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The Big Clamp Compiled by Kenilworthian
Compiled by trh6upsz
--*--

This collection (the top 116 games) was compiled by kenilworthian. Fredthebear copied it from the generous kenilworthian. Thank you kenilworthian! Fredthebear has added a few addition games below that.

IM Lawrence Day's "The Big Clamp" was first published as two articles in Modern Chess Theory (1980-1981) and later as a book titled "The Big Clamp: An Anti-Sicilian System" (The Chess Player 1984) which included two additional games. It offers an inspiring approach to fighting for square control beginning with 1.e4 typically followed by f4, clamping down on the dark squares. Though even Day had his doubts about some of the odd ways players have tried to achieve the clamp (including 1.e4 e6 2.e5!? or 2.Qe2!?), his ideas have had a lasting influence. I have included a number of supplemental games to illustrate the 19th Century origins of The Big Clamp and its continuing influence today.

"A clear strategic triumph for the white player."
Korchnoi vs Karpov, 1978 
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 50 moves, 1-0

Day developed this cramping strategy in 1977 in Toronto.
L Day vs D MacLeod, 1978
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 46 moves, 1-0

"White can preserve his options longer...than Black"
B Nickoloff vs C Braga, 1978
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 57 moves, 1-0

Black's f5 "forms a sort of left-handed Benoni structure."
L Day vs D Ross, 1979 
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 48 moves, 1-0

"a pawn structure familiar from Antoshin's ... Dutch Defence"
L Day vs H Angantysson, 1979 
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 28 moves, 1-0

See Day's later win over Benko with the Big Clamp.
L Day vs Benko, 1979
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 81 moves, 1/2-1/2

"A very double edged...bulwark at f5" for Black
S Makarichev vs Dolmatov, 1979
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 41 moves, 1-0

Black's mistake is 9...d5?
L Day vs Z Vranesic, 1978 
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 71 moves, 1-0

The "e4-bulwark" gets reinforced by Bf3
L Day vs Benko, 1980 
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 30 moves, 1-0

A near triumph for Black's f5 bulwark strategy.
L Day vs L Christiansen, 1980
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 64 moves, 1/2-1/2

White combines prophylactics with attack.
L Day vs R Blumenfeld, 1980
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 24 moves, 1-0

White deploys a b3 fianchetto to control the dark squares.
L Day vs Y Rantanen, 1980
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 40 moves, 1/2-1/2

Bohatirchuk was Day's early mentor.
F Bohatirchuk vs Yanofsky, 1951
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 41 moves, 1-0

Black slows the attack "by obtaining targets on the queenside"
L Day vs J Tisdall, 1980
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 42 moves, 1-0

L Day vs D Stoll, 1980
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 41 moves, 1-0

"Larsen instructively reduces his opponent to virtual zugzwang"
Larsen vs O'Kelly, 1967
(A02) Bird's Opening, 44 moves, 1-0

Black is punished for his "overambition"
Bronstein vs N Padevsky, 1965
(A02) Bird's Opening, 40 moves, 1-0

Play on both wings and "a decisive switch of fronts"
L Day vs B Clayton, 1979
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 61 moves, 1-0

White "eschews the classical central thrust d2-d4" and plays f4
L Day vs L Williams, 1979 
(B02) Alekhine's Defense, 30 moves, 1-0

Too restrained -- white should play e5 before Black does
L Day vs Shamkovich, 1978
(B02) Alekhine's Defense, 21 moves, 1/2-1/2

Bronstein vs Balashov, 1967 
(C44) King's Pawn Game, 65 moves, 1-0

L Day vs B Nickoloff, 1978 
(C44) King's Pawn Game, 47 moves, 1/2-1/2

A classic clamp by the master of blockade strategy
Nimzowitsch vs Alekhine, 1926 
(B02) Alekhine's Defense, 46 moves, 1-0

"Black can create great complications with f6"
K Burger vs Alburt, 1980
(B02) Alekhine's Defense, 41 moves, 1-0

"White's active disposition of forces" gives an endgame edge
Tal vs H Bohm, 1976 
(B02) Alekhine's Defense, 39 moves, 1-0

Gufeld vs M Vukic, 1979
(B02) Alekhine's Defense, 43 moves, 1-0

"A lively struggle"
Kupreichik vs Sveshnikov, 1979
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 42 moves, 0-1

"Black may consider delaying O-O"
Balashov vs P Dankert, 1979
(B02) Alekhine's Defense, 56 moves, 1-0

Balashov vs A Shmit, 1975
(B02) Alekhine's Defense, 56 moves, 1/2-1/2

Balashov vs W Schmidt, 1976
(B02) Alekhine's Defense, 23 moves, 1-0

"Bass needed only a draw for the IM norm"
L Day vs L Bass, 1980
(B10) Caro-Kann, 8 moves, 1/2-1/2

L Day vs Hjartarson, 1980
(B10) Caro-Kann, 52 moves, 1-0

L Day vs J Bonin, 1980 
(B10) Caro-Kann, 41 moves, 1-0

Black's Bf5 "cuts a particularly bad impression here"
L Day vs P Youngworth, 1979
(B10) Caro-Kann, 52 moves, 1-0

"The attempt to prevent f4...provoked a gambit reaction"
J Grefe vs Denker, 1979 
(B10) Caro-Kann, 22 moves, 1-0

Suttles vs A Matanovic, 1969
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 30 moves, 1/2-1/2

Suttles vs H Schaufelberger, 1970 
(B10) Caro-Kann, 72 moves, 1-0

Bronstein vs Filip, 1977
(B10) Caro-Kann, 33 moves, 1/2-1/2

B Kurajica vs Csom, 1976 
(B10) Caro-Kann, 40 moves, 1-0

B Kurajica vs A Pomar Salamanca, 1972 
(B10) Caro-Kann, 32 moves, 1-0

L Hazai vs L Lederman, 1980
(B10) Caro-Kann, 86 moves, 1/2-1/2

Black gains active play at the cost of a pawn.
L Day vs J Hebert, 1975
(B10) Caro-Kann, 41 moves, 1-0

L Day vs G Angers, 1980
(B10) Caro-Kann, 43 moves, 1-0

Petrosian vs E Bhend, 1966
(B10) Caro-Kann, 34 moves, 1-0

Aronin vs I Kan, 1952
(B23) Sicilian, Closed, 40 moves, 1/2-1/2

"An even more extreme anti-French method"
Steinitz vs A Schwarz, 1882 
(C00) French Defense, 31 moves, 1-0

Steinitz vs Blackburne, 1883 
(C00) French Defense, 40 moves, 1-0

Steinitz vs M Weiss, 1882  
(C00) French Defense, 36 moves, 1-0

Steinitz vs Winawer, 1882 
(C00) French Defense, 29 moves, 1-0

"It is difficult to tell where strategy runs into provocation."
Steinitz vs J Mason, 1882 
(C00) French Defense, 66 moves, 1/2-1/2

Chigorin's anti-French "first occurred to him as a joke."
Chigorin vs Rubinstein, 1903 
(C00) French Defense, 33 moves, 1-0

Chigorin vs Blackburne, 1905 
(C00) French Defense, 34 moves, 1-0

L Day vs I Kourkounakis, 1980 
(C00) French Defense, 48 moves, 0-1

Chigorin vs Tarrasch, 1893 
(C00) French Defense, 77 moves, 0-1

Chigorin vs Tarrasch, 1893 
(C00) French Defense, 58 moves, 1-0

Chigorin vs V A Boyarkov, 1899 
(C00) French Defense, 39 moves, 1-0

Chigorin vs Lasker, 1899 
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 42 moves, 0-1

Eschewing Chigorin's Nc3
Evans vs J Whitehead, 1977 
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 30 moves, 1-0

Chigorin vs Von Gottschall, 1905 
(C00) French Defense, 49 moves, 1-0

"An unqualified disaster"
J Grefe vs D Levy, 1975
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 31 moves, 0-1

"On the topic of disasters..."
J Bellon Lopez vs Uhlmann, 1973
(C00) French Defense, 31 moves, 0-1

Suttles vs K Smith, 1972 
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 49 moves, 1-0

L Day vs S Krstic, 1974
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 34 moves, 1-0

L Day vs T Upton, 1980
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 51 moves, 0-1

Suttles vs W Pietzsch, 1968 
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 36 moves, 1-0

Suttles vs D Haines, 1973 
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 30 moves, 1-0

Suttles vs Haines, 1973
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 36 moves, 1-0

Games after the Modern Chess Theory articles -- notice c3!
L Day vs V Jakouljevski, 1983 
(C00) French Defense, 32 moves, 1-0

...but here Day thinks c3 was a mistake
L Day vs A Kuznecov, 1983 
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 41 moves, 1-0

Hebden's predecessor
L Day vs A Kuznecov, 1983 
(B23) Sicilian, Closed, 68 moves, 1-0

Supplemental Games: 19th Century Origins of the Big Clamp
McDonnell vs J Finch, 1830 
(000) Chess variants, 26 moves, 1-0

McDonnell vs La Bourdonnais, 1834  
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 46 moves, 1-0

McDonnell vs La Bourdonnais, 1834  
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 81 moves, 1/2-1/2

McDonnell vs La Bourdonnais, 1834 
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 39 moves, 1-0

McDonnell vs La Bourdonnais, 1834 
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 59 moves, 1-0

McDonnell vs La Bourdonnais, 1834 
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 48 moves, 1-0

McDonnell vs La Bourdonnais, 1834  
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 51 moves, 1-0

La Bourdonnais vs L S Lecrivain, 1836 
(C00) French Defense, 28 moves, 1-0

Bledow vs von der Lasa, 1838 
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 38 moves, 1-0

E Williams vs M Wyvill, 1851 
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 32 moves, 1-0

E Williams vs Staunton, 1851 
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 34 moves, 1-0

Saint-Amant vs Staunton, 1843 
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 57 moves, 1/2-1/2

Bohatirchuk was Day's mentor and direct influence
F Bohatirchuk vs R Drummond, 1949
(C00) French Defense, 26 moves, 1-0

F Bohatirchuk vs E Weichselbaumer, 1954 
(C00) French Defense, 62 moves, 1-0

F Bohatirchuk vs E Roehrich, 1947
(B10) Caro-Kann, 33 moves, 1-0

Zvjaginsev's 2.Na3 is The Big Clamp in disguise
Zvjaginsev vs Ponomariov, 2006 
(B20) Sicilian, 58 moves, 1-0

Zvjaginsev vs Y Wang, 2008
(B20) Sicilian, 15 moves, 1/2-1/2

B Savchenko vs V Belov, 2006 
(B20) Sicilian, 33 moves, 1-0

B Savchenko vs O Biriukov, 2006
(B20) Sicilian, 31 moves, 1-0

E Doluhanova vs M A Campana, 2006 
(B20) Sicilian, 29 moves, 1-0

Day rejected the McDonnell French, but Zvjaginsev likes it
Zvjaginsev vs P Zhang, 2006 
(C00) French Defense, 38 moves, 1-0

Stripunsky had the edge
Stripunsky vs Nakamura, 2010 
(C00) French Defense, 45 moves, 0-1

I wonder where Naka got that idea?
Nakamura vs Seirawan, 2012 
(C00) French Defense, 30 moves, 1-0

McShane vs Van Wely, 2009 
(B20) Sicilian, 43 moves, 1-0

McShane vs C Lutz, 2005
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 62 moves, 1-0

L Day vs Z Vranesic, 1980
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 31 moves, 1-0

Turov vs F Hoelzl, 2003
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 36 moves, 1-0

Movsesian vs O Danchevski, 2008
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 28 moves, 1-0

Movsesian vs E Guseinov, 2007 
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 26 moves, 1-0

Morozevich vs Grischuk, 2005 
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 42 moves, 0-1

Yudasin vs I Sorkin, 2005
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 57 moves, 1-0

G Welling vs I Sokolov, 2009 
(B20) Sicilian, 30 moves, 0-1

Glek tried out the McDonnell - La Bourdonnais French
Glek vs M Dambacher, 2007
(C00) French Defense, 41 moves, 1/2-1/2

Glek vs D Bunzmann, 2007 
(C00) French Defense, 26 moves, 1-0

Glek vs M Rusanov, 2010
(C00) French Defense, 32 moves, 1-0

Philidor played the line himself.
Philidor vs J Bruehl, 1788 
(000) Chess variants, 48 moves, 1-0

KIA Approaches with g3 fianchetto
Chandler vs M Cebalo, 1981
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 36 moves, 1-0

Minasian vs J Ye, 1998
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 45 moves, 1/2-1/2

McShane vs Khalifman, 2005 
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 48 moves, 1-0

A Shchekachev vs Khalifman, 1994
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 52 moves, 1/2-1/2

G Jones vs J Gallagher, 2011 
(B20) Sicilian, 31 moves, 1-0

G Jones vs P Tregubov, 2011
(B20) Sicilian, 44 moves, 1-0

A S Rasmussen vs D Hamelink, 2007 
(B20) Sicilian, 42 moves, 1-0

The Grand Prix Attack as Big Clamp
Botvinnik vs Furman, 1961 
(B21) Sicilian, 2.f4 and 2.d4, 33 moves, 1-0

Sicilian Bird (A02) 0-1 Black has extra Kside pawns
Larsen vs Fischer, 1971 
(A02) Bird's Opening, 40 moves, 0-1

KIA / Big Clamp vs Dbl Fio (A07) 0-1Pin causes simplification
R Gunnarsson vs S Kristjansson, 2004 
(A07) King's Indian Attack, 40 moves, 0-1

Sicilian Defense vs Big Clamp (B20) 1-0 Pin on f-file
McShane vs I Cheparinov, 2009 
(B20) Sicilian, 20 moves, 1-0

Grob Opening / Big Clamp vs Sicilian (A00) 1-0
S Sloan vs J Jacobs, 2007 
(A00) Uncommon Opening, 46 moves, 1-0

French Chigorin 2.Qe2 Big Clamp (C00) 1-0 Black's space leaks
Rapport vs Bluebaum, 2015 
(C00) French Defense, 43 moves, 1-0

Sic Chameleon (B20) 1/2-Astonishing problem-like save by Keres
Keres vs Fischer, 1962 
(B20) Sicilian, 77 moves, 1/2-1/2

120 games

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