterthought). It is the first full book to do so. We examine much of what are, as well as what we think should be, the main lines; in addition, we draw attention to interesting sidelines and review some old as well as very recent theory, but in particular we selectively survey what actually happens in modern practice over the board, whether or not that is best play. What we cannot be, though, is comprehensive; this is only one volume, after all. Nevertheless, there’s more than enough material here, very much of it new or rare, to instruct and enthuse any 2.b3 newcomer and to update and re-inspire every 2.b3 old-timer. We are optimistic for White, and we concentrate on his best continuations while trying to be objective. It is in that spirit that we say that 2.b3 is sound against the Sicilian, fun against the French, and curious against the Caro-Kann. In all three cases we are trying to sabotage Black’s play. The word “sabotage” legendarily derived from throwing a clog into the machinery, or in other words putting a monkey wrench in the works; here the wrench is a queenside fianchetto. White aims his light-square bishop toward the right flank; he typically delays Ng1-f3 so that he may play Qd1-f3 or advance his f-pawn, and use his light-square bishop to build a full-scale kingside attack; he often castles queenside, hoping for a kingside pawn storm. Yet, despite all these characteristics of 2.b3, for a little while White still retains the option of d2-d4 for a more conventional-looking 1.e4 opening. In adopting 2.b3 for yourself, as detailed in this book, you will be covering the three major semi-open defenses, which is most of what a 1.e4 player can expect to face. Moreover, with the rise of speedier chess – Armageddon deciders, online lightning, and so on – all players ought to have opening surprises in their arsenal. 7 If you can force the opponent to stop and think in the opening, while you already know what you are doing, so much the better for you in the middlegame and endgame when there is less time. Finally, spare a thought for your humble writers. There are countless transpositions and permutations possible in the games and variations that follow. We draw attention to some but we couldn’t possibly flag them all. Our fear is that somewhere or other there will be a position reached by different move orders and to which we give contrary assessments. If you find such a position, then commiserations to you and apologies from us. Jerzy Konikowski Marek Soszynski November 2017 Section 1 Sicilian Defense Introduction Most recorded chess games start 1.e4 his eponymous 1977 booklet). More c5 2.Nf3. After that it is a struggle both recently, the strongest grandmaster to in practice and in theory for White to employ it the most is the Georgian, achieve a safe advantage. The various Tamaz Gelashvili (b. 1978); notably, he Open Sicilian lines involving 2.Nf3 has played 2.b3 against the French followed by 3.d4 attract an Defense too. overwhelming amount of analysis that expands daily. So, when even There were times when 2.b3 was tried grandmasters are exploring exotic out simply as a reasonable, anti- alternatives such as 2.a3 and 2.Na3, theoretical move, with improvised play ordinary players should not be by both sides thereafter. In particular, embarrassed at using the less exotic and White hoped to dissuade Black from positionally sounder 2.b3 – they can playing a kingside fianchetto, as in the refer to the examples of very strong popular Dragon Variation. Nowadays, players including Magnus Carlsen, though, nothing escapes the attention of Garry Kasparov, Vladimir Kramnik, computers loaded with multi-million Alexander Morozevich, Nigel Short, game databases and multi-processing and Boris Spassky, who have all engines. Therefore, we have to occasionally played 2.b3 or 3.b3 with approach it with analytical seriousness. success against the Sicilian Defense. 1.e4 c5 2.b3 Although rare (particularly so when the cuuuuuuuuC Sicilian was not as popular as now), {rhb1kgn4} 2.b3 has been played for ages. Lionel Kieseritzky lost twice with it against {0pDp0p0p} Adolf Anderssen in London in 1851. {wDwDwDwD} However, the first strong player to use {Dw0wDwDw} it very often was the Polish-born, Israeli {wDwDPDwD} International Master, Moshe Czerniak {DPDwDwDw} (1910-1984). If the line is named for anyone, it should be for Czerniak (and {PDP)w)P)} certainly not for Robert Snyder, despite {$NGQIBHR} vllllllllV 9 Sabotaging the Sicilian, French & Caro-Kann with 2.b3 By developing the bishop to b2, White of f2-f4 or Qd1-f3, and also to avoid will apply pressure down the long dark- some over-analyzed lines. square diagonal toward the opposition king’s likely home. In addition, this Chapter 1 2...Nc6 fianchetto starts to clear the queenside’s Chapter 2 2...Nf6 first rank so that the game may see Chapter 3 2...d6 opposite-side castling and mutual Chapter 4 2...e6 attacks. Note that White may be able to Chapter 5 2...b6 play an early f2-f4 in many lines. Of Chapter 6 2...d5 course, both sides have various options, Chapter 7 2...g6 which we will investigate. For instance, Chapter 8 2...a6 White may prefer to castle kingside; he might fianchetto his other bishop too, Note that 2...e5 is likely to transpose, or place it on b5 or c4.