📘 10...Qa5
One of the typical plans of the player who is fighting against the hanging pawns is puting pressure on them by pieces. As b6 is not playable on account of Ne5 black can try Na5, Bd7, Rc8 to press c4. Then, if white plays c5, black plants a piece on the important d5 square and increases his control over light squares.
One of the typical plans of the player who is fighting against the hanging pawns is puting pressure on them by pieces. As b6 is not playable on account of Ne5 black can try Na5, Bd7, Rc8 to press c4. Then, if white plays c5, black plants a piece on the important d5 square and increases his control over light squares.
📘 The knight on c6 is poorly placed on the half open c file. It is not protected by a pawn and has blocked c7.
14...Nd8!
Intending Ne6 and c5 to attack d4.
14...Nd8!
Intending Ne6 and c5 to attack d4.
📘 In the game Ivanchuk gave counterplay to his opponent by taking a pawn:
49...Q.e5? 50. Qf7!=
He could deprive his opponent of any counterplay by playing 49 ..Qb4!!
Now white's queen is stuck to defending the mate on g4 while he can hardly find a way to cope with the Qe4 threat.
49...Q.e5? 50. Qf7!=
He could deprive his opponent of any counterplay by playing 49 ..Qb4!!
Now white's queen is stuck to defending the mate on g4 while he can hardly find a way to cope with the Qe4 threat.
This is not the first time that Ivanchuk has tried this sideline! The idea of this move, which has been first played by Reshevsky is preventing white from playing b4 freely. Black in some cases may have the possibility of a4 if white plays a3.
📘 37.Kf3+-
A winning endgame with opposite colored bishops!
- White is a pawn up
- Black pawn structure on the kingsise is totally damaged.
- f5 and h5 are fixed on light squares and will be taken if black king leaves them unprotected.
- Black has an inactive bishop.
- White has a nice maneuver to invade queenside.
A winning endgame with opposite colored bishops!
- White is a pawn up
- Black pawn structure on the kingsise is totally damaged.
- f5 and h5 are fixed on light squares and will be taken if black king leaves them unprotected.
- Black has an inactive bishop.
- White has a nice maneuver to invade queenside.
📘 This line is named after Gurgenidze. A common continuation in the first years of this variation was 5...h5 6. Nf3 Nh6 7.Be3 Bg4 8.h3 Nf5 9.Bf2 B.f3 10.Q.f3 h4 planning e6, Bf8 and c5 at the right moment. Black typically looks for blockade in the 5...h5 line. The modern approach in this variation is 5...Nh6 which will be followed by f6 soon.
📘 3...d5
Mittenberger gambit is an uncommon and surprising weapon. Now if
4.N.d5 c6 and Q.d4 equalizes and if 4.ed5 Nbd7 with the idea of Nb6 to take back the pawn.
Mittenberger gambit is an uncommon and surprising weapon. Now if
4.N.d5 c6 and Q.d4 equalizes and if 4.ed5 Nbd7 with the idea of Nb6 to take back the pawn.
📘 28.Qf2! Rf8 29.Qf3!
From f3 white queen simultaneously attacks f7 and prevents c5, keeping the Bb7 still a bad bishop!
From f3 white queen simultaneously attacks f7 and prevents c5, keeping the Bb7 still a bad bishop!
📘 4...Bb4 5.Bd2 Be7
This line is still the most popular line in closed catalan. Black believes that the white bishop is less effectively placed on d2 than c1. It prevents white from playing Nbd2, Qc2 and e4. In addition, it prevents the normal development of bishop to b2 after b3.
This line is still the most popular line in closed catalan. Black believes that the white bishop is less effectively placed on d2 than c1. It prevents white from playing Nbd2, Qc2 and e4. In addition, it prevents the normal development of bishop to b2 after b3.
📘 8.h4!? is an interesting alternative to 8.c4. This move has been introduced by Van Der Wiel and is in repertoire of Nepom and Morozevich. This year, Darini won Bruzon by this move in Stars Blitz Tournament. The idea of this move gaining space on the kingside and the possibility of a rook lift in some lines. White can also consider Bg5 in some cases.
📘 74...Qf7?? gets checkmated in three moves. Black could put up more resistance by playing Kf8.