It is always tricky to play for a win with Black against a strong player in high-level chess because most openings force draw-ish positions, especially when the first move by White is e4. In my experience, there are a few strategies to aim for a win instead of a draw with Black: 

1. Play an opening that your opponent least expects from you
   1. However, you should have a deep understanding of the positions that emerge from that opening, or else you may just play poorly
      1. That’s why it’s important to have a line to play with Black that you don’t use often but that you can employ only when a victory is a must
2. Play a long game
   1. The main idea here is to wait for the opponent’s small inaccuracies which could potentially add up to a victory
   2. It is more like a positional battle where you put small problems in front of your opponent
3. Aim for razor-sharp positions
   1. The main goal is to mate the opponent’s king

In all of these scenarios, it is very important to remember that you are playing against a strong player, and therefore you should only make a concession if you are forced. Otherwise, it is important to stand your ground and fight for improvement or at least use every move to stop your opponent from fulfilling his ideas.

Game of the Week XXXI: Carlsen, M – Fedoseev, V

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Contributors:

Grandmaster Vasif Durarbayli

Edited by Della Almind