The Saemisch Surprise
Sideline the Alekhine Defense with
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.Nc3 Nxc3 4.bxc3 d5 5.Ba3!?

By Michael Goeller

I assume that some players who use the Alekhine Defense do so for its surprise value. It is rather rarely seen, and probably many White players give it much less thought than other lines. A surprising counter-weapon for White is the Saemisch Attack (1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.Nc3). There are a number of ways to play this line, but I prefer to use it to play for control of the central dark squares after 3...Nxc3 4.bxc3! (reinforcing the center with an additional pawn rather than playing for speedy development with 4.dxc3) 4...d5 (the most common book recommendation, though 4...d6 and 4...c5 are also reasonable) -- and now I recommend that you "sideline" Black with the surprising 5.Ba3!? seeking absolute dominance of the dark squares. It's an interesting and little-known line that nonetheless has been used by some great players, including Tal, Yermolinsky, and Zaitsev. Below I have annotated 11 games that should give you a good "Saemisch surprise" repertoire that will let you turn the tables on the Alekhine Defense.

Game One: 4.bxc3 d5 5.Ba3!?

Mikhail Tal (2600) - Eversole (2000) [B02]

National Open/Chicago (1) 1988

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. Nc3 Nxc3

Tal played this line a number of times in the 1970s, including the following nice win: 3... e6 4. d4! (4. Ne4!? f5 5. exf6 Nxf6 6. Nxf6+ Qxf6 7. d4) 4... Nxc3 5. bxc3 d6 6. f4 c5 7. Nf3 cxd4 8. cxd4 dxe5 9. fxe5 Bb4+ 10. Bd2 Qa5 11. Bd3 Nc6 12. O-O Bxd2 13. Nxd2 Qc3 14. Rf4 O-O 15. Kh1 Ne7 16. Ne4 Qb2 17. Rb1 Qxa2

18. Nf6+ gxf6 19. Bxh7+ Kh8 (19... Kxh7 20. Qh5+ Kg8 21. Rbf1!) 20. Rh4 Kg7 21. Qc1 Ng8 22. Bxg8 1-0 Tal,M-Gedevanishvili,D/Georgia 1970.

4. bxc3 d5

The following Tal game, widely annotated, first sparked my interest in this line: 4... d6 5. f4 dxe5 6. fxe5 Qd5 7. d4 c5 8. Nf3 Nc6 9. Be2 Bg4 10. O-O cxd4 (10... e6 11. Ng5!) 11. cxd4 e6 (11... Bxf3 12. Bxf3 Qxd4+ 13. Qxd4 Nxd4 14. Bxb7 Rd8 15. c3!) 12. Rb1 Qd7 13. Ng5! Bxe2 14. Qxe2

14... Be7 (14... Nxd4 15. Qd3! Bc5 16. Be3) (14... Qxd4+ 15. Be3) 15. c3 Bxg5 16. Bxg5 h6 (16... O-O 17. Qg4 Kh8 18. Rf3 f5 19. exf6 gxf6 20. Bxf6+) 17. Bc1 Ne7 18. Qf3 Nd5 19. c4 Nb4 20. c5 Nd5 21. c6 bxc6 22. Ba3 f5 (22... O-O-O 23. Bd6) 23. exf6 gxf6 24. Rb3 Kd8 25. Rfb1 Rh7 26. Qg3 Nb6 27. Rxb6 axb6 28. Qg8+ Qe8 29. Qxh7 1-0 Tal,M-Podgaets,M/Sochi 1970.

5. Ba3!?

This surprising move has not been often played in this position, but it has been tried by some interesting players, including Tal, and so is mentioned in several books on the Alekhine. White can, of course, stick to normal lines with d4 followed by either f4 or Nf3. But if you want to get your opponent out of his preparation, this is a pretty good idea. The Bishop slows Black's natural counterplay by ...c5 while also inhibiting the ...e6 advance, which would allow the exchange of dark squared Bishops and prevent Black from castling. Black has tried several approaches, which we examine in turn below.

5...Bf5?!

The Bishop is typically misplaced on this square and subject to attack. But this is a frequently seen move since the Bishop often goes to this square in comparable positions, such as in the Caro Kann Advance Variation.

6. Nf3!

Now that the Knight is not likely to be pinned, it can come forward and threaten the Bishop, perhaps by going to d4. More commital is 6. d4!? Nd7 7. g4?! Bg6?! (7... Be4! 8. f3 Bg6 9. h4 h5 10. e6!? fxe6 11. Bd3 Bf7 12. Rb1 Qb8 13. f4 c5) 8. h4 h6 9. Rb1 Qc8 10. h5 Bh7 11. Bd3 Bxd3 12. Qxd3 e6?! (better 12... Nb6!) 13. Bxf8 Nxf8?! 14. Qb5+ Nd7 15. Qxb7 Qxb7 16. Rxb7 1-0 Garcia,H-Kalejman,J/Zarate 1974 (38).

Interesting, as in the Caro Kann, is 6. h4!? h5.

6... Nd7?!

a) 6... Nc6 7. d4 (7. Rb1!?) 7... Na5 8. Bd3

b) 6... Bg4!? admits the error of the previous move and may be best, though White is clearly for choice after 7. Rb1 (7. h3) 7... b6 (7... Nd7 8. e6!?) 8. h3

7. Nd4!

7... e6

7... Bg6 8. e6

8. Bxf8 Nxf8 9. Rb1 Qc8 10. c4

10. Nxf5 exf5 11. Qf3

10... Be4

10... c5? 11. Nb5

11. Qg4 Rg8!?

a) 11... Ng6 12. f3! (12. cxd5!? Bxd5 (12... exd5? 13. Qxc8+ Rxc8 14. d3 c5 15. Nb5) 13. c4 Bc6 14. Nxc6 bxc6 15. h4! O-O (15... h5 16. Qe4 Qd7 17. Be2) 16. d4 Qa6!) 12... Bf5 13. Qg5 h6 14. Qe3 Ne7 15. Qb3

b) 11... Bg6? 12. cxd5 exd5 13. Qxc8+ Rxc8 14. Rxb7

12. cxd5 Bxd5 13. Bb5+?!

Here the form er World Champion starts to go wrong, likely because he underestimates his opponent. White is clearly for choice after the immediate 13. c4! Bc6 14. Nxc6 bxc6 15. Be2 Ng6 16. O-O!

13... c6 14. c4?

A move too late! White is still better, though, after the simple retreat 14. Be2

14... h5! 15. Qh3 Be4 16. d3 Qd7! 17. Qe3 O-O-O??

Immediately losing. Necessary was 17... Bxg2 18. Rg1 O-O-O! 19. Rxg2 Qxd4 and White is probably lost. An amazing reversal for Tal, who often benefitted from opponent's mistakes in the wildly tactical positions he created.

18. Qxe4! Qxd4

Or 18... cxb5 19. Nxb5 etc.

19. Bxc6! Qc3+

Not 19... Qxe4+ 20. Bxe4 winning.

20. Ke2 Rd4!?

Or 20... b6 21. Rhc1

21. Bxb7+ Kb8? 22. Qe3

22. Ba8+! and mate is unavoidable.

22... Ng6 23. Rhc1 Nf4+ 24. Kf3! g5 25. Rxc3 g4+ 26. Kg3 h4+ 27. Kxh4 1-0

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. Nc3 Nxc3 4. bxc3 d5 5. Ba3 e6?!

This is White's dream move. Black clearly underestimates the price he pays to surrender kingside castling and weaken the dark squares with this exchange of Bishops.

6. Bxf8 Kxf8 7. d4

7. Qh5!

7... b6 8. Nf3 Ba6 9. Bxa6 Nxa6 10. Qd3 Nb8 11. O-O c5 12. dxc5! bxc5 13. Rab1 g6

13... c4 14. Qe3 Qc7 15. Nd4 Nd7 16. f4 Rb8 17. Rbe1

14. Rb7!?

14. Qe3!

14... Kg7 15. Qb5 Qc8 16. c4 Qe8?

16... Nc6! 17. cxd5 exd5 18. Ng5 Rf8! (18... Nxe5 19. f4!) (18... Nd8 19. Rd7 h6 20. Nxf7! Nxf7 21. e6 Rf8 22. Qe2!) 19. e6 Rb8 (19... Nd4 20. Qa6) 20. Rb1 Rxb7 21. Qxb7 Qxb7 22. Rxb7 h6 23. Nxf7 Kf6 24. e7 Nxe7 25. Nxh6

17. Ng5! dxc4 18. Rxf7+ Kh6

19. Qxe8! Rxe8 20. f4 Rh8 21. g4!

and Black cannot prevent mate by Rf3-h3. Equally effective is 21. Rf3 Kh5 22. Rh3+ Kg4 23. g3 h6 24. Rh4#

1-0

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. Nc3 Nxc3 4. bxc3 d5 5. Ba3 d4!?

This seemingly active move aids White by improving his structure and speeding his development. But it does contain some venom, as Black's queenside can develop very quickly in some lines and give him the initiative if White is not careful.

6. cxd4

An adventurous alternative is 6. Qf3 dxc3 (6... Nc6!? 7. Bb5 Bd7 8. Qg3 dxc3 9. dxc3! and White has a nice set-up after Rd1, Nf3, O-O, and possibly Bd3 etc.) 7. Qxc3 Nc6 8. Nf3 Qd5 9. Be2 Bg4 (9... Qe4 10. Bc5! Qg6 11. O-O Bh3 12. Ne1) 10. h3 Bxf3 11. Bxf3 Qxe5+ 12. Qxe5 Nxe5 13. Bxb7 Rb8 14. Rb1 e6 15. Bxf8 Rxf8 16. Ke2

6... Qxd4 7. Nf3 Qa4

7... Qe4+!? forces White to play carefully: 8. Be2 Nc6 (8... g5?! 9. d4! g4 10. Nh4) 9. d4 Bg4 10. c3! Bxf3 11. gxf3 Qg6 12. Qb1! the key move 12... O-O-O (12... Qg2?? 13. Qxb7 Qxh1+ 14. Kd2 Qxa1 15. Qxc6+ Kd8 16. Qd5+! Kc8 17. Ba6+ Kb8 18. Qd8#) 13. Qxg6 hxg6 14. e6! and white's two Bishops make the difference.

8. Qc1 Bf5

8... Nc6 9. Qb2 Qe4+ 10. Be2 Bg4 11. O-O!

9. Rb1

Better may be 9. Qb2!? Nc6 10. d4! Qxc2 (10... O-O-O 11. c3) 11. Qxc2 Bxc2 12. d5 Nd8 (12... Nb8 13. e6) 13. Nd4! Be4 14. Nb5 Kd7 (14... Rc8 15. Nxa7 Ra8 16. Nb5) 15. Rd1 a6 16. Nc3 Bf5 17. Be2! Kc8 (17... e6? 18. Bxf8 Rxf8 19. g4 Bc2 20. Rd2 Bg6 21. dxe6+ Kxe6 22. f4) 18. O-O e6 19. d6 Nc6 20. g4 Bc2 21. Rd2 Bg6 22. f4 h5 23. f5 exf5 24. gxf5 Bh7 25. Nd5

9... Nc6

9... Nd7 10. Be2 (10. d4) 10... O-O-O 11. Qb2 Nb6 12. d3 e6 13. Bxf8 Rhxf8 14. O-O

10. Be2

10. Rxb7! Qe4+ 11. Be2 Nxe5 12. Qb2 Nxf3+ 13. gxf3 Qe6 (13... Qxc2 14. Bb5+ or 13... Qd5? 14. Rb5 also favor White ) 14. Rb8+ Rxb8 15. Qxb8+ Qc8 16. Bb5+ Kd8 17. Qxa7

10... Nd4?!

a) 10... O-O-O! 11. Qb2 b6!

b) 10... Qxc2?! 11. Qxc2 Bxc2 12. Rxb7 O-O-O 13. Ba6 Nb8 14. Rxa7+ Nxa6 15. Rxa6 Kb7 16. Ra5 Kb6 17. Rc5

11. Nxd4 Qxd4 12. O-O O-O-O 13. Bf3 b6 14. e6!?

14. Bb4! Qxe5 (14... a5 15. Bc3) (14... e6 15. Bc3 Qf4 16. a4) 15. Qa3 a5 16. Rfe1 Qf6 17. Bxa5!

14... Bxe6 15. Rb4

15. Bb4!?

15... Qxd2 16. Qb2 Bf5 17. Rc4!

17... e6?

a) 17... Qd7 18. Bc5!! Kb8 (18... e5? 19. Bxb6) 19. Rd4 Qc8 20. Bxb6 cxb6 21. Rxd8 Qxd8 22. Qe5+

b) 17... Kb8 18. Qe5! (18. Qb5 Qd7 19. Bc6 Qc8) 18... Qd7 19. Rb1! e6 (19... Be6 20. Rc6!) 20. Bxf8 Rhxf8 21. Qa5 c6 22. Rcb4 Qb7 23. Rxb6 axb6 24. Rxb6

18. Qb5! Rd7 19. Qc6 1-0

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. Nc3 Nxc3 4. bxc3 d5 5. Ba3 Nd7!?

Risky, because White can try the pawn sac at e6. The idea is to play ...c5 and ...Qa5.

6. Nf3

White has a number of alternatives:

a) 6. e6!? Hort 6... fxe6 7. c4 g6 (7... c6 8. Bb2 e5 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. Nf3 d4 11. Bc4) 8. Bb2 Nf6 9. h4 Bg7 10. h5 Nxh5 11. Bxg7 Nxg7 12. Nf3 O-O

b) 6. d4 c5 7. e6!? is probably not as strong as the immediate sacrifice.

I wouldn't recommend 7. dxc5?! when White's dynamic chances seem insufficient compensation for the long-term structural weaknesses this move generates after 7... Nxe5! (7... e6!? 8. Nf3 b6) 8. Bb5+ Nc6 (8... Bd7 9. Qxd5 Bxb5 10. Qxe5 Qd7 11. Nf3 Qg4 12. Nd4 Qxg2 13. O-O-O Bd7 14. Rhe1) 9. Qd3 e6 (9... e5!) (9... g6!?) 10. Nf3 Be7 (10... Bd7 11. O-O a6 12. Bxc6 Bxc6 13. Ne5 Bb5 14. c4 dxc4 15. Qe3 Qc7) 11. Ne5 Qc7 12. Qg3! Bd7 (12... O-O?? 13. Nxc6 Qxg3 14. Nxe7+) 13. Bxc6 Bxc6 14. Qxg7 O-O-O 15. Nxc6 Qxc6 16. Qxf7 Rd7 17. Qf3 Rf8 18. Qh3?! (18. Qe3! Qa4?! 19. c6!) 18... Qa4! 19. Bc1 Qe4+ 20. Be3 Qc4 21. Bh6 Rg8 22. Qd3 Qh4 (22... Rxg2) 23. Be3 Rxg2 24. c6! Rc7 25. cxb7+ Rxb7 26. Qa6 1/2-1/2 Bone,E-Martz,W/US Open 1972.

7... fxe6 8. Nf3 (8. Bxc5!?) 8... Qa5! 9. Bb2 g6 10. h4 Bg7 11. h5 O-O 12. hxg6 h6?! (12... hxg6 13. Bd3 Rf6 14. Qd2) 13. Qd2 Nf6 14. Bd3 (14. c4!=) 14... Ne4 15. Bxe4 dxe4 16. Ng1 cxd4 17. Ne2 Rxf2! 18. cxd4 Qxd2+ 19. Kxd2 e5 20. dxe5 Bg4 21. Rae1 Rc8 22. c3 h5 23. Ke3 Rxg2 24. Bc1 Bxe5 25. Kxe4 Bf6 26. Nf4 Rxa2 27. Nxh5 Ra4+ 28. Ke3 Rxc3+ 29. Kf2 Ra2+ 30. Kf1 Rf3+ 0-1 Pert,R-Hinks Edwards,T/England tt 1997.

c) 6. f4 c6 7. Nf3 Qa5 8. Qc1 might be my preference, trying to avoid the d4 advance for as long as possible.

6... Nb6

6... c5! Hort 7. c4!? (7. Be2 g6 8. O-O Bg7 9. d4 Qa5 10. Bb2=) (7. e6 fxe6 8. Ng5?! Qa5 9. Nxe6? Nf6! Hort) 7... d4 8. Bd3 Qa5 9. Bc1 g6 10. Qe2 Bg7 11. O-O O-O 12. e6

7. d4 Bg4 8. h3 Bxf3 9. Qxf3 Qd7 10. Rb1 e6 11. Bxf8 Kxf8 12. Bd3 Kg8 13. O-O Rc8

14. Qe3?!

Much better for White is 14. a4! a5 15. Rb5 Ra8 16. c4

14... h5 15. f4 g6 16. a4 a5 17. Rb5 Ra8 18. c4 dxc4 19. Be4 Rd8 20. c3 Nxa4 21. Rxb7 Nb6 22. Ra7 a4 23. Rb1 Rb8 24. Bf3

1/2-1/2

[Michael Goeller]

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. Nc3 Nxc3 4. bxc3 d5 5. Ba3 c6 6. f4!

I prefer this move, which reinforces White's control of dark squares and relieves him of the necessity of advancing d4 to defend the e-pawn. The alternative is to develop quickly with 6.Nf3 and consider sacrificing the e-pawn by e6!? at the right moment. I could find only one example, which was not favorable to White:

6. Nf3 Bg4 (6... Nd7 7. Qe2! (7. c4!? Qa5 8. Bb2) (7. e6!?) 7... Nb6 8. Qe3 Nc4 (8... Bf5 9. Nd4) 9. Bxc4 dxc4 10. O-O) 7. h3 Bxf3 (7... Bh5 8. e6!? (8. Be2) ) 8. Qxf3 Qa5 9. Bb4?! (9. c4! dxc4 10. Qe3 e6! (10... c3 11. Qxc3) (10... b5 11. e6) 11. Bxf8 Rxf8 12. Bxc4 Nd7 13. f4 O-O-O=) 9... Qa4 10. d4 (10. e6!? fxe6 11. Qh5+ Kd7 12. Bc5 Qxc2) 10... a5 11. Bc5 Nd7 12. Bd3 b6 13. Bf5? (13. e6 fxe6 14. Bxb6 Nxb6 15. Qh5+ Kd8 16. O-O) 13... bxc5 14. Bxd7+ Kxd7 15. Qxf7 Qc4! 16. e6+ Kd8 17. Rb1? Qxc3+ 18. Kf1 Qxc2 19. Rb7?? Qd1# 0-1 Altschuler,B-Chernin,O/New York USA 1999

6... Qa5! 7. Qc1 Bf5?!

The Bishop is typically misplaced on this square. A better development scheme for Black is the logical 7... g6! 8. Nf3 Bh6!? 9. g3 Qc7 (9... c5 10. Rb1 Qc7 11. Bb5+ Bd7 12. e6!? fxe6 13. O-O) 10. d4! with double edged play, since White has achieved strong control of dark squares at the expense of light squares.

8. Nf3 Nd7 9. Rb1 Qc7 10. Nd4! e6 11. Be2!

Most flexible. Also fine is 11. Bxf8 Nxf8 12. Nxf5 exf5 13. d4 Ne6 14. Bd3

11... c5?! 12. Nxf5 exf5 13. c4 dxc4?!

13... d4 14. Bf3! Rb8 15. O-O

14. Bxc4 O-O-O 15. O-O

Fritz favors White here, and I cannot disagree. At the very least he has the two Bishops and the slightly better structure. In any event, it was sufficient for Bagirov to accept a draw here.

1/2-1/2

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. Nc3 Nxc3 4. bxc3 d5 5. Ba3 b6 6. d4

6. Qf3!? c5? 7. Bb5+! (7. c4 Be6 8. Nh3 Nc6 9. Nf4 Nd4 (9... Bf5 10. Nxd5 Nd4) ) 7... Bd7 8. e6! (8. Qxd5? Bxb5 9. Qxa8 Bc6 10. Qxa7 Bxg2) 8... fxe6 9. Qh5+ g6 10. Qe5 Rg8 (10... Bxb5 11. Qxh8 Qd6 12. Nf3) 11. Qxe6 Rg7 (11... Rh8? 12. Qe5 Rg8 13. Qxd5!) 12. c4! 0-1 Brzeski,M-Bach,M/Koszalin POL 2006

6... c5!

6... Qd7 7. f4 c5 8. c4? (8. dxc5 e6 9. Qd4 Nc6 10. Qf2) 8... dxc4 (8... Qa4! 9. Qf3 Nc6 10. dxc5 Nd4 11. Qxd5 Nxc2+ 12. Kf2 Rb8) 9. Bxc4 cxd4 10. e6 fxe6 11. Qh5+ g6 12. Qe5 Rg8 13. Rd1 Bg7 14. Qe2 Rf8 15. Nh3 Bh6 16. O-O Nc6 17. c3 e5 18. cxd4 exd4 19. Qe4 Bb7 20. Rfe1 Rf6 21. Ng5 Bxg5 22. fxg5 Rd6 23. Bxd6 Qxd6 24. Be6 Kd8 25. Bd5 Kc7 26. Bxc6 Bxc6 27. Qxe7+ Qxe7 28. Rxe7+ Kd6 29. Rxh7 Kd5 30. Rh4 1-0 Honfi-Weyerstrass.

7. f4

a) 7. Nf3 Qd7 (7... e6 8. Bb5+ Bd7 9. Bd3 Be7 10. O-O Nc6 11. Re1 Rc8 12. dxc5 bxc5 13. c4 Qa5 14. Bc1 dxc4 15. Bf1 (15. Bxc4?? Qc3) (15. Be4!) 15... Nd4 16. Nxd4 cxd4 17. Re4 1-0 Traub,B-Spiegel,S/Germany 1995 (46)) 8. Rb1 Ba6 9. Bxa6 Nxa6 10. O-O e6 11. Qe2 Qa4 12. dxc5 Nxc5 (12... Qxa3 13. Qb5+ Ke7 (13... Kd8 14. Ng5) 14. Qc6 (14. cxb6 axb6 15. Qc6 Nb8 16. Qxb6 Nd7) 14... Rb8 15. Qd6+ Ke8 16. Qc6+ Ke7=) 13. Nd4 a6 14. Bxc5 Bxc5 15. Nb3 O-O 16. Nxc5 bxc5 17. f4 Rab8 18. Rxb8 Rxb8 19. f5 Qe4 20. Qxa6 exf5 21. Qd6 Rc8 22. a4 g6 23. a5 Qe3+ 24. Kh1 Re8 25. a6 Qxe5 26. Qxc5 Qe2 27. Ra1 Qc4 28. Qxc4 dxc4 29. a7 Ra8 30. Kg1 Kf8 31. Kf2 Ke7 32. Ke3 Kd6 33. Kd4 Kc6 34. Kxc4 Kb7 35. Kb5?! (35. Kd5! Rd8+! 36. Ke5 Ka8 37. c4!) 35... Rxa7 36. Re1!? (36. Rxa7+ Kxa7 37. Kc6 f4!) 36... Kc8 37. c4 Rb7+ 38. Kc5 Rc7+= 1/2-1/2 Lalic,S-Regan,N/Chambery 1995 (62)

b) 7. dxc5?! e6 8. Bb5+ Bd7 9. cxb6 axb6 10. Bxf8 Kxf8 11. c4 Qc7! (11... Bxb5!? 12. cxb5 Qc7! 13. Ne2! Qxe5 14. O-O) 12. Nf3? (12. Ne2 Qxe5 13. O-O) 12... Bxb5 13. cxb5 Qc3+ 14. Ke2?! Ke7? (a) 14... Nd7! 15. Qd3 Qc7) (b) 14... Ra4 15. Re1=) 15. Qd3 Rc8 16. Nd4 Rc4 17. Rhd1 Nd7 18. Nc6+ (18. Qxc3 Rxc3 19. Rd3 Rc4 20. Nc6+ Kf8) 18... Ke8 19. Qxh7? Re4+? (19... Qb2! 20. Qg8+ Nf8 21. Kf1 Qxb5) 20. Kf1 Qxc2 21. Qh5 (21. Qxg7!) 21... Rxa2 22. Rxa2 Qxa2 23. g3 Qc4+ 24. Kg2 Qxb5 25. Nd4 Qa4 26. Nxe6! g6 27. Qh8+ Ke7 28. Qf8+ Kxe6 29. Qe8+ Kf5 30. Qxf7+ Kg5 31. Rxd5 Rd4 32. h4+ Kh6 33. Qg8 g5 34. h5 Nf8 35. Qxf8+ Kxh5 36. Qf5 Kh6 37. Qf6+ Kh5 38. Qe7 g4 39. Qh7+ Kg5 40. Qg7+ Kh5 41. Qf7+ Kg5 42. Rxd4 Qxd4 43. Qf4+ 1-0 Prie,E-Karr,J/Montpellier 1996

c) 7. Bb5+!? Bd7 8. Bd3 Nc6 9. Nf3 c4 10. Be2 Bg4 11. Ng1!? Bxe2 12. Nxe2 e6 13. Bxf8 Rxf8= Vorotnikov - Agzamov, USSR 1974

7... e6 8. Nf3

a) 8. Rb1 Na6 9. Bb5+ Ke7 10. Qd3 Nb8 11. dxc5 f5 12. cxb6+ Kf7 13. Bxf8 Rxf8 14. bxa7 Rxa7 15. a4 Ba6 16. Nf3 h6 17. Nd4 Qc8 18. O-O Bxb5 19. Qxb5 Qxc3 20. Nxf5 Nd7 21. Ng3 g6 22. Qe2 Qd4+ 23. Kh1 Qxa4 24. f5 gxf5 25. Nxf5 exf5 26. e6+ Kg7 27. exd7 Qxd7 28. Qe5+ Rf6 29. Rb6 Qe7 30. Qxf6+ Qxf6 31. Rxf6 Kxf6 32. g4 Kg5 33. Rxf5+ Kxg4 34. Rxd5 Ra2 35. Rc5 Kf3 36. h3 h5 37. Kg1 h4 38. Rc3+ Ke2 39. Kg2 Ra4 40. Rc8 Ke3 41. Rc3+ Ke2 42. Rc8 Ke3 43. Rc3+ Ke2 44. Rc8 Ke3 1/2-1/2 Aliberti,A-Arnold,G/USA 1996

b) 8. Bb5+?! Bd7 9. Bd3 Qc7

8... Qd7 9. Bd3

9. Rb1 Ba6 10. Bxa6 Nxa6 11. O-O g6 12. Qe2 Qa4! 13. f5!? gxf5! (13... Qxa3? 14. Qb5+ Kd8 15. Ng5) 14. Ng5 h6 (14... Qxa3! 15. Qh5 O-O-O 16. Nxf7 Be7! 17. Nxh8 Rxh8 18. Qf7 Kd7 19. c4!? Qe3+ 20. Rf2 Qh6 21. cxd5 Rf8 22. Qxe6+ Qxe6 23. dxe6+ Kxe6 24. c3 Rd8) 15. Nxf7! Kxf7 16. g4 Qxa3 (16... Rg8 17. Kh1) 17. gxf5 Rg8+ 18. Kh1 Rg7 (18... Rg5 19. fxe6+ Kg8 (19... Kxe6? 20. Rf6+ Ke7 21. Qf3) 20. Qf3) 19. Qh5+ Kg8 20. f6 Qxc3! (20... Rg5 21. Rg1) 21. fxg7 Bxg7 22. Rf7 Qe3 23. Rg1 Qe4+ 24. Rg2 Qe1+ 25. Rg1 1/2-1/2 Haik,A-Torre,E/Athens Wch-jr 1971.

9... Ba6

9... Qa4! 10. Bc1 (10. Qc1 c4 11. Bxf8 cxd3 12. Bxg7 Rg8 13. Bf6 Rxg2 14. cxd3 Ba6) 10... Nc6 11. Be3 Qa5 12. Bd2

10. O-O Be7 11.