Andrew Martin
Play the
Barry Attack
www.everymanchess.com
First published in 2022 by Gloucester Publishers Limited, London.
Copyright © 2022 Andrew Martin
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About the Author
Andrew Martin is a FIDE Senior Trainer and International Master. He teaches in several
schools, is an experienced chess writer and has produced numerous chess DVDs.
Also by the Author:
Starting Out: The Sicilian Dragon
First Steps: The Caro-Kann Defence
First Steps: The Queen’s Gambit
First Steps: The King’s Indian Defence
Play the Budapest Gambit
Contents
About the Author
Introduction
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
4
6
A Barry Timeline
The Tarzan Attack
The Modern 5.Nb5
The Original Barry Attack
Other Fifth Moves for White
4...c6 and Others
Transposition to a Pirc
8
43
64
81
118
129
139
Afterword
Index of Variations
Index of Complete Games
163
164
167
Introduction
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4
We can call this the main line move,
although 5.Nb5 is catching up and may well
surpass 5.e3 as White’s best try before very
long. There are other ideas too, such as
5.Qd2 and 5.h3, so there is plenty of choice
for White already.
5...0-0 6.Be2 Bg4 7.Ne5 Bxe2 8.Qxe2 c6
Black has chosen a solid and rather
unambitious approach. This is a blitz game,
and he is playing Magnus, but we will learn
that an aggressive attitude is important if
Black wants to counter the Barry
successfully.
9.h4! h5 10.g4
The Barry Attack was named after an
offhand remark by George Hodgson, the late
father of GM Julian Hodgson:
“Just give him some Barry!”
In other words, tell him what he wants to
hear to get rid of him. Thus, in the chess
world, Barry is slang for a bluff, BS, or
rubbish. Make of that what you will.
Queen’s pawn systems are incredibly
popular with players of all strengths, shapes,
sexes and sizes. They usually offer solidity
and a variety of set plans which are easy to
learn. Some even provide the opportunity of
direct attack, as does the Barry.
Game 1
M.Carlsen-A.Salem
Internet (blitz) 2017
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4
Not quite a London System and not quite
a Veresov. Something in between. Does the
position of the knight on c3 hinder or help
the White cause? Back in the 1980s I
remember that everyone had a hard time
accepting that this idea could give Black
problems, but the results were fantastic for
White.
In this brief introduction, we will note that
even Magnus Carlsen has been tempted to
play this unusual opening.
4...Bg7 5.e3
This is a throwback to the 1980s, where
there was a queue of black players around
the block waiting to be mated by White’s
crude kingside pawn advance.
10...Nbd7 11.f3 e6 12.0-0-0 Qe7 13.Rdg1
Even though White has set up what looks
like an ideal attacking platform, it is still not
so easy to break through.
13...hxg4 14.fxg4 Nxe5 15.Bxe5 Nd7
6
worthwhile looking at the different move
orders White can use to get to the Barry
Attack, or not.
The traditional move order goes 1.d4 Nf6
2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4. In this move order,
after 3...Bg7 White must be prepared to play
a Pirc and after 3...c5 we have a surprise
waiting in store for Black which you will find
in the final chapter.
15...Ne4 was an alternative try, but tough
decisions are having to be made at speed:
16.Nxe4 Bxe5 17.dxe5 dxe4 18.g5 Kg7
19.Qg2 Qc5!. This would be the point,
intending 20.Qxe4 Qd5, but 20.Qg3! Rad8
21.h5 seems more dangerous, when the
white attack persists.
16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.g5 Rh8 18.e4 c5
Salem’s first lively move of the game.
19.Qf2!
Instead, 1.d4 Nf6 (or 1...d5) 2.Bf4 is the
Accelerated London System, which is
extremely popular at this moment in time. If
Black plays 2...g6, you may easily transpose
back into the Barry. Note that the move
order 1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 is most
uncommon, as Black has better options than
3...g6.
The London System proper begins 1.d4
Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Bf4. After 3...Bg7 White can
choose whether he goes into a Barry or not
with 4.Nc3 and a Pirc can result from this
move order as well. Meanwhile 4.e3 leads
into quieter waters.
Finally, 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Bf4 is the
Jobava London System, where the difference
is that White has left the knight at home on
g1 and has opened up the option of playing
f2-f3 and then either e2-e4 or g2-g4 as the
position demands. With this move order, it
is rare for Black to play 3...g6 and rarer still
for White to then play 4.Nf3, going into a
Barry. Any of 4.f3, 4.Qd2 or 4.Nb5 would be
more common.
My conclusion is that if White has his
heart set on a Barry and he knows that Black
plays 2...g6 or similar, the best way is to use
the traditional move order with 2.Nf3 (2...g6)
and 3.Nc3. The threat of 4.e4 forces Black to
think about whether he should play 3...d5 or
not.
Carlsen finds a way to keep the pressure
on.
19...dxe4 20.Nxe4 cxd4 21.Qxd4+ e5 22.Qe3
Rac8 23.Kb1 Rc4 24.Qe2 Qb4 25.Re1 Rc6
26.a3 Qe7
26...Qc4 would not persuade White to
exchange queens and after 27.Qg2 a6
28.Rh2 Nc5 29.Nxc5 Qxc5 30.Qe4 he
maintains the advantage.
27.h5! Rcc8 28.h6+ Kh7 29.Rhf1 Rhf8
30.Qb5 Rc7 31.Rd1
Threatening Rxd7.
31...Nc5 32.Nf6+ Kh8 33.Nd5 a6 34.Qb6 10
If the Barry can be called an attack, then
the blueprint for success is contained within
this game. Quick development followed by a
kingside pawn storm would appear to be the
way.
Naturally, we are going to find that life is
not that simple. Gone are the days when the
kingside attack automatically crashes
through.
Andrew Martin
Surrey, November 2022
Move Order Questions
Queen’s pawn systems often overlap and
can transpose into one another. It’s
7
Chapter One
A Barry Timeline
In the first part of this book, we will take a
look at how the Barry has evolved over time
from the early experimental games to the
system of the present day. After that, I will
go on to look at the main ideas of the Barry,
accompanied by my own thoughts and
observations as we go forward.
One can consider this book a collection of
Barry games and methods, rather than an
exhaustive examination of theory. Who
reads that type of book anyway?
Early move orders are interesting in the
Barry. Black could try to steer around the last
line by playing 4...Bg4!?, but then he runs
into 5.Ne5!.
5...Bg7 6.e3 Nbd7?!
Better was 6...0-0, as with 6...Nbd7 Black
commits himself to a passive layout of the
queenside pieces.
7.Be2 b6 8.0-0 Bb7 9.Ne5
I quite like 9.a4!, probing the queenside
and maintaining a slight but definite edge.
9...e6?!
Black should trade: 9...Nxe5 10.Bxe5 0-0
and his position is not too bad, although
unexciting.
10.Bh2 Nxe5 11.dxe5 Nd7 12.f4 Qe7 13.e4
Game 2
S.Tartakower-V.Wahltuch
London 1922
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3!?
This cannot be a bad move, but it is
unusual to block the pawn on c2.
3...d5 4.Bf4 c6!?
Black normally goes 4...Bg7, but 4...c6 has
relevance to the present day, because Nb5 is
prevented. I’m guessing that Wahltuch was
completely on his own and his first priority
was to cut out any traps lurking in the
position.
We will learn that 4...Bg7 5.Nb5! is almost
certainly White’s most dangerous idea in
the modern Barry, but there is a price to pay
after 4...c6, as Black puts no pressure on the
centre and is slow to create active
counterplay.
5.h3!
In turn, Tartakower stops ...Bg4 which
would have relieved Black’s position.
Perhaps White is a touch better after 5.e3
Bg4 6.h3 Bxf3 7.Qxf3 Nbd7, but why allow
Black this opportunity?
Line-opening pawn breaks are often the
key to Barry positions. Tartakower does not
hold much advantage here, but with 13.e4
he gives his opponent difficult decisions.
13...f6!
8
Finally, a sharp move.
14.exd5 exd5 15.exf6 Nxf6 16.f5 g5?
Wahltuch falters. Black simply has to
castle and accept complications: for
instance, 16...0-0 17.fxg6 (or 17.Bd3 gxf5!
18.Bxf5 Rae8 and Black has plenty of
chances, with his central pawn majority as
the main trump) 17...hxg6 18.Bd3 c5!
19.Qe1! (not 19.Bxg6? Qe3+ 20.Kh1 d4 with
numerous attacking possibilities) 19...Ne4!
20.Nxe4 dxe4 21.c3 Rae8, which looks level,
but in an interesting way.
17.Bh5+!
With the black king high and dry in the
centre, a sacrifice such as this had to come.
26...cxd5 27.Bxd5 Rg6 28.Rad1 Bd7 29.Be6
Rc7 30.Bxc7+ Kxc7 31.Qf4+ Kc8 32.Rxd7 10
There are modern lessons to be learned
from this old game. Perhaps the most
important is that Black must counter the
Barry as actively as he can. Trying to play it
solidly is unpromising.
Players at all levels are always on the
lookout for new ideas which can put the
opponent under pressure. Approximately
100 years ago, Capablanca was the next
great player to give the Barry a try.
17...Kd8
17...Nxh5 18.Re1! wins immediately.
18.Re1 Qc5+ 19.Kh1 Bc8
The computer shows 19...Qf2 20.Qc1! h6
(or 20...Qxf5 21.Rf1 Qd7 22.Qxg5 Rf8 23.Bg4
Qf7 24.Rae1 when Black’s position is in ruins)
21.Bg6 Bc8 22.Re2 Qc5 23.Qe1 Bd7 24.Na4!
and the white attack is too strong.
20.Qf3 Bd7 21.Qg3 Rc8 22.Qxg5
Black did not sense the only moment he
had to fight fire with fire and has ended up
losing a crucial pawn.
22...Qf8 23.Be5
23.Rad1! may have been better still.
23...Rg8 24.Bf3 Bh8 25.Qh4 Bxf5 26.Nxd5!
Game 3
J.Capablanca-F.Yates
New York 1924
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.h3
White can certainly play in this way. The
impression is that Capablanca wanted to
first and foremost get a clamp on the
position and cut down on any tactical ideas
that Black might spring. The modern Barry
player might dispense with 6.h3, preferring
6.Ne5 or 6.Be2, aiming to follow up with h2h4!?, a totally different approach.
6...c5!
I am convinced that this is the best way to
meet the original Barry method, whether
White plays h3 or h4. Black sets the queen
free and initiates counterplay against the
White queenside.
9
technical game, where Capablanca’s
fantastic natural ability can come to the fore.
16.Qd2 Ne5 17.Be2 Nc4 18.Bxc4 dxc4
19.Qd4 Qc7 20.Qc5
White is insistent.
20...Qxc5
20...Rf7 21.Qxc7 Rxc7 22.Nd4 b5 might
have been a better way.
21.Nxc5 b6 22.N5a4 Rb8
22...b5 23.Nc5 Ra7 was certainly playable
too.
23.0-0-0 b5 24.Nc5 Rb6 25.a4 Nh5
Yates is playing well. The aim is to get his
knight back into play via f6.
26.b3 cxb3 27.cxb3 bxa4 28.N3xa4 Rc6
29.Kb2 Nf6 30.Rd2 a5 31.Rhd1 Nd5 32.g3
7.dxc5!? Qa5
7...Ne4!? was played by Grischuk in 2016
and could be a good way to meet this
variation: for instance: 8.Nxe4 (instead,
8.Nxd5 Bxb2 9.Bc7 Qd7 10.Rb1 Nc3 11.Nf6+
exf6 12.Qxd7 Nxd7 13.Rxb2 Nxc5 is engine
analysis at its finest; White should be a little
better, but the black pieces are active)
8...dxe4 9.Qxd8 Rxd8 10.Ne5 (10.Nd4!? e5
11.Bg5 f6 12.Nb5 Na6 is rather unclear, but
unless Fat Fritz is missing something, Black
is OK) 10...Be6 11.Rd1 Nd7 with Grünfeldlike counterplay.
8.Nd2 Qxc5 9.Nb3 Qb6 10.Be5 e6 11.Nb5
Ne8 12.Bxg7 Nxg7 13.h4!?
White could have settled for something
like 13.c4 dxc4 14.Bxc4 Rd8 15.Qe2, which
affords him a solid game, but nothing more.
13.h4 seems much sharper, but the pawn
goes no further until move 65 and, even
then, it is a capture.
13...a6 14.Nc3 Nc6 15.Bd3 f5!
Arranging the pawn structure to his
design. A move like this shows why the best
players are so hard to beat. 32.g3 essentially
leaves Black with less to aim at and makes it
tougher for Yates to force through ...f5-f4.
32...Rf7 33.Nd3 Rb7 34.Ne5 Rcc7 35.Rd4
Kg7 36.e4 fxe4
Maybe 36...Nf6 37.Nc3 Nd7 38.Nxd7
Bxd7 would have neutralized any White
edge.
37.Rxe4 Rb5?
The computer recommends 37...Kf6 38.f4
Kf5 39.Ree1 Ra7, but it would take nerves of
steel to play this way.
38.Rc4!
Capa spots an opportunity.
38...Rxc4 39.Nxc4 Bd7 40.Nc3 Rc5 41.Ne4
Rb5 42.Ned6 Rc5 43.Nb7 Rc7 44.Nbxa5 Bb5
45.Nd6 Bd7 46.Nac4
Black has weathered any opening storm
that there might have been. He has the
worse bishop, but strong central pawns.
What he has to do now is avoid a purely
10
Game 4
F.Marshall-K.Opocensky
Marianske Lazne 1925
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.h3
c6 6.e3 h6?!
There is no need for this move. Black
wants to play ...Be6 without allowing Ng5,
but this is not a great plan.
Compare this modern offering: 6...0-0
7.Be2 Qb6! (putting the question to White’s
queenside) 8.Rb1 Nbd7 9.0-0 Re8 10.Bh2
Nf8 11.b4 Bf5 12.Nd2 N6d7 13.Na4 Qd8
14.Nc5 Nxc5 15.bxc5 b6. At every stage
Black keeps active, preventing White from
getting a bind on the position. We will leave
it here, as the full game comes later (see
Game
107),
Aronian-Nepomniachtchi,
Internet (rapid) 2020.
7.Bd3 Be6 8.Qd2
The knights have been hopping around,
and White has won a pawn. This is not good
news for poor Yates, who is going to suffer
for a long while and then lose at the end.
46...Ra7 47.Ne4 h6 48.f4 Be8 49.Ne5 Ra8
50.Rc1 Bf7 51.Rc6 Bg8 52.Nc5 Re8 53.Ra6
Re7 54.Ka3 Bf7 55.b4 Nc7 56.Rc6 Nb5+
57.Kb2 Nd4 58.Ra6 Be8 59.g4 Kf6 60.Ne4+
Kg7 61.Nd6 Bb5 62.Ra5 Bf1 63.Ra8
White is in no rush, content to grind his
opponent down.
63...g5 64.fxg5 hxg5 65.hxg5 Bg2 66.Re8
Rc7
66...Rxe8 67.Nxe8+ Kf8 68.Nc7 Bf1 69.g6
Kg8 70.Kc3 would not help Black at all.
67.Rd8 Nc6 68.Ne8+ Kf8 69.Nxc7+ Nxd8
70.Kc3 Bb7 71.Kd4 Bc8 72.g6 Nb7 73.Ne8!
Nd8 74.b5 Kg8 75.g5 Kf8 76.g7+ Kg8 77.g6
1-0
If you asked me who played this game
without revealing the names of the players,
I would say Magnus Carlsen. There is
something about the relentlessness of the
technique, once a winning position had
been achieved that is so typical of the
current world champion’s style. Possibly
Carlsen learned that aspect of his skill from
Capablanca. Back at the opening choice,
White didn’t achieve that much with his
new interpretation of the London System.
Chess information travelled very slowly in
the 1920’s, but word of this slightly more
exciting way to play the London System
eventually reached Frank Marshall.
I think a player of today would almost
certainly have castled.
8...Nbd7 9.Ne5 Bf5 10.Bh2 Ne4 11.Bxe4
Bxe4 12.f3 Bf5 13.0-0-0 Qa5 14.Nxd7 Bxd7
15.Kb1 Be6 16.e4 dxe4
Opocensky has done about the best that
he could do with his limited position. We
have a level game with no sign of the
Marshall fireworks just yet.
17.fxe4 Rd8
The idea of 17...0-0 18.Nd5 may possibly
explain the text move, but even here Black
can survive a capture on e7: 18...Qxd2
19.Nxe7+ Kh7 20.Rxd2 Rfe8! 21.d5 (the
knight is trapped, so White has to go for this)
21...Rxe7 22.dxe6 Rxe6 23.Rd7 Rxe4 24.Rxf7
Rae8 25.c3 R8e7 with equality.
11
Maybe 34...c4 35.Kc2 b6 would form a
tighter line.
35.Kc2 Rf8 36.Bh4 g5! 37.Bxg5 Rf2+ 38.Kb3
Rxg2 39.h4 a6
Opocensky is wary of 39...c4+ 40.Kxc4
Rxb2 41.Rh6 Ra2 42.Rxh5 Rxa4+ 43.Kb3 Rg4,
but this looks holdable.
40.Rh6 b5 41.axb5 axb5 42.Rxh5 c4+ 43.Ka2
b4 44.cxb4 c3 45.Bc1 cxb2
45...Rg1! would have been a simple draw.
46.Bxb2 Bxb4 47.Kb3 Be1 48.Rh8
18.Nd5!
A little more potent now than in the
previous variation.
18...Qxd2 19.Nc7+ Kf8 20.Nxe6+ fxe6
21.Rxd2 Ke8?!
He does not like 21...Rxd4 22.Rxd4 Bxd4
23.Rd1 Bf6 24.Rd7 Kf7, but how easy is this
to win for White, given that 25.Rxb7 Rd8
26.c3 is met by 26...Rd2?
22.Rhd1 Rf8 23.a4
White’s advantage is apparent. Black will
have a hard time defending his weak pawns.
Nevertheless, the position is not lost, just
difficult.
23...h5 24.Bg3 Bh6 25.Rd3 Bf4 26.Be1 Bc7
27.c3 Rf1 28.Bh4 Rxd1+ 29.Rxd1 c5! 30.d5
30.Bf2 was more patient.
30...exd5 31.exd5 Kd7 32.Re1 Bd6 33.Re6
Rg8 34.Bg5
48...e6??
A blunder. 48...Rg3+ 49.Kc2 Rg2+ 50.Kb1
Rg1 holds comfortably.
49.dxe6+ Kxe6 50.Re8+ 1-0
The impression I get from these early
games is that the white system is OK and
solid enough, but nothing special. Perhaps
the strong players of the day would also
form that opinion, as it would be a long time
before the Barry attained widespread
popularity and even a name.
We now move forward a few years and
receive a masterclass from Max Euwe.
Game 5
E.Colle-M.Euwe
5th matchgame, Amsterdam 1928
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.Bd3?!
Personally, I much prefer to put the lightsquared bishop on e2 if possible. To me, it
looks at a brick wall on d3. I guess the bishop
supports e3-e4, as it does in the Veresov, but
in the Barry this leads only to simplification,
whereas in the Veresov White’s dark-
Marshall has engineered a situation
where he can make small move by move
improvements, while Black must wait. This
is an uncomfortable situation for the
defender, but I should stress again that the
position is not yet lost.
34...b6
12
20.Bg3! Nd3 21.Rd2 Nb4 22.a3 Nc6
23.Rc2 Na5 24.Rfc1 Rc4 would be the type of
line Colle examined at the board and he may
not have liked this for White, but in reality
after 25.Rxc4 Nxc4 26.Rc2 b5 27.Nc1! this is
not a life-threatening position.
20...Rxc7 21.b4 b6 22.Rfc1 bxc5 23.bxc5
Rac8 24.c6 Ba3 25.Rb1 Rxc6 26.Rxc6 Rxc6
27.Rb3
27.Rb7 Bc5 28.g4 (or 28.Kf1 Rb6) 28...Ra6
29.Rb2 Kg7 leads to the same miserable
grind towards a White loss.
27...Bd6 28.Rb2 Rb6 29.Rxb6 axb6 30.Kf1
Kf8 31.Nd4 Ke7 32.Ke2 Kd7 33.f4 Bc5
34.Nf3 f6
No passed pawn yet; it will take some
work.
35.g4 Ba3 36.Kd3 Kd6 37.h4 h5 38.Nd4 Bb2
squared bishop would stand on g5, with
pressure against e7. Further, the bishop on
d3 is a target for Black to aim at. Euwe shows
how.
6...c5!
If Black can play this move, he should.
7.dxc5 Nbd7 8.0-0 Nxc5
Black has already equalized very easily
indeed.
9.Be5
Trying to jam up the black position and we
will see this idea frequently as we go
through the book. Euwe continues playing
sensibly.
9...Bg4 10.h3 Nxd3 11.cxd3 Bxf3 12.Qxf3 e6
13.Rac1 Nd7 14.Bg3
Full marks to Colle for playing to win, but
taking on g7 and then shaking hands was
probably the right way to go. Which of the
dark-squared bishops will have more
influence as the game progresses?
14...Qb6 15.Qe2 Qa6 16.d4 Qxe2 17.Nxe2
Rfc8 18.Bc7 Bf8 19.Rc2 Nc5
39.f5?
39.gxh5 gxh5 40.Nb5+ Kc6 41.a4 was
certainly a better try, when Black might go
41...Kc5 42.Nc7 e5 43.Ne6+ Kb4 44.Ng7
Kxa4 45.Nxh5 b5 46.Kc2 Ka3.
39...Bxd4 40.fxg6 Ke7! 41.gxh5
41.exd4 hxg4 42.h5 e5! 43.h6 Kf8 wins for
Black.
41...Ba1 42.h6 f5 43.h5 Kf6 44.Ke2 d4
45.exd4 Bxd4 46.Kf3 e5
I am sure Euwe would have said the game
was always under control.
47.Kg3 Be3 48.h7 Kg7 49.Kh4 Bf4 50.Kh3
Bg5 51.Kg3 Bf6 0-1
That was not an enjoyable game at all for
Colle. Some new ideas seemed to be needed
to boost the new idea!
There followed a long period where the
white opening move order went completely
A tactical shot, but the position is still
equal.
20.dxc5?
13
advance of his queenside majority to look
forward to.
25...b4 26.Qe3 e5
26...Rb5! seems preferable to me.
27.Qg5
He had to play 27.d5 and give himself a
positional trump.
27...Nc6 28.dxe5?
28.d5 Nd4 does not look great for White,
but he had to try it.
28...Qxe5 29.Qxe5 Rxe5
out of fashion. It just did not seem right to
play Nc3 in a London System set-up. When
3.Nc3 did surface, results were poor.
Game 6
I.Bondarevsky-V.Smyslov
Moscow 1947
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.h3
0-0 6.e3 c5! 7.Be2
At least he does not put his bishop on d3.
White should have no problem maintaining
equality here, but can he make the position
more exciting in order to play for a win?
7...Nbd7
7...cxd4 8.exd4 Nc6 9.0-0 Ne4 10.Re1 Bf5
is a modern approach, which, frankly, is not
that great for White. What Smyslov does is
OK too.
8.Ne5 e6 9.0-0 Nxe5 10.Bxe5 b6 11.a4
Can White build any queenside pressure
here?
11...Bb7 12.a5 Bc6
Smyslov does not think so.
13.Na4 c4 14.Qe1 Re8 15.b3 Bxa4! 16.Rxa4
b5 17.Ra1 a6
White has just ended up in a lousy, if not
lost ending.
30.h6 Rxa5 31.Rxa5 Nxa5 32.e5 b3 33.cxb3
cxb3 34.Be4 Nc4 35.Kf1 a5 36.Ke2 Kf8
37.Rd4 Nxe5 38.f4 Ng4 39.Ra4 Re8 40.Kf3
f5 0-1
Smyslov made the winning process look
very easy.
On through the years and despite very
average results for White, Tartakower would
occasionally return to his earlier experiment.
Game 7
S.Tartakower-H.Pilnik
Amsterdam 1950
With simple moves, Smyslov has achieved
a good position, which might be objectively
equal, but which most strong players, I think,
would prefer to play as Black.
18.bxc4 dxc4 19.Bf3 Nd5 20.Bxg7 Kxg7
21.e4 Ne7 22.Qc3 Kg8 23.Rfd1 Rb8 24.h4
Qc7 25.h5
You may feel that 25.d5 would be at the
forefront of White’s mind, but 25...exd5
26.exd5 Nf5! 27.h5 b4 28.Qd2 Qd6 keeps the
position under control for Black, who has the
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.h3
We will learn that the modern Barry
Attack only features h2-h3 when absolutely
necessary. Either 6.Be2 or 6.Nb5 would be
considered better today.
6...b6
Once White has played h2-h3, 6...b6 is very
reasonable.
14
7.Be2 Ba6 8.Ne5 Bxe2 9.Qxe2 Nfd7 10.0-00
White takes the opportunity to spice
things up, changing gears into what we will
recognize as the Barry Attack of today.
Pilnik panics. Black can try the coldblooded 17...cxd4 18.exd4 b5 which looks
incredibly risky, but I can find no way to
smash up the black king: for example,
19.Qh2 (or 19.Qe3 b4 20.Ne2 Qc6 21.Kb1
Rfc8 22.Rd2 a5) 19...Kf7 20.f5 exf5 21.gxf5
Qxf5 22.Qc7+ Kg8 23.Rdf1 Qg5+ 24.Kb1 b4.
18.f5!
With his queen now on exactly the right
square, Tartakower opens lines.
18...Rh8
18...exf5 19.dxc5! bxc5 20.Rxd5 Qe6
21.gxf5 leads to a winning attack.
19.Rxh8 Rxh8 20.dxc5
The bishop on g7 takes time to get into the
action and this is enough to cost Black the
game.
20...exf5
20...bxc5 21.fxe6+ Qxe6 22.Nxd5 Bh6
23.Kb1 leaves White a pawn up and with
the more active pieces and safer king.
21.Nxd5
10...e6
I think Black should reduce White’s
attacking force: 10...Nxe5 11.Bxe5 f6 12.Bg3
e6, but even here White can play 13.h4! with
familiar attacking chances.
11.g4 c5 12.h4
This is more like it. Black will not find it
easy to defend his king.
12...Nxe5 13.Bxe5 f6
Alternatives
were
uncomfortable:
13...Bxe5 14.dxe5 Nd7 15.f4! f6 16.exf6 Nxf6
17.h5 ‚ with a powerful white attack, or
13...Nd7 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.h5 cxd4 16.exd4
Qg5+ 17.Kb1 Qf4 18.f3 and Black is again
under pressure.
14.Bxb8!?
He could have waited for one move with
14.Bg3 Nc6 15.h5 g5 16.h6 Bh8 17.f4! when
White maintains the attack.
14...Rxb8 15.h5 Qd7 16.hxg6 hxg6 17.f4
21...Qe6?
21...Qa4 is better, but would still be
unlikely to help, in view of 22.gxf5 gxf5
23.Nc3! Qg4 (or 23...Qc6 24.Qc4+! Kf8
25.Rd6 Rh1+ 26.Nd1 Qe4 27.Rd8+ Ke7
28.Qg8!) 24.Qa6!.
22.gxf5 Qxf5 23.Qc4 b5
Likewise, after 23...Qe6 24.Qa6! Rd8
25.Qxa7+ Rd7 26.Qxb6! it is all over.
24.Qxb5 Rd8 25.c6 Qc8 26.Qc5 1-0
This was more like it and a forerunner of
the present day. Despite the slow h2-h3
early on, White still managed to conjure up
a strong kingside attack.
17...Kf7?
15
The active 10...dxe4 11.Nxe4 Qd5 12.Nc3
Qe6+ 13.Be2 Bxf3 14.gxf3 f5 would give
Black a decent game too.
11.exd5 cxd5 12.Bb5+ Kf7
Two well-known figures in English chess
history contest the next game, but that is
not the reason for inclusion. The opening
moves are of great interest.
Game 8
H.Golombek-B.Wood
Bognor Regis 1953
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
Nh5!?
A move which I believe is underestimated.
Black wants to nab the dark-squared bishop.
If this plan works, White will have nothing.
6.Be5?!
All too natural, but not best as far as I can
see.
6.Bg5 is the other move and then comes
6...h6 7.Bh4 g5 8.Ne5! Nf6 9.Bg3 c6 10.Bd3
Qb6 when I personally prefer White, but
respect those who may not.
6...f6 7.Bg3 Nxg3 8.hxg3
12...Nc6? 13.Nxd5 was the trap Golombek
had set.
13.Qf4 Bxf3 14.Qxf3 e6 15.g4 Nc6 16.0-0-0
Rac8 17.Kb1 Nb4 18.a3
The computer finds 18.Be2!, claiming a
white advantage after 18...Rxc3 19.Qxc3
Qxa2+ 20.Kc1 Bf8 21.Kd2 Bd6 22.g3. I guess
this is true, but I equally understand why
Golombek did not go for this line. However,
he will learn that he is not the only one who
can set traps.
18...Nxc2! 19.Kxc2 Qxb5 20.Qd3 Qxd3+
21.Kxd3 Rc6 22.Rc1 h5 23.gxh5 Rxh5
24.Rxh5 gxh5 25.Rh1 Kg6
8...Bg4?
A mistake. 8...0-0 is possible, if you want
an uncompromising fight. Meanwhile 8...c6
9.Qd2 e5 also looks pretty good for Black.
9.e4
Not bad, but there is better. He should
play 9.Qd3!, with the twin threats of Rxh7
and Qb5+. I don’t think Black has a
satisfactory reply: for instance, 9...0-0
10.Qb5 or 9...c6 10.Rxh7 Kf7 11.Nh4!! Rxh7
12.Qxg6+ Kg8 13.Bd3 Rxh4 14.gxh4 Qd7
15.f3 Be6 16.h5!.
9...c6 10.Qd2 Qa5
Black should now win this game. He does
not.
26.Rh3 a6 27.Rg3+ Kf7 28.Rh3 Kg6
28...Rb6! was the way to go, creating
queenside targets, and if 29.Na4 Rb3+
30.Ke2 Rxh3 31.gxh3 Bf8. Instead, after
29.b4 Kg6 30.Rg3+ Kh6 31.Rh3 f5 32.Ne2 a5
33.Nf4 Kg5! 34.g3 axb4 35.Rxh5+ Kf6
16
36.axb4 Rxb4 it won’t be easy, but Black
should still win.
29.Rg3+ Kh6 30.Rh3 f5 31.Ne2 Bf6
31...e5 was surely indicated.
32.Nf4 h4 33.Re3 e5?
By now, Black must take a risk and with
33...Kg5 34.Nxe6+ Kg4 35.Nc5 f4 36.Rf3 a5
he could have maintained a foothold in the
game.
34.dxe5 Bg5 35.e6! Rc8 36.e7 Re8 37.Re6+
Kh7 38.Nxd5 Kg7 39.f4 Kf7 40.Rb6 Bxf4
41.Nxf4 Rxe7 42.Rh6 1-0
Whether planning to play or face the Barry,
the opening moves and ideas in this game
deserve scrutiny.
Only now, when the development of his
minor pieces is complete and the king is well
defended. The absence of a dark-squared
bishop really hurts White, because there is
no real way to get an attack going without it.
14.Rh2?!
Very optimistic. White should just make
preparations as best he can for ...e7-e5 and
settle for the modest 14.Qe3 e5 15.Be2,
although this is pretty passive.
14...e5!
White is now in a spot of bother.
15.dxe5
15.Bb5 e4 16.Bxd7 Qxd7 17.Nd2 f5
18.Nb3 b6 leaves the knight-pair looking
stuck for good squares. White’s position is
horrible.
15...fxe5 16.Bb5 e4 17.Nxd5
This is the reaction of a man who does not
like his position. Some might describe it as
desperate.
17.Nd4 Nc5 was not great either, with
Black holding a large positional advantage.
17...Nb6!!
Game 9
A.Denker-A.Feuerstein
New York 1955
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
Nh5!? 6.Be5
One can see why White plays this move,
but as stated in the last game, I think 6.Bg5
is better. Instead, 6.Bg3?! just gives the
bishop up without extracting any sort of
concession and cannot be recommended.
6...f6
Is this a concession? I don’t think so, as
Black may use 6...f6 to help prepare a central
pawn attack.
7.Bg3 Nxg3 8.hxg3 c6!
This cuts out Qd3 tricks and in view of the
impending ...e7-e5, White must find a plan.
9.e4
Makes sense, but as the position opens up,
the black bishop-pair starts to play a role.
9...Be6
9...dxe4 10.Nxe4 Qb6! seems a bit
awkward for White already.
10.Bd3 Bf7 11.Qe2 Nd7 12.exd5 cxd5 13.00-0 0-0
An excellent, tactical reply.
18.Qxe4
17
After 18.Nxb6 Qxb6 Black has an
immediate threat on f3 and an imminent
threat on b2.
18...Nxd5 19.Bc4 Qf6
Feuerstein is in full control.
20.Rxd5
20.Ne5 Qxe5 21.Qxe5 Bxe5 22.Bxd5 Bxd5
23.Rxd5 Rae8 leaves White a clear piece
down.
20...Qxb2+ 21.Kd1 Qa1+ 22.Kd2 Qc3+
22...Rfe8 is pretty good too.
23.Kd1 Rfc8
Or even 23...Rad8!.
24.Bb3 Qa1+ 25.Kd2 Bc3+ 26.Ke2 Re8
27.Re5
featured game is that Black walks straight
into the supposed attack without a care in
the world.
5...0-0!?
5...Ne4 is commonly played, throwing a
spanner in the works. We will see later
whether this is an effective counter, but for
now let’s look at another early game: 6.Qe3!?
c5! (this seems pretty good) 7.Bh6 Bxh6
8.Qxh6 Nxc3 9.Qg7 (9.bxc3 Qa5 10.Qd2
Nd7 drives White passive, leaving Black with
strong Grünfeld-type counterplay) 9...Rf8
10.bxc3 Qa5 11.dxc5 (he does not like
11.Kd2 Nd7 which is understandable)
11...Nc6 12.e3 d4!.
There are a few last throws of the dice, and
it is over.
27...Bxe5 28.Bxf7+ Kxf7 29.Ng5+ Kf8
30.Nxh7+ Kg7 31.Qxb7+ Bc7+ 32.Kf3 Qd1#
0-1
It all looked so easy there for Black coming
out of the opening. This was a period where
our favourite line was right out of fashion.
Something was needed to reignite White’s
opening idea.
White’s position is enough to make
Tarzan disappear back into the trees: 13.Bd3
Qxc3+ 14.Ke2 Bg4 15.Rab1 0-0-0! 16.Rb3
Qxc5 17.Rhb1 b6 18.Kf1 Bxf3 19.gxf3 Qd6
20.Be4 Na5 21.Rb5 dxe3 (White has nothing)
22.Qc3+ Qc7 23.Qxe3 Nc4 24.Qe2 Nd2+
(this has become a rout) 25.Kg2 Nxb1
26.Rxb1 f5 27.Bd3 e5 28.Rb4 Rd4 0-1,
L.Navarovszky-G.Barcza, Budapest 1954.
White must do better than this and he can,
but you can see why the Barry, or whatever
it was then called, wasn’t very popular
around this time.
6.Bh6 Ne4
Game 10
E.Perez Gosalbes-J.Diez del Corral
Spanish Championship, Barcelona 1956
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7
5.Qd2!?
This is our first sign of the so-called
‘ Tarzan Attack’, quite popular in the
present day. The idea is simple: White wants
to play Bh6 and weaken Black’s kingside.
What is particularly interesting about the
18
20.a3 Qxb3 21.Qxb3 Bxb3 22.Rb1 Bc4
23.Rxb7 Rab8 24.Rxa7 Rb3 sees the black
army functioning together, whereas White
is uncoordinated.
20...exd4 21.Na4 Kg8! 22.exd4 Rxd4 23.Qc3
Qd6 24.Bg2 Rxg4 25.Bxb7 Re8
White has been totally unable to get his
act together and his king is now very
exposed.
Diez
del
Corral
finishes
impressively.
26.Rh1 Bd5 27.Bxd5 Qxd5 28.Qf3 Qd4+
29.Ke1 Nb4 30.Nc5 Rf4 31.Qg2 Qb2 0-1
White’s opening idea has a caveman
element to it and I suppose that is how
Tarzan got lumped in, but the early games
of this variation are less than appealing
from the first player’s perspective.
Bobby Fischer had to face the Barry at an
early stage in his career. He didn’t seem to
think much of it.
This interference move is essential when
facing 5.Qd2, whether Black has castled or
not.
7.Nxe4
7.Qe3 Bxh6 8.Qxh6 f6 seems to blunt any
white attack straight away.
7...dxe4 8.Bxg7 Kxg7 9.Ng5 Qd5 10.h4
Yes, this is how most players would like to
handle the Barry Attack, just trying to smash
the black king flat and it is an approach
which is very common today. Has White got
the resources to launch an attack at this
moment? I am not sure.
10...h6 11.c4 e3!?
11...Qf5 12.Nh3 e5! 13.d5 Nd7 also seems
promising for Black.
12.fxe3?!
I think White should try 12.Qc3 exf2+
13.Kxf2 Qd6 14.Ne4 Qf4+ 15.Qf3, which
keeps the balance. The move played in the
game leads to a disjointed position.
12...Qxc4 13.b3 Qb5 14.Ne4 Rd8 15.Rc1
Na6 16.Nc3 Qb4 17.Qb2 Bf5 18.Rg1 e5!
Game 11
N.Bernstein-R.Fischer
Montreal 1956
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.Be2 Nh5!? 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Bg3
Today, we know that 9.Ne5! is the
preferred move here, meeting one attack
with another. White has scored well from
this position, but is Black’s game so bad after
9...gxh4 10.Bxh5 c5 11.Qf3 Be6? I am not so
sure that it is. Here 11.Nxf7!? is a strike
worth noting: 11...Rxf7 12.Bxf7+ Kxf7
13.Qh5+ Kg8 (13...Ke6?? 14.0-0-0 is far too
dangerous for Black to contemplate)
14.Qxd5+ Qxd5 15.Nxd5 Nc6 16.c3. What
have we got here? The computer states it’s
equal, but I think I prefer Black’s activity to
the pawns.
9...Nxg3 10.hxg3 c5!
Black’s dynamic play throughout this
game is very impressive.
19.g4 Be6 20.Kf2
19
16.Qh5 Bd7 17.Nxd7 Qxd7 18.Bf3, which
might not be too bad.
15...Bxh6 16.Qg6+ Bg7 17.Bd3 Nxe5
18.dxe5
18.Qh7+ Kf7 19.Qh5+ Ke7 20.dxe5 Bxe5
leaves White unable to create any more
threats.
18...Rf7 19.Nb5 Kf8 20.Nd6 Rd7
Cold-blooded defence.
21.Bb5 Rxd6 22.exd6 Bd7
We are splitting hairs, but I think 22...a6!
23.Be2 Qf6 was better still.
23.Bxd7 Qxd7 24.Qxg5 fxe3 25.Qf4+ Kg8
26.fxe3 Rf8 27.Qg5 Qxd6 28.Rh1 Qe5
29.Qh4 Qxb2+ 30.Kd1 Qb1+ 31.Kd2 Qb4+
32.Kd1 Qe4 33.Qh5 Rf2 0-1
We can accelerate the timeline at his
point, so poor were the results for White’s
move order idea. Yet it is clear from the
game to come that there were certainly
strong players out there who were giving
the Barry some thought and trying to
improve on White’s play to date.
Thematic and good. In Grünfeld style,
Black opens the game.
11.Qd3
11.dxc5 e6! recognizes that White will
struggle to keep the pawn and that Black’s
pressure on the long diagonal will be
considerable. Best may be 12.Nd4 Nc6
13.Qd2 Qe7 14.Nb3 Ne5! with ...Nc4 to
come.
11...e6 12.Ne5 f5 13.g4?
White should play 13.f4 and castle long as
quickly as possible if he wants to get a stake
in the game.
13...f4?!
13...cxd4 14.exd4 Nc6 would appear to be
consistent, not advancing on the kingside
just yet. Black has an excellent game, as
shown by 15.gxf5 Nxe5 16.dxe5 Rxf5 17.0-00 Qf8, 15.Nxc6 bxc6 16.0-0-0 Qf6 17.gxf5
Qxf5! 18.Qxf5 Rxf5 19.f3 Rf4! and 15.0-0-0
Qf6 16.Nxc6 bxc6 17.Qe3 fxg4 18.Bxg4 c5!,
in all cases with advantage to Black.
14.0-0-0 Nc6
Game 12
V.Antoshin-Y.Balashov
Moscow 1967
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.Be2 c5 7.Ne5 cxd4 8.exd4 Nc6 9.0-0
Qb6
This is a move order which appears
frequently today. Black’s pressure on the
queenside is obvious and there is no
kingside attack to be seen. White has
omitted h2-h3 and has not found a good
time to play h2-h4. Is there another way?
10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Na4!
15.Rxh6??
A miscalculation or a blunder? Either way
this is a rash move, which costs Bernstein
the game. White should try 15.Qg6 Rf6
20
27...Bxe5 28.Bxe5+ Kg8 29.Qd2 h6 30.Bxd4
Bf5 31.Bc4 Be6 32.Bf1 Rfe8 33.Bb2 Kh7
34.b5
Aiming to get a bind on c5. This is a
worthwhile plan.
11...Qa5
There is also 11...Qd8, but I think White
keeps a slight nibble after 12.Re1.
12.c3 Nd7 13.b4
Although 13.b4 is common, 13.Re1 is also
possible and has scored well, despite
allowing Black to execute his idea: 13...e5
14.dxe5 Nxe5 15.Bf1 Re8 16.h3 Bf5 17.b4.
White is a touch better again, but Black
obviously has decent counterplay.
13...Qd8 14.Bg5 f6 15.Bh4 Nb6 16.Nc5 g5
17.Bg3 e5 18.a4! Qe7 19.dxe5 fxe5 20.Re1
Nd7 21.Nxd7 Bxd7 22.c4
This had to come eventually, however
Black played it. Counterplay is scarce for
Balashov as his king is so open.
34...cxb5 35.axb5 Bf5 36.c6 Rac8 37.Qc3 Re7
38.Ra1 Qd5 39.Re1 Qf7 40.Rxe7 Qxe7
41.Bd3 Bg6
41...Bxd3 42.Qxd3+ Kg8 43.Qg6+ Kf8
44.Qf5+ is hopeless too, as the rook drops.
42.Bxg6+ Kxg6 43.Qd3+ Kh5 44.h3 Qe1+
45.Kh2 Qxf2 46.Bd4! Rd8
46...Qf4+ 47.g3 Qd6 loses to 48.Qf3+ Kg6
49.Qe4+ Kh5 (or 49...Kf7 50.Qf5+ Ke7
51.Bc5) 50.Kg2!.
47.Bxf2 Rxd3 48.Bxa7 1-0
No attack as such until the very end, but a
vast improvement on what had gone before.
We again now take a giant step forward in
time, as there was nothing to suggest that
the Barry was anything other than an
occasional surprise weapon and a generally
unsuccessful one at that.
22...Qe6?!
Instead, 22...d4 fixes the centre a little too
early and after 23.c5 Rad8 24.Rc1!, planning
b4-b5 as soon as possible, White keeps the
edge. As such, Black should probably settle
for 22...Be6 23.b5 dxc4 24.bxc6 Qc5.
23.Rc1 d4 24.c5 Kh8 25.Bc4
Black has just entered a worse version of
the last variation.
25...Qf5 26.Bd3! Qf7 27.Rxe5
Nice. A sound exchange sacrifice exposes
both Black’s king and his pawn structure.
Game 13
N.Murshed-A.Zapata
Thessaloniki Olympiad 1984
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.Be2
We will learn that Niaz Murshed,
grandmaster to be, would become a great
fan of the white move order. This is not one
of his greatest games, but there were better
to come.
21
They were still playing 6.h3 at that time.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with the
move, but it is too slow to create problems
for Black. Moreover, a direct attack on the
black king is now far less likely: 6.h3 c5
7.dxc5 (if White must cede the centre in this
way, his opening strategy is hard to believe)
7...Nbd7! 8.Be2 Nxc5 9.0-0 b6 10.a4 Bb7
11.a5 bxa5...
pawn majority will always give him
sufficient counterplay.
10...Nc6 11.a5 Qd8 12.0-0 e5
There is no reason why this move should
be delayed.
13.Bg5 Be6 14.a6
Personally, I prefer 14.Nc5!, which surely
should be played while it can be. Then
14...Qe7 15.Nxe6 fxe6 (and not 15...Qxe6?
16.Bxf6) 16.a6 b6 17.Nb5 Rad8 18.c4 d4
19.Qb3 looks a little better for White to me.
14...b6
White is denied the previous idea.
15.Bf3 Ne7!
Over the next few moves, Zapata plays
very well, consolidating his centre.
16.Qd2 Qd7 17.Rfd1 Rad8 18.Qe1 Qc7
19.Rd2 Rd7 20.Bh4 Rfd8
...12.Ra2?! (12.Be5! Ncd7 13.Bd4 Qb8!
should have been seen) 12...Nfe4 13.Nxe4
dxe4 14.Ne5 a4 15.Bc4 e6 16.Qe2 Qb6 17.h4
(somewhat late in the day) 17...f6 18.Ng4
Kh8 19.h5 gxh5 (Spassky likes taking pawns)
20.Nh6 e5 21.Qxh5 exf4 (he takes pieces too)
22.Nf5 Bc8 23.Ne7 f5 24.b4 Nd7 25.Rd1 Ne5
26.Bd5 fxe3! 27.Bxa8 exf2+ 28.Kh1 Ba6
29.c4 Bxc4 30.Nxf5 Qg6 0-1, D.JohansenB.Spassky, Thessaloniki Olympiad 1984, and
here 30...Bxa2 was not bad either.
6...c5 7.dxc5
7.Ne5 is more common today and the
crazy 7.h4!? cannot be ruled out.
7...Qa5 8.Nd2 Qxc5 9.Nb3 Qb6 10.a4
Are the black central pawns hanging or
cramping? The game is based around this
question.
21.Bg3
Murshed may not have liked 21.Rad1 as
the pawn on a6 looks lonely, but it may have
been preferable to the game.
21...Bg4
21...Nf5! 22.Nd4 Nxg3 23.Nxe6 fxe6
24.hxg3 Qc5 25.Qd1 e4 26.Be2 h5 leaves
Black with the initiative.
22.Bxg4 Nxg4 23.Qe2
23.Rad1 comes into consideration again.
23...Nf6 24.Rad1 Nf5 25.Qf3 Nxg3 26.hxg3
Qc6 27.Qe2 Bh6!
This is not a bad line for White and it sets
unorthodox problems, but Black’s central
22
could be very dangerous. Black is surely OK,
but the shock value of 8.h4 is obvious.
8...Bb7
Can Black risk 8...h5!? 9.g4 (9.Qd2
intending to castle queenside, is more
restrained and somewhat better) 9...Nxg4
10.Bxg4 Bxg4 11.Nxg4 hxg4 12.h5 cxd4
13.exd4 Qd7? The computer would suggest
that she can.
9.h5 Nc6
Polgar decides to develop and treat
White’s caveman attack with disdain.
10.hxg6 fxg6 11.Bb5 Nxe5
11...Rc8 is a continuation of the same
strategy, asking White how he is going to
break through to the king. She may have
feared 12.Qf3 with Qh3 to follow.
12.dxe5 Nd7 13.Qg4 Rf5 14.0-0-0!
With ...d5-d4 on the horizon, White needs
to untangle.
28.Qb5 Qe6 29.Rd3 Qg4 30.Nxd5??
After 30.Qc6 the game continues. Black is
a bit better, but that’s it.
30...Rxd5 0-1
He clearly missed 31.Rxd5 Qxd1+ and the
party is suddenly over.
We are approaching the time when the
Barry took off as a popular opening system,
but we are not quite there yet. I remember
that the following game was very influential.
Game 14
I.Rogers-Z.Polgar
Dortmund 1985
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.Be2 b6!?
This is perfectly good against the Torre
Attack, the London System proper, or a
whole host of other queen’s pawn systems,
but when facing the Barry in full flight, 6...b6
looks rather slow. I guess Polgar was not
expecting to be attacked so directly.
7.Ne5 c5 8.h4!
14...Nxe5
Black can try to tough it out with 14...e6
15.Qh3 Nf8, but now comes 16.g4 Rf7
(16...Rxe5! is probably the best chance, when
White does best to delay the capture on e5:
17.Kb1! Rc8 18.Bf1 a6 19.Qg3 Qc7 20.Ne2;
eventually White takes the rook, which
cannot escape, but Black will not be mated)
17.Ne4! and with the knight suddenly
dropping in to either d6 or g5, Black is in a
mess.
15.Qh3
Apparently 15.Bxe5! was the most
accurate and then 15...Rxe5 (if 15...Bxe5
16.e4! Rf7 17.Nxd5) 16.Bd7! Bc8 17.Rxd5!
Rxd5 18.Be6+ Bxe6 (or 18...Kf8 19.Qf3+ Rf5
20.Qxa8 Bxc3 21.bxc3 Rxf2 22.Rd1)
19.Qxe6+ Kh8 20.Nxd5. It is much easier
with the computer running.
And here the true Barry was born. It would
take a while to sink in that White’s attack
23
15...h5 16.Bxe5 Rxe5
Likewise, if 16...Bxe5 17.e4.
17.f4 Rf5 18.e4
I am surprised that he did not play 18.g4!
which looks consistent. Black must then
place her trust in 18...hxg4 19.Qxg4 Qd6 and
hope to survive after 20.Bd3.
18...Rxf4 19.Qe6+ Kh7 20.Nxd5 Bxd5
21.Rxd5 Qf8 22.Bd3 c4 23.Bxc4 Qf6 24.Qxf6
Bxf6 25.Bd3 Kg7
the winning technique, which until a passed
pawn is created, will not be clear-cut.
37...Re5 38.Ka2 Kg5 39.Re8 Rf6 40.e7 Bf2?
Even after the clearly preferable 40...Rfe6
41.Rh8 Bf2 42.Rg8 White maintains a
material advantage.
41.Rf8 Rxe7 42.Rxf6 Kxf6 43.Rf1 h3 1-0
There was a brutal beginning to that last
game. The chess world sat up and took
notice. Who doesn’t want to rip Black’s king
apart with a quick h2-h4? True enough, but
respect must be shown and conditions have
to be right.
Game 15
S.Dizdar-S.Djurovic
Sibenik 1986
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
Bg4!?
This is a solid idea. Black forces an
exchange of minor pieces early on to make
his defence easier. As we will see later, White
can maintain only a small edge against this
line.
6.h3
White might as well force the pace.
6...Bxf3 7.Qxf3 0-0 8.g4
Ambitious. I think White should just castle
and play e3-e4, i.e. 8.0-0-0 c6 9.e4 dxe4
10.Nxe4 Nbd7 11.Kb1. Here we have a
typical position where White is claiming a
very small advantage.
8...c5! 9.0-0-0 cxd4 10.exd4 Nc6 11.h4 Rc8
Polgar has played very well over the past
few moves and the position is roughly equal.
I can imagine that she might have been
short of time, which affected her
subsequent play. Rogers keeps pressing.
26.e5 Bg5 27.Kb1 Raf8 28.Rd7 Rf2 29.Rxa7
Rxg2 30.Rb7 Be3 31.Rxe7+ Rf7 32.Re8 Rf8
33.Re6 Rf4 34.a3 h4?!
34...Rf7 looks right.
35.Re7+ Kh6
Now 35...Rf7 36.Rxf7+ Kxf7 37.Rxh4 Ke6
38.Re4 wins for White in the long run.
36.e6 Rg5
37.b4
Instead, 37.Rf7 Rxf7 38.exf7 Kg7 39.Rxh4
Kxf7 40.Re4 Rg3 asks White to demonstrate
Black has reacted quickly and has obvious
counter-chances on the queenside.
12.h5 Qa5 13.hxg6
24
13.Kb1 was more careful, but Black has
chances here too: 13...Ne4! 14.Nxe4 dxe4
15.Qxe4 Nb4 16.a3 Nxc2 17.hxg6 hxg6 (but
not 17...fxg6?? 18.Qe6+) 18.Bg2 (if 18.Qxe7?
Qa4) 18...Qa4 19.Rd2 Nxa3+ 20.bxa3 Rc3
with an attack good enough for a draw at
least.
13...fxg6 14.Qh3
White is too direct.
14...Nb4!
2...g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3 0-0 6.Be2 a6?!
7.Ne5 b6 8.h4 c5
It is obvious that Komljenovic, usually so
resourceful, has been bamboozled by
White’s opening choice. The moves 6...a6
and 7...b6 look out of place. You simply can’t
give White free moves in the Barry, or you
are asking for trouble. Hodgson now
administers the medicine.
9.h5 Be6 10.Bf3 b5 11.hxg6 fxg6 12.dxc5!
With ...Rxc3 to come. This is not good news
for White.
15.Be5??
15.Bd2 does not hold the fort either, due
to 15...Ne4!! 16.Qxh7+ Kf7 17.Bh6 Rxc3!
18.Qxg7+ Ke6 19.Qxg6+ Rf6.
15...Rxc3 16.bxc3 Qa3+ 17.Kd2 Ne4+ 0-1
It was in the late 1980s that this bastard
opening became known as the Barry Attack.
Players weren’t sure whether the line was
any good or not, but it had a definite appeal.
So the ‘ Barry’ it was, synonymous with
rubbish, a shocker (or Barry Crocker –
Australian slang). It was quite amusing to
crush your opponent with what seemed like
an unsound attack, but which was not easy
to defend against. English players –
Hodgson, Norwood and Hebden especially –
all carried the name of the Barry forward
and began a new trend.
White decides to win this game on both
sides of the board.
12...Qa5
It is important that 12...Nbd7 can be met
by 13.Qd4! Rc8 14.b4 Ng4 (or 14...a5 15.a3)
15.Bxd5! Ngxe5 16.Bxe6+ Nf7 17.Qxd7!
Bxc3+ 18.Ke2 Qxd7 19.Bxd7 Bxb4 20.Bxc8.
13.0-0!
This is nimble footwork by Hodgson,
changing the direction of the game.
13...Rd8
13...b4 walks into 14.Nxd5.
14.a3! Ne4
14...b4 15.axb4 Qxb4 16.c6 Ra7 17.Qd4
does not help the black cause.
15.Bg4 Bf5 16.Bxf5 gxf5 17.Nxd5 Bxe5
18.b4!
Game 16
J.Hodgson-D.Komljenovic
Seville 1987
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3
No Trompowsky today.
25
The game has turned into a rout.
18...Bxa1 19.bxa5 Nc6 20.Re1?
20.Bc7 does the job cleanly, and if 20...Rd7
21.Nxe7+! or 20...Bf6 21.Bxd8 Rxd8 22.c4
bxc4 23.Nxf6+ Nxf6 24.Qc2.
20...Nb4?
Barry games are often full of mistakes.
20...Bc3 21.Re2 Rac8 would limit White’s
advantage.
21.Qxa1 1-0
I cannot guarantee it, but I am almost sure
that it was David Norwood who christened
the opening. I can just hear him saying
“That’s a load of Barry!” in the pub after the
following game.
9...Nfd7 10.g5 h5 11.Bxh5?!
He simply cannot resist. In view of Black’s
threat of taking on e5 and then expanding
with ...d5-d4, just retreating was called for
with 11.Nf3. Sacrificing can come later, if at
all.
11...Nxe5
Mestel gets on with his plan.
12.Bxe5 Bxe5 13.dxe5 d4!
Game 17
D.Norwood-J.Mestel
British Championship, Blackpool 1988
I am not sure White saw his way through
to the end of the complications.
14.Bf3 Bxf3 15.Qxf3 dxc3 16.Qxa8 Qd2+
17.Kf1 cxb2 18.Rb1 Qxc2
Both players have fired a gun and Black
has hit the target first.
19.Kg2 Nc6 20.Rxb2
20.Qb7 Nxe5 is just terrible for White,
with the knight coming to either c4 or d3.
20...Qc4! 21.Qb7 Qg4+ 22.Kf1 Rd8
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.Be2 b6
Players seem to have been dead keen on
6...b6 at that time. I can’t for the life of me
think why when 6...c5 is available.
7.Ne5 Bb7 8.h4
Here we go.
8...h6
Mestel, a great master of kingside
fianchetto positions, tries to put the brakes
on.
9.g4!?
This is a well-played counterattack.
23.Re2 Qc4!
White is paralyzed.
24.Kg2 Qxe2 25.Qxc6 Qg4+ 26.Kh2 Qxh4+
27.Kg2 Qg4+ 0-1
28.Kh2 Kg7! is rather strong.
Word was spreading about this audacious
line of the London System, where White
Norwood only has one gear on his car: fast.
Instead, 9.Qd2 Nbd7 10.0-0-0 c5 11.Kb1 Rc8
12.f3 is a regular way to play the position.
Both sides have chances in what is a sharp
situation.
26
He could just sit there after 16.c3 and ask
Garry how he is going to win. Black could
maybe start with 16...Nd7 17.Nd4 Nc5
18.Qc2 Re7, but White is rock solid.
16...Ne4! 17.Bxe4 Rxe4 18.c3 Rae8 19.Rab1
h5 20.b4 Qc7 21.Nf3
Passive. He should have developed
queenside play after 21.bxa5 Ra8 22.Rb6
Rxa5 23.Rdb1 Ra7 24.a5 Re7 25.Qa2. This
should hold the game, although it is
uninspiring.
21...Qe7 22.Qd3
seemed to play for mate right from the word
go. The then world champion seemed
unperturbed.
Game 18
V.Hort-G.Kasparov
1st matchgame, Cologne 1988
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.Be2
If White wants to stop what Kasparov does
and keep the attack on the boil, he may have
to play 6.Ne5!?. Most of the time this is
going to transpose to main lines, but Black
may look to complicate by playing 6...Nh5!?.
We might then career on with 7.Bg5 f6 8.g4!
fxe5 9.gxh5 h6 10.dxe5 hxg5 11.hxg6. The
computers like Black, but over the board this
would not be easy to defend.
6...Bg4
We have seen a similar, solid reply before.
White should keep an edge of sorts.
7.h3
Straightforward. Instead, 7.Ne5 Bxe2
8.Qxe2 was played in the very first game of
the book where Carlsen ground out a win.
7...Bxf3 8.Bxf3 c6 9.0-0 Nbd7 10.Qd2 Re8
22...g5!?
Kasparov rejects 22...axb4 23.Rxb4 Rxb4
24.cxb4 Qxb4 25.Rb1 Qxa4 26.Rxb7, which
seems to win a pawn. He probably felt that
playing for the initiative was more
important. I hazard a guess that Hort was
already short of time,
23.Nd2 Re6 24.Nf1 g4 25.hxg4 hxg4 26.g3?
26.bxa5 seems right to me, creating a
target on b7 to aim at. White clearly wants
to prevent ...Qh4.
26...Qg5! 27.Kg2 Qh5
You cannot just sit there and do nothing
against the best in the business. Kasparov
now makes Hort pay.
28.f4
Otherwise ...Rh6 would have occurred.
28...gxf3+ 29.Kf2 Qh1 30.Rd2 Qg2+ 31.Ke1
Rxe3+!
With ...e7-e5 coming up, it is hard for
White to generate any advantage.
11.Rfd1
Hort gets ready for Black’s central advance.
11...Qb6 12.a4 a5 13.Ne2 e5
Black would have played this more or less
whatever White did. We have a level game
on the board.
14.dxe5 Nxe5 15.Bxe5 Rxe5 16.Nd4
27
White burns his bridges, which they were
all doing at that time. Quite simply, h2-h4
had to be played whenever it could and even
when it couldn’t.
7...Bf5
The ruthless computer like 7...Bxh6
8.Qxh6 Qb6 when 9.0-0-0? Ng4 is the trap.
White would probably have to try 9.Rb1, but
this is not part of the plan, especially after
9...Bf5.
8.Bxg7
No second chances.
8...Kxg7 9.h5
This is simple fare and makes the Barry a
very attractive opening for club and
tournament players worldwide. White is
going to go hell for leather against the black
king. Black must defend for a while, which is
not to the taste of many.
9...b5
Black seems to believe his king is very safe.
10.hxg6 Bxg6
This doesn’t look great, but the
alternatives were probably worse: 10...hxg6
11.Qh6+ is an immediate wipeout and
10...fxg6 11.Ne5! h5 12.f3 looks unhealthy
for Black with g2-g4 imminent.
11.Ne5 Qd6 12.Qh6+ Kg8 13.e3
32.Qxe3
32.Nxe3 runs into 32...Qg1+ 33.Qf1 Rxe3+.
32...Rxe3+ 33.Nxe3 Qg1+ 34.Nf1 Bxc3
35.Rbb2 Qg2! 0-1
A lovely finishing touch, with White out of
good moves.
Of all current grandmasters, England’s
Mark Hebden has probably played the Barry
more than any other. He began his love
affair with the opening back at the end of
the eighties and he is still playing it today.
We will see a lot of Hebden in this book.
Game 19
M.Hebden-L.Aubert
French League 1991
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 c6
This cannot be bad and it stops Nb5,
which I’m pretty sure Hebden was not going
to play anyway. The downside of 4...c6 is that
it is a bit slow. Many were following
Kasparov’s earlier example and so had
Hebden played 5.e3 then 5...Bg4 might have
followed. Instead, he bares his chest and
goes into the Tarzan Attack.
5.Qd2 Bg7 6.Bh6 0-0
Like a red rag to a bull.
7.h4
28
followed by the kingside attack generating
so much excitement, it was hard to make a
case for anything else.
Time to bring up the reserves. The deep
idea is Bd3 and then lots of captures on g6.
13...Ne4
He should have tried 13...b4 14.Nd1 Nbd7,
which at least gets the pieces out. White is
still better after 15.Nxg6 fxg6 16.Bd3 Rf7
17.Bxg6! Rg7 18.Bd3, but it is not a total
disaster.
14.Bd3 f5 15.g4
No time is wasted. White could also
maintain a big advantage with 15.Rh3! Nd7
16.Nxe4 fxe4 (after 16...Qb4+ 17.c3 Qxb2
18.Nxg6! Qxa1+ 19.Ke2 Qxa2+ 20.Nd2
Black has no defence) 17.Nxg6.
15...fxg4 16.Nxg6 Qxg6 17.Qxg6+ hxg6
18.Nxe4 dxe4 19.Bxe4 Rf6 20.Rg1
Game 20
W.Arencibia-S.Conquest
Yopal 1997
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7
5.Nb5!?
Today, we know that this is a dangerous
idea, but we can equally see why this is
difficult to appreciate. There might be a
tendency to think that 5...Na6 is just a
complete answer and to leave it at that.
5...Na6 6.h3
6.e3 is preferred in 2022.
6...c5
Conquest hits in the centre, trying to make
6.h3 look like a loss of time. 6...c6 would be
considered standard and then I imagine
White was intending 7.Na3 Qb6 8.Rb1,
which has already led us into an odd
position.
7.e3 c4
7...0-0 was less committal.
8.c3 Bd7 9.a4 Ne4
Black could have castled again.
10.b3 Qa5 11.Rc1 Bxb5 12.axb5 Qxb5
13.bxc4 dxc4 14.Qc2 Qc6
Black has done well to survive the initial
onslaught, but he has only been able to limp
into a bad late middlegame, where his
pawns are ripe for the plucking.
20...Nd7 21.Rxg4 Kf7 22.Ke2 e5 23.Rh1 Rg8
24.d5 Nc5 25.Bg2 e4 26.Rh7+ Rg7 27.Rxg7+
Kxg7 28.Bxe4 Nxe4 29.Rxe4 cxd5 30.Re7+
Rf7
30...Kh6 31.Rxa7 Rc6 32.Kd3 is easy
enough.
31.Rxf7+ 1-0
So many Barry games at that time were
going the same way as this last one and that
accounts for the huge surge in popularity at
the beginning of the 1990s, a wave which we
are still riding today.
The 1990s would treat us to our first real
sight of 5.Nb5, although the idea had been
played as early as 1973 by GM Arthur
Bisguier, an unspectacular debut, losing
with White to James Tarjan. With 5.e3
29
The previous game continued 7...Nc6 8.00 cxd4 9.exd4 Qb6 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Na4
Qa5 12.c3 Nd7 13.b4, typically nailing down
control of c5 – see Game 74.
8.exd4 Nfd7!
15.Ne5
The
computer
points
out
the
extraordinary 15.Bh6! which is easy to miss.
After 15...Bxh6 (alternatively, if 15...0-0
16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.Ne5 or 15...Bf6 16.Be2,
which leaves the black king wondering
where to go) 16.Ne5 Qc7 17.Qxe4 Bg7
18.Bxc4 0-0 19.Bxa6! bxa6 20.Nf3 White has
unexpectedly emerged on top.
15...Bxe5 16.Bxe5 f6 17.Bh2 Nd6 18.Rg1
This is a weird game. Do you like the two
bishops, or do you favour Black’s extra pawn?
18...0-0 19.g4 Rac8 20.Bg2 Qd7 21.Rb1 b5
21...b6 22.Ra1 Nb8 23.h4 Nc6 24.g5 would
be a very slow Barry Attack.
22.Ra1 Nb8 23.h4 Nc6 24.Ra6 Nb8 25.Ra1
Nc6 26.Ra6 ½-½
The players confess not to fully
understand what is going on. Original play,
but nothing to set the pulses racing and to
turn the tide away from 5.e3 or 5.Qd2
towards a dodgy-looking knight move.
The spectacular games continued to come,
with very interesting results from White’s
point of view.
Forcing White to think about the powerful
knight on e5.
9.Nf3
After 9.h4?! Black whips up counterplay
with 9...Nxe5! 10.Bxe5 (if 10.dxe5 d4 11.Ne4
– or 11.Nb5 Nc6 12.c3 dxc3 13.Nxc3 Qa5 –
11...Nc6 Black has the upper hand, as the
pawn on e5 is tough to defend) 10...Bxe5
11.dxe5 d4! 12.Nb5 Nc6 13.c3 dxc3 14.Nxc3
Qb6. All these lines are favourable to Black,
who has successfully intercepted the
kingside attack before it gets off the ground.
9...Nf6 10.Ne5 Nfd7 11.Nf3 Nf6 12.Qd2
On with the show. Many would have taken
the draw against John Nunn.
12...Bg4 13.Ne5 Bxe2 14.Qxe2 Nh5
14...Nc6 15.0-0-0 Rc8 is fine for Black too.
15.Be3 Nc6 16.0-0-0 Rc8 17.f4 Nf6 18.g4
Game 21
M.Hebden-J.Nunn
Hastings 1997/98
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.Be2 c5 7.Ne5
Nunn knew what was coming, having
played Hebden at Hastings the year before
and had prepared an improvement.
7...cxd4
The Barry lunge begins. Instinctively, one
feels Black should be fine here, as his
queenside counterplay is well advanced. It
does not turn out that way.
30
18...Qa5 19.a3
Preventing ...Nb4.
19...Nxe5 20.fxe5 Rxc3?
Nunn is tempted. 20...Nd7 was safe,
whereas 20...Ne4 21.Nxe4 dxe4 22.Kb1 Rc6
23.Bc1 Qd5 24.Rhe1 Rfc8 25.c3 Qb3 26.Ka1
Rb6 is much sharper and whilst
acknowledging the weak pawn on e4, Black
has plenty of queenside chances.
21.exf6 Rfc8
21...Rxa3 is not good enough: 22.bxa3
Qxa3+ 23.Kd2 and White can handle any
further attack, as with 23...Bxf6 24.g5!,
23...exf6 24.Qd3 or 23...Rc8 24.Qd3 Qa5+
25.c3.
22.Kb1!
Game 22
V.Garber-S.Karjakin
Estonian League 2006
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7
5.Ne5!?
This is designed to sidestep the line where
Black puts the light-squared bishop on g4. It
is hard to believe that this can be critical, but
5.Ne5 is a move designed to surprise.
5...0-0 6.Qd2 c5
Otherwise Bh6 occurs.
7.dxc5 Qa5
If Black had found 7...d4!, White’s opening
idea would have been called into question.
The lines are sharp: 8.Rd1 (alternatively, if
8.0-0-0 Qe8 9.Qxd4 Ng4! or 8.Nb1 Ne4
9.Qd3 Qa5+ 10.Nd2 Nxc5 11.Qxd4 Ne6)
8...Nbd7 9.Nxd7 Nxd7 10.Ne4 e5 11.Bh6
Nxc5! 12.Nxc5 Bxh6 13.Qxh6 Qa5+ 14.Rd2
Qxc5 15.h4 Bf5 16.h5 Bxc2! 17.e3 Rfd8
when White’s ‘ attack’ is less dangerous
than it looks and by now Black is material
ahead. We note that this is the young
Karjakin playing Black. The complications
were obviously confusing, even to him.
8.0-0-0 Qxc5 9.f3 Be6 10.Kb1 Nh5! 11.e3
11.Be3 Qc7 12.f4 Nc6 leads to a poor
position for White, who has been persuaded
to play some horrible-looking moves.
11...Nxf4 12.exf4 Nc6
Calm. Black is left with two pieces
attacked. The story goes that Nunn expected
22.bxc3 Qxa3+ 23.Kd2 (and not 23.Kb1??
Rc6) 23...Qxc3+ 24.Kc1 Qa3+ with perpetual
check.
22...Rxc2
22...Qb6 is apparently best and then
23.fxg7 Rxc2 24.Qxc2 Rxc2 25.Kxc2 Qe6
26.Rhe1 Qxg4 when White should surely
win, but the queen is capable of causing a
degree of havoc.
23.Rd2! 1-0
A nice and unexpectedly quick end to the
game. White recaptures with the bishop on
d2 and wins a piece.
The period 1995-2010 saw a considerable
increase in the popularity of the Barry.
Various GMs, including Ian Rogers, Mark
Hebden, Julian Hodgson, Pavel Blatny and
others, were literally creating the theory as
they went along, such as it was.
Black can be satisfied with the result of
the opening.
13.Nd3 Qa5 14.Nc1 d4 15.Ne4 Qb6 16.Bd3
a5
31
The Barry has always been regarded as a
very good opening weapon to play against
lower-rated opposition, as in our next game
where White was rated 2432 and Black 2212.
The last thing average players want is to face
is a direct attack on the king.
There is very little concrete theory on the
Barry and even if Black finds a way to avoid
the h2-h4 onslaught, White has a variety of
other ideas available. The Barry is also a
perfect system for rapidplay and blitz, as we
will see as we move into the present day. For
now, we are still in 2006 and we will see the
type of discomfort Black experiences when
he doesn’t know exactly what he is doing.
16...Rac8 seems good and 16...Nb4
possibly even better.
17.g4 a4 18.h4
The Barry Attack looks a bit lame without
the dark-squared bishop.
18...a3 19.b3 Nb4 20.h5 Nd5 21.Qh2
White is persistent.
21...Rfc8 22.hxg6 hxg6 23.Rd2
I am surprised that he left out 23.f5! which
must be correct here. Then 23...Bd7
(23...gxf5 fatally opens up the king to
24.Qh7+ Kf8 25.gxf5 Bd7 26.Rdg1) 24.fxg6
fxg6 25.Ne2 Rc6 26.Nf4 Nxf4 27.Qxf4 leads
to unclear complications.
23...Qc7 24.Ne2 Ne3 25.N2g3 Qxf4?
25...Kf8 was correct.
26.Qh7+ Kf8 27.Rdh2 f5 28.Qxg6! fxe4
Game 23
J.Pribyl-P.Weber
German League 2006
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.Be2 Nbd7 7.Ne5
Maybe White should instead castle or go
with the quiet 7.h3, while the machine likes
7.a4!? here, giving White a small edge.
7...c6 8.h4
White is not deterred.
8...h5?!
The computer might approve, but I think
this just encourages White. Better is a move
like 8...Qb6 when White has to start thinking
about the b2-pawn.
9.f3 Nxe5 10.Bxe5
29.Qxe6?
Missing 29.Rh8+! Bg8 30.Rxg8+ Kxg8
31.Nxe4 Qf7 (or 31...Kf8 32.Ng5) 32.Rh8+.
29...exd3
29...Qe5! 30.Qxe5 Bxe5 is advantageous
to Black, who is attacking two pieces.
30.cxd3 Rc1+ 31.Rxc1 Qxg3 32.Rch1 Qe5??
By now the position is chaotic and Black
must tread a narrow path beginning with
32...Qxf3 33.Rh8+ (33.Qg6 e6! 34.Qxe6
Nxg4 35.Qd6+ Kg8 36.Qe6+ is an
immediate perpetual) 33...Bxh8 34.Rxh8+
Kg7. It is hard to believe that the black king
can survive, but White has nothing better
than a draw after 35.Qe5+ (or 35.Qh6+ Kf7
36.Qh5+ Kg7) 35...Kg6 36.Qh5+ Kg7
37.Rh7+ Kf8.
33.Qxe5 Bxe5 34.Rh8+ Bxh8 35.Rxh8+ Kf7
36.Rxa8 Kg6 37.Rxa3 1-0
Now g2-g4 is coming and White can play
with focus, whereas Black is clearly getting
nervous about the imminent attack.
10...Bh6!?
32
kingside attack was becoming smaller. Black
seemed to be able to create central and
queenside counterplay, which stymied the
attack before it ever got going. It appeared
White would have to fall back on other,
more positional plans to make the Barry
work.
Surely it was once again time for 10...Qb6
11.Na4 Qa5+ 12.c3 and only now 12...Bh6
when 13.b4 Qd8 14.Kf2 Nd7 15.Bf4 Bg7
16.g4 e5 looks at least adequate for Black.
11.g4!
Once the signal for the attack is launched,
it pays not to hang around.
11...Bxe3?
Weber is just asking for it. Perhaps he
could have tried something like 11...Nd7
12.g5 Nxe5 (12...Bg7 13.Bxg7 Kxg7 14.Qd2
a5 15.0-0-0 b5 gives some counterplay)
13.gxh6 Nd7 14.Qd2 Kh7 15.0-0-0 Nf6 16.e4.
It seems better for White, but the black
kingside is not so easy to storm and the
pawn on h6 will just drop off as and when
Black wants to take it.
12.Qd3 Bh6 13.g5 Bf5 14.Qd2 Bg7 15.gxf6
exf6
Did he really think he had enough for the
piece here? I think Black just collapsed under
the psychological pressure of facing an early
attack.
16.Bf4 Re8 17.Kf2
Game 24
B.Chatalbashev-Y.Dembo
European Championship, Aix-les-Bains
2011
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.Be2 c5 7.Ne5 Nc6 8.0-0
Instead, 8.h4 cxd4 9.exd4 Qb6 does not
score very well for White. We will see
something similar in our game, but of
course White has castled, which is far more
solid than 8.h4.
8...cxd4 9.exd4 Qb6!
Black has other good moves here: 9...Bf5 is
not bad, whilst the modest 9...Bd7 is also a
reasonable reply.
10.Nxc6 Qxc6
If Black recaptures with the pawn, White
goes for the positional plan of controlling c5:
10...bxc6 11.Na4! Qa5 (or 11...Qd8 12.Be5!)
12.c3 Nd7 13.Re1 e5 14.dxe5 Nxe5 15.Bf1.
White is a little better in this variation
thanks to his pawn structure. It is only a tiny
edge though.
11.Bb5
The master determines that his king is
safer on f2 than c1.
17...Bf8 18.Rae1 b5 19.Nd1 Qb6 20.Kg2 c5
21.dxc5 Bxc5 22.Bd3 Bd7 23.Rxe8+ Rxe8
24.Re1
It’s just a case of technique.
24...Rc8?
Unless Black blunders.
25.Bxg6 1-0
A routine Barry crush. There are many
such games.
As the theory and ideas of the Barry
developed, the chance of landing a direct
This scores best for White, but Black’s
position is perfectly good.
11...Qb6 12.a4 a6 13.a5 Qd8 14.Bd3
33
Or 14.Be2 Bd7 15.Qd2 Rc8 16.Rfe1 e6
17.Bh6 Bxh6 18.Qxh6 Ne8 19.Bd3 Qf6
20.Qe3 Nd6 21.Na4 Bxa4 22.Rxa4 Rc6 23.c3
Rfc8 24.Rb4 R8c7 25.Qg3 Kg7 26.h3 Qd8
27.Qe5+ Qf6 28.Qg3 Qd8, M.HebdenV.Tukmakov, Neuchatel 2003, with a
roughly level position, which White went on
to win.
14...Bd7 15.Be5 Bc6 16.Qd2
Or just 16.Re1.
16...Qd7 17.Rfe1 Rad8 18.Qg5
29.f4?
A
second
mistake.
Instead,
the
extraordinary 29.Ne4!! saves the day. Play
may proceed: 29...Rxe5 (or 29...Qh6 30.Ng5+)
30.Qg8+!! Kxg8 31.Nxf6+ Kf7 32.Rxe5 Kxf6
33.Re1 d4. With rook and two pawns for the
pieces, White should not lose.
29...Qh6 30.Rh3?
Chatalbashev is off colour, probably
thinking about his earlier mistakes. He could
yet try to save the day after 30.Rxg7+ Qxg7
31.Qxf5+ Ke7 32.Qd3 when Black is a rook
up, but has some problems untangling.
30...Qxh7
Why not 30...Qxf4 31.Rg3 Qh6, winning
easily?
31.Rxh7 d4 32.Ne2 Rg6 33.Ng3 Kg8 34.Rh4
d3 35.cxd3 Rxd3 36.Re2 Rd5 37.Kf2 Rxa5
38.Ke3 Rb5 39.Rd2
White does not have enough for the piece
and must suffer for a long time.
39...Rd5 40.Rc2 Rb5 41.Rd2 Rd5 42.Rc2 Rd1
43.Nh5 Nxh5 44.Rxh5 Re1+ 45.Kd4 Re4+
46.Kc3 Rxf4 47.Rd2 Re6 48.g3 Rf3+ 49.Kd4
Kg7 50.Rg5+ Kf7 51.Rh5 Kg6 52.Rh8 Rb3
53.Rg8+ Kh6 54.Rf8 Rf3 55.Rf7 Kg6 56.Rc7
Re8 57.Kc4 Re6 58.Rd8 Be8 59.Rxb7 Re3
60.Rd6 Bb5+ 61.Kd4 R3xe5 62.Rbb6 Re4+
63.Kd5 Rxd6+ 64.Rxd6+ Kf7 65.Rh6 Rb4
66.Ke5 Kg7 67.Rb6 Rxb2 68.Rb7+ Kg6
69.Rb6+ Kh5 70.h3
18...Rfe8
If Black wanted exchanges and a safe
haven, she could have chosen 18...Ne4!
19.Nxe4 dxe4 20.Bxg7 Kxg7 21.Bxe4 Qxd4
22.Bxc6 bxc6 23.c3 Qf6 24.Qe3 (or 24.Qxf6+
Kxf6 25.Ra4 Rd5 26.Rc4 Rc8! 27.b4 e6 28.g3
c5) 24...e6. It is hard for White to prove
anything here.
19.Qh4 Nh5 20.Bxg7 Nxg7 21.Re3!
There could yet be a kingside attack.
21...Qd6 22.Rae1 Rd7?
Black is playing too passively. Better was
22...e6 23.Rh3 h5 24.Nd1 Rd7 25.Ne3 e5!.
23.Qh6! f5 24.Rh3 e5 25.Qxh7+ Kf7 26.Bxf5?
There was no need to do this. It is a
baffling choice. White has a winning
position after 26.dxe5 Rxe5 27.Rxe5 Qxe5
28.Rg3 Rd6 29.h4.
26...gxf5 27.Rg3 Qf6 28.dxe5 Re6
34
solving this problem Black may well get the
piece placements wrong, giving White an
easy advantage. Black’s task is certainly not
trivial.
7...Ne4
It looks like a question of time before Black
hits the knight on b5, sends him away and
gains a move. That probably will happen,
but Black will then be left with a poorly
placed knight on a6, which takes perhaps
even more time to redeploy. This is a curious
line.
Another Hasangatin game continued
7...c6 8.Nc3 Nc7 9.Be2 Nce8 10.0-0 Nd6.
70...a5?+
70...Rb3! keeps the win in hand.
71.Rd6??
Fatigue is playing a big part. Had White
played 71.Kf6!, with the idea of Rb8, it is not
clear how Black is going to win: 71...Kh6
(alternatively, if 71...Rh2 72.Rxb5 Rxh3
73.Kxf5 Rxg3 74.Kf4+ Kh4 75.Rxa5 or
71...f4 72.Rb8 Be8 73.Rxb2 fxg3 74.Kf5 a4
75.Kf4 Kh4) 72.Rb8 Kh7 73.Rb7+ Kg8
74.Rb8+. This must have been a frustrating
discovery post-game for both players.
71...Kg5 72.h4+ Kg4 73.Rg6+ Kf3 74.h5 a4
75.h6 a3 76.Rg8
Or if 76.h7 a2 77.h8=Q a1=Q 78.Qh5+ Kg2.
76...a2 77.Ra8 Bc4 78.Kxf5 Rb1 79.Ra3+
Rb3 80.Rxa2 Rb5+ 81.Kf6 Rb6+ 82.Kg7
Rb7+ 83.Kh8 Bxa2 84.g4 Kxg4 85.h7 Bb1 01
Quite a game in the end.
The last game was not exactly convincing
and the search was on for new ideas which
would revive the fortunes of the Barry Attack.
A real breakthrough came when it was
found that 5.Nb5 might actually be a
dangerous move.
How many moves has Black made with
that knight? My own view is that White has
a slight edge, but he has to find a way of
opening the position, either via e3-e4 or c2c4, both of which require preparation.
Here 11.a4 would be another typical move
of this system, intending a4-a5, gaining a bit
of queenside space. Instead, R.HasangatinA.Maltsevskaya, Sochi 2017, saw: 11.Re1
Nfe4 12.Nxe4 Nxe4 13.c4 Qb6 14.Qc2
(White has emerged ahead in a Grünfeldtype position, where Black has played the
passive ...c7-c6) 14...Bd7 (14...Bf5 15.Bd3
does not help Black) 15.Bd3 Nf6 16.c5!.
Game 25
R.Hasangatin-S.Savitskiy
Russian Rapid Championship, Sochi 2017
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.Nb5
Na6 6.e3 0-0 7.h3
This is a good moment for h2-h3. White
leaves Black with the problem of where
exactly he is going to station his bishop on
c8, the rook on a8 and the knight on a6. In
35
10.b3 cxb3 11.Qxb3 Bf5 12.Be2 Qa5 13.0-0
Rfd8 14.Rfc1 Be6 15.c4
Black has nothing to set against White’s
plan of advancing on the queenside, trying
to create pawn weaknesses. She must fall
back and defend: 16...Qd8 17.b4 b5?! 18.a4
a6 19.Ne5 Qc8 20.Ra3 Qb7 21.Rea1 a5 (if she
waits, White can increase the advantage
with 21...Rfd8 22.Qa2! Be8 23.axb5 cxb5
24.Rxa6) 22.bxa5 (22.axb5 axb4 23.Ra6! was
also strong, and if 23...cxb5? 24.c6) 22...b4
23.a6 Rxa6 24.Bxa6 Qxa6 25.Rb3 Bf5
26.Qb2 Nd7 27.Nxd7 Bxd7 28.Rxb4 (there is
no compensation for the material
disadvantage; White now strolls to the win)
28...f6 29.Rb7 Rd8 30.Qb6 Qa8 31.Rb8 1-0.
Returning to 7...Ne4:
Let’s try and understand the scene. This is
a rapid game. You couldn’t say Black had
played badly, but he is worse. White has the
easy plan of attacking on the queenside and
Black lacks a comparable idea. This pattern
would be repeated many times from 2017 to
the present day. The Barry has practical
strength.
15...dxc4 16.Bxc4 Bxc4 17.Rxc4 Rd7 18.Rac1
Qd8?
A clear mistake, but even after the better
18...Qb6 19.Qb1! Nf6 20.e4 White still has a
huge positional edge.
19.Nxa7! Qe8 20.Rc8 Rd8 21.Qxb7 Raxc8
22.Rxc8 1-0
5.Nb5 suddenly started to attract the
attention of the strongest players.
Game 26
L.Aronian-M.Vachier-Lagrave
Gibraltar (rapid) 2018
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.Nb5
Na6 6.e3 c6 7.Nc3 0-0?!
I can see players the world over making
the same mistake and 7...Nc7 should be
played.
8.Bxa6!
Not the greatest move in openings like the
Modern Benoni, but here 8.Bxa6 fits the bill
nicely. The b8-square is covered and White
will play to occupy or control c5, leaving
Black with permanent pawn weaknesses.
8...bxa6 9.h3!
Avoiding ...Nh5.
8.c3!? c5
8...c6 9.Na3 f6 10.Be2 e5 11.Bh2 is rather
messy, but at least White’s position is
typically compact.
9.a4 c4
Black can get aggressive with 9...f6 10.Be2
e5 11.Bh2, but in many ways this plays into
White’s hands. He is counting on an
overreaction and if Black mistimes his
aggression, White can get the upper hand
right away because his structure is so
fundamentally sound.
36
9...Nd7 10.0-0 Bb7 11.Na4 Rc8
Black should probably try 11...c5 12.c3! Rc8
13.Qb3 Bc6 14.Nxc5 Nxc5 15.dxc5 Qa5, but
White has a definite edge.
12.b4! a5 13.Nc5 Nxc5 14.bxc5
Not good, but after 25...Rb7 26.h4! the
Barry Attack is revived.
26.dxe5 Bg6 27.R4e2 Rb2 28.Nf3
28.exf6 was also strong.
28...Rxe2 29.Rxe2 fxe5 30.Rxe5
White only has avoid losing on time. He
does so.
30...Qd1+ 31.Re1 Qc2 32.a3 Qxc4 33.Qxg5
Rf5 34.Re8+ Kg7 35.Qe7+ Kh6 36.Qe3+ Qf4
37.Qxf4+ Rxf4 38.Re6 Rc4 39.Rxc6 Kg7
40.Ne5 Rc1+ 41.Kh2 Be4 42.Ra6 Rxc5
43.Rxa7+ Kg8 44.Nd7 Rf5 45.Rxa4 Bc6
46.Rg4+ Kf7 47.Nb8 Bb7 48.f3 Rb5 49.Rb4
Rxb4 50.axb4 1-0
Coming ever closer to the present day, we
find that GM Mark Hebden is still mowing
down all comers with the Barry Attack. He
seems to have a liking for the Tarzan method.
One can see why this is a perfect opening
for rapidplay. White has the obvious plan of
exploiting the weak black pawns and there
is no counterplay to be seen. Even VachierLagrave must struggle here.
14...Ba6 15.Re1 a4 16.Qd2 Bb5 17.e4! dxe4
18.Rxe4 Bc4 19.Bh6
There are several choices. He could try
19.Re3, but I quite like 19.Ne5! Bd5 20.Re3
f6 21.Nd3 Bc4 22.Qc3 Bb5 23.Rae1,
retaining a stable advantage.
19...Bxh6?
Black must take the opportunity to play
19...Bd5! 20.Bxg7 Kxg7 21.Re3 (21.Rh4 h5
22.Rxh5 gxh5 23.Qg5+ leads to a perpetual)
21...Bxf3 22.Rxf3 Qd5 23.Ra3 Rfd8 24.Rd1 e5
25.c3 Qc4 and there are definite drawing
chances.
20.Qxh6 f6 21.Nd2 Bd5 22.Re3 Rb8 23.c4
Bf7 24.Re4 g5 25.Rae1
Game 27
M.Hebden-A.Bukojemski
London 2018
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.Qd2
Of all the moves available to White at this
point, I would say 5.Qd2 leads to the most
obscure types of middlegame. We know that
Black is supposed to put a knight on e4 as
soon as he can, leading to immediate
complications.
5...0-0
Walking into the so-called attack, but
Black is relying on ...Ne4.
6.Bh6
Without this move, the Tarzan Attack
lacks bite.
6...Ne4 7.Qe3!?
25...e5?
37
A truly weird move, but White needed
something as 7.Nxe4 dxe4 8.Bxg7 Kxg7
9.Ne5 was not scoring very well.
7...Nxc3
7...Qd6!? is the other main idea, which,
according to the database, Hebden has
faced numerous times. Is Black’s position so
bad after 8.Bxg7 Kxg7 9.0-0-0 Nxc3 10.Qxc3
Nc6 11.e3 Bg4?
8.Bxg7 Kxg7 9.Qxc3 Bg4
We will see later that Hebden has also
faced 9...Qd6 and 9...Nc6. The thing about
Hebden is that he has total confidence in his
repertoire, having played so many games
over the years. If the opponent wants to take
him on, they have to know more than he
does, which does not happen often. Of
course, today, with computers, databases,
engines, and a generally much higher level
of preparation, it is becoming far more
difficult to play in this style. Luckily, the
Barry is comparatively lightly documented.
10.Ne5 Be6 11.h4
22...g5??
Horrible. Just 22...Rh8 would have done
the trick.
23.Rh7+! Kg6
The attack cannot be blocked after
23...Kxh7 24.Qxf6 Bh5 25.Rh1.
24.Rh6+ 1-0
Hebden is a truly practical player.
Into the pandemic era, with fast play
galore, where chess moved online, and the
popularity of the Barry Attack exploded.
Even the very best players seem to have
identified the Barry as an excellent weapon
for speed chess. White has standard plans to
hand in whichever line is chosen and Black’s
task of getting to a playable middlegame is
not at all easy.
As I write, we are gradually emerging from
this difficult period, with more and more
over-the-board tournaments taking place.
Will the Barry maintain the current surge of
popularity at a slower time control?
This matters little to tournament and club
players of a normal standard. To me the
Barry is an ideal opening for them, setting
Black unusual problems right from the
beginning of the game.
If it can be played, h2-h4 must be played.
11...Nd7 12.Nxd7 Qxd7 13.h5 f6 14.e3 c5
This is ambitious. After the simple
14...Rac8 15.0-0-0 Qd6, preparing ...c7-c5,
Black would have had a good game.
15.dxc5 Rfc8 16.hxg6 hxg6 17.Bd3 Qc7
18.Qd4 Qxc5 19.0-0-0 Bf7
White was hoping for a small ‘nibble’, as
we say in England, after the queen exchange
with 19...Qxd4 20.exd4 Bf7 21.Rde1 e6 22.f4.
Frankly, after 22...Rh8 it does not amount to
much.
20.Rh4 e5 21.Qg4 e4 22.Qf4
Game 28
M.Bluebaum-M.Krzyzanowski
Internet (blitz) 2021
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.Nb5!? Na6
White can tweak the move order in this
way, so long as he is happy to face 6...Ne8.
38
18...Qxd2 19.Bxa6 e6 20.Bc7 Ne4 21.Qc6
Rf8 22.Qa4 does not look great for Black.
19.dxc5 Qxd2 20.Rxa7
A killer blow.
20...Rxa7 21.Qxc8+ Bf8 22.Bh6 Nd7 23.c6
Qa5 24.cxd7 Ra8 25.Bxf8 1-0
It may have taken Black all his time to
attempt to solve the problems that White
was posing.
Perhaps then 7.c4! sends Black into an
inferior Grünfeld-type position.
7.h3 c6 8.Nc3 c5!? 9.Nb5
I think I have already mentioned that this
is an odd variation.
9...Bd7 10.c3 Qb6 11.a4 Rfc8 12.Be2 c4
13.b3!
Game 29
J.Xiong-G.Jones
Internet (blitz) 2021
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.Nb5
Na6 6.e3 0-0 7.h3 c6 8.Nc3 b5!?
Jones does not like to be pinned down and
strikes out with an idea which has been
played only infrequently.
9.Be2
Previously, 9.Bd3 Nb4 was L.AronianM.Vachier-Lagrave, Internet (blitz) 2020,
won by Black, which probably inspired Jones
to try the idea out. Now 10.Be2 is met by
10...Bf5! 11.Rc1 Qa5 12.Qd2 Nxc2+! 13.Rxc2
b4 and Black is at least equal, with the
initiative.
9...b4 10.Na4 Qa5 11.b3 Nd7
Perhaps Jones did not like 11...Ne4 12.Ne5.
12.0-0 Nb6
This is a typical obscure early middlegame,
ideal if you want to make the opponent
think. The knight on a6 occupies a doubtful
square.
13...Bxb5 14.axb5 Qxb5 15.Nd2
White looks like he may get the pawn back,
but he is not interested in that.
15...Qc6 16.0-0!? cxb3
Instead, 16...Nc7 17.bxc4 dxc4 18.Bxc7
Rxc7 19.Bxc4 b5 20.Be2 Qxc3 21.Bxb5 may
be a little better for White, but that is all.
17.Qxb3
17...Qxc3?!
Tempting, but probably wrong. One
makes such moves in blitz. 17...Nc7,
attempting to return to the game, was
almost certainly better, when White would
probably have to place his trust in 18.Rfc1,
with some compensation for the pawn.
18.Qxb7 Nc5?
13.Nb2
13.a3! is being suggested by the machine
and Black cannot equalize: 13...bxa3 (if
13...Nxa4 14.axb4! or 13...Nd7 14.Qd2,
threatening Bxa6) 14.Rxa3 Nxa4 (or
14...Nd7 15.Qa1 Qd8 16.Qc3) 15.Rxa4 Qb6
39
16.Qd2 Nc7 17.Rfa1 and in all cases, White
has the advantage.
13...c5 14.Be5
A move which features in many Barry
games. White tries to restrict Black’s
possibilities.
14...f6
Loosening.
15.Bg3 Bf5?
I am not sure what Black should play.
Maybe the odd-looking 15...Qa3!? is best,
but even there 16.Nd3 c4 17.bxc4 dxc4
18.Nc5 e5 19.Qc1! Qxc1 20.Rfxc1 exd4
21.exd4 f5 22.Rab1 seems to reach a
position where White has pressure.
16.Bxa6 Qxa6 17.dxc5 Nd7 18.Nd4!
Rb7 51.b5 Kf7 52.Rc6 Bg3 53.Ke3 Bh4
54.b6 Kg6 55.Kf3 h5 56.e5 Rb8 57.exf6 Rg8
58.Rd7 Kf5 59.Rd5+ Kg6 60.b7 Rb8 61.Rd7
Kf5 62.Rc8 Bxf6 63.Rxb8 1-0
In the 5.Nb5 variation, it often costs Black
a lot of time to improve his knight on the rim.
Game 30
N.Nguyen-R.Pert
Internet (blitz) 2022
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.Nb5
Na6 6.e3 0-0 7.h3 c6 8.Nc3 Nc7 9.Be2 Ne6
Moving for the third time and finally
reaching the centre, but encouraging White
to play a move he is keen to play anyway.
10.Be5!
Hoping to exchange the fianchettoed
bishop, so that White can begin a kingside
attack.
10...a5 11.g4!? Ne4 12.Bxg7 Nxg7 13.Nxe4
dxe4 14.Nd2 f5
Black may have underestimated the
strength of this move.
18...e6
18...Nxc5 19.Nxf5 gxf5 20.Qxd5+ Ne6
21.Nd3 is hopeless for Black.
19.Bd6 Rfc8 20.g4 Nxc5
20...Be4 21.f3 does not change things.
21.Bxc5 Rxc5 22.gxf5 gxf5 23.Nd3
I guess you play on in a blitz game, but
White is clearly winning. Another example
of the odd, somewhat confusing early
middlegame that can occur in the Barry.
There were many more moves:
23...Rc7 24.Nf4 Re8 25.Ndxe6 Rxe6
26.Qxd5 Rce7 27.Rad1 Kf7 28.Rd4 Qc6
29.Nxe6 Qxd5 30.Rxd5 Kxe6 31.Rfd1 Rc7
32.Rd6+ Ke7 33.R6d4 a5 34.Rc4 Ra7 35.Rd5
Ke6 36.Rb5 Bf8 37.Rc6+ Kf7 38.Rxf5 Be7
39.Kg2 a4 40.Kf3 a3 41.e4 Rd7 42.Rd5 Rb7
43.c4 bxc3 44.Rxc3 Kg6 45.Ke2 Bb4 46.Rc6
Re7 47.Kd3 Kg7 48.f4 Be1 49.Rc2 Bh4 50.b4
Fighting for the initiative, but somewhat
loose too.
15.gxf5
I personally think 15.c3 a4 16.h4!? would
have been a better way for White to proceed.
15...Bxf5 16.c3 e5 17.Nc4 exd4 18.cxd4 Be6
The immediate 18...Qh4 was also
promising.
19.Ne5 Qh4 20.Rh2 Nf5 21.Bg4 Kh8
22.Bxf5 Rxf5 23.Qg4 Qf6
23...Qe7!, intending 24.Qxe4 Qb4+, would
have been more difficult to meet.
24.Qxe4 Bd5 25.Qc2 Qh4 26.0-0-0 a4
27.Rg1 Bxa2?
27...Rg5 was required.
40
definite alternative) 11.exf4 gxh4 12.0-0 c6
13.Nc3 Qd6 14.g3 hxg3 15.hxg3 e5!.
10...c6
An earlier game went 10...Nxg3 11.hxg3
e5 12.c4 c6 13.Nc3 e4 14.Nd2 Nc7 15.Qb3
Kh8 16.0-0-0 b5 17.cxd5 cxd5, E.EgorovO.Loskutov, Pavlodar 2014. Then 18.Kb1 Rb8
19.Rc1 f5 20.Na4! f4 21.gxf4 gxf4 22.Nc5
seems to me to give White the better game.
11.Nc3 Nxg3 12.hxg3 e5 13.Qd2 Nc7
13...e4 looks tempting and then White
would probably have played 14.Bxa6 exf3
(or 14...bxa6 15.Ng1) 15.Bf1 Bg4 16.gxf3
Bxf3 17.Rh2 with unclear consequences.
14.0-0-0 e4 15.Ng1 f5 16.f3 b5 17.g4
28.Rxg6!
White’s rope-a-dope strategy on the clock
has worked.
28...Rxe5 29.Rg4 Qf6 30.dxe5 Qxe5 31.Rhg2
Bf7 32.Rg5 Qe6 33.Qc3+ 1-0
We leave this chapter with another
unfortunate experience for Gawain Jones,
although we will soon see him winning on
the white side of the Barry.
Game 31
R.Sadhwani-G.Jones
Internet (blitz) 2022
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.Nb5
Na6 6.e3 0-0 7.Be2
Quiet and solid. White waits to see what
Black is going to do. 7.Be2 looks like a
provocative ploy.
7...Nh5
Black tries to take advantage of the
omission of 7.h3.
8.Bg5 f6 9.Bh4 g5
An odd position. At first sight, Black seems
to be better, with more space and queenside
chances, but he has loosened his game to
get these chances. Somehow, it is easier to
play White, with the tighter king and more
solid pawn structure.
17...fxg4
It could be that 17...exf3! 18.gxf3 (18.Nxf3
b4 19.Na4 fxg4 20.Ne5 is very murky)
18...fxg4 19.fxg4 Qe7 was the right way to
proceed.
18.fxe4 b4 19.Na4 dxe4 20.Nc5 Nd5
21.Nxe4?
To me, 21.Bc4 Kh8 22.Ne2 Rf2 23.Nxe4
Rxg2 24.Rdf1 appears to bring all the white
pieces into the game, but this is blitz, so we
cannot criticize.
21...Re8?
21...Qe7! 22.Bd3 Bf5 would have put
White in trouble.
22.Bd3 Bf5 23.Ng3 Bxd3 24.Qxd3 h6
25.Nf5
10.Bg3
They often play 10.Nd2 in a position like
this, but here Black is well placed to respond
with 10...Nf4!? (10...gxh4!? 11.Bxh5 e5 is a
41
27.Nxe3 Qf2 28.Nxg4! Qxe2 29.Nxh6+
Bxh6 30.Qg6+ Bg7 31.Qh7+ Kf7 32.Rhf1+
Ke6 33.Rfe1 1-0
The timeline has brought us up to the
moment at which I am writing these words.
What does the future hold?
I think among GMs, the Barry will still
feature frequently in rapid and blitz events,
but will be an infrequent visitor to classical
chess tournaments, used only to surprise. At
master level and below, I predict the Barry
will maintain considerable popularity as an
easy to play queen’s pawn system with quite
some sting if Black goes even slightly wrong.
I hope you have enjoyed this lightweight
introduction to the Barry. It is now time to
examine the opening in more detail.
Suddenly, the position has turned against
Black, who has a draughty king.
25...Qf6 26.Ne2 Nxe3?
Something like 26...a5 was called for, but
Black is still much worse after 27.e4 Ne7
28.Qc4+ Kh7 29.Nxg7 Qxg7 (or 29...Kxg7
30.Rdf1) 30.Kb1 Rf8 31.Ng3.
42
Chapter Two
The Tarzan Attack
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.Qd2
Hebden is quite happy to play offbeat
lines, confident that he knows more about
them than virtually all his opponents. He has
been playing tournament chess almost nonstop for the last 45 years, so this probably
true.
5...0-0
5...h6!? is not so bad, but uncommon.
Black prevents Bh6. A comical Hebden game
continued 6.e3 Nbd7?? 7.Nb5 e5 (7...Ne4
does not help: 8.Nxc7+ Qxc7 9.Bxc7 Nxd2
10.Nxd2 and White cleanly wins a pawn,
while here 8.Qa5 b6 9.Qa3 Nd6 10.Qc3! is an
offbeat line, undoubtedly better for White)
8.Nxe5 (8.dxe5! Nh5 9.e6 ends resistance, or
here if 8...Ne4 9.Qxd5 or 8...Ng4 9.Qc3! 0-0
10.Nxc7 Rb8 11.h3 Ngxe5 12.Nxe5 Qe7
13.Nxd5 Qe6 14.Qb4) 8...Nh5 9.Nxg6 f6??
(9...fxg6 10.Nxc7+) 10.Nxc7+ Kf7 11.Nxh8+
Bxh8 12.Nxa8 Nxf4 13.exf4 b6 14.Qc3 1-0,
M.Hebden-J.Mouhamad, Internet (blitz)
2020.
6.Bh6 Bxh6 7.Qxh6 c5
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.Qd2
I have no idea how this variation became
known as the Tarzan Attack, but it is a funny
name and as good as anything else.
White’s intentions are direct. He wants to
play Bh6, strip out the fianchettoed bishop
and weaken the black king position. This has
always seemed an artificial procedure to me,
but Black must show respect and proceed
with great care. If he does not, he can be
trounced.
We will split up this chapter into several
sections, beginning with 5...0-0. Black
castles and says that he is not intimidated by
White’s attacking prospects. This is a sharp
idea. We’ll then move on to 5...Ne4, with
which Black interrupts any white idea of an
immediate Bh6 and obscure positions arise,
before looking at other fifth moves. Black
has tried a wide range of ideas, but of these
moves only 5...h6!?, 5...c5 and 5...c6 make
any sense to me.
The contents of the first game of this
chapter are included as a warning to black
players who think defending against the
Tarzan is a piece of cake.
Playing in the centre seems appropriate.
8.dxc5 Qa5
8...d4 9.0-0-0 Ng4 has featured in a couple
of Hebden games and now 10.Qf4 e5!?
(10...Nxf2 11.Rxd4 Qa5 12.Rg1 is good for
White) 11.Nxe5 Nxe5 12.Qxe5 Nc6 13.Qf4
Game 32
M.Hebden-C.Daly
Dublin 2007
43
Qa5 14.Nd5 Qxa2 15.Nf6+ Kg7 16.Nh5+
gxh5 17.Qg5+ leads to perpetual check.
9.0-0-0 Rd8 10.Ng5 d4 11.e4 dxc3 12.Bc4
This is the attempt at counterplay that
keeps 5...0-0 afloat.
7.Qe3!?
A relatively new addition to the Barry
armory and, as far as I can see, first played
by Hebden in 2012. It has the same artificial
feel to it that the whole 5.Qd2 variation has,
but perhaps it preserves a small lead in
development rather than any chance of an
attack on the king.
7...Nxc3 8.Bxg7
Instead, 8.bxc3 Bxh6 9.Qxh6 Nd7!
appears to defend against White’s
aggression: 10.h4 (or 10.Ng5 Nf6 11.e4 dxe4
12.Bc4 c5 13.h4 Bf5 14.h5 Qa5) 10...c5! (if
Black can counterattack, he should) 11.h5
Nf6 12.hxg6 fxg6 13.Ng5 Qa5! 14.Rd1
Qxc3+ (or 14...Bf5 15.Nxh7 Qxc3+ 16.Rd2
Ng4) 15.Rd2 Qb2 16.Nxh7 Qc1+. In all cases,
the black attack is stronger than anything
White can muster.
8...Kxg7 9.Qxc3 Bf5
12...Nc6?
Under pressure, Black falters. 12...Be6!
was the only defence: 13.Bxe6 Rxd1+
14.Rxd1 fxe6 (or 14...cxb2+ 15.Kb1 fxe6
16.Nxe6 Kf7 17.Ng5+ Ke8 18.Qg7 Nbd7
19.Qf7+ Kd8 20.Qf8+! Kc7 21.Ne6+ Kc6
22.Qxa8) 15.Nxe6 Kf7 16.Ng5+ Kg8
17.Nxh7 Nbd7 18.Qxg6+ Kh8 is very
unclear. Complicated stuff.
13.Bxf7+ Kh8 14.Bb3
14.Rxd8+ Qxd8 15.Rd1 was more accurate
according to the dreaded machine.
14...Ne5
Apparently, 14...cxb2+ 15.Kb1 Re8 16.f4
Qc7 holds on, but for how much longer, I
cannot say.
15.f4 Bg4 16.fxe5 Rxd1+ 17.Rxd1 cxb2+
18.Kxb2 Qxc5 19.exf6 Qe5+ 20.c3 1-0
A game with typically messy and unusual
tactical exchanges, common to this line.
Black may have been able to defend, but it
was never easy. Hebden continues to use
these situations to his advantage.
The overall results favour White here,
based on a small sample, but Black
plans ...Qd6, ...Nd7 and then a pawn break,
so he should not be worse.
10.e3 Qd6 11.0-0-0
A new move from Gawain Jones, although
straightforward. White wants to win and so
creates an imbalance. Hebden played
11.Bd3 in a 2012 game against Berg, but this
looks very equal after 11...Bxd3 12.cxd3 (or
12.Qxd3 Nd7) 12...a5 13.0-0 Nd7.
11...Nd7 12.Nh4 Be6 13.f4 f5
A respectful reply, but in the long term,
could cause some issues in an endgame.
Perhaps Black should just play 13...Nf6
Game 33
G.Jones-A.Tari
Wijk aan Zee 2017
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.Qd2
0-0 6.Bh6
Without Bh6, the position of the queen on
d2 makes no sense. Since White is thinking
about a quick h2-h4, Black must mix it up.
6...Ne4!
44
14.Bd3 Rfc8 and get ...c7-c5 in as quickly as
he can. I don’t think White could claim
anything at all after that as 15.f5 Bd7
16.Kb1 c5 would not really aid the cause.
14.h3 Nf6 15.Bd3 b5!?
15...b6 16.Nf3 c5 seems logical to me,
when Black has good chances.
16.Nf3
16.Bxb5 Ne4 17.Qe1 Rfb8 18.Bd3 Rxb2! is
the tactical idea. This is not what White
wants to happen, and if 19.Bxe4 (or 19.Kxb2
Rb8+ 20.Ka1 Qa3 21.Rb1 Nc3) 19...Qa3.
16...b4 17.Qc5
White is getting his act together now.
31...Rgd8 32.Nh7+ Bxh7 33.Rxh7 Rg8
34.Rh6+ Ke7 35.Rg5 Ne4 36.Bxe4 dxe4
37.dxc5 Rac8
37...dxc5 38.Rxf5 Rh8 39.Rhh5 Rxh5
40.Rxh5 Kf6 41.h4 Rg8 42.Rg5 is very
unpromising for Black.
38.Rxg8 Rxg8 39.cxd6+ Kd7 40.a4 Rg2
41.Kd1 Ra2 42.Rh5 Kxd6 43.Rxf5 Ra3
44.Kd2 Ra2+ 45.Ke1 Ra3 46.Kf2 Ra2+
47.Kg3 Ra3 48.Re5 Rxe3+ 49.Kg4 Re1
Black cannot hold this endgame.
50.h4 Rg1+ 51.Kf5 Rh1 52.Kxe4 Rxh4
53.Ra5 Rh7 54.Ra6+ Kc5 55.Ke5
55.f5 also wins.
55...Re7+ 56.Kf6 Rb7 57.f5 Kd5 1-0
Black resigned thanks to spotting 58.Kg6,
and if 58...Rb1 59.f6 Rg1+ 60.Kf7 or 58...Ke5
59.f6 Rb1 60.f7 Rg1+ 61.Kh7 Rf1 62.Kg7
Rg1+ 63.Rg6.
Our next game will show additional
defensive possibilities for Black.
Jones plays sensibly, content to maintain
equality.
17...Nd7 18.Qxd6 exd6 19.Ng5 Bg8 20.g4
White is relying on this nibble at the black
pawn chain to give him an edge.
20...c5 21.c3 bxc3 22.bxc3 Nb6?!
An optimistic move, intending to attack,
but the knight drifts offside. Instead,
22...fxg4! 23.hxg4 Nf6 is better for Black,
who has pressure on g4 and great squares
for his rooks on b8 and e8.
23.gxf5 gxf5 24.Nf3 Kf6 25.Rhg1 Be6
26.Rg5
The advantageous endgame, mentioned a
while back, is starting to come into focus.
26...Na4 27.Rh5 Nxc3
27...c4 28.Rh6+ Ke7 29.Rxh7+ Rf7
30.Rxf7+ Kxf7 31.Be2 Nxc3 32.Ng5+ Kf6
33.Rd2 Ne4 may have been a better way to
handle the position.
28.Rg1 Rg8 29.Ng5 Bf7 30.Rxh7 Bg6 31.Rd7
Game 34
I.Schrancz-L.Borisovs
correspondence 2016
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.Nf3 d5 5.Qd2
0-0 6.Bh6 Ne4 7.Qe3 Nxc3 8.Bxg7 Kxg7
9.Qxc3 Qd6!
Black can play 9...Qd6 with confidence.
The queen comes to a flexible location and
supports the idea of ...c7-c5 as soon as
preparations are complete, which may
involve moves such as ...Nd7 and ...b7-b6.
White has a hard time getting any
advantage now.
45
10.e3 Bf5 11.Bd3 Bxd3 12.cxd3
White doesn’t need to do this, but once
here, most will.
11...Nxh5 12.0-0-0
12.Qd2 Qd6 13.0-0-0 Bf5 seems a very
sensible to way to meet White’s ‘attack’,
which I cannot see just yet.
12...Nf6 13.Ne5 c6 14.f3
Instead, 14.Qg3 Qa5 15.Kb1 Bf5 16.Qh4
can be calmly met with 16...h5 17.f3 Rh8. The
entire white attacking plan looks unsound.
14...Qb6
14...h5! 15.g4 hxg4, with ...Rh8 as Black
wishes, would seem the correct way to
defend.
15.Qd2 h5 16.g4 Rh8 17.Bg2
17.Qf4 Be6 18.g5 Nd7 19.Bh3 poses more
problems to Black, but, of course, this is blitz.
17...Be6 18.g5 Nd7 19.Qf4 Nxe5
19...Qb4! intending ...Qd6 looks better.
20.Qxe5+ Kh7 21.f4 Rac8?
21...Qd8 22.f5 Bxf5 23.Rxh5+ gxh5
24.Qxf5+ Kg7 25.Rf1 Rf8 26.Bf3 Qd6!
bolsters the fort.
22.f5 Bxf5
12...Nc6
I mentioned Hebden-Berg during the last
game. It is unexciting, but handy to know
about: 12...a5 (Black gains queenside space)
13.0-0 Nd7 14.e4 Rfc8 15.Rfe1 (15.e5 Qb4
16.Qc1 Nf8 17.a3 Qb5 comes to nothing for
White) 15...e6 16.Re2 Kg8 17.Rae1 c5!
18.Qd2 (or 18.e5 Qb6 19.dxc5 Rxc5 20.Qd2
Rac8) 18...cxd4 19.Qh6 Qf8 20.Qxf8+ Nxf8
21.exd5 Rc5! 22.dxe6 Nxe6 23.g3 Rac8
24.Ne5 Rc1 25.Kf1 R8c2 26.Rxc2 Rxc2
27.Re2 Rc1+ 28.Re1 Rc2 29.Re2 Rc1+ 30.Re1
Rc2 ½-½, M.Hebden-E.Berg, Oslo 2012.
13.Rc1
13.a3 a5 would in all probability
transpose back to the game.
13...a5 14.0-0 a4 15.a3 Rfc8 16.Rfe1 ½-½
The two players have had enough already.
After the double trade of minor pieces early
on, it is hard for White to obtain any sort of
edge at all.
Game 35
S.Zaksaite-M.Ezat
Internet (blitz) 2020
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qd2
0-0 6.Bh6 Ne4 7.Qe3 Nxc3 8.Bxg7 Kxg7
9.Qxc3 Nd7
This is yet another defensive possibility for
Black. The knight transfers to f6 in order to
bolster the defence.
10.h4!?
Barry specialists will be proud.
10...Nf6 11.h5
23.Qxe7??
Missing the big moment. 23.Rxh5+ and,
suddenly, Black has no defence: for example,
46
23...gxh5 24.Qxf5+ Kg7 25.Qe5+! Kh7
26.Rf1 Rcf8 27.g6+! fxg6 28.Qxe7+ Kh6
29.Rxf8.
23...Qc7
The rest of the game may pass without
comment.
24.Qf6 Kg8 25.Rdf1 Rh7 26.Rxf5 gxf5
27.Bh3 Qf4+ 28.Kb1 Qe4 0-1
I presume White lost on time. Not a great
game, but full of ideas which help us to
master this line.
My conclusion is that 7.Qe3 gives nothing
to White. Once minor pieces are traded, all
of 9...Bf5, 9...Qd6 and 9...Nd7 are good
possibilities for Black.
Since 7.Qe3 didn’t seem to add up to
much, White must look for other ways to
play.
A.Stefanova-K.Lagno, Rostov-on-Don 2011,
continued 12...e3!? (a sharp attempt to gum
up the works; 12...f5! is a very decent
alternative, with White struggling to get any
sort of edge: for example, 13.e3 h6 14.Nh3
g5 – keeping the knight on h3 out of play –
15.Ng1 Nc6 16.Rd2 Be6 17.h4 Rad8; the best
that White can hope for here is an uneasy
equality, which is no recommendation for
the line) 13.fxe3 h6 14.Nf3 Re8 15.Rd3 (after
15.e4 Black should continue with natural
moves: 15...Nc6 16.Ra4 b5 17.Ra3 Rxe4 and
if anyone is better here, it is Black) 15...Na6
16.g3 Nb4 17.Rb3 c5 18.a3 Nd5 19.e4 c4
(19...Rxe4
must
also
come
into
consideration) 20.Rb5 Ne3 21.Rc5 Rd8
22.Nd2 Be6 and, personally, I do not play
White to get into a position like this. Black
proceeded to win and this game convinces
me that White gets nowhere after 10.0-0-0.
10...Qxd2+ 11.Kxd2 Rd8+ 12.Kc3 e3!
Game 36
M.Hebden-D.Eggleston
Amersham 2012
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.Qd2
0-0 6.Bh6 Ne4! 7.Nxe4
This is the alternative to 7.Qe3, but Black
seems to have no difficulty in obtaining a
good game. However, the positions reached
can be murky and both sides can easily go
wrong.
7...dxe4 8.Bxg7 Kxg7 9.Ng5
We will look at 9.Ne5 later on.
9...e5!
A good move. White risks falling behind in
development in this line.
Instead, 9...Qd5 should be answered by
10.c4! Qxc4 (alternatively, if 10...e3 11.cxd5
exd2+ 12.Kxd2 Rd8 13.e4 c6 14.Rc1 or
10...Qf5 11.f3 exf3 12.Nxf3 Nd7 13.e3)
11.Nxe4 Nc6 12.e3. White has hopes of an
edge in all these lines.
10.dxe5
Castling queenside is an alternative: 10.00-0 Qxd4 11.Qxd4 exd4 12.Rxd4.
One may also play 12...Nc6 13.Nxe4 Rd5
(or 13...Nxe5 14.e3 Bf5 15.Ng3 Ng4
16.Nxf5+ gxf5) 14.e3 Bf5, which is not great
for White.
13.f4
47
13.fxe3 Re8 14.Nf3 Nc6 does not inspire
confidence in White’s game.
13...Nc6 14.g3 Nd4 15.b3 Bf5 16.Rc1 h6
I quite like 16...a5! when Black is better
after 17.h4 a4 18.h5 Ra6 19.hxg6 Bxg6 20.g4?
Bxc2.
17.Nf3 c5
17...Be4! 18.Rg1 Bxf3 19.exf3 e2 20.Bg2 a5
keeps White tied up.
18.Kb2 c4?!
18...Rd7 19.Nxd4 cxd4 20.h4 f6 was a
better try.
19.Nxd4 Rxd4 20.Bg2 Rc8 21.Kc3
21.Bxb7!? c3+ 22.Kb1 Rcd8 23.Ba6 Rd2
24.Bd3 Bxd3 25.exd3 e2 26.Rce1 was an
alternative which may be OK.
21...Rd2 22.b4
Game 37
T.Fiebig-M.Agopov
German Bundesliga 2009
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.Qd2
0-0 6.Bh6 Ne4 7.Nxe4 dxe4 8.Bxg7 Kxg7
9.Ng5 f5
Black may have more than one good
option at this point. We have already noted
9...e5 and there seems to be nothing wrong
with 9...f5 either.
10.h4
No surprises here. The voluntary retreat
10.Nh3 has been played in only one game,
which White won, but I cannot see a real
future for this move. Then 10...Qd6 11.e3
Nc6 12.0-0-0 e5 looks like a straightforward
way to get a good game as Black.
10...h6 11.Nh3 e5!
Hebden has been using every ounce of his
great skill just to stay on the board and now
the game is about to start again for him.
Eggleston has missed his chance.
22...Rxe2 23.Bxb7 Rd8 24.Ba6 Rdd2 25.Bxc4
Rxc2+ 26.Rxc2 Rxc2+ 27.Kb3 h5 28.a4 h4
29.gxh4 Rf2 30.Re1! Bc2+ 31.Kc3 Rxf4 32.a5
Rxh4 33.Rxe3 Rxh2 34.e6!
The tables have completely turned.
34...fxe6 35.Rxe6 g5 36.Re7+ Kf6 37.Rxa7
g4 38.Rf7+ Ke5 39.Rg7 Bf5 40.b5 Rh7
41.Rg5 Rh1 42.Bd3 Rc1+ 43.Kd2 Ra1
44.Rxf5+ Kd4 45.Rf4+ Kc5 46.Rc4+ Kd5
47.a6 g3 48.Rg4 Ra2+ 49.Ke3 g2 50.Bc4+
Kc5 51.Bxa2 g1=Q+ 52.Rxg1 1-0
White had some difficult moments in the
opening, enough to make me feel uneasy
about this whole variation.
There really is nothing in these positions
for White, who must hope that his opponent
is unfamiliar with the whole line and, as
such, might go astray.
12.0-0-0
After 12.e3 Qxh4! 13.0-0-0 Qe7 14.Qc3
Nc6 15.d5 Nd8 16.f4 Nf7 17.Be2 Rd8
18.Rhg1 Rd6 Black went on to win in
T.Preziuso-T.Torgersen,
correspondence
2019. Meanwhile 12.dxe5 Qxd2+ 13.Kxd2
Nc6 14.e3 Nxe5 is leading nowhere for
White, although this position is certainly
equal. Maybe this is the best White can do.
12...exd4 13.e3
Instead, 13.Qxd4+ Qxd4 14.Rxd4 Nc6
15.Rd1 f4 leaves Black better already,
L.Laliena
Solanes-R.Rodriguez
Lopez,
Mondariz 2015.
48
13...c5! 14.exd4 cxd4 15.Qxd4+ Qxd4
16.Rxd4 Nc6 17.Rd6 f4!
but we should see a game to convince
ourselves.
9...c5!
It is easier for Black to develop, that is all I
will say.
18.g3
My machine is showing 18.Rg1!? as the
best move for White, with 18...Bg4 19.f3
Bxh3 20.gxh3 Ne5! 21.fxe4 Rf6 still giving
Black an edge, thanks to White’s horrid
pawn structure and poor bishop.
18...fxg3 19.Rg1 Ne5
19...Rf6 20.Rxf6 Kxf6 21.Rxg3 Bf5 22.Nf4
Rd8 looks uncomfortable for White again,
who may though yet hold a draw.
20.Rxg3 Bg4 21.Bg2 Rad8 22.Rxd8 Rxd8
23.b3 Rd1+ 24.Kb2 Bf3 25.Bxf3
25.Nf4 Rg1 might have been what White
feared.
25...Nxf3 26.Nf4 g5 27.hxg5 hxg5 28.Ne6+
Kf6 29.Nc5 Kf5 30.Nxb7 Rd2 31.Rh3 Rxf2
32.Nc5 Nd4 33.Kc3 Rf3+ 34.Rxf3+ Nxf3
35.b4 g4 36.Nb3 Kf4 37.Nc1 Ke3 0-1
I am unimpressed with White’s chances
after 9.Ng5.
A logical strike on the white centre.
10.e3
Instead 10.0-0-0 Qxd4 11.Qxd4 cxd4
12.Rxd4 f6 13.Nc4 f5 14.Ne5 Be6 15.f4 Rc8
16.Kb1 Nc6 17.Nxc6 Rxc6 looks equal.
Alternatively, 10.dxc5 Qxd2+ 11.Kxd2 f6
12.Nc4 Na6 is a good way to regain the
pawn and even if White pushes forward
with 13.c6 bxc6 14.e3 Rd8+ 15.Kc3 Nc7,
Black has the initiative.
10...Qc7 11.0-0-0 Rd8 12.Qc3 f6 13.Nc4 Na6
I quite like 13...Bg4! and White is
struggling even to keep equality: for
example, 14.Rd2 (or 14.Re1 Qd7 15.h3 Be6
16.dxc5 Na6) 14...Na6 15.a3 b5 16.h3 Be6.
14.Be2 Nb4 15.Kb1 Be6 16.dxc5 Qxc5 17.a3
Nc6 18.Nd2
18.h4 Rac8 19.h5 is the Barry way, but
ineffective here due to 19...Rxd1+ 20.Rxd1
gxh5! 21.Rh1 Bf7.
18...Qxc3 19.bxc3 f5
Game 38
A.Kogan-A.Zapata
Havana 2002
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.Qd2
0-0 6.Bh6 Ne4 7.Nxe4 dxe4 8.Bxg7 Kxg7
9.Ne5
Once White has reached this point, he can
choose to put his knight on e5, which looks
even more artificial than 9.Ng5. All you need
to know is that White has nothing after 9...c5.
I don’t recommend this variation for White,
This is ugly for White.
20.Nb3 Kf6 21.h4 Ne5 22.Rd4 Rdc8 23.Kb2
Rc7 24.Rb4 Bc4 25.Bxc4 Nxc4+ 26.Ka2 Nd6
49
27.Nd4 Rxc3 28.Rb3 Rc5 29.Kb1 Rac8
30.Rd1 b6 31.Rd2 Nc4 32.Rd1 e5 33.Ne2
Ke6 34.g3 Ra5 35.Rc3 Nxa3+ 36.Kb2 Nc4+
37.Kb3 Ra3+ 38.Kb4 a5+ 39.Kb5 Rxc3
40.Nxc3 Nd6+ 0-1
I am struggling to find any way for White
to play for an advantage in this line of the
Tarzan Attack. Since the main line with
6.Bh6 did not look very promising after
6...Ne4, can White improve the variation by
castling first? The main idea seems to be to
follow up with Ne5 and to get the kingside
pawn storm going after that.
With the black kingside looking bare,
White reverts to the usual aggressive plan.
11...h5 12.g4 Nf6 13.e4
Going for it, but 13.g5 Ne8 14.e4 is less
risky and maintains the advantage,
13...dxe4 14.g5 Nd5 15.fxe4 Nxc3 16.Qxc3
Qc7 17.Bc4 Qf4+?!
Tempting, but probably not the best move.
I suggest 17...Bg4! and quickly playing a
rook to d8. Black should be able to survive.
18.Kb1 Qxe4 19.Rde1 Qg2 20.Rhf1
20.d5+ is apparently best, with 20...Kh7
21.Rhg1! Qh2 22.dxc6 bxc6 23.Rgf1 Be6
24.Bxe6 fxe6 25.Rh1 more promising for
White, with the black pawn formation in
ruins.
20...b5
20...Bf5 21.Rxe7 b5 22.Bd3 Rae8 was an
accurate defence.
21.d5+ Kg8 22.d6!
Game 39
D.Larino Nieto-L.Medard Santiago
Padron 2021
1.Nf3 g6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Bf4 Bg7 4.Nc3 d5 5.Qd2
0-0 6.0-0-0!? c6
We will look at 6...Ne4! next, which I think
is the best reply.
7.Ne5 Nbd7 8.f3
I don’t think this gives any objective
advantage, but it leads to a position which is
easy to understand.
8...Nxe5?!
This only helps the white cause. I prefer
8...Qa5! 9.Kb1 Nh5 which appears
satisfactory for Black at least: 10.Nxd7 (or
10.Bh6 Nxe5 11.dxe5 d4! 12.Ne4 Qxd2
13.Bxd2 Bxe5) 10...Bxd7 11.Bh6 Bxh6
12.Qxh6 b5 13.g4 Nf6 when Black
threatens ...b5-b4, slowing down White’s
intended attack.
9.Bxe5 Nd7
9...b5!? is more to the point.
10.Bxg7 Kxg7 11.h4!
22...e5
22...exd6 23.Bxf7+! was the tactical point.
23.Bb3 Be6 24.Qxe5
24.Bxe6 fxe6 25.Rxf8+ Rxf8 26.Qxe5 Qd5
27.Qxd5 would have stretched Black’s
position to breaking point, and if 27...exd5
(or 27...cxd5 28.c4!! bxc4 29.Rxe6 Rd8
50
16.hxg6 hxg6 17.Rh4 Rfd8 18.Rxd8+ Rxd8
19.g3 g5 20.Rc4 Qa6 21.Rxc5 g4 22.Ng5 Bh6
23.Bg2 bxa3 24.bxa3 Qg6 25.Rc6 e6 26.f4
gxf3 27.Qxf3 Qxg5+ 0-1, J.BremeckerW.Wittal, Internet 2014. Reviewing these
games makes it hard to raise any
enthusiasm for 7.Qe3 at all.
7...dxe4 8.Ne5
Likewise, 8.Ng5 Qd5! is good for Black:
9.e3 (or 9.Kb1 h6 followed by 10.Nh3 Bxh3
11.gxh3 e3 or 10.c4 Qf5 11.g4 Qxg4 12.f3
exf3 13.Nxf3 Nc6 14.Rg1 Qf5+ 15.Ka1 Rd8)
9...Qxa2 10.Qc3 Bf5 11.Bc4 Qa1+ 12.Kd2
Qa4 13.Ra1 Qe8 14.h4 Nc6 (14...c5!, in
Grünfeld style, was appealing) 15.h5 e5
16.dxe5 Nxe5 17.Bxe5 Bxe5 18.Qb3 Qd8+
19.Ke2 Qxg5 0-1 A.Heun-R.Mislin, Internet
2021.
8...Qd5 9.Kb1 f6
30.Rxg6+ Kf7 31.Rh6 d4 32.Kc2) 28.d7 Kf7
29.Rf1+.
24...Bxb3 25.axb3 Rad8 26.Qe7 Qd5 27.Rf6
This is still much better for White, of
course.
27...Ra8 28.d7 b4 29.Ref1 a5 30.Rd6 Qg2
31.Rxf7! Qg1+ 32.Ka2 Rxf7 33.Rxg6+ Kh8
34.Qe5+ Kh7 35.Rh6+ 1-0
The attack landed, in a Tarzan-like style,
but Black can do better
Game 40
C.Praveen Kumar-A.Gupta
Chennai 2011
1.d4! Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7
5.Qd2 0-0 6.0-0-0 Ne4!
Intercepting White’s plan, which seems
like a complete solution to 6.0-0-0.
7.Nxe4
As in other lines, 7.Qe3?! looks artificial.
White is unlikely to dazzle Black with science.
Thus 7...c5! is just one good move among
many, exposing the poor position of the
white queen.
White is already lost!
10.Nxg6
10.c4 Qd8 does not help White either.
10...hxg6 11.Bxc7 Be6 12.b3 a5 13.e3 a4
Gupta just goes for it and with the extra
material, this must be the right approach.
14.h4 Rc8 15.Bxb8
15.Bc4 Qc6 16.Bxe6+ Qxe6 17.Bxb8 Rcxb8
leaves White a piece down.
15...Raxb8 16.Qb4 axb3 17.axb3 Rc7 18.Be2
Rbc8 19.c4 Qd7 20.Rc1 Bg4 21.Bxg4 Qxg4
22.g3 Qf3 23.Qd2 f5
White could resign at this point.
24.Rhe1 Ra8 25.Kb2 Rd7 26.Rg1 Rad8
27.Kb1 Bxd4 28.exd4 Qxb3+ 29.Qb2 Qxb2+
30.Kxb2 Rxd4 31.Rc2 Kf7 32.g4 Rd1 33.Rg3
R8d3 34.gxf5 Rxg3 35.fxg3 gxf5 36.Re2 Rd4
37.Rf2 Kg6 0-1
Sharp play can follow: 8.Nxe4 dxe4
9.Qxe4 Nc6! 10.Be5 (not 10.dxc5? Bxb2+
and 10.d5 Bf5 11.Qa4 Nd4 12.Nxd4 cxd4
leaves White cramped with 13.Rxd4 is ot
even working thanks to 13...e5!) 10...Nxe5
11.dxe5 Qa5 12.a3 Rb8 13.Qe3 (instead,
13.Qh4 b5 14.e3 h6 15.Qxe7 b4 16.a4 b3
17.cxb3 Rxb3 18.Bd3 Qb4 19.Rd2 Qxa4
20.Bb1 Qa1 21.Re1 Ba6 22.Rc2 Rfb8 0-1 was
D.Fekete-Z.Szczepanski,
correspondence
2010) 13...Bf5 14.h4 (this hasn’t got a hope
in hell of succeeding) 14...b5 15.h5 b4
51
There are not many high-rated games
with 6.0-0-0 and perhaps this encounter
helps to explain why.
Is there anything else for White, as the
main lines of the Tarzan seem to be coming
up short?
Game 41
A.Styazhkina-V.Artemiev
Kirishi 2012
It’s the same again and the possibility of
7...Nh5 means that I can’t really recommend
this line. If you want to take a risk, then that
is your choice. I doubt that detailed
knowledge of the Tarzan Attack is common
among sub-master level players.
8.0-0-0 Nxf4 9.exf4 cxd4 10.Qxd4 e6
Black settles in with his dark-squared
bishop intact and comes out of the opening
with the better game.
11.Qd2 Nc6 12.Re1 Qc7 13.Nb5 Qb6 14.c3
f6 15.Nf3 a6 16.Na3
White may have feared 16.Nbd4 e5! when
17.fxe5 fxe5 18.Nxc6 bxc6 19.Nxe5 cannot
be played due to 19...Rxf2 20.Re2 Rxe2
21.Qxe2 Bf5 and White is in a mess.
16...Qc5 17.h4 e5 18.h5 e4 19.Nh4
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.Qd2
0-0 6.Ne5!?
This can’t be too bad, with White retaining
options of Bh6 and/or h2-h4. Moreover, f2f3 and e2-e4 may come into consideration. If
Black plays passively or without care, an
attack may land. To me, it looks like White is
mixing Barry systems.
6...c5!
An excellent move in the current situation.
Black seeks immediate counterplay in the
centre.
There is also the usual 6...Ne4, after which
7.Nxe4 dxe4 8.0-0-0 Qd5 has scored very
well for Black indeed, as per the last game. I
will include a game where even the Barry
maestro Hebden goes down: 9.b3?! Nc6
10.Nxc6 Qxc6 11.e3 Bg4 12.Be2 Bxe2
13.Qxe2 b5 14.f3 f5 15.Bg5 a5 16.Bxe7? (too
ambitious; White must content himself
with 16.fxe4) 16...Rfe8 17.Bc5 exf3 18.gxf3
Bh6 19.Rd3 Rxe3 20.Rxe3 Re8 and Black
went on to win, M.Hebden-S.Shyam,
Hastings 2010/11.
7.e3
Here 7.dxc5 Nh5! nabs the dark-squared
bishop.
7...Nh5!
19...Ne7
The computer is telling me that 19...gxh5!
retains the advantage, although one can see
why this was not played.
20.Nc2 f5 21.f3 Be6 22.Kb1 Rad8 23.Nd4
Bxd4 24.cxd4 Qd6 25.g3 Kg7 26.Be2
All credit to White, who is putting up a
tough defence.
26...Nc6 27.Bd1 Qb4 28.Qh2 Rh8 29.g4
Nxd4 30.gxf5 Nxf5
52
White’s tenacity pays off. Instead,
30...gxf5 31.h6+ Kf7 32.Ng2 Rhg8! 33.Ne3
Rg6 retains a stable advantage.
31.Bc2 Nxh4 32.Qxh4 Rc8?
32...Bf5 looks right.
33.fxe4 Rxc2 34.Kxc2 dxe4 ½-½
He gets the draw offer in at the right time.
In actual fact, it is White who is now better
and the game should enter a new phase
after 35.Kb1! Rc8 36.Rc1, but having
struggled for so long, Styazhkina decided to
save energy.
relying on the odd nature of the positions
that arise to lead Black astray.
This is just another one of those
unconventional positions. Is the knight on
e5 well placed or can it just be kicked around?
7...c5
White does not score that well against any
of 7...Nd7, 7...Be6 or 7...f6. We will look at
them all in time, but how about the
immediate central attack?
8.e3
Instead, 8.dxc5 Qxd2+ 9.Kxd2 0-0! 10.e3
Rd8+ leads to a position where White is
scraping around for equality and might not
even be able to manage that: 11.Ke1 Be6
12.Rd1 Nc6 13.Nxc6 bxc6 14.c3 Bxa2 15.Ba6
Bb3 16.Rxd8+ Rxd8 17.Ke2 Rd5 and it is
obvious that Black has absolutely no
problems at all.
8...0-0
Game 42
I.Starostits-R.Fernandez Lopez
Mondariz 2018
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.Qd2
Ne4
5...Ne4 attempts to destabilize White’s
attack before it even gets off the ground.
Black may use the extra tempo gained by
not castling to attack in the centre.
Meanwhile, White can take comfort in that
he has not committed himself with Bh6 just
yet, while preserving options because of this.
My impression is that 5...Ne4 is just as
satisfactory for Black than 5...0-0, although a
little different in nature.
6.Nxe4
The knight is generally removed. We will
look at 6.Qe3 later on.
6...dxe4 7.Ne5
We will also look at 7.Ng5 later, which
isn’t any good. Throughout the Tarzan
Attack complex, it seems to me that White is
Now that Bh6 is off the table, why not?
9.Bc4
9.0-0-0 cxd4 10.Qxd4 Qxd4 11.exd4 Be6
12.f3 exf3 13.Nxf3 Nd7 is a nice, easy way to
equalize and here there is also the more
ambitious 10...Qa5.
9...Nd7
9...cxd4 10.exd4 Nd7 is possibly more
precise.
10.Nxd7 Bxd7
Whilst not as natural as 10...Bxd7, I like
10...Qxd7!, making room for the rook to
come to d8: 11.c3 (or 11.dxc5 Qxd2+
12.Kxd2 Bxb2) 11...Rd8 12.Qe2 cxd4
13.exd4 b6 with equality,
11.dxc5 Qc8?!
53
11...Be6! looks best, although is
apparently not easy to play, and if 12.Qxd8
Raxd8 13.Bxe6 Bxb2, 12.Bxe6 Qxd2+
13.Kxd2 fxe6! 14.c3 (or 14.Ke2 Rfc8 15.c3
Rxc5) 14...Rac8, or 12.Qb4 Bxc4 13.Qxc4
Bxb2 14.Rd1 Qa5+, and again Black cannot
complain.
12.Qb4!
Suddenly, White is better.
12...Qc6 13.0-0-0 Be6
8.Nxd7
White may castle instead, and Hebden has
played 8.0-0-0 frequently, and now:
a) Simplification offers a position where
White can only count on the faintest of
edges: 8...Nxe5 9.Bxe5 Bxe5 10.dxe5 Qxd2+
11.Kxd2! (after 11.Rxd2 f5 12.e3 Be6 13.Be2
Rd8 14.Rhd1 Rxd2 15.Rxd2 Kf7 the only
thing White has going for him here is a
better bishop; I don’t think this is enough
and by continuing ...c7-c5 and ...Rc8, Black
should be able to easily hold) 11...Bd7
12.Ke3 Rd8 13.Rd4 0-0! 14.g3 (14.Rxe4 c5
15.Rc4 b6 16.Rc3 Bb5 17.g3 f6 offers Black
compensation for the pawn thanks to his
active pieces) 14...Be6 15.Ra4 a6 16.Bg2 Rd5
17.Bxe4 Rxe5 18.f4 Rb5 19.b3 Bd5?! (a little
too clever; 19...Rb8 20.c4 Rc5 21.Rd1 c6 was
the best way of maintaining equality,
reaching an odd position where both players
have strangely placed rooks) 20.Rd1! Bxe4
21.Rxe4.
14.Bb5?!
14.Bxe6! Qxe6 (or 14...fxe6 15.g4) 15.Kb1
was correct.
14...Qc8
This is an erratic game. Black should have
played 14...a5! when the pendulum swings
again after 15.Qa4 Qxc5 16.Kb1 Qb4.
15.Rd2 a5 16.Qa3 a4 17.Kb1 Ra5 18.Qb4
Qa8 19.a3 Rc8 20.h3 Qa7 21.Rhd1
Black has been unable to regain the
sacrificed pawn. He did not take his chances
and will pay with a loss.
21...g5
Or if 21...Qa8 22.Bc7!.
22.Rd8+ Bf8 23.Rxc8 Bxc8 24.Bc7 Ra6
25.Rd8 Be6 26.Qd4 Rc6 27.Rxf8+ 1-0
Now Rd7 cannot be stopped, and Hebden
could grind on remorselessly: 21...Rc5 22.c4
e6 23.Rd7 Ra8 24.g4 Rc8 25.Kd4 Ra5 26.a4
b6 27.Kc3 h5 28.h3 hxg4 29.hxg4 Kf8
30.Re3 Ke8 31.Red3 Rc5 32.b4 Rc6 33.a5
bxa5 34.bxa5 Rb8 35.f5 exf5 36.gxf5 gxf5
37.R7d5 Re6 38.e3 Re4 39.Rxf5 Rb1 40.Rc5
Rc1+ 41.Kb3 Rb1+ 42.Kc2 Rb7 43.Kd2 Rb2+
44.Kc3 Rb7 45.Rc6 Re6 46.Rxe6+ fxe6
47.Kd4 Rb4 48.Kc5 Ra4 49.Rd4 Rxa5+
50.Kc6 Ra3 51.Re4 Ke7 52.Kxc7 Rc3 53.Kb6
Kd6 54.Rd4+ Ke5 55.c5 Rxe3 56.Rc4 Rb3+
57.Ka7 Rf3 58.c6 Rf7+ 59.c7 Kd6 60.Kb6
Rxc7 61.Rxc7 e5 62.Rc5 e4 63.Ra5 1-0,
M.Hebden-N.Mikkelsen, Oslo 2010.
Game 43
A.Kogan-M.Krasenkow
Spanish Team Championship 2003
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.Qd2
Ne4 6.Nxe4 dxe4 7.Ne5 Nd7!
For me, this is a steady equalizer and the
stronger Tarzan specialists seem to agree, as
the popularity of 5.Qd2 has declined among
them in the last few years.
54
b) 8...Nb6!? keeps the game complex:
9.Bh6 0-0 10.Bxg7 Kxg7 11.h3 Qd5 12.Kb1
Be6 13.b3 c5! 14.e3 Rfd8 (White has no
attack nor any significant pressure) 15.Be2
f6 16.Nc4 Qc6 17.Na5 Qc7 18.f3 cxd4
19.exd4 e3! 20.Qxe3 Nd5 21.Qd2 Nc3+
22.Kb2 Rac8. For once in the Tarzan Attack,
Hebden has been completely outplayed and
went on to lose in M.Hebden-P.Sowray, High
Wycombe 2012.
8...Qxd7!
White should not lose this position, but he
does.
19.f3 Bh6 20.fxe4 Bxe3+ 21.Bf2 Bh6 22.Qf3
Rc2 23.e5 Rf8 24.Bh4 Qc4 25.Rad1
25.Bxe7 was another possibility: 25...Re8
(if 25...Qxd4+? 26.Kh1) 26.Bd6 Qxd4+
27.Kh1 Qc4 28.b3 Qe6 29.a4 which is
roughly equal.
25...Rd2?
25...Qc7 was correct.
26.Rxd2 Bxd2 27.Bxe7?!
27.Qf2! would have justified Kogan’s
recent play. I don’t say White is winning, but
he can scarcely lose after 27...Bh6 28.Bxe7
Rc8 29.b3 Qe6 30.Ba3.
27...Re8 28.Bd6 Qxd4+ 29.Kh1 Qc4 30.b3
Qe6 31.Qb7 f6 32.Rd1 Bh6 33.Qxa7 fxe5
34.Qxb6 e4 35.Qb5?
My instinct tells me Kogan was short of
time. 35.Bc5! e3 36.Rd8! Qf7 37.Rxe8+ Qxe8
38.Qb4 e2 39.Qc4+ Kh8 40.Qc3+ Bg7
41.Qe1 was the tough route forward.
35...Rd8 36.Qc4 Qxc4 37.bxc4 e3 38.c5 e2
39.Re1 Re8 40.c6 Bd2 41.Bg3 Bxe1 42.Bxe1
Rf8 0-1
After 8...Bxd7 9.e3 0-0 10.Bc4 e6 11.c3 Qe7
White may hold the faintest of edges.
9.e3 0-0 10.Qc3
Hebden again features with 10.Qb4!?. I
don’t think this offers much objectively, but
his familiarity with the line and all-round
playing strength wins through: 10...b6
11.Rd1 Bb7 12.Bb5 c6 (12...a5 13.Qa4 c6
14.Be2 Ba6 looks very equal) 13.Be2 Rac8
14.0-0 Rfd8 15.a4 e6 16.c3 Qd5 17.a5 and
White has a very small technical edge.
Hebden marches on: 17...Bf8 18.Qa4 b5
19.Qa1 a6 20.b4 Qf5 21.h3 h5 22.f3 exf3
23.Bxf3 g5 24.Be5 Qg6 25.Qb1 f5 26.g4!
hxg4 27.hxg4 Bd6 28.gxf5 exf5 29.Bxd6
Rxd6 30.e4 Rf6 31.exf5 Rxf5 1-0, M.HebdenR.Holmes, Daventry (rapid) 2013.
10...c6 11.Be2 b6 12.Qb3 Qf5 13.c3 c5
We wait to see who can create an opening.
14.Bg3 cxd4 15.cxd4 Ba6! 16.Qd1 Rfc8 17.00 Qa5 18.Bxa6 Qxa6
Game 44
M.Hebden-F.Rayner
Hastings 2006/67
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.Qd2
Ne4 6.Nxe4 dxe4 7.Ne5 Be6
The main idea of this move is to
prepare ...Nd7 without allowing any
blockage. If necessary, the bishop can drop
back to defend the king via ...f7-f6 and ...Bf7.
This is an acceptable plan.
55
8.e3 Nd7 9.Nxd7
Avoiding the exchange is possible, but
Black gets good counterplay: 9.Nc4 0-0
10.Be2 (10.Rd1 c6 11.Be2 a5 12.a4 Nb6
13.Nxb6 Qxb6 equalizes) 10...Bxc4 11.Bxc4
e5! (unsurprisingly Kasparov is right on the
money) 12.dxe5 Nxe5 13.Bb3 a5 14.a4 Nd7
15.0-0-0 Nc5 16.Qxd8 Rfxd8 17.Bg5 (and
not 17.Bxc7?? Nxb3+ 18.cxb3 Rdc8 19.Rd7
Be5) 17...Re8 18.Rd5 Bf8 19.Rhd1 Nxb3+
20.cxb3 Bd6 and Black went on to win in 60
moves in A.Yusupov-G.Kasparov, Belfort
1988.
9...Qxd7 10.c4!
21...Rxd1+
Rayner doubtless feared 21...c6 22.Rxd8+
Kxd8 23.Qd2+ Kc8 24.Rd1 Bd5 25.Bxe5, but
Black has the remarkable resource
25...Qxc5!.
22.Rxd1 c6
22...Bxf4? 23.Bd7+ wins for White.
23.Qd2 Bd5 24.Bxe5 Rxe5
Again, 24...Qxc5! hangs on.
25.Qd4 Re8 26.Bc4 Qb4 27.Kb2 Qa5
28.Bxd5 cxd5 29.Qxd5 Qc7 30.h5! Qe5+
31.Qxe5 Rxe5 32.hxg6 Rxe3 33.Rg1 Re8
34.Kc3 h5 35.Kd4 h4 36.g7 Rg8 37.Ke5 1-0
Game 45
Hebden uses his central pawn front to
cramp Black, after which he will try to
enlarge whatever edge that he has. I don’t
think this position is too troublesome for
Black, but he has to stay alert.
10...f5 11.h4 h6 12.f3 exf3 13.gxf3 Bf7 14.00-0 Qa4 15.Kb1 0-0-0
This is very acceptable play by Francis
Rayner. White has little to work with apart
from experience,
16.b3 Qa3
Keeping the queen in play with 16...Qc6
was more sensible.
17.Bd3 Rhe8 18.Qc2 e6 19.c5! e5?
Black tries too hard. Staying patient with
something like 19...Kb8 was called for.
White cannot trap the queen, as shown by
20.Bb5 Re7 21.Be5 Bxe5 22.dxe5 Rxd1+
23.Qxd1 Kc8 24.Qd4 Qa5 25.Rd1 c6.
20.dxe5 Bxe5 21.Bb5
M.Hebden-V.Neverov
Hastings 2008/09
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.Qd2
Ne4 6.Nxe4 dxe4 7.Ne5 f6!?
A forcing move. Black may follow up
with ...Be6-f7, reinforcing his king position if
need be. Although 7...f6 looks ugly, it is yet
another decent idea.
8.Nc4 Be6 9.e3 0-0 10.Be2 Nc6 11.Rd1
11.h4 Bf7 12.0-0-0 Qd5 does not seem
worrying from Black’s point of view.
11...Bd5 12.Na5 Nxa5 13.Qxa5
Hebden is trying to claim an edge thanks
to his better pawn structure, but in reality, it
is nothing at all.
13...c6 14.Qa3
The game could become very dull after
14.Qxd8 Raxd8 15.c4 Be6 16.0-0 f5.
14...Qd7 15.Bg3 f5 16.c4
56
This is White’s trump card. If he cannot
prove an edge over the next few moves, he
will be unable to do so.
16...Bf7 17.0-0 Rfd8 18.b3 Qe8 19.Qa5 Rd7
20.f3
Hebden doesn’t see a way through on the
queenside and so allows Black to undouble
his pawns. The game peters out.
20...exf3 21.Bxf3 Qd8 22.Qa3 a5 23.Qc1
Qb6 24.Bf2 a4 25.Qc2 axb3 26.axb3 Ra3
If anyone is better now, it is Black.
27.Rb1 Qa5 28.Qc1 Ra2 29.Be1 Qa3
30.Qxa3 Rxa3 31.Bb4 Ra8 32.Rbd1 e5
33.dxe5 ½-½
Dreary games like this are a far cry from
the original, swashbuckling intentions of
the Barry Attack. To get stuck in a technical
position, eking out the minutest of edges,
should not be what White is looking for.
At second sight, one of White’s pieces is
getting trapped.
9.Be5
9.Bg3 f5 transposes to the game.
9...f6 10.Bg3 f5 11.Nxg5 hxg5 12.Qxg5
This is the best chance. White has three
pawns for the piece and the black king is
open. Since Black can force a draw here, this
whole
variation
can
hardly
be
recommended.
12...Qxd4
If Black wants to play for a win, he has to
try 12...Kf8 13.e3 c5 14.0-0-0 Nc6, which is
most unclear, although the machines think
that Black has the upper hand.
13.Qg6+ Kf8
Game 46
S.Dolmatov-V.Gavrikov
Sverdlovsk 1984
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.Qd2
Ne4 6.Nxe4 dxe4 7.Ng5?!
If Black is unaware of the idea to come,
then 7.Ng5 might be in business.
Unfortunately, the move has a flaw.
7...h6!
This seems impossible at first sight.
8.Nxe4 g5!
14.Rd1
14.c3? Qc4 15.Rd1 Nc6 16.e3 Qxa2! would
be a misguided attempt by White to play for
a win.
14...Qb4+ 15.c3 Bxc3+ 16.bxc3 Qxc3+
17.Rd2 Qc1+ 18.Rd1 Qc3+ 19.Rd2 Qc1+
20.Rd1 Qc3+ 21.Rd2 ½-½
This backwater of the Barry is a draw at
best for White, who should avoid 7.Ng5
unless risks are needed or want to be taken.
57
Game 47
Counterplay in the centre offsets the
pressure on the flank.
13.Nf3 Bg4 14.h6
It is important that 14.hxg6 hxg6
15.Rxh8+ Bxh8 16.Bd6!? can be met by
16...Bf6 and Black is quite safe.
14...Bf6 15.Bg5 Bxf3 16.Bxf6 Nxf6 17.gxf3
Rc8
17...cxd4 18.Qxd4 Rc8 was a little better
technically.
18.Rh4 Rc6! 19.dxc5 Qxc5 20.Qxc5 Rxc5
21.Ra4 a6 22.Rb4 Rc7 23.e4 e6?
D.Mirschinka-W.Uhlmann
Germany Bundesliga 1998
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bg5
This game does not start life as a Barry,
but transposes into a variation that can
occur in the line we are discussing. Instead,
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.Qd2
Ne4 6.Qe3!? Nxc3 7.Qxc3 is the traditional
Barry route.
4...Ne4 5.Bf4 Bg7 6.Qd3 Nxc3 7.Qxc3 c6
White has a small lead in development,
but his queen is misplaced, Can he possibly
start the charge on the kingside even here?
8.h4!?
This is a rare line and in other games
White has contented himself with quieter
play, which has not exactly set the house on
fire: 8.e3 Nd7 (8...Bf5! seems good to me,
and if 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 0-0 11.0-0 Nd7,
which is equal; alternatively, here if 9.Be2
Nd7 10.0-0 0-0 11.h3 c5, 9.Qb3 Qb6 or 9.a4
Nd7 10.a5 Nf6 11.a6 Ne4 12.Qb3 b5 and
Black is OK in all lines) 9.Bd3 0-0 10.0-0 c5
11.Qa3 was P.Decroix-N.Giffard, Agen 2016,
and now 11...Re8! creates equal chances.
8...Bg4 9.Ne5 Be6 10.h5 Nd7
A mistake, which in the end Mirschinka is
unable to exploit. Instead, 23...0-0
maintained a good game.
24.Bxa6! Ke7 25.Bd3
25.Bxb7 d4!? 26.Ba6 (or 26.cxd4 Rb8)
26...dxc3 27.bxc3 Ra8 28.Be2 Rxc3 29.a4 is
not exactly easy for White to win, but it
should not be difficult either.
25...dxe4 26.Bxe4 Nxe4 27.fxe4 Ra8 28.e5
Ra5 29.f4 g5
29...f6 was another good possibility.
30.0-0-0
After 30.Kf2 gxf4 31.Rg1 Rxe5 32.Rg7 Rd7
33.Rxh7 Rf5 34.Rg7 Rh5 35.Rxf4 Kf8 36.Rh7
Kg8 37.Rg7+ Kf8 Black has walked a
tightrope and should draw.
30...gxf4 31.Rxf4 Rxe5 32.Rg1 Rf5
Black meets the aggression with simple
development.
11.Qe3
I would argue that 11.h6 Bxe5 12.dxe5
Qb6 13.e3 a5 is not what White wants. Yes,
he has the bishop-pair, but the bishops are
unimpressive in the given position, and it is
unclear where the white king is going to go.
11...Qa5+ 12.c3 c5
58
Prie is quite content to play normally, but
is the queen on d2 well placed?
6...0-0
I presume 6...Ne4 is going to be met by
7.Nxe4 dxe4 8.Ne5, arguing that ...h7-h6 is
out of place.
7.Bd3 c5
Uhlmann has escaped the worst.
33.Rh4
33.Rxf5 exf5 34.Rg7 Kf6 35.Rxh7 Kg6
36.Rh8 f4 37.Kd2 Re7 gives Black sufficient
play.
33...Rd7 34.Rh2 Rd8 35.Rg7 Rh8 36.Kc2 Rf6
37.Rg4 b6 38.Rb4 e5 39.Rb5 Re6 40.Re2 e4
41.Rf5 Rg8 42.Rf4 Rgg6 43.Rexe4 Rxh6
44.Ra4 Rh2+ 45.Kb3 Ree2 46.Ra7+ ½-½
It is hard to know what to make of lines
where White answers ...Ne4 with Qe3. This
is a genuinely odd idea. From the evidence,
Black should not have too many difficulties
getting to a good position, but he certainly
cannot underestimate White’s chances or
the spectre of a kingside attack can suddenly
appear out of nowhere, with Bf4-h6 still on
the table.
We now move on to look at other Black 5th
move alternatives. I’ll stick with the best
ideas.
If Black can do this, he should.
8.h3
8.dxc5 Nbd7 forces White
into
unorthodox measures if he wants to play for
an advantage. He can’t just allow Black to
take back on c5 or he could be immediately
worse. However, 9.Na4?! Ne4 10.Bxe4 dxe4
11.Ng1 b5! does not inspire confidence.
8...Nc6 9.dxc5 Nd7 10.Nxd5 e5
10...Nxc5 looks very reasonable indeed:
11.Nc3 (or 11.e4 g5 12.Be3 Bxb2 13.Rb1
Nxd3+ 14.cxd3 Bg7) 11...Qb6 12.Rb1 Rd8
with enormous compensation.
11.Bh2 e4! 12.Bc7 Qe8 13.Bd6 exf3 14.Nc7
fxg2 15.Rg1
Game 48
E.Prie-N.Sanchez
Saint Affrique 2007
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.Qd2
h6!?
Black is so afraid of Bh6 that he slows the
whole idea down and relies on the flexibility
of his position to see him through.
As White has already played Nc3, I don’t
think he has the same level of flexibility
available and so he seems to have two
approaches: quiet development to begin
with and the usual h-pawn thrust.
6.e3
15...Nde5?
So far Sanchez has played excellently, but
now he falters. Black must try 15...Qd8! with
great complications: 16.Nxa8 (after 16.Bxf8?
Qxc7 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.f4 Nf6 19.Qxg2
59
Qa5+ 20.c3 Qxc5 Black is winning) 16...Bxb2
17.Rb1 Qf6 18.Rxb2 Qxb2 19.Bxf8 Kxf8
20.Rxg2 Nde5 21.Rg3 h5, which seems to
burn out to a draw after 22.Be2 h4 23.Rg1
Qa1+ 24.Qd1 Qc3+ 25.Qd2 Qa1+.
16.Be2
Prie settles for safety in the knowledge
that he has less pieces en prise than Black.
There is also 16.Nxe8! Nf3+ 17.Ke2 Nxd2
18.Nxg7, producing a random position, but
one which is very good for White.
16...Nd4?
Entering the spirit of things, but not a
good move. 16...Qd7 17.Nxa8 Rd8 was called
for, when Black has counterplay.
17.Qxd4
Thank you.
17...Nf3+ 18.Bxf3 Bxd4 19.Nxe8 Bxb2
20.Bxf8 Bc3+ 21.Ke2 Be6 22.Rad1 Bxa2
23.Bxb7 Bc4+ 24.Kf3 1-0
We draw breath. Black has fewer pieces
left. The end.
...Which White ignores, but there is
already an absence of good moves at his
disposal.
10...Qxh4 11.g4 Nxe5 12.dxe5
In this weirdest of positions, White could
have tried 12.gxh5 Nc4 13.Qd3 Qxh5 14.b3
Nb6 15.e4. Whatever you think of this
random variation, it is better than the game
from White’s perspective.
12...Ng3 13.Qe1 Bxe5
Good players are difficult to bluff.
14.e3 g5 15.Bd3 f6 16.Bg6+ Ke7 17.Na4 b5
He may have been afraid of 17...Nxh1
18.Qb4+, but there is nothing to fear, as
shown by 18...Kd7 19.Bxe5 fxe5 20.Nc5+
Kc7 21.Qc3 Qg3 22.f4 Rd8! 23.Qxe5+ Rd6
24.Ne4 Qxe3+ 25.Kb1 Qxf4.
18.Nc3 a5
18...Nxh1 is strong again, and if 19.Qxh4
gxh4 20.Rxh1 with an extra exchange for
Black.
19.Bxg3 Qxg3 20.Qd2 Qxf3 21.Rdf1 Qxg4
22.Ne4 f5 23.Nf2 Qb4 24.c3 Qc4 25.Nd3 Bf6
0-1
Black has a lot of pawns.
Game 49
T.Rakic-N.Kirov
Novi Sad 1992
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.Qd2
h6 6.h4!?
White could show some modesty,
preferring 6.h3, but after 6...c6 7.e3 Bf5
Black achieves effortless equality: 8.Bd3
Bxd3 9.Qxd3 Nbd7 10.0-0 0-0 11.Ne5 (this
may be White’s best approach, just keeping
it solid, but it is a far cry from the attacking
aspirations of the opening system) 11...Ne8
12.Nxd7 Qxd7 13.Rad1 Nd6 14.Bxd6 Qxd6
15.e4 e6 and now in A.Manea-C.Lupulescu,
Satu Mare 2020, 16.a3 was called for, paying
respect to the idea of ...Qb4.
6...c6 7.Ne5 Nbd7 8.f3
This looks like the main idea. White
intends either g2-g4 or e2-e4.
8...Nh5! 9.Bh2 e6
Hitting h4...
10.0-0-0
Game 50
N.Boccia-A.Shirov
Rio Grande 2021
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Bf4 Bg7 4.Nc3 d5 5.Qd2
c5!?
60
11.Nxa8 Be6 12.e3 Kd7 13.Bb5+ Nc6
14.Nb6+ axb6 15.cxb6 when White has a lot
of pawns) 8.Bxf6 exf6 9.Nxd5 is far more
critical with Black retaining compensation
after 9...Qxc5.
This is a very sharp answer to the Tarzan
Attack. Black plays in Grünfeld style, starting
aggressive action himself.
6.dxc5!
White accepts the invitation to complicate,
a moderately dangerous course against
Shirov.
We note that 6.Bh6?! is met by 6...Bxh6
7.Qxh6 cxd4 8.Nxd4 e5 9.Nf3 d4. Now, to
avoid being solidly worse after 10.Nd1 Nc6,
White can try a piece sacrifice, but Black can
defend with 10.0-0-0 Bd7!? (or 10...Qe7
11.Nb5 Nc6 12.e3 a6 13.Nc7+ Qxc7 14.Qg7
Ke7!! 15.Qxh8 Nb4 16.Rd2 dxe3 17.fxe3
Nxc2 18.Rxc2 Qxc2+ 19.Kxc2 Bf5+) 11.Nxe5
dxc3 12.Nc4 cxb2+ 13.Kb1 Nc6 14.e4 Ng4!
15.Nd6+ Ke7 16.Qf4 Nge5 17.Bb5 f6.
Meanwhile, 6.e3 0-0 7.h3 Bf5 8.Ne5 Nc6
9.g4 is an attacking gesture with the white
queen on d2 misplaced: 9...Ne4! (this is why
the queen is on the wrong square) 10.Nxc6
bxc6 11.Qd1 cxd4 12.exd4 Nxc3 13.bxc3 Bc8
14.Bd3 c5 15.Be3 Qa5 16.Qd2 Rb8+ and
Black went on to win in C.Storey-G.Nasuta,
Llucmajor 2019
6...Qa5!?
6...0-0! is less committal and possibly
better. White has a hard time gaining any
advantage now: 7.Be5 (alternatively, if 7.00-0 Qa5!, 7.Rd1 Nc6! 8.Nxd5 Qxd5 9.Qxd5
Nxd5 10.Rxd5 Nb4 11.Rd2 Bxb2 or 7.Nd4
Re8 8.Bg5 Nc6 9.e3 h6 10.Bh4 g5 11.Bg3 e5)
7...Nc6! 8.Bxf6 Bxf6 9.e3 e6 and in all cases,
Black has dynamic play.
7.Ne4
7.Be5! 0-0 (complications follow 7...Nc6?
8.Nxd5! Qxd2+ 9.Nxd2 Nxe5 10.Nc7+ Kd8
How much compensation is the question.
White can also play what looks like a
sharper move: 7.e4 dxe4 8.Nxe4 Qxd2+
9.Nexd2 Nbd7! 10.Bb5 (after 10.c6 bxc6
11.c3 0-0 the activity of Black’s pieces
compensates for the pawn structure) 10...a6
11.Bxd7+ (White can struggle manfully to
keep the pawn: 11.Ba4 0-0 12.Nb3 Ne4
13.Bxd7 Bxd7 14.c3 Be6 15.Nfd2 Nxd2
16.Nxd2 Rac8 17.Be3 Rfd8 when I would say
Black has enough compensation) 11...Nxd7
12.0-0-0 Nxc5 13.Nc4 Bg4 14.Nb6 Rd8
15.Rxd8+ Kxd8 16.Rd1+ Ke8 17.Be3 Nd7
18.Nxd7 Bxd7 19.Bd4 f6 20.Nd2 Bc6 21.f3
Kf7. Black owns the bishop-pair and a
central pawn majority. Small things, but he
went on to win in 48 moves in Estrada
J.Nieto-D.Vocaturo, Internet (blitz) 2020.
7...Qxd2+ 8.Nexd2 Na6 9.e4 Nxc5
With effortless ease, Black has obtained
an excellent game.
10.exd5
Many would have chosen 10.e5 Nfe4
11.Bb5+ Bd7 12.Bxd7+, just trying to
complete development.
10...Nxd5 11.Be5 0-0 12.Bxg7 Kxg7 13.Bc4
Rd8 14.a3 Nb6 15.Ba2 Bf5
61
b5 10.f3 Qa5 11.a3 (and not 11.Kb1? b4)
11...Bh6 12.e3 0-0 13.Kb1 Qb6 (or 13...b4
14.Na2) 14.g4 hxg4 15.h5 g5 16.f4 (once
under way, the speed of the attack is
impressive) 16...b4 17.axb4 Qxb4 18.fxg5
Bxg5 19.h6 Bf5 20.Bd3 Bh7 (20...Rab8 21.b3
Bh7 22.Rdg1 is like the game) 21.Rdg1 a5
22.Bxh7+ Nxh7 23.Qd3 Qc4 (if 23...f5
24.Rxg4!) 24.Qf5 1-0 was T.Rakic-O.Cvitan,
Kladovo 1991.
6...Bxh6 7.Qxh6
White has lost the initiative and that is a
serious business against Shirov.
16.Rc1 Rac8 17.Ne5 f6 18.Nec4 Nxc4
19.Nxc4 b5 20.b4 bxc4 21.bxc5 Rxc5 22.c3
Re5+ 23.Kf1 Bd3+ 24.Kg1 Rb8 0-1
White can surely play better than this, but
5...c5 is worth serious consideration.
Game 51
B.Jobava-F.Vazquez
Internet (blitz) 2021
7...b5
I think I prefer 7...Bf5, inviting White to
sacrifice a pawn. 8.Ne5 Bxc2 9.g4 Nbd7
10.Rc1 would then lead to complications:
10...Nxe5 11.dxe5 Be4 12.f3 Nxg4 13.Qg7
Rf8. Your guess is as good as mine as to what
is going on here. I merely point out 14.fxe4?
Qb6 as a sample variation.
8.a3
Is there any real need to play this move?
8.e3 seems OK to me, when Black can try to
justify his early queenside aggression, but
has no real threats: 8...b4 9.Na4 Qa5 10.b3
Nbd7 11.Bd3 c5 12.dxc5 Nxc5 13.Nxc5 Qxc5
14.0-0 when Black is hampered by his
inability to castle and therefore stands
worse.
8...Qa5 9.b4 Qb6 10.e3 a5 11.Rb1 axb4
12.axb4 Ra3
Black seems to be attacking with only one
piece and still has to resolve the kingside
position, but there are concrete threats to
deal with.
13.Nd1
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Bf4 g6 4.Qd2 c6 5.Nf3
Bg7
With a bit of juggling, we reach a Barry
position where Black settles for the
solid ...c7-c6. There cannot be anything
wrong with this move, which dissuades
White from castling queenside, after which
a black attack will come very quickly. Jobava
now moves in, Tarzan style.
Instead, after 5...Nbd7 an obscure position
can be reached, with both players
deliberately delaying castling: 6.h3 b5 7.a3
a5 8.e3 Ba6 9.Bd3 b4 10.axb4 Bxd3 11.cxd3!
(keeping Black from occupying e4) 11...axb4
12.Na4 Bg7? (12...Ra6 13.0-0 Qa8 does not
really help Black after 14.b3, but even after
12...e6 I prefer White thanks to 13.0-0 Be7
14.Rfc1) 13.Qxb4 and Jobava coasted to a
win in B.Jobava-N.Vlassov, Internet (blitz)
2021.
6.Bh6
6.Ne5 is a good alternative and then
launching with h2-h4. Bh6 can wait for the
time being. Here 6...Nbd7 7.h4 Nxe5 (7...h5
8.f3 looks nice for White) 8.Bxe5 h5 9.0-0-0
62
It is hard to take this game too seriously,
given that it is played at high speed.
Basically, from here, Black swindles himself.
21...c5
The time control sends the game haywire.
21...Qa7 22.Rc1 Qa8 was less committal and
perhaps Black is even better here.
22.dxc5 Nxc5 23.Rc1 Nxd3 24.Rc8+ Kd7
25.Rxh8
Black can survive, despite the ominous
white attack.
25...Qc5 26.Qf8 Qc1+ 27.Kh2 Nxf2??
27...Qc7+ 28.Kg1 (and not 28.g3? Nxf2)
28...Qc1+ was indicated.
28.Qd8+ Ke6 29.Nd4+ Ke5 30.Qxe7# 1-0
Jobava is always interesting to watch, but
the game so far has a definite blitz feel to it.
I should point out it is easier for White to
castle in this position and that, from my
chair, is why he stands better, even at the
upcoming cost of a pawn.
13...Bf5 14.Bd3 Bxd3 15.cxd3 Rxd3 16.0-0
Ra3 17.Nb2!?
I think I prefer 17.Ne5 Nbd7 18.f4 Nxe5
19.fxe5 Ne4 20.e6 f6 21.Qg7, with confusion
on the board.
17...Nbd7 18.Rfc1 Rb3 19.h3
19.Rc2 Rxb4 20.Rbc1 looks like a good
alternative.
19...Rxb4 20.Nd3 Rxb1 21.Rxb1
Summary
At the end of it all, what are we to make of
the Tarzan Attack? The idea of Qd2 and Bh6
is crude and combative. I guess the issue for
me is that there are just too many ways for
Black to get good counter-chances, with
5...0-0, 5...Ne4 and 5...c5 at the top of my
personal list. You play the Tarzan Attack at
your own risk!
63
Chapter Three
The Modern 5.Nb5
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.Nb5
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.Nb5
Na6
The extraordinary 5...0-0?! has been
played in this position. It may be good for
bullet or rapid chess if you like sacrificing,
but it is hard to believe. White should
capture on c7: 6.Bxc7! (6.Nxc7 Nh5! is the
trick and White should avoid this position)
6...Qd7 7.e3 Nc6 8.Bg3 when White is a
pawn up, as far as I can see. Black can fish in
troubled waters with 8...Ne4 and maybe this
is not so bad, but a pawn is a pawn.
6.h3
Often White prefers 6.e3, delaying or even
omitting h2-h3 altogether.
6...0-0 7.e3 Ne4
Opening fire with the bishop on g7 and
preparing ...c7-c5. 7...Ne4 is an active choice.
8.c3
Many strong players, some even from the
elite, are playing 5.Nb5 now, admittedly
mostly in blitz events, so there must be
something to it apart from the obvious,
crude threat to c7. The main positional idea
is to force 5...Na6, which puts the black
knight on a poor circuit. It will cost Black
time to get the knight back into the game
and White intends to use that time
constructively to build up an advantage by
more or less playing normal developing
moves.
This is the modern main line of the Barry
and Black must be careful. Having said that,
I think I can show that there are various
routes to an equal game. This should not
deter White, as getting to a complex,
unclear middlegame is surely the intention.
I’m going to divide the chapter up into
two sections, where in the first section
White plays with an early h2-h3 and in the
second section White delays or even omits
this move, preferring to save the tempo for
something else.
To begin the chapter, let us see what
White is playing for after 5.Nb5.
White shuts down the long diagonal.
8...c5
8...c6 is often preferred, as we will see later,
when both players will have a knight on the
edge. Then 9.Na3 Qb6 10.Qb3 leads to a
position which I think is OK for Black, but
where White has won the majority of games.
We must discuss this later.
9.Be2 Qb6 10.0-0 c4 11.a4 Bd7 12.Nd2
Nxd2 13.Qxd2 Bxb5 14.axb5 Qxb5 15.b3!
I don’t think either player has done
anything particularly wrong yet, but Black
Game 52
R.Irizanin-V.Matta
Arandjelovac 2022
64
still has the problematic knight on a6 and
although White is a pawn down, he has very
active pieces and may well regain the pawn
right away.
15.b4 Rfe8 16.Ra5 Qd7 17.Rfa1 is another
way to go for White, which also looks pretty
good.
White has managed to create a strong
queenside attack.
20...Re8
I’m assuming one of the ideas was 20...b6
21.Bg4! f5 22.Bf3 Nc6 23.Qb5 Rac8 24.Bd5+
Kh8 25.Bf4 Rfe8 26.Ra4! and Black is stuck
for good moves.
21.Bg4!
Provoking ...f7-f5, weakening the black
kingside.
21...f5 22.Bf3 Nc6 23.Qb5! Kh8 24.d5 Nb8
Black is under pressure and faces the idea
of Bd1-a4. In one game Black elected to
return the extra pawn, perhaps the only
correct way to play on: 17...Nc7 18.Rxa7
Rxa7 19.Rxa7 Nb5 20.Ra5 Qc6 21.Bd1 b6
22.Ra2 Nd6 23.Bxd6 Qxd6 24.Bf3 e6 25.Ra7
h5 26.h4 Bf6 27.g3. With a normal time
control, the game should surely end in a
draw. That it did not is indicative of superior
blitzing technique as White went on to win
in M.Bluebaum-M.Szpar, Internet (blitz)
2021.
15...Qd7
15...e5 is recommended to me by every
engine I possess, presumably to eventually
get the knight back into the game on c5.
Let’s take a pawn! After 16.dxe5 (Black has
some compensation following 16.Bxe5
Bxe5 17.dxe5 Qc6 18.bxc4 dxc4 19.Rfd1 Nc5
20.Bxc4 a5) 16...Rfd8 17.Rfb1 Qc6 18.bxc4
dxc4 19.Qa2 White holds the advantage.
16.bxc4 dxc4 17.Qb2! e5 18.Bg3 exd4
19.exd4 Nb8 20.Rfb1
25.Qxc4
The safe way. Yet after playing so well,
White could top it off with 25.Qxb7! Re1+
(after 25...Qxb7 26.Rxb7 a5 27.d6 Na6
28.Rxg7! Kxg7 29.d7 Black is done for)
26.Rxe1! Qxb7 27.Re8+ Bf8 28.Rxf8+ Kg7
29.Re8 Nd7 30.Re7+ Kh6 31.h4 and there is
no escape for the black king.
25...Na6
The knight is leading a miserable life.
26.d6 Rac8 27.Qd5 Nc5 28.Rxa7 Bxc3
29.Rc1 Qg7 30.d7
Missing another combinative finish with
30.Rxb7! Qxb7 (or 30...Nxb7 31.d7) 31.Qxb7
Nxb7 32.d7.
30...Nxd7 31.Rxb7
65
This way wins, of course.
31...Re7 32.Bd6 Ree8 33.Rxd7 Qxd7 34.Rxc3
Rxc3 35.Be5+ Rxe5 36.Qxd7 Re1+ 37.Kh2
Rxf3 38.Qd4+
Or just 38.Qf7! Rxh3+ 39.gxh3 h5 40.Qxg6.
38...Kg8 39.Qd5+ Kg7 40.Qxf3 Re4
There is no fortress here.
41.g3 h5 42.Qc3+ Kh7 43.Qc7+ Kh6 44.h4 10
We will see quite a few similar games in
this chapter. Black never really got his act
together, mainly thanks to the awkward
knight on c6 preventing a normal
development plan. This is a peculiar
variation.
At the time of writing, Black’s counter to
5.Nb5 in the coming game is all the rage.
14.Bg5, as in A.Shimanov-A.Bodnaruk, St.
Petersburg 2021, when 14...Qd6! is already
looking very comfortable for Black) 11.0-0-0
Qa5 12.Kb1 Nd7 13.e4 dxe4 14.Nxe4 Qxd2
15.Rxd2 Nf6 16.Nxf6+ Bxf6 and the position
is level, Le Quang Liem-P.Svidler, Saint Louis
(blitz) 2021.
Instead, 8.Bd3 is natural enough, but runs
into 8...c6 9.Nc3 (9.Na3? Qa5+! 10.Nd2 Nac5!
is a tactical idea worth noting) 9...Nxc3
10.bxc3 Qa5 when Black is in good shape.
Likewise, 8.Be2 c6 is similar.
8...c6 9.Na3 Qa5 10.Be2 Bf5 11.Qb3 Qb6
12.0-0 Rfd8 13.Rfd1 Rac8
Game 53
H.Niemann-D.Dubov
Internet (blitz) 2022
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Bf4 g6 4.e3 Bg7 5.Nb5
Na6 6.Nf3 0-0 7.h3 Ne4!
Black has successfully mobilized his army.
14.Nh4 Be6 15.Nf3 Bf5
Offering a repetition. 15...Nc7, getting the
offside knight back into the game, is also
satisfactory: 16.Nb1 Ne8 17.Nbd2 N8d6
18.Ng5 Nxg5 19.Bxg5 f6 20.Bf4 Bf7 21.Bh2
c5 22.Bf3 cxd4 23.exd4 Qc6 was
M.Annaberdiev-M.Linsenmeyer, Riga 2018.
White won in the end, but this probably had
more to do with his higher rating than the
actual current state of the position, which is
OK for Black.
16.Rac1
To his credit, White keeps the game going.
16...Nc7 17.c4 Qxb3 18.axb3 c5!? 19.Bxc7
Rxc7 20.cxd5 Rxd5?! 21.b4!
Dubov has played optimistically and
sharply, but after 21.b4 he will not get the
reward, he desires.
21...b6 22.bxc5 bxc5 23.b4
I think this is a steady equalizer. The main
idea is to prepare ...c7-c6, when Nb5-c3 will
result in doubled pawns for White. Other
obvious benefits include a good outpost for
the knight on e4 and an uncovering of the
bishop on g7.
8.c3
8.Nd2 has been mentioned by Le Quang
Liem as an attempt to frustrate Black, but
there is no real advantage for White after
8...Nxd2 9.Qxd2 c6 10.Nc3 Nb8 (it would be
unwise to allow Bxa6, but there is also
10...Nc7 11.Be2 f6 12.e4 e5 13.dxe5 fxe5
66
The second wave arrives.
23...c4 24.Bxc4 Rdd7 25.g4 Be6 26.Bxe6
fxe6 27.Nc4
Black is toiling, a pawn down. He does not
save the game.
27...Rb7 28.Na5 Rb8 29.Nc6 Rb6 30.Nd2
Nd6 31.Nb3 Ne4 32.Nc5 Nxc5 33.Rxc5 a6
34.Rdc1 h6 35.h4 Kf7 36.g5 hxg5 37.hxg5
Rd5 38.f4 Bf8 39.e4 Rd6 40.e5 Rd7 41.Kf2
Rdb7 42.R1c4 Ke8 43.Ke2 Kf7 44.Kd3 Ke8
45.Kc3 Rd7 46.Na5 Kf7 47.Rc6 Rb5 48.R4c5
Rb8 49.Rxa6 Bg7 50.Nc6 Rh8 51.b5 Rb7
52.Na5 Rd7 53.b6 Rh1 54.b7 Rb1 55.Ra7 Rd5
56.Rxd5 exd5 57.Nc6 Ke6 58.b8=Q Rxb8
59.Rxe7+ Kf5 60.Nxb8 Ke4 61.Rxg7 1-0
Despite the result of this game, 7...Ne4! is
a good move, delaying ...c7-c6 until a better
moment. It just seems to lead to a
comfortable early middlegame position for
Black.
More blitz now follows, but also an
interesting game when we are trying to
understand this variation.
I anticipate that this will be a very
common sequence if you start playing
5.Nb5. Black has begun the process of
getting his knight back from the dead.
Moreover, now that ...Bg4 has been
prevented, he must find a good square for
the bishop on c8.
9...b6!?
We will examine 9...Nce8 10.0-0 Nd6 next.
10.a4
How does White take it from here? The
central break e3-e4 is some way off and so
White looks for an initiative on the
queenside. I suppose White could also
continue in a non-committal way with 10.00 Bb7 11.Bh2, which cannot be too bad.
10...a5 11.0-0 Bb7 12.Ne5
Game 54
L.Moroni-D.Dvirnyy
Italian Blitz Championship, Chianciano
Terme 2018
This position has cropped up a few times
with good results for White, who has more
freedom of movement for his pieces.
12...Nce8
The knight heads for the influential
square, d6.
12...Nd7! is a good alternative, intending
to exchange off White’s well-placed knight:
13.Bg3!? (I am not sure I see too much for
White after 13.Nxd7 Qxd7 14.Re1 Ne6
1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.e3 g6 4.Nc3 Bg7 5.Nb5
Na6 6.Be2 0-0 7.Nf3
White just settles for quiet development,
delaying h2-h3 and lets Black attack his
advanced knight.
7...c6 8.Nc3 Nc7 9.h3
67
keep the remaining comments to a
minimum.
29...Qc8 30.Rb8 Qd7
30...Ra6! was indicated.
31.Rb7 Qe8 32.Raa7 Bh6 33.Rb8 Qg6
34.Rxf8+ Bxf8 35.Bb8 Rc3 36.Qb6 Qe8
37.Qb7 Qg6 38.Qd7 Rxc2 39.Qxe6+ Kh8
40.Nxg5 fxg5 41.Be5+ Bg7 42.Bxg7+ Qxg7
43.Ra8+ 1-0
15.Bh2 c5) 13...Nxe5 14.dxe5 (I would prefer
14.Bxe5 with a slight edge after 14...Bxe5
15.dxe5 c5 16.Qe1 Qd7 17.f4 d4 18.Rd1)
14...c5 15.f4 was D.Anton GuijarroA.Shimanov, Internet (blitz) 2021, and now
15...d4! gives Black a nice position.
There is also 12...Nfe8!?, perhaps
planning ...f7-f6. This is also an acceptable
idea: 13.Bh2 Nd6 14.Nb1!? Re8 15.Nd2 f6
16.Nef3 e5 17.c4 Na6 18.cxd5 cxd5 19.Qb3
Nb4 and Black is well placed, H.MelkumyanN.Meskovs, Internet (blitz) 2018.
These examples tend to suggest that Black
is OK overall, with several good defensive
methods.
13.Rb1 Nd6 14.b4! axb4 15.Rxb4
White has logically pursued his quest of
queenside space. Does he have anything in
this unusual position? Maybe not, but the
game is set up to be decisive and not stodgy
in any way.
15...c5 16.Rb3
Opening the queenside with 16.dxc5 bxc5
17.Rb3 would have been logical.
16...c4 17.Rb4 Nfe4 18.Nxe4 Nxe4 19.Qa1
f6
Game 55
M.Perez Gormaz-R.Diaz Villagran
Chihuahua City 2022
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.Nb5
Na6 6.e3 c6 7.Nc3 Nc7 8.h3 0-0 9.Bd3 Nce8
This is straightforward play by Black. The
knight is coming to d6.
10.0-0 Nd6
Let’s pause. White is slightly ahead in
development, but is no closer to opening up
the position so that it means something. All
the pieces are on the board and the
middlegame is bound to be complex, but I
see no real reason why Black is worse.
11.Be5!?
This type of early middlegame move
makes the Barry Attack almost completely
different from the normal London System
and perhaps gives a clue why so many top
players are using the line in 2022. New and
complex positions are reached early on,
which while they might not be objectively
better for White, offer plenty of opportunity
for Black to go wrong.
11.a4 has been played frequently, an
attempt to claim some queenside space.
If you put your knight on e5, make sure
that you keep an eye on ...f7-f6.
20.Nf3 Bc6 21.Qb2 Ra6?
Why not 21...Bxa4 22.Rxb6 Bxc2?
22.Rxc4
Clearly missed.
22...Bxa4 23.Rb4 b5 24.Bxb5 Bxb5 25.Rxb5
Rc6 26.Qb3 e6 27.Ra1 g5 28.Bh2 Qe8 29.Rb6
White has mystified his opponent enough
to claim an advantage. As this is blitz, I will
68
Black can certainly consider 26...b5.
27.Rde1 Kg7!?
I quite like the manoeuvre 27...Qf8 28.h4
Qh6 29.g3 Qd2, which maintains equality.
Here 30.R5e2 Qh6 31.Re5 Qd2 is just one
way the game may fizzle out.
28.h4!
Here 11...Nfe4! (a rejoinder in the centre
seems appropriate; also possible is 11...a5,
just blocking and I am not sure what White
gains from these mutual pawn advances:
for example, 12.Ne2 b6 – or 12...Bf5 13.b3
Bxd3 14.Qxd3 Nde4 15.c4 Re8 16.Rac1 e6
17.Bh2 Nd7 18.Rfd1 Qe7, Le Quang LiemR.Sadhwani, Kolkata (blitz) 2021, and the
position is perfectly respectable for Black –
13.c3 c5 14.b4 was S.Bharath-G.Sankalp,
Dhaka 2022, and now 14...axb4 15.cxb4
Nfe4 is looking nice for Black) 12.Nd2 Nxc3
13.bxc3 was K.Akshat-K.Bhakti, Budapest
2022. I can now recommend 13...f6! 14.c4 e5
15.Bh2 Nf7 16.cxd5 cxd5 17.Rb1 b6 when
Black is certainly not worse.
11...Nfe4
Diaz Villagran is not intimidated by the
thought of exchanging off his dark-squared
bishop
and
aims
for
equalizing
simplification.
12.Bxg7 Nxc3 13.Qe1
13.bxc3 Kxg7 14.Qe2 Qa5 does not offer
White anything at all.
13...Kxg7 14.Qxc3 Bf5
White finds the right moment to press.
28...h5 29.R1e4
I am surprised White did not play 29.Bxd5
cxd5 30.g4! when Black is passive.
29...Rd7 30.Re1 Rh8
Black is now safe again.
31.Qg3 Qe7 32.Bd3 Rh6 33.Bb1 Qf6
34.R1e4 b6 35.Qd3 Qd8 36.Qc4 Rd6 37.g3
Qd7 38.Re1 Rh8 39.Qa6 Rb8 40.Qe2 Rd8
41.Qf3 Nf6 42.Rg5 Nh7 43.Rge5 Nf6 44.Rg5
Nh7 45.Rge5 Nf6 46.Rg5 ½-½
It seems that White can only count on the
minutest of advantages in this line.
Game 56
L.Aronian-M.Vachier-Lagrave
FIDE World Cup, Tbilisi (blitz) 2017
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Bf4 Bg7 4.Nc3 d5 5.Nb5
Na6 6.e3 0-0 7.h3 c6 8.Nc3 Nc7 9.Be2 b6
10.0-0
An unpretentious opening by Aronian has
led to a position where he could say that he
has neutralized any deep preparation that
Vachier-Lagrave might have done. We enter
a balanced middlegame where I think that
White has the more comfortable position,
but no real concrete advantage.
10...Bb7 11.Bh2 c5 12.a4
Black is happy to continue playing
sensibly. Already, the game looks like it is
heading for a draw.
15.Rfe1 a5 16.a4 Kg8 17.Nd2 Qd7 18.e4
A critical moment. If White cannot get
anything over the next few moves, he will
never get anything at all.
18...dxe4 19.Nxe4 Bxe4 20.Bxe4 e6 21.Rad1
Rfd8
The position is dead level.
22.Bd3 Ne8 23.Bc4 Qd6 24.Qf3 Nc7 25.c3
Rab8 26.Re5 Nd5
69
23.Ra3 Bf8 24.b4 Bb5 25.Rfa1 seems a
reasonable way of lining up the white pieces.
23...Bb5 24.Rfc1 a3 25.Be2 Qc6?!
Imprecise, as it lets White improve the lot
of the bishop on h2, which is currently
sitting on an unimportant diagonal.
Instead, 25...Bxe2 26.Qxe2 Bh6 is starting
to look better for Black, whose pieces seem
more influential.
26.Bxb5 Qxb5 27.Bd6! Rc6 28.Bc5
White is now quite safe and can continue
the fight on equal terms.
28...Rca6 29.Ra2 Qc4 30.Qe2 Qxe2 31.Rxe2
a2 32.Ra1 Ra3 33.Rc2?!
33.b5! would have given Black some
problems.
33...Bf8 34.Kf1 e5
34...f6 was rather safer.
35.Bxf8 Kxf8 36.dxe5 Ke7 37.Ke2 Ke6
38.f4 d4!
Black is covering the e4-square and so
with a central pawn advance off the table,
the action must start somewhere. Aronian
probes the queenside.
12...a5
Allowing White to play a4-a5 might put
Black under some pressure.
13.Ne5 Nd7 14.Nxd7
If White is looking for improvements, he
should start with 14.f4!?.
14...Qxd7 15.Bg4 e6 16.Qd2
Gentle play by Aronian continues to keep
the game in the balance.
16...Bc6 17.b3 Rfc8 18.Ne2 cxd4 19.Nxd4 b5
19...Bb7 20.Rfd1 seems rather level too,
but not dull.
20.axb5 Nxb5
A nice pawn sacrifice to activate the king.
39.cxd4 Kd5?
After 39...Kf5! White has two extra pawns,
but is tied down. It is unlikely that he would
be able to win.
40.Rd2 Kc4?
40...Ke4! is correct and if 41.d5 Kxf4 42.d6
Kxe5 43.b5 f5 44.d7 Rd8 45.b6 Rb3! steers
the game to a drawn position.
41.d5! Kxb4 42.d6 Kb3 43.Kf3 Kc3 44.Rf2
h5 45.Kg3 Kd4+ 46.Kh4 Kd5 47.Kg5?!
The pawn on f4 has remained, giving the
white pawn chain a solid appearance, which
cannot be disturbed, but the position after
47.Kg5 is surprisingly difficult to win.
Instead, 47.d7! was very strong, with
21.c3?!
21.Ra2 Nxd4 22.exd4 a4 leads to a
liquidation which heralds a draw after
23.bxa4 Rxa4 24.Rxa4 Bxa4 25.c3 Qc6
26.Rc1.
21...Nxd4?!
Black is content to keep the game level.
Either 21...Nd6 or 21...Bb7 were better
suited to play for the win.
22.exd4 a4 23.b4
70
47...Rd8 48.Rfxa2 Rxa2 49.Rxa2 Rxd7
50.Rd2+ losing for Black.
47...Ke6 48.g4 hxg4 49.hxg4 R3a5
49...f6+ is not good enough due to 50.exf6
R3a5+ 51.f5+ gxf5 52.Re2+!.
50.Re2 f6+ 51.Kxg6 Rg8+ 52.Kh6 Rxg4
53.f5+
If 53.Raxa2 Rxa2 54.Rxa2 fxe5 55.fxe5
Kxe5.
53...Kxf5 54.e6
Although the game we are about to see
features 4...c6, preventing 5.Nb5, a
transposition to the Barry can occur after
4...Bg7 5.Nb5 Na6 6.e3 0-0 7.h3 c6 8.Nc3
Nb8 9.Bd3 Nbd7 10.0-0 c5.
5.h3 Bg7 6.e3 0-0 7.Bd3 Nbd7 8.0-0 c5
Black is trying to make the bishop on d3 a
target for his advancing queenside pawns.
9.a4!
Hebden puts a stop to the queenside
ambitions.
9.Re1 a6 10.a4 is another way to do it, but
one questions the value of Re1, as White is
never able to find the right moment for e3e4: 10...b6 11.Nb1!? (11.e4 leads to
simplification in the centre and easy play for
Black with 11...dxe4 12.Nxe4 cxd4 13.Nxd4
Bb7!) 11...c4 12.Bf1 Bb7 13.Nc3 Ne4
14.Nxe4 dxe4 15.Ne5 Nxe5 16.dxe5 Bd5
17.b3 cxb3 18.cxb3 e6 19.Qd4 was J.PribylV.Kupreichik, Schwaebisch Gmuend 2002.
Now 19...Qb8! to be followed by ...Rd8 was
indicated.
9...b6 10.a5
10.Qb1!? is interesting here, with b2-b4 in
mind.
10...bxa5
Black does not like 10...Bb7 11.a6 Bc6 (or
11...Bc8 12.Bb5!) 12.Bb5, although he
should be OK after 12...Qc8 13.Bxc6 Qxc6
14.Ne5 Qe6 15.Qf3 Rad8.
11.Qb1 Bb7 12.Qa2 c4
The more flexible 12...a6 will be seen in
Game 102 later on.
13.Be2 Ne4 14.Nxe4 dxe4
54...Ra8?
54...Raa4! was the only chance now and
good enough to draw: 55.Rf1+ (and not
55.e7?? Rg6+ 56.Kh5 Rg5+ 57.Kh6 Rh4 mate)
55...Raf4 56.Rxf4+ Rxf4 57.Rxa2 (or 57.e7
a1=Q) 57...Kxe6 with equality. At the
highest level, fine margins decide.
55.Rf1+! Rf4 56.Rxf4+ Kxf4 57.Rxa2 Rxa2
58.e7
A pawn will queen and there is no fortress
to be erected,.
58...Rd2 59.e8=Q Rxd6 60.Qe7 Rd4
61.Qxf6+ Ke3 62.Kg5 Rd5+ 63.Kg4 Rd4+
64.Kg3 Rd3 65.Qe5+ Kd2+ 66.Kf2
Note how the queen and king are a
knight’s move away from the enemy rook.
This means progress.
66...Kc2 67.Qc5+ Rc3 68.Qf5+ Kb2 69.Ke2
Rc2+ 70.Kd3 Rc3+ 71.Kd2 Rb3 72.Qe5+ Kb1
73.Qd4 Rh3 74.Qb6+ Ka1 75.Qf6+ Ka2
76.Qe6+ Rb3 77.Kc2 Ka1 78.Qa6+ 1-0
Game 57
M.Hebden-A.Madan
Liverpool 2007
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 c6
71
An excellent move.
35...Rxe4 36.Rd1 h6
36...Bf8 37.Rd8 Qxd8 38.Qxd8 h6 will not
lead to a fortress, as White has 39.h4!,
transposing to the game.
37.Rd8+ Qxd8 38.Qxd8+ Bf8 39.h4 Rc4
40.hxg5 Rc8 41.Qf6 Bg7 42.Qf4 Rc4 43.e4 h5
44.g6! fxg6 45.Bh4 a5 46.Bf6 Bf8 47.Bd8
Bg7
Instead, 47...a4 48.Qg5! is a killer, and if
48...Bf7 49.e6, 48...Kh7 49.Qf6 or 48...Bg7
49.Bf6! Bf7 50.Bxg7 Kxg7 51.Qf6+ Kg8
52.e6.
48.Qg5 Rxe4 49.Qxg6 Re1+ 50.Kh2 Bf7
51.Qg3 h4 52.Bxh4 Rxe5 53.Bf6 1-0
There now follows a most unusual game
where a world-leading expert on the Barry
loses to his own favourite opening, albeit for
a good cause, the game taking place in the
ECF’s Charity Blitz Marathon back in early
April.
15.Ne5
I am a bit surprised that White did not
play 15.Nd2, which looks like it preserves a
considerable edge after 15...e5 (if 15...Nb6
16.Qxa5) 16.dxe5 Nxe5 (or 16...Bxe5
17.Bxe5 Nxe5 18.Qxa5) 17.Rfd1! Qe7
18.Nxc4 Rac8 19.c3.
15...Nxe5 16.dxe5 c3 17.Rfd1 cxb2! 18.Qxb2
Qc7
This way around, Black should be holding
the game.
19.Qb5 a6 20.Qxa5 Qxc2 21.Bg4 Bc8
22.Rac1 Qb3 23.Rb1 Qc2 24.Rdc1 Qd3
25.Bd1 Be6 26.Bc2 Qd5 27.Qa4 Rac8
28.Bxe4 Rxc1+ 29.Rxc1 Qb5 30.Qd4
Hebden is an absolute expert at keeping
the game going, working with even the
slightest edge. Black is not worse here, but
my impression is that he was certainly
feeling under pressure.
30...Rb8
30...a5 31.Rb1 Bb3!? intending ...a5-a4
was interesting. It is then arguable whether
White has more than a draw after 32.Bd3
Qb7 33.Be4 Qb5.
31.Rb1 Qe8 32.Ra1!
White is now clearly better.
32...Qc8 33.Qa7 g5 34.Bg3 Rb4 35.Qxe7!
Game 58
M.Armstrong-M.Hebden
Internet (blitz) 2022
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.Nb5
Na6 6.e3 0-0 7.h3 c5
A move on the flank deserves a
counterblow in the centre.
8.c3 Bd7 9.a4 c4 10.Ne5 Bxb5 11.axb5 Nc7
12.Qa4
12.b3 had been previously preferred, but
after 12...Nxb5! 13.bxc4 Nxc3 14.Qb3 Nce4!
15.f3 (15.Qxb7 Qb6! is the tactical idea, and
if 16.Rb1 Qa5+ 17.Qb4 Qa2 18.Qb2 Qa5+
and a possible draw by repetition) 15...dxc4!
16.Bxc4 (16.Qxb7 Nd6 17.Qc6 Rc8 leaves
White way behind in development) 16...Nd6
17.Bd3 e6, R.Sadhwani-S.Lobanov, Internet
(blitz) 2020, Black has a fine position, given
that 18.0-0 is met by 18...Nd5!.
12...Nd7 13.b3 Nb6 14.Qb4 cxb3 15.Qxb3
Ne6 16.Bh2 Qc8 17.Be2 Rd8 18.0-0 f5
19.Rfc1
72
43.Bc5
43.Ra7+ Ke6 44.d7 Rg8 45.Bb6 would
have been faster.
43...Ke6 44.Bb4 Ne4 45.Ra7 Rg8 46.Re7+
Kd5 47.d7 Rd8 48.g4!?
No time by the look of it or he would have
played 48.Ba5!.
48...Nf6 49.g5 Nxd7 50.g6 Nf6 51.g7 Rg8
52.Kg2 Nh5 53.Rd7+ Ke6 54.Rd6+ Kf5
White has played logically and holds an
edge. The plan is c3-c4 and so Hebden acts
against it.
19...Bxe5 20.Bxe5 Nc4 21.Bxc4 Qxc4
22.Qxc4 dxc4 23.Ra4!
There are some issues for Black in this
position.
23...Rdc8
23...a5 is met simply by 24.bxa6 Rxa6
25.Rxc4.
24.Rca1 a6 25.bxa6 bxa6 26.Rxa6 Rxa6
27.Rxa6 Kf7 28.Ra4 g5 29.f3 h5 30.Kf2 g4
The old warrior fights on, with drawing
chances whilst White has no passed pawn.
31.hxg4 fxg4 32.fxg4 hxg4 33.Kg3 Ng5
34.Kxg4 Ne4
Hebden has fought his way back into the
game.
55.Rc6 Rxg7+ 56.Kf2 Nf6 57.Rxc4 Ne4+
58.Ke2 Rg2+ 59.Ke1 Rb2 60.Rc8 Ng3
61.Kd1 Ke4 62.Kc1 Re2 63.Re8 Nf5 64.Kd1
Rxe3 65.Bc5 Rxc3 66.Bb6 Rb3 67.Bc7 Kd3
68.Rxe5 1-0
According to the database, White won on
time when Black had mate in one on the
board. Make of that what you will. To me, it
says that there are far too many speed
games being entered into modern day
databases, with a resulting serious decline
in standards. Back at the game, you could
say that White played extremely well for the
first 45 moves or so.
One of the main attractions of 5.Nb5 is
that it leads to a whole set of middlegame
positions that are young in nature and not
that well explored by comparison to the
usual London System. With a board full of
pieces, the possibility exists to outplay any
opponent. Yet it is tough for White to claim
any real advantage. He must settle for
getting to the complex middlegame that he
requires.
Is the outpost worth the pawn? Probably
not.
35.d5 Rg8+ 36.Kf3 Nd2+ 37.Kf2 Ne4+
38.Kg1 Nd2 39.Bd4 Rg5 40.Ra5 Kg6
41.Ra6+ Kf7
Avoiding 41...Kf5 42.Re6 Nf3+ 43.Kf2
Nxd4 44.cxd4!, which leaves Black lost.
42.d6 e5?
42...exd6 43.Rxd6 Rg6 was relatively best,
according to my machine. Presumably Black
can fight after 44.Rxg6 Kxg6 45.Kf2 Kf5.
73
13.Bb5 Rd8 14.Bxa6 bxa6 15.Nc6 Re8
16.Bd4 Bd7 17.Ne5
It turns out that White cannot capture on
a7 due to 17.Nxa7 e5 18.Bb6 Rab8 19.Bc5 d4!
20.exd4 (or 20.Ne2 Ne4) 20...exd4+ 21.Ne2
Ne4.
17...Rec8 18.0-0 Bb5 19.Rfd1 Ne8
Game 59
M.Bartel-B.Adhiban
Riga 2021
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nb5 Na6 5.e3
Bg7 6.Nf3 0-0 7.h3 c6 8.Nc3 Qb6!
The attack on the b2-pawn is awkward for
White to deal with. Since all of 9.Rb1, 9.Qc1
and 9.b3 look unattractive, White must
choose the least bad option.
9.Rb1
At least with this move, White can aim to
play b2-b4 sooner, rather than later.
9...c5
I like 9...Bf5 10.Bd3 Ne4! 11.Bxe4 dxe4
12.Nd2 c5! and Black is very actively placed.
10.Be5
10.Be2 Bf5 11.0-0 is a quiet way forward,
just keeping all the pieces on the board. A
high-level game continued 11...Rac8 12.Be5
Rfd8 13.Bxa6 Qxa6 14.dxc5 Rxc5 15.Nd4
Bd7 16.Nb3 Rcc8 17.Qd4 Bc6 18.Rfd1 b6
19.a4 Qb7 20.a5 Ne8 21.Bxg7 Nxg7 22.Ra1
Nf5 23.Qg4, A.Giri-T.Radjabov, Internet
(rapid) 2021. Now 23...e5! was the way to go,
with Black in good shape. The game was
later drawn.
10...cxd4 11.Qxd4 Qxd4 12.Nxd4
Despite the doubled pawns, Black has
enough activity to feel comfortable.
20.a4 Bc6 21.Nxc6 Rxc6 22.Bxg7 Kxg7
23.e4!
White finds the only way to keep the
balance. Something quiet like 23.f3 would
lead to 23...Rb8 24.e4 d4! and Black is
suddenly winning material.
23...dxe4 24.Nxe4 Rxc2 25.Rd7 Nf6 26.Nxf6
Kxf6 27.b4 Rac8
The draw is inevitable now.
28.Rxa7 Rc1+ 29.Rxc1 Rxc1+ 30.Kh2 Rb1
31.Rxa6 ½-½
We now move on to those lines where
White omits h2-h3 after 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6
3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.Nb5 Na6 6.e3 0-0, a
policy which sees White taking the game in
an unclear direction. There cannot be
anything wrong with 7.Be2, although it
looks too quiet to give Black any real
problems. 7.c4, heading for a Grünfeld-type
position could be a good surprise weapon,
as might be 7.h4!?, which is altogether
sharper. This is a fascinating queen’s pawn
battleground.
12...e6!?
It is a bit risky to allow the capture on a6,
but Adhiban seems to have it all worked out.
12...Nb4! was a stable alternative, which
may lead to a tactical sequence where Black
comes out on top after 13.a3 Nc6 14.Bxf6
Bxf6 15.Nxd5 Bxd4 16.exd4 Bf5! 17.Rc1
Rfd8 18.Ne3 Nxd4.
Game 60
K.Garagulya-L.Trent
Internet (blitz) 2021
74
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.Nb5 Na6 7.c4!?
Should White play with or without h2-h3?
This is the first question to be answered. If
he omits this solid move, he may certainly
consider 7.c4, which goes back into a
Grünfeld position where Black has a knight
on a6. Konstantin Garagulya seems to
delight in this move and wins a lot of games
with it, admittedly only at blitz. Note that a
King’s Indian specialist may not be ready to
play the Grünfeld.
7...c6
The immediate 7...c5 is a more critical test,
which we will see next.
8.Nc3 Nc7
Instead, 8...c5 9.Be5!? attempts to jam up
the black position. This is all very new. The
impression is that 9.Be5 is time-consuming,
but the idea is to throw Black on to his own
resources as early as possible: for example,
9...Bg4 (9...Qa5 is also in the spirit of the
Grünfeld) 10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.Nxd5 Bg7 12.Be2
e6 13.Nc3 Qb6 14.Qb3 Qa5 when Black has
active compensation for the pawn, although
White eventually won in K.GaragulyaI.Pinheiro, Internet (blitz) 2022. Maybe
15.Rd1 is now best, if not yet played.
9.Rc1
10.Be5!, and if 10...Ne4 (maybe 10...Qa5)
11.Bd3 f5?! (11...f6 12.Bg3 Nxg3 13.hxg3
Nc7 seems more suited to the needs of the
position) 12.0-0 Nxc3 13.bxc3 Re8 14.Qb3.
White is now clearly better, as it is much
easier for him to put his pieces on good
squares. I’ll give the complete game this
time: 14...Nf8 15.cxd5 cxd5 16.c4 e6 17.cxd5
exd5 18.Rc5 Be6 19.Qxb7 Nd7 20.Rc7 Rb8
21.Qxa7 Ra8 22.Qb7 Rb8 23.Qc6 Nxe5
24.Nxe5 Rb2 25.a4 Bxe5 26.dxe5 Re7
27.Rxe7 Qxe7 28.Bb5 Rd2 29.h3 d4 30.exd4
Rxd4 31.Rc1 Kg7 32.Qc7 Bd7 33.Bxd7 Rxd7
34.Qc3 Qe6 35.a5 Rd5 36.Qc7+ Kh6 37.f4
Rd2 38.Qc6 Qb3 39.a6 Qe3+ 40.Kh1 Qxf4
41.e6 Rd6 42.Qc4 Rd1+ 43.Rxd1 Qxc4 44.Ra1
Qc3 45.Rd1 Qc2 46.Rg1 Qc6 47.Re1 Qxa6
48.e7 Qd3 49.e8=Q Qg3 50.Qe3+ Qxe3
51.Rxe3 Kg5 52.Ra3 1-0, K.GaragulyaA.Hakemi, Internet (blitz) 2021.
10.Ng5 dxc4?
9...Be6
Instead, 9...b6? 10.Bxc7 Qxc7 11.cxd5 cxd5
12.Nxd5 Qd6 13.Nxf6+ Bxf6 14.Be2 is
another blitz game which Garagulya won. I
see little compensation for a pawn,
K.Garagulya-L.Hua, Internet (blitz) 2022.
Alternatively, 9...Ne6 seems merely to
encourage White to play a good move in
Too optimistic. Black should have played
10...Bc8, implying that White has no way to
use the knight on g5 constructively.
11.Nxe6?
The issues demonstrating blitz games
remain. White should take on c7 first:
75
11.Bxc7! Qxc7 12.Nxe6 fxe6 13.Bxc4 Qd7
14.0-0 when Black is clearly worse, although
I suppose he can put a knight on d5 and
hope for the best.
11...Nxe6 12.Be5 b5 13.a4 a6
Black now holds the upper hand.
14.Be2 Nd5! 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.Bf3 Nec7
17.0-0 Qd6 18.Ne4 Qb4 19.Qc2 Rab8 20.Nc5
Rfd8 21.Ra1 a5
Black has been playing well, maintaining
his extra pawn.
22.Rfb1 e5 23.h4
As any regular Grünfeld player will tell you,
this has to be correct. Black gets the queen
ready for action and creates chaos in the
centre.
8.Be2
As far as I can see this is the best reply and
although White’s overall score is poor,
others are even poorer:
a) 8.Bd3 can be easily met by 8...Qa5+!
(8...Be6 also looks good) 9.Nc3 (or 9.Qd2
Qxd2+ 10.Nxd2 cxd4 11.exd4 Nb4 12.Bb1
dxc4 13.Nxc4 Be6 with Black ready to bring
the rooks into the game immediately)
9...Be6! 10.Ng5 Nh5! 11.Nxe6 fxe6 and the
white centre is falling apart.
b) 8.Rc1 seems thematic and then 8...Be6
9.Ng5 Bg4 10.Be2 Bxe2 11.Qxe2 Qa5+
12.Nc3 cxd4 13.exd4 dxc4 14.Qxc4 Qf5
15.Be3 Rac8 saw Black emerging from the
opening in excellent shape. She went on to
win in C.Aslan-E.Atalik, Aksu 2017.
c) 8.Be5 was played once by Stefanova,
but aside from that has no real punch, Black
has an active game: 8...Be6! 9.Be2 dxc4 10.00 Qd7 11.a4 Rfc8 12.Rc1 Nb4 13.Bxc4 a6,
A.Stefanova-B.Jobava, Istanbul Olympiad
2000.
We can say that Black is able to begin
energetic counterplay, before White castles
and in most cases the knight on a6 enters
the fray.
8...cxd4
8...Qa5+ must be met by 9.Qd2 Qxd2+
10.Nxd2 cxd4 11.Nxd4 Nb4 12.0-0 when
White has no advantage, but is not worse
either.
9.exd4 dxc4 10.0-0 Be6 11.Ne5
A punt which comes off.
23...exd4 24.exd4 Ne7
24...Ra8 25.h5 Re8 would have been a
good way forward when Black keeps a
substantial advantage.
25.Rd1
25.Qe4! was stronger.
25...Rb6 26.h5 Na6??
26...Nf5! was strong, probably even
winning.
27.Qe2 Nf5 28.Qe5+ f6 29.Ne6+ Kf7
30.Nxd8+ Kg8 1-0
What do we have here? An array of both
interesting ideas and mistake-filled blitz
games. Nevertheless, a point at which 7.c4
might be given closer consideration for
future use.
Game 61
A.Escobar Forero-K.Isgandarova
Barbera 2012
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.Nb5 Na6 7.c4 c5!
76
dubious if Black responds with 7...c5!.
However, as a surprise weapon you might
feel that you can give it a try as White.
White is struggling even to maintain
equality
11...Qb6
11...Nb4! 12.Bxc4 Bxc4 13.Nxc4 Qd5
would have been a nice way forward for
Black, forcing a knight to a3.
12.a4 Rac8 13.Re1 Rfd8
Again, 13...Nb4! looks good.
14.b3!
Game 62
H.Martirosyan-P.Maghsoodloo
Internet (blitz) 2020
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.Nb5
Na6 6.e3 0-0 7.Be2!?
The best try for sure. White’s tricky point
is that 14...cxb3? is met by 15.a5 and the
queen is trapped.
14...Nd7 15.Bxc4 Bxc4
15...Nxe5 16.a5 leads to interesting
complications favouring White after
16...Qxd4!? 17.Nxd4 Rxd4 18.Qxd4! Nf3+
19.gxf3 Bxd4 20.Rxe6 Rxc4 21.Rxe7!.
16.Nxc4 Qf6 17.Qd2 h6?
I’m not sure why Black rejected 17...Ndc5!.
18.Nxa7!
This leaves the option of h2-h4 available,
as well as h2-h3. GM Haik Martirosyan is a
specialist in this line, which seems as good
as anything else for White.
7...c5
Black gets aggressive, but we have to face
the fact that this is once again a blitz game.
After 7...Nh5 White can choose to probe in
two ways:
a) 8.Be5!? f6 9.Bg3 c6 10.Nc3 Nxg3
11.hxg3 Nc7 (Black is already very
comfortable) 12.Nd2 e5 13.Nb3 Qe7 14.Qd2
b6 15.0-0-0 Be6 16.f4 c5 and Black is more
dynamically placed, although the game was
eventually drawn, H.Martirosyan-J.Xiong,
Internet (blitz) 2020.
b) I think I prefer 8.Bg5, which forces more
commitments out of Black before the darksquared bishop is obtained: 8...f6 9.Bh4 c6
10.Nc3 Qb6 11.Rb1 g5 12.Bg3 h6 13.0-0
Nxg3 14.hxg3 e5 was H.MartirosyanA.Salem, Internet (blitz) 2020. Now 15.Na4
Qa5 16.c4! was indicated, making sense of
the white pieces, although Black is certainly
not worse.
There’s also 7...c6 8.Nc3 Nc7 (after 8...Bf5?!
the bishop could be a target and 9.a3 Nc7
Did Black miss this obvious move? It looks
as though she might have.
18...Ra8 19.Nb5 e5 20.Bg3 exd4 21.Ncd6
Rf8 22.a5 h5 23.h4 Kh7 24.Bf4 Qxh4?
25.Bg5 Qg4 26.Re4 1-0
Not a great game, but one which
illustrates that the variation with 7.c4 is
77
10.h4!? Ne6 11.Be5 Rc8 12.Ng5 h5 13.Nxe6
Bxe6 14.f3 Bh6 15.g4! saw White
manufacture some sort of an attack in
H.Martirosyan-E.Hansen, Internet (blitz)
2020; if 15...Bxe3 16.Qd3, so the game saw
15...hxg4 16.fxg4 Nd7 and now 17.g5 Nxe5
18.gxh6 Nc4 19.Bxc4 dxc4 20.h5 was
probably the best way of pressing forward,
with White getting the attack he craves)
9.h4!? h5 10.Ne5.
White has the edge now. The problem of
the knight on a6 remains unsolved and
there is no threat to b2. Meanwhile, White
builds up slowly with the two bishops.
11...Rad8?!
Leaving a7 likely to drop off. One
improvement is 11...Rfc8, but White retains
the edge after 12.0-0 cxd4 13.exd4 Nb8
14.Re1!, noting the idea 14...a6 15.Na3 Qxb2?
16.Re2! Qb6 17.Rxe7.
12.0-0 Ne4 13.Be2 f5?
Simply too aggressive. Black’s position
cannot tolerate such moves.
14.a5 Qc6 15.Nxa7 Qe6 16.Nb5 g5
Two Martirosyan games here have
featured 10...Nce8 11.g4 hxg4 12.Nxg4
Nxg4 13.Bxg4 Bxg4 14.Qxg4 Nf6 15.Qf3,
H.Martirosyan-M.Chigaev, Internet (blitz)
2020, and H.Martirosyan-A.Tari, Internet
(blitz) 2020. There’s also 10...Ne6 11.Bh2 c5
12.Qd2 Bd7 13.Nxd7 Qxd7 14.Be5 cxd4
15.exd4 Rac8. By merely playing sensible
moves, Black has solved his opening
problems, although White has the plan of
f2-f3 and g2-g4 to hand, and won after some
adventures in H.Martirosyan-D.Swiercz,
Internet (blitz) 2020.
Returning to 7...c5:
8.c3 Bg4
I’m not sure I like this attempted simple
solution. Black should prefer 8...Bd7!
with ...Qb6 or ...Nh5 to follow.
9.h3 Bxf3 10.Bxf3 Qb6 11.a4
17.Nc7!?
After 17.Bh2! f4 18.Bf3 fxe3 19.fxe3 Black
has nothing for the pawn.
17...Qc8 18.Nxa6! gxf4 19.Nxc5 Nxc5
20.dxc5 fxe3 21.b4 Bxc3 22.Rb1 Bd2 23.fxe3
Bxe3+ 24.Kh1 e5 25.Qb3 f4 26.Rbd1 Kh8
27.Rxd5 Qc6 28.Bf3 Rxd5 29.Qxd5 Qb5
30.Qxe5+ 1-0
What are we to make of this assembly of
high-level blitz games we’ve just seen?
1) 7.Be2 is playable and leads to complex
positions.
78
2) This is a quiet line and Black has several
equalizing methods at his disposal. Will he
find them?
3) White can vary plans. Sometimes he
may play with h2-h4, sometimes not. He
may also play safely with h2-h3 and 0-0.
There are various options on the table.
4) Martirosyan wins many games with
this variation, not out of any objective merit,
but through his greater experience of the
ideas and middlegame plans which occur.
Summarizing, you can certainly choose
7.Be2, but keep expectations realistic.
There is clearly plenty of variety that
White can call on after an early Nb5, so
much so that it has surprised me somewhat.
We will now see White trying the h2-h4
bayonet attack, which is clearly possible if
you are in an optimistic mood. As one might
expect, this is a blitz favourite and so I have
chosen a classical game for my main
presentation.
a) 9...c5 10.Ne5 cxd4 (10...Qb6 led to a
disaster for Black, but is a good move too:
11.Rb1 cxd4 12.exd4 Nb4 13.0-0 Bf5 14.Rc1
Rac8 15.Na4 and now 15...Qa5 is just fine,
unlike
15...Nc6?
16.Nxb6
1-0,
H.Martirosyan-Z.Abdulmalik, Internet (blitz)
2020) 11.exd4 Nb4 12.a3 Nc6 13.0-0 (an
admission that h2-h4 has not been effective)
13...Bf5 14.Bf3 Rc8 15.Re1 e6 16.Bg5 was
H.Martirosyan-I.Iljiushenok,Internet (blitz)
2020. Black stands well after 16...Qb6,
16...Qa5 or, as played, 16...Qc7.
b) 9...b5!? 10.a3 Nc7 11.Ne5 Bb7 12.g4
hxg4 13.Nxg4 Ne6 14.Nxf6+ exf6 15.Bg3 a5
16.h5 f5 17.hxg6 fxg6 18.Bd3 b4 and Black
has sufficient counterplay, although White
won in the end in H.Martirosyan-G.Shahade,
Internet (blitz) 2020.
8.Be2
This is the wrong moment for 8.c4?! as
White lands up in an inferior Grünfeld-type
position: 8...c5! 9.dxc5 Nxc5 10.Be2 dxc4
11.0-0 (11.Bxc4 Qa5+ 12.Qd2 Qa4! leaves
White in a mess, and if 13.b3? Nxb3)
11...Nd3 and Black is already winning.
R.Yanchenko-M.Shamsi, Internet (blitz) 2020.
8...Bxf3!? 9.Bxf3 c5
Mista settles for a fluid approach, leaving
the knight on b5. There can be no doubt that
9...c6 is a reliable alternative, with ...Nd7
and ...e7-e5 as the plan: 10.Nc3 (or 10.Na3
Nd7 11.c3 e5) 10...Nd7 11.h5 e5!.
10.c3 Qb6 11.a4 Rac8
Game 63
V.Bernadskiy-A.Mista
Minsk 2017
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.Nb5
Na6 6.e3 0-0 7.h4!?
Is this asking too much of the white
position? My instinct tells me that Nb5 and
h2-h4 will be uneasy bedfellows.
7...Bg4
Black steps into the hole. Blocking the
advance of the h-pawn is also critical, i.e.
7...h5! 8.Be2 c6 9.Nc3 when Black has at
least two decent moves to play:
Black is relying on natural development,
without frills, to see him through.
12.Be5 Ne4 13.Bxg7 Kxg7 14.Bxe4 dxe4
15.Qg4
79
After 15.h5 immediately, 15...Nc7! keeps
the game very level, as it will be hard for
White to make anything out of an open hfile.
15...cxd4 16.exd4 Nc7!?
I prefer 16...Nb8! when I cannot see any
advantage for White at all: 17.d5 (if 17.h5 a6
18.Qxe4 axb5 19.hxg6 hxg6 or 17.0-0 a6
18.Na3 Qxb2) 17...a6 18.Nd4 Qxb2 19.0-0
(and not 19.Nf5+? Kh8) 19...Rfe8!, although
here 19...Qxc3 is less clear in view of 20.Nf5+
Kh8 21.Nxe7 f5 22.Qf4 Rcd8 23.Rab1.
17.Qxe4 Ne6
If 17...Nxb5 18.Qe5+.
18.h5
I am not sure what Black would have
played after 18.Rb1. Perhaps 18...Rc4 19.b3
Rcc8 20.Rh3! Rfd8, although White is now a
pawn to the good.
18...a6 19.hxg6 hxg6 20.d5 Nc5 21.Qd4+ f6
Playing for the win! After the alternative
21...Qf6 22.Qxf6+ exf6 23.Nd4 Rfd8 Black
cannot be worse.
22.Qe3
Tempting, certainly; sound, maybe not.
However, 22.Na3 e5! 23.Qe3 Rh8! must have
seemed very unattractive.
22...axb5 23.Qxe7+ Rf7 24.Rh7+ Kxh7
25.Qxf7+ Kh6 26.0-0-0
This is the idea, but the black king is safer
than he looks.
26...Nb3+!
27.Kb1
27.Kc2 bxa4! asks White to show his hand.
The attack is a bluff, as shown by 28.Rh1+ (or
28.f4 Qf2+ 29.Kb1 Qxf4 30.Rh1+ Kg5
31.Qh7 Qg4!) 28...Kg5 29.f4+ Kxf4 30.Qxg6
Qf2+ 31.Kb1 Ke5!.
27...Qxf2 28.Qxb7 Rc5 29.Qa7
White has realized that the attack is not
going to succeed and all that he has left is to
try a few tricks.
29...Qe2 30.Rh1+ Kg5 31.Qh7 Nd2+
I can only think time-trouble prevented
Black from playing 31...Qe4+! 32.Ka2 Qxa4+
33.Kb1 Nd2+ 34.Kc1 Rxd5! when there are
only a couple of checks left for White:
35.Qh6+ Kf5 36.Qh3+ Qg4.
32.Ka1 Rc4 33.Qh6+ Kf5 34.Qh3+ Rg4
35.axb5 Qxb5 36.b4 Qa4+ 37.Kb2 Nc4+ 0-1
I think this variation mixes a couple of
ideas in an uneasy way. 7.h4 may be
psychological warfare and fine for blitz, but
a more considered view tells us that Black
has plenty of good replies.
Summary
Black seems to have quite a few good ways
to reach a playable middlegame after 5.Nb5
combined with h2-h3. This has not deterred
an array of very strong players from
championing the white cause and they
continue to do so at the time of writing.
An early h3 defies simplification and
offers the chance of a complex game where
both sides can win. Therefore 5.Nb5 is
popular, but Black should not be afraid to
meet it. Instead, when White plays 5.Nb5
and omits an early h3, he is taking the game
in an unclear and creative direction, but
again, objectively, Black should have
nothing to fear.
80
Chapter Four
The Original Barry Attack
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.Be2
Firstly, let me give you some
encouragement by starting the chapter with
some typical Barry victories.
Game 64
H.Kallio-M.Dzevlan
Stockholm 1999
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.Be2 c5!
6...c5 is an energetic and strong reply to
the Barry, although not as Black plays here.
7.Ne5
All part of White’s plan. An advance of the
h-pawn may follow.
7...b6?!
Perhaps this is playable, but it is slow by
comparison with 7...Nc6, 7...cxd4 and
7...Qb6, all of which we will deal with soon.
As Black has blocked in his queen, White gets
the attack going.
8.h4! Bb7 9.h5 Nc6
Here White can also play 6.h3, which is a
reasonable way to proceed, but it is not as
aggressive as the attacking plan that White
has in mind. However, looking at the
diagram, it is hard to believe there will be
any attack at all. This optical illusion caused
a lot of problems for black players in the
early stages of Barry development, as they
underestimated White’s possibilities and
failed to anticipate what might be coming.
The grand plan is that White intends Ne5
followed by a kingside pawn storm. The
usual way to start is to play h2-h4, but g2-g4
can also come into the mix. Once the pawn
armada is launched, White plays for mate.
This is hard to credit and has a ‘ bluff’
element to it, which is how the opening got
its irregular name, but if Black is in any way
unprepared, White’s assault will pack a
serious punch.
Today, at higher levels, the attack is not
feared, and I will show several good
methods of defence, but I don’t think this
should deter white players at all,
particularly if one feels the opponent is not
fully prepared. We must note that White is
not forced in any way to go for the caveman
method and there are other, more positional
ways to play, which we will also examine.
Black
really
does
think
that
straightforward development is going to be
enough to stem the tide. He might be right,
but the defence is difficult, and this is why I
don’t recommend black players to come this
way.
10.hxg6 hxg6 11.Bg4
Making room for Qf3-h3. Not exactly
subtle, but Black must deal with it.
81
11...cxd4 12.exd4 Nxd4 13.Qd3
The queen finds a different route.
13...Nc6?
Black falters. The computer suggests
13...Qd6!, hardly a first thought, justifying
the move with tactics: 14.Nxg6 e5 15.Bxe5
Rfe8 16.0-0-0 Rxe5 17.Nxe5 Qxe5 18.Qxd4
Qg5+ 19.Qd2 Qxd2+ 20.Rxd2 Nxg4. If you
are a machine, you might also have chosen
13...b5!? 14.Bh6 b4 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.Qxd4
bxc3 17.bxc3 Qb6. So, yes, Black can defend,
but a cold heart is needed to find all the right
moves and a 2435-rated IM is intimidated in
this game.
14.Qh3 Nxe5 15.Bxe5 Re8 16.0-0-0 Kf8
17.Rd4 a6 18.Rf4
Game 65
J.Pribyl-B.Vigh
Budapest 1986
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.Be2 c5 7.Ne5 Nc6 8.h4!?
I don’t really believe this move when Black
can become active on the queenside, but
this was an early game and not everything
had been worked out.
8...cxd4 9.exd4 Qb6
Attacking both b2 and d4, and so forcing
White to change the grand plan.
10.Nxc6 bxc6
10...Qxc6 is certainly playable, with the
idea of 11.h5 Ne4!.
This seems to equalize in comfort:
12.Nxe4 dxe4 13.Qd2 (13.c3 is more
accurate, intending 13...Rd8 14.Qc1, which
avoids what happens in the game; 13...Be6
is also fine for Black in this variation)
13...Rd8 14.c3 e5 (Black is already better)
15.Bg5 (15.Bh6 Bf6! 16.hxg6 hxg6 17.Bg5 e3!
looks great for Black, who attacks g2)
15...exd4! 16.Bxd8 dxc3 17.Qd1 cxb2 18.Rb1
Be6. A remarkable position and Shirov
makes no mistake from here: 19.hxg6 hxg6
20.Bg5 Bxa2 21.0-0 a5 22.Be3 a4 23.Bd4
Bxd4 24.Qxd4 Bxb1 25.Rxb1 Qc1+ 26.Qd1
Qxd1+ 27.Bxd1 a3 28.Bb3 a2 29.Bxa2 Rxa2
30.Kh2 f5 31.Kg3 Kf7 32.Kf4 Kf6 33.Ke3
Ke5 34.g3 g5 35.Kd2 f4 36.gxf4+ Kxf4
37.Kc2 Kf3 38.Kb3 Ra6 0-1, J.RapportA.Shirov, Jurmala 2015.
11.Na4
White must rely on this.
11...Qa5+ 12.c3
Kallio displays a liking for direct chess.
18...Bc8 19.Qh2 Bxg4 20.Rxg4 e6 21.Rh4
Ke7 22.Qf4 Kd7?
Apparently, 22...Rg8 23.Kb1 Ke8 limits
White’s advantage.
23.Qa4+ Kc8 24.Qc6+ 1-0
Comically, the black king perishes on the
queenside. To me this game highlights the
practical nature of the original Barry Attack.
Yes, Black could have defended, but put on
the spot it was not that easy. Kallio kept his
focus and bulldozed his way to victory.
IM Josef Pribyl has played the Barry Attack
very successfully over the years. In the
coming game, Black goes for quick
queenside counterplay, as he almost
certainly should do, but Pribyl finds a way to
make the white position work.
82
will always be practical chances and Pribyl
showed how these might come about.
A kingside attack may even be possible
when White does not play h2-h4 at all.
Game 66
S.Pedersen-M.Leskiewicz
Gausdal 2000
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.Be2 c5 7.0-0
This is a quiet move and a reasonable way
to play the position. White cannot expect
any advantage, but he gets the usual
complicated middlegame with the board
full of pieces.
7...cxd4 8.exd4 Nc6 9.Ne5 Nd7
Many moves have been played here, of
which 9...Qb6 and 9...Bf5 score best.
10.Nxd5 Ncxe5 11.dxe5 Nxe5 12.Re1 e6
This position has occurred many times in
master chess and Black scores well after
both 12...Nd7 and 12...Ba6. This does not
concern Pribyl unduly.
12...Nd7 13.h5!? e5 14.Be3 Re8 15.hxg6
fxg6 16.Kf1 Ba6 17.Bxa6 Qxa6+ 18.Kg1 Rf8
19.dxe5 Nxe5
Black has played well up to here and
White’s bayonet attack is in danger of
becoming an extravagance.
20.Nc5 Qc8 21.Bd4! Qf5 22.Rh3 Rf7
22...Rae8 maintains at least equality.
23.Qe2 Bf8
23...Re8 24.Re3 Rfe7 would have been
more coherent, with this idea of 25.Re1 h5
26.b4 Bf6 and the knight on e5 is no longer
pinned.
24.Re3 Ng4 25.Rf3 Qh5 26.Qe6!
When 12...Be6 is available, it seems wrong
to block in the bishop, but Black is still fine
after 12...e6.
13.Bb5!? Bd7?!
Black does not give himself an easy life. He
should play 13...exd5 14.Bxe5 Bxe5 15.Rxe5
Qb6! when his activity and the idea of ...a6,
followed by a capture on b2, ensures
equality.
14.Bxe5 Bxb5?
14...Bxe5 15.Bxd7 Bxb2 16.Rb1 exd5
17.Qxd5 Qf6 18.Qxb7 Bd4 19.Rf1 may keep
White a nominal pawn ahead, but this
position will be hellishly difficult to win.
15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.Qd4+ Kh6
16...Kg8 17.Nf6+ Kh8 18.Qe5 Qb8
19.Qxb5 wins outright.
The best move of the game. White calls the
bluff regarding an attack on his own king.
26...Qh2+ 27.Kf1 Nh6 28.Rh3 Qc7 29.Re1
Nf5??
A move like 29...a5 keeps the game going.
30.Qxg6+ 1-0
The bayonet attack with h2-h4 after Black
plays 6...c5 is unconvincing. However, there
83
Since 10.Rb1 Qa5+ 11.Kf1 is unattractive,
although White is probably OK here, an
exchange sacrifice is offered. I was
interested to see just how many times this
has been played.
10...Bxa1
If he does not grab the exchange,
preferring something like 10...Nf6 11.Qxd8
Rxd8 12.Rad1 Be6 then White is simply
better after 13.Rxd8+ Rxd8 14.Rb1. Here
Black might have chosen 12...Rxd1, but then
comes 13.Rxd1 Nd7 14.Bg5 Bf6 15.Bxf6 exf6
16.Rd5 Kg7 17.Nd4 and White is more
actively placed.
11.Rxa1 Qa5 12.Bh6 Qxc5!
The exchange is returned on Black’s terms.
13.Qb3
And not 13.Qxc5 Nxc5 14.Bxf8 Kxf8
15.Rd1 Bd7 when it is Black who has won the
battle of the opening and has good
coordination.
13...b6
I guess I should not be surprised by
anything in the chess world today, but when
I saw Caruana and Svidler had also come this
way, I was genuinely shocked. We’ll see
them contest 13...Qb6 14.Bxf8 Kxf8 15.Rd1
Qxb3 16.cxb3 in Game 76.
14.Rd1 Nf6
This seems a very stable approach for
Black.
15.Ng5
White can also capture the rook: 15.Bxf8
Kxf8 16.Bc4 Bg4! 17.Bxf7 Bxf3 18.gxf3 Qh5
19.Kg2 Qg5+ 20.Kf1 Qh5 21.Kg2 Qg5+
22.Kf1 Qh4 23.Bd5 Rd8 24.Rd4 Qh3+
25.Ke2 Rd6 26.Qc4 Qxh2 27.Rf4 Kg7
28.Bg8?? (28.Be4 Qg1 29.Bd3 holds the
position) 28...Qh1 29.Qf7+ Kh8 30.Rd4 Rxd4
31.exd4 Nxg8 0-1, J.Sriram-S.Ganguly,
Bhubaneswar 2018.
15...Bf5 16.Bc4 e6 17.Qb2
17.Re3!
A standard rook lift decides the game
17...exd5 18.Rh3+ Kg5 19.Re1 h5 20.Qe3+
1-0
The first three games of this chapter have
painted a rosy picture for White. Let us now
see what can go wrong. In 2022, Black is not
always afraid of the Barry Attack.
Game 67
K.Noiroux-C.Braun
Maastricht 2022
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.Be2 c5 7.dxc5!?
White gives up the centre and angles for a
totally different type of position to that
which occurs after 7.Ne5. Often played now
is 7...Qa5 8.Nd2! Qxc5 9.Nb3, but Black may
have better than this.
7...Nbd7!
A strong reply which looks impossible at
first sight. Can’t White take on d5?
8.Nxd5
He does. We now enter a tactical sequence.
8...Nxd5 9.Qxd5 Bxb2 10.0-0!?
84
30...Bxe2 31.Rxd8+ Kg7 32.cxb5 Qc1
33.Nd2 Bxb5 34.a4 Bc6 35.f3 Qe1
White cannot anchor his minor pieces and
his king is unsafe. This adds up to a black
win.
36.h4 a5 37.Rd6 Bd5 38.exd5 Qxd2+ 39.Kh3
Qb4 0-1
Game 68
S.Fenil-C.Sandipan
Sharjah 2019
A new move, which presumably tries to
put the queen on a safer square than c3.
Previously played was 17.Qc3 Nh5 18.Rd4
b5 19.Bxf8 Rxf8 20.Nxf7 e5 21.Nh6+ Kh8
22.Rd5 Qxc4 23.Qxe5+ Ng7 24.Nf7+ ½-½,
J.Brousek-W.Koestner, correspondence 2017.
It looks like two engines battling each other
to a draw.
17...Nh5 18.Bb3 Rad8 19.Rf1 Rc8?
A move like 19...e5 is called for, giving the
light-squared bishop a retreat square: 20.e4
Bg4 21.h3 Bc8 22.Bxf8 Rxf8 when Black has
a tiny edge thanks to the pawn structure,
but nothing much.
20.e4! Bg4 21.h3 Be2 22.Re1 Qd6? 23.Bxf8?
He rejects 23.g4 and comes to regret it.
White should be winning after this obvious
move: for instance, 23...Qd2 24.Qa1! Qc3
25.Qxc3 Rxc3 26.Bxf8 Kxf8 when a pawn
and two other black pieces can be captured.
23...Rxf8 24.c4 Bd3 25.Rd1 Rd8 26.Qd2 Nf4
27.g3 Ne2+ 28.Kg2 Qc5 29.Nf3 b5
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 c6 5.e3
Bg7 6.Be2 Bg4
This is a sensible move. Black will
exchange a pair of minor pieces, easing the
defence. This may not be the most exciting
and combative approach, but it is effective.
White should just settle for the bishoppair.
7.h3
7.Ne5 Bxe2 8.Qxe2 Nbd7 seems very easy
for Black.
7...Bxf3 8.Bxf3 0-0 9.0-0 Nbd7
The Barry Attack of the present day is an
opening where White is playing for a small
edge. It is unlikely that the crushing kingside
attack will succeed above, say, 2200 level
because effective preparation methods are
available to everyone, and Black can just
choose a good line before the game. This
should not deter the club player who will
probably land a big punch form time to time.
In the diagrammed position, White has a
typical, theoretical edge based on the
bishop-pair, but it is an edge which is very
tough to increase. Black is well developed,
30.Qxe2?
30.Qh6! was a good move, forcing 30...Qf8
and perhaps a repetition: 31.Qd2 Qc5
32.Qh6, etc.
85
well centralized and will have no problems
finding good squares for his queen and
rooks.
10.Qd2 Ne8
I think I prefer 10...Re8! with ...e7-e5 to
come.
11.e4!
Otherwise, Black will play ...e7-e5 himself.
11...dxe4 12.Nxe4 Nef6 13.Nxf6+ Nxf6
14.Be5?!
Not a mistake, but hardly best. If White
wants to squeeze anything out of this
position, he should try something like
14.Rfe1, after which he still holds an edge.
The game move permits an immediate
equalizer.
14...Ne4! 15.Bxe4
15.Qf4 can be met by 15...Nd2!.
15...Bxe5 16.Rfd1 Bc7 17.Qb4 Bb6 18.a4 a5
19.Qb3 e6
40.c4??
Oh dear. 40.Qa6 was required.
40...Rb6 41.Qe8 Qxe8 42.Bxe8 Rb2 43.Re1
a2 44.Ra1 Be5 45.c5 Rxf2+ 46.Kxf2 Bxa1 01
A game flawed in the later stages.
Game 69
F.Dowgird-T.Nabaty
Internet (blitz) 2021
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.e3 Bg7 5.Nf3
0-0 6.Be2 c5 7.Ne5 Nc6 8.0-0 cxd4 9.exd4
Bf5
In uncomplicated fashion, Black develops
the pieces. This is a very reliable counter to
the original Barry Attack. White has chosen
to reject the advance of the rook’s pawn and
now must seek whatever he can get from
what already looks like a balanced position.
10.Nxc6
White tries the standard plan of trying to
fix Black’s queenside pawn structure, so that
he can control the c5-square and perhaps
attack the weakened black pawns later in
the game.
Both 10.Re1 and 10.Qd2 have also been
tried, without any great success.
10...bxc6 11.Na4 Nd7!
The game should now end in a draw. The
two players plod on.
20.Rd3 Rb8 21.Rad1 Bc7 22.g3 Qd6 23.Bg2
Rfd8 24.h4 h5 25.Kf1 b5 26.Qc3
If 26.Rc3 bxa4 27.Qxa4 c5! 28.Rxc5 Rxb2,
although here 28...Qxc5? 29.dxc5 Rxd1+
30.Ke2 Rbd8 31.Be4 would give White
winning chances.
26...bxa4 27.Bxc6 Rb4 28.d5 e5 29.Qa3 e4
30.c3 Rxb2 31.Qxb2 a3 32.Qa2 exd3
33.Rxd3 Bb6 34.Rd2 Bc5 35.Bb5?!
35.c4 Rb8 36.Kg2 was correct.
35...Qf6! 36.Qc4 Bd6
Missing 36...Qf3!.
37.Kg2 Rb8 38.Re2 Kh7 39.Qc6 Qd8
86
I think what we see from the introductory
games of this chapter is that the
expectations of the Barry Attack of 2022 are
vastly different to those back in 1990,
especially at higher levels. Ways have been
found to defuse the direct attack and Black
can choose from various methods of
counterplay. What we are going to see is
that the original Barry move order, starting
with 6.Be2, is a perfectly solid way to
proceed for White if he keeps his emotions
under control and plays positionally.
Attempts to blow Black off the board in this
day and age are fraught with risk, although
if you are happy with this type of chess you
can certainly still go for it
Let’s divide this chapter up into
appropriate sections:
a) 6...c5.
b) 6...b6.
c) 6...c6.
d) 6...Bg4.
e) Other sixth moves.
Black refuses to be tied down to any
weakness and prepares ...e7-e5.
12.c3 f6
There is no reason to avoid 12...e5!, which
is very easy to understand and equalizes
easily: 13.dxe5 (or 13.Be3 Re8! 14.Re1 h5
15.Rc1 Qc7) 13...Nxe5 14.Be3 (14.Nc5 Qb6
15.b4 is fairly well met by 15...a5 16.a3 Rfe8)
14...Re8 15.Bd4 Qd6 16.Nc5 Re7 and Black’s
position is very stable.
13.Bg4
According to the engine, 13.g4! is the best
try: 13...e5 (or 13...Be6 14.Ba6!) 14.gxf5 exf4
15.Re1 g5 16.Bf3. A weird position has
arisen, where White has an edge with the
more active pieces.
13...Bxg4 14.Qxg4 e5 15.Qe6+ Rf7 16.Be3
Qc7
Line A) 6...c5
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.Be2 c5
A good, aggressive counter in Grünfeldstyle,
enabling
rapid
queenside
development, while freeing the queen and
creating some pressure in the centre. White
generally now chooses between 7.Ne5,
7.dxc5 and 7.h3.
As this is a repertoire book, where I try to
suggest good choices for White, let’s first see
a couple of reasons why the original Barry
Attack is a risky proposition.
17.Rac1?
It is time for White to think about
equalizing, with something like 17.dxe5
fxe5 18.f3.
17...f5! 18.dxe5 Bxe5 19.f4 Bd6 20.c4??
20.Bd2 Nf6 is much better for Black now,
but at least the queen gets out.
20...Nf8 0-1
87
14.dxe5 Nxe5 15.Re1 Re8 16.b4 Qd8 17.Bg5
Game 70
F.Dowgird-E.Hansen
Internet (blitz) 2021
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.e3 Bg7 5.Nf3
0-0 6.Be2 c5 7.Ne5
Putting the knight on e5 seems good, but
in fact it makes Black’s life easier as it is a
target for exchange. Therefore 7...Nc6 now
makes perfect sense.
7...Nc6! 8.h4?!
Likewise, 8.Nxc6 bxc6 9.dxc5?! is poor,
thanks to 9...Nd7! 10.Na4 e5 and Black
regains his pawn: 11.Bg3 Qa5+ (could even
11...f5 be considered?) 12.c3 Nxc5.
8...cxd4! 9.exd4 Qb6
17.h5 Bf5 is at least equal for Black. as it is
hard to see a plan for White, who has
commitments to attend to on both flanks.
17...Qd6 18.Nc5 Bf5 19.Qb3 h6 20.Be3 Qf6
21.h5 gxh5!
Perhaps Dowgird did not expect this, but
it is certainly a strong move, the point of
which will quickly be shown.
22.Bxh5 Bg4! 23.Bxg4 Nxg4
White has difficulty guarding c3 and
protecting against ...Qh4. In short, he is bust.
24.Nd3 Qxc3
24...Qh4! 25.Bf4 Nxf2! may have been
better still.
25.Rac1 Qxb3 26.axb3 Nxe3 27.fxe3 Re6
28.Rc5 Bf8 29.Ra5 Bd6 30.Kf2 Bc7 31.Ra6
Bb6 32.Rc1?
32.Nc5 makes Black’s task more difficult.
32...Bxe3+ 0-1
White’s kingside attack never got off the
ground. There are many such games in the
present era.
Forcing matters. Black does not give White
any time to start a kingside attack.
10.Nxc6
There is no other good move.
10...bxc6!
10...Qxc6 allows 11.h5. This is not earthshattering, as Black may now play 11...Ne4,
but the black queen is good on b6, so why
not keep her there?
11.Na4 Qa5+ 12.c3 Nd7
Hansen goes straight for the direct
advance in the centre, making h2-h4 look
useless.
13.0-0
A comedown, but 13.h5 is only a token
attacking move and Black may confidently
reply 13...Ba6! when White is worse, thanks
to the silly knight on a4.
13...e5
13...Ba6 is also strong.
Game 71
T.Jaskolka-N.Abdusattorov
Internet (blitz) 2022
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.e3 Bg7 5.h4 h5
6.Nf3 0-0 7.Be2 c5 8.Ne5 Nc6
Obviously, the early move order is not
quite the same as the one we are used to,
but the principle is clear: Black has blocked
the kingside. What now?
9.Qd2
Trying to blast through is unconvincing:
9.g4?! Nxe5 10.Bxe5 Nxg4 11.Bxg7 Kxg7
88
12.dxc5 Nf6. Instead, 9.f3 is more patient,
but then comes 9...Qb6! and White is down
to 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Na4 Qa5+ 12.c3 cxd4 in
his search for an advantage. I don’t see any
problems for Black at all: 13.b4 Qd8 14.cxd4
Nd7! or 13.exd4 Nd7 14.b4 Qd8. In both
cases, Black plans ...e7-e5.
9...Bf5
16.Bg3
Maybe he should try 16.h6 which can be
answered by 16...Nxe5 17.0-0-0 Nc4 (or
17...Bf6 18.Bxe5 Bxe5 19.Qxd5 Qf6) 18.hxg7
Nxd2 19.gxf8=Q+ Qxf8 20.Rxd2 gxf4
21.Rxd5 Qe7 22.Nxf4 Rd8 23.Rhd1. It looks
as though White may hang on for a draw,
but now comes 23...Rxd5 24.Rxd5 (or
24.Nxd5 Qh4) 24...g3!.
16...Nxe5 17.0-0-0?
White should try 17.Bxe5 Bxe5 18.c3.
17...Nc4 18.Qxd5 Bxb2+ 19.Kb1 Qf6 20.c3
Bxc3 21.h6 Na3+ 22.Kc1 Bb2+ 23.Kd2 Rad8
24.h7+ Kh8 0-1
Another one of those Titled Tuesday
games, which has interesting moments, but
deteriorates towards the end.
The overall moral of the story is clear:
White cannot hope for much with an early
h2-h4. Black can block with ...h7-h5 or go for
fluid counterplay with a capture on d4
followed by ...Qb6. After that the uneasy
combination of Na4 and h4 will prove
awkward to justify.
Frankly, the methods with h2-h4 don’t
appear to be that great and I cannot
recommend them, much as I would like to.
White should rely on a quieter approach
after 6...c5, aiming for a slight positional
edge and take it from there.
Straightforward development.
10.g4?
A certain class of Barry players crave the
kingside attack, but 10.g4 is altogether too
hasty.
As an alternative, 10.f3 is met by 10...cxd4
11.exd4 (not 11.Nxc6? dxc3) 11...Nb4!
12.Rc1 Rc8, after which White must
contemplate the future of his king.
10...Nxg4 11.Bxg4
11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.f3 cxd4! 13.exd4 Nf6
leaves White with less than nothing for the
pawn.
11...Bxg4 12.Nxg4 hxg4 13.Ne2
Black is too fast in the centre after 13.h5
cxd4 14.exd4 Nxd4 15.0-0-0 e6! 16.hxg6
fxg6 17.Qe3 Qb6.
13...b5
I quite like 13...cxd4 14.exd4 e5 15.dxe5
Nxe5 16.Bxe5 Bxe5 17.0-0-0 Qf6 and who is
attacking whom?
14.h5 e5 15.dxe5 g5
Game 72
M.Hebden-D.Ledger
British League (4NCL) 2001
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.Be2 c5 7.Ne5
89
saved time by not putting his bishop on Bb5.
I don’t think you can say that White is better
though. It’s just a game with everything to
play for.
12...Bf5 13.a5 Rad8
13...Rac8 led to 14.Ra3 Qd7 15.Be5 h5
16.Bf3 Rc4 17.Rb3 Rfc8 18.Rb6 and White
went on to grind out the win in G.WellingH.Koppen, Tegernsee 2021.
14.Qc1
A later Hebden game deviated with
14.Bf1!? Rfe8 (if 14...Ne4 15.Ra3) 15.h3 Ne4
16.Nxe4?! (White should play 16.Ra3)
16...dxe4 17.c3 e5 18.Be3 exd4 19.cxd4 Qd5
with advantage to Black thanks to the pawn
structure, M.Hebden-R.Ruck, Mallorca 2004.
14...Rfe8 15.Ra3 Ne4 16.Nxe4 dxe4 17.c3 e5
Both 7.h3 and 7.dxc5 will be examined
later. They both lead to playable and
complicated positions.
7...Nc6 8.0-0 cxd4
After 8...Bf5 a recent game continued
9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.Na4 cxd4 11.exd4 Ne4 12.c3
g5 13.Be3 (a novelty from Gormally; 13.Bg3
had been previously played, but giving up
the dark-squared bishop so easily makes no
sense) 13...e6 14.f3 Nd6 15.Qd2 h6 16.Nc5
Rb8 17.b3 Bg6 18.f4! Bf6 19.fxg5 Bxg5
20.Bxg5
was
D.Gormally-A.Golizadeh,
Internet (blitz) 2022, where White went on
to win in 27 moves, helped now by the
terrible blunder 20...Bh7??. Nevertheless,
even after 20...Qxg5 21.Qxg5 hxg5 22.Nd7
White holds a large positional advantage.
9.exd4 Qb6
With the queen is on c1, this move has less
impact.
18.dxe5 Bxe5 19.Bxe5 Rxe5 20.Qe3 Qc7
20...Qc5 21.Qxc5 Rxc5 22.b4 Rc7 23.h3
leads to a tricky endgame. The computer
sees a black advantage, presumably down to
piece activity, but practically I do not think
this is easy to play for Black, with all his
pawns fixed on the same-coloured squares
as his bishop.
21.b4 Be6 22.c4 Qd6 23.Rb3 Qd4 24.Qc1 Rf5
25.Re3 Rc8 26.Qc2 Qd6 27.c5 Qc6 28.g3
The attack on b2 forces White’s hand.
10.Nxc6 Qxc6
10...bxc6 will be examined next.
11.Re1
After 11.Bb5 a typical game for this
variation continued 11...Qb6 12.a4 a6 13.a5
Qd8 14.Be2 Bf5 15.Be5 Rc8 16.Ra3 Ne4!
(this is the move that equalizes the chances)
17.Bxg7 Nxc3 18.Rxc3 Kxg7 19.Rxc8 Qxc8
20.Bd3 Bxd3 21.Qxd3 Qc7 22.Ra1 Rd8 23.c3
Rd6 24.g3 Rc6 25.Kg2 h5 26.h4 Re6 ½-½,
L.Ortega-H.Banikas, Montesilvano 2022. Not
greatly interesting as a game, but important
from a theoretical point of view, as it
demonstrates how Black may cope with
7.Ne5 in some comfort.
11...a6 12.a4
Hebden’s way of playing has been more
subtle than the previous example. He has
90
at the time of writing. The point is to
discourage Black’s natural plan of ...Nd7
and ...e7-e5. Play might continue 12...Nd7
13.Bf1 Re8 14.Qd2 e5 15.Bg5 f6 (or 15...Bf6
16.Bxf6 Qxf6 17.dxe5 Rxe5 18.c4 with White
slightly for choice thanks to his better pawn
structure) 16.Be3 Nf8 17.c4 and chances are
roughly equal in this complicated position.
12...Qb6
12...Nd7 is normally played here and then
13.Nxd7 Bxd7 14.Qd2 Qb6 15.c3 looks level.
13.Na4 Qa5 14.c3 Nd7
Hebden methodically improves his
position.
28...Re5 29.Qc3 f6 30.f4 exf3
30...Rf5 31.Bc4! leads to the loss of the e4pawn.
31.Rxe5 f2+ 32.Kxf2 fxe5 33.Qxe5 Rf8+
34.Kg1 Bd5 35.Bg4 Rf7 36.Rd1
Black is lost.
36...Bb3 37.Rd3 Qb5 38.Rd8+ Rf8 39.Be6+
Bxe6 40.Qxe6+ Kg7 41.Rd7+ Kh6 42.Qe3+
g5 43.Qe6+ Kh5 44.Rxh7 mate
White may only be able to extract a very
small edge from playing the opening quietly,
but it is a lot less risky than an h2-h4
approach. The board is full of pieces,
promising a complex middlegame. Hebden
has used his superior experience and
understanding of such middlegames over
several decades to win countless games
with the Barry Attack.
On with the show.
15.b4 Qd8 16.Nc5 Nxc5 17.bxc5 Qa5
18.Qd2 Re8
Can White squeeze anything from a
position such as this with ...e7-e5 coming up?
I am not sure that he can.
19.Rfe1 Bf5 20.Bf3 e5 21.Bxe5 Bxe5
22.Rxe5
I prefer 22.dxe5 Qxc5 23.g4 Be6 24.Rab1,
which allows White to maintain the balance
more comfortably.
22...Rxe5 23.dxe5 Qxc5 24.g4 Be4
24...Bc8 25.Rb1 Ba6 26.Re1 Re8 would
have given White more problems.
25.Bxe4 dxe4 26.e6! fxe6 27.Re1 Qd5
28.Qe2 Rf8 29.Qxe4 Qxa2 30.Qxe6+ Qxe6
31.Rxe6 a5 32.Re4 Ra8 33.Ra4 Kf7 34.f4
Ke6 35.Kf2 Kd5 36.Ke3 Kc5 37.c4 ½-½
10...bxc6 nowadays seems a very
reasonable move, but that hasn’t always
been so. One influential game can often
have a profound effect on the overall
popularity of a chess opening. This was one
such game.
Game 73
N.Murshed-E.Safarli
Bangladeshi Championship, Dhaka 2019
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.Be2 c5 7.0-0 cxd4 8.exd4 Nc6 9.Ne5
Qb6 10.Nxc6 bxc6
This is a decent alternative to 10...Qxc6,
although it does leave the c5-square ripe for
occupation. White should continue with
11.Na4.
11.Na4 Qd8!?
It is this or 11...Qa5+.
12.Nc5
12.Re1!? is a little more subtle and I am
surprised to see that it has not been played
91
Game 74
a clear advantage, based on both the
strongly-placed knight on c5 and the passed
pawn on a2, which will soon be ready to roll.
24...Bf5 25.a3 d4
This effort to organize counterplay just
produces additional weakness. 25...Rd8
26.Nb3 d4 was a better way to go for
counterplay.
26.f4! Nd7
Perhaps 26...Ng4!? when 27.h3 Ne3 28.g4
Be6 29.Ne4 Qd8 30.Rxe3 looks scary for
Black, but he can defend with 30...dxe3
31.Qc3+ f6 32.g5 Kf7. White may have
nothing better now than 33.gxf6 h6 34.Qxe3
which is hardly clear after 34...Ra8.
27.Nxd7 Bxd7 28.Re5! c5
28...Qd6 29.Re4 c5 30.bxc5 Qxc5
31.Qxd4+ Qxd4+ 32.Rxd4 leaves Black
struggling.
29.Rxc5 Bf5 30.Rd5 d3?!
Psakhis gives two alternatives to 30...d3,
neither of which are satisfactory for Black:
30...Rd8 31.Rxd8 Qxd8 32.Bd3 and 30...Ra8!?
31.Qb2 Be4 32.Rxd4 Rxa3 33.Rd2.
31.Bxd3 Qa1+ 32.Bf1 Qxa3 33.Qd4+
M.Hebden-J.Nunn
Hastings 1996/97
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.Be2 c5 7.Ne5 Nc6 8.0-0 cxd4 9.exd4
Qb6 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Na4 Qa5 12.c3 Nd7
12...Ba6 is best met by 13.Bxa6 Qxa6
14.Re1. White has a tiny edge based on his
superior piece activity. Play may proceed
14...e6 15.Nc5 Qb6 16.Qd2 Rfe8 17.h3,
maintaining the strategic advantage.
13.b4 Qd8 14.Qd2
14...e5
After 14...a5 15.b5 cxb5 16.Bxb5 e5
17.dxe5 Nxe5 18.Rad1 Be6 19.Rfe1 Nc4
White has two extra rooks in play, but I am
not sure he can claim very much.
15.Bh6 Bxh6 16.Qxh6 Re8
Psakhis’s annotations mention 16...a5!?
17.b5 cxb5 18.Bxb5 Ba6, judging the
position to be equal.
17.Rfe1 Rb8 18.dxe5 Rxe5 19.Qd2 a5 20.Bf1
axb4 21.cxb4 Qf6 22.Rxe5 Nxe5 23.Re1 Kg7
24.Nc5
33...f6
After 33...Kh6 34.Rxf5! White launches a
winning attack: 34...Rxb4 35.Rh5+! Kxh5
36.Qc5+ Kh6 37.Qf8+ Kh5 38.Be2. There is
also 33...Kg8, but this time White gets a
technical win after 34.Rd8+ (or 34.b5!?)
34...Rxd8 35.Qxd8+ Kg7 36.Qd4+ f6 37.b5.
34.Rd6 Qxb4 35.Qxf6+ Kh6
Can Black erect a fortress after 35...Kg8!?
36.Rc6 Rc8 37.Bc4+ Qxc4 38.Rxc4 Rxc4
39.Qd8+ Kf7 40.h3 h5? It is not beyond the
bounds of possibility.
Hebden is a magician with the Barry
Attack, and he has somehow emerged with
92
16.Qxd8 Rxd8 17.Rad1 Rxd1 18.Bxd1 Rxe5
19.f4 Rb5
36.h3 Qxf4??
36...Re8 was more tenacious.
37.Rd4 Qe3+ 38.Kh2 1-0
Black can be satisfied with his chances in
a mutually complicated early middlegame
after 10...bxc6, despite 10...Qxc6 being more
popular these days.
Game 75
R.Wang-W.So
Edmonton 2014
19...Rd5 20.Bc2 e5! 21.Bxe4 Bxe4 22.Rxe4
Rd1+ 23.Kf2 exf4 was a little more accurate.
20.Bb3
White should defend with 20.b3 Rd5
21.Bc2 when 21...e5 is not the same as the
last variation thanks to 22.Bxe4 Bxe4
23.Rxe4 Rd1+ 24.Kf2 exf4 25.Re7! which
gives White good chances to draw.
20...a5 21.Re2 Rb6 22.Kf2 Be6 23.Bxe6
Rxe6 24.Ke3 f5 25.Kd4?
He has to take the chance to play 25.Rd2,
but even then 25...Rd6 26.Rd4 Kf7 leaves
White probably lost.
25...Kf7 26.Kc5 Kf6 27.Kb5 Ra6 28.a4 e5!
29.fxe5+ Kxe5 30.b4 axb4 31.cxb4 f4 32.a5
e3 33.Kc4 Ke4 34.Ra2 Rc6+ 35.Kb3 Kd3
36.b5 Rc8 0-1
We don’t play the Barry Attack to suffer
like this.
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.Be2 c5 7.Ne5 Nc6 8.0-0
White may try this as a solid alternative to
capturing on c6, but it does not get him very
far. It is just too easy to place the black pieces
on good squares.
8...cxd4 9.exd4 Bf5 10.Re1 Rc8
Nothing complicated thus far has been
attempted by Wesley So. He settles for
sensible development. At this moment the
knight on c3 starts to look misplaced, as
White would much rather set up with a
pawn on c3 and the knight on d2.
It is relatively simple defensive ideas such
as this that make me feel that the original
Barry Attack offers White nothing if Black is
well prepared.
11.Nxc6 Rxc6 12.Be5 Ne4!
Offering simplifying exchanges and
somehow White now stumbles into a lost
endgame.
13.Nxe4 Bxe5 14.dxe5 dxe4 15.c3 Rc5!
Wang clearly did not appreciate that his
pawn on e5 was in trouble.
Game 76
F.Caruana-P.Svidler
Saint Louis (rapid) 2021
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.Be2 c5 7.dxc5!?
An interesting move. White cedes the
centre to unbalance the position.
7...Nbd7
We have seen this earlier in the book and
now White simply must capture on d5 and
take his chances. However, 7...Qa5 8.Nd2
Qxc5 9.Nb3 is more common, as we deal
with next.
8.Nxd5 Nxd5 9.Qxd5 Bxb2 10.0-0!
93
edges are tough to convert with only a
limited amount of material left.
17...Ke7 18.Nd4 a6
Keeping the knight at bay.
19.f4 Kd6 20.Bf3 Rb8 21.b4 e5 22.Nb3
Capturing on e5 would only liberate the
black pieces.
22...f5 23.Kf2 e4 24.Be2 Nf6 25.Rd1+ Ke7
26.a4 Be6
At last, some breathing space.
27.Nc5 Nd7 28.Nxe6 Kxe6 29.Bc4+ Ke7
30.a5 Rc8 31.Rd4 Nb8 32.b5 Rc5! 33.bxa6
bxa6 34.Bg8 Nc6 35.Rd2 h6 36.Bh7 g5
37.fxg5 hxg5 38.g4!
This is the point. White gives up the
exchange temporarily and continues to play
for the initiative. It must be noted that
10.Rb1 Bc3+ (or 10...Qa5+) 11.Kf1 Qa5 is not
what White wants at all.
10...Bxa1 11.Rxa1 Qa5 12.Bh6
12...Qxc5!
Correct. 12...Re8? is simply poor and White
can play 13.Ng5! e6 14.Qd4 f6 15.Ne4 Qd8
16.Bb5 when Black is in serious trouble.
Meanwhile, 12...Rd8 13.Ng5 e6 14.Qd4 f6
15.Nxe6 Re8 16.Bc4 Ne5 17.Ng5+ is also
disastrous for Black as 17...Nxc4 18.Qd5+!
leads to a forced mate after 18...Be6
19.Qxb7, 18...Re6 19.Nxe6 or 18...Kh8
19.Qf7.
13.Qb3 Qb6 14.Bxf8 Kxf8 15.Rd1 Qxb3
16.cxb3 e6!
Making room for the king to come to e7. It
is peculiar that after the early complications
the game has changed shape and form into
a position where White is a little better, but
Black should be able to defend.
17.Rc1
With Svidler now threatening to get on
top, Caruana finds the saving move
38...fxg4
38...Ne5 39.Bxf5 Rxa5 40.Rd4 Kf6 41.Rxe4
Ra2+ 42.Kg3 a5 was a winning try, but I
think all is in order for White after 43.h4!
gxh4+ 44.Kxh4 a4 45.Rb4.
39.Bxe4 Nxa5 40.Ra2 Nc4 41.Bd3! a5
42.Bxc4 Rxc4 43.Rxa5 Kf6 44.Kg3 Re4
45.Ra6+ Kf5 46.Ra5+ Kf6 47.Ra6+ Kf5
48.Ra5+ ½-½
White may be able to achieve a technical
edge after 7...Nbd7, but as we have seen, at
a very high level the advantage is tough to
convert. At lower levels Black may be
confused by the early tactics and not possess
Svidler’s defensive skill.
Game 77
N.Murshed-W.Watson
Kolkata 1988
Control of the open file and a lead in
development constitute White’s edge. Such
94
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
c5 6.dxc5!?
This is not quite the orthodox move order,
but we soon transpose.
6...Qa5 7.Nd2 Qxc5 8.Nb3
White gains time on the queen, but does
he want the knight on b3?
8...Qb6 9.Be2
Note that 9.Nxd5 Nxd5 10.Qxd5 Bxb2
goes nowhere and merely leaves White with
a poor pawn structure.
9...0-0 10.a4
This is the move that scores best, gaining
some queenside space and intending to
hassle the black queen. We cover 10.Nb5
next, which is also a dangerous candidate
move, while a recent game saw 10.Be5?!
which I don’t really understand and, sure
enough, Black was quickly able to reach a
good position: 10...Nbd7 11.Bg3 Nc5
12.Nxc5 Qxc5 13.Be5 (back again) 13...Rd8
14.0-0 Bf5. There is nothing in this at all for
White, who now tried to bail out by the offer
of mass exchanges, but still eventually went
down to defeat in V.Weetik-D.Dubov,
Internet (rapid) 2022.
15...b6 16.Ra4 Qd7 17.Bb5 Ne8 18.f4 Nd6!
19.Qe2
As 19.Bxc6 Qxc6 20.fxe5 Nc4 does not
look promising, Murshed tries another way.
19...Nxb5 20.Qxb5 d4!
Black is better. White has advanced on
both flanks without making inroads.
Meanwhile, his light squares look very
exposed. GM Willie Watson was always a
great player, but he had an unhealthy
addiction to time trouble and perhaps this
cost him here.
21.Ne4 exf4
21...dxe3 might have been even better,
with the tactical point 22.f5 Ne7! 23.Qxd7
Bxd7 24.f6 Bxa4 25.fxg7 Rfd8 26.Nf6+ Kxg7
27.Bxe5 Bxb3! and White has no tricks.
22.Bxf4 Bxg4 23.Bh6 Bf5 24.Bxg7 Kxg7
25.Ng3 Bxc2 26.Rc4 Bxb3 27.Rxc6 Bd5??
10...Nc6 11.a5 Qd8 12.0-0 Bf5 13.g4
13.a6 could come right away, with
13...bxa6 (13...b6 14.Bb5 Rc8 15.Bxc6 Rxc6
16.Nd4 might not be quite what Black
desires, although even this position offers
equal chances) 14.Ra4! a5 15.Nd4 Nxd4
16.exd4, trying to leave the pawns on a5 and
a7 behind as targets, although there is no
real hassle for Black after 16...Qb6.
13...e5! 14.Bg3 Be6 15.a6
It was time for 15.Nc5.
Instead, 27...Qd5 maintains a large, if not
winning advantage.
28.Rxg6+! hxg6 29.Qxd7 Rad8 30.Qg4 dxe3
31.Qd4+ Kg8 32.Qxe3
32.Nf5! would have been satisfying, and if
32...gxf5 33.Rxf5.
32...Rfe8 33.Qf4 Re4 34.Qf6 Rg4 35.Qxd8+
1-0
95
problem in this variation of how to activate
the major pieces.
13.Bd4 Qc6 14.c3
Hodgson parries the threat to c2. Instead,
14.Nxa7 Qxc2 15.Qxc2 Bxc2 16.Rfc1 Nb4
17.Bc5 Bd3! negotiates the complications
from Black’s point of view and 14.Bxa7? b6
is just plain bad for White.
14...b6 15.Be5 Qb7 16.a4 Nc5 17.N3d4 Bd7
18.b4 Nce4 19.f3
Game 78
J.Hodgson-H.Westerinen
London 1988
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.Be2 c5 7.dxc5 Qa5 8.Nd2 Qxc5 9.Nb3
Qb6 10.Nb5!?
White proceeds with direct threats, but
these are easily parried.
10...Na6 11.Be5
This makes more sense now that Black is
unable to play ...Nbd7.
11...Bf5 12.0-0
What do we have here? Can White claim
any advantage? This is doubtful. I like the
bishop on e5 and White’s control of d4, but
against that Black has no development
problems, unlike White, who has some
issues getting his rooks and queen into the
game.
Putting significant pressure on Black is
going to be a very hard task.
Hodgson plays in his usual aggressive
style, pushing Westerinen around.
19...a6
19...Bxb5 was an alternative idea and
looks good: 20.Bxb5 (or 20.axb5 Nxc3
21.Qe1 Nxe2+ 22.Qxe2 Ne8 23.Bxg7 Kxg7
24.Nc6 Rd7) 20...Nxc3 21.Qd3 Nxb5 22.axb5
Ne8 23.Bxg7 Kxg7 24.Nc6 Rd7. In both
variations Black has a pawn to compensate
him for the troubling knight on c6.
20.fxe4 axb5 21.exd5 Qxd5
Westerinen makes the game-changing
decision to give up the exchange. He was
obviously concerned about 21...bxa4 22.Bf3
when Black may not win the coming tactical
battle: 22...Qc8 23.d6 Qxc3 24.dxe7 Re8
25.Kh1! (stronger than 25.Bxa8 Qxe3+
26.Kh1 Qxe5) 25...Rac8 26.Bb7 Ng4 27.Bxc8
Qxc8 28.Bxg7 Qc7 29.Nf3 Kxg7 30.Qd4+
and White is on top.
22.Bxf6 Bxf6 23.Bf3 Qe5 24.Bxa8 Qxe3+
25.Kh1 Rxa8 26.axb5 Rc8 27.Ra7 Be8
28.Nc6
12...Rfd8
Black has also played 12...Rfc8, leaving the
rook on a8 to guard a possible attack on a7.
This is a satisfactory approach too. After
13.c3 (13.Bd4 Bxc2! 14.Bxb6 Bxd1 15.Rfxd1
axb6 leaves Black a pawn up) 13...Qd8 14.a4
(or 14.Bd4 b6 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.N5d4 Nc5!
17.Nxf5 gxf5 18.Nd4 e6, J.Sriram-S.Nitin,
Lucknow 2016, a game where Black never
had any issues) 14...Nb8 15.N5d4 Nbd7
16.Nxf5 gxf5 17.Bf4 e6 18.a5 a6 19.h3 Ne4
20.Bh2 Ndc5 we have reached a sharp
position, where Black’s activity gives him
good chances and White faces the common
96
Hodgson now handles the technical phase
very competently.
28...Kg7
28...Bxc6 29.bxc6 Rxc6 30.Ra8+ Kg7
31.Qd8 Kh6 32.Qf8+ Bg7 33.Qxf7 looks
awkward for Black.
29.Nxe7! Bxe7 30.Re1 Rd8?
30...Qxc3 31.Raxe7 Bxb5 32.Qd5 Qf6!
33.h3 Bc4 would keep defending.
31.Qa1! Qf2 32.Raxe7 Rd2 33.c4+ Kh6
34.Rg1 Bd7 35.Qe5
Or even 35.Qe1!.
35...Be6 36.Rxe6 fxe6 37.Qxe6 Re2 38.Qh3+
Kg7 39.Qc3+ Kh6 40.Qc1+ Kg7 41.c5 Rc2
42.Qa1+ Kh6 43.c6 Qe2 44.Qf1 Qe4
45.Qf8+ Kg5 46.Qd8+ Kh6 47.Qxb6 Qxb4
48.Qe3+ Kg7 49.Qe5+ Kh6 50.h3 Rc5
51.Qe3+ Kg7 52.Rc1 1-0
Summarizing, I think 7.dxc5!? could work
well against an unprepared opponent or
someone with only sketchy knowledge of
the line, but don’t expect too much if Black
knows what he is doing. Both 7...Nbd7 and
7...Qa5 are satisfactory replies.
Many queen’s pawn systems have similar
ideas and themes running through them,
but this is a rather independent line, with
unusual
piece
placements
and
complications to the fore. As such, 7.dxc5
may have considerable surprise value.
If you want to keep it as solid as possible,
7.h3 is the move. You can even play h2-h3
anytime from move five onwards if you
desire. 7.h3 has the natural advantage of
setting up a complex Barry middlegame, but,
of course, it takes any quick attacks with h2h4 off the table. I don’t think White can hope
for any sort of advantage after 7.h3, but it is
not a bad move. Shortly, White will have the
usual problem of how to open up the game
for his major pieces to function.
7...Nc6
7...Ne4! seems like an easy equalizer and
highlights the sluggish nature of White’s
opening play: 8.0-0 (8.Nxe4 dxe4 9.Ne5 is
the uninspiring alternative, which looks very
level with Black for choice after 9...cxd4
10.Qxd4 Qa5+ 11.c3 Nc6 12.Nxc6 bxc6
13.Qd2 Rd8; note too that here 10.exd4 Qb6!
is awkward to meet) 8...Nxc3 9.bxc3 Nc6
10.Rb1 a6 11.Ne5 Nxe5 12.dxe5 b5 13.Bh2?
(White must try 13.a4! and hope that this
will create counterplay) 13...Be6 14.f4 Qa5
15.g4 and now in S.Williams-A.Kalaiyalahan,
Internet (blitz) 2021, it was possible to keep
cool with something like 15...Rad8 16.f5 Bc8
17.f6 exf6 18.exf6 Bh6 19.Bf4 Bxf4 20.Rxf4
Qxc3.
8.0-0 cxd4 9.Nxd4
9.exd4 Ne4 10.Re1 Qa5 looks very easy for
Black.
9...Nxd4 10.Qxd4
Game 79
A.Wohl-I.Rogers
Canberra 2000
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.Be2 c5 7.h3
97
The smoke has cleared and White has won
a pawn. Rogers now puts up heroic
resistance, but ultimately does not hold the
game.
23...e6 24.Bf3 Qe5 25.Rc2 Rfb8 26.a4 Rxc2
27.Qxc2 Rb2 28.Qe4 Qc7 29.Qc6 Qxc6
30.Bxc6 Ne7 31.Bf3 Ra2 32.Rd8+ Kg7
33.Ra8 Nd5 34.a5 Nc7 35.Ra7 Nb5 36.Ra6
Nc7 37.Rc6 Nb5 38.Rc5 Nd6
38...Rxa5 39.Kh2! leaves Black unable to
untangle.
39.g4 h6 40.Bc6 f5 41.Bf3 Kf6 42.Rc6 Nb5
43.Bd5 Rxa5 44.Rxe6+ Kg7 45.Bc4 Nc3
46.Re7+ Kh8 47.Bf7 Kg7 48.Rc7 Nb5
49.Rd7 Nc3 50.gxf5 gxf5 51.Bh5+ Kf6
52.Rd6+ Kg7 53.Bf3 Re5 54.Kg2 Ne4 55.Rc6
Nf6 56.Kg3 Ra5 57.Kf4 Kg6 58.h4 Ra4+
59.Kg3 Kg7 60.h5 Ne4+ 61.Bxe4 Rxe4
62.Rg6+ Kh7 63.Rf6 Rg4+ 64.Kf3 Rg5
65.Kf4 Rxh5 66.Rxf5 Rh1 67.e4 Kg6 68.Ra5
Rg1 69.Ra6+ Kg7 70.Ke3 h5 71.f4 h4
72.Ra7+ Kg6 73.Ra8 Kg7 74.Ra5 Kg6 75.f5+
Kh6 76.Kf4 h3 77.Ra2 Rg2 78.Ra3 h2
79.Rh3+ Kg7 80.e5 Kf7 81.Rh7+ Kg8
82.Rh5 Kf7 83.Kf3 Ra2 84.Kg3 Re2 85.e6+
Kf6 86.Rxh2 Re4 87.Rf2 Ra4 88.Rf4 Ra1
89.Kf3 Ra3+ 90.Ke4 Ra4+ 91.Ke3 Ra3+
92.Ke4 Ra4+ 93.Kf3 Ra1 94.Re4 Ra7 95.Kg4
Rg7+ 96.Kf4 Rh7 97.Ke3 Rh8 98.Kf4 Rh7
99.Re2 Ra7 100.Ke4 Ke7 101.Rh2 Ra4+
102.Ke5 Ra5+ 103.Kf4 1-0
You can certainly play the original Barry
move order and then go into quiet mode
after 6...c5 with 7.h3!?. I don’t think this is a
sharp enough approach to give Black any
real problems and 7...Ne4! might just spoil
all the fun.
Wohl is basically saying he is happy with a
draw.
10...Bf5?!
Black has good alternatives, including
10...Ne4 11.Be5 Bxe5 12.Qxe5 Nxc3
13.Qxc3 when a vacuum cleaner has clearly
been taken to the board. As the higher-rated
player, Rogers feels obliged to go for the win
and avoid too many trades, but 10...Be6
11.Be5 Qa5 12.Rfd1 Rac8 was perhaps a
little more suited to the position when Black
is fine.
11.Be5! Bxc2 12.Rac1 Bf5 13.Rfd1
White has given up a pawn and gained
some time for the investment.
13...Be6 14.Nb5
14.Qb4 was interesting here, eyeing b7
and e7, as well as preparing e3-e4.
14...a6?!
One might prefer 14...Ne8! 15.Bxg7 Nxg7,
although this does allow White to win the
pawn back after 16.Bf3 Qd7 17.Nc3 Nf5
18.Qd3.
15.Nc7 Rc8 16.Qb4! Ne8 17.Bxg7 Nxg7
18.Qxb7 Rb8 19.Qxa6 Rxb2 20.Bf3 Qb8
21.Nxd5 Bxd5 22.Bxd5 Nf5 23.Qc4
Line B) 6...b6
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.Be2 b6
98
9...a6
9...Ne4! looks pretty good to me.
10.Ne5
Perhaps White should have pressed on
with 10.a5, but then comes 10...cxd4!
11.Na4 (if 11.Nxd4 Nbd7, threatening ...e7e5, or 11.exd4 b5) 11...b5 12.Nb6 Ra7
13.exd4 Nc6 and Black has nothing to worry
about.
10...Nfd7
10...Nbd7 is also very reasonable.
11.Nxd7 Nxd7 12.Bf3 e6 13.a5 b5 14.Bd6
Re8
Black is using a formula which works
against most queen pawn’s systems, such as
the Torre Attack, Colle, Stonewall, etc. The
idea is to put a knight on d7, the bishop on
b7 and then play for ...c7-c5 or ...e7-e5. There
the plan usually works well.
The situation here is a little different, with
White ready to launch a quick kingside
attack if conditions are right. Whereas after
6...c5, Black counterplay came quickly, by
comparison 6...b6 is slow and Black has even
limited the scope of his queen. As such, I
think White should definitely go for it with
h2-h4 as soon as possible and, practically,
there is every chance of success, although
we will see that Black can defend himself if
he keeps cool.
It is worth noting that 7.0-0 and 7.Nb5 are
alternative ideas which we will look at, but
they do not interrupt Black’s plan. To
emphasize just how important it is for
White to play sharply against 6...b6, let’s
begin with an example where routine
development is just not good enough.
15.b4?!
There is no real issue, given that 15.dxc5 is
easily met by 15...Rc8. Perhaps White should
now have just accepted that there was
nothing in the position and just played a
move like 15.Re1, which cannot do any harm
and sets up e3-e4 at some point.
15...cxb4 16.Bxb4 Bf8 17.Na2 Bxb4
18.Nxb4 Rc8 19.Qd2 Qe7 20.Be2 Rc7 21.f4
Rec8
What has happened so far explains why so
many continue to play 6...b6. White has
been unable to mount any pressure at all
and stands worse, thanks to the weak pawn
on a5 and Black’s well-coordinated forces.
22.Bd3 Nf6 23.Rab1 Ne8 24.g4 h6 25.Qf2
Nd6 26.h4 Kg7 27.Qg3 Rg8 28.Kh2 Kf8
29.Qh3 Qf6 30.g5 Qg7 31.Qg3 Ke7 32.gxh6
Waiting with 32.Kg2 was more patient.
32...Qf8 33.h7 Rh8 34.Qg5+ Kd7 35.Qf6
Rxh7
Game 80
V.Akselrod-K.Sakaev
Russian Team Championship 2001
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.h3
5.e3 0-0 6.Be2 b6 7.h3 leads to the same
position.
5...0-0 6.e3 b6 7.Be2 Bb7 8.0-0 c5 9.a4
White has shunted out a whole series of
what we might call normal moves, but the
problem is that he has allowed Black to do
the same. The position is already level.
99
10...hxg6, however bad it looks, has been
played quite a few times. 11.Bb5 is
interesting then, with the idea of Qf3-h3.
11.Bg4! Nxe5
Believe it or not, 11...Bc8 was played in a
master level game and then 12.Nxc6 Bxg4
13.Nxd8 Bxd1 14.Ne6 Bxc2. I am guessing
this was the point, with some compensation
for the exchange. but the concept is flawed.
Curiously now 15.Nxf8 might not have been
the best move in T.Abergel-K.Urban, German
League 2020. Instead, 15.Nxg7! Kxg7
16.Bh6+ Kg8 17.Bxf8 Rxf8 18.f3! would
have given White a clear advantage.
Black could also consider 11...Nxg4
12.Qxg4 Nxe5 13.Bxe5 Bxe5 14.dxe5 Qc8!,
and if 15.Qh4 Rf7 16.0-0-0 Qf5 17.Nxd5
Bxd5 18.Rxd5 Qxf2 19.Qxf2 Rxf2 20.Rd7,
reaching a quite unclear double rook ending.
12.dxe5 Nxg4 13.Qxg4
36.Bxg6??
Missing a retreat. 36.Qg5 was the right
move.
36...Ne8! 37.Qg5 fxg6 38.Qxg6 Rxh4+
39.Kg3 Rh6 40.Qg5 Nd6 0-1
There are not many comments on this
game, as I don’t think they are needed.
Unless White can attack Black right from the
off and put him on to the defensive, the
system beginning with 6...b6 will work well.
Game 81
M.Hebden-R.O’Rourke
Kilkenny 1998
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.Be2 b6 7.Ne5 Bb7 8.h4!
The time is right. Direct play can pay
dividends.
8...c5
8...Nbd7 9.h5 does not score very well for
Black. Put bluntly, White will take on g6 and
angle to get his queen to the g- or h-file as
quickly as he can.
9.h5
Once the attack is started, there should be
no further delay.
13...Rf5!?
13...d4! was a much tougher test, and if
14.Qe6+ Rf7 15.exd4 Qc8! 16.Qxc8+ Rxc8
with a counterattack.
14.Qh3 h5 15.g4 Rxf4 16.exf4 d4 17.0-0-0
Bxh1?!
Whilst this is tempting, 17...Qc8! might be
superior. Then White must try 18.Ne2 Qxg4
19.Qxg4 hxg4 20.Rh4 Bf3 21.Re1 Kf7 when
Black has obvious compensation.
18.Qxh1 Qe8 19.Ne4 Rd8 20.gxh5 gxh5
21.Ng3
9...Nc6 10.hxg6 fxg6
100
10...Nxg4 (otherwise, the attack just crashes
on, as we can see from both 10...Nbd7?!
11.h5! Nxe5 12.Bxe5 Nxg4 13.Qxg4 Bxe5
14.dxe5 Qc8 15.Qh4 Kg7 16.0-0-0 Qe6
17.hxg6 and 10...Nc6 11.h5! Nxe5 12.Bxe5
Nd7 13.Bxg7 Kxg7 14.Rg1! e6 15.hxg6 Qh4
16.Qd3 fxg6 17.0-0-0 Rae8 18.f4) 11.Qxg4
Qc8 12.Qg3 Bxe5 (a huge, but perhaps
necessary concession as 12...Qf5 leads to a
horrible position after 13.h5! Bxe5 14.Bxe5
g5 15.f4! f6 16.Bxc7 g4 17.Rh4 Bc8 18.Bxb8
Rxb8 19.0-0-0) 13.Bxe5 Nc6 14.h5 Nxe5
15.Qxe5. This is not difficult chess to
understand. White strips open the black
king without delay and stands better in all
these variations.
9.h5 g5 10.Bg3
10.Bxg5!! puts Black under serious
pressure and was Hebden’s improvement
on his 1990 game with Larsen, where he
played 9.Qd2. This is an unexpected sacrifice,
as White will have to follow up slowly once
the first shots have been fired. Maybe Black
can defend, but it was all too much for poor
Birnboim: 10...hxg5 11.h6 Bh8 (11...Bxh6
12.Rxh6 Kg7 13.Rh3! Rh8 14.Rg3 Rh1+
15.Bf1 Ba6 16.Rxg5+ Kf8 17.Nd3 keeps
White on top) 12.h7+ Kg7 (12...Nxh7 is met
by the stunning 13.Ba6!! – always look out
for the opportunity to get the queen into the
attack – 13...Bc8 14.Qh5 Bf5 15.Bd3 Qc8
16.Ng6!!, which forces mate) 13.Bd3.
The situation has suddenly become grim
for Black. He only has passive pieces and the
kingside is being ripped open.
21...d3 22.Nxh5 Qa4 23.Rxd3 Rxd3 24.Qg1!
1-0
Here we see the practical nature of the
opening. Black could have defended, but the
strain of playing Hebden and the difficulty
of the defence caught up with O’Rourke.
Game 82
Y.Balashov-V.Belov
St Petersburg 1998
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.Be2 b6 7.Ne5 Bb7 8.h4 h6!?
An interesting idea, which Larsen once
used to beat Hebden. If White moves
forward, Black will block. It all looks very
risky though.
Instead, 8...h5 is, of course, met by 9.g4.
Very few games have gone this way, as Black
is surely placing his head in the lion’s mouth.
I think the best continuation now is 9...hxg4
10.Bxg4! which is a new move.
White builds up, confident that Black is in
such a mess that he cannot untangle. This is
the big moment. Black now makes a noble
attempt to exchange one of the attackers,
but the idea falls short: 13...Ba6? 14.Qf3
White makes way for the queen to enter
the fray and Qf3-h3 is a grave concern. Can
Black defend against this? It is unlikely:
101
(14.Bxa6 Nxa6 15.Qf3 e6 16.Qh3 seems
better still) 14...Bxd3 15.cxd3 Qd6 16.Qf5
Rd8 17.Qxg5+ Kf8 18.Ke2! (making room
for the rook on a1 to enter the attack) 18...a6
19.Rh6 Nbd7 20.Rah1 Qe6 21.R1h4 Nxe5
22.dxe5 Ke8 23.exf6 exf6 24.Qg3 Ke7
25.Qxc7+ Rd7 26.Qg3 Rc8 1-0, M.HebdenN.Birnboim, Rishon Le Zion 1992.
Instead, 13...e6 14.Qf3 Nfd7! was a
necessary and difficult defence to find. It
looks like Black’s pieces are deserting the
king, but there are enough resources to
hang on after 15.0-0-0 f5 16.Qh5 Qf6 or
15.Qh5 Kf6!! (computers find such moves;
humans shy away from them) 16.f4 Ke7!
17.Qxg5+ Ke8 18.Qg8 Nf6. Extraordinarily,
Black is defending.
10...c5 11.f4 gxf4 12.Bxf4
21...e5?
21...f6 is less committal.
22.Rf6 exd4 23.Nd6! Rxe3 24.Rxf7+ Rxf7
25.Nf5+ Rxf5 26.Qxb8 Rxf1+ 27.Bxf1 Re7
28.Qd6 Rf7 29.cxd5 Rf6 30.Qe7+ Rf7
31.Qe5+ Rf6 32.Bc4 Nf7 33.Qg3+ Ng5 34.d6
Bc6 35.d7 Bxd7 36.Qc7 1-0
Whilst 10.Bxg5 seems to be very strong,
it’s an idea which requires White to play very
accurately thereafter. 10.Bg3 followed by f2f4 is much less risky and is also promising.
A whole bunch of young English players
picked up the Barry Attack, as it fitted in
with the highly aggressive, somewhat
offbeat style of the day. Hodgson would
specialize in the Trompowsky, but the use of
the Barry was not unknown to him.
Game 83
If you don’t trust the sacrifice on g5, this is
an alternative way to play. I would not like
to be Black with the king so open.
12...Nbd7 13.0-0 Nxe5 14.Bxe5 Nh7
15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.Qe1 Ng5 17.Qg3 Qb8
18.Rf4 Qd6 19.Raf1
The computer gives this as equal, but,
practically, I think we all understand how
difficult Black’s position is.
19...Rae8 20.Nb5 Qb8 21.c4
J.Hodgson-A.Lewis
British Championship, Eastbourne 1990
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.Be2 b6 7.Ne5 Bb7 8.h4 Nfd7
Forcing exchanges, at the risk of leaving
the kingside rather bare.
9.h5
There is no point in hanging around.
9...Nxe5
9...c5 is desirable, but slow in the current
circumstances. White keeps an advantage
after 10.hxg6 hxg6 11.Qd2. Typical play
might run 11...Nc6 12.Nxc6 Bxc6 13.0-0-0
when White plans g2-g4, f2-f3, moving the
bishop on e2 and then Qh2. This plan alone
will keep Black under serious pressure.
10.dxe5
102
is also very good) 21.Bb5! Rxf4 22.Bxd7 Rc4
23.Ra1. These are not especially difficult
tactics to negotiate
14...Nc6 15.Bf3 e6
15...g5!? 16.Bg3 g4 would have challenged
White too.
16.b5 Nxe5!
The early middlegame of this encounter is
full of surprising moves.
17.Bxb7 Nc4 18.Rd1 Bxc3+ 19.Ke2 Nb2
20.Rxd8 Rxd8 21.e4 Nc4
21...Rd4 22.f3 Ra4 23.Bxc7 Rxa2 would
have been more likely to give White
problems.
22.Rh3 Bd2 23.Bh2 Bb4 24.Rd3 Rxd3
25.cxd3
10.Bxe5! also seems promising: 10...Bxe5
(if 10...f6?! 11.Bg3 c5 12.hxg6 hxg6 13.e4!)
11.dxe5.
Here a Hebden miniature saw 11...c5
12.Qd2 e6 13.hxg6 fxg6 14.Bg4 Re8 15.f4
Qd7 16.0-0-0 Nc6 17.Ne4 1-0, M.HebdenLukavsky, Cappelle-la-Grande 1992. Instead,
11...e6 was M.Hebden-J.Poulton, London
1992, when perhaps 12.f4 is best now, with
a slight edge to White.
10...Nc6!?
A deliberate pawn sacrifice to try to throw
Hodgson on to the defensive. Instead, 10...e6
11.Bd3! makes room for Qf3/g4-h3 and
gives White excellent attacking chances.
11.hxg6 hxg6 12.Qxd5 Na5
12...Qxd5 13.Nxd5 Rfd8 14.Bf3 is not
really what Black wants.
13.Qxd8 Raxd8
From now until the end, Hodgson shows a
level of technique that he was not renowned
for, but which he certainly possessed.
25...Na5 26.Ba8 Bd6 27.e5 Bc5 28.Bg3 Kf8
29.Kf3 Ke8 30.Ke4 Kd7 31.d4 Be7 32.d5
Nc4 33.Bc6+ Kd8 34.Bf4 Na5 35.d6! cxd6
36.exd6 Bf6 37.Kd3 e5?
Fatal, because it gives the bishop on c6
unexpected scope. Tighter was 37...g5
38.Bg3 a6 when White still has to show how
to win his undoubtedly superior position.
38.Bd2 Bh4 39.g3 Bf6 40.g4 Kc8 41.Bd5!
Nb7 42.Bxb7+ Kxb7 43.Ke4 Kc8 44.g5 Bg7
45.Bc3 f6 46.gxf6 Bxf6 47.f4 1-0
I think what we learn from this and the
preceding games is that 6...b6 is playable,
but not a great practical choice.
14.b4!?
14.f3 Nc6 15.e6! looks better to me, with
White keeping the advantage after 15...fxe6
(or 15...Nb4 16.exf7+ Rxf7 17.Rc1 and then
17...e6 18.a3 or 17...Bxc3+ 18.bxc3 Nxa2
19.Bc4 Bd5 20.Rd1) 16.Bxc7 Rd7 17.Bf4 Nb4
18.Rc1 Bxc3+ 19.bxc3 Nxa2 20.Bc4! Bd5
(20...Rxf4 21.exf4 Bd5 22.Bxa2 Bxa2 23.Rd1
Game 84
L.Hansen-J.Bryant
Agoura Hills 2007
103
1.d4 g6 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.Be2 b6 7.0-0
A slower approach. White maintains a
comfortable game without being able to
claim any advantage. If you judge your
middlegame and endgame skills to be
superior to your opponent, you may try this
way.
7...Bb7 8.b4!?
White says to Black that he just wants to
play chess and to forget about any sharp
theory. It is also possible to wait with 8.h3!?,
but that is nothing special either. There is
also 8.Nb5!? Na6 9.c4, leading to an odd,
Grünfeld-like position where Black is not
worse. I’m not a great fan of this because
White is mixing systems: 9...Nh5! 10.Be5
(10.Bg5 h6 11.Bh4 g5 12.Ne5 gxh4 13.Bxh5
dxc4 14.Bf3! might have been a better
chance to confuse matters) 10...f6 11.Bg3 c6
12.Nc3 Nxg3 13.hxg3 Nc7 14.cxd5 cxd5
15.Rc1 e6 16.Ne1 Rf7 17.Qa4.
I think is the correct reply to 8.b4, noting
the unprotected knight on c3.
9.Nxe4
9.Qe1 Nd7 10.b5 c5 11.bxc6 Bxc6 12.a4
was another way forward, with the white
queen on an unusual square.
9...dxe4 10.Nd2 Nd7
I think 10...e5! is just fine for Black, and if
11.dxe5 Qe7 or 11.Bxe5 Bxe5 12.dxe5 Qe7.
11.Nc4 c5!
A nice, energetic response, again in
Grünfeld-style. Black’s position is good.
12.c3 cxd4 13.cxd4 Bd5
Both of 13...Rc8 or 13...Nf6 were also
strong candidates.
14.Rc1 h6 15.Bg3 g5
The lower-rated black player is starting to
get ambitious with thoughts of a kingside
pawn storm. I imagine this was the type of
play Hansen was pleased to see as it
increases his winning chances.
In a ‘ guess the opening’ competition
most would choose the Grünfeld. I don’t see
any chinks in Black’s armour. V.AntoshinG.Garcia Gonzales, Cienfuegos 1977,
concluded 17...Bf8 18.Nd3 Rd7 19.Rc2 Qe7
20.Rfc1 Ne8 21.Nb4 a6 22.Nd3 Nd6 23.Qb3
Nc4 24.e4 dxe4 25.Nf4 b5 26.Bxc4 bxc4
27.Qxc4 Rd6 28.d5 exd5 29.Nfxd5 Qf7
30.Rd1 Rc8 31.Qxc8 Bxc8 32.Nxe4 Rxd5
33.Rxd5 Bf5 34.f3 Qxd5 0-1. Antoshin
challenged his opponent to an slightly
offbeat game and came second. It happens.
8...Ne4!
16.f4
16.Qd2 seems very stable.
16...exf3 17.Bxf3 Nf6 18.Qd3 g4 19.Bxd5
Qxd5 20.Ne5 Rac8 21.Bh4 Rxc1 22.Rxc1
Qxa2 23.Nc6 e6 24.b5 Nd5 25.Bg3 f5
104
26.Bd6 Rf6 27.Rf1 h5 28.Be5 Rf8 29.e4 fxe4
30.Rxf8+ Kxf8 31.Qxe4
attempt to confuse Black. He is put on the
spot: to play ...h7-h5 or not. As you can see a
quick decision was necessary here, so
perhaps limit this opening idea to blitz and
rapidplay.
8...h5
He bites. Black could have certainly tried
8...Bb7 9.Ne5 c6 10.Nc3 Nc7 11.h5 (or 11.g4!?
Ne6! 12.Bg3 b5 13.g5 Nd7) 11...Ne6 12.hxg6
hxg6 13.Bg3 Nd7 and asked White to prove
it.
9.Ne5 Bb7 10.g4
31...Qd2
31...Qa1+ 32.Kf2 Qa2+ 33.Kg3 Nf6 was
worth consideration with the idea of ...h4+
when White moves the queen: 34.Qg6
(otherwise, if 34.Qe3 h4+! 35.Kxh4 Qxg2
36.Kg5 Nh7+ 37.Kg6 Qc2+ 38.Kh5 Qf5+
and 34.Bxf6? Bxf6 leaves White in some
danger, or if 34.Qd3 h4+ 35.Kxh4 Qxg2
36.Nd8 Ke7 37.Nc6+ Kf8) 34...h4+! 35.Kxh4
Qf2+ 36.Kg5 Qe3+ 37.Kh4 Qf2+ with a
draw.
32.h3 Bxe5 33.Qxe5 Ne3??
After fighting so well, Bryant goes wrong,
possibly when short of time, although I
cannot verify that. 33...Qe3+ was correct
when the game should end in a draw after
34.Kh2 (or 34.Qxe3 Nxe3 35.hxg4 hxg4
36.Nxa7 g3 37.Nc8 Nd5 38.Kf1 Nc3)
34...Qxe5+ 35.dxe5 gxh3 36.Kxh3 Kg7
37.Nxa7 Kg6 38.Kh4 Ne3.
34.Qf6+ Kg8 35.Ne7+ 1-0
It’s going to be mate with Qg6 followed by
Qg8. Back in the opening, 7.0-0 is the
prelude to a complex but equal Barry
middlegame.
As direct as is possible. With limited time
to reflect, Black is put under maximum
pressure.
10...hxg4 11.Nxg4 Nxg4 12.Bxg4 c5
12...c6 13.Nc3 c5 would have left the
remaining white knight less influential.
13.h5 Qe8 14.a4 e5? 15.dxe5
Or just 15.Nd6!.
15...Bxe5 16.Nd6 Bxd6 17.Bxd6 d4 18.Bf3
Bxf3 19.Qxf3
Game 85
H.Martirosyan-A.Shapki
Internet (blitz) 2020
19...dxe3 20.Bxf8 Qxf8
20...exf2+ 21.Kxf2 Qxf8 22.Rag1 is simple
enough too.
21.fxe3 Nb4 22.0-0-0 Qe8 23.hxg6 fxg6
24.c3 1-0
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.Nb5
Na6 6.e3 0-0 7.Be2 b6 8.h4!?
You may try to dazzle your opponent by
playing several systems at the same time.
When combined with Nb5, this looks like an
105
A Barry massacre. This type of game holds
a definite appeal. It is also worth pointing
out that here 24.Qf6! would have forced
mate: 24...Qxe3+ 25.Kb1, etc.
Line C) 6...c6
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.Be2 c6
This has been a common position over the
years. Black should be able to defend.
10...Rc8 11.h5 Re8?
The sight of Hebden coming up the board
with all guns at the ready is too much for
poor Mr. Fox. Black is walking a fine line, but
the capture on h5 seems correct: 11...Nxh5!
12.Rxh5 (12.g4? Nxf4 13.exf4 e6 14.Kb1 c5
doesn’t work) 12...gxh5 13.Qxh5 f6! (with
this, Black survives) 14.Nxd7 (alternatively,
if 14.Rh1 fxe5 15.Qxh7+ Kf7 16.Bh6 Rg8
17.dxe5 Qf8 or 14.Nd3 Qe8 15.Qh3 e5)
14...Qxd7 15.Rh1 Rf7 16.Qxh7+ Kf8 17.Rh3
(17.Bh6 is met by 17...e5) 17...Re8 18.Bh6 e6
19.Qg6 Bxh6 20.Rxh6 Qd8 21.Rh7 Rxh7
22.Qxh7 Qe7 23.Qh8+ ½-½, A.SorcinelliM.Deghose, correspondence 2012. A bold
game, no doubt contested with reference to
engines.
12.hxg6 fxg6 13.Qf3 Nf8 14.g4
Hebden can play these positions in his
sleep.
14...b5 15.Bh6 N8d7
15...Bxh6 16.Rxh6 N8d7 17.Qh3 e6 18.Rh1
Nf8 19.f4 also gives White a massive attack
with no downsides.
16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.g5
6...c6 is a solid move, which you can expect
to meet frequently. Black concentrates on
trying to equalize rather than an excess of
ambition.
Unhindered,
Black
will
play ...Bg4, ...Nbd7 and aim for ...e7-e5
or ...c7-c5. The queen is free to come to b6 or
a5.
All the usual Barry recipes are available to
White and include 7.Ne5, 7.0-0, 7.h3 and
7.h4 as the most common choices. They all
score roughly equally.
Game 86
M.Hebden-A.Fox
Hastings 1995
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.Be2 c6 7.h4
Given that 6...c6 is a quiet move, the
violent attacking idea should be the best. It
certainly works here. Instead, 7.Ne5 can
prepare h2-h4, but there Black has ways of
challenging the central knight and
exchanging it off.
7...Bg4
7...h5 8.Ne5 leads to the next game.
8.Ne5 Bxe2 9.Qxe2 Nbd7 10.0-0-0
106
It’s all over already.
17...Nxe5 18.gxf6+ exf6 19.dxe5 fxe5
20.Rxh7+! Kxh7 21.Qf7+ Kh6 22.Rh1+ Kg5
23.Rg1+ 1-0
Short, sweet, ugly and important, as it is
the type of game that will be replicated in
club chess time and time again.
O.Bortnyk-M.Arabidze, Internet (blitz) 2022,
when 20.g4! looks strong.
12.g4
White must press on, as 12.Nxe4? dxe4
13.Ne5 (likewise, if 13.Nc1 Qb6! 14.Rb1 e5
or 13.Nc5 Nxc5 14.dxc5 Bxb2) 13...Nxe5
14.dxe5 Qa5+ 15.Qd2 Qxd2+ 16.Kxd2 Rd8+
17.Kc1 Rd5 is prospectless.
12...Nxc3 13.bxc3 hxg4 14.Bxg4
14.h5 gxh5! 15.Rxh5 Qa5 16.Kd2 (or
16.Kf1 Qxc3) 16...Nf6 demonstrates that
Black can also attack.
14...Qa5
14...Nf6 15.Bxc8 Qxc8 16.h5 Nxh5
17.Rxh5 gxh5 18.Qxh5 keeps the white
attack on the boil.
15.h5 Qxc3+ 16.Kf1 Nf6 17.Bxc8 Raxc8
18.Kg2 Nxh5 19.Rxh5 gxh5 20.Rc1
Game 87
O.Bortnyk-G.Jones
Internet (blitz) 2022
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Bf4 g6 4.e3 Bg7 5.h4 h5
6.Nb5 Na6 7.Nf3 0-0 8.Ne5 c6 9.Nc3 Nb8
10.Be2
The opening move order was a little
strange, but we eventually arrive at our
destination. The players have taken several
extra moves to get to a known position.
White is going to bash through with g2-g4,
if allowed.
10...Nbd7
The eternal drawback of going Ne5 in the
Barry is the ease with which Black can
challenge the knight.
11.Nd3!?
This all feels extraordinarily dubious.
20...c5 21.Qxh5 Rc6 22.Rh1 Rd8?
22...Rg6+ 23.Kf1 Rc8 24.Be5 Bh6 was
better.
23.Ne5! Rf6 24.Bg5 Rxf2+ 25.Kxf2 Qxc2+
26.Kg3 Qf5 27.Bxe7 Bxe5+ 28.dxe5 1-0
A blitz melee where the ideas are more
valuable than the full content.
Bortnyk is keen to keep the pieces on. With
g2-g4 to come, this looks interesting,
11...Ne4!
I think this is a good move, clearing the
way for ...e7-e5 at some point, or if White
captures, embarrassing the knight on d3.
Bortnyk had actually been here before:
11...b6 12.Bf3 Bb7 13.Qe2 c5 14.0-0-0 Ne4
15.Bxe4 dxe4 16.Ne5 Nxe5 (maybe 16...Qc8)
17.Bxe5 Bxe5 18.dxe5 Qc7 19.e6 fxe6 was
Game 88
V.Gaprindashvili-A.Abdullayev
Nakhchivan 2022
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.Be2 c6 7.Ne5 Nfd7
This is a move which scores well for Black.
It seems like 8.h4 is begging to be played,
but Black can defend.
107
GM Baskaran Adhiban has had success
with 7...Qb6!, which is disruptive: for
instance, 8.Rb1 c5!? (or 8...Nbd7 9.0-0 Nxe5
10.Bxe5 Bf5 11.b4 Rac8 12.a4 a5 13.g4 Be6
14.b5 c5; Black has chosen a straightforward
way to develop his pieces and stands well,
N.Murshed-B.Adhiban, Internet (blitz) 2020)
9.0-0 cxd4 10.exd4 Bf5 11.Bf3 Nc6 12.Nxc6
Qxc6 13.Be5 Rfd8 14.Qe2 Rac8 15.Rfe1 a6
and Black won in 75 moves in C.Praveen
Kumar-B.Adhiban, Mumbai 2012. I think
7...Qb6 is a good way to react to 7.Ne5.
8.Nd3!?
8.h4 is met by 8...f6! (also very playable is
8...Nxe5 9.Bxe5 f6 10.Bg3 e5 and here
9.dxe5 Nd7 10.e6 fxe6 11.h5 e5 12.Bg3 Nc5
looks unsound for White) 9.Nxd7 Nxd7
10.h5 e5 11.Bg3 and now 11...Qb6 12.hxg6
hxg6 seems nice for Black.
8...f6
White is clearly worse here. There is no
kingside attack, and he is facing pressure on
the other flank. L.Winants-I.Glek, Dutch
League 2000, continued 19.c3 cxd4 20.exd4
Na4 21.Kb1 Qe6 22.Ka1 Qd6 23.c4 Qxf4
(the computer likes 23...b5!, the point being
24.c5 Rxc5! 25.dxc5 Bxb2+ 26.Kb1 Qxc5!
and even if White survives the attack, the
central pawn roller will mow him down)
24.Bg3 Qg5 25.Be5 Qe7 26.Bxg7 Kxg7 27.c5
b6! 28.Ba6 bxc5 29.Bxc8 Rxc8 30.Qa5 c4!
31.Nb1 Bc6 32.b3 Nb6 33.g3 Rb8 34.Rc1
Qb7 35.Nd2 e3 36.Nf3 cxb3 37.axb3 Nc4
38.Qa2 Qxb3 1-0. This has to be a loss on
time. Tragic for Glek.
11...f5?
11...Nb6! would probably have forced
White to play 12.b3 and after 12...a5 13.h5
Na6 Black has good chances. There are no
prior examples of this line.
12.Nxe5 Nxe5 13.dxe5 Nd7
13...Bxe5 14.Nxd5 is a move I am sure that
Black had earlier missed.
14.f4 h5 15.0-0 Rd8 16.Rfd1 Rb8 17.a4 b6
18.Bf3
This is the main reason for ...Nfd7 rather
than ...Nbd7. Black plans a central
counterattack.
9.Qd2 e5 10.Bg3
Capturing would only assist Black.
10...Qe7 11.h4
Here we go again. Instead, after 11.0-0-0
an all-GM clash continued sharply: 11...Nb6
12.Nc5 f5 13.f4 e4 14.Qe1 N8d7 15.Bh4 Qf7
16.Nxd7 Bxd7 17.Nb1 c5 18.Na3 Rfc8.
A pawn is a pawn. White now consolidates.
108
18...a6 19.Ne2 b5? 20.axb5 axb5 21.Ra7 Qc5
22.Qa5 Re8 23.Qc7 Qxc2 24.Nd4 Qxb2
25.Nxc6 Rb6 26.Ne7+ Rxe7 27.Qxc8+ Kh7
28.Rxd7 Rxd7 29.Qxd7 b4 30.Qc7 Ra6
31.Qc1 Qa2 32.Bxd5 b3 33.Qb1 Ra3
34.Qxa2 bxa2 35.Ra1 Rxe3 36.Bf2 Rd3
37.Bxa2 1-0
Game 89
S.Megaranto-J.Garcia
Ha Long (rapid) 2022
Now exchanging on e3 is simple and
equal, but Black was playing for the win:
19...Nd6 20.Bf3 e5 21.dxe6 Rxe6 22.Qd3 h5
23.Bf4 Be5 24.Bxe5 Rxe5 25.Rd1 Nf5 26.g3
h4! 27.g4 Ng7 28.Qd7 Re7 29.Qxc7 Rxc7
30.c4 Re8 31.Rbd3 Rce7 32.Kh2 Ne6 33.Rb1
Nc5 34.Rd4 Nxa4 35.Ra1 Nc5 36.Bd1 b6
37.Rd6 Re6 38.Rxe6 Rxe6 39.Bf3 Kf8 40.Kg2
Ke7 41.Rd1 Rd6 42.Re1+ Kd7 43.g5 Rd2
44.Bg4+ Kd8 45.Re3 Nd3 46.Rf3 0-1, R.PertL.McShane, British League (4NCL) 2001.
White was outplayed.
8...Bxe2 9.Nxe2 Nbd7
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 c6 5.e3
Bg4 6.Be2 Bg7 7.0-0 0-0
By transposition, we arrive at a familiar
position. Should White take the bishop-pair
or advance the knight to e5?
8.Ne5
8.h3 Bxf3 9.Bxf3 Nbd7 10.a4 is a
straightforward way and it a question of
whether the bishop-pair means anything at
all. With ...Re8 and ...e7-e5 coming up, it is
hard to prove anything. Let’s look at an
example: 10...a5 (10...Re8 11.a5 e5 was also
perfectly possible) 11.Ra3 Re8 12.Rb3 Ra7
(the computer suggests that 12...e5 13.dxe5
Nxe5 14.Bxe5 Rxe5 15.Rxb7 Qc8 16.Rb3
Nd7 is equal, which it may be, but it is not
the first continuation which comes to mind)
13.e4 dxe4 14.Nxe4 Nxe4 15.Bxe4 Nb6
(eyeing a4 and d4) 16.Be3 Ra8 (16...Nxa4
17.Qa1 Nb6 18.d5! gives White the
advantage) 17.c3 Qc7 (it is easy to
understand why McShane does not go for
17...Nxa4 18.Rxb7) 18.d5 Nc4 19.Qe2.
This already appears very level. White has
no pressure, and he can hardly say that his
pieces are on better squares.
10.c3 Nh5 11.Nd3 Nxf4 12.Nexf4 e5
12...Qc7 also looks good: 13.h3 e6!? (or
13...e5) 14.Re1 c5 (this shows us that Black is
not limited to the ...e7-e5 break in this
variation) 15.Nxc5 Nxc5 16.dxc5 Qxc5
17.Qb3 b5 18.Rad1 a5 when Black has a
promising minority attack-type position
and went on to win in 60 moves in I.ViticH.Stevic, Mali Losinj 2018.
13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Nxe5 Bxe5 15.Nd3 Bf6
16.Qb3 Qc7 17.Rad1 Rfe8 18.Rfe1 Rad8
109
19.g3 h5 20.c4 Kg7 21.Rc1 Qb6 22.Qc2 h4
23.cxd5 hxg3 24.hxg3 Rxd5 25.Nf4 Rd7
26.b3 Red8 27.Red1 Qa5! 28.Rxd7 Rxd7
29.Nd3 Rd8 30.Qe2 Qa3 31.Rc2 a5 32.Nc5
Qb4 33.Rc4 Qb6 34.Kg2 Be7 35.Qb2+ Bf6
36.Qe2 Qc7 37.Ne4 Qe5 38.Qf3 Be7 39.Rc2
Bb4 40.g4 Rh8 41.Ng3 Qg5 42.Rc1 Rd8
43.Rd1 Rxd1 44.Qxd1 Qe7 45.Qd4+ Qf6
46.Qxf6+ Kxf6 47.f4 b5 48.Kf3 Ke6 49.Ke4
Bd6 50.Ne2 f5+ 51.gxf5+ gxf5+ 52.Kd3
Black has to find a square for the bishop
on c8, but he might have preferred to wait
until White castled with either 7...b6 or
7...Qb6.
8.0-0 Nbd7 9.g4
52...c5?
After the long grind, a mistake. 52...Bc5
was best, with a draw after 53.Nd4+ (or
53.e4 fxe4+ 54.Kxe4 Kd6 55.Nd4 Kd7 56.f5
Bxd4 57.Kxd4 Kd6 58.f6 c5+ 59.Ke4 Ke6
60.f7 Kxf7 61.Kd5 c4 62.bxc4 bxc4 63.Kxc4
Ke6 64.Kb5 Kd6 65.Kxa5 Kc7) 53...Bxd4
54.Kxd4 Kd6.
53.Nc3! b4
Or if 53...c4+ 54.bxc4 b4 55.Na4.
54.Na4 Kd5 55.Nb6+ Kc6 56.Nc4 Bc7 57.e4!
Bd8 58.exf5 Kd5 59.Ne3+ Kd6 60.Ke4 Bc7
61.Nc4+ 1-0
Despite the result, White cannot claim any
advantage after 7.0-0 Bg4.
What’s left after 6...c6? The steady 7.h3,
preventing ...Bg4. There is no real advantage
here, but at least early exchanges are
avoided. We’ll now see this in action by
transposition.
Game 90
M.Carlsen-M.Krzyzanowski
Internet (blitz) 2017
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.e3 c6 5.Nf3
Bg7 6.h3 0-0 7.Be2 Bf5
110
Magnus is not slow to spot an opportunity.
9...Be6 10.Ng5! Ne8 11.Bg3 Nc7 12.f4! f5
13.Nxe6 Nxe6 14.g5!?
Over the long haul Carlsen is confident
that he can beat anyone, but blocking the
position does not seem right. Thus 14.gxf5!
gxf5 (if 14...Rxf5? 15.Bg4) 15.Kh2! was
promising.
14...Nb6 15.Nb1 c5 16.c3 Nc4 17.Bxc4 dxc4
18.Nd2 Qd5 19.Qf3 Qxf3 20.Nxf3 Rfd8
21.a4 Kf7 22.Rfc1 Rac8 23.Be1 Rc7 24.Kf1
Rd6 25.Nd2 cxd4 26.cxd4
26...Nf8?
So far Black has been playing very well, but
here he had to avoid 26...Nxf4 27.Bg3 and
instead take the plunge by sacrificing a
piece on d4: 26...Nxd4! 27.exd4 Rxd4 28.Kg2
Rc6! 29.Nf3 Rxf4. It is not so easy for White
to win this position.
27.Rxc4 Rxc4 28.Nxc4 Rc6 29.b3 Nd7
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.Be2 Bg4 7.Ne5 Bxe2 8.Qxe2 c5!
If Black wants to play sharply, then this is
the way. A thematic move, 8...c5 livens up
Black’s chances.
9.0-0-0
Instead, 9.dxc5 Qa5 10.Qb5 Qxb5
11.Nxb5 Rc8! offers nothing to White.
Meanwhile 9.0-0 is too quiet and after
9...cxd4 10.exd4 Qb6 Black is in good shape.
9...Nc6 10.h4!?
There is no hope left facing Carlsen’s boa
constrictor-like technique, which extends
even to blitz.
30.Ke2 Ke6 31.Kd3 Kd5 32.Bb4 Nb6
33.Bxe7 Nxc4 34.bxc4+ Rxc4 35.Rb1 Rxa4
36.Rxb7 Ra1 37.Bc5 Rd1+ 38.Ke2 Rh1
39.Rxg7 a5 40.Rxh7 a4 41.Ra7 Ke4 42.Re7+
Kd5 43.Kd3 1-0
It is hard for White to gain an advantage
with any move after 6...c6. If you feel
confident in your play, then waiting with
7.h3, taking away Black’s main idea might
be the way to go. Other than that, you can
launch at your own risk with 7.Ne5 followed
by h2-h4. Certainly 7.0-0 Bg4! offers White
nothing.
Line D) 6...Bg4
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.Be2 Bg4
Whose attack will be quickest?
10...cxd4 11.exd4 Rc8 12.h5 Nb4!
The machine suggests the unlikely move
12...Nxh5!?. It seems Black can survive and
prosper after the capture: 13.Rxh5 gxh5
14.Nxc6 (or 14.Qxh5 Qd6! 15.Rh1 h6)
14...Rxc6 15.Qxh5 Qc8 16.Rh1 h6 17.Nxd5
Qe6!. It is also easy to see why VachierLagrave does not take what seems to be a
severe risk.
13.hxg6 fxg6 14.Nd3 Nxd3+ 15.Rxd3 Qd7
16.Be5 Ng4 17.Bg3 Nh6 18.Kb1 Rc6 19.Qd2
Nf7 20.Bf4 Nd6 21.Bxd6 Rxd6 22.f3 Qf5
23.g3 e6 24.a3 Rc6 25.Ne2 Rfc8
Since ...Bc8-g4 was effective after 6...c6
then why not play it straight away, avoiding
6...c6 7.h3? To me, this is a reliable way to
play against the original Barry move order.
This variation will often transpose into
Line C if Black follows up with ...c7-c6, but he
need not do that. I guess if you are
concerned by 6...Bg4, you can always play
6.h3, but that takes away some options.
Game 91
F.Caruana-M.Vachier-Lagrave
Paris (rapid) 2021
111
This is steady play, nothing more, nothing
less.
A cautious passage of play has left Black in
good shape. Caruana now picks up the pace,
possibly due to a mutual shortage of time.
26.c3 b5 27.g4 Qf7 28.f4 a5 29.Rdh3 h6
30.Qd3 b4 31.axb4 axb4 32.Rxh6
He must try this, as the black initiative has
become very strong.
32...bxc3 33.Nxc3
Public enemy no.1 is removed. 33.Qxg6!?
is again very much a machine move, with
White throwing caution to the winds and
which seems to be OK: 33...Qxg6+ 34.Rxg6
Rb6 (or 34...c2+ 35.Kc1 Ra6 36.Kd2 Rb6
37.Kc1 with a draw) 35.b3 Rxb3+ 36.Kc2
Rb2+ 37.Kd3 Kf7 38.f5 exf5 39.gxf5 Rd2+
40.Ke3 Re8+ 41.Re6 Rxe6+ 42.fxe6+ Kxe6
43.Nxc3 Rxd4, burning out to a draw.
33...Bxh6 34.Rxh6 Kg7 35.Qh3 Qxf4
36.Rh7+ Kf8 37.Rh8+ Ke7 38.Rh7+
If 38.Qh4+ g5 39.Qh7+ Qf7.
38...Kd8 39.Rg7 Qf8 40.Rxg6
9.0-0-0
After 9.h4 I am convinced that 9...c5! is
correct (but not 9...e6?! allowing White the
time he needs to get the attack going: 10.00-0 Nxe5 11.Bxe5 Nd7 12.Bxg7 Kxg7 13.h5
f5 14.hxg6 hxg6 15.Qf3 when Black’s
position looks solid, but it is very passive).
Black scores best against the Barry when he
chooses to fight fire with fire: 10.0-0-0 cxd4
11.exd4 Rc8 12.Rd3 e6 13.g4 Ne4!? (Black
insists on aggressive play; 13...h6!? was
interesting, putting the brakes on any white
attack, and if 14.g5 Nh5 or 14.h5 g5 15.Bg3)
14.Nxd7 (White should have captured twice
on e4) 14...Nxc3 15.Rxc3 Qxd7 16.Rxc8 Rxc8
17.Be5 Qa4 18.Kb1 Bxe5 19.dxe5 Qc4
20.Qd2 Qxg4 21.h5 Qe4 22.Re1 Rxc2 0-1,
B.Bozinovic-M.Bosiocic, Sibenik 2011. Not
White’s finest hour.
9...Rc8 10.e4
Again, if 10.h4 c5.
10...Nb6 11.Kb1 c5!
There now follows a wild passage of play,
where the clock is the dominant feature.
40...Kc7 41.g5 Kb7 42.Rxe6 Rxe6 43.Qxe6
Qf1+ 44.Kc2 Qf2+ 45.Kb3 Qxd4 46.Qd7+
Kb8 47.Qb5+ Ka7 48.Qd7+ Kb8 49.Qb5+
Ka7 50.Qd7+ Kb8 ½-½
To me, what MVL did in this game
represents a very good way for Black to face
7.Ne5.
Game 92
J.Bosch-I.Sokolov
Dutch League 1995
Sokolov takes the central fight to Bosch
and obtains very good chances.
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.d4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
Bg4 6.Be2 0-0 7.Ne5 Bxe2 8.Qxe2 Nbd7
112
12.Nxd5 Nfxd5 13.exd5 Nxd5 14.Bg3 cxd4
15.Rxd4 e6 16.c4
Possibly 16.Rhd1 was more suited to the
needs of the position.
16...Qb6 17.Qd2 Nb4 18.a3 Na6
18...Nc6 would be met by 19.Rd6 and
although Black can win a pawn, he will have
to give up the dark-squared bishop to do so:
19...Bxe5 20.Bxe5 Qc5 21.Bc3 Qxc4. The
machine shows a black advantage, but we
can understand why Sokolov did not go for
it.
19.Rd6 Qb3 20.Rc1 Nc5 21.f3 b5!? 22.Qb4!?
Or just 22.cxb5!.
22...Qe3! 23.Re1 Qg5 24.cxb5 Qf5+ 25.Ka2
Bxe5 26.Rxe5 Nd3 27.Rxf5 Nxb4+ 28.Kb3?
28.axb4 gxf5 29.Ra6 leads to an odd
position, which, curiously, may even be
better for White after 29...Ra8 30.Bf2.
28...gxf5 29.Kxb4 Rc2 30.b3 Rxg2 31.Rd7
Ra8 32.Ka5 Rb2 33.Rd3
If 33.b4 Rb3 34.a4 Rxf3 35.Ka6 f4.
33...Re2 34.Ka6 e5 35.Kb7 Re8 36.Kxa7 f4
37.Bh4 Re3 38.Rxe3 fxe3 39.b6 f5 40.b7 f4
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.Be2 Bg4 7.h3
If White is happy steering the game
towards a dead-level position, then 7.h3 is
the move.
7...Bxf3 8.Bxf3 c6 9.0-0 Nbd7
Black is going to play ...Re8 and then ...e7e5, so White has to do something fast.
Unfortunately, his only pawn break leads to
a sterile position.
10.e4 dxe4 11.Nxe4 Nxe4 12.Bxe4 e5
13.dxe5 Nxe5
This is not the most interesting position in
the world, but it is great if you are happy
with a draw. The knight is the equal of the
light-squared bishop and that is all that can
be said.
14.c3
14.Qe2 Re8 15.c3 Qf6 16.Bg3 Nd7 does
not look like an improvement for White.
14...Qxd1!?
Retaining the queen leads to 14...Qh4
15.Qc1 Rad8! 16.Bc2 Nd3 17.Bxd3 Rxd3,
keeping the game level.
15.Raxd1 Rad8 16.Bc2
16.Bg5!? f6 17.Bf4 Rfe8 18.Bc2 Bf8
19.Rfe1 may give White a tiny edge.
16...Bf6 17.Bxe5
Dull and effective. Can White extract
anything from 17.Bh6 Rfe8 18.Rfe1 Rxd1
19.Rxd1 Rd8 20.Rxd8+ Bxd8? Where is Ulf
Andersson when you need him?
17...Bxe5 18.Rxd8 Rxd8 19.Rd1 Rxd1+
20.Bxd1 Kf8 21.Kf1 Ke7 22.Ke2 Bc7
23.Kd3 Bb6 24.f3 Bc7 25.a4 a5 26.Bb3 f5
27.Bc4 h6 28.b4 Kf6 29.b5 cxb5 30.Bxb5
Bd6 ½-½
Sokolov has been fortunate. The
breakthrough with ...e5-e4 is impossible to
stop.
41.Bg5
Black also wins after 41.b8=Q Rxb8
42.Kxb8 e4 43.Bg5 exf3 44.Bxf4 f2.
41...h6! 42.Bf6 e4 43.Be5 exf3 0-1
A very messy game.
Game 93
E.Dedebas-D.Benidz
Marmaris 2019
113
7...Ne8?!
7...c6 may be best, when 8.Bc7! Qe8 9.Nc3
leads us into a strange situation, which has
not been properly explored. I guess it is OK
for Black if he follows up with 9...b6 10.0-0
Bb7.
8.c4! c6 9.Nc3 Ndf6 10.0-0 Nd6
If you have infinite patience and stamina
you may like to try your chances after 7.h3,
when, barring a large mistake, it will not be
easy for Black to win. This may be the way to
play
against
higher-rated
players,
frustrating them.
Summarizing, 6...Bg4 is a good move and
White struggles to obtain an advantage.
Most suited to that aim seems 7.Ne5 Bxe2
8.Qxe2 followed by h2-h4.
Line E) Other Sixth Moves
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.Be2
White has achieved a good version of the
Bf4 Grünfeld, where Black has taken up a
relatively passive stance.
11.Bxd6
Much better was 11.cxd5! when White
can count on an advantage after 11...cxd5
(11...Nxd5 12.Nxd5 cxd5 13.Qb3 Qa5
14.Rfc1 is awkward for Black to meet)
12.Qb3! Qa5 13.Rfc1 Be6 14.a4 Rac8 15.Ng5
Bd7 16.Bxd6.
11...Qxd6 12.c5 Qc7 13.b4
White has gone for reasonable but not
incisive development.
13...Bg4
13...Nd7 14.b5 e5! was a good plan.
Something similar happens in the game.
14.Ne5 Bxe2 15.Nxe2 Nd7 16.Nd3 e5
17.Rb1 e4
17...a6 18.a4 Rfe8 was less committal.
18.Ndf4 g5?! 19.Nh5 f5 20.Nc3 Nf6 21.b5 f4
22.Nxf6+ Rxf6 23.Qg4 h6 24.bxc6 bxc6
25.Rb3 Raf8 26.Rfb1 Qa5 27.Qd1 Qa6
27...f3!? 28.g3 h5 29.Rb4 Qd8 was
certainly worth a thought.
28.Rb8 fxe3 29.Rxf8+ Rxf8 30.fxe3 Qc8
31.Qe2 Qd7 32.a3 Qc8 33.Na2 Kh7 34.Rf1
Rxf1+ 35.Qxf1
In this section we take a brief look at
Black’s other sixth moves, which include
6...Nbd7, 6...Nh5, 6...Bf5 and 6...a6. None of
these moves are especially common, but
may crop up from time to time.
Game 94
N.Pasini-S.Miandro
Porto San Giorgio 2017
1.d4!? Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.Be2 Nbd7!?
Left to his own devices, Black will develop
in a standard manner with ...b6, ...Bb7
and ...c7-c5. If White does not interrupt this
plan, he will end up with nothing.
7.Nb5!
This looks interesting, following up with a
quick c2-c4, trying to land Black in an
inferior version of the Grünfeld. Instead,
7.Ne5 c5 8.h4 or 8.0-0 head towards familiar
positions.
114
A potential attacker is removed from the
board.
9.Bxe5
9.dxe5 Nd7 10.Qd4 e6! 11.h5 c5 does not
look great for White.
9...h5
35...Qb7?
All OK to here for Black and we while can
split hairs over some of his moves, 35...Qb7
is a clear mistake. Instead, 35...Qd7 was
called for, to play 36.Nb4 (or if 36.Qa6 Qg4
37.Nb4 Qd1+ 38.Qf1 Qd2 39.Qf5+ Kh8
40.Qc8+ Kh7 41.Qf5+) 36...a5!.
36.Nb4 Qd7 37.Qa6 Qg4 38.Qf1?
38.Nxc6 Qd1+ 39.Qf1 Qd2 40.Ne7! was
the accurate way to finish: 40...Qxe3+
41.Kh1 Qf4 42.Qxf4 gxf4 43.c6 e3 44.Kg1
Bxd4 45.Kf1 Bb6 46.Nxd5 and wins.
38...Qd7 39.Qa6 Qg4 40.Nxc6 Qd1+ 41.Qf1
Qb3
Or if 41...Qd2 42.Ne7!, etc.
42.Qc1 g4 43.Ne7 Bf6 44.Nf5 Bd8 45.Ng3
Bc7 46.c6 Kg6 47.Ne2 Kh7 48.Qc3 Qd1+
49.Kf2 Qh1 50.Qc5 Qxh2 51.Qe7+ Kh8
52.Qe8+ Kh7 53.Qd7+ Kh8 54.Qc8+ Kh7
55.Qxg4 Ba5 56.Qf5+ Kh8 57.Qe5+ Qxe5
58.dxe5 Kg7 59.Nc3 Kf7 60.Nxd5 Ke6
61.c7 Kd7 62.Kg3 Bd2 63.Kf4 Bc1 64.e6+ 10
Let us see what might happen if White
adopts the route one approach after
6...Nbd7.
10.Bxf6?
There is direct, very direct, and overly
direct. White’s idea falls into the latter
category. He should just play 10.Qd2, with
castling on both sides available, as well as
the slower plan of f2-f3, preparing a later g2g4.
10...Bxf6 11.g4 hxg4 12.Bxg4
12.h5 g3! is recommended by the machine,
putting a spanner in the works with 13.f4 (if
13.fxg3 Qd6 14.Kf2 e5 or 13.Bg4 gxf2+
14.Kxf2 e5) 13...e5!!. After 14.fxe5 (or
14.dxe5 g2 15.Rg1 Bh4+ 16.Kd2 d4) 14...Bh4
15.Kd2 Qg5 16.Qg1 Be6 Black’s attack is
landing first.
12...Kg7!
A standard. strong defensive measure.
Black may also consider 12....e5 or 12...c5.
13.h5 Rh8 14.Qf3 Bxg4 15.Qxg4 Qc8
16.Qg2?
16.Qf3, dissuading ...Qf5, was better, but
Black may do best to play 16...Qf5 anyway:
17.Qxf5 gxf5 18.Ne2 Kh6! 19.Kd2 Rag8
20.Rag1 e6 is approximately equal.
16...Qf5!
Game 95
F.Dowgird-R.Praggnanandhaa
Internet (blitz) 2021
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.Be2 c6 7.Ne5 Nbd7
By transposition we have reached the
same position as 6...Nbd7 7.Ne5 c6.
8.h4 Nxe5
115
7.Be5 f6 8.Bg3 Nxg3 9.hxg3 c6 scores
badly for White and this can come as no
surprise. With two bishops and ...e7-e5 as a
plan, Black is already better.
7...h6 8.Bh4 b6
Chasing the bishop down leads to 8...g5
9.Ne5! gxh4 (9...Nf6 10.Bg3 leaves the black
kingside full of holes) 10.Bxh5 c5 (the
modest 10...c6 may be best, after which I
claim an edge with 11.f4!) 11.Qf3 Be6 may
not be so awful for Black, but it certainly
seems risky. A GM went down to a lowerrated player after 12.Qf4 cxd4 13.exd4 Nc6
14.Nf3 Rc8 15.0-0-0 Na5 16.Ne5 in
H.Kratschmer-M.Tseitlin, Courmayeur 2011.
9.Ne5 Nf6
Black is suddenly better, with the rook on
a1 out of play.
17.hxg6 Rxh1+ 18.Qxh1 Rh8 19.Qg2 Qxc2!
20.gxf7+ Kxf7 21.Nd1 Qf5 22.Rc1 Rh3 23.b4
Qh5 24.Kd2 Rh2 25.Qg3 Rh1
25...e5! fully opens the game at the right
moment.
26.a4 a6 27.Qg2 e5
He managed to play it.
28.dxe5 Bxe5 29.b5 axb5 30.axb5 Rh2
Or just 30...Bc7! 31.bxc6 Ba5+.
31.Qf1 Rh1 32.Qd3 Qg4
Black is missing his chance to get the
bishop into action, but I presume he had no
time.
33.bxc6 bxc6 34.Rb1 Ke6 35.Qc2 Kd7
36.Rb6 Qe6 37.Qa2 Bc7 38.Rb1 Qf5 39.Rc1
Qf3 40.Qc2 Qf6 41.Qd3 Ba5+ 42.Ke2 Re1#
0-1
We may see more of 6...Nbd7 in years to
come. At present 7.Ne5 or 7.Nb5 seem most
testing, but not to the point at which White
can claim an opening advantage.
If the knight leaves the edge without the
dark-squared bishop, the whole venture is
pointless.
10.Bg3 Bb7 11.h4 Nbd7 12.h5 g5 13.f4!
Nxe5 14.fxg5! Nc4 15.gxf6 Bxf6
15...Nxe3 16.Qd3 Nxg2+ 17.Kf2 leaves
two pieces attacked.
16.Bxc4 dxc4 17.Qg4+ Kh8 18.0-0-0 Qc8
19.Qf4 Bg5 20.Qf2 Qd7 21.Kb1!
Game 96
H.Niemann-A.Banerjee
Philadelphia 2019
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.d4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.Be2 Nh5!?
If it works, then 6...Nh5 is a serious
challenge to the original Barry move order.
Since White does not want his dark-squared
bishop leaving the board without extracting
some concessions, he must enter into
curious complications.
7.Bg5
First, White takes a small time-out.
116
21...b5 22.d5 c6 23.d6 Qe6 24.e4 f5 25.Qd4+
Bf6 26.e5 Bg7 27.Ne2 exd6
Black cannot repair his loose position.
28.Qxd6 Qxd6 29.exd6 Rad8 30.Nf4 Rfe8
31.d7 Rg8 32.Bh4 1-0
If Black plays 6...Nh5 he must be willing to
enter the variation commencing 7.Bg5 h6
8.Bh4 g5 9.Ne5 gxh4 10.Bxh5. Most would
prefer White due to the fresh air around the
black king, but I would say it is genuinely
unclear.
We reach a position where White’s attack
must be met by counter aggression.
12...Bf5
12...c5! was critical, and if 13.dxc5 Bxc3+
14.bxc3 Ne4, 13.Bxd6 exd6 14.Nf4 cxd4
15.exd4 Nb6 or 13.Bxd5 cxd4 14.exd4 Bxd4.
13.Bxd6 exd6 14.Bg4 Bxd3 15.Qxd3 Nb6
16.0-0-0 f5?
Black is not setting up counterplay. He
should at least try 16...a5.
17.gxf6 Qxf6 18.h5 c5 19.hxg6 hxg6 20.dxc5
dxc5
Game 97
S.Vijayalakshmi-A.Mansoor
Stavanger 2018
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.d4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.Be2 Bf5!?
This cannot be too bad, but it does
encourage White to look for a plan involving
g2-g4.
7.Ne5! Nbd7
If this line ever becomes popular, I think
that 7...c5! is the way that Black will play it.
Let us see Speelman toiling with White:
8.dxc5!? (8.0-0 cxd4 9.exd4 Nc6 10.Nxc6
bxc6 11.Na4 would be standard play, while
8.g4 cxd4! 9.exd4 Be6 10.h4?! Nc6 11.h5
Qb6 calls White’s bluff) 8...Qa5 9.0-0 Qxc5
10.Bf3 Nc6 11.Nxc6 (11.Nd3) 11...bxc6
12.Be5 Rfd8 13.Rb1 a5 14.a3 a4 and White
had to be careful to eventually draw in
J.Speelman-J.Bernal Camano, Cala Galdana
1994.
8.g4
Here we go again.
8...Be6 9.Bf3 c6 10.g5 Ne8 11.Nd3 Nd6
12.h4
21.Nxd5! Qxb2+ 22.Kd2 Qe5? 23.f4 Qd6
24.Nxb6 Qxb6
If 24...Qxd3+ 25.Kxd3 axb6 (or 25...Rfd8+
26.Nd7) 26.Be6+.
25.Qc4+ 1-0
Game 98
O.Ajibola-D.Anwuli
Nigerian Championship, Lagos 2021
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 a6!? 5.e3
Bg7 6.Be2 0-0
Facing all these slow moves that do not
involve immediate pressure in the centre
(4...Bg7 5.e3 0-0 6.Be2 a6 is, of course, just
117
20...Rh1+ 21.Bf1 Bd7 22.Qe3 Qxb7 23.Kd2
Qb4 24.a3 Qd6 25.Bc4 Ng4 26.Qg3!
All you can say is that Black is material
down and he does not recover.
26...Rh2 27.Qxd6 exd6 28.Bxa6 Rxg2
29.Ne4
29.Be2 Rxf2 30.b4 f5 31.b5 must win.
29...Bf5
Now 29...Nxf2 30.Nxf2 Rxf2+ 31.Kc3 Kf6
would put up a hard fight.
30.Bd3
30.Nxd6! Rxf2+ 31.Be2 Bxc2 32.Rf1! Rxf1
33.Bxf1 should win comfortably.
30...Bxe4 31.Bxe4 Rxf2+ 32.Kc3 f5 33.Bd3
Nf6 34.a4 Nxd5+ 35.Kd4 Nb4 36.Kc4 Rf4+
37.Kb5 Nd5 38.a5 Rb4+ 39.Kc6 Ne7+
40.Kxd6 Kf6 41.Kc5 Ra4 42.b4 g5 43.a6 g4
44.b5 Ra5 45.Kb4 Ra2 46.b6 Nd5+ 47.Kc5
Nxb6 48.Kxb6 f4 49.a7 g3 50.Be4 1-0
I doubt 6...a6 will become popular.
another move order), White may as well
launch the h2-h4 attack.
7.Ne5 Nbd7 8.h4 c6 9.h5
White should already be looking for a way
to get his queen to the h-file.
9...Qb6 10.Rb1 Nxe5 11.Bxe5 Nd7 12.Bxg7
Kxg7 13.hxg6 hxg6 14.Qd2
It looks like the destination is h6.
14...Rh8 15.Rxh8 Kxh8 16.e4 Kg7
Black has frustrated the plan, but at the
cost of a pawn.
17.exd5 Nf6 18.dxc6 Be6?
Was it so easy after 18...bxc6? Admittedly,
White is a pawn up, but there is still a game
to be played.
19.cxb7 Rh8
Black mobilizes, but has been too
generous.
20.d5
20.f3 Rh1+ 21.Kf2 Rxb1 22.Nxb1 Qxb2
23.Na3 Qxb7 24.c4 was another way to
consolidate.
Summary
I have been surprised by the number of
playable options available to Black after
6.Be2. My feeling is that unless Black is
exerting or threatening to exert immediate
pressure on the centre, White should think
about the kingside attacking plan. If ...c7-c5
is at the ready, or has already been played,
heading for a quieter game may though be
the best practical chance.
118
Chapter Five
Other Fifth Moves for White
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7
possible to build up a kingside attack. We go
back in time to see how this may be done.
Game 99
W.Winter-H.Theodore
British Championship, Chester 1934
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.h3 Bg7 5.Bf4
0-0 6.e3 c6
A modern player might prefer 6...c5 or
6...b6.
7.Bd3 Nbd7 8.g4!?
Since Black is setting up passively, Winter
sees no reason not to attack.
8...b5 9.Ne2 Bb7 10.Ng3
We close our examination of the Barry
Attack by rounding up a few, less common
choices for White:
a) 5.h3 can’t be a bad move and it has the
benefit of preventing ...Bg4. The direct
kingside attack with h2-h4 is delayed,
maybe for good, and quieter play results. It’s
worth noting that after 5...0-0, White may
try to transpose into another line with
6.Nb5, but Black has the additional option of
6...Ne8. I would summarize this line as
sound, but not incisive.
b) 5.h4 when some might say it is a little
too early for the ‘Banzai’ charge, especially
when Black has not yet castled, but this has
not stopped a variety of aggressive
individuals from trying it out.
c) Instinctively, 5.Ne5!? feels wrong, if only
for the fact that the knight has now moved
twice, but lines with ...Bg4 have been
prevented. It’s easy for Black to exchange off
the advanced knight too. Nevertheless, there
are attacking ideas for White here, usually
associated with h2-h4 once again.
White has tried a few other moves, but
they are as rare as a hen’s tooth, and I have
to draw the line somewhere.
Although an early h2-h3 by White might
seem like a quiet treatment, it is still
The engines give this position as equal,
but in the human world I think most of us
would prefer to be White, who has the
clearly marked plan of attack by putting the
knight on e5 and following up with h3-h4.
10...c5
Better late than never.
11.c3 c4 12.Bc2 Qb6 13.Ne5 Rad8 14.h4 Ne4
14...Nxe5 15.Bxe5 b4 was more consistent
with what Black appears to be trying to do.
After that, 16.h5 bxc3 17.bxc3 Qa5 18.Kd2!?
leaves the position extremely unclear.
15.Nxd7 Rxd7 16.h5?!
Allowing a strong counter in the centre. I
think I prefer the somewhat safer 16.Nxe4
119
days, a transposition into something
resembling a main line almost always
happens after 5.h3.
dxe4 17.Qe2, but even here, after 17...Rfd8
intending ...e7-e5, Black’s position is fine.
16...e5!
Game 100
T.Vojta-J.Kuba
Czech League 2019
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.h3
0-0 6.e3 b6
After the slow 5.h3, a double fianchetto is
a valid approach.
7.Be2 Bb7 8.Nb5
8.Ne5 Nbd7 9.0-0 c5 already looks equal,
with White challenged to get his major
pieces into the game.
8...Na6 9.0-0 c6 10.Na3 b5 11.c3 Nc7
We are back in a Nb5 variation, where
both players recognize the importance of
improving an offside knight.
12.Nc2 Nd7
If White captures on e5. the long diagonal
down to h1 could come to life rather quickly.
17.Nxe4 dxe4 18.Bg3 exd4 19.cxd4 g5!
20.Qe2 h6 21.a4 Qa5+ 22.Kf1 b4 23.Kg2
Bd5 24.Qe1 Re8 25.Qb1 b3
There was also 25...Bxd4! 26.exd4 b3!
which leaves White in real trouble.
26.Bd1 Bf8
26...Bxd4 27.exd4 e3+ 28.f3 Qd2+ 29.Kh3
e2 was crushing.
27.Be2 Qd2 28.Qf1 Rc8 29.Rc1 c3 30.Rxc3
Rxc3 31.bxc3 b2 32.Bb5 Rb7 33.c4
The scene is set for the middlegame. Both
sides are looking for pawn breaks to open
the game up. Black would like to play ...e7-e5
or...c6-c5 at the right moment, whereas
White is looking to play on the queenside to
furnish chances.
13.a4! a6 14.b3
14.Nb4 was interesting, maybe intending
to clamp down on e5 by following up with
Nd3.
14...Re8 15.c4 bxc4 16.bxc4 c5
Thematic and good.
17.Qb1 Qc8 18.Qb3 cxd4 19.exd4 Rb8 20.c5
e5! 21.Nxe5 Nxe5 22.Bxe5 Bxe5 23.dxe5
33...a6?
So far Black has played excellently and he
could have finished the job with the simple
33...Be6, threatening both ...a6 and ...Bxg4.
34.cxd5 axb5 35.axb5 Ra7??
Whoops. 35...Qb4 was the way to go.
36.b6 Ra1
Or if 36...Rb7 37.Qa6.
37.b7 Rxf1 38.Rxf1 1-0
Using h2-h3 to support g2-g4, with the
idea of a kingside attack, seems like a
tempting, but shaky plan. In practice these
120
the long diagonal, which promotes doubt in
my mind.
Instead, 7.Ne5 mixes systems and Black
can reach easy equality with 7...cxd4 8.exd4
Nc6 9.Be2 Bf5 10.0-0 Rc8! (Black is already
slightly for choice) 11.Nxc6 Rxc6 12.Be5 Ne4!
13.Nxe4 Bxe4 14.Bd3 Bxe5 15.dxe5 Qc7
16.Bxe4 dxe4 17.Qd4 Rxc2 18.Qxe4 Rxb2.
Black is a pawn up and went on to win in
S.Myradow-O.Kobo Internet (blitz) 2021.
23...Ne6
There was nothing wrong with 23...Rxe5
24.Nd4 Ne6 25.Nxe6 Rxe6 or 25...Rxe2
26.Nd4 Re4 27.Qc3 Bc6.
24.Bg4 Qxc5 25.Bxe6 Rxe6 26.Rab1 Rxe5
27.Rfe1 Ree8 28.Ne3 d4
28...Bc6 29.Qxb8 Rxb8 30.Rxb8+ Kg7
31.Ng4 d4 leaves White uncoordinated.
29.Ng4 Rxe1+ 30.Rxe1 Kg7 31.Qg3 Rc8
32.Qf4 Qf5??
32...f5 covers all bases, and if 33.Qh6+
Kh8 34.Nf6 Qc7.
33.Qxd4+ 1-0
White may certainly use 5.h3 in a
constructive way, intending a transposition
to the Nb5 variations at a convenient
moment. One should not expect much, but
a full middlegame awaits. The truth is that
5.h3 is nice for those who want a quiet life,
but Black has numerous ways to equalize. It
is really a question of normal development
coupled with common sense.
7...Ne4
This is one good method. 7...Qa5 is
another Grünfeld-like response which is also
very satisfactory for Black. After 8.Be5
(otherwise 8.Qd2 Qxc5 9.0-0-0 e6 10.Be2
Nc6 is pleasant for Black, while 8.Nd2 Qxc5
9.Nb3 Qb6 10.Be5 Be6 11.Bd4 Qd8 12.Bd3
Nc6 gives him easy development) 8...Nbd7
9.Bd4 Re8 10.Ne5 Nxe5 11.Bxe5 Qxc5
12.Qd4 Qxd4 13.exd4 Bf5 14.Bb5 Rec8
15.Ba4 h5 16.Bb3 e6 Black has at least
equality and probably a bit more. He went
on to win in A.Erigaisi-A.Firouzja, Internet
(blitz) 2020.
8.Nxe4
After 8.Nxd5 the complications soon burn
out: 8...Bxb2 9.Bc7 Qe8! 10.Be5 (if 10.Rb1
Bc3+) 10...Bxe5 11.Nxe5 Be6 12.Nc7? Qa4
13.Qd4 (avoiding 13.Nxa8 Qa5+) 13...Qa5+
14.c3 Qxc7 15.Qxe4 Qxc5 and I don’t like
White’s position.
8...dxe4 9.Qxd8 Rxd8 10.Nd4
This is a quite deliberate attempt to
complicate. Aronian could have chosen
10.Ne5 Be6 11.Rd1 Nd7 12.Nxd7 Rxd7
13.Rxd7 Bxd7 14.c3 Rc8, which looks
drawish.
Game 101
L.Aronian-A.Grischuk
Internet (blitz) 2016
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
You may as well play 5.h3 now, if only to
avoid 5...Bg4.
5...0-0 6.h3 c5!
Black should play this wherever possible
against the Barry Attack.
7.dxc5!?
We have seen this concept earlier in the
book. White unbalances the pawn structure
and embraces complexity. He also loosens
121
10...e5 11.Bg5 f6 12.Nb5 Na6!
12...fxg5?! leads to 13.Nc7 Bf5 14.Nxa8
Rc8 15.Bc4+ Kf8 16.g4 Bd7 17.0-0-0 Ke7
18.Bd5. The knight is not getting out, but
after the further 18...Nc6 19.Nb6 axb6
20.cxb6 White has the advantage and a lot
of pawns in this murky position.
13.Bc4+ Kf8 14.Bh4 Nxc5
32...Nd4
32...Rxc2 33.Re5 Kd6 34.Rh5 Rd2 does not
look especially easy to win for Aronian. I’ll
now let the rest of the game pass, as both
players were clearly hammering away with
no time:
33.Rd5 Rg3+ 34.Kh2 Nf3+ 35.Kh1 Rh3+
36.Kg2 Rg3+ 37.Kf2 Ng5 38.Ke1 Re3+
39.Kd1 Nxe4 40.Rd3 Rxd3+ 41.cxd3 Nc3+
42.Kd2 Nd5 43.d4 b6 44.a6 b5 45.Kd3 Kb6
46.Ke4 Nc3+ 47.Ke5 b4 48.d5 b3 49.d6 b2
50.Ke6 Ne4 51.Rb1 Kc6 52.Rxb2 f3 53.Rc2+
Nc5+ 54.Ke7 Kd5 55.d7 Nxd7 56.Kxd7 1-0
7.dxc5 can be met successfully by either
7...Qa5 or 7...Ne4.
Game 102
N.Sedlak-B.Damljanovic
Serbian Championship, Novi Sad 2018
Black has sidestepped the serious
complications and has achieved equality. It
is now Grischuk’s turn to press.
15.Nc3 g5 16.Bg3 f5 17.f3 exf3 18.gxf3 Be6
19.Bxe6 Nxe6 20.h4 h6 21.hxg5 hxg5 22.a4
Rac8
Black is active, White is struggling.
23.a5 e4 24.0-0
24.fxe4 Rxc3 25.exf5 Rxe3+ 26.Kf2 Rxg3
27.Kxg3 Nc5 is complex, but if anyone is
better it must be Black.
24...Bxc3 25.bxc3 Rxc3 26.fxe4 f4 27.Bf2
Ke7
27...f3 28.Be1 Rxe3 29.Kf2 Rxe4 30.Kxf3
Rc4 sets up a winnable position for Grischuk.
28.exf4 gxf4?
A lack of time prompts this mistake.
29.Bh4+ Ke8 30.Bxd8 Kxd8 31.Rab1 Kc7
32.Rb5
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 c6
Solid, but not especially ambitious. 4...Bg7
5.h3 c6 would be another route into the
game.
5.h3 Bg7 6.e3 Nbd7 7.Bd3 0-0 8.0-0 b6
The opening has proceeded along placid
lines and it is now a question of whether
White can clam any advantage. To do so, I
think he has to show a clear plan of how he
will get his major pieces into the game. This
is the challenge of positions like these. 9.e4
is obviously possible, but Sedlak prefers
another way.
9.a4!
Avoiding simplification. 9.e4 might lead
to 9...dxe4 10.Nxe4 Bb7!, which is similar to
a position from the Veresov, except there
the bishop would be on g5 and not f4. I think
that has to favour Black, because the bishop
on f4 is shooting down an empty diagonal
and exerts no pressure.
122
Black gets into a mess after 18...cxb3
19.Rxb3 Ra7 20.Nb5! Raa8 21.Nc7 Ra7
22.Bd3.
19.Na2?!
I am not sure why he didn’t play 19.Nxe4
dxe4 20.Nd2 cxb3 21.Rxb3 when 21...Rxc2
22.Rxb7 Rxd2 23.Rxd7 Rxe2 24.Rxa6! leaves
Black toiling.
19...c3?!
19...cxb3 20.Rxb3 Ra7 21.Bb5 Ndf6 was a
better shot, with counterplay along the c-file.
20.Nb4
The pawn on a6 is going to drop off.
20...Bf8 21.Nxa6 Nb8 22.Bxb8 Bxa6
23.Rxa6 Rxa6 24.Bxa6 Rxb8 25.Ra1 Ra8
26.Ne5 Nd6 27.Ra4 Be7 28.Nc6 Kf8 29.Bd3
Rc8 30.Ra6 Ne8 31.b4
Play may proceed 11.Qe2 (a round up of
alternatives does not produce anything
better for White: 11.Nxf6+ Nxf6 12.Re1 Rc8
with ...c6-c5 coming up is fine for Black, after
11.Re1 c5 12.c3 Bxe4 13.Bxe4 Nxe4 14.Rxe4
cxd4! Black is well placed, and if 11.c4 Nxe4
12.Bxe4 Nf6 13.Bc2 c5) 11...c5 12.dxc5 Nxe4
13.Bxe4 Bxe4 14.Qxe4 Nxc5 with level
chances. Planning and executing ...c7-c5 is
the way to completely free the black position.
9...Bb7
He could certainly play 9...c5 right away:
10.a5 c4 11.Be2 Bb7. This offers Black good
chances.
10.a5 bxa5 11.Qb1!
With the nice idea of Qa2, regaining the
pawn and then proceeding with the better
pawn structure.
11...c5 12.Qa2 a6
12...c4 blocks a little too early, as we saw
back in Game 57, Hebden-Madan.
13.Rfd1 c4 14.Be2 Qb6 15.Qxa5
15...Qxa5
And not 15...Qxb2?? 16.Rab1
17.Rxb7.
16.Rxa5 Rfc8 17.Rb1 e6 18.b3! Ne4
The extra pawn is going to win the game.
31...Nc7 32.Ra7 Bd6 33.b5 Na8 34.f4 h5
35.Kf2 Nb6 36.Rb7 Na4 37.Ne5
37.Na7! Ra8 38.b6 Nxb6 39.Rxb6 Bxf4
40.exf4 Rxa7 41.Rc6 offers Black no hope.
37...Bc7 38.Nd7+ Ke7 39.b6 Kxd7 40.Bb5+
1-0
One can see why 5.h3 is played, offering as
it does a very solid position coupled with
easy-to-understand plans in the style of the
London System. It does not set the house on
fire, but is reliable and can be used as a
transpositional device.
Coming up is what I would classify as an
old-fashioned Barry Attack, carried out at
lightning speed by the young white player.
Qxc2
Game 103
S.Grover-D.Mikrut
Internet (blitz) 2020
123
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.h4!?
You are just going to have to imagine that
we are linking up with this game via 4.Nf3
Bg7 5.h4!? c6 6.e3.
4...c6 5.e3 Bg7 6.Nf3 Bg4
You would think with h5 covered several
times that Black is quite safe. It does not
turn out that way.
7.Qd2
A bit late, but 16...Nxh5 17.fxg4 Nf6
18.Qh2 Rfd8 19.Rg3!!, with the easy idea of
Rh3, terminates proceedings.
17.h6 Bh8 18.h7+ 1-0
Against a move like 5.h4, Black should not
go passive. He should hit back immediately
with 5...c5 or block with 5...h5. Both ideas are
playable.
Game 104
7...Nbd7?!
7...Bxf3 looks very sensible, but even here,
White can open kingside lines. There is
nothing clear after 8.gxf3 0-0 (if 8...Nbd7
9.e4 Nb6 10.0-0-0 0-0 11.h5 Nxh5 12.Bh6)
9.h5 Nxh5 10.Bg5, although White has
kingside chances and in rapidplay or blitz, it
could cost Black a lot of time to find a good
defence.
8.Ne5 Nxe5 9.Bxe5 h5 10.f3 Bf5 11.0-0-0 00?
Showing no sense of danger whatsoever.
Black had to try to get some counterplay
going before castling and thus 11...b5, or
something like it, was called for.
12.Bd3 Qd7 13.Rdg1 Bxd3 14.cxd3 Rac8
15.g4
The attack plays itself.
15...hxg4 16.h5 c5
A.Naiditsch-M.Baldauf
German Bundesliga 2019
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.h4
c5!
If I was facing 5.h4, this would certainly be
the move I would want to play. An action on
the flank deserves a counterblow in the
centre. In Grünfeld style, Black develops
fluid counterplay. The queen can come to b6
or a5 at a moment’s notice and if there is
ever going to be a refutation of 5.h4, it will
start with 5...c5.
6.e3
6.dxc5 can be answered by 6...Qa5 7.Qd3
Na6 when Black will get the pawn back, or
White will have to play 8.Qb5+ Qxb5 9.Nxb5
Bd7 10.e3 0-0, which to be honest, does not
look that great for the first player. White can
scrape equality after 11.Ne5 Nxc5 12.Be2 a6
13.Nd4 Rac8, but this is not much of an
advert for 5.h4.
6...Bg4
6...cxd4 7.exd4 Nc6 8.Ne5 Qb6 also seems
a good way to generate counterplay, leaving
White with 9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.Na4 Qa5+ 11.c3
0-0 as his sole way of playing for the
124
advantage when, to me, h2-h4 looks out of
place. White is mixing systems.
7.Nb5 Na6 8.c3 0-0
but after 28...Nd6 Black is defending and
continues to enjoy counter-chances.
25...bxc5 26.d5 Qf5 27.Ne3 Qxg5 28.d6?
Naiditsch appears dissatisfied with his
position and plays this phase of the game
poorly. Perhaps 28.Rdg1 was better.
28...Bxc3 29.Rdg1 Qe5 30.d7 Bd4!
I like 8...Qb6 again. A typical sequence
may go 9.a4 0-0 10.Be2 cxd4 11.exd4 Rfc8
12.Ne5 Bxe2 13.Qxe2 Nb8 14.Nd3 a6
15.Na3 Nc6 and Black is in good shape. The
impression that White is trying to play two
Barry systems at once is very strong.
9.Be2 Ne4
Or just 9...cxd4 10.exd4 Qb6.
10.Ng5 Bxe2 11.Qxe2 h6
11...Qd7 is one improvement.
12.Nxe4 dxe4 13.0-0-0 Qa5 14.Kb1 Rfc8
15.Na3 cxd4 16.exd4 Qf5 17.Be3 Nc7 18.g4
Qd7 19.Bd2 Nd5
31.Ng4
31.dxc8=Q Rxc8 32.Ng4 Qe6 33.Nh6+ Kf8
34.Qg4 Qc4!! shows the extent to which
Black can juggle with tactics. If now 35.Qxc8
Qb4! forces the win: 36.Kc2 Qxb2+ 37.Kd1
Qb1+ 38.Kd2 Qxa2+ 39.Kd1 Qb3+ 40.Kd2
c4! 41.Rc1 Qb2+ 42.Kd1 c3. Throughout this
episode, Black’s pieces have been beautifully
coordinated.
31...Qe6 32.dxc8=Q Rxc8 33.Rg3 Rb8 34.b3
e3! 35.Kc1
Or if 35.Nxe3 Qe4+.
35...c4 36.Nh6+ Kf8 37.Rf3 Nd6 38.Rh4 Bf6
38...cxb3! is the most accurate, and if
39.Rxd4 (39.axb3 Rc8+) 39...bxa2.
39.Rxe3 Qd5 40.bxc4 Rc8 0-1
To me, 5...c5 is a good answer to 5.h4.
Game 105
A strange position has arisen, which is not
especially easy to play for either side. The
computer likes White, but Black’s
counterplay is obvious to the naked eye.
20.c4 Nf6 21.g5 hxg5 22.hxg5 Ne8 23.Nc2
Qe6 24.c5?!
24.b3 may have been better, but is
unappealing.
24...b6! 25.Bc3?!
25.Rh4! bxc5 26.Rxe4 Qb6 27.Rxe7 cxd4
28.Qf3 was a better way to stay in the game,
D.Charochkina-A.Bodnaruk
Moscow 2021
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 d5 3.Nf3 g6 4.Nc3 Bg7 5.h4
h5!?
Should Black play 5...h5 or not? Coldblooded fianchetto players will see this
move as a loss of time, whereas the more
careful among us will say that it is
appropriate to put the brakes on White’s
kingside advance, developing concrete
125
counterplay later on. There is no right
answer to this question. Black’s reaction will
be a matter of taste. My own view is that
5...h5 is a good move, but that Black has
more than one good response to 5.h4.
At this point I should also mention 5...0-0!?,
a fearless move, endorsed by the machine. If
Black can get away with this, and I see no
reason why he cannot, then 5.h4 will have a
short shelf-life:
a) 6.Qd2 is familiarly intercepted by
6...Ne4! 7.Nxe4 (or 7.Qe3 c5 8.Nxe4 dxe4
9.Qxe4 Nc6 with superb counterplay)
7...dxe4 8.Ne5 c5 9.dxc5 Qxd2+ 10.Kxd2 Be6!
11.e3 Rd8+ 12.Kc1 Rd5 and Black is already
better.
b) 6.Nb5 mixes systems and after 6...Na6
7.e3 c6 8.Nc3 c5! 9.Bxa6 cxd4 Black again
has counterplay. This is all very much
unknown territory.
c) 6.Ne5 c5 7.e3 Nh5 8.Bh2 cxd4 9.exd4
Nc6 10.Be2 Nxe5 11.Bxe5 Bxe5 12.dxe5 d4!
and it’s no surprise that suitable
counterplay for Black has been forthcoming,
M.Bryakin-I.Semjonovs, Internet (blitz) 2017.
Games such as this one only help me to view
the 5.h4 line as a bluff.
6.e3
6.Ne5 can be met by 6...c6 7.e3 Bf5 8.f3
Nbd7 which gives Black a very sound
position coming out of the opening. The
early advance to e5 serves only to help Black
to simplify.
6...0-0
126
7.Nb5
7.Bd3 c5! looks appropriate, with the
usual counterplay coming into view: 8.dxc5
(otherwise, 8.Ne5 cxd4 9.exd4 Qb6! gives
White a problem with the king and 8.0-0
looks out of place and combines badly with
5.h4: 8...cxd4 9.exd4 Nc6 10.Re1 Bg4 11.Be2
Rc8 when I prefer Black) 8...Nbd7! 9.Nb5
Nxc5 10.Nc7 Rb8 11.Nxd5 Nxd5 12.Bxb8
Bxb2 with more than enough compensation
for Black
7...Na6 8.Be2 c5 9.c3 Ne4 10.Ne5 Qe8
10...cxd4 11.exd4 Nb8! intends ...Nc6.
Black is at least equal here with the pawn on
h4 sticking out like a sore thumb: 12.f3 Nf6
13.g4 Nc6! 14.g5 Ne8 and there is no white
attack.
11.a4 c4 12.b3 f6 13.Nf3 cxb3 14.Qxb3 Be6
15.0-0 Bf7 16.Ra2 e5
A typical early middlegame has arisen,
where I believe that Black s chances are
superior to the normal Barry lines, because
White has lashed out too early on the
kingside.
17.Bh2 Qe7 18.c4 Nb4 19.Rb2 a5 20.c5 b6!
21.cxb6 Rab8 22.Rc1 Rxb6 23.Rc7 Qe6
24.Nc3 Qd6 25.Ra7 Rc6 26.Nb5 Rc1+ 27.Bf1
Qb6 28.Rb1 Rxb1 29.Qxb1 Nc3 30.Nxc3
Qxa7 31.dxe5 Rc8 32.Nb5 Qc5 33.exf6 Bxf6
34.Be5 Bxe5 35.Nxe5 Qc1 36.Qb3 Rc2
36...Qa1, intending ...Rc1, was pretty good.
37.e4 Qf4 38.Nd3 Qd2 39.Nxb4 Qxf2+
40.Kh2 axb4 41.e5 Qxh4+ 42.Kg1 Qf2+
43.Kh2 Rb2 44.Qd1 Rd2 45.Qb1 Qf4+
46.Kh1 h4 47.e6 Be8 48.Qe1 h3 49.e7 Rf2
50.Bd3 Rxg2 51.Qe6+ Kg7 52.Qxh3 Rg3 0-1
If you have a nervous disposition, you may
be afraid of moves like 5.h4. There is no
reason to be.
Although White won this game, Black can
get on top in the complications after 9...g5!!
10.Bg3 (10.Nc7 gxf4 11.exf4 Be6! 12.Nxa8
Rc8 13.c3 Nc6 wins the knight in the corner)
10...Ne4+ 11.Kc1 cxd4 12.exd4 Nc6 13.Nc7
Nxd4! 14.Nxa8 Nxg3 15.hxg3 Bxe5. To me,
it is no surprise to see Black getting on top.
The whole white idea feels dubious.
6.e3 0-0 7.h4
After 7.dxc5 Qa5 8.Qd2 Black must be
careful to avoid 8...Qxc5? 9.Na4! Qc7
10.Nxg6. Luckily 8...Nc6 is much better.
7...h5 8.dxc5 Qa5 9.Nd3 Ne4!
The whole variation is tricky and seems
more geared to quick chess rather than
classical slower play. In our current game,
Black already holds the dynamic advantage.
Game 106
N.Muminova-D.Mrudul
Internet (blitz) 2020
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Bf4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7
5.Ne5!?
A rare move. On the plus side, White keeps
both Qd2 and h2-h4 available. The obvious
downside is that the same piece is moving
twice in the opening. Motifs arise that are
almost identical to those we have covered
already. Black has no way to refute 5.Ne5.
5...c5
This looks like a good move. 5...0-0 must be
fine too when White can chose from 6.e3 c5,
returning to a main line, the maniacal 6.h4
c5 7.h5 Nxh5! 8.Rxh5 gxh5 9.e3 f6! 10.Nf3
cxd4 11.exd4 Nc6 and White has nothing, or
6.Qd2 c5, which already interrupts the idea
of Bh6 when 7.e3 (7.dxc5 d4 8.0-0-0 Qe8!
9.Qxd4 Ng4! is very disruptive) 7...Qa5
8.Nb5 Qxd2+ 9.Kxd2 was M.MadaminovB.Garcia, Internet (blitz) 2020.
10.Be5 Nxc3
Black has the luxury of good alternatives:
10...Bxe5 11.Nxe5 Nxc3 12.Qd2 Nd7
13.Nxd7 Bxd7 14.Qxc3 Qxc3+ 15.bxc3 Rfc8
can only be good for Black and 10...Nc6
11.Bxg7 Kxg7 looks uncomfortable for
White.
11.Qd2 Bxe5 12.Nxe5 Qxc5
Or even 12...Nd7 13.Nd3 Nxc5.
13.Qxc3 Qxc3+ 14.bxc3 Nd7 15.Nxd7 Bxd7
16.c4 dxc4 17.Bxc4 Rac8 18.Bb3 Bf5 19.0-00 Rc7 20.Kb2 b5 21.f3 a5 22.e4 Bd7 23.c3 a4
24.Bc2 Rfc8 25.Rd3 b4! 26.Rhd1 bxc3+
27.Ka3 Be8?!
27...Be6 28.Rd8+ Rxd8 29.Rxd8+ Kg7
30.Rd3 f5! facilitates the entry of the black
king into the game.
28.Rd8 Kf8 29.Kb4 Rb7+
127
29...Rc4+ 30.Ka3 Rxd8 31.Rxd8 e5 is a
definite improvement, with Black retaining
the upper hand.
30.Ka3 Rcc7??
The mistakes are all there, waiting to be
made. 30...Rbb8 was required.
31.Bxa4 Ra7 32.Rxe8+ Kg7 33.Kb4 Rcb7+
34.Bb5 Rxa2 35.Kc4 Rxg2 36.Bc6 1-0
One can certainly try 5.Ne5. The likelihood
is that the opponent won’t have played
against it before. It seems a good weapon for
blitz. Positions are reached which are similar
to the main lines already covered. While I
have my doubts about the effectiveness of
the idea when the time control slows down,
I am willing to be proved wrong.
Summary
All of 5.h3, 5.h4 and 5.Ne5 are playable, with
5.h3 the favourite if I am forced to make a
choice. Gazing into my crystal ball, I see a
comparatively long future for 5.h3 at all
time controls by comparison with the others,
which, frankly, are just geared for blitz.
128
Chapter Six
4...c6 and Others
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4
White can prevent 5...Bg4 by playing 5.h3,
but there is no real need.
5...Bg7
After 5...Bg4 White can obtain promising
chances by using simple moves: 6.h3! Bxf3
7.Qxf3 Nbd7 8.g4! e6 (or 8...Qb6 9.0-0-0 Qa5
10.a3 b5 when it looks as though Black is
getting an initiative, but White coped easily
enough in a recent high-level rapid game:
11.g5 Nh5 12.e4 Nxf4 13.Qxf4 b4 14.axb4
Qxb4 15.exd5 Bg7 16.dxc6 Nb6 17.Ba6 0-0
18.Qe4 Rad8 19.Rhe1 Rxd4 20.Rxd4 Bxd4
21.Nd1 e5 22.c3 Qa5 23.Bd3, 1-0
K.Garagulya-N.Matinian, Internet (rapid)
2022) 9.Bd3 Bb4 10.0-0!.
Black has played an awful lot of fourth
moves after 4.Bf4 and we will take a look at
the most common in this chapter. In order:
a) 4...c6 has the merit of preventing Nb5.
b) Ditto 4...a6 which prepares ...b7-b5 in
some cases.
c) 4...Nh5 looks premature.
d) Can Black get away with 4...c5?
e) 4...Bf5 is a natural developing move, but
uncommon.
Most black players will not though think
about 4...Bg7 and just bash it out
immediately, but there may be some
mileage in investigating these sidelines, of
which 4...c6 is by far the most commonly
played.
White’s position is easier to play. After
10...h5 11.g5 Ng8 12.Ne2 Ne7 13.c4 Ba5
14.Qg3 Rc8 15.b4! Bc7 16.Bxc7 Rxc7 17.c5
Nf5 18.Bxf5 h4 19.Qd6 gxf5 20.Kh1 Nf8
21.Qxd8+ Kxd8 22.f4 Kd7 the machines
show equality, but White has all the chances.
Aronian now grinds his way to a win: 23.b5
b6 24.a4 Ng6 25.Kg2 Rb8 26.Rfb1 Ne7
27.Kf3 Kc8 28.Nc3 Kd7 29.a5 bxc5 30.b6
axb6 31.axb6 Rcb7 32.dxc5 e5 33.Ra7 exf4
34.exf4 Kc8 35.Rba1 Kd7 36.Ne2 Nc8
37.Rxb7+ Rxb7 38.Nd4 Ne7 39.Ra8 Ng6
40.Ra7 Kc8 41.Rxb7 Kxb7 42.Nxf5 Ka6
43.Nd6 d4 44.f5 Ne5+ 45.Ke4 d3 46.Ke3 d2
47.Ke2 Nf3 48.g6 fxg6 49.fxg6 Ng1+
Game 107
L.Aronian-I.Nepomniachtchi
Internet (rapid) 2020
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 c6
4...c6 will often transpose into other lines
we have already covered. The immediate
benefit is that Black prevents Nb5 and the
queen is set free. The disadvantage is that it
will now take Black longer to put pressure
on White’s centre. Overall, 4...c6 is a solid
choice.
5.e3
129
10.Bh2 Ne4 11.Nxe4 Bxe4 12.Ng5 Bf5 13.g4
e5!...
50.Kxd2 1-0, L.Aronian-R.Rapport, Paris
(blitz) 2021.
The conclusion can be reached that while
5...Bg4 is OK, 6.h3 Bxf3 7.Qxf3 gives White
an edge without risk.
6.h3 0-0 7.Be2
White plays it safe. 7.Bd3 is the alternative
square for the bishop. Possibly the bishop is
more exposed on d3, but then again White
may find it easier to force through e3-e4. It
really is a question of taste as to which you
prefer. A typical recent game went 7...Nbd7
8.0-0 b6 9.e4!.
...Black was doing well in a recent top-class
game, which is worth seeing until the end:
14.Nxf7 Kxf7 15.gxf5 exd4 16.Kh1 Qh4
17.Bg4 Nf6 18.Bg3 Qh6 19.fxg6+ Qxg6
20.exd4 Nxg4 21.hxg4 Qxg4 22.c3 Qh3+
(22...Re2!) 23.Kg1 Re4 24.Re1 Rae8 25.Rxe4
Rxe4 26.Qd1 h5 27.Qf3+ Bf6 28.Qh1 Qf5
29.Kf1 h4 30.Be5 Bxe5 31.dxe5 h3 32.Rd1
Rf4 (why not 32...Rxe5?) 33.Qh2 Rg4?
(33...Ke7!) 34.e6+ Qxe6 35.Rd3 Re4 36.Qc7+
Kg6 37.Rg3+ Rg4 38.Rxh3 d4?? 39.Qh7+
Kg5 40.Qg7+ Kf5 41.Rh5+ Kf4 42.Qxd4+
Qe4
43.Qf6+
1-0,
L.Aronian-A.Giri,
Stavanger (blitz) 2017.
8.Rb1 Nbd7 9.0-0 Re8 10.Bh2 Nf8 11.b4
This is thematic, but there is no more than
a small edge after this move: 9...dxe4
10.Nxe4 Bb7 11.Re1 c5 12.Nxf6+ (12.dxc5
Bxe4 13.Bxe4 Nxe4 14.Rxe4 Bxb2 15.Rb1
Nxc5! 16.Qxd8 Rfxd8 17.Rxe7 Bf6 is not
what White wants) 12...Bxf6 13.Bh6 Bg7
14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.Be4 Bxe4 16.Rxe4 Nf6
17.Rh4 cxd4 18.Qd2 h5 19.Rxd4 Qc7 (White
has his edge, but it should not be enough to
win against accurate defence; we must face
the fact that this is yet another quick game)
20.Rd1 Rac8 21.c3 Qc5 (21...e5! was correct,
nudging the rook off the file so that Black
may follow with ...Rfd8) 22.Re1 Rc7 23.Ne5
b5 24.a3 a5 25.Re3 Rb7 26.Qe1 b4? 27.axb4
axb4 28.Nd3 Qf5 29.Nxb4 and White went
on to win in B.Jobava-G.Gaehwiler, Internet
(blitz) 2022.
7...Qb6!
Nepomniachtchi takes one of the benefits
afforded to him by an early ...c6. 7...Bf5 8.0-0
Nbd7 also seems like a reasonable
development plan and after 9.Qc1!? Re8
Something resembling the minority
attack begins, although White has a pawn
on c2, which, should he inflict the usual
weakness on c6, makes the target more
difficult to get at. That said, White has
slightly the more pleasant middlegame in
prospect.
11...Bf5 12.Nd2 N6d7
Intending counterplay with ...e7-e5.
130
13.Na4 Qd8 14.Nc5 Nxc5 15.bxc5 b6 16.Ba6
Bc8
Without this move, Black would be in
trouble. With it, his position is OK.
17.Bxc8 Rxc8 18.cxb6 axb6 19.c4 c5!
White has to be more careful than usual
before he embarks on any banzai attacking
plan on the kingside. We saw Jobava in
action after 5...Bg7 back in Game 51.
5...Bg7 6.e3 0-0 7.Bd3
The light-squared bishop is marginally
less exposed on e2: 7.Be2 Nbd7 8.0-0 a6 9.a4
c5 (there is also 9...a5, putting the brakes on
White’s queenside ambitions).
An
accurate
move,
leading
to
simplification and a drawn position.
20.cxd5?!
20.Rb5! was a better try.
20...Qxd5
20...cxd4! was the move if Black wanted to
play flat out for the win: 21.e4 (if 21.Rb5
dxe3 22.fxe3 Rc3 23.Qf3 f5 or 21.Nb3 Qxd5
22.Nxd4 Red8) 21...e6 22.Rb5 Nd7 23.dxe6
Rxe6 24.Rd5 Qe7 and in all cases, Black has
the edge.
21.Qb3 Qxb3 22.Nxb3 cxd4 23.Nxd4 Bxd4
24.exd4 Ra8 25.Rxb6 Rxa2 26.d5 Rd2 27.d6
exd6 28.Rxd6 Rxd6 29.Bxd6 Rd8 30.Bxf8
Kxf8 31.h4 h5 32.g3 Kg7 33.Kg2 Rf8
34.Kg1 Kg8 35.Kg2 Kg7 36.Kg1 Kg8
37.Kg2 Kg7 ½-½
Despite the loss of a tempo playing ...c7-c5
in two moves, this seems like a perfectly
good plan for Black. The lack of an
immediate pawn lever to open the game
prevents White from claiming any
advantage: 10.a5 Re8 11.Re1 e6 (11...cxd4
12.exd4 Nb8!? could be a plan for Black
when my machine gives the unlikely
13.Na4!? Qxa5 14.Nc3!? as White’s best
course, intending Nb5; make of this
interlude what you will, but there is no
doubt that after 14...Qd8 15.Nb5 Rf8 16.Bc7
Qd7 17.Ne5 Qf5 18.g4 White is pushing
Black around) 12.Bf1 was P.TregubovZ.Kozul, Doha (blitz) 2016, and now 12...cxd4
13.exd4 Nb8 is a good course for Black to
take, given that 14.Na4 Qxa5 15.Nc3 is now
met by 15...Qd8 16.Nb5 Re7, avoiding the
embarrassing Bc7.
7...Nbd7 8.0-0 c5 9.Bh2
9.Nb5 will be met by 9...a6 10.Bc7 (or
10.Nc7 Ra7) 10...Qe8 11.Nc3 b5.
9...a6 10.a4 b6 11.Ne5 Bb7 12.Qf3 e6
Game 108
S.Sale-Z.Kozul
Split 2016
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 c6 5.h3
As mentioned earlier, there is no pressing
need for 5.h3, but there is nothing wrong
with it either. One solid move deserves
another.
Could this be a good moment to go into
the Tarzan Attack routine with 5.Qd2? This
is unclear. Black has not yet castled, has
committed to nothing, and can get
queenside action going immediately. I sense
131
enough complexity in the middlegame for
either side to go wrong.
Game 109
M.Krasenkow-A.Kolev
Odessa 1989
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.d4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
a6!?
I prefer a 4...a6 move order because why
give White the 5.Nb5 option unless you are
keen to face that line? As played. Black either
prepares ...b7-b5 or ...Nbd7 and then ...c7-c5.
If White plays sluggishly this could turn out
to be a very good plan.
6.Be2 Nbd7
6...0-0 is more provocative and
encourages White to play in caveman style:
7.h4!? c5 8.Ne5 Qb6!.
There is not a lot here for White.
13.Rfd1 Qe7 14.b3?!
There was no move which would increase
the chance of an advantage, but 14.b3 might
make things worse.
14...Rac8 15.Nb1 cxd4 16.exd4 Ne4 17.Nd2
Nxe5 18.Bxe5 Bxe5 19.dxe5 Qb4
19...Nc3! 20.Re1 Qg5 is a possible
improvement, with Black to be preferred.
20.Qe3 Nc3 21.Re1 Rfd8 22.h4
A move that can be missed, but Black has
plenty of defensive resources.
22...h5
He could take the pawn: 22...Qxh4
23.Qxb6 Rd7 24.Nf3 Qd8.
23.Qg5 Rd7 24.Re3 Ne4 25.Bxe4 dxe4
26.Nc4 Rc5 27.a5 b5 28.Nb6 Rd4?
Black’s counterplay comes so quickly that
I am not sure I believe 7.h4:
a) 9.Na4 Qa5+ 10.c3 can be met by
10...cxd4 11.exd4 (11.b4!? Qd8 12.cxd4 Nfd7
13.h5 Nxe5 14.Bxe5 Bxe5 15.dxe5 Nc6 is
rather unclear, but I think that Black should
have sufficient resources) 11...Nbd7 12.h5
Nxe5 13.Bxe5 Bf5 when Black is well placed.
b) 9.Rb1 cxd4 10.exd4 Nc6 11.Nxc6 bxc6
12.h5 (12.Na4 is again possible, but does
this really blend in with the early h4 ideas
and 12...Qa5+ 13.c3 Bf5 is fine for Black)
12...Ne4 13.Nxe4 dxe4 14.c3 Bf5 15.hxg6
hxg6 16.g4 Be6 17.Qd2 Bxa2 18.Ra1 (the
rook sacrifice does not work: 18.Bh6 Bxb1
19.Bxg7 Kxg7 20.Qh6+ Kf6 21.Qf4+ Ke6
22.g5 Kd7 and White has run out of ammo)
18...Bd5 19.Rh2 (or 19.Bh6 e3!) 19...Rfb8!?
An unfortunate error which lets the white
queen enter decisively. Instead, 28...Rd2!
29.Qe7 Qd4 was the way to go.
29.Qe7! Rxc2 30.Qxb7 Kg7 31.Rf1 Qxa5
32.Rxe4 Qd2 33.Rxd4 Qxd4 34.Nd7 Rb2
35.Qc8 1-0
This was a typical modern-day Barry
Attack among strong players. White gets
very little from the opening, but there is
132
(Black does not need to give up material:
19...Rfc8 20.Bh6 Bf6 21.Bg5 Qc7! 22.Rh3
Qd6 and how exactly is White getting
through?) 20.Bxb8 Qxb8 was B.DaunerV.Korchmar, Internet (blitz) 2022, and now
21.Rh3
a5
gives
Black
ongoing
compensation, easily enough for the
exchange.
With strong nerves and a feeling for active
counterplay, one can certainly castle on
move six. If White does not play an early h2h4, Black reverts to the usual plan of ...Nbd7
and ...c7-c5.
7.Ne5
To his credit, Black goes for it against his
higher-rated opponent.
20.Qc2 Qf8?
20...f5! was more aggressive and the pawn
storm might continue after 21.Qf2 (21.Bxe5
Bxe5 22.dxe5 Qxe5 23.Rad1 h4 24.Rd4 Qf6
looks equal) 21...g5 22.h4 gxh4 23.Bxh4 Bf6.
21.dxe5! fxe5 22.Bh4
Winning the exchange, as if the rook
moves, Nd7 traps the black queen.
22...Bh6 23.Bxd8 Rxd8 24.e4 Qg7 25.Rad1
Qf6 26.exd5 cxd5 27.c4 dxc4?
27...d4 had to be preferred and although
White is still better, there is work to do.
28.Ne4!
Intercepting Black’s plan.
7...c6
White’s point is that 7...c5 (or 7...b5??
8.Nc6) 7...c5 is now met by 8.Nxd7!, and if
8...Bxd7 9.dxc5, 8...Nxd7 9.Nxd5 or 8...Qxd7
9.dxc5 Qc6 10.Qd4! Nh5 (or 10...0-0 11.Be5)
11.Be5 f6 12.Bg3 Nxg3 13.hxg3 e6 14.e4!.
8.0-0 0-0 9.b4 Ne8 10.a4 Nxe5 11.Bxe5 f6
12.Bg3 e5 13.a5 Nd6 14.Na4
Krasenkow plays the position in an
interesting way. He has dispensed with h2h3, saving the tempo for queenside pressure.
14...Be6 15.Nc5 Bf7 16.f3 Qe7 17.Re1 Rad8
18.Bf1 Rfe8 19.c3 h5
Forcing decisive simplification.
28...Nxe4 29.Rxd8+ Qxd8 30.Rxe4 b5
31.axb6 Qxb6+ 32.Kh1 Qxb4 33.Bxc4 Bxc4
34.Qxc4+ Qxc4 35.Rxc4 a5 36.Rc5 Bd2
37.Rxe5 Kf7 38.Re4 Bb4 39.Kg1 1-0
You would think that the plan of Qd2 and
Bh6 would be good against an early ...a7-a6
and indeed it might be if Black castled. But
what if Black prepares counterplay
elsewhere first?
133
Game 110
A.Barsov-D.Collas
Metz 2000
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 a6 5.Qd2
h6!?
White must now find another plan.
6.0-0-0
I guess 6.h3 is playable, although
unplayed to date. Then something like 6...b5
7.Ne5 e6 8.e3 c5 leads us into uncharted
territory. In our featured game, Barsov
dispenses with niceties.
6...b5 7.Ne5 Bb7 8.g4 Nbd7 9.Bg2 Nb6
10.h4
If 18...fxe5 19.Rxg6 Ng7 20.Rgxh6.
19.Bh2?
He could crown his attack with 19.Bxh5
gxh5 20.Qe2! and Black cannot defend:
20...Bg7 21.Qf3! h4 22.Qg4! (this creeping
sequence with the queen is attractive)
22...Rg8 23.Bf4 and Black has no useful
moves.
19...Ng7 20.b3 cxb3 21.axb3 Nf5 22.Qd3
22.Na4! was positionally strong.
22...Ne7 23.Kb2 Bg7 24.Bf4 Rxh1 25.Rxh1
Bc6 26.Rg1 a5 27.Ra1 Qd7 28.Na4
White is still better, but somehow Barsov
fails to win.
28...Bb5 29.Qc3 Qh3 30.Bg3 Qf5 31.Bg2 c6
32.Nc5 a4
This looks like the sort of thing White
should be doing. Just gain some kingside
space and negate the impact of ...Nc4 as and
when it comes.
10...Bg7 11.g5 hxg5
11...Nh5 12.gxh6 Bf8 13.Bg5! Qd6 (if
13...f6 14.Qd3!) 14.Bf3 b4 15.Nb1 is murky,
but my general impression is that White is
better coordinated.
12.hxg5 Nh5 13.Bf3 Nc4 14.Nxc4 bxc4
15.Be5
Barsov leaves the knight on h5 to stew. He
could have captured: 15.Bxh5 Rxh5 (or
15...gxh5 16.Qe3!) 16.Rxh5 gxh5 17.Qe3!
when the idea of Be5 gives White a large
plus.
15...f6 16.gxf6 exf6 17.Rdg1! Bh6 18.e3 Kf7
33.Nxa4
I am not sure why 33.bxa4 Be2 34.Qb4!
Qc8 35.e4 was not played, opening up the
position, which should be decisive.
33...Bh6 34.Nc5 Rxa1 35.Kxa1 Qg4 36.e4
Qd1+ 37.Ka2 Bd2 38.Qb2 Qe1 39.exd5
Nxd5 40.Bxd5+ cxd5 41.Qb1 Qxb1+
42.Kxb1 Bc3
White has gone off the rails.
43.Kc1 g5 44.Nd3 Ke6 45.f3 Bxd4 46.Kd2
Bb6 47.c3 f5 48.Bf2 ½-½
134
Both players were doubtless pleased with
a draw after an erratic game.
Summarizing, I think 4...a6 is a playable
idea, so long as Black is careful not to castle
too early into some sort of banzai White
attack. I quite like how Barsov treated the
position, with Ne5 and then an advance of
the kingside pawns, dispensing with h2-h3.
This is a rare sideline and as such you may
not have to meet it too often.
This uncommon line is full of unclear
positions with one such arising after 7...Bg7
8.e4 dxe4 9.Nxe4. This has only happened
once in a low-rated game. Do you believe in
the two bishops or White’s nicely centralized
forces?
8.Ne5 Bg7 9.f4 Be6 10.e3
Similar positions occur in the Dutch after
1.d4 f5 2.Bg5. It is difficult to make a totally
correct judgement and although I prefer
White, I can understand those with the
patience to defend the black cause, hoping
for a long-term win.
10...Nd7 11.Be2 c6 12.Qd2 Qa5 13.b4!?
Black was almost certainly going to castle
on the queenside and now he must think
again.
13...Qxb4 14.Nxd7! Bxd7 15.Rb1 Qd6
16.Rxb7 0-0 17.Na4 Rfb8 18.Rb3
White does not want to concede the open
file.
18...e6 19.Kf2 Bc8 20.Rhb1 Bf6 21.Qc3
Rxb3 22.cxb3 Bd8 23.Rc1 a5?!
Game 111
L.Winants-H.Hovhannisyan
Belgian League 2015
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Nh5!?
A move that dates as far back as 1927 and
is still employed occasionally today. Black
tries to disrupt White’s systematic way of
thinking. 4...Nh5 is not as bad as it looks.
5.Be5!
White has two options and I prefer 5.Be5,
as after 5.Bg5 h6! (5...f6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.Qd2 00 8.0-0-0 c6 arrives at an odd position where
Black surely has counterplay) 6.Bh4 g5
7.Bg3 Nxg3 8.hxg3 Bg7 Black has nabbed
the dark-squared bishop without having to
play ...f7-f6.
5...f6
5...Bg7 6.Bxg7 (6.h3 is also possible when
should Black play ...f7-f6, the bishop can
drop back to h2, leaving the knight on h5
looking weird) 6...Nxg7 7.Qd2 leads to a
situation where the machines say it’s equal,
but I prefer White, who has an easier
development plan to hand.
6.Bg3 Nxg3 7.hxg3 f5
He did not like 23...Bd7 24.Nc5 Be8
25.Nd3, but White will have to find a way in
after 25...h5!.
24.Rc2
It is surprising that White does not
capture the pawn: 24.Qxc6 Qxc6 25.Rxc6
Bd7 26.Rd6 Bxa4 27.bxa4 Kf7 28.g4!. There
is a long way to go, but a cheerless defence
awaits the second player.
There is also the option of 24.g4 to
consider, which Black shuts down with his
very next move. White is better here too:
24...Bd7 25.g5! Be8 26.Nc5 and there are
135
Game 112
possibilities for White on both sides of the
board, whereas Black must sit and wait.
24...h5 25.Nc5 Kg7 26.Nd3 Bb7 27.Qe1 Bb6
28.Nc5 Bc8 29.Qc1 Bd8 30.Nd3 Bb7 31.Ne5
Rc8 32.Bb5 32...Bf6
The ending after 32...cxb5 33.Rxc8 Bxc8
34.Qxc8 Bf6 35.Nd7! Qb4 36.Ke2! is
unpalatable, and so Hovhannisyan agrees to
the loss of a pawn.
33.Bxc6 Bxe5 34.dxe5?
White should play 34.Bxb7 Rxc2+ 35.Qxc2
Qc7 36.Qxc7+ Bxc7 37.Bc8. This may be a
draw, but it is not trivial for Black.
34...Qc7! 35.b4
The only move.
35...axb4 36.Ba4 Qd8 37.Rxc8 Qxc8 38.Qxc8
Bxc8 39.Bb5 g5 40.Ke1
A.Stefanova-M.Bosboom
Antwerp 1997
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 c5?!
One of those ideas you may encounter
from time to time. Black desires immediate
freedom. Unfortunately, White has a move
which messes up the plan.
5.dxc5! Qa5
Black can try 5...Bg7 instead, but then 6.e4!
is forcing and strong: 6...Nxe4 (and not
6...dxe4? 7.Qxd8+ Kxd8 8.Ng5 Ke8 9.Bc4 e6
10.Nb5) 7.Nxe4 dxe4 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.0-00+ Ke8 was N.Kabanov-D.Bocharov, KhantyMansiysk 2018. Now 10.Ng5 looks very good
for White: 10...f5 (otherwise, if 10...Bh6
11.Bc4 Bxg5 12.Bxg5 Nc6 13.h3 h5 14.Bd5
Bf5 15.Rhe1, while after 10...Nc6 11.Nxe4
Bg4 12.f3 Be6 13.a3 Black does not have
enough for a pawn) 11.Bxb8! Bf6 (or
11...Rxb8 12.Bb5+) 12.Bb5+ Kf8 13.Nxh7+!
and White wins.
6.Nd2!
40...d4?
This looks like time trouble.
40...h4! has to be played. when Black
should never lose, as shown by 41.Kf2 Kg6
42.Be8+ Kh6 43.Bb5 Kh5 44.gxh4 gxh4
45.g3 hxg3+ 46.Kxg3 Kg6 47.Kf2 Kf7
48.Ke2 Ke7 49.Kd2 Bd7 50.Bd3 Kd8 51.Kc2
Ba4+.
41.exd4 Bb7 42.Bc4 gxf4 43.gxf4 Bxg2
44.Bxe6 Be4 45.Kf2 h4 46.d5
Suddenly, the end is in sight.
46...Kf8 47.d6 Ke8 48.Kg1 Bf3 49.Bxf5 Bd5
50.e6 1-0
4...Nh5 is not that bad and White must
not fall into the trap of underestimating the
disruptive nature of this uncommon idea.
Both 5.Be5 and 5.Bg5 are good replies, with
5.Be5 for preference.
Perhaps there are various ways for White,
but this is good enough.
6...Qxc5 7.Nb3 Qb4
Otherwise, 7...Qc6 8.e4! intending Bb5
and exd5, just seems strong.
8.Be5!
An excellent move, which secures a large,
if not winning advantage already.
8...Be6
White’s idea is that 8...Nc6 can be met by
9.a3! Qb6 10.Nxd5 and the end of the game
is in sight. Maybe the best that Black can do
now is 10...Nxd5 11.Bxh8 Be6, but 12.e4!
136
Nf6 13.Qf3 0-0-0 14.Bxf6 exf6 15.Rd1 leaves
White material ahead.
9.e4! Nc6
If Black tries to improve by playing 9...a6,
he runs into 10.a3 Qb6 11.Bxf6 exf6 12.exd5
(or 12.Nxd5) 12...Bc8 13.Qe2+ Be7 14.0-0-0
and his position is a mess.
10.Bb5
a piece. In the Queen’s Gambit and
associated systems where the pawn on c2
has already been moved, White would be
thinking about moves like Qd1-b3. There is
no such move here.
5.e3
Another blitz game, another automatic
move. There is also 5.Nb5 and then we go
back into familiar territory with a black
bishop on f5. I don’t think White can take
any particular advantage of this difference:
5...Na6 6.e3 c6 7.Nc3 Nc7 8.Be2 Bg7 9.h3 h5
10.a4 Ne4 11.Nxe4 Bxe4 12.0-0 Ne6 (12...00 must be a decent option) 13.Bh2 Bxf3
14.Bxf3 Ng5 15.Be2 0-0 16.a5 Ne4 17.a6 b5
18.Bd3 Re8 19.Qe2 Nd6 20.Rfd1 e5. Maybe
White has a faint edge, but it really is
nothing
special,
H.MartirosyanP.Maghsoodloo, Internet (blitz) 2020. In
short, 5.Nb5 is possible. That is all I can say.
5...Bg7 6.h3 0-0 7.Nb5 Na6 8.Bd3
8.Be2 c6 9.Nc3 enters a placid channel.
8...Bxd3
Black makes the exchange he was
presumably looking for.
9.cxd3!? c6 10.Nc3 Nc7 11.0-0 Ne6 12.Bh2
a5
Stefanova has played the opening very
accurately and is already winning.
10...0-0-0
The ‘punt’ 10...Nxe4 11.Bxh8 f6 is easily
met by 12.a3 Nxc3 13.axb4 Nxd1 14.Kxd1
Kf7 15.Re1.
11.a3 dxe4
There is no other move.
12.Qxd8+
Perhaps 12.Qc1! was even better, when
Black must give up the queen: 12...Qxb5
13.Nxb5 Nxe5 14.Qe3!.
12...Kxd8 13.axb4 Nxe5 14.Nc5 Bc8
15.Rxa7 Kc7 16.0-0 e6 17.Rfa1 Kb6 18.Ra8
Bxc5 19.bxc5+ Kxc5 20.Bf1 e3
Black is fighting, but the extra exchange
must tell.
21.R8a5+ Kd6 22.Rd1+ Nd5 23.Nxd5 exf2+
24.Kh1 exd5 25.Rdxd5+ Kc6 26.Rxe5 Bg4
27.h3 Rd8 28.Ra1 Bd1 29.Re3 1-0
It’s fair to say that 4...c5 is not that great.
Bluebaum has managed to set up a
position where he has the prospect of a
minority attack. Meanwhile, Black’s game is
solid, but it is hard to see an active plan,
which is why although the engine says equal,
I prefer White’s game.
13.a3 Ne8 14.b4 Nd6 15.Qb3 axb4 16.axb4
Nc7 17.Ra5
Game 113
M.Bluebeam-N.Matinian
Internet (blitz) 2021
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bf5!?
Uncommon, but there doesn’t seem to be
anything wrong with 4...Bf5. Black develops
137
Was there any mileage in 17.Rxa8 Qxa8
18.Bxd6 exd6 19.b5? This would be a good
way to continue the minority attack.
17...b6 18.Rxa8 Qxa8 19.Rc1
19.Bxd6 exd6 20.b5 is now easily
answered by 20...c5.
19...Ncb5 20.Bxd6 Nxd6 21.b5
28.Nxb6??
He should have preferred 28.Qc3.
28...Ra2?
Black misses the sharp 28...Qf1! 29.Nxa8
(if 29.Rc1 Qxc1 30.Nxa8 Qd2 or 29.Nxd5
Qxf2 30.Ne7+ Nxe7 31.Rxe7 Ra2) 29...Be5+!!
30.dxe5 Nh4 when White cannot defend g2
and so is suddenly lost.
29.Rc8+ Bf8 30.Qb4 Kg7 31.Qxf8+ Kf6
32.Nd7+ Kg5 33.Qd8+ Kh6 34.Nf6 Rb2
35.Ng8+ 1-0
This is the critical moment. Does Black
have a defence?
21...e6?
21...Rc8! was the move, with Black
hanging on after 22.bxc6 (or 22.Rb1 Nxb5
23.Nxb5 cxb5 24.Qxb5 Rc6) 22...Qxc6
23.Ne2 Qb7.
22.bxc6 Qxc6 23.Ne5 Qb7 24.Nb5
24.Qb4! looks good.
24...Nf5?
This is blitz. 24...Bxe5 25.dxe5 Nxb5
26.Qxb5 Ra8 makes it very tough for White
to win.
25.Rc7 Qa8 26.Nd7 Qa1+ 27.Kh2 Ra8
Summary
This chapter has featured an assortment of
black ideas, demonstrating that 4...Bg7 does
have not mechanically to be played. Of the
alternatives, I think you can expect to face
4...c6 reasonably often and the rest hardly at
all, although this does not mean that they
can be ignored.
138
Chapter Seven
Transposition to a Pirc
1.d4 d6 2.Nf3 g6 3.e4 Bg7 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Bf4
c6
Azmaiparashvili knows what White is up
to and so he delays castling, hoping to take
the sting out of a subsequent Bh6.
5...Nc6 is an interesting move, intending
to answer 6.d5 with 6...e5!, but White does
not have to advance right away: 6.Qd2 0-0
7.d5 e5 8.dxe6 Bxe6 9.0-0-0 Re8 10.Ng5 Qd7
11.f3 Rad8 12.Nxe6 Qxe6 (the machines say
equal, but I think White has a slight tug,
thanks to the bishops) 13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.exd5
Qf6 15.c3 Ne7 (awkward, but 15...Ne5
16.Bg5 is not what Black wants) 16.Bd3 Qh4
17.Bb5!.
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6
If Black does not play 3...d5, preferring
3...Bg7 or 3...d6, then White should take the
opportunity to go into a Classical Pirc. Here I
will focus on 5.Bf4!?, which could be
convenient for the 2.Bf4 or 2.Nf3 g6 3.Bf4
move orders.
Note that we will also in this chapter look
at 3...c5, which perhaps Black hopes will take
him into the Schmid Benoni, but we have a
little surprise waiting for him here.
5.Bf4!?
This is nowhere near as common as 5.Be2,
5.Bc4 or 5.h3, but I believe it to be a perfectly
good idea. White intends Qd2 and Bh6,
followed by an attack on the king. Of course,
White need not be so crude. I think this is a
line which is pretty easy to understand, even
in our computer age, and this is very
important for the vast majority of chess
players who have no time to continually
study chess to the exclusion of everything
else.
For a bit of inspiration right at the
beginning of the chapter, let us see the
white system working well.
This is one of those positions where, as
Black, you never, ever feel that you have
equalized. R.Kholmov-A.Beliavsky, Tbilisi
1976, continued 17...c6 18.dxc6 (18.Bg5 Bh6
19.Bxh6 cxb5 20.Bg5 Qa4 21.Rhe1 Nf5
22.Bxd8 is winning for White, but Kholmov
does not want to let the queen out of jail)
18...bxc6 19.Bg5 Qh5 20.h4! (the black
queen is a goner) 20...cxb5 (20...Bh6 21.g4
Bxg5 22.hxg5 Qxh1 23.Rxh1 cxb5 is no
improvement due to 24.Qh2!) 21.g4 Qxg5
22.hxg5 d5 23.Qh2 b4 24.cxb4 Nc6 25.f4 Re4
26.Qxh7+ 1-0. Black was crushed.
6.Qd2 Qa5 7.h3!
A small investment of time to prevent
Black using the g4-square.
Game 114
M.Stangl-Z.Azmaiparashvili
Tilburg 1994
139
Game 115
7...Nbd7 8.0-0-0
G.Nasuta-K.Zochowski
Polanica Zdroj 2021
1.e4 d6 2.d4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.Be3 Nf6 5.Qd2
c6 6.Nf3 0-0
Asking for it.
7.Bh6
As soon as possible.
7...Qa5 8.0-0-0
No fear chess.
8...e5 9.h4 Bxh6 10.Qxh6 Ng4 11.Qd2 h5
12.Ng5!
War is declared.
8...b5
White notes that 8...e5? is met by 9.dxe5
dxe5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Bxe5 which simply
wins a pawn.
9.e5 b4?
Even 9...Nh5 10.Bh2! b4 11.Nb1 leaves the
knight perilously placed on h5.
10.exf6 bxc3 11.Qxc3
White will not be stopped.
12...f6?!
Panicking under pressure. Black must
react in the centre: 12...exd4 13.Qxd4 Qc5,
but even here the problems are not fully
solved and after 14.Nh3! the pawn on d6 is
vulnerable.
13.Bc4+!
Maybe Black thought this was impossible.
13...d5 14.exd5 fxg5 15.f3!
11...Qf5
With great reluctance. 11...Qxc3 12.fxg7!
is the cunning tactic that Black had
overlooked.
12.fxg7 Qxf4+ 13.Kb1 Rg8 14.Qxc6 Rb8
15.Bb5 Kd8
After 15...Rxg7, 16.Qc7 wins on the spot.
16.Rd3 Qf5 17.Rc3 Qxb5 18.Qc7+ 1-0
With mate to follow. A cheerful
introduction to this chapter.
When the 5.Bf4 system works, it
resembles a blunt instrument. Although the
move order in this coming game is slightly
different at the beginning, we soon
transpose.
An excellent move and now I don’t Black
can recover.
15...Qb4
140
Alternatively, if 15...Nh6 16.Qxg5 Kg7
17.Ne4 Rf5 18.Qe7+ Nf7 19.d6 Qd8 20.dxe5
Qxe7 21.dxe7 Rxe5 22.Bxf7 Kxf7 23.Nd6+
Kxe7 24.Nxc8, 15...Nf6 16.Qxg5 Kg7 17.d6
or 15...exd4 16.Qxg5 Kg7 17.fxg4 dxc3
18.Qe5+ and in each case, White is winning.
16.Qxg5 Qxc4 17.Qxg6+ Kh8 18.Qxh5+
Kg7 19.fxg4 Nd7 20.Qg5+ Kh7 21.Qe7+
Kg8 22.h5
Black cannot get his defence together in
time.
22...Rf7 23.Qg5+ Kh8
Or if 23...Rg7 24.Qd8+ Kh7 25.h6 Rxg4
26.Rhf1!.
24.h6 Kh7 25.Rhf1
25.Qh5 Rf2 26.Qe8 was just as effective.
25...Qxf1 26.Rxf1 Rxf1+ 27.Kd2 Rf2+
28.Ke1 Rf7 29.Qh5 Rf4 30.Qg5 Rf7 31.Ne4
1-0
The games I have just shown display what
is possible in this variation. After this fiery
opening, this chapter will be laid out as
follows:
a) By far Black’s most common reply is to
castle, 5...0-0. This walks straight into
White’s idea of Qd2 and Bh6, but Black is
saying that he is not afraid.
b) 5...c6 sees Black keep flexible, delaying
castling and concentrating on working up
counterplay, hoping to distract White from
his obvious plan of kingside attack. You can
expect experienced Pirc and Modern players
to react in this way.
c) Other fifth moves. Black has tried some
other ideas without a great deal of success.
d) Fighting the Schmid Benoni attempt
with 3...c5. We have a surprise in store for
Black here.
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Bf4 Bg7 4.Nc3 0-0 5.e4
d6 6.Qd2 Bg4
I believe this to be a good idea and that
White should probably now play 7.Be2, as
we will see in the next game. But it’s blitz, so
Carlsen gets on with it.
7.0-0-0!? Nc6 8.Bh6 Bxf3 9.gxf3 e5
This is an effective way for Black, whose
idea of ...Nh5, monitoring or occupying f4,
should equalize.
10.d5 Nd4
10...Bxh6 11.Qxh6 Nd4 12.Qe3 Nh5 was
another way to go. White may then play
13.Nb1!?,
intending
c2-c3,
with
complications.
11.Bxg7 Kxg7 12.f4 Nh5 13.fxe5
This way round White gets to exchange off
his doubled pawns.
13...dxe5 14.Qe3 Qf6 15.Kb1 c6
Black is fearless and plays for a win.
15...Qf4! was another possibility.
16.Ne2 Nxe2 17.Bxe2 Nf4 18.dxc6 bxc6
19.Bc4
Magnus aims for a slight edge, completely
down to the pawn structure. He is trying to
reach a position where only two results are
possible, which is ideal in blitz.
19...Rfd8 20.Rxd8 Rxd8 21.Qxa7 Rd4
Black gets the pawn back.
22.b3 Rxe4 23.Rd1 Nd5
Played as Rd7 may have been an issue.
24.Bxd5 cxd5 25.Rxd5 Re1+ 26.Kb2 Re2
They were clearly bashing out the moves,
but I will mention 26...Qf4 27.Rd7 Qc1+
which looks dangerous and yet I think the
white king escapes: 28.Kc3 Qa1+ (28...Qf4!)
Line A) 5...0-0
Let’s see how the world champion does it. I
will keep the annotations light, as this is
blitz.
Game 116
M.Carlsen-A.Firouzja
Internet (blitz) 2021
141
29.Kb4 Re4+ 30.c4 Qe1+ 31.Kb5 Rf4
32.Qe3!.
27.a4 Rxf2 28.Qe3 e4+ 29.Qc3 e3
10.0-0-0 Ng4 11.Rdf1 Nge5 12.Bh6
A familiar plan.
12...Nxf3 13.Bxf3 Bc4 14.Bxg7 Kxg7
15.Be2 Bxe2 16.Qxe2
Black has played well and has just about
equalized. White can claim that he has the
safer king, and the possibility of a kingside
pawn storm. It is helpful to have even the
sketch of a plan to navigate the position.
From now on, Gurevich gets outplayed.
16...Qg5+?!
Black would do best to go active with
16...f5!.
17.f4 Qc5 18.g4 Rae8 19.Qg2 b5 20.g5 Ne7
21.Kb1 Kh8 22.h4
Without the fianchettoed bishop, the
black king is not entirely secure.
22...b4
If we compare this with the white kingside
advance, it looks very feeble.
23.Ne2
30.a5??
30.Re5 e2 31.Re8 Rxh2 32.a5 was the right
way.
30...e2 31.Re5 Kh6??
31...Rf3! puts Magnus away.
32.Ka3 Qd6+ 33.b4 g5 34.Re3 f6 35.Ka4
Qd7+ 36.Kb3 Qd5+ 37.Qc4 Qd1 38.Qc5
e1=Q 39.Qf8+ Kh5 40.Qf7+ Kh6 41.Rh3+ 10
The end was crazy. At the beginning, I
think White needs to improve.
Game 117
A.Lukin-M.Gurevich
Lvov 1984
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bf4
0-0 6.Qd2 Bg4 7.Be2
I personally prefer this. White develops
sensibly and avoids doubled pawns. It may
not lead to much, but it is easy to
understand.
7...Nc6 8.d5 e5
This is a typical reaction.
9.dxe6!?
Instead, 9.Bh6 Bxh6 10.Qxh6 Bxf3
11.Bxf3 (and not 11.gxf3?! Nd4 12.0-0-0 c6)
11...Nd4 12.0-0-0 c6 (12...c5?! 13.h4 b5)
13.h4 would be a thematic sequence, where
Black can defend with 13...Rc8! 14.h5 Rc7
15.hxg6 fxg6 16.dxc6 bxc6.
9...Bxe6
9...fxe6 10.0-0-0 Bxf3 11.Bxf3 Nd7 12.Be3
gives White an edge.
23...h5?
Can Black defend without making
concessions? He can try 23...Nc6 24.h5 Nd4,
but White is still better after 25.Nxd4 Qxd4
26.Qh3! Re7 (26...Qg7? 27.hxg6 fxg6 28.f5
Rxe4 29.fxg6! gives White a very dangerous
142
attack) 27.hxg6 fxg6 28.f5 Qxe4 29.f6 Ref7
30.Re1 Qf5 31.Qxf5 gxf5 32.Ref1 when Black
has chances to hold the game, but it will not
be easy.
24.gxh6 Qh5 25.Rf3 d5 26.Ng3 Qg4 27.Qf2
dxe4 28.Nxe4 Rd8 29.h5?
Allowing a tactical opportunity. Instead,
29.Nc5! Qh5 30.Rd3 keeps White on top.
29...Qf5?
29...Qxh5! was correct. There is a timetrouble feel to the end of this game.
30.hxg6 Nxg6 31.Nd2 c5 32.b3 Rc8 33.Rg1
Qf6 34.Rg5 Ne7 35.Re5 c4? 36.Nxc4 1-0
White can play on for ever, keeping at least
a small edge and certainly more if Black tries
to do anything. This sort of position is very
passive and unpleasant for the second
player.
14.Be2 Ne6 15.Bc4 Rfe8 16.Rhd1 c6?
Natural, but bad. 16...a6 was a little more
careful, but does not change the evaluation
that White holds the advantage, as with
17.f3 Bf8 18.a3 b5 19.Bb3 Kg7 20.Nd5.
17.Bxe6!
I don’t think Black expected this.
17...Rxe6
17...fxe6 18.f3 Bf8 hangs on, but who
would want this position as Black?
18.Rd8+
Game 118
C.Repka-M.Riediger
Austrian League 2019
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.Bf4 d6 5.e4
0-0 6.Qd2 Bg4 7.Be2 Bxf3 8.Bxf3 Nc6 9.0-00
This is clearly the most straightforward
move, although it does walk into ...e7-e5.
9...e5 10.dxe5 dxe5
10...Nxe5 11.Be2 Re8 12.f3 leads to a
situation where the kingside pawn storm is
imminent.
11.Be3 Qxd2+ 12.Rxd2 h5
18...Re8
Or if 18...Rxd8 19.Rxd8+ Kh7 20.Bxa7.
19.Rxe8+ Rxe8 20.Bxa7
It is as simple as that.
20...Bh6+ 21.Kb1 Bf8 22.a3 b5 23.f3 1-0
Chess books these days can be full of
computer analysis. Then, a short while down
the line, they get replaced by books which
have improved computer analysis. I try hard
not to make my books like that and focus on
ideas, because this is what I believe the
average reader needs. One cannot avoid
analyzing certain critical positions, but by
and large, typical themes and ideas are what
counts.
In this variation, particularly after 5...0-0,
White will often get a kingside attack,
sometimes acquire the bishop-pair and
needs to get a feel for using a lead in
development. The next game is yet another
example of how dangerous the kingside
With ideas of ...Kh7 followed by ...Bh6 and
/or...Ng4. But this is a very pleasant position
for White, who has all the pressure.
13.h3 Nd8
Routine exchanges do not solve the
problems for Black: 13...Rad8 14.Rhd1 Rxd2
15.Rxd2 Kh7 (and not 15...Rd8? 16.Rxd8+
Nxd8 17.Bxa7 b6 18.Bb8 Ne8 19.Nd5)
16.Nd5! Ne8 17.g4! Nd4 18.Bg2 c6 19.Nb4.
143
attack can be and how difficult the defence
is, even at a high level.
Game 119
S.Khanin-J.Morefield
Internet (blitz) 2020
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Be3
0-0 6.Qd2 c6
This is certainly playable, but I prefer ...c7c6 before castling, to avoid giving White a
target.
7.Bh6
Naturally.
7...b5 8.Bd3
The white pieces develop with ease.
8...Bg4 9.h4!?
White pursues the easy idea of opening
the game and now:
a) 13...Nxe5 14.0-0-0 Nxf3 15.Qh6+ Kg8
(or 15...Kh8 16.gxf3 Bxf3 17.e5) 16.gxf3
Bxf3 17.e5! (a nasty tactic) 17...Bxh1?
(relatively best was 17...Bxd1 18.exf6 Qd7
19.Bxg6, but 19...Rxf6 20.Bxh7+ Kf7 21.Qg5
Qg4 22.Ne4! Qxg5+ 23.Nxg5+ maintains
White’s advantage) 18.Bxg6 Bf3 19.exf6
Qc7 20.Rg1 (devastating) 20...Kh8 21.Be4
Bxe4 22.Qg7+ Qxg7 23.fxg7+ 1-0, A.GiriS.Mamedyarov, Internet (blitz) 2018.
b) 13...dxe5 offers the best chance of
resistance, albeit the position is still difficult
for Black: 14.Qh6+ Kg8 15.Ng5 Qe7 16.f3
Be6 17.0-0-0 Nc5 (17...b4 18.Na4! Nb6 19.b3!
is a curious move, but tough to defend
against, and if 19...Nxa4 20.Nxe6) 18.Be2 b4
19.Nxe6 Nxe6 20.Na4 Nf4 21.Bc4+ Kh8
22.Qg5 when White is better. His attack
persists and he has more active pieces, but I
think Black should have gone for this.
The second time around, Black took the
pawn: 10...Bxh5 11.0-0-0?! (11.Bxg7 Kxg7
12.e5! is even stronger, when Black is in big
trouble) 11...b4 12.Ne2 e5 13.Ng3 Bxh6
14.Qxh6 Ng4 15.Qd2 Ndf6 16.Rh4...
This is what they play these days, perhaps
a product of the pandemic blitz era. White
accelerates the attack. He may have to
sacrifice a pawn, but so what? The
computers think that Black can defend, but
over the board I think the chances all lie with
White.
9...Nbd7 10.h5 Nxh5
Black accepts the present. This exposes
him to a rapid and massive attack. Giri and
Mamedyarov now provide us with two
entertaining and relevant blitz encounters.
In the first, Black ignores the pawn and
reacts in the centre with 10...e5 11.Bxg7
Kxg7 12.hxg6 fxg6 13.dxe5.
144
...16...exd4? (better is 16...Qc8, asking how
White will break in) 17.Nxh5 gxh5 18.e5
(18.Nxd4!) 18...dxe5 19.Nxe5?? (one mistake
and it is over; much better was 19.Qg5+ Kh8
20.Nxe5 Nxe5 21.Qxe5 Re8 22.Qf5)
19...Nxe5 20.Qg5+ Ng6 21.f4 Nd5 22.Qxh5
Qxh4 0-1, A.Giri-S.Mamedyarov, Internet
(blitz) 2018.
As a final 10th move possibility, Black may
play 10...Bxf3 11.gxf3 e5, just trying to
damage White’s structure, as in A.OnkoudC.Paci, Paris 2005. Now I like 12.hxg6 fxg6
13.Bxg7 Kxg7 14.Qh6+ Kf7 15.dxe5 with
the usual open lines on the kingside.
Returning to 10...Nxh5:
11.Nh2 Be6 12.g4! Nhf6 13.f3 b4 14.Ne2
Nb6
After 14...Qa5 15.Nf1 Bxh6 16.Qxh6 b3+
17.Kf2 Bxg4 18.Ne3 Be6 19.axb3 White has
all the practical chances.
15.Nf1 c5
21...cxd3 22.exf6 d2+ 23.Kxd2 exf6 24.Qxh7
mate
These are all slight games, all played at a
high level and all full of ideas which you can
expect to reproduce in your own practice. Be
aware that Black may also turn the game
into a Sicilian-like position, where the kings
are on opposite flanks and speed of attack is
all important.
Game 120
A.Chernov-R.Bethke
Internet (blitz) 2021
1.Nf3 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.e4 Bg7 5.Bf4
0-0 6.Qd2 Nbd7 7.0-0-0 c5
We are now going to get a position which
resembles the Yugoslav Attack in the Dragon,
with a lot less theory to learn. Essentially,
White must get on with the job.
8.Bh6! cxd4
Black may delay capturing on d4, but this
is fraught with risk: 8...a6?! 9.Bxg7 Kxg7
10.e5!.
16.Nfg3?!
If White had found 16.Bxg7 Kxg7
17.Qh6+ Kg8 18.e5!, the game would have
been over.
16...c4?
It was necessary to retain the darksquared bishop: 16...Bh8! 17.Bxf8 Qxf8
18.c3 Nfd7. Black will not be mated now and
he has a pawn and good queenside chances
to compensate him for the exchange.
17.Bxg7
White is back in the winning frame.
17...Kxg7 18.Qh6+ Kg8 19.g5
Or 19.e5.
19...Nbd7 20.gxf6 Nxf6 21.e5
It’s all over.
Hebden is a world-renowned expert in
this entire opening system, and he knows
when and where to strike: 10...dxe5
(10...Ne8 leads to 11.exd6! exd6 12.h4 h5
13.Bc4 b5 14.Bd5 Ra7 15.dxc5 dxc5 16.Rhe1
Nef6 17.Qg5, which is certainly better for
Black than what happens in the game, but it
is no picnic as White is very aggressively
poised) 11.dxe5 Ne8 12.h4! (Black’s king
lacks protection and the conditions are right
for an immediate attack) 12...h5 13.Ng5
(13.g4! seems crushing, and if 13...Qc7
14.Qf4! or 13...hxg4 14.h5! gxf3 – 14...Rh8
145
17.Rxh5 b4 18.Nd5 Rh8 19.Rxh8 Kxh8
20.Rh1+ Kg8 21.Qh6 Qd8 22.Qh8 mate
No approach scores better for White than
6.Qd2 followed by Bh6 as soon as possible,
yet there are other, less committal ways to
play the position. I will give you a flavour of
this in the upcoming game.
15.Bc4! gxf3 16.hxg6 also does the trick –
15.hxg6 fxg6 16.Qh6+ Kf7 17.Qh7+ Ng7
18.e6+; having described the carnage that
can ensue, I should also say it is only one
more move before Hebden plays g2-g4, so
we should not be too critical) 13...Nc7 14.g4
b5 15.gxh5 Bb7 16.Rg1 (this is a rout)
16...Qc8 17.Qxd7 1-0, M.Hebden-J.Chyzy,
Internet (blitz) 2021.
9.Nxd4 Qa5 10.f3 Nc5 11.Bxg7 Kxg7 12.h4
h5 13.Kb1!
Game 121
A.Kovalev-B.Kantsler
Azov 1991
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nf3 d6 4.h3 Nf6 5.Nc3 00 6.Bf4!?
The move order does not correspond
exactly, but we have reached a known
position where White has substituted h2-h3
for Qd2. This is a quiet way to play, where
White will rely on his central control and
more advanced development to give him an
edge. Don’t expect to blow Black away, but
this is definitely a safe and reliable approach.
6...Nc6 7.Be2
7.d5 is answered by 7...e5! 8.Be3 Ne7
when White has advanced in the centre
perhaps slightly too early.
7...Nd7 8.Qd2
A safety measure, typical of these
positions. White protects a2 and makes his
king a little safer. He can block any further
black attack on a2 with the effective push
b2-b3.
13...a6 14.Be2 b5
Black’s play seems very slow by
comparison with the Dragon.
15.g4! hxg4
15...Na4 might be met by 16.g5! Ne8
17.Nxa4 Qxd2 (if 17...Qxa4 18.f4! Bb7 19.f5
Bxe4 20.b3 Qa3 21.fxg6 Bxg6 22.Bd3 Kh7
23.Rhf1 with a huge attack) 18.Rxd2 bxa4
19.Nc6! e5 20.Na5 and White has a large
positional advantage, in contrast to the
usual big attack.
16.h5 Nxh5?
Asking for it and getting it. Maybe 16...Rg8
had to be played, but it is not a full solution:
17.fxg4! Bxg4 (if 17...Bb7 18.Bf3 and then
18...Nfxe4 19.Nxe4 Qxd2 20.Nxd2 or 18...b4
19.hxg6 fxg6 20.Nd5! Rh8 21.Nxf6 exf6
22.e5!!, intending 22...dxe5 23.Ne6+ and
22...fxe5 23.Nf5+ gxf5 24.gxf5 Kf7 25.Qxd6)
18.hxg6 fxg6 19.Bxg4 Nxg4 20.Qg5. Black is
getting killed in all these cases.
Instead, 8.d5 is met by 8...Nce5 with ...c7c6 to come. White should avoid giving Black
a ‘hook’ in the centre if he can possibly do
so.
8...e5
8...Nxd4!? is interesting and after 9.Nxd4
Bxd4 (if 9...e5 10.Bg5) 10.Qxd4 e5 11.Qd2
exf4 12.Qxf4 Nf6 13.g4! Nd7 14.h4 Qf6
15.Qe3 Black is almost equal, but not quite.
146
24...Rf7 25.f3 Nf6 26.Bd4 highlights that
Black has no defensive resources.
25.Bd4
But not 25.Nxf8? fxe3.
25...Bxd4 26.Rxd4 Nxf2 27.Rf1 Nxh3
27...Rf6 28.Nxc7 Rc8 29.Nd5 is also the
end.
28.Rd3!
It seems easier to improve the white
position than it does for Black.
9.Bg5 f6?!
9...Bf6!? 10.Bxf6 Nxf6 11.d5 Ne7 12.g4
Bd7 13.0-0-0 leads us to an unclear position,
where once again it appears easier to play
White.
10.Be3 f5?!
A bit too aggressive, given that Black has
presented his king as a target.
11.exf5 gxf5 12.Bg5! Nf6
Otherwise, 12...Qe8? 13.Nd5 is horrible for
Black and 12...Bf6 13.dxe5 Ndxe5 14.Nd5!!
Nxf3+ 15.gxf3 Bxg5 16.Rg1 Kh8 17.Rxg5
also looks uncomfortable.
13.0-0-0
Black loses material.
28...Rf6
28...f3 29.Nxf8 Rxf8 30.Rfxf3 just wins for
White.
29.Nxc7 Rc8 30.Nd5 Rh6 31.Ne7 1-0
The knight comes to f5 and something has
to give.
I think the main point I want to make is
how tough it is for Black to defend in this
line. Practically, it is much easier to play
White, whether you play directly with Qd2,
Bh6, h4 etc. or adopt the quieter approach
of this game. It takes a real expert to defend
the Black cause and among 99% of chess
players, that level of expertise does not exist.
Thus 5...0-0 is a risky line for Black and he
should probably prefer something else.
13...exd4
13...e4 14.Nh4 d5 15.g4! breaks up Black’s
centre.
14.Bc4+
Or just 14.Nxd4.
14...Kh8 15.Nxd4 Nxd4 16.Qxd4 Qe8
17.Qh4 Qg6 18.Ne2! Ne4 19.Be3 Bd7
20.Nf4 Qf6 21.Qxf6 Nxf6
21...Bxf6 22.Nd5 is clearly better for White.
22.g4! Ne4?!
Alternatively, 22...fxg4? 23.hxg4, which
threatens Ng6#, and 22...Rae8 23.g5 Ne4
24.h4 are two convincing mini variations
given by Stohl.
23.Be6!
Black has been under pressure
throughout and this is more or less the
culmination of White’s initiative. Black must
capture.
23...Bxe6 24.Nxe6 f4
Line B: 5...c6
There are various move order transpositions
in this part of the book. You will have to
imagine that we are going in via the Barry
approach: 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4
d6 5.Bf4 c6 and now my recommended
move 6.h3!.
147
This is a very useful idea, denying Black
the opportunity to play 6...Bg4. Normal
development can then proceed for White
and Black will feel a bit cramped, unable to
exchange off his problem bishop on c8.
The beginning of a familiar theme.
13...Ng8
I guess that was the idea behind 11...Kh8,
but it does seem passive.
14.Bxg7+ Kxg7 15.h4
Unsurprising.
15...h5 16.Ne3
It remains for White to force through g2g4 and he will then have the usual huge
attack.
16...Ndf6 17.Rdg1 Nh6 18.f3 Nf5
Maybe Black should try 18...b5.
19.g4
19.Nxf5+ Bxf5 20.g4! should have been
preferred, when Black is unable to reach an
equal position, and if 20...Be6 21.gxh5 Qxh5
22.Rg5 Qh6 23.h5 Rh8 24.f4, 20...Bd7
21.gxh5 Qxh5 22.Rg5 Qh6 23.h5 Kh8 24.f4
or 20...Bc8 21.gxh5 Qxh5 22.Rg5, etc.
19...Nxe3 20.Qxe3 Qc7 21.Qe5!?
Maybe a surprise for Carr?
21...Qd6
21...Qxe5 22.dxe5 Nd5 23.Nxd5 cxd5
24.gxh5 wins a pawn in broad daylight.
22.Qg5 Rh8 23.Qd2 Be6
Now that Black has h5 protected, he can
think about attacking himself.
Game 122
N.Murshed-N.Carr
British Championship, Brighton 1984
1.d4 g6 2.Nf3 Bg7 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bf4 d6 5.h3
c6 6.e4 0-0!?
I am unsure about this natural move as it
once again presents White with a clear
target. Murshed takes it easy to begin with,
but soon works up a big attack.
7.Be2
There is absolutely nothing wrong with
quiet development. Let Black prove that he
has equalized. 7.Qd2 or 7.Bd3 are equally
good alternatives. In all cases, White heads
into the middlegame on the front foot.
7...Qc7 8.e5! dxe5
8...Nh5 9.Bh2 Bh6 is artificial, but White
must respond accurately: 10.exd6 exd6
11.0-0 Bf4 12.Bxf4 Nxf4 13.Re1 d5 14.Qd2
with an edge.
9.Nxe5 Qd8 10.Qd2 Nbd7 11.Ng4 Kh8?!
I am not sure that I understand this.
11...Nb6 would have presented White with a
tougher challenge.
12.0-0-0 Qa5 13.Bh6
148
24.Ne4 Nxe4 25.fxe4 Bxg4 26.Bxg4 hxg4
27.Kb1?!
Thinking back, Murshed was always fond
of time trouble. 27.Kb1 is too slow. White
should take his chances after 27.Rxg4 Rad8
28.Rd1 Rh5 and only then 29.Kb1.
27...c5
27...Rad8! 28.c3 e5 turns the tables. It
could be that Carr was in time trouble too.
28.d5 Qe5 29.Rxg4 Rad8 30.Qf2 Qd4 31.Qf3
Rd6 32.c3 Qe5 33.Rg5 Qf6 34.Qe3 Rdd8
35.e5 Qb6 36.e6
Black has been outplayed over the past
seven or eight moves and the white attack
has gathered pace.
36...Rh6 37.h5 Rdh8 38.Rhg1 Rxh5 39.Qf3!
The precise problem for Black is getting to
a position of full development in situations
such as this one. It is not easy if White plays
even half decently. The first stage of the
white plan is to exchange off the bishop on
g7 in order to slightly weaken the black king.
After that, White may launch a kingside
pawn storm or simply maintain the better
placed pieces and try to keep Black’s play
under control.
10...exd4 11.Nxd4 Qe5 12.Bxg7 Kxg7
13.Qe3 Nc5 14.f4 Qe7 15.Rae1!
White has a typical edge based on more
space and better development. This is not
rocket science.
15...Nxd3 16.cxd3 c5 17.Nf3
17.Ndb5 was a definite candidate move:
17...a6 (or 17...Rd8 18.f5) 18.Nxd6! (the point)
18...Qxd6 19.e5 Nd5 20.exd6 Nxe3 21.Rxe3
Rd8 22.Nd5 Bf5. This is a different type of
game to the one that occurs.
17...d5 18.Qf2
Continuing in the same, safe style and not
allowing the position to get out of control.
By contrast, 18.exd5 Qxe3+ 19.Rxe3 Rd8
20.Re7 Nxd5 21.Nxd5 Rxd5 22.Ne5 Be6
23.Rxb7 a5 wins a pawn for White, but any
potential attack has been broken up and
White will have to show good technique.
18...d4 19.Ne2 a5
A crusher.
39...Rxg5 40.Qxf7+ Kh6 1-0
Thanks to 41.Qf4 Kg7 42.Qxg5 Rh6
43.Qxe7+ Kh8 44.Rf1, winning.
Game 123
F.Caruana-C.Flueckiger
Swiss League 2010
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Be3 Bg7 5.Qd2
c6 6.Nf3 Qa5 7.h3
Not the Barry move order, but as soon as
White plays Bh6 it will transpose.
7...0-0 8.Bd3 Nbd7 9.0-0 e5 10.Bh6
149
world-leading expert on these systems. Yet
even he has had problems against our
systematic classical method.
Game 124
E.Ghaem Maghami-C.McNab
Istanbul Olympiad 2012
1.d4 d6 2.e4 g6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bg7 5.h3 c6
6.Be2 0-0 7.Bf4
You can get to this via the Barry, i.e. 1.d4
1...Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Bf4 c6
6.h3 0-0 7.Be2. Note that White dispenses
with Qd2 in this game, preferring a2-a4,
restraining Black’s queenside ambitions.
This is another way to get a small nibble.
7...Qa5 8.0-0 Nbd7
8...b5?! should now be met by 9.e5!
(perhaps White’s opening set-up is not so
quiet after all) 9...dxe5 10.dxe5 Nfd7 (now
Black cannot equalize if White plays
correctly; there is also 10...Nh5 11.Bh2 b4
12.Ne4 Ba6 13.a3! and 10...Ne8 11.Qd2 b4
12.Ne4 Nd7 13.a3) 11.a3 Rd8 12.Qc1 Na6
13.e6! fxe6 14.Qe3 Nf6 15.Ne5. White has
more space and Black feels cramped.
9.a4
20.g4
I quite like 20.f5! straight away, which is
not easy to meet.
20...Kh8
According to my machine, Black should
play 20...h5! 21.f5 hxg4 22.hxg4 Nxg4
23.Qg3 Ne3 24.Rf2 Ra6 25.Nf4 Rh8, but I can
understand why Black does not go down this
route.
21.f5 gxf5 22.exf5 Rg8 23.Nf4 Qf8 24.Qh4
Ra6 25.Kh2 b5 26.g5
The attacking plan is impressive and
methodical.
26...Ne8 27.g6 fxg6
Or if 27...Nf6 28.Ng5.
28.Nxg6+ Raxg6 29.fxg6 Rxg6 30.Ne5
Painful.
30...Qd6 31.Rf8+ Rg8 32.Rxg8+
Or even 32.Rxe8!.
32...Kxg8 33.Rg1+ Ng7 34.Qg5 Qf8 35.Ng4?
35.Nc6 was pretty good.
35...Qd6+ 36.Rg3 h5?? 37.Nh6+ 1-0
A scratchy end after an instructive buildup.
The Scottish Grandmaster Colin McNab
has been playing the Pirc and Modern all his
life and he can safely be referred to as a
150
If you are ever worried about ...b7-b5, you
may slow it down or even stop it.
9...e5 10.Be3 Re8 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.Nd2
Eyeing d6.
12...Bf8 13.Nc4 Qc7 14.f4
Here we go. Black has retained his darksquared bishop which gives him better
chances to defend, but it is still not going to
be easy.
14...Nc5 15.Bd3 Nfd7 16.Qf3
I know many who would play the
immediate 16.f5.
16...Nxd3 17.cxd3 Nc5 18.Rad1 Nxa4?!
McNab should have tried 18...Be6 19.Nxe5
Bb3 20.Rc1 and only now 20...Nxa4,
although the position is still no picnic after
21.Nb5! Qa5 22.Nd4.
19.Nxa4 b5 20.Nxe5 bxa4 21.Rc1!
10...Bxh6 11.Qxh6 exd4
11...b5 could be called ‘combative’ and
might be answered by 12.Kb1 b4 13.Ne2 c5
14.dxe5 dxe5 (or 14...Nxe5 15.Nxe5 dxe5
16.Qg5 Be6 17.Nc1 Nd7 18.Bc4! when
White maintains a small positional edge)
15.Ng5.
12.Nxd4 Qc5 13.Nf3
Black went active at the wrong moment
and will now pay the penalty.
21...c5
21...Qb7 22.Nxc6 Qxb2 23.Bd4 is very
good for White.
22.Qf2 f6 23.Bxc5! Qd8 24.Bxf8 Rxf8
25.Nc6 Qxd3 26.Ne7+ Kh8 27.Rc7
The white pieces take up easy attacking
positions.
27...Bd7 28.Qc5 Rae8 29.e5 Bxh3 30.Rf3!
Qd1+ 31.Kh2 Bg4 32.Nxg6+!
A nice finish.
32...hxg6 33.Qxa7 1-0
13...Re8
13...Qxf2 14.e5! is Gormally’s idea. If the
knight on f6 moves, Ng5 comes, but if Black
takes on e5, he gets into hot water: 14...Nxe5
(or 14...dxe5 15.Rhf1 Qc5 16.Ng5 with Nce4
to come) 15.Nxe5 dxe5 16.Rhf1.
14.Rhf1 Nf8 15.Ng5 d5 16.exd5 cxd5 17.f4!
When in doubt, push the kingside pawns.
17...d4 18.Nce4 Nxe4 19.Nxe4 Qc6 20.f5
Bxf5 21.Rxf5 gxf5
21...Rxe4 22.Bxe4 Qxe4 23.Rf2 Rc8 24.Kb1
Ne6 25.Qd2 does not look like enough for
the exchange from Black’s perspective.
22.Nf6+ Kh8 23.Qg5 Ng6 24.Nxe8 Rxe8
25.Qxf5 Kg7 26.Qg4 Rd8 27.Kb1
Game 125
D.Gormally-C.McNab
London 2001
1.e4 g6 2.d4 d6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.Be3 Nf6 5.Nf3
c6 6.h3 0-0 7.Qd2 Qa5 8.Bd3 e5 9.Bh6
So many move orders can lead us to our
desired opening outcome. Gormally’s buildup is easy to understand and reinforces
what has gone before.
9...Nbd7 10.0-0-0
White has a nice choice where to put the
king.
Castling
queenside
is
uncompromising. Castling kingside would
preserve an edge.
The game has settled down into a position
where Black has a disadvantage which
cannot be dissolved. He can put up a tough
defence, but it’s not nice at all.
151
27...Qe6 28.Bf5 Qe5 29.Rf1 Rd6 30.h4 Rf6
31.h5 Kf8 32.h6! Qb5 33.Rf3 Ne5?!
33...Qe5 34.a3 b6 continues in the same
tough style, asking White how he is going to
win.
34.Qg7+
White now forces a winning ending.
34...Ke7 35.Bd3 Qc6 36.Rxf6 Qxf6 37.Qxf6+
Kxf6 38.Bxh7 Kg5 39.Be4 Kxh6 40.Bxb7
Kg5 41.Kc1 Kf4 42.Kd2 Ng4 43.Kd3 Ke5
44.Bf3 Nh6 45.b4 Nf5 46.a4 Nd6 47.b5 f5
48.Bc6 f4 49.a5 1-0
We are seeing a lot of short games in this
chapter, with grandmasters biting the dust
on a regular basis as Black. Without doubt,
the Pirc/Modern complex is a tough road to
take. In the early days, these systems were
groundbreaking and innovative; in the
modern era, we know much more.
With 7...e5, Black has taken away the
thematic idea of Qd2 and Bh6, but he is still
not quite equal because of the difficulty
developing the queenside pieces.
10...Nh5
10...exd4 11.Nxd4 Ne5 12.Bf1 leads to a
very comfortable position for White, who
plans simple ideas, such as Nb3, Qd2, Rad1.
11.Bf1 Qb6 12.Na4! Qa5 13.c4 Rd8
Black seems uncomfortable. If he tries to
break out with 13...b5 White can respond
14.cxb5 cxb5 15.Nc3 when the black
weaknesses are apparent.
14.Rb1 exd4 15.b4 Qc7 16.g4! Nhf6 17.c5
Game 126
F.Nijboer-J.Van der Wiel
Dutch Championship, Rotterdam 1999
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c6 4.Nf3 d6 5.h3 Nf6
6.Bf4 Qa5!?
The tricky 6...Qb6 can be met with the
equally tricky 7.a3!? when 7...Qxb2??
(something like 7...0-0 8.Bd3 Nbd7 9.0-0 Qc7
10.Qd2 returns play to a normal channel)
8.Na4 is suicidal for Black.
7.Bd3
The threat of ...Nxe4 is easily parried.
White could also have played 7.Qd2.
7...e5?! 8.Bh2!?
I am presuming that 8.dxe5 Nh5 is the
point, but I continue to prefer White after
9.Bg5! dxe5 10.Bc4 Qc7 (or 10...0-0 11.Be7
Re8 12.Qd6) 11.0-0 0-0 12.Qd2 b5 13.Bb3.
8...Nbd7 9.0-0 0-0 10.Re1
This has become a King’s Indian which has
gone badly wrong.
17...Ne8
The alternatives do not give any comfort:
17...Ne5 18.cxd6 Nxf3+ 19.Qxf3 Qd7 20.Nc5
Qe8 21.Rbd1 or 17...b5 18.cxd6! Qb7 19.Nc5
Nxc5 20.bxc5. In both cases, Black’s position
is lost.
18.cxd6 Qb8
18...Nxd6 19.e5 is game over.
19.e5 f6 20.exf6 Bxf6 21.Nc5 Nxd6 22.Qb3+
Kh8 23.Qe6 1-0
152
That really was a rout. I guess even strong
GMs have very bad days and for Van der Wiel,
this was one such occasion.
Rather than make this a telephone
directory of variations and analysis. I’ve
tried to show in a painless way how White
should handle the position after 5...c6. 6.h3
makes sense to me and to follow up with
easy development moves like Qd2, Bh6 and
Bd3 is an attractive approach.
Bachmann judges that a degree of care is
needed before the kingside launch.
12...Qa5 13.Bd3 Nc5 14.Be2 e6?!
A move which looks and feels wrong.
14...Be6 15.Nd4 Rac8 is somewhat better,
but even there White has the usual pressure
after 16.h4.
15.Bh6 Bd7 16.Rd4
The rook could well aid the attack from h4.
16...Ne4 17.Bd3 Bc6 18.h4
Lower-rated players do not like to face this
type of outright aggression
18...f5 19.h5!
Line C: Other Fifth Moves
Aside from 5...0-0 and 5...c6, Black has tried
a range of alternatives. White’s response to
these different ideas should continue to be
direct going for an attack with Qd2 and Bh6
wherever possible, or, if not, relying on rapid
development to furnish him with an
advantage.
Game 127
A.Bachmann-J.Hatrick
Mar del Plata 2017
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 d6 3.Nc3 Nbd7 4.Nf3 g6 5.e4
Bg7 6.Qd2 0-0 7.0-0-0
This is about as direct as it gets. Black
must act before Bh6 and then h4-h5 mows
him down.
7...c5
This takes us into a position resembling
the Sicilian Dragon, but in an unfavorable
version from Black’s perspective.
8.dxc5!?
I quite like 8.Bh6! cxd4 9.Nxd4 Nc5 10.f3
which resembles the Yugoslav Attack. More
on that in the next game.
8...Nxc5
8...dxc5 9.e5 Nh5 10.Bh6 is awful for Black.
9.e5! Nfe4 10.Nxe4 Nxe4 11.Qe3 d5 12.Kb1
19...Rf7
Or if 19...Qc7 20.hxg6 hxg6 21.Bxe4 fxe4
22.Ng5! Qxe5 23.Bxg7 Kxg7 24.f4!.
20.hxg6 hxg6 21.Bxg7 Rxg7 22.Qh6 b5 1-0
Game 128
D.Citra-A.Maltsevskaya
Internet (blitz) 2020
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 d6 3.Nc3 g6 4.e4 Bg7 5.Qd2
0-0 6.0-0-0 Nbd7 7.Nf3 c5 8.Bh6 cxd4
9.Nxd4 Nc5 10.f3
Here we have a position borrowed from
the Sicilian Dragon, where the knight on c5
would normally be on e5. This does not help
153
Black’s cause as the knight is simply getting
in the way. White can happily proceed with
h4-h5 under favourable circumstances.
10...a6
Slow, although 10...Bd7 11.h4 Rc8 12.h5
doesn’t make much difference. White’s
attack is faster.
11.h4 b5 12.h5
Better late than never.
17...Nh5 18.Rxh5! gxh5 19.Qxe6+ Kh8
20.Bd3 Qe8 21.exd6 exd6 22.Qxe8 Raxe8
23.Rh1
Black is lost. I will keep the remaining
comments to a minimum.
23...Re5 24.Ne4 d5 25.Ng3 Rg8 26.Nxh5
Rxg2 27.Nf4 Rg7 28.Ng6+ Rxg6 29.Bxg6
Kg7 30.Bxh7 Re3 31.Bd3 Rxf3 32.Rg1+ Kh6
33.Kd2 Rf6 34.Ke3 Kh5 35.Kd4 Rd6
36.Be2+ Kh4 37.Rg4+ Kh3 38.Rg5 Re6
39.Bg4+ Kh4 40.Bxe6 Kxg5 41.Bxd5 Kf6
42.Bb7 a5 43.Kc5 b4 44.Kb5 Ke7 45.Kxa5
Kd6 46.Kxb4 Kc7 47.Be4 Kb6 48.a4 Kc7
49.a5 Kd6 50.a6 Kc7 51.Kb5 Kb8 52.Kb6
Kc8 53.a7 Kd7 54.a8=Q Kd6 55.Qd5+ Ke7
56.Qf5 Kd6 57.Qf6+ Kd7 58.Bc6+ Kc8
59.Qf8# 1-0
White appears to have a nice choice if
Black treats the position like a Dragon. Next
comes another model kingside attack, this
time at a higher level, although a rapid
game once more.
12...Be6
To stop Nd5 and 12...b4 13.Nd5 would get
rid of a key defender. Play might proceed:
13...Nxd5 (if 13...Ncd7 14.Nc6) 14.Bxg7
Kxg7 15.hxg6! Nf6 (or 15...fxg6 16.Qh6+
Kf7 17.Qxh7+ Ke8 18.Nc6) 16.Qh6+ Kg8
17.Nc6 Qc7 (likewise, 17...Qe8 18.g7 wins)
18.gxh7+ and Black is dead.
13.Nxe6?!
Fast play again. 13.hxg6! is much more
convincing, and if 13...Bxh6 (or 13...fxg6
14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.Qh6+ Kf7 16.e5; in the
rush, she probably missed this winning
strike) 14.Qxh6 fxg6 15.e5!.
13...Nxe6 14.Bxg7 Kxg7??
14...Nxg7 15.Qh6 e5 is much less clear and
may even be OK for Black.
15.hxg6
Black has been very cooperative.
15...fxg6 16.Qh6+ Kg8 17.e5
Game 129
S.Sevian-M.Costachi
Internet (blitz) 2021
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Qd2
Nbd7 6.Nf3 c5 7.Bh6 0-0 8.Bxg7 Kxg7 9.h4
cxd4 10.Nxd4
154
18...Nxf6 19.Nxf6+ Kf7 20.Nxe8 Kxe8
21.Qxh7 Qa5+
Black is hoping for an earthquake.
22.c3 Qb6 23.Qxg6+ Kd7 24.Qg2 Qe3+
25.Qe2 Qg5 26.Qd2 Qg3+ 27.Qf2 Qf4
28.Rh4 Qg5 29.Rg4 Qh6 30.Qd2 Qf6 31.0-00 b5 32.Bh3 Qxf3 33.Qd3 Qxd3 34.Rxd3 Bb7
35.e5 Rh8 36.exd6 exd6 37.Rg7+ Kc8
38.Bxe6+ Kb8 39.Rxd6 Rh7 40.Rxh7 1-0
Based on the evidence, an early ...c5 by
Black does not look great and gives White
the opportunity to display a range of
attacking skills.
10...Nc5?!
I can’t bring myself to like this move.
Instead, 10...Ne5 angles to go back directly
into a Dragon and must be best at this point,
although the white attack is already well
advanced. White should certainly press
ahead with 11.h5 Nxh5 (alternatively, if
11...Rh8 12.h6+ Kf8 13.0-0-0 or 11...Bg4
12.hxg6 fxg6 13.f3 Bd7 14.0-0-0) 12.Be2 Nf6
13.Qh6+ Kg8 14.Nd5 Ned7 15.0-0-0. In all
cases, White gets a huge attack for the very
small investment of a pawn.
11.f3 a6 12.h5 Nxh5 13.g4 Nf6 14.Qh6+
Kg8 15.Nd5 Ncd7 16.g5
Game 130
R.Kholmov-P.Petran
Zalaegerszeg 1977
1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bf4
Bg4
Since a lag in queenside development is
one of Black’s main issues in this line, it
makes sense to trade a pair of minor pieces.
White must accept this judgement, acquire
the bishop-pair and, with it, a slight edge.
6.h3! Bxf3 7.Qxf3 Nfd7
Petran eyes the d4-pawn as a possible
target. Instead, 7...c6 8.0-0-0 Qa5 9.Kb1
Nbd7 would be what I imagine the Pirc
player thinks normal, trying to complete
development, but even here it is tough to
equalize: 10.g4! Rc8 (10...0-0 11.Be2 e5
12.dxe5 dxe5 13.Be3 Nc5 14.h4 sees the
kingside attack cranking into action once
again, and if 14...Na4 15.Nxa4 Qxa4 16.Bd3
h5 17.gxh5 Nxh5 18.Rhg1; it is very hard to
defend these positions) 11.Bg2 e5 (again,
11...c5 12.e5! is very strong) 12.dxe5 dxe5
13.Bg5 b5 (or 13...0-0 14.h4 h5 15.gxh5)
14.Rd6 b4 15.Ne2.
It all seems too easy.
16...Re8
Otherwise, 16...Nh5 17.Rxh5 gxh5 18.Nf5
is a wipeout and 16...Qa5+ 17.c3 ends
resistance.
17.Ne6
17.Nf5! seems to be faster, and if 17...gxf5
18.gxf6. The end has come.
17...fxe6 18.gxf6
18.Nxf6+ is apparently faster again:
18...Nxf6 19.gxf6 or 18...exf6 19.Qxh7+ Kf8
20.Qh8+ Ke7 21.Rh7 mate.
155
Black is struggling to create any
counterplay at all, whereas for White the
build-up is very comfortable. P.NandhidhaaD.Turner, London 2011, concluded 15...Ke7?
16.Rxd7+ Kxd7 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.Qxf6 Rhf8
19.Nc1 c5 20.Rd1+ Kc7 21.Qxe5+ 1-0. There
is absolutely nothing wrong in showing a
lower-rated game of this type, as it is exactly
the type of encounter that will occur in our
own practice. The defence is never that easy.
If Black tries 7...Nc6 8.0-0-0 Nd7, with
similar thinking to the game, we could get
9.e5!, after which White keeps an advantage:
9...a6 (and not 9...dxe5? 10.dxe5 Ncxe5
11.Qxb7 Qb8 12.Qe4! 0-0 13.Rd5!) 10.Kb1 00 11.h4! dxe5 12.dxe5 Qc8 13.e6! fxe6 14.g3!
with Bh3 in mind, noting too that 14...e5
15.Bh3 is crushing.
8.e5! Nc6 9.0-0-0 a6 10.Bc4
15.Qxb7) 14.Rd1 Bg7. My impression is that
Black is OK here, with a solid pawn front and
enough material to balance the score.
11...Ndb8?
Far too passive. Black had to try 11...dxe5
and then 12.Bxc6 exf4 13.Bxb7 Rb8 when at
least he has some counterplay.
12.h4
If he does nothing, this is what he will get.
12...e6 13.Bb3 dxe5 14.dxe5 Qe7 15.Qe3
Qb4 16.h5 g5?
Black is a strong master player, but seems
ill at ease.
17.Bxg5 Nxe5
Petran sees no way to prevent the
upcoming Qg3 and, with it, the destruction
of his king.
18.Rh4 1-0
A very early ...Nc6 by Black before castling
has proved popular. Black eyes the d4-pawn,
intends ...e7-e5 if allowed, and provokes
White forward.
Game 131
R.Ponomariov-M.Vachier-Lagrave
World Blitz Championship, Moscow 2010
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6
We are going to have to imagine that the
Barry move order 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Qd2 applies
here.
5.Qd2 Nc6 6.Nf3
The point of an early ...Nc6 is seen if White
advances immediately: 6.d5 e5!. This
position is basically OK for Black.
6...Bg4
10.Qe3! 0-0 11.Be2 seems a little more
precise, when Black is still worse.
10...0-0 11.Bd5
11.e6 must have been tempting, but I
think Black can negotiate the complications:
11...Nxd4! (11...fxe6 12.Bxe6+ Kh8 13.Qe3 is
not nice for Black at all) 12.Rxd4 Bxd4
13.exd7 c6 (or 13...Qxd7 14.Rd1 Bg7
156
10.dxe6 Bxe6 11.0-0-0 Nc6 12.Be3 Nd7
13.Kb1 Nde5 14.Be2 Bc4 15.f4 Bxe2
16.Qxe2 Nd7 17.h4!
We are back in a position which can occur
directly from a Barry move order. White has
paid a small price by allowing ...Bg4. It is
worth noting too that 6...Nxd4?! is not a
great idea: 7.Qxd4 e5 8.Nxe5! Nd7 9.Nxf7!
Bxd4 10.Nxd8 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 Kxd8 12.f3
when White is a pawn up and owns the
bishop-pair. Admittedly, this is not much of
a pawn, but there can be no doubting
White’s advantage.
7.d5!
The time has come.
17...h5 18.g4
18.e5 was suggested by my machine, but
it is hard to resist 18.g4.
18...Nf6 19.gxh5 Nxh5 20.Qf2 Re8 21.Rhg1
Essentially, White has all the play.
21...Nf6 22.e5 Nh5 23.Nxc6
23.e6! seems very strong indeed, ripping
away the cover of the black king: 23...Nxd4
(alternatively, if 23...Bxd4 24.exf7+ Kxf7
25.Bxd4 Nxd4 26.Qxd4 Qxh4 27.Qd5+ Kg7
28.f5 Ng3 29.Qf3 or 23...Rf8 24.exf7+ Rxf7
25.Rxg6) 24.exf7+ Kxf7 25.Bxd4 Qc8 26.Qg2
Qf5 27.Bxg7 Kxg7 28.Qxb7 Rac8 29.Rd5
wins.
23...bxc6 24.f5 Rxe5 25.fxg6
This is the right moment.
7...Nb8
After 7...Bxf3 8.gxf3! (White should accept
the imbalance; 8.dxc6 Bxe4 is another
complicated tactical line, which is tough to
evaluate: 9.Nxe4 Nxe4 10.Qb4 – 10.Qe3 Nc5
11.cxb7 Rb8 12.Bb5+ Kf8 13.Rd1 Rxb7
14.Bc4 is extremely unclear too; defenders
might like the extra pawn, but the initiative
is still firmly with White – 10...Nc5 11.cxb7
Rb8 12.Bb5+ Kf8 13.Bc6 Nxb7 14.Bxb7 c6
15.0-0-0 a5 16.Rxd6 axb4 17.Rxd8+ Rxd8
18.Bxc6 h5 19.Re1 Bh6; a madcap sequence
has led to a position where Black’s chances
are probably to be preferred, although this is
not 100% clear) 8...Ne5 (or 8...Nb8 9.0-0-0
Nbd7 10.Kb1) 9.Be2 0-0 10.0-0-0 c6 11.h4
White has the usual attacking options at his
disposal.
8.Nd4
Leaving the bishop on g4 in limbo.
8...0-0 9.f3 e5
After 9...Bd7 10.Be2 (speculators might
try 10.Bh6 c5 11.Bxg7) 10...c5 11.Nb3 a5
12.a4 Na6 13.0-0 a strange position has
arisen, where White is a little better.
25...f5?
Two great players contest, but this is blitz
nonetheless with associated mistakes. Here
25...fxg6 26.Bd4 Re6 may just about have
hung on.
26.Bd4 Rb8 27.Rg5! c5 28.Bxe5 Bxe5
29.Qxf5 Qe8 30.Rxh5 Bxc3 31.Qd5+ Kg7
32.Rh7+ Kxg6 33.Qh5+ Kf6 34.Rf1+ 1-0
157
16...Rxc3, borrowing from the Dragon, is a
very poor loan due to 17.Qh6+ Kg8
18.gxh7+ Kh8 19.Qxf8+.
17.f4 Nc4 18.Bxc4 Rxc4 19.f5
Game 132
J.Riff-V.Hamitevici
French Team Championship 2018
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Qd2
Nc6 6.Nf3 0-0 7.Bh6
The direct approach is almost always best
in this variation.
7...Bg4
7...Bxh6 8.Qxh6 e5 9.Ng5 must be what
Black did not like. He may be OK, but the
prospect of being mated right out of the
opening is always unpleasant. Let’s see if he
was right to be scared: 9...Nxd4 10.Nd5 Re8
11.0-0-0 (11.Nxf6+ Qxf6 12.Bc4 Be6
13.Qxh7+ Kf8 14.Nxe6+ Nxe6 15.Bxe6 Rxe6
is very level) 11...Be6 (after 11...Ne6 12.h4!
Nf8 13.Nxf6+ Qxf6 14.Bc4 Be6 15.Bxe6 fxe6
16.h5 my impression is that Black can
defend) 12.Nxf6+ Qxf6 13.c3! Nc6 14.Qxh7+
Kf8 15.Qh6+ Ke7 16.Nxe6 Qxe6 17.Kb1
Qg4 18.f3 Qf4 19.Qxf4 exf4 20.Bb5 and
White has only a minute edge here.
8.Bxg7 Kxg7 9.d5 Bxf3 10.gxf3 Ne5 11.Be2
c6
There is nothing remotely difficult about
White’s approach.
19...gxf5?
A strange move from a 2500 player. Black
just needs to play 19...Qc5 to stay in the
game.
20.Nd5! Nxd5 21.Rdg1+ Kf6 22.exd5
How Black could ever think he was going
to survive this position is beyond me.
22...Qc7 23.Rxh7 Ke5 24.Re1+ Re4
25.Rxe4+ fxe4 26.Qg5+ Kd4 27.Qg7+ Kxd5
1-0
Taking the rook next seems quite strong.
In short, Black can castle early, but extreme
defensive precision will be called for.
Line D: 3...c5
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 c5
I would not feel unhappy with Black,
although the position is complicated.
12.h4 cxd5
12...h5 13.f4 Ned7 14.f5 is yet another
scary-looking line, but one where Black may
be OK after 14...Qb6.
13.h5
Nothing can stop him.
13...Qb6 14.0-0-0 dxe4 15.fxe4 Rac8
16.hxg6 fxg6
Black is hoping for a transposition back
into the Schmid Benoni, forcing White away
from the Barry Attack. White can certainly
oblige with 4.d5, but allow me to suggest a
surprise weapon, which I am sure that many
158
players will not have faced and know
nothing about.
4.e4!?
This will be a Sicilian on White’s terms.
4...cxd4 5.Qxd4!
Recapturing with the knight would let
Black off the hook. We want sharp play
immediately.
5...Nc6 6.Qa4
has 11.Be3, 11.Be2 and 11.Bd3, which are
also good moves.
9.Nxd7! Qxd7 10.Be3 Bg7 11.Rd1
White is a bit better already. He has the
initiative and the bishop-pair. This is not the
type of position a Schmid Benoni player is
ready to defend coming out of the opening.
11...Qc8
If Black is going to play ...Nf6-g4, he needs
the knight protected. After 11...Qc7 12.g3!
looks very nice for White, with pressure on
the long diagonal to come.
12.Be2
Instead, 12.g3 0-0 13.Bg2 Ng4 14.Bh3 is
met by 14...Bxc3+! 15.bxc3 Nce5 16.Bd4
Nf3+ 17.Ke2 Qf5 18.Be3 Nfe5 and in this
complex position the white king is a source
of concern.
12...0-0 13.0-0 a6 14.Qb3 b5 15.Nd5
15.Rfe1 was a good move, building up
without exchanging.
15...Rb8 16.c3 e6 17.Nxf6+ Bxf6 18.Qa3
We are going to try to inconvenience Black
from this position. Let’s see some games.
Game 133
E.Bacrot-N.Abdusattorov
Internet (blitz) 2022
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nf6
5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Qa4 d6
Black is keen to downplay the effect of e4e5.
7.e5!
White must strike immediately or Black
plays ...Bd7 when the queen on a4 is in the
wrong place.
7...dxe5 8.Nxe5 Bd7
Instead, 8...Bg7 9.Bb5 0-0 10.Nxc6 bxc6
11.Bxc6 does not seem like a sound pawn
sacrifice and White went on to win in both
A.Naiditsch-D.Hausrath, German League
2011 and B.Harsha-K.Sychev, Internet (blitz)
2022. It’s as if Black is being forced to make
a pawn sacrifice, he would much rather
avoid. Meanwhile 8...Qd4 9.Nxc6 Qxa4
10.Nxa4 bxc6 11.b3! leads to a queenless
middlegame, where I believe Black’s
winning chances to be very small. We will
see an example of this next. Here White also
All you can say is that it is going to be a
long, hard fight to make a draw if you are
Black and pleasant to play with White. These
days that is a major victory coming out of
the opening.
159
18...Be7 19.Qb3 Qc7
Maybe after 19...Bf6 White can settle for
20.g3!, maintaining the edge.
20.Qc2 Rfd8 21.g3 Nb4 22.Qb3 Nd5 23.Bc1
Bc5 24.Bf3 Nb6 25.Bg5 Be7 26.Bf4 Bd6
27.Bc1 Nc4 28.Kg2 Kg7 29.Qc2 Be5 30.Qe2
Qc5 31.h4 h5? 32.Bg5?
White misses 32.b3!, which wins material
after 32...Nb6 33.Rxd8 Rxd8 34.Be3.
32...Bf6 33.Bf4 Be5 34.Bc1 a5 35.Rxd8 Rxd8
36.Rd1 Rxd1 37.Qxd1 a4 38.Qd7 Bf6 39.Qc6
Qf5 40.Be4 Ne5 41.Qb7 Qg4 42.f3 Nxf3
43.Bxf3 Qc4 44.a3 Be5 45.Qe4 Qc7 46.Qe2
Bxg3 47.Qxb5 Bxh4 48.Kf1 Qg3 49.Qe2 Bf6
50.Qg2 Qd6 51.Qd2 Qc5 52.Qh6+ Kg8
53.Qe3 Qf5 54.Qe4 Qh3+ 55.Bg2 Qh2
56.Qf4 Qxf4+ 57.Bxf4 g5 58.Be3 g4 59.Bc6
Be5 60.Bxa4 f5 61.Be8 f4 62.Bd4 Bxd4
63.cxd4 h4 64.Bh5 g3 65.Kg2 Kg7 66.Bf3
Kf6 67.a4 e5 68.dxe5+ Kxe5 69.a5 Kd4
70.a6 Ke3 71.a7 h3+ 72.Kxh3 Kxf3
73.a8=Q+ Ke3 74.Qa3+ 1-0
After 8...Bd7 9.Nxd7 White has a
comfortable edge. Can Black do better?
I like this move, although as stated above,
White has plenty of other good moves too. I
would argue that this is the last positiontype Black expected to get into when 3...c5
was played. It really will require a
considerable mental shift to adapt to this
new situation. I just don’t get how Black is
ever going to win from here if the general
level of play is at all reasonable.
11...Bf5
There is also 11...Bg7 12.Bb2 0-0 13.Bd3 e5
14.0-0-0 Ng4 15.Rdf1 when Black struck out
impatiently with 15...f5 (15...Re8 would have
held things together, but I still prefer White
after 16.Be4! Bd7 17.Nc5 Nf6 18.f3 Nxe4
19.Nxe4 Be6 20.Rd1), and was instantly
worse: 16.Bc4+ Kh8 17.h3 Nh6 18.f3
(18.Rd1!) 18...Nf7 19.Ba3. This is how quickly
it
can
go
downhill,
A.SkawinskiP.Malinovsky, Pardubice 2021.
12.Ba6! Bg7!?
Instead, 12...Rb8 13.Bf4 Rb4 14.c4 Bg7
15.0-0-0 (15.Rd1 0-0 16.f3 was an alternative
way, which I think I prefer) 15...Ne4 16.Rhe1?
Nxf2 (Black misses 16...Rxa4! 17.bxa4 Nxf2
18.Bb7 0-0 19.Bxc6 Nxd1 20.Rxd1, after
which he stands rather better) 17.Rd2 Ne4
18.Rde2 0-0 19.Rxe4 Bxe4 20.Rxe4 e5
21.Rxe5 Bxe5 22.Bxe5 saw White’s minor
pieces go on to prevail in R.HariaW.Claridge-Hansen, Pardubice 2018.
13.Bb7 Rd8 14.Bxc6+ Kf8 15.Bb2 Rc8
16.Bf3 Rxc2 17.Rc1 Rxc1+ 18.Bxc1 Ng4
19.Bxg4 Bxg4 20.Be3 a6 21.f3 Bd7 22.Nc5
Bc8 23.Kf2
Game 134
G.Heinsohn-Y.Afek
Prague 2020
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nf6
5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Qa4
Just a quick reminder that 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3
g6 3.Nc3 c5 4.e4 cxd4 5.Qxd4 Nc6 6.Qa4
would be our Barry route.
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nf6
5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Qa4 d6 7.e5 dxe5 8.Nxe5 Qd4
Black can force the queens off at the cost
of reaching a position which holds very few
winning chances.
9.Nxc6 Qxa4 10.Nxa4 bxc6 11.b3!
160
Black is lost) 14.Nf6+ Kh8 15.Nxd7 Rd8
16.Bxc6 bxc6 17.Nc5 Rd5 18.b4 a5 19.c4!
and from here on in, it was a rout in
A.Atakhan-M.Buscar, Internet (blitz) 2022.
9.exf6 Nxf6 10.0-0-0
Black has been struggling to keep the
game on an even keel, which he now cannot
do as White now finds a clever way to
activate the rook on h1.
23...e5?
23...f5 keeps the knight out of e4, but I still
prefer White after 24.Rd1 Kf7 25.b4 Bc3
26.a3. Of course, there is a long way to go.
24.Ne4 f5 25.Rc1! Bd7
25...Be6 runs into 26.Ng5 Bd7 27.Rc7 Ke8
28.Ra7.
26.Rc7 Ke8 27.Nc5 f4 28.Nxd7 fxe3+
29.Kxe3 Kd8 30.Ra7 Re8 31.Nc5 Bf8
32.Ra8+ Ke7 33.Rxe8+ Kxe8 34.Nxa6 Kd7
35.b4 Kc6 36.a3 Kd5 37.Kd3 g5 38.g4 Bd6
39.Nc5 1-0
The last part of the game has been simple
fare.
10...0-0
Once you are here, it must be best to castle
and try to survive. If 10...Qb6 Black is
running a grave risk: 11.Bc4 Qa5 (or
11...Ng4 12.Rhe1! Rf8 – after 12...Nxf2
13.Rd2 Bxc3 14.bxc3 Ng4 15.Nd4 the black
king is high and dry in the middle – 13.Bb3
Qb4 14.Nd5 Qxa4 15.Nc7+ Kd8 16.Ne6+
Ke8 17.Nxg7+ Kd8 18.Ne6+ Ke8 19.Nc7+
Kd8 20.Bxa4 1-0, T.Dobuchak-J.Correa,
Florianopolis 2020) 12.Qb3 Qf5 13.Bg3 Na5
(after 13...e6 14.Bd6 a6 15.Nd5! Nxd5
16.Bxd5 a5 17.Rhe1 a4 18.Qa3 Ra5 19.Be4
Black’s king is not safe) 14.Qb4 Nxc4
15.Qxc4 a6 16.Rhe1 d5 17.Rxd5! Nxd5
18.Nxd5 e6 19.Nc7+ Kf7 20.Nxa8 Re8
21.Nb6 1-0, J.Burke-M.Besa, Dulles 2022.
This seems a very dodgy line for Black to
enter.
11.Bc4+ Kh8 12.Rhe1 Qa5
Maybe 12...Ng4 13.Bg3 d6 was the best try,
but even so after 14.Nd5! White’s chances
are superior.
13.Qxa5 Nxa5 14.Bb3
Or even 14.Bd3!.
14...Nh5
14...Nxb3+ 15.axb3 leaves the black
position looking shabby.
15.Bg5 e6 16.Be7 Rf7 17.Bd6 Nxb3+
18.axb3 Bh6+ 19.Kb1
Game 135
G.Guseinov-E.Dilenschneider
Internet (blitz) 2020
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nf6
5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Qa4 Bg7!?
Rather than 6...d6. White is now provoked
and is happy to take up the invitation to
push Black around.
7.e5! Ng8 8.Bf4 f6
8...Nh6 is the alternative, which does not
seem greatly inspiring: 9.0-0-0 0-0 10.h3
Qa5 (or 10...b6 11.Nd5! Bb7 12.Kb1 Rc8
13.Ba6 Bxa6 14.Qxa6 f6 15.e6! d6 16.Nd4!
with the idea of 16...Nxd4 17.Qxc8) 11.Qxa5
Nxa5 12.Nd5 (there is also 12.b4! Nc6 13.b5
with Nd5 to come) 12...Nc6 13.Bb5 e6 (if
13...Nf5 14.g4 a6 15.Nb6 axb5 16.Nxa8 and
161
27.Nf6 Bg7 28.Re4 Nd5 29.Rxe6 Nxf6
30.gxf6 Bh6 31.Ree7 1-0
Practically speaking, all the chances lie
with White after 3...c5 4.e4.
Summary
Frankly, the whole line 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6
3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Bf4 seems very pleasant
for White and certainly as good as 5.Be3 or
5.Bg5. I believe the main reason these moves
have been preferred to date is the possibility
of 5...Nc6 6.d5 e5, but White does not need
to push forward so quickly. Nevertheless,
5...Nc6 may still be Black’s best try and play
is complex.
The Barry player has the bonus that he
may have tricked Black into an unfamiliar
opening. King’s Indian and Grünfeld
specialists do not necessarily play or know
much about the Pirc, let alone a crazy line of
the Sicilian after 3...c5 4.e4. Overall, Barry
players can be happy if they are invited to go
into a Pirc.
19...Nf4
Black is playing without his queenside
pieces, but 19...b6 would be crushingly
answered by 20.Ne5 Rg7 (alternatively, if
20...Rxf2 21.Ng4 Rxg2 22.Nxh6 Kg7 23.Rd4!
Kxh6 24.Bf8+, and if 24...Kg5 25.h4+ Kf6
26.Rf1+ or 24...Ng7 25.Rh4+ Kg5 26.Be7+
Kf5 27.Rf1+ Ke5 28.Re4 mate) 21.g4 Nf4
22.h4 g5 23.Ne4! Bb7 (or 23...Kg8 24.Nf6+
Kh8 25.hxg5 Bxg5 26.Ne8) 24.hxg5 Bxg5
25.Nxg5 Rxg5 26.Nf7+.
20.Ne5 Rf5 21.g4 Rf6 22.Ne4 Rf8 23.g5 Bg7
24.Bxf8 Bxf8 25.Nxd7 Bxd7 26.Rxd7 b6
162
Afterword
In 2022, there is no doubt that the Barry Attack is an important system and continues to be
played at high levels, usually in the theatre of rapidplay or blitz. The modern way is to try to
force a complicated middlegame on Black, where you know the typical ideas and plans better
than your opponent. The Barry offers you that chance. Objectively, I think Black is fine in all
the main lines of the Barry, but that’s the same with most openings, isn’t it?
I think the Barry is ideal for average players and can save them burning the midnight oil,
as the traditional Barry methods are not that difficult to master and can be surprisingly
varied. So do play the Barry Attack and I wish you the best of luck in your future chess
adventures.
163
Index of Variations
The Tarzan Attack
The Modern 5.Nb5
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.Qd2
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.Nb5
5...0-0
5...Ne4 6.Nxe4 (6.Qe3 – Game 47) 6...dxe4
7.Ne5 (7.Ng5 – Game 46)
7...c5 – Game 42
7...Nd7 – Game 43
7...Be6 – Game 44
7...f6 – Game 45
5...h6
6.e3 – Game 48
6.h4 – Game 49
5...c5 – Game 50
5...c6 – Game 51
6.Bh6
6.0-0-0
6...c6 – Game 39
6...Ne4 – Game 40
6.Ne5 – Game 41
6...Ne4
6...Bxh6 – Game 32
7.Nxe4
7.Qe3 Nxc3 8.Bxg7 Kxg7 9.Qxc3 Bf5
(9...Nd7 – Game 35) 10.e3 Qd6
11.0-0-0 – Game 33
11.Bd3 – Game 34
7...dxe4 8.Bxg7 Kxg7 9.Ng5 (9.Ne5 – Game
38)
9...e5 – Game 36
9...f5 – Game 37
5...Na6 6.h3
6.e3 0-0 (6...c6 – Game 55)
7.c4
7...c6 – Game 60
7...c5 – Game 61
7.Be2 c6 (7...c5 – Game 62) 8.Nc3 Nc7 9.h3
b6
10.a4 – Game 54
10.0-0 – Game 56
7.h4 – Game 63
6...0-0 7.e3 Ne4
7...c5 – Game 58
7...c6 8.Nc3
8...Nb8 – Game 57
8...Qb6 – Game 59
8.c3
8...c5 – Game 52
8...c6 – Game 53
164
7...Qa5 8.Nd2 Qxc5 9.Nb3 Qb6
10.a4 – Game 77
10.Nb5 – Game 78
7.h3 – Game 79
7...cxd4 8.exd4 Nc6 9.Ne5 Qb6
9...Bf5
10.Nxc6 – Game 69
10.Re1 – Game 75
9...Nd7 – Game 66
10.Nxc6 bxc6
10...Qxc6 – Game 72
11.Na4 Qd8 12.Nc5 Qb6 13.Na4 Qa5 14.c3
Nd7 15.b4 Qd8
16.Nc5 – Game 73
16.Qd2 – Game 74
The Original Barry Attack
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3
0-0 6.Be2
6...c5
6...b6 7.Ne5 (7.h3 – Game 80; 7.0-0 – Game
84; 7.Nb5 Na6 8.h4 – Game 85) 7...Bb7 8.h4
8...c5 – Game 81
8...h6 – Game 82
8...Nfd7 – Game 83
6...c6
7.h4
7...Bg4 – Game 86
7...h5 8.Ne5 – Game 87
7.Ne5
7...Nfd7 – Game 88
7...Nbd7 – Game 96
7.0-0 Nbd7 – Game 89
7.h3 – Game 90
6...Bg4 7.Ne5 (7.h3 Bxf3 8.Bxf3 c6 9.0-0
Nbd7 – Game 68, Game 93) 7...Bxe2 8.Qxe2
8...c5 – Game 91
8...Nbd7 – Game 92
6...Nbd7 – Game 94
6...Nh5 – Game 96
6...Bf5 – Game 97
6...a6 – Game 98
7.0-0
7.Ne5 Nc6 (7...b6 – Game 64) 8.h4 cxd4
(8...h5 – Game 71) 9.exd4 Qb6 10.Nxc6 bxc6
11.Na4 Qa5+ 12.c3 Nd7
13.h5 – Game 65
13.0-0 – Game 70
7.dxc5
7...Nbd7 8.Nxd5 Nxd5 9.Qxd5 Bxb2 10.0-0
Bxa1 11.Rxa1 Qa5 12.Bh6 Qxc5 13.Qb3
13...b6 – Game 67
13...Qb6 – Game 76
Other Fifth Moves for White
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7
5.h3
5.h4
5...c6 – Game 103
5...c5 – Game 104
5...h5 – Game 105
5.Ne5 – Game 106
5...0-0 6.e3 c6
6...b6 – Game 100
6...c5 – Game 101
7.Bd3 Nbd7
8.g4 – Game 99
8.0-0 – Game 102
165
4...c6 and Others
Transposition to a Pirc
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7
3...c5 4.e4 cxd4 5.Qxd4 Nc6 6.Qa4 d6
(6...Bg7 – Game 135) 7.e5 dxe5 8.Nxe5
8...Bd7 – Game 133
8...Qd4 – Game 134
4.e4 d6 5.Bf4
4...c6
4...a6
5.e3 – Game 109
5.Qd2 – Game 110
4...Nh5 – Game 111
4...c5 – Game 112
4...Bf5 – Game 113
5.e3
5.Qd2 – Game 51
5...Bg7 6.h3 0-0
7.Be2 – Game 107
7.Bd3 – Game 108
5...c6
5...0-0 6.Qd2 Bg4 (6...c6 – Game 119;
6...Nbd7 – Game 120; 6...Nc6 – Game 121)
7.Be2 (7.0-0-0 – Game 116)
7...Nc6 – Game 117
7...Bxf3 – Game 118
5...Nbd7 6.Qd2 0-0 (6...c5 – Game 129) 7.0-00 c5 8.Bh6 (8.dxc5 – Game 127) 8...cxd4
9.Nxd4
9...Qa5 – Game 120
9...Nc5 – Game 128
5...Bg4 – Game 130
5...Nc6 6.Qd2
6...Bg4 – Game 131
6...0-0 – Game 132
6.h3
6.Qd2 0-0 7.Bh6
7...Qa5 – Game 115
7...b5 – Game 119
6...0-0
6...Qa5 7.Qd2 (7.Bd3 – Game 126) 7...Nbd7
(7...0-0 8.Bd3 e5 9.Bh6 – Game 125) 8.Bd3
(8.0-0-0 – Game 114) 8...0-0 9.0-0 e5 10.Bh6
– Game 123
7.Be2
7...Qc7 – Game 122
7...Qa5 – Game 124
166
Index of Complete Games
Ajibola.O-Anwuli.D, Nigerian Championship, Lagos 2021
Akselrod.V-Sakaev.K, Russian Team Championship 2001
Antoshin.V-Balashov.Y, Moscow 1967
Arencibia.W-Conquest.S, Yopal 1997
Armstrong.M-Hebden.M, Internet (blitz) 2022
Aronian.L-Grischuk.A, Internet (blitz) 2016
Aronian.L-Nepomniachtchi.I, Internet (rapid) 2020
Aronian.L-Vachier-Lagrave.M, FIDE World Cup, Tbilisi (blitz) 2017
Aronian.L-Vachier-Lagrave.M, Gibraltar (rapid) 2018
Bachmann.A-Hatrick.J, Mar del Plata 2017
Bacrot.E-Abdusattorov.N, Internet (blitz) 2022
Balashov.Y-Belov.V, St Petersburg 1998
Barsov.A-Collas.D, Metz 2000
Bartel.M-Adhiban.B, Riga 2021
Bernadskiy.V-Mista.A, Minsk 2017
Bernstein.N-Fischer.R, Montreal 1956
Bluebaum.M-Krzyzanowski.M, Internet (blitz) 2021
Bluebeam.M-Matinian.N, Internet (blitz) 2021
Boccia.N-Shirov.A, Rio Grande 2021
Bondarevsky.I-Smyslov .V, Moscow 1947
Bortnyk.O-Jones.G, Internet (blitz) 2022
Bosch.J-Sokolov.I, Dutch League 1995
Capablanca.J-Yates.F, New York 1924
Carlsen.M-Firouzja.A, Internet (blitz) 2021
Carlsen.M-Krzyzanowski.M, Internet (blitz) 2017
Carlsen.M-Salem.A, Internet (blitz) 2017
Caruana.F-Flueckiger.C, Swiss League 2010
Caruana.F-Svidler.P, Saint Louis (rapid) 2021
Caruana.F-Vachier-Lagrave.M, Paris (rapid) 2021
Charochkina.D-Bodnaruk.A, Moscow 2021
Chatalbashev.B-Dembo.Y, European Championship, Aix-les-Bains 2011
Chernov.A-Bethke.R, Internet (blitz) 2021
Citra.D-Maltsevskaya.A, Internet (blitz) 2020
Colle.E-Euwe .M, 5th matchgame, Amsterdam 1928
Dedebas.E-Benidz.D, Marmaris 2019
Denker.A-Feuerstein.A, New York 1955
Dizdar.S-Djurovic .S, Sibenik 1986
Dolmatov.S-Gavrikov.V, Sverdlovsk 1984
Dowgird.F-Hansen.E, Internet (blitz) 2021
Dowgird.F-Nabaty.T, Internet (blitz) 2021
Dowgird.F-Praggnanandhaa.R, Internet (blitz) 2021
Escobar Forero.A-Isgandarova.K, Barbera 2012
Fenil.S-Sandipan.C, Sharjah 2019
167
Fiebig.T-Agopov.M, German Bundesliga 2009
Gaprindashvili.V-Abdullayev.A, Nakhchivan 2022
Garagulya.K-Trent.L, Internet (blitz) 2021
Garber.V-Karjakin.S, Estonian League 2006
Ghaem Maghami.E-McNab.C, Istanbul Olympiad 2012
Golombek.H-Wood .B, Bognor Regis 1953
Gormally.D-McNab.C, London 2001
Grover.S-Mikrut.D, Internet (blitz) 2020
Guseinov.G-Dilenschneider.E, Internet (blitz)
Hansen.L-Bryant.J, Agoura Hills 2007
Hasangatin.R-Savitskiy.S, Russian Rapid Championship, Sochi 2017
Hebden.M-Aubert .L, French League 1991
Hebden.M-Bukojemski.A, London 2018
Hebden.M-Daly .C, Dublin 2007
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