Chess (August): Wang Hao sqeeks by Magnus to win Biel

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29. N. Kosintseva - Danileian, Round 9 (Closed Caro-Kann Opening Theory)

Nadezhda Anatolyevna finished second.
[center]


Nadezhda Kosintseva[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Frank Hoppe in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Nadezhda_Kosintseva)
(Public Doamin)
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Nadezhda Kosintseva - Elina Danielian
Women's Grand Prix 5th Leg, Round 9
Jermuk, 26 July 2012

Closed Caro-Kann Game: Short Opening

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5

[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]Closed Caro-Kann Game[/center][center]Position after 3.e4e5[/center]

• Long ago, this was seen as an inferior way to meet the Caro-Kann, but Tal's use of it from the sixties on caused a re-evaution. White comes out of the opening with an early advantage in space while Black typically has a playable game. The advance to e5 in and of itself cramps Black's kingside pieces.

3...Bf5 4.Nf3

• The text is the Short Opening. It is the most direct way to protect White's center.
• [font color="red"](Van der Weil Opening)[/font] If [font color="red"]4.Nc3[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]4...e6 5.g4 Bg6 6.Nge2[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]6...c5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]7.h4[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]7...h5 8.Nf4 Bh7[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]9.Nxh5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]9...cxd4[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]10.Nb5 Nc6 11.Nxd4 Nge7 12.c3[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]12...a6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]13.Rh3 Nxe5 14.Bg5 Qc7[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]15.f4 N5c6 16.Qa4 Bg6 17.f5 exf5 18.Nf4 f6[/font] is equal (Nimtz-Wunderlich, Corres, 2009).
• [font color="burgundy"]15.Re3 N5c6 16.Nxc6 Qxc6 17.Qd4 Rg8 18.Bf6[/font] gives White a clear early advantage (Jessel-Barnaure, World Jr Ch, Istanbul, 2005).
• [font color="darkpink"]13.Bf4 Qb6 14.Qb3 Qxb3 15.axb3 Nxd4 16.cxd4 Nc6[/font] is equal (Najer-Dreev, IT, Poikovsky, 2006).
• If [font color="darkred"]12...Nxe5 13.Bb5+[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]13...N5c6 14.Bg5 Qc8 15.0-0 a6 16.Ba4 b5 17.Bb3[/font] is equal (Grischuk-Seirawan, Grand Prix, Moscow, 2002).
• [font color="magenta"]13...Nd7 14.Bg5 a6 15.Bxd7+ Qxd7 16.Qe2 0-0-0[/font] is equal (Bareev-Carlsen, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2005).
• If [font color="darkred"]10.Qxd4 Nc6 11.Bb5 Nge7[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]12.Bg5 a6 13.Bxc6+ Nxc6 14.Qa4 b5 15.Qf4 Qc7[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]16.0-0 Bg6 17.Ng3 Qxe5 18.Qd2 Bc5 19.Kg2 Qd4[/font] gives Black a fair advantage in space (Orso-Kallai, Hungarian Ch, Budapest, 2000).
• [font color="darkorange"]16.0-0-0 b4 17.Nxd5 exd5[/font] gives Black a comfortable game (Ehlvest-Bareev, FIDE Knock Out, Moscow, 2001).
• [font color="magenta"]12.Bh6!? Rg8![/font] (Black has a small advantage) [font color="magenta"]13.0-0-0 a6 14.Bxc6+ Nxc6 15.Qf4 Qa5[/font] gives Black a small advantage (Chapman-Rogers, Op, Suncoast, Australia, 1999).
• If [font color="darkred"]9...Nc6 10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.Bb5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]11...Qc7 12.Bxc6+ Qxc6 13.Qf3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]13...0-0-0 14.Nxg7 d4 15.Qxc6+ bxc6 16.Na4 Bf8 17.Nh5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Topalov-Gelfand, IT, Dortmund, 2002).
• [font color="darkorange"]13...Kf8 14.Bg5 Rc8 15.0-0 d4 16.Qxc6 Rxc6 17.Rad1[/font] remains equal (Naiditsch-Galkin, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2006).
• [font color="magenta"]11...d4?! 12.Bxc6+ bxc6 13.Qf3 Qd7 14.Ne4 Bb4+ 15.Bd2[/font] gives White powerful game with excellent winnig prospects (Nakamura-Bareev, Rpd IT, Corsica, 2007).
• If [font color="darkred"]9.g5 cxd4 10.Nb5 Be4 11.f3 Bf5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]12.Nxd4 Ne7 13.Bb5+ Nbc6 14.g6 Qc7[/font] gives Black a comfortable game (Kotronias-Arlandi, Ol, Yerevan, 1996).
• [font color="magenta"]12.g6 Nc6 13.Nxd4 Nxd4 14.Qxd4 Ne7 15.Bd3 Qc7[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Zhang Pengxiang-Bologan, IT, Poikovsky, 2007).
• If [font color="darkred"]7...h6 8.Be3 Qb6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]9.f4 Nc6 10.f5 Bh7 11.Qd2[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]11...0-0-0 12.0-0-0 c4 13.Nf4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]13...Qa6? 13.Nf4 Nge7 14.fxe6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]14...Nb4 15.exf7 Ne7 16.g5 Bxc2 17.Bh3+[/font] White wins (Hawlick-Ali Dikmen, Corres, 1998).
• If [font color="magenta"]14...b5 15.exf7 Nge7 16.Ne6 b4 17.Nxd8[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]17...Kxd8 18.a3 bxc3 19.Qxc3 Nc8 20.g5[/font] White wins (Timman-Seirawan, IT, Hilversum, 1990).
• [font color="darkorange"]17...bxc3[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkorange"]18.Qxc3 Nxd8 19.Rh2 Qxa2 20.Rf2.[/font]
• [font color="burgundy"]13...Bb4 14.fxe6 f6 15.Nfxd5 Rxd5 16.Bxc4[/font] gives White two extra pawns.
• [font color="darkorange"]11...c4 12.Bg2 0-0-0 13.0-0 f6 14.Nf4[/font] gives White greater activity and superior development (Salmensuu-Shevelev, Euro Ch, Saint Vincent, Italy, 2000).
• [font color="purple"]11...exf5 12.gxf5 Bxf5 13.0-0-0 Qb4 14.Bh3 Nge7 15.a3[/font] continues to give White a comfortable game.
• [font color="magenta"]9.Qd2 Nc6 10.0-0-0 h5 11.dxc5 Bxc5 12.Bxc5 Qxc5[/font] gives Black a slight but clear advantage (A. Sokolov-Karpov, Candidates Trmt, Linares, 1987).
• If [font color="darkred"]7.Be3 Nc6 8.dxc5 Nxe5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]9.Nd4 Nd7 10.b4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]10...Be7 11.Bb5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]11...h5 12.g5 Bxg5 13.c6 bxc6 14.Nxc6 Qf6[/font] is equal (Sutovsky-Ruck, Euro CH, Dresden, 2007).
• [font color="burgundy"]11...a6 12.Ba4 Ngf6 13.g5 Ne4 14.Nxe4 Bxe4 15.f3[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Moreno Carretero-Sykora, Corres, 2004).
• [font color="darkpink"]10...Ngf6 11.g5 Ne4 12.Nxe4 Bxe4 13.f3 Bg6 14.c4[/font] is equal (Nataf-T. Ernst, IT, Hasselbacken, Sweden, 2001).
• If [font color="magenta"]9.Nf4 Ne7 10.Qe2[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]10...N7c6 11.0-0-0 Be7 12.Nfxd5 exd5[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Shirov-Anand, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2003).
• [font color="darkorange"]10...Qa5 11.0-0-0 0-0-0 12.Rd4 Nc4 13.Rxc4 dxc4[/font] leaves Black up by the exchange (Khalifman-Dreev, IT, Dos Hermanas, 2003).
• If [font color="darkred"]6...Nd7 7.h4 h6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]8.Be3 Ne7 9.f4[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]9...Qc7 10.Qd2 0-0-0 11.0-0-0 a6 12.f5 exf5 13.g5[/font] is equal (Andreev-Lahno, Regional Ch, Dontesk, 2003).
• [font color="burgundy"]9...f5 10.h5 Bh7 11.Ng3 Qb6 12.Bd3 Qxb2[/font] gives Black an extra pawn at the cost of having his Queen kicked up the board (Rodin-Podlipalin, Saratov, 2010).
• If [font color="magenta"]8.Nf4 Ne7[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]9.Nxg6 Nxg6 10.h5 Ne7 11.Ne2 c5 12.c3 Nc6 13.Bg2 cxd4[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space (Chen Fan-Li Bo, Chinese ChT, Suzhou, 2001).
• If [font color="darkorange"]9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkorange"]10...a6!? 11.Be3! c5 12.0-0-0[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]12...Nc6 13.Ncxd5 exd5 14.e6[/font] gives White more space and freedom (Flitney-Chek, Op, Canberra, Australia, 1999).
• [font color="purple"]12...cxd4 13.Bxd4 Nc6 14.Ncxd5 Nxd4 15.Qxd4[/font] gives White an extra pawn.
• [font color="hotpink"]10...c5 11.Be3 cxd4 12.Bxd4 Nc6 13.0-0-0 Bc5[/font] is equal.
• If [font color="darkred"]4...Qb6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]5.Nf3 e6 6.Be2 Nd7 7.0-0 Ne7 8.b3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]8...Bg4 9.Na4 Qc7 10.c4 Nb6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]11.Nxb6 axb6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]12.h3 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 Rd8 14.Bb2 g6 15.Qe2[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Urquhart-Feoktistov, Canadian Ch, Toronto, 2004).
• [font color="burgundy"]12.Ng5 Bf5 13.f4 h6 14.Nf3 Be4 15.cxd5 Bxd5[/font] is equal (Radic-Dizdarevic, IT, Zenica, Bosnia, 2005).
• [font color="darkpink"]11.Nb2!? dxc4 12.Nxc4 Ned5 13.Bd2 Be7 14.Ng5 Bxe2[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Kobalia-Kharitonov, Op, Novgorod, 1999).
• If [font color="magenta"]8...h6 9.Na4 Qc7 10.Ba3 Ng6 11.Bxf8 Rxf8[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]12.Bd3 Bxd3 13.Qxd3 0-0-0 14.Rfe1 Nf4 15.Qe3 g5[/font] is equal (Kukk-Napalkov, Corres, 2002).
• [font color="darkorange"]12.Ne1[/font] draw (Volkmann-Weiss, Austrian Ch, Mureck, 2001).
• If [font color="magenta"]5.Bd3 Bxd3 6.Qxd3 e6[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]7.Nge2 Ne7 8.0-0[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]8...Nd7 9.a4 c5 10.a5 Qa6[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]11.b4 c4 12.Qh3 b5 13.Nd1 0-0-0 14.c3 h5 15.Bg5[/font] give White an early advantage in space (Ranola-Adianto, ZT, Manila, 2001).
• [font color="burgundy"]11.Qh3!? Nc6 12.Be3 cxd4 13.Nxd4 Nxd4 14.Bxd4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Berg-Sargissian, World Jr Ch, Athens, 2001).
• If [font color="darkorange"]8...Qa6 9.Qh3 Nd7 10.a4 Qb6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]11.a5 Qa6 12.Be3 Rc8 13.Nf4 g6 14.Nce2[/font] gives White more space, but Black has few weaknesses (Kotronias-Dreev, FIDE Knock Out, Las Vegas, 1999).
• If [font color="purple"]11.b3 Nf5 12.a5 Qd8[/font] then:
• If [font color="purple"]13.Nd1!? 13...c5![/font] then:
• [font color="purple"]14.c4?! cxd4! 15.cxd5 Nxe5 16.dxe6 fxe6[/font] gives Black a fair advantage in space (Kotronias-Khalifman, IT, Moscow, 1987).
• [font color="darkpink"]14.c3 Be7 15.Be3 Qc7 16.Ng3 Nxe3 17.Nxe3[/font] still gives White a narrow advantage.
• [font color="hotpink"]13.Qd3 Be7 14.Ng3 Nh4 15.f4 g6 16.Bb2[/font] continues to give White a small advantage.
• [font color="darkorange"]7.Nf3 Qa6 8.Qd1 Nd7 9.a4 Ne7 10.h4 Rc8[/font] is equal (D. Petrosian-Shtyrenkov, IT, Alushta, 2008).

[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]Closed Caro-Kann Game: Tal Opening[/center][center]Position after 4.h2h4[/center]

• [font color="blue"](Tal Opening)[/font] If [font color="blue"]4.h4 h5 5.c4[/font] then:
• If [font color="blue"]5...e6 6.Nc3[/font] then:
• If [font color="blue"]6...Ne7[/font] then:
• If [font color="blue"]7.Bg5 dxc4 8.Bxc4 Nd7 9.Nge2[/font] then:
• If [font color="blue"]9...f6 Nb6 10.exf6 gxf6[/font] then:
• If [font color="blue"]11.Be3[/font] then:
• If [font color="blue"]12.Bb3 Ned5 13.Ng3[/font] then:
• [font color="blue"]13...Nxe3 14.fxe3 Bg4 15.Qd3 Qe7 16.Qg6+ Qf7 17.Qxf7+ Kxf7[/font] gives Black a small advantagge in space (Mokry-K. Berg, Op, Copenhagen, 1985).
• [font color="#40C0FF"]13...Bg6 14.Qf3 Be7 15.Nge4 Bf5 16.Qg3 Kf7[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space (Luukkonen-Akesson, Op, Jyvaskyla, Finland, 2006).
• If [font color="darkblue"]12.Bd3 Qd7[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]13.Nf4?! 0-0-0![/font] (Black has a fair advantage in space) then:
• [font color="darkblue"]14.Be2!? Ned5![/font] (Black has a comfortable game) then:
• [font color="darkblue"]15.Nfxd5 Nxd5 16.0-0 Bd6 17.Nxd5 exd5 18.Qd2 Rde8[/font] gives Black a substantial advantage in space (Dr. Nunn-Karpov, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 1995).
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]15.Nxh5 Qc7 16.g4 Nxe3 17.fxe3 Rxh5[/font] then:
• [font color="dodgerblue"]18.gxf5 Rxf5 19.Qd3 Qg3+ 20.Kd2 c5[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space.
• If [font color="darkcyan"]18.gxh5??[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkcyan"]18...Qg3+! 19.Kf1 Bh6.[/font]
• [font color="#20C0C0"]14.Qb3 Bxd3 15.Nxd3 Nf5 16.0-0-0 Nd5[/font] continues to give Black a fair advantage in space
• [font color="#2040C0"]13.Ng3 0-0-0 14.0-0 e5 15.Nce4 Bxe4 16.Nxe4 Ned5[/font] remains equal.
• [font color="#4080C0"]11.Bf4 Nb6 12.Bb3 Ned5 13.0-0 Qd7 14.Bg3[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Akopian-Spiridinov, IT, Varna, 2012).
• If [font color="darkblue"]9...Qb6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]10.Bd3!?[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]10...Bxd3!? 11.Qxd3[/font] (White has a slight advantage) [font color="darkblue"]11...Qa6 12.Qf3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]12...Ng6?! 13.0-0-0 Nb6 14.Kb1 Nc4 15.Ng3[/font] five White a very impressive advantage in space (Oll-Adianto, IT, Adelaide, Australia, 1990).
• [font color="steelblue"]12...Nf5 13.0-0-0 Bb4 14.Kb1 Bxc3 15.Nxc3[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.
• [font color="slateblue"]10...f6! 11.Na4 Qa5+ 12.Bd2 Qd5 13.Bxf5 Nxf5[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space.
• [font color="dodgerblue"]10.Qd2 0-0-0 11.Qe3 Qxb2 12.0-0 Qa3 13.Nb5[/font] gives White a fair advantagein space (Gelashvili-S. Nikolic, Op, Chania, 1999).
• [font color="darkcyan"]10.0.0-0! 0-0-0 11.Qb3 Qxb3 12.axb3 b5 13.Bxb5 cxb5 14.Rxa7[/font] gives White an active Rook, two pawns and the advantage in space for a Bishop.
• [font color="darkblue"]7.Nge2[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]7...Nd7 8.Ng3 Bg6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]9.Bg5 f6 10.exf6 gxf6 11.Be3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]11...Nb6 12.b3 dxc4 13.bxc4 Qc7 14.a4 0-0-0 15.a5[/font] gives White the initiative and a small advantage in space (Benjamin-Seirawan, US Ch, Key West, Florida, 1994).
• [font color="#2040C0"]11...Qb6 12.Qd2 0-0-0 13.Rc1 Qb4 14.a3 Qb3 15.Be2[/font] is equal.
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]9.cxd5 Nxd5[/font] then:
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]10.Nxd5 cxd5 11.Bd2 Be7[/font] then:
• [font color="dodgerblue"]12.Be2 Bxh4 13.Nxh5 Bxh5 14.Bxh5[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Zherebukh-Eljanov, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2011).
• [font color="slateblue"]12.Rc1 Bxh4 13.Be2 Bxg3 14.fxg3 Rc8 15.Bb4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
• [font color="darkcyan"]10.Be2 Bb4 11.Bd2 Qb6 12.Nxd5 cxd5 13.Bxb4 Qxb4+ 14.Qd2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Vachier Lagrave-Laznicka, IT, San Sebastián, 2012).
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]7...dxc4 8.Ng3 Bg6 9.Bg5 Qb6 10.Bxc4[/font] then:
• [font color="dodgerblue"]10...Nd7 11.0-0 0-0-0 12.Qe2 Qxd4 13.Rfd1 Qg4[/font] gives Black a tactical edge by which he can win the e-pawn; White has more space (Azarov-Raznikov, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2012).
• [font color="darkcyan"]10...Nf5 11.Nxf5 Bxf5 12.Qd2 Nd7 13.a3 f6 14.exf6[/font] gives White more activite minor pieces and Black more space (Marjanovic-Schachinger, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2012).
• [font color="darkblue"]a) 6...Nd7 7.cxd5 cxd5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]8.Bd3 Bxd3 9.Qxd3 Ne7 10.Nf3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]10...Nc6 11.0-0[/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]11...Be7 12.Bg5 a6 13.Rac1 Nb6 14.Ne2 Qd7 15.Nf4[/font] gives White a considerable advantage in space and pressure on all sectors of the board (Short-Johannessen, Ol, Torino, 2006).
• [font color="#40C0C0"]11...Qb6 12.Bg5 a6 13.Nxd5 exd5 14.e6 Nf6[/font] is equal (Reefschläger-C. Graf, Op, Bad Wiessee, 2008).
• [font color="#8040C0"]10...Nb8 11.Bg5 Qd7 12.0-0 Nbc6 13.Rfc1 Nf5 14.Na4[/font] is equal (Alekseev- Iturrizaga Bonelli, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]8.Bg5 Be7 9.Qd2 f6 10.exf6 Ngxf6[/font] then:
• [font color="dodgerblue"]11.Bd3 0-0 12.Nge2 Bxd3 13.Qxd3 e5 14.Bxf6 Bxf6[/font] is equal (Matikozian-M. Turov, Russia Cup, Kasnodar, 1997).
• If [font color="darkcyan"]11.Nge2 Rc8 12.Ng3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkcyan"]12...Nb6?! 13.Bb5+ Kf7 14.0-0[/font] gives White a small tactical edge (Mokry-Szilagyi, Op, Olomouc, 1982).
• [font color="slateblue"]12...Bg6 13.Bb5 0-0 14.0-0 a6 15.Be2 Nb6 16.Bf3[/font] is equal.
• [font color="darkblue"]b) 6...Be7 7.cxd5 cxd5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]8.Bd3 Bxd3 9.Qxd3 Nc6 10.Nf3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]10...Rc8 11.g3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]11...Nh6 12.Bxh6 Rxh6 13.a3 Kf8 14.0-0 Rh8 15.Rac1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space, but his kingside is a little loose (Rensch-Ippolito, SPICE Cup, Texas Tech U, 2010).
• [font color="#4040C0"]11...Bb4 12.Bd2 Nge7 13.a3 Bxc3 14.Bxc3 Nf5 15.0-0[/font] is equal (Short-Anand, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2005).
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]10...a6 11.g3 Bb4[/font] then:
• [font color="dodgerblue"]12.0-0 Nge7 13.Ne2 Nf5 14.a3 Be7[/font] is equal (Shtyrenkov-Alexandrova, Op, Alushta, 2001).
• [font color="darkcyan"]12.Bd2 Nge7 13.0-0 Nf5 14.Kg2 g6 15.a3 Be7[/font] is equal (Short- Morchiashvili, Op, Baku, 2008).
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]8.Bg5!?[/font] then:
• [font color="dodgerblue"]8...Nc6! 9.Nf3 Bg4 10.Be2 Nh6 11.Bxh6 Rxh6 12.Qd2 Bxf3[/font] gives Black a comfortable game (Vallejo Pons-García Polermo, Cat 4, Madrid, 1994).
• [font color="darkcyan"]8...f6!? 9.exf6 gxf6 10.Bf4! Nc6 11.Bd3 Bxd3 12.Qxd3[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Matikozian-Tanaka, Los Angeles, 2006).
• If [font color="darkblue"]5...dxc4 6.Bxc4 e6 7.Nc3 Nd7[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]8.Nge2 8...Nb6[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 Qd7 11.0-0[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkblue"]11...Nh6 12.Bxh6 Rxh6 13.Rac1 Nd5 14.Nxd5 Qxd5 15.Nf4 Qd8 16.Qg3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]16...Rh7??[/font] (this move snatches defeat from the jaws of victory) 17.Nxe6![/font] (White wins in a spiffy jiffy) [font color="darkblue"]17...Qd7 18.Ng5 Rh6 19.Qb3 b6 20.d5[/font] Black resigns (Vasiukov-Moutousis, Op, Athens, 1987).
• [font color="#20C0C0"]16...Qxd4! 17.Qf3 Rd8 18.Rfe1 Bb4 19.Red1 Bd2[/font] continues to give Black a fine game.
• [font color="#8020C0"]11...0-0-0!? 12.Ne4 Nd5 13.Qf3 Qe8 14.Bg5[/font] gives White a clear early advantage (Malaniuk-Vasiukov, IT, Moscow, 1987).
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]9.Bb3 Be7[/font] then:
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]10.Ng3 Bg6 11.Nce4[/font] then:
• [font color="dodgerblue"]11...Bxe4 12.Nxe4 Nh6 13.Bxh6 Rxh6 14.Rh3 Nd5[/font] is equal (Lintchevski-Konyshev, Russian ChT, Olginka, 2011).
• [font color="slateblue"]11...Nh6 12.Bg5 Bxe4 13.Nxe4 Nf5 14.Bxe7 Kxe7[/font] gives White the edge with pressure on the backward d-pawn (Carlier-Gelpke, Op, Dieren, 1984).
• [font color="darkcyan"]10.Nf4 g6 11.g3 Nd5 12.Be3 Bb4 13.Qd2 Nge7[/font] is equal (Lysova-Hajek, Op, Padubice, 2001).
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]8.Bg5 Be7[/font] then:
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]9.Qd2 Nb6 10.Bb3[/font] then:
• If [font color="dodgerblue"]10...Qd7 11.Nge2 0-0-0 12.a4 f6[/font] then:
• [font color="dodgerblue"]13.Bf4 Bb4 14.0-0 Ne7 15.Qc1 Ng6 16.a5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Gong Qianyun-Xu Yuanyuan, ZT, Hei Bei, China, 2001).
• [font color="steelblue"]13.a5 Nd5 14.Nxd5 exd5 15.Bf4 fxe5 16.Bxe5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Belov-Gavrilov, Moscow Ch, 2007).
• [font color="slateblue"]10...a5 11.a3 a4 12.Ba2 Bxg5 13.hxg5 Ne7 14.Nge2[/font] gives White a slender advantage in space; Black is targetin a backwward pawn at d4 (Shirov-Lobron, IT, Munich, 1993).
• [font color="darkcyan"]9.Nf3 Nb6 10.Bb3 Qd7 11.Qe2 0-0-0 12.0-0-0 Kb8[/font] is equal (Suetin-Niebling, World Sr Ch, Bad Liebenzell, Germany, 1996).
• [font color="#008000"](Yugoslav Opening)[/font] If [font color="#008000"]4.Be3 e6 5.Nd2 Nd7[/font] then:
• If [font color="#008000"]6.c3[/font] then:
• If [font color="#008000"]6...Ne7 7.f4[/font] then:
• If [font color="#008000"]7...Bg6 8.Ngf3 Nf5 9.Bf2 h5[/font] then:
• If [font color="#008000"]10.Be2 10...Be7 11.g3 Qb6 12.Qb3[/font] then:
• [font color="#008000"]12...Rc8 13.h3 a6 14.Qxb6 Nxb6[/font] is equal (Lahno-Ushenina, EU Blitz ChW, Antalya, 2002).
• [font color="#20C040"]10.g3!? Qb6 11.Qb3 a5 12.Qxb6 Nxb6[/font] is equal (Sudakova-Franciskovic, ITW, Rijeka, 2006).
• [font color="#60C020"]12...a5!? 13.Qxb6 Nxb6 14.a4 Nd7 15.Kf1 f6 16.h3[/font] is equal (Smeets-A. Tate, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2012).
• If [font color="#4CC417"]7...Qc7 8.Ngf3 c5 9.dxc5 Nxc5[/font] then:
• If [font color="#4CC417"]10.Nb3[/font] then:
• [font color="#4CC417"]10...Nd7!? 11.Be2 Nc6 12.0-0 Be7 13.Nfd4 Be4 14.f5[/font] gives White an fine game; Black's central pawns must be disfigured (Michielsen-Dizdarevic, Op, Pula, 2005).
• [font color="#808000"]10...Ne4 11.Nh4 a6 12.Nd4 Bg6 13.Qf3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
• If [font color="forestgreen"]10.Bb5+ Nc6 11.Nb3 Ne4 12.Nbd4 Bg4 13.Qa4 Bc5[/font] gives White a slight advantage; although he has much more space, Black's pieces are better coordinated (Gómez-Peixoto, Op, Lisbon, 2001).
• If [font color="#4CC417"]6...Qb6 7.Qb3 f6 8.f4 g5[/font] then:
• If [font color="#4CC417"]9.Ngf3 gxf4 10.Bxf4 Bh6[/font] then:
• If [font color="#4CC417"]11.Bxh6 Nxh6 12.exf6 Nxf6[/font] then:
• If [font color="#4CC417"]13.Be2 Ne4 14.Nxe4 Bxe4 15.0-0 Rg8[/font] then:
• [font color="#4CC417"]16.g3 Nf7 17.Nd2 Bf5 18.Qxb6 axb6 19.Bh5[/font] gives White a safer King and more freedom; Black has more space (Alekseev-Dreev, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2004).
• [font color="#60C020"]16.Qxb6 axb6 17.g3 Ke7 18.Ne5 c5[/font] draw (Alekseev-Palo, IT, Skanderborg, Denmark, 2003).
• If [font color="forestgreen"]13.Qxb6 axb6 14.h3[/font] then:
• [font color="forestgreen"]14...Nf7 15.Be2 Rg8 16.g4 Be4 17.Nxe4 Nxe4 18.Bd3[/font] is equal (Naroditsky-Shankland, IT, Berkeley, California, 2011).
• [font color="#808000"]14...Ne4 15.Nxe4 Bxe4 16.Ng5 Bf5 17.g4 Rg8 18.gxf5 Rxg5 19.fxe6[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Jenni-Fridman, Bundesliga 0506, Cologne, 2006).
• If [font color="forestgreen"]11.Bg3 fxe5 12.Nxe5 Ngf6 13.Ndf3 Nxe5[/font] then:
• [font color="forestgreen"]14.Bxe5 0-0 15.h3 Nd7 16.Bd6 Rf7 17.Qxb6 axb6[/font] is equal (Sedlak-Ostojic, Zanic Mem, Stara Pazova, 2001).
• [font color="#808000"]14.Nxe5 0-0 15.Bd3 Bxd3[/font] draw (Rytshagov-Stohl, Pl, Istanbul, 2000).
• If [font color="forestgreen"]9.exf6 g4 10.f7+ Kxf7 11.Ne2[/font] then:
• [font color="forestgreen"]11...Ngf6 12.Ng3 Qxb3 13.axb3 Bd6 14.Nxf5 exf5[/font] gives Black a slight advantage with better pawns and more space (Haba-Dautov, Bundesliga 0203, Germany, 2002).
• [font color="#808000"]11...Bd6 12.Nc1 Ne7 13.Nd3 Kg7 14.Ne5 Nf6 15.Be2[/font] is equal (Komliakov-Sarno, Ol, Palma de Mallorca, 2004).
• If [font color="#4CC417"]6.Be2 Ne7 7.Ngf3[/font] then:
• If [font color="#4CC417"]7...Bg6 8.Nh4[/font] then:
• If [font color="#4CC417"]8...Nf5 9.Nxf5 Bxf5 10.0-0 Be7[/font] then:
• If [font color="#4CC417"]11.f4 Bg6 12.c3 0-0 13.Bh5 Bd3 14.Be2 Bg6[/font] is equal (Fedorov-Parligras, Romanian ChT, Brasov, 2011).
• [font color="#60C020"]11.c3 0-0 12.f4 c5 13.g4 Bg6[/font] is equal (Pokorna-Franciskovic, Euro ChW, Dresden, 2007).
• [font color="#20C040"]8...c5 9.c3 Nc6[/font] transposes into [font color="darkred"]Carlsen-Wang Hao[/font] in the notes to Black's fifth move.
• If [font color="forestgreen"]7...h6 8.0-0 Bh7 9.Nb3 Nf5[/font] then:
• [font color="forestgreen"]10.Bd2 Be7 11.g4 Nh4 12.Nxh4 Bxh4 13.f4 f5[/font] is equal (Krylov-Rasmussen, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).
• [font color="#808000"]10.Bd3 Be7 11.Qe2 0-0 12.c4 dxc4 13.Bxc4 Nxe3 14.fxe3 Nb6[/font] gives Black a small advantage with command of the h7/b1 diagonal (Bergland-Nickel, Corres, 1996).

[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]Closed Caro-Kann Game: Short Opening[/center][center]Position after 4.Ng1f3[/center]

4...e6 5.Be2 c5

• If [font color="red"]5...Nd7 6.0-0[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]6...Bg6 7.Nbd2 Nh6 8.Nb3[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]8...Be7 9.Ne1[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]9...0-0 10.Nd3 Rc8 11.c3 b6 12.Nf4 c5[/font] is equal (Ganguly-Antonio, Asian Ch, Subic Bay, 2009).
• [font color="burgundy"]9...Nf5 10.Nd3 0-0 11.c3 Qb6 12.Bf4 Rac8 13.g4 Nh4 14.Bg3 Bxd3 15.Bxd3 c5 16.dxc5 Nxc5 17.Nxc5 Rxc5[/font] draw (S. Zhigalko-Galkin, Euro ChT, Rethymnon, 2003).
• If [font color="darkred"]8...Nf5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]9.Bd2[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]9...Rc8 10.Rc1[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]10...Bh5 11.h3 Bxf3 12.Bxf3 c5 13.dxc5 Nxe5 14.Re1 Nxf3+ 15.Qxf3 Be7[/font] is equal (And. Volokitin-Jobava, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).
• [font color="magenta"]10...Be7 11.g4 Nh6 12.h3 0-0 13.Bd3 Kh8 14.Qe2 Ng8 15.Kg2 c5 16.Bxg6 fxg6 17.c3 c4[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space and the initiative (Rublevsky-Asrian, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2008).
• [font color="darkorange"]10...a6 11.c4 dxc4 12.Rxc4 Be7 13.Na5 Rc7 14.Qb3 Qa8 15.g4 Nh6 16.Bb4 Nb6 17.Bxe7 Nxc4 18.Nxc4 Rxe7[/font] gives Black the advantage of the exchange (And. Volokitin-Anastasian, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).
• If [font color="magenta"]9...Be7 10.g4[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]10...Nh4 11.Nxh4 Bxh4 12.f4[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]12...f5 13.Bd3 Be7 14.Nc1 Qb6 15.Nb3 Qc7 16.c4 fxg4 17.Bxg6+ hxg6 18.Qc2 Nf8 19.cxd5 exd5 20.f5 0-0-0 21.Bf4 gxf5 22.e6 Bd6 23.Qxf5 Re8 24.Nc5 Bxf4 25.Rxf4 b6 26.e7+[/font] draw (Radjabov-I. Popov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2008).
• [font color="burgundy"]12...f6 13.f5 Bf7 14.g5 exf5 15.Bd3 Bxg5 16.Bxg5 fxg5 17.Bxf5[/font] gives White a an advanced passer, more activity and more space (Rublevsky-Jobava, World Cup, Khanty-Mansyisk, 2005).
• If [font color="darkorange"]10...Nh6 11.h3 0-0[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]12.Be3 Kh8 13.Ne1 f6 14.exf6 Bxf6 15.f4[/font] is equal (Berkes-Lauber, Bundesliga 0910, Trier, 2010).
• [font color="purple"]12.c3 Kh8 13.Nc1 Ng8 14.Nd3 f6 15.Nf4[/font] gives White a comfortable game (Freidel-Gerzhoy, Canadian Op, Toronto, 2010).
• [font color="magenta"]9.a4 Be7 10.g4 Nh6 11.h3 0-0 12.Be3 Kh8 13.Qd2 Ng8 14.Ne1 f6 15.f4 fxe5 16.dxe5 c5 17.c4 d4 18.Bf2 Bh4 19.Bxh4 Qxh4[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space (Li Chao-Rodshtein, World Jr Ch, Gaziantep, 2008).
• If [font color="darkred"]6...Ne7[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]7.Nh4 Bg6 8.Nd2 c5 9.c3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]9...Nc6 10.Nxg6 hxg6 11.Nf3 Be7 12.Be3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]12...a6 13.g3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]13...g5 14.Kg2 cxd4 15.cxd4 Nf8[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]16.a3 f6 17.h3 Qd7 18.b4 Bd8 19.Rc1[/font] gives White the advantage in space (I. Smirin-Li Wenliang, IT, Beijing, 1996).
• [font color="burgundy"]16.Rc1 f6 17.h3 Qd7 18.Rc3 Bd8 19.a3[/font] gives White stronger pawns and more freedom (Khalifman-Lobron, IT, Munich, 1992).
• [font color="darkpink"]13...b5 14.h4 Nb6 15.b3 c4 16.Kg2 a5 17.Nd2[/font] gives White a better center and a little bit better pawn structure (Efimenko-E. L'Ami, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).
• If [font color="magenta"]12...Rc8 13.g3 a6 14.h4[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]14...b5!? 15.a4 Qb6 16.axb5 axb5 17.Kg2 c4 18.Ng5[/font] gives White more active pieces and a better center (Carlsen-Wang Hao, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2011).
• [font color="darkorange"]14...cxd4 15.cxd4 0-0 16.Rc1 Qb6 17.Rc3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
• If [font color="magenta"]9...cxd4 10.cxd4[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]10...Nc6 11.Nxg6 hxg6 12.Nf3 Be7 13.Be3 Qb6 14.Rb1[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]14...Rc8 15.b4 0-0 16.a3 a6 17.Qd3 Qa7 18.h4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Lutz-Grabarczyk, Euro ChT, Pula, 1997).
• [font color="burgundy"]14...a6 15.g3 0-0 16.h4 Qa5 17.Bd2 Qb6 18.Bc3[/font] gives White the better center and more freedom; the Bishop pair is of scant advantage in this position (Rosito-Martínez, Op, Buenos Aires, 1995).
• If [font color="darkorange"]10...Nf5 11.Nxg6 hxg6 12.Nf3 Be7[/font] then:
• [font color="darkorange"]13.Bd3 Nb8 14.Bd2 Nc6 15.Bc3 a6 16.b3[/font] is equal (Anand-Karpov, IT, Brussels, 1991).
• [font color="purple"]13.g3 Qb6 14.h4 Nb8 15.b3 Nc6 16.Bb2 0-0-0[/font] is equal (Anagnostopoulos-Yevseev, Op, Parubice, 1997).
• If [font color="magenta"]7.Nbd2 h6 8.Nb3 Bh7[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]9.Bd2 Ng6 10.Rc1 Be7 11.c4 dxc4 12.Bxc4[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]12...0-0 13.g3[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]13...Re8 14.Re1 Bf8 15.Na5 Rb8 16.b4 Ne7 17.Bf1 Nd5 18.a3 N7b6[/font] is equal (Malakhov-Jobava, Euro ChT, Kallithea, 2008).
• [font color="burgundy"]13...Nh4 14.Nxh4 Bxh4 15.g3 Bg5 16.Nxg6 hxg6 17.f4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Leko-Akopian, Asrian Mem Rapid, Yerevan, 2008).
• [font color="darkorange"]12...Bh5 13.Nf4 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 14.g3 Qb6 15.Kg2 Nb8 16.Nxg6 fxg6 17.Qb3 Bd8[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space (Ni Hua-Tologontegin, Asian Games TT, Guangzhou, 2010).
• If [font color="purple"]10...Be7 11.Nd3[/font] then:
• [font color="purple"]11...Bh5 12.Nf4 Bxf3 13.Bxf3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (N. Kosintseva-Schuurman, Euro ChTW, Crete, 2007).
• [font color="hotpink"]11...cxd4 12.cxd4[/font] transposes into [font color="darkorange"]Ni Hua-Tologontegin,[/font] above.
• If [font color="purple"]9.Re1 Be7 10.Nf1 0-0[/font] then:
• [font color="purple"]11.Ne3 Qb6 12.Bd3 Nxe3 13.Rxe3 c5 14.Bxg6 hxg6[/font] is equal (Heinemann-Dautov, Bundesliga 1112, Berlin, 2012).
• [font color="hotpink"]11.Ng3 c5 12.Bd3 Nxg3 13.hxg3 cxd4 14.Bxg6 fxg6 15.Nxd4[/font] is equal (Ni Hua-Jaracz, Dos Hermanas I-net, 2006).

6.Be3 cxd4

• If [font color="red"]6...Nd7[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]7.0-0 8.c4 dxc4 9.Na3[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]9...c3 10.Nb5 Nd5 11.Nxc3 Nxe3 12.fxe3[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]12...Be7 13.Qb3 0-0 14.Qxb7 Rb8 15.Qxa7 cxd4 16.exd4 Ra8[/font] gives Black counterplay (Morozevich-Kamsky, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2008).
• [font color="burgundy"]12...cxd4 13.exd4 Be7 14.Qb3 Rb8 15.a4 0-0 16.a5 b5 17.axb6 Rxb6 18.Qa2[/font] is equal (Knebel-Johansson, Corres, 1994).
• [font color="darkpink"]9...Nd5 10.Nxc4 b5 11.Bg5 Qb8 12.Ne3 h6 13.Bh4 Nxe3 14.fxe3 a6 15.a4 b4 16.Nd2 g5 17.Bg3 Qa7 18.Nc4[/font] gives White a tactical edge in the center (Halsinger-Stratling, Op, Hoogeveen, 2008).
• If [font color="darkred"]7.Nbd2[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]7...c4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]8.a4 h6 9.b3 cxb3 10.Nxb3 Rc8 11.Ra2 Qc7 12.Bd3 Bxd3 13.Qxd3 Ne7 14.0-0 Qc4 15.Rb1 b6 16.Qf1 Nc6[/font] is equal (Svidler-Topalov, IT, Nanjing, 2008).
• [font color="darkorange"]8.c3 b5 9.0-0 Nh6 10.Ne1 Bg6 11.g4 f6 12.exf6 gxf6 13.Ng2 Nb6 14.b3 Nf7 15.a4 Nd6 16.axb5 Nxb5 17.Qc1 Qc7 18.bxc4 dxc4 19.Qb2[/font] makes Black's King safety a major concern (Alekseev-David, Euro ChT, Kallithea, 2008).
• [font color="purple"]8.0-0 b5 9.Ne1 Bg6 10.g4 Bb4 11.c3 Ba5 12.Ng2 Ne7 13.Nf4 b4 14.Rc1 bxc3 15.bxc3 Nb6 16.h4 h5 17.Nxg6 Nxg6 18.gxh5 Nxh4 19.Bg4 Qe7[/font] also presents Black with some difficulty bringing the King to safety (Rublevsky-Dreev, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2005).
• If [font color="magenta"]7...Ne7 8.dxc5 Nc6 9.Nb3 Bg4 10.Nfd4 Bxe2 11.Qxe2 Ndxe5 12.f4 Nc4 13.Nxc6 bxc6 14.Bd4 Qh4+ 15.g3 Qe7[/font] is equal (Short-Adianto, IT, Djakarta, 1996).

7.Nxd4 Ne7 8.Nd2

• If [font color="red"]8.c4 Nbc6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]9.Qa4 a6 10.Nc3 dxc4 11.0-0-0[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]11...Bd3 12.Bxd3 cxd3 13.Rxd3 Qa5[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]14.Qxa5 Nxa5 15.f4 Rd8 16.Rhd1 h5[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]17.h4 Nec6 18.Nxc6 Rxd3 19.Rxd3 Nxc6 20.a3 Rh6[/font] draw (Inarkiev-Ivanchuk, Euro Ch, Kusadasi, 2006).
• [font color="burgundy"]17.Bf2 Nac6 18.Nxc6 Rxd3 19.Rxd3 Nxc6 20.a3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Lastin-Zontakh, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2009).
• [font color="darkpink"]14.Qb3 Nb4 15.Rdd1 Ned5 16.Kb1 Nxe3 17.fxe3[/font] gives Whitea strong game (Efimenko-Macieja, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2009).
• If [font color="darkred"]11...Qa5 12.Qxa5 Nxa5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]13.Nxf5 Nxf5 14.Bb6 Nc6 15.f4 Rc8[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]16.g4 Nh4 17.Bxc4 g5 18.f5 Nxe5 19.Bb3 Bc5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]20.Bxc5 Rxc5 21.fxe6 fxe6 22.Bxe6 Ke7 23.Bb3 Rd8 24.h3[/font] draw (Bologan-Le Quang Liem, Moscow Op, 2010).
• [font color="purple"]20.Ba4+ Ke7 21.f6+ Kxf6 22.Ne4+ Kg7[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Caruana-Arutinian, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).
• [font color="darkorange"]16.Bxc4 g5 17.fxg5 Nxe5 18.Bb3 Be7 19.h4 h6[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Ganguly-Le Quang Liem, Op, Kolkata, 2009).
• If [font color="magenta"]13.Rd2!? Bg6! 14.h4[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]14...Rc8 15.h5 Bd3 16.Bxd3 cxd3 17.Rxd3 Nac6[/font] gives Black a fair advantage in space.
• [font color="darkorange"]14...Rd8!? 15.Rhd1! h6 16.h5 Bh7 17.f4 Rg8 18.Bf3[/font] is equal.
• If [font color="darkred"]9.Nc3 Nxd4 10.Bxd4 dxc4[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]11.Qa4+ Nc6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]12.0-0-0 Bd3 13.Bxd3 Qxd4 14.Be4 Qb6 15.Bxc6+ bxc6 16.Qxc4 Be7 17.Ne4 Rb8[/font] draw (Adhiban-Iapatov, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2012).
• If [font color="magenta"]12.Rd1?! Bd3 13.Bxd3 cxd3[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]14.Rxd3 Bc5 15.Ne4 Bxd4 16.Nd6+ Kf8 17.Rxd4 Nxd4 18.Qxd4 Qa5+ 19.Ke2 Ke7[/font] is equal (Topalov-Anand, Amber Blind, Nice, 2009).
• [font color="darkorange"]14.Be3 Bb4 15.0-0 Bxc3 16.bxc3 Qd5 17.Bd4 0-0[/font] gives Black an advanced passed pawn and a better center (Xie Jun-Chibudanidze, CandidatesW Match, Groningen, 1997).
• If [font color="magenta"]11.Bxc4[/font] then:
• If [font color="magenta"]11...Nc6 12.Bb5 Be7 13.0-0 0-0 14.Bxc6 bxc6 15.Ne2[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]15...c5 16.Bc3 Qxd1 17.Rfxd1 Rfd8 18.Kf1 Kf8[/font] is equal (Macieja-Gelashvili, Greek ChT, Ermioni, 2006).
• [font color="purple"]15...Qd5 16.Ng3 Bg6 17.Bc3 Qc4[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Smeets-Li Wenliang, IT, Gronigen, 2002).
• [font color="darkorange"]11...a6 12.Be3 Nc6 13.f4 Qxd1+ 14.Rxd1[/font] gives White a slight edge in space (Okhotnik-Kholmov, Soviet Ch ½-final, Dnepropetrovsk, 1980).
• If [font color="blue"]8.Bg5 Qa5+ 9.Nc3 Bg6[/font] then:
• If [font color="blue"]10.Nb3 Qb6[/font] then:
• If [font color="blue"]11.Nb5 Nec6 12.Be3 Qd8 13.f4 a6 14.Nc3[/font] then:
• [font color="blue"]14...Bb4 15.Qd2 0-0 16.a3 Be7 17.0-0 Nd7 18.Rad1[/font] is equal (Staudler-Lauritsen, Corres, 1999).
• If [font color="darkblue"]14...Be7 15.0-0 0-0[/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]16.g4?! f6?! 17.f5 Bf7 18.fxe6 Bxe6 19.Nc5 Bxc5 20.Bxc5[/font] is again equal (Kurnosov-Li Wenliang, IT, Groningen, 2003).
• [font color="dodgerblue"]16.Rc1 Nd7 17.Qe1 b5 18.Qf2 Bh4 19.g3 Be7[/font] remains equal.
• If [font color="darkblue"]11.h4 h5 12.Be3 Qd8 13.Nb5[/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]13...Nc8?! 14.c4! Bb4+ 15.Kf1 a6 16.cxd5!! axb5 17.Bxb5+[/font] gives White a comfortable game with active minor pieces and an advance center duo for the Knight (Zhang Pengxiang-Chong Liang, Chinese Ch, Wuxi, 2006).
• [font color="dodgerblue"]13...Nf5 14.Bg5 f6 15.Bf4 fxe5 16.Bxe5 Nc6[/font] remains equal.
• If [font color="darkblue"]10.b4! Qb6 11.Ndb5 Nc8[/font] then:
• [font color="darkblue"]12.a3 a6 13.Be3 Qd8 14.Nd4 Be7 15.f4[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (M. Socko-Als. Maric, Euro ChTW, Novi Sad, 2009).
• [font color="dodgerblue"]12.0-0 a6 13.Na4?! Qc6 14.c4 axb5[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Zhong Zhang-Chong Liang, Chinese Ch, Wuxi, 2006).

8...Nbc6 9.N2f3 Bg4

• [font color="red"]9...Be4 10.0-0 Bxf3 11.Nxf3[/font] transposes into the text.

10.0-0 Bxf3 11.Nxf3 g6

• If [font color="red"]11...Ng6[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]12.c4 dxc4 13.Bxc4 Qc7[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]14.Bb5 Be7[/font] then:
[li[font color="red"]15.Qc2 0-0 16.Bxc6 bxc6 17.Qc3 Rfd8 18.Rfd1 a5[/font] is equal (Motylev-Drozdovskij, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2011).
• [font color="burgundy"]15.Qa4!? 0-0 16.Bxc6 bxc6 17.Qe4 Rab8 18.Bd4[/font] gives White a slight edge (Navara-Lazicka, Match, Novy Bor, 2011).
• If [font color="darkred"]14.Qb3[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]14...Be7!? 15.Rac1 0-0 16.Bd3 Qb8 17.g3 a5 18.Qb5[/font] (And. Volokitin-Laznicka, IT San Sebastián, 2012).
• [font color="magenta"]14...Ngxe5 15.Nxe5 Nxe5 16.Rac1 Nc6 17.Bf4[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.
• If [font color="darkred"]12.Bb5 Be7 13.c4 0-0 14.cxd5 exd5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]15.Qb3 Qd7 16.Rfd1 Rfd8 17.Rac1[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (S. Zhigalko-Ipatov, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2012).
• If [font color="magenta"]15.Bxc6 bxc6 16.Rc1 Rc8[/font] then:
• [font color="magenta"]17.Bc5?! Bxc5! 18.Rxc5 Qe7[/font] is equal (Halsinger-I. Schneider, Bundesliga 1112, Berlin, 2012).
• [font color="darkorange"]17.Qa4 Qc7 18.Rfe1 c5 19.h4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

12.Bf4

• If [font color="red"]12.c4 Bg7[/font] then:
• If [font color="red"]13.cxd5 Nxd5 14.Bc5 Bf8[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]15.Qc1!? Rc8! 16.Bxf8 Nd4 17.Qd1 Nxe2+ 18.Qxe2 Kxf8[/font] is equal (Kamsky-Topalov, Candidates' Match, Sofia, 2009).
• [font color="burgundy"]15.Rc1 Bxc5 16.Rxc5 Qe7 17.Qc2 0-0 18.Rc1[/font] gives White a slight advantage.
• If [font color="darkred"]13.Bc5[/font] then:
• If [font color="darkred"]13...dxc4?! 14.Qa4![/font] (White has a small advantage in space)[font color="darkred"]14...Rc8 15.Bxc4! a6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]16.Bb3?! Qa5! 17.Qxa5 Nxa5[/font] gives Black the initiative (Heimann-Lenic, Euro Club Cup, Rogaska Slatina, 2011).
• [font color="darkorange"]16.Qa3 Nxe5 17.Nxe5 Bxe5 18.Rac1 Nc6 19.Rfd1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
• [font color="magenta"]13...0-0 14.Bd6 f6 15.Bxe7 Nxe7 16.Qb3 Qb6[/font] is equal and lifeless.

12...Bg7 13.Bd3 0-0 14.c3 Rc8 (N)

• If [font color="red"]14...f6 15.exf6 Rxf6[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]16.Bg5?! Rf7! 17.Re1 Qd7 18.Bb5[/font] is equal (Gashimov-Mchedlishvili, Euro ChT, Novi Sad, 2009).
• [font color="darkred"]16.Qd2 Qf8 17.g3 Nf5 18.Rae1[/font] continues to give White a fair advantage in space.
• If [font color="blue"]14...a6 15.Qe2 Qc7 16.h4[/font] then:
• [font color="blue"]16...Nc8?! 17.h5 Nb6 18.Rfe1[/font] gives White an impressive advantage in space (Jakovenko-Magem Badals, French ChT, Clichy, 2009).
• [font color="darkblue"]16...Rad8 17.Rac1 h5 18.Rfe1 Rfe8 19.Qd2[/font] continues to give White a fair advantage in space.
• [font color="#008000"]14...d4! 15.c4 Qb6 16.Qe2 Nf5 17.Rfe1 Rfe8 18.Qd2[/font] gives White a slight advantage, but nothing else.

15.Qe2!?

• [font color="red"]15.Rc1! Nf5 16.Qd2 Nh4 17.Nxh4 Qxh4 18.Rfe1[/font] continues to give White a fair advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Elina Danielian[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Nadezhda Kosintseva[/center][center]Position after 15.Qd1e2[/center]

15...h6!

• White will have to be content with a slight advantage.
• [font color="red"]15...d4 16.c4 Nf5 17.Qd2 f6 18.exf6 Qxf6 19.Bg5[/font] gives White the initiative.

16.h3 d4 17.c4 Nb4

• [font color="red"]17...Nf5 18.a3 a5 19.b3 Nh4 20.Nxh4 Qxh4 21.Bg3[/font] drives away the Black Queen, leaving White with a small advantage in space.
• If [font color="blue"]17...Qb6[/font] then:
• [font color="blue"]18.a3 a5 19.Rfe1 a4 20.Qc2 Ra8 21.c5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
• [font color="darkblue"]18.Rac1 Qc5 19.Rfe1 Rfd8 20.a3 a5 21.Qc2[/font] gives White a slight edge in space.

18.a3!?

• White sould counter in the center.
• If [font color="red"]18.Rad1[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]18...Nxd3 19.Qxd3 Nc6 20.b3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
• [font color="darkred"]18...Nxa2?! 19.Be4!! Qc7 20.Rxd4 Rcd8 21.Rfd1 Rxd4 22.Rxd4[/font] gives White an overwhelming advantage.

[center]BLACK: Elina Danielian[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Nadezhda Kosintseva[/center][center]Position after 18.a2a3[/center]

18...Nxd3!

• White has a small advantage in space.

19.Qxd3 Qc7 20.Rac1 Rfd8

• If [font color="red"]20...Nc6!? 21.Qe4 Qd8[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]22.Bd2 Qc7 23.Bb4 Nxe5 24.Bxf8 Nxf3+ 25.Qxf3[/font] gives White the exchange for two pawns and a slight advantage in space.
• [font color="darkred"]22.b4 f5 23.exf6 Qxf6 24.Bd2 Qf5 25.Rfe1[/font] gives White stronger pawns and a small advantage in space.

21.Rfd1

• [font color="red"]21.Rfe1!? a5! 22.Re4 Nc6 23.Qd2 g5 24.Bg3 a4[/font] is equal.

21...g5

• If [font color="red"]21...Nf5!? 22.Qe4! Qb6 23.b4 g5 24.g4[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]24...Ne7 25.Bg3 Qa6 26.Qd3 Rd7 27.h4 gxh4 28.Bxh4[/font] gives White a fair advantage.
• If [font color="darkred"]24...gxf4 25.gxf5 exf5 26.Qxf4 Qa6[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]27.c5! Qxa3 28.Kh2 d3 29.Rg1 Rc6 30.Nh4[/font] gives White more freedom and stronger pawns; Black cannot hold her extra pawn and the advanced passer is easily blockaded and eliminated.
• [font color="magenta"]27.b5 Qxa3 28.Nxd4 Qxh3 29.Nxf5 Qh5 30.Re1[/font] gives White a clear advantage in space.

22.Bh2 a5 23.Qe4 Qb6 24.Rd2 a4 25.Nxd4

• Black's pawn currently serves a function to White fo shielding the Rook maneuvers on White's back rank. White should have been in no hurry to take it until she had doubled her Rooks.
• If [font color="red"]25.h4 gxh4 26.Qxh4 Nf5 27.Qe4 h5[/font] is equal.

25...Rd7?!

• This maintains pressure on White's center, but does add any.
• If [font color="red"]25...Nf5 26.Nxf5 exf5 27.Rxd8+ Rxd8 28.Qxf5 Qxb2 29.Rb1 Qxa3[/font] is equal.

[center]BLACK: Elina Danielian[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Nadezhda Kosintseva[/center][center]Position after 25...Rd8d7[/center]

26.Nc6!

• White discovers attack an undefended Rook, which is in turn protecting an otherwise undefended Knight that is under attack from the Knight just moved to c6.
• If [font color="red"]26.Bg3?! Rcd8 27.c5 Qa5 28.Rcd1 Rd5[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space.

26...Qxc6?

• Out of desperation, Black proposes an exchange of Queens.
• If [font color="red"]26...Rcc7 27.Nxe7+ Rxe7 28.Rd8+ Bf8 29.Rcd1 Qxb2 30.Qg4[/font] leaves White in postion to makes serios threats against Black's kingside, although it appears for the moment that Black has a defense.
• If [font color="blue"]26...Rxd2?[/font] then White wins after [font color="blue"]27.Nxe7+! Kh8 28.Nxc8 Qxf2+ 29.Kh1 Rxb2 30.Nd6.[/font]

27.Qxc6!

• White gets a Queen and a pawn for a Rook and a minor piece.

27...Rxd2

• [font color="red"]27...Rxc6 28.Rxd7 Nf5 29.Rxb7[/font] gives White the exchange plus two pawns.

28.Qxa4

• Also good is [font color="red"]28.Qb5 Rcd8 29.g4 Nc6 30.Kf1 R2d7 31.Kg2.[/font]

28...Rxb2 29.Rd1 Nc6 30.Bg3

• White wins after [font color="red"]30.f4 gxf4 31.Bxf4 Nxe5 32.c5 Rxc5 33.Qe8+.[/font]

30...h5 31.h4!?

• White wins after [font color="red"]31.f4 gxf4 32.Bxf4 Bxe5 33.Bxe5 Nxe5 34.Qa5.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Elina Danielian[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Nadezhda Kosintseva[/center][center]Position after 31.h3h4[/center]

31...gxh4!

• White's e-pawn must fall. Black has faint hopes of survival.

32.Bxh4 Nxe5 33.Bg3 Ng4

• [font color="red"]33...Nxc4 34.Qd7 Rf8 35.Qd3 Rc8 36.Qf3[/font] still gives White a powerful advantage.

34.c5 Bf6 35.Qd7?!

• White throws away her advantage.
• If [font color="red"]35.Rf1![/font] then:
• [font color="red"]35...e5[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]36.Qe4 Rxc5 37.f3 Nh6 38.Rb1 Rxb1+ 39.Qxb1.[/font]
• If [font color="darkred"]35...Ne5[/font] then White should win after [font color="darkred"]36.Bh4 Bg7 37.Be7 Nc6 38.Qh4 Nxe7 39.Qxe7.[/font]

35...Rd8!

• The game is again equal.

[center]BLACK: Elina Danielian[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Nadezhda Kosintseva[/center][center]Position after 35...Rc8d8[/center]

36.Qxd8+!!

• White returns the Queen. Anything else loses.

36...Bxd8 37.Rxd8+ Kh7

• [font color="red"]37...Kg7 38.Kf1 Rb5 39.Rb8 Rxc5 40.Rxb7 Rc1+[/font] remains equal.

38.Kf1 Kg6 39.Ke1

• [font color="red"]39.Rg8+ Kf6 40.Rb8 Rb5 41.a4 Rxc5 42.Rxb7[/font] remains equal.

39...e5 40.Rg8+ Kf5 41.Rb8

[center]BLACK: Elina Danielian[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Nadezhda Kosintseva[/center][center]Position after 41.Rg9b8[/center]

41...Rb5

• If Black were inclined, she could end the game now.
• If [font color="red"]41...Rb1+[/font] then [font color="red"]42.Kd2 Rb2+ 43.Ke1 Rb1+ etc.[/font] draws.

42.a4 Rxc5 43.Rxb7

• White has a remote passed pawn.

43...Kg6

• [font color="red"]43...Rc1+ 44.Ke2 Ra1 45.Rxf7+ Ke6 46.Rh7[/font] remains equal.

44.Kd2 Rc4

• [font color="red"]44...Ra5 45.Rb4 Nf6 46.Ke1 Ng4 47.Ke2[/font] gives White a slight advantage,

45.a5 Ra4 46.Rb5 Ra2+

• [font color="red"]46...f6 47.Kc3 Kf7 48.Kb3 Ra1 49.Kb2 Ra4[/font] gives White a technical and insignificant advantage in that she can move her Rook more, but can make no progess with the pawn.

47.Kc3 f6 48.Kb3 Ra1 49.Bh4

• A better plan is to push the pawn up with each step it takes preceded by the King moving right behind the pawn in the b-file and then a Rook move up one rank.
• If [font color="red"]49.Rc5 e4 50.Kb4 e3 51.fxe3 Nxe3 52.Rc6[/font] continues to give White a small advantage with the remote passed pawn and superior piece coordination.

49...e4?!

• The mini-pawn chain at e5/f6 protects the Black King and restricts the White Rook's navigation of the fifth rank. It should not be disturbed.
• [font color="red"]49...Nh6 50.f3 Rb1+ 51.Kc4 Rc1+ 52.Kd3[/font] limits White to a small advantage.

50.Rc5?!

• The position suggests that White overprotect his passer.
• If [font color="red"]50.Kb4![/font] then:
• [font color="red"]50...Ne5 51.Rb6 Rh1 52.g3 Ng4 53.a6[/font] gives White some good winning chances.
• [font color="darkred"]50...e3?! 51.fxe3 Nxe3 52.g3! Nc2+ 53.Kc5 Ne3 54.Kb6![/font] allows White to comfortably push his pawn.

50...e3!?

• The aim of this move seems reasonable enough: eliminte White's kingside pawns.
• If [font color="red"]50...Ne5! 51.Rd5 Nd3 52.Kc3 Rc1+ 53.Kd2 Ra1 54.Rb5[/font] is equal.

[center]BLACK: Elina Danielian[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Nadezhda Kosintseva[/center][center]Position after 50...e4e3[/center]

51.fxe3!

• White jumps into the trap with both feet.

51...Nxe3 52.Bf2!

• White "falls" deeper into Black's "trap."
• [font color="red"]52.g3!? Nf5 53.Kb4 Rb1+ 54.Ka4 Ra1+ 55.Kb5[/font] allows White to make some progress.

52...Nxg2 53.Bd4 Rd1?!

• Black has succeeded in eliminating White's kigside pawns, but now neglects the dangerous remote passer.
• If [font color="red"]53...Rb1+! 54.Kc4 Rb8 55.a6 Ra8 56.Rc6[/font] leaves White with scant winning chances.

54.Kc4?!

• The King should stay close to the a-pawn.
• If [font color="red"]54.Rc4! Rb1+ 55.Ka4[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]55...Nh4 56.Rc6 Rd1 57.Bxf6 Nf3 58.a6 Kf5 59.Kb5[/font] gives White excellent winning chances.
• If [font color="darkred"]55...Ne1 56.Rc6 Rd1 57.Bc3[/font] then:
• [font color="darkred"]57...Nc2 58.Rxf6+ Kg5 59.a6 Rd7 60.Rb6[/font] leaves Black's Knight uable to assist in stopping the pawn.
• If [font color="magenta"]57...Rc1??[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]58.a6! Rc2 59.Kb5 Ra2 60.Bxe1.[/font]

54...Rc1+?

• Black misses an easy draw and "plays for the loss."
• If [font color="red"]54...Nf4 55.a6 Ne6 56.Rd5 Rc1+ 57.Kb3 Rc8[/font] is balanced and likely drawn.

55.Kd5?!

• The King runs the wrong way, away from the pawn.
• White wins after [font color="red"]55.Kb5! Rd1 56.Rc4 Re1 57.a6.[/font]

55...Rb1?

• In a situation such as this, one of the moves that one should seriously consider is that move which most restrict one's opponent's freedom.
• [font color="red"]55...Rd1! 56.Rc6 Nf4+ 57.Ke4 Kg5 58.Bxf6+ Kg4 59.Bc3[/font] is equal.

[center]BLACK: Elina Danielian[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Nadezhda Kosintseva[/center][center]Position after 55...Rc1b1[/center]

56.a6!

• White's plan is simple: push the pawn.

56...Nf4+ 57.Kd6?!

• If [font color="red"]57.Kc4! Rc1+ 58.Kb5 Rb1+ 59.Ka5 Ne2 60.Bf2[/font] keeps White on a winning path.

57...Rb6+?

• This otherwise obvious blunder is made in severe time pressure.
• If [font color="red"]57...Rb4! 58.Be3 Ra4 59.Rc6[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]59...h4 60.a7 h3 61.Rc2 Nd3 62.Rc4[/font] gives White fair chances, but that's not winning.
• [font color="darkred"]59...Ng2?! 60.Bf2! h4 61.a7 h3 62.Rc3 Nf4 63.Bb6[/font] gives White a comfortable game, but that not winning, either.

58.Rc6!

• This is the obvious rejoinder to the obvious blunder.

58...Rb5 59.a7 Ra5 60.Rc8 Ra6+ 61.Kd7 Ne6 62.Bf2

• If [font color="red"]62.Rc6[/font] then:
• [font color="red"]62...Rxa7+[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]63.Bxa7.[/font]
• If [font color="darkred"]62...Nf8+[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]63.Ke7 Rxa7+ 64.Bxa7.[/font]

62...h4

• No matter what Black plays, it will be followed by the same continuation.

63.a8Q Rxa8 64.Rxa8 1-0

• Oriord Danielian resigns.