The JR Chess Report (October 24): Saratov, Monte Carlo take ECC; Magnus leads in Nanjing

[Jack Rabbit]

Saratov and Monte Carlo take European Club Cup



The team from Saratov won the general group of the European Club Cup in Plovdiv, Bulgaria yesterday with 13 match points in seven rounds while Monte Carlo took the women's title for the second year in a row.

Saratov dominated the event and finished two match points ahead of Yurga, Chernigiv, Azerbaijan and Baden-Baden. The team was led on the top boards by Ukrainian GM Pavel Eljanov and former European champion Evgeny Tomashevsky of Russia, but won the tournament on the strength of its lower boards. Newly-crowned world junior champion Dmitry Andreikin of Russia scored 5 points in six games on board 4 while Ukrainian GM Alexander Moiseenko played in all seven round and scored 5½ points.

The race with much tighter in the women's group, where Monte Carlo and the St. Petersburg Chess Club both scored 10 match points, but Monte Carlo scored a total of 19 individual points against 18 for St. Petersburg.

Monte Carlo was led by the two of the three leading women players in the world, Koneru Humpy of India (5½ points in seven rounds) and sixteen-year old Hou Yifan of China (4½ points in six rounds).



Magnus Leads at Halftime in Nanjing



Norwegian grandmaster Magnus Carlsen, 19, leads the third annual Pearl Spring Tournament in the former Chinese capital of Nanjing at the halfway point with 4 points in five rounds.

French GM Etienne Bacrot is in second place, a half point behind, with the difference being Magnus' victory over Bacrot in the first round on Wednesday.

Magnus has three wins and two draws while Bacrot has three wins, one loss and one draw.

World champion Vishy Anand of India is in third place with one win, one loss and three draws.

In action earlier today, Magnus defeated Bulgarian GM Veselin Topalov and Bacrot took down Chinese GM Wang Yue.

Tomorrow is a rest day. Action resumes Tuesday with Magnus playing Black against Bacrot. the games are broadcast live on the aesthetically soothing official tournament weebsite beginning at 2:30 pm Nanjing time (11:30 pm the previous evening PDT).

[Jack Rabbit]

1. This Week's Games

Your humble hare acknowledges the assistance of Rybka 4 and Fritz 6.0 on analysis.

Diagrams on the Jack Rabbit Chess Report are made with Chess Mérida, a true type font that can be downloaded free here.

BLACK
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WHITE
White to move
(This position is a theoretical draw)


I would like to thank my impressive and loyal staff: Buccaneer, Spitfire, Swashbuckler, Pancho and Robin Hood.

[Jack Rabbit]

2. European Club Cup, Plovdiv

Roman ruins in Plovdiv, Bulgaria
Photo by Mopkob in Wikipedia (Public Domain)

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Shirov - Andreikin, Round 5

Dmitry Andreikin, the reigning world junior champion, won four games in Plovdiv and thus played a key role in Saratov's first place finish at the European Club Cup.
Aleksei Shirov has long been one of the leading exponents of the Errol Flynn school of chess, having been a star student of the great Mikhail Tal. In this game, Shirov sacrifices two pawns and nearly gets away with it. Win or lose, Shirov will can always be counted on to provide chess fans an exciting game.



Aleksei Shirov and Dmitry Andreikin
Shirov photo: ChessBase.com
Andreikin photo: Arctic Chess


Aleksei Shirov (Azerbaijan) - Dmitry Andreikin (Saratov)
26th European Club Cup (General Group), Round 5
Plovdiv, 21 October 2010

Closed French Game: Steinitz Opening

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3

• For a thorough examination of this opening, see Karjakin-Carlsen, Corus A, Wijk an Zee, 2010).

7...a6 8.Ne2 Qb6 9.Rb1

• If 9.Qc1 g5 10.c3 cxd4 11.cxd4 Bb4+ 12.Kf2 f6 13.g3 then:
• If 13...g4 14.Nh4 fxe5 15.fxe5 Ndxe5 16.dxe5 d4 17.Bf4 Rf8 18.Kg2 gives White an extra piece, but Black has more space and freedom (he won) (Predojevic-Morozevic, IT, Sarajevo, 2008).
• 13...Rf8 14.Kg2 g4 15.Nh4 Rg8 16.h3 h5 is equal (Topalov-Morozevic, IT, Morelia-Linares, 2007).

9...Qa5+ (N)

• 9...cxd4 10.Bxd4 Nxd4 11.Nexd4 Be7 12.Bd3 Nc5 is equal. (Vestol-Yanofsky, IT, Amsterdam, 1954).

10.Bd2

• The game is equal.

10...Qc7 11.c3 b5

BLACK: Dmitry Andreikin
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WHITE: Alexei Shirov
Position after 11...b7b5

12.f5!?

• Full of the daring that endears el señor Shirov to his fans, White proposes a pawn sacrifice.
• 12.g3 Be7 13.Bh3 a5 14.O-O O-O 15.Qc2 remains equal.

12...exf5

• White accepts.

13.Nf4 Nb6 14.Bd3

• 14.Nh5 Nc4 15.dxc5 Be6 16.b4 Na3 17.Rb3 Nc4 is equal (Rybka 4; Fritz 6 concurs).
• 14.Be2 Be7 15.O-O O-O 16.Be3 cxd4 17.cxd4 g5 gives Black an extra pawn and a small edge in space (Fritz; Rybka like this position for Black better than Fritz does).

14...c4!?

• Black should give priority to completing his development.
• 14...Be7 15.O-O O-O 16.b3 Rb8 17.Qe1 Be6 gives Black more space and freedom.

15.Bc2 Be7

• The game is equal.

16.O-O g6

• 16...O-O 17.Qe1 f6 18.e6 Bd6 19.Nh4 g5 20.Qg3 remains equal.

17.b3!?

• White's queenside defense is fine the way it is abnd he should worry about his center.
• Better is 17.Qe1 (supporting the lead pawn 17...O-O 18.Qg3 Kh8 19.Ng5 Qd8 20.Nfh3 f6 gives White more space but Black still has an extra pawn.

17...cxb3 18.axb3 O-O

• Black still has an extra pawn, but the space count is about equal.

19.Qe1 Nd8 20.c4!

• White sacrifices a second pawn in search of the advantage.
• 20.Qg3 Ne6 21.Bd3 Nxf4 22.Qxf4 f6 23.Rbe1 is level.

BLACK: Dmitry Andreikin
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WHITE: Alexei Shirov
Position after 20.c3c4

20...dxc4 21.Ba5

• White is entertaining thoughts of tickling the Queen.
• 21.bxc4 Bb7 22.Ba5 Bxf3 23.Rxf3 Qxc4 24.Qf2 Qc6 gives Black two extra pawns, for which White has a formidible center.

21...Bb7

• White's center appears to be sufficient compensation for the two pawns.
21...Qb7 22.Bxb6 cxb3 23.Bxb3 Qxb6 gives Black two extra pawns (passers on the queenside, no less), but if White can safely advance the d-pawn, his solid center will be like a brick wall.

22.bxc4 Bxf3 23.Rxf3 Qxc4 24.Qf2

• This position (or the one just before White's more) is very interesting. Black has two extra pawns, but because of White's center, it is very difficult for him to find a win.
• If 24.Bxb6?! Qxc2 25.Nd5 Bg5 then:
• If 26.Bc5 then:
• 26...Qe4 27.Nc7 then:
• 27...Rc8 28.Nxa6 Re8 29.Qxe4 fxe4 30.Rh3 Ne6 gives Black an extra pawn and two passers.
• If 27...Ne6?! 28.Qxe4 fxe4 then:
• If 29.Nxe6 then:
• 29...exf3! 30.Nxg5 Rfb8 31.Nxf3 a5 32.Kf2 gives White more freedom, but Black's passers can get dangerous quick.
• 29...fxe6 30.Rxf8+ Rxf8 31.Bxf8 Kxf8 gives White a Rook aimed at Black's passed pawns with nothing even able to protect them.
• 29.Nxa8? Nxc5 30.Ra3 b4 31.Rg3 Ne6 32.Nb6 Bf4 gives Black more freedom and the initiative.
• 26...Ne6 27.Bxf8 Rxf8 28.Rd1 a5 29.Nf6+ Bxf6 30.exf6 b4 is equal.
• 26.Nc7 Rc8 27.Nxa6 Qc6 28.Qa5 Ra8 29.Ra3 Ne6 gives Black an extra pawn and more freedom.

24...Qc6 25.Rc3?!

• This move attacks the Queen, but also makes it difficult for White to defend his all-important center.
• Better is 25.Bb3 when after 25...Nc4 26.Bxc4 bxc4 27.Bc3 a5 28.Kh1 Qc8 Black continues to fight against White's center with two extra pawns.

25...Nc4 26.Bb3 Bg5!?

• Black misses a shot at all but putting the game away.
• If 26...Re8 27.h4 Rc8 then:
• 28.Bxc4 bxc4 29.d5 Qa4 30.Bb6 Bb4 31.Rcc1 a5 keeps White from breaking through on the queenside.
• If 28.h5 Ne6 then:
• 29.hxg6 hxg6 30.Bxc4 bxc4 31.Nxe6 Qxe6 32.Rh3 Rb8 gives Black a commanding positional advantage.
• 29.Nxe6? Qxe6 30.Rh3 g5 31.Rg3 Kh8 32.Rc3 Bd8 wins for Black.

BLACK: Dmitry Andreikin
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WHITE: Alexei Shirov
Position after 26...Be7g5

27.d5?!

• This move (which Rybka likes better than Fritz or your humble hare) weakens Black's center.
• If 27.Bxc4 bxc4 28.Nh3 Be7 then:
• 29.Nf4 Ne6 30.d5 Qc5 31.dxe6 Qxa5 32.exf7+ Rxf7 keeps Black two pawns to the good and now they're both passers on the queenside.
• If 29.Qe2? then Black wins after 29...Rc8 30.Nf4 Bg5 31.Nh3 Bh6.

27...Qd7 28.Bxc4 bxc4 29.Rd1?

• White's position in none too healthy, but this simply drops a piece and loses immediately.
• White could have held out longer after 29.Rh3 Re8 30.Bc3 when:
• 30...f6 31.exf6 Qf7 32.Rd1 Re4 33.Rf3 Bxf6 White can take a little more pounding before resigning.
• 30...Qa7 31.Ne2 Qxf2+ 32.Kxf2 a5 33.Bd4 Bd2 allows White to fight on.

29...Qa4! 1-0

• Black wins a piece.
• El señor Shirov resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Alekseev - Grischuk, Round 5

Alexander Grischuk
Photo: ChessBase.com


Evgeny Alekseev (Saratov) - Alexander Girschuk (Azerbaijan)
26th European Club Cup (General Group),Round 5
Plovdiv, 21 October 2010

Orthodox Queen's Gambit: Nimzo-Ragozin Defense

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.Bg5 Bb4

• The usual move order is 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Bb4 5.Bg5 dxc4.
• For a more detailed look at the Nimzo-Ragozin Defense, see Zhao Xue-N. Kosintseva, World ChTW, Ningbo, 2009).

6.e4 h6 7.Bxf6 Qxf6 8.e5

• If 8.Bxc4 c5 then:
• If 9.e5 Qe7 10.0-0 Bxc3 11.bxc3 0-0 then:
• 12.Nd2 b6!? 13.Ne4 Ba6 14.Bxa6 Nxa6 15.Qa4 Nc7 16.dxc5 bxc5 17.c4 gives White a clear advantage in space (Kmoch-Gilg, IT, Kecskemet, 1927).
• 12.d5 exd5 13.Bxd5 Nd7 14.Re1 Nb6 15.Be4 Rd8 16.Qe2 is equal (Gligoric-Kostic, Yugoslavia, 1946).
• If 9.0-0 then:
• If 9...cxd4 10.e5 Qd8 11.Ne4 0-0 12.Qe2 then:
• 12...Bd7 13.Rfd1 Nc6 14.a3 Be7 15.b4 Qb8 16.Ng3 b5 17.Bxb5 Nxe5 18.Bxd7 Nxd7 19.Nxd4 gives White the advantage in space (Grischuk-Aronian, IT, Linares, 2010).
• 12...b6 13.Rfd1 Nc6 14.Bb5 Bb7 15.Bxc6 Bxc6 16.Nxd4 gives White the advantage in space and an actice center (E. Agrest-Steingrimsson, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).
• 9...0-0 10.e5 Qd8 11.Qe2 cxd4 12.Rad1 Bd7 13.Ne4 Nc6 14.Ng3 Qc7 15.Bd3 Ne7 16.Rc1 gives White the advantage in space and the initiative (Kramnik-Ivanchuk, Corus A, 2010).

8...Qd8 9.Qa4+ Nc6 10.Bxc4 Bd7 11.Qc2 Ne7 (N)

• 11...Na5 12.Bd3 c5 13.dxc5 Rc8 14.a3 Bxc5 15.0-0 0-0 16.Rad1 gives White a small advantage in space (Ivanchuk-Kramnik, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2009).

12.0-0

• The game is equal.

12...Bc6 13.Ne4

• 13.Qd3 O-O 14.a3 Ba5 15.b4 Bxf3 16.bxa5 Bg4 is equal.

13...Nd5 14.a3 Be7 15.Rac1 a5!?

• This move is inaccurate in that it weakens the queenside light squares with the enemy's light-bound Bishop nearby.
• 15...a6 16.Ba2 Qd7 17.Rfe1 Ba4 18.Qd2 Bc6 remains equal.

BLACK: Alexander Grischuk
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WHITE: Evgeny Alekseev
Position after 15...a7a5

16.Rfe1!

• White takes a slight advantage in space.
• 16.h3 a4 17.Ba2 Bb5 18.Rfe1 c6 remains equal.

16...a4 17.Ba2 Nb6

• 17...Nf4 18.Qd2 Nd5 19.h3 O-O 20.Bb1 leaves White with a small advantage in space.

18.Qe2!?

• If 18.h3 Nd5 19.Kh2 then:
• If 19...Qd7 then after 20.Red1 O-O 21.Nc5 Qc8 22.Bb1 White continues to enjoy a small advantage in space.
• 19...Bg5 20.Nfxg5 hxg5 21.g3 Ne7 22.Red1 g4 23.h4 continues to give White a small advantage in space.

18...Bxe4!

• The game is equal.
• If 18...Nd5!? then after 19.g3 Qd7 20.Nc5 Qc8 21.Qd3 O-O 22.Bb1 White still has a small edge in space.

19.Qxe4 c6 20.Red1

• 20.Qg4 Kf8 21.h4 h5 22.Qe4 g6 remains equal.

20...Ra5

• 20...Nd5 21.h4 g6 22.g3 Qa5 23.Qe2 h5 remains equal.

21.Ne1

• 21.h4 Rb5 22.Rd2 h5 23.Bc4 Ra5 remains equal.

21...Nd5 22.Nd3 h5!?

• Black weakens his kingside dark squares.
• 22...Qb6 23.h4 g6 24.Rd2 h5 25.Rdc2 O-O remains equal.

23.Rc2!?

• White misses an opportunity to improve his position.
• 23.Nc5 Bxc5 24.dxc5 Qe7 25.Qd4 O-O 26.Bb1 again gives White a small advantage in space after he strengthens his center.

BLACK: Alexander Grischuk
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WHITE: Evgeny Alekseev
Position after 23.Rc1c2

23...g6!

• Black keeps the game level.
• 23...Qb6!? 24.Bc4 O-O 25.h4 Rb8 26.Nf4 Nxf4 27.Qxf4 gives White a small advantage in space.
• 23...O-O!? 24.Nf4 Nxf4 25.Qxf4 Qb6 26.Rdd2 h4 27.Qg4 also gives White a small advantage in space.

24.Nc5 Bxc5 25.dxc5 O-O 26.Rd4

• The game is equal.
• 26.Rdc1 Qd7 27.Rd2 Rd8 28.Rd3 Qc7 is equal.
• 26.Bxd5 cxd5 27.Qb4 Qa8 28.Rd3 Qa6 is equal.

26...Qe7 27.Rxa4

• 27.Rdc4 Rd8 28.g3 Qc7 29.Qe1 Kg7 30.Kg2 remains equal.

27...Rxc5

• 27...Rxa4?! 28.Qxa4! 28...Rd8 29.g3 Qg5 30.Qe4 gives White a small advantage in space.

28.Rxc5!?

• White slips and allows Black to take a small advantage in space.
• 28.Rac4! Rxc4 29.Bxc4 Rd8 30.g3 Kg7 31.Bf1 remains equal.

28...Qxc5!

• Black now has the advantage in space.

29.Rc4

• 29.Qc4 Qb6 30.Bb3 Qc7 31.Qe2 Rd8 32.h3 b5 continues to give Black a small advantage in space.

29...Qb6 30.Qd4 Rd8 31.g3?!

• This move is unnecessary as White's heavy pieces are keeping the Knight out of f4.
• 31.h3 Qa5 32.Kh2 Qc7 33.Qe4 Kg7 maintains a small advantage in space for Black.

BLACK: Alexander Grischuk
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WHITE: Evgeny Alekseev
Position after 23.Rc1c2

31...Qc7!?

• Black misses a big opportunity to greatly improve his position.
• 31...c5!! 32.Qxc5 Qxb2 33.Rc2 Qa1+ 34.Kg2 Qxe5 leaves Blacxk a pawn to the good with a stranglehold on the center.

32.Qe4 Ne7 33.Rd4 Nf5 34.Rxd8+ Qxd8 35.Qe2 Qd4!?

• With Grischuk no doubt in his customary time trouble, Black misses another opportunity to improve.
• 35...c5! 36.Bc4 Nd4 37.Qe4 b5 38.Bf1 c4 gives Black a solid advantage in space.

36.Kg2 Kg7 37.Bc4!?

• White is slso racing the clock and misses a chance to level the game.
li]37.Bb1! Qd5+ 38.Qe4 Qb3 39.Qc2 Qb5 40.Qc3 is equal.

37...Nh6!

• Black regains the advantage by redeploying his Knight.

38.h3

• White will keep the Knight out of g4.
• If 38.Bd3? Ng4! 39.f4 Ne3+ 40.Kf3 then:
• If 40...Nd5! 41.Bc4 Nb6 42.Bb3 c5 43.h4 c4 then:
• If 44.Ba2 then after 44...Qd5 45.Kf3 Qc6 46.Kg1 c3! Black is threatening to push the pawn home when simple measures cause White other serious problems.
• 44.Bd1 Nd5! 45.Bc2 Qxb2 46.Qxc4 Qxa3+ wins for Black.
• 40...Nf5? 41.Bxf5! gxf5 42.b4 Kg6 43.Qe3 Qd5+ 44.Kf2 is equal.

38...Nf5

• Better is 38...h4! 39.Bd3 Ng8 40.f4 Ne7 41.Be4 g5 when Black is ready to break open White's kingside.

39.a4?

• White wastes reserve a pawn tempo on this move.
• Better is 39.Bd3 Qd5+ 40.f3 Nd4 41.Qe4 c5 42.Qxd5 exd5 when Black has more moble pawns.

BLACK: Alexander Grischuk
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WHITE: Evgeny Alekseev
Position after 39.a3a4

39...h4!

• Black paralyzes White's kingside. It's clearly Black's game to give away now.
• Also good is 39...Kf8 40.h4 Kg7 41.Kh2 Nh6 42.f3 Nf5.

40.g4 Ne7 41.Kg1

• 41.Bb3 b6 42.Qe3 Qxb2 43.Qg5 Qxb3 wins for Black.

41...c5 42.b3 Nc6 43.Qf3 Qxe5 44.Bb5

• 44.Ba6 Qb8 45.Bd3 Nd4 46.Qe3 Qd6 maintains Black's strong advantage.

44...Na5

• 44...Nd4 45.Qxb7 Qd5 46.Ba6 Nxb3 47.Qb5 Nd2 leaves nothing to stop Black's attack.

45.Qd3 b6

• Black wins quicker with 45...Qa1+! 46.Kg2 Qb2 when:
• 47.Qe3 Nxb3 48.Be8 c4 49.Qf4 Qf6 50.Qxc4 Nd4 Black is a pawn to the good and pound at the White's King's defenses.
• After 47.Bc4 Qd4 48.Qe2 Qc3 49.Qa2 g5 50.Qa3 b6 White cannot avoid further material loss.

46.Qd8

• 46.Qc2 Qd4 47.Be2 Nc6 48.Bb5 Ne5 49.Be2 Kh6 wins for Black.

BLACK: Alexander Grischuk
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WHITE: Evgeny Alekseev
Position after 46.Qd3d8

46...Nxb3!

• Black opens an attack dep in White's territory.

47.Qxb6 Nd2 48.a5 Qe1+!

• White could have resigned here.

49.Kg2 Ne4 50.Kf3 Ng5+ 51.Kg2 Ne4

• Black repeats moves in order to gain time on the clock.

52.Kf3 Ng5+ 53.Kg2 Qe4+ 54.Kf1 Qh1+ 55.Ke2 Qf3+ 56.Ke1 Ne4 0-1

• If 57.Be2 then after 57...Qc3+ 58.Kf1 Qa1+ 59.Kg2 Qd4 60.Qb3 Qxf2+ White soon delivers mate.
• 57.Qd8 Qxf2+ 58.Kd1 Nc3+ 59.Kc1 Qe1+ wins easily.
• Evgeny Vladimirovich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Hou Yifan - Javakhashvili, Round 2

In the following game, a sixteen-year-old girl confounds not only her opponent, but two of the world's strongest chess engines on the market today.



Hou Yifan
Photo: pul.se (Sweden)


Hou Yifan (Monte Carlo) - Lela Javakhishvili (Tbilisi)
26th European Club Cup (Women's Group), Round 2
Plovdiv, 18 October 2010

Open Sicilian Game: Taimanov Defense

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Nc3 Nc6

• Black transposes from a Kan to a Taimanov Defense.
• For other variations of the Kan Defense, see Munguntuul-Koneru, Grand Prix W, Rd 2, Nalchik, 2010.

6.Be2 Qc7 7.Be3 Nf6 8.0-0 Be7

• If 8...Bb4 9.Na4 Be7 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Nb6 Rb8 12.Nxc8 Qxc8 then:
• If 13.Bd4 c5 14.Be5 Rb6 15.Qd3 d6 16.Bc3 0-0 17.b3 d5 then:
• If 18.exd5 Nxd5 19.Be5 Rd8 20.Qg3 Bf6 21.Bxf6 Nxf6 22.Rad1 Nd5 23.Rd2 a5 24.Rfd1 Rf8 25.Bc4 gives White the advantage in space (Zdebskaya-Pertlova, Euro ChW, Rijeka, 2010).
• If 18.e5 Nd7 19.f4 c4 20.bxc4 Rc6 21.Qh3 Nb6 22.Bd3 g6 then:
• If 23.f5 exf5 24.Rxf5 Qe6 25.cxd5 Nxd5 26.Bd2 gives White a small advantage in space (Coenen-Haba, Euro Club Cup, Ohrid, 2009).
• 23.Rf3 Re8 24.cxd5 Rxc3 25.Bxg6 hxg6 26.Rxc3 Bc5+ gives Black gthe initiative (Spoelman-van der Werf, Essent Op, Hoogeveen, 2003).
• If 13.e5 Nd5 14.Bc1 Bc5 15.c4 Ne7 16.b3 Qc7 17.Bb2 then:
• If 17...d6 18.exd6 Bxd6 19.g3 Be5 20.Bxe5 Qxe5 then:
• 21.Re1 c5 22.Bd3 Qd6 23.Be4 Qc7 24.Qc2 f5 25.Bg2 Kf7 26.Qe2 Qb6 27.b4 Rbc8 28.a4 Ng6 29.bxc5 Rxc5 30.Rab1 Qd6 31.Rb7+ Ne7 32.Bd5 Black resigns in the face of devastating material loss (Ganguly-Mastrovasilis, World Jr Ch, Nakhchivan , 2003).
• 21.Bf3 c5 22.Re1 Qc7 23.Be4 0-0 24.Qc2 h6 25.Rad1 Rfd8 26.Qb2 Nc6 27.Bxc6 Qxc6 28.Rd2 Rd6 29.Rxd6 Qxd6 30.Qe5 Qxe5 31.Rxe5 Rc8 32.f4 Kf8 33.Kf2 Ke7 34.h4 f6 35.Re1 draw (J.Polgar-Milos, Match, São Paulo, 1996).
• 17...0-0 18.Bd3 Ng6 19.Kh1 Rbd8 20.Qh5 Qa5 21.f4 Qd2 22.Qe2 Qxe2 23.Bxe2 a5 24.Bc3 Ra8 25.Rad1 Rfd8 26.g3 Bb4 27.Bd4 Rdb8 28.Bb2 Nf8 29.Rd3 Be7 30.a4 Rb7 31.Bd1 f5 32.h4 Bc5 33.Be2 h5 draw (Pashikian-Macieja, Euro Chess Ch, Antalya, 2004).

9.f4 d6 10.Kh1 0-0 11.a4

• If 11.Qe1 Bd7 12.Qg3 then:
• If 12...b5 13.a3 Nxd4 14.Bxd4 Bc6 then:
• If 15.Rae1 Qb7 16.Bd3 b4 then:
• If 17.Nd1 bxa3 18.bxa3 Rac8 then:
• If 19.Nc3 g6 20.f5 e5 21.Be3 then:
• 21...Nxe4? 22.Nxe4 Bxe4 23.Bxe4 Qxe4 24.Bg5! Qb7 25.Rb1 Qd7 26.Bxe7 Qxe7 27.f6 Qc7 28.Qg5 Kh8 29.Rb4 e4 30.Rxe4 Black resigns in a mating net (Szelag-Jaracz, Polish ChT, Zakopane, 2000).
• 21...Qb2 22.fxg6 hxg6 23.Bd2 Rc7 24.a4 leaves Black fighting for a draw.
• 19.Nf2 Nh5 20.Qf3 g6 21.Ng4 gives White a firm advantage in space (Shirov-Movsesian, IT, Sarajevo, 2000).
• 17.axb4 Qxb4 18.Ne2 Qb7 19.e5 Nh5 20.Qh3 g6 21.Ng3 dxe5 22.Bxe5 Nxg3+ 23.hxg3 is equal (Shirov-Ivanchuk, IT, Linares, 1993).
• 15.Rad1 Qb7 16.Bf3 Rad8 17.Rfe1 Kh8 18.Rd3 Rg8 19.Qh3 Qc7 20.e5 dxe5 21.fxe5 gives White the advantage in space (Ganguly-Emms, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).
• 12...Kh8 13.Rad1 Rac8 14.Bf3 b5 15.a3 Nxd4 16.Bxd4 Bc6 17.Rd3 Qb7 18.b4 gives White a slight advantage in space (Karpov-Ljubojovic, IT, Buenos Aires, 1994).

11...Re8 12.Bf3

• If 12.Bd3 Nb4 13.a5 Bd7 14.Qe1 Rac8 15.Qg3 then:
• 15...Nxd3 16.cxd3 Bc6 17.f5 e5 18.Nf3 Kh8 19.Bb6 Qd7 is equal (Czarnota-Ribli, Bundesliga 0607, Germany 2006).
• 15...Nh5 16.Qf3 Nf6 17.Qg3 draws.

12...Bf8!?

• This line may be somewhat risky for Black.
• If 12...Rb8 then:
• If 13.g4 Nxd4 14.Bxd4 e5 15.fxe5 dxe5 16.Ba7 Ra8 17.g5 Rd8 18.Qe2 Ne8 19.Be3 Be6 20.Qf2 then:
• If 20...Rdc8 then:
• 21.Rad1 Bc5 22.Bxc5 Qxc5 23.Nd5 Bxd5 24.Rxd5 Qxc2 25.Rxe5 gives White a small advantage in space (Thinius-K.Szabo, 1st Saturday Feb, Budapest, 2005).
• If 21.Bg4 then:
• 21...Qc6! 22.Bxe6 Qxe6 23.Nd5 Bd8 24.Bc5 Rc6 25.Nb4 Rcc8 26.Nd5 Rc6 27.Nb4 Rcc8 28.Nd5 Rc6 draw (Maliangkay-Elwert, Corres, 1998).
• 21...Nd6!? 22.Bxe6 fxe6 23.g6! hxg6 24.Qg2 gives White healthier pawns and more active pieces (Xie Jun-Arakhamia, FIDE Knock Out W, Groningen, 1997).
• If 20...Qc4 then:
• 21.Bb6 Rdc8 22.Be3 Bc5 23.Rad1 Bxe3 24.Qxe3 Qb4 gives Black a small advantage in space (Topalov-Kasparov, Ol, Yerevan, 1996).
• If 21.Nd5 Bxd5 22.b3 Qc3 23.exd5 Nd6 24.Rac1 then:
• 24...Rac8 25.Bd2 Qb2 26.c4 gives White the advantage in space (Hertel-Traeger, Corres, 2001).
• 24...b5!? 25.Bd2! gives White a solid advantage in space (Kozlov-Lastin, Op, Moscow, 1999).
• If 13.Qd2 Bd7 then:
• 14.Nb3 b6 15.g4 Bc8 16.g5 Nd7 17.Bg2 Na5 18.Qf2 Nxb3 19.cxb3 Nc5 20.Qc2 b5 21.axb5 axb5 is equal (Palac-Ftacnik, IT, Vinkovci, 1995).
• 14.Qf2 Nxd4 15.Bxd4 e5 16.Bb6 Qc4 17.Be2 Qc6 18.a5 exf4 19.Qxf4 gives White the advantage in space (Kuczynski -Jaworski, Polish ChT, Glagow, 2001).

13.Qd2

• If 13.Nb3 b6 14.a5 then:
• If 14...Nd7 15.axb6 Nxb6 16.Nb5 axb5 17.Bxb6 Qb8 18.Rxa8 Qxa8 then:
• 19.Qe2 b4 20.Ra1 Qb7 21.Be3 gives White the advantage in space (Kovacevic-Stojanovic, TT, Herceg Novi, 2005).
• 19.Qd3 b4 20.Ra1 Qb8 21.Be3 Bb7 22.Nd2 Qc7 23.Nc4 gives White the advantage in space (Babaev-Ulibin, Lasker Mem, Berlincek, 2001).
• If 14...bxa5 15.e5 dxe5 16.fxe5 Rd8 17.Nd4 Nxd4 then:
• If 18.Bxd4 Bb7 19.exf6 e5 20.fxg7 Bxg7 then:
• 21.Bxb7 Qxb7 22.Ne2 exd4 23.Ng3 Rd5 24.Nf5 gives White a well-posted Knight and stronger pawns in compensation for his pawn minus (Kovacevic-Jakovljevic, Op, Ljubljana, 2005).
• 21.Bxe5 Qxe5 22.Qe1 Qxe1 23.Rfxe1 Bxf3 24.gxf3 Rd2 gives Black the advantage in space and a Rook on the seventh (Bach-van Wely, Op, Vilssingen, 2001).
• If 18.Bxa8 Qxe5 19.Bf4 Qc5 20.Ne4 Nxe4 21.Bxe4 f5 then:
• If 22.Bf3 e5 23.Be3 Qc7 is equal (Nisipeanu-K.Georgiev, FIDE Knock Out, New Delhi, 2000).
• 22.Bd3 e5 23.Be3 gives White the advantage in space.

13...Nd7

• If 13...Rb8 14.Qf2 e5 then:
• 15.fxe5 dxe5 16.Nb3 Be6 17.Bb6 Qc8 18.a5 Bxb3 19.cxb3 gives White the advantage in space, but Black has stronger pawns (Hou Yifan-van Wely, Team M, Amsterdam, 2009).
• If 15.Nde2 b5 16.axb5 axb5 17.f5 Nb4 18.Ng3 Nxc2 then:
• 19.Bg5?! Nxa1 20.Bxf6 Qc5 21.Qd2 Nb3 leaves Black with the material advantage for the moment, but after 22.Qg5 White has the advantage in space and the active game in compensation (Jakovenko-Rublevsky, IT, Poikovsky, 2008).
• 19.Qxc2 b4 20.Ra7 Bb7 21.Bg5 gives White the advantage in space.
• If 13...Na5 then:
• If 14.b3 Rb8 15.Rad1 then:
• 15...b6 16.e5 dxe5 17.fxe5 Nd7 is equal (Jansa-Stohl, Bundesliga 0203, Germany, 2002).
• 15...Nc6 16.Bf2 Nd7 17.Bg3 Nxd4 18.Qxd4 gives White the advantage in space (Adams-Topalov, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2006).
• If 14.Qf2 Nc4 15.Bc1 e5 16.Nde2 d5 17.fxe5 Nxe5 18.Bf4 dxe4 19.Nxe4 then:
• 19...Nd5 20.Bg3 Qe7 21.Rad1 Nxf3 22.gxf3 Nf6 23.N2c3 Nxe4 24.fxe4 Bh3 gives Black advantages in pawn structure and initiative (Sutovsky-Kasparov, SX, Tel Aviv, 1998).
• 19...Qxc2 20.Nxf6+ gxf6 21.Qg3+ Qg6 22.Bd5 Nc6 is equal (Galkin-Poluljahov, Op, Novgorod, 1999).

14.Qf2 (N)

• 14.Rad1 Rb8 15.Rfe1 Nxd4 16.Bxd4 b6 gives White the advantage in space (Galkin-Ermenkov, Euro Ch, Ohrid, 2001).

14...Rb8

• White has a better-than-usual advantage in space for this stage of the game.
• 14...Be7 15.Rad1 h6 16.Qg3 Kh8 17.Rf2 gives White the advantage in space.

15.Rad1

• 15.f5!? Nde5! 16.fxe6 Bxe6 17.Nxe6 fxe6 18.Bb6 Qd7 gives White only a small advantage in space.

15...Nb4!?

• White can anchor his Knight to b4, but it has no targets. More importantly, it takes the watchman off e5.
• Better is 15...Be7 16.Qg3 when:
• After 16...Kh8 17.Bh5 Rf8 18.Be2 h6 19.Rd2 Nf6 Rfd1 White has a small to medium advantage in space.
• If 16...Nb4!? then:
• If 17.e5! then:
• 17...dxe5 18.fxe5 Ra8 19.Bf4 continues to give White a firm advantage in space.
• 17...d5? 18.f5! Nf8 19.f6!! Bxf6 20.exf6 Qxg3 21.hxg3 gives White a piece for two pawns and a great deal more activity.
• 17.Rf2!? b6 18.f5 e5 19.Nb3 gives White only a small advantage in space.

BLACK: Lela Javakhashvili
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WHITE: Hou Yifan
Position after 15...Nc6b4

16.e5!?

• Neither Fritz nor Rybka like this pawn sacrifice very much, but it may be better than either engine indicates.
• Safer is 16.Qd2 h6 17.Ncb5 axb5 18.Qxb4 bxa4 19.Qxa4 when White continues to enjoy the advantage in space.

16...dxe5?

• This acceptence of the proffered pawn may be the losing move, but neither engine indicates that. Things get progessively worse for Black from here.
• If 16...d5! then after 17.Qd2 Nc5 18.b3 Bd7 19.Nce2 Nc6 20.c3 White's advantage in space begins to dissipate.

17.fxe5 Nxe5 18.Bf4

• The benefit of the pawn sacrifice is now clear. The center is open for White's pieces and Black's movement is restricted.
• 18.Qg3 Bd7 19.Bf4 f6 20.Ne4 Kh8 21.Bh5 transposes into the variation after White's 20th move.

18...f6 19.Qg3

• White now seems to have nothing but good moves.
• If 19.Be4 g5 then:
• 20.Bxe5 Qxe5 21.Rde1 Qc7 22.Qxf6 Qg7 23.Qf3 gives White a huge advantage in space with her pieces focued near the enemy King.
• If 19...Ra8 then after 20.Nf3 Qc5 21.Qxc5 Bxc5 22.Nxe5 fxe5 23.Bxe5 White dominates the board.

19...Bd7

• Meanwhile, Black sinks deeper into the mire with every move.
• If 19...Be7 then after 20.Be4 Qa5 21.Nf3 Nxf3 22.Rxf3 Ra8 23.Bh6 White wins.

20.Rde1

• White wins with 20.Ne4 Kh8 21.Bh5 Re7 22.Nf3 Nbc6 23.Rf2.

20...Qc4

• If 20...Rbd8 21.Ne4 then:
• 21...Kh8 22.Qh3 h6 remains equal.
• 21...Be7?! gives White the exchange after 22.Bh5 Rf8 23.Bh6 g6 24.Bxf8.

21.Ne4!

• By now, White has a clearly winning game, but neither chess engine can point to an obvious mistake by Black since White's pawn sacrifice. This only makes sense if the decision to take the pawn on Black's 16th move was a bad one.
• The pawn sacrifice 21.Be2! Qxd4 22.Rd1 Qb6 23.Bxe5 fxe5 24.Rxd7 is cleary good for White, but the text is even better and much more spectacular.

21...Kh8

• If 21...Be7 22.c3 Nd5 then:
• 23.Nxf6+ Bxf6 24.Bxe5 Bxe5 25.Qxe5 Qc7 26.a5 gives White a firm grip on the center.
• 23.Bh5? Nxf4! 24.Bxe8 Rxe8 25.Rxf4 Qd3 equalizes.

22.Bxe5!

• White sets up the winning blow.

22...fxe5

BLACK: Lela Javakhashvili
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WHITE: Hou Yifan
Position after 22...fe5:B

23.Ng5!!

• White sacrifices a Knight to get a mating attack.

23...exd4

• 23...Qxd4 24.Be4 Nc6 25.Nf7+ Kg8 26.Bxh7+ Kxh7 27.Qh3+ Kg6 28.Nh8+ Kg5 29.Qh7 Re7 30.Qg6+ Kh4 31.g3+ Kh3 32.Qh5+ Qh4 33.Qxh4#.
• If 23...g6 then after 24.Be4 Qxd4 25.Rd1 Nxc2 26.Rxd4 Nxd4 17.Qh4 Black must either lose material or submit to mate.

24.Be4 Be7

• Black is conmpletely lost and there is no point in prolonging the game by 24...g6 25.Qh3 Re7 26.Nf7+ Rxf7 27.Rxf7.

25.Nf7+ Kg8 26.Bxh7+ 1-0

• 26...Kxh7 27.Qh3+ Kg6 28.Ne5+ Kg5 29.Qg4+ Kh6 30.Qg6#.
• Ms.Javakhisvili resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Brochet - Ivanchuk, Round 1

Vassily Ivanchuk
Photo: Scacchierando (Italian)


Philippe Brochet (Evry Grand Roque) - Vassily Ivanchuk (St. Petersburg Chess Club)
26th European Club Cup, Round 1
Plovdiv, 17 October 2010

Sardinian Royal Game: Saragossa Opening (Ponziani Opening)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 Nf6

• If 3...d5 then:
• If 4.Qa4 f6 5.Bb5 Nge7 6.exd5 Qxd5 then:
• If 7.0-0 Bd7 8.d4 e4 then:
• If 9.Nfd2 then:
• 9...Ng6 10.Bc4 Qa5 11.Qb3 f5 12.Bf7+ Ke7 13.Nc4 Qa6 14.Bg5+ Kxf7 15.Nd6# White wins (Chigorin-Gossip, US Chess Congress, New York, 1889).
• 9...a6 10.Na3 Nc8 11.Bc4 Qf5 12.Qc2 Bxa3 13.bxa3 Nd6 14.Re1 0-0-0 15.Bf1 Rde8 16.Nb3 Qg6 17.Be3 f5 18.Nc5 Rhf8 19.Bf4 Qf6 20.Rab1 Nd8 21.Bxa6 Bc6 22.Qb3 gives White a winning advantage (Euwe-Speyer, Amsterdam, 1921).
• 9.Ne1 a6 10.Bc4 Nxd4 11.Qb4 c5 12.cxd4 cxb4 13.Bxd5 Nxd5 14.Nc2 Rc8 15.Ne3 Nf4 16.Nd2 f5 17.f3 Ne2+ 18.Kh1 f4 leaves Black a pawn to the good (Whisker-Steinitz, London, 1868).
• If 7.d4 Bd7 8.Be3 exd4 9.cxd4 Nc8 10.Nc3 Bb4 then:
• 11.0-0 Bxc3 12.bxc3 Nb6 13.Qb3 Be6 14.c4 Nxc4 15.Bxc4 Qxc4 16.Qxb7 Kd7 17.Bf4 gives White the advantage (von Popiel-Napier, IT, Monte Carlo, 1902).
• 11.Bxc6 Bxc3+ 12.bxc3 Bxc6 13.Qb4 Nb6 14.0-0 a5 15.Qb3 Nc4 16.Bf4 0-0-0 17.Rfe1 g5 18.Bg3 h5 19.Re7 Rd7 20.Rxd7 Kxd7 21.Qc2 h4 gives Black a winning advantage (Reggio-Napier, IT, Monte Carlo, 1902).
• If 4.Bb5 dxe4 5.Nxe5 Qd5 6.Qa4 Nge7 then:
• If 7.Nxc6 Nxc6 8.0-0 Bd6 9.Re1 0-0 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.Qxe4 Qh5 12.g3 Bh3 13.f3 Bxg3 14.hxg3 Rae8 15.Qxe8 Qxf3 16.Qe4 Qxg3+ 17.Kh1 Bg2+ 18.Qxg2 Qxe1+ 19.Qg1 Qe4+ 20.Qg2 Qd3 21.c4 Re8 22.Nc3 Re6 23.b3 Rh6+ 24.Kg1 Rg6 25.Qxg6 hxg6 26.Na4 Qd4+ White resigns (Lutt-Keres, Corres, 1934).
• 7.f4 exf3 8.Nxf3 Bd7 9.0-0 f6 10.d4 a6 11.c4 Qh5 12.d5 Nb8 13.Bxd7+ Nxd7 14.Bf4 b5 15.cxb5 Nb6 16.Qc2 Nbxd5 17.Bxc7 Rc8 18.b6 Nxb6 19.Qf2 Nc4 20.Bg3 Nf5 21.Re1+ Kf7 22.Bf4 Bc5 23.Be3 Nfxe3 24.Kh1 Nf5 White resigns (MacLoed-Baird, US Chess Congress, New York, 1889).

4.d3

• If 4.d4 (the clear intent of White's third move) then:
• If 4...Nxe4 5.d5 then:
• If 5...Ne7 6.Nxe5 Ng6 7.Qd4 Qf6 8.Qxe4 Qxe5 9.Qxe5+ Nxe5 10.Bf4 then:
• If 10...d6 11.Na3 Be7 then:
• 12.Nc4 Nxc4 13.Bxc4 Bd7 14.Kd2 0-0 15.Rhe1 gives White a distinct advantage in space (Velimirovic-Malaniuk, Yuguslav Cup, Becici, 1993).
• 12.Bb5+ Bd7 13.0-0 0-0-0 14.Rfe1 Bxb5 15.Nxb5 a6 16.Nd4 is equal (A.Maier-Smejkal, Op, Munich, 1993).
• 10...Bd6 11.Bg3 0-0 12.Nd2 f5 13.f3 f4 14.Bf2 Be7 15.Nc4 Nxc4 16.Bxc4 d6 17.Kd2 gives White a slight advantage in space and development (Velimirovic-P.Littlewood, Op, Borovo, 1980).
• 5...Nb8 6.Bd3 Nc5 7.Nxe5 Nxd3+ 8.Nxd3 Be7 9.0-0 d6 then:
• 10.f4 Bf5 11.Be3 Nd7 12.Nf2 h5 13.Qf3 Nf6 14.h3 Qd7 is equal (Reggio-H.Wolf, IT, Monte Carlo, 1903).
• 10.Qf3 0-0 11.Nd2 Nd7 12.Re1 Re8 13.Nc4 Nf8 14.Nf4 Bf5 15.g4 Bd7 is equal (Schlechter-Janowski, IT, Monte Carlo, 1901).
• 10.Nd2 0-0 11.Nf3 Bf5 12.Nd4 Bxd3 13.Qxd3 Bf6 14.Nf5 gives White the advantage in space (Chigorin-Weiss, Amer Chess Congress, New York, 1889).
• (Vukovic Gambit) If 5...Bc5 6.dxc6 then:
• If 6...Bxf2+ 7.Ke2 then:
• 7...Bb6 8.Qd5 Nf2 9.Bg5 f6 10.Nxe5 Qe7 11.cxd7+ Bxd7 12.Qxd7+ Qxd7 13.Nxd7 Kxd7 14.Be3 Rae8 15.Kxf2 Rxe3 16.g3 Rxc3+ gives White an extra piece but poor development, while Black's pieces enjoy activity on navicable lines (Epstein-Tuvshintugs, US ChW, Tulsa, 2008).
• If 7...bxc6 8.Qa4 f5 9.Nbd2 then:
• 9...0-0 10.Nxe4 fxe4 11.Kxf2 d5 12.Be3 exf3 13.g3 Qf6 14.Rd1 Bf5 15.Rd2 a5 16.h4 Qe6 is equal (Yudovich-Zamikhovsky, Muni Ch, Moscow, 1942).
• If 9...Nxd2 10.Bxd2 Bc5 then:
• 11.Kd1 Qf6 12.Qh4 Qxh4 13.Nxh4 d5 14.Nf3 Bd6 15.Kc2 f4 16.Nxe5 Bxe5 17.Re1 Bf5+ 18.Bd3 Bxd3+ 19.Kxd3 0-0 20.Rxe5 gives White a piece for two pawns (W.Schmidt-Friedl, German ChT, Germany, 2000).
• If 11.Re1 e4 12.Kd1 Be7 13.Bc4 Bf6 14.Rhf1 Bb7 15.Nd4 g6 16.Bb3 c5 17.Ne6 Qc8 18.Nxc5 Bc6 then:
• 19.Nxe4 Bxa4 20.Nxf6+ Kd8 21.Nd5 Bxb3+ 22.axb3 Qa6 gives Black a Quuen for two pieces (von Popiel-Wolf, Hanover, 1902).
• 19.Qa5 Rb8 20.g4 Rb5 21.Qxa7 Bh4 22.Re2 Qa8 23.Qxa8+ Bxa8 24.Be3 gives White an extra piece.
• 6...Nxf2 7.Qd5 d6 8.cxb7 Bxb7 9.Qxb7 Nxh1 10.Qc6+ Kf8 11.Be2 f6 12.b4 Bb6 13.Bc4 Nf2 14.Qd5 Qe8 15.Nh4 Rd8 16.b5 Ng4 17.Nf5 e4 18.Nd4 Bxd4 19.cxd4 Nxh2 20.Bf4 Ng4 21.Nc3 g5 22.Bxg5 Qh5 23.Bh6+ Black resigns as he must either lose his Queen or submit to mate (Brien-Falkbeer, London, 1855).
• If 4...exd4 5.e5 then:
• If 5...Ne4 6.Qe2 f5 7.exf6 d5 8.Nbd2 Qxf6 9.Nxe4 dxe4 10.Qxe4+ Qe6 11.Bd3 then:
• If 11...dxc3 12.0-0 Qxe4 13.Bxe4 Bd7 14.Bxc6 Bxc6 15.Re1+ Kd8 then:
• 16.Ne5 Be8 17.bxc3 b6 18.f4 gives White more space and better development (Velimirovic-Hebden, Op, Metz, 1988).
• 16.Bg5+ Kc8 17.bxc3 Ba3 18.Rad1 Bxf3 19.gxf3 Bd6 gives Black clearly stronger pawns (Upton-Hebden, British Ch, Blackpool, 1988).
• 11...Qxe4+ 12.Bxe4 dxc3 13.0-0 Bd7 14.Bxc6 Bxc6 15.Re1+n is equal (Chavallier-G.Flear, French ChT, 1989).
• 5...Nd5 6.cxd4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Bxd2+ 8.Nbxd2 0-0 9.Bc4 Nce7 10.Qb3 Nb6 11.Bd3 d6 12.0-0 dxe5 13.dxe5 Be6 14.Qc2 h6 15.Rad1 gives White a small advantage in space (Mastrovasilis-Tolstikh, Op, Porto Carras, 2005).

4...a5

• If 4...d5 5.Nbd2 then:
• If 5...a5 6.Be2 Bc5 7.0-0 0-0 then:
• 8.b3 Re8 9.a3 Ba7 10.Rb1 dxe4 11.dxe4 Nh5 12.Nc4 Qf6 is equal (Geleshvili-Hellsten, Op, Corinth, 2002).
• 8.Qc2 Re8 9.b3 Ba7 10.a3 Bg4 11.h3 Bh5 12.Re1 Bg6 is equal (Gelman-Gavrilov, Op, Moscow, 1996).
• 5...Be7 6.Be2 0-0 7.0-0 a5 8.Qc2 Re8 9.Re1 Bf8 10.Bf1 g6 11.b3 Bg7 12.Bb2 Be6 is equal (Csom-Radovici, Lasker Mem, East Berlin, 1968).

5.Be2 Bc5 (N)

• 5...g6 6.0-0 Bg7 7.Qc2 0-0 8.Nbd2 d5 9.b3 h6 10.Bb2 b6 11.Rfe1 Bb7 12.a3 Re8 13.Bf1 dxe4 14.dxe4 Kh8 is equal (Gavrikov-Bareev, Soviet Ch, Kiev, 1986).

6.0-0

• The game is equal.
• If 6.d4 exd4 7.e5 Ne4 8.cxd4 Bb6 9.O-O d5 is also equal.

6...d6

• 6...d5 7.Qa4 O-O 8.b4 Bd6 9.b5 Ne7 10.Qc2 remains equal.

7.d4 Ba7 8.dxe5 Nxe5 9.Nxe5 dxe5 10.Qxd8+ Kxd8 11.Bg5

• 11.Nd2 Ke7 12.Nf3 Nxe4 13.Nxe5 Kf6 14.Nc4 Re8 gives Black a slight edge in space.

11...h6

• 11...Ke7 12.Nd2 Rd8 13.Rfd1 h6 14.Bh4 remains equal.

12.Bxf6+ gxf6 13.Nd2

• 13.Rd1+ Ke7 14.Nd2 Rg8 15.Nf3 Bg4 remains equal.

13...Ke7 14.Nc4

• 14.Rfd1 Rg8 15.Nf3 Bg4 remains equal.

14...a4!

• This move cramps White's play on the queenside.
• If 14...Bc5 15.Rfd1 b6 then:
• 16.Rd2 Bb7 17.Rad1 Bxe4 18.Rd7+ Ke6 remains equal.
• 16.Ne3 Bxe3 17.fxe3 Be6 18.Kf2 a4 maintains a small edge in space for White.

15.a3!?

• White plays a waiting move, but he sould have pursued a more active plan.
• If 15.b4 Bd7 16.Rfd1 Rhg8 17.Na5 Bb6 remains equal.

BLACK: Vassily Ivanchuk
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WHITE: Philippe Brochet
Position after 15.a2a3

15...h5!

• Black now has a small advantage in space.
• If 15...Rd8 16.Rad1 Be6 17.g3 then:
• 17...b5 18.Ne3 Bxe3 19.fxe3 c6 gives Black the edge in space, especiall on the queenside.
• 17.Rfe1!? c6 18.Kf1 Bc5 gives Black a small advantage in space.

16.Rad1 h4!

• Black has now cramped Black's play on the kingside.
• Also good is 16...Be6 17.Rd2 Rad8 18.Rfd1 Rxd2 19.Rxd2 h4.
• 16...Rg8!? 17.Rd3 h4 18.Rfd1 Be6 19.Kf1 Bc5 is again equal.

17.Ne3

• 17.Rd3 Rd8 18.Rxd8 Kxd8 19.Rd1+ Ke7 20.Nd2 Bd7 continues to give Black the edge in space.

17...Bxe3 18.fxe3 Bd7!?

• Black might do better to keep the d-file clear.
• If 18...Be6 then:
• If 19.Rd2 Bb3! 20.Bf3 then:
• b6 21.Rff2 Rhg8 22.Kf1 b5 23.Be2 c6 further cramps White's queenside.
• 20...b5 21.Rdf2 Rab8 22.Bd1 Bc4 maintains Black's spatial edge.
• 19.c4!? Rhd8! 20.Kf2 Rd6 gives Black a stronger advantage in space.

19.Rd2 Be6!?

• Black could have moved his Bishop here in the first place. The game is now equal.
• Better is 19...Rhg8 20.Rfd1 Bc6 21.Bc4 Rg4 22.Be2 Rg7 when Black has command of the g-file and all his vital points covered.

20.Kf2!?

• White misses an opportunity to gain full equality.

If 20.Rfd1 Rhc8 21.Kf2 c6 22.Kf3 Re8 remains equal.

20...Ra5!?

• The game still remains equal. Better for Black is to take command of the d-file.
• 20...Rhd8 21.Rfd1 Rxd2 22.Rxd2 c6 23.Kf3 Rg8 gives Black a small advantage in space.

21.Rfd1

• 21.Rc1 Ra7 22.Rcd1 c6 23.h3 b6 remains equal.

21...Rc5 22.Bd3 Rg8 23.Bc2!?

• Black is putting more pressure on the kingside. 23.Be2 is indicated.
• 23.Be2 Rf8 24.Rf1 Rh8 25.Bf3 Rc6 26.Rfd1 remains equal.

BLACK: Vassily Ivanchuk
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WHITE: Philippe Brochet
Position after 23.Bd3c2

23...Ra5!?

• The game remains equal.
• 23...Bg4! 24.Rc1 Bd7 25.Bd3 Bc6 gives Black a slight advantage in space.

24.Bd3 Rg4 25.Kf3 Rg5 26.Kf2 Ra8 27.Be2!?

• White needs a more flexible move.
• If 27.Bb5! then:
• 27...f5 28.exf5 Rxf5+ 29.Kg1 Rf6 gives Black only a slight advantage in space.
• 27...Rg4 28.Be2 Rgg8 29.f3 is equal.

27...Rag8!

• The doubling of Black's Rooks in the g-filwe taxes White's defense still further.

28.Bf3 b6 29.Kf1 Bc4+ 30.Kf2 Bb5 31.h3?!

• White tries to restrict the influences Of Black's Bishop, but he only hammpers his own Bishop's maneuverability.
• If 31.Kg1 Bc6 32.Rf1 Rd8 33.Rxd8 Kxd8 gives Black only a small advantage in space.

31...Bc6 32.Bg4

• If 32.Ke2 Rg3 then:
• 33.Kf2 f5 34.Rd5 Rxf3+ 35.gxf3 Bxd5 36.Rxd5 Ke6
• If 33.c4? then Black wins after 33...f5! 34.Rd5 Bxd5 35.Rxd5 Rxg2+ 36.Bxg2 Rxg2+

BLACK: Vassily Ivanchuk
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WHITE: Philippe Brochet
Position after 32.Bf3g4

32...Rxg4!!

• The exchange sacrifice blows open the kingside to Black's advantage.

33.hxg4 Rxg4 34.Rh1

• 34.Kg1 h3 35.Kh2 hxg2 36.Rxg2 Rxe4 37.Rg3 f5 White Black has a solid advantage in space and pressure on the g2 square.

34...Bxe4 35.Rh2 f5 36.Rd1 b5!

• Black is not going to give White any counterplay.
• Weaker is 36...Bc6!? 37.Rd2 f4 38.exf4 Rxf4+ 39.Kg1 f6.

37.Rg1

• Black is clearly better after 37.Kf1 c6 38.Rd2 f6 39.Ke1 Bd5 40.Rf2 Kf7.

37...Ke6 38.g3?

• White is now entirely without hope.
• White would last longer after 38.Rd1 Bd5 39.Rdh1 f6 40.Rd1 c6.

BLACK: Vassily Ivanchuk
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WHITE: Philippe Brochet
Position after 38.g2g3

38...hxg3+ 39.Rxg3 Kd5 40.Rgh3 Kc4 41.Rh7

• After 41.Kf1 Bd3+ 42.Ke1 Rg1+ 43.Kf2 Rd1 B lack's Rook is an anvil, the Bishop and kingside pawns make up the hammer and the White King is a mere horseshoe.

41...c6 42.Rxf7 Kb3 43.Kf1 Bd3+ 44.Ke1 Rg1+ 45.Kd2 Be4 0-1

• After 46.Rc7 Kxb2 47.Rh4 Kxa3 48.Rhh7 Kb2 49.Ke2 a3 it will cost White a Rook to stop the the a-pawn.
• M. Brochet resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Koneru - Fierro, Round 3

Koneru Humpy
Photo: Czech Coal Chess Match (2009)


Koneru Humpy (Monte Carlo) - Martha Fierro (Chieti)
26th European Club Cup (Women's Group), Round 3
Plovdiv, 19 October 2010

West India Game: King's Indian Defense (Sämisch Opening)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.Be3 c5 7.Nge2 cxd4

• For moves up to here and alternatives to 7...cxd4, seeMenchik-Thomas, IT, London, 1932.

8.Nxd4 Nc6 9.Be2 Nxd4

• If 9...Bd7 10.0-0 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 Bc6 12.Qd2 a5 13.b3 Nd7 14.Be3 Nc5 15.Rab1 Qb6 16.Rfc1 Rfc8 17.Rc2 Qd8 18.Bf1 then:
• If 18...h5 19.a3 Kh7 20.b4 axb4 21.axb4 then:
• If 21...Ne6 22.Nd5 Ra3 23.Kh1 Rca8 24.f4 Ra1 then:
• 25.Rbc1 Qh8 26.Bd3 Bxd5 27.exd5 Nd4 28.Bxd4 Bxd4 (Stubbarud-E.Lie, Norwegian Ch, Moss, 2006).
• 25.Rxa1 Rxa1 26.Rc1 Qa8 27.Bd3 Nd4 28.Rxa1 Qxa1+ gives White the advantage in space (Zawadzka-Sikorova, World ChTW, Ekaterininberg, 2007).
• 21...Na4 22.Nd5 Bxd5 23.exd5 Nb6 24.Rd1 Ra1 25.Rxa1 Bxa1 26.f4 gives White the advantage in space a greater freedom (Zawadzka-Savtchenko, World Youth GirlsU18, Belfort, 2005).
• 18...Qf8 19.Nd5 Qd8 20.Bg5 Bxd5 21.exd5 Qb6 22.Kh1 Re8 23.Re1 Qc7 24.Qf2 gives White a small advantage in space (Lonngren-KLrylov, Op, Skelleftea, 2001).
• 15.Rac1 Qb6 16.Nb5 Rfc8 17.Rfd1 Qd8 18.Bf1 Qf8 19.Nc3 b6 20.Nd5 Rab8 21.Rb1 Rb7 22.b4 axb4 23.Rxb4 Bxd5 24.cxd5 Ra8 gives White a tactical edge (deFirmian-M.Petursson, IT 8990, Reggio Emilia, 1990).

10.Bxd4 Qa5 11.Rb1 (N)

• If 11.0-0 Be6 12.Qd2 Rfc8 13.b3 then:
• 13...a6 14.Qb2 Ne8 15.Bxg7 Nxg7 16.Rac1 gives White a small advantage in space (Malakhov-Ovsejevitsch, Euro ChU20, Holon, 1995).
• 13...b5 14.b4 Qxb4 15.Rab1 Qa5 16.Rxb5 Qd8 17.Nd5 Nd7 18.Bxg7 Kxg7 19.f4 leaves Black with the advantage in space (Novikov-Glek, Soviet Ch ½-final, Tashkent, 1984).

11...Be6!?

• If 11...Qg5 12.0-0 Nh5 13.Nd5 then:
• 13...Nf4 14.Nxf4 Qxf4 15.Bxg7 Qe3+ 16.Rf2 Kxg7 17.Qd3 gives White a slight edge in space.
• 13...Be5 14.Be3 Bf4 15.Qc1 Bxe3+ 16.Qxe3 Qxe3+ 17.Nxe3 gives White a small advantage in space.

12.b4

• 12.O-O Nd7 13.f4 Rac8 14.b3 Bxd4+ 15.Qxd4 continues to give White a small advantage in space.

12...Qc7

• The game is equal.

13.Nb5 Qb8 14.Be3

• 14.O-O Rc8 15.Rc1 a6 16.Na3 Bh6 17.Rc2 Bd7 remains equal.

14...Rc8 15.Rc1!?

• 15.Qb3 a5 16.Nd4 Bd7 17.bxa5 Rxa5 18.O-O b6 remains equal.

15...a6!?

• 15...a5 16.a3 Bd7 17.bxa5 Bxb5 18.cxb5 Rxa5 gives Black a slight edge in space.

BLACK: Martha Fierro
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WHITE: Koneru Humpy
Position after 15...a7a6

16.Nd4!

• If 16.Na3!? 16...Nd7 17.Qd2 b5 18.O-O Nb6 then:
• If 19.c5 dxc5 20.bxc5 Na4 21.Rc2 b4 22.Nb1 b3 gives Black the advantage in space and the initiative.
• 19.cxb5 axb5 20.Rxc8+ Qxc8 21.Rc1 Nc4 22.Bxc4 bxc4 gives Black the advantage in space and an advanced passer.

16...Bd7 17.O-O b5?!

• 17...a5 18.b5 e5 19.Nc2 Be6 20.Na3 leaves White with only a small advantage in space.

18.a3?!

• This move is not yet necessary. Better is maneuvering in order to set up a kingside attack.
• 18.Qd2 bxc4 19.Bxc4 Ba4 20.a3 Rd8 21.Ba2 gives White more freedom.

18...bxc4

• White has only a slight edge in space.

19.Bxc4 e5?!

• Black weakens her position by giving White a queenside majority, perhaps in the belief that her heavy pieces can defend against any advance of White's pawns.
• 19...d5 20.exd5 Qe5 21.Re1 Nxd5 22.Bf2 Qd6 23.Ne2 is equal.

20.Nb3!

• White swings her Knight into action in order to frustrate Black's queenside defense.
• The text is better than 20.Ne2!? 20...Bb5 21.Bxb5 Rxc1 22.Qxc1 axb5 23.Rd1 Bf8 24.Nc3 when White still has more space and freedom.

20...Rxc4

• Black has a Hobson's choice of losing a pawn or losing the exchange, Black chooses to lose the exchange.
• 20...Ba4 21.Qd3 Bb5 22.Na5 d5 23.exd5 Rd8 24.Rfd1 give White an extra pawn, but Black's position is still more defensible than the text.

21.Rxc4 Bb5 22.Na5

• White must return the exchange in any case, but does so in order to weaken Black's queenside and her hold on the light squares.
• White gains little from the tamer 22.Rc1 Bxf1 23.Qxf1 d5 24.Nc5 Qb5 25.Qd1.

22...Qd8?

• Black abandons the queenside in hope of mobilizing her center.
• Black would have better chances of survival with 22...Bxc4 23.Nxc4 d5 24.exd5 Qb5 25.Qb3, although it leaves her a pawn in the hole.

BLACK: Martha Fierro
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WHITE: Koneru Humpy
Position after 22...Qb8d8

23.Rf2!

• White places the Rook on the second rank where it enjoys more freedom (something of importance for any Rook).
• Again, the retreat23.Rc1!?{ does little for White after 23...Bxf1 24.Qxf1 d5 25.Nc6 Qe8 26.exd5 Nxd5.

23...Bxc4 24.Nxc4 Rc8 25.Nxd6!

• White opens the d-file for her heavy pieces.
• The text is more powerful than 25.Rc2 Rc6 26.Qd3 Qb8 27.Rc3 Bf8 28.Kf2.

25...Rc3

• No better is 25...Rc6 26.Rd2 Qe7 27.g3 h5 28.Bc5.

26.Rd2 Qc7

• The game cannot be saved.
• If 26...Qe7 27.Bc5 Qe6 28.Rd3 Rxd3 29.Qxd3 Bf8 30.h3 gives White more freedom, an extra pawn and the queenside majority.
• White must still take care as a parallel combination to the one played on the queenside in the game fails on the kingside: 27.Nf5?{ drops everything to 27...gxf5 28.Rd8+ Bf8 29.Bh6 Ne8 when Black has an extra piece.

BLACK: Martha Fierro
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WHITE: Koneru Humpy
Position after 26...Qd8c7

27.Nb5!!

• The sacrifice of the Knight clears the d-file for White's heavy pieces and nails down the game.

27...axb5 28.Rd8+!

• This is the point of the sacrifice. White has time to invade Black's camp with her heavy pieces.

28...Bf8 29.Bh6 Qb6+

• If 29...Nd7 30.Qxd7 then:
• After 30...Qb6+ 31.Kf1 Rc1+ 32.Ke2 Black can only postpone mate by surrendering material.
• If 30...Qxd7 then 31.Rxf8#.

30.Kf1 Qxd8 31.Qxd8 Nd7 32.Bd2

• The text is somewhat stronger than 32.Bg5 Rd3 33.Ke2 Rd6 34.Bh6 Rd4 35.Be3.

32...Rd3 33.Ke2 Rd6 34.Bh6 Rd4 35.Be3 Rd6

BLACK: Martha Fierro
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WHITE: Koneru Humpy
Position after 35...Rd4d6

36.Qa5!

• White wins a critical pawn.

36...Kg7

• Black could have resigned here.
• The pawn cannot be defended by 36...Rb6 37.Bxb6 Nxb6 38.Qxb6.

37.Qxb5 Be7 38.a4 Bf6 39.a5 Nf8 40.a6 1-0

• After 40...Rd7 41.Qxd7 Nxd7 42.a7 the pawn promotes.
• La señorita Fierro resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Third Pearl Springs Tournament, Nanjing

Seventh-century Pagoda in Nanjing
Photo by farm in Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Carlsen - Bacrot, Round 1

Magnus Carlsen
Photo: Time Magazine


Magnus Carlsen - Etienne Bacrot
Pearl Spring Tournament, Round 1
Nanjing, 20 October 2010

Open Royal Gmae: Classical Defense (Scotch Opening)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Nb3

• White chooses a less usual move.
• For more common lines to this opening, see Morozevich-Laznicka, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2009.

5...Bb6 6.Nc3 Nf6 7.Qe2!?

• 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 d6 9.Qe2 Be6 10.0-0-0 g5 11.Bg3 Qe7 12.Nd5 Bxd5 13.exd5 Ne5 14.f4 is equal (Marariu-Jussupow, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).

7...0-0

• If 7...d6 8.Be3 Qe7 9.0-0-0 Be6 10.f3 then:
• 10...0-0-0 11.Bxb6 axb6 12.Nd4 Kb8 13.Qe3 Rhe8 14.Bb5 Bd7 15.Nde2 gives White a firm advantage in space (Carlsen-Tkachiev, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2009).
• 10...0-0 11.g4 Bxb3 12.axb3 Nb4 13.g5 Nd7 14.Bh3 Rfd8 is equal (Manca-Grischuk, Euro Club Cup, Antalya, 2007).

8.Bg5 h6 9.Bh4! (N)

• 9.h4?! d6! 10.f3 hxg5 11.hxg5 Ng4 12.fxg4 Qxg5 13.Qf3 Bxg4 14.Qg3 Ne5 gives Black more and stronger pawbns (Rublevsky-Anand, Rpd, Corsica, 2004).

9...a5

• Black has a small advantage in space.
• 9...d6 10.0-0-0 Re8 11.Nd5 g5 12.Nxf6+ Qxf6 is equal.
• If 9.Be3 d5 then:
• 10.O-O-O d4 11.f3 Be6 12.Na4 Qe7 gives Black a small advantage in space.
• 10.exd5 Nb4 11.O-O-O Bg4 12.f3 Bf5 13.Bc5 Re8 gives Black the initiative.

10.a4

• 10.0-0-0 a4 11.Nd2 Ba5 12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.Nd5 Qd8 leaves Black with a small advantage in space.

10...Nd4!?

• For some reason, Black is attempting to delay the advance of his d-pawn.
• 10...d6! 11.O-O-O Be6 12.f3 Bxb3 13.cxb3 continues to give Black a small advantage in space.

BLACK: Etienne Bacrot
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WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 10...Nc6d4

11.Qd3 Nxb3 12.cxb3 Re8

• 12...d6 13.Be2 c6 14.Rd1 Re8 15.O-O Bc5 16.Qc2 is equal.

13.O-O-O

• If 13.Be2 then after .13...c6 14.O-O Qe7 15.Bf3 Bc7 16.Rad1 Be5 Black continues to enjoy a small advantage in space.

13...d6

• Finally, Black advances the d-pawn. Further delay would have diminished his advantage.
• If 13...Qe7 14.f3 c6 then:
• 15.Qd6 Qxd6 16.Rxd6 Bc5 17.Rd1 d6 is equal.
• 15.Kb1 Bc5 16.Qc2 d6 17.Bc4 Be6 is equal.

14.Qc2 Bd7!?

• The text is too timid. Black's immediate problem is the possible advance of White's e-pawn, attacking the Queen's shields on d6 and f6.
• If 14...Bc5 15.Bc4 Bg4 16.f3 then:
• After 16...Be6 17.Rhe1 g5 18.Bg3 Bxc4 19.bxc4 Black still has a small advantage in space.
• 16...Bd7?! 17.Rhe1! 17...g5 18.Bg3 Nh5 19.e5 gives White a solid advantage in space and more active pieces.

15.Bc4!

• White now has the advantage in space.
• 15.f3 Bc5 16.Nd5 g5 17.Bg3 Nxd5 18.Rxd5 c6 is equal.

15...Be6

• If 15...g5!? then:
• If 16.e5! gxh4 17.exf6 Qxf6 18.Nd5 Qg7 then:
• 19.Nxb6 cxb6 20.Rxd6 gives White a solid advantage with active pieces.
• 19.Qc3 Bc6 20.Nf6 Kf8 21.Nxe8 Rxe8 22.Qxg7 gives White the advantage in space and a slight material advantage.
• 16.Bg3 Kg7 17.Kb1 Qe7 18.h4 g4 19.Rhe1 gives White a significant advantage in space.
• 15...Bc5 16.Rhe1 g5 17.e5 gxh4 18.exf6 Qxf6 19.Nd5gives White only a small advantage in space.

16.Rhe1 Qe7?!

• The Queen could have stayed where she was; a better idea is to drive the Bishop away from h4.
• 16...g5 17.Bg3 Bxc4 18.bxc4 Re6 19.e5 Qe8 20.f4 gives White only a slight advantage in space.

BLACK: Etienne Bacrot
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WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 16...Qd8e7

17.e5!

• This shot is well-timed.
• The text is better than 17.f4 Bxc4 18.bxc4 Qe6 19.Bxf6 Qxf6 20.Nd5, which isn't too shabby, either.

17...dxe5 18.Rxe5 Qf8 19.Bxf6 gxf6 20.Re2

• White just keeps strengthening his advantage.
• Also good is 20.Rh5 Rad8 21.Rxd8 Rxd8 22.Bxe6 fxe6 23.Qe4.

20...Qg7

• 20...Bxc4 21.bxc4 Qg7 22.Rd3 Kh8 23.Rg3 Qh7 24.Qd2 gives White a huge advantage in space, more active pieces and stronger pawns.

21.Bxe6 Rxe6 22.Rxe6 fxe6

• Rather than relieving the pressure on Black, the exchanges seem to augment White's advantage.

23.Rd3 Kh8 24.Rg3 Qh7?!

• White is on the virge of winning.
• Little better is 24...Qf8 25.Rg6 Rd8 26.Kb1 c6 27.Qe4.

25.Qd2 Bc5 26.Ne4

• Also good is 26.Qf4 Rf8 27.Rh3 Bd6 28.Qe3 Qf5 29.Qxh6+.

26...Be7

• If 26...Bb4? 27.Qf4! Rf8 28.Nxf6 then:
• If 28...Bd6 29.Qh4 Bxg3 30.Nxh7 Bxh4 31.Nxf8 Bxf2 32.Nxe6 wins for White.
• If 28...Be7 then White wins easily after 29.Rg8+ Rxg8 30.Nxh7 Kxh7 31.Qxc7 Rg7 32.Qxa5.

27...Kg7?

• This passive move proves to be a fatal error.
• 27...Rd8 28.Rxh6 Rxd2 29.Rxh7+ Kxh7 30.Kxd2 gives White an extra pawn, but Black has stronger pawns.

28.Qd7!

• White sets up more material gains before beginning the slaughter.

28...Kf7

• Black might last longer after 28...Kh8 29.Qxe6 Qg7 30.g4 Qf8 31.Kb1 Ra6 32.Qd7.

BLACK: Etienne Bacrot
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WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 28...Kg7f7

29.Ng5+!!

• White wraps up the game with a piece sacrifice.
• 29.Nxf6 Qf5 30.Rf3 Qxf3 31.gxf3 Kxf6 32.Qxc7 also works.

29...fxg5 30.Rf3+ Kg8 31.Qxe6+ Kh8 32.Rf7 Bd6

• If 32...Qxf7 then White wins after 33.Qxf7 Bd6 34.Kb1 Rg8 35.Qf6+.
• Losing faster is 32...Bb4 33.Qe5+ Kg8 34.Rxh7 Kxh7 35.Qxc7+.

33.Rxh7+ Kxh7 34.Qf7+

• Also good is 34.Qe4+ Kg7 35.Qxb7 Rf8 36.b4 Bxb4 37.Qxc7+.

34...Kh8 35.g3 Ra6

• No better is 35...Rg8 36.Qf6+ Kh7 37.Qf5+ Rg6 38.Qxa5.

36.Kb1 Bb4 37.f4 gxf4 38.gxf4 1-0

• If 38...Rd6 then after 39.f5 Rd1+ 40.Ka2 Bd6 41.Qg6 it will cost Black a piece to stop the pawn.
• M. Bacrot resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Topalov - Anand, Round 3

Vishy Anand
Photo by Ygrek in Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Veselin Topalov - Vishy Anand
Pearl Spring Tournament, Round 3
Nanjing, 22 October 2010

Grand Orthodox Queen's Gambit: Lasker Defense

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 0-0 7.e3 Ne4

• This is the Lasker Defense; other moves are 7...b6 (the Tartakover Defense) and 7...Nbd7 (the Main Line).

8.Bxe7 Qxe7 9.cxd5

• If 9.Rc1 c6 10.Bd3 Nxc3 11.Rxc3 dxc4 12.Bxc4 Nd7 13.0-0 then:
• If 13...b6 14.Bd3 c5 15.Be4 Rb8 then:
• 16.Qc2 a5 17.Rc1 Bb7 18.Bxb7 Rxb7 19.dxc5 Nxc5 20.Ne5 Qf6 21.Nd3 Rd8 22.Nxc5 bxc5 23.Qe2 Rbd7 24.R3c2 a4 is equal (Karpov-Jussupow, Hoffman Cup, Baden-Baden, 1995).
• If 16.Qa4 Bb7 17.Bxb7 Rxb7 18.Qc2 a5 19.a3 Re8 then:
• 20.Rd1 Rbb8 21.h3 Rbd8 22.Rcd3 Rc8 23.d5 exd5 24.Rxd5 Nf6 is equal (Karpov-Jussupow, IT, Dortmund, 1997).
• 20.h3 e5 21.dxe5 Nxe5 22.Nxe5 Qxe5 23.Rd1 Rbe7 24.Rcd3 draw (Onischuk-Jobava, IT, Poikovsky, 2010).
• If 13...e5 14.Bb3 then:
• 14...e4 15.Nd2 Nf6 16.Qc2 Re8 17.Rc5 Be6 18.Re5 Bxb3 19.axb3 Qb4 20.Rxe8+ draw (Beliavsky-Mikhalchishin, IT, Baku, 1980).
• 14...Re8 15.Qc2 exd4 16.exd4 Nf8 17.d5 Bd7 18.Rd1 cxd5 19.Bxd5 Rad8 20.Rc7 gives White the advantage in space (Shulman-Onischuk, US Ch, St. Louis, 2010).
• If 9.Qc2 Nxc3 10.Qxc3 then:
• If 10...c6 11.Bd3 dxc4 12.Bxc4 Nd7 13.0-0 b6 then:
• If 14.Rac1 Bb7 then:
• If 15.Rfd1 c5 16.Be2 Rfc8 17.Qa3 Kf8 then:
• 18.Ba6 Bxf3 19.gxf3 Rc7 20.f4 g5 21.fxg5 Qxg5+ 22.Kf1 Qh5 23.Kg1 Qg5+ 24.Kf1 Qh5 25.Kg1 Qg5+ 26.Kf1 Qh5 draw (Filip-Donner, IT, Beverwijk, 1964).
• 18.Kf1 cxd4 19.Qxe7+ Kxe7 20.Nxd4 a6 21.Bf3 Bxf3 22.Nxf3 draw (Bozic-Trifunovic, Yugoslav Ch, Ljubljana, 1947).
• 15.Be2 Rfc8 16.Rc2 c5 17.Qa3 Qd8 18.Rfc1 a5 draw (Trifunovic-Donner, IT, Bled, 1961).
• 14.e4 Bb7 15.Rfe1 Rfe8 16.Rad1 c5 17.Bb5 Red8 18.d5 exd5 19.exd5 Qd6 20.Nh4 Nf6 21.Nf5 gives White the advantage in space and a powerful initiative (M. Gurevich-Chigladze, Op, Istanbul, 2006).
• If 10...dxc4 11.Bxc4 b6 12.0-0 Bb7 13.Be2 then:
• 13...Rc8 14.b4 Nd7 15.Rfc1 c6 16.Nd2 a5 17.bxa5 Rxa5 18.Nc4 Ra7 is equal (Navara-Korchnoi, TT, Karlsbad, 2007).
• 13...c5 14.dxc5 Rc8 15.b4 bxc5 16.b5 a6 17.Nd2 axb5 18.Bxb5 Bxg2 19.Kxg2 Qb7+ gives Black an extra pawn (Dr. Hübner-Jussupow, IT, Munich, 1993).

9...Nxc3 10.bxc3 exd5 11.Qb3 Rd8

• 11...Qd6 12.c4 dxc4 13.Bxc4 Nc6 14.Qc3 Bg4 15.Nd2 Rad8 16.0-0 Ne7 17.Rfc1 c5 18.Nb3 cxd4 19.Nxd4 gives White the advantage in space (Grau-Eliskases, Ol, Buenos Aires, 1939).

12.c4 Be6

• If 12...dxc4 13.Bxc4 Nc6 then:
• If 14.Be2 Rd6 15.0-0 Be6 16.Qb2 Bd5 17.Rfc1 Re8 18.Ne1 then:
• 18...Nxd4 19.Qxd4 Bxg2 20.Qxd6 Qxd6 21.Nxg2 is equal (Ivanchuk-Jakovenko, Euro Club Cup, Plodiv, 2010).
• 18...f5 19.Bf3 Nd8 20.Qc2 f4 21.exf4 Ne6 22.Bxd5 Rxd5 is equal (Peng-Ivkov, Op, Pozarevac, 1995).
• If 14.Qc3 Bg4 15.0-0 Bxf3 16.gxf3 Qf6 17.Be2 Rac8 then:
• 18.Rac1 Ne7 19.Kh1 b6 20.Qb4 Rd5 gives Black more active pieces (Jobava-Marciano, Euro CHT, Batumi, 1991).
• 18.Qc2 Ne7 19.f4 c6 20.Rac1 b6 21.Qe4 Qd6 is equal (Zhao Jianchao-Vescovi, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2010).

13.c5

• If 13.Qxb7 dxc4 14.Qxa8 Qa3 15.Rb1 Bd5 then:
• 16.Qxd5! Rxd5 17.Rxb8+ gives White a tremendous advantage (Borisenko-Tarasov, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1961).
• 16.Rxb8!? Bxa8 17.Rxd8+ Kh7 18.Be2 Qc1+ is equal (R. Letelier-Reinhardt, IT, Mar del Plata, 1946).

13...b6 14.Rc1 bxc5 15.Qa3

• 15.Rxc5 Nd7 16.Rxc7 Rab8 17.Qc2 Qa3 18.Bd3 Rb2 19.Qc3 Qxc3+ 20.Rxc3 Rxa2 is equal (Nikolic-Jojua, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).

15...Nd7 16.Bb5 Bg4 (N)

• If 16...Rab8 17.Bxd7 Bxd7 18.0-0 then:
• 18...Bb5!? 19.Rfe1 Bc4 20.Ne5 gives Black an extra pawn and White more space (Purtseladze-Melia, World Jr Ch, Yerevan, 2006).
• 18...Rb5 19.Qxa7 c4 20.Qxc7 Rc8 21.Qa7 gives White an extra pawn and Black more space.

17.Bxd7

• Black has a small advantage in space.

17...Rxd7 18.Qxc5!?

• White suggests a trade of Queens, but Black will use his Queen to put more pressure on White's kingside.
• 18.Rxc5 Rb8 19.Nd2 c6 20.O-O Rb5 is equal.

BLACK: Vishy Anand
$t+ + +l+%
$O OtWoO %
$ + + + O%
$+ Qo+ + %
$ + P +v+%
$+ + P + %
$p+ + PpP%
$+ R K +r%
/(((((((()
WHITE: Veselin Topalov
Position after 18.Qa3c5:p

18...Qe4!

• 18...Bxf3!? 19.Qxe7 Rxe7 20.gxf3 Rb8 21.O-O Rb6 22.f4 gives White a small edge in space.

19.Rg1

• Topalov cannot be happy with his position. That he could not exchange Queens is a minor catastrophe for White. As a result, the White King is condemned to spend the game in the center (not good), but after castling ...Bxf3 tears down the castle walls.

19...Re8!?

• 19...f6 20.h3 Bxf3 21.gxf3 Qxf3 22.Qc6 Rad8 gives Black an extra pawn.

20.Qb5?!

• 20.Ne5! Rxe5 21.dxe5 d4 22.h3 d3 23.Kd2 Be6 is equal.

20...Rdd8!

• Black finds the perfect move to hold the position. White is almost busted.

21.Qe2 Rb8 22.h3

BLACK: Vishy Anand
$ T +t+l+%
$O O +oO %
$ + + + O%
$+ +o+ + %
$ + Pw+v+%
$+ + Pn+p%
$p+ +qPp+%
$+ R K R %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Veselin Topalov
Position after 22.h2h3

22...Bxf3

• Also good is 22...Bd7 23.Qc2 then:
• If 23...Qxc2 24.Rxc2 Ba4 25.Rxc7 Rb1+ 26.Kd2 Rb2+ when White must lose another pawn.
• If 23...Qe7!? then:
• 24.Ne5 Bb5 25.a4 Qb4+ 26.Qc3 Bxa4 27.Qxb4 Rxb4 Black is much better, but still has some work to do before calling it a day.
• 24.Qc5?! Qe6 25.Ne5 Bb5 26.Qc3 f6 27.Nf3 Qf5 gives Black the initiative to press his advantage home.

23.gxf3 Qf5 24.f4?

• If 24.Rg3 Rb1 25.Kd1 then:
• If 25...Rxc1+! then after 25...Reb8 then after 26.Kxc1 c5 27.Qb5 Rc8 28.dxc5 d4 29.exd4 Qf4+ wins White's queenside pawns.
• If 26.Qc2 Qxc2+ 27.Kxc2 R1b2+ 28.Kd3 Rxf2 Black will soon have two Rooks on the seventh rank.

24...Rb1!

• Black will strip the White King of its queenside protection. White is toast.

25.Rxb1 Qxb1+ 26.Qd1 Rb8 27.Ke2 Qf5 28.Rh1

• No better is 28.Qd2 Qh5+ 29.Kd3 Qxh3 30.Qc2 Rb7 31.Ke2 Qh5+.

28...Rb2+ 29.Kf3 h5 30.a4

• Also losing is 30.Qf1 Qe4+ 31.Kg3 h4+ 32.Kxh4 Qf3.

30...Qe4+ 31.Kg3 h4+ 32.Kxh4 Rxf2 33.Qg4 Rg2 0-1

• If 34.Qc8+ then after 34...Kh7 35.Qd8 Qxe3 36.Qf6 Qf2+ 37.Kh5 g6+ Black delivers mate on the next move.
• If 34.Ra1 then after 34...Qh7+ 35.Qh5 g5+ 36.fxg5 Qe4+ wins the White Queen.
• Topalov resigns.