B32
Kalashnikov
Intro
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5
this is the Kalashnikov system.
Black plays the Sicilian with the pawn structure
d6 and e5 typical of Sveshnikov and Najdorf
systems. The very basic ideas of this structure
are:
- the weakness of the d5-square;
- the weakness of the backward pawn on d6;
- the d4-square is strong for Black;
- the black king is well defended on g8 because
of the presence of the e5-pawn which makes a
White's expansion on the kingside very difficult;
- Black can obtain a pawn majority in the center
if he succeeds to play d6-d5 (a e- and f- pawn
phalanx will arise) or f7-f5 (a d- and e- pawn
phalanx will arise);
- Both White and Black can play on any side -
the concrete position of the pieces is very
important. In difference with the typical Dragon
and Scheveningen structures, here Black often
plays actively on the kingside, even attacking
the white king;
- the light-square bishop is open and an
important piece for Black. This bishop is often
placed on e6, defending the a2-g8 diagonal
(and the d5-square) and with attacking
prospects against white kingside.
- the dark-square bishop defends successfully
the d6 weakness but this is too passive. One of
Black's objectives is to trade this bishop with the
White's one by Be7-g5.
[Sveshnikov System is: 4...Nf6 5.Nc3 e5
the difference between Kalashnikov and
Sveshnikov is given by the moves 4...Nf6 5.
Nc3. This means that in Kalashnikov, Black
avoids the pin on the f6-knight but gives White
the possibility of strengthening the center by
c2-c4.
6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5 ]
5.Nb5
The main and only White's good reply. The idea
is to force Black to play d7-d6 which blocks the
dark-square bishop behind the pawns.
[After other White's fifth moves, Black at least
easily equalizes:
1
A) 5.Nxc6 a weak move that helps Black to
get a better pawn center. However, this move
is often met in club tournaments.
5... bxc6
The 3 central pawns (e5, d7, c6) assure Black
an easy development of the pieces. He can
also advance d7-d5 or d7-d6 sooner or later
creating a strong mobile pawn center. Also,
the open b-file, the open diagonals c8-a6 and
d8-a5 give Black better play on the queenside.
6.Bd3
( 6.c4 trying to interdict d7-d5. Bc5 7.Nc3
Nf6 8.Bg5 h6 9.Bh4 d6³ White has a "hole"
on d4, while all Black's central squares are
well defended. Also, the White light-square
bishop is limited by its own pawns. Ong,R
(2019) - Sokolin,L (2513), 2004 ;
6.Nc3 Nf6 7.f4 a very risky move, tried
against Magnus Carlsen. Qc7 8.Qf3 Bd6
9.f5 Bb4 10.a3 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 d5 12.Bd3
Qa5³ Sahl,B (2364)-Carlsen,M (2673), 2006 )
6...Nf6 7.0-0 Bc5 8.Nc3 0-0³
TO DO:
- occupy the b-file and create pressure on the
queenside.
- save the dark-square bishop to defend the
d6-square (if Nc3-a4, then Bc5-e7)
- defend the e5-pawn with Qc7 in order to can
play d7-d5 or d6-d5 at the proper moment. ]
[
B) 5.Nf3 in fact, White lost a tempo by this
knight maneuver getting his knight on a less
active square in this type of position.
Nf6 6.Nc3
( 6.Bg5 Qa5+ 7.Bd2 Qb6³ Felber,J (2126)-
Shabalov,A (2601), 2000 )
6...Bb4 7.Bc4
White has to be very careful to his e4-pawn.
( 7.Bd2 Bxc3 8.Bxc3 Nxe4∓ Georgiou,D-
Kotronias,V (2570), 1998 )
7...0-0 8.Bg5 h6 9.Bxf6 Bxc3+ 10.bxc3

Qxf6
Black got a better pawn structure and after
strengthening his position, he will manage to
put pressure on White's weak c-pawns. The
game continued:
11.0-0 d6 12.Qd3 Bg4 13.Nd2 Ne7
14.Rab1 b6 15.f3 Be6 16.Rfd1 Rfd8
17.Rb5 Rac8 18.Bxe6 Qxe6 19.c4 Nc6
20.c3 Na5 21.Rd5 Qd7³ Dubisch,R (2270)-
Orlov,G (2505), 1990 ]
[ Bxd3 10.cxd3 Nf6 11.Ke2 Nd5 a theoretical
C) 5.Nb3 Nf6 6.Nc3
( After 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bxf6 Qxf6 8.Nc3 Bb4
Black's position is preferable. White cannot
use the d5-square (after Bc4, Black plays d7-
d6 followed by Be6) and the b3-knight is out of
play for a long time.
For example:
9.Bc4 0-0 10.Qd2 d6 11.0-0 Qg6 12.f3
Be6 13.Bxe6 Qxe6 14.a3 Bxc3 15.Qxc3
Rac8 16.Rad1 Rfd8 17.Rf2 b6 18.Rfd2
Ne7 19.Qd3 d5= Perrett,D - Zhigalko,S
(2485), 2005 )
Now, we recommend the quiet continuation:
6...d6
( 6...Bb4 7.Bc4 0-0 8.0-0 Bxc3 9.bxc3
Nxe4 10.Ba3 d6 11.Qd3 gives White some
compensation. )
7.Bc4 Be7 8.f3 0-0
the position is like a Najdorf where Black
saved a tempo (a7-a6 is not played here) for a
quicker development. As the central break d6-
d5 is very strong in this kind of positions, we
can say that this "variation" of Najdorf is in
Black's favor.
For example:
9.Be3 Be6 10.Nd5 Rc8 11.Nxe7+ Qxe7
12.Bxe6 Qxe6 13.0-0 Rfd8 14.Qe2 d5
15.exd5 Nxd5 16.c3 b6 17.Rae1 Re8
18.Bc1 h6 19.Qf2 Nf6 20.Re2 Qc4 21.Rfe1
Qa4∓ Preusser,R (2200)-Epishin,V (2667),
2000 ]
[ white knight will remain trapped on a8:
D) 5.Nf5 the f5-square is good for the white
knight but only when is not attackable by the
2
light-square bishop. So, here, after d7-d5, the
knight position and the center are threatened
and Black gets the initiative.
5... d5 leads by force to a better endgame for
Black.
6.Qxd5
( 6.exd5 Bxf5 7.dxc6 Qxd1+ 8.Kxd1
0-0-0+³ )
6...Qxd5 7.exd5 Bxf5 8.dxc6 bxc6 9.Bd3
position where White only fights for a draw.
The next game is a magistral example for
Black's strategy:
12.Nc3 Kd7 13.Be3 f5 14.Rac1 Bd6
15.Na4 Rhb8 16.g3 Nb6 17.Nc5+ Bxc5
18.Bxc5 Nd5 19.Ba3 a5 20.Rc5 Rb5
21.Rhc1 Rxc5 22.Rxc5 g5 23.Kd2 h5
24.Rc1 h4 25.gxh4 g4 26.Re1 Re8 27.h5
Nf4 28.h6 Ng2 29.Rc1 Rh8 30.Rc5 Nh4
31.Rxa5 Nf3+ 32.Kc3 Rxh6 33.Ra7+ Ke6
34.Bc5 Rxh2 35.a4 Nd4 36.Bxd4 exd4+
37.Kxd4 Rxf2 38.b3 Kf6 39.Ke3 g3 40.Ra8
f4+ 41.Ke4 g2 42.Rg8 f3 43.a5 Rf1
Yegiazarian,A (2512)-Andriasian,Z (2532),
2008 ]
5...d6
[ 5...a6 is called Loewenthal variation and it's
rather dubious as gives White the advantage
of bishop-pair for nothing: 6.Nd6+ Bxd6
7.Qxd6 Qf6 8.Qd1!² ]
Now, White has 4 important moves and some
other that we analyze here.
6.Bc4
[The following 4 moves will be analyzed
separately in the following lines:
6.N1c3 ]
[ 6.c4 ]
[ 6.a4 ]
[ 6.Be3 ]
[
a) 6.Bg5? this trick does not work as the
6... Qxg5 7.Nc7+ Kd8 8.Nxa8 b6
followed by Bb7 and Black gets 2 pieces for a
rook and a pawn (material advantage

especially in the middlegame where minor
pieces have much more activity than rooks). ]
[ Diagram
b) 6.Be2 leaves Black time to develop without
any problem:
6... Be7 7.0-0 Nf6 8.N5c3 0-0= 9.Bg5?!
Nxe4 10.Nxe4 Bxg5 11.Qxd6 Qxd6
12.Nxd6 Nd4 13.Bd3 Rd8∓ Sadathajafi,M
(2205) - Sveshnikov,E (2535), 2004 ]
[ 6-+nzp-+-+&
c) 6.g3 a move applied by John Nunn with the
idea to strengthen the control over the d5-
square with the help of the bishop on g2.
However, this development requires 2 tempi.
Black can also exploit the weakness of the
f1-a6 diagonal by Be6-c4 or by Nf6 and Bg4:
Nf6! prepares Bg4. 7.Bg2
( 7.Bg5 Be6! 8.Bg2 Be7÷ White has to be
careful to Be6-c4. )
7...Bg4 8.Qd3 Rc8 threatens Nb4. 9.N5c3
( 9.c3? a6 10.N5a3 d5!∓ 11.exd5 Nb4 )
9...d5! and Black has the initiative. Gurevich,
G-Milov,V, 1992
10.exd5 Nd4∓ with multiple threats (Bf5,
Rxc3, Bb4). ]
[ [ 7.Bb3 a6 8.N5c3 Nf6 9.Bg5 Be7 10.Bxf6
d) 6.N5c3 is a very rare move but an
interesting idea tried once by Nigel Short.
White concentrates on the d5-square and
plays Bg5xf6, Nc3-d5, Bf1-c4, and Nb1-c3.
6... Nf6 7.Bg5 Be7 8.Bxf6 Bxf6 9.Nd5 Bg5
10.Bc4 0-0 11.Nbc3
White has a strong control over d5. In
exchange, Black has the bishop-pair and can
open the game by f7-f5. The chances are
equal.
11... Be6
( Short's game was: 11...Kh8 12.h4 Bh6
13.g4 Bf4 14.Be2 Be6 15.Qd3 Rc8 16.a3
Bxd5 17.Nxd5 Ne7 18.Nxf4 exf4 19.0-0-0
Qb6 20.Qd4 Qb3 21.Bd3 Qe6 22.Qxa7
Qxg4 23.Qxb7 Qe6 24.Qb4 Nc6 25.Qc4
Qf6 26.Qd5 Ne5 27.c3 Ng4 28.e5 dxe5
29.Rd2 Qe7 30.Bf5 Rcd8 31.Qf3 Rxd2
32.Kxd2 Nh6 33.Bc2 f5 34.Kc1 Qc7
35.Qe2 Ng4 36.Bxf5 ½-½ Short,N (2510)-
Van der Wiel,J (2465), 1988 )
12.0-0 Rc8 13.Bb3 g6 14.Qd3 Kh8
with the idea f7-f5. Berelovich,A (2515) -
3
Vandevoort,P (2295), 1998 ]
XABCDEFGHY
8r+lwqkvlntr({
7zpp+-+pzpp'
5+N+-zp-+-%
4-+L+P+-+$
3+-+-+-+-#
2PzPP+-zPPzP"
1tRNvLQmK-+R!
xabcdefghy
Black fights for the a2-g8 diagonal and has no
reason to worry about doubling the pawn in the
center:
6...Be6 7.Bxe6
Bxf6 11.0-0 0-0 12.Nd5 Bg5 13.Nbc3 Rc8÷
Rehberg,R (2190)-Kalinitschew,S (2516),
2005 ]
[ 7.Bd5 a6 8.N5c3 Nf6 9.Bg5 Be7 10.Bxf6
Bxf6 11.0-0 0-0 12.Nd2 Rc8 13.Nc4 Nd4
14.Ne3 Bg5÷ Garcia,G (2485)-Vyzmanavin,A
(2590), 1992 ]
7...fxe6 8.Qh5+
[ 8.c4 a6 9.N5c3 Nf6 10.Be3 Be7 11.0-0
0-0 12.Nd2 Rc8 13.Nb3 Kh8 14.a3 b5!
15.cxb5 axb5 16.Nxb5 Nxe4 17.Qg4 d5
18.Rac1 Qd7 19.Nc5 Nxc5 20.Bxc5 e4
21.Bd4 Bf6³ 22.Bc5? Ne5 23.Qe2 Nd3
24.Bxf8 Nxc1 0-1 Almasi,I (2375)-McDonald,
N (2460), 1995 ]
8...g6 9.Qg4 Qd7 10.Bg5 a6 11.N5a3 b5
12.c3 h6 13.Be3 Kf7 14.0-0 Nf6 15.Qf3 d5³
with such a strong center, Black has the upper
hand.
The game continued: 16.Rd1 Kg7 17.Nc2
Bd6 18.Nd2 Ne7 19.Qe2 dxe4 20.c4 bxc4

21.Nxc4 Ned5 22.Nb6 Nxb6 23.Bxb6 Nd5
24.Ba5 Qb5 25.Qxb5 axb5 26.b4 Rhf8
27.a3 Bb8 28.Rd2 Ba7 29.Re1 Rac8 30.Ne3
Nxe3 31.Rd7+ Rf7 32.Rxf7+ Kxf7 33.fxe3
Rc1 34.Kf2 Rxe1 35.Kxe1 Bxe3 36.Kd1
Ke7 37.Kc2 Kd6 38.Kb3 Bf4 39.Bb6 Bxh2
40.a4 bxa4+ 41.Kxa4 Bf4 42.Kb3 Kc6
43.Bc5 e3 44.Kc3 e4 45.Kc2 e2 46.Bf2
Kb5 47.Be1 Bd6
0-1 Vallejo Pons,F (2635)-Shirov,A (2699)/
Ayamonte 2002/CBM 092
B32
Kalashnikov
6.a4
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5
5.Nb5 d6 6.a4
This move's idea is to prevent b7-b5 so Black's
expansion on the queenside. White also keeps
the c4-square free (as this is not the case with 6.
c2-c4) for the knight's maneuver Nb5-a3-c4.
The strategical reasoning of this move is very
good, but White lose a tempo for a non-
developing move. Also, Black will be able to use
the b4-square (Nc6-b4) to support the advance
d6-d5.
Be6
Black is developing his queenside first (Be6 and
Rc8) to fight for the c4-square. The c6-knight
will move to d4 or b4 in fuction of White's setup.
Black can enter Svshnikov by 6...Nf6 or 6...Be7
and later ...Nf6.
7.N1c3 a6 8.Na3 Rc8
So, in the spirit of Kalashnikov, Black still keeps
his knight on f6 avoiding the pin Bg5.
Now, White has several options in function of
his plan of development.
9.Bc4
[ Rxc2 20.Rb3= ]
a) 9.Nc4 with the idea Nc4-e3 and control
over d5.
9... Nb4! but the black knights come into play
with the same idea and Black realizes the
advance d6-d5:
4
10.Ne3 Nf6 11.Be2 d5 12.exd5 Nfxd5
13.Ncxd5 Nxd5 Black equalized and a draw
was agreed in Bologan,V (2585)-Fedorov,A
(2600), 1998 ]
[
b) 9.Nd5 is dubious because White cannot
hold his knight on d5:
9... Nf6! 10.Bg5 almost forced.
( After 10.Nxf6+ Qxf6 Black has an excellent
position. )
10...Bxd5! 11.Bxf6 ( 11.exd5 Qa5+ 12.c3
Qxd5³ ) 11...Qa5+ 12.c3 Be6
( The text is safer than: 12...Bxe4 13.Qg4÷
Rudolf,H (2340)-Richter,M (2410), 1999 )
13.Bg5 Be7! 14.Be3 ( 14.Bxe7 Nxe7
15.Qxd6 Rd8 16.Qb4 Qxb4 17.cxb4 Rd4∓ )
14...d5
( Interesting is: 14...Nb8 with the idea to bring
the knight on f6, a much better square. 15.Bd3
0-0 16.0-0 Nd7 17.Nc2 d5 )
15.exd5 Qxd5 16.Qxd5 Bxd5 17.Nc4
Rd8= ]
[
e) 9.Be3 is dubious as now the a3-knight
remains out-of-play on the edge, while black
knights are very strong (Nf6 and Nb4)
supporting d6-d5.
9... Nf6 10.Be2
( 10.Bc4 Be7 11.0-0 0-0 12.Re1 Nb4!³ ;
10.Nc4 Nb4! 11.Nb6 Rc6 12.Nbd5 Qa5
13.Nxf6+ gxf6³ and Black is better on both
sides and the center. Korsunsky,R (2390)-
Imanaliev,T (2345), 1989 )
10...Nb4 11.0-0 d5 12.exd5 Nbxd5
13.Nxd5 Nxd5 14.Bd2 Bc5³ Marinkovic,S
(2335)-Strikovic,A (2495), 1991 ]
9...Nd4 10.Nd5
[ 10.Bd5 Bxd5 11.Nxd5 Qh4 12.Qd3 Ne7
( 12...f5 13.exf5 Nf6!?÷ ) 13.Nxe7 Bxe7
14.Be3 d5 15.exd5 ( 15.Bxd4 dxe4 16.Qd2
exd4 17.Qxd4 0-0∓ ) 15...Bxa3 16.Bxd4
Qxd4 17.Rxa3 Qxb2 18.0-0 Qxc2 19.Qxc2
10...Nf6 11.Nxf6+
[ 11.Bg5 doesn't work because of: Qa5+
12.Bd2 Qxa4³ ]
11...Qxf6 12.Bxe6 Nxe6

[ 12...Qxe6 with the idea Be7, 0-0, and f7-f5 is
also possible. ]
13.0-0 Be7 14.b3 0-0 15.Nc4 Qg6 16.Nb6
Rc6 17.Nd5 Re8 18.f3 Bg5 19.Ba3 Nf4
20.c4 h5 21.Kh1 h4÷
Macieja,B (2350) - Protaziuk,G (2260), 1994
B44
Kalashnikov
6.Be3
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5
5.Nb5 d6 6.Be3
By this move, White waits for Nf6 to realize the
pin Be3-g5. Also, White is still keeping the c3-
square free for his knight (after a7-a6, White
can play Nb5-c3 followed by Nb1-d2).
This position can be also reached with an extra
move on the scoresheet after: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6!
3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nb5 d6 6.Bf4 e5 7.Be3.
Nf6
Black's best reaction is to continue the normal
development as White loses a tempo by Be3-g5.
Black attacks the e4-pawn and waits for White
to occupy the c3-square with Nb1-c3 after which
a7-a6 chases the b5-knight on a3.
[ 6...a6 7.N5c3 Nf6 8.Bc4 Be7 9.Nd5
with the idea Nb1-c3 ]
7.Bg5
[ (2714), 1999 ]
a) 7.N1c3
This is a new position that can be reached by
transposition after: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6! 3.d4
cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Be3 e5 7.Ndb5.
7... Be7
A) Other important alternative for White is:
8.Nd5 Nxd5 9.exd5 Nb8 10.Qd2
( 10.c4 a6 11.Nc3 Nd7 12.Be2 0-0
13.Qd2 f5 14.f4 exf4 15.Bxf4 Ne5 16.0-0
Qc7 17.b3 Bf6 18.Rac1 Bd7÷ Kubacsny,L
(2384)-Banusz,T (2460), 2005 )
10...a6 11.Na3 Nd7 12.Nc4 a5 13.a4 0-0
14.Be2 b6 15.0-0 Ba6 16.Rae1 Nc5=
5
The game cotinued: 17.Bxc5 bxc5 18.Nxa5
Bg5 19.Qc3 Bxe2 20.Nc6 Qd7 21.Rxe2
Rxa4 22.b3 Raa8 23.Re4 f5 24.Ra4 Qf7
25.Qc4 e4 26.Rxa8 Rxa8 27.c3 Re8
28.b4 cxb4 29.cxb4 f4 30.Nd4 f3 31.gxf3
Qh5 32.Ne6 exf3 33.Kh1 Bf6 34.Rg1 Be5
35.h4 h6 36.Qe4 Rb8 37.Rg4 Qf7 38.Nf4
h5 39.Nxh5 Qxh5 40.Qxf3 Qf7
0-1 Arizmendi Martinez,J (2521)-
Shariyazdanov,A (2565)/Biel 2003/CBM 095
ext ;
B) 8.Bg5
a6 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.Na3 f5 11.exf5
( 11.Bc4 fxe4 12.Qh5 0-0 13.0-0-0 Nd4
14.Nxe4 Bf5³ Rodin,M (2360)-
Shariyazdanov,A (2475), 1995 )
11...Nd4
( It is not good 11...Bxf5 12.Nd5²
and White's knight is too strong on d5. )
12.Nc4 Bxf5 13.Bd3
( 13.Ne3 Be6 14.Bc4 Bxc4 15.Nxc4
Rc8³ )
13...Be6 14.0-0 White threatens Nc4-e3,
Nc3-d5 and c2-c3.
14... Rc8
( Interesting is 14...h5!? combining the
chances for an attack on the kingside with
prevention of Qd1-h5. We think that after
this move, Black has good chances. )
The game continued: 15.Ne3 d5 16.Qh5
e4 17.Be2 Nxe2+ 18.Nxe2 d4 19.Nf5
Rc5 20.Ng7+ Kd7 21.Nxe6 Rxh5 22.Nxd8
Rxd8 23.Rad1² Leko,P (2694)-Ivanchuk,V
[
b) 7.Nd2 gives Black the control over d5. Be6
8.Bc4 (otherwise, d6-d5) Be7 9.0-0 0-0=
and white pieces do not cooperate well. ]
7...Be6!
Black doesn't hurry to play a7-a6. He waits for
White to play Nb1-c3 after which the b5-knight
will lose time to enter the game. Be6 interdicts
Bf1-c4 and fights for the d5-square.
8.Nd2
[

a) 8.Bxf6 gxf6 9.Nd2 a6 10.Nc3
A) Also good is: 10...f5 11.Bc4 Qg5 12.g3
h5 13.Nd5 0-0-0 14.c3 Bh6 15.Ne3 fxe4
16.Nxe4 Qg6 17.Qa4? ( ¹17.Bxe6+
fxe6∓ ) 17...Bxc4 18.Qxc4 Bxe3
0-1 Korneev,O (2657)-Laznicka,V (2596),
2006 ;
B) 10...Rg8 11.Nc4 Rc8 12.Ne3 Bh6
13.Ncd5 Bxe3 14.Nxe3 Qb6 15.Bd3 Qb4+
16.Qd2 Qxb2³ Prasad,D (2400)-Luther,T
(2510), 1998 ]
[ Rxc2∓ ) 15...Nxc2+ 16.Bxc2 Rxc2 17.Rb1
b) 8.N1c3 a6 9.Bxf6
( 9.Na3 Rc8 10.Nd5 Bxd5 11.Bxf6 Qa5+
12.c3 Be6³ Nykopp,J (2285) - Fries Nielsen,J
(2440), 1983 )
9...gxf6 10.Na3 d5 11.exd5
( 11.Nxd5 Bxa3 12.bxa3 f5³ Pachmann,A
(2270)-Kubala,P (2305), 1997 )
11...Bxa3 12.bxa3 Qa5 13.Qd2 0-0-0
14.Bc4
( 14.Rd1 Bxd5 15.Nxd5 Rxd5 16.Qxa5
Rxa5 17.Bc4 Nd4³ Mecking,H (2540)-
Hartston,W (2390), 1971 )
14...Rhg8 15.Rd1
( 15.0-0-0? Qxa3+ 16.Kb1 Nd4 17.dxe6
Qb4+ 18.Bb3 Nxb3 19.Qe3 Nd2+
0-1 Medina,M (2300)-Rodriguez,J (2370)/San
Fernando 1991/EXT 97 )
15...Rxg2 16.Qe3 Trammell,G-Ivanov,I
(2475), 1996 ( ¹16.Ne4 Qb6³ ) 16...Nd4∓ ]
8...Be7 9.Bxf6
White is practically forced to this exchange in
order to reduce Black's pressure on e4 and d5.
The idea of this variation is that White wins the
d6-pawn by force. However, this is absolutely in
Black's favor who gets a good compensation.
9... Bxf6 10.Nc4
[ 10.Bc4 0-0 11.0-0 Nd4³ ]
10...0-0! 11.Qxd6
[ 11.Nc3 Nd4 12.Bd3 Bg5 13.0-0 Rc8³
Becerra Rivero,J (2535) - Comas Fabrego,L
(2541), 1999 ]
11...Qc8ƒ
Black has threats along the d- and c- files, Nb4
6
or Nd4 and control over the dark-squares after
maneuver Be7-c5 or Be7-b4.
12.c3
[ 12.Qc7 Bxc4 13.Bxc4 Nd4 14.Qxc8
( 14.Bd3 Nxb5 15.Qxc8 Raxc8 16.Bxb5
Rxc2 17.b3 Rd8 18.0-0 Rdd2 19.a4 Be7
20.Rad1 Bc5 21.Rxd2 Rxd2³
Wahls,M (2550) - Ribli,Z (2590), 1995 )
14...Rfxc8 15.Bd3 ( 15.Nxd4 Rxc4 16.Nf5
Be7 18.0-0 Bc5 19.b4 Bf8 20.Rfc1 Rxc1+
21.Rxc1 Bxb4 ( 21...a6!∓ ) 22.Rc4 Bf8³
Zambrana,O (2389) - Granda Zuniga,J (2605),
2002 ]
[
12.Qd2 Rd8 13.Qc3 Be7 14.a3 Nd4
15.Ne3 Qd7 16.0-0-0 Rac8 17.Qd3 Bg5
18.Nc3 Bruned,Y (2325)-Gorse,G (2049),
2006
18... Bg4! 19.f3 Nxc2!!∓ ]
12...Be7 13.Qc7
[ 13.Qd2 Rd8 14.Qe3
( 14.Qc1 Bxc4 15.Bxc4 Qg4! better than a6,
Na3 and the white defends the c4-bishop
16.0-0 Qxe4 17.Bb3 Qf5³ )
14...Nb4 15.Nba3 Bc5 16.Qf3 b5 17.Ne3
( 17.Nxe5 f6 ) 17...a6∓ ]
13...Rd8 14.a4
[ 14.Qxc8 Raxc8 15.Nba3 Nd4 16.cxd4
Bb4+ 17.Ke2 Bxc4+ 18.Nxc4 Rxc4 19.Kf3
Rcxd4 20.Be2 R8d6 21.Rhd1 Bc5 22.Rxd4
Bxd4∓ Borisek,J (2443) - Navara,D (2608),
2003 ]
14...Bxc4 15.Qxc8 Raxc8 16.Bxc4 a6
17.Na3 Bxa3 18.Rxa3 Nb4 19.Bb3 Nd3+
20.Kf1 Nxb2
[ 20...Rd6!?© ]
21.Ke2 Nc4 22.Bxc4 Rxc4 23.f3
½-½ Geenen,M (2310)-Goossens,E (2302),
2008

B32
Kalashnikov
6.Nc3
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5
5.Nb5 d6 6.N1c3
This move is White's first choice. In the next line,
we will see 6.c4 which gives White a strong
control over d5, but also limits his play. 6.N1c3
is more dynamic, White keeps the c4-square
free for Nb5-a3-c4 or Bf1-c4.
6... a6
the c3-square is occupied, so Black chases the
b5-knight temporarily to a passive position.
7.Na3 Be6 Best Black's way to remain in
Kalashnikov system.
[ 7...b5 8.Nd5 Nf6 9.Bg5 leads to
Sveshnikov system. ]
8.Nc4
[ [
a) 8.f4 is not good because of: b5 9.f5
( 9.Nd5 Nf6³ ) 9...Bd7 10.Nd5 Qh4+-+ ]
[ 8... Nf6 Black threatens to change the pawn
b) 8.Be3 Nf6 After White developed the
c1-bishop on e3, there is no reason for Black
to delay Nf6. Pinning the knight with Be3-g5
would mean an extra tempo for Black. 9.Nc4
b5 It is important to advance the pawn and not
let White to block this on b7 with Nb6 or Bb6.
10.Nb6 Rb8 11.Nbd5 Ng4 12.Be2
( 12.a4 b4 keeps the queenside closed.
13.Nb1 Nxe3 14.Nxe3 Qc8 15.Nd2 Be7
16.Bd3 0-0 17.0-0 g6 preparing f7-f5. Black
has better prospects because the kingside
attack is more dangerous than White's control
over d5. The game continued: 18.Nd5 Bd8
19.Nc4 Qd7 20.Nce3 Qa7 21.Kh1 Kh8
22.Rc1 Bg5 23.Rb1 a5 24.c3 bxc3 25.bxc3
Rxb1 26.Qxb1 Rb8 27.Bb5 Qc5 28.Qd3
Na7 29.c4 Nc6 30.h3 Nd4 31.Rb1 f5 32.f3
Kg7 33.Kh2 fxe4 34.fxe4 Rf8 35.Rf1 Rxf1
36.Qxf1 Qa3 37.Qe1 Qb2 38.Kh1 h5
39.Nf1 h4 40.Nc7 Bxh3 41.gxh3 Nf3
42.Ne6+ Kh6 0-1 Eid,F (2384)-Al Modiahki,M
(2523)/Casablanca 2002/CBM 090 ext ;
12.Bd2 b4 13.Na4 f5 14.Be2 fxe4³
7
Kryakvin,D (2554) - Kobalia,M (2634), 2007 )
12...Nxe3 13.Nxe3 g6 14.Ncd5 ( 14.a4
Nd4 ) 14...Bh6 15.c3 0-0 16.h4 Bxe3
17.Nxe3 Ne7 18.h5 b4 19.c4 Nc6 20.hxg6
fxg6 21.Bg4 Bf7 22.b3 a5 23.Rc1 a4
24.Rc2 axb3 25.axb3 Nd4 26.Rd2 Qf6³
Szalanczy,E (2410) - Lanka,Z (2505), 1991 ]
[
c) 8.Bc4 b5! 9.Bd5
( 9.Bxe6?! doesn't bring White an advantage.
Black gets even more pawns in the center that
will lead to a mobile central phalanx. 9... fxe6
10.Ne2 Nf6 11.Bg5 Qa5+ 12.Bd2 Qc7
13.Ng3 d5 14.Nb1 Bc5 15.c3 0-0 16.0-0
Rad8 17.Qe2 d4∓ Bilus Gagic,A (2039)-
Jovanic,O (2475), 2004 )
9...Rc8 Now, Black threatens b5-b4.
10.Bxc6+ Rxc6 11.Nd5 Nf6 and Black
succeeds to change the pawn structure in his
favor. 12.Qf3 Bxd5 13.exd5 Rc5 14.Be3
Rxd5 15.0-0 Be7 16.c4 bxc4 17.Nxc4 0-0∓
Pasarelu,D (2302) - Grigore,G (2521), 2000 ]
d) 8.Nd5 Against this move, you can see the
importance of the move 7...Be6.
structure in his favor by Nxd5.
A) 9.Nxf6+ Qxf6 10.g3 ( 10.Bd3 d5³ )
10...0-0-0!? 11.Bg2 d5! 12.exd5 Bxa3
13.bxa3 e4 14.Rb1 Bxd5∓ ;
B) 9.Bg5 Bxd5! 10.Bxf6
( 10.Qxd5 is bad for White because of:
Nxd5! 11.Bxd8 Nc3 12.bxc3 Rxd8 13.Nc4
d5 14.exd5 Rxd5³ with better endgame.
Olafsson,D (2304)-Nataf,I (2557), 2005 ;
10.exd5 Qa5+ 11.c3 Qxd5³ )
10...Qa5+! 11.c3 Be6 12.Bg5 h6 13.Be3
b5 and White does not have a good control
over d5. 14.Be2 Be7 15.0-0 0-0=
with the idea Rad8 and d6-d5. 16.f4 exf4
17.Bxf4 b4!∓ Minet,S (2152) - Nataf,I
(2557), 2005 ]
8...Rb8 9.Ne3
[ 9.a4 Be7 10.Be2 Nf6 11.Bg5 Nd4 12.Bxf6
Bxf6 13.Ne3 Rc8 14.Bd3 Bg5 15.Ncd5
Bxe3 16.Nxe3 Qb6 17.b3 0-0 18.0-0 Qb4
19.Qe1 Qc5 20.Rb1 g6 21.Kh1 f5∓

Shukuraliev,A (2267)-Radjabov,T (2717),
2006 ]
[
9.Bd3 Nf6 10.Bg5 Be7 11.0-0 0-0 12.Ne3
Rc8 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.Ncd5 Bg5 15.c3 Ne7
16.Qh5 Nxd5 17.Nxd5 g6 18.Qd1 Bxd5
19.exd5 f5³ Dranov,A (2439)-Kalinitschew,S
(2489), 2007 ]
[ exchange this bishop later by Nc6-d4-xe2.
9.Nd5 b5 10.Nce3 Nf6 11.Bd3 Be7 12.0-0
0-0÷
It is important to know how to respons after
13.f4 Black almost always takes on f4 after
which the e5-square becomes a very good
outpost for his c6-knight: 13... exf4 14.Nxf4
Qb6 15.Kh1 Ne5 16.Nfd5 Nxd5 17.Nxd5
Bxd5 18.exd5 Qc5÷ followed by Bf6 and
Rfe8 ]
9...Be7 10.Ned5 Nf6
[ 10...b5!? ]
11.Be3
[ 11.Bg5 doesn't work now because of Nxd5
12.exd5 Bxg5 13.dxe6 fxe6∓ ]
11...0-0 Black has a good game. He threatens
b5-b4 while White has to be careful to both d5-
and e4- squares. 12.Bb6 Qd7 13.Bc4 Bd8
14.Nxf6+ Bxf6 15.Nd5 Bd8 16.Be3 Na5
17.Be2 Qc6 18.b3 Bxd5 19.exd5 Qc3+
20.Bd2 Qd4 21.Be3 Pilgaard,K (2440)-Nataf,I
(2546), 2007 Qc3+=
B32
Kalashnikov
6.c4
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5
5.Nb5 d6 6.c4
The possibility of this move makes the
difference between Sveshnikov and Kalashnikov
systems. White gets a solid control over the d5-
square, but, in the same time, his light-square
bishop becomes obstructed by this pawn.
6... Be7
Black makes a development move on the
kingside, waiting for White to occupy the c3-
square with the b1-knight. It is important to keep
8
the knight on g8 in order to have the f-pawn free
to advance on f5.
7.N1c3
[
1) 7.Be2 By this move, White keeps the
option to retreat the b5-knight on c3. The
drawback of this move is that Black can
After trading the bishop, Black will have more
control over the light-squares and the pawn-
thrust b7-b5 becomes stronger.
7... f5 the most aggressive reply. Black opens
the f-file for the rook and after the exchange of
the e4-pawn, he can hope again for the idea
a6, b5, followed by d6-d5.
A) 8.N1c3 a6 9.Na3 Nf6 Black's pressure
on e4 forces White to the following trade.
10.exf5 Bxf5 11.0-0 0-0 12.Nc2
White's g1-knight makes a long journey
(Ng1-f3-d4-b5-a3-c2-e3), but the objective,
the control over d5-square, compensate for
the lost time. 12... Rc8 13.Ne3 Be6
Black's bishop comes on e6 being ready to
trade white pieces on d5. Because Black
threatens Nc6-d4-xe2, followed by the
thematic b7-b5, or exchanges on d5, White's
next move is the only good:
A1) 14.Ned5 is not good because after
Nd4, the exchanges on d5 will force White
to take with the pawn. 14... Nd4 15.Be3
Nxe2+ 16.Qxe2 Nxd5 17.Nxd5 Bxd5
18.cxd5 Bg5³ The only weak pawn in this
position is White's d5. Stisis,Y-Milov,V,
1992 ;
A2) 14.b3 Nd4 15.Bb2 b5!? 16.Bd3
( Black gets a strong intiative after:
16.cxb5 d5 17.bxa6 Nxe2+ 18.Nxe2
d4 ) 16...bxc4 17.bxc4 Qa5 18.Ne4
Nxe4 19.Bxe4 Nf5 20.Nxf5 Bxf5
½-½ Dervishi,E (2513)-Belkhodja,S (2497),
2002 ;
A3) 14.Bf3 b5! 15.cxb5 axb5 16.Bd5
( 16.Nxb5 d5!∓ Black's mobile center is
very strong and it is worth much more than
the 2 White's queenside pawns. )
16...Nxd5 17.Nexd5 b4³ Black has the

upper-hand: the 2 bishops, pressure on
the f-file and the threatening center.
18.Nb5 ( 18.Nxe7+ Qxe7 19.Nd5 Qb7∓
followed by Nd4. ) 18...Bh4 19.Be3 Qa5
( Black can free his d-pawn by: 19...Ne7!?
20.Nxb4 Nf5 21.Nd5 Nxe3 22.Nxe3
d5ƒ ) 20.a4 bxa3 21.Nbc3 Qd8 22.Rxa3
Ne7÷ Savon,V (2460)-Sveshnikov,E
(2540), 1991 ;
B) 8.exf5
Bxf5
B1) 9.Bg4 a good strategical trade for
White, but Black gains important tempi for
development: 9... Bxg4 10.Qxg4 Nf6
11.Qd1 ( 11.Qxg7 Rg8 is very good for
Black ) 11...0-0 12.0-0 Rc8 13.Be3 d5
14.cxd5 Nxd5³ ;
B2) 9.0-0 Nf6 10.Be3 ( 10.f4 Be6
11.Be3 0-0 12.f5 Bf7= ) 10...0-0 11.N1c3
a6 12.Na3 Qe8 13.Nd5 Qg6 14.Nxf6+
Qxf6 15.Nb1 Nd4 16.Nc3 Nxe2+
17.Qxe2 Qg6 18.Rad1 Rae8 19.f3 Kh8
½-½ Lutz,C (2555)-Kramnik,V (2775),
1996 ;
B3) 9.Bg5 a6! solving the tension at once.
The black king will come out on e7, but
first of all, White cannot attack him and,
secondly, Black can exchange the queens
by Qb6-d4. 10.Bxe7 Kxe7 11.N5c3 Nf6
12.0-0 Qb6 13.Qd2 ( 13.b3 Rhd8
14.Bd3 Be6 15.Be4 Qd4÷
Leko,P-Kramnik,V, 1995 ) 13...h6!
against Qg5. The position is balanced.
The game continued: 14.Na3 Qd4
15.Rad1 Qxd2 16.Rxd2 Nd4 17.Re1
Nxe2+ 18.Rexe2 Rac8 19.f4 Ke6
20.Nd5 Rhe8 21.Re3 Rc6 22.fxe5 dxe5
23.Rde2 e4 24.Nxf6?! gxf6 25.Rd2 Rd6
26.Rxd6+ Kxd6 27.Nb1 Ke5 28.Kf2 Be6
29.Nd2 f5 30.g3 Rd8 31.Ke2 Bf7
32.Rb3 b5 33.Ra3 f4 34.gxf4+ Kxf4
35.Rh3 Be6 36.Rh4+ Bg4+-+
Shabtai,R (2350)-Milov,V (2500), 1993 ]
[ Be6 16.Kb2 Rad8 17.Re1 e4∓
2) 7.b3 White wants to avoid the trade of dark-
square bishops by Bb2 or Ba3.
7... f5
9
A) 8.exf5 Bxf5 9.Bd3 e4 10.Be2 a6
11.N5c3 Bf6 12.Bb2 ( 12.a3 e3!∓ )
12...Be5 13.Qd2 Nf6 14.Na3 Istratescu,A
(2615)-Fedorov,A (2617), 2006 0-0 15.0-0
Nd4³ ;
B) 8.N5c3 Nf6 9.Bd3 f4 10.Nd5 0-0
11.Nbc3 Be6 12.Bb2 Nd4³ Agopov,M
(2398) - Moiseenko,A (2419), 1999 ;
C) 8.Nd2 Nf6 9.Bd3 f4 10.Bb2 0-0÷
Black has superiority on the kingside.
Ponomariov,R (2585) - Degraeve,J (2580),
1998 ;
D) 8.Ba3
After 8.Ba3, White threatens the d6-pawn,
but Black has excellent resources due to his
better development:
Nf6
D1) 9.Bxd6 Nxe4 10.Nc7+ ( 10.Bxe7
Qxd1+ 11.Kxd1 Kxe7 12.Ke1 Be6
13.N1c3 Nxc3 14.Nxc3 Rhd8 15.Be2 e4
16.g4 g6 17.gxf5 gxf5 18.Rg1 Kf6
19.Rd1 Nb4 20.Rd2 a6 21.Nd1 Ke5∓
Schneider,D (2358)-Shabalov,A (2566),
1999 ) 10...Kf7∓ Gontcharova,O (2108)-
Zvereva,M (2254), 2000 ;
D2) 9.exf5 Bxf5 10.Be2 ( 10.Nxd6+
Bxd6 11.Bxd6 Nd4-+ ; 10.Bxd6 Nd4
11.Bxe7 Qxe7 12.Bd3 Qb4+∓ ) 10...a6
11.Nxd6+ Bxd6 12.Qxd6 Qxd6 13.Bxd6
0-0-0 14.c5 Ne4 15.Nd2 Nxd6 16.cxd6
Rxd6 17.Rc1 Kb8 18.Nc4 Rd4
½-½ Kutuzovic,B (2432)-Fercec,N (2464)/
Bled 2000/CBM 075 ext ;
D3) 9.N1c3 0-0 10.Bxd6 ( 10.Nd5 Nxd5
11.Qxd5+ Kh8÷ ) 10...a6 11.Bxe7 Qxe7
12.Nd6 fxe4 13.c5 Be6 14.Bc4 Rad8
15.0-0 b6 16.Bxe6+ Qxe6÷ Gelfand,B
(2681)-Tregubov,P (2620), 2000 ;
D4) 9.Nxd6+
Bxd6 10.Qxd6 Nd4 11.Qxd8+ ( 11.Kd1
Nxe4 12.Qxe5+ Kf7∓ Mannion,S (2370)-
Shaw,J (2478), 2001 ) 11...Kxd8 12.Kd2
Nxe4+ 13.Kc1 Nxf2 14.Rg1 Kc7 15.Nc3
Jedryczka,K (2334)-Moiseenko,A (2501),
1999 ]
[

3) 7.Bd3 a6 8.N5c3 Bg5 The exchange of
dark-square bishops is one of Black's
objectives in Kalashnikov. After this, the d4-
square will become very strong for the black
knights.
A) 9.Na3 Bxc1 10.Rxc1 Qg5 11.0-0
Nge7 12.Nc2 0-0 13.Re1 ( 13.Ne3 Be6
14.Kh1 Rad8 15.Ncd5 h5 16.g3 h4 17.f4
Qh6 18.Ng4 Bxg4 19.Qxg4 hxg3 20.Qxg3
exf4 21.Nxf4 Ne5³ Rytshagov,M (2465) -
Radjabov,T (2656), 2004 ) 13...Be6 14.Bf1
Rad8 15.b4 f5 16.b5 Nb8 17.exf5 Nxf5
18.Nd5 Nd7 19.f4 Leko,P (2745)-Fedorov,
A (2575), 2001 Qg6= ;
B) 9.Nd2 trying to avoid the exchange.
However, the white knights has no the best
position there. Nf6 ( 9...Nge7 with the idea
Ng6-f4 is also interesting. ) 10.0-0 ( 10.Nf1
Bxc1 11.Rxc1 0-0 12.Ne3 Be6 13.0-0
Rc8 14.a3 Nd7 15.b4 a5 16.Qb3 axb4
17.axb4 Qb6 18.Rb1 Nd4÷ Nijboer,F
(2605)-Van der Wiel,J (2525), 1997 ) 10...0-0
11.b3 ( 11.Nb3 Bxc1 12.Rxc1 Be6 13.Be2
Rc8 14.Re1 Na5 15.Nd5 Bxd5 16.exd5
Nxb3 17.Qxb3 Qc7 18.Qe3 a5 19.Rc3
Nd7= Apicella,M (2522)-Degraeve,J (2541),
2003 ) 11...Nd4 12.Bb2 Bg4
B1) 13.f3 Bd7 14.Kh1 b5 ( 14...Qa5!?³ )
15.Ne2 Ne6 16.b4 Qb6 17.cxb5 axb5
18.Nb1 Luther,T (2568)-Tregubov,P
(2628), 2001 Rfc8³ ;
B2) 13.Ne2 Bxe2 14.Bxe2 Bxd2
15.Bxd4 Nxe4 16.Bd3 exd4 17.Bxe4
Bc3 18.Rc1 Qc7 19.Qf3 Rab8 20.Rfd1
Rfe8∓ Kutuzovic,B (2395)-Ikonnikov,V
(2540), 1997 ]
7...a6 8.Na3 f5 9.exf5
[ 9.Bd3 f4! Black gets space and excellent
attacking chances on the kingside.
A) 10.g3?! trying to win a pawn is not good
for White. Black leaves the pawn and
continues the development:
10... Nf6! 11.gxf4 exf4 12.Bxf4 0-0
For the pawn, Black has a strong initiative,
control over d4, e5, g4 squares, f-file and
10
better development.
A1) 13.Qd2 Ng4 14.Nd5 ( 14.Bg3
Nxf2-+ ) 14...Nce5 15.Be2 Bh4 16.Bg3
Nxf2∓ Qi Yisheng-Zhou Weiqi (2313),
2001 ;
A2) 13.Be2 Ng4 14.Bxg4 ( 14.Bg3
Nxf2!! 15.Qd5+ Kh8 16.Bxf2 Nb4
17.Qh5 Rxf2 18.Kxf2 Bh4+ 19.Kg2 g6
20.Qf3 Qg5+ 21.Kf1 Bh3+ 22.Qxh3
Rf8+ 23.Bf3 Qe3 24.Qxh4 Nd3 25.Nd5
Qxf3+ 26.Kg1 Nf2 27.Kf1 Qxh1+
28.Ke2 Qxa1 0-1 Nunn,J (2600)-Nataf,I
(2481), 1999 ) 14...Rxf4 15.Bxc8 Rxc8
16.Qd5+ Kh8 17.Ne2 Rf3 18.0-0 Qd7
19.Kh1 Rcf8 20.Ng3 Qh3 21.Qd2 Rxg3
0-1 Negi,D (2056)-Roy Chowdhury,S
(2418), 2007 ;
A3) 13.Rg1 Nxe4!∓ ;
A4) 13.Bg3 Be6! ( 13...Ng4 14.f4!
and White is okay ) 14.Nc2 Rc8
with the idea Ne5 and/or b7-b5 and Black
has a healthy compensation for the
sacrificed pawn. ;
B) 10.Nc2
Nh6! the best development for the knight in
this position. The f-file and d8-h4 diagonals
are left opened, while the knight can come
in an excellent attacking position by Nf7-g5.
11.b3 0-0 12.Nd5
( 12.Be2 Be6 13.Ba3 Rf6! 14.Nd5 Rg6
15.Nxe7+ Qxe7 16.Qxd6 Qh4 17.0-0-0
Qxf2 18.Bf3 Nf7÷ )
12...Bg5 13.Be2
( 13.Bb2 Be6 14.f3 Bh4+ 15.Kd2 Rc8
16.Qe2 Kh8 17.Rag1 b5ƒ Gunnarsson,J
(2366) - Nataf,I (2552), 2001 )
13...Be6 14.Bb2 Kh8 15.Qd3 Rc8 16.Bc3
b5 17.cxb5 Bxd5 18.exd5 Na7 19.Bd2
( 19.bxa6 Qc7 20.h4 Bf6 21.Qc4 Qb6
22.Qb4 Qxb4 23.Bxb4 Rxc2 24.Bd3
Rcc8∓ ) 19...e4!? ( 19...Nxb5 20.Bf3 Nf5³ )
20.Qxe4 Re8 ( 20...f3!? 21.gxf3 Re8
22.Qd3 Bxd2+ 23.Qxd2 Qf6 24.Rc1 Qxf3
25.Rf1 Nxb5 26.a4 Nc3∓ ) 21.Qd3 Nxb5
Fluvia Poyatos,J (2403)-Moiseenko,A
(2582), 2000 22.Rc1 Ng4! with the idea
Ne5 ]

9...Bxf5 10.Bd3
[In case of 10.Be2 , Black can simply play
10... Nd4 which interdicts Na3-c2 and also
with the threat Nxe2. 11.Bd3 Be6 12.Nc2
Nxc2+ 13.Qxc2 Nf6 ]
[ 18.Rd1 Ra4 19.Bd5 Nd4³ Sokolov,D (2409)-
10.Nc2 Nf6 11.Ne3 Be6 12.g3 ( 12.Bd3
leads to the main line ) 12...Nd4 13.Bg2 b5!
14.cxb5 axb5 15.Ncd5 Rc8 16.0-0 0-0
17.b3 Nxd5 18.Nxd5 Bg5= Zawadzka,J
(2371) - Nebolsina,V (2349), 2007 ]
10...Be6
Black keeps the important light-square bishop.
This will be exchanged only on d5 when White
is forced to take back with the c4-pawn. After
this exchange, Black has no more problems
with the light-squares and even a better pawn
structure.
11.0-0
[ 11.Nc2 Nf6 12.Ne3 ( 12.0-0 0-0
leads to the main line ) 12...0-0 13.Bf5
an interesting maneuver to exchange the
bishops, but which doesn't put problems: 13...
Bf7 14.0-0 Nd4 15.Bd3 Rc8 16.Ne2 b5
17.cxb5 Nxb5 18.Nf5 d5 19.Nxe7+ Qxe7³
Arnold,L (2360)-Ikonnikov,V (2549), 2002 ]
[ 13.b3 Qd7 14.Bb2
11.Qh5+ Bf7 12.Qh3 Nf6 13.0-0 ( 13.Nc2
Nd4! 14.Nxd4 exd4 15.Ne2 d5 16.cxd5
Villanueva,M (2000)-Amura,C (2350), 1998
Bb4+!∓ ) 13...Nd4 14.f4 Qd7 15.f5 0-0
16.Be3 Rac8÷ ]
[ 21.Qxe4 Qh5³ Voekler,B (2385)-Ikonnikov,V
11.Be4 White tries to change the light-square
bishops with any price (here tempi). Nf6
12.Bd5 Bf5 Black avoids the exchange again
and prepares to bring his knight on e7 after
Qd7 and Bd8. 13.Be3 Qd7 14.Nc2 Bd8
15.0-0 Ne7 16.Rc1 Rc8 17.Bg5 Nexd5
18.cxd5 0-0 19.a4 Bb6 20.Ne3 Bg6∓
Kudrin,S (2515)-Shabalov,A (2555), 1997 ]
11...Nf6 12.Nc2
[ 12.Bg5 0-0 13.Qb1
( 13.Nc2 leads to the main line ;
13.Bxf6 Rxf6 14.Nc2 Rh6 15.Ne3 Qd7÷ )
13...Kh8 14.Nc2 Nh5 15.Bd2 Nf4 16.Bxf4
11
Rxf4 17.Ne3 Rh4 18.Be4 Bg5÷ Wedberg,T
(2505)-Nataf,I (2527), 2001 ]
[
12.Ne4 0-0 13.Ng5 ( 13.Nxf6+ Rxf6 14.Be4
Qd7 15.Qd3 h6 16.Nc2 b5 17.cxb5 axb5
Tregubov,P (2636), 2004 ) 13...Bg4 14.Be2
Bxe2 15.Qxe2 Nd4 16.Qd3 h6 17.Nf3
Nxf3+ 18.Qxf3 d5 19.cxd5 Qxd5 20.Qxd5+
Nxd5 21.Nc4 e4³ Wallace,J (2370)-Saw,G
(2236), 2001 ]
[
12.Be3 0-0 13.Nd5 Rc8 14.Rc1 Kh8
15.Nb6 Rb8 16.Be2 Qe8 17.Nb1 Qg6÷
Sadvakasov,D (2611)-Lautier,J (2676), 2004 ]
12...0-0 13.Nd5
[ 13.Ne3 Qd7 14.Ned5 Rae8 15.Be3 ( 15.f4
Nd4 16.b3 Nxd5 17.Nxd5 Bxd5 18.cxd5 e4
19.Be2 Bf6 20.Bb2 Nf5 21.Bxf6 Rxf6
22.Bg4 Qb5∓ Genzling,A (2099)-Ikonnikov,V
(2556), 2004 ) 15...Bd8 16.Qc2 Kh8 17.Nxf6
gxf6 18.Qd2 Rg8÷ Bluvshtein,M (2525)-Nataf,
I (2583), 2005 ]
[
13.Bg5 Ng4! 14.Bxe7 Qxe7= ]
[
( 14.Nd5 Bd8 15.Nce3 Kh8 16.Kh1 Ne7
17.Nxf6 Rxf6 18.Qe2 Bb6 19.Nc2 Ng6÷ )
14...Bd8 15.Ne4
( 15.Ne3 Bb6 16.Qd2 Kh8 17.Rad1 Rad8
18.Bb1 Ba7 19.Qd3 Qf7 20.Ne4 Nxe4
(2542), 2003 )
15...Bb6 16.Ne3 Kh8 17.Ng5 Bg8 18.Qd2
Rad8 19.Rad1 Ng4 20.Nxg4 Qxg4 21.Be2
Qc8 22.h3 Qc7 23.Bd3 Qe7 24.Ne4 d5
25.cxd5 Bxd5 26.Qe2 Qh4³ Nijboer,F
(2574)-Tregubov,P (2626), 2002 ]
13...b5 14.b3 Kh8 15.Nce3 bxc4 16.Bxc4
Na5 17.Be2 Nc6 18.Bb2 Nxd5 19.Nxd5 Bg5
20.Bf3 Rc8 21.Bg4 Bxg4 22.Qxg4 Ne7=
Kasimdzhanov,R (2670)-Nataf,I (2564), 2005