TopNotch wrote on 04/12/08 at 23:21:10:



Yes, they do SEEM to favor white, but 9. ...Bc5 and Black still has a playable game.

Playable.  I do not see any forced win for White, and in fact have won from this position as Black.  I am not arguing it would stand up to the scrutiny of a 20 day look, only that it is indeed playable OTB and often sets white problems they are not expecting (trying to remember that >95% of all Chessplayers are not GM's and do not posess encyclopaedic memories of all these positions and their supposed refutations).

Matemax analysis is excellent, and I look forward to seeing more of it when the YB finally swims across the pond to me, but I am not fully convinced that the Riga is on death watch.

All I know (from anecdotal evidence) is that I've been using it more and more and even many masters are not able to fully navigate it on the fly without suffering a few nicks or a black eye.

If you insist on putting everything under the microscope of the very best CC players in the world, that's cool, but that ain't the world in which I am currently living.   

With due respect,

~ drkodos.

TopNotch wrote on 04/12/08 at 14:14:55:



Black needs to try f6 instead of Be7 in that position.

Quote:

Maybe, maybe not. I am pretty sure though you won't stop if GM Kosten expresses his disapproval.
Anyhow, if it's OK for you to ask questions like this it is OK for us to point at your laziness and suggest you to buy these works. This site is a matter of taking and giving (analysis). You are only aware of the first half. So I have decided a few months ago not to answer questions like this anymore and strongly advise Bibs and TN to do the same.
I haven't read often enough "can anybody please answer my questions" lately. 

Story from an OTB club game I played last night.

My opponent is a shade over 2200. A quite young junior girl- very promising player- who is currently the #3 female player in my country.

Anways the complete game was:

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 a6
4. Ba4 Nf6
5. 0-0 Nxe4
6. d4 exd4
7. Re1 d5
8. Nxd4 Bd6
9. Nxc6 Bxh2+
10. Kxh2 Qh4+
11. Kg1 Qxf2+  1/2 - 1/2

Please no flames- I know this post does not contribute theoretically to the theory of the Riga!!!

The funny thing was she asked me to show her the main line after the game- so I showed her to the starting point of the endgame- and then showed a few ideas. She looked thoroughly un-impressed. "Is there anything else???" She asked disappointedly...

!

TopNotch, GM Tony Kosten answered my questions that I had about the Dangerous Weapons book. If the boss of Chesspublishing.com answers my questions, than I think it is alright to ask questions like this! Stop getting on my case for asking questions like this!

The reason I asked what does Alexander Khalifman recommend against the Riga Variation in his book Opening for White According to Anand is to see if we could come to a final verdict on the Riga Variation and find out if it is really better for white like most people think it is because several sources hint that it might be underrated for black. 

Your post, getting on me for asking these questions, is even stupider than me asking these questions!

GMTonyKosten wrote on 01/30/08 at 00:10:54:


No, Glenn Flear in his book Open Ruy Lopez feels that the position after 14 Kxh2 is ok for black and that the Riga Variation as a whole is ok for black.

How does Alexander Khalifman try to refute the Riga Variation in his book, Opening for White According to Anand volume 2?

GMTonyKosten wrote on 01/29/08 at 18:05:25:



haha- fair enough!!

From a theoretical perspective and at an international level or corr game, it's a blunder. But for a club game at fairly quick time controls for two players in the 2100's I probably wouldn't call it a blunder!

Anyways, I'm sure 15. Nd2 was not a part of the "prep"- because he took a good think on that move. I believe he saw that I play the Riga sometimes, and looked up the line. Some books (I believe Flear's on the Open Lopez?!) only give up until 14. Kxh2 and declare that white is known to be better in this position. So I guess that was the extent of the prep that I had to face!

15. Nd2 and the bishop maneuvres put black under less pressure than he would be by better play- but the character of the position was still fairly typical for the endgame.

My experiences with the Riga have been extremely positive.

My rating is 2115. I have played the Riga 5 times at slow time controls in the last year and a half with the following results:

Opp. Rating  Result
2210            Win
2005            Win
2275 (FM)     Draw
2380 (IM)     Win
2100            Win

I believe the endgame line holds chances for black if he is better prepared (and surely he will be!). You need to bear in mind the guidelines for Rook vs 2 minor piece endgames. You want to trade rooks and light squared bishops if you can. The fact that white cant really trade rooks causes him positional difficulties. Black can occupy the d-file. Although there are no points of penetration at the beginning, this is a long term headache for white. Indeed, contrary to popular opinion, I believe the ending may be easier for black to play. White's plan is usually to undermine black's k-side pawns with g4 and f3 strikes. These are effective, but they must be timed properly- or black will just get dangerous passed pawns. But even if implemented expertly, it is hard for white to win. Even if he manages to win outright the 2 remaining black pawns on the k-side, it means he has to try to win with his q-side pawns- but black's king will be much closer to the action there (white's king will be needed to win the pawns on the k-side)- so black has great drawing chances just by jamming his pawns forward on the q-side and trying to infiltrate with his king - or trade off the remaining pawns.

Here is a game I played fairly recently at Game/90 time control OTB. My opponent had a very similar rating to me. I believe this game shows that black has good chances in the endgame OTB at strong club level:

White: Opponent (2100)
Black: Me (2115)

1. e4  e5
2. Nf3  Nc6
3. Bb5  a6
4. Ba4  Nf6
5. 0-0  Nxe4
6. d4  exd4
7. Re1  d5
 
I have a database game with the Riga var. (The game vs the IM) When he played Re1 instantly, I sensed that I was playing into his preparation.
 
8. Nxd4  Bd6
9. Nxc6  Bxh2+
10. Kh1  Qh4
11. Rxe4+  dxe4
12. Qd8+  Qxd8
13. Nxd8+  Kxd8
14. Kxh2  Be6
15. Nd2  f5
 
He started thinking on move 15- and I really was hoping he'd fall into the "trap" (15. Nc3?? c5 -/+)
 
16. c3  Ke7
 
I dont have as much practice with the "c3" idea. A lot of the same themes still apply of course- but with the light squared bishops still on, it's too risky (IMO) to play the "King on the q-side" plan of ...b5, ...Kc8, ...Kb7.  So I decided to move my king over to support my k-side pawns instead. Normally, I like to put my king on b7 though.
 
17. Nf1  Kf7
 
I had to be careful. I wanted to occupy the d-file and get my k-side pawns mobile- but I had to watch out for creating weaknesses by advancing too quickly. I also didn't want his dark squared bishop to settle in a dominating position.
 
18. Bc2 Rad8
 
I think he should have played 18. Bf4- to make my life more difficult. I was planning 18 ... Rac8 followed by 19 ...Rhd8. But the way he played it, I was able to defend the c-pawn at less of an inconvenience.
 
19. Bf4  Rd7
20. Ba4  c6
21. Be3  Rg8
22. Bc2  g5
 
White's play over the last 5 moves seems a little planless. The Ba4-c2-a4-c2 and Bc1-f4-e3 maneauvres don't make a strong impression. I think he was trying to probe my position for weaknesses. I think Black has equalized here, and has the easier position to play- there is an active plan of moving the k-side pawn mass forward. It's hard to suggest an active plan for white. He decides to shoot his a pawn forward- I guess trying to fix my structure...
 
23. a4  h6
24. a5  Re8
25. Rd1  Rxd1
 
White really can't trade rooks in this endgame. I think black is slightly better positionally now. It's a small edge- but now the remaining rook has a better chance to infiltrate and dominate! I think white should have proceeded passively instead. 
 
26. Bxd1  Kg6
27. Bc2  Bc4
28. Kg1  Bd3
29. Bxd3  exd3
30. g3  Re4
 
Now black is surely better. Not winning yet, but I was enjoying my position.
 
31. f4  Ra4
32. b4  Ra3
33. fxg5  hxg5
34. Bd2  f4
35. gxf4  gxf4
36. Nh2  Kf5
37. Kf2  Ke4
38. Nf3  Ra2
39. c4  Rc2
40. c5  Rb2
 
White is almost in Zugswang!
 
41. Ng5+  Kd5
42. Ke1 (24 minutes left)  Kc4 (15 minutes left)
43. Ne4  Kb3
44. Nd6  Kc2
45. Nc4  Rb1+
46. Kf2  Kb3
47. Nd6  Rb2
48. Ne4  Rxd2+
49. Nxd2  Kxb4
50. Ne4  Kxa5
51. Nd6  Kb4
52. Nxb7  a5
53. Nd6  Kxc5
 
So it was 4 pawns against knight. It was played out at blitz, but I won very easily.

Of course- not a high enough level game to be important from a theoretical sense- but I think very illustrative of what black can hope for in this ending.

I have some other ideas about this line that I can post if there are others interested in this opening.

Thanks!

John