4/24/2017 – The Berlin Defense (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6) is a very solid line for Black - so solid that players dubbed it "The Berlin Wall". But Alexei Shirov has some ideas "how to crack the Berlin Wall". Hedinn Steingrimsson liked these ideas - and so did Hou Yifan who used Shirov's recommendations to beat Fabiano Caruana in round 1 of the Grenke Classic.
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A review by Hedinn Steingrimsson
The Berlin Wall is nowadays the most popular opening after 1.e4 at the highest level. White has been searching for ways to counter it for quite a number of years now. Being a principled player Alexei Shirov has tried many different lines against the Berlin, among others the endgame with 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8 Kxd8 against the writer of these lines in a German Bundesliga game which ended with a draw after some adventures.
In this video, Shirov show his latest interpretation of White’s chances, namely the super solid and popular 5.Re1. After 5…Nd6 6.Nxe5 Be7 7.Bf1 we have the tabia that is discussed. Nine games are analysed in great detail, thereof five that Shirov played himself against top opponents such as Caruana and Kramnik. This variation was Carlsen’s choice in both Berlin games in the World Championship match against Sergey Karjakin in New York last December.
It is very instructive to hear Shirov explain the typical plans that White has in the arising structures. White is aiming for a small plus without much risk, trying to play for two results. In the most solid lines, where black simplifies with 7…Nxe5 8.Rxe5 0-0, which was Karjakin’s choice, White in some lines ends up with a slight advantage in an endgame with a bishop against a knight, which Black objectively should hold, but White can press for a long time see e.g. MVL – Giri 2014.
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1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5Nf6This move has been one of the biggest
headaches that White is facing against 1...e5. Should he go in for the Berlin
endgame or not? Maxime Vachier Lagrave decides not to go into that territory.4.0-0Nxe45.Re1This takes the game into a very dull and dry symmetrical
position but MVL had an idea prepared there.5.d4Nd66.Bxc6dxc67.dxe5Nf58.Qxd8+Kxd8is the Berlin Endgame.5...Nd66.Nxe5Be77.Bf1Nxe58.Rxe50-0The pawn structure is symmetrical and usually the games end in draws.
In fact Carlsen used this opening with White when he was already leading in
the match against Anand in 2013 and the players reached a king and pawn
endgame in just 28 moves.9.Nc3In this drawish line, this can be the most
ambitious move, as White gets the bishop pair here.9.d4is the main move
in this position. Play usually continues in the following way.Bf610.Re1Nf511.c3d512.Bf4c6=When the position is totally symmetrical and nothing
much is happening.9...Ne89...c6?!preventing Nd5 is not so good.10.d4Ne8is too slow.10...Bf611.Re1Nf512.d5White has a nice edge.
11.d5!10.Nd5Bd611.Re2!?NThis novelty looks surprising
but does have some thought put into it. The rook on a1 has absolutely nothing
to do on that square and the only open file in this position is the e-file.
Hence it makes sense to retreat the rook to e2 and keep a place for the
a1-rook to come to e1. This doesn't change the objective evaluation of the
position. It is still equal. But MVL had seen this position at home and Giri
most probably hadn't. That's a small psychological edge for White. After this
game was played on 18th July, this novelty was tried twice by two strong
players within two months.The most common way to play for White was11.Re1c612.Ne3Bc713.Nf5d514.Ne7+Kh815.Nxc8Rxc816.d3f5with play
similar to the game, just that the rook is on e1 instead of e2.11...c611...Nf6is the other way to play and the Black player equalised easily:12.Ne3Re813.d4Bf814.Nc4d515.Ne5Ne416.f3Nd617.Bf4Be618.Qd2c619.b3Qb620.Bg3Nf521.Bf2c522.c3cxd423.cxd4Bb424.Qb2Rac825.Rd1Bc326.Qb1Nxd427.Re3Nb528.a4d429.Re4Na330.Qc1Qxb331.Bd3Bf532.Rh4Rxe50-1 (32) Motylev,A (2686)-Fedoseev,V (2677) Moscow RUS 201412.Ne3Bc713.Nf5d514.Ne7+Kh815.Nxc8The knight makes six moves to capture a
bishop which hasn't moved even once. This helps Black to finish his
development but White gets the long term edge of the bishop pair.Rxc816.d3This move keeps the e4-square under control.16.d4Nd616...f5The f-pawn can be used as a way to launch a kingside attack with
f5-f4-f3.16...Nd617.c3Qf618.Qa4a619.Be3Rce820.Rae1The
advantage of keeping the rook on e2.17.g3Qf617...f4would have helped
White to activate the light-squared bishop.18.Bh318.Bd2Nd618...Qxb219.Rb1Qxa220.Bb4!20.Rxb720...Rf721.Ra1Qb222.c3+-19.Bc3!Forcing Black to put one of his pawns on the same colour as his bishop
on c7. In this way the bishop will be hampered in the endgame by its own pawns.
d4?!19...Qf720.Qd220.Be5Rce821.Qd2?!Ne4=20...Nb521.Rae1Nxc322.Qxc3=should be equal.20.Bd2Nf7Giri looks to activate his
knight via g5 or e5 but MVL stops it with his next move.21.f4!Not only
stopping the black knight but also making some room for the white king. After
Bg2 and Qf1, White intends to double his rooks on the e-file.Rce822.Bg2Nd623.a3What could be the point of this move on the side of the board? I think
MVL must have thought of the following variation.23.Qf1Rxe224.Qxe2Re825.Qf2Qe6Now the rook cannot come to e1 because the a2-pawn is hanging.
But the invasion on e2 can be prevented by means of26.Bf3The pawn on a2
however has to be moved if the rook wants to participate in the game and hence
it was a good decision by MVL to play the move a3 directly.23...Bb623...Rxe224.Qxe2Re825.Qf2Qe626.Re1White is a tempo up compared to the
above variation because he did not waste time on moving the queen to f1.Qa227.Bb4!±24.Rxe8Rxe825.Qf1Kg826.Re1Re627.a4!White
snatches more space on the queenside and aims to get in a5 followed by b4.a628.Bf3! After the eventual exchange
of the rooks, the white queen can wander away now because all the points of
entry on the e-file are defended by the white bishops.g629.Kg2Improving
the position of the king.Kf730.Rxe6Qxe6White has a few trumps in this
endgame. 1. He has the bishop pair. 2. He has more space on the queenside
thanks to his pawn on a4 and can grab even further space with b4. 3. The black
knight does not have any good outposts in the position. 4. The d4-pawn can
become a weakness in the future. White's advantage might not be too huge but
it is stable and good enough to press for a few moves.31.Qa1Bc5?!
This move looked pretty pointless to me. It was definitely better to transfer
the bishop to another diagonal.31...Bd8!?32.b4Bf6When the bishop
looks more useful than it was on b6.32.b4Bb633.Be1!Transferring his
bishop to f2 from where it can attack the d4-pawn.Nc8Black has to make
some arrangements to meet the threat on the d4-pawn with Bf2. At the same time
if his bishop on b6 is undefended then c3 can be quite irritating. Nc8 defends
the Bb6.34.Bf2Qd734...Qd635.b5axb536.axb5cxb537.Bxb735.h3!I like how MVL tries to keep his options open and threatens to play on
both sides of the board. He could have gone b5 directly but that would have
been one weakness less to worry about for Black.h5This makes the g6-pawn a
little weak but g4 had to be stopped.36.b5!The queen now invades the
black position after this break.axb536...cxb537.axb5Qxb538.Bxb7a5!?39.Bf3With the double bishops and the queen, White can launch an attack
on the black king. But the a-pawn must not be underestimated. It is definitely
more potent than the b-pawn that was left in the game.39.Bxc8?Qc6+=37.axb5cxb538.Qa8Bc538...Nd6trying to save the b7-pawn is badly
refuted with39.Bd5+Ke740.Qg8+-with a decisive attack.39.Bxb739.Qxb7Qxb740.Bxb7Nd6This endgame is also promising for White but now the
black king feels much safer and the drawing chances are much higher.39...Nb639...Nd640.Bd5++-40.Qa2+Kg740...Qe641.Qa5is similar to
the game.41.Qa6b442.Bf3The b4- and the d4-pawns are quite weak but
Black is clinging on. The next thing on the agenda is to now open a second
front keeping in mind the principle of two weaknesses with the move g4.Kf843.Qa5Qe744.Kf1Kf745.Kg2Just probing a bit and trying to wear the
opponent down by repeating the position. This was a favourite mechanism of
Karpov in winning positions.Kf846.g4!hxg447.hxg4fxg4?!Maybe it
was better to keep the pawn structure symmetrical and after47...Qd648.gxf5gxf549.Bh4Black will have to worry about his king. In the game Giri tried
to retain the g6-pawn, which gave more protection to the black king but
weakened the e4-square.48.Bxg4Qc749.Bf3Kg750.Qb5Nc851.Qc4
Threatens the d4-pawn.Qb651...Qd6preventing the queen invasion was
more tenacious.52.Qd5Now the combination of White's queen threatening to
check on e5 followed by the bishop coming to d5 or Bh4 will be extremely
dangerous. Hence Giri, goes for the queen exchange but it leads to a lost
endgame.Qd653.Qe5+53.Qxd6?Nxd653...Qxe553...Kh754.Qe8+-54.fxe5In spite of the paucity of material, this position is very
difficult for Black to hold. First of all, the e5-pawn does a fantastic job of
stopping the black king from coming to f6. Secondly, the knight too is robbed
of a nice square on d6. Now, we can witness the power of White's unopposed
bishop.Na7The knight threatens to go to a3 via b5 and attack the weak
c2-pawn.55.Bd5?!55.Bh4was stronger.Nb556.Bf6+Kf857.Bd5Na358.Bb3+-55...Nb5?55...g5!?was much better preventing the bishop from
being activated via h4.56.Kf3Nb557.Kg4Nc358.Bf3Kg6
White is better but Black can hold.56.Bh4Now things are back on track.g556...Nc357.Bf6+Kh658.Bb3Nd159.e6Ne3+60.Kf3Nf561.Ke4+-57.Bxg5Kg658.Bd8Kf559.e6Na359...Nd660.e7Kg661.Kf3Kg762.Kf4
The white king entering on e5 will end the game.60.Bb3Nxc261.Bxc2Kxe6
It is futile to continue here. White's king will make its way up to e4 and
then the black pawns will fall. A beautiful game by MVL. A nice little novelty
in the opening followed by some Capablanca like endgame play earned him the
full point.1–0
White’s chances are not the least present in the lines where Black is ambitious and tries to play for all three results, keeping all pieces on the board with 7…Nf5 8.Nf3 d5 9.d4 0-0 10.c3 as Shirov himself demonstrated in his win against Kramnik and was most recently demonstrated by Hou Yifan against Caruana at Grenke Chess Classic.
1.e40 In this game, Fabiano kept his decisive-result streak by
losing to Hou Yifan. This is the second time a lady beats a 2800, if my
recollection of chess history is still working!e552.Nf30Nc643.Bb50Nf60 Fabiano opts for a solid Berlin. His Spanish adventure in the Breyer went
sour against Zherebukh in the US championship.4.0-038Nxe465.Re128 Hou Yifan goes for an ultra solid line.
This is the problem with Berlin these days. If White decides, she can kill all
of Black's counterplay and reduce his winning chances to zero!Nd606.Nxe56Be737.Bf170-02:228.d41:35Nf5399.Nf379.c3Nxe510.Rxe510.dxe5d6easily equalizes.10...d611.Re1d512.Bf4Bd612...c613.Bd3Bd614.Qf3Bxf415.Qxf4Qd616.Qf3g617.Nd2Bd718.Re2Ng719.Rae1Rae820.Rxe8Rxe821.Rxe8+Nxe822.Qe3f623.Nf3Ng724.Kf1g525.h3h626.Ng1Kf727.Ne2h528.Kg1h429.Bc2Bf530.Bxf5Nxf531.Qd3Qe632.Kf1Qe433.Nc1Nd634.f3Qxd3+35.Nxd3Ke636.Ke2Kf537.b3a538.Nc5Kf439.Kf2b640.Nd3+Kf541.a4b542.Nc5bxa443.Nxa4Kf444.Nc5Nb545.Na4f546.Nc5g447.Ne6#1-0 (47) So,W
(2770)-Kramnik,V (2812) Paris 201613.Bxd6Nxd614.Bd3c615.Nd2Bf516.Bxf5Nxf517.Qg4Nd618.Re2Qc719.Rae1Rae820.Qf4Qd821.h4h622.Re5Qd723.Rxe8Nxe824.Nb3b625.Nc1Nf626.Nd3Re827.Re5Rxe528.Qxe5Qg429.f3Qxh430.a4c531.dxc5Qxa432.b4bxc533.Nxc5Qb534.Qc7Qb635.Qc8+Kh736.Qf5+g637.Qe5g538.Kh1Kg639.Nd3Qe640.Qc7a641.Qa7h542.Qd4h443.Kh2Kf544.Kg1Qe245.c4h346.gxh3Qxf347.Nf2Qg3+48.Kf1Qb349.cxd5Qxd550.Qe3Qc4+51.Nd3Nd552.Qe5+Kg653.Qe2Kg754.Kg1Qd4+55.Kh1Kh656.Qf3Kg657.Qe2Ne358.Ne1Qb659.Nf3f660.Qd3+Nf561.h4Qe662.hxg5fxg563.Kg2Kh564.Qd2Qf665.Qe2g466.Qe8+Kh667.Ne5Kg568.Qg8+Kf469.Nxg4Qc6+70.Kg1Qc1+71.Kg2Nh4+72.Kh2Nf3+73.Kh3Qf1#0-1 (73) Mista,A (2585)-Kovalenko,I (2682) Warsaw 20159...d52210.c343Bd62:5811.Nbd20 A rare line after some thought. Black hopes to
achieve a setup with Qf6- h6 and Nc6-e7 but White is planning to play Bd3 and
Nd2-f1-Ng3 to kill all Black's activity on the kingside. The tricky thing
about this move is that it is hard to understand if White wants to concede a
draw or still has some ambition to play on in this position.11.Bd3Re812.Rxe8+Qxe813.Qc2Nce714.Nbd2f615.Nf1g616.Bd2Be617.Re1Qd718.Ng3Ng719.Nh4c620.Bh6Re821.Re3Kf722.Kf1Bxg323.hxg3Ngf524.Nxf5Nxf525.Bxf5Bxf526.Qe2Rg827.f3g528.g4Bb129.Qd1Bxa230.Kf2Rg631.Qh1Qd632.g3Qd733.Bxg5Rxg534.Qxh7+Rg735.Qh5+Rg636.Qh7+Rg737.Qh5+
1/2-1/2 (37) Shankland,S (2666)-So,W (2822) Saint Louis 201711...Nce77:3411...Qf6
12.Bd3h613.Nf1Be614.Bd214.Ng3Nxg315.fxg3Bf516.Qc2Ne717.Nh4Bxd318.Qxd3g519.Rf1Qe620.Nf5Nxf521.Rxf5Rfe822.Bd2Qe223.Qc2Qe424.Qxe4dxe425.Be3Be726.Raf1f627.d5Rad828.Bd4Rd729.g4Bd830.Bxf6Bxf631.Rxf6Kg732.R6f5e333.Re1Re434.h3c635.Rf3Rxd536.Rfxe3Rxe337.Rxe3Kf638.Kf2Rd2+39.Re2Rd340.Ke1Rd541.Re4Re542.Re2b543.Kd2Rxe2+44.Kxe2Ke545.Ke3c546.b3c447.b4a61/2-1/2 (47) Melia,S (2459)-Zhao, X
(2527) Sochi 201514...Rae815.Qc2Nfe716.b4Ng617.Ng3Bg418.Rxe8Rxe819.Re1Rf820.Be2Nf421.Bxf4Qxf422.h3Bd723.Qd1g624.Bd3Re825.Rxe8+Bxe826.Nf1Ne727.Ne3Bd728.g3Qf629.Ng4Bxg430.hxg4Qe631.Nh2Kg732.Nf1Ng833.Qe2Qd734.Bb5Qd835.Kg2Nf636.Ne3a537.a3Qa838.Bd3axb439.axb4Qa140.Qd2c641.g5Ng842.gxh6+Nxh61/2-1/2 (42)
Nijboer,F (2562)-Meier,G (2663) Rijeka 201012.Qc2N7:09c65:3013.Bd34:07 Transposes to Topalov-Nakamura.g62:1214.Nf12:19f6?!8:40 I am not sure
if I can be a fan of this move. It surely covers e5 but it damages Black's
king for the rest of the game and almost kills the idea of any breakthrough or
active plan for Black. Now White has a simple play: occupy the e-file and wait!
14...Ng715.Ng3f616.Bh6Re817.Nh4Bxg318.hxg3Nef519.Qd2g520.Rxe8+Qxe821.Re1Qd822.Nxf5Nxf523.Bxf5Bxf524.Qe2Kf725.g4Bd726.f4Kg627.fxg5fxg528.Qe5Qf629.Qh2Bxg430.Re5Bf531.g4Bxg432.Rxg5+Qxg533.Bxg5Kxg534.Qxh7b635.Qb7Rc836.Qxa7b537.b3Kf438.Kf2Bf539.a4bxa440.bxa4Ke441.a5Rh842.Qc7Kd343.a61-0 (43) Topalov,V
(2760)-Nakamura,H (2779) Saint Louis 201615.h31:59Rf716:0316.Bd27:09Bd714:1017.Re20c5?5:11 A strange decision by Fabiano, which was made
too quickly. Black is already in a difficult situation and misses what turns
out to be a decisive moment. Caruana's choice does not really pose White any
trouble and only exacebrates his own tenuous situation.Black needed to
prepare his ...c5 idea with17...b6!If White lashes out with18.c4
then Black playsdxc419.Bxc4Nd520.Rae1Rc8and Black should be ok.18.dxc59:31Bxc54 Now Black is also saddled with an
isolated pawn with no obvious compensation.19.Bf42119.Ne3is also annoying.19...Rc87:4620.Rae16:20g5?!14:3720...b5followed by ...a5 would have been my choice in
this position. Nevetheless, the position remains really bad for Black. Caruana,
however decides to go for a 'make or break' direction in my opinion.21.Ng3!23:24 A very strong move after a long think. Hou Yifan eliminates
Black's only active piece and takes away all of Black's possible play, leaving
him with numerous weaknesses.Nxg31:1122.Bxg34a5?!6:04 Although I could say this move is weakening, the truth
is that it is hard to suggest anything for Black. These pawn moves are more
aimed at stopping White than expanding for Black.23.Qd23:04a48:0124.b42:12axb3625.axb33
White's advantage is near decicive. h4, b4, or even c4 may lead
to opening the game into an uncomfortable situation for Black.Ng6026.h47:0326.b4Bf827.Bc2Bc627...Bb528.Re3f529.Re6f430.Bxg6hxg631.Bh2and White is almost attacking every single
pawn in Black's camp28.Nd4+-26...gxh43927.Nxh422Nxh45728.Bxh42Qf8029.Qf45:33Bd64630.Qd417
It is really hard to suggest a good move for Black!Rd81831.Re38:17Bc82:2332.b4!3:24 World
women No. 1 player takes her time.Kg71:29She sees that after
32...Be533.Rxe5fxe534.Rxe5Re835.Rxd5Her attack over Black's king
is decisive.33.Bb51:17 Now Re8 is a threat that cannot be
prevented.Bc73934.Re82:0734.Be8is simpler
and it also looks cute!34...Qd61035.Bg33:54Qb6836.Qd311Bd71:1037.Bxd74:03Rdxd7438.Qf5!11 The Chinese
star had seen through these lines when she played Qd3.Bxg34739.Qg4+5Kh6340.Qh3+0 A
great victory for Hou Yifan.1–0
In these remarkably similar games, Black’s weakened kingside with pawns on …f6 and …g6 was hard to handle after the game opened up in the center with the c4 or for black …c5 break.
This video is suitable for players of all strength, also the world’s best, who want to see how white can play very solidly against the Berlin. The white setup, while being simple and easy to understand, looks innocent - a symmetrical pawn structure that reminds one of the exchange French, but due to a slight disharmony of Black’s pieces, looks can be deceptive. Shirov shows how White can get a position that is easier to play with White and where white retains practical chances.
The video also serves well as a master class lecture on the art of nurturing small advantages, specially involving the bishop pair.
Suitable for advanced club and tournament players.
Video running time: 4 h 30 min (English)
With interactive training including videofeedback
EXTRA: Database with 50 model games
Including ChessBase Reader
Price: €29.90; €25.13 without VAT (for customers outside the EU); $27.14 (without VAT)
15-minute introduction to Alexei Shirov's new DVD on cracking the Berlin Wall
Alexei Shirov
Alexei Shirov was born in Riga, just like world champion Mihail Tal, and also his playing style reminds many chess fans of the young Tal. In the beginning of the 1990s a comet-like rise brought the young Latvian to the world top within the shortest time. At the age of 22 he already had reached an Elo rating of nearly 2750 and belonged to the absolute world elite. Since then Shirov has been one of the best players in the world, delighting all chess fans with original and amazing ideas on the board.
Hedinn SteingrimssonGrandmaster Hedinn Steingrimsson was born 1975 in Iceland. In 1986 he became World Champion U12. 1990, at the age of 15, he won his first Icelandic Championship. Steingrimsson has also made interesting contributions to the field of chess training theory and is interested in how chess training can be improved theoretically and practically.
In this insightful video course, Grandmaster David Navara shares practical advice on when to calculate deeply in a position — and just as importantly, when not to.
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