Openings need careful homework

Chess Checks

The Openings in chess are the most analysed and dissected home affairs and it is here that established players try to explore new moves or even the ones which at first glance appear to be slightly inferior.

What follows is months of hard work before the new move is played in a tournament and this new move is turned as a ‘novelty”. This can be called a surprise element in chess but it is not always that the new move surprises or shocks the opponent. It can many a times backfire as is evident in the game which ensues where Black plays a novelty. White: Christopher Lutz (2610) – Black: Albert Blees (2431)Tel Aviv , 1999French Defence1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5The French defence.3.Nc3 Bb4The Winawer variation4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.Qg4Here better appears 7.Nf3 Nbc6  8.Be2 0-07. ..Qc7 Here castling was a better option8.Qxg7 Rg8 9.Qxh7 cxd4 10.Ne2More or less forced as Black was threatening 10. ..Qc3+10. ..Nbc6 11.f4 dxc3 12.Qd3 b6 More popular is 12. ..Bd7 13.Nxc3 If 13.Rb1 d4 14.Nxd4 Nxd4 15.Qxd4 Bb7 16.Rb3 Nd5 17.Bb5+ Kf8 18.Rg1 Rd8 was played in a previously played game where Black won13...Nf5 14.Bb2 A strong move! If 14.Bd2 Ncd4 15.Nb5 Nxb5 16.Qxb5+ Bd7 17.Qb2. And if 14.g4 Rxg4 15.Qh3 (15.Bh3 Nxe5 16.fxe5 Qxe5+) 15...Nxe5 16.fxe5 Qxe5+

14...Ncd4 Black introduced a new move (novelty)here though it does not look very promising. Worth a look is 14. ..Na5  15.0-0-0. If 14...Qe7 15.0–0–0 Bd7 16.Nb5 (16.Qxf5 exf5 17.Nxd5 Qc5 18.Nf6+ Ke7 19.Rxd7+ Kf8 20.Rc7) 16...0–0–0 17.g4 Rxg4 18.Bh3 Rxf4 19.Bxf5 exf5 20.Qxd5

15.0–0–0 White as expected castles on the queen-side. If 15.Nxd5 Nxc2+ 16.Kd2 exd5 17.Rc1 Nfe3 18.Qxe3 Nxe3 19.Rxc7 Nxf1+ 20.Rxf1 Rxg2+15...Bb7 If 15...Qc5 16.Nxd5 exd5 17.Bxd4 Nxd4 18.Qxd4 Qxa3+ 19.Kb1 and White is better 16.Rg1 Rc8 However, tempting this move might appear, it is a mistake. It was necessary for Black to play 16...Qc5 Was the best move under the circumstances. White however would still be better after 17.g4 (17.Na4 Qc6 18.Bxd4 Qxa4 19.Qb5+ Bc6) 17...Nc6 18.Rg2 Qe3+ 19.Kb1 Qxd3 20.Rxd3 Nh4 21.Rgg317.g4 Qc5 If 17...Nf3 18.gxf5 (18.Qxf3 d4 19.gxf5 Rxg1 20.Bb5+ Kf8 21.Qd3 dxc3 22.Rxg1) 18...Nxg1 19.Nb5 Qd7 20.Nd6+ Kd8 21.Qe318.Bh3 Nf3 19.Rgf1 N5d4 20.Kb1If 20.Rxf3 Nxf3 21.Qxf3 d4 22.Qxb7 dxc3 23.Qd7+20...Rh8 If 20...Nxh2 21.Rf221.Bg2 If 21.Rxf3 Nxf3 22.Qxf3 d4 23.Qxb7 dxc321...Nxh2 If 21...Nh4 22.Nxd5 Bxd5 23.Bxd4 Ba2+ 24.Kb222.Rh1 Also winning is 22.Qxd4 Qxd4 23.Rxd4 Nxf1 24.Bxf1 Rh1 25.Rd1+– was enough for victory, but move in the text even stronger]22...Nc6 23.Nb5 Much stronger and winning is 22.Nxd5 exd5  23.Bxd5Kf8 24.Qf523...Qf2 Trying for a counter attack when first he should have se his house in order first. He could have tried to blunt out the attack with 23. ..Ba6  24.Nd6 Qxd6  25.exd6 Bxd3  26.Bxh824.Nd6+ Kd7If 24...Kf8 25.Qd2 (25.Nxc8 Qxg2 26.Nd6)25.Bxd5 exd5 If 25...Kc7 26.Bxe6 fxe6 27.Ne426.Qf5+ Kd8 27.Qf6+ Kd7 28.Qxf7+ A shorter route to victory is with 28.Ne428...Ne7 29.Nxc8 Rxc8 30.e6+ Kd8If 30...Kd6 31.Be5+31.Qf8+ Kc7 32.Be5+ Kc6 33.Qxe71–0
White to play and checkmate in two moves 1.Bxg6+ Kxg6 2.Qh5