Grandmaster Repertoire 3

The English Opening

Volume One
By

Mihail Marin
with invaluable help from

Valentin Stoica

Quality Chess
www.qualitychess.co.uk

Creating the Grandmaster Repertoire series seemed a natural idea. There is a glut of opening
books at the Starting Out level. These books have certainly been refreshing, but they have
almost completely replaced high-level opening books.
As chess fans, we felt we were missing out, and because we can, we decided to do
something about it.
The books in the Grandmaster Repertoire series are written by grandmasters, edited by
grandmasters, and will certainly be read by grandmasters. This does not mean that players
who are not grandmasters cannot read them. We have worked hard to make our books
clear in their presentation and to make it possible for the readers to decide the depth to
which they want to study them.
When we were young and trying to be up-and-coming, we understood that you do not
have to remember everything in an opening book in order to use it. It is our hope that those
readers who find this repertoire too extensive and detailed, will ignore many of the details.
Even now that we are grandmasters, we see the bolded moves as what we want to memorize,
and the notes as explanations and illustrations.
It is our conviction that you will eventually be more successful by playing the main lines,
simply because they are based on better moves. Instinctively most players know this, but
they fear losing to a prepared line and thus turn to unambitious systems, or unhealthy
surprises. The opponent will not be able to use his preparation but, sadly, will not need it.
These sidelines generally end in uninspiring positions almost automatically.
Possibly the main reason why high-level opening books have disappeared is the rise of
databases. It has been assumed that there is no point in having traditional opening books
anymore, as you can look it all up in the database. Some rather lazy authors have a system:
collect a few hundred games from the database, give Fritz a few moments, then hit Print.
Such books add nothing to chess literature. We have seen enough of them and have never
wanted to add to that pile.
In these days of multi-million game databases, we all have access to information, what
is lacking is understanding. In the Grandmaster Repertoire series, very strong players will
share their understanding and suggest strong new moves that are in no one elses database.
We are excited about this new series and hope that the reader will share some of that
excitement.
John Shaw & Jacob Aagaard

Contents

Key

to symbols used
Bibliography
Foreword by the Author
How to Use this Book

6
7
8
10

The English A Repertoire

11

Karpov Variation 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.c3 f6 4.g2 c5 5.f3

2
3
4
5
6

Introduction
7...h6 8.a3 a6
7...h6 8.a3 a5
7...a6
5th Move alternatives: 5.a3?! and 5.e3

Reversed Rossolimo 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.c3 f6 4.g2 b4 5.d5

7
8
9
10
11
12

Introduction
5...xd5?!
5...c5
5...00 Minor Lines
5...00 6.f3! c5
5...00 6.f3! e4

Botvinnik System 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.c3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.e4 d6 6.ge2

13
14
15
16
17
18

Introduction
6...f6
6...e6
6...h5
6...ge7
6...f5

15
23
47
57
71

85
89
99
111
123
141

155
165
173
189
199
211

2...c6 3.c3
19

3rd move alternatives

235

Reversed Dragon 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.c3

20
21
22
23
24
25

Introduction and minor lines

8...a5
8...e6
8...00 Minor Lines
11...a5
11...d4

Keres Variation 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.d4

26
27
28
29

Introduction and Sidelines

4...b4
4...exd4 5.xd4 a6
4...exd4 5.xd4 d5

2...d6

30
31

Minor Lines
5...f5

Accelerated Keres 1.c4 e5 2.g3

32

2...c6

Odd and Trends

33

Minor Lines

451

Index of Variations

469

259
273
281
289
309
327

345
353
369
385

405
425

437

er
a pt

Ch

Karpov Variation

1222222223
t+vW Tl+5
+oO +oOo5
o+mO M +5
+ V O + 5
+p+ + +5
+ Np+nP 5
pP +pPbP5
R Bq+rK 5
79

7...a6
Variation Index
1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.c3 f6 4.g2 c5 5.f3 d6 6.d3 00 7.00
A) 8...a7 9.b4

A1) 9...f5

A2) 9...g4
B) 8...d4 9.e1!

B1) 9...c6

B2) 9...h6

A1) after 11...d4

7...a6 8.a3

A2) after 12...g5

p 58
p 59
p 60
p 62
p 62
p 67

B2) after 17...d5

1222222223
t+ W Tl+5
VoO +oO 5
o+ O M O5
+ + Ov+ 5
PpM + B5
P Np+nP 5
+ +pPbP5
R +q+rK 5

1222222223
t+ W Tl+5
VoO +o+ 5
o+ O M O5
+ + O O 5
PpMn+vB5
P +p+nP 5
+ +pPbP5
R +q+rK 5
79

1222222223
t+ Tv+l+5
Vo+ WoO 5
o+o+mM O5
P +oO + 5
Pp+ + +5
+ NpP P 5
BnQ PbP5
+ R +rK 5
79

12.e3!!

13.fxg5!!

18.c5!

58

Karpov Variation

1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.c3 f6 4.g2 c5

5.f3 d6 6.d3 00 7.00 a6

1222222223
t+vW Tl+5
+oO +oOo5
o+mO M +5
+ V O + 5
+p+ + +5
+ Np+nP 5
pP +pPbP5
R Bq+rK 5
79

By refraining from ...h7-h6, Black intends

to save a tempo compared to the variations
examined in Chapter 3.
8.a3
8.g5 h6 9.xf6 xf6 does not achieve
much for White. His control over the light
squares has been increased, but the c5-bishop
can become a very dangerous attacking piece.
Black only needs to move his queen out of the
way and then push the f-pawn. 10.e4 e7
11.xc5 dxc5 does not look troubling for
Black. He has good central control and I do
not see an active plan for White.

1222222223
t+vW Tl+5
+oO +oOo5
o+mO M +5
+ V O + 5
+p+ + +5
P Np+nP 5
P +pPbP5
R Bq+rK 5
79

We now have A) 8...a7 and B) 8...d4.

(1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.c3 f6 4.g2 c5
5.f3 d6 6.d3 00 7.00 a6 8.a3)
A) 8...a7 9.b4
White uses his last neutral move, inviting
Black to define his plans.
9...h6 would transpose to the normal lines
examined above, but now we will examine the
independent lines.

1222222223
t+vW Tl+5
VoO +oOo5
o+mO M +5
+ + O + 5
Pp+ + +5
P Np+nP 5
+ +pPbP5
R Bq+rK 5
79

We have A1) 9...f5 and A2) 9...g4.

9...d4
This leads to a considerable loss of time.
10.xd4
This is the correct move.
If 10.e1?! h6 11.e3 Black can play the
intermediate 11...g4! as in a sub-note of
line B2.
10...xd4
10...exd4 11.d5 xd5 12.cxd5 leaves
White with the better structure and pressure
along the c-file.
11.b2 c6 12.e3 a7
This bishop has moved quite a lot already.
13.d4
Threatening to win space with d4-d5,

Chapter 5 7...a6
which would put the c6-pawn under serious
pressure.
13...exd4 14.exd4
Renewing the threat.
14...d5 15.c5 f5 16.a4
White has a promising queenside attack,
while the a7-bishop is obviously misplaced.
9...e6 exposes the bishop to the knight jump
f3-g5. There has only been one game with
this move between reasonably strong players.
10.b2 e7 11.g5 c8 12.e3 h6 13.f3
We are back into the normal paths, since Black
has played ...h6, Spiridonov Therkildsen,
Nice 2000.
(1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.c3 f6 4.g2 c5
5.f3 d6 6.d3 00 7.00 a6 8.a3 a7 9.b4)
A1) 9...f5

1222222223
t+ W Tl+5
VoO +oOo5
o+mO M +5
+ + Ov+ 5
Pp+ + +5
P Np+nP 5
+ +pPbP5
R Bq+rK 5
79
The development of the bishop to this
square is hardly more constructive now than
after ...h7-h6. The bishop is both passive and
exposed at the same time.
10.g5 h6 11.h4!
As we shall see, this is a recurring theme. The
immediate exchange on f6 is inoffensive, but
now the threat of d5 is very unpleasant.

59

11...d4
Black intends to exchange the f3-knight to
make ...g7-g5 a real threat. Of course, 11...g5?
12.xg5! hxg5 13.xg5 is bad for Black, who
has no favourable way of freeing himself from
the pin.

1222222223
t+ W Tl+5
VoO +o+ 5
o+mO M +5
+ + OvB 5
Pp+ + +5
P Np+ P 5
+ +pPbP5
R +q+rK 5
79

13...b8 (anticipating the threat c3-d5)

14.xb7 bd7 15.d5 White threatens to win
material by capturing on a8 and f6. 15...g7
is strongly met by 16.d2, threatening
g5xf6 followed by d2-g5, while 15...b8
16.c6 leaves him helpless against the threat
of c6xd7. 16...e6 17.xd7 xd5 18.cxd5
White has a decisive material advantage.

1222222223
t+ W Tl+5
VoO +oO 5
o+ O M O5
+ + Ov+ 5
PpM + B5
P Np+nP 5
+ +pPbP5
R +q+rK 5
79

12.e3!!N
This move, ignoring the threat of ...g7-g5,
takes full advantage of the exposed position of
the f5-bishop.

60

Karpov Variation

White did not get any advantage after 12.xf6

xf6 13.h4 c8 14.e3 e6 15.e4 d8
16.h5 f5= in Marin Tomescu, Sovata
2003.

1222222223
t+ W Tl+5
VoO +oO 5
o+ O M O5
+ + Ov+ 5
PpM + B5
P NpPnP 5
+ + PbP5
R +q+rK 5
79

12...e6
After 12...xf3 13.xf3 the f5-bishop is
hanging. 13...xd3 This does not bring any
relief. 14.d5 xf1 15.xf1 With a decisive
attack.
12...g5 13.xg5 hxg5 14.exd4 leaves Black
with many weaknesses.
13.xf6 xf6 14.h4 c6 15.xf5 xf5
16.a4

1222222223
t+ + Tl+5
Vo+ +oO 5
o+oOm+ O5
+ + Ow+ 5
pPp+ + +5
+ NpP P 5
+ + PbP5
R +q+rK 5
79

Blacks pieces are poorly coordinated, partly

because the queen is awkwardly placed, while
Whites attack on the light squares develops
naturally.
(1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.c3 f6 4.g2 c5
5.f3 d6 6.d3 00 7.00 a6 8.a3 a7 9.b4)
A2) 9...g4

1222222223
t+ W Tl+5
VoO +oOo5
o+mO M +5
+ + O + 5
Pp+ +v+5
P Np+nP 5
+ +pPbP5
R Bq+rK 5
79
For a long time I feared that after this rarely
played move White would have to play h2-h3,
which is generally undesirable, as we already
know. I discovered the tactics presented below
only when preparing the material for this book.
10.g5!N
The reasons this standard manoeuvre is
possible with the black bishop on g4 are less
obvious than in the variation with 9...f5.
10...h6 11.h4 d4
The other way to create the threat of ...g7g5 is:
11...xf3 12.xf6!
After this intermediate move Whites
control over the light squares is likely to be
unchallenged.
12...xf6
12...xe2?! does not work because after
13.xd8 xd1 14.xc7 c2 White has

Chapter 5 7...a6
15.b5 putting the enemy queenside in
danger.
13.xf3

1222222223
t+ + Tl+5
VoO +oO 5
o+mO W O5
+ + O + 5
Pp+ + +5
P Np+bP 5
+ +pP P5
R +q+rK 5
79

This certainly looks like a dream position for

White, but does he have a real advantage? To
reveal Whites potential, we should continue
the variation a few more moves.
13...ab8 14.b1 d4 15.g2 c6 16.e3 e6
17.a4 e7 18.b5 c7
Black proves that he is prepared to stand the
queenside pressure.
19.f3!
White declares his intention to play on both
wings. Apart from increasing the pressure
against the c6-pawn, he plans to take control of
the kingside light squares with g3-g4 followed
by h2-h4, f3-g3, g2-e4, etc.

1222222223
t+ W Tl+5
VoO +oO 5
o+ O M O5
+ + O + 5
PpM +vB5
P Np+nP 5
+ +pPbP5
R +q+rK 5
79

12.e4!

61

We shall understand later why this move

should be preferred to the apparently more
active 12.d5.
12...g5
This is the only way to question Whites
previous play, but it will put Black on the verge
of disaster. Play now takes a fascinating course,
requiring White to make a queen sacrifice.
The safer 12...xf3 fails to equalize after
13.xf6 xf6 (It is generally desirable for
Black to exchange queens to avoid major
kingside dangers. 13...gxf6 14.xf3 xf3
15.exf3 d4 16.a2 g7 17.f4 d7 18.f3
leaves White with very pleasant play.) 14.xf6
xe2 15.h1 xg3 16.fxg3 xd1 17.axd1.
Black now has the witty 17...ab8, preserving
the b7-pawn and leaving Whites extra bishop
trapped, but after: 18.c5 gxf6 19.cxd6 cxd6
20.xf6 White retains strong pressure against
both enemy wings. The presence of oppositecoloured bishops does not offer Black any
relief, because his bishop is firing along on an
empty diagonal.

1222222223
t+ W Tl+5
VoO +o+ 5
o+ O M O5
+ + O O 5
PpMn+vB5
P +p+nP 5
+ +pPbP5
R +q+rK 5
79

13.fxg5!!
Although we have seen the sacrifice f3xg5
before, the situation here is entirely different.
Instead of a stable situation with an unpleasant
pin, it leads to original play.

62

Karpov Variation

13...xe2
The operation initiated by this move is
enabled by the bishops presence on g4.

(1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.c3 f6 4.g2 c5

5.f3 d6 6.d3 00 7.00 a6 8.a3)

Had White played 12.d5, Black could

have played 13...xd5, when 14.e4 would
have been relatively best but not entirely
satisfactory.

1222222223
t+vW Tl+5
+oO +oOo5
o+ O M +5
+ V O + 5
+pM + +5
P Np+nP 5
P +pPbP5
R Bq+rK 5
79

The way it is, capturing the knight with

13...xe4 can be met by 14.xe4. The
positions from the two cases are almost
identical, but in the latter situation Blacks d5knight is missing!
14.h1 xg3 15.fxg3!
The correct way of capturing, which opens
the f-file for an attack.
15...xd1 16.xf6 h8 17.axd1 hxg5
18.xg5

1222222223
t+ W T L5
VoO +o+ 5
o+ O N +5
+ + O B 5
Pp+ + +5
P +p+ P 5
+ + +bP5
+ +r+r+k5
79

The position has temporarily calmed down.

Despite his material disadvantage, White has
an irresistible attack. His next moves will be
f1-f5, d1-f1, g5-h4, g2-e4 (perhaps after
capturing on b7). The move order depends on
Blacks reactions. As a general rule, ...f8-g8
should be answered by g5-h4 and ...d8-c8
by g2-e4, preparing f1-f5.

B) 8...d4

Black clears a path for his c-pawn and invites

White to simplify the position.
9.e1!
White avoids the exchange because the
enemy knight is unstable in the centre.
Black has a choice between B1) 9...c6 and
B2) 9...h6.
(1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.c3 f6 4.g2 c5
5.f3 d6 6.d3 00 7.00 a6 8.a3 d4
9.e1)
B1) 9...c6

1222222223
t+vW Tl+5
+o+ +oOo5
o+oO M +5
+ V O + 5
+pM + +5
P Np+ P 5
P +pPbP5
R BqNrK 5
79