The Jack Rabbit Chess Report (March 29): Aronian runs away in Nice; Five tie for first in Foxwoods

[Jack Rabbit]

Aronian wins Amber running away



Armenian grandmaster Levon Aronian won the 17th annual Melody Amber Rapid/Blindfold tournament, which completed after 11 rounds Thursday in the town of Nice on the Mediterranean coast of France.

Aronian won with a combined total of 14½ points in 22 games, 2½ points ahead of his nearest rivals. He won the rapid competition outright with 8 point, a point and a half ahead of second-place finisher Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine, and tied for first in the blindfold competition with former world champion Vladimir Kramnik, former FIDE champion Veselin Topalov and Russian grandmaster Alexander Morozevich at 6½ points each.

Kramnik and Topalov tied for second place in the combined totals along with Hungarian grandmaster Peter Leko and seventeen-year-old Norwegian grandmaster Magnus Carlsen.

World champion Vishy Anand, regarded for years as the world’s best rapid player, had a disappointing tournament, finishing at only 50% in the combined scores and with only 5 out of eleven in the rapid competition.


Five tie for first in Foxwoods Open



The Foxwoods Open, one of the premiere events in American chess, was played last weekend at the Foxwoods Resort and Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut and resulted in a five-way tie for first place among reigning US national champion Alex Shabalov, Yury Shulman, Alexander Ivanov, Julio Bacerra (all grandmasters) and international master Robert Hess with 7 points each in nine rounds..

Shulman and Ivanov, having two highest tie break scores, played a single blitz game to determine the right to be called tournament champion. The game was won by Shulman. However, all five players who finished with 7 points took home the same amount of prize money.

For his fine efforts, Mr. Hess also completed his first grandmaster norm.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. From Nice

Diagrams on the Jack Rabbit Chess Report are made with Chess Mérida, a true type font that can be downlaoded free here.
BLACK
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WHITE
White to move
(This position is a theoretical draw)

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Aronian - Topalov, Rapid, Round 7

Levon Aronian
Photo: ChessBase.com


Levon Aronian - Veselin Topalov
Melody Amber Tournament, Rapid Competition, Round 7
Nice, 22 March 2008

Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit: Stolz-Shabalov Opening

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Qc2

• This move, essayed in the 1930s by Swedish master Gösta Stolz, is a way for White to avoid the Meran Defense (6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5). See Morozevich-Anand, below.

6...Bd6 7.g4

• This aggressive move was honed into a coherent system in our time by the reigning US national champion, Alex Shabalov.
• If 7.Bd3 0-0 8.0-0 dxc4 9.Bxc4 then:
• If 9...b5 then:
• If 10.Be2 Bb7 11.Rd1 then:
• If 11...Qc7 then:
• If 12.e4 e5 then:
• If 13.g3 Rfe8 14.dxe5 Nxe5 15.Bg5 then:
• 15...b4 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.Nxe5 Rxe5 18.Nb1 c5 19.Nd2 Bf8 20.Bg4 Rae8 21.f3 Rg5 22.Bf5 Bd6 23.Nf1 c4 gives Black the advantage in space (Szeberenyi-Pavasovic, Hungarian ChT, Hungary, 2003).
• 15...Nxf3+ 16.Bxf3 Qe7 17.Bg2 Be5 18.Ne2 Qb4 19.Rd2 Rad8 20.Rad1 Rxd2 21.Rxd2 Qa5 22.b3 c5 23.Rd1 h6 24.Bd2 Qa6 25.Bc3 Bxc3 26.Nxc3 b4 27.Nd5 Nxd5 28.exd5 Qd6 is equal (Ibragimov-Asrian, Op, Dubai, 2000).
• 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Nd4 Bc5 15.h3 Qb6 16.Be3 Rad8 17.Nf5 Bxe3 18.Nxe3 Ng6 19.Rxd8 Rxd8 draw (Parker-Thorhallsson, Euro ChT, Saint Vincent, 2005).
• If 12.Bd2 Rfe8 13.Rac1 a6 14.b4 e5 then:
• 15.h3 h6 16.a3 exd4 17.exd4 Nb6 18.Re1 Nbd5 19.Nxd5 Nxd5 20.Bd3 a5 21.Bh7+ Kh8 22.Be4 gives White the advantage in space (Beliavsky-Pavasovic, Vidmar mem, Terme Zrece, 2003).
• 15.a3 h6 16.Bd3 exd4 17.exd4 Nb6 18.Re1 Rad8 19.Ne2 Nbd5 20.Ng3 Rxe1+ 21.Rxe1 Ng4 22.Bh7+ Kh8 23.Bf5 gives White the advantage in space (Soltau-Benejam, cyberspace, 2003).
• 11...Qb8 12.e4 e5 13.g3 Re8 14.dxe5 Nxe5 15.Bg5 Nxf3+ 16.Bxf3 Be5 17.Rd2 h6 draw (Morovic-Fridman, Ol, Calvia, 2004).
• If 10.Bd3 Bb7 then:
• 11.a3 a5 12.e4 e5 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Nxe5 Bxe5 15.h3 Re8 16.Be3 Qc7 17.Rad1 Rad8 18.Ne2 Bd6 19.Nd4 Nh5 20.Rfe1 Nf4 21.Bf1 Ne6 22.Nxe6 Rxe6 23.f4 f6 24.Qb3 gives White more space, but Black's position offers no good targets (kramnik-Anand, Advanced Rapid m, Moscow, 2007).
• 11.e4 e5 12.dxe5 Nxe5 13.Nxe5 Bxe5 14.h3 Re8 15.Be3 Qe7 16.Ne2 Rad8 17.f4 Rxd3 18.Qxd3 Bxb2 19.Rab1 Qxe4 20.Qxe4 Rxe4 21.Rxb2 Rxe3 22.Nd4 Nd5 gives Black a considerable advantage in space (Kononenko-Medic, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2001).
• If 9...a6 10.Rd1 b5 11.Be2 Qc7 then:
• 12.Ne4 Nxe4 13.Qxe4 e5 14.Qh4 Re8 15.Bd3 h6 16.Bd2 Be7 17.Qg3 Bd6 18.Qh4 Be7 draw (Burmakin-Dreev, Op, Novgorod, 1999; several games since have ended here or after one or two more moves in an agreed draw).
• 12.e4 e5 13.g3 Re8 14.a3 exd4 15.Nxd4 Be5 16.Bf3 c5 17.Nde2 c4 18.Nd5 Nxd5 19.exd5 Bd6 20.Bf4 Ne5 21.Bxe5 Rxe5 22.Nd4 g6 is equal (Bologan-Karjakin, IT, Dortmund, 2001).
• If 7.b3 0-0 8.Be2 then:
• If 8...b6 9.0-0 Bb7 10.Bb2 then:
• If 10...Qe7 then:
• If 11.Rad1 Rfe8 then:
• 12.e4 Nxe4 13.Nxe4 dxe4 14.Qxe4 Rad8 15.Rfe1 Bb4 16.Rf1 Bd6 17.Rfe1 Bb4 18.Rf1 Bd6 19.Rfe1 Bb4 20.Rf1 Bd6 draw (Carlsen-Leko, IT, Morelia-Linares, 2007).
• If 12.Rfe1 Rad8 13.Bd3 then:
• 13...c5 14.cxd5 exd5 15.Bf5 Nf8 16.Bh3 Ng6 17.Nb5 Bb8 18.dxc5 bxc5 19.Bxf6 gxf6 20.b4 a6 21.Nc3 Qc7 22.Na4 d4 23.Qxc5 Bxf3 24.Qxc7 Bxc7 25.gxf3 dxe3 26.fxe3 Rxd1 27.Rxd1 Rxe3 28.Bf1 Ra3 29.Nc5 is equal (Gelfand-Kasidzhanov, Candidates' m, Elista, 2007).
• 13...e5 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.e4 dxe4 16.Nxe4 Nxe4 17.Bxe4 Bxe4 18.Qxe4 Nf6 19.Qf5 e4 20.d5 Bb4 21.Re2 Nxd5 leaves Black a pawn to the good (K. Georgiev-Kasimdzhanov, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2007).
• 11.Rfd1 Rfe8 12.e4 Nxe4 13.Nxe4 dxe4 14.Qxe4 Rad8 15.h3 Nf6 16.Qe3 c5 17.Ne5 Qc7 18.Bd3 h6 19.Bc2 b5 20.Qe2 bxc4 21.Nxc4 Bh2+ 22.Kh1 Qc6 23.f3 Bc7 is equal (Karpov-Bareev, Rapid, Paris, 1992).
• 10...c5 11.cxd5 exd5 12.Rad1 Rc8 13.dxc5 bxc5 14.Qf5 Qe7 15.Rfe1 Rfd8 16.Bf1 Ne5 17.Nb5 Nxf3+ 18.gxf3 Bb8 19.Bxf6 Qxf6 20.Qxf6 gxf6 21.Bh3 Rc6 is equal (Gurevich-Kaidanov, Chicago, 1995).
• If 8...e5 9.cxd5 then:
• 9...cxd5 10.Nb5 Bb4+ 11.Bd2 Bxd2+ 12.Nxd2 a6 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Nd4 Bg4 15.Bxg4 Nfxg4 16.0-0 Rc8 17.Qf5 g6 18.Qf4 Qe7 19.N2f3 Nxf3+ 20.Qxf3 Nf6 21.Rac1 Ne4 22.Qe2 Qa3 23.Rc2 Nd6 24.f3 Rxc2 25.Qxc2 Is equal (Gelfand-Morozevich, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2006).
• 9...Nxd5 10.Nxd5 cxd5 11.dxe5 Nxe5 12.Bb2 Bb4+ 13.Kf1 Nxf3 14.Bxf3 Be6 15.Qd3 Be7 16.Ke2 Qa5 17.Rhc1 Rac8 18.a3 h6 19.Kf1 Qb6 20.Kg1 Qd6 21.Bd1 Rc6 22.Rxc6 bxc6 23.Bc2 f5 24.b4 c5 25.bxc5 Qxc5 26.Qd4 Qxd4 27.Bxd4 Kf7 is equal (Portisch-Hübner, Brussels, 1986).

7...h6

• If 7...dxc4 8.Bxc4 then:
• 8...e5 9.g5 Nd5 10.Bd2 exd4 then:
• 11.Nxd4 0-0 then:
• 12.Nxd5 cxd5 13.Bd3 g6 14.h4 Nc5 15.f4 Bg4 16.Bc3 Re8 17.Kf2 Qd7 18.h5 Nxd3+ 19.Qxd3 Re4 20.hxg6 fxg6 is equal (Radjobov-Shirov, Rapid m, León, 2004).
• 12.0-0-0 Ne5 13.Nxd5 cxd5 14.Bxd5 Bg4 15.Bc3 Bb4 16.Ne2 Bxc3 17.Nxc3 Bxd1 18.Rxd1 Qe7 19.Qe4 Rad8 20.h4 Ng6 21.Qa4 gives White a huge advantage in space, but Black has a Rook for a pawn and a minor piece (Adly-Pantela, Op, Reykjavi, 2006).
• 11.Qe4+ Qe7 12.Qxd4 Ne5 13.Nxe5 Bxe5 14.Nxd5 cxd5 15.Bb5+ Kf8 16.Qxd5 Bxb2 then:
• 17.Qb3 Ba3 18.Bc4 Bc5 19.Bd5 Be6 20.Bxe6 fxe6 21.Rc1 b6 22.Rg1 Rd8 23.Rg4 Qd6 24.Bc3 gives White a slight advantage in space (Perelshteyn-Lugo, US Ch, San Diego, 2006).
• 17.Rb1 Be6 18.Qe4 Ba3 19.Bc4 Bxc4 20.Qxc4 b6 21.Rg1 gives White the advantage in space (Vallejo-Bareev, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 2005).


• 8...b6 9.e4 Bb7 10.e5 c5 11.exf6 Bxf3 12.fxg7 Rg8 13.Qxh7 Nf6 14.Bb5+ Ke7 15.Bg5 Bf4 16.Qh3 Bxh1 17.Bxf4 Qxd4 18.Qg3 Ne4 19.Qh4+ Qf6 20.g5 Qxg7 21.0-0-0 Rad8 22.g6+ f6 23.Rxh1 Rh8 24.Qg4 Nxf2 25.Qf3 Nxh1 26.Bd6+ Kxd6 27.Qc6+ Ke5 28.Qe4+ draws by perpetual check (Onischuk-Becerra, US Ch, San Diego, 2004).
• 8...b5 9.Be2 then:
• 9...Bb7 10.g5 Nd5 11.Ne4 Be7 12.Bd2 Rc8 13.Nc5 Nxc5 14.dxc5 Bxg5 15.0-0-0 Bh6 then:
• 16.Kb1 Qf6 17.e4 Nf4 18.Bc3 Qe7 19.Be5 Rd8 20.Rxd8+ Qxd8 is equal (Nickel-Niewiadomski, cyberspace, 2003).
• 16.Ne5 Qe7 17.Ng4 Bg5 18.f4 Bh4 19.e4 Nf6 20.Nxf6+ Bxf6 21.Ba5 gives White a huge lead in space (Nestorovic-Milenkovic, Yugoslav ChT, Cetinje, 1993).
• 9.Bd3 Bb7 10.g5 Nd5 11.Ne4 Be7 12.Bd2 then:
• 12...Nb4 13.Bxb4 Bxb4+ 14.Ke2 Be7 15.Rhg1 b4 16.Rac1 Rc8 17.Nc5 Nxc5 18.dxc5 Qa5 19.Nd4 give White the advantage in space (Munschi-Lomarov, Op, Metz, 1994).
• 12...Qb6 13.Rc1 Nb4 14.Bxb4 Bxb4+ 15.Ke2 c5 16.a3 c4 17.axb4 Bd5 18.Nfd2 0-0 19.Rhg1 e5 20.dxe5 Rad8 21.Nf6+ Nxf6 22.Bf5 Nh5 is equal (Shirov-Akopian, IT, Biel, 1993).
• 8...Nd5 then:
• 9.Ne4 Be7 10.Bd2 b6 11.0-0-0 Bb7 12.Ne5 a5 13.h4 f6 14.Nd3 b5 15.Bb3 a4 16.Bxd5 cxd5 17.Nec5 Nxc5 18.Nxc5 Bxc5 19.dxc5 d4 20.e4 draw (Sargissian-Korneev, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).
• 9.Bd2 b5 10.Be2 Bb7 11.Ne4 Be7 12.Nc5 Nxc5 13.dxc5 Qc7 14.a4 0-0 15.h4 a5 16.Rc1 bxa4 17.Bd3 h6 18.Qxa4 Ba6 19.Bxa6 Rxa6 20.b4 gives White a small advantage in space (Nakamura-Beliavsky, Op, Minneapolis, 2005).
• 7...Bb4 8.Bd2 Qe7 then:
• 9.Rg1 Bxc3 10.Bxc3 Ne4 11.0-0-0 Nxc3 12.Qxc3 0-0 then:
• 13.Bd3 dxc4 14.Bxc4 c5 15.Kb1 a6 16.Bd3 b5 17.Qc2 g6 18.Be4 Ra7 19.g5 Rc7 20.h4 Nb6 21.dxc5 Rxc5 22.Qd3 Bb7 23.Nh2 Bxe4 24.Qxe4 Rc4 25.Rd4 gives White a small advantage in space (Milanovic-Lazic, Bosnian ChT, Jahorina, 2001).
• If 13.g5 dxc4 14.Bxc4 b5 15.Bd3 Bb7 16.Qc2 g6 17.Be4 Rab8 18.Kb1 c5 19.Bxb7 Rxb7 20.dxc5 Nxc5 21.Ne5 Rc7 22.h4 Rfc8 23.Ng4 Na4 24.Qe4 Rc2 25.Qe5 Qc7 then:
• 26.Nf6+?! Kf8 27.Nxh7+ Ke7 28.Qf6+ Ke8 29.Qh8+ Ke7 30.Qf6+ Ke8 31.Qh8+ draws by repetition (Sargissian-Sveshnikov, Petrosian Mem, Stepanakert, 2004).
• White is slightly better after 26.Qxc7 R2xc7 27.Rc1 Nc5 28.Nf6+ Kh8 29.h5.
• If 9.Bd3 then:
• 9...e5 10.cxd5 Bxc3 11.Bxc3 e4 12.dxc6 exd3 13.cxd7+ Qxd7 14.Qb3 Qxg4 15.Qd1 0-0 16.Rg1 Qe4 17.Nd2 Qd5 18.Qf3 Bf5 19.Qxd5 Nxd5 20.Nc4 Rfd8 is equal (Vorobiov-P. Smirnov, Russian Ch semif, Krasnoyarsk, 2003).
• 9...Bxc3 10.Bxc3 dxc4 11.Bxc4 b5 12.Bd3 Bb7 13.e4 Nxe4 14.Bxe4 f5 15.Bd3 c5 16.Rg1 Bxf3 17.dxc5 fxg4 is equal (Moranda-Vitiugov, Belfort, 2005).

8.Rg1

• If 8.Bd2 then:
• 8...dxc4 9.Bxc4 b5 10.Be2 Bb7 then:
• 11.e4 Be7 then:
• 12.g5 hxg5 13.Nxg5 Rc8 14.Rg1 Nf8 15.e5 b4 16.Na4 N6d7 17.Ne4 c5 18.Nexc5 Bxc5 19.Nxc5 Nxc5 20.dxc5 Qd4 21.Be3 Qxe5 22.Bb5+ Ke7 23.0-0-0 Bd5 24.Qe2 Ng6 25.Rg5 Qe4 26.f3 Black resigns in the face of material loss (Dronavalli-van der Bersselaar, Op, Gibraltar, 2008).
• 12.e5 b4 13.exf6 bxc3 14.fxe7 cxd2+ 15.Nxd2 Qxe7 16.Bf3 Rb8 17.Nb3 0-0 18.0-0-0 c5 19.Bxb7 Rxb7 20.dxc5 Rc7 21.Kb1 Nxc5 22.Rc1 Rfc8 23.Nxc5 Rxc5 24.Qd2 Qf6 25.Rxc5 Rxc5 26.Rg1 Rd5 27.Qe2 Qf4 gives Black a small advantage in space (Dronavalli-Nakamura, Op, Gibraltar, 2008).
• 11.g5 hxg5 12.Nxg5 Qe7 13.Nce4 Nxe4 14.Nxe4 0-0 15.Nxd6 Qxd6 16.Bf3 Rab8 17.0-0-0 Rfc8 18.Rhg1 gives White the advantage in space (Sargissian-Hillarp Person, Op. Reykjavik, 2006).
• 11.Rg1 Rc8 12.g5 hxg5 13.Rxg5 then:
• 13...b4 14.Na4 c5 15.Nxc5 Bxc5 16.dxc5 Ne4 17.Rxg7 Qf6 18.Rg4 Rxc5 19.Qa4 Nxd2 20.Nxd2 Rxh2 21.Rf4 Rh1+ 22.Bf1 Qxb2 Black has an extra pawn and a huge advantage in space (I. Rajlich-Kaidanov, Op, Gibraltar, 2007).
• 13...Kf8 14.Ne5 Qe7 15.Bf3 Bxe5 16.dxe5 Nd5 17.Rh5 Rxh5 18.Bxh5 Kg8 19.0-0-0 Qh4 20.Be2 Qxf2 21.Rf1 Qg2 22.Qe4 Qxe4 23.Nxe4 Nxe5 24.Nc5 Ba8 leaves Black up by two pawns(Radjobov-Anand, Rapid Ch, Mainz, 2006).
• If 8...Qe7 9.Rg1 e5 10.cxd5 Nxd5 11.Ne4 Bb4 then:
• 12.a3 Bxd2+ 13.Qxd2 b6 14.Bc4 Bb7 15.dxe5 Nxe5 16.Nxe5 Qxe5 17.Bxd5 cxd5 18.Ng3 Rc8 19.f4 Qe6 20.Nf5 0-0 21.Qd4 gives White the advantage in space (Papa-Kosteniuk, YM, Lausanne, 2004).
• 12.0-0-0 exd4 13.Nxd4 Bxd2+ 14.Rxd2 g6 15.Bc4 Nb4 16.Qb3 0-0 17.Nf5 gxf5 18.gxf5+ Kh7 19.Nd6 Nd5 20.Bxd5 cxd5 21.Qxd5 Nf6 gives Black a Bishop for two pawns (Kasimdzhanov-Bareev, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2002).

8...e5 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.Bd2

• 10.g5 hxg5 11.Nxg5 e4 12.Nb5 Nb6 13.Bd2 Bf5 14.h3 Bh2 15.Rg2 Rc8 16.Qb3 Bb8 17.Bb4 Nh7 18.Nxh7 Rxh7 19.Rg1 Rc6 gives Black a subtancial advantage in space (Zappa-Junior, World Computer Ch, Reykjavik, 2005).

10...e4 11.Nb5 Bb8 12.Nh4!?

• After 12.Rc1 0-0 13.g5 exf3 14.gxf6 Nxf6 15.Bb4 Re8 16.Nc7 Bxc7 17.Qxc7 Ne4 Black has an extra pawn, but White has more than enough space in compensation (Janssen-Smeets, Dutch Ch, Leeuwarden, 2005).

12...a6

• After 12...Nb6 13.h3 Nxg4 14.hxg4 Qxh4 15.Nc7+ Bxc7 16.Qxc7 White does not have enough extra space to compensate for the pawn minus.

13.Nf5?!

• If 13.Nc3 Bxh2 14.Rh1 Bc7 15.Nf5 then:
• 15...Rg8 16.Rc1 Ba5 17.Bg2 Bxc3 18.Nd6+ Ke7 19.Nf5+ Ke6 20.Bxc3 is unclear: Black has an extra pawn and White has more space.
• 15...g6 16.Nxh6 Nb6 17.g5 Nh5 18.Rc1 Bd6 19.Qb3 is equal.

13...0-0

• 13...Nb6! 14.Ba5 Bxf5 15.gxf5 0-0 then:
• 16.Nc3 Bxh2 17.Rg2 Bc7 18.Rc1 gives Black an extra pawn.
• 16.Bxb6 Qxb6 17.Nc3 Bxh2 18.Rh1 Bd6 gives Black an extra pawn and a huge advantage in space.
• If 13...axb5 14.Nxg7+ Kf8 15.Nf5 then:
• 15...Bxh2 16.Rg2 Bc7 17.Bb4+ Kg8 18.g5
• 15...Rg8 16.Bb4+ Ke8 17.Rc1 Bxh2 18.Rh1 Bc7 19.Qxc7 Qxc7 20.Rxc7 gives White advantages in space and better pawn structure.

14.Nbd6 Bxd6 15.Nxd6 Nb8

• Having Knights against isn't a particular disadvamtage for Black in this position.
• 15...Nxg4 16.Rxg4 Nf6 17.Nxb7 Bxb7 18.Rg3 gives White the advantage in space.

16.Qxc8!?

• 16.Nxc8 Qxc8 17.Qb3 Nc6 18.h4 Qd7 19.Be2 is equal.

16...Qxd6!?

• 16...Qxc8 17.Nxc8 Rxc8 18.Bc3 is equal.

17.Qf5?!

• 17.Qxb7 Nbd7 18.Bb4 Rfb8 19.Bxd6 Rxb7 20.b4 Ne8 21.Bc5 gives White a comfortable advantage in space and an extra pawn.

17...g6 18.Qe5 Qb6?!

• 18...Qxe5 19.dxe5 Nfd7 20.Bc3 Nc6 21.0-0-0 Ndxe5 22.Rxd5 Rac8 is equal.

19.Qf4!?

• 19.Bc3 Rc8 20.Qg3 Qc7 21.h4 Qxg3 22.Rxg3 is equal.

19...g5

• Black drives White's Queen to a better square.
• 19...Qxb2 20.Rc1 Kg7 21.h4 Qxa2 22.g5 hxg5 23.hxg5 Nh5 24.Qe5+ Kg8 25.Be2 Nc6 puts Black up by two pawns.

20.Qf5 Qxb2?

• As Genral Powell said, always have an exit strategy. Black takes the pawn with the same reckless abandon that Bush had when invading Iraq.
• If 20...Qe6 21.h4 Qxf5 22.gxf5 g4 23.h5 then:
• 23...Kh7 24.Rc1 Nc6 25.b4 Rg8 26.a4 Rg5 27.b5 axb5 28.axb5 Nd8 is equal.
• 23...Nc6 24.b4 Ne7 25.Be2 Kh8 26.Rc1 Rac8 27.Rc5 Nxf5 gives Black an extra pawn.

BLACK: Veselin Topalov
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WHITE: Levon Aronian
Position after 20...Qb6b2:p

21.Rd1!

• 21.Rc1? loses a tempo to 21...Nbd7 22.h4 Rfc8 23.Rd1 Kf8 with equality.

21...Ne8

• If 21...Qb6 22.h4 then:
• 22...Qe6 23.hxg5 hxg5 24.Qxg5+ Kh8 25.Rh1+ Nh7 26.Qh5 Qg6 27.Qxd5 leaves White with an extra pawn.
• If 22...Nh7 23.Qxd5 Qc6 24.Qf5 then:
• 24...gxh4 25.Rc1 Qe6 26.Qxe6 fxe6 27.Bb4 Re8 28.Rh1 Black's weak pawns begin to fall.
• 24...Qe6 25.Bg2 Re8 26.Qxe6 Rxe6 27.d5 Re8 28.hxg5 hxg5 29.Rh1

22.Qxd5 Nc6

• If 22...Nc7 then:
After
• 23.Qe5 Nb5 24.Qxe4 Nc3 25.Bxc3 Qxc3+ 26.Rd2 Qc1+ 27.Ke2 White is a pawn up.
• 23.Qxe4 Re8 24.Qb1 Qxd4 25.Qxb7 Ra7 26.Qb4 Nc6 27.Qxd4 Nxd4 28.Bg2 leaves White a pawn to the good.

23.Bc4 Nf6 24.Qc5 Kg7

• 24...Rfc8 25.Bb3 b6 26.Qxb6 Qa3 27.Rc1 Rab8 28.Qc5 Qxc5 29.Rxc5 leaves White a pawn ahead.

BLACK: Veselin Topalov
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WHITE: Levon Aronian
Position after 24...Kg8g7

25.Bb3!

• The Black Queen is shut out of the game for now.

25...Nd7 26.Qf5 Rad8 27.h4 Ne7

• The text move loses material, but the game is beyond repair.
• After 27...gxh4 28.g5 h5 29.Rh1 Qa3 30.Rxh4 Qd6 31.Bc3 White threatens 31...-- 32.d5+ winning easily.

28.Qxe4 Ng6

• 28...Rfe8 29.Qxb7 Nf6 30.hxg5 hxg5 31.Qxa6 leaves White three pawns up.

29.hxg5 hxg5 30.Qxb7 Nf6 31.Qxa6 Nh4

• White is three pawns to the good and looks to remain that way.
• 31...Rfe8 32.Qc4 Nd5 33.Rh1 Qa3 34.Rh5 then:
• 34...Qe7 35.Ba4 Nb6 36.Qc6 Nxa4 37.Qxa4
• If 34...f6 35.Bc2 then:
• 35...Nh4 36.Kf1 Nf3 37.Bc1 Qc3 38.Qa4 Rh8 39.Qa7+ is hopeless for Black.
• 35...Rc8 36.Qb3 Qxb3 37.Bxb3 Rcd8 38.Rh1 White is still three pawns up.

BLACK: Veselin Topalov
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WHITE: Levon Aronian
Position after 31...Ng6h4

32.Qa5!!

• Having three pawns to gives makes an exchange sacrifice easy.

32...Nf3+ 33.Ke2

• Although White would still win easily, the text is better than 33...Ne4 34.Be1 Rde8 35.Qf5 Nxg1 36.Kxg1.

33...Nxg1+ 34.Rxg1 Nh7 35.Rh1 1-0

• After 35...Rc8 36.Qe5+ Kg8 37.Qf5 White soon delivers mate.
• Topalov resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Mamedyarov - Carlsen, Rapid, Round 8

Magnus Carlsen
Photo: ChessBase.com


Shakhriyar Mamedyarov - Magnus Carlsen
Melody Amber Tournament, Rapid Competition, Round 8
Nice, 23 March 2008

East India Game: Queen's Indian Defense (Kasparov-Petrosian Opening)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3 Bb7 5.Nc3 d5 6.cxd5

• If 6.Bg5 Be7 then:
• 7.Bxf6 Bxf6 8.cxd5 exd5 then:
• 9.g3 0-0 10.Bg2 then:
• 10...c5 11.0-0 Na6 12.e3 Nc7 then:
• 13.Qb3 Rb8 14.Rfd1 Qe7 15.Rd2 Rfe8 16.h4 g6 17.Re1 c4 18.Qc2 b5 19.Rde2 Qd6 20.b4 a5 21.Rb1 axb4 22.axb4 Bc8 draw (Dokhoian-Brodsky, Soviet ChT, Nabereznye Chelny, 1988).
• If 13.Rc1 Qe7 14.Qd2 Rfd8 15.Rfe1 Rac8 16.h4 g6 17.Rcd1 Ne6 18.Qc1 Bg7 19.Qb1 Qf8 20.Qa2 Ba8 is equal (Pia Cramling-Hou Yifan, IT, Istanbul, 2008).
• If 12...Re8 13.Rc1 Rc8 14.h4 Nc7 15.Qd2 c4 16.b3 cxb3 17.Qb2 Ba6 18.Rfd1 Bc4 19.Nd2 Qd6 20.Nce4 dxe4 21.Rxc4 Nb5 22.Qxb3 Rxc4 23.Nxc4 Qd5 is equal (Bischoff-Rozenthalis, Bundesliga, Castrop Rauxel (Germany), 2001).
• If 10...Nd7 11.0-0 Re8 12.Rc1 Nf8 13.b4 Ne6 14.b5 Qd6 15.a4 a6 16.e3 axb5 17.axb5 gives Black the edge in space based on command of the a-file (Browne-Rubinetti, Buenos Aires, 1979).
• If gives Black the advantage in space (Riazantsev-Brodsky, Essent Op, Hoogeveen, 2002).
• If 7.Qa4+ c6 8.Bxf6 Bxf6 9.cxd5 exd5 10.g3 0-0 11.Bg2 then:
• 11...c5 12.Rd1 Qe7 13.0-0 Rd8 14.e3 Na6 15.Rfe1 Nc7 16.h4 Ne6 17.Nh2 h5 18.Qb3 Qd7 19.dxc5 Nxc5 20.Qc2 Qe6 gives Black the advantage in space (van Wely-Onischuk, Tilburg, 1997).
• If 11...Re8 12.0-0 then:
• 12...Na6 13.Rfd1 Nc7 14.Rac1 g6 15.e3 Bg7 16.b4 Qd6 17.Qb3 a5 18.bxa5 b5 19.a4 Rxa5 20.axb5 Nxb5 21.Bf1 Nxc3 22.Rxc3 Ba8 gives White a slight edge in space (Poluljahov-Sulkis, Areoflot Op, Moscow, 2002).
• If 12...Nd7 13.Rfd1 g6 14.Rac1 Bg7 15.e3 a5 16.Qc2 Qf6 17.Ne1 Qd6 18.Nd3 Ba6 19.Nf4 Bh6 is equal (Rabrenovic-Menghi, cyberspace, 2000).

6...Nxd5

• If 6...exd5 7.g3 Be7 then:
• If 8.Bg2 0-0 9.0-0 c5 10.Bf4 then:
• 10...Na6 11.Ne5 Nc7 12.dxc5 bxc5 13.Nc4 Rb8 14.Bxc7 Qxc7 15.Nxd5 Bxd5 16.Bxd5 Rfd8 17.e4 Nxe4 18.Qe2 Rxd5 19.Qxe4 Qd7 20.Rfe1 Bf6 21.Rac1 h5 22.h4 Bd4 23.Rc2 a5 24.Rce2 Rf5 draw (Browne-Ljubojevic, Brasilien, 1981).
• 10...Nc6 11.dxc5 bxc5 12.Ne5 Nd4 13.b4 Ne6 14.bxc5 Bxc5 15.Nd3 Bd4 16.Rb1 Ba6 17.Nb5 Bxb5 18.Rxb5 Ne4 19.Rb3 Qa5 20.Nb4 Rac8 gives Black the advantage in space(Gaprindashvili-Ioseliani, Candidates' semif m, Tbilisi, 1980).
• 8.Qa4+ c6 9.Bg2 0-0 10.0-0 Nbd7 11.Bf4 Nh5 12.Rad1 Nxf4 13.gxf4 Nf6 14.Ne5 Qd6 15.Kh1 Nh5 16.e3 f6 17.Nd3 g5 18.Ne2 Kh8 19.Ng3 Ng7 20.fxg5 fxg5 21.Ne5 gives White the advantage in space (Jussapow-Short, Ol, Dubai, 1986).

7.e3

• If 7.Qc2 Be7 then:
• 8.e4 Nxc3 9.bxc3 then:
• 9...c5 10.Bb5+ Bc6 11.Bd3 0-0 12.0-0 then:
• 12...Bb7 13.Bf4 Qc8 14.Qe2 Ba6 15.Rfd1 gives White the advantage in space (Jankovic-Tania, Op, Reykjavic, 2008).
• 12...Nd7 13.Bb2 b5 14.d5 exd5 15.exd5 Bxd5 16.Rad1 Bxf3 17.gxf3 Qc7 18.Bxh7+ Kh8 19.c4 Nf6 20.Be4 Rab8 gives White a comfortable advatage in space and an atrocious pawn structure (Yevseev-Lanin, Muni Ch, St. Petersburg, 2007).
• 9...0-0 10.Bd3 c5 11.0-0 then:
• 11...Qc8 12.Qe2 Ba6 13.Rd1 Bxd3 14.Rxd3 Nd7 15.e5 cxd4 16.cxd4 Qc4 17.Bg5 Bd8 18.Rad1 Qd5 19.h4 f6 20.exf6 Bxf6 21.Re3 h6 22.Bf4 Rae8 23.Bg3 Rf7 24.a4 Rfe7 25.Qc2 Qf5 26.Qb3 Qd5 27.Qc2 Qf5 28.Qc6 Qd5 draws by repetition (Radjobov-Leko, Sparkassen, Dortmund, 2003).
• 11...Qc7 12.Qe2 Nd7 13.Bb2 Rac8 then:
• 14.Rad1 Rfd8 15.Nd2 Qf4 16.e5 f5 17.exf6 Qxf6 18.Ne4 Qf7 19.Rfe1 cxd4 20.cxd4 Nf8 21.Qg4 Rd5 22.Rc1 Rxc1 draw (Cmilyte-Kunte, Op, Gibraltar, 2006).
• If 14.Nd2 Bg5 15.a4 Rfd8 16.Rfd1 Nf8 17.a5 Ng6 18.axb6 axb6 19.g3 Bf6
draw (Ruck-Z. Almasi, Hungarian Ch, Szekesfehervar, 2006).
• 8.Bd2 0-0 9.e4 Nxc3 10.Bxc3 Nd7 11.Rd1 then:
• 11...Qc8 12.Bd3 Rd8 13.0-0 c5 14.d5 c4 15.Be2 exd5 16.exd5 Bf6 17.Nd4 Bxd5 18.Nf5 Be6 19.Bxf6 Bxf5 20.Qxf5 Nxf6 21.Rxd8+ Qxd8 22.Bxc4 Qd4 23.b3 is equal (Miles-Polugaevsky, Biel, 1990).
• 7...Nxc3 then:
• 8.bxc3 Be7 9.e4 0-0 10.Bd3 c5 11.0-0 Qc7 12.Qe2 Nd7 13.Bb2 Rac8 14.Nd2 Bg5 15.a4 Rfd8 16.Rfd1 Nf8 17.a5 Ng6 18.axb6 axb6 19.g3 Bf6 draw (Ruck-Z, Almasi, Hungarian Ch, Szekesfehervar, 2006).
• 8.Qxc3 then:
• 8...h6 9.Bf4 Bd6 10.Bg3 Nd7 11.e3 0-0 12.Bb5 Bxg3 13.hxg3 c6 14.Ba4 Rc8 15.Rd1 Qe7 16.b4 Rfd8 17.0-0 Nf6 neither side is able to make much progress (Lobron-Portisch, Op, Cannes, 1992).
• 8...Nd7 9.Bg5 Be7 10.Bxe7 Kxe7 11.e3 Nf6 12.Be2 Qd6 13.0-0 draw (Tomoshenko-Tiviakov, Euro ChT, León, 2001).

7...g6 8.Bb5+ c6 9.Bd3 Bg7 10.Na4

• 10.0-0 0-0 11.Na4 Qc7 12.Bd2 Nd7 13.Rc1 Rad8 14.b4 e5 15.Qb3 N5f6 16.Bb1 Qb8 17.Rfd1 Rde8 18.Nc3 exd4 19.exd4 c5 20.bxc5 bxc5 21.d5 Bxd5 22.Qxb8 draw (Grischuk-Anand, Rapid m, Mainz, 2005).

10...Nd7

• 10...Qc7 11.0-0 Nd7 12.e4 Nf4 13.Bc2 0-0 14.Be3 Rad8 15.Nc3 c5 16.Qc1 Nh5 17.Rd1 cxd4 18.Nb5 Qb8 19.Bxd4 Ne5 20.Bxe5 Bxe5 21.Nxe5 Qxe5 22.Nc3 Nf6 is equal (Gelfand-Kramnik, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 2004).

11.e4 Ne7 12.0-0 0-0 13.Qe2!?

• 13.Bg5 h6 14.Be3 Kh7 15.Qb3 Qc7 16.Rad1 Rae8 17.Nc3 f5 18.Bb1 a6 19.Ne5 f4 20.Nxd7 Qxd7 21.Bc1 f3 22.gxf3 Rxf3 23.Qxb6 e5 24.Ne2 exd4 25.Rxd4 Bxd4 26.Nxd4 Nd5 27.exd5 Qg4+ 28.Kh1 Rxf2 29.Rg1 Rxh2+ 30.Kxh2 Qh4+ 31.Kg2 Qg4+ 32.Kh2 Qh4+ 33.Kg2 draws by repetition (Kozul-Grischuk, Euro Ch, Istanbul, 2003).

13...c5

• 13...e5 14.dxe5 Nxe5 15.Nxe5 Bxe5 16.f4 gives White a small advantage in space.

14.dxc5 Nxc5 15.Nxc5 bxc5 16.Bg5

• White has a small advantage in space.

16...h6 17.Bh4!?

• 17.Be3 c4 18.Bxc4 Bxe4 19.Rfd1 Qa5 gives White a considerable advantage in space.

17...g5 18.Bg3 Ng6 19.Rfd1

• After 19.Rac1 Qe7 20.b4 Rfc8 21.b5 Nf4 22.Bxf4 gxf4 the space count is approximately equal, but Black's pawn structure is destroyed,

BLACK: Magnus Carlsen
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
Position after 19.Rf1d1

19...g4!

• This move pushes White back.

20.Nd2?

• 20.Ne1 Qg5 21.Rac1 Rfc8 22.Bc4 Nf4 23.Qc2 Rd8 24.Qb3 is equal.

20...Qg5 21.Rac1 Rfd8 22.Nc4 Ba6 23.b3 h5

• If 23...Nf4 24.Bxf4 Qxf4 25.g3 Qf3 26.Qxf3 gxf3 27.Ne5 then:
• 27...Bxd3 28.Nxd3 Rab8 29.b4 cxb4 30.Nxb4 Rxd1+ 31.Rxd1 Rc8 Black will be able to push White back with the resource ...a5 and establish his Rook in White's half of the board.
• 27...Bxe5 28.Bxa6 Bb2 29.Rxd8+ Rxd8 30.Rxc5 Rd1+ 31.Bf1 Rd2 White's pawn plus is only temporary.

24.Ne5 Bxe5 25.Bxa6 h4 26.Bxe5 Nxe5

• Black has the advantage in space.

27.Kf1

• After 27.Rxc5 h3 28.Bd3 hxg2 29.Kxg2 Qf4Black maintains a small edge in space.

27...Qf4 28.Rxd8+ Rxd8 29.Qe3

• If 29.Rd1 Rxd1+ 30.Qxd1 h3 31.Qd8+ Kg7 then:
After
• 32.gxh3 gxh3 33.Be2 Qxh2 34.Qg5+ Ng6 Black is a pawn to the good.
• After 32.g3 Qc1+ 33.Ke2 Nf3 34.Qd1 Qxa3 35.Bd3 Qb2+ Black has an extra pawn.

BLACK: Magnus Carlsen
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
Position after 29.Qe2e3


29...Qxh2!!

• Black sacrifices the Rook with check.

30.Qg5+ Kh7 31.Qxd8 Qh1+ 32.Ke2 Qxc1

• Black has the Rook back with an extra pawn.

33.Qxh4+ Kg7 34.Qg3 Qc2+ 35.Ke1

• After 35.Ke3 Black holds the position by 35...Qxb3+ 36.Kf4 Qxg3+ 37.Kxg3 f5 38.Kf4 Kf6 and wins.

35...Qxe4+ 36.Be2

• If 36.Qe3 Qxe3+ 37.fxe3 g3 38.Kd2 Kf6 then:
• If 39.e4 Nc6 40.Kc3 Ke5 41.Kd3 Nd4 then:
• 42.b4 cxb4 43.axb4 Nf3! and if 44.gxf3 then 44...g2 wins immediately.
• 42.Bc4 Nf3 43.Ke3 Ne1 44.Bf1 Nc2+ wins another pawn.
• 39.Be2 Kf5 40.Ba6 f6 41.Ke2 Kg6 42.Bc8 Kf7 frustrates any ideas White had about winning back a pawn.

36...Qb1+ 37.Kd2 Qb2+ 38.Kd1 Qd4+ 39.Kc2

• If font color="red"]39.Ke1 f5 40.Qe3 f4 41.Qd2 Kg6 42.Qc2+ Kf6 43.Qd1 g3 and Black wins matter how White plays.
• 41.Qxd4 cxd4 42.g3 f3 43.Bb5 Nf7 44.Kd2 Nd6 45.Bc6 e5 Black will bring the King forward and push his center pawns to the goal.

39...f5 40.a4 a5 41.Qh4

• If 41.Qc3 Kg6 42.g3 Nc6 43.Qe3 e5 44.Bc4 Nb4+ 45.Kc1 f4 46.gxf4 Qxe3+ 47.fxe3 g3 gives White no time to take the pawn at e5 because the g-pawn is scoring a goal.
• White is being crushed after 44.Kc1 Qa1+ 45.Kd2 Nd4 46.Bd1 Qb2+ 47.Ke1 e4.

41...Ng6 42.Qg3 Kf6 43.Bd3 e5 44.f3 Qe3 0-1

• If 45.Bb5 Kg5 then:
• 46.Bd3 Nf4 47.Bxf5 Kxf5 48.fxg4+ Ke4 49.Qxe3+ Kxe3 leaves Black a piece to the good.
• After 46.Bc6 Qe2+ 47.Kc1 Nf4 48.Bb5 Qxg2 49.Qxg2 Nxg2 50.fxg4 Kxg4 Black escorts his passers home.
• Mamedyarov resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Morozevich - Anand, Blind, Round 5

Alexander Morozevich
Photo: ChessBase.com


Alexander Morozevich - Vishy Anand
Melody Amber Tournament, Blindfold Competition, Round 5
Nice, 20 March 2008

Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit: Meran Defense (Wade Variation)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5

• The Meran Defense was first initiated by the great Akiba Rubinstein at the international tournament in the Tyrolian town of Meran (then in Austria, now called Merano in Italy) in 1924 in a game against another innovator of openings, Ernst Grünfeld. Rubinstein won the game. Grünfeld played the defense in a later round and defeated Rudolf Spielmann.
• It is a very sharp opening and not for all tastes. Black has opportunities to gain time on White's pieces in order to gain space on the queenside.

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Bd3

• If 8.Be2 Bb7 9.0-0 then:
• 9...a6 10.e4 c5 11.e5 Nd5 12.a4 b4 13.Ne4 then:
• 13...cxd4 14.Bg5 Qa5 15.Qxd4 h6 16.Bd2 Qb6 17.Nd6+ Bxd6 18.exd6 Qxd4 19.Nxd4 Nc5 20.Bf3 Kd7 21.Bxd5 draw (Piket-Haba, Bundesliga, Germany, 2001).
• 13...Qc7 14.Re1 h6 15.a5 Be7 16.b3 0-0 17.Bb2 Rac8 18.Bc4 Rfd8 19.dxc5 Nxc5 20.Nd6 Bxd6 21.exd6 Qxd6 22.Qd4 Qf8 23.Qg4 Nc3! gives Black a comfortable advantage in space (Schuurman-Tisser, Op, Gibraltar, 2007).
• If 13...h6 14.Nfd2 Be7 15.Nc4 0-0 16.Ncd6 Bxd6 17.Nxd6 Bc6 then:
• 18.a5 cxd4 19.Qxd4 f6 20.f4 Qc7 21.Bd2 Qa7 22.Qxa7 Rxa7 23.Rfc1 Nb8 24.Rc4 fxe5 25.fxe5 Bb5 26.Nxb5 axb5 27.Rc5 Black resigns as he must lose at least a pawn (Piket-Brenninkmeijer, Groningen, 1991).
• 18.Qd3 Qh4 19.f4 cxd4 20.Bd2 N7b6 21.a5 Nc8 22.Qxd4 Nxd6 23.exd6 Rfb8 24.Rfc1 Bb7 25.Bf3 gives White a considerable advantage in space (Comas-Nadera, Ol, Instanbul, 2000).
• If 9...Be7 10.e4 b4 11.e5 bxc3 12.exf6 Bxf6 13.bxc3 then:
• 13...c5 14.dxc5 0-0 15.Ba3 Be7 16.Qd4 Qc7 17.Rab1 then:
• 17...Rab8 18.c6 Bxa3 19.cxd7 Bc5 20.Qd3 Be7 21.Rfd1 Rfd8 22.Qe3 Rxd7 23.Rxd7 Qxd7 24.Ba6 Qc8 25.Qf4 gives White the advantage in space (Volkov-Khalifman, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2007).
• 17...Bc6 18.Qe3 Bxf3 19.Bxf3 Rab8 20.c6 Bxa3 21.cxd7 Qxd7 22.c4 Qe7 23.Rb5 Rxb5 24.cxb5 Rd8 is equal (Brynell-Carlsen, Bausdal, 2005).
• If 13...0-0 14.Rb1 Qc7 15.Bf4 Qxf4 16.Rxb7 Nb6 17.g3 Qf5 18.Bd3 then:
• 18...Qd5 19.Qe2 c5 20.Be4 Qd6 21.Qa6 cxd4 22.Nxd4 g6 23.a4 Bxd4 24.a5 Nc8 25.Bc6 draw (Comas-González, Team Trmt, Barcelona, 2003).
• 18...Qa5 19.Qc2 draw (Lputian-Anand, FIDE Knock Out, New Delhi, 2000).
• 8.Bb3 b4 9.Ne2 Bb7 10.0-0 then:
• 10...Bd6 11.Nf4 0-0 12.Ng5 then:
• 12...Qe7 13.Nfxe6 fxe6 14.e4 h6 15.Nxe6 Nxe4 16.Qe2 c5 17.Nxc5+ Kh8 18.Nxb7 Rxf2 19.Qxf2 Nxf2 20.Nxd6 Qxd6 21.Rxf2 Qxd4 22.Bf4 Nf6 23.Rd1 Qc5 is unclear: space is about even, but Black holds a Queen against a Rook and a minor piece (Petrosian-Bagirov, Riga, 1975).
• If 12...Bxf4 13.exf4 c5 14.Be3 Qe7 15.Re1 h6 16.Nf3 then:
• 16...Rfd8 17.Rc1 Rac8 18.Qe2 Nd5 is equal (Yurtaev-Solovjov, Russian Cup, Samara, 2002).
• 16...Bd5 17.Rc1 Rfc8 18.dxc5 Nxc5 19.Bxd5 Nxd5 20.Bxc5 Rxc5 21.f5 then:
• 21...Nc7?! 22.Qd2 a5 23.f6 gxf6 24.Rxc5 Qxc5 25.Rc1 Qe7 26.Qxh6 gives White a tremendous advantage (Larsen-Jensen, Danish Ch, Aarhus, 1959).
• 21...Nf4 22.Rxc5 Qxc5 is equal.
• If 10...Be7 11.Nf4 0-0 12.Ng5 Qa5 then:
• 13.h4 c5 14.Re1 Rac8 15.Nfxe6!! fxe6 16.Bxe6+ Kh8 17.d5 c4 18.e4 Bc5 19.e5 Nxd5 20.Qh5 N5f6 21.exf6 Nxf6 22.Nf7+ Rxf7 23.Qxf7 was soon won by White (Tolush-Lilienthal, Soviet Ch, Leningrad, 1947).
• 13.Nxf7 Rxf7 14.Bxe6 Raf8 15.Qb3 Bd6 16.e4 Nxe4 17.Re1 Nef6 18.a3 Nd5 19.Nxd5 cxd5 20.Bd2 Qb6 21.Bxb4 Bxb4 22.Qxb4 draw (M. Littlejohn-Silva, Ol, Skopje, 1972).

8...Bb7

• Black is playing the variation developed by New Zealand master Bob Wade.
• If 8...a6 9.e4 c5 10.e5 cxd4 11.Nxb5 axb5 12.exf6 then:
• 12...gxf6 13.0-0 Qb6 14.Qe2 b4 15.Rd1 Bc5 16.Bf4 h5 17.Rac1 Kf8 18.Bb5 Ra5 19.Nxd4 e5 20.Bxd7 Bxd7 21.Nb3 Bg4 22.Qd2 exf4 23.Nxa5 Bxd1 24.Nc4 Bxf2+ 25.Qxf2 Qxf2+ 26.Kxf2 Bg4 Black has advantages in material and space, but that is tempered by his ugly pawn structure (Gómez-Korneev, Euro ChT, Fügen, 2006).
• 12...Qb6 13.fxg7 Bxg7 14.0-0 Bb7 15.Re1 0-0 16.Bf4 Bd5 17.Ne5 Nxe5 18.Bxe5 Bxe5 19.Rxe5 f5 20.Qe2 Rf7 21.Bxb5 Rxa2 22.Rxa2 Bxa2 23.h4 Qd6 draw (Ftacnik-Inkiov, Warsaw, 1987).

9.e4

• An alternative is the Reynolds Variation, 9.0-0 a6 10.e4 c5 11.d5.
• If 9.0-0 a6 10.e4 c5 11.d5 Qc7 12.dxe6 fxe6 13.Bc2 c4 then:
• 14.Qe2 Bd6 15.Ng5 Nc5 16.f4 h6 17.Nf3 Nd3 18.Bxd3 cxd3 19.Qxd3 0-0 20.Kh1 Rad8 21.Nd4 Bc5 22.Be3 Ng4 23.Nce2 Nxe3 24.Qxe3 Rxd4 25.Nxd4 Qb6 26.Rad1 Rd8 27.f5 Rxd4 28.Rxd4 Bxd4 29.Qb3 Bxe4 30.Qxe6+ Qxe6 31.fxe6 Bf6 32.Re1 Bg6 Black has stopped the pawn (Bareev-Shirov, Hastings, 1991).
• After 14.Nd4 Nc5 15.Be3 e5 16.Nf3 Be7 17.Ng5 0-0 18.Bxc5 Bxc5 19.Ne6 Qb6 20.Nxf8 Rxf8 21.Nd5 Nxd5 22.exd5 Bxf2+ Black's extra space more than compensates for his material deficit (Kasimdzhanov-Kasparov, IT, Linares, 2005).
• After 14.Ng5 Nc5 15.e5 Qxe5 16.Re1 Qd6 17.Qxd6 Bxd6 18.Be3 0-0 19.Rad1 Be7 20.Bxc5 Bxc5 21.Nxe6 Rfc8 22.h3 Rab8 23.Nxc5 Rxc5 24.Rd6 b4 25.Na4 Rd5 26.Rb6 Rb5 27.Rxb5 draw (Gelfand-Shirov, IT, Biel, 1995).

9...b4 10.Na4 c5 11.e5 Nd5 12.0-0

• 12.Nxc5 Nxc5 13.dxc5 Bxc5 14.0-0 h6 15.Nd2 0-0 16.Ne4 Bd4 17.Nd6 Bc6 18.Bh7+ Kxh7 19.Qxd4 f6 20.Bd2 Qd7 21.Rac1 a5 22.Qd3+ f5 23.Rc5 Ne7 24.Rfc1 gives White a tremendous advantage in space (Mamedyarov-Topalov, IT, Hoogeveen, 2006).

12...cxd4 13.Re1 g6 14.Bg5 Qa5 15.Nxd4

• If 15.Nd2 Ba6 16.Nc4 Bxc4 17.Bxc4 Bg7 then:
• 18.Qxd4! Qxa4 19.Bxd5 exd5 20.Qxd5 (Black has an extra Knight, but White has a tremendous space advantage) 20...Nb6 21.Qd6 Qd7 22.Qxb4 Bf8 23.Qh4 Bg7 24.Rad1 Qa4 25.Rd4 Qxa2 26.Be7 Qe6 27.Bb4 a5 28.Red1 f6 29.Bc5 Rb8? 30.Rd6 Qxe5 31.Rxb6 Rxb6 32.Qa4+ Kf7 33.Qd7+ Kg8 34.Qc8+ Kf7 35.Rd7+ Ke6 36.Rd8+ Black resigns facing mate in two (I. Rajlich-Muir, Fisrt Saturday, Budapest, 02.2006).
• 29...Rc8 30.exf6 Bxf6 31.Qe4 Rc6 32.Bxb6 Bxd4 33.Qxd4 0-0 is equal.
• 18.a3 Nxe5 19.axb4 Nxb4 20.Nc3 Qb6 21.Qa4+ Kf8 22.Bb5 Nbd3 23.Bxd3 Nxd3 leaves Black up by two pawns (Kuligowski-Matlak, Polish ch, Wroslaw, 1987).

15...a6 16.Bd2!?

• If 16.Rc1 Bg7 17.Nc6 Bxc6 18.Rxc6 0-0 19.Bc4 h6 20.Bxd5 Qxd5 21.Qxd5 exd5 22.Bf6 Nxe5 23.Bxe5 Rae8 24.f4 f6 25.Nb6 fxe5 26.Nxd5 exf4 27.Rxe8 Rxe8 28.Rxg6 Kh7 29.Rxa6 Re2 30.Kf1 Rxb2 31.Nxf4 draw (Piket-Kramnik, Euwe Mem, Amsterdam, 1993).
• 16.a3 bxa3 17.bxa3 Bg7 18.Bd2 Qd8 19.Rb1 Rb8 20.Rxb7 Rxb7 21.Bxa6 Rc7 22.Ba5 0-0 23.Nc6 Qa8 24.Ne7+ Nxe7 25.Bxc7 Nd5 gives White the advantage in space and an extra pawn.(Bruzón-Domínguez, YM, Cuernavaca (Mexico), 2006).

16...Qd8 17.Rc1 Bg7 18.Be4

• 18.Nc5 Nxc5 19.Rxc5 0-0 20.Qg4 Qb6 21.Rc2 Rac8 22.Bc4 White has more space.

18...Bxe5 19.Nf3

• The position is equal.
• 19.Nc6 Bxc6 20.Rxc6 0-0 21.Bxd5 exd5 22.Bxb4 gives White a huge advantage in space.

19...Bd6

• White's tactical threats in the center make it difficult for Black to do anything aggressive.
• White is threatening 20.Bxb4 Nxb4 21.Bxb7 Rb8 22.Nxe5 Nxe5 23.Qxd8+ Kxd8 24.Red1+ Ke8 25.Rc7 yielding a Rook on the seventh and command of two file and an open diagonal.

20.Bh6 N7f6

• 20...Be7 21.Re2 Rc8 22.Rxc8 Qxc8 23.Bg7 Rg8 24.Rc2 Qb8 25.Bd4 gives White a considerable lead in space.

BLACK: Vishy Anand
!""""""""#
$t+ Wl+ T%
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$o+ VoMoB%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Alexander Morozevich
Position after 20...Nd7f6

21.Qd4!

• The White Queen springs to life. Suddently, White has a dominating position.

21...Rg8 22.Bg5 Be7

• White's tactical possibilities limit Black to passivity.
• 22...Bf4 23.Bxf4 Nxf4 24.Bxb7 Qxd4 25.Nxd4 White is a piece to the good.

23.Nc5 Nxe4?

• If 23...Rb8 24.Bxf6 Bxf6 25.Qd3 then:
• 25...Kf8 26.Nxb7 Rxb7 27.Qxa6 Rb6 then:
• 28.Qe2 Kg7 29.Red1 Rd6 is equal.
• 28.Qa7 Qb8 29.Qxb8+ Rxb8 30.Bxd5 exd5 31.Ne5 Ra8 32.Nd3 Rxa2 33.Nxb4 Rxb2 34.Nxd5 Bd4 is equal.
• 25...Bxb2 26.Nxb7 Rxb7 27.Bxd5 Bxc1 28.Bc6+ Ke7 29.Qxd8+ Rxd8 30.Bxb7 gives White a piece for two pawns.

24.Qxe4 Rb8

• White has a strong attack after 24...Bxg5 25.Nxb7 Qb6 26.Nxg5 Qxb7 27.Nxe6 fxe6 28.Qxe6+ Kf8 29.Red1,.

BLACK: Vishy Anand
!""""""""#
$ T Wl+t+%
$+v+ Vo+o%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Alexander Morozevich
Position after 24.Ra8b8

25.Nxe6!!

• This sacrifice sweeps away Black's center pawns, leaving the King exposed.
• If 25.Nxb7 Rxb7 26.Bxe7 Rxe7 27.Rc6 Ra7 then:
• 28.Rd1 Kf8 29.Ng5 Qxg5! 30.Rc8+ Kg7 31.Qd4+ Qf6 32.Rxg8+ Kxg8 33.Qxa7 Qxb2 34.Qxa6 gives White a theoretical material edge while Black has more space.
• 28...Rd7 29.Rxa6 then:
• 29...Qc8 30.Qe2 Rg7 31.Qe5 Kf8 32.Rd6 Rxd6 33.Qxd6+ Kg8 34.Nd4 gives White a strong initiative.
• After 29...Rd7 30.Qe5 h6 31.Ne4 Nf6 32.Nd6 a5 White has more pressure, but Black's solid position and extra pawn can withstand it.

25...fxe6 26.Qxe6 Rf8 27.Rcd1!

• White wins back materrial.

27...Rf7

• 27...Qc7 28.Rxd5 Bxd5 29.Qxe7+ Qxe7 30.Rxe7+ Kd8 31.Re5+ nets White an extra Rook.

28.Ne5 Rg7 29.Bh6 1-0

• 29...Qc8 30.Qxc8+ Rxc8 31.Bxg7 nets the exchange and a pawn.
• Anand-Ji resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

2. From the Foxwoods Open

Diagrams on the Jack Rabbit Chess Report are made with Chess Mérida, a true type font that can be downlaoded free here.
BLACK
!""""""""#
$tMvWlVmT%
$OoOoOoOo%
$ + + + +%
$+ + + + %
$ + + + +%
$+ + + + %
$pPpPpPpP%
$RnBqKbNr%
/(((((((()
WHITE
White to move
(This position is a theoretical draw)

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Shulman - Sadvakasov, Round 8

Yury Shulman
Photo: Brooklyn College Chess Club


Yury Shulman - Darmen Sadvakasov
Foxwoods Open, Round 8
Mashantucket, Connecticut, 23 March 2008

East India Game: Queen's Indian Defense

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Be7 6.Nc3 Ne4

• If 6...d5 7.0-0 0-0 then:
• 8.cxd5 exd5 9.Re1 c5 10.Bf4 then:
• 10...Na6 11.Rc1 then:
• 11...Ne4 12.a3 Bf6 13.Be5 Re8 14.e3 cxd4 15.Bxf6 Qxf6 16.exd4 Rac8 17.Nxe4 dxe4 18.Rxc8 Rxc8 19.Ne5 Qf5 gives Black the advantage in space (Speelman-D. King, Simpson's Divan, London, 2003).
• 11...Re8 12.dxc5 bxc5 13.Qb3 Qb6 14.Ne5 Qxb3 15.axb3 Nb4 16.Na4 a5 17.Nxc5 Bxc5 18.Rxc5 g5 19.Bxg5 Ne4 20.Nd7 Nxc5 21.Nxc5 Ba6 22.Nxa6 Rxa6 23.Bf3 Rc6 gives Black the advantage in space(Kunte-Negi, IT, New Dehli, 2006).
• 10...Nbd7 11.dxc5 Nxc5 12.Rc1 Nfe4 13.Nb5 Bf6 14.b4 Ne6 15.Be3 a5 16.a3 axb4 17.axb4 Ra2 18.Nfd4 Nxd4 19.Nxd4 Rb2 20.b5 Qd7 gives Black the advantage in space (Stefanova-Werle, Corus B, Wijk aan Zee, 2002).
• If 8.Ne5 c6 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.Bf4 then:
• 10...a6 11.Rc1 b5 12.Qb3 Nc6 13.Nxc6 Bxc6 14.h3 Qd7 15.Kh2 Nh5 16.Bd2 is equal (Sämisch-Nimzovich, IT, Copenhagen, 1923).
• If 10...Nbd7 11.Qa4 Nxe5 12.Bxe5 a6 13.Rfc1 Rc8 then:
• 14.Qb3 Nd7 15.Bf4 b5 16.e4 dxe4 17.a4 Nf6 18.axb5 axb5 19.Nxb5 Bd5 20.Rxc8 Qxc8 21.Qc3 Qb7 22.Ra7 Qxb5 23.Rxe7 e3 24.f3 Ba8 (White has the advantage in space, but the powerful threat of 25...Nd5 gives Black a strong initiative) 25.Ra7 Nd5! 26.Qa5 Qxa5 27.Rxa5 Nxf4 28.gxf4 g6 White still has more space, but Black can easily bring his Rook into play and threaten White's back rank (Gdanski-Riazantsev,. Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).
• 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.e3 Rc6 16.Bf1 b5 17.Qb3 Qa5 18.a3 Rfc8 19.Na2 Be7 20.Qd1 g6 21.Rxc6 Rxc6 22.Rc1 Qb6 23.Rxc6 Qxc6 24.Qd2 e5 25.Nb4 Bxb4 26.Qxb4 e4 27.Bh3 Bc8 28.Bxc8 Qc1+ 29.Kg2 Qxc8 30.Qd6 Qg4 31.Qxa6 Qf3+ 32.Kg1 Qd1+ draws by perpetual check (Nikolic-Mecking, Sãn Paulo, 1991).

7.Bd2 Bf6 8.Qc2

• 8.0-0 0-0 9.Rc1 c5 10.d5 exd5 11.cxd5 Nxd2 12.Nxd2 d6 13.Nde4 Be5 14.Qd2 Ba6 15.Rfe1 g6 16.f4 Bd4+ 17.e3 Bg7 18.Bf1 Re8 19.Bxa6 Nxa6 20.Qd3 Nc7 21.Nd2 Qd7 22.Nf3 b5 23.b3 f5 24.e4 b4 25.Nd1 fxe4 26.Rxe4 Rxe4 27.Qxe4 Re8 28.Qd3 Qf5 29.Qxf5 gxf5 gives Black the pawn at d5 (Nauman-Oral, Czech ChU20, Prague, 1997).

8...Nxd2 9.Qxd2 d6 10.d5 0-0 11.0-0 e5

• 11...Bxc3 12.Qxc3 exd5 13.Nh4 d4 14.Qxd4 Bxg2 15.Nxg2 Nc6 16.Qc3 a5 17.Nf4 Re8 18.Rfe1 Qd7 19.Rad1 Re5 20.Rd5 draw (Jussupow-Makarichev, Soviet Ch, Vilnius, 1980).

12.Ne1!?

• 12.e4 Nd7 13.b4 g6 14.Bh3 Qe7 15.a3 Rfb8 16.Qc2 h5 17.Rfd1 a5 18.Nd2 Bg5 19.Nb3 axb4 20.axb4 Nf6 21.Bf1 gives White a small advantage in space (Karpov-Salov, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1988).

12...Nd7


• If 12...Bg5 13.e3 Nd7 14.Nd3 then:
• 14...f5 15.f4 Bf6 16.fxe5 Nxe5 17.Nxe5 Bxe5 is equal.
• 14...Re8 15.f4 exf4 16.exf4 Bf6 17.Rae1 Nc5 18.Nf2 gives White a small advantage in space.

13.Nc2 a5


• 13...Bg5 14.e3 Re8 15.Nb4 Nf6 16.Nc6 Qd7 17.f4 exf4 18.exf4 Bh6 19.h3 is equal.

14.f4 exf4 15.gxf4 Ba6 16.b3


• White has a small advantage in space.

16...Bxc3 17.Qxc3 f5


• After 17...a4 18.b4 Qe7 19.e4 Rae8 20.Nd4 Qh4 21.Rae1 Qg4 White has a larger advantage in space than before thanks to his forward pawns.

18.Nd4 Qf6 19.e3 Rae8


• 19...Nc5 20.Qe1 Rae8 21.Qg3 Bc8 22.Qf3 Qh6 23.Rae1 Ne4 is equal.

20.Rf3 Nc5 21.Rg3 Bc8


• 21...Ne4 22.Bxe4 Rxe4 23.Rc1 g6 24.Ne6 Rxe6 25.dxe6 Qxe6 26.h4 gives White an advantage in both material and space..

22.Kh1 Bd7 23.Rg1 Re7


• 23...Rf7 24.a3 a4 25.b4 Ne4 26.Bxe4 Rxe4 27.c5 White still has the advantage in space..

24.Qd2 g6 25.Rb1!?


• 25.a3 a4 26.b4 Ne4 27.Bxe4 Rxe4 28.Qd3 Rfe8 29.Rh3 gives White the advatage in space.

25...Rg7


• 25...Ne4 26.Bxe4 Rxe4 27.Nb5 Bxb5 28.cxb5 Rfe8 29.Rc1 Qe7 30.Kg1 Rxe3 31.Rxe3 Qxe3+ 32.Qxe3 Rxe3 33.Rxc7 is equal.

26.a3
BLACK: Darmen Sadvakasov
!""""""""#
$ + + Tl+%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Yury Shulman
Position after 26.a2a3

26...a4?


• Black's problems stem from this attempt to gain a passed pawn which proves to be a dreadful weakling.
• 26...Re7 27.b4 axb4 28.axb4 Ne4 29.Bxe4 Rxe4 remains equal.

27.b4 Nb3


• If 27...Nb7 28.Qc2 Re8 29.Nc6 then:
• 29...Ra8 30.Qa2 Nd8 31.Nd4 Nb7 32.Rg1 Re7 33.Qa1 gives White the advantage in space.
• 29...Bxc6 30.dxc6 Nd8 31.Qxa4 Rge7 32.Qb3 Ne6 33.Bd5 gives White the spatial advantage and a pin at e6.

28.Nxb3 axb3 29.Qb2


• White thinks that the Queen at f6 affords Black opportunities for counterplay, and offers an exchange.
• 29.b5 Re8 30.Kg1 Rge7 31.Rxb3 Qa1+ 32.Kf2 Qf6 33.Rg5 h6 34.Rg3 leaves White a pawn up.

29...Qxb2


• 29...Ba4 30.Qxf6 Rxf6 31.Rb2 Rf8 32.Kg1 Re7 33.Kf2 White maintains the advantage in space.

30.Rxb2 Ba4 31.Kg1 h6


• 31...Re8 32.Kf2 Rge7 33.Ke2 Kf7 34.Kd3 h6 35.Kd4 White increases his advantage in space.

BLACK: Darmen Sadvakasov
!""""""""#
$ + + Tl+%
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WHITE: Yury Shulman
Position after 31...h7h6

32.h4!


• White moves to restrain Black's counterplay.

32...Re8 33.Kf2 Kf7 34.b5!


• The Bishop is entombed.

34...Kf6 35.Ke2


• If 35.Bf3 Rge7 36.Rb1 then:
If
• 36...Rxe3 37.Rbg1 g5 38.hxg5+ hxg5 39.Rxg5 Rc3 then:
• If 40.Bh5! Rc2+! 41.Kf3 Rc3+ 42.Kf2 Rc2+ draws by repetition.
• 40...Rxc4? 41.Rg6+ Ke7 42.Re6+ White wins a Rook.
• 40.Rg6+? Ke7 41.Re6+ Kd8 42.Rxe8+ Kxe8 43.Be2 b2 gives Black a winning advantage.
• 36...Rg7? 37.Ke2 Rge7 38.Bh1 Rg8 39.Kd3 g5 40.hxg5+ hxg5 41.fxg5+ Rxg5 42.Rxg5 Kxg5 43.Bf3 gives White much better mobility.

35...Rge7 36.Kd3 g5

• 36...Rg8 37.Bf3 Rge8 38.Bd1 Re4 39.Bxb3 Bxb3 40.Rxb3 Ra8 41.Rc3 leaves White a pawn to the good.


• 36...Kf7 37.Bh1 Kf6 38.Rbg2 Rg8 39.Kc3 Reg7 40.Kb4 Ra8 41.Rg1 gives White a much more active position.

37.hxg5+ hxg5 38.fxg5+ Kg6

• 38...Ke5? 39.Bh3 Rf8 40.g6 Rg7 41.Rg5 Kf6 42.Rxf5+ gives White an overwhelming position and an extra pawn.

BLACK: Darmen Sadvakasov
!""""""""#
$ + +t+ +%
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$Po+kP R %
$ R + +b+%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Yury Shulman
Position after 38...Kf6g6

39.Kc3!

• White's King is headed for b4, where he will tie up a Black Rook to the defense of the immoble Bishop.

39...Ra8 40.Kb4 Rh7 41.Bf1 Rh1 42.Rf3

• White defends the Bishop and put pressure in Black's f-pawn.

42...Rh5 43.Bd3 Rxg5 44.Rf1 Rg3

• 44...Kf6 45.Rbf2 Ke7 46.Bxf5 Rg7 47.Bg6 Ra5 48.Rf8 b2 49.R8f6 leaves White a pawn to the good.

45.Bxf5+

• White is now a pawn to the good.

45...Kg5 46.Bb1 Rg4 47.Rh2 Ra5

• 47...b2? proves to be an unsatisfactory way to liberate the Bishop after 48.Rf5+ Kg6 49.Rf8+.
• The path is clear for White to make an assualt on the King.

48.Rf5+ Kg6 49.Rfh5+ Kf7 50.Rh7+ Rg7 51.Rxg7+ Kxg7 52.Rh7+ Kf6 53.Rxc7 1-0

• After 53...b2 54.Rc6 Bd1 55.Rxd6+ Ke7 56.Rxb6 White's pawns march down the yellow brick road/
• Sadvakasov resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. From the Women Masters' in Istanbul

Diagrams on the Jack Rabbit Chess Report are made with Chess Mérida, a true type font that can be downlaoded free here.
BLACK
!""""""""#
$tMvWlVmT%
$OoOoOoOo%
$ + + + +%
$+ + + + %
$ + + + +%
$+ + + + %
$pPpPpPpP%
$RnBqKbNr%
/(((((((()
WHITE
White to move
(This position is a theoretical draw)

[Jack Rabbit]

4. E. Alalik- Hou Yifan, Round 8

This is the game with which 14-year-old Hou Yifan won the Women Masters' Tournament.



Hou Yifan receiving her first-place trophy from Turkish Sports Minister Murat Basesgioglu
Photo: Official website of the 2008 Isbank Ataturk Women Masters' Tournament (Turkey)


Ekaterina Atalik - Hou Yifan
Isbank Ataturk Women Masters' Tournament, Round 8
Istanbul, 18 March 2008

King's Engtlish Game: Four Knights' Opening

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3

• If 4.e3 then:
• 4...Bb4 5.Qc2 0-0 6.Nd5 Re8 7.Qf5 d6 8.Nxf6+ gxf6 9.Qh5 d5 10.Bd3 e4 11.cxd5 exd3 12.dxc6 bxc6 13.b3 Bf8 14.Bb2 Re4 15.Rc1 Bg4 16.Qa5 gives White plenty of weak pawns to attack (Tirabassi-Barten, corr, 1999).
• 4...Be7 5.d4 exd4 6.Nxd4 0-0 7.Be2 d5 8.cxd5 Nb4 9.0-0 Nbxd5 10.Nxd5 Qxd5 11.Nb5 Qe5 12.Bd2 Ne4 13.Be1 c6 14.Qd4 Qxd4 15.Nxd4 Bf6 16.Rd1 Rd8 17.f3 is balanced (Seirawan-Nunn, Hastings, 1979).
• If 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 then:
• 5...Bb4 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bh4 Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 Ne5 9.f4 Ng6 then:
• 10.Bxf6 Qxf6 11.g3 0-0 12.Bg2 d6 13.0-0 a6 14.Qd2 Re8 15.Rab1 gives White a small advantage in space, but his queenside pawns are week (Pachman-Simic, Baden-Baden, 1987).
• 10.b3 Bb7 11.Bb2 Qe7 12.e4 d6 13.Qc2 a6 14.Rae1 Qe6 15.Ne2 Ng4 16.Nd4 Bxd4 17.Bxd4 c5 18.Bc3 Qg6 19.Re2 Re7 20.Rfe1 Rbe8 21.f3 Ne5 22.Qd2 is equal (Reti-Janowski, Semmering, 1926).
• 5...Bc5 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.g3 then:
• 7...0-0 8.Bg2 Re8 9.0-0 Rb8 10.Qc2 Bf8 11.b3 g6 12.Bb2 Bg7 13.Rad1 Qe7 14.e4 d6 15.Rfe1 Bb7 16.f4 gives White a substantial lead in space (Bu Xiangzhi-Jakovenko, Team m, Moscow, 2007).
• 7...d5 8.Bg2 Be6 9.0-0 0-0 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.Bg5 c6 12.Rc1 Be7 13.Na4 Rc8 is equal (Rejfer-Kupka, Czech Ch, Ostrava, 1960).
• 4.d3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.e4 Nb6 7.Be2 Be7 then:
• 8.0-0 0-0 9.a4 then:
• 9...Be6 10.Be3 Nd7 11.d4 exd4 12.Nxd4 Nxd4 13.Qxd4 White has the advantage in space (Carlsen-Topalov, IT, Morelia-Linares, 2008).
• 9...a5 10.Be3 f5 11.Rc1 f4 12.Bd2 Bb4 13.Nb5 Bxd2 14.Nxd2 Kh8 is equal (Agdestein-Ivanchuk, Tilburg, 1993).
• 8.a4 Bg4 9.0-0 0-0 10.Be3 Bxf3 11.Bxf3 Nd7 12.Nd5 Nf6 13.Qb3 Nxd5 14.exd5 Nd4 15.Bxd4 exd4 16.Qxb7 Bd6 17.a5 gives White an extra pawn and an advantage in space, but with the usual drawbacks of the poisoned pawn (Jobava-Rukhaia, Op, Batumi, 2003).

4...d5

• If 4...Be7 5.Bg2 d6 then:
• 6.d4 0-0 7.0-0 then:
• 7...Bg4 8.d5 Nb8 9.h3 Bh5 10.g4 Bg6 11.Nh4 Nfd7 12.Nxg6 hxg6 13.e3 g5 14.Rb1 a5 15.a3 Na6 16.b4 g6 17.Ne4 gives White the advantage in space (Morovic-Sellos, Skien, 1979).
• 7...Re8 8.d5 Nb8 9.Ne1 Bf8 10.e4 Nfd7 11.Be3 a5 12.a3 Na6 13.b4 b6 14.Nd3 Bb7 15.Qb3 Rb8 16.Rfc1 gives White a considerable advantage in space (Bisguier-F. Benko, Argentine ChT, Buenos Aires, 1955).
• 6.d3 0-0 7.0-0 Bd7 8.h3 h6 9.Kh2 Nh7 10.Ng1 f5 11.f4 Nf6 12.Nd5 Rc8 13.Bd2 Qe8 14.e3 Nd8 15.Bc3 c6 16.Nxe7+ Qxe7 17.fxe5 dxe5 18.Nf3 e4 19.Ne5 gives White the advantage in space (Carls-Torre, Baden Baden, 1925).

5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Bg2 Nb6 7.0-0 Be7 8.a3

• If 8.d3 0-0 then:
• If 9.a3 Be6 10.b4 a5 11.b5 Nd4 12.Nd2 c6 13.bxc6 Nxc6 14.Rb1 a4 (Black has the advantage in space) 15.Bxc6! (White exchanges) 15...bxc6 16.Qc2 Qc7 17.Bb2 then:
• 17...Rfc8?! 18.Nce4! c5 19.Bxe5 Qxe5 20.Rxb6 c4 21.dxc4 Bxa3 22.Rfb1 White has an extra pawn (Navara-Timoshchenko, Prague, 2004).
• After 17...f5! 18.f4 exf4 19.Rxf4 Bd6 Black still has the advantage.
• 9.Be3 Be6 10.a3 a5 (again, Black has the advantage in space and White has opportunities to fight back) 11.Na4! Nd5 12.Bc5! Bd6 13.Rc1 h6 14.d4 e4 15.Ne5! (Black cannot avoid exchanges) 15...f5 16.Nxc6 bxc6 17.Bxd6 Qxd6 18.Qc2 Nf6 19.e3 Bd5 20.Qd2 g5 21.Nc3 Rf7 22.f4 exf3 23.Bxf3 Qe6 24.Nxd5 cxd5 25.Rc5 c6 is equal (Quinteros-Dzindzichashvili, New York, 1983).

8...0-0 9.d3 Be6 10.b4 f6 11.Be3

• If 11.Rb1 Nd4 12.Nd2 c6 13.Nde4 Rf7 14.Bd2 then:
• 14...Rb8 15.a4 Nd5 16.e3 Nf5 17.Nc5 Bxc5 18.bxc5 Nxc3 19.Bxc3 Rd7 20.Qc2 Qe7 21.Ba1 Rbd8 22.Rfd1 h5 gives Black the advantage in space (Ljubojevic-Ivanchuk, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 2002).
• 14...Nd5 15.e3 Nxc3 16.Nxc3 Nf5 17.Qc2 Bf8 18.Rfd1 a5 19.Na4 axb4 20.Bxb4 Kh8 21.Bxf8 Qxf8 22.Nc5! Bc8 23.a4 gives White the spatial advantage (Aronian-Karjakin, Amber Rapid, Nice, 2008).

11...a5!?

• 11...Qe8 12.Bxb6 axb6 13.d4 then:
• 13...exd4?! 14.Nxd4 Bc4 15.Nd5 Qf7 16.Nxc6 bxc6 17.Nxe7+ Qxe7 18.Bxc6 Rad8 19.Qc1 b5 20.Bf3 c5 21.bxc5 Qxc5 22.Qc3 Qf5 23.Rfd1 Qe5 then:
• 24.Rdc1?? Rd1+ White resigns in the face of serious material loss (Vaganian-Psakhis, Yerevan, 1982).
• 24.Qa5 Rc8 25.e3 Rf7 26.Rd4 gives White a fine game.
• 13...Rd8 14.d5 Bf7 15.e4 is equal.

12.b5!?

• This move is a little risky. Black has a small advantage in space and this will do nothing to relieve that situation immediately.
• 12.Bxb6 axb4 13.axb4 Bxb4 14.Rxa8 Qxa8 15.Bxc7 Bxc3 16.Qc1 Rc8 leaves Black with a more respectable advantage in space.

12...Nd4!

• The exchange of Knights actually increases Black's spatial advantage.
• After 12...Na7 13.Bxb6 cxb6 14.Qd2 Rc8 15.Rfc1 Qd7 16.Qb2 Rc5 17.a4 f5 Black continues to enjoy the advantage.

13.Bxd4 exd4 14.Na4 Qd7 15.Nxb6 cxb6 16.Qa4 Bc5

• The space count is 10-6 in Black's favor.

17.Nd2

• 17.Rac1 Rfe8 18.Rc2 Qd6 19.Ra1 Bg4 Black continues to lead in space.

17...Rad8 18.Rfc1 Rfe8 19.Nb3!

• White's Knight maneuver has done a great deal for her position. The spact count is approximately even.

19...Bf8 20.Bf3 Bf7 21.Nd2

• White has taken the initiative.

21...f5 22.Nc4 Re6 23.Qd1?

• It is not clear what White expects to gain from this pawn sacrifice.
• 23.Ra2 Be7 24.Rcc2 Re8 25.Ra1 Bg5 26.Rd1 Rd8 is equal.

23...Qxb5 24.Bxb7 Qd7 25.Bf3

• White wasted no time getting her pawn back. The space count is 9-9 and Black's queenside pawn majority is healthier than before.

BLACK: Ekaterina Atalik
!""""""""#
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$ O +t+ +%
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$ +nO + +%
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$ + +pP P%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Yifan Hou
Position after 25.Bb7f3

25...a4!

• Black is in no hurry to move in for the kill. Instead, she restrains White's position in order to deprive her opponent of counterplay later.

26.Qc2 Bc5 27.Nb2

• After 27.Qb2 Qe7 28.Kg2 f4 29.Rc2 fxg3 30.hxg3 Be8 31.Qa2 Kh8 Black haas more freedom and mobility.

27...Be8 28.Qc4 Bf8

• If 28...Be7 29.h3 b5 then:
• After 30.Qc7 Qxc7 31.Rxc7 Kf7 32.Rb7 Kf6 33.Nd1 g5 White finds it difficult to advance any of her pawns.
• After 30.Qa2 Bf7 31.Qb1 Rf6 32.Qc2 f4 33.g4 Bd5 Black's mobility is a big advantage.

29.Qa6 b5 30.Qa5

• 30...Qxb7 loses quickly to 31.Bxb7 Rxe2 32.Rcb1 g5 leaving Black a pawn to the good and White under restraint.

30...Qd6 31.Nd1

• If 31.Qa7 Re5 32.Rc2 Qf6 33.Qc7 Bd6 34.Qa7 f4 then:
• After 35.Nd1 fxg3 36.hxg3 Bg6 37.Qb6 Qe7 White's a-pawn is doomed.
• Black has a won position after 35.Qxd4 fxg3 36.Bd5+ Rxd5 37.Qxd5+ Bf7 38.Qf3 gxh2+ 39.Kg2 Qg5+.

31...g6 32.Rc7

• More stubborn resistance stems from 32.Qd2 Bg7 33.Qb2 f4 34.Rcb1 fxg3 35.hxg3 Re5.

32...Qb6 33.Qxb6 Rxb6 34.e3 Rbd6

• 34...b4 35.axb4 Rxb4 36.Kg2 h6 37.h3 Bg7 38.Ra3 Rb3 Black will either advance his pawn with an exchange of Rooks or play 39.Ra2 losing a pawn to 39...dxe3 40.Nxe3 Rxd3.

35.e4

• If 35.Be2 R6d7 36.Rxd7 Rxd7 37.Kf1 then:
• 37...Rc7 38.exd4 Bg7 39.Bf3 Bxd4 40.Bd5+ Kg7 41.Ra2 Rc5 gives Black the more active position.
• After 37...Bf7 38.exd4 Rxd4 39.f4 b4 40.axb4 Rxb4 41.Bf3 Bg7 Black has command of open lanes and a menacing passed pawn.

35...Rc6

• Also good is 35...fxe4 36.Bxe4 R6d7 37.Rcc1 Ra7 when:
• 38.Nb2 b4 39.axb4 Bxb4 40.Nc4 Kg7 41.f4 Rc8 has White's defense against the passed pawn in knots.
• 38.Rcb1 b4 39.axb4 Rb8 40.f4 a3 41.Bd5+ Kg7 42.Nf2 Rb5 results in exchanges that will benefit Black and the advance of the a-pawn.

36.Rxc6 Bxc6 37.Bg2 Bd7

• 37...fxe4 38.Bxe4 Bxe4 39.dxe4 Re8 40.f3 Rc8 gives Black a central passer to go with her queenside majority.

38.e5 Rc8 39.Bd5+

• 39.f4 Be7 40.h3 Rc2 41.Kf1 h6 42.Bd5+ Kf8 Black's pieces are all over the board, while White's are tied to defense of weakl pawns.

39...Kg7 40.f4 Rc5 41.Bb7 Kf7 42.h4 h6

• 42...Ke6 43.Kf1 Rc2 44.Ba6 Rd2 45.Nf2 Rb2 may be slightly better.

43.Bf3 Ke6 44.g4 Be7 45.g5

• 45.gxf5+ Kxf5 46.Be4+ Kxf4 47.Bxg6 Bxh4 gets White nowhere.

45...hxg5 46.hxg5 Rc2 47.Nf2

• No better is 47.Bb7 Rd2 48.Nf2 Rb2 49.Kg2 Rb3.

47...Rc3!

• The pawn at a3 must fall.

48.Kg2

• After 48.Rb1 Bxa3 49.Kg2 Bc1 50.Kg3 a3 51.Nd1 Rc2 Black has an easy win.

48...Bxa3 49.Rh1 Be8 50.Rh8

• After 50.Bb7 Bc1 51.Rh8 Bd7 52.Kg3 Rc2 53.Nh3 Rd2 White still loses.

50...Kd7 51.Bd5 Rc8

• After 51...b4 52.Rh7+ Kd8 53.Rb7 b3 54.Rb8+ Rc8 55.Rxc8+ Kxc8 the b-pawn marches on.

52.Nh1 Be7 53.Ng3 Rc5 54.Bg8

• If 54.e6+ Kd6 then:
• After 55.Bb7 Bc6+ 56.Bxc6 Rxc6 57.Rg8 a3 58.Rxg6 a2Black wins.
• 55.Rxe8 Rxd5 56.Rg8 a3 57.Ne2 b4 58.Nc1 Ra5 59.Nb3 a2 60.Na1 Ra3 the blockading pawn at d3 falls.

54...b4 55.Nxf5

• Desparation.
• After 55.Ne2 Rc2 56.Kf3 Bc5 57.Bc4 Rxc4! 58.dxc4 b3 the queenside pawns cannot be stopped.

55...gxf5 56.Bh7

• White is hoping to mobilize her pawns after 57.Bxf5.

BLACK: Ekaterina Atalik
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Yifan Hou
Position after 56.Bg8h7

56...Bxg5!!

• Black simply returns the piece sacrificed by White on her 55th move, winning a pawn and breaking up the kingside.

57.Bxf5+

• Black wins after 57.fxg5 Rxe5 58.Kf3 b3.

57...Ke7 58.Kg3 b3 59.fxg5 b2 60.Rh7+ Kd8 61.Rb7 Rb5 0=1

• The pawn can't be stopped.
• Mrs. Atalik resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Pia Cramling - Dronavalli, Round 5

Pia Cramling receiving her second-place trophy from FIDE president Kirsan Ilyumzhanov
Photo: Official website of the 2008 Isbank Ataturk Women Masters' Tournament (Turkey)


Pia Cramling - Dronavalli Harika
Isbank Ataturk Women Masters' Tournament, Round 5
Istanbul, 15 March 2008

West India Game: Indian Queen's Gambit (Grünfeld Defense)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Nf3

• If 7.Bc4 0-0 8.Ne2 c5 9.0-0 Nc6 10.Be3 then:
• 10...Bg4 11.f3 Na5 then:
• 12.Bd3 cxd4 13.cxd4 Be6 14.d5 Bxa1 15.Qxa1 f6 then:
• 16.Qd4 Bf7 17.Bh6 Re8 18.Bb5 e5 19.Qf2 Re7 20.Bd3 Rc8 21.f4 Nc4 is equal (Topalov-Shirov, IT, Morelia-Linares, 2008).
• If 16.Bh6 then:
• 16...Qb6+ 17.Nd4 Bd7 18.Rb1 Qc5 19.Rc1 Qb6 20.Bxf8 Rxf8 21.h4 4 gives the advantage in space to White (Bronstein-Boleslavsky, Candidates' Trmt, Budapest, 1950).
• 16...Re8 17.Kh1 Rc8 18.Nf4 Bd7 19.e5 Nc4 20.e6 Ba4 21.Nxg6 hxg6 22.Bxg6 Ne5 23.Be4 Bc2 24.Bxc2 Rxc2 25.Qd1 Kh7 26.f4 Kxh6 27.fxe5 Qc8 28.exf6 Rg8 29.f7 is balanced and, after some more moves, the players agreed to a draw (Korotylev-Timofeev, Russian Ch Qual, Tomsk, 2004).
• 16.Rb1 Bd7 17.Bh6 Rf7 18.e5 fxe5 19.Qxe5 b5 20.Be3 Qb8 21.Qc3 Qd8 22.Qe5 Qb8 23.Qc3 Qd8 draws by repetition (Kavalek-Timman, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1978).
• If 12.Bxf7+ Rxf7 13.fxg4 Rxf1+ 14.Kxf1 cxd4 15.cxd4 e5 then:
• 16.Kg1 Rc8 17.d5 Nc4 18.Bf2 Nd6 19.Ng3 Bh6 20.h4 Bf4 21.g5 Qd7 22.Qf3 White still has the extra pawn.(Jussupow-Sutovsky, IT, Essen, 2001).
• 16.d5 Nc4 17.Bf2 Qf6 18.Kg1 Rf8 19.Qe1 Bh6 20.Ng3 Qa6 21.Kh1 Qa4 22.Qe2 b6 23.h4 Bf4 24.Nf1 Nd6 25.Re1 Rc8 26.g3 Rc2 27.Qf3 Qxa2 gives Black a huge advatage in space (K.Georgiev-Ivanchuk, IT, Reggio Emilia, 1989).
• If 10...Qc7 11.Rc1 Rd8 then:
• 12.Bf4 Qd7 13.d5 Na5 14.Bd3 then:
• 14...e5 then:
• 15.Bg5 Re8 16.c4 b6 17.Qd2 Nb7 18.Bh6 f6 19.Bxg7 Qxg7 20.f4 Nd6 21.Kh1 Bd7 22.Ng1 Qh6 23.Rce1 f5 24.Qc3 fxe4 25.fxe5 exd3 26.exd6 Rxe1 27.Rxe1 d2 28.Rd1 Qf4 29.Rxd2 draw (Balashov-Ftacnik, Trnava, 1988).
• If 15.Be3 Qe7 16.Qd2 b6 17.f4 c4 18.Bc2 exf4 19.Bxf4 Nc6 20.Nd4 Nxd4 21.cxd4 Ba6 22.Rf3 gives White the advantage in space (Jussupow-Kamsky, Tilburg, 1992).
• If 12.Qd2 Qa5 13.Rfd1 then:
• 13...Bd7 14.Bh6 cxd4 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.Qf4 Be8 17.cxd4 e5 18.dxe5 Rxd1+ 19.Rxd1 Qxe5 20.Qxe5+ draw (Polugaevsky-Vaganian, IT, Linares, 1985).
• If 13...Bg4 14.f3 Ne5 15.Bd5 Rxd5 16.exd5 Nc4 17.Qd3 Nb2 18.Qb1 Nxd1 19.Qxb7 Rd8 20.Rxd1 Bc8 21.Qxe7 Bf8 22.Qf6 gives White the advantage in space (Ftacnik-Stohl, IT, Trnava, 1984).

7...c5 8.Be3

• If 8.Rb1 0-0 9.Be2 then:
• 9...cxd4 10.cxd4 Qa5+ 11.Bd2 Qxa2 12.0-0 Bg4 13.Bg5 h6 14.Be3 Nc6 15.d5 then:
• 15...Bxf3 16.gxf3 Nd4 17.Bd3 Qa3 18.f4 Qd6 19.Rxb7 Rfb8 20.Qb1 Nf3+ 21.Kg2 Nh4+ 22.Kh1 g5 23.Rg1 gxf4 24.Bc5 Qe5 25.Bd4 Rxb7 26.Qxb7 Qxd4 27.Qxa8+ Kh7 28.Bb1 is equal (Krasenkow-Svidler, Rubinstein Mem, Polanica Zdroj, 2000).
• 15...Na5 16.Bc5 Bf6 17.e5 Bxe5 18.Rb4 Bxf3 19.Bxf3 Rae8 20.Be3 Nc4 21.Bxh6 Nd6 22.Bxf8 Rxf8 23.h4 Rc8 24.Be4 Qa5 25.Ra4 Qb5 26.Bb1 Rc5 is unclear: White has the equivalent of an extra pawn, but Black has more than enough space to compensate (Kramnik-Anand, IT, Dos Hermanas, 1996).
• If 9...Nc6 10.d5 Ne5 11.Nxe5 Bxe5 then:
• 12.Qd2 e6 13.f4 Bc7 14.0-0 exd5 then:
• 15.exd5 Ba5 16.d6 b6 17.Bf3 Rb8 18.Ba3 Qf6 19.Bb4 Bf5 20.Rbc1 c4 21.Bxa5 bxa5 gives Black the advantage in space (Marzolo-Brkic, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• 15.dxe6 fxe6 16.Qe3 Bb7 17.Bc4 Kh8 18.Bxe6 Qf6 19.Bb3 g5 20.Qe2 gxf4 21.Bxf4 Qxc3 22.Kh1 Qd4 23.Bc2 Rae8 24.Rbd1 Qb2 gives Black a spatial edge and an attack on a loose pawn (Vokac-Stohl, Zlin, 1995).
• If 12...b6 13.f4 Bg7 14.0-0 e6 then:
• 15.d6 Bb7 16.Bf3 e5 17.c4 Qe8 18.Bb2 Rd8 19.Rbd1 Bc6 20.Qc1 exf4 21.Bxg7 Kxg7 22.Qxf4 gives White a comfortable lead in space (Kamsky-Razuvaev. Op. Paris, 1990).
• 9...b6 10.0-0 Bb7 11.Qd3 Ba6 12.Qe3 Qd7 then:
• 13.dxc5 Bxe2 14.Qxe2 bxc5 15.Qc4 Qc6 16.e5 Nd7 17.Re1 e6 18.Bg5 Rfb8 19.Rbd1 Nb6 20.Qe2 Qa4 21.Rd6 Nd5 22.c4 Nc3 23.Qd3 Nxa2 24.Rd1 Nb4 25.Qe4 Nd5 is unclear: Black has an extra pawn and White has a narrow lead in the space count (Markos-Greenfeld, Euro ChT, León, 2001).
• 13.Bxa6 Nxa6 14.Qe2 Nc7 15.Rd1 Qa4 16.Rb3 cxd4 17.cxd4 Ne6 18.e5 gives White a small advantage in space (Zaja-I. Smirin, Croatian ChT, Pula, 2001).
• 8.Bb5+ then:
• 8...Nc6 9.0-0 cxd4 10.cxd4 0-0 11.Be3 Bg4 12.Bxc6 bxc6 13.Rc1 Qa5 then:
• 14.Qd2 Qxd2 15.Nxd2 Rfd8 16.Nb3 a5 17.f3 Be6 18.Nc5 Bxd4 19.Bxd4 Rxd4 20.Nxe6 fxe6 21.Rxc6 Rd2 22.Rf2 Rd1+ 23.Rf1 Rd2 24.Rf2 draw (Ftacnik-Krasenkow, IT, Djakarta, 1996).
• 14.Rxc6 Qxa2 15.Rc7 Qe6 16.h3 Qd6 17.Rc5 Bxf3 18.Qxf3 e6 19.e5 Qd7 20.Ra1 Rfb8 21.g4 Bf8 22.Rca5 Qb7 23.Kg2 Be7 24.d5 gives White the advatage in space (Anand-Shirov, Amber, Monte Carlo, 1999).
• 8...Bd7 9.Bxd7+ Qxd7 10.0-0 0-0 11.Be3 cxd4 12.cxd4 Nc6 13.d5 Ne5 14.Nxe5 Bxe5 15.Rc1 Rfc8 16.Qb3 b5 17.f4 Bg7 18.e5 a5 19.Bc5 b4 20.Rfd1 Rc7 21.Be3 Rxc1 22.Rxc1 give White a subtantial advantage in space (Kholmov-Timoshchenko, Soviet Ch cycle, Rostov-on-Don, 1976).

8...Qa5 9.Bd2

• If 9.Qd2 Nc6 10.Rc1 cxd4 11.cxd4 Qxd2+ 12.Kxd2 0-0 then:
• 13.d5 Rd8 14.Ke1 then:
• If 14...Na5 15.Bg5 Bd7 16.Bd3 Rdc8 17.Ke2 e6 18.Be3 exd5 19.exd5 b5 20.Nd2 a6 21.Ne4 Bf5 22.f3 Be5 23.g4 Bxe4 24.Bxe4 Rxc1 25.Bxc1 Nc4 26.h4 a5 27.Bg5 Re8 28.Kd3 Nb2+ draw (van Wely-Ftacnik, Bundesliga, Bonn, 2001).
• 14...Nb4 15.Bd2 Na6 then:
• 16.Bg5 Kf8 17.Bxa6 bxa6 18.Ke2 h6 19.Bf4 f5 20.exf5 g5 21.Be3 Rxd5 22.g4 e6 23.f6 Bxf6 24.h4 Bd7 25.Kf1 Kg7 26.hxg5 hxg5 27.Rc7 Rc8 28.Rxa7 Kg6 29.Rh5 Rh8 draw (Nielsen-Hracek. Euro ChT, Panormo (Greece), 2001).
• 16.Bb5 e6 17.Bxa6 bxa6 18.Ba5 Rd6 19.Bc7 Rd7 20.dxe6 fxe6 21.Bf4 a5 22.Ne5 Rd4 give White the advantage in space (Keene-Jansa, Esbjerb, 1981).
• 13.Bb5 f5 14.exf5 Bxf5 15.Bxc6 bxc6 16.Rxc6 Rab8 17.Kc3 Be4 18.Rc7 Rf6 19.Ra1 Ra6 20.a4 Bf6 21.Ne5 Rab6 22.Nd7 Rb3+ 23.Kd2 Rb2+ 24.Ke1 Rb1+ 25.Rxb1 Rxb1+ 26.Kd2 Rb2+ 27.Kc1 Rb1+ 28.Kd2 draw (Browne-Vaganian, Ol, Thessaloniki, 1984).

9...0-0 10.Be2 cxd4!?

• 10...Bg4 11.0-0 Rd8 12.Ng5 Bxe2 13.Qxe2 Qa6 14.Qxa6 Nxa6 15.d5 c4 16.Be3 Rac8 gives White the advantage in space (Korchnoi-I. Smirin, IT, Biel, 2002).

11.cxd4 Qd8

• 11...Qb6 12.Rb1 Qd6 13.Bb4 Qd8 14.d5 b6 15.d6 White has the advantage in space.

12.Rc1

• White has a 15-4 lead in the space count.

12...Bg4

• After 12...Bxd4 13.Rxc8 Bxf2+ 14.Kxf2 Qxc8 15.Qb3 Nc6 16.Rb1 White retains a substantial advantage in space, but Black holds the equivalent of an extra pawn in an asymmetrical material balance..

13.d5 Nd7 14.h3!?

• After 14.0-0 Nf6 15.Qa4 a6 16.Qd4 Qb8 17.Qe3 b5 18.h3 Bxf3 19.Bxf3 White still has the advantage in space.

14...Bxf3 15.Bxf3 Rc8 16.0-0 Rxc1 17.Qxc1 f5?

• Black sacrifices a pawn in the hope of freeing her pieces.
• 17...Ne5 18.Be2 f5 19.f4 Nf7 20.exf5 Qxd5 21.fxg6 hxg6 22.Bc4 Qc6 23.Re1 White continues to enjoy an edge in space.

18.exf5 Ne5

• 18...Rxf5 would seem to be the idea following the pawn sac, but after 19.Bg4 Rf8 20.Qa3 a6 21.Rb1 Qc7 22.Rc1 Black has nothing to show except a position under attack.

19.Bd1

• After 19.Be4 gxf5 20.Bc2 b5 21.Bb3 Kh8 22.Qc5 White remains ahead in space.

19...gxf5

• If 19...Rxf5 20.Bb3 b5 21.Bb4 Kh8 22.Qc5 then:
• 22...Qb8 23.Rd1 Bf6 24.Qe3 White still has an advantage in space.
• After 22...e6 23.Rd1 Qb8 24.Bc3 a6 25.g4 White has a comfortable advantage in space.

20.Bb3 Qd6

• After 20...b6 21.Bb4 Nd3 22.d6+ e6 23.Bxe6+ Kh8 24.Qc4 White clearly has the better game.

BLACK: Dronavalli Harika
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Pia Cramling
Position after 20...Qd8d6

21.Bf4!

• The pin at e5 is laced with venom.

21...Qf6

• 21...Qd7 loses a pawn to 22.Bxe5 Bxe5 23.Qe3 Bd6 24.Qxa7.

22.Bg5 Qd6

• No better is 22...Qg6 when 23.Bxe7 Re8 24.d6+ Kh8 25.Rd1 is crushing.

23.Bxe7 1-0

• Black cannot avoid heavy material loss.
• Harika resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. News Update (April 1): Anand tops April Ratings at 2803

World champion Vishy Anand topped the ratings released today by FIDE, the world chess federation, with an Elo score of 2803.

Anand and former world champion Vladimir Kramnik were tied for the top spot in the January ratings at 2799. In April, Kramnik fell to 2788 and remains in second place.

Alexander Morozevich of Russia takes over third place at 2774 while former FIDE champion Veselin Topalov falls to fourth at 2767.

Seventeen-year-old Magnus Carlsen of Norway, who keeps getting better and better, made a giant leap from the number 13 spot to fifth place at 2765, a gain of 32 points. Good going, kid.

The complete list is here. Adjustments will probably be made over the next few days.

[Lithos]

11. Congratulations Anand

I am encouraged though that Morozevich and Carlsen are showing such strength.

Note: the list seems to be down. It's returning 404 for me.

[Jack Rabbit]

12. Hummmm . ..

Maybe Kirsan doesn't like that Topa dropped to fourth.

Here's the list from ChessBase.