GM Alex Yermolinsky - The Timman-Anand Variation - Part 5

Opening: A21: English Opening: 1...e5 2.Nc3 (without: 2...Nf6; 2...Nc6; 2...Bb4 3.g3 Nf6; 2...Bb4 3.Nf3 Nc6; 2...Bb4 3.e3 Nf6)

Player(s): Habans Aguerrea, Shirov, Van Foreest, Mamedyarov

 The line 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Bb4!? was featured in the last video of the previous series. I did promise to cover White's main reply 3.Nd5, and it's time to deliver on that obligation. With time this subject has grown on me to larger proportions, and, therefore, now deserves it's own series of videos. Video #1 takes us some 30 years back when Black followed the line with the bishop retreat to a5. The resulting positions are of an unusual nature. White has a right to be proud of his strong pawn structure in the center, but a certain lag in development makes it rather tricky. Video #2 opens the door to a far more topical line. It all started with two games played by Jan Timman in the late 1990's, where he introduced a paradoxical idea of returning his bishop to the original position on f8. The story of the move 3...Bc5 continues in Video #3. White focuses on the center, counting on obtaining the bishop pair advantage. The resulting positions, however, maybe deceptive, and a great win by Kramnik over Lautier serves notice to those who may think White's task is easy. Amazingly, Black also has a modest retreat to e7 in his disposal. Two games of Shakhriar Mamedyarov demonstrate that things aren't simple there either. Videos # 4 and 5 are devoted to that subject.

Download the Games in PGN format

Teacher's library (718) A21 Habans Aguerrea Shirov Van Foreest Mamedyarov opening