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I started to prepare Friday mailouts. It has article excerpts, some news, analysed games and even links to interesting posts in blogosphere :) You can subscribe on WCN website - fill in the form on right sidebar. Here is the banter game (25/5 time control) Psakhis-Fierro.


GM Lev Psakhis - IM Martha Fierro
WorldChessNetwork, 2nd September 2006

1. d4 g6 2. c4 Nf6 3. f3 Bg7 4. e4 O-O 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 a6
Martha is choosing rare move. Her plan is to play a6-Nc6-Rb8-b5 like in fianchetto Kings Indian.

7. Nge2 Nc6 8. Qd2 Rb8 9. d5
Plan that was often used by Russian GMs Dreev and Jussupow. White is gaining space in the center and transfers Knight from e2 to c2. One of the possible setups later is Ne3 and Bd3 preventing e5-f5 classical attack.

9... Ne5 10. Nd4 c5
b5 is not possible while N is on d4, because c6 square is weak (10....b5 11.f4 and 12.Nc6). Game will now look more like Benoni or Volga gambit.

11. Nc2 b5
This pawn sacrifice is not sound. The difference between this line and normal Volga gambit is that Black is having hard time to trade light-squared Bishops and gain usual counterplay on a and b-files. Better was to prepare b5 first 11... Qa5 12. Be2 b5 13. cxb5 axb5 14. O-O b4 15. Nd1 Ba6 =

12. cxb5 axb5 (12... Qa5 13. a4) 13. Bxb5 Ne8
Problem for Black is that now Lev has fast a4 and Na3 to support b5 point. Exchange sacrifice won't help 13... Rxb5 14. Nxb5 Nc4 15. Qe2 Qa5+ 16. Kf2 Nxb2 17. Nca3 or 13... Bd7 14. a4 (14. Bxd7 Nfxd7 15. b3 c4 slightly better for Black) 14... Bxb5 15. axb5 Nfd7 16. Na3

14. a4 Nc7 15. Na3 Nxb5 16. axb5
White is clearly better now

16... Re8 (16... f5 17. O-O) 17. O-O Qc7 18. f4 Nd7 19. Nc4 h6 20. Bh4 Nb6 21. Na5 e6 22. dxe6 (22. Nc6 was also strong) 22... Bxe6 23. f5! Nc4 24. Nxc4
24. Qd3 Nxa5 25. fxe6 Rxe6 26. Nd5 Qa7 27. b6

24... Bxc4


25. f6
Premature. Lev was probably attracted with nice lines after Bf1 (see bellow). More flexible Rf3 was better, keeping fg6 as good option later...25. Rf3 +- Qd7 26. fxg6 fxg6 27. Bf6

25... Bf8
25... Bxf1? would spoil everything 26. fxg7 f5 27. Nd5 +- (27. Kxf1 Qxg7 28. Qxd6 fxe4) 27... Qxg7 28. Nf6+ Kf8 (28... Kh8 29. Ra7 Qxa7 30. Qxh6+) 29. Qxd6+)

26. Rf3
Better was 26. Rfe1 Bxb5 27. Nd5 Qd7 keeping slight edge for White

26... Qb7 27. Bg3 Bxb5 = 28. Bf4
Game is equal now. If 28. b3 Bc6 29. Bf4 Bxe4 30. Bxh6 Bxf3 31. Bxf8 Ra8 (31... Kxf8? 32. Qh6+ Kg8 33. Qg7#) (31... Rxf8? 32. Qh6 Bxg2 33. Qg7#) 32. Rxa8 (White has to trade on a8 because 32. Rc1 Qb4 33. Qh6 Qd4+ 34. Kh1 Qxf6 wins for Black) 32... Qxa8 = (32... Rxa8? 33. Qh6 Ra1+ 34. Kf2 Ra2+ 35. Nxa2 Bxg2 36. Qg7#))

28... Bc6 29. Bxh6
Inferior is 29. Bxd6 Rbd8 30. Rd3 Rxd6 31. Rxd6 Bxd6 32. Qxd6 Qxb2 and Black is better

29... Qxb2 30. Qxb2 Rxb2 31. Bxf8 Kxf8 32. Ra6 Rc8
32... Bxe4 should be examined more closely 33. Rh3 Kg8 (33... Rxg2+ ? 34. Kf1 Kg8 35. Nxe4) 34. Nxe4 Rb1+ 35. Kf2 Rb2+ 36. Kf3 (36. Ke3 d5) 36... Rb3+ 37. Kf2 Rb2+ 38. Kg3 Rb3+ 39. Kf2 Rb2+

33. Rd3 Rb4 34. e5 Rd4?
Decisive mistake. Point is that Martha won't have very useful Rb8 move at the end of the line (see the line after 34...d5 35.Rh3) 34... d5!? looks like a viable alternative 35. Ra5 (35. Rh3 Kg8 36. Ra7 d4 37. e6 Rf8 = 38. Rxf7? Rxf7 39. Rh8+ Kxh8 40. exf7 Rb8 saves the day) 35... c4 and White is only slightly better


35. Rh3! (White has forced win now) 35... Kg8 36. e6! (Demolishes the pawn shield) 36... Rd2
36... fxe6 37. Ra7 and no defence from Rg7 and Rh8 mate

37. Ra7 (Also possible was 37. e7 Bd7 38. Re3) 37... Rxg2+
37... Be8 38. Ne4 Rd1+ 39. Kf2 Rd4 still winning

38. Kf1 Rf8 39. Rxf7 Rxf7 40. Rh8+ !! the opponent will choke on this 40... Kxh8 A deflection 41. exf7 (41. exf7 Kh7 42. f8=Q Bb5+ 43. Kxg2 Bf1+ 44. Kxf1 d5 45. Qg7#) 1-0


Books by GM Lev Psakhis:
French Defence 3Nc3 Bb4
French Defence 3Nd2 (Batsford Chess Book)
Advance and Other Anti-French Variations