Chess (June): Vishy Retains World Championship; Nakamura wins US Title

[Jack Rabbit]

11. Kamsky - Seirawan General Group, Round 9 (Caro-Kann Main Line Theory)

Mr. Kamsky was going for his third consecutive US title. This game againt Yasser Seirawan, America's new comeback kid, is a tour de force of good opening preperation.
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Gata Kamsky
[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Frank Hoppe (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Samson1964) in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Gata_Kamsky) (Public Domain)
[/font]

Gata Kamsky - Yasser Seirawan
US Championship (General Group), Round 9
St. Louis, 17 May 2012

Open Caro-Kann Game: Main Line (Seirawan Opening)

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4
[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]Open Caro-Kann Game[/center][center]Position after 4.Nc3e4:p[/center]

4...Bf5

• The text is the Main Line of the Open Caro-Kann. Black activates his Bishop before playing ...e6. Many connoisseurs of the Caro-Kann believe that not blocking in the Bishop is the best reason to favor the Caro-Kann over the French Game.
• [font color="red"](Knight Defense)[/font] If [font color="red"]4...Nf6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]5.Nxf6+[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]5...gxf6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]6.c3 Bf5 7.Nf3 Qc7 8.g3 Nd7 9.Bg2 0-0-0 10.0-0 e6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]11.Qe2 Bd6[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]12.c4 c5 13.b4 cxb4 14.c5 Be7 15.Nh4 Bg6 16.Nxg6 hxg6 17.Rb1 Nb8 18.Bf4 Qd7 19.Bxb8 Kxb8[/font] Black resigns without waiting for White to reply (Tal-Bronstein, X Match, Tbilisi, 1982).
• [font color="burgundy"]12.b4 Bg4 13.a4 h5 14.Qd3 h4 15.Nxh4 Rxh4 16.gxh4 Bxh2+[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Sarfati-Ker, Queen's Birthday, London, 1990).
• If [font color="darkred"]11.Nh4 Bg6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]12.b4 f5 13.a4 Be7 14.Nxg6 hxg6 15.b5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space; Black's position is cramped (Benjamin-Felber, Op, Philadelphia, 1993).
• [font color="magenta"]12.f4 Nb6 13.Qf3 Be7 14.a4 Nd5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space; because Black's Knight is at d5 rather than d7, Black's game is less cramped than the main variation (Nykopp-Rosenlund, Politiken Cup, Copenhagen, 1981).
• If [font color="darkred"]a) 6.Nf3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]6...Bg4 7.Be2[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]7...Qc7 8.Be3 Nd7[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]9.c4 e6 10.0-0 0-0-0[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]11.Qa4 Kb8 12.Kh1 c5 13.Rad1 Bd6 14.h3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Vogt-Bronstein, IT, Taastrup, Denmark, 1990).
• [font color="burgundy"]11.h3 h5 12.Qc2 Bh6 13.Qc1 Bxe3 14.Qxe3[/font] gives White a small advantage (Karpov-Lee, SX, Chichester, England, 1982).
• [font color="darkpink"]9.c3 e6 10.Nh4 Bxe2 11.Qxe2 0-0-0 12.0-0-0[/font] is equal (Rellstab-Bilek, Gotha, 1957).
• If [font color="magenta"]7...e6 8.Bf4 Bd6 9.Qd2 Qc7[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]10.Bg3 Nd7 11.0-0-0 0-0-0 12.Kb1[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]12...Nb6 13.Qa5 Kb8 14.Bxd6 Rxd6 15.h3 Bf5 16.Bd3[/font] is equal (Jumaa-Faisal, Op, Abu Dhabi, 2001).
• [font color="burgundy"]12...Kb8 13.Nh4 f5 14.Bxd6 Qxd6 15.h3 Bxe2 16.Qxe2[/font] is equal (Kalka-Mittelbachert, Op, Recklinghausen, Germany, 2001).
• If [font color="darkorange"]10.Bxd6 Qxd6 11.0-0-0 Nd7[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]12.Kb1 0-0-0 13.c4 Kb8 14.Qe3 Rhg8 15.g3[/font] gives White a better center and small advantage in space (Tarve-Haag, IT, Tallinn, 1969).
• [font color="purple"]12.Rhe1 0-0-0 13.h3 Bf5 14.Nh4 Bg6 15.Nxg6 hxg6[/font] is equal (Rabar-Milic, NT, Ljubljana, Yugoslavia, 1945).
• [font color="darkorchid"]6...Bf5 7.c3 e6 8.g3[/font] transposes into the [font color="red"]main line[/font] of this note.
• If [font color="darkred"]b) 6.Bc4 Bf5 7.Ne2 e6 8.c3 Nd7 9.Ng3 Bg6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]10.h4 h5 11.Be2 Qa5 12.b4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]12...Qc7 13.Nxh5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]13...Bxh5!? 14.Bxh5! a5 15.Qe2[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]15...axb4? 16.Qxe6+! Kd8[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]17.Qxf7? Bd6 18.Bh6 Qa5 19.Bg4 Re8+ 20.Be3 Re7[/font] is equal.(Daoudi-Henderikse, Op, Gibraltar, 2011).
• White wins after [font color="burgundy"]17.Bxf7! Kc8 18.Bd2 bxc3 19.Bxc3 Kb8 20.Kf1.[/font]
• [font color="darkpink"]15...Be7 16.b5 cxb5 17.Bd2 b4 18.Rc1[/font] gives Black a comfortable advantage in space.
• [font color="darkorchid"]13...a5 14.Nf4 axb4 15.Nxg6 fxg6 16.Bd2 bxc3 17.Bxc3[/font] remains equal.
• If [font color="magenta"]12...Qd5?! 13.0-0[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]13...Nb6?! 14.a4! Qd8 15.b5 f5 16.bxc6 bxc6 17.Bf3[/font] gives Black better minor pieces and a strong advantage in space (Unzicker-Miles, Bundesliga 8586, Tyskland, 1985).
• [font color="darkorange"]13...0-0-0 14.a4 e5 15.Be3 exd4 16.Qxd4 Qxd4 17.Bxd4[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space.
• If [font color="magenta"]10.0-0 Qc7[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]11.Re1 0-0-0 12.Qf3 Bd6 13.Bh6[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]13...Rhg8[/font] then after [font color="magenta"]14.b4 f5 15.b5 f4 16.Ne4 Bxe4 17.Rxe4[/font] is equal (Paoli-Bhend, TT, Mont Pelerin sur Vevey, 1955).
• If [font color="darkorange"]13...f5?! 14.h4! f4 15.Ne4 Bxe4 16.Rxe4 e5? 17.Bxf7 Nf6 18.Be6+ Kb8 19.Rxe5 Bxe5 20.dxe5[/font] White wins (Grilic-Gombac, Op, Bled, 2001).
• [font color="purple"]16...Nf6 17.Rxf4 Bxf4 18.Bxf4 Qd7 19.Bg5[/font] leaves White with active pieces in compensation for a material deficit; it looks pretty grim for Black.
• If [font color="darkorange"]11.a4 0-0-0[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]12.Qe2!? h5![/font] (the game is equal) [font color="darkorange"]13.Rd1?! h4! 14.Nf1 Bh5 15.f3 Bd6 16.a5[/font] then:
If
• [font color="darkorange"]16...Rdg8!?[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]17.b4?[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkorange"]h3! 18.g3 Bxg3 19.Kh1 Bxh2[/font] when White is tied in knots (Pohla-Bronstein, IT, Parnu, 1971).
• [font color="#8D1B15"]17.h3 a6 18.Rd2 f5 19.Qf2 Bg6[/font] Black has more freedom.
• If [font color="purple"]16...h3 17.g3 Rdg8[/font] then:
• [font color="purple"]18.Kh1 a6 19.b3 f5 20.Ba3 Bxa3 21.Rxa3 Nf6[/font] gives Black more activity.
• If [font color="hotpink"]18.a6[/font] then Black wins after [font color="hotpink"]18...Bxg3!! 19.axb7+ Kxb7 20.Kh1 Bxh2 21.Ne3 Qg3.[/font]
• [font color="purple"]13.h4 Bd6 14.a5 Bxg3 15.fxg3 Qxg3[/font] remains equal.
• [font color="#C00080"]12.a5! h5 13.h4 c5 14.Qe2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
• If [font color="darkred"]5...exf6 6.Bc4 Bd6 7.Qe2+[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]7...Qe7 8.Qxe7+ Kxe7 9.Ne2 Be6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]10.Bd3 Nd7 11.Bf4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]11...Nb6 12.Bxd6+ Kxd6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]13.b3 Kc7 14.c4 Rad8 15.Kd2 Rhe8 16.Rae1[/font] gives White more space and stronger pawns; Black has a little more freedom (Matulovic-Smyslov, Ol, Siegen, 1970).
• [font color="burgundy"]13.Nf4 Rhe8 14.0-0 g6[/font] draw (Gipslis-Bagirov, Moscow Veterans, 1991).
• [font color="darkpink"]11...Rhe8 12.0-0-0 f5 13.Rhe1 Nf6 14.Bxd6+ Kxd6 15.Nf4[/font] is equal (Klovans-Kholmov, Soviet ChT, Moscow, 1966).
• If [font color="magenta"]10.Bxe6 fxe6 11.Bf4 Bxf4 12.Nxf4[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]12...Nd7 13.0-0-0 Rhe8 14.Rhe1 Kf7[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]15.Re3 e5 16.dxe5 Nxe5 17.h3 Rad8 18.Nd3 Nxd3+[/font] draw (Geller-Petrosian, Candidates' Trmt, Curaçao, 1962).
• [font color="purple"]15.Nd3 Rac8 16.Re3 c5 17.Nxc5 Nxc5 18.dxc5 Rxc5 19.Rd7+ Re7 20.Rxe7+ Kxe7[/font] draw (Ivkov-Matulovic, ITZ, Palma de Mallorca, 1970).
• [font color="darkorange"]12...Rd8 13.0-0-0 Nd7 14.Rhe1 Kf7[/font] draw (Braga-Hoffman, Op, Alicante, 1992).
• If [font color="magenta"]7...Be7 8.Nf3 0-0 9.0-0[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]9...Bg4 10.c3[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]10...Nd7 11.Re1 Re8[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]12.h3 Bxf3 13.Qxf3 Nb6 14.Bb3 Qd7 15.Bf4[/font] gives White an active Bishop pair and a Rook on an open central file; Black controls the d5 square (Kurajica-Kholmov, TM, Skopje, 1969).
• [font color="hotpink"]12.Bd2 Nb6 13.Bb3 Qd7 14.Qd3 c5 15.Bc2 g6[/font] is equal (Patterson-Wettstein, World ChT U26, Ybbs, Austria, 1968).
• [font color="purple"]10...Bd6 11.h3 Bh5 12.Re1 Nd7 13.g4 Bg6 14.Nh4[/font] is equal (Maroczy-Tartakover, IT, Utrecht, 1920).
• [font color="darkorange"]9...Bd6 10.Re1 Bg4 11.Qe4 Bh5 12.Nh4 Nd7 13.Qf5[/font] gives White a clear advantage (Ragozin-Boleslavsky, National Trmt, Sverdlovsk, 1942).
• If [font color="darkred"]5.Ng3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]5...e6 6.Nf3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]6...c5 7.Bd3 Nc6 8.dxc5 Bxc5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]9.a3 0-0 10.0-0[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]10...b6 11.b4 Be7 12.Bb2 Qc7 13.b5 Na5 14.Ne5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.(Spielmann-Hönlinger, Match, Vienna, 1929).
• [font color="burgundy"]10...Qc7 11.b4 Be7 12.Bb2 Rd8 13.b5 Na5 14.Ne5[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Michel-Sanguineti, Mar del Plata, 1947).
• [font color="darkpink"]9.0-0 Nb4 10.Bb5+ Bd7 11.Qe2 0-0 12.Bg5 Bxb5 13.Qxb5[/font] is equal (Unzicker-W. Lange, NT, Essen, Germany, 1947).
• If [font color="magenta"]6...Nbd7 7.Bd3 c5 8.0-0 Be7[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]9.c3 0-0 10.Qe2[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]10...b6 11.Re1 Bb7[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]12.Ne4 Qc7[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]13.dxc5!? bxc5! 14.Nxf6+ Nxf6 15.Ne5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Nickl-Pavasovic, Op, Graz, Austria, 1998).
• If [font color="darkorange"]13.h3 Rfe8 14.Bg5 h6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]15.Bh4?! cxd4! 16.Nxd4 Nxe4 17.Bxe7 Nxc3 18.bxc3 Rxe7[/font] leaves Black with an extra pawn (Coddens-Almer, World Jr ChG, Istanbul, 2005).
• [font color="purple"]15.Bxf6! Nxf6 16.dxc5 bxc5 17.Nxf6+ Bxf6 18.Rad1 Red8[/font] remains equal.
• If [font color="darkorange"]12.Ne5 cxd4 13.cxd4 Nd5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]14.Nf3 N7f6 15.a3 Rc8 16.Bd2 Rc7 17.Rad1[/font] is equal (N. Das-Sasikiran, Op, Calcutta, 1999).
• [font color="purple"]14.Bd2 Bb4 15.Rac1 Bxd2 16.Qxd2 N7f6 17.a3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Kashdan-Kotov, TM, Moscow, 1946).
• [font color="darkpink"]10...cxd4 11.Nxd4 Re8 12.Kh1 Qc7 13.Bg5[/font] is equal (Panov-Veresov, Soviet Ch, Leningrad, 1934).
• If [font color="darkorange"]9.b3 0-0 10.Bb2 b6 11.Qe2 Bb7[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]12.c4 Re8 13.dxc5 Bxc5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]14.Rad1 Qc7 15.Ne4 Be7 16.Rfe1 Rad8 17.a3 h6 18.b4[/font] draw (Chebotarev-Galkin, Russian Ch ½-final, Kazan, 2005).
• [font color="hotpink"]14.Ng5 Qe7 15.Rad1 Rad8 16.N5e4 Nxe4 17.Bxe4 Bxe4 18.Nxe4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Tiviakov-Adams. PCA WorldCh Qual, New York, 1994).
• If [font color="purple"]12.Rad1 Qc7 13.c4 Rfe8 14.Bb1[/font] then:
• If [font color="purple"]14...Rad8 15.dxc5[/font] then:
• [font color="purple"]15...Qxc5 16.Ne4 Qc7 17.h3 Nxe4 18.Bxe4[/font] draw (Matanovic-Petrosian, IZT, Biel, 1976).
• [font color="#C03030"]15...Nxc5 16.Ng5 h6 17.h4 Qf4 18.Nh3 Qxh4[/font] gives Black an extra pawn (M. Evans-Beach, Wellington Ch, New Zealand, 1976).
• [font color="hotpink"]14...Nf8 15.dxc5 Qxc5 16.Ne5 Ng6[/font] is equal (Spassky-Ciric, IT, Moscow, 1961).
• If [font color="magenta"]5...h5 6.h4 Bg4 7.Be2[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]7...e6 8.Bg5[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]8...Qb6 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.f3 Bf5 11.Nxf5 Qa5+ 12.Qd2[/font] is equal (Abdulla-Ermenkov, Op, Dubai, 2000).
• [font color="purple"]8...Nbd7 9.Qd3 Qc7 10.0-0-0 0-0-0 11.Bxg4 hxg4 12.N1e2 Be7[/font] is equal (Gvilava-Bacherikov, Moscow Op, 2007).
• If [font color="darkorange"]7...Qc7[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]8.Nf3 Nbd7 9.Ng5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]9...e6 10.Bxg4 hxg4 11.N3e4 Nxe4 12.Nxe4 0-0-0 13.Bg5 f6[/font] gives Black the initiative; White has a bad Bishop and Black has a good one (Rakhmangulova-Thi Nhu Hoang, World Yout Girls, Porto Carras, 2010).
• [font color="hotpink"]9...e5 10.Be3 Bd6 11.Bxg4 Nxg4 12.Qf3 Ndf6 13.Nf5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space and a strong presence on the kingside (Huba-Soska, IT, Prievidza, 1973).
• [font color="purple"]8.Bxg4 Nxg4 9.N1e2 e6 10.Ne4 Nd7 11.Bf4 Qa5+[/font] is equal (Tal-Rosenberg, Riga, 1953).
• [font color="blue"](Karpov Defense)[/font] If [font color="blue"]4...Nd7 5.Ng5 Ngf6[/font] then:
• If [font color="blue"]6.Bd3 e6 7.N1f3 Bd6 8.Qe2 h6 9.Ne4 Nxe4 10.Qxe4[/font] then:
• If [font color="blue"]10...Qc7[/font] then:
• If [font color="blue"]11.0-0[/font] then:
• [font color="blue"]11...Nf6 12.Qh4 b6 13.Bg5 Be7 14.Bf4[/font] gives White a healthy advantage in space (Akopian-Shimanov, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2012)
• If [font color="darkblue"]a) 11...b6 12.Qg4 Kf8[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]13.b3 Bb7 14.Bb2 Nf6 15.Qh4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]15...Nd5 16.Ne5 g5 17.Qg4 Nf4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]18.Rfe1 Rg8 19.Qf3 Rd8 20.Rad1 c5 21.Be4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]21...Bxe4 22.Qxe4 f5 23.Qf3 Bxe5 24.dxe5 Kf7[/font] is equal (Gopal-Rodshtein, World Jr Ch, Yerevan, 2007).
• [font color="steelblue"]21...Bxe5 22.dxe5 Bxe4 23.Qxe4 Rxd1 24.Rxd1 Ke7 25.h4[/font] gives White more activity, a safer King and a fair advantage in space (So-Harikrishna, Asian Games TT, Guangzhou, 2010).
[/ul
• [font color="slateblue"]20.Be4 f5 21.Bxc6 Bxe5 22.Bxb7 g4 23.Qc6[/font] gives White an extra pawn and a comfortable advantage in space (Hou Yifan-Sasikiran, IT B, Wijk aan Zee, 2009).
• [font color="darkcyan"]18.Qf3 Rg8 19.Be4 Rc8 20.g3 Bxe5 21.dxe5 Nh3+[/font] is equal (Hammer-Rodshtein, Euro ChT, Crete, 2007).
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]15...c5 16.dxc5 Qxc5[/font] then:
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]17.Bd4 Qa5 18.Bxf6[/font] then:
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]18...gxf6 19.Be4 Bxe4 20.Qxe4[/font] then:
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]20...Rd8 21.Rad1[/font] then:
• [font color="dodgerblue"]21...Qh5?! 22.Rd3 Kg7 23.Rfd1 Bc7 24.Rd7 b5 25.h3[/font] gives White stronger pawns, a better center and a comfortable advantage in space (Ganguly-Rodshtein, Op, Gibraltar, 2004).
• [font color="#8040C0"]21...Qc5 22.g3 f5 23.Qd4 Qxd4 24.Nxd4 Be7 25.c4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
• If [font color="darkcyan"]20...Kg7 21.Rfd1 Rad8 22.Rd3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkcyan"]22...f5 23.Qh4 Qc5 24.Rad1 Be7[/font] is equal (Nijboer-Bologan, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).
• [font color="slateblue"]22...Bc7 23.Qg4+ Kh7 24.Qe4+ Kg7 25.Qg4+ Kh7 26.Qe4+ Kg7[/font] draw (Hou Yifan-Berkes, IT, Paks, Hungary, 2007).
• If [font color="darkcyan"]18...Bxf3 19.Bb2[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkcyan"]19...Bc6?! 20.Qd4 Ke7[/font] then:
• [font color="darkcyan"]21.Rfd1?! Qh5 22.Qxd6+ Kxd6 23.Be2+ Qd5 24.Bf3[/font] gives White a marginally better game (Smerdon-Speelman, Ol, Palma De Mallorca, 2004).
li][font color="steelblue"]21.Rae1 Qh5 22.h3 Rad8 23.g4 Qg5 24.Qxg7[/font] gives White an extra pawn, better pawn structure and more space.
• [font color="slateblue"]19...Qh5! 20.Qxh5 Bxh5 21.Rfe1 Rg8 22.h3 Re8 23.a4[/font] gives White an active Rook and more space.
• If [font color="darkcyan"]17.Bxf6 gxf6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkcyan"]18.Qxf6 Qh5 19.Be2[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkcyan"]19...Rg8 20.g3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkcyan"]20...Rg6 21.Nh4!? Rxf6 22.Bxh5 Rc8 23.Rad1 Ke7 24.c4[/font] gives White an extra pawn and stronger pawns; Black is compensated with more space (B. Vuckovic-Berkes, Bosnian ChT, Vogosca, 2007).
• [font color="steelblue"]20...Be7?! 21.Qf4! Qh3 22.Rfd1 Rg6 23.Bf1 Qh5? 24.Ne5![/font] (Pijpers-Rauw, Op, Groningen, 2009).
• [font color="#0040C0"]19...Bxf3 20.h3 Qe5 21.Qxe5 Bxe5 22.Bxf3 Bxa1 23.Bxa8[/font] continues to give White a fair advantage in space (Karjakin-Bologan, IT, Tomsk, 2006).
• [font color="slateblue"]18.Be4 Bxe4 19.Qxe4 Kg7 20.Rad1 Rad8 21.c4[/font] gives White stronger pawn and more space (Bindrich-Erenberg, Euro Ch, Kusadasi, Turkey, 2006).
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]13.Re1 c5 14.c3 Bb7[/font] then:
• [font color="dodgerblue"]15.Qh3 Rd8 16.Be4 Bxe4 17.Rxe4[/font] is equal (Leko-Bareev, Candidates' Match, Elista, 2007).
• [font color="darkcyan"]15.h4 Rd8[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkcyan"]16.Bd2 Nf6 17.Qh3 Bxf3 18.Qxf3 cxd4 19.cxd4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkcyan"]19...Qd7 20.a4 Be7 21.Bc3 Qd5 22.Qh3 Bd6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkcyan"]23.Re3!? h5 24.Rae1[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkcyan"]24...a5 25.Rf3 Rc8 26.Ba6 Rc7[/font] then:
• [font color="darkcyan"]27.Rd3 Ng4 28.Rd2 Rh6 29.Be2 Rg6 30.Bd3[/font] is equal (Shirov-Karpov, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 1998).
• [font color="#0080C0"]27.Be2 Rh6 28.Rd3 Rg6 29.Qf3 Ng4 30.g3 Rf6[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Schoonhoven-Hnatovsky, Corres, 2003).
• [font color="#4000C0"]24...Bf4 25.R3e2 Rc8 26.g3 Bd6 27.Qg2 Rc7[/font] is equal.
• [font color="#0040C0"]23.Be2 a5 24.Rac1 h5 25.Bf3 Qa2 26.Bc6[/font] gives White a small advantage with a more active Rook.
• [font color="steelblue"]19...Be7! 20.Bf4 Qd7 21.Be5 h5 22.Rac1[/font] continues to give Black a fair advantage in space.
• [font color="slateblue"]16.h5 cxd4 17.cxd4 Nf6 18.Qh3 Qc6 19.Be3 Qd5[/font] is equal (Lane-Conquest, British Ch, Scarborough, 1999).
• If [font color="darkblue"]b) 11...c5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]12.Qg4 Kf8[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]13.Qh4 b6 14.Be4 Rb8 15.Rd1 c4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]16.Bc6![/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]16...Ba6?! 17.d5 e5 18.a4 Kg8 19.Nd2[/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]19...g5 20.Qg4[/font] gives White an outstanding advantage (Ivanchuk-Galkin, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2007).
• If [font color="darkcyan"]19...b5 20.Bg5 Bxe5 21.dxe5 Qxe5 22.Bxf6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkcyan"]22...gxf6 23.Rab1 cxb3 24.Rxb3 a5 is equal.[/font]
• [font color="#8040C0"]22...Qxf6??[/font] drops a Rook to [font color="slateblue"]23.Rd8+!.[/font]
• [font color="slateblue"]16...Be7 17.Qe4 Bb7 18.Bxb7 Qxb7 19.Qe2 Qd5 20.Ne5[/font] gives White more freedom/
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]16.Ne5 Nf6 17.Bf3 Bb7 18.Bxb7 Rxb7 19.b3 cxb3 20.cxb3 Nd5 21.Bf4 Qe7 22.Qg3[/font] then:
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]22...Bxe5 23.Bxe5 Qg5 24.Qd3 Rd7 25.Rac1[/font] gives White more freedom and a small advantage in space (Sadvakasov-Karpov, IT, Hoogeveen, 1999).
• [font color="slateblue"]22...Nxf4 23.Qxf4 Kg8 24.Qe4 f5 25.Qe3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Timman-Seirawan, IT, Bali, 2000).
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]13.Re1 b6 14.c3 Bb7 15.Qh3[/font] then:
• [font color="dodgerblue"]15...Rc8 16.Be4 Bxe4 17.Rxe4 Nf6 18.Re1 Kg8 19.Bd2[/font] is equal (Sadvakasov-Galkin, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2005).
• [font color="darkcyan"]15...Bf4?! 16.Ne5! Bxc1 17.Nxf7 Kxf7 18.Qxe6+ Kf8 19.Qe7+[/font] gives White an obvious advantage (T. L. Petrosian-Galkin, Euro Ch Kusadasi, 2006).
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]12.Re1 Nf6 13.Qh4 Bd7[/font] then:
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]14.dxc5 Qxc5 15.Be3[/font] then:
• [font color="dodgerblue"]15...Qc7 16.Bd4 Be7 17.Ne5 0-0 18.Ng4 Nxg4 19.Qxg4[/font] gives White an overwhelming advantage in space that allowed him to coast to victory (Negi-Lalith, Op, Dubai, 2006).
• [font color="slateblue"]15...Qh5 16.Qxh5 Nxh5 17.Rad1 Nf6 18.Bd4[/font] gives White a queenside majority and a comfortable advantage in space.
• [font color="darkcyan"]14.Bg5 Be7 15.dxc5 Qxc5 16.Ne5 Bc6 17.Qh3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Ivanchuk-Karpov, IT, Dortmund, 1997).
• If [font color="darkblue"]11.Qg4 Kf8 12.0-0 c5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]13.c3 b6 14.Re1 Bb7 15.Qh3 Ke7 16.Be4 Bxe4 17.Rxe4 Nf6 18.Re1 Rad8 19.dxc5 bxc5[/font] gives White a modest edge in space, a safer King and better pawn structure (Asrian-Sargissian, Armenian Ch, Yerevan 2000).
• [font color="dodgerblue"]13.b3 e5 14.dxc5 Nxc5 15.Bf5 Ne6 16.Bb2 h5[/font] is equal (Wang Hao-Wojtaszek, World Jr Ch, Istanbul 2005).
• If [font color="darkblue"]10...Nf6 11.Qe2 Qc7 12.Bd2 b6 13.0-0-0 Bb7 14.Ne5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]14...0-0-0 15.f4 Kb8 16.Kb1 Rhe8 17.Rhf1 Nd5[/font] White's spatial edge is largely dependent on the Kningt at e5, which may be driven off (Carlsen-Agdestein, Norwegian Ch Rapid Playoff, Oslo 2005).
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]14...c5 15.Bb5+ Ke7 16.dxc5 Qxc5 17.a3 Qc7 18.Bf4 Nd5 19.Bg3 Rhd8 20.Rd4 Kf8 21.Kb1 a6 22.Rc4 Qe7 23.Nc6 Bxc6 24.Bxc6 Ra7 25.Bxd5 exd5 26.Bxd6 Qxd6 27.Rd4 b5 28.Qd3 Kg8 29.g3 Qe6 30.Rd1 Rad7 31.h4 Rd6 32.Rd2 Qe1+ 33.Ka2 Qe7 34.Qf3 Qe6 35.Re2 Qc8 36.Qd3 Rc6[/font] gives White stronger pawns (Kamsky-Karpov, FIDE World Ch, Elista, 1996).
• [font color="darkcyan"]31.f4 Rd6 32.f5 Qe5 33.h4 h5 34.Qf3[/font] White puts Black's kingside through a shblueder (Khruschiov-Escobedo, Ol, Palma de Mallorca, 2004).
[/il]
• If [font color="darkblue"]6.Bc4 e6 7.Qe2 Nb6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]8.Bd3 h6 9.N5f3 c5 10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.Ne5 Nbd7 12.Ngf3 Qc7 13.0-0 0-0 14.Bf4 Bd6 15.Rfe1 Nc5 16.Rad1 b6 17.c3 Bb7 18.Bc2 Rfd8 19.Rd4 a5 20.b4 Ba6 21.Qe3[/font] gives White the advantage in space (Godena-Malakhov, Montecatini 1997).
• [font color="dodgerblue"]8.Bb3 h6 9.N5f3 c5 10.Bf4 Nbd5 11.Be5 Qa5+ 12.Nd2 b5 13.dxc5 Bxc5 14.Ngf3 0-0 15.0-0 Ba6 16.Bxd5 Nxd5 17.Nb3 Qb6 18.Nxc5 Qxc5 19.Bd4[/font] draw agreed (Nunn-Speelman, IT, Reykjavik 1988).

5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4

• The text is the Seirawan Opening.

[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]Open Caro-Kann Game: Main Line (Seirawan Opening)[/center][center]Position after 6.h2h4[/center]

• [font color="red"](Flohr Opening)[/font] If [font color="red"]6.Nh3[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]6...e6 7.Nf4 Bd6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]8.Bc4 Nf6 9.c3 Nbd7 10.Qf3 Nb6 11.Bb3 Nbd5 12.Nxg6 hxg6 13.Bg5 Be7 14.0-0-0 b5 15.h4[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]15...Rc8 16.Kb1 a5 17.a3 a4 18.Ba2 Qc7 19.Rde1[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Rublevsky-Dreev, Bundesliga 1112, Bremen, 2012).
• [font color="burgundy"]15...Nd7?! 16.Ne4?! N5f6 17.Bd2 Nxe4 18.Qxe4 a5 19.Qg4?! a4![/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space (Rublevsky-Dreev, Op, Elista, 1998).
• If [font color="darkred"]8.h4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]8...Qc7 9.Nxg6 hxg6 10.Ne4 Bf4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]11.g3 Bxc1 12.Qxc1 Nd7[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]13.Qe3 Ngf6 14.Ng5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]14...Qa5+ 15.c3 Qd5 16.Rg1 Nb6 17.Bg2 Qa5 18.Bf3[/font] is equal (Makropoulou-Molchanova, Euro ChW, Plovdiv, 2008).
• [font color="burgundy"]14...Nb6 15.0-0-0 0-0-0 16.Bh3 Rhe8 17.Rhe1 Kb8 18.Qe5[/font] gives White a small adantage in space (Moylan-Connally, OlW, Torino, 2006).
• If [font color="magenta"]13.Bg2[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]13...Ne7 14.Qd2 Nf5 15.c3 Nf6 16.Ng5 0-0-0 17.Qe2 Rhe8[/font] draw (Godena-Asrian, Euro Ch, 2001).
• [font color="darkorange"]13...Ngf6 14.Qe3 Nxe4 15.Qxe4 0-0-0 16.0-0-0 Nf6[/font] is equal (Makka-Ledger, Euro Ch Rd 2, Plovdiv, 2012).
• If [font color="magenta"]11.Qf3 Bxc1 12.Rxc1[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]12...Ne7 13.g3 Nf5 14.c3 Nd7 15.Ng5 Nf6[/font] is equal (Jakovenko-Izoria, World Youth, Oropesa del Mar, 2001).
• [font color="darkorange"]12...Nd7 13.g3 Ngf6 14.Bc4 Nxe4 15.Qxe4 Nf6[/font] gives Black the initiative (Stefanov-Kukov, Bugarian ChT, Borovets, 2001).
• If [font color="magenta"]8...Bxf4 9.Bxf4 h6 10.c3 Nf6[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]11.h5 Bh7 12.Qb3[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]12...Qb6 13.Qa3 Nbd7[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]14.Bd6 Rc8 15.b4 a6 16.c4 Qd8 17.Be2[/font] gives White an impressive advantage in space (Hajbok-Georgescu, TT, Brasov, Romania, 2011).
• [font color="hotpink"]14.0-0-0 a6 15.Bd6 Rc8 16.Rh4 Nd5 17.c4[/font] gives White an impressive advantage in space (Efimenko-Pantsulaia, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).
• [font color="purple"]12...Qe7 13.Be2 0-0 14.0-0 a5 15.a4 Nd5 16.Bd2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Wang Yue-Shyam, Op 1112, Hastings, 2011).
• [font color="darkorange"]11.Qb3 Nd5 12.Bd2 Qc7 13.c4 Nf6 14.Qa3[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Radjabov-Nisipeanu, IT, Medias, 2011).
• If [font color="darkred"]6...Nf6 7.Nf4 e5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]8.Nxg6 hxg6 9.dxe5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]9...Qa5+ 10.Bd2 Qxe5+ 11.Qe2[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]11...Qxe2+ 12.Bxe2 Nbd7 13.0-0[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]13...0-0-0 14.Rad1 Nb6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]15.Bc1 Bd6 16.Rfe1 Kc7 17.h3 Rhe8 18.Bd3[/font] draw (Radjabov-Anand, IT, Linares, 2008).
• [font color="burgundy"]15.Rfe1 Bd6 16.Nf1 Kc7 17.g3 Ne4 18.Bc1 Bc5[/font] is equal (Radjabov-Leko, Amber Blind, Nice, 2009).
• [font color="darkpink"]13...Bc5 14.Bc3 0-0 15.Bf3 Rfe8 16.Rfe1 Nb6[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space (Liang Jirong-Li Wenliang, Asian Ch, Calcutta, 2001).
• If [font color="magenta"]11...Nbd7 12.Qxe5+ Nxe5[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]13.Bc3 Ned7[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]14.Bc4 Rh4 15.Bb3 Nc5 16.0-0-0 Nxb3+ 17.axb3[/font] is equal (Avsalumov-Kasparov, Soviet Union, 1977).
• [font color="purple"]14.0-0-0 Bc5 15.f3 0-0 16.Bc4 Nb6 17.Bb3 Rfe8[/font] is equal (Kamsky-Landa, IT 0910, Reggio Emilia, 2010).
• [font color="darkorange"]13.Be2 0-0-0 14.Rd1 Bc5 15.0-0 Rhe8 16.h3 Rd4[/font] is equal (Godena-Mamedyarov, Euro Ch Rd 4, Plovdiv, 2012).
• If [font color="magenta"]9...Qxd1+ 10.Kxd1 Ng4[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]11.Ne4 Nxe5[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]12.Be2 Be7 13.c3[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]13...0-0 14.Kc2 Nbd7 15.Bf4 Nf6 16.Nxf6+ Bxf6 17.h4[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Yemelin-Burmakin, Russian Ch, St. Petersburg, 1998).
• [font color="hotpink"]13...Ned7 14.Bf4 Nc5 15.Nxc5 Bxc5 16.Bc4 0-0 17.Kc2[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space; Black has to fins a post for the Knight in order to complete his developement while White should cover his f-pawn (Keres-Kalia, Tng Game, Helsinki, 1943).
• [font color="purple"]12.Bf4 Nbd7 13.c3 0-0-0 14.Kc2 f6 15.Re1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Stein-Kholmov, Soviet Ch, Leningrad, 1963).
• [font color="darkorange"]11.Ke1 Nxe5 12.f4 Ng4 13.h3 Nf6 14.Kf2[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Zaslavsky-Kantarji, Israeli Ch, Haifa, 2010).
• If [font color="magenta"]8.dxe5 Qa5+ 9.c3 Qxe5+[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]10.Be2 Nbd7 11.0-0 0-0-0 12.Qa4 Bc5[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]13.Nd3 Bxd3 14.Bxd3 Nb6 15.Qc2[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]15...h5 16.Bf5+ Kb8 17.Bg5 Rde8 18.Qd2 Nc4[/font]gives Black the initiativeand command of the e-file (Sutovsky-Jobava, Euro Club Cup, Rethymnon, 2003).
• [font color="hotpink"]15...Nbd5 16.Bd2 h5 17.b4 Bb6 18.Rfe1 Qd6 19.Rad1[/font] is equal (Palac-Jobava, Euro Ch, Kusadasi, 2006).
• [font color="purple"]13.Nxg6 hxg6 14.Bf4 Rh4 15.Bxe5 Rxa4 16.Bxf6 Nxf6[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (N. Guliev-Hoffmann, Bundesliga 0708, Germany, 2007).
• [font color="darkorange"]10.Qe2 Nbd7 11.Nxg6 hxg6 12.Bf4 Qxe2+ 13.Bxe2 Bc5[/font] is equal (Tiviakov-V. Popov, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).

6...h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 e6

• If [font color="red"]10...Ngf6 11.Bf4 e6 12.0-0-0 Be7[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]13.Ne4 Qa5 14.Kb1 0-0 15.Nxf6+ Nxf6 16.Ne5 Rad8 17.Qe2[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]17...c5 18.Ng6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]18...fxg6? 19.Qxe6+! Kh8 20.hxg6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]20...Ng8 21.Bxh6!! gxh6 22.Rxh6+!! Nxh6 23.Qxe7 Nf7 24.gxf7 Kg7 25.Rd3[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]25...Rd6 26.Rg3+! Rg6 27.Qe5+ Kxf7 28.Qf5+ Rf6 29.Qd7#[/font] White wins (Carlsen-Ernst, IT C, Wijk aan Zee, 2004).
• [font color="burgundy"]25...Qb6 26.Rg3+! Kh7 27.Qe4+[/font] leads to mate.
• If [font color="darkpink"]20...Qb6[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkpink"]21.Qxe7 Ng8 22.Qe4 Rfe8 23.Be5.[/font]
• [font color="darkorchid"]18...Rfe8 19.Nxe7+ Rxe7 20.dxc5 Red7 21.Rxd7 Rxd7 22.Be3[/font] leaves White with an extra pawn, but it is weak and Black has more space.
• [font color="#C06000"]17...Qb6 18.c3 c5 19.Be3 Nd5 20.Ka1 Qc7[/font] is equal (Anand-Bareev, TM, Moscow, 2002).
• If [font color="darkred"]a) 13.Ne5 0-0 14.c4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]14...c5 15.d5 Nxe5 16.Bxe5 Ng4 17.Bxg7[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]17...Kxg7 18.Qe2 Bg5+ 19.Kb1 Nf6 20.dxe6 Qc8 21.e7![/font] gives White command of the center, a passed pawn knocking at the gate and a fair adantage in space; Black will be able to blockade the pawn for a while (Karpov-Dr. Hubner, IT, Tilburg, 1982).
• If [font color="magenta"]17...Bg5+ 18.Kb1 Nxf2![/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]19.Qc3? Re8! 20.Rdf1 Nxh1 21.Ne4 e5 22.Bf6 Bxf6 23.Nxf6+ Kg7[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and a strong initiative (Bezemer-Peelen, Op, Amsterdam, 2001).
• [font color="darkorange"]19.Qf3 Nxd1 20.Bxf8 Nxb2 21.Kxb2 Qb6+ 22.Qb3 Bf6+[/font] gives Black an extra pawn.
• If [font color="magenta"]14...Qa5 15.Kb1 Rad8 16.Qe2[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]16...Qa6? 17.Ng6! Rfe8 18.Nxe7+ Rxe7 19.Nf5 Ree8 20.Nd6[/font] gives White more active pieces and an overwhelming advantage in space (Nikolenko-V. Ivanov, Geller Mem, Moscow, 1999).
• [font color="darkorange"]16...Rfe8! 17.Ne4 Nxe4 18.Qxe4 Nxe5 19.Bxe5[/font] is equal.
• If [font color="darkred"]b) 13.Kb1 0-0 14.Ne4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]14...Nxe4 15.Qxe4 Nf6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]16.Qe2 Qd5 17.Ne5 Qe4 18.Qxe4 Nxe4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]19.Rhe1 Nf6 20.g4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]20...a5 21.c3 Rfc8 22.f3 b5 23.Nd3 Nd5 24.Bg3[/font] is equal (Bologan-Dreev, IT, Poikovsky, 2005).
• [font color="burgundy"]20...Rfd8 21.c4 Rac8 22.Kc2 Nd7 23.b3 Nxe5 24.dxe5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Ganguly-Dao Thien Hai, Asian Ch, Subic Bay, 2009).
• [font color="#C06000"]20...Bd6 21.f3 a5 22.a4 b5 23.Ng6 Bxf4 24.Nxf4[/font] is equal (Kotronias-Arutinian, Euro Ch, Kusadasi, 2007).
• [font color="darkpink"]19.Be3 Rfd8 20.g4 c5 21.f3 cxd4 22.Rxd4 Rxd4 23.Bxd4 Nd2+[/font] gives Black a small advantage (Fier-Krush, Op, Gibraltar, 2012).
• [font color="hotpink"]16.Qd3 Qa5 17.Ne5 Rad8 18.Qg3 Kh8 19.c4 Nd7 20.Nd3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Naiditsch-Akopian, Euro Club Cup, Rethymnon, Crete, 2003).
• If [font color="magenta"]14...Qa5[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]15.g4 Nxg4 16.Ne5 Ndxe5 17.dxe5[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]17...Rad8 18.Qh3 Qb4 19.Qg2 Rxd1+ 20.Rxd1[/font] gives White a grip on d6 (Haba-Polak, Czech Ch, Karlovy Vary, 2004).
• [font color=burgundy"]17...f5 18.exf6 Nxf6 19.Rdg1 Nxe4 20.Qxe4 Qf5[/font] is equal (Haba-Gyimesi, Bundesliga 0405, Germany, 2004).
• If [font color="darkorange"]15.Ne5 Nxe4 16.Qxe4 Rad8 17.g4 Nxe5 18.Bxe5 Bd6 19.f4 Bxe5 20.fxe5[/font] is equal (Bruzón-Izoria, Ol, Palma de Mallorca, 2004).

11.Bd2

• If [font color="red"]11.Bf4 Qa5+ 12.Bd2 Bb4 13.c3 Be7 14.c4[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]14...Qc7 15.0-0-0 Ngf6 16.Kb1 0-0 17.Rhe1[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]17...a5 18.Bc1 Rfd8 19.Qc2 a4 20.Ne5 Nxe5 21.dxe5 Rxd1 22.Qxd1 Nd7 23.f4 Nc5 24.Ne4 Rd8[/font] is equal (Leko-Ivanchuk, IT, Morelia-Linares, 2008).
• [font color="burgundy"]17...Rfd8 18.Qc2 a5 19.a3[/font] gives White the advantage in space (Hou Yifan-Iordachescu, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2008).
• If [font color="darkred"]14...Bb4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]15.Ne4 Bxd2+ 16.Nfxd2 Ngf6 17.Nd6+ Ke7 18.Nxb7 Qb4 19.Qa3 Qxa3 20.bxa3 c5 21.dxc5 Rhc8 22.Rb1 Nxc5 23.Ke2[/font] gives White an extra pawn (Brandenburg-Pantsulaia, World Jr Ch, Yerevan, 2006).
• [font color="magenta"]15.a3 Bxd2+ 16.Qxd2 Qxd2+ 17.Kxd2 Ngf6 18.Kc3 c5 19.dxc5 Nxc5 20.Rhe1 0-0 21.Ne5 Rfc8 22.b4 Ncd7 23.Nxd7 Nxd7 24.Ne4[/font] gives White more space, but with so few pieces on the board the queenside majority may be more important (Mulyar-Figler, Foxwoods Op, Mashantucket, 2007).

11...Ngf6

• If [font color="red"]11...Qc7 12.0-0-0 Ngf6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]13.Ne4 0-0-0 14,g3 [/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]14...Nxe4 15.Qxe4 Nf6 16.Qe2 Bd6 17.Kb1 Rhe8 18.c4 c5 19.Bc3 Qc6 20.Rh4 Rd7[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]21.a3 cxd4 22.Nxd4 Qa6 23.Nb5 e5 24.Rhh1[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Velimirovic-Akesson, Bela Crkva, 1994).
• [font color="burgundy"]21.Rc1 Red8 22.a3 Bc7 23.b4 cxd4 24.Nxd4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Negi-Chabanon, Op, Cappelle-la-Grande, 2010).
• [font color="darkpink"]14...Nc5 15.Nxc5 Bxc5 16.c4 Bb6 17.Bc3 Rhe8 18.Kb1 a6 19.Qc2 Re7 20.Ne5[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Tal-Miles, IT, Bugojno, 1984).
• If [font color="darkred"]13.Kb1 0-0-0 14.c4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]14...Bd6 15.Ne4 Nxe4 16.Qxe4 Nf6 17.Qe2 c5 18.Bc3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]18...cxd4 19.Nxd4 a6 20.g3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]20...Bc5 21.Ka1 Rd7 22.Nb3 Rhd8 23.Rc1 Qc6 24.Rh4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Berg-Hole, Norwegian ChT, Oslo, 2010).
• If [font color="magenta"]20...Rd7 21.Rc1 Kb8[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]22.Nb3 Qc6 23.Rh4 Rhd8 24.c5 Bc7 25.Rc4 Rd3 26.Nd4 Qe4 27.Qxe4 Nxe4[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]28.Nc6+ bxc6 29.Rxe4 Rg8 30.Rg4 Rd5 31.Rh1 Be5 [/font] is equal (Sethuramen-Pakidze, World Jr Ch G, Puerto Madryn, Argentina, 2009).
• [font color="purple"]28.Kc2 Nxf2 29.Rf1 Bxg3 30.Ne2 Nd1 31.Rxd1 Rxd1[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Sethuraman-Yu Ruiyuan, Asian Ch, Ho Chi Minh City, 2012).
• [font color="darkorange"]22.Rh4 Rhd8 23.Qe1 Rc8 24.Nb3 Qc6 25.c5[/font] gives White the initiative and more space (Negi-Postny, Politiken Cup, Helsignør, 2009).
• [font color="burgundy"]18...Rhe8 19.g3 Qc6 20.Rh4[/font] transposes.
• If [font color="magenta"]14...c5 15.Bc3 cxd4 16.Nxd4 a6 17.Nb3 Be7[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]18.Ba5 b6 19.Bc3 Nc5 20.Qf3 Qb7 21.Qxb7+ Kxb7[/font] is equal (Spassky-Portisch, Candidates' Match, Mexico City, 1980).
• [font color="darkorange"]18.Qe2 Nc5 19.Be5 Bd6 20.Rxd6 Rxd6[/font] is equal (Schütze-Cioara, Bundesliga 0910, Munich, 2010).

12.0-0-0 Be7 13.Ne4 Nxe4

• If [font color="red"]13...0-0 14.Kb1 c5 15.dxc5 Nxc5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]16.Nxc5 Bxc5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]17.Be3[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]17...Qb6 18.Bxc5 Qxc5 19.Qd4 Rac8 20.c3 Qf5+[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Zawadzka-Houska, Mindsports Rpd, Beijing, 2008).
• [font color="darkorange"]17...Qxd3 18.Rxd3 Bxe3 19.Rxe3 Rfd8 20.Kc1 Rac8[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space (Kjurkchiiski-Kreisl, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2012).
• [font color="magenta"]17.Qe2 Qb6 18.Ne5 Rfd8 19.g4 Bd4 20.Nd3 Nd5 21.g5[/font] is equal; 21.c4! pushes the Knight back and gives White a better game (Garma-Lobron, Ol, Novi Sad, 1990).
• [font color="darkred"]16.Nxf6+ Bxf6 17.Qxd8 Rfxd8 18.Be3 Na4 19.Rxd8+ Rxd8[/font] is equal (Kholmov-Nielsen, IT, Azov, 1993).

14.Qxe4 Nf6 15.Qd3

• If [font color="red"]15.Qe2 Qd5 16.c4 Qe4[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]17.Qxe4 Nxe4 18.Be3[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]18...0-0 19.Ne5 Rfd8 20.g4[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]20...c5 21.Kc2 cxd4 22.Rxd4 Rxd4 23.Bxd4 a6 24.Re1[/font] gives White more activity and the advantage in space (Zhang-Xiaowen-Hoang Thi Bao Tram, Asian ChW, Subic Bay, 2009).
• If [font color="darkred"]20...Rac8 21.f3 Nd6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]22.b3 b5 23.c5 Ne8 24.Kc2 Bf6 25.f4[/font] gives White a small advantage i space (Anisimov-Rianzantsev, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).
• [font color="magenta"]22.Kb1 b5 23.cxb5 cxb5 24.d5 exd5 25.Rxd5[/font] gives White a slim advantage in space (Sukandar-Cheremnova, World Univ ChW, Zürich, (2010).
• If [font color="darkred"]18...Nd6 19.b3 b5 20.c5 Ne4 21.Kc2[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]21...Nf6 22.Bf4 Nd5 23.Be5 f6 24.Bg3[/font] is equal (Szczepkowska Horowska-Gunina, World ChTW, Ningbo, 2009).
• [font color="magenta"]21...Rc8 22.Ne5 Nf6 23.a4 b4 24.g4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Kulaots-Grant, Euro Ch, Istanbul, 2003).
• If [font color="darkred"]17.Be3 b5 18.Rh4 Qh7 19.Ne5 Rc8[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]20.c5 Nd5 21.Rg4 Bf6 22.Bd2 0-0 23.Re1 Rfe8[/font] is equal (Khamrakulov-Margvelashvili, World Jr Ch, Yerevan, 2007).
• [font color="magenta"]20.g4 Nd5 21.Rh3 bxc4 22.Qxc4 0-0 23.Nd7 Rfd8[/font] gives Black the initative and a small advantage in space (Nedev-Dreev, World ChT, Yerevan, 2001).

15...0-0 16.Kb1

• If [font color="red"]16.g4 Nxg4 17.Rhg1[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]17...f5 18.Qe2 Kh7 19.Ne5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]19...Nxe5 20.dxe5 Rf7 21.Bxh6 Qa5 22.Qc4 Qxe5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]23.Rge1 Qf6 24.Bd2[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]24...e5?! 25.f4 b5 26.Qb3[/font] givwes White more tactical opportunities and a safer King (Kuloats-Schroll, Euro Ch, Aix-les-Bains, 2011).
• [font color="purple"]24...Rd8 25.h6 Qd4 26.Qxe6 Qd5 27.hxg7 Qxe6 28.Rxe6[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
• [font color="darkorange"]23.Bf4 b5 24.Bxe5 bxc4 25.Rg6[/font] gives White more activity and stronger pawns (Spraggett-Oms Pallise, Op, Barcelona, 2011).
• [font color="magenta"]19...Qd5 20.Nxg4 fxg4 21.Qxg4 Bg5 22.Bxg5 Qxg5+ 23.Qxg5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
• [font color="darkred"]17...Nxf2 18.Qe2 Nxd1 19.Bxh6 Bf6 20.Bxg7 Bxg7 21.h6[/font] is equal (Hovhannisyan-Akopian, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2012).
• If [font color="blue"]16.Ne5 c5 17.dxc5 Qc7 18.Bc3[/font] then:
• [font color="blue"]18...Rfd8 19.Qf3 Bxc5 20.Ng4 Nd5 21.Be5 Bd6 22.Rxd5 exd5[/font] is equal (Butkiewicz-Vuckovic, Op, Cappelle-la-Grande, 2011).
• [font color="darkblue"]18...Qxc5 19.Qd4 Qc7 20.Qc4 Rfc8 21.Qxc7 Rxc7 22.Bd4 b5[/font] is equal (R. Mamedov-Izoria, Op, Batumi, 2001).

16...c5 17.g4

• [font color="red"]17.Qe2 Qb6 18.Be3 Rfd8 19.dxc5 Bxc5 20.Bxc5 Qxc5[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space (Ivanchuk-Al-Modiaki, Grand Prix, Sochi, 2008).

17...Nxg4 18.Qe2 Kh8?! (N)

• Black's novelty is where he starts getting into trouble.
• If [font color="red"]18...Qb6 19.Rhg1 f5 20.Ne5[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]20...cxd4 21.Nd7 Qa6[/font] is equal (Pakidze-Girya, World Jr Ch (Girls), Chennai, 2011).
• [font color="darkred"]20...Nxe5 21.Qxe5 Bf6 22.dxc5[/font] gives White a slight advantage (Fierro Baquero-Houska, OlW, Dresden, 2008).

[center]BLACK: Yasser Seirawan[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Gata Kamsky[/center][center]Position after 18...Kg8h8[/center]

19.Rhg1!

• White has the initiative and a small advantage in space..

19...Nf6?!

• Black already has big problems.
• A better try is [font color="red"]19...f5 20.dxc5[/font] when:
• [font color="red"]20...Qc7 21.Nd4 Rae8 22.Nxe6 Bxc5 23.Qxg4 Rxe6 24.Qf3[/font] gives White more space and freedom; Black has stronger pawns.


• If [font color="darkred"]20...Qe8 21.Bc3 Rd8 22.Nd4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]22...e5 23.Ne6 Rxd1+ 24.Rxd1 Rf6 25.Bxe5 Nxe5 26.Qxe5[/font] leaves White with an extra pawn.


• If [font color="magenta"]22...Bf6?[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]23.Nxe6 Rxd1+ 24.Rxd1 Rg8 25.f3.[/font]

20.dxc5 Qc7

• Black removes the Queen from from discovered attack.
• If [font color="red"]20...Bxc5??[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]21.Bxh6!! Qxd1+ 22.Rxd1 gxh6 23.Ne5.[/font]

21.Ne5!

• White is focusing on g6.
• [font color="red"]21.Bc3?! Rad8! 22.b4 Qf4 23.Rxd8 Rxd8 24.a3 Bf8[/font] is equal.

21...Bxc5?

• Black's game is crumbling. He would have had better chances here by providing White with more difficulty in the center.
• If [font color="red"]21...Rad8 22.b4 a5 23.a3 Rd5 24.f4[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]24...axb4 25.axb4 b6 26.Qg2 Nxh5 27.Qg4[/font] forces further concession from Black on the kingside.
• [font color="darkred"]24...Qd8? 25.c4! Rd4 26.Bc3 Rxd1+ 27.Rxd1 Qa8 28.Kb2![/font] gives White enormous pressure in the center and on the queenside while Black is unable to find counterplay anywhere.
• If [font color="blue"]21...Rg8? 22.Nxf7+ Kh7 23.Qd3+ g6 24.hxg6+.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Yasser Seirawan[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Gata Kamsky[/center][center]Position after 21...Be7c5:p[/center]

22.Bxh6!!

• The key to a successful sacrifice is to be able to flood the neighborhood of the sacrifice with pieces in a coordinated attack.
• If [font color="red"]22.Bf4? Qe7 23.Rg6[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]23...Kg8 24.Rg3 Kh8[/font] is equal.
• If [font color="darkred"]23...fxg6??[/font] then [font color="darkred"]24.Nxg6+![/font] wins the Queen,

22...gxh6 23.Rd7!

• This is White's only good move.

23...Qxd7

• If [font color="red"]23...Qb8 24.Rg6!![/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]24...Ng8[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]25.Qe4 Qe8 26.Nxf7+ Qxf7 27.Rxf7 Rxf7 28.Qe5+.[/font]
• If [font color="darkred"]24...fxg6??[/font] then [font color="darkred"]25.Nxg6+ Kg8 26.Qxe6+ Rf7 27.Qxf7#.[/font]

24.Nxd7 Nxd7

• No better is [font color="red"]24...Rg8 25.Rxg8+ Rxg8 26.b4 Nxd7 27.Qd2 Rg1+ 28.Kb2.[/font]

25.Qd2 Kh7 26.b4 Rad8

• [font color="red"]26...Ne5 27.bxc5 Rg8 28.Rd1 Nc6 29.Qd3+ Kg7 30.Qc3+[/font] continues to give White a material advantage, more activity and more space.

[center]BLACK: Yasser Seirawan[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Gata Kamsky[/center][center]Position after 26...Ra8d8[/center]

27.bxc5

• For the first time in the game, Mr. Kamsky had to think. Up to here, he simply followed his home preparation, which he revealed after the game was originally put together before his candidates' match against Topalov in 2009.
• The time control in St. Louis was 90 minutes for 40 moves plus a 30 second increment per move. At this point, Mr. Seirawan was in serious time trouble, but Mr. Kamsky actually had more time on his clock than when the game started.

27...Nf6

• If [font color="red"]27...Nxc5[/font] then [font color="red"]28.Qf4 Nd7 29.Rd1 Ne5 30.Rxd8 Rxd8 31.Qe4+[/font] wins the Knight.
• The rest needs no comment.

28.Qf4 Ne8 29.Qe4+ Kh8 30.Qxb7 Ng7 31.Qxa7 Rc8 32.Rd1 Nf5 33.Rd7 Kg7 34.a4 Kf6 35.a5 1-0

• Mr. Seirwan resigns.