Selected Nimzo Games

The 4.f3 c5 5.d5 b5 6.e4 0-0(Diagram) was examined in YB121 by Olthof.

After 6..0-0

Feature game

Braun-Hambleton

After 21..Bb5(Diagram)

It looks like Black has active piece pressure on the pawn center while White is yet to complete development. However looks can be deceiving.

After 21..Bb5

Some Positions from Ch8 Passed and Furious

Position 1: Seres-Kiss

TCh-HUN 2016-17

White to Play

White to play

Position 2: Nguyen Huynh Minh-Szabo,G

HUN-chT 2015-16

White to Play

White to play

Position 3:  Rusev-Skoberne

Baku ol (Men) 42nd

Black to Play

There is a mistake in the book on move 2 of the proposed solution.

Black to play

No news on the RR groups which is alarmingly late. No dedicated website for the Budapest Open group of events which is quite alarming considered the first class site of prior years.

Starting Rank

U1700  Starting Rank

Some Benoni Games

Keeping up with Petrov. The Benoni is quite popular but now Petrov’s nice book is getting a bit dated.

Quality Chess 2013

Game 1: Jianu-Kovacevic

g3 Benoni 9..Re8(A62)

10th Arad Open 2017

After 24..Re7(Diagram)

White is better with an usual kingside pawn arrangement. But how should he proceed?

After 24..Re7

Game 2: Oliva-Cuenca Jimenez

g3 Benoni 11.Bf4 Ne4

TCh-ESP Div 1 2017

After 17..Bf8(Diagram)

Black got greedy and took the b-pawn earlier in the. The result was a serious lag in development.

How should White continue?

After 17..Bf8

This week’s TWIC issue 1188 is now available

King’s Indian Games

Keeping up with Kotronias.

Game 1: Leniart-Mihok,O

Smyslov Bg5(E60)

After 23..Rd8(Diagram)

Is the Nd6 in trouble or not?

After 23..Rd8

Game 2: Nabaty-Zeng

Classical 5.Bd3(E90)

Riga Tech Open A 2017

After 28.Ne2(Diagram)

Black did not follow the Kotronias recommendation from Vol5 in his series but reached a satisfactory position after closing the centre.

Black has no traditionally passive Bg7 and has the more active minor pieces.

What do you suggest for Black?

After 28.Ne2

PS: Following Vol5 of ch14 of Kotronias 5.Bd3 main line gets you to this position, if you want to learn 35 moves to be a pawn down in a rook endgame. Well it is equal at least.

After 35..h5 the final position of ch14 vol5 Kotronias on the KID

Selected Open Games

Game 1: Wan Yunguo-Neiksans

Kislik Variation of the Zaitsev(C92) 14..Bf6

Riga Tech Open A 2017

After 14..Bf6(Diagram)

The Kislik Variation(named after Budapest based IM Erik Kislik is explained in depth in his article from YB115)

After 14..Bf6

After 36.h4(Diagram)

White has a very loose kingside. How to proceed though?

After 36.h4

IM Kislik(right) from his FB page

Spanish Games from TWIC 1147

Game 1: Yu Yangyi-Tan Zhongyi

Anti-Marshall 8.a4 b4

Huocheng Xinjiang Rapid

After 23..cd(Diagram)

The endgame play had interesting moments despite the fast time control.

After 23..cd

Game 2: Leko-Morozevich

Smyslov Variation(C92)

50th Biel GM 2017

Leko won after being very persistent. How should Black defend against the two extra pawns?

After 52.Kf3

A modest start to the process of learning more about the King’s Indian.

Sliwa-Geller

g3 King’s Indian

Budapest 1952(8)

White is usually not so generous with the centre and would normally play e2-e4 to prevent Black from taking over with ..e4 etc.

After 14.Na4(Diagram)

Black has a ideal pawn chain in the center and a typical way to attack the kingside is ..h5-h4 etc.

Is there something even better?

After 14.Na4

The Budapest Open starting soon. In previous years the tournament had a nice dedicated tournament website but not sure what happened this year.

See Hungarian Federation for more info on the tournament.

Starting Rank

U1700-Starting rank