Play the Accelerated Dragon The Accelerated Dragon remains one of Black’s most popular choices in the Sicilian, and the attractions are obvious. Black’s opening strategy is easy to understand, and his pieces are quickly developed on active squares. Furthermore, White players hoping to attack in the same way as against the traditional Dragon will be shocked by the Accelerated Dragon’s greater flexibility and possibilities for a swift counterattack. In this book, Peter Lalic presents a repertoire for Black based on this line. He outlines a reliable system of development with the aim of choosing clear, consistent plans. Firstly, he demonstrates why the Accelerated Dragon exponent need not fear the Yugoslav Attack. Secondly, if White chooses instead the positional Maroczy Bind approach he emphasizes that positional understanding is far more important than memorization of move sequences. He studies the thematic middlegame and endgame positions which may arise and answers all the frequently asked questions. This book tells you everything you need to know to play the Accelerated Dragon with confidence. •An Accelerated Dragon repertoire •Packed with new ideas and critical analysis •Covers Black's key tactics and strategies Peter Lalic is the youngest chess player to become an ECF accredited coach, as well as a regular contributor to Chess Monthly magazine. He has also represented England on board three of the U-18 Glorney Cup, where four wins and two draws earned him the best player award. Professionally he teaches in schools and private, following in the footsteps of his parents, Grandmaster Bogdan Lalic and Women's Grandmaster Susan Lalic. Publisher Information Play the Accelerated Dragon by Peter Lalic First published in 2014 by Gloucester Publishers plc. Northburgh House, 10 Northburgh Street, London EC1V 0AT. Copyright © 2014 Peter Lalic The right of Peter Lalic to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyrights, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior permission of the publisher. British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. All other sales enquiries should be directed to Everyman Chess, Northburgh House, 10 Northburgh Street, London EC1V 0AT tel: 020 7253 7887; fax: 020 7490 3708 email: [email protected] website: www.everymanchess.com Everyman is the registered trade mark of Random House Inc. and is used in this work under licence from Random House Inc. EVERYMAN CHESS SERIES Chief Advisor: Byron Jacobs Commissioning Editor: John Emms Assistant Editor: Richard Palliser Typeset and edited by First Rank Publishing, Brighton. Cover design by Horatio Monteverde. Introduction I will make this introduction as simple, straightforward, and fun as possible. That is the spirit of this repertoire for Black, so why not start now? When White plays the Open Sicilian, the most popular reply is the Dragon, when Black's fianchettoed bishop breathes fire down the long diagonal. I bet you recognise the standard move order: 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 g6 Frankly speaking, aren't you getting tired of this timeworn tabiya? In virtually every tournament,I nformant, or New In Chess publication, you see the same old moves being regurgitated: 6 Be3 Bg7 7 f3 0-0 8 Qd2 Nc6 Considering that there are supposedly more possible positions than atoms in the universe (I'll take the mathematicians' word for it), it is pretty sad that this position has happened in more than 25,000 games, out of the 5.5 million in Mega Database 2013. Particularly club players with the white pieces whip out this notoriously double-edged 'Yugoslav Attack', because it is roughly the only approach that they know. White enjoys a positive score of 60% with the routine plan of 0-0-0, g4, h4, h5, and Bh6. In Bobby Fischer's words, "Pry open the h-file, sac, sac... mate!". The other 40% is shared by Black when he manages enough queenside counterplay, but it all seems like an out-of-control rat race. Perhaps the only chance for some control after 9 0-0-0 is by classically meeting a flank attack with a central thrust like 9...d5!?. However, ...d7-d6 followed by ...d6-d5 wastes a whole tempo in the opening. Besides, what to do if your opponent stops it with 9 Bc4, or springs a sharp novelty around move 15? By now you're probably wondering: "Isn't there an easier way to play the Sicilian Dragon?". Yes, there is - enter the Accelerated Dragon! Enter the Dragon I have chosen the title of that celebrated 1973 movie, admittedly just for an excuse to try my best impression of Bruce Lee - although, without the voice or gestures, I guess it's not so impressive. "To me, the extraordinary aspect of [the Accelerated Dragon] lies in its simplicity. The easy way is also the right way, and [it] is nothing at all special..." The legendary martial artist was actually talking about fighting (until I tweaked the quotation), though his commendable philosophy can be equally applied to fighting over the chessboard. Einstein also famously said that everything should be made as simple as it can be, but no simpler. Hence our far more direct version: 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 g6 Observe the critical difference in waiting flexibly with the d-pawn: in the majority of variations, when it does advance, it will accelerate straight to d5. This thematic counterattacking weapon often helps us to release our pieces, detonate the centre, and so erode White's spatial advantage. Many amateurs underestimate this nuance and blindly set up their Yugoslav Attack anyway. In the main line, which arises more than half of the time and goes 5 Nc3 Bg7 6 Be3 Nf6... 5 Nc3 Bg7 6 Be3 Nf6... ...such naive yet common moves as 7 f3 and 7 Qd2 are practically refuted by a speedy ...d5, as I shall explain in Chapter One. Promise no.1: Prepared with this repertoire, you'll never have to fear the Yugoslav Attack. Chapter Two deals exclusively with 7 Bc4 in the main line, a prophylactic measure against ...d5. I have noticed that other authors, especially when confronted by challenging move orders like this one, sometimes recommend transposing to standard Dragon lines. A good example is the tactical 7...Qa5, which is a playable method of forcing White to abandon opposite-side castling. Any stubborn attempts by him to go queenside do indeed spectacularly fail, as proven by the most powerful engines of today. Yet 8 0-0 makes it a one-trick pony, leaving us slowly manoeuvring in a tense structure, with a misplaced queen and ...d5 no longer working. That is never my intention, since I promise clear, consistent plans. Fortunately we can stay true to the natural 7...0-0 instead, having plenty of dynamic potential up our sleeves. Promise no.2: Clear, consistent plans instead of transposing into (sub-)standard Dragons. Chapter Three features White trying to avoid all that conflict in the main line. Nonetheless, upon 7 Nb3, look forward to the flank attack ...a5, which is actually strong in any variation when a minor piece retreats to b3. Alternatively, after 7 Be2 0-0 8 0-0 and the immediate equalizer 8...d5!, we have some additional options to liquidate comfortably. I like to offer such cop-outs for those situations when a draw is desirable for your rating, tournament, or team score. Promise no.3: Flexibility to fight for a win or to simplify for a draw. Chapter Four covers all of White's most common deviations from as early as move 5, none of which can really mess with our system. Promise no.4: A reliable scheme of development (...g6, ...Bg7, ...Nf6, ...0-0 in that order) against almost anything. Next we move on to the Maróczy Bind. 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 g6 5 c4 I'm not going to lie to you - in this totally different structure, we are restrained from our freeing move ...d5. This is White's best line, so don't raise your hopes of any quick wins. On the other hand, everything has its drawbacks, including his space-gaining central pawns: you'll learn about gradually tying him down to their defence, posting a knight on e5 or c5, detonating queenside files with ...b5, and many more ideas. White has committed himself to a highly positional game, void of concrete variations, which favours the player armed with long-term strategy. Therefore, in Chapter Five, we'll understand the Maróczy from a purely technical perspective, by dissecting model games into pawn structures, potential levers, and weak squares, etc. Promise no.5: Positional understanding, transcending move orders. Having said that, Chapter Six reveals one of the best sequences: 5 c4 d6 6 Nc3 Nf6 7 Be2 Nxd4 8 Qxd4 Bg7 This ensures that you have time to execute the aforementioned plans. Via this so-called Gurgenidze Variation, we can always shake off our cramp by trading one pair of knights. If White maintains the pressure by means of the overly sophisticated 7 Nc2, he risks being too undeveloped, after 7...Bg7 8 Be2 Nd7!?, to deny us the interesting central thrust ...f5. Either way his spatial advantage is not free of charge. Promise no.6: The most effective variations. I hope that I have fulfilled my promises, and that you enjoy much success with this new repertoire. Peter Lalic, Cheam, London, April 2013 Chapter One The Main Line: Yugoslav Attack Attempts Now that the Introduction has mapped out our journey, let's push the pedal to the metal. 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 g6 5 Nc3 Bg7 6 Be3 Nf6 In this main line, White can attempt a Yugoslav Attack via two moves: 7 f3 has scored 40%, and the less popular 7 Qd2 an even worse 35%. However, from my own experience, I can assure you that such inaccuracies are commonplace in your average local league. Line A) 7 Qd2 7...0-0 Always castle on move 7 (remember promise no.4). Usually ...Ng4 would take advantage of the neglected g4-square, and simultaneously create an attack on the e3-bishop and a discovery on the d4-knight. Nonetheless, beware 7...Ng4 8 Nxc6. I'll take this opportunity to mention a recurring question: how to recapture whenever White exchanges knights? We're definitely never going to chicken out with ...Nxd4 in the first place, since that would erroneously centralize his bishop or queen to d4. Instead, we actually welcome the fact that White improves our pawn structure, and normally he must have a concrete justification for doing so. Although now you know to sidestep inferior alternatives like 7...Ng4 too early, I want to complete your understanding of what to avoid and why. a)Instinct tells us to recapture towards the centre with 8...bxc6, obtaining both a central majority and pressure down the semi-open file towards b2. Unfortunately after 9 Bd4 dynamic factors outweigh the static ones: a1) After 9...Bxd4 10 Qxd4 0-0 11 f3! Nf6 12 e5! Ne8 13 0-0-0 Black was suffocating in V.Malina-A.Musienko, Kiev a1) After 9...Bxd4 10 Qxd4 0-0 11 f3! Nf6 12 e5! Ne8 13 0-0-0 Black was suffocating in V.Malina-A.Musienko, Kiev 2002. a2) You'd better not be tempted by the anti-positional 9...e5?! either. Especially when the pawn is back on b7, this eyesore makes our beloved bishop blocked, the d-pawn backward, the d6-square a hole, and d5 an enemy outpost. In the recent encounter A.Rubini-R.Blaeser, Val Gardena 2012, I guess White was laughing so hard at the ridiculous 10 Bc5 Qf6? 11 h3! Nh6 12 Bc4 Ng8 13 Rd1 Bf8 that he squandered his '+2' advantage and only drew. Generally ...e5 is anti-positional, but it can occasionally gain time on d4. b)Relinquishing castling rights with 8...dxc6 9 Qxd8+ Kxd8 safely enters an equal ending, albeit one resembling a King's Indian Exchange Variation after 10 Rd1+ Kc7 11 Bf4+!? e5 12 Bc1, as in P.Van Asseldonk-V.Colin, Proville 2007. Such tedious symmetry is not in the fighting spirit of our repertoire, so let's return to the more flexible 7...0-0. White has five plausible moves (in descending order of frequency): a)8 f3 transposes to the more regular 7 f3 0-0 8 Qd2, which we'll analyse in Line B. b)8 0-0-0?! is covered in Mihalincic-Cebalo and Brosa Alvarez-Alonso Alvarez. c)8 Bc4?! in Stehno-Plachetka. d)8 Be2 is Chapter Three (7 Be2 0-0 8 Qd2 reaches the same position). e)8 Bh6?? merely loses a piece to 8...Bxh6 9 Qxh6 Nxd4, as in R.Khimulu-H.Lim, Khanty-Mansiysk 2010. Want to know what is really embarrassing? Is it that ten games in total have featured this blooper? No, although that's true. How about that Black has overlooked it in half of them? Well, not only did that example come from the Olympiad, but later Black failed to convert. Ultimately, if White can slip up so quickly in these serious tournaments, so can your opponents. Let's begin with a lesson from our role model of the Accelerated Dragon (AC/DC), Miso Cebalo, an experienced grandmaster from my father's hometown of Zagreb: Mihalincic-Cebalo. Line B) 7 f3 (View in Game Format) White's only drawback is the loose bishop on e3, which we'll usually target with ...Qb6, now that he has stopped ...Ng4. However 7...Qb6? here would be a horrible mistake, despite being tested by more than a hundred players, amongst whom was a GM. The discovered attack 8 Nf5! has been found only half of the time, but wins a piece through the forced sequence 8...Qxb2 9 Nxg7+ Kf8 10 Na4 Qe5 11 Bh6, as in, for example, I.Vojan-F.Boudalakis, Goa 2006. In several skirmishes, Black has tried to regain his material with 10...Qa3?, and resigned immediately after the ambush 11 c3! or after 11...Kxg7? 12 Bc5! (T.Dittgen-T.Ihl, Germany 2005), or 11...d6? 12 Bc1! (I.Kun-I.Kelemen, Hungarian League 2003). The fact that Deep Fritz 13 evaluates the novelty 10 Kd2!! as '+3' to White means that we need something else. If the centre were to explode, the pawn on f3 would be utterly pointless, and indeed detrimental to the e3-square and the g1-a7 diagonal. Therefore 7...d5 would serve us perfectly, were it not for the awkward pin 8 Bb5!. After 8...Bd7 9 exd5! Nxd4 10 Bxd7+ Qxd7 11 Qxd4, White emerged a pawn ahead in A.Puskin-M.Antipov, Moscow 2007. 9 exd5! Nxd4 10 Bxd7+ Qxd7 11 Qxd4, White emerged a pawn ahead in A.Puskin-M.Antipov, Moscow 2007. 7 f3 prevents ...Ng4, at the cost of leaving e3 susceptible to an inevitable ...Qb6 or ...d5. 7...0-0 This not only guards the g7-bishop and pre-empts the d-file pin, but also stays true to our natural scheme of development. We should prepare for the following: a)8 Qd2?! has scored 35%, yet appeared two-thirds of the time, so we'll explore it in Peebo-Kupreichik, Fichtl-Averbakh and Meyer-Cordes. b)8 Bc4 should equalize, though it has scored just as badly, for the reasons outlined in Fischer-Panno and Nilsson-Geller. c)8 Nb3 transposes to the 7 Nb3 0-0 8 f3 of Chapter Three. B34 on b7, this eyesore makes our beloved Yugoslav Attack Attempts bishop blocked, the d-pawn backward, the in Game Format d6-square a hole, and d5 an enemy [Peter Lalic] outpost. In the recent encounter A.Rubini- R.Blaeser, Val Gardena 2012, I guess Now that the Introduction has mapped out our White was laughing so hard at the journey, let's push the pedal to the metal. ridiculous 10.c5 f6? 11.h3! h6 1.e4 c5 2. f3 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4. xd4 g6 12.c4 g8 13. d1 f8 5.c3 g7 6. e3 f6 In this main line, that he squandered his '+2' advantage and White can attempt a Yugoslav Attack via two only drew. moves: 7.-- Generally ...e5 is anti-positional, but it [ 7.f3has scored 40%, ] can occasionally gain time on d4. ); [and the less popular 7. d2an even worse B) Relinquishing castling rights with 35%. However, from my own experience, I 8...dxc6 9. xd8+ xd8safely enters an can assure you that such inaccuracies are equal ending, albeit one resembling a commonplace in your average local league. ] King's Indian Exchange Variation after 10.d1+ c7 11. f4+!? e5 12. c1 , as in P.Van Asseldonk-V.Colin, Proville B34 2007. Such tedious symmetry is not in the Line A) 7 Qd2 fighting spirit of our repertoire,; [Peter Lalic] C) 8...-- ] [so let's return to the more flexible 7...0-0 1.e4 c5 2. f3 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4. xd4 g6 . White has five plausible moves (in 5.c3 g7 6. e3 f6 7. d2 0-0 descending order of frequency): 8.-- ( 8.f3 Always castle on move 7 (remember promise transposes to the more regular 7 f3 0-0 8 no.4). Qd2, which we'll analyse in Line B.; 8.0-0-0?! [Usually ...Ng4 would take advantage of the is covered in our first two games.; 8.c4?! neglected g4-square, and simultaneously in Stehno-Plachetka.; 8.e2 is Chapter create an attack on the e3-bishop and a Three (7 Be2 0-0 8 Qd2 reaches the same discovery on the d4-knight. Nonetheless, position).; 8.h6?? merely loses a piece to beware 7... g4 8. xc6 . xh6 9. xh6 xd4 , as in R.Khimulu-H. I'll take this opportunity to mention a Lim, Khanty-Mansiysk 2010. Want to know recurring question: how to recapture what is really embarrassing? Is it that ten whenever White exchanges knights? We're games in total have featured this blooper? definitely never going to chicken out with ... No, although that's true. How about that Nxd4 in the first place, since that would Black has overlooked it in half of them? Well, erroneously centralize his bishop or queen not only did that example come from the to d4. Instead, we actually welcome the fact Olympiad, but later Black failed to convert. that White improves our pawn structure, Ultimately, if White can slip up so quickly and normally he must have a concrete in these serious tournaments, so can your justification for doing so. Although now you opponents. )] know to sidestep inferior alternatives like 7... Ng4 too early, I want to complete your understanding of what to avoid and why. B34 A) Instinct tells us to recapture towards the Mihalincic,T centre with 8...bxc6, obtaining both a Cebalo,M central majority and pressure down the Pula 1997 semi-open file towards b2. Unfortunately [Peter Lalic] after 9. d4dynamic factors outweigh the static ones: -- ( After 9...xd4 10. xd4 Let's begin with a lesson from our role model 0-0 11.f3! f6 12.e5! e8 13.0-0-0 of the Accelerated Dragon (AC/DC), Miso Black was suffocating in V.Malina-A. Cebalo, an experienced grandmaster from my Musienko, Kiev 2002.; You'd better not be father's hometown of Zagreb. tempted by the anti-positional 9...e5?! 1.e4 c5 2. f3 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4. xd4 g6 either. Especially when the pawn is back 5.c3 g7 6. e3 f6 7. d2 0-0 8.0-0-0?! g4! your king's shelter; play on the opposite [This knight jump is perfectly timed to wing where you are stronger. )] interfere with White's hoped-for 8...d6?! 9.f3 [b) Seen in only eight low-rated clashes, Yugoslav set-up. You can imagine Chandler 9.e2has scraped an appalling 15%. When Bing from Friends saying, "Could it be any White usually employs the same hack-attack more logical?". White has forgotten about anyway, I recommend the nonchalant plan his kingside, and accordingly we exploit of ...Nxe3, ...Ne5, ...a6, ...b5, and ...Bb7. that weakness. ] By ignoring the h-pawn, or awaiting its trade [Check out the analysis of the next game for on g6, we make those two tempi spent on 8...d5!?, a riskier gambit that epitomises our h2-h4-h5 wasted, so long as we avoid queenside counterplay. ] concessions like ...g5? (asking for h6 and Swap off White's e3-bishop for a knight, and Nf5), ...h5?! (g4! hxg4; h5 blows up the your Dragon bishop will reign supreme over kingside), or ...gxh5? (when White doubles the dark squares. rooks on h5 and h1). ] That is why, in 60 out of 80 cases, White has [c) Nobody over 2200 has bothered keeping sought at all costs to rescue it: the pawn chain intact by means of 9. b3?! 9.xc6 This in-between move may allow xe3 10. xe3, presumably for fear of a5! White to shift the bishop, yet it has managed . White will struggle against the two raking an abysmal 20% success rate, as a result of bishops at g7 and e6, whether he stops our our queenside attack. At least to distract us, annoying advance with 11. a4 ( or 11.a4 he should instead go for broke with a kingside , as in S.Podgornov-T.Botragyi, Hungarian pawn storm. League 2007. White soon blundered under [a) The immediate 9.h4!? xe3 10.fxe3 the queenside pressure by d6 12. d5 e6 ( not 10.xe3? xd4 11. xd4 xd4 13.b5 c8 14. b6?? b4! 15.c3 , when 12.xd4 , losing an exchange ) would lead to xb6 16. xb6 xb3 17. xc8 xc8 a complex position. In the long run White is would have made him switch games from strategically busted; compare his doubled, chess to "stuck in the mud". isolated e-pawns with our perfect structure When a minor piece retreats to b3, harass it of fewer pawn islands. Moreover, even if our with ...a5. )] dream of an ending doesn't come true, we'll 9...bxc6 It is common for our light-squared benefit from the bishop-pair and e5 outpost. bishop to remain at home until the breakout ... "It is not just the isolated pawn on its own d5. Although that in itself is bad, there are which tends to be weak, but also the other priorities in the position. Specifically the complex of squares which surround it." – dark squares are where the action is, so White Aron Nimzowitsch. has bigger fish to fry. Nevertheless, besides structure, material 10.f4?! Not the best: and space, there is another crucial factor in [a) Most tenacious would be 10. f4 assessing a position. Trainer Mikhalchishin , though its low 25% record reflects all the doesn't religiously quote Fischer's "chess is weaknesses at a2, c3 and f2. The timing" just to name-drop (like I apparently disappointing 15-move draw Z.Farooqui-B. do): 10...-- ( Indeed, White's initiative Cafferty, Coventry 1970, went a5! proved dangerous in A.Gueth-S.Buchwald, 11.c4? c5! 12. e2?, when instead of German League 1999, which continued the slow d6? , ( Black could have destroyed 10...d6 11. e2 e5 12.h5 g5? 13.h6! his opponent on both flanks with 12...xc3! h8 14. f5 f6? . The anti-positional 12... 13.bxc3 xf2 . )] g5? ceded the f5-square and 14...f6? [b) Ironically 10. d4?has been picked most forever entombed our favourite bishop, so frequently, despite racking up only 20% to Black never got back on his feet. h6! : 11.-- ( 11.e3 xe3 12.fxe3 ; In contrast, A.Sassi-M.Luodonpaa, Finland would force an even better version of the 2008, was winning for Black before move 20. crippled structure that we have already White incorrectly blocked the kingside with witnessed from 9 h4.; I wish that we could all 10...d6 11.h5 e5 12.h6? h8! finish as quickly as S.Zhuk-R.Idrisov, , and was bluffing with rags after 13.f2 a6 Georgia 2006, in which White resigned upon 14.g3 e6 15. e2 b5! 16. h5? 11.f4?? e5! , unable to keep both his bishop . The moral of the story? Don't compromise and queen. )]