Adrian Mikhalchishin: Problems of middlegame planning connected with the opening strategy

Praparation of opening plans from the opening part is the key of every top players homework and preparation.Sometimes developments are leading to very sharp devdelopments. Kupreichik V. : Sveshnikov E. B30 Kuibyshev 1986 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Bc4 This extremely positional line became popular as antidotum for Sveshnikov variation. I remember great Efim Geller, who was laughing seeing Sveshnikov ideas, but after 10 years he tried it himself! 4...Be7 5.d3 Nf6 6.Ng5 00 7.f4 XIIIIIIIIY 9r+lwq-trk+0 9zpp+pvlpzpp0 9-+n+-sn-+0 9+-zp-zp-sN-0 9-+L+PzP-+0 9+-sNP+-+-0 9PzPP+-+PzP0 9tR-vLQmK-+R0 xiiiiiiiiy 7...exf4 Many years later Sveshnikov invented fantastic gambit idea 7...d5! 8.exd5 Bg4 9.Qd2 Nd4 10.00 exf4 11.Qxf4 Bd6 12.Qf2 Qb8 13.Bf4 Bxf4 14.Qxf4 b5 15.Qxb8 Raxb8 16.Bb3 c4 17.dxc4 bxc4 18.Bxc4 Nxc2 19.Rac1 Ne3 20.b3 Nxf1 21.Rxf1 Rfe8 22.d6 Bh5 23.Nd5 Nxd5 24.Bxd5 Re5 25.Bxf7+ Bxf7 26.Nxf7 Rd5 27.d7 Rxd7 28.Ne5 Rd2 29.Rf2 Rd1+ 30.Rf1 Rbd8 31.Nc6 R8d7 32.b4 Rxf1+ 33.Kxf1 Rd1+, 0:1, Srebrnic M. : Sveshnikov E. ,Bled 2008. Great inventors are always on the top of the theory! 8.Bxf4 d6 9.00 h6 10.Nf3 Be6 11.Qd2 d5 12.exd5 Nxd5 13.Bxd5! FIDE Surveys Adrian Mikhalchishin

Its new direction of attack of Victor Kupreichik,instead of previousely tested 13.Rae1. 13...Bxd5 14.Bxh6! gxh6 15.Qxh6 XIIIIIIIIY 9r+-wq-trk+0 9zpp+-vlp+-0 9-+n+-+-wQ0 9+-zpl+-+-0 9-+-+-+-+0 9+-sNP+N+-0 9PzPP+-+PzP0 9tR-+-+RmK-0 xiiiiiiiiy 15...Nd4? 16.Nxd4 Bg5 16...cxd4 17.Nxd5 Qxd5 18.Rf3. 17.Qh5 cxd4 18.Nxd5 Qxd5 XIIIIIIIIY 9r+-+-trk+0 9zpp+-+p+-0 9-+-+-+-+0 9+-+q+-vlQ0 9-+-zp-+-+0 9+-+P+-+-0 9PzPP+-+PzP0 9tR-+-+RmK-0 xiiiiiiiiy 19.Rf4!! Such moves, as horizontal pins, are always effective and show beautiful fantasy of such inventive players as Victor Kupreichik. 19...Rae8 20.h4 Re5 21.hxg5! Rxg5 22.Rg4 f6 23.Rf1 Kg7 It is strange, that young and talented players repeated this line 20 years later! Its poor homework. 23...Qe5 24.Rxg5+, 1:0, Vyskocil N. : VolodinV., Marianske Lazne 2003. XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-+-tr-+0 9zpp+-+-mk-0 9-+-+-zp-+0 9+-+q+-trQ0 9-+-zp-+R+0 9+-+P+-+-0 9PzPP+-+P+0 9+-+-+RmK-0 xiiiiiiiiy 24.Rxf6! Kxf6 25.Qh6+ Ke7 26.Rxg5 1:0.

Barczay L. : Muse M. B30 Kecskemet 1990 Hero of the next part is Croatian - German GM Mladen Muse, who made profit of this sharp line, winning 3 games here! It was result of good home preparation. 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Bc4 Be7 5.d3 Nf6 6.Ng5 00 7.f4 exf4 8.Bxf4 d6 9.00 h6 10.Nf3 Be6 11.Qd2 d5 12.exd5 Nxd5 13.Bxd5 Bxd5 14.Bxh6 gxh6 15.Qxh6 XIIIIIIIIY 9r+-wq-trk+0 9zpp+-vlp+-0 9-+n+-+-wQ0 9+-zpl+-+-0 9-+-+-+-+0 9+-sNP+N+-0 9PzPP+-+PzP0 9tR-+-+RmK-0 xiiiiiiiiy 15...Be6! First try to refute Whites powerfully looking attacking set up. 16.Ne4 Weak is 16.Rae1 Bf5 17.Nh4 Bg5 18.Qh5 Qd4+, 0:1, Dusenov R. : Iljushin A., Saratov 2006. 16...Bf5 XIIIIIIIIY 9r+-wq-trk+0 9zpp+-vlp+-0 9-+n+-+-wQ0 9+-zp-+l+-0 9-+-+N+-+0 9+-+P+N+-0 9PzPP+-+PzP0 9tR-+-+RmK-0 xiiiiiiiiy Here, in this critical moment, White unsuccessfully tried other attacking ways. 17.Nfg5 17.Rae1 Bg6 18.Ng3 Nd4 19.Ne5 Bg5 20.Qh3 Nxc2 21.Re4 Bxe4 22.Nxe4 f5 23.Rxf5 Qd4+ 24.Nf2 Qe3 25.Rxg5+ Qxg5 26.Qe6+ Kg7 27.Qd7+ Kh8 28.Qh3+ Kg8 29.Qe6+ Kh7 30.Qd7+ Qg7 31.Qh3+ Qh6 32.Qd7+ Kh8 33.g3 Qc1+ 34.Kg2 Ne1+ 35.Kh3 Qh6+, 0:1, Gallagher J. : Muse M., Biel 1989; FIDE Surveys Adrian Mikhalchishin

17.Ng3 Bg6 18.Nh5 Bxh5 19.Qxh5 Qd6 20.Rae1 Qg6 21.Qh3 f5 22.Ne5 Nxe5 23.Rxe5 Bf6 24.Rexf5 Bd4+ 25.Kh1 Rxf5 26.Rxf5 Re8 27.Rf1 Bxb2 28.Qd7 b6 29.g3 Qe6 30.Qb7 Bg7 31.a4 c4 32.Rf4 cxd3 33.cxd3 Rc8 34.Re4 Rc1+ 35.Kg2 Rc2+ 36.Kh1 Qc6 37.Qb8+ Kh7 38.Qf4 Qf6 39.Qxf6 Bxf6 40.Re6 Kg6 41.h4 Rd2 42.Rd6 Kf5 43.a5 bxa5 44.g4+ Ke5 45.Ra6 Bd8, 0:1, Beckemeier W. : Muse M., Germany 1988. 17...Bg6 18.h4 Qd4+ 19.Kh1 Qg7 20.Qxg7+ Kxg7 Fantastick hat trick! 0:1. Landa K. : Gagarin V. B30 Bratislava 1990 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Nf3 e5 4.Bc4 d6 5.d3 Be7 6.00 Nf6 7.Ng5 00 8.f4 exf4 9.Bxf4 h6 10.Nf3 Be6 11.Qd2 d5 12.exd5 Nxd5 13.Bxd5 Bxd5 14.Bxh6?! gxh6 15.Qxh6 Re8! XIIIIIIIIY 9r+-wqr+k+0 9zpp+-vlp+-0 9-+n+-+-wQ0 9+-zpl+-+-0 9-+-+-+-+0 9+-sNP+N+-0 9PzPP+-+PzP0 9tR-+-+RmK-0 xiiiiiiiiy Another way to stop Whites attack. 16.Kh1!? Not better would be 16.Rae1 Bxf3! 17.Rxf3 Qd4+ 18.Ree3 Ne5 19.Rh3 Ng6 20.Nd5 Bh4! 21.Qh5 Re5, 0:1, Yurtaev L : MeshkovY., USSR 1990. XIIIIIIIIY 9r+-wqr+k+0 9zpp+-vlp+-0 9-+n+-+-wQ0 9+-zpl+-+-0 9-+-+-+-+0 9+-sNP+N+-0 9PzPP+-+PzP0 9tR-+-+R+K0 xiiiiiiiiy 16...Ne5!!

It is necessary to add defencive power. 16...Be6 17.Rae1; 16...Bf8 17.Qh5. 17.Qh5 17.Nxe5 Bg5; 17.Nxd5 Qxd5 18.Ng5 Bxg5 19.Qxg5+ Kf8. 17...Bf6 18.Rae1 Bxf3 19.gxf3 Ng6 XIIIIIIIIY 9r+-wqr+k+0 9zpp+-+p+-0 9-+-+-vln+0 9+-zp-+-+Q0 9-+-+-+-+0 9+-sNP+P+-0 9PzPP+-+-zP0 9+-+-tRR+K0 xiiiiiiiiy Attack is stopped. 20.Rxe8+?! 20.Ne4!? Kg7! 20...Qxe8 21.Ne4 Qc6! 22.f4 Kf8 23.b3 Re8 24.Qf5 Re6 25.h3 b6 26.Qg4 XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-+-mk-+0 9zp-+-+p+-0 9-zpq+rvln+0 9+-zp-+-+-0 9-+-+NzPQ+0 9+P+P+-+P0 9P+P+-+-+0 9+-+-+R+K0 xiiiiiiiiy 26Rxe4! + 27.dxe4 Qxe4+ 28.Qg2 Qf5! 29.Qa8+ Kg7 30.Qg2 Bd4 31.Qg4?! Qxc2 32.h4 Qe4+ 33.Kh2 f5 34.Qg2 Qxg2+ 35.Kxg2 Nxh4+ 36.Kg3 Ng6 37.Rh1? Be3 0:1. De Firmian N. : Browne W. B30 USA - ch, Seattle 2003 Story seemed to be finished, but after 15 years something unusual appeared. 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Bc4 d6 5.d3 Be7 6.00 Nf6 7.Ng5 00 8.f4 exf4 9.Bxf4 h6 10.Nf3 Be6 11.Qd2 d5 12.exd5 Nxd5 13.Bxd5 Bxd5 14.Bxh6 gxh6 15.Qxh6

XIIIIIIIIY 9r+-wq-trk+0 9zpp+-vlp+-0 9-+n+-+-wQ0 9+-zpl+-+-0 9-+-+-+-+0 9+-sNP+N+-0 9PzPP+-+PzP0 9tR-+-+RmK-0 xiiiiiiiiy 15...f5!? It looks, that such experienced GM's, with huge opening knowledge, tried to open new page. 16.Rae1 16.Qg6+ Kh8 17.Ng5? White tries to continue attack,which has no chances to succeed here. 17...Bxg5 18.Nxd5 Ne5 19.Qh5+ Kg7 20.c4 Ng6 21.Rae1 Rh8 22.Qf3 Qd6 23.g3 Raf8 24.h4 Bf6 25.Re2 Bd4+ 26.Kg2 Rf7 27.Rfe1 Ne5 28.Qf4 Re8 29.h5 b6 30.b4 Kh7 31.bxc5 bxc5 32.g4 fxg4 33.Qxf7+ Nxf7 34.Rxe8 Ne5 35.Re4 Kh6 36.Nf4 Qd7 37.Re6+ Kh7 38.R6xe5 Bxe5 39.Rxe5 Qb7+ 40.Re4 Qb1 41.Kg3 Qxa2 42.Kxg4 Qa5 43.Re7+ Kh6 44.Nd5 Qd8 45.Re6+ Kh7 46.Kf5 a5 47.Rg6 a4 48.Nf6+ Kh8 49.Rh6+ Kg7 50.Rh7+ Kf8 51.Rh8+ Ke7 52.Rxd8 Kxd8 53.h6, 1:0, Meyer F. : Ekeberg C., Gausdal 2003. 16...Bf7 16...Rf7! was very good try to stop the draw. XIIIIIIIIY 9r+-wq-trk+0 9zpp+-vll+-0 9-+n+-+-wQ0 9+-zp-+p+-0 9-+-+-+-+0 9+-sNP+N+-0 9PzPP+-+PzP0 9+-+-tRRmK-0 xiiiiiiiiy 17.Re6 Bxe6 18.Qg6+ .

FIDE Surveys Adrian Mikhalchishin

Mikhalchishin A. : Ubilava E. D37 URS ch, Volgodonsk 1981 Now a bit different story, as White invented very positional plan, which served for a long time to positional players. But one day came, when Black became tired of suffering and decided to shapen the game maximally. 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bf4 00 6.e3 c5 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.a3 Nc6 9.b4 XIIIIIIIIY 9r+lwq-trk+0 9zpp+-+pzpp0 9-+n+psn-+0 9+-vlp+-+-0 9-zPP+-vL-+0 9zP-sN-zPN+-0 9-+-+-zPPzP0 9tR-+QmKL+R0 xiiiiiiiiy In that times I worked as a second of Anatoly Karpov and we researched many new ideas.Top players like Korchnoi and Karpov played this line differently. I tried to find completely different plan in middlegame, trying to develop initiative on the Queens side. 9...Bd6 Young future strong IGM and famous trainer P.H.Nielsen tried different retreat: 9...Be7 10.cxd5 Nxd5 11.Nxd5 exd5 12.Bd3 Bf6 13.Rc1 Re8 14.00 Bg4 15.h3 Bxf3 (after retreat,white prepared very unusual attak on Isolani from the side: 15...Bh5 16.Rc5!) 16.Qxf3 Ne5 17.Bxe5 Rxe5 18.Rfd1 Qd6 19.Bc4 Rd8 XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-tr-+k+0 9zpp+-+pzpp0 9-+-wq-vl-+0 9+-+ptr-+-0 9-zPL+-+-+0 9zP-+-zPQ+P0 9-+-+-zPP+0 9+-tRR+-mK-0 xiiiiiiiiy Now I start very simple but effective attack on Isolani, using the presence of opposite squared Bishops on the board, which made FIDE Surveys Adrian Mikhalchishin

protection of Isolani very difficult: 20.Bb3 b6 21.Rd3 a5 22.Rcd1 Qf8 23.Bxd5 Re7 24.b5 Rc7 25.e4 Kh8 26.g3 Be5 27.Kg2 Rcd7 28.Rc1 Rc7 29.Rc6 Rxc6 30.bxc6, 1:0, Mikhalchishin A. : Nielsen P., Copenhagen 1991. 10.Bxd6 Qxd6 11.Be2 Another plan was possible, but I wanted to wait, before creation of Isolani. 11.cxd5 exd5 12.Be2 Bg4 13.Nb5 Qe7 14.00 Rad8. 11...Rd8 12.00 b6 Another option led to slightly better position for White: 12...dxc4 13.Qxd6 Rxd6 14.Rfd1 Rxd1+ 15.Rxd1 Bd7. 13.cxd5 Nxd5 14.Nxd5 Qxd5 After 14...exd5 15.Bb5 Bb7 16.Bxc6 Bxc6 17.Qd3 a6 18.Nd4 White would get classical Isolani with Knight against Bishop,which is considered to be very favourable for White. in all such kinds of positions. 15.Qxd5 Rxd5 16.Rfd1 Bd7 17.Rxd5 exd5 XIIIIIIIIY 9r+-+-+k+0 9zp-+l+pzpp0 9-zpn+-+-+0 9+-+p+-+-0 9-zP-+-+-+0 9zP-+-zPN+-0 9-+-+LzPPzP0 9tR-+-+-mK-0 xiiiiiiiiy Finally Isolani appeares-Blacks defence is not easy task. 18.Rc1 a6 19.h3 Kf8 XIIIIIIIIY 9r+-+-mk-+0 9+-+l+pzpp0 9pzpn+-+-+0 9+-+p+-+-0 9-zP-+-+-+0 9zP-+-zPN+P0 9-+-+LzPP+0 9+-tR-+-mK-0 xiiiiiiiiy 20.Bxa6 Nxb4 21.axb4 Rxa6 22.Rc7 Be8 23.Nd4 g6 24.g4 Ra1+ 25.Kg2 Rb1 26.f4 Rb2+ 27.Kf3 Rxb4 28.f5 Kg7 29.Kf4 h6 30.Ke5 Rc4 1:0. 4

Epishin V. : Short N. D37 Malmo 2002 1.d4 e6 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bf4 00 6.e3 c5 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.a3 Nc6 9.b4!? Nxb4!? XIIIIIIIIY 9r+lwq-trk+0 9zpp+-+pzpp0 9-+-+psn-+0 9+-vlp+-+-0 9-snP+-vL-+0 9zP-sN-zPN+-0 9-+-+-zPPzP0 9tR-+QmKL+R0 xiiiiiiiiy Definitely home preparation, as Epishin has already played 9.b4 a few times in the past. Short completely changes the character of the position, the sacrifice forces White to start defencive play. 10.axb4 Bxb4 11.Qb3 Natural, White meets the threat with tempo. 11.Be5 Ne4! (11...Nd7?! 12.Bd4 Re8 is analogous to one of the examples below, but instead of 13.Qb3 White can play better: 13.Qa4! (13.Ra4?! a5 14.Qa1 Nb6 15.Bxb6 Qxb6) 13...a5 14.Rb1 Rb8 (14...b5 15.cxb5 Bb7 16.Be2 e5 17.Nxe5 Nxe5 18.00; 14...e5? 15.Rxb4 exd4 16.Nxd5) 15.Ne5 f6 16.Rxb4!? axb4 (16...fxe5 17.Bb6!+- retains the extra piece) 17.Nxd7 Bxd7 18.Qxb4 b6 19.Nb5) 12.Qb3 a5 13.cxd5 f6!? 14.Bd4 (14.dxe6 Qe7 15.Bd4 Bxe6 Rfc8 (15...Rd8?! 16.Bc4 Rxd4 17.Nxd4 Bxc3+ 18.Ke2) ) 14...e5 15.Ke2 (otherwise Black wins the piece back immediately) 15...Bf5!? 16.Nxe4 Bxe4 Stohl. 11...a5 12.000!? Maybe the best try, although King is not safe there.There were other defencive tries: 12.Be5?! Nd7 13.Bd4 (13.Rc1? f6 14.Bg3 Nc5 15.Qc2 Ne4 16.Qb2 e5 17.Ke2 Nxc3+ 18.Rxc3 Bg4 19.h3 Bh5 20.Rd3 Qc8 21.Qa2 dxc4 22.e4 Bf7+, 0:1, Lautier J. : Topalov V., Monte Carlo 1999) 13...Re8 14.cxd5 e5 15.Nxe5 Nxe5 16.Bb5 Nc6! 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.dxc6 Qd4 19.Rc1 Rxe3+! 20.fxe3 Qxe3+ 21.Kd1 Be6 FIDE Surveys Adrian Mikhalchishin

22.Qb2 Rd8+ 23.Nd5+ Kg8, 0:1, Gretarsson H. : Ehlvest J., Reykjavik 2002; 12.Nd2 d4! 13.Ncb1 Ne414.Qxb4 axb4 15.Rxa8 e5 16.Bg3 Nc3 17.e4 f5 18.Bxe5 fxe4 19.c5 Nxb1 20.Bc4+ Kh8+, Sulypa A. : Heinis V.,FRA - chT,1999; 12.Bd3? dxc4 13.Bxc4 b5! 14.Be2 (14.Bxb5 Qb6) 14...Nd5 15.Be5 a4 16.Qb2, Van Wely L. : Vaganian R., Dordrecht 2000. The best try seems to untested on practice 12.Be2 (McShane) 12...Ne4 13.Rc1 Bxc3+ 14.Rxc3 a4 15.Qb4 Nxc3 16.Qxc3 (the apawn is a definite strength) 16...a3 17.00 Qa5. 12...Bd7 13.Rd4? This mistake gives Short's attack a strong impulse, as not only it fails to evacuate the K on time, but also the R is exposed on d4. Better is to take King away from c file: 13.Kb1 Rc8 (13...Qe7 Dautov) 14.Rc1. White fights for the crucial c-file and the position remains unclear. Possibly, 13.Be5 (McShane) immediately was more to the point. 13...Qe7 14.Be5 Now King escape is not so effective: 14.Kb1 Rfc8 (14...a4!? 15.Qb2 Rfc8) 15.Na2 Bc5 16.Rd2 Ne4; 14.cxd5 Rfc8 15.d6 Qe8 16.Rc4 Rxc4! (16...b5 17.Rc7) 17.Bxc4 b5(17...Rc8) ; 14.Ne5 Rfc8 15.Kb1 b5! is very similar to the game. 14...Rfc8 15.Kb1 b5! 16.Nxb5 a4 17.Qa2 17.Bxf6 (Dautov) 17...gxf6 18.Qc2 (18.Qb2 a3 19.Qa2 Rab8+ dxc4) 18...Bxb5 19.Rg4+ Kh8 20.Rh4 f5 21.Qb2+ Kg8 22.cxb5 Ba3 23.Qe5 Rc1+ 24.Ka2 Qc5+. 17...Bxb5! Removes an important defender. 17...Ne4?! 18.cxd5 (18.Rd1? dxc4 19.Bxc4 Bxb5 20.Bxb5 Bc3+) 18...exd5 (18...Bxb5? 19.Rxe4 Qc5 20.Bxb5 Qxb5 21.Ka1 exd5 22.Rg4) 19.Qxd5 Bc6 20.Qc4. 18.Bxf6 18.cxb5? Ne4 19.Rd1 Bc3+. 18...gxf6

Queen has to be closer to the other side: 18...Qxf6 19.cxb5 Bc3 (19...Qg6+?! 20.Bd3 Qxg2 21.Rg1 Qxf3 22.Rxb4) 20.Rxa4 Qg6+ 21.e4 Rxa4 22.Qxa4 dxe4 23.Qc2! is less convincing. 19.cxb5 Rc3 XIIIIIIIIY 9r+-+-+k+0 9+-+-wqp+p0 9-+-+pzp-+0 9+P+p+-+-0 9pvl-tR-+-+0 9+-tr-zPN+-0 9Q+-+-zPPzP0 9+K+-+L+R0 xiiiiiiiiy 20.Rd3 Attack does not help, as there are no more forces to help Rook: 20.Rg4+ Kh8 21.Nd4 Ba3! 22.Ne2 (22.Nc2 Rb3+ 23.Ka1 Qc7 24.Bc4 Qa5!+) 22...Rb3+ 23.Ka1 Bd6! and a3 can't be met satisfactorily. Or 20.Bd3 Ra3 21.Bxh7+ Kh8+. 20...Rac8 21.Be2 21.Qxa4 Rc1+ 22.Kb2 (22.Ka2? R8c2+ 23.Kb3 Qc5+) 22...e5! paralyses White, his N can't go to d4 anymore and 23.Nd2 e4 24.Rxd5 Ba3+! 25.Ka2 R8c2++ loses quickly. 21...Ba3 22.Qd2? Its losing, better was 22.Rxc3 Rxc3 23.Ka1, with some chances to hold. 22...Qb4+ 23.Ka1 Rc1+ 24.Rxc1 Rxc1+ 25.Ka2 Qc4+! 26.Kxa3 Ra1+ 27.Kb2 Qa2+ 28.Kc3 Qb3+ 0:1. Sad end of Whites plan. It was beatufull, effective, but at the end became too slow for modern dynamic times! So, we saw two different approaches, In the Kupreichik game attack looked so powerfull, but defencive ideas appeared to be prevailing. In the second case positional approach of White could be refuted just by the unlimited attack.

FIDE Surveys Adrian Mikhalchishin