Ever since the Kasparov-Kramnik WCh match (London 2000) players with the white pieces have been breaking their teeth biting on the Berlin Wall in the Ruy Lopez. The situation from White’s point of view has become precarious – ducking it is equivalent to capitulation, because in all alternative variations to the Berlin endgame White gives up from the start on the struggle for an opening advantage. White has to find ways to crack open Black’s defence. There is hardly any other grandmaster of his class who is as well known for his uncompromising and creative play as the Latvian Alexei Shirov.
Ever since Kramnik defeated Kasparov in their match back in 2000, the Berlin (Endgame) has posed White so many problems finding new ideas to fight for an advantage with 1.e4. Lately the Berlin Endgame has been avoided by many White players and the variation with 5.Re1 is currently trending. Could one ever expect these ensuing symmetrical positions to be problematic for Black at all? Despite the fact it was a blitz game, Topalov's loss against Karjakin must have been one of the most painful miniatures of his career. More about this game and other interesting ideas with 5.Re1 will be discussed in tonights Fast & Furious show.
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White is an exchange and a pawn down, but how should he continue developing a massive attack?
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