Marek Volkov: Level 51 Chess Rival (2058 ELO)

Rook tier · Sharp Najdorf · plays the London System

How Marek plays

Marek grew up on the Najdorf, and at 34 he still thinks like a Sicilian player even when the board tells him otherwise. Facing the London as Black, he picks the most confrontational answer available: an early ...c5, the queen jumping to b6, and a willingness to gain queenside space with ...c4 rather than wait. He wants imbalances, a pawn structure that is no longer symmetrical, and a reason to calculate.

What bothers him is a game where nothing happens. If White keeps the position compact, avoids weaknesses and refuses to open lines on the queenside, Marek tends to look for activity a move too early, and that urge can loosen his own centre. He is happiest when the queens stay on and the pawn tension is high. Give him a slow middlegame where his dynamic pieces have no targets, and you are playing on your terms rather than his.

At 2058 ELO, Marek rarely gives material away for nothing. He is held to that rating by the engine, so you will see the occasional inaccuracy in quiet positions, but tactics are usually spotted. Games are won by building a better position over many moves and converting it carefully.

London System: the line Marek plays

Against the London System (1.d4, Nf3 and an early Bf4) Marek answers with ...d5 and ...Nf6, then hits the centre with ...c5. The plan is the most direct one Black has: pressure d4, bring the queen to b6 to eye b2, and push ...c4 to gain space on the queenside once White's queen has gone to b3.

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 Nc6 5.c3 Qb6 6.Qb3 c4

Learn it move by move: London System walkthrough

How to beat Marek

  1. After ...c4 has fixed the queenside, prepare the e4 break with Nbd2, Be2 and Re1. Opening the centre against a player who has spent tempi on the wings punishes his space grab.
  2. When his queen lands on b6, the simplest defence of b2 is Qb3 or Qc2. If he trades queens, recapturing toward the centre keeps his pieces from finding the active play he wants.
  3. Expect him to chase your London bishop with ...Nh5 or offer a trade with ...Bd6. Keep a retreat square ready with h3 so you are never forced to give the bishop on his terms.
  4. If you play the London into the book, finish development calmly with Nbd2, Be2 and castling, then aim at the e5 square with Ne5 and f4. The ...c4 advance closes the queenside, so the game is decided in the centre and on the kingside.
  5. The book only answers 1.d4. Open 1.e4 or 1.c4 and he is on their own from move one.

What beating Marek teaches you

Beating Marek trains restraint: keeping a sharp opponent short of targets until your central break is ready. It also teaches when a pawn break is worth more than a direct attack.

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