Opening for White According to Anand 1.e4, Volume 11 (Repertoire Books)

445 Pages·2009·32.53 MB·English

by  Alexander Khalifman

Open-ng
forWhite
accord-ng
Editorial Panel: GM M.Makarov, GM R.Ovetchkin
1M S.Klimov, 1M I.Smikovski
1M S.Soloviov, S.Pligin
Technical Editor: 1M Semko Semkov
Translation by: GM Evgeny Ermenkov
Author Khalifman's photograph by Elisabeth Karnazes
Cover design by Kalojan Nachev
Copyright © Alexander Khalifman 2009
Printed in Bulgaria by "Chess Stars" Ltd. -Sofia
ISBN13: 978 954 8782 69-2
Opening for White According to
Anand 1.e4
Book XI
1.e4 c5 2.lLlf3 lLlc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.lLlxd4 g6 5.lLlc3
Accelerated Dragon
1.e4 c5 2.lLlf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.lLlxd4lLlf6 5.lLlc3
g66.Ae3
Dragon Variation
Alexander Khalifman
14th World Chess Champion
Bibliography
Easy Guide to the Dragon by M.Golubev, Everyman Chess 1999
Chess Openings for Black, Explained by L.Alburt, R.Dzindzichashvili,
& E.Perelshteyn, Chess Information and Research Center 2006
The Accelerated Dragon by AGreet, Everyman Chess 2008
Other CHESS STARS Books
Repertoire books:
Opening for White According to Kramnik 1.liJf3 by A Khalifman
Volume la: Old Indian, rare lines in the Classical Variation, 2006
Volume Ib: The Classical Variation, 2006
Volume 2: Anti-Nun-Ind, Anti-Queen's Indian, English, Knight Tango, 2008
Volume 3: Maroczy, English (l. .. c5), Modem, Dutch
Volume 4: Queen's Gambit Accepted, Slav, Semi-Slav
Volume 5: Queen's Gambit Declined
Opening for White According to Anand 1.e4 by A Khalifman
Volume 6: The French Defence 3.ltJc3 dxe4, 3 ... ltJf6, 2006
Volume 7: The French Defence 3.ltJc3 .Ab4, 2006
Volume 8: The Sicilian, Paulsen-Kan and rare lines, 2006
Volume 9: The Sicilian, Paulsen-Taimanov and other lines, 2007
Volume 10: The Sicilian, Svesbnikov, 2007
Opening for Black According to Karpov by Khalifman
Current theory and practice series:
Challenging the Sicilian with 2.a3! by Bezgodov, 2004
An Expert's Guide to the 7.Bc4 Gruenfeld by Sakaev, 2006
The Sharpest Sicilian by Kiril Georgiev and At Kolev, 2007
The Safest Sicilian by Delchev and Semkov, 2nd rev.ed. 2008
The Queen's Gambit Accepted by Sakaev and Semkov, 3rd. rev. ed., 2008
The Easiest Sicilian by Kolev and Nedev, 2008
The Petrosian SystemAgainsttbe QID by Beliavsky and Mikhalchishin, 2008
Gamescollections
My One Hundred Best Games by Alexey Dreev, 2007
Bogoljubow. The Fate of a Chess Player by S. Soloviov, 2004
Super Tournaments 2003, 456 pages + colour photos
Super Tournaments 2002, 556 pages + colour photos
Shirov's 100 Wms by So1oviov316 p., interviews, biography, oolourpboms, 2003
Leko's 100 Wms by Soloviov 340 pages, biography, colour photos, 2003
More details at www.chess-stars.com
4
Contents
Preface .............................................. 6
Part 1. The Accelerated Dragon
1.e4 c5 V~~f3 ~c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.~xd4 g6 5.~c3
1 various; 5 ... Ag7 6.J.e3 various; 6 ... ~f6
7. . tc4without 7. .. d6, 7 ... YlYaS and 7. .. 0-0 ...................... 10
2 5 ... ig7 6.Ae3 ~f6 7 .. ic4 d6 8.f3 without 8 ..., td7. .......... 25
3 5 ... ig7 6.,te3 ~f6 7.,tc4 d6 8.f3 ,td7 ................. 46
4 5 ...i g7 6.,te3 ~f6 7. . tc4 1!iaS ............................ 73
5 5 ...i g7 6..te3 ~f6 7..tc4 0-0 8.,tb3 without 8 ... aS ......... 92
as ...................
6 5 ... ig7 6.J.e3 ~f6 7..tc4 0-0 8..tb3 124
Part 2. The Sicilian Dragon
1.e4 c5 2.~f3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.~xd4 ~f6 5.~c3 g6 6.Ae3
7 various without 6 .. .ig7 ..............................1 39
8 6 .. .ig7 7.f3 various without 7. .. ~c6 and 7 ... 0-0 .............1 50
9 6 .. .ig7 7.f3 ~c6 8.YlYd2 various without 8 .. id7 and 8 ... 0-0. ..1 67
10 6 .. .ig7 7.f3 ~c6 8.W1d2 J.d7 9.0-0-0 without 9 .. J:~c8 ........1 95
11 6 ... ig7 7.f3 ~c6 8.W1d2 id7 9.0-0-0 gc8 ..................2 24
12 6 ... ig77.f3 0-0 8.W1d2 various; 8 ... ~c6
9 .. tc4 various without 9 ... ~xd4, 9 ... W1aS and 9 ... ,td7 .........2 51
13 6 .. .ig77.f3 0-0 8.W1d2 ~c6 9..tc4 ~xd4 ..................2 69
14 6 .. .ig77.f3 0-0 8.W1d2 ~c69..tc4~d7 .......................2 88
15 6 .. .ig77.f3 0-0 8.W1d2 ~c6 9..tc4 ,td710.J.b3
various without 10 ... ~xd4, 10. .. YlYaS and 10 ... gc8. ...........3 00
16 6 ... ig77.f3 0-0 8.YlYd2 ~c6 9 .. tc4 .id7 10ib3 ~xd4 .........3 38
17 6 .. .ig77.f3 0-0 8.YlYd2 ~c6 9..tc4 ,td7 10ib3 YlYa5 .........3 48
18 6 ...i g77.f3 0-0 8.W1d2 ~c6 9 .. tc4 ,td7 10ib3 gc8
11.0-0-0 various without 11. .. ~e5 .....................3 66
19 6 .. .ig77.f3 0-0 8.ti'd2 ~c6 9.,tc4 ,td710..tb3 gc8
11.0-0-0 ~e5 1V;t.b1 without 12 ... ge8 and 12 ... ~c4 ......3 77
20 6 ... ig77.f3 0-0 S.W1d2 ~c6 9.,tc4 ,td7 10.,tb3 gc8
11.0-0-0 ~e512.~b1 geS. ...........................3 94
21 6 ...i g77.f3 0-0 S.W1d2 ~c6 9.,tc4 J.d710. . Ab3 gc8
11.0-0-0 ~e5 1v;t.b1 ~c4 13.,txc4 ~c4 14.g4 various ..... .408
22 6 ...i g77.f3 0-0 S.W1d2 ~c6 9..tc4 ,td7 lOib3 gcS
11.0-0-0 ~e512.~b1 ~c413.,txc4 ~c414.g4 b5 .......... .431
Index of Variations .................................. 440
_ !i
Preface
Dear readers,
You are holding in your hands book 11 from the series "Opening
for White According to Anand - 1.e4". We have analyzed in it different
modifications of the Dragon variation i.e. systems in the Sicilian De
fence in which Black fianchettoes his dark-squared bishop. In fact, the
Dragon variation is not just an opening system, it is quite original chess
philosophy. The point is that there has never been a single moment in
which the theoreticians (as well as the majority of the practical players,
though ... ) have considered it as 100% correct.
At first (Oh, yes, there were times like that. .. ) the entire Sicilian
Defence provoked a rather pessimistic attitude in general. Later this
evaluation changed gradually, but during the 30ies of the past century
the outstanding theoretician Vsevolod Rauzer suggested a plan of de
velopment for White connected with the set-up .ie3, £3, YllId2, followed
by castling long and a direct attack against Black's monarch. The evalu
ation of this system has not changed much since then. . .Is this system
correct for Black? It might be, but it is terribly risky for him. Small
wonder that since then the leading grandmasters in the world do not
like playing the Dragon too often. Naturally, there have always been
several non-conformists, prepared to face the danger; nevertheless the
Dragon has never been popular at the highest level. On the other hand,
it has always had numerous adherents among the chess fans and in
correspondence games.
All this can be easily explained: Black's strategical concept is quite
simple and it practically does not depend on the nuances in White's
set-up. The bishop on g7 and the semi-open c-file provide Black with
chances of active counterplay practically always. White can fight for a
real advantage only by entering sharp lines with opposite sides castling
and· that is not to everyone's liking. This makes the great difference
between the Dragon and the other Sicilian systems.
In this book we have analyzed the sharp variations, which have al
ways been the focus of White's ambitions to refute the Dragon in a con
crete and swift fashion (following the famous thesis of Robert Fischer:
h2-h4-h5 and a checkmate ... ). We do not assert that the Dragon has
6
been refuted, but we are practically convinced that Black has great
problems to solve in all the variations and the players for the White
side, who have studied this book thoroughly will be completely pre
pared to face all possible intricacies of this opening system.
In the first part of the book we have dealt with the Accelerated
Dragon, this is the order of moves 2 ... ~c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.~xd4 g6. We
should mention here that by playing like this Black allows his opponent
to enter the rather unpleasant Maroczy system (5.c4), in which Black's
prospects of creating active counterplay are just minimal in compari
son to the classical Dragon variation. I would recommend book 3a of
the series "Opening for White According to Kramnik - 1.~f3" to play
ers who are interested in the correct treatment of the Maroczy system.
In this book we have analyzed the more aggressive plan 5.~c3 ig7
6.J.e3 ~f6 7.J.c4 (Yugoslav Accelerated Dragon), which usually leads
to the main lines of the Yugoslav Attack in the Dragon variation. Black
has some options to avoid similar developments and he can even force
White to castle short in some variations. Still, all this is usually con
nected with a loss of tempi for him, or positional concessions and Black
fails to solve his opening problems in this fashion as a rule.
In the second part of the book we have dealt with the main lines
of the Dragon variation, that is the order of moves 2 ... d6 3.d4 cxd4
4.~xd4 ~f6 5.~c3 g6. We recommend to White to play 6.J.e3 J.g7 7.f3
0-0 (We have also analyzed some relatively modern lines connected
with 7. .. a6.) 8."ffd2 ~c6 9.J.c4. Our task has become more complex
lately, because at the beginning of the year 2008 the Dragon variation
attracted the attention of the Norwegian genius Magnus Carlsen and
there have appeared numerous interesting games every month since.
We hope that even in the most fashionable lines, some of which we
have had to add to the book almost in an on-line regime, we have suc
ceeded in pointing out the most promising concepts for White.
A.Khalifman
14th World Chess Champion
Partl
1.e4 c5 2.~f3 ~c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.~xd4 g6
5.~c3 This position is reached prac
The majority of the adherents tically unavoidably if Black plays
to the Dragon variation dislike the Dragon variation with 2. ..
presenting White with the addi ~c6.
tional possibility of playing the White fails to arrange his
Maroczy system with the move pieces comfortably, analogously
5.c4 and they prefer to enter the to the variations in Part 2 (£3, 1Yd2
variation with the move-order and only then if necessary - .lc4).
with 2. .. d6. In case of 7.£3, Black replies
5 ••• .tg7 6 •. le3 ~f6 with 7 ... 0-0 and he will counter
Black could have avoided 8.Wd2 will 8 ... dS, while if White
playing these logical developing covers this square with 8 .. tc4,
moves, now or on the previous then Black has the resource 8 ...
move, but this would not have 1Yb6!
brought him anything promising 7 ••• 0-0
at all (see Chapter 1). After 7. .. d6 8.£3 0-0 9.ti'd2,
7..lc4 Black can transpose to the varia-
tions from Part 2, but it is even
more principled for him to follow
with 8 .... id7, with the idea to orga
nize swift queenside counterplay
(see Chapter 3). The other rarely
played alternatives for Black are
analyzed in Chapter 2.
If he plays 7 ... \WaS (Chapter
4), Black forces his opponent to
castle short (White's e4-pawn is
banging and he has no other com
fortable way of protecting it, for most principled move for Black
example: 8.\Wd2? c!Llxe4; 8.£3 ~b4 (Chapter 6).
9 .. ib3 c!Llxe4). Still, after 8.0-0 After 8 ... d6 9.£3, the game
0-0 9.c!Llb3! Black has numerous transposes most often to the nor
problems to worry about. mal Dragon variation. About the
8 .. lb3 ways for Black to avoid this, as
(diagram) well as about the seldom played
8 ••• aS lines for him on move eight - see
This is the strongest and the Chapter 5.
Chapterl l.e4 c5 2.~f3 ~c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.~xd4
g65.~c3
6 ... WaS 7.~b3 Wd8 8.£3 .tg7
9.'9"d2 or 7. .. Wc7 8.£3.tg7 9.Wd2
-seelinea;
6 ... dS? - Black is still not well
prepared for active actions in the
centre. 7 .. tbS .Ad7 8.exdS ~b4
9 .. tc4 WaS 10.~b3 Wc7, Noguera
Navarro - Caballero Suarez,
Aragon 1997, 1l.~c5+-;
6 ... e5? - This move weakens
the important dS and d6-squares
5 •• ..tg7 and it does not combine well with
S. .. d6 6.ie3 ~h6?! (About 6 ... 4 ... g6. 7.~dbS .tb4 (Black loses
ig77.Wd2 - see S. ..i g7; 6 ... ~f6- after 7. .. d6 8 .. tgS l3b8 9.~dS+­
see Chapter 7; 6 .... td7 7.'9"d2 ig7 muukki - Hossa, Internet 1998;
8.0-0-0 - see line b; 6 ... a6 7.Wd2 it would hardly be better for him
ig7 8.0-0-0 - see line b; 7. .. ~f6 to try instead 7 ... a6 8.~d6+ .txd6
8.£3 - see variation b in Chapter 9.Wxd6±, since his dark squares
7.) - Black needs now plenty of are practically defenceless,
time to activate this knight. 7.h3 Gonzalez Roca - Vivas Peletei
f5 8.Wd2 ~fl, M.Davydov - Hev ro, Vilagarcia de Arousa 2006.)
endehl, Potsdam 1997, White can 8.~d6+ me7, Lorinc - Ouellette,
continue here with 9.exfS gxf5 Email 1995, White can continue
1O.f4 ig7 1l.0-0-0± and he ex here with 9.a3! .txd61O.igS± and
erts powerful pressure along the he regains unavoidably his piece
central files. with a great lead in development;
S. .. ~f6 (This position is usu 6 ... ~xd4?! 7..txd4 .tg7, Vo
ally reached after 4 ... ~f6 S.~c3 Thuy - Phan Bui Nhat, Phu Dong
g6) 6 .. te3 and now: 2004 (In answer to 7. .. d6, Abra
6 ... d6 7.£3 - see Chapter 7, ham - Prosch, Hamburg 1999,
variation a; White can try 8 .. tbS+.Ad7 9 .. txf6
10