The Anti-Sicilian Chronicles 2

GM Rogelio "Joey" Antonio: Lethal Alapin 2. c3

30/10/2021 – Grandmaster Rogelio “Joey” Antonio, Jr. of the Philippines has vast experience using the Alapin 2. c3 variation. A well prepared GM, many times Olympian and Philippine Champion contributed so much in Philippine Chess. His style is very strategic, creates weaknesses then overwhelms it with attack.

His 2 games illustrated why Alapin 2. c3 is a reliable white opening to counter the Sicilian Defense. Beating the likes of GM Mark Paragua and IM Roderick Nava explains that nothing is certain when playing GM “Joey”. You must take courage and research more to outwit him in the opening, otherwise, you end up losing as shown in these games.

CHESS BLOG No. 42 : Date: 30th October 2021

GM Mark Paragua: 2...Nf6 line

1st Game : Check diagram below (GAME VIEWER 1)

The chosen line of GM Paragua to exchange pieces at an early stage delayed piece development. GM "Joey" took advantage and did not waste time and won.

IM Roderick Nava: 2...d5 line

2nd Game: Check diagram below (GAME VIEWER 2)

IM Roderick Nava played the game consistently til middle game. After the exchange of rooks in the endgame, GM Antonio Jr., cleverly finds ways to place his king in a strategic position to capture black's important b pawn to win the game. This is a highly educational game for you to study. But coffee first....

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October 25, 2021May 23, 2025 RNFMJesse

The Anti-Sicilian Chronicles 1

The dangerous "Alapin Variation"

25/10/2021 – The Sicilian Defense is considered the most aggressive black chess opening versus 1. e4. Many World Champs have used it to win the title such as GM Gary Kasparov, GM Robert “Bobby Fischer and GM Mikhail Tal. Even super genius GM Judit Polgar’s Sicilian play is so entertaining to watch and learn. But the emergence of Anti-Sicilian variations in GM Level tournaments, Alapin 2. c3, now a perfect weapon to tame the wild Sicilian Defense.

Our featured two games explained why the Alapin variation is so cunning when both World Champ GM Magnus Carlsen and GM Welsey So attempted to win but with Alapin’s systematic approach and tactical flare, white successfully delivered. It’s just nice chess games to learn and be entertained as well. But coffee first…

CHESS BLOG No. 41 : Date: 25th October 2021

GM Wesley So: 2...Nf6 line

1st Game : Check diagram below (GAME VIEWER 1)

The 2...Nf6 line is preferable to play against the Alapin set-up. However, In this game, black's delayed development and uncastled king is more than enough for the teen GM to take advantage and win against GM Wesley So.

GM Magnus Carlsen: 2...d5 line

2nd Game: Check diagram below (GAME VIEWER 2)

GM David Smerdon of Australia playing board 1 in 2016 Chess Olympiad had big shoes to fill. It's like a David vs Goliath match. But using his favorite Alapin 2..c3 versus World Champ GM Magnus Carsen, he controlled the position and had a chance to annihilate the black king. Luckily, black found a drawing move that forced a perpetual check.

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October 20, 2021May 23, 2025 RNFMJesse

The King’s Indian Chronicles 4

The King's Indian Chronicles 4

GM Jorge Cori : THE BAYONET ATTACK

20/10/2021 – In the 2013 World Cup, GM Jorge Cori of Peru inflicted a defeat to GM Teimur Radjabov in an unpredictable fashion. His thinking is a bit deep, lies a modest move but there is a hidden tactical hack on it. He is a member of the super-strong Webster University chess team managed by GM Susan Polgar.

The interesting features of these 2 games represent a valuable lesson, to understand the idea behind each move. Their level of play enriches our chess thinking by asking why or what? So, let us enjoy these games and gratify our curious minds. But coffee first…

CHESS BLOG No. 40 : Date: 20th October 2021

GM Radjabov: 9...Nh5 variation vs. the Bayonet Attack

1st Game : Check diagram below (GAME VIEWER 1)

The 9...Nh5 line has a vast theory behind it. Playing the white side, you must watch-out black's truckload of tactical mobility. GM Cori knows how to handle it well to beat GM Radjabov in spectacular fashion.

The 9...Ne8 line vs. the Bayonet Attack

2nd Game: Check diagram below (GAME VIEWER 2)

The 9...Ne8 line has been discussed on previous chess blogs. But the outcome and presentation of this game came differently. Black was able to execute and damage a bit whites's kingside but it fell short. Let's find out.

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October 13, 2021May 23, 2025 RNFMJesse

The King’s Indian Chronicles 3

The King's Indian Chronicles 3

Teen GM Vincent Keyner: BAYONET ATTACK

13/10/2021 – Even teen GM Vincent Keyner trusted the strength of the Bayonet Attack against the wild, aggressive King’s Indian Defense. Taming the bishop at g7 and controlling black pawn’s from attacking white’s kingside is a standard makeup of the Bayonet Attack.

Our featured two (2) games display different black variations that tell a story about how white breaks the pawn chain c7 and d6 to win the game. These games are classic examples on how to penetrate black’s defensive structure. Enjoy and let’s have coffee while listening to Matt Monroe’s almost perfect baritone voice.

CHESS BLOG No. 39 : Date: 13th October 2021

The 9...a5 variation vs. the Bayonet Attack

1st Game : Check diagram below (GAME VIEWER 1)

18 year old IM Carissa Yip is one of top women chess players in the US, beating the likes of US Women Champ GM Irina Krush and World Women Champ Ju Wenjun. In this game, she allowed white's 15. c5 push resulting like a wall slowly broken, crushed in the middle game.

GM Nakamura 9...Ne8 vs. the Bayonet Attack

2nd Game: Check diagram below (GAME VIEWER 2)

GM Hikaru Nakamura used the defensive 9...Ne8 line to obtain a solid yet attacking variation. But GM Ding Liren knows his style so well, stopping black's attack formation. This game is a classic "Slowly Killing me Softly" style of play. Fantastic!!! Enjoy your coffee..

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October 9, 2021May 23, 2025 RNFMJesse

The King’s Indian Chronicles 2

The King's Indian Chronicles 2

GM Anand's Bayonet Attack

10/10/2021 – Former world champion GM Viswanathan Anand is 1. e4 specialist. But in this game, he chose to play 1. d4 to challenge GM Teimour Radjabov’s favorite black opening “The King’s Indian Defense”.

Our featured two (2) games are both interesting yet highly entertaining. The 1st game, GM Ivanchuk played the 9. Ne1 line. Young GM Radjabov controlled the tempo in the middle game, sacrificed a piece at g4 to destroy white’s defense. Let’s fill our curiosity and enjoy both games….cheers.

CHESS BLOG No. 38 : Date: 10th October 2021

The 9. Ne1 variation vs. King's Indian Defense

1st Game : Check diagram below (GAME VIEWER 1)

GM Vassily Ivanchuk was not able to counter black's intense grip in controlling the center. The force of black's pieces at kingside is unstoppable, there is no solution but to surrender the game.

GM Radjabov 9...a5 vs. the Bayonet Attack

2nd Game: Check diagram below (GAME VIEWER 2)

GM Teimur Radjabov 9...a5 has no option to stop white from undermining the queenside. After 14. Qxh5, white controlled the game with accurate defense. In the endgame, white is pawn up and better piece placement to find the winning combination.

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October 5, 2021May 23, 2025 RNFMJesse

kings indian chronicles 1

The King's Indian Chronicles 1

Avoiding the Bayonet Attack

06/10/2021 – GM Teimur Radjabov considered the most feared King’s Indian player. I have seen many of his games and there’s a resemblance with GM Kasparov’s games.

Our featured two (2) games are both King’s Indian themes although there are transpositions that are diverted to different opening lines. GM Mamedyarov used white’s g3 line, while the 2nd featured game, GM Kramnik dealt with GM Radjabov’s prepared King’s Indian line 7..exd4 (avoiding the Bayonet Attack). Let’s enjoy these games while having coffee and chocolate cake…Yum!!

CHESS BLOG No. 37 : Date: 6th October 2021

The King's Indian or transposed to Gruenfeld

1st Game : Check diagram below (GAME VIEWER 1)

GM Mamedyarov's 6.b3 move I say "dubious" since black created weaknesses at white's position at an early stage. What a wonderful game to see, it teaches us about " Dark Square Strategy".

The King's Indian Other variation 7...exd4

2nd Game: Check diagram below (GAME VIEWER 2)

GM Teimur Radjabov avoided the main line and used the 7...ed4 line versus GM Vladimir Kramnik. We witness a deep understanding of endgame position by GM Kramnik as shown here. This game is classy, so nice to watch, full of chess goodness... Watch my game below (YouTube video) it shows how to deal with other King's Indian variations.

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September 16, 2021May 23, 2025 RNFMJesse

Kramnik-Cambridge-Springs

The Semi Slav: Cambridge Springs Variation Series 1

Black's tricky move: variation 7...Nxd5

17/09/2021 – The Semi-Slav: Cambridge Springs idea is to immediately attack white’s queenside at move 6…Qa5 combined with support from knight at f6 and bishop at f8. But white’s a3 !! the move disrupts black’s intention to damage white’s queenside. Our featured 2 games are based on black’s variation 7…Nxd5.

Above are Cambridge Springs Variation

CHESS BLOG No. 31 : Date: 17th September 2021

The Cambridge Springs: 7...Nxd5 variation

First Game : Check diagram below (GAME VIEWER 1)

GM Vladimir Kramnik used the 8. Qd2 line followed by 9. Rc1 move. But at move 11. a3, black's pressure at white's queenside diminished gradually. Thus, turned the flow in GM Kramnik's advantage.

GM Sarin Nihal's idea is a very nice one too. At a very young age (17) and rated 2655, he will reach 2700 rating soonest.

I hope you enjoy these lessons. We will study black's 7...ed5 variation in the next chess blog: The Cambridge Springs - Series 2.

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September 14, 2021May 23, 2025 RNFMJesse

the-bayonet2

GM Vladimir Kramnik: The King's Indian Slayer - Series 2

King's Indian Defense: Bayonet variation 9. b4

14/09/2021 – The Bayonet Attack is one of several Anti-King’s Indian systems main goal is to tame the dangerous bishop at g7. The bishop at g7 many times chessplayers call it “The Dragon Bishop”. Another strategy is to control the center then execute an attack at black’s queenside in a methodical manner.

Above are King's Indian Defense variations vs. Bayonet Attack

Series 1 of the Bayonet Attack (chess blog No. 29/dated: 09/09/2021), we discussed black variations 10…Nf4 and 11…Nf6. Today, we will check how to defend against black variations 9…a5 (GM Kasparov’s move) and 9…c6. Let’s check the games below…

CHESS BLOG No. 30 : Date: 14th September 2021

GM Vladimir Kramnik played GM Kasparov again. This game is a different variation when GM Kasparov used the 9...a5 line versus the Bayonet Attack. White's style of play here is strategic and methodical.

The Bayonet Attack vs. 9...a5 line

First Game -check diagram above (GAME VIEWER 1)

The Bayonet Attack vs black's 9...c6 line

2nd Game -check diagram above (GAME VIEWER 2)

GM Victor Bologan's attacking style did not materialize due to GM Loek van Wely's superb understanding of Bayonet Attack. In this game, it showed how to control the center and how to dissect diagonals that are possible for bishops to inject attack.

I hope you enjoy these lessons.. surely more lessons to come about this super interesting variation: The Bayonet Attack: 9. b4.

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September 11, 2021May 23, 2025 RNFMJesse

john-rambo-of-chess

GM Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime: The "John Rambo" of Chess

The wandering king...

11/09/2021 – Grandmaster’s responsibility before the game starts is to prepare/research upcoming opponent’s weaknesses and strengths. In this game between super GM Vachier-Lagrave versus the rising star – 15 year old genius from India GM R. Praggnanandhaa, who do you think was much prepared?

Have a coffee and food while checking this game. I am sure you’ll need brain energy to analyze positions and to gain knowledge about the variations used in the Sicilian Four Knights. That’s all for today.. Thank you, enjoy your weekend…

Sicilian – Four Knights Variation: is a tricky black opening that leads to unconventional movement of pieces where it delays castling. Sometimes king remains at the center sensing where the king is safer to place.

CHESS BLOG No. 30 : Date: 11th September 2021

The Sicilian - Four Knights: Action Pack Game

GM Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime is consistently on top of his games. Playing with genius/Indian prodigy GM R. Praggnanandhaa, we expect a wild fight - full of tactics, pieces everywhere, king unsettled surely spectators heart pumping fast due to excitement!!

This game is unique considering the variation used in my opinion, is new and also, placing the white's king unsafe is so nerve-wracking. GM Vachier-Lagrave played like an action packed "Rambo" movie, I can't believe what I saw!!! so brilliant...

Thank you for this game..... my students will be happy to explain this to them....

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September 9, 2021May 23, 2025 RNFMJesse

Kramnik-KingsIndian_Slayer

GM Vladimir Kramnik: The King's Indian Slayer - Series 1

King's Indian Defense: Bayonet variation 9. b4

09/09/2021 – The Bayonet Attack is one of several Anti-King’s Indian systems main goal is to tame the dangerous bishop at g7. The bishop at g7 many times chessplayers call it “The Dragon Bishop”. Another strategy is to control the center then execute an attack at black’s queenside in a methodical manner.

Above are King's Indian Defense variations vs. Bayonet Attack

GM Vladimir Kramnik has contributed heaps of theoretical novelties using the Bayonet Attack. Even the great King’s Indian protagonist GM Kasparov is a victim of this super interesting “Bayonet Attack”. Let’s check the game of GM Karpov vs. GM Kasparov using the Samisch line for white and comparing it with the game of GM Kramnik vs Kasparov using the Bayonet Attack for white. Enjoy… bon appetit…

CHESS BLOG No. 29 : Date: 9th September 2021

The Samisch Variation vs. King's Indian Defense

GM Anatoly Karpov is a solid, methodical and positional player. He used the Samisch line 5. f3 versus GM Kasparov's lethal King's Indian Defense. In this game, GM Kasparov played like the late World Champ GM Robert "Bobby" Fischer.