The Left Hook Grand Prix with a3

By Michael Goeller

I have written before about the Grand Prix with a3 (1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.a3), but I decided to return to the subject since I have accumulated some games and have been thinking about other lines with an early a3 move by White. I am surprised that this Left Hook Grand Prix is not well covered in any book, especially now that various other Left Hook opening lines have been receiving positive attention (especially the Left Hook Austrian Attack with 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.a3!? designed to discourage 5...c5 due to 6.dxc5! Qa5 7.b4 etc. which was shown in SOS #1)

I think of 5.a3 as a high-class waiting move that fits well with any of White's systems, and he can choose his system based on Black's next move. If Black plays now 5...d6, then White can play 6.Bc4! putting the Bishop on its strongest diagonal, where 5.a3 provides it a nice retreat at a2 for when it is attacked. And if Black plays 5...e6, then White has a nice gambit in 6.b4! challenging the dark squares. He also has a good idea in 6.d4!? which is basically a reversed version of a known line in the English.

What I like best about the 5.a3 line is that it continues to be little known to theory despite having been adopted by some high-profile players. So there is a lot of room for improvisation and enterprising play, as the following games show. I have also added a couple games I have annotated previously to help fill out a Grand Prix repertoire.

Game 1

goeller - astonewaller (1848) [B23]

ICC 2 2 u/Internet Chess Club 2007


I have played a large number of blitz games featuring the Grand Prix with a3, and I thought I'd start by using some of them to illustrate the general ideas.

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6

2... g6 3. f4 Bg7 4. Nf3 e6 5. a3!? Ne7 6. b4!? cxb4 7. axb4 d5 8. e5 O-O 9. g4!? (9. d4!) 9... a6 (9... f5) 10. h4 Nbc6 11. b5! Nb8 12. h5 Nd7 13. Qe2 b6?! 14. hxg6 fxg6 15. Qh2 h6 16. Bd3?! (16. bxa6!) 16... Nc5 17. Be2 Bb7? (17... d4!) 18. d4 Ne4 19. Nd1 axb5 20. Rxa8 Qxa8 21. f5! Qa5+! 22. c3! exf5 23. Bxh6 Nxc3 24. Bxg7 Nxe2+ 25. Kxe2 Qa2+ 26. Nd2 Rc8 27. Qh7+ Kf7 28. Bf6+! Black resigns. 1-0 goeller-galew/Internet Chess Club 2007 (28).

 

3. f4 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. a3 e6 6. b4!?

6. d4 is another interesting line, which I discuss below.

 

 

6... cxb4?!

I think taking the pawn is already an error since it gives White too much cetral control and control of the dark squares. Black does better not only to decline the sacrifice, but to avoid the exchange of pawns.

a) 6... Nge7!? 7. e5!

Playable but messy is 7. bxc5 Bxc3! (7... Qa5!?) 8. dxc3 Qa5 9. e5?! (9. Be3! Qxc3+ 10. Kf2 f5 11. Bd3) 9... Nd5!? 10. Bd3?! Nxc3 11. Qd2 Qxc5 12. a4 h6 13. Ba3 Nb4 14. a5 Ncd5 15. Be4? (15. Kf1) 15... Qc4! 16. Qd4 Nxc2+ 17. Bxc2 Qxc2 0-1 Ermenkov,E-Cosma,I/Subotica 2002 (56).

7... d6 8. Bb2 cxb4 9. Ne4 dxe5 10. fxe5 O-O 11. axb4 Nxb4 12. Ba3 Nbc6 13. Nf6+ Kh8 14. d4

 

b) 6... Nxb4!? is a surprising move, when it is best not to look surprised! 7. axb4 cxb4 8. e5 (8. Bb2!?) 8... bxc3 9. Ba3! (9. d4!? Ne7 10. Ba3 is probably what I would play) 9... cxd2+ 10. Nxd2 d5 11. exd6! (An enterprising idea! White gains more than sufficient compensation for the Exchange, yet Black can hardly resist taking it.) 11... Bxa1 12. Qxa1 f6 13. Ne4 Qa5+ 14. Kf2 Qf5? (14... Qb6+ 15. Bc5 Qc6 16. Bd3!) 15. d7+! Kxd7 16. Bb5+!! (also good is 16. g3!? Qxe4?? 17. Bb5+) 16... Qxb5 17. Rd1+ Kc7 18. Bd6+ Kd8 19. Be7+ (19. Nxf6!?) 19... Kxe7 20. Qa3+ Kf7 21. Nd6+ Kg7 22. Nxb5 Nh6 23. Qe7+ Nf7 24. Nd6 Rf8 25. Ne8+ Kg8 26. Rd8 1-0 Hollis ,G-Whiteley,A/London tt 1999 (26) -- an absolutely stunning game on close examination!

 

c) 6... b6! is a challenging move, not giving White any ground in the center. Steve Stoyko -- famous for always asking "Why give him what he wants?" -- thinks this is best. We will examine it below in the game Fischer - Danschczyk, Bayern 1998.

7. axb4 Nxb4

Taking the pawn leads to trouble, but declining at this point is hardly much better:

a) 7... d6 8. d4! Bd7 9. Nb5 Qb6 10. Nxd6+ Kf8 11. e5 f6 12. b5 Nd8 13. Bd2 Nf7?? 14. Ba5! 1-0 Boerstad,T - Carlsen,E/Gausdal 2004 (14).

 

b) 7... d5 8. e5

 

c) 7... a6?! 8. b5! Nb8 9. Ba3

8. Ba3










8... Nc6

This move is almost universally played, with rare exceptions:

a) 8... Na6 9. Nb5 Bxa1? (9... Bf8! 10. Bd6 Bxd6 (10... Qb6 11. Rxa6 bxa6 12. Nc7+ Kd8 13. Bxf8 Qxc7 14. Bg7 Qxf4 (14... f6 15. e5) 15. Bd3 f6 16. O-O) 11. Nxd6+ Kf8 12. e5 (12. Bxa6) ) 10. Nd6+ Kf8 11. Nxb7+ Kg7 12. Nxd8 Black resigns. 1-0 goeller-sunnyday/Internet Chess Club 2007 (12).

b) 8... Bf8 9. Qb1! (9. Nb5 a6 10. c3 axb5 11. Bxb4 Rxa1 12. Qxa1 Bxb4 13. cxb4 Qf6 14. Nd4! (14. Qa8 Qd8 (14... Ne7!) 15. Bxb5 Ne7 16. d4 O-O 17. O-O Nc6 18. d5? exd5 19. exd5 Nxb4 (19... Qb6+) 20. d6 Qb6+ White resigns. 0-1 goeller-anon10/Internet Chess Club 2007 (20)) ) 9... a5 (9... Nc6! 10. Nb5! d6 11. e5 dxe5 12. fxe5 f6 13. d4) 10. Nb5 d5 11. e5 f6 12. Bxb4 Bxb4 13. Qxb4!! axb4 14. Rxa8 Ne7 15. Nd6+ Kf8 16. Nd4 Kg8 17. Bb5!!

c) 8... a5? 9. Bxb4 Black resigns. 1-0 goeller-Kakmonstret/Internet Chess Club 2007 (9).

d) 8... Bxc3! 9. dxc3 Nc6 10. Nd4! (10. Qd6!? Nge7) 10... Nf6! (10... d5 11. Nb5!) (10... a6?! 11. Bd6 Nge7? 12. Nb5! O-O 13. Bc7 Qe8 14. Nd6 is lovely.) 11. e5 Nxd4 (11... Ne4 12. Nb5 Qb6 13. Qf3 f5 14. Bd6) 12. Qxd4! Nh5!? 13. Kf2!? (13. c4!? Qh4+ 14. g3) 13... Ng7 (13... Qh4+ 14. g3 Nxg3 15. hxg3 Qxh1 16. Qd6) 14. Bd3 Nf5 15. Bxf5 gxf5 16. Bc5 a6 17. Rhb1 is probably Black's best at this point, but no one ever plays this way.

 

9. Nb5! Bf8

As soon as Black realizes this is his best move, he knows he's not going to enjoy the remainder of the game.

a) 9... Bxa1? 10. Nd6+ Kf8 11. Nxb7+

b) 9... Nge7? 10. Bd6!! (10. Nd6+ Kf8 11. Ng5) 10... a6 (10... Ng8 11. Nc7+) (10... Bxa1 11. Qxa1! O-O 12. Bc7 Qe8 13. Nd6) 11. Nc7+! (11. Bc7?? axb5!) 11... Kf8 12. Nxa8 Bxa1 13. Qxa1

 

10. Bd6! Bxd6

10... f6? 11. Bc7! Qe7 12. Nd6+!

 

11. Nxd6+ Ke7!?

The other king move is not much better: 11... Kf8 12. Ne5! I like this move best, though White has a number of good options.(12. d4 Nh6 13. c4) (12. e5 f6! (12... Nge7?! 13. Ng5!) 13. Bb5! fxe5 14. Bxc6 dxc6 15. fxe5) 12... Nh6 (12... Nxe5 13. fxe5 f5!? 14. exf5! Qh4+ 15. g3 Qd4 16. Ra5! exf5 17. Bg2 Nh6 18. c3 Qb6 19. Rb5 Qc7 20. Qa4 a6 21. Qh4 Ng8 22. Rb4) 13. Qf3 f6 14. Nec4 Nf7 15. e5

 

12. e5

Best may be 12. Ne5!? Nh6 (12... Nxe5 13. fxe5) 13. Nec4 Rb8 14. Qf3! b5 15. Qa3! b4 16. Qh3

 

12... f6

12... a6 13. d4 f6 14. d5! exd5 15. Qxd5 fxe5 (15... Nh6 16. Qc5!) 16. fxe5 Nh6 17. Bb5 (17. Qc5!) 17... Qg8 18. Bxc6 dxc6 19. Qd2 Nf7 20. O-O Be6 21. Ng5 Rb8 22. Nxe6 Kxe6 23. Nxf7 Qxf7 24. Rxf7 Kxf7 25. Qd7+ Kg8 26. Rf1 Rf8 27. e6 Rxf1+ 28. Kxf1 Black resigns. 1-0 goeller-JnDy/Internet Chess Club 2007 (28).

 

13. d4

And here best is likely 13. Qc1! Kf8! 14. h4 Nh6 15. Qa3 Kg7 16. h5

 

13... Nh6! 14. Bd3?!

Having missed very strong attacking ideas earlier, White now loses the thread and his position deteriorates -- until Black later blunders.

a) 14. c4! Nf7 15. d5! exd5 16. cxd5 Nb4 17. Nb5!?

b) 14. d5!? exd5 15. Qxd5 Qb6 16. exf6+!? Kxf6 17. g4!?

 

14... Nf7 15. Nxf7

15. Ne4 f5 16. Nf2 d5 17. c3

 

15... Kxf7 16. O-O Kg7

Black seems to have reached relative safety, but White still has plenty of compensation for the pawn, very much like a French Wing Gambit position. But White needs to play c3 to bolster the center and prevent Nb4.

 

17. Kh1?!

17. c3!

 

17... d6 18. Qe2 Rf8 19. d5!? exd5 20. e6 f5! 21. Rae1 Re8 22. Ng5 h6 23. Nf7 Qe7?!

23... Qc7

 

24. c4 Nd4?

24... Bxe6 25. cxd5 Bxf7 26. dxc6 Qxe2 or 24... d4

 

25. Qb2!










25... Bxe6 26. Qxd4+ Kxf7 27. cxd5 Qf6 28. dxe6+ Rxe6 29. Qb4

29. Qd5!

 

29... b6?? 30. Bc4! Rae8 31. Rxe6 Rxe6 32. Re1

32. Qxd6

 

32... a5 33. Qxd6! Kg7 34. Qxe6 Qc3 35. Qf7+ Kh8 36. Qg8#

Black checkmated. Not the prettiest game (it was played at 2 minutes and 2 second increment after all), but a good illustration of White's attacking chances in these positions.

 

1-0

Game 2

Lawrence A Day - Anatoly Lein [B23]

Saint John op-1/Saint John 1988


1. e4 c5 2. f4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. a3 e6 6. b4!

This Delayed Wing Gambit is not really a gambit since it is unhealthy for Black to take the offered pawn.

 

6... cxb4?!

Accepting the gambit pawn just leads to trouble for Black, as we saw in the first game. He actually ends up declining the pawn, but Black does much better by playing 7...Nge7!? immediately rather than this exchange.

 

7. axb4 Nge7










7... Nd4 8. e5 Nxf3+ 9. Qxf3 Bf8 10. Nb5 Qb6 (10... Bxb4 11. Ba3!) 11. c4 Bxb4 12. Ba3 Bxa3? 13. Qxa3 Ne7 14. Nd6+ Kf8 15. c5 Qd8 16. Bd3 Kg7 17. Be4 Nc6 18. h4 h5 19. Qg3 b6 20. f5! exf5 21. Nxf5+ Kg8 22. Nd6 bxc5 23. Bxg6 1-0 Bennett,H-Inoue,S/Kuala Lumpur MAS 2006.

 

8. b5! Nd4 9. e5 Nxf3+

9... Nef5 10. Ba3?! (10. Nxd4! Nxd4 11. Ba3) 10... d6? (10... Nxf3+! 11. Qxf3 f6) 11. Nxd4 Nxd4 12. Bxd6 (12. Ne4!) 12... Bd7 13. Bc5 Bc8 14. Ne4 Qd5 15. Bd3 b6 16. c4 1-0 Urquhart,E-Wight,K/Guelph 2002 (16).

 

10. Qxf3 d5

Better perhaps 10... d6 11. Ne4 (11. b6!? O-O 12. Rxa7 Rb8) 11... dxe5 12. fxe5 Bxe5 13. Nf6+ Bxf6 14. Qxf6.

 

11. Qf2!

Going after the pawn at a7, but there might be other ideas:

a) 11. d4!? Nf5 12. Qf2 Qb6 13. Ra4

b) 11. exd6!? Qxd6 12. Ba3 Qd8 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. b6 Qc5 15. Bb5+ Kf8 16. Rxa7 Rxa7 17. bxa7 Qxa7 18. Nd1

 

11... f6 12. exf6 Bxf6 13. Rxa7 Rxa7 14. Qxa7

The extra pawn gives White the edge, but Black does have active squares for his pieces.

 

14... Nf5 15. Ba3 Kf7 16. g3 h5!

16... Bd4 17. Bc5

 

17. Bd3 Re8 18. Kd1 Bd4 19. Bc5 Bxc5 20. Qxc5










Though a pawn down, Lein puts up a good enough fight to draw the ending.

 

20... Qd6 21. Qxd6 Nxd6 22. Ne2 Bd7 23. Nd4 Kf6 24. c3 Ra8 25. Ke2 g5 26. h4 gxf4 27. gxf4 Rg8 28. Kf3 Nf7 29. Be2 e5 30. fxe5+ Nxe5+ 31. Kf2 Ng4+ 32. Bxg4 Rxg4 33. b6 Ke7 34. Nf3 Rf4 35. Ke3 Re4+ 36. Kf2 Rf4 37. Re1+ Kd6 38. Kg3 Rg4+ 39. Kf2 Bf5 40. Re8 Be4 41. Ne5 Rxh4 42. Kg3 Rh1 43. d4 Rb1 44. c4 dxc4 45. Nxc4+ Kd5 46. Nd2 Rg1+ 47. Kh4 Bh1 48. Rd8+ 1/2-1/2


Game 3

Stefan Cristian - Evgeni Karasik [B23]

Canarias en Red prel 1st/playchess.com INT (7) 2004


1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. a3 e6 6. b4 d6?!

This move is positionally suspect since it allows White to essentially exchange his b-pawn for Black's central d-pawn, leaving White in strong control of the center and the dark squares. But Black's rapid development can give him sufficient counterplay.

 

7. bxc5 dxc5 8. e5! Nge7?!

And this natural developing move is too slow. Black must act much more vigorously to secure counterplay: 8... f6! 9. Ne4! fxe5 10. Bb2 Qc7 (10... Nf6 11. Nxf6+ Bxf6 12. fxe5 Bg7 13. Bb5) (10... Qd5 11. Nfg5! threatening Bc4!) 11. fxe5 Nxe5 12. Bb5+ Bd7 13. Bxd7+ Kxd7 14. Bxe5 Bxe5 15. Rb1

 

9. Ne4!









9... O-O!

Black correctly gives up the pawn at c5 rather than allow the check at d6.

a) 9... b6? 10. Nd6+ Kf8 11. Ng5

b) 9... Nd5 10. Nxc5 (10. Nd6+ Kf8 11. Bb5!?) 10... Nxf4 11. d4 Nd5 12. Ne4 O-O 13. c4 Nde7 14. Bg5

 

10. Nxc5 Nd5

10... Qd5 11. d4 Nf5 12. c3 b6 13. Nd3 h5 14. Nb4 Nxb4 15. axb4 Qe4+ 16. Kf2 Qc6 17. Bd2 f6 18. exf6 Bxf6 19. Bd3 Bh4+ 20. g3 Bf6 21. Re1 Qc7 22. Be4 Rb8 23. b5 Qg7 24. h4 Nh6 25. Qc2 Nf5 26. Ra4 Kh8 27. Rea1 Rf7 28. Bc6 Rc7 29. Ne5 Bxe5 30. fxe5 Ne7 31. Rxa7 Nxc6 32. Rxc7 Qxc7 33. Qxg6 Ne7 34. Qxh5+ Kg8 35. Kg1 Nf5 36. g4 Qg7 37. Qe8+ Kh7 38. Bg5 Nh6 39. Rf1 Rb7 40. Qxc8 Rf7 41. Qxe6 Rxf1+ 42. Kxf1 Nxg4 43. Qxg4 Qf7+ 44. Bf6 Qc4+ 45. Kg1 Qf7 46. Qf5+ Kg8 47. e6 1-0 Martinovsky,E-Kende,G/Chicago 1992 (47).

 

11. g3

Black has no compensation for the pawn. Perhaps a bit stronger was 11. d4! f6 12. c4

 

11... Qa5 12. Nb3 Qc7 13. Bg2 b6 14. O-O Bb7 15. Qe2 Rac8 16. c4 Nde7 17. Bb2 Rfd8 18. d4 Nb8 19. Rac1 Ba6 20. Nfd2 Nbc6 21. Rfd1 Nf5 22. Qe4 Bb7 23. d5 Nb8 24. d6 Bxe4 25. dxc7 Bxg2 26. cxd8=Q+ Rxd8 27. Kxg2 Ne3+ 28. Kf2 Nxd1+ 29. Rxd1 Bf8 30. Ke2 Rc8 31. Rc1 Na6 32. Ne4 Be7 33. c5 Kg7 34. cxb6 Rxc1 35. Bxc1 axb6 36. Kd3 h5 37. Kc4 Nc7 38. Nd4 Nd5 39. Kb5 h4 40. a4 hxg3 41. hxg3 Kf8 42. Nc6 Ke8 43. Nxe7 Kxe7 44. Ba3+ Kd7 45. Nf6+ Nxf6 46. exf6 Kc7 47. Bb2 Kb7 48. Bd4 Ka7 49. Bxb6+ Ka8 50. a5 Kb7 51. a6+ Ka8 52. a7 Kb7 53. Bd4 Ka8 54. g4 Kb7 55. g5 Ka8 56. Kc6 e5 57. Kd5 exd4 58. Kxd4 Kxa7 59. f5 gxf5 60. g6 Kb7 61. gxf7 f4 62. f8=Q f3 63. Ke3 Kc6 64. Kxf3 Kd5 65. Qe7 Kd4 66. f7 1-0


Game 4

Manfred Fischer - Christoph Danschczyk [B23]

Bayern (5) 1998


1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. a3!? e6

Inviting the gambit that follows. As I showed in "The Grand Prix with a3," if 5... d6 then 6. Bc4 and the a-pawn's advance has created a good retreat square for the Bishop.

 

6. b4!? b6!

This may well be the best defense, refusing to surrender an inch in the center or to weaken the dark squares. Accepting White's pseudo-gambit is bad: 6... cxb4?! 7. axb4 Nxb4? (7... Nge7 8. b5 Nd4 9. e5 Nxf3+ 10. Qxf3) 8. Ba3 Nc6 9. Nb5

 

7. e5!

In another game, White played 7.bxc5 but did not fare as well:

7. bxc5?! This exchange has the disadvantage of opening the b-file for Black. 7... bxc5 8. e5 d6 9. Bb5 Nge7 10. Bb2

(10. Ne4!? dxe5 11. fxe5 O-O 12. Nf6+ Kh8 13. Bb2 is not as good as the game due to 13... Rb8! and the skewer of the Bishops forces White to lose time and the Bishop pair.)

10... O-O 11. Ne4 dxe5 12. Bxc6 Nxc6 13. fxe5 Rb8! 14. Bc3 Qd5 15. Nf6+! Bxf6 16. exf6 e5! 17. d3 Nd4 18. O-O Bg4 19. Qd2?

(White had to play 19. Bxd4 Bxf3 20. Rxf3 Qxd4+ 21. Kh1 though he comes under pressure after 21... Rb2! 22. Rc1 (22. Qd2? Rxc2!!) 22... Qc3 -- but that niggling pawn at f6 might still be a problem for Black.)

19... Bxf3 20. Bxd4?

(Fritz finds a near-save for White in 20. Qh6!? Nf5 21. Qc1! c4 (21... Be2? 22. Rxf5!; 21... Bxg2?! 22. Rxf5 Bh1 23. Qg5; 21... Rb6 22. Rxf3 Rxf6 23. Qg5 Qd6 24. Raf1; or 21... Nd4 22. Qh6=) 22. Rxf3 cxd3 23. Rxf5! d2!! 24. Bxd2 gxf5 25. Bh6 f4! 26. Bxf8 Rxf8 and Black has the better of the major piece ending, but it sure takes some exact play just to get there!)

20... Qxd4+ 21. Kh1 Bxg2+ (Or 21... e4 22. Qh6 Qxf6 23. dxe4 Bxg2+ 24. Kxg2 Qc3) 22. Kxg2 Rb6 23. Rae1 (23. Qh6 Rxf6!) 23... Qg4+ 24. Kh1 Qh4 25. Re4 Qh5 26. Qf2 Rfb8 27. Qxc5 Rxf6 28. Ree1? (28. Rxf6 Rb1+ 29. Kg2 Qg5+ 30. Kh3 Qxf6 31. Qxe5 and White "ha s excelent chances of holding despite the exposure of his king" notes DeFotis.) 28... Rxf1+ 29. Rxf1 Qe2 30. Kg1 Qg4+ 31. Kh1 Qe2 32. Kg1 Qg4+ 33. Kh1 Qd4 34. Qc6 Rd8 35. Rb1 Qd5+! 36. Qxd5 Rxd5 37. Rb4 a5 38. Rc4 Rd4 39. Rc5 e4 40. dxe4 Ra4 41. Kg2 Rxa3 42. c3 a4 43. Kf3 Ra2 44. h4 Rh2 45. Kg3 Rc2 46. h5? gxh5! Creating a second passed pawn for Black. 47. Kh4 a3 48. e5 Rc1 49. Ra5 Ra1! 50. Kg3 Kf8 51. Ra7 a2 52. Kg2 Ke8 53. c4 Kd8 54. c5 Kc8 55. c6 Kb8 56. c7+ Kc8 57. Kh2 h4! 58. Kg2 h3+! 59. Kh2 h6 60. Ra5 Kxc7 61. Ra6 Kb7 62. Ra3 Kc6 63. Ra5 Kd7 64. Ra6 Ke7 65. Ra5 Ke6 66. Ra6+ Kxe5 67. Ra5+ Kd4 68. Ra8 f5 69. Ra4+ Kc5 70. Ra5+ Kb6 71. Ra3 and resigns in Martinovsky-Colias.

 

7... d6

7... Nge7 8. Ne4! O-O 9. c3!? (better perhaps 9. b5!? or 9. bxc5) 9... d5 (9... f6!) 10. Nf6+?! (10. exd6 Nf5) 10... Bxf6 11. exf6 Nf5 12. b5 Na5 13. g4 Nd6 14. g5 (I am intrigued by Glek's treatment of the position, which shows you the type of strange and enterprising ideas that White can try, though I think ultimately that White must be worse here.) 14... d4 15. cxd4 c4 16. a4 (16. d3) 16... Bb7 17. Bb2 Nf5 18. Bg2 Qc7 19. O-O (19. d5!?) 19... Qxf4 20. Ne5? Qxg5 21. Qg4 Qxg4 22. Nxg4 Rfd8 23. Rxf5 gxf5 24. Nh6+ Kf8 25. Kf2 Bxg2 26. Rg1 Ke8 27. Rxg2 e5 28. Rg7 exd4 29. Ba3 Kd7 30. Nxf7 Rg8 31. Nh6+ Rxg7 32. fxg7 c3 33. dxc3 dxc3 34. Ke2 c2 35. Kd2 Nc4+ 36. Kxc2 Nxa3+ 37. Kb3 Nb1 38. Kc2 Na3+ 39. Kb3 Nb1 0-1 Glek,I-Stellwagen,D/Wattenscheid GER 2007.

 

8. Bb5 Nge7 9. Ne4! dxe5 10. fxe5 O-O 11. Nf6+! Kh8

11... Bxf6?? 12. exf6 wins a piece.

 

12. Bb2 Bb7 13. O-O

with Black's Bishop on b7, White can exchange with 13. bxc5 bxc5 14. O-O Nd5 when 15. Ne4! gains a tempo with the attack on c5.

 

13... Nd5 14. Bxc6 Bxc6










15. Ng5?!

Indicated is 15. Qe1! Nxf6 (what else?) 16. exf6 Bh6 (16... Bxf6? 17. Bxf6+ Qxf6 18. Ne5) 17. Qh4! Bxd2 18. Ne5 Be3+ 19. Kh1 and White appears to have a tremendous attack: 19... Bb7 ( Black's only chance is to give up a piece to expose White's king with 19... Bxg2+ 20. Kxg2 Qd2+ 21. Kh1 Qxc2 22. Rae1! Bd2 23. Bc1! though White still wins.) 20. Rad1 Qe8 21. Nxg6+ fxg6 22. f7+ Bd4 23. Qf6+!! Bxf6 24. Bxf6#.

 

15... Nxf6 16. exf6 Bh6 17. Qg4 Qxd2 18. Bc1 Qc3 19. Nxf7+ Rxf7 20. Bxh6 Rxf6 21. Rxf6 Qxf6

21... Qxa1+ 22. Rf1 Qd4+ 23. Qxd4+ cxd4 24. Rf7=

 

22. Rf1

White clearly missed a winning opportunity in 15.Qe1!

1/2-1/2

Game 5

S. Monange (2121) - C. Housseau (2015) [B23]

Paris Championship/Paris, FRA (5) 1999


1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. a3 e6 6. d4!?










Tim McGrew pointed out this possibility to me, interpreting the a3 line as a reversed English where the gambit of the d-pawn is well known and usefully covered in Nigel Davies's recent Gambiteer II.

 

6... cxd4

Alternatives are no better:

a) 6... Nxd4 7. Nxd4 cxd4 (7... Bxd4? 8. Nb5 Bg7? 9. Qd6!) 8. Nb5 d6 (8... Qb6?! 9. e5 f6 10. Nd6+ Ke7 (10... Kf8 11. Be2! fxe5 12. fxe5 Bxe5 13. Nc4) 11. Nc4 Qc5 12. Bd2 Qd5 (12... a5? 13. Bxa5 Rxa5 14. b4) 13. Bb4+) (8... Ne7 9. Nd6+ Kf8 10. Bd3) (8... e5 9. Nd6+ Ke7 10. fxe5 Bxe5 11. Nc4) (8... d5 9. e5 Ne7 10. Nd6+ Kf8 11. Bd3) 9. Nxd4 a6 (9... Nf6 10. Bb5+ Bd7 11. Bxd7+ Qxd7 12. Qd3) (9... Ne7 10. Bb5+) 10. c3 would actually transpose back to the game continuation.

b) 6... d5 7. e5

 

7. Nb5 d6

7... d5!? 8. e5 f6! 9. Nd6+ Ke7

 

8. Nfxd4

8. c3!? is often thematic in this position, but here it makes no real difference since 8... a6 (8... dxc3?! 9. Nxd6+ Kf8 10. e5 f6 11. Bb5) 9. Nbxd4 Nxd4 10. Nxd4 transposes back to the game line.

 

8... Nxd4 9. Nxd4 a6 10. c3

White also gains a slight edge with 10. Nf3 Qb6 11. c3 Nf6 12. Bd3 e5!? (12... O-O 13. Qe2 and Be3 +=) 13. fxe5 Ng4 14. Qe2?! (14. Qa4+! Bd7 15. Qd4 Qxd4 16. cxd4 dxe5 17. h3) 14... Nxe5 15. Nxe5 dxe5 16. Be3 Qc7 17. O-O O-O 18. Bc4 Kh8 19. Bb3 (19. Bd5!) 19... b5 20. a4 Bb7 21. axb5 axb5 22. Rxa8 Bxa8 23. Bc2 Bc6 24. Qf2 f6 25. Ra1 Qd7 26. Ra7 Qg4 27. h3 Qe6 28. Qd2 g5 29. Qd1 Rc8 30. Bc5 (30. Bb3!) 30... Qc4 31. Qd6!? Qe2 32. Bd3?! (32. Qe6!) 32... Qe1+ 33. Kh2?! (33. Bf1) 33... g4 34. hxg4? Qh4+ 35. Kg1 Bf8! 36. Qxf8+ Rxf8 37. Bxf8 Qxg4 38. Rc7 Bxe4 39. Bxe4 Qxe4 40. Bh6 Qe1+ 0-1 Zancas,M-Shevelev,S/Sitges 1993 -- obviously White's play could be improved considerably!

 

10... Ne7 11. Be3 O-O 12. Bd3 b6 13. O-O Bb7 14. Qd2

14. Qb3!? with pressure on b6 and the a2-g8 diagonal is another idea.

 

14... Nc6

14... e5!?

 

15. Nxc6 Bxc6 16. f5! exf5 17. exf5 Be5 18. Bg5 Qd7 19. Rae1 Rfe8 20. Re3!?

20. fxg6

 

20... f6?!










21. Rxe5!!

An absolutely brilliant combination! Not as strong is 21. Bxf6 Bxf6 22. fxg6.

 

21... fxe5

No better are 21... dxe5 22. Bxf6! or 21... Rxe5 22. Bxf6

 

22. fxg6 e4

22... hxg6 23. Bxg6 Rf8 24. Bf6

 

23. Bc4+ d5 24. Rf7!

The key to the entire combination. Black is lost.

 

24... Qe6 25. Bf6 e3 26. Rg7+ Kf8 27. gxh7

and mate cannot be avoided. A great game.

 

1-0

[Michael Goeller]


Game 6

goeller - anon [B23]

ICC 3 2 u/Internet Chess Club 2008


1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. a3 d6

If 5.a3 induces this move, then White is happy. After all, he now gets an ideal Grand Prix set-up with the Bishop on c4 and able to retreat to a2 to avoid attack.

 

6. Bc4! e6

6... Nf6 7. d3 O-O 8. O-O Bg4 9. h3 Bxf3 10. Qxf3 Nd4 11. Qf2 Nd7 12. Be3 a6 13. Nd1 b5 14. Bd5 Rb8 15. c3 Ne6 16. Bxe6?! (16. f5!) 16... fxe6 17. Qh4 b4? 18. axb4 cxb4 19. Rxa6 bxc3 20. bxc3 Bf6 21. Qg3 (21. Qg4!) 21... Qc8 22. Ra2 (22. Ra7!) 22... Nc5 23. Bxc5 Qxc5+ 24. d4 Qc4 25. Raf2 Rb3 26. e5 dxe5 27. fxe5 Bg7 28. Rxf8+ Bxf8 29. Qf3 Bg7 30. Qf7+ Kh8 31. Qe8+ Black resigns 1-0 goeller-Wrob/Internet Chess Club 2007.

 

7. O-O Nge7 8. d3 O-O 9. Qe1 a6

9... Nd4! 10. Nxd4 cxd4 11. Ne2 d5 12. Bb3 dxe4 13. dxe4 d3 14. Nc3 dxc2 15. Bxc2 is about equal for Black.

 

10. Qh4 d5 11. Ba2










11... d4?!

This looks like it gains Black space, but the truth is it helps White by closing the center, making his kingside attack difficult to counter.

 

12. Ne2

An interesting alternative is 12. Nd1!? b5 13. Nf2 headed for Ng4 with attack on the dark squares.

 

12... b5 13. f5!

13. Ng3!?

 

13... exf5 14. Bh6! fxe4

14... Qd6 15. Ng3! (15. Ng5 Qf6 16. Rae1 Bxh6 17. Qxh6 Qg7 18. Qh4 h6 19. Nxf7 Rxf7 20. Bxf7+ Kxf7) 15... Bb7 16. Ng5 Qf6 17. exf5

 

15. Ng5!?

15. Bxg7! exf3 16. Bxf8

 

15... Nf5 16. Rxf5! Bxf5

 










17. dxe4!

17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. Qxh7+ Kf6

 

17... Be6?

17... Qf6 18. Bd5! Rac8 19. Bxg7 Qxg7 20. exf5

 

18. Bxe6! fxe6? 19. Bxg7! Kxg7 20. Qxh7+

(I seem to have completely overlooked 10.Nxe6+ in my focused pursuit of the king)

 

20... Kf6 21. Rf1+ Kxg5

(21...Ke5 22.Rxf8! wins, e.g.: 21...Qxf8 22.Qc7+ Qd6 23.Qg7#)

 

22. h4+ Kg4 23. Qxg6+

1-0

White mates nicely after 23...23...Kxh4 with either 24.g3+ Kh3 25.Qxe6+ or 24.Rf4+ Rxf4 25.g3+! Kh3 26.Nxf4#.


Game 7

Bernard Hanen - Bruno Belin [B23]

FRA AJEC/1162 corr/France 1986


1. e4 c5 2. f4 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. a3 d6 6. Bc4

6. Bb5 is also playable but hardly consistent with 5.a3.

 

6... e6

6... Nd4 7. O-O Bg4? 8. Bxf7+ Kxf7 9. Ng5+

 

7. O-O a6?!

The Bishop at c4 provokes Black into wasting time with queenside action before completing his development. But the Bishop will find a nice home at a2.

Better 7... Nge7! 8. Qe1 O-O 9. d3 Nd4 10. Qf2!? (10. Nxd4 cxd4 11. Ne2 d5 12. Bb3 dxe4 13. dxe4 d3 14. Nc3 dxc2 15. Bxc2=) 10... d5 11. Ba2 b6 12. Re1 ( probably necessary is 12. Nd1! Bb7 13. c3 Nxf3+ 14. Qxf3=) 12... Bb7 13. e5 Nxf3+ 14. Qxf3 Nf5 15. Rb1 Rc8 16. Bd2 h5 17. Qd1 a6 18. b4 c4 19. Ne2 d4 20. Bxc4 b5 21. Bb3 Nh4 22. Ng3 Bxg2 23.