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An All-Purpose Black Defence

Starting this month, I want to suggest an all-purpose Black defence to any White opening move – and it won’t involve too much theory or the memorization of lengthy variations.  Prompted by new research that suggests a key line of the Caro-Kann Defence has been revived with some fresh ideas for Black, the key move of the system is ...c6 and the basic defences are the Bronstein Larsen variation of the Caro-Kann and the Slav Defence with an early ... a6.  I kick off with an impressive Black win in the Caro-Kann by Bent Larsen himself showing how to make maximum use of the open g-file that results from the Bronstein-Larsen variation.

Boris Spassky vs Bent Larsen
Buenos Aires 1979

1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 Nc3 dxe4 4 Nxe4 Nf6 5 Nxf6+

If 5 Ng3 then 5 ... g6 is a good way for Black to proceed.

5 ... gxf6 6 Be2 Bf5

6 ... Rg8 7 Bf3 e5 was unclear in the game Timman – Bellon, Amsterdam 1978.

7 Nf3 Qc7 8 0-0 e6 9 c4 Nd7 10 d5

10 Be3 is worth consideration.

10 ... 0-0-0 11 Be3

Here 11 Nd4 at once is more testing for Black.

11 ... c5 12 b4 Rg8

Black prepares to implement the g-file counterattack that is the hallmark of his counterplay in this variation.

13 bxc5

13 Kh1 is a possibility.

13 ... Bxc5 14 Nd4 Bh3 15 g3

If 15 Bf3 then 15 ... Ne5.  Instead Spassky commits himself to a sacrifice of rook for bishop.

15 ... Bxf1 16 Bxf1

16 Qxf1 might be better.  Now Black’s attack moves quickly.

16 ... Ne5 17 Rb1 Ng4 18 Bc1 h5 19 Rb3 h4 20 Ba3 hxg3 21 hxg3 f5 22 Bxc5 Qxc5 23 Rb5 Qd6 24 Qb3 f4 25 Rxb7 fxg3 26 Rxa7 gxf2+ 27 Kg2 Qh2+ 28 Kf3 Qh1+

29 Kg3 Nf6+

Larsen has conducted the attack with great élan but he now overlooks the most effective continuation, which is: 29... Ne3+ 30.Kxf2 Qxf1+ 31.Kxe3 Rg3+ or 30.Kf4 Rg4+ and would prompt immediate resignation.  [Editor:  even stronger still is Fritz's suggestion: 29...Nh2+ 30.Kf4 (30.Kxf2 Qxf1+ leads directly to mate) 30...Rg4+ 31.Ke3 (31.Ke5 Qe4+ 32.Kf6 Rf4+ and mate-in-two) 31...Nxf1+ and Black's position is overwhelming.]

30 Kxf2 Qh4+ 31 Ke2 Qe4+ 32 Qe3 Qxe3+ 33 Kxe3 Rg3+ 34 Kd2 exd5 35 Nf5 Kb8

Not 35 ... Rf3 36 Ne7+

36 Rxf7 dxc4+ 37 Kc2 Rf3 38 Ng3 Rf2+ 39 Be2 Rg8 White resigns

One of the most famous black victories in the Bronstein-Larsen variation.  A great win by Larsen against a great opponent, marred only slightly by the blind spot on move 29.

Now lets take a look at the fashionable line of the Slav defence involving ... c6 as being a universal opening solution for Black.  I will be taking a look at the Slav Defence with ... a6, an old idea that has been revived recently and is proving popular with today’s leading players.

The basic position arises after:

1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Nf3

and now the key move is...

4 ... a6!?

This prepares ... b7-b5 while keeping other options open.

5 e3 g6 6 Be2 Bg7 7 0-0 0-0 8 b3 Bg4

This solves the problem of the development of Black’s queen’s bishop.  The following is a typical game for the variation and we join it after Black’s 8th move:

Miso Cebalo vs Raymond Keene
World Student Team Championship
Harrachov 1967

9 h3 Bxf3 10 Bxf3 e6 11 Qc2 Nbd7 12 Ba3 Re8 13 Rad1 Qc7 14 Rc1 Rac8 15 Qb1 Qb8 16 e4

This is a thematic break but in this case probably premature since Black can immediately strike back.

16 ... e5 17 exd5 exd4 18 Ne4 Nxe4 19 Bxe4 c5 20 Rfe1 a5 21.Rcd1 Bh6 22 Bb2 Qd6 23 Bd3 Ne5 24 a3 Re7 25 Bf1 Rce8 26 b4 b6 27 bxc5 bxc5 28 a4 Qb8 29 Qa1

29...Qd6

29 ... Bd2 is a remarkable possibility, as the following are feasible:

a) After 30 Rxd2 Black wins beautifully with 30 ... Nf3+ 31 gxf3 Rxe1 32 Qa2 Rxf1+ 33 Kxf1 Qh2 and mate follows on h1.

b) After 30 Rxe5 Black wins with 30 ... Rxe5 31 Bxd4 cxd4 32 Rxd2 Re1 33 Rd1 Qb4.

c) 30 Re2 Nf3+ 31 gxf3 Rxe2 is also very good for Black.

d) 30 Re4 is the only move when White may be able to hang on.

30 Ba3 Qc7 31 Kh1 d3

Black’s passed d-pawn now assumes major significance.  White cannot now play 32 Bxd3 as after 32 ... Nxd3 33 Rxe7 Nxf2+ 34 Kg1 Nxh3+, his position falls apart.

32 Qc3 d2 33 Re2 Ng4 34 hxg4 Rxe2 35 Bb2 R2e5 36 g3 f6 37 Kg2 Qe7 38 Qxa5 Re1 39 Rxd2 Qe4+ 40 f3 Bxd2 White resigns

To my astonishment, after resigning my opponent screwed up his scoresheet and threw it on the floor.

Flank openings also permit the use of ... c6 as a universal antidote.  I have already analysed the Bronstein-Larsen variation of the Caro-Kann as well as the Modern Slav with an early ... a6.  Now I give a model game where ... c6 is deployed against White’s use of the double-fianchetto:

Daniel King vs Ray Keene
London 1982

1 Nf3 Nf6 2 g3 d5 3 Bg2 c6 4 d3 Bg4

White is now often tempted to chase the bishop, which is a double-edged weapon.  White’s kingside pawns may become a bludgeon or a weakness.

5 Nbd2 Nbd7 6 0-0 e5 7 e4 Bd6 8 Re1 0-0 9 h3 Bh5

White’s next manoeuvre seeks also to mobilise his queen’s bishop in fianchetto, but it is rather time consuming and Black seizes the opportunity to expand in the centre and on the queen’s flank.

10 b3 Re8 11 Bb2 d4

Locks the white queen’s bishop out of play for some time to come.

12 a3 c5 13 Nf1 b5

Black has won the queenside skirmish, so White turns his attention to the other wing.  He seeks to regain the initiative by hounding the black queen’s bishop.

14 g4 Bg6 15 Ng3 Nf8 16 Bc1 Ne6

Black prepares to fasten onto the debility of f4 in the wake of White’s bold advance.

17 Nf5 Bc7 18 Bd2 Nd7 19 h4 h5

A key move.  White’s pawns must not be allowed to become a mobile juggernaut.

20 Bh3 hxg4 21 Bxg4 Nf4 22 Ng5 Nf8

It appears that White is massing his forces for a direct attack against the black king, while Black is hoping to block the enemy efforts there, whilst expanding on the queenside.  Now, though, a sudden switch of fronts takes place.

23 a4 N8e6

White lunges at Black’s queenside, but Black ignores it.

24 axb5 Nxg5 25 hxg5 Qxg5 26 Ng3 Qh4 27 Bd7

27...Re6!!

The key move in Black’s counter-attack.  By sacrificing rook for bishop, Black gains control of the f-file as a future avenue of aggression and simultaneously annihilates White’s command of the kingside light squares, which derives solely from the existence of his light squared bishop.

28 Bxe6 fxe6

White now tries to reduce Black’s attacking force - shooting down one of the vultures hovering ominously around his king.

29 Bxf4 exf4 30 Nh1 Bh5 31 f3 Rf8 32 Rf1 Rf6

However, the concentration of Black’s energy now proves too powerful. White’s defences crumble.

33 Rf2 Rh6

Lining up for the sacrificial kill.  White overlooks the finish, but by now there was little he could do.

34 Qe2

And Black announced mate in three.

34 ... Qxh1+ 35 Kxh1 Bxf3+ 36 Kg1 Rh1 checkmate

I revert now to a highly critical line of the Bronstein-Larsen Caro-Kann with further discussion of my all-purpose defence to any White opening based on the black move ... c6.

The critical line-INDEED OFTEN THOUGHT TO BE A REFUTATION- has long been considered the semi-waiting move 6.c3 that avoids the pin ... Bg4 and prepares to fianchetto White’s king’s bishop.  This manoeuvre strengthens White’s kingside and aims the white bishop at Black’s queenside, discouraging ...0-0-0 – an integral part of Black’s plan.  However, a new finesse (revealed in the note to move nine of this game) breathes fresh energy into the black position.

Nigel Short vs Yasser Seirawan
Monte Carlo Rapidplay 1993

1 e4 c6 2 Nc3 d5 3 Nf3 dxe4 4 Nxe4 Nf6 5 Nxf6+ gxf6 6 d4 Bf5 7 c3 Nd7 8 g3 Qa5 9 Bg2

The critical variation here is 9 Qe2 Bg4! 10 Bg2 0-0-0 11 h3 Bh5 12 0-0 e5 when Black plans ... Bd6.  This way I believe Black can fight for the initiative and can obtain a fully viable middlegame.  Without this resource I think Black faces a possibly insurmountable uphill task!

9 ... Qb5

Now Black has easy play.  His control of the key f1-a6 diagonal is very annoying for White - he cannot castle and by offering the exchange of queens all attacking possibilities are drained from his position.

10 a4 Qd3 11 Qxd3 Bxd3 12 Be3 a5 13 0-0-0 Be4 14 Nh4 Bxg2 15 Nxg2 Nb6 16 b3 Nd5 17 Bd2 e6 18 Kc2 0-0-0

Black stands perfectly well in this endgame.

19 Ne1 h5 20 h4 Bh6 21 Nd3 Bxd2 22 Rxd2 Kc7 23 Rhd1 Ne7 24 Ne1 Nf5 25 Ng2 e5 26 dxe5 Rxd2+ 27 Rxd2 fxe5 28 Rd3 Nd6 29 Re3 Re8 30 Ne1 f6 31 Nd3 b6 32 Re2 Kd7 33 Nb2 Ke6 34 Nd3 Kf5

The king is a strong piece in the endgame.  Here, the black king has spotted a weakness in White’s kingside pawn structure.

35 Re3 Kg4 36 Kd1 e4 37 Nf4 Nf5 38 Re2 Nxh4

Thanks to his active king, Black has won a pawn and the rest of the game is a mopping-up operation.

39 Rd2 Nf5 40 Ng2 e3 41 Re2 exf2 42 Rxf2 Re5 43 Ne1 Kxg3 44 Rg2+ Kf4 45 Rg6 Re6 46 Kd2 h4 47 Nd3+ Kf3 48 Ne1+ Kf2 49 Nd3+ Kf1 50 Nf4 Rd6+ 51 Kc1 Kf2 52 Nh3+ Kf3 53 Rg1 Ng3 54 Kc2 f5 55 Re1 Ne4 56 Ng1+ White resigns

The Slav Defence I have been suggesting in this column was put to a severe but instructive test recently in the M-Tel Masters in Sofia, Bulgaria – one of the strongest tournaments of the year.  Here is a key game between the FIDE world champion and the resurgent Gata Kamsky – the American grandmaster who has come back to chess after an extensive sabbatical.

Veselin Topalov vs Gata Kamsky
M-Tel Masters, Sofia 2006

1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 Nf3 Nf6 4 Nc3 a6

As recommended above.

5 c5

This blockade is one of the most ambitious continuations.  After 5.c5 the queen side position usually remains blocked for a long while, since the pawn break ... b6 would leave the c5-square weak.

5...Nbd7

Nowadays, this is considered to be the most flexible move, but I would recommend the immediate 5 … g6.  For example: 6 Bf4 Bg7 7 h3 0-0 8 e3 Nbd7 9 Bd3 Ne8 10 Rc1 f6 11 e4 e5 12 dxe5 Nxc5 13 exd5 fxe5 14 Be3 Nxd3+ 15 Qxd3 e4 16 Qxe4 Nf6 17 Qc4 Nxd5 18 Nxd5 Be6 19 0-0 Bxd5 with a huge advantage for Black, Kasparov - Comp Chess Genius 3.0, Cologne 1995.

6 Bf4 Nh5 7 Bd2 Nhf6 8 Rc1 g6 9 h3 Qc7 10 g3 Bg7

Topalov knew from his own experience that 10 ... e5 is risky, e.g. 11 Nxe5 Nxe5 12 Bf4!? Nfd7 13 e4 g5 14 Bxg5 Ng6 15 exd5 Bg7 16 Qe2+ Kf8 17 d6 Qa5 18 Be3 with three pawns for the sacrificed knight and considerable spatial advantage for White, Vallejo - Topalov, Monte Carlo 2006.

11 Bf4 Qd8 12 Bg2 Nh5 13 Bg5 h6 14 Bd2 0-0 15 e4 dxe4 16 Nxe4 Nhf6 17 Nc3 Re8 18 0-0 Nf8 19 Qb3! Ne6 20 Be3 Nc7 21 Ne5 Nfd5 22 Nxd5 Nxd5 23 Bd2

In spite of Black’s control of d5, White exerts strong pressure and Black cannot easily develop his queenside.

23 ... Bxe5

This is an obvious concession, but the generally desirable 23 ...Rb8? – preparing ...Be6 – is impossible in view of 24.Nxc6.

24 dxe5 h5 25 Rfe1 Qc7 26 e6!

White gives up material to split Black’s defensive resources and isolate his king.  This type of sacrifice has been known since Benko-Keres, Piatigorsky Cup 1963, in which it was carried out by Black.

26 ... Bxe6 27 Rxe6 fxe6 28 Re1

The lack of communication between Black’s wings leaves the king in a dangerous situation.

28 ... Qd7 29 Qd3 Kh7 30 Re5 Nf6 31 Qe3 Kg7 32 Be4 Kf7 33 Bc2 Rad8

Kamsky intends to solve his problems by centralising his major pieces.  However, the weakness of his kingside means this does not help.  A computer might have played something ugly such as 33 ... Rg8 followed by ... Rg7, although White’s compensation remains apparent.

34 Qh6 Rg8 35 Ba5 Qd4 36 Bc3 Qc4 37 Bb3 Qd3 38 Bxe6+ Ke8 39 Kg2 Rf8 40 Qg7 Rd5 41 Bf5 Rf7 42 Rxe7+! Black resigns

A spectacular coup, utterly dislocating Black’s rickety defences.  Black is soon mated and therefore resigned.  A highly typical White game by the energetic Topalov.  Although his treatment tests the ... a6 Slav, it by no means refutes it.

My conclusion is that the Slav, the Caro Kann and anti flank openings systems based on ...c6 are fully viable, strategically reliable and easy to learn the key sharp variations for White.  As shown in Short v Seirawan and Topalov v Kamsky, both offer Black plenty of counterplay!  I would be interested to hear of viewers games and experiences with these lines.

- Ray Keene

Keene On Chess Index

Gothic Chess

As we sit down to play chess, probably very few of you, if any at all, reflect on the fact that chess was not always the "packaged game" that it is today.  Chess has already undergone many changes over the centuries!  Literature often ascribes the game’s origin to a man named Sissa, a Brahman Indian in the court of Rajah Balhait.  Sissa called the game chaturanga meaning “army composed of four members”.  When Alexander the Great invaded India in 326 b.c., the Indian Army featured the same four components that had already appeared in the game of chaturanga, namely: chariots, foot soldiers, horses, and elephants.  These early incarnations of the game (with two-player and four-player variations, each with or without dice) bore little resemblance to the 64-square board of recent times.

Many cultures have their own preferred board game, which can trace its origins back to either chataranga or one of its very early offshoots.  In essence, what becomes ‘the variant’ or what remains the mainstream game over the course of time is highly subjective and varies from culture to culture.  Given that this is the case, there is no harm in at least asking the question:

“Is the current configuration of the chessboard the one that results in the most satisfying game?”

This must have been on the mind of the great José Capablanca.  With his astonishing tournament record you have to wonder: "Why would he want to change the game?"  He foresaw that draws among the chess elite would become very commonplace...Read More!
 

Visit the Gothic Chess Federation

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