Robert Ris’ Fast and Furious: A crushing attack in the Cambridge Springs

by Robert Ris
8/19/2021 – This week, well-known Dutch trainer Robert Ris takes a look at the Cambridge Springs Variation in the Semi Slav 5.Bg5 Nbd7 6.e3 Qa5 and how White might be able to generate fast and furious play against this seemingly solid line. | "Fast and Furious" is available on-demand with a ChessBase Premium Account. You can register a Premium account here.
Pattern recognition is an important tool in modern chess, as it helps you to understand better the characteristics of a position. Particularly when you have been confronted with a surprise opening system played by your opponent, it helps when you can just

The Cambridge Springs Variation in the Semi Slav (5.Bg5 Nbd7 6.e3 Qa5) had been considered as a solid and reliable alternative to the razor sharp positions which usually arise from the Botvinnik (4...dxc4) and (Anti-)Moscow Variation (5...h6).

In the game Stocek-Bluebaum from the Rubinstein Memorial, which is currently taking place, the Czech GM played a very instructive masterpiece, showing how White may be able to build up an attack against the black king. White's game was not flawless but he won in just 25 moves. 

Exercise: A critical moment arises at move 17 when White has to decide how to proceed with the attack. The main candidates moves for White are 17.Ne4 and 17.Re3. Do you see the difference between these options?

 
J. Stocek - M. Bluebaum, 57th Rubinstein Memorial, Polanica-Zdroj 2021

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Robert is an International Master who mostly spends his time training and coaching talented youngsters. On the PlayChess server The Fast and the Furious is a popular show where he explains sharp opening lines for a wider audience. He is also a well-known ChessBase author who produced numerous DVDs and regularly contributes to ChessBase Magazine as well. Since 2015 he is the organizer of the Dutch Rapid Championships in his home town Amstelveen. He has started a YouTube channel with chess analysis as well.

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