The Jack Rabbit Chess Report (May 18): Ivanchuk wins play outstanding chess in Sofia

[Jack Rabbit]

Chukie takes MTel by a point and a half



Ukrainian grandmaster Vassily Ivanchuk, known as Chuckie to his fans, won the fourth annual MTel Masters Tournament in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia today after his Black victory over Bulgarian GM Ivan Cheparinov in 33 moves.

Ivanchuk scored a total of eight points (six wins and four draws) in ten rounds to take first prize by a point and a half over his nearest rival, former FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov.

After winning the first five games of the event, Ivanchuk settled in and drew his next four during which time Topalov came within a half point of the lead. However, Topalov lost his ninth round game to Chinese grandmaster Bu Xiangzhi. This allowed Ivanchuk to enter today's final round needing only to avoid loss to win the tournament clear.

Ivanchuk's game today was a real cliffhanger. He forced checkmate against Cheparinov, who was himself only a move away from checkmating Ivanchuk.
BLACK: Vassily Ivanchuk
!""""""""#
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Ivan Cheparinov
Final Position after 33...Nc3b5+
If this doesn't look like a chess diagram, please click here.

In this position with White to move, if 34.Kb1 then Black replies 34...Na3#. White's only other legal move is 34.Bd4, postponing mate by one move. If White were not in check in the diagrammed position, he would checkmate Black with 34.Qh8#.

Azerbaijani grandmaster Teimour Radjobov finish third with 5½ points.

Topalov, who finished second with 6½ points, won a clear first in each of the first three editions of the MTel Masters.


US Championships continue in Tulsa; 6th round today



Grandmasters Yury Shulman and Sergey Kudrin lead the general competition of the US Championships with 4 points each after five rounds in Tulsa, Oklahoma, while IMs Irina Krush and Anna Zatonskih have perfect scores in the women's competition.

Shulman and Kudrin are followed by GMs Julio Becerra and 2006 US champion Alex Onischuk at 3½ points apiece, while seven players, including defending champion Alex Shabalov, are at 3 points each.

Ms. Krush, the efending women's champion, and Ms. Zatonskih, the 2006 champion, are leaving the rest of the field in the dust. Kat Rohonyan is in third place with 3½ points.

The final round will be played Wednesday, May 21. Play will begin each day at 2:30 pm CDT. Games will be broadcast live on the official tournament website hosted by Monroi.com.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. Games from Sofia

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]

3. Aronian - Ivanchuk, Round 5

Vassily Ivanchuk
Photo: ChessBase.com


Levon Aronian - Vassily Ivanchuk
MTel Masters, Round 5
Sofia, 12 May 2008

Slav Queen's Gambit: Tikhi Defense

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bf5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nh4 Bg6 7.Nxg6 hxg6 8.a3

• 8.Bd2 Nbd7 9.Rc1 then:
• If 9...Bd6 10.g3 Qe7 11.c5 Bc7 12.f4 then:
• If 12...Ba5 13.Nb1 Bxd2+ 14.Nxd2 Ne4 15.Nxe4 dxe4 16.h4 f5 17.Kf2 Nf6 18.Be2 Kf7 19.a3 a5 20.Qd2 Rhb8 21.Rc2 b5 draw (Bareev-Dreev, Russian Ch, Moscow, 2004).
• 12...g5 13.Bg2 gxf4 14.exf4 g6 15.b4 a6 16.Qf3 Nh5 17.g4 Qh4+ 18.Kd1 Nhf6 19.h3 Ng8 20.Qe3 Ne7 21.Ne2 Nf6 22.Be1 Qh7 23.a4 Ne4 24.h4 f5 25.g5 gives White a small advatage in space, but in such a sealed position there isn't much either side can do (Campos-M. Gurevich, Op, Andorra, 2005).
• 9...Be7 10.g3 dxc4 11.Bxc4 Nb6 12.Bb3 Nbd5 13.Qf3 Nxc3 14.bxc3 Qa5 15.e4 e5 16.Qe2 0-0 17.0-0 exd4 18.cxd4 gives Black more space (Vasilevich-Atnilov, Euro ChT, Crete, 2007).
• If 8.g3 Nbd7 9.Bg2 dxc4 10.Qe2 then:
• If 10...Be7 then:
• If 11.Qxc4 e5 12.0-0 then:
• 12...Nb6 13.Qe2 exd4 14.Rd1 0-0 15.Rxd4 Qc7 16.e4 Qe5 17.Rd3 Rad8 18.Bf4 Qe6 19.Rad1 Rxd3 20.Rxd3 Re8 21.Kh1 Bb4 22.f3 Nfd7 23.Rd1 Ne5 24.Qc2 Qf6 25.h4 Nec4 26.Bc1 Rd8 is equal (Tregubov-Carlsen, Op, Reykjavik, 2006).
• 12...exd4 13.Qxd4 Bc5 14.Qc4 Qe7 15.b4 Bxb4 16.Rb1 a5 17.a3 Nb6 18.Bxc6+ Kf8 19.Qb3 bxc6 20.axb4 a4 21.Qd1 a3 22.Qd4 Qe6 23.Qxb6 leaves White up a piece (Khurtsidze-Kadimova, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• 11.0-0 0-0 12.Rd1 Qc7 13.Qxc4 e5 14.dxe5 Nxe5 15.Qe2 Rad8 16.f4 Rxd1+ 17.Nxd1 Ned7 18.e4 Nc5 19.Nf2 Ne6 20.Be3 Bc5 21.Bxc5 Nxc5 22.Qe3 Qa5 gives Black more space (Azmapairashvili-Alsina, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• 10...Nb6 11.0-0 Bb4 12.a3 Ba5 13.Bd2 Qe7 14.Ne4 Bxd2 15.Nxd2 e5 16.dxe5 Qxe5 17.Nxc4 Nxc4 18.Qxc4 Rd8 19.Rad1 0-0 20.b4 Nd7 21.a4 Nb6 22.Qc2 a6 23.h4 Qe7 24.Qb3 Rxd1 25.Rxd1 Rd8 26.Rxd8+ draw (Tkachiev-Dreev, IT, Poikovsky, 2007).

8...Nbd7 9.g3 Be7 10.b3

• 10.c5 e5 11.Bg2 g5 12.b4 g4 13.e4 Nxe4 14.Nxe4 dxe4 15.d5 f5 16.h3 Bg5 17.hxg4 Rxh1+ 18.Bxh1 Bxc1 19.Rxc1 Qg5 20.dxc6 bxc6 21.gxf5 Nf6 22.Qd2 Qxf5 23.Qe2 Rd8 24.b5 cxb5 25.Qxb5+ gives White a dangerous passed pawn; however, Black is playing with virtually an extra piece in that White's Bishop is imprisoned at h1..(Yermolinsky-Stripunsky, US Ch, Stillwater, 2007).

10...e5 11.cxd5

• 11.Bg2 e4 12.0-0 Nb6 13.Bd2 Qd7 14.c5 Nc8 15.f3 exf3 16.Qxf3 Bd8 17.h3 Ne7 18.g4 g5 19.Rae1 0-0 20.e4 dxe4 21.Qf2 Ned5 22.Nxe4 Nxe4 23.Rxe4 Bf6 is equal (Sasikiran-Svetushkin. Areoflot Op, Moscow, 2007).

11...Nxd5 12.Nxd5 Qa5+ 13.Nc3 Qxc3+ 14.Bd2 Qb2 15.d5!?

• 15.Bg2 exd4 16.exd4 Qxd4 17.0-0 0-0 18.Bb4 Qxd1 19.Rfxd1 Bxb4 20.Rxd7 gives White the more active position (Wang Yue-Borbas, Op, Chapelle la Grande, 2007).

15...cxd5 16.Bb5 a6 17.Bxd7+ Kxd7 18.0-0

• If 18.Rb1 Qxa3 19.Qf3 Qd6 20.Qxf7 Qe6! then:
• White remains a pawn down after 21.Qxe6+ Kxe6 22.Rc1 Rac8.
• 21.Qxg7?? loses immediately to 21...Rag8!.

18...e4 19.Bc3??

• Aronian might have thought he saw something that isn't there. This move is a blunder.
• Better is 19.Bb4 Qe5 when Black retains the extra pawn and a strong position:
• If 20.Bxe7 Kxe7 21.Ra2 Rh5 22.Rc2 Rah8 Black threatens a second pawn.
• After 20.f4 exf3 21.Qxf3 Bxb4 22.axb4 f5 Black has an extra pawn and an advatage in space.

19...Qxc3

• Don't scare a gift horse in the mouth. Corrollary: ride it!

20.Qxd5+ Ke8 21.Rac1 Qd3 22.Qxb7 Rd8 23.Rfd1

• Black emerges a piece to the good with two Rooks for the Queen.
• 23.Qc6+ Kf8 24.Rfd1 Qxd1+ 25.Rxd1 Rxd1+ is no better than the text.

BLACK: Vassily Ivanchuk
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WHITE: Levon Aronian
Position after 23.Rf1d1

23...Qxd1+!!

• Black takes the Queen for two Rooks.

24.Rxd1 Rxd1+

• Black has a theoretical material advantage of one whole minor piece.

25.Kg2 a5 26.g4 Kf8 27.Qxe4 g5

• Black keeps the Queen out of the h-file in order to free the Rook.

28.Qf5 Bd8 29.Qc5+ Kg8 30.Qe5 g6 31.b4 axb4 32.axb4
BLACK: Vassily Ivanchuk
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WHITE: Levon Aronian
Position after 32.ab4:p

32...Kh7!

• This move shows the importance of keeping the Queen out of the h-file.
• 32...Rh4?! 33.h3 Kf8 34.b5 gives White counterplay.

33.b5 Rf8 34.Qc5 Kg8 35.b6

• After 35.Qc2 Rd6 36.Qc5 Rb6 37.Kf3 Re8 38.Ke2 Rb8 Black will maneuver ...Re7-b7xb5, winning.

35...Rb1 36.f4 Rb2+ 37.Kg3 gxf4+ 38.exf4 Bxb6

• It's all over now, Baby Blue.

39.Qc3 Rb1 40.f5 Rg1+ 41.Kh3 Re8 42.Qf6

• White lacks one tempo to make this stalemate try work.
• After 42.Qc6 Black wins by 42...Re3+ 43.Kh4 Bd8+ 44.f6 Rf1 45.Qc8 Rd3.

42...Bf2

• If the White pawn were at g5, then 43...Bf2 44.Qg7+ Kxg7 45.f6+ Kf8 draws by stalemate.

43.Qg7+ Kxg7 44.f6+ Kf8 0-1

• The staelmate attempt has failed; Grandmaster Aronian resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Cheparinov - Topalov, Round 3

Veselin Topalov
Photo: ChessBase.com (Spanish Language)


Ivan Cheparinov - Veselin Topalov
MTel Masters, Round 3
Sofia, 10 May 2008

Closed French Game: Steinitz Opening

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

• 6.dxc5 Bxc5 7.Nf3 a6 8.Bd3 Nc6 9.Qe2 Nb4 10.Bd2 b5 11.Nd1 Nxd3+ 12.cxd3 Qb6 13.b4 Be7 14.a3 f5 15.Rc1 Bb7 16.Be3 Qd8 17.Nd4 Nf8 18.0-0 h5 19.Nc3 gives White a slight advantage in space (Steinitz-Sellman, Baltimore, 1885).

6...Nc6 7.Be3 a6

• If 7...cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bc5 9.Qd2 0-0 10.0-0-0 a6 then:
• If 11.h4 Nxd4 12.Bxd4 b5 then:
• If 13.Rh3 then:
• 13...b4 14.Na4 Bxd4 15.Qxd4 a5 16.Bb5 Rb8 17.Bd3 Qc7 18.h5 Qc6 19.h6 g6 20.b3 Ba6 21.f5 Rbc8 22.Rd2 Bxd3 23.Rhxd3 Qc7 24.Re2 Qd8 25.Kb2 Rc7 26.Rf3 Rc8 27.fxe6 fxe6 28.Rxf8+ Nxf8 29.Qa7 Qc7 is equal (L'Ami-Vaznonis, World Youth U16, Opressa del Mar, 2001).
• 13...Bb7 14.Kb1 Qc7 15.h5 Rac8 16.h6 g6 17.Re3 b4 18.Ne2 a5 19.Bxc5 Nxc5 20.Nd4 Ne4 is equal (H. Rudolf-Schaefer, Bundesliga, Neukoelln, 2001).
• 13.h5 b4 14.Na4 Bxd4 15.Qxd4 a5 16.Bb5 Rb8 17.Bd3 Bb7 18.h6 g6 19.f5 Bc6 20.fxe6 Qg5+ 21.Kb1 Qxe5 22.Qxe5 Nxe5 23.Nc5 fxe6 24.Rhe1 Nxd3 25.cxd3 d4 26.Nxe6 Rfe8 is equal (Dr, Nunn-Lputian, Ol. Manila, 1992).
• 11.Qf2 Bxd4 12.Bxd4 b5 13.Be3 b4 14.Na4 a5 15.h4 Ba6 16.h5 Qc7 17.h6 g6 18.Nb6 Nxb6 19.Bxb6 Qd7 20.g4 a4 21.Kb1 f6 22.exf6 Bxf1 23.Rhxf1 Rxf6 24.Qe3 Rb8 25.Bd4 Rf7 26.Be5 gives White the advantage in space (Melia-M. Socko, Euro Ch, Plovsiv, 2008).
• If 7...Qb6 8.Na4 Qa5+ 9.c3 then:
• If 9...cxd4 10.b4 then:
• If 10...Nxb4 11.cxb4 Bxb4+ 12.Bd2 Bxd2+ 13.Nxd2 b6 then:
• If 14.Kf2 Ba6 then:
• I15.Bxa6 Qxa6 16.Nf3 d3 17.Ne1 Qc4 18.Nxd3 Qd4+ 19.Kf1 0-0 20.g3 b5 21.Ndc5 Qxd1+ 22.Rxd1 bxa4 23.Nxd7 Rfc8 24.Rb1 Rc2 25.Rg1 Rxh2 draw (Chandler-Speelman, London, 1986).
• 15.Nf3 Rc8 16.Nxd4 0-0 17.Bxa6 Qxa6 18.Re1 Rc4 19.Nb2 Rb4 20.Qd2 Qa3 21.Nd1 Qa4 22.Ne2 Nc5 23.Kg1 Ne4 24.Qd3 Rc8 25.f5 Qa5 26.Rf1 Nc5 27.Qf3 exf5 28.Ne3 Black resigns (Timman-Akhmilovskaya, Lugano, 1983).
• 14.Bd3 Ba6 15.Nb2 Nc5 16.Bxa6 Qxa6 17.Qe2 Qa3 18.Qb5+ Ke7 19.0-0 Qe3+ 20.Rf2 Rhc8 21.Raf1 f5 22.exf6+ gxf6 23.Nd1 Qd3 24.Qb2 Nd7 25.Nf3 e5 26.fxe5 fxe5 27.Re2 Kd6 28.Nf2 Qc3 29.Qb1 d3 30.Nxd3 e4 31.Nf4 Rc5 32.Ng5 Re8 33.Rd1 Nf6 34.Nxe4+ Black resigns (Kamsky-Kraai, Foxwoods Op, Mashantucket, 2007).
• If 10...Qc7 11.Nxd4 Nxd4 then:
• 12.Bxd4 Nb8 13.b5 b6 14.Bd3 Nd7 15.0-0 Nc5 16.Bc2 Bd7 17.Rb1 Rc8 18.f5 Nxa4 19.fxe6 Bxe6 20.Bxa4 Bc5 21.Rf2 0-0 22.Bc2 g6 23.Qd2 Bxd4 24.cxd4 gives White a healthy advantage in space (Saravanan-Barua, Indian ChT, Nagpur, 2002).
• 12...Be7 13.Bd3 g6 14.0-0 b6 15.Rc1 0-0 16.Nb2 a5 17.c4 dxc4 18.Nxc4 Qb8 19.f5 exf5 20.Bxf5 gxf5 21.Rc3 Qb7 22.Rf4 axb4 23.Rg3+ Kh8 24.Qh5 Rxa2 25.Rxf5 Nf6 26.exf6 Rxg2+ 27.Rxg2 Black resigns (Rowson-Floor, Corus Reserve, Wijk aan Zee, 2000).
• If 9...c4 10.b4 Qc7 11.Be2 Be7 12.0-0 then:
• 12...f5 13.exf6 Nxf6 14.Ne5 0-0 15.Qc2 b6 16.Nb2 Bb7 17.Bf3 Nxe5 18.dxe5 Ne4 19.Bg4 Qc8 is equal (T. Kosintseva-M. Socko, World ChTW, Ekaterininburg, 2007).
• 12...0-0 13.g4 b5 14.Nc5 a5 15.a3 axb4 16.Nxd7 Bxd7 17.axb4 f5 18.gxf5 Rxa1 19.Qxa1 Rxf5 20.Bd1 Bd8 21.Bc2 Rf7 22.Qb2 Qc8 23.Ra1 Be8 24.Qb1 h6 25.Ra2 Rf8 26.Qf1 Ne7 27.Nh4 Nc6 28.Nf3 Ne7 29.Nh4 Nc6 30.Nf3 draw (Kuloats-Ivanchuk, Euro ChT, Saint Vincent, 2005).

8.Ne2

• If 8.Qd2 b5 then:
• If 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.Bxc5 Nxc5 11.Qf2 Qb6 then:
• If 12.Bd3 b4 13.Ne2 a5 14.0-0 Ba6 15.Kh1 Ne7 then:
• If 16.Rad1 Na4 17.Qxb6 Nxb6 then:
• 18.Ned4 Na4 19.Rb1 0-0 20.Kg1 Rfc8 21.Kf2 Rc7 22.g4 g6 23.Ke3 Nc5 24.h4 a4 25.h5 gxh5 26.gxh5 h6 27.Nh2 Bxd3 28.cxd3 Nf5+ 29.Nxf5 exf5 30.Nf3 Ne6 White could take the advantage with 31.Rbc1. (Dr.Nunn-Glek, Bundesliga, Germany, 1993).
• 18.b3 Nd7 19.Kg1 Nc5 20.Kf2 Ne4+ 21.Ke1 Nf5 22.Rc1 Ne3 23.Rg1 h5 24.Bxe4 dxe4 25.Ng5 Bb7 26.Ng3 Ke7 27.h4 Nd5 28.N3xe4 Nxf4 29.Nd6 f6 30.Nh3 fxe5 31.Nxb7 Rhc8 32.Nxf4 exf4 33.g3 is clearly better for White (Riemersma-Glek, Bussum, 1995).
• 16.b3 h6 17.Rad1 0-0 18.g4 Rac8 19.Ng3 Bxd3 20.cxd3 Qa6 21.Qd4 Qb5 22.f5 Nc6 23.Qe3 d4 24.Qd2 exf5 25.gxf5 Rfe8 26.Nh5 Nxe5 27.Qg2 g5 28.fxg6 Nxg6 29.Nxd4 Qb7 30.Nf6+ Kf8 31.Qxb7 Nxb7 32.Nxe8 Rxe8 33.Rf6 leaves White up by an exchange (Szelag-Vysochin, Op, Cappelle la Grande, 2006).
• 12.b4 Nd7 13.a4 Nxb4 14.axb5 Qc7 15.Kd2 Nc5 16.Qd4 a5 17.Ra3 0-0 18.Bd3 Bb7 19.Rc1 Rfc8 20.Ke1 Qe7 21.Kf1 Ncxd3 22.cxd3 Nc2 23.Rxc2 Qxa3 24.Qb6 Rxc3 25.Qxb7 Rf8 26.Rxc3 Qxc3 27.Ke2 a4 White resigns (Tisser-Vysochin, Op, Cappelle la Grande, 2001).
• 9.a3 Bb7 10.Bd3 Qb6 11.Qf2 c4 12.Be2 b4 13.axb4 Nxb4 14.Rc1 h5 15.Ng5 g6 16.g4 hxg4 17.Bxg4 Nc6 18.0-0 Ne7 19.h4 Nf5 20.h5 Be7 21.Ne2 f6 22.hxg6 White resigns (P. Smirnov-Filippov, Euro ChT, Rethymnon, 2003).
• 8.a3 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Bc5 then:
• If 10.Be2 0-0 then:
• 11.Qd2 Qc7 12.Bf3 Nxd4 13.Bxd4 Nb6 is equal (Topalov-Ivanchuk, IT, Rd 2, Sofia, 2008).
• 11.g3 Nxd4 12.Bxd4 b5 13.Bxc5 Nxc5 14.Qd4 Qc7 15.Bd3 f6 16.exf6 Rxf6 17.0-0 Bb7 18.Rae1 Raf8 19.Nd1 Nxd3 20.cxd3 Qf7 21.Ne3 a5 22.b4 axb4 23.axb4 Qg6 24.Ng2 Bc8 is equal (Kamsky-Esquivel, Cyberspace, 2006).
• 10.Qd2 Bxd4 11.Bxd4 Nxd4 12.Qxd4 Qb6 13.Qxb6 Nxb6 14.Bd3 Bd7 15.Ne2 f6 16.Kd2 fxe5 17.fxe5 Ke7 18.Rhf1 Raf8 19.h4 Be8 20.Nf4 Rhg8 21.g3 g5 22.hxg5 Rxg5 23.Nxe6 Rxf1 24.Rxf1 Kxe6 25.Rf6+ Kxe5 26.Rxb6 Rg7 27.b3 Bg6 28.Bxg6 draw (Psakhis-Drasko, Moscow, 1988).

8...Be7!?

• If 8...Qb6 9.Qc1 g5 10.c3 cxd4 11.cxd4 Bb4+ 12.Kf2 f6 13.g3 Rf8 14.Kg2 g4 15.Nh4 Rg8 16.h3 h5 17.hxg4 hxg4 18.Nc3 fxe5 19.fxe5 Ncxe5 20.dxe5 d4 21.Na4 Qa5 22.Qc4 Nxe5 23.Qxd4 Nf3 24.Nxf3 gxf3+ 25.Kf2 Qxa4 26.Bd3 gives White the advantage in space (Topalov-Morozevich, It, Morelia-Linares, 2007).

9.c3

• The position is equal.
• 9.Qd2 0-0 10.0-0-0 b5 11.g4 is also equal.

9...0-0 10.g3 cxd4!?

• Black has a firm grip on c5 and will use that as a pivot point for future operations.
• 10...b5 11.Bg2 Bb7 12.0-0 c4 13.Qc2 Qb6 remains equal.

11.Nexd4

• The text is better than 11.Nfxd4 when:
• After 11...Nc5 12.Bg2 Qc7 13.0-0 Bd7 14.Rc1 White has trouble figuring out what to do with the King's Bishop.
• 11...Nb6 12.b3 Qc7 13.Qd2 Nxd4 14.Nxd4 is equal.

11...Nc5 12.Bg2

• 12.Be2 Nxd4 13.Qxd4 b5 14.0-0 Qc7 15.Nd2 Bb7 remains equal.
• 12.Bd3 Nxd4 13.Nxd4 Qb6 14.Rb1 Nxd3+ 15.Qxd3 Qc7 16.0-0 gives White a small advantage in space and a centralized Knight with more potential than any Bishop on the board.

12...Bd7 13.0-0 Rc8 14.Kh1?!

• 14.Nxc6 Bxc6 15.Nd4 Ba4 16.b3 Bd7 17.f5 Qc7 18.Bf4 gives White the advantage in space.

14...Ne4 15.Nxc6

• 15.Qd3 Qc7 16.Rad1 Rfd8 17.Kg1 b5 remains equal.

15...bxc6 16.c4 a5 17.Qc2

• 17.Nd2 f5 18.Bd4 c5 19.Bf2 Nxf2+ 20.Rxf2 is equal.

17...g6?!

• 17...Qc7 18.Rab1 Rcd8 19.Nd4 c5 20.Nb3 a4 favors Black.

18.Rad1 Nc5 19.Nd4 Qc7 20.g4

• White has the advantage in space, but he can make no further progess against Black's solid position.

20...Rfd8 21.Qf2?!

• If 21.g5 Rb8 then:
• 22.b3 a4 23.cxd5 cxd5 24.Rb1 axb3 25.Nxb3 gives White the advantage in space.
• 22.Rf2 Na6 23.Qe2 Bf8 24.cxd5 Nb4 25.d6 gives White an extra pawn.
• If 21.b3 f6 22.exf6 Bxf6 then:
• 23.f5 e5 24.Ne6 Bxe6 25.fxe6 d4 26.Rxf6 dxe3 gives White more space an superior pawn structure.
• 23.Nf3 Nb7 24.Qe2 Rf8 25.Bd2 gives White the advantage in space.

21...Be8

• White continues to have the advantage in space after 21...dxc4 22.Qc2 Nd3 23.b3 Nb4 24.Qxc4.

22.f5

• If 22.Nb3!? then:
• 22...Nxb3 then:
• If 23.Bb6 Qb7 24.Bxd8 Rxd8 25.axb3 Qxb3 26.Qa7 is equal.
• If 22...Nd7 23.cxd5 exd5 24.g5 then:
• 24...a4 25.Nc5 Nxc5 26.Bxc5 Bxc5 27.Qxc5 White continues to enjoy a spatial advantage.
• 24...Rb8 25.Bd2 Bb4 26.Rc1 Bxd2 27.Qxd2 a4 28.Nd4 White still has the advantage in space.

22...Qxe5 23.fxe6

• 23.Nf3 Qd6 24.fxe6 Nxe6 25.Bb6 Rd7 26.Bxa5 d4 is equal.
• 23.fxg6 then:
• 23...fxg6 24.Nf3 Qd6 25.Ng5 Bxg5 26.Bxg5 Rd7 remains equal.
• 23...hxg6? 24.Nf3 Qd6 25.Ng5 clearly favors White.

23...Nxe6 24.Nxe6 Qxe6 25.Rde1?

• White can recover the pawn with 25.Bb6 Rd7 26.cxd5 cxd5 27.Bxa5, but after 27...d4 28.b4 Qxg4 Black again has an extra pawn with the advantage in space.
• Dubious is 25.Rfe1? Qxg4 26.Bb6 Bh4 27.Qe2 Qxc4 28.Bxd8 Qxe2 29.Rxe2 Rxd8 when Black gets three pawns and a minor piece for the Rook.

BLACK: Veselin Topalov
!""""""""#
$ +tTv+l+%
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$ +o+w+o+%
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$ +p+ +p+%
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WHITE: Ivan Cheparinov
Position after 25.Rd1e1

25...Qxg4!

• After 25...Qd6?! White retakes the advantage with 26.Bb6 Rd7 27.c5! Qb8 28.Bxa5 Qb5 29.b4.

26.Bd4 Qh4 27.Rxe7

• White cedes a huge material advantage to Black.
• 27.Qg1 Bg5 28.Bb6 Rd7 29.Bxa5 f5 30.c5 Bf7 gives Black an adavantage in space and an extra pawn; White may be able to stir up some counterplay with his queenside pawns.

27...Qxe7 28.Re1 Qg5 29.Re5 Qc1+

• Better is 29...f5! 30.Bb6 Rd7 31.Bxa5 dxc4 32.Re1 Bf7 when Black's material advantage is decisive.

30.Re1 Qg5 31.Re5 f5!

• Black is not going to repeat moves.

32.h4

• For 32.Bb6. see the note to Blacks's 29th move.

32...Qg4 33.Kh2

• After 33.Bc3 Black maintains his huge advantage with 33...Qxc4 34.Bxa5 Rd7 35.b3 Qg4 36.Bd2 Bf7.

33...dxc4 34.Bh3 Qd1 35.Re1

• Utterly lost, Black allows his compadre to close the game out with a pyrotechnic display.35.Bc3 a4 36.Re1 Qd6+ 37.Be5 Qd2 38.Re2 Qh6 loses quietly.

BLACK: Veselin Topalov
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Ivan Cheparinov
Position after 35.Re5e1

35...Rxd4!!

• 35...Qxd4? 36.Rxe8+ Rxe8 37.Qxd4 gives White a fighting chance.

36.Rxd1 Rxd1 37.Bf1 Bf7 38.Be2 0-1

• Grandmaster Cheparinov resigns rather than wait for38...Rd2 winning more material for Black.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Bu Xiangzhi - Cheparinov, Round 6

Ivan Cheparinov
Photo: ChessBase.com


Bu Xiangzhi - Ivan Cheparinov
MTel Masters, Round 6
Sofia, 14 May 2008

Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit

1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4 c6 4.e3 Nf6 5.b3

• White opts to avoid the Meran Defense with far less theoretical line.
• 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 leades to the Meran Defense.

5...Nbd7 6.Bb2 Bd6 7.Nf3 0-0 8.Be2

• If 8.Qc2 e5 9.cxd5 cxd5 then:
• If 10.dxe5 Nxe5 11.Be2 then:
• If 11...Nxf3+ 12.Bxf3 d4 13.exd4 Re8+ 14.Kf1 Qa5 then:
• 15.Qd2 Bg4 16.Bxg4 Nxg4 17.h3 Nf6 18.Qd3 a6 19.a3 Rad8 is equal (Radosztics-van Kempen, Corres, 1996).
• 15.h3 Bf5 16.Qd2 Rac8 17.a3 Qa6+ 18.Kg1 h6 19.Rc1 Bg6 20.b4 Ne4 21.Nxe4 Rxc1+ 22.Qxc1 Bxe4 23.Bxe4 Rxe4 24.g3 Re2 25.Kg2 Qd3 26.Rd1 Qxg3+ White resigns as he is mated on the next move (Bronowicki-Koziak, Lasker Mem, Berlinek, 2007).
• 11...Bg4 12.Nd4 Rc8 13.f3 Bh5 14.0-0 Bg6 15.Qd2 Nc6 16.Ncb5 Bb8 17.Rfe1 Re8 18.Bf1 Ne5 19.Rac1 Rxc1 20.Rxc1 a6 21.Nc3 Qd6 22.g3 h5 23.Nd1 Ba7 24.Be2 Bb8 25.Bf1 Ba7 draw (Grigoriants-P. Smirnov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2007).
• 10.Nb5 Bb4+ 11.Bc3 Bxc3+ 12.Nxc3 e4 13.Nd2 Nb8 14.b4 Nc6 15.Qb3 Qd6 16.Rb1 Bd7 17.Be2 Rac8 18.0-0 Nxb4 19.Rfc1 a5 20.a3 Nd3 21.Bxd3 exd3 gives Black an extra pawn and more space (Speelman-Dreev, Blitz, Cyberspace, 2004).
• If 8.Bd3 then:
• If 8...e5 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.dxe5 Nxe5 11.Be2 Be6 12.0-0 a6 then:
• If 13.Nxe5 Bxe5 14.Na4 Bxb2 15.Nxb2 Rc8 16.Qd4 Qa5 then:
• 17.f3 Qa3 18.Bd3 Rc6 19.Nd1 Rfc8 20.Nf2 Nd7 21.g4 Rb6 22.e4 Qc5 23.Qxc5 Nxc5 24.exd5 Bxd5 is equal (Korchnoi-Vallejo, Match, Vera, 2004).
• 17.Nd3 Rc2 18.Nf4 Rd2 19.Bd3 Bf5 20.Rfd1 Rxd1+ 21.Rxd1 Bxd3 22.Qxd3 Qxa2 23.Nxd5 Nxd5 24.Qxd5 Qc2 25.h4 h6 is equal (Jussupow-Ribli, Bundesliga, Germany, 1995).
• If 13.Rc1 Qe7 14.Na4 Nc6 15.Nd4 Ne5 16.f4 Neg4 17.Qd3 then:
• 17...Bd7 18.Bxg4 Bxg4 19.h3 Be6 20.Kh2 Rad8 21.Nc3 Rfe8 22.Rf3 Bb8 23.Nce2 Rc8 24.Rd1 Bd7 is equal (Anastasian-Babujian, Armenian Ch, Yerevan, 2008).
• If 8...Re8 then:
• If 9.Qc2 e5 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.dxe5 Nxe5 then:
• If 12.Nxe5 Bxe5 13.Ne2 Qd6 14.Bxe5 Qxe5 15.0-0 Bd7 16.Nd4 Rac8 17.Qe2 Qd6 18.Qb2 a6 19.Rac1 Ng4 20.Nf3 Qb6 21.Rxc8 Rxc8 22.Rc1 Nf6 23.Rxc8+ Bxc8 24.Qc3 gives White a clear advantage (Polugaevsky-Mecking, IT, Mar del Plata, 1971).
• 12.Nd4 Bd7 13.0-0 Rc8 14.Rac1 Bc5 15.Be2 Bxd4 16.exd4 Ng6 17.Qd2 Qe7 18.Rfe1 Ne4 19.Nxe4 Qxe4 20.Bf3 Qf4 21.Re3 Be6 22.g3 Qd6 23.h4 Rxc1+ 24.Qxc1 Qd7 25.Ba3 Rc8 26.Rc3 Rxc3 27.Qxc3 h6 28.Qb4 f6 29.Qa4 b6 draw (Grachev-Papa, World Youth, Oropesa del Mar, 2001).
• 9.0-0 e5 10.dxe5 Nxe5 11.Nxe5 Bxe5 12.g3 Qa5 13.Qc2 Bh3 14.Rfe1 d4 15.Ne4 Nxe4 16.Bxe4 dxe3 17.Rxe3 Bxb2 18.Qxb2 Rad8 19.b4 Qh5 20.Qc2 f5 21.Bf3 Bg4 22.Bxg4 Qxg4 23.Rae1 Rxe3 24.Rxe3 h6 25.Kg2 f4 26.Qe2 Qxe2 27.Rxe2 Kf7(Danner-Timoshchenko, Areoflot Op, Moscow, 2003).

8...Ne4

• If 8...dxc4 9.bxc4 e5 10.0-0 then:
• If 10...Re8 11.Qc2 then:
• 11...Qe7 12.Rfe1 e4 13.Nd2 Nf8 14.f3 exf3 15.Bxf3 Ng4 16.Nf1 Qg5 17.e4 Ne6 18.e5 Nxd4!? 19.exd6 Bd7 20.Rxe8+ Rxe8 21.Ne4 Nxf3+ 22.gxf3 Rxe4 23.fxg4 Rxg4+ 24.Ng3 h5 gives Black the advantage in space (Portisch-van der Wiel, IT, Tilburg, 1988).
• If 11...exd4 12.exd4 Nf8 then:
• 13.Rad1 Qc7 14.c5 Be7 15.Ne5 Be6 16.f4 Nd5 17.f5 Nxc3 18.fxe6 Nxe2+ 19.Qxe2 f6 20.Qg4 Bd8 21.d5 cxd5 22.Rxd5 Qe7 23.Nf7 Qxe6 is equal (Chekhov-Taimanov, Soviet Union, 1980).
• 13.h3 Ng6 14.Rfe1 Bc7 15.Bf1 Bd7 16.a4 Rb8 17.Red1 Qc8 18.d5 cxd5 19.cxd5 Bd6 20.Qb3 a6 21.a5 Nf4 22.Ba3 Bxa3 23.Rxa3 Qc5 is equal (Bu Xiangzhi-Zhao Jun, Chinese Ch, Wuxi, 2006).
• If 10...exd4 11.exd4 Re8 then:
• If 12.Re1 Nf8 13.Qc2 Bg4 14.Ne5 Bxe5 15.dxe5 Bxe2 16.exf6 Bd3 17.Qb3 Qb6 18.Re7 Rxe7 19.fxe7 Ne6 20.Rd1 Qxb3 21.axb3 Bc2 22.Rd7 gives White the advantage of the active Rook in the ending (Cvachoucek-Kogan, Corres, 1978).
• 12.Qb3 Nf8 13.Rad1 Qb6 14.Rfe1 Qxb3 15.axb3 Bb4 16.Ne5 Bf5 17.Bd3 Bxd3 18.Nxd3 a5 19.Rxe8 Rxe8 20.Kf1 Bd6 21.Nc5 Bxc5 22.dxc5 Ne6 is equal (Ftacnik-Smyslov, Heninge, 1989).

9.Nd2

• If 9.Nxe4 dxe4 10.Nd2 f5 11.Qc2 e5 12.0-0-0 then:
• 12...Qe7 13.Kb1 exd4 14.Bxd4 c5 15.Bb2 Be5 16.Nf1 Bxb2 17.Qxb2 Nf6 18.Ng3 a5 19.a4 Ra6 20.Rd2 Rd8 draw (Dr. Tarrasch-Maroczy, IT, Goteborg, 1920).
• 12...exd4 13.Bxd4 Qe7 14.f3 exf3 15.Bxf3 Ne5 16.c5 draw (Onos-Fuchs, IT, Leningrad, 1967).

9...f5 10.0-0 Qh4

• 10...b6 11.f4 Nxc3 12.Bxc3 Qe7 13.Rc1 Bb7 14.Re1 Nf6 15.Bf3 Rac8 is equal (Epishin-Dreev, IT, Dos Hermanas, 2003).

11.f4 Nxd2 12.Qxd2 Nf6 13.a4!?

• White embarks on a plan to restrain Black's queenside.
• 13.Rf3 Ng4 14.Rh3 Qe7 15.Rf1 Bd7 16.Qc2 Nf6 17.c5 draw (M. Gurevich-Shirov, World Cup, Khanty Mansiysk, 2005).

13...Rf7

• 13...Ng4 14.h3 Nf6 15.a5 Qg3 16.Rf3 Qh4 17.Qe1 Qxe1+ 18.Rxe1 is equal.

14.a5 g5

• The center is locked, so Black replies with play on the opposite wing.

15.g3 Qh3

• 15...Qh6 16.fxg5 Qxg5 17.Bf3 Ng4 18.Nd1 gives Black the advantage in space.

16.Bf3

• 16.fxg5 Ng4 17.Bf3 Qh5 18.cxd5 exd5 19.Nxd5 cxd5 20.Bxd5 assures White of winning the exchange.

16...gxf4

• 16...g4 17.Bg2 Qh5 18.Ba3 Bc7 19.Bc5 gives White the advantage in space.

17.exf4 Bd7

• 17...Ne4 18.Qe2 Rg7 19.Bg2 Qg4 20.Qe3 gives Black the advantage in space; White should seek exchanges.

18.Na4 Ne4

• Black has a small advantage in space; White should seek exchanges.

19.Bxe4!

• That's just what the doctor ordered.
• Even better is 19.Qe3 Rd8 20.Nc5 Nxc5! 21.dxc5 Bf8 22.a6 bxa6 23.Rxa6 gives White command of open lines.

19...fxe4 20.Nc5 Be8 21.Ba3

• The position is equal.
• 21.Qe3 Bf8 22.a6 b6 23.Nb7 Bg7 24.Nd6 is equal.

21...Qf5 22.a6 b6 23.Nb7

• Black could have plans to advance his queenside, creating a passer, or pressuring White's center.
• The text is better than 23.Na4?! Bxa3 24.Rxa3 dxc4 25.bxc4 when:
• After 25...Rd8! 26.Qb2 Qf6 27.Re3 Rxd4 Black wins a pawn.
• After 25...Rb8?! White puts a stop to the queenside advance with 26.Qe3 b5 27.Rb3.
• 25...b5 26.Nc5 Rd8 27.Nb7 Rdd7 28.c5 concedes the passed pawn to Black, but Black has no way to advance it.

23...Bxa3 24.Rxa3 Rg7

• With the White Knight offside at b7, Black shifts his attention to the kingside.

25.Nd6 Qf6

• If 25...Qg4 26.f5 Rd7 then:
• 27.Rf4 Qg7 28.f6 Qg5 29.Nxe8 Rxe8 is equal.
• 27...Qh5 28.c5 exf5 29.Rxf5 Qh3 gives White a huge advantage in space.

26.f5 Bh5

• 26...e5 27.dxe5 Qxe5 28.Qh6 Rd8 29.Nxe8 Qxe8 is slightly advantageous to Black: although White has more space, he has no good targets to attack and Black has a passed pawn backed by a heavy piece.

27.fxe6 Bf3 28.cxd5 cxd5 29.Nf7 h5

• 29...Qxe6 30.Ne5 Bg4 31.b4 Bh3 32.Rf4 Rc8 is equal.

30.Ne5 h4 31.Nxf3

BLACK: Ivan Cheparinov
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WHITE: Bu Xiangzhi
Position after 31.Ne5f3:B

31...hxg3!

• Black must not be in any hurry to retake the Knight.
• If 31...exf3?! 32.b4 hxg3 then:
• If 33.Raxf3 gxh2+ 34.Kxh2 then:
• 34...Qg6 35.Qf2 Rh7+ 36.Rh3 Rxh3+ 37.Kxh3 Qxe6+ 38.Qf5 Qxf5+ 39.Rxf5 gives White the active Rook.
• 34...Qxe6 35.Rg1 Rxg1 36.Kxg1 Qg4+ 37.Qg2 yields a Rook-and-pawn ending in which White has the more active Rook.
• Also good is 33.Rfxf3 gxh2+ 34.Kxh2 Qxe6 35.Rg3
giving White more activity.

32.b4

• The Knight isn't going anywhere.
• After 32.Ne1?? Black wins: 32...gxh2+ 33.Kh1 Qxf1+ 34.Kxh2 Qg1+ 35.Kh3 Qg3#.

32...Rf8?!

• The passivity of Black's Queen's Rook has been an ongoing problem, but it shouldn't be solved by simply moving it.
• If 32...gxh2+ then:
• 33.Kh1 exf3 34.Raxf3 Qxe6 35.Rf4 Qe7 36.Re1 Qd6 is equal.
• 33.Kxh2? Rf8 34.e7 Qxe7 35.Re1 Rg6 36.Ng1 Qh4+ gives Black a strong attack.
• 32...exf3 33.Raxf3 gxh2+ transposes into the note to Black's 31st move.

33.h3?!

• If 33.e7 Qxe7 34.h3 Rgf7 35.Qe1 g2 36.Rf2 then:
• If 36...Kh7 37.Re3 is equal.
• 36...exf3 37.Qxe7 Rxe7 38.Raxf3 Rxf3 39.Rxf3 gives both sides active Rooks.

33...g2 34.Re1?

• This frees the Knight.
• If 34.Rf2 exf3 35.e7 Qxe7 36.Raxf3 Rxf3 37.Rxf3 Qe4 then:
• 38.Re3 Qf5 39.Qe2 favors White, who can defend his back rank or attack his opponent's as he chooses.
• If 38.Rc3 b5 39.Rc8+ Kh7 then:
• 40.Qc2 Re7 41.Qxe4+ Rxe4 42.Kxg2 Rxd4 43.Rc7+ clearly favors White, who gains an advanced passer on the next move.
• If 40...Kg6 then:
• 41.Qxe4+ dxe4 42.Kxg2 Rd7 43.Rc6+ Kf5 44.Rc5+ leads to a position where White is a pawn to the good.
• 41.Rc5?! Qxc2 42.Rxc2 Kf5 43.Rd2 Rg6.

34...exf3!

• There is no second-best move here. This is the only move that wins.

35.Qf2 Qf5 36.Kh2

• 36.Rxf3 drops a Rook to 36...Qxf3 37.Qxf3 Rxf3 38.e7 Rf1+.

36...Qf4+ 37.Kg1 Qf5 38.Kh2 Qf4+

• The repetition of moves is an expediant to alleviate time trouble.

39.Kg1 Rg3 40.e7

• If 40.Re2 fxe2 41.Qxg3+ then:
• 41...Kh8 42.Qxf4 Rxf4 43.Re3 Re4 costs White the Rook to prevent the e-pawn from queening.


• 41...Qxg3 42.Rxg3+ Kh7 43.Re3 Rf1+ wins the White Rook.

BLACK: Ivan Cheparinov
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WHITE: Bu Xiangzhi
Position after 40.e6e7

40...Rxh3!!

• Black takes the scenic route to victory.
• After 40...Re8 41.Re2 Rxh3 White must surrender the Queen or submit to checkmate.

41.exf8Q+ Kxf8 42.Rxf3 Rxf3 43.Re2 Kf7 44.b5 Kf6 0-1

• Zugzwang!
• Grandmaster Bu resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Games fro Tulsa

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]

6. Gulko - Kaufman, Round 1

Boris Gulko is the only person to win both the Soviet and US chess championships.



Boris Gulko
Photo: ChessBase.com


Boris Gulko - Larry Kaufman
US Championships (Genaral Competition), Round 1
Tulsa, 13 May 2008

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

1.c4 Nf6 2.d4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bg5 Ne4 5.Bh4

• If 5.Bf4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 c5 8.e3 0-0 9.cxd5 cxd4 10.cxd4 Qxd5 11.Be2 then:
• If 11...Nc6 12.0-0 Bf5 13.Qa4 Qa5 then:
• If 14.Qxa5 Nxa5 15.Rfc1 Rfc8 then:
• 16.Nd2 Rxc1+ 17.Rxc1 Rc8 18.Rxc8+ Bxc8 19.d5 Bc3 20.Nb1 Bb4 21.e4 f5 22.Bb8 Bc5 23.e5 e6 24.Bc7 b6 25.Nc3 exd5 26.Nxd5 Be6 27.Nc3 draw (Javakashvili-Ushenina, ITW, Istanbul, 2008).
• 16.Kf1 Nc6 17.Ke1 Bf8 18.a3 Na5 19.Nd2 Bc2 draw (Volkov-Leko, FIDE Knock Out, New Delhi, 2000).
• 14.Qb3 Qb4 15.Rfc1 Rac8 16.Bb5 Be6 17.Qd3 Qa5 18.a3 Bd5 19.Rab1 Ba2 20.Ra1 Bd5 21.Rab1 Ba2 draw (Bareev-Kasparov, IT, Sarajevo, 1999).
• 11...Qa5+ 12.Qd2 Nc6 13.Qxa5 Nxa5 14.Bc7 b6 15.Kd2 Bb7 16.Rhc1 Rac8 17.Bb5 Bc6 18.Bxc6 Rxc7 19.Bb5 Rfc8 20.Ba6 Rxc1 21.Rxc1 Rxc1 22.Kxc1 e6 23.Kc2 f6 24.Nd2 Kf7 25.Ne4 Bf8 26.Nc3 Bd6 is equal (Chiburdanidze-Mecking, IT, Bozna, 2007).

5...Nxc3 6.bxc3 dxc4 7.Qa4+

• If 7.e3 Be6 then:
• If 8.Qb1 then:
• 8...b6 9.Nf3 Bg7 10.Ng5 Bd5 11.e4 h6 12.exd5 hxg5 13.Qb5+ Qd7 14.Qxd7+ Nxd7 15.Bxg5 b5 16.Rb1 a6 17.a4 Nb6 18.axb5 axb5 19.Rxb5 Ra1+ 20.Ke2 Ra2+ draws by repetition if Black is willing (Su.Polgar-Smejkal, Trencianske Teplice, 1985).
• If 8...Qd5 9.Nf3 Qa5 10.Qb2 Nd7 11.Be2 Nb6 12.0-0 then:
• 12...Bg7 13.Nd2 c5 14.Nb3 Qb5 15.Qa3 Qa4 16.Qxa4+ Nxa4 17.Nxc5 Nxc5 18.dxc5 Bxc3 19.Rab1 b6 gives Black a small advantage in space (Sargissian-Vachier Lagrave, Ol, Torino, 2006).
• 12...Na4 13.Qxb7 Bd5 14.Qb1 Nxc3 15.Qe1 Bg7 16.e4 Nxe2+ 17.Qxe2 Be6 18.d5 Bxa1 19.dxe6 Bf6 20.e5 Bxh4 21.exf7+ Kxf7 22.Qxc4+ Kg7 23.Qxh4 Rae8 24.Qc4 Rhf8 25.Rc1 Rxf3 26.gxf3 Qxe5 27.Qxc7 Qf6 28.Re1 Qxf3 29.Rxe7+ Rxe7 30.Qxe7+ Kg8 31.Qd7 Qa3 draw (S. Atalik-Predojevic, IT, Sarajevo, 2004).
• If 8.Rb1 b6 9.Nf3 Bg7 10.Nd2 0-0 then:
• 11.Be2 c5 12.0-0 cxd4 13.exd4 Nd7 14.Nxc4 Nf6 15.Ne5 Rc8 16.c4 Ne4 17.Rc1 Nd6 18.d5 Bxe5 19.dxe6 f5 20.Re1 Rc5 gives Black a small advantage in space (Nogueiras-Sasikiran, Cyberspace, 2005).
• 11.Qf3 Bd5 12.e4 Bb7 13.Bxc4 c5 14.d5 Nd7 15.Qe3 Ne5 16.Be2 f5 17.f4 Nf7 18.exf5 gxf5 19.Bxe7 Re8 White resigns for after 20.Bxd8 Rxe3 21.Kf2 Rxc3 he loses material (Kovacevic-Iordachescu, Euro Ch, Kudasai, 2006).

7...Qd7 8.Qxc4 Bg7 9.e3 b6 10.Qb3 Bb7!?

• If 10...Ba6 11.Nf3 Bxf1 12.Kxf1 0-0 13.Ke2 then:
• 13...c5 14.Rhd1 cxd4 15.cxd4 Nc6 16.Rab1 Rac8 17.Qb5 Rfd8 18.h3 Na5 19.Qxd7 Rxd7 20.Bg3 Rc2+ 21.Rd2 Rc3 is equal (Speelman-Areshchenko, Op, Gibraltar, 2008).
• 13...Nc6 14.Rhd1 Na5 15.Qb4 Rfe8 16.Rac1 Rac8 17.Kf1 Qf5 18.c4 c5 19.Qa4 cxd4 20.exd4 Qe4 21.c5 Qc6 draw (Sorin-Predojevic, Ol, Calvia, 2004).

11.Nf3 0-0 12.Be2 c5 13.0-0 Nc6

• White has the advantage in space.

14.Rfd1

• 14.dxc5 bxc5 15.Qa3 Rfc8 16.Rfd1 Qf5 is equal.

14...cxd4 15.cxd4 Rac8 16.Rac1 e5?

• Black miscalculates, apparently believing that the opening of the center will be to his benefit. This mistake costs him a pawn.
• 16...e6 17.Bb5 Qd5 18.Bc4 Qh5 19.Qb5 Qxb5 20.Bxb5 gives White a considerable advantage in space.
• 16...Na5 17.Qb5 Qe6 18.a3 Rfd8 19.Ne5 Qd6 20.Qb2 gives White a small advantage in space.

17.dxe5!

• It is plain to see that the opening of the center favors White.

17...Qf5

• After 17...Qe8 White strengthens his position with 18.Qd5 Na5 19.Rxc8 Qxc8 20.Qd7 Qc2 21.e6.

BLACK: Larry Kaufman
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WHITE: Boris Gulko
Position after 17...Qd7f5

18.Bd3!

• White gains tiem to advance the pawn.
• The text is better than 18.e6 Qxe6 19.Qxe6 fxe6 20.Bc4 Rfe8 21.Ng5 Nd8 White has no compensation after returning the pawn.

18...Qh5 19.e6 Na5

• 19...fxe6 20.Qxe6+ Kh8 21.Be2 Qa5 22.Qd7 gives White a strong attack on Black's queenside pieces.

20.exf7+ Kh8 21.Rxc8 Bxc8

• If 21...Rxc8 then White wins by 22.Qe6 Qc5 23.Bf1 Rf8 24.Rd8.

22.Qc2 Bg4 23.Be7 Rxf7

• If 23...Bxf3 then White has an easy win after 24.gxf3 Qe5 25.Bxf8 Bxf8 26.f4 Qf6 27.Qc7.

BLACK: Larry Kaufman
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WHITE: Boris Gulko
Position after 23...Rf8f7:p

24.Bc4!!

• This elegant line-clearing sacrifice is the icing on the cake.

24...Nxc4 25.Rd8+ Bf8 26.Bxf8 Rxf8 27.Rxf8+ Kg7 28.Rf4 b5

• If 28...Ne5 then 29.Qc3 Bxf3 30.Rxf3 Kh6 31.Rh3 wins a piece.

29.Qc3+ Kh6 30.Rf7 Bxf3

• After 30...Ne5 White wins by 31.Nxe5 Bf5 32.Nf3 Qg5 33.Qh8 with mate to follow soon.

31.Qg7+ Kg5 32.Rxf3 1-0

• If 32...Qh4 33.Qf6+ Kh5 34.Rh3 finsihes the game.
• Mr. Kaufman resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Becerra - Fedorowicz, Round 2

Julio Becerra
Photo: from the website of the United States Chess League


Julio Becerra - John Fedorowicz
US Championships (General Competition), Round 2
Tulsa, 14 May 2008

Open Sicilian Game: Taimanov Defense

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

• If 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Bb4 7.Nxc6 then:
• If 7...bxc6 8.Bd3 e5 9.0-0 0-0 then:
• If 10.Qc2 Bc5 then:
• If 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bh4 d6 13.Kh1 g5 14.Bg3 Nh5 15.Be2 g4 16.Rad1 Qg5 17.Na4 Bd4 18.c5 d5 19.exd5 cxd5 20.Rxd4 Nxg3+ 21.hxg3 exd4 leaves Black an exchange to the good(Borgo-Hoffman, Bartto, 2007).
• If 11.Rb1 a5 12.Na4 Bd4 13.c5 h6 14.Bd2 d5 15.Nb6 dxe4 16.Bxe4 Nxe4 17.Qxe4 Ba6 18.Nxa8 Bxf1 19.Rxf1 Qxa8 20.Qc2 Qa7 21.b4 axb4 22.Bxb4 Ra8 is equal (van Weersel-Muhren, Dutch Ch, Leeuwarden, 2005).
• If 10.Bg5 h6 11.Bh4 Bxc3 12.bxc3 g5 13.Bg3 Qa5 14.h4 Kg7 15.hxg5 hxg5 16.Qd2 Nh7 17.Be2 Qc5 18.Rfd1 Rb8 19.Bg4 f6 20.Bf5 gives Black more space, but his pieces are uncoordinated and his propects to adding to that advantage aren't good (Benjamin-Feygelson, Op, Philadelphia, 1995).
• If 10.f4 d6 11.Na4 exf4 12.Bxf4 Ng4 13.Be2 Ne5 14.c5 Qa5 15.Rc1 Ba6 16.Bxa6 Qxa6 17.Bxe5 dxe5 18.Rf5 Rad8 19.Qb3 Qe2 20.Rf2 Qxe4 21.Rcf1 Rd2 gives Black a huge advantage in space (van Weersel-Dworakowska, Euro Ch, Kusadasi, 2006).
• If 7...dxc6 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Bd2 e5 10.Bd3 Ke7 11.Ke2 Rd8 12.Rhd1 Be6 13.Nd5+ Nxd5draw (Gretarsson-Teske, Euro ChT, Sanit Vincent, 2005).

5...Qc7 6.Be3 a6 7.Bd3

• If 7.Qd2 Nf6 then:
• If 8.0-0-0 Bb4 9.f3 then:
• If 9...0-0 10.g4 b5 then:
• If 11.h4 Ne5 then:
• 12.h5 Bb7 13.h6 g6 14.g5 Ne8 15.Be2 Rc8 16.Nb3 is equal (Smith-Stellwagen, IT, Malmø, 2008).
• 12.a3 Be7 13.h5 b4 14.Na2 bxa3 15.b3 Bb7 16.g5 Ne8 17.Rg1 Rc8 is equal (Anand-J. Polgar, Canada de Calatrava. 2007).
• 11.g5 Nh5 12.Kb1 Nxd4 13.Qxd4 Bxc3 14.Qxc3 Qxc3 15.bxc3 d5 16.Be2 g6 17.exd5 exd5 18.Rhe1 Re8 19.Bd3 Bd7 is equal (Anand-J. Polgar, Canada de Calatrava. 2007).
• 9...Ne5 10.Nb3 b5 11.Kb1 Be7 12.Qf2 d6 13.Bb6 Qb8 14.Bd4 0-0 15.g4 Bb7 16.g5 Nfd7 17.Rg1 b4 18.Ne2 Rc8 19.Ng3 a5 20.f4 a4 21.Nc1 Nc6 22.Be3 b3 23.cxb3 axb3 24.a3 Na5 25.f5 Qc7 26.Bd3 Ne5 gives Black a narrow edge in space and better minor pieces (Sebag-Sulypa, Bois Colombes, 2004).
• If 8.f3 d6 9.0-0-0 Be7 10.g4 then:
• If 10...0-0 11.g5 Nd7 12.h4 Nxd4 13.Bxd4 b5 14.Kb1 then:
• If 14...b4 15.Na4 Bb7 then:
• 16.b3 Bc6 17.Nb2 a5 18.h5 Ne5 19.Be2 f5 20.gxf6 Bxf6 21.Nc4 d5 22.Nb6 Rad8 23.exd5 Bxd5 24.Qe3 Ng4 25.Nxd5 Nxe3 26.Nxc7 Bxd4 27.Nxe6 Nxd1 28.Rxd1 Bf6 29.Nxd8 Rxd8 30.Rxd8+ draw (Leko-Svidler, IT, Linares, 2006).
• 16.Qxb4 Bc6 17.Nc3 Rfb8 18.Qc4 Ne5 19.Qe2 Bb5 20.Nxb5 axb5 21.c3 Nc4 22.b3 Qa5 23.Rh2 e5 24.Be3 Na3+ 25.Kb2 b4 is equal (Iordachescu-Gelfand, IT, Bermuda, 2004).
• 14...Rb8 15.h5 b4 16.Ne2 Ne5 17.f4 Nc4 18.Qd3 e5 19.Nc1 Bg4 20.Qxc4 Qxc4 21.Bxc4 Bxd1 22.Rxd1 exd4 23.Nb3 g6 24.Nxd4 gives White more spacer and the initiative for the exchange (Tiviakov-van Wely, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 1994).
• If 10...Ne5 11.g5 Nfd7 12.f4 Nc4 13.Bxc4 Qxc4 then:
• 14.f5 Ne5 15.f6 gxf6 16.gxf6 Bxf6 17.Rhf1 Be7 18.Bg5 Nd3+ 19.cxd3 Qxd4 20.Bxe7 Kxe7 21.Qg5+ Ke8 22.e5 Qxe5 23.Qh4 h6 24.Ne4 is unclear: White has more space and the initiative in return for two pawns (Tseitlin-W. Schmidt, Slupsk, 1978).
• 14.Kb1 b5 15.Rhe1 b4 16.Na4 Rb8 17.f5 Ne5 18.f6 gxf6 19.gxf6 Bd8 20.Bf4 Qc7 21.Bxe5 dxe5 22.Nc6 Bxf6 23.Nxb8 Qxb8 24.Nc5 Be7 25.Nd3 a5 26.Qh6 Black resigns (Svidler-Maksimenko, Tivat, 1995).
• If 7.f4 b5 then:
• If 8.Qf3 Bb7 9.Bd3 then:
• If 9...Nf6 10.g4 d6 11.0-0-0 Be7 12.Kb1 Nd7 13.g5 0-0 then:
• 14.h4 Nc5 15.Nce2 Rac8 16.h5 Nxd4 17.Nxd4 f5 18.gxf6 Bxf6 19.Qg4 e5 20.Ne6 Nxe6 21.Qxe6+ Kh8 22.h6 g6 23.Rhf1 Qe7 24.Qb3 exf4 25.Bxf4 Be5 yielding a position in perfect balance (Smeets-Stellwagen, Dutch Ch, Hilversum, 2008)
• 14.Nxc6 Qxc6 15.Rhe1 Nc5 16.Qh3 Nxd3 17.cxd3 Rfe8 18.f5 exf5 19.exf5 Qf3 20.Qxf3 Bxf3 21.Rc1 b4 22.Ne4 d5 23.Ng3 Bd6 24.f6 gives White the advantage in space (Rogers-Mozny, IT, Biel, 1990).
• 9...Rc8 10.Nb3 Nf6 11.Qh3 Bb4 12.0-0 Ne7 13.e5 Bxc3 14.bxc3 Ne4 15.a4 Nxc3 16.axb5 axb5 17.f5 exf5 18.Ra7 Qb8 19.Bxf5 Nxf5 20.Qxf5 0-0 21.Qxd7 Rc7 22.Qd2 b4 although White leads in the space count, the advantage goes to Black because his advanced forces are more stable, especially the Knight at c3 (Negi-Stellwagen, World Jr Ch, Yerevan, 2007).
• 8.Be2 Bb7 9.a3 Nf6 10.0-0 Bc5 11.Qd3 Qb6 12.Rad1 Nxd4 13.Bxd4 d5 14.exd5 draw (Berczes-Puschmann, First Saturday, Budapest, 06.2001).
• 8.Nxc6 Qxc6 9.Be2 Bb7 10.Bf3 Rc8 11.a3 Qc4 12.Qd3 Nf6 13.0-0 Bc5 14.Bxc5 Qxd3 15.cxd3 Rxc5 16.Rac1 0-0 17.Nd5 d6 18.b4 Rxc1 19.Nxf6+ gxf6 20.Rxc1 Rc8 21.Rxc8+ Bxc8 gives White better pawn structure, but there's no win in this position (Dr. Nunn-Illescas, IT, Linares, 1988).
• 8.Nb3 d6 9.Bd3 Nf6 10.Qf3 Bb7 11.0-0 Be7 12.Qh3 Nb4 13.a3 Nxd3 14.cxd3 Rc8 15.Rac1 Qd8 16.Nd4 0-0 17.g4 Nd7 18.b4 Bf6 19.Nce2 Rxc1 20.Rxc1 e5 21.Nf5 exf4 22.Nxf4 gives White a huge advantage in space (Negi-Mamedov, Op, Dubai, 2004).

7...Nf6 8.0-0 Ne5 9.f4

• If 9.h3 Bc5 then:
• If 10.Kh1 d6 11.f4 Ng6 12.Qe1 then:
• If 12...0-0 13.f5 Ne5 14.Qh4 then:
• If 14...Bd7 then:
• If 15.Rf3 Nxf3 16.gxf3 Qd8 then:
• 17.e5 dxe5 18.Rg1 exf5 19.Rxg7+ Kxg7 20.Bh6+ Kh8 21.Bg5 Be7 22.Nxf5 Rg8 23.Nxe7 Rxg5 24.Ncd5 Rg7 25.Nxf6 Qxe7 26.Bxh7 Qxf6 27.Qxf6 Kxh7 28.Qxe5 Re8 29.Qd4 Bxh3 White resigns as the game might continue 30.Qh4+ Kg8 31.Qxh3 Re1+! 32.Kh2 Re2+ 33.Kh1 Rh7 winning the White Queen (Harutjunyan-Aroshidze, Ebralidze Mem, Tbilisi, 2007).
• If 17.Rg1 Ne8 18.Rxg7+ Nxg7 19.f6 Kh8 20.Bg5 Bxd4 21.fxg7+ Bxg7 22.e5 h6 23.Qe4 f5 24.exf6 Black resigns as he is soon mated (Haznedaroglu-Iotov, Euro Ch, Antalya. 2004).
• If 15.g4 Qb6 16.g5 Nh5 17.Qxh5 Bxd4 18.Bxd4 Qxd4 19.Rf4 Qe3 20.Raf1 g6 21.Qh6 f6 22.fxg6 Nxg6 23.Rxf6 Rxf6 24.Rxf6 Nf4 White resigns for 25.Bf1 Qf2 threatens mate on f1 while 25.Rxf4 Qxf4 26.Qh5 Be8! 27.Qg4 Qxg4 28.hxg4 Rc8 leaves Black up by an exchange (Bakre-Horvath, Op, Calcutta, 2000).
• If 14...b5 15.Rf3 Nxf3 16.gxf3 Ne8 17.e5 g6 18.Rg1 d5 19.fxg6 fxg6 20.Bxg6 hxg6 21.Rxg6+ Ng7 gives Black a Rook for two pawns (Tissir-Stefansson, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).
• If 12...Bd7 13.f5 Ne5 14.Qh4 Qb6 15.Nce2 0-0-0 16.Bg1 exf5 17.b4 Qxb4 18.Rab1 Qa4 19.exf5 Rhe8 20.Nc3 Qa5 21.Ne4 Nxd3 22.cxd3 Nxe4 23.dxe4 Qa4 gives Black an extra pawn (Haznedaroglu-Ribli, Euro ChT, Saint Vincent, 2005).
• If 10.Qe2 d6 11.f4 Ng6 12.Nb3 Bxe3+ 13.Qxe3 0-0 14.Rae1 b5 15.e5 dxe5 16.Bxg6 hxg6 17.Qxe5 Qa7+ 18.Kh2 Bb7 19.Nc5 b4 20.Nxb7 bxc3 21.Nd6 cxb2 22.Qxb2 Rfd8 23.Ne4 Nd5 24.Qb3 Qc7 25.Qf3 Qxc2 gives Black an extra pawn (Hennings-Hort, Havana, 1971).

9...Neg4 10.Bd2 Bc5 11.Nce2 e5

• 11...d6 12.h3 e5 13.c3 Ba7 14.hxg4 Bxg4 15.Be3 exd4 16.Bxd4 0-0 17.Bxa7 Rxa7 18.Qd2 Re8 19.Ng3 Qc5+ 20.Qf2 b6 21.Qd4 Bc8 is equal (Movsesian-Milos, World Cup, Shenyang, 2000).

12.fxe5 Qxe5?!

• 12...Nxe5 13.Kh1 d5 14.exd5 Nxd5 15.Nf4 Nf6 16.Nf5 Bxf5 17.Bxf5 0-0 18.Bc3 Rad8 19.Qe2 Bd4 20.Bxd4 Rxd4 21.c3 draw (Groszpeter-Flumbort, IT, Paks (Hungary), 2001).

BLACK: John Fedorowicz
!""""""""#
$t+v+l+ T%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Julio Becerra
Position after 12...Qc7e5:p

13.Bf4!!

• White permits the taking of his Knight with check in order to take possession of an open diagonal, gain a tempo on the Queen and seize the initiative.

13...Bxd4+ 14.Kh1!

• After 14.Nxd4 Qxd4+ 15.Kh1 Nf2+ 16.Rxf2 Qxf2 17.Bg3 Qe3 Black is a piece to the good.

14...Qc5

• If 14...Nxe4 then:
• 15.Bxe4 Qxe4 16.Qxd4 Qxd4 17.Nxd4 0-0 is equal.
• If 15.Bxe5 Nef2+ 16.Rxf2 Nxf2+ 17.Kg1 then:
• 17...Be3 18.Qc1 Bxc1 19.Kxf2 Bh6 20.Bd6 gives White a small advantage in space and presents Black with difficulties in development.
• 17...Nxd1+ 18.Bxd4 Nxb2 19.Bxb2 0-0 20.Nf4 b5 21.Re1 gives White the advantage in space.

15.Nxd4 Qxd4?

• 15...g5! 16.e5 gxf4 17.exf6 Ne3 18.Nb3 Qe5 19.Qe2 is equal.

16.e5!!

• If 16.Bg3 Ne5 then:
• If 17.c3 Qxd3 18.Bxe5 Qxd1 19.Raxd1 Nxe4 20.Rf4 Nc5 leaves Black with an extra piece.
• 17.Rb1 0-0 18.Bxe5 Qxe5 19.Rf5 Qd4 20.c3 Qe3 Black remains up by a piece.

16...Nf2+ 17.Rxf2 Qxf2 18.exf6!

• The position favors White: Black has the exchange, but lags in development and, apart from that hit by the Queen at f2, possesses no space,
• 18.Bg3 Ne4 19.Bxe4 Qe3 20.Bd5 0-0 21.Qh5 a5 22.Rf1 g6 23.Qd1 Qh6 24.Bf4 White is still an exchange down, but has a comfortable advantage in space (Zarnicki-Sanchez, IT, Cali, 2001).

18...d6

• If 18...d5 19.fxg7 Rg8 20.Qe1+ Qxe1+ 21.Rxe1+ then:
• 21...Be6 22.Bh6 Kd7 23.Bxh7 clearly favors White.
• 21...Kd8 22.Bh6 Be6 23.Bxh7 forces Black to return the exchange.
• If 18...gxf6 19.Qg4 then:
• If 19...Kd8 20.Qg7 Qxf4 21.Qxh8+ Kc7 22.Rf1 Qe5 23.Qxf6 Black will not be able to save his kingside pawns.
• After 19...d5 White wins a pawn by 20.Qg7 Qxf4 21.Qxh8+ Ke7 22.Re1+ Kd7 23.Qxh7.

19.Qe1+ Qxe1+ 20.Rxe1+ Be6 21.fxg7 Rg8 22.Bh6 Kd7

• If 22...0-0-0 23.a4 d5 24.c3 then:
• 24...Kd7 25.Bxh7 Rh8 26.gxh8Q Rxh8 27.Bc2 Rxh6 28.Kg1 leaves White a pawn to the good.
• 24...Rde8 25.Bxh7 Rh8 26.gxh8Q Rxh8 27.Bc2 Rxh6 28.Kg1 is little different from the main lin in this variation.

23.Bxh7 Rge8

• 23...Rh8 24.gxh8Q Rxh8 25.Be4 Rxh6 26.Bxb7 gives White two extra pawns.

24.Bg5 Bxa2 25.Rxe8 Rxe8 26.h4 f6

• If 26...Re1+ 27.Kh2 f6 then 28.b3! Re8 29.Bxf6 is strong for White.

27.Bxf6 Bg8 28.Bf5+ 1-0

• After 28.Bf5+ Kc6 29.h5 Re1+ 30.Kh2 Rf1 31.g4 Black cannot stop a pawn frm queening:
• If 31...Kd5 32.Kg3 then:
• 32...Rg1+ 33.Kf4 Rf1+ 34.Kg5 Rf2 35.h6.
• 32...Re1 33.h6 Re3+ 34.Kh4 Re1 35.Kg5.
• 31...Rf2+ 32.Kg3 Re2 33.h6 Re3+ 34.Kf2 Rh3 35.g5.
• Mr. Fedorowicz resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Tuvshingtugs - Krush, Round 3

Irina Krush
Photo: Wikipedia Commons


Chimi Tuvshintugs - Irina Krush
US Championships (Women's Competition), Round 3
Tulsa, 15 May 2008

Open Sicilian Game: O'Kelly Defense

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 a6

• The O'Kelly Defense is a specialty of the US women's champion.

3.c4 Nc6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 e5

• If 5...Nf6 6.Nc3 then:
• If 6...e5 then:
• 7.Nf5 d5 8.cxd5 Bxf5 9.exf5 Nd4 10.Bg5 Qa5 11.Bxf6 gxf6 12.Bd3 Bb4 13.0-0 Bxc3 14.bxc3 Qxc3 15.Rc1 Qa5 16.Qg4 gives White the advantage in space (A. Muzychuk-Cramling, Euro ChT, Gothenborg, 2005).
• 7.Nc2 Bc5 8.Be2 0-0 9.0-0 Nd4 10.Bg5 Ne6 11.Bh4 Be7 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.Bg4 d6 14.Ne3 Nd4 15.Bxc8 Rxc8 16.Qd3 Bg5 17.Nf5 is equal (Chirila-Ljangov, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).
• If 6...d6 7.Be2 e6 8.0-0 Be7 9.Be3 0-0 then:
• 10.Rc1 Bd7 11.f3 Nxd4 12.Qxd4 Qb8 13.Rfd1 Rd8 14.Qd2 b5 15.Bf1 bxc4 16.Bxc4 Bc6 17.Qf2 Qb7 18.Bf1 e5 19.Bc4 gives White the advantage in space (Bondoc-Ionescu, Op, Bucharest, 2001).
• 10.Qd2 Bd7 11.f3 Rb8 12.Rfd1 Qc7 13.Rac1 Ne5 14.Bf1 Rfc8 15.b3 b6 16.Qf2 Qb7 17.a4 Ng6 18.g3 d5 19.exd5 exd5 20.Nxd5 Nxd5 21.cxd5 Ne5 is equal (Lehmann-Szabo, Solingen, 1974).

If 5...e6 6.Nc3 Qc7 then:

• If 7.Be2 Nf6 8.0-0 Bb4 9.Nxc6 dxc6 then:
• If 10.Qd3 e5 11.Nd1 0-0 12.Be3 Nd7 13.a3 Bc5 14.b4 Bxe3 15.Nxe3 Re8 16.c5 Nf8 17.Nc4 Rd8 18.Qc3 Rd4 19.Nd6 Ne6 20.f4 f6 21.Bc4 Kh8 22.fxe5 fxe5 23.Rf7 Qd8 24.Raf1 Bd7 25.Qg3 Ng5 26.Qxg5 Black resigns (Kosteniuk-Lomineishvili, IT, Dresden, 1999).
• 10.Qc2 0-0 11.Be3 Bxc3 12.bxc3 c5 13.f4 b6 14.e5 Nd7 15.Rad1 Bb7 16.Rd6 Rfd8 17.Rfd1 Nf8 18.Qd3 Rxd6 19.Qxd6 Qc6 20.Qxc6 Bxc6 21.Rd6 Rc8 gives White the advantage in space (Sargissian-Mastrovasilis, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).
• 7.Be3 Nf6 8.a3 Ne5 9.Be2 Ng6 10.0-0 b6 11.f4 d6 12.Rc1 Be7 13.g4 h6 14.Rf2 Bb7 15.f5 Nf8 16.Bf3 N6d7 17.Qa4 Rc8 18.fxe6 fxe6 19.Be2 Bf6 20.Rcf1 Kf7 21.Qc2 Kg8 22.Qd2 Re8 23.g5 hxg5 24.Bxg5 Bxg5 25.Qxg5 Qc5 26.Qe3 gives White the advantage in space (Velimirovic-Dizdarevic, IT, Sarajevo, 1986).

6.Nf5

• 6.Nc2 Bc5 then:
• 7.Bd3 d6 8.0-0 Qf6 9.Nc3 Nge7 10.Be3 Qg6 11.Kh1 0-0 12.Nd5 f5 13.Nxe7+ Nxe7 14.exf5 Bxf5 15.Bxf5 Qxf5 16.b4 Bxe3 17.Nxe3 Qe6 18.Qd2 gives White better pawn structure, but otherwise the game is equal (Schmied-C. Christensen, Politiken Cup, Helsignor, 2007)
• 7.Nc3 Nge7 8.a3 d6 9.b4 Ba7 10.Be3 Bxe3 11.fxe3 0-0 12.Bd3 Be6 13.0-0 Nc8 14.Qe2 Nb6 15.Ne1 h6 16.h3 a5 17.Nc2 axb4 18.axb4 Qh4 19.Nd5 Nd7 is equal (Kovchan-Turov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2008).

6...d6 7.Bd3

• 7.Nc3 g6 8.Ne3 Bg7 9.g3 Nge7 10.Bg2 0-0 11.0-0 Rb8 12.f4 exf4 13.gxf4 f5 14.exf5 Bxf5 15.Ned5 Nxd5 16.Bxd5+ Kh8 17.Be3 Re8 18.Bf2 Nb4 is equal (Chandler-Johansen, Melbourne, 1983).

7...g6 8.Ne3 Nf6

• 8...Bg7 9.Nc3 Nge7 10.Ned5 Nxd5 11.Nxd5 0-0 12.Be3 gives White the advantage in space.

9.Nc3 Bg7 10.Ned5

• 10.0-0 0-0 11.b3 b6 12.Bb2 Bb7 13.Rc1 Rc8 14.Qd2 Bh6 is equal.

10...Nxd5 11.Nxd5 0-0 12.h4

• If 12.Be3 f5 13.0-0 fxe4 14.Bxe4 then:
• If 14...Qh4 15.f3 Bf5 16.Bf2 Qg5 17.Qb3 Rf7 18.Be3 Qh4 is equal.
• 14...Rb8 15.Bb6 Qh4 16.f3 Be6 17.Bc7 Rbc8 18.Bxd6 gives White an extra pawn.

12...h5 13.Bg5 f6 14.Be3 Be6 15.Bb6!?

• 15.0-0 Rc8 16.g3 Qe8 17.Be2 Kh7 18.Bb6 Qf7 19.Rc1 f5 20.exf5 Bxf5 is equal (Kotronias-Krush, IT, Guasdal (Norway), 2008).

15...Qd7 16.Nc7

• 16.0-0 Ne7 17.Be3 Bxd5 18.cxd5 f5 19.Qf3 Qa4 is equal.

16...Rac8 17.Nxe6 Qxe6 18.0-0

• 18.b3 Nd4 19.0-0 Qg4 20.Qxg4 hxg4 21.Rfe1 Rc6 22.Bxd4 gives White better pawn structure.

18...Kh7 19.a3 Ne7 20.Be3 Bh6 21.b3

• 21.Bxh6 Kxh6 22.Qd2+ Kg7 23.Qb4 Qd7 24.Rad1 gives White the advantage in space.

21...Bxe3 22.fxe3 Ng8 23.Ra2

• 23.Qd2 Qg4 24.Qf2 Ne7 25.Be2 Qe6 is equal.

23...Nh6 24.Be2 f5 25.Qd3

• 25.Rd2 Rc6 26.Bf3 Qe7 27.Qe1 Rb6 28.exf5 Nxf5 29.Bd1 gives White more activity.

25...Rf6

• If 25...b5 then:
• If 26.cxb5 axb5 27.Qxb5 Qe7 then:
• 28.Qb4 Qxh4 29.exf5 Qxb4 30.fxg6+ Kxg6 31.axb4 Rxf1+ 32.Kxf1 is equal.
• 28.Qa4 Rc3 29.exf5 Rxf5 30.Qa5 Rxb3 is equal.
• 26.Rd2 bxc4 27.bxc4 fxe4 28.Qxe4 Rxf1+ 29.Bxf1 gives White a small advantage in space.

26.Bd1

• 26.Bf3 f4 27.exf4 exf4 28.Raf2 Rcf8 gives Black a small advantage in space.

26...Rcf8 27.Raf2 f4 28.Qd5

• 28.exf4 Rxf4 29.Rxf4 Rxf4 30.Rxf4 exf4 is equal.

28...Qxd5 29.cxd5 Kg7

• Better is29...Ng4 when:
• If 30.Bxg4 hxg4 31.exf4 then:
• If 31...exf4 32.Re1 Re8 33.Rfe2 f3 then:
• After 34.Rf2 Rf4 35.gxf3 gxf3 36.Re3 Rexe4 37.Rxe4 Rxe4 38.Rxf3 Kg7 Black will win at least a pawn.
• 34.gxf3 Rxf3 35.e5 dxe5 36.Rxe5 Rxe5 37.Rxe5 Rxb3 gives Black an extra pawn.
• Black is clearly better after 32.Rc2 Kh6 33.Rc7 R6f7 34.Rxf7 Rxf7 35.Kf2 Re7.
• 30.Rf3? Nxe3 31.Re1 Kh6 32.Rf2 g5 makes Black's moble kingside a serious threat.

30.Rc2 R6f7 31.Bf3?!

• An easier defense is 31.exf4 exf4 32.Bf3 Ng4 33.Rc3 is equal.

31...Ng4 32.Bxg4 hxg4 33.Rcf2?

• 33.exf4 exf4 34.Rc4 Rh8 35.Rb4 Re8 36.Re1 remains equal.

BLACK: Irina Krush
!""""""""#
$ + + T +%
$+o+ +tL %
$o+ O +o+%
$+ +pO + %
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$ + + Rp+%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Chimi Tuvshintugs
Position after 33.Rc2f2

33...g3!

• 33...f3?! 34.gxf3 gxf3 35.Kh2 Kh6 36.Kg3 is equal.

34.Re2 Kh6 35.Rf3 Re8 36.Re1 Kh5 37.Kf1

• After 37.Ref1 Kg4 38.b4 Rh8 39.exf4 exf4 40.Rd1 Rxh4 Black will bring her other Rook to the h-file and penetrate White's King position.

37...Kxh4 38.Ke2 g5 39.Rh1+ Kg4 40.Rh6 Rc7 41.exf4

• 41.Rxd6 Rc2+ 42.Kd3 Rxg2 43.Rf1 f3 44.Re6 Rf2 is time for White to turn the lights out.

41...Rc2+ 42.Kf1 exf4 43.Re6 Rh8 0-1

• White cannot avoid checkmate.
• Ms. Tuvshingtugs resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Epstein - Tuvshingtugs, Round 1

Note: This is the Game of the Day for May 18 (today) on ChessGames.com, a really cool website which I highly recommend.



Chimi Tuvshingtugs
Photo: ChessBase.com


Esther Epstein - Chimi Tuvshintugs
US Championships (Women's Competition), Round 1
Tulsa, 13 May 2008

Royal Sardinian Game: Saragossa Opening (Vukovic Gambit) (Ponziani Opening)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3

• This opening idea is credited to the early eighteenth-century Italian master, Ponziani. The idea is simply to play this move before advancing the d-pawn in order to fortify White's classical pawn center. It is pedestrian and considered inferior. Nevertheless, it has had its champions over the years, including Chigorin, Euwe and Velimirovic.
• The move c2c3 appears in many King's pawn openings, such as the Sicilian Saragossa (Alapin) and the main line of the Spanish Grand Royal Game, so while your most humble hare does not recommend this opening for play, he recommends it for opening study. The strengths and weaknesses of the move are brought into high relief. It's strength was easily recognized by Ponziani; it's weakness is that it takes the c3 square away from White's Queen's Knight, presenting White with some development problems and an inability to counter an early Black initiative in the center.

3...Nf6

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

4.d4 Nxe4 5.d5 Bc5

• This move constitutes the Vukovic Gambit. It actually works very well for Black
• If 5...Ne7 6.Nxe5 Ng6 7.Qd4 Qf6 8.Qxe4 Qxe5 9.Qxe5+ Nxe5 10.Bf4 then:
• 10...d6 11.Na3 Be7 12.Bb5+ Bd7 13.0-0 0-0-0 14.Rfe1 Bxb5 15.Nxb5 a6 16.Nd4 Bf6 17.Rad1 Rhe8 18.Kf1 Nd7 19.Ne2 Re7 20.b3 Rde8 21.c4 Nc5 gives Black a slight advantage in space (Meier-Smejkal, Op, Munich, 1993).
• If 10...Bd6 11.Bg3 0-0 12.Nd2 f5 13.f3 f4 14.Bf2 Be7 15.Nc4 Nxc4 16.Bxc4 d6 17.Kd2 Bf6 18.a4 Bd7 19.a5 b5 20.Bd3 a6 21.Rac1 Rab8 22.b4 Rfe8 23.Rhe1 Rxe1 24.Bxe1 h6 25.Bf2 Rb7 26.Bg6 gives White a small advantage in space (Velimirovic-P. Littlewood, Borovo, 1980).

6.dxc6 Bxf2+

• 6...Nxf2 7.Qd5 d6 8.cxb7 Bxb7 9.Qxb7 Nxh1 10.Qc6+ Kf8 11.Be2 f6 12.b4 Bb6 13.Bc4 Nf2 14.Qd5 Qe8 15.Nh4 Rd8 16.b5 Ng4 17.Nf5 e4 18.Nd4 Bxd4 19.cxd4 Nxh2 20.Bf4 Ng4 21.Nc3 g5 22.Bxg5 Qh5 23.Bh6+ Black resigns as he must either lose his Queen or submit to mate (Brien-Falkbeer, London, 1855).

7.Ke2 Bb6!?

• If 7...bxc6 8.Qa4 f5 9.Nbd2 then:
• 9...0-0 10.Nxe4 fxe4 11.Kxf2 d5 12.Be3 exf3 13.g3 Qf6 14.Rd1 Bf5 15.Rd2 a5 16.h4 Qe6 is equal (Yudovich-Zamikhovsky, Muni Ch, Moscow, 1942).
• If 9...Nxd2?! 10.Bxd2 Bc5 then:
• 11.Kd1 Qf6 12.Qh4 Qxh4 13.Nxh4 d5 14.Nf3 Bd6 15.Kc2 f4 16.Nxe5 Bxe5 17.Re1 Bf5+ 18.Bd3 Bxd3+ 19.Kxd3 0-0 20.Rxe5 gives White a piece for two pawns (W. Schmidt-Friedl, German ChT, Germany, 2000).
• If 11.Re1 e4 12.Kd1 Be7 13.Bc4 Bf6 14.Rhf1 Bb7 15.Nd4 g6 16.Bb3 c5 17.Ne6 Qc8 18.Nxc5 Bc6 then:
• 19.Nxe4? Bxa4 20.Nxf6+ Kd8 21.Nd5 Bxb3+ 22.axb3 Qa6 gives Black a Quuen for two pieces (von Popiel-Wolf, Hanover, 1902).
• 19.Qa5! Rb8 20.g4 Rb5 21.Qxa7 Bh4 22.Re2 Qa8 23.Qxa8+ Bxa8 24.Be3 leaves White up a piece.

8.Qd5

• White plays the most energetic move at her disposal.
• 8.Be3 bxc6 9.Qa4 Nc5 10.Bxc5 Bxc5 11.Nbd2 is equal.

8...Nf2 9.Bg5?

• 9.Rg1 dxc6 10.Qxe5+ Kf8 11.Nd4 c5 12.Kxf2 cxd4 13.c4 nets White a piece for two pawns.

9...f6!

• Black turns the game around. The move attacks the Bishop and closes the diagonal.

10.Nxe5

• Black's ninth move did not protect the e-pawn. White threatens mate on f7.
• 10.cxb7 Bxb7 11.Qxb7 Nxh1 12.Bh4 c6 gives Black the advantage in that White's Queen is nearly entombed.

10...Qe7

• If 10...Rf8 11.cxb7 Bxb7 12.Qxb7 Rb8 13.Qf3 Qe7 then:
• 14.Be3 fxe5 15.Qxf2 Rxf2+ 16.Bxf2 Bxf2 gives Black a theoretical two pawn advantage in an asymmetical material balance.
• 14.Qd5 Nxh1 15.Qxd7+ Qxd7 16.Nxd7 Kxd7 17.Bc1 Bg1 leaves Black up by an exchange.

11.cxd7+ Bxd7 12.Qxd7+

• If 12.Bxf6? then:
• 12...Bg4+ 13.Kd2 gxf6 14.Bb5+ Kf8 15.Nd7+ Bxd7 16.Re1 Qf7 gives Black an extra piece.
• 12...gxf6 13.Qxd7+ Qxd7 14.Nxd7 Kxd7 15.Rg1 Nh3 16.gxh3 Bxg1 leaves Black an exchange to the good.

12...Qxd7 13.Nxd7 Kxd7 14.Be3 Rae8 15.Kxf2 Rxe3

• White still has an extra piece, but four of White's five pieces haven't moved; the only White piece not on its original square is the King, who is in the open and exposed to attack.
• Meanwhile, Black pieces enjoy free navigation on open lines.
• Compare the text to the game Lutt-Keres, given in its entirety in the notes to Black's third move.

BLACK: Chimi Tuvshintugs
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WHITE: Esther Epstein
Position after 15...Re8e3:B

16.g3 Rxc3+ 17.Ke2 Rc2+ 18.Kd3 Rxb2

• Black now has three pawns for the piece. .

19.Bh3+

• .. aand White finally develops a piece.

19...Ke7 20.Re1+ Kf7 21.Be6+ Kg6 22.Nc3 Rd8+?

• This is not a useful check. It only "forces" White to put his pieces on better squares.
• Better is 22...Rxh2 23.Nd5 Bf2 24.Rh1 Rxh1 25.Nf4+ Kg5 26.Rxh1 Bxg3 when Black has five pawns (count 'em) for a minor piece.

23.Nd5 Rb5 24.Ke4 Re8?

• White has fought back. This move puts Black in grave danger.
• 24...Rdxd5 25.Bxd5 f5+ 26.Ke5 c6 27.Rad1 Bc7+ 28.Ke6 cxd5 is equal.

25.Kf3 Ba5 26.Reb1?

• Black misses an opportunity and the position falls back to equality.
• If 26.Re4 h5 27.Bf5+ then:
• After 27...Kf7 28.Rxe8 Kxe8 29.Bg6+ Kd7 30.Rd1 Rb2 31.Nxf6+ White laps up loose pawns.
• After 27...Kxf5 28.Ne3+ Kg5 29.Rxe8 White is winning easily.

26...Rc5 27.Rxb7 Kh6 28.Bd7

• 28.Nf4 g5 29.Nd3 Rc3 30.Bf5 remains equal.

28...Rd8 29.Be6 Re8 30.Bd7 Re5

• 30...Rd8 31.Be6 Re8 32.Bd7 draws.

31.Nf4 Rc3+ 32.Kg4 g5 33.Rxa7 gxf4 34.gxf4 Rh5

• 34...Rc4 35.Bf5 Kg7 36.Bd3 Rd4 37.Rf1 Rc5 38.Bb1 is drawish.

35.Rh1?

• This loses immediately, but White's position is growing more difficult with each move.
• If 35.Ra6 Bb6 36.h4 Rd3 then:
• If 37.Bf5 Rd8 38.Bxh7 f5+ 39.Bxf5 Rg8+ 40.Kh3 Rxf5 gives Black a a piece for two pawns.
• After 37.Bc8 Rd8 38.Be6 f5+ 39.Kh3 Rd3+ 40.Kg2 Re3 Black wins at least a oawn.

BLACK: Chimi Tuvshintugs
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WHITE: Esther Epstein
Position after 35.Ra1h1

35...Bb6!

• 35...Rch3! 36.Ra6 Bb6 is a treansposition of moves.

36.Ra8 Rch3 37.Rf8 f5+ 0-1

• Black delivers checkmate on the next move.
Ms. Epstein resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Sunday afternoon update from Tulsa

Yury Shulman, originally from Soviet Belarus and now living in Chicago, took a one-point lead over his nearest rival in the general competition of the US chess championship in Tulsa, Oklahoma, by defeating Sergei Kudrin in 51 moves.

In the other top game in the general competition, Julio Becerra former champion Alex Onischuk played 26 moves to a draw.

Shulman has 5 points in six rounds while Kudrin, Becerra and Onischuk are tied for second for 4 points each.

In the women's competition, former women's champion Anna Zatonskih defeated Esther Epstein in 68 moves today to take sole possession of first place.

Defending women's champion Irina Krush, who entered today's sixth round tied for first, drew her game with Iryna Zenyuk to fall a half point behind Ms. Zatonskih.