The Jack Rabbit Chess Report: Hou's in First

[Jack Rabbit]

Istanbul: Hou's in First



Fifteen-year-old Chinese grandmaster Hou Yifan defeated Koneru Humpy of India today to solidify her lead in the Women's Grand Prix in Istanbul.

Ms. Hou (pronounced like the English pronoun who) started today's seventh round with a half-point lead at 5½ points over Ms. Koneru, the top seed in the event, and fellow Chinese grandmaster Zhao Xue.

Ms. Zhao kept pace by defeating Ecuadoran IM Martha Fierro in 56 moves.

Young Ms. Hou's play today was nothing short of brilliant. Playing White, she sacrificed one piece after another, queened a pawn only to sacrifice it, and finally, two minor pieces down, caught her opponent's King in a mating net. Ms. Koneru resigned on her 50th move.

It was Ms. Hou's sixth consecutive victory after drawing with former women's champion Maia Chiburdanidze in the first round.

Tomorrow is a rest day for the ladies with round 8 to be played on Monday. The single round-robin event among twelve played ends on Thursday.


European General Championship (Budva): Logjam at Top after 8 rounds



Georgian grandmaster Baduur Jobava today defeated Andrei Volokitin of Ukraine, who began the day in clear first place, to plunge the general competition of the European championship in Budva, Montenegro, into a tie for first place with multiple other players only a half-point behind after eight rounds.

Jobava, a former winner of the Aeroflot Open, began the day a half-point behind Volokitin, who always mananges to be at or near the top of the European Championship in the late round but has yet to win it.

Jobava is joined in first place with 6½ points in 8 rounds by Russian GM Ernesto Inarkiev, who defeated Ioannis Papaioannou of Greece.

In other games between players who began the day tied for second place ended in a draw. Those were between Czech GM David Navara and Ivan Sokolov of Holland (30 moves), Georg Meir of Germany Boris Grachev of Russia (100 moves) and Dmitry Borochov of Russia and Sanan Sjugirov of Ukraine (153 moves).

The eleventh and final round is scheduled for Tuesday with any necessary tiebreaks to take place Wednesday.


European Women's Championship (St. Petersburg): Viet-Hungarian GM Hoang Leads



Grandmaster Hoang Thanh Trang, who was born in Hanoi but has lived in Hungary since the age of 10 and plays under the Hungarian flag, leads the European Women's Championship in St. Petersburg with 6 points in 7 rounds after defeating Lilit Mkrtchian of Armenia today in 45 moves.

Ms. Mkrtchian, a strong international master with a fiery style, began the day alone in first place with 5½ points in six rounds.

Ms. Hoang, who shared the lead after five rounds at 4½ points with Ms. Mkrtchian, Polish grandmaster Monika Socko and IM Salome Melia of Georgia, began the day tied for second with Ms. Melia, Romanian IM Cristina-Adela Foisor, Georgian IM Nino Khurtsidze and reigning Moscow Open women's champion Natalija Pogonina of Russia.

In the other games that might have affected first place today, Mrs. Socko drew with Mrs. Foisor and Ms. Khursidze drew with Ms. Pogonina, leaving Ms. Hoang in a clear first place.

The 11-round tournament is scheduled to conclude Thursday with any tiebreaks necessary to be played Friday.


Games will be posted later today



Calendar


Melody Amber Rapid/Blind Tournament, Nice 14-27 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. Games from current and recent events

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
!""""""""#
$tMvWlVmT%
$OoOoOoOo%
$ + + + +%
$+ + + + %
$ + + + +%
$+ + + + %
$pPpPpPpP%
$RnBqKbNr%
/(((((((()
WHITE
White to move
(This position is a theoretical draw)

[Jack Rabbit]

2. 26th Ciudad de Linares

The 26th Ciudad de Linares was won joinly by Alexander Grischuk and Vassily Ivanchuk. Grischuk is declared the tournament champion on the basis of a superior tiebreak score.

Here is the cross table from ChessBase:



The ChessBase table is listed in order of SB scores. However, the Linares tournament awards weight to games won (which I think is a better way of doing it any way).

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Ivanchuk - Aronian, Round 13

Vassily Ivanchuk
Photo: ChessBase.com


Vassily Ivanchuk - Levon Aronian
26th Ciudad de Linares, Round 13
Linares, 6 March 2009

Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit: Stoltz Opening

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.b3

• (Stoltz-Shabalov Opening) If 7.g4 then:
• If 7...dxc4 8.Bxc4 then:
• If 8...e5 9.g5 Nd5 10.Bd2 exd4 then:
• If 11.Nxd4 11...0-0 then:
• 12.Nxd5 cxd5 13.Bd3 g6 14.h4 Nc5 15.f4 Bg4 16.Bc3 Re8 17.Kf2 Qd7 18.h5 Nxd3+ 19.Qxd3 Re4 20.hxg6 fxg6 is equal (Radjobov-Shirov, Rapid m, León, 2004).
• 12.0-0-0 Ne5 13.Nxd5 cxd5 14.Bxd5 Bg4 15.Bc3 Bb4 16.Ne2 Bxc3 17.Nxc3 Bxd1 18.Rxd1 Qe7 19.Qe4 Rad8 20.h4 Ng6 21.Qa4 gives White a huge advantage in space, but Black has a Rook for a pawn and a minor piece (Adly-Pantela, Op, Reykjavik, 2006).
• 11.Qe4+ Qe7 12.Qxd4 Ne5 13.Nxe5 Bxe5 14.Nxd5 cxd5 15.Bb5+ Kf8 16.Qxd5 Bxb2 then:
• If 17.Qb3 Ba3 18.Bc4Bc5 19.Bd5 Be6 20.Bxe6 fxe6 21.Rc1 b6 22.Rg1 Rd8 23.Rg4 Qd6 24.Bc3 gives White a slight advantage in space (Perelshteyn-Lugo, US Ch, San Diego, 2006).
• 17.Rb1 Be6 18.Qe4 Ba3 19.Bc4 Bxc4 20.Qxc4 b6 21.Rg1 gives White the advantage in space (Vallejo-Bareev, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 2005).
• 8...b6 9.e4 Bb7 10.e5 c5 11.exf6 Bxf3 12.fxg7 Rg8 13.Qxh7 Nf6 14.Bb5+ Ke7 15.Bg5 Bf4 16.Qh3 Bxh1 17.Bxf4 Qxd4 18.Qg3 Ne4 19.Qh4+ Qf6 20.g5 Qxg7 21.0-0-0 Rad8 22.g6+ f6 23.Rxh1 Rh8 24.Qg4 Nxf2 25.Qf3 Nxh1 26.Bd6+ Kxd6 27.Qc6+ Ke5 28.Qe4+ draws by perpetual check (Onischuk-Becerra, US Ch, San Diego, 2004).
• If 8...b5 then:
• If 9.Be2 Bb7 10.g5 Nd5 11.Ne4 Be7 12.Bd2 Rc8 13.Nc5 Nxc5 14.dxc5 Bxg5 15.0-0-0 Bh6 16.Ne5 Qe7 17.Ng4 Bg5 18.f4 Bh4 19.e4 Nf6 20.Nxf6+ Bxf6 21.Ba5 gives White a huge lead in space (Nestorovic-Milenkovic, Yugoslav ChT, Cetinje, 1993).
• 9.Bd3 Bb7 10.g5 Nd5 11.Ne4 Be7 12.Bd2 Qb6 13.Rc1 Nb4 14.Bxb4 Bxb4+ 15.Ke2 c5 16.a3 c4 17.axb4 Bd5 18.Nfd2 0-0 19.Rhg1 e5 20.dxe5 Rad8 21.Nf6+ Nxf6 22.Bf5 Nh5 is equal (Shirov-Akopian, IT, Biel, 1993).
• 8...Nd5 then:
• If 9.Ne4 Be7 10.Bd2 b6 11.0-0-0 Bb7 12.Ne5 a5 13.h4 f6 14.Nd3 b5 15.Bb3 a4 16.Bxd5 cxd5 17.Nec5 Nxc5 18.Nxc5 Bxc5 19.dxc5 d4 20.e4 draw (Sargissian-Korneev, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).
• 9.Bd2 b5 10.Be2 Bb7 11.Ne4 Be7 12.Nc5 Nxc5 13.dxc5 Qc7 14.a4 0-0 15.h4 a5 16.Rc1 bxa4 17.Bd3 h6 18.Qxa4 Ba6 19.Bxa6 Rxa6 20.b4 gives White a small advantage in space (Nakamura-Beliavsky, Op, Minneapolis, 2005).
• 7...Bb4 8.Bd2 Qe7 then:
• If 9.Rg1 Bxc3 10.Bxc3 Ne4 11.0-0-0 Nxc3 12.Qxc3 0-0 then:
• 13.Bd3 dxc4 14.Bxc4 c5 15.Kb1 a6 16.Bd3 b5 17.Qc2 g6 18.Be4 Ra7 19.g5 Rc7 20.h4 Nb6 21.dxc5 Rxc5 22.Qd3 Bb7 23.Nh2 Bxe4 24.Qxe4 Rc4 25.Rd4 gives White a small advantage in space (Milanovic-Lazic, Bosnian ChT, Jahorina, 2001).
• 13.g5 dxc4 14.Bxc4 b5 15.Bd3 Bb7 16.Qc2 g6 17.Be4 Rab8 18.Kb1 c5 19.Bxb7 Rxb7 20.dxc5 Nxc5 21.Ne5 Rc7 22.h4 Rfc8 23.Ng4 Na4 24.Qe4 Rc2 25.Qe5 Qc7 26.Nf6+ Kf8 27.Nxh7+ Ke7 28.Qf6+ Ke8 29.Qh8+ Ke7 30.Qf6+ Ke8 31.Qh8+ draws by repetition (Sargissian-Sveshnikov, Petrosian Mem, Stepanakert, 2004).
• If 9.Bd3 then:
• 9...e5 10.cxd5 Bxc3 11.Bxc3 e4 12.dxc6 exd3 13.cxd7+ Qxd7 14.Qb3 Qxg4 15.Qd1 0-0 16.Rg1 Qe4 17.Nd2 Qd5 18.Qf3 Bf5 19.Qxd5 Nxd5 20.Nc4 Rfd8 is equal (Vorobiov-P. Smirnov, Russian Ch semif, Krasnoyarsk, 2003).
• 9...Bxc3 10.Bxc3 dxc4 11.Bxc4 b5 12.Bd3 Bb7 13.e4 Nxe4 14.Bxe4 f5 15.Bd3 c5 16.Rg1 Bxf3 17.dxc5 fxg4 is equal (Moranda-Vitiugov, Belfort, 2005).
• 7...h6 then:
• If 8.Rg1 e5 9.cxd5 cxd5 then:
• If 10.Bd2 e4 11.Nb5 Bb8 then:
• If 12.Nh4 a6 13.Nf5 0-0 14.Nbd6 Bxd6 15.Nxd6 Nb8 is equal (Aronian-Topalov, Amber Rapid, Nice, 2008).
• 12.Rc1 0-0 13.g5 exf3 14.gxf6 Nxf6 15.Bb4 Re8 16.Nc7 Bxc7 17.Qxc7 Ne4 Black has an extra pawn, but White has more than enough space in compensation (Janssen-Smeets, Dutch Ch, Leeuwarden, 2005).
• 10.g5 hxg5 11.Nxg5 e4 12.Nb5 Nb6 13.Bd2 Bf5 14.h3 Bh2 15.Rg2 Rc8 16.Qb3 Bb8 17.Bb4 Nh7 18.Nxh7 Rxh7 19.Rg1 Rc6 gives Black a subtansial advantage in space (Zappa-Junior, World Computer Ch, Reykjavik, 2005).
• If 8.Bd2 then:
• If 8...dxc4 9.Bxc4 b5 10.Be2 Bb7 then:
• If 11.e4 Be7 then:
• If 12.g5 hxg5 13.Nxg5 Rc8 14.Rg1 Nf8 15.e5 b4 16.Na4 N6d7 17.Ne4 c5 18.Nexc5 Bxc5 19.Nxc5 Nxc5 20.dxc5 Qd4 21.Be3 Qxe5 22.Bb5+ Ke7 23.0-0-0 Bd5 24.Qe2 Ng6 25.Rg5 Qe4 26.f3 Black resigns in the face of material loss (Dronavalli-van der Bersselaar, Op, Gibraltar, 2008).
• If 12.e5 b4 13.exf6 bxc3 14.fxe7 cxd2+ 15.Nxd2 Qxe7 16.Bf3 Rb8 17.Nb3 0-0 18.0-0-0 c5 19.Bxb7 Rxb7 20.dxc5 Rc7 21.Kb1 Nxc5 22.Rc1 Rfc8 23.Nxc5 Rxc5 24.Qd2 Qf6 25.Rxc5 Rxc5 26.Rg1 Rd5 27.Qe2 Qf4 gives Black a small advantage in space (Dronavalli-Nakamura, Op, Gibraltar, 2008).
• If 11.g5 hxg5 12.Nxg5 Qe7 13.Nce4 Nxe4 14.Nxe4 0-0 15.Nxd6 Qxd6 16.Bf3 Rab8 17.0-0-0 Rfc8 18.Rhg1 gives White the advantage in space (Sargissian-Hillarp Person, Op. Reykjavik, 2006).
• If 11.Rg1 Rc8 12.g5 hxg5 13.Rxg5 Kf8 14.Ne5 Qe7 15.Bf3 Bxe5 16.dxe5 Nd5 17.Rh5 Rxh5 18.Bxh5 Kg8 19.0-0-0 Qh4 20.Be2 Qxf2 21.Rf1 Qg2 22.Qe4 Qxe4 23.Nxe4 Nxe5 24.Nc5 leaves Black up by two pawns (Radjobov-Anand, Rapid Ch, Mainz, 2006).
• 8...Qe7 9.Rg1 e5 10.cxd5 Nxd5 11.Ne4 Bb4 12.0-0-0 exd4 13.Nxd4 Bxd2+ 14.Rxd2 g6 15.Bc4 Nb4 16.Qb3 0-0 17.Nf5 gxf5 18.gxf5+ Kh7 19.Nd6 Nd5 20.Bxd5 cxd5 21.Qxd5 Nf6 gives Black a Bishop for two pawns (Kasimdzhanov-Bareev, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2002).
• If 7.Bd3 0-0 8.0-0 dxc4 9.Bxc4 then:
• If 9...b5 10.Be2 Bb7 11.Rd1 then:
• If 11...Qb8 12.e4 e5 then:
• If 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Nd4 then:
• 14...Neg4 15.g3 g6 16.Bf3 is equal (Koneru-Pérez, IT Merida, 2008).
• If 14...Ng6 15.g3 Re8 16.Nf5 then:
• 16...Bf8 17.Bf3 b4 18.Nb1 c5 favors Black since White's queenside is cramped.(Evdokimov-Asrian, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• 16...Bc5 17.a3 a5 18.Bg5 Qe5 19.Bf3 Rac8 20.Bxf6 Qxf6 21.Na4 Bf8 22.Nc5 Ne5 23.Be2 Rc7 24.Nxb7 Rxb7 is equal (Alverez-Scheffner, cyberspace, 2000).
• 13.g3 Re8 14.dxe5 Nxe5 15.Bg5 Nxf3+ 16.Bxf3 Be5 17.Rd2 h6 draw (Morovic-Fridman, Ol, Calvia, 2004).
• If 11...Qc7 then:
• If 12.e4 e5 then:
• 13.g3 Rfe8 14.dxe5 Nxe5 then:
• 15.Bg5 b4 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.Nxe5 Rxe5 18.Nb1 c5 19.Nd2 Bf8 20.Bg4 Rae8 21.f3 Rg5 22.Bf5 Bd6 23.Nf1 c4 gives Black the advantage in space (Szeberenyi-Pavasovic, Hungarian ChT, Hungary, 2003).
• 15...Nxf3+ 16.Bxf3 Qe7 17.Bg2 Be5 18.Ne2 Qb4 19.Rd2 Rad8 20.Rad1 Rxd2 21.Rxd2 Qa5 22.b3 c5 23.Rd1 h6 24.Bd2 Qa6 25.Bc3 Bxc3 26.Nxc3 b4 27.Nd5 Nxd5 28.exd5 Qd6 is equal (Ibragimov-Asrian, Op, Dubai, 2000).
• If 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Nd4 Bc5 15.h3 Qb6 16.Be3 Rad8 17.Nf5 Bxe3 18.Nxe3 Ng6 19.Rxd8 Rxd8 draw (Parker-Thorhallsson, Euro ChT, Saint Vincent, 2005).
• If 12.Bd2 Rfe8 13.Rac1 a6 14.b4 e5 then:
• 15.h3 h6 16.a3 exd4 17.exd4 Nb6 18.Re1 Nbd5 19.Nxd5 Nxd5 20.Bd3 a5 21.Bh7+ Kh8 22.Be4 gives White the advantage in space (Beliavsky-Pavasovic, Vidmar mem, Terme Zrece, 2003).
• 15.a3 h6 16.Bd3 exd4 17.exd4 Nb6 18.Re1 Rad8 19.Ne2 Nbd5 20.Ng3 Rxe1+ 21.Rxe1 Ng4 22.Bh7+ Kh8 23.Bf5 gives White the advantage in space (Soltau-Benejam, cyberspace, 2003).
• If 9...a6 10.Rd1 b5 11.Be2 Qc7 then:
• If 12.Ne4 Nxe4 13.Qxe4 e5 14.Qh4 Re8 15.Bd3 h6 16.Bd2 Be7 17.Qg3 Bd6 18.Qh4 Be7 draw (Burmakin-Dreev, Op, Novgorod, 1999; several games since have ended here or after one or two more moves in an agreed draw).
• 12.e4 e5 13.g3 Re8 14.a3 exd4 15.Nxd4 Be5 16.Bf3 c5 17.Nde2 c4 18.Nd5 Nxd5 19.exd5 Bd6 20.Bf4 Ne5 21.Bxe5 Rxe5 22.Nd4 g6 is equal (Bologan-Karjakin, IT, Dortmund, 2001).

7...0-0 8.Be2 b6

• If 8...e5 9.cxd5 then:
• 9...cxd5 10.Nb5 Bb4+ 11.Bd2 Bxd2+ 12.Nxd2 a6 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Nd4 Bg4 15.Bxg4 Nfxg4 16.0-0 Rc8 17.Qf5 g6 18.Qf4 Qe7 19.N2f3 Nxf3+ 20.Qxf3 Nf6 21.Rac1 Ne4 22.Qe2 Qa3 23.Rc2 Nd6 24.f3 Rxc2 25.Qxc2 is equal (Gelfand-Morozevich, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2006).
• 9...Nxd5 10.Nxd5 cxd5 11.dxe5 Nxe5 12.Bb2 Bb4+ 13.Kf1 Nxf3 14.Bxf3 Be6 15.Qd3 Be7 16.Ke2 Qa5 17.Rhc1 Rac8 18.a3 h6 19.Kf1 Qb6 20.Kg1 Qd6 21.Bd1 Rc6 22.Rxc6 bxc6 23.Bc2 f5 24.b4 c5 25.bxc5 Qxc5 26.Qd4 Qxd4 27.Bxd4 Kf7 is equal (Portisch-Hübner, Brussels, 1986).

9.0-0 Bb7 10.Bb2 Rc8

• If 10...Qe7 then:
• If 11.Rad1 Rfe8 then:
• 12.e4 Nxe4 13.Nxe4 dxe4 14.Qxe4 Rad8 15.Rfe1 Bb4 16.Rf1 Bd6 17.Rfe1 Bb4 18.Rf1 Bd6 19.Rfe1 Bb4 20.Rf1 Bd6 draw (Carlsen-Leko, IT, Morelia-Linares, 2007).
• If 12.Rfe1 Rad8 13.Bd3 then:
• 13...c5 14.cxd5 exd5 15.Bf5 Nf8 16.Bh3 Ng6 17.Nb5 Bb8 18.dxc5 bxc5 19.Bxf6 gxf6 20.b4 a6 21.Nc3 Qc7 22.Na4 d4 23.Qxc5 Bxf3 24.Qxc7 Bxc7 25.gxf3 dxe3 26.fxe3 Rxd1 27.Rxd1 Rxe3 28.Bf1 Ra3 29.Nc5is equal (Gelfand-Kasidzhanov, Candidates' m, Elista, 2007).
• 13...e5 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.e4 dxe4 16.Nxe4 Nxe4 17.Bxe4 Bxe4 18.Qxe4 Nf6 19.Qf5 e4 20.d5 Bb4 21.Re2 Nxd5 leaves Black a pawn to the good (K. Georgiev-Kasimdzhanov, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2007).
• 11.Rfd1 Rfe8 12.e4 Nxe4 13.Nxe4 dxe4 14.Qxe4 Rad8 15.h3 Nf6 16.Qe3 c5 17.Ne5 Qc7 18.Bd3 h6 19.Bc2 b5 20.Qe2 bxc4 21.Nxc4 Bh2+ 22.Kh1 Qc6 23.f3 Bc7 is equal (Karpov-Bareev, Rapid, Paris, 1992).
• 10...c5 11.cxd5 exd5 12.Rad1 Rc8 13.dxc5 bxc5 14.Qf5 Qe7 15.Rfe1 Rfd8 16.Bf1 Ne5 17.Nb5 Nxf3+ 18.gxf3 Bb8 19.Bxf6 Qxf6 20.Qxf6 gxf6 21.Bh3 Rc6 is equal (Gurevich-Kaidanov, Chicago, 1995).

11.Rac1

• 11.Rad1 Qe7 12.e4 dxe4 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Qxe4 Nf6 15.Qh4 Rfd8 16.Bd3 h6 17.Rfe1 Nd7 18.Qh3 a5 19.Nh4 is equal (Suvrajit-Arun Prasad, Commonwealth Ch, Nagpur, 2008).

11...c5

• 11...Qe7 12.Rfd1 Rfd8 13.Qb1 h6 14.cxd5 Nxd5 15.Ne4 Bb8 16.Rd2 a5 17.Nc3 Nxc3 18.Bxc3 c5 19.dxc5 Nxc5 20.Rxd8+ Rxd8 21.Bd4 draw (Riazantsev-Galkin, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2002).

12.dxc5!?

• 12.cxd5 Nxd5 13.Nxd5 Bxd5 14.Qb1 cxd4 15.Nxd4 Bb7 16.Rfd1 Qe7 17.Bf3 Bxf3 18.Nxf3 Nc5 19.Qc2 a5 is equal (Ivanchuk-Anand, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2007).

12...bxc5

• The game is equal.

13.Rfd1 Qe7 14.g3 Rfd8 15.cxd5

• The game enters a state of entropy.
• 15.Nb5 Bb8 16.cxd5 exd5 17.Nc3 Ne5 18.Nxe5 Bxe5 19.Ba3 d4 remains equal.

15...exd5 16.Nh4 Bb8 17.Bf1

• 17.Bf3 Ne5 18.Bg2 Qe6 19.Ne2 Neg4 20.h3 remains equal.

17...Ne5 18.Bh3 Rc7 19.Bg2 d4?!

• The pawn is safer remaining at d5 than on d4. White opens the center to his advantage.
• If 19...c4 20.Nb5 cxb3 21.Qxb3 then:
• 21...Rxc1 22.Rxc1 Ba8 23.Nf5 Qd7 24.Nbd4 Nc4 25.Ba1 remains equal.
• 21...Rc4?! 22.Nf5 Qe6 23.Nbd4 Qb6 24.Ne7+ Kf8 25.Ba3 gives White more activity.

BLACK: Levon Aronian
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Vassily Ivanchuk
Position after 19...d5d4

20.Nf5!

• White wins at least a pawn.

20...Qe8

• The text move is forced.

21.exd4 cxd4 22.Nxd4 Bxg2 23.Kxg2

• White is sitting pretty, a pawn to the good.

23...g6 24.Ne4 Qe7 25.Nxf6+!?

• Even better is 25.Nf5 gxf5 26.Nxf6+ Qxf6 27.Bxe5 Qxe5 28.Rxd8+ which might be enough to persuade Black to call it a day.

25...Qxf6 26.Qe2 Rxc1 27.Rxc1 Qd6 28.Qe4

• If 28.f4 Nd7 29.Nc6 then:
• 29...Bc7 30.Nxd8 Bxd8 31.Qe8+ Nf8 32.Qe5 Qd2+ 33.Kh1 f6 34.Qd4 wins for White.
• If 29...Nb6 then after 30.Nxd8 Qxd8 31.Qd1 Bc7 32.Qxd8+ Bxd8 33.Re1 White wins.

28...Qb4

• 28...Qa6 29.Nf3 Qd3 30.Qf4 Nxf3 31.Qxf3 Qxf3+ 32.Kxf3 gives White the clear advantage of a queenside pawn majority.

29.Rc2 f5

• 29...Bd6 30.f4 Nd7 31.Qf3 Nb8 32.Qc3 Qxc3 33.Rxc3 leaves White with an extra pawn.

30.Qe2 Qb7+ 31.Nc6?!

• White puts himself in a pin.
• Better is 31.f3 Qd5 32.h3 Bd6 33.Rc1.

31...Re8?

• Black could hold out longer after 31...Nxc6 32.Qe6+ Kf8 33.Rxc6 Bd6 34.Qd5.

BLACK: Levon Aronian
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Vassily Ivanchuk
Position after 31...Rd8e8

32.Kg1!

• It's remarkable to see such an effective waiting move with Queens and Rooks still on the board.
• The text is stronger than 32.Bxe5 Rxe5 33.Qc4+ Kg7 34.Qd4.

32...Nf3+

• If 32...Qf7 then after 33.Nxe5 Bxe5 34.Bxe5 White wins.

33.Qxf3 Re1+ 34.Kg2 Qb5 35.Rc4 1-0

• White remains a piece to the good.
• Grandmaster Aronian resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Grischuk - Anand, Round 13

Alexander Grischuk and Vishy Anand during the present game
Photo: ChessBase.com


Alexander Grischuk - Vishy Anand
26th Ciudad de Linares, Round 13
Linares, 6 March 2009

Open Sicilian Game: Najdorf-Scheveningen Defense (Rauzer Opening/Poisoned Pawn Variation)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qb6

• This move introduces the Poisoned Pawn Variation, once a favorite arrow in Bobby Fischer's quiver.

8.Qd2

• 8.Nb3 is how White "declines" the poisoned pawn; paly continues 8...Be7 9.Qf3 Nbd7 10.0-0-0 Qc7 when:
• If 11.Bd3 b5 12.a3 then:
• If 12...Rb8 13.Rhe1 then:
• 13...h6 14.Qh3 b4 15.axb4 Rxb4 16.Kb1 Qb8 17.Kc1 e5 18.f5 0-0 19.Bxh6 gxh6 20.Qxh6 Nh7 21.h4 Bf6 22.g4 a5 23.Nd5 is equal (Tiemann-Cardelli, Cyberspace, 2002).
• 13...b4 14.axb4 Rxb4 15.Kb1 Bb7 16.Qh3 Nc5 17.Nxc5 Qxc5 18.f5 Nd7 19.fxe6 Rxb2+ 20.Kxb2 Qb4+ 21.Ka2 Qa5+ 22.Kb2 Qb4+ 23.Ka2 draw (Piccoli-Jirk, Cyberspace, 2002).
• If 12...Bb7 13.Rhe1 0-0-0 then:
• 14.Qe2 Nc5 15.Nxc5 dxc5 16.e5 c4 17.Be4 Nxe4 18.Nxe4 Bxg5 19.fxg5 Bxe4 20.Qxe4 Qb7 21.Qxb7+ Kxb7 is equal (van der Wiel-R. Byrne, Op, Palma de Mallorca, 1989).
• 14.Qg3 h6 15.Bxf6 Nxf6 16.Qxg7 Nh5 17.Qg4 Nxf4 18.Kb1 Nxd3 19.Rxd3 Kb8 20.Qh5 Rd7 21.Rf1 Bf8 22.Rg3 gives White the advantage in space (Atakisi-Stanoev, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).
• If 11.g4 b5 12.Bxf6 Nxf6 13.g5 Nd7 then:
• 14.a3 Rb8 15.h4 b4 16.axb4 Rxb4 17.Na2 Rb6 18.Qc3 Qxc3 19.Nxc3 h6 20.Be2 Bb7 21.Na5 Ba8 22.Nc4 Rc6 23.Kb1 Nb6 24.b3 Nxc4 25.Bxc4 Rc5 26.Kb2 a5 27.Bd3 Bc6 28.Na4 Bxa4 29.bxa4 draw (Topalov-Kasparov, IT, Novgorod, 1997).
• 14.h4 b4 15.Ne2 Bb7 16.Bh3 d5 17.f5 Rc8 18.c3 dxe4 19.Qe3 Bc5 20.Nxc5 Nxc5 21.fxe6 fxe6 22.Rhf1 Rf8 23.Bg4 Rxf1 24.Rxf1 Qa5 gives Black the active game (Kostiniuk-Zhu Chen, FIDE Knock Out W, Moscow, 2001).

8...Qxb2 9.Rb1 Qa3 10.f5

• If 10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.Be2 then:
• If 11...Bg7 12.0-0 f5 13.Rfd1 then:
• 13...0-0 14.exf5 exf5 15.Nd5 Nc6 16.c3 Qa5 17.Nb6 Rb8 18.Bf3 Nxd4 19.cxd4 Qxd2 20.Rxd2 Rd8 21.d5 Bc3 22.Rd3 Ba5 23.Ra3 Bd2 24.g3 draw (Ljubojevic-Ribli, IT, Bugojno, 1984).
• 13...Nc6 14.Nxc6 Bxc3 15.Qe3 bxc6 16.Rb3 Qc5 17.Qxc5 dxc5 18.Rxc3 fxe4 19.Rxc5 Bd7 20.Re5 f5 21.g4 Rg8 22.Kf2 fxg4 23.Rxe4 h5 24.Kg3 Ke7 25.Re5 h4+ 26.Kxh4 Rh8+ 27.Rh5 Rxh5+ 28.Kxh5 Rh8+ 29.Kxg4 Rxh2 30.Rd2 a5 31.Kg3 Rh1 32.Bc4 Re1 33.Re2 Rxe2 34.Bxe2 draw (Parma-Fischer, Capablanca Mem, Havana, 1965).
• If 11...Nc6 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.0-0 Qa5 14.Kh1 Be7 then:
• 15.Qe3 h5 16.Rb3 Kf8 17.Rfb1 h4 18.Bf3 d5 19.h3 Bc5 20.Qd3 Kg7 21.f5 d4 22.Ne2 e5 23.g3 hxg3 gives Black a two-pawn advantage (Brodsky-Biriukov, Chigorin Mem, St. Petersburg, 1996).
• 15.f5 h5 16.Bf3 Qc7 17.Qd3 a5 18.Qe3 h4 19.Bg4 Qa7 20.Qh3 e5 21.Rb3 Ba6 22.Rfb1 Qf2 23.Qf3 Qc5 gives Black an extra pawn (Michalek-Nickel, Corres, 1999).
• If 10.e5 dxe5 11.fxe5 Nfd7 then:
• If 12.Bc4 Bb4 13.Rb3 Qa5 14.0-0 0-0 15.Bf6 then:
• 15...Nxf6 16.exf6 Rd8 17.Rxb4 Qxb4 18.Qg5 g6 19.Rf4 b6 20.Rh4 Qf8 21.Qe3 Ra7 22.Ne4 Rad7 23.Rxh7 Black resigns (Tringov-Palmason, Ol, Havana, 1966).
• 15...gxf6 16.Qh6 Qxe5 17.Nf5 exf5 18.Ne4 Bd2 19.Nxd2 Qd4+ 20.Kh1 Ne5 21.Rg3+ Ng4 22.h3 gives White more activity (R. Byrne-Evans, US Ch, New York, 1965).
• If 12.Ne4 h6 13.Bh4 Qxa2 14.Rd1 Qd5 15.Qe3 Qxe5 16.Be2 Bc5 17.Bg3 Bxd4 18.Rxd4 Qa5+ 19.Rd2 0-0 20.Bd6 Nc6 21.0-0 then:
• 21...Re8 22.Qg3 Qd8 23.c4 Ne7 24.Bc7 Nf5 25.Rxf5 Qe7 26.Bd6 Qd8 27.Bc7 Qe7 28.Bd6 draw (Shabalov-Ehlvest, US Ch, Stillwater, 2007).
• 21...Nce5 22.Bxf8 Nxf8 23.Nd6 Bd7 24.Nxb7 Qb4 25.Nc5 gives White the initiative (So-Wu Xibin, Op, Dubai, 2008).

10...Nc6 11.fxe6 fxe6 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.e5 dxe5

• If 13...Nd5 14.Nxd5 cxd5 15.Be2 dxe5 16.0-0 then:
• If 16...Bc5+ 17.Kh1 Rf8 18.c4 Rxf1+ 19.Rxf1 Bb7 20.Qc2 e4 21.Bg4 then:
• If 21...Be7? then soon after 22.Qf2! 0-0-0 23.Bf4 Bd6 24.Bxe6+ White wins (Tal-Bogdanovic, TMatch, Budva, 1967).
• 21...h6! 22.Bh5+ Kd7 23.Rf7+ Kc8 24.Bh4 Qd3! 25.Qxd3 exd3 gives Black an advanced passer.
• 16...Ra7 17.c4 Qc5+ 18.Kh1 d4 19.Bh5+ g6 20.Bd1 Be7 21.Ba4+ Kd8 22.Rf7 h6 23.Bxh6 e4 24.Be3 e5 25.Bg5 e3 26.Bxe3 Rb7 27.Re1 Be6 28.Rg7 Kc8 gives Black the initiative (Velimirovic-Cvitian, Yugoslav Ch, Vrbas, 1982).

14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.Ne4 Qxa2

• If 15...Be7 16.Be2 then:
• If 16...h5 17.Rb3 Qa4 18.Nxf6+ Bxf6 19.c4 then:
• 19...Bh4+ 20.g3 Be7 21.0-0 Ra7 22.Rb8 Rc7 23.Kh1 h4 24.Qd3 c5 25.Qg6+ Kd8 Black is winning (Wojkiewicz-Staniszewski, Rubinstein Mem, Polanica Zdroj, 1988).
• If 19...Ra7 20.0-0 then:
• If 20...Rf7 21.Rbf3 Rd7 22.Qb2 Rb7 23.Rb3 0-0 24.Rxb7 Bxb7 25.Qxb7 Qxa2 26.Bxh5 e4 gives Black the winning game (Velimirovic-Dr. Nunn, Euro ChT, Skara, 1980).
• 20...Rd7 21.Qe3 Qxa2 22.Rxf6 Qa1+ 23.Bf1 Rg7 24.Rf2 Qd4 gives Black two extra pawns (Velimirovic-Marjanovic, Yugoslav Ch, Vrbas, 1982).
• 16...0-0 17.Rd1 Qxa2 18.0-0 transposes to the text.

16.Rd1 Be7 17.Be2 0-0 18.0-0 Ra7

• 18...f5 19.Qh6 Qxc2 20.Rd3 Qxe2 21.Rg3+ Kf7 22.Rxf5+ exf5 23.Rg7+ Ke8 24.Qxc6+ Kd8 25.Qb6+ Ke8 26.Qc6+ Kd8 draw (Velimirovic-Ftacnik, Vrsac, 1981).

19.Rf3 Rd7 20.Bd3!?

• 20.Rg3+ Kh8 21.Qh6 Rxd1+ 22.Bxd1 Rf7 23.Qh5 Qa5 24.Kf1 Qd8 25.Qxf7 Qxd1+ 26.Kf2 Qxc2+ draw (Zelcic-Palac, Croatian Ch, Vukovar, 2005).
• 20.Qh6 Rxd1+ 21.Bxd1 Rf7 22.Rg3+ Kh8 23.Qh5 Qd5 24.Qxf7 Qxd1+ 25.Kf2 Qxc2+ draw (Brkic-K. Georgiev, Euro ChT, Fügen, 2006).

20...f5

• The position is razor sharp. One misstep by either player results in disaster.
• If 20...Rf7 21.Qh6 f5 22.Rg3+ Kh8 then:
• If 23.Ng5 then:
• 23...Rg7 24.Nxe6 Rf7 25.Ng5 Bxg5 26.Qxg5 Rg7 is equal.
• If 23...Bc5+? then after 24.Kf1 Qa4 25.Nxf7+ Rxf7 26.Be2 White is winning.
• 23.Nc3? Qa5! 24.Ne2 f4 25.Rg4 Qd5 26.Kh1 f3! wins for Black.

21.Qh6 Kh8 22.Ng5 Bc5+ 23.Kh1 Qa5?!

• 23...Qd5 24.Nxe6 Rdf7 25.Nxf8 Bxf8 26.Qc1 is equal.

24.Rh3!

• White piles up on h7.

24...Qc7

• Black brings his Queen back for the defense.

BLACK: Vishy Anand
!""""""""#
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Alexander Grischuk
Position after 24...Qa5c7

25.Nxe6!

• White wins the exchange.

25...Qd6 26.Nxf8 Qxf8 27.Rf1?!

• White elects to guard his back rank.
• 27.Qxc6 e4 28.Be2 Rxd1+ 29.Bxd1 Qd8 30.Be2 gives White a material advantage and more activity, but BLack has his own threats and White must be vigilant, especially of his back rank.

27...Rf7!

• The focus of attention is now f5. White can break through if he can take the pawn.

28.Qh5 Qe7!

• The e-pawn needs protection, too.

29.Rhf3 f4!

• Black has equalized.

30.Be4 Rg7 31.Rb3 Ba7 32.Rd3?

• If 32.Rfb1 Qf6 33.Rb8 then:
• 33...Bxb8 34.Rxb8 Qd8 35.Bf5 Rd7 36.Bxd7 Qxd7 37.Qxe5+ gives White a winning game.
• 33...Qd8 34.Ra8 f3 35.Qxf3 Rc7 36.Qh5 Re7 37.Bf5 gives White an easy win.

BLACK: Vishy Anand
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Alexander Grischuk
Position after 32.Rb3d3

32...Bg4!

• A two-step tactical maneuver brings about a favorable position for Black.

33.Qh6 Be2 ½-½

• Black will get back the exchange with two extra pawns which he can't maintain.
• Grischuk had about a minute left on his clock for seven moves to reach the time check and Anand was happy to escape alive. Draw agreed.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Women's Grand Prix, Istanbul

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Hou Yifan - Yildiz, Round 5

http://www.chessbase.de/2008/yifany/Hou%20Yifan,%20China.jpg

Hou Yifan
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Hou Yifan - Betul Cemre Yildiz
Women's Grand Prix, Round 5
Istanbul, 12 March 2009

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Clam Opening (Kasparov Variation)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 b5

• The main line is 5...Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3.

6.Bb3 Bb7

• More variations stem from 6...Bc5 7.c3 d6 8.a4 Rb8 9.d4 Bb6.
• 6...Be7 7.Re1 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 transposes to the main line.

7.d3 Be7 8.a4

• If 8.Nc3 0-0 then:
• If 9.Bd2 d6 then:
• If 10.a4 Na5 11.Ba2 b4 12.Nd5 Nxd5 13.exd5 c5 14.c3 bxc3 15.Bxc3 Bc8 16.Qe1 Nb7 17.a5 Bg4 18.Nd2 Nxa5 19.f4 exf4 20.Rxf4 Bh5 21.Qg3 then:
• 21...g6? 22.Ne4! f5 23.Nxc5! Bf6 24.Ne6 White soon won (Kuzman-Malaniuk, Ukrainian Ch, Kharlov, 2004).
• 21...Bg6 22.h4 f6 23.Qf3 Bf7 is equal.
• 10.Nd5 Nxd5 11.Bxd5 Rb8 12.c3 Bf6 13.a4 Ne7 14.Bxb7 Rxb7 15.axb5 axb5 16.d4 Ng6 17.Be3 b4 18.d5 bxc3 19.bxc3 Nh4 20.Nxh4 Bxh4 21.Rb1 Rxb1 22.Qxb1 Bg5 23.Bxg5 Qxg5 24.Qb7 Qd8 25.Ra1 draw (KhairullinKhalifman, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2006).
• 9.a4 b4 10.Nd5 Na5 11.Nxe7+ Qxe7 12.Ba2 d5 13.exd5 Bxd5 14.Re1 draw (Matulovic-Giorgadze, IT, Belgrade, 1992).

8...0-0 9.Re1 d6 10.Nbd2 h6

• If 10...Na5 11.Ba2 c5 12.Nf1 b4 13.Ng3 Rb8 14.Nd2 Bc8 15.h3 Be6 16.Nc4 Nxc4 17.Bxc4 Bxc4 18.dxc4 Ne8 19.Qg4 Kh8 20.Be3 gives White the advantage in space (Kissinger-Andresen, Cyberspace, 1998).
• 13...Bc8 14.h3 Rb8 15.Bd2 Be6 16.Bxe6 fxe6 17.Be3 Nd7 18.c3 bxc3 19.bxc3 d5 20.Qc2 Qc7 21.exd5 exd5 22.c4 e4 23.dxe4 d4 24.Bd2 gives White an extra pawn (Kupreichik-Tseshkovsky, Soviet Ch, Vilnius, 1980).

If 10...Nd7 11.c3 Nc5 then:

• If 12.Bc2 Nxa4 13.Bxa4 bxa4 14.Qxa4 Rb8 15.Nc4 f5 16.exf5 Kh8 17.Ne3 d5 18.d4 exd4 19.cxd4 Bd6 20.Bd2 Ne7 21.Rac1 is equal (Matulovic-Milic, Yugoslav Ch, Sarajevo, 1958).
• If 12.axb5 axb5 13.Rxa8 Bxa8 14.Bc2 then:
• 14...Ne6 15.b4 d5 16.exd5 Qxd5 17.Qe2 Rd8 18.Qe4 Qxe4 19.dxe4 Nf4 20.Nb3 Nd3 21.Rd1 Nxc1 22.Rxd8+ Nxd8 23.Nxc1 f6 24.Nb3 Ne6 25.Kf1 Bc6 draw (Niessen-Heutgens, Corres, 1996).
• 14...Bf6 15.b4 Ne6 16.Nf1 Bb7 17.Ne3 g6 18.Bb3 Bg7 19.h4 Bc8 20.h5 Kh8 21.Nd5 is equal (Kasparov-Short, World Ch Match, London, 1993).

11.Nf1 Re8 12.Bd2

• 12.c3 Qd7 13.Ng3 Bf8 14.Nh4 Na5 15.Bc2 b4 16.Nhf5 d5 17.cxb4 Nc6 18.Qf3 Nxb4 19.Bb3 Re6 20.Bd2 dxe4 21.Bxe6 Qxe6 22.Nxe4 Nxe4 23.dxe4 Nc2 returns the exchange with equality (Ansell-Hebden, British Ch, Scarborough, 2001).

12...Bf8 13.Ng3!?

• 13.Ne3 Ne7 14.c4 c6 15.axb5 axb5 16.Rxa8 Bxa8 17.cxb5 cxb5 18.Qa1 Qd7 19.Qa2 Ng6 20.g3 Bb7 draw (Asrian-Tkachiev, Euro Ch, Ohrid, 2001).

13.c4 bxc4 14.Bxc4 Rb8 15.Bc3 Ne7 16.Ng3 Ng6 17.d4 exd4 18.Qxd4 d5 19.exd5 Rxe1+ 20.Rxe1 Nxd5 21.Rd1 gives White the tactical edge in the center (Kasparov-Tkachiev, Rapid Trmt, Cannes, 2001).

13...Nb8!?

• The text move gives White the advantage in space.
• 13...d5 14.axb5 axb5 15.Rxa8 Bxa8 16.exd5 Nxd5 is equal.

14.Qb1

• If 14.axb5 axb5 15.Rxa8 Bxa8 then:
• 16.Qa1 Bb7 17.Qa7 Qc8 18.Qe3 is equal.
• 16.Qe2 Nc6 17.Nf5 Qd7 18.Ra1 d5 is equal.

14...Qd7 15.c4

• The game is equal.

15...bxc4 16.Bxc4 c5

• If 16...Nc6 17.b4 Nd4 then:
• 18.Nxd4 exd4 19.Qb2 c5 20.bxc5 dxc5 21.Nf5 gives White the advantage in space.
• 18.Qd1 Nxf3+ 19.Qxf3 d5 20.exd5 Nxd5 21.Nf5 Rad8 remains equal.

17.b4

• This is a sharp move with the idea of attacking Black's d-pawn from the a3/f8 diagonal.

17...cxb4 18.Bxb4 Nc6 19.Bc3

• 19.Ba3 keeps the pressure on the d-pawn, but after 19...Rab8 20.Qb6 Bc8 21.Qe3 d5 22.exd5 Nxd5 23.Bxd5 Qxd5 the game is equal.

19...Rac8 20.h3

• The game remains equal as White denies to Black the use of the g4 square.

20...Nd8

• 20...Rb8 21.Qa2 Rec8 22.Rab1 Nd8 23.a5 gives White the advantage in space.

21.Qa2 Ne6 22.Rab1 Nc5 23.Ba1!?

• White punts in order to see if she can catch White off balance.
• 23.Rec1 Rc7 24.a5 Rec8 25.Qd2 Be7 26.Qe3 Bd8 remains equal.

23...Bc6 24.a5 Bb5?!

• Black allows White to open the game to her liking.
• If 24...Rc7 25.Qe2 Ba8 then:
• 26.Bb2 Rb8 27.Rec1 Rbc8 remains equal.
• 26.Rb4 d5 27.Nxe5 Qd8 28.Ba2 Ncxe4 opens the game to Black's delight.

25.Bxb5 axb5 26.Qd2 Ra8

• With Black's Knight on c5, White'a a-pawn could not advance and didn't need to be further restrained.
• Better is to overprotect the b-pawn: if 26...Rb8 27.Bc3 Qe6 28.Re3 then:
• 28...g6 29.Qe2 Qc8 30.Bb4 Na6 31.Bd2 Qc2 32.Qe1 is equal.
• If 28...Qd7 then:
• 29.Qe1 29...Be7 30.d4 exd4 31.Bxd4 Bd8 32.Bxf6 gives White the adcantage in space.
• 29.Re2 Be7 30.Bb4 Na6 31.Ra1 Rb7 32.Nf5 gives White the advantage in space.

BLACK: Betul Cemre Yildiz
!""""""""#
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Hou Yifan
Position after 26...Rc8a8

27.Bc3!

• White overprotects the a-pawn because it could become important later.

27...Qb7 28.Qe2 Rec8

• If 28...Qa6 29.Red1 g6 30.Qe3 Bg7 31.Bxe5 then:
• 31...Rxe5 32.Nxe5 Na4 33.Nxf7 Kxf7 34.e5 dxe5 35.Qxe5 gives White a small material edge and a splendid centralized Queen.
• If 31...Nfxe4 32.Bxg7 Ng5 33.Ne4 Ncxe4 34.Bxh6 then:
• 34...Nxh3+ 35.gxh3 Nc3 36.Qg5 d5 37.Qh4 f6 38.Bd2 Nxd1 39.Rxd1 gives White two minor pieces for a Rook.
• 34...Nxf3+ 35.Qxf3 Nc5 36.Qf6 wins for White.

29.Bd2?!

• White eyes some tactical play on the kingside.
• If 29.d4 Ncxe4 30.Nxe4 Nxe4 then:
• 31.Ba1 Nc3 32.Bxc3 Rxc3 33.Rxb5 gives White the initiative.
• 31.Qxe4 Qxe4 32.Rxe4 Rxc3 33.Rxb5 is equal.

29...Na6?!

• 29...Re8 30.Rec1 Qa6 31.Rc2 Rac8 32.Rcb2 Rb8 is equal.

30.d4 b4
BLACK: Betul Cemre Yildiz
!""""""""#
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Hou Yifan
Position after 30...b5b4

31.dxe5!

• White opens the center to her advantage and wins a pawn.
• If 31.Qd3?! exd4 32.Nxd4 then:
• 32...Re8 33.Re3 d5 34.e5 Nd7 35.Qe2 is equal.
• 32...d5 33.e5 Nd7 34.Qf3 Rc5 35.Qg4 Kh8 is equal.

31...dxe5 32.Nxe5 Qc7 33.Ng4 Nxg4

• 33...Ne8 34.Ra1 Bc5 35.Nf5 Qc6 36.Bc1 Rab8 37.Bb2 leaves White's vital points protected while threatening an attavk on the Black King.

34.Qxg4 Kh7?!

• Better is 34...g6 35.Rec1 Qd8 36.Rxc8 Qxc8 37.Qxc8 Rxc8 38.Be3 when Black can still fight, but her position is difficult.

35.e5?!

• White loses her extra pawn. Both players were in time trouble, which may explain some of the sloppy play at this stage.
• If 35.Rec1 Qd8 36.Rxc8 Rxc8 37.Be3 then:
• 37...Rb8 38.Bb6 Qf6 39.e5 Qg6 40.Nf5 White retains her extra pawn.
• 37...Rc3 38.Qf5+ Kg8 39.Qb5 Nc7 40.Qe2 gives White the extra pawn and it's running up the a-file.

35...Qxa5 36.e6 Rd8?

• Black commits the final big mistake; this loses a piece.
• 36...fxe6 37.Rxe6 Qa2 38.Rd1 Nc5 is equal.

BLACK: Betul Cemre Yildiz
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Hou Yifan
Position after 36...Rc8d8

37.e7! Bxe7 38.Rxe7 Rxd2 39.Qe4+ 1-0

• 39...Kg8 40.Qxa8+ Rd8 41.Re8+ Rxe8 42.Qxe8+ leaves White a Rook to the good.
• Ms. Yildiz resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Koneru - Danielian, Round 2

Koneru Humpy
Photo: ChessBase.com


Koneru Humpy - Elina Danielian
Women's Grand Prix, Round 2
Istanbul, 8 March 2009

Symmetrical English Game: Mecking Opening

1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.g3 g6 5.Bg2 Bg7 6.0-0 0-0 7.d4 cxd4

• If 7...d6 then:
• If 8.d5 Na5 9.Nd2 then:
• If 9...e5 10.e4 Ng4 11.b3 f5 12.exf5 gxf5 13.Bb2 Bd7 14.h3 Nh6 15.Qc2 then:
• If 15...b6 16.Ne2 Nb7 17.f4 Rb8 18.Kh2 Qc7 19.Rae1 Rbe8 20.Nf3 Nd8 21.Nc3 Ndf7 22.Nd1 Bc8 23.Qd2 e4 24.Bxg7 Kxg7 25.Nh4 Nh8 26.g4 fxg4 27.Bxe4 Qd8 is equal (Wojkiewicz-Smejkal, Op, Neu Isenburg, 1992).
• If 15...Qe8 16.Rfe1 Qg6 17.Ne2 b6 18.f4 Rae8 19.Nf3 Nb7 20.Bc3 Bf6 is equal (Jankovic-Njirjak, Croatian ChT, Pula, 2001).
• If 9...a6 10.Qc2 Rb8 11.b3 b5 12.Bb2 then:
• 12...e5 13.dxe6 fxe6 14.cxb5 axb5 15.Nce4 Nxe4 16.Nxe4 Bxb2 17.Qxb2 Bb7 18.Rad1 Bxe4 19.Bxe4 d5 20.Bg2 Nc6 21.e4 d4 22.Qc2 Qb6 23.Rc1 Nb4 24.Qxc5 Nxa2 25.Qxb6 Rxb6 26.Rc7 Rf7 27.Rc8+ Rf8 28.Rc7 Rf7 29.Rc8+ draw (Ftacnik-W. Schmidt, IT, Prague, 1985).
• 12...bxc4 13.bxc4 Bh6 14.f4 e5 15.dxe6 Bxe6 16.Nd5 Rxb2 17.Qxb2 Bg7 18.Qc1 Bxd5 19.cxd5 Ng4 20.Rb1 Bd4+ 21.Kh1 Ne3 22.Qa3 Re8 23.Qd3 Qa8 24.Bf3 Nxf1 25.Nxf1 Qa7 is equal (Jussupow-Kindermann, IT, Baden-Baden, 1992).
• If 8.dxc5 dxc5 then:
• If 9.Bf4 Be6 then:
• If 10.Ne5 Na5 11.Qa4 Nd7 12.Nxd7 Bxd7 13.Qc2 Bf5 14.Qc1 then:
• 14...Qc8 15.Nd5 Nc6 16.Bh6 Bh3 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.Qc3+ Kg8 19.Qe3 Bxg2 20.Kxg2 Qf5 21.Nxe7+ Nxe7 22.Qxe7 Rae8 23.Qxb7 Rxe2 24.Rac1 gives White an extra pawn (Filippov-I. Smirin, Rapid Op, Corsica, 1997).
• 14...Nc6 15.Rd1 Qc8 16.Bh6 Re8 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.b3 Bh3 19.Bh1 b6 20.Qf4 Rb8 21.g4 Nd8 22.Bf3 Ne6 23.Qg3 Ng5 24.Rd5 give White the advantage due to Black's imprisoned Bishop at h3, but White might do better to leave it imprisoned and expand his excess energy attacking (Hollis-Engel, Corres, 1998).
• If 10.Qa4 Qxa4 11.Nxa4 b6 12.Rad1 Ba6 13.b3 Rad8 14.h3 Ne4 15.Ng5 Nxg5 16.Bxg5 h6 17.Bxh6 Nd4 18.Bxg7 Nxe2+ 19.Kh2 Kxg7 20.Rfe1 Rxd1 21.Rxd1 Nd4 is equal (Mamedyarov-Jobava, IT, Tbilisi, 2001).
• If 9.Be3 Qa5 10.Bd2 Bf5 11.Nd5 Qd8 12.Bc3 Be4 13.Nxf6+ Bxf6 14.Bxf6 exf6 15.Qc1 Bxf3 16.Bxf3 Nd4 17.Qf4 Qe7 18.e3 Nxf3+ 19.Qxf3 Rad8 20.Rad1 f5 21.h4 Qe4 22.Kg2 draw (Niekirch-Benko, ITZ, Potoroz, 1958).

8.Nxd4 Nxd4

• If 8...Ng4 9.e3 d6 10.b3 Nxd4 11.exd4 Nh6 12.Bb2 Nf5 then:
• 13.Nd5 Rb8 14.Rc1 e6 15.Ne3 Ne7 16.Qe2 Bd7 17.Rfd1 Qa5 18.a3 Rfc8 19.b4 Qd8 20.d5 Ba4 21.Rd2 e5 22.Be4 gives White the advantage in space (H. Airapetyan-Vachier Lagrave, World Youth U10, Oropesa del Mar, 2000).
• 13.Ne2 Rb8 14.a4 b6 15.Bc3 e6 16.Qd3 Re8 17.Rfd1 Bb7 18.d5 e5 19.a5 gives White the advantage in space (Pachman-Smejkal, Chech ChT, Czechia, 1993).

9.Qxd4 d6 10.Qh4

• If 10.Qd3 then:
• If 10...a6 11.Bd2 Rb8 12.Rac1 then:
• If 12...Bf5 13.e4 Bd7 14.h3 b5 15.cxb5 axb5 16.b4 then:
• 16...Qe8 17.Rfe1 Be6 18.Nd5 Nd7 19.f4 Nb6 20.Bc3 Bxc3 21.Qxc3 Bxd5 22.exd5 Rb7 23.Rc2 Qa8 24.Rce2 Rc8 25.Qf3 Nc4 is equal (Bruzón-Carlson, IT, Biel, 2006).
• 16...Ra8 17.Nxb5 Rxa2 18.Nc3 Ra8 19.b5 Ra3 20.Ra1 Qa5 21.Rxa3 Qxa3 22.b6 Rb8 23.Qe3 gives White the remote passer (Smyslov-Geller, Match, Moscow, 1965).
• 12...Nd7 13.b3 b5 14.cxb5 axb5 15.Nd5 Ne5 16.Qe3 Bb7 17.Qa7 Nc6 18.Rxc6 Bxc6 19.Nxe7+ Kh8 20.Bxc6 Ra8 21.Bxa8 Qxa8 22.Qxa8 Rxa8 23.Rc1 Black resigns (A. Grant-R. Cohen, Op, Hastings, 2007-08).
• 10...Bf5 11.e4 Be6 12.Bd2 Nd7 13.b3 a6 14.Rac1 b5 15.cxb5 axb5 16.Qxb5 Bxc3 17.Rxc3 Rxa2 18.Bh6 Qb8 19.Qd3 Rc8 20.Rxc8+ Qxc8 21.Rc1 Qb8 22.b4 gives White the advantage of the remote passer (Ivanchuk-Andersson, World Cup, Reykjavik, 1991).

10...Rb8

• 10...Be6 11.Bg5 Qa5 12.Rac1 Rac8 13.b3 Rc5 14.Bd2 Rh5 15.Qf4 Bh6 16.Qd4 Bxd2 17.Qxd2 Bh3 18.Bxh3 Rxh3 is equal (Krant-Waitzkin, IT, New York, 1992).

11.h3!?

• 11.Bg5 Re8 12.Rac1 Be6 13.Nd5 Bxd5 14.cxd5 Qa5 15.Qc4 gives White a small advantage in space (Aketaeva-Prismontaite, Worl Jr Ch (Girls), Yerevan, 2006).

11...Be6

• 11...Qb6!? 12.b3 Qa5 13.Bb2 g5 14.Qd4 Re8 15.Nd5! gives White a tactical edge.

12.Be3 Qa5 13.Rac1 Rfc8 14.b3 a6

• 14...b6 15.Bh6 a6 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.Qd4 remains equal.

15.Qg5 b5 16.Ba7 Ra8 17.Bd4

• If 17.Qe3 bxc4 18.bxc4 then:
• 18...Rxa7 19.Qxa7 Rxc4 20.Nb1 Qc5 21.Qxc5 Rxc5 22.a3 remains equal.
• 18...Bh6 19.f4 Rxa7 20.Qxa7 remains equal.

17...h6?

• After this, the Rook at a1 becomes a desparado with few opportunities go out in a blaze of glory.
• 17...Rab8 18.cxb5 axb5 19.Rfd1 h6 20.Qe3 b4 21.Na4 is equal.

18.Qe3 bxc4

• If 18...Rab8 19.Ba7 bxc4 20.Bxb8 then:
• If 20...cxb3 21.Ba7 then:
• 21...b2 22.Rc2 Bf5 23.Rxb2 Qxc3 24.Qxc3 Rxc3 25.Rd1 leaves White with a material advantage.
• 21...Qb4 22.axb3 Qxb3 23.Bd4 Rc7 24.Rb1 gives White a material advantage of three theoretical pawns.
• 20...Rxb8 21.bxc4 Re8 22.Qd3 Nd7 23.Nd5 leaves White an exchange to the good.

19.Bxa8 Rxa8 20.bxc4 Bxh3 21.Qxe7 Re8

• 21...Bxf1 22.Bxf6 Bxf6 23.Qxf6 Bh3 24.Qxd6 leaves White a pawn to the good.

BLACK: Elina Danielian
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Koneru Humpy
Position after 21...Ra8e8

22.Qxd6!!

• White returns the exchange for a won endgame.

22...Bxf1 23.Kxf1 Qg5

• 23...Re6 24.Qb8+ Re8 25.Qf4 Qd8 26.Rd1 threatens to discover an attack on the Black Queen with the exchange on f6.

24.Qf4!

• White takes the wind out of Black's counterplay.

24...Qxf4

• No better is 24...Qh5 25.Kg2 Re6 26.Rb1 Qa5 27.Rb7 g5 28.Qf3.

25.gxf4 Nd7

• 25...Nh5 26.Bxg7 Kxg7 27.Nd5 Rb8 28.c5 Nf6 29.Nc7 White starts making progress with her c-pawn.

26.e3 Rb8

• If 26...h5 then after 27.c5 Nb8 28.Rb1 Kf8 29.Rb6 h4 30.Kg2 gives White a won position.

BLACK: Elina Danielian
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Koneru Humpy
Position after 26...Re8b8

27.Nd5

• The game is won.
• Also good is 27.c5 Bxd4 28.exd4 Kf8 29.f5 gxf5 30.Nd5 Rb5 31.Kg2.

27...Bf8 28.c5 Bxc5

• THis move is pure desparation.
• If 28...Rb5 then after 29.c6 Rxd5 30.c7 the pawn queens.

29.Bxc5 Rb5

• 29...Nxc5 then White remains a piece up after 30.Rxc5.

30.Ne7+ Kf8 31.Bd6 1-0

• White remains a piece to the good.
• Ms. Danielian resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Zhao Xue - Shen Yang, Round 1

Zhao Xue
Photo: ChessBase.com


Zhao Xue - Shen Yang
Women's Grand Prix, Round 1
Istanbul, 7 March 2009

Slav Queen's Gambit: Karlsbad Defense

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 Nbd7 7.Nxc4 Nb6

• If 7...Qc7 8.g3 e5 9.dxe5 Nxe5 10.Bf4 Nfd7 11.Bg2 then:
• If 11...g5 12.Ne3 gxf4 13.Nxf5 0-0-0 14.Qc2 then:
• If 14...Nc5 15.0-0 then:
• 15...Ne6 16.Qe4 fxg3 17.hxg3 a5 18.Nb5 cxb5 19.axb5 Nc5 20.Qe3 Ng4 21.Qc3 Ne4 22.Bxe4 Qxc3 23.bxc3 gives White an extra pawn and more activity (Shirov-Pentala, IT, Foros, 2006).
• 15...fxg3 16.hxg3 a5 17.Rfd1 h5 18.Rxd8+ Qxd8 19.Rd1 Qf6 20.Qd2 Be7 21.Bh3 Kb8 22.Qe3 Ng6 23.Nxe7 Qxe7 24.Qxe7 Nxe7 is equal (Gelfand-Alkopian, Asrian Mem Rapid, Yerevan, 2008).
• 14...Ng6 15.0-0 Kb8 16.Rac1 fxg3 17.hxg3 h5 18.Nb5 Qb6 19.Nbd4 Nde5 20.Rfd1 h4 21.a5!? Qxa5 22.f4 h3 23.Be4 h2+ is equal (Banikas-Wang Yue, Op, Gibraltar, 2008).
• If 11...f6 12.0-0 Nc5 13.Ne3 then:
• 13...Bg6 14.b4 Ne6 15.b5 Rd8 16.Qb3 Nd4 17.Qb2 Bc5 18.Rfc1 Qe7 19.bxc6 bxc6 20.Ne4 Bb4 21.Nc4 Nxc4 22.Rxc4 is equal (Bacrot-Gelfand, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2006).
• 13...Be6 14.b4 Rd8 15.Qc2 Na6 16.b5 Nb4 17.Qe4 Bc5 18.bxc6 bxc6 19.Rad1 0-0 20.Nc4 Rxd1 21.Rxd1 Bd5 22.Bxe5 fxe5 23.Qxe5 Qxe5 24.Nxe5 Rxf2 25.Nxd5 Rxe2+ 26.Kh1 Rxe5 27.Nxb4 Bxb4 28.Bxc6 draw (Ftacnik-Bu Xiangzhi, Ol, Calvia, 2004).

8.Ne5 a5 9.e3

• If 9.g3 e6 10.Bg2 Bb4 11.0-0 0-0 12.e3 h6 13.Qe2 Bh7 14.Rd1 Nfd7 then:
• If 15.Nxd7 Nxd7 16.e4 Qe7 17.Be3 Rfd8 then:
• 18.Rac1 Rac8 19.Qc4 Nf6 20.f3 Qe8 21.Qb3 Rd7 22.Ne2 c5 23.dxc5 Rxd1+ 24.Qxd1 Nd7 is equal (Zhao Xue-K. Georgiev, Op, Gibraltar, 2008).
• 18.d5 Bc5 19.Bxc5 Nxc5 20.Qc4 Rac8 21.dxc6 Rxc6 22.Qb5 Rcc8 23.Rab1 Qc7 24.h4 Bg6 is equal (Xu Jun-Wang Yue, Chinese ChT, Jinan, 2005).
• If 15.Nd3 Qe7 16.e4 then:
• 16...Rfd8 17.Bf4 Bd6 18.Be3 Nc4 19.Bc1 e5 20.d5 Nf6 is equal (Jakovenko-Lastin, Russian Ch, Moscow, 2008).
• 16...e5 17.dxe5 Nxe5 18.Nxe5 Qxe5 19.Be3 Bc5 20.Rac1 Bxe3 21.Qxe3 Nc4 22.Qd4 Qxd4 23.Rxd4 Nb6 24.Rcd1 Rfb8 25.b4 gives White the advantage in space (Eljanov-Shaw, Euro ChT, Saint Vincent, 2005).
• If 9.Bg5 h6 10.Bh4 then:
• If 10...Nbd5 11.Qb3 Qb6 12.Qxb6 Nxb6 13.f3 then:
• 13...Nfd7 14.Nxd7 Nxd7 15.e4 Bg6 16.0-0-0 e5 17.dxe5 Nxe5 18.f4 Nd7 19.g4 Be7 20.Bg3 f6 21.Bc4 Rf8 22.Rhe1 Bf7 23.Bxf7+ Rxf7 24.Kc2 0-0-0 25.b3 gives White the advantage in space (Mkrtchian-Ruan Lufei, FIDE Knock Out W, Ekaterininburg, 2006).
• 13...Bc2 14.e4 e6 15.Bd3 Bb3 16.Bf2 Bb4 17.Ke2 Nfd7 18.Nxd7 Kxd7 19.Na2 Bxa2 20.Rxa2 Kc7 21.Bc2 Rad8 22.Bb3 Rhe8 23.Raa1 f5 24.Rac1 gives White's Bishops better potential than Black's minor pieces (P. H. Nielsen-Dziuba, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).
• If 10...e6 11.e4 Bh7 12.f3 Be7 13.Bf2 Nfd7 14.Nd3 0-0 15.Be2 Rc8 16.0-0 c5 17.dxc5 Nxc5 18.Nxc5 Bxc5 19.Bxc5 Rxc5 20.Qxd8 Rxd8 21.Rfd1 Rcc8 22.Rab1 f5 23.Kf2 fxe4 24.fxe4 Kf8 25.Rxd8+ Rxd8 26.Ke3 e5 27.Bb5 Rd4 28.Rf1+ Ke7 29.Rf3 draw (Grigoryan-Kuzubov, Youth Stars, Kirishi, 2007).

9...h6

• If 9...g6 10.Bd3 then:
• If 10...Be6 then:
• 11.Be2 Bg7 12.e4 Nfd7 13.Nf3 Bg4 14.0-0 0-0 15.h3 Bxf3 16.Bxf3 e5 17.d5 Re8 18.g3 Qe7 19.b3 Rad8 is equal (Grischuk-Wang Yue, Grand Prix, Elista, 2008).
• 11.Nf3 Bg7 12.h3 Nfd5 13.0-0 0-0 14.e4 Nb4 15.Be2 Qd7 16.Bf4 Rad8 17.Qc1 Bc4 18.Bh6 Bxe2 19.Nxe2 is equal (Mchedlishvili-Shaw, Ol, Dresden, 2008).
• 11.0-0 Bg7 12.f4 Nfd7 13.Nf3 c5 14.Ng5 cxd4 15.Nxe6 fxe6 16.Ne4 0-0 17.Qg4 Rf5 18.Qh3 is equal (Grischuk-Wang Yue, IT, Linares, 2009).
• 10...Bxd3 11.Nxd3 Bg7 12.Qb3 0-0 13.0-0 Nfd7 14.Ne2 Qc7 15.e4 Nc8 16.f3 Rd8 17.Ne5 e6 18.Nc4 Ne7 19.Be3 b6 20.Rac1 Rab8 21.Qa3 gives White the early advantage in space (Jobava-Shirov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2007).

10.f3!?

• 10.Bd3 Bxd3 11.Nxd3 Nbd5 12.Qb3 Qb6 13.Qxb6 Nxb6 14.f3 Nfd5 15.Nxd5 cxd5 16.b3 e6 17.Ke2 Bd6 18.Bd2 f5 19.Rac1 Ke7 is equal (Topalov-Gelfand, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 2005).

10...Nfd7!?

• Better is 10...e6 11.e4 Bh7 12.Be3 Bd6 13.Bd3 0-0 yielding only a slight spatial advantage to White.

11.e4 Nxe5 12.exf5! Nec4?

• Black overextends, neglecting her center.
• 12...Ned7 13.Bd3 Nf6 14.Be3 Nbd5 15.Nxd5 Nxd5 16.Bf2 remains equal.

13.Qb3 Nd6 14.Bd3 Nd7 15.Be3!

• White take time to cover an important pawn.
• If 15.Rb1 Qb6 16.Qxb6 Nxb6 then:
• 17.Kf2 0-0-0 18.b4 Ndc4 19.Ne2 axb4 20.Rxb4 gives White a small advantage in space and more activity.
• 17.0-0 0-0-0 18.b4 axb4 19.Rxb4 Nd7 20.Rb1 gives White a comportable advantage in space and more activity.

15...Qb6 16.Qc2 Nf6 17.0-0 Rc8

• If 17...Qb4 18.Bf2 Rd8 19.Rfc1 Nd7 20.Ra3 Qb6 21.Rb3 maintains White's spatial advantage.

18.Rac1 Qb4 19.Bf2

• Better is 19.Rfe1 Nd5 20.Nxd5 cxd5 21.Qxc8+!! Nxc8 22.Rxc8+ when White wins much as she does in the game, only sooner.

19...b5 20.Nxb5 cxb5

• 20...Nxb5 21.axb5 Rc7 22.bxc6 Nd5 23.Qc4 Nf4 24.d5 gives White an easy win with two extra pawns and a protected passer.

BLACK: Shen Yang
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Zhao Xue
Position after 20...cb5:N

21.Qxc8+!!

• White smokes out the Black King.

21...Nxc8 22.Rxc8+ Kd7

• Forced into the open by the Queen sacrifice, the King awaits his doom.

23.Rfc1 e6

• 23...e5 loses lickety split to 24.dxe5 Nd5 25.Bxb5+! when Black must give back the Queen, incuring a prohibitive material disadvantage, or submit to checkmate.

24.Bxb5+ Ke7 25.R1c7+ Kd6 26.Bg3+ Kd5 27.Rd8+ Bd6

• Black can only poffer material to avoid mate.

28.Rxd6+ Qxd6 29.Bc4+ 1-0

• White wins back the Queen.
• Ms. Shen resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. European Championship (General Competition), Budva

[Jack Rabbit]

11. Inarkiev - Sjugirov, Round 6

Ernesto Inarkiev
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Ernesto Inarkiev - Sanan Sjugirov
10th European Championship (General Competition), Round 6
Budva, 11 March 2009

Open Sicilian Game: Najdorf-Boleslavsky Defense (Chandler-Nunn Opening)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.Qd2 Be7

• If 8...Nbd7 9.f3 b5 then:
• 10.0-0-0 Rc8 11.g4 Nb6 12.g5 b4 13.Na4 Nxe4 14.fxe4 Nxa4 15.Qxb4 Qc7 16.Rd2 gives White the initiative (Dominguez-Morozevich, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2009).
• 10.a4 b4 11.Nd5 Bxd5 12.exd5 Nb6 13.Bxb6 Qxb6 14.a5 Qb7 15.Bc4 Be7 16.Ra4 Rb8 17.Nc1 Bd8 18.b3 0-0 19.Na2 e4 20.Kd1 Re8 21.Rxb4 gives White an extra pawn (Blehm-Sadvakasov, World Jr Ch, Calcutta, 1998).

9.f3 Nbd7 10.0-0-0 b5 11.g4 b4

• If 11...0-0 12.g5 b4 13.Ne2 Ne8 then:
• If 14.f4 a5 15.f5 a4 then:
• 16.Nbd4 exd4 17.Nxd4 b3 18.Kb1 bxc2+ 19.Nxc2 Bb3 20.axb3 axb3 21.Na3 Ne5 22.h4 Ra4 23.Qc3 Qa8 24.Rd4 Rxd4 25.Qxd4 Nc7 26.Rh3 Rb8 is equal (Svidler-van Wely, IT, Foros, 2008).
• 16.fxe6 axb3 17.exf7+ Rxf7 18.Kb1 bxc2+ 19.Kxc2 Nb6 20.Nc1 d5 21.exd5 Nd6 22.Kb1 Nbc4 23.Bxc4 Nxc4 24.Qe2 Nxe3 25.g6 hxg6 26.Qxe3 Bd6 27.Rhg1 Qf6 28.Qe4 Qf5 29.Rde1 Ra5 30.Rxg6 Qxe4+ 31.Rxe4 Rxd5 32.Kc2 Rc7+ White resigns (Wang Hao-Zhou Jianchao, Chinese Ch, Wuxi, 2006).
• 14.Ng3 a5 15.Kb1 a4 16.Nc1 b3 17.cxb3 axb3 18.a3 Qb8 19.h4 Nc7 20.f4 exf4 21.Bxf4 Qb7 is equal (Nimtz-Soltau, Corres, 2003).

12.Nd5 Bxd5 13.exd5 Nb6 14.Na5

• 14.Qxb4 Nfxd5 15.Bxb6 Nxb6 16.f4 0-0 17.fxe5 a5 18.Qe1 a4 19.Nd4 Bh4 20.Qe2 Qg5+ 21.Kb1 Qxe5 22.Nf3 Qf6 is equal (Morozevich-Anand, World Rapid Ch, Mainz, 2008).

14...Nbxd5

• 14...Nfxd5 15.Nc6 Qc7 16.Nxb4 Nxb4 17.Qxb4 Rc8 18.Bd3 is equal (Karjakin-Ponomariov, Izmailov Mem, Tomsk, 2006).

15.Nc6

• If 15.Nc4 h6 16.h4 Nxe3 17.Nxe3 d5 18.Nxd5 Nxd5 19.Qxd5 Qxd5 20.Rxd5 Bf6 21.Ra5 Ke7 22.Rxa6 gives White an extra pawn (Domínguez-Predojevic, IT, Sarajevo, 2008).

15...Qc7 16.Nxb4 Nxb4 17.Qxb4 0-0 18.Qb6!?

• 18.g5 Rfc8 19.Qa4 Rab8 20.Bd3 Nd7 21.Qe4 g6 22.Bxa6 Rb4 gives Black the initiative (Svidler-Karjakin, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2007).

18...Qc8

• The game is equal.
• 18...Qxb6 19.Bxb6 d5 20.Bc7 e4 21.Be2 Rfc8 is also equal.

19.g5 Nd7 20.Qa5 Nc5 21.Bc4

• 21.h4 Qb7 22.Bxc5 dxc5 23.Qc3 Rfd8 24.Bd3 Qc7 remains equal.

21...Qf5 22.Qd2 Rfc8 23.h4 Rab8 24.Qd5 Rb4?

• White's position is solid. There is no way to effectively attack his pieces.
• 24...Rc7 25.f4 Na4 26.Bb3 Rb5 27.Qg2 Nc5 28.Bxc5 remains equal.

25.b3!

• In response to Black's aggressiveness, White simply further solidifies his position.
• If 25.Rhe1?! Na4 then:
• If 26.b3 then after Rcxc4 27.bxc4 Nc3 28.Qa8+ Bf8 29.Rd3 Nxa2+ Black has more activity.
• If 26.Bd3? then Black should win after 26...Qd7 27.Bxa6 Rc6 28.a3 Rxb2 29.Bc4 Qc8.

25...a5

• Black shows more aggressiveness on the queenside, but there is really nothing there for him to attack.

26.Rhf1 a4

• 26...Ne6 27.a3 Rbxc4 28.bxc4 Nc5 29.f4 Ne6 30.Rde1 gives White the exchnage and a huge advantage in space.

BLACK: Sanan Sjugirov
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Ernesto Inarkiev
Position after 26...a5a4

27.f4!

• This move is quiet and brutal at once. White threatens to sweep away Black's center.

27...Rxc4?

• The exchange sacrifice doesn't help matters for Black.
• If 27...axb3 28.axb3 then:
• 28...Rxc4 29.bxc4 Qh3 30.Rf3 Qg4 31.fxe5 gives White the exchange.
• If 28...Rbb8? then White wins after 29.fxe5 Qxe5 30.Qxf7+.
• Black's best is probably 27...Ne6 but after 28.fxe5 Qh3 29.Qf3 Qxf3 30.Rxf3 dxe5 31.Rd7 White still has a strong game.

28.bxc4 Qh3 29.Rf3 Qg2

• If 29...Qg4 then White wins after 30.fxe5 Ne6 31.Rg1 Qh5 32.Rgf1 dxe5 33.Rxf7.

30.fxe5 Ne6

• 30...Nd7 31.Qxf7+ Kh8 32.exd6 Bf8 33.Bd4 White will soon capture the Knight, giving him a prohibitive material advantage.

31.exd6 Bxd6 32.c5 Bf8

• If 32...Bxc5 then after 33.Bxc5 Rxc5 34.Qe4 Rc8 35.Re3 Qf2 36.Rde1 White wins the a-pawn.

33.Rdf1 Rc7 34.Rf5

• If 34.c6 Qe2 35.Bb6 then:
• If 35...Re7 then after 36.Ba5 Qh2 37.Bb4 Qxh4 38.Bxe7 Bxe7 39.Rxf7 White wins.
• If 35...Ba3+ then after 36.Kb1 Rc8 37.Qf5 Rb8 38.Ka1 White wins.

34...Qe2 35.Qf3 Qc4

• 35...Qxf3 36.R1xf3 Nxc5 37.Rd5 Ne6 38.Ra5 a3 39.Ra8 gives White an easy victory.

36.Rxf7 Rc8 37.Qb7 Re8

• If 37...Rd8 38.Kb1 Qxh4 39.Qb6 then:
• If 39...Qc4 40.Qxd8 Qxf1+ 41.Rxf1 Nxd8 42.Rf5 leaves White an exchange to the good.
• If 39...Qh3 40.R1f3 Qh1+ 41.Kb2 a3+ 42.Kxa3 leaves White up by an exchange and two pawns.

38.R7f3 Nd8 39.Qd7 Qe4

BLACK: Sanan Sjugirov
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Ernesto Inarkiev
Position after 39...Qc4e4

40.Rxf8+!! 1-0

• 40...Rxf8 41.Rxf8+ Kxf8 42.Qxd8+ Kf7 43.Qd4 leaves Black a piece to the good.
• Grandmaster Sjugirov resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

12. Volokitin - Inarkiev, Round 7

Andrei Volokitin
Photo: ChessBase.com (Spanish Language)


Andrei Volokitin - Ernesto Inarkiev
10th European Championship (General Competition), Round 7
Budva, 12 March 2009

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Marshall Gambit

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3

• Andrei Alexandrovich takes on the Marshall Gambit.

8...d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Rxe5 c6 12.d4

• If the move order introduced by Anand 12.Re1 Bd6 13.g3 then:
• 13...Bf5 14.d4 Qd7 15.Be3 Rae8 is stereotypically unclear for the Marshall: White has the pawn and Black has better development, more space and the initiative (Anand-Svidler, World Ch Trmt, Mexico City, 2007).
• 13...Re8 14.d4 Rxe1+ 15.Qxe1 Ra7 16.Be3 Re7 17.Nd2 Qe8 18.Nf1 is also unclear (Anand-Aronian, IT, Morelia-Linares, 2008).

12...Bd6 13.Re1 Qh4 14.g3 Qh3 15.Qe2

• 15.Be3 Bg4 16.Qd3 Rae8 17.Nd2 Re6 18.a4 Qh5 19.axb5 axb5 20.Qf1 Bh3 21.Qe2 Bg4 22.Qf1 Bh3 23.Qe2 Bg4 draw (J. Polgar-Dr. Nunn, Munich, 1991).

15...Bg4 16.Qf1 Rae8!?

• If 16...Qh5 17.Nd2 Rae8 then:
• If 18.f3 Rxe1 19.Qxe1 Bxf3 20.Nxf3 Qxf3 21.Bd2 then:
• 21...Qg4 22.Qd1 Qd7 23.Qf3 Nb6 24.Rf1 Nc4 25.Bc1 c5 26.Bxc4 bxc4 is equal (Volokitin-Kurnosov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2008).
• 21...h5 22.Qd1 Qf5 23.Bc2 Qh3 24.Qf3 g6 25.Bh6 Re8 26.Rf1 is equal (Caruana-Negi, Corus C, Wijk aan Zee, 2008).
• 18.Rxe8 Rxe8 19.f3 Bf5 20.Ne4 Bc7 21.Bd2 Qg6 22.Re1 Bxe4 23.Rxe4 Rxe4 24.Bc2 f5 25.fxe4 fxe4 26.Qg2 Nf6 is equal (Svidler-Leko, World Ch Trmt, Mexico City, 2007).

BLACK: Ernesto Inarkiev
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Andrei Volokitin
Position after 16...Ra8e8

17.Rxe8!

• This assures White more freedom and space to go with the gambit pawn.
• If 17.Qxh3 Bxh3 18.Be3 Re7 19.a4 then:
• 19...b4 20.Bxd5 cxd5 21.cxb4 Bxb4 22.Nc3 is equal.
• If 19...Rfe8!? then after 20.axb5! axb5 21.Ra6 Nxe3 22.fxe3 Rc7 23.e4 White retains the extra pawn and gains more activity.

17...Qxf1+ 18.Kxf1 Rxe8 19.Bd2!?

• If 19.Kg2 then:
• 19...Bf5 20.Nd2 Re1 21.a4 b4 22.Bxd5 cxd5 weakens Black's pawn structure.
• 19...Bh5?! 20.h3! Bg6 21.Nd2 Re1 22.a4 b4 23.Bc4 gives White more freedom.

19...Bf5 20.a4 h6?!

• This move isn't needed now since White has no need for the use of the g5 square.
• If 20...Bd3+ 21.Kg2 then:
• If 21...b4 22.Bxd5 cxd5 23.cxb4 then:
• 23...Re2 24.Kf3 Bxb4 25.Bxb4 Rxb2 is equal.
• 23...Be4+?! 24.Kg1 Bd3 25.b5 axb5 26.axb5 Bxb5 27.Nc3 gives White the initiative.
• If 21...Rb8 then after 22.axb5 Rxb5 23.Bxd5 cxd5 24.Bc1 Rb8 25.Nd2 White still has the extra pawn.

21.axb5 axb5 22.Bd1 g5

• 22...Be4 23.Na3 Kf8 24.h4 b4 25.cxb4 Nxb4 26.Ba4 gives White more activity.

23.Na3 c5

• If 23...b4 then:
• If 24.Nb1 Kg7 25.h4 g4 26.Be2 then:
• 26...Be7 27.cxb4 Nxb4 28.Nc3 White retains the pawn.
• 26...Rb8 27.c4 Nf6 28.Bc1 Rd8 29.Nd2 White retains the pawn with more freedom.
• 24.cxb4?! Bxb4 25.Bxb4 Nxb4 26.Bf3 Rd8 27.Rc1 is equal.

24.Kg2 Bd3 25.Bc2

• 25.Bf3 Nc7 26.b4 cxd4 27.cxd4 White's extra pawn is passed.

25...c4

• If 25...Bxc2 then:
• If 26.Nxc2 Re2 27.Rd1 then:
• 27...g4 28.Kf1 Re6 29.Ne3 Nxe3+ 30.Bxe3 c4 31.Ra1 gives White more freedom.
• 27...c4 28.Kf3 Re6 29.Ne3 Nxe3 30.Bxe3 f5 31.Ra1 gives White more freedom.
• 26.Nxb5? Bf8 27.dxc5 Re2 28.Bc1 Bxc5 leaves Black with a piece for two pawns.

26.Nxb5!

• White takes a pawn and attacks a piece, keeping the material balance in his favor.

26...Bxc2

• If 26...Bf8 then after 27.Bxd3 cxd3 28.Rd1 Rb8 29.c4 White's three connected passers will triumph..

27.Nxd6 Re2 28.Ra5!

• Also good is 28.Ra8+! Kg7 29.Ra5 Rxd2 30.Rxd5 g4 31.Rc5.

28...Nf6 29.Be3 Ng4?

• This seals Black's doom.
• If 29...Bd3! (giving protection to the c-pawn which is restraining White's queenside) 30.d5 Ng4 31.Ra8+ then:
• 31...Kh7 32.Re8 Nf6 33.Re5 Kg6 34.h4 leaves White up by a pawn.
• If 31...Kg7? then after 32.Bd4+ f6 33.h3 Ne5 34.g4 White retains his extra pawn while Black suffocates.

BLACK: Ernesto Inarkiev
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Andrei Volokitin
Position after 29...Nf6g4

30.h3!

• White immediately puts the question to the Knight.

30...Nxe3+ 31.Kf3 Bd1

• If 31...Bd3 32.fxe3 Rxb2 33.Ra8+ Kg7 34.e4! then:
• If 34...Rb3 then after 35.Ne8+! Kg6 36.Ra6+ Kh7 37.Nf6+ Kg7 38.Nd5 holds onto the c-pawn for White.
• 34...Bf1 35.h4 Rb3 36.Ne8+ Kg6 37.Ra6+ etc.

32.fxe3 Rh2+ 33.Ke4 Rxh3 34.Nf5

• Better is 34.Ra8+ Kh7 35.Ra1 Be2 36.Rg1 Bd3+ 37.Kd5 when Black's c-pawn must fall.

34...f6 35.Kd5 Kf7 36.Ra7+

• White does not like the idea of the pawn race that would come about after 36.Kxc4 Bg4 37.e4 Bxf5 38.exf5 Rxg3 39.Ra7+.

36...Kg6 37.Ke6

• Stronger is 37.e4 Bf3 38.Rb7 Rh2 39.Nd6 Re2 40.Re7 Rxb2 41.Ne8.

37...Rh2

• Black is already lost, but he might survive longer after 37...Bg4 38.Rg7+ Kh5 39.e4 Rxg3 40.Kxf6 Bxf5 41.Kxf5.

38.Rf7 Rxb2 39.Rxf6+ Kh5 40.d5

• If 40.e4 Bf3 41.e5 then:
• If 41...Kg4 42.Nxh6+ Kxg3 43.Nf5+ Kg4 44.d5 then:
• 44...Rb8 45.Ne3+ Kg3 46.Nxc4 White wins.
• If 44...Rb3 then White wins after 45.d6 Bc6 46.Nd4.
• 41...Rb6+ 42.Kd7 Rb7+ 43.Kc8 gives White connected passed pawns in the center.

40...Kg4

• If 40...Bc2 then after 41.d6 Bxf5+ 42.Kxf5 Rb5+ 43.Ke6 Rb8 44.d7 White wins.

41.d6!

• The text is better than 41.Nxh6+ Kxg3 42.Nf5+ Kf3 43.d6 when White's advantage is tempered by the taking of the g-pawn, giving Black a passer.

41...Ba4

• Black plays to intercept the pawn at d7.
• If 41...Rb8 then after 42.d7 Ba4 43.Nxh6+ Kxg3 44.Nf7! Black must lose a piece to stop the pawn.

BLACK: Ernesto Inarkiev
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Andrei Volokitin
Position after 41...Bc2a4

42.d7!

• It doesn't matter how Black plays. He must lose a piece to stop the pawn.

42...Bxd7+

• If 42...Rd2 43.Rf7 Rd3 44.e4 h5 45.Rh7 then:
• If 45...Bc6 46.e5 h4 47.gxh4 then:
• 47...Bxd7+ 48.Rxd7 gxh4 49.Rg7+ Kf4 50.Kf6 laves White a piece to the good.
• If 47...gxh4 then White wins after 48.Rxh4+ Kg5 49.Rd4.
• 45...Bxd7+ 46.Rxd7 Rxc3 47.Rd4 Kf3 48.Kf6 gives White an extra pieces while at least one of Black's kingside pawns must fall.

43.Kxd7 h5 44.e4

• White has a new passed pawn to push.

44...Re2 45.Re6 Re1 46.Kd6 Rc1 47.Kd5 Rxc3

• As laborious as it was to create, the passed c-pawn is enough to keep Black in the game for now.

48.Kd4 Rc1 49.Rg6

• If 49.Re5 h4 50.Ne3+ Kxg3 51.Rxg5+ then:
• If 51...Kf3 52.Rh5 Rh1 53.e5 c3 54.Rf5+ then:
• 54...Kg3 55.e6 c2 56.Nxc2 Rd1+ 57.Ke3 Rd8 58.Rg5+ gives White an easy win.
• 54...Ke2 55.e6 c2 56.Nxc2 Rd1+ 57.Ke5 Rd8 58.Nd4+ White wins.
• If 51...Kh3 52.Nxc4 Rd1+ 53.Kc5 then:
• 53...Kh2 54.e5 Re1 55.Kd5 Rd1+ 56.Ke4 Rd8 57.e6 while Black is tied up stipping the e-pawn, White forces the Rook to give way using both his pieces.
• 53...Re1 54.e5 Re4 55.Kd5 Rg4 56.Rxg4 Kxg4 57.e6 White wins.

49...Re1 50.Nd6 Kxg3

• 50...Kf3 51.Kxc4 g4 52.Rg5 Rh1 53.e5 Re1 54.Rxh5 White wins.

51.Rxg5+ Kf4 52.Rf5+ Kg3 53.Rxh5

• 53.Nxc4 h4 54.Ne3 h3 55.Rf8 Ra1 56.e5 White wins.

53...Rd1+ 54.Ke5 c3 55.Nf5+ Kg4 56.Rh4+ Kg5

• After 56...Kf3 57.Rh3+ Ke2 58.Rxc3 White has an easy win.

57.Rh2 Rd2

• If 57...Ra1 then White wins after 58.Rg2+ Kh5 59.Ne7 Rb1 60.Rc2.

BLACK: Ernesto Inarkiev
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Andrei Volokitin
Position after 57...Rd1d2

58.Rxd2!

• One of the real beauties of chess is how a move that at first glance looks counterintuitive is in fact brilliant.

58...cxd2 59.Ne3! 1-0

• If Black queens, the new piece is immediately taken, while the White pawn is unstoppable.
• Grandmaster Inarkiev resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. European Championship (Women's Competition), St. Petersburg

(Coming in a few minutes. Thank you for your patience.)

[Jack Rabbit]

13. Gritsayeva - Hoang, Round 4

Hoang Thanh Trang
Photo: ChessBase.com


Oksana Gritsayeva - Hoang Thanh Trang
10th European Championship (Women's Competition), Round 4
St.Peterburg, 11 March 2009

Hollander Game: Huisl Defense

1.Nf3 e6 2.g3 f5 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.c4 Be7 5.0-0 0-0 6.Nc3 d6 7.d4

• The game has evolved into a not very theoretical subset of the Hollander Game, commonly called the Dutch Defense.

7...Ne4 8.Qc2

• If 8.Nxe4 fxe4 then:
• If 9.Nd2 d5 10.f3 exf3 11.Nxf3 then:
• 11...c5 12.Be3 cxd4 13.Nxd4 Rxf1+ 14.Qxf1 Na6 15.cxd5 exd5 16.Qf3 Nc7 17.Bf4 draw (Gilbert-Hinks Edwards, Op, Coventry, 2005).
• 11...Nc6 12.Be3 b6 13.Rc1 Qd7 14.b4 Bxb4 15.cxd5 exd5 16.Qb3 Bb7 17.Rxc6 Qxc6 18.Qxb4 gives White the advantage in space (Knott-Ledger, Op, Hastings, 2006).
• 9.Ne1 d5 10.f3 dxc4 11.fxe4 Rxf1+ 12.Kxf1 e5 13.d5 Nd7 14.Qc2 b5 15.a4 Ba6 16.axb5 Bxb5 17.Nf3 Bd6 is equal (Makarov-Ovetchkin, Russian Ch, Krasnodar, 2002).

8...Nxc3 9.Qxc3 a5 10.Qc2

• 10.b3 Nc6 11.Bb2 Bf6 12.Rad1 Qe8 13.Qd2 e5 14.dxe5 dxe5 15.Ne1 Be6 16.Nd3 Rd8 17.Qc1 e4 18.Nf4 is equal (Prosviriakov-Goodger, Op, Hastings, 2007-08).

10...Nc6 11.Bd2 e5 12.d5 Nb8 13.Bc3

• If 13.e4 Qe8 14.Ng5 then:
• If 14...f4!? 15.gxf4 exf4 16.Nf3 (the game is equal) 16...Qg6 17.Kh1 Bg4 then:
• If 18.Qd3? Nd7 then:
• 19.b4 Qh5 20.Rae1 axb4! 21.Bxb4 Rf6 22.Bd2 Rxa2 23.Rg1 Rxd2 24.Nxd2 Ne5 25.Qc3 f3 26.Re3 Qxh2+ 27.Kxh2 Rh6+ 28.Kg3 Bh4+ White resigns (Mulligan-Foord, Op, Hastings, 2006-07).
• 19.Rae1 Nc5 20.Qc2 Qh5 21.Qc3 Bf6 also gives Black a big advantage.
• 18.Rg1 Nd7 19.Nd4 Ne5 remains equal.
• 14...Bxg5! 15.Bxg5 f4 leaves the White Bishop out in the cold.

13...Nd7

• The game is equal.

14.b3

• If 14.Nd2 Bg5 15.e3 Qe7 then:
• 16.Rae1 e4 17.f3 exf3 18.Nxf3 gives White an advantage in space.
• 16.f4 Bf6 17.fxe5 Bxe5 18.Rae1 Qf6 19.Bxe5 Nxe5 remains equal.

14...Qe8 15.a3 Nf6

• 15...Bf6 16.Bb2 Nc5 17.Rfe1 e4 18.Bxf6 Rxf6 remains equal.

16.Ng5 Qg6 17.Ne6?!

• This move is way too risky. White uses the Knight to pull apart White's center.
• 17.Bd2 h6 18.Nf3 Ne4 19.Be3 Bf6 20.Nd2 Nc5 remains equal.

BLACK: Hoang Thanh Trang
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Oksana Gritsayeva
Position after 17.Ng5e6

17...Bxe6!

• The pawn with which White must recapture is then effectively lost.

18.dxe6 c6?!

• This is not the best way to block the long diagonal.
• 18...Ne4 19.Bxe4 fxe4 20.f3 then:
• 20...Rf6 21.Qxe4 Qxe4 22.fxe4 Rxe6 gives Black fewer pawn weaknesses.
• 20...a4?! 21.b4 Rf6 22.fxe4 Rxe6 23.Rf5 Rf6 is equal.

19.c5

• 19.Rad1! Ne4 20.Bxe4 fxe4 21.f3 Qxe6 22.Qxe4 a4 is equal.

19...dxc5

• 19...e4! 20.cxd6 Bxd6 21.Qd2 Nd5 reasserts Black's advantage in space.

20.Bxe5 Ng4 21.Bf4

• 21.Bc7 Qxe6 22.Rfd1 Bf6 23.Rac1 Bd4 gives Black an extra pawn and an advantage in space.

21...Qxe6 22.e4 fxe4

• If 22...g5 23.exf5 Qxf5 24.Qxf5 Rxf5 then:
• 25.Rfe1 Bf6 26.Be4 Rxf4 27.gxf4 Bxa1 28.Rxa1 gxf4 gives Black a two pawn material advantage.
• If 25.Bd2 a4 26.h3 Ne5 27.f4 then:
• 27...gxf4 28.Rxf4 Rxf4 29.gxf4 Nf7 yields an extra pawn to Black.
• 27...Nf7 28.Rab1 Rd8 29.Be4 Rf6 30.Bc3 Re6 gives Black the initiative.

23.Bxe4?!

• 23.Rae1 Nf6 24.Bxe4 Nxe4 25.Rxe4 Qf7 26.Rfe1 Bf6 is equal.

BLACK: Hoang Thanh Trang
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Oksana Gritsayeva
Position after 23.Bg2e4:p

23...Rxf4!

• The exchange sacrifice pays dividends.

24.gxf4

• If 24.Bxh7+ Kh8 25.gxf4 Qh6 then:
• 26.f3 Ne3 27.Qe2 Bf6 28.Be4 Qxf4 29.Rae1 Bc3 will win back the exchange and prevents 30.Qxe3?? with the threat of 30...Bd4!.
• If 26.Rfe1 then after 26...Qxh2+ 27.Kf1 Bf6 28.Rac1 Qxh7 Black wins.

24...Qh6 25.Rfe1

• White didn't like the looks of Black's attack after 25.Kg2.
• If 25.Kg2 Qxh2+ 26.Kf3 Qh3+ 27.Ke2 Nf6 then:
• 28.Qc4+ Kh8 29.Rh1 Qg4+ 30.Bf3 Qf5 gives Black the advantage with her mass of queenside pawns.
• 28.Rae1 Qg4+ 29.Bf3 Qxf4 30.Qc4+ Qxc4+ 31.bxc4 Rb8 leaves Black preparing to advance her queenside.

25...Bf6 26.Rad1 Bd4 27.Re2 Qxf4

• If 27...Qxh2+ 28.Kf1 Rf8 then:
• 29.Rde1 g6 30.Bf3 Rxf4 31.Re8+ Kg7 32.R1e7+ Kh6 wins for Black.
• 29.Bf3 Qxf4 30.Bxg4 Qxg4 31.Rd3 b6 gives Black a material advantage.

28.h3 Bxf2+!

• Black wisely opts for the luxury of pawn majorities on both wings, a huge endgame advantage.
• Not as strong as the text is 28...Qh2+ 29.Kf1 Qxh3+ 30.Bg2 Nh2+ 31.Kg1 Nf3+ when the White Bishop is better able to defend its King.

29.Rxf2 Nxf2 30.Bxh7+ Kh8 31.Qxf2 Qxf2+ 32.Kxf2 Kxh7 33.Rd7

• The smoke clears from the exchanges. Black is two pawns to the good in a Rook ending.
• 33.a4 b5 34.Rc1 Rf8+ 35.Ke2 Rf5 36.Ra1 b4 fixes White's queenside pawns.

33...b5 34.Rc7 a4 35.bxa4

BLACK: Hoang Thanh Trang
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Oksana Gritsayeva
Position after 35.ba4:p

35...Rxa4!

• Black eliminates all of White's remaining pawns.

36.Rxc6 c4 37.Rc5 Rxa3 38.Rxb5 Rxh3 39.Rc5

• If 39.Rd5 then 39...Rd3 40.Rc5 c3 41.Ke2 Rh3 leads to an easy Black win.

39...Rh4 40.Ke2 Kh6 41.Kf3

• If 41.Rc8 g5 42.Kf2 Kg6 then:
• If 43.Rc6+ Kf5 44.Rc5+ Kf6 then:
• 45.Rc6+ Ke5 46.Rc5+ Kd4 47.Rxg5 Re4 the observer can see the Lucena position brewing.
• No better is 45.Ke2 Rf4 46.Ke3 Kg6 47.Rd5 Rf5.
• 43.Kf3 Rf4+ 44.Kg3 Kf5 45.Rc5+ Kf6 46.Rc6+ Ke5 and so on like the main variation.

41...g5 42.Rc8 Rf4+ 43.Kg3

• If 43.Ke3 Kh5 44.Rc5 Kh4 then:
• If 45.Ra5 c3 46.Rc5 Rg4 then:
• 47.Rc7 Rg3+ 48.Kf2 Rh3 if the White Rook moves off the c-file, the c-pawn advances; otherwise, the g-pawn advances.
• 47.Rxc3 Rg3+ 48.Kd2 Rxc3 49.Kxc3 Kg3 is a book win for Black.
• If 45.Rc8 then after 45...Kg3 46.Ra8 Rf3+ 47.Kd4 c3 48.Ra2 g4 one of Black's pawns will score.

43...Kg6 44.Rc6+ Kf5 45.Rc5+ Kf6 46.Kg2 g4 47.Kg3 Re4 48.Rd5

• 48.Kg2 Ke7 49.Kf2 Kd6 50.Rc8 Ke5 51.Rc7 Kd4 the Black King threads its way through to defend the c-pawn.

48...Ke6 49.Rd8 Ke5 50.Rd7 c3 0-1

• If 51.Rd1 c2 52.Rc1 Rc4 53.Re1+ Kd4 then:
• 54.Rc1 Kc3 55.Kf2 Kd2 56.Rg1 c1Q wins for Black.
• If 54.Kxg4 then 54...c1Q wins on the spot.
• Ms. Gritsayeva resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

14. Shadrina - Mkrtchian, Round 5

Lilit Mkrtchian
Photo: ChessBase.com


Tatiana Shadrina - Lilit Mkrtchian
10th European Championship (Women's Competition), Round 5
St.Peterburg, 12 March 2009

German Exchange Game: Panov Opening (Caro-Kann Defense)

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6

• If 5...g6 6.Qb3 Bg7 7.Nge2 0-0 8.cxd5 then:
• If 8...Na6 9.g3 then:
• If 9...Qb6 then:
• If 10.Bg2 Rd8 11.0-0 Qxb3 12.axb3 Nb4 then:
• 13.d6 exd6 14.Bf4 a6 15.Rfd1 Nc6 is equal (Altounian-Kamsky, Op, Las Vegas, 2008).
• 13.Ra5 a6 14.Bf4 b6 15.Bc7 Rd7 16.Bxb6 Rb8 17.Rc5 Bb7 18.Bh3 Nfxd5 19.Bxd7 Nxb6 20.Bh3 leaves White up by an exchange (Sorsa-Dolgov, Op, Jyvaskyla (Finland), 2000).
• 10.Qxb6 axb6 11.Bg2 Nb4 12.0-0 Rd8 13.d6 Rxd6 14.Bf4 Rd7 15.Rfd1 Nbd5 16.Be5 gives White a small advantage in space (Spassky-Petrosian, World Ch Rd 5, Moscow, 1966).
• 9...b5 10.a3 Nc7 11.Bg2 Bb7 12.Nf4 Rb8 13.0-0 a5 14.Re1 Re8 15.Bd2 Ba8 16.h4 b4 17.axb4 axb4 18.Nce2 Bxd5 19.Nxd5 Nfxd5 is equal (Meier-al-Sayed, Areoflot Op, Moscow, 2008).
• If 8...Nbd7 then:
• If 9.g3 Nb6 10.Bg2 Bf5 11.Nf4 Qd7 then:
• 12.a4 Rac8 13.0-0 Rfd8 14.a5 Nc4 15.Rd1 is equal (Kobalia-Turov, Euro ChU18, Rimavska Sobota, 1996).
• 12.0-0 g5 13.Nfe2 h6 14.Rd1 Rfd8 15.d6 Qxd6 16.Bxb7 Rab8 17.Bg2 is equal (Potkin-Turov, Russian Cup Qual, Cyberspace, 2004).
• 9.Nf4 Nb6 10.Be2 a5 11.a4 Qd6 12.0-0 Rd8 13.Bf3 Qb4 14.Qd1 Bf5 15.g4 g5 is equal (Amonatov-Davila, Ol. Turino, 2006).

6.Nf3 Bb4 7.cxd5

• If 7.Bd3 dxc4 8.Bxc4 0-0 9.0-0 b6 10.Bg5 Bb7 then:
• 11.Re1 Nbd7 12.Rc1 Rc8 13.Bd3 Re8 14.Qe2 Bxc3 15.bxc3 Qc7 16.Bh4 Nh5 17.Qe3 Ndf6 18.Bxf6 Nxf6 19.Ne5 Nd5 20.Qh3 h6 21.Be4 b5 is equal (Saunders-Wendorff, Cyberspace, 1999).
• If 11.Qe2 Bxc3 12.bxc3 Nbd7 13.Ne5 Qc7 14.Nxd7 Nxd7 15.Rac1 then:
• 15...Rfe8 16.Bb3 h6 17.Bh4 Qc6 18.f3 b5 19.c4 bxc4 20.Bxc4 Rec8 21.Qb2 Qb6 22.Qxb6 Nxb6 23.Bb5 a6 24.Bd3 Bd5 25.Rxc8+ Rxc8 draw (Krush-Macieja, IT Gausdal, 2008).
• 15...Qc6 16.f3 Rac8 17.Bd3 Qd6 18.Rfe1 Rfe8 19.Qc2 h6 20.Bh4 Nf6 21.Bg3 Qe7 is equal (Hillarp Persson-Rizouk, Op, Salou, 2005).

7...Nxd5 8.Qc2

• If 8.Bd2 Nc6 9.Bd3 0-0 10.0-0 Be7 then:
• If 11.a3 Bf6 12.Qc2 h6 13.Be3 then:
• If 13...Nxc3 14.bxc3 e5 15.Rad1 exd4 16.cxd4 Bg4 17.Be4 Rc8 18.Qb1 Na5 19.h3 Bxf3 20.Bxf3 b6 21.d5 Qd6 22.Qf5 Nc4 23.Bc1 Bb2 24.Bxb2 Nxb2 25.Rc1 draw (Moiseenko-A. Volokitin, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2005).
• 13...Nce7 14.Ne4 b6 15.Rad1 Bb7 16.Qd2 Nf5 17.Bb1 Ba6 18.Rfe1 Rc8 19.Bf4 Nxf4 draw (Cobb-Wells, IT, Hereford, 2006).
• 11.Qe2 Nf6 12.Ne4 Qb6 13.a3 Bd7 14.Rfd1 Rad8 15.b4 a6 16.Rac1 Bc8 17.Nxf6+ Bxf6 18.Be3 Qc7 19.Be4 gives White the advantage in space (Baron-Svetushkin, Op. La Roda, 2005).

8...Nc6 9.Bd3

• If 9.Be2 0-0 10.0-0 then:
• If 10...Be7 11.Rd1 Bf6 12.Ne4 then:
• 12...h6 13.Bc4 Bd7 14.Qe2 Rc8 15.b3 Rc7 16.Bb2 Be7 17.Rac1 Ncb4 18.a3 Nf4 19.Qd2 Nbd5 20.Ne5 Bg5 21.Nxg5 Qxg5 22.Bxd5 exd5 23.g3 Rxc1 24.Bxc1 Nh3+ 25.Kg2 Be6 draw (Oll-Adianto, Keres Mem, Tallinn, 1998).
• 12...Nce7 13.Nxf6+ Nxf6 14.Bg5 Ned5 15.Ne5 b6 16.Bf3 Bb7 17.Qa4 Qe8 18.Qa3 Qb5 19.Rac1 a5 20.Bxf6 gxf6 21.Ng4 Kg7 22.Bxd5 Qxd5 23.Qh3 h5 24.Ne3 Qg5 25.d5 Bxd5 26.Nxd5 exd5 27.Rc3 gives White more freedom (Christiansen-Sadykov, Ol, Bled, 2002).
• 10...Re8 11.Rd1 Bf8 12.Qe4 Bd7 13.Bd3 f5 14.Qe2 Bd6 15.Bc4 Nxc3 16.bxc3 Na5 17.Bd3 Bc6 18.Rb1 Qc7 19.c4 is equal (Adams-Asrian, FIDE Knock Out, Tripoli, 2004).

9...h6

• 9...Ba5 10.a3 Nxc3 11.bxc3 Nxd4 12.Nxd4 Qxd4 13.Bb5+ Bd7 14.0-0 Qd5 15.c4 Qf5 16.Bxd7+ Kxd7 17.Qb3 b6 18.Rd1+ Ke7 19.a4 Rhd8 20.Ba3+ Kf6 21.Bd6 g5 22.Qb2+ Kg6 23.Ra3 e5 24.Qe2 f6 25.h4 g4 26.Rg3 h5 27.f3 Qf4 28.Kh2 Rac8 29.fxg4 Rxc4 30.Bxe5 Qxe5 31.gxh5+ Black resigns (Napomniachtchi-Sulashvili, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).

10.0-0 0-0 11.a3 Bd6

• If 11...Be7 then:
• If 12.Rd1 Bf6 13.Be4 Qd6 14.Qe2 Rd8 15.Bc2 Nxc3 16.bxc3 Ne7 17.Ne5 gives White the advantage in space (Ghaem Maghami-Wang Yue, Mindsports Rapid, Beijing, 2008).
• 12.Qe2 Re8 13.Re1 Bd7 14.Bc2 Bf8 15.Qd3 g6 16.h4 h5 17.Ne4 Qc7 is equal (T. Kosintseva-Ushenina, Europ ChW, Chisinau, 2005).

12.Qe2 Nce7 13.Re1!?

• 13.Ne5 Nf5 14.Rd1 Nxd4 15.Qe4 Nf5 16.Nxd5 exd5 17.Qxd5 Bc7 18.Qxd8 Rxd8 19.Bf4 Re8 is equal (Bologan-Epishin, Bundesliga 9899, Germany, 1999).

13...Nf6

• 13...Qa5 14.Bd2 Qb6 15.Nb5 Bb8 16.a4 Bd7 17.a5 gives White a more active game.

14.Bd2 Nf5

• 14...b6 15.Ne4 Ned5 16.Ne5 Bb7 17.Rac1 Bc7 18.Nxf6+ is equal.

15.Rad1

• 15.Ne4 Nd5 16.Nxd6 Nxd6 17.Rac1 b6 18.Qe5 gives White command of the c-file and the overall advantage in space.

15...Bd7

• Black vacates c8 so that her Rook can fight for the c-file.

16.Bc1

• If 16.Bxf5 exf5 17.Ne5 Be6 18.Qb5 then:
• 18...Qb8 19.Bf4 Re8 20.Re2 Nh5 21.Bd2 White's Knight and Queen command the center.
• 18...Qc7?! 19.Qd3 Rfd8 20.Qg3 Kh7 21.Nb5 gives White more activity.

16...Rc8 17.Bb1?!

• Passive.
• 17.Bxf5 exf5 18.Ne5 Bxa3 19.Qf3 Bb4 20.Qxb7 gives White the initiative.

17...Bxa3!

• A tactical shot yield a pawn for Black.

18.Ne5

• 18.bxa3 Rxc3 19.Qb2 Qc8 20.Bd2 Rc6 21.Bxf5 exf5 mitigates the loss of the pawn somewhat.

18...Bb4

• Black has the advantage in space.

19.Qf3 Bc6 20.Qh3 Nd5?!

• This is a somewhat useless move that doesn't really put any more pressure on White's position.
• Black maintains her advantage after 20...Nd6 21.Bd2 Rc7 22.Qg3 Be4!.

21.Bd2!

• White easily meets Black's pressure on c3.

21...a5 22.Qd3 Qh4

• If 22...Nf6? 23.Qh3 Bxc3 24.bxc3 Nd6 then:
• If 25.Bxh6! gxh6 26.Qxh6 Be4 27.Re3 Nf5 28.Qg5+ gives White a vicious attack.
• opens the kingside for White's attack.

23.Re4?!

• If 23.Nxd5 Bxd5 24.Bxb4 axb4 25.g4 then:
• If 25...f6 26.gxf5 fxe5 27.Qg3 then:
• 27...Qxg3+ 28.hxg3 Bb3 29.Rd3 is equal.
• 27...Qh5 28.dxe5 Qf7 29.f6 Kh8 30.Rd4 gives Whitea clear advantage.
• 25...Bc4? 26.Nxc4 Qxg4+ 27.Kh1 Rfd8 28.Re4 gives White the initiative.

23...Qf6 24.Rg4?!

• White misses another opportunity to exchange down to equality.
• 24.Nxd5 Bxd5 25.Bxb4 Bxe4 26.Qxe4 axb4 27.g4 Rfd8 is equal.

BLACK: Lilit Mkrtchian
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Tatiana Shadrina
Position after 24.Re4g4

24...Bxc3!

• Since White won't exchange for her advantage, Black will improve her psosition with an exchange. This powerful move assures her of a passed pawn in the worst case.

25.bxc3

• This is White's best move, and it isn't good.
• 25.Bxc3 h5 26.Rg3 g6 27.Bxa5 Nxg3 28.fxg3 gives Black the exchange.

25...Rfd8

• If 25...Ra8 26.c4 Nde7 then:
• 27.Nxc6 bxc6 28.Bc3 h5 29.Re4 Qg6 leaves Black a remote passer to the good.
• 27.Bc3 h5 28.Rf4 Qg5 29.g3 Ba4 30.Rd2 b5 Black retains her extra pawn.

26.h3?!

• This seems to be a waiting move that does nothing for White's attack nor her defense. Niether does it do anything about the threat of Black's queenside pawns.
• 26.Bc2 Ra8 27.Ra1 Be8 28.c4 Nb4 29.Bxb4 axb4 gives the a-file to Black.

26...Be8!?

• 26...Ba4! 27.Rc1 b5 28.Re1 b4 29.c4 Nde7 gives Black two connected passers and a more active game.

27.c4

• If 27.Bc2 b5 28.Ra1 then:
• 28...Nxc3 29.Bxc3 Qxe5 30.dxe5 Rxd3 31.Bxd3 Rxc3 32.Bxf5 exf5 33.Rf4 a4 gives Black two connected passers and more activity.
• If 28...a4 29.Re4 Rc7 then:
• 30.Ng4 Qe7 31.Ne3 Nfxe3 32.Rxe3 g6 gives Black an extra pawn and the initiative.
• 30.g4? Nd6! 31.Ree1 g6 32.Bb1 Rdc8 is a position from which Black should win

27...Nb4 28.Qf3?

• The Queen abandons its watch over the the queenside. After this the game favors Black.
• 28.Bxb4 axb4 29.Qe2 Ba4 30.Rd2 Bc6 31.Bxf5 Qxf5 is equal.

BLACK: Lilit Mkrtchian
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WHITE: Tatiana Shadrina
Position after 28.Qd3f3

28...Rxd4!

• Typically, the Armenian lady storms the position. This move involves the sacrifice of a pawn.
• 28...h5?! 29.Re4 Ba4 30.Rc1 Rxd4 31.Rxd4 Nxd4 32.Qe4 is equal.

29.Rxd4 Nxd4 30.Qxb7 Rd8

• Black is only a pawn to the good where she was two, but she can live with it. White's Queen is out of play, the White Knight is en prise, and Black's Knights dominate the queenside light squares.

31.Ng4 Ne2+ 32.Kf1 Qd4 33.Ne3

• White is completely lost.
• 33.Qe4 Qxe4 34.Bxe4 Nc3 35.Bxc3 Rxd1+ gives Black the exchange plus a pawn.

33...Qb2!!

• The sacrifice of the Knight begins a crushing combination.

34.Kxe2

• White's move is tantamount to resignation.
• 34.Bxb4 Rxd1+ 35.Nxd1 Qxb1 36.Kxe2 Qxb4 37.Qxb4 axb4 leaves Black up by a pawn.

34...Ba4 35.Re1

• If 35.Bd3 then 35...Rxd3 36.Qa8+ Kh7 37.Qe4+ f5 38.Qxd3 Nxd3 turns out the lights.

35...Bc6 36.Qxb4

• 36.Qb6 Rxd2+ 37.Kf1 Rxf2+ 38.Kg1 Rxg2+ 39.Kh1 Rh2+ 40.Kg1 Rh1#.

36...axb4 37.Nf1 Bxg2 0-1

• White wins at least a piece; 38.Ne3 Qxd2 is checkmate.
• Ms. Shadrina resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

15. Solovjova - Dzagnidze, Round 2

Nana Dzagnidze
Photo: ChessBase.com


Valentina Solovjova - Nana Dzagnidze
10th European Championship (Women's Competition), Round 2
St.Peterburg, 9 March 2009

Closed Sicilian Game: Saragossa Opening (Spanish Variation)

1.e4 c5 2.c3 e6 3.d4 d5 4.exd5 exd5 5.Bb5+ Nc6 6.Nf3 Bd6 7.0-0 Nge7 8.dxc5 Bxc5

• This position can also arise from the French Game: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.exd5 exd5 5.Ngf3 Nc6 6.Bb5 Bd6 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.0-0 Nge7. See Topalov-Kamsky, Candidates' Match Rd 5, Sofia, 2009.

9.h3

• If 9.Nbd2 0-0 10.Nb3 then:
• If 10...Bd6 then:
• If 11.Bd3 h6 12.h3 Nf5 13.Re1 Qf6 14.Bc2 Rd8 15.Qd3 g6 then:
• 16.Qd2 Bf8 17.Qf4 Bg7 18.Bd2 g5 19.Qh2 Nd6 20.Nbd4 Nc4 21.Bc1 Bf8 22.g4 Bc5 23.b3 Bxd4 24.Nxd4 N4e5 is equal (Zubarev-Lysyj, Op, Nishnij Tagil, 2005).
• 16.Bd2 a5 17.a4 b6 18.Qe2 Ba6 19.Bd3 Bxd3 20.Qxd3 d4 21.cxd4 Nfxd4 22.Nfxd4 Nxd4 23.Bc3 Nxb3 24.Bxf6 Bh2+ 25.Kxh2 Rxd3 is equal (Brodsky-Lputian, Hoogovens B, Wijk aan Zee, 1999).
• If 11.Nbd4 Bg4 12.Qa4 Bh5 then:
• 13.Bg5 Qc7 14.Bxe7 Nxe7 15.Rfe1 a6 16.Bd3 Bg6 17.Qc2 Nc6 18.Nxc6 bxc6 19.Bxg6 fxg6 is equal (Berezovsky-Bhend, Swiss Ch, Scuol, 2001).
• 13.Bd3 h6 14.Be3 a6 15.Rfe1 Qc7 16.h3 Na5 17.Nh4 Nc4 18.Qc2 Nxe3 19.Rxe3 Bh2+ 20.Kh1 Bf4 21.Ree1 Bg5 22.Nhf3 Bf4 23.Re2 gives White a small advantage in space and for the moment better minor pieces (Fuhwerk-Lannaioli, Cyberspace, 1999).
• If 10...Bb6 11.Re1 then:
• If 11...Nf5 12.Bd3 then:
• If 12...h6 13.Bc2 then:
• 13...Qd6 14.Qd3 Rd8 15.Bd2 d4 16.c4 Bc7 17.Re4 Qg6 18.Rae1 f6 19.c5 White wins a pawn (Howell-Hall, British Ch, Great yarmouth, 2007).
• 13...Be6 14.Qd3 Qf6 15.Be3 Bxe3 16.Rxe3 g6 17.Ree1 Rad8 18.Rad1 Nd6 19.Nbd4 Bf5 20.Nxf5 Nxf5 21.Qb5 has White taking advantage of Black's pawn weaknesses (Pavasovic-Jelen, Slovenian Ch, Bled, 2003).
• 12...Re8 13.h3 h5 14.Be2 f6 15.Qd2 Re5 16.Bd3 Rxe1+ gives White the advantage in space (Rublevsky-Meijers, Ol, Torino, 2006).
• 11...Bg4 12.Be3 Bxe3 13.Rxe3 Qd6 14.h3 Bh5 15.Be2 Rad8 16.Nfd4 Bg6 17.Bf3 Ne5 18.Qe2 Nxf3+ 19.Qxf3 Nc8 20.Nf5 Bxf5 21.Qxf5 Rfe8 22.Rae1 Rxe3 23.Rxe3 Ne7 24.Qg5 gives White a more active position and better pawn structure (Macieja-Movsesian, TT, Czechia, 2001).

9...0-0 10.Nbd2 Bf5

• 10...Ng6 11.Nb3 Bb6 12.Nbd4 Qd6 13.Re1 Bd7 14.Bf1 Nxd4 15.Nxd4 Bc7 16.g3 Bb6 17.Be3 Qf6 18.Bg2 Ne5 19.Nc2 White stands to win a pawn (Thorhallsson-Milov, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).

11.Nb3 Bb6 12.Bd3!?

• If 12.Nbd4 Be4 13.Bg5 Qd6 14.Qd2 Ng6 15.Rfe1 Bc7 16.g3 h6 gives Black more space and more activity (Peptan-Brodsky, Op, Groningen, 1993).
• 12...Nxd4 13.Nxd4 Bg6 14.b3 Qd6 15.Re1 Bc7 16.g3 is equal (Kieu Thien Kim Le-Le Ching, Zonal W, Manila, 2001).

BLACK: Nana Dzagnidze
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WHITE: Valentina Solovjova
Position after 12.Bb5d3

12...Qd6

• The game is equal.
• 12...a5 13.Be3 Bxe3 14.fxe3 Qb6 15.Nbd4 Bxd3 16.Qxd3 is also equal.

13.Bxf5

• 13.Re1 Bxh3 14.Bxh7+ Kxh7 15.Ng5+ Kg8 16.Nxh3 remains equal.

13...Nxf5 14.Qd3 g6 15.Bd2

• If 15.a4 Bc7 16.Re1 Rfe8 17.Bg5 then:
• 17...f6 18.Be3 Nxe3 19.Rxe3 Ne5 remains equal.
• 17...Ne5 18.Rxe5 Rxe5 19.Nxe5 Qxe5 remains equal.

15...Rad8 16.Rad1 Qg3 17.Bc1 Rfe8 18.Bg5 Ne5 19.Nxe5 Qxg5 20.Nf3

• 20.Nd4 Nxd4 21.cxd4 Qf4 22.Rfe1 remains equal.

20...Qf4 21.Nbd4 Nd6

• If 21...Nxd4 22.Nxd4 Bxd4 23.cxd4 Re7 24.Rfe1 remains equal.

22.Qd2 Qf6 23.Rfe1 Re4 24.Qg5 Qxg5

• If 24...Bxd4 25.cxd4 Qxg5 26.Nxg5 Rxe1+ 27.Rxe1 Kg7 remains equal.
• If 24...Rxe1+ 25.Rxe1 Qxg5 26.Nxg5 Bxd4 27.cxd4 f6 remains equal.

25.Nxg5 Rxe1+ 26.Rxe1 f6

• If 26...Bxd4 27.cxd4 f6 28.Nf3 Kf7 29.Rc1 Re8 30.Kf1 remains equal.

27.Ngf3 Kf7 28.Kf1 a6 29.Re2 Ne4 30.g4

• 30.a3 h5 31.Ke1 Re8 32.Kd1 Bc7 33.Kc2 b5 remains equal.

30...Re8 31.Ke1 Bc7 32.Kd1 Bf4 33.Nc2 Rc8

• 33...Be5 34.Nxe5+ fxe5 35.Nb4 Nf6 remains equal.

34.Nb4 Ke6 35.Nd4+

• If 35.Nd3 then:
• 35...Bh6 36.Nd4+ Kd6 37.a4 remains equal.
• If 35...Be5 36.Nfxe5 fxe5 37.f3 then:
• 37...Nc5 38.Nxe5 gives White an extra pawn.
• If 37...Nxc3+ 38.bxc3 Rxc3 is refuted by 39.Nxe5.

35...Kd6 36.Nd3 Be5 37.f3?

• White's intention is to push back the Knight, but this sets up a sparkling combination.
• Correct is 37.Nf3 Re8 38.c4 Nc5 39.Ndxe5 fxe5 40.cxd5 Re7 with equality.

BLACK: Nana Dzagnidze
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Valentina Solovjova
Position after 37...f2f3

37...Nxc3+!!

• Black sacrifices the Knight instead of retreating. She will get three pawns in return.

38.bxc3 Rxc3 39.Nxe5

• The text is best.
• 39.Nb5+ axb5 40.Rd2 Rc4 simply leaves Black up by two pawns.

39...fxe5 40.Nc2 Rxf3 41.Re3 Rf1+

• Black, having three pawns for the sacrificed Knight, decides her winning chances are better with Rooks on the board.
• If 41...Rxe3 42.Nxe3 d4 43.Nc4+ Kd5 44.Nb6+ then:
• 44...Ke6 45.a4 g5 46.a5 e4 47.Ke1 Kd6 Black's extra pawns are still better than the Knight.
• 44...Ke4?! 45.Nd7 h6 46.Kd2 b5 47.Nc5+ is equal.

42.Kd2

• If 42.Ke2 Rh1 43.Rb3 d4 44.Rxb7 Rxh3 45.Kd1 Rh4 46.Ra7 Rxg4 47.Rxh7 Rg1+ 48.Ne1 Rg3 Black's central passers give her good winning prospects.
• 45.Kd2 Rh2+ 46.Kd1 d3 47.Nb4 e4 48.Ra7 Kc5 gives Black excellent winning chances.

42...Rf2+ 43.Kd1?

• White missteps.
• If 43.Re2 Rxe2+ 44.Kxe2 d4 45.Kd3 Kd5 then:
• If 46.Nb4+ Kc5 47.Nc2 Kd5 48.Nb4+ Kc5 49.Nc2 Kd5 draws.
• 46.g5? e4+ 47.Kd2 d3 48.Ne3+ Kd4 49.a4 b5 wins for Black.

BLACK: Nana Dzagnidze
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WHITE: Valentina Solovjova
Position after 43.Kd2d1

43...d4!

• Black advances her central pawns. Stopping them will be expensive for White.

44.Rb3 Rf7 45.Ke2 Kc5 46.Ne1

• This speeds up the losing process by allowing further advances by Black's passers..
• A more stubborn defense is 46.Rd3 b5 47.Rd2 g5 48.Kd3 Rf1, but Black still wins.

46...e4!

• Black turns the screw on the vise.

47.h4 b5 48.Rg3 a5 49.h5 g5 50.Rb3

• If 50.Ra3 a4 51.Rh3 b4 then:
• If 52.Rh2 b3 53.axb3 axb3 54.Kd2 Rf1 Black's advancing passers assure her victory.
• 52.Rh1 Rf4 53.Rg1 b3 54.axb3 axb3 55.Nd3+ exd3+ wins for Black.

50...b4 51.Rb1 Kd5 52.Rc1

• If 52.a3 Kc4 53.Rc1+ Kb5 54.axb4 axb4 55.Rd1 Kc4 Black's three passed pawns trump White's Knight.

BLACK: Nana Dzagnidze
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WHITE: Valentina Solovjova
Position after 52.Rb1c1

52...d3+!

• The pawn drvies a bone right down White's throat.

53.Nxd3

• White's best course may be to get two pawns for the Knight.
• If 53.Ke3 then after 53...Rf1 54.Rd1 h6! (White is out of pawn moves) 55.Rb1 Rg1 56.Rc1 Rxg4 Black's three passed pawns trump White's Knight.

53...exd3+ 54.Kxd3 Rf3+ 55.Ke2 Ra3 56.Rc7

• If 56.Rc2 Rg3 57.Rc7 h6 then:
• 58.Rh7 Rxg4 59.Kf3 Rf4+ 60.Kg3 Rf1 Black wins.
• If 58.Ra7 then after 58...Ra3 59.Rd7+ Ke5 60.Rd2 Kf4 the Black King eats the kingside pawns and wins.

56...Rxa2+ 57.Kd3 Ra3+ 58.Kd2 h6

• After 58...Ke4 59.Rxh7 Ra2+ 60.Kc1 Kf4 61.Ra7 Kxg4 Black eliminates White's last pawn and wins.

59.Rh7 a4 60.Rxh6 Rg3 61.Rh8 a3 62.h6 a2 63.Ra8 Ra3 0-1

• If 64.Rd8+ then after 64...Ke4 65.Re8+ Kf3 66.Re1 a1Q 67.Rxa1 Rxa1 Black wins.
• Ms. Solovjova resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

16. Update (Tuesday): 11 finish tied on 8 in Budva; Hou's in second, Zhao's in first

European Championship (General Competition): 11 tie for first in Budva; Playoff Tomorrow



Eleven players finished the final round of the general competition of the 10th annual European Championship today in Budva, Montenegro, with 8 points each out of 11 rounds.

They are (in order of tiebreak scores): Ivan Sokolov (Holland by way of Bosnia); Ernesto Inarkiev (Russia by way of Kyrgyzstan); Arkadij Naiditsch (Germany by way of Latvia); Evgeny Tomashevsky (Russia); David Navara (Czechia); Vladimir Malakhov (Russia); Boris Grachev (Russia); Baadur Jobava (Georgia); Mikhail Kobalia (Russia); Gadir Guseinov (Azerbaijan); and Tomi Nyback (Finland).

There will be a playoff tomorrow between Sokolov and Inarkiev for the gold and silver medals and between Naiditsch and Tomashevsky for the bronze medal.

Women's Competition still in progress



The women's competition completed round 9 of 11 today in St. Petersburg with seven ladies tied for first on 7 points each.

They are: Monika Socko (Poland); Lilit Mkrutchian (Armenia); Hoang Thanh Trang (Hungary by way of Vietnam); Tatiana Shadrina (Russia); Maia Lomineishvili (Georgia); Ekaterina Kovalevskaya (Russia); and Iweta Rajlich (Poland).

Six women are tied for eighth place with 6½ points each.

The women's tournament ends Thursday with any necessary tiebreak to be played Friday.


Istanbul: Hou's in second; Zhao's in first



Wunderkind Hou Yifan of China lost her lead to compatriot Zhao Xue Sunday when Ms. Zhao defeated the young lady in 79 moves in the Women's Grand Prix in Istanbul.

Yesterday was a rest day, but the tournament resumed today with the two Chinese ladies drawing in their respective ninth round games, Ms. Zhao against top seed Koneru Humpy of India, who remains in third place, in 66 moves and Ms. Hou against French grandmaster Marie Sebag in 89 moves.

As of now, Ms. Zhao has 7½ points, Ms. Hou 7 and Ms. Koneru 6½. Armenian international master Elina Danielian began to make a late charge at the leaders, defeating Martha Fierro of Ecaudor today in 45 moves. Ms. Danielian is tied for third with Ms. Koneru.

The event finishes Thursday.

[Jack Rabbit]

17. Update (Wednesday): Tomashevsky wins European Championship

Evgeny Tomasheveky of Russia is the winner of the general competition in the 2009 European Individidual Championship completed just minutes ago in Budva, Montenegro.

Contrary to what was reported above, the technical committee met last night and arranged for a knock out playoff that included all 11 players who finished tied for first.

Tomashevsky, playing White, defeated his compatriot, Vladimir Malakhov, in the "Armageddon" game that concluded the fourth and final match after the two split two rapid games.

Georgian grandmaster Baduur Jobava, who lost to Tomashevsky in the third round of games, defeated Russian GM Ernesto Inarkiev to take the bronze medal.

[cboy4]

18. I would probably turn the board upside down and have to

be restrained if I lost.

Would this behavior add excitement to chess or would it be frowned upon?

[Jack Rabbit]

19. Both, why?

Legendary world champion Alexander Alekhine (1892-1946) lost a game once and reacted to the defeat by going up to his hotel room and breaking every piece of furniture in it. Alekhine was known not to take losses very well.

Bobby Fischer was famous for accusing the Soviets of cheating, although in some instances he may have been right (they fixed games among each other to achieve a desired result). Fischer was another fellow who really didn't like losing.

Viktor Korchnoi lost a game to US women's champion Irina Krush not too long ago and was so rude to her during the post-game analysis that she got up and left. Korchnoi doesn't like losing and especially not to a woman (he's a bit old school in that respect).

Such behavior isn't well regarded, but it sounds like you'd fit right to the brotherhood of chess players. Maybe you should look up the chess club in your area.

[cboy4]

20. Fascinating.....Well one things is for sure,

I should change my avatar to Alexander Alekhine!

For instance, trumad often makes me want to break all of my furniture.

[Jack Rabbit]

21. Dr. Alekhine and friend

AlekhineChess.com

[cboy4]

22. His cat was named chess!

Of course!

[Jack Rabbit]

23. Update (Thursday): Koneru finishes 1st in Istanbul; Tanya, Lilit finish tied for 1st in Petersburg

Details this weekend.