The JR Chess Report (April 4): 4-way tie concludes Reykjavik Open; Russ Team Championships Begin

[Jack Rabbit]

Reykjavik Open Ends in Four-Way Tie



The 2009 edition of the Reykjavik Open ended Wednesday in a four-way tie for first place among grandmaster Yuriy Kryvoruchko of Ukraine, Icelandic GMs Hannes Stefansson and Hedinn Steingrimsson, and Romanian grandamaster and noted author Mihail Marin, who each scored 7 points in nine rounds in Iceland.

Kryvoruchko and Marin began the final round tied for first place with 6½ points each and agred to a draw after only twelve moves in their game. Hannes and Hedinn began last round tied for third with several other participants, including French GM Sebastien Maze, whom Hannes defeated in 38 moves, and reigning junior world champion Abhijeet Gupta of India, who fell to Hedinn in 72 moves.

For Hannes, this was the second year in a row in which he shared the Reykjavik title. Last year, he tied for first with Chinese grandmasters Wang Yue and Wang Hao, neither of whom returned to Reykjavik this year.

Six players finished tied for fifth place on 6½ points: top seed Alexander Areshchenko of Ukraine; grandmaster Yuri Shulman, the reigning US national champion; international master Thomas Roussel-Roozman of Canada; Serbian IM Milos Popovich; and two IMs from Italy, Daniele Vocaturo and Luca Shytaj.

Indian IM Dronavalli Harika was top finishing woman in the field with 6 points.



Baden-Baden Wins Bundeslinga for Fourth Straight Year



The 2008-09 season of the German Budeslinga concluded Sunday, March 29, with the team representing Baden-Baden winning the league competition for the fourth year in a row.

Baden-Baden actually clinched first place by defeating Solingen on Saturday in Baden-Baden by a 6-2 score (Budesligna matches consist of eight boards) with reigning world champion Vishy Anand playing top board. Anand won his game against Solingen's Daniel Stellwagen.

Baden-Baden also won in Sunday's fifteenth and final round over Wattenscheid, again by a 6-2 score.

Overall, Baden-Baden scored 28 match points out of a possible thirty and 88 indiviual points out of a possible 120.

In addition to Anand, Banden-Baden roster includes Nowegian GM Magnus Carlsen, Alexei Shirov of Spain and reigning Russian national champion Peter Svidler, who had a particularly successful season with 7 points in nine games. The team also feature Germany's leading grandmaster, Arkadij Naiditsch, who contributed 9½ points in 12 games to the cause.

Bremen, which won both its matches during the final weekend, finished second in the league with 24 match points.



Russian Team Championships Begin in Sochi



The annual Russian Team Championships got underway Thursday in Dagomys, a resort center near Sochi on the eastern shores of the Black Sea.

Today (Saturday) the main event started among seven teams, down from the usual 12. Ekaterininburg, lead by young GM Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan, old-timer Alexei Shirov of Spain by way of Latvia, and Russian GM Alexander Grischuk, this year's winner at Linares, is defending its title won impressively last year. However, the team from Tomsk, which usually wins this tournament, is looking to bounce back from its disappointing performance last year when the team got off to a terrible start and finished with only 10 match points out of a possible 22.

The Tomsk team boasts such present-day luminaries as Alexander Morozevich, Sergey Karajkin and Dmitry Jokovenko.

On Thursday the Women's League and the Premier League began their competitions of seven and nine rounds respectively.

After three rounds in the Women's League, the team representing the Spartak Chess Club from Vidnoe, a suburb of Moscow, leads with a perfect score. Powerhouse Vidnoe is led by former world women's champion Antoaneta Stefanova of Bulgaria, who is backed by Russia's Kosintseva sisters, reigning European women's champion Tatiana and reinging Russian women's champion Nadezhda, and 2008 European women's champion Katya Lahno of Ukraine.

The competition in the Women's League concludes Sunday, April 12, while the other events finish Tuesday, April 14.

Some games will be posted later tonight; others tomorrow

Calendar


Gausdal Chess Classic (Norway) 7-15 April.

Foxwoods Open, Mashantucket, Connecticut 8-12 April.

FIDE Grand Prix, Nalchik 14-29 April.

Dubai Open 25 April-5 May.

MTel Masters, Sofia 9-19 May.

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

US Chess Championship, St. Louis 18-29 May.

Chicago Open 22-25 May.

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

World Open, Philadelphia 29 June-5 July.

San Sebastian International Tournament 6-16 July. Former world champion Karpov is among the participants.

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. Reykjavik Open

Photo: Moddular

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Stefansson - Maze, Round 9

Hannes Stefansson
Photo: ChessBase.com


Hannes Stefansson - Sebastien Maze
Open Tournament, Round 9
Reykjavik, 1 April 2009

West India Game: Tal-Indian Defense (New York Opening) (Modern Benoni)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 d6 5.Nc3 exd5 6.cxd5 g6 7.e4 Bg7

• This opening was little regarded before the late 1950s when the youthful Mikhail Tal scored a number of successes with it on his road to his brief reign as world champion.
• Renaming the debut Tal-Indian is my idea. For one thing, using modern almost as if it were a noun rather than an adjective gives rise to linguistic monstronsities like post-modren. For another, Tal was Tal and deserves a lasting monument.

8.h3

• Main Line If 8.Be2 0-0 9.0-0 then:
• If 9...Re8 10.Nd2 then:
• If 10...Nbd7 11.a4 a6 then:
• If 12.Qc2 then:
• If 12...Rb8 13.h3 Qc7 14.a5 b5 15.axb6 Nxb6 16.Nb3 Qe7 17.Na5 Bd7 18.Nc6 Bxc6 19.dxc6 is equal (Bukic-Velimirovic, Yugoslav Ch, Novi Sad, 1975).
• If 12...Ne5 13.Ra3 g5 then:
• If 14.Nd1 Ng6 15.Ne3 Nf4 16.Bd1 b6 17.f3 then:
• 17...Rb8 18.g3 Ng6 19.Ndc4 h6 20.Be2 is equal (Spraggett-Barlov, Op, New York, 1987).
• 14.a5 Rb8 15.Nd1 Ng6 16.Ne3 Nf4 17.Bd1 h5 18.Nec4! h4 19.Rb3 Qe7 20.Rb6 Nxe4 21.Nxe4 Qxe4 22.Qxe4 Rxe4 23.Nxd6 Rd4 24.Bxf4! wins the exchange (Portisch-Suba, Tunisien, 1985).
• 17...N6h5 18.Kh1 Bd4 19.Ndc4 Ra7!? 20.g3! Bh3 21.Rg1 gives White the advantage in space (Portisch-Lobron, IT, Plovdiv, 1983).
• If 12.f4 then:
• 12...Rb8 13.Kh1 Qc7 14.Qc2 b6 15.e5 dxe5 16.Nc4 b5 17.axb5 axb5 18.fxe5 bxc4 19.exf6 Bxf6 20.d6!? Qxd6 21.Bxc4 Bb7 22.Bf4 Ne5 gives Black an extra pawn and White more space (Haba-Stratil, Lang Mem, Brno, 1984).
• If 12...c4 then:
• If 13.Kh1 Nc5 14.e5 dxe5 15.fxe5 Rxe5 16.Nxc4 then:
• 16...Re8 17.Bg5 h6 18.Bh4 Nce4 19.d6 g5 20.Be1 Be6 21.Nxe4 Nxe4 22.Ba5 Bxc4 23.Bxd8 Bxe2 24.d7 Re6 25.Qxe2 Black cannot recover the Queen and resigns (Beliavsky-Velimirovic, IZT, Moscow, 1982).
• 16...Rf5 17.Bf4 Nxd5 18.Ne3 Bxc3 19.bxc3 Be6 20.Nxf5 Bxf5 21.Bg5 Qxg5 22.Qxd5 Qe3 23.Bg4!! Bxg4 24.Qxf7+ Kh8 25.Rae1 Be2 26.Qf6+ Kg8 27.Rf2 Black resigns (Farago-Kekelidze, Op, Deizisau, 2001).
• 13.e5 dxe5 14.Nxc4 Nb6 15.fxe5 Ng4 16.Nd6 Bxe5 17.Nxe8 Qh4 18.h3 Qg3 19.Bxg4 Qh2+ 20.Kf2 Qg3+ 21.Kg1 Qh2+ 22.Kf2 Qg3+ draw (Taimanov-Tal, Sukhumi, 1972).
• If 10...Na6 11.f3 Nc7 12.a4 then:
• If 12...b6 13.Nc4 Ba6 14.Bg5 then:
• If 14...h6 15.Be3 Bxc4 16.Bxc4 a6 17.Qd2 Kh7 18.Rab1 then:
• If 18...Rb8 19.b4 b5 20.Be2 c4 21.a5 Re7 22.Bd4 Qh8 23.Rbd1 Nce8 then:
• 24.g3!? Nd7 25.Bxg7 Nxg7 26.f4 f5 27.Bf3 is equal (Glek-Ivanchuk, IT, Tashkent, 1987).
• If 24.Rfe1! Nd7 25.Bxg7 Nxg7 26.f4 f5 27.Bf3 then:
• 27...Rbe8? 28.e5! dxe5 29.d6 Rf7 30.Bb7 exf4 31.Bxa6 White wins (Ivanchuk-Manor, IT, Groningen, 1986).
• 27...fxe4! 28.Rxe4 Rbe8 29.Rde1 Rxe4 30.Rxe4 Nf6 31.Rxe8 Qxe8 is equal.
• 18...Qd7 19.b4 b5 20.Be2 c4 21.a5 Ng8 22.Bd1 f5 23.Bc2 fxe4 24.fxe4 give White the advantage in space; Black should seek exchanges (Ogaard-Dr. Nunn, IT, ().
, 1983).
• 14...Qd7 15.Qd2 Bxc4 16.Bxc4 a6 17.Qd3 h6 18.Bd2 g5 19.g4 Qe7 is equal (Vranesic-Tringov, Ol, Tel Aviv, 1964).
• If 12...Nd7 then:
• If 13.Kh1 b6 14.Nc4 Ne5 15.Ne3 then:
• 15...f5 16.f4 Nf7 17.exf5 gxf5 18.Bd3 Nh6 19.Ne2 Qh4 20.Ng3 Rf8 21.Qc2 is equal (Taimanov-Ree, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1970).
• 15...Rb8 16.f4 Nd7 17.e5 dxe5 18.f5 Nf6 19.d6 Na6 gives Black an extra pawn and White more space (Korobov-Oleksienko, Ukrainian Ch, Kharkov, 2004).
• 13.Nc4 Ne5 14.Ne3 f5 15.exf5 gxf5 16.f4 Ng6 17.Kh1 Bd4 18.Nc2 Bg7 19.Bd3 Bd7 20.Ne3 Qf6 is equal (Browne-Ljubojevic, IZT, Manila, 1976).
• If 9...a6 10.a4 Bg4 11.Bf4 then:
• If 11...Bxf3 12.Bxf3 Qe7 13.Re1 Nbd7 14.a5 then:
• 14...Rab8 15.Qc2 Ne8 16.Be2 Nc7 17.Bf1 b5 18.axb6 Rxb6 19.Rad1 Rb4 20.Ra1 Rfb8 21.Ra2 f5 is equal (Houffe-Remmel, Corres, 2002).
• 14...Rfe8 15.Qd2 h5 16.h3 Nh7 17.Be2 Rac8 18.Bf1 Qf6 19.Rac1 g5 20.Be3 g4 draw (Tukmakov-Spraggett, IT, Barcelona, 1993).
• If 11...Re8 12.Nd2 Bxe2 13.Qxe2 Nh5 14.Be3 Nd7 then:
• 15.g4 Nhf6 16.f3 Qc7 17.a5 b5 18.axb6 Nxb6 19.Kh1 Qb7 20.Ra3 Nfd7 21.Nb3 Ne5 is equal (W. Schmidt-Z. Franco, IT, Vrnjacka Banja, 1983).
• 15.a5 Bd4 16.g4 Nhf6 17.f3 b5 18.axb6 Nxb6 19.Nd1 Nbxd5 20.exd5 Nxd5 21.Nc4 f5 22.f4 fxg4 is equal (Korchnoi-Dr. Nunn, IT, London, 1980).
• Averbakh Opening If 8.Bg5 h6 9.Bh4 then:
• If 9...a6 10.Nd2 b5 11.Be2 0-0 then:
• If 12.Qc2 Re8 13.0-0 Nbd7 14.a4 b4 15.Nd1 then:
• 15...b3 16.Qb1 g5 17.Bg3 Nxd5 18.Nc4 Nb4 19.Nxd6 Nc2 20.Nxe8 Qxe8 21.Ne3 Nxa1 22.Qxa1 is equal (Banikas-Oreopoulos, Op, Kalamaria, 2006).
• 15...g5 16.Bg3 Nxd5 17.Bf3 Nf4 18.e5 d5 19.Bxf4 gxf4 20.Bxd5 Ra7 21.Bc6 Rxe5 22.Nf3 Re6 23.Bxd7 Rxd7 24.Qxc5 Bb7 Black resigns in the face of material loss (Groffen-Berg, EU Ch, Liverpool, 2008).
• 12.0-0 Nbd7 13.Bg3 Qe7 14.Qc2 c4 15.a4 b4 16.Nd1 Nc5 17.Bf3 Nh5 18.Nxc4 Nxg3 19.hxg3 f5 gives White an extra pawn and Black more space (Gefenas-Prizant, Corres, 1996).
• If 9...g5 10.Bg3 Nh5 11.Bb5+ Kf8 then:
• 12.e5 Nxg3 13.fxg3 dxe5 14.0-0 a6 15.Bd3 b5 16.Nd2 Ra7 17.Bf5 Kg8 18.Nde4 b4 19.Na4 Nd7 20.Rc1 White recovers his extra pawn with advantage (Plachetka-Simacek, GMT, Cartak, 2005).
• If 12.Be2 Nxg3 13.hxg3 Nd7 14.Nd2 Qe7 15.g4 a6 16.a4 Bd4 then:
• If 17.0-0 Nf6 18.Nc4? h5 then:
• 19.Nb6 hxg4 20.g3 Nxe4 21.Nxc8 Qe5 22.Kg2 Nxc3 23.bxc3 Qe4+ 24.f3 Rh2+ White resigns as Black delivers mate in two moves (Forintos-Minic, Pula, 1971).
• 19.gxh5 g4 20.Ne3 Nxh5 21.Bxg4 Qh4 22.g3 Nxg3 23.Kg2 Nxf1 24.Kxf1 Bxe3 White is down a Rook and resings (Bobotsov-Kaplan, Ol, Siegen, 1970).
• 17.Nc4 b6 18.Qd2 Rb8 19.f3 Ne5 20.Ne3 Ng6 21.g3 Qe5 22.Rh3 is equal and was shortly agreed drawn (Bobotsov-David, ZT, Praia da Rocha, 1969).

8...a6

• If 8...0-0 9.Bd3 then:
• If 9...a6 10.a4 Re8 11.0-0 Nbd7 then:
• If 12.Re1 Nh5 13.Bg5 Bf6 then:
• If 14.Be3 Ne5 15.Be2 Nxf3+ 16.Bxf3 Ng7 17.Qd2 b6 then:
• 18.Rab1 Be5 19.Bg5 f6 20.Bf4 Ra7 21.b4 Rf7 22.Bd1 Qc7 23.bxc5 bxc5 24.Bxe5 fxe5 25.Qg5 gives White the advantage in space, but Black's game is defensible (Karjakin-Gashimov, Grand Prix, Sochi, 2008).
• 18.Be2 Bxc3 19.bxc3 Rxe4 20.Bd3 Re8 21.c4 Bf5 22.Bf1 Bd7 23.Bd3 Bf5 24.Bf1 Bd7 25.Bd3 draw (Onischuk-Gashimov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2008).
• 14.Bh6 Bg7 15.Bg5 Bf6 invites a draw by repetition.
• If 12.Bf4 then:
• If 12...Qe7 13.Re1 Nh5 14.Bh2 then:
• If 14...Qf8 15.Bf1 b6 16.g4 Nhf6 17.Nd2 Rb8 18.f4 then:
• 18...h5 19.e5 hxg4 20.exf6 Nxf6 21.Rxe8 Qxe8 22.Qe1 after either 22...gxh3 or 22...Bb7 White has the advantage in space (Huzman-Davies, IT, Vrnjachka Banja, 1991).
• 18...Bb7 19.Bg2 Kh8 20.e5 Ng8 21.Nc4 dxe5 22.fxe5 gives White the advantage in space (Chuprikov-Rychagov, Russian Ch HL, Novokuznetsk, 2008).
• 14...Ne5 15.Be2 Nxf3+ 16.Bxf3 Nf6 17.e5 dxe5 18.d6 Qd8 19.Bxe5 gives White an extra pawn (Schuurman-Hagarova, OlW, Dresden, 2008).
• If 12...Qc7 13.Re1 then:
• If 13...Nh5 14.Bh2 Ne5 15.Be2 then:
• 15...Qb6 16.Qd2 Nxf3+ 17.Bxf3 Nf6 18.a5 gives White the advantage in space and the initiative (Platonovic-Zivkovic, IT, Belgrade, 2008).
• If 15...Nxf3+ 16.Bxf3 Nf6 17.e5! then:
• 17...dxe5 18.d6 Qb6 19.Bxe5 Rxe5?! 20.Rxe5 Qxb2 21.Rxc5 gives White the exchange, more space, an advanced passer and, after a few more moves, a victory (Goldin-Goldsby, College Trnmt, Gainsville, Florida, 1998).
• 17...Nd7 18.exd6 Qd8 19.Qd2 Ne5 20.Bd1 Bf5 is equal (E. Lee-Goorsayhe, Ol, Dresden, 2008).
• If 13...Rb8 14.Rc1 Nh5 15.Be3 Ne5 then:
• 16.Nxe5 Bxe5 17.Qd2 Bd7 18.b3 Qa5 19.f4 Bd4 is equal (Polyakin-Redman, Op, Philadelphia, 2000).
• If 16.Be2 Nxf3+ 17.Bxf3 Nf6 then:
• If 18.b4!? then:
• 18...Nd7 19.b5 Qd8 20.Qb3 gives White more freedom (Simonet-Braga, IT, Andorra, 1999).
• 18...cxb4?! 19.Nb5 Qd8 20.Nc7 Re7 21.Bb6 gives White the advantage in space.
• 18...b6 (best) 19.b5 Bb7 20.Qb3 a5 21.Qc2 Nd7 22.Bg5 gives White more freedom, but Black's position, while cramped, is defensible.
• 18.Bf4 Nd7 19.Bg4 Ne5 20.Bxc8 Rbxc8 is equal.
• If 9...b5!? then:
• 10.Nxb5 Re8 11.0-0 Nxe4 12.Re1 a6 13.Na3 Nf6 14.Rxe8+ Nxe8 then:
• If 15.Nc4 Nd7 16.Bg5 Ndf6 then:
• 17.Ne3 h6 18.Bh4 g5 19.Bg3 Nh5 20.Rb1 Nxg3 21.fxg3 Ra7 22.Bf5 is equal (Finocchiaro-Prizant, Corres, 1996).
• 17.Qb3 a5 18.Re1 Ba6 19.Qd1 Qc7 20.Nfd2 Bb7 21.Be4 h6 is equal (Tukmakov-Suba, Op, Geneva, 1995).
• 15.Bg5 Nf6 16.Qd2 Bb7 17.Nc4 Bxd5 18.Be2 Be6 19.Nxd6 Nbd7 20.Bc4 Nf8 21.Ne5 Ne4 22.Nxe4 Qxd2 23.Bxd2 Bxe5 24.Bxe6 Nxe6 25.Bc3 is equal (Saleh-Madhi, Op, Dubai, 2001).
• If 10.Bxb5 Nxe4 11.Nxe4 Qa5+ 12.Nfd2 Qxb5 13.Nxd6 Qa6 14.N2c4 Nd7 15.0-0 Nb6 16.Nxb6 Qxb6 17.Nxc8 Raxc8 18.Rb1 Rfd8 19.Bf4 Qb7 20.d6 Bf8 then:
• If 21.Qd3 Bxd6 22.Bxd6 Rc6 23.Rfd1 then:
• 23...Rcxd6 24.Qxd6 Rxd6 25.Rxd6 c4 26.Rd2 c3 27.Rc2 Qe4 28.Rbc1 cxb2 29.Rxb2 h5 30.g3 a5 31.Rb3 Qd5 32.Rcb1 Qd2 33.a3 Qc2 34.Rb8+ Kg7 35.Re1 Qc3 36.Re3 Qc1+ 37.Kg2 Qc6+ 38.Kg1 Qc1+ 39.Kg2 Qc6+ draw (Shipov-Velimirovic, TMatch, Belgrade, 1998).
• 23...Qd7 24.Qa3 Rxd6 25.Rxd6 Qxd6 26.Qxa7 Qd3 27.Rc1 gives White an extra pawn (Banikas-Gashimov, Euro ChT, Saint Vincent, 2005).
• 21.Qd2 Bxd6 22.Bxd6 Rc6 23.b4 cxb4 24.Rxb4 Qd7 25.Rd1 Rxd6 26.Qxd6 Qxd6 27.Rxd6 Rxd6 28.Ra4 draw (Sasikiran-Ivanchuk, IT, Foros, 2007).

9.a4 Nbd7

• 9...0-0 10.Bd3 Re8 11.0-0 Nbd7 transposes to the previous note.

10.Bd3 Nh5

• 10...0-0 11.0-0 Re8 transposes to the note after Black's eighth move.

11.Bg5

• If 11.0-0 Ne5 12.Be2 Nxf3+ 13.Bxf3 Qh4 then:
• 14.Bg4! (White trades his "bad" Bishop for White's "good" one) 14...Be5 15.Bxc8 Rxc8 gives White's minor pieces better prospects of finding activity (Sanikidze-León Hoyos, World Jr Ch, Gaziantep, 2008).
• 14.Bxh5 gxh5 15.Qd3 Rg8 16.Kh1 Bd7 17.f4 c4 18.Qf3 Bd4 19.Be3 Rg3 20.Bxd4 Rxf3 21.Rxf3 is equal (Dziuba-Wojtaszek, IT, Warsaw, 2005).

11...Bf6 12.Be3 Ne5 13.Be2 Nxf3+ 14.Bxf3 Ng7 15.Bf4!?

• If 15.Qd2 then:
• 15...Be5 16.Bg5 f6 17.Bf4 0-0 18.0-0 Bd7 19.Be2 Qe7 20.Bxe5 fxe5 21.Rab1 Qh4 22.b4 c4 23.a5 Nh5!? 24.Bxh5 gxh5 25.Rbe1 creates a landscape that appears more hopitable to a Knight than a Bishop (Blafojevic-Maze, Ol, Dresden, 2009).
• 15...0-0 16.Rb1 Be5 17.b4 b6 18.Ne2 a5 19.bxc5 bxc5 20.0-0 f5 is equal (San Segundo-Wojtaszek, Ol, Torino, 2006).

15...g5?!

• Black declares his intention to play cut and thrust chess. He's not going to worry about King safety.
• More conventional (and better) is 15...0-0 16.0-0 Re8 when:
• 17.Re1 b6 18.Qc2 Bd4 19.Be3 Qf6 20.Bxd4 cxd4 21.Nd1 is equal.
• 17.Qd3 Bd4 18.Qd2 b6 19.Rfe1 Rb8 is equal.

16.Bg3

• The pawn at d6 is exposed on the diagonal; attacking it with the dark bound Bishop on the h2/b8 diagonal is a typical anti-Tal-Indian motif. White won't allow his Bishop to be driven away easily.

16...h5 17.0-0 g4!?

• Objectively best? No, not at all. Interesting and original? You betcha.
• Black is pushing a kingside initiative, but the center is unsettled. There is really no justification for this attack.
• 17...Be5 (intervening with the Bishop at e5 is also a well-known Tal-Indian motif) 18.Be2 g4 19.h4 Bf6 20.a5 Bxh4 21.Bxh4 Qxh4 22.Qa4+ is equal.

BLACK: Sebastien Maze
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WHITE: Hannes Stefansson
Position after 17...g5g4

18.hxg4!?

• White is not afraid of opening the h-file, even if Black has a Rook on it.
• As will be seen, this move is not without risk.
• 18.e5!? dxe5 19.hxg4 hxg4 20.Bxg4 Bxg4 21.Qxg4 Nh5 is equal.

18...hxg4 19.Bxg4

• White has won a pawn.

19...Bd4!?

• Black's pieces lack any common sense of prpose. The Knight is especially troublesome.
• 19...Be5 20.Bxc8 Rxc8 21.Qg4 Bxg3 22.Qxg3 puts the Knight at g7 in an embarrassing position; if now 22...Nh5 then 23.Qh3 is a very nasty pin.
• If 19...Bxg4 20.Qxg4 then:
• 20...Nh5 21.Bh2 Be5 22.Bxe5 dxe5 23.Rfd1 Qd6 24.g3 send the Knight bacxk to f6 to redeply to the queenside in search of hospitable outposts.
• 20...Qe7 21.Qf3 Nh5 22.Bh2 Be5 23.Bxe5 dxe5 24.Rfd1 turns the d-pawn into a dangerous weapon.

20.Bxc8?!

• The reason Black can't do anything with his command of the h-file is that White's Bishop pair have the file covered from the fifth rank down. This move disturbs the defense of the h-file, opening the door for Black to find some counterplay.
• Better is 20.Qf3 Bxg4 21.Qxg4 Nh5 22.Bh2 Nf6 23.Qf3 when Black's pieces at least protect each other, but now the Knight at f6 is blocking the Black Queen's route to the kingside.

20...Nh5?!

• Black misses a chance to punish White for his last move.
• If 20...Rxc8! 21.Qg4 Rh5 22.a5 Qd7 then:
• If 23.Qf4 Ke7! then:
• 24.Rfd1 Be5 25.Qf3 Bxg3 26.Qxg3 Rch8 27.Kf1 Ne8 Black finally has his counterplay on the h-file; although White is still better, things look a lot better for Black here than they did after White's 19th move.
• 24.Bh4+?! f6 25.Qg3 Kf7 is equal.
• If 23.Qxd7+?! Kxd7 24.Rfe1 then:
• 24...Rch8! 25.Kf1 f5 26.Rad1 Rg5 is equal.
• 24...f5 25.Rad1 Rch8 equalizes.

21.Bh2

• The text is better than 21.Bxd6?! when after 21...Qxd6 then:
• If 22.Bh3 Nf4 23.Qf3 Qf6 24.Qg4 Rh4! then:
• 25.Qg8+ Ke7 26.Qxa8 Nxh3+ 27.gxh3 Qg5+ 28.Kh2 Qf4+ draws by repetition.
• If 25.Qg3? then 25...Qh8! 26.Rfe1 Nxh3+!! 27.gxh3 Rxh3 28.Qg2 Qh4 wins for Black
• If 22.e5? Ng3 23.Bh3 Qg6 then:
• 24.Re1 Qf5 25.Re3 Bxe3 26.fxe3 Qxe5 gives Black a clear advantage.
• If 24.Qb3 Rxh3 25.gxh3 then:
• If Black abjures the exchange with 25...Ne2+!! then after 26.Kh1 Qd3 Black wins.
• If 25...Nxf1+? then 26.Kxf1 Qf5 27.Nd1 is equal, which at this point is a moral defeat for Black.

21...Rxc8 22.Qg4

• A little better is 22.Qf3 Qh4 23.Qh3 Qxh3 24.gxh3 Ke7 when:
• If 25.Rfd1 then after 25...Nf6 26.Rd3 Rcg8+ 27.Kf1 White retains his extra pawn after defending well against Black's kingside aggression.
• 25.Ne2 Nf6 26.Nxd4 cxd4 27.Rad1 Rxh3 gives Black the counterpaly he has been seeking.

BLACK: Sebastien Maze
!""""""""#
$ +tWl+ T%
$+o+ +o+ %
$o+ O + +%
$+ Op+ +m%
$p+ Vp+q+%
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$ P + PpV%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Hannes Stefansson
Position after 22.Qd1g4

22...Nf6!

• Black will take advantage of White's recent inaccuracies by redeploying his Knight and bringing the Queen to the h-file for counterplay.

23.Qf3 Nd7

• 23...Rh5?! turns out to be a waste of time after 24.Bf4 Qe7 25.Ne2 Kd7 26.Ng3!.
• If 23...Qe7 then after 24.a5 Be5 25.Bg3 Nd7 26.Rfe1 when White remains a pawn to the good.

24.Ne2

• If 24.Bxd6 then 24...Qh4 25.Qh3 Qf6 26.e5 Qg7 is equal.

24...Be5?!

• Black distains the pawn at b2. After this, he fails gain the level game to which he seems headed.
• If 24...Bxb2! 25.Rab1 then:
• 25...Be5 26.Bxe5 Nxe5 27.Qg3 Rb8 28.f4 Ng6 29.e5 b6 is equal.
• 27.Qf5?! Rb8! 28.Rb3 b5 29.axb5 axb5 30.Rfb1 b4 gives Black two connected passers.
• If 25...Qh4?! then 26.Qg3! Bf6 27.Rxb7 repulses Black's attack.

25.Bxe5

• If 25.Bg3 c4 26.Rab1 Qg5 27.Qf5 then:
• 27...Qxf5 28.exf5 Nc5 29.Bxe5 dxe5 30.Rfc1 Nd3 31.Rc3 gives White an extra pawn and Black more space.
• If 27...Bxg3 then 28.Nxg3 Qh6 29.Rfc1 gives White the advantage in space.

25...Nxe5 26.Qf5 c4

• If 26...Rc7 27.Ra3! then:
• 27...Nc4 28.Rh3 Rxh3 29.Qxh3 Qf6 30.Qc3 White no longer need fear counterpaly on the kingside.
• If 27...c4? then 28.Nf4! Nd3 29.Nxd3 Qh4 30.Qh3 refutes Black's counterplay.

BLACK: Sebastien Maze
!""""""""#
$ +tWl+ T%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Hannes Stefansson
Position after 26..c5c4


27.Ra3!

• Just as in a physical sport, speed is an important element of chess. However, since the struggle is abstract, chess player measure time in numbers of moves rather than on a clock based on the apparent motion of the Sun around the Earth in a single day. Thus, speed, the economy of time, is measured in using fewer moves to accomplish something as opposed to some other way of doing it.
• Lifting the Rook to a3 and moving it to h3 is the fastest way to shut down Black's potential counterplay in h-file, on which much of Black's hopes of saving the game are based.
• Now you understand why the text move is awarded an exclam.

27...Qd7?!

• Black removes the Queen from where it can move to the h-file, effectively ending chances of counterplay there.
• If 27...Rc7 28.Nf4! (a flexible move by which White can block the h-file by Nh3 and use the Rook on the queenside) then:
• If 28...Qe7!? (an attempt to find counterplay against White's backward pawn at e4) then after 29.a5 Rc5 30.Rc1 Nc6 31.Qc8+ Nd8 32.Qg4 Black still cannot take the pawn on e4.
• 28...b6?! 29.Rc1 Qe7 30.Rcc3 Qf8 31.Rab3 Nd7 32.Rb4 puts Black in deep trouble over his queenside pawns.
• Seeking counterplay in the h-file still won't work: If 28...Qh4? then after 29.Rh3 Nf3+ 30.gxf3 Rg8+ 31.Kh2 Black is kaput.

28.Qf6!

• With the counterplay on the h-file out of the question, White simply attacks.

28...Rf8

• If Black shifts the focus of his counterplay to the g-file with
• 28...Rg8? then if 29.Rg3! Ng4 30.Qh4 then:
• If 30...Rg6 then after 31.Nf4 Ne5 32.Nxg6 Nxg6 33.Qh3 White wins.
• If 30...c3 then White wins after 31.bxc3 Rc4 32.f3 f5 33.exf5.

29.Nd4 Qd8

• If 29...c3 30.Nf5! (threatening 31.Ng7#) 30...Rg8 31.Rc1 Nf3+ 32.Kh1 then:
• 32...Qd8 33.Qxd8+ Kxd8 34.gxf3 cxb2 35.Rxc8+ Kxc8 36.Rb3 leaves White a piece to the good.
• After 32...Ne5 33.Raxc3 Rxc3 34.Rxc3 White must lose material submit to mate.

30.Qf5 Qd7

• No better is 30...Rh8 31.Rh3 Rxh3 32.Qxh3 Rb8 33.Nf5 Qf6 34.Qc3.

31.Rc1

• Also good is 31.Rh3 Rc5 32.Rh7 Qxf5 33.Nxf5.

31...Qxf5 32.Nxf5 Kd7 33.b3

• A faster win is 33.Rh3 Rg8 34.Rcc3 b5 35.axb5 axb5 36.Ra3.

33...Nd3?

• Black puts the final nail in his coffin by allowing his c-pawn to be taken without compensation.
• Black puts up a more stubborn defense after 33...Rc5 34.a5 Rg8 35.Rc3 Rgc8 36.Ne3 cxb3 37.Rcxb3.

34.Rxc4!

• Never stare a gift horse in the mouth when you can ride it off into the sunset.

34...Nb2 35.Rxc8 Rxc8 36.b4 Rc1+ 37.Kh2 Nc4 38.Rh3 1-0

• If 38...Rb1 then after 39.b5 axb5 40.axb5 Rxb5 41.Rh7 more Black pawns fall.
• M. Maze resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Meszaros - Steingrimsson, Round 8

Hedinn Steingrimsson
Photo: Kaupthing Open (2007)


Michal Meszaros - Hedinn Steingrimsson
Open Tournament, Round 8
Reykjavik, 31 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 6.Bb3 Be7 7.d3

• 7.Re1 0-0 8.c3 d6 9.h3 transposes to the main line.

7...d6 8.a4

• If 8.c3 0-0 9.Re1 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.Nbd2 Re8 12.Nf1 Nc6 13.h3 then:
• If 13...h6 14.Ng3 then:
• 14...Bf8 15.d4 cxd4 16.cxd4 exd4 17.Nxd4 Nxd4 18.Qxd4 Be6 19.Bf4 Rc8 20.Bb3 d5 21.Rad1 Bc5 draw (Berndt-Svidler, Euro ChT, Panormo, 2001).
• 14...Be6 15.d4 cxd4 16.cxd4 exd4 17.Nxd4 Nxd4 18.Qxd4 Rc8 19.Bb3 d5 20.e5 Nd7 21.Nh5 Nc5 22.Bc2 Nd7 23.Bb3 Nc5 24.Be3 Nxb3 25.axb3 Bc5 is equal (Svidler-Aronian, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 2007).
• If 13...Bb7 14.Ng3 Bf8 then:
• 15.d4 cxd4 16.cxd4 exd4 17.Nxd4 Nxd4 18.Qxd4 Rc8 19.Bb3 d5 20.e5 Ne4 21.Nxe4 dxe4 22.Qxd8 Rcxd8 23.Bf4 Bc5 24.Rac1 Bb6 25.Red1 Rxd1+ 26.Rxd1 Rd8 27.Rxd8+ Bxd8 is equal (H. Hunt-Azarov, IT, Warsaw, 2005).
• 15.Nh2 h6 16.Ng4 Bc8 17.Nxf6+ Qxf6 18.Be3 Be6 19.Bb3 Bxb3 20.Qxb3 Qe6 21.Nf5 Kh7 22.Bd2 c4 draw (Mirzoev-Khamrakulov, Op, Egypt, 2001).

8...Bg4

• If 8...b4 then:
• If 9.a5 0-0 10.Re1 Be6 11.Nbd2 then:
• If 11...Qc8 12.Nc4 Rb8 13.h3 h6 14.Be3 Rd8 15.Qe2 then:
• 15...Bf8 16.Nfd2 Ne7 17.d4 Ng6 18.d5 Bd7 19.Rec1 gives White the advantage in sapce (Karjakin-Aronian, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2006).
• 15...Qb7 16.Ncd2 Bxb3 17.Nxb3 Bf8 18.Nh2 Re8 19.Qf3 Re6 20.Nf1 Qb5 21.Ng3 g6 22.Bd2 Bg7 is equal (Caruana-Werle, Corus B, Wijk aan Zee, 2009).
• 11...Rb8 12.Bc4 Qc8 13.Nf1 Bxc4 14.dxc4 Qe6 15.Ne3 Bd8 16.Nd5 Nd7 17.Be3 Ne7 18.Qd2 c5 19.Qd3 h6 20.Nh4 Kh7 21.Nf5 gives White the advantage in space (Fuchs-Spassky, SX Sochi, 1966).
• If 9.Nbd2 then:
• If 9...0-0 10.Re1 then:
• If 10...Na5 11.Ba2 c5 then:
• If 12.Nc4 Nc6 13.h3 Rb8 14.Be3 Be6 15.Ng5 d5 16.exd5 Bxd5 17.Nf3 Nd7 18.Bd2 Bf6 19.Nh2 Nb6 20.Nxb6 Bxa2 21.Rxa2 Rxb6 22.Ng4 Bh4 23.b3 f5 24.Ne3 is equal (S. Zhigalko-Cheparinov, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).
• 12.c3 Rb8 13.d4 Qc7 14.dxe5 dxe5 15.Nc4 Rd8 16.Qe2 b3 17.Nxa5 Qxa5 18.Bb1 c4 19.Qxc4 Bc5 20.h3 Qb6 21.Be3 Bxe3 22.Rxe3 Rd1+ 23.Re1 Rxe1+ 24.Nxe1 gives White an extra pawn and Black more space (Cheparinov-Aronian, IT, Sofia, 2008).
• 10...Be6 11.a5 transposes into the main line of this variation.
• If 8...Bb7 then:
• If 9.Nc3 Na5 10.Ba2 b4 11.Ne2 c5 12.Ng3 then:
• If 12...Bc8 13.Nh4 0-0 14.Nhf5 Be6 15.Bg5 h6 then:
• If 16.Qc1?! b3 then:
• If 17.Bxh6? gxh6 18.Qxh6 Ne8 then:
• 19.f4? bxa2 20.Rf3 Ra7 21.Nh5 Bxf5 22.exf5 Bh4 Black goes on to win (Kiviaho-Timmerman, Corres, 1991).
• If 19.cxb3 Bg5 20.Qh3 Ng7 21.b4 Nxf5 22.Nxf5 Bxa2 is equal.
• White misses the firecracker combination 17.Nxe7+! Qxe7 18.Nh5 when White has two pieces en prise on the kingside, but Black can't touch either of them.
• If 16.Bh4! Kh7 17.Nxe7 Qxe7 18.Qf3 g5 19.Nf5 Bxf5 20.Qxf5+ Kg7 21.Bg3 Rab8 is equal.
• 18.Nh5?! g5 19.Bg3 Nxh5 20.Qxh5 Bxa2! 21.Rxa2 f5! gives Black the advantage in space.
• If 12...0-0 13.Re1 then:
• 13...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 9...b4 10.Nd5 then:
• 10....Na5 11.Nxf6+ Bxf6 12.Bd5 c6 13.Ba2 0-0 14.c3 bxc3 15.bxc3 c5 16.Re1 Re8 is equal (Bouariz-G. Flear, IT, London, 1978).
• If 10...Nxd5 11.Bxd5 0-0 12.Bd2 Rb8 13.Qe1 Qd7 14.a5 Nd4 15.Nxd4 exd4 16.Bb3 c5 is equal (Popova-Ozturk, Euro ChW, Plovdiv, 2008).
• 9.Re1 h6 10.Nbd2 0-0 11.Nf1 Re8 12.Bd2 Bf8 13.Ng3 Nb8 14.Qb1 Qd7 15.c4 bxc4 16.Bxc4 c5 17.b4 cxb4 18.Bxb4 White seeks to build pressure on Black's d-pawn (Hou Yifan-Yildiz, Grand Prix W, Istanbul, 2009).

9.c3 0-0 10.h3 Bd7

• 10...Bxf3 11.Qxf3 Na5 12.Bc2 c5 13.Nd2 Nd7 14.Nb3 Nc6 15.Qe2 Nb6 16.a5 Nd7 17.g3 Re8 18.f4 exf4 19.gxf4 Bf8 20.Kh2 d5 21.e5 d4 22.cxd4 cxd4 is equal (Svetushkin-Nikolic, Euro Ch, Plovdiv. 2008).

11.Nbd2

• If 11.Bc2 Re8 12.Re1 then:
• 12...h6 13.Nbd2 Bf8 14.Nf1 d5 15.Ne3 dxe4 16.dxe4 b4 17.a5 Bc5 18.Nd5 Nh7 19.Be3 Bd6 20.Qd2 bxc3 21.bxc3 gives White the advantage in space (Timofeev-Korotylev. Russian Ch HL, Krasnoyarsk, 2007).
• 12...Bf8 13.Nbd2 d5 14.axb5 axb5 15.Rxa8 Qxa8 16.Bb3 Be6 17.Ng5 Na5 18.Nxe6 fxe6 19.Nf3 Nxb3 20.Qxb3 Bd6 21.Bg5 c6 22.Bxf6 gxf6 23.d4 Qa4 24.Qxa4 bxa4 is equal (T. Kosintseva-Ruan Lufei. TMatch, Moscow, 2007).

11...Na5 12.Bc2 c5 13.Re1 Qc7!?

• If 13...Re8 14.Nf1 h6 then:
• 15.Ne3 Bf8 16.Bd2 Nc6 17.Nh2 Ne7 18.Nhg4 Nxg4 19.hxg4 Be6 20.Nf5 Qd7 is equal (Aveskulov-Sargissian, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).
• 15.N3h2 b4 16.Ne3 Bf8 17.Nhg4 Nxg4 18.hxg4 Be6 19.cxb4 cxb4 20.d4 exd4 21.Qxd4 d5 22.Rd1 Nc6 23.Qd3 d4 gives Black the advantage in space (Granda-Utman, Pan Am Ch, Buenos Aires, 2005).

14.Nf1

• The game is equal.
• 14.d4?! presents what resembles a well-known position from the Chigorin Defense, except that White has lost a tempo by taking two moves to get his pawn to d4; after 14...cxd4 15.cxd4 Rfc8 16.Bd3 bxa4 Black has the advantage in space.

14...h6!?

• After this move, the tempo discussed in the previous note means a little less.
• 14...b4 15.cxb4 cxb4 16.d4 Rfc8 17.Ne3 remains equal.

15.Ng3 Rfe8 16.Nh4

• 16.d4 again brings up a Chigorin-like position, but now if 16...cxd4 17.cxd4 Rec8 18.Re2 Be6 then:
• 19.axb5 19...axb5 20.d5 Bd7 remains equal.
• 19.d5 Bd7 20.axb5 axb5 transposes.

BLACK: Hedinn Steingrimsson
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Michal Meszaros
Position after 16.Nf3h4

16...Bf8

• Black is in some trouble. He should be able to get out of it, but one false move is disaster.
• For those who don't follow along with long varioations, please do so now. Trust me. This one's a lot of fun.
• If 16...b4? 17.Nh5 b3 18.Bb1 Nxe4 19.Rxe4 then:
• If 19...f5 then:
• If 20.Nxg7!! Kxg7 21.Qh5 Bxh4 22.Rxh4 Rg8 23.d4 then:
If
• 23...Kf6 24.Qxh6+ Rg6 25.Bg5+ then:
If
• 25...Kf7 26.Qh7+ Rg7 27.Qh5+ then:
• 27...Rg6 28.Bxf5 Bxf5 29.Qh7+ Rg7 30.Qxf5+ Kg8 31.Bh6 Qf7 32.Qe4 wins for White.
• 27...Kg8 28.Bf6 cxd4 29.Bxg7 Kxg7 30.Qh7+ Kf8 31.Bxf5 wins for White.
• If 25...Ke6 then after 26.Qxg6+ Kd5 27.Be4+ fxe4 28.Qxe4+ White soon delivers mate.
• 23...Kf8 24.Bxh6+ Ke7 25.Bg5+ Kf8 26.Qh6+ wins for White.
• 20.Nxf5? Bxf5 21.Re1 Rf8 22.Ng3 Bh7 gives Black the advantage in space.
• If 19...g6 20.Qf3 then:
• If 20...d5 21.Qg3 dxe4 22.Nxg6! Bg4 23.Nxe7+ Kh8 24.Qxg4 White has three minor pieces for a Rook.
• If 20...gxh5?? 21.Bxh6! Bf8 22.Qxh5 Qd8 23.Re3 then:
• 23...Bg7 24.Rg3 (White is threatening 25.Rxg7+ Kh8 26.Qg6 fxg6 27.Nxg6#) 24...Qf6 25.Bxg7 wins the Queen.
• 23...Bxh6 24.Qxh6 Bg4 25.Rg3 Qd7 26.Rxg4+ wins the Queen.

17.Nhf5

• White has a slight edge in space.
• 17.Qf3 Re6 18.Bd2 b4 19.cxb4 cxb4 20.Rac1 Qb7 is equal.

17...Kh7?!

• Hedinn must have taken some time to examine the vaiations discussed in the notes to Black's 16th move because he seems intent on overprotecting the pawn at h6.
• 17...b4! then:
• 18.Qf3 b3 19.Bb1 Qd8 20.Bd2 Be6 is equal.
• 18.cxb4 cxb4 19.Bd2 d5 20.Rc1 Bc6 21.exd5 Bxd5 is equal.

18.Qf3 Ng8

• Again, Black overprotects the pawn at h6.

19.Ne3 Be6 20.Nd5

• White enlarges his space advantage.

20...Qb7

• 20...Bxd5 21.exd5 g6 22.Be3 Bg7 helps to fortify Black's center.

21.Be3 g6 22.b4 Nc6

• If 22...cxb4! 23.cxb4 Nc6 24.Reb1 then:
• 24...Bxd5! 25.exd5 Nd4 26.Bxd4 exd4 does much to dissipate White's spatial plus.
• 24...Bg7 25.Bb3 Rf8 26.Rb2 maintains White's advantage in space.

23.Bb3?!

• White drops a pawn.
• 23.Reb1 cxb4 24.cxb4 Bxd5 25.exd5 Nd4 26.Bxd4 exd4 keeps the pawn, but cuts into White's space.

23...cxb4 24.cxb4 Nxb4

• The game is equal; Black's extra pawn compensate for any residual disadvantage in space.

25.d4

• With Rooks in opposition on the a-file, it is not to either player's advantage to open the queenside.
• 25.axb5 axb5 26.d4 Bxd5 27.exd5 f5 28.Rxa8 Rxa8 gives Black an extra pawn.

25...Nc6 26.dxe5 dxe5

• 26...Nxe5 27.Qe2 Bg7 28.Rab1! Ne7 29.Nxe7 Qxe7 remains equal; with his Rook at b1, White now has the option (see previous note) to open the queeside with his Rook attacking Black's b-pawn when it is undefended (30.axb5 axb5 31.Bxe6 fxe6 32.Rxb5 with equality).

27.h4?!

• This isn't the best move, and Grandmaster Meszaros may have been aware of that when he played it. The selection may have been dictated by the tournament tables as the winner of the present game, played in the penultimate round, stood a chance of sharing first prize.
• 27.Red1 Bg7 28.Ne2 Rac8 29.axb5 axb5 remains equal.

BLACK: Hedinn Steingrimsson
!""""""""#
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$o+m+v+ +%
$+o+nO + %
$p+ +p+ P%
$+b+ BqN %
$ + + Pp+%
$R + R K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Michal Meszaros
Position after 27.h3h4

27...Na5!?

• Black, too, can play this game. Best is strike in the center after White has shown an unjustified advance on a wing.
• 27...Nd4! 28.Bxd4 exd4 29.Ne2 Bg7 Black retains the extra pawn.

28.Ba2 bxa4!?

• Since Black has initiated a plan on the queenside, he will stick with it as long as it is working.
• 28...Nc4 29.h5 Red8 30.Bxc4 bxc4 31.Reb1 Qc6 32.Rb6 is equal.

29.Rab1

• If 29.Nb6 Rab8 then:
• 30.Bd5 Bxd5 31.Nxd5 Nc4 32.Rxa4 Nxe3 33.Nxe3 Kg7 34.Nd5 Re6 gives White an extra pawn, a remote passer and command of the b-file. Not too shabby.
• If 30.Bxe6? then after 30...Rxe6 31.Nd5 a3 32.Rec1 Rc6 33.Rxc6 Nxc6 White retains two extra pawns.
• 29.Reb1? stretches White's defense of the queenside too thin after 29...Nb3! then:
• 30.Nb6 Nxa1 31.Nxa8 Nb3! 32.Nb6 Nd4 33.Bxd4 Bxa2 Black retains two extra pawns and the initiative.
• If White continues on the kingside with 30.h5!? then after 30...Bxd5 31.hxg6+ fxg6 32.exd5 Rab8 Black still has two extra pawn while there is nothing left to White's kingside initiative.

29...Nb3!

• For now, White's play on the queenside is shut down. Black's 27th move may not have been objectively the best, but it was good enough.

30.Nb6 Rab8 31.Nxa4 Qc6 32.Nb6?

• White overlooks the coming stroke.
• Perhaps White though he had something after 32...Rxb6 33.Bxb6 Nd2 34.Qe2, but then:
• If 34...Bxa2 35.Rec1 Qe6 36.Rb2 Nc4 37.Rxa2 Nxb6 38.Rxa6 Rd8 gives Black two minor pieces for the Rook command of a file to penetrate White's position.
• 34...Nxb1 35.Rxb1 Rb8 36.Be3 Rxb1+ 37.Bxb1 Nf6 gives Black an extra pawn and threats to invade White's back rank.

BLACK: Hedinn Steingrimsson
!""""""""#
$ T +tVm+%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Michal Meszaros
Position after 32.Na4b6

32...Nd4!!

• This is a cool tactical shot. The Queen is threatened, but if it moves to a safe place, then 33...Rxb6 34.Rxb6 Qxb6 wins a piece for Black.

33.Bxd4

• The text is forced (see previous note).

33...Bxa2 34.Be3 Bxb1

• Black wins the exchange.

35.Qxf7+ Bg7 36.Rxb1 Qf6 37.Qxf6 Nxf6

The smoke has cleared on the combination. Black has the exchange and a remote passer.
38.Ra1

BLACK: Hedinn Steingrimsson
!""""""""#
$ T +t+ +%
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WHITE: Michal Meszaros
Position after 38.Rb1a1

38...Ng4

• Black goes straight for the King without regard to the threat to his a-pawn.
• A quicker win results from a plan to break through with the Rooks on the queenside; if 38...Re6 39.Nd5 Rd8 then:
• 40.Nb4 Red6 41.Rxa6 Rxa6 42.Nxa6 Rd1+ wins for Black.
• After 40.Ra5 Rc6 41.Kf1 Nxd5 42.exd5 Rcd6 Black breaks through after taking the d-pawn.
• 40.Nxf6+ drops a pawn to 40...Bxf6 41.h5 gxh5 42.Kf1 Bg5 43.Ke2 Rb8.

39.Bc5 Bf8 40.Nd7 Bxc5 41.Nxc5 Rec8

• The text is better than 41...Rb2 42.Rxa6 Rxf2 43.h5 gxh5 44.Ra7+.

42.Nd3

• If 42.Nxa6 Rb2 then:
• If 43.h5 then after gxh5 44.f3 Ne3 45.Nf5 Nxf5 46.exf5 Ra8 White's pieces are paralyzed.
• 43.Nf1 Rcc2 44.Rd1 Rxf2 45.g3 Rg2+ 46.Kh1 Nh2 forces an exchange of Knights, removing a defender of White's King.
• After 43.f3 Ne3 44.Re1 Rxg2+ 45.Kh1 Rf2 Black wins the pawn at f3; White cannot play 46.Rxe3 taking the Knight because of the threat of 46...Rc1+ followed by mate in two.

42...Rc3 43.Ne1 Rb2 44.f3 Ne3 45.Nf1 a5!?

• The text move gives White the opportunity to find counterplay.
• Better is 45...Nc4 46.Rxa6 Rb1 47.Ra7+ Kg8 48.Kf2 Rcc1 when White loses more material.

46.Nxe3?!

• White misses his opportunity to throw debris in Black's road to victory.
• 46.Rxa5! Nc4 47.Ra7+ Kg8 48.Rc7 gives White some counterplay.

46...Rxe3 47.Rd1 Ree2 48.Kh1

• 48.Kf1 Rf2+ 49.Kg1 Rfd2 50.Ra1 Rb5 keeps White bottled.

48...a4 49.Rd7+ Kg8 50.Nd3

• 50.Rd8+ Kg7 51.Rd7+ Kf6 52.Nd3 Rbd2 yields the same result in the end.

50...Rbd2 51.Rd8+ Kg7 52.Rd7+ Kf8 53.Rd8+ Ke7 54.Rd5 a3 55.Rxe5+

• 55.Nb4 fails against 55...Rxd5 56.Nxd5+ Kf7.

55...Kf6 0-1

• After 56.Ra5 Rxd3 Black is a Rook to the good.
• Grandmaster Meszaros resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Shulman - Marin, Round 8

Mihail Marin
Photo: ChessBase.com


Yuri Shulman - Mihail Marin
Open Tournament, Round 8
Reykjavik, 31 March 2009

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

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 c5 8.Rb1 0-0 9.Be2

• For moves up to this point, see Shulman-Conquest elsewhere on this thread.

9...Nc6

• If 9...b6 10.0-0 Bb7 11.d5 Bxc3 12.Bc4 Bg7 13.Bb2 then:
• 13...Qc8 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.Qd2 Ba6 16.Rfc1 Rd8 gives White enough extra space to compensate for the pawn (Shulman-Conquest, Op Rd 6, Reykjavik, 2009)
• 13...Ba6 14.Qe2 Qc8 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.e5 e6 is equal (Onischuk-Kurnosov, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2009).
• If 9...cxd4 10.cxd4 Qa5+ 11.Bd2 Qxa2 12.0-0 then:
• If 12...Bg4 then:
• If 13.Bg5 h6 14.Be3 Nc6 15.d5 then:
• 15...Bxf3 16.gxf3 Nd4 17.Bd3 a5 18.f4 b5 19.Kh1 Rfc8 20.f5 Qa4 21.Qd2 Nf3 22.Qe2 Ne5 23.fxg6!? Nxd3 should give the advantage to Black (Agrest-Bacrot, Euro ChT, León, 2001).
• 15...Na5 16.Bc5 Bf6 17.e5 Bxe5 18.Rb4 Bxf3 19.Bxf3 Rae8 20.Be3 Bc3 21.Ra4 Qb2 22.Qd3 b5 23.Bc1 bxa4 24.Bxb2 Bxb2 25.d6 Bf6 26.Qb5 Nb3 27.d7 with the advantage to White (Kramnik-Anand, Tal Mem, Riga, 1995).
• 13.Be3 Nc6 14.d5 Na5 15.Bg5 Qa3 16.Re1 Rfd8 17.h3 Bxf3 18.Bxf3 Qd6 19.Qe2 Be5 is equal (Peralta-Domínguez, IT, Barcelona, 2001).
• If 12...b6 13.Qc1 then:
• 13...Bb7 14.Bc4 Qa4 15.Bb5 Qa2 16.Re1 Rc8 17.Qd1 e6 18.Qe2 Nc6 19.Bc4 Qa3 20.d5 Nd8 21.h4 Qd6 22.h5 a6 23.hxg6 hxg6 24.Ng5 b5 25.Ba2 e5 gives Black an extra pawn (Zlender-Nimtz, Corres, 1998).
• 13...Qe6 14.Bc4 Qxe4 15.Re1 Qb7 16.Bb4 Be6 17.Rxe6 fxe6 18.Ng5 Kh8 19.Nxe6 Nd7 20.Bxe7 Rfc8 gives Black the material advantage (Gelfand-Dorfman, IT, Minsk, 1986).

10.d5 Ne5 11.Nxe5 Bxe5 12.Qd2 e6

• If 12...b6 13.f4 Bg7 then:
• 14.c4 e5 15.0-0 exf4 16.Qxf4 Qe7 17.Bb2 Bd7 18.Bd3 Bxb2 19.Rxb2 f6 20.Rbf2 draw (Khalifman-H. Olafsson, Op, New York, 1990).
• If 14.0-0 e6 then:
• 15.dxe6 fxe6 16.Qe3 Bb7 17.Bc4 Kh8 18.Bxe6 Qf6 19.Bb3 g5 20.Qe2 gxf4 21.Bxf4 Qxc3 22.Kh1 Qd4 23.Bc2 Rae8 24.Rbd1 Qb2 is equal (Volac-Stohl, Zlin, 1995).
• 15.d6 Bb7 16.Bf3 e5 17.c4 Qe8 18.Bb2 Rd8 19.Rbd1 Bc6 20.Qc1 is equal (Kamsky-Razuvaev, Op, Paris, 1990).

13.f4 Bg7

• If 13...Bc7 14.0-0 exd5 15.exd5 Ba5 then:
• 16.d6 b6 17.Bf3 Rb8 18.Ba3 Qf6 19.Bb4 Bf5 20.Rbc1 c4 21.Bxa5 bxa5 is equal (Marzolo-Brkic, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• 16.f5 Bxf5 17.Rxb7 Qd6 18.Bc4 Qe5 19.Re1 Qf6 20.Bb2 Rfb8 21.Ree7 Rxb7 22.Rxb7 Qd6 23.Qe3 Bc7 is equal (JohannessenSutovsky, Euro ChT, Saint Vincent, 2005).

14.c4 Re8 15.e5 f6 16.d6

• 16.0-0 fxe5 17.Bb2 exd5 18.cxd5 Bf5 19.Rbe1 exf4 20.d6 Qd7 21.Bxg7 Qxg7 22.Rxf4 Kh8 23.g4 Bd7 24.Ref1 Rad8 25.Bf3 g5 draw (Bosboom Lanchava-van Nies, Dutch ChW, Hilversum, 2008).

16...fxe5 17.Bb2 exf4 18.Bxg7 Kxg7 19.0-0 Rf8

• 19...b6 20.Qxf4 e5 21.Qf7+ Kh8 22.Rf6 Qd7 23.Rd1 Qxf7 24.Rxf7 Be6 25.Rc7 is equal (Jussupow-Malaniuk, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1983).

20.Rxf4 Rxf4 21.Qxf4 Qf6

• 21...b6 22.Qe4 draw (Tal-Vaganian, Moscow, 1983).

22.Qe4

• 22.Qd2 b6 23.Bf3 Rb8 24.d7 Ba6 25.Rd1 Qd4+ 26.Qxd4+ cxd4 27.Rxd4 Rd8 is equal (Jussupow-Romanishin, IT, Djakarta, 1983).
• If 22.Qe3 b6 23.Kh1 then:
• If 23...Kh8 24.Rf1 Qg7 then:
• 25.Bf3 Rb8 26.Bc6 Kg8 27.Bd5 Qd7 28.Qf4 is equal; Black should play 28...Ba6 to protect the f8 square with his Rook, but instead played 28...Qe8 and lost (W. Schmidt-Jansa, IT, Nis, 1983).
• 25.Qf3 Bb7 26.Qh3 Re8 27.Rd1 Bc6 28.Bg4 Qe5 29.Qh4 Rf8 30.h3 g5 31.Qe1 Qxe1+ 32.Rxe1 Bd7 gives Black an extra pawn (Schandorff-Stohl, IT, Gronigen, 1983).
• 23...Bd7 24.Rf1 Qb2 25.Qf3 Bc6 26.Qf7+ Kh8 27.Bf3 Bxf3 28.Qxf3 Rd8 is equal (Tukmakov-Ftacnik, IT, Hastings, 1982).

22...Rb8 23.Rf1

• The question for the moment is whether White's passer is enough of a concern that it outweighs any concern White might have about Black's extra pawn.
• ]If 23.Rd1 Bd7 then:
• If 24.Qe3 Ba4! 25.Rd2 then:
• 25...b6 26.Bf3 Rd8! prevents White's passer from making further progress, giving Black the advantage with the extra pawn.
• 25...Rf8 26.h3 b6 27.Bg4 e5 28.d7 Rd8 stops White's pawn in the nick of time.
• 24.Qc2?! b6 25.Bf3 e5 26.Qe4 Ba4! 27.Rd2 Rf8 binds White's pieces to defending each other; most important is the White Bishop, which cannot move because of the the threat of 28...Qf1#.

BLACK: Mihail Marin
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Yuri Shulman
Position after 23.Rb1f1

23...Qd4+!

• By exchanging Queens, Black gets an advanced passer of his own. This changes the dynamic considerably. By simply advancing the e-pawn one square, the d-pawn becomes a protected passer. Black will try to advance the pawns together.

24.Qxd4+ cxd4 25.c5 Bd7

• Black's pawns can advance no further.

26.Bf3!

• White seeks counterplay on the b-pawn.

26...Rc8!

• If 26...Bc6 27.Rb1 Rf8 then:
• If 28.Bxc6 bxc6 29.Rb7+ Kh6 30.Rxa7 e5 gets Black's pawn duo moving.
• If 28.Rb4? e5 29.Bxc6 bxc6 30.Rb7+ Kh6 31.Rxa7 d3 Black's pawn duo threatens to win it all.

27.Rb1 b6 28.c6 Bxc6 29.Rc1

• 29.Bxc6? is tantamount to surrender as now comes.29...Rxc6 30.d7 Rd6 when White is down three pawns with nothing to show for it.

29...Bd7 30.Rxc8 Bxc8 31.Bc6 Kf6 32.d7

• White can do nothing more with his advanced passer and sacrifices it for Bishop, if it is proper to speak of sacrificing a pawn for a Bishop. This gives White a Bishop for three pawns.

32...Bxd7 33.Bxd7 Ke5!?

• It isn't very often that "opening theory" goes 33 moves before a novelty in introduced, especially since this "opening" is a Bishop and pawn ending by now.
• 33...e5 34.Kf2 e4 35.Bc6 Ke5 36.h4 h6 37.g3 g5 Black's central passed pawns give him the advantage over White with his White Bishop (Novikov-Tukmakov, Soviet Ch, Lvov, 1984).
• If any one is wondering, White won in 60 moves. The reasons, of course, had to do with inferior play by Black after his 37th move and White's capitalization of it. That's another matter.

34.Kf2 Kd5 35.Ke2
BLACK: Mihail Marin
!""""""""#
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Yuri Shulman
Position after 35.Kf2e2

35...e5!

• Here they come.

36.Bc8

• White is completely lost.
• If 36.g4 e4 37.g5 Ke5 38.Bc6 Kf4 39.h4 b5! then:
• 40.Kd2 b4 41.Bd5 e3+ 42.Kd3 Kg3 43.Bc4 Kf2 White takes on d4 and Black advances the e-pawn, forcing White to exchange the Bishop for the pawn at e2.
• 40.Bxb5 Kg4 41.Bc6 e3 42.Bd5 Kxh4 wins.

36...b5?

• Black can also use his queenside majority to distract White's defense, but he should get with the program. This nearly costs him the game.
• If 36...e4! 37.Bb7+ Ke5 then:
• 38.Bc6 Kf4! (Black provokes White into using a reseve pawn tempo) 39.g3+ Ke5 40.Bb5 Kd5 Black is still good to go.
• 38.a3 g5 39.Bc6 h5 40.Kf2 a6.

37.Bb7+ Kc4 38.Kd2

• 38.Kf3 looks counterintuitive, but its probably White's best shot; if now38...d3 39.Ke3 Kc3 40.Be4 d2 then:
• 41.Ke2 b4 42.Kd1 Kd4 43.Bc2 Ke3 Black's King is positioned to destroy White's Kingside if the situation calls for it.
• 41.Bf3 a5 42.Bd1 a4 43.g4 Kb2 wins the a-pawn, giving Black altogether three passed pawns.

38...a5 39.Be4!

• White should keep as many pawn moves in reserve possible. He will need them to avert {i]Zungzwang should the game come down to that. For now, he should move a pawn only when necessary.

39...Kb4

• As long as White has his Bishop centrally posted, his King in front of Black's dyanmic duo and doesn't make unnecessary pawn moves, Black can make no progess.
• 40.Bc2 Kd5 41.Bb3+ then:
• 41...Ke4 42.Bc2+ Kf4 43.Kd3 g5 44.g3+ is equal.
• If 41...Kd6 then after 42.Kd3 h6 43.Ke4 g5 44.h3! White stands slightly better.

40.h4?

• What was that we just said about reserve pawn tempi?
• Correct is 40.Bd3! Ka4 41.Kc2 b4 42.Kb2! with equality.

BLACK: Mihail Marin
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Yuri Shulman
Position after 40.h2h4

40...Ka3!

• And just like that, White is doomed.

41.g4

• It doesn't matter now.
• 41.Bb1 b4 42.Kc1 a4 wins for Black.
• 41.Bd5 a4 42.Kc2 b4 43.Kd2 e4! then:
• 44.Ke2 e3 45.Bg8 b3!! 46.axb3 axb3 wins.
• 44.Bxe4? Kxa2! 45.Bc6 a3 46.Kc1 b3 47.Bd5 d3 wins.

41...Kxa2

• Black has four passed pawns.

42.h5 b4 43.hxg6 hxg6 44.Bxg6 b3 45.g5

• 45.Be4 forces White to queen with the a-pawn, thus allowing White to queen first. It doesn't help.
• 45.Be4 a4 46.g5 Kb2 47.g6 a3 48.g7 a2 49.g8Q a1Q the proximity of the Queens to the center of action gives the game to Black.

45...a4 46.Bf7 Ka1

• This assures that each side will queen, but Black Queens first and right in the center of the maelstrom.

47.g6 b2 48.g7 b1Q 49.g8Q e4 50.Qe8 a3

• Good enough, but even better is 50...e3+ 51.Ke2 Qc2+ 52.Kf3 Qd1+ 53.Kg2 e2, winning.

51.Qa4 Qb2+ 52.Ke1 e3 53.Qd1+

• If 53.Qd7 then Black mates in two strating with 53...Qd2+.

53...Qb1 54.Ke2 Qxd1+ 55.Kxd1 Kb2 0-1

• If 56.Bc4 then:
• 56...a2 57.Bxa2 Kxa2 58.Kc2 Ka3 59.Kd3 Kb4 60.Ke2 Kc3 Black will push one of the paws over.
• If 56...Kc3 57.Ba2 d3 then:
• 58.Bb1 e2+ 59.Ke1 d2+ 60.Kxe2 Kb2 is a clear win for Black.
• If 58.Ke1 then 58...Kc2 wins immediately.
• Mr. Shulman resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Vernay - Dronavalli, Round 7

Dronavalli Harika, 18, is the reigning world junior champion for girls. She prefers to be referenced by her given name, Harika.

Harika was the top finishing lady in Reykjavik with 6 points in nine rounds.



Dronavalli Harika
Photo: ChessBase.com


Clovis Vernay - Dronavalli Harika
Open Tournament, Round 7
Reykjavik, 30 March 2009

West India Game: King's Indian Defense

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 0-0 5.Nf3 d6 6.Be2 Bg4 7.Qb3!?

• Without hardly opening the book, White throws it away.

7...Bxf3

• 7...b6 8.0-0 c5 9.e5 Ne8 10.exd6 Nxd6 11.Be3 gives White a slight advantage in space.

8.Bxf3 Nc6 9.Be3 e5 10.dxe5

• White decides to open the center.
• 10.d5 Nd4 11.Qd1 Nd7 12.0-0 c5 13.dxc6 bxc6 is equal.

10...Nxe5

• Black decides she's not ready for that.
• 10...dxe5!? 11.Qxb7 Nd4 12.0-0-0 a6 13.Qb4 Qc8 14.Qc5 gives White the advantage in space.

11.Be2 Nfg4 12.Bf4 f5

• 12...Re8 13.f3 Nf6 14.Qxb7 Rb8 15.Qxa7 Rxb2 16.Qa3 gives White an extra pawn.
• If 12...Rb8 13.Rd1 Re8 then:
• 14.c5 Bf8 15.0-0 Nf6 16.cxd6 Bxd6 17.Bg5 gives White the advantage in space.
• 14.h3 Nh6 15.Qc2 f5 16.Bxh6 Bxh6 17.exf5 gives White an extra pawn.

13.0-0 g5 14.Bxe5 Bxe5 15.h3

• If 15.c5+ Kh8 16.h3 then:
• 16...Nf6 17.exf5 dxc5 18.Bf3 Rb8 19.Rad1 Qc8 20.Qc2 gives White the initiative.
• 16...Bxc3 17.Qxc3+ Ne5 18.exf5 Rxf5 19.Rad1 b6 20.cxd6 gives White the beginnings of a queenside initiative.

15...Nh6 16.exf5

• 16.c5+ Kh8 17.Rad1 b6 18.cxd6 cxd6 19.Rfe1 gives White the advantage in space.

16...g4 17.Qxb7

• 17.c5+ Kh8 18.Bxg4 Nxg4 19.hxg4 Qh4 20.Rfe1 Rae8 is equal.

17...gxh3 18.g3

• If 18.gxh3 Rb8 19.Qd5+ Kh8 then:
• 20.f4 Qh4 21.Rf3 Bxc3 22.bxc3 Nxf5 23.Qd3 Rb2 gives Black activity for the pawn minus.
• 20.Rab1? Qh4 21.Qf3 Rxf5 22.Qe3 Rg5+ Black wins.

18...Nxf5

• Black has the advantage in activity. She is able to bring her pieces to bear pressure on White's kingside.
• If 18...Rb8 19.Qd5+ Kh8 20.Qd2 then:
• 20...Qf6 21.Nd5 Qg7 22.f6 Bxf6 23.Nxf6 Rxf6 is equal.
• If 20...Nxf5 21.b3 Qf6 then:
• 22.Rac1 Qg6 23.Bd3 Nd4 24.Kh1 Nf3 25.Qe2 Qg7 is equal.
• 22.Ne4 Qg6 23.Rae1 Nxg3!! 24.fxg3 Bxg3 25.Bg4 Rxf1+! wins for Black.

19.Kh2!?

• This gives White the option to taking the pawn later, but there are better ways to spend a tempo now.
• If 19.Qd5+ Kh8 20.Qd3 then:
• 20...Qf6 21.Bg4 h2+ 22.Kh1 Nh6 23.Nd5 Qg7 24.Bh3 is equal.
• 20...Rb8 21.b3 c6 22.Bg4 Qf6 23.Rad1 Nxg3 24.fxg3 gives White the advantage in space.

BLACK: Dronavalli Harika
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Clovis Vernay
Position after 19.Kg1h2

19...Rb8

• Black forces the Queen to vacate and attacks the b-pawn.

20.Qd5+

• The check give White time to protect his b-pawn.

20...Kh8 21.Rab1 Qg5

• Again Black brings pressure to bear on the kingside.

22.Ne4 Qg7 23.Qd1

• If 23.Kxh3? Nd4 then:
• 24.Bg4 h5 25.Bd1 Qg6 26.f3 c6 27.Qa5 Nf5 Black must break through either in the center or on the kingside.
• 24.Bd1 c6 25.Qa5 Qg6 26.Qe1 Rbe8 27.Qe3 d5 wins for Black.

23...Nd4!

• The Knight commands a network of light squares from this outpost.

24.Bh5

• If 24.Bd3 Nf3+ 25.Kh1 Bxb2 then:
• 26.Be2 Nd4 27.Kh2 Qg6 28.Qd3 Nxe2 29.Qxe2 Bg7 gives Black an extra pawn.
• If 26.Bc2 Qf7 27.Qd3 then:
• 27...Rb6 28.Bb3 Qg7 29.a4 a5 30.Bd1 Ne5 gives Black the initiative.
• 27...a6 28.Nf6 Bxf6 29.Rxb8 Rxb8 30.Qxf3 h5 is equal.

24...Rf4 25.Qd3

• White is in trouble. He needs the light bound Bishop to counter Black's Knight at d4. His problem is where to put the Bishop so that it doesn't interfere with the defense of the pawn at f2.
• If 25.Qe1!? Rf5 26.Qd1 Rg8 27.Kh1 then:
• If 27...c6! (a critical move in preparation for a central pawn advance) then after 28.Be2 d5 29.cxd5 cxd5 30.Nc3 then:
• 30...Rgf8 31.Qe1 Nxe2 32.Qxe2 Bxc3 33.bxc3 Qxc3 wins a pawn for Black.
• 30...Rxf2?? loses to 31.Rxf2! Qxg3 32.Qf1.
• If 27...c5 28.Be2 h5 29.b4 then:
• 29...h4! 30.Bd3 Rf3 31.bxc5 dxc5 32.Rb5 hxg3 33.fxg3 is equal.
• If 29...Qb7 then:
• 30.Bd3 cxb4 31.Qd2 Rb8 32.Qh6+ Kg8 33.c5 Re8 is equal.
• 30.f3?! cxb4 31.Nxd6 Qg7 32.Ne4 a5 33.Rg1 Qh6 gives Black a more active game.

25...Rh4 26.Bf3?

• White's defense was looking dire, but after this there is no hope.
• 26.Bd1 Rf8 then:
• 27.Be2 Re8 28.Nc3 Nxe2 29.Nxe2 Bxb2 wins a pawn.
• If 27.Kh1 Rhf4 then:
• 28.Rg1 Rxf2!! 29.Nxf2 Rxf2 30.Bh5 Nf5 31.Rbe1 Nxg3+ Black wins.
28.b4 c6 29.Rg1 Rxf2 30.Nxf2 Rxf2 31.Qe3 Rxa2 Black is ready for the final phase.

26...Nxf3+ 27.Qxf3 Rf8! 28.Qd3

• The White Queen is overloaded. It cannot protect the Knight at e4 and the pawn at f2 simultaneously.
• 28.Qe2 Rxe4 29.Qc2 Ref4 30.Kh1 Qg4 leaves Black up a piece and threatening mate.

BLACK: Dronavalli Harika
!""""""""#
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Clovis Vernay
Position after 28.Qf3d3

28...Rxe4!!

• To untie the knot, just pull the loose end.

29.Kxh3

• 29.Qxe4 Rxf2+ 30.Rxf2 Qxg3+ 31.Kh1 Qxf2 wins for Black.

29...Qg4+ 30.Kg2 Qe2 0-1

• Black remains a piece to the good.
• M. Vernay resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Shulman - Conquest, Round 6

In addition to President and Mrs. Obama, reigning US national champion Yuri Shulman represented our country well while abroad last week, finishing in Reykjavik with 6½ points, tied for fifth just a half point behind the four co-champions.



Yuri Shulman
Photo: New York Masters


Yuri Shulman - Stuart Conquest
Open Tournament, Round 6
Reykjavik, 29 March 2009

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

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 c5 8.Rb1 0-0 9.Be2 b6 10.0-0 Bb7 11.d5 Bxc3 12.Bc4 Bg7 13.Bb2

• Up to here, the players have followed Onischuk-Kurnosov, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2009. See the link for an expose of opening theory.

13...Qc8!?

• Black introduces a novelty good for equality; White has extra space in compensation for the pawn.
• 13...Ba6 14.Qe2 Qc8 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.e5 e6 is equal (Onischuk-Kurnosov, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2009).

14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.Qd2

• 15.Qe1 Nd7 16.Rd1 Rd8 17.e5 Nf8 18.Qc3 gives White some initiative for his pawn minus.

15...Ba6

• If 15...Qg4 16.Qc3+ Kg8 17.Rfe1 Qf4 18.Ne5 White still has more space, but Black still has that extra pawn.

16.Rfc1 Rd8 17.Rb3

• White still has a spatial comensation for the pawn.
• 17.Qf4 f6 18.Bb3 Qd7 then:
• 19.Qh4 Bc8 20.Qf4 h6 21.Qe3 Na6 22.Nh4 Qg4! Black has an extra pawn; White's spatial advantage has dissipated.
• 19.Qe3 Bb7 20.a4 Na6 21.Bc4 Nb4! 22.a5 Qd6 Black has an extra pawn and has caught up to White in terms of space.

17...Nd7 18.e5 Nf8 19.Bxa6!?

• White allows Black to assume the initiative. At this point, Black has the advantage.
• Better is the boilerplate strategy of postponing the exchange in the hopes one's opponent will be forced to initiate it.
After
• 19.Qc3 Kg8 20.Rd1 Bxc4 21.Qxc4 Qf5 Black still has an extra pawn, but his queenside is under restraint and he has no ready opportunities to exploit the material advantage.

19...Qxa6 20.Ng5

• White begins a campaign of kingside aggression.
• White can also advance in the center: if 20.d6 Ne6 21.Qb2 exd6 22.exd6+ Kg8 then:
• 23.Ra3 Qb7 24.Rd3 Nf4 25.Rd2 Qd7 26.Ne5 Qe6 gives Black a tactical advantage as he threatens to win the pawn at d6.
• If 23.Qd2?! then after 23...c4! 24.Re3 Rac8 25.d7 Rc7 26.Ne5 b5 Black has the edge with a mobile queenside, but White has counterplay opportunities in the center.

20...Qa4 21.Rf3 f6
BLACK: Stuart Conquest
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Yuri Shulman
Position after 21...f7f6

22.Rf4!?

• White sacrifices a second pawn. Mr. Shulman is playing like a man who is not going to be satisied with a draw.
• 22.exf6+ exf6 23.Qc3 Qd4 24.Qxd4 cxd4 25.Rc7+ equalizes.

22...Qd7 23.Qc3 Qxd5 24.exf6+!

• White shows the point of the pawn sacrifice. With the Black Queen diverted to d5, White wins back the pawn with a fierce kingside attack.

24...exf6 25.Qxf6+ Kg8 26.h4

• White protects the heretofore hanging Knight and gives his King an escape in case the castle is breeched.
• After 26.Re1 Rd7 27.Ne4 Rf7 28.a3 Rd8 29.Rf3 c4 White still has nothing for the pawn.

26...Rd6?!

• If 26...Rd7! 27.a3 Re8 then:
• If 28.Kh2 Qe5 29.Ne4 then:
• 29...Qc7! 30.Kg1 Ne6 31.Rg4 Nd4 wins for Black as White has nothing better than to sacrifice the exchange in desperation starting with 32.Rxg6+ hxg6 33.Qxg6+ Kf8 34.Qf6+ Rf7 35.Qh8+ Ke7 36.Qxd4 Qf4.
• If 29...Rd4?! 30.Re1 Nd7 31.Qf7+ Kh8 32.Ng5 Qxf4+ 33.Qf4+ then:
• If 33...Rxe1! 34.Qf7 Rh4+ 35.Nh3 then:
• 35...Rxh3+ 36.gxh3 Rd1 is equal.
• 35...Rd4 36.Ng5 Rh4+ 37.Nh3 Rd4 draws.
• 33...Rxf4 34.Rxe8+ Rf8 35.Re7 is equal and a likely draw.
• 28.f3 Qd2 29.Rcc4 Qe3+ 30.Kh2 Qe7 gives Black the more active game.

BLACK: Stuart Conquest
!""""""""#
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$O + + +o%
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$+ Ow+ N %
$ + + R P%
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$p+ + Pp+%
$+ R + K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Yuri Shulman
Position after 26...Rd8d6

27.Ne4!

• By means of a threatened Knight fork at f6, White rules out any thoughts Black had of 27...Rxf6.

27...Rc6 28.Qe7 Qe6 29.Qb7 Rac8?

• This move is like the pitch the home team's ace reliever throws while protecting a one-run lead that is smacked out of the park for a three-run homer. In just a moment, Black goes from a superior position to losing.
• The score is still tied after 29...Qc8 30.Qf7+ Kh8 31.Nf6 Qe6 32.Ne4 h6 33.Qb7 .

30.Ng5!

• White steals a tempo for the obvious tactical shot at h7.

30...Qxa2 31.Rf7

• If 31.Qe7? then after 31...R6c7! 32.Rxf8+ Rxf8 33.Qxc7 Qxf2+ it appears that the home team rallied in the bottom of the ninth. But alas, McCovey's line drive did not dance into center field.

31...Ne6

• No better is 31...R6c7 32.Rxc7 Rxc7 33.Qxc7 .

32.Rxh7 Rf8 33.Rh8+!! 1-0

• White mates on the next move.
• The Mighty Casey has struck out. Mr. Conquest resigns.
• This is a game for the Belarus-American grandmaster to be proud.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Bundesliga, final weekend

Baden-Baden in the state of Baden-Württemberg in southwest Germany
is at the edge of the fabled Black Forest
Photo: Wikipedia

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Stellwagen - Anand, Round 14 (played in Baden-Baden)

Vishy Anand
Photo: Wikipedia


Daniel Stellwagen (Solingen) - Vishy Anand (Baden-Baden)
Bundesliga 0809, Round 14
Baden Baden, 28 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 8.Qd2

• 8.Nb3 is how White "declines" the poisoned pawn; play 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).
• If 8.Qd3 then:
• If 8...Qxb2 9.Rb1 Qa3 then:
• If 10.f5 Be7 then:
• 11.fxe6 fxe6 12.Be2 Qa5 13.Bd2 Qc7 14.0-0 0-0 15.Qc4 Qd7 16.Qb3 Kh8 17.Bc4 d5 Black remains a pawn to the good, but, as in often the case with pawn-hunting openings, he lags in development (Gashimov-Grischuk, Grand Prix, Elista, 2008).
• If 11.Be2 Nc6 12.fxe6 fxe6 13.Nxc6 bxc6 then:
• If 14.0-0 Qa5 15.Bxf6 gxf6 16.Bg4 then:
• 16...Rg8 17.Bh3 Rg5 18.Ne2 Rb5 19.Rbd1 Rc5 20.Kh1 Qb5 21.Qf3 Bd7 22.Nf4 Qc4 23.Rb1 Rb5 24.Rb3 Kf7 25.a4 Rxb3 26.cxb3 Qc5 is equal (Gashimov-Areshchenko, Young Masters, Lausanne, 2006).
• 16...0-0 17.Kh1 Kh8 18.Ne2 d5 19.Nd4 dxe4 20.Qxe4 Qd5 21.Qxd5 exd5 22.Nxc6 Bc5 23.Bf3 Be6 24.Nb4 Bxb4 25.Rxb4 Rab8 is equal (Zhong Zhang-Karjakin, World ChT, Beer Sheva, 2005).
• If 14...0-0 15.Nd5 Qxd3 16.Nxe7+ Kf7 17.Bxd3 Kxe7 18.e5 dxe5 19.Bxh7 Kd6 20.Bg6 Bd7 21.Rb7 Rab8 22.Rd1+ Nd5 23.Rxb8 Rxb8 24.c4 Rb2 then:
• 25.a3 Ra2 26.Bh4 Rxa3 27.Bg3 gives Black two extra pawns, but his Knight is still pinned and en prise (Sambuev-Morrison, Op, Kitchner, Ontario, 2008).
then:
• If 25.cxd5 exd5 26.a3 c5 27.Bc1 Rb6 gives White a pieces for two pawns, but Black has more than enough space to compensate.
• 14.Bh5+ g6 15.e5 Nd5 16.Rb3 Qa5 17.Bxe7 Nxe7 18.exd6 Qxh5 19.dxe7 Qh4+ 20.g3 Qxe7 21.0-0 Rf8 is equal (Mamedov-Kokarev, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).
• 10.Be2 Nbd7 11.0-0 Be7 12.Kh1 Qc5 13.a4 Qc7 14.Rf3 h6 15.Rh3 Nc5 16.Qe3 Qa5 17.e5 dxe5 18.fxe5 Ng4 19.Bxg4 Bxg5 gives Black the initiative (Nieuwenhuis-Dr. Nunn, IT, Utrecht, 1986).
• If 8...Nc6 then:
• If 9.0-0-0 Bd7 10.Be2 Nxd4 11.Qxd4 Qxd4 12.Rxd4 Bc6 13.Bf3 Be7 14.Rhd1 0-0-0 then:
• 15.Bh4 Rhe8 16.e5 dxe5 17.fxe5 Rxd4 18.Rxd4 Nd7 is equal (Hort-Smyslov, IT, Moscow, 1960).
• 15.a4 h6 16.Bh4 g5 17.fxg5 Nd7 18.Bg3 e5 19.Rc4 Bxg5+ 20.Kb1 Nb6 21.Rb4 Be3 22.a5 gives White the initiative (Kaphle-Shengelia, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• If 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.Nb3 Bd7 11.Be2 h5 then:
• 12.Rf1 0-0-0 13.0-0-0 Be7 14.Qh3 Na5 15.Kb1 Kb8 16.f5 Rc8 17.fxe6 fxe6 18.Nd5 is equal (Lahno-Bu Xiangzhi, IT, Antwerp, 2008).
• 12.0-0-0 0-0-0 13.Kb1 Be7 14.h4 Na5 15.Bf3 Kb8 16.Qe2 Rh7 17.Bxh5 White wins a pawn with the advantage in space (Sulskis-Zagorskis, Lithuanian Ch, Kaunas, 2001).

8...Qxb2 9.Rb1 Qa3 10.e5

• 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).

10...dxe5 11.fxe5 Nfd7 12.Ne4

• 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).

12...h6 13.Bb5

• 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 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).

13...axb5

• 13...hxg5 14.Rb3 axb5 15.Rxa3 Bxa3 16.Qxg5 Ra4 17.Qxg7 Rf8 is unclear (Quintaros-Browne, IT, London, 1981).

14.Nxb5 hxg5

• The text move is forced.
• If 14...Bb4? then 15.Rxb4 Qa5 16.Nbd6+ Kf8 17.Nxc8 Nc6 18.Rxb7 wins for White.
• If 14...Qa5?? then disaster strikes afterfont color="blue"]15.Qxa5 when:
• If 15...hxg5 then 16.Nc7+ Ke7 17.Nxa8 Nc6 18.Qc7 is time for an early shower.
• 15...Rxa5 16.Nc7# is a bit sudden.

15.Nxa3 Rxa3 16.0-0 Nc6 17.Rb5

BLACK: Vishy Anand
!""""""""#
$ +v+lV T%
$+o+m+oO %
$ +m+o+ +%
$+r+ P O %
$t+ +n+ +%
$+ + + + %
$p+pQ +oO%
$+ + +rK %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Daniel Stellwagen
Position after 17.Rb1b5

17...Ra4!?

• Black introduces a new move that gives him the initiative, resulting in the advatange in space.
• 17...Be7 18.Nd6+ Bxd6 19.exd6 f6 20.Re1 Nce5 21.Qb4 Ra6 draw (Platonov-Minic, IT, Sochi, 1968).

18.Nxg5?!

• White must take risks to gain any long term prospects in the game.
• 18.Nd6+ Bxd6 19.exd6 f6 20.Re1 e5 gives Black the advantage in space.

18...Ndxe5 19.Rxe5

• White is not yet through taking risks. Quiet play here won't cut it.
• 19.c3 b6 20.Rf4 Rxf4 21.Qxf4 Bc5+ gives Black more space and the initiative.

19...Nxe5 20.Qc3 Nc6 21.Rxf7

• 21.Nd7 is more active and deserves serious consideration, although it is certainly risky.
• If 21.Nxf7 Rh5 22.Qg3 Rha5 then:
• If 23.Qc7 Ra8 24.Nd6+ Bxd6 then:
• 25.Qxd6 Ne7 26.Qe5 R8a5 27.Qxg7 is equal.
• If 25.Qf7+ then 25...Kd8 26.Rd1 Nd4 wins for Black.
• If 23.Qg6 Kd7 24.Ng5 Bc5+ 25.Kh1 Kc7 then:
• 26.h3 Rxa2 27.Qxg7+ Be7 28.Rf7 Kd7 gives Black the clear advantage
• If 26.Nxe6+ then after 26...Bxe6 27.Qxe6 Rxa2 Black threatens havoc on White's back rank.

21...Ra5 22.Rxg7 Bc5+ 23.Kh1 Rf8

• If 23...Bd4 24.Qd3 Bxg7 25.Qg6+ then:
• 25...Kd8 26.Nf7+ Kc7 27.Nxh8 Bxh8 gives Black a material advantage equivelant to a minor piece.
• If 25...Kd7? 26.Qxg7+ Ne7 27.Qxh8 is equal.

24.Qd3 Rxa2 25.h4 Ra1+ 26.Kh2 Bd4?!

• This looks active enough, but Black had even more active play available.
• If 26...Bg1+! 27.Kg3 Bd4 then:
• 28.Qg6+ Kd8 29.Rf7 Ra3+ 30.Kh2 Rxf7 31.Qxf7 Be5+ gives Black the initiative.
• If 28.Rh7 then after 28...Re1 29.Qg6+ Kd8 30.Nf7+ Kc7 the King escapes to refuge on the queenside.

27.Qg6+ Kd8 28.Rf7 Rxf7 29.Qxf7 Bg1+ 30.Kg3

• 30.Kh3 e5+ 31.g4 Bd4 32.Nf3 Bc3 33.Qc4 Ra3 offers chances to both players.

30...e5?

• Black brings the Bishop into play, but should lose as a result.
• 30...Ra3+ 31.Nf3 Bc5 32.h5 Bd6+ 33.Kf2 Bc5+ 34.Kg3 offers as much to one side as the other.

BLACK: Vishy Anand
!""""""""#
$ +vL + +%
$+o+ +q+ %
$ +m+ + +%
$+ + O N %
$ + + + P%
$+ + + K %
$ +p+ +p+%
$T + + V %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Daniel Stellwagen
Position after 30...e6e5

31.h5?

• White seeks counterplay by advancing the h-pawn, but in the process misses a much better line.


• If 31.Nf3! then:
• If 31...Rf1 32.Qg8+ Kc7 33.Qc4 then:
• 33...Bf2+ 34.Kh2 Ra1 35.Nxe5 Bg1+ 36.Kg3 Ra3+ 37.c3 leaves White's kingside pawns as a real asset with Black's pieces on the kingside.
• 33...Rd1? 34.h5 Kd6 35.h6 Be3 36.h7 Bf4+ 37.Kf2 wins for White.
• If 31...Bd4? 32.Nxd4 exd4 33.h5 Re1 34.h6! then:
• If 34...Re7 then:
• 35.Qh5! Ne5 36.h7 Nf7 37.Qxf7!! Rxf7 38.h8Q+ wins for White.
• If 35.Qxe7+?? then 35...Nxe7! 36.h7 Ng6 stops the pawn and wins for Black.
• If 34...Re8 then after 35.Qxe8+!! Kxe8 36.h7 White queens on the next move.

31...Nd4 32.Qf6+

• The pawn has a clear path to the promotion point.

32...Kc7 33.Qxe5+ Kb6!

• Black moves his King to safety.
• 33...Kc6 34.Qe4+ Kc7 35.Qe7+ Bd7 36.Qc5+ Nc6 37.Qc4 gives White the active game.

34.Qd6+

• The text does not make the most of White's possibilities with his passed pawn.
• 34.Qf6+ Ka7 then:
• 35.Qh8! Ra5 36.Qxc8 Rxg5+ 37.Kh4 Rxg2 leaves Black slightly better; neither side has anything resembling a forced win.
• 35.h6? Ne2+! 36.Kh4 Ra4+ 37.Kh5 Nf4+ wins the Queen.

34...Ka7 35.Qc5+ Kb8 36.Qd6+ Ka8

• 36...Ka7 invites a draw by repetition.

37.Qd8 Nf5+

• 37...Kb8 38.h6 Nf5+ 39.Kf3 Ra3+ 40.Ke4 remains equal.

38.Kh3 Kb8

• 38...Ra3+! 39.Nf3 Kb8 40.Kg4 then:
• 40...Nh6+41.Kg3 Nf5+ 42.Kf4 Be3+ 43.Ke4 Rc3 gives Black the initiative.
• 40...Ra4+? 41.Kg5 Bd4 42.Nxd4 gives White the opportunity to make trouble with his h-pawn.

39.Ne6 Ra3+ 40.Kg4 Nh6+ 41.Kf4

• 41.Kh4?? Bf2+ 42.Kg5 Nf7+ wins the Queen.

41...Bh2+ 42.Ke4 Nf7

• If 42...Ra4+ 43.Kd3 then:
• If 43...Ra6 44.Nd4 Ng4 45.Qe8 Bc7 then:
• 46.Nb5 Re6 47.Qg8 Re3+ is equal.
• If 46.Kc4 Bf4 47.Nf5 Ka7! then:
• 48.Qxc8 Rc6+ 49.Qxc6 bxc6 50.g3 is equal.
• 48.Nd4 Kb8 49.Kb3 Rh6 is equal.
• 43...Ra3+ 44.c3 Ng4 45.Qd5 Ne5+ 46.Kc2 Ra6 47.Nd4 is equal.

43.Qf8 Nd6+ 44.Kd4 Ka7

• If 44...Ra4+ 45.Kd3 Rg4 46.h6 then:
• 46...Rg3+ 47.Kd4 Rg4+ 48.Kd5 Nb5 49.c4 is equal.
• If 46...Be5 47.h7 Rg3+ 48.Ke2 Rxg2+ 49.Kf3 Rg3+ 50.Ke2 is equal.

45.Nc5

• Fritz rates this game even or better for White, but what he doesn't know (because computers don't know anything) is that Black has more winning opportunities than White. Stated more correctly at the moment, White has more opportunities to lose.
• If 45.Ng7 Ra4+ 46.Kd3 Be5 then:
• After 47.c3 Rf4 48.Qe7 Nc4 49.h6 Rg4 White is slightly better thanks to the h-pawn.
• If 47.c4? Rxc4 48.Kd2 Rc3 then:
• If 49.Qf2+ then after Ka6 50.Qh4 Nc4+ 51.Ke2 Bxg7 Black's pieces clearly overwhelm the defensive capabilities of White's Queen.
• 49.Qd8 Ne4+ 50.Ke1 Bg3+ 51.Kf1 Rc1+ 52.Ke2 Bg4+ puts the White King in a mating attack.

45...Ra5 46.h6?

• White misjudges the effectiveness of the coming skewer.
• If 46.Qd8 then Black is better after 46...Be5+ 47.Kd5 b6 48.Qe7+ Nb7 49.Kxe5 Rxc5+, but White's pawns provide plenty of counterplay.

BLACK: Vishy Anand
!""""""""#
$ +v+ Q +%
$Lo+ + + %
$ + M + p%
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$ + K + +%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Daniel Stellwagen
Position after 46.h5h6

46...Bg1+!

• Now Black wins in all variations.

47.Kd3

• If 47.Kd5 Bxc5 then:
• If 48.Qg8 Ba3+ 49.Kd4 Ra4+ then:
• If 50.Kc3 Ne4+ then:
• If 51.Kd3 Bf5 52.g4 Nc5+ then:
• If 53.Kd2 Rd4+ 54.Kc3 Rxg4 55.h7 then:
• 55...Ne4+ 56.Kb3 Rxg8 57.hxg8Q Be6+ 58.Qxe6 Nc5+ gives White an extra piece.
• If 56.Kc4 Ng5+ 57.Kb3 Bxh7 then:
• 58.Qd5 then after 58...Rg3+ 59.c3 Bg8 60.Qxg8 Ne4 61.Qd5 Rxc3+ the Queen is helpless to defend the King.
• After 58.Qd8 Bb4 59.c4 Be1 60.Qe8 Rg3+ 61.Ka2 Be4 Black's assorted pieces defeat the Queen.
• 53.Kc3 Rxg4 54.h7 Ne4+ etc.
• If 51.Kb3 Be6+ then:
• 52.Kxa4 then after 52...Bxg8 53.Kxa3 Nf2 54.Kb4 Kb6 Black wins easily.
• If 52.Qxe6 Nc5+ wins the Queen.
• If 50.Kd3 Bf5+ 51.Ke2 Bg4+ then:
• 52.Kd3 then after Bb2 53.c3 Bf5+ 54.Ke2 Bxc3 Black threatens winning.
• 52.Kd2 Rd4+ 53.Ke1 Bc5 puts White in a mating net.
• 48.Qf3 b6 49.Qb3 Nf7 50.h7 Bb7+ 51.Ke6 Ng5+ wins the h-pawn.
• If 47.Kc3 Bxc5 48.Qg8 Ne4+ then:
• 49.Kb3 49...Bd4 50.Kc4 Ra4+ 51.Kd3 Bf5 puts the King in a mating net.
• If 49.Kd3 Bf5 50.Ke2 Ra3 then:
• 51.h7 Re3+ 52.Kf1 Bxh7 53.Qxh7 Nd2+ 54.Kf2 Re7+ wins the Queen.
• If 51.c3 Nxc3+ 52.Kd2 Nb1+ 53.Kd1 Rd3+ then:
• 54.Ke1 Re3+ 55.Kd1 Nc3+ 56.Kd2 Rd3+ 57.Kc2 57.Ke1 Rd1#.
• 54.Kc1 Rc3+ 55.Kd1 Bc2+ 56.Ke2 Re3+ 57.Kf2 Re8+ wins the Queen.

47...Bf5+ 48.Qxf5 Nxf5 49.h7

• White's only sign of a hope is to push the pawn.

49...Ra3+

• That hope is dashed.

50.Nb3 Bd4 51.Ke4 Bh8 52.Kxf5 Ra2 0-1

• Mh. Stellwagen resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Ftacnik - Roiz, Round 15 (played in Breman)

Michael Roiz
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Lubomir Ftacnik (Hamburg) - Michael Roiz (Breman)
Bundesliga 0809, Round 15
Bremen, 29 March 2009

Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit: Accelerated Meran Defense

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 c6 5.e3 a6

• 5...Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 is the Meran Defense.

6.b3

• 6.Qc2 is the Stoltz Opening. See Koneru-Pérez, IT, Merida, 2008.

6...Bb4 7.Bd2 Bd6

• If 7...Nbd7 8.Bd3 0-0 9.0-0 then:
• If 9...Bd6 then:
• If 10.Qc2 h6 then:
• If 11.Ne2 Re8 12.Ng3 then:
• If 12...c5 13.cxd5 exd5 14.Bc3 b6 then:
• 15.Rfd1 Bb7 16.dxc5 bxc5 17.Rac1 Bxg3 18.hxg3 is equal (Navara-Dreev, Greek ChT, Ermioni, 2006).
• 15.Rad1 Bb7 16.Qb2 Ne4 17.Bxe4 dxe4 18.Nd2 Qg5 gives Black the advantage in space (I. Sokolov-Najer, IT, Poikovsky,2006).
• 12...e5 13.cxd5 Nxd5 14.Rad1 exd4 15.Nxd4 b5 16.Bh7+ gives White the initiative (Gelfand-I. Sokolov, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2006).
• If 11.Rad1 e5 12.cxd5 cxd5 then:
• 13.e4 dxe4 14.Nxe4 Nxe4 15.Bxe4 exd4 16.Nxd4 Nf6 17.Nf3 Nxe4 18.Qxe4 Re8 19.Qd4 Bf8 is equal (Radjabov-Erenburg, World Blitz Ch, Rashon Le Zion, 2006).
• 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Nxe5 Bxe5 15.Ne2 Bg4 16.f3 Rc8 17.Qb1 Bd7 18.Rc1 Qb6 19.Rxc8 Rxc8 20.Rc1 Re8 is equal (Sargissian-L. B. Hansen, Ol, Torino, 2006).
• 10.e4 e5 11.c5 Bc7 12.Na4 exd4 13.h3 Re8 14.Re1 h6 15.Rb1 Nf8 16.Qc2 N6d7 17.Rbd1 Qf6 18.Nxd4 Ne5 19.Bf1 is equal (Riazantsev-Sakaev, Russian Ch, Moscow, 2008).
• If 9...Qe7 10.Qc2 then:
• 10...dxc4 11.bxc4 e5 12.Ne4 Bxd2 13.Nexd2 Re8 14.Bf5 c5 15.Rab1 e4 16.Ng5 Nf8 17.Bxc8 Raxc8 is equal (Matveeva-Stefanova, No Urals Cup, Krasnoturyinsk, 2006).
10.Qc2 (
• 10...h6 11.Rfe1 Re8 12.e4 dxc4 13.Bxc4 e5 14.d5 Nb6 15.dxc6 bxc6 16.Ne2 Nxc4 17.Qxc4 is equal (Ju Wenjun-Stefanova, FIDE Knock Out W, Nalchik, 2008).

8.Bd3 c5 9.cxd5 exd5 10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.Qb1!?

• 11.0-0 0-0 12.Qc2 Nc6 13.Ne2 Qe7 14.Bc3 Ne4 15.Rad1 Bd6 16.Ba1 Bg4 is equal (Beliavsky-E. Agrest, IT, Malmø, 2004).

11...Nc6

• The game is equal.
• 11...Bg4 12.Nd4 Bxd4 13.exd4 Nc6 14.f3 Bh5 15.Be3 is also equal.

12.0-0 Bg4 13.Bf5?

• Perhaps the thought was simply to employ an unorthodox move in a sharp position, but this one creates more problems for White to solve than for Black.
• 13.Be2 Rc8 14.Rd1 0-0 15.Bf1 Qe7 16.Qd3 Rfd8 gives Black the advantage in space.

BLACK: Michael Roiz
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Lubomir Ftacnik
Position after 13.Bd3f5

13...Bxf3!

• Black takes the opportunity to disrupt Black's kingside pawns.
• 13...Bxf5 14.Qxf5 Qd7 15.Qg5 0-0 16.Na4 Ba7 17.Bc3 remains equal.

14.gxf3 0-0 15.Rd1 Qe7 16.Na4

• Black has obtained the better game.
• 16.Qc2 Rad8 17.Na4 Ba7 18.Re1 d4 19.Nb2 dxe3 gives Black the active game.
• If 16.Bc1 Rad8 17.Qc2 d4 18.Ne4 Nxe4 19.Bxe4 then:
• If 19...Kh8 then after 20.Bxc6 bxc6 21.Rd3 Qg5+ Black has the initiative.
• If 19...g6!? then after 20.Bxc6 bxc6 21.e4 f5 22.Qc4+ Black is better, but White can play against the Black King on open diagonals and against Black's weak pawns.

16...Ba7 17.Bh3

• After 17.Bc3 b5 18.Nb2 g6 19.Bc2 d4 20.exd4 Nd5 the Bishop at c3 must abandon the d-pawn, which then falls.

17...Rad8 18.Nb2 d4 19.e4 d3

• Also good is 19...Nh5! 20.Bg4 Bb8 21.Bxh5 Qh4 22.f4 Qxh5 when:
• If 23.Qd3 then after Rd6 24.h3 Re8 25.Re1 Rde6 Black threatens to break White central phalanx.
• 23.h3 Rfe8 24.Qd3 Qg6+ 25.Qg3 Rxe4 26.Qxg6 fxg6 leaves Black a pawn up.
• If 19...Nd7 20.f4 d3 then:
• 21.Nxd3 Qxe4 22.Bg2 Qe2 23.Bc3 Rfe8 gives Black the active game.
• If 21.Bg2 Bd4 22.Nxd3 Bxa1 23.Qxa1 Nc5 24.Nxc5 Qxc5 gives Black a material advantage.

Qxe4 22.Bg2 Qe2 23.Bc3 Rfe8 gives Black the active game.
20.Nxd3 Bd4 21.Be3 Rfe8

• There's still room for Black to make mistakes.
• A bad move, but not implausible, is 21...Bxa1? 22.Bc5 Qc7 23.Bxf8 Be5 24.Ba3, equalizing.
• Best is 21...Ne5! 22.Bxd4 Nxf3+ 23.Kh1 Rxd4 24.Bg2 Nh4 when Black's activity is threaten to overwhelm White quickly.

22.Bxd4

• If 22.Nb2 then 22...Qe5 23.Bxd4 Nxd4 24.Rd3 Nh5 25.Bg4 Nf4 puts Black well on the path to victory.

22...Nxd4 23.Kh1 Nxf3 24.Ne1

• If 24.e5 Ne4 25.Bg2 Rxd3! then:
• 26.Rd2 Nfxd2 27.Qg1 Qh4 wins for Black.
• 26.Rxd3 Nxf2#.

24...Nxe4 25.Rxd8

• If 25.Qb2 Nfd2 26.Bg4 Qg5 then:
• 27.Ng2 Qxg4 28.Rf1 Nf3 29.Qc1 g5 30.Qe3 Qh3 White must give up the Queen to prevent a quick mate.
• 27.f3 Nf2+ 28.Kg1 Re2 29.Rxd2 Rexd2 30.Qc3 Nxg4 the end is near.

BLACK: Michael Roiz
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Lubomir Ftacnik
Position after 25.Rd1d8:R

25...Nxf2+!!

• Black finds the swashbuckler's way to conclude the game.
• If 25...Rxd8! then Black also wins after 26.Nxf3 Rd1+ when:
• If 27.Kg2 Rxb1 28.Rxb1 Qc5 Black has a material advantage and the active game.
• If 27.Qxd1 then after 27...Nxf2+ 28.Kg2 Nxd1 29.Rxd1 Qe2+ Black wins the Rook.

26.Kg2 Nh4+ 27.Kxf2 Qe3+ 28.Kf1 Qxh3+ 0-1
<[br />

• 29.Kg1 Qe3+ 30.Kh1 Rxd8leaves Black up by two pawns.
• Dr. Ftacnik resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

12. Russian Team Championships, Sochi

Dagomys, less than 20 miles from Sochi
Rajce.net (Czech)

[Jack Rabbit]

13. T. Kosintseva - Zdebskaja, Women's League, Round 1

In the game Shulman-Marin game above, we touched on the concept of reserve pawn tempi. This is discussed in the modern classic Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual, where it is understood to mean the number of pawn moves that one can be make without losing a pawn. Understanding this concept is important in endgame strategy and tactics, as one may wish to make a move that doesn't significantly alter the position. This usually happens when one has his opponent where he wants and just makes a "waiting" move with a pawn.

On the other hand, one may have no reserve pawn tempi remaining. This often results in Zugzwang, a German word that means the compusion to move. In chess, it means the only moves available to one are those that are the chess equivalent of falling on one's sword. While it cannot be said that one is in Zugzwang just because one has no pawn moves remaining, it is true that as long as one has even one pawn tempo in reserve then one is not in Zugzwang.

The notes to the following game make reference to reserve pawn tempi in relation to Zugzwang.

p

Apart from the top-ranked women who competed at the Women's Grand Prix in Istanbul lat month, Tanya Kosintseva has been the best among women since the first of the year.



Tatiana Kosintseva
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Tatiana Kosintseva - Natalia Zdebskaja
Russian Team Championships, Women's League, Round 1
Sochi, 2 April 2009

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

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qc7

• If 7...Nbd7 then:
• If 8.Bc4 then:
• If 8...Qb6 9.Bb3 Be7 10.f5 Nc5 then:
• If 11.Qf3 Ncxe4 12.Nxe4 Qxd4 13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.c3 then:
• 14...Qb6? 15.0-0-0 d5 16.fxe6!! dxe4 17.exf7+ Kf8 18.Qxe4 f5 19.Qf4 Qg6 20.Rhe1 Be6 21.Qe5 Qg5+ 22.Kb1 Bxb3 23.Qxh8+ Kxf7 24.Qxh7+ Kf8 25.axb3 Black resigns (Gashimov-Volokitin, IT, Poikovsky, 2008).
• 14...Qe5 15.0-0-0 d5 is equal.
• 11.fxe6 fxe6 12.Be3 Qc7 13.0-0 b5 14.a3 Nxb3 15.cxb3 0-0 16.b4 Re8 17.h3 Bd8 18.Nb3 Bb7 19.Rc1 Qd7 20.Qd3 Rc8 21.Rcd1 Qc6 22.Qxd6 Nxe4 23.Qxc6 Bxc6 24.Nxe4 Bxe4 25.Rd6 Bd5 draw (Matulovic-Ciocaltea, Novi Sad, 1973).
• 8...b5 9.Bxe6 fxe6 10.Nxe6 Qa5 11.Nxf8 Rxf8 12.Qxd6 Qb6 13.0-0-0 Qxd6 14.Rxd6 b4 15.Ne2 h6 16.Bh4 Nc5 17.Ng3 Bb7 18.Re1 Rc8 19.b3 a5 20.Kb2 Rf7 21.Bxf6 Rxf6 22.Nf5 Kf8 is equal (Matulovic-Tringov, Vrnjacka Banja, 1973).
• If 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 then:
• If 9...Be7 10.g4 b5 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12.g5 Nd7 13.f5 then:
• If 13...Nc5 14.f6 gxf6 15.gxf6 Bf8 16.Rg1 h5 17.a3 then:
• If 17...Bd7 18.Bh3 Rb8 19.Nd5 exd5 20.exd5 Bxh3 21.Qxh3 Nd7 22.Nc6 Rb6 23.Rg7 Rxc6 24.dxc6 Nxf6(Anh Dung Nguyen-Gundavaa, Doha, 2006).
• If 17...Rb8 18.e5 Bb7 19.Qg3 d5 20.Bh3 Bc8 21.Nf5 exf5 22.Nxd5 Qa7 23.Qg7 Rh6 24.Qg8 Be6 25.Ne7 White will soon recover his material deficet with interest (Bescos-Borowiec, Corres, 2004).
• If 13...Bxg5+ 14.Kb1 Ne5 15.Qh5 then:
• 15...Qd8 16.Rg1 Bf6 17.fxe6 0-0 18.Bh3 g6 19.Nd5 Kh8 20.Qe2 fxe6 21.Bxe6 Re8 22.Bxc8 Rxc8 23.h4 Bxh4 draw (Matulovic-Gheorghiu, Zonal, Vraca, 1975).
• 15...Qe7 16.Nxe6 Bxe6 17.fxe6 g6 18.exf7+ Kxf7 19.Qe2 Kg7 20.Nd5 Qd8 21.Qe1 Rf8 22.h4 Bh6 23.h5 Rc8 24.hxg6 hxg6 gives Black more space and White greater freedom (Berg-Ahlander, Swedish Ch, Umea, 2003).
• If 9...b5 10.Bd3 Bb7 11.Rhe1 then:
• If 11...Be7 12.Qg3 b4 13.Nd5 exd5 14.exd5 Kd8 15.Nc6+ Bxc6 16.dxc6 Nc5 17.Bh4 Rg8 18.Bxh7 Rh8 19.Qxg7 Rxh7 20.Qxf6 Rxh4 21.Qxf7 Rh8 22.Re5 Na4 23.Re3 Ra7 24.Rde1 is equal (Kotronias-Shneider, Op, Corinth, 2004).
• If 11...Qb6 12.Nb3 b4 then:
• If 13.Na4 Qc7 then:
• 14.Qh3 Be7 15.Nd4 0-0-0 16.f5 Qa5 17.e5 Nxe5 18.fxe6 Qxa4 19.Nf5 Kb8 20.Nxe7 Qxa2 21.exf7 Ne4 22.Rxe4 Bxe4 23.Qe3 Nc4 24.Nc6+ Bxc6 25.Bxc4 Qxc4 26.Bxd8 Qxf7 is equal (Kotronias-Kr. Georgiev, Op, Ano Liosia, 1995).
• 14.e5 dxe5 15.fxe5 Nh5 16.Qh4 Bxg5+ 17.Qxg5 g6 18.e6 Nc5 19.exf7+ Kxf7 20.Rf1+ Kg8 21.Nf5 Ne6 22.Nh6+ Kg7 23.Nf5+ Kg8 24.Nh6+ Kg7 draw (Saavedra-Chan, Ol, Calvia, 2004).
• 13.Nb1 Be7 14.N1d2 Qc7 15.Kb1 h6 16.Qh3 Rg8 17.Bxf6 Nxf6 18.Nc4 Nxe4 19.Bxe4 Bxe4 20.Nxd6+ Bxd6 21.Rxe4 gives White a small advantage in space (Kotronias-Michelakis, Greek Team Ch, Michelakis, 2005).

8.Bxf6 gxf6 9.Qd2 Nc6 10.0-0-0 Bd7 11.Kb1

• If 11.Be2 h5 12.Rhf1 then:
• If 12...0-0-0 13.Kb1 Kb8 then:
• 14.Rf3 Nxd4 15.Qxd4 Be7 16.Rfd3 Rc8 17.Bf3 Qc5 18.a3 f5 19.Qxc5 Rxc5 20.e5 d5 is equal (Ziska-Berg, Politiken Cup, Helsingor, 2007).
• 14.f5 Be7 15.Nxc6+ Bxc6 16.Bf3 Qa5 17.Ne2 Qe5 18.Nf4 d5 19.exd5 Qxf5 20.Qe3 Bb5 21.Nd3 is equal (Morovic-I. Smirin, Corus, Wijk aan Zee, 1994).
• 12...Be7 13.Kb1 draw (Korneev-Karjakin, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).

11...h5 12.Bc4 Nxd4!?

• 12...0-0-0 13.Nxc6 Qxc6 14.Bb3 Kb8 15.Rhf1 Be7 16.f5 Rdg8 17.Qf2 gives White the advantage in space, but neither side has any explotable weaknesses (van Haastert-Hou Yifan, Corus C, Wijk aan Zee, 2007).

13.Qxd4

• The game is equal.

13...Qc5 14.Qd3!?

• The retreat allows Black to take the initiative, althopugh nothing can come of it.
• 14.Rhe1 b5 15.Bb3 Qxd4 16.Rxd4 remains equal.

14...b5 15.Bb3 b4 16.Ne2 Bb5 17.Qd2

• The text is better than 17.Qf3!? a5 18.e5 Ra7 19.Ng3 f5 20.exd6 a4, giving Black the advantage in space; White's d-pawn provides some hope of counterpaly.

17...a5 18.c3 a4 19.cxb4 Qf2!?

• Black raids White's camp with a clatter.
• If the quiet 19...Qb6 20.Bc2 a3 21.b3 then:
• If 21...Bxe2 22.Qxe2 Qxb4 23.Qd2 Rb8 24.Qxb4 Rxb4 25.g3 remains equal.
• If 21...Rb8!? then 22.Nd4! Bd7 23.b5 Bxb5 24.Nxb5 Qxb5 25.Rc1 gives White a slight advantage in space.

BLACK: Natalia Zdebskaja
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Tatiana Kosintseva
Position after 19...Qc4f2

20.Nd4!

• White throws a lightening bolt to the center to counter Black's aggression on the flank.
• If 20.Bd5?! exd5 then:
• If 21.Nc3 Qxd2 22.Rxd2 Rb8 then:
• 23.Nxd5 f5 24.exf5 Bc6 Black is clearly better as her Bishops are capable of commanding vast open diagonals and White's pawns are weak.
• 23.exd5 Kd7 24.Re1 Bh6 25.g3 h4 gives Blacka piece for two pawns.
• If 21.Qxd5 Rb8 22.Nc3 Bd7 23.Qd2 Qxd2 24.Rxd2 f5 gives Black the advantage in material and space.

20...Qxd2 21.Rxd2 axb3

• 21...Bd7 22.Bc2 Rb8 23.a3 Rg8 24.g3 gives White an extra pawn and better minor pieces.

22.Nxb5 bxa2+ 23.Ka1

• The smoke clears with White enjoying the advatage in space; Black's a-pawn has about as much future as a Republican presidential hopeful for 2012.

23...Rb8 24.Nxd6+

• White judges that her chances are better in the resulting Rook and pawn ending.
• 24.Nd4!? Kd7 25.Kxa2 Rxb4 26.Re1 is equal.

24...Bxd6 25.Rxd6 Rxb4 26.Rhd1 0-0

• This is the fastest and safest for Black to get her King's Rook into play.
• If 26...Ke7 27.Rd7+ Kf8 28.R7d4 Rxd4 29.Rxd4 Ke7 30.Kxa2 gives White an extra pawn and stronger pawn structure. A similar position arises in the text after White's 33rd move. White makes good use of these assets in winning the game.
• If 26...Kf8 27.R1d4 then:
• If 27...Rxd4 28.Rxd4 Ke7 29.Kxa2 then:
• 29...e5 30.Rd5 exf4 31.b4 Rg8 32.Rd2 Ke6 33.Ka3 White's passer tips the scales in her favor.
• 29...Ra8+ 30.Kb3 Ra1 31.Rc4 Re1 32.Kc3 Re2 33.Rc7+ gives the b-pawn time to advance.
• 27...Rb5? 28.Rd8+ Kg7 29.Rxh8 Kxh8 30.Kxa2 gives White a remote passer as an extra pawn.

27.R6d4 Rfb8!

• The text is a smart move. Black maintains an active Rook.
• If 27...Rxd4 28.Rxd4 Ra8 29.Rd3 then:
• 29...Ra4! 30.Rh3 Rxe4 31.Kxa2 Rxf4 32.Rxh5 f5 33.g3 gives White the better game, but only because she has a remote passer in compensation for a hemmed in Rook.
• 29...e5?! gives White a valuable tempo: if now 30.Rh3! Ra4 31.Rxh5 Rxe4 then:
• 32.fxe5 fxe5 33.Kxa2 gives White an extra pawn.
• After 32.g3 exf4 33.gxf4 Rxf4 34.Kxa2 White's pawns are much healthier specimens.

28.Rxb4 Rxb4 29.Re1 Ra4?

• Black would find it worthwhile to give up the a-pawn and keep her Rook active.
• 29...Rd4! 30.Kxa2 Rd2 31.Re3 then:
• If 31...Kf8 32.Rh3 Rxg2 then:
• I33.Rh4 Re2 34.f5 Kg7 35.Rxh5 Rxe4 36.Kb3 Rg4 is equal.
• 33.Rxh5 Rg4 34.f5 Rxe4 35.Kb3 Rg4 36.Rh8+ Ke7 is equal.
• If 31...Rxg2?? then after 32.Rg3+! White, with the remote passer escorted by the King, easily wins the resulting King and pawn ending.

BLACK: Natalia Zdebskaja
!""""""""#
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Tatiana Kosintseva
Position after 29...Rb4a4

30.b3!

• To add insult to injury, White gains time by attacking the Rook.

30...Ra3

• If 30...Ra6 then:
• If 31.g3! reduces Black's reserve of pawn tempi and now if e5 32.f5 (Black now has no reserve pawn tempi at all) 32...Ra3 33.Kb2 Ra8 34.Ra1 Black's pawn falls.
• 31.Kb2 Rd6 32.Re2 Ra6 33.Ka1 Ra3 34.b4 mobilizes White's passer.

31.Kb2!

• White wins the a-pawn.

31...Ra7 32.Ra1 Rd7 33.Rxa2

• See the note to Black's 26th move.

33...Rd4 34.Kc3 Rxe4

• If 34...e5? 35.Re2! then:
• If 35...Rd1 36.b4 exf4 37.b5 then:
• 37...Rc1+ 38.Rc2 Rd1 39.b6 Rd8 40.Kb4 then:
• If 40...Rb8 41.Kb5 f5 42.e5 then:
• 42...h4 43.Rb2 h3 44.gxh3 f3 45.Kc6 Zungzwang!
• 42...Kg7 43.Rb2 f6 44.e6 Kf8 45.Kc6 h4 46.h3 Zungzwang!
• 40...Kg7 41.b7 Rb8 42.Rc7 h4 43.h3 f5 44.e5 Zungzwang!
• 37...Rb1 38.Rb2 Rc1+ 39.Kd2 Rc7 40.b6 Rb7 41.Ke2 while Black's King moves to the queeside to assist in the capture of the b-pawn, the White King dines on Black pawns.
• If 35...Kf8 36.b4 Ke8 37.b5 then:
• If 37...Rd1 38.Rb2 Rc1+ 39.Kd3 Kd8 40.b6 then:
• 40...Kc8 41.b7+ Kb8 42.f5! Ra1 43.Rb6 Ra3+ 44.Ke2 White is ready to give up her b-pawn begin operations against Black's undefended kingside.pawns.
• 40...Rc8 41.g3 Kd7 42.b7 Rb8 43.Ke3 Kc6 44.h4! Zungzwang!
• If 37...Ra4 then after 38.b6 Kd7 39.fxe5 fxe5 40.Rc2 Rd4 41.Rd2 White wins.

35.b4!

• Black does not have time to take the f-pawn, making the b-pawn more dangerous.
• If instead ot the text 35.Rf2!? then after 35...Kf8 36.b4 Ke7 37.b5 Kd7 the b-pawn will be stopped.

35...Kf8

• If 35...Rxf4? 36.b5! then:
• If 36...Rf5 37.Kb4 (like a soccer player, the King goes down field with ball to run interference) 37...Rf4+ 38.Kc5 Rf1 39.b6 then:
• 39...Rc1+ 40.Kb5 Rb1+ 41.Ka6 there's no stopping the pawn. GOOOOOOoooooAAAAAaaaal!
• If 39...Rb1 40.Ra5! (preparing bridge building in a Lucena-like position) 40...Kf8 41.Kc6 Ke7 42.b7 then:
• 42...Rc1+ 43.Kb6 Rb1+ 44.Rb5 brings this Lucena variant to fruition.
• 42...Kd8 43.Rxh5 f5 44.Rh8+ Ke7 45.b8Q scores.
• If 36...Rf1 37.b6 then:
• If 37...Rc1+ 38.Kb3! (a bridge building maneuver akin that in the Lucena position) 38...Rc6 39.Ra6 e5 40.b7!! wins.
• 37...Rb1 38.Rb2 Rc1+ 39.Kb4 Rc8 40.b7 Rb8 41.Kc5 is time for Black to say "Good night."

BLACK: Natalia Zdebskaja
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Tatiana Kosintseva
Position after 35...Kg8f8

36.b5!!

• The b-pawn will be taken by the Black King, but in chess this is called diversion. In short, White knows what she's doing.

36...Ke7 37.b6 Kd7 38.Ra7+!

• Now we see what she was doing. She was diverting the Black king away from Black's kingside pawn mass by advancing on the opposite wing, and in this way nets a pawn.

38...Kc6

• 38...Ke8 loses to 39.Ra8+ Kd7 40.b7.

39.Rxf7 Kxb6 40.Rxf6 Re2

• If 40...Kc5 41.Kd3 Kd5 42.Rf8 then:
• If 42...Ra4 then after 43.Rd8+ Kc6 44.Ke3 Ra3+ 45.Kd4 Ra2 46.Rh8 White still has an extra pawn.
• 42...Re1? loses straightaway to 43.Rh8.

41.Rg6

• Also good is 41.Kd3 Rxg2 42.Rxe6+ Kc7 43.Re2 Rg4 44.Ke4.

41...Kc5 42.Kd3 Ra2

• 42...Rf2 is refuted by 43.Ke3 Rc2 44.Rxe6 Rxg2 45.Re5+.

43.Ke4

• 43.Rxe6 Rf2 44.Re5+ leaves White two pawns to the good.

43...Kc4
BLACK: Natalia Zdebskaja
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Tatiana Kosintseva
Position after 43...Kc5c4

44.h4!

• White has just stripped Black of her last remaining reserve pawn tempo. The end is near.

44...Re2+

• 44...Ra6 45.Rh6 Ra2 46.Rxe6 Re2+ 47.Kf5 Rxg2 48.Rh6 leaves White with two extra pawns.

45.Kf3 Kd3 46.Rg5!

• White keeps Black's pawns immobile.

46...Re3+ 47.Kf2 Re2+ 48.Kg1 Ra2 49.Re5 Ra6

• If 49...Ra4 then:
• White wins with 50.g3! 50...Ra2 51.Rxe6 allows the f-pawn to advance.
• Preserving pawns with 50.g3 is clearly better than 50.Rxh5!? Rxf4 51.Re5 Rxh4 52.Rxe6, when White still wins but with unnecessary risk and difficulty.

50.Kh2 Kd4 51.g3 Rb6 52.Kh3 1-0

• Zugzwang! No matter where Black moves, White wins a pawn and begins to mobilize her own pawns.
• Zdebsakaja resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

14. Player line

The player line for the above game, played in a team tournament, should read:

Tatiana Kosintseva (Spartak Vidnoe) - Natalia Zdebskaja (PetroDom St. Petersburg)

I know that's a small thing, but it bothers me.

[Jack Rabbit]

11. Russian Team Championships, correction and clarification

The Russian Team Championships consists of three events, but the names of the three are given incorrectly above.

The main event is the Premiere League. What is identified as the Premiere League in the news story is actually the Higher League.

The Women's League I got right.