The experts play their openings: a theme tournament with Rustam Kasimdzhanov, Mihail Marin, Robert Ris and Merijn van Delft

by Arne Kaehler
5/21/2021 – Practice what you preach: in a theme blitz tournament on playchess.com the well-known and popular ChessBase authors Rustam Kasimdzhanov, Mihail Marin, Robert Ris and Merijn van Delft showed why they like and what they know about the openings they present in their courses. If you missed the live transmission of the entertaining event on twitch.tv, here's a summary with highlights from the games.

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Fritztrainer Theme Tournament

The tournament was hosted by Daniel King and Arne Kaehler and you can watch it on YouTube.

0:00 - Intro

0:20 - Introduction of the four authors and host Daniel King

0:36 - Format and procedure

3:57 - Round 1

14:25 - Round 2

31:40 - Short break in which Daniel talks about his bass guitar, Merijn speaks about his chess playing housemates, and Mihail explains why his three dogs and two cats need more space.

37:15 - Round 3

56:12 - Round 4

1:18:40 - Short break in which Daniel asks Rustam whether he would like to share some inside information about the Candidates Tournament in Yekaterinburg where Rustam worked as trainer and second of Fabiano Caruana.

1:24:55 - Round 5

1:37:52 - Round 6

1:54:27 - Final results

 

Tournament review

Round 1

3:57 - Round 1 - in which the McCutcheon variation of the French had to be played

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1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4 5.e5 h6 6.Bd2

In round 1 Rustam, the highest rated player, had Black against Mihail, who was well-prepared for the double-edged McCutcheon. Mihail was able to exert pressure with White and to secure an advantage and then won the game with a knight fork.

 
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1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4 5.e5 h6 6.Bd2 Bxc3 7.Bxc3 Ne4 8.Qg4 8.Bb4= 8...g6 C12: French: Classical System: McCutcheon Variation. Black should play 8...0-0! 9.Bd3 Nxc3 10.bxc3 c5! White is slightly better. 11.Nf3 c4 12.Be2 Qa5 13.Kd2 Qa3 14.h4 Nc6N Predecessor: 14...Nd7 15.Nh2 b5 16.Rhb1 Rb8 17.Qf3 Qe7 18.g3 h5 19.a4 a6 20.axb5 axb5 1-0 (82) Nielsen,M (1965) -Leutwyler,M (2180) Helsingor 2013 15.h5 g5 16.Nh2 b5       17.Qg3 b4 18.Ng4 Ba6 19.Qe3 Rb8 19...Bb5= 20.Rhb1± Kd7 21.Bf3 Kc7?
21...Qa5± was necessary. 22.cxb4+- Qxe3+ 23.fxe3 Nxb4 24.c3 Nd3 25.e4 dxe4 26.Bxe4 Nf4 27.g3? 27.Nf6+- 27...Nxh5= 28.Rxb8 Rxb8 29.Rf1 Nxg3 29...f5= remains equal. 30.exf6 Nxg3       Double Attack 30.Rxf7+± Kb6 31.Bf3 h5 32.Nf6 aiming for Nd7+. g4?       32...Rh8 33.Nd7++-      
Double Attack. White is clearly winning. 33...Kc7 34.Nxb8+ Kxb8       Endgame KRB-KBN 35.Bc6 And now d5 would win. Bc8 36.Rh7 a5 37.a4 Ba6 38.d5 Ne4+ 39.Ke3 exd5 40.e6 Nd6 41.e7 g3 42.e8Q+ Nxe8 43.Bxe8 d4+ 44.Kxd4 g2 45.Rg7 Weighted Error Value: White=0.29/Black=0.65
1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Mihail Marin2441Kasimdzhanov28001–02021Fritztrainer Tournament1

But in the Dutch duel between Robert and Merijn the French fared much better. Though Merijn lost/sacrificed a knight rather early in the game he managed to hit back and after some mistakes by Robert, Merijn could even win the game.

 
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1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4 5.e5 h6 6.Bd2 Bxc3 7.bxc3 Ne4 8.Bc1 Hoping for Qg4. c5 C12: French: Classical System: McCutcheon Variation. 9.Ne2 c4N
9...cxd4= and Black stays safe. 10.cxd4 Qa5+ 11.c3 b6 Predecessor: 9...cxd4 10.cxd4 Qa5+ 11.c3 Nc6 12.f3 Nxc3 13.Qd2 Nxe2 14.Qxa5 Nxa5 15.Bxe2 Nc4 16.Rb1 0-1 (43) Beerdsen,T (2702)-Terry,R (2920) Chess.com INT 2020 10.h4!+- Less strong is 10.f3 Ng5± 10...f6 intending ...fxe5.White has a decisive advantage. 11.f3 fxe5 12.fxe4 0-0 13.dxe5 But not 13.Ba3 Rf7+- 13...Nc6 14.Be3 Nxe5 15.Nd4 Qf6 16.Qd2 Ng4 17.Be2 e5 18.Nb5 18.exd5 Nxe3 19.Qxe3 exd4 18...dxe4 19.0-0-0 Kh8 20.Rhf1 Qe7 21.Nd6 Be6 22.Nxe4?
White should play 22.Bxg4+- Bxg4 23.Rde1 23.Nxe4 Bxd1 24.Rxf8+ Qxf8 22...Rfd8= 23.Qe1       23.Nd6= and White is okay. Nxe3 24.Qxe3 Rxd6 25.Qxe5 23...Nxe3 Weighted Error Value: White=0.91/Black=0.51
0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Robert Ris2415Merijn van Delft20460–12021Fritztrainer Tournament1

Round 2

14:25 - Round 2 - in which the English was obligatory

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1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nc6 3.Bg7 Nf6 4.Nf3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.0-0 Nb6 7.a3

In the second round both games ended in a draw. Does that mean that the English Opening has drawish tendencies? Definitely not. Both games were exciting.

In the endgame, Mihai's double pawns held up well against Robert's attacks, and the game finally ended peacefully.

 
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1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 Nc6 4.Nf3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.0-0 Nb6 7.a3 a5 8.d3 Be7 9.Nc3 0-0 10.Be3 Be6 11.Rc1 a4 A29: English Opening: Four Knights Variation with 4 g3. 12.Bxb6 cxb6 13.Nxa4 e4! 14.Nd2 Bg5 Threatens to win with ...Bxd2. 15.Nc3N Predecessor: 15.e3 exd3 16.Nc3 f5 17.Re1 Kh8 18.Nf3 Bf6 19.Bf1 Bc4 20.Nd2 Bf7 21.Ndb1 1/2-1/2 (73) Kucera,P (2301)-Jarmula,L (2384) Teplice 2015 15...exd3 15...e3 16.fxe3 Bxe3+ 17.Kh1 Ra5 16.exd3 Qxd3 17.Nde4      
Discovered Attack 17...Qxd1 18.Rcxd1 Be7 19.Nd5 Bxd5 20.Rxd5 Rfd8 21.Rfd1 Rxd5 22.Rxd5 Rd8 23.Rxd8+ Nxd8±       Endgame KBN-KBN 24.Kf1 Kf8 25.Ke2 f5
26.Nc3 Bf6 27.Kd3 Nc6 28.f4 Ke8 29.Kc4 Kd7 30.b4 g6 31.Nd5 Bd8 32.a4 Kd6 33.Nc3 Bf6 34.Nd5 Bd8 35.Nc3 Bf6 36.Nb5+ Kd7 37.Bd5 g5 38.Bg8 gxf4 39.gxf4 39.Bxh7 is interesting. fxg3 40.Bxf5+ Kd8 41.hxg3 Be7 42.Be4 39...h5 40.Bh7 Ne7 The position is equal. 41.a5 bxa5 42.bxa5 Ke6 43.Kc5 Kb6 is the strong threat. Nc6 44.a6 44.Nc7+ with more complications. Kd7 45.Na8 Bd4+ 46.Kd5 Bg1 47.Bxf5+ Ke7 48.h4 44...bxa6 45.Kxc6 aiming for Nc7+. axb5 46.Kxb5= KB-KB Bd4 47.Kc4 Be3 48.Kd3 Bxf4 49.h3 h4 50.Ke2 Weighted Error Value: White=0.11/Black=0.07
½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Robert Ris2384Mihail Marin2471½–½2021Fritztrainer Tournament2

Rustam had Black again and had to defend against Merijn's attacks. However, Merijn found no way to break through and the game finally ended in a draw.

 
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1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nc6 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.Nf3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.0-0 Nb6 7.a3 A20: English Opening: 1...e5. a5 8.b3N Predecessor: 8.Nc3 Be7 9.d3 0-0 10.Be3 Be6 11.Rc1 a4 12.Bxb6 cxb6 13.Nxa4 e4 14.Nd2 f5 15.Nc3 Bg5 16.Rb1 Rf7 17.Nc4 Rd7 18.b3 Bf6 19.Nb5 exd3 20.exd3 1/2-1/2 (67) Sri,S (2027)-Mohite,R (2281) Mumbai 2020 8...Bd6 9.d3 White is slightly better. 0-0 10.Bb2 Bg4 11.Nbd2 Qd7 12.Re1 Rad8 13.Ne4 Rfe8 14.Rc1 Bh3 15.Bh1 Qe7 16.Nxd6 cxd6 17.e3 17.d4 17...h6 17...d5= 18.d4 e4
19.d5! Ne5 19...Nxd5 20.Qxd5 20.Nxe5 dxe5 21.Bxe4 Qh5 is the strong threat. f5
21...Be6! 22.Bf3 22.Bd3!+- and White stays clearly on top. 22...e4± 23.Be2 Hoping for Qd4. Kh7 24.Qd4 Better is 24.Bc4± 24...Nxd5= 25.Qc5       White is more active. Qxc5 25...Qf7= 26.Rxc5± b6 27.Rc6 Rd7 28.Bd4 Red8 29.Bf1 Bxf1 30.Kxf1 Rd6
31.Rec1 g5 32.h3 White should try 32.Be5+- Rxc6 33.Rxc6 32...f4 32...h5± keeps fighting. 33.gxf4 gxf4 34.exf4? White must play 34.Rxd6+- Rxd6 35.exf4 34...Rxc6!= The position is equal. 35.Rxc6 Nxf4 36.Rf6 Rxd4 37.Rxf4       Endgame KR-KR Rd3 38.Rxe4 Rxb3 39.a4 Rxh3 40.Re7+ Kg8 41.Re6 Rh4 41...Rb3 looks sharper. 42.Rxh6 Kf7 43.Kg2 Ke8 44.f4 Rb4 42.Rxb6 Kg7 43.Rb7+ Kf8 44.Rb6 Kg7 45.Rb7+ Kf6 46.Rb6+ Ke7 47.Ra6 Rxa4 48.Rxh6 Ra2 49.Kg2 a4 50.Kg3 a3 51.f3 Ra1 52.Kf4 Kd7 53.Ra6 Kc7 54.Kf5 Kb7 54...a2 with more complications. 55.Ra8 Kd6 56.Ra6+ Kc7 55.Ra4 Kb6 56.f4 Kb5 57.Ra8 Kb4 58.Kf6 Rc1 58...Rg1 feels hotter. 59.f5 Re1 60.Kg6 Kb3 61.Rb8+ Ka4 59.f5 Rc5 59...Rc2 keeps more tension. 60.Ke6 a2 61.f6 Re2+ 62.Kd7 Rf2 60.Rxa3 Kxa3 KR-KP 61.Ke6 Kb4 62.f6 Rc8 63.f7 Kc5 64.Ke7 Kc6 65.f8Q Rxf8 66.Kxf8 White really could win this. Weighted Error Value: White=0.16/Black=0.14
½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Merijn van Delft2150Kasimdzhanov2770½–½2021Fritztrainer Tournament2

Round 3

37:15 - Round 3 - in which things got messy and the players were inspired by the Tactic Toolbox Semi-Slav with 5.Bg5 by Robert Ris 

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1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 dxc4

Of course, Robert's deep knowledge of these sharp lines gave him an advantage and he managed to win with Black against Rustam. In a difficult position Rustam tried to drum up counterchances with a bishop sacrifice but Robert kept his cool and won with precise play and good technique.

 
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1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 dxc4 6.e4 b5 7.e5 h6 8.Bd2 D44: Semi-Slav: Botvinnik System. 8.Bh4! g5 9.Nxg5 hxg5 10.Bxg5       Pin 8...Nd5 9.Ne4 Bb7 10.b3N Black is slightly better. Predecessor: 10.Be2 Nd7 11.0-0 a6 12.a4 Be7 13.b3 cxb3 14.Qxb3 0-0 15.Rfc1 Qb6 16.a5 0-1 (37) Bardeli,L (2230)-Orzechowski,J (2223) Poronin 2014 10...cxb3 11.axb3 a5 12.Bd3 Nd7 12...Nb4! 13.Bb1 Nd7 13.0-0= Be7 14.Re1 0-0 14...Nb4= 15.Bb1 Nd5 15.Qc1 15.Bb1!± 15...f5? Black should play 15...c5= 16.exf6!± N7xf6 17.Nc5 Bxc5 18.Qxc5 Re8 19.Ne5 Nd7 20.Nxd7 Qxd7 21.Bxa5 Qe7 22.Bg6 Rf8 23.Qxe7 Nxe7 24.Bh5 Threatens to win with Bb4. Much weaker is 24.Rxe6?! Nxg6 25.Rxg6 Rfd8= 24...Nd5 25.g3 b4 25...Bc8 26.Bg4 Better is 26.Rxe6± Rf5 27.Bg4 26...Bc8= 27.Be2 Bd7 28.Bc4 Rfb8 29.Bxd5 exd5 30.Bc7 Rc8 And now ...Rxa1 would win. 30...Rf8 with more complications. 31.Rxa8 Rxa8 32.f3 Bf5 33.Bd6 Ra3 31.Bd6 Bf5 32.f3 Bc2 33.Bxb4 Bxb3 34.Bd6 Bc2 35.Rxa8 Rxa8±       Endgame KRB-KRB 36.Re7 Rf8 37.Kf2 Rf7 38.Re8+ Kh7 39.Ke3 Ba4 40.Rc8 Kg6 41.g4 h5 42.h3 hxg4 43.hxg4 Bd1 44.Bf4 Kh7 45.g5 Re7+ 45...Ba4 feels hotter. 46.Be5 Kg6 47.Ra8 Bc2 48.Ra1 Kxg5 49.Rg1+ Kh6 46.Be5 Rf7 47.f4 Ba4 48.Kf2 Kg6 49.Kg3 Kf5 50.Ra8 Bb5 51.Bd6 Ke4 52.Re8+ Kxd4 53.g6 Rd7 54.Be5+ Kd3
54...Kc5= keeps the balance. 55.f5 Don't play 55.Rg8?! d4= 55.Rf8!± 55...d4 ...Kc2 is the strong threat. 56.Kf4?
56.Rg8= and White has nothing to worry. Rd5 57.Kf4 57.Bxg7 Rxf5 58.Kg4 Bc4= 56...Kc2!-+ Strongly threatening ...d3. 57.Bxg7? Loses the game. 57.Ra8 57...Rxg7 KRB-KR 58.Rd8? 58.Kg5 d3 59.f6 58...d3-+ 59.Kg5 d2 59...Bc4 60.f6 Rc7 60.Rxd2+? 60.f6 Rxg6+ 61.Kxg6 60...Kxd2 Black is clearly winning. 61.f6
61...Rxg6+‼ 62.Kxg6 KB-KP Bc4 63.f7
63...Bxf7+! 64.Kxf7 c5 ( -> ...Ke3) 65.Ke6 c4 Weighted Error Value: White=0.43/Black=0.37
0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Kasimdzhanov2754Robert Ris23890–12021Fritztrainer Tournament3

Merijn scored the second point for the Netherlands. He defeated Mihail in an incredibly sharp game.

 
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1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 dxc4 6.e4 b5 7.e5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Nxg5 hxg5 10.Bxg5 Nbd7 11.g3 Rg8 12.Bxf6 Nxf6 D44: Semi-Slav: Botvinnik System. 13.exf6 Qxf6 14.Bg2 Bb7 The position is equal. 15.Nxb5 0-0-0 15...cxb5 16.Bxb7 Bb4+ 17.Kf1 Rd8 16.Nxa7+=      
Double Attack 16...Kc7! 17.Qa4? 17.0-0 is the one way to stay ahead. Ra8 18.Nxc6 18.Qa4 Qxd4       Double Attack 19.Qa5+ Kb8 18...Bxc6 19.Bxc6 Kxc6 20.Qe2 17...Qxd4 18.Nxc6?       Loses the game. 18.0-0 c3 19.Qa5+ Qb6 20.Nxc6 Bxc6 21.Qxc3 18...Qd2+-+ 19.Kf1 Bc5
20.Qa5+ Bb6 21.Qe5+ Rd6 22.Qe2 Bxc6N Predecessor: 22...c3 23.Qxd2 Rxd2 24.bxc3 Rxf2+ 25.Ke1 Rxg2 26.Ne5 Ba6 0-1 (26) Vinkes,H (1609)-Vujadinovic,M (2034) IECG email 2000 23.Bxc6 Qxe2+ 24.Kxe2 Kxc6 25.Rhc1 Kb5 26.Rc2 Rd4 27.b3 cxb3 28.Rb1 Ra8 But not 28...Re4+ 29.Kf3 29.Rxb3+ Rb4 30.Rxb4+ Kxb4       Endgame KRB-KR 31.Rb2+ Kc5 32.h4 Kc6 33.Kf3 Bd4 34.Rc2+ Kd5 35.Kf4 f6 36.h5 Ra4 36...Be5+ 37.Kf3 f5 38.Rd2+ Kc6 37.Kf3 37.Rd2 is the only way for White. 37...f5 38.Rd2? 38.h6 38...e5 Black is clearly winning. 39.g4 39.Rc2 Ra7 40.Re2 39...Ra3+ 40.Kg2 fxg4 41.Rc2 Rh3 42.a4 Rxh5 ...Rf5 is the strong threat. 43.Kg3 Rg5 44.a5 Rg6 45.Ra2 Ra6 46.Kxg4 Bc3 47.Rc2 Kd4 48.Kf5 Rxa5 49.Re2 Ra8 50.Re4+ Kd5 ( -> ...Rf8+) 51.f3 Rf8+ 52.Kg4 Bd4 53.Re2 Ke6 Weighted Error Value: White=0.65/Black=0.35
0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Mihail Marin2467Merijn van Delft22010–12021Fritztrainer Tournament3

After three rounds Merijn was first with 2.5 out of 3, while Rustam only had 0.5/3... time for the turbo.

Round 4

56:12 - Round 4 - in which the Najdorf was everyone's favourite

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

Each Wednesday Merijn hosts the "Game of the Week" show on ChessBase and published the fine and instructive Fritztrainer Practical Chess Strategy: The Bishop but so far he has not made any opening DVDs. Therefore, he could choose which opening all four players had to try. Merijn opted for his favourite: the Najdorf.

Rustam tried Fischer's favourite move against the Najdorf -  6.Bc4 - and won the grandmaster duel against Mihail. In a difficult Mihail finally lost track and blundered with 74...b3?, when 74...Bf3 should have given him a draw.

 
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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.0-0 Nc6 8.Be3 Be7 9.Bb3 0-0 10.f4 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 b5 12.e5 dxe5 13.fxe5 Nd7 14.Ne4 Bb7 15.Nd6 Bxd6 16.exd6 Qg5 17.Rf2 has lost popularity (17.Qe2). Rad8 B88: Sicilian: Sozin Attack. 18.Bc3!?N       New and interesting. 18.Qd2 Qh5 19.Re1 Predecessor: 18.Qe2 Nf6 19.Bxf6 gxf6 20.Rd1 Kh8 21.Qd2 Rg8 22.Qxg5 Rxg5 23.d7 Kg7 24.Rd6 Rc5 25.Rfd2 0-1 (43) Habu,Y (2386)-Kreiman,B (2526) Los Angeles 2004 18...Nc5! 19.Ba5? 19.Qd2 Qg6 20.Re1 19...Rd7 Black is clearly better. 20.Qd2 Qxd2 20...Qh5-+ 21.Qd1 Qh4 21.Rxd2= Nxb3 22.axb3 e5 23.c4 f6 24.c5 Kf7 25.Rc2 Bc6 26.Bc3 Ra8 27.b4 g5 28.Rf2 Black must now prevent Bxe5. Ke6 29.Re1 h5 30.Re3 h4 31.Kf1 Rg8 31...g4 32.Ke1 32.Rh3= 32...Rg6 33.Kd2 g4 34.g3 34.Kc1 34...Rh7 35.Re1 hxg3 36.hxg3 Rh3 36...Rg8 37.Ra1 Bb7 But not 37...Rxg3?! 38.Rxa6 Rf3 39.Rxf3= 38.Rg1 38.Raf1 38...Bc6 38...Rgh6 39.Ke3 Rh7 39.Ra1! Bb7 Of course not 39...Rxg3?! 40.Rxa6 Rf3 41.Rxf3= 40.Rg1 40.Raf1! 40...Rgh6 41.Ke2 Bd5 42.Ke3 Rh1 42...Bc6 43.Rd2 Rh7 43.Rxh1! Rxh1       Endgame KRB-KRB 44.d7 Rh8 45.Rf1 Rd8 Black should try 45...Bf3-+ 46.Ra1 Kxd7 46.Ra1 Bb7 46...Kxd7 is interesting. 47.Rxa6 Bc6 48.Ra7+ Ke6 49.Rc7 Bf3 47.Rd1 Rd6+ would now be nice for White. Rxd7 47...Bd5! 48.Rxd7 Kxd7 KB-KB 49.Kf2 49.Kd3 49...Ke6 50.Bd2?
50.Ke2 50...Kd5!-+ 51.Bh6 Ke4 52.Bg7 f5 53.Bf6 53.Bh6 53...f4 54.Bg7 Bc6 55.Bh8 Kf5 56.Bg7 Bd5 57.Bh6 Bb7 58.Bg7 Bc6 59.Bh6 Bd5 60.Bg7 e4? 60...Bc6-+ ...Ke4 is the strong threat. 61.Bf8 Ke4 61.gxf4= Kxf4 aiming for ...g3+. 62.Bh6+ Ke5 63.Bg7+ Kf5 64.Bh6 Be6 65.Kg3 Ke5 66.Be3 Kd5 67.Kf4?
67.b3! 67...Bc8? 67...Kc4!-+ 68.c6 Kd5 68.b3 Be6 69.Bf2 Kc6 69...g3 seems wilder. 70.Kxg3 Ke5 71.c6 Bxb3 72.c7 Be6 70.Kxe4 Bxb3 71.Kf5 Bd1 72.Kf4 72.Ke5= 72...a5 Better is 72...Bf3 73.bxa5 b4 74.a6       And now a7 would win. b3?       74...Bf3= 75.a7+- Kb7 76.c6+!       Decoy, Promotion. Both players deserved the win here. Weighted Error Value: White=0.47/Black=0.39
1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Kasimdzhanov2723Mihail Marin24391–02021Fritztrainer Tournament4

In a fierce exchange of blows Merijn and Robert played one of the most interesting games of the tournament, but in the end Merijn had the better of it.

 
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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3 Nc6 7.g4 B90: Sicilian Najdorf: Unusual White 6th moves, 6 Be3 Ng4 and 6 Be3 e5. Nxd4 8.Qxd4 e5 9.Qd3 White is slightly better. Be6 10.Bg2 Be7 11.Bd2N Predecessor: 11.0-0 Rc8 12.b3 Qc7 13.Bd2 h6 14.Rac1 0-0 15.Nd5 Nxd5 16.exd5 Bd7 17.Be4 1/2-1/2 (59) Bodnaruk,A (2443)-Ushenina,A (2488) Loo 2013 11...0-0 12.0-0-0 12.g5!? Nd7 13.h4= 12...b5 13.Nd5 Bxd5 14.exd5 Nd7 15.h4 Qc7 16.Kb1 Rfc8 16...Nc5± 17.Qf5 g6 17.g5+- Nc5 18.Qe2 18.Qf5+- 18...a5 19.f4 Na4 20.Bc1 exf4 21.Rhf1 g6 21...Re8± 22.Rxf4 Bf8 23.Rdf1 23.Qd3 23...Re8± 24.Qf2 And not 24.Qxb5 Nc3+! 25.bxc3 Reb8 24.Qd3 24...Re7 25.h5 Bg7 Black wants to play ...Rae8. 26.h6!       Keeping Black busy. Bh8
26...Be5 27.Rf6 Rc8
27...b4= 28.Be4! Nc5 Don't go for 28...Rxe4? 29.Rxf7 Qe7 30.Rxe7+- 29.Bg2 Nd3?       Black is now going downhill. 30.cxd3+- Bxf6 31.gxf6 Re5 32.Be4 b4 33.Bf4 Ree8 34.Rc1 Qd7 and the idea ...Rxc1+ leaves Black hopeful. 35.Rc6 Qg4 36.Bc1 b3 36...Rcd8 37.Qb6 Qh4 38.Rxd6 Rxd6 39.Qxd6 Qg4 37.axb3       Rb8 38.Qc2 Qg1 39.Ka2 Qa7 40.Rxd6 a4 41.bxa4 Rb4 42.b3 Reb8 43.Ba3 R4b7 44.Rc6 Rc8+ would kill now. Qg1 45.Rc8+       Back Rank. Weighted Error Value: White=0.35/Black=0.76
1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Merijn van Delft2285Robert Ris24191–02021Fritztrainer Tournament4

Round 5

Round 5 - In which the pros and cons of the Two Knights Traxler Defense were debated

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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 Bc5

The Traxler is an enjoyable but rather risky counterattack that leads to wild tactical positions but in the two games in this round it was White who dominated. 

In the opening debate between Rustam and Merijn, Rustam was sure that "5....d5 is the only correct move against this opening!" and proved his point by winning rather quickly when Merijn did not play it - it was Merijn's first loss in the tournament.

 
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 Bc5 5.d4 Bxd4? 5...d5± 6.c3 C57: Two Knights: Wilkes-Barre/Traxler and 4 Ng5 d5 5 exd5, unusual Black 5th moves. Inferior is 6.Bxf7+ Kf8= 6...Bb6 7.Nxf7      
Double Attack 7...Qe7 ...Rf8 is the strong threat. 8.Nxh8 White is clearly better. d5N 8...Bxf2+ was called for. 9.Kf1 9.Kxf2 Qc5+ 10.Be3 Qxc4± 9...Bb6 Predecessor: 8...Bxf2+ 9.Kd2 d5 10.Bxd5 Bg4 11.Bf7+ Kf8 12.Qf1 Nxe4+ 13.Kc2 Bf5 14.g4 Ng3+ 15.gxf5 Nxf1 16.Rxf1 0-1 (59) Ninov,N (2536)-Goldsztejn, G (2339) La Fere 2007 9.Bxd5+- Bg4 10.Qa4 0-0-0
11.0-0! Rxh8 12.Bxc6 bxc6 13.Qxc6 Hoping for Qa8+. Kb8 intending ...Be2. 14.Be3 Be2 15.Re1 White is clearly winning. Ba6 16.Nd2 Bb7 17.Qc4 Bxe3 18.Rxe3 Ng4 19.Rg3 h5 20.h3 Nf6 21.Re1 h4 22.Rg5 Rd8 23.Nf3       Double Attack Nd7 24.Rd1 Re8 25.Qb5 Kc8 26.Rxd7 Qxd7 27.Qxd7+ Kxd7 28.Rxg7+ Kd6 29.Rg4 Black did not feel at home in the position after the opening. Weighted Error Value: White=0.16/Black=0.61
1–0
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Kasimdzhanov2729Merijn van Delft23501–02021Fritztrainer Tournament5

Robert played with Black against Mihail and seemed to know the opening quite well but Mihail defended brilliantly and after a fine counterattack against the exposed black king Robert soon had to resign.

 
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 Bc5 5.Bxf7+ Ke7 6.Bb3 Rf8 C57: Two Knights: Wilkes-Barre/Traxler and 4 Ng5 d5 5 exd5, unusual Black 5th moves. 7.0-0 d6 8.h3 8.Nc3± 8...Qe8 White has an edge. 9.c3N Predecessor: 9.Nc3 Qg6 10.Kh1 Nd4 11.d3 c6 12.f4 Nh5 13.Qe1 exf4 14.Bxf4 Nxb3 15.e5 d5 16.axb3 Rxf4 17.Rxf4 Nxf4 18.Qh4 Nxg2 19.Nge4+ Nxh4 0-1 (19) Druska,R (1938)-Juhar,R (2146) Oravska Priehrada 2015 9...Qg6 10.d4! exd4 11.cxd4 Nxd4 12.Be3 White should play 12.e5! 12...Nxb3 13.Qxb3 aiming for e5! h6? Black cannot hold the game after this. Don't go for 13...Nxe4? 14.Nxe4 Qxe4 15.Nc3+- 13...Kd8= and Black has nothing to worry. 14.Bxc5!+- Threatens to win with e5.White is clearly better. dxc5 15.Nf3 Nh5
16.Nc3! Hoping for Nd5+. Nf4
17.Nd5+! Nxd5 18.exd5 Bxh3? Weighted Error Value: White=0.20/Black=0.41 18...Qd6 19.Nd2 Kf7
1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Mihail Marin2434Robert Ris23961–02021Fritztrainer Tournament5

Round 6

1:37:52 - Round 6 (Final Round) - In which the players had to show how to win against the Grünfeld

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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 c5 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.Be3

Before the last round, Merijn led with 3.5/5, and was one point ahead of Mihail and Rustam who followed with 2.5/5, while Robert had 1.5/5.

Thus, Merijn, who played with White against Mihail, only needed a draw to win the tournament.

And he indeed managed to draw, though Mihail could have made life more difficult for him.

The second game of the round also ended in a draw. Robert played with White against Rustam but did not get much out of the opening and later successfully defended a difficult endgame.

 
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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 c5 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.Be3 Qa5 9.Qd2 0-0 10.Rc1 b6 D85: Exchange Grünfeld: Unusual White 7th moves and lines with 7 Nf3. 10...cxd4= keeps the balance. 11.cxd4 Qxd2+ 12.Nxd2 e6 11.d5 11.h4± 11...Bg4 11...e6= remains equal. 12.c4N White should play 12.Ng5± Predecessor: 12.Ng5 f6 13.h3 Bc8 14.Nf3 Ba6 15.c4 Qxd2+ 16.Kxd2 Nd7 17.Bd3 Rae8 18.h4 1-0 (39) Nielsen,P (2654) -Hansen,E (2584) Dubai 2014 12...Qa3 White is slightly better. 13.Bd3 Na6 14.0-0 Nb4 15.Bb1 e6 16.Ng5 exd5! 17.exd5 Rae8 17...Qb2 18.h3± Bd7 19.Nf3 Qb2 20.Rce1 Ba4 20...Qxd2!= 21.Bxd2 Ba4 21.Bg5 Qxd2 22.Bxd2 22.Nxd2 f6 23.Bf4 22...Nc2 23.Rxe8 Rxe8 24.Rc1! Nd4 24...Na3! 25.Bd3 b5 25.Nxd4= Bxd4 26.Bd3 f6 27.Kf1 Kf7 28.Bc3 Bxc3 29.Rxc3       Endgame Threatening Ra3. KRB-KRB Re7 29...a6= 30.Ra3 Be8 31.f4 Rd7
Better is 31...Rc7 32.Bc2 32.Ra6!± 32...Rb7 33.Ba4 33.Be4 33...Bxa4= 34.Rxa4 KR-KR Re7 35.Kf2 f5 35...a5 36.Kf3 Re1 36.Kf3 Kf6 37.Ra3 Re4 38.Rc3 Rd4 39.a4 g5 40.fxg5+ Kxg5 41.g3 Kf6 42.a5 bxa5 Hoping for ...a4. 43.Ra3 Rxc4 44.Rxa5 Ke5 45.Rxa7 h5 46.Rh7 h4 47.g4 fxg4+ 48.hxg4 Rf4+ 49.Ke3
Intending Rh5+ and mate. 49...Rxg4 50.Rh5+ Kd6 Threatens to win with ...Rd4. 51.Kd3 c4+ 52.Kc3 Kc5?       52...Rf4= 53.Kc2 Rg2+ 54.Kc3 Rg3+ 55.Kc2 h3 56.Kd2 Rg2+ 57.Kc3 Rg3+ 58.Kc2 Rd3 59.Kb2 Rg3 60.Kc2 Kb4? 60...Rd3-+ aiming for ...Rg3. 61.Kb2 Re3 61.d6 The position is equal. Rg2+ 62.Kd1 Rg3 63.d7 Rd3+ 64.Kc2 Rxd7 Strongly threatening ...Rd3. 65.Rxh3 Rg7 66.Kc1 White happily takes the draw. Weighted Error Value: White=0.20/ Black=0.39
½–½
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Robert Ris2381Kasimdzhanov2732½–½2021Fritztrainer Tournament6

In the game between Merijn and Mihail Merijn quickly forced a lot of exchanges and after 17 the game looked rather drawish. However, then Merijn blundered with 18.Bxa7?, but both Merijn and Mihail (and the hosts Daniel and Arne) had overlooked the counter 18...Bh6! which would have given Black a winning advantage.

After this missed chance, the game soon petered out into a draw and Merijn won the tournament.

 
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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 c5 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.Be3 0-0 9.Qd2 Bg4 10.Be2 cxd4 11.cxd4 Nc6 12.Rd1 Bxf3 D85: Exchange Grünfeld: Unusual White 7th moves and lines with 7 Nf3. 13.Bxf3 e5 14.dxe5 14.d5!? Nd4 15.0-0 14...Nxe5 15.Qxd8 Rfxd8 16.Be2N Predecessor: 16.Ke2 b6 17.Rxd8+ Rxd8 18.Rc1 Kf8 19.g4 Ke7 20.h3 Rd7 21.Bg2 Nd3 22.Rc8 0-1 (53) Sitnik,I (2215)-Zelic,M (2320) Bled 1994 16...Rxd1+ 17.Kxd1 Rc8 18.Bxa7?
18.Kd2= and White is okay. 18...Ra8? 18...Bh6-+ 19.Ke1
19...Nd3+! 20.Bxd3 Rc1+ 21.Ke2 Rxh1
19.Be3= Rxa2 Threatens to win with ...Ra1+. 20.Rf1 Nc6 21.Bc4 Ra4 22.Bd5 Nd4 22...Ra1+= 23.Ke2 Nd4+ 24.Bxd4 Bxd4 23.Bxd4 23.Kd2± 23...Bxd4 The position is equal. 24.Bxb7±       Endgame KRB-KRB Ra2 25.Bd5 Rb2 26.Bc4 Kg7 26...Kf8 is more complex. 27.Kc1 Rxf2 28.Rxf2 Bxf2 29.Kc2 Bg1 27.Kc1 Rxf2 28.Rxf2 Bxf2 29.Kd1 Bg1 30.h3 Bh2 31.Ke2 Be5 32.Kf3 h5 Weighted Error Value: White=0.28/Black=0.24
½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Merijn van Delft2341Mihail Marin2449½–½2021Fritztrainer Tournament6

Final standings

Congratulations!

Of course, not all of the many Fritztrainers could be tried in this tournament and here are two interesting DVDs that might be tested in another theme tournament.

On top level the Benoni is a rare guest but with this DVD Rustam Kasimdzhanov this might change. New ways and approaches in most lines and countless improvements of official theory will show you how to play this opening at any level with success.

Glorious sacrifices, unexpected tactics and checkmating attacks. The King's Gambit is one of the oldest and most romantic openings in the game of chess. These DVDs contain all you need to know to play the King's Gambit.

Links:


Arne Kaehler, a creative mind who is passionate about board games in general, was born in Hamburg and learned to play chess at a young age. By teaching chess to youth teams and creating chess-related videos on YouTube, Arne was able to expand this passion and has even created an online course for anyone who wants to learn how to play chess. Arne writes for the English and German news sites, but focuses mainly on content for the ChessBase media channels.

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