Opening Encyclopaedia 2024: Semi-Open Games

by Nagesh Havanur
11/7/2024 – In part two of his review of the ChessBase Opening Encyclopaedia 2024, Nagesh Havanur explores the nuanced world of Semi-Open games, focusing on the Sicilian Defence and French Defence. From the explosive Najdorf Sicilian, favoured by Fischer and Kasparov, to the sharp Sicilian Dragon, each line offers distinct challenges and strategies. As our author transitions to Closed Games in his next instalment, he offers much practical advice for the aspiring tournament player.
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On the counterattack

In the first part of this review I dealt with the treatment of Open Games in this Encyclopaedia. When you are young and commence the game with e4, you dream of a swift attack on the king and checkmate. You have a hand- to-hand combat with opponents who are equally young. Years pass and you grow up. Now everything changes. You meet opponents who apply the positional squeeze on you, a strategy that they have imbibed from Carlsen. Then meeting e4 with e5 can be a nightmare. So you vary with semi-open games. If you love the counterattack, you go for the Sicilian or the French. If you seek quieter play, you go for the Caro-Kann and so on.

The most popular among the Semi-Open games is the Sicilian. From its family, the Najdorf remains a favourite with young players who have followed the games of Fischer and Kasparov with this variation.

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6

Currently one of the most dangerous lines is 6.Rg1 in which White tries to blow up Black's kingside in Keres style. In this Encyclopaedia it is analysed by Christian Braun, who makes a useful suggestion that this line can be neutralised by calm development with 6…Nc6. Here is a correspondence game that follows this prescription:

Sometimes young players have a problem with 6.a4, not allowing Black's queenside expansion with 6…b5. I had dealt with this issue in a review of the Big Base before (see the link below). The line has its uses, as seen in a recent game:

I think, ChessBase should have a detailed survey on this line.

If you are looking for the Sicilian Dragon here, we don't have recent surveys in this Encyclopaedia. It is not seen so often at the highest level. The authority on this opening is grandmaster Chris Ward. You can check out his regular column in ChessPublishing.com or here on the News Page.

There is also a ChessBase DVD authored by him.

I have one cause for concern with the Dragon. It is a super-sharp variation and one needs to have very good memory, remembering lines - and, importantly, not mixing them up! If a player misses a subtle tactical nuance, he can just be blown up with White or Black. Still, if it suits your instinct, go ahead with it. Remember that you have to keep yourself up to date.

This brings us to the French Defence. In my view the leading authority on this opening is John Watson. He has written a number of books. He also writes a regular column on ChessPublishing.com. However, he is not here. Instead the Encyclopaedia has a number of other authors, and they are by no means to be underestimated: Viktor Moskalenko, Knut Neven, Mihail Marin and Tibor Karolyi, to mention a few. Last but not least is Tanmay Srinath who has gone a little ahead of Watson himself in current theory and practice. He is well-acquainted with both over-the-board and correspondence play, and his understanding of engines is par excellence. There are as many as seven surveys on the French Defence authored by him. Here is one of them:

For reasons of space, I shall not dwell on the treatment of other semi-open systems like the Caro-Kann, the Pirc and the Scandinavian in this Encyclopaedia. One way of finding more on them is to check out reviews of ChessBase Magazine. Opening surveys from the issues of this DVD magazine are collected and published in the Opening Encyclopaedia. In the next part of this review I shall deal with the Closed Games. Watch this space.

Further Reading

  1. How to Open a Chess Game (RHM Press 1974)
  2. Chess Opening Essentials Vol. 1: The Complete 1.e4 (New in Chess 2007)
  3. Mastering the Chess Openings Vols. 1-4 by John Watson (Gambit 2006-2010)

Links

The new ChessBase Opening Encyclopaedia 2024 - More content. More ideas.

Prof. Nagesh Havanur (otherwise known as "chessbibliophile") is a senior academic and research scholar. He taught English in Mumbai for three decades and has now settled in Bangalore, India. His interests include chess history, biography and opening theory. He has been writing on the Royal Game for more than three decades. His articles and reviews have appeared on several web sites and magazines.