What is New in Theory? (October-November 2015)

Our columnist offers a glimpse of developments in theory from ChessPublishing.com-Ed.

“You show only high profile encounters here. It’s as if others don’t play chess.”

My friend, Max complained.

“I plead guilty. But then stakes are high in those games and one would see a powerful novelty scoring a point. That’s worth seeing.”

I replied.

“What if both players play safe and avoid risks?”

“Then we should find out what else is playable.”

I said.

Indeed, that’s what we are going to do this time.

While I was looking at Mikhalevski’s column on open games I was struck by the following position in his notes to e4 e5 chapters.

Here are the initial moves:

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Nxe4 8.Bxb4 Nxb4 9.Bxf7+ Kxf7 10.Qb3+ d5 11.Ne5+ Ke6 12.Qxb4 (C54)

Black to play

Quite a dangerous position! But Steinitz would have loved it. Indeed, the position has been known since 1906, if not before!

Now in the game Harikrishna-Aronian, Wijk-aan-Zee 2014 Black played 12…Qf8 seeking exchange of queens and it was a draw.

Mikhalevski mentions 12.. c5!? and this deserves attention.

In the following analysis I have indicated a few lines. I have kept it simple for younger readers less familiar with opening theory

A Guioco Piano Variation

Interesting stuff! 12…c5!? needs more tests over the board. Among other updates the delineation of 6.h3 in Najdorf Sicilian by Michael Roiz is worthy of attention.

I was a bit sorry to see Shirov at the receiving end in some of these games. But then he is always exciting to watch, win or lose.

For quite some time I have been interested in offbeat lines in Dutch Defence.

When I examined the ebook from the site I was amused to find the following line in which White can lose after four moves!

1.d4 f5 2.Bg5 h6 3.Bh4 c5!?

White to play

An offbeat line in Dutch Defence

More updates with novelties from World Rapid and World Blitz Championships are coming in at ChessPublishing.com. They are worth a look.

See you soon!