The Jack Rabbit Chess Report (March 7): Gris and Chuckie Share First in Linares

[Jack Rabbit]

Grischuk, Ivanchuk Win Linares



Grandmasters Alexander Grischuk of Russia and Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine finished tied for first with 8 points each out of 14 rounds in the 26th Cuidad de Linares in Andalucía which was completed just a few minutes ago.

Both players drew their respective gamed today. For the entire event, Grischuk won three, lost one and drew ten while Ivanchuk won two games without a loss and drew twelve.

Norwegian grandmaster Magnus Carlsen finished third with 7½ points (three wins, two losses and nine draws). The reigning world champion and the defending tournament champion, Vishy Anand of India, was fourth with 7 points.

Linares uses a unique and complicated tie break system, so whether Grischuk or Ivanchuk is the actual tournament champion will be announced later.



Yuri Vovk Takes Cappelle la Grande

Ukrainian grandmaster Yuri Vovk won this year's edition of the Open Tourament in Cappelle la Grande in northern France competed yesterday with 7½ points out of a possible nine.

Vovk, 21, scored early and often, winning in each of the first five rounds and in six of the first seven.

GMs Viacheslav Zakhartsov (Russia), Marat Dzhumaev (Uzbekistan) and Pawel Jaracz (Poland) tied for second with 7 points each.



European Women's Grand Prix starts today in Istanbul



The FIDE Women's Grand Prix begins today in Istanbul among 12 of the world's top-ranked women players.

The copetitors are Koneru Humpy (India), Hou Yifan (China), former women's world champion Antoaneta Stefanova (Bulgaria), Pia Cramling (Sweden), Marie Sebag (France), the legendary former women's champion Maia Chiburdanidze (Georgia), Martha Fierro (Ecuador), Zhao Xue (China), Elena Danielian (Armenia), Shen Yang (China), Zeinab Mamedyarova (Azerbaijan) and Betul Yildiz (Turkey).

The tournament is an 11-game single round robin. It runs through Thursday, March 19.

In first round action just completed, Koneru defeated Pia, Stefanova won over Yildiz, la señorita Fierro beat Mamedyarova, Hou drew with Chiburdanidze, Zhao defeated her compatriot Shen, and Danielian bested Mlle. Sebag.



European Championships Begin in Budva and St. Petersburg



The general competition and the women's competition of the European Chess Championships will be played in separate venues starting this week for the first time since 2005.

The general event began yesterday in Budva, Montenegro with 316 competitors, including defending champion Sergei Tiviakov of Holland. Tiviakov won his first round game.

The women's event begins tomorrow in St. Petersburg with 174 partcipants, including defending champion and newlywed Katya Lahno of Ukraine.

Both tournaments end Thursday, March 19.



Calendar


European Individual Championships, Budva (Montenegro) 6-19 March.

Women's Grand Prix, Istanbul 7-19 March. Koneru, Hou Yifan, Stefanova, Cramling, Sebag, Chibudanidze, Zhao Xue, Danielian, Shen Yang, Z. Mamedyarova, Yildiz.

European Women's Championships, St. Petersburg 8-19 March.

Melody Amber Rapid/Blind Tournament, Nice 13-27 March.

Reykjavik Open 23 March.-2 April.

Dubai Open 3-13 April.

Gausdal Chess Classic (Norway) 7-15 April.

Foxwoods Open, Mashantucket, Connecticut 8-12 April.

Russian Club Cup (Team Championships), Sochi 30 April-12 May.

US Chess Championship, St. Louis May. Exact dates TBA.

MTel Masters, Sofia 9-19 May.

Asian Championships, Subic Freeprot (The Philippines) 12-23 May.

Chicago Open 22-25 May.

Aerosvit International Tournament, Foros (Ukraine) 9-20 June.

World Open, Philadelphia 29 June-5 July.

Canadian Open, Edmonton 11-19 July.

Czech Open, Pardubice 16 July-2 August.

Biel Chess Festival 18-31 July.

FIDE Grand Prix, Yerevan. 8-24 August.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. This week's games

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

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]

2. Aronian - Ivanchuk, Round 7, Linares

Vassily Ivanchuk
Photo: ChessBase.com


Levon Aronian - Vassily Ivanchuk
26th Ciudad de Linares, Round 7
Linares, 26 February 2009

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

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.Be3

• If 7.0-0 Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 then:
• If 9.Ne1 then:
• If 9...Nd7 then:
• If 10.f3 f5 then:
• If 11.g4 then:
• If 11...Kh8 then:
• If 12.h4 then:
• 12...c6 13.Kg2 Nf6 14.Nd3 b5 15.b3 Rb8 16.Nf2 b4 17.Na4 Bb7 18.Bg5 Qd7 gives Black a tactical edge (Eljanov-Radjabov, Grand Prix, Elista, 2008).
• If 12...a5 13.Nd3 Ng8 14.g5 h6 15.Kg2 Rf7 16.exf5 Rxf5 17.Ne4 Nf8 18.Be3 Bd7 19.Rh1 h5 20.Ng3 Rf7 21.f4 exf4 22.Nxf4 is equal (Michna-Zuriel, OlW, Dresden, 2008).
• If 12...Ng8 13.Ng2 a5 14.Be3 Nc5 15.Kh2 b6 16.Qc2 Bd7 17.Rh1 Qc8 18.exf5 gxf5 19.g5 f4 20.Bxc5 bxc5 is equal (Uhlmann-Rossmann, East German ChT, Jueterbog, 1985).
• If 12.Nd3 Ng8 13.Kh1 f4 14.Rg1 g5 15.Bd2 h5 16.h3 Rf6 17.Rc1 Rh6 18.Kg2 Bf8 19.b4 Ne7 20.c5 Ng6 21.cxd6 Bxd6 22.Nb5 Nf6 23.Nf2 Bd7 24.a4 draw (Cheparinov-Fedorov, World Cup, Khanty Mansyisk, 2005).
• If 11...Nf6 12.Nd3 c6 13.Be3 Kh8 14.h3 b5 15.Nb4 cxd5 16.Nbxd5 Nexd5 17.Nxd5 Bb7 18.Nxf6 Qxf6 19.cxb5 d5 20.exd5 Rad8 21.Bc4 gives White an extra pawn and extra space (Pinter-Sznapik, Zonal Trmt, Prague, 1985).
• If 11.Be3 f4 12.Bf2 g5 then:
• If 13.a4 Ng6 14.a5 then:
• 14...Rf7 15.b4 Nf6 16.c5 Bf8 17.cxd6 Bxd6 18.Nd3 Rg7 19.Nc5 Nf8 20.Nb5 g4 21.Bh4 h5 22.Bc4 Qe7 23.Kh1 a6 24.Nxc7 Qxc7 25.Bxf6 Rf7 26.Bg5 Nd7 27.Rc1 Nxc5 28.Be2 gives White more freedom (Korchnoi-J. Polgar, IT, Pamplona, 1990).
• 14...h5 15.Nb5 Nf6 16.Nxa7 Bd7 17.c5 g4 18.c6 g3 19.hxg3 fxg3 20.Bxg3 Rxa7 21.cxd7 h4 22.Bf2 Ra8 23.Nc2 Bh6 24.Ne3 gives White an extra pawn (Korchnoi-Xie Jun, TMatch, Prague, 1995).
• If 13.Rc1 Ng6 14.c5 Nxc5 15.b4 Na6 then:
• 16.Nb5 Bd7 17.Nxa7 h5 18.a4 Bh6 19.Rc4 Rf7 20.Nb5 Rg7 21.Kh1 Nf8 22.g3 fxg3 23.Bxg3 Ng6 is equal (S. Atalik-Timoshenko, Romanian ChT, Timisu de Sus, 1998).
• If 16.Nd3 Rf7 17.Nb5 Bd7 18.a4 h5 19.Nxa7 Bf8 20.Nb5 Rg7 21.Be1 c6 22.Nc3 Nc7 23.Nf2 Kh8 24.a5 Rb8 25.h3 Ne7 26.dxc6 bxc6 27.Na4 gives White the advantage in space (Peralta-Inarkiev, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2007).
• 16...h5 17.Nb5 Bd7 18.a4 Bh6 19.Rc3 b6 20.Be1 Rf7 21.Nf2 Nh4 22.Nxd6 cxd6 23.Bxa6 Qe8 24.Qe2 g4 25.fxg4 Rg7 26.h3 Qg6 27.Bb5 Bxb5 28.axb5 leaves White more space, but his pawns cannot advance (Piket-Kasparov, IT, Linares, 1997).
• If 10.Nd3 f5 11.Bd2 Nf6 12.f3 f4 13.c5 g5 then:
• 14.Rc1 Ng6 15.cxd6 cxd6 16.Nb5 Rf7 17.Qc2 Ne8 18.a4 h5 19.Nf2 Bf8 20.h3 Rg7 21.Qb3 Nh4 22.Rc2 g4 23.fxg4 Nf6 24.Be1 gives White an extra pawn (Ivanchuk-Cheparinov, IT, Sofia, 2008).
• 14.cxd6 cxd6 15.Nf2 Ng6 16.Qc2 Rf7 17.Rfc1 h5 18.h3 a6 19.a4 Bf8 20.a5 Bd7 21.Na4 Rc8 22.Qb3 Rxc1+ 23.Rxc1 g4 24.fxg4 hxg4 25.hxg4 Bxa4 26.Qxa4 gives White an extra pawn and more space (Kozul-Gislason, Euro ChT, Kallithea, 2008).
• If 9...Ne8 10.Be3 f5 11.f3 f4 12.Bf2 g5 13.c5 h5 14.a4 Rf6 15.cxd6 Nxd6 16.Nb5 a6 17.Nxd6 cxd6 18.Nd3 Rg6 19.Qb3 g4 20.Qb6 Qf8 21.Rfc1 Qf6 22.Be1 h4 23.Nf2 gxf3 24.Bxf3 h3 25.Rxc8+ Rxc8 26.Nxh3 Rb8 27.Rc1 gives White enough space and activity to compensate for a small material deficit (P. H. Nielsen-Kantsler, Euro Ch, Ohrid, 2001).
• If 9.b4 then:
• If 9...Nh5 then:
• If 10.Re1 f5 11.Ng5 Nf6 then:
• If 12.Bf3 c6 13.Be3 h6 14.Ne6 Bxe6 15.dxe6 fxe4 16.Nxe4 Nxe4 17.Bxe4 d5 18.cxd5 cxd5 19.Bc2 b6 20.Qg4 then:
• If 20...e4 21.Rad1 Qc7 22.Bb3 then:
• 22...Rf5 23.Rd2 Qc3 24.Qd1 Rd8 25.b5 Qc8 26.Bd4 Bxd4 27.Rxd4 Qc5 28.Re2 Rdf8 29.a4 Re5 30.h3 draw (Xu Jun-Ye Juangchuan, Tan Chin Nam Cup, Shanghai, 2001).
• If 22...Rad8 draw (Nyback-Radjabov, Euro ChT, Plovdiv, 2003).
• If 20...Rf6 21.Rad1 Qd6 22.Bb3 Rd8 23.b5 Qxe6 24.Qxe6+ Rxe6 is equal (Mikalevski-Klinova, Op, Gibraltar, 2008).
• If 12.f3 c6 then:
• If 13.Be3 Bh6 14.h4 cxd5 15.cxd5 Bd7 16.Qd2 f4 17.Bf2 Bxg5 18.hxg5 Nh5 19.Rec1 a6 20.b5 Nc8 21.bxa6 bxa6 22.Rab1 Qxg5 23.Rb7 Rf7 then:
• 24.Rcb1 Qd8 25.Qe1 g5 26.Rb8 Rxb8 27.Rxb8 g4 28.fxg4 Ng3 29.Bxg3 fxg3 30.Qxg3 gives White an extra pawn and more space (Xu Jun-Safin, Ol, Bled, 2002).
• 24.Bf1 Qd8 25.Qe1 g5 26.Nd1 Nf6 27.Rcc7 Rb8 28.Bxa6 Rxb7 29.Rxb7 g4 30.fxg4 Bxg4 31.Rxf7 Kxf7 is equal (van Wely-Nijboer, Dutch Ch, Leeuwarden, 2001).
• 13.Kh1 h6 14.Ne6 Bxe6 15.dxe6 Ne8 16.Qb3 Nc7 17.c5 d5 18.exd5 cxd5 19.Bb2 Qe8 20.a4 a6 21.Nxd5 Ncxd5 22.Rad1 Qc6 23.Bc4 Rfd8 24.Bxe5 Bxe5 25.Rxe5 Nf6 26.Ree1 b5 27.Qc3 Nfd5 28.Bxd5 Rxd5 is unclear: Black has a material advantage and White has more space (van Wely-Kotronias, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).
• If 10.g3 f5 11.Ng5 Nf6 12.f3 f4 13.b5 fxg3 14.hxg3 Nh5 then:
• If 15.Kf2 then:
• 15...Nf4 16.gxf4 exf4 17.Qd3 h6 18.Ne6 Bxe6 19.dxe6 Nc6 20.Rh1 Ne5 21.Qd2 Qg5 22.Rh3 Qf6 23.Nd5 Qxe6 24.Kg2 Qf7 25.Qxf4 Qd7 26.Qg3 Black resigns (van Wely-Dyachkov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2008).
• 15...h6 16.Ne6 Bxe6 17.dxe6 Rf6 18.c5 dxc5 19.Qd7 is equal.
• 15.Kg2 h6 16.Nh3 a6 17.Nf2 axb5 18.cxb5 Qe8 is equal.
• If 9...a5 10.Ba3 then:
• If 10...axb4 11.Bxb4 Nd7 12.a4 Bh6 13.a5 f5 14.Nd2 then:
• 14...Kh8 15.Bd3 Ng8 16.Qc2 Rf7 17.Na4 fxe4 18.Nxe4 Ndf6 19.Nac3 Bf5 20.Ng3 Bxd3 21.Qxd3 Qf8 22.Rab1 Qc8 23.Rb3 Qg4 24.f3 Qd4+ 25.Qxd4 exd4 26.Nd1 Bg7 27.Bd2 c6 28.dxc6 bxc6 29.Nf2 d5 30.Rc1 Bh6 31.Bxh6 Nxh6 32.cxd5 cxd5 33.Rd3 draw (Pelletier-Renet, Euro ChT, Pula, 1997).
• 14...Nf6 15.c5 Bxd2 16.Qxd2 fxe4 17.cxd6 cxd6 18.Nb5 Nf5 19.Rac1 Rf7 20.g4 Nd4 21.Nxd4 exd4 22.Qxd4 is equal (Kobalia-Ulko, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2002).
• 10...b6 11.bxa5 Nh5 12.Re1 f5 13.Bb4 bxa5 14.Ba3 Nf4 15.Bf1 fxe4 16.Nd2 Nd3 17.Bxd3 exd3 18.Nde4 Nf5 19.Qxd3 Nd4 20.Nb5 Rb8 21.Bc1 Bf5 is equal (Borsuk-Schoene, OlW, Dresden, 2008).

7...c6 8.d5

• If 8.0-0 Nbd7 then:
• If 9.d5 c5 10.Ne1 Ne8 then:
• 11.Nd3 f5 12.f4 b6 13.Qd2 Qe7 14.Bf3 g5 15.fxg5 f4 16.Bf2 Qxg5 17.b4 Ndf6 is equal (Batchuluun-Li Shilong, Asian Ch, Manila, 2007).
• 11.g4 f5 12.gxf5 gxf5 13.exf5 Nb6 14.Nf3 Bxf5 15.Ng5 Nf6 16.Kh1 Qe7 17.Rg1 Kh8 18.Rg3 e4 19.Qd2 Nfd7 is equal (Shen Yang-Li Shilong, Asian Ch, Manila, 2007).
• If 9.Qc2 Ng4 10.Bg5 f6 then:
• 11.Bd2 f5 12.exf5 gxf5 13.dxe5 dxe5 14.Ng5 Ndf6 15.Rad1 Qe7 16.c5 Kh8 17.b4 gives White a small advantage in space (Uhlmann-Knaak, IT, Halle, 1981).
• If 11.Bh4 Nh6 then:
• 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.b4 Nf7 14.Nd2 Qe7 15.c5 Re8 16.Nb3 gives White the advantage in space (Kotronias-Skalkotas, Op, Athens, 1988).
• 12.Rad1 Qe7 13.b4 Nf7 14.dxe5 dxe5 15.c5 Re8 16.Nd2 Nf8 17.f3 Ne6 18.Nb3 gives White the advantage in space (W. Schmidt-Ingo, Op, Dresden, 1993).

8...Ng4 9.Bg5 f6 10.Bh4 c5

• 10...h5 11.Nd2 Nh6 12.f3 c5 13.0-0 Nf7 14.Bd3 Bh6 15.Qe2 Na6 16.a3 Bg5 17.Bxg5 fxg5 18.Qe3 gives White the early advantage in space (Ioselani-Xie Jun, World ChW, Monte Carlo, 1993).

11.0-0 h5

• 11...Nh6 12.Ne1 Nd7 13.f3 Nf7 14.a3 Bh6 15.Bf2 f5 16.b4 b6 17.Nd3 Nf6 is equal (Socko-Maiwald, Bundesliga 0809, Dresden, 2008).

12.Ne1 Nh6!?

• If 12...Na6 13.h3 Nh6 then:
• If 14.a3 Nf7 15.Nd3 Bh6 16.b4 b6 then:
• 17.Rb1 Bf4 18.Bg3 Bxg3 19.fxg3 f5 20.exf5 Bxf5 21.g4 hxg4 22.hxg4 Bd7 23.Ne4 Kg7 24.Qd2 Rh8 25.bxc5 Nxc5 26.Ndxc5 dxc5 27.Qc3 Qe7 is equal (S. Pedersen-Jense, Danish Ch, Aalborg, 2006).
• 17.Re1 Bd7 18.Bf1 Nc7 19.Bg3 Kg7 20.Rb1 Qe7 21.bxc5 bxc5 22.Rb7 Qd8 23.Qc2 Qc8 24.Reb1 Nd8 25.R7b2 Nf7 26.Rb7 Nd8 27.R7b2 Nf7 draw (Sharavdorj-Ehlvest, Op, Philadelphia, 2006).
• 14.Nd3 Nb4 15.Nxb4 cxb4 16.Na4 g5 17.Bg3 h4 18.Bh2 Bd7 19.a3 a5 20.axb4 axb4 21.b3 allows White to target Black's weak pawns (Lenic-Seeman, Ol, Torino, 2006).

13.f3

• As is often the case with the King's Indian, White leaves the theoretical phase of the game with more space.

13...Nf7 14.Rb1

• If 14.Qc2 g5 15.Bf2 f5 16.exf5 then:
• After 16...Na6 17.a3 h4 18.Bd3 Nh6 19.f6 Bxf6 20.Bh7+ White has more space.
• After 16...h4 17.Bd3 h3 18.g4 b6 19.Be3 White retains the advantage in space.

14...Bh6

• 14...g5 15.Bf2 h4 16.b4 cxb4 17.Rxb4 gives a thematic King's Indian with the center locked, White stronger on the queenside and Black gaining space on the opposite wing.

15.Bf2 Na6 16.a3!?

• 16.Qb3 f5 17.Nd3 b6 18.Rbe1 Bd2 19.Rd1 is equal.

16...b6 17.b4 f5!?

• This is a very original move. Black invites a blasting in the f-file that will leave hime with a passed pawn on the e-file and White will have one in the h-file.
• After 17...Nc7 18.Bd3 f5 19.Qc2 Qf6 20.Qa4 Bd2 21.Rb3 White maintains the advantage in space.

18.exf5 gxf5 19.f4 Bxf4 20.Bxh5 Bd7!?

• 20...e4! 21.b5 Nc7 22.Qe2 Ne5 23.g3 Bh6 is equal.

21.Rb3

• If 21.Qe2 Qg5 then:
• If 22.Nd3 Bd2 23.Nb5 e4 24.Ne1 cxb4 then:
• 25.Bxf7+ Rxf7 26.Rb3 Bxe1 27.Qxe1 Rg7 28.Rg3 gives White a nasty attack.
• 25.axb4 Bxb5 26.cxb5 Nxb4 27.Rb3 allows the Rook to get into the kingside action.
• 22.Rb2?! e4 23.b5 Nc7 24.h4 Qh6 25.Bxf7+ Rxf7 gives Black the advantage in space and the more open Bishop.

21...Qg5 22.b5

• 22.Qe2?! e4 23.Na2 Be5 24.Re3 Rae8 25.b5 gives Black the advantage in space.

22...Nc7 23.Bxf7+

• 23.Nc2 a6 24.bxa6 Rxa6 25.Qe2 Kg7 26.g3 Bd2 is equal.

23...Rxf7 24.Ne2 Rg7

• If 24...Qg4 then retains the advantage after 25.Qc2 Rg7 26.Nxf4 exf4 27.a4 with fewer pawn weaknesses and an embryonic throne in Black's side in a passed h-pawn.

25.Nxf4

• If 25.Qc2 Bd2 26.Rg3 Qh6 27.Rxg7+ Kxg7 then:
• 28.Nf3 Bg5 29.Ng3 Rf8 30.Nxg5 Qxg5 31.Qc3 is equal.]
• 28.Kh1 Rh8 29.Nf3 Bg5 is equal.

25...Qxf4 26.Bxc5 Qh6!?

• Black concedes the extra pawn to Black.
• If 26...Qxc4 27.Bxd6 Bxb5 28.Rff3 Ba4 then:
• 29.Bxe5 Bxb3 30.Qxb3 Qxb3 31.Rxb3 Nxd5 32.Bxg7 Kxg7 is equal.
• 29.Bxc7?! Qxc7 30.Qb1 Bxb3 31.Qxb3 Rd8 gives Black the exchange.

27.Be3?!

• 27.Bb4! a6 28.a4 f4 29.a5 bxa5 30.Bxa5 doesn't give Black nearly enough compensation for his pawn.

27...f4 28.Bc1 Bg4 29.Qd2

• 29.Qc2 Qh5 30.Nf3 Kf7 31.Kh1 Rh8 32.Re1 Bxf3 33.gxf3 Qh4 is equal.

BLACK: Vassily Ivanchuk
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WHITE: Levon Aronian
Position after 29.Qd1d2

29...Rf8!

• White can't get at Black's queenside pawns, so the Rook is free to take a direct role in the defense of the center, freeing Black's other pieces for more active roles.

30.Nd3 Ne8 31.Nxf4?

• White must think he sees something that isn't there.
• 31.Nf2 Bh5 32.Rg3 Rxg3 33.hxg3 Qg6 34.Nh1.

31...Rxf4 32.Rxf4 Qxf4 33.Qxf4 exf4 34.Bxf4 Rf7!

• After the exchanges on f4, Black has a piece for three pawns. The game is now equal.

35.g3?

• 35.Re3 Rxf4 36.Rxe8+ Kf7 37.Ra8 Be2 38.Rxa7+ Kf6 White's queenside pawns begin to fall, but the kingside paws make the game a fight..

BLACK: Vassily Ivanchuk
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WHITE: Levon Aronian
Position after 35.g2g3

35...Re7!

• Rooks are happiest on open lines.

36.h3

• The pawn sacrifice is intended to deflect the Bishop from the h5/d1 diagonal, thus making ...Re2 less likely.
• No better is 36.Rb1 Re2 37.Rc1 Bh3 38.Bg5 Ng7 39.Bf4 Nf5 40.Rd1 Ra2.

36...Bxh3 37.Kf2

• This is White's best move in that it prevents the Rook from coming behind White's pawns. Nevertheless, it is inadequate.

37...Nf6 38.g4

• 38.Rb1 Bg4 39.Re1 Rxe1 40.Kxe1 Ne4 41.Bc1 Kg7 activates Black's King.

38...Bxg4

• Black now has a piece for a single pawn.

39.Re3 Ne4+ 40.Ke1

• 40.Kg2 Kg7 41.Bxd6 Rf7 42.Bb8 Bf5 43.Rd3 Bg6 Black maintains a material advantage.

40...Kf7 41.a4

• 41.Bh2 Bf5 42.Re2 Nc3 43.Rxe7+ Kxe7 44.Bf4 Na4 leaves Black hopeless.

41...Nc5 42.Kd2 Rxe3 43.Kxe3 Ke7 44.Kd4 0-1

• White realizes he will not win back the piece.
• Grandmaster Aronian resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Carlsen - Grischuk, Round 12, Linares

Magnus Carlsen
Photo: ChessBase.com


Magnus Carlsen - Alexander Grischuk
26th Ciudad de Linares, Round 12
Linares, 5 March 2009

Open Sicilian Game: Najdorf-Scheveningen Defense (Opocensky Opening)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e6 7.0-0 Be7 8.a4 Nc6 9.Be3 0-0 10.f4 Qc7 11.Kh1 Re8 12.Bf3

• The position is quite common in master play and may result from several variations in the move order.
• In this position, White has the edge in space and Black has the "little center" and prepares for possible opertion on the open c-file.
• After 12.Bd3 Nb4 13.a5 Bd7 14.Qe1 Rac8 if the players want to call it a day early, then 15.Qg3 Nh5 16.Qf3 Nf6 17.Qg3 invites a repetition of moves.

12...Bf8 13.Qd2

• If 13.Nb3 b6 14.a5 then:
• 14...Nd7 15.axb6 Nxb6 16.Nb5 axb5 17.Bxb6 Qb8 18.Rxa8 Qxa8 19.Qe2 b4 20.Ra1 Qb7 21.Be3 gives White the advantage in space (Kovacevic-Stojanovic, Serbia and Montenegro ChT, Herceg Novi, 2005).
• 14...bxa5 15.e5 dxe5 16.fxe5 Rd8 17.Nd4 Nxd4 18.Bxd4 Bb7 19.exf6 e5 20.fxg7 Bxg7 21.Bxb7 Qxb7 22.Ne2 exd4 23.Ng3 Rd5 24.Nf5 gives White the initiative for the pawn (Kovacevic-Jakovljevic, Op. Ljubljana, 2005).

13...Rb8

• If 13...Na5 14.b3 Rb8 15.Rad1 then:
• 15...b6 16.e5 dxe5 17.fxe5 Nd7 18.Bf4 Nxe5 19.Qe3 f6 20.Ne4 Bc5 21.Nxc5 bxc5 22.Ne2 c4 23.Qc3 Bb7 24.Bxe5 Qxe5 25.Qxe5 fxe5 26.Bxb7 Rxb7 27.Rd6 cxb3 28.cxb3 Nxb3 draw (Jansa-Stohl, Bundesliga 0203, Germany, 2002).
• 15...Nc6 16.Bf2 Nd7 17.Bg3 Nxd4 18.Qxd4 b5 19.axb5 axb5 20.b4 g6 21.e5 d5 22.f5 gives White the advantage in space (Adams-Topalov, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2006).

14.Qf2 e5

• If 14...Nd7 15.Rad1 Nb4 then:
• 16.Bg4 b6 17.f5 e5 18.Nb3 Bb7 19.Rd2 Bc6 20.Bf3 Nf6 21.g4 gives White the advantage in space (Mkrtchian-Javakhishvili, Euro ChT, Saint Vincent, 2005).
• 16.Qg3 b6 17.e5 dxe5 18.f5 Nf6 19.Bg5 exf5 20.Bxf6 f4 21.Qh4 exd4 22.Bxd4 Bf5 gives Black an extra pawn (Wirig-Schlosser, Euro ChT, Fügen, 2006).
• 14...Bd7 then:
• 15.g4 e5 16.Nf5 exf4 17.Bxf4 Be6 18.Rad1 Ne5 19.Bxe5 dxe5 20.g5 Nd7 21.Nd5 Qc6 22.Bg2 Qc5 23.Qh4 Qxc2 24.Rc1 Qxa4 gives Black two extra pawns (Carlsen-Anand, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2008).
• If 15.Rad1 e5 then:
• 16.Nf5 Bxf5 17.exf5 e4 18.Be2 Nb4 19.Rd2 d5 20.g4 is equal (Geller-Wojkiewicz, Manhattan, 1990).
• 16.fxe5 Nxe5 17.Bg5 Nxf3 18.gxf3 Be7 19.Rg1 Be6 20.Bh6 g6 is also equal (Ivanchuk-Olafsson, Ol, Thessaloniki, 1988).

15.fxe5!?

• If 15.Nde2 b5 16.axb5 axb5 17.f5 Nb4 18.Ng3 Nxc2 then:
• 19.Bg5? Nxa1 20.Bxf6 Qc4 gives Black a significant material advantage (Jakovenko-Rublevsky, IT, Poikovsky, 2008).
• 19.Qxc2 b4 20.Ra7 Rb7 21.Rfa1 bxc3 22.Qxc3 Qxc3 23.bxc3 is equal.

15...dxe5!?

• The text cedes a slight advantage in space to White.
• 15...Nxe5 16.Bg5 Nfg4 17.Qg1 then:
• 17...Be6 18.Nxe6 fxe6 19.Bxg4 Nxg4 20.Qd4 is equal.
• 17...Qc5 18.Nd5 Be6 19.b4 Qc8 20.c4 gives White the advantage in space.

16.Nb3 Nb4 17.Ba7

• 17.Bb6 Qc6 18.Na5 Qe6 19.Rad1 Bd7 20.Rd2 gives White the advantage in space.

17...Ra8 18.Bb6

• White will use his advantage in space to restrain Black's queenside.

18...Qe7 19.Rad1

• 19.a5 Be6 20.Nc5 Rac8 21.Nxe6 Qxe6 22.Rad1 White continues to have the advantage in space.

19...Be6 20.Nd5 Bxd5 21.exd5 e4

• If 21...Qd7 22.Nc5 then:
• 22...Bxc5 23.Qxc5 Qxa4 24.b3 Qb5 25.c4 Qxc5 26.Bxc5 White has the initiative.
• 22...Qf5 23.Qd2 Bxc5 24.Bxc5 a5 25.c4 e4 26.Be2 gives White the initiative.

22.d6 Qe6 23.Nc5 Qf5 24.Be2 Qxf2

• If 24...Qg6? then after 25.d7! Red8 26.Bxd8 Rxd8 27.c3 Nbd5 28.Nxb7 White remains an exchange to the good.

25.Rxf2 Nbd5 26.a5 Nxb6

• If 26...Rec8 27.d7 Rxc5 28.Bxc5 Bxc5 29.Rxf6 gxf6 30.Rxd5 then:
• 30...Be7 31.Bg4 e3 32.Rd3 f5 33.Bxf5 Bg5 34.Kg1! and the King comes on to assist in taking the pawn at e3.
• 30...Rd8 31.Rxc5 Rxd7 32.Kg1 Kg7 33.Kf2 White wins.

27.axb6 Rab8?

• If 27...Rec8 28.b4 then:
• 28...Rc6 29.Nxb7 Rxb6 30.d7 Rxb7 31.d8Q Rxd8 32.Rxd8 is equal.
• 28...Rab8 29.g4 a5 30.g5 axb4 31.Rf5 g6 32.Re5 gives White the better game, but it will still be work to push the d-pawn further.

BLACK: Alexander Grischuk
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WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 27...Ra8b8

28.Rxf6!

• White removes the Knight, which was defending against the advance of the d-pawn.

28...gxf6 29.Nd7 f5

• No better is 29...Red8 30.Nxb8 Rxb8 31.c4 f5 32.c5 Kg7 33.b4.

30.c4

• If 30.Nxb8 Rxb8 31.c4 then:
• If 31...Bg7! then:
• If 32.c5 then after 32...Bxb2 33.d7 Rd8 34.Bxa6!! the pawns storm the palace gates.
• If 32.b4? then 32...Bc3! 33.b5 axb5 34.c5 b4 equalizes.
• If 31...Rd8? then after 32.c5 Bh6 33.b4 Be3 34.Bxa6 bxa6 35.b7 White wins.

30...a5 31.c5 Bg7

• 31...f4 then 32.Rf1 Bg7 33.Nxb8 Rxb8 34.Rxf4 e3 35.Re4 wins for White.

32.Nxb8 Rxb8
BLACK: Alexander Grischuk
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WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 32...Re8b8:N

33.Ba6!!

• White offers a piece to gain three connect advanced passers.

33...Bf6

• If 33...bxa6 then after 34.c6 Rxb6 35.c7 Black is toast.

34.Bxb7 Rxb7 35.c6 Rxb6 36.Rc1 Bxb2 37.d7 1-0

• At least one of the pawns must queen.
• Alexander Igorovich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Domínguez - Carlsen, Round 9, Linares

Magnus Carlsen
Photo: ChessBase.com


Leiner Domínguez - Magnus Carlsen
26th Ciudad de Linares, Round 9
Linares, 1 March 2009

Open Sicilian Game: Rat Dragon Defense (Yugoslav Opening)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 Nc6

• If 7...0-0 8.Qd2 Bd7 9.0-0-0 Nc6 10.Bc4 then:
• If 10...Rc8 11.Bb3 Ne5 12.Kb1 then:
• If 12...Nc4 13.Bxc4 Rxc4 14.g4 then:
• If 14...b5 15.b3 Rc8 16.Ndxb5 Qa5 17.a4 a6 18.Nd5 Qxd2 19.Nxe7+ Kh8 20.Rxd2 Rce8 then:
• 21.Nxg6+ fxg6 22.Nxd6 Re6 23.Bc5 Bc6 24.Nc4 Rb8 25.Rd6 Rxd6 26.Bxd6 gives White four pawns for a minor piece (Bologan-Fedorov, IT, Calcutta, 1999).
• 21.Nf5 gxf5 22.Nxd6 fxg4 23.Nxe8 Rxe8 24.Bd4 Bc6 gives White a theoretical extra pawn in an asymmetical material balance (Timoshenko-Rogozenko, Op, Cappelle la Grand, 1998).
• If 14...Qa5 15.g5 Nh5 16.Nd5 Qd8 17.Ne2 Be6 18.Bxa7 Bxd5 19.Qxd5 Qc7 20.c3 then:
• 20...Ra4 21.Bd4 Ra5 22.Qb3 Rxg5 23.h4 Rg2 24.Bxg7 Kxg7 25.Nd4 Ra8 is equal (Negi-Hakki, Op, Dubai, 2004).
• 20...Rc8 21.Qb5 Rc6 22.Be3 Ra6 23.Nc1 Ra5 24.Qb4 leaves White a pawn to the good (Kovacevic-Torres, Op, Mallorca, 2000).
• 12...Re8 13.h4 h5 14.Bh6 Nc4 15.Bxc4 Rxc4 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.Nd5 e5 18.Nxf6 Qxf6 19.Nb3 Rec8 20.Qxd6 Be6 21.c3 R4c6 22.Qb4 gives White the advantage in space (Leconte-de Blasio, cyberspace, 2002).
• If 10...Qa5 11.Bb3 Rfc8 12.h4 Ne5 13.Kb1 then:
• 13...Nc4 14.Bxc4 Rxc4 15.Nb3 Qc7 16.Bd4 Be6 17.h5 a5 18.hxg6 hxg6 19.a4 b5 20.Nxb5 Qb8 21.Nc3 Rb4 22.Rh4 Qb7 23.Rdh1 Rb8 24.Nd5 Bxd5 25.exd5 Rxa4 26.g4 Rxd4 27.Qxd4 Qxd5 28.g5 Qxg5 is equal, but the material balance is asymmetrical (Gara-Gaponenko, Ol, Bled, 2002).
• 13...b5 14.Ncxb5 Qxd2 15.Rxd2 Rab8 16.Nc3 a5 17.a4 Nc4 18.Bxc4 Rxc4 19.Rd3 Rcb4 20.Ndb5 Bxb5 21.Nxb5 Rxa4 22.Rb3 Nd7 23.Rd1 Rc4 24.Nd4 Rxb3 25.cxb3 Rc8 26.Rc1 Nc5 is equal (Hossain-Rahman, Op, Calcutta, 1999).

8.Qd2 0-0 9.Bc4 Bd7

• If 9...Nxd4 10.Bxd4 Be6 11.Bb3 Qa5 12.0-0-0 then:
• If 12...b5 13.Kb1 b4 14.Nd5 Bxd5 15.Bxd5 then:
• 15...Rac8 16.Bb3 Rc7 17.h4 Qb5 18.h5 Rfc8 19.hxg6 hxg6 20.g4 a5 21.g5 gives White the advantage in space (Fischer-Larsen, Interz, Portoroz, 1958).
• 15...Qb5 16.Rhe1 a5 17.Qe2 Qxe2 18.Rxe2 a4 19.Bc4 Rfc8 20.Bb5 Ra5 21.Bxf6 Bxf6 22.Bc6 gives White a small advantage in space (Tal-Larsen, IT, Zurich, 1959).
• 12...Rfc8 13.Kb1 b5 14.Rhe1 Bxb3 15.cxb3 b4 16.Bxf6 bxc3 17.Bxc3 Rxc3 draw Matanovic-Ivkov, Bled, 1961).
• If 9...Nd7 10.0-0-0 Nb6 11.Bb3 Na5 12.Qd3 then:
• 12...Bd7 13.h4 Rc8 14.h5 Nbc4 15.hxg6 hxg6 16.Bg5 Nxb3+ 17.cxb3 Qa5 18.Bxe7 Ne5 19.Qc2 Rxc3 20.bxc3 Rc8 21.Kb2 Qb6 22.Bg5 Nc4+ 23.Ka1 Na3 24.Qb2 Nb5 25.Nxb5 Qxb5 26.Be3 Bxc3 27.Qxc3 Rxc3 28.Bd4 gives White a threat of immediate checkmate allowing him time to gain a second Rook for the Queen (Wedberg-Sosonko, Haninge. 1988).
• 12...Nxb3+ 13.Nxb3 Be6 14.Bd4 Bh6+ 15.Be3 Bg7 16.Bd4 Bh6+ 17.Be3 Bxe3+ 18.Qxe3 a5 19.Nd4 Nc4 20.Qe2 Rc8 21.a4 Qb6 gives Black a small advantage in space (Kovacevic-Markovic, Yugoslav ChT, Cetinje, 1992).

10.0-0-0

• 10.Bb3 then:
• If 10...Rc8 11.h4 h5 12.0-0-0 Ne5 then:
• 13.Bg5 Rc5 14.Kb1 Re8 15.g4 hxg4 16.h5 Nxh5 17.Rxh5 gxh5 gives Black a winning position (Radjabov-Carlsen, Grand Prix, Baku, 2008).
• If 13.Bh6 Bxh6 14.Qxh6 Rxc3 15.bxc3 then:
• 15...Qc7 16.Kb1 Rc8 17.g4 a5 18.gxh5 a4 19.Bd5 Nxd5 20.exd5 Qxc3 21.hxg6 fxg6 22.Rhg1 Bf5 23.Nxf5 Qxc2+ draw (Khalifman-Savchenko, Soviet Ch HL, Simferopol, 1988).
• 15...Qa5 16.Kb1 Rc8 17.g4 Nc4 18.gxh5 Qxc3 19.Bxc4 Rxc4 20.Rd3 Qb4+ 21.Nb3 Nxh5 22.Qg5 Nf6 23.Rhd1 Rc5 24.Qe3 a5 25.Qe1 Qb6 26.Kc1 Re5 is unclear: White has the exchange, but Black has a pawn and extra space in return (Schiller-Herbst, IT, Providence, 1986).
• If 10...Nxd4 11.Bxd4 b5 then:
• 12.h4 a5 13.a4 bxa4 14.Nxa4 e5 15.Be3 Be6 16.Nb6 Rb8 17.Qxa5 Bxb3 18.cxb3 d5 19.Nxd5 Nxd5 20.Qxd5 Qxd5 21.exd5 Rxb3 22.Bc5 Rd8 23.Ba3 e4 24.0-0 draw (Liberzon-Adorjan, Team Match, Moscow, 1971).
• 12.a4 b4 13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.exd5 Qb6 16.0-0-0 Qa5 17.h4 Bxa4 18.Kb1 Bd7 19.h5 Rh8 20.Rde1 Rae8 21.Rh4 Bf5 22.h6+ Kf8 23.Rxb4 f6 24.Ba4 Kf7 25.Bxe8+ Kxe8 26.g4 gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Tairova-Malgina, Op, Moscow, 2008).
• 12.0-0 a5 13.a4 b4 14.Nd5 Nxd5 15.exd5 Bxd4+ 16.Qxd4 Rc8 17.Rfe1 Re8 18.Re2 e5 19.dxe6 Bxe6 20.Rae1 Qd7 21.Qe3 Bxb3 22.Qxe8+ Rxe8 23.Rxe8+ Kg7 24.cxb3 Qc6 25.R8e3 Qc5 gives Black's Queen more maneuverability than than White's Rooks (Rogulj-Velimirovic, Borovo, 1980).

10...Rb8

• If 10...Rc8 11.Bb3 then:
• If 11...Ne5 12.Kb1 then:
• If 12...a6 then:
• If 13.h4 h5 14.g4 hxg4 15.h5 Nxh5 then:
• If 16.Rdg1 then:
• 16...Rc5 17.Bh6 Kh7 18.Bxg7 Kxg7 is unclear: Black has two extra pawns, but White has more space (Topalov-Carlsen, FIDE Grand Slam Final, Bilbao, 2008).
• 16...Qa5 17.Bh6 Bf6 18.fxg4 Bxg4 19.Bxf8 Kxf8 20.Qe3 Rxc3 21.Qxc3 Qxc3 22.bxc3 e6 23.Bc4 Nxc4 24.Rxg4 Be5 25.Rg2 b5 gives Black the advantage in space (Karjakin-Radjabov, Grand Prix, Sochi, 2008).
• 16.Bh6 e6 17.Rdg1 Qf6 18.fxg4 Bxh6 19.Qxh6 Qg7 20.Qe3 Nf6 21.g5 Nh5 is equal (Domínguez-Carlsen, IT, Biel, 2008).
• 13.Rhe1 b5 14.Bh6 Bxh6 15.Qxh6 Rxc3 16.bxc3 a5 17.f4 Neg4 18.Qh4 a4 19.Bxf7+ Rxf7 20.e5 Nd5 21.e6 Nxc3+ 22.Kc1 Bxe6 23.Nxe6 Qa5 24.Qxg4 Nxa2+ 25.Kb2 Qc3+ 26.Kxa2 Qxc2+ 27.Ka1 Qc3+ 28.Kb1 Qb3+ 29.Ka1 Qc3+ draw (Ivanchuk-Carlsen, Grand Slam Fnl Rd 2, Bilbao, 2008).
• If 11...Nxd4 12.Bxd4 b5 13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 then:
• 15.exd5 a5 16.a3 b4 17.axb4 axb4 18.Qxb4 Kg8 19.Rhe1 Re8 20.Rd4 Rc5 21.Kd1 Qa8 22.Qd2 Qa1+ 23.Qc1 Qa6 24.Qh6 Qa1+ 25.Qc1 Qa6 26.Qh6 Qa1+ draw (Zivkovic-T. L. Petrosian, Euro ChT, Fügen, 2006).
• 15.Bxd5 Qb6 16.h4 h6 17.h5 g5 18.f4 f6 is equal (Shirov-Topalov, Op, Corsica, 2003).

11.Bb3 Na5 12.Bh6 Bxh6

• 12...b5 13.h4 Nc4 14.Qg5 Bxh6 15.Qxh6 Kh8 16.Qg5 Rc8 17.h5 gxh5 18.Qh4 Rg8 19.g3 b4 20.Nd5 Nxd5 21.exd5 e5 is equal (Gutsche-de Blasio, Corres, 2002).

13.Qxh6 b5 14.g4

• 14.h4 e5 15.Nde2 b4 16.Nd5 Nxb3+ 17.axb3 Nxd5 18.Rxd5 Rb6 19.h5 g5 20.f4 Bg4 21.Nd4 gxf4 gives Black an extra pawn (Zambrana-Zhao Zong Yuan, IT, São Paulo, 2008).

14...Nxb3+ 15.Nxb3 b4 16.Nd5 Nxd5 17.exd5 Rb6!?

• 17...Ba4 18.Nd4 Qa5 19.h4 Rfc8 20.Kb1 Qxd5 21.b3 Bd7 is equal (Kritz-Jianu, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).
• 17...Qc7 18.h4 e5 19.dxe6 Bxe6 20.h5 Rfc8 21.Rh2 Bxb3 22.axb3 Rb6 is equal (Anuprita-Premnath, Commonwealth Ch, Nagpur, 2008).

18.Rhe1

• The game is equal.

18...e5
BLACK: Magnus Carlsen
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WHITE: Leiner Domínguez
Position after 18...e7e5

19.dxe6

• White's plan is to expand on the kingside. Black will be ready counter in the center or on the opposite wing.
• If 19.Kb1 Qc7 20.Rd2 Rc8 21.h4 then:
• 21...Qd8 22.g5 Ba4 23.h5 Bxb3 24.axb3 Qf8 is equal.
• 21...a5 22.h5 a4 23.Nc1 Bb5 is equal.

19...fxe6 20.Re3

• 20.f4 Qf6 21.Re4 Bc6 22.g5 Qf5 23.Rc4 e5 24.Rxd6 gives White an extra pawn.

20...Rf7 21.Nd2 d5 22.Nb3

• 22.h4 Ra6 23.Kb1 Qa5 24.a3 bxa3 25.Rxa3 is equal.

22...Qc7 23.Kb1 Rb8 24.Rde1?!

• 24.h4? Rc8! 25.Rf1 Qxc2+ 26.Ka1 Qg2 27.Rfe1 gives Black one extra pawn and counting.

24...Rc8 25.R1e2

• 25.Rc1 Ba4 26.h4 Bxb3 27.Rxb3 Qf4 28.Qxf4 Rxf4 gives White a pair of active Rooks.

25...Qb6

• 25...Bb5 26.Rf2 Qb6 27.Rd2 Qa6 is equal.

26.h4!?

• The text move has the drawback of restricting the Queen's freedom.
• 26.Qh4 a5 27.g5 a4 28.Nd4 Rc4 29.Rd2 b3 gives Black more freedom.

26...d4!

• Once again, the best antidote for action on a wing is to strike back in the center.
• 26...Qc7 27.h5 Qf4 28.g5 gxh5 29.Qxh5 Rf5 30.Rh2 remains equal.

27.Re5

• 27.Re4 Rxf3 28.h5 Rf1+ 29.Nc1 Rh1 gives Black an extra pawn.

27...d3

• If 27...Rxf3 then:
• If 28.h5 Rf1+ 29.Re1 Rxe1+ 30.Rxe1 e5 then:
• 31.hxg6 Qxg6 32.Qxg6+ hxg6 33.Rxe5 Bxg4 is equal.
• 31.Nxd4 then:
• If 31...Bxg4 32.hxg6 Qxg6 33.Qxg6+ hxg6 is equal.
• 31...exd4? 32.Re7! Qf6 33.Rxd7 gives White a strong initiative.
• 28.Qd2 Ba4 29.h5 Bxb3 30.axb3 Rxc2 31.Qxc2 d3 gives Black the initiative.

28.cxd3 Rxf3 29.d4?!

• Bulgarian GM Vladimir Dimitrov, commenting live on Chessdom.com, estressed disdain for the text move because now "Black transfers his Bishop to 'd3' and (wins) at least a pawn." He called 29.Qd2 "more solid" but didn't elaborate on the matter.
• If 29.Qd2 Ba4 then:
• 30.h5 Bxb3 31.axb3 Rf6 32.hxg6 hxg6 33.Re1 is equal.
• If 30.Qd1 Qd8 31.Rd2 Qf6 32.Rxe6 Qxe6 33.Qxf3 Rf8 is equal.

BLACK: Magnus Carlsen
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WHITE: Leiner Domínguez
Position after 29.d3d4

29...Bb5!

• 29...Qa6?! 30.Re1 Rxb3 31.axb3 Qd3+ 32.Ka1 gives White the exchange.

30.R2e3 Bd3+

• There's Dimitrov's Bishop on d3.

31.Ka1 Qxd4 32.Rxe6 Rf1+ 33.Re1 Qxg4!

• Black has won that pawn, just like Grandmaster Dimitrov said.
• If 33...Rxe1+ 34.Rxe1 Qxg4! 35.Qg5 Qxg5 36.hxg5 then:
• 36...Rc2 37.Re8+ Kf7 38.Ra8 Rc7 leaves Black with an extra pawn.
• If 36...a6 then:
• 37.Rd1 Re8 38.Nd4 Re5 39.a4 Be4 40.Re1 Re8 gives Black an extra pawn.
• 37.a3?! bxa3 38.bxa3 Rc3 39.Re8+ Kf7 40.Rb8 Be4 gives Black an extra pawn and the initiative.

34.Rxf1 Qxe6 35.Nc5

• If 35.Rc1 Rxc1+ 36.Qxc1 Bf5 37.Qg1 Qe4 38.h5 a6 then:
• 39.hxg6 hxg6 40.Qc1 Be6 41.Nc5 Qd5 42.Nxe6 Qxe6 leaves Black a very important pawn to the good.
• 39.h6 Kf7 40.Nc5 Qf4 41.Nxa6 Qd6 42.Nc5 g5 Black still has the active game.

35...Qe2 36.Rc1 Bf5 37.Qf4 a5 38.h5

• 38.Qd4 Qe4 39.Qxe4 Bxe4 40.a3 h6 is a more stubborn defense.

38...Qe7!?

• If 38...Rd8 39.hxg6 hxg6 40.Qg3 a4 then:
• 41.Nxa4 Qc2! 42.Qb3+ Qxb3 43.axb3 g5 Black has the remote passed pawn and White's King is confined to two squares.
• 41.Qe1 Qxe1 42.Rxe1 a3 43.Rg1 Rd2 gives Black the extra pawn and the more active Rook.

39.Qc4+

• White would get more milage from 39.hxg6 hxg6 40.Qc4+ Qf7 41.Qd4 Qd7 42.Qe5.

BLACK: Magnus Carlsen
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WHITE: Leiner Domínguez
Position after 39.Qf4c4+

39...Be6!

• Black threatens the Queen and skewers the critical a2 square.
• Less poweerful is 39...Kh8 40.Qd4+ Qg7 41.Qf4 Qc7 42.Qd4+ Kg8 43.Qc4+ when White has signs of life.

40.Qc2

• 40.Qd4 Qg5 41.Rc2 Qxh5 42.b3 Qd5 gives Black a second extra pawn.

40...Qg5 41.hxg6

• 41.a4 bxa3 42.Qc3 axb2+ is like the text.

41...hxg6 42.a3 bxa3 43.Qc3

• White is completely lost.
• 43.bxa3 loses to 43...Qe5+ 44.Qb2 Rxc5.

43...axb2+ 44.Kxb2 Qd5

• Also good is 44...a4 45.Ka1 Bb3 46.Kb2 Qg2+.

45.Rc2 a4 46.Ka1 a3 47.Qe3 Bf7

• If 47...Qh1+ 48.Rc1 Qh8+ 49.Rc3 Qf6 then:
• 50.Qxe6+ Qxe6 51.Nxe6 Rxc3 wins the excahnge.
• 50.Qf3 Qxf3 51.Rxf3 Rxc5 wins a piece.

48.Qc3 g5 49.Qe3 Re8

• If 49...g4 50.Qc3 Re8! then:
• If 51.Nb3 then after 51...Qxb3 52.Qxb3 Bxb3 Black wins easily.
• If 51.Qxa3 then Black wins after 51...Ra8 52.Na6 Qe6 53.Kb1 Bg6.

50.Qc3 Re2

• Black misses the elegant Queen sacrifice 50...Qd4!! 51.Qxd4 Re1+, mating in one or two moves.

51.Nb3 Rxc2

• 51...Qd1+ 52.Rc1 Qxb3 53.Qxb3 Bxb3 is lights out.

52.Qxc2 Qe5+

• If 52...Qxb3?? 53.Qg6+! then:
• 53...Kf8 54.Qd6+ draws.
• 53...Bxg6 is stalemate.

53.Kb1 Kg7 54.Qd2 Bxb3 0-1

• 55.Qd7+ Bf7 then:
• 56.Kc2 a2 57.Qa4 a1Q 58.Qxa1 Qxa1 is lights out.
• If 56.Qd2 then after 56...g4! (Black spends a reserve tempo) 57.Kc2 a2 etc.
• 55.Qf2 Kg8 56.Kc1 Qc3+ 57.Kb1 Qd3+ 58.Kc1 Qd1#.
• El señor Domínguez resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Carlsen - Wang Yue, Round 10, Linares

Wang Yue
Photo: ChessBase.com


Magnus Carlsen - Wang Yue
26th Ciudad de Linares, Round 10
Linares, 2 March 2009

Slav Queen's Gambit: Tikhi Opening

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 a6 5.Nf3 b5 6.b3

• If 6.c5 then:
• If 6...Nbd7 then:
• If 7.Bd3 e5 8.Nxe5 Nxe5 9.dxe5 Ng4 10.f4 Bxc5 11.Qf3 Qb6 12.Ke2 Nh6 13.h3 Nf5 14.g4 Ne7 then:
• 15.Rb1 a5 16.e4 Bb7 gives Black a small advantage in space (Aronian-van Wely, Corus A Rd 11, Wijk aan Zee, 2008).
• 15.Bd2 0-0 16.Rac1 f6 17.exf6 Rxf6 18.e4 Bd4 is equal (Gelfand-Aronian, Corus A, Rd 2, Wijk aan Zee, 2008).
• If 7.b4 a5 8.bxa5 Qxa5 9.Bd2 b4 then:
• 10.Nb1 Ne4 11.a3 Rb8 12.Ra2 Nxd2 13.Qxd2 Ra8 14.Be2 e5 15.0-0 Be7 16.Rb2 bxa3 17.Qxa5 Rxa5 18.Ra2 Ba6 19.Bxa6 Rxa6 20.Rxa3 draw agreed (Aronian-I. Sokolov, Eur ChT, Gothenborg, 2005).
• 10.Ne2 Ne4 11.Nc1 Nxd2 12.Qxd2 e5 13.Nb3 Qa4 14.Nxe5 Nxe5 15.dxe5 Qxb3 16.axb3 Rxa1+ 17.Ke2 Bxc5 gives White a Queen for a Rook and a Bishop, but Black is compenated in space (Wang Yue-Jakovenko, Team Match, Taiyuan, 2006).
• 6...g6 7.Bd3 Bg7 8.0-0 0-0 9.h3 a5 10.a3 Nbd7 11.Rb1 b4 12.axb4 axb4 13.Ne2 e5 14.dxe5 Ne4 15.Ned4 Qc7 is level (Zhao Xue-Wang Hao, Sanjin Hotel Cup, Taiyuan, 2005).

6...Bg4 7.Bd2

• If 7.Be2 e6 8.0-0 Nbd7 9.h3 then:
• If 9...Bh5 10.Bb2 Bd6 11.Ne5 Bxe2 12.Nxe2 then:
• If 12...Qc7 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.Rc1 Qb8 15.Nxd7 then:
• If 15...Kxd7 16.f3 Qb7 then:
• If 17.Qd3 Ke7 18.Nc3 b4 19.Na4 Qb5 20.Qd2 then:
• 20...Rac8 21.Nc5 Rhd8 22.Rfd1 h6 23.Rc2 Rc6 24.Rdc1 Rdc8 25.a4 bxa3 26.Bxa3 Nd7 27.Nxd7 Bxa3 28.Rxc6 draw (Zhou Weiqi-Rodshtein, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2009).
• 20...Rhc8 21.Rc2 Rxc2 22.Qxc2 Ra7 23.e4 Rc7 24.Qf2 Bf4 25.Nc5 Nd7 26.Bc1 Bd6 27.Qh4+ Ke8 28.Nxd7 Kxd7 29.e5 Be7 30.Bg5 Bf8 31.Qf4 Ke8 32.Rc1 Rc3 draw (Bahmann-Seel, Bundesliga 0809, Solingen, 2008).
• 17.Nf4 Rhc8 18.Nd3 Ke8 19.Nc5 Qb8 20.Qd3 Kf8 21.e4 gives White the advantage in space (Radjabov-Shirov, Rapid, León, 2005).
• If 15...Nxd7 16.e4 then:
• 16...dxe4 17.d5 0-0 18.dxe6 Nc5 19.Nf4 Ra7 20.Bd4 Bxf4 21.Bxc5 Bxc1 22.Bxa7 Qxa7 23.exf7+ Rxf7 24.Qxc1 Qb6 is equal (L. B. Hansen-Kelly, Ol. Torino, 2006).
• 16...0-0 17.e5 Be7 18.Ng3 Qb6 19.Qg4 Rac8 20.Nh5 g6 21.Nf4 gives White the advantage in space (I. Sokolov-Kristjansson, Op, Reykjavik, 2003).
• If 12...bxc4 13.bxc4 0-0 then:
• 14.Qc2 Qc7 15.Nd3 Ne4 16.Rfd1 Rfc8 17.c5 Be7 18.f3 Ng3 19.Nxg3 Qxg3 20.Bc3 e5 21.Qf2 Qg6 22.Rab1 Rab8 23.Rb3 Rb5 24.Ra3 Ra8 25.Ra4 exd4 26.exd4 draw (K. Gregoiev-Movsesian, Ol, Calvia, 2004).
• 14.Rb1 Qc7 15.Nxd7 Qxd7 16.Qa4 Rfb8 17.Ba3 Bxa3 18.Qxa3 Qc8 19.Nc3 h6 20.Rfc1 dxc4 21.Qc5 Nd5 22.Qxc4 Nxc3 23.Qxc3 Rxb1 24.Rxb1 Rb8 25.Rc1 Rb6 26.a4 leaves Black fighting to save the pawn (Ushenina-Zhu Chen, No Urals, Krasnoturinsk, 2007).
• If 9...Bf5 10.Bd3 Bb4 11.Bb2 then:
• 11...Bxd3 12.Qxd3 0-0 13.Rfc1 bxc4 14.bxc4 Qe7 15.Rc2 dxc4 16.Qxc4 c5 17.Rac1 cxd4 18.Nxd4 Ne5 19.Qe2 Ba3 20.f4 Ng6 21.Nc6 Qd6 22.Rd2 Qxc6 23.Bxa3 Rfc8 is equal (Aronian-P. Smirnov, FIDE Knock Out, Tripoli, 2004).
• 11...0-0 12.Bxf5 exf5 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.Qd3 g6 15.Ne5 Qc7 16.a4 bxa4 17.Nxa4 Rfc8 18.Rfc1 Qd6 19.Rc2 Rxc2 20.Qxc2 a5 21.Qc6 Rb8 22.Rc1 Qxc6 23.Nxc6 Rb5 24.Nxb4 Rxb4 25.Nc5 draw (I. Sokolov-Movsesian, IT, Sarajevo, 2003).

7...Nbd7

• 7...e6 8.h3 Bxf3 9.Qxf3 Bb4 10.Bd3 0-0 11.a3 Qa5 12.0-0 Bxc3 13.b4 Qd8 14.Bxc3 bxc4 15.Bc2 Nbd7 gives Black an extra pawn and good potential for his Knights (Brodsky-Lovkov, Trmt, Peterhof, 2006).

8.h3 Bxf3 9.Qxf3 b4

• If 9...e6 10.Bd3 then:
• 10...Ba3 11.0-0 0-0 12.Rfd1 Re8 13.Be1 e5 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.dxe5 Nxe5 16.Qf4 Qe7 is equal (Bauer-Dorfman, French Ch, Val d'Isere, 2002).
• 10...Be7 11.0-0 0-0 12.Rac1 Rc8 13.Rfd1 b4 14.Na4 a5 15.Qe2 Ne4 16.Be1 is equal (M. Socko-E. Atalik, ITW, Biel, 2006).

10.Na4 e5!?

• 10...Ne4 11.Bc1 e6 12.Bd3 f5 13.g4 g6 14.gxf5 exf5 15.h4 Bg7 16.Bb2 0-0 17.0-0-0 Ndf6 is equal (Bauer-Fontaine, French Ch, Chartres, 2005).

11.Rc1

• If 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.Rc1 then:
• 12...Qb8 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Qf5 Bd6 15.Bxa6 Ne4 is equal.
• 12...Ne4 13.Bd3 Nxd2 14.Qxd5 exd4 15.Qxd4 Qg5 16.Bf1 gives White an extra pawn.

11...Bd6!?

• 11...Qb8 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.dxe5 Ne4 14.Qf4 Nxe5 is equal.

12.cxd5!?

• This allows Black to level the game.
• 12.c5 Bc7 13.Bxb4 then:
• 13...Ba5 14.Bc3 Ne4 15.Kd1 0-0 16.Qf5 Re8 17.Bb2 gives White an extra pawn.
• 13...Ne4 14.Bd3 Ba5 15.a3 Nef6 16.Qg3 exd4 17.exd4gives White an extra pawn.

12...cxd5!

• White will used the d-pawn as an outpost for the Knight now at f6.

13.dxe5

• The game is equal.
• 13.Nc5 e4 14.Qd1 Qb6 15.Nxa6 0-0 16.Qe2 gives White an extra pawn.

13...Nxe5 14.Qd1 0-0 15.Be2 a5!?

• Black plays for freedom for his pieces. He doesn't want the Bishop tied to the defense of the pawn at b4.
• 15...Qe7 16.0-0 Rfe8 17.Be1 Ned7 gives Black a small advantage in space.

16.Rc2

• If 16.0-0 Re8 17.Bb5 Re7 then:
• 18.Nb2 Ne4 19.Nd3 Nxd3 20.Bxd3 Bc7 gives Black the advantage in space.
• 18.Qe2 Ne4 19.Rfd1 Rc8 20.Rxc8 Qxc8 21.Be1 Nf6 gives Black a small advantage in space.

16...Qe7 17.Bc1 Rad8

• 17...Rac8 18.Rd2 Qe6 19.Bb2 Rfd8 20.0-0 Bb8 gives Black a slight advantage in space.

18.Bb2 Ng6 19.0-0

• 19.Bd4 Nh4 20.g3 Nf5 21.Bb6 Ra8 22.Qd3 Qe6 23.Bg4 gives White more freedom.

19...Ne4 20.Bd4 Nh4 21.Bd3!?

• White finsd the Knight at e4 something of a distraction.
• 21.Bb6 Qg5 22.Bg4 Rde8 23.g3 Ng6 24.Bxa5 gives White an extra pawn.

21...Nf5 22.Bb6 Rb8

• If 22...Qe5!? 23.f4 Qe6 then:
• 24.g4! Nfg3 25.Rf3 Rb8 26.Qe1 then:
• 26...Rxb6 27.Nxb6 Be7 28.Na4 leaves White an exchange to the good.


• 26...Be7 then 27.Bxa5 wins a pawn for White.


• This is not the time for 24.Bxa5? when 24...Nxe3! is a full fork full.

23.Bxe4 Qxe4 24.Rd2?!

• If 24.Qd2 then:
• If 24...Rfc8 25.Rfc1 Rxc2 26.Rxc2 Nh4 27.f3 Qg6 28.Kf1 Nf5 is equal.
• If 24...Rxb6? 25.Nxb6 then:
• If 25...d4 then:
• 26.exd4 Nxd4 27.Rc8 Ne2+ 28.Kh1 Nf4 29.f3 Qe7 White is up by an exchange and should win.
• 26.Nc4 dxe3 27.Nxd6 Nxd6 28.fxe3 White is an exchange to the good.
• 25...Qe5 26.g3 Nxg3 27.fxg3 Qxg3+ 28.Qg2 Qxe3+ 29.Qf2 gives White a material advantage.

BLACK: Wang Yue
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 24.Rc2d2

24...Rxb6!!

• If 24...Qe5 25.f4 Qe8 then:
• If 26.Qf3 Rxb6 27.Nxb6 Qxe3+ 28.Qxe3 Nxe3 then:
• 29.Rff2 Re8 30.Nxd5 Bc5 31.Nc7 Rc8 32.Na6 Bb6 is equal.
• 29.Nxd5 Nxf1 30.Kxf1 f5 31.g3 Rd8 is equal.
• 26.Rff2 Nxe3 27.Qf3 Nc4 28.bxc4 Qxa4 29.Be3 Rfe8 gives Black an extra pawn and more space.

25.Nxb6 Qe5!

• The ability to make this mating threat is the reason why the exchange sacrifice works in the text whereas it failed in the notes to Black's 22nd move.
• If 25...Nxe3 26.fxe3 Qxe3+ then:
• 27.Kh1 Qg3 28.Kg1 Qh2+ 29.Kf2 Bc5+ 30.Kf3 Bxb6 gives Black command of the dark squares.
• 27.Rdf2 Qxb6 28.Kh1 Qe3 29.Rf3 Qe5 30.g3 Re8 gives Black a mating threat if White plays 31.Rxf7.

26.Re1

• 26.g3 Nxe3 27.Nd7 Nxd1 28.Nxe5 Nc3 29.Nc6 Ra8 is equal.

26...Qh2+ 27.Kf1 Qh1+ 28.Ke2 Qxg2 29.Rxd5

• 29.Kd3 Nd4 30.f3 Qxf3 31.Nxd5 f5 32.Qxf3 Nxf3 Black will win the exchange.

29...Ng3+ 30.Kd3 Bc7

• If 30...Ne4 31.Qc2 Nxf2+ 32.Kc4 then:
• 32...Bc7 33.Nd7 Rc8 34.Qf5 Rd8 35.Re2 Qe4+ is equal.
• 32...Bg3 33.Kb5 Qxh3 34.Rg1 Qh2 35.Rc1 is equal.

31.fxg3

• 31.Rg1 Qe4+ 32.Kd2 Bxb6 33.Rd3 Qf5 34.fxg3 Qf2+ wins a pawn.

31...Bxb6 32.Kc4 Rb8 33.Kb5

• If 33.e4 then 33...Qxh3 34.Qf3 Rc8+ 35.Kb5 Qe6 36.Ka4 Qe8+ 37.Rb5 Rc3 wins a pawn.

33...Bd4+

• If 33...Bxe3+? 34.Ka6 Ra8+ 35.Kb5 then:
• 35...Rb8+ 36.Ka6 Ra8+ draws.
• If 35...Re8?? then after 36.Rxe3! Black cannot recapture because 37.Rd8+! leads to a backrank mate.

34.Kc4 Bf6 35.Qd3 Qxg3 36.Rd1 Qc7+ 37.Rc5

• This is White's only legal move.

37...Qb7 38.Qd6?

• If 38.Qd7 Qe4+ 39.Rd4 Qc2+ 40.Kd5 Qg2+ 41.e4 then:
• If 41...g6 42.Rc8+ Rxc8 43.Qxc8+ Kg7 Black still has the initiative.
• If 41...Rd8? then after 42.Rc8 Rf8 43.Rxf8+ Kxf8 44.Qd6+! White wins.

BLACK: Wang Yue
!""""""""#
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 38.Qd3d6

38...Qe4+!

• Such precise calculation! Black will win the Queen for a Rook.
• 38...Be7 39.Qc6 Bxc5 40.Qxb7 Rxb7 41.Kxc5 f6 merely wins back the exchange.

39.Rd4 Qc2+ 40.Kd5 Qg2+ 41.e4 Rd8!

• Black wins the Queen and Bishop. All of White's move since his 38th have been forced.

42.Qxd8+ Bxd8 43.Rc8 g6!

• This is the only move that prevents loss.
• 43...Qg5+? fails against 44.Kc6 Qf6+ 45.Rd6 Qc3+ 46.Kb7 when White wins.

44.Rxd8+ Kg7 45.Rd3 Qc2 46.Kd4 a4

• If 46...Qxa2 47.Kc5 Kf6 48.Rf3+ Ke7 then:
• 49.Rfd3 Qc2+ 50.Kb5 Qc7 51.R8d5 Ke6 give Black a slight material advantage.
• If 49.Rb8? Qc2+ 50.Kb6 f5 51.exf5 then:
• 51...Kd7! 52.Rb7+ Kd6 53.Rf4 Qxb3 wins another pawn for Black.
• 51...gxf5!? 52.Rb7+ Kf6 53.Kxa5 Qe2 54.Rb6+ Kg5 Black is better, but White still has soem kick left.

47.bxa4

• 47.Ke3 Qxa2 48.bxa4 Qxa4 49.R8d4 Qa1 50.Rb3 Qc1+ maintains Black's initiative.

47...Qxa2 48.Kc5 b3 49.Rb8

• If 49.R3d4 then 49...b2 ends the struggle.

BLACK: Wang Yue
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 49.Rd8b8

49...b2!

• White wins two pawns for the price of one.

50.Rdb3

• Otherwise, the b-pawn queens.

50...Qxa4 51.Rxb2 Qxe4 52.R8b3 Kh6

• As long as White defends the pawn, the Black King is safe from checks in the h-file.

53.Rc3 f5 54.Rbb3 Qe5+ 55.Kc4 Kh5 56.Kd3 Kh4 57.Kd2

• 57.Rc4+ Kxh3 58.Rc1 Qd5+ wins a Rook.

57...f4 58.Rf3 g5 59.Rfd3 Qc5 60.Rbc3 Qf2+ 61.Kd1 Qf1+ 62.Kd2 Qg2+ 63.Kd1 Qe4 64.Kd2 h5 0-1

• The Queen and pawns triumph over the Rooks.
• Magnus resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Svidler - Janssen, Bundesliga, Round 12, Eppingen

The mighty team from Baden-Baden continues to lead the Bundesliga with only two round remaining.



Peter Svidler
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)

To view this game:

• Please click here;
• Select game #42 (Svidler vs. Janssen) from the list beneath the board display;
• Enjoy.

Peter Svidler (Baden-Baden) - Ruud Janssen (Emsdetten)
Bundesliga 0809, Round 12/Board 2
Eppingen, 28 February 2009

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Zaitsev Defense

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Bb7 10.d4 Re8 11.Nbd2 Bf8 12.a4

• If 12.a3 g6 then:
• If 13.Ba2 Bg7 14.b4 a5 15.d5 Ne7 then:
• 16.Bb2 Nh5 17.Nb3 axb4 18.axb4 Bc8 19.Na5 Nf4 20.c4 g5 21.cxb5 g4 22.Nh2 gxh3 23.g3 Neg6 24.Bb1 Qg5 25.Bc1 is equal (Adams-Grischuk, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2002).
• If 16.Nb3 axb4 17.cxb4 Nxe4 18.Rxe4 Bxd5 19.Nfd2 then:
• 19...Bxe4 20.Nxe4 h6 21.Bb2 Kh7 22.g4 Rf8 23.Rc1 f5 24.gxf5 Nxf5 is equal (Iordachescu-Nikolic, IT, Valjevo, 2007).
• 19...f5 20.Re1 e4 21.Na5 Qd7 22.Bxd5+ Nxd5 is equal (T. Kosintseva-Shen Yang, TMatch, Ningbo, 2008).
• 13.Bc2 Bg7 14.d5 Nb8 15.c4 c6 16.b4 Qc7 17.Bb2 bxc4 18.dxc6 Nxc6 19.Nxc4 Rad8 20.Ba4 Nxe4 21.Qc2 d5 draw (Sax-Short, Intrznl, Biel, 1985).
• If 12.Bc2 g6 13.d5 Nb8 14.b3 c6 15.c4 then:
• If 15...Nbd7 16.a4 Qc7 17.Ba3 Rec8 18.Bd3 cxd5 19.cxd5 Qb6 20.b4 Rc3 21.Nb1 Rcc8 22.Bc1 bxa4 23.Qxa4 Qd8 24.Bg5 gives White the advantage in space (Smyslov-Gligoric, IT, Bugojno, 1984).
• 15...a5 16.dxc6 Bxc6 17.cxb5 Bxb5 18.Nc4 Na6 19.Bg5 Nb4 20.Bb1 Bxc4 21.bxc4 h6 22.Be3 Qc7 23.a3 Na6 24.Nd2 Nc5 25.Bc2 Reb8 26.Rb1 Qc6 27.Qf3 Bg7 28.Rec1 Nfd7 29.Qd1 is equal (Ljubojevic-Karpov, Euwe Mem, Amsterdam, 1991).
• 12.d5 Nb8 13.Nf1 Nbd7 then:
• If 14.N3h2 then:
• If 14...Rc8 then:
• 15.Bg5 h5 16.a4 g6 17.Nf3 Nc5 18.axb5 axb5 19.Bc2 gives White the advantage in space (Ni Hua-León Hoyos, IT, Reggio Emilia, 2008-09).
• 15.Ng4 Nxg4 16.Qxg4 Nc5 17.Bc2 c6 18.dxc6 Bxc6 19.Ne3 g6 20.Rd1 Bh6 21.b4 Ne6 22.Bb3 Kh8 23.Nd5 Bxc1 24.Raxc1 Rf8 25.Rc2 f5 is equal (Leko-Ivanchuk, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2008).
• If 14...Nc5 15.Bc2 c6 16.b4 Ncd7 17.dxc6 Bxc6 18.Bg5 then:
• 18...h6 19.Bxf6 Nxf6 20.Ng4 Nxg4 21.Qxg4 Bd7 22.Qf3 Rc8 23.Bb3 Be6 24.Red1 Re7 25.Qd3 Rec7 26.Rac1 Qg5 27.Rc2 d5 28.Ng3 draw (Gashimov-Inarkiev, IT, Poikovsky, 2008).
• 18...Qc7 19.Bxf6 Nxf6 20.Ng4 Nxg4 21.hxg4 Bb7 22.Re3 Be7 23.Bb3 Bg5 24.Rf3 Rf8 25.Qe2 Bc8 26.Rd1 Be6 27.Ne3 Bxe3 28.Rxe3 a5 29.Bxe6 fxe6 is equal (Carlsen-Navara, Grand Prix, Baku, 2008).
• 14.Ng3 g6 15.Be3 Nc5 16.Bc2 c6 17.b4 Ncd7 18.dxc6 Bxc6 19.Bb3 Nb6 20.Qd3 Rb8 21.Rad1 Rb7 22.Nh2 Bd7 23.Bxb6 Rxb6 24.Ngf1 Bh6 25.Ne3 Bxe3 26.Qxe3 Be6 27.Nf3 Kg7 28.Rd3 Qc7 is equal (Short-Ivanchuk, Euwe Mem, Amsterdam, 1994).
• If 12.Ng5 Re7 13.d5 then:
• If 13...Nb8 14.Nf1 Nbd7 15.Ng3 then:
• If 15...g6 then:
• If 16.Be2 h6 17.h4 Qd7 19.Nh2 Bg7 20.h5 is equal (Kamsky-Topalov, Candidates' Match Rd 4, Sofia, 2009).
• 16.Be3 Qc8 17.Rc1 Nc5 18.Bc2 c6 19.b4 Ncd7 is equal (Romanishin-Beliavsky, Soviet Ch, Minsk, 1979).
• 15...h6 16.Nf3 g6 17.Nh2 Re8 18.Ng4 Nxg4 19.hxg4 Nc5 20.Bc2 c6 21.Be3 Qh4 is equal (Bartel-Grabarczyk, Polish Ch, Warsaw, 2001).
• 13...Na5 14.Bc2 c6 15.b4 Nc4 16.Nxc4 bxc4 17.dxc6 Bxc6 18.a4 Bb7 19.Nf3 gives White a slight advantage in space (Timman-Karpov, IT, Bugojno, 1980).

12...h6 13.d5

• If 13.Bc2 exd4 14.cxd4 Nb4 15.Bb1 c5 16.d5 Nd7 17.Ra3 then:
• If 17...f5 18.Nh2 Nf6 19.Rf3 Re5 20.Rxf5 Rxf5 21.exf5 Bxd5 22.Ng4 then:
• 22...Bf7 23.Ne4 Nxg4 24.Qxg4 d5 is equal (Morozevich-Grischuk, Grand Prix, Dubai, 2002).
• 22...Ra7 23.Nxf6+ Qxf6 24.Ne4 Bxe4 25.Bxe4 Re7 is equal (Haba-Dervishi, Austrian ChT, 2003).
• 17...c4 18.axb5 axb5 19.Nd4 Qb6 20.Nf5 Ne5 21.Rg3 g6 22.Nf3 Ned3 23.Be3 Qd8 24.Nxh6+ Bxh6 25.Bxh6 Qf6 is equal (Timofeev-Inarkiev, Russian Ch HL, Novokuznetsk, 2008).

13...Nb8 14.c4 c6 15.axb5

• If 15.dxc6 Nxc6 16.axb5 axb5 17.Rxa8 then:
• 17...Qxa8 18.cxb5 Nb4 19.Bc4 Nxe4 is equal (Mestal-Short, Esbjerg, 1984).
• 17...Bxa8 18.cxb5 Nb4 19.Qe2 gives White an extra pawn.

15...axb5 16.Rxa8 Bxa8 17.cxb5

• 17.dxc6 b4 18.Ba4 Nxc6 19.Nf1 Bb7 20.g4 is equal (Vasiukov-Razuvaev, Frunze, 1979).

17...cxd5 18.exd5 Nxd5

• If 18...Nbd7 19.Nb1 Nc5 then:
• 20.Nc3 Nxb3 21.Qxb3 is equal (Svidler-Z, Almasi, IT, Dortmund, 1998).
• If 20.Bc4 Qc7 21.Nc3 gives White the advantage in space.

19.Ne4 Nf6

• 19...Nb4 20.Bg5 Qd7 21.Bxh6 d5 22.Bd2 Nd3 gives Black a full pawn center and a Knight on the sixth rank (Svidler-Grischuk, Euro ChT, Panormo, 2001).

20.Nxf6+ Qxf6 21.Re3!?

• White's new move does not seem to be in keeping with the demands of the position. Black is about to obtain a full pawn center. It is difficult to see how the Rook at e3 will paly a rol in fighting against it.
• 21.Nh2 Nd7 22.Ng4 Qh4 23.Bd5 Bxd5 24.Qxd5 h5 is equal (Haznedaroglu-Dervishi, Ol, Calvia, 2004).

BLACK: Ruud Janssen
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Peter Svidler
Position after 21.Re1e3

21...e4!

• The text is a necessary preparation for the pawn advance to d5.
• 21...d5? drops a pawn to 22.Bxd5 Bxd5 23.Qxd5.

22.Bd2 d5 23.Bc3 Qd8!?

• Black takes the pressure off of d4.
• After 23...Qb6! 24.Nd4 Bc5 25.Bc2 Nd7 26.b4 Bf8 Black continues to enjoy the better game.

24.Ne5!

• White has equalized.
• If 24.Qa1?! then after 24...Nd7 25.Nd4 Bc5 Black remains better.

24...Bc5 25.Rg3 Qf6?

• Black fails to find the best defense. This allows White to ignite a pyrotechnic display that overwhelms Black.
• 25...Qc7 is best, although 26.Qg4 g5 27.Qf5 Re6 28.Ng4 Kf8 29.Ne3 gives White the initiative.

BLACK: Ruud Janssen
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Peter Svidler
Position after 25...Qd1f6

26.Ng4!

Even better for White is 26.Nf3! Qb6 27.Rxg7+ Kf8 28.Ng5!! hxg5 29.Qh5 when Black is kaput.

26...Qf4

• If 26...Qh4 27.Nxh6+ Qxh6 28.Bxg7 Bxf2+ 29.Kf1 then:
• If 29...Qh7 then White wins after 30.Kxf2 Qf5+ 31.Ke1 Kh7 32.Qc1.
• If 29...Qf4 then White wins after 30.Be5+ Qxg3 31.Bxg3 Bxg3 32.Qg4+.

27.Nf6+ Kf8 28.Rxg7 Qxf2+ 29.Kh1 Rd8 30.Nxe4!! 1-0

• If 30...dxe4 then 31.Qxd8#.
• If 30...Qe3 31.Nxc5 Qxc5 32.Qg4 then:
• 32...Rd6 33.Rg8+ Ke7 34.Qh4+ Kd7 35.Qd8+ Ke6 36.Qf6+ Kd7 37.Qxf7#.
• If 32...Ke7 then White wins the Queen with 33.Bb4!.
• Mh. Janssen resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. León Hoyos - Vovk, Round 7, Cappelle la Grande

Yuri Vovk
Photo: Scacchierando (Italy)


Manuel León Hoyos - Yuri Vovk
25th Open. Round 7
Cappelle la Grande, 5 March 2009

Open Sicilian Game: Scheveningen Defense (Rauzer Opening)

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Nf3 d6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nf6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 Be7 8.0-0-0 Nxd4

• If 8...0-0 9.f4 h6 10.Bh4 e5 11.Nf5 Bxf5 12.exf5 then:
• 12...exf4 13.Kb1 d5 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.Nxd5 Be5 16.Bc4 b5 17.Bb3 a5 18.a3 a4 19.Ba2 b4 20.Nxb4 Qf6 21.c3 Nxb4 22.cxb4 Rac8 23.Bd5 Rfd8 24.Ka2 Qxf5 25.Qd3 Qxd3 26.Rxd3 Rc2 27.Rb1 Kf8 28.Rdd1 g5 29.Be4 Rxb2+ White resigns (Beliavsky-Korchnoi, Qorld Cup, Barcelona, 1989).
• 12...Qa5 13.Kb1 Rad8 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.Nd5 Qxd2 16.Rxd2 exf4 17.Nxf6+ gxf6 18.Be2 Rfe8 19.Rf1 Re4 20.Bf3 Re7 21.a3 Ne5 22.Be2 f3 23.gxf3 Nc6 24.f4 Re4 25.Bd3 Re3 26.b4 Kf8 27.Kb2 Nd4 28.Rg2 Rh3 29.Rfg1 Ke7 30.Rd1 d5 draw (Spassky-Gheorghiu, IT, Laatvia, 1966).

9.Qxd4 a6

• 9...0-0 10.f4 Qa5 11.Bc4 Bd7 12.e5 dxe5 13.fxe5 gives White the advantage in space; hundreds of master game stem from this line.

10.f4 b5 11.Bxf6

• If 11.Be2 Bb7 12.Bf3 Rc8 13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.f5 then:
• 14...Qc7 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.Bg4 Kf7 17.Bh5+ Kg7 18.e5 Rhd8 19.Qg4+ Kh8 20.exd6 Rxd6 21.Rxd6 Bxd6 22.Qxe6 Be5 23.Rd1 Bxc3 24.bxc3 Qxc3 25.Qf5 Qa1+ 26.Kd2 Rd8+ 27.Ke1 Qc3+ 28.Kf1 Qc4+ 29.Rd3 Rf8 30.Be2 Qxc2 gives Black an extra pawn (García-I. Smirin, Op, New York, 1997).
• 14...Qa5 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.Kb1 Rc4 17.Qe3 Qc7 18.Rhe1 Qc5 19.Qh6 b4 20.Nd5 Bxd5 21.exd5 e5 22.Be2 gives White the initiative Motylev-Wojtaszek, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).

11...gxf6 12.e5

• If 12.Be2 Qc7 13.f5 Qc5 14.Qxc5 dxc5 then:
• If 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.Bh5+ Kf8 17.e5 f5 18.g4 Ra7 19.gxf5 exf5 20.Nd5 then:
• 20...Kg7 21.Rhg1+ Kh6 22.Kb1 c4 23.Bf3 Rd8 24.Rde1 Bc5 gives Black the initiative (Acs-Kutuzovic, Op, Pardubice, 2001).
• 20...Bg5+ 21.Kb1 Be6 22.Rhg1 Rd7 23.Rxg5 Rxd5 24.Rxf5+ Ke7 25.Rg5 Rg8 26.Rxg8 Rxd1+ 27.Bxd1 Bxg8 gives White an extra pawn (Grischuk-Grosar, Euro ChT, Batumi, 1999).


• 15.Rhf1 Ra7 16.a4 b4 17.Nb1 Rd7 18.Rxd7 Kxd7 19.Nd2 h5 20.Nc4 Kc7 is equal (Topalov-Kramnik, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 2000).

12...d5 13.Be2!?

• If 13.Kb1 Bb7 then:
• If 14.f5 fxe5 15.Qxe5 Bf6 16.Qg3 Qe7 17.fxe6 fxe6 18.Be2 h5 then:
• 19.a4 h4 20.Qg6+ Qf7 21.Qg4 Rg8 22.Qh3 Rg5 23.Bg4 Ke7 24.Rhe1 Be5 25.Qe3 Rag8 26.Qa7 Black resigns (Alopian-Mamedyarov, Ol, Dresden, 2008).
• 19.Bf3 0-0-0 20.h4 b4 21.Ne2 e5 22.Nc1 Kb8 23.Nb3 Qc7 24.Bxh5 Rxh5 25.Qg6 Rxh4 26.Qxf6 Rf4 gives Black the better game (Anand-Kramnik, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2000).
• 14.Qe3 Qc7 15.Ne2 0-0-0 16.Nd4 Rhg8 17.exf6 Bxf6 18.g3 Kb8 19.a4 bxa4 20.Qa3 Rd6 21.Qxa4 Rb6 draw (Fiorito-Braga, Trmt, Villa Gesell, 1997).

13...Rg8

• The game is equal.
• 13...fxe5 14.Qxe5 Rg8 15.g3 Bb7 16.Qh5 b4 17.Ne4 remains equal.

14.Rhe1?!

• 14.Bf3 fxe5 15.fxe5 Bb7 16.Qd3 b4 17.Qxh7 Rf8 18.Ne2 wins a pawn at little risk.
• 14.g3 fxe5 15.Qxe5 Bb7 16.Qh5 b4 17.Ne4 Rg7 is equal.

14...f5?!

• 14...fxe5 15.Qxe5 Qd6 16.Bf3 Qxe5 17.fxe5 Bb7 gives Black the better center and superior pawn structure.

15.Bh5?!

• 15.Bf3 Bb7 16.Ne2 Rc8 17.Qd2 Qc7 18.Nd4 Qc4 19.Kb1 is equal.

BLACK: Yuri Vovk
!""""""""#
$t+vWl+t+%
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$o+ +o+ +%
$+o+oPo+b%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Manuel León Hoyos
Position after 15.Be2h5

15...b4!

• White attacks with a familiar Sicilian motif.

16.Na4 Qa5

• 16...Qc7 17.Bf3 Rb8 18.b3 Bd7 19.Nb2 Rc8 20.Qd2 Qc3 gives Black the active game.

17.b3 Bd7

• 17...Bb7 18.Bf3 Bc6 19.Qb6 Qxb6 20.Nxb6 Rb8 gives Black the advantage; White has a backward pawn on the c-file.

18.Qb6

• Black has the advantage in space, so White forces an exchange of Queens.

18...Qxb6 19.Nxb6 Ra7

• 19...Rd8 20.Nxd7 Rxd7 21.g3 Rc7 22.Rd3 is equal.

20.Nxd5

• If 20.g3 Rg7 21.Rd3 Bb5 then:
• 22.c4 bxc3 23.Rxc3 Bb4 24.Rc8+ Ke7 25.Rd1 is equal.
• If 22.Nc8 then after 22...Rd7 23.Nxe7 Bxd3 24.Nc6 Bb5 Black has won the exchange.

20...exd5 21.e6

• White cannot stop Black from bringing his rook to White's front rank.
• If 21.g3? Be6 22.Bf3 Rd7 then:
• 23.Be2 Kf8 24.Bxa6 Ra7 25.Be2 Rxa2 leaves Black a piece to the good.
• 23.Rd3 Rg6 24.Re2 Rh6 25.c3 a5 26.cxb4 axb4 gives Black an extra piece.

21...Bxe6

• There is no way for Black to avoid further exchanges; White gets his pieces back.

22.Rxe6 Rxg2 23.Rxd5 Rxh2 24.Rxf5 Rxh5 25.Rxe7+ Kxe7 26.Rxh5

• Dr. Tarrasch declared that as a general rule Rook and pawn endings are drawn. Even he knew there were exceptions, but this one looks pretty lifeless at the moment. The players might have given it up sooner if they weren't playing for sole possession of first place late in the tournament.

26...Kf6 27.Rxh7 Kf5 28.Kd2!?

• White's best shot is 28.Rh4 Re7 29.Rh5+ Kg4 when:
• If 30.Ra5 Kxf4 31.Rxa6 then:
• If 31...f5 then:
• 32.Ra5 Rb7 33.a3 bxa3 34.Rxa3 Ke3 35.Kd1 Kf2 36.c4 f4 is equal.
• If 32.Ra4? then after 32...Ke3 33.Rxb4 f4 34.a4 f3 Black's single pawn trumps White's trio.
• 31...Rb7 32.a3 bxa3 33.Rxa3 f5 34.Kd2 gives White connected passers, but Black's pawn is qualitatively better.
• 30.Rg5+ Kxf4 31.Ra5 Re1+ 32.Kd2 Re6 33.Ra4 Kg3 is equal.

28...Ke4 29.Rh6 f5 30.Rc6 Kxf4 31.c3

• If 31.Rc4+ Kg3 32.Rxb4 f4 then:
• 33.Rb6 f3 34.Rg6+ Kf2 35.c4 Rd7+ remains equal.
• 33.Rb8 f3 34.Rg8+ Kf2 35.Rg6 remains equal.

BLACK: Yuri Vovk
!""""""""#
$ + + + +%
$T + + + %
$o+r+ + +%
$+ + +o+ %
$ O + L +%
$+pP + + %
$p+ K + +%
$+ + + + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Manuel León Hoyos
Position after 31.c2c3

31...a5

• If 31...bxc3+ 32.Kxc3 Kf3 33.b4 f4 34.a4 Ke3 then:
• If 35.b5 axb5 36.axb5 f3 then:
• After 37.b6 Rb7 38.Re6+ Kf2 39.Kd4 Kg2 40.Rg6+ Kf1 41.Rf6 f2 42.Kd5! those who took a good look at the Anand-Ivanchuk game from last week know that this is a draw after White sacrifices his Rook for Black's pawn.
• If 37.Re6+ Kf2 38.b6 Rg7 39.Rc6 Ke2 then:
• After 40.Rc7 f2 41.Rxg7 f1Q 42.Re7+ Kd1 43.Rd7+ Kc1 44.b7 Qb5 wins for Black.
• 40.Re6+ Kf1 41.Rf6 f2 42.Kd4 Kg2 43.Kd5 f1Q 44.Rxf1 Kxf1 45.Kc6 draw.
• 35.Re6+ Kf2 36.b5 is equal.

32.Ke2 bxc3 33.Rxc3 Rh7

• 33...Kg4 34.Rc5 Ra8 35.Kf2 f4 36.a4 Ra7 37.Rb5 remains equal.

34.Rf3+?!

• White's Rook would be more active on the fifth rank between Black's pawns.
• 34.Rc4+! Kg3 35.Rc5 Rh2+ 36.Kd3 Rxa2 37.Rxf5 can be given up as drawn.

34...Kg4 35.Ke3 Re7+ 36.Kf2 f4

• Black still has a small advantage with the more active Rook.
• 36...Rc7 37.Rg3+ Kf4 38.Rf3+ Ke4 39.Re3+ Kd4 keep Black's King and Rook more active than their white counterparts.

37.Rc3 Rd7 38.Rc2 Rh7 39.Kg1 Kg3!?

• Black slips throws away most of his advantage just before the time check.
• If 39...Rh5! 40.Rg2+ Kf3 41.a3 Rd5 then:
• 42.Rf2+ Ke3 43.Kg2 Rg5+ 44.Kf1 f3 leaves White fighting for a draw.
• 42.Rc2 Rd3 43.Rc5 Rxb3 44.Rxa5 Rb1+ gives Black a tremendous advantage, but White still has some fight as long as he still has a pawn.

40.Rc5 Rd7

• If 40...Ra7 41.a4 Ra8 then:
• 42.Rb5 f3 43.Kf1 Ra6 44.Rg5+ is equal.
• If 42.Kf1?! then after 42...Rb8 43.Rg5+ Kf3 44.Rb5 Rc8 45.Ke1 Re8+ Black continues to have the advantage.

41.Kf1?

• White plays for the loss.
• 41.Rg5+ Kf3 42.Rxa5 Rd1+ 43.Kh2 Rd2+ 44.Kh3 Re2 45.b4 Re7 46.Kh4 restores equality.

BLACK: Yuri Vovk
!""""""""#
$ + + + +%
$+ +t+ + %
$ + + + +%
$O R + + %
$ + + O +%
$+p+ + L %
$p+ + + +%
$+ + +k+ %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Manuel León Hoyos
Position after 41.Kg1f1

41...Rd2!

• Black cuts off the White King from the pawns.

42.Rxa5 Rb2 43.Ra8

• 43.Rg5+ Kf3 44.Kg1 Rxa2 gives Black the stronger passed pawn.

43...Rb1+ 44.Ke2 f3+ 45.Ke3 Re1+ 46.Kd4 f2 47.Rg8+

• If White's pawns were futher up the board, then the best move would be 47.Rf8. That could use the save tempo to advance a pawn further. The check is a waste of time.

47...Kh4 48.Rf8 f1Q 49.Rxf1 Rxf1 50.a4

• If 50.Kc5 then:
• If 50...Rf5+ 51.Kb4 Rf4+ 52.Kc5 Rf3 53.Kc4 Kg5 then:
• If 54.a4 Kf6 55.a5 Ke5 56.b4 Kd6 57.Kb5 Kc7 58.Ka6 Rf5 then:
• 59.b5 Rh5 60.b6+ Kc6 61.b7 Rb5 62.Ka7 Rxb7+ 63.Ka8 Kc7 64.a6 Rb8+ 65.Ka7 Rb6 66.Ka8 Rxa6#.
• 59.Ka7 Rb5 60.Ka6 Rxb4 61.Ka7 Rf4 62.a6 Rf6 63.Ka8 Rxa6#.
• If 54.Kb4 Kf5 55.a4 Ke6 56.Kc4 Kd6 then:
• 57.Kb4 Kc6 58.Ka3 Kc5 59.a5 Rf1 60.Kb2 Kb4 61.Kc2 Rf3 62.a6 Rxb3 63.a7 Ra3 wins for White.
• If 57.a5 then after 57...Kc6 58.a6 Rf4+ 59.Kc3 Kb6 the a-pawn falls.
• If 50...Ra1 51.a4 Kg5 52.b4 then:
• 52...Kf5 53.a5 Ke6 54.Kb6 Kd7 55.b5 Kc8 wins for White as in the note to White's 53rd move.
• If 52...Rxa4? then 53.b5! Ra1 54.b6 Rb1 55.Kc6 draws.

50...Kg5 51.a5 Kf6 52.Kc5 Ke7 53.Kc6

• If 53.Kb6 Rb1 54.Kc6 Rc1+ then:
• If 55.Kb6 Kd6 56.b4 Rb1 then:
• 57.b5 Kd7 58.a6 Kc8 59.a7 Ra1 the pawn falls victim to Zugzwang.
• 57.a6 Rxb4+ 58.Ka7 Kc7 will end like the text.
• 55.Kb5 Kd6 56.b4 Rb1 57.a6 Kc7 the King will catch the a-pawn and the Rook takes the b-pawn, followed by an elementary mate.

53...Kd8 54.Kb7 Rf7+ 55.Kb8 Rf5 56.a6 Rb5+

• It's all book from here

57.Ka8 Kc7 58.a7 Rh5 0-1

• Black delivers mate on the next move.
• El señor León resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Fierro - Z. Mamedyarova, Women's GP, Round 1, Istanbul

Martha Fierro won an individual silver medal for her performance on the top board for Ecuador's women's olympic team in Dresden in November.
Zeinab Mamedyarova is the older sister of Azerbaijani gramdmaster Shakhiyar Mamedyarov.



Martha Fierro
Photo: Scacchierando (Italy)


To view this game:

• Please click here;
• Seelct the third game (Fierro Baquero, Martha IM (ECU) vs. Mamedyarova, Zeinab WGM (AZE)) on the list below the board;
• Enjoy!

Martha Fierro - Zeinab Mamedyarova
Women's Grand Prix, Round 1
Istanbul, 7 March 2009

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Clam Opening

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.c3 g6 7.0-0

• 7.Nbd2 Bg7 8.Nf1 then:
• If 8...0-0 9.Ng3 b5 10.Bc2 d5 11.0-0 then:
• 11...h6 12.h3 Be6 13.Be3 dxe4 14.dxe4 Qxd1 15.Rfxd1 draw (Fedorowicz-Kaidanov, US Ch, Tulsa, 2008).
• 11...Re8 12.h3 Bb7 13.a4 Nb8 14.Be3 Nbd7 15.b4 Qc8 16.Qb1 c5 17.bxc5 dxe4 18.dxe4 Nxc5 19.axb5 axb5 20.Rxa8 Bxa8 is equal (Movsziszian-Granda, Op, Tarragona, 2006).
• If 8...Bd7 9.Ng3 0-0 10.0-0 Re8 11.Re1 b5 then:
• 12.Bc2 Na5 13.b4 Nc6 14.a4 Ne7 15.h3 Qb8 16.a5 c5 17.Be3 cxb4 18.cxb4 Nc6 19.Rb1 d5 20.Bc5 d4 21.Bb3 is equal (de la Riva-Ponomariov, Op, Andorra, 2003).
• 12.Bb3 Na5 13.Bc2 c5 14.d4 cxd4 15.cxd4 exd4 16.Nxd4 Qb6 is equal (Brodsky-Rytshagov, Keres Mem Rapid, Tallinn, 2005).

7...Bg7 8.Re1 0-0 9.Nbd2 Nd7

• 9...b5 10.Bc2 then:
• If 10...Bb7 11.Nf1 then:
• 11...Nb8 12.Ng3 Nbd7 13.d4 c5 14.d5 c4 15.h3 Qc7 16.Be3 Kh8 17.Nh2 Nc5 18.b4 cxb3 19.axb3 Bc8 20.Qe2 Ng8 21.Rac1 f5 22.exf5 Bxf5 23.Nf3 is equal (Hou Yifan-Feller, Rapid, Cap d'Agde, 2008).
• 11...Re8 12.Ng3 Nb8 13.h3 Nbd7 14.Nh2 d5 15.Ng4 Nxg4 16.hxg4 c5 17.Qf3 d4 draw (Nestorovic-Arngrimsson, Trophy, Belgrade, 2008).
• 11...d5 12.Bg5 Qd6 13.Ng3 d4 14.h4 Bc8 15.Qc1 Ng4 16.h5 dxc3 17.bxc3 b4 18.Ba4 Bd7 19.Bxc6 Bxc6 20.cxb4 Bb5 21.Qc3 h6 22.Be3 Qxd3 23.Qxd3 Bxd3 is equal (Gorlin-Z. Mamedyarova, World Youth Girls, Oropesa del Mar, 2001).
• If 10...Re8 11.a4 then:
• 11...Bb7 12.h3 Nb8 13.b4 Nbd7 14.Nb3 Rb8 15.Be3 d5 16.Qb1 Bf8 17.axb5 axb5 18.Ra5 Nb6 19.Rxb5 dxe4 20.dxe4 gives White an extra pawn (Kr. Georgiev-G. Flear, Op, Saint Affrique, 2005).
• 11...b4 12.a5 Rb8 13.Ba4 Bd7 14.c4 Nh5 15.Nb3 Nf4 16.d4 Nh5 17.Bg5 Bf6 18.Bxf6 Nxf6 19.d5 Na7 20.Qd3 Bxa4 21.Rxa4 gives White the advantage in space (Akopian-Sasikiran, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2006).

10.Nf1 Nc5 11.Bc2 Ne6 12.Ng3 Qe7!?

• 12...Qf6 13.Ne2 g5 14.Ng3 Nf4 15.Nd2 Ne7 16.Ndf1 Neg6 17.Ne3 Nh4 18.Nd5 Qd8 is equal (Melia-Daulyte, Euro ChW, Dresden, 2007).
• 12...d5 13.Bb3 d4 14.Bxe6 Bxe6 15.c4 h6 16.Bd2 a5 17.b3 Kh7 18.a3 Qe7 19.Qe2 b6 20.h3 Rfb8 gives Black a small advantage in space (Melamed-Zaiatz, Euro ChW, Warsaw, 2001).

13.Be3

• The game is level.
• 13.b4 b6 14.Bb3 Bb7 15.a4 Rfb8 is also equal.

13...f5 14.exf5 gxf5 15.Bc1 d5

• 15...f4 16.Ne4 d5 17.Ned2 Qc5 18.d4 exd4 19.Nb3 gives White a small initiative.

16.Bb3 e4 17.dxe4!?

• White shows some nerve by rolling the ball to Black in a way that she can take the initiative.
• If 17.Nd2! Ne5 18.dxe4 dxe4 then:
• 19.Nh5 Nd3 20.Nxg7 Kxg7 21.Re3 Rd8 22.Bc2 Nef4 is equal.
• 19.Bc2 Nf4 20.Nb3 Rd8 21.Nd4 Qg5 is equal.

17...fxe4 18.Nd4

BLACK: Zeinab Mamedyarova
!""""""""#
$t+v+ Tl+%
$+oO W Vo%
$o+m+m+ +%
$+ +o+ + %
$ + No+ +%
$+bP + N %
$pP + PpP%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Martha Fierro
Position after 18.Nf3d4

18...Ncxd4!

• It is better to capture with the Knight that is blocking the advance of a pawn, as Black does here.
• If 18...Nexd4 19.cxd4 Be6 20.Be3 then:
• 20...Nb4! 21.Rf1 Rae8 22.Qd2 Nd3 gives Black the advantage in space.
• If 20...Qb4?! then 21.Nxe4! wins a pawn./li]

19.cxd4 c6

• Black has a small advantage in space.

20.Be3 Kh8!?

• This is a small misstep that brings the game back to equality.
• If 20...Qh4 then:
• If 21.Ne2! Bd7 22.Qd2 Rae8 23.Qb4! then:
• After 23...Bc8 24.a4 Rf7 25.a5 Black continues to enjoy a slight advantage in space.
• 23...Nd8 24.Rac1 Rf7 is equal.
• If 21.Bc2?! Nf4 22.Qd2 Be6 23.Bxf4 then:
• 23...Rxf4! 24.Nh5 Bh6!! 25.Nxf4 Bxf4 gives Black a strong attack for the exchange.
• After 23...Qxf4!? 24.Qxf4 Rxf4 25.Nh5 Rf7 26.Nxg7 Rxg7 Black continues to enjoy the advantage in space.

21.Qd2!?

• White may be thinking about bringing the Queen to the queenside, as occurs in some variations.
• If 21.Nh5 Rg8 22.Kh1 then:
• After 22...b6 23.f3 exf3 24.Qxf3 Qf8 25.Nxg7 Qxg7 26.Qf2 remains equal.
• 22...Bd7 23.f3 exf3 24.Qxf3 Raf8 25.Qe2 remains equal.

21...Qf7

• If 21...Qh4 22.Rac1 a5 23.Ba4 then:
• 23...Bd7 24.Ne2 Be8 25.Bc2 Kg8 Black regains the advantage in space.
• 23...Nf4 24.Bc2 a4 25.a3 b6 26.Qb4 remains equal.

22.Rf1

• This move is preliminary to the pawn advance.
• 22.Rac1 Qg6 23.a4 h5 24.Bd1 h4 25.Nh5 remains equal.
• The consequences of omitting the text move may be shown by 22.f3?! exf3 23.Rf1 Qe7! 24.gxf3 when White's kingside pawns are weak.

22...Bd7 23.f3!

• Black's game is based on her better center. White plays to chip away at it.

23...exf3 24.Rxf3 Qe7

• If 24...Qg8 25.Rxf8 Rxf8 26.Nh5 then:
• 26...Rf7 27.Nxg7 Qxg7 28.Rf1 Rxf1+ 29.Kxf1 Be8 30.Kg1 White's Bishops give her a slight edge in the endgame.
• 26...Rf5 27.Nxg7 Qxg7 28.Rf1 Rxf1+ 29.Kxf1 White's Bishop pair look to be the more active minor pieces from here out.

25.Raf1 Nc7?

• Black does not see the brewing danger on the b1/h7 diagonal. Lesson: think dynamically. Just because there no physical threat on an open line doesn't mean there can't be one right quick.
• If 25...Rxf3! 26.Rxf3 then:
• 26...Rf8 27.Nf5 Rxf5 28.Rxf5 Nxd4 29.Rf1 Nxb3 30.axb3 cedes a material advantage to White, but Black's King is well defended, Black has better pawn structure and has chances ofr counterplay.
• 26...Nf8? 27.Bg5 Qe8 28.Bc2 Be6 29.Bh6 puts White is position to lauch an attack on the Black King.

BLACK: Zeinab Mamedyarova
!""""""""#
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$ + P + +%
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$+ + +rK %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Martha Fierro
Position after 25...Ne6c7

26.Bc2!

• See previous note.

26...Bg4

• 26...Rxf3 27.Rxf3 Re8 28.Qd3 Qh4 29.Rf4 is time to turn out the lights.

27.Qd3!

• White threatens mate on h7.

27...Qh4

• Black just makes a bad situation worse.
• If 27...Bh6 then 28.Bxh6 Bxf3 29.Bxf8 Rxf8 30.Rxf3 Rxf3 31.Qxf3 nets White an extra piece.

BLACK: Zeinab Mamedyarova
!""""""""#
$t+ + T L%
$+oM + Vo%
$o+o+ + +%
$+ +o+ + %
$ + P +vW%
$+ +qBrN %
$pPb+ +pP%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Martha Fierro
Position after 27...Qe7h4

28.Bg5!

• Black is busted.
• If 28...Qxg5 then 29.Qxh7#.

28...Bxf3 29.Bxh4 Be4 30.Nxe4 1-0

• Mamedyarova resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Update (Saturday): Grischuk wins Linares on superior tiebreak score

Alexander Grischuk in Linares
Photo: ChessBase.com

Details on ChessBase.com.

[cboy4]

10. Jack Rabbit .. out of curiosity, would you say the virginity

rate among your hobby is higher than 85 percent?

Or would you say it's closer to 95-98 percent?

Not that there's anything wrong with it.

I'm just wondering.

[Jack Rabbit]

11. There's only one thing you need to know about my sex life:

You're not part of it.

[cboy4]

12. That's what I thought.

:rofl:

[Jack Rabbit]

13. Old news story from 2006

From ChessBase.com
Dated 16 May 2006 (with emphasis added)

Topalov-Radjabov game for the world title agreed
The prize fund is $1.5 million.

Sofia, May 15, 2006 – The manager of the Chess World Champion Veselin Topalov, Silvio Danailov, and the Minister of Sport of Azerbaijan Azad Rahimov, agreed yesterday on a game for the world title to be held between Topalov and the Azerbaijanian Teimour Radjabov (Elo 2720). All conditions of the World Champion have been accepted and the two sides have signed a memorandum.



The Minister of Sport of Azerbaijan, Azad Rahimov, with Topalov's manager Silvio Danailov

The match will probably take place in April 2007 in Baku. The award fund will be $1.5 million, of which $1 million will be for Topalov. According to the rules of FIDE every chess player with an Elo rating over 2700 can challenge the World Champion in a game for the title. Radjabov, currently number 13 in the FIDE ranking, will be the next challenger if Topalov defends his title in the game against Kramnik in September this year in the capital of Kalmykia, Elista.

As we know, the Topalov lost the reunification match to Kramnik and the proposed match between Topalov and the young Azerbaijani GM Radjabov never took place.

Also from the article, here is a picture of Azerbaijani Sport (my emphasis again) Minister Rahimov making the ceremonial first move at the MTel Masters Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria, where the Sport Minister, representing Radjabov, took part in negotiations with representatives of Topalov and FIDE, the world chess federation.

[cboy4]

14. Oh, well now I'm absolutely convinced chess is a sport.

But then again, you've now convinced me that this is a sport:

[Jack Rabbit]

15. Of course it is

All it needs is a professional level of competition and a world governing body to enforce uniform rules. It also helps if government agencies responsible for supporting sports events, such as the Ministry of Sports in Azerbaijan, assist in organizing Twister tournaments as they do in organizing chess tournaments and the Olympic Games.

You see, cboy, if walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's a duck.

And here's something to make sure you stay convinced:


From the official website of the 2009 European Inidividual Chess Championship

Cheerleaders at the opening ceremony of the European Chess Championships last week in Budva, Montenegro.

[cboy4]

16. Uh, oh .. you're not dragging me into the cheerleading

in sports (or in your case, hobby) controversy.

LOL


ON EDIT:

"Ministry of Sports in Azerbaijan, assist in organizing Twister tournaments..."

:rofl:

[Jack Rabbit]

17. Meet a real sports figure . . .

Alexandra Kosteniuk, world women's chess champion . . .


Crónica Viva (Peru)

Yes, really. That's her. No kidding.

[cboy4]

18. She's beautiful....she should be the figure head for chess.

I can only dream of being as smart and attractive.

[Jack Rabbit]

19. Update (Tuesday)

Women's Grand Prix, Istanbul, Round 4



Chinese grandmaster Hou Yifan, who clebrated her 15th birthday two weeks ago, and IM Martha Fierro of Ecuador are tied for the lead in the FIDE Women's Grand Prix after four rounds in Istanbul with 3½ points each.

Top seeded Indian GM Koneru Humpy and GM Zhao Xue of China are tied for third on 3 points.

All four ladies entered today's fourth round action tied for first with 2½ points. In today's games, Ms. Koneru drew against China's Shen Yang, Ms. Zhao drew with former women's world champion Antoaneta Stefanova of Bulgaria, Ms. Hou, playing Black, went 73 moves to defeat Swedish GM Pia Cramling and la señorita Fierro, also playing Black, defeated the local entry, Betul Cemre Yildiz of Turkey, in 51 moves.

The 11-round event lasts through March 19.


European Championships (General Competition), Budva, Round 5



Three grandmaster are tied for first place with 4½ points each after five rounds in the general competition of the tenth annual European Championships in Budva, Montenegro.

The trio consists of: Ernesto Inarkiev (yes, he was named for Che) of Russia; Georg Meier of Germany and Sunan Sjugirov of Ukraine.

Inakiev and Meier began the day tied for first place with perfect scores, but the two drew their game against each other. Sjugirov started as one of several players a half-point behind the pair and defeated former long-time Dutch national champion Loek van Wely to become the only player with 3½ points in the first four rounds to win today and join the leaders.

The 11-round event will end March 17.



European Championships (Women's Competition), St. Petersburg, Round 3



Six women are tied for first place with perfect scores after three rounds at the women's event of the European Championships in St. Petersburg.

They are: Georgian grandmaster Nana Dzagnidze, who has been red hot since winning an individual gold medal at the Dresden Chess Olympics in November; Hungarian GM Hoang Thanh Trang, oringinally from Vietnam; grandmaster Monika Socko of Poland; international master Evgenija Ovod of Russia; Romanian IM Cristina-Adela Foisor; and the biggest surprise so far, WFM Oksana Gritsayeva of Ukraine.

The event is scheduled for 11 rounds and will end March 19.