Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.Bg5 dc4 6.a4 h6 7.Bh4 b5!
Boris Avrukh:
8.ab5 cb5 9.Nb5 ab5 10.Ra8 Bb7 etc., but
Exchange sacrifice
here it looks like much better version for
White.
Reshevsky : Petrosian, Zuerich 1953
7.Nb5
XIIIIIIIIY White has to accept the challenge, as
otherwise Black will continue 7...Bb7 and
9-+-trq+k+0
White will have not an easy task to prove his
compensation.
9+-+-trpzpp0
7...ab5 8.Ra8 Bb7 9.Ra1
9-+n+-+l+0
XIIIIIIIIY
9zpp+-zP-+-0
9-sn-wqkvlntr0
9-+pzP-wQL+0
9+l+-zppzpp0
9zP-zP-tR-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9-vL-+-+PzP0
9+p+-+-+-0
9+-+-tR-mK-0
9-+pzPP+-+0
xiiiiiiiiy
9+-+-+-+-0
25...Re6!
9-zP-+-zPPzP0
Somehow in my mind this position is
associated with Petrosian creation, exchange
9tR-vLQmKLsNR0
sacrifice has been always one of his
"trademarks". In my article I would like to
xiiiiiiiiy
give some fresh examples , connected with
9& e6!
exchange sacrifice.
Unbelievable after exchange sacrifice Black
follows up with calm developing move,
Hammer : Edouard, England 2014
since capturing central pawn doesn't really
work in view of 9...Be4?! 10.f3 Bd5 11.b3
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dc4 3.e4 b5!?
and White gets a clear edge and initiative.
A very rare move, which considered to be
10.Be2?!
pretty dubious, but Romain is one of the
Most probably critical continuation should
most advanced theoreticans and he comes up
be 10.f3 Nc6 11.Ne2! (In case of 11.Be3
with amazing new idea, that invloves
Bb4 12.Kf2 f5! Black obtains interesting
exchange sacrifice. I have to admit, that this
counterplay.) 11...Na5 12.Nc3! Bb4
seems to me one of the earliest possible
(12...Nb3? 13.Nb5 Na1 14.Bc4+ ) 13.Be3
exchange sacrifices I ever saw.
Ne7 14.Be2 Nb3 15.Rb1 Black
4.a4 c6 5.ab5 cb5 6.Nc3
compensation most hardly sufficient,
Black has no comfortable way to defend b5
although he still keeps definite activity after
pawn, while 6...b4 leads to almost lost
15...Ba5 16.0 0 Bc6 17.Qe1 0 0 18.Rd1 f5.
position after 7.Nb5.
10...Nf6 11.Nf3
6...a6!?
11.f3 allows Black to seize initiative by
Amazing exchange sacrifice, the whole
means of 11...Nc6 12.Be3 Bb4 13.Kf2 Na5.
concept resembles already well-known idea
11...Ne4 12.0 0 Qd5?!
in Chebanenko system 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3
FIDE Surveys  Boris Avrukh 1
Black has already achieved good
XIIIIIIIIY
compensation, but last move is serious
9-+-+-trk+0
inaccuracy. 12...Nc6 would allow Black
comfortable game.
9+-+-+-zpp0
13.Ne1?!
White missed nice 13.Ra7!, as mentoned by 9-+n+-vl-+0
Edouard in CBM 160. White rook move
9+p+-+-+-0
prevents Black from playing Nc6 and he is
ready to develop intiative by playing Ne5
9-+p+-+l+0
following by Bf3.
9+P+-+-+-0
13...Nc6 14.Nc2
Later on this position has been occured in
9-+N+RzPPzP0
another game, where White opted for 14.Be3
9+RvL-+-mK-0
Bd6 15.Bf3 0 0 16.g3 f5 and Black has got a
full compensation for the exchange,
xiiiiiiiiy
Genzling : Donchenko, Nancy 2014.
25.Kf1
14...Bd6?!
Just a panic, in his comments Edouard
Serious inaccuracy. 14...Be7 would be more
suggested a right way to defend White
accurate, A big difference to compare with
position: 25.f3 Bf5 26.Be3! (26.bc4? Nd4 +)
14...Bd6 is that Black able to castle right
26...Bd3 27.Rf2 Nb4 28.Nb4 Bb1 29.bc4
away 15.Bf3 0 0 etc.
bc4 30.Rf1 Bg6 would be slightly worse for
15.Bf3 Bb8
White, but should hold a draw without much
Black couldn't play 15...0 0? in view of
problems after 31.Nd5.
16.Ne3 Qd4 17.Be4+ .
25...c3
16.Re1 f5 17.Be4 fe4 18.Qg4 0 0 19.Qe4
An interesting alternative would have been
Qe4 20.Re4
25...Bf5!? 26.Be3 Nb4 as it was correctly
It's clear, that something wrong went for
mentioned by Romain, now after 27.Nb4
Black over last moves, but surprisingly
Bb1 28.bc4 bc4 29.Re1 Bg6 30.Nd5 Black
Black retains some activity.
will have 30...Bd3 31.Kg1 Bb2 with
20...e5! 21.de5?!
advantage.
This only helps Black, while after 21.d5!
26.Be3 Ra8 27.Bc5 Ra2 28.f3?
Ne7 22.Ne3 Black would face a difficult
Now White lost. 28.Re8 was the only way to
fight for the draw.
hold 28...Kf7 29.Rf8 Kg6 30.Rc1!
21...Be5 22.Rb1
28...Bf5 + 29.Rc1 Bd3 30.b4
Stronger would have been 22.Re1! Bf6
30.Kf2 Be2 31.Ke2 Na5 +]
23.Rd1, retaining better chances.
30...Bg5! 0:1.
22...Bf6 23.Re2?!
White slowly starts to lose control over
Steinberg : Arlinsky, Israel 2014
position. The prophylactic 23.Re6!? against
Bc8 was a better move.
This game has been played during last Israeli
23...Bc8!
Championship. White player was one of my
Black light-squared bishop is heading for
most talented students. I was following this
b1 h7 diagonal with a lot of power.
game online and his exchange sacrifice
24.b3
really shocked me. I remember myself
Trying to free the queenside. 24.Be3! was
checking the game a few times, in order to
the most precise defence (Edouard).
understand, how he managed to blunder
24...Bg4!
FIDE Surveys  Boris Avrukh 2
exchange at so early stage, however slowly I while Black counterplay is under serious
started to realize, that it might be sacrifice question.
with long-term compensation. 20...Ne7 21.f4 Nb6
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0 Black knight is hardly doing anything on b6,
0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0 0 9.h3 Na5 a better try would have been. 21...a5 22.Nf3
10.Bc2 Bb7 11.d4 Nc4 12.b3 Nb6 13.Nbd2 a4 (22...f6 23.f5 Ne5 24.g5 looks interesting
Nfd7 for White.) 23.ba4 Qc7!? trying to seize
Not the most popular line in Ruy Lopez , but counterplay on the queenside. (23...b4?!
still this position has been occured many 24.a3!).
times on practice. White comes up with new 22.Nf3 Ng6 23.Bb2
and agressive plan. Nice trick.
14.g4!? 23...f6
14.Nf1 has been played in most of the White f4 pawn is untouchable (23...Nf4
games. 24.Qd2 Ng6 25.Bg7 with winning attack.
14...ed4 15.cd4 c5 16.d5 Bf6 24.Qd2 Rc8 25.Rf1 b4 26.Nh5
Thematic idea for Black in this line. White slowly improves his position
17.Rb1 Nc8 18.Nf1 Bc3 regrouping his forces for g4 g5 break.
26...Rc7 27.Rf2 Rcf7 28.Rg2 Qd7 29.Rg3
XIIIIIIIIY
a5
9r+nwq-trk+0
XIIIIIIIIY
9+l+n+pzpp0
9-+-+-trk+0
9p+-zp-+-+0
9+l+q+rzpp0
9+pzpP+-+-0
9-sn-zp-zpn+0
9-+-+P+P+0
9zp-zpP+-+N0
9+Pvl-+N+P0
9-zp-+PzPP+0
9P+L+-zP-+0
9+P+-+NtRP0
9+RvLQtRNmK-0
9PvLLwQ-+-+0
xiiiiiiiiy
9+-+-+-mK-0
19.Ng3!?
xiiiiiiiiy
A surprising idea, White didn't get even a
pawn for exchange, but his play on the 30.g5!
kingisde is easy to develop, while Black will Decisive break through White dark-squared
have a hard time to find adequate bishop decides the game.
counterplay. I would rather expect another 30...f5 31.ef5?
version of exchange sacrifice. 19.Re3 b4 Missing 31.Bg7! Rg7 32.Nf6 Rf6 33.gf6+
20.Rc3 bc3 21.Qd3 a5 22.Qc3 f6, but maybe winning.
here it's much easier for Black to develop 31...Rf5 32.Bg7 Nd5 33.Bf8 Kf8 34.Nf6
counterplay on the queenside. Qe6 35.Bf5 Qf5 36.Qe1 Nf6 37.gf6 Qe4
19...Be1 20.Ne1 38.Qe4 Be4 39.Nd2 Bc2 40.Nc4 Kf7
A very serious investigation required in this 41.Nd6 Kf6 42.Rg5 Nf4 43.Rc5 Bb1
position in order to evaluate objectively 44.Ra5 Ne2 45.Kf2 Nc1 46.a3 Nb3 47.Rb5
White exchange sacrifice. One thing is very ba3 48.Rb3 a2 49.Ra3 Ke5 50.Nb5
clear, White play is much more simple, 1:0.
FIDE Surveys  Boris Avrukh 3
Aronian : Agdestein, Stavanger 2014 White shouldn't accept the sacrifice, accurate
31.Bd3 would retain balanced position.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.b3 31...ab4 32.Qb2 Bd5
Bb7 6.Bg2 Bb4 7.Bd2 a5 8.Nc3 0 0 9.0 0 Worthy of consideration 32...f5!?
d6 10.Qc2 Nbd7 11.Rfe1 Bc3 12.Bc3 Be4 33.cd5
13.Qb2 c6 33.ed5 Nb6 is even worse for White.
Maybe slightly passive, but very solid line 33...Nb6
for Black. Black has full control all over the board.
14.Rac1 h6 15.Bf1 b5 16.Bd2 bc4 17.bc4 34.Rbc1 Na4
Re8 18.Red1 Qc7 19.Qa3 c5 20.dc5 dc5 Again 34...f5 was an interesting alternative.
21.Ne1 35.Qd2 Nc3?!
With interesting play Aronian has managed This allows White to sacrifice exchange
to seize some pressure on Black position, back equalising the game. Here we have one
however he still remains very solid. of those examples where Black knight was
21...Bb7 22.f3 e5 23.e4 more valuable than White rook. Calm
After this move White can hardly hope to 35...Qf6! 36.Be2 g5! would keep a lot of
benefit from his bishop's pair, since positions pressure on White position.
is getting pretty closed. Stronger would have
XIIIIIIIIY
been 23.Rb1! e4 24.f4Û then White would
9r+-+-+k+0
keep some edge.
23...Nf8 24.Ng2
9+-+-+pzp-0
24.Nd3 Ne6 25.Kf2 Nd7.
24...Ne6 25.Ne3 Nd4 9-+-wq-+-zp0
Black has no problems with such a powerful
9+-zpPzp-+-0
knight on d4.
26.Nd5 Qd6 27.Kg2 Nd7 28.Rb1 Reb8
9-zp-snP+-+0
29.Kf2?! Bc6 30.Bc3
9+-sn-+PzP-0
XIIIIIIIIY
9P+-wQ-mK-zP0
9rtr-+-+k+0
9+-tRR+L+-0
9+-+n+pzp-0
xiiiiiiiiy
9-+lwq-+-zp0
36.Rc3 bc3 37.Qc3 Ra2 38.Rd2 Rd2
9zp-zpNzp-+-0
39.Qd2 Qb6 40.Bc4 g5 41.Kg2 1/2.
9-+PsnP+-+0
Avrukh : Sakaev, Belgrade 1999
9wQ-vL-+PzP-0
Finally I would like to pick one of the games
9P+-+-mK-zP0
from career, where I have managed to carry
out nice exchange sacrifice.
9+R+R+L+-0
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.b3
xiiiiiiiiy
Bb4 6.Bd2 Be7 7.Bg2 c6 8.Bc3 d5 9.Nbd2
30& Rb4!! Nbd7 10.Qc2 0 0 11.e4 Rc8 12.0 0 b5
Beautiful exchange sacrifice, which stops all This thematic move was like a novelty for
White ideas on the queenside. me during the game, although it's occured
31.Bb4? twice before. 12...c5 was the only move,
FIDE Surveys  Boris Avrukh 4
which I studied before. Objectively Black 16...Rb8 17.Bc3 and here 17.Qc3, with idea
last move probably dubious, as he almost Ba5 deserved attention.
forces White to go for exchange sacrifice, 17.Bc3 Ra8
that appears to be very promising. Black prepares to activate his passive knight
Black best idea should be 12...c5. Here is the via c7 square. Still premature 17...f6 18.ef6
old stem game: 13.ed5 ed5 14.Rfe1 Re8 Rf6 (18...Bf6? 19.Bh3Ä…) 19.Re1 g6 20.Ng5
15.Rad1 Qc7 16.Ba1 dc4 17.Nc4 Bb7 Ng7 21.h4 and e6 pawn is serious weakness.
(17...cd4 18.Nd4Û) 18.Nce5 cd4 19.Qc7 Rc7 18.Bd3 g6
20.Nd4 Ne5 21.Nb5 Rc5 22.Re5 Bg2 Probably more safe for Black would be
23.Kg2 Rc2=, Andrianov : Korolev, corr. 18...h6. Still White keeps promising position
1987. after 19.Nf1 Nc7 20.Ne3.
13.e5 Ne8 19.Re1 Ng7
Right square for the knight, where he also
XIIIIIIIIY
protects the e6 square, after coming f7 f6.
9-+rwqntrk+0
19...Nc7?! would allow White to seize
initiative easily with 20.h4!
9zp-+nvlpzpp0
20.a3
9l+p+p+-+0 My feeling was, that Black is well-prepared
for kingisde play, therefore I decided to start
9+p+pzP-+-0
with queenside action.
20...Qc7 21.b4 ab4 22.ab4 f6
9-+PzP-+-+0
Understandable decision to get some play. A
9+PvL-+NzP-0
passive defense 22...Rfb8 23.Nb3 Bd8
24.Na5 Qc8 25.h4 doesn't promise Black an
9P+QsN-zPLzP0
easy life.
9tR-+-+RmK-0
23.ef6 Bf6
Other recaptures don't promise Black a relief
xiiiiiiiiy
as well: 23...Rf6 24.Ng5! or 23...Nf6 24.Ne5
14.c5!
Nd7 25.Ng4! in both cases White has better
The only way to fight for advantage.
game.
Unfortunately I was not the first one, who
24.Nb3
invented this idea, but I have found it over
Heading for a5.
the board.
24...Rfe8?
14...b4
This natural move looks like almost decisive
Certainly if black not accept white's
mistake. Black is unable to get e6 e5
sacrifise, he will get a strategically lost
working, therefore his set-up appears to be
position.
very passive and White can easily continue
15.Bb4 Bf1 16.Bf1
to improve his position.
For the exchange White has got a nice space
24...Rf7 - Doubling rooks along f-file would
advantage and possibility to develop his play
have been Black best option. After 25.Re2
both on queenside and kingside.
Raf8 26.b5 cb5 27.Bb5 White retains better
16...a5
chances, but Black pretty much into the
A good move, otherwise White might have
game.
consider placing the bishop on a6 following
25.Na5
by advance of his queenside pawns, while
Now Black is in trouble.
Nc7 strongly met by Ba5.
25...Kf7
A previous game has been continued
FIDE Surveys  Boris Avrukh 5
Obviously doesn't work 25...e5 26.de5 Be5
XIIIIIIIIY
27.Ne5 Ne5 28.Re5 Re5 29.Be5 Qe5 30.Nc6
9r+r+-+-+0
Qf6 31.b5Ä….
26.Qa4 Rec8
9wq-+n+k+p0
26...Rac8! loses right away to 27.Ba6!+ .
9-+p+pvl-+0
XIIIIIIIIY
9sN-zPp+p+-0
9r+r+-+-+0
9QzP-zP-vL-+0
9+-wqn+ksnp0
9+-+-+NzP-0
9-+p+pvlp+0
9-+-+-zP-zP0
9sN-zPp+-+-0
9+-+-tR-mK-0
9QzP-zP-+-+0
xiiiiiiiiy
9+-vLL+NzP-0
30.Qd1!
9-+-+-zP-zP0
A decisive switch to the kingisde, Black is
unable to bring back his defensive forces
9+-+-tR-mK-0
from queenside.
xiiiiiiiiy
30...Nf8 31.Be5 Bd8
27.Bd2! 31...Ng6 32.Bf6 Kf6 33.h4!, just hopeless
Nice idea white bishop is heading for f4. for Black.
27...Nf5 32.Bd6
Again doesn't work 27...e5? 28.de5 Ne5 Freeing e5 square for the knight.
29.Ne5 Be5 30.Qc6!Ä…. 32...Ba5
28.Bf4 Qa7 32...Ng6 loses after 33.Ne5! Ne5 34.Qh5
Doesn't change much 28...Qd8 29.Bf5! ef5 Ng6 35.Qh7 Kf6 36.Be5; 32...Bf6 doesn't
(or 29...gf5 30.Qd1 and Black cannot defend help as well: 33.Bf8 Rf8 34.Ne5 Be5
against two threats Nb7 d6 and Ng5 35.Nc6+ .
following up by Qh5 with crushing attack.) 33.ba5
30.Qb3! and again Black cannot defend Black is absolutely hopeless against White
against both Nb7 and Nc6 following up by dark squares invasion.
Qd5. 33...Qa5 34.Qc1! Qa3 35.Ne5
29.Bf5 Black resighned in view of 35.Ne5 Kg8
Not a bad idea, but immediate 29.Qd1 would (35...Ke8 36.Qh6) 36.Qg5 with mate.
have been much stronger. 1:0.
29...gf5?
This recapture significantly eases White
task, however after correct 29...ef5 30.Bg5
Qc7 31.Kg2! White would slowly improve
his position, while Black is pretty much tied.
White shouldn't rush with 31.Bf6 Kf6
32.Ne5 Ne5 33.de5 Kg7 34.e6 Qe7! and
Black holds.
FIDE Surveys  Boris Avrukh 6