% BOOKTITLE = Original Repertoire: The Modern Defence
[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "About this Publication"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "2"]
[SourceTitle "OR: Modern Defence"]
[SourceDate "2019.11.04"]

1. e4 g6 {The Modern Defence is an opening that will appeal to player of an
experimental nature. Black allows White to establish an apparently impressive
position in the centre. The plan is to use this structure as a target - it
will be restrained, undermined and eventually destroyed. When this plan works
it can succeed beautifully but, naturally, if Black's play is inaccurate
there is a danger of being overwhelmed. For this reason a thorough
understanding of the intricacies of this opening is essential. --- 'Opening
Repertoire: The Modern Defence' examines all aspects of this highly complex
opening and provides the reader with well-researched, fresh, and innovative
analysis. Each annotated game has valuable lessons on how to play the opening
and contains instructive commentary on typical middlegame plans. The suggested
lines for Black are based around the very latest games and analsysis.} (1... Z0
{Cyrus Lakdawala is an International Master, a former National Open and
American Open Champion, and a six-time State Champion. He has been teaching
chess for over 30 years, and coaches some of the top junior players in the U.S.
}) *

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Introduction"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "1"]
[SourceTitle "OR: Modern Defence"]
[SourceDate "2019.11.04"]

{"The fight is won or lost far away from witness, behind the lines, in the
gym and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights." -
Muhammad Ali} 1. Z0 {With 1...g7-g6! we agree to enter a lightless place,
where only cockroaches, earthworms and Modern Defence players dare enter. The
Modern Defence is a job from which I have clocked in and out of for five
decades, with my first day on the job in 1969. I have no plans to retire
either. The experience of five decades has given me some inside information on
the lines which I plan to share with you in this book.} *

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Old is New and Past is Present"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "1"]
[SourceTitle "OR: Modern Defence"]
[SourceDate "2019.11.04"]

{Our opposition frantically studies the latest theoretical trends to remain
relevant. My question is: how many of them study the past? Evolution implies
an improvement over the old. Anything but that and it is considered devolution.
This does not apply to chess openings. What is old is not necessarily bad, but
merely forgotten, and therefore to our advantage if we studied the lines,
while it's highly unlikely our opponents do the same. --- Our repetitive
openings these days turn us into the factory assembly line worker who feels as
much a machine as the machines he or she works with. In this book, I do
everything possible to avoid this fate. How? By advocating out of fashion
Modern Defence lines which were in fashion in the late 1960's and early 1970's.
There is absolutely nothing unsound or wrong in playing the Old School way. It
is just simply out of fashion. --- The great benefit we receive from playing
the Old School Modern is that our theory-loving opponents will most likely not
be up on the old theory and ideas which were popular five decades ago. So in
this book we plan to weaponize the old to ambush the current. Those who play
the Modern with a ...c7-c6-based repertoire (rather than the currently more
popular ...a7-a6 versions) lead a lonely life, since it's unlikely anyone you
know plays it. --- Today's popular ...a7-a6 Modern systems share a common
ancestor with the old ...c7-c6 lines, which we study in this book. In our era
of long, forcing opening lines we go through our busy/mindless motions the way
an insect understands its job in a hive, without seeing the overall picture.
Unlike my two other Modern Defence books, in this one we transpose to the Pirc
many times, at least in the first half of the book. In the second part against
queen's pawn openings, we set up in Benoni-like fashion. Now what is the
'like' part of the equation? We reach Benoni positions, but with our
g8-knight on e7, rather than the traditional f6-square.} 1. Z0 {The
construction of this repertoire is twofold:} (1. Z0 {1. Warning: This book
traffics in contraband ideas. By playing a currently unfashionable repertoire,
which was popular half a century ago, we force our opponent out of familiar
lines and force him or her to actually think early in the game. Our philosophy
in this book is: when we can see in the dark and our opponent can't, then turn
off the lights of current theory and let your opponent grope in the darkness,
which is our friend.}) (1. Z0 {2. When I was a child, I desperately searched
for chess materials the way a starved beggar seeks a crust of bread. Today our
problem is theoretical abundance, rather than deprivation. Our all-knowing
comps watch over our opening moves closer than Big Brother or even God over
all creation. Are we still human in the opening stage of a game, or have
databases and powerful engines turned our species into a new hybrid of
robosapiens? --- In this book, unlike my two other Modern Defence books, we
try and avoid comped-up lines and force positions which rely on our strategic
judgement. We created AI to help us, not to be its slaves. We robosapiens of
the chess world tend to be afraid to make a single move in the opening, if
that move lacks the green light from our overlord comps/databases. Most of the
lines in this book are conceptually - rather than mathematically - based
and therefore easy for us (who purchased this excellent book!) to play. We
will also be relatively safe against our opponent's comp preparation, since
the lines in the Modern/Pirc section of the book are solid.}) (1. Z0 {3. I
bear good news: The Intergalactic Council finally approved interspecies
marriage, which was formally punishable by death. In this book I decided to
poke one of the purist Modern Defence player's (I used to be one of them) most
sacred cows: Thou shalt not ever transpose from the Modern to the Pirc. In
this book we do, over and over, in the king's pawn section. Unlike my two
other Modern Defence books, in this one there is extensive crossover to Pirc
lines.}) *

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Pseudo-Dragon Lines"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rnbqkbnr/pp2pp1p/2pp2p1/8/3PP3/2N1B3/PPP2PPP/R2QKBNR w KQkq - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "1"]
[SourceTitle "OR: Modern Defence"]
[SourceDate "2019.11.04"]

{White can set up with three different plans from this position:} 1. Z0 (1. Z0
{Plan 1: White plays Nc3, Be3, Qd2, 0-0-0, f3 and then begins pushing pawns on
the kingside, after which the position becomes rather Sicilian Dragon-like. In
such positions we as Black usually keep our king in the centre for as long as
possible - which is virtually a preexisting medical condition for us - to
keep our opponent guessing as to where we will eventually place our king.}) (1.
Z0 {Plan 2: White sets up with Nc3, Be3, Qd2, Nf3, Bd3, h2-h3 and then castles
kingside. The positions resemble a Closed Ruy Lopez, more than a Modern, since
White then plays Ne2, Ng3 and c2-c3.}) (1. Z0 {Plan 3: White plays Nc3, Be3,
Qd2 and then suddenly switches to an Austrian Attack formation with f2-f4.}) *

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Pseudo-Dragon Lines 2"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rnbqk1nr/p3ppbp/2pp2p1/1p6/3PP3/2N1B3/PPPQ1PPP/2KR1BNR w kq - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "1"]
[SourceTitle "OR: Modern Defence"]
[SourceDate "2019.11.04"]

{The Modern - an opening which thrives on the principle of negation - is a
defence constructed to thwart attackers, since it's hard to attack a person
when you have no idea where they live. In this line White often castles
queenside early in preparation for opposing wing attacks, but who says we must
cooperate? We can simply attack White's king, while leaving ours uncommitted
in the centre. Then later we are given the following choices:} 1. Z0 (1. Z0 {
1. Castle kingside.}) (1. Z0 {2. Castle queenside.}) (1. Z0 {3. Leave our king
where it stands in the middle.}) (1. Z0 {4. Walk our king over to the kingside.
}) (1. Z0 {5. Walk our king over to the queenside.}) (1. Z0 {Faced with so
many bewildering options, only a clairvoyant opponent will be able to catch
our king.}) *

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Classical Main Line"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rnbqk1nr/pp2ppbp/2pp2p1/8/3PP3/2N2N2/PPP2PPP/R1BQKB1R w KQkq - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "1"]
[SourceTitle "OR: Modern Defence"]
[SourceDate "2019.11.04"]

{If our opponents are looking for an opening which meets our Modern with a
sense of rapturous, powerful exaltation, then I suggest he or she look
elsewhere.} 1. Z0 {The Classical line is for the blue collar chess player,
rather than one seeking art. I won't repeat everything I said above. In this
book we favour the ...c7-c6 formations over the more currently popular ...a7-a6
set-ups, including against White's mild-mannered Classical line.} *

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Coward's Variation"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rnbqk1nr/ppp1ppbp/3p2p1/8/3PP3/2P2N2/PP3PPP/RNBQKB1R w KQkq - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "1"]
[SourceTitle "OR: Modern Defence"]
[SourceDate "2019.11.04"]

{Some people go through their drab lives with the false belief that it has
meaning. It was GM Tiger Hillarp Persson who called White's set-up the 'Lazy
line', and for good reason, since it dodges theoretical work. This is that
time when my wife Nancy is vacuuming and I am forced to lift my feet from my
seated position to allow the nozzle to get under the sofa.} 1. Z0 {And then
she glares at me for being so lazy. So it's no wonder I favour this line when
I play White against the Modern. With the insertion of c2-c3 White pops a
Valium and forces you to take one as well. Our opponent hopes to continue the
discussion in subdued voices. The game is going to be a strategic battle with
many structural decisions to come.} *

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Fianchetto Line"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rnbqkbnr/pp2pp1p/2pp2p1/8/3PP3/2N3P1/PPP2P1P/R1BQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "1"]
[SourceTitle "OR: Modern Defence"]
[SourceDate "2019.11.04"]

{People who play the Fianchetto line are the aspiring novelists who rely on
their strong grasp of grammar, rather than imagination, or the ability to
weave a story. This is actually a dangerous line for our side, since White is
without pawn weaknesses and if left alone, may build space on the kingside
with a slow pawn storm.} 1. Z0 {I wouldn't call it war, but I wouldn't call it
peace either. If we study the lines carefully, we are rewarded with balanced
chances.} *

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Monkey's Bum & Cro-Magnon Line"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rnbqk1nr/pp2ppbp/2pp2p1/8/2BPP3/2N2Q2/PPP2PPP/R1B1K1NR w KQkq - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "1"]
[SourceTitle "OR: Modern Defence"]
[SourceDate "2019.11.04"]

{Look, don't blame me. I didn't make up the name the Monkey's Bum, where
White's queen slides out to f3 and, in conjunction with the c4-bishop,
threatens f7. We easily gum up the works with ...e7-e6 and often follow with a
break on d5. I equate the decline of civilization by just how many players in
it choose to move their queen to f3 in such positions.} 1. Z0 {This chapter
covers White's lines involving Bc4. Our ...c6 set-ups are ideally suited do
deal with them since at some point we can either gain a tempo on the c4-bishop
with ...d6-d5 or ...b7-b5.} *

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "4 f4 Anti-Austrian Attack"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rnbqkbnr/pp2pp1p/2p3p1/3p4/3PPP2/2N5/PPP3PP/R1BQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "1"]
[SourceTitle "OR: Modern Defence"]
[SourceDate "2019.11.04"]

{In this chapter I'm going to share with you some classified information. It
was the great Bent Larsen who wrote: "Most of all I like 'bad' lines,
that is those considered bad, in my opinion unjustly, by theory. The reason
for the last quotation marks is that most so-called theory is only a
collection of examples from master play." Let's take Bent's advice and
deliberately defy some long-held traditions against the Austrian Attack. In
this book we examine some lines which the majority of players would consider
unworthy of scrutiny. We respond with 4...d5.} 1. Z0 {Okay, brave new world,
here we come! Black's last move scores an above average 50% in my database. We
just lost a tempo in a main line of the Gurgenidze Variation of the Austrian
Attack, by playing ...d7-d6 and then ...d6-d5. And when I say 'lost', what I
really mean is gain. The law is meaningless when there is no punitive
apparatus to back it up, when someone is in violation. Prepare for immersion
into an inverted truth, where White's Mongol hoard is met by our mongrel hoard.
--- Your writer's holy mission in life is to illuminate the darkness and
banish misunderstanding, thereby making the chess board a less scary place. So
let me explain the motivation behind Black's seemingly inexplicable last move:}
(1. Z0 {1. Black's last move is not an act of intellectual treason. By
'losing' a tempo with ...d6-d5, it appears as if we declare: "I am both
for and against this plan!". In response White generally pushes e4-e5 and we
reach a move-down Gurgenidze line. We must reorder our perception of correct
and incorrect.}) (1. Z0 {2. In the Gurgenidze Black's 'extra' tempo is our
bishop on g7.}) (1. Z0 {3. The thing is, invariably in the normal Gurgenidze
Black later plays the g7-bishop back to f8.}) (1. Z0 {4. We don't have that
problem since our bishop never moved and is already on f8.}) (1. Z0 {5. So by
losing a tempo, we in effect, gained one.}) (1. Z0 {6. Principle: If you are
unprepared to fight, then hide and camouflage yourself. With our last move our
opponent's horizon narrows, rather than widens. Here is our bonus: our
opponents who choose to meet our Modern with the Austrian Attack are generally
aggressive attacking players. With ...d6-d5, in a single move we thrust them
into a blocked strategic element, generally completely foreign to their
stylistic capabilities.}) *

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "The Maybe Benoni"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rnbqk2r/pp2npbp/3pp1p1/2pP4/2P1P3/2N2N2/PP3PPP/R1BQKB1R w KQkq - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "1"]
[SourceTitle "OR: Modern Defence"]
[SourceDate "2019.11.04"]

{Each book I write is essentially a research grant. This can be a bit of an
issue when the grant is given to a mad scientist, who insists on scary
experiments like this opening, the Maybe Benoni, which is our main choice in
the queen's pawn section of the book. My feeling is that a good chess book
should feed the hunger of the mind with unfamiliar ideas. When our opponents
play their openings over and over, their minds have a way of becoming
calloused from endless repetition, to the point where it is thrown into
confusion with a fresh, unorthodox idea. --- Please understand that first
impressions don't always reflect the truth. In the Maybe Benoni, by playing
our knight to e7, rather than the traditional f6-square, we attempt to do just
that to our opponents. We enter a double helix of confusion:} 1. Z0 (1. Z0 {
1. Why does Black delay playing ...e6xd5?}) (1. Z0 {2. Why as Black do we
develop our knight to the 'inferior' e7-square, rather than the more central,
traditional f6-square?}) (1. Z0 {In this book we reject the agitprop theory
that the knight must be posted on f6 in all Benoni lines. This is the Modern
Defence and we make the rules. Here is the Maybe Benoni's Magna Carta
explanation: 1. Black delays ...e6xd5 to keep White guessing on each move,
just if and when it will happen. This tends to take a toll on our opponent's
clock and nerves. In some cases, we may even later opt for...e6-e5, if we
believe we can reach a favourable King's Indian formation. --- 2. We play our
knight to e7 for the following reasons: i. When we later play ...e6xd5 and if
White recaptures with the e4-pawn, our e7-knight suddenly has access to the
f5- and, later, d4-squares; if White recaptures with the c4-pawn, then we have
access to an eventual ...f7-f5 break, chipping away at White's centre. --- ii.
White often tries for a pawn break on f5 in Benoni positions. With our knight
on e7, we make our opponent's task that much more difficult. --- iii. If we
later decide to play ...e6-e5, then our knight isn't blocking on f6 and we
generate counterplay with a quick ...f7-f5.}) *

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Acknowledgements"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "1"]
[SourceTitle "OR: Modern Defence"]
[SourceDate "2019.11.04"]

{Many thanks to Richard Palliser for the edit and to Nancy for her proof
reading and non-censorship to the jokes in this book. Repeated study is
embedded a magical property which contains the power to transform bewildered
ignorance into the clarity of full comprehension of an opening's most closely
guarded secrets. May we bewilder our opponents with this repertoire.} 1. Z0 (1.
Z0 {Cyrus Lakdawala, San Diego, September 2019}) *

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "1: Modern v Pseudo-Dragon"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[ECO "B06"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "8"]
[SourceTitle "OR: Modern Defence"]
[SourceDate "2019.11.04"]

1. e4 g6 2. d4 d6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Be3 Bg7 {. In this chapter we deal with White's
most popular set-up at club level, almost as a default setting. We examine
three manifestations of White's plans: Plan 1: White plays Nc3, Be3, Qd2,
0-0-0, f3 and then begins pushing pawns on the kingside, after which the
position becomes rather Dragon Sicilian-like. --- Plan 2: White sets up with
Nc3, Be3, Qd2, Nf3, Bd3, h2-h3 and then castles kingside. White then follows
with Ne2, Ng3 and c2-c3, after which the position resembles a Closed Ruy Lopez
more than a Modern. --- Plan 3: White plays Nc3, Be3, Qd2 and then suddenly
switches to an Austrian Attack formation with f2-f4. As mentioned in the
introduction to this book, we intend to go old school against all of White's
set-ups by expanding on the queenside with ...c7-c6 and ...b7-b5.} *

[Event "10: Bhubaneswar"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2011.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Udeshi, A"]
[Black "Petrosian, TL"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B06"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2011.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "OR: Modern Defence"]
[SourceDate "2019.11.04"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Be3 c6 5. Qd2 b5 6. f4 Nf6 7. e5 {In this
version White refuses to defend e4 and, instead, pushes to e5, attacking
Black's knight.} b4 {In case you fear that Black's position smothers from lack
of space, keep in mind that our territorial conquest is on the queenside.} ({
I would be more inclined to pick up White's valuable dark-squared bishop with} 
7... Ng4 8. Bd3 O-O 9. Nf3 {, as in S.Forman-L.Voloshin, Czech League 2004. I
would be happy to play Black's side after} Nxe3 10. Qxe3 Na6 $1 11. a3 {
(preventing ...Nb4)} Nc7 12. O-O a5 {. White's central space and slight
attacking chances are easily counterbalanced by Black's bishop pair and
dark-square potential.}) 8. Nd1 Nd5 {This move accomplishes the following: 1.
Black protects his b4-pawn. --- 2. The knight occupies the artificial 'hole'
on d5. --- 3. White's valuable e3-bishop is attacked, and if it moves to f2
then White must watch out for ...Bh6, going after f4.} 9. Nf3 O-O {This is a
rather confident move since it gives White the green light to go berserk with
h2-h4 and h4-h5, playing directly for mate.} 10. h4 $5 {No gifted young player
can resist such a lunge.} ({Older heads might prefer: a)} 10. Be2 Nd7 11. O-O
Bb7 12. a3 a5 {and if White attempts to preserve the dark-squared bishop with}
13. Bf2 {then Black wins a pawn with} Bh6 $1 14. Ng5 dxe5 15. dxe5 Bxg5 16.
fxg5 Nxe5 {. White has dark-squared compensation for the missing pawn, but no
more.}) ({b)} 10. Bf2 Nd7 11. Be2 {was tried in T.Fomina-F.Velikhanli, Moscow
Olympiad 1994. Black looks fine after} f6 $1 {intending to dismantle White's
central space.}) ({c)} 10. a3 Nxe3 11. Nxe3 {was M.Feygin-K.Beckmann,
Recklinghausen 1998. Here Black should play} bxa3 12. Rxa3 Nd7 13. Bc4 dxe5 14.
dxe5 Nb6 15. Qc3 Nxc4 16. Nxc4 Be6 {. White's space and superior pawn
structure may balance out Black's two bishops.}) 10... h5 {Petrosian clamps
down on h4-h5, while fixing g4 as a hole.} 11. Bd3 Bg4 12. Be4 Qc8 ({More
accurate was} 12... Nd7 $1 {so that White's a2-a3 can be met with ...a7-a5.})
13. Nf2 ({White should seize the opportunity to play} 13. a3 $1 bxa3 14. Rxa3 {
. Then he can later play c2-c4, ejecting the d5-knight, although even here
Black looks fine after} Nd7 {.}) 13... Bf5 {This pawn sacrifice was the point
of ...Qc8. Black wants to swap away his light-squared bishop for White's,
while retaining control over f5 and g4. Petrosian tempts the young Indian
player into Bxd5 and Qxb4.} 14. Bxd5 $6 {The material-loving comp thinks this
pawn grab is okay, while your altruistic bodhisattva writer feels it is too
greedy.} ({I think White would be better off playing} 14. O-O {.}) 14... cxd5
15. Qxb4 {For the bargain price of only one pawn, Black obtained the following
compensations: 1. Bishop pair. --- 2. Domination of the light squares. --- 3.
Benko Gambit-like future pressure on the now open b- and c-files. Conclusion:
Black got the better of the deal.} Nc6 ({Continuing in unmaterialistic fashion
is wise: a)} 15... Qxc2 $4 16. Rc1 Nc6 17. Qa3 {and Black can resign.}) ({b)} 
15... Bxc2 $2 16. Rc1 Qf5 17. Qb7 Nd7 18. Rxc2 $1 {(overloaded defender)} Qxc2
19. Qxd7 Qxb2 20. Qxe7 dxe5 21. fxe5 Qxa2 22. O-O {and White's two minor
pieces are worth more than Black's rook and extra pawn.}) 16. Qd2 Rb8 17. c3 $5
{Now White's king gets stuck in the centre.} ({More accurate was} 17. Nd3 Be4
18. O-O f6 $1 {, although even here Black exerts strong pressure for the pawn.}
) 17... Qa6 $1 {White's castling is prevented on both sides of the board.} 18.
b4 {Perhaps White was hoping to play Qe2 to castle.} Rfc8 ({Also worth
consideration is to open the e-file with} 18... f6 $1 19. exd6 exd6 {.}) 19. a4
$1 {White's best defensive move.} (19. Qe2 $6 {is met with} Qa3 $1 20. Nd1 a5
$1 21. Bc1 Qa4 22. Nb2 Qc2 23. Qxc2 Bxc2 24. a3 Na7 $1 25. Bd2 Nb5 {and
Black's pressure continues.}) 19... Nd8 20. Ra3 $1 {White defends well,
increasing protection of c3.} Qc4 21. Qb2 (21. Nd1 $1 {looks better, since it
allows White to bring the h1-rook into play with Kf2 next.}) 21... Ne6 22. Nd2
Qa6 23. b5 $6 {White feels that his ramshackle fortress, constructed by flimsy
materials, isn't going to hold forever. So he gets aggressive, which in turn
allows Black to later open the queenside.} ({Perhaps White was better off
playing} 23. Nf3 {, intending Qe2 next.}) 23... Bh6 $1 24. Qb4 $2 ({White had
to try} 24. O-O Qb6 25. Nd1 a6 26. Rb3 axb5 27. axb5 {, when the pressure
continues.}) 24... Qb6 25. c4 $5 {The human psyche rationalizes a suicidally
risky action the following way: 'I must engage in this outwardly wrong action,
for the greater good, and for those members of society who are too weak to
understand its necessity.' White's last move turns his centre into chutney.} ({
The trouble is White has no way to fix things: for instance,} 25. g3 a5 26. Qb3
dxe5 27. Qxd5 Nxf4 $1 28. gxf4 exf4 {is hopeless for White.}) 25... Nxd4 $1 {
Is it stealing if you steal from a thief? White grabbed a pawn earlier, so
Black does so in the present. Threat: ...Nc2+. White will not be able to
exploit this pin.} 26. Kf1 dxe5 27. Qxe7 ({After} 27. fxe5 $4 Bxe3 28. Rxe3 Nc2
{White is massacred.}) 27... dxc4 ({Missing} 27... exf4 28. a5 Rxc4 $3 29. Nxc4
Qxb5 30. Bxd4 Qxc4+ 31. Kg1 Qxd4 {with a crushing attack for Black.}) 28. Qxe5
Bg7 29. Bxd4 Qxd4 30. Qxd4 Bxd4 {White is dead lost in the ending, since the
passed c-pawn is unblockable.} 31. Nde4 {EXERCISE (planning): The scale of
White's coming troubles is far greater than even he imagined. What is Black's
winning plan? --- ANSWER: Pawn promotion. The passed c-pawn heads for the
c1-promotion square and there is nothing White can do about it, except hand
over material.} c3 $1 32. Ke2 c2 33. Kd2 Bb2 $1 {Double attack.} (33... Bb2 $1
34. Raa1 Rc4 $1 {soon leaves White materially down the equivalent of a full
queen.}) 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "6: The Anti-Austrian Attack"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[ECO "B06"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "8"]
[SourceTitle "OR: Modern Defence"]
[SourceDate "2019.11.04"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 g6 3. Nc3 c6 4. f4 d5 {. For the average club player, the
opening stage in sharp theory is the phase of their discontent. We are going
to try and fix that problem in this chapter by imposing a strategically
conceptual position on our bloodthirsty Austrian Attack opponents, with a
confusing (for them, not us!) line. When it comes to open versus closed games,
your writer is a man who prefers the great indoors. Against the Austrian
Attack - traditionally a wild open game in the ...a7-a6 versions of the
Modern - in the ...c7-c6 version of this book, we actually encourage our
opponent into a blocked, closed game, which can be disorienting to your
bloodthirsty opponent who itches for battle on an open field.} *

[Event "36: Gibraltar"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2006.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Carlsson, P"]
[Black "Akopian, V"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B06"]
[Annotator "Cyrus Lakdawala"]
[PlyCount "120"]
[EventDate "2006.??.??"]
[SourceTitle "OR: Modern Defence"]
[SourceDate "2019.11.04"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 g6 3. Nc3 c6 4. f4 d5 5. e5 h5 6. Be3 Nh6 7. Nf3 {White gives
his dark-squared bishop room, at the cost of allowing Black his thematic ...Bg4
plan, in preparation for elimination of the bad light-squared bishop.} Bg4
8. h3 ({Likewise, after} 8. Be2 Nf5 9. Bf2 e6 10. O-O Nd7 11. Qd2 c5 12. dxc5
Bxc5 {Black looks just fine, R.Bellin-C.McNab, British League 1999.}) 8... Nf5
9. Bf2 Bxf3 10. Qxf3 h4 {Thematically suppressing g2-g4. Please ignore the
comp's misassessment here of '0.75', almost a pawn up for White. The comp is
fooled by White's space and bishop pair. In reality I think Black's position
is very playable, since the structure is very much in our remaining bishop's
favour and we are the only one with a viable future pawn break on c5.} 11. Bd3
(11. e6 {is not to be feared. Black stands slightly better after} fxe6 12. Bd3
Qd6 13. O-O-O Nd7 14. Rhe1 Bh6 $1 15. Ne2 Nf6 {. The doubled e6-pawn isn't not
much of a boost for Black's bank account, but, hey, it's extra and I don't
really see much compensation for White.}) 11... e6 12. O-O ({Castling kingside
is perhaps wiser than} 12. O-O-O $5 Nd7 13. Ne2 b5 14. g4 hxg3 15. Nxg3 Nh4 16.
Qg4 Rb8 17. Kb1 c5 {. The comp says even, but I don't believe it since Black
achieved a favourable French-like position, J.Franke-R.Kasimdzhanov, German
League 2000. If} 18. Bxg6 $5 Nxg6 19. f5 Rh4 20. Qf3 Rf4 21. Qe2 exf5 22. Be3
cxd4 $1 23. Bxf4 Nxf4 24. Qf3 Ne6 25. Nxf5 Nxe5 {when I like Black's chances,
despite the comp's insistence on its '0.00' assessment.}) 12... Nd7 {Preparing
for a break on c5 at some point.} 13. Ne2 $1 {I like this move, which prepares
to meet ...c6-c5 with c2-c3, after which White retains a central space
advantage.} Be7 14. b3 {Now he wants to break with c2-c4.} Kf8 {Black's king
will be safest on g7, with the rook left on h8.} (14... b5 15. c4 a6 16. c5 Kf8
{is somewhat similar to our game, 'yeahyeahyeah'-C.Lakdawala, Internet (blitz)
2005.}) 15. c4 a5 {He wants to start staking out space on the queenside,
himself.} 16. Rab1 {This move was new.} ({a)} 16. c5 b6 {(chipping away at
White's space)} 17. cxb6 Qxb6 18. Rfc1 Kg7 19. Bxf5 exf5 $1 20. Nc3 {
(intending Na4, fighting for c5)} Rhc8 21. Na4 Qb5 22. Qe3 Nf8 $1 {was P.Smirnov-J.Ehlvest,
Panormo (blitz) 2002, when e6 was a nice blockade square
for Black's knight. Chances look balanced here.}) ({b)} 16. Rfc1 Kg7 17. Rab1 {
was A.Kovchan-G.Matjushin, Evpatoria 2003. White has an edge on paper, due to
his bishop pair and extra space, but we Moderners who understand this
structure realize that Black's chances are no worse.}) 16... Nb8 {This move
plays on the principle: A development lead loses its potency in closed
positions. So Black can get away with this blatant loss of time. He re-routes
the knight to a6, where it eyes b4.} 17. c5 {White gains even more space.} b6 {
At some point Black must challenge White's space.} 18. a3 Na6 (18... bxc5 19.
Bxf5 gxf5 20. dxc5 Na6 21. b4 Nc7 22. Nd4 Qe8 23. Qc3 {is in White's favour.})
19. Rfc1 Kg7 20. b4 axb4 21. axb4 b5 $1 {The comp gives White an edge, while I
claim Black is equal. White owns more space, but so what? There isn't anything
useful he can do with it. Also White's dark-squared bishop may turn into a
problem later on, due to so many of his pawns being on its same colour.} 22.
Kh2 Qd7 {Connecting rooks.} 23. Ng1 {White may be dreaming of Qe2, Nf3 and Qe1,
where Black is a bit tied down to the defence of h4. But is he really, since
White uses the same number of pieces attacking it without benefit?} Ra7 24. Qe2
Rha8 25. Nf3 Nc7 $1 26. Qe1 ({After} 26. Bxf5 $6 exf5 27. Nxh4 Ne6 28. Qe3 Ra3
29. Rc3 Rxc3 30. Qxc3 Qd8 31. Nf3 Nxf4 {Black favourably regained the
sacrificed pawn.}) 26... Qd8 27. Ra1 {Black's domination of the a-file must be
challenged.} Ra3 28. Bc2 Ra2 29. Bd3 R2a3 30. Bc2 Qh8 $5 {GM Akopian plays for
the full point.} (30... Ra2 31. Bb3 R2a3 32. Bc2 {is a repetition draw.}) 31.
Rxa3 Rxa3 32. Ra1 Rxa1 33. Qxa1 Qh6 {Now f4 must be attended to and White's
queen isn't allowed to wander into Black's position down the a-file.} 34. Qc1
Kg8 35. Bd3 Ne8 $6 (35... Kg7 {is still even.}) 36. Bxf5 $1 exf5 {EXERCISE 
(planning): Find a strong plan for White to seize the advantage.} 37. Be3 $6 ({
ANSWER: White misses his opportunity with} 37. e6 $1 {(pawn breakthrough)} f6
$1 ({not} 37... fxe6 $4 38. Ne5 {when c6 falls and Black is lost}) 38. Qa1 $1
Qxf4+ 39. Kg1 Qc7 40. Qa8 Bd8 41. Nxh4 Kh7 42. e7 Qxe7 43. Qxc6 Nc7 44. Nf3 {
and Black is fighting for the draw.}) 37... Qf8 $6 {It seems that Akopian is
still unaware of how strong White's e5-e6 plan is.} (37... Nc7 $1 {is even
after} 38. Qa1 Qf8 39. Qa7 Qc8 {.}) 38. Qe1 $6 {It was Bob Dylan who sang:
"How many times can a man turn his head and pretend that he just doesn't
see?" The players continue to underestimate the power of White's e5-e6 push.}
({After} 38. e6 $1 Bf6 39. Bf2 $1 Qe7 40. Qe1 Nc7 41. exf7+ Kxf7 42. Qxe7+ Kxe7
43. Bxh4 Bxh4 44. Nxh4 Kf6 45. Kg3 Na6 46. Kf2 Nxb4 47. Ke2 Na6 48. Nf3 {
White stands clearly better and Black is fighting for the draw.}) 38... Nc7 $1
{Akobian lets his h4-pawn go for a strategic price to White.} 39. Nxh4 $5 {
Ambition's goal is to ruthlessly acquire, while Aspiration, its gentler cousin,
merely seeks to achieve something without the infliction of harm. This pawn
grab is the chess version of the 50 cents off coupon: the trouble it takes to
cut it out is worth at least as much as the half dollar you save. White gets
ambitious and wins a pawn at the cost of allowing Black the superior remaining
minor piece.} ({There is nothing wrong with choosing to remain silent on the
issue with} 39. Qa1 Ne6 40. Qa6 Qe8 41. Qb7 Kh7 {when the game is equal.})
39... Bxh4 $1 40. Qxh4 {For the extra pawn, White trampled his remaining minor
piece's activity. The game remains even, but I can only see Black winning at
this stage. The best White has is a draw.} Ne6 41. Qf2 Qa8 {The loss of a pawn
is inconsequential for Black. For it, he got: 1. The superior minor piece.
White's bishop is imprisoned and pending further evidence brought up against
him. --- 2. Black's queen owns the a-file. --- 3. White's fixed pawns are
vulnerable. --- Now saying this, Black doesn't have the advantage and White
should hold the game.} 42. Qd2 ({After} 42. g4 Qa3 43. gxf5 gxf5 44. Qd2 Kh7 {
it is doubtful that either side will make progress.}) 42... Qa1 43. Bf2 (43. g4
Qb1 44. Kg3 Kg7 {is still even.}) 43... Qf1 44. Be3 Qb1 45. h4 $5 {He wants to
knock out Black's ...g6-g5 ideas. The trouble is that it further weakens
White's kingside light squares.} ({White should hold the draw easily with the
non-weakening} 45. Kg3 $1 {.}) 45... Kh7 $1 46. Bf2 Qf1 47. Be3 Kh6 $1 {
Black's king may enter one day via h5 and g4.} 48. Bf2 Kh5 $1 49. Kg3 Qh1 {
Threatening h4.} 50. Kf3 (50. Qe2+ Kh6 51. Qd2 {also maintains the balance.})
50... Kh6 51. Qc2 $4 {Much worse than our opponent undermining us is when we
do it with a self-inflicted wound. When we lose what should have been a drawn
position, our gleeful opponent is an unwanted witness to our failure. ---
EXERCISE (combination alert): What did White overlook?} (51. Kg3 {was
necessary.}) 51... Qxh4 $1 {ANSWER: Attraction/knight fork. The position's
truth is no longer elusive: Black wins back his pawn while retaining all his
previous strategic advantages. White is completely busted.} 52. g3 ({Instead,} 
52. Qxf5 $4 {loses on the spot to} Nxd4+ {;}) ({while after} 52. Bxh4 $4 Nxd4+
53. Kf2 Nxc2 {next b4 falls and it's time for White to resign.}) 52... Qh1+ ({
More accurate is} 52... Qg4+ $1 53. Ke3 {(forced, since moving to e2 allows ...Nxf4+)} g5 $1 54. fxg5+ Nxg5 {when White's position crumbles.}) 53. Ke3 Qa1 54.
Kd3 Qf1+ 55. Ke3 {EXERCISE (planning): Come up with a winning plan for Black.
--- ANSWER: Infiltrate the light squares with the king, via h5 and g4.} Kh5 $1
56. Qd2 Qb1 {Threatening mate on e4.} (56... g5 $1 {is even stronger.}) 57. Ke2
Kg4 58. Qc3 Qe4+ 59. Kf1 Qf3 $1 60. Qd2 {A queen swap is of course totally
hopeless for White. --- EXERCISE (planning): Black has two ways to force the
win. Find one of them.} Ng7 $1 {. ANSWER: Transfer the knight to h5, after
which White's g3-pawn is left for dead.} ({Black also wins easily after} 60...
g5 $1 61. fxg5 Nxg5 {and White's position is unable to tolerate the black
knight's transfer to e4.}) 0-1

