Some Old Analysis
I'm probably going to play a match with Shoemaker in the coming weeks. The last time I got challenged to a match was against Garingo a couple months ago. I have the full game here, but I left the opening analysis out because I figured he would repeat the line. Then we played three weeks later and he played the French. But he continues to play the Dragon at the club so I still left some gems out of this post from the games I have seen. While I was writing this it occurred to me that enough people from our club read this that this analysis will probably be used in some form against Garingo in other games, which will be fun to watch.
Recently the topic of Black's ninth move against the 9.0-0-0 Dragon came up on Shoemaker's blog. The two main options are 9...Nxd4 see my games against Shoemaker and Yee and 9...d5 see my game against Peake and the ensuing post (the latter is considered by theorists to be objectively better), and then there is this move 9...Bd7, which has pretty much left Black with very difficult positions in practical play. Most commentators think this move is weak.
Up and comer Chris Harrington (who has established himself as at least a very good C player in only a year of tournament play!) noted that Garingo plays 9...Bd7 and was trained by a very strong player and this is where he learned the Dragon so it must be ok. I figured the best way to answer this was to publish some homework I did before and after the following game.
I knew he played the 9...Bd7 line from blitz games and I had fallen to the rook sac (see the game) on more than one occasion. So I had expanded my knowledge of the line and I felt ready for tournament play against him. I had just lost to Parreira inexplicably and Garingo had just drawn Filipas (both rated 500 points lower than us!!) and it was still pretty early in the night so we played this game.
For those of you wondering why I am so freely publishing all of this theory on the Dragon, it is because:
a)Every line that I publish is winning for White (or at least slightly better), I hold back some select lines that are less clear.
b)I consider most of the lines I publish to be entry-level theory, most of the games and positions I reference should probably be viewed (glanced at even) before entering these positions on either side of this debate.
The Dragon takes a lot of work at home; and the games are still very intense. The reward is edge of your seat action. Mind-blowing combinations and mates giving endless CT-Art problems for both sides that must be navigated with care and consideration. You can find many examples of top grandmasters slipping in these positions and getting the guillotine so how hard could it be to beat someone that is your own strength??
Recently the topic of Black's ninth move against the 9.0-0-0 Dragon came up on Shoemaker's blog. The two main options are 9...Nxd4 see my games against Shoemaker and Yee and 9...d5 see my game against Peake and the ensuing post (the latter is considered by theorists to be objectively better), and then there is this move 9...Bd7, which has pretty much left Black with very difficult positions in practical play. Most commentators think this move is weak.
Up and comer Chris Harrington (who has established himself as at least a very good C player in only a year of tournament play!) noted that Garingo plays 9...Bd7 and was trained by a very strong player and this is where he learned the Dragon so it must be ok. I figured the best way to answer this was to publish some homework I did before and after the following game.
I knew he played the 9...Bd7 line from blitz games and I had fallen to the rook sac (see the game) on more than one occasion. So I had expanded my knowledge of the line and I felt ready for tournament play against him. I had just lost to Parreira inexplicably and Garingo had just drawn Filipas (both rated 500 points lower than us!!) and it was still pretty early in the night so we played this game.
For those of you wondering why I am so freely publishing all of this theory on the Dragon, it is because:
a)Every line that I publish is winning for White (or at least slightly better), I hold back some select lines that are less clear.
b)I consider most of the lines I publish to be entry-level theory, most of the games and positions I reference should probably be viewed (glanced at even) before entering these positions on either side of this debate.
The Dragon takes a lot of work at home; and the games are still very intense. The reward is edge of your seat action. Mind-blowing combinations and mates giving endless CT-Art problems for both sides that must be navigated with care and consideration. You can find many examples of top grandmasters slipping in these positions and getting the guillotine so how hard could it be to beat someone that is your own strength??
I was thinking a 4-game match with the time controls the same as we play on Thursday Nights.
The games would be rated and at the end, we turn them into Hong so he can send them in.
Then we just have to fit them into both of our schedules. What is your schedule like anyway?
My rating is currently lower than yours also, so you might want to add a couple of games, since the goal of this match is make me stronger and perhaps throw you by force above 2000, which is where you probably belong.
I too belong there, but always sabotage myself just as I am close. I will probably get there a few months after you.
If you win, great! If you lose, you can have a rematch if you want anytime after May 15th.
The main thing for me is that I don't want to be rusty with all the important games that are coming up.
A match with you prevents that.
But don't count on Garingo to play that. I'm pretty sure he like most of us holds back moves we want to use when we need to suprise or try to gain an advantage, i.e. Club Championship, big tourneys.
The Dragon also interests me but I wouldn't consider taking it up, until I crack into Class- A. That could be another 8-12 months depending on how much time I have for chess.
But I'm enjoying the chance to be an underdog with no pressure to win and the chance to make big upsets. Good luck in the match!
He now either has to choose one of the usual moves, they being 9...Nxd4 or 9...d5!?
If Garingo had been all that convinced of the move's soundness, then it should have been no problem to repeat it against Kevin Gafni.
Instead, he quickly ditched his favorite line in favor of another line, and not the one he was bragging about to me in our speed games. I quote: "I never lose in the Dragon." Our speed games went back and forth with victories for both sides. He never once played the French.
In my opinion, Garingo was too fearful of repeating his own favorite line of defense after the original loss.
It would appear now that he will play it against others, but not Gafni. That in itself, indicates "fear."
I wouldn't be so quick to judge what is the strategy of other players without talking with them. In fact I played a new line against Mike Filipas that I didn't play in our previous game...it doesn't mean I have fear...does it? You and Kevin both know alot more about chess than I do. I have no illusions of being able to compete with you guys on a regular basis as of yet, but having more chess knowledge doesn't mean you can figure out what is in the mind of your opponent. I think it's presumptuous to say someone is fearful without knowing their strategy.
It's all in good fun and I will be interested to see what will happen in a tournament game against the line in question.
Eric - same time controls are fine, I am free most evenings with notice.
Chris - I agree with the fact that him playing the French (especially the version he played, which is not his regular French) does not show any fear. He probably held back some moves but in that line of the Dragon he honestly has nowhere to run. I think he will continue to favor the French against me, but the line he played in our last game is not his normal line.
We'll play game one soon. In the meantime, what colors? I'm not overly concerned with which I color I begin with.
Chris: Perhaps "fear" doesn't really play into it, but at the time he chose the French, the important games on the Horizon weren't even in view yet.
I could say that I don't want to reveal anything because I'm secretly preparing for Kramnik or Anand also, but that might necessarily be true.
We cannot just read "literally" all of the time. There must be also a deeper reading.
Although you and Kevin might be right and who knows what exactly is going on in Garingo's mind; I, however do not believe him and I think if you pay attention to the so-called important games coming around, you will see French Defense and not a Dragon Sicilian from Garingo when the time comes to play against Gafni.
That should close the door on the issue. All we have to do now is wait and see what he does. If he does play the Dragon Sicilian, I would be very shocked if I didn't see the move 9...d5!?
The truth is that I wouldn't even know where to begin to prepare against either of them, even if I had the opportunity.
No fear!!!!If you hope to slay the dragon you better be prepared. Nate is taking all his games serious from this point forward.
You're gonna destroy Shoemaker! And then you can think about fighting the dragon.
If you are interested in Nate's opening feel free to just ask him before the game.
Thanks for the comment and the support.
However, I do have to concede one point:
Thanks to Kevin's suggestion, I got Golubev's book on the Dragon, which is far more accessible than Gufeld's.
Anyway, Golubev says that 9...Bd7 isn't bad, only that it's rare at that time.
The club appears to be filling up with Dragon players or Dragon Slayers. I wonder if Ernie Hong will return to the line. It used to be one of his defenses too and I'm sure he knows something about it.
Chris, I have to say that neither one of you played well. I didn't recognize either of you in that game.
I still think Garingo will opt out for 9...d5!? or not play the Dragon at all, even though he is the best Dragon player at the club at this moment in time.
Sooner or later, he has to choose the better move.