Welcome!

If you’re new to this site, please check out the “about” link above.  Enjoy your visit! Also, if you want to contact me, just leave a comment and I’ll read it. But if you prefer email for that occasion, my address at gmail.com is “jason.juett”.

Unfortunately I’ve been neglecting the project for a long time while working on school and math research papers.  I wouldn’t say that the project is completely stopped, but it may be quite a long time before any more updates.  The earliest I could start working on this again would be April after my PhD thesis is submitted, but no guarantees about that.

Hopefully the variations that are covered are still useful.  As far as I know, nothing major in my “published” analysis has been overturned by recent games.  If you know of games/analysis that overturn anything in the current version of the book, I would be greatly appreciative it if you could post a link to it in the comments, and I’ll make updating that a priority (relatively speaking).

New Chapter Added: Introduction to 13.Bg5

This chapter covers several different minor lines after 13.Bg5 Rc5!.  The one with the best reputation is 14.Rhe1, where I advocate 14…Qa5! 15.Kb1! Re8! as the smoothest equalizer, rather than the more complicated 14…b5!?.  After the line 14.Kb1 Re8! 15.Rhe1 of the Karpov Variation, we’re going to follow Kasparov and play 15…Qa5!, reaching the same position, so from an efficiency standpoint our choice is forced.  (The Karpov Variation will be covered in a later chapter.)  The part of the new chapter that most interested me was the move 14.Rdg1!?, which I think is severely underrated.  I’ve included some improvements on old analysis and games to show that White appears to get real chances at an advantage after the standard move 14…b5 (recommended by Dearing and played the most frequently).  Instead I suggest the rare 14…Qa5!, and best play seems to lead to one forced draw or another, or an even but kind of unclear endgame if Black wants.  Perhaps 14.Rdg1!? would be a good surprise weapon if prepared well.  It may be just a draw, but I doubt that any other 14th move wins by force, so why not give it a shot?

Also, I’ve updated a couple random things in other chapters.  The one significant thing I remember is in the ultra-trendy and critical 10.Kb1!? main line.  (Well, it’s the main line now that Radjabov and Carlsen have endorsed it.)  In the Nisipeanu-Radjabov game, there’s a new try 18…Be6!? that recently came to my attention.  Though it didn’t fare so well in its one outing, it looks like Black gets pretty decent play for the exchange, and there are no forced draws to worry about.  It’s a hard one to evaluate, though.  We’ll need some more high-quality games to see if the idea stands up.  I’ve included some preliminary analysis.

Good news and bad news

The good news is that I moved the file to a place where you don’t have to go through any advertisements or anything to download it.  The bad news is that a reader has pointed out that ChessBase Reader seems to not be able to figure out a lot of the links in the file, and while I have been able to confirm this error, unfortunately I have no idea how to fix it.  (I tried some things like recreating the file with different names, packing the database, creating a new database and copying everything over, etc., to see if that would randomly fix it, but none of that worked.  It also appears that the various Fritz GUI’s throw the same errors, but my ChessBase 10 reads it fine.)  However, I can offer the slightly annoying work around that the games are mostly in a logical order and one can probably manually find the game file that the link is supposed to go to.  Sorry that this is all I can do at the present.

Book available again

I’m attending a regional math conference right now, so I don’t have time to do much fancy, but I took a moment to upload the file with the whole book somewhere.  I took down the links for the individual chapters since I started thinking that maybe that was confusing and redundant to have the whole book plus individual chapters both available.  (And it’s less work for me to keep one file updated instead of several.)  Let me know if you have any opinions on this one way or the other.

I’ll say this for anybody new to the way that I’ve got the book set up.  The way to make sense of how it’s organized is to find the entry “table of contents” (hopefully it’s listed at the top when you open up the database and it lists all the games) and then follow links from there.

Technical Issues

It was just brought to my attention that the server hosting the files for this site has been down.  I will fix this as soon as I can, which unfortunately can’t be today since I’m out of town and don’t have access to my computer with the chess files.  In the mean time, does anybody have any suggestions about a free place where I can put the files?

New Chapter on Soltis 13.Bh6!? Available

As usual, you can download the chapter by itself in the link on the right, or download the latest version of the whole book.

I’m kind of confused why 13.Bh6!? is so much less popular than 13.Bg5.  If White knows the theory, he can force Black down a very narrow path, and take his choice between unclear tactical complications and a slightly better (though drawn with careful play) rook vs. bishop endgame.  By transposition, he can arrive at a position suggested for White in Khalifman’s repertoire.  (In a feature game, I show how Black can equalize through exceptionally energetic play, but it’s safe to say that I’d be doomed if I had to figure that out over the board.)  That being said, 13.Bg5 is certainly a pretty good move too, and there are some interesting transpositional possibilities involving a later Bg5-h6.

New Chapter (finally!!!) Released

This massive chapter is on the position arising after 10.h4 Ne5!? 11.Bb3 Rc8 12.0-0-0 h5! 13.Kb1.  There are some important transpositional opportunities here.  After 13…Re8, we reach the position usually seen after 10.0-0-0 Rc8 11.Bb3 Ne5 12.Kb1! Re8 13.h4 h5 (the “refined prophylaxis” line recommended by Dearing), while 13…a6!? leads us to a position from the Carlsen Variation.  Since both positions have been hotly debated in the last couple years, I offer some analysis and sample games showing why I think Black is in trouble after both moves.  Instead, he should rely on the old-fashioned 13…Nc4! 14.Bxc4 Rxc4, when I think that after the critical 15.Nb3 the very rare 15…Qb8!? looks promising, and the traditional 15…Qc7, while solid, might give a patient White player some chances of a slight edge.

As usual, let me know if the links are broken.  (You can find the new chapter in the links on the right, or download the whole book in one file.)

During the past year I’ve gotten absorbed in things other than chess, and have only passively been following the game.  The sad truth is that this chapter was very nearly completed several months ago, but I got too distracted to finish it up. I think there should be some material of interest to both colors, despite the analysis coming out months later than it should have.  I’m not sure whether the future will see me get back to the old pace I was working at.  I’ve got another chapter on 13.Bh6 that I wrote probably over a year and a half ago and just need to reformat and update with any new games, so that will be what I’ll post next.

New super-GM game in 9.0-0-0 main line

Sorry for the long absence.  First I was busy with math preparing for my PhD comprehensive exam (which I fortunately passed), then was away on vacation for a couple weeks.  Anyway, I’m intending to get back to work now (with both chess and math), and this game was something I noticed when scanning new games.  Grischuk scores a win against sharp opening expert Motylev in Carlsen’s 14…Qc7!? line I’ve recommended.  I’ll have another look and update the relevant chapter later when I get the chance.  For now, enjoy the game below.

(5299484) Grischuk,Alexander (2760) – Motylev,Alexander (2704) [B76]
World Cup ACP 4th Odessa (1.2), 27.05.2010

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 0-0 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.0-0-0 d5 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.Bd4 Bxd4 13.Qxd4 Qb6 14.Na4 Qc7 15.Bc4 Rd8 16.Bb3 Bf5 17.g3 Rd6 18.Rhe1 Rad8 19.Qc5 Qd7 20.Qg1 Qc7 21.Qc5 Qb8 22.Nc3 Qb7 23.Qa5 Kg7 24.g4 Bc8 25.Ne4 R6d7 26.Nc5 Qc7 27.Qxc7 Rxc7 28.c4 Rd6 29.Ne4 Rdd7 30.Nc5 Rd6 31.Ne4 Re6 32.cxd5 cxd5+ 33.Kb1 dxe4 34.Bxe6 Bxe6 35.Rxe4 Kf6 36.h4 h6 37.Re3 Rc4 38.Rc1 Ra4 39.b3 Rf4 40.Rc5 g5 41.hxg5+ hxg5 42.Kc2 Rb4 43.Kc3 Rb6 44.Re4 Ra6 45.Ra4 Rxa4 46.bxa4 Bxa2 47.Kd4 e6 48.Ra5 Bb3 49.Rxa7 Bd5 50.Ke3 1-0

Math

Unfortunately (for this site) I’ve been really busy lately with math research. The chapter with 13.Kb1 in the Soltis is still in the works. I have the historical summaries of 13…Re8 and 13…a6!? done (transposing to the modern main line and the Carlsen Variation, respectively), mostly showing some sample recent games and why White looks better, as well as a few random novelties. Perhaps interesting to anybody who plays White in these positions. My recommendation is definitely 13…Nc4!. The one major line I’ve got left to cover is 14.Bxc4 Rxc4 15.Nb3, 15.Nde2 looking pretty harmless. Perhaps when the math slows down I’ll get back to this.

New problems for the Carlsen Variation?

In the upcoming chapter there will be lots of annotated top-level games in the Carlsen Variation, giving a survey on the theory and explaining why I’m not recommending it in my repertoire.  (I’m including it here under the Soltis move order 13.Kb1 a6!?.)

 Of course attention has focused on Anand’s 14.g4! hxg4 15.h5! Nxh5 16.Rdg1!, and probably rightly so.  (I have annotated the critical game Topalov-Carlsen for this chapter, as well as others.  In this important game, I agree with de la Villa’s suggested improvement and assessment.)  I also have Dominguez-Carlsen with 16.Bh6 annotated, and my conclusions are in contrast to what I’ve read elsewhere, thinking that White is much better after the game’s 16…e6 after the “obvious” novelty 20.Qd2!N, mimicking Polgar-Kaidanov.  (Actually it seems to me that this version is even better for White if anything, since Black’s rook is on f8 and he has no escape square yet.)  Instead I think the way to go is 16…Kh7!? and it’s complicated but I think Black’s a little better.  It’s an improved version of Kasimdzhanov’s analagous line with …Re8 instead of …a6, where actually Black’s rook is better placed on f8, guarding f7 so that a critical tactical variation doesn’t work so well. 

Anyway, on to the point of this post, a very interesting 2010 development is the approach 14.Bh6 Nc4 15.Qc1!?, in my opinion an improvement on Anand’s first game against Carlsen’s Dragon.  My impression is that this new approach also gives White an advantage.  You can find the game with this in the notes to Anand-Carlsen below.

[Event “Mainz Classic rap Prelim”]
[Site “Mainz”]
[Date “2008.08.01”]
[Round “1”]
[White “Anand, Viswanathan”]
[Black “Carlsen, Magnus”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[ECO “B78”]
[WhiteElo “2798”]
[BlackElo “2775”]
[Annotator “Juett,Jason”]
[PlyCount “61”]
[EventDate “2008.08.01”]
[EventType “tourn (rapid)”]
[EventRounds “6”]
[EventCountry “GER”]
[EventCategory “21”]
[Source “ChessBase”]
[SourceDate “2008.09.01”]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 Nc6 8. Qd2 O-O 9. Bc4 Bd7 10. Bb3 Rc8 11. O-O-O Ne5 12. Kb1 $1 a6 $5 13. h4 h5 14. Bh6 {This is supposed to be harmless, but I found a very recent 2010 game that gives the move new life. Have a look at the note for 15.Qc1!?.} Nc4 {Now we have a position that’s in our repertoire, except this version has Kb1 and …a6 included, which makes it a little more favorable to White.} 15. Bxc4 (15.Qc1 $5 {I really like this idea. White uses the inclusion of Kb1 to find a
retreat square for his king and maintain the tension on the kingside. As
we’ve seen a lot of times, when White trades bishops early, that lets Black
bring his rook over to h8 to defend.} b5 $6 {This lets White very strongly
carry out his kingside attack.} (15… Qa5 $146 {looks like a reasonable
suggestion for an improvement. Besides getting the queen to an active square, the immediate 16.g4? is stopped due to 16…Nxb2!. Still,} 16. Nd5 Nxd5 17.exd5 $14 {looks very good for White, who is ready to strongly play 18.g4! after most neutral moves, and who can answer} Qxd5 {with} 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19.Rhe1 Rfe8 20. Ne6+ Qxe6 21. Rxe6 Bxe6 $14 {This is an important tactic to keep in mind when the d-pawn is apparently hanging to the queen.}) (15… Kh7 $5 $146 {is also interesting, just trying to get White to trade off the bishop, and arguing that the loss of time isn’t too critical because White’s extra move Qc1 isn’t that useful in itself.} 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 {However, after this tried is achieved, White can play} 17. g4 $1 {with what looks like an improved version of our main line from the next chapter.}) 16. g4 $1 hxg4 17. h5 $1 $16 e5 18. Bg5 $3 $16 exd4 (18… Bh8 19. Nd5 $1 exd4 20. hxg6 fxg6 21. Rxh8+ $1 Kxh8 22. Bxf6+ Rxf6 23. Rh1+ Kg8 (23… Kg7 24. Qh6+ Kf7 25. Qg5 $18) 24. Qg5 Kg7 (24… Rf7 25. Qxg6+ Rg7 26. Nf6+ $18) 25. Nxf6 Qxf6 26. Rh7+ $1 Kxh7 27.Qxf6 $18) (18… gxh5 19. Nf5 Bxf5 20. exf5 $16 Na3+ $6 21. bxa3 Rxc3 22. Bh6 $18 Nh7 23. Bxg7 Kxg7 24. Rxh5 Qf6 25. Rdh1 Rh8 26. Qg1 $18) 19. h6 $1 $18 Bxh6 (19… Bh8 $2 20. h7+ $18 Kg7 21. Bh6+ Kxh7 22. Bg7+ $1 $18) 20. Rxh6 dxc3 21.Qf4 $1 Nh5 22. Bxd8 $1 Rfxd8 (22… Nxf4 23. Bf6 $18) 23. Qg5 Re8 24. Bxc4 Rxc4
25. Rxd6 Bf5 26. Rd8 Rc8 27. Rxe8+ Rxe8 28. Rxh5 gxf3 29. Rh1 {1-0 Kravtsiv,M (2545)-Lokesh,P (2120)/New Delhi 2010/Mega2010 Update 06. An extraordinarily impressive game from GM Kravtsiv. Perhaps an early candidate for the Yugoslav Attack novelty of 2010?}) 15… Rxc4 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Rhe1 $1 {Anand’s novelty. Probably this unambitious positional move is best. One has to admire the thought Carlsen put into preparing this variation, since in this particular position, the tempo …a6 turns out to be more useful than …Re8, as we’ll see in the variations below, where I examine a couple moves that would be critical with Black’s tempi spent the other way around.} (17. g4 $5 {is an interesting try, but Black should be holding his own. After} hxg4 18. h5 $1 Rh8 {, we arrive at a position where Black is the tempo …a6 up on a line in the upcoming chapter on 10.h4 Ne5!? 11.Bb3 Rc8! 12.0-0-0 h5! 13.Bg5 Rc5 14.Kb1. We’ll see that Black is completely fine in that position, and the extra move …a6, inconsequential as it usually is, at the very least shouldn’t hurt Black’s chances. 1-0 Schramm,C (2250)-Berndt,S (2290)/Germany 1993/EXT 2002 (40)}) (17. Nd5 e5 $1 18. Nb3 Nxd5 19. Qxd5 Rc6 $11 {is perfectly acceptable for Black. In a critical line in the 14.Kb1 chapter referred to above, we’ll a situation analogous to this one, but with …Re8 instead of …a6. In that case White will be able to answer …e5 with Nxf6, since it will be hitting the Re8. 1/2-1/2 Rowe,D-Motoewi,R/Istanbul 2000/EXT 2001 (51)}) 17… Re8 18.Nde2 (18. f4 $5 {would put more pressure on Black, who has to contend with the strong idea e4-e5.}) 18… Qa5 $11 {Carlsen now holds the position against the world’s number one rapid player with ease.} 19. Nf4 Rec8 20. Ncd5 Qxd2 21. Rxd2
Nxd5 22. Nxd5 Re8 23. Nb6 Rc7 24. e5 Be6 25. exd6 Rc6 $1 26. Na4 exd6 27. b3 Rec8 28. Nb2 Rc5 29. Ree2 Re5 30. Nd3 Rxe2 31. Rxe2 {In this Mainz rapid mini-match, Carlsen has won the first round of Dragon preparation, but Anand will be back strongly in his next White!} 1/2-1/2