The Jack Rabbit Chess Report for June 24 (two days early this week)

[Jack Rabbit]

The Jack Rabbit Chess Report
for the week ending June 24




Image: Handcrafted wooden chessmen from Italy
from the website of the House of Staunton


Contents

Post 1: News for the week
Post 2: Diagrams and other features
Post 3: Games from Current and Recent Events

[Jack Rabbit]

1. Newa for the week ending June 24 (as of Friday, June 22)

The Jack Rabbit Chess Report is being put out early this weekend because I am going away for a few days. I'll be back home Monday and will post updates shortly thereafter.

Karjakin leads in Foros



Seventeen-year-old Ukrainian grandmaster Sergey Karjakin leads the 12-player field after Friday's fifth round of the second annual Aerosvit International Tournament in Foros, Crimea (Ukraine) with 3½ points.

Vassily Ivanchuk, also of Ukraine, is in second place with 3 points.

Karjakin entered the fifth round in a three-way tie for the lead at 2½ each with Ivanchuk and Latvian-born Spanish grandmaster Alexey Shirov. Karjakin, with White, defeated Shirov in 45 moves today while Ivanchuk drew with Russia's Dmitry Jakovenko.

Shirov had the early lead in the event after winning his first two games, but has only managed a half point in the last three rounds.


Dutch National Championships underway in Hilversum: Stellwagen and Peng set pace



Stellwagen leads men's event

Daniel Stellwagen of Soest, Holland, leads the men's competition after Friday's sixth round in Hilversum with 5 points.

Stellwagen, 20, is riding a four-game winning streak after defeating IM Martijn Dambacher on Friday.

Woerden grandmaster Erwin L'Ami is in second place with 4 points. L'Ami began the tournament with three victories in four games before losing to defending champion Sergei Tiviakov.

Peng Zhaoqin in front in ladies' competition

China native Peng Zhaoqin of Rotterdam leads the ladies' competition after four rounds in Hilversum after four rounds as of Friday with a perfect score.

Mw. Peng, who carries a full GM title, is favored to win her eighth consective ladies' championshipship of her adopted country.

The matter became almost anti-climatic in Tuesday's second round when Mw. Peng, playing Black, defeated Delft WGM Bianca Muhren, who is expected to be Mw. Peng's closest rival.

WIM Desiree Hamelink of Spijkenisse is in second place after four rounds with 3 points.



The Bensdorp twins dig in for action against each other in the first round
Photo: ChessBase.com

In a small oddity, twin sisters Marlies and Laura Bensdorp played each other in the first round. Marlies, playing White, won the game in 52 moves.


Karpov takes third in Valjevo


Corus

Former world champion Anatoly Karpov, playing in his first event with standard time controls in four years, finished third in the Gorenje Tournament in Valjevo, Serbia, which completed Thursday.

Karpov scored 5½ points out of a possible nine. He won three games and lost only one.

In tournament news overshadowed by Karpov's paarticipation, first place was shared by Israeli GM Michael Roiz and Saut Atalik of Turkey with 6½ point each. Roiz was declared tournament champion on tie break points.


Sparkassen Chess Meeting opens Saturday in Dortmund: Karamnik's participation in doubt



The annual Sparkassen Chess Meeting, one of the "big three" events in chess, begins this saturday in Dortmund, Germany.

This year's event is a category 20 among eight players: world champion Vladimir Kramnik of Russia; the world's top-ranked grandmaster, Vishy Anand of India; Peter Leko of Hungary and Boris Gelfand of Israel, fresh from their triumphs in the Elista candidates' matches; Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan; 16-year-old Norwegian grandmaster Magnus Carlsen; the reigning Russian national champion Evgeny Alekseev; and the reigning German champion, Arkadij Naiditsch.

There is currently some question about Kramnik's participation. It has been announced that the world champion is suffering from a respiratory infection and may be forced to withdraw.

The Sparkassen is a seven-round tournament that concludes July 1. Last year's event was won by Kramnik in a tie-break over fellow Russian grandmaster Peter Svidler.

Social Page: It's a girl for Alexandra Kosteniuk


Photo: Francesca07 via ChessBase.com

It was announced this week that Russian grandmaster Alexandra Kosteniuk gave birth to a baby girl, Francesca Maria, on April 22.

Francesca was two months premature and weighed only 3 pounds, 3 ounces at birth. However, the child is now home with her parents and "doing fine."

More details on ChessBase.com.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. UPDATE (Tuesday)

Kramnik plays in Dortmund: tied for lead after 3 rounds



Reigning world champion Vladimir Kramnik overcame a respiratory infection in time to participate in the annual Sparkassen Chess Meeting in Dortmund, Germany, and shares the lead with fellow Russian Evgeny Aleskeev after three rounds with 2 points.

There have been only three decisive games in the category 20 event thus far. In round one, Azerbaijani grandmaster Shakhiyar Mamedyarov defeated Arkadij Naiditsch of Germany, while in the second round Alekseev defeated Mamedyarov and Kramnik took a point from Israeli GM Boris Gelfand.

All games in today's third round were drawn.

The seven-round event runs through Sunday.


Karjakin, Ivanchuk lead in Foros



Sergei Karjakin and Vassily Ivanchuk, both of Ukraine, are tied for the lead at the second annual Aeorsvit international tournament in Foros, Crimea (Ukraine) with 5½ points each after eight rounds.

Latvian-born Spaniard Alexey Shirov is in third place with 4½ points.

Karjakin began the day alone in first place, but settled for a draw today with Romanian grandmaster Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu in only 18 moves. Meanwhile, Ivanchuk, who was a half-point off the pace after seven rounds, defeated defending tournamnet champion Sergey Rublevsky in 66 moves.

The eleven-round tournament concludes Friday.


Dutch National Championships: Stellwagen and Tiviakov tied; Peng clinches share of first



Stellwagen and Tiviakov set pace in men's event

Twenty-year-old grandmaster Daniel Stellwagen and defending national champion Sergei Tiviakov are tie tied for the lead in the men's competition Dutch national championships in Hilversum after nine rounds with 6½ points each.

Stellwagen began the event with two draws followed by four consecutive victories to catapult him into the lead after six rounds. He has drawn his last three games, including today's game against veteran John ver der Wiel.

The Russian-born Tiviakov started even more slowly than Stellwagen, drawing his first four games. Snce then, he has scored 4½ points in five games, including his victory today over Willy Hendricks.

Ivan Sokolov, another Dutchman by adoption who is originally from Bosnia, is in third place with 6 points.

The eleven-round tournament concludes Thursday.

Women's event: Peng Zhaoqin is all you need to know

Peng Zhaoqin, a Chinese woman who came to Holland eleven years ago and remained, is well on her way to winning her eighth consecuctive Dutch ladies' championship.

Mw. Peng has scored 6½ points in seven rounds. She had a perfect score until today when she drew her game against Arlette van Weesel.

Mw. Peng is two points ahead of her nearest rivals, Marlies Bensdorp and Desiree Hamelink, with only two rounds to play.

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Diagrams and other features of the JR Chess Report

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White to move
This position is a theoretical draw

Does this picture make sense to you? If not, or if it looks like a bunch of Wingdings, please click here.

Diagrams used in the Jack Rabbit Chess Report are made with Chess Merida, a true type font that is available as freeware at the above link.

Also, the JR chess report makes the main variation in annotations more distinct and readable by putting it in red. A secondary variation, is in blue and other colors are used if needed.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Games from Current and Recent Events

Chess Games
Analysis by JR and Fritz (4.01 and 6.0)

Lenier Domínguez - Alexey Shirov, Aerosvit International Tournament, Round 2, Foros
Viorel Iordachescu - Anatoly Karpov, Gorenje Tournament, Round 5, Valjevo
Erwin L'Ami - Wouter Spoelman, Dutch National Championships, Round 1, Hiversum
Bianca Muhren - Peng Zhaoqin, Dutch National Championships, Round 2, Hiversum
Ruud Janssen - Martijn Dambacher, Dutch National Championships, Round 2, Hiversum
Colleen Otten - Bianca Muhren, Dutch National Championships, Round 3, Hiversum


Can't see the diagram? Please click here.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Domínguez - Shirov, Aerosvit International Trmt. Round 2, Foros

Alexey Shirov
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)

Lenier Domínguez vs. Alexey Shirov
Aerosvit International Tounrnament, Round 2
Foros, Crimea (Ukraine), June 2007

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Neo-Classical Defense (Møller Defense)

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. a4

• 7. Nxe5 Nxe5 8. d4 Bxd4 9. Qxd4 d6 10. Qe3 c5 11. c3 0-0 12. Nd2 Bb7 13. Re1 Re8 14. Bc2 d5 15. Qxc5 dxe4 16. Nb3 Rc8 17. Qd4 Qc7 gives Black a little more space and better placed minor pieces (Bujakevich-Shchekachev, Muni Ch, Moscow 1999).

7. -- Rb8

• If 7. -- Bb7 8. d3 0-0 9. Nc3 then:
• 9. -- b4 10. Nd5 h6 11. Be3 d6 12. Qd2 Nxd5 13. Bxd5 Qf6 14. Bxc5 dxc5 15. Bxc6 Bxc6 16. Qe3 Qd6 is an equal game (Bergsson-Houska, Hastings 2005-6).
• 9. -- Na5 10. axb5 Nxb3 11. cxb3 axb5 12. Rxa8 Bxa8 13. Nxe5 d5 14. Bg5 dxe4 15. dxe4 Qxd1 16. Rxd1 b4 17. Bxf6 bxc3 18. bxc3 gxf6 19. Nd7 allows White to recover his piece with a modest advantage.

8. c3

• 8. axb5 axb5 9. c3 d6 10. d4 Bb6 11. h3 0-0 12. Re1 Bd7 13. Na3 exd4 14. cxd4 Na5 15. Bc2 b4 16. Nb1 c5 17. Bg5 cxd4 18. Nxd4 leads to equality (Anand-Shirov, Corus, Wijk aan Zee 1998).

8. -- d6 9. d4 Bb6 10. Na3 0-0 11. axb5 axb5 12. Nxb5 Bg4

• 12. -- exd4 13. cxd4 Bg4 14. Ra4 Re8 15. Re1 Qd7 16. Bc2 d5 17. e5 Ne4 18. Nc3 Nxe5 19. dxe5 Bxf3 20. Qxf3 Bxf2+ 21. Kh1 Nxc3 22. Rg4 Bxe1 23. Bh6 Qxg4 24. Qxg4 gives White a strong initiative (Bologan-Tkachiev, Enghien-les-Bains 1999).

13. Bc2 Bxf3

• 13. -- d5 14. h3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 exd4 16. Bg5 dxc3 17. Nxc3 Nd4 18. Qd3 h6 19. Bxf6 Qxf6 20. Nxd5 Qe5 21. Kh1 Nxc2 22. Qxc2 gives White an extra pawn at least for the moment and a small edge in space (Ivanchuk-Shirov, Aerosvit IT, Foros 2006).

14. gxf3 Nh5 15. Be3!?

• White introduces the novelty, a simple overprotection of the d-pawn.
• 15. Kh1 Qf6 16. Ra4 Ne7 17. Rg1 Ng6 18. Bg5 Qe6 19. Bd3 Nhf4 is even (N. Kosintseva-Lahno, No Urals Cup, Krasnoturyinsk 2006).

15. -- Qf6

• Black gets to work right away attacking White's pawn weaknesses.
• If 15. -- Qh4 16. Qd2 Qf6 17. Ra6 then:
• 17. -- Qxf3 18. Bd1 Qh3 19. Nxc7 Nf6 20. Nd5 Nxd5 21. exd5 exd4 22. cxd4 White enjoys a small spatial plus and the initiative.
• 17. -- Na5 18. b4 Nc4 19. Qe2 exd4 20. cxd4 Nxe3 21. fxe3 c6 22. Na3 White has a significant edge in space.

16. Kh1 Ne7 17. Rg1 Ng6

• Black plays aggressively, occupying a safe outpost in White's territory.
• 17. -- Nf4 18. b4 c6 19. Na3 Ne6 20. dxe5 dxe5 21. Qe2 gives White a small edge in space.

18. Rg4 Nhf4 19. Bb3

• 19. b4! first might be preferred since it would shut Black's Bishop out of the game for a while.

19. -- c6 20. Na3 d5 21. exd5

• White seeks a local superiority on the queenside.
• 21. dxe5 Qxe5 22. Ba4 Qf6 23. e5 Qxe5 24. Qd2 Bc7 25. Bxf4 Nxf4 gives Black the edge in space.

21. -- cxd5 22. Nb5 Qc6 23. Ba4

• This is what White wanted on the queenside, now he will have to deal with White aggression on the other wing.

23. -- f5 24. Rg3 e4 25. fxe4!?

• White didn't need to exchange pawns in the center.
• If 25. Na7 Qf6 26. Nc6 then:
• White has the upper hand after 26. -- Rb7 27. Ne5 Nxe5 28. dxe5 Qxe5 29. Bxf4 Qxf4 30. Qxd5+.
• After 26. -- Rbc8 27. Ne5 Qd6 28. Kg1 Rf6 29. Qd2 Ne6 30. f4 White enjoys a superiority in the placement of his minor pieces.

Black: Alexey Shirov
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White: Lenier Domínguez
Position after 25. fe4:p

25. -- dxe4?!

• It would be better to keep the pawn at d5 in order to retard the advance of White's queenside.
• After 25. -- fxe4 26. Na7 Qf6 27. Nc6 Rb7 28. Nb4 Bc7 29. Bb3 Black's vulnerable d-pawn puts the position in White's favor.

26. d5 Qf6 27. Bxb6?!

• It would have been better to have advanced the passed pawn while it was safe to do so.
• 27. d6 Bxe3 28. Rxe3 Nd3 29. Rxd3 exd3 30. Qxd3 gives White the edge in space and a passed pawn.

27. -- Qxb6 28. Qd4 Qb7!?

• Preservation of the Queen wasn't the best thing just now.
• 28. -- Nd3! 29. Qxb6 Rxb6 30. d6 Nxf2+ 31. Kg1 Nd3 32. b4 f4 gives Black two nasty, nasty passers while White's more advanced one is very weak.

29. c4 Ne2 30. Qa7?

• White would have done better to simply sacrifice the exchange.
• Better is 30. Qe3 Nxg3+ 31. fxg3 Ne5 32. Qc3 Nf7 33. b3 Qe7 34. Nd4 Qe5 with equality.

Black: Alexey Shirov
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White: Lenier Domínguez
Position after 30. Qd4a7

30. -- Nxg3+!

• Also good is 30. -- Qxa7 31. Nxa7! Nxg3+ 32. fxg3 Rxb2 33. Nc6 f4 34. gxf4 Rxf4 35. d6 Rd2 with the Rook behind the passed pawn.

31. hxg3 Qc8 32. Qc7 Qa6?!

• Black wins more expeditiously with 32. -- Qxc7! 33. Nxc7 Rxb2 34. Bb5 Rxf2 35. Ne6 Ne5 36. Nd4 Rd2.

33. d6!

• The pawn complicates Black's task.

33. -- e3 34. fxe3 Qa8+ 35. Kh2 Ne5

• Again Black misses an easier win: 35. -- Qf3 36. d7 Qxe3 37. b3 f4 38. Ra2 Ne5.

36. Qc5 Ng4+ 37. Kg1 Kh8

• Black takes time for a prophylaxis against annoying checks.
• 37. -- Qf3 38. Qd5+ Qxd5 39. cxd5 Nxe3 40. Re1 f4 41. gxf4 Rxf4 42. b3 Nxd5 43. d7 equalizes for White.

38. Qd5 Qa5?

• After this, Black really needs to win the game all over again.
• Correct is 38. -- Qxd5 39. cxd5 Nxe3 40. d7 f4 41. gxf4 Rxf4 42. Re1 Rg4+ 43. Kf2 Rxa4 44. Rxe3 Rf8+.

39. Qd4?

• White hands the game right back to Black.
• White takes over the board after 39. Nc7!! Qb6 40. Qd4 Nxe3 41. Qxb6 Rxb6 42. d7 Nxc4 43. Rd1 Rd8 44. Re1.

39. -- Rbe8 40. b4 Qd8 41. Ra3

• White bolsters his pawn to prevent White from penetrating on the e-file.
• After 41. Bc2 Rxe3 42. Qf4 Qe8 43. Nd4 Re1+ 44. Rxe1 Qxe1+ 45. Kg2 Ne3+ White must surrender his Queen or submit to mate.

Black: Alexey Shirov
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White: Lenier Domínguez
Position after 41. Ra1a3

41. -- Re4!!

• Aggression pays in this game.
• 41. -- Qg5 42. d7 Rxe3 43. Rxe3 Nxe3 44. Qd6 Rg8 45. Qf4 Qe7 46. Nd6 gives White a clear advantage.

42. Qc5

• Black wins after 42. Qd2 Ne5 43. Qc1 Nxc4 44. Rd3 Qg5 45. Kf2 Qh6 46. Kg2 Nxe3+.

42. -- Re5

• Again, Black misses a faster win.
• 42. -- f4! 43. exf4 Qf6 44. d7 Re1+ 45. Kg2 Qb2+ 46. Kh3 Nf2+ 47. Qxf2 Qxf2 48. d8Q Rh1+ has the White King in a mating net.

43. Qd4

• After 43. Qc7 Qg5 44. d7 Rxe3 45. Qd6 Re1+ 46. Kg2 Rd8 Black can only postpone mate by giving away material.

43. -- f4 44. exf4

• This sets things right for Black.
• 44. Bd1! Rxb5 45. cxb5 Nxe3 46. d7 Nxd1 47. gxf4 turns the tables in White's favor.

44. -- Re1+

• If 44. -- Qf6 45. Qd2 Re6 46. Bd1 Ne5 then:
• 47. Be2 g5 48. c5 gxf4 49. Qxf4 Qxf4 50. gxf4 Rxf4 is lights out.
• 47. fxe5?? Qf1+ 48. Kh2 Rh6+ 49. Qxh6 Rf2#.

45. Kg2 Qe8

• Also good is 45. -- Re2+ 46. Kf3 Rfe8 47. Kxg4 Qd7+ 48. Kf3 Qh3 followed by mate in a few moves.

46. Bd1 Qh5 47. 0-1

• White threatens immediate mate on h1. Mate within a few moves cannot be prevented.
• El señor Domínguez resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Iordachescu - Karpov, Gorenje Trmt, Round 5, Valjevo

This game is vintage Karpov.



Anatoly Karpov
Photo: ChessBase.com

Viorel Iordachescu vs. Anatoly Karpov
Gorenje Grandmasters' Torrnament, Round 5
Valjevo, Serbia, June 2007

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Clam Opening

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. d3

6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 0-0 9. h3, but this move found favor with past world champions Wilhelm Steinitz and (you guessed it) Anatoly Karpov.

6. -- b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a4 Bg4

• If 8. -- Bb7 9. Nc3 Na5 10. Ba2 b4 11. Ne2 then:
• 11. -- c5 12. Ng3 Bc8 13. c3 Rb8 then:
• 14. d4 b3 15. Bb1 Qc7 16. Nh4 g6 17. f4 cxd4 18. cxd4 Ng4 19. Nf3 is equal (Nunn-Arencibia, Ol, Novi Sad 1990).
• 14. Nd2 0-0 15. Re1 Bg4 16. f3 Be6 17. Bxe6 fxe6 18. Ndf1 bxc3 19. bxc3 c4 20. Ba3 Qb6+ 21. Ne3 Rfc8 gives Black the edge in space (Thipsay-Chiburdanidze, Frunze 1985).
• 11. -- 0-0 12. Re1 c5 13. Ng3 Rb8 14. Nd2 Bc8 15. h3 Be6 16. Nc4 Nxc4 17. Bxc4 Bxc4 18. dxc4 Ne8 19. Qg4 Kh8 20. b3 Nc7 gives White the edge in space (Kissinger-Andreson, Cyberspace 1998).

9. c3 0-0 10. Nbd2

• 10. h3 Bd7 11. Re1 Na5 12. Bc2 c5 may be too drawish for White's intentions:
• 13. Nbd2 Re8 14. Nf1 h6 15. N3h2 b4 16. Ne3 Bf8 17. Nhg4 Nxg4 18. hxg4 Be6 19. cxb4 cxb4 20. d4 exd4 21. Qxd4 is equal (Granda-Utman, Amer Cont Ch, Buenos Aires 2005).
• 13. d4 Qc7 14. axb5 axb5 15. Nbd2 Nc6 16. Rxa8 Rxa8 17. dxc5 dxc5 18. Nf1 h6 19. Ne3 Be6 20. Nd5 Qd7 21. Nxe7+ Qxe7 is level (Schmid-Barcza, Ol, Helsinki 1952).

10. -- Na5 11. Ba2!?

• White breaks from the book. This move will give him some trouble later (see note to White's 13th move).
• 11. Bc2 c5 12. Re1 b4 13. h3 Bh5 14. g4 Bg6 15. Nh4 bxc3 16. bxc3 Ne8 17. Nf5 Nc7 18. Nf1 Ne6 19. Rb1 Bg5 20. N1e3 Rb8 21. Rxb8 Qxb8 is equal (Damjanovic-Prameshuber, Zonal, Kecskemet 1964).

11. -- c5

• The text move is a typical Spanish Game queenside expansion for Black.
• 11. -- Nb7 12. b4 c5 13. h3 Bd7 14. axb5 axb5 15. Bb2 Qc7 16. Qe2 Bc6 17. Rfc1 is equal

12. Re1

• White overprotects the e-pawn.
• 12. axb5 axb5 13. Qe2 Nc6 14. d4 exd4 15. Qxb5 Qd7 16. Re1 Rfb8 17. Qd3 d5 give Black the advantage in space and mobility.
• 13. -- Qc7 14. h3 Bd7 15. Ng5 Ra7 16. f4 c4 gives Black the edge in space.

If 12. h3 Bd7 13. d4 exd4 14. cxd4 then:

• 14. -- Nc6 15. dxc5 dxc5 16. e5 Ne8 is level.
• 14. -- bxa4 15. dxc5 dxc5 16. e5 Ne8 is equal in terms of space and mobility with White's Queens's Bishop being a possible proble to develop.

12. -- Qc7 13. Nf1

• White gets his Bishop free by preparing to redeploy the Knight.
• If 13. h3 Be6 14. d4 exd4 15. cxd4 then:
• 15. -- d5 16. exd5 Nxd5 17. Bxd5 Bxd5 18. axb5 axb5 19. Qe2 gives White a tactical initiative.
• 15. -- Bxa2 16. Rxa2 Nc6 17. d5 Nb4 18. Ra3 c4 19. Ree3 doesn't offer very much to either side.

Black: Anatoly Karpov
!""""""""#
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White: Viorel Iorachescu
Position after 13. Nd2f1

13. -- c4!

• For all intents and purposes, White's King's Bishop is now entombed on a2.

14. Bg5!?

• Black is enjoying a spatial edge. White is looking for exchanges to relieve his cramped position.
• If 14. Ne3 Be6 15. Qe2 then:
• 15. -- Nb3 16. Bxb3 cxb3 17. axb5 axb5 18. Rxa8 Rxa8 19. Ng5 Bc8 20. Qd1 h6 gives Black the edge in space.
• After 15. -- Rfc8 16. Nd2 Nb3 17. Bxb3 cxb3 18. axb5 axb5 19. Rxa8 Rxa8 20. d4 Black has the advantage in space, mostly on the queenside, while White has more space in the center.
• If 14. dxc4 bxc4 15. Rb1 Qc6 then:
• After 16. Ng3 Rfb8 17. Bg5 Qd7 18. h3 Bxf3 19. Qxf3 Qxa4 Black has won a pawn and the Bishop is still entombed.
• 16. b4 cxb3 17. Bxb3 Nxb3 18. Qxb3 Rac8 wins a pawn.

14. -- Rfc8 15. Ne3 Be6 16. h3

• This move seems unnecessay. The Bishop cannot return to g4 anytime soon.
• After 16. axb5 axb5 17. d4 Nb7 18. Nf5 Bd8 19. Ng3 Ra5 Black retains his spatial edge.

16. -- Bd8 17. Re2 Ne8 18. Bxd8?!

• White swaps his most active piece for one much less important.
• If 18. axb5 then:
• 18. -- axb5 19. d4 Nb7 20. Bxd8
• 20. -- Nxd8 21. dxe5 dxe5 22. Nd5 Bxd5 23. Qxd5 000
• 20. -- Rxd8 21. Ng5 Nf6 22. Qc2 Re8 23. Ree1 000
• Black gains nothing from 18. -- Bxg5 19. Nxg5 axb5 20. d4 exd4 21. cxd4 b4.

18. -- Qxd8 19. Rd2 Qe7 20. Ne1 Nf6 21. Qf3?

• White protects his strong pawn, but it is his weak one that needs attention.
• Better is 21. Qe2 Qb7 22. f3 Nh5 23. Qf2 Nf4 24. dxc4 Nxc4 25. Bxc4 bxc4 26. Rxd6 Qb8 27. Rd2 with equality.

21. -- Qb7!

• Black plays a fine move that sets up exchanges on f5 by pinning the pawn to the Queen.
• 21. -- cxd3? 22. Nxd3 Nc4 23. Bxc4 Bxc4 24. Nf5 Qf8 25. Nb4 a5 26. Nc2 Ra6 27. b3 Bxb3 28. axb5 gives White better piece activity.

22. Nf5 Bxf5 23. Qxf5 bxa4 24. Re2 Nb3 25. Rd1 cxd3 26. Nxd3

• The only good way to recapture the pawn leaves White with a deteriorating position.
• 26. Rxd3 loses immediately to 26. -- Nc1.
• If 26. Re3 d2 then:
• 27. Nf3 Nc1 28. Bd5 Nxd5 29. exd5 a3 30. bxa3 Rxc3 31. Rxc3 Ne2+ gives Black a winning game.
• After 27. Nd3 Nc1 28. Bd5 Nxd5 29. exd5 a3 30. Nxc1 dxc1Q 31. Rxc1 axb2 32. Rb1 a5 White's fate is sealed.

26. -- Rc4! 27. Rde1

• After 27. Rb1 Rxe4 28. Rxe4 Qxe4 29. Qxe4 Nxe4 30. Nb4 Ned2 White, already two pawns down, can free his Bishop at the further cost of the exchange.

Black: Anatoly Karpov
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White: Viorel Iorachescu
Position after 27. Rd1e1

27. -- a5!!

• White is suffocating.

28. Nc1 (28. Re3 Rac8 29. f4 Re8 30. fxe5 dxe5 31. Qg5 Nxe4 32. Qh5 Qd5) 28. -- Rb8 29. Nxb3 axb3 30. Bb1 a4 31. Bd3 Rc5] 28. f4 Re8 29. Kh2

• White has been reduced to passivity.
• 29. fxe5 dxe5 30. Re3 Qb6 31. Kh2 Re6 32. Rf3 Qb7 Black has an extra pawn and still a lot more space.

29. -- h6 30. fxe5 dxe5 31. Re3 Re6 32. Nf2

• White has no effective squares for his pieces.
• White is being smothered after 32. Qf2 Qb6 33. Qf3 Rc8 34. R1e2 Qb5 35. Rc2 Rc4.

32. -- Rc7 33. Rd1 Rd7!

• White finally has a mobile piece, but Black immediately moves to snuff it out.

34. Rxd7 Qxd7 35. Rd3 Qc7 36. Ng4

• After 36. Rg3 Ne8 37. Ng4 Kh8 38. Rd3 Nd6 39. Qf3 Nc4 40. Qf2 Kg8 White has no counterplay.

36. -- Nxg4+ 37. Qxg4 Qb6 38. Qd1

• After 38. Rg3 g6 39. Rf3 Rf6 40. Rxf6 Qxf6 41. Qf3 Qxf3 42. gxf3 f5 Balck has an extra oawn; if White then chooses to exchange on b3, Black wins by advancing his a pawn.

38. -- Rf6 39. Rg3

• White might have lasted longer with 39. Rf3 Rd6 40. Qe1 f6.

39. -- Rf2 40. Qd5

• This move shortens White's agony.
• Better is 40. Qg4 g6 41. Qd7 Rf1 42. Qe8+ Kh7 43. Rf3 Qg1+ 44. Kg3 Rxf3+ 45. Kxf3 Qf1+ but Black still wins easily.

Black: Anatoly Karpov
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White: Viorel Iorachescu
Position after 40. Qd1d5

40. -- Rf1!

• There's a whiff of checkmate in the air.

41. Rd3

• After 41. Qa8+ Kh7 42. Rf3 Qg1+ 43. Kg3 Rxf3+ 44. Kxf3 Qf1+ it's lights out.

41. -- Qg1+ 42. Kg3 Qf2+ 43. Kh2 Qe1 44. 0-1

• Black threatens 44. -- Rh1# and all White can do in order to postpone it is give away his heavy pieces.
• Iodachescu resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. L'Ami - Spoelman, Dutch Championships, Round 1, Hiversum

Erwin L'Ami
Photo: ChessBase.com

Erwin L'Ami vs. Wouter Spoelman
Dutch National Championships, Round 1
Hilversum, June 2007

Queen's Gambit: Catalan Opening

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. g3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 d5 6. Bg2 e5 7. Nf3 d4

• 7. -- e4 is relatively untested, but it seems to offer something for Black: 8. Nd4 dxc4 9. 0-0 Na6 10. Nc3 Nc5 11. Ndb5 a6 12. Qxd8+ Kxd8 13. Rd1+ Bd7 14. Nd6 Bxd6 15. Rxd6 Ke7 16. Rd1 Bc6 gives Black a modest spatial plus (Ftacnik-Totsky, Czech Op, Pardubice 1997)

8. 0-0 Nc6 9. e3 Bc5

• If 9. -- Be7 10. exd4 exd4 11. Bf4 0-0 12. Ne5 then:
• 12. -- Qb6 13. Qb3 Na5 14. Qxb6 axb6 15. Nd2 Nh5 16. Nb3 Nxf4 17. gxf4 Rd8 18. Nxa5 Rxa5 19. Bd5 Kf8 20. a4 f6 21. Nf3 Raxd5 22. cxd5 Rxd5 23. Rfd1 d3 gives Black more than enough compensation for the exchange (Beliavsky-Rublevsky, FIDE Grand Prix, Moscow 2002).
• 12. -- Nxe5 13. Bxe5 Bc5 14. Nd2 Re8 15. Re1 Ng4 16. Bf4 Rxe1+ 17. Qxe1 d3 18. Ne4 Bd4 is equal (Alburt-Furman, Soviet Ch, Yerevan 1975).

10. exd4 exd4 11. Bf4

• If 11. Re1+ Be6 12. Ng5 0-0 13. Nxe6 fxe6 then:
• 14. Nd2
• 14. -- Qb6 15. Nb3 Rad8 16. Rxe6 d3 17. Be3 Bxe3 18. Rxe3 Nb4 19. c5 Qa6 gives Black an edge in space and a passed pawn, which is the center of attention (Nielsen-Nisipeanu, Ol, Torino 2006).
• 14. -- Qd6 15. Ne4 Nxe4 16. Bxe4 h6 17. Bd3 Rf6 18. a3 a5 19. Qe2 a4 is equal (Ehlvest-Topalov, IT, Novgorod 1995).
• 14. Rxe6 d3 15. Bxc6 bxc6 16. Be3 Bd4 17. Nc3 Qd7 18. Qxd3 Qxe6 19. Qxd4 Rad8 20. Qxa7 Ng4 21. Bd4 Rd7 is level (Nenashev-Kasparov, Baku 1978).

11. -- 0-0 12. Nbd2!?

• White decides to try something different.
• 12. Ne5 Nxe5 13. Bxe5 Re8 14. Bxf6 Qxf6 15. Nd2 Qb6 16. Nb3 Be6 17. Bxb7 Rad8 18. Nxc5 Qxc5 19. b3 is equal as Black has compensation for the pawn (Andrianov-Kasparov, Baku 1978).

12. -- Bf5

• In response to the novelty, Black chooses a move that develops a piece and grabs more space.
• 12. -- Qb6 13. Nb3 Be6 14. Nxc5 Qxc5 15. b3 gives Balck a small edge in space, but his most important pawn is weak and White is blessed with the Bishops in an open position.

13. Nb3 Qb6 14. Ne5!?

• White is looking for some adventure that a chess player does not get playing the objectively best move at every turn.
• 14. Bg5 Ne4 15. Nh4 Nxg5 16. Nxf5 Ne6 17. Re1 g6 18. Nh6+ Kg7 is equal.

14. -- Rfe8

• It's easy to see through the bait and Black is not biting.
• 14. -- Nxe5?! drops a pawn to 15. Bxe5 Ng4 16. Bxd4 Bxd4 17. Qxd4 Qh6 18. h3.

15. Nxc6

• This is not the most accurate move.
• Best is 15. Nd3! (blockading the d-pawn) 15. -- Bf8 16. Re1 Rxe1+ 17. Nxe1 Rd8 18. Nd3 Be7 19. Rc1 with equality.
• 15. Re1?! Rad8 16. Nxc6 bxc6 17. Rxe8+ Rxe8 18. Rc1 d3 gives Black an edge in space and his weak pawn is becoming a strong concern for White.

15. -- bxc6 16. Re1

• Black has a healthy edge in space; White move to cut into it.
• Black continues to enjoy an edge in space after 16. Rc1 Bg4 17. f3 d3+ 18. Nxc5 Qxc5+ 19. Kh1 Bf5 20. Bd2 a5.

16. -- Ne4?!

• White responds to the challenge in the e-file by shielding it.
<[li>Better is to exchange Rooks: 16. -- Rxe1+ 17. Qxe1 Re8 18. Qd1 Be4 19. Bxe4 Nxe4 20. Qd3remains level.

Black: Wouter Spoelman
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White: Erwin L'Ami
Position after 16. -- Nf6e4

17. Qd3!

• White simply forces the Knight to retreat.
• 17. Nxc5 Qxc5 18. Qh5 Nf6 19. Qg5 h6 20. Qh4 Qxc4 21. Bxh6 Qb4 gives Black more space an superior piece activity.

17. -- Nd6 18. Qf3

• Sufficient, but not the most efficient.
• Stronger is 18. Qf1 Bb4 19. Rxe8+ Rxe8 20. a3 g5 21. Bxg5 Bc5 22. Nxc5 Qxc5 23. Bf6/

18. -- Bd7

• Black preseves his Bishop.
• If 18. -- Ne4 19. Bc7 Qxc7 20. Qxf5 then:
• 20. -- Re5 21. Qf4 g5 22. Qc1 Nf6 23. Qd2 Bb6 24. Rac1 Nd7 25. Rxe5 Qxe5 26. Bxc6 Rd8 27. c5 wins a pawn.
• 20. -- g6 21. Qh3 Ng5 22. Qg4 Rxe1+ 23. Rxe1 Bb4 24. Rd1 Ne6 25. Nxd4 wins a pawn.

19. Nxc5 Qxc5 20. b3 a5?

• Black is wasting precious time.
• After 20. -- Rxe1+ 21. Rxe1 Re8 22. Re2 Rxe2 23. Qxe2 White is better, but Black's game is still playable.

21. Rad1 Nf5 22. Qd3 h6

• Black seems to be addicted to pointless pawn moves.
• 22. -- Rxe1+ 23. Rxe1 a4 24. Re5 axb3 then:
• 25. axb3 Ra1+ 26. Bf1 Qf8 27. Rxf5 Bxf5 28. Qxf5 White has two minor pieces for a Rook and more space.
• After 25. Rxc5?? bxa2! the pawn must promote.

23. h3!

• Some players can build monuments from quiet moves like this one.
• IThe text is beter than 23. Bh3 Rad8 when:
• After 24. Bc7 Rc8 25. Rxe8+ Rxe8 26. a3 g6 27. g4 Nh4 28. Qg3 g5 29. Bd6 White is better, but there is much work to do before he wins.
• 24. Rxe8+? Rxe8 25. a3 Nxg3 26. Qxg3 Qh5 27. Rd3 Re1+ 28. Kg2 Qe2 29. Rxd4 Qf1+ gives Black a winning initiative.

23. -- Rxe1+ 24. Rxe1 a4

• After 24. -- Re8 25. Rd1 h5 26. Bf3 g6 27. Bh1 Qb6 28. g4 hxg4 29. hxg4 White wins a pawn.

25. Re5 axb3

Black: Wouter Spoelman
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White: Erwin L'Ami
Position after 25. -- ab3:p

26. Rxc5

• White goes for the complications of an asymmetrical material balance.
• 26. axb3 Qb4 27. Bd2 Qb8 28. Rc5 Ra2 29. b4 Qd6 30. Bf4 gives White the initiative.

26. -- bxa2 27. Rxf5 a1Q+ 28. Kh2 Bxf5 29. Qxf5 Qe1

• As the smoke clears, White has two active Bishops for a Rook and a pawn

Black: Wouter Spoelman
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White: Erwin L'Ami
Position after 29. -- Qa1e1

30. Be5

• While Black's mating attack is an mirage, White's has real teeth.

30. -- Ra1 31. h4 c5

• 31. -- f6 32. Bxd4 Rd1 33. Qc8+ Kf7 34. Bc5 Qe6 35. Qh8 Re1 36. Bf8 destroys Black's kingside.

32. Be4 Qg1+ 33. Kh3 Qf1+ 34. Kg4 h5+

• 34. -- Qe2+ 35. f3 h5+ 36. Kg5 Qe3+ 37. Bf4 is lights out for Black.

35. Kg5 Qc1+ 36. Bf4

• Also good is 36. f4 when:
• After 36. -- f6+ 37. Kg6 Ra8 38. Qd7 White delivers mate on the following move.
• 36. -- Ra8 37. Qh7+ Kf8 38. Bd6+ Ke8 39. Bc6+ Kd8 40. Qg8#.
• 36. -- g6 37. Qc8+ Kh7 38. Qh8#.

36. -- g6 37. Qc8+ Kg7 38. Bxc1 Ra2 39. f3 1-0

• Young Mh. Spoelman resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Muhren - Peng, Dutch Championships, Round 2, Hiversum

Peng Zhaoqin
Photo: http://www.rochadekuppenheim.de/figo/aktuell/em4c.htm">Rocha deKuppenheim (Germany)

To view this game with a PGN viewer:

• Please click here (London Chess Center);
• Select Games in PGN - Women
• Select game 7 (Muhren-Peng) from the file list.

Bianca Muhren vs. Peng Zhaoqin
Dutch National Championships, Round 2
Hilversum, June 2007

Closed French Game: Tarrasch Opening (Morozevich Defense)

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Be7

• This is a relatively new line, recently fashioned into a system by the energetic Russian grandmaster, Alexander Morozevich. More usual is 3. -- c5.

4. Bd3

• 4. Ngf3 Nf6 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Bd3 c5 7. c3 transforms into a more usual line.

4. -- c5 5. dxc5 Nf6 6. Ngf3

• If 6. Qe2 Nc6 7. Ngf3 Nb4 then:
• 8. Nb3 Nxd3+ 9. cxd3 a5 10. Bg5 a4 11. Nbd2 h6 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. e5 Be7 14. Qe3 Qa5 15. Rc1 b6 16. cxb6 Bd8 17. Qc5 Qxc5 18. Rxc5 Bxb6 19. Rc2 0-0 20. Nf1 Ba6 21. Ke2 Bb5 22. Ne3 f5 23. Rhc1 Rab8 gives White an extra pawn (Godena-Morozevich, Ol, Istanbul 2000).
• 8. 0-0 Nxd3 9. cxd3 Bxc5 10. Nb3 Be7 11. Bg5 h6 12. Bh4 Qb6 13. e5 Ng8 14. Bg3 a5 15. Bf4 a4 16. Be3 Qa6 17. Nbd4 Bd8 18. Bd2 Ne7 19. Bb4 0-0 20. Rac1 Re8 21. Rc3 Bd7 22. Rfc1 Rc8 23. Rxc8 Nxc8 24. h3 Na7 25. g3 draw agreed (Ye Jiangchuan-Barrsov, FIDE KO Ch, Moscow 2001).

6. -- dxe4 7. Nxe4 Nxe4 8. Bxe4 Qxd1+ 9. Kxd1 Bxc5 10. Ke2

• 10. Ne5 f5 11. Nd3 Bxf2 12. Bf3 Bd4 13. c3 Bf6 14. Re1 Nc6 15. Kc2 g5 16. a4 Kf7 17. a5 g4 18. Bxc6 bxc6 19. Ne5+ Bxe5 20. Rxe5 Ba6 21. Bg5 Bc4 22. b3 Bd5 23. g3 Be4+ draw agreed (Bezgodov-Shipov, Russian Ch, Krasnoyarsk 2003).

10. -- Nd7 11. Bd2!?

• White introduces a new move.
• 11. Be3 Bxe3 12. Kxe3 Nc5 13. Rhd1 Nxe4 14. Kxe4 Ke7 15. Ke3 f6 16. Nd2 Bd7 17. Ne4 Bc6 18. g3 Rhd8 is an equal game (Zjukin-Kacheishvili, Ol, Istanbul 2000).

11. -- Be7

• In response, Black regroups her minor pieces.
• 11. -- Nf6 12. Bd3 b6 13. a4 Bb7 14. a5 Ng4 15. b4 Bd6 is equal.

12. b4!?

• From a theoretical point of view, one would have expected the advance of the unopposed pawn.
• 12. c4 Nf6 13. Bd3 b6 14. Rad1 Bb7 remains equal.

12. -- f5!?

• Black makes a risky move that saddles her with a backward pawn on an open file.
• After 12. -- Nf6 13. Bd3 b6 14. Rad1 Bb7 15. c4 0-0-0 16. Ne5 White has a slight edge in space.

13. Bd3 Bf6 14. Rad1?!

• White should play against the weak pawn.
• After 14. Rae1 g6 15. Kd1 Ke7 16. a4 Rd8 17. Ng5 Nf8 18. f4 White has a spatial plus along with pressure on the backward pawn.

14. -- Nb6

• The Knight is headed for d5.
• 14. -- b6 15. Bg5 Bb7 16. Bxf6 Nxf6 17. c4 a5 18. b5 Rc8 19. Rhe1 is equal.

15. Bb5+ Ke7

• Black is overprotecting her weak pawn. So far, White has failed to exploit the weakness.

16. Rhe1

• White finally makes a hint of an attack on the backward pawn.
• 16. Be3 Nd5 17. Bd2 Nc3+ 18. Bxc3 Bxc3 19. a3 a5 20. bxa5 Rxa5 remains even.

16. -- Nd5 17. a3 a6 18. Bc4

Black: Peng Zhaoqin
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White: Bianca Muhren
Position after 18. Bb5c4

18. -- Nc3+!

• White forces the elimination of White's more active Bishop.
• 18. -- Bd7 19. Kf1 Bb5 20. Bxb5 axb5 21. Bg5 Nc3 22. Rd3 Rhc8 23. h4 gives White a strong initiative.

19. Bxc3 Bxc3 20. Rh1?!

• Black's initiative is leaving White with few moves.
• Better is 20. Rg1 b5 21. Bb3 a5 22. Nd4 Bd7 23. Rd3 axb4 24. axb4 Bxb4 25. Re3 Kf6 when the position is even.

20. -- Bd7 21. Rd3 Bf6 22. Rhd1

• White hopes for exchanges which could improve her position.
• If 22. Bb3 e5 23. Rd2 Rhd8 then:
• 24. c4 Be8 25. Rhd1 Rxd2+ 26. Nxd2 Bh5+ 27. f3 e4 28. c5 Rd8 gives Black an edge in space, but White has the advanced queenside majority.
• 24. Re1 Be8 25. Rd5 e4 26. Nd2 Bc3 27. Rd1 Bb5+ gives Balck a comfortable lead in space.

22. -- Rhd8 23. Bb3?

• This is a passive move.
• Better is 23. Re3 Rac8 24. Rxd7+!? Rxd7 when:
• 25. Rxe6+ Kf8 26. Bd3 f4 27. Nd2 Bb2 28. Nc4 Bd4 doesn't compensate White for the exchange, but her game is managable.
• Black wins after 25. Bxe6? Rxc2+ 26. Kf1 Rd1+ 27. Ne1 Rc3 28. Re2 Kd8 29. Bxf5 Rcc1.

Black: Peng Zhaoqin
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White: Bianca Muhren
Position after 23. Bc4b3

23. -- Bb5!

• Black gives White the unpleasant choice of giving up the exchange or making her Bishop less effective.

24. c4

• White opts for the latter.

24. -- Rxd3 25. Rxd3 Bc6 26. Re3

• White finally attacks the backward pawn, but but it's too late.
• 26. Rd2 b6 27. Bc2 Bb7 28. Ba4 b5 29. Bb3 bxc4 30. Bxc4 Rc8 31. Bb3 keeps Black in command of open lines.

26. -- f4

• Black just as easily rebuffs the attack.

27. Rd3 e5 28. Rd1

• White is being driven backwards.

28. -- g5

• 28. -- b5 29. c5 Rd8 30. Rxd8 Kxd8 31. Bc2 h5 32. h4 e4 33. Nd2 Bb2 reamins equal.
• 28. -- e4 29. Nd4 Bxd4 30. Rxd4 b6 31. Bc2 Rd8 32. Rxd8 Kxd8 is drawish.

29. g4

• No better is 29. h3 h5 30. c5 g4 31. hxg4 hxg4 32. Nh2 Bb5+ 33. Kd2 Bd7 34. g3 Rd8.

29. -- h5 30. h3 hxg4 31. hxg4

Black: Peng Zhaoqin
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White: Bianca Muhren
Position after 31. hg4:p

31. -- Rh8!!

• Rather than propose exchanging Rooks with 31. -- Rd8, Black takes command of a file with which she can use to penetrate White's camp.
• 31. -- Rd8 allows White to equalize with 32. Rxd8 Kxd8 33. Nd2 Ke7 34. Kd3 Kd7 35. Ne4 Be7 36. c5.

32. Nd2 Rh3 33. a4

• If 33. Bc2 Rxa3 34. Be4 Ra2
• 35. Kd3 Rb2 36. Bxc6 bxc6 37. Ra1
• 37. -- e4+ 38. Nxe4 Rb3+ 39. Kc2 Rxb4 40. Nxf6 Kxf6 41. Kd3
• 37. -- Rxb4 38. Rxa6 Kd7 39. Ra7+ equalizes.
• 35. f3? Bxe4 36. fxe4 b6 37. c5 bxc5 38. bxc5 Kd7 is an easy win for Black.

33. -- Rc3?!

• Black misses an opportunity to win immediately.
• Better is 33. -- e4 34. b5 Bd7 35. Rg1 Bd4 36. Bc2 e3 when:
• 37. Nf3 exf2 38. Rd1 Bxg4 39. Be4 axb5
• 40. Rxd4 Bxf3+ 41. Kxf2 g4 42. cxb5 Ke6 43. Bxf3 Rxf3+ Black has an easy win.
• After 40. axb5 Bxf3+ 41. Bxf3 Rg3 42. Bxb7 Rg1 43. Rf1 g4 44. Rxf2 Bxf2 Black is an exchange to the good
• 37. fxe3 drops a piece to ]37. -- Rh2+ 38. Kf3 Bxe3 39. Rg2 Rxg2 40. Kxg2 Bxd2.

34. b5 Bd7 35. f3 Be6 36. Ba2

• This is tantamount to capitulation.
• A better try is 36. bxa6! bxa6 37. Rb1 Bd7 38. Rh1 Re3+ 39. Kf1 when:
• 39. -- Bc6! 40. Rh7+ Ke8 41. Rh6 Kf7 000
• After 39. -- e4?! 40. Rh7+ Kd8 41. Nxe4 Rxf3+ 42. Kg2 Rxb3 43. Rxd7+ Kxd7 44. Nc5+ Black's advantage is no longer strong enough to win.

36. -- Ra3 37. Bb3

• 37. Bb1 Rxa4 38. bxa6 Rxa6 39. Bd3 Ra2 keeps Black in command with an extra pawn and greater piece activity.

37. -- axb5 38. axb5

• No matter how White recaptures, Balck will eventually play -- b6, freezing White's pawns.

38. -- e4!

• The text is better than 38. -- Rxb3 39. Nxb3 Bxc4+ 40. Rd3 Bxb5 41. Nc5 Bxd3+ 42. Kxd3 b5 but Black still coasts home to a victory with two extra pawns.

39. Rb1

• After 39. fxe4 Bxg4+ 40. Ke1 Bxd1 41. Kxd1 Bc3 Black wins easily.

39. -- e3 40. Ne4

• If 40. c5 exd2 41. Bxe6 Kxe6 42. Kxd2 Rxf3 43. c6 bxc6 then:
• After 44. b6 Bc3+ 45. Kc2 Be5 46. b7 Rg3 Black is prepared to sacrifice the Bishop to reamin three pawns up.
• After 44. bxc6 Bc3+ 45. Ke2 Re3+ 46. Kf1 Kd6 The pawn falls and Black wins.

40. -- Rxb3 41. Rxb3 Bxc4+ 42. Rd3 b6 43. 0-1

• The Rook is pinned; the e-pawn passed; White's c-pawn is doomed.
• 43. Nd2 Bxd3+ 44. Kxd3 exd2 45. Kxd2 Kd6 46. Kd3 Kc5 47. Ke4 Kxb5 and that's all, folks!
• Mw. Muhren resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Janssen - Dambacher, Dutch Championships, Round 2, Hiversum

Ruud Janssen is an international master who is not expected to be the next Dutch national champion.

But this is a very pretty game.



Ruud Janssen right, playing White) and Martijn Dambacher
preparing for action prior to the game presented here
Photo: Website of the 2007 Dutch National Championships

Ruud Janssen vs. Martijn Dambacher
Dutch National Championships, Round 2
Hilversum, June 2007

Queen's Gambit Exchange: Hastings Opening

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 0-0 7. Bd3 Nbd7 8. Nge2

• 8. Nf3 is the more-common alternative with many variations.

8. -- Re8 9. 0-0 Nf8 10. Qc2 c6 11. f3 Be6 12. Rad1 N6d7?!

• Black's prospects after the text move are statistically not good.
• If 12. -- Rc8 13. Kh1 Ng6 then:
• If 14. e4 dxe4 15. fxe4 Ng4 16. Bc1 c5 17. e5 cxd4 18. Nxd4 Qxd4 19. Bxg6 Qxe5 20. Bf4 Qc5 21. Bxh7+ Kh8 22. Be4 is an equal game(Sadler-Asrian, FIDE KO Ch, Las Vegas 2000).
• 14. Ng3 Nh5 15. Bxe7 Nxg3+ 16. hxg3 Qxe7 17. Kg1 c5 18. Bxg6 hxg6 19. dxc5 Qxc5 20. Rd4 b5 gives Black a slight spatial plus, but White's Knight has a better future than Black's Bishop. (Tukmakov-Miladinovic, Elenite 1995).
• 12. -- Ng6 13. Ng3 Rc8 14. Rde1 c5 15. f4 Nf8 16. Kh1 h6 17. Bh4 a6 18. Qd2 cxd4 19. exd4 Ne4 is level (Bareev-Jussupow, Munich 1994).

13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. e4 dxe4

• 14. -- f6 15. Ng3 Qd6 16. Qf2 Rad8 17. Rfe1 g6 18. f4 Bf7 19. f5 Kg7 20. Bc2 g5 21. Bb3 gives White a superior game tanks to his pawn center (Fish-Askarian, Ukraninian TCh, Alushta 2000).

15. fxe4 Rac8!?

• Black breaks from the book, since the book doesn't have a happy ending for Black.
• 15. -- Nb6 16. e5 c5 17. Nb5 cxd4 18. Nexd4 Qh4 19. Nf3 Qh6 20. Nd6 gives White early cances to take home a full point. (Lobron-Jussupow, Donner Mem, Amsterdam 1994).

16. Ng3

• White makes a non-committal move waiting for Black to show his hand.
• 16. Nf4 Bg4 17. Rd2 Qd6 18. Rff2 c5 19. Nb5 Qb8 20. d5 is equal.

16. -- c5?

• This move looks reasonable in that is attacks White's pawn center, but the center has not yet been immobilzed. It is more important to stop the advance of the pawns first.
• 16. -- Nf6 17. Qa4 a6 18. Bc2 Bg4 19. Rc1 Qd7 20. Qb4 b5 gives White a small edge in space, but Black will have counterplay if White advances the e-pawn (for example, 21. e5 a5!).

17. d5

• Since the text movechanges the the status of White Dishop from bad to worse, White might consider 17. dxc5, but it doesn't promise much.
• 17. dxc5 Qxc5+ 18. Qf2 Ne5 19. Be2 Nfd7 20. Nf5 Bxf5 21. exf5 is even and drawish.

17. -- Bg4

• The Bishop has no other quarter.

Black: Martijn Dambacher
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$ +t+tMl+%
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White: Ruud Janssen
Position after 17. -- Be6g4

18. Be2!!

• White forces Black to give up his once active Bishop who no longer has room to maneuver for White's bad Bishop.

18. -- Bxe2 19. Qxe2 Nf6

• Black attempts to blockade White's pawns, but he's already in a deep hole.
• If 19. -- Qe5 20. Qh5 Qxh5 21. Nxh5 Rcd8 then:
• 22. Ng3 Nb6 23. Kf2 Ng6 24. Nf5 gives White a small spatial edge.
• After 22. -- Ne5 23. Nf5 a6 24. d6 Ne6 25. Nd5 Black is getting a case of the cramps.
• If 19. -- Qe5 20. Qf2 Nf6 21. Nf5 Rc7 22. Nh6+ then:
• 22. -- Kh8 23. Qf5 Qxf5 24. Rxf5 give White a huge edge in space.
• 22. -- gxh6 23. Qxf6 Ng6 24. Qf5 gives White more space, more piece activity and a better center.
• White has a won game after 19. -- Ne5 20. Nf5 Qd7 21. Qb5 Rc7 22. d6 Qxb5 23. Nxb5 Rd7 24. Nc7.

20. d6 Qe6

• After 20. -- Qe5 21. Rf5 Qe6 22. e5 N6d7 23. Nd5 White looks better on dark squares than he did just a few moves ago.

Black: Martijn Dambacher
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$ +t+tMl+%
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White: Ruud Janssen
Position after 20. -- Qe7e6

21. Rxf6!!

• The exchange sacrifice is well calculated. White gets both Knights for the Rook.

21. -- Qxf6 22. d7!

• This is the point of the combination. Black's next move is forced.

22. -- Nxd7 23. Rxd7

• Winning from here is a piece of cake.

23. -- Rb8 24. Nf5 Red8 25. Nd5 Qg5 26. Rc7 Kf8

• If 26. -- Qc1+ 27. Qf1 Qxf1+ 28. Kxf1 then:
• 28. -- Kf8 29. Rxc5 Rbc8 30. Nc7 Rd1+ 31. Ke2 Rcd8 32. Nd5 000
• 28. -- c4 29. e5 Re8 30. Nd6 Rxe5 31. Ne7+ Kf8 32. Nef5 g6 33. Rxf7+ 000

27. Qf1 Rdc8 28. Rxc8+ Rxc8 29. Nd6 1-0

• Black must either lose the Rook or submit immediately to checkmate.
• Mh. Dumbacher resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Otten - Muhren, Dutch Championships, Round 3, Hiversum

Bianca Muhren
Photo: Rocha de Kuppenheim (Germany)

To view this game with a PGN viewer:

• Please click here (London Chess Center);
• Select Games in PGN - Women
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Colleen Otten vs. Bianca Muhren
Dutch National Championships, Round 3
Hilversum, June 2007

Open Sicilian Game: Najdorf-Boleslavsky Defense

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3!?

• White plays a rare line used mainly to get out of the books quickly.

6. -- e5

• 6. -- e6 usually leads to a draw: 7. g4 d5 8. exd5 Nxd5 9. Nde2 Bb4 10. Bd2 Nxc3 11. Bxc3 Qxd1+ 12. Rxd1 Bxc3+ 13. Nxc3 Bd7 14. Bg2 Bc6 15. Bxc6+ Nxc6 draw agreed (Fontaine-Fressinet, French Ch, Val d'Isere 2002).

7. Nde2 Be7 8. g4 Be6

• If 8. -- 0-0 9. Ng3 then:
• 9. -- Ne8?! 10. Nd5 Bh4 11. Be3 Nc6 12. Qd2 Nd4 13. 0-0-0 Nf6 14. Nxf6+ Bxf6 15. c3
• 15. -- Qa5 16. cxd4 Qxa2 17. Qb4 Bd7 18. Bd3 exd4 19. Bf4 White has a Knight for two pawns and a lot more space (Kupreichik-Dvoirys, Op, Leeuwarden 1993).
• 15. -- Nc6 16. Qxd6 Be6 17. Qxd8 Rfxd8 18. a3 Rxd1+ 19. Kxd1 Rd8+ 20. Ke1 isn't much better than the red line.
• Better is 11. -- Bxg3 12. fxg3 Nc6 13. Nb6 Rb8 14. Bg2 Be6 15. 0-0 but White still holds all the cards.
• 9. -- Be6 10. Bg2 Nc6 11. Nf5 b5 12. Nxe7+ Nxe7 13. Bg5 b4 gives Black a much more satisfactory game.

9. Bg2 h6!?

• Black throws the book away in case White had an improvement over existing theory.
• 9. -- Nbd7 10. Ng3 0-0 11. Nf5 Nb6 12. 0-0 Ne8 13. Nxe7+ Qxe7 14. b3 Rc8 15. Ne2 Nd7 16. Ng3 Nc5 17. c4 b5 18. cxb5 axb5 19. Be3 Qb7 20. Rc1 is level (R. Byrne-Donner, Lugano 1970).

10. Ng3

• Black's novelty is as harmless as White's sixth move. There are many ways to proceed.
• 10. Be3 Qa5 11. 0-0 Nbd7 12. Nd5 Bxd5 13. exd5 0-0 14. a3 is equal in space, but White's minor pieces look to have more potential.

10. -- g6 11. Bf3 Nc6 12. Be3?!

• White misses an early opportunity for lasting initiative.
• 12. Nd5! Nd4 13. Bg2 Nxd5 14. exd5 Bd7 15. c3 Nb5 16. a4 Nc7 17. Be3 would give White a healthy advantage in space.

12. -- Rc8

• Black asserts control of the c-file.
• 12. -- Na5 13. b3 Rc8 14. Nd5 Nxd5 15. exd5 Bd7 16. Qd2 gives White a comfortable advantage in space, but she is hard pressed to find good squares for her minor pieces.

13. h4 Na5 14. h5 Nc4 15. Bc1

• White eschews the pawn exchange at g6. She won't have another opportunity.
• 15. hxg6 fxg6 16. Bc1 Qa5 17. g5 Ng8 18. gxh6 Nxh6 19. Rb1 is level.

15. -- g5 16. 0-0 Nb6

• The Knight has no place else to go.
• 16. -- 0-0 17. Nd5 Re8 18. b3 Nb6 19. Nxe7+ Qxe7 20. c4 Nbd7 21. Qe2 gives White the edge in space, but neither player has good minor pieces in this position.

17. Re1

• White is overprotecting her e-pawn. This discourages Balck from palying --d5.
• If 17. Nf5 Bxf5 18. gxf5 g4 19. Bxg4 Rg8 20. f3 Nxh5 21. Bxh6 Nf6 22. Kf2 Nc4 23. Qc1 Qb6+ gives Black an edge in space and a chance for her Bishop to come to life.
• Black is comfortable after 19. Bg2 Nxh5 20. Qxg4 Nf6 21. Qf3 d5 22. exd5 Bb4 23. Rd1 Bxc3 24. bxc3 Qd6 with a small edge in space.

Black: Bianca Muhren
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White: Colleen Otten
Position after 17. Rf1e1

17. -- Rxc3!?

• Black goes looking for adventure with a Sicilian exchange sacrifice.
• 17. -- Qc7 18. a3 0-0 19. Nf5 Bxf5 20. gxf5 Nc4 21. Bh1 b5 is level.

18. bxc3 Qc7 19. Be3 Na4 20. Bd2 Nxc3 21. Bxc3 Qxc3

• Black enjoys a considerable spatial advantage in compensation for her material deficeit. The question is whether or nat she can keep it.

Black: Bianca Muhren
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White: Colleen Otten
Position after 21. -- Qc7c3:p

22. Nf1?!

• White misses an opportunity to improve her game enormously.
• After 22. Nf5Black spatial advantage vanishes:
• 22. -- Qc7 23. Ng7+ Kf8 24. Nxe6+ fxe6 25. Qd3 Nd7 26. a4 Kg7 27. a5 Black will have a more difficult time advancing.
• After 22. -- Bxf5 23. exf5 b5 24. Re3 Qc4 25. a4 0-0 26. axb5 axb5 27. Ra7 White's Bishop awakes.

22. -- 0-0

• Black has retained her spatial advantage and, by bringing her Rook into play, can now enhance it.

23. Ne3 Rc8 24. Qb1 b5 25. a3

• White slows the advance of Black's pawns. Black has a significant spatial advantage that could crush White.

25. -- Bd8

• Black tries to improve the position of her dark-bound Bishop. Her light-bound Bish is easily the best minor piece on the board.

26. Rd1?

• This removes some protection from the Knight, making Black's position more vulnerable.
• If 26. a4 Bb6 27. axb5 axb5 then:
• 28. Kg2 Bxe3 29. Rxe3 Qxc2 30. Qxb5 Nxg4 gives Black the edge, but not a winning one.
• After 28. Ra6 Bxe3 29. Rxe3 Qd2 30. c3 Rxc3 31. Rxc3 Qxc3 Black will have to work longer to win.

26. -- Bb6!

• Black threatens the better of White's two minor pirces.

27. Rd3

Black: Bianca Muhren
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White: Colleen Otten
Position after 27. Rd1d3

27. -- Qc6!!

• The masked attack on White's unprotected Bishop is the key to Black's winning attack.

28. Qd1 Nxe4 29. Nd5

• After 29. Bxe4 Black wins by 29. -- Qxe4 30. a4 Bxe3 31. Rxe3 Qxg4+ 32. Qxg4 Bxg4 33. axb5 axb5 34. Ra6 Rxc2 leaving her with three pawns in compensation for the exchange.

29. -- Bxd5 30. Rxd5 Nxf2 31. Qe2 Ne4+ 32. Kh2

• After 32. Kg2 Nc3 33. Qd3 Nxd5 34. Bxd5 Qxc2+ 35. Qxc2 Rxc2+ Black is four pawns to the good.

32. -- Qxd5 33. Bxe4 Qd4 34. Rf1 Qe3 35. 0-1

• Black is three pawns up.
• Mw. Otten resigns.