WELCOME TO HIPPOPOTAMUS CHESS OPENING

 

Annotated Games

Gallagher(2503)-
Ponomariov(2630)

Kempinski(2590)-
McShane(2614)

Moroz(2487)-
Najer(2614)
    

Toh(2395)-
Rogers(2600)
  

Hernandez(2310)-
Stefanova(2495)

Belan(2215)-
Ianov(2360)

Baburin(2590)-
Miles(2584)

Neverov(2562)-
Georgiev(2676)

Gyimesi(2539)-
McShane(2480)

Hartmann(2275)-
Spassky(2610)

Petrosian-
Spassky

Starting out the Hippopotamus defence

by Nikolay Kostov

Introduction
Hippopotamus (or Double fianchetto) chess opening is a solid (yet flexible) ‘three rank’ set-up for Black. In this sense it’s closely related to another flexible ‘three rank’ formation – the Hedgehog defence. 
Although the Hippopotamus defence (or Hippo-like structures) was played occasionally in the 20th century it wasn’t until the early 2000s that it established itself as a (more or less) ‘regular’ chess opening. Much of the credit for this is due to the ex-world champion Boris Spassky who has played the Hippopotamus chess opening many times in his career starting in the mid-1960s. In fact Spassky ventured the Hippo defence twice in his world championship match against Tigran Petrosian in 1966 (both games ended in draw)! Over the last decade the Hippopotamus chess opening was played more or less regularly by many Grandmasters (GMs). Among them are GM N. Short, GM E. Inarkiev, GM M. Krasenkow, GM L.McShane, GM T. Miles, GM J. Hickl, GM K. Chernyshov, GM T. Hillarp Person, GM D. Lima, GM K.Bischoff, GM M.Bezold, GM R. Lau, GM P.Blatny and the women ex-world champion GM N. Gaprindashvili. 

Black’s strategy
The main idea behind Black’s set-up is to fianchetto both of his bishops (on b7 and g7) and placing the knights on d7 and e7 after the pawn moves d7-d6 and e7-e6. Then, depending on the circumstances, Black should strike at the centre either with …c5 (thus aiming for a ‘Benoni-type’ pawn structure) or with e5 (aiming for a ‘Pirc/King’s Indian-type’ pawn structure). In the first case Black’s counterplay will normally be based on his dark-squared bishop along with the occupation of some important ‘dark-colored’ outposts (normally e5 and/or f4, d4 or even h4). In the second case Black should tray to block the center (after …e6-e5, …d4-d5) and play on the kingside.          
To round of, the successful Hippo player should be: 1) a fighter with a good sense of timing, willing to play (long) positional games; 2) familiar with the basic ideas behind Benoni/King’s Indian (Pirc) defence; 3) with an open-minded approach to the chess game.

Move orders
Hippopotamus defence could be obtained (most often) either from Owen/English defence (e.g. 1.e4 b6/ 1.e4 e6 2.d4 b6/1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6/1.c4 b6 etc.) or from Modern Defence (e.g. 1.e4 g6/ 1.d4 g6/1.Nf3 g6 etc.). The move order is not of critical importance. However, I personally prefer to get into the Hippo defence via 1…b6 because:
1) By playing 1…b6 Black is able to escape (most of the time) from some very dangerous lines against the Modern defence (e.g. 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. f4! or 1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. Be3 with Qd2, f3, 0-0-0 to follow);
2) It’s more easily to get into the Hippo via 1.d4 b6/1.c4 b6/1.Nf3 b6 than via 1.d4 g6/1.c4 g6/1.Nf3 g6;
3) Staring with 1…b6 one could switch easily to the Hedgehog (another flexible ‘three rank’ set-up for Black) either after 1.c4 b6 2.Nf3 Bb7 3.g3 e6 4. Bg2 c5 5. 0-0 Nf6 (with …d2-d4 cxd4 to follow) or after 1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 3. Nc3 e6 4. Bd3 Nf6 5. Nge2 c5 6.0-0 cxd4 7. Nxd4 d6 (with …a6, …Be7 etc. to follow); Note that many English opening ‘lovers’ use the move order 1.c4, 2.g3 so that it’s impossible for Black to enter the Hedgehog even via the ‘normal’ lines (such as 1.c4 Nf6 2.g3 or 1.c4 e6 2.g3 or 1.c4 c5 2.g3); 
4) Finally, there do exist several very interesting lines for Black starting 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4. e4!? Bb7 5. f3 f5! or 1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 3.Bd3 Nf6!? 4.Qe2 Nc6 5.c3 e5! or 1.c4 b6 2. Nf3 Bb7 3.g3 Bxf3!?; The first line leads to a very sharp game while the second two lines are a bit more ‘positional’. All of these lines are very playable for Black (even at a level 2600+!).

Now let’s go to investigate in depth the Hippopotamus chess opening by studying several illustrative games!

 

Annotated Games

Game 1

Gallagher (2514) - Ponomariov (2630)
Biel, 2000
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.Be3 a6 5.Qd2 Nd7 6.a4 b6 The first sign that Black is intending a 'Hippopotamus' set-up. 7.Nf3 e6 8.Bc4 h6 9.h3 Ne7 10.0–0 Bb7 A pure 'Hippo' formation! 11.Rfe1 g5!? (Diagram 1)

                   

         Diagram 1                                     Diagram 2                                       Diagram 3

A typical (and most active) move in this type of position! Black is aiming for Ne7-g6 with a 'dark-squared' play on the kingside. Another 'slow' plan is based on 'castling' via Kf8-g8-h7 (as in Hernandez-Stefanova below). Also possible is 11...Nf6 so Black is not short in moves. 12.Nh2 Ng6 13.Nf1 Nf6 14.Ng3 0–0 15.Bd3 c5! It's already time for Black to strike in the centre! 16.dxc5?! [White cedes the centre. Better was 16.d5 exd5 17.exd5 Nh4 18.Nf5 Nxf5 19.Bxf5 b5! with a slight advantage for Black.] 16...bxc5 17.Rad1 Qc7 18.Qe2 d5 19.exd5 exd5 …and Black's hanging pawns are a real threat! 20.Bc1 Rae8 21.Qd2 Nh4! (Diagram 2) Black has a clear advantage here and an easy game from now on! His plan is based on moving forward the d- and c-pawn thus driving back White's pieces to the back rank. 22.Rxe8 Rxe8 23.Re1 Rxe1+ 24.Qxe1 c4 25.Bf1 d4! (Diagram 3) Black is almost winning now. 26.Nce2 [Immediately loses 26.Nce4 Nxe4 27.Nxe4 Qe7 28.f3 f5 29.Bxc4+ Kh8 30.Bd3 fxe4–+] 26...Qc5 27.Qd1 Ne4 28.Nxe4 Bxe4 29.Ng3 Bg6 30.Qe2 d3 31.cxd3 cxd3 32.Qe8+ Kh7 33.Be3 Qd5 34.Bd2 Bxb2 35.f3 Be5 36.Ne4 Bxe4 37.fxe4 Qd4+ 38.Kh1 Qf2 0–1

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Game 2

Kempinski (2590) - McShane (2614)
Amplico, 2006
1.d4 b6 2.e4 Bb7 3.Nc3 e6 4.Bd3 g6 5.Nf3 Bg7 6.0–0 Ne7 7.Bf4 d6 8.Qd2 h6 9.h3 Nd7 10.Rfe1 a6 11.a4 g5!? Aiming for Ne7-g6 with a 'dark-squared' play as in Gallagher-Ponomariov. 12.Bg3 Ng6 13.Rad1 0–0 14.Bc4 Kh8 15.Nh2 Nf6 16.Ng4 Nh5! 17.Bh2 Nh4! It's the second time that Black's knight proves to be very strong on the h4-square! 18.Ne3 Nf4! (Diagram 1)

               

          Diagram 1                                     Diagram 2                                     Diagram 3

Amazing position! Black's knights dominate all over the kingside. In fact Black is already better here. 19.Kh1 f5! Another strong move trying to 'clear out' the long h1–a8 diagonal for Black's light-squared bishop. 20.d5 fxe4 21.dxe6 Nfxg2! (Diagram 2) Black is winning now. 22.e7 Qxe7 23.Nxg2 Nf3 24.Qe3 Qd7 25.Be2 Qxh3 26.Bxf3 exf3 (Diagram 3) 0–1

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Game 3

Moroz (2487) – Najer (2614)
Pardubice, 2005
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.Be3 a6 5.a4 b6 6.Qd2 Bb7 7.Bd3 Nd7 8.Nf3 e6 9.0–0 h6 10.h3 Ne7 11.Rfe1 g5!? You know the idea behind this move! 12.d5 Ng6 13.Nd4 Qe7 14.Bc4 Bxd4! (Diagram 1)

                  

            Diagram 1                                      Diagram 2                                    Diagram 3

Even without that bishop Black has a nice 'dark-squared' play on the kingside! 15.Bxd4 Rg8 16.Be3 [16.dxe6 fxe6 17.a5 b5 18.Be2 Nf4 19.Bf1 h5 is unclear.] 16...Nde5 17.Be2 Qf6 18.Bd4 Nf4! With a level game and g5-g4! to follow. 19.Rad1 0–0–0 20.Qe3 g4! (Diagram 2) Of course! 21.Bxe5 Qxe5 22.Bxg4 h5 23.Bf3 Nxh3+ 24.Kf1 Nf4 25.g3 Ng6 (Diagram 3) Black has a plus here. However... 26.Ke2! h4 27.gxh4 Nxh4 28.Kd2! ...evacuating his king to the queenside White manages to draw the game in 56 moves. 28...Qf6 29.Bh1 Ng2 30.Bxg2 Rxg2 31.Re2 Rh8 32.Kc1 Rhh2 33.f4 Rxe2 34.Nxe2 Kb8 35.e5 dxe5 36.fxe5 Qh6 37.Qxh6 Rxh6 38.d6 cxd6 39.Rxd6 Rh5 40.Rxb6 Rxe5 41.Kd2 Rd5+ 42.Ke3 Re5+ 43.Kd2 Rd5+ 44.Ke3 Kc7 45.Rb4 e5 46.Rc4+ Kb6 47.Ng3 Rd1 48.Rb4+ Kc7 49.Rc4+ Kd7 50.b4 Re1+ 51.Kf2 Ra1 52.a5 Rb1 53.Nf5 Bd5 54.Rc5 Be6 55.Rxe5 Rxb4 56.Ke3 1/2–1/2

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Game 4

Toh (2395) - Rogers (2600)
Singapore, 1997
1.d4 g6 2.e4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.Nf3 a6 5.a4 b6 6.Be2 Bb7 7.Be3 Nd7 8.0–0 e6 9.h3 Ne7 10.Qd2 h6 11.Bd3 c5!? (Diagram 1)

                   

          Diagram 1                                        Diagram 2                                       Diagram 3

Aiming for a 'Benoni-like' game is the most common plan here! Also possible is 11…g5!? as well as 'castling' via Kf8-g8-h7. 12.dxc5 dxc5 13.Rad1 g5! Naturally! 14.Qe2 [Or 14.h4 gxh4 15.Nxh4 Nc6 16.Nf3 Qe7 with a level game.] 14...Ng6 15.Nd2 Qc7 16.Nc4 0–0 17.Bc1 Rfd8 18.Qh5 Nde5 19.Nxe5 Qxe5 (Diagram 2) Black is better here! Without weaknesses and with an easy 'dark-squared' play the long-term winning chances are all Black's! 20.g3 Qc7 21.Rfe1 [Risky is 21.f4 in view of 21...c4 22.Be2 gxf4 23.gxf4 Rxd1 24.Bxd1 b5!] 21...Rd7 22.Bf1 Rad8 23.Rxd7 Rxd7 24.Bg2 Bc6 25.Bf1 Bb7 26.Bg2 Qc6 27.Rd1 Rxd1+ 28.Qxd1 Bd4 29.Qh5 Kg7 30.h4 f6 31.Bd2 Qd6 32.Qf3 Bc6 33.hxg5 hxg5 34.Qd3 Ne5 (Diagram 3) The diagram explicitly shows of what game Black's aiming at! Black is almost winning here! 35.Qe2 c4 36.Be3 Bxe3 37.Qxe3 Qb4 Wins a pawn and …the game. 38.Qc1 Bxa4 39.Nxa4 Qxa4 40.f4 Nf7 41.e5 fxe5 42.fxg5 Qb4 43.Kh2 Qe7 44.Qe3 b5 45.Qb6 Qxg5 46.Qxa6 Qh6+ 47.Kg1 Qc1+ 48.Kh2 Qxb2 49.Qxe6 Qxc2 50.Qd7 c3 51.Kg1 Qc1+ 52.Kf2 c2 0–1

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Game 5

Hernandez (2310) - Stefanova (2495)
Saint Vincent, 2000
1.e4 b6 2.d4 e6 3.Bd3 Bb7 4.Nf3 d6 5.0–0 Nd7 6.Re1 Ne7 7.Nc3 g6 8.Bg5 h6 9.Be3 Bg7 10.Qd2 Kf8!? This sort of 'slow' play is a serious alternative to the more aggressive approach starting with 10…g5!?. The position is closed and Black runs his king to h7 thus freeing up the Rh8! 11.a4 a6 12.h3 Kg8 13.Nh2 Kh7 14.Ng4 Qf8! (Diagram 1)

                   

         Diagram 1                                         Diagram 2                                        Diagram 3

...and White has nothing here! 15.Bc4 [Or 15.f4 f5 16.Nf2 Qf7 17.Rad1 Rhe8 with a level game.] 15...Nf6 16.d5 Nxg4 17.hxg4 e5 Blocking the position and …18.f3 f5! (Diagram 2)...striking on White's centre in a typical King's Indian manner! 19.gxf5 gxf5 20.exf5 Nxf5 21.Bd3 Kg8 22.Bxf5 Qxf5 23.Bf2 Rf8 24.Re4 h5 25.Rae1 Bc8 26.Bh4 Bh6 27.Qf2 Rh7 28.Kf1 Rg7 (Diagram 3) Black has an edge here with good practical chances to play against White's king. 29.Rc4 Qg6 30.Ne4 a5 31.b4 axb4 32.Rxb4 Rf4 33.Re2 Qf7 34.Bg3 Rxe4 35.fxe4? Simply loses the game. Of course either 35.Rbxe4 or 35.Rexe4 was called for. 35...Rxg3 36.Qxf7+ Kxf7 37.Rc4 Ba6 38.Rxc7+ Kf6 39.Kf2 Bf4 40.Re1 Ra3 41.Kg1 Be3+ 42.Rxe3 Rxe3 43.Rd7 Rxe4 44.Rxd6+ Kf5 45.a5 Re1+ 46.Kh2 Rd1 47.axb6 e4 48.Rd8 e3 49.Rf8+ Kg6 50.b7 Bxb7 51.Re8 Bxd5 52.Rxe3 Rd2 53.Rg3+ Kf5 54.c3 Kf4 55.c4 Be4 56.Rg8 Rc2 57.c5 Rxc5 58.Rf8+ Rf5 59.Rb8 Rf6 60.Rb2 Rg6 61.Ra2 Rg8 62.Rb2 Rc8 63.Rf2+ Ke3 64.Ra2 Rc2 65.Ra3+ Kf2 66.Rg3 Kf1 0–1

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Game 6

Belan (2215) - Ianov (2360)
Sala, 1995
1.e4 d6 2.Nc3 g6 3.d4 Bg7 4.Nf3 a6 5.a4 b6 6.Be2 Bb7 7.Be3 e6 8.0–0 Ne7 9.Qd2 h6 10.Rfd1 Nd7 11.Ne1 So…very direct! White intends f4-f5! However…11...Nf6! (Diagram 1)

                   

          Diagram 1                                      Diagram 2                                         Diagram 3

Increasing the pressure on the e4-pawn …12.f3 d5! ...and aiming for a French-type (pawn) structure. 13.e5 Nd7 14.b4 c5! (Diagram 2) Naturally! 15.bxc5 bxc5 16.Rdb1 Qc7 17.f4 cxd4 18.Bxd4 g5! (Diagram 3) White's pawn structure creaks! 19.g3 Nf5 20.Ra3? [Immediately loses. However even after 20.Bf2 gxf4 21.gxf4 Nxe5!? 22.fxe5 Bxe5 Black has a strong initiative.] 20...Nxd4 21.Qxd4 Bf8 0–1

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Game 7

Baburin (2590) - Miles (2584)
Birmingham, 2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 [Or 3.Nc3 Bb4 4. e4!? Bb7 5. f3 f5! with a sharp game.] 3…g6 4.Nc3 Bg7 5.e4 Ne7 6.Nf3 Bb7 7.Bd3 d6 8.0–0 Nd7 9.Re1 h6 10.h3 a6 (Diagram 1)

                   

            Diagram 1                                      Diagram 2                                     Diagram 3

This time the Hippo set-up is adopted against White's King's Indian formation! 11.Be3 g5!? 12.Rc1 c5! Once again aiming for a 'Benoni-type' pawn structure! 13.d5 Ng6 14.Bc2 Qe7 15.Qd2 0–0 16.Rcd1 Nde5! The e5-square is an excellent outpost for Black's (minor) pieces! 17.Nxe5 Bxe5 18.Bd3 Qf6 (Diagram 2) Black has a perfect dark-squared play! 19.Na4?! A dubious move. 19...Rab8 20.Nxb6 Bc8 21.Na4?! [Better was 21.Nxc8 Rfxc8 22.Qa5 Rxb2 23.Rb1 Qd8 with a level game.] 21...Bd7 22.Nc3 Rb3 23.Rb1 Rfb8 24.Nd1 exd5 25.cxd5 Nf4 26.Bxf4 gxf4 27.Bc2 Rxh3!! (Diagram 3) The rock sacrifice is (difficult to be seen but …) winning! 28.gxh3 Kh8 29.f3 Rg8+ 30.Kh1 Qh4 0–1

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Game 8

Neverov (2562) - Georgiev (2676)
Ohrid, 2001
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 g6 4.Nc3 Bg7 5.e4 Ne7 6.Nf3 Bb7 7.Bd3 d6 8.0–0 Nd7 9.Re1 h6 Once again the Hippo set-up is adopted against White's classical King's Indian formation! 10.Be3 g5 11.Rc1 Ng6 12.b4 0–0 13.Nd2! GM Neverov adopts a dangerous plan based on Nd2-b3 and c4-c5! So…13...c5! (Diagram 1)

                           

            Diagram 1                                   Diagram 2                                    Diagram 3

14.dxc5 dxc5 15.Nb3 Qe7 16.bxc5 Nxc5 17.Nxc5 bxc5 18.Na4 Rac8 19.Rb1 Ba6! White's 'pressure' along the b-file is an illusion! In fact Black is slightly better here! 20.Qb3 Rfd8 21.Red1 Bd4 22.Be2 Qf6 23.Bxd4 cxd4 24.Nb2 Qe5! (Diagram 2) Note Black's 'dark-squared' play and the use of the outpost on e5! 25.Qa4 Nf4 26.Bf1 Bb7 27.f3 [27.Qxa7?? Nh3+! 28.Kh1 (or 28.gxh3 Qxe4!)28...Nxf2+ 29.Kg1 Ng4 30.g3 Qxe4 is winning for Black.] 27...a5 28.g3 Ng6 29.Nd3 Qc7 30.Qb5 Ba8 31.Bg2 Rb8 32.Qa4 Bc6 33.Qc2 Ne5 34.Nxe5 Qxe5 (Diagram 3) Black has a long-term plus from now on! The experienced Bulgarian Grandmaster (rated 2650+ for a long time!) went on to win after… 35.Rxb8 Qxb8 36.Bf1 Qd6 37.c5 Qe5 38.Bd3 f5 39.Re1 fxe4 40.fxe4 Rf8 41.Rf1 Rxf1+ 42.Kxf1 Kf7 43.Ke1 Ke7 44.Kd2 h5 45.Kc1 Kd8 46.Kb1 Kc7 47.Ka2 a4 48.Kb1 Kd8 49.Ka2 Ke7 50.Kb1 h4 51.gxh4 gxh4 52.Qf2 Qxc5 53.Qxh4+ Kd7 54.Qh7+ Kd6 55.Qg7 Qc3 56.Bc2 Qe1+ 57.Kb2 Qc3+ 58.Kb1 Qc4 59.Qg3+ Kd7 60.Qg7+ Kc8 61.Qg8+ Kb7 62.Qd8 Qc5 63.h4 e5 64.Qf6 Qxa3 65.Qxe5 d3 66.Qb2+ Qxb2+ 67.Kxb2 a3+ 0–1

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Game 9

Gyimesi (2539) - McShane (2480)
Stockholm, 2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 g6 4.Nc3 Bg7 5.e4 Ne7 6.g3 Bb7 7.Bg2 0–0 8.Nge2 d6 9.0–0 c5 10.d5 exd5 11.exd5 …and another 'Benoni-type' position is reached. 11...Nd7 12.b3 a6 13.a4 Nf5! (Diagram 1)

                   

         Diagram 1                                       Diagram 2                                       Diagram 3

An excellent square for Black's knight! In fact Black is slightly better here! 14.Qd2 Re8 15.Bb2 Nf6 16.Bh3 Bc8! (Diagram 2) Black plans Ra7-e7 thus doubling the rocks on the e-file. 17.Kg2 Ra7! 18.Rae1 Rae7 19.Nc1 Nh4+!? (Diagram 3) [An interesting sacrifice. However even stronger was the simple 19...Nd4 20.Bxc8 Qxc8 21.Rxe7 Rxe7 22.Re1 Rxe1 23.Qxe1 Qf5 with a clear advantage for Black.] 20.gxh4 Bxh3+ 21.Kxh3 Qd7+ 22.Kg2 Qg4+ 23.Kh1 Ne4 24.Nxe4 Qf3+ 25.Kg1 Rxe4 26.Rxe4 Rxe4 27.h3 Qxh3 28.f3 Bh6 29.Qg2?! Be3+ 30.Rf2 Bxf2+ 31.Kxf2 Qxh4+ 32.Qg3 Qxg3+ 33.Kxg3 Re1 34.Kf2 Rh1 35.Ne2 Rb1 Black's rook and three pawns outweigh White's two minor pieces. 36.Bf6 Kf8 37.Nc3 Rxb3 38.Ne4 Rb4 39.Nxd6 Rxa4 40.Nc8 Rb4 41.Ke2 a5 42.Ne7 Ke8 43.Nc6 Rxc4 44.Ke3 a4 45.d6 a3 46.d7+ Kxd7 47.Ne5+ Ke6 48.Nxc4 Kxf6 49.Nxa3 Ke6 50.Nb5 h5 51.Nc3 Kd6 52.Ne4+ Kd5 53.Ng5 f5 54.Nh3 Kc4 55.Nf4 h4 56.Nxg6 h3 57.Kf2 b5 58.Ne7 f4 0–1

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Game 10

Hartmann (2275) - Spassky (2610)
Bundesliga 8283, 1982
1.e4 b6 2.d4 Bb7 3.Nd2 e6 4.Ngf3 g6 5.Bd3 Bg7 6.0–0 d6 7.c3 A typical 'slow' system for White against Modern/Pirc Defence. 7...Nd7 8.Qe2 Ne7 9.b4 0–0 10.a4 a6 11.Bb2 h6 A pure Hippo! 12.h4 e5 (Diagram 1)

                             

            Diagram 1                                      Diagram 2                                     Diagram 3

[GM Spassky opts for a 'classical' (Pirc Defenece-like) strike in the center. Also possible is 12...c5 13.Nb3 Nc6 14.bxc5 bxc5 15.dxc5 Nxc5 16.Nxc5 dxc5 with a level game.] 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Nxe5 dxe5 15.Rad1 Qd7! (Diagram 2) Excellent move! GM Spassky intends to evacuate the queen via Qd8-d7-c6 so that he would be able to opposite on the d-file! 16.Bc2 Qc6 17.Qc4 Rad8 18.Ba3 Rfe8 19.b5 axb5 20.axb5 Qxc4 21.Nxc4 Nc8 (Diagram 3) The game is absolutely level and it ended in draw after … 22.f3 Na7 23.Ba4 h5 24.Bc1 f6 25.Be3 Nc8 26.Rxd8 Rxd8 27.Rd1 Rxd1+ 28.Bxd1 Bf8 29.Kf2 Kg7 30.Bc2 Nd6 31.Nxd6 Bxd6 1/2–1/2

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Game 11

Petrosian - Spassky
16th World Championship Match, Moscow, 1966
1.d4 g6 2.e4 Bg7 3.Nf3 d6 4.Be2 e6 5.c3 Nd7 6.0–0 Ne7 7.Nbd2 b6 8.a4 a6 9.Re1 Bb7 10.Bd3 This 'slow stuff' could be very dangerous when it's played by Petrosian!  10...0–0 11.Nc4 Qe8!? (Diagram 1)

                   

         Diagram 1                                         Diagram 2                                    Diagram 3

Absolutely typical play in the Hippo! GM Spassky intends …f6!? and …Qf7! Also possible is 11…h6 intending e6-e5. 12.Bd2 [Or 12.e5 dxe5 13.Nfxe5 Nxe5 14.Nxe5 Rd8 with a small plus for White.] 12...f6!? 13.Qe2 Kh8 14.Kh1 Qf7 15.Ng1 e5! 16.dxe5 fxe5 17.f3 Nc5 (Diagram 2) …and already Black is slightly better! 18.Ne3 Qe8 19.Bc2 a5 20.Nh3 Bc8! Intending to centralize via 21…Be6. 21.Nf2 Be6 22.Qd1 Qf7 23.Ra3 Bd7 24.Nd3 Nxd3 25.Bxd3 Bh6 26.Bc4 Qg7 27.Re2 Ng8! (Diagram 3) With idea of Nf6-h5-f4. 28.Bxg8! A masterly decision from Petrosian! He intends to play …Nd5 so the potentially bad light-squared bishop on c4 should be exchanged first! 28...Rxg8 29.Nd5 Bxd2 30.Rxd2 Be6 31.b4 Qf7 32.Qe2 Ra7 33.Ra1 Rf8 34.b5 Raa8 The game is totally level and it's difficult for either player to make serious progress. So it's no surprise that it concluded in draw. 35.Qe3 Rab8 36.Rf1 Qg7 37.Qd3 Rf7 38.Kg1 Rbf8 39.Ne3 g5 40.Rdf2 h5 41.c4 Qg6 42.Nd5 Rg8 43.Qe3 Kh7 44.Qd2 Rgg7 45.Qe3 Kg8 46.Rd2 Kh7 47.Rdf2 Rf8 48.Qd2 Rgf7 49.Qe3 1/2–1/2

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Download games

Download my collection of Hippopotamus chess opening games: Hippo.pgn

About me
My name is Nikolay Kostov. I am an assistant professor in the Technical University of Varna, Bulgaria. In the field of chess I am a candidate master (typically rated between 2100 and 2200 ELO points). I like the original chess and I believe the Hippopotamus defence falls into that category! I’ll be very glad if this article could help you to open your mind for a bit more original chess (than studying and playing some ‘dry’ lines from Ruy Lopez opening, Petroff defence, Queen's Gambit Declined etc.)!

You can also join the yahoo group TheHippo to share ideas about Hippopotamus chess opening!

Contact me
For any comments and suggestions concerning the Hippo defence you can reach me via: hippo_chess@abv.bg

 

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