Sicilian Defense: Najdorf variation with English attack. Sicilian defense. Najdorf Variation What is this variant?

Option 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4

In the game Jopen - Bronstein there were: 8. Nb3 Qe3+ 9. Qe2 Q:e2+ 10. B:e2 Kbd7 11. a4 Ce7 12. 0-0-0 h6 13. Ch4 e5 14. f5 b6 with equal play. Bronstein managed to win the game, but the decision to exchange queens cannot be considered successful. If Black refuses to exchange, then the plan with the move 8. Kb3 does little for whites. Despite the fact that this continuation is still encountered in tournament practice, its assessment as non-dangerous for Black has not changed.

A double-edged continuation turned out to be more promising 8. Qd2 Q:b2, the primary source of which is considered to be the Nezhmetdinov-Shcherbakov party: 9. Kb3 Kc6 10. Cd3 d5 11. C:f6 gf 12. Ka4 Qa3 13. Kb6 Kd4 14. Kf1 K:b3 15. cb Rb8 16. ed Qb4 17. Q:b4 C:b4 18. Rc1 0-0 with approximately equal chances.

This game, like the plan with the move 9. Kb3 remained in the shadows for 18 years until the match Spassky - Fischer (Reykjavik), when the move 7...Qb6 experienced his second birth. But then everyone was carried away by the “false trail”: 8. Qd2 Q:b2 9. Rb1 Qa3 10. e5!?- a plan that was first encountered in the game Tolush - Furman.

In subsequent years, the position after 10. e5 de 11. fe Kfd7 attracted everyone's attention. Many games have been played and a huge number of analyzes have been published. But in the end we came to the conclusion that the continuation 12. Cc4 Cb4 13. Rb3 Qa5 leads to a roughly equal game. Currently available with 7…Qb6 the main sequels are 8. Qd2 Q:b2 9. Kb3 And 9. Rb1 Qa3 10. f5(or 10. Ce2).

At first it was not at all easy for Black to fight the move 7. f4. Tartakower noted it as a "sensation option" of 1954.

However, Black soon learned to put up a “wall”: 7…Ce7 8. Qf3 Qc7 9. 0-0-0 Kbd7. This system is still the main one in the Najdorf version.

Black's failures associated with the first experience of using defense systems with 7…Qb6 and 7…Be7, strengthened the authority of the sequel 7. f4. Black began to look for a way out in schemes with 7…Fs7 And 7…b5(Polugaevsky's version). In addition, Polugaevsky developed a sequel in detail 7…Kbd7 with the idea of ​​saving pace on the move 7…Ce7 for the fastest implementation of software b7-b5.

Option 6. CC4

Bringing the elephant to c4 has a pronounced aggressive character. White plans to use the pawn after short castling f as a battering ram to destroy enemy positions. However, the elephant's position is c4 more vulnerable than g5, and White is forced to waste time on his retreat to b3 or (after preliminary a2-a3) on a2. This reduces the effectiveness of this plan, and surges in its popularity are associated with occasional finds for White. The option with a pawn sacrifice is relevant: 6. Bc4 e6 7. Cb3 b5 8. 0-0 Ce7 9. f4 0-0 10. e5 de 11. fe Kfd7 12. Ce3 K:e5 13. Qh5.

Positional methods of fighting: 6. Be2, 6. f4, 6. g3, 6.h3

There have never been the same discussions around these continuations as there have been about systems 6. Cg5 And 6. Cc4. Here there was a gradual accumulation of knowledge, a deep and comprehensive practical test. Therefore, in the seventy-year history of these variants, it is difficult to identify important stages of evolution.

Recently, the popularity of the sequel has increased significantly 6. Ce2, where Geller managed to find a number of new attractive ideas. The fact that the reliability of the system also played a role 7…Qb6 significantly reduced the attractive power of the lunge 6. Cg5. However, the popularity of the move 6. Ce2 passed its peak, as Black found the right defense plan. More followers are on the way 6. f4, as well as a simple and reliable continuation 6. g3.

In chess by email in 2011, there was a peak in the popularity of the move 6. h3, which provides White with a small, stable advantage and ample opportunities to fight in an attacking manner. In the strongest ICCF and RAZSH tournaments, and on the Internet platforms ficgs.com, chess-online.ru and bestlogic.ru, this continuation takes 3rd place in popularity after 6. Be3 And 6. f3

Options 6. Ce3 and 6. a4

Practice active use of the move 6. Ce3 dates back about 30 years. The main position occurs after 6…e5 7. Kb3 Ce6 8. Qd2 Kbd7 9. f3 b5 10. a4 b4 11. Kd5 C:d5 12. ed Kb6 13. C:b6 Q:b6 14. a5 Qb7 15. Cc4 Ce7. This double-edged position, despite solid practice, needs further research.

Idea of ​​the move 6. a4 is the desire to save pace (compared to 6. Ce3) when 6…e5 7. Kf3 Qc7 8. Cg5 Kbd7 9. Kd2 h6 10. Ch4 g5 11. Cg3 Kc5 12. Qf3 Ce7 13. Cc4. However, the weaknesses of the move 6. a4 can be opened by 6…Ks6 or by moving to the Dragon Variation, where the weakening of White’s queenside is sensitive.

Literature

• Lepeshkin V. F. Sicilian defense. Najdorf's version.. - M.: Physical culture and sport, 1985. - 256 p.

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See what the “Najdorf Variation” is in other dictionaries:

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Najdorf M.

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Books

• Fischer vs. Najdorf. Sicilian Defense, Oleg Vladimirovich Stetsko, Variation of the Sicilian Defense 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 c x d4 4. N x d4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bc4 is named after the Russian master Sozin, who introduced it into tournament practice in 1929. But the main thing... Category: Sports Series: (954-) Publisher: Russian Chess House - Russian Chess House, Manufacturer:

MG Nayer

SICILIAN DEFENSE. NEIDORF VARIATION

Today's lecture will be devoted to the Najdorf variation in the Sicilian Defense, which arises after the moves:

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cd 4. N:d4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 .

A little about the history of the variant and the people who made the greatest contribution to its development. Move 5...a6 was actively used in the 1930s by such chess players as Alatortsev, Bogolyubov, but it received its recognition and real popularity in the 50s, when the famous Argentine grandmaster Miguel Najdorf, and then many leading grandmasters of that time, began to regularly use and study it. The correctness and reasonableness of using the option is evidenced by the fact that it was the main one in the work of such brilliant chess players as Robert Fischer and Garry Kasparov. Nowadays, the Najdorf Variation for Black is included in the opening repertoire of almost all “elite” grandmasters.

About the ideological component of the option. At first glance, the move 5...a6 looks a little mysterious, because in this way the black pieces do not develop and do not fight for the center, which is usually the primary task in the opening. But as tournament practice has shown, in the Sicilian the move a6 is useful in the vast majority of cases, covering an important square and preparing an attack on the queenside by b5. White has a variety of answers that he chooses depending on his opening preferences and the state of his opening theory. Continuations such as 6. Be2, 6. Be3, 6. Bg5 6. Bc4 can be compared to entire openings in terms of information volume! In today's lecture we will look at the first 2 continuations.

6. Ce2 - a modest positional continuation, which was usually preferred by players trying to get away from forced paths - has now been overgrown with a voluminous and, in some places, extremely specific theory. Black has 2 options: either switch to the Scheveningen rails by 6...e6, which was regularly tested in the 2nd match between Karpov and Kasparov, or the more fashionable these days 6...e5. In my opinion, 6…e5 is more unpleasant for White; it is becoming more and more difficult for him to find promising paths here.

Of course, within the framework of one lecture, it will not be possible to consider the option called “move within a move,” so we will try to consider some important games played by top-class chess players and trace the ideas characteristic of our version.

Vasily Ivanchuk - Sergey Karyakin
Sicilian Defense B92 Comments by Maxim Notkin

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.Be3 Be6 10.Qd2 Nbd7 11.a4 Qc7 12.Rfd1 Rac8 13.a5 Nc5 14.Nxc5 dxc5 15.Qe1 Rfd8 16.Rxd8+ Rxd8

17. f3. In the game of the last Eurocup, Vasily did not find ways to gain an advantage - 17.Kрh1 Qc6 18.f3 c4 19.Bf1 Kрf8 20.Na4 Nd7 21.Qc3 Rc8 22.Qd2 Rd8 23.Qc3 Rc8 24.Qd2 Rd8, and a draw by repeating the moves ( Ivanchuk – Van Wely, Kallithea 2008).

17..c4. The value of this pawn move is clearly visible in the example of the blitz game Ponomarev – Alekseev, Moscow 2008, which lasted 17...Qc6 18.Na4 Nd7 19.c4! Nf8 20.Nb6 f6 21.Nd5 with an obvious advantage for White. Black, of course, is not afraid of the Bb6 attack, since the white king remains on g1, and he has check with the bishop from c5. As we saw, in the previous match Vasily took the king away from a dangerous diagonal, but Luke is no slouch, and did the same with his queen in time.

18.Ka4 Nd7 19.Qc3. In the game Naiditsch - Pashikyan, Moscow 2008, White played without a clear plan and got nothing after 19.h3 Qc6 20.Kh2 Kpf8 21.Bd2 Nc5 22.Nb6 Nd7 23.Be3 Nxb6 24.Bxb6 Rc8.

19...f6. Sergei does not consider it necessary to prevent the movement of the b2 pawn. And probably in vain. Moreover, for this he had at his disposal quite natural continuations 19...Qc6 or 19...Rc8.

20.b3. This move baffles me. After all, Ivanchuk could have immediately played 20.b4, but for some reason he needed to lure the opponent’s rook to c8. Moreover, the combination started on move 23, with the rook on d8, would not even be a combination, but a simple tactical strike leading to an immediate victory. Yes, but then Karjakin would not have allowed her (him). As it was, he probably assessed the consequences of the operation as unclear or favorable for himself and therefore did not again hinder the movement of the b-pawn. And Ivanchuk, it turns out, calculated all this psychology, and, correctly assessing the chess component, dragged his opponent into unfavorable complications.

20...Rc8 21.b4 Qc6 22.Qa3 f5. Here, therefore, Black had the opportunity to take the bishop to a protected square and see what strategic ideas his opponent had. This is wild, of course, because in such situations it is White who must take care that the bishop does not harm his queen, but the usual rules do not apply to this game.

After 22...Bf8 White could think of 23.c3 with the cumbersome but interesting idea of ​​capturing the d-file by Rd1-d2, Qa1-d1. Or about the more straightforward 23.Rd1 with the intention of Nc3-d5. True, in this case, after 23...Qb5 the rook would have to be returned to defend the b4 pawn - 24.Rb1, but in the future the knight, by moving to c3, would regain the lost tempo.

23. b5! axb5 24.Fxe7 bxa4 25.Ld1 TOf8 26.Ld6 Le8! Continuation of the forced game. 26...Qe8 27.Qxe8 Rxe8 28.exf5 Bxf5 29.Bxc4+ Be6 30.Bb5 Ra8 31.a6 bxa6 32.Bxa4 is not good, and two bishops, the passed “c” and the weakness on a6 provide White with a clear advantage.

27.Rxc6 Rxe7 28.Bc5! Rd7? Surely during 28...Re8 Sergei was not happy with the fact that he was letting the white rook onto the 7th rank. And indeed, after 29.Rc7 (threatens exf5) 29...fxe4 30.Rxb7 (weaker than 30.fxe4 Ra8 31.Bb4 a3 32.Bxa3 Rxa5) 30...R a8 31.Rb5 Nd7 32.Ba3 Black’s problem is impossible considered decided, since White retained his trump card in the upcoming endgame fight - a distant passed pawn.

The trouble is that continuing in the game leads to much more serious difficulties. And the trick is that these are not at all the difficulties that catch your eye when you first look at the position!

29.Rb6! Ivanchuk refuses the obvious 29.Rxe6 Nxe6 30.Bxc4 Rd1+ 31.Kрf2 Rd2+ 32.Kрf1 Rxc2 33.Bxe6+ Kрh8. Black's rook is very active, and the a-pawn, with its support, can become dangerous. By moving in the game, White creates a threat to the bishop.

29...fxe4. Simple retreat 29...Bf7 after 30.a6! bxa6 31.Rb8 will lead to the loss of the knight and the loss of the game.

30.fxe4 c3. The black rook cannot be active yet. On 30...Rd2 comes another surprise – 31.Rxb7! Rxe2 32.a6, and the pawn is promoted to the queen.

31.Kрf2! Ivanchuk again refuses the obvious gain of material by 31.Bxf8 Kрxf8 32.Rxe6, since this would give Black serious counter chances due to the invasion of the rook on the 2nd rank. Moreover, Vasily is not tempted by the option 31.a6 bxa6 32.Rb8 Rf7 because here his king would be cut off along the “f” file. It is possible that White's position is very good even with the king on g1, since Black is firmly tied. But still, the quiet move of the king bears the stamp of true aristocracy.

31...Ca2. The bishop moved away from the battle so as not to interfere with the rook to occupy the f7 square. At the same time, he continues to control the a2-g8 diagonal. After 31...Rd2 32.a6 bxa6 33.Rb8 White, due to the threat of mate in one move, manages to both take the knight and defend against Bc4. The bottom line is an extra figure.

32. a6! bxa6 33.Lb8 Lf7+ 34. KRe3 g6 35.Сd6. It becomes clear that there is zugzwang on the board. Black has no useful moves, and will soon lose 4 pawns at once!

35...Rf6. 35...Kрg7 36.Bxe5+ Kрh6 37.Bxc3 leads to a slightly improved version of what happened in the game. There's still little consolation.

36.Ld8 a3 37.Сxa3 KRg7 38.Сd6 Lf7 39.Сxe5+ KRh6 40.Cxa6 TOe6 41.Lc8. The blacks surrendered.

Despite the huge variability of the different move orders used by White in the line with 6.Be2, it is the formation chosen by Vasily Ivanchuk with 9.Be3 and 10.Qd2 that can be considered the main one. So how should you respond to it? After all, the plan chosen by Karjakin is not that bad, it rather does not correspond to the spirit of the “Najdorf”, in which Black strives for active counterplay. I think that another plan, implemented in the next 2 games, not only promises Black a full game, but also gives a chance to seize the initiative in the future.

Jakovenko, Dmitrij (2742) - Carlsen, Magnus (2772)

Nanjing Pearl Spring 2nd, 01.10.2009

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 c:d4 4.K:d4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.0–0 0–0 9.Be3 Be6 10.Qd2 Nbd7 11.a4 Nb6 12.a5 Nc4 13.C:c4 B:c4 14.Rfd1 Rc8 15.f3 Rc6 16.Kh1 16...Qc8 17.Rac1 Rd8 18.Nd5 B:d5 21.f:e4 R:e4 22.c4 Re8 23.Bg1 Bf8 24.Nd4?! g6 25.Rf1 Bh6 26.Qf3 Rf4 27.Qd3 Ng4 28.Nf3? Rfe4 29.Rc3 Ne3 30.Re1 Qg4 31.Re2 Qh5 32.B:e3 R:e3 33.R:e3 B:e3? 34.Qe2 Qh6 35.c5! d:c5 36.d6 Re6! 37.d7 Bg5 38.Qd1Bd8 39.R:c5 Qf8 40.Rd5?! Qb4 41.b3 Re3 42.Nd2 Qc3 43.Nf3Qb4 44.Nd2 Qf4 45.Nf3 Rc3 46.Qe2 Qe3 47.Q:e3 R:e3 48.Rd4 Kf8 49.Rb4? Rd3! 50.R:b7 Rd1+ 51.Kg1 B:a5 52.g4 Ke7 53.Kg2 R:d7 54.R:d7+ K:d7 55.Kf3 Kd6 56.Ke4 Kc5 57.Kd3 Kd5 58.Nf3 Bd8 59.h3 h6 60.h4? h5! 61.g:h5 g:h5 62.Ke3 Kc5 63.Kd3 Kb4 0–1

Smeets, J (2669) - Giri, A (2677)

Schachbundesliga 2010–11 Emsdetten GER (5), 12/11/2010

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.0–0 0–0 9.Be3 Be6 10.Qd2 Nbd7 11.a4 Nb6 12.a5 Nc4 13.Bxc4 Bxc4 14.Rfd1 Rc8 15.Nc1 d5 16.Bb6 Qe8 17.Nxd5 Nxe4 18.Qe1 f5 19.Nxe7+ Qxe7 20.b3 Bf7 21.c4 Rfe8 22.Nd3 Bh5 23.f3 Ng5 24.Qf1 e4 2 5. Ne1 Rc6 26.Rd2 Rg6 27.fxe4 fxe4 28.Qf5 Rf8 29.Qd5+ Kрh8 30.h4 Nh3+ 31.Kh2 Qxh4 32.Qd8 Qg3+ 33.Kрh1 Rgf6 34.Nc2 h6 35.Bc7 Nf2+ 36.Kрg1 Q h4 0–1

9. Kрh1 is also common. White makes a useful move, without forcing events yet and intending to throw the “f-pawn” into battle in the near future. Black must play extremely carefully.

Stellwagen, Daniel (2585) - Cheparinov, Ivan (2640) [ B92]

Morelia op 2nd Morelia (6), 02/18/2007

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 c:d4 4.K:d4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.0–0 0–0 9.Kh1 Nc6

(The best move according to modern theory. Significantly less accurate is 9...Be6 due to 10.f4!, and 9...b5 due to 10.a4!)

10.f4 b5 11.a4 b4 12.Nd5 N:e4 13.Bf3 f5 14.N:e7+ N:e7 15.f:e5 d:e5 16.Q:d8 R:d8 17.B:e4 (Perhaps critical moment for assessing the opening plans of the partners. More interesting was 17. Nс5 trying to use the unpleasant pin. I think Cheparinov intended to sacrifice the exchange after 17…Nxc5 18 Bxa8 f4 with good compensation, due to the impossibility of developing White’s queenside in the near future)

f:e4 18.Bg5 Re8 19.Rae1 Bb7 20.Nc5 Bc6 21.K:e4 Ng6 (Black comfortably equalized and in the subsequent fight had real chances for a full point.)

22.Nc5 a5 23.Kg1 Rac8 24.Be3 Nf4 25.Rf2 Nd5 26.Rf5 N:e3 27.R:e3 Bd5 28.c4 B:c4 29.Rf:e5 R:e5 30.R:e5 Rf8 31. h3 Rf1+ 32.Kh2 Rd1 33.Ne4 Bd5 34.Nd6 g6 35.Ne8 Bc6 36.Nf6+ Kg7 37.Rc5 K:f6 38.R:c6+ Ke5 39.Kg3 Rd2 40.Rc5+ Kd4 41.R:a5 R:b2 42.Ra7 Ra2 43.R:h7 b3 44.Rb7 Kc3 45.Rc7+ Kd3 46.Rb7 Kc3 47.Rc7+ Kd2 48.Rb7 Kc2 49.Rc7+ Kb1 50.Rb7 b2 51.Kf4 Ra3 52.h4 Kra2 53.R : b2+ K:b2 54.g4 Kc3 55.Kg5 Kd4 56.K:g6 Ke5 57.h5 R:a4 58.h6 S–S

Timofeev, Artyom (2670) - Belov, Vladimir (2579)

RUS Cup final Serpukhov (4.2), 11/12/2008

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 c:d4 4.K:d4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.0–0 0–0 9.Kh1 Nc6 10.f3 (Rare, but not a continuation devoid of poison. White defended the infantryman on e4 and intends to move Nd5, taking advantage of the fact that after the exchange the black knight on c6 will be under attack. Black’s reaction to this idea can be called exemplary.)

Be6 11.Nd5 a5 12.Be3 a4 13.Nc1 B:d5 14.e:d5 Nd4 15.c4 Nd7 16.Bd3 Nc5 17.Ne2 N:e2 18.B:e2 Bg5 19.Bf2 Qf6 20.Bd3 Qf4 21 .Qc2 N:d3 22.Q:d3 Rfc8 23.b3 Qd2 24.Qb1 Be3 25.B:e3 Q:e3 26.Qf5 a:b3 27.Rae1 Qb6 28.a:b3 Q:b3 29.f4 Q: c4 30.f:e5 Q:d5 31.Rd1 Qe6 32.Q:e6 f:e6 33.e:d6 Rc6 34.h3 Rd8 35.d7 e5 36.Rd5 Re6 37.Rc1 Kf7 38.Rc7 b6 39.Kg1 Ke7 40.Rb7 e4 41.Kf2 Rd6 42.R:d6 K:d6 43.R:b6+ Ke7 44.Ke3 R:d7 S–S

The next game of the leaders of modern chess is interesting because Kramnik showed a new and aggressive plan with long castling, which is completely uncharacteristic of the calm line with 6. Be2

Kramnik, Vladimir (2777) - Anand, Viswanathan (2766)

Corus Wijk aan Zee (9), 01/20/2004,

1. e4 c5 2.Kf3 d6 3. d4 c: d4 4.K:d4 Kf6 5.Kc3 a6 6.Ce2 e5 7.Kb3 Ce7 8.Сg5 Ce6 9.C:f6 C:f6 10.Fd3 Kc6 11.0–0–0 Сe7 12.Krb1 0–0 [Kramnik’s idea manifested itself in the line 12...Nd4 13.K:d4 e:d4 14.Nd5 B:d5 15.e:d5 0–0 and now it’s not the obvious pawn eating, but 16.Qf3! with further Bd3 and strong initiative] 13.Kd5 Cg5 14. h4! Fighting for the initiative even at the cost of a pawn. 14... WITH:h4 15.g3 15... WITHf6 16. Ff3WITHg5!? 17. Fh5 h6 18.f4WITHf6 19.TOd2!? White was unhappy about this move, but alternative 19.c3 was much slower and bearable for black. 19... TOd4 20.WITHc4 20...Lc8! 21. c3 Kb5 22. f5 C:d5 23.С:d5 L:c3!! 24.Fg6! 24... Fb6 25.L:h6! Agreeing to a perpetual check, since otherwise Black's attack is stronger Ѕ–Ѕ

A brilliant game in which both opponents rose to the occasion!

Option with 6. Ce3 gained wild popularity in the mid-90s and was called the English attack thanks to the efforts of John Nunn and especially Nigel Short, who successfully used it. The idea of ​​the new concept is (the move 6.Be3 was used before, but most often it came down to the variant with 6.Be2) going into long castling and immediately marching pawns on the king's side in the area of ​​the most likely residence of the black monarch. That is, in most cases White’s plan is: f3 Qd2 0-0-0 g4. A huge plus is the versatility of this plan, which works both after 6…e6 and after 6…e5. Perhaps, today this arrangement is the most popular (and dangerous!) objection to the Najdorf variation.

6…e5 the most modern sequel. With this move, Black shows that he is ready for a big fight with versatile castlings.

In this variant, a lot of games were played between top players, and in every new super tournament this variant occurs again and again. In my opinion, it is performed best of all in the world (as it should be!) by the current world champion, whose games we will look at. In this version, it is extremely important to be at least half a step ahead of the current theory, which Anand succeeds with brilliance again and again. This is how he won the opening duel two times in a row against the young grandmaster, but already a prominent theorist, Sergei Karyakin.

Sicilian defense B90
Sergey KARYAKIN (UKR) – Vishy ANAND (IND)

Comments from mg Sergei Shipov

Sergei decided to test... (what should we call Vishy - veteran, grandfather, dinosaur?) his formidable opponent in the sharpest opening variation with versatile castlings. But it turned out that Vishy the Terrible analyzed the critical position more carefully... 1. e4 c5 2.Kf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4.Kxd4 Kf6 5.Kc3 a6 6.Ce3 e5 7.Kb3 Ce6 8. f3 Ce7 9.Fd2 Kbd7 11. g4 b5

33...Ra2+! This way and only this way. The black queen needs to enter the battle one move later. 34.Kрc3[The lead to mate was 34.Kрxb3 Фa4+ 35.Крc3 Rc2+ 36.Kрd3 Фc4#; And after 34.Kрb1 Black can easily eat the white queen, maintaining an irresistible attack.] 34...Qa5+! If you have a choice - checkmate in 6 moves or take the queen - checkmate! This is how we can formulate the rule of Anand, who, unlike Capablanca, is not afraid to miscalculate. 35.Kрd3 Qb5+ 36.Kрd4 Ra4+ 37.Kрc3 Qc4+

And the whites surrendered.

Sicilian defense B90

Sergey KARYAKIN - Vishwanathan ANAND

Comments by mm Maxim Notkin

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.Qd2 Nbd7 9.0-0-0 b5 10.f3 Be7 11.g4 g5 b4 13.Ne2 Ne8 14.h4 a5 15.Kpb1 Nb6 16.Kg3 a4 17.Nc1 d5 18.Bxb6 Qxb6 19.exd5 Rd8 20.Bc4 Nc7 21.dxe6 Rxd2 22.exf7+ Kрh8 23.Rxd2 Nb5. In previous games, elite grandmasters played 23...Qc6, and only after 24.b3 did Black play 24...Nb5. For a better understanding of what is happening, it should be noted that in the case of 24...a3 25.Ne4 Nb5 26.Nd3 White gets a big advantage, since in terms of material everything is in order for them, Black has no counterplay, and the f7 pawn will come back to bite him; and on 24...Qxf3 25.Rd7 is unpleasant. Now there is a threat of check from a3, and White must exchange the bishop - 25.Bxb5 Qxb5.

The duel Leko - Karjakin, Wijk aan Zee 2006 lasted 26.bxa4 Qxa4 27.Rhd1 Rxf7 28.Rd7 Kрg8 29.Ne4, and here, in the opinion of many, Peter very timely offered a draw, which Sergei accepted.

Morozevich in the game with Volokitin (Bil 2006) strengthened Leko's game - 26.Nf5 Rxf7 27.Nxe7 Rxe7 28.Rd8+ Re8 29.Rhd1 g6 (29...a3?? 30.R1d5 Qc6 31.R5d6 Qb5 32.Rb6) 30 .R1d5 Qc6 31.R5d6 Qb5 32.Rb6 Qxb6 33.Rxe8+ Kрg7 34.bxa4, and White slowly brought this ending to victory. 24.Bxb5. In the case of 24.Rd7, calm continuations like 24…Bc5 may play into White’s hands. However, if Sergei first saw this position only at the board, he could well be afraid to go into such a jungle without preparation: 24...Na3+ 25.bxa3 bxa3+ 26.Nb3 Qc6! (after 26...axb3 27.axb3 or 27.Bxb3 Rxf7 28.Ne4 White is fine) 27.Rxe7 Qxc4 28.Ne4 (not 28.Re8 Qxf7 29.Rxf8+ Qxf8, and White is forced to give up the knight, since very bad 30.Nd2 Qb4+ 31.Kрc1 Qb2+ 32.Kрd1 Qxa2) 28...axb3 29.axb3 (only this way) 29...Qd4 30.c3 Qd3+ 31.Kra2, and Black has a perpetual check after 31...Qe2+ 32. Kpxa3 Ra8+ 33.Kpb4 Rb8+ 34.Ka3, but it’s hard to say whether there is something more.

27.Rd8+Re8 28.Rhd1 Rg8! Exactly like that, immediately freeing the queen from the protection of the rook! After 28...g6 White could immediately force a draw with 29.R1d5 Qc6 30.R5d6 Qb5 31.Rd5= or play again after 31.Rb6 Qxb6 32.Rxe8+ Kрg7 33.Rxe5 a3.

29.b3. On 29.R8d5 Qc4 30.Rxe5 Black would first play 30...Rc8, forcing one of the rooks to retreat to defend the c2 pawn, and then capture on h4 with a better position. In Karjakin's move one can clearly see a desire to switch to a well-known pattern, but Anand, of course, does not release his opponent's knight and king.

29...a3 30.R1d5? This is already a mistake. 30.R8d5 was better. Now the black queen pins a couple of enemy pieces to the first row, while remaining alert and mobile.

30...Qf1. 31.Rxg8+ Kрxg8 32.Rxe5 Qxf3. White has two weaknesses - the b2 point and the h-pawn.

33.Rc5. In case of 33.Nd3 the knight will be immediately returned to its place - 33…Qd1+ 34.Nc1 Qh1.

33...Qh1 34.Rc4 Qe1 With the idea of ​​zugzwang. 35.Rf4 h5! 36.gxh6. It’s impossible to stand still - 36.Rc4 Kрf7 37.Rf4+ Kрe6 38.Rc4 Kрf5 39.Rc5+ Kрg4 40.Rc4+ Kрg3. The rook has run out of moves, and in case of 41.g6 the king stomps back - 41…Kрf3 42.Rc7 Kрg4 and takes the pawn after 43.Rc4+ Kрf5, since 43.Rxg7 loses? Qc3 44.Nd3 Qxg7.

After 36.g6 Black takes this pawn with the queen and then forms a passed pawn along the h-file by g7-g5. White doesn't have time to do anything.

36...gxh6 37.Rg4+ Kрf7 38.Rf4+ Kрg6 39.Rg4+ Kрf5 and subsequently Black, although slowly but inexorably, realized their material advantage 40.Rc4 h5 41.Rc5+ KRg4 42.Lc4+ KRf3 43.Ld4 Fe5 44. c3Fh2! 45.Ld3+ KRe4 46.Ld4+ KRf5 47.Kd3 Fd2! 48.Ld5+ KRf6 49. c4 Fd1+ 50.Kc1 Fg4 51.Ld2 Fxh4 52.Kd3 Fd4 53. KRc2 h4 54.Kxb4 Fb2+. 55. KRd1 Fb1+ 56. KRe2 Fe4+ 57. KRd1 h3 58.Kd3 Fh1+ 59. KRe2 59... h2 60.Kf2 Fg2. 61. KRe3 KRe7 62.Ld5 h1F 63.Kxh1 Fxa2! The Whites surrendered.

The variation we considered can be characterized as the sharpest even by the standards of such an opening as the Najdorf. Black, of course, has alternative paths, sometimes not so forced. Like, for example, Topalov’s plan with h5, aimed at preventing White’s pawn attack on the king’s side. Despite the failure, the plan chosen by Veselin has many followers today.

Anand, Viswanathan (2799) - Topalov, Veselin (2780)

Corus Wijk aan Zee (8), 01/20/2008

1.e4 c5 2.TOf3 d6 3.d4 c:d4 4.TO:d4TOf6 5.TOc3 a6 6.WITHe3 e5 7.TOb3WITHe6 8.f3 h5 9.TOd5WITH:d5 10.e:d5TObd7 11.Fd2 g6 12.0–0–0TOb6 13.Fa5 13... WITHh6 14. WITH:h6L:h6 15.Krb1Lc8 16.Fb4!?Krf8 17.c4Krg7 18.g3!Lh8 19. Lc1Fc7 20.WITHh3Lce8 21.Lhd1 21... Le7 22.a3 22... Ld8 23. TOd2TObd7?! 23...e4! 24. Fc3 a5 25. WITH:d7 25... TO:d7 26.f4TOf6 27. Lf1 b6 28.h3Fd7?! 29.f5! 29... Lf8 30. Fe3 e4 31.g4 h:g4 32.h:g4Le5 33. Lf4! 33... Fd8 34.g5TOh5 35.f6+Krg8 36.L:e4Lfe8 37.Kra2 a4 38.Lc3 38... Fc7 39.Fd4Fc5 40. F:c5 1–0

Also often encountered and of great interest for Black is a plan with a quick b5 and deployment of forces on the queenside, without rushing to short castling.

Leko, Peter (2753) - Anand, Viswanathan (2799)

Morelia/Linares 25th Morelia/Linares (5), 02/20/2008

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 c:d4 4.K:d4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.Qd2 Nbd7 9.f3 b5 10.0–0–0 Be7 11.Nd5 C :d5 12.e:d5 Nb6 13.C:b6 Q:b6 14.Na5 Rc8 15.Nc6 N:d5 16.K:e7 N:e7 17.Q:d6 Q:d6 18.R:d6 Nc6 19. c3 Ke7 20.Rd1 f5 21.Bd3 g6 22.Rhe1 Rhd8 23.Bf1 R:d1+ 24.R:d1 Na5 25.a4 Nc4 26.a:b5 a:b5 27.Rd5 Kf6 28.R:b5 Kg5 30. Ba6 Rd8 31.b4 Kf4? 32.Rc6 N:g2 33.b5 Ra8 34.Bb7? Rb8 35.Rc7?! Ne1 36.R:h7 K:f3 37.c4 e4 38.Kc2? e3 39.Kd3 g5 40.Ke2 Nd4+ 41.Ke1 Rd8 42.Re7 Nc2+ 43.Kf1 Rd1+ 44.Ke2 Rd2+ 45.Kf1 Nd4 0–1

Anand, Viswanathan (2792) - Morozevich, Alexander (2758)

World Championship Mexico City (11), 09/25/2007

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 c:d4 4.K:d4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.Be3 Nbd7 9.g4 Nb6 10.g5 Nh5 11.Qd2 Rc8 12.0– 0–0 Be7 13.Rg1 0–0 14.Kb1 Qc7 15.Qf2Kc4 16.B:c4 B:c4 17.Nd5 B:d5 18.R:d5 f5 19.g:f6 R:f6 20.Qe2 Nf4 21 .S:f4 R:f4 22.Rd3 Qd7 23.Nc1 Rcf8 24.a3! Kh8 25.Na2 Qh3 26.Rg3 Qh5 27.Qg2 Rh4 28.h3 Qh6 29.Rb3 b5 30.Nb4 Rh5 31.Qf1 Rh4 32.Qg2 Rh5 33.K:a6 Bh4 34.Rg4 Bf6 35.Qe2 R:h3 36 .R:b5 Bd8 37.Rb8 Qf6 38.Nb4 R:f3 39.Nd5 Qf7 40.Qa6 h5 41.Rg2 h4? 42.Q:d6 Be7 43.Q:e5 R:b8 44.Q:b8+ Kh7 45.Qc7 Bf8 46.Q:f7 R:f7 47.Rg4 Rf1+ 48.Ka2 Rh1 49.e5 Bc5?! 50.e6 Kh6 51.Rc4! h3 52.R:c5 h2 53.Ke3 Ra1+ 54.K:a1 h1Q+ 55.Ka2 Qe4 56.Re5! 1–0

Problems to solve

In order to successfully play the Najdorf Variation, good tactical vision is essential. Therefore, in conclusion, I propose to solve a number of tactical exercises taken from modern grandmaster practice. Most positions are not too difficult, but there are a few that may require some serious thought. I didn’t specifically specify the task: win or draw, because in a tournament game no one will give a hint what exactly to look for.

1. B. Kg1 Q3 Rd6 Rg3 Ne6, PP: b2, c4, f2, g2, h3

B. Kh8, Qe8, Ra8, Rd7, Be5, PP: a5, e4, f5, h7

White's move

2. B. K b1 Qg1 Rd1 Rh5 Bd3 Nb3 pp: a2, b2, c2, d5, f3

B. Kh7, Qd8, Rc8, Rf8, Bg5, Nc5, PP: a6, b5, d6, e5, f5, h6

White's move

3. B. Krs1 Qh8, Rd2 Cd6, PP: a3 c2 c4 f3 g2

B. Kd7, Qa4, Bf5, Nf6, Nf1 pp: a6 b7 e7

White's move

4. B. Kr c1, Qc3, Rd1, Rh1, Bb2, Ce4, Nf5 pp: a3, b4, c2, f3, g2

B. Kg8, Qa2, Ra8, Rc7, Bf7, Cg7, Nc4, PP: a6, b7, e7, f6, g5

White's move

5. B. K b2, Qd2, Rd1, Rg1, Cd4, Ne5 pp: c2, e4, f3, f5, h2

B. Kh8, Qb5, Rf8, Be7, Nc5, Kf6 pp: b4, f7, g7, h6

White's move

6. B. K b1, Rd1, Rh1, Bg2, Nc7 pp: a3, b2, g5, h2

B. Kg8, Ra8, Rf8, Nc5, PP: b3, d5, e6, g7, h7

Black's move

7. B. Kh3, Qd7, Re8 PP: a4, g3

BK b6, Qf3, Rc2, Bg5 pp: a5,b3, d6, g7,h6

White's move

8. B. Kg1, Qe3, Rd1, Rf1, Cf3, Nc3, Kd4, PP: a4, b2, c2, e4, g2 h2

B. Kf8, Qc7, Ra8, Rh8 Bb7, Ne5, Kf6 pp: a6, b6, d6, f7, g6, h6

White's move

9. B. Kg1, Qd1, Ra1, Rf1, Cd4, PP: b2,b4, c5,d5, f2, g3

B. Kg8, Qh3, Re8, Re4, Nd7, PP: a6, b7, d6, f7, g7, h6

Black's move

10. B. Kg1, Qf2, Ce3, Cg2, Nc3 pp: a2, b2, c2, e4, g4, h3

B. Kg8, Qc7, Ra8, Rf8, Be6, PP: a6, b7, d6, f7, f6, h6

Although the prototypes of modern schemes were visible even then, at first White gave preference to modest positional continuations 6. Be2, 6. f4, 6. g3, 6. h3.

Option 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4

In the game Jopen - Bronstein there were: 8. Nb3 Qe3+ 9. Qe2 Q:e2+ 10. B:e2 Kbd7 11. a4 Ce7 12. 0-0-0 h6 13. Ch4 e5 14. f5 b6 with equal play. Bronstein managed to win the game, but the decision to exchange queens cannot be considered successful. If Black refuses to exchange, then the plan with the move 8. Kb3 does little for whites. Despite the fact that this continuation is still encountered in tournament practice, its assessment as non-dangerous for Black has not changed.

A double-edged continuation turned out to be more promising 8. Qd2 Q:b2, the primary source of which is considered to be the Nezhmetdinov-Shcherbakov party: 9. Kb3 Kc6 10. Cd3 d5 11. C:f6 gf 12. Ka4 Qa3 13. Kb6 Kd4 14. Kf1 K:b3 15. cb Rb8 16. ed Qb4 17. Q:b4 C:b4 18. Rc1 0-0 with approximately equal chances.

This game, like the plan with the move 9. Kb3 remained in the shadows for 18 years until the match Spassky - Fischer (Reykjavik), when the move 7…Qb6 experienced his second birth. But then everyone was carried away by the “false trail”: 8. Qd2 Q:b2 9. Rb1 Qa3 10. e5!?- a plan that was first encountered in the game Tolush - Furman.

In subsequent years, the position after 10. e5 de 11. fe Kfd7 attracted everyone's attention. Many games have been played and a huge number of analyzes have been published. But in the end we came to the conclusion that the continuation 12. Cc4 Cb4 13. Rb3 Qa5 leads to a roughly equal game. Currently available with 7…Qb6 the main sequels are 8. Qd2 Q:b2 9. Kb3 And 9. Rb1 Qa3 10. f5(or 10. Ce2).

At first it was not at all easy for Black to fight the move 7. f4. Tartakower noted it as a "sensation option" of 1954.

However, Black soon learned to put up a “wall”: 7…Ce7 8. Qf3 Qc7 9. 0-0-0 Kbd7. This system is still the main one in the Najdorf version.

Black's failures associated with the first experience of using defense systems with 7…Qb6 and 7…Be7, strengthened the authority of the sequel 7. f4. Black began to look for a way out in schemes with 7…Fs7 And 7…b5(Polugaevsky's version). In addition, Polugaevsky developed a sequel in detail 7…Kbd7 with the idea of ​​saving pace on the move 7…Ce7 for the fastest implementation of software b7-b5.

Option 6. CC4

Bringing the elephant to c4 has a pronounced aggressive character. White plans to use the pawn after short castling f as a battering ram to destroy enemy positions. However, the elephant's position is c4 more vulnerable than g5, and White is forced to waste time on his retreat to b3 or (after preliminary a2-a3) on a2. This reduces the effectiveness of this plan, and surges in its popularity are associated with occasional finds for White. The option with a pawn sacrifice is relevant: 6. Bc4 e6 7. Cb3 b5 8. 0-0 Ce7 9. f4 0-0 10. e5 de 11. fe Kfd7 12. Ce3 K:e5 13. Qh5.

Positional methods of fighting: 6. Be2, 6. f4, 6. g3, 6.h3

There have never been the same discussions around these continuations as there have been about systems 6. Cg5 And 6. Cc4. Here there was a gradual accumulation of knowledge, a deep and comprehensive practical test. Therefore, in the seventy-year history of these variants, it is difficult to identify important stages of evolution.

Recently, the popularity of the sequel has increased significantly 6. Ce2, where Geller managed to find a number of new attractive ideas. The fact that the reliability of the system also played a role 7…Qb6 significantly reduced the attractive power of the lunge 6. Cg5. However, the popularity of the move 6. Ce2 passed its peak, as Black found the right defense plan. More followers are on the way 6. f4, as well as a simple and reliable continuation 6. g3.

In chess by email in 2011, there was a peak in the popularity of the move 6. h3, which provides White with a small, stable advantage and ample opportunities to fight in an attacking manner. In the strongest ICCF and RAZSH tournaments, and on the Internet platforms ficgs.com, chess-online.ru and bestlogic.ru, this continuation takes 3rd place in popularity after 6. Be3 And 6. f3

Options 6. Ce3 and 6. a4

Practice active use of the move 6. Ce3 dates back about 30 years. The main position occurs after 6…e5 7. Kb3 Ce6 8. Qd2 Kbd7 9. f3 b5 10. a4 b4 11. Kd5 C:d5 12. ed Kb6 13. C:b6 Q:b6 14. a5 Qb7 15. Cc4 Ce7. This double-edged position, despite solid practice, needs further research.

Idea of ​​the move 6. a4 is the desire to save pace (compared to 6. Ce3) when 6…e5 7. Kf3 Qc7 8. Cg5 Kbd7 9. Kd2 h6 10. Ch4 g5 11. Cg3 Kc5 12. Qf3 Ce7 13. Cc4. However, the weaknesses of the move 6. a4 can be opened by 6…Ks6 or by moving to the Dragon Variation, where the weakening of White’s queenside is sensitive.

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Literature

• Lepyoshkin V. F. Sicilian defense. Najdorf's version.. - M.: Physical culture and sport, 1985. - 256 p.

Excerpt characterizing the Najdorf Variation

Bogucharovo was always, before Prince Andrei settled there, an estate behind the eyes, and the Bogucharovo men had a completely different character from the Lysogorsk men. They differed from them in their speech, clothing, and morals. They were called steppe. The old prince praised them for their tolerance at work when they came to help with cleaning in the Bald Mountains or digging ponds and ditches, but did not like them for their savagery.
Prince Andrei's last stay in Bogucharovo, with its innovations - hospitals, schools and ease of rent - did not soften their morals, but, on the contrary, strengthened in them those character traits that the old prince called savagery. There were always some vague rumors going around between them, either about the enumeration of all of them as Cossacks, then about the new faith to which they would be converted, then about some royal sheets, then about the oath to Pavel Petrovich in 1797 (about which they said that back then the will came out, but the gentlemen took it away), then about Peter Feodorovich, who will reign in seven years, under whom everything will be free and it will be so simple that nothing will happen. Rumors about the war in Bonaparte and his invasion were combined for them with the same unclear ideas about the Antichrist, the end of the world and pure will.

Good day, dear friend!

Your humble servant has been playing the Sicilian all his adult life. All options have been tested in combat to one degree or another. Today we will focus on one of the most interesting and popular. So, in the foreground is the Sicilian Defense, the Najdorf Variation.

What is this option?

You and I know that the Sicilian Defense is one of the openings.

It is believed that the Najdorf variation is obtained after the following moves:

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd 4.K:d4 Kf6 5.Kc3 a6

Why does it “count”? In the future, the game can smoothly transition to the Scheveningen variant, dragon or mixed schemes.

The Sicilian is an opening that has many branches, which often intersect with each other. Most of them are quite well studied and tested many times in practice.

The Najdorf version is no exception. There are even a couple of monographs on it. “Najdorf” gained popularity in the middle of the last century and was then successfully used by Robert Fischer.

At the time, the epicenter of discussions at the board and outside the tournament hall were continuations 6.Сg5, 6.Сс4, 6.Се2

It is clear that the length of the article does not allow us to cover the entire variety of continuations of the Najdorf variant. Therefore, I will focus on the option, which is called the English attack.

English attack

6.Se3 This seemingly unassuming move is fraught with a lot of poison.

During the time of Botvinnik and a little later, until the 80s of the last century, 6.Se3 was not considered dangerous and was not even considered in the list of major sequels.

The English attack acquired its name after the efforts of the Leningrad masters were taken up by famous English grandmasters. Today's move 6.Se3 According to statistics, the most popular in this position.

The idea of ​​an English attack is captivating in its simplicity and logic. Black spruce trees develop “Scheveningen style” as they progress 6…e6, White builds a scheme with f3, Qd2 g4 and begin an attack on the king.

Basic opportunities for white and black

So, on the board the position is the field of moves 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd 4.K:d4 Kf6 5.Kc3 a6 6.Be3(diagram above)

Black has three main moves, which occur more often than others:

6….e6, 6….e5 And 6…Kg4.

Let's look at it in order:

A) 6…e6

7.f3 White follows his plan.

Another fork. Black has a choice between 7…Ks6 And 7…b5. There are other moves, but they are less popular.

Two pawns for a piece with Black's king stuck in the center gives White excellent compensation for the piece

This option partly answers the question of why it is impossible to castle early in an English attack. Well, maybe it’s said too categorically - rather, treat early castling with caution.

7…b5

This move looks natural. Black does not intend to hesitate and wants to immediately organize counterplay on the queenside. White, in turn, is looking for his chances in the center and on the king's side.

8.Qd2 White sticks to his plan

With White's advantage

B) 6…Kg4 “Knight Variation”

This move for a long time had a reputation as “original, but not entirely correct.” Until Garry Kasparov took up the matter in the 90s. After which, this “frivolous” option immediately became more serious. For Black, it was defended by, for example, Tapalov, Grischuk .

It became clear that there was no direct refutation, but calm positional play promised good chances for White.

7.Bg5 The best way to save an elephant.

7…h6 8.Ch4 g5 9.Cg3 Cg7 10.h3

Let's consider 10…Kf6 And 10…Ke5

10…Kf6

An approximate version of the further game:

With the best game for White. Hakobyan–Karyakin , Nalchik, 2009

10…Ke5

This move is considered more fundamental.

With some compensation for Black's piece, but hardly enough.

In general, White’s task in the knight variation is to protect the king by castling long and “rush” f2-f4, taking advantage of the advancement of Black's kingside pawns

B) 6….e5

A principled move.

Here it is appropriate to talk not even about a variation, but about a whole complex of opening systems and formations found in several branches of the Sicilian Defense. Almost always, the dominant feature in such positions is an irreconcilable struggle for the d5 point.

7.Kb3 Leads to a more relaxed game Nf3

8…Ce6 The most popular sequel.

8.f3 A programmatic move in many positions of the English attack.

Let's look at the most common moves for Black: 8…Se7 And 8…Kbd7

8…Se7

Possible continuation:

With White's advantage.

Gombacz–Steiner , Ljubljana 2002

8…Kbd7

Main continuation. Here the horse is positioned in the best way. Doesn't block line C and doesn't come under attack after exchanging for d5.

The further game can develop like this:

White has caused a weakening of the kingside and intends to increase pressure on the queenside.

They can double rooks along the d-file and put pressure on weaknesses a6 And d6. If Black puts his knight on c5, White has the right to use the rule: “The strength of two bishops is that one of them can be exchanged in time” ) .

After exchanging for c5 with benefit at some point line d will open.

In this article we examined only a small part of the Najdorf Variation, one of the popular branches of the Sicilian Defense.

The English attack has gained considerable popularity in the last couple of decades and undoubtedly deserves close attention when choosing the opening repertoire for White.

Approximate games

1.Naiditsch, Arkadij - JaraczPawel Trzcianka, 2014 1:0

2.Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime - Grischuk , Alexander, Doha QAT, 2016 0:1

3.Carlsen, Magnus - So, Wesley, Saint Louis USA, 2015 1:0

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