Bump! Is this the only thread for the Topalov System?

Interesting stuff, thanks for sharing this.  In your main line, after 23...Rb7, why can't white just generate pressure by something like h4-h5?

These lines are interesting, but sometimes I struggle to find a constructive plan for black.

Regards,
Eddie

Rogozenkos lines also seems to have a major weakness, Rybka 3 came up with an major improvment by a 2 second look, a move not even considered and was maybee the reason why Khalifman opted for an other line in Anand series.

bragesjo wrote on 03/19/09 at 14:49:07:

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After Kasparov claiming the KID was sound, I decided that most everything 'normal' was sound, including the Dragon.  I believe chess to be a draw, and I think the Dragon falls within this scope...but then again, I am just a jackass who apes the moves of the WCh's and parrots their opinions (see my thread on animals for further insight).

Nice analysis,

but you ignore 21.Qd2 which is at least as critical as 21.Qc3 and indeed Rogocenko's recommendation for white in CBM 116.

great work bragesjo! thank you!

here is a little improvement - at move 23.

after 13.Bxa7 b4 14.Nd5 Nxd5 15.exd5 Qa5 16.Bd4 Rxc2+! (a shocking move! who has played/analysed this move the first time?) 
17.Bxc2 (better is 17.Qxc2 as you indicated with equal chances) 17...Qxa2 18.Qe3 (18.Qf2 Rc8 19.Bxg7 f6!) 18...Rc8 
19.Kd2 Rxc2+! 20.Kxc2 Qc4+ 21.Kd2 Bxd4 22.Qxe7 Bf5 23.Ke1 your variation goes on with 23...Bxb2, instead i suggest 
23...Be5! {CaptainFuture} cutting of the queen from the defence with good winning chances,  see 24.Rf1 (24.Qe8+ Kg7 25.Qc6 Qb3 26.Rd2 Bxb2 27.Kf2 Bc3 28.Re2 Bd3 29.Re3 Qb2+ 30.Kg3 Be5+ 31.Kh3 Qd4 32.Qc1 b3 33.Rxd3 Qxd3 34.Qd1 Qc4) 24...b3! 25.Ra1 (25.Rf2 Bc2) 25...Kg7 26.Ra8 Qc1+ 27.Kf2 Qc5+ 28.Ke2 Qc2+ 29.Ke1 Bc8 30.Ra7 Qf5 31.Qxf7+ Qxf7 32.Rxf7+ Kxf7 33.f4 Bc3+! 34.bxc3 b2 35.Kd2 Bf5 36.c4 b1Q 37.Rxb1 Bxb1 38.Kc3 Ke7 -+

Looks like you did a pretty nice job
gewgaw wrote on 03/18/09 at 17:39:12:

Why don't you trust the dragon? I mean, black did the most logical moves on the planet: Controlling the centre with a pawn, developing knights, Fianchettoing bishop, castling. If you say: I think the dragon is not sound, you not only attack the dragon, but also all the common chess rules we teach beginners!

I prepared this line for use in superettan (super division one) last weekend but unfortunnaly I got white in all 3 games so I did not get the opportinetty to test it (but got a 50% score anyway despite a heavy blunder in a game that I lost where I actually was slightly better).

The Topalov system in the Yugoslav attack starts with   

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4.
Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 O-O 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. Bc4 Bd7 10. Bb3 Rc8 11.
O-O-O Nxd4 12. Bxd4 b5 *

This line is one of Khalifmans weak links in the Opening for White according to Anand series. My conclusion of the line, based an Khalifmans lines, Rybka3 opening book, Rybka 3, Fritz 10 and human creativety is that the lines is actually a forced draw and is therefore one of blacks most solid systems in the Bc4 yugoslav attack.

Any improvments for both sides are welcomme.