Norway Chess and Shjarjah Masters 2023: Highlights with analyses by Giri, Erigaisi, Cheparinov, Oparin, Nguyen and others, videos by Rogozenco, "Special" on Hikaru Nakamura, opening videos by Sokolov, King and Ris, 11 repertoire articles and much more.
Our starting position arises after 1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.f4!
Since the first days of the Alekhine Defence, it was known that the aggressive setup with 5.f4! was the most ambitious and could be dangerous for Black. Some even considered it a refutation of the whole opening. However, practice showed that things are not that simple, and Black got decent results. It became clear that White has to be very precise, and in the case of an inaccuracy, could easily get into troubles themself. Thus, for decades, many grandmasters preferred other, more practical setups for White against the Alekhine. Nowadays, strong engines help White to find precise ways in many lines, giving the 5.f4! variation new life. In general, White has a big centre and a nice advantage, but they should know the variations precisely. I would pick three GMs who play this system well: Jeffery Xiong, Gawain Jones and Velimir Ivic.
Let's begin the analysis. From the diagram, above, I examine A) 5...g5?!, B) 5...g6?! and C) 5...dxe5.
This ultra-brave move was tried by Magnus Carlsen in a blitz game. 6.Nc3 Bg7.
Now Gukesh played 7.Nf3 and had an advantage, but a more aggressive approach is 7.Qh5! - please watch this exciting game between two wonderful players: Gukesh,D - Carlsen,M 0-1.
Black intends to develop the bishop to g7, but neglects to immediately counterattack in the centre. White has the usual h2-h4-h5 idea, which gives them a comfortable position. 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.Be3 0-0.
Here White can reach maximum space advantage and start a direct attack: 8.c5! N6d7 and now both 9.Nf3 or 9.h4 give them an excellent position, see Ivic,V - Bortnyk,O 1-0.
The main variation 6.fxe5!. Of course, White recaptures with the f-pawn.
And now, Black has three different ways to play: C1) 6...c5?!, C2) 6...Bf5 and C3) 6...Nc6.
C1) 6...c5?!
This direct attempt to attack the centre is dubious if White knows how to react. The resulting position resembles some sharp variations of the 3.f3 system of the Gruenfeld Defence, but in a much-improved version for the white side! 7.d5! g6 8.Nc3 Bg7 9.Bf4! 0-0 10.Qd2 e6 11.0-0-0!.
After 11...exd5 12.cxd5 the engine proves that White can keep a strong centre and - more than that - push it forward at a suitable moment, see Santos Latasa,J - Polaczek,R 1-0.
C2) 6...Bf5
A logical move. Before playing e7-e6, Black wants to develop this bishop to an active square. 7.Nc3 e6 8.Nf3 Bb4?! This is a favourite line of GM Olexandr Bortnyk, which he used in blitz games with good results.
Note by Christian Bauer: "By the way, GM Olexandr Bortnyk still uses the variation. The reason is that many people automatically play 8.Be3 - as against 7...Nc6 - after which Black is okay. I had tried the variation with Black myself and hadn't paid attention before that 8.Nf3 refutes it."
However, better is 8...Nc6, which transposes to C3) 6...Nc6. 9.Bd3! c5.
10.Bg5!. A strong intermediate move before taking action in the centre. 10...Qd7 11.Bxf5 exf5 12.d5!.
A necessary but also strong pawn sacrifice, enabling White to get a strong centre, see Xiong,J - Bortnyk,O 0-1.
C3) 6...Nc6 7.Be3! Bf5 8.Nc3 e6 9.Nf3
We have reached what is basically the key tabiya of the system. There are ways to deviate from the main road, but White is ready to meet all of them! 9...Be7. Black can also play 9...Bb4, 9...Qd7 and 9...Bg4, all met by 10.Be2, which we cover in the detailed analysis of the last game. 10.Be2 0-0 11.0-0 f6! 12.exf6 Bxf6 13.Qd2.
Here we are! White obviously has a better pawn structure due to the isolated enemy e6 pawn. But the black pieces are pretty active, and White should be careful about their centre. For a long time, it was considered that Black is completely fine here, but modern engines disagree - White is still fighting for advantage! See Van Foreest,J - Aravindh,C 1/2.
Summary: The line with 5.f4! is the sharpest and most principled approach against the Alekhine. I have proven White's advantage in all variations, but they should know their stuff very well. Black's main hope is to exert considerable power against the centre, but usually, White has a straightforward way to handle it. I suggest going through these games carefully and then memorising them. I believe your freshly acquired opening knowledge will prove excellent against the Alekhine in practice and hopefully yield splendid results in over-the-board or online games!
You can find the complete article with all games and analyses in ChessBase Magazine #215!
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From Hikaru Nakamura's last-minute win in Stavanger to new repertoire ideas for the Caro-Kann, Sicilian or Nimzo-Indian to Part 5 of Karsten Mueller’s video series "Fundamental Endgame Knowledge":
Over 7 hours of video playing time with Ivan Sokolov, Daniel King, Jan Markos, Mihail Marin, Oliver Reeh and many more! World-class chess explained in video: Dorian Rogozenco shows two wins of Hikaru Nakamura from Norway Chess 2023, including the decisive last-round game against Fabiano Caruana – Sharjah Masters 2023: Analyses by tournament winner Arjun Erigaisi as well as Ivan Cheparinov, Grigoriy Oparin, Thai Dai Van Ngyuen and Samvel Ter-Sahakyan – “Special” on Hikaru Nakamura: exclusive collection of 19 encounters with detailed commentary from 2007 to 2023 – Action in the centre: Christian Braun's Anti-Sicilian recipe 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5!? - "Nakamura's strategy in practice": Mihail Marin sheds light on the US American's skills, incl. two interactive videos and a large collection of exercises – Rossolimo á la Carlsen: Daniel King recommends the cutting-edge 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e5!? for Black. - "Basic Knowledge" Part #5: Karsten Mueller reveals tips and tricks in the endgame with two pawns against one. incl. two interactive training videos and much more!
Top games and master analyses
Norway Chess 2023: With a win in the final round against Fabiano Caruana, who was leading until then, Hikaru Nakamura won the tournament n Stavanger. Analyses by Anish Giri, Michal Krasenkow and Igor Stohl. Dorian Rogozenco shows two of Nakaumura’s wins in video.
Sharjah Masters 2023: Arjun Erigaisi took undivided first place with 6.5 out of 9, followed by seven players with 6 out of 9. The tournament winner comments on two of his best games. Plus analyses from Grigoriy Oparin, Ivan Cheparinov, Thai Dai Van Nguyen and Samvel Ter-Sahakyan.
CBM authors (Lubomir Ftacnik, Imre Hera, Igor Stohl, Viktor Moskalenko, Renato Quintiliano and many more) comment on their favourite games of "H-Bomb" - an exclusive collection of 19 encounters from the period 2007 to 2023.
Alvar Alonso Rosell presents an active concept for Black against the Catalan, with which one can put one's stamp on the game early on - and that by a transition to the Dutch!
Ivan Sokolov examines the highly topical variation 11.h4!? in the Semi-Tarrasch, especially Giri's novelty 13.Rh3 against Praggnanandhaa from the Chessable Masters. Robert Ris uses three new games by Richard Rapport to examine what White can hope for in the Vienna Game with 5.Qf3. And Daniel King gives a recommendation for the sideline 3...e5 against the Sicilian Rossolimo Variation - which has already been tested at the highest level!
Ivan Sokolov: Semi-Tarrasch
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.e4 Nxc3 7.bxc3 cxd4 8.cxd4 Bb4+ 9.Bd2 Bxd2+ 10.Qxd2 0–0 11.h4!?
Robert Ris: Vienna Game
1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.f4 d5 4.fxe5 Nxe4 5.Qf3
Daniel King: Rossolimo Variation
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e5
From the Alekhine Defence to the Huebner Variation in the Nimzo-Indian - ChessBase Magazine #215 offers 11 opening articles with new ideas for your repertoire!
Grigorians: Alekhine Defence 4.c4 Nb6 5.f4
Postny: Caro-Kann Fantasy Variation 3.f3 Qb6
Braun: Sicilian 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5
Quintiliano: Najdorf Poisoned Pawn Variation II
Papp: French Winawer 5.Bd2 (Part II)
Ris: Two Knights Defence 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 d5!?
Szabo: Vienna Game 3.f4 d5 4.fxe5 Nxe4
Hera: Petroff 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.c4
Kuzmin: Slav Defence 4.e3 Bf5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nh4
Schandorff: Tarrasch Defence with 5.e3 and 7.g3
Edouard: Nimzo Indian 4.e3 c5 5.Bd3 Nc6 6.Nf3
"With engine help in Kasparov's footsteps" – Rainer Knaak presents eight traps from tournament practice - from the Caro-Kann to the King's Indian. You can see three of them demonstrated in the video!
The 2023 World Women's Championship between defending champion Ju Wenjun and her challenger Lei Tingjie was decided in the last round. Play through the final game together with Robert Ris!
Dorian Rogozenco presents the sixth game of the 1972 World Championship match between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky in Reykjavik - a "very impressive game, especially the way Fischer outplayed his opponent!"
In a game of chess, very different emotions can influence decision-making to one's disadvantage. How can this be prevented? Jan Markos gives you a concrete guide and reveals which practical trick has often helped him himself!
Strategy expert Mihail Marin sheds light on the skills of the US American, who is known and feared above all as a very concrete player. Incl. two interactive videos and a large collection of exercises!
37 games peppered with many training questions await you in Oliver Reeh's tactics contribution! Solve his four favourite combinations move by move together with the IM from Hamburg in the interactive video format with feedback function!
In the introductory video, our expert presents the most important techniques. Then it's your turn in two interactive training videos! In addition, Dr Karsten Mueller provides a contribution with endgame highlights by Hikaru Nakamura (video introduction + analyses).
Order now in the ChessBase Shop – Single issue € 21.90!
Try out ChessBase Magazine now! Order the ChessBase Magazine taster package!
Read ChessBase Magazine for 6 months (= 3 issues) for the special price of only € 44.90 € (instead of € 65,70 for buying them individually). As a thank you, you will also receive 3 months ChessBase Premium Membership free of charge.
*Bonus for new subscribers only, i.e. there was no CBM subscription for 12 months!
Save twice with ChessBase Magazine: For the annual subscription to ChessBase Magazine you’ll pay only € 109.90 per year (compared to € 131.40 for the 6 individual issues).
* Bonus only for new subscribers, i.e. there was no CBM subscription for 12 months! As a new subscriber you will receive the original ChessBase USB stick with 128 GB
