By Manuel Gerardo Monasterio

The Chigorin Defense to the Queen's Gambit Declined is one of the lines that I would call "perhaps just barely sufficient." What do I mean by this and which defenses could be included under this description?

I will certainly include the Chigorin, the Albin Counter Gambit and the Henning-Schara (a sub-variation from the Tarrasch). These lines all have one thing in common: they were considered almost unplayable until very recently. Well, we know that this is not the case anymore. But, why did I nickname them as "perhaps just barely playable?" Because if we compare them with other defenses, like the Tartakower, the Orthodox or the Lasker defenses to the Queen's Gambit Declined, we see that they are much more difficult to play, and the safe route to avoid falling into the abyss is much more difficult to travel. You may survive -- and even win, of course, under some circumstances -- but the journey will certainly be much more dangerous.

Having said this, my feeling is that with some exact play Black cannot avoid a slight but clear disadvantage in all these three defenses.

I will begin with the Chigorin, using as an example a game played by me against a very strong player, Carlos Pappier, a Senior Master (the titles at IECG are: Email Master, International Master, Senior Master, Grand Master), a player who is two categories ahead of me. The kind of positional destruction that I was able to inflict on a much stronger player gives a lot of information about what I said earlier about these "just barely sufficient" defenses. I will not indulge into much theoretical discussion, as I have written a huge survey -- an e-book on the Chigorin that you can directly download at: CHIGORIN E-BOOK.

You will find there a very complete coverage of all lines, including those moves that could be made by your local club opponent, not just the best moves played by Masters that you usually find in most opening books. You will not be disappointed with respect to that.

Manuel Monasterio (2266) – Carlos Pappier Guillermo (2438) [D07]
CM.2004.0.00253 IECG, 24.08.2004
1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.cxd5

4.Nc3 is also an excellent choice, but I must confess that, having just finished my book on the Chigorin at precisely that time, I was confidently playing for a win. The lines deriving from 4.Nc3 are less sharp than those that we are going to see in the main game. Although white has a very sound position, I felt that a player of Pappier's strength would have had fewer problems to hold.

4...Bxf3 5.gxf3 Qxd5 6.e3 e6

This is one of the most typical "tabyas" of the whole Chigorin Defense. It must be noted, though, that Black had another possibility in the form of 6...e5, which is more popular and the recommended approach given by foremost theoretical Guru John Watson. But 6...e6 has also been the choice of some very strong players, like Tony Miles.

7.Nc3 Qh5 8.Bd2!?

White has several choices here (you will find them all at my e-book). The move that I chose is a very principled one, though, as it is aiming to make immediate use of the semi-open c-file, a big white trump in this position.

8...0-0-0

Now white has three main moves, which we may call "D","S" and "C".

9.f4 is "D" for "dull", although to be fair it must also be called "solid." The way to handle it was excellently showed by the late British Champion Tony Miles in his game against Komljenovic at Lisbon 2000.

9.h4 is "S" for "sharp." A good example of its nuances may be found at Beliavsky-Rabiega, Tegel 2001. White's chances, both to win and lose, increase dramatically after this move.
The move chosen by me (9.Rc1) is "C" for "consequent" -- white calmly goes on with his plan without producing any major changes yet.

9.Rc1 Nf6

9...Nge7 may be seen in the game Sakaev-Eid, Dubai 2003.

10.Be2 Qh3

Black also follows thematically, another approach was seen in Sturua-Chatalbashev, Ohrid 2001 and in El Gindi-Eid, Dmascus 2003. In both games Black played 10...Nd5 first here.

11.Ne4 Bd6

The only game that I have found with the position after 11.Ne4 is Bennborn-Poulheim, ICCF 2002, where black's faith was not better either. There black played 11...Nd5.

Therefore, as I say at my book, we are now in virgin territory, and as far as I can predict according to my feeling of this position, it is my believe that this "land" will remain still a maid for the centuries!

12.Nxf6!

The black knight is a much useful piece than the helpless Bishop.

12...gxf6 13.Qa4

Quite simple chess, which simply tells a lot about black's problems in this position: lack of appropriate counterplay.

13...Qh5

White was threatening the immediately terminal Rxc6, and Pappier decides on this direct approach instead of the perhaps more dubious ...Qg2 and ...Qg5, which exposes the black Queen.

14.e4 Nb8

Now there is no choice, this is the only move.

15.Qxa7 Qh3

It is difficult to suggest something better.

16.Rc3!

A very cunning move. Its purpose is to activate the Rook on the queenside. Several other moves were possible, but this one is very interesting indeed.

And there we are!

Despite white's promising position, an eventual win must not be taken for granted. Black's resources (as always?) are greater than they seem. If White gives black time to arrange a defense, the h7 pawn could eventually become a counter balancing force.

18...Bxd2+ 19.Kxd2

White has managed to eliminate one of black's potential defenders.

19...Rd7 20.Rb4

End of the maneuver began with 16.Rc3

20...c6 21.Qa8

I still cannot make up my mind which move is stronger here. My impression is that 21.Qa8 may be a slight inaccuracy, and that 21.h4, preserving the h-pawn, is safer, but who knows?

21...Qxh2 22.Rc1 Rc7 23.Ke3

One of those rare occasions in which the King represents a force in the middle of a crowded middlegame

23...Qd6 24.a3 Rd8 25.f4 h5 26.Ba6

White's task was to foresee that this inevitable and "only" maneuver was enough to win, and that black's pawn would be neutralized after the smoke settled down.

26...Kd7 27.Rxb7 Nxa6 28.Qxa6 Rxb7 29.Qxb7+ Qc7 30.Qa6 Rb8 31.b4 Qb6 32.Qxb6 Rxb6 33.Kd3!

The correct side for the King. Black is mathematically lost in this position, but as everyone must know, this type of Rook endgame cannot be played in automatic pilot. They must be very well calculated.

33...Rb8 34.Kc4 Rh8

Black's counterplay along the g-file by means of 35...Rg8 was also insufficient, as both players saw.

35.Rh1 h4 36.Rh3

A mandatory but simple geometrical maneuver that technically ends the game.

36...Kc7 37.a4 Rh5 38.a5 Kb7 39.e5 Kc7 40.b5

The simplest.

40...cxb5+ 41.Kxb5 Kb7 42.Kc5 fxe5 43.fxe5 Kc7 44.a6 Rh8 45.Rb3!

A nice finishing touch.

45...Rb8 46.Rf3 Rf8 47.d5, 1–0.

Along with his resignation, Mr.Pappier showed a very rare gesture of sportsmanship that you are not going to find easily in today's world. He wrote: "Congratulations. You outplayed me in the opening, in the middlegame and in the endgame."

Thank you very much, it may indeed be so. But I was very lucky that Senior Master Pappier chose to play the Chigorin. I was very well prepared having written a book during those days.

And after all, is the Chigorin playable? Sure it is, but the pitfalls are also very numerous indeed, and Black must be extremely well prepared for defending for a very long time if White knows what he is doing.

I will be covering next the Henning-Schara and the Albin.
Until then, Happy New Year for all of you that celebrate it around these days and the best from life to all!