The JR Chess Report (May 24): Shrov wins Sofia; Ganguly, Zhou take Subic Bay

[Jack Rabbit]

Shirov Defeats Magnus in Final Round to Win MTel Masters



Veteran grandmaster Alexei Shirov of Spain by way of Latvia defeated 18-year-old Norwegian Magnus Carlsen in a dramatic final-round showdown to win the fifth annual MTel Masters in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia yesterday.

Magnus began the day alone in first place with 6 points, a half point over Shirov and former FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov. He needed only a draw to assure himself at least a share of first place while Shirov needed a win to leap over Magnus in the standings.

Shirov, playing White against Magnus, opened with his King's pawn. Magnus responded with a Sicilian Game which spun into the sharp Sveshnikov Defense. Shirov won in thirty moves.

Meanwhile, Topalov drew his game against Chinese grandmaster Wang Yue to finish tied for second place with Magnus.

Shirov is a popular grandmaster amonng chess fans known for his aggressive and risky style. As a youth in the Latvian capital of Riga, he studied chess under the master swashbuckler himself, former world champion Mikhail Tal.



Ganguly, Zhou Weiqi, Zhang Xiaowen Win Asian Championships



Ganguly and Zhou take general competition

Grandmasters Surya Shekhar Ganguly of India and Zhou Weiqi of China tied for first place Saturday with 8 points apiece in the general competition of the 11-round eighth annual Asian Continental Championships held in Subic Bay, the Philippines.

Ganguly was awarded official top honors by virtue of his superior tie break scores.

Six players tied for third place with 7½ points each, including young grandmaster Le Quanng Liem of Vietnam, the unheralded veteran Filipino GM Rogelio Antonio and fifteen-year-old GM Hou Yifan of China, one of only two ladies competing in the general tournament.

Zhang Xiaowen wins Asian women's championship

Zhang Xiaowen of China, a mere WIM, won the women's competition of the Asian Continental Championships Saturday with 9 points in 11 rounds in Subic Bay.

WGM Huang Qian of China was second with 8 points and Chinese MFM Ding Yixin and WGM Subbaraman Meenakshi if India tied for third with 7½ points each.


Chicago Open Is Held over Memorial Day Weekend



The 18th annual Chicago Open is being held over Memorial Day weekend in Wheeling, Illinois.

The seven-round tournament began Friday evening with a single round two rounds played yesterday and two rounds each on tap today and tomorrow.

After three rounds, GM Darman Sadvakasov of Kazakhstan, the winner of this year's Foxwoods Open, is alone in first place with a perfect score.



Calendar

Sigeman Co Chess Tournament, Malmø 3-7 June.

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

World Open, Philadelphia 29 June-5 July.

Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Dortmund 2-12 July.

San Sebastian International Tournament 6-16 July. Former world champion Karpov is among the participants; US Champ Nakamura will also compete.

Canadian Open, Edmonton 11-19 July.

Czech Open, Pardubice 16 July-2 August.

Biel Chess Festival 19-30 July. This year's GM Tournament is a Category 19 that includes Morozevich, Ivanchuk, Gelfand, Alekseev, Vachier Lagrave and Caruana.

Pan-American Continental Championship, São Paulo 25 July-2 August.

Mainz Chess Classic 27 July-2 August.

US Open, Indianapolis 1-9 August.

FIDE Grand Prix, Yerevan 8-24 August.

Howard Staunton Memorial, London 8-17 August. Played at historic Simpson's Divan.

World Junior Championship, Mar del Plata (Argentina) 16-29 October.

World Cup, Khanty Mansiysk 28 November-15 December.

London Chess Classic 7-16 December.

[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. MTel Masters, Sofia

Sofia
Photo by Podoboq

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Shirov - Ivanchuk, Round 6

Alexei Shirov
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Alexei Shirov - Vassily Ivanchuk
MTel Masters, Round 6
Sofia, 19 May 2009

Spanish Grnd Royal Game: Gothic Defense (Open Defense)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Nxe4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 Be6 9.Nbd2

• For 9.Be3 see Carlsen-Ivanchuk, Amber Blind, Nice, 2008.

9...Be7

• If 9...Nc5 10.c3 then:
• If 10...Be7 11.Bc2 Bg4 12.Re1 then:
• If 12...Qd7 13.Nf1 Rd8 14.Ne3 Bh5 then:
• 15.b4?! Ne6 16.g4 Bg6 17.Nf5 0-0 18.a4 Rfe8 19.axb5 axb5 20.Bd3 Rb8 21.Qe2 Ncd8 22.Ra5 d4 23.Rd1 c6 24.N3xd4 Bg5 25.Nxe6 Nxe6 26.Bc4 Qc7 27.Bxe6 Bxc1 28.Rd7 Qb6 29.Bxf7+ Bxf7 30.Raa7 Ra8 31.Rxa8 Rxa8 32.e6 Black resigns (Khalifman-Marin, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).
• 15.Nf5 0-0 16.Nxe7+ Nxe7 17.Be3 Na4 18.Qd3 Ng6 19.e6 fxe6 20.Ne5 Nxb2 21.Nxd7 Nxd3 22.Nxf8 Nxe1 23.Bxg6 Bxg6 24.Nxg6 Nc2 25.Ne7+ Kf8 26.Nc6 Rd6 27.Bc5 Nxa1 28.Nd4 Kf7 29.f4 Nc2 30.Nxc2 Rc6(Marjanovic-Korchnoi, Belgrade, 1987).
• 12...0-0 then:
• 13.Nb3 Ne6 14.Qd3 g6 15.Bh6 Re8 16.Rad1 Bf5 17.Qd2 Bxc2 18.Qxc2 Qd7 19.Qd3 Rad8 20.Rd2 Na7 21.Red1 c6 22.h4 gives White the advantage in space (Ziatdinov-Mikhalevski, Op, Caerleon (Wales), 2005).
• 13.Nf1 then:
• 13...Re8 14.h3 Bh5 15.Ng3 Bg6 16.Nf5 Bf8 17.Bf4 Qd7 18.N3h4 Rad8 19.Nxg6 hxg6 20.Nd4 Nxd4 21.cxd4 Ne6 22.Bg3 c5 23.dxc5 Bxc5 24.Bd3 draw (Svidler-Jussupow, Budesliga, Germany, 2003).
• 13...Bh5 14.Ng3 Bg6 15.Be3 Qd7 16.h4 Rad8 17.h5 Bxc2 18.Qxc2 Ne6 19.Rad1 f6 20.exf6 Bxf6 21.h6 g6 22.Ne4 Qf7 23.Neg5 Bxg5 24.Nxg5 Nxg5 25.Bxg5 Rd7 26.Qe2 gives White a small advantage in space (Anand-E. Torre, Ol, Thessaloniki, 1988).
• If 10...d4 11.Bxe6 Nxe6 12.cxd4 Ncxd4 13.a4 Be7 14.Nxd4 then:
• 14...Qxd4 15.axb5 Qxe5 16.bxa6 0-0 17.Qa4 Nc5 18.Qc4 Rfb8 19.Ra5 Qd6 20.Ne4 Nxe4 21.Qxe4 Qb4 22.Qxb4 Bxb4 23.Ra4 Rb6 24.a7 Bc5 25.Rd1 h6 26.b4 Rxb4 27.Rxb4 Bxb4 28.Be3 Kf8 29.Rb1 Black resigns (Topalov-Korchnoi, IT, Madrid, 1996).
• 14...Nxd4 15.Ne4 0-0 16.axb5 Nxb5 17.Be3 Qc8 18.Qc2 Qe6 19.f4 Rad8 20.Ra4 Rd7 21.Rfa1 Qd5 22.h3 f6 23.exf6 Bxf6 24.Nxf6+ Rxf6 25.Rxa6 Rxa6 26.Rxa6 Nd4 27.Qa4 gives White a huge lead in space (Adams-Jussupow, Op, Hastings, 1989).
• If 9.c3 then:
• If 9...Be7 10.Nbd2 0-0 11.Bc2 f5 then:
• If 12.Nb3 Qd7 13.Nbd4 Nxd4 14.Nxd4 c5 15.Nxe6 Qxe6 16.f3 Ng5 17.a4 then:
• 17...Rad8 18.axb5 axb5 19.Qe2 c4 20.Be3 b4 21.Qd2 b3 22.Bd1 f4 23.Bxf4 Qf5 24.Be3 Qxe5 25.Be2 gives Black the advantage in space (J. Geller-S. Atalik, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• 17...g6 18.Kh1 Qc6 19.Bxg5 Bxg5 20.f4 Be7 21.Qf3 c4 22.Rfd1 Rfd8 23.b4 a5 24.axb5 Qxb5 is equal (Khairullin-Fressinet, Areoflot Op, Moscow, 2006).
• 12.exf6 Nxf6 13.Nb3 Bg4 14.Qd3 Ne4 15.Nbd4 Nxd4 16.Nxd4 Bd6 17.Nxb5 Bxh2+ 18.Kxh2 axb5 19.Kg1 Bf5 20.Qxb5 Nxc3 21.bxc3 Bxc2 22.Be3 Rf5 is equal (Boleslavsky-Levenfish, Soviet Ch, Leningrad, 1947).
• If 9...Bc5 10.Nbd2 0-0 11.Bc2 then:
• 11...Bf5 12.Nb3 Bg6 13.Nfd4 Bxd4 14.cxd4 a5 15.Be3 a4 16.Nd2 a3 17.Nxe4 axb2 18.Rb1 Bxe4 19.Rxb2 Qd7 20.Bd3 Bxd3 21.Qxd3 b4 22.Rc1 Rfb8 23.Qb1 Rb7 24.h3 Ra4 25.Rc5 h6 is equal (Lobron-Korchnoi, Paris, 1984).
• 11...f5 12.Nb3 Bb6 13.Nfd4 Nxd4 14.Nxd4 Bxd4 15.cxd4 f4 16.f3 Ng3 17.hxg3 fxg3 18.Qd3 Bf5 19.Qxf5! Rxf5 20.Bxf5 Qh4 21.Bh3 Qxd4+ 22.Kh1 Qxe5 23.Bd2 Qxb2 24.Bf4 c5 25.Be6+ gives White a theoretical two-pawn material advantage in an asymmetrical balance (Smyslov-Reshevsky, Team Match, via radio, 1945).
• If 11...Nxd2 12.Qxd2 f6 13.exf6 Rxf6 14.Nd4 Nxd4 15.cxd4 Bb6 then:
• 16.a4 Rb8 17.axb5 axb5 18.Qc3 Qd6 19.Be3 Bf5 is equal (Dr. Lasker-Rubinstein, IT, St. Petersburg, 1914).
• 16.Nc1 a3 17.b3 f6 18.Nd3 fxe5 19.Nxe5 Nxe5 20.Bxe4 dxe4 21.dxe5 Re8 22.Rc1 Rxe5 23.Qxd8+ Rxd8 24.Rxc7 Red5 gives White a comfortable advatage in space (Karjakin-Kaidanov, Areoflot Op, Moscow, 2005).

10.Re1 Nc5 11.c3 d4 12.Bc2!?

• 12.Bxe6 Nxe6 13.cxd4 Ncxd4 14.Nxd4 Qxd4 15.Qc2 Qc5 16.Qe4 Rd8 17.Nf3 Qd5 is equal (McShane-Ivanchuk, Bundesliga 0708, Godesberg, 2008).

12...0-0

• The game is equal.
• 12...dxc3 13.bxc3 Nd3 14.Re3 Nxc1 15.Qxc1 0-0 is also equal.

13.cxd4

• 13.Nb3 dxc3 14.bxc3 Re8 15.Be3 Qxd1 16.Raxd1 remains equal.

13...Nxd4 14.Nxd4 Qxd4 15.Nf3

• 15.Qh5!? Nd3 16.Bxd3 Qxd3 17.Rd1 Rad8 gives Black pressure up the center.

15...Qxd1

• The game remains equal.
• If 15...Qc4!? 16.b3 Qb4 17.Bd2 then:
• If 17...Qa3 18.Qb1 then:
• If 18...h6 19.b4 Na4 20.Re3 Qb2 then:
• 21.Bxa4 Qxb1+ 22.Rxb1 bxa4 23.a3 gives White better pawn structure.
• 21.a3!? Qxb1+ 22.Rxb1 Nb6 equalizes..
• If 18...g6 19.b4 Na4 then:
• 20.Re3 Qb2 21.Bxa4 Qxb1+ 22.Rxb1 bxa4 23.a3 gives White better pawn structure.
• 20.Bxa4!? Qxa4 21.a3 Rac8 22.Bg5 Rfe8 23.Bxe7 Rxe7 is equal.
• If 17...Qg4 18.h3 Qh5 19.Ng5 Qxd1 20.Rexd1 then:
• 20...h6 21.Nxe6 Nxe6 22.Be3 gives White better command of open lines.
• 20...Bxg5 21.Bxg5 Nd7 22.f4 f6 23.exf6 Nxf6 24.f5 gives White the initiative

16.Rxd1 Rfd8 17.Nd4

• White does not want to exchange Rooks just yet.
• 17.Be3 Rxd1+ 18.Rxd1 Re8 19.a3 gives White more activity.

17...Bd5!?

• This allows White to take a small initiative.
• Better, if more stereotypical, is 17...Bg4 18.f3 Ne6 19.Nc6 Rxd1+ 20.Bxd1 Bc5+ 21.Kf1 with equality.

18.Nf5!

• White takes the initiative.
• 18.Be3 g6 19.a3 f6 20.f4 Kf7 21.Rac1 Ne6 remains equal.

18...Bf8 19.Bg5 Rd7 20.Ne7+

• 20.b4 Ne6 21.Be7 Nf4 22.Bxf8 Kxf8 23.Ne3 Re8 is equal.

20...Bxe7 21.Bxe7 Rxe7 22.Rxd5

• The exchanges put an end to White's initiative, but he has the better center to show for it.

22...Ne6 23.g3 g6 24.f4 c5 25.Kf2

• White continues to enjoy the edge in space after 25.Rad1 Rf8 26.a4 bxa4 27.Bxa4 c4 28.Bd7 , but even crippled as it is Black's queenside majority should yield a passed pawn.

25...Kg7 26.Rad1 c4?!

• Black's problems are rooted in the lack of mobility his pieces have on the kingside owing to White's control of the dark squares. He should deal with that before advancing his pawnmajority.
• 26...f6 27.Be4 fxe5 28.fxe5 Rae8 29.Bg2 Ng5 equalizes.

BLACK: Vassily Ivanchuk
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WHITE: Alexei Shirov
Position after 26...c5c3

27.Ke3!

• Another consequence of Black's previous move is that he loosened his grip on d4. White takes advantage of the opening by activating his King.

27...f6 28.Rd7 Kf7 29.Be4

• 29.R7d6 fxe5 30.fxe5 Rae8 31.Rd7 Ng5 32.Be4 gives White more freedom.

29...Rae8 30.Rxe7+ Rxe7 31.exf6

• If 31.Bd5 fxe5 32.fxe5 h6 33.Ke4 then:
• 33...h5 34.Bxe6+ Rxe6 35.Rd7+ Re7 36.Rxe7+ Kxe7 37.Kd5 the presence of the e-pawn gives White the edge.
• 33...Ke8 34.Bxe6 Rxe6 35.Rd6 Rxd6 36.exd6 g5 37.Kd4 gives White the active King in the pawn ending.

31...Kxf6 32.Rd6 Kg7 33.f5!?

• 33.Rc6 Nc7 34.h3 Nd5+ 35.Kf3 Nb4 36.Rd6 Nxa2 37.Rxa6 remains equal.

33...gxf5 34.Bxf5 Nf8+

• 34...Ng5+ 35.Kf4 Nf7 36.Re6 remains equal.

35.Kd2

• White wisely brings his king to the queenside to assist in restraining Black's pawn majority.

35...Re5 36.g4 a5 37.Ra6 a4

BLACK: Vassily Ivanchuk
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WHITE: Alexei Shirov
Position after 37...a5a4

38.Rb6!?

• White misses a chance to take command of the game.
• 38.Ra7+! Kg8 39.Rb7 h5 40.h3 brings White's kingside majority to life.

38...Ng6

• If 38...h5 39.h3 then:
• If 39...Kf7 then after 40.Kc3 Re3+ 41.Kb4 Rxh3 42.gxh5 Rxh5 43.Rxb5 White laps up Black's remaining pawns.
• 39...h4 40.a3 Kf7 41.Rh6 Rd5+ 42.Kc3 gives Black more freedom; Black is out of reserve pawn tempi.

39.Kc3 Ne7 40.Rb7 Kf6 41.Bxh7

• If 41.Bd7 Re3+ 42.Kd2 Re4 then:
• 43.a3 Rd4+ 44.Kc1 b4 45.axb4 Nd5 46.Bc6 wins another pawn for White.
• 43.h3!? b4 44.Bb5 Nd5 45.Rxh7 c3+ is equal.

41...Kg5 42.h3 Kf4 43.Rd7 Re2?

• In order to save a half-point, Black must block White's kingside. The text does nothing towards that end.
• If 43...Kg5! 44.Bc2 Kh4 45.a3 Re2 46.Rd8 then:
• If 46...Re3+! 47.Kd4 then:
• 47...Re2! 48.Rh8+ Kg3 49.Be4 Rxb2 50.Rh7 Nc8 51.Kc5 b4 is equal.
• 47...Nc6+ 48.Kxe3 Nxd8 49.Bf5 Nf7 50.Kd4 wins for White.
• If 46...Kxh3 47.Rh8+ then:
• 47...Kg3 48.Rh5 b4+ 49.axb4 Kxg4 50.Rc5 liquidates Black's remaining pawns.
• 47...Kxg4? 48.Bd1 Nd5+ 49.Kd4 Nf4 50.Re8 wins for White.
• 43...Re3+ 44.Kb4 Re5 45.Rd6 Kf3 46.a3! Kg2 47.Rh6 Black has no more pawn moves while White's kingside is mobilizing.

44.a3!

• Black is out of reserve pawn tempi.

44...Nc6 45.Rf7+ Kg3

• 45...Kg5 46.Rf5+ Kh6 47.Rh5+ Kg7 48.h4 White kingside pawns are ready to roll.

BLACK: Vassily Ivanchuk
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WHITE: Alexei Shirov
Position after 45...Kf4g3

46.g5!

• There's nothing but daylight between the g-pawn and the promotion square.

46...Re3+ 47.Kd2

• This releases the hold on Black's pawns, but now it doesn't matter.

47...Rb3

• 47...b4 48.Kxe3 c3 49.g6 c2 50.Kd2 is lights out.

48.g6!

• Black has no time to effect his attack on White's queenside.

48...Rxb2+ 49.Kc1 1-0

• The g-pawn must queen.
• Vassily Mikhailovich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Carlsen - Domínguez, Round 7

Magnus Carlsen
Photo: ChessBase.com


Magnus Carlsen - Leinier Domínguez
MTel Masters, Round 7
Sofia, 20 May 2009

West India Game: Indain Queen's Gambit (Russian Opening) (Grünfeld Defense)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3

• For a brief survey concerning theory on this opening, see Pashikian-Kurnosov, Aeroflot Open,Moscow, 2009)[/li>

5...dxc4 6.Qxc4 0-0 7.e4 Nc6 8.Be2 e5 9.d5 Nd4 10.Nxd4 exd4 11.Qxd4 c6 12.d6!?

• 12.Qd1 Re8 13.0-0 Nxe4 14.Nxe4 Rxe4 15.dxc6 Rd4 16.Qb3 bxc6 is equal (Lang-Lechtynsky, Bavarian League, Munich, 1996).

12...Nd5 13.Qd3 Nxc3 14.bxc3 Qf6 15.Bb2 Rd8 16.Rd1 Qe6 17.f4!

• Saving the a-pawn is more trouble than it is worth.
• If 17.a3 Be5 18.0-0 Rxd6 then:
• 19.Qe3 Qa2 20.Rd2 Rxd2 21.Qxd2 is equal.
• 19.Qc2 Rxd1 20.Rxd1 Qf6 is equal.

17...Qxa2 18.Rd2 Qa5?!

• White has the better center, so Black should seek counterplay on the queenside by first advancing his pawns.
• 18...a5 19.0-0 a4 20.e5 b5 21.Qe4 Bd7 is equal.
• From the text, Black's game simply deterriorates until it is lost.

19.Qe3

• Somewhat better is 19.e5! g5 20.g3 Be6 21.c4 with the advantage in space.

19...Bd7 20.Kf2

• Also good is 20.0-0 Qa2 21.f5.

20...Re8

• 20...Qa2 21.e5 Qe6 22.c4 Re8 23.c5 gives White more space and freedom.

BLACK: Leinier Domínguez
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WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 20...Rd8e8

21.Ra1!

• White moves to restrain Black's queenside.

21...Qd8

• Forced.

22.c4

• Further restraining the queenside.

22...Bxb2 23.Rxb2 b6 24.Bf3 Qh4+?

• Black's position continues to grow more difficult. The Queen should remain in the center to combat White's advancing pawns.
• 24...f6 25.c5 bxc5 26.Qxc5 f5 27.e5 Qh4+ 28.Kg1 wins a pawn for Black.

25.Kg1 Qf6 26.Qd2

• If 26.e5 Qxd6 27.exd6 Rxe3 28.Rxb6 then:
• If 28...axb6 29.Rxa8+ Re8 then:
• 30.Ra7 Rd8 31.Rb7 Be8 32.d7 Bxd7 33.Rxb6 Rc8 34.c5 gives White the more active game.
• 30.Rxe8+ Bxe8 31.Kf2 f5 32.Ke3 gives White a small initiative; Black must act to stop the now active White King from approaching the passed d-pawn.
• 28...Re1+ 29.Rxe1 axb6 30.Rb1 Ra6 31.c5 bxc5 32.Rb7 gives White greater activity.

26...g5 27.g3!?

• White would probably win faster after 27.fxg5! Qe5 28.Rba2 Qc5+ 29.Kh1 a5 30.Ra4.

27...gxf4 28.gxf4 Kh8

• If 28...Qg7+ then after 29.Qg2 h6 30.e5 Red8 31.Ra6 Rdb8 32.Rba2 White is winning.

29.Kh1 Rg8

• No better is 29...Qg7 30.Rba2 a5 31.c5 bxc5 32.Rxa5 Rxa5 33.Rxa5.

BLACK: Leinier Domínguez
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WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 29...Re8g8

30.e5!

• White corrals the kingside.

30...Qh4

• If 30...Qe6 then White wins after 31.Qc3 f6 32.exf6 Qf7 33.Re2.

31.Qd4 Rg7

• If 31...Rac8 then White wins a piece with 32.e6+ f6 33.exd7 Rcd8 34.Bxc6.

32.Rg2 Rag8 33.e6 Bxe6

• If the game weren't already lost, this would be a blunder. Black loses a piece.
• 33...fxe6 34.Qe5 a5 35.c5 Qh3 36.Rg3 wins for White anyway.

BLACK: Leinier Domínguez
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WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 33...Bd7e6:p

34.Rxg7

• The game is now in its last throes.

34...Rxg7 35.Bxc6 f6

• Black could have resigned here.
• 35...a5 36.d7 Qd8 37.Re1 h6 38.f5 Bxd7 39.Bxd7 wins the Bishop.

36.d7 Bxd7 37.Bxd7

• White has won the Bishop.

37...Re7 38.Be6 Rxe6

• This allows a forced mate.

39.Qd8+ Kg7 40.Rg1+ Kf7 41.Qg8+ Ke7 42.Rg7+ Kd6 43.Qf8+ 1-0

• 43...Kc6 44.Qc8+ Kd6 45.Rd7#.
• 43...Re7 44.Qxe7+ Kc6 45.Qc7#.
• El señor Domínguez resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Asian Continental Champioships, Subic Bay

Subic Bay
Photo by Onat

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Ganaguly - Antonio, Round 10

Surya Shekhar Ganguly
Photo: ChessBase.com


Surya Shekhar Ganguly - Rogelio Antonio
8th Asian Continental Championship, Round 10
Subic Bay, 22 May 2009

Closed German Game: Short Opening (Caro-Kann Defense)

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 Nd7

• If 5...c5 6.Be3 then:
• If 6...Nd7 then:
• If 7.0-0 Ne7 8.c4 dxc4 9.Na3 then:
• If 9...c3 10.Nb5 Nd5 11.Nxc3 Nxe3 12.fxe3 then:
• 12...Be7 13.Qb3 0-0!? 14.Qxb7 Rb8 15.Qxa7 cxd4 16.exd4 Ra8 gives Black counterplay (Morozevich-Kamsky, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2008).
• 12...cxd4 13.exd4 Be7 14.Qb3 Rb8 15.a4 0-0 16.a5 b5 17.axb6 Rxb6 18.Qa2 is equal (Knebel-Johansson, Corres, 1994).
• 9...Nd5 10.Nxc4 b5 11.Bg5 Qb8 12.Ne3 h6 13.Bh4 Nxe3 14.fxe3 a6 15.a4 b4 16.Nd2 g5 17.Bg3 Qa7 18.Nc4 gives White a tactical edge in the center (Halsinger-Stratling, Op, Hoogeveen, 2008).
• If 7.Nbd2 then:
• If 7...c4 then:
• 8.a4 h6 9.b3 cxb3 10.Nxb3 Rc8 11.Ra2 Qc7 12.Bd3 Bxd3 13.Qxd3 Ne7 14.0-0 Qc4 15.Rb1 b6 16.Qf1 Nc6 is equal (Svidler-Topalov, IT, Nanjing, 2008).
• 8.c3 b5 9.0-0 Nh6 10.Ne1 Bg6 11.g4 f6 12.exf6 gxf6 13.Ng2 Nb6 14.b3 Nf7 15.a4 Nd6 16.axb5 Nxb5 17.Qc1 Qc7 18.bxc4 dxc4 19.Qb2 makes Black's King safety a major concern (Alekseev-David, Euro ChT, Kallithea, 2008).
• 8.0-0 b5 9.Ne1 Bg6 10.g4 Bb4 11.c3 Ba5 12.Ng2 Ne7 13.Nf4 b4 14.Rc1 bxc3 15.bxc3 Nb6 16.h4 h5 17.Nxg6 Nxg6 18.gxh5 Nxh4 19.Bg4 Qe7 also presents Black with some difficulty bringing the King to safety (Rublevsky-Dreev, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2005).
• 7...Ne7 8.dxc5 Nc6 9.Nb3 Bg4 10.Nfd4 Bxe2 11.Qxe2 Ndxe5 12.f4 Nc4 13.Nxc6 bxc6 14.Bd4 Qh4+ 15.g3 Qe7 is equal (Short-Adianto, IT, Djakarta, 1996).
• If 6...cxd4 7.Nxd4 Ne7 then:
• 8.Bg5 Qa5+ 9.Nc3 Bg6 10.Nb3 Qb6 11.Nb5 Nec6 12.Be3 Qd8 13.f4 a6 14.Nc3 Bb4 15.Qd2 0-0 16.a3 Be7 17.0-0 Nd7 18.Rad1 h6 19.Rfe1 Nb6 is equal (Staudler-Lauritsen, Corres, 1999).
• 8.c4 Nbc6 9.Qa4 a6 10.Nc3 dxc4 11.0-0-0 Bd3 12.Bxd3 cxd3 13.Rxd3 Qa5 14.Qxa5 Nxa5 15.f4 Rd8 16.Rhd1 h5 17.h4 Nec6 18.Nxc6 Rxd3 19.Rxd3 Nxc6 20.a3 Rh6 draw (Inarkiev-Ivanchuk, Euro Ch, Kusadasi, 2006).

6.0-0 Bg6

• If 6...Ne7 then:
• If 7.Nh4 Bg6 8.Nd2 c5 9.c3 Nc6 10.Nxg6 hxg6 11.Nf3 Be7 12.Be3 a6 13.g3 then:
• 13...g5 14.Kg2 cxd4 15.cxd4 Nf8 16.a3 f6 17.h3 Qd7 18.b4 Bd8 19.Rc1 gives White the advantage in space (I. Smirin-Li Wenliang, IT, Beijing, 1996).
• 13...b5 14.h4 Nb6 15.b3 c4 16.Kg2 a5 17.Nd2 Rc8 18.Rc1 a4 19.bxc4 bxc4 is equal (Efimenko-L'Ami, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).
• If 7.Nbd2 h6 8.Nb3 Bh7 then:
• 9.Bd2 Ng6 10.Rc1 Be7 11.c4 dxc4 12.Bxc4 0-0 13.g3 Re8 14.Re1 Bf8 15.Na5 Rb8 16.b4 Ne7 17.Bf1 Nd5 18.a3 N7b6 is equal (Malakhov-Jobava, Euro ChT, Kallithea, 2008).
• 9.c3 Rc8 10.Bd2 Nf5 11.a4 Be7 12.g4 Nh4 13.Nxh4 Bxh4 14.f4 f5 15.Bd3 0-0 16.h3 Qe7 17.Be3 Rf7 18.Kg2 Rcf8 19.Qc2 Kh8 20.Nd2 c5 21.Nf3 cxd4 22.cxd4 Bg5 23.Qd2 Qb4 24.Qxb4 Nb6 draw (Leko-Akopian, Asrian Mem Rapid, Yerevan, 2008).

7.Nbd2 Nh6 8.Nb3 Be7

• If 8...Nf5 then:
• If 9.Bd2 then:
• If 9...Rc8 10.Rc1 then:
• 10...Bh5 11.h3 Bxf3 12.Bxf3 c5 13.dxc5 Nxe5 14.Re1 Nxf3+ 15.Qxf3 Be7 is equal (And. Volokitin-Jobava, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).
• 10...a6 11.c4 dxc4 12.Rxc4 Be7 13.Na5 Rc7 14.Qb3 Qa8 15.g4 Nh6 16.Bb4 Nb6 17.Bxe7 Nxc4 18.Nxc4 Rxe7 gives Black the advantage of the exchange (Volokitin-Anastasian, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).
• 10...Be7 11.g4 Nh6 12.h3 0-0 13.Bd3 Kh8 14.Qe2 Ng8 15.Kg2 c5 16.Bxg6 fxg6 17.c3 c4 gives Black a slight advantage in space and the initiative (Rublevsky-Asrian, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2008).
• If 9...Be7 10.g4 Nh4 11.Nxh4 Bxh4 12.f4 then:
• 12...f5 13.Bd3 Be7 14.Nc1 Qb6 15.Nb3 Qc7 16.c4 fxg4 17.Bxg6+ hxg6 18.Qc2 Nf8 19.cxd5 exd5 20.f5 0-0-0 21.Bf4 gxf5 22.e6 Bd6 23.Qxf5 Re8 24.Nc5 Bxf4 25.Rxf4 b6 26.e7+ draw (Radjabov-I. Popov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2008).
• 12...f6 13.f5 Bf7 14.g5 exf5 15.Bd3 Bxg5 16.Bxg5 fxg5 17.Bxf5 Bg6 18.Qg4 Qe7 19.Rae1 0-0-0 20.Bxd7+ Qxd7 21.e6 Qe7 22.Nc5 h5 23.Qg3 h4 24.Qg4 Bh5 25.Qh3 Kb8 26.Re5 b6 27.Nd7+ Kb7 28.Qe3 Rh6 29.Rff5 Bg6 30.Qxg5 Re8 31.Qxe7 Rxe7 32.Rf8 Kc7 33.Ra8 Kb7 34.Rb8+ Kc7 35.Ra8 Kb7 36.Rb8+ Kc7 draw (Rublevsky-Jobava, World Cup, Khanty Mansyisk, 2005).
• 9.a4 Be7 10.g4 Nh6 11.h3 0-0 12.Be3 Kh8 13.Qd2 Ng8 14.Ne1 f6 15.f4 fxe5 16.dxe5 c5 17.c4 d4 18.Bf2 Bh4 19.Bxh4 Qxh4 gives Black a slight advantage in space (Li Chao-Rodshtein, World Jr Ch, Gaziantep, 2008).

9.Ne1 0-0!?

• Mr. Antonio, who entered the tenth round alone in first place, is admirably playing for a win with Black.
• 9...Nf5 10.Nd3 0-0 11.c3 Qb6 12.Bf4 Rac8 13.g4 Nh4 14.Bg3 Bxd3 15.Bxd3 c5 16.dxc5 Nxc5 17.Nxc5 Rxc5 draw (S. Zhigalko-Galkin, Euro ChT, Rethymnon, 2003).

10.Nd3!?

• White plays a quiet line to bring the game back into balance, hoping it will unsettle his opponent.
• 10.Bxh6! gxh6 11.Qd2 c5 12.Nxc5 Nxc5 13.dxc5 gives White an extra pawn.

10...Rc8!?

• Black continues to insist on being provokative.
• 10...Nf5 11.Nf4 Qc7 12.c4 dxc4 13.Nxg6 hxg6 14.Bxc4 is equal.

11.c3!?

• White still won't be provoked, even if allowing himself to be would result in an early advantage.
• 11.Bxh6 gxh6 12.Bg4 Qc7 13.f4 gives White the advantage in space.

11...b6 12.Nf4 c5 13.Nxg6

• Only Ganguly Sahib knows for sure, but it would appear that White's manuevering was simply to deny Black the two Bishops. This would suggest that White's plan is to open the center.

13...hxg6 14.g4 c4

• This puts a stop to any ideas about opening the center.

15.Nd2 g5!?

• Black would do better to seek counterplay on the queenside than to meet White's kingside advance head on.
• 15...b5 16.h3 Qa5 17.f4 b4 18.Qc2 Rc6 remains equal.

16.Bf3 b5

• As of now, neither side has a particularly good minor piece.

17.Bg2 b4 18.h3 Rb8 19.Nf3

• White now indicates his plan is play on the kingside.

19...Re8 20.Bd2 Nf8?!

• At his peril, Black continues to ignore his opportunities on the queenside.
• If 20...bxc3 then:
• 21.Bxc3! a6 22.Qd2 Rb7 23.Rfc1 Rb5 24.b3! White space advantage will augment if Black takes the pawn at b3.
• 21.bxc3 f6 22.Qe2 Qa5 23.exf6 Bxf6 24.h4 gives Black a local advantage in space on the kingside.

BLACK: Rogelio Antonio
!""""""""#
$ T WtMl+%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Surya Shekhar Ganguly
Position after 20...Nd7f8

21.cxb4!

• With so many of Black's pieces misplaced on the kingside, White takes time out to knock the wind from the sails of what should have been Black's strong queenside initiative.

21...Nh7 22.Qa4

• Now White fills the vacuum of the queenside.

22...Qb6 23.a3 Rec8

• Black belatedly moves his heavy pieces to the queenside.

24.Rab1 Qd8 25.Qc2 Nf8 26.Qc1!

• White again takes aim at the kingside.

26...Nh7

• The Knight is forced back to his former post in order to defend the g-pawn.

27.Re1 Rb6 28.Re3 Kh8

• If 28...Rcb8 29.Rc3 R8b7 30.b3 a5 31.bxa5 then:
• 31...Rxb3 32.Rbxb3 Rxb3 33.Rxb3 cxb3 34.Qc3 gives White an extra pawn.
• 31...Rb5 32.b4 Qxa5 33.h4 gxh4 34.Bxh6 gxh6 35.Qxh6 gives White an extra pawn and a fierce kingside initiative.

29.Rc3 Rcb8 30.b3 cxb3 31.Rbxb3 f5

BLACK: Rogelio Antonio
!""""""""#
$ T W + L%
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WHITE: Surya Shekhar Ganguly
Position after 31...f7f5

32.exf6?!

• White nearly had the game won, but now loses a part of his advantage.
• If 32.gxf5 Nxf5 33.Qc2 Nf8 34.Bf1 then:
• 34...Ng6 35.Bd3 Ngh4 36.Nxh4 gxh4 37.Bxf5 exf5 38.Qxf5 White is two pawns up and will win.
• 34...Nh4 35.Be2 a6 36.Rc7 a5 37.b5 a4 38.Rbc3 wins for White.

32...gxf6 33.Rc7 R6b7

• If 33...a5 34.Ra7 axb4 35.axb4 then:
• 35...Bd6 36.Qe1 Ra8 37.Rxa8 Qxa8 38.Rb1 Qe8 39.b5 at least for now halts the progress of White's pawn.
• 35...Nf8 36.Qe1 Ra8 37.Rba3 Rxa7 38.Rxa7 gives White an extra pawn, but it's not going too far for now.

34.Rxb7 Rxb7 35.Rc3 Qd7 36.Rc8+ Kg7

• If 36...Bd8 37.Qc6 Nf7 38.h4 gxh4 39.Nxh4
  • 39...Nf8 40.Qxd7 Rxd7 41.Nf3 Nd6 42.Rc6 Black still has some counterplay in the center.
  • 39...Nd6 40.Qxd7 Rxd7 41.Rc6 Nc4 42.Bc1 White has still not shut down all of Black's opportunities for counterplay.

37.Bf1

• If 37.h4 then:
• 37...Nf7 38.h5 e5 39.Qc6 Nd6 40.Qxd7 Rxd7 41.Rc6 White is much better, but Black has counterplay in the center.
• If 37...Nxg4 38.hxg5 Bd6 39.Bh3 then:
• 39...f5 40.Qc6 Nf8 41.Qxd7+ Rxd7 42.Nh4 wins for White.
• If 39...Bc7? then 40.Ra8! f5 41.Bf4 Nf8 42.Bxg4 fxg4 43.Ne5 wins for White.

37...Bd6 38.Qc6 Nf7 39.Qxd7

• 39.Qc2 Nf8 40.Ba6 Rc7 41.Rxc7 Qxc7 42.Qd1 White is better, but Black's center pawns are still a problem.

39...Rxd7 40.a4 Rc7 41.Ra8

• 41.Rxc7 Bxc7 42.Bg2 Nd6 43.h4 gxh4 44.Bf4 Black's has chances for play in the center.

41...e5 42.dxe5 fxe5 43.b5 Bc5 44.Ba5 Bb6

• If 44...Rd7?! then after 45.Rc8! Bb6 46.Bxb6 axb6 47.Rc6 Rb7 48.Bg2 Black's slim chances of holding the game rest in his central pawns.

45.Bxb6 axb6 46.a5!?

• This is not the objectively best move, but it is a good calculated risk. If Black plays it right, White will still have a much better game; if not, White wins much sooner than he would otherwise.
• If 46.Ra6 Rb7 47.Bg2 e4 48.Nd4 Nf6 49.f3 exf3 50.Nxf3 White remains a pawn to the good, but his queenside majority is under restraint.
• 47...Nf6 48.h4 gxh4 49.Nxh4 e4 50.f3 gives White the advantage, but Black's center pawns provide opportunity for counterpaly.

46...Nf8?

• Black blows his last chance at maintaining some kind of balance.
• If 46...bxa5 47.Rxa5 Rb7 48.Bg2 Nf6 49.h4 gxh4 50.Nxh4 Nd6 51.Ra6 White has yet the better chances, but Black isn't finished.
• 47...e4 48.Nd4 Kg6 49.f3 Nf6 50.fxe4 dxe4 51.Kf2 deprives Black of his last reserve pawn tempi.

BLACK: Rogelio Antonio
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Surya Shekhar Ganguly
Position after 46...Nh7f8

47.axb6!

• The pawn on b6 looks dangerous.

47...Rd7

• If 47...Rb7 then 48.Ra7! Rxb6 49.Nxe5 Kf6 50.Rxf7+ White wins a piece.

48.Ra7 Kf6 49.h4

• Also good is 49.b7 Rd8 50.Nxg5 Kxg5 51.b8Q Rxb8 52.Rxf7.

49...Nd6 50.hxg5+ Ke6 51.g6 Nxg6 52.g5 Nf4

• 52...Rb7 53.Bh3+ Kf7 54.Bc8 Re7 55.b7 Nxb7 56.Bxb7 wins for White.

53.Rxd7 Kxd7 54.Nxe5+ Ke6 55.Nd3 1-0

• 55...Nxd3 56.Bxd3 Nb7 57.f4 Nc5 58.f5+ gives White an elementary win.
• 55...Ng6 56.Bg2 Ne7 57.Nb4 Nb7 58.g6 streches Black's defense to the snapping point.
• Mr. Antonio resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Zhou Weiqi - Gonzales, Round 5

Zhou Weiqi
Photo: ChessBase.com


Zhou Weiqi - Jayson Gonzales
8th Asian Continental Championship, Round 5
Subic Bay, 17 May 2009

Queen's Gambit: Chigorin Defense

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nc6

• This perfectly playable move (White's second and third moves usually come in reverse order) is one of the legacies of the romantic Russian master Mikhail Chigorin (1850-1908), who first played it against Steinitz in the world championship match of 1889.

3.c4 Bg4 4.Nc3

• If 4.cxd5 Bxf3 5.gxf3 Qxd5 6.e3 e5 7.Nc3 Bb4 8.Bd2 Bxc3 9.bxc3 then:
• If 9...Qd6 10.Rb1 b6 11.f4 exf4 12.e4 Nge7 then:
• 13.Bg2 Rd8 14.0-0 0-0 15.e5 Qg6 16.Bxf4 Nd5 17.Qf3 f6 18.e6 Qf5 19.Bg3 Qxe6 20.c4 Nxd4 21.Qxd5 draw (Staniszewski-Wyss, Op, Cappelle la Grande, 2001).
• 13.Qf3 0-0 14.Bxf4 Qa3 15.Be2 f5 16.0-0 fxe4 17.Qxe4 Qxc3 18.Be3 Qa3 19.Bd3 Qd6 20.Qxh7+ Kf7 21.Rb5 Nxd4 22.Qe4 Rad8 23.Bxd4 Qxd4 24.Rf5+ Nxf5 25.Qxf5+ Kg8 26.Qh7+ draw (Kasparov-Smyslov, Candidates' Match, Vilnius, 1984).
• If 9...exd4 10.cxd4 then:
• 10...Nf6 11.Be2 0-0 12.Qb3 Rfe8 13.Qxd5 Nxd5 14.Rb1 Nb6 15.Kf1 Rad8 16.a4 Rd5 is equal (Miles-Day, Op, Vancouver, 1981).
• 10...Nge7 11.Be2 0-0-0 12.Qb3 Rhe8 13.Rb1 Qxb3 14.Rxb3 Nd5 15.Kf1 f5 16.Bd3 g6 is equal (Panno-Mariotti, IT, Manila, 1976).

4...e6 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bf4

• 6.Bg5 Be7 7.Bxe7 Ngxe7 8.e3 0-0 9.Be2 Qd6 10.0-0 Nd8 11.Nb5 Qb6 12.Ne5 Bxe2 13.Qxe2 gives White the advantage in space (Minina-Bostari, Euro ChW, St. Petersburg, 2009).

6...Bxf3 7.gxf3 Bd6 8.Bg3 Nge7 9.e3 0-0

• If 9...a6 10.Qc2 then:
• 10...h5 11.0-0-0 h4 12.Bxd6 Qxd6 13.f4 g6 14.Kb1 Nd8 15.Bh3 f5 16.Ne2 Ne6 17.Nc1 0-0-0 18.Nd3 is equal (Epishin-Wisnewski, Op, Kiel, 2004).
• 10...Qd7 11.Rg1 g6 12.0-0-0 0-0 13.h4 b5 14.e4 b4 15.Nxd5 Nxd5 16.exd5 Ne7 17.Bc4 is equal (L. B. Hansen-Logdahl, Rilton Cup, Stockholm, 2006-07).

10.a3 f5 11.f4 Qd7 12.Qb3!?

• White introduces a naovelty that offers quicker development than the previous game in which this position was reached.
• 12.h4 Qe6 13.h5 Nb8 14.Be2 Nd7 15.Bh4 c6 16.Qb3 Rab8 17.Rg1 Kh8 18.Rg2 Ng8 19.Qc2 a5 20.Kf1 Ndf6 is equal (S. Atalik-Gasthofer, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).

12...Qe6

• The game is equal.

13.0-0-0!?

• The text move gives Black a free hand when there is a more active alternative.
• 13.Nb5 Nc8 14.Bg2 N6e7 15.0-0-0 a6 16.Nxd6 Nxd6 remains equal.

BLACK: Jayson Gonzales
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Zhou Weiqi
Position after 13.0-0-0

13...Na5! 14.Qa4

• 14.Qc2 c6 15.Rg1 Nc4 16.Kb1 b5 gives Black the advantage in space.

14...b6 15.Bd3

• If 15.Bg2 then after 15...c6 16.b3 a6 17.Rhg1 Nb7 the threat of 18...b5! gives Black the initiative.
• If 15.Rg1 then after 15...c6 16.b3 a6 17.Bd3 Nb7 18.b4 b5 Black has the initiative on the queenside.

15...c6

• 15...a6 16.Rhg1 b5 17.Qc2 Nc4 18.Nb1 Rac8 gives Black the advantage in space.

16.Rhe1 Kh8!?

• 16...Nc4! 17.Qc2 b5 18.h4 Rab8 19.Rg1 b4 gives Black the initiative.

17.f3 Qh6 18.Kb1

18.Kb1

• White has equalized the game.

18...a6

• More active is 18...Qh5, but after 19.Rf1 Rad8 20.e4 dxe4 21.fxe4 fxe4 22.Nxe4 the game remains equal.

19.e4 Nc4

• 19...fxe4 20.fxe4 dxe4 21.Bxe4 Bxf4 22.Qb4 gives White the initiative for the pawn.

20.Bxc4 b5 21.Qa5 dxc4

BLACK: Jayson Gonzales
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Zhou Weiqi
Position after 21...dc4:B

22.e5!

• Although the game remains equal, this is far and away White's best move.
• If 22.Ne2 Qe6 then:
• 23.Nc3 fxe4 24.fxe4 Bxf4 25.Bxf4 Rxf4 gives Black an extra pawn.
• 23.e5 Bb8 24.Nc3 allows Black to repair his pawn structure with 24...Nd5 25.Nxd5 cxd5.

22...Bb8 23.d5 cxd5

• 23...Nxd5 24.Nxd5 cxd5 25.Rxd5 Qc6 26.Qb4 Bc7 27.Qc5 remains equal.

24.Nxd5 Nxd5 25.Rxd5 Qc6 26.Red1

• 26.Qb4 Bc7 27.Qc5 Qe6 28.Red1 Rf7 29.Bh4 remains equal.

26...Bc7 27.Qb4 Rf7 28.Bf2

• 28.Qc5 Qe6 29.Bh4 transposes into the last note.

28...h6 29.Qc5 Qe6 30.R5d2

• 30.Bh4 Rc8 31.Qd4 Kh7 32.Rc5 remains equal.
• 30.Qb4 Rb8 31.Ba7 Re8 32.Bc5 Kh7 remains equal.

30...Re8 31.h4 Rb8?

• Black takes pressure off the e-file with this move and puts the Rook where it serves no good purpose.
• 31...Rc8! 32.h5 Qe8 33.Re2 (prophylactic) 33...Ba5 34.Qe3 Re7 when Black is restraining White's center, threatening the weakling at h5 and is ready to advance the queenside majority.

32.Qd5 Qe8

• The plan indicated by Black's 31st move is way too pedestrian.
• 32...Qxd5 33.Rxd5 a5 34.h5 b4 35.axb4 axb4 36.Bh4 makes White's passed e-pawn stronger than Black's queenside majority.

33.e6!

• The advance of the e-pawn is decisive.
• If 33.Bc5 Rc8 then:
• 34.Rd4 Ba5 35.Kc2 Rfc7 36.Qd8 Rxc5 37.Qxa5 Qg6 remains equal.
• If 34.Qd4 Ba5 then:
• 35.Bb4 Bxb4 36.axb4 Kh7 37.Qd6 Ra7 defends all of Black's weak points and gives Black counterplay.
• 35.Rg2 Rfc7 36.Rdg1 Rd8 37.Bd6 Rb7 leaves White with no good targets.

33...Re7 34.Bd4 Rxe6

• If 34...b4 35.Rg1 bxa3 36.Qxf5 then:
• If 36...Rxb2+ then:
• 37.Rxb2! axb2 38.Qg6 Qxg6+ 39.Rxg6 gives White a strong initiative.
• 37.Bxb2? axb2 38.Rgd1 Rxe6 39.Rxb2 c3 40.Rb3 Re3 gives Black the stronger center and more tactical opportunities.
• 36...Qf8? 37.Qxf8+ Rxf8 38.Rxg7 Rxg7 39.Rg2 wins for White.

35.Rg2!

• White freezes Black's kingside.

35...Re7

BLACK: Jayson Gonzales
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Zhou Weiqi
Position after 35...Re6e7

36.Rxg7!!

• The battering begins with the Rook sacrifice.

36...Rxg7 37.Rg1 Be5 38.Bxe5 Qxe5

• 38...Rd8 39.Bxg7+ Kh7 40.Qxf5+ Kg8 41.Bxh6+ Kh8 42.Qf6+ Kh7 43.Qg7#.

39.Qxe5 1-0

• The win of the queen is permanent.
• Mr. Gonzales resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

11. Dao Thien Hai - Hou Yifan, Round 8

Hou Yifan
Photo: ChessBase.com


Dao Thien Hai - Hou Yifan
8th Asian Continental Championship, Round 8
Subic Bay, 20 May 2009

East India Game: Queen's Indian Defense (Catalan Opening)

1.d4 e6 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Nbd2 Ba6 6.Qc2 0-0 7.Bg2 d5 8.0-0 c5 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.b3

• 10.a3 Nbd7 11.Qa4 Bb7 12.b4 Be7 13.Bb2 a5 14.b5 Rc8 15.Nd4 Nc5 16.Qd1 Nfe4 gives Black the advantage in space (Honeru-Hou Yifan, FIDE Knock Out W, Nalchik, 2008).
• 10.cxd5 Nxd5 11.Ne4 Nd7 12.Nxc5 Nxc5 13.Ng5 g6 14.Qd2 Qf6 15.Ne4 Nxe4 16.Bxe4 Rac8 17.Bf3 Qe5 18.Rd1 Rfd8 19.Qg5 Qxg5 20.Bxg5 f6 21.Bxd5 Rxd5 22.Rxd5 exd5 23.Bxf6 Bxe2 draw (Milos-Vescovi, ZT, São Paulo, 2007).

10...Nbd7 11.Bb2 Rc8 12.a4!?

• White introduces a novelty that looks good for equality.
• 12.Rad1 b5 13.Qb1 bxc4 14.bxc4 Qb6 15.Qa1 dxc4 16.Bc3 Rfd8 gives Black the advantage in space (Delchev-Pelletier, Spanish ChT, Olite, 2006).

12...Qe7 13.Nd4 Bb7

• 13...Bxd4 14.Bxd4 dxc4 15.Nxc4 e5 16.Bb2 Qe6 gives Black an advantage with her focus on c4.

14.Rfd1 Ne5 15.Rac1 Neg4!?

• This may be an attempt to make White think too much.
• 15...dxc4 16.Bxb7 cxb3 17.Qxb3 Qxb7 gives Black only a slight advantage.

16.e3 dxc4 17.bxc4?

• The mistake here is keeping the communication link between the White Queen and the f-pawn down.
• 17.Nxc4 Bxg2 18.Kxg2 Bxd4 19.Bxd4 e5 remains equal.

BLACK: Hou Yifan
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Dao Thien Hai
Position after 17.bc4:p

17...Nxf2!!

• This is the beginning of a sacrificial combination that results in a won game for Black. It would not have been possible if White had recpatured on c4 with the Knight, as in the previous note.

18.Bxb7

• If 18.Kxf2 Ng4+ 19.Kg1 Nxe3 20.Qd3 Nxg2 then:
• 21.N2f3 e5 22.Kxg2 exd4 23.Re1 Qf6 gives Black two extra pawns.
• 21.Ne4 e5 22.Nxc5 Qxc5 23.Ba3 Qxd4+ gives Black a material advantage.

18...Nxd1 19.Bxc8 Nxe3 20.Qd3 Nf5

• Black has only two pawns for a piece, but White's Bishop is hanging.

21.Bxe6 fxe6

• Black is a pawn to the good with White's Knight pinned in the center.

22.N2b3 Qd7 23.Rd1

• If 23.Re1 Nxd4 24.Nxd4 Rd8 then:
• 25.Kg2 Bxd4 26.Bxd4 Qxd4 27.Qxd4 Rxd4 gives Black an extra piece.
• If 25.a5 then Black wins a piece after 25...bxa5 26.Re5 Bxd4+ 27.Qxd4 Qxd4+ 28.Bxd4 Rxd4.

23...Rd8 24.Qe2 Qd6 25.Kg2

• If 25.Qe1 then Black wins a piece after 25...Nxd4 26.Nxd4 e5 27.Qe3 Bxd4 28.Bxd4 exd4.

BLACK: Hou Yifan
!""""""""#
$ + T +l+%
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$+ V +m+ %
$p+pN + +%
$+n+ + P %
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Dao Thien Hai
Position after 25.Kg1g2

25...Nxd4!

• Black wins the exchange.

26.Rxd4

• If 26.Bxd4 then Black wins the exchange with 26...e5 27.Bxc5 Qxd1 28.Qxd1 Rxd1.

26...Bxd4 27.Bxd4 Qc6+ 28.Kh3 Qe4 29.Qb2

• If 29.Qxe4 then after 29...Nxe4 30.Bb2 Rd3 31.Nc1 Rd2 32.Ba3 Rc2 Black wins at least a pawn.

29...Rf8 30.Qc3

• Black now forces mate, but the alternatives are just ugly.
• White would probably resigns somewhere in the course of 30.Nd2 Qg4+ 31.Kg2 Ne4 32.Qb5 Nxd2.

30...Qg4+ 31.Kg2 Qe2+ 32.Kh3 Qf1+ 0-1

• Black mates in three more moves.
• Grandmaster Dao resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

12. Antonio - Le Quang Liem, Round 9

Rogelio Antonio
Photo: ChessBase.com


Rogelio Antonio - Le Quang Liem
8th Asian Continental Championship, Round 9
Subic Bay, 21 May 2009

Open Sicilian Game: Minerva Opening

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4

• The text is a worthwhile alternative to 4.Nxd4.

4...a6

• 4...Nc6 5.Bb5 Bd7 6.Bxc6 Bxc6 7.Nc3 Nf6 8.Bg5 e6 9.0-0-0 Be7 10.Rhe1 0-0 11.Qd2 Qc7 is equal.

5.c4 Nc6 6.Qe3

• If 6.Qd2 g6 7.b3 Bg7 8.Nc3 Nf6 9.Bb2 0-0 then:
• 10.h3 Qa5 11.Bd3 b5 12.cxb5 axb5 13.a3 Bd7 14.b4 Qb6 15.0-0 Ne5 16.Nxe5 dxe5 17.Qe2 Rab8 18.Rad1 White pieces protect each other better than Black's (Tringov-Kiroski, Op, Prilep, 1992).
• 10.Be2 Bg4 11.0-0 Qa5 12.Rfd1 Rfc8 13.h3 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 b5 15.cxb5 axb5 16.a4 bxa4 17.bxa4 Rab8 18.Nb5 gives White a small edge in space (Sarakauskas-C. Balogh, Mindsports Rpd, Beijing, 2008).

6...g6 7.Be2 Bg7

• 7...Bg4 8.0-0 Bg7 9.Rd1 Qa5 10.Rd5 Qc7 11.Na3 Nf6 12.Rd1 is equal (Rombadoni-S. Williams, Op, Reykjavik, 2009).

8.0-0 Nf6 9.Nc3 0-0 10.h3 Be6 11.Rb1 Rc8!?

• 11...Nd7 12.b3 Qb6 13.Qd2 Nd4 14.Bb2 Nxf3+ 15.Bxf3 Ne5 16.Be2 Nc6 17.Rfd1 Rfe8 18.Bf1 Rac8 19.Kh1 Qa5 20.f4 is equal (Hou Yifan-Harika, Mindsports Rpd, Beijing, 2008).

12.b3

• White has the advantage in space.

12...Qa5 13.Bd2 Qc5 14.Rbc1!?

• The text allow Black to equalize.
• If 14.Rfd1 Qxe3 15.Bxe3 then:
• 15...Ng4 16.hxg4 Bxc3 17.g5 Nb4 18.a3 gives White the advantage in space.
• 15...a5 16.a3 h6 17.Bd3 Nd7 18.Nd5 Bxd5 19.exd5 White continues to have the advantage in space and his Bishops have fine potential.

14...Nd7 15.Ng5 Qxe3 16.Bxe3 Nc5

• The game is equal.
• 16...Nd4 17.Rfd1 Nxe2+ 18.Nxe2 h6 19.Nxe6 fxe6 gives White more space and better pawn structure.

17.Rfd1 h6

• If 17...Rcd8 18.Nd5 h6 19.Nxe6 then:
• 19...fxe6 20.Nf4 Bd4 21.Nxg6 Bxe3 22.fxe3 Rf6 23.Nf4 remains equal.
• 19...Nxe6 20.b4 Rd7 21.a4 f5 22.c5 Ned4 23.Bc4 White's initiative on the queenside is taking a fierce turn./li]

18.Nxe6

• If 18.Bxc5 then:
• 18...dxc5 19.Nxe6 fxe6 20.Rd7 Rb8 21.Bg4 Kf7 is equal.
• If 18...hxg5? 19.Be3 Bf6 20.Nd5 then:
• 20...Kg7 drops a pawn after 21.c5 dxc5 22.Nxf6 Kxf6 23.Rxc5.
• 20...Bxd5 21.exd5 Ne5 22.b4 Rfd8 23.a4 e6 24.a5 gives White freedom, space and the initiative.

18...fxe6 19.f3

]
• 19.Bg4 Kf7 20.f4 h5 21.Bf3 e5 22.g3 remains equal.

19...g5 20.Bf1 Be5 21.Ne2 Kg7 22.Rd2 a5?!

• 22...Bf4 23.Nxf4 gxf4 24.Bxc5 dxc5 25.Rd7 b6 remains equal.

23.Rb1 Kg6 24.a3 Na6

• Black does what he can to restrain White's queenside.

BLACK: Le Quang Liem
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Rogelio Antonio
Position after 24...Nc5a6

25.Rdd1!

• White threatens to open the center with a timely c4c5.

25...h5

• 25...Bg7 26.Bf2 Nc5 27.Rd2 Ne5 28.Nd4 Ra8 29.b4 gives White the initiative.

26.Bd2

• 26.Bb6 Nc5 27.Rd2 Nd7 28.Bf2 g4 29.Rd3 is equal.

26...b6 27.b4

• If 27.Be3 Nc5 28.Kh1 then:
• 28...Bg7 29.Rd2 Ne5 30.Nd4 Nc6 31.Nxc6 Rxc6 32.b4 gives White the initiative.
• 28...g4 29.f4 Bf6 30.f5+ exf5 31.Nf4+ White wins a pawn.

27...axb4 28.axb4 Nab8 29.Be3 Nd7 30.h4

• If 30.Kf2 h4 31.Rdc1 Bg7 32.Rc2 then:
• 32...Ra8 33.c5 bxc5 34.bxc5 Rfc8 35.cxd6 exd6 36.Rbc1 gives White the initiative.
• 32...Rf7 33.Ke1 Rc7 34.b5 Nce5 35.Nd4 Rf6 36.Rd1 gives White more freedom.

30...Bf6 31.hxg5 Bxg5 32.f4 Bh6 33.g3 Kf7

• 33...Nce5 34.Nd4 Nxc4 then:
• 35.Bc1 Rf6 36.b5 Kf7 37.Be2 gives White the more active game.
• 35.Bxc4?! Rxc4 36.Nxe6 Rg8 gives Black the active Rook.

34.Bf2

• 34.Kf2 Ncb8 35.Nd4 Nf6 36.Kf3 Ng4 37.Bg1 gives White more freedom and activity.

34...Rg8 35.Bg2 Ncb8 36.c5?!

• 36.Rbc1 e5 37.Kf1 h4 38.gxh4 exf4 39.Rc3 maintains White's advantage.

36...bxc5

• Black takes an extra pawn, but given his porr pawn structure the game is equal.

37.b5

• 37.bxc5 Nxc5 38.e5 dxe5 39.fxe5 Nbd7 40.Rb5 remains equal, although Black still has an extra pawn; neither side has any reserve pawn tempi.

37...Nb6

BLACK: Le Quang Liem
!""""""""#
$ Mt+ +t+%
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WHITE: Rogelio Antonio
Position after 37...Nd7b6

38.e5!?

• Rather than merely press what advantage he still has, White decides to roll the dice and go for a big gain.
• If 38.Bf3 Kg6 39.Kg2 then:
• 39...Bg7 40.Rh1 Rh8 41.Rh4 N8d7 42.Rbh1 Nf6 43.e5 White is pressing the advantage on the kingside.
• 39...N8d7 40.Rh1 Nf6 41.e5 Ng4 42.Be4+ Kf7 43.Rxh5 gives White the advantage; Black's best hope is to advance the c-pawn, backed by the Rook and supported by the d-pawn.

38...Rcd8?!

• Black misplays White's positional gambit.
• If 38...d5! then 39.Bf3 Kg6 40.Kg2 h4 41.g4 Nc4 gives Black the ability to counter White's advantage on the kingside with his own on the queenside.

39.Bf3!

• White agains has the advantage and presses it on the kingside.

39...h4

• 39...Kg6 40.Kg2 Rh8 41.Rh1 Bg7 42.Rh4 sees White applying more pressure on the kingside.

40.Bh5+ Kf8 41.Bxc5

• After 41.g4 h3 42.Rb3 Rd7 43.Rf3 Nc8 44.Rb1 White is better, but Black still has the ability to strike back.

41...Nd5 42.Bd4!?

• White misses 42.Bb4! when after 42...hxg3 43.Rxd5 exd5 44.Nd4 Kg7 45.Ne6+ he wins the exchange.

42...hxg3 43.Rf1 Nd7 44.b6

• Also good is 44.Kg2 Rc8 45.Ra1 Nc5 46.Ra7 when White's three pawns enjoy more freedom than Black's four..

44...dxe5?

• This is the fatal mistake, allowing White to open the kingside for his Rook and liquidating Black's central pawns that could have been the source of counterplay.
• 44...Rb8 45.f5 dxe5 46.fxe6+ N7f6 47.Bc5 gives White more freedom, but Black has a passed pawn and a Bishop with command of an open diagonal.

BLACK: Le Quang Liem
!""""""""#
$ + T Lt+%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Rogelio Antonio
Position after 44...de5:p

45.fxe5+!

• While one Rook is covering an advancing passer, the other is now fully active.

45...Kg7 46.b7 Be3+ 47.Bxe3 Nxe3 48.Rf3 Nc4

• Any counterplay Black gets from threatening the e-pawn is an illusion.

49.Rxg3+!

• White takes the stink out of the impending loss of the e-pawn.

49...Kh6 50.Bg4 Ncxe5 51.Rh3+!

• The text is better than 51.Bxe6 Rxg3+ 52.Nxg3 Nb8 53.Ne4 Rd4 when Black has some activity that could generate counterplay.

51...Kg5 52.Bxe6 Rg6

• 52...Nb8 fails against 53.Rg3+ Kf6 54.Rxg8 Rxg8+ 55.Bxg8 when White is a whole Rook to the good.

53.Rg3+ Kf6

• Black is completely hopeless.

54.Rxg6+ Kxg6 55.Bxd7 Nxd7

BLACK: Le Quang Liem
!""""""""#
$ + T + +%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Rogelio Antonio
Position after 55...Ne5d7:B

56.Rd1!

• White wins at least the Knight.

56...Kf6 57.Rxd7!

• White does better keeping his pawn and taking the Knight.
• 57.b8Q Rxb8 58.Rxd7 runs the risk of having to give up a piece for Black's pawn, with Black saving a half-point.

57...Rg8+ 58.Kf2 Ke6 59.Rc7 Rb8 60.Nd4+ Kd5

• 60...Kd6 61.Nb5+ Kd5 62.Ke2 e5 63.Ke3 wins for White.
• The rest requires no comment.

61.Nb5 e5 62.Ke2 e4 63.Kd2 Ke5 64.Kc3 Kd5 65.Kb4 e3 66.Kc3 e2 67.Kd2 Re8 68.Ke1 Rb8 69.Kxe2 1-0

• Grandmaster Le resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. 39th Bosna International Tournament, Sarajevo

Sarajevo
Photo: .org

[Jack Rabbit]

9. I. Sokolov - Eljanov, Round 7

Pavel Eljanov
Photo: ChessBase.com


Ivan Sokolov - Pavel Eljanov
39th Bosna International Tournament, Round 7
Sarajevo, 15 May 2009

East India Game: Queen's Indian Defense (Kasparov Opening)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.Nc3

• For 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Be7 6.Nc3 see Shulman-Sadvakasov, Foxwoods Op, Mashantucket, 2008.
• For 4.g3 Ba6 5.Qc2 see Sargissian-Grischuk, Ol, Dresden, 2008.
• For 4.a3 Bb7 5.Nc3 d5 see Chiburdanidze-Maric, OlW, Dresden, 2008.

4...Bb4

• If 4...Bb7 5.Bg5 then:
• If 5...Be7 6.e3 h6 7.Bh4 then:
• If 7...0-0 8.Bd3 d5 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).
li]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).
• 7...Ne4 8.Bxe7 Qxe7 9.Nxe4 Bxe4 10.Be2 0-0 11.0-0 d6 12.Nd2 Bb7 13.Bf3 c5 14.Bxb7 Qxb7 15.Nf3 Nd7 16.dxc5 dxc5 17.Qd6 Rad8 18.Rfd1 Qb8 19.b3 Qxd6 20.Rxd6 Nb8 21.Rad1 Rxd6 22.Rxd6 Rc8 23.Kf1 Kf8 24.Ke2 Ke7 25.Rd1 Nc6 draw (Spassky-Tal, Candidates' ½-Final Match, Tbilisi, 1965).
• 5...Bb4 6.e3 h6 transposes to the next note.

5.Qb3

• If 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 Bb7 7.e3 then:
• If 7...g5 8.Bg3 Ne4 9.Qc2 Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 then:
• If 10...d6 11.Bd3 then:
• If 11...f5 12.d5 then:
• 12...Nd7 13.Bxe4 fxe4 14.Qxe4 Qf6 15.0-0 0-0-0 16.Qxe6 Qxe6 17.dxe6 Nc5 18.Nd4 Rde8 19.f3 Ba6 20.Nb5 Rxe6 21.e4 Kb8 22.Rab1 h5 23.Rfe1 g4 24.e5 h4 25.Bf2 Nd3 26.exd6! Nxe1 27.Nxc7 Re2 28.Nxa6+ gives White a Bishop and three pawns for the Rook (Bacrot-Naiditsch, Young Masters, Lausanne, 2003).
• 12...Nc5 13.h4 g4 14.Nd4 Qf6 15.0-0 Nxd3 16.Qxd3 e5 17.Nxf5 Bc8 18.Nd4 exd4 19.cxd4 0-0 20.f3 Qg7 gives Black a pieces for two pawns, but White is better developed (Gligoric-Popovic, Yugoslav Ch, Budva, 1986).
• 11...Nxg3 12.fxg3 Nd7 13.0-0 Qe7 14.Rf2 0-0-0 15.Be4 h5 16.Bxb7+ Kxb7 17.a4 gives White the advantage in space (Kononenko-Kursova, Bykova Mem, Vladimir, 2005).
• 10...Nxg3 11.fxg3 g4 12.Nh4 Qg5 13.Qd2 Nc6 14.Bd3 f5 15.0-0 Ne7 16.a4 a5 17.Rf4 0-0 18.Re1 d5 19.Rf2 Rad8 is equal (Salov-Timman, IT, Brussels, 1988).
• If 7...Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 d6 9.Nd2 then:
• If 9...g5 10.Bg3 Qe7 11.h4 Rg8 12.hxg5 hxg5 13.Rh6 Nbd7 14.Qa4 Kf8 then:
• 15.f3 a6 16.e4 Kg7 17.Rh1 Rh8 18.Rg1 Rh6 19.Bf2 Rah8 20.0-0-0 Rh1 21.Bd3 Rxg1 22.Rxg1 c5 is equal (Kasparov-Zarnicki, Buenos Aires, 1992).
• 15.0-0-0 Kg7 16.Rh1 e5 17.f3 a6 18.Bd3 Rh8 19.Bf5 Rxh1 20.Rxh1 Rh8 21.Rxh8 Kxh8 22.e4 gives White the advantage in space (Bacrot-Karpov, IT, Cannes, 2002).
• 9...Nbd7 10.f3 Qe7 11.Bd3 e5 12.e4 Nf8 13.Nf1 Ng6 14.Bf2 Nf4 15.Ne3 Nxd3+ 16.Qxd3 Nh5 17.g3 0-0 18.0-0 Bc8 19.Nd5 Qd8 20.dxe5 dxe5 is equal (Bacrot-Nisipeanu, Bundesliga 0304, Germany, 2004).
• If 5.e3 Bb7 6.Bd3 then:
• If 6...0-0 7.0-0 then:
• If 7...d5 8.a3 Bd6 then:
• 9.cxd5 exd5 10.b4 a6 11.Qb3 Qe7 12.b5 axb5 13.Nxb5 Nbd7 14.Bb2 c5 15.Nxd6 Qxd6 16.Bf5 c4 17.Qc2 g6 18.Bh3 Ne4 19.a4 Rfe8 20.Ba3 Qc7 is equal (Gligoric-H. Olafsson, Op, Reykjavik, 1995).
• If 9.b4 dxc4 10.Bxc4 Nbd7 11.Bb2 then:
• If 11...a5 12.b5 e5 13.Re1 e4 14.Nd2 Qe7 then:
• 15.Be2 Rad8 16.Qc2 Rfe8 17.f3 exf3 18.Bxf3 Bxf3 19.Nxf3 Ne4 20.Nxe4 Qxe4 21.Qxe4 Rxe4 22.Nd2 Ree8 is equal (Portisch-Petrosian, Op, Lone Pine, California, 1978).
• If 15.f3 exf3 16.gxf3 Bxh2+ 17.Kxh2 Ng4+ 18.Kg3!? then:
• 18...Qd6+? 19.f4! Ndf6 20.d5 yields an extra piece to White (Neverov-Stocek, Op, Lazne Bohdanec, 1996).
• 18...Nxe3! 19.Qb1 Qd6+ 20.Kf2 Nxc4 gives Black two extra pawns.
• 11...Qe7 12.Nb5 a6 13.Nxd6 cxd6 14.b5 axb5 15.Bxb5 Ne4 is equal (Torre-Korchnoi, World Cup, Manila, 1990).
• If 7...c5 8.Na4 cxd4 9.exd4 then:
• 9...Re8 10.Bg5 h6 11.Bh4 Bxf3 12.Qxf3 Nc6 13.Bxf6 Qxf6 14.Qxf6 gxf6 15.d5 Ne5 16.Be2 Rac8 17.a3 Bf8 18.Rac1 Ng6 19.dxe6 dxe6 20.Rfd1 Ne5 21.b4 Red8 22.Rxd8 Rxd8 23.Kf1 Rd2 give Black a more active game (Gligoric-Kaplan, Op, Lone Pine, 1979).
• If 9...Be7 10.a3 d6 11.Re1 Nbd7 then:
• 12.Nc3 d5 13.Bg5 Rc8 14.Ne5 dxc4 15.Nxc4 gives White a small advantage in space (Kraidman-Timman, IT, Nethanya, 1975 ).
• 12.b4 Re8 13.Bb2 Bf8 14.Nc3 g6 15.Ne4 Nxe4 16.Bxe4 d5 17.Bd3 dxc4 18.Bxc4 Bg7 19.Qe2 a6 20.b5 draw (Reshevsky-Spassky, IT, Santa Monica, 1966).
• If 6...Ne4 7.0-0 f5 8.Qc2 Bxc3 9.bxc3 0-0 then:
• 10.Ne1 Qh4 11.f3 Nf6 12.a4 Nc6 13.Qe2 Rae8 14.Ba3 Rf7 15.e4 e5 16.d5 fxe4 17.fxe4 Ne7 18.c5 Ng6 19.g3 Qg4 20.Qxg4 Nxg4 21.Rxf7 Kxf7 22.Ng2 gives White the advantage in space (Cmilyte-Chibudanidze, FIDE Knock Out W, Ekaterinburg, 2006).
• 10.Nd2 Qh4 11.f3 Nxd2 12.Bxd2 Nc6 13.Rab1 d6 14.e4 fxe4 15.Bxe4 Na5 16.Bxb7 Nxb7 17.Rbe1 Rae8 18.Re4 Qh5 19.Rfe1 Qg6 is equal (Banikas-Wippermann, Op, Gibraltar, 2008).

5...c5 6.e3

• 6.a3 Ba5 7.Bg5 Bb7 8.e3 0-0 9.Rd1 Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 Qe7 11.Be2 d6 12.0-0 Nbd7 13.Nd2 Rac8 is equal (Seirawan-Adams, Match, Bermuda, 1999).
• 6.Bg5 Bb7 7.e3 0-0 8.Be2 cxd4 9.exd4 Nc6 10.0-0 Bxc3 11.bxc3 Rc8 12.Nd2 Na5 13.Qa3 d5 is equal (Korobov-Alekseev, Euro Ch, Istanbul, 2003).

6...0-0

• 6...Bb7 7.Be2 Nc6 8.a3 Na5 9.Qc2 Be4 10.Qa4 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 Qc7 12.0-0 Ng4 13.Rd1 f5 14.h3 Nf6 15.Nd2 Bb7 16.Qc2 0-0-0 17.d5 is equal (Keres-Tolush, Garga, 1953).

7.Bd3!?

• 7.Be2 Bb7 8.0-0 Nc6 9.Rd1 cxd4 10.Nxd4 Qe7 11.a3 Nxd4 12.exd4 Bd6 13.Bg5 Rac8 14.Rd3 Bb8 15.Rh3 h6 16.Bh4 Bf4 17.Rd1 is equal (Reinhardt-Corte, IT, Mar del Plata, 1946).

7...Bb7

• The game is equal.

8.0-0

• If 8.dxc5 bxc5 9.a3 then:
• 9...Bxf3 10.axb4 Bxg2 11.Rg1 Bc6 12.bxc5 d6 will give Black the advantage in space after the pawn exchange.
• If 9...Bxc3+ 10.Qxc3 d6 11.b4 Nbd7 12.Bb2 Bxf3 13.gxf3 remains equal.

8...Nc6 9.a3 Na5 10.Qc2

• If 10.Qa4 then after 10...Bxc3 11.bxc3 Bxf3 12.gxf3 Qc7 13.Bb2 d6 Black's healthier pawn structure gives him a slight edge.

10...Bxc3 11.Qxc3

• If 11.bxc3 then after 11...Bxf3 12.gxf3 cxd4 13.exd4 Rc8 14.Qe2 Qc7 Black threatens to win a pawn.

11...cxd4 12.exd4?

• White allows the breakup of his kingside pawns. Ultimately, this proves fatal.
• 12.Nxd4! Rc8 13.Nb5 Nxc4 14.Nxa7 restores equality.

12...Bxf3!

• Black forces White to compromise his kingside pawn structure.

13.gxf3 Rc8 14.b3

BLACK: Pavel Eljanov
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Ivan Sokolov
Position after 14.b2b3

14...Nh5!

• With the pawns weakened on the kingside, Black initiates a kingside attack.

15.Be2 Qh4 16.Rd1 f5 17.Rb1 Rf6!

• The Rook joins in the fray.

18.Qe1 Nc6 19.d5 Nd4 20.Kh1 e5 21.Rxd4

• White sacrfices the exchange in a vain attempt to slow Black' march.
• If 21.Rd3 then White is hammered after 21...Nf4 22.Bxf4 Qxf4 23.Bd1 Rh6 24.Qg1 Rg6.

21...exd4 22.Bf1 Rg6 23.Bd2

• 23.Bg2 b5 24.cxb5 Nf4 25.Bxf4 Qxf4 26.Rd1 Rh6 wins for Black.

23...Nf4 24.Rd1

BLACK: Pavel Eljanov
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WHITE: Ivan Sokolov
Position after 24.Rb1d1

24...Nd3!! 0-1

• If 25.Bxd3 then after 25...Qh3 26.Bf1 Qxf3+ Black delivers mate on the next move.
• Sokolov resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Wang Hao - Movsessian, Round 10

Wang Hao
Photo: ChessBase.com


Wang Hao - Sergei Movsesian
39th Bosna International Tournament, Round 10
Sarajevo, 18 May 2009

Open Sicilian Game: Scheveningen Defense (Chandler-Nunn Opening)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Be3 Nc6

• 6...a6 7.f3 b5 8.Qd2 Nbd7 9.g4 h6 10.0-0-0 Bb7 11.h4 b4 12.Na4 Qa5 13.b3 Nc5 14.a3 Nxa4 15.axb4 Qc7 is equal.

7.Qd2

• For other moves, see Ivanchuk-Movsesian, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2009.

7...Be7 8.0-0-0 0-0!?

• 8...a6 9.f3 transposes into the note after Black's sixth move.

9.Be2

• The game is equal.

9...Nxd4 10.Qxd4 Bd7 11.e5

• 11.Kb1 Bc6 12.g4 d5 13.e5 Nd7 14.Rhe1 Qa5 remains equal.

11...dxe5 12.Qxe5 Qb8

• 12...Qc8 13.Kb1 Bc6 14.Qg3 Rd8 15.Rxd8+ Qxd8 16.Rd1 remains equal.

13.Qxb8 Rfxb8 14.Bf3

• 14.g4 Bc6 15.Rhe1 Bb4 16.Bd2 Rd8 17.a3 remains equal.

14...Bc6 15.Bxc6 bxc6 16.Na4 Nd5 17.Bd4

• 17.c4 Nxe3 18.fxe3 Rd8 19.Kc2 Rab8 20.Nc3 remains equal.

17...Nb6 18.Nc3 Nd5 19.Ne4 Rd8 20.Rhe1 Kf8 21.g3 Nf6!?

• Black invites an exchange that proves beneficial to White.
• 21...Nb6 22.f4 Rd5 23.Rd3 c5 24.Be3 remains equal.

BLACK: Sergei Movsessian
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WHITE: Wang Hao
Position after 21...Nd5f6

22.Nxf6!

• A liquidation of minor pieces will leave White with a healtier pawn structure and a more active Rook.

22...gxf6

• 22...Bxf6 23.Bxf6 Rxd1+ 24.Rxd1 gxf6 25.Rd6 Rc8 leaves White with a healtier pawn structure and a more active Rook.

23.g4 Ke8 24.Be3 Bd6 25.h3 Bc7?!

• Black seems to think exchanging one pair of Rooks will ease his problems, but his problem isn't space it's weak pawns.
• 25...Rd7 26.c4 Rad8 27.Rd2 a5 28.b3 f5 29.gxf5 gives White an extra pawn.

26.Rxd8+ Bxd8 27.Rd1 Bc7 28.Rd3 a5?

• Black should have taken better consideration of his pawn tempi. It is almost inevitable that White will gain a passed pawn.
• 28...a6 29.c4 Rb8 30.a3 Rb7 31.b4 e5 32.Bc5 gives White more freedom.

29.a4 Rb8

• If 29...e5 30.Bc5 Rd8 31.Rxd8+ Kxd8 32.c4 then:
• 32...Kc8 33.b4! (passing the pawn) 33...axb4 34.Bxb4 gives White the better game by virtue of the passer.
• 32...Kd7 33.b4! axb4 34.Bxb4 Ke6 35.a5 White's passer make his prospects much more promising.

30.Rb3

• If 30.b3 e5 31.Bc5 then:
• 31...Bb6 32.Rc3 Kd7 33.Kd2 Bxc5 34.Rxc5 Ra8 35.Kd3 gives White a more active Rook.
• 31...Rd8 32.Rxd8+ Kxd8 33.Kd2 f5 34.gxf5 Kd7 35.Ke3 gives White an extra pawn and a more active King.

30...Rxb3

• 30...Kd7 31.Rxb8 Bxb8 32.Bb6 Bc7 33.Bxc7 Kxc7 34.Kd2 gives White fewer pawn weakneses in the King an pawn ending.

31.cxb3 Kd7 32.Kc2 Kd6

• 32...Kc8 33.Bc5 Kb7 34.b4 axb4 35.Bxb4 Bb6 36.f3 gives White the advantage of the passed pawn.

BLACK: Sergei Movsessian
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WHITE: Wang Hao
Position after 32...Kd7d6

33.b4!

• No matter how Black plays, the a-pawn is passed.

33...Kd5

• 33...axb4 loses to 34.Kb3 Ba5 35.Kc4 b3 36.Bc5+.

34.bxa5 Bxa5 35.Kd3 c5 36.b3 e5 37.f3 Be1

• 37...f5 38.gxf5 Bc7 39.Bd2 Bb8 40.a5 White's remote passer begins to roll.

38.Bh6 Bf2 39.Bg7 Bh4 40.Bf8 Bf2

• If 40...Be1 then 41.Be7 f5 42.Bd8 fxg4 43.hxg4 Kc6 44.Kc4 gives Whit the initiative to thrust forward on the queenside.

BLACK: Sergei Movsessian
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WHITE: Wang Hao
Position after 40...Bh4f2

41.a5!

• White's remote passer begins to roll.

41...Bd4

• If 41...Kc6 42.Kc4 Be1 43.a6 then:
• 43...Kb6 44.Bxc5+ Kxa6 45.b4 Bh4 46.b5+ Kb7 47.Kd5 gives White a winning position.
• 43...Bb4? 44.a7 Kb7 45.Bxc5! wins for White.

42.a6 Kc6 43.Kc4 Kb6

• 43...f5 44.a7 Kb7 45.gxf5 Bf2 46.Bxc5 wins for White.

BLACK: Sergei Movsessian
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WHITE: Wang Hao
Position after 43...Kc6b6

44.Bxc5+!!

• White brings a about a King and pawn ending which he wins easily.

44...Bxc5 45.a7! 1-0

• After 45...Kxa7 46.Kxc5 White pushes the b-pawn home.
• Grandmaster Movsesian resigns.