Smisch [E8089]

Written by GM Victor Mikhalevski, GM Joe Gallagher and IM Andrew Martin

Last updated Saturday, May 20, 2006

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqk+-tr0
9zppzp-zppvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+PzPP+-+0
9+-sN-+P+-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9tR-vLQmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy

f you had asked the late Eddie Gufeld what he thought of the Smisch he will surely
ask you what your Knight on g1 thinks ... MOI FRIEND'......'OI WEEN MANY
BEEEYOUTEEFOLL GAMES AGAINST THEES VARIANT'...... Yet going into the

twentyfirst century the Smisch Variation continues to be hotly debated. White's solid
centre, reinforced by the pawn on f3 gives him the time to build a dangerous attacking
formation, leading to direct threats against Black's King. Alternatively White may play for a
positional squeeze, using his space advantage to constrict Black's game. Perhaps the fact
that White can vary his approach gives 5 f3 its appeal. To entertain hopes of success, Black
must time his counterattack on the White centre very accurately indeed. As e4 and c4 are
solidly protected, the d4 pawn is usually the focal point for this pressure. Attempts to attack
or win the game by gaining space on the Kingside are by and large unsuccessful.

All the games given in blue can be accessed via ChessPub.exe, simply head for their
respective ECO code.

Contents

1 d4 f6 2 c4 g6 3 c3 g7 4 e4 d6 5 f3
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqk+-tr0
9zppzp-zppvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+PzPP+-+0
9+-sN-+P+-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9tR-vLQmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy

5...0-0
5...c6 6 e3 a6 Smischwithout 5...0-0 [E80]

6 e3
6 ge2 Smisch5...0-0 Intro [E81]

6...e5
6...c6 7 ge2 a6 8 d2 (8 a3 SmischPanno Intro [E83]) 8...b8 9 h4 SmischPanno
Main line [E84]
6...b6 7 d3 a6 Smisch6...b6 [E82]

7 d5
7 ge2 Smisch6...e5 7 Nge2 c6 [E86]

7...c6

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9zpp+-+pvlp0
9-+pzp-snp+0
9+-+Pzp-+-0
9-+P+P+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9tR-+QmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
7...h5 Smisch6...e5 7 d5 without 7...c6 [E87]

8 ge2
8 d3 Smisch6...e5 7 d5 c6 without 7 Nge2 [E88]

8...cxd5 9 cxd5 bd7 10 d2

Smisch6...e5, old main line 8 Nge2 [E89]

Press F5 to toggle the Navigation Pane, then click on the appropriate bookmark to go
straight to that section.
Ctrl + 2 resizes the page.

All rights reserved Chess Publishing Ltd

Smisch without 5...0-0 [E80]

Last updated: 04/08/04 by Victor Mikhalevski

1 d4 f6 2 c4 g6 3 c3 g7 4 e4 d6 5 f3

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqk+-tr0
9zppzp-zppvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+PzPP+-+0
9+-sN-+P+-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9tR-vLQmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
Enter the Smisch Variation with a bang, one of White's most dangerous AntiKing's
Indian weapons. The reinforcement of the pawn at e4 gives the White centre
formidable solidity and Black must organise his counterplay with considerable care.
The Smisch Variation is popular at all levels, with Grandmaster and club player
alike. In this section, we consider tries by Black which involve delaying castling on
move five.

5...c6
The Byrne Variation. After 5...c6 Black prepares ...a6 and ...b5, but even here he usually
finds the move ...e7e5 indispensable that will come sooner rather than later. This
variation is not so bad. Black does well to delay castling for a while, in order to
create counterplay.
5...a6!? Preserving options and worth consideration. Black might be able to trick White into
a favourable line of the Byrne Variation eg 5...c6 and only ...a6 later. 6 e3 c6 7
ge2 b8 8 b1 (8 c1 PlatonovShamkovich/USSR Ch 1971) 8...0-0 9 d2
Novikov,IShibut,M/Millennium II Open, Virginia Beach USA 2001.
5...b6!? 6 e3 b7 7 d2 c5 8 d5 and I managed to talk White into castling on the wrong
side! LjukmanovMartin,A/World Corres Semi Final 1994.

6 e3 a6 7 d2
4

7 d3 b5?! 8 e5! a very strong move! 8...fd7 9 f4 Portisch,LKavalek,L/WijkaanZee

1975.

7...b5 8 0-0-0

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqk+-tr0
9+-+-zppvlp0
9p+pzp-snp+0
9+p+-+-+-0
9-+PzPP+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-wQ-+PzP0
9+-mKR+LsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
8...bxc4
8...a5! is a far superior idea to Evans's greedy play. Black gets on with the job, 9 b1
bd7 10 g4 b8 11 h4 h5 12 g5 h7 13 h2 hf8 14 c1 b6 15 cxb5 axb5 de
Carbonnel,HBerliner,H/5th Corres World Final 1965.

9 xc4 0-0 10 h4 d5 11 b3 dxe4 12 h5!! exf3 13 hxg6 hxg6 14 h6 fxg2 15

h4 g4 16 xg7 xg7 17 xg2
Spassky,BEvans,L/Varna Olympiad 1962.

Smisch 5...0-0 Intro [E81]

Last updated: 06/02/06 by Victor Mikhalevski

A big section this with lots of important variations. 6 g5 and 6 ge2 show that White
does not need to play mechanically in the Smisch he can vary his approach.
Combined with 6 e3 these moves provide enviable variety and ensure that Black
must have a separate, independent reply to each. Of the three White sixth moves I
have a preference for 6 g5.

1 d4 f6 2 c4 g6 3 c3 g7 4 e4 d6 5 f3 0-0 6 e3
This is the normal move.
Alternatively:
6 g5

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9zppzp-zppvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+-+-+-vL-0
9-+PzPP+-+0
9+-sN-+P+-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9tR-+QmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
6...c5
a) 6...a6 7 d2 (7 c1!? the idea is to keep the f1-bishop open to prevent b5, 7...bd7
8 b3 anticipating ...c5 followed by ...b5 and still leaving the lightsquared bishop's
diagonal open, Ivanchuk,VSvidler,P/Monte Carlo MNC 2004) 7...c6 8 d3 b5!?
interesting, Georgiev plays along the lines of the Byrne System, ignoring traditional
thinking that Black should concentrate on d4 now that the Bishop stands on g5,
Rahman,YGeorgiev,K, Golden Cleopatra, Cairo EGY 2002
b) 6...bd7 7 d2 c5 8 d5 a5 9 ge2 a6 10 a4 Riazantsev,A
Kempinski,R/Geneva SUI 2005
7 d5 e6 8 d2 exd5 9 xd5!? interesting, if allowed White will reinforce this Knight with
e2c3 and grip the position. Black's next move is accurate: 9...e6 10 e2 xd5
11 cxd5 bd7 12 c3 a6 13 c1! (13 e2 Mazock,MNegulescu,A/NCC,
Philadelphia USA 2001) 13...b5 14 b3 Psakhis,LAvrukh,B/Tel Aviv 1999.
6

6 ge2

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9zppzp-zppvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+PzPP+-+0
9+-sN-+P+-0
9PzP-+N+PzP0
9tR-vLQmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
What will White do with the c1-bishop? He keeps Black guessing. 6...c5 Proposing
Benonilike play.
a) 6...e5 could transpose into the Saemisch main line, 7 g5 c6 (7...h6 8 e3 c6 9 d5
e7 10 d2 h7 11 g4! c6 12 0-0-0! Hillarp Persson,TThorsteinsson,E, Open,
Reykjavik ISL 2002 this is known from the Gligoric System and analogous lines.
White can effect a vigorous attack. The Knight on e7 is only useful when Black
wants to motor down the Kingside in this case it is a spectator.) 8 d2 bd7 9 00-0 Korchnoi,VThipsay,P/Goodricke Open, Calcutta IND 2000.
b) 6...c6 7 g5 a6 8 d2 b5 Khenkin,IKozul,Z/Belgrade 1999.
c) 6...a6 7 e3 (7 g5 c6 8 d2 b8 9 h4 Muir,AFedorov,A/Eu Team Ch, Batumi
GEO 1999) 7...c6 8 c5 to hinder ...b5, (8 d2 b5 (8...bd7 9 h4 the most aggressive,
9...h5 10 0-0-0 e5 11 g4 too optimistic, Moiseenko,AVan Wely,L/Khanty Mansyisk
RUS 2005) 9 h4!? is a more direct approach, Morozevich,ASvidler,P/San Luis
ARG 2005) but 8...b5!? anyway, (8...a5 9 cxd6 exd6 10 g3 e8 11 d2 Petrosian,T
Visier/Nice Olympiad 1974, 8...bd7 9 c1 b6 10 cxd6 exd6 11 f4 c5 Dreev,A
Lalic,B/Hastings 2000) 9 cxd6 exd6 10 c1 bd7 11 e2 e8 Ward,C
Hebden,M/Scarborough 2001. Black is scoring well in this section. Against both 6
ge2 and 6 g5 the Byrne idea of ...c6, ...a6 etc seems very playable indeed.
d) 6...bd7 7 g5 c5 8 d5 a6 (8...h6!? 9 e3 h5 Black's idea is to prevent the typical
g3 which now can be answered with ...h4, 10 c1 h7 11 e2 e5 12 0-0 f5!?
Grischuk,ASmirin,I/Beer Sheva ISR 2005) 9 a4 h6 10 e3 e5 11 g3
Gallagher,JWajih,N/Goodricke Open, Calcutta IND 2001.
7 d5

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9zpp+-zppvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+-zpP+-+-0
9-+P+P+-+0
9+-sN-+P+-0
9PzP-+N+PzP0
9tR-vLQmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
(7 e3 bd7 8 d2 a6 9 0-0-0 (9 h6!? this move was tested by Lautier earlier against
nobody less than Garry Kasparov himself, 9...xh6 the main line, 10 xh6 b5!
Lautier,JYurtaev,L/Moscow RUS 2004, 9 a4 e6 a tricky new move. The idea is to
switch to Benoni positions, Malakhatko,VKritz,L/Triesen LIE 2004) 9...a5 10
b1 b5 11 d5 xd5!? a classic sac, 12 xa5 xe3 with comp, Bobotsov,M
Tal,M/Varna 1958.) 7...a6 (7...e6 8 g3 exd5 9 cxd5 is a Benoni, but may transpose,
9...h5!? Socko,BIskusnyh,S/Cappelle la Grande FRA 2005) 8 a4 e6 9 g3 exd5 10
cxd5 h5!? (10...bd7 11 e2 h5 12 g5 c7 (12...b8 13 d2 c7 14 h6 c4
Korchnoi,VXie Jun/SonsbeekArnhem 1999.) 13 d2 h7 14 h6 b8 15 xg7
xg7 Gallagher,JBalogh,T/Mitropa Team Cup, Charleville FRA 2000.) 11 e2!
(11 g5 a5 a new move which puts certain pressure on White's queenside,
Svetushkin,DValmana Canto,J/La Roda ESP 2005) 11...h4 (11...h7 12 e3 d7
13 0-0 h4 14 h1 f5 somehow this logical move order remains almost unexplored.
Black creates a positional threat of ...f4 which would force the bishop either to leave
the g1-d4 diagonal, or to occupy the f2square, which leaves the knight on h1 out of
play, 15 d2 f6 16 exf5 (16 f4 fxe4 Dreev,AKarpov,A/Reykjavik ISL 2004)
16...gxf5 17 f2!? Dreev,ANataf,I/Calvia ESP 2004) 12 f1 h7 13 e3 d7 14
f2 f5 15 exf5 gxf5 16 f4 f6! an improvement, (16...e8 Dreev,A
Gallagher,J/Catalan Bay ENG 2004) 17 d2 h6! Malakhatko,V
Damljanovic,B/Sozina SCG 2004.

6...bd7!?

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zppzpnzppvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+PzPP+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9tR-+QmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
An interesting line which is a lot more aggressive than it looks. Others:
6...c5 this was the hot move a while ago. Black offers a pawn sacrifice in return for which
he slows White up and gets all the dark squares. If the Smisch pawn structure is
inflexible, then this might be the way to show it up. 7 ge2!? (7 dxc5 is critical
7...dxc5 8 xd8 xd8 9 xc5 it has become quite rare for White to accept the gambit
these days, 9...c6 10 a3 a5! 11 d1 e6 12 d5 b4! an important resource,
Rowson,JKotronias,V/Hastings ENG 2004, 7 d5 e6 8 d3 exd5 9 cxd5 Lapiccirella,D
Mantovani,R/21st Open, Bratto ITA 2001) 7...c6 (7...a5!? is not a novelty but a
relatively rare move which deserves some attention, see Bogdanovski
Kempinski,R/Halkidiki GRE 2002) 8 d5 (8 d2 e6 9 d1 b6 10 g5 a6 11 d5 Atalik,S
Miles,A/Heraklion Open 1993.) 8...e5 9 g3 e6 10 e2 exd5 11 cxd5 a6 (the
alternative way for Black to seek counterplay is to play 11...h5 12 0-0 h7 13 d2
(13 f4?! is a very suspicious novelty, Moiseenko,ANataf,I/Montreal CAN 2004)
13...h4 14 h1 g5 this plan is becoming increasingly popular, see Kasimdzhanov,R
Volokitin,A/Katernberg GER 2003. In the past Black used to play the immediate
...f5 in such positions) 12 a4 h5 (12...d7 13 f4 fg4! an astonishing move, Levitt,J
Beaumont,C/GB National League 1996) 13 0-0 h7 14 d2 h4 15 h1 f5 16 f2
e8 the idea behind this move is to create additional pressure on the centre. At the
same time after exf5 the rook will be situated on the open efile, (16...d7
Kuzmin,ASandipan,C/Catalan Bay ENG 2004) 17 h1 prophylaxis, Lautier,J
Kotronias,V/Moscow RUS 2004.
6...a6!? This move may become the hot line of the future. Black has numerous
transpositional options depending on White's response. 7 d3 (7 d2 bd7 8 h3!
White exploits his chance to bring this knight to f2, as usually this knight is a
problem for White. (8 0-0-0 c6 9 h4 b5 10 h6 e5 (10...xh6 11 xh6 a5
Azmaiparashvili,ZSchmaltz,R/Dos Hermanas Internet Final, ICC INT (4) 2002) 11
ge2 a5 With the idea of b4, Moiseenko,AMiroshnichenko,E/Kapuskasing CAN
2004) 8...c5 9 f2 a5 10 dxc5 dxc5 11 f4 e5 12 f5! with advantage, Lautier,J
Inarkiev,E/Izmir TUR 2004.) 7...c5?! 8 dxc5 dxc5 9 e5! only the very greedy should
take the pawn: (9 xc5 c7? very poor there are two adequate alternatives:
(9...fd7, 9...c6) 10 e3 c6 11 b3 Murey,JRamin,M/Open, Pula CRO 2002)
9...fd7 10 f4 c6 11 f3 see Christiansen,LIvanov,I/Reykjavik 1985.

7 d2 c5 8 d5
8 ge2 a6 9 d1 (9 c1 cxd4 10 xd4 e5 Sherwin,JReshevsky,S/New YorkRosenwald
1958) 9...a5 10 d5?! xd5! 11 xa5 xe3 Basically Black just gets a whole
load of dark squares and a very strong initiative for his queen sac, Vila Gazquez,J
Avrukh,B/Andorra la Vella AND 2003.

8...e5

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zpp+-zppvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+-zpPsn-+-0
9-+P+P+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-wQ-+PzP0
9tR-+-mKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
9 g5
9 h3 h5! 10 f2 f5 11 exf5 xf5! sacrificing a piece, 12 g4 xf3 with an attack, 13 gxh5
(13 0-0-0!? g3! Korchnoi,VRoeder,M/Goodricke Open, Calcutta IND 2000)
13...f8! Beliavsky,ANunn,J/WijkaanZee 1985.

9...e6
I became fascinated by this line whilst writing my book on the Saemisch and got the
opportunity to play it about a week after the book came out!
9...a6 10 f4 ed7 11 f3 b5 12 d3 Gonzalez Gil,ESantos,C/Summer Festival Open,
Lisbon POR 2000

10 f4 eg4 11 dxe6 xe6

10

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9zpp+-+pvlp0
9-+-zplsnp+0
9+-zp-+-vL-0
9-+P+PzPn+0
9+-sN-+-+-0
9PzP-wQ-+PzP0
9tR-+-mKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
12 f3 b5!
Faced with threats like h3 and f5 Black needs to do something and do it now. The text is
designed to blow the centre open even at the cost of a piece, see Pelletier,Y
Gallagher,J/Villars 1995.

11

Smisch 6...b6 [E82]

Last updated: 14/03/03 by Joe Gallagher

1 d4 f6 2 c4 g6 3 c3 g7 4 e4 d6 5 f3 0-0 6 e3 b6

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9zp-zp-zppvlp0
9-zp-zp-snp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+PzPP+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9tR-+QmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
The Double Fianchetto Variation has gone completely out of fashion. The main lines are
poor for Black and somebody will have to invest considerable energy in order to
repair this idea.

7 d3
7 d2 c5

7...a6
7...fd7 is this the improvement we have all been waiting for? 8 ge2 c5 9 d2 c6 10
c2 e5 Soza,JZarnicki,P/VII Open, Linares CHI 2000.

8 ge2 c5 9 e5
9 d5 is not as good as the main line featured here, but will be very common in practical
play, 9...bd7 10 f4 e6 11 0-0 exd5 12 exd5 b5 13 cxb5 b6 14 f2 axb5 15 xb5
d7 16 xd7 xd7 17 d3 b7 18 fd1 fe8 A lot of players favouring active
counterplay would be happy to take Black, Khismatullin,DSan Emeterio
Cabanes,J, WYBl8, Oropesa del Mar ESP 2001.
9 0-0 c6 10 d5 e5 11 f4 fg4!? A sharp idea, because Black is trying to annihilate his
lowerrated opponent. But (11...xd3 12 xd3 g4 was also possible and about equal)
12

12 c1 xd3 13 xd3 f5 14 h3 fxe4 15 xe4 h6 16 b1 b5 17 b3 b8 18 d2

b4?! Closing the queenside limits Black's options and gives White a free hand on the
other wing, Magalashvili,DYilmaz,T/3rd IECC, Batumi GEO 2002.

9...fd7 10 exd6 exd6 11 d2

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9+-+n+pvlp0
9pzp-zp-+p+0
9+-zp-+-+-0
9-+PzP-+-+0
9+-sNLvLP+-0
9PzP-wQN+PzP0
9tR-+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
Hort,VGligoric,S/Amsterdam 1970. Yes, Black's position is playable but White doesn't
need to think too much to place his Rooks in the centre followed by h6. He would
then maintain his edge.

13

Smisch Panno Intro [E83]

Last updated: 14/03/03 by Joe Gallagher

1 d4 f6 2 c4 g6 3 c3 g7 4 e4 d6 5 f3 0-0 6 e3 c6

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zppzp-zppvlp0
9-+nzp-snp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+PzPP+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9tR-+QmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
The Panno Variation, where Black chips away at the White centre with the help of moves
such as ...b7b5 and ...e7e5, propelled by necessary Rook support given by...b8
and ...e8. Play is complex and can be extremely sharp as White goes over to allout
Kingside attack. There are positional routes too for White so Black has to know a lot
and keep up with all the latest developments. This is not a line one can just play
using intuition.

7 ge2
7 d2 a6 8 ge2 (8 0-0-0 b5!? Petursson,MGufeld,E/Hastings 1986.) 8...e8 this
preparatory move is a luxury which Black can ill afford, the mainline (8...b8 is
considered in [E84].) 9 c1 d7 Piket,JGolubev,M/BadenBaden GER 2002
7 d3 is misplaced when Black can strike at d4, 7...e5 8 d5 d4 as in Yu Mingyuan
Fernandez,R, FSIMA July, Budapest HUN 2001.

7...a6

14

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9+pzp-zppvlp0
9p+nzp-snp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+PzPP+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-+N+PzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
8 a3
To play on the queenside. Deviations from the Main Line aren't dangerous to Black who
has the usual pawn attacks ...b7b5 and ...e7e5 available when necessary. The
Samisch move f2f3 is a little slow. Some of White's options here slow the game
down even more.
8 h4 h5 9 c1 e5 10 d5 e7 11 e2 h7 Spassky,BFischer,R/Sveti Stefan/Belgrade
1992.
8 d2 is more common.

8...d7
8...d7 9 b4 e5 10 d5 e7 11 c1 h5 12 b3 Browne,WGufeld,E/New York 1989.

9 b4 b6 10 c1 e5 11 d5 d4 12 b3 xb3 13 xb3 h6!?

A standard trick to exchange darksquared bishops, if the bishop is captured the fork
...h4+ follows, Kanko,IResika,N/FSIM November, Budapest HUN 2000.

15

Smisch Panno Main line [E84]

Last updated: 08/09/04 by Victor Mikhalevski

1 d4 f6 2 c4 g6 3 c3 g7 4 e4 d6 5 f3 0-0 6 e3 c6
The Panno Variation used to be Black's most popular way of meeting the Saemisch but now
systems based on ...c5 have taken over.
Still, this is still one of Black's best replies to the Smisch, and both Fischer and Kasparov
favoured this line.

7 ge2 a6 8 d2 b8

XIIIIIIIIY
9-trlwq-trk+0
9+pzp-zppvlp0
9p+nzp-snp+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+PzPP+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-wQN+PzP0
9tR-+-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
The most common line of the Panno. White must now choose his weapons.

9 h4
9 c1 is a relatively rare line, which however has good statistics, 9...d7 10 d1 e5
(10...a5!? before playing ...e5 Black wants to stop White's counterplay on the
queenside, 11 g3 b6 12 g2 e5 13 d5 e7 with good play, Novikov,I
Efimenko,Z/Montreal CAN 2004) 11 d5 e7 12 c5 e8 13 b4 f5 14 ec3 f6 15
e2 h8 it isn't clear that this 'waiting' move is necessary. Of course the idea to
improve the fate of the e7 is a good one (g8f6h5f4 etc) but it's time
consuming, Nenashev,ANunn,J/Bundesliga 2001.
9 c1 e5 In this line Black waits for the knight from e2 to move before playing...e5 as he
wants to jump into d4 after White plays d5. 10 d5 d4 (10...e7 11 g4 d7 12 d3 f5
Stryjecki,MSocko,B, 59th chPOL, Warsaw POL 2002.) 11 b3 c5 a standard
pawn sacrifice in such positions, 12 dxc6 bxc6 13 xd4 exd4 14 xd4 White has
16

won a pawn but he is lagging in development and his king is still in the centre.
Black's dream is to land on b2, the meeting point of his two star pieces. But first he
must try and blast open the centre, see the exciting Ehlvest,JSmirin,I/Connecticut
USA 2003.
9 b1!? With the text White plans to seize even more space, 9...b5 (9...e5 10 d5 e7 11 b4 e8
and a quick ...f5 might be a better way to take advantage of White's pedestrian ninth
move. White's plan of b4 etc takes time to put into practice meanwhile his King is
still in the centre. Black MUST be energetic.) 10 cxb5 axb5 11 b4 d7 (11...e5 12 d5
e7 13 g3 Dreev,AEfimenko,Z, Aeroflot Open, Moscow RUS 2002) 12 d5 e5
13 d4 e6 Malakhatko,VMiroshnichenko,E/Simferopol UKR 2003.

9...h5
The most critical line of the Panno. The question is whether Black should block White's
attack with h5 or not. In practice he usually does these days.
9...b5 10 h5 e5 (10...bxc4 is considered very risky for Black, 11 h6 b4 12 g3 xh6 13 xh6
c2+ 14 d1 xa1 15 hxg6 Rajlich,VZalkind,K/FSIMB July, Budapest HUN 2000.)
11 d5 a5 12 g3 bxc4 13 0-0-0 d7 14 ge2? What a shocking move! OK, White
would like to have the move g4 in but his first priority is to be in a position to defend
his b2 square, Nguyen Anh DungTo Quoc Khanh/Ho Chi Minh City VIE 2003.

10 0-0-0
10 g5 b5 11 g4 bxc4 12 g3 xd4! 13 xd4 xb2 14 e3 hxg4 cpnot2deep/Internet
Chess Club 2000.
10 c1 e5 11 d5 d4 12 b3 c5 13 dxc6 bxc6 14 xd4 exd4 15 xd4 Levitt,J
Buckley,G/Hampstead 1999.

10...b5

XIIIIIIIIY
9-trlwq-trk+0
9+-zp-zppvl-0
9p+nzp-snp+0
9+p+-+-+p0
9-+PzPP+-zP0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-wQN+P+0
9+-mKR+L+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
11 d5

17

11 h6 e5 12 d5 bxc4 13 xg7 xg7 14 xf6 xf6 Rowson,JGallagher,J/chGBR,

Torquay ENG 2002, Black has nullified White's initiative and stands slightly better
now.

11...bxc4 12 xf6+ xf6 13 g4 hxg4 14 h5 e5?!

I prefer 14...gxf3! when the following, sharp lines should be checked. 15 c3 (15 g3 e5!)
15...g5 (15...e5 16 hxg6 exd4 17 h2 h4 18 xd4 g5+ 19 b1 xd4 20 xd4 fxg6 21 xc4+
g7 22 xh4 xh4 23 xh4 g5) 16 xg5 xg5 17 xg5+ h7 18 d5 g8
Cedikova,KVismara,D/Open, Estensi ITA 2001.

15 hxg6 fxg6 16 c3 xd4 17 xd4 exd4 18 xc4+

Nguyen Anh DungWang Rui/FSGM February, Budapest HUN 2000. Devastation from
the Black end but that is hardly the end of the story.

18

Smisch 6...e5 Intro [E85]

Last updated: 14/03/03 by Joe Gallagher

1 d4 f6 2 c4 g6 3 c3 g7 4 e4 d6 5 f3 0-0 6 e3 e5
Let's now turn our attention to lines where Black plays an early ...e7e5. This of course is
the traditional, oldstyle King's Indian move. Perhaps play is a little too one
dimensional for the modern King' s Indian specialist so 6...e5 isn't anything like as
popular as it once was. Nevertheless, it is still worth a try.

7 ge2

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9zppzp-+pvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
9-+PzPP+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-+N+PzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
Is an attempt to confuse Black and lead him into an inferior game. As we'll see, Black has
been very obliging of late, with early moves of the ...b8, but if he stays flexible
with 7...c6!, he has every chance for equality in an interesting game. Of course 7
dxe5 is also playable, known from BotvinnikTal. There the move worked well
thanks to Tal's impatience but we are more experienced these days ... .... maybe ....

7...c6?!
7...c6 8 d2 bd7 9 0-0-0 a5 would be my choice, see the next code.

8 d5 a5
8...e7?! is not a good square for this Knight in the Samisch. Results heavily favour White.

9 c1 c5 10 a3 b6 11 e2 a6?!
19

Braun,AAntognini,F, TChEurope Boys Ul8 2001, Just 11...e8 was reasonable e.g. 12
b4 b7 13 0-0 f5.

20

Smisch 6...e5 7 Nge2 c6 [E86]

Last updated: 04/12/05 by Victor Mikhalevski

1 d4 f6 2 c4 g6 3 c3 g7 4 e4 d6 5 f3 0-0 6 e3 e5
I figure that the popularity of this line will decline. Black plays in traditional style, usually
with ...f7f5 somewhere, but with e4 reinforced it's unsurprising that the overall
results favour White.

7 ge2

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9zppzp-+pvlp0
9-+-zp-snp+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
9-+PzPP+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-+N+PzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
White retains tension in the centre, hoping to profit.
7 d5 is, of course, the major alternative.

7...c6 8 d2
8 b3 the text is rather unusual nowadays. I, Joe, became intrigued by 8 b3 whilst writing
my book on the Saemisch, 8...bd7 this is what nearly everyone plays (but the most
critical continuation, as demonstrated by Mikhail Tal back in the 1950's is 8...exd4 9
xd4 d5) 9 0-0-0 e7 probably the best move in this rather tricky position for Black,
Sasikiran,KThipsay,P/Mumbai IND 2003.

8...bd7
In this line Black cannot fiddle around or White will get a GRIP. Black must be willing to
continue aggressively, maybe even sacrificing his dpawn along the way.

21

9 0-0-0
This is sharpest, but Black gets obvious counterchances,
9 d1 a6 10 dxe5 xe5 11 b3 b5 12 cxb5 axb5 13 xd6?! fd7 gave counterplay in
Karpov,AKasparov,G/Linares 1993.

9...a6 10 b1

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9+p+n+pvlp0
9p+pzp-snp+0
9+-+-zp-+-0
9-+PzPP+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-wQN+PzP0
9+K+R+L+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
if 10 h6 then 10...xh6 11 xh6 b5 is best

10...b5 11 c5!?
This is Graf's speciality which has been underestimated until recently. Black should be
aware of this possibility in a number of variations in the King's Indian where he tries
to hold the centre.
11 c1 exd4! creates immediate worries for White. (11...b7?! is Ivanchuk,V
Zapata,A/Novi Sad Ol 1990) 12 xd4 e8 13 b3 b8!? new, Black keeps the
pressure on and doesn't want to bring his bishop to a passive square on f8,
Jobava,BSmirin,I/Beer Sheva ISR 2005.

11...exd4
11...b4 Istratescu,AAkopian,V, IECC, Ohrid MKD 2001.

12 xd4 e5 13 cxd6 xd6 14 b3!

with the primary idea of controlling the c5 square, Graf,AKovalev,A/Bled SLO 2002.

22

Smisch 6...e5 7 d5 without 7...c6 [E87]

Last updated: 03/09/03 by Joe Gallagher

1 d4 f6 2 c4 g6 3 c3 g7 4 e4 d6 5 f3 0-0 6 e3 e5 7 d5 h5

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9zppzp-+pvlp0
9-+-zp-+p+0
9+-+Pzp-+n0
9-+P+P+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9tR-+QmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
The Uhlmann Variation, introduced by 7...h5, is a little too straightforward for modern
taste. It is not popular at the highest level any more. Of Black's seventh move
alternatives, I prefer 7...bd7, as long as he plays a quick ...c7c6, transposing back
into a main line.
7...bd7 8 h3 h5 9 c2 (9 g4 f4 10 xf4 exf4 11 xf4 e5 12 e2 f5 Seirawan
Istratescu/Moscow Ol 1994.) 9...f5 10 0-0-0 f4 11 g1 f7 12 f2 g5 13 e2 f8 14
d3 e7 15 f2 hf6 16 b1 a6 17 g3 f8 18 gxf4 gxf4 19 c5! Piket,J
Nijboer,F/chNED Leeuwarden NED 2001.

8 d2 h4+
This is an idea which Andy Martin recommended in 'Winning with the King's Indian' back
in 1989. Black offers a Queen sacrifice in the style of David Bronstein and shows
that there are still many unanswered questions in this highway of the Saemisch.
8...f5 9 0-0-0 f4?! how can Black hope for anything if he blocks the Kingside like this? 10
f2 h8 11 b1 a6 12 ge2 d7 13 c1 df6 14 c5 d7 15 b3 b5 16 a5
Kasparov,SGladyszev,O, Open, Bethune FRA 2001.

9 g3
9 f2 f4

23

9...xg3!?

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnl+-trk+0
9zppzp-+pvlp0
9-+-zp-+p+0
9+-+Pzp-+-0
9-+P+P+-wq0
9+-sN-vLPsn-0
9PzP-wQ-+-zP0
9tR-+-mKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
10 f2 xf1 11 xh4 xe3
We haven't seen so much of this queen sacrifice in recent times mainly because Black no
longer plays the classical 6...e5 against the Saemisch very often.

12 e2
12 f2 xc4 13 b5 a6 14 b3 b6 Black has two minor pieces and two pawns for the
queen, which is only a slight material deficit, and an extremely compact position
with no weaknesses. It is not easy for White to attack anything and in practice Black
scores extremely well from such positions, see Studnicka,TKlima,L/PilsenLobzy
CZE 2003.

12...xc4 13 c1 d7!?
A twist employed by Jeroen Piket after 13...a6 and 13 ...c6 had been examined and
presumably discarded. It's possible that 13...d7 makes the Queen sacrifice line
playable all over again.
13...a6 14 d1 b6 15 e3 d7 16 h3 f6

14 d1 b6!? 15 xc7
White bites the cherry. Of course this is the critical move but the Black pieces are allowed
to take up good positions. Others:
15 e3 c6 16 h3 (16 dxc6 xc6) 16...cxd5 17 exd5 a6?! It was better to freeze the
Knight on h3 with (17...f6! 18 f2 f5 only after f2 does Black go through with this
key move) 18 g5 h6 19 e4 b4 Kuzmin,APiket,J, Oostende 1991.

15...a6 16 xd7?!

24

A novelty from Alexander Volzhin. White attempts to break Black's initiative by returning
material. It is arguable whether
16 xb7 is better though: 16...b5+ 17 f2 c5 18 c7 d3+ 19 g3 f4 I like Black.
White is very tied up, his King is precariously placed and he lacks activity. Naturally
it's very unclear this assessment is very subjective.

16...xd7 17 h3 ac8! 18 e3 f6!

One key to this line is the shutting down of the knight on h3. That is the precise purpose of
...f7f6, Volzhin,ARohl,J/Ubeda 1997.

25

Smisch 6...e5 7 d5 c6 without 7 Nge2

[E88]
Last updated: 20/05/06 by Victor Mikhalevski

1 d4 f6 2 c4 g6 3 c3 g7 4 e4 d6 5 f3 0-0 6 e3 e5 7 d5 c6

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9zpp+-+pvlp0
9-+pzp-snp+0
9+-+Pzp-+-0
9-+P+P+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9tR-+QmKLsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
The main move here. Both 8 d3 and 8 d2 seem to promise White a pleasant advantage
based on an advantage in space and an almost unassailable centre. Black struggles to
achieve equality in both these lines which is why attention has turned elsewhere.

8 d3
Alternatively:
8 d2 cxd5 9 cxd5 bd7 (9...a6 10 d3 h5 11 ge2 f5 Movsziszian,KGarcia
Luque,A/TChESP Div 2001) 10 d3 a6 11 ge2 b5 12 0-0 c5 13 c2 b4 14 a4
xa4 15 xa4 b8 16 ac1! a5 17 c2! d7 18 xd7 xd7 19 c6 Reilly,T
Depasquale,C/Oceana zt, Warwick Fiji FIJ 2002. Positions such as these have given
this variation a very bad name, the Rook on c6 grips Black's game like a vice.

8...cxd5 9 cxd5 h5!?

If anything is going to work in this position, then either 9...e8 or this will be the move.
Black prepares ...f7f5 in the quickest possible manner.

26

10 ge2 f5 11 exf5 gxf5 12 0-0 d7

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zpp+n+-vlp0
9-+-zp-+-+0
9+-+Pzpp+n0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-sNLvLP+-0
9PzP-+N+PzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
The main move.
12...a6 is an uncommon line. Before developing the knight to d7 Black decides to take
control of the b5square, 13 c1 d7 14 b4 Preventing ...c5, Muhammad,S
Smirin,I/Minneapolis USA 2005.

13 d2
13 h1 a6?! (13...c5) 14 xf5! Brunner,LGallagher,J/Bern 1993.

13...df6 14 h1 h8 15 g5!?
An annoying pin,

15...d7 16 c2!

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-tr-mk0
9zpp+l+-vlp0
9-+-zp-sn-+0
9+-+PzppvLn0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-sNL+P+-0
9PzPQ+N+PzP0
9tR-+-+R+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
With advantage, Lautier,JSmirin,I/Birmingham ENG 2006.

27

Smisch 6...e5, old main line 8 Nge2

[E89]
Last updated: 14/03/03 by Joe Gallagher

1 d4 f6 2 c4 g6 3 c3 g7 4 e4 d6 5 f3 0-0 6 e3 e5 7 d5 c6 8 ge2

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwq-trk+0
9zpp+-+pvlp0
9-+pzp-snp+0
9+-+Pzp-+-0
9-+P+P+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-+N+PzP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
An older variation, where White prefers ge2 to the immediate d2. As you will see, only
Alexei Dreev among the top players is willing to essay this line.

8...cxd5 9 cxd5 bd7

9...e8! 10 g4?! (10 d2 f5) 10...h6! is a trick worth remembering, immediately giving
Black a good game:

28

XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqntrk+0
9zpp+-+p+p0
9-+-zp-+pvl0
9+-+Pzp-+-0
9-+-+P+P+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-+N+-zP0
9tR-+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
11 xh6 h4+ 12 g3 xh6 as in Sekulovska,VGeorgieva,L, chBalkan Women,
Istanbul TUR 2001 among others.

10 d2 e8

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqntrk+0
9zpp+n+pvlp0
9-+-zp-+p+0
9+-+Pzp-+-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9+-sN-vLP+-0
9PzP-wQN+PzP0
9tR-+-mKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
11 h4! f5 12 h5
Dreev,AKozul,Z/Bosnia 2001.
SUMMARY:
8 ge2 gives Black a little more rope then 8 d2 he has more options. That's why most
masters prefer d2, reserving the option of a d3 and only THEN ge2 setup.
Perhaps 8 ge2 is more angled at a Kingside initiative. In the final position of the
Dreev game just featured the Bishop remained on f1!

29