The JR Chess Report (March 28): Aronian Defends Amber Title in Nice

[Jack Rabbit]

Aronian Defends Melody Amber Championship



Armenian grandmaster Levon Aronian defended his championship of the Melody Amber Rapid/Blindfold Tournament which was completed Thursday in the French Mediterranean city of Nice.

Aronian tied for first place in both the rapid and blindfold competitions, scoring 14 points overall out of a possible 22.

Reigning world champion Vishy Anand of India and former world champion Vladimir Kramnik of Russia tied for second with 13½ points each. Norwegian GM Magnus Carlsen, who at 18 is often touted as a future world champion, finished fourth with 13 points after leading the blindfold competition for much of the way.

Aronian tied for forst with 7 points in the blindfold competition with Kramnik and Carlsen with 7 points each while he tied for first in the rapid competition on 7 points with Anand and US grandmaster Gata Kamsky, who scored only 3 points blindfold.

Last year, Aronian won the overall competition with 14½ points, 2½ points ahead of the field. He won the rapid competion with 8 points, two points ahead of his nearest competitor, and was part of a four-way tie for first place in the blindfold competition.



Reykjavik Open in Progress



Ukranian grandmaster Yuriy Kryvoruchko and untitled Frenchman Fabien Gulleux share the lead after five rounds with 4½ each in the annual 9-round Reykjavik Open in Iceland.

Nine players are tied for second at 4 point apiece, including reigning US champion Yury Shulman.





Calendar


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.

FIDE Grand Prix, Nalchik 14-29 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. Melody Amber Blindfold/Rapid Tournament, Nice

A taste of France

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Aronian - Leko, Rapid, Round 2

Levon Aronian
Photo: ChessBase.com


Levon Aronian - Peter Leko
Melody Amber Tournament (Rapid Competition), Round 2
Nice, 15 March 2009

East India Game: Queen's Indian Defense

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.Qc2 Bb7 6.Bg2 c5 7.d5 exd5 8.cxd5 Nxd5

• 8...Bxd5 9.Nc3 Bc6 10.e4 d6 11.Bf4 Nh5 12.Be3 Be7 13.0-0-0 Nd7 14.e5 Nxe5 15.Nxe5 Bxg2 gives Black two extra pawns (Gormally-Devereaux, EU Ch, Liverpool, 2006).

9.0-0 Be7 10.Rd1 Nc6

• If 10...Qc8 then:
• If 11.Qf5 Nf6 12.Nc3 then:
• 12...0-0 13.Bg5 d6 14.Qxc8 Rxc8 15.Nb5 Nbd7 16.Nxd6 Bxd6 17.Rxd6 h6 18.Be3 Nf8 is equal (Khalifman-H. Olafsson, Areoflot Op, Moscow, 2008).
• 12...Nc6 13.Bg5 d5 14.Qf4 d4 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.Nd5 Bd8 17.e3 Ne7 18.Nxe7 Bxe7 19.exd4 0-0 20.dxc5 bxc5 21.Rac1 a5 22.b3 Ra6 23.Re1 Bf6 is equal (Cheparinov-Kamsky, Grand Prix, Baku, 2008).
• If 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bxe7 Nxe7 13.e4 0-0 14.Nc3 Nbc6 15.Rd2 then:
• 15...Ba6 16.Bh3 Ng6 17.Bxd7 Qb7 18.Rad1 Nge5 19.Nxe5 Nxe5 is equal (Sakaev-Zakhartsov, Russian Ch HL, Krasnoyarsk, 2007).
• 15...Rd8 16.Bh3 Qb8 17.Rad1 Ng6 18.Nb5 Nge5 draw (Ushenina-Javakhishvili, World ChTW, Ekaterininburg, 2007).

11.Qa4

• If 11.Qf5 Nf6 12.e4 g6 13.Qf4 0-0 14.e5 Nh5 then:
• 15.Qh6 Nd4 16.Nxd4 Bxg2 17.Kxg2 cxd4 18.g4 Rc8 19.Rxd4 Ng7 20.Nc3 f5 21.Qd2 Bc5 22.Rxd7 Qh4 23.Nd5 Qxg4+ 24.Kf1 Qh3+ 25.Kg1 Qg4+ 26.Kf1 Qh3+ 27.Kg1 Qg4+ draw (Aronian-Leko, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2006).
• 15.Qg4 d5 16.exd6 Bxd6 17.Nc3 Qb8 18.Bh6 Re8 19.Qa4 a6 20.Nd5 b5 21.Qh4 Ne7 22.Ne3 Ra7 23.Rd2 Nc6 24.Nf5 Nd4 25.N3xd4 cxd4 26.Nxd6 Qxd6 27.Rxd4 Qe6 28.Bxb7 Rxb7 29.Rad1 is equal (Wang Yue-Rowson, TMatch, Liverpool, 2007).

11...Nf6 12.Nh4!?

• 12.e4 0-0 13.e5 Ne8 14.Nc3 Nc7 15.Be3 Qe8 16.Rd2 Rd8 17.Rad1 f5 18.exf6 Bxf6 19.Bxc5 bxc5 20.Qb3+ Ne6 21.Qxb7 Ned4 22.Nxd4 Bxd4 23.Qb3+ Kh8 24.Nb5 d5 25.Nxd4 Nxd4 26.Qa3 Qb5 is equal (Akopian-Malac, Euro ChT, Kallithea, 2008).

12...g6

• The position is murky: Black has an extra pawn and White has more space.
• After 12...0-0 13.Nc3 Re8 14.Nf5 h6 15.Bf4 Bf8 Black still has an extra pawn, but White has more space.

13.Bh6 Bf8

• 13...a6 14.Nc3 b5 15.Qf4 Qb8 16.Qd2 Ne5 17.Nd5 is equal.

14.Bxf8 Kxf8 15.Nc3 Kg7

• The position is unclear: White has moire space and Black has an extra pawn.

16.Rd6 Na5 17.Qf4?!

• Less clear is 17.Rad1!? Bxg2 18.Nxg2 Re8 19.Ne3 Re6 20.Ng4 b5, giving Black an extra pawn and White more space.

17...Bxg2!

• Black takes the initiative.

18.Kxg2 h6?!

• When one has the inititiative, on should play more actively than this.
• If 18...Ne8! 19.Rd3 Qf6 20.Qf3 then:
• 20...Qxf3+ 21.Nxf3 d6 22.e4 Nf6 23.Re1 Rhe8 24.Rxd6 Nc4 White can give up the exchange to kill Black's initiative.
• 20...Qc6 21.Qxc6 dxc6 22.e4 Nf6 23.e5 Ng4 maintains Black's initiative.

19.Ne4 Nxe4 20.Qxe4 Re8?

• White has more space and Black would do better to seek exchanges.
• 20...Qe8! 21.Qd3 Rd8 22.Rd1 Nb7 23.Rd5 d6 holds the position and gives Black a little breathing room.

BLACK: Peter Leko
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WHITE: Levon Aronian
Position after 20...Rh8e8

21.Rxg6+!!

• The Rook sacrifice is the beginning of a long winded mating combination.
• 21.Qd3?! Re6 22.Rxd7 Qf6 23.Rb1 Rae8 24.e3 Nc6 Black is at least equal.

21...fxg6 22.Qxg6+ Kf8 23.Qxh6+ Ke7

• 23...Kg8 24.Qg6+ Kh8 25.Nf5 Re7 26.Qh6+ Rh7 27.Qg6 leaves Black's king exposed to attack.

24.Nf5+ Kf7 25.Nd6+ Ke7

• 25...Kg8 26.Qg6+ Kh8 27.Nf7#.

26.Rd1 Rf8 27.Rd5 Rf6 28.Qh7+ Kf8 29.Rg5 1-0

• White soon delivers mate.
• Grandmaster Leko resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Aronian - Radjabov, Blind, Round 8

Levon Aronian
Photo: ChessBase.com


Aronian,Levon - Teimour Radjabov
Melody Amber Tournament (Blindfold Competition), Round 8
Nice, 22 March 2009

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

1.c4 g6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.g3 d5

• This move is unusual after White declares his intention to develop the King's Bishop on the flank. The more common 4...d6 or 4...0-0 evolve into a conventional King's Indian.

5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Bg2 Nxc3

• if 6...Nb6 7.Nf3 Nc6 8.e3 0-0 9.0-0 then:
• If 9...Re8 10.d5 Na5 11.Nd4 Bd7 12.e4 c6 13.Re1 cxd5 14.exd5 Rc8 15.Bf4 then:
• If 15...Nac4 16.b3 Nd6 17.Qd2 Nf5 18.Nde2 then:
• 18...h6 19.h4 h5 20.Rac1 Rc5 21.Red1 is equal (Kuljasevic-Kozul, Croatian Ch, Zagreb, 2004).
• 18...Na8 19.Rac1 Qa5 20.Ne4 Qxd2 21.Bxd2 Bb2 22.Rxc8 Rxc8 23.Bc3 Bxc3 24.N4xc3 Nc7 25.Rc1 is equal (Lahno-Maric, OlW, Dresden, 2008).
• 15...h6 16.h4 h5 17.Rc1 Nbc4 18.b3 Qb6 19.Nf3 Qb4 20.Ne4 Nb2 21.Qd2 Qxd2 22.Bxd2 gives White the initiative (Zoler-Smirin, World Blitz Ch, Rashon Le Zion, 2006).
• If 9...e5 10.d5 then:
• If 10...Na5 11.e4 c6 12.Bg5 f6 13.Be3 cxd5 then:
• If 14.Bxb6 Qxb6 15.Nxd5 Qd8 16.Rc1 Nc6 17.Qb3 Rf7 18.Rfd1 Be6 19.h4 Kh8 20.Kh2 Rd7 then:
• 21.Bh3 Bxh3 22.Kxh3 Ne7 23.Nxf6 Bxf6 24.Qe6!! Rxd1 25.Qxf6+ Kg8 26.Qe6+ Kg7 27.Ng5 Qd7 28.Rxd1 Qxe6+ 29.Nxe6+ Kf6 30.Nc7 Rc8 31.Rd6+ Kf7 32.Rd7 Kf6 33.g4 Black resigns in the face of material loss (Janjgava-Sakalauskas, Euro ChT, Saint Vincent, 2005).
• 21.Qa4 Bh6 22.Ra1 Qf8 23.Nc3 Rf7 24.Bh3 f5 25.Ng5 Bxg5 26.hxg5 f4!! 27.Bxe6 fxg3+ 28.Kg1 Rxf2 29.Rd3 Rh2 White resigns facing mate (Stefansson-Salem, Ol, Dresden, 2008).
• If 14.exd5 Nac4 15.Bc5 Rf7 16.b3 Nd6 17.a4 Bg4 18.a5 Nbc8 19.Qd2 Bf8 20.b4 Rc7 21.Qd3 Bxf3 22.Bxf3 Rb8 23.Rfd1 b6 24.axb6 axb6 25.Be3 is equal (Frios-Griffin, EU ChT, Haifa, 1989).
• 14...Bg4 15.h3 Bxf3 16.Bxf3 f5 is equal (Pigusov-Krasenkow, IT, Tashkent, 1987).
• If 10...Ne7 11.e4 Bg4 then:
• 12.a4 c6 13.a5 Nc4 14.Qb3 Nxa5 15.Qa2 b6 16.b4 Nb7 17.Bg5 c5 18.d6 Nxd6 19.bxc5 Ndc8 20.Qa3 Rb8 21.Rab1 Qc7 22.Rfc1 bxc5 23.Rxb8 Qxb8 24.Qxc5 f6 gives Black an extra pawn.(Spraggett-Ftacnik, Op, New York, 1983).
• 12.h3 Bxf3 13.Qxf3 c6 14.Rd1 cxd5 15.Nxd5 Nbxd5 16.exd5 Qd6 17.Bd2 Nf5 18.Qb3 Rfc8 19.Rac1 Qd7 20.d6 Rxc1 21.Bxc1 Nd4 22.Qxb7 Qxb7 23.Bxb7 Rd8 is equal (Cvitan-Navara, Mitropa Cup, Pula, 2003).

7.bxc3 c5 8.Nf3 Nc6 9.0-0 cxd4

• If 9...0-0 10.e3 Qa5 11.Qb3 Rb8 12.Bd2 Bg4 13.d5 c4 14.Qxc4 Bxf3 then:
• 15.dxc6? Bxg2! 16.Kxg2 Rbc8 17.Rfc1 Rxc6 18.Qe4 Rfc8 19.Qxe7 Qd5+ 20.Kg1 Qxd2 White resigns (Thomas-Dr. Euwe, Westin, 1926).
• 15.Bxf3! Ne5 16.Qe2 Nxf3+ 17.Qxf3 is equal.

10.cxd4

• 10.Nxd4 Nxd4 11.cxd4 Qxd4 tansposes to the text.

10...Nxd4 11.Nxd4 Qxd4 12.Rb1 0-0 13.Be3

• 13.Qxd4 Bxd4 14.Bh6 Rd8 15.Bxb7 Rb8 16.Bxc8 Rdxc8 17.Rxb8 Rxb8 18.Rd1 Bc5 19.Rd7 Rc8 20.a4 f5 21.Be3 Bxe3 22.fxe3 a6 23.Rxe7 Rc4 24.a5 Rc5 25.e4 fxe4 draw (Ljubojevic-Shirov, Amber Blaind, Monte Carlo, 2000).

13...Qc4 14.Bd5!?

• 14.Qd2 Be6 15.Rxb7 Rad8 16.Qa5 Qxe2 17.Rxa7 Rd1 18.h3 Rxf1+ 19.Bxf1 Qd1 20.Qd2 Qxd2 21.Bxd2 Bd4 22.Rxe7 Bxa2 23.Rd7 Bg7 draw (Krivonosovs-Sykora, Corres, 2004).

14...Qa6

• The theoretical phase of the game wnds with Black a pawn to the good, although White will most certainly be able to win back the pawn.

15.Qb3

• 15.Bc5 Rb8 16.Bxe7 Re8 17.Bd6 Bf5 is equal.

15...Qxe2 16.Bc5 Be6

• 16...Qe5?! 17.Rfe1! Qf5 18.Rxe7 Kh8 19.Rc1 Bf6 20.Be4 gives Balck a great deal more activity in compensation for his pawn minus.

17.Bxe6

• Black is two pawns up, but there is no way he can hold them. White finds the fastest way to win back the two pawns.
• If 17.Rfe1?! Qh5 then:
• 18.Rxe6 fxe6 19.Bxe6+ Kh8 20.Bxe7 Rfe8 21.Qxb7 Qe2 leaves Black up by an exchange.
• 18.Bxe6 Qxc5 19.Rbc1 Qg5 20.Bd5 Rad8 21.Bxb7 e6 gives Black an extra pawn.

17...Qxe6 18.Qxe6 fxe6 19.Rxb7 Rf5

• Black returns his extra pawn in order to activate his Rook.
• 19...a5?! 20.Rfb1 Rf5 21.Rc7 Be5 22.Rxe7 simply allows White to regain the pawn with a Rook on the seventh rank.

20.Rc7 Be5 21.Rxe7 Bxg3

• This display of pyrotechnics is Black's best plan. White must win a pawn, either at e6 or a7; this allows Black to win one, too.
• If 21...Bg7 22.Rc1 then:
• 22...Bf8 23.Rc7 Bxc5 24.R1xc5 Rxc5 25.Rxc5 gives White a more active Rook and better pawn structure.
• 22...Rf7?! 23.Rxe6! Rc8 24.Be3 Rxc1+ 25.Bxc1 leaves White up a pawn.

22.hxg3 Rxc5 23.Rb1 a5?

• Advancing an unfree pawn is hardly an active move.
• More aggressive is 23...Rc2 24.a4 Rf8 25.f4 a5 with equality.

BLACK: Teimour Radjabov
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WHITE: Levon Aronian
Position after 23...a7a5

24.Rbb7!

• Hog heaven -- a pair of hogs on the seventh rank.

24...Rh5

• 24...h5 25.Rxe6 Rg5 26.Kg2 Rf8 27.Ree7 Rf6 28.Rg7+ gives White a winning initiative.

25.Rxe6 Rd8

• 25...Kf8 26.Rf6+ Kg8 27.Rff7 Rd8 28.Rfc7 assures White of winning material.

26.Ree7 Rc8 27.Ra7 Rd8 28.Kg2 Rf8

• 28...Kf8 29.Rec7 Kg8 30.g4 Rh4 31.Kg3 Rh1 32.Rxa5 leaves White a pawn to the good.

29.a4!

• Also good is 29.g4! Rh4 30.Kg3 when:
• 30...Rh1 31.f4 Rf6 32.g5 Rf5 33.a4 Rg1+ 34.Kf2 is a winng position for White.
• If 30...g5 then after 31.Rg7+! Kh8 32.Rxg5 Rh1 33.Kg2 Rh6 34.f3 White wins easily.

29...Rb8

• 29...Rc8 30.g4 Rh4 31.Kg3 Rh1 32.Rxa5 leaves White a pawn to the good.

30.g4 Rh4 31.f3 Rf8 32.Rxa5 h5

• If 32...Rf7 33.Re1 h6 34.Ra8+ Kg7 35.a5 then:
• 35...g5 36.a6 h5 37.a7! hxg4 38.Rg8+! Kxg8 39.a8Q+ wins for White.
• If 35...Kf6 then after 36.Ra6+ Kg7 37.Rae6 h5 38.Kg3 g5 39.R1e5 Black's pawns fall.

33.gxh5

• Also good is 33.Ra6 hxg4 34.Rxg6+ Kh8 35.fxg4 Ra8 36.Re4.

33...Rxh5 34.Rxh5 gxh5 35.a5 Rf6

• Says the Black Rook to the a-pawn, "No further." But White has another pawn.

36.Rb7 h4 37.Rb3 1-0
BLACK: Teimour Radjabov
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WHITE: Levon Aronian
Final Position after 37.Rb7b3

• If 37...Kf8 then after 38.Ra3 Ra6 39.Kh3 Ke7 40.Kxh4 Kd6 41.f4 it is clear that Black cannot stop both pawns.
• Grandmaster Radjabov resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Anand - Kramnik, Blind, Round 8

Vishy Anand
Photo: ChessBase.com


Vishy Anand - Vladimir Kramnik
Melody Amber Tournament (Blindfold Competition), Round 8
Nice, 22 March 2009

Epine Dorsal: Horseman Defense (Center Opening) (Petroff Defense)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4

• This line was an innovation of Steinitz' that was adopted from time to time by Fischer.
• The main line is 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5.

3...Nxe4

• If 3...exd4 4.e5 Ne4 5.Qxd4 d5 6.exd6 Nxd6 then:
• If 7.Nc3 Nc6 8.Qf4 then:
• If 8...g6 then:
• If 9.Bd3 Bg7 then:
• 10.0-0 0-0 11.Be3 Be6 12.Rad1 Qf6 13.Qg3 h6 14.Bc5 Rfd8 15.Rfe1 Ne8 16.Nd2 Qg5 17.Qxg5 hxg5 18.Nde4 gives White a little more space and better pawn structure (Yanofsky-P. S. Milner-Barry, British Ch, Hastings, 1953).
• 10.Be3 Be6 11.0-0-0 Qf6 12.Qxf6 Bxf6 13.Ne4 Bg7 14.Nfg5 0-0 15.Nxe6 fxe6 16.Ng5 Rae8 17.Rhe1 Ne5 18.Kb1 Nxd3 19.Rxd3 Nc4 20.Bd4 Bxd4 21.Rxd4 Nd6 22.Rd2 e5 23.Kc1 e4 draw (Parma-Trifunovic, IT, Bled, 1961).
• 9.Bd2 Qe7+ 10.Be2 Be6 11.0-0-0 Bg7 12.h4 h6 13.Rhe1 0-0-0 14.Bd3 Qf6 15.Qxf6 Bxf6 16.Bxg6 Rhg8 17.h5 Bg4 18.Bh7 Rh8 19.Bd3 Bxh5 20.Be2 is equal (Geller-Smyslov, Veterans Trmt, Moscow, 1991).
• If 8...Bf5 9.Bb5 Qe7+ 10.Be3 Nxb5 11.Nxb5 Qb4+ 12.Qxb4 Bxb4+ 13.c3 then:
• If 13...Bd6 14.Nxd6+ cxd6 15.0-0-0 Be6 16.Rxd6 Bxa2 17.Bc5 0-0 then:
• 18.Rxc6!? bxc6 19.Bxf8 Kxf8 is equal (Matulovic-Kholmov, TMatch, Sochi, 1968).
• 18.Rhd1 Bb3 19.R1d3 Rfe8 20.Be3 Bc4 21.Rd2 Na5 is equal.
• 13...Ba5 14.b4 Bd3 15.a4 a6 16.Nbd4 Nxd4 17.Bxd4 Bb6 18.0-0-0 Bxd4 19.Rxd3 Bf6 20.Re1+ Kf8 21.Rd7 gives White a far more active game (Parma-Trifunovic, IT, Amsterdam, 1965).
• If 7.Bd3 Nc6 8.Qf4 then:
• 8...Be7 9.Nc3 Be6 10.Bd2 Qd7 11.0-0-0 0-0-0 12.Be3 f5 13.Qa4 Bf6 14.Bb5 a6 15.Bxa6 Bxc3 16.Bb5 Qe7 17.Bxc6 bxc6 18.bxc3 White won in 41 moves (Kindermann-Tischbierek, Bundesliga, Germany, 1990).
• 8...g6 9.Nc3 Bg7 transposes into the main variation.
• 3...d6 4.Nc3 transposes into the Rat (Philidor) Defense.

4.Bd3 d5 5.Nxe5 Nd7

• If 5...Bd6 6.0-0 0-0 7.c4 then:
• If 7...Bxe5 8.dxe5 Nc6 9.cxd5 Qxd5 10.Qc2 Nb4 11.Bxe4 Nxc2 12.Bxd5 Bf5 13.g4 Bxg4 14.Be4 Nxa1 then:
• If 15.Bf4 f5 16.Bd5+ Kh8 17.Rc1 c6 18.Bg2 Rfd8 19.Nd2 then:
• 19...h6 20.h4 Rd3 21.Bf1 Rd4 22.Be3 Rd5 23.Rxa1 Rxe5 24.Nc4 Rd5 25.Bg2 Rb5 26.Re1 Rd8 27.Bxa7 Rd1 28.Rxd1 Bxd1 29.Bd4 puts Black's Rook in an awkward position (Timman-Jussupow, IT, Linares, 1992).
• 19...Rxd2 20.Bxd2 Rd8 21.Bc3 Rd1+ 22.Rxd1 Bxd1 23.f4 Nc2 24.Kf2 Kg8 25.a4 a5 26.Bxa5 Nd4 27.Bf1 Bb3 draw (Kasparov-Anand, IT, Linares, 1991).
• 15.Nc3 Bh3 16.Re1 f5 17.exf6 Rae8 18.Be3 Rxe4 19.Nxe4 Nc2 20.Rc1 Bf5 21.Rxc2 Bxe4 22.Rxc7 Rxf6 23.Bxa7 Rc6 24.Rxc6 Bxc6 25.h4 Kf7 26.Kh2 h5 draw (Rowson-Koneru, British Ch, Torquay, 2002).
• If 7...c6 8.Nc3 Nxc3 9.bxc3 then:
• 9...Nd7 10.f4 f5 11.Qc2 Nf6 12.Bxf5 Bxf5 13.Qxf5 Bxe5 14.fxe5 Ne4 15.Qxf8+ Qxf8 16.Rxf8+ Rxf8 17.Ba3 Rf2 18.cxd5 cxd5 19.e6 the e-pawn gives White the advantage (Shirov-Eriksen, Sx, Bergen, 2001).
• 9...Bxe5 10.dxe5 dxc4 11.Bxc4 Qe7 12.a4 Rd8 13.Qh5 Re8 14.Ba3 Qd7 15.Rad1 Qf5 16.Qh4 Qxe5 17.f4 Qf6 18.Qxf6 gxf6 19.Rf3 Be6 20.Rg3+ Kh8 21.Be7 h5 22.Bxf6+ Black resigns as he cannot escape mate (Chigorin-Lebedev. Moscow, 1900).

6.Nxd7 Bxd7 7.0-0 Bd6

• If 7...Qh4 8.c4 0-0-0 9.c5 then:
• If 9...g6 10.Nc3 Bg7 then:
• If 11.g3 Qf6 12.Be3 Ng5 13.f4 Qe6 then:
• 14.Re1 Ne4 15.Bxe4 dxe4 16.d5 Qa6 17.Bd4 Bxd4+ 18.Qxd4 f5 19.a4 Rhf8 20.b4 Qf6 21.Qc4 gives White the advantage in space (Pineault-Kozlowicz, Corres, 1998).
• 14.Qd2 Ne4 15.Bxe4 dxe4 16.d5 Bxc3 17.bxc3 Qa6 18.Bd4 Rhe8 19.c6 bxc6 20.dxc6 Bxc6 21.Qe3 Qd3 22.Rfd1 Qxe3+ 23.Bxe3 a6 gives Black an extra pawn (P. H. Nielsen-Pavosavich, Op, Kecskemet, 1992).
• 11.Ne2?! Rhe8! 12.Be3 Ng5 13.Rc1 Bg4 14.c6 is equal (Bacerra-Ippolito, Op, Minneapolis, 2005).
• If 9...g5 10.Nc3 Bg7 then:
• 11.g3 Qh3 12.Nxe4 dxe4 13.Bxe4 Bb5 then:
• 14.Bxg5 Rxd4 15.Bg2 Qf5 16.Qb3 c6 17.Be3 Bxf1 18.Rxf1 Rhd8 19.Qc3 Rg4 20.Qa5 a6 21.Bh3 Rxg3+ 22.hxg3 Qxh3 23.Bf4 Qd7 24.Re1 Black resigns (P. H. Nielsen-Canibal, Cyberspace, 1999, Op, St. Petersburg, 2003).
• 14.Bg2 Qf5 15.Be3 Bxf1 16.Bxf1 Rhe8 17.Qa4 Kb8 18.Rd1 c6 19.Rd3 Qe4 20.Ra3 a6 21.Bxa6 Rxd4 22.Bxd4 Bxd4 23.Bf1 Bxc5 24.Qxe4 Rxe4 25.Rf3 Ra4 draw (Pietrocola-Canibal, Cyberspace, 1998).
• 11.Ne2 Rhe8 12.Qe1 Nf6 13.a4 Ng4 14.h3 Bxd4 15.hxg4 Bxg4 16.Nxd4 Rxe1 17.Rxe1 gives White the advantage in space (I. Smirin-Schwartzman, Op, Wijk aan Zee, 1993).

8.c4 c6 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.Nc3

• If 10.Qh5 0-0 11.Qxd5 Bc6 12.Qh5 g6 13.Qh3 then:
• 13...Ng5 14.Qg4 Ne6 15.Bh6 Re8 16.Nc3 Nxd4 17.Rad1 Be5 18.f4 f5 19.Qg3 Bf6 20.Bc4+ Kh8 21.Bg5 Bxg5 22.fxg5 Qb6 is equal (Oleksienko-Hera, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• 13...Bb4 14.Be3 Re8 15.a3 Ba5 16.Rc1 Rc8 17.Qh6 Bb6 18.Nc3 Nxf2 19.Bxf2 Bxd4 20.Rd1 Bxf2+ 21.Kxf2 Qb6+ 22.Kf1 Qxb2 23.Qd2 Qxc3 draw (Svidler-Jussupow, Bad Homburg, 1998).

10...Nxc3 11.bxc3 0-0 12.Qh5 g6

• If 12...f5!? then:
• If 13.Qf3! Qa5 14.c4 Bb4 15.Rb1 Bc6 16.Bf4 then:
• 16...b6? 17.Be5! Rf7 18.Bxf5 Kh8 19.Qh5 Rxf5 20.Qxf5 dxc4 21.Qe6 Bb5 22.a3 Bd2 23.Qd5 Black resigns (Potkin-N. Kosintseva, Op, St. Petersburg, 2003).
• 16...Rf7 17.Qh3 g6 18.Rfc1 Re8 19.Be5 gives White more freedom and space, but Black's game is playable.
• 13.Re1 Qc7 14.Bd2 Rae8 15.Bc2 g6 16.Qf3 Re4 17.g3 Bb5 18.Bf4 Bxf4 19.gxf4 Qd6 20.Bxe4 fxe4 21.Qg3 Rxf4 22.Rab1 Bd7 is equal (Svidler-Ponomariov, FIDE Knock Out, Moscow, 2001).

13.Qxd5 Qc7 14.Bh6 Rfd8

• 14...Rfe8 15.h4 Be6 16.Qf3 Qxc3 17.Qf6 Bf8 18.Bxf8 Rxf8 19.Rfd1 Rad8 20.Bxg6 hxg6 21.h5 gxh5 22.Qg5+ Kh7 23.Qxh5+ Kg8 24.Qg5+ Kh7 25.Rac1 Qb4 26.Qh5+ Kg8 27.Qg5+ draw (van der Weide-S. Atalik, Corus C, Wijk aan Zee, 2006).

15.h4

• If 15.Qg5 Qxc3 16.Qf6 Bf8 17.Bxf8 Rxf8 18.Be4 then:
• 18...Bc6 19.Rac1 Qb4 20.Bxc6 bxc6 21.Rxc6 Rad8 22.Rc7 Qxd4 23.Qxd4 Rxd4 24.Rxa7 Rd2 25.h4 Rc8 26.h5 gxh5 27.Ra5 Rc6 28.Rg5+ Rg6 29.Rxh5 Rxa2 30.Rb1 Kg7 draw (Berg-Gelfand, Ol, Dresden, 2008).
• 18...Rac8 19.Rfc1 Qa5 20.Bxb7 Be6 21.Bf3 Rfd8 22.h4 Qf5 23.Qxf5 draw (van der Wiel-Dorfman, Bundesliga, Germany, 1999).

15...Be6 16.Qg5!?

• 16.Qf3 Qxc3 17.Bg5 Re8 18.Rfd1 Qc8 19.Bb5 Bg4 20.Qd5 Rd8 21.Bxd8 Qxd8 22.g3 Bxd1 23.Rxd1 draw (van der Weide-E. Atalik, Corus C, Wijk aan Zee, 2006).

16...Qxc3

• The game is equal.
• 16...Be7 17.Qd2 Bxh4 18.Rfc1 Rac8 19.Qf4 Qxf4 20.Bxf4 is also equal.

17.Rfd1 Bf8 18.Bxf8 Rd5?!

• This simply forces White to move his Queen to a better square.
• 18...Kxf8 19.Be4 Rxd4 20.Bxb7 Rad8 remains equal.

BLACK: Vladimir Kramnik
!""""""""#
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Vishy Anand
Position after 18...Rd8d5

19.Qf6!

• White takes the initiative.
• 19.Rac1?! Qa5 20.Qd2 Qxd2 21.Rxd2 Kxf8 22.Be4 Rd7 is equal.
• 19.Qh6? Rxf8 20.Be4 Rxd4 21.Rac1 Rxd1+ 22.Rxd1 b6 gives Black an extra pawn.

19...Rxf8

• If 19...Qxd4 then after 20.Bg7 Qxf6 21.Bxf6 Black remains a piece down.

20.Be4 Rh5 21.Rac1?!

• White attacks the Queen, but neglects his own pawn.
• Better is 21.Bxb7! Rf5 22.Qe7 Qb2 23.Bf3 Bd5 24.Qe2When White has an extra pawn.

21...Qa5

• 21...Qa3 22.Rc7 Qxa2 23.Rxb7 Bd5 24.Bxd5 Rxd5 is equal.

22.f3

• The game remains equal.
• 22.Bxb7 Rf5 23.Qe7 Qxa2 24.Bf3 Bd5 25.Ra1 Qb2 is also equal.

22...Rb5

• 22...Re8 23.Rc2 Rb5 24.Rdd2 Rb6 25.d5 Bd7 26.d6 gives White a small tactical edge.

23.a4 Rb6?

• The plan of playing for a discovered attack on White's Queen is too cumbersome.
• Better is 23...Rb4 24.Qg5 f5 25.Bc2 Qb6 26.Qf4 Rd8 27.Rb1 with equality.

BLACK: Vladimir Kramnik
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Vishy Anand
Position after 23...Rb5b6

24.d5!

• White finds the most active option: he attacks the Bishop while making progress with his pawn.

24...Bf5 25.d6!!

• Now we just wait for Black to fall.

25...Bxe4

• If 25...Bd7 26.h5 then:
• 26...Qxh5 27.Qe7 Bxa4 28.d7 Bxd7 29.Rxd7 Re6 30.Qa3 White picks off pawns and wins.
• If 26...h6 27.Bd5 then:
• 27...Rxd6 28.Qxd6 Qb6+ 29.Qxb6 axb6 30.hxg6 wins for White.
• 27...gxh5 28.Qg6+ Kh8 29.Qxh6+ Kg8 30.Be4 wins for White.

26.fxe4 Qxa4 27.h5 Qxe4

• Black takes another pawn, but the Queen is in the middle of nowhere, unable to attack in coordination with the Black Rooks.
• 27...Qb3 28.e5 Qe3+ 29.Kh1 Qh6 30.Qh4 g5 then:
• 31.Qh3! Rb4 32.d7 wins for White.
• 31.Qg4? a5 32.Rd4 f5 33.Qe2 g4 34.Rcd1 Qxh5+ is equal.
• 29.Kh2? Rb4 30.Re1 Qh6 is equal.

28.Qe7 Qb4

• 28...f5 29.Qxe4 fxe4 30.d7 e3 31.Rc8 wins for White.

29.h6 Rc6 30.Qf6 1-0

• Black can only give usless checks to postpone mate on g7.
• Vladimir Borisovich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Carlsen - Kramnik, Blind, Round 10

Vladimir Kramnik
Photo: ChessBase.com


Magnus Carlsen - Vladimir Kramnik
Melody Amber Tournament (Blindfold Competition), Round 10
Nice, 25 March 2009

East India Game: Nimzo-Indian Defense

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0-0 5.e4

• This move is not seen very often, but it's perfectly playable.
• The most common moves here are 5.a3 and the flexible 5.Nf3.

5...d6 6.Bd3 Nc6

• 6...e5 7.d5 Ne8 8.Nge2 a5 9.0-0 Nd7 10.a3 Bc5 11.Rb1 Qh4 12.b4 Ba7 13.Ng3 Ndf6 14.Be2 axb4 15.axb4 Bg4 16.Qd3 Bxe2 17.Ngxe2 g6 18.Qg3 Qxg3 19.Nxg3 Kg7 draw (Cech-Orsag, Czech ChT, Czechia, 2001).

7.Nge2 Ba5

• 7...e5 8.d5 Ne7 9.0-0 Nh5 10.Na4 c5 11.a3 Ba5 12.Rb1 Bc7 13.b4 b6 14.f4 exf4 15.Nxf4 Nxf4 16.Bxf4 Ng6 17.Bg3 h5 gives Black the initiative (Cech-Pritchett, EU Ch, Cork (Ireland), 2005).

8.0-0

• The game is equal.

8...Bb6 9.d5 Nb4 10.Qd2 exd5 11.cxd5!?

• White would do better to take with the e-pawn or the Knight; the c-file cannot be exploited by White for the time being.
• 11.exd5 Nxd3 12.Qxd3 Ng4 13.Bf4 Re8 14.Qg3 remains equal.
• If 11.Nxd5 Nfxd5 then:
• 12.cxd5 Nxd3 13.Qxd3 f5 14.Be3 fxe4 15.Qxe4 Bf5 remains equal.
• 12.exd5!? Nxd3 13.Qxd3 Re8 14.Bd2 Qh4 15.Rad1 Bf5 gives Black the initiative.

11...Ng4 12.Bb1

• 12.Nf4?! Nxd3 13.Nxd3 f5 14.h3 fxe4 15.Nxe4 Bf5 gives Black the advantage.
• If 12.h3?! Ne5 13.Bb1 Bxh3 14.Na4 Ba5 15.a3 Nbd3 then:
• 16.b4 Nxc1 17.Rxc1 Bd7 18.Nec3 Bb6 gives Black an extra pawn.
• If 16.Qxa5? then Black wins after 16...Nxc1 17.Rxc1 Qg5.

12...Qh4 13.Qf4 f5 14.exf5??

• Magnus established himself as an excellent blindfold player in NIce this year, but he didn't see everything before he made the text move.
• 14.Qg3 Qxg3 15.Nxg3 Nxf2 16.Rxf2 fxe4 Black has a small advantage in space.

BLACK: Vladimir Kramnik
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 14.ef5:p

14...Bxf5!

• The pawn is free for the taking.
• If 15.Bxf5 then 15...Rxf5 16.Qxf5 Qxh2#.

15.h3 Bxf2+

• It's all over now, Baby Blue.
• Also good is 15...Bxb1 16.Qxg4 Bxf2+ 17.Rxf2 Qxf2+ 18.Kh2 Bd3 leaving Black up by an exchange.

16.Kh1 Bd7 17.Qg5

• This is a desperate attempt to exchange Queens.

17...Bc5 18.Rxf8+ Rxf8 19.Ng1

• 19.Bxh7+ Qxh7 20.Nf4 Ne3 21.Bxe3 Bxe3 22.Qe7 Bxf4 leaves Black two pieces up.

19...Rf1 20.Bxh7+ Kh8 0-1

• White must lose material or submit to immediate mate on g1.
• Magnus resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Anand - Carlsen, Blind, Round 3

Magnus Carlsen
Photo: ChessBase.com


Vishy Anand - Magnus Carlsen
Melody Amber Tournament (Blindfold Competition), Round 3
Nice, 16 March 2009

Spanish Sicilian Game: Canal Defense

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6

• For 3...g6 see the notes to Hou Yifan-Georgescu, World Jr Ch, Gaziantep, 2008.
• For 3...e6 see Gomez-So,.Philippine Ch, Mandaluyong City, 2008.
• For 3...Nf6 see T. Kosintseva-Romanko, Russian ChW, Moscow, 2008.

4.0-0

• If 4.Bxc6+ bxc6 5.0-0 then:
• If 5...e5 6.c3 then:
• If 6...Nf6 7.Re1 Bg4 then:
• If 8.h3 Bh5 9.d4 cxd4 10.cxd4 Nd7 11.Be3 Be7 12.Nbd2 then:
• 12...exd4 13.Bxd4 0-0 14.Qc2 c5 15.Bc3 Re8 16.Qd3 Bf8 17.Nc4 Nb6 18.Nfd2 Bg6 is equal (Shaposhnikov-Alekseev, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2006).
• 12...0-0 13.Qa4 Qc7 14.Rac1 Rfc8 15.Rc2 Qb7 16.Rec1 c5 17.dxc5 dxc5 18.Qb3 Qc6 is equal (Aagard-Gelashvili, Ol, Torino, 2006).
• 8.d4 cxd4 9.cxd4 Nd7 10.Be3 Be7 11.Nbd2 exd4 12.Bxd4 0-0 13.h3 Be6 14.Nf1 Re8 15.Bc3 Nb6 16.Nd4 Bd7 is equal (Jakovenko-Alekseev, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2007).
• If 6...f5 7.exf5 Bxf5 8.d4 cxd4 9.cxd4 e4 then:
• 10.Nfd2 Nf6 11.f3 d5 12.fxe4 Bxe4 13.Nxe4 dxe4 14.Nc3 Be7 15.Nxe4 0-0 16.Ng5 Qd5 17.Qd3 Rad8 18.Be3 gives White the advantage in space (Lastin-Gasanov, City Op, Moscow, 2007).
• 10.Qc2 Rc8 11.Ng5 Ne7 12.f3 exf3 13.Qb3 Qb6 14.Qf7+ Kd7 15.Nxf3 Be6 16.Qf4 Nd5 17.Qg3 g5 18.Bxg5 h6 19.Bh4 Ne3 gives White an extra pawn and Black more space (Ovetchkin-Tiviakov, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• If 5...Bg4 then:
• If 6.h3 Bh5 7.Re1 then:
• 7...e6 8.d3 Nf6 9.Nbd2 Nd7 10.Nf1 Be7 11.Ng3 Bg6 12.b3 0-0 13.Bb2 Re8 14.Nh2 Bh4 15.Ne2 e5 16.Nf3 Be7 17.Ng3 Nf8 18.c3 Ne6 19.d4 f6 20.Nh4 Bf7 21.Nhf5 Bf8 22.Ne3 is equal (Kritz-Wang Yue, Op, Gibraltar, 2008).
• If 6.d3 Nf6 then:
• 7.Nbd2 e5 8.Nc4 Be7 9.Ne3 Be6 10.Ng5 Bc8 11.Nf5 h6 12.Nh3 g6 13.Nxe7 Qxe7 14.f4 Bxh3 15.gxh3 exf4 16.Bxf4 Nh5 17.Bd2 Rb8 18.Qf3 Rb7 19.Rae1 Qe6 20.Bc3 0-0 21.Re2 Kh7 22.Rg2 f5 23.Rgf2 Rbf7 24.Qg2 d5 25.exd5 cxd5 gives Black an advantage in space (Djingarova-Baginskaite, OlW, Torino, 2006).
• 7.c3 e5 8.h3 Bh5 9.Nbd2 Be7 10.Qa4 Qc7 11.d4 exd4 12.cxd4 Nd7 13.b3 a5 14.Bb2 0-0 15.Rac1 Rfe8 16.Rfe1 Bf8 17.Qc4 Qb7 18.Qc2 a4 19.Nh4 axb3 20.axb3 f6 gives Black more space and White more freedom (Bologan-Leitão, IT, Pamplona, 2001-02).
• 7...e5 8.c3 Nf6 9.d4 cxd4 10.cxd4 Nd7 11.Be3 tranposes to the main line of this variation.

4...Bd7 5.Re1 Nf6 6.c3 a6 7.Bf1

• If 7.Ba4 b5 8.Bc2 then:
• If 8...Bg4 9.d3 e6 10.Nbd2 Be7 11.h3 Bh5 12.Nf1 0-0 13.Ng3 Bg6 14.Nh4 d5 15.Nxg6 hxg6 16.e5 Nd7 17.d4 cxd4 18.cxd4 Qb6 19.Be3 Rfc8 20.Rc1 Na5 is equal (Aveskulov-Atakasi, Mindsports Rapid, Beijing, 2008).
• If 8...e5 9.h3 Be7 10.d4 0-0 11.d5 Na5 transposes into a variation of the Chigorin Defense to the Spanish Grand Royal Game.
• If 7.Bxc6 Bxc6 8.d4 Bxe4 9.Bg5 then:
• If 9...Bd5 10.Nbd2 e6 11.c4 Bxf3 12.Qxf3 cxd4 then:
• If 13.Qxb7 Qc8 14.Qb6 Qc5 15.Qb7 Qc8 then:
• 16.Qf3 Be7 17.Nb3 h6 18.Bf4 Ra7 19.Nxd4 Rc7 20.c5 Rxc5 21.Rac1 Nd5 22.b4 Nxb4 23.Bd2 Nd5 24.Nf5 0-0 25.Qxd5 Bf6 26.Qxd6 White remains a piece to the good (C. Hansen-Reinert, Danish Ch, Aarhus, 1981).
• 16.Qb6 Qc5 17.Qb7 draw (Yurtaev-Oll, Agzamov Mem, Tashkent, 1981).
• 13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.Qxb7 Be7 15.Qc6+ Kf8 16.Nf3 e5 is equal (Sebag-Bu Xiangzhi, TMatch, Cannes, 2004).
• 9...d5 10.Nbd2 Bxf3 11.Qxf3 cxd4 12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.c4 dxc4 14.Nxc4 e6 15.Qxb7 Rb8 16.Qxa6 Qd5 17.Qa4+ Qb5 18.Qxb5+ Rxb5 is equal (Leitão-Morovic, IT, Poikovsky, 2001).
• 9...Bc6 10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.d5 Bd7 12.Nbd2 Qc7 13.b4 0-0-0 14.a4 e6 15.Nc4 cxb4 16.cxb4 Kb8 is equal (Orlov-Areshchenko, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).

7...Bg4 8.d3

• If 8.h3 then:
• If 8...Bxf3 9.Qxf3 g6 then:
• If 10.d3 Bg7 then:
• 11.Be3 Nd7 12.Nd2 0-0 13.Qd1 b5 14.a3 Rc8 15.f4 Nb6 16.Nf3 Qd7 17.Bf2 e5 18.fxe5 Nxe5 19.Rc1 Nxf3+ 20.Qxf3 f5 gives Black the advantage in space (Wang Hao-Cheparinov, IT, Taiyuan, 2007).
• 11.Bg5 0-0 12.Nd2 b5 13.g4 Nd7 14.a3 Rb8 is equal (M. Becker-P. Zelbel, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• 10.Qd1 Bh6 11.Na3 0-0 12.Nc2 e5 13.d4 Bxc1 14.Rxc1 cxd4 15.cxd4 Rc8 16.dxe5 dxe5 17.Qf3 Kg7 18.Bc4 is equal (Glek-Vachier Lagrave, Bundesliga 0708, Katernberg, 2007).
• If 8...Bh5 then:
• If 9.d3 e6 then:
• 10.Nbd2 Be7 11.g4 Bg6 12.Nh4 Nd7 13.Ng2 e5 transposes to Zhong Zhang-Atakisi in the notes to Black's 13th move.
• 10.g4 Bg6 11.Nh4 Nd7 12.Ng2 e5 13.Na3 Be7 14.Nc4 h5 15.Nce3 hxg4 16.hxg4 Bg5 17.Nd5 Bxc1 18.Rxc1 Kf8 19.Qf3 Qg5 20.Nge3 Ne7 21.Nxe7 draw (Rublevsky-Khalifman, Euro ChT, Izmir, 2004).
• If 9.d4 cxd4 10.cxd4 then:
• 10...d5 11.e5 Ne4 12.g4 Bg6 13.e6 fxe6 14.Nc3 e5 15.Nxe4 Bxe4 16.Ng5 e6 17.dxe5 Bc5 18.Nxe4 dxe4 19.Qc2 Qb6 20.Be3 Bxe3 21.Rxe3 0-0 is equal (Vachier Lagrave-Wang Yue, YM, Lausanne, 2006).
• 10...e5 11.g4 Bg6 12.d5 Nb8 13.Nc3 Nbd7 14.Bg2 Be7 15.Nh2 h5 16.Be3 hxg4 17.hxg4 b5 gives Black the more active game (Kovalevskaya-Zhu Chen, Euro ChTW, Kemar, 2007).

8...e6 9.Nbd2 Be7

• 9...Nd7 10.h3 Bh5 11.g4 Bg6 12.d4 cxd4 13.cxd4 Be7 14.d5 Nce5 15.Nxe5 dxe5 16.Nf3 Rc8 17.Bg2 exd5 18.exd5 Bd6 19.Bf4 f6 is equal (Bologan-Movsesian, IT, Sarajevo, 2004).

10.h3 Bh5 11.g4 Bg6 12.Nh4 Nd7 13.Ng2

• 13.Nxg6 hxg6 14.f4 Bh4 15.Re2 g5 16.f5 Nde5 17.Re3 0-0 18.Bg2 d5 19.exd5 exd5 is equal (Rublevsky-Timoshenko, Areoflot Op, Moscow, 2004).

13...h5

• If 13...e5 then:
• If 14.Nf3 h5 15.g5 Nf8 16.d4 cxd4 17.cxd4 exd4 18.Nxd4 Nxd4 19.Qxd4 Bxg5 20.Bxg5 Qxg5 21.Qxd6 is equal (Zhong Zhang-Atakisi, Ol, BLed, 2002).
• 14.f4 exf4 15.Nxf4 Bh4 16.Re2 Nde5 17.Rg2 0-0 18.Be2 Bg5 gives Black a small advantage in space (Benjamin-Yermolinsky, US Ch, Seattle, 2000).
• If 13...0-0 14.f4 h6 then:
• 15.Qf3 Bh7 16.Qg3 Kh8 17.Nf3 b5 18.h4 Qc7 19.f5 Nde5 20.Bf4 Rae8 is equal (Kuba-Movsesian, Euro ChT, Izmir, 2004).
• 15.Nf3 Bh7 transposes to the next variation.
• If 13...h6 14.f4 Bh7 15.Nf3 0-0 then:
• If 16.f5 Nde5 17.Nf4 Nxf3+ 18.Qxf3 then:
• 18...Bg5 19.Qd1 Re8 20.Bg2 g6 21.Rf1 exf5 is equal (Reinderman-Tiviakov, Corus B, Wijk aan Zee, 2000).
• 18...Bh4 19.Re2 Kh8 20.Qg2 Qe7 21.Be3 Rae8 is equal (Hillarp Persson- Zolotukhin, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).
• If 16.Qe2 then:
• 16...Qc7 17.Qf2 Rae8 18.f5 Nde5 19.Bf4 Nxf3+ 20.Qxf3 gives White the advatage in space, but Black has room to expand on the Queen's wing (Popovic-Vuckovic, Serbia-Montenegro ChT, Herceg Novi, 2005).
• 16...Kh8 17.Qf2 Qc7 18.Bd2 Rae8 19.Rad1 b5 20.f5 Nde5 is equal (Leko-Movsesian, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).

14.f4 hxg4 15.hxg4 Qc7!?

• 15...Bh7 16.Nf3 g5 17.f5 (White has a small advantage in space) 17...Nde5 (White offers an exchange) 18.Nxe5 Nxe5 19.Ne3 (White's space advantage is now insignificant) 19...Bg8 20.Bg2(Larsen-S. B. Hansen, Danish Ch, Esbjerg, 1997)

16.Nf3

• If 16.f5 Bh7 17.Nf4 then:
• 17...Nd8 18.Bg2 Ne5 19.d4 cxd4 20.cxd4 Qb6 White still has a small advantage in space in spite of the annoying pin at d4.
• 17...Bg5 18.Nc4 Bxf4 19.Bxf4 e5 20.Bg3 White continues to enjoy an advantage in space, but Black's Knights will work better than White's Bishops in this pawn structure.

16...0-0-0

• Black castles long in order to keep his Rook on the h-file.

17.Ne3 Nb6 18.Nc4?!

• White's strength is his kingside phalanx. Instead of using it, he withdraws its fortification.
• If 18.f5 Bh7 19.d4 d5 then:
• 20.e5 Kb8 21.Bg2 Nc4 22.Rf1 White still has a small advantage in space, but Black has more freedom on the queenside.
• 20.exd5? is like opening the floodgates and after 20...exd5 21.Bg2 Qg3 Black suddenly has a huge advantage in space.

18...Nxc4 19.dxc4
BLACK: Magnus Carlsen
!""""""""#
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Vishy Anand
Position after 19.dc4:N

19...f5!

• Black smashes White's pawn phalanx.

20.exf5 exf5 21.g5

• 21.gxf5 Bxf5 22.Qd5 Qd7 23.Bg2 Bh3 24.Bxh3 Rxh3 gives Black a strong attack.

21...Bf7 22.Qc2?!

• This feeble attack on a pawn is easily parried.
• 22.Qe2!? shouldn't help in any objective sense, but it may just be complicated enough to work: if now 22...Kb8 then:
• If 23.b3 Bf8 24.Bg2 g6 25.Bb2 Bg7 then:
• 26.Rad1 d5 27.cxd5 Bxd5 28.Qe3 Be4 29.Ba1 Ne7 assures Black command of the d-file.
• 26.Qe3 Qa5 27.Nd2 Rhe8 28.Qf3 Rxe1+ 29.Rxe1 d5 gives Black far more activity.
• If 23.Bg2 Bg8 24.b3 d5 then:
• 25.Ne5 Nxe5 26.fxe5 d4 27.cxd4 cxd4 28.Bd2 Be6 Bkack's pawn at d4 is a potential battering ram.
• After 25.cxd5 Bxd5 26.Be3 Bd6 27.Rab1 Bxf4 28.Bxc5 Ne5 Black opens the center and gets a firce attack on the White King.

22...g6 23.Qf2 d5 24.cxd5

• If 24.b3 then after 24...dxc4 25.bxc4 Bd6 26.Qg3 Rde8 the exchange of Rooks diminishes White's defenses.

24...Bxd5 25.Be3

• Black misses the tactical shot that open his King position to Black's heavy pieces.
• If 25.Bg2 Bd6 26.Qg3 c4 27.Be3 Rhe8 then:
• After 28.Nh4 Bxg2 29.Nxg2 Qa5 30.Bd4 Re4 White is better, but Black's position is still playable.
• If 28.Qh4? then 28...Bxf3! 29.Bxf3 Rxe3 30.Rxe3 Bc5 wins a piece.

BLACK: Magnus Carlsen
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WHITE: Vishy Anand
Position after 25.Bc1e3

25...Bxg5!!

• The Bishop is able to take the pawn with impunity.
• 25...Bxf3 26.Qxf3 Bxg5! 27.Bg2 Bh4.

26.Qg3

• 26.fxg5 loses to 26...Bxf3 27.Bg2 when:
• 27...Bxg2 28.Qxg2 Rh4 29.Kf1 Rh2 30.Qf3 Rd3 is time to turn out the lights.
• Also winning for Black is 27...Qh2+ 28.Kf1 Bxg2+ 29.Qxg2 Qh5 30.Bxc5 f4.

26...Be7 27.Bg2 g5 28.Nxg5

• 28.Red1 Rh5 29.b3 g4 30.Ng5 Bxg2 31.Qxg2 Bxg5 Black is a pawn up.

28...Bxg5 29.Bxd5 Rxd5 30.Qxg5 Qf7 31.Kf2

• 31.Kf1 Rd6 32.Qg2 Rg6 33.Qf3 Qc4+ 34.Re2 Rh2 Black has White's defense under restraint.

31...Rh2+ 32.Kf1 Rd8 33.Qg3

• If 33.b3 then 33...Rg8 wins the Queen.

BLACK: Magnus Carlsen
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WHITE: Vishy Anand
Position after 33.Qg5g3

33...Qc4+!

• Black wins material and establishes sufficient mating force on White's second rank.

34.Kg1 Rxb2 0-1

• 35.Bc1 Rxa2 36.Rxa2 Qxa2 leaves Black two pawns to the good.
• Anand-ji resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Reykjavik Open

Moddular

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Meszaros - Kryvoruchko, Round 4

Yuriy Kryvoruchko
Photo: ChesssBase.de (Germany)

To view this game:

• Plase click here;
• Select Round 4;
• Selec the game Maszaros-Kryvoruchko from the list under the board display
• Enjoy!

Michal Meszaros - Yuriy Kryvoruchko
Open Tournament, Round 4
Reykjavik, 27 March 2009

Open Sicilian Game: Kan Defense (Polugaevsky Opening)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Bd3

• (Maroczy Opening)If 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 then:
• 6...Qc7 7.a3 b6 8.Be3 Bb7 9.f3 d6 10.Be2 Be7 11.0-0 Nbd7 12.Rc1 0-0 13.b4 Rac8 14.Qd2 Qb8 then:
• 15.Rfd1 Rfe8 16.Bf1 Bd8 17.Nb3 Bc7 18.Bf4 Ne5 19.Bg3 Rcd8 is equal (Kacheishvili-Safarli, Op, Istanbul, 2006).
• If 15.Kh1 then:
• 15...Bd8 16.Rc2 Bc7 17.Bg1 Rfe8 18.Rb1 Kh8 19.Na4 Ne5 20.c5 b5 is equal (Korbut-T. Vasilevich, Euro ChTW, Crete, 2007).
• 15...Rfe8 16.Rc2 Bd8 17.Na4 Bc7 18.Bg1 Ne5 19.c5 b5 20.cxd6 Bxd6 is equal (Salov-Flores, Ol, Torino, 2006).
• If 6...Bb4 7.Bd3 Nc6 8.Nxc6 dxc6 9.0-0 e5 then:
• If 10.Bg5 h6 11.Bh4 then:
• 11...Be6 12.Qe2 Be7 13.Qc2 Nd7 14.Bg3 0-0 15.f3 Re8 16.Rfd1 Qc7 17.Bf2 Rec8 18.Rac1 Nc5 is equal (Blodig-Kustar, TT, Baviera, 2000).
• If 11...Bc5 12.Kh1 Qe7 13.f4 g5 then:
• If 14.fxe5!? Ng4 15.Bg3 Ne3 16.Qa4 Nxf1 17.Rxf1 then:
• If 17...Be6?! 18.Nd5 b5 then:
• If 19.Qc2?! cxd5 20.exd5 then:
• If 20...0-0? 21.Rf6! Bd7 22.Qe2 Kg7 23.Qe4 Rh8 24.e6 Be8 25.Be5 Qxf6 26.Bxf6+ Kxf6 27.d6 Rd8 28.Qf5+ Kg7 29.Qxc5 fxe6 30.Qe5+ Kg8 31.Qxe6+ Bf7 32.Qf6 Black resigns (Marshall-Pollard, Marshall CC Ch, New York, 1937).
• 20...Bc8 21.cxb5 Kd8 22.bxa6 Bxa6 23.d6 is equal.
• 19.Nxe7 bxa4 20.Nf5 Rb8 21.Bf2 Be7 leaves Black slightly better.
• 17...Bd7! 18.Qb3 0-0-0 19.Rf6 Be6 gives Black the upper hand.
• 14.fxg5 Ng4 15.Qa4 hxg5 16.Bg3 Qd6 Black wins.
• 10.Qc2 0-0 11.a3 Be7 12.Be2 Be6 13.Be3 Ng4 14.Bxg4 Bxg4 15.Na4 Bg5 16.Bxg5 Qxg5 17.f3 Be6 18.Nc5 Rad8 19.Rfd1 Qe3+ 20.Qf2 Qxf2+ 21.Kxf2 Bxc4 22.Nd7 Bb3 23.Rd3 Bc2 24.Rd2 Rfe8 25.Ke3 Bb3 26.Rc1 f6 is equal (Sterner-Gligoric, Op, Hastings, 1957).
• 5.Nc3 d6 transposes to the Scheveningen Defense.

5...Bc5 6.Nb3 Be7

• If 6...Ba7 7.Qe2 Nc6 8.Be3 d6 then:
• If 9.0-0 Nf6 then:
• 10.Nc3 b5 11.Bxa7 Rxa7 12.Qe3 0-0 13.Rfd1 Rd7 14.h3 Bb7 15.a4 b4 16.Ne2 Qc7 17.a5 Rc8 18.Ned4 Ne5 19.Qe2 Nc4 20.Rdc1 e5 21.Nf5 d5 22.exd5 Bxd5 23.Nd2 Nxd2 24.Qxd2 Ne4 25.Qxb4 Nc5 26.Bf1 yields an extra pawn to White (Anand-Svidler, Blitz, Cap d'Agde, 2003).


• 10.N1d2 0-0 11.Bxa7 Rxa7 12.Qe3 draw (Stojanovic-Predojevic, Op, Bar, 2005).


• 9.Nc3 Nge7 10.0-0 e5 11.Bxa7 Rxa7 12.a4 0-0 13.Bc4 Be6 14.Rfd1 Ng6 15.g3 Ra8 16.Nd5 Rc8 17.c3 Nce7 18.a5 Nxd5 19.Bxd5 Qc7 20.Rac1 Ne7 21.c4 Bxd5 22.exd5 b6 23.axb6 Qxb6 24.Qe3 Rb8 25.Qxb6 Rxb6 26.Na5 f6 27.c5 dxc5 28.Rxc5 Rd8 29.Nc4 Rb5 30.Rxb5 axb5 31.Ne3 Rd6 is equal (Naumann-ConNers (computer), IT, Lippstadt, 1999).

7.Qg4

• If 7.0-0 d6 8.c4 Nf6 9.Nc3 Nbd7 10.f4 b6 then:
• If 11.Be3 Bb7 12.Qf3 Qc7 then:
• 13.Qh3 h5 14.Kh1 g5 15.fxg5 Ng4 16.Bf4 Nde5 17.Be2 0-0-0 18.Bxe5 Nxe5 19.Nd5 Bxd5 20.cxd5 Kb7 21.dxe6 fxe6 22.Nd4 Rdg8 23.Rac1 gives White an extra pawn and multiple threats (Sanikidze-Nestorovic, Euro Ch U16, Urgup, 2004).
• 13.Rae1 h5 14.Kh1 Ng4 15.Bg1 g5 16.a4 gxf4 17.Qxf4 Nge5 18.Be2 Rh7 19.a5 bxa5 20.Ra1 Rb8 21.Ba7 Rc8 22.Bg1 Rb8 23.Ba7 Rc8 24.Bg1 Rb8 25.Ba7 draw (Ushenina-Javakhishvili, OlW, Torino, 2006).
• 13.Rad1 0-0 14.Qh3 Rfe8 15.Bb1 g6 16.f5 exf5 17.exf5 Bf8 18.fxg6 fxg6 19.Nd4 Qxc4 20.a3 Qf7 21.Ba2 d5 22.Nc2 Re5 23.Bd4 Bc5 24.Ne3 Qe7 25.Bxe5 Qxe5 26.Rfe1 gives White the exchange (Del Rio-Korneev, Op, Linares, 2003).
• 11.Qe2 Qc7 12.Bd2 Bb7 13.Rae1 Rd8 14.Bb1 0-0 15.Kh1 Rc8 16.e5 Ne8 17.Bd3 g6 18.exd6 Nxd6 19.f5 Nxf5 20.Bxf5 gxf5 21.Nd5 Bxd5 22.cxd5 Qc4 23.dxe6 fxe6 24.Qxe6+ draw (Goginenni-Vachier Lagrave, YWCC U16, Belfort, 2005).

7...Bf6

• 7...g6 8.Qe2 d6 9.0-0 Nd7 10.Nc3 Qc7 11.Bd2 b6 12.Rae1 Bb7 13.Kh1 h5 14.Nd4 Ngf6 15.h3 h4 16.Nf3 Ne5 17.a4 Kf8 18.Bg5 Nh5 19.Bxe7+ Kxe7 20.Qe3 Nxf3 21.Qxf3 Qc5 22.Qg4 Rag8 23.Qe2 Nf4 24.Qe3 g5 25.f3 Qxe3 26.Rxe3 Rc8 27.Rd1 Rhd8 28.Kg1 d5 draw (Korneev-Epishin, Op, Reyjavik, 2004).

8.0-0 Nc6 9.f4 d6 10.Qg3

• 10.Nc3 Nge7 11.Bd2 Nd4 12.Rae1 Nxb3 13.axb3 Nc6 14.Kh1 g6 15.Qh3 is equal (Castellanos-J. Ivanov, Op, Dos Hermanos, 2006).

10...Nge7!?

• 10...Qc7 11.N1d2 Nge7 12.Nf3 Ng6 13.c3 b5 14.Be3 Bb7 15.Ng5 e5 16.fxe5 Ncxe5 17.Bc2 h6 18.Nf3 Nxf3+ 19.Qxf3 Ne5 is equal (Kotronias-Nakamura, Ol, Dresden, 2008).

11.N1d2

• White simply continues with his development.
• 11.c3 b5 12.Be3 Rb8 13.Bd4 e5 14.fxe5 Nxe5 is equal.

11...0-0

• 11...Qb6+ 12.Kh1 Qc7 13.Nf3 0-0 14.c3 remains equal.

12.Nc4

• 12.a4 Qc7 13.Nc4 Ng6 14.a5 gives White an advantage in space.

12...Ng6 13.Be3 b5 14.Nb6!

• This is the most aggressive move.

14...Rb8 15.Nxc8

• White does not wait to exchange on c8.
• 15.f5 exf5 then:
• 16.Nxc8 fxe4 17.Bxe4 Rxc8 18.Bf5 Be5 19.Qf2 Rb8 gives Black an extra pawn.
• 16.Nd5 Be5 17.Qf2 fxe4 18.Bxe4 Bxb2 19.Rab1 Be5 gives Black two extra pawns.

15...Qxc8 16.c3 b4 17.Rac1

• 17.Bd2 bxc3 18.bxc3 Na5 19.Nxa5 Qc5+ 20.Qe3 Qxa5 gives Black more activity.

17...bxc3 18.bxc3 a5 19.Nd4 e5

• Black will push in the center and establish his Rook on b2.
• Another way of carrying out this plan is 19...Rb2 when:
• 20.Nb5 d5 21.exd5 exd5 22.Rc2 remains equal.
• 20.Rf2 Bh4 21.Qxh4 Nxh4 22.Rxb2 e5 gives Black the initiative.

20.f5 Nf4 21.Nxc6

• An alternate plan is to confront Black's aggression on the kingside.
• 21.Bxf4 exf4 22.Qf2 Ne5 23.Rfd1 Nxd3 24.Rxd3 Qc5 remains equal.
• 22.Qxf4 Nxd4 23.cxd4 Bxd4+ 24.Kh1 Qd8 remains equal.

21...Qxc6 22.Bxf4

• The exchange is almost forced.
• 22.Bd2?! Rb2 23.Bxf4 exf4 24.Qxf4 Rxa2 25.Qg3 Ra8 gives Black a strong initiative.

22...exf4 23.Qxf4 Rb2

• Black pays a heavy price if he jerks his knee and takes the pawn.
• If 23...Bxc3 24.Kh1 Qc5 25.f6! Kh8 26.fxg7+ Kxg7 27.Qg3+ Kh8 28.Qh3 Qe5 29.Rf5 gives White a strong attack.
• If 25...gxf6? then after 26.e5! Qxe5 27.Qh6 White wins.

24.Rc2 Rfb8 25.Rxb2?!

• This allows Black to maintain a Rook on the seventh (White's second) rank, but White wants complications and is staking that he will emerge better.
• If 25.Rfc1 Qc5+ 26.Qf2 then:
• 26...Rxc2 27.Rxc2 Rb1+ 28.Bf1 Re1 remains equal.
• 26...a4 27.Qxc5 dxc5 28.c4 Bd4+ 29.Kf1 a3 remains equal; Black's activity compensates for the pawn minus.

25...Rxb2 26.a4 h6!?

• The pawn won't run away and Black would do just as well if not better to take it immediately.
• If 26...Qxc3 27.Bb5 Be5 28.Qg4 then:
• 28...h5 29.Qf3 Qxf3 30.Rxf3 Rb4 gives Black the active game.
• 28...Qe3+ 29.Kh1 Bf6 30.Qf3 Qxf3 31.gxf3 is even.

27.Bb5

• Black's waiting move was still good enough. The fact is that White has no good continuation.
• If 27.c4 Qc5+ 28.Kh1 Qa3 then:
• If 29.Qf3 Qxa4 30.Rd1 Qa3 then:
• 31.Qf1 Qb3 32.Rb1 Rxb1 33.Qxb1 a4 White's best chance is to exchange Queen's descending into an ending featuring Bishops of opposite color.
• 31.Re1? Qb3 32.Qf1 a4 makes Black's a-pawn into a dangerous weapon.
• If 29.Qe3 Qxa4 30.Qa7 Qb4 then:
• If 31.Qa8+ Kh7 32.Qd5 Qd2 33.Rg1 Rb8 and now:
• If White moves the Bishop, Black wins the Queen.
• If White moves the Queen from the d-file, Black wins the Bishop;
• If White advances the e-pawn, that pawn is lost.
• If 34.c5 then after 34...Be5 35.Qc4 dxc5 36.Be2 Qf4 Black wins.
• 34.Qxd6 Rd8 wins the Bishop.
• If 31.Rd1 then after 31...Qb3 32.Qg1 a4 33.Qf1 a3 makes it difficult for White to stop the a-pawn.

BLACK: Yuriy Kryvoruchko
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WHITE: Michal Meszaros
Position after 27.Be3b5

27...Qc5+!

• Black drives the King to the corner, where it will be easier to make mating threats.

28.Kh1 Bxc3?!

• If 28...Qxc3 29.Rc1 Qb4 then:
• 30.Rg1 d5 31.Qb8+ Kh7 32.exd5 Rb1 33.Qe8 Rxg1+ gives black a powerful attack on the King in return for the pawn.
• 30.Bd3 Qd4 31.Bb1 Qxa4 32.Qf1 Qb3 makes the a-apwn dangerous.

29.f6?!

• The pawn sacrifice yields nothing.
• Better is 29.Rc1! d5 when:
• 30.exd5 Qxd5 31.Qf1 Qd4 32.Qd3 Qf2 33.Qe4 yields a balanced game.
• 30.h3 d4 31.Qg3 f6 32.Qg6 Qf8 equalizes.

29...Bxf6 30.Qg4 Qc2 31.h3 Rb1 32.Qd7?

• White loses a second pawn and his position falls apart quickly.
• A more stubborn defense is 32.Rxb1 Qxb1+ 33.Kh2 Be5+ 34.g3 h5, although Black, with an extra pawn and more freedom, should win.

BLACK: Yuriy Kryvoruchko
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WHITE: Michal Meszaros
Position after 32.Qg4d7

32...Qxe4!

• What else?

33.Qxd6

• If 33.Qc8+ Kh7 34.Qc4 Rxf1+ 35.Qxf1 Kg8 then:
• 36.Qe2 Qb1+ 37.Kh2 Be5+ 38.g3 Qb3 39.Qf2 d5!.
• 36.Qf3 Qe1+ 37.Qf1 Qe5 38.Qe2 Qc3 39.Qc4 Qa1+ leaves Black two pawns to the good with the initiative.

33...Rxf1+ 34.Bxf1 Qxa4 35.Qb8+

• If 35.g3 then Black wins after 35...Qe4+ 36.Bg2 Qe1+ 37.Kh2 Be5 38.Qd8+ Kh7.

35...Kh7 36.Qb1+

36.Qb5 Qf4 37.g3 Qxg3 38.Qf5+ Qg6 39.Qxg6+ Kxg6 wins for black even with opposite colored Bishops.

36...g6 37.Qb7 Kg7 38.g4 Qf4 39.Qg2 a4 40.Bb5 a3 0-1

• If 41.Qe2 then after 41...Qg3 42.Bc4 Qxh3+ 43.Qh2 Qxg4 the lights are out.
• Grandmaster Meszaros resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Maze -Guilleux, Round 5

Fabien Guilleux is an 18-year-old federation master (FM) from France who played on the top board in Reykjavik in Round 6 after taking 4½ points in the first five rounds.

This is M. Guilleux' fifth round victory over his compatriot, Sebastien Maze.



Fabien Guilleux
Photo: official website of the 2009 Cappelle la Grande Open


Sebastien Maze - Fabien Guilleux
Open Tournament, Round 5
Reykjavik, 28 March 2009

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

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nc6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 a6

• By transposition we have reached the Najdorf-Scheveningen Defense.

8.0-0-0 Bd7

• If 8...h6 then:
• If 9.Be3 Be7 10.f4 then:
• If 10...Bd7 11.Kb1 b5 12.Bd3 then:
• 12...0-0 13.h3 Nxd4 14.Bxd4 Bc6 15.Qe3 Qc7 16.e5 dxe5 17.Bxe5 Qb7 18.Rhf1 Rad8 19.g4 b4 20.Ne2 Bb5 21.g5 hxg5 22.fxg5 Nd7 23.Bf6 Bc5 24.Qg3 Bxd3 25.Rxd3 Rc8 26.Rfd1 gives White the active game (Deep Junior-Deep Fritz, BGN Qual, Cadaques, 2001).
• 12...Qc7 13.h3 Na5 14.Qf2 b4 15.Nce2 Nc4 16.g4 Nxe3 17.Qxe3 g5 18.e5 Nd5 19.Qe4 dxe5 20.fxe5 Qc5 21.Rhf1 Rf8 22.Rf3 a5 23.Qh7 0-0-0 24.Rxf7 Rxf7 25.Qxf7 Rf8 26.Qg6 gives White an extra pawn and the active game (Tseshkovsky-Huzman, Op, Biel, 1993).
• If 10...Nxd4 11.Bxd4 b5 then:
• If 12.Qe3 then:
• 12...Bb7 13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.Bd3 Qa5 15.Kb1 b4 16.Ne2 Qc5 17.Nd4 h5 18.Qe2 a5 19.Bb5+ Kf8 20.Bc4 gives White the active game (Adams-Serper, IT, New York, 1996).
• 12...Qc7 13.e5 dxe5 14.fxe5 Nd7 15.Ne4 Bb7 16.Nd6+ Qxd6 17.exd6 Bg5 18.Qxg5 hxg5 19.Bxg7 Rh4 20.Bd4 f5 21.Bf2 Rh7 22.h4 Nf6 23.Bd3 g4 24.Rhe1 gives White an extra pawn (J. Polgar-San Segundo, IT, Madrid, 1997).
• 12.Bd3 Bb7 13.Kb1 0-0 14.e5 dxe5 15.fxe5 Nd7 16.Ne4 Bxe4 17.Bxe4 Rc8 18.c3 Qc7 19.Rde1 Rfd8 20.Qf2 Bc5 21.Rhf1 Rf8 is equal (Matulovic-Vuckovic, Serbian Ch, Sabac, 1998).
• If 9...Bd7 10.f3 b5 11.Nxc6 Bxc6 12.Ne2 Qc7 then:
• 13.Kb1 Bb7 14.h4 Be7 15.Rh3 h5 16.Bg5 Rd8 17.Rh1 g6 18.Nf4 is equal (Leko-Caruana, Ol, Dresden, 2008).
• If 13.Nd4 Bb7 then:
• 14.Bd3 e5 15.Nf5 d5 16.exd5 Nxd5 17.Be4 0-0-0 18.Qf2 g6 19.Bxd5 Rxd5 20.Bb6 Qd7 21.Ne3 Rd6 22.Bc5 Rxd1+ 23.Rxd1 Qc6 24.Bxf8 Rxf8 25.Nd5 gives White more freedom i](Djukic-Lupulescu, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).
• 14.Kb1 Rc8 15.Bd3 Nd7 16.Rhe1 Be7 17.g4 Ne5 18.g5 hxg5 19.Bxg5 Bxg5 20.Qxg5 g6 21.Re2 Qd8 22.Qe3 Qb6 is equal (Sakai-Halwick, Corres, 2003).
• If 9...Nxd4 10.Bxd4 b5 then:
• If 11.f3 Be7 12.Kb1 Rb8 then:
• 13.Ba7 Rb7 14.Be3 Qa5 15.g4 b4 16.Ne2 e5 17.Nc1 Be6 18.Nb3 Qc7 19.Bxa6 Rb8 20.c4 bxc3 21.Qxc3 Qxc3 22.bxc3 d5 gives Black the initiative for his pawn (Bologan-Wang Lei, IT, Shanghai, 2000).
• If 13.Qe3 b4 14.Na4 Qc7 then:
• 15.b3 0-0 16.Bd3 e5 17.Bb2 Bd7 18.Bxa6 Ra8 19.Qe2 Bxa4 20.bxa4 Nd7 21.Qc4 Nc5 22.Bb5 Qa5 23.c3 bxc3 24.Bxc3 Qa7 25.Rc1 Nxa4 26.Qxa4 Qxa4 27.Bxa4 Rxa4 28.Rc2 f5 draw (Kasparov-Kramnik, IT, Moscow, 1996).
• 15.Ba7 Rb7 16.Bb6 Qc6 17.b3 0-0 18.Bd4 e5 19.Bb2 Bd7 20.h4 Qc7 21.g4 Bxa4 22.bxa4 Nd7 23.Bxa6 Ra7 gives Black the initiative for his pawn Anand-Serper, IT, Groningen, 1993).
• 11.f4 Be7 transposes into Adams-Serper and associated lines, above.
• If 9.Bf4 Bd7 10.Nxc6 Bxc6 then:
• 11.f3 d5 12.Qe1 Bb4 13.a3 Ba5 14.Bd2 then:
• 14...Rc8 15.exd5 Nxd5 16.Nxd5 Bxd2+ 17.Rxd2 Bxd5 18.Bd3 0-0 19.Be4 Rc5 20.Qf2 Qa5 21.Bxd5 Rxd5 22.Rxd5 Qxd5 23.Rd1 Qc6 24.Qd4 Rc8 25.c3 Qc7 is equal (Thorhallsson-Petursson, Icelandic Ch, Gardabaer, 1996).
• If 14...Qe7 15.e5 Nd7 16.Kb1 then:
• 16...Bc7 17.f4 f6 18.exf6 gxf6 19.Be2 0-0-0 20.Be3 f5 21.Bd4 Rhg8 22.Bf3 gives White the advantage in space (Boudre-Spraggett, Op, Cannes, 1992).
• 16...Bb6 17.f4 h5 18.h4 0-0-0 19.Ne2 Bb5 20.Bb4 Bc5 21.Nd4 Bxf1 22.Rxf1 gives White the advantage in space (Svidler-Levin, Op, Linares, 1994).
• If 11.Qe1 then:
• 11...Qa5 12.Bc4 Be7 13.f3 b5 14.Bb3 Qc7 15.e5 dxe5 16.Bxe5 Qb7 is equal (Christiansen-Csom, IT, Surakarta, 1982).
• 11...Be7 12.e5 Nh5 13.Be3 Qc7 14.Be2 g6 15.Bxh5 gxh5 16.Bf4 0-0-0 17.exd6 Bxd6 18.Rxd6 Rxd6 19.Qe3 Rg8 is equal (Thorsteins-Balashov, Op, Reykjavik, 1984).

9.f3

• If 9.f4 then:
• If 9...b5 10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.Kb1 Qb6 12.Nxc6 Bxc6 then:
• If 13.Qe1 then:
• If 13...Ra7 14.Bd3 h5 15.Qh4 Be7 16.f5 b4 17.Ne2 e5 18.Ng3 then:
• 18...Qf2 19.Rhf1 Qc5 20.Nxh5 leaves White a pawn to the good (Tiviakov-Neelotpal, Op, Dhaka, 2003).
• 18...Qe3 19.Nxh5 Qg5 20.Qxg5 fxg5 21.Ng3 White is a pawn up (Pokazanjev-Rombaldoni, Op, Winterthur, 2008).
• 13...Be7 14.Bd3 Qc5 15.f5 b4 16.Ne2 e5 17.Ng3 a5 18.Qe2 Rc8 19.b3 0-0 20.Bc4 Kh8 is equal (Adams-Lozul, Euro ChT, Belgrade, 1999).
• If 13.f5 Qc5 14.Bd3 then:
• 14...h5 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.Rhf1 Bg7 17.e5 f5 18.exd6 0-0-0 19.Ne2 Rxd6 20.Rde1 Bh6 21.Qa5 Bxg2 gives Black an extra pawn (Vujakovic-Kozul, Croatian ChT, Pula, 2001).
• 14...b4 15.Ne2 e5 16.Ng3 a5 17.Nh5 Ke7 18.g4 Rg8 19.Rhg1 a4 20.h4 a3 21.Bc4 Rd8 22.Bb3 Bxe4 23.bxa3 bxa3 gives Black an extra pawn (Najer-Miton, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2004).
• If 9...Be7 10.Nf3 b5 11.Bxf6 then:
• If 11...gxf6 12.Kb1 Qb6 13.f5 0-0-0 14.g3 Kb8 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.Bh3 Bc8 17.Qe1 Rhe8 18.Ne2 then:
• If 18...Bf8 19.Nf4 Bg7 20.Rf1 then:
• If 20...Qc5 21.Rf2 Re7 22.c3 d5 23.Nd4 Nxd4 24.cxd4 Qd6 25.exd5 exd5 26.Re2 Rde8 then:
• 27.Bxc8!? Rxe2 28.Nxe2 Rxc8 is equal (Leko-Timman, Op, Wijk aan Zee, 1995).
• 27.Rxe7! Rxe7 28.Qf1 Bd7 29.Bxd7 Qxd7 30.Qf3 gives White an active game.
• 20...Bh8 21.c3 Re7 22.Rf2 Na5 23.Nd4 Rde8 24.Bg4 Nc4 25.Bh5 gives White the advantagge in space (Adams-Timman, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2004).
• 18...Ne5 19.Qc3 Bb7 20.Bxe6 Bxe4 21.Bd5 Rc8 22.Bxe4 Rxc3 23.Nxc3 Nxf3 24.Bxf3 Bd8 is equal (Leko-Groszpeter, Op, Bucharest, 1993).
• If 11...Bxf6 12.Qxd6 Be7 13.Qd2 b4 then:
• 14.Ne2 14...Ra7 15.Kb1 Qb6 16.e5 0-0 17.Nc1 a5 18.Bd3 a4 is equal (Chiburdanidze-Kozlovskaya, Soviet ChW, Tbilisi, 1974).
• 14.Na4 Ra7 15.Qe3 Qa5 16.b3 Rb7 17.Nd2 Na7 18.Nc4 Qc7 19.Rxd7 Qxd7 20.Nc5 Bxc5 21.Qxc5 Nb5 22.e5 is equal (Psakhis-Geller, Moscow, 1986).

9...Be7 10.h4

• If 10.Be3 then:
• If 10...h5 11.Kb1 then:
• 11...Qc7 12.Bd3 Ne5 13.h3 h4 14.Bg5 b5 15.f4 Nc4 16.Bxc4 Qxc4 17.e5 b4 18.exf6 gxf6 is equal (Korneev-Swinkels, Op, Maastricht, 2007).
• 11...Rc8 transposes to Z. Almasi-Murariu, bleow in the note to White's 11th move.
• 10...b5 11.g4 then:
• If 11...Nxd4 12.Bxd4 b4 13.Ne2 e5 14.Be3 Qa5 then:
• If 15.g5 Nh5 16.Kb1 Be6 17.b3 0-0 18.Ng3 Nf4 19.h4 then:
• 19...f6 20.Qh2 Rac8 21.Bxf4 exf4 22.Nf5 Bxf5 23.exf5 Rc5 is equal (Romanian ChT, Predeal, 2006).
• 19...d5 20.Nf5 Bc5 21.Bxf4 exf4 22.Qxf4 dxe4 23.fxe4 leaves White a pawn to the good (Domínguez-Milos, Ol, Torino, 2006).
• If 15.Kb1 Be6 16.Nc1 h6 then:
• 17.g5 17...hxg5 18.Bxg5 Rc8 19.h4 Rc6 20.Bd3 Nh5 is equal (Koscielski-Krivoshey, Op, Bad Woerishofen, 2004).
• 17.Nb3 Qc7 18.Bd3 d5 19.exd5 Nxd5 20.Bf5 a5 21.Qd3 0-0 is equal (Movsesian-Miton, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2004).
• 11...h6 12.h4 Nxd4 13.Qxd4 Qb8 14.Bh3 b4 15.Ne2 Bb5 16.Qd2 Nd7 17.Nd4 Ne5 18.b3 Nc6 19.g5 Nxd4 20.Qxd4 gives White more space and more activity (Shirov-Greenfeld, Op, Pardubice, 1994).

10...Rc8

• If 10...h6 11.Be3 h5 12.Bg5 Ne5 13.Kb1 then:
• If 13...b5 14.Bd3 Qb6 15.Nce2 b4 16.Rhe1 a5 17.g3 Rc8 is equal (B. Socko-Manik, IT, Warsaw, 2005).
• 13...Qc7 14.Bd3 b5 15.Rhe1 b4 16.Nce2 a5 17.Nf4 Qb6 18.Bf1 a4 19.Qe3 is equal (Predojevic-Kolesar, Op, Pula, 2005).

11.Nxc6

• 11.Kb1 h6 12.Be3 h5 13.Nxc6 Bxc6 14.Bg5 b5 15.Ne2 Qc7 16.Nd4 Bd7 17.Bd3 g6 18.Rhf1 e5 19.Ne2 Bc6 is equal (Z. Almasi-Murariu, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2008).

11...Bxc6 12.Kb1!?

• If 12.Ne2 then:
• If 12...Qb6 13.Nd4 Ba4 14.Be3 Qc7 then:
• 15.Kb1!? e5 16.Nb3 d5 17.Bd3 dxe4 18.fxe4 0-0 19.Bg5 Ng4 20.Bxe7 Qxe7 gives Black the advantage in space (Kosteniuk-Madl, Minsports Rapid W, Beijing, 2008).
• 15.Bd3 d5 16.h5 h6 17.e5 Nd7 18.f4 Nc5 is equal.
• 12...0-0 13.Nd4 Ba4 14.g4 Nd7 15.Bxe7 Qxe7 16.g5 Ne5 17.f4 Nc6 18.Rh2 d5 19.Nxc6 Bxc6 20.e5 Bb5 21.Bh3 Rc4 is equal (Erenburg-Dembo, Op, Cappelle la Grande, 2006).

12...Qc7

• The game is equal.

13.Bf4 Rd8 14.g4

• White's advance on the kingside is a stereotypical plan in Sicilian positions like this.
• 14.h5 h6 15.Qf2 0-0 16.g4 b5 remains equal.

14...b5 15.a3 Qb7 16.Bd3 d5 17.g5?

• In an ultra-sharp opening like the Rauzer, one small slip is all it takes to fall into the abyss. The center is not yet secure, therefore this kingside aggression is unjustified.
• If 17.Qe2 d4 18.Na2 a5 then:
• 19.Be5 19...b4 20.axb4 axb4 remains equal.
• 19.g5?! Nd7 20.h5 e5 gives Black the initiative.
• 17.e5?! Ne4 18.Nxe4 dxe4 19.fxe4 Bxe4 20.Bxe4 Qxe4 gives Black the initiative.

BLACK: Fabien Guilleux
!""""""""#
$ + Tl+ T%
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$o+v+oM +%
$+o+o+ P %
$ + +pB P%
$P Nb+p+ %
$ PpQ + +%
$+k+r+ +r%
/(((((((()
WHITE: Sebastien Maze
Position after 17.g4g5

17...Nxe4!!

• Black strikes in the center to punish White for his premature attack. The Sacrifice of the Kinght is redeemed by the winning of a pawn.
• 17...b4!? 18.gxf6 bxc3 19.Qxc3 Bxf6 20.Be5 is equal.

18.fxe4 dxe4 19.Nxe4 Bxe4 20.Rh3

• White sees that the pawn is lost and tries to minimize the damage.
• 20.Bxe4 Qxe4 21.Qf2 0-0 22.Rhf1 Rxd1+ 23.Rxd1 leaves Black a pawn to the good.

20...0-0!?

• In a sharp game, one must strike when one can. Removing the King from the center had to wait until now.
• Nevertheless, better is 20...b4 21.a4 b3 22.h5 Bf3 when Black is more active.

21.h5

• White is still intent on a Kingside assault.

21...b4

• With the action in the center complete, Black now counters on the queenside.

22.Be5?!

• White's demise now comes quickly.
• White has a more stubborn defense in 22.axb4! Bxb4 23.Qe2 Rd4 when:
• If 24.Bc1 Qc6 25.h6 g6 26.Bxe4 Rxe4 27.Qf2 Be7, but Black remains a pawn to the good.
• Black is still a pawn to the good after 24.Bxe4 Rxd1+ 25.Qxd1 Qxe4 26.Bc1 Be7, but White has better resources than in the text.

BLACK: Fabien Guilleux
!""""""""#
$ + T Tl+%
$+w+ VoOo%
$o+ +O+ +%
$+ + B Pp%
$ O +v+ +%
$P +b+ +r%
$ PpQ + +%
$+k+r+ + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Sebastien Maze
Position after 22.Bf4e5

22...bxa3!

• Black wins a second pawn. White is doomed.

23.b3 Bxd3 24.Rxd3 Rxd3 25.Qxd3 Bxg5

• Still as a consequence of White's feeble 22nd move, Black has won yet a third pawn.

26.Qc3 f6!?

• This is inaccurate, but not enough to endanger the victory.
• If 26...Rc8 then Black wins easily after 27.Qd4 a2+ 28.Ka1 f6 29.Qg4 Kf7.

27.Bg3?!

• White misses an opportunity to present Black with some problems.
• If 27.Bd6 Rc8 28.Bxa3 f5 then:
• 29.Qd3 Qc6 30.Bb2 Rd8 31.Qe2 Rxd1+ 32.Qxd1 Kf7 still leaves Black two pawns up.
• If 29.Qg3 then Black gains a tempo after 29...Qc6! 30.Qd3.

27...Rc8 28.Qa5 f5 29.Be5

• If 29.Qe1 Qc6 30.c4 Qb6 then:
• 31.Kc2 Rd8 32.Rxd8+ Bxd8! 33.Be5 Kf7 34.b4 a2 followed by 35...Be7 is an easy wins for Black
• 31.Qc3 Bf6 32.Qc2 a2+ 33.Qxa2 Rxc4 the end is near.

29...Qe4 30.Rd3 Qh1+ 0-1

• If 31.Ka2 Rxc2+ then:
• 32.Kxa3 Bc1+ 33.Ka4 Qc6+ 34.Kb4 Qb7+ 35.Ka4 Ra2#.
• 32.Bb2 axb2 33.Rd8+ Bxd8 gives Black a prohibitive material edge.
• M. Maze resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

11. Update (Tuesday): FIDE releases Spring Ratings List: Topa on Top

Bulgarian grandmaster and former FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov is the number one ranked player in the world with an Elo score of 2812, the highest rating since the retirement of Garry Kasparov, according to the Spring ratings list released by FIDE today.

Reigning world champion Vishy Anand is second with a rating of 2783 and 18-year-old Norwegian GM Magnus Carlsen is third at 2770.

Among women players, Hungarian GM Judit Polgar, who is often regarded as being in a class by herself, is first at 2693. Indian GM Koneru Humpy, the only other woman in history to break the 2600 mark, is second at 2612 while 15-year-old Hou Yifan of China is knocking at the door of the 2600 barrier at 2590 in third place. Russian IM Tatiana Kosintseva, after a very successful winter, is in tenth place at 2522, up 25 points from January.

The list of top players can be found at Susan Polgar's blog.