Berlin Variation - Expert Repertoire for Black
We are happy to present the newest work of GM Kiril Georgiev - Berlin Variation - Expert Repertoire for Black. The Berlin Variation is famous for it's reliability and soundness. If you need an opening that you can play at any level, the Berlin Variation should be your first choice.
In this course, GM Kiril Georgiev builds on his older two Berlin databases - Play the Berlin against Ruy Lopez - Part 1 and Play the Berlin against Ruy Lopez - Part 2.
Everyone who purchases the current course will get a free access to the PGN file of Kiril Georgiev's 2 older Berlin databases.
Dedicated Strategy Booster
Additionally, this database comes with a dedicated Strategy Booster which is designed to improve your understanding of the Berlin endgame. The Strategy Booster consists of 30 interactive test positions (backed up with annotated solutions). The tests are divided into the following categories:
Improving the Coordination
Exchanges
Fixing the Structure
Fighting for Space
Blockade on the Light Squares
Queenside Play
Computer Practice Section
The computer practice section is another special feature integrated into this course. In this section, you can play 5 typical Berlin endgames against the computer.
Now, we shall take a look at the theoretical content of the database. The starting position of the Berlin Variation arises after 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6
THE IMPORTANT DEVIATIONS
In Adams – Granat White played 4.Qe2 with an invitation to transpose to the Ruy Lopez after 4…a6. Instead, 4…Bc5 5.c3 0-0 came in answer, and even 6.d3 did not discourage the intended central break 6…d5!
After the pawn trade on the next move, the game remained balanced.
The next 4 sections are dedicated to the natural protection of the central pawn by 4.d3 and Black’s new (in comparison to the previous database on this item) approach of meeting it with 4…Ne7!?, which has been known since Paul Morphy’s time.
The start is given by a survey about the various possibilities on move 5, and the main line goes on with 5.Nc3 c6 6.Bc4, when, besides development in the spirit of the Philidor, an original pawn sacrifice like 6…d5!? is scrutinized. In U. Atakisi – Kir. Georgiev White tried to strike at the center after 5.0-0 c6 6.Bc4 Ng6 by means of 7.d4!?
After 7…Nxe4! 8.dxe5 Be7 (or 8…d5) 9.Re1 d5 10.exd6 Nxd6 11.Bb3 0-0 12.Nc3 the author suggests an improvement, concluding that Black is equalizing.
We are back to 5.Nc3 with both possible retreats after 5…c6 in games of one of the biggest 4…Ne7!? devotees GM Antipov. Saric played 6.Bc4, while Niemann placed it on a4, where it found itself worse placed at facing a typical Philidor set-up. True, the move order in the latter game was 5.0-0 c6 6.Ba4 Ng6 and only now 7.Nc3, White’s other options on move 7 are also examined; In Zapata – Neubauer attention is paid to 4.d4!? – a move, which Magnus Carlsen has recently employed with success. The readers will see possible improvements on Black’s play after his interesting reaction 4…Nxd4 5.Nxd4 c6! The author concentrates on the usual capture 4…exd4, when the game can go in parallel with the identical variation in the Ruy Lopez.
THE MAIN DIRECTION
Our first meeting with the most popular continuation 4.0-0 Nxe4 is in Naroditsky – Kramnik, where White chose 5.Qe2 and received 5…Ng5!? in reply.
Even though the common 5…Nd6 is reliable enough, this slightly bizarre jump is a fighting weapon, as the knight is supposedly more flexible on the e6-square.
White’s second in importance line 5.Re1 Nd6 6.Nxe5 Be7 7.Bf1 Nxe5 8.Rxe5 0-0 is thoroughly discussed in the notes to Adams – Santos Ruiz.
After both 9.d4 Bf6 and 9.Nc3 Ne8 10.Nd5 Bd6 it is instructive for the readers to go through the nuances of the rook’s retreats to e2 and e1 and how Black can make use of either of them.
Bjerre – Deac has shown that 7…Nf5 has the right to exist, Black seems to do well in the symmetrical structure.
Sections 10 to 15 cover the alternatives of 6.Bxc6, as follows: - 6.a4 in Sjugirov – Kamsky, to which Black’s safest after 6…e4 7.Ne5 is not to stick to the extra central pawn; - 6.Ba4 in Caruana – Artemiev, after the analogous 6…e4 7.Re1 Be7 8.Ne5 Black has 8…b5 9.Bb3 Na5! with comfortable equality; - 6.Bg5 Be7 7.Bxe7 Qxe7 8.dxe5!? in Daggupati – Dominguez Perez, which is a prelude to the next 3 featured games with the same temporary pieces sacrifice. The readers will find an antidote against 8.Bxc6 dxc6 9.dxe5 as well. As said, the consequences of 6.dxe5 Nxb5 7.a4 are also analyzed, the recommendation is to reply to it with 7…Nbd4 8.Nxd4 d5!
In this position, 9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.Nd2 has been tried by Safarli in his games with Lazavik and Tabatabaei, in which Black proved the solidity of his set-up in two different ways: after the trade of the knights 10.Qd3 was played in Caruana – Dominguez Perez, but soon White had to suffer for a draw.
Indeed, the database cannot be completed without coverage of the typical Berlin endgame: 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8 Kxd8.
The initial position of the popular Berlin endgame - one of the most difficult of its type in subtleties. The game is passing the middlegame phase and very often the engines cannot point out the right way to proceed. No wonder Kasparov failed to prove any White's advantage in the famous 2000 match against Kramnik, which brought glory to the whole concept. Since then, it has deservedly become an invariable guest at all elite tournaments. Black can boast with the pair of bishops and the well-placed Nf5. Only his king, deprived of castling rights, may be a reason for concern, while the queenside structure, despite the doubled c-pawns, can be much more effective than White's phalanx on the opposite wing.
The established main line 9.Nc3 Ke8 10.h3 h5 is the subject in V. Bologan – Kir. Georgiev, as well as 11.Bg5 Be6 12.Rad1 Be7 13.a3 and White’s known possibilities to deviate. As noted in the comments, there is no trace of even a pull for him.
In the game So – Caruana White preferred 13.b3, to which the standard 13…h4! has once again brought rich play. Remarkably, each new piece exchange has been increasing the Black’s chances. Caruana himself tried to prove advantage by placing the other rook to d1 on move 11, but Karjakin was ready to equalize at least with the help of the subtle 11…Be7 12.Ne2 Nh4!; - in Kramnik – Niemann Black opted for this resource immediately and demonstrated that 9…Be7 10.Nc3 Nh4 is a sound alternative. To sum up for this endgame, Black’s position remains rock-solid, and the presented move orders will be very useful for the readers.
SAMPLE CHAPTER