Ragozin – Mathiey Cornette- Excerpt

Introduction

INTRODUCTION
When I started to write this book, one of the first problems I encountered was to find
the right way to order it or to divide it. As you will notice, there is often more than
one way to get to a certain position and I have tried to make it as clear as possible
via which move-orders the line can be reached.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4
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This is the basic position of the Ragozin opening. White now has a wide choice of
moves. I decided to divide this book into seven parts.
The first part is about the Qa4+ system. It can start with 5.Qa4+ directly or
with 5.Bg5 first, then 5...h6 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.Qa4+. White’s idea behind this check is
to drive the black knight from b8 to c6, blocking the c-pawn which otherwise often
counterattacks White’s centre with a ...c7-c5 push. Instead, Black often reacts
with ...dxc4 and ...e6-e5 at the right moment.
Part 2 introduces the Qb3 system. As in the first case, it can start either
with 5.Qb3 directly or after 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.Qb3. Black reacts with ...c7-c5
in both cases.
Part 3 is about the 5.cxd5 exd5 line, where I analyse not only 6.Bg5, the main line,
but also other 6th moves.
In Part 4 I cover the 5.Bg5 h6 line. If the bishop retreats to h4, Black can take on c4
and play a good version of the Vienna variation, and if 6.Bxf6, it brings us to a
fashionable line.
In Part 5 I analyze all the different White 5th moves which transpose to the Nimzo-
Indian. 5.e3 is of course the main move, but for example 5.g3 is also a decent
possibility.
And finally, the last part of this book is about what I call the ‘Accelerated
Ragozin’: 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4. It’s a move-order I have used quite often
myself and most of the time it reaches the ‘normal’ Ragozin, even if White has
different options. Black’s main idea behind this move-order can be to avoid the
Nimzo-Indian with 4.Qc2 or the line with 4.e3 followed by 5.Nge2. If White tries to
play these continuations in the accelerated Ragozin, Black has a strong ...dxc4
response.

1. 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bxf6 — 7.Qa4+ 8.XXX 9.XXX

Part 1.
System with Qa4+
In this first section we will study every system where White plays Qa4.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Bg5
5.Qa4+
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This move is the start of one of the main branches of Ragozin. The idea is to drive
the Nb8 to c6. It’s not the most natural square for the knight because it’s in front of
the c7-pawn. On the other hand, the Qa4 is also not ideally placed and Black will
have an advantage in development. 5...Nc6 6.e3 (6.Ne5 will be studied in Chapter
4. 6.a3 will be studied in Chapter 4. 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bxf6 Qxf6 is another move-order to
reach Chapters 1 and 2, but also Chapter 3 if White delays taking on
d5. 6.cxd5 exd5 is the starting position of Chapter 3.) 6...0-0 will be studied in
Chapter 5.
5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bxf6 Qxf6 8.Qa4+ Nc6 is another path to reach Chapter 3.
5...h6 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.Qa4+
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This is a fashionable move-order.

7...Nc6 8.e3
8.Ne5 will be studied in Chapter 1.
8.a3 will be studied in Chapter 1.
8...0-0 9.Be2
The most fashionable line nowadays, which will be carefully analyzed in Chapter
2. 9.Rc1 will be studied in Chapter 1.
9.a3 will be studied in Chapter 1.

Chapter 1.
5.Bg5 h6 6.Bxf6 — 7.Qa4+ 8.XXX 9.XXX
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.Qa4+ Nc6 8.e3
8.Ne5?
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This move looks tempting, but it’s just a mistake giving Black a good
advantage. 8...Bd7! 9.Nxd7 (9.Nxc6 Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 Bxc6 11.Qb4 dxc4 Opening up
lines for the bishop. 12.Qxc4 (12.e3 0-0-0µ and Black was simply better, as White
could not develop easily due to the pressure on the g2-pawn: Van der Stricht,G
(2468)-Atalik,S (2570) Plovdiv 2003) 12...0-0-0µ Black had a very big advantage in
development: Rmus,A (2398)-Delchev,A (2669) Bijelo Polje 2005) 9...Qxd4! The
kind of move which is easy to miss!
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10.Qc2 (10.Rc1 Qxc4! Threatening ...Bxc3 winning the queen. 11.Qc2 Kxd7–
+ and Black simply had two pawns up for nothing in the game Teixeira,R (2353)-
Mitkov,N (2547) Rio de Janeiro 2000) 10...Qxc4! as the white knight is trapped on
d7 Black continues to collect the pawns 11.e3 Qg4µ and Black won quite easily in
the game: Abhishek,A (2123)-Vishnu,P (2467) Dharamshala 2014. White is not
even able to grab a pawn with his knight!
8.a3 Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 0-0 10.e3 transposes to 8.e3 then 9.a3
8...0-0
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9.Rc1!?
Quite a fashionable move. Kramnik used it against Aronian in 2015, and in 2016
Wang Hao and Krasenkow played it. The idea behind this move is to be able to take
on c3 with a rook and also delay the bishop development, which might be able to
recapture the pawn on c4 in one move without losing an important
tempo. 9.a3 Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 Qg6!?
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Black paralyzes White’s kingside as the f1–bishop cannot move (10...Bd7 is also a
decent alternative. Black wants to play ...Re8 next followed by ...dxc4
and ...e5.) 11.Rc1
a) 11.Be2 I was surprised to see that this move had been already played several
times. 11...Qxg2 12.Rg1 Qh3 13.Rg3 Qf5 14.0-0-0!N 14...dxc4 15.Bxc4 Qa5∞
Obviously, White has some compensation here, but pawn is a pawn and I believe
that Black is fine.
b) 11.h4 with the obvious idea of h4-h5, getting rid of the annoying black
queen. 11...Bd7 12.h5 (12.Qd1 dxc4 13.Bxc4 e5!∞ Black had good play in:
Miladinovic,I (2603)-Mitkov,N (2528) Heraklio
2007) 12...Qf6 13.cxd5 exd5 14.Bd3 White has finally succeeded in developing his
bishop, but his kingside is weakened now, and Black was totally fine
after 14...Bg4∞ in the game Van Wely,L (2695)-Pokorna,R (2348) Vlissingen 2001;
c) 11.g3 Bd7 12.Qd1 Rad8!?N
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With the idea of taking on c4 and playing ...e5. (12...dxc4!?N is a good

alternative 13.Bxc4 e5!? Exploiting the weakened light-squares on the
kingside. 14.0-0 Rad8= with a decent
position) 13.Bd3 (13.cxd5 exd5 14.Bg2 Rfe8 15.0-0 b6=) 13...Qf6 14.0-0 (14.Nd2
Na5=) 14...dxc4 15.Bxc4 e5∞ and I like Black’s position;
d) 11.Nh4N can lead to a move repetition 11...Qe4 12.Nf3 Qg6=;
11...Rd8 12.Qc2 has been played twice with a score of 2/2 for White which is quite
surprising, as Black has a good position
here: 12...Qxc2 13.Rxc2 dxc4 14.Bxc4 b6 15.Be2 was played in the game Popov,V
(2545)-Taimanov, M (2454) St Petersburg 2001, but here I suggest an improvement
over the game: 15...Na5!?N
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Black’s plan is simple: ...Bb7 and ...c7-c5 16.Ne5 (After 16.c4?! c5³ is even
stronger than with a pawn still on
c3; 16.Nd2 Bb7 17.Bf3 Bxf3 18.Nxf3 Rac8∞ followed by ...c7-
c5) 16...Bb7 17.f3 (17.0-0 c5³ and ...Rac8 is coming next, with a pleasant position
for Black) 17...Rac8 18.Nc4 Nxc4 19.Bxc4 c5= with at least equality.
9.Bd3 will transpose to Chapter 2, but it’s actually less precise than 9.Be2 because
after 9...dxc4 the bishop is attacked and White has no choice but to take back the
pawn directly;
9.Be2 is the main move. It will be deeply analyzed in Chapter 2.
9.cxd5 exd5 See Chapter 3.
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9...Qg6!?
Putting pressure on the g2-pawn leaves White with a lack of coordination. 9...Rd8 I
played this move back in 2011 against the Spanish grandmaster Rivas Pastor. It’s an
interesting alternative but I prefer the text move.
10.Qc2
10.h4 has been played three times but it looks superficial to me. 10...a6!?N is a
good move. Black is threatening to take on
c4. 11.h5 (11.Qc2 Qxc2 12.Rxc2 dxc4 13.Bxc4 Bd6= followed by ...e6-
e5) 11...Qf5 12.cxd5 (12.Be2? is a mistake due to 12...dxc4!µ simply winning the
pawn, followed by ... b7-b5; 12.Qb3 dxc4 13.Bxc4 b5 14.Be2 Bb7∞ with complex
play) 12...exd5 13.Qd1 (13.Be2 Bd6!? with the idea being to
play ...Ne7 14.Nb5 leads to a forced
draw: 14...axb5!? 15.Qxa8 Bd7 16.Qxb7 Rb8 17.Qa6 Rb6 18.Qa8+ Rb8=) 13...Ne7
14.Bd3 Qe6 15.Kf1 Bd6= with a balanced position
10...Qxc2 11.Rxc2 Rd8
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This is the move chosen by the elite players. Aronian has already played this
position three times and recently Hammer and Movsesian have both tried it.
11...Bd6!?N has never been played but I believe it is a good alternative to the main
move.
12.a3
12.c5 doesn’t promise anything after the thematic 12...e5 13.a3 Bf5!?N
(13...Bxc3+ has been played in one existing game in the database but it looks rather
strange to me not to insert ...Bf5
first 14.Rxc3 exd4 15.Nxd4 Nxd4 16.exd4 Re8+ 17.Re3 Bd7= Shen,Y (2459)-
Zhao,X (2527) China
2015) 14.Rc1 Bxc3+ 15.Rxc3 (15.bxc3 f6∞) 15...exd4 16.Nxd4 Nxd4 17.exd4 Re8+
=
12...Bf8 13.Nb5
With the idea of forcing the Rd8 to an awkward square. 13.Be2 Na5 has been
played in the most recent game by Hammer (13...Ne7!? was Aronian’s choice 14.0-
0 c6 might look passive but is okay for Black 15.b4 (15.Ne5 f6 16.Nf3 b6= followed
by ...Bb7) 15...dxc4 16.Bxc4 Nd5= and Black had a good position in the game
Radjabov,T (2713)-Aronian,L (2803) Beijing
2013) 14.c5 (14.cxd5 exd5=) 14...Nc6 If such a theoretician as Hammer chose to
play this way, I can be assured that my idea with 11...Bd6!?N 12.c5 Be7 is
correct. 15.b4 g5 I am not entirely sure that it’s the best way to play for Black but
nevertheless I want to keep this game in the book because Black played a real
masterpiece. (15...a6= looks quite logical) 16.g4 e5!
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When holding the two bishops it’s always important to open the
position 17.Nxe5 (17.Nb5 exd4 18.Nfxd4 (18.Nxc7 d3! 19.Bxd3 Bxg4 20.Nd4 Nxd4
21.exd4 Rac8 22.Nb5 a6 23.Rg1 f5 24.Nc3 Bg7∞ with a sharp and very unclear
position. However, Black’s play looks easier.) 18...Nxd4 19.Nxd4 c6= with
equality.) 17...Nxe5 18.dxe5 a5! Black has sacrificed a pawn for the initiative and
now has to continue playing actively to keep up the pressure. 19.0-
0 (19.b5 Be6³ followed by ...d5-d4 gives Black an
edge) 19...axb4 20.axb4 c6 21.Rd1 Bg7 22.f4 Re8 23.Kf2 gxf4 24.exf4 f6! Once
again Black tries to open as many lines as
possible. 25.exf6 Bxf6 26.h3 Ra3 27.Rd3 Kg7 28.Kf3 Be6 29.Nd1 Ra4 30.Rb3 d4 3
1.Bc4 Ra2! A very nice tactical
blow. 32.Rxa2 (32.Rc1 Bxc4 33.Rxc4 Rh2µ) 32...Bxc4 33.g5 Bxb3 34.gxf6+ Kxf6
35.Rd2 Bxd1+ 36.Rxd1 Re3+–+ and Black easily won the rook endgame in
Krasenkow,M (2610)-Hammer,J (2695) Stockholm 2016.
13...Rd7
13...Bd7!?N
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I’m quite surprised to see that even this move is possible.

a) 14.Nxc7 this tempting move turns out to be not so
good: 14...Rac8 15.Nb5 dxc4! 16.Be2 (16.Bxc4? Na5!–+ and White cannot protect
all the pieces; 16.Rxc4? a6 17.Nc3 b5–+ trapping the rook) 16...a6 17.Nc3 b5³ and
Black is better.
b) 14.Be2 is
harmless 14...a6 15.Nc3 dxc4 16.Bxc4 b5 17.Be2 b4 18.axb4 Nxb4 19.Rc1 c5∞ Bla
ck is fine.
c) 14.cxd5! is a bit smarter 14...exd5 15.Bd3! (15.Nxc7 is still not dangerous for
Black: 15...Rac8 16.Nb5 (16.Nxd5? Bf5–+) 16...Na5! 17.Rxc8 (17.Rd2 a6 18.Nc3
Bxa3 19.Nxd5 Bf8 20.Nc3 Nb3 21.Rd1 Bb4³ and Black will at least win back the
pawn; 17.Kd2 Bf5! and here White’s best chance is to give up an
exchange: 18.Nc3 Bxc2 19.Kxc2 a6³) 17...Rxc8 18.Kd1 a6 19.Nc3 Bxa3 20.Kc2 Bb
4 21.Bd3= with a balanced position) 15...Rac8 16.0-0 a6 17.Nc3 Ne7= and I don’t
believe White has anything here.
14.cxd5
14.Bd3 a6 15.Nc3 Rd8 (15...Ne7 even if Aronian played this move against
Kramnik, I am not sure it is necessary: Kramnik,V (2783)-Aronian,L (2777) Zürich
2015) 16.0-0 was played in Meissner, R (2065)-Klim,A (2009) LSS email 2012, and
here I suggest 16...Na5!?N
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17.c5 (17.cxd5 exd5 see

14.exd5) 17...Nc6 18.b4 (18.Rd1 g5 19.Be2 Bd7 20.b4 f6 21.g4 Ne7= with an equal
position) 18...g5 19.h3 Bg7= followed by ...e6-e5 with equality.
14...exd5 15.Bd3 a6 16.Nc3 Rd8
16...Na7 is also fine 17.Bf5 (17.0-0 Rd8 see 16...Rd8 then
17...Na7) 17...Rd8 18.Bxc8 Nxc8 19.Ne5 c6 20.Na4 Re8= with equality in Wang, H
(2717)-Movsesian,S (2653) Huaian 2016.
17.0-0 Na5!?N
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I like this move. Black can stop the advance of White’s queenside by playing ...b7-
b5 or ...Nb3. The move ...Nc4 is also a good option. See 14.exd5
17...Na7N
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is a safe option (see 16...Rd8 then

17...Na7) 18.Rfc1 c6 19.Na4 (19.Ne5 Nb5 20.Na4 Bd6 21.Nb6 Rb8=) 19...Bd6 20.N
b6 Rb8 21.h3 (21.Nxc8 Nxc8 with an equal
position) 21...Re8 22.b4 g6 23.Rb2 Kg7 24.a4 Be6= and I don’t see any plan for
White;
17...Nb8 has been played twice in this position. It is of course possible, but I prefer
another square for the knight.
18.Rb1!?
Quite a smart move. White wants to play b3 to take away the squares from the
knight on a5. The a3-pawn will not be hanging due to b4 threats trapping the
bishop. 18.Ne5 Nb3 19.Ne2 (19.Na4 b5 20.Nc6 Rd6 21.Nc5 Rxc6 22.Nxb3 Rxc2 23
.Bxc2 a5=) 19...c5!?
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 This gives Black good play for the isolated pawn. (19...c6 is also
fine 20.Rd1 Taking control of the d2-square with the idea of playing Rc3
(20.Rc3 Nd2 21.Rd1 Ne4∞) 20...Re8! with the idea of ...Nc5 21.Nf3 (21.Rc3 Nc5!
∞) 21...Na5=) 20.dxc5 (20.Rc3 c4 21.Bc2 Na5³) 20...Nxc5 21.Rd2 (21.Rc3 Na4=) 2
1...Bd6 22.Nf3 Nxd3 (22...Nb3 23.Rc2 Nc5=) 23.Rxd3 Bf5=;
18.h3 b5 19.Rb1 Nc4 This is more logical, although 19...Nb3 is also
possible 20.Ne2 c5 21.dxc5 Nxc5 22.Ne1 g6 23.Rd1 Bb7 24.Nd4 Rdc8= even if
Black has an isolated pawn, I believe his good pieces compensate for it. 20.a4 c6=;
18.b4?! is not a good idea because after 18...Nc4! Black has the
initiative. 19.Bxc4 (19.Ra2 b5³) 19...dxc4 20.Ne5 Be6³;
18.e4?! is premature: 18...dxe4 19.Bxe4 (19.Nxe4? Nc6µ followed by ...Bg4 and
the d4-pawn will fall.) 19...c6∞ and only Black can be better here.
18...b5
18...Nb3 19.Rd1 Be6 20.Ne2 c6 21.Rc3 Na5 22.Nf4 Bg4 23.h3 (23.b4 Nc4 24.Bxc
4 dxc4 25.Rxc4 a5!ƒ and Black has a good initiative for the
pawn) 23...Bxf3 24.gxf3 Bd6 25.Ne2 b5∞ with an unclear position.
19.b3
19.a4 Nb3!?∞
19...c6
19...Bxa3?! 20.b4±
20.a4
20.Ne2 Bd6 21.Nf4 Bd7
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This position looks totally fine to me. 22.g3 Nb7 23.a4

a) 23.b4 is always met by 23...a5∞;
b) 23.Ra2 g5 24.Ne2 (24.Nh5 Kf8 25.Kg2 c5!?=) 24...f6=;
c) 23.Ne5?! Bxe5 24.dxe5 Re8³;
23...Rdb8 24.Kg2 f6 25.Nh4 bxa4 26.bxa4 Na5= with an equal position
20...Be6
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This position is quite complicated. I tried to play logical human moves aiming to
guess how the game might continue, and I found no problems for Black. I provide
the following lines just to illustrate how play might develop, but there is no need to
try to remember them!
21.g3
21.Rcb2 Bd6 22.Ra1 Nb7 It’s not easy to see how White can play for an advantage
here. 23.axb5 (23.b4 leads to simplifications
after: 23...a5! Thematic 24.axb5 Bxb4 25.Na2 cxb5 26.Nxb4 axb4 27.Rxa8 Rxa8 28.
Ne1 Nd6= and Black has no problems; 23.h3 b4 24.Ne2 c5∞ and I like
Black) 23...axb5 24.Rba2 Rxa2 25.Rxa2 b4 26.Ne2 (26.Na4 Ra8∞) 26...c5!? 27.Ra7
(27.dxc5 Nxc5 28.Bc2 Rc8 29.Nfd4 g6 with a balanced
position) 27...Rb8 28.Nd2 Nd8 29.dxc5 (29.Ra6 Bf8=) 29...Bxc5 30.Ra1 Bc8 transfe
rring the bishop to b7 31.Nf3 Bb7 32.Ned4 Ne6= with equality.
21...Rdb8 22.axb5
22.Kg2 bxa4 We can delay this move, but the simplification is also
fine. 23.Nxa4 (23.bxa4 Rxb1 24.Nxb1 Rb8∞) 23...Nxb3 24.Ne5! Rb4! 25.Ra2 c5! 2
6.dxc5 (26.Nxc5 Nxc5! It is important to have this
move. 27.Rxb4 Nxd3 28.Nxd3 Bxb4 29.Nxb4 a5 30.Nc6 a4=) 26...a5 27.Nb6 Re8 2
8.Nc6 Nxc5 29.Nxb4 axb4 30.Be2 b3© with enough compensation.
22...axb5 23.Ra2 Nb7 24.Rba1 Rxa2 25.Rxa2
XIIIIIIIIY

9-tr-+-vlk+0

9+n+-+pzp-0

9-+p+l+-zp0

9+p+p+-+-0

9-+-zP-+-+0

9+PsNLzPNzP-0

9R+-+-zP-zP0

9+-+-+-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

25...Nd8!? 26.Ra7 Bb4 27.Ne2 Bd6 28.Nf4 Bc8=

Black’s position is solid.

CONCLUSION

In this chapter we studied the lines where White delays the development of the light-
squared bishop. In general, Black benefits from it by playing ...Qg6. In the 11.Rc1
line, I like my novelty 11...Bd6!?N, but the regular 11...Rd8 is also totally fine. I
suggest two ways to improve on the most recent games, with 15...Na5 or 15...Na7.