Grivas: Underdeveloped Battery

Surprising Your Opponents with the Lazy Sicilian

In just 60 minutes, you will be well-equipped with a surprise weapon, which will take most of your opponents out of book right from the start.

Batteries generally refer to heavy pieces (rooks and queens) on an open or semi-open file, but (as mentioned above) the term also applies to long-range pieces that occupy the same diagonal.

Batteries are important because they put immense pressure on a file or diagonal, often with devastating results. It is particularly effective to form a battery using rooks because they may be combined to occupy the same rank or file. In theory, bishops may also form a battery in a case of underpromotion of a pawn to a bishop occupying the same diagonal as the other bishop. In actual games, however, the queen and rooks are often employed.

Batteries are often used as part of a combination which may involve other types of tactics as well. When the queen and a bishop are forming a battery, it is rather common to have the bishop on an open diagonal, supporting its queen. A rare case is the formation (battery) of a queen and bishop, when the bishop hasn't developed yet!

By this way, defensive or attacking purposes are fulfilled, and we will examine the why and how. Click on the notation or diagrams to follow the moves on a special replay board.

Anand, Viswanathan2788

1–0

Adams, Michael2719

FIDE-Wch San Luis30.09.2005[Efstratios Grivas]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Bb7 10.d4 Re8 11.Nbd2 Bf8 12.a4 h6 13.Bc2 (D)

This is the 'Zaitsev Variation' of the 'Ruy Lopez', which was thoroughly tested already in the G.Kasparov-A.Karpov matches. White chooses the most principled continuation, which is just as sharp, as the most complex Sicilians. A less committal strategic alternative is 13.d5 , blockading the centre. Even here White can fight for an edge: Nb8 13...Ne7 14.c4 bxc4 15.Nxc4 c6 16.dxc6 Nxc6 17.Be3 14.c4 14.Qe2 Nbd7! 15.axb5 axb5 16.Rxa8 Qxa8 17.Qxb5 Nc5 14...c6 14...bxc4 15.Nxc4! c6 16.dxc6 Bxc6 17.Bc2 Qc7 18.Bd2 Nbd7 19.Na5 15.axb5 axb5 16.Rxa8 Bxa8 17.cxb5!? cxd5 18.exd5 Bxd5!? 18...Nxd5 19.Ne4 Nf6 19...Nb4? 20.Bg5! Qd7 21.Bxh6! d5 22.Bd2 Nd3 23.Nfg5+- Svidler,P-Grischuk,A Panormos 2001 20.Nxf6+ Qxf6 21.Bd5 19.Bxd5 Nxd5 20.Nc4 20.Ne4 Nb4!? 21.Nc3 Nd7∞ 20...Nf6!? 20...Nb6 21.Nxb6 21.Nfxe5 Qc7!= 21...Qxb6 22.Qd5 Nd7 23.Be3 Qb8 . P.Svidler evaluates this position as unclear, but a later game didn't confirm this: 24.Rc1! Nf6 25.Qb3 Qb7 25...d5!? 26.Rc6 26.b6 Nd5 27.Qb5! Rb8 28.Rc6 Nxe3 29.fxe3 Qd7 30.e4!± Sudakova,I-Pisakov,I Russia 2002 21.Be3∞ Mekhitarian,K-Matsuura,E Americana 2009. 13...exd4 Black also chooses the most complex continuation. Manoeuvring in the 'Breyer' spirit is solid, but rather passive: 13...Nb8 14.Bd3 c6 15.Nf1 Nbd7 16.Ng3 . 14.cxd4 Nb4 15.Bb1 c5 16.d5 Nd7 17.Ra3 (D)

17...c4!? The position resembles a 'Benoni Defence' rather than a 'Ruy Lopez', and as both sides are playing on opposite flanks, the tension will rise very fast. The text was played by A.Karpov already in 1986; 4 years later he started to prefer the even more double-edged 17...f5 . Black wants to break up White's centre, even at the cost of weakening his kingside. This position is topical even nowadays and White's best is the flexible 18.Nh2! (planning Rae3, Rf3, or Rg3) Nf6 19.Rf3 19.Rg3 Qd7!? 19...Re5 20.Rxf5 Rxf5 21.exf5 Bxd5 22.Ng4 (D)

22...Ra7!? another idea by A.Beliavsky, but it hasn't been tested too extensively yet - 22...Bf7 23.Ne4 Nxg4 24.Qxg4 d5 25.f6!± Nijboer,F-Solleveld,M Amsterdam 2002 23.Ne4 23.Nxf6+ Qxf6 24.Ne4 Petrosian,T-Sulskis,S Kusadasi 2006 23...Bxe4 24.Bxe4 Nxg4 25.Qxg4 d5 26.Bb1 Re7 27.Rd1 Qd6 28.Bd2 Nc6 29.axb5 axb5 30.Bf4 Qf6 31.Qf3 Nb4 32.Be3 Rd7 33.b3 ½-½ Morozevich,A-Beliavsky,A Hyderabad 2002. 18.axb5 axb5 19.Nd4 (D)

19...Qb6!? M.Adams has never played the 'Zaitsev Variation' with black before, so he has obviously prepared this rare and risky move (the black queen is getting away from the defence of her monarch) at home. However, V.Anand knew more and was still moving fast... 19...Ne5?! , is inferior due to 20.Rxa8! Qxa8 21.Nxb5 Qa5 21...Rc8 22.Nf3! Ned3 23.Rf1 Qa1 24.Bd2! Qxb2 25.Bc3 Qb3 26.Qd2 Qa4 27.Nfd4± Shirov,A-Lekic,D Neum 2002 21...Qa1 22.Na3 Topalov,V-Almasi,Z Monte Carlo 2003 22.Na3 Ba6 23.Re3 Qc5 24.Rc3 Ned3 25.Bxd3 Nxd3 26.Qf3 Ne5 27.Qe2 Anand,V-Kamsky,G Las Palmas 1995. Black is tied down to the defence of the c4-pawn and he doesn't have sufficient compensation for the pawn. A.Karpov's choice from 1986 was 19...Rxa3 20.bxa3 Nd3 21.Bxd3 cxd3 and this still seems playable: 22.Re3 22.Bb2 Qa5 23.Nf5 g6!? 23...Ne5?! 24.Bxe5 dxe5 25.Nb3 Qb6 26.Qxd3 Ra8 27.Rc1! Kasparov,G-Karpov,A Leningrad 1986 24.Nb3 Qa4 25.Qxd3 Ne5! 26.Bxe5 Rxe5 27.f4 Re8 28.Ng3 Bg7 22...Ne5 23.N4f3 f5!? 24.Nxe5 Rxe5 25.Bb2 Re7! 25...Re8?! 26.Qb3 fxe4 27.Nxe4 Qa8 28.Qxb5± 26.exf5 26.Qb3 fxe4 27.Rxe4 Rxe4 28.Nxe4 Qa8 29.Qxd3 Bxd5 30.Ng3 Bxg2 31.Qg6 Bf3 32.Nf5 Qe4 33.Nxh6+ Kh8 34.Nf7+ ½-½ Glek,I-Kuzmin,A Blagoveshensk 1988 26...Rxe3 27.fxe3 Bxd5 28.Qg4 Qg5!? 29.Qxg5 hxg5 30.Kf2 Bc6 31.Bc3 Be7 32.Bb4 g6 33.fxg6 Kg7 34.e4 g4! 35.Ke3 gxh3 36.gxh3 Bg5+ 37.Kxd3 Kxg6 Kristensen,S-Alvarez Villar,H Corr 2000. Black managed to hold this ending thanks to his bishop pair and the greatly reduced material. However, a line, in which the maximum is a draw after accurate defence throughout the whole game, is understandably rather unattractive. 20.Nf5 Ne5 Black must allow the a3-rook to the kingside: 20...Rxa3? 21.bxa3 Nd3 22.Bxd3 cxd3 23.Nxh6+! gxh6 24.Qg4+± . On the other hand, once the a3-rook leaves its post, ...Ra1 becomes an important resource. A possible alternative is 20...g6 and now: 21.Nf1!? 21.Rg3 Ra1!? 22.b3 Nd3 23.Bxd3 cxd3∞ 21...Rxa3 21...gxf5? 22.Rg3+ Kh7 23.Qh5 Ne5 24.exf5! Bxd5 25.Bxh6! Bxh6 26.f6+ Nbd3 27.Rg7+ Kh8 28.Qxh6# 22.bxa3 Nxd5 23.exd5 Rxe1 24.Qxe1 gxf5 25.Bxf5 . Despite the exchange of all rooks, Black must still defend his king with care. 21.Rg3 (D)

21...g6! 21...Kh7? 22.Nf3 Nbd3 23.Be3 Qa5 24.Bxd3 Nxd3 25.Bxh6! gxh6 26.Ng5+! Kg6 27.Qh5+‼ (1-0 Marcinkiewicz,A-Zundel,W Corr 2002) Kxh5 28.Nh7! Qxe1+ 29.Kh2+- . It's easy to overlook this even in an e-mail game and such fantastic tactics make the whole line very dangerous for Black. 22.Nf3 Ned3 (D)

Nearly everybody played like this, but one feels that deserting the kingside (started already with 19...Qb6!?) is fraught with danger. Interesting is 22...Nbd3 23.Be3 Qa5 24.Nxe5!? Qxe1+ 25.Qxe1 Nxe1 26.Nd7 . 23.Qd2! V.Anand & A.Jusupow prepared this underdevelopd battery blow for G.Kamsky already 10 years ago and it hit the innocent M.Adams by ricochet. White's concentration of forces on the kingside will be even more dangerous, if his queen manages to join in. No matter how many improvements for Black we'll find afterwards, facing V.Anand's surprising novelty in a practical game was very tough and 23.Qd2!, creates a lasting impression. Especially in a psychological sense, as up to move 27 V.Anand hardly spent any time at all! Until now, mostly correspondence players tried 19...Qb6!? and the text move never entered anyone's mind (or computer screen!). An alternative is 23.Be3 Qd8! 23...Qc7? 24.N3h4! Kh7 25.Bxh6! Bxh6 26.Nxh6 Nxe1 27.N6f5± 24.Nxh6+ 24.N3h4 Kh7 and White has no obvious follow-up. 24.Bd4 Nxe1 25.Qxe1 Ra1 24.Bxh6!? Nxe1 25.Qxe1 Ra1 26.Qxb4 24...Bxh6 25.Bxh6 Qf6∞ Timofeev,A-Inarkiev,E Novokuznetsk 2008. 23...Bxd5? M.Adams realised he was trapped in his opponent's analysis, so after long thought he tries to disconcert White with an unexpected counterblow. However, his luck fails him - although it's very difficult to foresee, that the text move loses more or less by force. It was necessary to enter the wild tactical labyrinth with the consistent and materialistic 23...Nxe1! 24.Nxe1 24.N3h4 Nbd3 25.Bxd3 25.Nxh6+? Bxh6 26.Qxh6 Qxf2+ 27.Kh2 Ne5!-+ 25.Nxg6? fxg6 26.Rxg6+ Kf7 27.Nxh6+ Ke7! 27...Bxh6? 28.Qxh6 Qxf2+ 29.Kh1= 28.Qg5+ Kd7 29.Be3 Qa5 30.Ng4 Kc7 25...Nxd3 26.Nxh6+ Bxh6 26...Kh7?! 27.Nxf7 27.Qxh6 Qxf2+ 28.Kh2 Nxc1 29.Nf5!? 29.Nxg6 Qxg3+ 30.Kxg3 fxg6= 29...Qxg3+ 30.Kxg3 gxf5 31.exf5 Ne2+ 32.Kh2 Nd4 33.f6 Nf5 34.Qg5+ Kh7 35.Qxf5+ Kh6 36.Qd7 36.h4 Re5 37.Qg4 Bxd5 38.Qg7+ Kh5 39.Kh3 Re3+ 40.g3 Be6+ 41.Kg2 Re5 42.Kf3 Rf5+ 43.Kg2 Re5= 36...Bxd5 37.Qxd6 Be4 38.Qg3 Rg8 39.Qe3+ Kg6= 24...Ra1 24...Nxd5 25.Nxh6+ Bxh6 26.Qxh6 Ra1!∞ 26...Qd4? 27.e5!+- 24...Nd3? 25.Nxd3 cxd3 26.Nxh6+! Bxh6 27.Qxh6+- 25.Nxh6+ Bxh6 25...Kg7? 26.Nxf7!+- 26.Qxh6 (D)

26...Nxd5! 26...Rxb1? 27.Rxg6+! fxg6 28.Qxg6+ Kf8 28...Kh8 29.Qxe8+ Kg7 30.Qe7+ Kg8 31.Qe6+ Kh8 32.Qf6+ Kg8 33.Qg6+ Kh8 34.Bg5 Rxe1+ 35.Kh2+- 29.Bh6+ Ke7 30.Bg5+ Kf8 30...Kd7 31.Qf7+ Kc8 32.Qxe8+ Kc7 33.Qd8# 31.Qh6+ Kg8 32.Bf6! Rxe1+ 33.Kh2+- 26...Re5 27.Nf3! 27.Bd2 Rxb1 28.Bxb4 Rxb2 29.Rxg6+ fxg6 30.Qxg6+ Kh8 31.Qh6+ Kg8 ½-½ Relic,R-Valori,N Internet 2006 27...Rxb1 27...Qc7? 28.Nh4!+- 28.Rxg6+! fxg6 29.Qxg6+ Kf8 30.Nxe5 30.Qf6+ Ke8! 31.Nxe5 Rxc1+ 32.Kh2 Bc8! 32...Bc6? 33.dxc6 dxe5 34.Qh8+ Ke7 35.Qg7+ Kd6 36.Qd7+ Kc5 37.c7+- 33.Qh8+= 30...Rxc1+ 31.Kh2 Qxf2! 31...Qc7? 32.Qf6+ Kg8 33.Ng6!+- 32.Qxd6+ Kg8 32...Ke8? 33.Qb8+ Ke7 34.Ng6+ Kd7 35.Qxb7+ Kd8 36.Qb8+ Kd7 37.Ne5+ Ke7 38.Qc7+ Ke8 39.Qd7+ Kf8 40.Qd8+ Kg7 41.Qg5++- 33.Qg6+ Kf8= 27.Rxg6+ 27.e5 Rxb1 28.Rxg6+ fxg6 29.Qxg6+ Kf8 30.Qf5+= 27...fxg6 28.Qxg6+ Kf8 29.Qf5+ 29.Bh6+?! Ke7 30.exd5 Bxd5 31.Bg5+ Kd7 32.Bf5+ Re6! , is already dangerous for White 29...Kg7 30.Qg5+ Kf7 31.Qh5+ Ke7 32.exd5 Qd4 33.Qf5 Kd8 34.Bg5+ Kc7 35.Qf7+ Kb6 36.Qxe8 Rxb1 37.Qd8+= (D)

Maybe V.Anand saw more, but from a practical viewpoint it's important that he always had at least a draw. Note that other moves are losing: 23...Nxc1? 24.Rxc1 Kh7 25.Qxb4 gxf5 26.Qc3! Qd8 27.Qd4+- , or 23...Ra1? 24.Nxh6+! Bxh6 25.Qxh6 Qxf2+ 26.Kh2 Nxe1 26...Nxc1 27.e5! Rxb1 28.e6!+- 27.Rxg6+ fxg6 28.Qxg6+ Kf8 29.Bh6+ Ke7 30.Bg5+ Kf8 31.Qxd6+ Kg8 32.Qg6+ Kf8 33.Bh6+ Ke7 34.Qe6+ Kd8 35.Bg5+ Kc7 36.Bf4+ Kd8 37.Qd6+ Kc8 38.Qc7# . 24.Nxh6+! White invests more material. 24.exd5?! Nxe1 25.Nxe1 Ra1 , turns the tables. 24...Bxh6 25.Qxh6 (D)

25...Qxf2+ 25...Nxe1 , loses to 26.Nh4! , and 25...Bxe4 , to 26.Ng5 26.Be3 Bxf3 27.Bxd3 Nxd3 28.Bxb6 Rxe1+ 29.Kh2+- 26...Qxf2+ 27.Kh2 Nxe1 28.Qh7+ Kf8 29.Nxe4 Qd4 30.Rxg6! Rxe4 31.Bxe4 Qe5+ 32.Kh1 Nf3 32...Ra1 33.Rg8+ Ke7 34.Qh4+ Qf6 35.Qxe1+- 33.Bxf3+- . 26.Kh2 Nxe1 (D)

26...Re5 , again fails to the 27.Bg5! Rxg5 28.Nxg5 Qf6 29.exd5+- , and 26...Nxc1 , to 27.exd5 Ncd3 27...Rxe1 28.Bxg6+- 28.Re6!+- . 27.Nh4! Here V.Anand for the first time spent a few minutes, probably just to check his old homework. White spurns a draw and continues his attack even a rook down, avoiding 27.Rxg6+? fxg6 28.Qxg6+ Kf8 29.Qf6+= . 27...Ned3 This loses quickly. Somewhat more stubborn, but still insufficient was 27...Ra7 28.Nf5! 28.Nxg6? Qxg3+! 29.Kxg3 fxg6∞ 28...Qxg3+ 29.Kxg3 gxf5 30.Qg5+ Kf8 31.Qf6 Re6 32.Qd8+ Kg7 33.exf5+- . 27...Re6 , also loses to 28.exd5 Rf6 28...Re2 29.Bxg6+- 29.Nxg6 fxg6 30.Rxg6+ Rxg6 31.Qxg6+ Kf8 32.Qxd6+ Kg8 33.Qg6+ Kf8 34.Bh6+ Ke7 35.Bg5+ Kd7 36.Qe6+ Kc7 37.d6+! Kb7 37...Kb6 38.Be3++- 38.Be4+ Kb6 39.Bxa8+- . And finally, 27...Nf3+ , loses to 28.Nxf3 Bxe4 29.Bxe4 Rxe4 30.Ng5 Re1 31.Qh7+ Kf8 32.Rf3+- . 28.Nxg6 Qxg3+ 29.Kxg3 fxg6 30.Qxg6+ Kf8 (D)

30...Kh8 31.Bg5+- . 31.Qf6+ Kg8 32.Bh6 32.Bh6 Black resigned due to Ra7 33.Qg6+ Kh8 34.Qxe8+ Bg8 35.Qg6 Rf7 36.Bg5+- . 1–0

Anand, Viswanathan2767

1–0

Ding, Liren2805

Altibox - Armageddon Stavanger08.06.2019[Efstratios Grivas]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.0-0 Nf6 5.d3 0-0 6.c3 d6 7.Re1 a5 8.h3 h6 9.Nbd2 Be6 10.Bb5 Qb8 11.Nf1 Qa7 (D)

Black has tried a curious idea (...Qb8-a7) and the main question is if the black queen is doing fine on a7! Well, in general she shouldn't be there, but still this has to be proven! 12.Qd2! A rather interesting idea to protect the f2-square, without exchanging any piece! There is no point for White to opt for 12.Be3 Bxe3 13.Nxe3 Ne7= , so his queen is taking a strange position as well! A game where both queens are taking rather unusual placements… 12...Rad8 A logical novelty to 12...a4 13.Ng3 Qa5 14.Bxc6 bxc6 15.Nh4∞ Dominguez Perez,L-Vidit,S Hengshui 2019. 13.Ng3 Ne7 14.d4?! Too early for this central advance. White had to prepare it by 14.Ba4 . 14...Bb6?! 14...exd4! , was called for: 15.Nxd4 15.cxd4? Bb4 15...d5! , when Black is in the driver's seat. 15.Qc2!? It is time for full development. Ng6 Black wants to play it safe. 15...exd4 16.Nxd4 Bxd4 17.cxd4 Qxd4 18.Be3 Qb4 19.Bf1 , gives White good compensation for the sacrificed pawn. 16.Be3 c6 17.Bd3 Rfe8 (D)

18.Qd2 The white queen returns to d2, eyeing h6. Also good is 18.a4 , as White has more space and more harmonic, centralised pieces. 18...d5? Too optimistic. Black is opening the centre and allows White to sacrifice, while his queen is standing on a7! Maybe 18...Kh7 , is better here, although after 19.a4 , White should stand better. 19.Bxh6! (D)

Here comes! 19...dxe4? 19...gxh6? , loses to 20.exd5 Rxd5 21.Qxh6+- , but maybe better is 19...exd4 20.cxd4 Bxd4 21.Bg5± . 20.Nxe4 Nxe4 (D)

21.Rxe4? The right way is 21.Bxe4 exd4 22.Qg5! Rd5 23.Qg3 , when White will soon prevail. 21...Bd5! Avoiding the trap 21...gxh6? 22.Qxh6 Bd5 23.Nh4!+- . 22.Rg4 22.Rh4 , is quite interesting here: e4! 22...Nxh4? 23.Nxh4 Re6 24.Qg5 Rxh6 25.Nf5 Rg6 26.Ne7+ Kf8 27.Nxg6+ fxg6 28.Bxg6 Qb8 29.Qf5+ Kg8 30.Re1 e4 31.Bh7+ Kh8 32.Qh5 Qf4 33.Bxe4+ Qh6 34.Qxh6+ gxh6 35.Bxd5 Rxd5 36.Re8+ Kg7 37.Re7+ Kg6 38.Rxb7± 23.Bxg7 Kxg7 24.Qh6+ Kf6 25.Re1 (D)

25...Qb8 25...exf3? 26.Rf4# 25...exd3? 26.Rf4# 26.Rexe4 Bxe4 27.Bxe4 Rxe4 28.Rxe4 Rh8 29.Qg5+ Kg7 30.Nh4 Qd8 31.Nf5+ Kf8 32.Qg4∞ . 22...e4! 23.Nh4 Interesting is 23.c4 , but White seems to have no more than a draw after exd3 24.cxd5 Rxd5 25.Qxd3 gxh6 26.Rxg6+ fxg6 27.Qxg6+ Kf8 . 23...exd3 (D)

24.Nf5? It is time to take the draw by 24.Nxg6 fxg6 25.Rxg6 Rd7 26.Bxg7 Rxg7 27.Rxg7+ Kxg7 28.Qg5+= . But White still believed in his attack... 24...Be6? A bad blunder which turns the tables. After 24...Re2! 25.Qxd3 Qa6! 26.Qg3 gxh6 27.Rxg6+ fxg6 28.Qxg6+ Kf8 , the black king escapes and Black will win! 25.Bxg7! Bxf5 26.Qh6! White threatens Bf6 and mate. Re6 (D)

27.Bh8! And Black resigned, as he is getting mated! 1–0

Grivas, Efstratios2425

1–0

Skalkotas, Nikolaos2300

GRE-Ch Athens03.03.1991[Efstratios Grivas]

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nf3 b6 3.g3 Bb7 4.Bg2 e5 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.0-0 e4 7.Nd4 Bxc3 8.dxc3 0-0 9.Nf5 Re8 (D)

White has gained an advantage, as he possesses the bishop pair and an excellent placed f5-knight. But how to continue? 10.Qd2! A great move/idea, which creates difficult situations for Black! Before the development of the c1-bishop, the white queen takes her place into the attack! Re6 10...d6 11.Qg5 g6 , weakens too much the dark squares and the c1-bishop should feel rather happy. 11.Qg5 Qf8 12.Bh3 Kh8 13.Qh4! Now the c1-bishop will join the attack. d6 (D)

14.g4!? An interesting advance, although 14.Bf4 , was quite acceptable. 14...Nc6?! 14...Nfd7 15.g5 Ne5 16.Ne3 Re8 17.Nd5 Na6 18.b3 , was a better try, although White remains better. 15.g5 Nd7 16.Ne3! Nce5 Black is forced to hand the exchange, as 16...Re7 17.Nd5 , was even worse. 17.Bxe6 fxe6 And White won, but not without mistakes from both sides! 18.Bd2 Qf7 19.b3 Rf8 20.Ng2 Nc5 21.Be3 Ncd7 22.Nf4 Ng6 23.Nxg6+ Qxg6 24.Kh1 Ne5 25.Rg1 Qf5 26.Rg2 c5 27.Rag1 Kg8 28.Qg3 d5 29.cxd5 exd5 30.Rd1 Rf7 31.h3 Nc6 32.g6 hxg6 33.Qxg6 Qxh3+ 34.Rh2 Qf5 35.Qg3 Rd7 36.Qh4 d4 37.Rg1 Kf7 38.Qh8 1–0

- Part two coming soon -

Efstratios Grivas

Efstratios Grivas was born in March 1966 in Egio, Achaia and grew up in Athens. His registration at the Kallithea Chess Club in 1979 was his first contact with chess. Two years later he won the Greek Cadet Championship. He was trained by IM Dr. Nikolai Minev (1981–1982), FM Michalis Kaloskambis (1984–1986), GM Efim Geller (1987–1988) and IM Nikolai Andrianov (1990–1996). Currently he is living and working in the UAE.

Here are the important stations of his chess career:

Titles Awarded: Grandmaster, FIDE Senior Trainer, FIDE Arbiter, FIDE Organiser.

Working Positions: Former Secretary of the FIDE (World Federation) Trainers' Commission (10 years), Secretary of the European Chess Union Training Commission, Director of the Grivas Chess International Academy (FIDE Academy), Former Director of the Sharjah International Chess Academy.

Achievements as a Player:

• Winner of Gold Medal in the European Team Championship 1989 (3rd Board).
• Winner of Silver Medal in the Olympiad 1998 (3rd Board).
• 4th Position World Junior Championship U.20 1985.
• Winner of five Balkan Medals (2 Gold - 1 Silver - 2 Bronze).
• Winner of the International 'Acropolis' Tournament (1983, 1986 & 1991). 
• Winner of Greek Individual & Team Championships (28 times!).
• Winner of United Arab Emirates Individual & Team Championships (3 times).
• Winner of various International Tournaments.

Achievements as Coach/Trainer/Captain:

• Winner of the FIDE Euwe Medal 2011 & 2012 & 2017 (world's best junior trainer).
• Winner of FIDE Award Boleslavsky Medal 2009 & 2015 (world's best author).
• Winner of the FIDE Razuvaev Medal 2014 (trainers' education).
• Professional Lecturer at FIDE Seminars for Training & Certifying Trainers (91 total).
• Author of 126 chess books!
• Creator of more than 20 Grandmasters and other various titled players (WGM, IM, WIM, FM).
• Worked with National Teams of Austria, Germany, Greece, Jordan, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, and Turkey.
• He has won more than 50 World's & Continental Youth Medals with his students.
• An opening variation has been added to his credit; it is called the 'Grivas Sicilian', characterised by the moves 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Qb6.
• In 2017 he led the World's Team U.17 as Captain & Coach in the match USA vs. The World (U.17 & U.14), which was won heavily by the World.

Video interview with Efstratios Grivas 

Master Class Vol. 12: Viswanathan Anand

This DVD allows you to learn from the example of one of the best players in the history of chess and from the explanations of the authors how to successfully organise your games strategically, and how to keep your opponent permanently under pressure.