Markovich wrote on 07/10/09 at 12:44:31:
So I am interested in the Scheveningen in its pure form, currently being upheld by Movsesian. Naturally, I'm concerned about the Keres Attack. In reply to 6.g4 I am only willing to consider 6...h6, also Movsesian's choice, after which the most critical is 7.h4.
Black has three principal methods of defending:
(1) 7...Nc6 8.Rg1 d5
(2) 7...Nc6 8.Rg1 h5
(3) 7...Be7 8.Rg1 d5
Well, I've looked at them all at some length, and I'll be hanged if I can find anything for Black that doesn't leave him in notable difficulty. The biggest problem is king safety: White's king is relatively safe after 0-0-0, while Black's is never safe anywhere. For instance, in (3) the critical continuation is 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Bb5+! Kf8 11.Nxd5 Qxd5 and not only is Black's king under the weather, but his KR is out of the game for a long time.
I understand that this merely restates a conclusion already reached by many other people. But then why the heck is Movsesian upholding the Scheveningen, and why the heck isn't anyone challenging him with 7.h4? What I'm saying is, I've tried and failed to guess what he has up his sleeve.
Sometimes the "fear of improvement syndrome" discourages opponents from taking on a specialist - it often feels like you are walking into a trap or at least giving him home advantage.
For instance it takes a brave man to play the Keres against Nisipeanu, since you are likely to have to face the very sharp and still unclear 6...e5!?, with Sveshnikov themes.
That doesn't solve Black's problem though. There was once a time when the Scheveningen was considerably less theoretical than the Najdorf, and could be played based on an understanding of a few themes and move order issues. No longer: 6 g4 is just one of many Scheveningen labyrinths, where extensive and precise knowledge is required - and even then there is no clear path to an even game.
In practice, specialists (even Movsesian) tend to vary their move order. 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 exd4 4 Nxd4 Nc6 5 Nc3 d6 is the most popular alternative for Scheveningen players (those who are unwilling to use the Najdorf move order) when 6 g4 is still pretty strong but requires less (and less precise) theoretical knowledge for Black to handle it.
Finally, if you know you are going to be playing a sharp player who studies theory and relies on the Keres Attack against the Scheveningen, it might pay to play some more nebulous ...e6 system such as the Kan, or one of those ...Qb6 systems - or even avoid the Sicilian altogether and try to bore them to death with something really solid!
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Keres Attack; Movsessian (Read 27323 times)
