1

C43

Petroff Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4

Instead of moving the knight twice with 3.
Nxe5 ,White goes for a quick
development which is the most important
feature of open games.

Nxe4

[ 3...exd4

From strategical point of view this is
White's dream. Black loses a tempo to
exchange his only central pawn, while
Nf6 will become vulnerable to a pawn
attack e4-e5. On the long run White
creates a king side pawn majority,
which unbalances the game right from
the begining, compared to the
symetrical pawn structures usually met
in Petroff Defence.

4.e5

A) 4...Qe7

After such moves White has to castle
short quickly and to tak absolute
control over the central files.

5.Be2 Ng4 6.Qxd4 h5 7.Nc3 Nc6
8.Qc4 Qc5 9.0-0

A1) 9...Qxc4 10.Bxc4 d6 11.exd6
(

‹11.Nb5 Ngxe5 12.Nxc7+ Kd7

13.Nxe5+ Nxe5 14.Nxa8 Nxc4

© )

11...Bxd6 12.Re1+ Kf8 13.Nb5
Nge5 ;
A2) 9...Ncxe5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5
11.Qe4 c6

The only move, Black has to
defend the central square d5 where
White's pieces can easily land, the
threats were Nc3-d5 or Rd1-d5.

12.Be3 Qe7 13.Rae1²

White has a huge lead in
development and more then
enough compensation for the
pawn.
To do list:

-release the e-file for the rook with
the multi-purpose move Qd4 which
also controls a1-h8 diagonal
-play f2-f4
-clear the e file in order to maintain
the nemy king in the center
-use the lack of coordination in
Black's camp. ;

B) 4...Ne4 5.Qxd4

B1) 5...f5

Black wants to sharpen the game
as in the Schliemann Defence or
the Latvian Gambit. White has to
keep his coolness and to trust his
positional advantages:
-better control over the central
squares
-better king since Black just
weakened his king's position
especially the a2-g8 diagonal.

6.Be3 Bc5 7.Qd3

B1a) 7...d6 8.Nbd2 Bxe3
9.Qxe3 d5

Once that this pawn structure
arise on the board Black's worse
minor piece is Bc8. White should
aim to unbalance the position by
exchanging the black knights for
a knight and bishop, reaching a
positin with better knight versus
bad bishop.

( 9...dxe5?! 10.0-0-0 Qf6
11.Nxe4 fxe4 12.Qxe4

± )

10.Rd1

A good exmple of how White
should keep the momentum
instead of castling to quickly.
Black's central setup is suported
by d5 , so White will act
imeddiately before Black
consolidates with Be6 and c6.

0-0 11.c4 c6 12.cxd5 cxd5

2

13.Bc4 Nxf2 14.Qxf2 dxc4
15.Nxc4 Qe7 16.0-0² ;
B1b) 7...Na6 8.a3 d5 9.b4
Bxe3 10.Qxe3²

Once that Black's immediate
threats were repelled White
remained with:
-a passed supported pawn on
e5
-a better light squares bishop
-the threat to spoil Black's pawn
structure with 11.Bxa6.
To do list:
-pay attention to Black's pawn
moves a7-a5, c7-c5 and f5-f4
-try to chase Black's most active
piece Ne4
-create pressure against d5. ;

B2) 5...d5 6.exd6 Nxd6

In such positions were the central
pawns are liquidated, White has
the initiative since it has a certain
lead in development and the active
queen. If Black wants to finish his
own pieces development, it will be
usually forced to make
concessions regarding the material
balance (losing the pair of bishops)
or the pawn structure.
White should look for possibilities
to create black double pawns on
c7 and c6 or to use the weak
squares created by Black attempts
to activate his pieces.
White will use the central squares(
e4,e5,d5,d4) as activating squares
for his minor pieces especially for
the knights.

7.Nc3
( 7.Bd3 Nc6 8.Qf4 g6 9.0-0 Bg7
10.Nc3 0-0 11.Re1 Bf5 12.Bxf5
Nxf5= )

7...Nc6
( 7...Bf5 8.Qe5+ Qe7 9.Nd5
Qxe5+ 10.Nxe5 Kd8 11.Bf4 Nd7
12.Nc4 Be6 13.0-0-0 Nxc4
14.Bxc4 Bd6 15.Bxd6 cxd6

²

After the opening White gets a long
term advantage and at the next
moves will increase th pressure
along the d-file. )

8.Qf4 Kritz,L: 'Die weiße Dame hat

auf f4 ein sehr gutes Feld gefunden,
wo sie nicht angegriffen werden
kann. Da die Bauernstruktur völlig
symmetrisch ist, hat derjenige
Vorteil, der die besser platzierten
Figuren hat, um Initiative zu
entwickeln. Das ist hier natürlich
Weiß, weil seine Springer besser
stehen.' Kritz,L: 'Weiß hat einen
kleinen Vorteil, weil seine Dame
auf f4 unantastbar steht, der
schwarze Springer auf d6 dagegen
die schwarze Entwicklung stört.'
Kritz,L: 'Weiß hat kleinen Vorteil,
weil seine Dame auf f4 unantastbar
steht, der schwarze Springer auf
d6 dagegen die schwarze
Entwicklung stört.' Kritz,L: 'Die
weiße Dame hat auf f4 einen sehr
guten Feld gefunden, wo sie nicht
angegriffen werden kann. Da die
Bauernstruktur völlig symmetrisch
ist, hat der jenige Vorteil, der
besser platzierten Figuren hat, um
Initiative zu entwickeln. Das ist hier
natürlich Weiß, weil seine Springer
besser stehen.'

B2a) 8...Bf5 9.Bb5

B2a1) 9...Be7 10.Nd4 Qd7
( 10...Bd7 11.Bxc6 Bxc6
12.Nxc6 bxc6

Another type of long term

3

advantage that White should be
aiming for.

13.0-0 0-0 14.Qa4 Qd7
15.Nd5 Rfe8 16.Be3 Rab8
17.Nxe7+ Qxe7 18.b3

²

One of White's goals in this
position is to trade all the
pieces and to win the pawn
endgame by placing Kc5. His
task is easier now since the
bishop is userior to the knight in
positions with pawns on both
wings. )

11.Nxf5 Qxf5 12.Qxf5 Nxf5
13.Bd3 Nfd4 14.Be3 0-0-0
15.0-0-0²

To do list:
-bring the undeveloped rook on
e1
-place the bishops on adjacent
diagonals on e4 & e3
- keep a rook on the board as
play coordinating piece
-restrict the knights activity by
slowly advancing the pawn
-create weaknesses in the
enemy camp as the bishops
have better mobility. ;

B2a2) 9...Qe7+ 10.Be3 Nxb5
11.Nxb5 Qb4+ 12.Qxb4
Bxb4+ 13.c3 Bd6 14.Nxd6+
cxd6 15.0-0-0² Matulovic-

Kholmov/Sochi/1968/
After the opening White gets a
long term advantage and at the
next moves will increase th
pressure along the d-file. ;

B2b) 8...Nf5!

A natural move preparing the
development of Bf8 discovered
by Karpov's coach Igor Zaitsev.

9.Bb5 Bd6 10.Qe4+

B2b1) 10...Qe7 11.Bd2

This is an improvment of
Kasparov's next idea.

( 11.Bg5 f6 12.Bd2 Bd7
13.0-0-0 Qxe4 14.Nxe4 Be7
15.g4 a6! 16.Bc4 Nd6
17.Nxd6+ Bxd6 18.Rde1+

½-½ Kasparov,G (2800)-
Karpov,A (2730)/Lyon/New
York 1990 )

11...Bd7 12.0-0-0 Qxe4
13.Nxe4 Be7 14.Rhe1
( 14.g4

÷ ½-½ Karjakin,S (2694)-

Bu Xiangzhi (2692)/Bilbao 2007/
CBM 120 ext (28) ) 14...0-0-0

15.Neg5

Provoking Black to give up the
pair of bishops.

Rdf8 16.Bc3

The pawn structure is
symetrical, but White has a
better pieces setup. In the
following line I tried to give an
exmple of how White should
use the initiative and to get a
long term postional advantage
like the pair of bishops.

h6 17.Ne4 f6

In order to restrict the activty of
Bc3 and to release Nf5.

18.Rxd7 Kxd7 19.g4 Nd6
20.Nc5+ Ke8™ The only

defense against the strong
threats Ne6 and Bxc6.

21.Ba4

With the idea of 22.Nxb7
followed by 23.Bxc6+

b5 22.Bb3 h5 23.g5 Nc4
24.gxf6 gxf6 25.Ne6 Kd7
( 25...Rf7?? 26.Nxc7+ Kf8
27.Nxb5 N4e5 28.Bxf7 Kxf7
29.Nxe5+ fxe5 30.Bxe5 Nxe5

4

31.Rxe5

+− ) 26.Nxf8+ Rxf8

27.Nd2 Nxd2 28.Be6+ Kd8
29.Bxd2² ;
B2b2) 10...Nfe7 11.Bg5 Bf5
12.Qxf5 Nxf5 13.Bxd8 Kxd8
14.0-0-0 Re8 15.g4
( 15.Ng5 f6 16.Nge4

²

Karjakin,S (2730)-Polgar,J
(2711)/Dresden 2008 )

15...Nh6 16.h3²

To do list:
-restrict the activty of Nh6
-try to gain one of the pawns h7
or f7 with the help of the threats
Bd3 & Ng5
-create a free pawn on the king
side using threts against Nh6. ;

B2c) 8...Be7 9.Be3 Be6

From now on White will focus on
exchanging Nf3 for Be6 in good
conditions. For this purpose the
long castle is indicated since
White's attack on the king side
will gain momentum in the
absnce of Black's light squares
bishop.

10.0-0-0 0-0
( 10...a6 11.h4 Qd7 12.Ng5
0-0-0 13.Nxe6 Qxe6 14.g3

² )

11.Bd3 Re8 12.h4 Qd7
( a major concession is 12...h6?!

because White's task on the king
side will be easier using the
"hook" h6 to play g2-g4-g5
opening the g-file. 13.g4 Bf6

14.Nb5 Bd5 15.Bh7+ Kxh7
16.Rxd5 Re4 17.Rxd6 Rxf4
18.Rxd8 Bxb2+ 19.Kxb2 Rb4+
20.Kc3 Rxd8 21.Nxa7 Rxg4
22.Nxc6 bxc6 23.Rb1

± )

13.Ng5 h6 14.Nxe6 Qxe6
15.Nd5 Bd8 16.g4 Kh8 17.Bf1±

White prepares g5,Bg2 and Rhe1
having as principal target the
black queen. ;

B2d) 8...g6

Black ambitiously wants to
develop the bishop on the long
diagonal despite the extra tempo
involved in the process.

9.Be3 Bg7 10.0-0-0

B2d1) 10...Be6 11.Ne4 0-0
12.h4 There's no need to rush

with Nxd6 as Black gains
aditional room for the queen.

h5 13.Kb1 Qe7 14.Nxd6
cxd6 15.Be2 Rac8 16.Rhe1
Ne5 17.Nd4 Nc4 18.Bc1÷ ;
B2d2)
10...Bxc3 11.bxc3 0-0
( 11...Bf5 12.g4 Be6 13.c4
Qe7 14.c5 Nc8 15.Ng5

± )

12.h4 h5 13.Bb5

The most principled developing
move as White will be ready to
invade the dark squares in the
absence of Nc6. Bf5 14.Bxc6

bxc6 15.Bc5 Re8 16.Rhe1
Qd7 17.c4 Re6 18.Rxe6
Qxe6 19.Re1 Qxc4 20.Qxc4
Nxc4 21.Re7 Be6 22.Rxc7 a5
23.Rxc6² ;
B2d3) 10...0-0
11.h4

B2d31) 11...Be6 12.h5 Qe7
13.Bd3 a6 14.Bc5 Qf6
15.Qg3 Rfe8 16.hxg6 hxg6
( 16...fxg6 17.Ng5

± ) 17.Ng5

Qe5 18.Bxd6 Qxd6 19.Qxd6
cxd6 20.Nxe6 Rxe6 21.Bc4
Ree8 22.Rxd6 Bxc3
23.bxc3² ;
B2d32) 11...Qf6 12.Qxf6
Bxf6 13.Nd5± Bd8 14.h5

5

Bg4 15.hxg6 fxg6 16.Be2² ;
B2d33) 11...h6 12.Bb5 Bd7
13.Bc5 Rc8 14.Ba4 Na5
15.Bd4 Bxa4 16.Bxg7 Kxg7
17.Qxa4 Nac4 18.Nd5²

White king looks safer then
the black king and with his
last move White wants to
provoke c7-c6 which realeses
Black's grip on d6. ;

B2d34) 11...h5 12.Bc5

B2d341) 12...Bf5 13.Bd3
Bg4 ( 13...Bxc3 14.bxc3
Bxd3 15.Rxd3 Re8

Reaches the main line with
12....Bxc3 by moves
transposition. )

14.Kb1 Bxf3 15.gxf3 Be5
16.Qd2 Qf6 17.Nd5 Qxf3
18.Nxc7 ( 18.Qg5 Rfd8
19.Bxg6 fxg6 20.Qxg6+
Bg7 21.Rdg1 Qf7 22.Nf6+
Kf8 23.Nh7+ Kg8
24.Nf6+= ) 18...Rad8
19.Qe3 Qxe3 20.fxe3 b6
21.Ba3 Rd7 22.Nd5 Bg7
23.c3 Ne5 24.Bc2 Rfd8
25.e4÷ ;
B2d342) 12...Bxc3

At first sight it seems like a
justified move to spoil
White's pawn structure on
the queen side , but White
has the lead in
development and it will be
able to exploit the weak
dark squares around the
black king. For this goal it
has to complete the knight's
manover Nf3-g5-e4-f6-d5.

13.bxc3 Bf5 14.Bd3 Bxd3
15.Rxd3 Re8 16.Ng5 Qe7

17.Rhd1 Rad8 18.Re3 Qf8
19.Ne4 Re6 20.Nf6+ Kh8
21.Nd5± ;

B2e) 8...Be6 9.Be3 Nf5

Attacks Be3 & releases d6 for the
bishop.

10.Nb5

Uses the CSQ of Black's last
move.

B2e1) 10...Bd6 11.Nxd6+
Qxd6 12.Qxd6 Nxd6
( 12...cxd6 13.Bd2 0-0
14.Bd3 Rfe8 15.0-0-0

²

To do list:
-Bring the rooks along the
central files Rhe1
-transfer the knight to e4 Nf3-
g5-e4 increasing the pressure
against d6
-create long range threats with
the bishops. )

13.0-0-0 0-0-0 14.b3²

To do list:
-bring the undeveloped rook on
e1
-place the bishops on adjacent
diagonals on d3 (f3)& e3
- keep a rook on the board as
play coordinating piece
-restrict the knights activity by
slowly advancing the pawn
-create weaknesses in the
enemy camp as the bishops
have better mobility. ;

B2e2) 10...Bb4+ 11.c3

B2e21) 11...Ba5 12.Bc5
Qd5 13.b4 a6 14.Rd1 Qxa2

White has to play against the
black king remained in the
center, by using his local
forces superiority and better

6

coordination.

15.Qxc7

The queen is untouchable
due to 16. Nxc7 mate.

Rd8
( 15...axb5 16.Qxb7

+− )

16.Rxd8+ Nxd8 17.Nd6+
Nxd6 18.Qxd6 Qb1+ 19.Kd2
Qb2+ 20.Ke3 Qc1+ 21.Nd2
Nc6 22.bxa5+− ;
B2e22) 11...Bd6 12.Nxd6+
Qxd6 13.Rd1 Qxf4 14.Bxf4
Bxa2 15.Bb5 0-0 16.0-0
Rac8 17.Bxc6 bxc6 18.Ra1
Bd5 19.Rxa7 Bxf3 20.gxf3
Rfe8 21.Rfa1 Nh4 22.Bxc7
Nxf3+ 23.Kg2²

White has the bishop ith
pawns on both wings and
good perspectives to double
the rooks along the 7-th rank
with Rb7 and R1a7. ]

[
3...d6

leads to the Philidor Defence and it
makes the subject of a different
opening file. ]

[
3...d5 4.dxe5 Nxe4 5.Nbd2

leads by transpotion to the main line
with 3....Nxe4 4.dxe5 d5. ]

[
3...Be7 4.dxe5 Nxe4 5.Qd5

This time the queen will use a central
square for a tempo gain .

Nc5 6.Nc3 d6 7.exd6 cxd6 8.Bb5+
Nbd7 9.Bf4² ]
[
3...Nc6 4.dxe5

Leads to similar position with the
Budapest Gambit , but here White
didn't push c2-c4 which makes Black's

counterplay on dark squares less
efective.

Nxe4
( 4...Ng4 5.Bf4 Bc5 6.Bg3 d6 7.exd6
cxd6 8.h3 Nf6 9.Nc3 0-0 10.Bd3
Re8 11.0-0

² )

5.Bc4 Nc5
( 5...Bc5 6.Qd5 Bxf2+ 7.Ke2 Qe7
8.Qxe4

+− )

6.Nc3 Be7 7.0-0 0-0 8.Nd5

White gains easily the pair of bishops
an has to reckon the freeing move d7-
d6. The dark sqaures bishop can be
deployed on b2 on the long diagonal
and White can use the typical central
pressure with rooks along the open
files "e" & "d".

d6 9.Nxe7+ Nxe7 10.exd6 cxd6
11.Re1 Be6 12.Bf1 d5 13.b3 Rc8
14.Bb2² ]

4.dxe5

The purpose of this move is to break the
symetrycal pawn structure wanted by
Black and to use e5 as a shield for the
central squares where White can deploy
his pieces.

d5

[ 4...Bc5

This move is evaluated as dubious, but
we couldn't find a clear refutation.
Anyway if White enters in the tactical
complications his lead in development
and the strong e5 pawn give him a
dangerous initiative and if Black plays
carelessly it will be mated.

5.Bc4
( The quiet approach is:
5.Be3 Bxe3 6.fxe3 d5 7.exd6 Nc6
8.Bd3 Nxd6 9.Nc3 Be6 10.0-0 Qe7
11.Nd4 Ne5 12.Qe1 0-0 13.Qg3 f6

7

14.Ne4 Nxd3 15.Nxd6 cxd6 16.cxd3

÷

When White's knight form d4 assures a
least equality. )

5...Nxf2 6.Bxf7+

A) 6...Kf8 7.Qd5 Nxh1 8.Qxc5+
Kxf7 9.Nc3 d6 10.Qd5+ Kf8
( 10...Ke8 11.Bg5 Qd7 12.0-0-0 h6
13.Be3 Nc6 14.exd6 Qxd6
15.Qh5+ g6 16.Qb5 Qb4 17.Qd5
Qd6= ) 11.Be3 Nc6 12.0-0-0 Qe7
13.Rxh1 Be6 14.Qb5 Rb8 15.exd6
cxd6 16.Rd1 h6 17.Rxd6 Re8
18.Bc5 Kg8 19.b3 Qf7 20.Kb2 ;
B) 6...Kxf7 7.Qd5+ Kg6

( 7...Ke8 8.Bg5 Be7 9.Bxe7 Qxe7
10.Kxf2

White will quickly bring his rooks into
the battle while the e5 pawn assures
good outposts for the knights :c4,d4,
e4.

Qb4 11.Re1 Qb6+ 12.Kf1 Qxb2
13.Nbd2 Nc6 14.Nc4 Qc3 15.Kg1
Rf8 16.Rad1

±

White is helpless against White's
local forces superiority.
The immediate threat is 17.e6 and
after: Qxc2 17.Na3 Qf5 18.Nb5

Kd8

White's goal is to remove Nc6 the
last defender of the black king.

19.Nbd4 Nxd4 20.Nxd4 Qf2+
21.Kh1 Ke7 22.e6 d6 23.Qg5+

+− )

8.Qxc5 Nxh1 9.Nc3 Nc6
( 9...h6 10.Nd5 Kh7 11.Qc4 Rf8
12.Qe4+ Kh8 13.Bxh6 gxh6
14.Qg6 Rxf3 15.Qxh6+ Kg8
16.gxf3 Na6 17.0-0-0

+− )

10.Qc4 h6
( 10...Qf8 11.Nh4+ Kh5 12.Qe2+
Kxh4 13.Ne4 h6 14.Bg5+ hxg5

15.g3+ Nxg3 16.hxg3+ Kh3
17.0-0-0

+−

And mate in few moves with Rh1. )

11.Nd5
( 11.Nh4+ Kh7 12.Qe4+ Kg8
13.Qd5+ Kh7 14.Qe4+= ) 11...Rf8
12.Qe4+ Kf7 13.Bxh6 gxh6
14.Qh7+ Ke8 15.Qg6+ Rf7
16.Qg8+ Rf8 17.Qg6+=

with a perpetual check. ]

[
4...Be7 5.Qd5

Transposes to 3....Be7. ]

5.Nbd2

White wants to exchange or to deflect
Black's active knight, while Nd2 will head
for d4 via b3.
The pawn structure and Ne4 resembles
the Open variation from Ruy Lopez, so it
may be helpful to study it, in order to
understand the typical play related to this
pawn structure. As a diferrence White
didn't commit yet to develop the light
squares bishop, while Black didn't
blocked the c7 pawn with Nc6. This may
prove useful, as Black can consolidate
the centre with c7-c6 or even to play c7-
c5, if White uses d4 for a knight.

Nxd2

[ 5...Be7 6.Nxe4 dxe4 7.Qxd8+ Bxd8

A) Another possibility is:
8.Nd4 0-0
( 8...c6 9.Bf4 Nd7?! 10.Nf5 0-0
11.Nd6 Ba5+ 12.c3 Bc7 13.0-0-0
Bxd6 14.exd6 Nb6 15.c4 Be6
16.b3 a5 17.Be2 a4 18.Kb2 axb3
19.axb3 Nd7 20.Ra1

²

½-½ Ivanchuk,V (2781)-Wang Yue
(2704)/Sochi 2008 ) 9.Bf4 Nd7

10.0-0-0 a6 11.h4 Re8 12.Be2
Nc5 ( 12...Nxe5? 13.Bxe5 Rxe5

8

14.Nc6

± )

13.Kb1 c6 14.Bc4÷

White tries to use the cramped
position of the black pieces, but it
isn't clear how to create an
advantage of it. ;

B) 8.Ng5

B1) 8...Bf5 9.e6 fxe6
( 9...f6 10.Nf7 Rg8 11.Nxd8
Kxd8 12.Bf4 Bxe6 13.0-0-0+

In return for the sacrified pawn
White will create a local forces
superiority on the king side, while
Black has difficulties to activate
Ra8.

Kc8 14.Be2 Nc6 15.f3 g5
16.Bg3 exf3 17.Bxf3 Rd8
18.Rde1 Bd7 19.Rhf1

²

White is threatening 20. Bxc6
followed by 21. Rxf6-f7 or 21. Re7
attacking both weaknesses h7 & c7.

)
10.Bc4 Bxg5 11.Bxg5 Nd7
12.0-0-0 h6 13.Bf4 0-0-0 14.h3
Nb6 15.Bb3 Nd5 16.Be5²

To do list:
-restrict the activity of the black
pieces (especially the knight)
-keep the rooks on the board
-provoke Black to advance the king
side pawns creating weaknesses. ;

B2) 8...Bxg5

9.Bxg5

Gaining the pair of bishops and a
long term positional advantage.

Nc6 10.0-0-0 0-0 11.Bb5 h6
( 11...Nxe5? 12.Be7

± )

12.Bf4 Zelcic-Delanoy, Geneva

1993 Ne7 13.Rhe1 Ng6 14.Bg3

c6 15.Bc4² ]

[

5...Nc5 6.Nb3

A) 6...Nxb3?! 7.axb3 Be7 8.Bd3
( 8.h4 c5 9.c4 Be6 10.Ng5 Bxg5
11.Bxg5 Qc7 12.cxd5 Qxe5+
13.Qe2 Qxe2+ 14.Bxe2 Bf5 15.g4
h6 16.Bf4 Be4 17.Bb5+ Nd7
18.Rh3 Bxd5 19.0-0-0 Be6
20.Rhd3

± 1-0 Savchenko,B (2638)-

Volokitin,A (2692)/Moscow
2010(71) )

8...c5 9.0-0 Nc6 10.Qe2 Be6
11.Rd1 0-0 12.c3 Qc7 13.Bf4 a6
14.Bc2 Rfe8 15.h3 Rad8 16.Ng5
Bxg5 17.Bxg5 Rc8 18.f4²

Using the threats against h7 White
gained the pair of bishops and kept
the king side pawn majority.
To do list:
-prevent Black's central counterplay
based on d5-d4
-increase the pressure on the king
side, especially against the "focal"
point g7. ;

B) 6...Bg4 7.h3

Forcing Black to decide where to
instal the bishop. After 7....Bh5 , the
d5 pawn will remain vulnerable,
otherwise Black just loses a tempo.

Bh5 8.Be2 Nc6 9.0-0 Be7 10.Be3
Nxb3 11.axb3 0-0 12.Qd2 Qd7
13.Rfd1 Rad8 14.c4 Bxf3 15.Bxf3
Nxe5 16.Qxd5 Qxd5 17.Bxd5 c6
18.Be4 a6 19.Bb6 Rxd1+ 20.Rxd1²

White has a steady advantage due to
the pair of bishops, while Black can't
find stable or useful positions for his
minor pieces. ;

C) 6...Ne6
7.Nbd4

Since Black is threatening the freeing
move c7-c5, Nb3 will be out of play
so this attempt to exchange the

9

blockading knight from e6 is fully
justified.

Nxd4 8.Qxd4 h6
( 8...Nc6 9.Qf4 Be7 10.Be3 0-0
11.0-0-0 Be6 12.Kb1 Qd7 13.Qg3
f6 14.Bf4 Bc5 15.Bb5 a6 16.Bxc6
bxc6 17.exf6 Rxf6 18.Ne5 Qd6
19.Rhe1

²

White managed to achieve control
over the central files.
Massive simplifications are in White's
favor as his king is closer to the black
weak pawns from the queen side. )

9.Qf4

Preserves queen's flexibility ,as the
queen will be hunted anyway with c7-
c5 or Nb8-c6.

( 9.Bd2 Be6 10.h4 c5 11.Qf4 Nc6
12.h5 Qd7 13.c4 0-0-0 14.0-0-0
Be7

÷ ½-½ Nepomniachtchi,I (2695)-

Alekseev,E (2700)/Havana 2010 )

9...c5 10.Bb5+ Nc6 11.0-0 a6
12.Bxc6+ bxc6 13.Re1 Be6 14.h3
Be7 15.Qg3 Qd7 16.Bd2÷

The position is unclear, but White
has a healthier pawn structure and
can quickly activate his rooks along
the central files.
Black is confronted with a difficult
decision: should he castle by hand
with Kf8-g8-h7 or to create new weak
squares on th king side with g7-g6
and h6-h5 in order to assure his
king? ]

[ 5...f5 6.Be2 Be7 7.c4

This pawn breaktrough must be
remembered as it fights against Black's
center and it aims to open the a2-g8
diagonal. c6

( 7...dxc4

A wrong strategical decision because it
exchanges a central pawn for a lateral

one and soon Qd8 will fall under attack
along the opened d-file.

8.Bxc4 Nc6 9.Qe2 Nd4 10.Nxd4
Qxd4 11.0-0 Qxe5 12.Nf3 Qf6
13.Bf4 Be6 14.Bxe6 Qxe6 15.Nd4
Qd7 16.Qc4

After a sequence of forced moves
Black found himself forced to castle
long, but in the absnce of the bishop
he can no longer cover the weak light
squares.

0-0-0 17.Ne6 Bd6 18.Nxd8 Bxf4
19.Rad1 Bd2 20.Ne6

± )

8.0-0 0-0 9.Nb1

A wise redepoyment of the knight.
After f7-f5 Black weakened a2-g8
diagonal, but White can't take Nd2xe4
because it helps Black connecting his
central pawns. Nb3 is the other option
but it takes the b3 squares which
belong to the queen.
After f2-f3 chasing out Ne4 the
manover Nd2-b1-c3 becames possible.

Be6 10.Nd4 Qd7 11.f3 Nc5 12.cxd5
Bxd5 13.Nc3 Ne6 14.Kh1 Bc5
15.Be3 Bb6 16.Nxd5 cxd5 17.f4²

White has an edge due to the passed
defended pawn and the powerful light
squares bishop which has no rival. ]

[
5...Nc6 6.Bb5 Bd7 7.0-0 Nxe5
8.Nxe5 Bxb5 9.c4 Qe7 10.Nxe4
dxe4 11.Bf4 Bd7 12.Re1 f5 13.Qd5
c6 14.Qd2

The purpose of the manover Qd1-d5-
d2 was to provoke c7-c6 and the
subsequent weakening of a5-d8
diagonal, preparing Qd2-a5-c7.

Be6 15.Rad1 Qf6
( 15...Rd8 16.Qe3 Bc8 17.Bg5 Rxd1
18.Bxe7 Rxe1+ 19.Qxe1 Bxe7

10

20.Qa5 0-0 21.Qc7

²

To do list:
-prevent Black's pieces coordination
and the counterplay based on f5-f4 and
e4-e3
-Ne5-d7 to trade the pair of bishops
-double attacks against the black
pawns sitting onlight squares. )

16.Qa5 Be7 17.Qc7 0-0 18.Nd7
Bxd7 19.Rxd7 Rfe8 20.Qxb7²

White regained the pawn and
penetrated along the 7-th rank while
Black's pieces are tied up in defense. ]

[
5...Bf5 6.Nxe4 Bxe4 7.Bd3 Nc6
8.0-0 Be7 9.Re1 0-0
( 9...Nb4 10.Bxe4 dxe4 11.Nd2!?

Avoids queens exchange and prepares
a2-a3 and Nxe4.

Qd5 12.a3 Nc6 13.Nxe4 Qxd1
14.Rxd1 Nxe5 15.Bf4 Ng6 16.Bxc7
Rc8 17.Nd6+ Bxd6 18.Bxd6 Rxc2
19.Rd4

²

Black is still with the king in the center,
while White will attack it with 2 rooks
and bishop. After Re1 , White has to
chase out Ng6 and to penetrate along
the 7-th rank. )

10.Bf4 Bxd3 11.Qxd3 Qd7 12.c3 h6
13.Rad1 Rad8 14.b4 a6 15.h3 Qe6
16.a3²

White has the space advantage and
subsequently a better mobility of the
major pieces.
To do list:
-triple up along the d-file Re3, Qc2,
Red3 followed by Qd2 or R1d2 and
Qd1
-be ready to use the blow c3-c4
-restrict the activity of black minor
pieces
-avoid exchanges

-use the 3-rd rank to create threats
agaisnt the black king. ]

6.Qxd2 Be7

[ 6...c5 7.c4
( The position arising after 7.Qf4 h6
8.Bb5+ was analyzed after the moves

5....Nc5 6.Nb3 Ne6 7.Nbd4 Nxd4 8.
Qxd4 h6 9.Qf4 c5 10.Bb5 )

A) 7...Be6 8.Ng5 Nc6 9.Nxe6 fxe6
10.Be2
( 10.cxd5 Qxd5 11.Qxd5 exd5
12.Bb5 Kf7 13.f4 Nd4 14.Ba4 b5
15.Bd1 c4 16.Be3= 1-0 Bacrot,E

(2728)-Alekseev,E (2716)/Nalchik
2009 )

10...Nd4 11.0-0 Be7
( 11...Nxe2+ 12.Qxe2 d4 13.Rd1

²

White's queen and bishop have
better mobility and he can use the
third rank for a rook lift. A possible
setup would be Rd1-d3, Bc1-d2,
Ra1-e1 & Qe2-e4. )

12.Bd3 0-0 13.b3 Qd7 14.Bb2
Rad8 15.Rad1 dxc4 16.bxc4 Qa4
17.Qe3

Black dominates the d-file but it has
difficulties coordinating his pieces.
White can easily create threats on
the king side, especially on light
squares. Once the attack premises
created White can even afford to
exchange the annoying knight from
d4. and to combine the threats
against the pawn weaknesses e6 &
h7.

A1) 17...Qxa2 18.Bxd4 Rxd4
19.Ra1 Qb2
( 19...Qb3?? 20.Bxh7+

+− )

20.Rfb1 Rxd3 21.Rxb2 Rxe3

11

22.fxe3 Bg5 23.Rb3 a6 24.Ra5
Rc8 25.Rxb7± ;
A2) 17...g6 ;

B)
7...d4

At first sight Black created a free
supported pawn, but now the position
is settled, and White has a better grip
on central squares ( he can use e4
while Black can't use d5 to improve
pieces positions or even to start a
king side attack).

8.Bd3 Nc6

B1) 9.Qf4 h6 10.Qg3 Be6
11.Nd2 Qd7?! ( 11...Qc7 12.f4
0-0-0 13.0-0 g5

³

And Black is the first to open a file
against the enemy king. )

12.0-0 0-0-0 13.f4 Bf5 14.a3
h5„ Howell,D (2612)-Saric,A

(2483)/Rijeka 2010/ (1-0, 36) ;

B2) 9.0-0

Be7
( 9...h6 10.Qe2 Be6 11.Bd2 Qd7
12.a3

The purpose of this move is to
provoke a5 and to create the
premises of a pawn breaktrough in
case that Black castles long.

a5 13.Bf4 Be7 14.Nd2 Bf5
15.Ne4 0-0 16.Rae1 Qe6 17.Qc2
Bg6 18.Bg3 a4 19.f4

²

White can simply double the rooks
along the f-file threatening f4-f5.
White's pawn structure on king side
is a dynamic one while Black's
pawn structure is rather inflexible.

)
10.Qf4

The manover Qd2-f4-g3 has more
impact after 9...Be7 since Black

can't stop the secondary threat Ng5.

Be6 11.Qg3 Qc7 12.Ng5 Bxg5
13.Bxg5 h6 14.Bd2 g5 15.Rfe1
0-0-0 16.a3

B2a) 16...Qd7?! 17.b4 Bf5
18.Bxf5
( 18.b5

² Almasi,Z (2691)-Socko,

B (2646)/Khanty-Mansiysk 2007 )

18...Qxf5 19.b5 Nb8 20.e6
fxe6 21.Re5 Qf8 22.Rxe6 Re8
23.Rxe8+ Qxe8 24.Re1 Qf8
25.h4² ;
B2b) 16...Rde8 17.b4²

To do list:
-open the b & f files and
diagonals in order to activate the
bishops
-try to undermine the rigid black
pawn structure h6 g5 with the
help of the thrust f2-f4
- avoid pieces exchanges and try
to take advantage of the exposed
position of the black king.
For example: Bd7 18.f4 gxf4

19.Bxf4 Rhg8 20.Qf2 Nxe5
21.Be4 b6 22.Rab1 f6
23.Bd5² ]

[
6...h6 7.Bd3 c5 8.c3 Nc6 9.0-0 Be6
10.h3 Qc7 11.Re1 0-0-0 12.a3 c4 ]
[ 6...g6

Black is already lagging in
development so White can launch a
king side attack after the long castle
and the typical advance h2-h4 aiming
to exchange the dark squares bishops
on h6.

7.Qc3 Bg7 8.Bg5 Qd7 9.0-0-0 0-0
10.h4 Re8 11.h5 Nc6 12.hxg6 hxg6
13.Bh6 Bh8 14.Bf4 Bg7 15.Kb1 a6
16.g3‚

12

White's attack on king side is going on
with threats like Bh3 or Bg2, while
Black doesn't have any counterplay on
the other wing. ]

7.Qf4

[ 7.Bd3 Nc6 8.Qf4 0-0 9.0-0 f6
10.exf6 Bxf6 11.Qg3

This is the pet manover of Ian
Nepomniachtchi. The white queen
"eyeballs" the black king while the
black queen is still passive. The trumps
of this line are the natural pieces setup
with Bc1-f4 and Rae1 and a safer king
as Black weakened a2-g8 diagonal.

Nb4 12.Bf4 Rf7 13.Ne5 Re7
14.Rae1 Nxd3 15.cxd3 Bf5

Nepomniachtchi,I (2628)-Iordachescu,
V (2584)/Moscow 2009 16.Bg5 Qf8

17.d4 Bxg5 18.Qxg5 Rae8 19.Qg3²

Ne5 has a stable position as it can be
supported also by f2-f4 and agian the
most important feature is the dynamic
White's pawn structure versus Black's
inflexible one on the king side.
This subsequently means that White's
king is better protected. ]

7...c5

[ 7...Qd7 8.c4

Black prepares Qd7-g4, so White
wants to open a second front aiming to
exchange Black's only central pawn.

Bb4+ 9.Bd2 Bxd2+ 10.Qxd2 dxc4
11.Bxc4
( Another interesting possibility in order

to avoid the queens exchange is:

11.Qc3 Qg4 12.Bxc4 Qe4+ 13.Kf1
0-0 14.Re1 Qc6 15.Nd4 Qb6 16.h4
Nc6 17.Nxc6 Qxc6 18.h5

²

White preserves his central and king
side forces superiority, and Rh1 will be
activated trough h4. )

11...Qxd2+ 12.Kxd2 Nc6 13.Kc3

Ke7 14.Bd5 Nd8 15.Nd4 c6

Nepomniachtchi,I (2628)-Petrushin,A
(2455)/Moscow 2009 16.Bc4² ]

[
7...0-0 8.Bd3 Nc6 9.0-0 Nb4 10.Qg3
Kh8 11.Bg5 Nxd3 12.Bxe7 Qxe7
13.cxd3 c5 14.Rac1 Be6 15.Nh4
Rae8 16.f4²

White has better chances again due
to:
-the space advantage which is
equivalent to better rooks mobility
- his king side mobile pawn majority
- the active knight which supports the
pawns while Black's bishop is
restricted. ]

8.c4 Be6 9.Qg3 g6

[ 9...dxc4 10.Qxg7 Rf8 11.Be2 Nc6
12.0-0 Qd7 13.Rd1 Nd4 14.Nxd4
cxd4 15.Be3 d3 16.Rac1
( 16.b3 0-0-0

÷ ½-½ Nepomniachtchi,I

(2600)-L'Ami,E (2581)/Wijk aan Zee
2008 (37) )

16...b5 17.Bf3 Bd5 18.Qg3 Bxf3
19.Qxf3²

White has to use the exposed position
of the enemy king & the uncoordinated
position of the black rooks.Of course
he should also prevent the further
advance of the dangerous black free
pawn from d3.
A good idea would be to create a
second pawn weakness on b5 after a2-
a4xb5 and afterwards he should try to
gain one of the pawns h7 or b5.

]

10.cxd5 Qxd5 11.Be2 0-0 12.0-0 Nc6
13.Bg5 Rad8

[ 13...Bxg5 14.Qxg5 Rad8 15.Qh6² ]

14.Bxe7 Nxe7 15.Qf4

÷

13

Despite the balanced material, White has
better prospects related to the weak dark
squares around the black king.
White should fight for the d-file but
preserve one pair of rooks if it's possible
since the black king is vulnerable.
Conclusions:
As suplementary study games for this
line we sugest the games of the russian
GM's Nepomniachtchi, Karjakyn and
Svidler.
In the end is hard to find a forced way to
take the advantage right from the
opening, but we believe that the
unbalanced pawn structure ,the relative
ease to develop the white pieces and of
course the ideas presented above can
be a real asset during an OTB game.