Hastings Round 6 Igor Kurnosov vs Milos Pavlovic. Photo © Dave Clayton.

Main roads or side-streets?

FM Steve Giddins reports on round 6 of the Hastings Masters

One of the biggest dilemmas facing any chessplayer, especially those below master level, is whether to employ main line openings, or rely on less theoretical sidelines. The extent of modern opening theory is now so great that to play main lines requires an enormous of work, and many hours of home preparation and study. For most amateur players, burdened, as they are likely to be, with job, family, dog and mortgage, the requisite time is simply not available. Even if the flesh is willing, the spirit is frequently weak. Regardless of results, a lot of players simply find it boring to trot out 15-20 moves of established theory at the start of each game, and prefer to use their own heads, from the very beginning of the game.

At GM level, inevitably, one finds far fewer players who eschew main line openings, but there are some brave souls still willing to do so. The Brits, ever since the "English Chess Explosion" of the 1970s, have always had a reputation for preferring offbeat lines. Quite apart from Mike Basman, the high priest of recondite opening schemes, players such as Tony Miles made a healthy living with openings that the average Russian GM would not been seen dead employing. Tony's apogee was his successful 1.e4 a6 2.d4 b5 against Karpov, but other English players have done a huge amount to make openings such as the Trompovsky and f4-Sicilian respectable.

The top boards of round six in this year's Hastings Masters showed opposite sides of the offbeat openings coin. The biggest story of the day came on board two, where top seed Emanuel Berg faced what liked a tricky pairing as Black against Stephen Gordon. In the event, though, the genial Swedish GM brought off a sensationally easy victory, thanks to a highly unusual opening choice:

Gordon,Stephen J (2521) - Berg,Emanuel (2623) [D08]

Hastings Masters .2009

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5

The Albin is an extremely rare guest at GM level, although the mercurial Alexander Morozevich has used it successfuly on a few occasions. I cannot trace any examples of Berg playing it before, so it must have come as a complete surprise to Stephen Gordon.

 3.dxe5 d4 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.a3

One of the main lines, although I cannot help feeling that such non-developing play ought to give Black greater tactical chances than the solid 5.g3.

 5...Nge7 6.b4 Ng6 7.b5?

This seems to be a novelty, but an unsuccessful one. The usual move here is 7.Bb2 and, only after 7...a5 does White advance 8.b5.

7...Ncxe5 8.Nxd4 Bc5 9.Bb2

Played after long thought, and a sign f the problems White already faces. The natural 9.e3 is strongly met by 9...Bg4!, when 10.f3? loses to 10...Qh4+ 11.g3 Nxf3+ 12.Nxf3 Qf6, whilst both 10.Be2 Bxe2 11.Kxe2 and 10.Qd2 Nh4 give Black a very strong initiative.

 9...Qh4

 9...Nxc4 is also good, but Berg's move is still more energetic.

 10.e3 Bg4 11.Qc2

 11.Be2 Nxc4 is yet another example of the tactical tricks Black has in this position.

 11...0-0-0 12.Be2?

Losing immediately. He had to try 12.Nd2 although even then, 12...Rhe8 leaves Black with the sort of position that would warm the cockles of any gambiteer's heart.

12...Bxe2 13.Qxe2 Bxd4 14.Bxd4

14...Rxd4! 15.exd4 Qxd4 0-1

White is totally defenceless against the threats of Qxa1, Nd3+ and Nf4. A stunningly easy victory for Berg, and an example of just how dangerous gambit lines such as the Albin can be, even at GM level.

Round six was actually the most bloodthirsty round so far amongst the top players, with the top six boards all ending decisively. In addition to Berg's win, Kurnosov slayed Pavlovic's Dragon, Howell won an impressively smooth game against Ansell, and Neverov won in short order against French IM Bergez. Down on board five, the encounter between two English players showed the flipside of the offbeat openings debate:

Rendle,Thomas (2385) - Jones,Gawain C (2548) [B30]

Hastings Masters 2009

1.e4 c5 2.b3

 There have been several examples of this move in the present tournament. In the past, both Spassky and Short have employed it as an occasional weapon, and with considerable success, but it is probably best reserved for games against weaker opponents. That scenario does not apply in the present game, but Tom's decision was probably influenced in part by the fact that he and Gawain are good friends and housemates, and presumably analyse a fair bit together. This always makes it hard to choose an opening when one meets the one's opposite number.

2...Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.Bb2 Nc6 5.Nf3 g6 6.Ng5!?

The start of an ambitious plan, which ultimately backfires.

 6...e6 7.Ne4 Bg7 8.c4 Nde7 9.Nd6+ Kf8

Although Black's king is misplaced, this causes him less inconvenience than that suffered by White, in the attempt to maintain his central pawn structure.

10.f4 Nf5 11.Nxf5 gxf5 12.d4?!

This and the next create a very strange impression, and leave White completely busted. A move such as 12.g3 would only leave Black with a relatively small advantage.

12...Nxd4 13.Nd2?! f6 14.Nf3 fxe5 15.fxe5

15... Bxe5!

Completing the demolition of the white position.

16.Nxe5 Qh4+ 17.g3 Qe4+ 18.Kf2 Qxe5

White could only dream of 18...Qxh1?? 19.Qh5 After the text, however, all illusions are shattered, and the rest is an execution.

19.Qd2 Qf6 20.Bg2 d6 21.b4 e5 22.Ba3 f4 23.bxc5 Bg4 24.gxf4 Qh4+ 25.Ke3 Bf5 26.Raf1 exf4+ 0-1

Other English titled players also had a good day. British Champion Stuart Conquest won a long, hard game against Hendriks, whilst Hebden and Williams also won, to move up towards the leaders. So too did Andrew Greet, who won his fourth straight game, to wipe out memories of his 0/2 start. So, heading into round seven, it is Kurnosov who leads with 5.5/6, half a point ahead of Howell, Neverov and Berg.