The JR Chess Report (April 17): Nalchik Grand Prix in Progress

[Jack Rabbit]

Tomsk, Spartak Vidnoe and Polytechnik win Russian Team Championships



The fourth leg of the 2008-09 FIDE Grand Prix opened Wednesday in Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkaria (Russia) with 14 players participating.

The competitors are: Vladimir Akopian (Armenia); Evgeny Alekseev (Russia); Levon Aronian (Armenia); Etienne Bacrot (France); Pavel Eljanov (Ukraine); Boris Gelfand (Israel); Alexander Grischuk (Russia); Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukraine); Gata Kamsky (United States); Sergey Karjakin (Ukraine); Rustam Kasimdzhanov (Uzbekistan); Peter Leko (Hungary); Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan); and Peter Svidler (Russia).

After three rounds, Grischuk leads with 2½ points, with Alekseev, Aronian, Leko and Svidler tied for second with 2 points each.

The fourth round will be played Saturday starting about 4 am PDT. The games will be carried live on ChessBase.com.

The event concludes April 29.


Karjakin to become Russian



Sergey Karjakin
Image: ChessBase.com

Alexander Karjakin, father of 19-year-old Ukrainian grandmaster Sergey Karjakin, announced this week that the family is moving to Moscow, applying for Russian citizenship and that his son will henceforth play under the Russian flag.

Although this sounds drastic, the move is strictly financial. The Ukrainian chess federation is strapped for cash and cannot afford to give out the monetary rewards or to provide other support to its top players that the Russian federation can. In addition to getting more monetary support from the Russian federation for achievements like playing on the Russian olympic team, Karjakin will be trained by Russian GM Yuri Dohoyan, who once served as second to former world champion Garry Kasparov.

Karjakin's move is met by understanding and support from his Ukrainian peers.


Calendar

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

To be posted over the next several hours.

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. Russian Team Championships, Sochi

Rajce

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Levin - Timofeev, Premiere League, Round 2

Artyom Timofeev
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Evgeny Levin (Chigorin St. Petersburg) - Artyom Timofeev (Tomsk)
Russian Team Championships, Premier League, Round 2
Sochi, 5 April 2009

Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit: Stoltz Opening

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

• For a survey of the Stoltz Opening, see Koneru-Pérez, IT, Mérida, 2008.

7...0-0 8.Be2 Qe7

• If 8...b6 9.0-0 Bb7 10.Bb2 then:
• If 10...Qe7 then:
• If 11.Rad1 Rfe8 then:
• 12.e4 Nxe4 13.Nxe4 dxe4 14.Qxe4 Rad8 15.Rfe1 Bb4 16.Rf1 Bd6 17.Rfe1 Bb4 18.Rf1 Bd6 19.Rfe1 Bb4 20.Rf1 Bd6 draw (Carlsen-Leko, IT, Morelia-Linares, 2007).
• If 12.Rfe1 Rad8 13.Bd3 then:
• If 13...c5 14.cxd5 exd5 15.Bf5 Nf8 16.Bh3 Ng6 17.Nb5 Bb8 18.dxc5 bxc5 19.Bxf6 gxf6 20.b4 a6 21.Nc3 Qc7 22.Na4 d4 23.Qxc5 Bxf3 24.Qxc7 Bxc7 25.gxf3 dxe3 26.fxe3 Rxd1 27.Rxd1 Rxe3 28.Bf1 Ra3 29.Nc5is equal (Gelfand-Kasidzhanov, Candidates' m, Elista, 2007).
• 13...e5 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.e4 dxe4 16.Nxe4 Nxe4 17.Bxe4 Bxe4 18.Qxe4 Nf6 19.Qf5 e4 20.d5 Bb4 21.Re2 Nxd5 leaves Black a pawn to the good (K. Georgiev-Kasimdzhanov, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2007).
• 11.Rfd1 Rfe8 12.e4 Nxe4 13.Nxe4 dxe4 14.Qxe4 Rad8 15.h3 Nf6 16.Qe3 c5 17.Ne5 Qc7 18.Bd3 h6 19.Bc2 b5 20.Qe2 bxc4 21.Nxc4 Bh2+ 22.Kh1 Qc6 23.f3 Bc7 is equal (Karpov-Bareev, Rapid, Paris, 1992).
• 10...c5 11.cxd5 exd5 12.Rad1 Rc8 13.dxc5 bxc5 14.Qf5 Qe7 15.Rfe1 Rfd8 16.Bf1 Ne5 17.Nb5 Nxf3+ 18.gxf3 Bb8 19.Bxf6 Qxf6 20.Qxf6 gxf6 21.Bh3 Rc6 is equal (Gurevich-Kaidanov, Chicago, 1995).
• If 8...e5 9.cxd5 then:
• 9...cxd5 10.Nb5 Bb4+ 11.Bd2 Bxd2+ 12.Nxd2 a6 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Nd4 Bg4 15.Bxg4 Nfxg4 16.0-0 Rc8 17.Qf5 g6 18.Qf4 Qe7 19.N2f3 Nxf3+ 20.Qxf3 Nf6 21.Rac1 Ne4 22.Qe2 Qa3 23.Rc2 Nd6 24.f3 Rxc2 25.Qxc2 is equal (Gelfand-Morozevich, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2006).
• 9...Nxd5 10.Nxd5 cxd5 11.dxe5 Nxe5 12.Bb2 Bb4+ 13.Kf1 Nxf3 14.Bxf3 Be6 15.Qd3 Be7 16.Ke2 Qa5 17.Rhc1 Rac8 18.a3 h6 19.Kf1 Qb6 20.Kg1 Qd6 21.Bd1 Rc6 22.Rxc6 bxc6 23.Bc2 f5 24.b4 c5 25.bxc5 Qxc5 26.Qd4 Qxd4 27.Bxd4 Kf7 is equal (Portisch-Hübner, Brussels, 1986).

9.0-0 dxc4

• If 9...Re8 then:
• If 10.Rd1 b6 11.e4 Nxe4 12.Nxe4 dxe4 13.Qxe4 Bb7 then:
• If 14.Bb2 Nf6 15.Qe3 c5 16.Ne5 Rad8 17.Bf3 cxd4 18.Bxd4 Bxf3 19.Qxf3 Qc7 20.Nc6 Rd7 21.Bxf6 gxf6 then:
• 22.g3 Rc8 23.Nd4 a6 24.Rd3 Be5 25.Rad1 Rcd8 is equal (Giorgadze-Kramnik, Ol, Manila, 1992).
• 22.Nxa7 Red8 23.Nb5 Bxh2+ 24.Kh1 Qf4 25.Rxd7 Rxd7 26.Qxf4 Bxf4 is equal (Karpov-Morovic, Rpd, León, 1993).
• 14.Bf4 Bxf4 15.Qxf4 e5 16.Qg3 exd4 17.Nxd4 is equal (Miles-Stamatopoulos, Op, Aegina, 1993).
• If 10.Bb2 dxc4 then:
• 11.Bxc4 h6 12.Ne4 Nxe4 13.Qxe4 e5 14.dxe5 Nxe5 15.Nxe5 Bxe5 16.Bxe5 Qxe5 17.Qxe5 Rxe5 18.Rfd1 Be6 19.Bxe6 Rxe6 20.Rd7 gives White the initiative (Portisch-San Segundo, Op, Oviedo, 1993).
• 11.bxc4 e5 transposes to the next note.

10.bxc4 e5 11.a4

• If 11.Bb2 Re8 then:
• If 12.Rfe1 e4 13.Nd2 Nf8 14.f3 exf3 15.Bxf3 Ng4 16.Nf1 then:
• 16...Qg5 17.e4 Ne6 18.e5 Nxd4 19.exd6 Bd7 20.Rxe8+ Rxe8 21.Ne4 Nxf3+ 22.gxf3 Rxe4 23.fxg4 Rxg4+ 24.Ng3 is equal Portisch-van der Wiel, IT, Tilburg, 1988)
• 16...Qh4 17.g3 Qg5 18.Qd3 f5 19.Rad1 Nf6 20.Bg2 h5 21.Nd2 Qg6 22.Nf3 Ne4 23.c5 Bc7 24.Ne5 gives White a small advantage in space (Borges-González, Op, Andorra, 2001).
• 12.Rae1 e4 13.Nd2 Nf8 14.f3 exf3 15.Bxf3 Ng4 16.Bxg4 Bxg4 17.e4 Ne6 18.Nb3 Rad8 19.Kh1 Qh4 20.e5 Nxd4 21.Nxd4 Rxe5 22.g3 Rxe1 23.gxh4 Rxf1+ 24.Kg2 Rf6 gives Black a small advantage with superior pawn structure (Petrosian-Nei, Yerevan, 1965).

11...Re8 12.a5!?

• If 12.Rd1 e4 13.Nd2 Nf8 then:
• If 14.Qa2 then:
• 14...Qc7 then:
• 15.h3 Ng6 16.Ba3 Bxa3 17.Qxa3 gives White the advatage in space (Seirawan-Lautier, IT, Amsterdam, 1996).
• 15.Nf1 Ng4 16.Ng3 Bxg3 17.fxg3 Nxh2?! 18.Kxh2 Re6 19.Bg4 givs Black enough play for the piece to win it back, but White still emerges with the better game (Galyas-Arngrimsson, 1st Saturday, Budapest, 2006.07).
• 14.c5 Bc7 15.Ba3 Ng6 16.Nc4 Ng4 17.h3 Nxf2? (overextending badly; 17...Nf6 keeps him in the game) 18.Kxf2 Qh4+ 19.Kg1 Bxh3 20.gxh3 Qg3+ 21.Kf1! denies Black perpetual check and White goes on to win (Wojtkiewicz-Priehoda, ZT Odorhau, 1995).

12...exd4

• The game is equal.
• If 12...c5 13.Rd1 cxd4 14.Nb5 Nc5 then:
• 15.Nxd6 Qxd6 16.exd4 exd4 17.Rxd4 Qa6 is equal.
• 15.exd4 exd4 16.Nfxd4 Be5 17.Bb2 Bd7 is equal.

13.exd4

• 13.Nxd4 Nc5 14.Rd1 Bc7 15.Ba3 Ng4 16.g3 remains equal.

13...Nf8 14.Re1 Bg4 15.Be3 Ne6 16.g3!?

• The text is solid, but a little passive.
• More active is 16.c5 Bc7 17.Ng5 Bxe2 18.Nxe6 Ba6 19.Nxc7 Qxc7, remaining equal.

16...Bb4!

• The text is stronger than it looks. It is difficult for White to break the pin.

17.Red1

• 17.Reb1?! c5 18.dxc5 Bxc5 19.Bxc5 Nxc5 gives Black the more active game.

17...c5 18.Nb5?

• The action is clearly in the center. White wo;; not even get a chance to play the Knight to c7.
• If 18.Nd5 Nxd5 19.cxd5 cxd4 20.Nxd4 Nxd4 then:
• 21.Rxd4! Bxe2 22.Rh4 h6 23.Qxe2 remains equal.
• 21.Bxd4? loses to 21...Bxe2 22.Rdb1 Bd6 23.Re1 Qe4.

BLACK: Artyom Timofeev
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WHITE: Evgeny Levin
Position after 18.Nc3b5

18...cxd4!

• Black deprives White's Knights of an outpost at e5.
• 18...a6 19.d5 then:
• 19...axb5 20.dxe6 Qxe6 21.cxb5 Qe4 22.Qxe4 Nxe4 gives Black the active game.
• 19...Bxf3 20.Bxf3 axb5 21.dxe6 bxc4 22.Qxc4 fxe6 gives Black an extra pawn.

19.Nfxd4

• White must play carefully to keep from losing quickly.
• 19.Bxd4? drops a piece after 19...a6! when:
• If 20.Bxf6 Qxf6 21.Nbd4 Bc5 22.Nxe6 Rxe6 then:
• 23.Qd3 Rxe2 24.Qxe2 Bxf3 then:
• If 25.Qe1 then after Bxd1 26.Qxd1 Rd8! 27.Qe1 Bxf2+ 28.Qxf2 Qxa1+ Black has an extra Rook.
• 25.Qd2 Bxd1 26.Rxd1 Re8 leaves Black up by a Bishop.
• 23.Bd3 Bxf3 24.Bxh7+ Kh8 25.Qf5 Bxd1 26.Rxd1 Qxf5 27.Bxf5 Re2 leaves Balck up by a Rook.
• If 20.h3 Bxf3 21.Bxf3 axb5 22.Bxf6 Qxf6 23.Bxb7 then:
• If 23...Nd4 then after 24.Qb1 Rxa5 25.Qxb4 Rxa1 26.Rxa1 Nc2 White cannot save both his Queen and Rook.
• Also good is 23...Ra7 24.a6 Bc3 25.Ra2 b4 leaving Black up by a minor piece.

19...Nxd4 20.Nxd4 Qe5 21.Rab1

• 21.a6 b6 22.Nc6 Qh5 23.Ra2 Bc5 24.Nd4 Rac8 gives White more freedom.

21...Bc5?

• Black misses th opportunity to send White to an early shower.
• If 21...Qxa5! 22.Bxg4 Nxg4 then:
• If 23.Nf5 b6 24.Bd4 g6 25.Ng7 Red8 then:
• If 26.Qe2 Bf8 27.Ne6 then:
• 27...Re8 28.Qxg4 fxe6 Black retains the extra pawn.
• If 27...Nxf2 28.Nxd8 Nxd1 29.Rb5 Qxb5 30.cxb5 Rxd8 then:
• 31.Qxd1! Rxd4 32.Qxd4 Bc5 Black wins.
• 31.Bf6!? Rd6 32.Ba1 Rd5 gives Black a small theoretical material advantage.
• 26.Qe4?! Bc3 27.Qxg4 Bxd4 28.Rxd4 Kxg7 29.Rbd1 Re8 gives Black an extra pawn.
• If 23.Qb2?! then after 23...Qh5 24.h4 Nxe3 25.fxe3 a5 Black has an extra pawn.

22.Rb5!

• White dodges a bullet. The game is equal.

22...b6 23.axb6 axb6 24.Re1?!

• White miscalculates and falls into a pit.
• 24.Bxg4 Nxg4 25.Nf5 Nxe3 26.Nxe3 Qf6 27.Rb3 Bxe3 28.Rxe3 Rxe3 29.fxe3 Qe6 remains equal.
• 26...Ra3 27.Rb3 Rxb3 28.Qxb3 h6 is equal.

24...Bd7!

• Black reclaims the advantage.
• If 24...Qe4? 25.Qxe4 Nxe4 then:
• If 26.Bxg4! Nc3 27.Rxc5 bxc5 28.Nb3 Rab8 29.Nxc5 gives White the material advantage and the initiative.
• If 26.Rc1!? Bxe2 27.Nxe2 Nd6 then:
• 28.Rb3 Re4 29.Bxc5 bxc5 30.Nf4 f6 is equal.
• 28.Bxc5? Nxb5 gives Black the exchange.
• 24...Bxe2 25.Rxe2 Ne4 26.Nc6 Qc7 27.Bxc5 bxc5 28.Rxe4 Qxc6 is equal.

25.Nf3 Qc7 26.Bf4 Qb7

• Also good is 26...Qc8 27.Rbb1 Ng4 28.Rf1 Ra3 29.Nh4 Ba4.

27.Rb2?

• White fails to see the coming tactical coup, otherwise he would have fortified his back rank.
• After 27.Rbb1 Ng4 28.Rf1 Bc6 29.Ne1 Nf6 White may be fighting for a draw, but at least he's still fighting.

BLACK: Artyom Timofeev
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WHITE: Evgeny Levin
Position after 27.Rb5b2

27...Qxf3!!

• The Queen sacrifice adds a touch of class to the end. White is helpless.
• Also good is a variation involving an exchange sacrifice on e2: If 27...Ba4 then:
• If 28.Qd3 then after 28...Rad8 29.Qf5 Rxe2!! 30.Rbxe2 Qxf3 White must fall on his sword.
• 28.Qf5 fails to 28...Rxe2!! 29.Rbxe2 Qxf3 30.Ra2 Ng4 31.Rf1 Nxf2!.

28.Bxf3 Rxe1+ 29.Kg2 Raa1!

• The castle is breeched and the White King has no escape.

30.h3 Rh1 31.Bg4 Bc6+ 0-1

• White cannot prevent mate on g1.
• Levin resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Ivkina - Lahno, Women's League, Round 3

Katya Lahno
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Olga Ivkina (Chigorin St. Petersburg) - Katya Lahno (Spartak Vidnoe)
Russian Team Championships, Woemn's League, Round 3
Sochi, 4 April 2009

Spanish Petit Royal Game: Calabrian Defense (Schliemann Defense)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5 4.d4

• If 4.Nc3 then:
• If 4...Nf6 5.exf5 then:
• 5...Bc5 6.Qe2 Qe7 7.d3 Nd4 8.Nxd4 Bxd4 9.Be3 c6 10.Ba4 a5 11.a3 b5 12.Bb3 a4 13.Ba2 Bxc3+ 14.bxc3 d5 15.0-0 Bxf5 16.f4 e4 gives Black the advantage in space (Haznedaroglu-Asauskas, Euro ChT, Kemer, 2007).
• 5...e4 6.Nh4 d5 7.d3 Bb4 8.0-0 0-0 9.dxe4 Bxc3 10.exd5 Nd4 11.Bc4 b5 12.bxc3 Nxc2 13.Qxc2 bxc4 14.Ba3 Nxd5 15.Bxf8 Qxh4 16.Bc5 gives White an impressive material advantage (Rendle-Briscoe, British Ch, Scarborough, 2004).
• If 4...fxe4 5.Nxe4 then:
• If 5...d5 6.Nxe5 dxe4 7.Nxc6 Qg5 8.Qe2 Nf6 9.f4 Qxf4 10.Ne5+ c6 11.d4 Qh4+ 12.g3 Qh3 13.Bc4 Be6 14.Bg5 Bd6 15.0-0-0 0-0-0 then:
• 16.Bxe6+ Qxe6 17.Qc4 Rhe8 18.Qxe6+ Rxe6 19.Nc4 Be7 20.Rhe1 h6 21.Bxf6 Bxf6 22.c3 b5 23.Na5 h5 is equal (Matulovic-Ostojic, IKO, Belgrade, 1992).
• 16.Qf1 Rhe8 17.Qxh3 Bxh3 18.Nf7 Rd7 19.Nxd6+ Rxd6 20.Rhe1 Rd7 draw (Vasiukov-V. Ivanov, Russian Winter Op, Moscow, 1991).
• If 5...Nf6 then:
• 6.Nxf6+ Qxf6 7.Qe2 Be7 8.Bxc6 dxc6 9.Nxe5 Bf5 10.d3 0-0 11.0-0 Bd6 12.f4 Rae8 13.d4 Bxe5 14.dxe5 Qg6 15.Rf2 Rd8 16.Be3 a5 17.Kh1 h5 18.h3 (M. Schlosser-Outerelo, Euro ChT, Haifa, 1989).
• If 6.Qe2 d5 7.Nxf6+ gxf6 8.d4 Bg7 9.dxe5 0-0 then:
• 10.e6 Ne5 11.Bf4 c6 12.Bd3 Nxd3+ 13.Qxd3 Bxe6 14.Nd4 Qd7 15.0-0-0 Rfe8 16.Rhe1 Bf7 17.Nf5 Bg6 18.g4 Rxe1 19.Rxe1 Re8 20.Re3 Bf8 21.Qd4 is equal (Perelshteyn-Kachiyan, US Ch, Stillwater, 2007).
• 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.e6 Re8 12.0-0 Rxe6 13.Qd3 c5 14.Rd1 c6 15.c4 Ba6 16.b3 f5 17.Rb1 Qe7 18.Bg5 Qf8 19.Qc2 h6 20.Be3 d4 21.Bf4 is equal (Arizmendi-Gómez, Capablanca Mem, Havana, 2001).
• 4...Nd4 5.Ba4 Nf6 6.0-0 Bc5 7.exf5 0-0 8.Nxe5 d5 9.Ne2 Qd6 10.Nxd4 Bxd4 11.Nf3 Ng4 12.c3 Rxf5 13.cxd4 Rxf3 14.g3 Nxh2 15.Kxh2 Qh6+ 16.Kg1 Bg4 17.Qe1 White is a piece to the good (Liberzon-Preissmann, Ol, Buenos Aires, 1978).
• If 4.d3 fxe4 5.dxe4 Nf6 6.0-0 then:
• If 6...d6 7.Nc3 Be7 8.Qd3 then:
• 8...Bg4 9.h3 Bxf3 10.Qxf3 0-0 11.Ne2 Kh8 12.c3 Qd7 13.Ng3 Ng8 14.Qe2 Rae8 15.Be3 a6 16.Ba4 Bf6 17.Rad1 b5 18.Bc2 gives White a small advantage in space (Sowray-Anderson, British Ch, Great Yarmouth, 2007).
• 9.Qc4 Bxf3 10.Bxc6+ bxc6 11.Qxc6+ Nd7 12.gxf3 0-0 13.Nd5 Rc8 14.f4 exf4 15.Qc4 Kh8 16.Nxf4 Ne5 17.Qc3 Qd7 18.f3 Rf6 19.Ng2 Rcf8 20.f4 Qg4 21.Qg3 Qe2 is equal (Davies-Anastasovski, Canadian Ch, Toronto, 2004).
• If 6...Bc5 then:
• If 7.Bxc6bxc6 8.Nxe5 0-0 then:
• 9.Bg5 Qe8 10.Bxf6 Rxf6 11.Nd3 Bd4 12.c3 Bb6 13.Nd2 d6 14.c4 Qg6 15.Kh1 Bg4 16.f3 Be6 17.f4 gives White an extra pawn (Macieja-Radjabov, World Cup, Khanty Mansiysk, 2007).
• 9.Nd3 Nxe4 10.Nxc5 Nxc5 11.Be3 Ne4 12.Nd2 Nxd2 13.Qxd2 d6 14.b4 Be6 15.a3 Qf6 is equal (Leko-Aronian< Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 2006).
• 7.Qd3 d6 8.Qc4 Qe7 9.Nc3 Bd7 10.Nd5 Nxd5 11.exd5 Nd4 12.Bxd7+ Qxd7 13.Nxe5 gives White an extra pawn (Mamedyarov-Radjabov, Grand Prix, Baku, 2008).

4...fxe4 5.Bxc6

• If 5.Nxe5 Nxe5 6.dxe5 c6 then:
• If 7.Nc3 cxb5 8.Nxe4 d5 9.exd6 Nf6 then:
• 10.Bg5 Qa5+ 11.Nc3 b4 12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.Nd5 b3+ 14.c3 Be6 15.Nc7+ should give Black a material advantage (Pavasovic-Srebrnic, Op, Ljubljana, 1992).
• 10.Qd4 Nxe4 11.Qxe4+ Kf7 12.Bf4 Qe8 13.Be5 Bxd6 14.Qf3+ Ke6 15.0-0-0 Bxe5 16.Rhe1 in spite of his material advantage, Black is toast (Hort-Whittman, Corres, 1978).
• If 7.Bc4 Qa5+ 8.Nc3 Qxe5 9.Bxg8 Rxg8 then:
• 10.0-0 d5 11.f3 Bd6 12.g3 Bh3 13.Re1 0-0-0 14.Be3 b6 15.Qe2 Kb7 16.Bf4 Qd4+ 17.Be3 Qf6 18.fxe4 d4 19.Qh5 dxc3 20.Qxh3 cxb2 21.Rab1 Qc3 22.Bf4 Bxf4 23.Qxh7 Be5 White is a piece down and resigns (Afanasjev-Chmulev, Op, Kharkov, 2002).
• 10.Be3 d5 11.Qd2 Be6 12.0-0-0 Bb4 13.f3 0-0-0 14.Bxa7 exf3 15.gxf3 Bxc3 16.bxc3 d4 17.cxd4 Qb5 is equal (van den Bosch-Spielmann, IT, Amsterdam, 1930).

5...dxc6 6.Nxe5 Nf6

• If 6...Qh4 7.Nc3 Nf6 8.Qe2 Bb4 9.Qc4 Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 Nd5 11.Ba3 Qf6 12.0-0 Be6 13.Qc5 then:
• If 13...Nb6?! 14.Qa5 Qd8 15.Rfe1 Qd5 16.Bc5! then:
• 16...0-0-0? 17.Qxa7! Rde8 18.c4 Qd8 19.Rab1 Bf5 20.Bxb6! cxb6 21.Rxb6 Qc7 22.Reb1 Qb8 23.Rxc6+ Black resigns in the face of mate (Marco-Trenchard. IT, Vienna, 1898).
• White is better after 16...Kd8 17.Re3 h6 18.a4 Nc4 19.Nxc4 Qxc4 20.Qb4, but now the game deterriorates rapidly for Black.
• 13...Nf4 14.Kh1 Qg5 15.Rg1 Bd5 is equal.

7.Bg5

• 7.0-0 Bd6 8.Bg5 0-0 9.Nc3 Qe8 10.Re1 Bxe5 11.dxe5 Ng4 12.Nxe4 Qg6 13.Bh4 Nxe5 14.Bg3 Bg4 15.Qd4 Nf7 16.Bxc7 gives White an extra pawn,m but it is of little importance at this point (Saelee-Shrestha, Ol, Calvia, 2004).

7...c5

• 7...Bd6 8.Nc3 0-0 9.Qe2 Qe8 10.Nxe4 Nxe4 11.Qxe4 Bf5 12.Qe2 Bxe5 13.dxe5 Qg6 14.Qe3 Bxc2 15.0-0 Be4 16.Qg3 Rae8 17.Rfe1 Bd5 18.Bh4 is equal (Smyslov-Kallgren, Op, Stockholm, 1998-99).

8.c3 Be7!?

• 8...Bf5 9.0-0 Qd5 10.Qa4+ c6 11.Rd1 Be7 12.Na3 cxd4 13.cxd4 h6 14.Bh4 0-0 15.Nc2 Qe6 16.Ne3 Bh7 17.Rac1 gives White a small advatage in space (Hon-O'Kelly, IT, Djakarta, 1978).

9.0-0

• The game is level.

9...Be6 10.Qe2 0-0

• 10...cxd4 11.Bxf6 Bxf6 12.Qxe4 Qd6 13.Nf3 0-0 14.Nxd4 gives White an extra pawn.

11.Bxf6 gxf6!?

• 11...Bxf6 12.Qxe4 Qd6 13.Re1 cxd4 14.Qxd4 Qxd4 15.cxd4 remains equal.

12.Nd3 f5

• Black advances on the kingside.
• The alternate plan puts pressure on White's pieces from an open diagonal.
• If 12...Bc4 13.Qxe4 f5 14.Qf3 then:
• 14...cxd4 15.Re1 dxc3 16.Nxc3 Qxd3 17.Qxd3 Bxd3 18.Rxe7 Rf7 remains equal.
• 14...Bd5 15.Qh3 cxd4 16.cxd4 Be4 17.Qe3 Bf6 remains equal.

13.Nxc5 Bxc5 14.dxc5 Qd5 15.Nd2 Qxc5 16.Nb3

• 16.Rfd1 Rad8 17.Nb3 Bxb3 18.axb3 Qb6 19.Qc4+ remains equal.

16...Qc4 17.Qh5 Rae8

• If 17...Rf6 18.Rfd1 Raf8 19.Rd2 h6 20.Rad1 gives White a focus on the back rank.
• 18.Qg5+ Rg6 19.Qf4 Qd3 20.g3 Qd6 21.Qxd6 cxd6 remains equal.

18.Rfd1 b6 19.Rd4 Qc6 20.Rad1 Bc8

• If 20...f4!? 21.Qg5+ Kh8 then:
• 22.Rd8 Bxb3 23.axb3 e3 24.fxe3 fxe3 25.R1d7 White threatens mate on g7.
• If 22.Nc1 Bh3 23.Qh5 Bc8 24.b3 then:
• 24...Qxc3 25.Ne2 Qc5 26.Qxc5 bxc5 27.Ra4 a6 gives Black an extra pawn.
• 24...Qf6 25.Re1 f3 26.Rdxe4 fxg2 is equal.
• 20...Bxb3 21.axb3 Qg6 22.Qe2 Kh8 23.Qa6 Rg8 24.g3 is equal.

21.Qg5+ Qg6

• 21...Kh8 22.Rd5 Rg8 23.Qe3 Qf6 24.Qf4 Be6 25.R5d2 remains equal.

22.Qf4 Qg7 23.R4d2 Qe5 24.Qg5+

• Exchanging Queens makes little difference.
• 24.Qxe5 Rxe5 25.Nd4 f4 26.Nc6 Ree8 remains equal.

24...Qg7 25.Qf4 c5

• Less clear is 25...Qe5 26.Qxe5 Rxe5 27.Nd4 f4 28.Nc6 Re6 29.Nxa7 when White has an extra pawn, but if Black moves the Bishop to a6 the Knight will be imprisoned.

26.Rd6 Be6 27.Nc1 Kh8 28.Ne2!?

• Black drops a pawn.
• 28.a3 Rg8 29.g3 Re7 30.Kh1 Rd7 31.Rxd7 Bxd7 remains equal.

BLACK: Katya Lahno
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Olga Ivkina
Position after 28.Nc1e2

28...Bxa2!

• Usually, computers are crass materialists about the loss of a pawn, but Fritz isn't terribly concerned about this one. The position is unclear with Black having an extra pawn and White more space.

29.Rd7 Re7 30.Qc7 Rfe8 31.Nf4 Bg8 32.h4 Qf6 33.h5

• If 33.Qxa7 Qxh4 then:
• 34.Qxb6 e3 35.fxe3 Rxe3 36.Rf1 Re1 37.Rd1 remains unclear.
• 34.g3 Qf6 35.Rxe7 Rxe7 36.Qb8 e3 remains unclear.

33...e3 34.fxe3 Rxe3 35.Rd8

• If 35.Qd6 Qh4 36.Rf1 Re1 37.Nd3 R8e6 then:
• 38.Qf8! Rxf1+ 39.Kxf1 Qf6 is unclear.
• 38.Rxe1! Rxd6 39.Rxd6 Qxh5 is unclear; Black still holds a material advantage and White still holds a spatial advantage.
• 38.Qf4?! Rxf1+ 39.Qxf1 Qxh5 40.Rxa7 Qg5 41.Nf4 Re4 Black has an extra pawn while the space count is about even.

35...Re1+ 36.Rxe1?!

• 36.Kh2 Qh4+ 37.Nh3 R8e7 38.Qb8 Qg4 39.Rxe1 Rxe1 remains unclear.

36...Rxe1+ 37.Kh2 Qh4+ 38.Nh3
BLACK: Katya Lahno
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Olga Ivkina
Position after 38.Nf4h3

38...f4!

• Black threatens mate on g3.

39.Rd3 Qxh5 40.Qxf4 Qe5

• 40...Re6 41.Rd8 a5 42.Qg3 Rg6 43.Qe3 a4 gives Black an extra pawn with the space count even.

41.Rd7 Qxf4+ 42.Nxf4

• With the Queens off the board, Black's extra pawn looms as a real advantage.

42...Rb1 43.Nd3

• If 43.Rxa7 Rxb2 44.Ra8 Kg7 then:
• 45.Nh5+ Kh6 46.Rxg8 Kxh5 Black's queenside majority is mobile.
• If 45.Rd8 Rc2 46.Rd7+ Kf6 then:
• 47.Rd3 Bc4 48.Rf3 Ke5 gives Black a clear advantage.
• 47.Rd6+ Ke5 48.Rxb6 Rxc3 Black should win if she can get her Rook behind the c-pawn.

43...Rd1?!

• 43...a5 44.Rd8 c4 45.Ne5 Rxb2 46.Nxc4 Rb3 puts Black in a strong position to advance her queenside.

44.Nxc5! Rxd7 45.Nxd7

• White has equalized.

45...Kg7 46.Kg3 Bd5 47.b4?

• The pawn should be held back as reserve tempi.
• If 47.Kf2 h5 48.Ne5 Kf6 then:
• 49.Nd7+ Ke6 50.Nf8+ Ke5 51.Ng6+ remains equal.
• 49.Nf3 a5 50.Ke3 a4 51.g3 Bxf3 52.Kxf3 Ke5 gives Black a little more freedom.

47...Be6 48.Ne5
BLACK: Katya Lahno
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Olga Ivkina
Position after 48.Nd7e5

48...a5!

• Black takes advantage of White's inaccurate 47th move and secures a remote passer.

49.bxa5 bxa5 50.Nc6

• If 50.c4? a4! then:
• 51.Nc6 Bxc4 52.Nb4 Bb3 53.Kf4 a3 54.g4 Kg6 the Black King will come in contact with the pawn.
• If 51.Nd3 Bxc4 then:
• 52.Ne1 Bb3 53.Nd3 a3 54.Nb4 a2 wins for White.
52.Nb4 transposes to the main variation.

50...a4 51.Nd4 Kf6 52.Kf4

• If 52.Nc2 Ke5 53.Kf3 Bd5+ then:
• If 54.Kf2 Ke4 then:
• 55.Ke2 h5 56.Na3 h4 57.c4 Be6 58.Kd2 Kd4 the c-pawn falls.
• 55.g3 Bc4 56.Na3 Kd3 wins for White.
• 54.Kg3 Ke4 55.Kf2 Kd3 56.Nb4+ Kc4 wins for White.

52...a3! 53.Nc2 a2 54.g3

• If 54.Na1 then after 54...Bd5 55.g3 h5 56.Nc2 Bb3 White wins.

54...Bf5 55.Na1 Ke6 56.Nb3 Bg6 57.c4

• If 57.Ke3 Kd5 58.Kd2 Kc4 then:
• 59.Na5+ Kb5 60.Nb3 Ka4 61.Na1 Ka3 wins for White.
• 59.Na1 loses immediately to 59...Bf5! Zugzwang!

57...Bd3 58.Na1

• No better is 58.c5 Kd5 59.Ke3 Bc4 60.Na1 Kxc5.

58...Bxc4 59.Ke4 Kf6 60.Kf4

• If 60.Kd4 Bf7 61.Ke4 Bg6+ then:
• If 62.Kf4 then after 62...Ke6 63.Kf3 Kd5 64.Ke3 Kc4 65.Kd2 Bf5 White is kaput.
• If 62.Kd4 then after 62...Kf5 63.Ke3 Ke5 Black gains the opposition.

60...Be6 61.Nc2 Bb3 62.Na1 Bd1 63.Ke3 Kg5 64.Kd2

• If 64.Kf2 Kg4 65.Kg2 h5 66.Kh2 Bf3 then:
• If 67.Nc2 then Black wins after 67...Kf5 68.Kg1 Ke5 69.Kf2 Be4.
• If 67.Kg1 then after 67...Kxg3 68.Kf1 h4 the h-pawn cannot be stopped.

64...Bf3 65.Ke3 Kg4 66.Kf2 h5!

• This is a masterful demonstration of the virtues of a reserve pawn tempo. White is in Zugzwang.

67.Nc2 Bd1 68.Na1 Kh3 69.Ke1
BLACK: Katya Lahno
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Olga Ivkina
Position after 69.Kf2e1

69...Kxg3!!

• The sacrifice of the Bishop gives Black the time to advance the h-pawn decisively.

70.Kxd1 h4 0-1

• One of the pawns must promote.
• Ivkina resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. A. Muzychuk - Zdebskaja, Women's League, Round 5

Anna Muzychuk
Photo: Chess-Theory


Natalia Zdebskaja (PetroDom St. Petersburg) - Anna Muzychuk (AVS Krasnoturyinsk)
Russian Team Championships, Woemn's League. Round 5
Sochi, 7 April 2009

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Chigorin Defense (Neo-Marshall Gambit)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Na5 10.Bc2 d5!?

• This may turn out to be the most exciting opening innovation in decades. It was played rarely until 2007, when the game Kuznetsov-Gajewski gave it theoretical importance after a victory by Black. In most variations, Black sacrifices a pawn. For obvious reasons, it has been dubbed the Neo-Marshall Gambit.
• The main line is 10...c5 11.d4 Qc7 12.Nbd2 cxd4 13.cxd4.

BLACK: Anna Muzychuk
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WHITE: Natalia Zdebskaja
Position after 10...d5

11.d4

• White can either decline or accept the "Marshall." In the text, White declines. To accept, White plays 11.exd5.
• If 11.exd5 e4 then:
• If 12.Bxe4 Nxe4 13.Rxe4 Bb7 14.d4 Re8 15.Bf4 Nc4 16.b3 Nb6 17.c4 bxc4 18.bxc4 Nxc4 19.Nc3 Nb6 20.Qb3 Rb8 21.Re5 Ba8 White will not hold the extra pawn; the game is equal (P. Carlsson-Stevic, Ol, Dresden, 2008).
• 12.Ng5 Nxd5 13.Nxe4 f5 14.Ng3 f4 15.Ne4 f3 16.d4 fxg2 then:
• If 17.Qh5 g6 18.Qh6 Bf5 19.Ng5 Bxg5 20.Bxg5 Qd7 21.Be4 Bxe4 22.Rxe4 Rf3 gives Black a definite advantage in space (Galopoulos-Lukovic, EU ChU14, Herceg Novi, 2008).
• If 17.Ng3 Qd6 18.Be4 then:
• If 18...Bb7? Nf4! 19.Nf5! Rxf5 20.Bxf5 Rf8 21.Re6 Rxf5 22.Rxd6 Bxd6 23.a4 Bg3 24.f3 Bf4 25.axb5 Bxc1 then:
• 26.Rxa5? 27.Qe1 (If 27.Qxc1?? then 27...Ne2+! wins immediately) 27...Bxf3 (Black now overwhelms White's King) 28.bxa6 Nxh3+ 29.Kh2 Bf4+ 30.Kxh3 g1N+ 31.Qxg1 Rxa5 White resigns (Kuznetsov-Gajewski, Op, Pardubice, 2007).
• White wins after 26.Qxc1! Rxf3 27.bxa6 Ba8 28.Rxa5 when he has a Queen for a minor piece.
• 18...c6 19.Kxg2 Qf6 20.Qc2 h6 21.Re2 maintains White's pawn, but Black has more space.

11...dxe4

• This move sacrifices a pawn.
• If 11...Nxe4 12.Nxe5 then:
• 12...f6 13.Nd3 Bd6 14.Bf4 Nc4 15.b3 Nb6 16.Qc1 Re8 17.Bxd6 cxd6 18.Nf4 f5 19.a4 bxa4 draw (So-Howell, Corus C, Wijk aan Zee, 2009).
• 14.Nf4 c6 15.Bxe4 dxe4 16.Rxe4 Bf5 gives White an extra pawn.
• 12...Bd6 13.Nd2 f5 14.Ndf3 Nc4 15.a4 Bb7 16.axb5 axb5 17.Rxa8 Bxa8 18.Qe2 c5 19.Nd3 cxd4 20.Nxd4 Qb8 21.Qf3 Ne5 22.Nxe5 Bxe5 23.Nxf5 Kh8 24.Bxe4 dxe4 25.Qg4 gives White an extra pawn (Hou Yifan-Howell, World Jr Ch, Gaziantep, 2008).

12.Nxe5 c5

• 12...Bb7 13.Be3 Bd6 14.Nd2 c5 15.Bg5 cxd4 16.cxd4 Re8 17.Nxe4 Bxe5 18.dxe5 Qxd1 19.Raxd1 Nxe4 20.Bxe4 Bxe4 21.Rxe4 gives White an extra pawn (R. Jones-Agopov, Euro ChT, Kallithea, 2008).

13.Be3

• 13.Bg5 Bb7 14.Nd2 cxd4 15.cxd4 Re8 16.Nb3 is equal (Domínguez-Carlsen, World Cup, Khanty Mansiysk, 2007).

13...Qc7

• 13...Bb7 14.Nd2 Qd5 (14...Qc7 transposes to the next note) 15.Ng4 Nxg4 16.hxg4 Qe6 17.dxc5 Nc4 18.Nxc4 bxc4 leaves White with an extra pawn.

14.Nd2 Bb7 15.Qb1

• 15.a4 Rfd8 16.axb5 axb5 17.Ng4 Nxg4 18.hxg4 cxd4 19.Bxd4 Nc6 20.Rxa8 Bxa8 21.Bxe4 Nxd4 22.cxd4 Bb4 23.Bxa8 Rxa8 24.Re2 Qf4 25.Nb3 gives White an extra pawn (Arakhamia-Wells, EU Ch, Liverpool, 2008).

15...cxd4 16.Bxd4 Bd6

• 16...Rae8 17.Nxe4 Bxe4 18.Bxe4 Bd6 19.Ng4 Nxe4 20.Rxe4 leaves White a pawn to the good.

17.Ng4 Nxg4 18.hxg4 Bh2+

• 18...f5 19.gxf5 Bh2+ 20.Kh1 Rxf5 21.Bxe4 Rh5 22.Nf3 gives White an extra pawn and the initiative (Maze-Ragger, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2009).

19.Kh1 Bf4

• If 19...Qf4? then after 20.Nf1! Rae8 21.Nxh2 Nc4 22.Qc1 e3 23.fxe3 Qg3 24.e4 White wins quickly (Baranidze-Djuraev, World Jr Ch, Gaziantep, 2008).

20.Nxe4 Rfe8

• 20...Qc6 21.g3 Bc7 22.a4 Nc4 23.Kg2 is equal.

21.g5 Nc6 22.Be3 Bxe3

• 22...Rad8 drops another pawn to 23.Nc5 Bc8 24.Bxh7+ Kh8 25.Be4.

23.Rxe3 Ne5 24.Qd1 Nc4 25.Re1!?

• 25.Re2 Nxb2 26.Qe1 Re6 27.f3 Qf4 28.Nf6+ gxf6 29.Rxe6 fxe6 30.Qxe6+ Kf8 31.Re1 Qxg5 32.Qe7+ Kg8 33.Qxh7+ draws (Kotronias-Estremera, EU Ch, Liverpool, 2008).

25...Bxe4!?

• Black is hunting buried treasure.
• If Black recovers the gambit pawn with 25...Nxb2 then she is slightly better after 26.Qh5 Bxe4 27.Bxe4 g6 28.Qf3 Rad8.

26.Bxe4 Rad8 27.Qg4?

• White allows Black a second shot at recovering the pawn in the belief that with Black's Knight offsided she will have the better game.
• 27.Qc2 g6 28.Bd3 Rxe1+ 29.Rxe1 Qf4 30.Qe2 Qxg5 is equal.

27...Nxb2 28.Re3

• 28.Rac1 Re6 29.Re2 Rd1+ 30.Rxd1 Nxd1 31.Qf3 Kf8 gives Black the initiative.

BLACK: Anna Muzychuk
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Natalia Zdebskaja
Position after 28.Re1e3

28...g6!

• After this simple defensive move, Black is ready to be aggressive.

29.Rae1 Nc4 30.Rh3

• If 30.R3e2 Nd2 31.Bd5 then:
• If 31...Rxe2 32.Rxe2 Qxc3 33.Bxf7+ then:
• 33...Kg7! 34.Be8 Qc1+ 35.Kh2 Nf1+ 36.Kh3 Rd3+ Black continues to enjoy the initiative.
• Disaster strikes after 33...Kxf7?? when 34.Qe6+! Kg7 35.Qe7+ Kg8 36.Qxd8+ Kg7 37.Re7#.
• 31...Qb8?! allows the combination 32.Rxe8+ Rxe8 33.Bxf7+ Kxf7 34.Qd7+! Kf8 35.Rxe8+ Qxe8 36.Qxd2 leaving White a pawn to the good.

30...Nd2 31.Qh4 h5 32.f3

• 32.Rhe3 Nxe4 33.Rxe4 Rxe4 34.Qxe4 Qxc3 gives Black an extra pawn.
• 32.gxh6?? loses to 32...Nxe4 33.Rhe3 f5 when Black has an extra piece.

32...Qc4 33.a3

• If 33.Bb7 Rxe1+ 34.Qxe1 Qxa2 then:
• If 35.Qe7 Qb1+ 36.Kh2 Nf1+ 37.Kg1 Ne3+ 38.Kh2 Qd3 39.Qc7 Qd2 wins for Black.
• If 35.Kh2 then after 35...Nc4 36.Qe7 Qd2 37.Rg3 Ne3 38.Kh3 h4 Black wins the exchange.

33...Re6 34.Rd1 Qb3 35.Re1

• If 35.Qe1 then after 35...Qxc3 36.a4 Red6 37.Rc1 Qe5 White's g-pawn is ripe.

BLACK: Anna Muzychuk
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Natalia Zdebskaja
Position after 35.Rd1e1

35...Rde8!

• The text is a little better than taking the pawn immediately.
• 35...Qxa3 36.g4 then:
• 36...Qxc3! 37.gxh5 gxh5 38.g6 Qf6 39.gxf7+ Kxf7 leaves Black two pawns to the good.
• If 36...Nc4?! then after 37.gxh5 gxh5 38.f4 White equalizes

36.Re3 Qxa3 37.Qe1 Rd8

• If 37...Nxe4 then after 38.Rxe4 Rxe4 39.fxe4 Qe7 Black is poised to win another pawn.

38.Kh2 Qd6+

• Also good is 38...Qc5 39.Kh1 Nc4 40.Re2 Qxg5 41.g3 Qf6 42.Kg2 Red6 when Black is two pawns up with her queenside ready to roll.

39.Kh1 Qf4 40.g4

• If 40.Re2 Qxg5 41.Bb7 Rxe2 42.Qxe2 Qf6 then:
• 43.f4 Qxf4 44.Bxa6 Ne4! 45.Kg1 Rd2 leaves Black two pawns up.
• 43.Qe3 Nc4 44.Qe1 a5 45.Be4 a4 leaves Black two pawns up with the remote passer on the march.

40...Nxe4 41.fxe4 Qxg4 42.Rhg3

• 42.Kh2 Rd1 43.Qf2 Qxg5 44.Rhf3 f6 leaves Black three pawns to the good.

42...Qh4+ 43.Kg1 Red6 0-1

• If 44.Rh3 then 44...Qxg5+ 45.Rhg3 Qe5 46.Qf2 Rd1+ 47.Re1 Qxe4 is crushing.
• Zdebskaja resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Foxwoods Open, Mashantucket, Connecticut

Foxwoods Hotel and Casino
Mashantucket, Connecticut
Foxwoods

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Sadvakasov - Hess, Round 8

Grandmaster Darmen Sadvakasov of Kazakhstan won the Foxwoods Open by drawing an Armageddon game with Black in a blitz playoff with Yury Shulman. Shulman had been leading the tournament since defeating Sadvakasov in round 4. To force the playoff, Sadvakasov had to score 4½ points in the last five rounds.

Well done.



Darmen Sadvakosov
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Darmen Sadvakasov - Robert Hess
Foxwoods Open, Round 8
Mashantucket, 12 April 2009

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Rat Defense (Neo-Steinitz Defense)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6

• For many years, this was Dr. Alekhine's favorite defense against the Spanish Grand Royal. It has since fallen into disuse.

5.c3

• 5.Bxc6+ is the Derl Opening. See Bartel-T, Kosintseva, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2009.

5...Bd7 6.d4 Nge7

• If 6...g6 then:
• If 7.0-0 Bg7 then:
• If 8.dxe5 dxe5 then:
• 9.Qe2 Nge7 10.Rd1 0-0 11.Bg5 Qe8 12.Qd3 Rd8 13.Na3 b5 14.Bb3 Na5 15.Qe3 Nxb3 16.axb3 f6 17.Bh6 Bxh6 18.Qxh6 g5 is equal (Geller-Sliwa, Przepiorka Mem, Szczawno Zdroj, 1957).
• 9.Bg5 Nge7 10.Nbd2 0-0 11.Nb3 Qe8 12.Nc5 Bc8 13.b4 f6 14.Be3 Kh8 15.Nd2 b6 16.Nd3 Bd7 17.Bb3 Rd8 18.Qe2 Nc8 19.Rfd1 Nd6 is equal (Ulibin-Kholmov, Soviet Ch qual, Pinsk, 1986).
• 9.Be3 Nf6 10.Nbd2 Qe7 11.b4 b6 12.Bb3 0-0 13.Re1 h6 14.Qc2 Nh5 15.Bd5 Rab8 16.Nf1 Kh8 17.Qe2 a5 18.a3 Qe8 19.Ng3 Nf6 20.Ba2 Be6 21.Bxe6 Qxe6 22.Qa2 Qxa2 23.Rxa2 Ne8 24.b5 Nd8 25.a4 Ne6 is equal (Tseshkovsky-Malaniuk, Soviet Ch, Liev, 1986).
• If 8.Re1 b5 9.Bb3 Nf6 10.Bg5 h6 11.Bh4 0-0 12.Nbd2 Re8 13.a4 Rb8 14.axb5 axb5 15.dxe5 Nxe5 16.Nxe5 dxe5 17.Nf3 Qc8 18.Bxf6 Bxf6 19.Ra7 Kg7 20.Bd5 Re7 21.b4 c6 is equal (So-Safarli, World Jr Ch, Gaziantep, 2008).
• 8...Nge7 9.d5 Nb8 10.c4 0-0 11.Nc3 h6 12.b4 a5 13.a3 f5 14.Bxd7 Nxd7 15.Bb2 Nf6 16.exf5 gxf5 17.Qb3 gives White the advantage in space (Eslon-Filip, Euro ChT, Stockholm, 1975).
• 7.Bg5 f6 8.Be3 Nh6 9.0-0 Bg7 10.h3 Nf7 11.Nbd2 0-0 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.Bc5 Re8 14.Bb3 b6 15.Be3 Qe7 16.Qe2 Ncd8 17.Bd5 Bc6 18.c4 Bxd5 19.cxd5 f5 is equal (Bogolybov-Alekhine, World Ch M, Amsterdam, 1929).

7.Bb3

• If 7.0-0 Ng6 then:
• If 8.Re1 Be7 9.Nbd2 0-0 10.Nf1 then:
• 10...Bg4 11.Bxc6 Nh4 12.N1d2 bxc6 13.h3 Nxf3+ 14.Nxf3 Bxf3 15.Qxf3 Bf6 16.Be3 Qb8 17.Re2 Qb5 18.dxe5 Bxe5 19.Bd4 draw (Smyslov-Medina, IT, Kapfenburg, 1970).
• 10...Nh4 11.Nxh4 Bxh4 12.Be3 Bf6 13.f4 exd4 14.cxd4 Na5 15.Bc2 Nc4 16.Bc1 g6 17.b3 Nb6 18.Bb2 Bg7 19.Ne3 Re8 20.Rb1 gives White a small advamtage in space (Smyslov-Goldenov, Soviet Ch, Leningrad, 1947).
• 8.d5 Nb8 9.Bxd7+ Nxd7 10.c4 Be7 11.Nc3 0-0 12.Be3 h6 13.b4 b6 14.Qc2 Qc8 15.Rfc1 Nf6 16.h3 Nh5 17.c5 bxc5 18.bxc5 Nhf4 19.Bxf4 Nxf4 20.Ne2 gives White a small advamtage in space (Xie Jianjun-Ye Rongguang, Soviet Ch, IT, Djarkarta, 1994).

7...h6 8.a4

• If 8.Nbd2 Ng6 9.Nc4 Be7 10.Ne3 Bg5 11.0-0 Bxe3 12.Bxe3 then:
• 12...Qf6 13.Ne1 Nf4 14.f3 exd4 15.cxd4 Nxd4 16.Bxf4 Nxb3 17.Qxb3 Qxf4 18.Qxb7 Qe3+ is equal (Boleslavsky-Bannik, Soviet Ch, Leningrad, 1956).
• 12...0-0 13.h3 Qe7 14.Nd2 Na5 15.Bc2 Bb5 16.Re1 Nc4 17.Nxc4 Bxc4 18.Qh5 c5 19.d5 Bb5 gives White a slight advantagein space (Morky-Zude, Bundesliga 9495, Germany, 1994).

8...Ng8!?

• 8...Ng6 9.a5 Be7 10.0-0 0-0 11.Nbd2 Bf6 12.Nc4 exd4 13.Nxd4 Re8 14.f3 Nxd4 15.cxd4 d5 16.Ne5 Bxe5 17.dxe5 dxe4 gives Black an extra pawn (Nezhmetdinov-Aratovsky, RSFSR Ch, Yaroslav, 1951).

9.Nbd2

• White has the advantage in space, but that judgment must be tempered by the fact that both sides are only half-developed.

9...Nf6 10.0-0 Be7 11.Re1 Bg4 12.h3 Bh5
BLACK: Robert Hess
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WHITE: Darmen Sadvakasov
Position after 12...Bg4h5

13.d5!

• With his development completed, White begins pushing Black back. This initiative is the consequence of a spatial advantage.

13...Nb8

• 13...Na5 14.Bc2 b6 15.b4 Nb7 16.Nf1 0-0 17.Ng3 gives White the advantage in space.

14.Nf1 c6

• Black nibbles at White's center.

15.Ng3!

• White takes advantage of Black's Bishop to push it back further.

15...Bg6

• 15...Bxf3 16.Qxf3 Nbd7 17.a5 cxd5 18.exd5 Rc8 19.Ba4 leaves Black badly cramped.

16.Nh4 Bh7 17.Nhf5 0-0 18.a5 Qd7

• 18...Re8 19.Be3 Nbd7 20.dxc6 bxc6 21.Nxd6 gives White the overwhelming advantage in space.

19.Bc2

• 19.Qf3 cxd5 20.exd5 Bd8 21.Be3 Qb5 22.Ra3 gives White a very active game.

19...Bd8

• If 19...cxd5 20.exd5 Bd8 21.Be3 then:
• 21...Qb5 22.Nxd6 Bxc2 23.Qxc2 Qxd5 24.Red1 Qc6 25.Qb3 gives White more activity.
• 21...Bg6 22.Ba4 Qc8 23.Nxd6 Qc7 24.Ngf5 Qxa5 25.Nxb7 White has the active game.

20.c4 b5 21.axb6 Bxb6 22.Qf3

• If 22.dxc6 then White wins a pawn after 22...Nxc6 23.Ba4 Rfc8 24.Qxd6 Qxd6 25.Nxd6.

22...Qd8 23.Bd2 cxd5

• If 23...Bg6 then after 24.Bc3 cxd5 25.cxd5 Ra7 26.b4 Nh7 27.Rec1 White retains a significant advantage in space; Black should seek exchanges.

24.cxd5 Nbd7 25.Ba4 Nc5 26.Bc6 Ra7

• 26...Rc8 27.b4 Ne6 28.Rxa6 Nd4 29.Nxd4 Bxd4 30.Nf5 gives White more space, freedom and activity.

27.b4 Ne6 28.dxe6!

• White wins a piece, at least temporarily, as he continues with a sharp attack.
Also good is
• 28.Nxh6+ gxh6 29.dxe6 fxe6 30.Bxh6 Rff7 31.Bg5.

28...fxe6 29.Qb3 d5 30.Ne3

• If 30.Nxh6+! gxh6 31.Bxh6 Rff7 32.exd5 then:
• 32...Nxd5 33.Ne4 Bxe4 34.Rxe4 leaves White a pawn to the good.
• 32...exd5 33.Rxe5 Bxf2+ 34.Kxf2 Qd6 35.Rg5+ also gives White an extra pawn.

30...Nxe4

• If 30...Bxe4 then White retains the upper hand after 31.Rec1 Bg6 32.Qa4 Qd6 33.Qd1 Rc7 34.Ba4 when he has a piece for two pawns.

31.Nxe4 Bxe4 32.Ng4 h5
BLACK: Robert Hess
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Darmen Sadvakasov
Position after 32...h6h5

33.Rxe4!!

• The sacrifice is dubious, but one has to look at the next seven or eight moves to see why. It almost works.
• 33.Ne3 Qg5 34.Re2 Bxe3 35.fxe3 Raf7 gives Black an advantage in space and the initiative.

33...dxe4 34.Qxe6+ Raf7 35.Nxe5 Qxd2

• Black is up by a clean exchange.

36.Be8!

• White has plans to win back the exchange.

36...Qxf2+!

• The check gains a valuable tempo and clears the way for Black's e-pawn. Both are necessary in order to obtain any meaningful counterplay.
• If 36...Qf4? 37.Bxf7+! Rxf7 38.Qxf7+ Qxf7 39.Nxf7 Kxf7 40.Rxa6 then:
• 40...e3 41.fxe3 Bxe3+ 42.Kf1 Ke7 43.Ke2 White wins.
• If 40...Bd4 then after 41.b5 e3 42.Kf1 Ke7 43.Ra4 Bb6 44.fxe3 White wins.

37.Kh1 Bd4

• Black makes good use of the tempo gained. White's Rook cannot leave the back rank.

38.Bxf7+!

• The only real way to free the Rook is to proceed with the exchanges on f7.

38...Rxf7 39.Nxf7 Qxf7

• If 39...Bxa1?? then after 40.Ng5+ Kh8 41.Qe8+ White mates on the next move.

40.Qxf7+ Kxf7 41.Rxa6

• Now White is an exchange to the good, but.. .

41...e3!

• This move doesn't work in the variation given in the note after Black's 36th move.

42.Ra2 Ke6?

• After getting some good counterplay, Black falters.
• 42...h4! keeps the White King from activating quickly; if now 43.Re2 Ke6 44.g4 hxg3 45.Kg2 Kd5 Black has real chances of holding a half-point.

BLACK: Robert Hess
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Darmen Sadvakasov
Position after 42...Kf7e6

43.g3!

• There will be no second chance for the pawn to advance.

43...Kd5 44.Kg2 Kc4 45.Kf3 Kxb4 46.Ra6!

• Black is out of pawn moves. White will now physically blockade all three remaining pawns.

46...Kc4 47.Ke2 Be5 48.Rg6 Kd4 49.Rg5 Ke4

BLACK: Robert Hess
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Darmen Sadvakasov
Position after 49...Kd4e4

50.h4! 1-0

• Zugzwang!
• Mr. Hess resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Shulman - van Wely, Round 5

Reigning US champion Yury Shulman and former champion Alex Onischuk have done American chess proud so far in 2009 with their performances in international open competitions.

Here, Shulman dispatches former six-time Dutch national champion Loek van Wely, who also played good chess overall at the Foxwoods.



Yury Shulman
Photo: New York Masters


Yury Shulman - Loek van Wely
Foxwoods Open, Round 5
Mashantucket, 10 April 2009

Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit, Anti-Meran Gambit (Moscow Defense)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dxc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5

• 8...Bb4 has been tried here, for example, 9.Qc2 b5 10.0-0-0 Qa5 11.h4 g4 12.Ne5 Bb7 13.h5 Nbd7 14.Be2 Nb6 15.Bh4 Be7 16.a3 Nfd7 17.Bxe7 Kxe7 18.Nxg4 c5 19.Qd2 b4 is equal (Matveeva-Chiburdanidze, ITW, Belgrade, 1996).

9.Ne5

• For a survey of this opening up to here, see Toplaov-Kramnik. Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2008

9...Bb7 10.h4

• If 10.Be2 Nbd7 11.0-0 Bg7 then:
• If 12.Nxd7 Nxd7 13.Bd6 a6 then:
• 14.a4 e5 15.d5 c5 16.b4 Qb6 17.bxc5 Nxc5 18.Bxc5 Qxc5 19.axb5 axb5 20.Rxa8+ Bxa8 21.Qa1 0-0 22.Qa5 Rb8 23.Rb1 Bf8 24.Nxb5 f5 is equal (Alekseev-Bareev, World Cup, Khanty Mansiysk, 2007).
• 14.Re1 Bf8 15.Bg3 Bg7 16.e5 0-0 17.Bf3 Qe7 18.Ne4 Nb6 19.Qe2 Rad8 20.Rad1 Nd5 is equal (Inakiev-Cheparinov, IT, Baku, 2008).
• If 12.Nxf7!? Kxf7 13.e5 Nd5 14.Ne4 Ke7 15.Nd6 Qb6 16.Bg4 Raf8 17.Qc2 then:
• 17...Rhg8! 18.a4 Ba8 19.Rfe1 Nc7 20.d5 cxd5 21.axb5 a5 Black went on to win (Timman-Ljubojevic, Corus Honoary, Wijk aan Zee, 2008).
• 17...Qxd4? 18.Qg6! Qxg4 19.Qxg7+ Kd8 20.Nxb7+ is equal (Topalov-Kramnik, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2008).

10...g4 11.Nxg4

• If 11.Be2 then:
• If 11...Rg8 12.Nxg4 then:
• 12...Nxg4 13.Bxg4 Nd7 14.0-0 Qb6 15.a4 a5 16.d5 Nf6 17.dxc6 Bxc6 gives Black the initiative (Sarkar-Friedman, Op, Philadelphia, 2004).
• If 12...Nbd7 13.0-0 b4 14.Na4 Nxe4 15.Bxc4 h5 16.Ne3 then:
• 16...Qf6 17.Be2 0-0-0 18.Bh2 Qxh4 19.Rc1 Bd6 20.Bxd6 Nxd6 21.Bf3 Ne4 gives Black the advantage in space (Avrukh-Akopian, Euro ChT, Crete, 2007).
• 16...Qa5 17.Bh2 Ndf6 18.Bb3 Rd8 19.Qc2 Rxd4 20.Rfd1 Rxd1+ 21.Rxd1 Bh6 is unclear: Black has an extra pawn and White has extra space (Borochov-Lastin, Russian Ch Qual, Tomsk, 2004).
• If 11...h5 12.0-0 Nbd7 13.Qc2 Nxe5 14.Bxe5 Bg7 15.Rad1 0-0 then:
• 16.Bg3 Nd7 17.f3 Qb6 18.Kh1 c5 19.d5 Ne5 20.fxg4 hxg4 21.Qc1 Nd3 22.Bxd3 cxd3 23.Rxd3 b4 24.Ne2 exd5 25.exd5 Rae8 26.Rd2 Bh6 27.Bf4 is equal (van Wely-Kobalia, Ol, Calvia, 2004).
• If 16.f3 Nh7 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.fxg4 Qxh4 19.gxh5 Ng5 20.Qd2 then:
• 20...Nh3+ 21.gxh3 Qg3+ 22.Kh1 Qxh3+ 23.Kg1 Qg3+ 24.Kh1 Qh3+ draw (van Wely-Dreev, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2002).
• 20...Qg3 21.Bf3 Rad8 22.Ne2 Qh4 23.Qc3 f6 24.g3 Qh3 25.Qe3 puts Black's Queen in an awkward spot (Werle-Smeets, Dutch Ch, Leeuwarden, 2005).

11...Nxg4

• 11...Nbd7 12.Nxf6+ Qxf6 13.Qd2 h5 14.Bf4 Qg6 15.Qe3 0-0-0 16.g3 Bb4 17.a3 Ba5 18.Bg2 gives White the advantage in space (Grischuk-Cheparinov, Grand Prix, Elista, 2008).

12.Qxg4 Qxd4 13.Rd1 Qf6

• 13...Qg7 14.Qf4 Na6 15.Be2 Be7 16.0-0 Nc5 17.e5 Qg6 18.Rd4 Rd8 19.Rfd1 Rxd4 20.Rxd4 Nd3 21.Qd2 h5 is equal (Caruana-Nepomniachtchi, IT, Pamplona, 2008-09).

14.e5

• 14.a4 h5 15.Qe2 Bb4 16.Qd2 Qe7 17.Be2 Nd7 18.0-0 a6 Black retains an extra pawn (van Wely-Perunovic, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).

14...Qf5 15.Qd4 Be7 16.a4!?

• 16.b3 c5 17.Qe3 Nc6 18.bxc4 Nb4 19.Qf4 Nc2+ 20.Ke2 Qxf4 21.Bxf4 bxc4 Black retains an extra pawn (Aronian-Kramnik, Ol, Dresden, 2008).

16...Kf8!?

• Black plays something other than the objectively best move in hopes of catching White off balance.
• 16...c5 17.Qe3 bxa4 18.Nb5 Na6 19.Bxc4 Bxg2 20.Rg1 is equal.

17.f3?!

• White is worried about 17...c5, but he can handle the problem better.
• 17.axb5 cxb5 18.Nxb5 Nc6 19.Qxc4 Nxe5 20.Qd4 gives White the more active game.

17...Na6?!

• Black can't find his way home.
• 17...Bb4 18.Bf4 Kg7 19.Bd2 Ba5 20.Ne4 Rd8 is equal.

18.axb5! cxb5 19.Nxb5 Nb4 20.Qf4!?

• It's White's turn to play mind games with his opponent. Best is to simply take the c-pawn, but the c-pawn won't run away and White wants to make his opponent think.
• If font color="red"]20.Qxc4 Rc8 21.Qf4 Nc2+ then:
• 22.Ke2 Qxf4 23.Bxf4 Ba6 24.Kd2 Nb4 25.Rc1 gives White a small edge in space.
• 22.Kd2 Bb4+ 23.Nc3 Rd8+ 24.Kc1 gives White a much more active game.

20...Qxf4 21.Bxf4 Bd5!?

• Black misses a chance to equalize.
• If 21...Nd5! 22.Bd2 Ba6 23.Bxc4 then:
• 23...Bxb5 24.Bxb5 Rb8 25.Bd3 Rxb2 is equal.
• 23...Rb8 24.Bxd5 Rxb5 25.Be4 Rxb2 is equal.

BLACK: Loek van Wely
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WHITE: Yury Shulman
Position after 21...Bb7d5

22.Nd6!

• White puts a Knight in a most effective post and threatens Black's c-pawn.

22...Nd3+?

• Black drops a pawn.
• 22...Bxd6 23.exd6 f6 24.Kd2 a5 25.Kc3 e5 26.Be3 is equal.

23.Bxd3 cxd3 24.Rxd3 Rb8 25.0-0!?

• 25.Rd2! f5 26.exf6 Bxf6 27.Ne4 Rb4 28.Bd6+ wins for White.

25...Bxh4 26.Be3 Rxb2 27.Rc1 Bg3

• 27...f6 28.g3 Bxg3 29.Rc8+ Kg7 30.exf6+ Kh7 31.Rc7+ Kg6 32.Rg7+ White wins a piece.

BLACK: Loek van Wely
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WHITE: Yury Shulman
Position after 27...Bh4g3

28.Rxd5!!

• Let's wrap it up and go home.

28...exd5 29.Nf5!

• The Zwischenzug threatens mate and wins material

29...Ke8 30.Nxg3 Kd7 31.Bd4 Rbb8 32.Ra1 1-0

• If 32...Ra8 then 33.e6+ wins the exchange, leaving Black a piece down.
• Mh. van Wely resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Nakamura - Hess, Round 5

Robert Hess, a New York high school student and athlete, earned his third and final needed grandmaster norm in Mashantucket. His Elo rating is already over the required 2500 and he will be named a grandmaster later this year.

Congratulations, young man.



Robert Hess
Photo: New York Daily News


Hikaru Nakamura - Robert Hess
Foxwoods Open, Round 5
Mashantucket, 10 April 2009

Symmetrical English Game: Mikenas-Carls Opening (Nei Gambit)

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.e4 c5

• This is the starting point of the Mikenas-Carls Opening.

4.e5 Ng8 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.d4 cxd4 7.Nxd4 Nxe5

• White has sacrificed a pawn for quick development and initiative in the variation known as the Nei Gambit.

8.Ndb5 f6 9.Bf4

• If 9.Be3 a6 10.Nd6+ Bxd6 11.Qxd6 Ne7 12.Bb6 Nf5 then:
• 13.Qc5 d6 14.Qa5 Qd7 15.f4 Nc6 16.Qa3 Nce7 17.0-0-0 Qc6 18.c5 Kf7 19.Be2 Bd7 20.Bf3 d5 gives Black an extra pawn and White more space (Michalik-Petrik, Slovakian Ch, Banska Stiavnica, 2006).
• If 13.Bxd8 Nxd6 14.Bc7 Ke7 15.c5 Ne8 16.Bb6 d5 17.cxd6+ Nxd6 then:
• 18.0-0-0 Nef7 19.Bc5 b5 gives Black an extra pawn and White more space (Bareev-L'Ami, TMatch, Amsterdam, 2008).
• 18.Bc5 Nef7 19.Rd1 Rd8 20.h4 Bd7 21.Rh3 Bc6 22.Rhd3 e5 23.g4 Ke6 24.f4 exf4 gives Black two extra pawns (García-Sunye, ITZ, Rio de Janeiro, 1979).

9...a6 10.Nd6+

• 10.Bxe5 axb5 11.Bg3 bxc4 12.Bxc4 Bb4 13.0-0 Bxc3 14.bxc3 Ne7 15.Qh5+ g6 16.Qf3 d5 is equal (Harding-Allies, Corres, 1978).

10...Bxd6 11.Qxd6 Nf7 12.Qa3 Ne7 13.Nb5!?

• 13.Be2 0-0 14.Rd1 d5 15.cxd5 Nxd5 16.Bf3 Qe8 17.Nxd5 exd5+ gives Black an extra pawn and White more space (Suttles-Timman, Ol. Solonika, 1985).

13...e5

• Black has a slight initiative.
• The text is better than 13...d6!? 14.Nxd6+ Nxd6 15.Bxd6 Nf5 16.Rd1 giving White the advantage in space.

14.Bd2 d6

• If 14...d5 15.cxd5 Nxd5 then:
• 16.Nc3 Nxc3 17.Bxc3 Qd5 18.Qb4 Bf5 gives Black the advantage in space.
• If 16.Rd1 Bd7 17.Ba5 then:
• 17...b6 18.Nd6+ Nxd6 19.Qxd6 gives White the advantage in space and Black an extra pawn.
• 17...Qc8 18.Nd6+ Nxd6 19.Qxd6 Ne7 gives White the advantage in space and Black an extra pawn.

15.Bb4 Nf5 16.0-0-0

• 16.Rd1 0-0 17.Nxd6 N7xd6 18.Bxd6 Rf7 19.c5 Be6 is equal.

16...Be6

• If 16...0-0 17.Nxd6 N5xd6 18.Bxd6 Nxd6 19.Qxd6 then:
• 19...Bf5 20.Qxd8 Rfxd8 21.Be2 is equal.
• 19...Qe8 20.Qd5+ Kh8 21.Bd3 Qa4 22.a3 is equal.

17.Nxd6+

• If 17.Nc3 Qc8 then:
• If 18.c5 a5 19.Qa4+ Bd7 20.Bb5 Bxb5 21.Qxb5+ Qc6 gives Black an extra pawn.
• 18.Nd5 Bxd5 19.Rxd5 b5 20.Kd1 0-0 21.b3 Nd4 gives Black an extra pawn.

17...N7xd6 18.Bxd6 Nxd6 19.Rxd6 Qe7

• If 19...Qc8 20.Rd2 b5! then:
• 21.c5 0-0 22.Be2 Ra7 23.Rhd1 Rd7 24.Rd6 is equal.
• If 21.Rc2 Kf7 22.Qf3 Qd7 then:
• 23.b3 Rac8 24.Be2 bxc4 25.Rd1 Qb5 gives Black an extra pawn.
• 23.c5 Bd5 24.Qe3 Qc6 25.f3 Rac8 26.b3 Rhd8 gives White more freedom.

20.Be2

• 20.Rb6 Qf7 21.Qb4 0-0-0 22.Be2 Rhe8 is equal.

20...Rc8

• 20...0-0 21.Rhd1 Rac8 22.b3 f5 23.Qb2 Bf7 24.Kb1 gives White the advantage in space.

21.b3

• The game is equal.

21...Kf7 22.Kb2 Rhd8 23.Rhd1 Rxd6

• 23...f5 24.Rxd8 Rxd8 25.Qxe7+ Kxe7 26.Rxd8 Kxd8 is equal and looks very drawish.

24.Rxd6 Rd8 25.c5 a5 26.Bh5+?

• A move like this makes sense when the pawn weakness created by the response can be exploited. That's not the case here.
• Better is 26.Bc4 Bxc4 27.bxc4 Rc8 28.Qxa5 Rc7 29.Kc1 even though it yields White an extra pawn.

BLACK: Robert Hess
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WHITE: Hikaru Nakamura
Position after 26.Be2h5+

26...g6!

• White's Bishop sortie is repulsed in the most simple manner.

27.Bf3 Qc7 28.Rxd8 Qxd8 29.Kc1

• This move is almost forced.
• 29.Bxb7 Qd2+ 30.Ka1 Bf5 31.Bd5+ Kg7 threatens mate starting with 32...Qc3+.

29...Bf5 30.b4

• 30.Be2 h6 31.Qa4 Kg7 32.Qc4 Qd7 33.h4 h5 gives Black a small edge in space.

30...Qd4 31.bxa5 Qxf2 32.Qb3+ Kg7

• 32...Kf8 33.Qc3 Qxa2 34.g4 Qb1+ 35.Kd2 Be4 gives Black an extra pawn.

33.Qxb7+ Kh6 34.Qb2

• White's pawns are too weak to protect.

BLACK: Robert Hess
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Hikaru Nakamura
Position after 34.Qd4b2

34...Qxc5+!

• White gains time, gains a pawn and puts the enemy King out to dry.

35.Kd1 e4 36.Be2

• If 36.Qd2+ Kg7 37.Be2 e3 then:
• 38.Qc1 Qd4+ 39.Ke1 Qh4+ 40.Kd1 Qa4+ the Black Queen laps up pawns.
• 38.Qb2 Qd5+ 39.Kc1 Qc6+ 40.Kd1 Qxg2 Black wins.

36...e3 37.Ke1

• If 37.Bf3 then after 37...Bd3 38.Be2 Be4 39.Bf3 Bxf3+ 40.gxf3 f5 Black threatens to win material, but would rather not do it at the expense of the e-pawn.

37...Qxa5+ 38.Kf1 Qc7

• If 38...Qa4 39.Qc3 Qf4+ then:
• 40.Bf3 Bh3 41.Ke2 Bxg2 42.Bxg2 Qf2+ 43.Kd3 Qxg2 44.Qxf6 Qxh2 gives Black another extra pawn.
• If 40.Ke1 then 40...Qf2+ 41.Kd1 Qg1+ 42.Qe1 Bc2+ wins the Queen.

39.Qd4 Qc1+ 40.Qd1

• 40.Bd1 Be6 41.Ke1 Bxa2 leaves Black up by two pawns.

40...Qb2 41.a4 Qb4 42.Kg1

• This shortens the agony.
• 42.Bb5 Qf4+ 43.Qf3 Qd4 44.Qe2 Bg4 45.Qe1 Bh5 Black continues to press his advantage, but the a-pawn gives White some potential counterplay.

42...Bd7 43.Qa1

• White threatens the f-pawn.

BLACK: Robert Hess
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WHITE: Hikaru Nakamura
Position after 43.Qd1a1

43...Qf4!

• White threwatens mate in three.

44.Qf1 Qxf1+ 45.Kxf1 Bxa4 46.Bd3 Bd1 47.Be2

• No better is 47.Ke1 Bh5 48.h4 f5 49.g3 Bf3.

47...Bc2 48.Bb5 f5 49.g3 g5 0-1

• If 50.Ke2 then:
• If 50...f4 51.Bc6 Kg6 then:
• 52.Bd7 Bf5 53.Be8+ Kh6 54.Bc6 Bg4+ 55.Kd3 Kg6 56.Bb5 Bf3 White has no pawn moves
• If 52.h4 then after 52...fxg3 53.hxg5 Kxg5 54.Kxe3 h5 55.Kf3 h4 56.Bd5 Bf5 Black nudges the White King away with 57...Bg4+.
• 50...g4!? makes winning more difficult after 51.Kxe3 Kg5 52.Bf1 Be4 53.Bc4, although White should still prevail.
• Mr. Nakamura resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. FIDE Grand Prix, Nalchik

Nalchik Springs
Wikipedia

[Jack Rabbit]

11. Mamedyarov - Aronian, Round 1

Levon Aronian
Photo: ChessBase.com


Shakhriyar Mamedyarov - Levon Aronian
FIDE Grand Prix, Round 1
Nakchik, 15 April 2009

Vienna Game: Italian Opening (Gothic Defense)

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6

• 2...Nf6 is the more active way to exploit White's passive second move.

3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Na5

• 4...Bc5 5.Nf3 transposes into the Giucco Pianissimo.

5.Nge2 Be7

• If 5...Nxc4 6.dxc4 then:
• If 6...Bc5 7.0-0 d6 8.Qd3 Be6 9.b3 0-0 10.Be3 Nd7 then:
• 11.Bxc5 Nxc5 12.Qe3 f5 is equal (Srebrnic-Ursic, IT, Portoroz, 2005).
• 11.Rad1 f5 12.exf5 Bxf5 13.Qd2 Bxe3 is equal (Bukovec-Krivec, Slovenian ChW, Grize, 2001).
• If 6...d6 7.0-0 Be6 8.b3 c6 9.Qd3 Be7 10.Bg5 h6 11.Bxf6 Bxf6 12.Rad1 Be7 13.c5 then:
• 13...dxc5? 14.Qg3 Bd6 15.Qxg7 Ke7 16.Nf4 Rg8 17.Ng6+ wins for White (Schlechter-Steinitz, IT, Cologne, 1898).
• 13...Qa5! 14.cxd6 0-0-0 15.Qg3 Bxd6 16.Qxg7 Bb4 17.Qg3 h5 gives White an extra pawn and Black more space.

6.0-0 0-0 7.a4

• 7.Ng3 d6 8.h3 c6 9.Bb3 d5 10.Qf3 h6 11.Re1 Nxb3 12.axb3 d4 13.Nce2 Kh7 14.Nf5 Ng8 15.Bd2 c5 16.Neg3 Be6 is equal (Hennings-Smejkal, Chigorin Mem, Sochi, 1973).

7...Nxc4 8.dxc4 d6 9.b3 Be6 10.a5!?

• 10.Ng3 c6 11.Ba3 Qc7 12.Qf3 Rad8 13.Rfe1 Rfe8 14.h3 d5 15.exd5 cxd5 16.Nb5 Qb8 17.Bxe7 Rxe7 18.cxd5 Nxd5 19.Nf5 Bxf5 20.Qxf5 a6 is equal (Larsen-Xie Jun, TMatch, Monte Carlo, 1994).

10...c6

• The game is equal.

11.a6!?

• The pawn formations indicate that both sides will play on the kingside, but this move seeks activity on the other wing (e.g., 11...axb6 12.Rxa6).
• 11.f4 Qc7 12.Qd3 Rfe8 13.f5 Bc8 14.Rd1 b6 provides a comfortable equality.

11...b6

• Black closes off the queenside, electing not to give White the initiative he seeks.
• If 11...bxa6 12.Rxa6 Qc8 then:
• 13.Ra4 Rd8 14.Bg5 Qb7 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.Qd3 Rd7 is equal.
• 13.Ra5 Qc7 14.Ra6 Qb7 15.Ra5 Rfd8 16.Bg5 d5! opens the center for Black's Bishops.

12.Ba3

• White takes aim at the weak d-pawn.

12...Qc7 13.f4?!

• White should keep the center closed; Black's pieces can centralize faster and the Bishops will become dangeous in a open center.
• ]If 13.Qd3 Rad8 14.Rfd1 then:
• If 14...d5 15.Bxe7 Qxe7 16.cxd5 cxd5 17.exd5 Nxd5 18.Nxd5 Rxd5 then:
• 19.Qe3 Rxd1+ 20.Rxd1 Bc8 is equal.
• If 19.Qg3?! then after 19...Rxd1+ 20.Rxd1 Rd8 21.Re1 Bc8 black continues to enjoy the initiative.
• If 14...Rd7 15.Rd2 d5 then:
• 16.Bxe7 dxc4 17.Bd6 cxd3 18.Bxc7 Rxc7 19.Rxd3 is equal.
• 16.cxd5? Bxa3 17.Rxa3 cxd5 18.exd5 Nxd5 19.Nxd5 Rxd5! will cause White to lose a piece while defending against a back rank mate.

BLACK: Levon Aronian
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
Position after 13.f2f4

13...Rad8!

• Black begins building pressure behind his d-pawn in preparation for a critical pawn break.

14.Kh1 Bc8

• Black threatens the a-pawn, causing White to remove the pressure from the d-pawn.

15.Bb2 Ng4 16.Qd3

• 16.Qd2 exf4 17.Nxf4 Bg5 is no better.

16...exf4 17.Nxf4 Bh4 18.Qe2

• 18.Qf3 Ne5 19.Qe3 Rde8 20.Nd3 Ng4 21.Qd2 d5! opens the center to Black's advantage.

18...Rfe8 19.h3 Ne5

• Black's Knight rules the center.

20.Nd1?!

• White pulls back from the center and misses a shot at counterplay.
• 20.Nd3! Bf6 21.Qh5 then:
• 21...Ng6 22.Qf3 Re7 23.Nb4 Be6 24.e5!! Nxe5 25.Qg3 gives White the initiative in return for the pawn.
• 21...Re7!? 22.Rxf6!! gxf6 23.Qh6 f5 24.Nf4 gives White a significant advantage in space and more activity in compensation of the exchange.

20...Bg5 21.Nh5

• White looks for play on the kingside.
• Better is to counter Black's center with 21.Nd3 Qe7 22.Qh5 f6 23.N1f2 Rf8, although Black still has more freedom.

21...Qe7?!

• A better way to Black to strengthen the center is 21...f6! when after 22.Ne3 Qf7 23.Nf4 Ng6 24.Nxg6 Rxe4 Black wins back the piece with an extra pawn.

22.Ne3 g6

• Black's advantage is now in jeopardy.
• 22...Bd7 23.Nf5 Bxf5 24.exf5 f6 25.Nf4 Bxf4 26.Rxf4 is equal.

23.Nf4?

• White misses the opportunity to equalize and drops a pawn.
• 23.Ng3 Nd7 24.Qf2 h5 25.Ngf5 gxf5 26.Nxf5 Qe6 27.h4 is equal.

23...Nd7 24.Nh5

• If 24.e5 then after 24...Nxe5 25.Qf2 f5 26.Kh2 Bh6 27.Nd1 Bg7 Black has an extra pawn and the better center.

BLACK: Levon Aronian
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
Position after 24.Nf4h5

24...Qxe4!

• The radiant Queen takes the pawn.

25.Qf2 f5 26.Ng4

• 26.Nxf5 Qxf5 27.Qxf5 gxf5 28.Rxf5 h6 leaves Black up by a Bishop.

26...gxh5 27.Nh6+

• If 27.Qxf5 then after 27...Qxf5 28.Rxf5 h6 Black wins a piece.

27...Bxh6 28.Qg3+ Kf7 29.Rae1 Rg8!

• It's all over now, Baby Blue.

30.Qf2

• 30.Rxe4 Rxg3 31.Rxf5+ Kg6 32.Rf1 Re3 wins for Black.

BLACK: Levon Aronian
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WHITE: Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
Position after 30.Qg3f2

30...Qxg2+!!

• By sacrificing a piece, Black secures a permanent material advatage.

31.Qxg2 Rxg2 32.Kxg2 0-1

• After 32...Rg8+ 33.Kh1 Nc5 34.Ba3 f4 35.Rf3 Black continues to enjoy a material advantage.
• Mamedyarov resigns without waiting for Aronian to reply.

[Jack Rabbit]

12. Svidler - Ivanchuk, Round 2

Peter Svidler
Photo: ChessBase.com


Peter Svidler - Vassily Ivanchuk
FIDE Grand Prix, Round 2
Nakchik, 16 April 2009

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Kasparov Opening

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 b5 6.Bb3 Bb7 7.d3 Be7 8.a4 0-0 9.Re1 d6 10.Nbd2 Re8 11.Nf1 h6

• For a survey of this opening up to here, see Hou Yifan-Yildiz, Grand Prix W, Istanbul, 2009).

12.Ne3

• If 12.Bd2 Bf8 then:
• 13.Ng3 Nb8 14.Qb1 Qd7 15.c4 bxc4 16.Bxc4 c5 (Hou Yifan-Yildiz, Grand Prix W, Istanbul, 2009).
• 13.Ne3 transposes to the next note.
• 13.c4 bxc4 14.Bxc4 Rb8 15.Bc3 Ne7 16.Ng3 Ng6 17.d4 exd4 18.Qxd4 d5 19.exd5 Rxe1+ 20.Rxe1 Nxd5 21.Rd1 gives White the tactical edge in the center (Kasparov-Tkachiev, RPD, Cannes, 2001).
• 12.c3 Qd7 13.Ng3 Bf8 14.Nh4 Na5 15.Bc2 b4 16.Nhf5 d5 17.cxb4 Nc6 18.Qf3 Nxb4 19.Bb3 Re6 20.Bd2 dxe4 21.Bxe6 Qxe6 22.Nxe4 Nxe4 23.dxe4 Nc2 returns the exchange with equality (Ansell-Hebden, British Ch, Scarborough, 2001).

12...Bf8 13.g4!?

• 13.Bd2 Ne7 14.c4 c6 15.axb5 axb5 16.Rxa8 Bxa8 17.cxb5 cxb5 18.Qa1 Qd7 19.Qa2 Ng6 20.g3 Bb7 draw (Asrian-Tkachiev, Euro Ch, Ohrid, 2001).

13...Nd4

• The game is equal.

14.Nxd4 exd4 15.Nf5

BLACK: Vassily Ivanchuk
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WHITE: Peter Svidler
Position after 15.Nd3f5

15...d5!

• While White works the wings, Black strikes in the center.
• 15...c5 16.axb5 axb5 17.Rxa8 Bxa8 18.g5 hxg5 19.Bxg5 remains equal.

16.axb5

• The text is better than 16.e5 Bb4 17.Bd2 when:
• 17...Bxd2! 18.Qxd2 Nxg4 19.Qf4 Qg5 20.Qxg5 hxg5 gives Black an extra pawn.
• 17...bxa4? 18.exf6! Rxe1+ 19.Bxe1 Bxe1 20.Rxa4 gives White the active game.

16...dxe4

• 16...axb5 17.Rxa8 Bxa8 18.Nxd4 dxe4 19.Nxb5 remains equal.

17.dxe4 axb5 18.Rxa8 Qxa8

• Black leaves his d-pawn unguarded with hopes of invading the back rank.
• If 18...Bxa8 19.e5 Nd5 20.Nxd4 c6 21.e6 then:
• 21...fxe6 22.Rxe6 Rxe6 23.Nxe6 Qe7 24.Nxf8 Kxf8 leaves White a pawn to the good.
• 21...Re7 22.g5 fxe6 23.gxh6 gxh6 24.Rxe6 Rxe6 25.Qg4+ leaves White a pawn up.

19.e5 Ne4?!

• Ivanchuk by now is in severe (even by his standards) time trouble. It takes a toll on his play.
• Black misses 19...Bf3! 20.Qxd4 c5 21.Qc3 Bxg4 when:
• 22.exf6 Rxe1+ 23.Qxe1 Bxf5 24.Qe5 Qa1 gives Black the initiative.
• 22.Nxg7? Bxg7! 23.exf6 Rxe1+ 24.Qxe1 Bh3 wins for Black.

20.e6

• 20.c3 Rxe5 21.Bf4 Re8 22.Nxd4 b4 23.f3 Ng5 gives Black the more active game.

20...fxe6 21.Nxd4

• The game is level.

21...Rd8 22.Bxe6+

• 22.g5? Rxd4! 23.Qg4 Nxg5 24.f4 Bb4 25.c3 Nf3+! wins for Black.

22...Kh8 23.g5 Rxd4!?

• 23...c5?! 24.gxh6 Nf6 25.Qd3! gxh6 26.Qg6 Rxd4 27.Qxf6+ gives White an extra pawn.

24.Qxd4 Bc5 25.Qe5 Bxf2+?

• In spite of time trouble, Black has stayed in the game until now. The text is premature.
• 25...Qf8 26.Bf5 Bxf2+ 27.Kf1 Bxe1 28.Kxe1 Nd6 29.Bd3 gives White a small advantage in space.

26.Kf1

• This is the only move that doesn't lose, and it in fact wins.

26...Qf8

• 26...Bxe1 27.gxh6 Qf8+ 28.Bf4 transposes.

BLACK: Vassily Ivanchuk
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Peter Svidler
Position after 26...Qa8f8

27.gxh6!!

• 27.Bf5? Bd4 28.Qxd4 Qxf5+ 29.Ke2 c5 is equal.

27...Bxe1+

• 27...Bg3+ 28.Qf5 Qxf5+ 29.Bxf5 Bxe1 30.Kxe1 leaves White a pawn to the good.

28.Bf4 Nd2+ 29.Ke2! 1-0

• 29...Qf6 30.hxg7+ Kxg7 31.Qxc7+ Kg6 32.Bg8 Kh5 33.Kxe1 leaves White two pawns to the good.
• Vassily Mikhailovich resigns as the flag falls on his clock..

[Jack Rabbit]

13. Grischuk - Gelfand, Round 1

Alexander Grischuk
Photo: ChessBase.com


Alexander Grischuk - Boris Gelfand
FIDE Grand Prix, Round 1
Nakchik, 15 April 2009

Grand Orthodox Queen's Gambit: Tartakover Defense

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5

• The main line Orthodox Queen's Gambit is a notorious drawing mechanism that was twice the death of the idea of a world championship with no set limit of games: in 1927 when Dr. Alekhine wrested the title from Capablanca in a match that saw 25 of the 34 games end in draws and in 1984-85 in the first Kasparov-Karpov encounter when the match was cancelled, much to Kasparov's disappointment, with an exhausted Karpov leading 5-3 with 40 draws.

5...h6

• Putting the "question" to the Bishop is by no means obligatory in the Orthodox line.
• 5...0-0 6.e3 Nbd7 7.Bd3 dxc4 8.Bxc4 is the main line, somethimes called the Capablanca Defense.
• In keeping with the JR Opening Designation, henceforth an Orthodox QG with the interpolation ...h6 will be called Grand Orthodox and one without the interpolation a Petit Orthodox.

6.Bh4 0-0 7.e3 b6

• (Capablanca Defense) If 7...Nbd7 8.Rc1 c6 then:
• If 9.Bd3 dxc4 10.Bxc4 b5 11.Bd3 a6 then:
• 12.a4 bxa4 13.Nxa4 Qa5+ 14.Nd2 Bb4 15.Nc3 c5 16.Nb3 Qb6 17.dxc5 Bxc5 18.Nxc5 Qxc5 19.0-0 Bb7 20.Ne4 Qd5 21.Rc5 Qxc5 22.Nxc5 Nxc5 23.Bb1 Rfd8 24.Qc2 gives White the material edge and the initiative (Rubinetti-I. V. Ivanov, ITZ, Toluca, 1982).
• If 12.0-0 c5 13.a4 b4 14.Ne4 cxd4 15.Nxd4 Bb7 16.Nxf6+ Bxf6 17.Bxf6 Nxf6 18.Nc6 Qd7 19.Na5 Bxg2 20.Bh7+ Kxh7 21.Qxd7 Nxd7 22.Kxg2 Ne5 23.Rfd1 Rfd8 24.b3 Nd3 25.Rb1 Rac8 26.Nc4 e5 27.Kf3 e4+ 28.Ke2 Rc5 then:
• 29.Rg1 Rh5 30.Rg2 Rh3 31.Rbg1 g5 32.Nd2 f5 33.Rd1 f4 34.f3 fxe3 35.Kxe3 White resigns (Braga-Rocha, IT, San Pablo, 1979).
• 29.f3 exf3+ 30.Kxf3 Rf5+ 31.Ke4 Rf2 White resigns (Luckis-Moderna, IT, Mar del Plata, 1947).
• If 9.Qc2 a6 10.a3 Re8 11.Bd3 dxc4 12.Bxc4 b5 13.Ba2 c5 14.dxc5 Nxc5 15.Bb1 Ncd7 16.0-0 then:
• 16...Bb7 17.Rfd1 Qc7 18.Bxf6 Nxf6 19.e4 g6 20.Qd2 Bc5 21.b4 Red8 22.Nd5 exd5 23.Rxc5 Qe7 24.exd5 Bxd5 25.Nd4 is equal (Gygli-Bernabe, Ol, The Hague, 1928).
• 16...Nf8 17.Rfd1 Qb6 18.Ne5 g6 19.Ne4 Nd5 20.Bxe7 Rxe7 21.Qc6 Qxc6 22.Nxc6 Rc7 23.Ba2 gives White a huge advantage in space (Zagorjansky-Verlinsky, Soviet Ch ½-final, Moscow, 1945).
• (Lasker Defense) If 7...Ne4 8.Bxe7 Qxe7 then:
• If 9.Rc1 c6 10.Bd3 Nxc3 11.Rxc3 dxc4 12.Bxc4 Nd7 13.0-0 b6 14.Bd3 c5 15.Be4 Rb8 then:
• 16.Qc2 a5 17.Rc1 Bb7 18.Bxb7 Rxb7 19.dxc5 Nxc5 20.Ne5 Qf6 21.Nd3 Rd8 22.Nxc5 bxc5 23.Qe2 Rbd7 24.R3c2 c4 25.g3 e5 26.Kg2 e4 27.Qg4 Rd2 is equal (Khalifman-Jussupow, Bundesliga 9293, Germany, 1993).
• 16.Qa4 Bb7 17.Bxb7 Rxb7 18.Qc2 a5 19.a3 Re8 20.Rd1 Rbb8 21.h3 Rbd8 22.Rcd3 Rc8 23.d5 exd5 24.Rxd5 Nf6 is equal (Karpov-Jussupow, IT, Dortmund, 1997).
• If 9.Qc2 Nxc3 10.Qxc3 then:
• 10...dxc4 11.Bxc4 b6 12.0-0 Bb7 13.Be2 c5 14.dxc5 Rc8 15.b4 bxc5 16.b5 then:
• 16...a6 17.Nd2 axb5 18.Bxb5 Bxg2 19.Kxg2 Qb7+ 20.Kh3 Qxb5 21.Rg1 gives White a strong initiative (Hübner-Jussupow, IT, Munich, 1993).
• 16...Nd7 17.a4 a6 18.Rfc1 c4 19.bxa6 Rxa6 20.a5 Rc5 21.Nd2 Ne5 is equal (Psakhis-Jussupow, IT, Baden-Baden, 1992).
• If 10...c6 11.Bd3 dxc4 12.Bxc4 b6 13.0-0 Bb7 14.Rac1 Nd7 15.Be2 then:
• 15...Rfc8 16.Rfd1 c5 17.Qa3 Kf8 18.Ba6 Bxf3 19.gxf3 Rc7 20.f4 g5 21.fxg5 Qxg5+ 22.Kf1 Qh5 23.Kg1 Qg5+ 24.Kf1 Qh5 25.Kg1 Qg5+ 26.Kf1 Qh5 draw (Filip-Donner, IT, Beverwijk, 1964).
• 15...c5 16.dxc5 Nxc5 17.b4 Ne4 18.Qc7 Qxc7 19.Rxc7 Bd5 20.Ba6 Nd6 21.a4 gives White the advantage in space (Solozhenkin-Frolyanov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2004).
• If 9.cxd5 Nxc3 10.bxc3 exd5 11.Qb3 then:
• If 11...Rd8 12.c4 dxc4 13.Bxc4 Nc6 14.Be2 then:
• 14...b6 15.0-0 Bb7 16.Rfc1 Na5 17.Qb2 Rac8 18.Rc3 c5 19.Rac1 cxd4 20.Nxd4 Rxc3 21.Rxc3 Qe5 22.Qc2 Rd5 is equal (Gligoric-Keres, IT, Hastings, 1957-58).
• 14...Rd6 15.0-0 Be6 16.Qb2 Bd5 17.Rfc1 Re8 18.Ne1 f5 19.Bf3 Nd8 20.Qc2 f4 21.exf4 Ne6 22.Bxd5 Rxd5 23.Nf3 is equal if Black takes the pawn (Peng-Ivkov, Op, Pozarevac, 1995).
• 11...Qd6 12.c4 dxc4 13.Bxc4 Nc6 14.Qc3 Bg4 15.Nd2 Rad8 16.0-0 Ne7 17.Rfc1 b6 18.Ne4 Qd7 19.Ng3 c6 20.Qa3 Ra8 21.h3 Be6 22.Be2 Rac8 is equal (Grau-Elikases, IT, Mar del Plata, 1941).

8.Be2

• If 8.Bd3 Bb7 9.0-0 Nbd7 10.Qe2 c5 then:
• If 11.Bg3 Ne4 12.cxd5 exd5 13.Rad1 then:
• 13...Qc8 14.Rc1 Rd8 15.Rfd1 Ndf6 16.Ne5 Qe6 17.Bh4 cxd4 18.exd4 Nxc3 19.Rxc3 Nd7 is equal (Bacrot-Ivanchuk, Rpd, Odessa, 2007).
• If 13...Nxg3 14.hxg3 then:
• 14...Qc7 15.Bc2 Rad8 16.dxc5 Nxc5 17.Nd4 g6 18.Qg4 h5 19.Qf3 Qe5 is equal (Lastin-Kruppa, Russian Cup, Elista, 2000).
• If 14...Bf6 15.Bb1 Re8 then:
• 16.Rd2 a6 17.Rc1 Rc8 18.Qd1 c4 gives Black more freedom (Vyzmanavin-Pigusov, IT, Moscow, 1987).
• 16.Qc2 g6 17.dxc5 Nxc5 18.Nd4 Rc8 19.Qd2 Qe7 gives Black better pawn structure and more freedom (Sulypa-Landa, Op, Linares, 1999).
• 11.Rfd1 Ne4 12.Bg3 Nxg3 13.hxg3 cxd4 14.exd4 dxc4 15.Bxc4 Nf6 16.Ne5 Bb4 17.Rac1 Bxc3 18.bxc3 Re8 19.Bb3 Re7 20.c4 Rc8 is equal (Jobava-Lingnau, Op, Oldenburg, 2001).

8...Bb7 9.Bxf6 Bxf6 10.cxd5 exd5 11.b4

• If 11.0-0 then:
• 11...Nd7 12.Qb3 c6 13.Rfe1 Re8 14.Rad1 Nf8 15.e4 g6 16.e5 Be7 17.g3 Bc8 18.Bf1 Bg4 is equal (Plachetka-Baramidze, Op, Cartak, 2004).
• 11...Qe7 12.Qb3 Rd8 13.Rad1 c5 14.dxc5 Bxc3 15.Qxc3 bxc5 16.Rd2 Nd7 17.Rc1 Rdc8 18.Rdc2 Qd6 19.Bd3 g6 20.Bb5 Nf8 21.Qa5 Qb6 is equal (Nikolic-Short, World Cup, Barcelona, 1989).

11...c5

• If 11...c6 12.0-0 then:
• If 12...a5 13.b5 c5 14.Ne5 then:
• If 14...cxd4 15.exd4 Bxe5 16.dxe5 d4 17.Na4 then:
• 17...Qg5 18.Bg4 Qxe5 19.Nxb6 Ra7 20.Rb1 Qd6 21.Na4 Be4 22.Rc1 d3 23.Nc5 d2 24.Rc3 Bg6 is equal (L'Ami-Savanovic, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).
• 17...Ra7 18.f4 Qd5 19.Rf2 Rd8 20.Nxb6 Qc5 21.Na4 Qa3 22.Qb3 Qxb3 23.axb3 d3 24.Rd1 gives White a tactical advantage (Mecking-Beliavsky, IT, Banza, 2007).
• 14...Qc7 15.Ng4 Nd7 16.Bf3 Rad8 17.Nxd5 Bxd5 18.Bxd5 cxd4 19.e4 is equal (Rahman-Johannessen, Op, Dhaka, 2002).
• If 12...Re8 13.Qb3 then:
• If 13...a5 14.bxa5 Rxa5 15.a4 Nd7 16.Rfe1 Qa8 17.Rab1 then:
• 17...Bd8 18.Qc2 Bc7 19.Bd3 c5 20.Bf5 Qd8 21.Nb5 Bb8 is equal (Shaidullina-Ubiennykh, FIDE Knock Out W, Rethymon, 2003).
• 17...Ba6 18.Bxa6 Qxa6 19.h3 Re6 20.e4 dxe4 21.Rxe4 Rxe4 22.Nxe4 Be7 is equal (Polaczek-Vaganian, Rpd Op, Eupen, 1994).
• If 13...Qd6 14.a4 Nd7 15.a5 b5 then:
• 16.Bd3 Rab8 17.Rab1 Nf8 18.Rfc1 gives White a small advantage with better pawn structure (Ivanchuk-Kasimdzhanov, Blitz, Germany, 2004).
• 16.Ne1 Bd8 17.Nd3 Bc7 18.g3 Bc8 19.Rac1 a6 20.Bf3 Qg6 21.Nxd5 Bxg3 22.fxg3 cxd5 23.Bxd5 Nf6 24.Nf4 Black will lose material and resigns (Grischuk-Kramnik, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2007).

12.bxc5 bxc5 13.Rb1 Bc6

• 13...Qa5 14.Qd2 cxd4 15.Nxd4 Bxd4 16.exd4 Bc6 17.Nb5 Qd8 18.0-0 a6 19.Na3 Re8 is equal (Kasparov-Karpov, World Ch Match, Moscow, 1984-85).

14.0-0 Nd7 15.Bb5 Qc7 16.Qd3

• If 16.Qc2 then:
• 16...Rfd8 17.Rfc1 Rab8 18.a4 Qd6 19.dxc5 Nxc5 20.Bxc6 Qxc6 21.Nb5 Be7 22.Qf5 Qe8 23.Ne5 Rb7 24.Nd4 Rc7 25.Nb5 Rb7 26.h3 Bf8 draw (Kasparov-Karpov, World Ch Match, Moscow, 1984-85).
• 16...Rfc8 17.Rfc1 Bxb5 18.Nxb5 Qc6 19.dxc5 Nxc5 20.Qf5 Qe6 21.Nfd4 Qxf5 22.Nxf5 Ne6 23.Rxc8+ Rxc8 24.Nxa7 Rc2 25.Nb5 Rxa2 26.h3 Ra5 draw (Kasparov-Karpov, World Ch Match, Moscow, 1984-85).

16...Rfc8 17.Rfd1

• 17.Rfc1 Rab8 18.h3 g6 19.Bxc6 Rxb1 20.Qxb1 Qxc6 21.dxc5 Qxc5 22.Ne2 Qf8 23.h4 Ne5 24.Nxe5 Bxe5 is equal (Kasparov-Karpov, World Ch Match, Moscow, 1987).

17...Rab8 18.a4 cxd4 19.exd4!?

• 19.Nxd4 Nc5 20.Qf5 Bxd4 21.exd4 g6 22.Qf3 Ne4 23.Nxe4 dxe4 24.Qe3 gives White a slight initiative (Timman-Kasparov, IT, Prague, 1998).

19...Ba8!?

• Writing n the Russian publication ChessPro and translated in the English edition of ChessBase.com, Sergei Shipov recommends 19...g6 in order to shorten the scope of White's Queen, but gives no variations on how this might play out.
• If 19...g6! then:
• 20.Rbc1 Qd6 21.Ba6 Rc7 22.Nb5 Bxb5 23.Bxb5 Re8 is equal.
• 20.Re1 Qd6 21.Re2 Ba8 22.Rbe1 Nf8 is equal.

BLACK: Boris Gelfand
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Alexander Grischuk
Position after 19...Bc6a8

20.Qf5!

• White's reply is the best and most actve.
• Your humble hare is not in agreement with Shipov that the failure to paly 19..g6 was critical to the game, but it was the best move. Nevertheless, Black isn't in too deep a hole yet.

20...Qxc3

• This still isn't best, but Black is still equal.
• 20...Nb6! 21.Rb3 Qd6 22.a5 g6 23.Qd3 Nc4 remains equal.

21.Qxd7

• If 21.Bxd7 Rxb1 then:
• 22.Qxb1 Rd8 23.Rc1 Qa3 24.Bb5 remains equal.
• If 22.Rxb1?! then Black has the more active game after 22...Rd8 23.Qg4 Bc6 24.Bxc6 Qxc6 25.Ra1

21...Qc7 22.Qf5 Rb6?!

• This move is a bit awkward.
• Better is 22...Qd6 23.Ne5 g6 24.Qf4 when:
• 24...Rd8! 25.Qxh6 Bxe5 26.dxe5 Qxe5 27.Bd3 Rxb1 28.Rxb1 Re8 is equal.
• 24...Rb6!? 25.a5 Rbb8 26.Qxh6 Bxe5 27.dxe5 Qxe5 28.Qd2 gives White more freedom.

23.Ne5 g6

• The text move is more critical now than it was on the 19th move.
• 23...Bg5?! 24.Bd3 g6 25.Qg4 Re8 26.h4! gives White a fierce initiative for a kingside attack.
• 23...Bxe5 24.dxe5 Re6 25.Re1 d4 26.Bd3 g6 27.Qg4 gives White the advantage in space.

24.Qf4 Bg5 25.Qg4 a6?!

• The pawn proves difficult to maintain at a6.
• If 25...Rf6 then:
• 26.h4 Bf4 27.h5 g5 28.Nd3 gives White the advantage in space.
• 26.Nf3 Bf4 27.Re1 Rb8 remains equal.

26.h4 Bf6 27.Bd3 Rxb1 28.Rxb1 h5

• If 28...Bg7? then 29.h5 gxh5 30.Qf5! Re8 31.Nd7 wins for White.

BLACK: Boris Gelfand
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WHITE: Alexander Grischuk
Position after 28...h6h5

29.Qf4!

• The text is most active move.

29...Bxe5?!

• Black's game is slipping away.
• Better is 29...Kg7 30.Bxa6 Re8 31.Rc1 Qe7 32.Nd3 Qe4.

30.dxe5 Re8 31.Rc1

• After 31.Bxa6 Rxe5 32.Kh2 Bc6 33.a5 d4 34.Rc1 the pin at e5 is especially effective for White.

31...Qd7?

• Black drops a pawn.
• After 31...Qb6 32.Kh2 Bb7 33.Qg3 Re7 34.Qg5 Re6 35.Rb1 Black is still fighting.

32.Bxa6 d4 33.Bc4

• White also maintains the pawn with 33.Bb5 Qd5 34.f3 Rf8 35.Rc4 d3 36.Rd4.

33...Qf5

• The exchange of Queens only makes White stronger.

BLACK: Boris Gelfand
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WHITE: Alexander Grischuk
Position after 33...Qd7f5

34.Qxf5

• Also good is 34.Qxd4 Qxe5 35.Qxe5 Rxe5 36.Bb5 Kg7 37.f3.

34...gxf5

• After the exchange of Queens, Black's pawns are all weak and there is little to do but wait for the end.

35.Rd1 Rxe5 36.Rxd4 Bc6 37.Bb3 Re1+

• 37...Re4 38.Rxe4 fxe4 allows Black to straighten out his pawns, but after 39.a5 Kg7 40.a6 f5 41.g3 his game is still hopeless.

38.Kh2 Rb1 39.Bd5 Bxd5 40.Rxd5 Rb4 41.g3 f4

• No better is 41...Rxa4 42.Rxf5 Ra2 43.Kg2 Kf8 44.Rxh5.

42.a5 fxg3+ 43.fxg3 Ra4 44.Rxh5 Kg7

• If 44...Rb4 then after 45.Rg5+ Kf8 46.h5 f6 47.Rc5 Ra4 48.Kh3 wins for White.

45.Rf5 Kg6 46.g4 f6

• If 46...Rxg4 then 47.Rg5+ Rxg5 48.hxg5 Kxg5 49.a6 turns out the lights.

47.h5+ Kg7 48.g5 fxg5 49.Rxg5+ Kf6 50.Rb5 1-0

• Facing enemy pawns on both rims, Gelfand resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

14. Update (Sunday): Grischuk leads Nalchik at first break

Russian grandmaster Alexander Grischuk, who won the international tournament at Linares last month, is leading the fourth leg of the FIDE Grand Prix in Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkaria (Russia) after five rounds going into the first of two scheduled rest days tomorrow.

Grischuk, with 3½ points, is a half point ahead of Sergey Karjakin, who is still Ukrainian but will be Russian before long, Hungary's Peter Leko, former Russian national champion Evgeny Alekseev and Levon Aronian of Armenia, who are in a tie for second at 3 points each.

Grischuk, playing White, drew his game today against Leko.

In other action today, GM Rustam Kasimdzhanov of Uzbekistan, playing Black, defeated Ukrainian GM Vassily Ivanchuk in 25 moves and Armenia's Vladimir Akopian beat Gata Kamsky of the United States in 98 moves. All other games were drawn.

The action resumes with round 6 on Tuedaay, when Grischuk will have White against Shakhriyar Mamedyaov of Azerbaijan.

[Jack Rabbit]

15. Update (Tuesday): Tehran wins Asian Cities Team Tournament

A powerhouse team representing the the Iranian capital city Tehran has won the 16th Asian Cities Team Championship today in Beirut, Lebanon with one round still remaining.

The Tehran team, lead by Iran's top ranked player, Eshan Ghaem Maghami, boasts three grandmasters, where most of the other 19 teams in the event have none. So far, Tehran has won seven matches and drawn one. In today's tournament clinching eighth round, Tehran underscored its superiority by defeating Aleppo 4-0.

The surprise of the event has been another Iranian team, this one from Bandar Emam and compised of women. The team won three of their first four matches, disposing of second seed Baghdad in the first round behind a victory by Ghaem Maghami's wife, Shayesteh Ghaderpour in the match's only decisive game.

We should offer congratulations to the Iranian women's coach, British GM Nigel Short, on his good work in persuading Iranian authorities to invest in promoting the women's team.