% BOOKTITLE = Play the Barry Attack (sample)
[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "About this Publication"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Andrew Martin"]
[PlyCount "7"]
[SourceTitle "Play the Barry Attack"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]

{The Barry Attack is a highly aggressive system that arises after} 1. d4 Nf6 2.
Nf3 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 {. Although the concept of the Barry Attack has been
known for a century or so, the modern interpretation (as with a number of
other dynamic white systems) has mainly been developed by English grandmasters
over the past couple of decades. --- This "modern interpretation" is often
not very subtle. If Black provides a target by castling early on the kingside,
White will often let rip with moves such as Qd2, Bh6, 0-0-0 and h4-h5, playing
very directly for a quick checkmate. If this strikes you as too crude to have
a chance against a sophisticated and competent defender, then a quick glance
through this book will undoubtedly change your mind. You will witness
countless games where very strong players are destroyed on the black side in
less than 30 moves. Sometimes a lot less. --- This makes the Barry an ideal
weapon for those who love to attack. Black's defence has to be very accurate.
If not, a quick annihilation is on the cards. --- Play the Barry Attack is the
ideal guide to this fascinating opening. Anyone who reads this book carefully
and studies all White's attacking ideas will have a fearsome weapon in their
armoury.} (4. Z0 {Andrew Martin is a FIDE Senior Trainer and International
Master. He teaches in twelve schools, is an experienced chess writer and has
produced numerous chess DVDs.}) *

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Introduction"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[ECO "D00"]
[Annotator "Andrew Martin"]
[PlyCount "7"]
[SourceTitle "Play the Barry Attack"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 {
. The Barry Attack was named after an offhand remark by George Hodgson, the
late father of GM Julian Hodgson: "Just give him some Barry!" --- In other
words, tell him what he wants to hear to get rid of him. Thus, in the chess
world, Barry is slang for a bluff, BS, or rubbish. Make of that what you will.
--- Queen's pawn systems are incredibly popular with players of all strengths,
shapes, sexes and sizes. They usually offer solidity and a variety of set
plans which are easy to learn. Some even provide the opportunity of direct
attack, as does the Barry.} *

[Event "1: Internet (blitz)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2017.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Carlsen, Ma"]
[Black "Salem, A"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D00"]
[Annotator "Andrew Martin"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Play the Barry Attack"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 {
Not quite a London System and not quite a Veresov. Something in between. Does
the position of the knight on c3 hinder or help the White cause? Back in the
1980s I remember that everyone had a hard time accepting that this idea could
give Black problems, but the results were fantastic for White. --- In this
brief introduction, we will note that even Magnus Carlsen has been tempted to
play this unusual opening.} Bg7 5. e3 {We can call this the main line move,
although 5 Nb5 is catching up and may well surpass 5 e3 as White's best try
before very long.} ({There are other ideas too, such as} 5. Qd2) ({and} 5. h3 {
, so there is plenty of choice for White already.}) 5... O-O 6. Be2 Bg4 7. Ne5
Bxe2 8. Qxe2 c6 {Black has chosen a solid and rather unambitious approach.
This is a blitz game, and he is playing Magnus, but we will learn that an
aggressive attitude is important if Black wants to counter the Barry
successfully.} 9. h4 $1 h5 10. g4 {This is a throwback to the 1980s, where
there was a queue of black players around the block waiting to be mated by
White's crude kingside pawn advance.} Nbd7 11. f3 e6 12. O-O-O Qe7 13. Rdg1 {
Even though White has set up what looks like an ideal attacking platform, it
is still not so easy to break through.} hxg4 14. fxg4 Nxe5 15. Bxe5 Nd7 (15...
Ne4 {was an alternative try, but tough decisions are having to be made at
speed:} 16. Nxe4 Bxe5 17. dxe5 dxe4 18. g5 Kg7 19. Qg2 Qc5 $1 {. This would be
the point, intending} 20. Qxe4 ({but} 20. Qg3 $1 Rad8 21. h5 {seems more
dangerous, when the white attack persists}) 20... Qd5 {.}) 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. g5
Rh8 18. e4 c5 {Salem's first lively move of the game.} 19. Qf2 $1 {Carlsen
finds a way to keep the pressure on.} dxe4 20. Nxe4 cxd4 21. Qxd4+ e5 22. Qe3
Rac8 23. Kb1 Rc4 24. Qe2 Qb4 25. Re1 Rc6 26. a3 Qe7 (26... Qc4 {would not
persuade White to exchange queens and after} 27. Qg2 a6 28. Rh2 Nc5 29. Nxc5
Qxc5 30. Qe4 {he maintains the advantage.}) 27. h5 $1 Rcc8 28. h6+ Kh7 29. Rhf1
Rhf8 30. Qb5 Rc7 31. Rd1 {Threatening Rxd7.} Nc5 32. Nf6+ Kh8 33. Nd5 a6 34.
Qb6 {. If the Barry can be called an attack, then the blueprint for success is
contained within this game. Quick development followed by a kingside pawn
storm would appear to be the way. --- Naturally, we are going to find that
life is not that simple. Gone are the days when the kingside attack
automatically crashes through.} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Move Order Questions"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Andrew Martin"]
[PlyCount "1"]
[SourceTitle "Play the Barry Attack"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]

{Queen's pawn systems often overlap and can transpose into one another. It's
worthwhile looking at the different move orders White can use to get to the
Barry Attack, or not.} 1. Z0 ({The traditional move order goes} 1. d4 Nf6 2.
Nf3 g6 3. Nc3 d5 ({In this move order, after} 3... Bg7 {White must be prepared
to play a Pirc with} 4. e4) ({and after} 3... c5 {we have a surprise waiting
in store for Black which you will find in the final chapter}) 4. Bf4 {.}) ({
Instead,} 1. d4 Nf6 ({or} 1... d5) 2. Bf4 {is the Accelerated London System,
which is extremely popular at this moment in time. If Black plays} g6 {, you
may easily transpose back into the Barry. Note that the move order 1 d4 d5 2
Bf4 Nf6 3 Nc3 g6 is most uncommon, as Black has better options than 3...g6.}) (
{The London System proper begins} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bf4 {. After} Bg7 {
White can choose whether he goes into a Barry or not with} 4. Nc3 {and a Pirc
can result from this move order as well.} ({Meanwhile} 4. e3 {leads into
quieter waters.})) ({Finally,} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Bf4 {is the Jobava
London System, where the difference is that White has left the knight at home
on g1 and has opened up the option of playing f2-f3 and then either e2-e4 or
g2-g4 as the position demands. With this move order, it is rare for Black to
play} g6 {and rarer still for White to then play} 4. Nf3 {, going into a Barry.
} ({Any of} 4. f3) (4. Qd2) ({or} 4. Nb5 {would be more common. --- My
conclusion is that if White has his heart set on a Barry and he knows that
Black plays 2...g6 or similar, the best way is to use the traditional move
order with 2 Nf3 and 3 Nc3. The threat of 4 e4 forces Black to think about
whether he should play 3...d5 or not.})) (1. Z0 {Andrew Martin, Surrey,
November 2022}) *

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "3: The Modern 5 Nb5"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[ECO "D00"]
[Annotator "Andrew Martin"]
[PlyCount "10"]
[SourceTitle "Play the Barry Attack"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 Bg7 5. Nb5 {. Many strong players, some even from the elite, are playing 5 Nb5
now, admittedly mostly in blitz events, so there must be something to it apart
from the obvious, crude threat to c7. The main positional idea is to force} Na6
{, which puts the black knight on a poor circuit. It will cost Black time to
get the knight back into the game and White intends to use that time
constructively to build up an advantage by more or less playing normal
developing moves. --- This is the modern main line of the Barry and Black must
be careful. Having said that, I think I can show that there are various routes
to an equal game. This should not deter White, as getting to a complex,
unclear middlegame is surely the intention. --- I'm going to divide the
chapter up into two sections, where in the first section White plays with an
early h2-h3 and in the second section White delays or even omits this move,
preferring to save the tempo for something else.} *

[Event "52: Arandjelovac"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2022.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Irizanin, R"]
[Black "Matta, V"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D00"]
[Annotator "Andrew Martin"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Play the Barry Attack"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]

{To begin the chapter, let us see what White is
playing for after 5 Nb5.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 Bg7 5. Nb5 Na6 (
{The extraordinary} 5... O-O $6 {has been played in this position. It may be
good for bullet or rapid chess if you like sacrificing, but it is hard to
believe. White should capture on c7:} 6. Bxc7 $1 (6. Nxc7 Nh5 $1 {is the trick
and White should avoid this position}) 6... Qd7 7. e3 Nc6 8. Bg3 {when White
is a pawn up, as far as I can see. Black can fish in troubled waters with} Ne4
{and maybe this is not so bad, but a pawn is a pawn.}) 6. h3 ({Often White
prefers} 6. e3 {, delaying or even omitting h2-h3 altogether.}) 6... O-O 7. e3
Ne4 {Opening fire with the bishop on g7 and preparing ...c7-c5. 7...Ne4 is an
active choice.} 8. c3 {White shuts down the long diagonal.} c5 (8... c6 {
is often preferred, as we will see later, when both players will have a knight
on the edge. Then} 9. Na3 Qb6 10. Qb3 {leads to a position which I think is OK
for Black, but where White has won the majority of games. We must discuss this
later.}) 9. Be2 Qb6 10. O-O c4 11. a4 Bd7 12. Nd2 Nxd2 13. Qxd2 Bxb5 14. axb5
Qxb5 15. b3 $1 {I don't think either player has done anything particularly
wrong yet, but Black still has the problematic knight on a6 and although White
is a pawn down, he has very active pieces and may well regain the pawn right
away.} (15. b4 Rfe8 16. Ra5 Qd7 17. Rfa1 {is another way to go for White,
which also looks pretty good. Black is under pressure and faces the idea of
Bd1-a4. In one game Black elected to return the extra pawn, perhaps the only
correct way to play on:} Nc7 18. Rxa7 Rxa7 19. Rxa7 Nb5 20. Ra5 Qc6 21. Bd1 b6
22. Ra2 Nd6 23. Bxd6 Qxd6 24. Bf3 e6 25. Ra7 h5 26. h4 Bf6 27. g3 {. With a
normal time control, the game should surely end in a draw. That it did not is
indicative of superior blitzing technique as White went on to win in M.Bluebaum-M.Szpar,
Internet (blitz) 2021.}) 15... Qd7 (15... e5 {is recommended
to me by every engine I possess, presumably to eventually get the knight back
into the game on c5. Let's take a pawn! After 16 dxe5 (Black has some
compensation following} 16. dxe5 (16. Bxe5 Bxe5 17. dxe5 Qc6 18. bxc4 dxc4 19.
Rfd1 Nc5 20. Bxc4 a5) 16... Rfd8 17. Rfb1 Qc6 18. bxc4 dxc4 19. Qa2 {White
holds the advantage.}) 16. bxc4 dxc4 17. Qb2 $1 e5 18. Bg3 exd4 19. exd4 Nb8
20. Rfb1 {White has managed to create a strong queenside attack.} Re8 ({
I'm assuming one of the ideas was} 20... b6 21. Bg4 $1 f5 22. Bf3 Nc6 23. Qb5
Rac8 24. Bd5+ Kh8 25. Bf4 Rfe8 26. Ra4 $1 {and Black is stuck for good moves.})
21. Bg4 $1 {Provoking ...f7-f5, weakening the black kingside.} f5 22. Bf3 Nc6
23. Qb5 $1 Kh8 24. d5 Nb8 25. Qxc4 {The safe way.} ({Yet after playing so well,
White could top it off with} 25. Qxb7 $1 Re1+ ({after} 25... Qxb7 26. Rxb7 a5
27. d6 Na6 28. Rxg7 $1 Kxg7 29. d7 {Black is done for}) 26. Rxe1 $1 Qxb7 27.
Re8+ Bf8 28. Rxf8+ Kg7 29. Re8 Nd7 30. Re7+ Kh6 31. h4 {and there is no escape
for the black king.}) 25... Na6 {The knight is leading a miserable life.} 26.
d6 Rac8 27. Qd5 Nc5 28. Rxa7 Bxc3 29. Rc1 Qg7 30. d7 ({Missing another
combinative finish with} 30. Rxb7 $1 Qxb7 ({or} 30... Nxb7 31. d7) 31. Qxb7
Nxb7 32. d7 {.}) 30... Nxd7 31. Rxb7 {This way wins, of course.} Re7 32. Bd6
Ree8 33. Rxd7 Qxd7 34. Rxc3 Rxc3 35. Be5+ Rxe5 36. Qxd7 Re1+ 37. Kh2 Rxf3 38.
Qd4+ ({Or just} 38. Qf7 $1 Rxh3+ 39. gxh3 h5 40. Qxg6) 38... Kg8 39. Qd5+ Kg7
40. Qxf3 Re4 {There is no fortress here.} 41. g3 h5 42. Qc3+ Kh7 43. Qc7+ Kh6
44. h4 {. We will see quite a few similar games in this chapter. Black never
really got his act together, mainly thanks to the awkward knight on c6
preventing a normal development plan. This is a peculiar variation.} 1-0

[Event "53: Internet (blitz)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2022.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Niemann, H"]
[Black "Dubov, D"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D00"]
[Annotator "Andrew Martin"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Play the Barry Attack"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]

{At the time of writing, Black's counter to 5 Nb5 in the
coming game is all the rage.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Bf4 g6 4. e3 Bg7 5. Nb5
Na6 6. Nf3 O-O 7. h3 Ne4 $1 {I think this is a steady equalizer. The main idea
is to prepare ...c7-c6, when Nb5-c3 will result in doubled pawns for White.
Other obvious benefits include a good outpost for the knight on e4 and an
uncovering of the bishop on g7.} 8. c3 (8. Nd2 {has been mentioned by Le Quang
Liem as an attempt to frustrate Black, but there is no real advantage for
White after} Nxd2 9. Qxd2 c6 10. Nc3 Nb8 ({it would be unwise to allow Bxa6,
but there is also} 10... Nc7 11. Be2 f6 12. e4 e5 13. dxe5 fxe5 14. Bg5 {
, as in A.Shimanov-A.Bodnaruk, St. Petersburg 2021, when} Qd6 $1 {is already
looking very comfortable for Black}) 11. O-O-O Qa5 12. Kb1 Nd7 13. e4 dxe4 14.
Nxe4 Qxd2 15. Rxd2 Nf6 16. Nxf6+ Bxf6 {and the position is level, Le Quang
Liem-P.Svidler, Saint Louis (blitz) 2021.}) ({Instead,} 8. Bd3 {is natural
enough, but runs into} c6 9. Nc3 (9. Na3 $2 Qa5+ $1 10. Nd2 Nac5 $1 {is a
tactical idea worth noting}) 9... Nxc3 10. bxc3 Qa5 {when Black is in good
shape.}) ({Likewise,} 8. Be2 c6 {is similar.}) 8... c6 9. Na3 Qa5 10. Be2 Bf5
11. Qb3 Qb6 12. O-O Rfd8 13. Rfd1 Rac8 {Black has successfully mobilized his
army.} 14. Nh4 Be6 15. Nf3 Bf5 {Offering a repetition.} (15... Nc7 {, getting
the offside knight back into the game, is also satisfactory:} 16. Nb1 Ne8 17.
Nbd2 N8d6 18. Ng5 Nxg5 19. Bxg5 f6 20. Bf4 Bf7 21. Bh2 c5 22. Bf3 cxd4 23. exd4
Qc6 {was M.Annaberdiev-M.Linsenmeyer, Riga 2018. White won in the end, but
this probably had more to do with his higher rating than the actual current
state of the position, which is OK for Black.}) 16. Rac1 {To his credit, White
keeps the game going.} Nc7 17. c4 Qxb3 18. axb3 c5 $5 19. Bxc7 Rxc7 20. cxd5
Rxd5 $6 21. b4 $1 {Dubov has played optimistically and sharply, but after 21
b4 he will not get the reward, he desires.} b6 22. bxc5 bxc5 23. b4 {The
second wave arrives.} c4 24. Bxc4 Rdd7 25. g4 Be6 26. Bxe6 fxe6 27. Nc4 {
Black is toiling, a pawn down. He does not save the game.} Rb7 28. Na5 Rb8 29.
Nc6 Rb6 30. Nd2 Nd6 31. Nb3 Ne4 32. Nc5 Nxc5 33. Rxc5 a6 34. Rdc1 h6 35. h4 Kf7
36. g5 hxg5 37. hxg5 Rd5 38. f4 Bf8 39. e4 Rd6 40. e5 Rd7 41. Kf2 Rdb7 42. R1c4
Ke8 43. Ke2 Kf7 44. Kd3 Ke8 45. Kc3 Rd7 46. Na5 Kf7 47. Rc6 Rb5 48. R4c5 Rb8
49. Rxa6 Bg7 50. Nc6 Rh8 51. b5 Rb7 52. Na5 Rd7 53. b6 Rh1 54. b7 Rb1 55. Ra7
Rd5 56. Rxd5 exd5 57. Nc6 Ke6 58. b8=Q Rxb8 59. Rxe7+ Kf5 60. Nxb8 Ke4 61. Rxg7
{. Despite the result of this game, 7...Ne4! is a good move, delaying ...c7-c6
until a better moment. It just seems to lead to a comfortable early middlegame
position for Black.} 1-0

[Event "54: Italian Blitz Ch, Chianciano Terme"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2018.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Moroni, L"]
[Black "Dvirnyy, D"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D00"]
[Annotator "Andrew Martin"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2018.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Play the Barry Attack"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]

{More blitz now follows, but also an interesting game when we are trying to
understand this variation.} 1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 Nf6 3. e3 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. Nb5 Na6
6. Be2 O-O 7. Nf3 {White just settles for quiet development, delaying h2-h3
and lets Black attack his advanced knight.} c6 8. Nc3 Nc7 9. h3 {I anticipate
that this will be a very common sequence if you start playing 5 Nb5. Black has
begun the process of getting his knight back from the dead. Moreover, now that
...Bg4 has been prevented, he must find a good square for the bishop on c8.} b6
$5 ({We will examine} 9... Nce8 10. O-O Nd6 {next.}) 10. a4 {How does White
take it from here? The central break e3-e4 is some way off and so White looks
for an initiative on the queenside.} ({I suppose White could also continue in
a non-committal way with} 10. O-O Bb7 11. Bh2 {, which cannot be too bad.})
10... a5 11. O-O Bb7 12. Ne5 {This position has cropped up a few times with
good results for White, who has more freedom of movement for his pieces.} Nce8
{The knight heads for the influential square, d6.} (12... Nd7 $1 {is a good
alternative, intending to exchange off White's well-placed knight:} 13. Bg3 $5
({I am not sure I see too much for White after} 13. Nxd7 Qxd7 14. Re1 Ne6 15.
Bh2 c5) 13... Nxe5 14. dxe5 ({I would prefer} 14. Bxe5 {with a slight edge
after} Bxe5 15. dxe5 c5 16. Qe1 Qd7 17. f4 d4 18. Rd1) 14... c5 15. f4 {
was D.Anton Guijarro-A.Shimanov, Internet (blitz) 2021, and now} d4 $1 {
gives Black a nice position.}) ({There is also} 12... Nfe8 $5 {, perhaps
planning ...f7-f6. This is also an acceptable idea:} 13. Bh2 Nd6 14. Nb1 $5 Re8
15. Nd2 f6 16. Nef3 e5 17. c4 Na6 18. cxd5 cxd5 19. Qb3 Nb4 {and Black is well
placed, H.Melkumyan-N.Meskovs, Internet (blitz) 2018. These examples tend to
suggest that Black is OK overall, with several good defensive methods.}) 13.
Rb1 Nd6 14. b4 $1 axb4 15. Rxb4 {White has logically pursued his quest of
queenside space. Does he have anything in this unusual position? Maybe not,
but the game is set up to be decisive and not stodgy in any way.} c5 16. Rb3 ({
Opening the queenside with} 16. dxc5 bxc5 17. Rb3 {would have been logical.})
16... c4 17. Rb4 Nfe4 18. Nxe4 Nxe4 19. Qa1 f6 {If you put your knight on e5,
make sure that you keep an eye on ...f7-f6.} 20. Nf3 Bc6 21. Qb2 Ra6 $2 ({
Why not} 21... Bxa4 22. Rxb6 Bxc2 $1 {.}) 22. Rxc4 Bxa4 23. Rb4 b5 24. Bxb5
Bxb5 25. Rxb5 Rc6 26. Qb3 e6 27. Ra1 g5 28. Bh2 Qe8 29. Rb6 {White has
mystified his opponent enough to claim an advantage. As this is blitz, I will
keep the remaining comments to a minimum.} Qc8 30. Rb8 Qd7 (30... Ra6 $1 {
was indicated.}) 31. Rb7 Qe8 32. Raa7 Bh6 33. Rb8 Qg6 34. Rxf8+ Bxf8 35. Bb8
Rc3 36. Qb6 Qe8 37. Qb7 Qg6 38. Qd7 Rxc2 39. Qxe6+ Kh8 40. Nxg5 fxg5 41. Be5+
Bg7 42. Bxg7+ Qxg7 43. Ra8+ 1-0

[Event "55: Chihuahua City"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2022.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Perez Gormaz, M"]
[Black "Diaz Villagran, R"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D00"]
[Annotator "Andrew Martin"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Play the Barry Attack"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 Bg7 5. Nb5 Na6 6. e3 c6 7. Nc3 Nc7 8. h3 O-O 9. Bd3 Nce8 {
This is straightforward play by Black. The knight is coming to d6.} 10. O-O Nd6
{Let's pause. White is slightly ahead in development, but is no closer to
opening up the position so that it means something. All the pieces are on the
board and the middlegame is bound to be complex, but I see no real reason why
Black is worse.} 11. Be5 $5 {This type of early middlegame move makes the
Barry Attack almost completely different from the normal London System and
perhaps gives a clue why so many top players are using the line in 2022. New
and complex positions are reached early on, which while they might not be
objectively better for White, offer plenty of opportunity for Black to go
wrong.} (11. a4 {has been played frequently, an attempt to claim some
queenside space.} {Also possible is} a5 {, just blocking and I am not sure
what White gains from these mutual pawn advances: for example,} ({Here} 11...
Nfe4 $1 {(a rejoinder in the centre seems appropriate)} 12. Nd2 Nxc3 13. bxc3 {
was K.Akshat-K.Bhakti, Budapest 2022. I can now recommend} f6 $1 14. c4 e5 15.
Bh2 Nf7 16. cxd5 cxd5 17. Rb1 b6 {, when Black is certainly not worse.} (17...
Z0)) 12. Ne2 b6 ({or} 12... Bf5 13. b3 Bxd3 14. Qxd3 Nde4 15. c4 Re8 16. Rac1
e6 17. Bh2 Nd7 18. Rfd1 Qe7 {, Le Quang Liem-R.Sadhwani, Kolkata (blitz) 2021,
and the position is perfectly respectable for Black}) 13. c3 c5 14. b4 {
was S.Bharath-G.Sankalp, Dhaka 2022, and now} axb4 15. cxb4 Nfe4 {is looking
nice for Black}) 11... Nfe4 {Diaz Villagran is not intimidated by the thought
of exchanging off his dark-squared bishop and aims for equalizing
simplification.} 12. Bxg7 Nxc3 13. Qe1 (13. bxc3 Kxg7 14. Qe2 Qa5 {does not
offer White anything at all.}) 13... Kxg7 14. Qxc3 Bf5 {Black is happy to
continue playing sensibly. Already, the game looks like it is heading for a
draw.} 15. Rfe1 a5 16. a4 Kg8 17. Nd2 Qd7 18. e4 {A critical moment. If White
cannot get anything over the next few moves, he will never get anything at all.
} dxe4 19. Nxe4 Bxe4 20. Bxe4 e6 21. Rad1 Rfd8 {The position is dead level.}
22. Bd3 Ne8 23. Bc4 Qd6 24. Qf3 Nc7 25. c3 Rab8 26. Re5 Nd5 ({Black can
certainly consider} 26... b5 {.}) 27. Rde1 Kg7 $5 ({I quite like the manoeuvre
} 27... Qf8 28. h4 Qh6 29. g3 Qd2 {, which maintains equality. Here} 30. R5e2
Qh6 31. Re5 Qd2 {is just one way the game may fizzle out.}) 28. h4 $1 {White
finds the right moment to press.} h5 29. R1e4 ({I am surprised White did not
play} 29. Bxd5 cxd5 30. g4 $1 {when Black is passive.}) 29... Rd7 30. Re1 Rh8 {
Black is now safe again.} 31. Qg3 Qe7 32. Bd3 Rh6 33. Bb1 Qf6 34. R1e4 b6 35.
Qd3 Qd8 36. Qc4 Rd6 37. g3 Qd7 38. Re1 Rh8 39. Qa6 Rb8 40. Qe2 Rd8 41. Qf3 Nf6
42. Rg5 Nh7 43. Rge5 Nf6 44. Rg5 Nh7 45. Rge5 Nf6 46. Rg5 {. It seems that
White can only count on the minutest of advantages in this line.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "56: FIDE World Cup, Tbilisi (blitz)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2017.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Aronian, L"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, M"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D00"]
[Annotator "Andrew Martin"]
[PlyCount "155"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Play the Barry Attack"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bf4 Bg7 4. Nc3 d5 5. Nb5 Na6 6. e3 O-O 7. h3 c6 8. Nc3 Nc7 9. Be2 b6 10. O-O {An unpretentious
opening by Aronian has led to a position where he could say that he has
neutralized any deep preparation that Vachier-Lagrave might have done. We
enter a balanced middlegame where I think that White has the more comfortable
position, but no real concrete advantage.} Bb7 11. Bh2 c5 12. a4 {Black is
covering the e4-square and so with a central pawn advance off the table, the
action must start somewhere. Aronian probes the queenside.} a5 {Allowing White
to play a4-a5 might put Black under some pressure.} 13. Ne5 Nd7 14. Nxd7 ({
If White is looking for improvements, he should start with} 14. f4 $5 {.})
14... Qxd7 15. Bg4 e6 16. Qd2 {Gentle play by Aronian continues to keep the
game in the balance.} Bc6 17. b3 Rfc8 18. Ne2 cxd4 19. Nxd4 b5 (19... Bb7 20.
Rfd1 {seems rather level too, but not dull.}) 20. axb5 Nxb5 21. c3 $6 (21. Ra2
Nxd4 22. exd4 a4 {leads to a liquidation which heralds a draw after} 23. bxa4
Rxa4 24. Rxa4 Bxa4 25. c3 Qc6 26. Rc1 {.}) 21... Nxd4 $6 {Black is content to
keep the game level.} ({Either} 21... Nd6) ({or} 21... Bb7 {were better suited
to play for the win.}) 22. exd4 a4 23. b4 (23. Ra3 Bf8 24. b4 Bb5 25. Rfa1 {
seems a reasonable way of lining up the white pieces.}) 23... Bb5 24. Rfc1 a3
25. Be2 Qc6 $6 {Imprecise, as it lets White improve the lot of the bishop on
h2, which is currently sitting on an unimportant diagonal.} ({Instead,} 25...
Bxe2 26. Qxe2 Bh6 {is starting to look better for Black, whose pieces seem
more influential.}) 26. Bxb5 Qxb5 27. Bd6 $1 Rc6 28. Bc5 {White is now quite
safe and can continue the fight on equal terms.} Rca6 29. Ra2 Qc4 30. Qe2 Qxe2
31. Rxe2 a2 32. Ra1 Ra3 33. Rc2 $6 (33. b5 $1 {would have given Black some
problems.}) 33... Bf8 34. Kf1 e5 (34... f6 {was rather safer.}) 35. Bxf8 Kxf8
36. dxe5 Ke7 37. Ke2 Ke6 38. f4 d4 $1 {A nice pawn sacrifice to activate the
king.} 39. cxd4 Kd5 $2 ({After} 39... Kf5 $1 {White has two extra pawns, but
is tied down. It is unlikely that he would be able to win.}) 40. Rd2 Kc4 $2 (
40... Ke4 $1 {is correct and if} 41. d5 Kxf4 42. d6 Kxe5 43. b5 f5 44. d7 Rd8
45. b6 Rb3 $1 {steers the game to a drawn position.}) 41. d5 $1 Kxb4 42. d6 Kb3
43. Kf3 Kc3 44. Rf2 h5 45. Kg3 Kd4+ 46. Kh4 Kd5 47. Kg5 $6 {The pawn on f4 has
remained, giving the white pawn chain a solid appearance, which cannot be
disturbed, but the position after 47 Kg5 is surprisingly difficult to win.} ({
Instead,} 47. d7 $1 {was very strong, with} Rd8 48. Rfxa2 Rxa2 49. Rxa2 Rxd7
50. Rd2+ {losing for Black.}) 47... Ke6 48. g4 hxg4 49. hxg4 R3a5 (49... f6+ {
is not good enough due to} 50. exf6 R3a5+ 51. f5+ gxf5 52. Re2+ $1 {.}) 50. Re2
f6+ 51. Kxg6 Rg8+ 52. Kh6 Rxg4 53. f5+ ({If} 53. Raxa2 Rxa2 54. Rxa2 fxe5 55.
fxe5 Kxe5 {.}) 53... Kxf5 54. e6 Ra8 $2 (54... Raa4 $1 {was the only chance
now and good enough to draw:} 55. Rf1+ ({and not} 55. e7 $4 Rg6+ 56. Kh5 Rg5+
57. Kh6 Rh4#) 55... Raf4 56. Rxf4+ Rxf4 57. Rxa2 ({or} 57. e7 a1=Q) 57... Kxe6
{with equality. At the highest level, fine margins decide.}) 55. Rf1+ $1 Rf4
56. Rxf4+ Kxf4 57. Rxa2 Rxa2 58. e7 {A pawn will queen and there is no
fortress to be erected,.} Rd2 59. e8=Q Rxd6 60. Qe7 Rd4 61. Qxf6+ Ke3 62. Kg5
Rd5+ 63. Kg4 Rd4+ 64. Kg3 Rd3 65. Qe5+ Kd2+ 66. Kf2 {Note how the queen and
king are a knight's move away from the enemy rook. This means progress.} Kc2
67. Qc5+ Rc3 68. Qf5+ Kb2 69. Ke2 Rc2+ 70. Kd3 Rc3+ 71. Kd2 Rb3 72. Qe5+ Kb1
73. Qd4 Rh3 74. Qb6+ Ka1 75. Qf6+ Ka2 76. Qe6+ Rb3 77. Kc2 Ka1 78. Qa6+ 1-0

[Event "57: Liverpool"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2007.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Hebden, M"]
[Black "Madan, A"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D00"]
[Annotator "Andrew Martin"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2007.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Play the Barry Attack"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 c6 ({Although the game we are about to see features 4...c6,
preventing 5 Nb5, a transposition to the Barry can occur after} 4... Bg7 5. Nb5
Na6 6. e3 O-O 7. h3 c6 8. Nc3 Nb8 9. Bd3 Nbd7 10. O-O c5 {.}) 5. h3 Bg7 6. e3
O-O 7. Bd3 Nbd7 8. O-O c5 {Black is trying to make the bishop on d3 a target
for his advancing queenside pawns.} 9. a4 $1 {Hebden puts a stop to the
queenside ambitions.} (9. Re1 a6 10. a4 {is another way to do it, but one
questions the value of Re1, as White is never able to find the right moment
for e3-e4:} b6 11. Nb1 $5 (11. e4 {leads to simplification in the centre and
easy play for Black with} dxe4 12. Nxe4 cxd4 13. Nxd4 Bb7 $1) 11... c4 12. Bf1
Bb7 13. Nc3 Ne4 14. Nxe4 dxe4 15. Ne5 Nxe5 16. dxe5 Bd5 17. b3 cxb3 18. cxb3 e6
19. Qd4 {was J.Pribyl-V.Kupreichik, Schwaebisch Gmuend 2002. Now} Qb8 $1 {
to be followed by ...Rd8 was indicated.}) 9... b6 10. a5 (10. Qb1 $5 {is
interesting here, with b2-b4 in mind.}) 10... bxa5 ({Black does not like} 10...
Bb7 11. a6 Bc6 ({or} 11... Bc8 12. Bb5 $1) 12. Bb5 {, although he should be OK
after} Qc8 13. Bxc6 Qxc6 14. Ne5 Qe6 15. Qf3 Rad8 {.}) 11. Qb1 Bb7 12. Qa2 c4 (
{The more flexible} 12... a6 {will be seen in Game 102 later on.}) 13. Be2 Ne4
14. Nxe4 dxe4 15. Ne5 ({I am a bit surprised that White did not play} 15. Nd2 {
, which looks like it preserves a considerable edge after} e5 ({if} 15... Nb6
16. Qxa5) 16. dxe5 Nxe5 ({or} 16... Bxe5 17. Bxe5 Nxe5 18. Qxa5) 17. Rfd1 $1
Qe7 18. Nxc4 Rac8 19. c3 {.}) 15... Nxe5 16. dxe5 c3 17. Rfd1 cxb2 $1 18. Qxb2
Qc7 {This way around, Black should be holding the game.} 19. Qb5 a6 20. Qxa5
Qxc2 21. Bg4 Bc8 22. Rac1 Qb3 23. Rb1 Qc2 24. Rdc1 Qd3 25. Bd1 Be6 26. Bc2 Qd5
27. Qa4 Rac8 28. Bxe4 Rxc1+ 29. Rxc1 Qb5 30. Qd4 {Hebden is an absolute expert
at keeping the game going, working with even the slightest edge. Black is not
worse here, but my impression is that he was certainly feeling under pressure.}
Rb8 (30... a5 31. Rb1 Bb3 $5 {intending ...a5-a4 was interesting. It is then
arguable whether White has more than a draw after} 32. Bd3 Qb7 33. Be4 Qb5 {.})
31. Rb1 Qe8 32. Ra1 $1 {White is now clearly better.} Qc8 33. Qa7 g5 34. Bg3
Rb4 35. Qxe7 $1 {An excellent move.} Rxe4 36. Rd1 h6 (36... Bf8 37. Rd8 Qxd8
38. Qxd8 h6 {will not lead to a fortress, as White has} 39. h4 $1 {,
transposing to the game.}) 37. Rd8+ Qxd8 38. Qxd8+ Bf8 39. h4 Rc4 40. hxg5 Rc8
41. Qf6 Bg7 42. Qf4 Rc4 43. e4 h5 44. g6 $1 fxg6 45. Bh4 a5 46. Bf6 Bf8 47. Bd8
Bg7 ({Instead,} 47... a4 48. Qg5 $1 {is a killer, and if} Bf7 (48... Kh7 49.
Qf6) ({or} 48... Bg7 49. Bf6 $1 Bf7 50. Bxg7 Kxg7 51. Qf6+ Kg8 52. e6) 49. e6 {
.}) 48. Qg5 Rxe4 49. Qxg6 Re1+ 50. Kh2 Bf7 51. Qg3 h4 52. Bxh4 Rxe5 53. Bf6 1-0

[Event "58: Internet (blitz)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2022.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Armstrong, M"]
[Black "Hebden, M"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D00"]
[Annotator "Andrew Martin"]
[PlyCount "135"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "Play the Barry Attack"]
[Source "Everyman Chess"]
[SourceDate "2023.02.28"]
[SourceVersion "1"]

{There now follows a most unusual game where a world-leading expert on the
Barry loses to his own favourite opening, albeit for a good cause, the game
taking place in the ECF's Charity Blitz Marathon back in early April.} 1. d4
Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 Bg7 5. Nb5 Na6 6. e3 O-O 7. h3 c5 {A move on
the flank deserves a counterblow in the centre.} 8. c3 Bd7 9. a4 c4 10. Ne5
Bxb5 11. axb5 Nc7 12. Qa4 (12. b3 {had been previously preferred, but after}
Nxb5 $1 13. bxc4 Nxc3 14. Qb3 Nce4 $1 15. f3 (15. Qxb7 Qb6 $1 {is the tactical
idea, and if} 16. Rb1 Qa5+ 17. Qb4 Qa2 18. Qb2 Qa5+ {and a possible draw by
repetition}) 15... dxc4 $1 16. Bxc4 (16. Qxb7 Nd6 17. Qc6 Rc8 {leaves White
way behind in development}) 16... Nd6 17. Bd3 e6 {, R.Sadhwani-S.Lobanov,
Internet (blitz) 2020, Black has a fine position, given that} 18. O-O {is met
by} Nd5 $1 {.}) 12... Nd7 13. b3 Nb6 14. Qb4 cxb3 15. Qxb3 Ne6 16. Bh2 Qc8 17.
Be2 Rd8 18. O-O f5 19. Rfc1 {White has played logically and holds an edge. The
plan is c3-c4 and so Hebden acts against it.} Bxe5 20. Bxe5 Nc4 21. Bxc4 Qxc4
22. Qxc4 dxc4 23. Ra4 $1 {There are some issues for Black in this position.}
Rdc8 (23... a5 {is met simply by} 24. bxa6 Rxa6 25. Rxc4 {.}) 24. Rca1 a6 25.
bxa6 bxa6 26. Rxa6 Rxa6 27. Rxa6 Kf7 28. Ra4 g5 29. f3 h5 30. Kf2 g4 {The old
warrior fights on, with drawing chances whilst White has no passed pawn.} 31.
hxg4 fxg4 32. fxg4 hxg4 33. Kg3 Ng5 34. Kxg4 Ne4 {Is the outpost worth the
pawn? Probably not.} 35. d5 Rg8+ 36. Kf3 Nd2+ 37. Kf2 Ne4+ 38. Kg1 Nd2 39. Bd4
Rg5 40. Ra5 Kg6 41. Ra6+ Kf7 ({Avoiding} 41... Kf5 42. Re6 Nf3+ 43. Kf2 Nxd4
44. cxd4 $1 {, which leaves Black lost.}) 42. d6 e5 $2 (42... exd6 43. Rxd6 Rg6
{was relatively best, according to my machine. Presumably Black can fight after
} 44. Rxg6 Kxg6 45. Kf2 Kf5 {.}) 43. Bc5 (43. Ra7+ Ke6 44. d7 Rg8 45. Bb6 {
would have been faster.}) 43... Ke6 44. Bb4 Ne4 45. Ra7 Rg8 46. Re7+ Kd5 47. d7
Rd8 48. g4 $5 ({No time by the look of it or he would have played} 48. Ba5 $1 {
.}) 48... Nf6 49. g5 Nxd7 50. g6 Nf6 51. g7 Rg8 52. Kg2 Nh5 53. Rd7+ Ke6 54.
Rd6+ Kf5 {Hebden has fought his way back into the game.} 55. Rc6 Rxg7+ 56. Kf2
Nf6 57. Rxc4 Ne4+ 58. Ke2 Rg2+ 59. Ke1 Rb2 60. Rc8 Ng3 61. Kd1 Ke4 62. Kc1 Re2
63. Re8 Nf5 64. Kd1 Rxe3 65. Bc5 Rxc3 66. Bb6 Rb3 67. Bc7 Kd3 68. Rxe5 {
. According to the database, White won on time when Black had mate in one on
the board. Make of that what you will. To me, it says that there are far too
many speed games being entered into modern day databases, with a resulting
serious decline in standards. Back at the game, you could say that White
played extremely well for the first 45 moves or so.} 1-0

