Modernes Repertoire gegen die Italienische Eröffnung
GM Boris Avrukh
Einführung und Vorschau
Lieber Leser,
die vorliegende Eröffnungsdatenbank hat zum Zweck, Sie mit einem GM Repertoire gegen eine der aktuell populärsten Eröffnungen auszustatten: Die Italienische Partie.
Aufgrund der Schwierigkeiten von Weiß, einen Vorteil gegen die Berliner Variante im Spanier zu erreichen, greifen immer mehr Topspieler zu Italienisch. Daher sollte jeder 1...e5-Spieler auf diese Eröffnung vorbereitet sein.
Die Startposition der Italienischen Partie entsteht nach den Zügen 1.e4 e5 2.Sf3 Sc6 3.Lc4 Lc5.
Hierbei handelt es sich um eine der ältesten Stellungen der Schachtheorie. Von diesem Punkt an verfügt Weiß über eine Vielzahl an Zügen und Zugfolgen. Je nachdem in welcher Reihenfolge Weiß die Züge 0-0, c2-c3 und d2-d3 spielt, entstehen verschiedene subtile Unterschiede, die in dieser Datenbank untersucht werden. Die einzigen sinnvollen Züge, die nicht behandelt werden, sind 4.b4 (Evans-Gambit) und 4.Sc3 (Vierspringerspiel).
Zuerst analysiert GM Boris Avrukh weiße Versuche, ein starkes Bauernzentrum zu bilden:
1) Weiß spielt 4.c3 Sf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Lb4+ 7.Sc3
Diese Gambitvariante ist auf Amateurlevel sehr beliebt. Weiß opfert seinen Zentralbauern e4, um früh die Initiative zu übernehmen. Aus theoretischer Sicht ist es jedoch Schwarz, der in dieser Variante um Vorteil kämpft. Für den Schwarzspieler ist es wichtig, sich hier genau auszukennen, denn die entstehenden Stellungen sind sehr scharf. In seiner Analyse zeigt GM Boris Avrukh, dass Schwarz nach 7...Sxe4 8.0-0 Lxc3 9.d5 Lf6 ausgezeichnete Gewinnchancen hat. Diese Variante wird im ersten Kampitel behandelt. Diese Variante ist Gegenstand von Kapitel 1.
2) Weiß spielt 4.c3 Sf6 5.d4 exd4 6.cxd4 Lb4+ 7.Ld2
Dieses Vorgehen ist viel solider als 7.Sc3. Bevor Weiß aktiv wird, beabsichtigt er, seine Entwicklung zu beenden. Dies gibt allerdings Schwarz Zeit, um das weiße Zentrum anzugreifen. Die Hauptvariante ist 7...Lxd2 8.Sbd2 d5 9.exd5 Sxd5
Diese Stellung wurde schon extrem häufig gespielt. Wie es in Isolani-Stellungen üblich ist, wird Weiß im Mittelspiel versuchen, die Initiative an sich zu reißen. Die Endspiele sind jedoch aufgrund der Schwäche des isolierten Bauern alle vorteilhaft für Schwarz. In seinen Analysen belegt GM Boris Avrukh, dass die weiße Initiative nur vorübergehender Natur ist, der schwarze Strukturvorteil jedoch von Dauer. Diese Variante ist Gegenstand von Kapitel 2.
3) Weiß spielt 4.c3 Sf6 5.d4 exd4 6.e5
Dieser ehrgeizige Zug leitet eine wichtige Variante ein. Zuletzt hat der georgische GM Baadur Jobava in hohem Maße zu ihrer Popularität beigetragen. Die weiße Idee ist offensichtlich: Bevor er auf d4 nimmt, möchte er im Zentrum Raum gewinnen. Oftmals hat das jedoch zur Folge, dass das Zentrum verwundbar wird.
GM Avrukh zeigt, dass Schwarz nach 6...d5 7.Lb5 Se4 8.cxd4 Lb6 genügend Ressourcen hat, um das Weiße Zentrum erfolgreich anzugreifen.
Dasselbe gilt auch für Jobavas Lieblingszug 7.Le2, gegen den Avrukh den starken und theoretisch unerforschten Konter 7...d3 empfielt.
Diese Stellungen werden ausführlich in Kapitel 3 behandelt.
4) White plays 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.0-0 Nf6 5.d4
A very old Gambit, which has been employed for the first time in 1853! White sacrifices a pawn in order to exploit his better development. This line could be extremely dangerous if Black is not well prepared. In his research, Boris Avrukh goes for the main line arising after 5...Bxd4 6.Nxd4 Nxd4 7.f4 d6 8.fxe5 dxe5 9.Bg5 Qe7
With his last move, Black prepares himself to castle long. White's main idea is to spoil the opponent's pawn structure by playing Bxf6. Nevertheless, in a suitable moment, Black could give give the pawn back in order to overtake the initiative. As it becomes clear from the analysis, in a number of variations, Black could make use of the g-file.
This variation is covered in Chapter 4 of the database.
5) White plays 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.0-0 Nf6 5.d3 0-0 6.c3
Historically, this move order became popular when White realized that the attempt to occupy the centre by playing c2-c3 followed by d2-d4 before completing the development doesn't work well. Now, he is intending to fight for the centre only after a long preparation. For example, before going for d3-d4, he usually makes the following moves: Re1, h3, Nbd2-f1-g3. Taking into account the White's slow play, we could understand why this line is called Slow Italian (Giuoco Piano).
In response to this move order, GM Avrukh advocates the modern 6...d5 7.exd5 Nxd5
In his annotations, GM Avrukh makes the point that the move d7-d5 is played only when White had already played c2-c3. In the arising positions, White's pressure against the central e5-pawn will be compensated by the weakness on d3. The play becomes extremely dynamic and a lot of precision is required. The author proves that Black is doing perfectly in all the variations. This position is dealt with in Chapter 5.
6) White plays 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.0-0 Nf6 5.d3 0-0 6.Bb3 d6 7.c3
This position could arise via a variety of different move orders but there is one important point to remember - White goes for c2-c3 only when Black had already played d7-d6.
In this variation, the author suggests a flexible approach - 7...h6 8.h3 a6 9.Re1 Re8
Getting rid of White's pressure along a2-g8 diagonal is one of Black essential ideas in this variation. Later on, Black will be trying to realize the d6-d5 advance. In Chapter 6, the author demonstrates that Black is in a very good shape in all these lines.
7) White plays 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.0-0 Nf6 5.d3 0-0 6.h3!?
We should pay a special attention to this tricky move order. White's main idea is to avoid the 6.c3 d5 line. As we already know from the previous chapter, White is trying to do the same by playing 6.Bb3. This move order, however, is even better since by playing 6.h3, White keeps open the option of expanding on the queenside by means of a2-a4 followed by the eventual c2-c3 and b2-b4. In such positions, the move h7-h6 would be useless.
The main position arises after the moves 6...d6 7.c3 a6 8.Re1 Ba7 9.Bb3 h6 10.Nbd2
We have arrived to an extremely important theoretical position. GM Boris Avrukh is not a big fan of the a7-bishop (he prefers dark-squared bishop on f8), but we have a bunch of high-level games here. In Chapter 7 of the database, the author proves that even in this version Black has no problems to obtain an equal position.
8) White plays 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.0-0 Nf6 5.d3 0-0 6.a4
The latest trend in this popular line. White gains space on the queenside and tries to delay the move c2-c3 , as it allows the immediate 6...d5 (see Chapter 5). In general, he would play c2-c3 only after d7-d6.
In order to avoid entering a position without counterplay, Black should keep playing in a flexible way. At this point, GM Boris Avrukh suggests 6...d6 7.c3 a6. By playing in this way, Black keeps all the options open. Later on, he should play according to the White's plan. As the reader is going to see, in a lot of variations, Black could even fight for the initiative. This line is covered in Chapter 8.
9) White plays 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.0-0 Nf6 5.d3 0-0 6.a4 d6 7.c3 0-0 8.Bg5
A very challenging move with a lot of developments recently. In positions where Black has already castled, the pin along the h4-d8 diagonal could be really annoying since the plans connected with ...h7-h6 and g7-g5 could be risky. Moreover, Black couldn't go for the standard idea Nc6-e7-g6 because his kingside pawn structure will be ruined. By the way, this is the reason why sometimes Black doesn't make a castle on move 8.
Nevertheless, GM Avrukh considers that even in this case the variation 8...h6 9.Bh4 g5 is a decent option. In his annotations to Chapter 9, he proves that Black holds his own in all the variations.
10) Black plays h7-h6 before castle
If the reader doesn't like to allow the pin along the h4-d8 diagonal, the author provides him with a fantastic alternative. After the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.0-0 d6 5.c3 Nf6 6.d3, Black could go for 6...h6
With this move, White prevents White's idea of Bg5. At this point, the analysis of the author follows the recent game Harika,D - Adams, M in which the English grandmaster comes with an interesting concept. After 7.Re1 0-0 8.h3, he goes for 8...a5!? This is a bit refreshing in this position, however in general quite common idea. Black not only creates a room for his dark-squared bishop but also to stop b2-b4 move and gain some space on the queenside. An obvious drawback of Black'с last move is the weakness of the b5-square. This line is examined in Chapter 10
FREE SAMPLE
TEST SECTION
Now, we invite you to take a look at two positions from the test section related to the database.