Sicilian D e f e n s e

Richter R a u z e r V a r i a t i o n
C I a s s i c a I Lines

E r i c Schiller

C h e s s Enterprises, Inc.
C o r a o p o l i s , 1 987
Published b y Chess Enterprises, Inc., Coraopolis, PA
@ 1987 b y Eric Schiller
All rights reserved. Published 1 987
C o v e r Design: Witalis Associates, Pittsburgh PA
Proof reading: Thomas M a g a r

ISBN: 0-931462-72-X
This book was s e t in Pillsbury Laserfont, designed b y Eric
Schiller and available from Ecological Linguistics, P.O. Box
15 1 56, Washington D.C. 20003.

Printed in the United States of America

90 89 88 87 54321
 Contents

Variations without 8 m oo 9 f 4
1 Alternatives t o 8 m
2 8 o-o-o c-o Options a t m o v e 9
3 9 N b 3 a5
4 9 N b 3 a6
5 9Nb3Qb6
Variations with 8 m oo 9 f 4 Nxd4

Variations with 8 m oo 9 f 4 e 5

Variations with 8 ooo 0-0 9 f 4 h 6

10 10 Bxf6 and 10 h4
1 1 10Bh4
12 10 Bh4 e 5 1 1 Nf5 Bxf5 12 exf5
Index of Variations
iv 1 Classical Richter Rauzer

Preface
Perhaps the highest compliment a player can p a y t o an
opening is t o play it as b o t h White and Black. M a n y of the b e s t
players in contemporary chess have this relationship w i t h the
Classical Sicilian ( 1 e 4 c 5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d 4 c x d 4 4 N x d 4 Nf6 5
N c 3 Nc6). The variation has been a cornucopia for opening
ideas, and the present w o r k may b e considered a r e p o r t on the
state of the a r t in the Classical Richter Rauzer w i t h 6 B g 5 e 6 7
Qd2 Be7 (Alternative strategies for Black a r e t r e a t e d in my
companion volumes on the M o d e r n Richter Rauzer lines and t h e
7...a6 variations.) a t the end of 1986, w i t h some additional
material from 1 987 a d d e d during the production stages.
It has been a dozen years since the major w o r k by
Harding and Markland, and there is much t o a d d from the
theory of the past decade. It is especially important t o note t h a t
the revised ECO Volume B is very sloppy in the handling of t h e
Richter Rauzer, relying primarily on Yugoslav sources and
omitting even well established references easily found in
Hardinglhfarkland. Excellent recent works b y Dempsey and
Polugayevsky have already fallen out of date, and each lacks a
number of important references and new ideas. Rolf Schwarz's
fine addition t o his Handbuch series and Vreeken's editing of the
classic Euwe w o r k a r e strong on European sources, but have the
2isadvantage, especially f o r our virtually monolingual society, of
being in the German language. In any event, anyone wishing t o
play the Classical Richter Rauzer had b e t t e r b e up t o d a t e on
such new lines as 7 Qd2 B e 7 8 0-0-0 0-0 9 f4 h6 10 Bh4 e 5
1 1 Nf5 B x f 5 1 2 e x f 5 exf4!? which had a field day in the mid-
1980's. I have t r i e d t o synthesize t h e existing sources while
adding all relevant recent games and a f e w ideas of my own.
Original ideas a r e clearly indicated and should b e t r e a t e d w i t h
healthy skepticism. As Iplayer Ienjoy complications even when
they a r e not always fully justified. Readers of one of the above
referenced works a r e well a w a r e of w h a t can happen t o anyone
w h o simply follows opening analysis without checking i t first!
The present volume deals w i t h the positions arising a f t e r
6 Bg5 e 6 7 Qd2 Be7, and concludes the w o r k begun in my
previous Chess Enterprises publications, which covered
alternatives a t the 6th and 7 t h moves. Once again t h e r e is a
bias in organization, though not, I hope, in evaluation, in favor of
 Preliminaries / v

the player of the Black pieces. It is less pervasive than in my

other works, however, because the richness of the opening
demands a w i d e r range of choices f o r Black. In many ways the
history of t h e Rauzer is t h e history of the Sicilian Defence in
the 20th century, and accordingly there is discussion of the
development of contemporary theory. I have t r i e d t o revive
some f o r g o t t e n ideas and put f o r w a r d a f e w new thoughts, b u t
essentially the purpose of this book is t o provide the reader
w i t h a thorough survey of the material he will need t o know in
order t o play the opening as Black. One significant advantage of
this approach is t h a t the inclusion of t h e moves h7-h6 f o r Black
and Bg5-h4 f o r White can b e dealt w i t h specifically. The
attempt t o combine all these positions into one general discussion
is based on a point of v i e w from t h e White side. In this w o r k
h7-h6 is suggested only when i t is advantageous for Black. The
layout of the book follows ECO, t o facilitate updating.
Bob Wade n o t only allowed me t o rummage through his
library f o r hours on end, but ~ r o v i d e dhis customary gracious
atmosphere as well. Iam obliged t o Julian f o r the videos and
Nigel, Dave, Gary, Pauline, and Diedre f o r much stimulating
conversation, etc. Thomas M a g a r d i d a wonderful job of
proofreading, and a d d e d many substantive comments. Any
improvement in this r e g a r d over my previous books is entirely
his doing, and any remaining e r r o r s a r e my responsibility - n o t
his.
The complicated transpositional paths and dense w e b of
variations required a powerful organizational tool, s o this
manuscript was p r e p a r e d using M i c r o s o f t W o r d 3.01 running on
a M a c i n t o s h computer. Typesetting was done using an Apple
Laserwr iter, the courtesy of University of Chicago Department
of Humanities. Pillsbury laserfont from Chessworks Unlimited w a s
chosen f o r the t e x t and t h e diagrams. It is available from
Ecological Linguistics, P.O. Box 15 156, Washington D.C. 20003.
I have d r a w n heavily on published literature, and have
attempted t o give c r e d i t wherever due.
Thanks a r e due t o Bob Dudley f o r his extraordinary
Patience regarding the kinks in the software, most of which
have been ironed out. He has had t o expend e x t r a time on some
of my recent books - time which I hope will b e r e w a r d e d in this
and future e f f o r t s !
vi 1 Classical Richter Rauzer

Symbols
In order t o keep t h e publication of this volume economical for
the publisher. (and purchaser), the following abbreviations and
symbols a r used:

Championship
C o r respondencegame
White stands slightly b e t t e r
White stands much b e t t e r
The chances a r e approximately equal
The situation is unclear
There is compensation f o t h e material deficit
Counte rplay
Black stands slightly b e t t e r
Black stands much b e t t e r
Intending t o play ...
In order t o avoid confusion, numbered moves a r e maintained in
English Algebraic Notation, but for ideas which a r e n o t t i e d t o
specific moves, Figurine Algebraic N o t a t i o n has been adopted,
w i t h distinction made b e t w e e n white pieces ( 2!4 3 iZ .b B a ) and
a
Black pieces ( @ Y 4 s A 1.

The main lines a r e s e t in boldface a n d deeply embedded lines

a r e s e t in italics.
 Preliminaries / vii

INTRODUCTION
The Classical Variation of the Richter - Rauzer fades in and out
of fashion, but its unique combination of solid structure and
aggressive queenside play inusres t h a t it will never disappear
completely from t h e tournament scene. In fact, i t is n o w em-
ployed on a regular basis b y a nurnber of the world's b e s t
players, and is a favourite among opening theoreticians since
t h e r e is g r e a t scope for originality within t h e confines of a
clearly defined strategy, and a g o o d sense of timing (or
thorough preparation) is needed. Black plays in accordance w i t h
classical principles. He attends t o his development, places his
king in a secure position, and then launches his counterattack,
either in the centre w i t h e 6 - e 5 or on the queenside w i t h b7-
b5, sometimes, b u t n o t always, supported b y a7-a6. As Fine
n o t e d "the main defensive idea is t o concentrate on t h e attack."
His major weakness is the p a w n a t d6, b u t as w e shall see this
p a w n can almost always b e sacrificed for sufficient compen-
sation, because White must invest a considerable amount of time
in attacking it, and usualy must give up his powerful B g 5 f o r the
Nf6, conceding the bishop pair which can b e a p o w e r f u l
influence in t h e middlegame and endgame. Indeed, endgames a r e
characteristic of the Classical Richter Rauzer. O f t e n a p a w n
structure arises where Black has h,g,f, and e-pawns against h,
g, and e-pawns on t h e kingside, w i t h White enjoying a straight-
f o r w a r d 3-2 queenside majority. W i t h rooks on the b o a r d Black
can often hold up the advance of the queenside pawns while
t a r g e t i n g the weak isolated p a w n a t e5, but if White can suc-
cessfully advance on the queenside he will reach the queening
square first. If the players a r e of equal strength, Black will have
the advantage of having played such positions more frequently.
Experience is v e r y important in these complicated endings. With
r e g a r d t o the question of timing, center stage is occupied b y t h e
e - and h-pawns. It is v e r y difficult t o generalize about the wis-
dom of an early h7-h6. In tthis volume it is recommended where
appropriate, and omitted w h e r e it would b e a p o o r choice. The
move e 6 - e 5 is advisable if it is necessary t o p r e v e n t e 4 - e 5 b y
White, or if the position of the Black pieces is sufficiently strong
t o allow the endgame structure mentioned above.

I Alternatives
to 8 o - w (B631
None of these moves a r e
particularly popular but the
player of the Black pieces
should be prepared t o meet
them from time t o time.
1A 8 Bxf 6 Bxf 6
1B 8 f4
1C 8 Rd1
After 8 Nbd5 oa! White
has nothing better than 9
Bxf6, transposing t o 8 Bxf6.
The direct assault on the
P d 6 is not t o be feared,
since the pawn can b e
sacrificed easily with 9-0-0
and now 10 Nxd6 ( 1 0 m
leads t o lines dis-cussed
under 8 m,while 10
Qxd6 fails t o 10...ab!.) 10,
Eric Schiller / 1
Qa5 (Purdy suggests 1 O...
Bxc3!? 1 1 bxc3 Qf6.1 1 1
Nc4 ( 1 1 m allows
1 l...Rd8!f, Korchnoi -
Boleslavsky, USSR F 1952.1
1 1 -Qc5 allows Black t o
build strong pressure along
the c - and d - files:
a) After 1 2 Qd6, Black can
play 1 2...Qg5, inviting a
d r a w after 1 3 Qg3 Qc5 1 4
Q d 6 Qg5, as in Fuderer -
Gligoric, Yugoslav T 1 95 1,
while 1 3 f 4 7 allows
1 3...Qh6 1 4 Q d 2 Rd8 1 5
Bd3 Bh4 T .
b ) 1 2 f 4 Rd8 1 3 Qe3 Bd4!
1 4 Qf3 b 5 15 N d 2 N b 4 ~ .
c l 1 2 N d 1 Rd8 1 3 B d 3 b 6
14Rb1 N b 4 15a3Nxd3+
16 cxd3 Ba6 17 b 4 Q d 4
1 8 b 5 Bb7 T, Abramson -
Hybl, m F V, 1965-68.
This should merely transpose
to the main lines after
8Nxd4 9 Qxd4 0-0 10
oaa, but 8...Qbb has
independentsignif icance:
2/ Classical Richter Rauzer

a comfortable game,
a ) 9 Nb3 h 6 10 Bh4 N x e 4 TrajkoviC - Dunhaupt,
is assessed as equal b y 1962.) 11-Qc7 12 m
ECO. Rd8 13 Be3 Bd7 14 f4
Bc6 1 5 B f 3 b 5 l 6 a 3 d 5
b ) 9 N x c 6 b c 10 e 5 d x e 5 17 e x d 5 N x d 5 =, Bykhovsky
1 1 f x e 5 Nd5 12 N x d 5 c x d 5 - Bradarevid, Kislovodsk
13 Bxe7 does not w o r r y 1 964.
Black p r o v i d e d t h a t he
avoids the reckless
1 3...Qxb2 1 4 Bd6 Qxa 1 +
15 K f 2 Qb2 which allowed
the devastating 1 6 Qg5! in
Gusev - Petkevidh, USSR
1965, though 13...Kxe7 14
Qg5+ Kf8 1 4 a 4 h 6 16
Q g 4 B a 6 17 Ra3 B x f l 18
Rg3! w i t h pressure -
Schwarz.
1C 8 Rdl

There does not seem t o b e

any r e a l justification f o r this
approach, as opposed t o
queenside castling which
places the White king in a
more secure position.
Nevertheless, White allows
no more than equality. 8-00
9 Be2 Nxd4 10 Qxd4
Qa5 1 1 Bd2 ( 1 1 Qd2
Rd8 1 2 oo Q c 7 gives Black

Options a t
move 9 (£3631
First we should note that
8...Nxd4 9 Qxd4 0-0 10 f 3
Qa5 is no longer considered
adequate because of 1 1
Q d 2 ! f, Benjamin - Kogan,
USA ZlsEl 1984. 10 B f 4 is
also interesting: 1 O...a6 1 1
f 4 b 5 1 2 Bb3 Bb7 1 3 Rhe 1
Rc8 1 4 Kb1 Q c 7 15 f5!&,
M o k r y - Dajkalo, Polanica
Zdroj 1 986. Schwarz's
preferred 10 e 5 is also
popular, as after 1 O...dxe5
1 1 Qxe5 the white Queen
dominates the center of the
board.
2A 9 Be2
Eric Schiller / 3
This rarely has independent
significance, transposing,
after 9...Nxd4 10 Q x d 4 Qa5
1 1 f 4 t o the main lines. But
if White chooses t o go his
own way Black will soon gain
the upper hand:
a) 1 1 h 4 B d 7 1 2 Bd2,
Taimanov - Averbakh,
Stockholm IZ 1952,
1 2...Qc77.
b ) 1 1 B d 2 Qc7 1 2 f 4 Rd8
1 3 Q f 2 Bd7 14 Bf3 B c 6 15
Rhel b57, Hooper -
Gligoric, Hustings 1 95 1 /52.
This is another a t t e m p t at
pawn-snatching which can
lead t o a good game for
Black: 1 1 Qxd6?! Q b b ! 1 2
Q g 3 ( 1 2 Q d 2 Rb8 1 3 b 3
Q a 5 ! =, 1 2 e 5 7 Rd 8! -
Schwarz) 1 2...Rb8 1 3 b 3
Bxc3! 1 4 Qxc3 Q x f 2 w i t h a
strong initiative for Black.
4 / Classical Richter Rauzer
Thistype of formation is
more effective against the
Dragon than against the
Classical formation.
With 9...ab Black threatens
to expand his queenside, so
White is compelled t o launch
a kingside attack w i t h 10
h4, but Black is faster:
a) 1O...Nxd4 1 1 Qxd4 Qa5
12Kbl b 5 13Qd2 b 4 14
N e 2 e 5 ! 15 Nc 1 Be6 (ECO
suggests 15..Bb7!7) 16 g 4
Rfd8 17 Bxfb Bxfb 1 8 95
Be7 1 9 Bh3, Tringov -
Kupreichik, Plovdiv 1980,
and now Kupreichik gives
1 9...Bxh3 2 0 Rx h3 Rac8=.
b 1 O..Bd7 is a playable, if
less ambitious, alternative.
Liu - Bellin, Peking 1 9 8 1
continued 1 1 g 4 Rc8 1 2 Be3
N x d 4 13 Bxd4 B c 6 1 4 g5
N d 7 1 5 B e 2 b 5 16Rdg1
b 4 17Nd1 e5 18Bf2Qa5
19Kb1 d 5 2 0 h5dxe4 21
gb Qd5.
White can also play 1 0 g4,
but Black can obtain a good
game b y exchanging knights
and then attacking on the
queenside: 1 O..Nxd4 1 1
Q x d 4 b 5 1 2 K b 1 Qc7 1 3
Q f 2 b 4 1 4 Bxfb Bxfb 1 5
Ne2a5 l b N f 4 a 4 17Nh5
Be7 1 8 Q d 4 e 5 19 Qc4
Qa7! 2 0 Qxb4 B e 6 21 Q d 2
Rab8 2 2 h 4 Rbb 2 3 Ka 1
Rfb8 2 4 Rb 1 Q b 7 2 5 c 4
a 3 2 6 b 3 d5!, Przewoznik -
Jasnikowski, Poland E l
1981.
2D 9 Kbl
Shifting the king t o b 1 is
often a useful strategy in the
Sicilian Defence, but here it
allows Black t o c a r r r y out
his desired central thrust
with 9-dS!, and after 10
exd5 Nxd5 1 1 Bxe7
Ndxe7 1 2 Nxc6 Nxc6
Black has a good game, for
example 1 3 B b 5 Q b b 1 4
Bxcb Qxcb 1 5 Q d b Q x d b
16 Rxdb b b 17 Rhdl B b 7
1 8 f 3 Rfc8, LjubojeviC -
Sosonko, Tilburg 1983. The
older 9...hb is a fully
playable alternative.

Now that Black has already
castled he is in a position t o
sacrifice his P d 6 w i t h the
threat of immediate
pressure along the d-file,
but the defense is a little
more subtle here.
After 9-Qa5 10 Bxf 6
( 1 0 f 4 7 is a blunder:
1 O...Rd8!. 10 a 3 should b e
met b y 1 O...a6! 1 1 Bxf 6 Bxf 6
1 2 N x d 6 Rd8 1 3 f 4 e 5 and
Black is winning. 1O...Bxf 6
1 1 N x d 6 ( 1 1 Qxd6 ab!)
11-Rd8 1 2 f 4 ( 1 2 Q e 1 7
N b 4 ! 1 3 N c 4 Nxa2+ 14
N x a 2 Rxd 1 + 1 5 Q x d 1 Q x a 2
is a cute line pointed out b y
Taimanov.) Black must play
12-e5! in order t o p r e v e n t
White from advancing his
own e-pawn and
establishing an outpost at
d 6 . N o w on 1 3 Q d 5 ( 1 3
Bc4 Beb! 1 4 B x e b f x e 6 15
Q d 3 e x f 4 16 Qc4 Q e 5 ! 17
N x b 7 Rdc8S, Unzicker -
Heinecke, Germany 1 949.)
Eric Schiller 1 5
Black cannot afford t o enter
the endgame after the
exchange of queens, because
1 3...Qxd5 1 4 e x d 5 Rxd6 15
Ne4! Rd8 1 6 exdb is clearly
better for White, so the
c o r r e c t plan is the calm
r e t r e a t 13-Qc7 1 4 f 5
Nd41 cutting the
communication along the d-
file. After 1 5 Ndb5 Qa5:
a) 16 Qc4 Bxf 5 ! can cause
White problems, e.g. 17 b 4
Q b b ! 1 8 N x d 4 exd4 1 9
N d 5 Rxd5! 2 0 Qxd5 B g 4 2 1
Q b 5 Q c 7 2 2 Bd3 Bxd 1 2 3
Rxd 1 Rc8 and Black held a
decisive advantage in
Sadomsky - Dub inin, FI
1955. E C O gives the
follow ingunattributed
(probably Boleslavskyl
analysis: 1 7 exf 5 Rac8 1 8
Q a 4 Qxa4 1 9 Nxa4 Nb3+
2 0 axb3 Bg5+ 2 1 Rd2! a 6
2 2 N b c 3 Bxd2+ 2 3 Kb 1
Bxc3 (or 2 3 ...b 5 2 4 N b 6
Rxc3! 2 5 bxc3 Be3-1 24
N x c 3 Rxc3 25 bxc3 Rd l +
2 4 Kb2 e 4 2 7 h 4 =.
b ) Flohr suggested 1 6 Q c 5
but 1 b...a6! 17 b 4 b 6 1 8
Q x d 4 exd4 1 9 bxa5 axb5
2 0 N d 5 Rxa5 2 1 Nxf6+
g x f 6 2 2 K b 2 B b 7 2 3 Bd3
Rda8 7, according t o ECO,
though Boleslavsky contends
t h a t after 2 4 Ra 1 Black has
no winning chances due t o
his weakened pawn
6 I Classical Richter Rauzer

structure. Yudasin, Minsk 1982.

2F 9 Qel b ) Again pawnsnatching is
n o t recommended: 1 2 B x f 6
B x f 6 1 3 Rxd6 Nb4!.

c ) 12 Qh4 is critical,
according t o Dempsey, w h o
gives 12...h6 13 Bxh6 g x h 6
14 Qxh6 N g 4 (but White
might t r y 14 h3 or 14 e 5 )
and 1 2...Qa5 (much more
sensible.)
Kuzmin - Yudasin, Minsk
1 982 s a w the introduction
of this plan, w i t h t h e idea of
f4 and then either the
advance of the e-pawn or
piece play on the kingside
w i t h Q e l - h 4 and Bf 1-d3.
9-a6 10 f4 ( 1 0 N x c 6
b x c 6 1 1 e 5 Nd5 12 Bxe7
Qxe7 1 3 e x d 6 Q x d 6 1 4
N e 4 Qf4+ 15 Kb1 Rb8
gives Black sufficient
counte rplay according t o
Dempsey.) 1 0 5 d 7 1 1
Nf3 Rc8 (1 l...b5 is
recommended b y Dempsey,
w h o shows Black getting
sufficient compensation f o r a
p a w n in the event of 1 2 e 5
d x e 5 13 f x e 5 Nd5 14 Bxe7
Qxe7 15 N x d 5 e x d 5 16
Rxd5 Rc8 or 1 2 B x f 6 Bxf 6!
1 3 Rxd6 B e 7 14 Rd 1 b4.1
and now:

a ) 1 2 e 5 7 and Black quickly

gained the upper hand w i t h
12...d x e 5 13 f x e 5 Nd5 14
Bxe7 Qxe7!, Kuzmin -
 Eric Schiller 1 7

10 a 3 is not v e r v ambitious. '

and after 1 O...hbll 1 Bxfb

Bxfb 1 2 Q x d 6 Bxc3 1 3
3 Podebrady 9 Q x d 8 Bxb2+! 1 4 Kxb2 Rxd8

vander Wiel - Arnason,

Reykjavik 1985.

This variation received i t s

name from the win b y
Alekhine against Frydmann at
Podebrad 1 936. This
chapter concerns itself with 10-d5! is the new move,
9...a5, and the next deals replacing 1 O...Qb6 1 1 Q e 3
with 9...ab. Lines with Qb4 1 2 f 3 h 6 1 3 h42,
9...Qb6 (Chapter Five) a r e Alexander - Gligoric, London
often reached from the 1951. Now:
b...Qb6 (Gulko -
Fedorowicz) variation.

3 B l 1 1 Bxfb Bxf6 12
exd5
8 1 Classical Richter Rauzer
1 25xc3 (Speelman
suggests 1 2..Nb4!? 1 3 d 6
Bd7Z, while Tisdall
recommends 1 3...e5, A B g 5
and Bf5. If 1 3 N e 4 then
1 3...exd5 1 4 Nxf6+ Qxf6 15
c 3 Bf5! 16 c x b 4 Rfc8+ 17
Nc5 a x b 4 1 8 Qxd5 Qe7!
19 Bc4 Rxc5 2 0 Q d 4 b 3 ! -~
Analysis.) 13 Qxc3 exd5
(Another possibility is
1 3...Nb4!7 1 4 Q d 2 e x d 5 15
c 3 Bf5! 16 cxb4 Rc8 17
Nc5 axb4-, -New in
Chess.) 14 Nd4 N b 4 was
played in Kristiansen -
Speelman, Gladsaxe 1 983,
after which ECO suggests
1 5 Q g 3 t . But 1 4Bd71 is
stronger, A Rc8 and only
then Nb4. Psakhis -
Kupreichik, USSR 5f 1 9 8 5
continued 1 5 Bb57! N x d 4 1 6
Q x d 4 Bxb5 17 a x b 5 ad!?,
but 1 5 Kb 1 comes into
consideration.
382 1 1 exd5
NxdS 12 Bxe7 Ncxe7
13 Bc41 (Karpov -
Kasparov ( 3 7 ) 1 9 8 4 1 8 5
saw 1 3 N b 5 Bd7 1 4 Be2
N f 5 1 5 N 3 d 4 N x d 4 112-
1/21 and now instead of
1 3...Qc77! 1 4 N x d 5 ( 1 4
Bxd5 e x d 5 was agreed
drawn in MarjanoviC - Sax,
Sarajevo 1984.) 1 4...N x d 5
1 5 Bxd5 e x d 5 1 6 Qxd5!t,
Kosten - Chandler, England
1985, Black should play
13-Qe817 where there
does not seem t o b e any
clear way t o an advantage
for White. For example 14
Bxd5 N x d S 15 N x d 5 e x d 5
1 6 Q d 4 Q e 4 17Rhe1
Q x d 4 ( 1 7...Qg6 A !k'h6+!?)
1 8 Rxd4 Be6 19 Nc5 b 6 !
20 N d 3 (20 Nxe6 fxe6=)
2 0...Rc 8 2 1 Ne5 Rc5 -
Analysis.
3B3 1 1 Bb5!7
is a sacrificial line from the
Master, Mikhail Tal, (though
actually proposed b y
Vintolins) w h o used it t o
demolish Sisniega a t the
M e x i c o Interzonal:
383 1 1 1 ...Nxe 4
3832 1 l..Nb4
3833 1 1 ...d xe 4
3834 1 1 ...Na7!?
3B3 1 11Nxe4
12 Nxe4 dxe4 1 3 Q x d 8
Bxd8 1 4 Bxd8 N x d 8 15 Nc5
f 5 16 Rd6 Kf7 17 Rhd 1 Ke7
1 8 Bd7! Rf77 ( 1 8...Bxd7 1 9
Rxd7+! K f 6 2 0 R 1d6!2) 1 9
Nxeb!! Bxd7 2 0 Nc7 Bxa4
2 1 N x a 8 Ne6 2 2 N b 6 Be8
2 3 R 6 d 5 Bc6 2 4 Rxa5 K f 6

25 Nd5+ Kg6 2 3 N e 3 1-0,
Tal - Siniega, Taxco IZ
1985.
1 2 N d 7 1 3 Bxe7 Q x e 7
14 f4 Nc5 15 N x c 5 Q x c 5
16 h42, Kindermann -
Felsberger, Vienna 1 986.
14,b61? was seen in
Balashov -Khalifman, Minsk
1 9 8 6 but after 1 5 Rhe 1
Nc5 1 6 N d 4 B d 7 17
Kb 1 Black blundered with
17...Rac8 and after 1 8 g 4
Rfd8 19 f 5 White was
clearly on top. Better
17-Rfc8 A 1 8 J x b 5 1 9
a x b 5 a 4 - Balashov.
38322 1 2 Rhel
1 2...Nxe477 is a blunder
which loses t o 13 Nxe4
dxe4 14Qxd8.
Eric Schiller / 9
while 13 Be3 and 13 Bf4 a r e
untested, but likely t o be
seen soon.
13...Bxfb 1 4 exd6 exd6 (Not
1 4...Bxc3 15 bxc3 Nxd5 16
c4! +-1 1 5 N x d 5 ( 1 5 Q e 3
Bf5 16 Rd2 Rc8T -
Rashkovsky & Temirbayev)
1 5...Nxd5 1 6 Q x d 5 Qc7G -
Tukmak ov. Better is 1 5..Bg 4!
16 f 3 Bg5 17 N e 3 B f S ,
011 - Temir-bayev,
Kuibyshev 1 986.
13...exd5 1 4 Q e 3 Be6 15
Bf4 Rc8 16 f3 N h 5 17 Be5
Nc6 18 Bxc6 bxc6 was seen
in Winsnes - Khalifman,
Groningen 1 986.
Another new plan. Vitolins -
Inkiov, Yurmala 1 9 8 5 saw
13 Ne4!7 Nxe4 14Qxd8
Bxg5+! 15 Qxg5 Nxg5 16
h4 e57! 17 hxg5 Bf5 18
Rd22, but Black could have
improved with 1 6...h6 17
hxg5 hxg5 1 8 RdbZ,
according t o Tukmakov.
Therefore in Anand - Inkiov,
Calcutta 1 9 8 6 White varied
with 13 Qxd8 Rxd8 1 4 N e 4
N b d 5 (The interpolation of
an exchange of rooks with
 10 1 Classical Richter Rauzer
1 4...Rxd 1 + 1 5 Rxd 1 Nbd5
1 6 c 4 Nc7 17 Nxf6+ is
better for White.) 15 c 4
Nc7 1 6 Rxd8 Bxd8 17 Rd 1
Be7 1 8 Nxf 6+ gxf 6 1 9 Be3
Nxb5 2 0 axb5 f f5! and here
White should have tried 2 1
g3, even though 2 1 ...K f 8 2 2
Nc5 Bxc5 2 3 Bxc5+ Ke8 2 4
Bd6 Bd7 2 5 Rd4 would have
given White only a small
advantage. Instead, White
tried 2 1 Nc5 right away,
when Black could have
equalized with 2 1 ...f4! 2 2
Bd4 f6! 2 3 N u 4 e 5 2 4 Bc5
Kf7, according t o Baljon.
Tal - Korchnoi, Candidates'
1 9 8 5 saw 12 Qxd8 Bxd8
( 1 2...Rxd8 1 3 Rxd8 Bxd8 1 4
Rd 12 -Bagirov.) 13 Rhel
(Tal's improvement on the
Sisniega line 1 3 Bxf6 Bxf6
14 Nxe4 with a slight edge
for White.) 1 3 N a 7 14
Bc4 h6 ( 1 4..Nc6!?) 15
Bxf6 sf: (Or 15...Bxf6 1 6
N e 4 b 6 17 Nxf6+ gxfb 18
Rd6 Rb8 19 Red 1 with a
difficult game for Black -
Cebalo) 16 Nxe4 f 5 17
Nd6 Bc7 18 913 and now
Black should have played
18... Rd8, although after 19
N b 5 White would still have
some pressure. Instead,
Korchnoi played 18...b 6
which allowed Tal t o add
another brilliant combination
to his well-endowed vault
with 19 NxfS!! ef 2 0 Bd5
Be6 ( 2 0...Rb8 21 Re7+) 21
Bxa8 Rxa8 2 2 N d 4 Bd5 (If
2 2...Re8 23 Nxe6 fe 2 4 Rd7
Bb8 2 5 Rb7; 2 3 ...Rxe6 2 4
Rxe6 fxe6 are the un-
pleasant alternatives.) 23
Re7 Rc8 2 4 NbS! 1-0, since
after 2 4...Nxb5 2 5 Rxb5
Ndb 2 6 Rxc7 Rxc7 2 7 Rxd6.
Thisis an interesting new
move. 12 Be2
Kapengut gives:
a) 12 e 5 N x b 5 ( 1 2..Nd7 13
Bxe7 Qxe7 1 4 f4+ 1 3 e x f f
gxfb 14 Bh6 N d 6 15 Q e 2
f 5!Z
b ) 12 Bxf6 Bxf6 13 exd5.
But after 1 3..Bxc4 neither
14 Qxc3 Nxb5 15 axb5
exd5 tj n b 6 or A U ~ - Unor~
14 bxc3 Nxb5 15 axb5
Q d 6 1 6 Qd4 Rd8! 17 c 4
b 6 look appealing.
1 2-b5!? ( 1 2...Bd7 Bxf6 1 4
exd5 Bxc3 15 Qxc3 Ba4 1 6
dxe62, Gelfand - Ryskin,
Minsk 1986, which
continued 1 6...Qe7? 17 ef+
Kn8 18 Bc4Rac8 19Rhe1
Qg5+ 2 0 Qd2 +-. After
1 6...Qg5+ 1 7 Qd 2 Qxd 2+
18 Rxd2 Bxb3 19 cb fe 2 0
Bc4 White has a

comfortable endgame
advantage.) 1 3 Bxf6 Bxf6
(Kapengut) e.g.
a) 1 4 a x b 5 a 415 N x a 4
Nc6 1 6 N c 3 d 4 ! m A 17
bxcb dxc3 1 8 Qxd877
cxb2+ 19 Kb1 Ral+ 2 0
Nxa 1 bxa 1 =P!
b ) 14 N x b 5 dxe4 15 Q x d 8
Rxd8 1 6 Rxd8 Bxd8 L, but
perhaps Black can play
1 4...N x b 5 15 Bxb5 ( 1 5 a x b 5
a 4 Z) 15...dxe4 16 Q x d 8
Rxd8 1 7 Rxd8+ Bxd8 1 8
Rd 1 B b 6 with an unclear
position in which Black has
counterplay.
This move fails t o impress
after 1 O..Bxf 6 1 1 Qxd 6
Q x d 6 1 2 Rxd6 a 4 ! e.g. 1 3
N d 2 a 3 ( 1 3..Bxc3!7) 1 4 Bc4
Nb4!7 1 5 bxa3 Rxa3 1 6
N d b 1 Rxc3 17 Nxc3 Bxc3 f.
The r e t u r n of the knight t o
its previous post was
Eric Schiller / 1 1
introduced in M o k r y -
Thorsteins, Thessaloniki OL
1984,: 10,h6 1 1 Bxf6
Bxf6 12 Ndb5 (Not 1 2
N x c 6 b x c 6 1 3 Q x d b Qbb!)
12,d5 13 exd5 N b 4
( 1 3...exd5 1 4 N x d 5 B e 6 1 5
/
Bs4+.)
a) The game continued 1 4
d b ! e 5 15 Kb 1 B f 5 16 Bd3
N x d 3 1 7 cxd 3 (+ -New in
Chess.) 17...Q d 7 1 8 a 4
Rac8 19 N e 4 Bd8 2 0 Rc 12.
b ) 14 a 3 N x d 5 15 N x d 5
e x d 5 16 Qxd5 Q b 6 Z -
M o k r y . I think that 1 4...Q b b
deserves attention as well.
C) 14Bc4exd5 l 5 N x d 5
N x d 5 16 B x d 5 Q b b E -
Mokry.
d ) 1 4 Kb 1 17 is left dangling
without further comment b y
M o k r y . On 1 4...e x d 5 15
N x d 5 N x d 5 16 Qxd5 Qb6!?
Black's bishop pair may b e
sufficient compensation for
the pawn.
12 / Classical Richter Rauzer

Where can Black seek

improvements7 The loss of
time by the knights is
compensated by the
weakness of the b 5 square,
but Black's 12...d 5 may not
be necessary, if Black can
get away with 12...a4!7. On
13 Qxdb, 13...Qbb gives An interesting and fully
Black the initiative which is playable line.
probably w o r t h a pawn,
while 13 Nxd6 a 3 may also 1OBe2
be sufficient. Practical tests 1OBd3
are awaited, and w i t h 1 0 Bxf 6
theoreticians working on this 10 f3
line, improvements may be 10 f4
discovered here or 10 h4
elsewhere. 10Kb1

After 1 O...b5 .White has only

played 1 1 Bxfb, which
transposes t o 10 Bxfb,
below.
48 10 Bd3
Blocking the d-file is inap-
propr iate and gives Black
the opportunity t o expand on,
the queenside with 1 0,bS
A Ac8-b7, gd8-c7, lllf8-c8,
and Zc6-e5 or Zc6-b4.
Mencinger - Ostojid,

Ljubliana 1 9 8 1 saw 1 1
Rhgl Bb7 12 f4 Rc87! 1 3
Kb1 b 4 1 4 N a 4 a 5 l 5 g 4
N d 7 16 Bxe7 Q x e 7 17 g5
with a winning game for
White. Better is 1 2-Qc7
e.g. 1 3 Kb 1 b 4 1 4 N a 4 a 5
15 g4 N a 7 ! where the N a 4
is skating on rather thin ice.
This is one occasion where
1 O...Bxf 6 fails t o provide
suff icientcompensation:
1 1 Q x d 6 Bxc3!7 ( 1 1 ...Q b 6
1 2 f4!+, Shaposhnikov -
Belyavsky, RSFSR 9 1980.)
1 2 bxc3 and now:
a) 1 2...Q f 6 1 3 Q g 3 e 5 1 4
Bc4 B e 6 15 Bxe6 Qxe6 16
Rd5 Rac8 17 Rhd 1 ",
Benjamin - Christiansen, US
gP 1984.
b ) 1 2...Q h 4 1 3 9 3 Q f 6 1 4
Q c 5 e 5 15 Bc4 8 9 4 16 Rd6
Qg5+ 17 f 4 Qh5 1 8 Qe3+,
IvanoviC - PopoviC, N o v i Sad
1984.
Eric Schiller 1 1 3
This transposes t o 1 1 f 4
lines after 1 1 ...Kh8 1 2 Bh5
Bd7 1 3 f 4 b 5 1 4 Kb 1, or
1 l...b5 1 2 f4. An
independent p a t h was seen
in Hindle - Muir, British 9
1 985, reached via 10 B e 2
b 5 1 1 Bxf6 gxf6: 1 2 Q h 6
Kh8 1 3 f 4 b 4 1 4 Rd3 Rg8
1 5 R h 3 Rg7 and Black,
having s e t up his defensive
formation, siezed the
intiative on 16 N d 1 a5 17
Kb 1 a4. The game concluded
18Nc1 Nd4 19Bd3Ba6
2 0 Bxa6 Rxa6 2 1 Rg 3 Bf 8
2 2 Qh5 Ra5! 2 3 Qh4 d 5
2 4 f 5 dxe4 2 5 Rxg7 Bxg7
2 6 fxe6 fxe6 2 7 Q x e 4 f 5
28 Q b 7 Rb5 2 9 Qa7 a 3
3 0 N b 3 N x b 3 3 1 axb3 Rd5
3 2 N e 3 Ra5 0-1.
4C2 1 1 f4
11-b5 12 Kbl
14 / Classical Richter Rauzer

chances for both sides.)

Or 12 f 5 Kh8 13 Ne2 Rg8 16...a 4 17 Nc 1 b 4 18 N 3 e 2
14 N f 4 Bf8 15 Kb1 Bh6 16 Rg8 1 9 g 4 where Black
fxe6 fxe6 17 Nxe6 Bxe6 18 should have played 19...Rg7
Qh6 Qe7G, Hijbner - instead of 1 9..Be 8 2 0 R h3
Korchnoi, Tilburg 1 985. Rc8 2 1 f 5 exf5, where
Now: White could have played 2 2
gxf5! +.
a) 12..Bd7 13 f 5 Kh8 14
N e 2 Kg8 15 N f 4 Bf8 1 6 g 3 Another plan for White is
Qe7 17 Bh3 Rd8 18 Rhf 12, 12 Bd3 Q b 6 13 Rhf 1 Kh8
MarjanoviC - Barlov, 1 4 Qf2, as seen in Ivanov -
Yugoslav 1985. Bellizzi, New York 1 9 8 4
b ) Black can also play
1 2...b4!? 1 3 N e 2 a5, e.g.
14 f 5 Kh8! ( 1 4...Bd7 1 1 h4!? was introduced in
deserves practical tests.) Jansa - Sax, Biel IZ 1 985.
1 5 N b d 4 ( 1 5 Q h 6 e x f 5 16 After 1 I - b 5 ( 1 l...Kh8 12
exf 5 Bxf 5 1 7 Ned4 Nxd4 9 4 Rg8 13 g5 was seen in
18 Nxd4 B g 6 Gavrilov
~ - Jansa - PopoviC, Bor 1 985,
Mikhalchischin, USSR 1980.) and he re 1 3...fxg5 1 4 hxg5
15...Q b 6 16 Nxc6 Qxc6 17 Rxg5 would give Black full
N f 4 Rg8 18 9 3 Bd7! 19 Bh3 compensation.) 12 94:
Q c 8 2 0 Rhel Rb8 21 Rc1
a 4 2 2 c 4 Rb7 2 3 Re3,
Tseitlin - Lysenks Sochi
1980, 2 3 ...b 3 2 4 a 3
Rc7~/=.
C)MarjanoviC - PopoviC,
Novi Sad 1984, saw
12...Kh8 13 Be2 Qbb 1 4
Rhf 1 Bd7 15 Bh5 a5 and
now 1 6 Rf3!? ( 1 6 f 5 Rac8
1 7 N e 2 b 4 1 8 N f 4 a 4 19
Nc1 Ne5 2 0 Bxf7 b3?! 21
cxb3 axb3 was played in Tal On 12..Bb7 13 95 b 4 1 4
- Larsen, Eerwsel ( 4 ) 1 968, N a 4 threatens a g 5 x f 6 and
but here White missed 2 2 Bxd6.
Bxeb!, so 2 0...Nxf7 2 1 fxe 6
Bc6 is recommended, with

13 Ne2 ( 1 3 N u 4 may be
met by 13..Bd7) 1 3-a5
( 1 3..Bb7 14 g5 gives White
a stong attack. 13..Kh8
comes into consideration
here, e.g. 1 4 Ned4 Nxd4
15 Nxd4 Bb7 16 Bd3 Rg8
1 7 f 3 a 5 1 8 N e 2 Q b 6 19
Kb 1 a 4 2 0 Rhg 1 d 5 ! ~ ,
although Wt-lite can improve
with 16 Qxb4 Rb8 17 Qe 1
d 5 Z/W, Cuijpers -
Ligter ink, Holland 5f 1 985.)
14 Nbd4 ( 1 4 Ned4 is an
alternative: 1 4...Bb7
( 14...Nb 8 and 14...Nu7 a r e
inferior, allowing a strong
attack after 1 5
Qe 3 . 1 4 ...Ne5!7) 1 5 Nxc 6
Bxc6 I 6 N d 4 Bb7 17 9 5
(17Bd3Kh8 18Qh6Rg8
19e5 R 7~ - Yudasin and
3
Yuneyev 17...f5! 18 Rg 1
Bxe4! Ehlvest - Yudasin,
Sverdlovsk 1 984, and now
White should have played
19 h5! with a strong attack,
although after 19...Kh8 2 0
9 6 Rg8 2 1 Qh6 Rg7 it will
not be easy t o finish Black
off. Interestingly, this
experiment has not been
repeated.
Eric Schiller 1 15
the game Jansa - Sax, Biel
Interzonal 1 9 8 5 heated up
quickly: 15 g5 a 4 16 N g 3
b3!? 17 axb3 axb3 18
Nxb3 fxg5 19 hxg5 N f 3 2 0
Q c 3 Bxg5+ 21 K b l Q f 6 2 2
Q x f 6 Bxf6 and Black's
bishop pair keeps the
position balanced.
1 4 K b 1 Bb7 1 5 f 4 N b 8 16
Bd3 N d 7 17 Rhgl b 4 18
N e 2 a5 19 gxf6?! ( 1 9 N g 3
and 19 Nbd4 come into
consideration.) 1 9...Rxg 1 2 0
R x g 1 Bxf6 2 1 N b d 4 Nc5?!
(Better 21 ...Qe7 A Rg8) 2 2
Q e 3 Bg7 2 3 N f 3 Nxd3 2 4
cxd3 a4?! was played in
Ivanovie - PopoviS, Yugoslav
9 1 9 8 6 where 2 5 Ng3!
would have established a
dominating position. 2 4...Rc8
would have limited the
damage.
The game Chiburdanidze -
PopoviC (match -51 Subotica
 1 6 IClassical Richter Rauzer

1 986 has a t t r a c t e d faster than White's kingside

considerable attention. A f t e r
1 l X h 8 12 Qh5 Qe8,
13 Bd317 was introduced
(Previously, 1 3 f4 Rg8 had
done well f o r Black, e.g. 1 4
g 3 b 5 15 Bh3 b4f,
Cumpora - PopoviS, Bor
1 9 8 5 o r 1 4 g 4 b 5 15Bd3
Rg7 16 h4 b 4 17 N e 2 a 5
1 8 g 5 a 4 =, Arnason -
Inkiov, Plovdiv 1 986.) 1 3,
Ne5! 14 f4 Nxd3+ 15
Rxd3 Rg8 16 Rh3 Rg7
17 Rdl Qg8 18 Rdd3
Bd7 19 Rdg3 Rg6 2 0
Nd4 Rc8 and now the
evaluation of the line
depends n o t on the game
continuation 2 1 Q e 2 b u t
rather on 21 f5! Rg5 22
Q e 2 or 22 Qh4, A 52f3 in
either case.
Another new idea, this time
from John Nunn, playing
against M o k r y a t Reggio
Emilia 1983184: l0,b5 1 1
h4 Qc7 12 Bd3 Rd8 13
Q f 2 NeSm/=.
actions.
4F 10 Kbl
After 10...Qb6 1 1 Bd3 Qc7
12 f4 b5 13 R d e l b 4 14
Nd 1 a 5 White was already
letting the initiative slip from
his hands in Lobron -
Popovid, Z a g r e b 1 985.
White then a d o p t e d a plan
involving the destruction of
the center, and was suitably
punished: 15 e 5 Nd5 16
Bxe7 N c x e 7 17 Nd4 d x e 5
18 f x e 5 B a 6 19Rhf1 Bxd3
20 Qxd3 N g 6 21 Q e 4 a 4
22 Rf3 a 3 23 b 3 Ra5 24
Ref 1 Qxe5 25 Qd3 Rc5 26
Q d 2 Rcc8 27 Qf2 Nf6 28
h3 N e 4 ! 0-1.
In an important Interzonal
encounter, Zuger t r i e d t h e
passive 1 O...Ne8 instead, but
a f t e r 1 1 Bxe7 Qxe7 1 2 Bd 3
b 5 13 Rhe 1 Bb7 14 f4 f6
Black had a passive game,
Lobron - Zuger, Munich
Interzonal 1 987.

This variation has been

given a rest because of
Kondratiyev - Bondarevsky,
USSR 1952, which saw
10-Qc7 1 1 Bd3 b5 12
Rhel b4 13 Ne2 e 5 14
f 5 a5 where Black's
queenside play p r o v e d t o b e
 Eric Schiller 1 17

tothe 10 f 3 lines after

10-Qc7 1 1 f 3 a6 1 2 g4,
but White can try:

Variation w i t h
9...Qb 6

a) 1 1 Nb5Qd8 1 2 f 3 a 6
12N5d4e5! 14Ne2a5
gives Black the initiative,
10 B e 2 Zakharov - Lublinsky,
1OBe3 M o s c o w 1 95 1.
1 0 Bxf 6
10 f 3 b) 1 1 h 3 a 6 1 2 g 4 b 5 1 3
10 f4 B g 2 (This piece should
log4 always keep an eye on c4!)
10 h 4 1 3...Nd7! 1 4 f 4 N b 6 1 5 95
10 Kb1 b 4 l 6 Q f 2 Nc4 1 7 N a 4
10 Nu4 Rb8 1 8 Bf1 N x e 3 1 9 Q x e 3
Bd77, Preinfalk - Diinhaupt,
EY 1961.

Invites 1O...Qxf2? 1 1 Rdf 1!,

but 1 0 S d 7 l e.g. 1 1 g 4
Rfc8 1 2 Be3 Q d 8 1 3 g5
hle8 1 4 f 4 N a 5 15Nxa5
Qxa5 16 Kb 1, Volchuk -
Gufeld, USSR 1959, 1 b...d5
17 e x d 5 B b 4 1 8 Bd4 N d 6
A d e 4 or l c 4 - Schwarz.
5B 1 0 Be3
This should simply transpose
If White makes this
exchange w i t h the intention
of playing 1 1 Qxd6 he has
made a serious mistake,
because of 1 1 ...Q x f 2!, but
with the pressure mounting
a t c3, the logical alternative
is t o play 1 1 Na4 first,
which fails t o 1 1 -Qc7 1 2
Q x d 6 7 Bg5+! 1 3 Kb 1 Rd8!,
1 8 1 Classical Richter Rauzer
and 12 f4 didn't turn out any
b e t t e r in Suetin - Taimanov,
USSR 1951 which saw
12...Rd8 13 g4 a 6 14 g 5
B e 7 15 h4 b 5 and t h e
queenside initiative was far
more significant than White's
p a w n thrust on the kingside:
l 6 N c 3 b 4 1 7 N e 2 a 5 ! 18
Nbd4 Bb7 19 B g 2 d 5 ~ .
This is the standard move in
the position. White bolsters
the center while a t the same
time prepares the thrust
g2-g4. The fact t h a t the
Qbb blocks the advance of
the b-pawn slows down
Black's queenside play
considerably. The positions
which arise a r e very
double-edged and require
careful handling on b o t h
sides.
This is the p r e f e r r e d
variation in contemporary
praxis. Black prevents the
incursion of the knight a t b 5
and prepares an eventual
advance of the ba. The time
lost in g d 8 - b b - c 7 is
regained when the white
bishop r e t r e a t s from g 5 in
order t o make w a y for t h e
advance of the g-pawn.
1 1 Be3
1 1 Bxfb
1 1 g4
1 1 h4
This move allows Black t o
transpose t o the 1 1 g 4 lines
w i t h 1 1 ...Qc7 12 g 4 b5.
A old idea, introduced into
praxis b y Hijbner in the 5th
game of his match against
Kasparov. 1 1 S x f 6 1 2
Qxd6

1 4 f 4 b 5 1 5 e 5 B b 7 16
Bd3! w i t h a tremendous
position f o r White, which he
let slip a f t e r 1 b...Rfd8 b y
playing 1 7 f 5?! instead of
17 Kb 1 ! Nb4 18 Be4+.
b) Black should have played
12-Rd8 13 Q c 5 R x d l + 14
N x d 1 Qc7 A ~ b 7 - b b G-
Hort
C ) EuwelVreeken recommend
12Sxc3 13 bxc3 Rd8
14Qf4Rxdlf 15Kxd1
Bd7.
Until recently this was the
only serious t r y f o r White,
b u t Black has adequate
resources.
This is the logical approach,
since Black's counte rplay is
based on a flank advance
rather than on the i d 6 4 5
Eric Schiller 1 19
thrust. In order f o r t h e i b 7
t o advance, it is necessary
t o g e t move the queen
(Pawngrabbing is n o t
advisable. A f t e r 12 B x f b
B x f b 13 Q x d b Black returns
the Y t o b 6 and then plays
Xf8-d8.1.
a ) 12 Be3 is the normal
move. 12-b5 13 g 5
13Kb1 Nd7 1 4 f 4 N b b 15
Qf2 N a 4 ! 16 N e 2 d5
(Sosonko) 17 e 5 f6 1 8 e x f b
B x f b or 17 e x d 5 Nb4 A
Zxd5. 17 B g 2 (Karpov)
17...d x e 4 !7 or
1 3 Q f 2 b 4 1 4 N e 2 a 5 15
Kb1 a 4 l b N b d 4 B a 6 17
N x c b Q x c b 18 Nd4 Qb7
19 h4 d5! Ti,Fichtl -
Vasiukov, Berlin 1962.
This introduces a n old-
fashioned footrace w h e r e
each side generally ignored
defense and goes all out on
the attack.
2 0 1Classical Richter Rauzer
E C O gives 1 4..Nb6 1 5 a 3
Ne5 16 Bxbb Q x b 6 17 f 4
N c 4 1 8 Q d 4 Qxd4 19
N x d 4 Vasiukov - Filipowicz,
Budapest 1965, 19...Bd7 =.
a21 14 f4 Nb6 15 Qf2
(After 15 f 5 b 4 16 N b 1
Ne5T with initiative and
17 f 6 g x f b 1 8 g x f 6 Bxf6 19
B g 5 Bg7 2 0 Rg 1 Ng6 2 1
Bh6 Be5! 7 Polugayevsky -
Boleslavsky, USSR 1958.)
1 5,Ra b8! ( 1 5...Na 4 1 6
Bd2o3.1 16 h4 Na4 17
Bd 2 ( 17 Nxa4?! bxa47)
17Nxc3 18 Bxc3 b4
19 Bd2 a5, Nezhmetdinov
- Taimanov, USSR 1 95 1 .
The position is evaluated by
E C O as unclear, though it
seems that Black's pieces
are in a more effective
formation t o support the
attack against the enemy
king, and t h a t the advance
of the queenside pawns is
taking place w i t h gain of
tempo. Furthermore, the e a
is unsupported and the d 5
square is not as firmly under
White's control as is usually
the case. In sum, an
interesting position with rich
attacking possibilities for
b o t h sides. The game
continued 2 0 Kb 1 a 4 2 1
Nc 1 Bd7 2 2 Bd3 Rfc8 2 3
h 5 Na5 2 4 f 5 N c 4 2 5 f 6
B f 8 2 6 g6 Q c 5 and now
w i t h 2 7 Qg2! a 3 2 8 gxh7+
White would have had the
upper hand: 28..Kxh7 2 9 e 5
Kh8 3 0 Q e 4 or 2 8 ...Kh8 2 9
Bxc4 Qxc4 2 0 Bhb!. There-
fore Black should perhaps
in-vestigate 2 1 ...d5!?, e.g
2 2 exd5 exd5 2 3 f 5 b 3 2 4
axb3 ( 2 4 B f 4 bxc2+!)
2 4...axb3 2 5 N x b 3 Rxb3!?
2 6 cxb3 Qe5 2 7 Bh3 Qe4+
2 8 Ka 1 Bxf5 or 2 8 Kc 1
Nd4, though 2 7 Bd3 leaves
White w i t h a strong hand.
b ) 1 2 f 4 Rd8 1 3 Bxf6 Bxf6
1 4 g 5 B e 7 1 5 h 5 b 5 16
Bd3 b 4 1 7 N e 2 a 5 1 8 K b 1
a 4 19 Nc1 (MartinoviC -
IvanoviC, Borovo 1 9 8 1
1 9...Bd7! -MartinoviC.
Fully playable.

a) 15 h517 Nb6 (15...Nf8
lbF4d5 17ed b4 18Na4
Rxd5 19 E 13 Rb8 2 0 Q f 2
2; 1 5... b4!7) 1 6 96
(Klovans - Mochalov, USSR
1 9 8 5 ) 1 6,b4m -Klovans.
b ) I5 f 4 Nc5 16 B g 2
b 4 17 Ne2 a 5 1 8 Nbd4
Bb7-, e.g. 1 9 N g 3 N x d 4
2 0 Bxd4 b3!, DuraseviS -
Bogdan-oviC, Yugoslav 3?.
1958.
C) 15 g 6 fxgb! (Not
1 5...Nc5 1 6 gxf7+ Kxf7 17
Bh3 Na4 1 8 f 4 N b 4 19 f 5
e 5 2 0 N x a 4 Nxa2+ 2 1 Kb 1
b x a 4 22 Na5 Rb8 23 Qd5+
Kf8 2 4 Kxa2 Qxc2 2 5 Rd2
Rxb2+ 2 6 Ka1 Qc3 27 Qd3
1-0, Tal - Stolz, Telegraph
game 1954.) 16 h5 gxh5
17 Rxh5 Nf6 1 8 R g 5
N e 5 19 Qg2 Bf8
Eric Schiller / 2 1
Black has achieved a solid
defensive position: 2 0 B e 2
( 2 0 f 4 weakens the center.
2 0...N f 7 is the conservative
plan, though Spassky -
Boleslavsky, USSSR 3?1 9 5 8
saw Black aim for counter-
play w i t h 20...N c 4 2 1 Bxc4
bxc4 2 2 N d 4 Rb8 2 3 Rg 1
R b 7 f 2 0...N c 4 2 1 Bxc4
bxc4 2 2 N d 4 Rb8 2 3 R h l
as seen in Tal - Mohrlock,
Varna 0 1 1 962. White
threatens t o play Bh 1 -h6xf6
and Black's queenside play
looks slow. Suggested
improvements include
2 0...Bb7 and 2 0...Ngb.
This possibility has,
perhaps, been somewhat
underrated. On 1 1 -Rd8:
12-d5 13 exd5 Nxd5
1 4 Bxe7 Ndxe7 1 5 Bd3 e 5
1 6 h 5 K h 8 1 7 hb!c36 1 8
Qg5 N g 8 19 N e 4 White
had a good attacking
22 1 Classical Richter
position in Gipslis - Bielczyk,
Riga 198 1, which continued
19...Q c 7 20 Bc4 b 5 2 1
Rxd8 N x d 8 22 Bd5 Bb7 23
Rd 1 B x d 5 24 Rxd5 N e 6 25
Qd2 Nf4 26 Rd7 Q c 4 27
9 5 Rc8 28 Nd6 Qf l+29
Q d 1 Nd3+ 3 0 Kd2 Qg2+
3 1 Kxd3 e4+ 32 Kxe4 f5+
1-0. The fault seems t o lie
w i t h 14... Ndxe7.
14Ncxe7 A P d 7 - c 6 is a
more a p p r o p r i a t e plan.
12...h6 ( 1 2...d5 1 3 e x d 5
N x d 5 14 B x e 7 ~ 13) Be3
Q c 7 14 Qf2 Nd7 15 9 4
N c e 5 l6Rg1 b 5 1 7 g 5
h x g 5 1 8 B x g 5 Bxg5 1 9 Rxg5
Nf8 20 a3!2, Hellers - Piket,
Amsterdam 1 985.
li 3 9 4 ( W o r t h y of attention
is I 3 h 6 g 6 14 Qf4, e.g.
1 4...Ne 8 1 5 Bxe7 Q x e 7 1 6
Q e 3 b5 17 B e 2 Rb8,
Martinovii: - P. PopoviS,
Yugoslav %? 1 986, where
1 8 Rd2 A Ehd 1 would have
been slightly b e t t e r for
White - M a r t i n o v i t . )
13-b4 14 Be3 Nd7
( 1 4...b 4 1 5 N a 4 Nd7 1 6 g 5
gives White an attack -
Serper) 15 9 5 N c e 5 16
g6!, Serper - Brodsky,
USSR 1986, and n o w Black
should not have played
16...b47 17 gf+ Kxf7, which
allowed 18 Nd5!!, but rather
Rauzer
16-fgj 17 hg Nxg6 18
Q e 2 a - Serper.
5D2 10-Rd8
Although this is n o t
considered sufficient f o r
equality it never-theless
remains popular in
tournament play, because
the unbalanced nature of t h e
posi-tions makes i t possible
t o t i p the scales in Black's
favor in the event of any
slight e r r o r on White's p a r t .
This leads t o play along the
lines of Nunn - M o k r y ,
above, a f t e r 1 1 -a6 12
9 4 Qc7. 1 1 ...Qc7 can also
b e played immediately, f o r
example 1 2 Qf 2 Nd7 1 3
Nb5 Qb8 14 Q g 3 Nf6 15
h4 a 6 16 N5d4 N x d 4 17
N x d 4 Qc7, Byrne -
Fedorowicz, USA !Z 198 1.
If i t is White's intention t o
storm the kingside w i t h

pawns, it makes a lot of
sense t o remove the bishop
from the g-file with gain of
tempo. After 1 1-Qc7
White can t r y t o drive the
queen further back with an
immediate 12 Nb5, but
12...Qb8 13 c 4 a 6 1 4 Nc3
Q c 7 A Ze5m -ECO.
Therefore 12 Qf2 is
usually preferred, placing the
diagonal g 1 -a7 under control
and preventing a7-a6. Now
12...d5?! is not. good, e.g. 1 3
exd5 Nxd5 1 4 Nxd5 Rxd5
15 g 4 Be6 16 Nd4&, Tal -
Savon, USSR F 1962.
After 1 2Nd7:
a) 13 Nb5 Qb8 14 g4
( 1 4 h4 a6 15 N 5 d 4 Nxd4
1 6 Nxd4 Q c 7 transposes .)
1 4 a 6 15 N5d4 2, e.g.
1 5-Qc7 ( or 1 5...Nde5 1 6
h4 Bd7 17 g5 b 5 18 h 5
hlc4 19Nxcb Bxcb 2 0 N d 4
Nxe3 21 Qxe3 Q b 6 2 2 gb!
with a strong attack in
Hellers - Whitehead, New
York Open 1 987.) 1 6 h4
Nxd4 ( 1 6...Nce5 17 Kb 1 b 5
Eric Schiller I2 3
18g5Nc5 19h5Na420
Bc 1 d 5 2 1 g6+, Gipslis -
Wittman, Hradec Kralove
1979180.) 17 Nxd4 Nc5
18 95, Gipslis - Tukmakov,
USSR 1 975, Here 1 8...d5!?
1 9 exd5 Rxd5 2 0 f 4 allows
2 0...e5! 2 1 fxe5 Bg4! E . 2 0
Bc4 Rd8 2 1 N b 3 (ECO)
21 ...Rxdl+22 Rxdl b b A
Pb7, or 2 2...N u 4 2 3 Bd3
Bd7 2 4 h 5 Be8 A Xe5 -
Schwarz.
b ) 13 g4 a6 14 952,
Altschuler - Sadomsky,
1964.
C) 13 Kbl a6 14 94 b 5
15 95 b 4 16 Na4 Nce5
17Nb6Rb8 18Nxc8
Qxc8=, Tarasev - Ilivitsky,
USSR 1 963.
11-d51 12 exd5 ( 1 2
Bxfb is met by 1 2...dxe4!)
1 2 A x d 5 13 Bxe7
Ndxe7 1 4 Bd3 e5 =,
Kholmov - Taimanov, USSR
9?1959.
11-a6! 12 h5 Qc7 13
h6 g6! e.g. 1 4 Q f 4 N e 8
15 Bxe7 Qxe7 16 Qe3 b 5
17 f 4 Q c 7 18 Bd3 b 4 19
N e 2 a 5 2 0 K b l Bd7 21 Rc1
Qa7 2 2 Qxa7 Rxa7 1-3,
Jansa - Mokry, Bratislava
 24 1 Classical Richter Rauzer
5D25 1 1 Kbl
Hijbner - Kasparov, ( 3 )
1985, s a w 1 1 ...a 6 12 Be3
Qc7 13Qf2Nd7 1 4 f 4 b 5
15 g 4 Bb7 16 B g 2 Rac8 f .
1 1 ..Bd7!? 12 Be3 Qc7 13
Nb5 Qb8 14 N x d 6 Be8 15
B c 5 b 6 16 Ba3 a 5 G -
Hort.
5D26 1 1 Nbl
The recommended reply
here is t h e ungainly
1 1-Rd7, the point of which
is t o f r e e the d8-square for
the queen while piling up on
the d-file and preparing d6-
d 5.
If White tries t o prevent
this implementation of this
plan b y playing 1 2 c4, he
receives the rude shock
1 2...d5! anyway, since White
can ill a f f o r d the opening of
the c-file, Suetin - Ilivicky,
USSR 1952.
O n the other hand, if White
chases the queen Black still
achieves his objective, as
was shown in Sirnagin -
GureviSh, USSR 1965: 12
B e 3 Q d 8 1 3 N 5 d 4 N x d 4 14
N x d 4 e 5 15 Nf5 d5! and the
p a w n center is rolling. 13 c 4
d5 14 e x d 5 e x d 5 15 c 5 a 5 !
l6Bd4 (16a4d4!=
16...a 4 17 N a 1 N x d 4 18
Q x d 4 N e 8 ! 7 - Suetin.
5D26 1 1 Qel
This is a logical
redeployment of the queen
t o the kingside, taking the
sting out of a possible d6-
d 5 advance b y Black is,
considering t h a t the 8 will
shortly move t o f2, a w a s t e
of time. Reshevsky - Saidy,
US 9 1966167 saw 1 1 ,a6
12 h4 ( 1 2 Be3 Q c 7 13 g4
b5 1 4 g 5 N e 8 15f4Bf8
l 6 Q f 2 R b 8 1 7 h 4 N a 5 18
N x a 5 Q x a 5 19 Kb 1 b 4 9,
M i l i c - Kupper, O p a t i j a
1 9 5 3 ) 12-Qc7 13 h5 h6
14 Be3 b5 15 Qf2 Rb8'
16 g4 Ne5 m. Black's
queenside pressure looks
more menacing than i t really
 Eric Schiller / 25

is.
5E
Here, too, Black's queenside
pressure proves unbearable:
10-Rd8 1 1 Q e l a6 12
Bd3 Q c 7 13 Rgl b 5 14
g4 b 4 15 Ne2 a57,
Goldin - Taimanov, USSR
1951.
A f t e r 10-Rd8 1 1 Be3
Q c 7 12 95 Nd7 13 f4.
Lein - Rowner, Pernau 1 958
s a w 13-a6 14 f5 b 5 15
h4 b 4 16 Ne2 and here
Black should have played
16-d5! A Ib6, w i t h c 4
firmly under control.
This is a new move
introduced b y Jon Arnason.
e x d 5 N x d 5 1 3 Bxe7 N c x e 7
( 1 3...N d x e 7 is also
unsatisfactory a f t e r 14 Bd3
h6 1 5 g4.) g o t clobbered
b y 14 h6 g 6 15 Bc4! in
Arnason - Thorsteins,
Reykjavik O p e n 1984.
Arnason gives 1 1 ...h6 12
Be 3 Q c 7 1 3 Qe 2! intending
t o advance the g-pawn.
5H 10 Kbl
A f t e r 1 O...a6 play transposes
t o Lobron - PopoviC, ( 9...a 6
10 K b l ) .
A f t e r 1 O...Qc7 1 1 Bxf 6 w e
have Suetin - Taimanov,
discussed above v i a the
move order 10 Bxf 6 B x f 6
1 1 N a 4 . According t o Euwe
10 N a 4 was the actual
move order.

a) 1 0 . N g 4 is n o t on because
of 1 1 f3 B x g 5 12 h x g 5 Nf2
1 3 Na4!.
b ) 10...Rd8 1 1 h5 d5?! 12
26 / Classical Richter Rauzer
This has fallen out of favour
recently, b u t i t may b e a
temporary whim of fashion.
In later chapters w e will
consider t w o interesting
alternatives t o this capture.
Instead 1 1 h4? leads t o
positions discussed under the
move order 9...h6 10 h4
N x d 4 1 1 Q x d 4 hxg5.
1 1-Qa5
1 1 ...a 6 was
introduced in
Sznapik - Dejkalo, Poland
1 985. The game continued
12Bd3Rb8 1 3 e 5 d x e 5 14
Q x e 5 Bd7 15 Q e 2 b5 16
g 4 b4 17 B x f 6 B x f 6 18 N e 4
g 6 19 h4 B g 7 20 N c 5
Qf6o3.
White has the usual number
of alternatives, plus a f e w
uncommon ones:
N o reliable equalizer has
y e t been found against 12
Bc4! move, but Black's
position is solid enough t o
allow the variation t o b e
played w i t h confidence.
The best defense is 1 2-65
1 3 fxe5 ( 1 3 Qd3 e x f 4 1 4
Nb5 B g 4 15 Rdf 1 a 6 gives
Black a significant
advantage, Canal - Barcza,
Venice 1948.) 13-dxe5
14 Qd3 Qc51 ( 1 4...a6 15
B x f 6 B x f 6 16 Nd5 Bg5+ is .
the only alternative which
shows any promise a t all.)
and now:
 Eric Schiller / 2 7

the bishop pair, and y e t it is

hard for Black t o obtain
equality:

6A 1 15Bb3
6A2 1 5 Bxf 6
6A1 15 Bb3 B e 6
1 6 B x f b (16 Bxe6 fxe6 17 a) 16 h 3 B e 6 1 7 N d 5 B d 8
Q h 3 is overambitious: 18 Kb 12, DuraseviC -
1 7...Qc7 1 8 g4?! B b 4 ! ~ , Gligoric, Yugoslav 9 1952.
Tringov - Schmid, Tel Aviv
OL 1 964.) 1 6 S x f 6 and b ) 1 6 K b 1 Be6 17Bxe6?!
now: fxe6 18 Q d 6 Q c 4 1 9 Qd3
3-3, Gligoric - Taimanov,
Stockholm IZ 1952, but 17
Bd5 ! 2.
b ) 17 N d 5 Bd8 18 Qg3 a5! C )l 6 Q e 2 a 6 17Kb1 b 5
19 Qxe5 a 4 gives Black a 18 Bb3 Be6 1 9 N d 5 B d 8
very strong attack, for 2 0 h 4 Q c 8 21 Rdfl Rb8 2 2
example 2 0 Nf6+ Bxf6 2 1 Ne3 Bb6 2 3 Nf5+, Parma -
Qxc5 axb3 2 2 Qxf8+ Kxf8 =Bradvarevid, Yugoslavia
2 3 axb3 Ra2! and Black was 1 965, although even here
winning in Grunberg - Black should be able t o hang
Gebuhr, 1981. 18 Kb1 on. 1 6...Be 6!?
is safer (a).
d ) 16 Nd5! Bd8! ( 1 b..Bg5+
C) 17 Kb1 Be7 18 N d 5 was 17Kb1 Be6 18 h 4 B d 8 19
seen in Krantz - Germanov, Qe2 2, Maeder - Heigl,
0 1978, and now Black 1978.) has been employed
should have played by Gebuhr and now:
18...Kh8=.
d l ) 17Rdf1 Be6 18 Rf3
6A2 15 Bxf6 B x f 6 (18Qg3a5 19a3a4 2 0
Ba2 Rc8 2 1 c3 Bxd5 2 2
The exchange at f 6 concedes Rxd5 Qb6=, Karvi -
2 8 1 Classical Richter Rauze r
Gebuhr, 1976.) 1 &..a5
1 9 a4 Rc8 2 0 Bb3 Rb8 2 1
Kb 1 b 5 2 2 a x b 5 Qxb5 2 3
Q x b 5 Rxb5 2 4 N c 3 Rb4=,
Weissleder - Gebuhr,
1 976.
d 2 ) 17 h 4 B e 6 1 8 B b 3 b 5
19 a 3 a5 2 0 Qe2 (20 Qg3
a4 2 1 Ba2 Rc8 2 2 c 3 Bxd5
=, Kalvelis - Gebuhr, m
1 976.) 2 0...a 4 2 1 Ba2 Ba5?!
2 2 c 3 Rad8 2 3 Kb 1 f57 2 4
e x f 5 Bxd5 2 5 Rxd5 Rxd5 2 6
Qxe5+, Quednau - Ge buhr,
m 1983.
d 3 ) 1 7 K b 1 Be6 18 h 4 a 5
1 9 a 4 ! 7 Rc8 2 0 b 3 Bxd5 2 1
Bxd5 Rb8 2 2 Bc4 B f 6 2 3
Qh3 w i t h a strong attack in
Hess - Schild, 1.1 1 984.
1 2-e5 and now:
a) 1 3 Qc4 Be6 yields
roughly level chances.
b ) 1 3 Qg1 e x f 4 1 4 N d 5
Q d 8 15 N x f 4 N x e 4 i,
Abakarov - Livinov, USSR
1959.
c) 1 3 Q d 3 Bg4 ( 1 3...exf4!7)
1 4 B e 2 Bxe2 15 Qxe2 Rfe8
16 f 5 Rac8=, Zadomski -
Kriukov, 1958.
Black can sieze the initiative
with 1 2...e 5 1 3 fxe5 d x e 5
1 4 Qd3 Be6.
The resolution of tension in
the center and liquidation of
forces allow Black t o
equalise : 12-dxe5 13
Qxe5 Qxe5 14 fxe5
Nd5 15 Bxe7 Nxe7
a) 16 Bd3 b6! (This is the
only effective deployment of
the queenside forces, e.g.
1 6...Bd7 1 7 Bh7+ ! Kx h 7 1 8
Rxd7 Nc6 1 9 Rxb7 Nxe5 2 0
Re 1 !, Ivkov - Taimanov,
Yugoslavia vs. USSR 1956.)
17 Be4 Rb8 18 Rhel
Bb7 and the invasion of the
seventh rank is only
temporary, Gligoric - Benko,
Zag re b Candidates' 1 959:
1 9 Rd7 Bxe4 2 0 Rxe4 ( 2 0
Nxe4 Nc6 2 1 N d 6 Rfd87)
2 0...Nc6 2 1 N b 5 Rfd8 2 1
Rc7 Rbc8.
b ) 16 Bb5 a 6 17 Bd3
( 1 7 B a 4 b 5 1 8 B b 3 R a 7 19
Rd2 Rd7 was agreed drawn
in Zagin - ShagaloviCh,

Minsk 1 957. Another
possibility is 17 Bd7!7 Rd8
1 8 B a 4 R x d l + 19Rxd1 b 5
2 0 Bb3 but 2O..Ng6!, -
Boleslavsky.) 1 7-b5 1 8
Be4 Ra7 19 b4 (19 Rhe!
Rc7 2 0 Re3 Bd7 2 1 Rd6
BcO =, Niephaus - Szabs,
19: i , or 1 9 Rd6 b4?! 2 0
Na4 \.3 2 1 Rhd 12, Schmid -
O'Sullivan, 7ubIin 1 957.)
1 9 5 d 7 LL Rd6 Rc8 2 1
Rhd 1 ( 2 1 Kb2!? Z8c7 2 2
Rb6 N c 8 2 3 Rb82 -
Gligoric) 2 1-R8c7 =,
MatanoviC - Panno,
Portoroz IZ 1958.
6E 12 94
This is premature: 1 2 ~ 5
13 Q g l exf4 14 g 5
hxg5 15 Bxg5 Be6 16
Bxf4 Rfc8!T Winter -
Heigl, 1 977
6F 12 Kbl
Here the prophylactic move
is out of place: 1 2-.~?9! 13
fxe5 dxe5 14 Qd3 ( 1 4
Qe3 B e 6 7 ) 14-Rd8 15
N d 5 7 N x d 5 1 6 Bxe7 Nc3+!
Kogan - Eisenstadt, USSR
1951.
6G 12 Qd3
Black should s e t up an oppo-
sition t o the White T ! with
1 2-Rd8:
Eric Schiller / 2 9
a ) Unclear complications
arise on 13 g4 Bd7 14
Rg1 ( l 4 K b 1 - s e e 1 3
K b l ) 14-95 15 fxg5
hxg5 16 Bf2 b 5 17 e5
dxe5 18 Qe3 Ne8,
iolush - Rejfir, Vienna 1 957,
but not 1 4 g5 N h 5 15 Qf3
N x f 4 ! ~ Khasin
, - Bannik,
USSR 1958.
b ) 13 Be2 Bd7 14 Qg3
Bc6 leads t o a balanced
game after either 15 e 5
d x e 5 16 f x e 5 N e 4 17 N x e 4
Bxe4 1 8 Bxe7 Qc7 or 15
Bf3e5 1 6 f 5 b 5 17Kb1
b 4 1 8 Bxf6 Bxf6 19 N d 5
Bxd5 Rxd5 Qc7 2 1 h 4 a5,
Spassky - Boleslavsky, USSR
9 1957.
C) 13 Kbl Bd7! 14 94
Bc6 15 Bg2! d5 16 e 5
d4 and now White might
investigate Zagorovsky's 17
6H 12 Q g l
This can lead t o some rather
interestingcomplications
 3 0 1 Classical Richter Rauzer

a f t e r 12J3d7 13 g4 ( 1 3
Be 1 Qc7 14 g 4 Rac8 15
Bd3 b 5 =):

Here, too, Black will find it

difficult t o achieve full
equality. O n the other hand,
only one of the many
variations given b e l o w will
briny White his cherished
advantage.
a) 13-Rfc8 14 Be1 b5
15 Nd5 Qd8, or 15 9 5
hxg5 16 fxg5 b4, e.g.
17 g x f 6 B x f 6 18 Nb 1 Qxa2
19 Rd4 Rxc2+! 20 Kxc2
Ba4+ 24 Kc 1 Rc8+ -
Schwarz.

b) 1 3 5 c b 14 Be1 Qc7
15 Bd3 d5 16 e 5 Ne4
17 Bxe4 dxe4 18 h4 b 5 1 1 Bb5
19 893 b4 20 Ne2 Bd5 1 1 Bd3
21 Rxd5 exd500, Tolusch 1 1 Be2
- Taimanov, USSR %? 1958. 11 e5
ECO suggests 17 h4, but I 1 1 Kbl
feel t h a t 17..Bc5 is an 1 1 Qd2
adequate reply. 1 1 Qd3
1 1 Qgl
1 1 Bc4, discussed in
subsequent chapters, is
universally recommended,
b u t t h e r e a r e n o less than
eight alternatives.

This is easily met b y either

1 l..Rd8 or 11-h6 12
 Eric Schiller I3 1

Bh4 e5!, e.g. 13 f x e 5 dxe5 exf 4 1 4 Bxf4 Be6 1 6

14 Q x e 5 B e 6 15 Qd4
a6=/7, Ioseliani - Liu (51,
Velden 1 983.
Since Black is going t o play
e6-e5, this seems an
inappropriate place f o r the
bishop, as was confirmed in
Joppen - Unzicker, Germany
1954, which continued
1 l...h6 12 h 4 e 5 13 Qg1
e x f 4 14 Bxf4 B e 6 15 g 4
N x g 4 16 Nd5 B x d 5 17
Q x g 4 B e 6 18 Q g 3 Q x a 2
19 e 5 R f c 8 ~ .Also good is
11-e5 12 Qe3 h613
Bxf6 exf4 14 Q e l Bxf6
1 5 Nd5 Qd8=, Ioseliani -
Liu (31, Velden 1 983.
7C 1 1 Be2
A quiet move introduces a
line w h e r e the bishop
scurries about the board,
seeking t o induce small
weaknesses. But t h e
weaknesses don't amount t o
much in the end(game1
1 1-h6 introduces the usual
choice:
Rd4 Rfc8 16 Qg3 Black
can play the standard
exchange sacrifice
1 6,Rxc3! 1 7 Qxc 3
Qxa2 and n o w 1 8 Q a 3
Qxa3 1 9 b x a 3 d 5 gives
Black a g o o d game, Vasiukov
- Boleslavsky, USSR 1957.
C ) 12 Bh4 e5! 13 fxe5
( 1 3 Qf2 e x f 4 14 g 3 f3! 15
Bxf3 g 5 ! or 15 B x f 6 B x f 6 16
Q x f 3 Be6! or here 16 Rd5
Qc7 1 7 Qxf 3 Beb,
G e r g e n r e d e t - Schilsch,
USSR 1936 w i t h a g o o d
game for Black in each
case.) 13-dxe5 14 Qd3
Be6 15 Qb5 Qxb5
( 1 5...Qc7 may b e even
stronger.) 16 Bxb5 Rfd8
17 ~ < 2Kf8 18 Bg3 Bd6
1 9 Bf 3 Rac8 and Black has
exploited the wasteful
bishop moves b y
strengthening t h e back rank,
Rossetto - Benka, P o r t o r o z
Interzonal 1958.
7D 1 1 e5

a ) Here 12 Bxf6 Bxf6 13

Qxd6 Bxc3 14 bxc3
Qxa2T, Dubinin - Veresov,
USSR 5F 1 940.
b) 12 h4 is possible, b u t
Here Black should n o t fear
after 12,e5! 13 Qf2
3 2 I Classical Richter Rauzer

the endgame which arises 1983.) 1 7 5 b 7 18 Rd7

after 1 1 -dxe5 12 Qxe5 ( 1 8 Bxb7 Rxb7 19 Rd6 N c 8
(White is committed t o this 2 0 Rd2 b5T.l 1 8 5 x e 4 and
~ l a n since
, 1 2 fxe5 Rd8 1 3 now each of the captures
Qf4 R x d l + A l f 6 - d 5 is m e r i t s attention:
very unpleasant, M a r s k y -
YudoviCh, USSR 1 936.)
12,QxeS (This is much
better than 1 2...Qb6, e.g.
1 3 N a 4 Q c 6 1 4 B b 5 Qxg2
15 Rhg 1 Qxh2 16 Bxf6
Bxf6 17 Q x f 6 c~61 8 Rhl
Q g 2 19 Rh6 e 5 2 0 Rdh 1
B f 5 2 1 R6h2 Q f 3 2 2 fxe5
Rfc8 2 3 Qh8+!! 1-0,
Barczay - Mikhalchischin, a) 19 Rxe4 Nc6 2 0 Rd6
1983.) 13 fxe5 Nd5 14 ( 2 0 N b 5 Rfd8 2 1 Rc7 Rdc8
Bxe7 Nxe7 1 5 Bd 3 ( 1 5 2 2 Rxc8 Rxc8=, Khasin -
B b 5 a 6 ! 16 Bd3 b 5 17 Be4 Boleslavsky, USSR 1 96 1 .)
Rb8=, Usatschi - Geller, 20-Rfc8! 2 1 N b 5 Kf8
USSR 1 958, rather than 2 2 Rd7 Rd8 23 R c 7
1 5...Ng6 16 Rhe 1 b 6 17 g 3 Rdc8 =, Tseshkovksy -
B b 7 1 8 Rd7 8 9 2 19 Rd2 Yudasin, Minsky 1 982.
B b 7 2 0 h 4 Rfd8 2 1 Bd32,
Evans - Santos, Algarve
1975.) 1 5 h 6 1 6 Be4
(ECO suggests 16 Rhe 1
B b 7 17 Bxh7+, evidently
with the idea 17...Kxh7 1 8
Rd7, but after 18..Nd5! 19 c) White's best t r y is 19
Rxb7 Nxc3 2 0 bxc3 Kg6 a Rxe7!, e.g. 1 9...Rb7 2 0
d r a w is the likely result, the Rxb7 Bxb7 2 1 g 3 Bc6 2 2
weakness of the white b 4 Rc8 2 3 Kb2 Kf8 2 4 b 5
pawns offsetting the control B b 7 2 5 a 4 Rc52, MatuloviC
of the seventh rank.) - BradvareviC, Yugoslavia
16-Rb8 17 Rhel (17 1975, although even here
N b 5 is an interesting Black should be able t o hold.
development: 17...Bb7 1 8
R he 1 Bxe4 1 9 Rxe4 Nc6 2 0 The material in this section
Rd3 Rfd8 2 1 Rc3 Rd5 2 2 illustrates the need t o have
Rxc6 Rxb5 2 3 Rc7 2, endgame competence when
Dvoiris - Inkiov, Sochi playing the Richter - Rauzer,

and, on the plus side, will
a f f o r d many opportunities t o
practice, and t h e r e f o r e
improve, endgame play.
7E 1 1 Kbl
This move leads t o unclear
complications. A f t e r
11-Rd8 White has a
choice:
a ) 1 2 Qd2 was played in
Kamyshov - Ilivitsky, USSR
1949, and n o w black should
play 1 2..Bd7! 1 3 B x f 6 Bxf6
14 Nd5 Q x d 2 w i t h a level
game.
b) ECO gives 12 B e 2 Bd7
13 Rhfl B c 6 1 4 Q e 3 a .
cl 12 B c 4 Bd7 transposes t o
t h e next chapter.
7F 1 1 Qd2
Black equalises quickly here
w i t h 1 1 ,h6 12 Bh4
Nxe4 13 Nxe4 Qxd2+.
Eric Schiller 1 33
It is often suggested t h a t
Black develop his queenside
immediately w i t h 1 1 ...b 6 1 2
B e 2 Bb7, and Black had a
comfortable game in 1 3 B f 3
Rad8 14 Bh4 B a 6 15 Qd2
b5, Spassky - Bronstein,
USSR YE? 1959. But a f t e r 12
Qb5!, the endgame following
1 2...Qxb5 1 3 Bxb 5 is
uncomfortable, according t o
Boleslavsky, s o Black should
play 1 1-h6, transposing t o
1 O...h6 lines, above.
7H 1 1 Qgl
Here Black should r e a c t w i t h
1 1 -b5! 12 Bxb5 Rb8
and n o w the b e s t White has
is 13 e5! dxe5 14 fxe5
Bb4 15 Bd2 Nd5 16
Nxd5 exd5 17 Bxb4
Qxb4 18 a4 Qf4+ 19
Kb1 a6 e.g. 20 B c 6 Q c 4
2 1 Bxd5 Qxa4 22 Qd4 Rb4
23 Q c 5 Bf5 24 Bcb! In
Wester inen - Loikjkaned,
Finland 1963 Black w e n t
w r o n g w i t h 24...Q a 3 7 7 25
Qxf8+!!, but he could have
d r a w n w i t h 24...Qxc2+ 26
Kxc2 Rc4+ A I x c 6 .
3 4 1 Classical Richter Rauzer
Even after 1 1 Bc4 Bd7
there a r e still a great many
paths t o follow:
12 Bb3
1 2 Bxf 6
12Kb1
12 Rhe 1
12 Rhf 1
12e5
1 2 S c 6 is the reply and
now:
a) 13 Kbl Rfd8 14
Rhel h6 15 Bh4 Qh5!
16 893 d57, Korbuzov -
Yudasin, USSR 1982.
b ) 13 Rh41 h6 14 Bh4
allows Black t o obtain instant
equality with 1 4..e 5 15 fxe5
dxe5, according t o
Petrosian. Black can t r y for
more with 14-Qh5, for
example 15 Bg3 d5! 16
exd5 Rfd8 17 Rfe 1 Bxd5 1 8
Nxd5 N x d 5 ~ Jansa
, - Barlov,
Vrnjacka Banja 1 983. 1 6 e 5
N e 4 17 Nxe4 dxe4 turned
out well for Black in Kudrin -
Whitehead, USA 1 983: 1 8
Qg1 a 5 1 9 a 3 b 5 2 0 B f 2
a 4 21 Ba2 b 4 2 2 g 4 Qh3
2 3 Rde 1 Bb5! 2 4 axb5 a3!
25 Be3 axb2+.
C) 13 Rhel Rfd8 14
Qd3 b 5 allows the
speculative 1 5 Nd5!7 Nxd5
16 exd5 Bxg5 17 fxg5 exd5
1 6 Bxd5 which gave White
a small advantage in Dvoiris
- Yurtayev, USSR 1986.
14...h 6 comes into
consideration.
This was introduced in
Shamkovich - Taylor, New
York 1983, which continued
12-Bxf6 13 e 5 Be7 14
exd6 Bf6 15 Qd3, and
here, according t o
Shamkovich, Black has
compensation after
15-Qb6 16 Bb3 Bc6
17 Ne4 Bxe4 18 Qxe4
a5. The game actually
continued 1 5...g6 16 N e 4
897 17 Bb3 Bc6 18 Rhe 1
Rfd8 19 9 4 Rd7 2 0 Qd2
Qxd2+ 21 Rxd2 Rad8 2 2 c3
Bxe4 2 3 Rxe4 Rxd6 i-f.
8C 12 Kbl Bc6:

a) 13 Rhel h 6 14 Bh4
b5! 15 B b 3 b 4 T 6 Bxf6
Bxf6 17 Qxdb Rac8 A Rf8-
d8T, according t o Kholmov.
White gets riowhere with
15 e5. either: 1 5...dxeS 16
f x e 5 dad8 17 Q f 4 Rxd l +
1 8 Rxd 1 N h 5 1 9 Q g 4 Bxh4
2 0 Qxh4 b 4 2 1 Qxh5
bxc3.
b ) 13 Rhfl h6 14 Bh4
Qh5 15 g37 g 5 ! 16 f x g 5
hxg5 1 7 Rxf6 Bxf 6 1 8 Qxf 6
gxh4 1 9 gxh4 Kh77, Tal -
larsen, 6 t h match game,
Eersel 1969. But b e t t e r is
15 8 9 3 Q c 5 16 Bh4=,
Byrne - Larsen, USA 1968,
or 15..Nxe4 16 Nxe4 d 5 17
Bd3 dxe4T.
C) 13 Bb3 Rad8 ( A
position which can also b e
reached via 1 1 Kb 1 Rd8 1 2
Bc4 Bd7 1 3 Bb3 Bc6) for
example:
cl) 14Rhf1 h 6 15Bh4
Q h 5 ! 16 Bg3 d5=, Zakharov
- Osnos, Riga 1968.
~ 2 1)4 Rhe 1 h 6 15 Bh4
Eric Schiller I 3 5
Qh5 16 8 9 3 d 5 ! 17 e x d 5
[17 e5?! N e 4 1 8 N e 2 a 5 !
and Black had a strong
initiative in Korzubov -
Yudasin, USSR 1 982.) 1 7...
NxdS 1 8 N x d S ( 1 8 Bxd5
Bf67 1 1 8...Bxd5 1 9 Re5 Bf 3!
2 0 Rxh5 Bxh5 2 1 Qd8 =,
Dvoiris - Yudasin, USSR %?
1 986.
d l Gligoric's 1 3 g 4 awaits
practical tests.
8D 12 Rhel R f d 8
a) Disastrous results were
obtained in Keres - Geller,
Curacao Candidates' 1 962:
13 Bb3 b 5 1 4 e 5 d x e 5 15
fxe5 b 4 16 Bxf6 g x f 6 1 7
e x f 6 Qg5+, but White could
have t r i e d 17 Nd5!, and
now 17...e x d 5 1 8 exf 6 Bf 8
19 Re5 Be6 2 0 Qh4 Q b 6
2 1 Rd4 h 6 2 2 Rh5 leads t o
a very strong attack -
Schwarz. Therefore
1 3_hb! is the better move,
e.g. 1 4 Bh4 Q h 5 15 Bg3
Qc5.
b ) 13 e 5 dxe5 1 4 fxe5
3 6 1 Classical Richter Rauzer

Nd5 15 Bxe7 N x e 7 16
Qh4 Ng6 provides equal 8F 1 14 Bd2
chances. Nd7 I 5 Nd5 Qd8 16
Nxe7+ Qxe7
C) Again, 13 f 5 is met by
1 3,b5! This is a forcing continuation
which leads t o a position
8E 12 R h f l which requires careful
handling by Black, but a t the
Here 1 2Ac6 forces same time it is not easy for
transpositions after 1 3 Kb 1
White t o take advantage of
or 1 3 Bb3, since 1 3 f 5 runs
his bishop pair, especially in
into 1 3...b5!, but Black should
view of his weak ae5.
avoid 1 2...b 5 1 3 Bb3 b4,
where Mikh. Tseitlin -
Makarychev, USSR 'T 1 9 8 1
saw 1 4 e5!! d x e 5 15 fxe5
bxc3 16 Bxf6 Bxf6 17 e x f 6
cxb2+ 1 8 Kb 1 Rfd8 19
Q g 4 and White won quickly.

White has not been able to

1 3 fxe5 ( 1 3 Qxe5 allows
Black t o obtain equal chances
with 1 3...Q b 4 1 4 Rd4 Q b 6
15 Rhd 1 Rad8 16 f 5 Bc8,
Suetin - Glek, Moscow
1983.) 1 3 S c 6
establish anything after
1 7...Rfc8:
a ) 1 8 Be3 Qc5!, Gufeld -
Yudasin, USSR 1982.
b ) 18 Bg5 Q c 5 1 9 Q x c 5
N x c 5 20 Rhg 1 Be4 2 1 Rd4
Bgb! 22 9 4 h 6 2 3 Be7 Nx7,.
Sax - Ivanovit, Niksic 1 9 8 3 .

Also interesting is 1 7...Qc5!?

1 8 Q x c 5 N x c 5 19 B b 4

Rfc8!, G a v r i c - Speelman,
Banja Luka 1 983, confirmed
in M u r e y - D. Gurevich,
Jerusalem 1986: 20 Bxc5
B x g 2 2 1 Rh2 Rxc5 22 B x e 6
B c 6 23 Bd7 Rxe5 24 Bxc6
b x c 6 25 Rd7 a 5 26 Rc7 Rc5
w i t h a decisive advantage
for Black.
8F12 17 Rhel
NOW Black must choose
among a number of lines
which float in and out of
favor.
This has been taking a
pounding in recent years b u t
some improvements may
have stabilized t h e situation:
Eric Schiller I 37
...
18 Rfc8! 19 Qg4 Bd5
20 Bg5 ( 2 0 Bh6 can b e
met b y either 20...g 6 or
20...Qf8, b u t b o t h a w a i t
practical tests) 20,Qc5!
2 1 Bf6 ( 2 1 Be3 Qf8 f or
21 ...Q c 7 22 B x b 6 a x b b f , -
Yudasin and S. Ivanov.)
2 1-g6 22 R e 2 a5! 7,
Agapov - Yudasin, USSR
1984.
8F1212 18 B f l
This causes more problems:
1 9 Kb 1 Nd7 ( 1 9..Bd5 20
b3 is much b e t t e r f o r
White, A. Ivanov - Armas,
M e x i c o 1 9 8 0 ) 20 Bb4 and
White has a persistent
advantage, A. Ivanov -
Gavrikov, USSR 1 983. It is
here t h a t Black must seek
help.
a) 19...Q c 5 and now:
a l l 2 0 B h 6 R x d l + 21 K x d l
is a topic of conversation a t
the highest levels:
3 8 1 Classical Richter Rauzer
a1 1 2 1 ...Rd8+7! 2 2 Bd3
g6 2 3 Q h 4 ~ Chandler
, -
PavloviC, Nis 1 983.
a 13) 2 1 ...Qf8 2 2 Bg5 N d 7
2 3 Kc 1 Rc8 24 Qd4 Bd5 2 5
Kb 1 Q c 5 2 6 QxcS Nxc5 2 7
Be3 gave White a slightly
better endgame in Timman -
Sosonko, Holland 1985186.
a 2 ) A new t r y is 2 0 Qb4!?.
If Black exchanges queens
then White will have a much
better endgame, so the
question is where t o put the
1. Tseshkovsky - Yudasin,
USSR %? 1 9 8 6 saw 2 0...Q f 2
2 1 Q f 4! and now Black was
forced t o exchange
otherwise White's dark-
squared bishop would
become t o o powerful.
The ref ore 2 0...Qg 1 !?.
b 1 Perhaps 1 9...Kh8 is
playable, when Ivanov -
Glek, USSR 1983 continued
2 0 Kb1 Qc5 21 Bd3 Na47
2 2 Q h 3 96 2 3 Qh4 with a
strong atttack, but Glek's
suggestion of 2 1 ...Rxd3!7
might save the day.
On the more hopeful side,
1 8-Rfd8 looks fine for
Black:
a) A draw is secured in the
event of 1 9 Qf 2 Rxd 3! 2 0
cxd3 Ba4 21 b 3 Bxb3 2 2
axb3 Qa3+ 2 3 Kb 1
Qxb3+.
c1 1 9 Qg4!? Rxd3! 2 0 cxd 3
Ba4 and now not 2 1 b37
Qa3+ 2 2 Kb1 Bxb3, which
led t o a winning attack in A.
Rodriguez - Armas, Bayamo
1 9 8 0 but rather 2 1 Bh6 f5!
2 2 exf6 Q x f 6 2 3 Be3 Bxd 1
2 4 Rxd 1 N d 5 2 5 Bd4 e 5 2 6
Bg1 N f 4 2 7 Qd7 Rd8 9,
Timoschenko - Armas,
Bayamo 1 9 8 1, while
Westerinen - Maki, Finland
198 1 ended in a draw after
2 5 Qe4 Nxe3 2 6 Qxe3
Qf 5.
With most of the attention
focussed on 1 7...Rfd8, this
move provides an alter-
native which leaves Black no
worse off than the main line:

a) 1 8 Q f 4 can be met by
1 8...a5!7wt but 18...Bb5 is
the move which has been
subjected t o investigation
over the board:
a1) 1 9 B x b 5 Qxb5 20
B b 4 was seen in Kindermann
- GureviCh, Beersheva
1 9 8 4 : 2 0 N c 5 2 1 Rf 1
Rac8 2 2 Rf3 h 6 2 3 Rd4 f 6
2 4 exf6 Rxf6 2 5 Qg4 h 5
2 6 Q g 3 e 5 27 Rxf6 exd4
2 8 Bxc5 Qxc5 2 9 Qb3+
Kh8 3 0 Rf4 Qe5 3 1 Qf3
Re8 3 2 Q f 2 Qa5 3-4.
a21 19 Bb3 Qc71
( 1 9...a5?! 2 0 a 4 Bc6 2 1
Re3+-, Kavalek - Benko,
Netanya 1 969.) 20 Qg3
Nc5 2 1 Bg5 3 -3. LjubojeviS
- GureviCh, NY 1984, n
2 1 ...f 5 2 2 exf6 Qxg3 2 3
hxg3 Nxb3 24 axb3 gxf6 =.
20 Re2! (New in Chess
considers the position after
2 0 g3!? slightly better for
White.) 20-Rfd8 21
Eric Schiller 1 3 9
Red 1 Rxd2 22 Rxd2 K f 8
2 3 g3&, Savon - Paoli,
Cienfuegos 1973. The game
continued 2 3 ...Ke8 2 4 b 3
Rd8 2 5 Rxd8+ Kxd8 2 6 Kd2
but now Savon gives
2 6...Be4 and Black is ok after
2 7 Be2 Kc7 or 2 7 Bxc5
bxc5 2 8 Bd3 Bxd3 2 9 cxd3
Kd7 3 0 d 4 Kc6!
a) 1 8 BflThis move may
be seen again, since Black
allowed White t o obtain a
powerful bishop pair in
Gufeld - Prameswaran, New
Delhi 1 9 8 4 after 18...Qc5?!
1 9 Qxc5 Nxc5 2 0 Bb4.
b ) 1 8 Q f 4 Karpov -
Ungureanu, Skopje OL 1 9 7 2
saw 18,a5 19 Kb 1 Nb6?!
(Karpov suggests 19...a 4 2 0
Bd3 f 5 or 19,b5!7 20
Bd3 Nc5m.I 2 0 Bd3 N d 5
2 1 Qg4, and now Black
could have limited the
damage with 2 1 ...N b 4 2 2
Bh6 Qf8 or 21 ...b5!7
Instead, 2 1 ...Qc5 2 2 Re4! b 5
2 3 Qh3 N b 4 2 4 Be3! gave
40 1 Classical Richter Rauzer
White an overwhelming
advantage: 2 4...Bxe4 2 5
Bxe4 Q x e 5 2 6 Qxh7+ Kf8
2 7 Bxa8 Qe7 2 8 Qe4 Qc7
2 9 Q b 7 1-0.
C) 1 8 Qg4 Q c 5 1 9 B h b
gb 20 Re22 , Tseshkovsky
- Korensky, USSR 1973,
which continued 2 0...Rc7
(2O..Nxe5 2 1 Qf 4 N d 7 2 2
Rxd7 Bxd7 2 3 Q f 6 Qg 1 +
2 4 Kd2 and White wins.) 2 1
Rf 1 Re8 22 Ref2 and now
Black should have tried
2 2...Qe7.
a) Chait- Lysenko, USSR
1976 continued 1 9 h 4
Q c 5 20 B b 3 Rd47.
b 1 9 B d 3 Rxd3!? is an
interesting new line for
Black. Petrushin - Lysenko,
USSR 1 9 8 4 saw 2 0 cxd 3
Qc5+ 2 1 Kb 1 Q d 5 2 2 Re3
Ng6 2 3 Bc3 ( 2 3 g 3 N x e 5 a )
2 3 ...Qxg2 2 4 Qxg2 Bxg2 2 5
Rg 1 B c 6 2 6 Reg3 Rd8 2 7
Kc2 and now w i t h 2 7...Bb5!
2 8 h 4 h5! Black would have
had an even game, according
t o Lysenko.
c)White should ~ e r h a p st r y
1 9 Kbl.
'This is a poor choice, as
usual. After 1 4,gxfb:
a 1 5 Rde 1 f 5 ! ~ Dely
, -
Sofrevsky, Skopje 1967.
b ) 15 R h e l should b e met
b y 15,b5!
C) 1 5 Nd5!? deserves
consideration: 15...e x d 5 16
e x f 6 B x f 6 17 Q x f 6 d x c 4 1 8
Rd4 h5! 19 Rhd 1 and now
Black can settle for a d r a w
with 1 9...RaeB 2 0 Rd5, as in
Bakhmatov - Lysenko, USSR
1975, or play more
ambitiously with 19...Qc5,
where White's best seems
t o b e 2 0 Rf 1 Rae 8 2 1 Rf5
Re I+22 K d 2 Qb4+ 2 3 c 3
Qxb2+ 2 4 Kxel Re8+ 2 5
Re5 w i t h roughly level
chances, instead of 2 0 R f 47

Q e 3+ 2 1 Kb 1 Be4!. 2 0 g4!1
is interesting, e.g. 2 0...Rfe8
2 1 gxh5 Qe5 2 2 Rg 1 + Kf8
2 3 Qh6+ Ke7 2 4 Q d 2 a -
Lysenko.
By defending the bishop
White renews the threat of
exf6. After 1 4..Bc5 1 5 Q f 4
Black should adopt Vogt's
suggestion of 15..Nh5 16
Q g 4 96, and despite the
weakness of the dark
squares on the kingside, and
the inacessibility of d 8 t o
the Black rooks, Black can
establish strong queenside
pressure with b7-b5. This
unbalanced position requires
practical tests.
The alternatives are:
Eric Schiller / 41
b ) 1 4...Rfd8 15 Q f 4 Nh5 16
Qg4 Bxg5 17 Qxg5 96 =,
Timman - Sosonko, Bergen
1984.
Now 1 4 N d 5 practically
forces 1 5 Bxd5 Bxg5 1 6
Qxg5 exd5 and now White
can not obtain any
advantage with:
a) 1 7 Rd3 d4! 1 8 Rxd4
Rae8 1 9 Re1 f6, Tal -
BradvareviC, Kislovodsk
1 964, which saw Black
develop an edge with 2 0
Qd2 Rxe5 2 1 Rd 1 Rfe8 2 2
g3 Re3.
b ) 17 Rd4 Rfe8 1 8 R f l
Qc7 1 9 Rf5 Re5 20
Rxe5 f6, Bronstein -
Averbakh, Beverwijk 1 963,
which was agreed drawn
after 2 1 Nxd5 Qxe5 2 2
Qxe5 fxe5 2 3 Rd2.
C) 17 Rhel d 4 1 8 Rxd4
f6! is good for Black.
42 1 Classical Richter Rauzer

d) 17 Kbl d 4 18 Rxd4
f6! is likewise g o o d for
Black.

Geller's variation has a

reputation as being
insufficient f o r full equality,
b u t is a useful surprise
weapon and leaves White
w i t h only a slight plus and
t h a t only a f t e r accurate
play. It is becoming more
popular. The knight can
r e t r e a t or advance to:

10-a5! 1 1 a 4 Nb4 gives

Black a b e t t e r game, and
even worse f o r White is 1 1
Bxfb Bxfb 1 2 Qxdb Q x d b
1 3 Rxdb exf4! (Analysis b y
Schwarz)

13 Bxf6 axb5 14 Bxe7
Qxe7 is known t o favor
Black.
1 1 h3 ( 1 1 B e 2 R c 8 1 2
Kb 1 Bxf 3! 1 3 gxf 3 Nd4=,
Stolyar - Ilivitsky, USSR
1 9 5 4 ) 1 1 -Bxf3! 1 2 gxf 3
Nd4 13 fxe5 ( 1 3 Q g 2 7 !
Rc8 1 4 K g l 36 l 5 B d 3
Ne6!f, e.g. 16 f x e 5 dxe5
17 f 4 Rxc3!, Novopashin -
Mikenas, G o r k y 1954.)
1 3-dxe5:
a) 14 f4 Ne6! 15 fxe5
( 1 5 Q g 2 Qa5 16 Bxf6 Bxf6
17 N d 5 Bd8 - Schwarz.)
15Nxg5 16 exf6 (16
Qxg5 allows 1 b..Nxe4!)
1 6,Qxd2+ 1 7 Rxd2
Bxf6- -ECO.
b ) 14 Rgl Rc8! e.g. : 15
Bh6 g6 and Black's queenside
play is faster, Jovcic -
Kazic, 1 9 5 4 or 15 Q g 2
Q a 5 ! or 1 5 Be2 Rxc3! 1 6
Bxf6 Bxf6 17 bxc3 Be7!,
Karaklaic - Joppen, Belgrade
1954, or 15 Bxf6 Bxf6 16
Eric Schiller 1 4 3
Q d 3 Q a 5 n Xf8-d8 -
Korchnoi.
9D 10 Nf5!
The only move t o secure an
advantage for White.
10Sxf5 1 1 exf5 Rc8
( 1 l...exf4 1 2 K b l ! ) 12 Kbl
and now 12,h61 transposes
t o 9...h6 lines after 1 3 Bh4,
but White can go wrong
with 1 3 Bxf6?! Bxf6 14 N d 5
e x f 4 1 5 Nxf 6+ Qxf 6 1 6
Qxf4 Qe5! w i t h equality,
MatanoviC - Milic, Belgrade
1954. White can also t r y an
old ( 1 955) suggestion in
Chess Archives - 1 3 h4!7
a) 1 1 fxe5dxe5 12Qxd8
Rxd8 1 3 Rxd8 Bxd8 1 4 Bc4
Be7 15 h 3 B d 7 16 Rd1 Be8
=, Kotov - Geller, Zurich
Canddates' 1 953.
44 1Classical Richter Rauzer
0 9 f4 h6
This move remains quite
~ o p u l a r .The main line is 10
Bh4, followed by either
10...Bd7 or 10...e5, which in
the case of the latter can
also b e reached by the
9...e5 move order.
1 0 Bxf 6
10 h4
As is so often the case, the
exchange a t f 6 followed by
an assault on t h e d-pawn in
not a successful strategy for
White. After 1 O..Bxf6 White
has a number of plans, none
of which are particularly
frightening:
1 O A l 1 1 Nxc6 bxc6 1 2
Qxd6 Qb6
Black obtains good play for
the pawn:
Now:
13...Rd8 14 Q a 3 Q e 3 + 15
Kb 1 Rxd 1 + 16 Nxd 1 Q x a 3
17 bxa3 Be7, Szabo -
Padevsky, Dresden 1959
with chances on the
queenside, or 1 3 Qd2 Rb8
14 b3 Rd8 15 Bd3 e 5 = I f ,
Harandi - Balashov, Rio de
Janiero IZ 1979.
10,412 13 Na4

This t r y was knocked out of
commission in Chess World,
1 949, which pointed out
that after 1 3...Qe3+ 1 4
Q d 2 Qxe4 15 Nc5 Q d 5
White can't play 1 6 Qa57
due t o 1 6..Bxb2+ -+ and
Schwarz adds that on 14
Kb 1 Black can play 1 4...Qxe4
or 1 4...Rd8!7 1 5 Qxd 8+
Bxd8 16 Rxd8+.
13...Rb8 1 4 b 3 Rd8
( 1 4...Qb4 15 Kb22, for
example 15...Ba6 16 Qe3
Rb6 17 e5!, Am. Rodriguez
- Fernandez Garcia,
Cienfuegos 1 984.) 15 Qf3
Bd4 EG, MarjanoviC -
Sofrevski, Yugoslavia 1982,
confirmed in Rodriguez - van
der Wiel, Biel IZ 1985,
which concluded in a draw
after 16 Bc4 Qc5 17 Rd3
Qa3+ 18 Kb 1 Qb4
( 1 8...c5!7 19 Rhd 1 Bb703,
Wagman - Torre, Lugano
1984.) 19 Kc1 Qa3+ 2 0
Kb 1 Qc5. In Kovalev -
Maryasin, Minsk 198 1
White tried 16 Be2 but
after 1 6...Qa5 17 N u 4 c5!
1 8 c 3 Bd7 1 9 cxd4 Bxa4 2 0
Kb 1 cxd4 2 1 Bc4 Qb4 2 2
Q d 3 Bc6 2 3 Rc1 Rb6 2 4
Rhe 1 a5 Black had a strong
initiative.
An interesting new t r y is
13...e5!7. MarjanoviS -
Eric Schiller 1 4 5
PopoviS, Titograd 1 9 8 4 saw
1 4 f 5 a 5 1 5 N a 4 Q a 7 16
Qc3 Rb8 1 7 a 3 (17 Bc4!7
17...Be7, and instead of 1 8
h47 Bd7 19 Bc4 c 5 2 0 Bb3
c4! 2 1 Rxd7 Qxd7 2 2 Qxc4
Qa7!, 18 Bc4, which
MarjanoviC considers +.
1 3...Bxc3 1 4 bxc3 Rb8 1 5
Bd3 Rfd8, Shocron - Emma,
M a r del Plata 1 959.
a) 11-e5 12 g3 Bg4 1 3
Re1 ( 1 3 Be2 Bxe2 1 4 Nxe2
Re8=, Miolo - Filipowicz,
Graz 1981.) 13,a5 14
a4 ( 14 Bb5 can be m e t by
a4, according t o Karpov.)
1 4...Rc8 ( 1 4 A b 4 comes
into consideration here, t o
prevent the invasion of the
knight a t d5. Hase - Garcia,
Argentina 1960 saw further
15 Kb 1 Rc8 16 Rg 17 d5!7.)
1 5 N d 5 B e 6 16Kb1 Bxd5
17 exd52, Karpov - Kavalek,
Bugojno 1 980, and 1 b...exf4
1 7 g x f 4 Bh4 18 Rd1 Re8
46 IClassical Richter Rauzer
19 R g l f5 20 e x f 5 B x f 5 21
Bd 3 Bxd3 22 Qxd32,
Danailov - Cvitan,
Groningen 198 1.
22 a x b 3 a x b 3 23 N c 3 d5!
24 e 5 d4! 25 Nb 1 b x c 2 26
Qxc2 Qbbf, Fichtl -
Bielczyk, Trinec 1 980.
c 1 1 1 ...Q b6!7 is an
interesting alternative.
The b e s t reply is 1 l,e5!
12 g3 ( W i t h the king and
queen lined up diagonally the
dark squares must b e
supported. If 12 Nd5 then
Black can equalise w i t h
12...e x f 4 13 N b c 7 Rab8 14
Nxf6+ Qxf6 1 5 Qxd6 Q x d 6
16 Rxdb Bg4, Kavalek -
Geller, Sousse IZ 1 9 6 7 ) and
now:
Q x e 2 a 6 (Pachman p r e f e r s
Black a f t e r 1 4...exf4 1 5 gxf 4
Qa5.1 15 Rxdb Qb8!
(Increasing the pressure on
the dark squares and
embarrassing the invading
pieces provides sufficient
compensation f o r the pawn.
1 5...Qa5 would fail t o 16
N a 3 ! e x f 4 17 Rxfb!) 1 6 Rxf6
( 16 f x e 5 Bxe5 leaves White
without a g o o d move.)
1 b...gxfb 17 Qg4+ Kh8 and
n o w White has only 18 Qh4
Kg7 19 Qg4+, since 19
N a 3 fails t o 19...N e 7 ! -
VelickoviC.
b) A reasonable alternative
is12-a6 13 Nxd6 B g 4
14 B e 2 Bxe2 15 N x e 2 Qc7,
Kupreichik - Fedorowicz,
Hastings 1984185, b u t
perhaps more accurate is
13Ad4!? 14 Nc4 894
15 Ne2T, JanoseviC -
O'Kelly, Bognor Regis 1 956.
c ) Langeweg p;refers
1 2...Qa 503.
10Nxd4! 1 1 Qxd4
hxg5 12 hxg5 Ng4 is
b e t t e r for Black, for
example:

a ) 13 Be2 e 5 14 Qg1
e x f 4 1 S Bxg4 BxgS 16 Qh2
Bh6 17 Bf3 Qf6 - ECO
b ) 13 Rd3 e 5 14 Qg1
e x f 4 15 Rdh3 Nhb! 16 g x h 6
Bxh3, Formanek - Toth,
Reggio Emilia 1984.
C ) 13 e5 BxgS 14 f x g 5
Q x g 5 + 15 Kb 1 d x e 5 16
Qd6 Nh6 17 N e 4 Q g 6 18
Q x e 5 f6, M i t h r a k a n t h -
Thipsay, N e w Delhi 1 984.
Eric Schiller 1 47
1O l d 7
This is t h e normal move.
Already one can notice the
result of Black's
straightforward
development - his rooks a r e
already connected while the
White bishop still sits on f 1.
Furthermore, Black is getting
ready t o sieze t h e e-pawn.
Nevertheless, White has
cleared t h e g-file a n d is
ready t o t r y t o advance the
g-pawn in an e f f o r t t o
exploit the weak-ness
c r e a t e d b y the move h7-
h6. The dynamic nature of
the position has led t o an
evaluation of unclear b y con-
temporary theoreticians.
White has t r i e d a number of
plans:
4 8 / Classical Richter Rauzer
Black obtained a significant
advantage in Gallego -
Rivas, Spanish 9 1 9 8 1
after 1 1 ...Rc8 12 Kb 1 Nu5
13 h3 Rxc3! 1 4 Qxc3 Nxe4
15 Qe3 Nxf2 16 Q x f 2
Qb6.
White has tried the usually
ineffective plan of going
after the d-pawn, and has
come away with no
advantage:
a) 13 Qxd6 a6 14 e 5 Nxe5
1 5 b4! gave White an edge
in Sax - Utasi, Budapest
1 984, according t o
Schwarz, but the player of
the Black pieces claims that
the chances are equal.
b ) 1 3 Nxd6 N b 4 1 4 e 5
Nxa2+ 15 Nxa2 Qxa2 16
Q b 4 Be7 17 Qxb7 (or 17
Bc4Qa1+ 1 8 K d 2 Q a 4 )
1 7...Rab 8 1 8 Qxd7 Qxb 2+
1 9 Kd2 Bxd6 2 0 exd6
Qd4+ 21 Bd3Qxf4+ is
given by Schwarz with a
draw as the likely result.
The only example on record
is 1 ]...a5 12 e 5 N d 5 13
Bxe-7 Qxe7 1 4 Nxd5 exd5
15 Qxd5 a 4 16 Nc5 Bg4
17 N e 4 Bxd 1 1 8 exdbm,
Hulak - IvanoviC, Stip, 1979.
After 1 1 A x e 4 1 2 B x e 7
Nxd2 1 3 Bxd 8 N x f 1
White can play 14 Bc7
(Better than 1 4 Rhxf 1 Rfxd8
15 Nxd6 Rub8 16 Rd2 Ne7
17 Rfdl Bc6 .I8 a 4 Kf8 19
b3, MatanoviS - Timman,
Niksic 1978, 1 9...a6=.)
1 4 N e 3 15 Rd3 (15 Rxd6
a6!?) 15Nxg2 16 Bxd6
Rfc8 and now:
18 h4! (trapping the Ng2)
1 8 N a 5 ! (hastening toward

c4, t o pull the N g 2 t o safety
via e 3 ) 1 9 Rg 1 w a s played
in van d e r Wiel -
Fedorowicz, G r a z 1 98 1 and
now, according t o van d e r
Wiel, Black should have
played 19Nc4! 2 0 Nxe6
Nxd6 21 Nxg7 Bc6! 22
Rd6 Kxg7 23 Nd5 Rd8=.
Instead, the game developed
into a 143 move marathon
t h a t took over 14 hours of
playing time, w i t h an
interesting d r a w n queen and
rook p a w n versus queen
ending.
1 lD2 17 Rgl!
The latest idea, w i t h White
establishing a winning game
quickly in Kholmov -
Kupreichik, Minsk 1985:
17...Nh4 18 N c 7 Rub8 19
N e 4 ! Ng6 20 N c 5 ! + -
The development of the
bishop is met b y a strong
Eric Schiller / 49
p a w n sacrifice: 1 2,b5! 13
Bxb5 Rfc8 and now:
a ) 14 Bc4 Nb4 El?,
Tseshkovsky - Kupreichik,
USSR 3?? 1 979.
b l 14 Bxc6 Rxc6 15 Kbl
Rab! keeps the pressure on.
C ) 14 e 5 dxe5 15 Bxf6
(15fxe5NxeS 16Bxf6Bxf6
17 Bxd7 N x d 7 1 8 Q x d 7
Bxc3 and Black wins.)
15Axf6 16 Qxd7 Nb4!
and n o w Schwarz gives 17
a 3 7 e 4 ! and 17 f x e 5 Rxc3!
18 b x c 3 Nxa2+ 19 Kb2
N x c 3 20 B c 4 Bxe5! 2 1 N x e 5
Q x e 5 22 Qd4 N x d 1 + 23
Rxd 1 Qxh2.
This is a old move, analysed
by Pachman, which made its
debut, and p r o b a b l y final
appearance, in Sokolovsky -
Utasi, Iasi 1984, which
concluded 1 2,dxe5! 1 3
Bxf6 Bxf 6 1 4 Qxd7
exf4! 15 Qxb7 Bxc3 16
Qxc6 Bxb2+!!
50 1Classical Richter Rauzer
N o b e t t e r is 13 f x e 5 N x e 5
14 N x e 5 Q x e 5 15 B x f 6
B x f 6 1 6 Qxd7 Rad8 17
Qb5 Q e 3 + 18 Kb1 Bxc3
19 B c 4 a 6 20 Ob3 Bd4! -
Schwarz.
1 lE3 12 K b l Rfd8!
This is s t a t e of the a r t
theory. White has several
alternatives, and theory has
n o t y e t decided on their
relative merits.
13...d5 14 e x d 5 Nb4 15 a 3
was seen in Byrne -
Kupreichik, Reykjavik 1 980,.
M i l e s suggests 15..Nxd3 16
Qxd3 Bxa3 a.A f t e r
1 3,b5:
a) 14 Nxb5 Qb6 15
Rhel Rab8 16 b 3 Be8
Byrne - IvanoviC, Reykjavik
1 982 continued 17 f57
Ne57, b u t 17 g 4 a w a i t s
practical tests, although
Gufeld feels t h a t even here
Black has good chances.
b Gufeld's 1 4 Rhg 1 ! is
almost certainly best:
14-b4 15 Ne2 e 5
( 1 5...d5 16 B x f 6 B x f 6 17 e 5
B e 7 18 g 4 gives White
attacking chances - Gufeld.)
16 94 Be6 ( 1 6...N x g 4 7 17
Bxe7 N x e 7 18 f5!) 17 b3
d5 18 Bxf6 Bxf6 19 g 5
hxg5 2 0 fxg5 Be7 21
g6!!, Gufeld - Utasi, Havana
1 985, and now 2 1 ,f6 is
best, according t o Gufeld.
b 1 ) 22 N g 3 B c 5 23 Rgf 1
Q a 3 ! ! 24 Q e 2 Nd4! is listed
as unclear without further
comment. The point,
presumably, is t h a t Black can
g e t r i d of the Nf3 and then
play Bd4, while a 7 - a 5 -
a 4 x b 3 is also a threat.

b 2 ) 22 Q e l ! (A Eel-h4-
h 7 ) 2 2...dxe4 (On 2 2 ...f 5 2 3
N g 5 ! looks good.) 2 3 Bxe4
Rxd 1 + 24 Q x d 1 and there
does not seem t o b e any
way of preventing the queen
from returning t o the
kingside after 2 5 Qe 1.
Perhaps Black can t r y
2 2 X f 8 A Pe7-c5 and
l c 6 - e 7 - g 8 . For example:
23 exd5 ( 2 3 Q h 4 Bc5 2 4
Q h 8 + Bg8 2 5 e x d 5 Ne7)
23,RxdS and now:
b 2 1 ) On 2 4 Bc4 Magar
suggests 2 4 ...Rxd 1 + 2 5
Qxd 1 Bxc4 2 6 bxc4 Rd8 2 7
Qe 1 Qa3 2 8 Qh4 Ke8 2 9
Qh8+ Bf8 3 0 N h 4 b 3 3 1
cxb3 ( 3 1 axb3 N b 4 3 2 N c 1
Rd2 A k c 2 1 3 1 ...N x a 2 3 3
Nxa2 Q x b 3 + 3 4 Ka 1 Rb8.
White can t r y 3 0 Ng5 since
3 0...f x g 5 is met b y 3 1 Rf 1
but Magar's idea retains its
validity: 3 0...b 3 ! 3 1 cxb3
N b 4 3 2 Nc 1 Rd2 etc.
b 2 2 ) 2 4 B e 4 Rxd 1 + 2 5
Q x d 1 Rd8 2 6 Qe 1 Nd4.
Since the brilliant game
Gufeld - Utasi has been
widely dis-tributed in recent
publications, Black should be
well prepared t o meet this
attack, commencing with 1 3
Bd3.
1 lE32 13 Q e l
Eric Schiller 1 51
After 1 3 5 6 8 1 4 Bd3,
Mnacakanian - Tukmakov,
Erevan 1 980, Black should
not t r y t o exchange knight
for bishop, but should
rather simply expand on the
queenside with 1 4-Rac8
A b7-b5. Alternatively,
he can t r y 1 3...Rac8, e.g. 1 4
N d 2 N e 8 15 g4 Bxh4 16
Q x h 4 Nb4, as in Pavlov -
Tischbierek, Halle 1 9 8 1,
which concluded in a d r a w
after 17 N b 3 Q b 6 1 8 Bd3
a5 19 a4 d 5 2 0 g5 hxg5
2 1 f x g 5 d 4 2 2 Qf2.
Our only example is
Dolmatov - Spassov,
Amsterdam 1 979: 1 3..Be8
1 4 Bd3 b 5 15 N x b 5 Q b 6
l 6 B f 2 Q b 7 17 Rgel d 5
1 8 exd5 N x d 5 19 c 4 B b 4
2 0 Qc 1 a.
1 lE4 12 Q e l
After 12-Rfd8 this usually
transposes t o 1 2 Kb 1 lines
but White can t r y 1 3 e 5
 52 1 Classical Richter Rauzer

d x e 5 14 fxe5, although Black

can then play 1 4..Nh7! 1 5
Bxe-7 Nxe7, as in Karpov -
Timman, Buenos Aires 1 980,
when Timman gives 16 Nd5
Q x a 2 17 N x e 7 + Kf 8 1 8
Q b 4 a 5 19 Q c 5 b 6 20
N g 6 + Kg8 21 N e 7 + w i t h a
draw.
1 O...d5 1 1 e 5 Nd7 1 2 Bf2!,
introduced recently in
Prandstetter - Kupreichik,
Yerevan 1984, looks
sufficient t o keep the
initiative in White's hands.
Anyway, if this position
really appeals t o the reader
he is invited t o take up t h e
French!

Since 1 O..Bd7 is t h e superior

option, only t h e transposition
from 9...e5 10 Nf5 B x f 5 1 1
e x f 5 h6 12 Bh4 will b e
considered here. The
s t r a i g h t f o r w a r d move order
would b e 9,..h6 10 Bh4 e 5
1 1 Nf5 B x f 5 12 exf5.