Author: Vine Smith
Date: 22:34:19 04/02/01
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Perhaps the opinion of GM Julian Hodgson, in "Secrets of the Trompovsky, Volume 1" can shed some light on this debate. About Black's 8th, marked "?!", he writes "After this move White has a very pleasant ending." The stem game is Salov-Akopian, Wijk aan Zee 1993. After White's 11th, marked "!", he writes, "A good move that gains space on the kingside and also prevents Black from ever playing an irritating Nh5." On White's 13th, marked "!", he says "Another subtle pawn move that not only prepares an eventual queenside expansion but also prevents Black from using the b4 square for his own pieces." By White's 16th (after 13...Kd8 14.Rc1 Ne8 15.Nc5 Bxc5 16.Rxc5) he awards White a significant advantage, saying "It is time to take stock. White has more space and the two bishops, while Black has no counterplay. Salov went on to win a fine endgame." In my experience (I have a USCF master rating in correspondence), it is just as easy to get bad endgames by fearing space-gaining pawn pushes as it is to get poor endgames by overdoing pawn charges. White has not even come close to being overaggressive here, such pawn thrusts can be found in opening theory for a wide variety of positions.
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