Inspired largely by the success of Radjabov and Bologan I recently decided to add this still relatively underrated but interesting line to my Black repertoire. An opportunity soon arose for me to give it a practical test in a Rapid tournament where the following position was quickly reached: 

Fide Master vs Toppy - Rapid Tourney (E94) 12/04/09

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0 Nbd7 8.Be3 Re8 9.d5 Nh5 10.g3 Bf8 11.Nd2 Ng7 12.b4 f5 13.Nb3 Be7

Incidentally and unbeknownst to both players at the time the above position was briefly outlined by Yelena Dembo in Dangerous Weapons: The KID, quite a useful book by the way, particularly if one is willing to put in the extra analytical work required. Here Dembo writes "Black prepares …Bg5 and later f4; it is clear that Black’s kingside play is well underway." This assessment may well be true, however after my opponent’s natural reply …Bg5 ideas become problematic. Moreover it should be noted that the position after 13…Be7 does not seem to have received any practical tests in tournament play so far, which only serves as further testament to the fertility of this 7…Nbd7 line.  

14.c5 Nf6 [14…Bg5 is well met by 15.Bxg5 Qxg5 16.Nb5 with a clear advantage to White]

15.f3 fxe4 16.fxe4 Bh3 17.Rf2 h5 [This felt quite typical and natural at the time and indeed after my opponent’s equally natural response Black’s initiative grows steadily. However this is not the end of the story as you will see] 

18.cxd6?! [Turns out that 18.Na5! would have been much more challenging than the text, after which it is quite possible that White is simply much better. The position still remains quite sharp and needs a thorough analysis but intuitively I remain skeptical of Black’s chances. Anyway, back to the game]     

18…cxd6 19.Na5 Ng4 20.Bxg4 Bxg4 21.Qf1 h4 22.Ne2 [Losing his nerve and switching to defensive mode, but in so doing the pendulum swings completely in Black’s favor. 22.Nb5 would have been more testing]

The rest is carnage 

22…Qd7 23.gxh4 Bh3 24.Qd1 Bxh4 25.Ng3 Rf8 26.Rc1 Nh5 27.Nxh5 gxh5 28.Qxh5?? Qg7+ 0-1

Despite Black’s success in this game some important questions remain to be answered, such as how to improve Black’s play should 18.Na5 prove good for White. 

Ideas welcome, and perhaps Dembo, Palliser and Flear could also share their thoughts.

Regards,

Toppy