"Catalan with 7...b6 - the Bukavshin Variation" - free sample from ChessBase Magazine #218

ChessBase Magazine #218 offers new ideas for every repertoire with its 11 opening articles! Click on one of the graphics below to load the sample from CBM #218 as a ChessBase book directly in your web browser!

After the moves 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3 Be7 5.Bg2 0-0 6.0-0 dxc4 7.Qc2 the main continuation by far is 7...a6, with the idea of the extended fianchetto b7-b5 along with Bc8-b7. In the Bukavshin Variation (7...b6), which is only eight years old, Black does not aim to win space on the queenside, but instead relies on a "very simple" development of his bishop on c8. In his article, Alexey Kuzmin analyses four continuations that can lead to very different scenarios.

A) 8.Nbd2 Bb7 9.Nxc4, B) 8.Qxc4 Bb7 9.Nc3, C) 8.Bg5 (the most popular reply) and D) 8.Ne5.

You can follow all the game analyses from Kuzmin's article in the ChessBase Replayer.  

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The start page of CBM #218 as a ChessBase book. Use the menu on the right to access all articles, analyses and videos of the issue. Total playing time of the videos: Over 6 hours!

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Highlights

From the Tata Steel 2024 supertournament with analyses by Wei Yi, Firouzja, Giri, L'Ami Praggnanandhaa, Vidit and many more to Oliver Reeh's tactics article "Guided brilliance!" and Karsten Mueller's video course "Fundamental Endgame Knowledge" Part #8.

Over 6 hours of video playing time with Daniel King, Rainer Knaak, Jan Markos, Mihail Marin, Leon Mendonca, Karsten Müller, Oliver Reeh, Robert Ris, Dorian Rogozenco and Jan Werle!

Top chess and master analyses

After 13 hard-fought rounds, four players were tied on first place with 8.5 points. In the subsequent tiebreak, Wei Yi prevailed first against Abdusattorov and then against Gukesh. The tournament winner comments on his win against Vidit Gujrathi. In addition, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Alexander Donchenko, Alireza Firouzja, Anish Giri, Erwin l'Ami, Praggnanandhaa, Eline Roebers and Vidit Gujrathi analyse their best games from Wijk aan Zee. Moreover, Leon Mendonca, the winner of the Challengers, presents two of his wins from Wijk aan Zee in the video!

This is what the article on Tata Steel 2024 looks like in the ChessBase book format on your iPad, tablet or Mac.

Special: Richard Rapport

“The artist at the chessboard” - CBM authors present their favourite games by the creative top player. Exclusive collection of 28 annotated games from 2010 to 2023.

All in One

Everything you need to know about a variation in an extensively annotated game: Igor Stohl examines the Norwegian Defence 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 b5 5.Bb3 Na5 – the hunt for the Spanish bishop is on!

Opening videos

Jan Werle analyses a trendy line in the Nimzo- Indian - 4.f3 d5 5.a3 Be7 6.e4 dxe4 7.fxe4 c5 - on the basis of the game Ding Liren - Vidit from Wijk aan Zee, among others. In his analysis of the game Yusupov-Kasparov (Linares 1992), Mihail Marin discovered an improvement for White in the King's Indian Fianchetto Variation that even the world champion had missed in his analysis at the time. And Daniel King presents a trend in the Open Sici¬lian - after 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nc6 White moves again with the queen: 5.Qe3 or 5.Qd3.

Jan Werle: Nimzo-Indian with 4.f3
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 d5 5.a3 Be7 6.e4 dxe4 7.fxe4 c5
Mihail Marin: King's Indian Fianchetto Variation
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 0–0 5.Bg2 d6 6.0–0 Nbd7 7.Nc3 e5 8.e4 c6 9.Be3
Daniel King: Open Siclian
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Nc6 5.Qe3/5. Qd3

New ideas for your opening repertoire

From the Alekhine Defence to the King's Indian - ChessBase Magazine #218 offers 11 opening articles with new ideas for every repertoire!

Martin Lorenzini: Alekhine Defence 4...dxe5 5.Nxe5 c6
Robert Ris: Sicilian Alapin 2.Nf3 e6 3.c3 d5 4.e5 d4 5.d3
Christian Braun: Sicilian Richter-Rauzer 8.Nxc6 bxc6
Sergey Grigoriants: French Advance with 6...f6
Brian Escalante Ramirez: Petroff 6.Nc3 Nxc3 7.bxc3 Nxe5 8.dxe5
Lars Schandorff: Ruy Lopez Marshall Attack 11...Bb7
Yago Santiago: Queen's Gambit Accepted with 7.e4
Imre Hera: QG Ragozin Variation 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bh4 0-0
Tanmay Srinath: Gruenfeld Classical System 10...e6
Alexey Kuzmin: Catalan 4.g3 Be7 5.Bg2 0-0 6.0-0 dxc4
Petra Papp: KI Fianchetto Variation 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.Bg5

Topical opening traps

“Mistakes repeated thousands of times” – Rainer Knaak presents eight traps from current tournament practice - from Sokolski to the Sicilian and the King’s Indian. Incl. three Fritztrainer videos.

Move by Move

Calculate like Gukesh and play through the complex and highly tactical game by the Indian superstar against Volokitin (London Chess Classic 2023) move by move with Robert Ris!

Modern Classics

Over 60 years ago, Rashid Nezhmetdinov shocked his opponent Oleg L. Chernikov with a queen sacrifice on move 12! Dorian Rogozenco reviews this “totally impressive game” in the video.

Practical tips for the Tournament Player: "Exchanges as a weapon"

Does exchanging pieces make any sense at all if you want to attack your opponent? After all, this reduces your own attacking potential. Jan Markos shows how effective the method of exchanges can be if you know how to use it correctly. Video plus a small collection of exercises.

"Guided brilliance"

39 games peppered with lots of training questions await you in Oliver Reeh’s tactics article! You can solve his favourite combinations - recorded in interactive video format - move by move together with the IM from Hamburg!

“Linares 1992 - Kasparov vs. the new generation”

In his strategy column, Mihail Marin looks back at the Linares 1992 super tournament and analyses selected games by Kasparov, Karpov, Ivanchuk, Anand and others. Incl. an introductory video and two interactive training videos!

Fundamental Endgame Knowledge Part #8: Endgames with bishop and pawn

In the introductory video, our expert presents the most important techniques. Then it’s your turn in two interactive training videos! Moreover, Karsten Mueller presents endgame highlights from Wijk aan Zee 2024 (video introduction + analyses).