12 Jan 05
Originally posted by no1marauderWhile we're waiting for the originator of this thread to step in and prevent it from turning into a meaningless voting thread, could someone quickly summarise the key ideas behind the Najdorf in general (poisoned pawn in particular)? no1 - you're a regular player of the Najdorf. Any thoughts?
Has someone who just played my first Poisoned Pawn on this site against you, screwed up and was badly beaten, I'd appreciate seeing your analysis. However, this is the Chess Forum so either show your analysis or don't; whether 30 people want to see it is immaterial, if you were interested in helping other players you'd just show it. People very ...[text shortened]... n purposes. Whether it would help 1 player or 30 I don't understand why you're playing so coy.
12 Jan 05
Originally posted by lucifershammerWell as Arrakis just showed me - Game 869502 - I'm certainly no expert on the Poisoned Pawn!! Apparently, 14 ....... Nxe5 is an analyzed blunder leading to an almost certainly lost game (there's a couple of games in the databases that I missed), though if people want to do an analysis of the game they're welcome.
While we're waiting for the originator of this thread to step in and prevent it from turning into a meaningless voting thread, could someone quickly summarise the key ideas behind the Najdorf in general (poisoned pawn in particular)? no1 - you're a regular player of the Najdorf. Any thoughts?
The idea of any Sicilian is Queen side counterattack; the Najdorf is characterized by 5 ........ a6, which keeps White's minor pieces off b5. avoiding a pin of the Knight on d7 or the Knight attacking Black's Queen at c7 (where it's usually deployed in the Najdorf). Of course, the Poisoned Pawn goes for a more violent Queenside attack by Qb6 and Qxb2 than the usual building of pressure down the c file. The line is sharp and gives White a serious lead in development, but if Black can mobilize his forces before White can smash through he has good winning chances. However, as shown in our game, one misstep can be fatal so it's not for the faint of heart!
12 Jan 05
1 edit
Originally posted by lucifershammerKey theme for black in the Najdorf is flexibility. Black prepares queenside play (as in most Sicilians) with a6 without committing first the e-pawn (e6 or e5) or the queens-knight (d7 or c6), and may even delay it further with queen moves. The latter is the case when white plays Bg5 and f4 in reply to a6 (and e6) and then black 'develops' the queen to b6, attacking the undefended 'poisened' pawn on b2. White can either use the development lead he gets for the pawn (he plays Qd2) and starts a pawn storm on the kingside later) or 'declines' the gambit with Nb3 in still a sharp (but equal) position.
While we're waiting for the originator of this thread to step in and prevent it from turning into a meaningless voting thread, could someone quickly summarise the key ideas behind the Najdorf in general (poisoned pawn in particular)? no1 - you're a regular player of the Najdorf. Any thoughts?
edit: hadn't seen the parallel reply which is more or less the same as mine.
12 Jan 05
Originally posted by Mephisto2The last really high-level games I recall seeing in this line were in teh Short-Kasparov WC match, 1993. Which were very cool games - I'll post links later when I can find them.
Key theme for black in the Najdorf is flexibility. Black prepares queenside play (as in most Sicilians) with a6 without committing first the e-pawn (e6 or e5) or the queens-knight (d7 or c6), and may even delay it further with queen moves. The latter is the case when white plays Bg5 and f4 in reply to a6 (and e6) and then black 'develops' the queen to b6 ...[text shortened]... al) position.
edit: hadn't seen the parallel reply which is more or less the same as mine.
Anything more recent in cutting edge theory? Is this line still played at the top level?
12 Jan 05
Originally posted by OsseKasparov still plays it at times, most recently in 2004 at Izmir against Azarov (draw). Kasimdzhanov lost to Sadvakasov at Skanderborg in 2004 with the latter playing the Poisoned Pawn and the databases have quite a few games played in the variation by 2500+ in 2004.
The last really high-level games I recall seeing in this line were in teh Short-Kasparov WC match, 1993. Which were very cool games - I'll post links later when I can find them.
Anything more recent in cutting edge theory? Is this line still played at the top level?
12 Jan 05
1 edit
Originally posted by no1maraudertwo more recent:
Kasparov still plays it at times, most recently in 2004 at Izmir against Azarov (draw). Kasimdzhanov lost to Sadvakasov at Skanderborg in 2004 with the latter playing the Poisoned Pawn and the databases have quite a few games played in the variation by 2500+ in 2004.
Kramnik - Svidler, Wijk aan Zee 2004; 1-0
Vallejo Pons - Kasparov, Moscou 2004; 1/2 - 1/2
12 Jan 05
Originally posted by lucifershammerI became very interested in the Opening after my game with no1marauder, but that's not what I'm going to use for the article. I'm going to show the basics of the variation and recommend some lines of play for White. Putting it together now.
While we're waiting for the originator of this thread to step in and prevent it from turning into a meaningless voting thread, could someone quickly summarise the key ideas behind the Najdorf in general (poisoned pawn in particular)? no1 - you're a regular player of the Najdorf. Any thoughts?
