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I don't know how many times I have been led
astray by a "?" or a "?!"
following a move in
a chess book. ************************************************** I will give you a few (personal) examples.
So many times you see one of these annotations in a book or magazine, and you will accept them as gospel. They cloud your thinking and obscure good judgment ... and it even suspends good (common) sense! Its happened to me so many times, that I begin not to trust any annotations, published anywhere ... in ANY source! I was telling this story about a year or two ago at our local chess club, and one player responded that, "Well ... that was way back when. I am sure that never happens in modern times!" Really? ************************************************** I offer the game below as a modern case study. White plays a line that many opening books have virulently condemned ... and goes on to win a model game. (Please see the note after White's sixth move.) Replay this game HERE, (on another website). Download
an annotated version of this game. See an explanation of the various symbols that I use when annotating a chess game.
<< The ding-dong battle between Aronian and Carlsen continued, and it was Aronian's turn to bounce back from his game three defeat and retake the match lead. Carlsen's Bogo-Indian left White with nagging queenside pressure, and the Armenian eventually infiltrated decisively. >> - From the ChessBase website. ***************************************************************************************
1.d4 Nf6; 2.Nf3 e6; 3.c4 Bb4+; 4.Nbd2!?,
{Diagram below.}
rnbqk2r/pppp1ppp/4pn2/8/1bPP4/5N2/PP1NPPPP/R1BQKB1R b
However, if it is so bad, why is such a good player as Aronian using it ... <<
After the moves of: (3...Bb4+)
4.Bd2 Qe7; we have reached
the opening system known as: "The
Bogo-Indian Defense." ( Also playable is the try: 4...a5!?; with complex and interesting play. )
After
the further moves: 5.g3 Nc6; 6.Bg2
Bxd2+; 7.Nbxd2 d6; 8.0-0,
"+/="
What
would be a good example to study? I would have to chose the following
- From my "Game
of The Month" column,
for February, 2006.
*******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
[ Today, the
main line is considered to be:
A good (again - relatively recent) example of this continuation would be:
[ See also MCO-14, page #576; columns # 01-06, and also all ***********************************************************************
White generally avoids 4.Nc3,
{D?} in this line. 4...b6;
Perhaps - after this contest - Black may want to examine the more energetic move of 4...d5.
5.a3!?, (Maybe - '!')
{Diagram below.}
rnbqk2r/p1pp1ppp/1p2pn2/8/1bPP4/P4N2/1P1NPPPP/R1BQKB1R b However, as I see it, that's a real important Bishop out there on b4. (Black must now exchange off the cleric, or lose time by retreating it.)
[ White could play almost any move here, like:
5.g3, "+/="
{D?} which also
5...Bxd2+; 6.Qxd2!?, hmmm
{Diagram below.}
rnbqk2r/p1pp1ppp/1p2pn2/8/2PP4/P4N2/1P1QPPPP/R1B1KB1R b The authors of "Modern Chess Openings," [GM Nick de Firmian and also Walter Korn.]; assign this move a DUBIOUS symbol, ("?!"); ... which usually means that this line is (grossly?!?) INFERIOR to other moves that White might make at this particular point in the chess game. [For the proof, see MCO-14, pg. # 579 and note # (o.) for this line. This is all based on the game, GM Y. Seirawan - GM J. Granda_Zuniga / Amsterdam, NED; 1995.]
[ According to opening theory, it was much better for White to play (instead):
13.Bh4
Be4; 14.Qd2 Rfe8; 15.Bg3 e5; 16.dxe5
dxe5; 17.Nh4 h6;
GM Vladimir Epishin
(2675) - GM Ulf Andersson
(2620);
[ See MCO-14, page # 578; column # 11, and all applicable notes for this
6...Bb7;
7.e3,
[ White could avoid getting a set of doubled Pawns by playing
7.Qf4 0-0;
"="
7...0-0; 8.b4!?,
{Diagram below.}
rn1q1rk1/pbpp1ppp/1p2pn2/8/1PPP4/P3PN2/3Q1PPP/R1B1KB1R b White could have prevented Black from playing ...Ne4; by playing Bd3. (But this did not look like the most efficient way for White to try and finish his development.)
8...d5!?;
{Diagram below.}
rn1q1rk1/pbp2ppp/1p2pn2/3p4/1PPP4/P3PN2/3Q1PPP/R1B1KB1R w This might sound strange, but this could be the place for Black to begin his search for improvements in this tough contest.
[ Maybe this P.O.D. (plan of development) would have been better than the actual game.
Maybe Black
should have tried: 8...d6;
(Hits the center, covers
the e5-square.)
See the
contest: A. Stacchini - Y.
Liao; /
The Pan American U-18 Champ.
9.Bb2 Nbd7; 10.Bd3 dxc4;
{Diagram below.}
r2q1rk1/pbpn1ppp/1p2pn2/8/1PpP4/P2BPN2/1B1Q1PPP/R3K2R w The idea of this move is that Black frees his QB ... and prepares ...c7-c5; an attempt to simplify and reach an equal position.
11.Bxc4 c5;
[ Instead, after the continuation: 11...Ne4;
12.Qe2 Ndf6; 13.0-0 Qe7; 14.Ne5, "+/="
12.0-0 Rc8; 13.Qe2!,
{Diagram below.}
2rq1rk1/pb1n1ppp/1p2pn2/2p5/1PBP4/P3PN2/1B2QPPP/R4RK1 b This would be a good place to stop and study this position carefully.
[ Also, the try of: 13.Rac1, "+/=" would be good for White. ]
13...Qe7; 14.Rfc1 cxd4;
[ But of course not: </=
14...cxb4?!; 15.axb4 Qxb4??;
16.Ba3, "+/-"
15.Nxd4, "+/="
{Diagram below.}
2r2rk1/pb1nqppp/1p2pn2/8/1PBN4/P3P3/1B2QPPP/R1R3K1 b White has more space, two B's, and the slightly freer overall development. Thus - White stands slightly better. (White could have also recaptured on d4 with his Bishop, but the Knight move was probably best, and also the most thematic.)
15...h6?!; The computer's suggestion of 15...a7-a5; looks like Black's best bet here. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Now White exchanges off Black's QB, preparing a slow and steady invasion on the Q-side.
18.Rxc1 Nb8[]; {'Box.'}
[ The alternative was: </=
18...Ra8?;
but after the simple line of
19.Qc4 Rd8;
20.h3!,
{Diagram below.}
1n1r2k1/p3qpp1/1p2pn1p/8/1PQN4/P3P2P/1B3PP1/2R3K1 b The justification of this move can be found in the following variation: 20.Qc7? QxQ/c7; 21.RxQ/c7, e5!; and if White moves his Knight, he will be mated on his home row.
[ An alternative was: 20.Kf1, "+/=" with some advantage for White. ]
20...Ne8;
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
White's following move freezes Black's Knight on the b8-square ...
1n2n1k1/p3qpp1/1p2p2p/1Pr5/3N4/P3P2P/1B2QPP1/2R3K1 w Perhaps with the heavy pieces off, Black could try to reach the safety of a drawn game?
23.Rd1!,
(Maybe - '!!') The purpose of this strategic retreat will not be revealed until several moves later. [ White could have also played: 23.Rxc5 Qxc5; 24.Qd3, "+/=" with a clear edge here. ]
23...Rc8; 24.Qf3,
24...Rd8;
{Diagram below.}
1n1rn1k1/p3qpp1/1p2p2p/1P6/3N4/P3PQ1P/1B3PP1/3R2K1 w While it is easy to condemn Black's moves, it is very difficult to come up with a constructive plan for Black.
[ Black could have also played:
24...a6!?; 25.a4! a5; 26.Qe4, "+/"
25.Rc1 Nd6;
White's next move tightens his grip on the position and prepares a nasty pin, (after Ba3).
27.Nf5! Nxf5;
28.Qxf5 f6;
{Diagram below.}
1n1r2k1/p3q1p1/1p3p1p/1P2pQ2/P7/4P2P/1B3PP1/2R3K1 w It has been very instructive to see how White has slowly and patiently increased his advantage with every one of his artful moves. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
It is White to move here.
29...Qf7; 30.Ba3!,
{Diagram below.}
1n1r2k1/p4qp1/1p3p1p/1P2p3/P3Q3/B3P2P/5PP1/2R3K1 b This Bishop is seemingly striking at empty air, but it cuts through the heart of Black's position and takes away many good squares ... which are no longer available to GM Magnus Carlsen's pieces.
30...Kh8; Because of the obvious superiority of Black's position, White has the time to make any number of moves to prepare the final blows. (White's next gets the King to safety, and avoids any tactical tricks.)
31.Kh2 Kg8; 32.Bd6!,
{Diagram below.}
1n1r2k1/p4qp1/1p1B1p1p/1P2p3/P3Q3/4P2P/5PPK/2R5 b In the meantime, Black cannot capture the Rook on the d6-square, as Rc8+ would cost Black his Queen.
32...Qd7; 33.Bc7 Rf8;
34.Rc2 Re8;
{Diagram below.}
1n2r1k1/p1Bq2p1/1p3p1p/1P2p3/P3Q3/4P2P/2R2PPK/8 w
Meanwhile, Aronian is free to wait and watch and figure out exactly how he wants to finish
[ The computer shows that after:
34...Qd1!?; 35.Bxb8 Rxb8; 36.Rc7, "+/-"
35.Rc4 Qf7; 36.Bd6!,
{Diagram below.}
1n2r1k1/p4qp1/1p1B1p1p/1P2p3/P1R1Q3/4P2P/5PPK/8 b Take a look at this position, all of White's pieces clearly occupy better squares than their Black counterparts.
[ Another idea would be for White to play: (</=)
36.g4!?, '±'
so as to maintain
36...Rd8?!; (hmmm)
[Maybe just -'?']
(
Editor's note: I
have two good reasons for not attaching a full question mark to this
move.
The rest needs little comment. [ </= 37...Qe8?!; 38.Re7 Qf8; 39.Bb4 Kh8; 40.Rxa7, "+/-" ]
38.Qc6 Qe6;
39.Rxa7 Kf7; 40.Qxb6, "+/-" Black Resigns.
{Final diagram below.}
3r4/R2n1kp1/1Q1Bqp1p/1P2p3/P7/4P2P/5PPK/8 b
I cannot praise Aronian's handling of his forces enough, his play reminds me of the one and only Jose R. Capablanca ... ... ... at his very best. The entire story for this game ... (and this round of the Candidates matches) ... can be found on the CB website, at http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=3898. (If you scroll down to the end of this article, there is a link to download all of the games in the popular PGN format.) If you have the "Adobe Reader" program, you can click here, to see the FIDE link and annotations for this game. (You can also save a copy to your computer, if you wish.)
Copyright (c) A.J. Goldsby, 2007. All rights reserved.
1 - 0This analysis was prepared with the excellent program, ChessBase. (Buy it from the USCF.) The HTML was polished with several different tools and programs, (mostly FrontPage) ... the text was checked for spelling with MS Word. The diagrams were created with the program, Chess Captor 2.25. Click HERE to see my WCA lesson for July, 2006. (Another game in this same opening!)
Click HERE to go (return) to my home page. (For my main GC chess site.) Click HERE to go (return) to my site map. Click HERE to go to my domain. Click HERE to go (return) to the blog pages of Impala Publishing. (This article mentioned there.) (Or just use the "back button" on your web browser.) Find ALL of my blog articles on the Impala Publishing website. ******* Click HERE to see my webpage ... that contains the news and links of the Candidates Matches in Elista, (Kalmykia); in Russia ... for 2007. ******* This page was created in June 2007, and was first posted on (Friday); June 01st, 2007. It was last edited on: Sunday, January 06, 2013 , 03:22 AM . Copyright (©) LM A.J. Goldsby, 2013. Copyright (c) A.J. Goldsby, 2013. All rights reserved.
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