Paul Keres uses 2.Ne2 and Kotov's tree of analysis collapses soon after!

Hi all

Here is a fascinating encounter between Paul Keres and Alexander Kotov

Video annotation based on Study Analysis

https://youtu.be/XgIsiqwB72k

2.Ne2 is a favorite of Keres

And here is the real beautify of 2.Ne2 - to encourage terrible improvisation moves!

"Please come and crush me" could be easily accompanied with this b5 move - "I am now making this up as I go along!"

Black's position is already full of exploitable weaknesses

The most bleedingly obvious lever to make use of to start with!

Yes, the a5 to d8 diagonal is a bit sensitive

Black already has some tactical problems to solve

Final position

Oh dear oh, dear......

The major point being that the Queen has been checkmated!

If dxe5 then Qd8 is checkmate:

Key takeaway points

• The thrill Keres must have had against weaker opposition when faced with 2.Ne2 must be immense
• When players improvise - they often create exploitable weaknesses, justifying fully those strange weird and wonderful "chameleon" moves like 2.Ne2
• The transpositional destinations should be clear to both players and try and minimise improvisation
• The a6 b5 structure is prone to a4 undermining and this can be the start of a major downfall of the entire position

Want to go further? Explore all my online chess courses at https://www.chessworld.net/online-chess-courses.asp – learn openings, tactics, strategy, and more.

Cheers, K