Chessville Reviews - New In Chess Yearbook 75 - Edited by Genna Sosonko

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New In Chess Yearbook 75
(Anniversary Issue 2005)
Reviewed By Prof. Nagesh Havanur

Edited by Genna Sosonko

Published 4 times a year

by New In Chess

Softback, 255 pages

Figurine Algebraic Notation

Since its inception in 1984 the NIC Yearbook has carved a special niche in the hearts of chess aficionados. This is the only Yearbook that appears four times a year* and every issue is eagerly lapped up by professionals and patzers alike. In each issue there are about 33 Opening Surveys, offering the cutting edge of opening theory. Then there is the Forum, the Yearbook’s Hall of Fame where players from all over the world engage one another in lively discussion of opening ideas.

The present Anniversary issue begins with Sosonko’s rich tribute to Kasparov’s opening genius. It also carries an article on the Meran Defence, Garry’s swansong in Linares, by his former trainer Alexander Nikitin.

Kasimzhdanov – Kasparov Linares 2005
Semi-Slav Defence, Meran Variation(D48)

( Notes based on Kasparov's analysis in NIC 3/2005 and Niktin's article in NIC Yearbook 75.)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Bd3 Bb7 9.0-0 a6 10.e4 c5

According to general belief this variation was first played in Meran 1924, by Rubinstein against Grünfeld. But the line had been played before. It was Rubinstein’s classic treatment in this tournament that earned its reputation.

11.d5 c4 12.dxe6 fxe6 13.Bc2 Qc7 14.Nd4

The other variation 14.Ng5 is nowadays considered satisfactory for Black. After 14... 14...Nc5 15.e5 Qxe5 (15...Qc6?! 16.f3 Nfd7 17.Nxh7! Nxe5 18.Nxf8 Rxf8 19.Qd4 Ncd3 20.Ne4±) 16.Re1 Qd6 17.Qxd6 Bxd6 18.Be3 0-0 19.Rad1 Be7 20.Bxc5 Bxc5 21.Nxe6 Rfc8 Black should be able to retain the balance of the position. 22.Nxc5 Rxc5 23.Re7 Rb8 =

14...Nc5 15.Be3 e5!

Not 15...0-0-0?! 16.Qe2 e5 17.Ndxb5! axb5 18.Nxb5 Qf7 19.Rfc1 threatening 20.b3 would lead to a debacle for Black. The game Graf-Bagaturov, Kavala 1997, continued: 19...Ba6 20.b4 Bxb5 21.bxc5 Bc6 22.Rab1‚ and White soon won. (1-0, 30 moves)

16.Nf3

The variation 16.Nf5 is innocuous. Indeed, after 16...Ncxe4 17.Nxe4 Nxe4 (17...Bxe4? 18.Bxe4 Nxe4 19.Qd5!+-) 18.a4 Rd8 19.Qe2 Qc6 20.axb5 axb5 21.Ra7 Rd7 it is White who has to worry about equality.

16...Be7

Not 16...Ncxe4? 17.Nxe4 Nxe4 18.Re1 Bd6 19.Bxe4 Bxe4 20.Ng5 Bd3 21.Qh5+ g6 22.Qf3 and White has the initiative.

17.Ng5

17...0-0! 18.Bxc5 Bxc5 19.Ne6 Qb6 20.Nxf8 Rxf8

With terrific pressure on the f-file.

For the rest of the game and further analysis, see our Annotated Games section.

Garry’s brilliance in openings is emulated by three other players in this Yearbook. Ivanchuk, Anand and Judit Polgar. Amazingly, Ivanchuk has come up with innovations on both sides of the board in the Sicilian Moscow Variation (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+). It is for limitations of space that I am only presenting the other cut and thrust battle between Judit Polgar and Anand.

J. Polgar –V. Anand Sofia 2005
Sicilian Taimanov Variation (B46)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6 5.Nc3 a6

Here Kick Langweg, the author, comments: ''With 5..a6 Black players try at least temporarily to postpone the usual move 5...Qc7 to decide on the position of the Queen at a later stage. Thus, in many Scheveningen lines the Queen can be transferred to b8 in one move, reinforcing Black's hold on e5 as well as supporting the pawn push b7-b5-b4."

Very interesting. But should one agree? In principle it makes sense to await the placement of White's pieces before determining the position of the Queen.

The problem is with the idea of moving the Queen to b8 in one move. In that event the Rook on a8 would be shut out of c-file, its usual field of action.

Otherwise 5... a6 is a useful move preventing Nb5 by White if Black wishes to place the Queen on c7.

6.Nxc6

Curiously enough, this move does not lose a tempo and enables a simple and quick development of his pieces. Besides, Black's pawn position on the queenside is disabled and White can prepare for a central breakthrough with e5. Black's only compensation seems to be the availability of the semi-open c-file for his Rook and the possibility of ...d5 at an opportune moment.

6...bxc6 7.Bd3 d5 8.0-0 Nf6 9.Re1 Be7

The natural move 9...Bb7 is bad on account of 10.e5 Nd7 11.Na4 c5 12.c4 d4±

10.e5 Nd7 11.Qg4 g6 12.Bh6 Rb8! 13.Qh3 Rb4

13...Rxb2!? 14.Bg7 Rg8 15.Qxh7 Rxg7 16.Qxg7 Bb4 leads to unfathomable complications. (Martinez-Lebredo,Cuba 1990)

14.Bg7

14...Rg8!? TN

The continuation 14...Rh4!? 15.Qg3 Rg8 16.Bf6 Bxf6 17.exf6 g5 18.Qd6 Bb7 led to a draw in Alexeev-Navara, Lausanne 2004. This line needs more practical tests.

15.Qxh7 Rxg7 16.Qxg7 Bf8 17.Qg8 Qg5 18.g3

18.Re3!? deserves attention according to Anand.

18...Nxe5

18...Rh4? is too clever by half.

Analysis Diagram: after 18...Rh4?

19.Bxg6! fxg6 20.Qxe6+ threatening f4 wins.

19.f4 Nf3+ 20.Kf2 Qh5

21.Bxg6!

Not 21.Be2? Qxh2+ 22.Kxf3 e5 -+

21...fxg6 22.Rxe6+ Bxe6 23.Qxe6+ Be7

And the game was drawn after many vicissitudes.

24.Qxc6+ Kf8 25.Qa8+ Kg7 26.Qxd5 Nxh2 27.Qxh5 gxh5 28.Rh1 Ng4+ 29.Kf3 Nf6 30.b3 Rb6 31.Ne4 Nxe4 32.Kxe4 Kg6 33.c4 Re6+ 34.Kf3 Rd6 35.Re1 Rd3+ 36.Kg2 Bf6 37.Re6 a5 38.Ra6 Kf5 39.c5 Bd4 40.Rd6 Ke4 41.c6 Rc3 42.Kh3 Bf2 43.Rg6 Bb6 44.Kh4 Rc5 45.Rd6 Bc7 46.Rd7 Rxc6 47.Kxh5 Bd6 48.Kg5 Ba3 49.Ra7 Rc5+ 50.Kg6 Bb4 51.Ra6 Rc3 52.Re6+ Kf3 53.f5 Rc2 54.f6 Rxa2 55.f7 Kxg3 56.Kg7 Rf2 57.Rg6+ Kh3 58.Rh6+ Kg2 59.Rh5 Rf3 60.Rg5+ Kf2 61.Kg8 Rg3 62.Rxg3 Kxg3 63.f8Q Bxf8 64.Kxf8 Kf4 65.Ke7 Ke5 66.Kd7 Kd5 67.Kc7 Kc5 68.Kb7 Kb4 69.Ka6 a4 70.bxa4 Kxa4 ½-½

Anand offers some exciting post-mortem analysis here with the candidate move 23...Kd8:

24.Qxc6 Rxb2 (suggested by Seirawan) 25.Rc1! White eliminates counter play by the Black Rook before he resumes attack. 25...Nxh2 26.Kg2 Ng4 27.Nxd5 Ba3! This move is from Anand's silicon friend. The Bishop guards the a3-f8 diagonal and prevents invasion on d6 and e7 squares. 28.Qc7+ Ke8 29.Re1+ Kf8. It was for this contingency that the Bishop had left his abode for the Monarch. 30.Qd8+ Kg7 31.Re7+ Bxe7 32.Qxe7+ Kh6 33.Qf8+ Kh7 34.Qf7+ =

Apart from Sicilian and Semi-Slav, the Yearbook offers surveys on several other openings like the French, Pirc, Ruy Lopez, QGD and Nimzo-Indian etc. Among the lot, the Pirc Defence seems to be undergoing a serious crisis on account of a number of promising continuations found by the Yearbook contributors.

The Book Reviews column deserves a special mention. GM Tiviakov, the guest columnist, has raised a hornet’s nest with his sharp criticism of Edward Dearing’s book Play The Sicilian Dragon (Gambit 2005). I understand that Dearing has exercised his right to defend his work as the author. Watch this space for more on this debate.

Glenn Flear, the regular reviewer, deals with the following titles:

   1) The Spanish Exchange Variation by Stefan Kindermann (Olms 2005)
   2) Ideas Behind Modern Chess Openings : Black by Gary Lane (Batsford 2005)
   3) Latest Trends In The Semi-Slav: Anti-Meran by Konstantin Sakaev and Semko Semkov (Chess Stars 2005)

In his view Kindermann's work is unsatisfactory and Lane's effort is rather inadequate. It is only the title on the Semi-Slav by Sakaev and Semkov that earns his approval as an authoritative work. While commending their effort Flear lays three fundamental standards for authors of repertoire books:

They should pick out the critical lines.

They should analyze beyond what is known.

They should explain their judgment.

Let us say Amen to that.

The Forum continues to delight with sparks of discoveries by readers all over the world. The following is a striking example:

Two Knights’ Defence [C55]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.Ng5!? d5 6.exd5 Ne5!?

This move was considered bad on account of 7.Qe2 forcing 7...Qe7 obstructing Black's Bishop. But why not 7...Bb4 ?After 8.c3 two pieces of Black are attacked. Maarten de Zeeuw offers an elegant demonstration to show that it is White who should tread carefully to reach a draw.

7.Qe2 Bb4+ 8.c3 Qe7

The position is a minefield for White.

Consider the following variations:

9.Bb3? Bg4 10.f3 d3 11.Qe3 Bc5 -+

9.cxb4? d3 10.Qe3 Nxc4 11.Qxe7+ Kxe7 Black has the upper hand on account of the menacing pawn on d3.

9.0-0? dxc3 10.Bb5+ Kf8! 11.bxc3 Bd6 12.c4 a6! First, the defender of the c4 pawn needs to be driven out. 13.Ba4 Bg4 14.f3? Nxf3+ -+ In trying to save the c4-pawn, White loses the Queen.

So White should play 9.Bb5+! After 9...c6 10.dxc6 bxc6 11.f4 cxb5 12.fxe5 d3 13.Qxd3 Qxe5+ he manages to reach a level position.