Botvinnik Semi-Slav, The (Pedersen)

134 THE BOTVINNIK SEMI-SLAV
Alternatively, Karaklajic analyses
21 'ii'el 'ii'b7 22l:f.xc6 'ii'xc6 (22 ... l:f.xc6
is risky due to 23 d5) 23 lDf6+ lDxf6
24 J-xc6+ l:f.xc6 25 'iVe5, but Black
seems to be doing quite well with
25 ... J-e7 26 d5 exd5 27 l:f.el l:f.e628
'iVb8+ J-d8 29 l:f.xe6+ fxe6 30 'iVc8
as! 31 'iV xe6+ f8, when the rook can
be activated via h7.
21...J-xe4! 22 'iixc7 l:f.xc7 23l:f.xc7
St.xf3 24 gxf3 l:f.g8+ 25 hll:f.g5 26
]:a7 a5 27 :a8+ e7 28 :c1l:f.d5
The endgame is winning for Black
due to White's numerous weaknesses,
while the rook performs a great role in
both defence and attack, Kravtsov­
Se.lvanov, Russian Cht 1999.
C)
11 a4 (D)
B
We have learned, by examining the
two previous main lines, that Black
can defend rather easily if he is allowed
to play ... lDd7. With 11 a4
White prevents this since 11...lDd7 is
now met by 12lDxc6 J-b7 13 axb5.
Now we split the variations into
three further main lines:
Cl: 11 ... c5 134
C2: 11 ... J-b7 136
C3: 1l ... h3!? 138
Cl)
11 ... c5
With this rather provocative move,
Black claims that White's previous
move was not really threatening anything.
12lDg4!
Regarded as White's best since
11.. .c5 was launched in the late 1980s.
Deliberately removing the pride and
joy of White's position from e5 is here
justified for various reasons. First of
all, its supporter on d4 is about to be
undermined, but, secondly, and not less
importantly, Black has completely
opened his queenside, and so it is logical
to begin an attack here by first
forcing Black's queen to a less favourable
position. However, the two captures
on b5 should also be investigated:
a) 12 lDxb5? is simply good for
Black: 12 ... cxd4 13 lDc7+ ~d8 14
'iVxd4+ lDd7 150-0-0