One of my latest book in store is THE SLAV. The author is Graham Burgess, a GM who used to be in the same team with GM Dr. John Nunn. Together, they had produced many notable chess books which enriches the chess literature such as NUNN'S CHESS OPENINGS, BEATING THE INDIAN DEFENCE etc.

My price is RM95.00. As far as I am concerned, the local bookstore's price is RM 104.90, which means that I am offering almost RM10.00 less.

My good friend, Hairul (see his famous blog http://hairulovchessmaniacs.blogspot.com/ ) onced had seked me if I know any latest reference for Slav when holding the black pieces. I recommended this. After a few while, when I met him again, I asked about this book. He commented: "This book had helped me answering 2 problems in Slav. First, how to react against the dull exchange Slav, (eg 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.cxd5 etc). And second, how one should play as black in the line whereby black sacrifices a piece 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 e6 7. f3 Bb4 8. e4 Bxe4 9. fxe4 Nxe4 10. Bd2 Qxd4 11. Nxe4 Qxe4+ 12. Qe2 Bxd2+ 13. Kxd2 Qd5+.

He added, "I prefer to defend the black side".

Saprin Sabri, a very strong local chess player posed me a question during the recent UIA Open 2008; "Can this book (THE SLAV) improve your game?". Well, as a chess books seller and a friend I had to be fair to myself as a businessman and as a friend. I came out with the answer, "Surely this book will help to improve your game, but, if you still lose playing Slav, it is not the book's fault, but it is your own fault", and we bursted into a laugh. My real meaning was, the book is good but it is up to the owner to benefit from the book.

I also present here a partial game of mine (5 minutes game- I could not recall the whole game) against Choo Min Wang (see picture), the silver medalist of Para Games 2005 Manila, and our own very first National Master.



[Event "Catur OKU Berpasukan" (5 minutes warming up game)]
[Year 2007]
[White "Rizal A Kamal"]
[Black "Choo Min Wang"]
[Annotator "Rizal A Kamal]

Slav defence [ECO "D15"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Bf5? (This is a very common mistake in the Slav which I notice, frequently committed by Malaysian players, including by very strong players)
5. cxd5 cxd5 6. Qb3 Nc6 7. Qxb7 Na5 8.Qb5+ Bd7 9. Qd3 g6 10. e3 Bg7 11. Ne5 Bf5 12. Qb5+ Kf8 13. Be2 and white won in a few more moves

The book THE MODERN MORRA GAMBIT; WEAPON AGAINST THE SICILIAN (see picture from stock photo) was among the latest book for sale, currently available in my stock. I actually have 2, one for my personal reference and one for business. My price is RM 110.00.

Probably many think it is a very expensive book. However, if you try to find the book in the local store (so far), it is not available. And if this book, does available for sale in the local bookstore, I expect that the price would not much difference from my offered price. This book is 334 pages and published in 2006!! The author is a German's FIDE master with the rating 2400!!

I had taught this very specific opening to the para games (Ladies) 2008 players and they had effectively used it as their main weapon when facing against the Sicilian defence. In this way, many hours of work of preparation was cut offand as a result, the ladies obtained the gold in the team event (Para games Korat, Thailand 2008).

After studying and even recommending it, I used it onced in the Malay open 2008 and guess what? I defeated one of my most bitter rival, FM Anas Nazreen. Though the game was far from perfect, it encourages me to keep my faith on this system, especially as a surprise weapon. Here is the historic moment

Original Analysis by Hairulov and Fritz in http://hairulovchessmaniacs.blogspot.com/ with additional comment by me

Rizal Ahmad Kamal (2022) vs FM Anas Nazreen Bakri (2253)
Malay Open 2008, Round 3, 09.02.2008

1.e4 c5 2.d4 A surprise by Rizal. He usually play the main line. Never before i see he play the Smith Morra Gambit - Hairulov

I had had many encounters against my opponent here before and all the games were the Najdorf with 6.Bc4 which ended with one lost and the rest were all drawn. Therefore, as I had studied the Morra gambit, I decided to give it a try here.

2...cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3

White sacrifices a pawn to develop quickly and create attacking chances. In exchange for the gambit pawn, White has a piece developed and a pawn in the center, while Black has nothing but an empty space on c7. The plan for white is straightforward and consists in putting his bishop on c4 with attack on f7, and control of both lines c and d with rooks taking advantage of the fact that the black queen can hardly find a suitable place.- Hairulov

4...e6 Anas choose the Chicago Defense. 5.Nf3 a6 6.Bc4 b5 7.Bb3 Bb7 8.a3(?)

(A lemon. Actually 8.0-0 was better)

8...d6 9.0–0 Nf6 10.Qe2 Nbd7 11.Nd4 Fritz opening book suggest 11.Rd1 Be7 12.Bf4 Qb8 13.Rd2 0–0 14.Rad1 Nc5 15.Bc2 e5 16.Bg5 Ne6 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 - Hairulov

11...Qb8 12.f4 Nc5

After the game Rizal said that now the game transpose to a similar position in Sicilian Sozin that he is used to play as black and white!

13.Bd5? (!?)

The mark in bracket was mine. This is where my opponent fell into some deep thought which is fatal in 45 minutes time control. I remember that Tal used to say, there are 2 types of sacrifices, a sound one and mine (Tal)

Sorry Rizal. Actually Fritz gave two question mark for this move. However your bait did made Anas spent alot of time. For me, this move is what i called "pergerakan yang mengelirukan kawan dan lawan!" - a move that confuse your opponent and your friend! " 13.Bc2!?= is suggest by the computer.-Hairulov

13...Be7?? Fritz tell me that Anas should take the bishop in d5 with a poker face! 13...exd5! 14.exd5+ Kd7! - Hairulov

I intended to follow up with 15.b4 and I considered it would give black a tough time practically

14.b4 14.Nc6!? Qc7 15.Nxe7 Qxe7 16.Bxb7 Qxb7 17.e5 -Hairulov (This gives black nothing to worry (Rizal)

14...0–0?? against the bishop in d5 can be taken. But in 45 minutes game, it is difficult to calculate complicated variations too long. I heard many players complain about the shorter time control. In the past, the time control used to be 1 and a half hour. 14...exd5!? 15.exd5 Qa7 µ 16.Re1 Ne6! 17.Be3 Nxd4 18.Bxd4 Qxd4+ 19.Kh1 Ng8 So what? - Hairulov

15.bxc5 15.Bxb7!? is an interesting alternative 15...Nxb7 16.e5= - Hairulov.

But I wanted to win

15...exd5 16.c6(?) 16.Nf5!? Re8 17.cxd6 Bxd6 18.e5 - Hairulov

16...Bxc6!–+ Decoy: c6 -Hairulov

17.exd5 17.Nxc6 Qb6+ Double attack 18.Kh1 Qxc6 - Hairulov

17...Qb6 17...Bd7!? May be a little bit safer. -Hairulov

18.Be3 Bb7 Black has a cramped position -Hairulov

19.Nf5 A dream square for the knight. -Hairulov

19...Qd8

Rizal before playing 20.Qd3

20.Qd3 Re8 21.Bd4 White is eyeing the g7.

21...Bc8? This gave white chance to crack black kingside. 21...Bf8!?= might be a viable alternative - Hairulov

22.Nxe7+ Qxe7 23.Rae1 Qd8 23...Qxe1? didn't gave black any chance because after 24.Rxe1 Rxe1+ 25.Kf2 Ra1 26.Bxf6 gxf6 27.Ne4 Black pawn on f6 and d6 is weak.-Hairulov

24.Bxf6 gxf6 25.Ne4?! 25.Rxe8+!? and White could well hope to play on 25...Qxe8 26.Ne4 Qe7 27.Ng3! With the idea of Nh5-Qc3 and Re1 - Hairulov

25...Bf5 Now black have the initiative. -Hairulov

26.Qg3+ Kh8 27.Nf2 Qb6 28.Qh4 Qd4 29.Rd1 Qb2 30.Nd3 Bxd3 31.Rxd3 Rg8?! 31...Re2! is better 32.Rg3 Rg8 33.Rxg8+ Kxg8 34.Qg4+ Kf8 35.Qc8+ Re8 36.Qf5 Qc3 Black have a potential to create a passed pawn on the queen side. -Hairulov

32.Rg3 Rxg3 33.hxg3 Re8 34.Qh6 Kg8 35.Qh5 35.Kh2!? -Hairulov

35...Qe2? letting the wind out of his own sails 35...Qxa3 36.Kh2 (36.Qg4+ Kf8!) 36...Qd3–+ - Hairulov

36.Rf3? White should play for a draw with 36.Qxe2!? Rxe2 37.Rc1³ Ra2 38.Rc6 Rxa3 39.Rxd6 Kf8 40.Rb6 - Hairulov

36...Qd1+

36...Qc2 is better 37.Rf1 Re3 38.Qg4+ Kf8–+ -Hairulov

37.Kh2

37...Kh8?? A blunder by Anas. Actually he is in severe time pressure. 37...Qc2 38.Qg4+ Kh8 and he still have the advantage - Hairulov

38.Qxf7+- Rg8? 38...Qe2 is one last hope 39.Qxf6+ Kg8 40.Qxd6 Qc2 41.Qxa6 Re2+- 42.Qc6 Rxg2+ 43.Kh3 Rh2+ 44.Kg4 - Hairulov

39.Qxf6+ Rg7 40.Re3

40.Qxd6! is better because 40...Qd4 (40...Qe2 41.Qf8+ Rg8 42.Qf6+ Rg7 43.d6) 41.Qe5 Qxe5 42.fxe5+- - Hairulov

The line I selected was also win, therefore there was no need for me to calculate another variation

40...Qh5+ 41.Kg1 Qd1+ 41...a5 42.Kf2 (42.Qxd6?! Qd1+ 43.Kf2 Qd2+ 44.Re2 Qd4+ 45.Kf1 Rxg3+-) 42...Qg6 43.Qc3+- -Hairulov

42.Kf2 Qd2+ 43.Re2 1–0

Black resign because after 43.Re2 Qxd5 44.Re8+± - Hairulov

A sweet revenge against an FM titled player