Important to look out for new ideas

Training for tournaments basically comprises of working extensively on the Opening ideas and finding improvements in the previously played games at the highest level of chess tournaments.

It is very important to be updated about new ideas in the Opening theory by following all the latest played games. Sometimes a player gets to repeat the same idea twice in the same tournament but with different results.

In the game featured in previous week’s chess checks, Alexander Grischuk playing with White had used the same opening and the same idea against Mikhail Gurevich in this same tournment (played just a few day’s before this game). Interestingly, Grischuk had ended on the losing side against Gurevich but found the winning note in this game.
Grischuk, A (2606) - Gulko, B (2643)
North Sea Cup Esbjerg (9), 2000

The French Defence
1. e4 e6
The French Defence
2. d4 d5 3.e5
The advanced variation
3. ..c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bd7 6.Be2 Nge7 7.Na3 cxd4 8.cxd4 Nf5 9.Nc2 Qb6 10.0–0 Rc8
Here Black played a new move  
Diagram 1
11. Kh1
Grischuk already used this plan few round early in the game against Gurevich where Black had played 10. ..a5. Here if  11.a3  Na5 12.b4 Nc4 13.g4 Ne7 14.Ne3 a5 15.Ng5 Nc6 16.Nxc4 dxc4 17.Be3 Qc7 18.Bxc4 Nxe5 19.dxe5 Qxc4 20.Nxf7 Kxf7 21.Qxd7+ Be7 22.Qxb7 Rc7 23.Qf3+ Ke8 24. Rac1 had resulted in a victory for White in another previous game
11. ..Na5  12.g4
12. ..Ne7 13.Nfe1 Bb5 14.Nd3
14. ..h5
Black also suddenly decides to be aggressive on the King side. Note that Black King has not castled yet
15. gxh5 Nf5 16.Be3 g6
Here 16...Nc4 is the right, and strong, move to play
17. hxg6 fxg6 18.Rg1
Taking control of the Open file and things do start looking dangerous for Black
18. ..Qc7 19.Nde1
He intends to strengthen the King side by bringing back the knight for defence. If 19.Rc1?! Qh7 20.Rg2 and the game would more or less go along equal lines. If 20...Nh4 21.Rg3 (21.Rg4 Nf3) 21...Nf5 with once again a balanced game
19. ..Bxe2 20.Qxe2 Qh7
Doubling on the crucial open file
21. Nf3 g5
If 21...Nc6 22.Rg2 Qh5 And if  21...Qh3 22.Nce1 Nc6 23.Qf1
22. Rg2
White can also think about 22.Rac1
22. ..Nh4
If 22...Rxc2 23.Qxc2 Ng3+ 24.fxg3 with advantage for White
23. Nxh4
White can also play 23.Qb5+ Nc6 24.Nxh4 (24.Nxg5 is worth a look) 24...gxh4 25.Ne1and keep advantage
23. ..Rxc2 24.Qb5+ Nc6 25.Nf3
If (25.Bxg5 a6 26.Qb6 Rc4)
25. ..Bh6 26.Bxg5 a6
Final mistake in time trouble but then White was already better. If 26...Rf8 27.Qb3 And if  26...Rg8 27.Rag1 Qe4 white's advantage is obvious after 28.Bxh6 Rxg2 (28...Qxf3 29.Qb3 Qe4 30.Qxc2 Qxc2 31.Rxg8+ Kd7 32.R1g7+ Ne7 33.Rf7)  29.Kxg2 Qg4+ 30.Kf1 Qh3+ (30...Qxf3 31.Rg8+ Kf7 32.Qxb7+) 31.Rg2 Qxh6 32.Ne1
27. Qb3 Bxg5 28.Nxg5 Qf5
If 28...Nxd4 29.Qa4+
29. Nxe6
Now it is all over for Black
29. ..Ke7 30.Ng7
Also winning is 30.Qxd5
30. ..Qe4 31.Qxb7+ Kf8 32.Ne6+
White can also win with 32.Qc8+
32. ..Ke8 33.Qc8+ Ke7 34.Qxh8 Rxf2 35.Qg7+ and Black resigned for if35.Qg7+ Kxe6 36.Qg6+  1–0
Diagram 2
White to play and win
1.Nfe7+ Rxe7 2.Qf8 check-mate