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Normal Topic Why 7.Bb3 instead of O-O in Sozin? (Read 5133 times)
OstapBender
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Re: Why 7.Bb3 instead of O-O in Sozin?
Reply #7 - 08/10/10 at 03:34:59
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No problem.  I've loved the 7.Bb3 Be7 8.g4 line since I first came across it in The Complete Najdorf: Modern Lines by Nunn and Gallagher (back in 2000 or so when the book was still relatively new).

Golubev very briefly mentions 7.Bb3 Be7 8.g4 Nc5 in his Sozin book but only to demonstrate that the move 9.Qf3? is inadequate. Both 9.Qe2 and 9.f3 look playable to me.  

I think Black may be able to answer 9.Qe2 with 9...d5. I found three GM games (Messing-Minic, Belgrade 1968; Borkowski-Georgiev, Saint John 1988; Dgebuadze-Schoenthier, Germany 2000), all draws.
« Last Edit: 08/10/10 at 08:33:52 by OstapBender »  

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MNb
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Re: Why 7.Bb3 instead of O-O in Sozin?
Reply #6 - 08/09/10 at 20:48:12
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After 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bb3 Nbd7 8.g4 Nc5 White has to choose between 9.Qe2 a la Velimirovic (or so it seems) and 9.f3 a la the English Attack.
Thanks for your explanation, Ostap.
  

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OstapBender
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Re: Why 7.Bb3 instead of O-O in Sozin?
Reply #5 - 08/09/10 at 16:36:10
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MNb wrote on 08/09/10 at 14:49:15:
7.Bb3 Nbd7 8.g4 looks interesting as well. Or is there a reason that 7...Nbd7 improves Black's chances compared to 7...Be7 ?

8.g4 looks interesting after 7...Nbd7, since g5 looms and the f6-knight has lost its natural retreat square.  I guess Black has 8...Nc5, vacating d7, hitting the Bb3, and re-inforcing e6 (a sensitive spot for Black in these lines).

I think the reason 8.g4 is so strong after 7...Be7 is that, after the typical sacrifice Bxe6 fxe6; Nxe6 Q moves, g7 is hanging so Nxg7+ gets a third pawn for the piece.  For example 8...b5? (of course Black can play much better than this) 9.g5 Nfd7 (9...Ng8 may be preferable, but still unpalatable) 10.Bxe6 fxe6 11.Nxe6 Qa5 12.Nxg7+ is pretty much winning for White.
  

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MNb
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Re: Why 7.Bb3 instead of O-O in Sozin?
Reply #4 - 08/09/10 at 14:49:15
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7.Bb3 Nbd7 8.g4 looks interesting as well. Or is there a reason that 7...Nbd7 improves Black's chances compared to 7...Be7 ?
  

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Re: Why 7.Bb3 instead of O-O in Sozin?
Reply #3 - 08/09/10 at 12:29:35
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After 7.0-0 Black can play 7...Be7! (7.Bb3 Be7 8.g4!) and White has trouble transposing into a decent line. For example 8.Bb3 0-0 (if 8...b5 9.Qf3 then White's move order trick has worked). Now White does not have a 9th move that leads anywhere. Both 9.Be3 and 9.f4 are well met by 9...b5. you can still play there moves of course, but they are not supposed to lead anywhere...
  
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zoo
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Re: Why 7.Bb3 instead of O-O in Sozin?
Reply #2 - 08/09/10 at 12:17:53
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Quote:
Why does white use this move order in the Sozin Najdorf?

certainly a matter of taste (Black doesn't threaten ...Nxe4 yet), both can transpose or go their own way. 7.Bb3 gives Black a chance to play an early Be7 & 0-0, after which the setup with Be3,Qe2,0-0-0 becomes an option. Don't know if the "threat" of Velimirovic Attack can extract concessions from Black, though.
  
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Re: Why 7.Bb3 instead of O-O in Sozin?
Reply #1 - 08/09/10 at 11:46:30
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I think that the trick with ...Nxe4 and ...d5 is the reason for the quick Bb3. Also, this move will be played but the O-O is not that will be played by White. As White can choose to play for O-O-O if for example Black plays a quick ...Be7. All these are at my dark corners of my memory, so please forgive me if i am wrong.
  
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Why 7.Bb3 instead of O-O in Sozin?
08/09/10 at 07:17:27
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Why does white use this move order in the Sozin Najdorf?  If white wants to avoid Bb3 Nbd7 why isn't 7. O-O better?  I don't see anything black can do except for transpose into the main main line with b5 and Be7..
  
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