Anti-Petroff Repertoire with d4

By Michael Goeller

Today I offer up an interesting "Anti-Petroff Repertoire with d4" focused on lines where White gets an attacking set-up with a pawn at e5. While it has been played at the highest levels, this is still a relatively unusual line and one that players as Black will not often see, since the 3.Nxe4 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe5 exchange is so standard at every level. In fact, a number of books on the Petroff give scarcely a chapter on 3.d4, and those that do discuss 3.d4 focus on the more traditional lines where White takes at e5 with the Knight (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 Nxe4 4.Bd3 d5 5.Nxe5). The positions where White takes at e5 with a pawn, however, are less symmetrical and more frequently give White kingside attacking chances.

I first became interested in this line after seeing some nice White wins after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 Nxe4 4.Bd3 d5 5.dxe5 Be7 6.O-O Nc6 7.Nc3! which is featured in the first games below. I like this move a lot. White allows doubled pawns in exchange for getting rid of the centralized Knight, speeding development, and gaining open lines (note the half-open b-file) and added control of the center (especially the d4-square). It is an interesting trade-off and one that has proven somewhat favorable for White in practice, including in our featured game Kosteniuk - Pourkashiyan from the ongoing Women's World Championship tournament (where GM Kosteniuk is playing in the final).

I call this a "repertoire" because I do not offer complete coverage of 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4, focusing only on my recommendations where White tends to get a pawn at e5. The only place where I have erred on the side of inclusiveness is against Murey's surprising 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 Nxe4 4.Bd3 Nc6!? where White has a number of interesting options, though I do tend to prefer 5.Bxe4 d5 6.Bg5! Against the less common 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 exd4, White always has, of course, the option of transposing to my favorite Urusov Gambit (with 4.Bc4), but I also offer the interesting line 4.e5 Ne4 5.Qe2!? which sidesteps the extensive theory of 5.Qxd4 and tends to produce interesting attacking possibilities based on the pawn at e5. As always, I welcome reader input and improvements.

Alexandra Kosteniuk (2510) - Atousa Pourkashiyan (2269) [C43]

WCh-Women/Nalchik RUS (1.1) 2008

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5. dxe5 Be7 6. O-O Nc6

Alternatives up to this point are considered below. Here, 6... Bg4 allows White to take a slight edge into the endgame after 7. Bxe4! (a good alternative is 7. Nc3!? Nxc3 8. bxc3 Nc6 which probably transposes to the game line) 7... dxe4 8. Qxd8+ Bxd8 9. Nd4 O-O ( White's argument is that Black's e-pawn is weaker than his, and White's pieces a little better placed.) 10. Nc3 (10. Re1!?) 10... Nd7 11. h3 Bh5 (11... c5!?) 12. e6! fxe6?! (better may be 12... Nc5 but 13. exf7+ Bxf7 14. Nb3 also leaves White with a structural plus) 13. Nxe6 Re8 14. Nxd8 Raxd8 15. Bg5! Nf6 (White quickly catches up in development yet still has the isolated Black pawn to think about.) 16. Rfe1 Bg6 17. Rad1 Kf8 18. Bxf6! gxf6 19. Nd5! white has a moderate advantage (White wins a pawn and is eventually able to convert it to a point.) 19... e3 20. Nxe3 c5 21. Kf1 Rd4 22. c3 Bd3+ 23. Kg1 Rd6 24. Rd2!? b5 25. Nc2 Red8 26. Red1 Ke7 27. Ne1 Be4 28. Rxd6 Rxd6 29. Rxd6 Kxd6 30. Kf1 Kd5 31. Ke2 Bb1 32. a3 Kc4 33. Kd2 Be4 34. f3 Bg6 35. b4 Kb3 36. bxc5 Kxa3 37. c6 Ka4 38. g4 Be8 39. c7 Bd7 40. Nd3 Ka5 41. Nc5 Bc8 42. Ne4 Kb6 43. Nxf6 Kxc7 44. Nxh7 Kd6 45. h4 a5 46. h5 Ke7 47. Ng5 Bb7 48. h6 Kf6 49. f4 1-0 Shirov,A-Adams,M/Elista 2007.

7. Nc3

This is the current fashion: White allows doubled pawns in exchange for getting rid of the centralized Knight, speeding development, and gaining added control of the center (especially the d4-square). It is an interesting trade-off and one that has proven somewhat favorable for White in practice, since now the power of the e5 pawn is not balanced by Black's centralized Knight.

Of course, here the exchange does not work: 7. Bxe4? dxe4 8. Qxd8+ Bxd8 black has a moderate advantage .

7... Nxc3

7... Bf5 8. Qe1!? (White would like to play Qd2-f4, but that route is not available at the moment) 8... Bb4 9. Qe3 Bxc3 10. bxc3 Bg6 11. Ba3 Qd7 12. Nd4 with initiative

8. bxc3 Bg4 9. Re1 Qd7 10. h3 Be6

10... Bxh3? 11. gxh3 Qxh3 12. Bf1 gives Black less than nothing.

11. Rb1!

Another point of the doubled pawns: the half-open b-file gives White more mobility and discourages Black from queenside castling.

11... Rb8

11... O-O-O?! 12. Nd4! with initiative

12. Ng5! Bxg5

12... h6?! 13. Nxe6 Qxe6 14. Qh5! induces more weaknesses on the kingside, leaving Black's monarch no safe home.

13. Bxg5 O-O 14. Qf3 Rfe8 15. Rbd1!

(The rook faces the Black Queen to add extra force to the inevitable c4 break).

15... Ne7

15... b5 16. c4! bxc4 17. Bxc4 d4 18. Bd3! white has a moderate advantage

16. c4 Qc6

Not 16... d4 17. c3!

17. cxd5

White can already win a pawn by 17. Bxe7 Rxe7 18. cxd5 Bxd5 19. Qxd5 Qxd5 20. Bxh7+ Kxh7 21. Rxd5 but a double-Rook ending would be difficult, so Kosteniuk rightly waits to cash in her positional chips.

17... Bxd5 18. Qg3!

The dark squares around Black's King look inviting.

18... Ng6 19. h4 h5 20. f4! Qc5+ 21. Kh2 Bxa2

22. Bf6! gxf6

22... Qf8 23. Bxg6 fxg6 24. Rd7! Bf7 25. e6! with attack

23. Bxg6 fxe5

23... fxg6 24. Qxg6+ Kf8 25. Qh6+! Kf7 26. Rd7+ Ke6 27. Qh7 white has a decisive advantage

24. Rd7! Kh8?

Not the best defense, but Black is also busted after 24... Re7 25. Rxe5! Rxe5 26. fxe5 with attack

25. Qg5! Qf8 26. Qxh5+ Kg7 27. Qh7+ Kf6 28. fxe5+ Rxe5 29. Rf1+ Ke6 30. Rfxf7

Black resigns. The concluding attack is quite lovely and worthy of inclusion in "Art of Attack in Chess" by Vukovic. White's pawn at e5 naturally creates good attacking chances -- you just have to develop your pieces and point them at the enemy king!

30. Bf5+ Kf6 31. Bg4+ is only a little more precise.

1-0

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4

a) 3... exd4 4. e5 (4. Bc4 is the Urusov Gambit) 4... Ne4 5. Qe2!? (standard is 5. Qxd4 d5 6. exd6 Nxd6 7. Nc3 Nc6 8. Qf4 white is slightly better ) 5... Nc5 (5... Bb4+ 6. Nbd2) 6. Nxd4 Nc6 7. Be3 Nxd4 8. Bxd4 position is unclear with chances for a White advantage -- see game below.

b) 3... d6 4. Nc3! Philidor's Defense

c) 3... d5!? 4. exd5! (4. Bg5!?) is complicated and deserves separate treatment. I recommend consulting a reference here and looking at a lot of games before making up your mind. I am still undecided.

4. Bd3 d5 5. dxe5 Nc6

This seems most frequently played, but Black has lots of alternatives:

a) 5... Be7 6. O-O O-O (6... Nc5 see below) (6... c5?! 7. Re1 (7. c4!?) 7... f5 8. exf6 Nxf6 9. b3!? Serraillier - Mortimer 1901) 7. c4! (7. Nc3 Nxc3 8. bxc3 Nc6 9. Re1 f6 10. e6 position is unclear Horvath - Forintos, Budapest 1985) 7... Nc6 (7... Be6 8. cxd5 (8. Nd4!? Horton) (8. Qc2 Na6 9. a3 Nac5) 8... Bxd5 9. Qc2 f5 10. Nd4 with initiative ) (7... c6 8. Qc2 white is slightly better Zagorovsky - Shamayev, Leningrad 1949) (7... Bg4 8. cxd5! (8. Bf4!? 1-0 Eastman,G-Gale,S/Hamilton 1924 (29)) (8. Qc2) 8... Qxd5 9. Qc2 Bxf3 10. gxf3 Nc5 11. Bxh7+ Kh8 12. Qf5!) 8. Qe2 (8. Nc3 Nxc3 9. bxc3 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Bg4) 8... Nc5 9. cxd5 Qxd5 10. Bc4 with initiative

b) 5... Nc5 6. O-O Be7 (6... Nxd3 7. Qxd3 (7. cxd3) 7... Be7 8. Nc3 c6 9. Nd4 O-O 10. Nf5?! (10. Qg3 c5? 11. Bh6 white has a moderate advantage ) 10... f6 11. Nxe7+ Qxe7 12. exf6 Qxf6 13. Be3 Bf5 14. Qd2 Qg6 15. Rac1 Nd7 16. f3 Rae8 black is slightly better 1-0 Vajda,S-Ionescu,I/Predeal ROM 2006 (59)) 7. Nc3 ( White might also preserve the Bishop at a cost of time with 7. Be2 O-O (7... Ne6!? 8. c4 d4 position is unclear ) 8. Be3 Bg4 9. h3 Bxf3 10. Bxf3 c6 11. c4! (11. Bg4 Nbd7 12. f4 f5!=) 11... dxc4 12. Nd2 b5?! (12... Nd3!) 13. a4! Nxa4 14. Nxc4 Qc7 15. Nd6 Nd7 16. Nxb5!? cxb5 17. Rc1 Ndc5 18. Bxa8 Nxb2?! (18... Rxa8 19. b4 Qxe5) 19. Qd5! Nc4 20. Bxc5 Bxc5 21. Bc6 white has a moderate advantage Ba3 22. Rc2 (22. Bxb5 Bxc1 23. Rxc1 Nb6 24. Rxc7 Nxd5 25. Rxa7 might be hard to win.) 22... a6 23. e6 Kh8 24. exf7 Rxf7? 25. Bxb5 axb5 26. Qxb5 Rf4 27. g3 Nd6 28. Rxc7 Nxb5 29. Rb7 Nd4 30. gxf4 h6 31. Kg2 Kh7 32. Rd1 Bc5 33. Rd7 Ne6 34. Kf3 Kg6 35. R7d5 Kf6 36. Rc1 Be7 37. Ke4 Kf7 38. Rc6 Nf8 39. Rf5+ Bf6 40. Rfxf6+ gxf6 41. Kf5 1-0 Romanishin,O-Arkhipov,S/Tbilisi 1986 (41)) (7. Nd4?! Nxd3 8. Qxd3 c5 9. Nf5 Bxf5 10. Qxf5 Qd7 11. Qf3 Nc6= Schlick - Autenreith, Germany 1985) 7... c6 (7... Be6 8. Be3 c6 9. Nd4 O-O (9... Nxd3) 10. Nxe6 Nxe6 11. Ne2 Nd7 12. f4 g6 13. f5 Bc5 14. Bxc5 Nexc5 15. e6 fxe6 16. fxg6 hxg6 17. Bxg6 Qg5 18. Bd3 Ne5 19. Rxf8+ Rxf8 20. Qc1 Qh5 21. Ng3 Qh4 22. Qe1 Ng4?! 23. h3 Nf2?! 24. Qe3 d4 25. Qe5 Ncxd3 26. cxd3 Qf4 27. Qxe6+ Kg7 28. Nh5+ 1-0 Ljubojevic,L-Vogel,R/Zuerich 1988 (28)) 8. Nd4! g6?! 9. Bh6! Nbd7 10. Re1 Nxd3 11. Qxd3 Nc5 12. Qe3 Ne6 13. Rad1 Bg5 14. Bxg5 Qxg5 15. Qxg5 Nxg5 16. f4 Ne6 17. Nce2 Ng7 18. h3 h5 19. b4! white is slightly better Bd7 20. a4 O-O 21. Nb3 Rad8 22. Ned4 b6 23. a5 Rfe8 24. Ra1 Ra8 25. Ra3 Ne6 26. Nxe6 fxe6 27. Rea1 b5 28. Nc5 Bc8 29. a6 Re7 30. Rg3 Kh7 31. Rc3 Rb8 32. g4 Rb6 33. Kh2 Rf7 34. Rf1 Re7 35. gxh5 gxh5 36. Rg3 Bd7 37. Rfg1 Be8 38. Rg8 Bd7 39. R8g5 Be8 40. f5 exf5 41. e6 f4 42. Rg8 f3 43. Rf8 Bg6 44. Rxf3 Rb8 45. Nd7 Rd8 46. Rf6 Rg7 47. Nf8+ Rxf8 48. Rxf8 Re7 49. Rf6 Be8 50. c3 Rg7 51. Rxg7+ Kxg7 52. Rf4 1-0 Mestrovic,Z-Lukic,T/Zadar CRO 2004 (52).

c) 5... Bf5 6. Qe2 (6. Nd4 Bg6) 6... Nc6 7. Nbd2 Nxd2 8. Bxd2 Qd7 9. O-O position is unclear

6. O-O

6. Bf4 Bg4 7. Nbd2 Nc5 (7... Nxd2 8. Qxd2 Bxf3 9. gxf3 Nd4?! 10. O-O-O!) 8. Be2 Ne6 9. Bg3 Bc5 10. c3 O-O= Milic - Trifunovic, Beverwijk 1963.

6... Be7

a) 6... Bf5 7. Nc3!

b) 6... Bg4 7. Nc3 Nxc3 (7... Bxf3!? 8. Qxf3 Nxc3 9. bxc3 Nxe5 10. Re1 with compensation for material ) 8. bxc3 Be7 9. Re1 1-0 Romanishin,O-Ehlvest,J/Yerevan 1988 (20) see below.

7. Nc3!

You can see this move as exchanging Black's best piece. And after the exchange, White gains open lines on the d- and b-files, while Black has few lines open for active play (unless he succeeds in getting in the f6 break.) So one point of 7. Nc3 could be just to improve White's pieces. Also playable, but not as good, is 7. Nbd2!? Nc5 8. Bb5 Bd7 9. Bxc6 Bxc6 10. Nd4 position is unclear which is discussed in more detail below.

7... Nxc3

a) 7... Bf5 8. Qe1 Nb4 (8... Bb4 9. Qe3 Bxc3 10. bxc3 white is slightly better ) 9. Nd4! (9. Nxe4 dxe4 10. Bxe4 Nxc2 11. Bxc2 Bxc2=) 9... Bg6 10. f4 c5 11. f5! Nxd3 12. cxd3 cxd4 13. fxg6 (13. Nxe4!? dxe4 14. Qxe4 Bh5? 15. f6! with attack ) 13... hxg6 14. Nxe4 dxe4 15. Qxe4 Qb6 16. b3 (16. Bf4) 16... O-O 17. Bb2 (17. h4!?) (17. Rf3) 17... Rad8 18. Rac1?! (18. Rae1! white is slightly better ) 18... Bg5! 19. Rc4 Be3+ 20. Kh1 Rfe8= 0-1 Nevednichy-Piket/New Dehli (29)

b) 7... Nc5 8. Bb5 a6 (8... Bd7?! 9. Nxd5 white has a moderate advantage ) 9. Bxc6+ bxc6 10. Nd4 Bd7 11. f4 white is slightly better This basic position could arise from the Two Knights Defense, Modern Variation and is quite favorable for White. 11... f5 12. b4 Ne6 13. Nxf5 Bxb4 14. Ne2 g6 15. Nfg3 Bc5+ 16. Kh1 O-O 17. f5 gxf5 18. Nh5 Be8 19. Nf6+ Rxf6 20. exf6 Qxf6 21. Rb1 Bd6 22. Nf4 Rd8 23. Nxe6 Qxe6 24. Bg5 Ra8 25. Re1 Qf7 26. Qd2 c5 27. Bf4 Bb5 28. Rb3 d4 29. Rg3+ Kh8 30. Be5+ Bxe5 31. Rxe5 f4 32. Rf3 Bc6 33. Rxf4 Qxa2 34. h3 Qa3 35. Kh2 Qb4 36. Qf2 Qb8 37. Rf7 Qd8 38. Ree7 Qd6+ 39. g3 Qh6 40. Rxh7+ Qxh7 41. Qf6+ 1-0 Almasi,Z-Fridman,D/Turin ITA 2006 (41).

8. bxc3 O-O

8... Bg4 9. Re1 (9. Bf4 O-O 10. h3 Bh5 11. Rb1 Qc8 12. g4 Bg6 13. Bxg6 fxg6 14. Qxd5+ Kh8 15. Bg3 Nd8 16. Nd4 c6 17. Qe4 Bc5 18. Kg2 Bxd4 19. cxd4 Ne6 20. c4 g5 21. d5 Nf4+ 22. Kh2 h5 23. e6 h4 24. e7 Rf6 25. Rbe1 Qe8 26. Bxf4 gxf4 27. g5 1-0 Kurnosov,I-Skatchkov,P/St Petersburg RUS 2001 (27)) 9... Qd7 10. h3 Bh5 11. Rb1 Nd8 12. Be2 c6 13. c4 dxc4 14. Qxd7+ Kxd7 15. e6+ Kc7 16. exf7 Nxf7 17. Bxc4 Bd6 18. Nd4 Rhe8 19. Ne6+ Kd7 20. Rxb7+ 1-0 Romanishin,O-Ehlvest,J/Yerevan 1988 (20).

9. Re1 Bg4

9... Na5?! Restraining the doubled pawns, but much too slow. 10. Nd4 c5 11. Nf5 Bxf5 (11... c4 12. Nxe7+ Qxe7 13. Bf1 white is slightly better ) 12. Bxf5 Kh8 13. Qd3 Bh4 14. Bf4 Nc6 15. Rad1 f6 16. e6 Ne7 17. Qh3 g6 18. Be4 Bg5 19. Bxg5 fxg5 20. Bxd5 Nxd5 21. e7 Nxe7 22. Rxd8 Raxd8 23. Qe3 Nc6 24. Qxg5 Rf5 25. Qc1 Rfd5 26. h3 Kg8 27. Kh2 Kg7 28. Qa3 Rf5 29. Re2 h6 30. Qb3 Rf7 31. Qc4 b6 32. Re6 Ne7 33. Qe4 Rd7 34. f3 Kh7 35. a4 Nf5 36. Qe2 Ng7 37. Re5 Nf5 38. Re8 Ng7 39. Ra8 Rfe7 40. Qc4 Ne6 41. h4 h5 42. Rc8 Rd6 43. Qe4 Rdd7 44. Qc6 Nd8 45. Qf6 Rf7 46. Qe5 Rfe7 47. Qb8 1-0 Anand Viswanathan (IND)-REBEL/AEGON Simul, The Hague NED 1997 (47).

10. h3 Be6

10... Bh5 11. Rb1 Rb8 (11... b6 12. Bf4 white is slightly better (12. Bf5!?) ) 12. Rb5! Kh8 (12... a6? 13. Rxd5!) 13. Be2 d4 14. Nxd4 Bxe2 15. Rxe2 a6 16. Rd2! Nxd4 17. Rxd4 axb5 (17... Qe8 18. Rbd5! white has a moderate advantage ) 18. Rxd8 Rbxd8 19. Qf3 c6 Black's two Rooks compensate for the Queen, but White's kingside pawn majority is too much of a long-term advantage. 20. Be3 Rd5 21. Bd4 Kg8 22. Qe4 Rfd8 23. f4! c5 24. Bf2 f6 25. Qf5 fxe5 26. Qe6+ Kf8 27. fxe5 Rd1+ 28. Kh2 Rf1 29. Kg3 Bh4+?! 30. Kxh4 Rxf2 31. Qb6 white has a moderate advantage Rdd2 32. Qxc5+ Kf7 33. g4 h6 34. Qc7+ Ke6 35. Qxg7 Rxc2 36. Qxh6+ Kxe5 37. Qb6 Rb2 38. Kg5 Rf7 39. Kg6 Rd7 40. Qf6+ 1-0 Duras,O-Cohn,E/Ostend 1907 (40).

11. Rb1 Rb8

12. Qd2!?

An interesting and thematic way of bringing the Queen to the kingside. Stronger, however, may be 12. Nd4! Qd7 (12... Nxd4?! 13. cxd4 c5 (13... Qd7 14. Qf3 b6 15. Qg3 Bf5 16. Rb3 Rbc8 17. Bg5 Rfe8 18. Bxe7 Rxe7 1/2-1/2 Romanishin,O-Akopian,V/Barcelona 1992 (18)) 14. c3 c4 15. Bc2 Qa5 16. f4 Qxc3? 17. f5) 13. Qh5 g6 14. Qh6 Rfe8 (14... Rfd8 15. Bg5) 15. Nxc6 bxc6 16. Bg5 white is slightly better

12... Qd7 13. Qf4 f5

13... f6!? 14. c4! fxe5 15. Nxe5 Qd6 (15... Rxf4 16. Nxd7 white has a decisive advantage ) 16. Qg3 white is slightly better

14. Ng5 Bxg5 15. Qxg5 Rf7 16. Be3 b6 17. Bb5 Ra8 18. Qg3!?

Already White has the plan to target the dark squares on the kingside. An interesting alternative was to threaten the light squares on the queenside: 18. Qf4! Qe8 (18... a6? 19. Qa4! white has a moderate advantage ) 19. Qa4 Bd7 only move 20. e6! Qxe6 21. Bf4 Qf6 22. c4! d4 (22... dxc4? 23. Rbd1! white has a decisive advantage ) 23. c5! with initiative Kh8 24. Bxc7 bxc5 25. Qc4 white is slightly better and after Qxc5 White will have a clear positional edge and the two bishops.

18... a6! 19. Be2 Raf8?!

The threat of ...f4 forces White's next, but the Rook is misplaced here, as Black quickly recognizes.

19... Na5! 20. Bh5 Rff8! 21. Bg5 Nc4 with counterplay places the doubled pawns under restraint and should give Black sufficient counterplay.

20. Bf4 Ra8 21. Red1 Ne7

22. Bh5! g6

Black must weaken the dark squares or face an attack in the center and the kingside.

22... Rff8 23. c4! d4 (23... Qc6 24. Bh6 white has a moderate advantage ) 24. c3 Bxc4 25. Rxd4 Qe6 26. Rbd1 Bxa2 27. Rd7 Bb3 28. R1d4 with initiative

23. h4! Qa4

Passive defense is insufficient, so Black decides to counter on the queenside.

24. Bf3 Kh8

24... Qxa2 25. h5 Qxc2 26. Rdc1! Qa4 27. c4 Qd7 28. hxg6 hxg6 29. Bg5 with initiative

25. Bg5 f4! 26. Qh2! Qxa2 27. Bf6+ Kg8 28. Qxf4 Qxc2 29. c4 Raf8?!

Twice Black has made an error by putting the Rook on this square!

29... Re8! 30. Rbc1 Qa4 31. h5 dxc4 32. Qg5 is more complicated, though White's attack looks strong.

30. Rbc1 Qa4 31. Qg5!

Black's King has no escape, and White gains an important tempo by attacking the Knight at e7 -- which would be defended if Black had played ... Re8 instead.

31... Qd7 32. cxd5 Nxd5 33. h5 Rg7

33... Nxf6 34. Rxd7 Nxd7 35. Rxc7 is also hopeless.

34. Bxd5 Bxd5 35. Bxg7 Kxg7 36. e6!

Black resigns, since 36...Qxe6 allows 37.Rxc7+ with a deadly attack.

36. Rxd5! Qxd5 37. Rxc7+ Rf7 38. Qf6+ was also winnng.

1-0

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5. dxe5 Nc6 6. O-O

White has also successfully experimented with a number of different set-ups here: a) 6. Qe2!? Nc5 (6... Bg4! 7. Bxe4 dxe4 8. Qxe4 Bxf3 9. Qxf3 Qd4=) 7. O-O Nxd3 8. cxd3! Bg4 9. Be3!? d4 10. Bf4 Be7 11. Nbd2 O-O 12. Ne4 Qd7 13. h3 Be6 14. Bg3 Rae8 15. Rfe1 h6 16. a3 f5 17. exf6 Bxf6 18. Nc5 Qc8 19. Nxe6 Nd8 20. Nxf8 Rxe2 21. Rxe2 Kxf8 22. Rae1 c6 23. Bd6+ Kf7 24. Ne5+ Bxe5 25. Rxe5 1-0 Bronstein,D-Zaslavsky,I/Kiev 1938 (25)

b) 6. h3 Bf5 7. O-O Bc5 8. Nc3 O-O (8... Nxc3 9. bxc3 Be6 10. Rb1 Bb6 11. Ba3!? white is slightly better ) 9. Bf4 Nxc3 10. bxc3 Qd7 11. Rb1 Bb6 12. Re1 Nd8 13. Bg5 Bxd3 14. Qxd3 Ne6 15. Rb4 Nc5 16. Qd2 Qf5 (16... Qe6) 17. Rf4 Qg6 18. Be7 Ne4 19. Rexe4 dxe4 20. Rg4 Rfe8?! (20... e3!) 21. Rxg6 hxg6 22. Qd7 exf3 23. gxf3 c5 24. f4 c4 25. h4 Rec8 26. Bd6 Re8 27. Be7 Rec8 28. Bd6 Re8 29. h5 gxh5 30. f5 Rac8 31. e6 f6 32. Qxb7 Red8 33. e7 Re8 34. Qd5+ Kh8 35. Qf7 Ba5 36. Kg2 Bxc3 37. Kh3 Be1 38. Kh4 Bd2 39. Kxh5 Kh7 40. f3 Bc1 41. f4 Bb2 42. Be5 1-0 Oral,T-Velicka,P/CZE 1999 (42)

c) 6. Nbd2 Bf5 (6... Nc5 7. Bb5 white is slightly better ) 7. Nb3 Bg4 8. O-O Be7 9. h3 Bh5 10. Bf4 O-O 11. Be2 Qd7 12. Bh2 Nc5 13. c3 Ne6 14. Qd2 Rad8 15. Rad1 g5 16. Ne1 Bxe2 17. Qxe2 f5 18. exf6 Bxf6 19. Nd3 b6 20. Rfe1 Ng7 21. Nd2 Rde8 22. Qg4 Rxe1+ 23. Rxe1 Qxg4 24. hxg4 Rc8 25. Nf3 a5 26. Kf1 h5 27. gxh5 Nxh5 28. Re6 Nd8 29. Re8+ Kf7 30. Re3 Ng7 31. Nde5+ Ke7 32. Nc6+ Kf8 33. Ncd4 c6 34. Ne5 Bxe5 35. Bxe5 Nf7 36. Bxg7+ Kxg7 37. Re6 Nd8 38. Re8 Kf7 39. Rh8 Rb8 (39... Kg7? 40. Rxd8 Rxd8 41. Ne6+ white has a decisive advantage ) 40. Ke2 c5 41. Nf3 Kg7 42. Re8 Nc6 43. Re6 Nd8 44. Rd6 Nf7 45. Rxd5 Kf6 46. Kd3 Ke6 47. c4 Rg8 48. g4 Rg6 49. Rf5 a4 50. Rxf7! 1-0 Oll,L-Drazic,S/Nova Gorica SLO 1999 (50)

d) 6. Bf4 A logical deve loping move. White now sets up his pieces and pawns in order to control the dark squares, developing naturally by c3, Qc2, Nbd2, and only later deciding where to put his King. 6... Be7 ( The attempt to break up White's bind puts Black in too much danger: 6... f6 7. O-O! (7. Nbd2 fxe5 8. Nxe5 Qf6!? position is unclear ) 7... Bg4 (7... g5 8. Nxg5 fxg5 9. Qh5+ Ke7 10. Bxe4 gxf4 11. Rd1 with compensation for material ) 8. h3 fxe5 9. hxg4 exf4 10. c4) 7. c3!? (7. O-O g5? (7... Nc5) (7... Bg4) 8. Bxe4 dxe4 9. Qxd8+ Bxd8 10. Nxg5 Bxg5 11. Bxg5 white has a moderate advantage ) 7... O-O (7... g5! 8. Bxe4 dxe4 9. Qxd8+ Bxd8 10. Nxg5 Bxg5 11. Bxg5 Nxe5 (11... Rg8 12. Bf6 Rxg2 13. Nd2 e3 14. fxe3 Bg4 position is unclear ) 12. Nd2 Nd3+ 13. Ke2 Bf5 14. g4) 8. Qc2 (8. Qe2?! Nc5 9. Bc2 d4!) 8... f5! 9. exf6 Nxf6 10. Nbd2 Bd6 11. Be3 Kh8 12. O-O-O! With kings castled opposite sides, the plans for both players are clear: attack the other guy's king before he gets yours! 12... Be6 13. h3 Bg8?! 14. g4 Ne7 15. Rdg1 c5 16. Qd1 Qa5 (16... d4!) 17. Kb1 b5 18. g5 Ne8 (18... Ne4!) 19. Nb3 Qb6 20. g6 h6 21. Nh4 d4 22. Bxh6 gxh6 23. g7+ Nxg7 24. Rg6 Bf4 25. Rxb6 axb6 26. Re1 Bg5 27. Nf3 Bf6 28. Qd2 Nef5 29. Ne5 Bxe5 30. Rxe5 c4 31. Bxf5 Nxf5 32. Nxd4 Nxd4 33. Qxd4 Bh7+ 34. Kc1 Kg8 35. Re7 Rf7 36. Rxf7 Kxf7 37. Qd5+ 1-0 Rudd - Goodger, Caerleon Open 2006

6... Be7 7. Nbd2

This is the chief alternative to 7.Nc3. White's plan is to exchange the Black Knight at e4 without damaging his own pawn structrure.

7. c4!? Bg4 8. Bf4 O-O 9. h3 Bf5 (9... Be6! 10. Nc3!? Nxc3 11. bxc3 dxc4 12. Be4 with compensation for material ) 10. Nc3! Nb4?! (10... Nxc3 11. bxc3 Bxd3 12. Qxd3 dxc4 13. Qxc4 white is slightly better ) 11. Bb1! c6 12. a3 Qa5?? 13. Bxe4 dxe4 14. axb4 Qxb4 15. Nd2 white has a decisive advantage 1-0 Eastman,G-Gale,S/Hamilton 1924 (29)

7... Nxd2

7... Nc5 8. Bb5 (8. Nb3 Nxd3 9. Qxd3) 8... Bd7 9. Bxc6! (9. Nb3 Nxe5 10. Bxd7+ Ncxd7 11. Qxd5 c6 12. Qe4 Nxf3+ 13. Qxf3 O-O 14. Bf4 white is slightly better ) (9. Re1 Nxe5!?) 9... Bxc6 10. Nd4

8. Qxd2!? Bg4 9. Qf4! Be6?!

9... Bxf3 only move 10. gxf3! white is slightly better

10. Qg3!

and by a very interesting route the Queen has arrived at an ideal place to help pressure the dark squares on the kingside.

10... g6?!

10... Qd7! 11. Qxg7?! (11. Bb5!) 11... O-O-O with compensation for material

11. Bh6 Qd7 12. a3 O-O-O 13. b4 Bf8 14. Bd2 Bg7 15. Bg5 Rdf8 16. Bb5 Qe8 17. Rfe1 Bd7 18. Bf6 Rfg8?!

Black's kingside play is completely stymied while White is free to develop an attack on the queenside. Now Black slips up under pressure.

19. Rad1 Nb8? 20. Bxd7+ Qxd7 21. Bxg7 Rxg7 22. c4! c6 23. cxd5 cxd5 24. Rc1+

and Black mus t surrender material, as 24...Kd8 loses to 25.e6! 1-0 Marchenko,A-Makarevich, V/Alushta UKR 2005 (24)

1-0

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 Nc6!?

Murey's surprising rejoinder can still astonish if you are not prepared to see it. White has a wide choice of response, including our thematic 5.dxe5 (considered in the present game); 5.Bxe4 d5 6. Bg5; 5.Nxe5; and 5.d5!? It's best to choose one and study it closely. I am personally uncommitted on which is best. The move 4... c6!? is also playable, but leads to more passive positions for Black since it deprives his Knight of its best square and does not develop a piece. 5. O-O (5. Nxe5 d5 6. O-O transposes) (5. Bxe4 d5 6. dxe5 dxe4 7. Qxd8+ Kxd8 8. Ng5 Ke8 9. Nxe4 Bf5 10. Nbc3 Bb4 with compensation for material ) 5... d5 6. Nxe5 Nd7 7. Nxd7! Bxd7 8. Re1 Be7 (8... Be6!? 9. Qf3 (9. Bxe4 dxe4 10. Rxe4 Qf6 11. Qh5 O-O-O) 9... Nf6 10. Bf5 white is slightly better ) 9. Bxe4 dxe4 10. Rxe4 O-O 11. Bf4 Bf6 12. c3 Qb6 13. Qb3 Be6 14. Qxb6 axb6 15. a3 b5 16. Nd2 Rfd8 17. Ree1 Be7 18. Ne4 h6 19. f3 Bf8 20. Nf2 Ra4 21. Nd3 Rda8 22. Bc7 Bf5 23. Rad1 R4a6 24. Bg3 f6 25. Nf4 Kf7 26. d5 c5 27. Ne6 Bxe6 28. dxe6+ Rxe6 29. Rd7+ Be7 30. Rxb7 b4 31. axb4 cxb4 32. cxb4 Rxe1+ 33. Bxe1 Ra1 34. Kf2 Ke6 35. Rc7 Bd6 36. Rxg7 Rb1 37. Bc3 Bxb4 38. Bxb4 Rxb2+ 39. Kg3 Rxb4 40. Rh7 Kf5 41. Rxh6 Kg5 42. Rh8 Kg6 43. Rg8+ Kf7 44. Rg4 Rb5 45. h4 Ra5 46. Rb4 Kg6 47. Kh3 Ra1 48. g4 Ra6 49. Kg3 Rc6 50. Kf4 Ra6 51. h5+ Kh6 52. Kf5 Ra3 53. f4 Ra6 54. Re4 Kg7 55. Re7+ Kf8 56. Re6 1-0 Matsuura,E-Dos Santos Neto,F/Rio de Janeiro ch-BR 1998 (56).

5. dxe5 Nc5

5... d5 6. O-O Be7 7. Nc3 (7. Nbd2)

6. Nc3 Nxd3+ 7. Qxd3 d6 8. Bf4! dxe5

8... Nxe5 9. Nxe5 dxe5 10. Qxd8+ Kxd8 11. O-O-O+ Bd7 12. Bxe5 white has a moderate advantage

9. Nxe5 Qxd3

9... Bb4 10. O-O-O Qxd3 11. Rxd3 white has a moderate advantage

10. Nxd3 Bd6

10... Bf5 11. Bxc7 Rc8 12. Bg3 Nb4 (12... Bb4 13. Nxb4 Nxb4 14. O-O-O! Nxa2+ 15. Nxa2 Rxc2+ 16. Kb1 white has a moderate advantage ) 13. Kd2 Nxd3 14. cxd3 Bc5 with compensation for material

11. Nb5!

11. Bxd6 cxd6 12. O-O-O white has a moderate advantage

11... a6

11... Bxf4 12. Nxf4 Kd8 13. O-O-O+ Bd7 14. Rd2 Ne5 15. Rhd1 Kc8 (15... a6 16. Nd4 Kc8 17. Nf3! Nxf3 18. Rxd7 white has a decisive advantage ) 16. Nd5 white has a moderate advantage

12. Nxd6+

12. Bxd6 axb5 13. Bxc7 white has a moderate advantage

12... cxd6 13. Bxd6

13. O-O-O Ke7 14. Nb4! white has a moderate advantage

13... Bf5 14. O-O-O white has a moderate advantage

Black has very little to show for the pawn.

14... O-O-O 15. Nf4 g5

15... better is Rhe8 16. Rd2 (16. Bc5 g5 17. Rxd8+ (17. Nd5 Re2 18. Ne3 Rxf2=) 17... Rxd8 18. Nh5 Rd5 19. Be3 Nb4 with counterplay ) 16... Re4 17. f3 Rd4! 18. Rxd4 Nxd4 19. Be5 g5 20. Bxd4 Rxd4 (20... gxf4 21. Rd1 white has a moderate advantage ) 21. Ne2

16. Ne2 Rhe8 17. Nc3

17. Ng3 Bg6 18. c4 Re6 19. c5 b6 with counterplay

17... b6 18. a3 h5

18... Re6 19. Bg3 Nd4 20. Rd2 white has a moderate advantage

19. Rd5 Bg6

19... Be6 20. Rd2 Na5 21. Rhd1 Nc4 22. Rd4 white has a moderate advantage

20. Rhd1 f6 21. f4! g4 22. f5 Bf7 23. R5d2 Ne5 24. b3 h4 25. Bxe5

25. Na4! b5 26. Nc5 white has a decisive advantage

25... Rxd2 26. Rxd2 Rxe5 27. Rd4! h3

27... g3!? 28. hxg3 hxg3 29. Ne4! Bd5 (29... Kc7 30. Nxg3 white has a decisive advantage ) 30. Nxg3 Bxg2 31. Rd6 Re3 32. Nh5

27... Rxf5 28. Rxg4 Rg5 29. Rxg5 fxg5 30. Ne4 Bd5 31. Nxg5 Bxg2 32. Kd2 white has a decisive advantage

28. gxh3 gxh3 29. Ne4 white has a decisive advantage Kc7 30. Nxf6 Kc6 31. Rf4 Re2 32. Ng4 Kd6 33. f6 Rg2 34. Nh6 Ke6 35. Rf3 Kd5

35... Rxh2 36. Re3+ white has a decisive advantage

1-0

[Notes based on Huzman]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. Bxe4 d5 6. Bg5!

The best attempt at gaining some tactical advantage from the situation.

6. Nxe5!? dxe4!? (6... Nxe5 7. dxe5 dxe4 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 transposes to a known line that is slightly better for White, as discussed elsewhere) 7. Nxc6 bxc6 8. O-O and Black is probably fine due to his two Bishops and aggressive pawn at e4.

6... f6

a) 6... Qd6 7. dxe5 Qb4+ 8. Nc3 dxe4 9. a3 Qa5 (9... Qxb2 10. Nd5) 10. O-O exf3 11. b4 Bxb4 12. axb4 Qxb4 13. Nd5 Qg4 14. Nxc7+ Kf8 15. Be7+ Kg8 16. Qxf3 Qxf3 17. gxf3 Rb8 18. Bd6 Bh3 19. Rfb1 b6 20. Nd5 Re8 21. Kh1 h6 22. Rg1 Kh7 23. Rxg7+ 1-0 Hamdouchi,H-Mirzoev,A/Illes Medes open 2007 (23).

b) 6... Qd7 7. Bd3 e4 8. O-O f6 9. Re1 Be7 (9... fxg5 10. c4!) 10. Bf4 exd3 11. Qxd3 O-O 12. Nc3 Bb4 13. a3 Ba5 14. Re3 Qf7 15. Rae1 a6 16. b4 Bb6 17. Na4 Ba7 18. h3 Bd7 19. Nc5 Bxc5 20. bxc5 Rfe8 21. Bxc7 Rxe3 22. Rxe3 Bxh3 23. Qb3 Rc8 24. Bd6 Bg4 25. Nh2 Be6 26. Qc3 Re8 27. Nf1 Bc8 28. Qd2 Rxe3 29. Nxe3 Be6 30. c4 h6 31. f3 f5 32. f4 Kh7 33. Kf2 g5 34. fxg5 hxg5 35. Nxd5 Bxd5 36. cxd5 Qxd5 37. Qxg5 Qxd4+ 38. Kg3 Qg7 39. Kf4 Qd4+ 40. Kxf5 Qd5+ 41. Kf6 Qxg5+ 42. Kxg5 Kg7 43. Kf5 Kf7 44. g4 a5 45. a4 Nb4 46. Ke4 Ke6 47. Bc7 Nd5 48. Bxa5 Nf6+ 49. Kf3 Kd5 50. Bb6 Ne4 51. Kf4 Nc3 52. Kf5 Nxa4 53. g5 Nc3 54. g6 Kc6 55. g7 Nd5 56. Ke6 Nf4+ 57. Kf7 1-0 Potkin,V-Bannink,B/Sautron open 2005 (57).

7. Nxe5 dxe4 8. Qh5+ g6 9. Nxg6 hxg6 10. Qxg6+ Kd7 11. Bxf6 Rh6

11... Rg8 12. Qf5+ Kd6 13. Qf4+ Kd7 14. Bxd8 1-0 Klovans,J-Bick,J/Groningen 1996 (14).

12. Qf5+

12. Qxh6 Bxh6 13. Bxd8 Kxd8 14. O-O Bf5 15. c3 Kd7 16. Na3 Rg8 17. Kh1 Ne7 18. Nc4 Nd5 19. Rae1 Bh7 20. h3 Bf5 21. Kh2 Bf4+ 22. g3 b5 23. Ne5+ Bxe5 24. dxe5 Rh8 25. h4 Ke6 26. a4 a6 27. axb5 axb5 28. Ra1 Kxe5 29. Ra6 Rb8 30. Rd1 Bg4 31. Rd2 Rf8 32. Rg6 e3 33. Rg5+ Ke6 34. fxe3 Nxe3 35. Rd3 Rf2+ 36. Kg1 Rf1+ 1/2-1/2 Haslinger,S-Gormally,D/Birmingham 4NCL tt 2006 (36).

12... Ke8 13. Qxe4+ Be7 14. Be5 Nxe5 15. dxe5 Rh4 16. f4 Qd7 17. g3 Rh6 18. Nc3 c6 19. Rd1 Qh3 20. Rd2 Bf5 21. Qf3 Qh5 22. Qe3 Qg6 23. Kd1 b6 24. Kc1 Kf7 25. Ne2 Be4 26. Rf1 Rxh2 27. f5 Bxf5 28. Qe4 Kg7 29. Qxf5 Qxf5 30. Rxf5 Rh1+ 31. Rd1 Rxd1+ 32. Kxd1 Rd8+ 33. Ke1 Rd5 34. Nf4 Ra5 35. a3 1-0

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 Nc6

The unexpected idea of Y. Murey. The piece sacrifice is only temporary due to the fork that follows d5 and e4.

5. Nxe5!?

5. d5 Nc5 (5... Nf6!? 6. dxc6 e4 7. cxb7 Bxb7 8. Be2 exf3 9. Bxf3 Bxf3 10. Qxf3 d5 11. O-O Be7 12. Nc3 O-O 13. Bg5 c6 white is slightly better ) 6. dxc6 (6. Be2 e4!) 6... e4 7. cxb7 Bxb7 8. Be2 exf3 9. Bxf3 1-0 Jansa,V-Jose Queralto,D/Andorra 1996 (24)

5... Nc5!

5... Nxe5 6. Bxe4 (6. dxe5 Nc5 7. Bf4 (7. O-O d6 8. Bf4 dxe5 9. Bxe5 Nxd3 10. cxd3 Be6= 1-0 Krakops,M-Oral,T/Berliner Sommer 1995/ (31)) (7. Bc4!?) 7... d5 8. exd6 Bxd6 (8... Qf6?! 9. Qe2+ Be6 10. Be5 with initiative 1-0 Van den Doel,E-Kroeze,F/Leeuwarden 1997/EXT 99 (21)) 9. Bb5+ Ke7 10. Bxd6+ Qxd6 white is slightly better Thoma,C-Toth,B/Badenweiler op 1995/1/2-1/2 (47)) 6... d5 7. dxe5 dxe4 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Bb4 (9... Bf5 10. Bg5+ (10. Be3 Kc8 11. O-O-O b6 with the idea ... K 12. Rd4 Bc5 13. Rc4 Bxe3+ 14. fxe3 Kb7 15. Rf1 1-0 Leko,P-Timman,J/Ubeda 1997/ (34)) 10... Kc8 11. O-O-O Bc5 12. Rhf1 h6 13. Be3 Bxe3+ 14. fxe3 Be6 15. Nxe4 white has a moderate advantage 1-0 Bezgodov,A-Appleberry,M/Budapest FS06 GM 1996/ (27)) 10. Bg5+ (10. Bd2 Re8 11. Bg5+ Be7 12. O-O-O+ 1/2-1/2 Vagner,M-Brazina,D/Moravia-ch op 1994 (35) ) 10... Ke8 11. O-O-O Bg4 (11... Be6 12. Nxe4 Bxa2 13. b3) 12. Rd4 Bxc3 13. bxc3 h6 (13... Bf5 14. Rhd1 f6 15. exf6 white has a moderate advantage ) 14. Rxe4!? 1-0 Shirov,A-Timman,J/Wijk aan Zee 1998/CBM 63/[Ftacnik] (52)(14. Bh4 g5 15. Bg3 Bf5 16. Rhd1 Ke7 white is slightly better Schroll,G-Herndl,H/AUT-chT9697 1996/1/2-1/2 (74)) (14. Be3 Bf5 15. Rhd1 Ke7 16. h3 Rhd8 17. g4 Rxd4 18. Rxd4 Be6 19. a3 h5 20. Rxe4 hxg4 21. hxg4 Kd7 22. Rd4+ 1/2-1/2 Sutovsky,E-Lalic,B/Hastings 2000/CBM 75 (22))

6. Bc4!? Nxe5 7. dxe5 d6 8. Qf3 Ne6

8... Qd7!? 9. Nc3 c6 10. Be3 d5 with counterplay 1-0 Schaefer,M-Hacker,C/Senden 1998/CBM 67 ext (21)

9. exd6

9. Bxe6 Bxe6 10. Qxb7 dxe5 11. Qb5+ Qd7 with compensation for material

9... Bxd6?!

9... Qxd6!? 10. Be3 (10. Nc3 Qe5+ 11. Be3 Ba3) 10... Qb4+ 11. Nd2 Qxb2

10. Be3 O-O 11. Nd2 Be5 12. O-O-O Qe7 13. Ne4 c6 14. Rhe1 a5 15. c3 Re8 16. Kb1 b5 17. Bd3?!

17. Qh5! Qc7 (17... Bxc3 18. Bxe6 g6 (18... Bxe1 19. Ng5 white has a decisive advantage ) 19. Qf3) 18. Bd3 g6 19. Qh4 with initiative

17... g6 18. h4

18. Bd4!?

18... Qxh4 19. Nd6!?

19. Rh1 Qe7

19... Bxd6 20. Qxc6 Bb7! 21. Qxb7

21. Qxd6 Rad8 22. Qb6 Be4 (22... Rxd3 23. Qxb7=) 23. Bxe4 Qxe4+ 24. Ka1 b4 with counterplay

21... b4!? 22. c4?!

22. Qe4!? Qe7 (22... Qf6? 23. Bb5 white has a decisive advantage ) 23. Bb5 Red8 24. Bc6 Rac8 25. cxb4 Bxb4 26. Rxd8+ Rxd8=

22... Qf6 23. Re2 Red8 24. Red2 Bc5 25. Qe4 Rac8 26. Be2 Re8! black is slightly better 27. Qg4 Bxe3 28. fxe3 Nc5 29. Bf3 Qe5!? 30. Re2 Rcd8 31. Rd4!? Kg7 32. Bd5 Re7 33. Qf3 Rd6 34. Rf4 Rf6 35. Rxf6 Qxf6 36. Kc2 Qe5 37. g3 f5 38. Qf4 Qxf4 39. gxf4 h6 40. Kd2 Kf6 41. Rh2 h5 42. Ke2 Rh7 43. Kf3 h4 44. b3 Rh8

Black has clear advantage but there was draw treaty because of suitable team interests.

45. Rd2 Rd8 46. Rh2 Rh8 1/2-1/2 [Gofshtein]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. Nxe5!? Nxe5?!

5... Nc5! is probably better, as in Gofshtein - Rozentalis.

6. dxe5

The more usual way to reach the same ending is by 6. Bxe4 d5 7. dxe5 dxe4 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 etc.

6... d5

7. Bxe4! dxe4 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3

White has slightly the better of this ending due to his extra tempo and Black's worse king placement. But Black counts on his long-term advantage of the two Bishops in an open position. White generally has the better of GM games with the line.

9. O-O!? Bf5 10. Nc3 c6 11. Rd1+ Ke8 12. Be3 h5 13. h3 h4 14. Ne2 Be7 15. Rd2 Bd8 16. Re1 Bc7 17. Nd4 Rh5 18. Nxf5 Rxf5 19. e6 (19. Rd4 Bxe5 20. Rxe4 Kd7 21. Rd1+ Kc7 22. Rxh4 Bxb2 23. Rf4 Rxf4 24. Bxf4+ Kc8 25. Re1 with initiative ) 19... fxe6 20. Rd4 g5 21. Rxe4 Kf7 22. Rd4 Re8 23. Red1 Be5 24. Rg4 Bf6 25. Rb4 b6 26. Rd7+ Re7 27. Rxe7+ Kxe7 28. Ra4 a5 29. Bxb6 Rb5 30. Be3 Bxb2 31. Kf1 Bc1 32. Ke2 Re5 33. Rc4 1/2-1/2 Alekseev,E-Mamedyarov,S/Lausanne 2004 (33).

9... Bf5

A sharper, more tactical continuation is 9... Bb4 10. Bg5+ Ke8 11. O-O-O Bg4 12. Rd4 Bxc3 13. bxc3 h6 14. Rxe4 Bh3! 15. gxh3 hxg5 16. Rg1 Rxh3 17. Rxg5 Kf8 18. Reg4 Re8 19. Rxg7 Rxe5 20. Rg8+ Ke7 21. Rc4 c5 22. Rb8 b6 23. Rb7+ Ke6 24. Rf4 f5 25. Rxa7 Rxc3 26. Kb2 Rh3 27. Rb7 Re4 28. Rxe4+ fxe4 29. Rxb6+ Ke5 30. Rb8 Rf3 31. h4 Rxf2 32. h5 Rh2 33. Rh8 Kd4 34. h6 e3 35. h7 e2 36. Rd8+ Kc4 37. Re8 Rxh7 38. Re4+ Kd5 39. Rxe2 Rb7+ 40. Kc3 Ra7 41. Rd2+ Kc6 42. Kb2 Rb7+ 43. Ka1 Kb5 44. Rd3 Kc4 45. a3 Rb8 46. Ka2 Rb7 47. Rh3 Rb8 48. a4 Rb4 49. Ra3 Rb6 50. Rg3 Rb4 51. Ka3 Rb1 52. Ka2 Rb4 53. Ra3 Rb6 54. Ka1 Rb7 55. a5 Ra7 56. Kb2 Kb5 57. Rb3+ Kc4 58. Ra3 Kb5 59. Kc3 Rxa5 60. Rxa5+ Kxa5 61. Kc4 Kb6 62. Kd5 Kb5 63. c3 Kb6 64. c4 Kb7 65. Kxc5 Kc7 66. Kd5 1/2-1/2 Milov,L-Murdzia,P/Griesheim 2004 (66).

10. Be3

10. Bg5+ Kc8 11. O-O-O Bc5 12. Rhf1 h6 13. Be3 Bxe3+ 14. fxe3 Be6 15. Nxe4 b6 16. Ng3 g6 17. Ne2 Bc4 18. Rd2 Re8 19. b3 Be6 20. Nd4 Kb7 21. Rf6 Bd5 22. c4 Be4 23. Rxf7 Rxe5 24. Nb5 Rxb5 25. cxb5 Bf5 26. Rd4 a6 27. g4 Be6 1-0 Bezgodov,A-Appleberry,M/Budapest 1996 (27).

10... Kc8 11. O-O-O b6

This seems a slow way of securing the king's position, and White seems to exploit his lead in development to secure the advantage.

12. Rd4 Bc5 13. Rc4 Bxe3+ 14. fxe3 Kb7 15. Rf1 Bg6 16. Nd5 Rhd8 17. Ne7! Rd7 18. Nxg6 fxg6 19. Rxe4 Re7 20. e6 Rae8 21. Rf7 Rxe6 22. Rxe6 Rxe6 23. Rxg7 Rxe3 24. Kd2 Re5 25. Rxh7 Rd5+ 26. Ke3 Re5+ 27. Kf2 Rf5+ 28. Kg1 Rd5 29. h4 Rd2 30. Rg7 Rxc2 31. Rxg6 Rxb2 32. h5 Rd2 33. h6 Rd8 34. h7 Rh8 35. Rg7

1-0

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. d5 Nc5

a) Similar, but not as good, is 5... Nf6 6. dxc6 e4 7. cxb7 Bxb7 8. Be2 exf3 9. Bxf3 Qe7+ 10. Be3 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 Qe4 12. Nd2 Qxf3 13. Nxf3 white is slightly better Bb4+ 14. c3 Ba5 15. O-O-O O-O 16. Bg5 Ne4 17. Rxd7 Nxf2 18. Rf1 Bb6 19. Be7 Rfe8 20. Ne5 f6 21. Nc4 Ng4 22. h3 Ne3 23. Nxe3 Bxe3+ 24. Kc2 Rac8 25. b4 a6 26. a4 c5 27. Rf3 Bg1 28. Rf1 cxb4 29. Rxg1 Rxc3+ 30. Kb2 a5 31. Re1 Rg3 32. Rd2 Kf7 33. Rde2 Ra3 34. Bc5 Rc8 35. Re7+ Kg6 36. Bd4 Rd3 37. Be3 Rcc3 38. Bc1 Rg3 39. R1e2 Ra3 40. Ra7 Rgb3+ 41. Kc2 Rc3+ 42. Kb1 Rxa4 43. Ree7 1-0 Georgiev,K-Keitlinghaus,L/Germany Bundesliga 1997 (43).

b) Losing, however, is 5... Ne7? 6. Bxe4 f5 7. d6 1-0 Kahn,E-Weiler,W/Budapest FSIMB 2007 (7).

6. dxc6

A very interesting alternative is 6. O-O!? Nxd3 7. cxd3 Ne7 (7... Nb4!? 8. Re1 d6?? 9. Qa4+ white has a decisive advantage ) 8. Nxe5 d6 (8... Nf5!? 9. Re1 Be7) 9. Qa4+ Bd7 10. Nxd7 Qxd7 11. Qb3 white is slightly better O-O-O 12. Nc3 a6 13. Be3 Re8 14. Rfc1 Kb8 15. a4 Nf5 16. Nb5 Rc8 17. Rc6 Nxe3 18. fxe3 Be7 19. Rxa6 Bg5 20. Re1 Qe7 21. Kh1 c6 22. Nd4 cxd5 23. Qb6 1-0 Risch,H-Frieser,K/cr Germany 1996 (23).

6... e4 7. cxb7 Bxb7 8. Be2 exf3 9. Bxf3 Bxf3 10. Qxf3

White has a slight edge due to his superior pawns for the ending, but nothing more.

10... Bd6!?

a) The text move appears to improve upon an earlier encounter between the same opponents, which continued instead 10... Be7 11. O-O O-O 12. Rd1 Bf6 13. c4 Be5 14. Nd2 Re8 15. Rb1 a5 16. Nf1 Qf6?! 17. Qxf6 Bxf6 18. Ne3 Rab8 19. b3 a4?! 20. b4! Ne4 21. Nd5! (21. Rxd7 Nc3 with counterplay ) 21... Bd4? (21... Nc3 22. Nxc3 Bxc3 23. b5 white is slightly better ) 22. Kf1 Bxf2 23. Nxc7 Rec8 24. Rxd7 Nc3 25. Rb2 Bh4 26. Bf4 Bf6 27. b5 h5 28. h3 Rb7 29. Rbd2 Ne4 30. R2d5 Nc3 31. Rxh5 Nxa2 32. c5 Nb4 33. c6 Nxc6 34. bxc6 Rb1+ 35. Ke2 a3 36. Ra5 Rb2+ 37. Kf3 a2 38. Nd5 Rxc6 39. Nxf6+ Rxf6 40. Rd6 Rf5 41. Ra8+ Kh7 42. h4 Rc5 43. g3 f5 44. Rd2 1-0 Short,N-Timman,J/Groningen 1996 (44)

10... Qe7+?! 11. Be3 Qe4 12. Nd2 Qxf3 13. Nxf3 Ne6 14. O-O-O Bc5 15. Bxc5 Nxc5 16. Rhe1+ Ne6 17. Re3 d6 18. Rd5 Ke7 19. Ra5 Rhb8 20. Nd4 Rb7 21. Nxe6 fxe6 22. Rea3 e5 23. f3 Ke6 24. R3a4 c5 25. b3 Rf7 26. Kd2 Rb7 27. Ra6 Kd5 28. Ke3 Rf7 29. R4a5 e4 30. f4 Raf8 31. c4+ Ke6 32. Rxc5 Rxf4 33. Rd5 Rf2 34. Rdxd6+ Ke7 35. c5 1-0 Dolmatov,S-Howell,J/Calcutta 1996 (35).

11. Be3

11. Bg5 Qb8 12. Nc3 Ne6 13. h4 c6 14. O-O-O O-O 15. Kb1 a5 16. Bc1 Ra7 17. Ne4 Be5 18. Ng5 Rb7 19. c3 h6 20. Rde1 Bf4 21. Qd3 hxg5 22. hxg5 Nxg5 23. Rh4 Bxc1 24. Reh1 g6 25. Kxc1 Qa7 26. Qd6 Kg7 27. Qg3 Qc5 28. f4 Ne4 29. Rh7+ Kf6 30. Qh4+ Ke6 31. Re1 d5 32. f5+ gxf5 33. g4 Kd7 34. gxf5 0-1 Mamedyarov,S-Bruzon Bautista,L/Pamplona 2004 (34)

11. O-O O-O 12. Bf4 (12. Nc3 c6 13. g3 Re8 14. Be3 Bf8 15. Ne2 Ne4 16. c4 Qb8 17. b3 a5 18. Rad1 Qb7 19. Rd4 d5 20. cxd5 cxd5 21. Rfd1 Rad8 22. Nf4 Nc3 23. R1d2 Ne4 24. R2d3 Nf6 25. Kg2 Re5 26. Ra4 Qb5 27. Bd4 Rf5 28. Bxf6 Rxf6 29. Rxd5 Rxd5 30. Qxd5 Qxd5+ 31. Nxd5 1-0 Valerga,D-Barrionuevo,P/Buenos Aires ch-ARG sf 2006 (31)) 12... Bxf4 13. Qxf4 Ne6 14. Qd2 d5 15. Nc3 c6 16. Rfe1 Qf6 17. Rad1 Rfe8 18. b3 h5 19. Ne2 h4 20. Qc3 Qxc3 21. Nxc3 Nd4 22. f3 Nxc2 23. Re2 Rxe2 24. Nxe2 Re8 25. Kf2 g5 26. Rd2 Ne3 27. g3 hxg3+ 28. hxg3 Kg7 29. Nd4 c5 30. Nb5 d4 31. Nxa7 Kf6 32. Nb5 g4 33. Nd6 Rh8 34. fxg4 Ke6 35. Ne4 Nxg4+ 36. Kf3 Ne5+ 37. Kf4 Kd5 38. Nf6+ Ke6 39. Ne4 Ng6+ 40. Kg5 Kd5 41. Nf6+ Kc6 42. b4 Ne5 43. Kf4 Nc4 44. Rc2 Kb5 45. bxc5 d3 46. Rc1 Kxc5 47. Rd1 Kd4 48. Ng4 Nb2 49. Rb1 d2 50. Nf2 Nd3+ 51. Nxd3 Kxd3 52. Kf5 Kc2 53. Rg1 d1=Q 54. Rxd1 Kxd1 0-1 Brynell,S-Lastin,A/Istanbul 2003 (54)

11... O-O 12. Nd2 Ne6! 13. Rd1

13. O-O-O Qb8!? presents Black chances for attack on the b-file.

13... c6 14. O-O Bc7 15. Nb3 Be5 16. c3 d5 17. g3 a5

Black plays to exchange pawns and eliminate any White edge.

18. c4 Bxb2 19. cxd5 cxd5 20. Rxd5 Qc7 21. Rb1 Ba3 22. Nd4 Bb4

22... Qc4!?

23. Rc1 Nxd4 24. Rxd4 Qe5 25. Rcd1 Qe6 26. a4 Rac8 27. Qd5 1/2-1/2

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. dxe5?!

Sveshnikov and others persist in playing this move, but it seems unclear at best if Black gets aggressive.

4... Bc5!

This move seems to put this variation under a question mark, even though it is otherwise very playable.

4... d5 5. Nbd2 white is slightly better (5. Bd3)

5. Qd5

Diagram #

5. Bc4!? Nxf2! (5... Bxf2+ 6. Ke2 c6 7. Bd3) 6. Qd5 (6. Bxf7+ Kxf7 7. Qd5+ Ke8 8. Qxc5 Nxh1 9. Bg5 d6 only move 10. Qe3 Qd7 11. Nc3 h6 12. Bh4 Vargha - Ostriker, Corr. 1978-1979) 6... Qe7 7. Rf1 c6 black has a moderate advantage

5... Bxf2+

5... Nxf2? 6. Qxc5 Nxh1 allows White to gain two pieces for a Rook eventually, which is a winning advantage in material. 7. Nc3 (7. Bc4 Qe7 8. Qxe7+ Kxe7 9. Nc3 c6 10. Ne4 Na6 11. Bg5+ Kf8 12. Nd6 h6 13. Be3 Nb4 14. Kd2 Ng3 15. hxg3 b5 16. Bxf7 Na6 17. Nh4 Ke7 18. Ng6+ Kd8 19. Nxh8 Nb4 20. Rf1 Kc7 21. a3 Nd5 22. Bxd5 cxd5 23. Rf8 Bb7 24. Nxb5+ Kc6 25. Rxa8 Bxa8 26. Nxa7+ Kb7 27. Nf7 Kc7 28. Nd6 d4 29. Bxd4 Bxg2 30. Ne8+ Kd8 31. Nxg7 Ke7 32. Nf5+ Ke6 33. Nxh6 d6 34. exd6 Kxd6 35. c4 Be4 36. Nb5+ Kd7 37. Ng4 Kc6 38. Ne5+ Kb7 39. Nd6+ Kc7 40. Nxe4 Kd8 41. g4 Kc7 42. g5 Kd8 43. Nc6+ Kc7 1-0 Tasci,S-Belgin,G/Kocaeli 2002 (43)) (7. Qg1!?) 7... Nc6 8. Bd3 Qe7 9. Qxe7+ Nxe7 10. Kf1 O-O 11. Kg1 Re8 12. Kxh1 b6 13. Nb5 Nd5 14. Be4 Bb7 15. Bxd5 Bxd5 16. Nxc7 Bxf3 17. gxf3 Rxe5 18. Nxa8 Re1+ 19. Kg2 Re2+ 20. Kg3 Rxc2 21. Bf4 f6 22. Nc7 g5 23. Bd6 Rc6 24. Rd1 f5 25. Rd2 Kf7 26. Nb5 h5 27. Nxa7 h4+ 28. Kg2 1-0 Zillich,R-Michalicek,R/Sueder 1996 (28)

6. Kd1?!

6. Ke2 f5 7. Nc3 c6 8. Nxe4!? An incredible queen sacrifice, which is endorsed by Forintos and Haag.(8. Qd3 O-O is also unclear:(8... d5 9. exd6 O-O black is slightly better ) 9. Qc4+ d5 10. exd6+ Kh8 11. Nxe4 fxe4 12. Kxf2 exf3 13. gxf3 Qxd6 14. Rg1 Nd7 15. Rg3 Ne5 16. Qc3 Bg4 17. f4 Rae8 18. Be3 Rf7 19. Kg1 Nf3+ 20. Kh1 Qh6 21. h3 Bh5 22. Rd1 Nh4 23. f5 Bf3+ 24. Kh2 Qh5 25. Bd4 Nxf5 26. Rxf3 Nxd4 27. Rxf7 Qxd1 28. Bg2 Ne6 29. Rxb7 Qd6+ 30. Qg3 Qf8 31. Rxa7 Nd4 32. Rd7 c5 33. c3 Ne2 34. Qf3 Nf4 35. Ra7 Kg8 36. Ra8 g5 37. b4 cxb4 38. cxb4 Kf7 39. Qb7+ Qe7 40. Rxe8 Qxb7 41. Bxb7 Kxe8 42. Be4 1-0 Baumann,H-Swierczewski,J/Germany email 2005 (42)) 8... cxd5 9. Nd6+ Kf8 10. Kxf2 Nc6 (10... Qb6+ 11. Kg3 Nc6 12. Bf4) 11. Kg3 (11. Be3 d4 12. Bf4 white is slightly better Forintos and Haag, but I don't realy buy it.) 11... Qb6 12. Bf4 g5!? 13. Nxg5 Nxe5 14. Bxe5 Qe3+ 15. Nf3 Rg8+ 16. Kh3 Rg6 17. Re1 Qh6+ 18. Nh4 Rxd6 19. Bxd6+ Qxd6 20. Bd3 Qh6 21. Rhf1 d6 22. g4 f4 23. Bxh7 Be6 24. Rxf4+ Kg7 25. Kg3 Kxh7 26. Nf3 Rg8 27. h4 Bxg4 28. Re7+ Kh8 29. Rxg4 Rxg4+ 30. Kxg4 Qg6+ 31. Ng5 Qf6 32. Rf7 Qd4+ 33. Kh5 b5 34. Kg6 Kg8 35. Rf8+ Kxf8 36. Ne6+ 1-0 Glavina Rossi,P-Juarez,A/Buenos Aires 1987

6... f5 7. Bc4 Qe7 8. Nc3 c6 9. Qd3 b5 10. Bb3 a5 11. a4 b4 12. Nxe4 fxe4 13. Qe2 d5 14. exd6 Qxd6+ 15. Bd2 e3 16. Rf1 Ba6 17. Bc4 Bxc4 18. Qxc4 Ra7 19. Ke2 Re7 20. Be1 Qg6 21. g3 Re4 22. Qd3 Nd7 23. Rd1 O-O 24. Qxd7 Qh5 25. g4 Qh3 26. Ng5 Qg2 27. Bxf2 Rxf2+ 28. Rxf2 exf2+ 0-1

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 exd4 4. e5 Ne4 5. Qe2

5. Qxd4 d5 6. exd6 Nxd6 7. Nc3 Nc6 8. Qf4 Nf5!? The newest of many moves that have been analyzed here. White generally has a pull, but Black equalizes with careful play. 9. Bb5 (9. Nb5 Bb4+ 10. c3 Ba5=) 9... Bd6 10. Qe4+ Qe7 11. Bg5 (11. O-O O-O!? 12. Bxc6 bxc6 13. Qxc6 Rb8 with compensation for material Karpov) 11... f6 12. Bd2 Bd7 13. O-O-O Qxe4 14. Nxe4 Be7 15. g4 a6?! (15... Nd6!=) 16. Bc4 (16. Bxc6! Bxc6 17. Rhe1 white is slightly better ) 16... Nd6 17. Nxd6+ Bxd6 18. Rde1+ and now 18...Be7 would hold the balance notes Karpov. 1/2-1/2 Kasparov,G-Karpov,A/WC Match 1990

5... Nc5

5... Bb4+ 6. Nbd2 Nxd2 7. Bxd2 Bxd2+ 8. Qxd2 d6 (8... O-O 9. Qxd4 Nc6 10. Qc3 d5 11. O-O-O Bg4 12. Kb1 d4 13. Qc5 Re8 14. Be2 Bxf3 15. Bxf3 Rxe5 16. Qc4 Qe8 17. Bxc6 Qxc6 18. Qxc6 bxc6 19. Rxd4 Rae8 20. b3 Kf8 21. Kb2 Re2 22. Rf1 R8e5 23. Rc4 c5 24. Ra4 Rd2 25. Rxa7 Ree2 26. Rc1 Rd7 27. h4 Rxf2 28. g4 Rf4 29. Rg1 g6 30. Ra5 c4 31. b4 Re7 32. Rc5 c3+ 33. Kb3 Ree4 34. a3 Rxg4 35. Rxg4 Rxg4 36. a4 Re4 37. a5 Ke7 38. Rxc7+ Kd6 39. Rxc3 Re7 40. b5 f5 41. b6 Rb7 42. Kb4 1-0 Burnoiu,N-Dvoretskij,A/Eforie Nord 1998) 9. Qxd4 Nc6 10. Bb5 O-O 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. O-O-O d5 13. Rhe1 Qe7 14. Re3 Be6 15. Rc3 Rfb8 16. Rxc6 Rb4 17. Qc5 Qxc5 18. Rxc5 Rab8 19. b3 R8b7 20. Rd4 R4b6 21. a4 c6 22. Kb2 Bd7 23. Ka3 h6 24. Rf4 d4 25. Rxd4 Be6 26. Rd8+ Kh7 27. Nd4 Bd5 28. a5 Rb4 29. Nxc6 Bxc6 30. Rxc6 R4b5 31. Ra6 Rxe5 32. Ra8 Ree7 33. Kb2 1-0 Raetsky,A-Chugunov,D/Voronezh 1997

6. Nxd4 Nc6

6... Be7 7. Nc3 c6 (7... O-O 8. Bf4 d5 9. O-O-O white is slightly better Steinitz) 8. Be3 d6 9. O-O-O Be6 10. Nxe6 Nxe6 11. exd6 Bf6 12. d7+ Nxd7 13. Ne4 Be7 14. f4 f5 15. Qc4 fxe4 16. Qxe6 Qc7 17. Bc4 Rf8 18. Qxe4 Nf6 19. Qe6 b6 20. Rhe1 Rd8 21. Rxd8+ Kxd8 22. Rd1+ Ke8 23. g3 h6 24. Bd3 Nd5 25. c4 Qd7 26. cxd5 Qxe6 27. dxe6 Rf6 28. f5 Bd6 29. Be4 Ke7 30. Bd4 Rf8 31. Bxg7 Rg8 32. Bxh6 c5 33. Bf4 Bxf4+ 34. gxf4 Kf6 35. Rd7 Rg7 36. Rxg7 Kxg7 37. e7 1-0 Fischer,R-Schmid,A/Houston 1964

7. Be3

7. Nxc6 dxc6 8. Nc3 Bf5 9. Be3 h5 10. Rd1 Qe7 11. Rd2 Nd7 12. f4 O-O-O black is slightly better Klavin - Vistanetsky, Tbilsi 1962 13. Bxa7?! Qb4 Forintos and Haag

7... Nxd4

a) 7... Nxe5?! 8. Nb5 Ne6 (8... Na6 9. Bd4 d6 10. f4) 9. f4

b) 7... Be7 8. Nxc6 dxc6 9. Nc3 Bf5 10. g4 Bg6 11. Rd1 Qc8 12. Bg2 white is slightly better

c) 7... b6 8. Nxc6 dxc6 9. Nc3 Qe7 10. f4 white is slightly better

8. Bxd4 Ne6

8... Qh4! 9. Be3 Qb4+ 10. c3 Qe4 (10... Nd3+? 11. Qxd3 Qxb2 12. Qb5 Qxa1 13. Bc4 Ba3 14. Qb3 white has a decisive advantage Forintos and Haag) 11. f4 d5 12. Nd2 Qg6 13. Nf3 c6 14. O-O-O Be7 15. Rg1 h5 16. Qf2 Ne4 17. Qc2 b5 18. Bd3 f5 19. exf6 Bxf6 20. Bc5 Bf5 21. Rge1 Kf7 22. Nd2 Nxc5 23. Bxf5 Qxg2 24. b4 Nb7 25. Qd3 Rae8 26. Rg1 Qe2 27. Bg6+ Kf8 28. Rge1 Qxe1 29. Rxe1 Rxe1+ 30. Kc2 Nd6 31. Nf3 Re7 32. Nd4 Rh6 1/2-1/2 Tal,M-Kholmov,R/Alma Ata 1968

9. Bc3 Be7

9... d5 10. exd6 Qxd6 11. Nd2 Bd7 12. Nc4 Qe7 13. O-O-O O-O-O 14. Ne5 f6 15. Nxd7 Rxd7 16. g3 Nc5 17. Bd4 Qxe2 18. Bxe2 h5 19. Bf1 f5 20. Bh3 Rf7 21. Rhe1 Bd6 22. Bg2 Kb8 23. Bd5 Rd7 24. Bc4 b6 25. Bb5 Rf7 26. Be8 Re7 27. Rxe7 Bxe7 28. Bg6 f4 29. gxf4 h4 30. Be5 a5 31. c3 a4 32. Rd4 Bf6 33. Bxf6 gxf6 34. h3 Kb7 35. Be4+ c6 36. f5 Kc7 37. Kd2 b5 38. Bc2 Nd7 39. Ke2 Ne5 40. b3 axb3 41. axb3 Rh7 42. Re4 Rh8 43. Ke3 Rh7 44. Bd1 Rh8 45. Be2 Kd7 46. Kd4 Kc7 47. f4 Rd8+ 48. Ke3 Nd7 49. Re7 Rg8 50. Bg4 Rh8 51. Bf3 Rg8 52. Rh7 Rg1 53. b4 Rc1 54. Kd2 Rf1 55. Be2 Rxf4 56. Ke3 Rxf5 57. Rxd7+ Kxd7 58. Bg4 1-0 Thomson,T-Likhachev,E/Russia 1999

10. Nd2 O-O

10... d5 11. exd6 Qxd6 12. Nc4 Qc5 13. O-O-O white is slightly better

11. O-O-O white is slightly better d5 12. exd6 Qxd6 13. Nf3

13. Nc4

13... Qf4+ 14. Kb1 Bd6 15. g3 Qa4 16. Bg2 Bd7 17. Ne5 Bb5 18. Qh5 f6 19. Bd5 Rae8 20. Ng4!?

20. Rd4 Qa6 only move 21. Rh4 with attack

20... Bc6 21. Rd4 Qb5 22. a4 Qc5 23. Rhd1 Bxd5 24. Rxd5 Qc6 25. Qh4 Nc5

26. Nxf6+ gxf6 27. Rg5+ Kf7 28. Qxh7+ Ke6 29. Re1+ Be5 30. Bxe5 fxg5 31. Bg7+ Kd5 32. c4+ Kxc4 33. Qc2+ Kb4 34. Bc3+ Kc4 35. Ba5+ Kd4 36. Qc3+ Kd5 37. Qd2+ 1-0