FIDE Surveys – Andrew Martin

1

Andrew Martin:

The critical moment

The ability to identify critical points in a
game and take appropriate action is an art
form. I invite you to study some recent
master games with me to see what is
involved and how it might be acheived.

Bologan V. : Naiditsch A.
Sibenik 2011

In the first game both players conveniently
enter the Berlin Variation of the Ruy Lopez,
which since 2000 has been very popular for
Black. In general, Black tries to keep White
out and nothing more, but that is enough to
generate winning chances against an
optimistic opponent. Bologan is resolute in
the coming encounter,constantly trying to
emphasize his main advantage in the
position, which is the kingside pawn
majority.
1.e4 e5 2.Sf3 Sc6 3.Lb5 Sf6 4.0–0 Se4 5.d4
Sd6 6.Lc6 dc6 7.de5 Sf5 8.Dd8 Kd8 9.Sc3

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lmk-vl-tr0
9zppzp-+pzpp0
9-+p+-+-+0
9+-+-zPn+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-sN-+N+-0
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
9tR-vL-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

I will look at this position optimistically
from White's point of view. I have a kingside
pawn majority, which I hope to make the
main feature of the position with a gradual
advance. I can perhaps make it inconvenient
for the Black King stuck in the centre.
Turning the board round I see patience will

be needed. The Black King can hold his own
in the middle, so Black's first task will be to
create counterplay, maybe on the queenside,
maybe against the slowly advancing
kingside pawns. But all this must come
slowly. Altogether I think this is a system
suitable as Black ONLY for masters. I don't
see average players enjoying Black's
defensive task at all.
9...h6 10.h3 Ld7
10...Se7 has been preferred by Magnus
Carlsen: 11.Le3 (11.Lf4 Sg6 12.Lh2 Lb4
13.Se4 Lf5 14.Sg3 Ld7 15.Sh5 Tg8 16.g4
Ke8 17.Lg3 Le6 18.Sd4 Lc4 19.Tfd1 Se7
20.a3 La5 21.Sb3 Lb3 22.cb3 Lb6 23.Kh2
Sd5 24.f4 Td8 25.f5, ½, Jakovenko D. :
Sargissian G., Rogaska Slatina 2011)
11...Ke8 12.Tad1 Ld7 13.a3 Td8 14.Tfe1 a6
15.Se4 Lf5 16.Sc5 Td1 17.Td1 Lc8 18.Sd3
Sg6 19.Sf4 Sf4 20.Lf4 Le7 21.Sd4 Lc5
22.Le3 Ld4 23.Td4

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+l+k+-tr0
9+pzp-+pzp-0
9p+p+-+-zp0
9+-+-zP-+-0
9-+-tR-+-+0
9zP-+-vL-+P0
9-zPP+-zPP+0
9+-+-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

Anand has done most of what is expected of
him, but the position is very dry. 23...Ke7
24.f3 Td8 25.Td8 Kd8 26.g4 h5 27.Kf2 g6
28.Lg5 Ke8, ½, Anand V. : Carlsen M., Sao
Paulo/Bilbao 2011. This sort of game is
acceptable at the highest level, but of course,
it is utterly dull.
11.b3 c5 12.Td1 Kc8 13.Sd5 a5 14.a4
I like White's position. He has blocked the
queenside, to a degree closed down the
Black Bishops and is getting ready slowly
for the eventual advance of those pawns. The

FIDE Surveys – Andrew Martin

2

game will not win a beauty prize, but
Bologan will say »so what«?
14...Se7
14...g5 15.Lb2 Le6 16.c4 b6 17.Kh2 Se7
18.g4 Sg6 19.Kg3 Le7 is still a bit better for
White, yet he contrived to lose in a few more
moves: 20.Sf6 Kb7 21.Sh5 Thg8 22.Sg1
Tad8 23.Se2 Ld7 24.Td2?? Unprotected
pieces cause problems … even for the
greatest. 24...La4 25.Td8 Td8, 0:1, Svidler P.
: Ponomariov R., Astrakhan 2010. Black's
Rook is about to appear on d2.
15.c4 Lf5 16.Ta2 Ta6! 17.Se3 Le4 18.Sd2
Lh7 19.f4 Sc6 20.g4
There is no doubt about it: Black has
counterplay. To advance the kingside pawns
at this time is a bit loose, but Bologan's
courage is rewarded on this occasion. 20.Sf3
Le4 21.Kf2 was more circumspect, but
Black is well in the game after 21...g5!?
20...Sb4 21.Ta1 h5

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+k+-vl-tr0
9+pzp-+pzpl0
9r+-+-+-+0
9zp-zp-zP-+p0
9PsnP+-zPP+0
9+P+-sN-+P0
9-+-sN-+-+0
9tR-vLR+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

THE CRITICAL MOMENT! He can see his
Bishop on h7 about to be blocked and so
takes action. But surely 21...Sd3! was better:
22.f5 Se5 23.Se4 Tb6 (23...Sf3 24.Kf2 Sd4)
24.Ta3 Sf3 25.Kf2 Sd4 26.Sd5 Tc6 (26...Tb3
27.Tb3 Sb3 28.Lf4±, Black mistimes his bid
for counterplay and this is enough to
condemn him.)
22.f5
The point is to shut in the Bishop on h7 for
good.
22...hg4 23.hg4 f6 24.ef6

Bologan might have preferred 24.e6 g6
25.La3 but Black has plenty of counterplay
after 25...gf5 26.gf5 Sd3 27.Sf3 Tg8 28.Kf1
Td6.
24...Tf6 25.Se4 Th6 26.Lb2 Th3

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+k+-vl-tr0
9+pzp-+-zpl0
9-+-+-+-+0
9zp-zp-+P+-0
9PsnP+N+P+0
9+P+-sN-+r0
9-vL-+-+-+0
9tR-+R+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

The game is flaring up, but Black is fighting
with his hands tied whilst the Bishop on h7
is getting in the way.
27.Kf2 Lg8 28.f6 Th2 29.Sg2 T8h3
29...Lh7 30.fg7 Lg7 31.Lg7 Tg8 32.Sf6 Tg7
33.Th1! Th1 34.Th1±.
30.Le5! Lh7 31.Lh2 Le4 32.Lg3
The smoke clears and White has emerged
material ahead.
32...gf6 33.Sf4 Th8 34.Te1 Lc6 35.Tad1
Sc2
The struggle in the queenless middlegame is
heavy duty and not suitable for the average
player at all from either side of the board. I
got the impression that Naiditsch was never
enjoying that game and thus his opening
choice was flawed. He underestimated
Bologan's principled and disciplined play.
1:0.

Korobov A. : Nepomniachtchi I.
Rogaska Slatina 2011

In the coming game it seems to me that
Nepomniatchtchi assesses his opponent very
well. He plays an unusual line of the
Exchange Grunfeld, which is probably
inferior, but Korobov does not react
energetically enough at the critical moment.

FIDE Surveys – Andrew Martin

3

1.d4 Sf6 2.c4 g6 3.Sc3 d5 4.cd5 Sd5 5.e4
Sc3 6.bc3 Lg7 7.Lc4 c5 8.Se2 Sc6 9.Le3
0–0 10.0–0 Dc7 11.Tc1 b6!?

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0
9zp-wq-zppvlp0
9-zpn+-+p+0
9+-zp-+-+-0
9-+LzPP+-+0
9+-zP-vL-+-0
9P+-+NzPPzP0
9+-tRQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

Becoming more common. I must admit the
move looks a little slow. 11...Td8 puts more
pressure on the White centre at the cost of
exposing f7.
12.Dd2
It is unlikely now that an attack with 12.f4
e6 13.f5 is going to be successful. The Rook
on f8 holds the kingside together: 13...ef5
14.Sg3 (14.ef5 De7 15.Dd2 Lf5 16.Lg5 Dd7
17.Sg3 Sa5 18.Le2 Le6 19.Lf6 Lf6)
14...Sa5! 15.Ld5 Lb7 16.dc5 Tad8 17.c4 fe4
18.cb6 ab6 19.Dg4 Ld5 20.cd5 De5 21.De4
Td5 22.Lb6=.
12...Lb7
Or: 12...e6 13.Lh6 Lb7 14.Lg7 Kg7 15.De3
Sa5 16.Ld3 Tac8 17.h4 De7 18.Dg3 cd4
19.cd4 Tc1 20.Tc1 Tc8 21.Tc8 Lc8 22.h5
Lb7 23.hg6 hg6 24.Sf4 Sc6 where the
endgame seems quite acceptable for Black,
(½, Seirawan Y. : Van Haastert E.,
Vlissingen 2011); 12...Td8 does not seem
consistent with the Black system: 13.Lh6
Dd6 14.Lg7 Kg7 15.De3 Sa5 16.Ld3 cd4
17.cd4 e5 18.f4 ed4 19.Dg3 Kh8 20.Dh4
Tg8 21.e5 Dd8 22.Df2 De7 23.Sd4 Td8
24.Le4 Tb8 25.Tfe1 Lb7 26.Lb7 Tb7 27.f5
gf5 28.Sf5 De6 29.Sd6 Tbd7 30.Tf1 Tf8
31.Db2 Te7, 1:0, Bacrot E. : Mamedyarov
S., Rogaska Slatina 2011.
13.Lh6

If White plays more slowly, the Black plan
is ...Rad8 followed by ...e7-e6, which
appears very comfortable for him.
13...Tad8 14.Lg7 Kg7 15.De3
15.f4

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-tr-tr-+0
9zplwq-zppmkp0
9-zpn+-+p+0
9+-zp-+-+-0
9-+LzPPzP-+0
9+-zP-+-+-0
9P+-wQN+PzP0
9+-tR-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

looks more dangerous, but despite the
absence of the Bishop on g7, Black can
defend: 15...Dd7 16.Lb5 De6 17.f5 Dd6
(17...De4! is an improvement: 18.Tce1
(18.Tf4 De5! Possibly missed by
Morozevitch. 19.fg6 hg6 20.Th4 Kg8 21.Tf1
e6) 18...cd4 19.Sd4 Sd4! 20.Te4 Sf3 21.gf3
Td2 22.Te7 Lc8 23.fg6 a6! 24.Lc4 hg6ł)
18.Lc6 Lc6 19.d5 Ld7 20.c4 De5 21.Tc3
Th8 22.Th3± White has a strong initiative
now, Vachier Lagrave : Morozevitch, Biel
2011.
15...e5
Hoping that White will block the centre in
which case Black regroups his Knight to d6.
16.Ld5!
The Black strategy was carried out to
perfection in the following recent game:
16.d5 Se7! 17.Sg3 f6 18.h4 Sc8 19.Ld3 Sd6
The passed pawn isn't going anywhere. 20.f4
ef4 21.Df4 De7 22.Tf2 De5 23.De5 fe5
24.Sf1 c4 Eventually, Black hopes to have a
say with his queenside pawn majority.
25.Lc2 Lc8 26.Sh2 h6 27.Tf8 Tf8 28.Sf3
Te8 29.Kf2 Lg4 30.Sh2 Ld7 31.Ke3 g5
32.hg5 hg5 33.Sf3 g4 34.Sh4 Tf8 35.Th1
Tf4 36.g3 Tf6 37.a4 Th6 38.Tb1 Th8 39.Th1
Se8 40.Tf1 Sd6 41.Th1 Th6 42.Tb1 Kf7
43.Tf1 Ke7 44.Th1 a5 45.Tf1 Tf6 46.Tb1

FIDE Surveys – Andrew Martin

4

Sf7 47.Sf5, ½, Fier A. : Caruana F., Caleta
2011. A very good example of play in this
line.
16...Sa5 17.Lb7 Db7 18.f4 ed4
18...f6 holding up the dark squares, would
have been my choice: 19.fe5 (19.d5 Sc4
20.Dd3 Sd6 21.c4 Dd7) 19...fe5 20.Dg5 Sc4
21.Sg3 Kh8.
19.cd4 Tfe8 20.e5
White has a choice of pawn advances.
Instead 20.d5! is also challenging for Black
to meet: 20...f6 (20...f5 21.Sc3 fe4 22.f5 The
exchange sacrifice with 20...Td5 21.Dc3 f6
22.ed5 Te2 is not really adequate after
23.Tce1) 21.Sc3 Sc4 22.De2 Sd6 23.e5 Sf5
24.Tce1±.
20...cd4 21.Sd4 Dd5 22.Sf3

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-trr+-+0
9zp-+-+pmkp0
9-zp-+-+p+0
9sn-+qzP-+-0
9-+-+-zP-+0
9+-+-wQN+-0
9P+-+-+PzP0
9+-tR-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

THE CRITICAL MOMENT!
22.Tfd1 Da2 23.f5 is very dangerous. I am
really not sure why Korobov did not choose
this continuation.
22...Sc4
Finally, having brought his Knight into play,
Black is OK.
23.Df2 h6 24.Tfe1 Td7 25.h4 b5
Of course, the usual trump in Grunfeld
endings is the queenside pawn majority, if
Black lives long enough to push it!
26.h5 De6 27.Ted1 Ted8 28.Td7 Td7
29.hg6 Dg6 30.a4 Dg4 31.Dh4 Dh4 32.Sh4
a6 33.ab5 ab5 34.Kf2
34.Tb1 Tb7 35.Tb4 f6 36.e6 Tb6 37.Sf5

still seems a bit better for White at least.
Korobov plays half-heartedly for the
majority of this game.
34...h5 35.Kf3 Tc7 36.Ta1 b4 37.Sf5 Kh7
38.Se3 b3 39.Sc4 Tc4 40.Tb1 Tb4 41.g4
hg4 42.Kg4 Kg7 43.Kg5 b2 44.f5??
The end of this game may have been marred
by time-trouble. Of course 44.Kf5 draws:
44...Kf8 (44...Kh7 45.Kf6 Kg8 46.e6 Tf4
47.Ke5 Tb4 48.e7 f6 49.Kf6 Tb6 50.Kf5 Kf7
51.e8D Ke8 52.Ke4 Tb3 53.Kd4 Kd7
54.Kc4=; 44...Tb5 45.Ke4 Tb6 46.f5 Tb5
47.Kf4=) 45.e6 Tb5 46.Kf6 Tb6 47.f5 fe6
48.fe6 Tb3 49.Th1 Tf3 50.Ke5=.
44...f6! 45.Kh5
45.ef6 Kf7 46.Kh5 Kf6–+.
45...fe5 46.Kg5 Kf7 47.f6 e4
I am not convinced about this system from
Black's perspective. It just looks too passive,
despite having many high-rated supporters.
0:1.

Svidler P. : Lima D.
Khanty Mansiysk 2011

Tough manouvering struggles are not
everyone's cup of tea. They demand patience
and stamina. Throughout this coming game,
Svidler has a small edge over Lima on both
counts.
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Sc3 Lb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Lc3
6.bc3 Da5!? 7.Ld2 Da4
If Black can get away with it and he will if
White responds slowly, the Queen is very
well placed on a4, gumming up the White
queenside and preparing … b7-b6 and
...Ba6, getting rid of the bad Bishop. Of
course this all costs time. Battle is joined.
8.Db1
8.Dg4 Kf8
looks as if it MUST be good for White, but
the pressure on c2 is considerable: 9.Ta2?!
Hideous, but that's what they do. 9...b6
10.Df4 La6 11.dc5 Df4 12.Lf4 Lf1 13.Kf1
Sd7 14.cb6 ab6 15.Ke2 Se7 16.Le3 Sf5
17.Ld4 h5 The engines show advantage to

FIDE Surveys – Andrew Martin

5

White, but I'm not sure that's right. White's a
pawn up, but in every other respect Black
has the better position. We may see this as a
tempting gambit from Black, which White
has accepted and he now finds his position
disorganised.
8...c4
Please do not allow Lb5.
9.h4
With the centre frozen it is logical to begin
flank operations. The struggle slows down.
Meanwhile, 9.Sf3 and 9 g3 are also played
frequently.
9...Sc6 10.h5 h6 11.Sf3 Ld7 12.g3!
Or 12.Le2 Sge7 13.Lf4 0–0–0 14.Dc1 Kb8
15.0–0 Ka8 16.Sh2 Tdf8 17.Lg4 Sf5 etc.
12...0–0–0 13.Lh3 Sge7 14.0–0 Tdf8
15.Te1

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+k+-tr-tr0
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9q+pzP-+-+0
9zP-zP-+NzPL0
9-+PvL-zP-+0
9tRQ+-tR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

Svidler stations his pieces very carefully,
awaiting action from Black on the kingside.
If Black does nothing, White may even
fashion a kingside pawn roller. The problem
as I see if from Black's perspective is that his
position is prospectless if he does not act on
the kingside.
15...g5 16.Sh2 f5
But, of course, playing such moves brings
the White bishop pair into the game.
17.ef6 Sg8
17...Tf6 is reasonable: 18.Sg4 Tf7 19.Db2
Sf5 20.Tab1 b6 21.Se5 Se5 22.Te5 Thf8
23.Lg4 Sd6 Black has marshalled his pieces
successfully.
18.Le6 Le6 19.Te6 Sf6 20.Dd1 Kb8

XIIIIIIIIY
9-mk-+-tr-tr0
9zpp+-+-+-0
9-+n+Rsn-zp0
9+-+p+-zpP0
9q+pzP-+-+0
9zP-zP-+-zP-0
9-+PvL-zP-sN0
9tR-+Q+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

A complex situation. Somehow White needs
to get through to Black's seventh rank in
order to make progress, but the Knight on c6
is a very effective piece.
21.g4
21.Sg4 Sg4 22.Dg4 Dc2 23.Te2 Dd3
24.Tae1 a6 25.De6 is the sort of sequence
White should be looking at, giving up a
pawn to get organised. But even here, it is
not easy to break Black's defence and
White's King is also a bit shaky: 25...Df3!
26.Dd6 Ka7 27.Dc5 Ka8 28.Dd6 Tf6 29.Dd7
Td8 30.Dg7 Tdf8.
21...Se8 22.Sf1 Sc7 23.Te1 Th7 24.Sg3 Se7
25.Te3 Thf7 26.f3 Sc8 27.Kg2 Sd6 28.Le1
Te8 29.Sf1

XIIIIIIIIY
9-mk-+r+-+0
9zppsn-+r+-0
9-+-sn-+-zp0
9+-+p+-zpP0
9q+pzP-+P+0
9zP-zP-tRP+-0
9-+P+-+K+0
9tR-+QvLN+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

This is the type of position that 99% of
chessplayers find incredibly difficult to
handle. White knows he has to press on the
dark squares and prove that his Bishop is a
good piece. If he succeeds, he will have

FIDE Surveys – Andrew Martin

6

Black at his mercy. White also has the
possibility of creating a passed pawn on the
kingside. These are his twin aims. Black
knows in order to frustrate White's plans, he
must keep coordinated in the centre and aim
for endgames where his pressure on the
queenside will carry the day. It is heavy
going.
29...Se6 30.Lg3 Sf4 31.Kg1 a6 32.Dd2 Tef8
33.Te5 Ka7 34.Se3 Sb5
THE CRITICAL MOMENT!

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-tr-+0
9mkp+-+r+-0
9p+-+-+-zp0
9+n+ptR-zpP0
9q+pzP-snP+0
9zP-zP-sNPvL-0
9-+PwQ-+-+0
9tR-+-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

In the midst of this gruelling game, Lima
had to find 34...Sh5! 35.gh5 Tf3 which is
certainly an interesting possibility: 36.Kg2!
(36.Dh2 Se4 This seems very good for Black
to me. Maybe White can bail with 37.Te4
de4 but no way is White better here: 38.Ld6
(38.Sg4?! Da5 39.Td1 e3 40.Le5 Tf2 41.Sf2
ef2 42.Kf1 Dc3) 38...T8f4! 39.Lf4 (39.Tf1
Te3 40.Tf4 gf4 41.Df4 Te1 42.Kf2 Tb1
43.Lc5 b6 44.Dc7=) 39...gf4 40.Sd5 Da5–+)
36...Se4 37.Te4 de4 38.d5 Dd7 39.Dd4 Ka8
40.De4 Df7 41.Sg4.
35.Kh2 Tf6 36.Te7 Da5 37.Le1 Dd8
38.Te5 Sd6 39.Lg3 Sf7 40.Tf5!
White breathes a sigh of relief after the
exchange of a pair of Rooks. Without direct
pressure on his King, he can get on with his
general plans.
40...Sd6 41.Tf6 Df6 42.Te1 Sb5 43.a4 Sc7
44.Sf5 Sce6 45.Te5± Tc8 46.Dc1 Tc6
47.Da3

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9mkp+-+-+-0
9p+r+nwq-zp0
9+-+ptRNzpP0
9P+pzP-snP+0
9wQ-zP-+PvL-0
9-+P+-+-mK0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

This phase of the game is nicely played by
Svidler. Black has not managed his
counterplay well enough and White is now
in total control.
47...Sc7 48.Se7 Te6 49.Dc5 Kb8 50.Sd5!
Scd5 51.Dd5
The Bishop on g3 is the killer piece. Who
would have believed it?
51...Te5
51...Sd5 52.Te6.
52.de5
The struggle in the Winawer remains as
difficult as ever. 1:0.

Ashley M. : Baklan V., Reykjavik 2012

As befits the ingenious King's Indian, there
are still plenty of new and unusual ideas for
White to contend with. Here we see Baklan
willing to experiment against Ashley in the
full knowledge that his opponent might be a
little rusty and not totally up to speed with
the latest tactical variations.
1.d4 Sf6 2.c4 g6 3.Sc3 Lg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3
a6!?
5...c6,5...b6, 5...c5 and 5...Sc6 all have their
own peculiarities. Black doesn't routinely
have to castle.
6.Le3 0–0 7.Ld3
THE CRITICAL MOMENT!
Yes, as early as this! White's quest for the
advantage starts to ebb away already, thanks
to the poor position of the Bishop on d3.
White should prefer 7.Dd2, awaiting events

FIDE Surveys – Andrew Martin

7

and then if 7...c5 8.d5 b5 9.cb5! Sbd7
10.Sh3! Se5 11.Sf2 is much better than the
game.
7...Sfd7!?

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9+pzpnzppvlp0
9p+-zp-+p+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+PzPP+-+0
9+-sNLvLP+-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9tR-+QmK-sNR0
xiiiiiiiiy

If there is a drawback to the White
formation, it must be that the centre is rigid
and this interesting idea tries to take
advantage of the rigidity. Despite the traffic
jam on the queenside, Black is planning to
uncoil the spring with ...c7-c5 and ...b7-b5,
in the style of the Benko.
8.Sge2
8.Dd2 is straightforward, but Black does not
press ahead consistently. 8...c5 9.d5 Se5
(9...b5 10.cb5 Se5 11.Le2 ab5) 10.Le2 Da5
(Black should simply give the pawn with
10...b5! ) 11.f4 Sg4 12.Lg4 Lg4 13.f5 gf5
14.Lh6 f4 15.Lg7 Kg7 16.Df4 and Black's
failure to play ...b7-b5 will cost him dear.
8...c5 9.d5 b5!

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9+-+nzppvlp0
9p+-zp-+p+0
9+pzpP+-+-0
9-+P+P+-+0
9+-sNLvLP+-0
9PzP-+N+PzP0
9tR-+QmK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy

That's the idea!
10.0–0
10.cb5 Se5 11.0–0 Sd3 12.Dd3 ab5.
10...Se5 11.f4 Sd3 12.Dd3 Sd7
12...b4 13.Sd1 a5 is also fine for Black, but
Baklan prefers to keep options open.
13.Tae1
13.Tab1 bc4 14.Dc4 Sb6 15.Dd3 a5 16.Tfd1
La6 was played in another recent game
(Volodin A. : Seeman T., Tallinn 2012) and
Black has an excellent position here.
13...Da5 14.e5
I get the impression that Maurice Ashley
was feeling very uncomfortable here, as he
decides on a committal and very risky
central pawn advance to try to head off
disaster on the queenside. I'm not sure what
to suggest though. White has been outplayed
so far.
14...Sb6
The forcing 14...bc4 was also very good:
15.Dc4 (15.Dd2 de5 16.d6 ed6 17.Dd6 Tb8
18.Sd5 Kh8 19.Se7 Db5) 15...Sb6 16.De4
(16.Db3 Lf5 17.a3 Tab8) 16...Lf5 17.Df3
de5.
15.Sg3
15.cb5 ab5 16.Db5 Db5 17.Sb5 Sd5 is
Black's idea.
15...Sc4 16.Lc1 de5–+

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0
9+-+-zppvlp0
9p+-+-+p+0
9wqpzpPzp-+-0
9-+n+-zP-+0
9+-sNQ+-sN-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9+-vL-tRRmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

The total disintegration of White's centre is
not supposed to happen in the Samisch!
17.d6 Dd8! 18.Df3

FIDE Surveys – Andrew Martin

8

White can do nothing other than look for
random tactics and hope that something
turns up.
18...Ta7 19.de7 Te7 20.Td1 Td7 21.f5 f6!
Black is careful not to allow f5-f6.
22.Td7 Dd7 23.Td1 De7 24.Dd3 gf5 25.b3
f4!
White is lost.
26.bc4
26.Sd5 Df7 27.bc4 fg3 28.Dg3 bc4 leads to
general exchnages, which of course suits
Black: 29.Lh6 Le6 30.Lg7 Dg7 31.Df2.
26...fg3 27.Dg3 bc4 28.Lh6 Kh8 29.Lg7
Dg7 30.Dg7 Kg7 31.Td5 Lb7 32.Tc5 Tc8!
In a winning position, play simply!
33.Ta5
33.Tc8 Lc8 34.Kf2 Lb7 35.g3 Kg6 36.Ke3
Kf5 37.Sa4 Ld5 38.Sc5 a5 is a very easy
win.
33...Kg6 34.Ta4 Kf5 35.Tb4 Tc7 36.g3 h5
37.Kf2 a5 38.Ta4 Tc5
Black is two pawns up for nothing and is
enjoying toying with his opponent. Why
should he rush?
39.Ta3 Kg5 40.Sd1 Kf5 41.Tc3 Ke4
42.Ke2 Kd4 43.Kd2 Le4 44.Te3 Tc8
45.Sc3 Lc6 46.Te1 Td8 47.Kc2 Lf3 48.a4
Tb8 49.Sb5 Kc5 50.Sc3
We must conclude that for now, 5...a6,
followed by ...Sfd7 and the queenside pawn
advance looks like a very interesting new
plan. 0:1

Erdogdu M. : Erdogan H., Antalya 2012

It is easy to have a love affair with the
Sicilian Dragon and claim this is the best
opening since sliced bread was invented. It is
also possible to hate the opening, when you
get pulverized as Black does here.
1.e4 c5 2.Sf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Sd4 Sf6 5.Sc3
g6 6.Le3 Lg7 7.f3 Sc6 8.Dd2 0–0 9.Lc4
Ld7 10.h4 Se5 11.Lb3 Tc8 12.0–0–0 Sc4
12...h5 would be a more common choice in
2012.
13.Lc4 Tc4 14.h5 Sh5 15.g4 Sf6 16.Sb3!

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-wq-trk+0
9zpp+lzppvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+r+P+P+0
9+NsN-vLP+-0
9PzPPwQ-+-+0
9+-mKR+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy

Sometimes, going back to the older
variations can have a devastating effect on
the opponent who remembers a lot, but not
quite everything. I've always liked 16.Sb3,
which sets up the threat of e4-e5!, but of
course it is not a winning move or anything
like it!
16...b5?

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-wq-trk+0
9zp-+lzppvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+p+-+-+-0
9-+r+P+P+0
9+NsN-vLP+-0
9PzPPwQ-+-+0
9+-mKR+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy

THE CRITICAL MOMENT!
In an opening as theoretical as the Dragon
even a small misjudgement can have seriosu
consequences. It looks as though Black
simply forgot his theory, although it takes a
nice new idea by White to refute his choice.
16...Le6? is not good: 17.e5 Sd7 18.Dh2 h5
19.gh5 Se5 20.hg6 fg6 21.Dh7 Kf7 22.Lh6
Tg8 23.Se4 Lf5 24.Sg5 Kf6 25.Sd4 Dc8
26.Sf5 Df5 27.Se4 Kf7 28.Th4 Sf3 29.Sd6
ed6 30.Tc4 Sg5 31.Tc7, Tsouros G. :
Paidousis A., Athens 1972, 1:0.

FIDE Surveys – Andrew Martin

9

16...a5 17.Lh6 Lh6 18.Th6! is an echo of the
game and certainly dangerous: (18.Dh6
allows the standard sacrifice 18...Tc3 19.bc3
Dc7© (19...a4 20.e5 de5 21.Sc5+-) ) 18...a4
19.Tdh1! e5 20.Th7 Sh7 21.Dh2 (21.Dh6??
Dg5) 21...Kg7™ 22.Dh7 Kf6 23.Sd5 Ke6
24.Dh3 f6 25.Sd2 Tc8 26.g5 f5 27.Dh7.
Therefore almost certainly best is to make
the exchange sacrifice immediately 16...Tc3!
17.bc3 (17.Dc3 Sg4 18.Ld4 Sf6©) 17...Le6
18.e5 Sd5 19.Lh6 Le5 20.f4 Lc3 21.Dh2 Sb4
(21...Db6 22.Td3 Db4 23.Lg5 Da3, 0:1,
Albrech R. : Webb R., London 1978) 22.Lf8
Kf8 23.Dg3 Dc7 24.Kb1 Sc2 25.Dd3 Sa3
26.Kc1 Lg4 27.Th7 Lf5 28.Dd5 Lb4, 0:1,
Brazdil R. : Hladik O., Czechia 2006.
17.Lh6
17.e5 Sg4 18.fg4 Lg4 is presumably Black's
point.
17...Lh6 18.Th6!

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-wq-trk+0
9zp-+lzpp+p0
9-+-zp-snptR0
9+p+-+-+-0
9-+r+P+P+0
9+NsN-+P+-0
9PzPPwQ-+-+0
9+-mKR+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

An unusual idea which certainly caught my
eye, as White almost always takes on h6
with the Queen. I'm pretty sure this gave
Erdogan a shock. The simple plan is Tdh1
and Th7.
18...b4
I suppose Black has to try 18...Tc3 but
without the dark-squared Bishop and with
Dc3 available, it is hardly a convincing
solution. 19.Dc3 Db6 20.Dd4±.
19.Sd5 e5
He does not like 19...Sd5 and who can blame
him? 20.ed5 (20.Tdh1! may even be possible
immediately: 20...Sf6 (20...Db6 21.Kb1!

(21.Th7 Se3 22.Th8 Kg7 23.T1h7 Kf6 24.g5
Kg5 25.f4 Kf4 26.Df2 Ke5 27.Dg3 Ke4

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-tr-tR0
9zp-+lzpp+R0
9-wq-zp-+p+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-zpr+k+-+0
9+N+-sn-wQ-0
9PzPP+-+-+0
9+-mK-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

Any takers for Black here?) 21...De3 22.Th7
Dd2 23.Sd2 Tcc8 24.ed5±) 21.Th7+-)
20...Dc7 21.Tdh1 Tc8 22.Sa1

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+r+-+k+0
9zp-wqlzpp+p0
9-+-zp-+ptR0
9+-+P+-+-0
9-zpr+-+P+0
9+-+-+P+-0
9PzPPwQ-+-+0
9sN-mK-+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy

This remarkable position seems good for
White.
20.Tdh1
Already winning for White.
20...Sd5 21.Th7 Sf4 22.Th8 Kg7 23.T1h7
Kf6 24.Dd6 Se6 25.g5
With mate in three after 25 ...Kg5 26 De5 f5
27 Dg3 Kf6 28 e5 mate. 1:0.

CONCLUSION

All of these games represent excellent study
material for both coaches and students and a
skilled coach will be able to exploit all of
them to his or her advantage. I hope you
enjoyed them.