The Queen's Gambit & Catalan for Black Lasha Janjgava
Publisher: Gambit Publications

Hracek,Z (2628) - Elsness,F (2506). Chernev finds no flaw in opening the d-file while White's rook eyes Black's queen along it. I found a key improvement for black in the notes to black's 18th move. A sharp Queen's Gambit Declined, transposing into a Catalan, between Alexander Khalifman and Evgeni Sveshnikov, played in Elista in 1996. An unbalanced position occurred and black had an extra pawn, but his king was stuck in the center and queen being harassed after 14. Now black played 18Bb7 but 18..Nb8 manages to hold. Rather, he points out a general principle in the Queen's Gambit: Black delays capturing the offered pawn until it gains a tempo. This Queen's Gambit turned tactical early as a volley of trades erupted on the board. D4 … The Catalan still looks OK, but now there is a hint of a Queens' Gambit. Semi-Slav Anti-Moscow Gambit[D43]. Khalifman vs Sveshnikov – Catalan Opening – Elista, 1996. Nf3 Nf6 White can still get his English or Catalan, but now we see the possibility that Black is playing for a Queen's Indian.