[Event "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Petrosian, TV."]
[Black "Ree, H."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A22"]
[Opening "English: King's, 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3"]

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 Bb4 5.Nd5 Nxd5 6.cxd5 e4 {#r} 1-0


[Event "Hluboka (simul)"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Kasparov, G."]
[Black "Marikova, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B50"]
[Opening "Sicilian: 2.Nf3 d6 3.c3 Nf6 4.Be2"]

{ In a simultaneous display, after the moves } 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.c3 Nf6 4.Be2
{ , the following position appeared on the board. Could the great Kasparov
have lost a pawn after only four moves } 4...Nxe4 { Black grabs the pawn but
Kasparov is ready to win. } {#r} 1-0


[Event "Checkmate Pattern"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Date "2017.03.21"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Mortimer's Trap"]
[Black "Stockfish"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[Opening "Spanish: Berlin, 4.d3"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 { , became immensely popular after Vladimir
Kramnik used it against Garry Kasparov to fend off his Ruy Lopez in their
World Championship match, London 2000. In recent times White has been trying
to avoid the main line by playing } 4.d3 { However, in 2008 much excitement
has arisen from a seemingly new idea: the odd-looking } ( 4.O-O Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6
6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Nc3 { and Kramnik drew every one. } )
4...Ne7 { which has caused a sensation. The idea is that } {#R} 0-1


[Event "Belgian Team Championship"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Lane, G."]
[Black "Lemmers, O."]
[Result "1-0"]
[FEN "Q4bk1/5p2/p5r1/1p2pN1p/7P/1P6/P1q2PP1/3R2K1 w - - 0 1"]

1.Qxf8+ { and Black did not want to witness } 1...Kxf8 2.Rd8# { checkmate. }
1-0


[Event "European Championship, Plovdiv"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Fressinet, L."]
[Black "Macieja, B."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[Opening "Russian Game: Classical"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.O-O Be7 8.Nc3 Nxc3
9.bxc3 Bg4 10.Re1 O-O 11.Bf4 Bd6 12.Bxd6 cxd6 13.Re3 Na5 14.h3 Bh5 15.Rb1 a6
16.Qe2 b5 17.Re1 Nc4 18.Bxc4 bxc4 19.Re7 Qa5 20.Qe3 Qxa2 21.Nh4 Qxc2 22.Qg5
Bg6 23.Qxd5 a5 { Black is oblivious to the danger and has just serenely
advanced his a-pawn. } 24.Qxa8 { Only now did the grandmaster notice that }
{#r} 1-0


[Event "Budapest"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Steiner, E."]
[Black "Capablanca, JR."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C70"]
[Opening "Spanish: 4.Ba4"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6 5.d4 b5 6.Bb3 Nxd4 7.Nxd4 exd4 8.Qxd4 {
This is the move casually suggested by Alekhine in the tournament book 'New
York 1924'. } ( { It looks logical to regain the pawn, but } 8.Bd5 { is better
} ) ( { or else } 8.c3 { which is a gambit that relies on White's superior
piece development after } 8...dxc3 9.Nxc3 { . } ) {#R} 0-1


[Event "Bydgoszcz"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Dzwikowski, A."]
[Black "Wodzislawski, M."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C70"]
[Opening "Spanish: 4.Ba4"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6 5.O-O Nf6 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 exd4 8.Nxd4 Nxd4
9.Qxd4 { The slightly different move order by Black has lured White into the
Noah's Ark trap. Here the difference is that Black has a knight on f6 and
White has castled, but the trick still works: } {#R} 0-1


[Event "Australian Championship, Adelaide"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Eiffe, P."]
[Black "Crewe, J."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C60"]
[Opening "Spanish (Ruy Lopez)"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nce7 4.d3 { The threat is 5 Bxc6 followed by Nxe5, so
already White is thinking of winning a pawn. } 4...Nf6 { At first sight it
appears that Black has misguidedly given up his pawn for nothing. In the 1990s
when the English grandmaster Tony Miles enjoyed success with this line,
Mortimer's contribution was forgotten by commentators. } {#R} 0-1


[Event "?"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Date "2017.03.21"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Who dares wins"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C23"]
[Opening "Bishop's Opening"]

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 { I play this move quite often and have written a couple of
books on the Bishop's Opening. } ( { It is increasing in popularity partly
because people want to avoid the Petroff Defence which occurs upon } 2.Nf3 Nf6
{ . } ) 2...Nc6 3.d3 Na5 { This is often played after ...Nf6 - } ( { in
particular } 3...Nf6 4.Nc3 Na5 { - so the question is, why not play it
straight away? The answer is soon revealed because White now enjoys a feast of
tactics. } ) {#r} 1-0


[Event "Paris"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Legall de Kermeur"]
[Black "St Brie"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C23"]
[Opening "Bishop's Opening"]

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 d6 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.Nc3 g6 5.Nxe5 Bxd1 { Who could resist taking the
queen. } ( { Anyway if } 5...dxe5 { then } 6.Qxg4 { leaves White a pawn up. }
) {#r} 1-0


[Event "Kleve"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Anderberg, P."]
[Black "Byvank, B."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C41"]
[Opening "Philidor Defence"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Nc3 Bg4 4.Bc4 Nc6 ( { The urge to contain d2-d4 with }
4...c5 { backfired in the game J.Conde Rodriguez-J.Munoz Palmerin, Vila de
Padron 2000. There followed } ) 5.h3 Bh5 6.Nxe5 { This might look a fabulous
move, but once you are aware of Legall's checkmate it is much easier to find
when you are playing a game. Even if White misses the trick he might still
have another chance. } ( { For instance: } 6.d3 Nd4 ) {#r} 1-0


[Event "Denver"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Ivanov, Al"]
[Black "Simms, G."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B30"]
[Opening "Sicilian: 2...Nc6 3.Nc3 e5"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Bc4 d6 5.d3 Bg4 6.h3 Bh5 7.Nxe5 { Once again
Legall's checkmate appears, but this via the Sicilian Defence. It just shows
that such tactics occur in a variety of positions. } {#r} 1-0


[Event "Sydney"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Lane, G."]
[Black "Paterson, D."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C55"]
[Opening "Two Knights: 4.d3"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 d5 { This is a popular reply but arguably
risky, because it leaves the e5-pawn vulnerable after White castles and puts a
rook on the e1-square. } {#r} 1-0


[Event "Chicago (simul)"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Fischer, RJ."]
[Black "Rouse, T."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C57"]
[Opening "Two Knights: 4.Ng5"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 { White threatens the f7-pawn so Black
takes evasive action. } 5.exd5 Nxd5 { This has been played numerous times but
it is a serious error which allows White to stir up tactical tricks. } ( { The
main alternative goes } 5...Na5 6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc6 bxc6 8.Be2 { with roughly
equal chances. } ) {#r} 1-0


[Event "Hastings"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Barden, L."]
[Black "Adams, W."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C57"]
[Opening "Two Knights: 4.Ng5"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Nxd5 {#r} 1-0


[Event "St Petersburg (13th matchgame)"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Schiffers, E."]
[Black "Chigorin, M."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C40"]
[Opening "Open Game: Damiano Defence"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f6 { This is the Damiano Defence. The problem is that the pawn
on f6 takes away a good square for the king's knight and exposes the black
king. } {#d} 1/2-1/2


[Event "US Open, Cherry Hill"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Lenderman, A."]
[Black "Sloan, S."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C40"]
[Opening "Open Game: Damiano Defence"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 f6 3.Nxe5 fxe5 {#r} 1-0


[Event "Asian Junior Championships"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Nguyen Hoang Hiep"]
[Black "Hooi Ming Yew, B."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C25"]
[Opening "Vienna: 2...Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Qg4"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 { White signals his intention to play the Vienna Game. } 2...Nc6
3.Bc4 Bc5 { Black continues to copy moves. } 4.Qg4 { It certainly looks
strange but this is a special case where a queen can be developed early in the
game. } {#r} 1-0


[Event "Langley"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Raymer, E."]
[Black "Waters, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[Opening "Russian Game: Damiano Variation"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 Nxe4 {#r} 1-0


[Event "European Team Championship, Plovdiv"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Shaw, J."]
[Black "Volkmann, F."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[Opening "Russian Game: Damiano Variation"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 Nxe4 4.Qe2 Qe7 {#d} 1/2-1/2


[Event "Biel"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Zapata, A."]
[Black "Anand, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[Opening "Russian Game: 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3 Bf5 { This lazy move supporting
the knight on e4 was given as a theoretical novelty in the respected
'Informator' publication; } ( { reporting the grandmaster encounter A.
Miles-L.Christiansen, San Francisco 1987, which continued } 5...Bf5 6.Nxe4
Bxe4 7.d3 Bg6 8.Bg5 Be7 9.Bxe7 Qxe7+ 10.Be2 Nc6 11.O-O O-O 12.Re1 Rae8 13.Qd2
Ne5 14.d4 Nxf3+ 15.Bxf3 Qd7 16.c3 b6 17.Rxe8 Rxe8 18.Re1 Rxe1+ 19.Qxe1 Kf8
20.g3 { 1/2-1/2. Anand had apparently briefly looked in the book and decided
to copy the example. However, he did not know the friends had agreed a draw in
advance, and that when Black had made his fifth move the Englishman Tony Miles
had started to smile and clean the e2-square with his fingers. Such things are
not reported in serious chess books, and this led to Anand's humiliation. } )
{#r} 1-0


[Event "Cappelle la Grande"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Shaw, J."]
[Black "Takahashi, R."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[Opening "Russian Game: 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3 Bf5 { It is best to be prepared
in case Black plays the correct moves. } ( { Ironically Anand has recently
taken up this line as White, and after } 5...Nxc3 6.dxc3 { (White voluntarily
allows doubled c-pawns in return for a semi-open file for his rook when he
castles queenside) } 6...Be7 7.Bf4 O-O 8.Qd2 Nd7 9.O-O-O Nc5 10.Be3 ( {
instead } 10.Nd4 Re8 11.f3 Ne6 12.Be3 { led to equal chances in Mi.Adams-V.
Kramnik, Wijk aan Zee 2008 } ) 10...Re8 ( { or } 10...c6 11.Bxc5 dxc5 12.Qf4
Qa5 13.Bd3 Be6 14.a3 { with a level position, P.Leko-V.Kramnik, Wijk aan Zee
2008 } ) 11.Bc4 Be6 12.Bxe6 Nxe6 13.h4 Qd7 14.Qd5 ( 14.Qd3 { intending 15 Ng5
is worth considering } ) 14...Qc6 15.Qf5 Qc4 { the players eventually drew in
V. Anand-V.Kramnik, Wijk aan Zee 2008. } ) {#r} 1-0


[Event "World Junior Championships, Timisoara"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Samer, MI."]
[Black "Reyes, Ju"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C50"]
[Opening "Italian: Blackburne-Shilling Gambit"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 {#R} 0-1


[Event "Internet (blitz game)"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Banks, P."]
[Black "Karmmark"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C50"]
[Opening "Giuoco Piano: Jerome Gambit"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ { The starting point of the Jerome Gambit.
The great benefit of playing this in something like a one minute game on the
Internet is that it is the last move your opponent will be expecting. } {#r}
1-0


[Event "?"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Date "2017.03.21"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Jerome Gambit"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C50"]
[Opening "Giuoco Piano: Jerome Gambit"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Nxe5 6.Qh5+ Ke6 ( { Black is
spoilt by the good alternatives; for example, } 6...Kf8 7.Qxe5 d6 8.Qg3 Nf6 {
when White has very little for the piece. } ) 7.f4 d6 { I think this is the
best way to defend: allowing one of the extra pieces to be taken, and in
return obtaining a solid position with extra material. } {#R} 0-1


[Event "US Championship, Berkeley"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Shirazi, K."]
[Black "Peters, J."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B20"]
[Opening "Sicilian: Wing Gambit, Marshall Variation"]

1.e4 c5 2.b4 cxb4 3.a3 { This is the standard way to play the Wing Gambit.
White offers to exchange pawns on a3, after which the queen's rook will be
active on the a-file, while recapturing on a3 with the bishop accelerates his
development. } ( { Also possible is } 3.Bb2 d5 { (the thrust in the centre is
the recommended response to this gambit opening; the idea is to activate the
queen and open lines for his pieces) } 4.exd5 Qxd5 5.Nf3 { (White carries on
developing, which I think is the best approach) } 5...Nf6 6.c4 bxc3 7.Nxc3 Qa5
8.Bc4 { (a logical choice to pinpoint f7 as a target and maintain the
temporary initiative provided by the lead in development) } 8...e6 9.O-O Ba3 {
(Black is eager to thwart White's attacking ambitions by exchanging the
dark-squared bishops) } 10.Qb3 Bxb2 11.Qxb2 O-O { and Black consolidated the
extra pawn, Z. Harari-A.Dunnington, Highgate 1997. } ) 3...d5 { Peters
challenges the centre and ignores the a3-pawn. } ( { I think Black should
avoid } 3...bxa3 { , but one still needs to know the options. For example, }
4.Nxa3 e6 5.Nf3 { (this works out well with the emphasis on rapid development,
though other moves are possible) } 5...d5 6.exd5 exd5 7.Bb5+ Nc6 8.O-O { (as
usual in this line it is important for White to get on with the job of
developing in order to maximize attacking options) } 8...Bd6 9.Bb2 { (the
bishop takes its place on the long diagonal, which is virtually an automatic
idea having made space for it with 2 b4) } 9...f6 10.c4 { was J.Perez
Reclusa-A.Skripchenko, Pamplona 2000. White is playing very energetically and
is seeking to undermine the centre and open more lines for his pieces. } )
4.exd5 Qxd5 5.axb4 { The obvious move is to grab the pawn back; and when you
are playing in the US Championship, with the knowledge that every move will be
scrutinized around the world, you don't want to go wrong. The motivation was
probably based upon the line 5...Qe4+ 6 Ne2 Qxb4, which is a little bit greedy
in view of 7 Na3 planning to chase the black queen around the board. } ( { The
benefit of hindsight suggests that } 5.Bb2 { was necessary, when I think }
5...e5 { is fine for Black. } ) {#R} 0-1


[Event "World Junior Championships, Yerevan"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Tairova, E."]
[Black "Alaverdyan, L."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[Opening "Sicilian: Open, 2...Nc6"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 { Obviously White cannot now
play c2-c4 since the knight is in the way, but she can interfere with Black's
plans in another way: } 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.e5 Nd5 { The idea of giving up a pawn on
d5 is borrowed from another line where Black follows up with ... Rb8 and
...Bb7 with reasonable compensation, but crucially...g7-g6 is not normally
played. } ( { It might look ugly but the best move in the position is the
passive retreat } 7...Ng8 { , when } 8.Bc4 Bg7 9.Qf3 f5 ( { of course }
9...Nh6 { fails to } 10.Bxh6 Bxh6 11.Qxf7# ) 10.Bf4 { , intending to castle
queenside, gave White the superior game thanks to his lead in development in
G. Lane-M.Apicella, Cappelle la Grande 1991. } ) 1-0


[Event "US Championship, New York"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Fischer, RJ."]
[Black "Reshevsky, S."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B32"]
[Opening "Sicilian: Open, 2...Nc6"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 O-O 8.Bb3 Na5
{ Black is keen to exchange the light-squared bishop, which is traditionally a
strong attacking piece in this variation. } ( { Instead, } 8...d6 { is a
sensible alternative, and if } 9.h3 { then } 9...Na5 { is possible. } ) {#r}
1-0


[Event "Euless"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Movsisyan, M."]
[Black "ONeill, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B27"]
[Opening "Sicilian: Accelerated Pterodactyl"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 Bg7 4.Nc3 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nc6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 O-O 8.Bb3 Na5
{#r} 1-0


[Event "Pardubice"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Reutsky, S."]
[Black "Vitovec, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B30"]
[Opening "Sicilian: 2...Nc6 3.Nc3 g6"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 g6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 O-O 8.Bb3 a6
9.f3 { White supports his e4-pawn and rules out any chance of ...Ng4. } ( 9.h3
{ is another way to stop the black knight occupying the g4-square, and that
also led Black into a state of carelessness in A.Parkanyi-E.Golovko, Gyongyos
1995. There followed } 9...Na5 ) 9...Na5 {#r} 1-0


[Event "Telex"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Kasparov, G."]
[Black "West, G."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B29"]
[Opening "Sicilian: Nimzowitsch, 3.Nc3"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 e6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Bb4 { The Australian apparently
tried to confuse his opponent by playing something relatively unusual but it
backfired. Actually, the Pin Variation used to be thought of as a dubious
line, but it was revived in the 1970s and is still played occasionally. White
needs to know what he is doing to avoid any tricks. } 6.e5 Nd5 7.Bd2 Nxc3
8.bxc3 Bf8 { This is a quiet line, not really in keeping with the sprit of the
opening. Then again, other moves invite complications, which would be welcome
news for the young Kasparov who revelled in tactics. } ( { For example: }
8...Be7 9.Qg4 { and now: } 9...-- ( 9...O-O 10.Bh6 g6 11.h4 ( { the tempting }
11.Bxf8 { is what Black wants because } 11...Bxf8 { has shown to construct a
robust defence } ) ) ( 9...g6 10.Bd3 ( 10.h4 { is interesting, although }
10...Nc6 { is roughly equal } ) 10...d6 11.Bh6 dxe5 12.Bg7 Bf6 ( 12...Rg8 { is
necessary } ) ) ) ( 8...Ba5 9.Bd3 Nc6 10.Qg4 Kf8 ( 10...O-O 11.Nxc6 bxc6
12.Qe4 g6 13.O-O { also favours White } ) 11.Nxc6 dxc6 12.O-O h5 13.Qf4 {
gives White a good position due to the poorly-placed black king,
I.Kurnosov-A.Daurimbetov, Tashkent 2008. } ) {#r} 1-0


[Event "Belgrade"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Jeremic, D."]
[Black "Nestorovic, DN."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B21"]
[Opening "Sicilian: Smith-Morra Accepted"]

1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 { The starting point of the Morra Gambit, named after
the French player Pierre Morra; it has also been known as the Rivadavia
Gambit. White sacrifices a pawn in return for a lead in development and some
open lines to aid the attack. } 3...dxc3 4.Nxc3 Nc6 5.Nf3 e6 6.Bc4 Qc7 7.Qe2
Nf6 8.O-O Ng4 { It seems a logical response to watch out for the advance of
the e4-pawn, so this trap has the beauty of making White complacent. } {#R}
0-1


[Event "Alushta"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Erenburg, S."]
[Black "Yevseev, D."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B12"]
[Opening "Caro-Kann: Advance, 3...c5"]

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 { This variation is known as the Advance Caro-Kann. }
3...c5 {#R} 0-1


[Event "Polanczyk"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Skurski, J."]
[Black "Gasik, P."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[Opening "Caro-Kann: Maroczy (Fantasy), 3...dxe4"]

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.f3 { This is regarded as the starting point of the Fantasy
Variation. } 3...dxe4 4.fxe4 e5 5.Nf3 ( { Naturally } 5.dxe5 { is poor in view
of } 5...Qh4+ 6.Kd2 Qxe4 { when the white king is exposed. } ) 5...exd4 { The
obvious reply, but it grants White the opportunity to attack. } ( { It might
look odd but } 5...Be6 { is the accepted move here; it's hardly obvious if you
don't know about it. } ) 6.Bc4 { The prospect of castling kingside to help
increase the pressure against the f7-pawn is regarded as strong for White. }
{#r} 1-0


[Event "Szczawno Zdroj"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Keres, P."]
[Black "Arlamowski, E."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B10"]
[Opening "Caro-Kann: Two Knights, 3...dxe4"]

1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Qe2 { This ticks all the boxes for
something odd but playable, and is likely to gain plenty of time on the clock.
The fun idea is: } 5...Nbd7 6.Nd6# { . And yes, it did happen! } 1-0


[Event "Budapest"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Csapo, Z."]
[Black "Koczo, K."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[Opening "Caro-Kann: 3.Nd2 dxe4"]

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Qe2 { The first time I saw this played
in a tournament it was by a nine-year-old some years ago. His childish move
was immediately ignored by his experienced opponent, who played the same move
as in the main game with a flourish. The thing is that, against just about
everything else, moving the king's knight to f6 is the standard reply. So,
assuming that White has gone wrong, Black just carries on with the usual plan.
} 5...Ngf6 {#r} 1-0


[Event "Port Erin"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Luther, T."]
[Black "Allen, K."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[Opening "Caro-Kann: 3.Nd2 dxe4"]

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 ( 3.Nc3 { transposes to the game after } 3...dxe4 4.Nxe4
{ . } ) 3...dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Qe2 Ndf6 { Black is already playing something
new because, as I said above, the standard development involves ...Ng8-f6.
None of the suggestions in these notes are mentioned in standard reference
books such as Nunn's 'Chess Openings', so there is no obvious continuation
that can be adopted. The bottom line is that Black now has to decide how best
to continue without resorting to a memory test of book moves. } ( 5...e6 { is
solid but a little passive because the bishop on c8 will now take some time to
activate. For instance, } 6.Bf4 Ngf6 7.Nf3 ( { after } 7.Nxf6+ Nxf6 8.O-O-O
Bd6 9.Be5 Qe7 10.Nf3 { the position is equal, J.Aabling Thomsen-B.Nielsen,
Vanlose 2005 } ) 7...Nxe4 8.Qxe4 Nf6 9.Qd3 Be7 10.Bg3 ( { maybe } 10.Be2 { is
worth considering, and if } 10...Nd5 { then } 11.Bd2 { intending c2-c4 to oust
the knight from d5 with a slight edge } ) 10...O-O 11.Be2 b6 12.Ne5 Bb7 13.Bf3
Qc8 14.O-O { gave White a small initiative in Kr.Georgiev-T.Liverios, Estia
Nea Smyrni 1978. } ) 6.Nf3 { White brings another piece into the game and
waits to see if Black chooses a decent plan of development. } ( { Instead,
V.Knox-P. Wells, British Championship, Southport 1983, continued } 6.Nxf6+
Nxf6 7.Nf3 Bg4 8.Be3 ( { or } 8.c3 Qd5 9.Bf4 Bxf3 10.gxf3 O-O-O 11.Rg1 { with
roughly equal play } ) 8...Qd5 9.c4 Bxf3 10.gxf3 Qa5+ 11.Bd2 Qc7 12.O-O-O g6
13.Kb1 Bg7 14.f4 ( 14.Bh3 O-O 15.Bg5 Rfd8 16.Qe3 { is level } ) 14...Qd7
15.Bg2 O-O 16.h4 Rab8 ( { not } 16...h5 17.Ka1 Qxd4 ) 17.h5 b5 18.hxg6 hxg6
19.c5 Qxd4 20.Be3 Qc4 21.Qd2 Qe6 22.Ka1 b4 23.f5 Qxf5 24.Bxc6 b3 25.a3 Ng4
26.Bd7 Qc2 27.Bd4 Ne5 ( 27...e5 { was correct } ) ) 6...Nxe4 7.Qxe4 Nf6 8.Qh4
{ Sliding the queen across to h4 is a natural idea because it could put Black
off from castling kingside, afraid of a possible attack. } ( { It is to his
credit that Allen responds well, so I would consider } 8.Qe5 e6 ( { to prepare
...Bd6, but } 8...Bg4 { is more sensible, when } 9.Be2 { offers equal chances
} ) 9.Bf4 Be7 10.Bd3 O-O 11.O-O { , which gave White the edge due to Black's
passive pieces in G.Lane-Morsa, Internet 2006. } ) 8...Bf5 9.c3 e6 10.Bc4 Be7
11.Qf4 { Luther is cautious about having his queen chased around the board so
moves it again. It is fair to say that Black has equalized, but at what cost
on the clock. } ( { Alternatively, } 11.O-O Ne4 12.Qf4 Bd6 13.Qe3 Nf6 (
13...O-O 14.Bd3 Nf6 15.Bxf5 exf5 16.Qg5 { is slightly better for White } )
14.Ne5 { offers equal chances. } ) 11...h6 12.Ne5 Qc7 13.h3 Bd6 14.Qe3 Nd5
15.Qe2 O-O-O 16.O-O g5 { I have to be realistic and declare that White has
allowed the position to drift, so that he is now on the defensive. } 17.Re1
Rhg8 18.Bd2 Rg7 19.Rad1 Nf4 20.Bxf4 ( { Instead } 20.Qf3 { , threatening Bxf4,
is fine for White, who keeps his options open while the g-file remains closed.
} ) 20...gxf4 21.Qf3 Rdg8 22.Bf1 Kb8 23.b4 Bxe5 24.dxe5 f6 25.exf6 Rf7 26.Rd4
e5 { This looks like a classic time-trouble mistake, and the rest of the game
seems to indicate that Black had to rush his moves. } {#r} 1-0


[Event "Goodrington"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Martin, T."]
[Black "Smith, D."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[Opening "Caro-Kann: 3.Nd2 dxe4"]

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Bg5 { This is the twist in a familiar
position: White is now threatening Nd6+ because the e-pawn is pinned by the
bishop. } {#r} 1-0


[Event "Reykjavik"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Karklins, A."]
[Black "Dlugy, M."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B15"]
[Opening "Caro-Kann: 4.Nxe4"]

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Bg5 Ngf6 6.Qd3 { White signals his
intention to castle queenside. If you consider that the position is roughly
equal, then there has to be some merit in making Black think from move 5,
rather than being able to fluster his opponent with loads of memorized lines.
If nothing else White should be ahead on the clock after the opening. } ( {
Instead, } 6.Qe2 { is the tricky reply, hoping for the Keres's trap of Nd6
checkmate; for example, } ) 6...Nxe4 7.Qxe4 Qa5+ ( { Alternatively Black can
play } 7...Nf6 { , when } 8.Bxf6 gxf6 9.Bc4 Qa5+ 10.c3 Qf5 11.Qxf5 ( 11.Qe2 {
is also possible, just maintaining the tension } ) 11...Bxf5 12.Ne2 { led to
an equal ending in S.Gregory-T.Dickinson, British League 2006. } ) 8.Bd2 Qb6
9.O-O-O Nf6 10.Qe5 Be6 { The grandmaster is oblivious to the danger and
concentrates merely on developing his queenside. After all, in standard lines
of the Caro-Kann the tricks are well known, but in this less familiar position
Black suddenly goes horribly wrong. } {#r} 1-0


[Event "New York (6th matchgame)"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "COMP Deep Blue"]
[Black "Kasparov, G."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B15"]
[Opening "Caro-Kann: 4.Nxe4"]

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Ng5 { This amused spectators because
Kasparov had used this variation as White, so the computer managed to strike a
psychological blow! } 5...Ngf6 6.Bd3 e6 7.N1f3 h6 { At the time of the game
this move had a dubious reputation with White enjoying a lot of success after
the subsequent sacrifice. Since then plenty of people have tried to defend the
position without much success, which suggests that Black has already gone
seriously wrong. The reason why Kasparov chose this line is still shrouded in
mystery. However, American grandmaster, Joel Benjamin, was part of the support
team for IBM. He told me that Kasparov had probably tested other chess
software in this position and they all played 8 Ne4. It seems Kasparov gambled
and lost. } ( 7...Bd6 { is the sound alternative. } ) {#r} 1-0


[Event "Leningrad"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Ilyin Zhenevsky, A."]
[Black "Kasparian, G."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B10"]
[Opening "Caro-Kann: Two Knights, 3...dxe4"]

1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 { This is the standard reply
in the main line, so Black dutifully replicates what he thinks is the right
move. He is thinking of the variation 1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 Nc3 dxe4 4 Nxe4 Bf5 5
Ng3 Bg6 6 Nf3 Nd7 7 h4 h6 8 h5 Bh7 9 Bd3. } ( { But here, with d2-d4 replaced
by Nf3, } 5...Bg4 { should be preferred. } ) {#r} 1-0


[Event "Adelaide"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Staak, E."]
[Black "Wynne, D."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B10"]
[Opening "Caro-Kann: 2.Nf3"]

1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Ne5 Bh7 8.Qh5 g6
9.Bc4 { White can afford to ignore the threat to his queen because 10 Bxf7 is
checkmate. } {#r} 1-0


[Event "Greek Team Championship"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Mavrikakis, G."]
[Black "Dermentzis, K."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C02"]
[Opening "French: Advance, 4.c3 Qb6"]

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 { This is known as the Advance French. } 3...c5 4.c3 Qb6
5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Bd3 { The starting point of the Milner-Barry Gambit. It seems at
first glance that the d-pawn has just been lost, but numerous players as Black
have found to their cost that this is not the case. } 6...cxd4 7.cxd4 Bd7 ( {
Those who are new to the French Defence are particular prone to fall for the
trap and take the offered pawn immediately: } 7...Nxd4 ) 8.O-O Nxd4 9.Nxd4
Qxd4 10.Nc3 { White has given up one pawn and now offers another, in the hope
of exploiting his lead in development. } 10...Qxe5 { Black acknowledges that
greed is good and accepts a two pawn advantage. However, White has plenty of
play in compensation and Black can easily go wrong. In fact it is possible to
go astray at once by being complacent about the safety of the black queen. } (
10...f6 ) ( 10...a6 11.Kh1 { (preparing to play f2-f4 if Black does not take
on e5) } 11...f6 ) 11.Re1 Qd6 ( { In recent years } 11...Qb8 { has been the
most popular reply, when play tends to continue } 12.Nxd5 Bd6 13.Qh5 Kf8
14.Nc3 Nf6 15.Qh4 Bc6 ( 15...h6 { is best met by } 16.Be3 { intending Rad1
with a slight edge } ) 16.Bg5 Be5 { and now, instead of } 17.f4 { as in the
much quoted game A.Bisguier-H.Westerinen, Netanya 1971, } ( { White should
play } 17.Rad1 { with adequate compensation for the pawn because Black's
pieces lack co-ordination. This assessment depends on the latest computer
software which seems to like White's prospects. } ) ) 12.Nb5 Bxb5 { This is
the usual reply on the evidence of numerous games. } ( { However, } 12...Qb6 {
looks better, when I can't find anything better than } 13.Be3 Qa5 14.Bd2 Qb6
15.Be3 { repeating the position with a draw. } ) {#r} 1-0


[Event "Bled"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Alekhine, A."]
[Black "Nimzowitsch, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C15"]
[Opening "French: Winawer, Alekhine Gambit"]

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Ne2 { White employs a solid alternative to the
usual 4 e5, making sure that he avoids doubled c-pawns if Black exchanges on
c3. This move is still rated as unusual in tournaments so will have a certain
amount of surprise value. The logical continuation for Black is to try and
punish White by taking on e4 and then holding on to the extra pawn. } 4...dxe4
5.a3 Bxc3+ ( { It is also possible to retreat the bishop with } 5...Be7 { and
that is discussed in the game Chadaev-Ponkratov later in this chapter. } )
6.Nxc3 f5 { This is a greedy adventure to hang on to the extra pawn and hope
to make it count. In a book of his best games, Alekhine wrote: 'Played against
all the principles of a sound opening strategy, as the dark-coloured squares
of Black's position will become very weak, especially because of the exchange
of his king's bishop.' } ( { A reasonable alternative, suggested by Alekhine,
is } 6...Nc6 { to attack the d4-pawn. Play usually continues } 7.Bb5 Ne7 8.Bg5
{ (provoking Black into blocking the pin with a pawn to ensure a long-term
weakness) } ) {#r} 1-0


[Event "Tula"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Dzhangobegov, V."]
[Black "Mukhin, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A00"]
[Opening "Van Geet: 1...d5 2.e4"]

1.Nc3 d5 2.e4 e6 3.d4 Bb4 4.Ne2 dxe4 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Nxc3 f5 7.f3 exf3 8.Qxf3
Qxd4 9.Qg3 c6 { The c-pawn is attacked so Black moves it. This obvious
continuation is bound to be attractive because it also stops a future Nb5 by
White. } 10.Be3 ( { Actually } 10.Bf4 { is probably stronger here, as given in
the notes to Alekhine-Nimzowitsch above; but the move played isn't bad either.
} ) 10...Qg4 { Black is two pawns up so it is hardly surprising that he wants
to exchange queens. } ( { If instead } 10...Qf6 { , to maintain the guard on
the g7, then I think } 11.O-O-O { is strong, with the threat of Bg5 followed
by Rd8+. For instance, } 11...Ne7 12.Bg5 Qg6 13.Be2 Nd7 ( { not } 13...h6 { as
} ) 14.Qh4 { (threatening the knight on e7, as well as Bh5 to pin the queen) }
14...Qf7 15.Bh5 Ng6 ( 15...g6 { further weakens the dark squares } ) 16.Qf4 {
with a strong initiative. } ) 11.Qc7 Qh4+ { It seems that the queen can
retreat to fend off the threats, but this is an error based on a
miscalculation. } ( { I think the only way Black can stay in the game is by
inserting } 11...Nd7 12.Be2 { , and only then play } 12...Qh4+ ( { but not }
12...Qxg2 { as } ) 13.Bf2 Qd8 { , though after } 14.Qg3 Qe7 15.O-O { ,
planning Rae1 and Bc4, White has ample compensation for the pawns. } ) {#r}
1-0


[Event "Russian Junior Championships"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Chadaev, N."]
[Black "Ponkratov, P."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C15"]
[Opening "French: Winawer, Alekhine Gambit"]

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Ne2 dxe4 5.a3 Be7 { Black has no desire to
exchange pieces, so adopts a standard line of retreating the bishop. } 6.Nxe4
b6 { Intending to fianchetto the light-squared bishop in a bid to harass the
knight on e4. } ( { The main alternative is } 6...Nf6 { , when play might
continue: } 7.-- ( 7.Qd3 Nbd7 8.Bf4 b6 9.N2c3 Bb7 10.Be2 { (planning to
challenge the supremacy of the b7-bishop by placing his own on f3) } 10...Nxe4
11.Nxe4 Nf6 12.Bf3 Nxe4 13.Bxe4 Bxe4 14.Qxe4 O-O 15.O-O-O Bg5 16.Kb1 Bxf4
17.Qxf4 Qd6 18.Qxd6 { {#r} 1-0


[Event "?"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Date "2017.03.21"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Silicon Alekhine"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B02"]
[Opening "Alekhine: Scandinavian, Exchange"]

1.e4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.exd5 Nxd5 4.Bc4 e6 { The defence of the knight with the
e-pawn is supposed to be a mistake. } {#R} 0-1


[Event "Seefeld"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Voss, I."]
[Black "Kreusch, F."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B01"]
[Opening "Scandinavian: Portuguese, 4.Nf3"]

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.d4 Bg4 4.Nf3 Nxd5 5.c4 Nb6 6.c5 ( { The standard move is
} 6.Be2 { , but the text gives Black the chance to go wrong. } ) {#r} 1-0


[Event "Graz"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Wieser, A."]
[Black "Lischnig, H."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[Opening "Pirc: Holmov (4.Bc4)"]

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Bc4 { This is an aggressive way to handle the Pirc
and may unsettle the average player who is used to the standard lines. }
4...Bg7 5.Qe2 { I like this queen move because it makes Black worry about the
significance of the white e-pawn advancing. } 5...e5 { This certainly stops
any ideas of e4-e5, but White has scored well in this position. Other moves
are examined in the next game. } {#r} 1-0


[Event "Buenos Aires Olympiad"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Weeramantry, S."]
[Black "Clua Ballague, M."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[Opening "Pirc: Holmov (4.Bc4)"]

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Bc4 Bg7 5.Qe2 O-O { Black elects not to stop the
white e-pawn advancing. Black has also tried: } ( 5...Nbd7 6.e5 { is good for
White; for example, } 6...dxe5 7.dxe5 Ng8 8.Nf3 Nh6 ) ( 5...Nc6 6.e5 Nxd4 ( {
tempting, but it produces a position that is hard for Black to control;
instead } 6...Nd7 7.Nf3 Nb6 8.Bb3 O-O 9.h3 Na5 10.O-O { leads to roughly equal
play } ) ) 6.e5 dxe5 { The snag with exchanging on e5 is that it allows White
to put a rook on the d-file at some point to harass the black queen. } ( {
Instead: } 6...Ne8 { should be met by } 7.Bg5 { intending to castle queenside.
} ) ( 6...Nfd7 7.e6 Nb6 8.Bb3 ( { here } 8.exf7+ Kh8 9.Bg5 { is promising } )
8...Nc6 ( 8...d5 { offers equal chances } ) 9.Nf3 fxe6 10.Bxe6+ Bxe6 11.Qxe6+
Kh8 12.Be3 Rf6 ( { perhaps } 12...Qc8 { is the best defence } ) ) {#r} 1-0


[Event "German League"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Huber, A."]
[Black "Schmidt, Ola"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[Opening "Pirc: Sveshnikov (4.g3)"]

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.g3 c5 { The idea of playing ...c7-c5 followed by
...Qa5 threatening ...Nxe4 is a standard theme in the Pirc. The good news for
White is that in this particular position it is simply wrong. } {#r} 1-0


[Event "Grossauheim"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Schumacher, T."]
[Black "Minarsch, H."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D08"]
[Opening "QGD: Albin, 3.dxe5 d4"]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 d4 4.e3 ( 4.e3 { looks very logical, as } 4...dxe3 ) (
{ Instead, } 4.Nf3 { is the usual move. } ) {#R} 0-1


[Event "Wattens"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Pichler, G."]
[Black "Riedl, H."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A52"]
[Opening "Budapest: Adler Variation"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 { The first sign that the opening is a Budapest. } 3.dxe5 ( {
White can decline the pawn with } 3.d5 { , but then } 3...Bc5 { is a good
reply. For instance, } 4.Nc3 d6 5.Bg5 Bxf2+ ) 3...Ng4 4.Nf3 ( { Another trap
is seen after } 4.Bf4 { in the next game. } ) 4...d6 { Black makes his pawn
deficit permanent in order to activate his king's bishop and set a trap. } ( {
Instead, } 4...Bc5 5.e3 Nc6 { is the usual continuation. } ) {#R} 0-1


[Event "Mannheim"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Koebele, W."]
[Black "Heine, J."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A52"]
[Opening "Budapest: Rubinstein, 4...Nc6"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.Bf4 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bb4+ 6.Nbd2 Qe7 7.a3 Ncxe5 8.Nxe5
Nxe5 { This has all been played many times and the feeling nowadays is that
chances are about even. But not if White plays: } 9.axb4 { Yes, it does
happen, presumably when White thinks his opponent has been careless and
forgotten to insert 8...Bxd2+ before taking on e5. } ( { The correct move is }
9.e3 { , when } 9...Bxd2+ 10.Qxd2 d6 11.Be2 O-O 12.O-O Ng6 ( { instead }
12...b6 13.Rac1 Bb7 { is about equal } ) 13.Bg3 Be6 14.Rac1 { led to a slight
advantage for White in G.Strutinskaya-E.Blokhina, Moscow 2008. } ) {#R} 0-1


[Event "?"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Date "2017.03.21"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Fajarowicz Variation"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A51"]
[Opening "Budapest: Fajarowicz"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ne4 { Playing the knight to e4 is slightly unusual and
is known as the Fajarowicz Variation after Sammi Fajarowicz who played it
against Hermann Steiner at Wiesbaden in 1928. It is a true gambit because, in
contrast to the Budapest, Black does not bother to try and reclaim the pawn. }
{#R} 0-1


[Event "Toukley"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Deacon, G."]
[Black "Katnic, E."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A40"]
[Opening "Englund Gambit"]

1.d4 e5 { This is named after the Swedish player Fritz Englund. It looks odd
to give the pawn away, but White needs to be alert to some sharp lines in this
opening. } {#R} 0-1


[Event "Alushta"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Truskavetsky, A."]
[Black "Emets, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A80"]
[Opening "Dutch: Korchnoi, Janzen Gambit"]

1.d4 f5 2.h3 { This innocuous move can have a big effect if Black is careless.
} ( { The immediate } 2.g4 fxg4 { and then } 3.h3 Nf6 { transposes to the
game, } ( { but here } 3...g3 { is another possibility and } 4.fxg3 Nf6 5.Bg2
d5 { is considered equal. } ) ) 2...Nf6 3.g4 fxg4 4.hxg4 Nxg4 5.Qd3 { White
seems merely to have given up a pawn for some open lines and a bit of pressure
against h7, but there is a hidden danger for Black. } 5...Nf6 { This is the
obvious move, apparently defending h7 and retreating the knight out of danger.
} ( { A bigger challenge to the gambit is } 5...g6 { , when Nf3 and Bg5 have
both been suggested, planning to castle queenside before proceeding with an
attack. Alternatively, } 6.Rxh7 Rxh7 7.Qxg6+ Rf7 8.Qxg4 { looks intriguing.
The game is about level, but Black has practical problems developing his
pieces in an unusual position; for example, } 8...e6 9.Bg5 Be7 10.Nf3 Nc6
11.Qh5 Bf6 12.Nc3 d5 ( 12...Nxd4 { allows the terrific } 13.Ne5 ) 13.O-O-O
Bxg5+ ) {#r} 1-0


[Event "European Championship, Liverpool"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Gormally, D."]
[Black "Williams, SK."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A80"]
[Opening "Dutch: 2.Bg5 h6"]

1.d4 f5 2.Bg5 h6 3.Bh4 g5 4.e4 { White ignores the threat to the bishop by
suddenly preparing Qh5 checkmate! } {#r} 1-0


[Event "Milan"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Contini, L."]
[Black "Cazzaniga, W."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A80"]
[Opening "Dutch: 2.Bg5 h6"]

1.d4 f5 2.Bg5 h6 3.Bh4 g5 4.Bg3 f4 { A greedy move, which appears to trap the
bishop. } ( { Instead, in R.Kempinski-A.Onischuk, German League 1995, Black
played solidly with } 4...Nf6 { to cover h5, when } 5.e3 d6 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bd3 Nc6
8.Nge2 Bg7 { offered roughly equal chances. } ) {#r} 1-0


[Event "Austrian League"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Lau, R."]
[Black "Steflitsch, E."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A46"]
[Opening "Indian: 2.Nf3"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.e3 Bg4 { This is given as an anti-Colle weapon in some
reference books, but the analysis usually stops here. I think White can
extract an advantage if Black is not on his guard. } 4.h3 Bh5 5.g4 Bg6 6.Ne5 {
White decides to give Black immediate problems. The point is that he intends
to follow up with h3-h4-h5 to trap the bishop, and if Black responds with
...h7-h6, then the knight will take on g6 wrecking his pawn structure. } {#d}
1/2-1/2


[Event "Cranbrook"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Louie, J."]
[Black "Yeong, I."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D51"]
[Opening "QGD: 4.Bg5 Nbd7"]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Nbd7 5.cxd5 { White plays the Exchange
Variation, which is either a high-class way of avoiding the Cambridge Springs,
or a blatant attempt to win a pawn. } 5...exd5 6.Nxd5 { The knight on f6 is
pinned so why not take the pawn? The idea of giving up the queen rarely occurs
to White if unfamiliar with the position. } ( { Instead, } 6.e3 { is the safe
and standard move, when play proceeds along the lines of } 6...Be7 7.Qc2 O-O
8.Bd3 Re8 9.Nf3 Nf8 10.O-O c6 { reaching a typical position for this opening
with equal chances, S.Feller-V.Epishin, Metz 2008. } ) {#r} 1-0


[Event "Slovakian Junior Championships"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Grekso, M."]
[Black "Slovik, V."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D51"]
[Opening "QGD: 4.Bg5 Nbd7 5.Nf3 c6"]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Nbd7 5.Nf3 c6 6.e3 Qa5 { The starting point of
the Cambridge Springs variation. Black moves his queen out of the pin on his
king's knight and returns the favour by pinning White's queen's knight. }
7.Qc2 { The idea is that, on c2, the queen helps to defend the queen's knight,
while increasing White's influence over the e4-square. } 7...Ne4 8.Bd3 { It
seems that nothing much can go wrong in the position, so White routinely
develops, but misses a trick. } ( { Instead, } 8.cxd5 { is the safe
alternative, when } 8...Nxg5 9.Nxg5 exd5 10.Bd3 Be7 11.Nf3 Nf6 12.O-O O-O
13.a3 { led to a level position in P.Benko-L.Portisch, Reykjavik (rapid) 2008.
} ) {#R} 0-1


[Event "Austrian League"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Zoernpfenning, S."]
[Black "Eder, M."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A46"]
[Opening "Indian: 2.Nf3"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 c6 5.Bg5 Nbd7 6.e3 Qa5 7.Bxf6 Nxf6 8.a3 { This
is played occasionally, with the idea of preventing ...Bb4 and preparing
b2-b4. } 8...Ne4 9.Rc1 Nxc3 10.Rxc3 { The obvious move but completely wrong. }
( { I suspect it is only if White is well versed in the Cambridge Springs that
he'll think of } 10.Qd2 { , when M.Neyra-A.Apaza Vasquez, Callao 2007,
continued } ) {#R} 0-1


[Event "Greek Team Championship"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Mouratidis, G."]
[Black "Stavrianakis, I."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E40"]
[Opening "Nimzo-Indian: Rubinstein"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 { The starting point of the Nimzo-Indian Defence. }
4.e3 ( { The point of Black's last move is that } 4.e4 { can now be met by } )
4...b6 { This is known as the Rubinstein Fianchetto Variation. The good thing
about it, I think, is that it is fairly easy to play and there are plenty of
tricks if White is not careful. } 5.Bd3 Bb7 6.Nf3 Ne4 7.Qc2 f5 { This
indicates that Black is playing the Dutch Variation; ...f7-f5 being, as we saw
earlier in this chapter, the characteristic move of the Dutch Defence. } 8.O-O
Bxc3 9.bxc3 O-O 10.Nd2 { White is not happy to have the black knight on e4 and
so does his best to make it move. } ( 10.Ne1 { is the main alternative, when }
10...Nd6 ( 10...c5 { is also reasonable } ) 11.Ba3 Rf6 12.f3 Ba6 13.c5 Bxd3
14.Qxd3 bxc5 15.Bxc5 Nc6 { led to roughly equal chances in D.Shire-A.Therrien,
Exmouth 2003. } ) 10...Qh4 11.Ba3 { White attacks the rook and waits for Black
to move it. This idea is likely to be repeated because it is recommended in
the 'Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings' (often referred to simply as 'ECO'). } (
{ Other moves: } 11.a4 { meets a similar fate to that in the main game: }
11...Nxd2 12.Bxd2 Bxg2 ) ( 11.g3 { is met by } 11...Ng5 ) ( 11.f3 { is the
simplest way to deal with Black's tricks, when } ) {#R} 0-1


[Event "British League"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Dilleigh, S."]
[Black "Punnett, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E40"]
[Opening "Nimzo-Indian: Rubinstein"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 b6 5.Ne2 ( { Varying from the } 5.Bd3 { of the
previous game. } ) 5...Ba6 6.Ng3 d5 ( { The advance of the d-pawn occurs all
the time in this line, for instance } 6...Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 { and then } 7...d5 {
is perfectly acceptable, but it is not advisable to play it at once! } ) {#r}
1-0


[Event "Baden-Baden"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Vaisser, A."]
[Black "Dautov, R."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E40"]
[Opening "Nimzo-Indian: Rubinstein"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 b6 5.Ne2 Ba6 6.Ng3 O-O ( { Black is wise
enough to avoid Timman's Terror by not playing } 6...d5 { . } ) 7.e4 Nc6 8.Bg5
{ This is a little bit unusual; } ( { the standard line is } 8.Bd3 e5 9.d5
Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 Ne7 { with equal chances. } ) {#r} 1-0


[Event "Vienna"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Judoeika, R."]
[Black "Kuenitz, S."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E73"]
[Opening "King's Indian: 5.Be2 O-O"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 O-O 6.Bg5 e5 { This is completely
wrong but it happens hundreds of times. I think people tend to be complacent
and assume that, in such a well-known opening, nothing could go wrong so
quickly. } ( { There are a variety of other moves available and a popular one
is } 6...Na6 { , because it defends the c7-pawn in preparation for the usual
e-pawn advance. For instance, } 7.Qd2 e5 8.d5 ( 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.Qxd8 Rxd8 10.Nd5
{ fails to impress after } 10...Rd6 { , as c7 is already protected } ) 8...Qe8
9.h4 Nc5 10.f3 { with a level position in P.Guichard-M.Apicella, French Team
Championship 2008. } ) {#r} 1-0


[Event "Port Erin"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Gruettner, R."]
[Black "Lane, G."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E90"]
[Opening "King's Indian: 5.Nf3"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2 Nbd7 7.O-O e5 8.d5 { This
is known as the Petrosian System, named in honour of former World Champion,
Tigran Petrosian, who developed it as a powerful weapon in the 1950s. In his
younger years Vladimir Kramnik also employed it with success. } 8...Nc5 9.Qc2
a5 10.Ne1 h6 { The strange thing is that I played this move mainly to have a
chance at the trick that occurred in the game, which is the predict-a-move
method. This was because my opponent was playing at lightning speed and I
thought that, as Rb1 is a standard move for White in this line, he might play
it without thinking; and if not, well, 10...h6 is not so bad. } ( { The main
alternative is } 10...Ne8 { . For example: } 11.-- ( 11.Be3 f5 12.exf5 gxf5
13.f4 e4 14.Qd2 Nf6 15.Nc2 Bd7 { with equal chances in J.Sherwin-R.J. Fischer,
US Championship, New York 1958. } ) ( 11.f3 f5 12.Nd3 b6 { (in this line Black
likes to take back on c5 with a b-pawn, partly because he can then try and
prevent a safe b2-b4 by placing his rook on b8) } 13.Be3 f4 14.Bxc5 bxc5 15.a3
g5 ( { or first } 15...Rb8 ) 16.Nf2 Nf6 { , when Black has the traditional
kingside attack, J.Trevelyan-T.Brown, Welsh Championship, Cardiff 2008. } ) (
11.Rb1 f5 12.f3 f4 13.b3 ( { this is the sort of position White was expecting
in the main game, where the queenside pawns are slowly pushed forward; note
that the immediate } 13.a3 { is inaccurate due to } 13...a4 ) 13...g5 14.a3
Bd7 15.b4 axb4 16.axb4 Na4 17.Nd3 { with a balanced and standard position,
D.Marinsek-N.Praznik, Latschach 2002. } ) ) {#R} 0-1


[Event "?"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Date "2017.03.21"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Modern Benoni"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A65"]
[Opening "Benoni: 6.e4"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.f4 Qe7 { It is
understandable that John Watson recommends this line, because it avoids a
whole chunk of book moves. The only snag is that it hasn't been played much,
which makes it difficult to assess. } 8.Nf3 Bg4 ( { It might seem that the
queen on e7 is there for the e-pawn to be taken, but } 8...Nxe4 { fails to } )
( { while after } 8...Nbd7 9.e5 { White is more than happy to give away a pawn
to highlight the potential problems of the strangely placed queen; for
example: } 9...dxe5 10.fxe5 ( 10.Nb5 { is also strong, with similar threats to
the main game } ) 10...Nxe5 11.Bb5+ Ned7+ 12.Kf2 { (threatening Re1) }
12...Ng4+ 13.Kg3 { with a big advantage. } ) 9.Be2 ( { The main move
considered by Watson is } 9.h3 { , though he does mention the text in his
notes. } ) 9...Nbd7 10.e5 { This is the big new move that swings the game in
White's favour. } ( { The only moves Watson mentions are } 10.h3 ) ( { and }
10.O-O { , but tellingly it is home analysis and not based on actual games.
Once again, I hasten to add that mistakes will creep into any book, because in
208 pages a sideline is not given as much attention. Still, it does mean it's
an opportunity for an easy victory for anyone who knows this new continuation.
} ) ( { This winning move has already been missed in the past, because }
10.Nd2 { is the impulsive reaction, when play might continue } 10...Bxe2
11.Qxe2 Bg7 12.O-O O-O { and then: } 13.-- ( 13.a4 Rfe8 14.Re1 ( 14.f5 { is
worth investigating } ) ) ( 13.Re1 Ne8 14.Nf3 a6 15.e5 { with the better
chances, W.Cotrina Moscoso-D.Fernandez, Callao 2007. } ) ) {#r} 1-0


[Event "Rimavska Sobota"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Kluger, G."]
[Black "Liebert, H."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D91"]
[Opening "Gruenfeld: 5.Bg5 dxc4"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 ( { This position after 5 Bg5 often also arises via } 2.Nf3 g6
3.c4 Bg7 4.Nc3 d5 5.Bg5 { . } ) 2...g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bg5 dxc4 { This is
quite unusual and will probably force White to think for himself. } ( {
Instead, } 5...Ne4 { is considered the main line, as featured in the next
game. } ) {#R} 0-1


[Event "European Championship, Istanbul"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Mamedyarov, S."]
[Black "Belov, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D91"]
[Opening "Gruenfeld: 5.Bg5 Ne4"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bg5 Ne4 6.cxd5 Nxg5 7.Nxg5 c6 { This is
considered a sharp response, but it is supposed to invite winning
complications for Black. } ( { The quiet and reliable } 7...e6 { should be
preferred. } ) 8.dxc6 { White does not always take the gambit pawn, but maybe
he should on the evidence of this game. } ( { Instead, } 8.Nf3 cxd5 9.Qb3 e6
10.e3 Nc6 11.Bb5 { led to equal play in E.L'Ami-L.Babujian, European
Championship, Warsaw 2005. } ) {#r} 1-0


[Event "Berlin"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Jahn, O."]
[Black "Kauschmann, H."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A45"]
[Opening "Trompowsky: 2...Ne4 3.h4 d5"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 { This is recognized as the Trompowsky Attack, named after the
former Brazilian champion, Octavio Trompowsky (1897-1984). } 2...Ne4 3.h4 { A
strange-looking move popularized by the English grandmaster, Julian Hodgson,
who adopted it after seeing Chris Depasquale despatch grandmaster Kudrin in
impressive fashion using this line. } 3...d5 ( { The basic idea is that }
3...Nxg5 4.hxg5 { opens the h-file for White's king's rook. } ) 4.Nd2 Qd6 { A
sneaky move, because it seems that Black is intending to play ...Qb4+ and
consequently White takes evasive action. } 5.c3 ( { White should try } 5.Nxe4
{ , although after } 5...dxe4 6.Qd2 Nc6 7.O-O-O Bf5 8.e3 O-O-O { Black was
fine in D.Kosic-J. Arnason, Iraklion 1993. } ) {#R} 0-1


[Event "Roquebrune"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Adams, Mi"]
[Black "Polugaevsky, L."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D00"]
[Opening "Trompowsky: 2...d5 3.Bxf6 exf6"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 d5 3.Bxf6 exf6 4.e3 Bd6 5.c4 ( { I think one of the reasons why
this line is still doing well is that, recently, } 5.g3 { has become popular.
For example, the excellent book 'Winning with the Trompowsky' by Peter Wells
fails even to mention 5 c4. That's because it's a repertoire book, in which
the author has to select options for White, so anyone reading it and playing
Black will have no idea what is about to happen. } ) 5...dxc4 6.Bxc4 O-O 7.Nc3
c5 { It is natural to undermine the centre and this is repeatedly played, but
it is hopeless! } ( { Other moves: } 7...a6 8.Qf3 { (a basic approach to
prevent ...b7-b5 by pinning the pawn to the rook on a8) } 8...Nd7 9.Bd3 Re8
10.Nge2 Rb8 11.h4 Nf8 12.g4 Bd7 13.O-O-O c5 14.dxc5 Bxc5 15.g5 { led to a
kingside attack in S.Prayitno-C.Barus, Tarakan 2008. } ) ( 7...f5 8.Qh5 (
8.Rc1 { is the solid response } ) 8...g6 9.Qh6 c6 10.h4 Re8 11.Bxf7+ ( { I
suspect } 11.h5 { is probably even stronger, and if } ) 11...Kxf7 12.Qxh7+ Ke6
( 12...Kf8 { was necessary, when White can take a draw with } 13.Qh8+ ( { or
try for more with } 13.h5 ) 13...Kf7 14.Qh7+ ) ) ( 7...c6 8.Qh5 Qe7 9.Nge2 Nd7
10.Ng3 g6 11.Qf3 f5 12.h4 Bxg3 ) {#d} 1/2-1/2


[Event "Quebec"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Vallieres, M."]
[Black "Lesiege, A."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A45"]
[Opening "Indian: 2.Nc3"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 ( { If Black wants to play the King's Indian and misguidedly
continues with } 2...g6 { , then } 3.e4 { takes him into a Pirc Defence. } )
3.Bg5 { This continuation announces the Veresov is being played. } 3...Nbd7 {
Black is in no mood to allow his f-pawns to be doubled by an exchange on f6.
The knight is also usefully placed to support the pawn advances ...c7-c5 and
...e7-e5. } 4.f3 { White wishes to create a pawn centre with e2-e4. } 4...c6
5.e4 dxe4 6.fxe4 e5 { It seems silly to give away a pawn, but Black has seen
further by preparing the key move ...Qa5. } {#R} 0-1


[Event "Essen"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Glenzer, A."]
[Black "Ickler, U."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B01"]
[Opening "Scandinavian (Centre Counter)"]

1.e4 d5 2.d4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Qxf3 { This is known as the Ryder
Gambit by connoisseurs of the opening. It is an outrageous idea because it
sacrifices another pawn. } ( { The alternative } 5.Nxf3 { is discussed in the
next game. } ) {#r} 1-0


[Event "Samnaun"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Nazarenus, O."]
[Black "Besson, D."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B01"]
[Opening "Scandinavian (Centre Counter)"]

1.e4 d5 2.d4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 { In return for the pawn White is
granted a slight lead in development and a semi-open f-file for his king's
rook after castling kingside. I think that, with very accurate defence, it is
hard to justify the pawn sacrifice, but at the board Black often has problems.
I once asked Russian grandmaster Mikhail Gurevich why, when he faced the
Blackmar-Diemer Gambit in a rapid tournament, he declined the extra pawn with
4...e3?!. At the time he was in the world's top ten so I was expecting a deep
and meaningful answer, but he replied: 'taking on f3 looked complicated'. }
5...Bf5 6.Bc4 c6 { This is known as the Ziegler Defence, which can also occur
via the move order 5...c6 6 Bc4 Bf5. } 7.O-O e6 8.Ne5 { This sets up a crafty
trick and also invites wild complications. } {#r} 1-0


[Event "Malaga"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Corrales Ibanez, P."]
[Black "Hidalgo Martin, D."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A10"]
[Opening "English: Vector"]

1.c4 d5 2.cxd5 Nf6 { This is a natural move to anyone who plays the
Scandinavian, in which 1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Nf6 is a standard line; but it does not
work here. I think the only way to handle this position is to take the pawn
with the queen, though White will gain time developing by driving her away.
This is discussed in the next game. } {#r} 1-0


[Event "Frydek Mistek"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Sikora Lerch, J."]
[Black "Bombek, P."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A10"]
[Opening "English: Vector"]

1.c4 d5 2.cxd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd6 { The idea of moving the queen to d6 has proved
popular in the line 1 e4 d5 2 exd5 Qxd5 3 Nc3 Qd6 so it is not surprising that
Black tries his luck here too. The big difference is that White can occupy the
centre with his d- and e-pawns, while the queen can move via the d1-a4
diagonal, which can help keep the tactics flowing. } ( { Others: } 3...Qd8
4.d4 Nf6 5.e4 e6 6.Nf3 Bb4 7.Qc2 Nc6 8.a3 Be7 9.e5 Nd5 10.Bd3 { with the
brighter prospects, G.Beebe-A.Ramachandran, Edmonton 2005. } ) ( 3...Qa5 4.d4
c6 5.e4 Nf6 { (threatening to take the e4-pawn, but it is hard for Black to
seriously challenge the pawn centre) } 6.Bd3 Bg4 7.f3 Bh5 8.Ne2 e5 9.dxe5 Qxe5
10.Qb3 Qc7 11.Bf4 Qb6 12.Qc2 Bg6 13.O-O-O c5 ) 4.g3 { The kingside fianchetto
is also popular in the 1 e4 lines and is a solid reaction. } 4...e5 5.Bg2 Nf6
6.Nf3 Nc6 ( 6...e4 { is brushed aside by } ) 7.O-O Bf5 8.Qa4 { The queen pins
the knight, but Black is oblivious to the imminent danger. } 8...Be7 {#r} 1-0


[Event "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Petrosian, TV."]
[Black "Ree, H."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A22"]
[Opening "English: King's, 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3"]

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 Bb4 5.Nd5 Nxd5 6.cxd5 e4 { The Dutchman is
eager to exchange pieces in anticipation of a quick draw. Unfortunately for
him there is a flaw. } {#r} 1-0


[Event "Wroclaw"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Orzechowski, J."]
[Black "Wieczorek, O."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A22"]
[Opening "English: King's, 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3"]

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 Bb4 5.Nd5 Nxd5 6.cxd5 Ne7 { It is an
understandable reaction to attack the d-pawn, but it is misguided. } ( { The
right way to handle the position is by } 6...Nd4 { when, for example, M.
Taimanov-J.Gazic, German League 2004, continued } 7.Bg2 O-O 8.O-O Qe7 9.d3
Nxf3+ 10.Bxf3 f5 { with equal chances. } ) {#r} 1-0


[Event "European Championship, Plovdiv"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Grigoriants, S."]
[Black "Tregubov, P."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A04"]
[Opening "Reti: 1...c5"]

1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 { This line is known as the Symmetrical English. } 2...Nc6 3.Nc3
e5 4.e3 Nf6 5.d4 cxd4 6.exd4 e4 7.Ne5 ( 7.Ng5 { is also met by } 7...Bb4 { ,
when } 8.d5 Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 Na5 { is the basic position, offering equal play. } )
7...Bb4 8.Bd2 { The natural reaction is to block the pin. I saw this move
recommended on the Internet and thought nothing more about it until I saw this
game. White's assumption is that he won't lose a pawn because of his own
threat of 9 Nxe4. After all, surely a top-rated Russian grandmaster wouldn't
go wrong on move eight, would he? } ( { Instead, } 8.Be2 { is the established
move; for example, } 8...Qa5 9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.O-O O-O 11.Bd2 Re8 { led to equal
play in L. Pantsulaia-B.Jobava, Tbilisi 2008. } ) {#R} 0-1


[Event "German League"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Geveke, M."]
[Black "Storm, R."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A04"]
[Opening "Reti: Lisitsin"]

1.Nf3 f5 2.e4 { This is the start of the gambit and is likely to be a surprise
to many players of the Dutch. } {#r} 1-0


[Event "Lloyds Bank Open, London"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Barle, J."]
[Black "Tozer, R."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A04"]
[Opening "Reti: Lisitsin: 3.Ng5 d5"]

1.Nf3 f5 2.e4 fxe4 ( { If Black has a sense of humour he might like to try }
2...e5 { , transposing into the obscure Latvian Gambit (1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 f5). } )
3.Ng5 d5 4.d3 Qd6 5.Nc3 { White brings out his queen's knight, planning to
rely on a lead in development if Black is brave enough to capture on d3. This
move was popularized by American grandmaster Larry Christiansen in the 1980s.
} ( { I once tried 4...Qd6 in a simultaneous display given by former World
Champion Mikhail Botvinnik in London 1981; the great man stared at me for some
time before playing } 5.dxe4 { , when } 5...h6 { was reasonable for Black. } )
5...h6 { Black wants to kick the knight away from its aggressive post before
it can do any damage. } ( { Others: } 5...c6 ) ( 5...e3 ) ( 5...exd3 6.Bxd3
Nf6 7.Nb5 Qb6 8.Bf4 Na6 9.Qe2 Bg4 10.f3 Bd7 11.O-O-O { gave White lots of
compensation for the pawn, M.Kazhgaleyev-P.Nikolic, Kemer 2007. } ) ( 5...Nf6
) 6.Nb5 Qb4+ { This seems fine for Black, attacking the knight on b5 which
must surely retreat. I was watching this game and, after White's next move, I
can say that Tozer looked as though he had seen a ghost. } ( { Instead: }
6...Qb6 { looks reasonable, but it loses because in some lines White can take
the rook on a8 and attack the queen on b6: } ) ( 6...Qc6 { is the best and
arguably only decent move available, when play might continue: } ) {#r} 1-0


[Event "Philadelphia"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Rohde, M."]
[Black "Palatnik, S."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A04"]
[Opening "Reti: Lisitsin: 3.Ng5 Nf6"]

1.Nf3 f5 2.e4 fxe4 3.Ng5 Nf6 ( { The American has had other successes in this
line: } 3...d5 4.d3 e3 ( { instead of } 4...Qd6 { as in Barle-Tozer above } )
5.Bxe3 e5 6.d4 exd4 7.Qxd4 Nc6 8.Qh4 Bf5 9.Bb5 Be7 10.O-O ( 10.Nc3 { and O-O-O
may be stronger } ) 10...Nf6 11.Nc3 O-O 12.Rad1 h6 ( { here } 12...Nb4 { is
worth considering } ) 13.Nxd5 Nxd5 14.Rxd5 Qe8 ( { maybe } 14...Qxd5 { is not
as bad as it looks after } 15.Bc4 Qf7 ) 15.Bc4 Kh8 ( { if } 15...hxg5 ) 16.Qg3
Qg6 17.Rxf5 Qxf5 18.Ne6 { gave White a strong attack, M.Rohde-S. Palatnik,
Philadelphia 1992. } ) ( 3...e5 4.d4 ( { an interesting way to avoid the
relatively safe positions that arise after } 4.d3 e3 5.Bxe3 ) ) 4.d3 e5 5.dxe4
Bc5 6.Bc4 { with compensation for the pawn, M.Rohde-O.Castro, Philadelphia
1990. } 6...Qe7 ( { Instead } 6...b5 { is just a panicky move that does
nothing to improve Black's position. After } ) 7.Bf7+ { White sensibly forces
Black to abandon the idea of castling, creating a long-term problem. } ( { At
first sight } 7.Nf7 { looks reasonable, but after } 7...Rf8 8.Ng5 { (otherwise
Black will be rewarded with two pieces for the rook) } 8...Bxf2+ ) {#r} 1-0


[Event "German Junior Championships"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Eisenhauer, F."]
[Black "Neukoetter, M."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A02"]
[Opening "Bird: From Gambit, 3...Bxd6"]

1.f4 { This is known as Bird's Opening. } 1...e5 { This sharp reply, known as
the From Gambit, offers a pawn in return for quick development and a chance to
unsettle the white king in the opening. } 2.fxe5 { This system works really
well against social players and juniors because they think you are just giving
away your pawns. } ( { However, I always warn people who like to gambit their
pawn here that } 2.e4 { in fact transposes to a King's Gambit. } ) 2...d6
3.exd6 Bxd6 { The first checkmate threat occurs; } ( { After } 3...Bxd6 { ,
Black is hoping to play } 4.-- Qh4+ 5.g3 Bxg3+ ( { in this position I tend to
show off by starting with } 5...Qxg3+ { to ensure victory in style } ) 6.hxg3
Qxg3# { . } ) 4.Nf3 g5 { This is the main line, which has the idea of nudging
the knight out of the way with ...g5-g4 so that the queen can give check on
h4. } ( { It is worth noting that the attempt to prevent the black g-pawn
advancing with } 4...g5 5.h3 { fails utterly in view of } ) 5.b3 { A big
mistake, as Black now achieves what he wants. Other moves are examined in the
next game. } 0-1


[Event "Landau"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Thomas, J."]
[Black "Gerst, M."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A02"]
[Opening "Bird: From Gambit, 3...Bxd6"]

1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 d6 3.exd6 Bxd6 4.Nf3 g5 5.e4 { An understandable error of
judgement, but White does not give his opponent's swashbuckling play enough
respect. There are two main alternatives. } ( 5.g3 { , when play might proceed
} 5...g4 ( { or } 5...h5 6.d4 g4 7.Nh4 Be7 8.Ng2 h4 9.Bf4 { with a level
position, U.Durst-L.Mostertman, Dresden 2008 } ) 6.Nh4 { (an odd-looking place
for the knight, but it can always retreat to the g2-square if attacked by a
bishop on e7, say) } 6...Ne7 7.d4 Nbc6 8.c3 Ng6 9.Nxg6 hxg6 { (the threat now
is ...Bxg3+) } 10.Qd3 { led to roughly equal chances in
V.Pogosian-S.Vedmediuc, Peterhof 2008. } ) ( 5.d4 g4 { and now: } 6.-- ( 6.Ng5
{ (a risky move because the knight is soon marooned on g5) } ) ( 6.Ne5 Bxe5
7.dxe5 Qxd1+ 8.Kxd1 Nc6 9.Nc3 Be6 10.Bg5 Nxe5 11.Nb5 Kd7 ( 11...f6 12.Nxc7+
Kd7 13.Nxe6 Kxe6 14.Bf4 Rd8+ 15.Ke1 { with an extra pawn and the two bishops,
A.Turci-G.Lanzani, Bratto 2004 } ) 12.Ke1 f6 13.Rd1+ Kc8 ( { improving on }
13...Ke7 14.Be3 Bc4 15.Bc5+ Kf7 16.e3 Bxb5 17.Bxb5 Ne7 18.Ke2 { again with the
two bishops, S.Tartakower-F.Marshall, Mannheim 1914 } ) 14.Bh4 h5 15.e4 Bd7
16.Nc3 Ng6 17.Bf2 N8e7 18.Kd2 Be6 19.Kc1 { with the slightly better chances,
S.Williams-M.Quinn, Witley 1996. } ) ) {#R} 0-1


[Event "Belgrade"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Djukic, M."]
[Black "Prelevic, D."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A00"]
[Opening "Grob Gambit Accepted: Fritz Gambit"]

1.g4 d5 2.Bg2 ( 2.h3 { has also been tried, to reach a sort of reversed Modern
Defence, but with the extra psychological advantage of having played the
silly-looking 1 g4. } ) 2...Bxg4 3.c4 c6 ( { Other moves: } 3...dxc4 { allows
} ) ( 3...d4 { (the Romford Gambit) } ) ( 3...Nf6 { is also popular; for
instance, } 4.Qb3 ( { or if } 4.Nc3 Nbd7 5.cxd5 Nb6 6.Qb3 Qd7 { with equal
chances, M.Klichev-M.Bezgodova, Dubna 2007 } ) 4...Qc8 5.Nc3 c6 6.cxd5 Nxd5 (
{ instead } 6...cxd5 7.Nxd5 Nc6 { again gives Black some compensation with his
active pieces } ) ) 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.Qb3 e6 { A shocking reply, which defends d5
but cuts off the retreat of the bishop on g4. } ( { Instead: } 5...Nf6 {
allows } 6.Qxb7 { , but White doesn't have to fall for } 6...Qc8 ( 6...Nbd7 {
is worth investigating } ) 7.Qxa8 ( 7.Qxc8+ Bxc8 { is roughly equal } ) ) (
5...Qc7 6.Nc3 ( { obviously not } 6.Bxd5 Qxc1+ ) 6...Nc6 ( { upon } 6...e6 {
the main game is echoed with } ) 7.Nxd5 Qd7 8.Ne3 Be6 9.Qc3 Rc8 10.Nf3 Nf6 {
gave Black some compensation for the pawn based on the poorly placed white
queen, A.Smirnov-G.Sergeev, Tula 2005. } ) {#r} 1-0


[Event "Newcastle"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Lane, G."]
[Black "Jurd, S."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C05"]
[Opening "French: Tarrasch, Closed, 4.e5"]

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 { The Tarrasch French; } ( { which has the simplistic
benefit of avoiding lines with } 3.Nc3 Bb4 { , because now ...Bb4 can be
shooed away with c2-c3. } ) 3...Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.c3 c5 6.f4 Nc6 7.Ndf3 cxd4
8.cxd4 Bb4+ 9.Kf2 { I always tell people to develop their pieces and castle in
the opening, but there are exceptions and this is one of them. White has time
to move his king because his shield of pawns prevents Black from attacking in
the short-term. } 9...O-O 10.g3 b6 11.Qa4 Ndb8 12.Bd3 Bd7 13.Qd1 Re8 14.Be3
Bf8 15.Bxh7+ { The start of the Greek Gift combination. The bishop is given up
to wreck Black's pawn barrier and draw his king out. } {#r} 1-0


[Event "Oviedo (rapid)"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Ivkov, B."]
[Black "Mayer, R."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A09"]
[Opening "Reti: 2.c4"]

1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 Nf6 3.cxd5 Nxd5 4.d4 e6 5.e4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Bb4 7.Bd3 O-O 8.O-O b6
9.e5 Nd5 10.Bxh7+ Kxh7 ( { On } 10...Kh8 { Black is condemned to be a pawn
down with a very weak kingside. For instance, } 11.Ng5 { (retreating the
bishop is usually good in this type of position, but White can go for more
here) } ) 11.Ng5+ Kg6 { The king emerges from the ruins of his protective pawn
wall, in the hope of escaping the attack and hanging on to the extra piece. }
( { On } 11...Kg8 12.Qh5 Re8 { , White should remember Lane-Jurd and take the
f-pawn first to force checkmate: } 13.Qxf7+ Kh8 14.Qh5+ Kg8 15.Qh7+ Kf8
16.Qh8+ Ke7 17.Qxg7# { . } ) 12.Qg4 { The queen is again well placed here,
threatening a deadly discovered check with Nxe6+. } ( { Another way to conduct
the attack is with } 12.Qd3+ { , when } 12...f5 ( { while } 12...Kh5 ) ( { or
} 12...Kh6 13.Qh7# { is one of several checkmates } ) 13.Qg3 { transposes. } )
1-0


[Event "Tashkent"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Gevorgyan, I."]
[Black "Kvon, A."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A05"]
[Opening "Reti: 1...Nf6"]

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 c5 5.a3 Ba5 6.e3 O-O 7.Be2 Nc6 8.O-O Qe7
9.d4 d6 10.Rd1 Bd7 11.b3 Bc7 12.Bb2 cxd4 13.Nxd4 a6 14.Nf3 Rac8 15.Rac1 Ne8
16.Qb1 f5 17.Bd3 Ne5 18.Nxe5 dxe5 19.b4 e4 20.Bf1 Nf6 21.Ne2 Ba4 22.Rd2 Bxh2+
{ Once again the Greek Gift rips the defensive position apart. } {#R} 0-1


[Event "London"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Schulder, R."]
[Black "Boden, S."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C41"]
[Opening "Philidor Defence"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.c3 f5 4.Bc4 Nf6 5.d4 fxe4 6.dxe5 ( { It might only have
been a casual game, but I cannot resist showing how White could have done well
with } 6.Ng5 { , when } ) {#R} 0-1


[Event "Borovec"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Dochev, D."]
[Black "Ermenkov, E."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B53"]
[Opening "Sicilian: 2...d6 3.d4 Nf6"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nc6 6.f3 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.Be3 O-O
9.Qd2 a5 10.Bb5 Na7 11.Be2 Nc6 12.a4 Nb4 13.O-O-O Be6 14.g4 Rc8 15.Kb1 Qc7
16.g5 Nh5 17.Qe1 b6 18.Rg1 Rfd8 19.Rd2 d5 20.exd5 Nxd5 21.Nxd5 Rxd5 22.c3 Bf5+
23.Kc1 Rdd8 24.Rxd8+ Rxd8 25.Qf2 { and now } {#R} 0-1


[Event "Dutch Team Championship"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "De Heer, M."]
[Black "Grotenhuis, G."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B01"]
[Opening "Scandinavian: 2...Qxd5 3.Nc3"]

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 c6 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.Bc4 Bg4 7.h3 Bxf3 8.Qxf3 e6
9.O-O Nbd7 10.Bf4 O-O-O 11.a3 { White has spotted the potential checkmate and
is keen to oust the black queen from a5, so that a bishop can safely land on
the a6-square. } 11...g5 ( 11...Nb6 { is necessary. } ) {#r} 1-0


[Event "Paris"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Antal, G."]
[Black "Mayaud, R."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B01"]
[Opening "Scandinavian: 2...Qxd5 3.Nc3"]

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 c6 { Black makes room for the queen to
retreat on the a5-d8 diagonal. Already the ideal pawn structure is taking
shape, especially if Black castles queenside. } 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.Bd3 Bg4 7.h3 Bh5
8.O-O e6 9.Re1 Nbd7 10.Bf4 O-O-O 11.a3 Bxf3 12.Qxf3 { White is perfectly
poised to perform Boden's Mate. At the moment the black queen is guarding the
a6-square and still needs to be chased away, but it turns out that Black is
not even aware of this amazing combination. } 12...Qh5 {#r} 1-0


[Event "Ontario"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Southam, T."]
[Black "Nock, D."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D35"]
[Opening "QGD: Exchange"]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 c6 6.Qc2 Bb4 7.e3 h6 8.Bh4 Bxc3+
9.bxc3 b6 10.Bd3 Bb7 11.Ne2 Nbd7 12.O-O g5 13.Bg3 Qe7 14.a4 a5 15.Rab1 O-O-O
16.c4 h5 17.cxd5 Nxd5 18.Rfc1 Nb4 19.Rxb4 { Once again knowledge of Boden's
Mate swings the game in White's favour. In this case the rook is sacrificed to
eliminate a defender of the c6-pawn. } {#r} 1-0


[Event "London"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Pillsbury, HN."]
[Black "Lee, F."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D53"]
[Opening "QGD: 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3"]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Nf3 b6 ( 6...O-O { is a
sensible move, whereas the text weakens the important c6-square which White
quickly exploits. } ) {#r} 1-0


[Event "Montenegro Team Championship"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Savic, M."]
[Black "Radojevic, S."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D06"]
[Opening "QGD: 2...Bf5 3.Nc3 e6"]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 Bf5 3.Nc3 e6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Qb3 Nd7 6.Qxd5 Bg6 7.Qxb7 Bd6 8.e4 Rb8
9.Qc6 Ne7 10.Qa4 O-O 11.Nf3 Bb4 12.Bd3 Nf6 13.Qc2 Bh5 14.Be3 Bxf3 15.gxf3 Ng6
16.h4 Nh5 17.O-O-O Ngf4 18.Bc4 Bxc3 19.Qxc3 Rb7 20.Rdg1 g6 21.Rg5 Qd7 22.Qd2
Qa4 23.b3 Qa3+ 24.Kb1 Ne6 25.Rxh5 gxh5 26.Bh6 Qb4 { Black has just played the
queen to b4 in the hope that an exchange of queens will allow him to withstand
the onslaught on the kingside and prolong the game. White now uses knowledge
of Pillsbury's Mate to good effect: } 27.Rg1+ Kh8 28.Bxe6 { The black knight
needs to be exchanged so the bishop can gain access the g7-square; it does not
matter to the combination if the white queen is removed. } {#r} 1-0


[Event "New York"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Paulsen, L."]
[Black "Morphy, P."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C48"]
[Opening "Four Knights: Spanish Variation"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Bc5 5.O-O O-O 6.Nxe5 Re8 7.Nxc6 dxc6 8.Bc4
b5 9.Be2 Nxe4 10.Nxe4 Rxe4 11.Bf3 Re6 12.c3 Qd3 13.b4 Bb6 14.a4 bxa4 15.Qxa4
Bd7 16.Ra2 Rae8 17.Qa6 { White has just played his queen to a6 in the hope of
entering an ending after a queen exchange. Black's reply must have come as a
huge shock: } 17...Qxf3 {#R} 0-1


[Event "Hamburg simul"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Huebner, R."]
[Black "Schmidt, Lok"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A04"]
[Opening "Reti: 1...d6"]

1.Nf3 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 Bf5 4.Nc3 e6 5.g3 Be7 6.Bg2 Nc6 7.O-O O-O 8.Nh4 Nh5
9.e4 Bg6 10.Nf3 Bf6 11.g4 Bh4 12.gxh5 Bxh5 13.Qd3 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 Qf6 15.Ne2 Qg6+
16.Kh1 Ne7 17.Bf4 Rad8 18.Qe3 d5 19.Rg1 Qf6 20.Be5 Nf5 21.exf5 Qxf5 22.Rxg7+
Kh8 23.Rxf7+ Bf6 24.Bxf6+ Kg8 25.Rg7+ Kh8 { White has just played } 26.Be5 { ,
setting up our favourite checkmate to finish the game: } 26...Qxf3+ 27.Qxf3
Rxf3 28.Rg3+ {#r} 1-0


[Event "Budapest"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Kahn, E."]
[Black "Ciornei, D."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C57"]
[Opening "Two Knights: 4.Ng5"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 b5 6.Bxb5 Qxd5 7.Nc3 Qxg2 8.Qf3
Qxf3 9.Nxf3 Bd7 10.d3 Bd6 11.Bd2 O-O 12.O-O-O a6 13.Ba4 Rab8 14.Rhg1 Nd4
15.Nxd4 exd4 16.Bxd7 dxc3 17.Bxc3 Nxd7 18.Rxg7+ Kh8 { Fortunately, there is a
solution available: } 19.Rg8+ ( { In this position a standard discovered
check, such as } 19.Rg2+ { , is met simply by } 19...f6 ) ( { while } 19.Rxf7+
{ also allows Black to resist further after } 19...Ne5 { . } ) ( { Black
resigned because the double-check forces } 19.Rg8+ { , and then } 19...Kxg8
20.Rg1+ Bg3 21.Rxg3# { is checkmate. } ) 1-0


[Event "Hoogeveen"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Spoelman, W."]
[Black "Stellwagen, D."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C10"]
[Opening "French: 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.Nf3 Nf6"]

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bg5 Be7 6.Bd3 ( { Here I would recommend
that White try } 6.Bxf6 Bxf6 7.Bb5 { and if } 7...O-O 8.Qd2 { , which is
hardly mentioned in the reference works. (Only 'ECO' gives a little sub-note:
8...dxe4 9 Nxe4 Bd7 'unclear'.) Play might continue: } 8...-- ( 8...a6 9.Bxc6
bxc6 10.O-O-O { (White signals his intention to start a kingside attack) }
10...a5 11.Qe3 a4 12.h4 Bd7 13.g4 Be7 14.Ne5 Be8 15.Nd3 Ra5 16.f4 Qa8 17.g5
Bd7 18.h5 { gave White fine attacking chances in R.Lau-M.Thesing, German
League 1996. } ) ( 8...Na5 9.O-O a6 10.Bd3 b6 11.Rfe1 Bb7 12.e5 Be7 13.Ne2 {
(the knight swings across to the kingside in preparation for an onslaught) } )
( 8...dxe4 9.Nxe4 Bd7 10.O-O-O a6 11.Bd3 e5 12.Nxf6+ Qxf6 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Nxe5
Qxe5 15.Bxh7+ Kxh7 16.Qxd7 Qg5+ 17.Kb1 Qxg2 18.Qxc7 Rad8 19.Qg3 { with an
extra pawn, P. Treffert-A.Stromer, German League 1988. } ) ) 6...dxe4 7.Nxe4
Nb4 ( { Stellwagen tries to fox his opponent by avoiding the drawish line }
7...Nxe4 8.Bxe7 Nxf2 9.Bxd8 Nxd1 10.Bxc7 Nxb2 11.Be2 Na4 { with equal chances,
I. Nataf-N.Short, FIDE World Championship, New Delhi 2000. } ) {#R} 0-1


[Event "Las Palmas"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Espinola Martin, M."]
[Black "Krivoshey, S."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B01"]
[Opening "Scandinavian: Portuguese, 4.Be2"]

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.d4 Bg4 4.Be2 Bxe2 5.Qxe2 Qxd5 6.Nf3 e6 7.O-O Nc6 8.c4
Nxd4 9.Nxd4 Qxd4 10.Be3 Qe5 11.Nc3 Bd6 12.f4 Qf5 13.Qf3 O-O 14.Kh1 c6 15.Ne2
Rfd8 16.Rad1 h5 17.c5 Be7 18.Ng3 Qg4 19.Qxg4 hxg4 20.Bd4 Rd5 21.b4 a5 22.a3
Rad8 23.Ne2 Ne4 24.Rd3 f6 25.Kg1 axb4 26.axb4 e5 27.fxe5 fxe5 28.Re3 Rxd4
29.Nxd4 Rxd4 30.Rfe1 Nd2 31.Rxe5 Bh4 32.R1e2 Rxb4 33.Re8+ Kf7 34.g3 Bf6 35.Kg2
Rb5 36.Rc8 Nf3 37.Re4 Rb2+ 38.Kh1 { Terminal; } ( { but } 38.Kf1 { also loses
because of } 38...Nd2+ { forking the king and rook. } ) 38...Rxh2# 0-1


[Event "Riga"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Nimzowitsch, A."]
[Black "Giese, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[Opening "Caro-Kann: Advance, 4.Bd3"]

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Bd3 Bxd3 5.Qxd3 e6 6.Ne2 Qb6 7.O-O Qa6 8.Qd1 Nd7
9.Nd2 Ne7 10.Nf3 Ng6 11.Re1 Bb4 12.c3 Ba5 13.Bf4 O-O 14.Bg3 Bc7 15.Ng5 Rfe8
16.Nf4 Nh8 17.Qg4 Nf8 18.Re3 b6 19.Nh5 Nhg6 20.Rf3 Re7 21.Nf6+ Kh8 22.Qh5 h6
23.Kh1 Bd8 24.b4 Qe2 25.Rg1 a5 26.Ng4 Kg8 27.Nxf7 Qd2 28.Nxd8 Rxd8 29.bxa5
bxa5 30.Bh4 Nxh4 31.Qxh4 Ng6 32.Qh5 Kh7 33.a4 Rb8 34.h3 Rb3 35.Rg3 Nf4
36.Qxh6+ gxh6 ( { Black cannot escape a forced win in view of } 36...Kg8
37.Nf6+ Kf8 38.Qh8+ Kf7 39.Rxg7# { . } ) 37.Nf6+ Kh8 38.Rg8# 1-0


[Event "USSR Championship, Moscow"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Bronstein, D."]
[Black "Geller, E."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E20"]
[Opening "Nimzo-Indian Defence"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 O-O 6.f3 d5 7.cxd5 exd5 8.e3 Bf5
9.Ne2 Nbd7 10.Nf4 c5 11.Bd3 Bxd3 12.Qxd3 Re8 13.O-O Rc8 14.Rb1 Qa5 15.Rxb7 Nb6
16.g4 h6 17.h4 cxd4 18.g5 dxe3 19.gxf6 Rxc3 20.Qg6 { . A powerful blow, and
one of my favourite puzzles because it is always stunning to sacrifice the
queen in pursuit of checkmate. } ( { Black resigned, since the only way to
stop 21 Qxg7 checkmate is to play } 20.Qg6 fxg6 { allowing } 21.Rxg7+ Kh8 ( {
or } 21...Kf8 ) 22.Nxg6# { . } ) 1-0


[Event "?"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Date "2017.03.21"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Lucena analysis"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[FEN "rr4k1/6pp/2Q5/3KN3/8/q7/8/8 w - - 0 1"]

1.Qe6+ Kh8 2.Nf7+ Kg8 3.Nh6+ Kh8 ( { If } 3...Kf8 4.Qf7# { is checkmate. } )
4.Qg8+ Rxg8 5.Nf7# 1-0


[Event "Teignmouth"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Walker, J."]
[Black "Smith, FW."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C41"]
[Opening "Philidor: 3...exd4"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Be7 5.c3 Nf6 6.e5 Ng4 7.Qb3 O-O 8.cxd4 c6
9.O-O dxe5 10.dxe5 Nd7 11.Bxf7+ Rxf7 12.e6 Nc5 13.exf7+ Kf8 14.Qc2 Nf6 15.Bg5
Nce4 16.Bxf6 Nxf6 17.Nc3 Kxf7 18.Rad1 Qb6 19.Ng5+ Kg8 20.Rfe1 Qc5 { White is
already on top, but knowing about Philidor's Legacy allows White to come with
a pretty finish, and with the minimum of thought because he has seen it all
before. } 21.Qb3+ Kh8 ( 21...Kf8 { allows } 22.Qf7# ) ( { while } 21...Nd5
22.Nxd5 cxd5 23.Rxd5 { also wins very quickly. } ) 22.Nf7+ Kg8 23.Nh6+ Kh8 ( {
Of course } 23...Kf8 { again results in } 24.Qf7# { . } ) 24.Qg8+ Nxg8 25.Nf7#
1-0


[Event "Stillwater"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Berry, Ji"]
[Black "Baburin, A."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B02"]
[Opening "Alekhine: Chase Variation"]

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.c4 Nb6 4.a4 a5 5.d4 d6 6.f4 dxe5 7.fxe5 Nc6 8.Be3 Bf5
9.Nf3 Nb4 10.Na3 e6 11.Be2 Be7 12.O-O O-O 13.Rc1 c6 14.c5 N6d5 15.Qd2 b6
16.cxb6 Na2 17.Rxc6 Bb4 18.Nb5 Bxd2 19.Bxd2 Nxb6 20.Bg5 Qb8 21.Be7 Nb4 22.Rc5
Nxa4 23.Bd6 Qb7 24.Rc7 Qe4 25.Bd1 Nxb2 26.Bxf8 Rxf8 27.Nd6 Qe3+ 28.Kh1 Nxd1
29.Rxd1 Nd3 30.Nxf5 Nf2+ 31.Kg1 Nh3+ 32.Kh1 ( { Or } 32.Kf1 Qf2# { . } )
32...Qg1+ 0-1


[Event "USA"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Thornton, G."]
[Black "Boultbee"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C30"]
[Opening "KGD: Classical, 3.Nf3 d6"]

1.e4 e5 2.f4 Bc5 3.Nf3 d6 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Nf6 6.Nc3 O-O 7.Be3 Qe7 8.Bd3 Re8
9.a3 Ng4 10.Bg1 f5 11.Be2 fxe4 12.Nd5 Qf7 13.Bc4 Be6 14.Nxe6 Rxe6 15.Qxg4 c6
16.Qxe6 Qxe6 17.Ne7+ Kf8 18.Bxe6 Kxe7 19.Bc8 Nd7 20.Bxb7 Rb8 21.Bxc6 Rxb2
22.Bxd7 Kxd7 23.Bxc5 dxc5 24.O-O-O+ { . The Thornton Castling Trap is sprung:
White has given check with his rook and simultaneously put his king in a
position to capture on b2. } {#r} 1-0


[Event "Slavaplana"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Tuor"]
[Black "Hugentobler, P."]
[Result "0-1"]
[FEN "r3k2r/ppR1pp1p/4n1p1/8/4P3/5B2/P2K1PPP/7R w kq - 0 1"]

{ White could see no danger and gleefully played... } 1.Rxb7 { ...only to be
stunned by... } {#R} 0-1


[Event "Oradea"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Borbely"]
[Black "Kovacs"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B53"]
[Opening "Sicilian, Chekhover, 4...Nc6"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nc6 5.Bb5 Bd7 6.Bxc6 bxc6 7.Nc3 Nf6 8.Bg5
Rb8 9.e5 dxe5 10.Nxe5 Rxb2 { Black thinks he has won a pawn but is unaware of
the imminent danger. } {#r} 1-0


[Event "Detroit"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Palmer, M."]
[Black "Euwe, M."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B28"]
[Opening "Sicilian: O'Kelly, 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4"]

{ Here is a slight twist on how to use the trap in a casual game: } 1.e4 c5
2.Nf3 a6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Bd3 e5 6.Nb3 Nc6 7.O-O d5 8.exd5 Nxd5 9.Be4
Be6 10.Qf3 Qd7 11.Rd1 Bg4 12.Rxd5 Bxf3 13.Rxd7 Bxe4 14.Rxb7 ( 14.Rd2 { is
necessary. } ) {#R} 0-1


[Event "Cleveland League"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Marsh, S."]
[Black "Stephenson, FN."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A52"]
[Opening "Budapest: Rubinstein, 4...Bb4+"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.Bf4 Bb4+ 5.Nd2 d6 6.exd6 Qf6 7.Bg3 ( { Maybe }
7.e3 { should be preferred; for instance: } 7...-- ( 7...Bxd6 8.Be2 Bxf4
9.Bxg4 Bxe3 10.Ne4 Qe7 11.Bxc8 O-O 12.fxe3 Qxe4 13.Bh3 { and White won easily,
A.Klimov-A.Sazhinov, Kemerovo 2007. } ) ( 7...Qxb2 8.Nf3 cxd6 9.Rb1 Qa3 10.Rb3
Qa5 11.Be2 Nc6 12.a3 Bxd2+ 13.Nxd2 Nge5 14.O-O O-O 15.Ne4 { with a clear
advantage, A.Chibukhchian-T.Mgeladze, Georgian Championship, Tbilisi 1997. } (
15.-- ) ) ( 7...Nxf2 ) ) 7...Qxb2 8.Nf3 Bf5 9.h3 Bc2 10.Qc1 Bc3 11.Qxb2 Bxb2
12.Nb3 cxd6 13.hxg4 Bxb3 14.Rb1 Bc3+ 15.Nd2 Bxc4 16.Bxd6 Na6 17.Rxb7 ( {
Instead } 17.Rc1 Bxd2+ 18.Kxd2 Bxa2 { is roughly equal. } ) {#R} 0-1


[Event "Stockholm"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Berczes, C."]
[Black "Madsen, M."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A08"]
[Opening "Reti: KIA, 2...c5, 3.Bg2 Nc6 4.d4"]

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 c5 3.Bg2 Nc6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 e5 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.c4 Be6 8.Nc3 Nf6
9.Bg5 Rb8 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.Bxf6 gxf6 12.Bxd5 Rxb2 { Black is blissfully unaware
of the danger. } {#r} 1-0


[Event "Lloyds Bank Open, London"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Lane, G."]
[Black "Savereide, D."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B22"]
[Opening "Sicilian: Alapin, 2...Nf6 3.e5 Nd5"]

1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Bc4 e6 7.cxd4 d6 8.exd6 Qxd6
9.O-O Be7 10.Nc3 O-O 11.Nb5 Qd8 12.Be3 Bd7 13.Nc3 Ncb4 14.Bb3 Rc8 15.a3 Nxc3
16.bxc3 Nd5 17.c4 Nb6 18.Ne5 Bf6 19.Qg4 Ba4 20.Ba2 Qe7 21.Qg3 Kh8 22.Rfc1 Nd7
23.Rc3 Bxe5 24.dxe5 Nc5 25.f3 Rfd8 26.Rf1 Rd3 27.Rxd3 Nxd3 28.Bb1 Qxa3 29.Qh4
b6 30.Qe4 Rd8 31.Bd4 Rxd4 { Black is in trouble in any case, but now the
possibility of a bank rank checkmate ends the game: } 32.Qa8+ { . Yes, simple,
but you still have to be alert. } {#r} 1-0


[Event "Havlickuv Brod"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Hacaperka, M."]
[Black "Svoboda, K."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C70"]
[Opening "Spanish: 4.Ba4"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.c3 d5 {
The starting point of the Marshall Attack, in which Black sacrifices a pawn
for an attack. It is named after the American Frank Marshall who prepared it
to play against the great Jose Raul Capablanca. Unfortunately, Marshall lost
the game at the 1918 New York tournament, but since then a huge amount of
analysis has been concentrated on his variation, with no definite conclusion
having yet been reached. At the moment the Armenian grandmaster Lev Aronian is
acknowledged as the best player who employs it regularly. } 9.exd5 Nxd5
10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Rxe5 Nf6 { This is what Marshall played in the original game;
} ( { though nowadays } 11...c6 { is considered the main line leading to great
complications. One recent example: } 12.d4 Bd6 13.Re1 Qh4 14.g3 Qh3 15.Re4 g5
16.Qf1 Qh5 17.Nd2 Bf5 18.f3 Nf6 19.Qg2 Qg6 20.Re3 Nd5 21.Re1 Rae8 22.Qf2 Nf4 )
12.d4 Bd6 13.Re1 Ng4 14.h3 Qh4 15.Qf3 Bh2+ { Black goes astray with a faulty
plan. } ( { Instead: } 15...Nxf2 { was Marshall's choice in the original game,
which continued } ) ( 15...h5 { is reckoned to be the best chance,
particularly as it isn't very well known; for example, } ) {#r} 1-0


[Event "Albacete"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Korneev, O."]
[Black "Arizmendi Martinez, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B33"]
[Opening "Sicilian: Open, 2...Nc6"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5
9.Nd5 Be7 10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.c3 Bb7 12.Nc2 Nb8 13.a4 bxa4 14.Rxa4 O-O 15.h4 Nd7
16.Nce3 a5 17.Ra2 g6 18.Qf3 Bg7 19.h5 Bxd5 20.Nxd5 Nb6 21.Nxb6 Qxb6 22.Bc4
Rac8 23.Bd5 Rc5 24.h6 Bh8 25.O-O Qc7 26.Rfa1 Qe7 27.Rxa5 Rxa5 28.Rxa5 Qg5
29.Qxf7+ { . There are no prizes for spotting the star move, as it should be
clear that knowledge of such brilliant ideas makes it easier to find them at
the board. } {#r} 1-0


[Event "New Orleans"]
[Site "masterchessopen.com"]
[Round "0"]
[White "Adams, E."]
[Black "Torre Repetto, C."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C41"]
[Opening "Philidor: Morphy, 4...Nc6"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 exd4 4.Qxd4 Nc6 5.Bb5 Bd7 6.Bxc6 Bxc6 7.Nc3 Nf6 8.O-O
Be7 9.Nd5 Bxd5 10.exd5 O-O 11.Bg5 c6 12.c4 cxd5 ( { Instead, } 12...Nxd5
13.cxd5 Bxg5 14.Nxg5 Qxg5 15.dxc6 bxc6 16.Qxd6 Qb5 { would be equal. } )
13.cxd5 Re8 14.Rfe1 a5 15.Re2 Rc8 ( { And here } 15...h6 { is an improvement.
} ) 16.Rae1 ( { White is now threatening } 16.Bxf6 { , when Black would be
obliged to play } 16...gxf6 { severely weakening his king. } ) 16...Qd7 { The
queen gets out of the way so that he can safely take back on f6 with the
bishop. } ( { It is too late for } 16...h6 { as White has all the fun after }
) 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.Qg4 { The queen cannot be taken in view of 19 Rxe8+ Rex8 20
Rxe8 checkmate. } {#r} 1-0