[Site "C41"] [White "Philidor"] [Black "Hanham, Steiner Variation "]

Last week my director and I play at UTP open. We on the way to make site visit at Pahang on Monday and Tuesday. Actually I not prepare game like always because busy with SHO assignment and SPAN product certificate but with some luck I manage get 27th place from seed 33th. How lucky!...i meet first gm blogger there. Have a visit his blog for this tournament detail.

This opening play a lot in late 70, almost all Malaysian can play this variation. I play with the both side. The game can transfer to ending and complex tactical. I always choose simple and easy game with small slight advantage if I play this opening. My lecturer from UiTM (Norazmi) play quiet a lot with this opening with both side. He good player with no rating. This guy truely genius. I never beat him before, all lost and draw. If I meet him this time, what can I promise to him -"i will play better game".

White top player Shirov, Moro and Polgar
Black top player Azmziparashvili and lately Moro

This opening can transfer to accept d4 plan or decline. I prefer black accept d4 pawn for pawn storm strategies. This line I will discus later, im quiet busy. Im just discus the decline line which play a lot at nowadays.

[Site "C41"] [White "Philidor"] [Black "Hanham, Steiner Variation "] 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Nf3 Nbd7 5. Bc4 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7.Re1 c6


8.a4 b6 0.47
8.a4 h6 0.37
8.a4 a5 0.25

Plan(W)- Castle and make planning on the centre
Attacking- Light square Bishop can make attacking from c4 and d3
Ending- Keep Knight, close ending type with Rook

Plan(B)- Make all minor pieces aim at king side (Bishop & Queen)
Attacking- Breakthrough at b5 to move dangerous pieces inside
Ending- Always happened Knight with Rook ending with 3 island pawn


8.a4 b6 9b3 a6 10 Bb2 Bb7 11 Bd3 Re8 12. Ne2 exd4 13. Nfxd4 d5 14. exd5Nxd5 15. Ng3 Bb4 16. Rxe8+
10 Bb2 Bb7 11 Bd3 Re8 12. Ne2 exd4 13.Nexd4 Ne5 14.h3 a4 b6 9.b3 a6 10.Bd3 Re8 11.Bb2 Bf8 12.Ne2
10.Bb2 Qc7 11.Bd3 Re8 12.Ne2 Bf8 13.Ng3 g6 14.Qd2 exd4 15.Bxd4 a5 16.Rad1 Bg7 17.Bc3 h6 18.Bc4
10.Bb2 Rb8 11.Bd3 Re8 12.Ne2 Bf8 13.Ng3 Qc7 14.c4 c5 15.dxe5 Nxe5 16.Nh4 Qd8 17.f4 Nxd3 18.Qxd3


8.a4 h6 9.h3 Nb6 10.Ba2 Nfd7 11.Be3 exd4 12.Bxd4 Nc5 13.Bxc5 dxc5 14.Qe2 Qd6 15.Rad1 Qh6
9.h3 exd4 10.Nxd4 Ne5 11.Bb3 Qc7 12.f4 Ng6 13.Qf3 Re8 14.Qg3 d5 15.exd5 cxd5 16.Be3 Bb4 17.Ndb5
9.h3 Nb6 10.Ba2 Nfd7 11.Be3 exd4 12.Bxd4 Nc5 13.Bxc5 dxc5 14.Qe2 Qd6 15.Rad1 Qh6 16.Qd2 Qxd2


8.a4 a5 9.h3 Ne8 10. Be3 Bf6 11.Qd2 Nc7 12.Rad1 Qe7 13.Nh2 h6 14.f4 exf4 15.Bxf4 Nb6 16.Bb3 Ne6
9.h3 Ne8 10. Be3 Bf6 11.Qd2 Nc7 12.Rad1 Qe7 13.Nh2 h6 14.f4 exf4 15.Bxf4 Nb6 16.Bb3 Ne6 17.Be3 c5
9.h3 Nb6 10.Ba2 Nfd7 11.Be3 exd4 12.Bxd4 Nc5 13.Bxc5 dxc5 14.Qe2 Qd6 15.Rad1 Qh6 16.Qd2 Qxd2
9.h3 h6 10.Be3 Nxe4 11.Nxe4 d5 12.Nxe5 Nxe5 13.dxe5 dxc4 14.Qh5 Qd5 15.Bxh6 gxh6 16.Re3 Kh7
9.h3 exd4 10.Qxd4 Nc5 11.Be3 Ncxe4 12.Nxe4 d5 13.Nxf6+ Bxf6 14.Qf4 dxc4 15.Rad1 Bd7 16.Qxc4 Re8

Note…The bellow variation less happened lately compare 7.Re1 c6 but make sure u have preparation against this variation.
7.Re1 exd4 8.Nxd4 Nb6 9.Bf1 c5 10.Nf3 Bg4 11.h3 Bh5 12.a4 d5 13.Nxd5 Nfxd5 14.exd5 Bd6 15.c4 Qf6 16.Ra3 Rae8 17.Rxe8 Rxe8

This opening always play by veteran player at Malaysia, the youth favorite choice are Sicilian, Ruy Lopez and Caro Kanh. So make sure u prepare this line against this player. They always come out with good tactical skill u never imagine. Haha…