Download PGN of January ’22 KID games
>> Previous Update >>
Classical Variation, Makagonov System 6.h3 e5 7.d5 a5 8.g4 [E90]
The first game, Lalith, B - Kotronias, V, was the Makagonov System with h3 and where White closes the center and goes for 8.g4:
             |
Black chose one of the main plans with ...Nfd7 but after this White got a big advantage with some simple moves and was even much better in the final position, where a draw was agreed.
Classical Variation, Petrosian System 7.d5 a5 8.Bg5 Na6 9.Nd2 [E92]
Game 2, Soumya, S - Kozul, Z, showed some classical ideas in the Petrosian System. Even if White deviated with 11.Be3 N still Black went 11...h5 and 12...Nh7 preparing ...f5:
|
|
White had to play 13.g4 and then Black managed to trade the dark-squared bishops and get a winning position, but later only drew.
Classical Variation 7...exd4 8.Nxd4 Re8 9.f3 c6 [E94]
In game 3, Giri, A - Chigaev, M, there was another departure from the Mainline classical with 7...exd4. Later, instead of 10.Kh1 White played the line with 10.Bg5 which is rare but hinders ...d6-d5:
|
|
After two more moves Black found the novelty 11...Nxe4, which led to strange complications. Eventually White was a pawn up but Black had compensation. After a long battle White won.
Classical Variation 7...exd4, Glek's line 9...Nc6 10.Be3 Nh5 11.Qd2 Nf4 [E94]
Korobov, A - Lagarde, M was in the same variation but Black played Glek's 9...Nc6. Then both players followed one of the main lines where Black continues with 10...Nh5 and 11...Nf4:
|
|
A few minor pieces were traded and then White played the new move 16.Rad1. White had the initiative but missed e4-e5 which would give Black a hard choice: whether to take the pawn and open the diagonal or allow a passed pawn. In the end it was a draw.
Classical Variation 7...Na6 8.Re1 c6 9.Be3 Qe7 [E94]
Cheparinov, I - Firouja, A featured the classical with 7...Na6, but where Black opted for the rare 9...Qe7 as he was following an earlier game of Cheparinov.
|
|
However, White had an edge and managed to keep it until the end when suddenly he agreed to a draw in a much better position.
Classical Variation, Bayonet Attack 9...Nh5 10.Re1 a5 [E97]
Zatonskih, A - Lagno, K was in one of the main lines in the Bayonet Attack where Black replied to 9.b4 with 9...Nh5 and 10...a5. At some point, after the standard 13.Nd2, Black suddenly went 13...b6:
|
|
Probably White should have have taken on h5 here, but when she didn't Black managed to trade the knight for the bishop anyway and with the common idea ...c7-c5 took hold of the initiative and won the game.
Classical Variation, Bayonet Attack 9...Nh5 10.Re1 Nf4 11.Bxf4 [E97]
Sargissian, G - Murzin, V was in the same line but Black preferred 10...Nh5 and 11...Nf4, but now White captured with 11.Bxf4 instead of the more popular 11.Bf1, leading to the following position:
|
|
After this Black decided to trade his dark-squared bishop by 14...Bxd4 instead of 14...Ng6 which is much better. Then he made another mistake and White gained a big advantage and went on to win quickly.
Classical Variation 6...b6 [E99]
Gukesh, D - Theodorou, N featured an extremely rare line with 6...b6 which the Greek GM Theodorou had already played 3 times in this tournament.
|
|
After this White played some normal moves, but surprisingly after ten more moves the game transposed into one of the lines in the Mar del Plata Variation! With the very common idea 19...g3 and then 25...Nh5 Black grabbed the initiative and had a winning position but later messed the advantage and even lost the game.
Till next month, Marian
>> Previous Update >>
Don't hesitate to share your thoughts and suggestions. Any queries or comments to the KID Forum, or to me directly at support@chesspublishing.com (subscribers only) would be welcome.