Gawain Jones - Coffeehouse Repertoire 1.e4 Volume 2

A) 8...bxc6 9.0-0 74

A1) 9... B e7 10.f3 N c5 11.f4 76

A11) 11... N e4 77

A12) 11...0-0 80

A2) 9...c5 83

B) 8... B xc6!? 84

1.e4 e5 2. N f3 N c6 3. B c4 N f6 4.d4 exd4 5.e5 d5 6. B b5 N e4 7. N xd4 B d7 8. B xc6

In this section we will consider Blacks other 9th move options after A) 8...bxc6 as well as looking at the alternative recapture B) 8... B xc6!?.

A) 8...bxc6 9.0-0

We will examine A1) 9... B e7 and A2) 9...c5, after mentioning a few other options.

9... Q b8?! was tried by the strong American GM Robert Hess, but I dont really understand the point while our bishop is still on c1. 10. N c3! N 10... N xc3 11.bxc3 B e7 12.f4 looks strong and straightforward.

9...g6?!

The fianchetto is misguided here, as Black completely loses control of the c5-square.

10. N c3!

In general we dont mind the doubled c-pawns in these positions. They do a good job of preventing Black expanding with his c- and d-pawns. We will still be able to fight for the c5-square and attack on the kingside.

10... N xc3

10... N g5 11. B e3 N e6 12. N a4 B g7 13.f4 was also excellent for White in Lagerman Kotan, Olomouc 2007.

11.bxc3

Now Black struggles to complete his development.

11...c5

11... B g7 12. B a3 would be awkward.

12. N f3 B e6 13. B g5 B e7 14. Q d2 0-0

In Arnold Ganguly, Budapest 1998, the direct approach would have worked well:

15. B xe7 N 15... Q xe7 16. Q h6 f6 17.exf6 R xf6 18. R ae1

9... Q h4

This is less logical than in the analogous position with ... B c5 and B e3 included.

10. B e3 B e7

10... B c5 11. N d2 would transpose to the illustrative game Jones Hebden on page 22.

The set-up with the bishop on e7 is generally quite passive; meanwhile the queen is more likely to be a target on h4 than a strength.

11.f3 N g5

11... N c5 12.f4 g6 13. N d2 N e6 occurred in Bondoc J. Fischer, Bucharest 1969, when 14. N 2f3 N would clearly have favoured White.

12.f4 B g4?

This loses material.

12... N e4 13. N d2

13. Q d3 c5

In Khaetsky Shevchenko, Evpatoria 2007, White could have won with:

14. N c6 N 14... N e6 15. Q xd5+

A1) 9... B e7

This is quite a risky approach, as Black provokes us to start attacking. His position may be objectively okay, but Black will have to defend extremely accurately.

10.f3 N c5

10... N g5 11.f4 N e4 would come to the same thing. ( 11... N e6? 12.f5 N xd4 13. Q xd4 is horribly passive for Black.)

11.f4

Black has two main options: A11) 11... N e4 and A12) 11...0-0.

11...f6? Black forgets about king safety: 12.f5! 0-0 ( 12...fxe5? 13. Q h5 K f8 14. N e6+ ) 13.e6 As given by Huschenbeth, this is wonderful for White.

11...f5

This would be a solid choice, if it were not for:

12.b4!

The most dynamic.

12... N e4

12... N e6?! 13. N xf5 B xb4 14. N g3! White gets ready to push the f-pawn. Its clear the f7-pawn was more valuable than the one on b2. I actually managed to reach this position against the Iranian prodigy, Alireza Firouzja, in a recent blitz event.

He continued with 14... Q h4?! when I rushed with 15.f5?, allowing the queen exchange and letting him off the hook in Jones Firouzja, Internet (blitz) 2020. (Instead, had I started with 15. K h1!+ White would have been totally winning. The threat of f4-f5 is too great.)

13.e6 B c8

14. B b2

Theres no need yet to decide which pawn to grab.

14... Q d6

14...0-0 15. N xc6 Q d6 16.b5

14... B f6 15. N d2 c5? occurred in Vera Siguenas Gemy Vargas, Montevideo 2018, when 16. N c6! N would have won on the spot, for instance: 16... Q d6 17. N xe4 fxe4 18. B xf6 gxf6 19. Q h5 K f8 20. Q f7#

15. N xf5 Q xb4 16. B xg7 R g8

Black had to try 16... B c5! N 17. K h1 B xe6 , but 18. B xh8 B xf5 19. N c3! 0-0-0 20. Q h5 works out well for White.

17. Q h5 K d8

In Schweitzer Matt, Linz 2011, White missed a nice finesse:

18. N c3! N

White is doing great, as taking the knight loses:

18... N xc3 19. N xe7 Q xe7

19... K xe7 20. Q f7+

19... R xg7 20. N xc6#

20. B xc3+

A11) 11... N e4

This has been a popular choice, but the resulting positions are exceedingly dangerous for Black.

12. N c3!?

A straightforward approach. Were happy to incur doubled c-pawns to exchange knights. Moreover, our c3-pawn will fulfil the useful role of controlling the important d4-square.

12... N xc3

12...c5 allows us the additional option of: 13. N xe4 ( 13. N b3 N xc3 14.bxc3 would transpose to the main line) 13...cxd4?! ( 13...dxe4 is preferable, although 14. N b3 N 14... B b5 15. R e1 Q xd1 16. R xd1 c4 17. N d4 B d7 18. B e3 is pleasant for White.) 14. N g3

Whites attack will be too strong, for instance: 14... B c5 ( 14...c5 15.f5 ) 15. N h5 0-0 16.f5 Q h4 17. R f4+ Gonzalez Pruneda Alonso Torno, Asturias 2001.

13.bxc3 c5

14. N b3!

Its useful to provoke the c-pawn forward.

The immediate 14. N e2 scores wonderfully, but objectively I think Black should be surviving after 14... B b5 with the idea of ... Q d7 and ...0-0-0.

14...c4

Black has to plough forward.

14... B f5 15. B e3 is obviously unpleasant for Black.

14... B b5 doesnt achieve much, as after 15. R e1 were ready to continue with B e3, hitting the c5-pawn.

15. N d4 c5

And again! Black cant allow us our straightforward plan of pushing the f-pawn.

15...0-0? walks into a huge attack: 16.f5 c5 17. N e2 B c6 18.f6 gxf6 19. B h6+

15...g6 16.f5 is not much of an improvement for Black.

16. N e2

It may look odd to favour the position with a black pawn on c4 instead of c7, but now theres no pin with ... B b5.

16... B c6