Download PGN of September ’23 KID games
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Fianchetto Variation 6...c6 7.0-0 Bf5 8.b3 [E62]
Saraci, N - Yakkubboev, N went into the Fianchetto variation with 7...Bf5. White went for a safe line which does not bother Black too much, and after 11...b5 Black tried to apply some pressure on the queenside:
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Later the game was balanced but White started to trade all the pieces leaving his a pawn weak. In the rook endgame Black managed to get a passed pawn in the centre and won the game.
Fianchetto, Classical Variation 8.Qc2 Re8 9.Rd1 exd4 [E67]
Grigoryan, K - Ayats, G was also in the Fianchetto, but this time the Classical system and White went for the line with 8 Qc2:
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Black developed normally and managed to bring his knight to e4. After 17 Re3 the game become tactical and White managed to get an edge. Later in the endgame Black blundered and White won.
Karpov/Petrosian System 6.Be3 Na6 7.h3 e5 8.d5 [E73/93]
Yakkuboev, N - Amin, B was the Averbakh system where quickly went into less popular lines after 7.h3:
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Black started to use his Cavalry on both flanks but with 14 Nc4 White also activated his knight and it looked like he was taking hold of the initiative. Only for one move, though, as it changed sides after 17. exf5? Nf4! when Black managed to take control of the dark squares and open the game, exposing the White king in the centre. Black was easily winning but then made a blunder and the game was close to equal. In the end he went for a perpetual and White managed to escape.
Classical Variation Makagonov 5.h3 0-0 6.Be3 Nbd7 7.Nf3 e5 [E90]
Abdisalimov, A - Assaubayeva, B was a rare Classical line where after 7...e5 White decided to go for 8.Bd3:
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Then for a few moves Black gave chances to his opponent to go for d4-d5 and to bring the game to a more common position but White refused and finally Black took by 12....exd4. Black was doing well, advancing with both rook pawns as White at some point started to press on the d -file. This confused Black and after 22 f5 White already got a big edge. After some twists and turns White eventually managed to win the game
Classical Variation 5...Bg4 6.Be2 Bxf3 7.Bxf3 e5 [E90]
In Bluebaum, M - Van Foreest, J Black decided to go for 5...Bg4 even earlier. Before castling it has an additional idea compered to the other line, that is, 11...Bh6:
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This leads to a closed position where White is pushing for c4-c5 but Black is very solid. He even took control of the a-file later and was trying to use it to press for a win. After a long fight the game ended in a draw, however.
Classical Variation 7.0-0 Bg4 8.dxe5 [E94]
The game between two Brazilian GMs Mekhitarian, K - Fier, A featured the Classical system with 7...Bg4. White went for the less popular line with 8 dxe5 and it lead to a trade of a few minor pieces.
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Black was doing well up till a point but decided to play more passively and slowly White got a slight edge in the endgame. Later White managed to activate his knight, release his central pawns and later won the game.
Classical Variation 7.0-0 Bg4 8.d5 a5 9.h3 [E94]
Nepomniachtchi, I - Amin, B was in the same line as the previous game but White went for the more popular 8 d5:
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Already after 10 moves Black decided to open the game with 10...dxc5. Here he had to be very careful, and the innocent 14....Rf7 turned out to be a mistake which later led to a back rank problem. White quickly exposed that with 19.d6! and finished in style with 23 Qe4!
Classical Variation 7.0-0 Bg4 8.d5 a5 9.Be3 [E94]
Sargissian, G - Caruana, F was once again in the same 7....Bg4 line. The game followed the usual closed lines until Black went 12....Kh7:
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Even if this move looks strange a few moves later Black was perfectly fine without any problems. As in one of the previous games White was pushing for c4-c5 and Black took the a file and went for ...Bh6 at some point. White then made a huge mistake with 24 Nf3? and Black quickly got a big advantage which he soon used to win the game.
Till next month, Marian
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