Robert Ris' Fast and Furious: A tricky sideline

by Robert Ris
6/16/2025 – In his new Fast & Furious show, Robert Ris has a look at an interesting line of the English that helped Andrew Hong to win against Boris Gelfand in just 22 moves at the World Rapid Teams in London. | Fast & Furious is available on-demand with a ChessBase Premium Account. You can register a Premium account here.
This video course offers you a complete, clear repertoire for Black against the moves 1.Nf3 and 1.c4. The recommended variations are easy to learn and not difficult to remember, but also pose White serious challenges.

Robert Ris: "I take a look at the spectacular 22-move miniature game between Andrew Hong and Boris Gelfand at the World Rapid Team Championships in London. In the symmetrical English opening (1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 g6), White surprised his opponent with the tricky 7. Qb3 e6 8. Ne4, sacrificing a pawn with 9. d4!?. The ensuing positions were full of tactical possibilities, and Black had to navigate a minefield to achieve equality. Gelfand was unable to rise to the challenge, and one mistake decided his fate."

Exercise: Can you spot White's killer blow?

A. Hong - B. Gelfand, FIDE World Rapid Team, London 2025
White to play

Feel free to move the pieces on the live diagram!

This week's show

Watch previous shows

Recent shows

Many more Fast and Furious episodes are available in ChessBase Videos

Links

<< WR Chess arrives late but defends title in Blitz World Championship
Endgame Magic #301: Endgame highlights from the Norway Chess Tournament >>
Topics: Fast and Furious
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.
Discussion and Feedback Submit your feedback to the editors

See also

Robert Ris' Fast and Furious: A good old gambit!

6/7/2025 – In his new Fast & Furious show, Robert Ris has fun analysing a game in which White tried an old line of the Flohr-Mikenas System (1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.e4 c5), which led to wild and entertaining play! | Fast & Furious is available on-demand with a ChessBase Premium Account. You can <a href="https://account.chessbase.com/en/create-account" target="_blank">register a Premium account here</a>.
More...
 2

See also

Robert Ris' Fast and Furious: Pragg scores with the Benko Gambit!

5/26/2025 – In his new Fast & Furious show, Robert Ris analyses a crucial encounter of the Superbet Chess Classic. In round eight, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, who would go on to win the event, defeated Wesley So after surprising him in the opening - by playing the Benko Gambit! | Fast & Furious is available on-demand with a ChessBase Premium Account. You can <a href="https://account.chessbase.com/en/create-account" target="_blank">register a Premium account here</a>.
More...
 1

Video

MiddleGame 08594EC Springing pawns

A pawn move can change the character of the whole position. Jussupow-Anand (Linares 1991) is all about such powerful pawn moves.

Discuss

Rules for reader comments

 
 

Not registered yet? Register

We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.