BANTER1

Banter Chess March 24, 2002.  GM Alexei Dreev and GM Larry Christiansen play
2 games at 20 20.

Game 1  Dreev - LarryC
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LarryC(GM): Hello everyone

1. d4

LarryC(GM): no surprise there

1... Nf6
2. c4

Dreev(GM): I almost always start with d4
Dreev(GM): e6 may be?
Dreev(GM): or some surprize? Did Larry expect c4? :-)
Dreev(GM): hope he will play in classical chess - sometimes he replied 2...Nc6

2... e6

LarryC(GM): most likely 3 Nf3 now
Dreev(GM): so , e6! :-)
Dreev(GM): What to play - Nimzo or Bogo-Indian?!
Dreev(GM): Bogo-Indian neverheless!

3. Nf3

LarryC(GM): hmm Bogo or QID?
LarryC(GM): QID is queen's Indian
LarryC(GM): maybe 3...c5 for a Mod Benoni
Dreev(GM): Does Larry telling something interesting?
Dreev(GM): :-)
Dreev(GM): or forget to prepare? :-))

3... c5

LarryC(GM): lets be suicidal
Dreev(GM): or beer is too hot yet? :-)))
LarryC(GM): against my better judgement
LarryC(GM): Nick de Firmian plays this
LarryC(GM): and gets away with it
Dreev(GM): Unexpectenly!
Dreev(GM): what to do?! :-(
LarryC(GM): here comes 4 d5
Dreev(GM): well....

4. d5

Dreev(GM): only forward!

4...     exd5
5. cxd5  d6
6. Nc3   g6
7. e4

LarryC(GM): one line that is interesting is 7...Bg7 8 Bd3 Bg4!?

7... Bg7

LarryC(GM): but 8 h3 is more accurate
Dreev(GM): i played a lot of games by this line
Dreev(GM): this variation is not easy

8. h3

LarryC(GM): gee my standard rating is at the Ray Keene level
Dreev(GM): the idea of h3 - to prevent Bg4
Dreev(GM): Probably, castling will follow
LarryC(GM): this line has taken a lot of the fun out of the Benoni
Dreev(GM): and I will play Bd3

8...  O-O

Dreev(GM): and he will play b5

9. Bd3

Dreev(GM): probably
Dreev(GM): or a6
LarryC(GM): now 9..b5 has a following
Dreev(GM): I do not know what Larry prepared...
LarryC(GM): 9...b5 10 Nxb5 Nxe4 11 Bxe4 is probably a little better for white
LarryC(GM): the other way to play this is to play 9...a6 10 a4 Nbd7 11 0-0 Qe7
Dreev(GM): for Black was good to exchange bishop to knight in that case; White
           should strive to capture the space
LarryC(GM): 9...a6 10 a4 Nbd7 11 0-0 Qe7 12 Bf4 Nh5 13 Bg5 Bf6 14 Bh6 Ng7

9... a6

Dreev(GM): that's why I played  h3
Dreev(GM): so, not immediate b5
LarryC(GM): I seem to recall de Firmian playing it that way
Dreev(GM): Larry do not go to forced lines
LarryC(GM): 10 a4 is not forced
Dreev(GM): now I have an option:
LarryC(GM): white can also allow ...b5 now
Dreev(GM): I played as a4 as castling
LarryC(GM): Dreev likes those steamfoller attacks where he builds up
            overwhelming force and bulls his way to the enemy king
LarryC(GM): coffee run time
Dreev(GM): a4 looks more reliable
Dreev(GM): GM Vyzhmanavin (died only few years ago) liked to play 0-0
Dreev(GM): in his memory I will play his move

10. O-O

Dreev(GM): the idea of this move: White allows b5 but win a tempos for
           developing
LarryC(GM): Dreev goes in for the slow buildup line
Dreev(GM): if b5 - Bf4
LarryC(GM): I might as well get in b5 then

10...   b5
11. Bf4

Dreev(GM): to disturb the Black's development
LarryC(GM): it is not easy to develop my queenside now
Heine(GM): the question is c4 or not for black
LarryC(GM): the usual formation involves Bb7, Qb6, Nbd7

11.. Bb7

Dreev(GM): Bb7 is normal move
LarryC(GM): Bb7 at least holds up the usual e4-e5 advance
LarryC(GM): white may or may not play a3 to contain the majority
Dreev(GM): I am thinking about Re1 or Qd2
LarryC(GM): most likely he is interested in playing 12 Re1 now
Dreev(GM): do not know what is better

12. Re1

Dreev(GM): Re1 is more usefull move in this case, I suppose
LarryC(GM): Black pretty much has to play ...Qb6

12... Qb6

Dreev(GM): Black want to play Nbd7
LarryC(GM): white might go in for qd2 and Bh6
LarryC(GM): one position that should be playable is 13 Qd2 Nbd7 14 Bh6 Ne5
            15 Nxe5 dxe5
LarryC(GM): then it is not easy for white to make progress on the kingside

13. Rc1 Nbd7
14. b3

Dreev(GM): aimed against c4
LarryC(GM): so I guess the queenside is held in