Benko Gambit - Summary

Christer Sundqvist: New Trends in the Benko Gambit

This is a summary of a massive analysis package that includes the Benko Gambit. I'd like to demonstrate a typical line of play in order to pique your interest in this rapidly evolving chess opening.

With a small investment from your side, I can send the entire package (2 PGN files) to your e-mail address. I use this blog to help me cope with the enormous number of draws in correspondence chess. I'm only doing it for fun, not for financial gain. I also provide you with regular updates at no additional cost. I use PayPal, MobilePay, and standard IBAN bank transfers. Please tell me how you want to receive the chess opening package. My email is turpaduunari@outlook.com.

If you believe my request for money is unethical or greedy, I am willing to consider alternative options (exchange of valuable ideas or other forms of cooperation).

I have used these resources:

• Boris Alterman. Alterman Gambit Guide: Black Gambits 1. Quality Chess, 2011
• Boris Avrukh. Grandmaster Repertoire: 1.d4 Volume Two. Quality Chess, 2010
• Batsford's Modern Chess Openings (15th edition) = MCO
• Chess Cloud Database Query Mode (https://www.chessdb.cn/queryc_en/) = CCD
• Chess Informant 150, 153
• Chessbase software
• ICCF Games Archive (https://www.iccf.com/message?message=454 ) 1961–2026
• Opening Master Chess Database (https://www.openingmaster.com/)
• Nicolai V. Pedersen. Play the Benko gambit. Everyman Chess, 2011
• Personal chess database (approx. 90 million games)
• Milos Perunovic. The Modernized Benko Gambit, Thinkers Publishing, 2018
• Dhopade Swapnil. Chessable: Lifetime Repertoires Benko Gambit, 2021
• Stockfish 17 chess engine
• Sundqvist, Christer. The Benko Gambit played by a strong correspondence chess player 1995–2026
• Junior Tay. The Benko Gambit: Move by move. Everyman Chess, 2014
• The Week in Chess (https://theweekinchess.com/twic ) 1994–2026

The Benko Gambit database is currently split into two files:

#1 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 (you can download the recent version here (a PGN-file)

#2 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.other

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 

The original name of this opening was the Volga Gambit, named after the Volga River in Russia. At the end of the 1960s this variation was also promoted by Pal Benko, who provided many new suggestions. The name Benko Gambit stuck, and is particularly used in English-speaking countries, The concept behind Black’s third move is to remove the supporting pawn at c4 and open the queenside files (a- and b-files) for pressure on the flank. Black's development is speeded up and he obtains the advantage of one pawn island against two for White – a more compact structure. All these are long-term positional factors, and Black will need them as he gains little direct activity or tactical chances that most gambits bring. Computers and even some grandmasters hold the view that White is a pawn ahead with no immediate problems. That view is simply too complacent, as the pressure Black obtains may last even into the endgame. Black’s success in the gambit-accepted variations has spurred White players to investigate lines declining the gambit, which look to be at least as promising. In the past Fedorowicz, Hodgson, and Vaganian have been the serious practitioners of the opening. There are few grandmasters today that use the Benko with real regularity, but many who use it on occasion.

4.cxb5 White accepts the gambit pawn.

4...a6 

After the moves cxb5 and ...a6, tension may occur between the pawns on b5 and a6. This may continue for several moves as neither side wishes to facilitate the opponent's development by capturing prematurely.

4...g6 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.e4 d6 7.Nf3 0–0 

Firouzja - Carlsen (in 2021) continued like this.8.Nd2 a6 9.Be2 axb5 10.Bxb5 Ba6 11.Bxa6 Nxa6 12.0–0 Nc7 13.Re1 Nd7 14.a4 Qb8 15.Nc4 Ne5 16.Nxe5 Bxe5 17.Bh6 Qxb2 18.Bxf8 Kxf8 19.Rc1 Bxc3 20.Re2 Qb4 21.Ra2 Be5 22.Qc2 Na6 23.Rb1 Qd4 24.Qe2 Nb4 25.Rd2 Qc3 26.g3 Rxa4 27.Kg2 Kg7 28.Rbd1 Ra3 29.h4 h5 30.Qb5 Bxg3 0–1 (30) Firouzja,A (2749)-Carlsen,M (2862) Lichess.org INT 2021

5.bxa6 Only by accepting the pawn sacrifice can White fight for a real advantage in this opening.

5.b6 (Here White gives the pawn back immediately and aims for a positional struggle ahead. White's aim is to beat Black at his own game by trying to cramp him on the queenside with a4–a5 and Nd2–c4.) 5...e6!? (One idea is to immediately start undermining the centre before White gets a chance to increase the hold with Nb1–c3 and e2–e4. The pawn on b6 is going nowhere and will be won sooner or later. It almost looks as Black is confused. Is he trying to play a Benko or a Blumenfeld? Actually this hybrid works quite well, and is one of the most principled ways of meeting the 5.b6 line.) 6.Nc3 (White defends the pawn.) 6...Nxd5 7.Nxd5 exd5 8.Qxd5 (This exchange leaves White's queen on d5, seemingly a dubious decision as Black's backward d-pawn is suppressed and White obtains a nice space advantage. However, it transpires that Black can in time boot away the queen, either with ...Nb4 or ...Be6 after preparation, and the queen usually moves to safer pastures, such as h5 or d2.) 8...Nc6 (White still needs a few moves to complete his development and establish proper control on d5. Black would like to play Bf8–e7 followed by 0–0 and then taking the pawn on b6.) 9.Nf3! (White not only develops his knight but also threatens Nf3–e5 at the same time, exploiting the pin on the c6–knight.) 9...Rb8! (An idea patented by Boris Alterman. Black gets away from the pin on the c6–knight and prepares to play …Rxb6 at the right moment.) 10.e4! (Intending to develop the bishop actively to c4. Several other moves have been tested, but nowadays this pawn move has emerged as the front runner.) 10...Be7 11.Bc4 0–0 12.0–0 Rxb6 (Both sides have completed their development and the position is around equal. White has control on the important d5 square while Black has pressure on the b-file and a decent control of the d4–square. The control of the d4–square is important for Black in this structure because he would like to establish one of his pieces (mostly the knight) on d4.) 13.Qh5 (In this variation Black has the option of playing with a fixed centre after d6. Black’s idea is to change White’s bishop on c4. Another idea is getting yet better control over d4, starting active play on the f- and b-files, and pushing the a-pawn.) 13...d6 14.b3 

White prepares to fianchetto his bishop. 14...Be6! 15.Bxe6 fxe6 16.Bb2 e5 17.Nd2 Rb7 18.f4 Bf6 19.Nc4 g6 20.Qd1 Nd4 21.fxe5 Bxe5 22.Nxe5 dxe5 23.Qd3 Qd6 24.Qc4+ Rbf7 25.Ba3 Qe6 ½–½ (34) Paduano,C (2314)-Stopa,J (2317) Grado ITA 2024; 

5.e3 (This continuation is not so popular nowadays, but it is quite logical and used to be one of the main lines. White avoids a situation where his king loses castling rights, preferring to develop his pieces and perhaps advance in the center with e4 later, even at the expense of a tempo. Another possible plan is to block the queenside with a4 and Ra3, after which it will not be easy for Black to organize his typical counterplay.) 5...g6 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.a4! (This move is a key component of White's setup. The main idea is to strengthen his position on the queenside and avoid exchanging on a6, which would help Black to develop his pieces.) 7...0–0 8.Ra3 (This is a typical square for the white rook in this structure. The idea of putting the rook on a3 is that now the a4–pawn is not pinned anymore and the rook also moves to a safer square away from the a1–h8 diagonal which is always a cause of concern for White in the Benko.) 8...Bb7 (Black is clearly in no position to carry out his traditional queenside counterplay, so he focuses on the center instead.) 9.Nf3 e6! (Listen and you will hear the distant echo of the Blumenfeld Gambit!) 10.dxe6 fxe6 11.Qd6 axb5 12.Bxb5 Nc6 13.0–0 Ng4 14.Qg3 Nge5 15.Nxe5 Nxe5 16.e4 

White is slightly better 16...Qf6 17.Bg5 Qf7 18.Be3 Qe7 19.Raa1 Nc6 20.Bxc6 Bxc6 21.a5 Rfb8 22.Ra2 Rb3 23.a6 d5 24.exd5 exd5 25.Bg5 Qe6 1–0 (67) Tang,A (2548)-Alonso Rosell,A (2538) Chess.com INT 2025

5...g6! (This is the most accurate order of moves, as sometimes Black will want to capture the pawn on a6 with the knight.)

5...Bxa6 

Some sources claim this move is imprecise, but as Black has no better move than 6...g6 after 6.Nc3, there is no reason for us to look out for an imprecise move order, which might not be imprecise anyway. 6.Nc3 d6 7.e4 Bxf1 8.Kxf1 Nbd7 9.g3 h5 10.Kg2 h4 11.Bg5 hxg3 12.hxg3 Rxh1 13.Kxh1 g6 14.Nf3 Bg7 15.a4 Qb6 16.Qc2 Qb4 17.Kg2 Ng4 18.Nb5 Kf8 19.Ra2 Ndf6 20.Nd2 Nh7 21.Bf4 g5 22.Be3 Nxe3+ 23.fxe3 Nf6 24.Nc4 Ng4 25.Ra3 Qe1 26.a5 Be5 27.Nxe5 dxe5 28.Nc7 Rxa5 29.Rxa5 Nxe3+ 30.Kf3 g4# 0–1 (30) Toktomushev,T (2262)-Glidzhain,G (2204) chess.com INT 2025

6.Nc3! (White develops the knight on its natural square and shores up b2 as well. White also lends support to the d5–pawn as well as the e2–e4 central push.)

6...Bxa6 (This is the famous main variation. By sacrificing the pawn Black gets good control of the big diagonal and can exert pressure down the half-open a- and b-files. These are benefits which can last well into the endgame and so, unusually for a gambit Black does not generally mind of queens swap.

6...Bg7 7.Nf3 0–0 8.g3 

Fianchettoing the bishop on g2 has always been an attractive way of playing from the White Side in the Benko Gambit Accepted lines. 8...d6 9.Bg2 Nbd7 (The main difference between this position and the main line of the Benko, is that Black’s bishop remains on c8. The bishop on c8 prevents White from the usual ‘Rb1, b3–Bb2’. In this line White is unable to use this set-up. Black could also play 9...Nxa6, using the position of his bishop on c8.) 10.0–0 Nb6 11.Nd2 Bxa6 12.Qc2 Bb7! 13.e4 Ba6 14.Rd1 Ng4 15.Nf3 Nc4 16.h3 Nge5 17.Nxe5 Nxe5 18.b3 Qa5 19.Bb2 c4 20.Ne2 Rfc8 21.Bc3 cxb3 22.axb3 Qc5 

Black has achieved all his goals, controlling all important squares and files.

7.e4 (This is the most straightforward way to fight against the Benko. White accepts a temporary inconvenience on the kingside and intends to castle artificially. In return he benefits from good control over the center, and the possibility of breaking with e4–e5 in the middlegame.)

7.Nf3 (is often played, but it has no real independent significance as White will soon play either e4 or g3 and we transpose to a main line variation.) 7...Bg7 8.g3 d6 9.Bg2 Nbd7 10.Rb1! (The obvious idea of this move is to meet Black's ...Nb6 with a calm b2–b3.) 10...0–0 This is definitely the main move.) 11.0–0 Qa5 

This is by far Black's most popular option. It is the real starting position of the whole system. 12.Bd2! Bb7 13.Ne1 Qa6 14.b3 Nb6 15.e4 Nbd7 16.Qc2 Ng4 17.h3 Ngf6 18.f4 Qb6 19.Kh2 Ba6 20.Rf2 e6 21.dxe6 fxe6 22.Nf3 d5 23.exd5 exd5 24.Ne5 Nxe5 25.fxe5 Ng4+ 0–1 (40) Matveeva,O (2136)-Andrews,T (2165) chess.com INT 2024; 

7...Bxf1 Denying White castling rights while giving the black knight and perhaps later the queen or a rook the a6–square to operate from.) 

8.Kxf1 d6 (The starting point for the Classical Variation.) 

9.g3 (Preparing to move the king to the safer g-file.)

9.Nf3 Qc8 10.h3 Bg7 11.g3 0–0 12.Kg2 Nbd7 13.Re1 Qb7!? (This move restrains e4–e5 and puts the queen on the same diagonal as the white king.) 14.Re2 Nb6 (Black prevents the e4–e5 break but loses all the momentum in his queenside attack.) 15.Bg5! h6 16.Bxf6! 

Exchanging this bishop for a knight is not a decision to be taken lightly, but in this instance it works perfectly. 16...Bxf6 17.Rc1! (With this important move White prepares to solidify his queenside with b3, after which his a2–pawn will be defended by the rook on e2. If Black tries to regain his pawn by exchanging on c3 immediately, then White will recapture with the b-pawn, opening the second rank and ensuring the safety of the a2–pawn.) 17...Bg7 18.b3! Nd7 19.a4! (Intending Nb5 with a full blockade of the queenside. Note the complete ineffectiveness of the g7–bishop, which is mainly firing into thin air.) 19...c4 (This is Black's last chance to do anything active.) 20.bxc4 Qb4 21.Nb5 Rfc8 22.Nfd4 Qxa4 23.Qxa4 Rxa4 24.Nc6 Kf8 25.f4! Rca8 1–0 (39) Shneider,A (2545)-Levitina,I (2415) Helsinki 1992

9...Bg7 10.Kg2 0–0 (The black king also makes its exit from the centre and the f8–rook is activated.)

11.Nf3 

The natural square for the knight, which can aid the e4–e5 push or sometimes make its way to the juicy c4–square via d2.

11...Qb6 

11...Nbd7 (This is one of the sounder ways to meet the Benko Gambit. Karpov played it as White with quite good results. This knight sometimes can make its way to b6 to put pressure on d5 and c4 or aid in the exchange of a pair of knights after a future ...Ng4–e5.) 12.a4! (Currently the vogue continuation in the Benko Gambit. In the past, White used to concentrate on defending the queenside, with moves such as Re1–e2–c2, and trying to effect an e4–e5 break. However, in the past years, Chinese Grandmasters have discovered that by setting up with a4, Ra3, b2–b3 and Nb5 as quickly as possible, White can put a stop to Black's queenside intentions.) 12...Qb6 13.Qe2 Rfb8 14.Nb5 Ne8 15.Ra3 Nc7 16.Nxc7 Qxc7 17.b3 c4 18.Qxc4 Qxc4 19.bxc4 Rb4 1–0 (25) Bluebaum,M (2671)-Alonso Rosell,A (2538) chess.com INT 2025

12.a4 Nbd7 13.Qe2 (This move: 1) Releases the need for the knight on c3 to hold the e-pawn and so sets up Nc3–b5. 2) Overprotects the b2–pawn and so frees up the dark-squared bishop. 3) Prepares a future e4–e5 break.)

13.Ra3!? 

This rook lift is becoming one popular idea these days. 13...Rfb8 14.Qc2 Qb4 15.Re1 Ng4 16.Na2 Qa5 17.b3 Qa6 18.Bd2 e6 19.dxe6 fxe6 20.Bf4 Nde5 21.Nxe5 Nxe5 22.Bxe5 Bxe5 23.Nc1 Bd4 24.Ne2 Qa5 25.Rc1 Qb4 26.Qa2 Bg7 27.Rc4 Qb7 28.Qc2 Bf8 29.Rc3 Bg7 30.Rc4 Bf8 ½–½ (30) Webster,R (2402)-Krzyzanowski,A (2388) ICCF 2025

13...Rfb8 (Intensifying the pressure on the b-file. Black has more or less achieved his ideal opening set-up.)

14.Nb5 (This knight foray shields the b2–pawn from the queen and rook battery.)

14...Ne8 (Black frees up the long diagonal for the dark-squared bishop and also prepares to contest the strong knight on b5 by exchanging it via ...Nc7.)

15.Bg5 (Taking advantage of the loose e7–pawn to gain a move. (Tay))

15.Ra3 Nc7 16.Nxc7 Qxc7 17.b3 h6 18.Qc2 c4 19.Qxc4 Qxc4 20.bxc4 Rb4 21.a5 Rxc4 22.Be3 Rxe4 23.Rb1 Nc5 24.Nd2 Re5 25.Bxc5 dxc5 26.Nc4 Re2 1–0 (38) Bluebaum,M (2640)-Xiong,J (2646) chess.com INT 2024

15...h6 

15...Kf8 16.Nd2 Qb7 17.Ra2 Qa6 18.Rha1 Nc7 19.Qg4 Qc8 20.Qh4 f6 21.Nxc7 Qxc7 22.Bh6 Rb4 23.b3 Ne5 24.Bxg7+ Kxg7 25.Qh3 Qb7 0–1 (56) Matthes,A (2253)-Klenburg,M (2338) Berlin GER 2025

16.Bd2 Bxb2 

16...Nc7 17.Nxc7 Qxc7 18.Bc3 Bxc3 19.bxc3 Ra5 20.Qe3 Kg7 21.h4 Nf6 22.h5 g5 23.c4 Rba8 24.e5 Ng4 25.Qc3 dxe5 1–0 (42) Kundianok,V (2335)-Friedel,M (2159) Munich GER 2024]

17.Rab1 Bg7 18.Na3 Qa7 19.a5 Nc7 20.Qd3 Qa6 21.Nc4 Nb5 22.Ne3 Nc7 23.Nc4 Nb5 24.Ne3 Nc7 25.Qc2 Rb5 [½–½ (50) Duchardt,A (2399)-Tocklin,T (2339) ICCF 2025]

Halloween Gambit - Summary

 Christer Sundqvist: Complete analysis of the Halloween Gambit

This is a summary of a massive analysis package that includes the Halloween Gambit. I'd like to demonstrate a typical line of play in order to pique your interest in this interesting chess opening.

With a small investment from your side, I can send the entire package (1 PGN file) to your e-mail address. I use this blog to help me cope with the enormous number of draws in correspondence chess. I'm only doing it for fun, not for financial gain. I also provide you with regular updates at no additional cost. I use PayPal, MobilePay, and standard IBAN bank transfers. Please tell me how you want to receive the chess opening package. My email is turpaduunari@outlook.com.

If you believe my request for money is unethical or greedy, I am willing to consider alternative options (exchange of valuable ideas or other forms of cooperation).

I have a lot of free stuff on my page. As a matter of fact you are able to download the complete chess analysis of the Halloween Gambit here: PGN-file (160 kB)

I have used these resources:

• Chess Cloud Database Query Mode (https://www.chessdb.cn/queryc_en/) = CCD
• Chessbase softwareI
• CCF Games Archive (https://www.iccf.com/message?message=454 ) 1961–2026
• Nikolaos Ntirlis. Playing 1.e4 e5. Quality Chess, 2016
• Opening Master Chess Database (https://www.openingmaster.com/)
• Personal chess database (approx. 90 million games)
• Stockfish 17 chess engine
• Sundqvist, Christer. The Halloween Gambit variation played by a strong correspondence chess player 2019-2026
• Christer Sundqvist, Kristo S. Miettinen, Panu Laine. Halloween-gambiittia ei pidä aliarvioida. Kirjeshakki 60 (3) : 167–171, 2021
• The Week in Chess (https://theweekinchess.com/twic ) 1994–2026..]..]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nxe5 [A Finnish chess analysis team has taken on the task of researching the Halloween Gambit, which starts like this. This intricate strategy of the Four Knights Variation ought to be regarded as a type of fashion variation. The most daring have even attempted it in correspondence chess games. It is frequently played on different chess portals, occasionally even at a high level. The variation is a relatively new chess opening, and the extremely bizarre move sequences that show up in the games indicate that it is continuously evolving. If one excludes a single game from a century ago (0–1 (30) Heemskerk, J-Loman, R Haag 1890), the earliest game experiments date back to 1991–1992. White might use the Halloween Gambit as a surprise weapon against Black.]

4...Nxe5 [White's quality offer appears to be a novice error, but the Halloween Gambit is not to be taken lightly. You can be certain that White has carefully examined the variations. White typically has the opportunity to pursue Black's officers, and Black quickly lags behind. What does it mean to play with fewer pieces after just four half-moves? In this analysis, we adhere to, implement, and enhance Nikolaos Ntirlis' recommendations in Quality Chess, 2016.]

[4...Nxe4? Not like this! The offered piece should be accepted by Black. This pawn move capture inevitably leads to a strong advantage for White.

5.Qh5!

5...Qf6 Perhaps the strongest defensive move. 6.Qxf7+ Qxf7 7.Nxf7 Nxc3 8.Nxh8 Nd4??

(8...Ne4 Slightly better) 9.bxc3 Nxc2+ 10.Kd1 Nxa1 11.Bd3 g6 12.Re1+ Be7 13.Bxg6+ hxg6 14.Nxg6 d6 15.Rxe7+ Kd8 16.Rh7 Bd7 17.Bb2 1–0 (17) Rohde,F (2117)-Denker,H (1316) GER email 2015;

4...Bc5 5.Nxc6 dxc6 6.Be2 h5 7.h3 Qd4 8.Rf1 Nxe4 9.Bf3 Nf6 10.d3 The position is equal

10...Be6

11.Be3 Qd6 1–0 (65) Petrovskiy,V (2428)-Rosen,E (2377) Chess.com INT 2025]

5.d4 [The Halloween Gambit's best strategy.]

[5.g3 Nc6 6.Nd5 Nxd5 7.exd5 Nd4 8.Bc4 Bc5

Black is clearly winning

9.c3 Nf5 0–1 (20) Merino Perez,D-Kusova,N (1339) lichess.org INT 2021]

5...Nc6! [This Nc6 move is not only the best in terms of objectivity, but it also provides Black with a logical route to advantage by paradoxically returning material. It is probably the strongest route to an outright refutation of the Halloween Gambit.]

[5...Ng6 Black finds itself in an unexpectedly difficult situation as a result of this move. 6.e5 Ng8 It's a dull retreat, but nothing more is suggested.

7.Bc4

The bishop puts pressure on Black's weak f7 square.

7...d5!? Probably the best move. 8.Bxd5 CCD

8...c6

Decades ago, Euwe examined this ancient variation. Although the position on the board is left disorganized, it is a healthy variation for Black.

9.Bc4 Bb4 10.0–0 Bxc3 11.bxc3 N8e7 12.f4 h5 13.a4 Qa5 14.Bb2 Bg4 15.Qd3 Bf5 16.Qg3 h4 17.Qf3 Bxc2 18.Ba3 Bf5 19.Bc5 Rc8 20.Rae1 Qxa4 21.Bd3 b6 22.Bxf5 Nxf5 23.Qd3 bxc5 24.Qxf5 Ne7 25.Qh3 Qc4 26.f5 Kd8 0–1 (26) Rohde,F (2117)-Vieth,M (1900) BdF-Schachserver 2015]

6.d5 Ne5 [6...Nb8? 7.e5 Ng8 8.d6!

White is clearly better. Puts Black in real danger.

8...cxd6 9.exd6 Qa5 10.Bf4 Nf6 11.Bc4 Qb4 12.Qe2+ Kd8 13.0–0–0 Nc6 14.Rhe1 a6 15.Nd5 1–0 (15) Velikanov,A (2387)-Agmanov,Z (2275) chess.com INT 2024;

6...Ne7 7.e5 Nfxd5 8.Nxd5 Nxd5 9.Qxd5 Qe7 The position is equal 10.Bd2 Qe6 11.Qxe6+ fxe6 12.0–0–0 Bc5 ½–½ (62) Cardozo,C (2043)-Tokman,A (2399) chess.com INT 2024]

7.f4 Ng6 8.e5 [

We have reached a critical position – this is the moment where Black must choose between aiming for an outright refutation or settling for a smaller but safe advantage.]

8...Bb4 [8...Ng8!? This is the ambitious choice. If you want a simpler solution, the following alternatives both work well:

8...Bc5 9.exf6 0–0! left White struggling to contain Black’s lead in development in Kopylov – Biriukov, Tiumen 2013. 9.d6 This is the only serious attempt to justify White’s gambit. 9...cxd6 10.exd6 Qf6 11.Nb5 White is on his way to c7. The idea of penetrating to c7 is something of a trademark for the Halloween Gambit, but Black’s powerful reply kills the whole idea. 11...Nxf4! Black turns into the aggressor and allows White to indulge in materialism. 12.Nc7+ Kd8! 13.Nxa8 Qe5+! White is the exchange up for the moment, but that’s the end of the good news for him. The white king is forced to move, and will soon come under a fierce attack. Black is poised to win the d6–pawn, and will reclaim a material advantage after picking up the trapped knight on a8. 14.Be2 Black launches a counterattack, forcing White into a defensive stance. 14...Nxg2+ 15.Kf1 Nf4 16.Qd2 Nxe2

Black has a decisive advantage 17.Qg5+ Qxg5 18.Bxg5+ f6 19.Be3 b6 20.Nc7 Bb7 21.Kxe2 Bxh1 22.Rxh1 Bxd6 23.Nb5 Bb8 24.h4 Ne7 25.Kf3 Re8 26.h5 Nc6 27.Rg1 g5 28.hxg6 hxg6 29.Rh1 g5 0–1 (29) Obukhov,G (2026)-Schubert,S (1967) Lechenicher SchachServer 2009; 8...Bc5 Completely playable 9.exf6 0–0 10.Qd3 Re8+ 11.Be2 d6

Black is clearly better12.Bd2 Qxf6 0–1 (59) Kopylov,A-Biriukov,N Tiumen 2013]

9.exf6 Qxf6 [level material, possibly slightly better for Black]

[9...0–0 10.fxg7 Re8+ 11.Be2 Bc5 12.g3 d6 The position is equal, but Black has better prospects. 13.Qd3 0–1 (25) Martins,V (2212)-Adury,A (2106) chess.com INT 2023]

10.Qe2+ Kd8 [10...Qe7 11.f5 Qxe2+ 12.Bxe2 Ne7 13.f6 Nxd5 14.fxg7 Rg8 15.0–0 Nxc3 16.Bh5 Ne2+ 17.Kh1 Rxg7 18.Bh6 Rg6 19.Bxg6 hxg6 20.c3 Be7 21.Rf2 Nxc3 22.bxc3 d6 23.Re1 Be6 24.Bf4 Kd7 25.h3 Rh8 0–1 (41) Klepaczka,T (2092)-Kaim,P (2285) Polanica Zdroj 2011]

11.Qc4 [11.Qf3 Re8+ 12.Kd1 Nh4 13.Qg3 d6 14.Bd3 h5 15.h3 Bf5 16.Qg5 Bxd3 17.cxd3 Qxg5 18.fxg5 Nxg2

Black is better19.Rf1 Re7 20.Ne4 Bc5 21.Bd2 Ne3+ 22.Bxe3 Bxe3 23.Kc2 Bd4 24.a4 Kd7 25.Rf5 c6 ½–½ (43) Obukhov,G (1909)-Sundqvist,C (2229) LSS 2023 [turpa]]

11...Re8+ 12.Be2 Bxc3+ 13.Qxc3 Qe7 [

Black is slightly better]

14.Qf3 Nh4 15.Qf2 b6 16.b3 [16.0–0 Qxe2 17.Qxh4+ f6 18.f5 Bb7 19.Bf4 Bxd5 20.Rf2 Qe7 21.Qg3 Rc8 22.c4 Bc6 23.h3 Qf7 24.Rc1 Re7 25.Rd2 d6 ½–½ (40) Jacewicz,G (2164)-Sundqvist,C (2229) LSS 2023]

16...Ba6 17.c4 Nf5 18.Kd2 Qb4+ 19.Kd1 Qc3 20.Rb1 c6 21.Bd2 Qd4 22.Qxd4 Nxd4 23.Bh5 g6 24.Bc3 gxh5 25.Bxd4 cxd5 26.Bf6+ Kc7 27.cxd5 Bb7 28.Rc1+ Kd6 29.Be5+ Kxd5 30.Rc2 Ke4 31.Rd2 Bc6 32.h3 h4 33.Bf6 Kf5 34.Bxh4 Re3 35.Bf2 Bxg2 36.Bxe3 Bxh1 37.Rxd7 Ke6 [½–½ (37) Baltar,A (2242)-Sundqvist,C (2229) LSS 2023]

Caro-Kann Defense - Finnish variation - Summary

Christer Sundqvist: Complete analysis of the Caro-Kann Defense Finnish variation

This is a summary of a massive analysis package that includes the Caro-Kann Defense - Finnish variation. I'd like to demonstrate a typical line of play in order to pique your interest in this interesting chess opening.

With a small investment from your side, I can send the entire package (1 PGN file) to your e-mail address. I use this blog to help me cope with the enormous number of draws in correspondence chess. I'm only doing it for fun, not for financial gain. I also provide you with regular updates at no additional cost. I use PayPal, MobilePay, and standard IBAN bank transfers. Please tell me how you want to receive the chess opening package. My email is turpaduunari@outlook.com.

If you believe my request for money is unethical or greedy, I am willing to consider alternative options (exchange of valuable ideas or other forms of cooperation).

I have a lot of free stuff on my page. As a matter of fact you are able to download the complete chess analysis of the Caro-Kann Defense Finnish variation here: PGN-file (130 kb)

I have used these resources:

• Chess Cloud Database Query Mode (https://www.chessdb.cn/queryc_en/) = CCD

• Chessbase software

• ICCF Games Archive (https://www.iccf.com/message?message=454 ) 1961–2026

• Opening Master Chess Database (https://www.openingmaster.com/)

• Personal chess database (approx. 90 million games)

• Stockfish 17 chess engine

• Sundqvist, Christer. The Caro-Kann Defense Finnish variation played by a strong correspondence chess player 2019-2026

• Christer Sundqvist, Kristo S. Miettinen, Tapio Heilala, Panu Laine. Caro-Kannin Suomi-muunnelma. Kirjeshakki 60 (1): 30–41, 2021

• The Week in Chess (https://theweekinchess.com/twic ) 1994–2026..]

1.e4 c6 [The Caro-Kann Defense is regarded as a reliable defensive strategy to counter the threat posed by the white king's pawn double step. The variation is appropriate for a player who wishes to improve his game quietly and defeat White's negligible advantage from the opening move. The Caro-Kann opening is not at all dull, despite what some people think.]

2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 h6 [We look at the traditional version of the Caro-Kann Defense, where Black plays h7–h6 to set up an escape square for his white-squared bishop on h7 rather than making the quick 4...Bf5 move. The Suomi (Finnish) version of the Caro-Kann Defense is a move that is rarely used. The reason for the variation's name is unknown. Naturally, many Finnish chess players have experimented with this variation. In his famous match against Eero Raaste in Espoo in 1986, the late powerful chess player Antti Pyhälä is credited with creating the variation. The correspondence chess match between Kari Tikkanen and Vladimir Loginov in the 1986–1991 Baltic Sea-themed tournament also caught our attention. According to Tapio Heilala, after reading about the variation in the Swedish magazine Shacknytt, Kari was motivated to give it a try. Antti Pyhälä may have gotten the idea from the same Swedish magazine, according to Kari Tikkanen.]

5.Nf3 [This is the most common move for White.]

[5.Bc4

In the Finnish Variation, this is White's second most frequent natural development move. The bishop's sacrifice on the weak f7–square is what White is thinking of. 

5...Bf5 This is Black's best option. The crucial e6 must be played in order to bring the bishop onto the field before the route is blocked. Now that the knight is in danger, White must either move the knight to g3 or defend it, just like Vladimir Loginov did when he played with White in Kari Tikkanen's correspondence game in 1986. 6.Qe2 White offers Black a central pawn on d4. However, capturing it with the queen gives White good compensation. 6...e6 Black has a secure pawn wall. 7.Nf3 Since the d4 pawn is now protected, this is the ideal location for the knight. 7...Nf6 a logical step in development. Black suggests exchanging knights. The exchange of knights is a step in the direction of a draw, and the Caro-Kann is regarded as a draw weapon. 8.Ng3 Bg4 Here, Kari Tikkanen deviates from the strategy underlying the move h6. Although Bg4 is a more active move than Bh7, White's attacking bishop on f1 survives in nearly all variations. Black must surrender a bishop to the white knight for the remainder of the game. The exchange is referred to as a "small quality" in some quarters. Tikkanen was defeated by Loginov after a fairly even match. 9.Be3 White keeps it open where to castle. 9...Nbd7 10.h3 Bxf3 11.Qxf3

Two bishops provide White with a slight advantage. Black's position is secure, and the knights are always able to surprise him. 11...Nb6 12.Bb3 a5 13.a3 Nbd5 14.0–0 Qb6 15.Rfe1 Be7 16.Bc1 a4 17.Ba2 Qa5 18.Re2 b5 19.Bd2 Qc7 20.Rae1 Rd8 21.c3 Kf8 22.c4 bxc4 23.Bxc4 Kg8 24.Ne4 Nxe4 25.Qxe4 Bf6 26.Rc1 Qb6 1–0 (42) Loginov Vladimir Nikolaevich (2444)-Tikkanen Kari (FIN) (2540), correspondence game, 1986; 

5.Bd3

This might be White's best move. Following the Bd3 move, the diagonal row b1–h7 becomes weaker. In the majority of variations, this is where the bishop ends up, and Black needs to consider this. This can be referred to as White's attempt to exchange the bishop for a lower price. This is White's slower, but no less successful, attempt to secure a long-term advantage. The goal is to force Black's light square bishop, also known as the Suomi bishop, into a cheap exchange, either on the squares f5 or h7, or by ruthlessly exchanging the bishop for a knight. 

5...Nf6 CCD -61 6.Nxf6+ exf6 7.Ne2 Bd6 8.0–0 0–0 9.Ng3 Re8 10.c3 Nd7 11.Bxh6 gxh6 12.Qg4+ Kh8 13.Qh5 Bf4 14.Qf5 Nf8 15.Qxf4 Kg7 16.Nh5+ 1–0 (16) turpaduunari (Christer Sundqvist) (1845)-olliy (2013) https://gameknot.com/chess.pl 2024; 

5.Ng3

White might be able to defend himself against the Bf5 move by playing proactively. Here, the goal is to prevent the Bf5–type continuations of the Caro-Kann main variation while also voluntarily moving the somewhat unsteady e4–knight in the center away. 

5...Nf6 6.Nf3 Bg4 7.Be2 e6 8.h3 Bxf3 9.Bxf3 Bd6 10.0–0 0–0 and White is free to attempt to undermine Black's powerful position, though this is by no means simple.]

5...Bf5 [The Finnish variation relies heavily on this 5...Bf5 move. However, neither 5...Bg4 nor 5...Nf6 are part of the theme.]

6.Ng3 [6.Nc5!? An intriguing move. One could argue that White made a serious effort to push Black off the board with this move. 6...Qc7 Probably the best defensive move. 7.Bd3 Bxd3 8.Nxd3 e6 9.Bf4 Bd6 10.Bxd6 Qxd6 11.Qe2 and then castling on the opposing sides, where White once more has a marginally bigger developmental advantage than the initial move. 11...Nd7 12.0–0–0 Ne7 13.Kb1 0–0–0 14.g3 Qc7 15.Rhe1 Kb8 16.c3 Rhe8 17.Qe4 Nf5 18.Nfe5 Nxe5 19.Nxe5 a6 20.Qg4 Rg8 21.a3 Nd6 22.Nd3 Nc4 23.Qe2 Nb6 24.f4 Nd7 25.Qh5 Nb6 ½–½ (41) Vega Palma,M (2325)-Heilala,T (2341) ICCF 2022; 6.Bd3 The pioneering game Raaste-Pyhälä was played in this manner. (Kirjeshakki) 6...e6 7.Bf4 Bxe4 8.Bxe4 Nf6 9.Bd3 Bd6 equal position. 10.Qd2 Bxf4 11.Qxf4 Qa5+ 12.c3 Nbd7 13.0–0 0–0 14.b4 Qd8 15.c4 a5 16.a3 Qe7 17.Qd2 b6 18.Qc3 Ra7 19.Ne5 Rc8 20.Rfe1 Qd8 21.Rad1 axb4 22.axb4 b5 23.Rc1 bxc4 24.Qxc4 Nxe5 25.dxe5 Nd5 ½–½ (42) Berg,E (2348)-Karttunen,M (2284) Oropesa del Mar 1999]

6...Bh7 [The most frequent action, according to the theme, is the Bishop's withdrawal.]

[6...g5 7.Nxf5 Qa5+ 8.c3 Qxf5 9.Bd3 Qg4 10.Rg1 Nd7 11.Qb3

White has a decisive advantage.11...Nb6 12.Ne5 Qe6 13.Qxe6 fxe6 14.Bg6+ Kd8 15.Nf7+ Kc7 16.Nxh8 Nf6 17.Nf7 Nfd7 18.f4 g4 19.f5 exf5 20.Bf4+ e5 21.dxe5 Nd5 22.Bxh6 Bxh6 23.Nxh6 Ne7 24.Bxf5 Nxf5 25.Nxf5 Nxe5 26.0–0–0 Nc4 27.Nh6 Rh8 28.Rgf1 Kb6 29.Nxg4 1–0 (29) Einarsson,O-Hein,J (1577) Ballerup 2011]

7.Bd3 [The strongest move by White.]

[7.Nh5 Nd7 8.Bc4 e6 9.0–0 Ngf6 10.Nf4 Nd5 11.Re1 N7b6 12.Bb3 Bd6 13.Ne5 0–0 14.Qg4 Bf5 15.Qf3 Qh4 16.Bd2 Bxe5 17.dxe5 Nxf4 18.Bxf4 Nd5 19.Bg3 Qg4 20.Qxg4 Bxg4 21.f3 Bf5 22.Rad1 Rfd8 23.Bf2 b6 24.Rd2 Kf8 25.Red1 Ke8 1–0 (64) Geske,J (2181)-Pogan,N (1969) playchess.com INT 2008]

7...Bxd3 8.Qxd3 e6 9.0–0 Nf6 10.Re1 [10.Ne5 Nbd7 11.f4 Bd6 12.Bd2 0–0

Black is OK. 

13.Rae1 c5 14.c3 Rc8 15.f5 cxd4 16.Nxd7 Qxd7 17.fxe6 fxe6 18.cxd4 Bc5 19.Bc3 Rcd8 20.Rd1 Qa4 21.Kh1 Ng4 22.Ne4 Rxf1+ 23.Rxf1 Bxd4 24.h3 Ne3 25.Rf3 Qd1+ 26.Qxd1 Nxd1 ½–½ (33) Stockfelt,J (1473)-Piiroinen,T (1878) Finland 2016]

10...Be7 11.Bf4 [11.Bd2 0–0 12.Rad1 c5 13.Bc3 Nbd7 14.dxc5 Nxc5 15.Qc4 Qc7 16.Be5 Qc6 17.Nd4 Qa4 18.Qxa4 Nxa4 19.Nb5 a6 20.Nd6 b5 21.b3 Nb6 22.c4 bxc4 23.bxc4 Bxd6 24.Bxd6 Rfc8 25.c5 Nc4 0–1 (59) Kokkila,T (2298)-Lahdelma,H (2331) Finland FIN 2024]

11...Nbd7 12.c4 0–0 13.h3 [13.Qb3 Qb6 14.Qxb6 axb6 15.a3 Rfe8 16.Rac1 Bf8 17.h3 g5 18.Be3 Bg7 19.Red1 Red8 20.Rc2 Ra5 21.Kf1 Ne8 22.Re1 Ra4 23.Bd2 Nc7 24.Bc1 Re8 25.b3 Ra5 ½–½ (80) Araujo,H (2184)-Azevedo Junior,J (2056) Recife 2012; 13.Rad1 Re8 14.Ne5 Nxe5 15.dxe5 Qxd3 16.Rxd3 Nh7 17.Ne4 Nf8 18.Be3 Red8 19.Red1 b6 20.f4 c5 21.Kf2 Ng6 22.g3 Kf8 23.Kf3 h5 24.Nc3 Rxd3 25.Rxd3 Rd8 ½–½ (36) Anwesh,U (2408)-Deviatkin,A (2580) Mumbai 2011]

13...Re8 14.a3 [14.Rad1 Qb6 15.Qc2 c5 16.dxc5 Bxc5 17.Ne5 Nxe5 18.Bxe5 Red8 19.Bxf6 gxf6 20.a3 a5 21.Nh5 Bd4 22.Rd2 Rac8 23.b3 f5 24.Red1 Qc5 25.Kh1 a4 ½–½ (42) Popov,V (2138)-Dziedzic,A (2143) ICCF email 2016]

14...a5 

15.b3 Qb6 16.c5 Qb5 17.Qxb5 cxb5 18.b4 axb4 19.axb4 Ra4 20.Rxa4 bxa4 21.Ra1 Nd5 22.Bd2 b5 23.Ne5 Nxe5 24.dxe5 Bg5 25.Be1 Bf4 26.Ne4 Bxe5 27.Rc1 Bb2 28.Rd1 a3 29.Nd6 Ra8 [0–1 (29) olliy (2046)-turpaduunari (Christer Sundqvist) (2603) https://gameknot.com/chess.pl 2025]

King's Indian Defense - Summary

 

Christer Sundqvist: New ideas in the King's Indian Defense

This is a summary of a massive analysis package that includes the King's Indian Defense. I'd like to demonstrate a typical line of play in order to pique your interest in this rapidly evolving chess opening.

With a small investment from your side, I can send the entire package (6 PGN files) to your e-mail address. I use this blog to help me cope with the enormous number of draws in correspondence chess. I'm only doing it for fun, not for financial gain. I also provide you with regular updates at no additional cost. I use PayPal, MobilePay, and standard IBAN bank transfers. Please tell me how you want to receive the chess opening package. My email is turpaduunari@outlook.com.

If you believe my request for money is unethical or greedy, I am willing to consider alternative options (exchange of valuable ideas or other forms of cooperation).

I have used these resources:

• Batsford's Modern Chess Openings (15th edition) = MCO
• Chess Cloud Database Query Mode (https://www.chessdb.cn/queryc_en/) = CCD
• Chess Informant 166
• Chessbase software
• Gawain Jones. Chessable Lifetime Repertoires - King's Indian Defense Part 1, 2024
• ICCF Games Archive (https://www.iccf.com/message?message=454 ) 1961–2026
• Vassilios Kotronias. Kotronias on the King's Indian-Mar del Plata I. Qualiry Chess, 2015
• Opening Master Chess Database (https://www.openingmaster.com/)
• Personal chess database (approx. 90 million games)
• Stockfish 17 chess engine
• Sundqvist, Christer. The King's Indian Defense played by a strong correspondence chess player 2019-2026
• The Week in Chess (https://theweekinchess.com/twic ) 1994–2026

The analysis package consists of six files:

1. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 (downloadable PGN-file (2.08 Mb)
2. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3
3. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2
4. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f4
5. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.h3
6. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.other 
   

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 [The King’s Indian Defence came into existence during the “hypermodern” era of the 1920s. However it rose to prominence in the 1940s, when Bronstein, Boleslavsky, and Reshevsky scored brilliant victories with it. Thirty years later, when Bobby Fischer became World Champion, the King’s Indian was at the absolute height of fashion. It was Fischer’s main defence to the queen pawn and the opening seemed to be active, sound, and reliable. Later Kasparov would pick up the torch and continue the cause of the black pieces. The pendulum has swung back in the last decades as players of the White side have prevented some methods of counterplay and found ways to punish Black’s lack of space. Kramnik in particular has inflicted great suffering upon players of the black pieces from the 1990s to the present day. On the White side one also must definitely mention Korchnoi, who has continued to find new strategies at the top level for more than fifty years. Nonetheless, today the King’s Indian attracts many aggressive young grandmasters (as eighty years ago) who keep it in the forefront of modern chess opening theory.]

5.Nf3 

This article covers new trends in the Classical line of play and the analysis is published in file #1. Other 5th White move options are covered in separate files (a total of 6 files).

5...0–0 [Castling is by far the most frequent move by Black.]

[5...Bg4 Pinning the knight on f3 is a reasonable alternative. Nakamura and Duda prefer 5...Nbd7 6.Be2 This is the main response by White and played by for example Ding Liren, Arjun Erigaisi and Alexei Sarana. 

6...Bxf3

A) 7.Bxf3 e5 8.d5 h5 9.h4 Nbd7 10.g3

White is slightly better and the game can continue like this:10...Bh6 11.Bxh6 Rxh6 12.Qd2 (12.Bg2 Former World Champion Ding Liren chose a different move. 12...a5 13.Bh3 Nc5 14.Qe2 Kf8 15.Kf1 Kg7 16.Kg2 somewhat perplexing moves with the king. 16...Qe7 17.b3 Rhh8 18.Rab1 c6 19.Rhd1 Rhd8 20.Qe3 After a long struggle White was unable to work it out properly ; 0–1 (64) Ding,L (2734)-Indjic,A (2635) Danzhou 2025) 12...Rh8 13.Bg2 Kf8 14.0–0–0 a6 15.f4 b5 16.Rhf1 Kg7 17.Kb1 Rb8 18.cxb5 axb5 19.fxe5 The position is equal 19...Nxe5 20.Ne2 Nfd7 21.Nd4 Qe7 22.Rf4 Rhf8 23.Rdf1 Kh7 24.Qe2 Ra8 25.Bh3 Ra4 26.Qd1 Nc5 27.Bf5 Kg8 28.Bxg6 Rxd4 29.Bxf7+ ½–½ (29) Cvek,R (2397)-Haring,F (2464) Prague CZE 2025;

B) 7.gxf3 Erigaisi plays like this 7...Nfd7 8.f4 Nc6 9.e5 e6 10.h4 h5 11.Be3 Ne7 12.Bd3 Nb6 13.Qc2

White is better 13...d5 14.cxd5 Nbxd5 15.Nxd5 Qxd5 16.Be4 Qa5+ 17.b4 Qxb4+ 18.Kd1 0–0–0 19.Rb1 White is clearly better 19...Rxd4+ 20.Bxd4 Qxd4+ 21.Ke2 Nd5 22.Bxd5 Qxd5 23.Rhd1 Qa5 Erigaisi failed to convert his decisive advantage to a win ; ½–½ (66) Erigaisi,A (2778)-Livaic,L (2550) Deggendorf GER 2025]

6.Be2 [The Classical Variation has managed to get through its ups and downs and develop a massive pedigree, culminating in its current feverish popularity. The main line, 6...e5 7 0–0 Nc6 8 d5 Ne7 9 Ne1, eventually leads combatants to move 25 and beyond before novelties are sprung. Expect to encounter games by the strongest chess players over the board and correspondence chess players (Carlsen, Caruana, Nakamura, Firouzja, Robson, Borstnik, Zidu, Korzun, Perevertkin etc.)]

6.h3 e5 7.d5 a5 8.Bg5 h6 9.Be3 These strange bishop-moves are made to weaken Black's kingside. 

9...Na6 10.g4

White is slightly better and makes remarkably active moves.10...Nc5 11.Nd2 Nfd7 12.Be2 c6 13.h4 cxd5 14.cxd5 f5 15.gxf5 gxf5 16.exf5

White is clearly better16...Nf6 17.Rg1 Kh8 18.Qc2 Na6?! 19.a3 Bd7? (19...Nc7 maybe Black needs to strengthen the center of the board.) 20.Nc4 Qe7 21.Nb6 Rad8 22.0–0–0

White has been building up a decisive advantage, but in a recent game this did not pay off 22...Be8 23.Kb1 Nh5 0–1 (45) Devaev,A (2306)-Mahdavi,R (2436) chess.com INT 2025;

6.Be3 The Larsen Variation. White’s third choice on move 6, although much rarer than 6.Be2 or 6.h3. 

6...e5 7.d5 a5 White’s problem is that without playing h2–h3 …Ng4 is always going to be a pain. Let us see what happens, when White plays something else. 8.Bd3 There’s no reason this should be a better square than e2. White has less control of the g4–square, and the bishop will be hit when a knight lands on c5. 8...Na6 9.0–0 9.h3 would actually be the best move. 9...Nc5 (9...Ng4 also ...Ng4 is good) 10.Bc2 Nfd7 11.Nd2 f5 12.Nb3?! Nxb3 13.axb3 f4

Black is better 

14.Bd2 f3 15.g3 Nf6 16.Re1 Bh3 17.Bd3 Qd7 18.Qc2 Bg2 19.Nd1 Qh3 20.Ne3 Bh6 21.Bxa5 Bxe3 22.fxe3 Ng4 0–1 (22) Lee,K (2072)-Klukin,K (2430) Chess.com INT 2025]

6...e5 [6...Nbd7 The 6…Nbd7 variation is less about remembering long lines of theory and more about understanding key concepts. By developing the knight first, it is possible to bypass various White setups, including the dull Exchange Variation. 7.0–0 e5

The knight on d7 rather than c6 creates important differences in the dynamics of the position. The big advantage is that d4–d5 no longer comes with tempo and gives Black the potential of a strong knight on c5. The disadvantage is that there is less pressure on White’s centre, in particular the d4–pawn. 

8.Be3 White’s overwhelmingly most popular choice. 8...Qe7 In his book Gawain Jones recommends putting pressure on White’s e4–pawn. (8...exd4 9.Nxd4 Nc5 10.f3 b6 11.Qd2 Ne6 12.Rae1 Bb7 13.Bd1 Nd7 14.f4 Nec5 15.Bc2 Re8 16.f5 Ne5 17.b3 Ng4 18.Bf4 a5 19.Kh1 Qh4 20.Kg1 Qd8

A high-quality correspondence chess game ended in a draw: ½–½ (39) Mezera,L (2370)-Dzenis,J (2304) ICCF 2024) 

9.Qc2 Defending the pawn and delaying fixing the centre. 9...c6 10.Rad1 Probably White’s best move, although it’s actually not so clear if the rook is better placed on a1 or d1 once the centre is closed. 10...h6 Black is controlling the g5–square and thus preparing to jump the knight to g4 without allowing Bg5. 11.h3 The best way for White to go if he doesn’t want a blockaded centre. 11...exd4 Now that White has committed to h2–h3, this is the right time to capture on d4. Black is having a keen desire to exploit the weakness of the g3–square. 12.Bxd4 White’s most common recapture. By opening the e-file it is easier to defend the e4–pawn. 12...Re8 13.Rfe1 b6 Black continues to develop and is putting further pressure on the e4–pawn. 14.Bf1 Bb7 15.a3 Gawain Jones recommends a slower approach than 15.e5. 15...Rad8 16.b4 Nf8 17.b5 The logical continuation. 17...c5 18.Nd5 Otherwise White simply drops the e4–pawn. 18...Bxd5 19.exd5 Qd7 20.Be3 Re7

White is a little better with his bishop pair and space advantage, but Black's position is solid.]

7.0–0 

[7.d5 is the Petrosian System, which forces Black to manoeuvre before kingside play can be begun. 7...a5 8.Bg5 This move is really the key to the Petrosian strategy. 8...h6 It’s worth clarifying White’s intentions. 9.Bh4 The traditional retreat. White’s hope is that this pin will slow down Black's counterplay long enough for him to find an ideal piece setup. 9...Na6 10.Nd2 A multi-purpose move. White overprotects the e4–pawn, opens up the d1–h5 diagonal preventing us from grabbing the other bishop with …g6–g5 and …Nh5, and opens an escape route for the bishop with f2–f3 and Bf2. 10...Bd7 10…Qe8 is the main move, but we have a sneaky idea in mind. 11.0–0 White doesn’t see any difference. 11...Nc5 12.Qc2 b6 A subtle waiting move. We give our knight more protection and ask White how he’s continuing. If he plays 13.f3 , then we can exploit it with the usual 13…Qe8 followed by …Nh5. 13.b3 g5 Here Black can generate a quick kingside initiative. 14.Bg3 h5 15.h4 Trying to block Black is just too dangerous. I had this position in a recent 45–minute game, said Gawain Jones. 15...Nh7 Much stronger than Gawain's choice of 15…Bh6 . 16.hxg5 Nxg5 17.Bxh5 f5 At the cost of a pawn, Black has an extremely dangerous initiative. 18.exf5 Bxf5 19.Qd1 e4

White’s pieces coordinate terribly. Black has a fantastic g7–bishop and knight on c5. The simplest plan is to bring the queen into the attack with either …Qf6–h6 or …Nh7 and …Qg5. White has big problems down the long diagonal and will have to be very careful not to get mated down the h-file. This idea of Gawain has not been put to practice yet!; 

7.Be3 The Gligorić-Taimanov System is the choice of Carlsen, Ivanchuck, Bluebaum, So and so on, so it can't be all that bad! 7...Ng4 Immediately challenging the bishop is the most thematic response. 8.Bg5 f6

Where should White put the bishop? 9.Bh4 The mainline response. White attempts to slow Black's kingside play. 9...Nc6 Black tries to make the game simpler. 10.d5 Ne7 11.Nd2 By far the most popular move. 11...f5 Forcing matters. 12.Bxg4 The only critical response. White gives up his bishop to create this strange structure. If White doesn’t take on g4, Black should be very happy. 12...fxg4 13.Bg5 White needs to waste another tempo with his bishop. 13...h6 14.Be3 c5 Preventing White from playing c4–c5. Now White has a big decision to make: to take en-passant or not? 15.dxc6 Fabiano Caruana’s approach, and so obviously, we need to take it very seriously. The game becomes sharp. 15...bxc6 16.b4 d5 17.exd5 cxd5 18.Bc5 Putting maximum pressure on Black's position. 18...e4 19.Bxe7 Qxe7 20.Nxd5 Qf7 Black threatens mate on f2, so White has to give the exchange. 20…Qg5!? is also interesting. 21.0–0 Bxa1 22.Qxa1

22...Be6 (22...Bf5 1–0 (52) Caruana,F (2783)-Radjabov,T (2713) Shamkir 2014 continued like this, but let's follow a more recent game.) 23.Ne3 Rad8 24.Qc1 ½–½ (24) Rahul,S (2472)-Homa,S (2219) Charlotte 2025; 

7.dxe5 The Exchange Variation is drawish, but the play can get exciting. 7...dxe5 8.Qxd8 Rxd8 9.Bg5 Due to the threat of Nd5 White gains a tempo. 9...Re8 10.Nd5 The most forcing continuation. White instigates further exchanges. 10...Nxd5 11.cxd5 c6 White now has the better structure, so we should rush to exchange these pawns. 12.Bc4 White’s overwhelming choice. White hopes for some advantage thanks to his active bishop, but Black will be able to exploit it. 12...cxd5 13.Bxd5 Nd7! The mainline, and the recent choice of Magnus Carlsen. Here Black is doing well if he can get rid of the d5–bishop with …h7–h6 and …Nf6, when White is unable to move the bishop as the e4–pawn would fall. 14.Nd2 White overprotects the e4–pawn. 14...Nc5 Now that White has been forced to go passive Black is changing the plan. Black is now ready to put a piece, probably the bishop, on e6. 15.0–0–0 White brings the rook into the game. In the ending his king will do a useful job defending the b-pawn. 15...Be6

16.Bxe6 Nxe6 An equal position from 2006 K. Georgiev-Sutovsky, Gibraltar. 17.Be3 f5 A very ambitious plan. Black intends to play …b7–b6 and …Rac8+ followed by expanding on the kingside with …h7–h5–h4, and try to put some pressure on White. An alternative plan is 17…Bf8 followed by exchanging bishops on c5. Both are absolutely fine. 18.f3 Rac8+ 19.Kb1 b6 20.Rc1 h5 ½–½ (20) Marchant,A (2364)-Tanti,J (2355) ICCF 2025]

7...Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 [Produces some of the most sparkling variations the chessboard has ever seen.]

9.b4 [This is the Bayonet Attack. This line has a fearsome reputation after it was used successfully by Vladimir Kramnik against Garry Kasparov.]

[9.Ne1 In the 9.Ne1 variation the creative Black players will have the opportunity to show their full potential, as it requires a combination of positional and tactical mastery. 9...Nd7 This is the main line. 10.Be3

Kotronias is tempted to name this the Korchnoi Variation as the great man has contributed a lot to its development over the years. 10...f5 11.f3 f4 12.Bf2 The bishop has settled on the critical gl -a7 diagonal, and White is ready to launch his queenside campaign by preparing c4–c5. 12...g5 13.Nd3 This variation is seen rather more in Correspondence than over-the-board chess these days. It’s probably too much for White players to remember. One slip and they’ll get mated! (Jones) (13.Rc1 These days this is generally the precursor to sacrificing the c-pawn to generate faster counterplay. White may still transpose back to the mainlines with a subsequent Nd3. 13...Ng6 14.c5! Speed is of the essence so White sacrifices a pawn for quick queenside play. This move was introduced in 1998 by Kozul. 14...Nxc5 15.b4 Na6 16.Nb5 b6 17.Nd3 Rf7 18.Rc3 h5 19.h3 Bf6 20.Be1 Qd7 21.Nf2 White is slightly better, but play is very complicated ; 0–1 (51) So,W (2778)-Grischuk,A (2766) Paris 2018) 13...Nf6

14.c5 Ng6 15.Rc1 The mainline. White threatens to capture on d6 followed by Nb5. 15...Rf7 An important reaction. Black needs to defend the c7–square to prevent White’s knight hop. 16.Nb5 a6 Before breaking with …g5–g4 Black should first expel the knight. 17.Na3 g4 18.Nc4 g3 19.hxg3 fxg3 20.Bxg3 Nh5 21.Bh2 Bh6 22.Rc2 b5 23.cxb6

23...cxb6 ½–½ (33) Hunger,H (2408)-Tanti,J (2393) ICCF 2025; 

9.Bg5 The Odessa Variation. White’s idea is to exchange his dark-squared bishop for Black's knight on f6 and leave Black with a misplaced one on e7. 9...Ne8 Gawain Jones thinks this makes sense. White’s not interested in exchanging for the e7–knight, and so will gain back time on White’s bishop. 10.Nd2 f5 Here Black should push the f-pawn immediately. 11.f3 Thematic but risky. 11...f4

An odd version of the Classical variation. White is hoping that his bishop will annoy Black, but in fact he needs to be very careful. 12.Bh4 Kh8 Putting the king in the corner is almost always useful, but here Black has a sneaky follow-up in mind! 13.b4 g5 An excellent pawn sacrifice. 14.Bxg5 Declining the pawn would give Black a souped-up version of the classical mainlines. 14...Bf6 15.Bxf6+ Rxf6 Black has an extremely dangerous play for the pawn. Next up are …Rh6, …Ng6 and …Qh4. The nice caveman approach looks extremely difficult to halt. 16.Rf2 Rh6 17.g4 fxg3 18.hxg3 Ng6 19.Nf1 Qg5 20.Rh2 Rxh2 21.Kxh2 Nf6 22.Qd2 Nf4!!

23.Kg1 N6h5 24.Kf2 Nxg3 25.Nxg3 Nh3+ 0–1 (34) Nikcevic,N (2340)-Djukic,N (2480) Darfo Boario Terme ITA 2025]

9...Nh5 10.Re1! [Kramnik’s answer to 9...Nh5 continues to give Black trouble.]

10...f5 11.a4 a5 [11...Nf6 12.Nd2 Bh6 13.a5 Bxd2 14.Bxd2 Nxe4 15.Nxe4 fxe4 16.Bf1 Bf5 17.g4

Caruana is clearly better17...Bd7 18.Bg2 Kh8 19.Rxe4 Ng8 20.g5 Ne7 21.f4 exf4 22.Bc3+ Kg8 23.Qd4 1–0 (23) Caruana,F (2803)-Taboas Rodriguez,D (2335) chess.com INT 2025]

12.bxa5 [12.b5 b6 13.Ra3 Nf6 14.Ng5 h6 15.Ne6 Bxe6 16.dxe6 Nxe4 17.Nxe4 fxe4 18.h4 Nf5 19.Qd5 Qe7 20.Rh3 e3 21.Bxe3 Rae8 22.h5 Qxe6 23.hxg6 Nxe3 24.fxe3 e4 ½–½ (39) Stocker,C (2437)-Szerlak,A (2421) ICCF 2024]

12...Rxa5 13.exf5 [13.Bd2 Nf6 14.Ra3 Ra8 15.exf5 Nxf5 16.Bd3 Nd4 17.Ng5 h6 18.Nge4 b6 19.Nxf6+ Qxf6 20.Be3 Nf5 21.Bc1 Nd4 22.Ne4 Qf7 23.h3 Kh7 24.Be3 Bd7 25.Bb1 Nf5 26.Bd2 ½–½ (26) Kirkov,T (2434)-Dimov,D (2359) ICCF 2025]

13...Nxf5 14.Bg5 Nf6 15.Bd3 [1–0 (15) Meyer,J (2337)-Nouveau,L (2274) ICCF 2025]

15...Nh6 16.Ne4 [16.Ra3 Several hard-fought draws have been played by strong correspondence chess players. 16...Nf7 17.Bh4 b6 18.Ne4 Bf5 19.Bc2 Nh6

20.Bg5 Nf7 21.Bd2 Nxe4 22.Bxe4 Ra8 23.Qc2 Bxe4 24.Qxe4 Bh6 25.Rea1 Bxd2 26.Nxd2 Qg5 27.Qe2 Ra5 28.Nb3 Ra7 29.Nd2 Ra5 30.Nb3 Ra7 31.Nd2 Ra5 ½–½ (31) Stocker,C (2419)-Szerlak,A (2416) ICCF 2025]

16...Nf7 17.Bd2 Ra8 18.h3 Nxe4 19.Bxe4 b6 20.Qc2 Bh6 21.Bxg6 Bxd2 22.Bxf7+ Rxf7 23.Qxd2 Rg7 24.Kh1 Qf6 25.Re3 Qh6 26.Rea3 Qg6 27.Ne1 Qe4 

28.Qc1 [GM-level correspondence chess play! ½–½ (28) Forslöf,L (2478)-Matsukevich,V (2456) ICCF 2025]