Tomas, thanks for all your posts to this section of the forum, always interesting and often theoretically valuable.

What are your predictions for 2011?

My hunch is that, in view of the continued expansion of the theory in over-the-board events, we shall see more Whites using move orders that reduce Black's options and channel the game into lines which might be satisfactory for Black in theory but where deep preparation has a chance of catching Black out , e.g. the move order 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 Nc6 8.Qd2 0-0 9.Bc4 Bd7 10.h4.

Happy new year Dragoneers!

I think we can have a traditional summery and developments that took place this year, I doubt anything significnat will show during the few days remaining.

New books

1. Cutting Edge : The open Sicilian 1
Anyone that plays either side of the Dragon should have this book, many strong noveltys and new paths in both Chinese, Bc4 Kb1 Re8 and Topalov variation

2. Sicilian attacks
Dragon chapters shows pretty instructive games with short summery of 9 g4, 9 0-0-0 and 9 Bc4. However some hot stuff are unmentioned.

3. New Ebook http://openingtheory.wordpress.com/

Debated systems

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. g4 Be6 10. Nxe6 has become fashonable these days.

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. O-O-O d5 10. exd5 Nxd5
11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Bd4 Nxc3 13. Qxc3 Bh6+ 14. Be3 Bxe3+ 15. Qxe3 Qb6 16. Qxe7
Be6 17. Qa3 Rad8 18. Bd3 Rd5 19. b3 Rfd8 20. Rde1 c5 {
appears to be busted after} (20... Rd4 21. Re5 R8d5 {
appears to be new mainline in this area.}) 21. Bc4 Rd2 22. Bxe6 fxe6 23. g3 $1
*

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. O-O-O d5 10. Kb1 Nxd4
11. e5 Nf5 12. exf6 exf6 13. Nxd5 {recommended by Dzindzi} Nxe3 14. Qxe3 Be6
15. Bc4 f5 *

Still unclear if white has advantage or not, engines are not that totallt convinced that white has a significnat advantage.

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New stronger engines on stronger hardware can sometimes with the aid of human players discover new ideas and re evaluate lines. It appaers that in Burnett variation, the Khalifman recommened 18 g5 Nh5 19 Ka1 may be about equal after Bh3.

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Personal note, I have now played over 2100 Dragon games. Maybee time to switch opening