Caro Kann Defense Classical Variation

KONSTANTIN LANDA vs. EVGENY SHAPOSHNIKOV
Russia 2005
Caro-Kann Defense: Classical Variation

See the other variations of the Caro-Kann Defense.

1. e4, c6
2. d4, d5
3. Nc3, dxe4
4. Nxe4 ....

The Classical Variation of the Caro Kann.

4. .... Bf5
5. Ng3, Bg6
6. h4, h6
7. Nf3, Nd7
8. h5, Bh7
9. Bd3, Bxd3
10. Qxd3, e6
11. Bf4, Qa5+
12. Bd2, Bb4
13. c3, Be7
14. c4, Qa6
15. 0-0, Rd8

Black intends to post his Knight at c5.

16. b4, Ngf6
17. a4, b6
18. Rfe1, 0-0
19. Nf5, Rfe8
20. Nxg7 ....

The fireworks begin. White slowly destroys Black's kingside pawn structure before pouncing on the beleaguered King.

20. .... Kxg7
21. Rxe6!!, fxe6

By sacrificing the Rook, White creates a weakness on the g6 square, which will ultimately cost Black the game.

22. Bxh6+, Kh8

The intruding Bishop cannot be captured because of 23. Qg6 mate.

23. Bg7+, Kxg7

If Black decides not to capture (23.....Kg8), then the game continues 24. Qg6 Nf8, 25. Bxf8+ Kxf8, 26. h6! Nh5, 27. Ne5 and mate next move.

24. Qg6+ Kf8

Black resigns.

Black has no defense to White's next move: 25. Ng5 assuring mate by Qf7. If 24....Kh8, then 25. Ng5 Rf8, 26, h6!! and mate next move.

King's Indian Defense: Saemisch Variation Yates Defense

FLORIN GHEORGHIU vs. LUBOMIR KAVALEK
IBM 1969
King's Indian Defense: Saemisch Variation Yates Defense

1. d4, Nf6
2. c4, g6
3. Nc3, Bg7
4. e4, d6
5. f3 ....

The Saemisch Variation.  Instead of the usual f4, White chooses to solidify support of the e4-pawn.

5. .... 0-0
6. Be3, Nc6

The Yates Defense, which invites White to push forward the d-pawn thus opening the long diagonal for Black's Bishop.

7. Nge2, Rb8
8. Qd2, Re8
9. Rd1, a6
10. Nc1, e5
11. dxe5, Nxe5
12. Be2, b5
13. cxb5, axb5
14. Bxb5, Nxe4!!

A brilliant surprise move, with the objective of weakening White's central position.

15. fxe4, Rxb5!!

One cannot help but wonder at Black's foresight....

16. Nxb5, Nc4!
17. Qf2, Rxe4!!

Effectively pinning the Bishop. White has no choice but to give up the piece. If 18. Rd3, then 18....Qe1 putting additional pressure on e3 while attacking the Knight at b5.

18. 0-0, Nxe3
19. Qxf7+, Kh8
20. Qxc7, Qxc7
21. Nxc7, Nxd1
22. Rxd1, Bd4+
23. Kf1? ....

White might have fared better had he placed the King at h1. The text move limited the movement of his own Rook.

23. .... Bg4
24. Rd2, Be3
25. Rc2, Rd4
(0:1)

White resigns, as he cannot prevent mate at d1. If 26. g3, then Black still wins with 26....Rd1+, 27. Kg2 Rg1 mate.

Sicilian Defense: Fischer-Sozin Attack Flank Variation

LARRY CHRISTIANSEN vs. ALEKSANDER WOJTKIEWICZ
US Championship 2006

1. e4, c5
2. Nf3, d6
3. d4, cxd4
4. Nxd4, Nf6
5. Nc3, a6
6. Bc4, e6
7. Bb3, b5

The Flank Variation of Fischer-Sozin Attack, Sicilian Defense.

8. Qf3, Qc7
9. Bg5, Nbd7
10. 0-0-0, Be7
11. e5 ....

Attacking the Rook at a8. Black has no choice but to defend it.

11. .... Bb7
12. Qg3, Nxe5
13. Bxe6, fxe6
14. f4 ....

White keeps the pressure, controlling most of central squares.

14. .... Ng6
15. Nxe6, Qd7
16. Rhe1! ....

White could have moved 16. Nxg7 but then Black's reply Kf7 would have the Knight stranded.

16. .... Kf7
17. f5, Nf8
18. Bxf6!! ....

White begins an all-out attack. If 16.....gxf6, then 17. Qg7+ Ke8, 18. Qxh8.

18. .... Bxf6
19. Rxd6!, Qc8

Black's Queen has nowhere to go. If 19....Qe8, then 20. Ng5+ enabling Queen's capture.

20. Ng5+, Kg8

The exchange 20....Bxg5, then 21. Qxg5 Qc7, 22. f6!! favors White.

21. Rxf6!, gxf6
22. Nge4+, Ng6

Of course not 22.....Kf7, 23. Nd6+ double-check.

23. fxg6, Resigns

Black's King cannot escape White's onslaught. If the game continues 23....h6, then 24. g7!! Rh7, 25. Nf6+ Kf7, 26. g8=Q+! Qxg8, 27. Nxg8 Rxg8, 28. Re7+ Kxe7, 29. Qxg8 and White is assured of victory.

The Good Old Spanish Game

LJUBOMIR LJUBOJEVIC vs. JOAQUIM MANUEL DURAO
Orense 1974

Spanish Game Classical Variation

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3, Nc6
3. Bb5, Bc5
4. 0-0, Nd4
5. Nxd4, Bxd4
6. c3, Bb6
7. d4, c6
8. Ba4, d6
9. Na3, Bc7

Preparing for b5 eventually.....

10. d5, Bd7
11. dxc6, bxc6
12. Nc4, Qe7
13. f4, Nf6
14. fxe5, dxe5
15. b3 ....

Preparatory to Ba3....

15. .... Bb6+
16. Kh1 ....

Not 16. Nxb6 because White would lose its control over a3.

16. .... Nxe4
17. Ba3, Qe6
18. Qd3, f5

If 18....Nf2+, 19. Rxf2 Bxf2, 20. Nd6+ Kd8, 21. Rf1.. and White attacks the pawn on f7.

19. Rae1, Bc7
20. Rxf5!! Qxf5
21. Rxe4, 0-0-0
22. Nd6+ ....

Now White begins to atack. This Knight fork aims to dislodge the c7 Bishop from its post.

22. .... Bxd6
23. Qa6+, Kc7

If 23....Kb8, then 24. Bxd6+ Ka8, 25. Bxc6+ Bxc6, 26. Qxb6 mate.

24. Qxa7+, Kc8
25. Bb5, Resigns

An ingenious way of dealing with Black's threat of mate at f1. Now, White threatens Ba6 mate. If  25....cxb5, 26. Qa6+ Kc7, 27. Bxd6 mate.

Superb play!

French Defense: Rubinstein Variation Blackburne Defense

RUDOLF SPIELMANN vs. RUDOLF L'HERMET
Magdeburg 1927

French Defense, Rubinstein Variation Blackburne Defense

1. e4, e6
2. d4, d5
3. Nc3, dxe4

The Rubinstein Variation, popularized by the famous Polish chess grandmaster, Akiba Rubinstein.

4. Nxe4, Nd7

The Blackburne Defense, named after Joseph Henry Blackburne, who dominated British chess in the latter part of the 19th century.

5. Nf3, Ngf6
6. Nxf6+, Nxf6
7. Bd3, h6
8. Qe2 ....

Preparing for queenside castling....

8. .... Bd6
9. Bd2, 0-0
10. 0-0-0, Bd7
11. Ne5, c5
12. dxc5, Bxe5?

Theory suggests not to exchange Bishop for a Knight without gaining anything. The Bishop should have taken the pawn instead.

13. Qxe5, Bc6
14. Bf4, Qe7

Getting the Queen out of the way. If 19. .... Bxg2, then 20. Bh7+!

15. Qd4, Rfd8
16. Bd6 ....

The real reason behind White's 14th move. White uses the Bishop to create a solid block at the center.

16. .... Qe8
17. Rhg1, b6
18. Qh4, bxc5
19. Be5!! ....

This comes as a surprise. Black expects 19. Bxc5.

19. .... Qe7
20. g4, c4
21. g5, Nd7

Not 21. .... cxd3, 22. gxf6 and the attack becomes devastating.

22. Qxh6 ....

A brilliancy! A Queen sacrife to promote a pawn. If 22.... f6, then 23. gxf6 Nxf6, 24. Bxf6 Qxf6, 25. Qxf6 and the attack becomes overwhelming.

22. .... gxh6
23. gxh6+, Kf8
24. Rg8+!! ....

A superb innovation.  It is necessary to keep the Black King at g8.   For if 24. h7, then Black neutralizes with 24.....Qh4.

24. ....  Resigns

Black cannot prevent being mated by the h-pawn via promotion.