Sports

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts) Thu Jan 3, 2013, 03:12 PM Jan 2013

Chess (January, 2013): Happy New Year, Sports Forumites!

[font size="4"]New Year's Opens Underway[/font]

[font size="1"]Photo of a section of the Bayeux Tapestry depicting the coronation of King Harold II, the last Saxon King of England, by Daniel R. Blume (http://www.flickr.com/people/61926883@N00) in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bayeux_Tapestry_%28Harold%29.jpg)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]
The annual New Year's open chess tournaments are underway in Hastings and Stockholm.

In the 88th Hastings Masters, British grandmaster Gawain Jones, grandmaster Sarunas Sulskis of Lithuania and Gao Rui, an international master from China are tied for first place after six rounds with 5 points each. Five players are tied for fourth at 4½ apiece. The seventh round is progress as this report is being written, with Jones playing White against Sulskis and Guo
playing Black againt GM Daniel Alsina Leal of Spain.

Hastings is the oldest chess tournament still in play. The first Hastings Tournament was played in 1895 and was won by the great American player, Harry Nelson Pillsbury of Boston.

The action began on December 28 and completes with the tenth round Sunday. Games are broadcast live on the official website.

Four players are tied for first place after six round of the 42nd Rilton Cup in Stockholm, Sweden. They are Aleskandr Shimanov of Russia, Michal Krasenkow and Bartosz Socko of Poland, and local favorite Pia Cramling, all with 5 points. In games still in progress at this writing, Socko has White against his compatriot, Kraasenkow, and Shimanov has White against Ms. Cramling.

The nine-round event concludes Saturday. Game are broadcast live on the official website.

We regret that we must report that the 55th edition of the Torneo di Capodanno in Reggio Emilia, Italy, is not being held this year.

[font size="4"]Magnus officially All-Time Número Uno[/font]

[font size="1"]Photo by Stefan64 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64) from Wikipedia
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]
As we reported last month, Magnus Carlsen, who turned 22 on November 30, broke Garry Kasparov's record for highest Elo rating achieved when he won the London Chess Classic on December 10.

Magnus' rating of 2861 was posted by FIDE on New Year's Day, making the record official. Kasparov's high water mark was 2851, which he achieved in 1999 and 2000.

FIDE released its official ratings lists for January on New Year's Day. On the overall list, Magnus leads his closest rival, former world champion Vladimir Kramnik, by 51 points. Levon Aronian is third with a rating of 2802.

The top rated woman, as she has been since ratings have been made official, is Judit Polgar, with a rating of 2696. This also makes her 50th in the world overall. In second place among women is Hou Yifan at 2603.

[font size="4"]Coming up in January[/font]

[font size="1"]Photo of the Rock of Gibraltar by Hans Lohninger in Wikimedi Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Rock_of_Gibraltar)
(Creative Commons License Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]
Tata Steel Chess Tournament, Wijk aan Zee, Holland 11-27 January, 13 rounds, single round robin. Group A: Carlsen (top sed), Aronian, Caruana, Karjakin, Anand, Nakamura, Wang Hao, Leko, Giri, Harikrishna, Van Wely, I. Sokolov, E. L'Ami and Hou Yifan.

Top seed in Group B: Arkadij Naiditsch, Germany

Top seed in Group C: Fernando Peralta, Argentina

Gibraltar Chess Festival 22-31 January, 10 rounds, Swiss system. Top seeds: Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukraine), Gata Kamsky (United States), Mickey Adams (England), Radoslaw Wojtaszek (Poland_, Maxime Vachier Lagrave (France) and Le Quang Lien (Vietnam).

16 replies

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Highlight:

Chess (January, 2013): Happy New Year, Sports Forumites! (Original Post) Jack Rabbit Jan 2013 OP

December Games Jack Rabbit Jan 2013 #1

London Chess Classic Jack Rabbit Jan 2013 #2

Carlsen - Aronian, Round 2 Jack Rabbit Jan 2013 #4

Kramnik - McShane, Round 5 (Opening Theory: Slav QG/Chameleon Defense) Jack Rabbit Jan 2013 #6

J. Polgar - Nakamura, Round 5 (Opening Theory: Grand Spanish/Neo-Classical Defense) Jack Rabbit Jan 2013 #10

FIDE Grand Prix, Second Leg, Tashkent, Uzbekistan Jack Rabbit Jan 2013 #3

Morozevich - Leko, Round 10 Jack Rabbit Jan 2013 #5

Karjakin - Morozevich, Round 7 (Opening Theory: Sicilian Taimanov Defense/Bastrikov Variation) Jack Rabbit Jan 2013 #9

Wang Hao - Mamedyarov, Round 11 Jack Rabbit Jan 2013 #11

Wang Hao - Kasimdzhanov, Round 5 Jack Rabbit Jan 2013 #12

Update (Saturday, December 5): Krasenkow wins Rilton Cup Jack Rabbit Jan 2013 #7

Update (Sunday, January 6): Gawain Jones takes Hastings Jack Rabbit Jan 2013 #8

Update (January 26): Is Magnus Mortal? He Wins in Wijk with a Round to Spare. Jack Rabbit Jan 2013 #13

Update (January 27): Wijk completed, Gibraltar underway Jack Rabbit Jan 2013 #14

Update (january 28): Vitugov takes sole lead in Gibraltar Jack Rabbit Jan 2013 #15

Update (January 30): Gibraltar goes to final round with three-way tie Jack Rabbit Jan 2013 #16

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

1. December Games

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Original post)

Thu Jan 3, 2013, 03:30 PM

Jan 2013

[center]The JR Chess Report and Gloat Free Scores theme music:[/center][center]Merrick, The Look Sharp, Be Sharp March (From a broadcast of The Gillette Cavalcade of Spots).[/center]

[center]

[/center]

Your humble hare acknowledges the assistance of Houdini 3 x64, Rybka 4.1 x64 and Fritz 13 on analysis.

Diagrams on the Jack Rabbit Chess Report are made with Aquarium, a commercially available interface for Rybka.

Diagrams and other images are hosted on imgur.com.
[center]
BLACK

WHITE
White to move
(This position is a theoretical draw)
[/center]

I would like to thank my impressive and loyal staff: Buccaneer, Spitfire, Desperado, Swashbuckler, Pancho and Robin Hood.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

2. London Chess Classic

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Reply #1)

Thu Jan 3, 2013, 03:33 PM

Jan 2013

[center][/center]

[center]London[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Diliff (htpp://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User iliff) in [link:htpp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Ben|Wikipedia]
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

4. Carlsen - Aronian, Round 2

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Reply #2)

Thu Jan 3, 2013, 03:36 PM

Jan 2013

[center][/center]

[center]Magnus Carlsen[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Stefan64 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64) from Wikipedia
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Magnus Carlsen - Levon Aronian
Chess Classic, Round 2
London, 2 December 2012

Grand Spanish Royal Game: Clam Opening

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.d3

This is the Clam Opening, which Magnus employs often. For a more thurough survey of the Clam against the Grand Spanish, see the [font color="#D4A017"]gold notes to White's fifth move[/font] in [link:|Van den Doel-Nikolic], Op, Leiden, 2011.

5...b5 6.Bb3 Bc5

For other ideas about the Clam against the Neo-Classical Defense, see the [font color="magenta"]pink notes to Black's fifth move (Mudongo-Mira, OlW, Torino, 2006)[/font] in the game Van den Doel-Nikolic, cited above.

7.Nc3 0-0 8.Nd5 Nxd5 (N)

If [font color="red"]8...h6 9.0-0 d6 10.c3 Rb8[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]11.h3 Nxd5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]12.Bxd5 Ne7 13.Bb3 Ng6 14.d4[/font] draw (Harikrishna-Fressinet, Rpd IT, Cap d'Agde, 2009).
If [font color="darkred"]12.exd5 Ne7[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]13.d4!? exd4 14.Nxd4 Bb7 15.Qf3 Bxd4 16.cxd4 Qd7[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space (Erdogdu-V. Georgiev, Op, Athens, 2006).
[font color="magenta"]13.Re1 Re8 14.d4 Bxd4 15.Nxd4 exd4 16.cxd4 Nf5[/font] gives White a slight advantage with better pawns.

If [font color="darkred"]11.Re1 Re8 12.h3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]12...Nxd5 13.Bxd5 Ne7 14.Bb3 Ng6 15.d4 Bb6 16.dxe5 dxe5[/font] is equal (Sukandar-Sachdev, Asian ChW, Subic Bay, 2009)
[font color="magenta"]12...a5 13.a4 b4 14.Bc4 Nxd5 15.Bxd5 Ne7 16.Bc4[/font] is equal (Radjabov-Ganguly, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2005).

9.Bxd5

White will have at least a slight advantage as long as he can maintain the Bishop on d5.

9...Rb8 10.0-0

If [font color="red"]10.c3!? Ne7![/font] then:

[font color="red"]11.Bb3 d6 12.Ng5 Qe8 13.0-0 h6 14.Nxf7 Rxf7 15.Bxf7+ Qxf7[/font] is equal.
If [font color="darkred"]11.Nxe5 Nxd5 12.exd5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]12...Re8 13.d4 Bd6 14.0-0 Bb7 15.Bf4 Bxd5[/font] is equal.
[font color="magenta"]12...Bb7 13.0-0 Bd6 14.Re1 Re8 15.d4 Bxd5 16.Bf4[/font] is equal.

10...Ne7!?

Black should preserve the e-pawn before attacking the Bishop.
[font color="red"]10...Qe8 11.Bxc6 dxc6 12.h3 Qe7 13.b3 Rd8 14.a3[/font] gives White better pawns and more harmonious development; Black has more space.

11.Nxe5!

White has a small advantage in space and an extra pawn; can he keep the pawn?.

11...Nxd5 12.exd5 Re8

If [font color="red"]12...Bb7[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]13.c4 d6 14.Nf3 Qf6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]15.Rb1 bxc4 16.dxc4 Bc8 17.Bg5 Qg6 18.Be3[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.
[font color="magenta"]15.Qc2!? bxc4! 16.dxc4 Bc8 17.Re1 Bg4 18.Qc3[/font] is equal.

[font color="darkred"]13.Qg4 f5 14.Qg3 d6 15.Nc6 Bxc6 16.dxc6[/font] continues to gives White a small advantage in space; the pawn at c6 is dead wood.

13.d4 Bf8

Black should keep the pressure on White's center. The Bishop is being too timid.
[font color="red"]13...Bd6 14.b3 Bb7 15.c4 Bxe5 16.dxe5 Rxe5 17.Qd4[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Levon Aronian[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Magnus Carlsen[/center][center]Position after 13...Bc5f8[/center]

14.b3

White consolidates his queenside pawns and gets a comfortable game. He still has an extra pawn.

14...Bb7 15.c4 d6 16.Nf3 Qf6?!

If [font color="red"]16...bxc4 17.bxc4 c6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]18.Bg5 Qa5 19.dxc6 Bxc6 20.Qd2 Qa4 21.d5[/font] continues to give White an extra pawn.
If [font color="darkred"]18.dxc6 Bxc6 19.d5 Bd7 20.Bg5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]20...f6 21.Be3 Bg4 22.h3 Bh5 23.g4 Bg6 24.Nd4[/font] gives White an extra pawn, a better center and more space.
[font color="magenta"]20...Qc8 21.Qd4 h6 22.Be3 Bf5 23.Rac1[/font] gives White a comfortable advantage with an extra pawn.

[center]BLACK: Levon Aronian[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Magnus Carlsen[/center][center]Position after 16...Qd8f6[/center]

17.Be3!

White has an extra pawn and is able to overprotect his weakest pawn. His advantage in space is permanent.
If [font color="red"]17.Re1 Rxe1+[/font] then:

[font color="red"]18.Nxe1 bxc4 19.bxc4 Bc8 20.a3 Qf5 21.Be3[/font] gives White an extra pawn; Black has an active Queen and command of an open file.
[font color="darkred"]18.Qxe1!? bxc4 19.bxc4 c6 20.dxc6 Bxc6 21.Bg5[/font] gives White an extra pawn against Black's command of the b-file.

17...Bc8 18.Qd2!?

White seems to be entertaining the idea of attacking the queenside starting with Qd2a5.
[font color="red"]18.Qd3 bxc4 19.bxc4 Bf5 20.Qa3 Rb6 21.Nd2[/font] continues to gives Black a comfortable game with an extra pawn.

18...Qg6!?

Black intends 19...Bh3
If [font color="red"]18...bxc4 19.bxc4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]19...Qg6 20.Rfc1 Bf5 21.Nh4 Qg4 22.Nxf5 Qxf5 23.Rc2[/font] gives White an extra pawn; Black has a small advantage in space.
[font color="darkred"]19...Bg4 20.Ne1 Bf5 21.Nd3 Be4 22.Rfe1 Qf5 23.Nf4[/font] gives White an extra pawn; Black's Bishop is poorly placed at e4, but 23...h6 24.f3 g5 covers the problem.

19.Kh1!

This prophylactic move gives White a comfortable game.
If [font color="red"]19.Rac1 bxc4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]20.Rxc4 Bh3 21.Ng5 Bxg2 22.Kxg2 f6 23.Qc2[/font] also gives White a comfortable game.
[font color="darkred"]20.bxc4 Bh3 21.Ne1 Bf5 22.Rc3 Rb4 23.Qc1[/font] gives White a small advantage.

19...h6 20.Rac1 Be7?!

Black neglects his queenside, where he could open the b-file.
If [font color="red"]20...bxc4 21.bxc4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]21...Bf5 22.Nh4 Qg4 23.Nxf5 Qxf5 24.Rc3 Rb4 25.Qe2[/font] gives White an extra pawn and Black more space.
[font color="darkred"]21...Bg4?! 22.Ng1! Bd7 23.Rfe1[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]23...Qf5 24.h3 Be7 25.Rc3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]25...Rb6 26.Rb3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]26...Ba4 27.Ra3 Bd7 28.Bf4 Bf6 29.Rxe8+ Bxe8 30.Nf3[/font] gives White a comfortable game with an extra pawn.
[font color="purple"]26...Bf6 27.Qa5 Reb8 28.Reb1 Bd8 29.R1b2 Bc8 30.Bc1[/font] gives White an extra pawn and a small advantage in space; Black's Bishop pair protects the queenside from further damage.

[font color="darkorange"]25...Rb1 26.Rxb1 Qxb1 27.Rb3 Qf1 28.Qc1 Qxc1 29.Bxc1[/font] gives White a comfortable game with the extra pawn, command of the b-file and more space; Black's Bishop pair defends well.

[font color="magenta"]23...Bf5 24.Ne2 Rb6 25.Qa5 Bd3 26.Qc3 Bxe2 27.Rxe2[/font] gives White an extra pawn and Black a slight advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Levon Aronian[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Magnus Carlsen[/center][center]Position after 20...Bf8e7[/center]

21.Ng1!?

This move is way too timid.
More aggressive is [font color="red"]21.Qa5! Bd8 22.Rfe1 bxc4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]23.bxc4 Rf8 24.h3 Qf6 25.Nd2 c6 26.Qa3[/font] continues to gives Black a comfortable game with an extra pawn.
[font color="darkred"]23.Qa4 Re4 24.bxc4 Bf6 25.Qa5 Re7 26.Bf4[/font] continues to gives Black a comfortable game with an extra pawn.

21...Bg5?!

Black misses the opportunity to make a deep cut in White's overall advantatage.
If [font color="red"]21...bxc4! 22.bxc4 Bf5 23.Rfe1 Bf6 24.Qc3 Kh8 25.f3[/font] gives White a small advantage.

22.Bxg5!

White again has a comfortable game.

22...Qxg5 23.Rfd1!?

White does not want to exchange Queens, which would be a concession to Black, but he can use his Queen to gum up Black's queenside.
[font color="red"]23.Qa5 Bf5 24.Rfe1 Rxe1 25.Qxe1 Bd3 26.cxb5 axb5 27.Rxc7[/font] gives White a small advantage.

23...bxc4?!

White's inaccuracy handed Black an opportunity, which he misses.
If [font color="red"]23...Qxd2! 24.Rxd2 Re7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]25.h3 b4 26.Re2 Rxe2 27.Nxe2 Bf5 28.Ng3[/font] still leaves White with an extra pawn, which he can use to get a 2:1 majority in the c- and d-files.
[font color="darkred"]25.Re2!? Rxe2 26.Nxe2 Bf5 27.c5 Re8 28.Ng3[/font]gives White only a slight advantagewith an extra pawn against Black's extra space.

24.bxc4?!

Black can get counterplay from the b-file. White can take the sting out of it be exchanging Queens first.
[font color="red"]24.Qxg5 hxg5 25.Rxc4 Rb5 26.Rxc7 Rxd5 27.Rd3[/font] gives White a comfortable game with an extra pawn, stronger pawns and a Rook on the seventh rank.

[center]BLACK: Levon Aronian[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Magnus Carlsen[/center][center]Position after 24.bc4[/center]

24...Qxd2!

Suddenly, Black is looking good.

25.Rxd2

The game is equal. Black has a crippled extra pawn more presence in the center; Black has more active Rooks.

25...a5 26.h3 Rb4 27.Nf3 Bf5

[font color="red"]27...Ba6 28.Rdc2 Bc8 29.a3 Rb8[/font] remains equal.

28.c5 Kf8 29.Nh2

[font color="red"]29.cxd6 cxd6 30.Rc6 Rd8 31.Ng1 Bc8 32.Ne2[/font] remains equal.

29...Reb8 30.Ng4 Rb1

If [font color="red"]30...Rb2 31.Rxb2 Rxb2[/font] then:

[font color="red"]32.Ne3 Rxf2 33.cxd6 cxd6 34.Kg1 Rf4 35.Rc6[/font] remains equal.
[font color="darkred"]32.cxd6!? Bxg4 33.hxg4 cxd6 34.a3 Rb3 35.Rc6[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space as his Rook will go to the rear of the a-pawn..

31.Rxb1 Rxb1+ 32.Kh2 a4!?

The pawn will be able to get as as a3, but WBlack has no effective plan to remove the obstacle at a2.
[font color="red"]32...Bxg4 33.hxg4 Ke7 34.Re2+ Kd8 35.Re3 a4 36.Ra3[/font] remains equal.
A better try is [font color="blue"]32...Rb4 33.Ne3 Bg6 34.h4 Ra4 35.h5 Bb1 36.a3[/font] with equality.

[center]BLACK: Levon Aronian[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Magnus Carlsen[/center][center]Position after 32...a5a4[/center]

33.Ne3!

White has a slight advantage in space.

33...Bg6 34.Kg3 Rb4 35.Kf3

[font color="red"]35.cxd6!? cxd6 36.Nd1 a3 37.Kf3 Bh5+ 38.g4 Bg6 39.Kf4 Rb5[/font] is equal.

35...Ke7

[font color="red"]35...f6 36.cxd6 cxd6 37.Nd1 h5 38.h4 Ke7 39.Ke3[/font] gives White an extra pawn that is enough to prevent Black's active Rook from penetrating the kingside.

36.Ke2 Kd7 37.f3

White still has a slight edge in space.
If [font color="red"]37.c6+ Kc8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]38.g3 Rb5 39.Nd1 Rxd5 40.Nc3 Ra5 41.a3[/font] is equal.
[font color="darkred"]38.g4 a3 39.Nd1 f5 40.Ke3 Rc4 41.f3 Rc1[/font] is equal; White's extra pawn counts for little while Black has an active Rook.

37...Rb5

[font color="red"]37...dxc5 38.dxc5 c6 39.a3 Rb3 40.d6 Rc3 41.Rd4[/font] solves the problem of White's doubled pawns and gives him an advanced passer, but only temporaily..

[center]BLACK: Levon Aronian[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Magnus Carlsen[/center][center]Position after 37...Rb4b5[/center]

38.Nd1

[font color="red"]38.c6+!? Kc8 39.g4 a3 40.Ke1 Kd8 41.Nc4 Rxd5[/font] is equal.

38...Rb4

[font color="red"]38...dxc5 39.Nc3 Rb4 40.dxc5 c6 41.Ke3 Rc4 42.Ne2[/font] continues to give White a slight edge; Black can finally recover his pawn lost on the eleventh move by liquidating the pawns in the c- and d-files.

39.c6+ Kc8 40.Nc3

[font color="red"]40.h4 a3 41.h5 Bh7 42.Kf2 Rc4 43.Ke3[/font] leaves White still holding a weak extra pawn.

40...f6 41.Ke3 Rc4 42.Ne2

If [font color="red"]42.Nd1 a3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]43.Kf4 Bb1 44.Kg3 Bh7 45.Kf4 g5+ 46.Kg4 Bg6[/font] is equal.
If [font color="darkred"]43.g4!? Rc1![/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]44.Kf4 Bb1 45.Kg3 g5 46.h4 Kd8 47.hxg5 fxg5[/font] is equal.
[font color="magenta"]44.h4 Bf7 45.Ke4 Bg6+ 46.Kf4 Bb1 47.h5[/font] gives White a small advantage with the mobility of the Knight superior to that of the Bishop in this position.

42...a3 43.h4 Rb4 44.g4 Rb1!?

Better is 44...Rb2 when Black threatens to exchange Rooks or pass his a-pawn.
If [font color="red"]44...Rb2 45.Nc3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]45...f5 46.Re2 fxg4 47.fxg4 Kd8 48.Rd2[/font] continues to give White a slight edge.
[font color="darkred"]45...h5 46.Nd1 Rb1 47.gxh5 Bxh5 48.Rd3 Kb8 49.Nc3[/font] still gives White a slight advantage.

[center]BLACK: Levon Aronian[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Magnus Carlsen[/center][center]Position after 44...Rb4b1[/center]

45.h5!

The pawn chain restricts the effectiveness of Black's Bishop.

45...Bh7

Nevertheless, the Bishop is still more effective on the diagonal.
[font color="red"]45...Bf7?! 46.Nf4! Rb2 47.Kd3 Rb1 48.Rc2 Rf1 49.Ke3[/font] gives White an extra pawn and a splendid Knight; White can win a King-and-pawn ending from here.

46.f4 f5!?

This is not the right way to break up White's kingside pawns.
If [font color="red"]46...Bg8 47.f5![/font] then:

[font color="red"]47...Re1 48.Kf2! Rb1 49.Nf4 Rb5 50.Ne6 Rxd5 51.Nxg7[/font] gives White an extra pawn at least for the moment.
If [font color="darkred"]47...Rb5?! 48.Rd3! Rb2 49.Rxa3 Bxd5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]50.Ra8+ Rb8 51.Rxb8+ Kxb8 52.Nf4[/font] gives White a strong advantage with the more active King.
[font color="magenta"]50.Nc3?! Bxc6! 51.d5 Bb7 52.Ra4 Rc2 53.Kd4 Rd2+[/font] gives Black a slight advantage with a serious threat to win a pawn.

If [font color="blue"]46...Rb5 47.f5[/font] then:

[font color="blue"]47...Bg8 48.Rd3 Rb2 49.Rxa3 Bxd5 50.Ra8+ Rb8 51.Rxb8+ Kxb8 52.a4[/font] continues to give White a comfortable advantage with an extra pawn, which is passed, and the active King.
If [font color="darkblue"]47...Rb2? 48.Kd3![/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]48...Rb1 49.Nf4 Bg8 50.Ne6 Bxe6 51.dxe6 Kd8 52.Rc2[/font] White will soon capture Black's and will have a simple win.
If [font color="dodgerblue"]48...Bg8 49.Nf4 Rb5 50.Ne6[/font] then:

[font color="dodgerblue"]50...Bxe6 51.dxe6 Kd8 52.Rc2 Rb1 53.Rc3[/font] White wins the a-pawn.
If [font color="darkcyan"]50...Bf7[/font] then White wins after[font color="darkcyan"]51.Re2 Ra5 52.Nxc7 Kd8 53.Ne6+[/font] when either a B lack pawn must fall or a new White passer will be created at e6.

47.g5!

White sees that his pawn majority on the kingside will be stronger than Black's passed f-pawn.

47...Rh1?

Black has thoughts of picking off White's kingside pawns.
If [font color="red"]47...Kd8[/font] then after [font color="red"]48.gxh6 gxh6 49.Rd3 Rh1 50.Ng3[/font] Black cannot save his a-pawn.

[center]BLACK: Levon Aronian[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Magnus Carlsen[/center][center]Position after 47...Rb1h1[/center]

48.Ng3!

White convincingly refutes Black's dreams of dining on kingside pawns.

48...Rh3 49.Kf3 hxg5

If [font color="red"]49...Kd8 50.Re2[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]50...hxg5 51.fxg5 f4 52.Kxf4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]52...Rh4+ 53.Ke3 Rh3 54.Kf3 Rh4 55.g6 Bg8 56.Nf5[/font] gives White two extra pawns.
[font color="magenta"]52...Bd3 53.Rf2 Ba6 54.g6 Bc8 55.Kf3 Ke8 56.Kg2[/font] gives White two extra pawns.

[font color="darkred"]50...Rh4 51.g6 Bg8 52.Nxf5 Bxd5+ 53.Kg3 Rh1 54.Nxg7[/font] gives White a won game with two connected passers.

50.fxg5

White concedes a passed pawn to Black in order to get a quality pawn majority.

50...g6

If [font color="red"]50...Kd8 51.Re2[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]51...f4 52.Kxf4 Rh4+[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]53.Ke3![/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]53...Bb1 54.g6 Rg4 55.Kf3 Rxd4 56.Ne4 Bd3 57.Re3.[/font]
If White wastes a tempo on [font color="magenta"]53.Kf3?![/font] (hoping for 53...Be4+?? 54.Rxe4 Rxe4 55.Kxe4 when White wins with an extra piece) then [font color="magenta"]53...Bg8 54.Ke3 Bxd5 55.Rf2 Rg4[/font] is equal.

[font color="darkred"]51...Bg8 52.Kf4 Bxd5 53.Nxf5 Rxh5 54.Nxg7[/font] leaves White a pawn up.

51.Re2 Kd8 52.hxg6 Bxg6 53.Re6 Bf7

If [font color="red"]53...Bh5+[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]54.Kf4 Rh4+ 55.Kxf5 Bg4+ 56.Kf6 Bf3 57.Nf5.[/font]

54.g6 Bg8 55.g7 f4 56.Kxf4 Rh2 57.Nf5

Also good is [font color="red"]57.Kg4 Bf7 58.Rg6 Bxd5 59.g8Q+ Bxg8 60.Rxg8+.[/font]

57...Rxa2 58.Rf6 Re2

[center]BLACK: Levon Aronian[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Magnus Carlsen[/center][center]Position after 58...Ra2e2[/center]

59.Rf8+! 1-0

If [font color="red"]59...Re8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]60.Nxd6!! cxd6 61.c7+[/font] wins the Rook.
If [font color="darkred"]60...a2[/font] then [font color="darkred"]61.Rxe8#.[/font]

P-n Aronian resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

6. Kramnik - McShane, Round 5 (Opening Theory: Slav QG/Chameleon Defense)

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Reply #2)

Fri Jan 4, 2013, 09:00 PM

Jan 2013

[center][/center]

[center]Vladimir Kramnik[/center][font size="1"]Photo by steenslag from flickr as resized in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vladimir_Kramnik_2005.jpg)
([a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en" target="_blank"]Creative Commons License[/a], Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Vladimir Kramnik - Luke McShane
Chess Classic, Round 5
London, 6 December 2012

Slav Queen's Gambit: Chameleon Defense/Catalan Opening

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.g3

The text is the Catalan Opening.

[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]Slav Queen's Gambit: Chameleon Defense/Catalan Variation[/center][center]Position after 5.g2g3[/center]

[font color="red"](Chameleon Tikhi Opening)

[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]Slav Queen's Gambit: Chameleon Defense/Tikhi Variation[/center][center]Position after 5.e2e3[/center]

[/font]If [font color="red"]5.e3 b5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]6.b3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]6...Bg4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]7.Be2 e6 8.0-0 Nbd7 9.h3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]9...Bh5 10.Bb2 Bd6 11.Ne5 Bxe2 12.Nxe2 Qc7 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.Rc1 Qb8 15.Nxd7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]15...Kxd7 16.f3 Qb7 17.Qd3 Ke7 18.Nc3 b4 19.Na4 Qb5 20.Qd2 Rac8 21.Nc5 Rhd8 22.Rfd1 h6 23.Rc2 Rc6 24.Rdc1 Rdc8 25.a4 bxa3 26.Bxa3 Nd7 27.Nxd7 Bxa3 28.Rxc6[/font] draw (Zhaou Weiqi-Rodshtein, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2009).
[font color="burgundy"]15...Nxd7 16.e4 dxe4 17.d5 0-0 18.dxe6 Nc5 19.Nf4 Ra7 20.Bd4 Bxf4 21.Bxc5 Bxc1 22.Bxf8 Qxf8 23.Qxc1 fxe6 24.Qc6[/font] gives White ample compensation for the pawn (Epishin-Kulaots, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2005).

If [font color="darkred"]9...Bf5 10.Bd3 Bb4 11.Bb2[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]11...Bxd3 12.Qxd3 0-0 13.Rfc1 bxc4 14.bxc4 Qe7 15.Rc2 dxc4 16.Qxc4 c5 17.Rac1 cxd4 18.Nxd4 Ne5 19.Qe2 Ba3 20.f4 Ng6 21.Nc6 Qd6 22.Rd2 Qxc6 23.Bxa3 Rfc8[/font] is equal (Aronian-P. Smirnov, FIDE Knock Out, Tripoli, 2004).
[font color="magenta"]11...0-0 12.Bxf5 exf5 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.Qd3 g6 15.Ne5 Qc7 16.a4 bxa4 17.Nxa4 Rfc8 18.Rfc1 Qd6 19.Rc2 Rxc2 20.Qxc2 a5 21.Qc6 Rb8 22.Rc1 Qxc6 23.Nxc6 Rb5 24.Nxb4 Rxb4 25.Nc5[/font] draw (I. Sokolov-Movsesian, IT, Sarajevo, 2003).

If [font color="darkred"]7.Bd2 Nbd7 8.h3 Bxf3 9.Qxf3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]9...b4 10.Na4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]10...e5 11.Rc1 Bd6 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Qd1 0-0 15.Be2 a5 16.Rc2 Qe7 17.Bc1 Rad8 18.Bb2 Ng6 19.0-0 Ne4 20.Bd4 Nh4 21.Bd3 Nf5 22.Bb6 Rb8 23.Bxe4 Qxe4[/font] is equal (Carlsen-Wang Yue, IT, Linares, 2009).
[font color="purple"]10...Ne4 11.Bc1 e6 12.Bd3 f5 13.g4 g6 14.gxf5 exf5 15.h4 Bg7 16.Bb2 0-0 17.0-0-0 Ndf6[/font] is equal (Bauer-Fontaine, French Ch, Chartres, 2005).

If [font color="magenta"]9...e6 10.Bd3[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]10...Ba3 11.0-0 0-0 12.Rfd1 Re8 13.Be1 e5 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.dxe5 Nxe5 16.Qf4 Qe7[/font] is equal (Bauer-Dorfman, French Ch, Val d'Isere, 2002).
[font color="darkorange"]10...Be7 11.0-0 0-0 12.Rac1 Rc8 13.Rfd1 b4 14.Na4 a5 15.Qe2 Ne4 16.Be1[/font] is equal (M. Socko-E. Atalik, ITW, Biel, 2006).

If [font color="darkred"]6...Bf5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]7.Ne5 e6 8.g4 Bg6 9.h4 Ne4 10.Nxe4 Bxe4 11.f3 f6 12.Nxc6 Nxc6 13.fxe4 dxe4 14.Bd2 Qb8 15.Rh3 f5 16.cxb5 axb5 17.gxf5 exf5 18.a4 bxa4 19.bxa4 Kd8 20.Bb5 Na5 21.Rc1 Bd6[/font] is equal (Aronian-Kindermann, Bundesliga 0304, Germany, 2003).
[font color="magenta"]7.Bd3 e6 8.Bxf5 exf5 9.0-0 Bd6 10.Qc2 g6 11.Bd2 0-0 12.Rfc1 Nbd7 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.a4 b4 15.Ne2 Rc8 16.Qd3 Qb6 17.Rc2 Qb7 18.Rac1 Nb6 19.Ne5 Rxc2 20.Rxc2 Rc8 21.f3 Nbd7 22.Nxd7[/font] draw (Radjabov-Ivanchuk, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2003).

If [font color="darkred"]6.c5 g6[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]7.Ne5 Bg7 8.Be2[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]8...Nfd7 9.f4 Nxe5 10.fxe5 f6 11.exf6 exf6 12.e4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]12...b4 13.Na4 dxe4 14.Nb6 Ra7 15.Qb3 Re7 16.Nxc8 Qxc8 17.Bf4[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and White more space (Eljanov-I. Sokolov, IT, Sarajevo, 2009).
[font color="darkorange"]12...f5 13.exd5 Qh4+ 14.g3 Qxd4 15.Qxd4 Bxd4 16.Bf4 cxd5 17.Nxd5 Bb7[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Cmilyte-Houska, OlW, Dresden, 2008).

If [font color="magenta"]8...0-0 9.0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]9...Nfd7 10.f4[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]10...f5 11.Nd3 a5 12.Bd2 Nf6 13.Be1 Nbd7 14.Bh4 Kh8[/font] is equal (Moiseenko-Ni Hua, World ChT, Beer Shiva, 2005).
[font color="purple"]10...a5 11.Bf3 Nxe5 12.fxe5 f5 13.exf6 Bxf6 14.Ne2 Bg7 15.Bd2 Bf5 16.Ng3 e6[/font] is equal (Kempinski-Rustemov, Bundesliga 0809, Berlin, 2009).

[font color="darkorange"]9...Be6 10.f4 Qc7 11.g4 Ne4 12.Bf3 f5 13.Bd2 Nd7[/font] is equal (Gelfand-Bareev, World Cup, Khanty Mansyisk, 2005).

If [font color="magenta"]7.Bd3 Bg7[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]8.h3 0-0 9.0-0 Nbd7 10.a3 a5 11.e4 dxe4 12.Nxe4 Nd5 13.Nc3 N7f6 14.Re1 Qc7 15.Bd2 Rd8 16.Re5 Ra6 17.Qe2 Bb7 18.Ng5 h6[/font] is equal (Bellaiche-Benitah, Op, Guingamp, 2007).
[font color="darkorange"]8.b4 a5 9.bxa5 Nfd7 10.Bd2 e5 11.Be2 e4 12.Ng1 b4 13.Nb1 Na6 14.a3 Qxa5 15.Ra2[/font] is equal (San Segundo-Pilaj, Euro ChT, Saint Vincent, 2005).

[font color="blue"](Advance Variation)

[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]Slav Queen's Gambit: Chameleon Defense/Advance Variation[/center][center]Position after 5.c4c5[/center]

[/font] If [font color="blue"]5.c5[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]5...Nbd7 6.Bf4 Nh5 7.Bd2 Nhf6[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]8.Bf4 g6[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]9.h3 Bg7 10.e3 0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]11.Be2[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]11...Ne8 12.0-0 Nc7[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]13.b4 Re8 14.Qd2[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]14...e5 15.Nxe5 Nxe5 16.dxe5 Bxe5 17.Bxe5 Rxe5 18.e4[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]18...a5 19.a3 axb4 20.axb4 Rxa1 21.Rxa1 Qf6[/font] then:

[font color="blue"]22.exd5 Rxd5 23.Qc1 Rd4 24.b5 Kg7 25.bxc6 bxc6[/font] is equal (Gelfand-Shirov, IT, Linares, 1994).
[font color="#0080C0"]22.Rd1 dxe4 23.Qd8+ Qxd8 24.Rxd8+ Re8 25.Rxe8+ Nxe8 26.Nxe4[/font] is equal (Shirov-Bologan, Bundesliga 9293, Germany, 1993).

[font color="#8000C0"]18...Bd7 19.Bf3 a5 20.Qd4 Qg5 21.exd5 cxd5 22.Bg4[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space.

[font color="#8080C0"]14...a5!? 15.b5 e5 16.Bg5 Bf6 17.Bxf6 Qxf6 18.Rab1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

If [font color="darkblue"]13.Bg3[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]13...e5 14.dxe5 Nxc5 15.Rc1 N7e6 16.b4 Nd7 17.e4[/font] gives White more space and Black beter pawns (Bareev-Tukmakov, IT, Tilburg, 1994).
[font color="dodgerblue"]13...Re8 14.Na4 f6 15.Qb3 Kh8 16.Rad1 Nb5 17.Qc2 e5 18.dxe5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Salov-Magem Badals, IT, Madrid, 1994).

If [font color="darkblue"]11...b6 12.cxb6 Qxb6[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]13.Qc2 c5 14.0-0 cxd4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]15.exd4 Bb7 16.Na4 Qa7 17.b4[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]17...Rac8 18.Qb3 Bc6 19.Nc5 Bb5 20.Bxb5 axb5 21.a4[/font] gives White a strong advantage in space (Movsziszian-C.-A. Foisor, Op, Narciso Ypres, Spain, 2001).
[font color="slateblue"]17...Rfc8[/font] draw (Laihonen-Ginzburg, Euro Club Cup, Saint Vincent, Italy, 2005).

[font color="darkcyan"]15.Na4 Qb7 16.exd4 Ne4 17.Rac1 Re8 18.Qc7[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Moribialdi-Escobar Forero, Ol, Torino, 2006).

[font color="dodgerblue"]13.0-0 Qxb2 14.Na4 Qa3 15.Rc1 Bb7 16.Rc3[/font] gives White a slight advantage; Black's Queen will leave slowly and crefully (Najer-Shimanov, Moscow Op, 2007).

If [font color="darkblue"]11.Bd3 Ne8 12.0-0 Nc7[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]13.Re1 Re8[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]14.Bg5 f5 15.b4 Nf6 16.Qb3 Be6 17.Bf4[/font] gives White a clear advantage in space (Grischuk-Ponomariov, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2009).
[font color="slateblue"]14.e4 dxe4 15.Nxe4 Nd5 16.Bg3 N7f6 17.Nxf6+ Bxf6 18.Qb3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Giri-Palchun, St Petersburg ChBU16, 2009).

If [font color="dodgerblue"]13.b4 Re8[/font] then:

[font color="dodgerblue"]14.Qc2 e5 15.dxe5 Nxe5 16.Nxe5 Bxe5 17.Bxe5 Rxe5[/font] is equal (Martynov-Butuc, Chigorin Mem Op, St Petersburg, 2009).
[font color="darkcyan"]14.Ne5 Nxe5 15.Bxe5 Ne6 16.Bxg7 Nxg7 17.e4[/font] is equal (Vasilov-Ziaziulkina, ETSCC U14, St. Konstantin, Bulgaria, 2009).

[font color="darkblue"]9.e3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]9...Nh5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]10.Bd3 Bg7 11.0-0 0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]12.Bg5 Re8[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]13.e4 dxe4 14.Bxe4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]14...Ndf6 15.Bc2 Be6 16.Re1 Nd5 17.Qd2[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]17...Qc7 18.Rxe6 fxe6 19.Re1 Qd7 20.Ne5 Bxe5 21.Rxe5[/font] leaves Black up in material by the exchange, but White is compensated fully in activity, pawn structure and space (Filippov-Luther, Euro Ch, Istanbul, 2003).
[font color="#0080C0"]17...Nb4 18.Be4 Nf6 19.a3 Nbd5 20.Bc2 Nc7 21.h3[/font] gives White the advantage in space; Black is targeting a backward pawn on an open file (Lalith-S. Volkov, Op, Dubai, 2010).

[font color="#8000C0"]14...Qc7 15.d5 Nxc5 16.Re1 Nf6 17.Bxf6 Bxf6[/font] gives Black stronger pawns, more space and a grip on the dark squares (Motoc (A. L'Ami)-Sedina, Euro ChW, Istanbul, 2003).

If [font color="dodgerblue"]13.Nd2 Bf6 14.Bxf6 Ndxf6 15.f4[/font] then:

[font color="dodgerblue"]15...Ng7 16.Nf3 Bf5 17.Ne5 Nd7 18.Nf3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Evdokimov-S. Volkov, Russian Ch, Krasnoyarsk, 2003).
[font color="darkcyan"]15...Bg4 16.Qc2 Qc8 17.b4 Bf5 18.a4 Ng7 19.Rfe1[/font] is equal (Cech-Moor, TT, Brno, 2006).

If [font color="dodgerblue"]12.h3 Nxf4 13.exf4[/font] then:

If [font color="dodgerblue"]13...b6 14.cxb6 Qxb6 15.Na4 Qa7[/font] then:

If [font color="dodgerblue"]16.Qc2 Bxd4 17.Qxc6 Bf6 18.Qxd5 Bb7 19.Qxd7[/font] then:

If [font color="dodgerblue"]19...Rfd8 20.Qc7 Bxf3 21.Qxa7 Rxa7 22.Bc4 Bc6[/font] then:

[font color="dodgerblue"]23.Nc3 Rd4 24.Bb3 Rxf4 25.Rac1 Rf5 26.Rfd1 Rg5[/font] gives Black the Bishop pair and the initiative against the g-pawn; White has command of the c- and d-files (B. Lalic-Kanep, Euro ChT, Plovdiv, 2003).
[font color="#0080C0"]23.Bb3 Rd4 24.Nb6 Rxf4 25.Rac1 Bb5 26.Nd5 Bxf1[/font] gives Black a small but clear advantage (Banikas-Zogrebelny, Ol, Bled, 2002).

[font color="slateblue"]19...Rad8!? 20.Qc7! Rxd3 21.Nc5 Rc8 22.Qxb7 Qxc5 23.Qxa6[/font] gives White two extra pawns.

[font color="slateblue"]16.Rc1 Bxd4 17.Rxc6 Bg7 18.Qe2 e6 19.Rfc1 Qb8 20.g3[/font] gives White a slight advantage with greater activity and command of the c-file; Black controls the long dark diagonal (K. Georgiev-Gofshtein, French ChT, Mulhouse, 2011).

[font color="darkcyan"]13...Qc7 14.Ne2 b6 15.cxb6 Qxb6 16.Rc1 c5[/font] gives Black stronger pawns and a better center (Krasenkow-Rustemov, Euro Club Cup, Panormo, Greece, 2001).

If [font color="dodgerblue"]10.h4[/font] then:

If [font color="dodgerblue"]10...Nxf4 11.exf4 Qc7 12.g3[/font] then:

If [font color="dodgerblue"]12...Bg7 13.h5 b6[/font] then:

[font color="dodgerblue"]14.cxb6 Qxb6 15.Qd2 Rb8 16.Na4 Qb4 17.Qxb4 Rxb4[/font] gives Black stonger pawns anmd a slight initiative; White has more space (Krasenkow-Delchev, Ol. Palma de Mallorca, 2004).
[font color="#0080C0"]14.hxg6 hxg6 15.Rxh8+ Bxh8 16.cxb6 Qxb6 17.Qd2 Rb8 18.Na4[/font] draw (Harika-Djingorova, Ol, Palma de Mallorca, 2004).

If [font color="darkcyan"]12...Nf6 13.Ne5 Bg7[/font] then:

[font color="darkcyan"]14.Bd3 Bf5 15.g4 Bxd3 16.Qxd3 Nd7 17.h5[/font] gives White more space, but Black's position is granite (Nebolsina-Bulmaga, Euro ChW, Chisinau, 2005).
[font color="slateblue"]14.b4 0-0 15.Bg2 Be6 16.0-0 Nd7 17.Qe2[/font] is equal (Zhao Xue-Munguntuul, Grand Prix 1112 W, Jermuk, 2012).

If [font color="darkcyan"]10...Bg7 11.Bh2[/font] then:

If [font color="darkcyan"]11...0-0 12.Be2 Re8 13.g4 Nhf6[/font] then:

If [font color="darkcyan"]14.Rg1 b6 15.cxb6 Qxb6 16.Qc2 Bb7[/font] then:

If [font color="darkcyan"]17.Kf1 Ne4 18.Nxe4 dxe4[/font] then:

[font color="darkcyan"]19.Nd2!? c5! 20.Nc4 Qe6 21.Rd1 Rac8[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Dr. Hübner-S. Papa, Bundesliga 0304, Germany, 2004).
[font color="#0080C0"]19.Ne5 Bxe5 20.dxe5 Nc5 21.h5[/font] is equal.

[font color="#8000C0"]17.Nd2 e5 18.g5 Ne4 19.Ncxe4 dxe4 20.dxe5 Nxe5 21.Nxe4[/font] is equal (Dr. Hübner-Krivoshey, Bundesliga 0304, Germany, 2004).

If [font color="slateblue"]14.Ne5[/font] then:

[font color="slateblue"]14...Ne4!? 15.Nxe4 dxe4 16.Nc4 e5 17.Nd6 Re7[/font] leaves Black badly cramped (Palo-Skytte, Danish Ch, Koege, 2005).
[font color="steelblue"]14...Nxe5 15.Bxe5 Ne4 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.h5[/font] gives White a slight advantage with the stereotypical pawn storm against Black's dragon's nest.

If [font color="slateblue"]11...Nhf6 12.Ne5[/font] then:

[font color="slateblue"]12...Nxe5 13.Bxe5 0-0 14.Be2 Nd7 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.f4[/font] is equal; Black successfully exchanged his way out of a cramped position (Paskikian-Andriasian Lake Sevan, 2008).
[font color="steelblue"]12...h5 13.Be2 Ng4 14.Bxg4 hxg4 15.Nxd7 Bxd7 16.Qb3[/font gives White a slight advantage owing to the Queen's pressure on the pawn at b7 in conjunction with the Bishop's command of the h2/b8 diagonal and the restraining pawn at c5 that makes defending the pawn difficult (Izoria-Safin, Op, Dubai, 2004).

[font color="dodgerblue"]9...Bg7 10.h3 0-0 11.Be2[/font] transposes back to the mian line [font color="blue"](Gelfand-Shirov).[/font]

If [font color="darkblue"]8.Qc2 g6 9.g3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]9...Bg7 10.Bg2 0-0 11.0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]11...Re8 12.Rad1 Nf8[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]13.Qb3 Ne6 14.Na4[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]14...Nd7 15.Bc3 Rb8 16.Qc2 Nef8 17.Qd2 e6 18.Ba5[/font] gives White a clear advantage in space anda threat to Black's Queen (T. L. Petrosian-Sanduleac, Ol, Dresden, 2008).
[font color="#0080C0"]14...Ne4 15.Be3 Rb8 16.Qb4 h6 17.Ne5 Qc7 18.f3[/font] gives White the advantage in space; Black will have a difficult time exchanging his way out (Inarkiev-Bryzgalin, Russian Ch HL, Ulan Ude, 2009).

If [font color="dodgerblue"]13.h3[/font] then:

If [font color="dodgerblue"]13...Bf5 14.Qb3 Qc8 15.Kh2[/font] then:

[font color="dodgerblue"]15...Ne4 16.Bf4 Ne6 17.Be3 Qc7 18.Na4 Rad8 19.Kg1[/font] is equal; Black's immediate concern is to make an escape route for the light-bound Bishop, which is easily remedied in several ways (Potkin-Sanduleac, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).
[font color="#0080C0"]15...Be4 16.Na4 N6d7 17.Ba5 Rb8 18.Rfe1 Bxf3 19.Bxf3[/font] is equal; Black's position is cramped, but he has no serious weaknesses (Matlakov-Tologontsin, World Youth BU18, Vang Tau, Vietnam, 2008).

If [font color="darkcyan"]13...h6!? 14.Qc1![/font] (White has a small advantage in space and freedom) [font color="darkcyan"]14...Kh7[/font] then:

[font color="darkcyan"]15.Ne5!?[/font] (White actually loosens his grip playing to the center) [font color="darkcyan"]15...Be6! 16.Rfe1 Ne4 17.Nxe4 dxe4 18.Bf4 f5[/font] is equal; White has failed to take advantage of Black's queenside weaknesses (Fressinet-S. Volkov, Euro Club Cup, Antalya, 2007).
White maintains pressure on the queenside with [font color="slateblue"]15.Na4 a5 16.Rfe1 Ne4 17.Bf4.[/font]

If [font color="dodgerblue"]11...b6[/font] (Black attempts to solve the prolem of the weak b-pawn before White has a chance to put pressure on it) [font color="dodgerblue"]12.b4[/font] then:

[font color="dodgerblue"]12...Bb7 13.Rab1 Re8 14.Rfd1 Qc8 15.Na4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Sakaev-Malakhov, Russian Ch HL, Krasnoyarsk, 2007).
[font color="darkcyan"]12.cxb6 Nxb6 13.Na4 Bf5 14.Qxc6 Nc4 15.Nc3[/font] is equal.

the engines are all over the place as to what Black should do now:

[font color="slateblue"]a) 12...Nb8 13.cxb6 Qxb6 14.Rfc1 Bf5 15.Qb3[/font] is equal (Houdini 3 x64).
[font color="steelblue"]b) 12...a5 13.a3 Re8[/font] then:
[font color="steelblue"]14.cxb6 Nxb6 15.Ne5 Bf5 16.Qb3[/font] gives White a slight advantage (Rybka 4.1 x64).

14.b5 Bb7 15.bxc6 Bxc6 16.cxb6 Nxb6 17.Ne5

(Fritz 13).

[font color="#0080C0"]c) 12...Re8 13.Rad1 bxc5 14.bxc5 e5 15.Rb1 Qe7 16.Na4[/font] gives White a asmall advantage with opportunities to make mischief on the queenside (Fritz 13).

If [font color="dodgerblue"]9...e5 10.dxe5 Ng4[/font] then:

If [font color="dodgerblue"]11.e6 Nxc5 12.exf7+ Kxf7 13.e4 Bg7 14.Bg2[/font] then:

If [font color="dodgerblue"]14...Bxc3 15.Bxc3[/font] then:

[font color="dodgerblue"]15...dxe4!? 16.Bxh8 Nd3+ 17.Kf1[/font] is equal (Ivanchuk-Bacrot, Euro ChT, Crete, 2007 and Wintzer-Lorscheid, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010)..
[font color="#0080C0"]15...Re8 16.Nd2 Bf5 17.0-0 dxe4 18.Rad1 e3 19.Ne4[/font] is equal.

[font color="#8000C0"]14...Re8!? 15.0-0! Kg8 16.Bg5 Qa5 17.exd5 Bf5 18.Qd2[/font] gives Whiteab extra pawn against Black's spacial superiority (Sargissian-Laznicka, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2007).

If [font color="darkcyan"]11.Bg2[/font] then:

[font color="darkcyan"]11...Bxc5 12.0-0 0-0 13.Rad1 Qb6 14.e3 Qc7 15.e4[/font] is equal (Vitugov-Malakhov, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2010).
[font color="slateblue"]11...Ngxe5 12.Nxe5 Nxe5 13.0-0 Bg7 14.Rad1 0-0 15.Be3[/font] is equal (Pashikian-Laznicka, World Jr Ch, Yerevan, 2007).

[font color="darkblue"]a) 5...Bf5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]6.Bf4 Nbd7 7.e3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]7...e6 8.Be2[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]8...Be7 9.Nd2[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]9...Bg6[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]10.b4 Qc8[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]11.a4 b6[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]12.Rc1 a5 13.cxb6 Bxb4 14.Na2 Bxd2+ 15.Qxd2[/font] gives White a slight advantage with action to take place on the queenside (Inarkiev-I. Popov, Moscow Op, 2008).
If [font color="dodgerblue"]12.a5[/font] then:

If [font color="dodgerblue"]12...bxc5!? 13.bxc5![/font] then:

[font color="dodgerblue"]13...Ra7?! 14.Na4! Qd8 15.Nb6 0-0 16.0-0 Ne4 17.Nxe4 Bxe4 18.Qa4[/font] gives White a strong game with more activity and considerably more space (Matelin-Levin, Chigorin Mem Op, St Petersburg, 2010).
[font color="slateblue"]13...Bd8 14.Qa4 0-0 15.Bd6 Re8 16.0-0 Qb7 17.Rac1[/font] leaves White with a small advantage in space.

Better is [font color="darkcyan"]12...b5 13.Bf3 Bd8 14.e4 Bc7 15.Bg3 Bxg3 16.hxg3[/font] leaving White with a sligfht edge in a better center; either side will have difficulty getting any play on the queenside.

If [font color="dodgerblue"]11.0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="dodgerblue"]11...0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="dodgerblue"]12.a4 b6 13.cxb6 Nxb6 14.a5 Nbd7[/font] then:

[font color="dodgerblue"]15.Qa4 Qb7 16.Na2 Nh5 17.Rfc1 Nxf4 18.exf4 Rfc8[/font] is equal (Grischuk-Movsesian, Rpd IT, Odessa, 2010).
[font color="slateblue"]15.Na2 Qb7 16.Rc1 Rfc8 17.Rc3 Ne8 18.Qa4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space; the action in the near future will take place on the queenside (Nyback-Dauton, Bundesliga 0506, Germany, 2006).

If [font color="darkcyan"]12.Nb3 Re8 13.Rc1 Bd8 14.Bd3 e5[/font] then:

[font color="darkcyan"]15.dxe5 Bxd3 16.Qxd3 Nxe5 17.Bxe5 Rxe5[/font] is equal (N. V. Pedersen-S. B. Hansen, Danish Ch, Aalborg, 2006).
[font color="slateblue"]15.Bg3 Bxd3 16.Qxd3 Bc7[/font] is equal.

[font color="#0040C0"]11...Bd8 12.Rc1 Bc7 13.Bxc7 Qxc7 14.f4 Ng8 15.e4[/font] is equal (Kramnik-Topalov, IT, Dortmund, 1999).

If [font color="dodgerblue"]10.0-0 0-0 11.b4 Re8 12.Bg3[/font] then:

[font color="dodgerblue"]12...Qc8 13.a4 b6 14.a5 b5 15.Rc1 Bd8 16.f4[/font] is equal (Jobava-Wang Yue, Ol, Dresden, 2008).
[font color="darkcyan"]12...Bf8 13.f4[/font] draw (Nogueiras-Luther, Capablanca Mem, Havana, 2001).

If [font color="dodgerblue"]9...h6 10.0-0 0-0 11.b4[/font] then:

If [font color="dodgerblue"]11...Re8 12.Bg3 Qc8 13.Bf3[/font] then:

If [font color="dodgerblue"]13...Bd8 14.e4 dxe4 15.Bxe4[/font] then:

[font color="dodgerblue"]15...Nxe4 16.Ndxe4 Bxe4 17.Nxe4 Be7 18.Be5 f5 19.Nd2[/font] is equal (Piket-Zagrebelny, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).
[font color="#0080C0"]15...Bxe4 16.Ndxe4 Be7 17.Be5 a5 18.a3 axb4 19.axb4[/font] is equal (Batchuluun-Laylo, Op, Doha, 2006).

If [font color="darkcyan"]13...a5 14.b5[/font] then:

[font color="darkcyan"]14...Bd3!? 15.Be2! Bg6 16.Rc1 Bd8 17.f4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space; the action will be on the queenside (Piket-Movsesian, Dutch ChT, Breda, 2000).
[font color="slateblue"]14...Bg6 15.Be2 Bd8 16.Rc1 e5 17.dxe5 Nxe5 18.Nb3[/font] remains equal.

If [font color="darkcyan"]11...Qc8[/font] then:

[font color="darkcyan"]12.Bg3 Bd8 13.a4 b6 14.cxb6 Bxb6 15.Nb3[/font] is equal (Drozdovskij-Rojas Keim, Op, Cappelle-la-Grande, 2007).
[font color="slateblue"]12.Nb3 Bd8 13.a4 Bc7 14.Bxc7 Qxc7 15.f4 b6[/font] draw (Volke-Kindermann, Bundesliga 0405, Germany, 2004).

If [font color="dodgerblue"]8...Ne4 9.Nxe4 Bxe4 10.0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="dodgerblue"]10...Be7[/font] then:

If [font color="dodgerblue"]11.Nd2 Bg6 12.b4 0-0 13.Nb3 Re8 14.a4 Bf6[/font] then:

[font color="dodgerblue"]15.Bg4 b6 16.cxb6 Qxb6 17.Bd6 Be7 18.Bxe7[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Krylov-Shimanov, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2010).
If [font color="darkcyan"]15.Bg3[/font] then:

[font color="darkcyan"]15...Bf5 16.Qd2 e5 17.b5 axb5 18.axb5[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Arutinian-Kayumov, Ol, Torino, 2006).
[font color="slateblue"]15...e5 16.Bg4 exd4 17.exd4 Nf8[/font] is equal (Adianto-Bacrot, TM, Batumi, 2001).

[font color="#0080C0""]11.Ne5 Nxe5 12.Bxe5 0-0 13.b4 Bf6 14.Bg3 Re8[/font] is equal (Harikrishna-Wang Yue, Ol, Torino, 2006).

If [font color="darkcyan"]10...Bxf3 11.Bxf3 Be7[/font] then:

[font color="darkcyan"]12.Qb3 Ra7 13.e4 dxe4 14.Bxe4 0-0 15.Rad1[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Li Shilong-Van Delft, Op, Amsterdam, 2006).
[font color="slateblue"]12.e4 dxe4 13.Bxe4 0-0 14.Re1 Re8 15.Bf3 Bg5 [/font] is equal and soon agreed drawn (Kasimdzhanov-Ivanchuk, Grand Prix, Jermuk, 2009).

If [font color="dodgerblue"]7...g6 8.h3 Bg7 9.Be2[/font] then:

If [font color="dodgerblue"]9...Ne4[/font] then:

If [font color="dodgerblue"]10.0-0 0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="dodgerblue"]11.Qb3 Qc8 12.Rfd1 Re8[/font] then:

[font color="dodgerblue"]13.Nxe4 Bxe4 14.Ng5 Bf5 15.g4 Be6 16.Nxe6[/font] gives White a small advantage in space and, after 16...fxe6, pawn structure (Potkin-Kamsky, Rpd Op, Mainz, 2009).
[font color="#0080C0"]13.Na4 e5 14.Nxe5 Nexc5 15.dxc5 Bxe5 16.Bxe5 Rxe5[/font] is equal (Hess-Kamsky, US Ch, St Louis, 2012).

[font color="#8000C0"]11.Nxe4 dxe4 12.Ne5 Bxe5 13.Bxe5 Nxe5 14.dxe5 Qc7[/font] is equal (Onischuk-Ponomariov, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2008).

If [font color="darkcyan"]10.Rc1[/font] then:

[font color="darkcyan"]10...b6!? 11.cxb6 Qxb6 12.Qb3! Qxb3 13.axb3 0-0 14.0-0[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (W. Schmidt-Hnydiuk, Op, Police, Poland, 2012).
[font color="slateblue"]10...Nxc3 11.bxc3 e5 12.Bg3 Qa5 13.Qb3 Rb8[/font] remains equal.

If [font color="darkcyan"]9...0-0 10.Qb3 Qc8[/font] then:

[font color="darkcyan"]11.Nh4 Be6 12.0-0 Nxc5 13.dxc5 d4 14.Qc2 dxc3[/font] gives Black a small advantage with the immedate threat of the pawn fork on g5 (Strickland-Kamsky, US Ch, St Louis, 2010).
[font color="slateblue"]11.0-0 Ne4[/font] transposes into [font color="dodgerblue"]Potkin-Kamsky.[/font]

If [font color="dodgerblue"]6.Qb3[/font] then:

If [font color="dodgerblue"]6...Qc8 7.Bf4 Nbd7 8.h3 e6[/font] then:

If [font color="dodgerblue"]9.e3 Be7 10.Be2[/font] then:

If [font color="dodgerblue"]10...0-0 11.0-0 Re8[/font] then:

[font color="dodgerblue"]12.Na4 Bd8 13.Bd3 Bc7 14.Bxf5 exf5 15.Qc2 g6[/font] is equal (Van Wely-Short, IT, Groningen, 1996).
[font color="#0080C0"]12.Rac1 Ne4 13.Rfd1 Bd8 14.Na4 Bc7 15.Ne5 Nef6[/font] is equal (Stocek-Keitlinghaus, IT, Lazne Bohdanec, 1997).

[font color="steelblue"]10...Ne4 11.g4 Bg6 12.h4 Nxc3 13.bxc3 Be4[/font] is equal (Beliavsky-Acs, IT, Paks, Hungary, 2008).

[font color="slateblue"]9.Ne5 Be7 10.g4 Bg6 11.e3 Bd8 12.Be2 Nxe5 13.Bxe5[/font] is equal (I. Sokolov-Shirov, Ol, Yerevan, 1996).

[font color="darkcyan"]6...Ra7 7.Bf4 Nbd7 8.h3 h6 9.e3 g5 10.Bg3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Cmilyte-Makropoulou, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).

If [font color="darkblue"]b) 5...g6 6.Bf4 Bg7 7.h3 0-0 8.e3[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]8...Bf5[/font] transposes into [font color="dodgerblue"]Potkin-Kamsky[/font] and related lines, above.
[font color="dodgerblue"]8...Nbd7[/font] transposes into the [font color="blue"]main line of this note.[/font]

[font color="#008000"](Cameleon Karlsbad Opening)[/font] If [font color="#008000"]5.a4[/font] then:

If [font color="#008000"]5...Bf5

[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]Slav Queen's Gambit: Chameleon Defense/Karlsbad Variation[/center][center]Position after 5...Bc8f5[/center]

If [font color="#008000"]6.Qb3 Ra7 7.Bg5 e6[/font] then:

If [font color="#008000"]8.Bxf6 gxf6 9.e3 a5[/font] then:

[font color="#008000"]10.cxd5 exd5 11.Be2 Bb4 12.0-0 Bg6 13.Rad1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Slipak-Alzate, Pan-Am Ch, Buenos Aires, 2003).
If [font color="#4CC417"]8.e3[/font] then:

If [font color="#4CC417"]8...Be7 9.a5 Nbd7 10.Be2[/font] then:

[font color="#4CC417"]10...h6 11.Bf4 Ne4 12.Nxe4 Bxe4 13.0-0 0-0 14.Nd2[/font] gives White a small advantage (Onischuk-Gonzalez, US Ch, San Diego, 2006).
[font color="#808000"]10...Ne4 11.Bf4 h6 12.h3 Qc8 13.0-0 0-0 14.Rac1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

[font color="seagreen"]10.Be2 Rg8 11.Nh4 Bg4 12.Bxg4 Rxg4 13.g3[/font] gives White a slight edge in space (Obodchuk-Gogolis, Op, Athens, 2005).

[font color="forestgreen"]8...Nbd7 9.Be2 h6 10.Bh4 Bd6 11.Rd1 Qb8 12.Bg3[/font] is equal (Krush-Bacerra Rivero, Op, New York, 2000).

If [font color="#4CC417"]6.Bf4[/font] then:

If [font color="#4CC417"]6...e6([/font] then:

[font color="#4CC417"]7.Qb3 Ra7 8.e3 Nbd7 9.h3 Be7 10.Be2 0-0 11.0-0[/font] is equal (Konnov-Nefediev, Russian Ch ½-final, Ufa, 1999).
[font color="forestgreen"]7.e3 Nbd7[/font] then:

[font color="forestgreen"]8.Nh4 Bg6 9.Nxg6 hxg6 10.Bd3 Nh5 11.Qe2 g5[/font] gives Black a slight edge (Ruzicka-Skacel, Op, Klatovy, Czechia, 2004).
[font color="#6CC417"]8.Bd3 Bxd3 9.Qxd3 dxc4 10.Qxc4[/font] then:

[font color="#6CC417"]10...Be7 11.0-0 0-0 12.e4 Rc8 13.a5 Nh5 14.Be3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Kartsev-Schiefelbusch. Op, Dortmund, 2003).
[font color="#808000"]10...a5 11.0-0 h6 12.h3 Nb6 13.Qe2 Qd7 14.Be5[/font] gives White a slight edge.

[font color="seagreen"]6...dxc4 7.e3 Nd5 8.Bxc4 Nxf4 9.exf4 e6[/font] appears to be playable (the position is equal), but there is no record of it.

If [font color="#4CC417"]5...e6 6.Bg5 Nbd7 7.e3[/font] then:

If [font color="#4CC417"]7...Qa5[/font] then:

If [font color="#4CC417"]8.Nd2 Bb4 9.Qc2 c5[/font] then:

If [font color="#4CC417"]10.Be2 cxd4 11.exd4 dxc4[/font] then:

If [font color="#4CC417"]12.Bxf6 Nxe6 13.Nxc4 Qc7[/font] then:

[font color="#4CC417"]14.Qb3 Bd6 15.Bf3[/font] draw (Piket-I. Sokolov, IT, Madrid, 1997).
[font color="seagreen"]14.a5 Bd7 15.Qb3 Be7 16.Bf3 0-0 17.0-0[/font] draw (Galliamova-Korneev, Russian Cup, Kazan, 2001).

If [font color="forestgreen"]12.Bh4 Qb6[/font] then:

[font color="forestgreen"]13.0-0 Bb4 Qxd4 14.Bg3 Bd6 15.Bxd6 Qxd6 16.Nxc4 Qc7[/font] gives Black an extra pawn against a small spatial advantage for White (Dizdar-Kobalia, Op, Dubai, 2001).
[font color="#808000"]13.Bxf6 Nxf6 14.a5 Qd6 15.Nxc4 Qe7 16.Nb6 Rb8[/font] is equal.

If [font color="forestgreen"]10.Nb3 Qc7 11.dxc5 0-0[/font] then:

[font color="forestgreen"]12.Bxf6 Nxf6 13.cxd5 Nxd5 14.Bd3 h6 15.0-0[/font] is equal (Vaganian-Movsesian, Bundesliga 0405, Cologne, 2005).
[font color="#808000"]12.Bd3 dxc4 13.Bxc4 Bxc5 14.Bd3 Bd6 15.Rc1 b6[/font] is equal (Mamedyarov-Dautov, Euro ChT, Plovdiv, 2010).

If [font color="forestgreen"]8.cxd5[/font] then:

If [font color="forestgreen"]8...cxd5 9.Bd3 Ne4 10.0-0 Nxg5 11.Nxg5 Nf6[/font] then:

[font color="forestgreen"]12.Nf3 13.Qc2 Bd7 14.Ne5 Rc8 15.Rfc1 Rc7[/font] is equal; White's splendid outpost for his Knight is balanced by Black's queenside pressure (Jakovenko-Domínguez Pérez, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).
[font color="seagreen"]12.f4 Bb4 13.Rc1 0-0 14.Qe1 Bd7 15.Qh4 h6[/font] assures Black of winning a pawn (Vaganian-Shirov, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).

If [font color="#6CC417"]8...Nxd5 9.e4 Nxc3 10.bxc3 Nf6 11.Bd3 Qxc3+ 12.Ke2[/font] then:

If [font color="#6CC417"]12...Qb2+ 13.Bd2 a5 14.Rb1[/font] then:

If [font color="#6CC417"]14...Qa2?! 15.Re1! Bb4 16.Kf1[/font] then:

If [font color="#6CC417"]16...0-0? 17.Bxb4![/font] then:

If [font color="#6CC417"]17...axb4[/font] then [font color="#6CC417"]18.Ra1[/font] (the rest is forced) [font color="#6CC417"]18...Qb2 19.Re2 Qc3 20.Rc2 Qb3 21.Bc4[/font] traps the Queen and Black resigns (Kharolv-Iskusnyh, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2003).
If [font color="#348017"]17...Ng4[/font] then White wins after [font color="#348017"]18.Re2 Qxe2+ 19.Qxe2 axb4 20.Rxb4.[/font]

[font color="#4AA02C"]16...e5 17.Re2 Qe6 18.Bxb4 axb4 19.Nxe5 0-0 20.Kg1[/font] gives White a better center and more space, but Black amy be able to generate counterplay with his kingside pawns.

[font color="darkgreen"]14...Qa3[/font] (a much safer square for the Queen than a2) [font color="darkgreen"]15.Qc2 Nd7 16.Rhe1 h6 17.Bc4 Qe7[/font] is equal.

If [font color="#437C17"]12...Qa5 13.Qc2 Be7 14.Rhe1 h6 15.Bd2[/font] then:

If [font color="#437C17"]15...Qh5?[/font] then after [font color="#437C17"]16.e5![/font] (White attacks the Knight an blocks the Queen's escape route) [font color="#437C17"]16...Ng4 17.Rh1 c5 18.h3 Bd7 19.hxg4 Qxg4 20.Be4[/font] White coasts to victory (Ehlvest-Paragua, Ol, Palma de Mallorca, 2004).
[font color="#808000"]15...Qc7 16.a5 Bd7 17.Kf1 Rc8 18.Rab1 Rd8[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space.

If [font color="forestgreen"]7...Bb4 8.cxd5 exd5 9.Bd3 0-0[/font] then:

[font color="forestgreen"]10.Qc2 h6 11.Bh4 Re8 12.0-0 a5 13.h3 Qe7[/font] is equal (Ehlvest-Stripunsky, Marshall CC Ch, New York, 2003).
[font color="#808000"]10.0-0 Re8 11.Qc2 h6 12.Bh4 a5 13.Rfd1 Be7[/font] is equal (Hirneise-Dautov, Bundesliga 1112, Baden-Baden, 2011).

[font color="#D4A017"](Chameleon Exchange Variation)

[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]Slav Queen's Gambit: Chameleon Defense/Exchange Variation[/center][center]Position after 5...cd5[/center]

[/font] If [font color="#D4A017"]5.cxd5 cxd5[/font] then:

If [font color="#D4A017"]6.Bf4 Nc6 7.e3[/font] then:

If [font color="#D4A017"]7...Bg4 8.Be2 e6 9.0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="#D4A017"]9...Be7 10.h3[/font] then:

If [font color="#D4A017"]10...Bh5[/font] then:

If [font color="#D4A017"]11.Rc1 0-0 12.Ne5 Bxe2 13.Qxe2[/font] then:

[font color="#D4A017"]13...Nxe5 14.Bxe5 Nd7 15.Bf4 Qa5 16.Rc2 Rfc8 17.Rfc1[/font] is equal (Mollov-Haba, Op, Toulouse, 1990).
[font color="#AF7817"]13...Nd7 14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.Na4 Qa5 16.b3 Rfc8 17.Rc2[/font] gives White a slight edge in space (Vijayalakshmi-Sasikiran, IT, Hyderabad, 2000).

If [font color="#FFD017"]11.Ne5 Bxe2 12.Qxe2 Rc8[/font] then:

If [font color="#FFD017"]13.Rfc1 0-0[/font] then:

[font color="#FFD017"]14.Qd1 Nxe5 15.Bxe5 Nd7 16.Bg3 Rc4 17.Ne2 Nb6[/font] is equal (Darga-Velicka, Bundesliga Sud 9899, Germany, 1999).
[font color="#C58917"]14.Nxc6[/font] draw (Vorobiov-Najer, Russian Ch, Krasnoyarsk, 2003).

[font color="#EAC117"]13.Rac1 0-0 14.Nxc6 Rxc6 15.Bg5 Qd7 16.Qd2[/font] is equal (Dal Borgo-Timoshchenko, Euro Club Cup, Rethymnon, 2003).

If [font color="#FFD017"]10...Bxf3 11.Bxf3 0-0 12.Rc1 Rc8[/font] then:

If [font color="#FFD017"]13.Na4 Nd7[/font] then:

If [font color="#FFD017"]14.a3[/font] then:

[font color="#FFD017"]14...Na5 15.Qe2 b5 16.Rxc8 Qxc8 17.Nc3[/font] is equal[/font] (Szuveges-Van den Nieuwendijk, Op, Soest, 2000).
[font color="#FBB117"]14...b5 15.Nc5 Nxc5 16.dxc5 Bf6 17.Qe2 Ne5[/font] is equal (Zhang Pengxiang-Abergel, Dos Hermanas IT, Cyberspace, 2006).

[font color="#C58917"]14.Bh2 b5 15.Nc3 Nb6 16.Qe2 Nc4 17.a4 Qa5[/font] is equal (Shirov-A. Gonzales, SX, Terrasa, Spain, 1996).

[font color="#EAC117"]13.Be2 Nd7 14.Bd3 g6 15.Qe2 Nb6 16.Rfd1 Na5[/font] is equal (Valli-A. Delorme, Word Youth BU18, Vung Tau, 2008).

If [font color="#FFD017"]9...Bd6 10.Bxd6 Qxd6 11.Rc1 0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="#FFD017"]12.Na4 Nd7 13.Qd2[/font] then:

If [font color="#FFD017"]13...Rac8 14.a3[/font] then:

[font color="#FFD017"]14...e5!? 15.dxe5 Ndxe5 16.Nxe5 Nxe5 17.f4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Amanov-Goh, Ol, Torino, 2006).
[font color="#FBB117"]14...Rc7 15.Nc5 h6 16.Nxd7 Qxd7[/font] remains equal.

[font color="#C58917"]13...Rfc8 14.h3 Bxf3 15.Bxf3 Rc7 16.Rc2 Rac8 17.Rfc1[/font] is equal (Webb-Dr. Baumbach, Corres, 1999).

[font color="#EAC117"]12.h3 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 Rac8 14.Qa4 Nd7 15.Be2 Nb6[/font] is equal (Radjabov-Shirov, Rpd, León, 2004).

If [font color="#FFD017"]7...Bf5[/font] then:

If [font color="#FFD017"]8.Rc1[/font] then:

If [font color="#FFD017"]8...Rc8[/font] then:

If [font color="#FFD017"]9.Be2 e6 10.0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="#FFD017"]10...Bd6 11.Bxd6 Qxd6 12.Na4[/font] then:

If [font color="#FFD017"]12...0-0 13.Nc5 Rc7 14.Qb3 Qe7[/font] then:

If [font color="#FFD017"]15.Qb6 Rfc8 16.Rc3[/font] then:

If [font color="#FFD017"]16...Nd8 17.Rfc1[/font] then:

[font color="#FFD017"]17...Nd7!? 18.Nxd7! Rxc3 19.Rxc3 Rxc3 20.bxc3 Qxd7 21.Ne5[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Stefanova-Ferguson, 4NCL, Hinkley, England, 2012).
[font color="#AF7817"]17...Rc6 18.Qb3 Ne4 19.Nxe4 Bxe4 20.Nd2[/font] remains equal.

If [font color="#EAC117"]16...Ne4 17.Nxe4![/font] then:

[font color="#EAC117"]17...dxe4!? 18.Nd2 Nb4 19.Rfc1 Nd5 20.Rxc7[/font] gives White a small advantage in space after further exchanges on c7 (Gy. Pap-Krishna, World Jr Ch, Chennai, 2011).
[font color="#C58917"]17...Bxe4 18.Rfc1 Bxf3 19.Bxf3 Qd8 20.Be2 Ra8 21.a3[/font] gives White only a slight advantage with more freedom, but the Knight cannot be taken.

[font color="#AF7817"]15.Rc3 Bg4 16.Rfc1 e5 17.Qd1 exd4 18.Nxd4 Nxd4 19.Bxg4[/font] is equal (Khenkin-Karjakin, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2008).

If [font color="#EAC117"]12...Nd7 13.Nc5 Nxc5 14.Rxc5[/font] then:

[font color="#EAC117"]14...Bg4 15.Ne5 Bxe2 16.Qxe2 0-0 17.Rfc1[/font] remains equal (Sielecki-E. L'Ami, Bundesliga 0607, Germany, 2005).
[font color="#C58917"]14...0-0 15.Qb3 Rc7 16.Rfc1 Bg4 17.Qb6 Bxf3 18.Bxf3[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Bogner-Kempinski, Budesliga 1112, Dortmund, 2012).

If [font color="#EAC117"]10...Nd7[/font] then:

If [font color="#EAC117"]11.Nd2 Be7 12.Nb3 0-0 13.a3[/font] then:

If [font color="#EAC117"]13...Qb6 14.Na4 Qa7[/font] then:

[font color="#EAC117"]15.Nbc5 Nxc5 16.dxc5 e5 17.Bg3 Rcd8 18.b4 d4[/font] is equal (Berkes-Wang Yue, TM, Taiyuan, 2006).
[font color="#AF7817"]15.Bg4 Bxg4 16.Qxg4 Nf6 17.Qe2 Nb8 18.Nac5 Nbd7[/font] is equal (Grischuk-Kasimdzhanov, Grand Prix, Elista, 2008).

[font color="#C7A317"]13...Bf6 14.Bg3 Re8 15.Re1 h6 16.Bf1 Bg6 17.Na4[/font] give White a slight advantage in space (Chernin-Bacrot, Rpd IT, Corsica, 2006).

If [font color="#C58917"]11.a3 Be7[/font] then:

If [font color="#C58917"]12.Na4 g5 13.Bg3 h5[/font] then:

If [font color="#C58917"]14.h3 h4 15.Bh2 g4 16.hxg4 Bxg4[/font] then:

[font color="#C58917"]17.Nd2 Bf5 18.Bg4 Bd3 19.Re1 Rg8 20.Bh3 b5[/font] is equal (K. Georgiev-Zhu Chen, Op, Gibraltar, 2007).
[font color="#FBB117"]17.Ne5 Bxe2 18.Qxe2 Ndxe5 19.Bxe5 Nxe5 20.dxe5 b5[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Sammalvuo-Raznikov, Euro Club Cup, Eilat, 2012).

[font color="#F0A017"]14.Nc5 Nxc5 15.dxc5 h4 16.Be5 Rg8 17.Bd4 g4[/font] gives Black the advantage in space thaqnks to his kingswide pawns (Lou Uiping-Li Shilong, Chinese ChT, Wen Zhou, 2008).

[font color="#C7A317"]12.b4 b5 13.Nd2 0-0 14.Nb3 Nxb4 15.axb4 Bxb4 16.Nxb5[/font] draw (Andersson-Hillarp Persson, IT, Malmö, 2000).

If [font color="#EAC117"]9.Ne5 Nxe5[/font] then:

If [font color="#EAC117"]10.dxe5 Ne4 11.Nxe4 Rxc1 12.Qxc1[/font] then:

If [font color="#EAC117"]12...Bxe4 13.e6[/font] then:

If [font color="#EAC117"]13...Qa5+ 14.Ke2 fxe6 15.f3 Bf5 16.Be5[/font] then:

[font color="#EAC117"]16...h5 17.h4 Kf7 18.Kf2 Qxa2 19.Be2 Rh7 20.g4[/font] is equal (Shimanov-Hovhannisyan, Chigorin Mem Op, St Petersburg, 2012).
[font color="#F0A017"]16...Qa4 17.Kf2 Rg8 18.Be2 g5 19.Qc8+ Kf7 20.Qxb7[/font] gives White a small advantage with better pieces and the threat to win the pawn on a6 (Sorenson-N. Pederson, Danish ChT, 2010).

[font color="#C7A317"]13...fxe6 14.f3 Bf5 15.Qc3 h5 16.Be2 Rg8 17.0-0[/font] remains equal (Vitiugov-Ni Hua, TM, Sochi, 2009).

[font color="#FBB117"]12...dxe4 13.Be2 Qa5+ 14.Kf1 Bd7 15.a3 e6 16.b4 Qb6[/font] gives Black a slight advantage; White will take three moves to develop his King's Rook, Black only two (Akobian-Gonzalez, Op, Las Vegas, 2005).

[font color="#C58917"]10.Bxe5 Nd7 11.Bd3 Bxd3 12.Qxd3 Nxe5 13.dxe5[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (O'Kelly-Dr. Euwe, IT, Beverwijk, 1953).

If [font color="#EAC117"]8...e6 9.Qb3 Ra7[/font] then:

If [font color="#EAC117"]10.Be2 Be7 11.0-0 0-0 12.Na4 Nd7[/font] then:

If [font color="#EAC117"]13.a3 Na5 14.Qa2 Nc4[/font] then:

[font color="#EAC117"]15.Nc5 b5 16.b3 Ncb6 17.Ne5 Nxe5 18.Bxe5[/font] gives White a slight edge with his Knight at a fine outpost (Dreev-Harikrishna, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2005)
If [font color="#C58917"]15.b3 Nxa3 16.Nc5 Nxc5 17.dxc5[/font] then:

[font color="#C58917"]17...Nc2!? 18.Rxc2! Bxc2 19.Qxc2 Ra8 20.b4[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Akobian-Vigorito, Op, Las Vegas, 2003).
[font color="#C7A317"]17...Qa5 18.c6 Be4 19.Nd4 Qb6[/font] is equal.

[font color="#AF7817"]13.Nc5 Nxc5 14.dxc5 Bg4 15.Rfd1 Qa5 16.Qb6[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Graf-Goloschapov, Op, Novgorod, 1999).

If [font color="#C58917"]10.Ne5[/font] then:

If [font color="#C58917"]10...Nxe5 11.Bxe5 Nd7[/font] then:

If [font color="#C58917"]12.Bg3 Be7 13.Be2 0-0 14.0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="#C58917"]14...b5 15.a4 b4 16.Nb1[/font] then:

[font color="#C58917"]16...Qb6 17.Nd2 Qa5 18.Rc6 Nb8 19.Bxb8 Rxb8 20.Ra1[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Remlinger-Liou, Trmt, Los Angeles, 2012).
If [font color="#F0A017"]16...Bxb1 17.Rxb1 Nf6 18.Rbc1 Ne4 19.Rc2 Nxg3 20.hxg3[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Brodsky-Galkin, Russian Club Cup, Sochi, 2006).

[font color="#C7A317"]14...Qa8 15.Nb1 Rc8 16.Bd3 Bxd3 17.Qxd3 Rc6 18.Rc2[/font] is equal (Ivanchuk-So, World Cup, Khanty Mansiysk, 2009).

[font color="#FBB117"]12.Bf4 Be7 13.Be2 0-0 14.0-0 b5 15.a4 b4 16.Nb1[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Halkias-Kharitonov, Aeroflot Op B, Moscow, 2005).

If [font color="#FBB117"]10...Nd7 11.Nxc6 bxc6[/font] then:

If [font color="#FBB117"]12.Be2 Be7 13.0-0 c5 14.Qa4[/font] then:

If [font color="#FBB117"]14...0-0 15.Nb5 Ra8 16.Nd6 Bxd6 17.Bxd6 Nb6 18.Qb3[/font] gives White a comfortable game; if 18...Qxd6 then 19.dxc5 recovers the piece (Graf-Malakhov, Euro Ch PO, Istanbul, 2003).
If [font color="#F0A017"]12.Qa4 Qb6 13.Nd1 Bb4+ 14.Ke2 Ab6+ axb5 Rxc6[/font] gives White an extra pawn, but Black has partaial compensation for seriously disrupting White's development.

[font color="#C7A317"]14...Qb6?! 15.dxc5! Bxc5 16.e4 dxe4 17.Qc4 Qa5 18.Na4[/font] gives White a durable intiative and open lines leading to the Black King in compensation for a pawn (Milchev-Bogdanovski, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).

If [font color="#EAC117"]8.Bd3 Bxd3 9.Qxd3 e6 10.0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="#EAC117"]10...Be7 11.h3 0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="#EAC117"]12.Rac1 Rc8[/font] then:

If [font color="#EAC117"]13.Ne5 Nxe5 14.Bxe5 Nd7[/font] then:

If [font color="#EAC117"]15.Bg3 Nb6[/font] then:

[font color="#EAC117"]16.Ne2 Qd7 17.Rxc8 Rxc8 18.Rc1 Rxc1+ 19.Nxc1[/font] draw (Vidmar (Jr)-Gligoric, Yugoslav Ch, Zagreb, 1946 and Lilienthal-Bronstein, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1948).
If [font color="#FBB117"]16.b3 Bd6 17.Bxd6 Qxd6 18.Ne2 g6 19.Rxc8 Rxc8[/font] is equal (Arnaudov-V. Georgiev, Op, Cappelle-la-Grande, 2011).

[font color="#F0A017"]15.Bf4 Nb6 16.Rc2 Nc4 17.b3 Na3 18.Rcc1 Qa5[/font] is equal (Kasimdzhanov-Anand, Rpd IT, Corsica, 2006).

[font color="#C7A317"]13.Bg5 Nd7 14.Bxe7 Qxe7 15.Na4 Na5 16.b3 Qa3[/font] is equal (Le Quang Liem-Wang Yue, Mindsports Rpd, Beijing, 2008).

If [font color="#FBB117"]12.Rfc1 Rc8 13.Ne5 Nxe5 14.Bxe5 Nd7 15.Bg3 Nb6[/font] is equal (Kouatly-Van der Wiel, TM, Cannes, 1990).

If [font color="#C58917"]10...Bd6 11.Bxd6 Qxd6[/font] then:

If [font color="#C58917"]12.a3 0-0 13.Rac1 Rac8[/font] then:

[font color="#C58917"]14.Ne2 0-0 13.Rac1 Rac8[/font] then:

[font color="#C58917"]14.Ne2 Ne7 15.h3 h6 16.Rxc8 Rxc8 17.Rc1[/font] is equal (Andriasian-Gupta, Op, Dubai, 2012).
[font color="#C7A317"]14.h3 h6 15.Rfd1[/font] draw (Raicevic-B. Ivanovic, TT, Herceg Novi, 1999).

If [font color="#FBB117"]12.Rac1 0-0 13.Na4 Ne4 14.Nc5 Nxc5 15.Rxc5 Rfc8[/font] is equal (Mikhalevski-Mitkov, Op, Schaumburg, Illinois, 2006).

If [font color="#FFD017"]6.Bg5[/font] then:

If [font color="#FFD017"]6...Ne4 7.Bh4 Nc6 8.e3 Qa5 9.Qb3[/font] then:

If [font color="#FFD017"]9...Qb4[/font] then:

If [font color="#FFD017"]10.Be2 Bf5 11.Qxb4 Nxb4 12.0-0[/font] then:

[font color="#FFD017"]12...Nxc3 13.bxc3 Nc2 14.Rab1 b5 15.Rb3 f6[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space; it costs more than it is worth in time to attempt to snare the Knight at c2, so it shall remain for the forseeable future (Wells-Smeets, EU Ch, Liverpool, 2008).
[font color="#AF7817"]12...e6 13.Nxe4 Bxe4 14.a3 Nc6 15.Nd2 Bg6 16.Rfc1[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Savchenko-Delchev, Euro Ch PO, Ohrid, 2001).

[font color="#E8A317"]10.Qxb4 Nxb4 11.Rc1 Bf5 12.a3 Nxc3 13.Rxc3 Nc6 14.Be2[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Beliavsky-Movsesian, Yugoslav ChT, Herceg Novi, 2001).

If [font color="#EAC117"]9...e6 10.Bd3[/font] then:

If [font color="#C58917"]10...f5 11.0-0 Bd6[/font] then:

[font color="#C58917"]12.Rac1 Rb8 13.Na4 Bd7 14.Nb6 Qb4 15.Qxb4[/font] gives White a slight edge in space; Black should recapture with the Knight in oreder to threaten the Bishop (Yevseev-Burmakin, Russian Cup, Kazan, 2011).
[font color="#FBB117"]12.Rfd1 Rb8 13.Rac1 Bd7 14.a3 0-0 15.Qc2 Rbc8[/font] is equal (Mohd Saleh-Houska, OlW, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).

[font color="#C58917"]10...Nxc3 11.bxc3 Bd6 12.Bg3 Qc7 13.e4 0-0 14.0-0[/font] gives White more piece activity (S. Ionov-Rustemov, Russian Ch, Elista, 2001).

If [font color="#EAC117"]6...e6 7.e3 Nbd7[/font] then:

If [font color="#C58917"]8.Bd3[/font] then:

If [font color="#C58917"]8...Be7 9.0-0 0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="#C58917"]10.Rc1 b5 11.Ne5[/font] then:

If [font color="#C58917"]11...Bb7 12.f4[/font] then:

If [font color="#C58917"]12...h6 13.Bh4 Nxe5[/font] then:

[font color="#C58917"]14.fxe5 Ne4 15.Bxe7 Qxe7 16.Bxe4 dxe4 17.Qg4[/font] gives White a slight advantage with more space (Levenfish-Fine, IT, Leningrad, 1937).
[font color="#AF7817"]14.dxe5 Ne4 15.Bxe7 Qxe7 16.Bxe4 dxe4 17.Qd6[/font] is equal (Eliskases-Fine, IT, Leningrad, 1937).

[font color="#FDD017"]12...Rc8 13.a4 b4 14.Ne2 Rxc1 15.Qxc1 Nxe5 16.fxe5[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Rossetto_Guimard, IT, Mar del Plata, 1947).

[font color="#C68E17"]11...Nxe5 12.dxe5 Nd7 13.Bf4 Bb7 14.Bb1 Rc8 15.a3[/font] is equal (Niemela-Pfeiffer, ZT, Sofia, 1957).

[font color="#F0A017"]10.a4 b6 11.Qb1 h6 12.Bh4 Bb7 13.Bg3[/font] gives White a slight advantage (Menchik-Böök, IT, Margate, 1938).

[font color="#FBB117"]8...Bd6 9.0-0 b5 10.Rc1 Bb7 11.Qe2 Qb6 12.e4 dxe4[/font] draw (Robertson-Groffen, EU Ch, Liverpool, 2008).

If [font color="#C58917"]8.a4 h6 9.Bh4 Bd6 10.Bd3 b6 11.0-0 Bb7 12.Qe2[/font] gives White the early edge in space (Van Wely-Shirov, Bundesliga 0405, Cologne, 2005).

5...dxc4 6.a4

If [font color="red"]6.Bg2 b5 7.Ne5 Bb7 8.a4 e6 9.0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]9...Nd5 10.e4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]10...Nxc3 11.bxc3 Nd7 12.f4 Be7[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]13.Ng4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]13...h5 14.Ne3 Qc7 15.e5 g6 16.Ba3 Nb6 17.Bxe7 Qxe7[/font] is equal (Najer-Volkov, Russian Ch HL, Taganrog, 2011).
[font color="burgundy"]13...0-0 14.e5 Nb6 15.f5 exf5 16.Ne3 g6[/font] gives Black a slight advantage (Shabalov-Erenberg, Op, Philadelphia, 2012).

If [font color="darkred"]13.Nxd7 Qxd7 14.f5 exf5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]15.Bh3 Qd8 16.Bxf5 Bc8 17.Qg4 Bxf5 18.Rxf5[/font] gives White a fair advantage (Donchenko-Savon, Op, Alushta, 1993).
[font color="magenta"]15.Rxf5 0-0 16.Be3 Rad8 17.Qe2 Bc8 18.Rff1 Qc7[/font] is equal (Ausmins-Malakhov, Op, Geneva, 2000).

If [font color="darkred"]10...Nf6 11.d5 cxd5 12.exd5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]12...exd5 13.axb5 axb5 14.Rxa8 Bxa8 15.Nxb5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]15...Bc5 16.Qa4 0-0 17.Qxa8 Qe8 18.Nc3 Qxe5 19.Bf4[/font] is equal (Mikhalevski-Naiditsch, Op, Heviz, 2008).
[font color="darkorange"]15...Qa5 16.Nd4 Bd6 17.Nxc4 dxc4 18.Bxa8 0-0 19.Bg2[/font] is equal (Genutis-Fridman, Rpd Op, Warsaw, 2012).

[font color="magenta"]12...Nxd5 13.Nxd5 Bxd5 14.axb5 Bc5 15.bxa6 0-0 16.Nxc4[/font] is equal (Sosonko-T. Chen, Ol, Buenos Aires, 1978).

If [font color="darkred"]9...Qc8 10.e4 Nbd7[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]11.Nxd7 Qxd7 12.e5 Nd5 13.Ne4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]13...Nb6 14.b3 cxb3 15.Qxb3 Nxa4 16.Ba3 c5 17.dxc5[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and White more space (Yu Yangi-Pourramezanali, Asian Ch, Mashad, Iran, 2011).
[font color="darkorange"]13...Qc7 14.Re1 c5 15.dxc5 Bxc5 16.axb5 axb5[/font] is equal (Postny-Nyback, Bundesliga 1112, Germany, 2011).

[font color="magenta"]11.f4 Be7 12.Be3 0-0 13.Qe2 b4 14.Na2 c5[/font] give Black a local advantage in space on the queenside; White's center pawns are vulnerable to attack (Meister-J. Geller, Russian Cup, Togliatty, 2001).

6...e6 7.Bg2 c5 8.0-0

If [font color="red"]8.dxc5 Qxd1+ 9.Nxd1 Nc6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]10.Ne3 Bxc5 11.Nxc4 Ke7 12.0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]12...Rd8[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]13.b3 Bd7 14.Bb2 Rac8 15.Rac1[/font] then:

[font color="red"]15...b5 16.axb5 axb5 17.Nce5 Bd6 18.Nxd7 Nxd7 19.Bxg7[/font] gives White an extra pawn, the Bishop pair and a safer King (Herraiz Hidalgo-Arizmendi Martínez, IT, León, Spain, 2006).
[font color="burgundy"]15...Be8 16.Nfe5 Nd4 17.Bxd4 Bxd4 18.Bxb7 Rb8 19.Bxa6[/font] gives White more activity and space (Sorokin-Burmakin, Anibal Op, Linares, 1999).

[font color="darkpink"]13.Bg5 h6 14.Bxf6+ gxf6 15.Nfd2 Bd7 16.e3[/font] is equal (Ajrapetjan-So, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2009).

If [font color="darkred"]12...Bd7 13.Nfe5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]13...Rac8 14.Bg5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]14...h6 15.Nxd7 Kxd7 16.Bxc6+ bxc6 17.Bxf6 gxf6 18.b4[/font] gives White the initiative and more space (Rodshtein-Vang Glud, Ol, Dresden, 2008).
[font color="darkorange"]14...Rhd8 15.Nxd7 Rxd7 16.Bxc6 bxc6 17.Rfc1[/font] gives White a small advantage with stronger pawns and better piece placement (S. B. Hansen-S. Pedersen, Politikin Cup, Helsingør, 2009).

[font color="magenta"]13...Rhd8!? 14.Nd3! Bd6 15.Nxd6 Kxd6 16.Rd1 Be8 17.Be3[/font] leaves the Black King in a very awkward place (Taimanov-Pachman, Capablanca Mem, Havana, 1964).

If [font color="darkred"]10.Be3 Nd5 11.0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]11...Bd7 12.Nd2 Na5 13.Bd4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]13...Rc8 14.e4 Nb4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]15.Ne3 f6 16.e5 Bxc5 17.Bxc5 Rxc5 18.exf6 gxf6[/font] is equal (O. Jakobsen-Bukal, World Sr Ch, Arvier, 2006).
[font color="burgundy"]15.Bc3 Nb3 16.Nxb3 Nc2 17.Na5 Nxa1 18.Nxb7 Bxa4[/font] gives Black a slight advantage.

[font color="darkpink"]13...f6 14.Ne3 Nxe3 15.Bxe3 Rc8 16.Rac1 Bxa4 17.Ra1[/font] gives Black an extra pawn but White has more effective pieces (Bui Vinh-Le Quang Liem, Vietnamese Ch Prelim, Hue, 2005).

If [font color="magenta"]11...Nxe3!? 12.Nxe3![/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]12...Bxc5 13.Nxc4 Ke7 14.Rac1 Bd7 15.Nfe5 Nxe5 16.Nxe5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Aronian-Bacrot, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2005).
[font color="darkorange"]12...c3 13.bxc3 Bxc5 14.Nc4 Ra7 15.Rab1 Bd7 16.Ng5[/font] gives White a comforable game (Johannessen-Hammer, Op, Tromsø, 2006).

8...cxd4

If [font color="red"]8...Nc6 9.Ne5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]9...Na5 10.dxc5 Qxd1 11.Rxd1 Bxc5 12.Bf4 Ke7 13.Rac1 Ra7 14.Ne4[/font] gives White better minor pieces and the initiative (Bacrot-Laznicka, Bundesliga 0607, Germany, 2006).
If [font color="darkred"]9...Bd7 10.Nxd7 Qxd7 11.d5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]11...exd5!? 12.Nxd5 Nxd5 13.Qxd5 Qxd5 14.Bxd5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]14...Rd8[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]15.Bxc4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]15...Na5!? 16.Ba2![/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]16...c4!? 17.Be3! Bb4 18.Bb6 Rd2 19.Rfd1 Rxd1+ 20.Rxd1[/font] gives White two Bishops, more space and superior development; Black has a remote pawn majority (Bacrot-Komljenovic, Op, Verona, 2004).
[font color="burgundy"]16...Nc6 17.Kg2 Be7 18.Be3 Nd4 19.Rad1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

[font color="hotpink"]15...Be7 16.e4 Nb4 17.Be3 Nc2 18.Rad1 Nxe3 19.fxe3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

[font color="purple"]15.Bxc6+ bxc6 16.Be3 Rb8 17.Rfc1 Rxb2 18.Rxc4[/font] gives White the advantage in space (Del Rio Angelis-Matlakov, Op, Montcada i Reixac, Spain, 2009).

[font color="darkorange"]14...Na5 15.Bf4 Be7 16.Bc7 Bd8 17.Bxa5 Bxa5 18.Bxb7[/font] gives White stronger pawns and the initiative (Adhiban-Sriram, Indian Ch, Mumbai, 2009).

[font color="magenta"]11...Nd4 12.e4 h5 13.a5 h4 14.Be3 e5[/font] is equal.

9.Nxd4 Nbd7

If [font color="red"]9...Bc5 10.Be3 Qe7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]11.a5 0-0 12.Na4 Ba7 13.Nc2 Nc6 14.Bxa7 Nxa7[/font] is equal (M. Ivanov-Jirka, Czech ChT, Frydek Mistek, 2010).
[font color="darkred"]11.Nc2 0-0 12.a5 Nc6 13.Na4 Bxe3 14.Nxe3 Rd8[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space (Kamsky-Bareev, IT, Linares, 1994).

10.Nc2 Qc7

If [font color="red"]10...Bc5 11.Ne3 Ne5 12.Qxd8+ Kxd8 13.a5 Rb8 14.Na4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Kramnik-Karjakin, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2009).

11.Bf4 (N)

[font color="red"]11.Qd4 Bc5 12.Qh4 Be7 13.Na3 Ne5 14.Bf4 h6 15.Bxe5[/font] draw (Kramnik-Gelfand, IT, Linares, 1997).

11...e5

The game is equal.

12.Bd2

If [font color="red"]12.Bg5 Bc5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]13.h4 Ba7 14.Nb4 Bd4 15.Ncd5 Qd6 16.e3[/font] gives White a small edge in space.
[font color="darkred"]13.Ne3 Bxe3 14.Bxe3 Rb8 15.Ba7 Ra8 16.Be3 Nc5[/font] is equal.

12...Nc5 13.Bg5 Be6

If [font color="red"]13...Nb3 14.Bxf6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]14...Nxa1 15.Nd5 Qd6 16.Nce3 gxf6 17.Nxc4 Qd8 18.Qxa1[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space.
[font color="darkred"]14...gxf6 15.Rb1 Rb8 16.Na1 Nd4 17.e3 Nf5 18.Nd5[/font] gives White stronger pawns and the initiative.

14.Bxf6

If [font color="red"]14.Ne3 Nb3 15.Rb1 Be7 16.Bxf6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]16...gxf6 17.Qc2 Rd8 18.Rfd1 Nd4 19.Qe4 Rd7[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and White more space.
[font color="darkred"]16...Bxf6 17.Qc2 Nd4 18.Qe4 Qc6 19.Ned5 Bf5[/font] remains equal.

14...gxf6 15.Nd5 Qd8

Black has an equal game, but he has achieved this while neglecting the development of his kingside.
If [font color="red"]15...Bxd5?! 16.Qxd5![/font] then:

[font color="red"]16...c3 17.b4 Rd8 18.Qc4 Ne6 19.Qxc7 Nxc7 20.Bxb7[/font] gives White stronger pawns and an active Bishop; Black has a pssed pawn and command of the d-file.
[font color="darkred"]16...Nb3 17.Rad1 Bc5 18.Qf3 Qb6 19.Qg4[/font] gives White stronger pawns and a coordinated attack on the Black King stuck in the center

16.Nce3 Nb3 17.a5

The game remains equal.
[font color="red"]17.Rb1 Rc8 18.Nc3 Rb8 19.Qxd8+ Rxd8 20.Rbd1 Bc5[/font] gives Black an extra pawn, more activity and a slight edge in space; White has stronger pawns.

17...Rc8!?

Black lets the Rook run away.
Correct is [font color="red"]17...Nxa1 18.Qa4+ Bd7 19.Qxc4 Rc8 20.Qh4 Rc6 21.Rxa1[/font] with equality.

[center]BLACK: Luke McShane[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Vladimir Kramnik[/center][center]Position after 17...Ra8c8[/center]

18.Ra4!

White attacks the pawn, thus undermining the Black Knight.
White has a small advantage with greater piece activity and a safer King

18...Nd4

White deal with the attack by retreating the Knight.
If [font color="red"]18...Nxa5!?[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]19.Nxf6+! 19...Qxf6 20.Rxa5 e4 21.Qa4+[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]21...b5 22.Qc2 Bg7 23.Rb1[/font] then:

[font color="red"]23...0-0 24.Bxe4 c3 25.Bxh7+ Kh8 26.b4 Rfd8 27.Bd3[/font] gives White an extra pawn.
[font color="burgundy"]23...Qe5 24.Qxe4 Qxe4 25.Bxe4 0-0 26.Rxa6 Rfd8 27.Rb6[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

If [font color="darkpink"]21...Bd7?[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkpink"]22.Qc2! Be6 23.Bxe4 Rc7 24.Nd5 Bxd5 25.Rxd5.[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]19.Rxa5!? Qxa5 20.Nxf6+ Ke7[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]21.Nfd5+ Ke8 22.Nf6+ Ke7 23.Ned5+ Kd8 24.Qc1 Rc6[/font] is equal.

If [font color="blue"]18...Bc5 19.Nxc4 Nd4[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]20.e3 Bxd5[/font] then:

[font color="blue"]21.Bxd5 21...Qxd5 22.exd4 exd4 23.Ne3 Qd7 24.Ng4[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.
[font color="#0080C0"]21.exd4!? Bxg2 22.Kxg2 Bxd4 23.Qf3 Qe7 24.Rc1 Rc6[/font] is equal.

If [font color="darkblue"]20.Nc3 Ba7 21.Qd3 Rc7 22.e4[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]22...Bxc4 23.Rxc4 Nf3+ 24.Qxf3 Rxc4 25.Nd5 Rc6[/font] is equal.
[font color="dodgerblue"]22...Qd7 23.Rfa1 Nc2 24.Qxc2 Bxc4 25.Rb4 0-0[/font] is equal.

19.Nb6

White continues to enjoy a small advantage in space.
If [font color="red"]19.f4 Bg7 20.f5 Bxd5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]21.Nxd5 Rc5 22.Nb6 Rxa5 23.Rxa5 Qxb6 24.Qa4+ Nb5+[/font] remains equal.
[font color="darkred"]21.Bxd5!? c3 22.bxc3 Rxc3 23.Rxd4 exd4 24.Qxd4 Rc7[/font] gives Black a slight advantage; although White has active pieces in the center, a safer King, stronger pawns and more space, he is completely unprepared to launch an attack and any further aggressive action will recoil against his position. For example:

[font color="magenta"]25.Qa4+!? Qd7 26.Qxd7+[/font] then:
If [font color="magenta"]26...Kxd7! 27.Bxf7 Rc5 28.Be6+ Kc7 29.Nd5+ Kb8[/font] leaves Black up by the exchange.
If [font color="darkorange"]26...Rxd7 27.Rb1 Bf8 28.Kg2 Bc5 29.Ng4 Ke7[/font] gives Black the initiative against the Bishop and now:
[font color="darkorange"]30.Rxb7 Rxb7 31.Bxb7 Rd8 32.Bxa6 h5 33.Nf2 Bxf2 34.Kxf2 Rd5[/font] leaves White up by the exchange.
[font color="purple"]30.Bf3?! h5 31.Nf2 Bxf2 32.Kxf2 Rc8 33.Rb6 Rc5[/font] leaves Black up by the exchange.
If [font color="magenta"]25.Rd1[/font] then:
If [font color="magenta"]25...Kf8! 26.Qb6 Rd7 27.Qxd8+ Rxd8 28.Nc4 Ke7[/font] is equal; White's Bishop is pinned.
If [font color="darkorange"]25...0-0?! 26.Bxf7+!![/font] then:
[font color="darkorange"]26...Kxf7 27.Qxd8 Rxd8 28.Rxd8 Ke7 29.Rg8 Kf7 30.Rb8[/font] gives White an extra pawn for which Black has no compensation.
[font color="purple"]26...Rcxf7 27.Qxd8 Rxd8 28.Rxd8+ Rf8 29.Rd6 Re8 30.Nd5[/font] gives White an extra pawn.

19...Rc7 20.Rxc4 Bxc4

Black still hasn't developed his kingside.

21.Nexc4

By recapturing the Bishop this way, White maintains his small advantage.
If [font color="red"]21.Nbxc4!?[/font] then:

[font color="red"]21...h5! 22.h4 Be7 23.b3 Kf8 24.Nd5 Rc5[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space.
If [font color="darkred"]21...Be7!? 22.Qd3 h5 23.Nd5 Rc5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]24.Ndb6 Kf8 25.Bxb7 Kg7 26.Bxa6 Rxa5 27.Nxa5 Qxb6[/font] gives Black a small advantage; White must decide how to deal with the attack on his Knight.
[font color="magenta"]24.e3 Nc6 25.Rd1 Nb4 26.Nxf6+ Bxf6 27.Nd6+ Kf8[/font] is equal.

21...Nb5?

This should cost Black the game.
If [font color="red"]21...Be7 22.Qa4+ Kf8 23.e3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]23...Ne6 24.Nd5 Qd7 25.Qa2 Rc5 26.Ncb6 Qe8 27.b4[/font] gives White a comortable game.
[font color="darkred"]23...Nc6!? 24.Rd1 Qe8 25.Bh3 Nb4 26.Bd7 Qb8 27.Kg2[/font] gives White a substantial advantage in space.

22.Qb1?!

White doesn't find the optimum move.
If [font color="red"]22.Qa4! Qb8 23.Ne3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]23...Bc5 24.Qg4 Kf8 25.Rd1 Nd4 26.Nd7+ Rxd7 27.Qxd7[/font] gives Black no hope of survival; White is in command of d5 that he can use to bring his minor pieces up to assist the Queen, while Black's Rook is still undeloped.
If [font color="darkred"]23...h5[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]24.Rd1 Rh6 25.Bh3 Bc5 26.Bd7+ Kf8 27.Nf5.[/font]

22...Qd4?

Black brings his Queen to the center, but why? All of White's pieces protect each other marvelously. Meanwhile, Black's weakest pawn, the foremost f-pawn, is unguarded.
If [font color="red"]22...Qb8 23.Rd1[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]23...Bg7 24.e3 0-0[/font] (Black finally completes his development) [font color="red"]25.Nd7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]25...Qe8 26.Ncb6 Qe6 27.Nxf8 Bxf8 28.Be4 Kg7 29.Bxh7[/font] leaves White's Knight unassailable, his Rook in command of the d-file and his King much safer.
If [font color="burgundy"]25...Qc8?[/font] then White wins after [font color="burgundy"]26.Ncb6 Qe8 27.Nxf8 Bxf8 28.Bh3 Kg7 29.Qe4.[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]23...Be7?! 24.e3 0-0 25.Qf5 Rd8 26.Rd7[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]26...Rdxd7 27.Nxd7 Rxd7 28.Qxd7 Qc7 29.Qxc7 Nxc7 30.Bxb7[/font] gives White an extra pawn.
[font color="magenta"]26...Rxc4 27.Nxc4 Rxd7 28.Qg4+ Kf8 29.Qxd7[/font] gives White stronger pawns and a substantial advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Luke McShane[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Vladimir Kramnik[/center][center]Position after 22...Qd8d4[/center]

23.Rd1!

Also good is [font color="red"]23.Ne3! Be7 24.Nbd5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]24...Qc5 25.b4 Qd6 26.Nf5 Qd8 27.Nxc7+ Qxc7 28.Rc1[/font] followed by 29.Qe4! is hopeless for Black
If [font color="darkred"]24...Qd2[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]25.Nxc7+ Nxc7 26.Bxb7 Qxa5 27.Qf5 Ne6 28.Rc1.[/font]

23...Qc5 24.e3 Be7 25.Qf5 Kf8

If [font color="red"]25...h5 26.b3 e4 27.Nd5 Kf8 28.Qh3 Rc6 29.Bxe4[/font] leaves White with an extra pawn and a freer game.

26.Bd5 Kg7

If [font color="red"]26...h5[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]27.Nd7+ Rxd7 28.Qxd7 Kg7 29.Qxb7 Rd8 30.e4.[/font]

27.Qg4+ Kh6

[center]BLACK: Luke McShane[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Vladimir Kramnik[/center][center]Position after 27...Kg7h6[/center]

28.e4

White has a quicker win after [font color="red"]28.Bxf7! Rd8 29.Nd7 Rdxd7 30.Rxd7 Rxd7 31.Qxd7.[/font]

28...Nd4 29.Ne3 f5 30.Qh3+

After [font color="red"]30.Nxf5+ Nxf5 31.Qxf5 Qxa5 32.Nd7 Rxd7 33.Qxd7[/font] White begins feasting on Black's remaining pawns.

30...Kg7 31.Rxd4 exd4 32.Nxf5+

No matter how good things look, one must still play with care.
If [font color="red"]32.Qh5? Rd8 33.Nxf5+ Kh8 34.Qxf7 Qc1+ 35.Kg2 Qg5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

32...Kf8 33.Qh6+ Ke8 34.Bxf7+ Kd8 35.Qg7 Rf8

[center]BLACK: Luke McShane[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Vladimir Kramnik[/center][center]Position after 35...Rh8f8[/center]

36.Nxd4

White now has three extra pawns.
Better is [font color="red"]36.Nd5 Bd6 37.Nxd6 Qxd6 38.Nxc7 Kxc7 39.Bd5+[/font] winning Black's mot dangerous pawn.

36...Rc6 37.Nxc6+ bxc6

If [font color="red"]37...Qxc6 38.Qxh7[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]38...Qc7 39.Nd5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]39...Qc1+ 40.Kg2 Qxb2 41.Nf4 Rh8 42.Qf5 Qf6 43.Qd5+[/font] leaves Black's King in a mating net.
If [font color="magenta"]39...Qxa5[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]40.Kg2 Qe1 41.Nxe7 Rxf7 42.Nc6+ bxc6 43.Qxf7.[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]38...Bf6[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]39.Bg6 Rh8 40.Qf7 Bd4 41.Nd5 Qc1+ 42.Kg2.[/font]

38.Qg4 Kc7 39.Qd7+ Kb8 40.Qd2

White has a quicker win after [font color="red"]40.Qe6 Qd6 41.Nd7+ Kc7 42.Nxf8 Bxf8 43.Qf5[/font] whenBlack loses another pawn.

40...Kc7

If [font color="red"]40...Bg5 41.Nd7+ Kc8 42.Qd1[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]42...Rd8 43.Qg4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]43...Qc1+ 44.Kg2 Kc7 45.Nb6 h6 46.Qe2 Rd2 47.Qf3[/font] gives White two pawns for the exchange, a safer King and more activity.
[font color="burgundy"]43...Qe7[/font] then White wins after [font color="burgundy"]44.Nc5+ Kb8 45.Nxa6+ Ka7 46.Bc4 Bf6 47.b4.[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]42...Re8 43.Nxc5 Rd8 44.Qb3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]44...Rd6 45.Qb7+ Kd8 46.e5 Rd1+ 47.Kg2 h6 48.Ne6#.[/font]
If [font color="magenta"]44...Rd1+ 45.Kg2 Kc7[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]46.Qxd1 h6 47.Qd7+ Kb8 48.Qb7#.[/font]
If [font color="darkorange"]46.Qb7+[/font] then [font color="darkorange"]46...Kd8 47.Ne6#.[/font]

41.Qd7+ Kb8 42.Kg2 Bd6

[font color="red"]42...Qd6 43.Qxd6+ Bxd6 44.Nd7+[/font] wins back the exchange; White should win even with Bishops of opposite colors.

43.b4 Qd4 44.Qxc6 Ka7 45.Kh3

If [font color="red"]45.f4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]45...Qd1 46.Nc8+ Rxc8 47.Qb6+ Ka8 48.Bd5+[/font] forces Black to surrender his Queen.
If [font color="darkred"]45...Rxf7[/font] then [font color="darkred"]46.Qa8#.[/font]

45...Qd1

If [font color="red"]45...Qe5[/font] then Black is toast after [font color="red"]46.Nc8+ Kb8 47.Nxd6 Rxf7 48.Kg2 Qe7 49.Qb6+.[/font]

46.Nc8+ Rxc8 47.Qxc8 Qf1+ 48.Kg4 h5+ 49.Kxh5 1-0

If [font color="red"]49...Qe2+ 50.Kh6 Qxe4 51.Qd7+ Ka8 52.Qxd6[/font] leaves White a piece to the good and Black in a mating net.
Mr. McShane resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

10. J. Polgar - Nakamura, Round 5 (Opening Theory: Grand Spanish/Neo-Classical Defense)

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Reply #2)

Wed Jan 9, 2013, 12:18 AM

Jan 2013

This game incorporates and supercedes some of the notes to Black's 5th move in Van den Doel-Nikolic, Op, Leiden, 2011.

[center][/center]

[center]Hikaru Nakamura][/center][font size="1"]Photo by James F. Perry in [link:ttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hikaru_Nakamura|Wikipedia] (link:http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en|Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Judit Polgar - Hikaru Nakamura
Chess Classic, Round 5
London, 6 December 2012

Grand Spanish Royal Game: Neo-Classical Defense (Møller Defense)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 b5 6.Bb3 Bc5

This is the Neo-Classical or Møller Defense.

[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]Grand Spanish Royal Game: Neo-Classical Defense.[/center][center]Position after 6...Bf8c5[/center]

7.a4
[font color="red"]
[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]Grand Spanish Royal Game: Neo-Classical Defense (Main Line)[/center][center]Position after 8.d2d4[/center]
[/font]

If [font color="red"]7.c3 d6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]8.d4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]8...Bb6[/font] then:

[font color="red"](Neo-Classical/Arkhangelsk Nexis)[/font]

[font color="red"]
[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center

[center]WHITE[/center][center]Grand Spanish Royal Game: Neo-Classical Defense/Arkhangelsk Variation[/center][center]Position after 9...Bb7[/center]
[/font]

If [font color="red"]9.h3 Bb7 10.Re1 0-0 11.Be3 h6 12.Nbd2[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]12...Re8[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]13.d5 Ne7 14.Bxb6 cxb6 15.Bc2 Ng6 16.Bd3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]16...Bc8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]17.Bf1 Bd7 18.Qb3 Qc7 19.Rec1 Qc5 20.a3[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Azarov-Wen Yang, Chigorin Mem, St. Petersburg, 2009).
[font color="burgundy"]17.a4 bxa4 18.Qxa4 Nf4 19.Bf1[/font] is equal (Zdebskaja-Sachdev, Scandanavian Op, Copenhagen, 2009).

If [font color="darkred"]16...Nd7 17.Bf1 Rc8 18.a4 bxa4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]19.Qxa4 b5 20.Qa3 Nb6 21.Nb3 f5 22.Na5 Ba8 23.exf5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Fier-V. Georgiev, Op, Dieren, 2011).
[font color="magenta"]19.Rxa4 b5 20.Ra3 Nb6 21.g3 Rf8 22.Bd3 Qd7[/font] is equal (T. Kosintseva-Pogonina, Russian ChW, Moscow, 2012).

If [font color="darkred"]13.Qb1 Nb8 14.Bc2 Nbd7 15.a4 d5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]16.Nxe5 dxe4 17.Nxd7 Qxd7 18.axb5 axb5 19.Rxa8 Bxa8[/font] is equal (Wedberg-Hector, Swedish Ch, Umea, 2003).
[font color="magenta"]16.dxe5 Bxe3 17.Rxe3 Nxe5 18.Nxe5 dxe4 19.axb5 Qxd2[/font] is equal (Wedberg-Hector, IT, Malmö, 2003).

If [font color="darkred"]12...exd4 13.cxd4 Nb4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]14.Qb1 c5 15.a3 Nc6[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]16.e5 dxe5 17.dxc5 Bc7 18.Rd1[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]18...Na5 19.Ba2 Bd5 20.b4 Nc6 21.Nf1 Bxa2 22.Rxa2 Qc8[/font] is equal (Karavade-Nadig, world Jr ChG, Istanbul, 2005).
[font color="purple"]18...Nd4 19.Ba2 Nxf3+ 20.Nxf3 Qe8 21.Qc2 Be4 22.Qe2[/font] is equal (Haufe-Chrestani, Corres, 1997).

[font color="darkorange"]16.d5 Ne7 17.Bc2 Nd7 18.Bf4 Bc7 19.Bb3 f5[/font] is equal (Smirin-Shirov, Op, Riga, 1987).

[font color="magenta"]14.Qe2 c5 15.a3 Nc6 16.d5 Ne7 17.Bc2[/font] is equal (Hou Yifan-Yildiz, Grand PrixW 1011, Nalchik, 2010).

If [font color="darkred"]9.a4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]9...Rb8[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]10.axb5 axb5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]11.Na3 0-0 12.Nxb5 Bg4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]13.d5 Ne7 14.Bc2 Qd7[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]15.Na3 Nexd5 16.h3 Bh5 17.exd5 e4 18.Bg5 Bxf3 19.Qd2[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]19...e3?! 20.Bxe3! Bxe3 21.fxe3 [/font] gives White an extra pawn and Black more space (Nakamura-Shirov, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2011).
[font color="burgundy"]19...Qf5 20.Nc4 Be2 21.Qxe2 Qxg5 22.Nxb6 Rxb6 23.Bxe4[/font] is equal.

If [font color="magenta"]15.c4 Ng6 16.h3[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]16...Bxh3 17.gxh3 Qxh3 18.Ng5 Qg3+ 19.Kh1 Qh4+[/font] is equal (Karjakin-Radjabov, Rpd IT, Cap d'Agde, 2006).
[font color="darkorange"]16...Bh5?! 17.Bd3!? Nxe4 18.Bxe4 f5 19.Bb1 Nh4 20.Nxe5 Qe8 21.Ng4[/font] gives White an extra pawn and more freedom (T. Ernst-Hector, Swedish Ch, Umea, 2003).

If [font color="magenta"]a) 13.Bc2 Bxf3 14.gxf3 Nh5 15.f4[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]15...Nxf4 16.Bxf4 exf4 17.Qg4 Qf6[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]18.b4[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]18...g6 19.Kh1 Nd8[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]20.Bb3 c6 21.Na3 c5 22.Nc4 cxb4 23.Ra6[/font] is equal (Inarkiev-Shirov, IT, Poikovsky, 2009).
[font color="burgundy"]20.Na3 Ne6 21.Nc4 Bxd4 22.cxd4 Nxd4 23.Bd3 Rxb4[/font] is equal; Black has three pawns for a Bishop (Berg-Bok, Euro Club Cup, Rogaska Slatina, 2011).

If [font color="darkpink"]18...Ne7 19.Na3 Ng6 20.Nc4[/font] gives White the advantage in space (Leko-Shirov, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2007).

[font color="darkorchid"]18.Ra6 Ne7 19.Na3 c6 20.Nc4 Bc7 21.Ra7[/font] gives White a comfortable game with stronger pawns and more space (Carlsen-Shirov, IT, Morelia/Linares, 2009).

If [font color="darkorange"]15...Qh4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkorange"]16.fxe5 dxe5 17.d5 Ne7 18.Qf3 Ng6[/font] then:

If [font color="darkorange"]19.Kh1 Ngf4 20.c4 Nh3 21.Be3 Bxe3 22.fxe3[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]22...f5 23.exf5 Ng5 24.Qg2 Qxc4 25.Ba4 h6 26.b3[/font] is equal (Gopal-Kasimdzhanov, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2007).
If [font color="purple"]22...Ng5 23.Qf2 Qh3 24.Qg2[/font] then:

[font color="purple"]24...Qh4 25.Rf5 h6 26.Rxe5[/font] gives White two extra pawns (Roser-Calistri, Op, Paris, 2008).
[font color="hotpink"]24...Qxg2+ 25.Kxg2 Nf6 26.Ra7 Rb6 27.Rxc7[/font] gives White two extra pawns.

[font color=darkpink"]19.c4 Ngf4 20.Be3 Bxe3 21.fxe3 Nh3+ 22.Kh1[/font] transposes.

If [font color="purple"]16.Qf3[/font] then:

If [font color="purple"]16...Nxf4 17.Bxf4 exf4 18.Kh1 Ne7[/font] then:

[font color="purple"]19.Rg1 Ng6 20.b4 Qe7 21.Na7 Bxa7 22.Rxa7[/font] is equal (Kamsky-Friedel, US Ch, St. Louis, 2009).
[font color="darkpink"]19.Na3 c5 20.d5 Ng6 21.Nc4 Qf6 22.Qh5 Ne5[/font] is equal (Kasimdzhanov-Anand, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2007).

If [font color="hotpink"]16...exd4 17.e5 dxc3 18.bxc3[/font] then:

If [font color="hotpink"]18...Bc5 19.Nxc7 Rbc8 20.Na6[/font] then:

[font color="hotpink"]20...Ba7 21.Bf5 Ne7 22.Bxc8 Nxc8 23.Nb4[/font] Black resigns (Short-Sulskis, EU Ch, Liverpool, 2008).
[font color="#FF8000"]20...g6 21.Nxc5 dxc5 22.Rd1 Rfd8 23.Be3 Ng7 24.Be4[/font] leaves Black hanging on by a thread.

[font color="darkpink"]18...Nd8 19.exd6 Ne6 20.dxc7 Nxc7 21.Nd6[/font] gives White an extra pawn and more space; Black has stronger pawn.

If [font color="magenta"]b) 13.Be3 exd4 14.cxd4 Nxe4 15.Qc2 Qe8 16.Ba4 Bd7[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]17.Nc3 Nxc3 18.bxc3 Ne7 19.c4 c6 20.Rae1 Qd8 21.Bg5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Domínguez Pérez-Shirov, IT, Sofia, 2009).
[font color="darkorange"]17.Rfe1 Nb4 18.Qc4 Ba5 19.Nc3 Bxa4 20.Rxa4 d5 21.Qf1 Nc6[/font] draw (Leko-Anand, World Ch Trmt, Mexico City, 2007).

If [font color="magenta"]c) 13.Re1 Bxf3 14.gxf3 Nh5 15.Kh1[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]15...exd4 16.Nxd4 Nxd4 17.cxd4 c5 18.Rg1 cxd4[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]19.Bg5 Qe8 20.Qd3 Bd8 21.Bd2 Qe5 22.Rg4 Qb5 23.Bc4 Qxb2 24.Rag1 Kh8[/font] gives Black an extra pawn (Short-Ganguly, World Cup, Hyderabad, 2002).
[font color="purple"]19.Rg5 g6 20.f4 Kh8 21.f5[/font] gives White the advantage in space (Svidler-Shirov, Euro ChT, Novi Sad, 2009).

[font color="darkorange"]15...Qf6 16.Rg1 Nf4 17.Be3 Ne6 18.Bxe6 fxe6 19.Rg3 Kh8 20.Qd3 exd4 21.cxd4 e5 22.d5[/font] gives White the advantage in space (Svidler-Shirov, IT, Linares, 1998).

If [font color="magenta"]10.a5 Ba7 11.h3 0-0 12.Be3[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]12...Ra8 13.Nbd2 Bb7 14.Re1[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]14...exd4 15.cxd4 Nb4 16.Bg5 h6 17.Bh4 Nd3 18.Re3 Nf4[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]19.Rc1 c5 20.e5 dxe5 21.dxe5[/font] is equal (Navara-Ragger, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).
If [font color="burgudry"]19.Bc2 Ng6 20. Bg3 c5 21. Nf1 Re8 22. d5 Nh5[/font] is equal (Sebag-Harika, ITW, Hangzhou, 2011).

If [font color="darkpink"]14...h6 15.Bc2 Re8 16.d5 Ne7 17.Nf1 Ng6[/font is equal (T. Kosintseva-Monguntuul, Grand Prix W, Ulaan Baatar, 2010).

If [font color="darkorange"]12...exd4 13.cxd4 Nxe4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkorange"]14.Qc2 Qe8 15.Nc3[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]15...Nf6 16.Rfe1 Qd7 17.Ne4 Nxe4 18.Qxe4[/font] is equal (Timofeev-Halkias, Euro Ch, Dresden,2007).
[font color="purple"]15...Nxc3 16.Qxc3 Ne7 17.Rac1 c6 18.Rfe1 [/font] is equal (Nijboer-Bok, Dutch Ch, Eindhoven, 2010).

[font color="hotpink"]14.Bd5 Qe8 15.Re1 Nf6 16.Nc3 Nb4 17.Bb3 Qd7[/font] gives Black an advantage in pawn structure; White has an isolated d-pawn (Christiansen-Zilberstein, US Ch, San Diego, 2004).

If [font color="magenta"]9...Bb7 10.Re1[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]10...0-0 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bh4 Re8[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]13.axb5 axb5 14.Rxa8 Bxa8[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]15.Qd3 Na5 16.Bc2[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]16...exd4 17.Bxf6 Qxf6 18.cxd4 g5 19.h3[/font] gives White a better center; Black has the Bishop pair and more space (Tukmakov-Dorfman, Soviet Army ChT, Leningrad, 1975).
[font color="burgundy"]16...c6 17.Nbd2 Qe7 18.b4 Nb7 19.Nf1[/font] gives White the better center and more space (Kostro-Witkowski, IT B, Wijk aan Zee, 1971).

If [font color="darkorange"]15.d5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkorange"]a) 15...Na7[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]16.Na3 g5 17.Bg3 Nh5 18.Nc2 Bb7 19.Ne3 Bc8[/font] is equal (Anand-Ivanchuk, World Youth, Shartjah, 1985).
[font color="burgundy"]16.Nbd2 c6 17.dxc6 Bxc6 18.Bxf6 Qxf6 19.Nf1 Bc5[/font] is equal (Yap-Mulyar, Op, Philadelphia, 2006).

[font color="hotpink"]b) 15...Na5 16.Ba2 c6 17.Bxf6 Qxf6 18.Na3 Rc8 19.b4 Nc4 20.Bxc4 bxc4 21.Nxc4[/font] wins a pawn for White (Tringov-Smederevac, IT, Osijek, 1978).
[font color="purple"]c) 15...g5 16.dxc6 gxh4 17.Bd5 Nh5 18.Na3 Qf6 19.Nxb5[/font] gives White an extra pawn.

[font color="burgundy"]13.d5 Na5 14.Ba2 c6 15.Nbd2 g5 16.Nxg5 hxg5 17.Bxg5[/font] gives White two extra pawns andgainst Black's slight edge in space (Kosteniuk-Stefanova, OlW, Torinio, 2006).

If [font color="darkorange"]10...h6[/font] then:

If [font color="darkorange"]11.axb5 axb5 12.Rxa8 Qxa8 13.Na3 0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="darkorange"]14.Nxb5 exd4 15.cxd4 Na5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkorange"]16.Bc2 Bxe4 17.Bxe4 Nxe4[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]18.Qd3 Nf6 19.Nc3 Re8 20.Rxe8+ Qxe8 21.h3 Nc6[/font] gives White more space and Black stronger pawns (Wachtel-Nickoloff, Toronto Ch, 1975).
If [font color="burgundy"]18.Nxc7[/font] (White voluntarily exchanges his most effective piece) [font color="burgundy"]18...Bxc7 19.Qc2 Nxf2 20.Qxf2 Re8[/font] gives Black slightly more active pieces (Westerinen-Prakken, Op, Tromsø, 2009).

[font color="darkpink"]16.d5!? Nxb3! 17.Qxb3 Nxe4 18.Rxe4 Bxd5 19.Rc4 Qe8[/font] gives Black a strong position for the sacrificed pieces; his plan will be to put the Quen at e2, if Wite allows it, or win the exchange at c4 (Gulko-Baikov, X, Moscow, 1975).

If [font color="purple"]14.d5 Na5[/font] then:

If [font color="purple"]15.Bc2 Ng4 16.Rf1 f5 17.exf5 Bxd5 18.Nh4 Nf6[/font] then:

[font color="purple"]19.Qd3 Nc4 20.Qg3 Nxa3 21.bxa3 Nh5 22.Qg4 Nf6 23.Qg3[/font] draw (Humphrey-A. Horvath, !st Saturday November, Budapest, 2008).
[font color="darkpink"]19.Be3 Bxe3 20.fxe3 Nc4 21.Nxc4 bxc4 22.b4 Qa7[/font] gives Black plenty of White pawn weaknesses to target (Silva Sanchez-Soppe, ZT, Santiago, 1987).

[font color="hotpink"]15.Ba2 c6 16.b4 Nc4 17.Bxc4 bxc4 18.Nxc4[/font] gives White a small advantage with an extra pawn at least for the moment and a slight initiative initiative (E. Torre-Harandi, Ol, Skoppje, 1972).

If [font color="purple"]11.h3 0-0 12.d5 Ne7[/font] then:

[font color="purple"]13.Nbd2 c5 14.c4 b4 15.Nf1 a5 16.Bc2[/font] is equal (Steadman-Thompson, Op, Auckland, 1995).
[font color="hotpink"]13.axb5 axb5 14.Rxa8 Bxa8 15.Na3 c6 16.dxc6 Bxc6[/font] is equal (Adams-Onischuk, Op, Wijk aan Zee, 1995).

[font color="darkred"](Neo-Classical Defense/Clam Opening)[/font]

[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]Grand Spanish Royal Game: Neo-Classical Defense (Clam Opening)[/center][center]Position after 8.d3[/center]

If [font color="darkred"]8.d3 0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]9.Nbd2 h6[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]10.Re1[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]10...Re8 11.h3 Bb7 12.Nf1[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]12...d5 13.exd5 Nxd5 14.Ng3 Nf6 15.Be3 Bf8 16.Rc1 Na5[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space (Mudongo-Mira, OlW, Torino, 2006).
[font color="hotpink"]12...Bb6 13.Be3 Bxe3 14.Nxe3 Na5 15.Bc2 d5 16.exd5 Nxd5[/font] is equal (Otorbaeva-Al Ali, OlW, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).

[font color="purple"]10...Ne7 11.Nf1 Ng6 12.Ng3 Re8 13.h3 Bb7 14.Nh2[/font] is equal (McShane-Tkachiev, IT B, Wijk aan Zee, 2011).

[font color="darkorange"]10.h3 Bb6 11.Re1 Re8 12.Nf1 Be6 13.Bc2 d5 14.exd5 Qxd5 15.a4 Rad8[/font] draw (Dr. Nunn-Turner, IT, Oxford, 1998).

[font color="magenta"]9.Bg5 h6 10.Bh4 g5 11.Bg3 Bg4 12.Nbd2 Rb8 13.Re1 Nh5 14.h3 Bxf3 15.Qxf3 Nxg3 16.Qxg3[/font] gives White more freedom (Akopian-I. Sololov, Op, Gibraltar, 2007).

7...Rb8 8.axb5 axb5 9.Nxe5 Nxe5 10.d4

[center]BLACK: Hikaru Nakamura[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Judit Polgar[/center][center]Position after 10.d4[/center]

The move order is very interesting. White recovers her piece and has a small advantage.
10...Bxd4 11.Qxd4 d6 12.f4 Nc6

If [font color="red"]12...c5 13.Qc3 Nc6 14.e5 Ne4 15.Qd3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]15...f5 16.exf6 Nxf6 17.Re1+ Kf8 18.c4[/font] is equal (Moen-Isaev, Ol, Istanbul, 2012).
[font color="darkred"]15...c4 16.Qxe4 d5 17.Qe3 cxb3 18.Qxb3 0-0 19.Be3[/font] gives White an extra pawn (Mardell-I. Agrest, Op 0910, Stockholm, 2010).

13.Qc3 Ne7 14.Nd2

If [font color="red"]14.e5 Ne4 15.Qe1 Nc5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]16.Ba2 0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]17.b4 Na4 18.Nc3 Nxc3 19.Qxc3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]19...dxe5 20.Bb2 Qd4+ 21.Qxd4 exd4 22.Bxd4 Be6 23.Bxe6 fxe6 24.Bc5[/font] gives White the advantage in space (Adams-Shirov, Euro ChT, Crete, 2007).
[font color="darkorange"]19...Nf5 20.Bb2 d5 21.Rad1 d4 22.Qe1 Rb6 23.Bxd4[/font] leaves White with an extra pawn (Kassis-Fontaine, Ol, Palma de Mallorca, 2004).

[font color="magenta"]17.Be3 Bf5 18.b4 Ne6 19.Qf2 d5 20.c3 f6 21.exf6 Rxf6[/font] is equal (Kamsky-Kasimdzhanov, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2011).

[font color="darkred"]16.f5 Nxb3 17.cxb3 dxe5 18.Qxe5 f6 19.Qc5 Qd5[/font] is equal (Hou Yifan-Lahno, ITW, Krasnoturyinsk, 2006).

If [font color="blue"]14.Qd3 c5 15.c4 0-0[/font] then:

[font color="blue"]16.cxb5 d5 17.Bxd5 Nexd5 18.exd5 Nxd5 19.Na3[/font] gives White an extra pawn and a slight advantage in space (Gabriel Alvarez-Umansky, Corres, 1998).
If [font color="darkblue"]16.Nc3 bxc4 17.Bxc4 Bb7 18.e5 Ne8 19.Rd1[/font] gives White pressure on a backward pawn and more space (Alekseev-Fressinet, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2009).

14...0-0 15.e5 Nfd5 16.Bxd5 (N)

If [font color="red"]16.Qf3 Bb7 17.Ne4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]17...Kh8!? 18.Rd1 h6 19.f5 dxe5 20.Nc5 c6 21.f6[/font] leaves White fixed for an aggressive kingside attack (Leconte-Shen Yang, TM, Paris, 2006).

[font color="darkred"]17...Ra8 18.Ra3 Rxa3 19.bxa3 dxe5 20.fxe5 Ng6 21.Qd3[/font] remains equal.

[center]BLACK: Hikaru Nakamura[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Judit Polgar[/center][center]Position after 16.Bb3d5:N[/center]

16...Nxd5

The game is equal.

17.Qd4 Bb7 18.Ne4

If [font color="red"]18.Nb3 Re8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]19.Bd2 dxe5 20.fxe5 Ne7 21.Qxd8 Rexd8 22.Bf4 Bd5[/font] remains equal.
[font color="darkred"]19.Na5 Ba8 20.Nb3 dxe5 21.fxe5 Nb6 22.Bf4 Na4[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space.

18...f5 19.Ng5 Qd7

[font color="red"]19...dxe5 20.fxe5 Qe7 21.Ra7 Nb6 22.b3 Rfd8[/font] remains equal.

20.Nf3 Ra8 21.Bd2 c5

[font color="red"]21...Qc6 22.exd6 Qxd6 23.Rfe1 Rxa1 24.Rxa1 Re8[/font] remains equal.

22.Qd3 c4 23.Qd4 dxe5

[font color="red"]23...Rfe8 24.Rxa8 Rxa8 25.Re1 dxe5 26.Rxe5 Ra1+ 27.Kf2[/font] remains equal.

24.Nxe5 Qc7 25.Rfd1

[font color="red"]25.h3 Nf6 26.Bb4 Rfc8 27.Rfd1 Bd5 28.c3 Be4[/font] remains equal.

25...h6

If [font color="red"]25...Rfe8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]26.Qf2 Qb6 27.Re1 Qxf2+ 28.Kxf2[/font] remains equal.
[font color="darkred"]26.h3 Qb6 27.Qxb6 Nxb6 28.Ra5 Rxa5 29.Bxa5 Nd5[/font] remains equal.

26.Be1 Rfe8 27.Bd2 Red8

[font color="red"]27...Rad8!? 28.Re1! Ra8 29.Red1 Rxa1 30.Rxa1 Ra8 31.Rxa8+ Bxa8[/font] remains equal.

28.Rxa8!?

White cedes control of the a-file to Black.
[font color="red"]28.Be1 Re8[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]29.Rxa8[/font] (this time it's forced) [font color="red"]29...Rxa8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]30.h3 Ra2 31.Qf2 Nf6 32.Bc3 Be4[/font] remains equal.

30.Qf2 Ra2 31.h3 Nf6

[font color="darkred"]32.Bc3 Be4 33.Rd2 b4 34.Bxb4 Rxb2 35.Bd6 Qc8[/font] remains equal.
[font color="magenta"]32.Qg3 Rxb2 33.Nd7 Ne4 34.Qa3 Rxc2 35.Qf8+ Kh7[/font] remains equal.

[font color="darkred"]29.h3? Rxa1 30.Rxa1 Nxf4 31.Qxf4 Rxe5 32.Bc3 Re1+[/font]
[font color="magenta"]29.Qf2? Rxa1 30.Rxa1 Nxf4 31.Qxf4 Rxe5 32.Qf2 Re6[/font] leaves Black with an extra pawn.

[center]BLACK: Hikaru Nakamura[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Judit Polgar[/center][center]Position after 28.Ra1a8:R[/center]

28...Rxa8 29.h3 Ra2!

Black takes a slight edge as the Rook at a2 gives White some discomfort.
If [font color="red"]29...Qb6![/font] when:

[font color="red"]30.Nf3 Ra2 31.Rb1 Kh7 32.Kh2 Qxd4 33.Nxd4 b4[/font]gives Black a slight advantage in space.
[font color="darkred"]30.Qxb6 Nxb6 31.Ng6 Kh7 32.Nh4 Be4 33.Bc3 Ra7[/font] gives Black a slight advantage.

30.Rb1!?

This passive move takes pressure off the center.
If [font color="red"]30.Ng6[/font] (more active) [font color="red"]30...Qf7 31.Qe5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]31...Kh7 32.Nh4 Qf6 33.Qxf6 Nxf6 34.Nxf5 Be4 35.Ne3[/font] is equal.
[font color="darkred"]31...Qxg6!? 32.Qb8+! Kh7 33.Qxb7 Qe6 34.Re1 Qb6+ 35.Qxb6 Nxb6[/font] is equal.

If [font color="blue"]30.Bc3[/font] (maintains and even slightly increases pressure in the center) [font color="blue"]30...b4 31.Be1 b3 32.cxb3 cxb3 33.Nd3 Qc6[/font] continues to give Black a slight advantage.

30...Nf6!

Black blocks the long diagonal in anticipation of 31.Bc3. He now has a small advantage in space.

31.Bb4

If [font color="red"]31.Bc3 Be4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]32.Re1 Bxc2 33.Ng6 Be4 34.g4 Ra8 35.gxf5 Re8[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space.
[font color="darkred"]32.Qd2!? Nd5! 33.Re1 Nxc3 34.Qxc3 Qc5+ 35.Kf1 Qd5 [/font] gives Black a comfortable game with a threat to the g-pawn.

if [font color="blue"]31.Re1 Be4 32.Bc3 Bxc2[/font] then:

[font color="blue"]33.Ng6 Be4 34.g4 Ra8 35.gxf5 Re8 36.Bb4 Qf7[/font] gives Black a smal advantage with stronger pawns and a safer King. White has an extra pawn, but the foremost f-pawn is dead wood.
[font color="darkblue"]33.Nf3!? Be4 34.Nd2 Qf7 35.Qe5 Qd7 36.Qb8+ Kh7[/font] gives Black a comfortable game as White's Queen has run astray.

31...Be4!

Black applies pressure to c2 in addition to the Rook's fire at b2.

32.Re1 Bxc2 33.g4?!

White tries to rattle Black's kingside, but only weakens her own,
[font color="red"]33.Ng6 Qd7 34.Qe5 Ra8 35.Qc5 Be4 36.Kh2 Re8[/font] continues to give Black a comfortable game with the additional pawn.

33...Qa7!?

Black has a strong advantage. Exchanging Queens only diminshes it.
[font color="red"]33...Ra6! 34.Kh2 Be4 35.Bc3 Rd6 36.Qf2 Nd5[/font] gives Black an extra pawn, a better center and more space.

[center]BLACK: Hikaru Nakamura[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Judit Polgar[/center][center]Position after 33...Qc7a7[/center]

34.Qxa7!

Not only does Black diminish his chances for attack by exchanging Queens, but he must bring his Rook back to recapture, relieving presurre on White's b-pawn.

34...Rxa7 35.Nc6 Ra6 36.Ne7+ Kf7!?

The King would be safer at the edge of the board.
If [font color="red"]36...Kh7 37.gxf5 Ra7 38.Bc3 Nh5 39.Nd5[/font] leafes the King safe; White f-pawns are restrained.

37.g5!

White gains a tempo against the the Knight.

37...hxg5 38.fxg5 Ne4 39.Nxf5

If [font color="red"]39.h4?![/font] then [font color="red"]39...Ra2! 40.Nxf5 Rxb2 41.Nd4 Rxb4 42.Nxc2 Rb2[/font] gives Black excellent winning chances.

39...Nxg5 40.Re7+ Kg6 41.Nd4 Bd3

Black has only a small advantage, mostly because he holds an extra pawn.
If [font color="red"]41...Ra2 42.Nxc2! Rxb2 43.Re2 Nxh3+[/font] gives White a piece for three pawns; Black has better mobility.

42.Rb7!?

The Rook should remain on the open file. Black's pawns are properly restrained and White has no time to destroy them. As we shall soon see, the silent danger to White's position is the isolation of her King and the time it will take to bring her pieces to its defense.

42.Bc3 Rb6

[font color="red"]43.h4 Ne4 44.Re6+ Rxe6 45.Nxe6 Nxc3 46.bxc3 Bf5[/font] continues to give Black the advantage with a distant pawn majority, but in a minor piece ending White's King is in no immediate danger.
[font color="darkred"]43.Bd2?! Nxh3+ 44.Kg2 Ng5 45.Bxg5 Kxg5 46.Rxg7+ Kh6[/font] magnifies the significance of Black's pawn majority.

If [font color="blue"]42.Re3? Ra1+[/font] then:

43...b4 44.Nc6 b3!

45.Kf2 Rb1 46.Ne5+ Kf5.

If [font color="darkblue"]43.Kh2 Ra2[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]44.Kh1 Rxb2[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]45.Bc3 Rb1+ 46.Re1 Be4+ 47.Kh2 Rxe1 48.Bxe1 Nf3+[/font] leaves Black with connected passed pawns, which win even though White can fight with her oppose colored Bishop.
If [font color="darkcyan"]45.Be7[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkcyan"]45...Ne4 46.Kg1 Kh7 47.Nc6 Rb1+ 48.Kg2 c3![/font] when it will be too costly to stop the pawn.

If [font color="dodgerblue"]44.Kg3[/font] then Black wins after [font color="dodgerblue"]44...Rxb2 45.Nc6 Be4 46.Ne7+ Kf7 47.Bc3 Rg2+.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Hikaru Nakamura[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Judit Polgar[/center][center]Position after 42.Re7b7[/center]

42...Nxh3+!

The pawn was dead wood, but Black smartly takes it while his has little better to do.

43.Kh2 Ng5 44.Nxb5?!

[font color="red"]44.Bc3 Rf6 45.Rxb5 Ne4 46.Re5 Rf2+[/font] gives Black only a small advantage.

44...Rf6!

Black takes advantage of the isolation of White's King.

45.Bc5

As quickly as she can, White must bring her pieces to the defense of the King.
[font color="red"]45.Nd6 Rf2+ 46.Kg3 Rxb2 47.Rxg7+ Kh6 48.Ba5 Ra2[/font] gives Black a strong initiative.

45...Rf4

Black methodically weaves a mating net.

46.Nc3?

White swims into it.
[font color="red"]46.Be3 Rh4+ 47.Kg1 Rg4+ 48.Kf2 Ne4+ 49.Kf3 Rg3+[/font] puts White in a bad spot, but the King can escape.

[center]BLACK: Hikaru Nakamura[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Judit Polgar[/center][center]Position after 46.Nb5c3[/center]

46...Rg4!

Black prepares to pull in the net.

47.Nd1

This is probably a harikari move.
It's more eloquent than [font color="red"]47.Ne2 Bxe2 48.Re7 Bf3 49.Re3 Kf5[/font] when White is down a piece.

47...Bf1! 1-0

Black is threatening 48...Nf3+ 49.Kh1 Rh4#.
White cannot escape mate: for example, [font color="red"]48.Rb6+ Kh7 49.Kh1 Nf3 50.Rb8 Rh4#.[/font]
Kisasszony Polgar resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

3. FIDE Grand Prix, Second Leg, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Reply #1)

Thu Jan 3, 2013, 03:35 PM

Jan 2013

[center][/center]

[center]Statue of Tamurlane in Tashkent, Uzbekistan[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Ehedaya (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Ehedaya) for Wikimedia commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Statue_of_Amir_Timur_in_Tashkent.jpg)
(Public Domain)
[/font]

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

5. Morozevich - Leko, Round 10

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Reply #3)

Thu Jan 3, 2013, 03:38 PM

Jan 2013

[center][/center]

[center]Alexander Morozevich[/center][font size="1"]Photo by karpidis modified from flickr(http://www.flickr.com/photos/8022405@N02/1794534747)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Alexander Morozevich - Peter Leko
FIDE Grand Prix, 2nd Leg, Round 10
Tashkent, 3 December 2012

Symmetrical English Game: Geller Defense

1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.d4

[font color="red"]4.e3 e5 5.Be2 d5 6.d4 exd4 7.exd4 Be6[/font] is the Symmetrical English Four Knights' Game. See Kramink-Grischuk, Candidates' Match, Kazan, 2009.
[font color="blue"]4.e4 e6[/font] is the Mikenas-Carls Variation. See Vachier Lagrave-Legarde, French Ch, Pau, 2012.

4...cxd4 5.Nxd4 e6 6.g3 Qb6

This is the Geller Defense.

[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]Symmetrical English Game: Geller Defesne[/center][center]Position after 6...Qb6[/center]

7.Nb3 Ne5

If [font color="red"]7...d5 8.cxd5 Nxd5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]9.Nxd5 exd5[/font] (An isolated pawn spreads gloom all over the chessboard. -- Tartakover) [font color="red"]10.Bg2 Bb4+ 11.Bd2[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]11...a5 12.0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]12...Bxd2 13.Qxd2 a4 14.Nc1 0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]15.Nd3 Ra5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]16.Nf4 d4 17.Nd5 Qa7 18.Rfc1 Rb5 19.b4 Bd7[/font] gives White a powerful advantage; Black must defend the d-pawn (Nikcevic-Gligoric, Yugoslav ChT, Herceg Novi, 2001).
[font color="burgundy"]16.Rac1 Rb5 17.Rfd1 Be6 18.a3 d4 19.Qf4 Rd8[/font] is equal and soon agreed drawn (Ribli-Gligoric, IT, Bogojno, 1984).

[font color="darkpink"]15.Rd1 Bf5 16.Nd3 Bxd3 17.Qxd3 Rad8 18.Qd2[/font] gives White a small advantage with stronger pawns (Tringov-Rogers, Ol, Lucernne, 1982).

[font color="darkorchid"]12...0-0 13.Be3 Qa6 14.Nc5 Bxc5 15.Bxc5 Rd8 16.e3 Bf5[/font] draw(Adorjan-B. Ivanovic, IT, Vrsac, 1983).

If [font color="darkred"]12...Bg4 12.0-0 Rd8[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]13.Bxb4 Qxb4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]14.Qc2 0-0 15.Rfd1 Qc4 16.Rd2 Rfe8 17.e3 g6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]18.Rc1 Ne5 19.Rxd5 Qa6 20.Rxd8 Rxd8 21.h3[/font] gives White an extra pawn and more freedom (Smejkal-Cebalo, IT, Marseille, 1986).
[font color="burgundy"]18.h3 Bf5 19.Qd1 Be4 20.Rc1 Qb4 21.Nd4 Qb6[/font] gives White better pawns and Black more space (Spraggett-Chandler, Op, England, 1985).

[font color="darkpink"]14.Qe1 0-0 15.Qxb4 Nxb4 16.Nd4 Nc6 17.Nxc6 bxc6[/font] is equal (Malakhov-Balashov, Moscow Ch, 2003).

If [font color="magenta"]13.h3 Bh5[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]14.Be3 d4 15.Bxc6+ bxc6 16.Bxd4 c5 17.Nxc5 Bxc5[/font] is equal (Adorjan-Danner, IT, Lugano, 1983).
[font color="darkorange"]14.Bxb4 Qxb4 15.f4 f6 16.Qe1 Qb6+ 17.Qf2 d4[/font] is equal (Nikolic-Cebalo, IT, Novi Sad, 1984).

If [font color="darkred"]9.Bg2 Nxc3 10.bxc3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]10...Be7 11.0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]11...0-0 12.Be3 Qc7 13.Nd4 Rd8[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]14.Nxc6 Rxd1 15.Nxe7+ Qxe7 16.Rfxd1 g6 17.Rab1 e5[/font] is equal (Adorjan-Zysk, IT, Dortmund, 1984).
If [font color="magenta"]14.Qa4 Bd7 15.Nxc6 Bxc6 16.Bxc6 bxc6[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]17.c4[/font] draw (Kasparov-Karpov, World Ch Match 1 Rd 24, Moscow, 1984).
[font color="burgundy"]17.Rab1[/font] draw (Cvetkovic-Gligoric, Op, Lugano, 1983).

If [font color="magenta"]11...e5 12.Be3 Qc7 13.Nc5 0-0 14.Qa4[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]14...Bxc5 15.Bxc5 Rd8 16.Rfd1 Be6 17.h3 Rxd1+ 18.Rxd1[/font] is equal (Kasparov-Karpov, World Ch Match 1 Rd 26, Moscow, 1984).
[font color="darkorange"]14...a6 15.Rfd1 Rd8 16.Rxd8+ Bxd8 17.Bd5 Be7 18.Rd1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Spraggett-B. Ivanovic, Op, Toronto, 1983).

[font color="darkorchid"]10...e5 11.Nd2 Qc7 12.Nc4 Be7 13.Ne3 Be6 14.0-0[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space, but the game was soon agreed drawn (Tal-B. Ivanovic, IT, Niksic, 1983).

8.e4 Bb4 9.Qe2 d6 10.Bd2

If [font color="red"]10.f4 Nc6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]11.Be3 Bxc3+ 12.bxc3 Qc7 13.Bg2 0-0 14.c5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]14...dxc5 15.Bxc5 Rd8 16.e5 Na5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]17.Bb4 Nxb3 18.axb3 Nd5 19.Qc4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]19...Qxc4 20.bxc4 Ne3 21.Be4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]21...Bd7!? 22.Kf2 Nxc4 23.Bxb7 Rab8 24.Rxa7[/font] gives White a strong game (P. Smirnov-Tomashevsky, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2007).
[font color="burgundy"]21...Nxc4[/font] draw (Kramnik-Vaganian, IT, Riga, 1995).

[font color="darkpink"]19...Qd7 20.Qd4 Nxb4 21.Qxd7 Bxd7 22.cxb4 Bb5 23.Bxb7 Rab8 24.Ba6[/font] draw (Kramnik-Salov, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 1998).

If [font color="darkred"]17.exf6 Nxb3 18.axb3 Qxc5 19.Qe5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]19...Qb6 20.Qg5 Qe3+ 21.Kf1 Qd3+[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]22.Kf2 Qd2+ 23.Kf1 Qd3+ 24.Kf2 Qd2+[/font] draws by repetition (Lerner-Wojtkiewicz, Op, Bern, 1993).
[font color="darkorange"]22.Kg1 Qg6 23.fxg7 Qxg5 24.fxg5 Rd3 25.Rc1 Bd7[/font] is equal (Uhlmann-Van der Wiel, IT, Baden-Baden, 1992).

[font color="magenta"]19...Qxe5+!?[/font] (Black allows White to repair his pawn structure) [font color="magenta"]20.fxe5! Bd7 21.0-0-0 Rac8 22.Kb2[/font] gives White a small advantage.

If [font color="darkred"]14...d5 15.e5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]15...Nd7 16.c4 d4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]17.Nxd4 Nxd4 18.Bxd4 Nxc5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]19.Qe3 Na4 20.0-0 Bd7[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]21.g4 Bc6 22.Bh3 b6 23.f5 Kh8 24.Rf2 Rae8[/font] is equal (Vaganian-J. Horvath, World ChT, Lucernne, 1989).
If [font color="magenta"]21.Rac1[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]21...Rac8 22.g4 Bc6 23.f5 Kh8 24.Bxc6 Qxc6[/font] is equal (Lechtynsky-Tolnai, Op, Velden, 1993).
[font color="darkorange"]21...Bc6 22.Bh3 Rad8 23.f5[/font] draw (Illescas Córdoba-Tukmakov, Rpd Op, Oviedo. 1991).

[font color="burgundy"]19.0-0 Bd7 20.Bxc5 Qxc5+ 21.Qf2 Qc8 22.Rfd1 Bc6[/font] is equal.

[font color="darkpink"]17.Bxd4 Nxd4 18.Nxd4 Nxc5 19.Nb5 Qa5+ 20.Qd2 Qb6[/font] is equal.

If [font color="magenta"]15...Ne4[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]16.Bxe4 dxe4 17.Nd2 b6 18.Rb1 Ne7 19.0-0 Bb7[/font] is equal (Gonzalez-Urkedal, Ol. Istanbul, 2012).
[font color="darkorange"]16.Bd4!? b6 17.Bxe4 dxe4 18.0-0 Bb7 19.Be3 Ne7[/font] gives Black a very weak extra pawn (Malakhatko-Wassin, Kiev Ch, 2000).

If [font color="darkred"]11.Bg2 e5 12.Bd2 0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]13.f5 Bd7 14.Qd3 Nd4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]15.Rc1 Nxb3 16.axb3 Bc5[/font] gives Black a small advantage; he is targeting a more vulnerable pawn on b3 (Lalith-Mertanen, Op, Pardubice, 2012).
[font color="darkorange"]15.Rd1 Bc6 16.Rf1 Nxb3 17.axb3 Nd7 18.Qc2 f6[/font] gives Black a safer King and White a more space (Karpov-Bulko, IT, Linares, 1989).

[font color="magenta"]13.Nb5? exf4! 14.gxf4 Re8 15.Bxb4 Nxb4 16.0-0-0 Bg4[/font] Black should win (Portisch-Sax, World Cup, Brussels, 1988).

10...a5

If [font color="red"]10...0-0 11.0-0-0 a5 12.f4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]12...a4 13.fxe5 axb3 14.a3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]14...dxe5 15.axb4 Ra1+ 16.Nb1 Qa6 17.Qd3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]17...Qa2!? 18.Bg2 Re8 19.Bc3 Re7 20.Kd2 Rd7[/font] is equal (Marin-Khamrakulov, Op, Andorra, 2001 and Gulko-Alekseev, TM, New York/St. Petersburg, 2002).
If [font color="darkred"]17...b5 18.c5 Nxe4 19.Bg2[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]19...Nf2 20.Qxb3 Bb7 21.Bxb7 Qxb7 22.Rhe1 Rd8[/font] gives Black a material advantage.
[font color="magenta"]19...Nf6? 20.Qxb3! Ng4 21.Bg5 Bb7 22.Bxb7 Qxb7 23.Qc2[/font] gives White better piece coordination and more space.

[font color="burgundy"]14...Bxc3!? 15.Bxc3! dxe5 16.Bxe5 Qc6 17.Bxf6 gxf6 18.Qg4+[/font] gives White more space and a free move, but both sides, especially White, leave something to be desired concerning King safety (Ivanchuk-Khalifman, IT, Elista, 1998).

If [font color="darkred"]12...Nc6 13.Be3 Qa6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]14.Nb5 a4 15.Nd2 a3 16.b3 Qa5 17.Bg2 e5[/font] is equal (Tukmakov-Berelovich, ZT, Dontesk, 1998).
[font color="magenta"]14.Na4 e5 15.f5 Bd7 16.Qc2 Ne7 17.Nb6 a4[/font] gives Black the advantage (Marin-Almasi, Ol, Bled, 2002).

11.f4!? (N)

[font color="red"]11.Bg2 a4 12.Nb5 Bxd2+ 13.Nxd2 Bd7 14.f4 Neg4[/font] is equal (Delchev-Hulak, Croatian ChT, Pula, 2001).

[center]BLACK: Peter Leko[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Alexander Morozevich[/center][center]Position after 11.f2f4[/center]

11...Nc6

Rybka says the game is equal, while Houdini gives the edge to Black. My staff and I judge the game to be equal as Black has the possibility of the disruptive ...a4 and White is less cramped.
The resulting set up resembles a Taimanov Defense to the Open Sicilian with a Maroczy bind.

12.Be3

White has no easy way to prevent ...a4 and prepares to retreat the Knight.
If [font color="red"]12.Nb5 a4 13.Bxb4 Nxb4[/font] (otherwise Black drops the d-pawn) [font color="red"]14.N3d4 e5 15.Qd2 0-0[/font] remains equal (Houdini).
[font color="blue"]12.a4??[/font] drops a piece to [font color="blue"]12...Bxc3! 13.Bxc3 Qxb3.[/font]

12...Qc7 13.Bg2!?

White sacrifices the foremost c-pawn and it isn't clear what he expects to get for it.
If [font color="red"]13.Qd3 a4 14.Nd2 Bxc3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]15.bxc3 0-0 16.Qb1 e5 17.f5 Nb8 18.Be2 Nbd7[/font] gives Black stronger pawns and White more space, but White has reached his high water point in space with no good prospects for serious aggression.
If [font color="darkred"]15.Qxc3 b6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]16.Be2 e5 17.f5 Nb8 18.Bg5 Nbd7 19.0-0 0-0[/font] gives Black stronger pawns and White more space.
[font color="magenta"]16.Bd3 e5 17.f5 Bb7 18.0-0 Nb8 19.Qb4 Nbd7[/font] gives Black stronger pawns and White more space.

If [font color="blue"]13.Nd2 Bxc3 14.bxc3[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]14...0-0 15.Bg2 b6[/font] then:

[font color="blue"]16.Rb1 Rb8 17.0-0 Ba6 18.Rb2 Nd7 19.Rd1 Ne7[/font] is equal.
If [font color="darkblue"]16.0-0 Ba6 17.Rfb1 Rab8 18.Rb2[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]18...Nd7 19.Nb1 Nd8 20.Na3 e5 21.Rd1 Nc5[/font] gives Black stronger pawns and White a small spatial advantage; overall, Black a slight advantage (Houdini) or White has a small advantage (Rybka).
If [font color="dodgerblue"]a) 18...Na7!?[/font] (an idea of mine that at least turns out to be pretty interesting according to analysis aided by Houdini) then:

If [font color="dodgerblue"]19.Rab1 Nd7 20.Qf2 Nc8![/font] then:

If [font color="dodgerblue"]21.Qe2 Rd8 22.f5 exf5 23.exf5 Re8 24.Re1 Bb7[/font] gives Black a slight advantage (Houdini) or is equal (Rybka).
[font color="#0080C0"]21.Bf1 Qc6 22.Qf3 Qc7 23.f5 Ne5 24.Qf4 Nd7[/font] gives White a small advantage (Houdini) or is equal (Rybka).

If [font color="darkcyan"]19.f5[/font] then:

[font color="darkcyan"]19...Nc6 20.Rab1 Nd7 21.Bh3 exf5 22.Bxf5 Nce5[/font] gives Black a small advantage (Houdini and Rybka).
If [font color="slateblue"]19...Nd7 20.Rab1! Nc6 21.Qf2[/font] then:

[font color="slateblue"]21...Nce5 22.Bxb6 Nxb6 23.Rxb6 Nxc4 24.Nxc4 Bxc4[/font] gives Black a small advantage (Houdini and Rybka).
[font color="steelblue"]21...Nc5!? 22.f6! Ne5 23.Bd4 Nxc4 24.Nxc4 Bxc4[/font] gives Black a slight advantage (Houdini and Rybka).

If [font color="dodgerblue"]b) 18...Rfc8[/font] (recommended by Rybka) [font color="dodgerblue"]19.Rab1 Nd7[/font] then:

[font color="dodgerblue"]20.Qf2 Nc5 21.Bxc5 bxc5 22.e5 Rxb2 23.Rxb2 Ne7[/font] is equal (Houdini and Rybka).
If [font color="darkcyan"]20.Qf3!?[/font] then:

[font color="darkcyan"]20...Ne7 21.Bf1 Nc5 22.Qh5 e5 23.Bxc5 Qxc5+[/font] gives Black a slight advantage (Houdini and Rybka).
[font color="slateblue"]20...Rb7 21.Rd1 Ndb8 22.Qf2 Nd7 23.Bf3 Rcb8 24.Nb1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Rybka) or is equal (Houdini).

[font color="#8080C0"]14...e5 15.Qd3 0-0 16.Be2 Bh3 17.f5 Nb8[/font] gives Black a slight advantage; White's King is stuck in the center for the forseeable future.

13...a4!

Black takes a small advantage by disruting White's queenside.
If [font color="red"]13...e5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]14.0-0 Bxc3 15.bxc3 a4 16.Nd2 exf4 17.gxf4 0-0[/font] gives Black a slight advantge; his backward d-pawn is weaker in this variation for bing isolated.
If [font color="darkred"]14.f5 Bxc3+ 15.bxc3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]15...Nb8 16.Rb1 b6 17.Bg5 Nbd7 18.Nd2 Ba6[/font] gives Black a small advantage; everybody's pawn weaknesses are covered.
[font color="magenta"]15...b6 16.Bg5 Nd7 17.Nd2 Ncb8 18.0-0 h6[/font] gives Black a slight advantage with stronger pawns; White's double c-pawn looks like a permanent weakness.

14.Nd2 Bxc3 15.bxc3 b6!?

Black weakens his grip on c6, currently occupiec by his Knight.
[font color="red"]15...e5 16.Rb1 Ra6 17.Bf1 exf4 18.gxf4 0-0[/font] continues to give Black a small advantage in space.

16.Rb1!

Black still has a slight advantage; his queenside isn't as strong as it was before he made his last move.

16...Nd7 17.Qf2

If [font color="red"]17.0-0 0-0 18.Qf2 Rb8 19.Rfd1 e5 20.f5 f6[/font] continues to give Black a slight advantage.

17...Rb8 18.0-0 0-0 19.g4!?

White unnecessarily weakens his kingside. A better idea is to put presure on Black's weak points.
If [font color="red"]19.Rfd1[/font] (establishing a masked attack on the pawn at d6, which cannot advance) [font color="red"]19...e5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]20.Nf3 Na5 21.Bf1 f6 22.Ne1 Nxc4 23.Bxc4+ Qxc4[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space.
[font color="darkred"]20.f5!? f6! 21.Bf1 Rd8 22.Bd3 Na5 23.Bc2 a3[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space.

19...Ba6!

Black responds by putting more pressure on the foremost c-pawn, but White still has more space.

20.Qh4?!

White's plan is to bring pressure to bear on the h-file. It's too slow.
If [font color="red"]20.Rfd1 Na5 21.Rb4 Bxc4 22.Rxa4 Qc6 23.Ra3 Ra8[/font] eliminates White's foremost c-pawn and makes Black's d-pawn more moble.

[center]BLACK: Peter Leko[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Alexander Morozevich[/center][center]Position after 20.Qf2h4[/center]

20...Rfe8?!

Black misses the opportunity to put White in a real world of hurt.
If [font color="red"]20...Na5![/font] then:

[font color="red"]21.Rf3 Nxc4 22.Rb4 Nxe3 23.Rxe3 Qc5 24.Qf2 e5[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and more space.
If [font color="darkred"]21.Rb4?![/font] is panicking and now if [font color="darkred"]21...Nxc4![/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]22.Nxc4 Bxc4 23.Rf3 Rfc8 24.Rh3 Nf8 25.a3 Be2[/font] gives Black an extra pawn
[font color="magenta"]22.Rf3 Nxe3 23.Rxe3 Nc5 24.Bf1 f6 25.Bxa6 Nxa6[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and the initiative.

21.Rf3!

Black still has a pressure on White's weak foremost c-pawn.

21...Nf8!?

This move could have waited until White played Rf3h3.
If [font color="red"]21...Na5 22.Rh3 Nf8[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]23.f5 Nxc4 24.f6 Nxe3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]25.fxg7 Kxg7 26.Qg5+ Kh8 27.Qf6+ Kg8 28.Rxe3 Ng6[/font] gives Black two extra pawns.
[font color="magenta"]25.Rxe3?! Ng6! 26.Qf2 Ne5 27.Rg3 Qc5 28.fxg7 Bd3[/font] gets Black close to winning after the Rook moves, the Queens are exchanged and the pawn at g7 is recaptured.

[font color="darkred"]23.Qf2 Nxc4 24.Nxc4 Bxc4 25.f5 b5 26.f6 gxf6[/font] gives Black two extra pawns; White still has counterplay opportunities on the kingside.

22.Rh3!?

White proceeds with this plan to attack the kingside along the h-file.
If [font color="red"]22.Bf1! Na5 23.Rb4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]23...d5 24.Bd4 Nxc4 25.Nxc4 Bxc4 26.Bxc4 Ng6[/font] still gives Black an extra pawn and the initiative while White has more space.
[font color="darkred"]23...a3!? 24.Qf2! Nd7 25.g5 Qc6 26.Rg3 Nc5 27.Rh3[/font] gives White a small advantage with a possible initiative on the kingside.

22...b5!?

This, not 22...h6 or 22...g6, is the right idea, but it's not the right move. Rather than try to refortify h7 (the Knight at f8 and King itself are sufficient), Black counterattacks on the queenside, where he is strongest.
[font color="red"]22...Na5! 23.f5 Nxc4 24.f6 Nxe3 25.Rxe3 Ng6 26.Qf2 Ne5[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and active minor pieces.
If [font color="blue"]22...h6? 23.g5![/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]23...Qd8 24.Qh5 Qc7 25.f5[/font] then:

[font color="blue"]25...exf5 26.gxh6 g6 27.h7+ Kh8 28.Qh4 Nd7 29.exf5[/font] the way to the Black King is open for White's heavy pieces.
[font color="dodgerblue"]25...Ne5 26.gxh6 g6 27.h7+ Kh8 28.Qh4 Nfd7 29.f6[/font] White wins easily.

[font color="darkblue"]23...Nh7 24.gxh6 g6 25.Qf2 b5 26.c5 dxc5 27.Bxc5[/font] [gives White an extra pawn and deadly pressure on the kingside./li]

If [font color="#008000"]22...g6? 23.e5! d5 24.cxd5[/font] then:

[font color="#008000"]24...exd5 25.Bxd5 Ne7 26.Bg2 Bb7 27.Bxb7 Qxb7 28.f5[/font] gives White an extra pawn, advancing pawns on the kingside and a deadly heavy piece battery on the h-file; Black is toast.
If [font color="#4CC417"]24...Bd3 25.dxc6[/font] then:

[font color="#4CC417"]25...Bxb1 26.Nxb1 Qe7 27.Qxe7 Rxe7 28.Na3 Rc8 29.Bxb6[/font] leves Wite with two minor pieces and two pawns for a Rook.
If [font color="forestgreen"]25...f5[/font] then White wins after [font color="forestgreen"]26.Rb4 fxg4 27.Bxb6 Rxb6 28.Rxd3 Reb8 29.Rxa4.[/font]

23.e5!

The game is equal.

23...dxe5?!

Black is now courting disaster. As White takes the advantage, Black opens the center for him.
[font color="red"]23...bxc4 24.Be4 g6 25.exd6 Qxd6 26.Rd1 f5 27.Bf3[/font] remains equal.

24.Be4!

White pieces are focued on h7.

24...h6 25.f5 f6

Black is doing whatever he can to slow White's advance. By now he must play very carefully, as one more slip will all White needs.
If [font color="red"]25...exf5? 26.gxf5![/font] then:

[font color="red"]26...bxc4 27.Bxh6 gxh6 28.Qxh6 Ng6 29.Qh7+ Kf8 30.f6[/font] White soon give mate.
If [font color="darkred"]26...Nd7 27.Bxh6!! f6 28.Bxg7[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]28...Kf7 29.Qh7 Rg8 30.Kf1 Qd6 31.Bd5+[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]31...Ke8 32.Qxg8+ Ke7 33.Bxf6+[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]33...Qxf6 34.Rh7+ Kd6 35.Ne4+ Kc7 36.Rxd7+ Kb6 37.Qg1+[/font] White soon give mate.
[font color="purple"]33...Kxf6 34.Ne4+ Kxf5 35.Qg5#.[/font]

[font color="darkorange"]31...Qxd5 32.Bh6+ Ke8 33.cxd5 Ne7 34.d6 Kd8 35.dxe7+[/font] just hurts to watch.

If [font color="magenta"]28...Qb6+[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]29.Kf1 Kf7 30.Qh7 Rh8 31.Bxh8+ Ke8 32.Qg8+.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Peter Leko[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Alexander Morozevich[/center][center]Position after 25...f7f6[/center]

26.Bxh6!!

White sacrifices a Bishop to break open the kingside.

26...gxh6

Black still isn't a dead man walking.
If [font color="red"]26...b4?[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]27.cxb4 Nxb4 28.Be3 Kf7 29.a3 exf5 30.gxf5.[/font]

27.Qxh6 Qa7+

[font color="red"]27...Qg7 28.Bxc6 Red8 29.Ne4! Qxh6 30.Rxh6 b4 31.cxb4[/font] continues to leave White a pawn to the good, but he still cannot get close enough to Black's King to nail down the win.

28.Kg2 Qg7

If [font color="red"]28...Red8?[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]29.Qh8+! Kf7 30.fxe6+ Kxe6 31.Bf5+ Kd6 32.Ne4+.[/font]

29.Bxc6 Qxh6 30.Rxh6 Red8

[font color="red"]30...Kg7? 31.Bxe8! Bb7+ 32.Kf1 Kxh6 33.Rxb5 Rxe8 34.Rxb7[/font] passes White's c-pawns; White should win this position.

31.Ne4 Kg7?

Black finally falls.
If [font color="red"]31...b4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]32.Rxb4 Rxb4 33.cxb4 Bxc4 34.a3 Kg7 35.Rh3[/font] continues to gives White an extra pawn and a remote passer, but Black can still get counterplay by centralizing his Rook.

[center]BLACK: Peter Leko[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Alexander Morozevich[/center][center]Position after 31...Kg8g7[/center]

32.Rxf6!

White will remain at least a pawn to the good for some time.

32...Rdc8

If [font color="red"]32...exf5[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]33.gxf5 bxc4 34.Rg1 Nh7 35.Kh3+ Kh8 36.Rfg6.[/font]
If [font color="blue"]32...Nh7[/font] then White wins after [font color="blue"]33.Rg6+ Kh8 34.fxe6 Nf8 35.Rh6+ Kg7 36.g5.[/font]

33.cxb5 Rxc6 34.bxc6 Rxb1 35.fxe6 Bd3

If [font color="red"]35...Ng6 36.Rf7+ Kh6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]37.c7 Re1 38.g5+ Kh5 39.Nc5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]39...Bc8 40.Rf8 Ne7 41.Re8 Re2+ 42.Kg1 Rc2 43.Rxe7[/font] leaves White with an easy win.
If [font color="darkred"]39...Nh4+ 40.Kf2 Re2+ 41.Kf1[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]41...Bc4 42.Rh7+ Kxg5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]43.Rxh4!![/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]43...Kxh4 44.c8Q Rxh2+ 45.Kg1 Rxa2 46.e7.[/font]
[font color="darkorange"]43.c8Q?? Re4+! 44.Kf2 Re2+ 45.Kg3 Re3+ 46.Kf2 Re2+ etc.[/font] draws

[font color="magenta"]41...Bb5 42.Rh7+ Kxg5 43.Rxh4!! Kxh4 44.c8Q[/font] leaves White with a Queen and two pawns against a Rook.

[font color="darkorchid"]37.g5+ Kh5 38.e7 Rb2+ 39.Kg3 Nxe7 40.Rxe7[/font] FILL IT IN

36.e7 Bxe4+ 37.Kg3 Ng6

If [font color="red"]37...Ne6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]38.e8N+ Kh8 39.Rxe6 Bxc6 40.Rxe5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]40...Rg1+ 41.Kf4 Rg2 42.Nf6 Kg7 43.Kg5 Kf7 44.h4[/font] gives White three extra pawns and an easy win.
If [font color="burgundy"]40...Rf1[/font] then White wins after [font color="burgundy"]41.g5 Rg1+ 42.Kf4 Rf1+ 43.Kg4 Bf3+ 44.Kh4.[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]38.e8Q Kxf6 39.Qh8+[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]39...Kf7[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]40.c7 Rg1+ 41.Kh4 Rg2 42.Qxe5 Bb7 43.Qb5.[/font]
If [font color="magenta"]39...Ke7 40.c7[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]40...Rg1+ 41.Kh4 Bb7 42.Qb8 Nc5 43.Qxb7 Nxb7 44.c8Q[/font] White can coast the rest of the way.
[font color="darkorange"]40...Nxc7 41.Qxe5+ Ne6 42.Qxe4 Rc1 43.Qb4+ Kf6 44.h4[/font] is a clear victory for White.

[center]BLACK: Peter Leko[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Alexander Morozevich[/center][center]Position after 37...Nf8g6[/center]

38.e8Q

It's all over but the shouting.

38...Kxf6 39.Qd8+ Kf7 40.c7 Rb2 41.Qd7+ Kf6 42.g5+ 1-0

White will finish the game by capturing Black's minor piece, leaving him with a Queen against a Rook.
If [font color="red"]42...Kxg5 43.Qg4+ Kf6 44.Qxe4 Ne7 45.Qxa4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]45...Rb6 46.Qh4+ Kf7 47.Qxe7+ Kxe7 48.c8Q[/font] is all over.
If [font color="darkred"]45...Nf5+ 46.Kf3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]46...Nd6 47.c4 e4+ 48.Ke3 Nf5+ 49.Kxe4 Ne7 50.c8Q Nxc8 51.Qc6+[/font] wins the Knight.
If [font color="magenta"]46...Ne7[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]47.Qa6+ Kf7 48.a4 Rxh2 49.c8Q Nxc8 50.Qxc8.[/font]

Úr Leko resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

9. Karjakin - Morozevich, Round 7 (Opening Theory: Sicilian Taimanov Defense/Bastrikov Variation)

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Reply #3)

Mon Jan 7, 2013, 09:24 PM

Jan 2013

Last edited Mon Jan 7, 2013, 11:28 PM - Edit history (2)

[center][/center]

[center]Sergey Karjakin
[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Stefan64 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64) from Wikipedia
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Sergey Karjakin - Alexander Morozevich
FIDE Grand Prix, 2nd Leg, Round 7
Tashkent, 29 November 2012

Open Norman Sicilian Game: Taimanov Defense (Bastrikov Variation)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3

This is the Taimaov Defense, named for Mark Taimanov, a still-living former Soviet star who is considered both one of the 100 best chess players of the twentieth century and one of the 100 best concert pianists of the twentieth century. We'll stick with the name rather than try to redub the opening the Royal Norman Defense.
The Taimanov incoprporates and then expands upon the older Paulsen Defense.

5...Qc7

There are three main variations of the Taimanov Defense. The text is the Bastrikov Variation.
[font color="red"]5...a6[/font] is the Anti-Szen Variation. See Hou Yifan-J. Polgar, Op, Gibraltar, 2012.
[font color="blue"]5...Nf6[/font] is the Four Knights' Variation. See Gasimov-Radjabov, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2012.

[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]Open Norman Sicilain Game: Taimanov Defense (Bastrikov Variation)[/center][center]Position after 5...Qd8c7[/center]

6.Be3

White can, if he chooses, still play the Szen line.

[font color="red"]
[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]Open Norman Sicilain Game: Taimanov Defense (Bastrikov Variation/Szen Line)[/center][center]Position after 6.Ndb5[/center]
[/font]

If [font color="red"]6.Ndb5 Qb8[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]7.Be3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]7...Nf6 .8.f4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]8...a6 9.e5 axb5 10.exf6 b4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]11.Nb5 b6 12.fxg7 Bxg7 13.Bd3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]13...0-0 14.0-0 Ba6 15.Rf3 f5 16.Rg3 Kh8 17.Bf1[/font] is equal (Motylev-Grachev, Aeroflot Op Rd 6, Moscow, 2008).
[font color="burgundy"]13...Na7 14.Qg4 Bxb2 15.Rb1 Bf6 16.Rxb4 Ba6 17.0-0[/font] leaves White slightly better (Napomniachtchi-Grachev, Aeroflot Op Rd 5, Moscow, 2008).

If [font color="darkred"]11.Ne4 d5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]12.Qg4!? g6! 13.Nd2 Bd6 14.Bb5 e5 15.Qh4 exf4[/font] Runde-S. Johannessen, TT, Oslo, 2002)
If [font color="magenta"]12.Ng3 g6[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]13.Bb5 Bd7[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]14.0-0 Qd8 15.Qf2 Qa5 16.Bxc6 bxc6[/font] gives Black a slight edge with better pawns.
[font color="purple"]14.Qe2!? Qd8 15.Re1 Ra5 16.Bxc6 bxc6[/font] is equal.

[font color="darkorange"]13.Ne2!? Bd7! 14.Qd2 Qd8 15.Nd4 Bd6[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space.

If [font color="darkred"]8...d6 9.Qf3 Be7[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]10.Bd3 a6 11.Nd4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]11...Bd7 12.0-0 Nb4 13.f5 e5 14.Nde2 Bc6 15.a3[/font] leaves White slightly better; Black must exchange the Knight for the Bishop at d3, returning White's center pawn (J. Polgar-Pelletier, IT, Biel, 2007).
[font color="darkorange"]11...0-0 12.0-0 e5 13.Nf5 Bxf5 14.exf5 Rd8[/font] is equal; both sides have pawn weaknesses (Nisipeanu-Shabalov, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2005).

[font color="magenta"]10.0-0-0 a6 11.Nd4 Nxd4 12.Rxd4 b5 13.a3 e5[/font] is equal (Najer-Novikov, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2008).

If [font color="darkred"]7...a6[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]8.Bb6[/font] (the sacrifice is sound enough to have been played often) [font color="darkred"]axb5 9.Nxb5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]9...Ra5! 10.Nc7+ Ke7 11.Qd2 Re5 12.0-0-0 f6[/font] is equal (Pavlov-Nyzhnyk, Nabakov Mem, Kiev, 2008).
If [font color="magenta"]9...Bb4+?! 10.c3! Ba5 11.Nc7+[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]11...Qxc7 12.Bxc7 Bxc7[/font] (Black has three minor pieces for the Queen) [font color="magenta"]13.Qg4 g6[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]14.Bb5 Nge7 15.h4 h5 16.Qg5[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]16...d5[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]17.a4!? dxe4![/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]18.Rd1!? Nd5! 19.c4 Nf4 20.Qc5[/font] is equal (Cornette-Blot, French ChT, Montpellier, 2001).
[font color="burgundy"]18.0-0 Nd5 19.c4![/font] (White maintains the advantage by returning the Queen for three minor pieces) [font color="burgundy"]19...Bf4 20.cxd5 Bxg5 21.dxc6 Ke7 22.hxg5[/font] continues to give White a small advantage.

[font color="darkpink"]17.Bxc6+ bxc6 18.Qf6 Rg8 19.exd5 cxd5 20.0-0[/font] gives White an extra pawn.

[font color="darkorchid"]16...Be5 17.f4 f6 18.Qg3 Bc7 19.a4 Kf7 20.0-0[/font] gives White an extra pawn (Charochkina-Ovod, Russian ChW HL, Taganrog. 2011).

If [font color="darkorange"]14.Bc4 Nge7 15.Qe2 0-0 16.0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="darkorange"]16...f5?![/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]17.f3! Kg7 18.a4 b6 19.Bb5 Bb7 20.Rad1 Rad8[/font] gives White an extra pawn, a Queen for three Rooks, better pawns and a little more space; one of Black's Rooks is on guard duty in behind the unmoves d-pawn, giving it no scope (Swain-Hera, Scootish Ch, Glasgow, 2012).
[font color="purple"]17.exf5 Rxf5 18.b4 Ne5 19.a4[/font] continues to give White an estra pawn and more space (Novkovic-Ambrosi, OlW, Dresden, 2008).

[font color="hotpink"]16...d5 17.Bb5 Bd7 18.a3 Rfd8 19.Rfd1[/font] gives White a comfortable game.

If [font color="darkorange"]11...Kf8? 12.Nxa8! Qxa8[/font] then:

If [font color="darkorange"]13.Qd6+ Nge7 14.Qa3 f5[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]15.Bb5 Kf7 16.b4 fxe4 17.bxa5 Nd5 18.Qc5[/font] gives White a winning advantage (Lahno-Melamed, Ukrainian ChW, Kramatorsk, 2001).
[font color="purple"]15.b4 fxe4 16.bxa5 Kf7 17.Qd6 Nd5 18.Bc4[/font] leaves Black with an entombed Bishop; White should win (Ponomariov-Ivanisevic, Euro ChT, Batumi, 1999).

[font color="hotpink"]13.Bc5+? Nge7! 14.Qd6 Qb8 15.Qxb8 Nxb8 16.Bd6[/font] cuts White to a small advatnage; Black's Queen's Bishop is free as soon as the b-pawwn can advance the advance (Trujillo Villegas-Mendoza, ZT, Santo Domingo, 2007).

[font color="darkorchid"]8.Nd4 Qc7 9.Bd3[/font] transposes into [font color="red"]the notes to Black's seventh text move.[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]7.a4 Nf6 8.Bd3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]8...Be7 9.0-0[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]9...0-0 10.Be3 a6 11.Nd4 Qc7 12.Kh1 d6 13.f4 Bd7 14.Qf3 Nxd4 15.Bxd4 Bc6[/font] draw (Trepp-Matulovic, IT, Banja Luka, 1987).
[font color="darkorange"]9...b6 10.f4 d6 11.Be3 Bb7 12.Qe2 0-0 13.Rae1[/font] is equal (Beach-Garbett, Op, Aukland, 2000).

[font color="magenta"]8...Bc5 9.0-0 Ne5 10.Be2 a6 11.Nd4 0-0 12.Nb3[/font] gives White a slight edge (Gufeld-Vooremaa, IT, Tallinn, 1981).

6...a6

Black plays this move in order to support the advance of the b-pawn and to prevent White from playing Nd4b5.

7.Be2

If [font color="red"]7.Bd3 Nf6 8.0-0 Ne5 9.h3 Bc5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]10.Kh1 d6 11.f4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]11...Ng6 12.Qe1[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]12...0-0 13.f5 Ne5 14.Qh4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]14...Bd7 15.Rf3 Nxf3 16.gxf3 Qd8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]17.Rg1 Ne8 18.Rxg7+ Nxg7 19.f6 Kh8 20.Bg5 Bxd4 21.fxg7+ Bxg7 22.e5 h6 23.Qe4 f5 24.exf6[/font] Black resigns facing mate in two (Haznedaroglu-Iotov, Euro Ch, Antalya, 2004).
[font color="burgundy"]17.e5[/font] then after [font color="burgundy"]17...dxe5 18.Rg1 exf5 19.Rxg7+ Kxg7 20.Bh6+ Kh8[/font] Black wins (Harutjunyan-Aroshidze, Ebralidze Mem, Tbilisi, 2007).

[font color="darkpink"]14...b5 15.Rf3 Nxf3 16.gxf3 Ne8 17.Rg1 g6 18.Rg4 Qb7 19.Qh6 e5[/font] gives Black the exchange and White more space (García-Vescovi, PanAm Ch, Cali, 2001).

If [font color="darkred"]12...Bd7 13.f5 Ne5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]14.Qh4 Qb6 15.Nce2 0-0-0[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]16.Bg1 exf5 17.b4 Qxb4 18.Rab1 Qa4 19.exf5 Rhe8[/font] gives White more space, but Black is threatening to take a pawn (Haznedaroglu-Ribli, Euro Club Cup, Saint Vincent, 2005).
[font color="darkorange"]16.b4 Qxb4 17.Rab1 Qa4 18.Rb3 Nxd3 19.cxd3 e5[/font] is equal (Stoumbos-Javakhishvili, Anibal Op, Linares, 2005).

[font color="magenta"]14.Qg3 0-0 15.Nce2 Nxd3 16.cxd3 e5 17.Bh6[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Fedorov-A. Mastrovasilis, Euro Ch, Kusadasi, Turkey, 2006).

If [font color="darkred"]11...Ned7[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]12.Qf3 b5 13.Nb3 Bb7 14.a4 b4 15.Ne2[/font] is equal (Tal-Najdorf, TM, Belgrade, 1970).
[font color="magenta"]12.a3 0-0 13.Qe1 Qb6 14.Qf2 e5 15.fxe5 dxe5 16.Nf5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Kasparov-Ivanchuk, IT, Novgorod, 1994).

If [font color="darkred"]10.Qe2 d6 11.f4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]11...Ng6 12.Nb3 Bxe3+ 13.Qxe3 0-0 14.Rae1 b5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]15.e5 dxe5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]16.Bxg6 hxg6 17.Qxe5 Qa7+ 18.Kh2 Bb7[/font] is equal (Hennings-Hort, Capablanca Mem, Havana, 1971).
If [font color="magenta"]16.fxe5 Nd7 17.Bxg6 hxg6 18.Nd4 Bb7[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]19.Nd1 20.c3 Nb6[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]21.Nf2 Nc4 22.Qg5 Rd5 23.Ng4 Qd8 24.Nf6+ gxf6 25.Rxf6 Rxd4 26.Rxg6+[/font] draw (Radulov-Suetin, IT, Badapest, 1970).
[font color="burgundy"]21.a3?! Nc4! 22.Qf2 Qc5 23.b4 Qe7 24.Qf4 Nxa3[/font] gives Black an extra pawn; White has a space advantage and is able to draw (Furhoff-Divljan, IT, Belgrade, 2001).

If [font color="darkpink"]19...b4 20.Nf2 Rad8 21.Ng4 Qc5 22.Rd1 Nb6[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space with the ability to use the c4 square (Suetin-J. Horvath, Barcza Mem, Debrecen, 1987).
[font color="darkorange"]19.a4 b4 20.Na2 a5 21.c3 b3 22.Nc1 Nc5[/font] is equal (Radulov-Marjanovic, IT, Belgrade, 1982).

If [font color="magenta"]15.a3 Bb7[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]16.Kh1 Rac8 17.Nd4 Rfe8 18.e5 Nd5 19.Nxd5 Bxd5 20.exd6 Qxd6 21.Qf2 f5[/font] is equal (Mecking-Eleodoro Juarez, IT, Mar del Plata, 1971).
[font color="darkorange"]16.Rf2 Rfd8 17.Rd2 Rac8 18.Be2 e5 19.f5 Ne7[/font] is equal (Denny-Illescas Córdoba, Ol, Thessaloniki, 1988).

If [font color="magenta"]11...Ned7?![/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]12.Kh1!? 0-0 13.Nb3 Bxe3 14.Qxe3 b5 15.a3[/font] is equal (Andersson-Hort, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 1971).
[font color="darkorange"]12.g4! b5 13.g5 Qa7 14.Qf2 Nh5 15.Rae1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

If [font color="blue"]7.Qd2 Nf6 8.0-0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]8...Be7 9.f3[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]9...h5[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]10.Nb3[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]10...d6[/font] then:

[font color="blue"]11.Kb1 b5 12.Bxb5 axb5 13.Nxb5 Qb8 14.Nxd6+ Kf8 15.Qc3[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Yu Yangyi-Xu Jun, Chinese ChT, Chengdu, 2011).
[font color="#0080C0"]11.Bg5 Rb8 12.f4 b5 13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.Bd3 b4 15.Ne2 a5 16.Kb1 a4[/font] is equal (Abergel-Negi, Chigorin Mem Op, St. Ptersburg, 2009).

[font color="#8000C0"]10...b5 11.Bd3 Ne5 12.Qf2 Rb8 13.Qg3 Nxd3+ 14.Rxd3 Qxg3 15.hxg3 d6[/font] is equal (Schut-Maladinovic, EU ChU16 (Girls), Herceg Novi, 2008).

If [font color="darkblue"]10.Qf2 d6 11.h3 b5 12.Nxc6 Qxc6 13.Bd3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]13...h4 14.Kb1 b4 15.Ne2 e5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]16.Bg5 Nd7 17.Bxe7 Kxe7[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]18.Nc1 a5 19.Qe2 Nf6 20.Bb5 Qc7 21.Ba4 Be6[/font] is equal (N. Kosintseva-Javakishvilli, Euro Club Cup W, Ohrid, 2009).
[font color="#0080C0"]18.Qe3 Qc5 19.Qd2 Nf6 20.Rhf1 Be6 21.f4 a5[/font] is equal (Nijboer-Giri, Dutch Op, Dieren, 2009).

[font color="#8000C0"]16.c4 bxc3 17.Nxc3 Be6 18.Rc1 Qb7 19.f4 exf4 20.Bxf4 0-0[/font] is equal (Pérez Ponsa-Cramling, Masters, Gibraltar, 2009).

If [font color="dodgerblue"]13...b4 14.Ne2 e5 15.g4 Be6 16.Kb1[/font] then:

[font color="dodgerblue"]16...hxg4 17.hxg4 Rxh1 18.Rxh1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space; Black has then White Knight hemmed in at e2 (Vachier Lagrave-Maceija, Bundesliga 0809, Germany, 2008).
[font color="darkcyan"]16...g6 17.g5 Nd7 18.f4 Nc5 19.f5 gxf5 20.exf5 Nxd3 21.cxd3 Bd5[/font] is equal (Rosen-Hughes, US Jr Ch, St. Louis, 2010).

If [font color="darkblue"]9...0-0 10.g4 b5 11.g5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]11...Ne8 12.h4 Bb7[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]13.Nxc6 Bxc6 14.Ne2[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]14...Rc8 15.Nd4 Bb7 16.Kb1 Nd6 17.Bf4 Qb6[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]18.Be3?! Qc7 19.Bf4 Qb6 20.Be3 Qc7[/font] draw (Nadev-A. Sokolov, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).
[font color="#8000FF"]18.h5! Nc4 19.Bxc4 bxc4 20.c3 Rc5 21.Be3[/font] continues to give White a comfortable advantage.

[font color="slateblue"]14...d5 15.e5 a5 16.Nd4 b4 17.h5 Bd7 18.f4[/font] gives White a comfortable advantage in space concentrated on the kingside (Grandelius-Gretarsson, Euro ChU16, Herceg Novi, 2008).

[font color="darkcyan"]13.Kb1 Ne5 14.h5 Rc8 15.Qg2 b4 16.Na4 f5 17.gxf6[/font] gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Karjakin-Morozevich, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2009).

[font color="dodgerblue"]11...Nh5 12.Nce2 Rd8 13.Ng3 Nxd4 14.Qxd4 Nf4 15.h4 Bb7 16.Qb6 Qb8 17.Kb1 d5 18.Bxf4 Qxf4 19.Qxb7 Bc5 20.exd5 Qxg3 21.Bd3[/font] draw (Salgado López-Movsesian, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2011).

If [font color="darkblue"]8...Bb4 9.f3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]9...Ne5 10.Nb3 b5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]11.Qe1 Be7 12.f4 Ng6 13.e5 Ng4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]14.Ne4 14...0-0 15.Bc5 Bb7[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]16.Nd6 Bd5 17.Rxd5 exd5 18.Qd1 Nf6 19.g3 Ne4 20.Qxd5 Nxc5 21.Nxc5[/font] gives White a fair advantage in space (Mamedov-Zakhartsov, Op, Cappelle-la-Grande, 2010).
[font color="#0080FF"]16.Bxe7 Nxe7 17.Nd6 Bd5 18.Bd3 f6 19.Qh4 Nh6[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (K. Szabo-Horvath, Hungarian Ch, Szekesfehervar, 2006).

If [font color="dodgerblue"]14.Bd2 Bb7 15.Bd3 Rc8 16.Qe2[/font] then:

If [font color="dodgerblue"]16...f5 17.exf6 Nxf6 18.Rhf1 0-0[/font] then:

[font color="dodgerblue"]19.g3 b4 20.Ne4 Nxe4 21.Bxe4 a5 22.Nd4[/font] gives White the advantage in space (Svidler-N. Vitiugov, Russian Ch, Moscow, 2006).
[font color="slateblue"]19.Kb1 b4 20.Ne4 Nxe4 21.Bxe4 Bxe4 22.Qxe4[/font] is equal (Pérez Candelario-Logothetis, Euro Ch, Kusadasi, 3008).

[font color="darkcyan"]16...Nh6 17.Ne4 0-0 18.Rhf1 f5 19.exf6 Bxf6 20.Nxf6+ Rxf6 21.g3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space; Black has command of the c-file, restricting White's freedom (Aginian-Velcheva, Euro ChTW, Crete, 2007).

If [font color="dodgerblue"]11.Kb1[/font] then:

If [font color="dodgerblue"]11...Be7 12.Qf2 d6[/font] then:

If [font color="dodgerblue"]13.Bb6 Qb8 14.Bd4 0-0 15.g4[/font] then:

If [font color="dodgerblue"]15...Bb7 16.g5 Nfd7[/font] then:

[font color="dodgerblue"]17.Rg1 b4 18.Ne2 Rc8 19.Ng3 a5 20.f4 a4[/font] gives Black more freedom (Sebag-Sulypa, Masters, Bois Colombes, 2004).
[font color="#0080FF"]17.f4 b4 18.fxe5 bxc3 19.exd6 Qxd6 20.Be2[/font] gives White the advantage in space an in the center (T. Kosintseva-Javakhishvilli, Euro Club Cup W, Fügen, 2006).

[font color="#8000FF"]15...Nfd7 16.g5 Nc4 17.h4 a5 18.f4 a4 19.Nc1[/font] gives White the advantage in space (Inarkiev-Gershon, Op, Athens, 2005).

If [font color="darkcyan"]13.g4 Nfd7 14.Rg1 Bb7 15.g5 Rc8[/font] then:

[font color="darkcyan"]16.f4 b4 17.Nd5 exd5 18.fxe5 Nxe5 19.exd5 0-0 20.Bh3 Rce8 21.Bf5 Bd8[/font] is equal (N. Kosintseva-Javakhishvilli, World ChTW, Ekaterinburg, 2007).
[font color="slateblue"]16.a3 Nc4 17.Bxc4 bxc4 18.Nd4 Rb8 19.h4 d5[/font] is equal (S. Salov-Gutsche, Corres, 2003).

If [font color="darkcyan"]11...Nc4 12.Bxc4 bxc4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkcyan"]13.Nc1 Rb8[/font] then:

[font color="darkcyan"]14.N1e2 0-0 15.Bf4 e5 16.Bg5 Ne8 17.Ka1 d6 18.a3 a5 19.Qc1 Be6 20.Na2 f5[/font] gives Black a strong advantage in space, a near-center pawn duo and the Bishop pair; White is targeting a backward pawn at d6 and has command of the d-file (Morozevich-N. Vitiugov, Russian Ch, Moscow, 2007).
If [font color="slateblue"]14.Bf4 e5 15.Bg5 Qb6 16.N1e2 Ba3[/font] then:

If [font color="slateblue"]17.b3 0-0 18.Bxf6 Qxf6 19.Nd5 Qd8[/font] then:

If [font color="slateblue"]20.f4 exf4 21.Qxf4 Bb7[/font] then:

[font color="slateblue"]22.Ng3 Bxd5 23.Rxd5 Rb6 24.Rhd1 cxb3 25.axb3 Qc8 26.R1d3 Rd8 27.e5 Qc6 28.Ne4[/font] gives White the advantage with more space and a better center; Black is able to make threats on the queenside (Cheparinov-Pelletier, Euro ChT, Crete, 2007).
[font color="#8000FF"]22.Rhf1 a5 23.Nec3 Bc6 24.Rd4 cxb3 25.axb3 Bb4 26.e5 Bxc3 27.Nxc3 Qe7 28.Kb2 Rbe8[/font] gives White a small advantage in space and a better center (Krush-Robson, US Ch, St. Louis, 2010).

[font color="#0080FF"]20.Qc3 cxb3 21.axb3 d6 22.Qc7 Qxc7 23.Nxc7 f5[/font] is equal (Pikula-Dragomirescu, Belgrade Trophy, Obrenovac, 2010).

[font color="steelblue"]17.Na4! Qc6 18.Bxf6 gxf6 19.Nec3 Be7 20.Rhe1[/font] gives White a better center, stronger pawns and more freedom; Black has command of the b-file (Fritz 13).

[font color="slateblue"]13.Nd4 Rb8 14.g4 0-0 15.Ka1 d6 16.a3 Ba5[/font] draw (Sax-Goloshchapov, Euro Club Cup, Rethymnon, 2003).

If [font color="dodgerblue"]9...Ne7 10.Nde2 b5 11.Bf4 e5 12.Bg5[/font] then:

[font color="dodgerblue"]12...Bb7 13.Kb1 Ba5 14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.Qh6 Qb6 16.g3 Qe6 17.Bh3[/font] White has an impressive advantage in space, command of the d-file, more active pieces and stronger pawns; Black has the the Bishop pair (Anand-Polgar, World Ch Trmt, San Luís, 2005).
[font color="darkcyan"]12...h5 13.Kb1 Ba5 14.Qd6 Qxd6 15.Rxd6 Bc7 16.Rd1[/font] is equal (Motylev-Maiwald, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010)

7...Nf6 8.0-0 Be7

Black has the option of developing the Bishop aggressively at b4.
If [font color="red"]8...Bb4 9.Na4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]9...Be7 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Nb6 Rb8 12.Nxc8 Qxc8 13.Bd4 c5 14.Be5 Rb6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]15.Qd3 d6 16.Bc3 0-0 17.b3 d5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]18.exd5 Nxd5 19.Be5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]19...Rd8 20.Qg3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]20...Bf6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]21.f4 Rb4 22.Bc4 Bxe5 23.fxe5 Qc6 24.Rf3[/font] gives White a small advantadge with greater mobility, better King safety and more space (Shirov-Ljubojevic, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 2001).
If [font color="darkred"]21.Bxf6 Nxf6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]22.Rad1 Nd5 23.Rd2 a5 24.Rfd1 Rf8 25.Bc4[/font] gives White more freedom (Zdebskaja-Pertlova, Euro ChW, Rijeka, 2010).
[font color="magenta"]22.Rfd1 Rd5 23.Bc4 Rd7 24.Qe5 h6 25.h3[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Herrera Delgado-Heimann, EU ChU16, Herceg Novi, 2008).

If [font color="darkred"]20...f6 21.Bb2 Bd6[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]22.Qf3 Qc7 23.g3 Be5 24.Bxe5 Qxe5 25.Bc4 Qc7 26.Rfe1[/font] gives White more freedom (Barua-Muhren, IT, Arnhem, 2007).
[font color="darkorange"]22.Qg4 Qc7 23.g3 Be5 24.Bxe5 Qxe5 25.Bc4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Atoufi-Sarkar, Foxwoods Op, Mashantucket, 2007).

[font color="magenta"]21...Rbd6 22.Rad1 e5 23.Qf3 Nf4 24.Bc4+ Kh8 25.Rxd6 Rxd6 26.Bc1[/font] gives White strong pawns, the initiative and control of the light squares (Predojevic-Matsenko, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).

If [font color="darkred"]19...Bf6 20.Bxf6 Nxf6[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]21.Rad1[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]21...h6 22.Rd2 Qc7 23.Rfd1 g6 24.h3 e5 25.Qe3[/font] gives White stronger pawns, a threat to take a pawn and a slight advantage in space (Ruan Lufei-Mkrtchian, Grand PrixW 1112, Jermuk, 2012).
[font color="burgundy"]21...Qc7 22.a4 h6 23.Qd2 Nd5 24.a5 Rb4 25.Bxa6 Qxa5[/font] is equal (Shirov-Lutz, Bundesliga 0001, Hamburg, 2001).

If [font color="magenta"]a) 21.Rfd1 Qc7[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]22.Bf3 Rc8 23.Rd2 a5 24.Rad1 h6 25.Qc4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Vaihbav-Sagar. Op, Kolkata, 2012).
[font color="darkorange"]22.a3 h6 23.Qc4 a5 24.Rd2 Rbb8 25.Rad1[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Kovacevic-Jaracz, Op, Bled, 2002).

[font color="magenta"]b) 21.Qg3 Qb8 22.Qxb8 Rfxb8 23.Rfd1 Kf8 24.Rd2 a5 25.a4[/font] gives White slightly stronger pawns (Diamant-Duarte, IT, São Paulo, 2009).

If [font color="darkred"]18.e5 Nd7[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]19.f4 c4 20.bxc4 Rc6[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]21.Qg3 g6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]22.Ba5 Nb6 23.Bxb6 Rxb6 24.cxd5 Qc5+!? 25.Kh1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Pruijssers-T.Zhang, Op, Amsterdam, 2006).
Also good is [font color="burgundy"]22.Bd4 Nb6 23.cxd5 Nxd5 24.c4 Nb6 25.Bf3[/font] when White has an extra pawn and more space, but Black has counterplay after 25...Bc5 (Houdini).

If [font color="magenta"]21.Qh3 Nb6 22.Bd3 g6[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]23.Rf3 Re8 24.cxd5 Rxc3 25.Bxg6 hxg6 26.Rxc3 Bc5+[/font] gives Black only two minor pieces for a Rook and two pawns, but he currently enjoys the initiative (Spoelman-van der Werf, Op, Hoogeveen, 2003).
If [font color="darkorange"]23.f5!? exf5! 24.Rxf5[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]24...Qe6 25.cxd5 Nxd5[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]26.Bd2 Bc5+ 27.Kh1 Be3 28.Bxe3 Nxe3 29.Qxe3 gxf5 is equal (Houdini).[/font]
[font color="burgundy"]26.Rf3?[/font] drops a piece to [font color="burgundy"]26...Qxh3 27.Rxh3 Rxc3 .[/font]

If [font color="hotpink"]a) 24...Na4[/font] then:

[font color="hotpink"]25.Bd4 dxc4 26.Be4 Bc5 27.Bxc5 Rxc5[/font] gives Black a small advantage {i](Houdini)
If [font color="purple"]25.Qh6 Qc7 26.Rh5 Bc5+ 27.Kh1 f5 28.exf6 Nxc3 29.Bxg6 Rcxf6[/font] is equal (Fritz).

If [font color="hotpink"]b) 24...gxf5!? 25.Bxf5! Bc5+ 26.Kh1 Rh6[/font] then:

[font color="hotpink"]27.Qg4+ Rg6 28.Bxc8 Rxg4 29.Bxg4 d4 30.Be1[/font] gives White a small a small advantage.
If [font color="purple"]27.Bxc8 Rxh3 28.Bxh3 d4 29.Be1 Nxc4 30.Bf5 Nxe5 31.Rb1[/font] gives White a small advantage with better piece activity and the Bishop pair.

[font color="darkorchid"]19.Qg3 Rc6 20.Rae1 f5 21.exf6 Bxf6 22.Bd2[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Cao-Rosen, US Jr Ch, St Louis 2012).

If [font color="darkred"]15.b3 Nxe4 16.Bxg7 Rg8[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]17.Be5 Bd6 18.Bg3 Nxg3 19.fxg3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]19...Be5 20.Rb1 Ke7 21.Bd3 Rg5 22.Qf3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Azarov-Banikas, Euro ChT, León, 2001).
[font color="darkorange"]19...f5 20.Bc4 Be5 21.Qh5+ Kd8 22.Rae1 Bd4+ 23.Kh1[/font] is equal (Sadvakasov-Neverov, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2004).

[font color="magenta"]17.Bb2 Bf6 18.Bxf6 Nxf6 19.Qd2 Qc6 20.g3[/font] draw (Kononenko-Oral, Op, Pardubicve, 2003).

If [font color="darkred"]9...0-0 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Nb6 Rb8 12.Nxc8 Rfxc8 13.Bxa6[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]13...Rf8 14.Bd3 Bd6 15.f4 e5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]16.f5 Rxb2 17.g4 Qa5 18.g5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]18...Ne8[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]19.Bc1 Rxa2 20.Bb2 Rxa1 21.Qxa1 Bb4 22.c3 Qxa1 23.Rxa1 Bd6 24.Ra6 h6 25.Bc1 hxg5 26.Bxg5 Nf6 27.Bxf6[/font] draw (Ehlvest-Illescas Córdoba, French League, France, 1989).
If [font color="magenta"]19.Kh1 Bc5[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]20.Bc1 Rxa2 21.Bb2 Rxa1 22.Qxa1 d6 23.c3 Qxa1 24.Rxa1 h6 25.Bc1 hxg5 26.Bxg5 Nf6 27.Bxf6[/font] draw (Ehlvest-Illescas Córdoba, French League, France, 1990).
If [font color="darkorange]20.Bxc5 Qxc5 21.Qh5 f6[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]22.Rg1 d5 23.Rg4 fxg5 24.Qxg5 Rb7[/font] gives Black more space and freedom; White has a passed pawn, but it doesn't for much at the moment (Brajovic-D. Mastrovasilis, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).
[font color="purple"]22.Rf3 fxg5 23.Qxg5 Nf6 24.Rg3 Rf7 25.Qe3 Qc3[/font] gives Black a clear advantage (Ohme-Guichard, World ChTW, Novi Sad, 2009).

If [font color="magenta"]18...Bc5[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]19.gxf6 Bxe3+ 20.Kh1 gxf6 21.Qg4+ Kh8 22.Rg1 Bg5 23.h4 Bh6[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]24.Rg2 Rbb8 25.Qh5 Be3 26.Rag1 Qc5 27.a4 Qe7 28.Rg7 h6 29.R1g5 Rb1+ 30.Kh2[/font] Black resigns (Danin-Demianjuk, Chigorin Mem Op, St. Petersburg, 2009).
[font color="purple"]24.Rg3 Qd2 25.Rag1 Rbb8 26.Bc4 d5 27.exd5 cxd5 28.R3g2 Qa5 29.Bb3 Qc5 30.Qh5 Be3 31.Rg7 h6 32.R1g5[/font] Black resigns ahead of mate (Papaionnou-Kveinys, Euro ChT, Plovdiv, 2003).

[font color="darkorange"]19.Bxc5 Qxc5+ 20.Kh1 Ne8[/font] transposes into [font color="purple"]Ohme-Guichard,[/font] above.

If [font color="magenta"]16.b3 exf4 17.Bd4 f3[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]18.e5[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]18...f2+ 19.Rxf2 Bxe5 20.Bxe5 Qxe5[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]21.Rf1[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]21...Rbe8 22.a4 Nd5 23.Qf3 Ne3 24.Rfe1 f5 25.a5 g5 26.a6[/font] give White an advance passed pawn and Black more space (Molina Rodriguez-Butkiewicz, Op, Cappelle-la-Grande, 2011).
[font color="burgundy"]21...h5 22.h3 d5 23.Qf3 Ne4 24.Qf4 Qd4+ 25.Kh2 Rbe8[/font] is equal (Perunovic-Ivanisevich, Serbia/Montenegro Ch, Kopaonik, 2005).

[font color="darkpink"]21.h3 d5 22.Qf3 Ne4 23.Qf4 Qd4 24.Kh2 Rbe8[/font] draw (Illescas Cordoba-Cramling, Op, Terrassa, 1990).

[font color="purple"]18...Bxe5 19.Bxe5 Qxe5 20.Qxf3 d5 21.Rae1 Qd6 22.a4[/font] gives White an extra pawn, passed, but no easy way to exploit the advantage (Zigangirova-Urosevic, World Youth Girls, Oropesa del Mar, Spain, 2001).

[font color="darkorange"]18.g3 Bxg3 19.Bxf6 gxf6 20.Rxf3 Bxh2+ 21.Kh1 Be5[/font] is equal (Rowson-Tregubov, Dutch ChT, 2001).

If [font color="magenta"]13...Rd8 14.Bd3 Bd6[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]15.Kh1 Be5[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]16.c3 Rxb2 17.Qc1 Ng4 18.f4 Nxe3 19.Qxb2 Bxf4 20.Qf2 Nxf1 21.Rxf1[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]21...g5 22.g3 Qd6 23.Be2 Be5 24.Qxf7+ Kh8 25.Rd1[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]25...Qc7[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]26.Bg4 d5 27.Qxe6 Bxc3 28.exd5[/font] gives White a passed pawn and more space (Tal-Liberzon, Euro ChT, Skara, 1980).
[font color="burgundy"]26.Qe7 Bxc3 27.Bg4 Qc8 28.Bxe6 Re8 29.Qc5[/font] is equal (Razuvaev-Matulovic, TM, Tbilisi, 1973).

[font color="darkpink"]25...Qf8 26.Qxf8+ Rxf8 27.Rxd7 Bxc3 28.Bg4 Rf1+ 29.Kg2[/font] gives White a more remote passed pawn, but winning is not going to be easy (Johansen-Zhao Zong-Yuan, Doeberl Cup, Canberra, 2001).

[font color="darkorchid"]21...e5 22.g3 Qd6 23.Be2 Bg5 24.Bg4 Bf6 25.Rd1 Qc7 26.Rxd7 Rxd7[/font] leaves White down a piece and he resigns (Barnsley-Peschardt, Corres, 1997).

[font color="#C08000"]16.f4 Bxb2 17.Rb1 e5 18.f5 d5 19.Bg5 Qd6[/font] gives Black stronger pawns and more space; White has a (Barlov-S. Marjanovic, IT, Belgrade, 1982).

If [font color="darkorange"]15.f4 e5 16.f5 Rxb2 17.g4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkorange"]17...h6 18.h4[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange]18...Bf8 19.g5 Nd5 20.exd5 e4 21.Bf4 Qa7+[/font] is equal (Matulovic-Mariotti, ZT, Praia da Rocha, 1978).
[font color="purple"]18...h5 19.gxh5 Be7 20.h6 d5 21.Qe2 Kh7[/font] is equal (Xu Jun-Ye Jiangchuan, Op, Beijing, 1991).

[font color="hotpink"]17...Qa5 18.g5 Bc5 19.Bxc5 Qxc5+ 20.Kh1 Ne8 21.a4[/font] (Watson-Jansa, IT, Herning, Norway, 1991).

9.f4 d6 10.a4

[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]Open Sicilian Norman Game: Taimanov Defense (Bastyrikov Variation[/center][center]Position after 10.a2a4[/center]

This text is not the most common continuation. The purpose is stop Black from expanding of the queenside.
If [font color="red"]10.Qe1[/font] (White maneuvers his Queen to the kingside) [font color="red"]10...0-0 11.Kh1[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]11...Nxd4 12.Bxd4 b5 13.a3 Bb7 14.Qg3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]14...Bc6 15.Rae1 Qb7 16.Bd3 b4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]17.Nd1 bxa3 18.bxa3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]18...g6 19.Nf2 Nh5 20.Qe3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]20...f6 21.Bc4 Ng7 22.Rb1 Qc8[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]23.Ba2 Kh8 24.Ng4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]24...e5?! 25.fxe5 dxe5 26.Nxe5 fxe5 27.Bxe5[/font] gives White a very comfortable game (Areshchenko-Bellaiche, Op, Cappelle-la-Grande, 2003).
[font color="burgundy"]24...Bb5 25.c4 Bc6 26.Nh6 e5 27.Bc3 Ne6 28.c5[/font] remains equal.

[font color="darkpink"]a) 23.Bb3 Kh8 24.Nd3 a5 25.Rf3 Rb8 26.Re1[/font] is equal (Bacrot-Lautier, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2005).
[font color="darkorchid"]b) 23.Qe2 Kh8 24.Rb3 e5 25.Be3[/font] is equal (Rojas-Leitão, IT, Santiago, 2005).

If [font color="darkred"]20...Nxf4?! 21.Qxf4![/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]21...e5 22.Ng4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]22...f6?[/font] then after [font color="darkred"]23.Bc4+! Kh8 24.Nxe5 dxe5 25.Qxe5[/font] White wins (Shirov-Benjamin, IT, Horgen, 1994).
[font color="darkorange"]22...exd4 23.Nh6+ Kg7 24.Nxf7 Bg5 25.Qxg5 Rxf7 26.e5[/font] gives White a powerful advantage.

If [font color="magenta"]21...Rab8?[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]22.Bf6! Bxf6 23.Qxf6 h5 24.Nh3 Bb5 25.Ng5.[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]18...Rad8 19.c3 g6 20.Nf2[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]20...Qd7 21.f5 e5 22.Be3 Kh8 23.fxg6 fxg6 24.Bh6[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Areshchenko-Movsesian, Euro Club Cup, Halkidiki, 2002).
[font color="magenta"]20...Nh5!? 21.Qe3! f6 22.Bc4 Ng7 23.Rb1 Qc8 24.Rb6[/font] gives White the advantage in space (Shirov-Kabatianski, Bundesliga 9697, Germany, 1996).

If [font color="darkred"]17.axb4 Qxb4 18.Ne2 Qb7[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]19.e5 Nh5 20.Qh3 g6 21.Ng3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]21...Nxg3+ 22.hxg3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]22...Rad8 23.g4 dxe5 24.Bxe5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]24...Rd5 25.g5 Rxe5 26.Rxe5 Qxb2[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]27.Rxe6!? Bd7! 28.Rxg6+ hxg6 29.Qxd7[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]29...Qh8+ 30.Qh3 Qxh3+ 31.gxh3 a5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]32.Ra1!? Bb4 33.Kg2[/font] is equal (Ivanchuk-Ljubojevic, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 1993).
[font color="darkpink"]29...Qb4!? 30.Qh3 a5 31.Qh6 Qd4 32.f5[/font] gives White a small advantage.

[font color="burgundy"]32.Re1 Bd6 33.Re4 Ra8 34.Bb5 Rb8 35.c4[/font] continues to give White a slight advantage with stronger pawns.

[font color="darkorchid"]27.Qe3 Qb7 28.Be4 Bd6 29.Qf3 Rc8 30.Bxc6[/font] continues to gives Black a small advantage in space.

[font color="#C08000"]24...Bb4 25.Bf6 Be7 26.Bc3 Bb4 27.Bf6 Be7 28.g5[/font] gives White a slight advantage

[font color="#C00080"]22...Rfd8 23.g4 dxe5 24.Bxe5 Bb5 25.Rf3[/font] gives White a strong advantage (Jansa-Ribli, Op, Reykjavik, 1975).

If [font color="magenta"]21...dxe5 22.Bxe5[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]22...Nxg3+[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]23.Qxg3 Bb5 24.c4 Bc6 25.Re2 Rad8 26.h4[/font] gives White a slight advantage with a passed pawn (Plomp-Bjuhr, Corres, 2002).
[font color="burgundy"]23.hxg3 Bb5 24.c4 Bc6 25.g4 Rad8 26.Re2[/font] is equal (Shirov-Ivanchuk, IT, Linares, 1993).

If [font color="darkorange"]22...Ng7 23.Bc3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkorange"]23...f6 24.Bc4 Bd5 25.Bxd5 Qxd5 26.Rf3[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Sax-Jansa, IT, Budapest, 1976).
If [font color="purple"]23...f5?! 24.Bxg7! Kxg7[/font] then:

If [font color="purple"]25.Nxf5+?[/font] then:

If [font color="purple"]25...gxf5?[/font] then:

If [font color="purple"]26.Qxf5?? Bxg2+!! 27.Kg1[/font] then:

If [font color="purple"]27...Bc5+? 28.Qxc5 Bxf1 29.Qg5+ Kh8[/font] then:

If [font color="purple"]30.Qf6+??[/font] then:

If [font color="purple"]30...Kg8 31.Be4[/font] and White resigns without waiting for Black's reply (Tipsay-Ye Jiangchuan, IT, Kuala Lampur, 1993).
If [font color="#C08000"]30...Rxf6![/font] then Black soon gives mate after [font color="#C08000"]31.Rxf1 Qa7+ 32.Kg2 Qe3 33.Rf3 Rg8+.[/font]

[font color="burgundy"]30.Qe5+! Qg7+ 31.Qxg7+ Kxg7 32.Bxf1 Rxf4[/font] gives Black the exchange.

If [font color="darkpink"]27...Rxf5![/font] leads to mate

If [font color="hotpink"]26.Rxe6! Rf6 27.Rfe1 Rxe6 28.Rxe6 Bf6 29.b3[/font] is equal.

[font color="#C08000"]25...exf5! 26.b3 Rfe8[/font] leaves Black with an extra Bishop. ().

If [font color="hotpink"]25.Rxe6 Bd5 26.Re2 Bf6 27.Rd2[/font] then:

[font color="hotpink"]27...Kh8 28.b3 a5 29.Rfd1 Bc6 30.Ne2[/font] gives White a narrow advantage.
If [font color="burgundy"]27...Bxb2?[/font] then White wins after [font color="burgundy"]28.c4! Qb4 29.Re2 Bxc4 30.Bxc4 Qxc4 31.Rxb2.[/font]

[font color="darkorchid"]19.Ng1 a5 20.Nf3 Nh5 21.Qg4 g6[/font] is equal.

If [font color="darkred"]14...Rad8 15.Rae1 Rd7 16.Bd3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]16...Re8[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]17.Nd1 Qd8[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]18.Nf2 Bf8[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]19.Bc3 e5 20.Qh3 Re6 21.Bd2 exf4 22.Bxf4 Rde7[/font] is equal (Vaibhav-Barbosa, World Jr Ch, Chennai, 2010).
[font color="burgundy"]19.Bxf6 Qxf6 20.e5 Qd8 21.Ng4[/font] is equal (J. Geller-Maletin, IT, Nizhnij Tagil, 2006).

If [font color="magenta"]18.Qh3[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]18...Bf8 19.Qh4 e5 20.Bc3 Re6 21.fxe5 dxe5 22.Nf2 Bc5[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Areshchenko-Rublevsky, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2009).
[font color="darkorange"]18...h6 19.Rf3 e5 20.Bc3 Bc8 21.Ne3 Rc7 22.Nf5 Bxf5 23.Qxf5[/font] is equal (Bacrot-Cramling, Op, Gibraltar, 2010).

[font color="burgundy"]17.e5 dxe5 18.Bxe5 Qd8 19.Ne4 Nh5 20.Qe3[/font] is equal (Ni Hua-Jakovenko, TM, Nizhniy Novgorod, 2007).

If [font color="magenta"]16...Qd8 17.Qh3[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]17...h6 18.Re3 Re8 19.Rg3 Kh8 20.f5 e5 21.Be3[/font] is equal (López Pereyra-Perunovic, Belgrade Trophy, Obrenovac, 2010).
[font color="darkorange"]17...g6 18.f5 e5 19.Be3 Nh5 20.Nd5 Bxd5 21.exd5[/font] gives White a comfortable game (Lintchevski-Jakovenko, Russian Ch HL, Tyumen, 2012).

If [font color="darkred"]11...Bd7 12.Qg3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]12...Kh8 13.Rae1 b5 14.a3 Rab8 15.Bd3 b4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]16.axb4 Nxb4 17.Bc1[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]17...Nxd3 18.cxd3 Rb4 19.Nde2 g6 20.Qh3 Qd8[/font] is equal (B. Ivanovic-Gasic, IT. Sarajevo, 1972).
If [font color="magenta"]17...g6 18.Nf3 Nh5 19.Qh3[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]19...Nxf4!? 20.Bxf4! e5 21.Qh6[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Kuijpers-Karajica, IT B, Wijk aan Zee, 1974).
[font color="darkorange"]19...Bc8 20.Ng5 Bxg5 21.fxg5 e5[/font] remains equal.

[font color="darkpink"]16.Nxc6 Bxc6 17.axb4 Rxb4 18.Bc1 Qb7 19.Qf3 d5[/font] is equal and soon agreed drawn (Tal-Averkin, Soviet Ch, Riga, 1973).

[font color="darkorchid"]12...b5 13.a3 Nxd4 14.Bxd4 Qb7 15.Rae1 Bc6[/font] transposes back to [font color="red"]the main line of this set of notes.[/font]

10...0-0 11.Kh1 Nxd4

If [font color="red"]11...Re8 12.Bf3 Rb8 13.Qd2 Bd7 14.Nb3 b6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]15.g4 Bc8 16.g5 Nd7[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]17.Bg2 Na5 18.Qf2[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]18...Nc4 19.Bc1 Bf8 20.Nd4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]20...Na5 21.f5 Ne5 22.Nce2 Nac6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]23.Ra3 Nxd4 24.Nxd4 exf5 25.Rc3 Qe7 26.exf5[/font] gives White stronger pawns and more space on the kingside (Mokry-J. Horvath, Op, Prague, 1989).
[font color="burgundy"]23.c3 exf5 24.exf5 Nxd4 25.Nxd4 Bb7 26.Bf4 b5[/font] is equal (Jansa-Ftacnik, IT, Prague, 1989).

If [font color="darkred"]20...Bb7 21.b3 Na5 22.Bb2 Nc6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]23.Nf3 g6 24.Rad1 Bg7 25.f5 Nde5 26.f6[/font] gives White a clear advantage in space, especially on the kingside (Timoshenko-Lesiege, Op, Koszalin, Poland, 1999).
[font color="magenta"]23.Rad1 Rbc8 24.Nde2 Nb4 25.Qh4 Be7 26.Ng3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Alekseenko-Rodshtein, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 20120.

If [font color="darkred"]18...Nxb3 19.cxb3 Nc5 20.Qc2[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]20...b5 21.axb5 axb5 22.f5 b4 23.Na4 exf5 24.exf5[/font] is equal (Palac-Ftacnik, IT, Vinkovci. 1995).
[font color="magenta"]20...a5 21.Rad1 Ba6 22.Rf3 b5 23.f5 bxa4[/font] is equal (Brückel-Alverez, Corres, 2000).

If [font color="darkred"]17.Qf2 Bf8 18.Bg2 g6 19.Rad1 Bb7[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]20.Nd4 Nb4 21.Rd2 e5 22.Nde2 exf4 23.Nxf4[/font] gives White a comfortable game (Navara-Ftacnik, Bundesliga 0607, Germany, 2006).
[font color="magenta"]20.Bc1 Rbc8 21.Rd3 Nb4 22.Rh3 Bg7 23.Be3 Re7[/font] is equal (Karpov-Kasparov, World Ch Match 2, Moscow, 1985).

If [font color="darkred"]15.Bf2 Bc8 16.Bg3 Bb7 17.e5 dxe5 18.fxe5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]18...Nd7 19.Rae1 Rf8 20.Qf4 Rbd8 21.Qc4 Nc5 22.Ne4[/font] is equal (Vaibhav-Donchenko, Op, Haarlem, 2012).
[font color="magenta"]18...Nxe5 19.Bxb7 Rxb7 20.Qe2 Nfd7 21.Rae1 f6 22.Qxa6[/font] is equal (Cuijpers-Van Wely, Bundesliga 9293, Germany, 1993).

If [font color="blue"]11...Bd7[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]12.Nb3 b6 13.Bf3 Rfe8 14.g4 Bc8 15.g5 Nd7 16.Bg2 Bb7[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]17.Qh5[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]17...Nb4 18.Rf2[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]18...Bf8 19.Raf1 Re7 20.Qh3 Rae8[/font] then:

[font color="blue"]21.Rd2 Nc5 22.Nxc5 bxc5 23.Nd1 Rd7 24.c3 Nc6[/font] is equal (Dolatov-Jakovenko, Russian Ch, Elista, 2001).
[font color="#0080C0"]21.Bc1 g6 22.Nd1 Na2 23.Be3 Qc4 24.Nd4 Nb4[/font] (Bromberger-Jakovenko, World Jr Ch, Goa, 2002).

[font color="#8000C0"]18...g6 19.Qh3 Bf8 20.Raf1 Bg7 21.Bd4[/font] is equal (Anand-Kasparov, Rpd IT, Frankfurt, 2000).

If [font color="darkblue"]17...g6[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]18.Qh3[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]18...Bf8!? 19.f5! Nce5 20.Rf4 exf5 21.exf5 Bxg2+ 22.Qxg2 Rac8[/font] gives White an advantage in space on the kingside (Djingarova-Trujillo Delgado, Euro ChTW, Goteborg, 2005).
[font color="#8000C0"]18...Nb4! 19.Rf2 Qc4 20.Nd4 Bf8 21.f5 exf5 22.Rd1[/font] is equal.

If [font color="dodgerblue"]18.Qh4 Nb4[/font] then:

[font color="dodgerblue"]19.Rf2 Bf8 20.Raf1 Bg7 21.Qh3 Rac8 22.Bd4 e5[/font] gives Black a focus on Whites queenside with pressure from the c-file and the long diagonal (Almasi-David, Rpd IT, Corsica, 2005).
[font color="darkcyan"]19.Rac1 Bf8 20.Rf3 Bg7 21.Rh3 Nf8 22.Qf2 Nd7[/font] is equal (T. L. Petrosian-J. Geller, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).

If [font color="darkblue"]17.Rf3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]17...Nb4 18.Rh3 g6 19.Qd2 Bf8[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]20.Rf1 Bg7 21.Qf2[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]21...Rac8[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]22.f5 exf5 23.exf5 Bxg2+ 24.Kxg2 Qb7+ 25.Kg1 Rc4 26.fxg6[/font] gives White an extra pawn (Shen Yang-Tan Zhongyi, Chinese ChW, Xinghua, 2009).
[font color="#00C0C0"]22.Bd4 Bxd4 23.Nxd4 Nf8 24.Nd1[/font] gives White the advantage in space (Alsina Leal-Das, ZCC Bicentennial, Zürich, 2009).

If [font color="dodgerblue"]21...Re7 22.Bd4 e5 23.fxe5[/font] then:

If [font color="dodgerblue"]23...Bxe5 24.Bxe5 dxe5 25.Rf3[/font] then:

[font color="dodgerblue"]25...Nf8 26.a5 bxa5 27.Nxa5 Rb8 28.Nxb7 Qxb7 29.Rf6[/font] is equal (Jakovenko-Van Wely, IT, Foros, 2008).
[font color="slateblue"]25...Rf8 26.Bh3 Bc6 27.Bg4 Qb7 28.Qe2 Kg7[/font] is equal (Milos-Fier, Brazilian Ch, Americana, 2009).

[font color="darkcyan"]23...dxe5 24.Be3 Rd8 25.a5 bxa5 26.Nc5[/font] leaves White standing better (Grischuk-Rublevsky, Candidates' M, Elista, 2007).

If [font color="dodgerblue"]20.Qf2 Bg7 21.Rd1[/font] then:

[font color="dodgerblue"]21...Rad8 22.Rd2 Ba8 23.Qh4 Nf8[/font] gives White a slight advantage with pressure on the h-file (Szczepkowska Horowska-Kursova, Euro ChTW, Halkidiki, 2011).
[font color="darkcyan"]21...Rac8 22.Bd4 e5 23.fxe5 Nxe5 24.Qh4 Nxc2 25.Qxh7+[/font] gives White a small but clear advantage (Ramesh-Thipsay, Indian Ch, Nagpur, 1999).

If [font color="dodgerblue"]17...Bf8 18.Rh3 g6[/font] then:

[font color="dodgerblue"]19.Qe1 Nb4 20.Rc1 Bg7 21.Qh4 Nf8 22.Qf2 Nd7[/font] gives White a slight edge for her potentential kingside pressure (Hou Yifan-Sandipan, Asian Ch, Subic Bay, 2009).
[font color="darkcyan"]19.Qe2 Nb4 20.Rd1 Bg7 21.Qf2 Rad8[/font] transposes into [font color="dodgerblue"]Szcaepkowska Hirowska-Kursova,[/font] above.

If [font color="darkblue"]12.Qe1[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]12...Nxd4 13.Bxd4 Bc6 14.Qg3 g6[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]15.f5 e5 16.Be3 b5 17.Bh6 Rfc8[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]18.fxg6 hxg6 19.Qf3 b4 20.Nd5 Bxd5 21.exd5[/font] is equal (Efimenko-Agopov, Euro Club Cup, Kallithea, 2008).
If [font color="dodgerblue"]18.Bd3[/font] then:

If [font color="dodgerblue"]18...Kh8?! 19.Qh3! b4[/font] then:

If [font color="dodgerblue"]20.fxg6?![/font] then:

[font color="dodgerblue"]20...fxg6? 21.Qe6[/font] gives White a very powerful position with command of open lines leading to the King (Shamkovich-Sherwin, Op, Lone Pine, California, 1978).
[font color="steelblue"]20...bxc3! 21.b3 fxg6 22.Qe6 Rf8[/font] gives Black a small advantage; White's isolated d-pawn is under pressure.

[font color="slateblue"]20.Na2 gxf5 21.Qxf5 a5 22.Bg5[/font] continues to gives White a slight edge.

[font color="darkcyan"]18...Qb7 19.fxg6 hxg6 20.Qf3 Bd8 21.Bg5[/font] remains equal.

[font color="#0080C0"]15.Bf3 b5 16.axb5 axb5 17.Rae1 b4 18.e5 dxe5 19.fxe5[/font] is equal (Oral-M. Bosboom, IT, Löwenstein, 1997).

If [font color="dodgerblue"]12...Nb4 13.Qg3 Kh8[/font] then:

If [font color="dodgerblue"]14.e5 Nfd5 15.Bd2[/font] then:

[font color="dodgerblue"]15...dxe5 16.fxe5 f6 17.Nxd5 Nxd5 18.c4[/font] is equal (Barron-Ganguly, Canadian Op, Edmonton, 2009).
If [font color="darkcyan"]15...Nxc3 16.Bxc3[/font] then:

[font color="darkcyan"]16...dxe5? 17.Nxe6! Bxe6 18.Bxe5 Qxe5 19.fxe5 Nxc2 20.Rad1[/font] gives White the Queen for only two minor pieces (Frolyanov-Marzolo, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).
[font color="slateblue"]16...d5 17.Rf3 Nc6 18.Nxc6 Bxc6 19.Qg4[/font] gives White a slight advantage.

[font color="#00C0C0"]14.Bd3 Nxd3 15.cxd3 Qa5 16.Ra2 e5 17.Nb3 Qd8[/font] is equal (Smirin-Portisch, Ol, Manila, 1992).

12.Qxd4

If [font color="red"]12.Bxd4 e5 13.Be3 exf4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]14.Rxf4 Be6 15.Nd5 Bxd5 16.exd5 Nd7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]17.Rc4 Qd8 18.Ra3 Bg5 19.Bg1 Re8 20.Rb3[/font] gives White the advantage in space; both sides have active pieces and weak pawns (Levnajic-Perisic, TT, Sombor, 2008).
[font color="burgundy"]17.a5 Rae8 18.Rc4 Qd8 19.Bg1 Bg5 20.Rb4[/font] is equal (Erwich-Bellaiche, Op, Dublin, 2000).

If [font color="darkred"]14.Bxf4 Be6[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]15.Qd2 Nd7 16.a5 Rac8 17.Rfd1 Ne5 18.Be3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]18...Qc6 22.Be3 Bxe3 23.Qxe3 Bxd5 24.Rxd5 Nd7 25.Rd4 Nf6 26.Bf3) 19.Bd4 Bf6 20.Ra3 Be7 21.Ra4 Nd7 22.Qf4[/font] is equal (Panchanathan-Kunte, Indian Ch, Nagpur, 2002).
[font color="darkorange"]18...Rfe8 19.Bb6 Qc6 20.Rac1 h6 21.Nd5 Bg5[/font] gives Black the initiative (Markgraf-Emms. Bundesliga 0001, Solingen, 2000).

[font color="magenta"]15.Nd5 Bxd5 16.exd5 Nd7 17.a5 Bf6 18.c3 g6[/font] is equal (Gora-Zysko, World Jr Ch, Chotowa, 2010).

12...Bd7 13.e5 Ne8 14.Bf3

If [font color="red"]14.a5 Bc6 15.Bd3 Rd8 16.Qc4 Rc8 17.Bb6?! Bxg2+! 18.Kxg2 Qxc4 19.Bxc4 Rxc4[/font] gives Black an extra pawn (Voitsekhovsky-Olenin, It, Alushta. 2000).
If [font color="blue"]14.Bd3 Bc6 15.Bf2 Rd8 16.Qe3 g6 17.a5 Ng7[/font] is equal (Dolmatov-H. J. Plaskett, EU ChU20, Groningen, 1978).
If [font color="#008000"]14.Qd3 dxe5 15.fxe5 Rd8 16.Bd4 Bc5[/font] then:

[font color="#008000"]17.Bxc5 Qxc5[/font] is equal (Alekseev-Potkin, Euro Club Cup, Rogaska Slatina, 2011).
[font color="#4CC417"]17.Qd4 g6 18.Ne4 Bxe4 19.Bxe4 d5 20.Bf3 Ng7[/font] is equal.

14...Bc6 15.Qb6 (N)

If [font color="red"]15.Ne4 dxe5 16.fxe5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]16...Rd8 17.Qc3 Rc8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]18.Bf4!? Bxe4! 19.Qxc7 Nxc7 20.Bxe4 Nd5 21.Bg3 Rc4[/font] is equal (Rogoff-Evans, US Ch, Chicago, 1974).
[font color="burgundy"]18.Bd4 h6 19.Qe3 a5 20.b3 Bxe4 21.Bxe4[/font] gives White a better center and a small advantage in space.

If [font color="darkred"]16...Rc8 17.a5 f5 18.exf6 Nxf6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]19.Qc4 Kh8 20.Nxf6 Bxf3 21.Qxc7 Rxc7 22.Rxf3 Bxf6[/font] is equal.
[font color="magenta"]19.Bg1 Kh8 20.Qe3 Nd7 21.Nd2 e5 22.Bxc6 Qxc6[/font] is equal

15...Bxf3

The game is equal.

16.Rxf3 Rc8

[font color="red"]16...Qxb6 17.Bxb6 Rc8 18.Rd1 Rc6 19.a5 g6 20.Rd2[/font] remains equal.

17.a5 Qc6 18.Na4 f6

The players prepare to suck the life out of the position.
[font color="red"]18...dxe5 19.fxe5 Qd5 20.Nc3 Qc6 21.Qxc6 Rxc6 22.Rd1[/font] remains equal.

[center]BLACK: Alexander Morozevich[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Sergey Karjakin[/center][center]Position after 18...f7f6[/center]

19.exd6 Nxd6 20.Qxc6 Rxc6 21.Bc5

Mission accomplished.
[font color="red"]21.c3 Nc4 22.b4 Rd8 23.Bg1 Kf7 24.Rff1 Rd2[/font] remains equal.

21...Re8 22.Rd1 Ne4

[font color="red"]22...Nc4 23.b4 e5 24.fxe5 Nxe5 25.Re3[/font] remains equal.

23.Bxe7 Rxe7 24.c3 e5 25.Kg1 exf4

[font color="red"]25...Nc5 26.Nxc5 Rxc5 27.b4 Rcc7 28.Rd8+ Kf7[/font] remains equal.

26.Rxf4 g6 27.Rf3 f5 28.Rfd3 Nc5

[font color="red"]28...Nf6 29.Nb6 Rce6 30.Rd6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]30...Rxd6 31.Rxd6 Ng4 32.Rd1 Re2 33.Nc4[/font] remains equal.
[font color="darkred"]30...Re1+ 31.Rxe1 Rxe1+ 32.Kf2 Ne4+ 33.Kxe1 Nxd6[/font] remains equal.

29.Nxc5 Rxc5 30.Rd5 Rxd5 31.Rxd5 Kf7

Does anyone present think there could be life on Mars?

32.Rd6

There doesn't seem to be any here.

32...Kg7!?

The position remains equal, but some equal positions are more equal than others.
Slightly better is [font color="red"]32...Re6 33.Rxe6 Kxe6 34.Kf2 f4 35.g3 fxg3+ 36.Kxg3[/font] with equality.

[center]BLACK: Alexander Morozevich[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Sergey Karjakin[/center][center]Position after 32...Kf7g7[/center]

33.Kf2!

The problem with Black's last move is that he must spend too much time activating his King. White, on the other hand, can bring his King up quickly
If [font color="red"]33.Rb6 Kf7 34.h4 Rc7 35.Kh2 Kg7 36.h5 Kh6[/font] remains equal; White must exchange on g6, which is harmless to Black, or lose a pawn.

33...Kh6!?

Black continues his cumbersome attemot to bring his King into the game by running to the flank.
If [font color="red"]33...Kf7[/font] when:

[font color="red"]34.Kf3! Re6 35.Rd4 Re7 36.Kf4 Kg7 37.g3[/font] gives White a small advantage as Black's kingside majority is restrained and if 37...Re2?! then 33.Rb4 forces it to return to e7 or lose the b-pawn.
[font color="darkred"]34.Rb6 Rd7 35.g3 Ke7 36.Ke3 Kd8 37.h4 Re7+[/font] is equal.

34.Kf3!

A sign of life! White takes a slight advantage in space by creeping his King into the game.
Also good is [font color="red"]34.c4! Rc7 35.b3[/font] when:

[font color="red"]35...Kg7 36.Kf3 Kf7 37.g3 Ke7 38.Rb6 Kd8 39.Kf4[/font] gives White a small advantage with the King is position to assault Black's kingside.
[font color="darkred"]35...Kg5 36.Kf3 Kh5 37.Rb6 Kg5 38.g3 h6 39.h3[/font] leaves Black running out of reserve pawn tempi.

34...Kh5

Black appears to want to keep his King on the kingside. The text move does little to restrict White's King.
Slightly better is [font color="red"]34...Kg5 35.c4 Rc7[/font] when:

[font color="red"]36.b3 Rc5 37.g3 Rxa5 38.Rb6 Ra2 39.h4+[/font] continues to leave White slightly better.
[font color="darkred"]36.b4!? Rxc4! 37.Rb6 Rc3+ 38.Ke2 Rc2+[/font] gives Black the edge, but it's a long way from being decisive.

[center]BLACK: Alexander Morozevich[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Sergey Karjakin[/center][center]Position after 34...Kh6h5[/center]

35.Rb6 Kg5 36.g3 Rc7!?

The Rook move to a file where it is less mobile.
Better is [font color="red"]36...Rd7 37.h4+ Kh5 38.b4 Rd3+ 39.Kf4[/font] when:

[font color="red"]39...Rxc3 40.Rxb7 Rc4+ 41.Kf3 h6 42.Ke3 g5 43.Kd3[/font] is equal.
[font color="darkred"]39...Rd7!? 40.c4 Rd4+ 41.Kf3 Rd3+ 42.Kf2 Rd2+ 43.Ke3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Alexander Morozevich[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Sergey Karjakin[/center][center]Position after 36...Re7c7[/center]

37.h3!

White takes a small advantage; his queenside pawns are more free than Black's kingside.
Also good is [font color="red"]37.c4![/font] then:

If [font color="red"]37...Rxc4 38.h4+ Kh5 39.Rxb7 h6 40.Rb6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]40...Rc5 41.b4 Rc4 42.Ke2 Rd4 43.Ke3 Rg4 44.Kd2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
[font color="burgundy"]40...Rc2 41.b4 Rc3+ 42.Kf4 Rc7 43.Kf3 Ra7 44.Kf2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

If [font color="darkred"]37...h6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]38.b3 Rc5 39.Rxb7 Rxa5 40.Rb6 Ra2 41.c5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.
If [font color="magenta"]38.Ke3 Re7+ 39.Kf3 Rc7 40.Ke3 h5 41.h4+[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

37...Rd7 38.c4 Rd3+ 39.Kf2 Rd7 40.Ke3 Re7+

If [font color="red"]40...Rc7[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]41.Kf3 Rxc4 42.Rxb7 Rc5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]43.h4+ 43...Kh6 44.b4 Rc3+ 45.Kf2 Rb3 46.b5[/font] gives White a slight advantage because he can pass one of his queenside pawns.
If [font color="darkred"]43.b4 Rc3+[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]44.Kg2 Rc2+ 45.Kg1 Rb2 46.Kf1 [/font] gives White a slight advantage.
If [font color="magenta"]44.Kf2!? Rb3! 45.Kg2[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]45...Kh6 46.Kf2 Kg5 47.Kg2 Kh6 48.Kh2 Rb1 49.Rb6[/font] is equal.
[font color="darkorange"]45...Rb2+!? 46.Kf3 Rb3+ 47.Kf2 Kf6 48.h4 f4 49.gxf4 [/font] gives White a small advantage.

[font color="darkorchid"]41.b4 Rxc4 42.Rxb7 h5 43.Kd3 Re4[/font] is equal; White has the remote pawn majority, but his King is cut from defending against Black's kingside majority.

41.Kf3 Rc7 42.b3 Kh5?

Black hands White a crucial tempo he can use for a queenside advance.
If [font color="red"]42...h6 43.b4 Rxc4 44.Rxb7 Rc3+ 45.Kf2 Rc4 46.Kf3[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Alexander Morozevich[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Sergey Karjakin[/center][center]Position after 42...Kg5h5[/center]

43.Kf4?

White uses his tempo for the less imporatnt kingside, missing a win.
If [font color="red"]43.b4![/font] then:

[font color="red"]43...Rxc4 44.Rxb7 Rc3+ 45.Kf4 Kh6 46.Rb6 Rb3 47.Ke5[/font] gives White a a very likely win.
If [font color="darkred"]43...Kg5?![/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]44.c5! Kh6 45.Ke2 Kg7 46.c6 bxc6 47.Rxa6[/font] gives White substantially more time and flexibility to move his King to the center ant then to either side of the board depending on circumstances; White should win from here.
[font color="magenta"]44.b5?! h6 45.bxa6 bxa6 46.Rxa6 Rxc4 47.Re6 Ra4[/font] is equal and most likely drawn. There is no way White can get that over the finish line.

43...Rf7!

White must be content with only a small advantage. His best hopes are in a queenside advance.

44.Kf3 g5

If [font color="red"]44...Rc7?! 45.b4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]45...Kh6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]46.c5 Kg7 47.c6 Rxc6 48.Rxb7+ Kh6 49.Ke3[/font] gives White excellent winning chances.
[font color="burgundy"]46.b5?! Rxc4 47.Rxb7 axb5 48.a6 Ra4[/font] is equal and likely drawn.

If [font color="darkred"]45...Rg7? 46.b5[/font] then if [font color="darkred"]46...Rc7[/font] then:

White wins after [font color="darkred"]47.Rxb7!! Rxb7 48.b6 Rd7 49.c5 Rd3+ 50.Kf2.[/font]
[font color="magenta"]47.bxa6? bxa6! 48.Rxa6 Rxc4 49.Re6 Ra4 50.a6[/font] is a likely draw.

45.b4 g4+ 46.hxg4+ fxg4+ 47.Ke4 Kg5 48.b5

If [font color="red"]48.c5 Re7+[/font] then:

[font color="red"]49.Kd5 h5 50.b5 axb5 51.Rxb5 Kh6 52.Rb6+ Kg5[/font] continues to give White a small advantage, but probably not good enough to win.
[font color="darkred"]49.Kd4!? Rd7+! 50.Kc4 Rc7 51.b5 axb5+ 52.Kxb5 h5[/font] is equal

48...axb5 49.cxb5 h5

If [font color="red"]49...Re7+ 50.Kd4 h5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]51.Rd6 h4 52.Rd5+ Kf6 53.gxh4 g3 54.Rg5[/font] gives White slim but clear advantage.

If [font color="darkred"]51.a6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]51...bxa6 52.bxa6 h4 53.gxh4+ Kxh4 54.Kd5 g3[/font] is equal.

If [font color="magenta"]51...Rd7+ 52.Ke5 bxa6 53.bxa6[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]53...Ra7 54.Kd5 h4 55.gxh4+ Kxh4[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]56.Ke4 Kh3 57.Rg6 g3 58.Rh6+ Kg2[/font] is equal.

[font color="burgundy"]56.Rc6 g3 57.Kc4 g2 58.Rg6 Rc7+ 59.Kb5 Kh3[/font] is equal.

If [font color="darkorange"]53...h4 54.Rb7 Rd8[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]55.a7 Re8+ 56.Kd6 Ra8 57.Rg7+ Kf6 58.Rxg4[/font] is equal.

[font color="purple"]55.Rg7+ Kh5 56.a7 hxg3 57.Rd7 Ra8[/font] is equal.

50.a6 Re7+ 51.Kd3 Rd7+ 52.Kc4?!

White opens the door for BlaCK TO secure a draw.
If [font color="red"]52.Ke3 Re7+ 53.Kd2[/font] then:

[font color="red"]52...Rd7+ 54.Ke1 Re7+ 55.Kf2 Rf7+ 56.Kg2 bxa6 57.bxa6 Ra7 58.Rb5+ Kg6 59.Ra5 [/font] doesn't give White a certain win, but Black must still take a defensive posture.
[font color="darkred"]53...bxa6 54.bxa6 Rd7+ 55.Ke1 Re7+ 56.Kf2 Rf7+ [/font] transposes.

52...Rc7+?

Black commits a fatal error and allows White two advanced connected passers.
If [font color="red"]52...bxa6! 53.bxa6 Ra7 54.Kc5 h4 55.gxh4+ Kxh4 56.Rd6[/font] will end in a draw.

[center]BLACK: Alexander Morozevich[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Sergey Karjakin[/center][center]Position after 52...Rd7c7+[/center]

53.Rc6!!

White sacrifices the Rook to clear his pawns for advance.

53...bxc6 54.b6!

As is well known, two connected passed pawn on the sixth rank beat a Rook, even with the pawns' King nowhere near the action.

54...Rc8

This is best, but futile.

55.b7 Rb8 56.Kc5 h4 57.a7!

White wins by the book.

57...Rxb7 58.a8Q Rh7 59.Qg8+ Kh6 60.gxh4 Rg7 61.Qh8+ Kg6

If [font color="red"]61...Rh7[/font] then [font color="red"]62.Qf6+ Kh5 63.Qg5#.[/font]

62.h5+

If [font color="red"]62.Kd6 Kf7 63.Kd7 c5 64.h5 g3 65.h6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]65..Rg6[/font] then White soon gives mate after [font color="red"]66.Qe8+ Kf6 67.Qf8+ Kg5 68.h7 Rh6 69.Qg7+.[/font]
If [font color="darkred"]65...Rg4 66.Qe8+ Kf6 67.h7 Rg7+ 68.Kd6 Rxh7 69.Qe6+ Kg7 70.Ke7[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]70...Kh8+ 71.Kf8 Rf7+ 72.Qxf7 g2 73.Qg8#.[/font]
If [font color="magenta"]70...Rh2[/font] then White soon gives mate after [font color="magenta"]71.Qe5+ Kh7 72.Qxg3 Rh1 73.Ke6 Kh6 74.Qf3.[/font]

62...Kf7 63.h6 Rg5+

If [font color="red"]63...Rg6[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]64.h7 Rg7 65.Kxc6 g3 66.Kd6 g2 67.Qa8 Rxh7 68.Qxg2.[/font]

64.Kd6 g3 65.Qh7+ Kf6 66.Qe7+ Kf5 67.Qxg5+

If [font color="red"]67.Qe5+ Kg4 68.Qxg5+ Kxg5 69.h7[/font] transposes into the text.

67...Kxg5 68.h7 1-0

Alexander Sergeyevich resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

11. Wang Hao - Mamedyarov, Round 11

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Reply #3)

Wed Jan 9, 2013, 12:19 AM

Jan 2013

Wang Hao had to win his last game to tie for first.

[center][/center]

[center]Wang Hao[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Datti 4 in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wang_Hao_%28chess%29.JPG)
(Public Domain)
[/font]

Wang Hao - Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
FIDE Grand Prix, 2nd Leg, Round 11
Tashkent, 4 December 2012

Slav Queen's Gambit: Tikhi Defense

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bf5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nh4 Be4 7.f3 Bg6 8.Qb3 Qc7 9.Bd2 Be7 10.Nxg6 hxg6 11.0-0-0 Nbd7 12.cxd5

For move through here and other alternatives, see Shimanov-Rapport, World Jr Ch, Athens, 2012.

12...cxd5

If [font color="red"]12...Nxd5 13.Nxd5 exd5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]14.Kb1 0-0-0 15.Rc1 Kb8 16.h3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]16...Qd6 17.Ba6 Nb6 18.Bd3 Nd7 19.Ba5[/font] gives White the initiative (Vitiugov-P. Smirnov, Russian Ch HL, Novokuznetsk, 2008).
[font color="magenta"]16...Nf6 17.Bd3 Nh5 18.Rc3 Ng3 19.Rhc1 Ka8 20.Qa4[/font] gives White the initiative (Bagheri-Poat, Op, Cappelle la Grande, 2006).

[font color="darkred"]14.e4 0-0-0 15.exd5 cxd5+ 16.Kb1 Qd6 17.g3 g5 18.Bd3 Kb8[/font] is equal (Kishnev-S. Volkov, Euro Club Cup, Halidiki, 2002).

13.Kb1 Qb6

[font color="red"]13...a6 14.Rc1 Qb6 15.Bd3 Qxb3 16.axb3 Bb4[/font] is equal (Steingrimsson-Escobar Forero, Ol, Dresden, 2008).

14.Qa4 a6 15.g4 (N)

[font color="red"]15.Rc1 Qd8 16.Ne2 Rc8 17.g4 Rxc1+ 18.Nxc1 Bd6[/font] is equal (Nickel-Mercadal Benejam, Corres, 2003).

15...Qc6

The game is equal.

16.Qxc6 bxc6 17.Na4 e5!?

Black seems to feel some urgency about breaking up White's center, but opening the may favor White.
[font color="red"]17...Ra7 18.Rc1 Nb8 19.h4 Nfd7 20.Be1 Bd6 21.Bd3[/font] gives White a slight advantage.

[center]BLACK: Shakhriyar Mamedyarov[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Wang Hao[/center][center]Position after 17...e6e5[/center]

18.Be2!?

White postpones opening the center in anticipation of 18...e5.
[font color="red"]18.Rc1! exd4 19.exd4 Nb8 20.Nb6 Ra7 21.g5[/font] gives White slightly stronger pawns, the initiative and more space.

18...g5!?

Black misses a chance to atone for his inaccury on his seventeenth move and equalize.
[font color="red"]18...exd4 19.exd4 Nf8 20.Rc1 Ne6 21.Be3 Nd8 22.h4[/font] is level.
[font color="blue"]18...e4!? 19.Rc1 exf3 20.Bxf3 Rc8 21.h4 Ne4 22.Be1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

19.Rc1!

White White attacks a second pawn.

19...Rh6

No matter how Black plays, White must win a pawn.
[font color="red"]19...Nb8 20.Nb6! Ra7 21.dxe5! Nfd7 22.Nc8[/font] leaves White a pawn up.

20.Rxc6

White has an extra pawn.

20...Ne4!?

Black goes in for complications.
If [font color="red"]20...exd4 21.Rc2 Nf8 22.exd4 Ne6 23.Be3 Nd7 24.Bd3[/font] continues to give White more freedom.

[center]BLACK: Shakhriyar Mamedyarov[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Wang Hao[/center][center]Position after 20...Nf6e4[/center]

21.Rxh6!!

This is a fine move that maintains the material balance in White's favor.
If [font color="red"]21.Rc2 Ng3 22.Re1[/font] then:

[font color="red"]22...Nxe2 23.Rxe2 e4 24.fxe4 dxe4 25.Rg2 Bd6 26.Rc6 Ke7 27.a3[/font] continues to give White an extra pawn and a narrow advantage in space.
If [font color="darkred"]22...Rxh2?! 23.Bd1![/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]23...e4 Rh3 24.Nc3 Nb6 25.Rf2 Bd6 26.dxe5 Bxe5 27.f4[/font] give White an extra pawn for which Black is partially compensated with initiative.
If [font color="magenta"]23...Rh3? 24.Rg1[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]24...exd4 24.Rg1 exf3 25.Rxg3 f2 26.Be2 Nf6 27.Rf3[/font] gives White a powerful game; Black's passed pawn is deadwood.
If [font color="darkorange"]24...Rb8[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkorange"]25.Be1 Nh1 26.Be2 exd4 27.exd4 Rh6 28.Bf1) 25.exd4 Rb8 26.Re1 Rh1 27.Rxh1 Nxh1 28.Ba5[/font] gives White a winning position.

21...Nxd2+ 22.Kc2 gxh6 23.Kxd2 exd4 24.exd4

White still has an extra pawn,

24...Bd6?!

Black whould help his cause better by putting pressure on the d-pawn.
If [font color="red"]24...Bf6 25.Rc1[/font] then:

[font color="red"]25...Ke7 26.Kd3 Kd6 27.b4 Nf8 28.Nc5 Ra7 29.a4[/font] gives White an extra pawn; Black has a better Bishop.
[font color="darkred"]25...Bxd4 26.Rc6 Bg7 27.Rd6 Be5 28.Rxh6 Ke7 29.Rxa6[/font] gives White a comfortable game with two extra pawns.

25.h4!

White has an extra pawn and more space; Black has a better Bishop.
Also good is [font color="red"]25.Nc3 Nf6 26.h4[/font] when:

[font color="red"]26...gxh4 27.Rxh4 Kf8 28.Bd3 Bf4+ 29.Kc2 Be3 30.Rh2[/font] White will mainstain his extra pawn.
[font color="darkred"]26...Ke7 27.hxg5 hxg5 28.Bd1 Rb8 29.Bb3 a5 30.Kd3[/font] leaves White with an extra pawn and a better position.

25...Ke7 26.hxg5 Bf4+

[font color="red"]26...hxg5 27.Kc2 Nf6 28.Nc3 a5 29.Kb3 Rb8+ 30.Bb5[/font] continues to give White an extra pawn.

27.Kc2!

White is preparing to advance his queenside pawn majority.

27...Bxg5 28.b4 a5?

If one wants to stop a pawn advance, then this is not the way to do it. b5 is available for White's use.
If [font color="red"]28...Rc8+ 29.Nc3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]29...Nb8 30.Kb2 Kd6 31.Rh5 Rf8 32.f4 Bxf4 33.Rxd5+[/font] forces the Black King to one side or the other, and neither side looks very promising.
[font color="darkred"]29...Rc6? 30.b5! axb5 31.Bxb5 Rd6 32.Re1+ Kd8 33.a4[/font] gives White the extra pawn that's running up the a-file.

[center]BLACK: Shakhriyar Mamedyarov[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Wang Hao[/center][center]Position after 28...a6a5[/center]

29.Bb5!!

Rather than advance the pawn, White uses b5 to create threats.
If [font color="red"]29.b5? Kd6 30.Nc3 Nb6 31.f4 Bxf4 32.Rf1 Bg5 33.Rxf7 Rc8 34.Rf3[/font] gives White an extra pawn, but his passer is blockaded.
If [font color="darkred"]30...Re8[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]31.Bd1 Re3 32.f4 Bxf4 33.Rf1 Bg5 34.Rxf7[/font] gives White a comfortable game with two extra pawns, but he isn't winning as before.
[font color="magenta"]31.Bf1!? Re3 32.Bg2 Nb6 33.f4 Bxf4 34.Rf1[/font] leaves White with only a small advantage.

29...Nf8

[font color="red"]29...Ra7 30.Re1+ Kd6 31.Bxd7 Rxd7 32.bxa5 Ra7 33.Nc5[/font] provides protection for the pawn (if 33...Rxa5?? then 34.Nb7+!).
[font color="blue"]29...axb4[/font] drops a piece to [font color="blue"]30.Re1+[/font] then:

[font color="blue"]30...Kf8 31.Bxd7 Kg7 32.Rb1.[/font]
[font color="darkblue"]30...Kd8[/font] drops a piece and loses quickly to [font color="darkblue"]31.Bxd7 Kxd7 32.Nb6+.[/font]

30.Nb6 Rb8 31.bxa5

This is a necessary evil to protect the Knight that shields the Bishop.

31...Ne6 32.Kd3 Kd6

If [font color="red"]32...Nc7[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]33.a4 Kd6 34.Rh2 Ne6 35.a6 Rd8 36.a7[/font] when there's nothing Black can do to prevent White from winning the exchange by queening on a8.

[center]BLACK: Shakhriyar Mamedyarov[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Wang Hao[/center][center]Position after 32...Ke7d6[/center]

33.a4 Nf4+

If [font color="red"]33...Rb7[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]34.Rb1 Nf4+ 35.Kc2 Ne6 36.Kd1 Rb8 37.Bd7.[/font]

34.Kc3 Ne6 35.Kd3

White wins quicker after [font color="red"]35.Rb1! Bf6 36.Nxd5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]36...Rc8+ 37.Bc4 Nxd4 38.Rb6+[/font] then:

[font color="red"]38...Nc6+ 39.Nxf6 Ke5 40.Ba6 Rc7 41.Ne8[/font] leaves White a piece to the good.
[font color="magenta"]38...Ke5 39.f4+[/font] wins the Bishop.

[font color="darkred"]36...Bxd4+ 37.Kd3 Ra8 38.Nb6 Rd8 39.Ke4 Bf2 40.f4[/font] gives White two extra pawns.

35...Nf4+ 36.Kc3 Ne6 37.Re1

Also good is [font color="red"]37.Rb1 Be3 38.Nxd5[/font] when:

If [font color="red"]38...Bf2 39.Nb4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]39...Rc8+ 40.Bc6 Bxd4+ 41.Kc4 Rxc6+ 42.Nxc6 Kxc6 43.Rb5[/font] leaves White with two extra pawns running up the a-file.
If [font color="magenta"]39...Bxd4+[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]40.Kc4 Rc8+ 41.Bc6 Ke7 42.a6 Kf8 43.Rd1.[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]38...Kxd5[/font] then [font color="darkred"]39.Bc4+[/font] wins the Rook.

37...Bf6 38.Rxe6+ fxe6 39.a6 Rh8

White wins the exchange by queening.
[font color="red"]39...Rxb6[/font] loses immediately to [font color="red"]40.a7![/font] when the new Queen will remain on the board.

40.a7 Kc7 41.a8Q Rxa8 42.Nxa8+ Kb7

[center]BLACK: Shakhriyar Mamedyarov[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Wang Hao[/center][center]Position after 42...Kc7b7[/center]

43.Bd7!

This liquidates at least one of Black's central pawns and leaves the other under heavy restraint. Black cannot draw even with opposite colored Bishops.

43...e5

After [font color="red"]43...Kxa8 44.Bxe6 Kb7 45.Bxd5+ Ka7 46.Kd3 Bd8 47.f4[/font] the White King escorts the f-pawn home.

44.dxe5 Bxe5+ 45.Kd3 d4 46.a5 Kxa8 47.a6 1-0

[font color="red"]47.a6 Ka7 48.Bb5 Bc7 49.Kxd4 Kb6 50.Ke4[/font] is hopless for Black. If 50...Kxb5 then 51.a7 and the pawn queens on the following move; otherwise, Black plays 51. Kc4 and mobilizes his kingside pawns.
Mamedyarov Cenab resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

12. Wang Hao - Kasimdzhanov, Round 5

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Reply #3)

Wed Jan 9, 2013, 12:21 AM

Jan 2013

Uzbekh GM Rustam Kasimdzhanov played only one decisive game in Tashkent, this vitory over Wang Hao. It was enough to please the home town fans.

[center][/center]

[center]Rustam Kasimdzhanov[/center][font size="1"]Photo by simoneromanelli76 in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kasimdhzanov_Torino_2006.JPG)
(Public Domain)
[/font]

Wang Hao - Rustam Kasimdzhanov
FIDE Grand Prix, 2nd Leg, Round 5
Tashkent, 27 November 2012

Open Royal Game: Mieses Opening (Scotch Game)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.e5 Qe7 7.Qe2 Nd5 8.c4 Nb6 9.Nc3 Qe6 10.Qe4 Bb4 11.Bd2 Ba6 12.b3 Bxc3 13.Bxc3 d5 14.Qf3

For a more complete examination of the Open Royal Game, aka the Scotch Game, see Carlsen Leko, IT, Nanjing, 2009.
If [font color="red"]14.Qh4 dxc4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]15.Be2 Nd5 16.Bxc4 g5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]17.Qd4 Bxc4 18.Qxc4 0-0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]19.Bd4 Kb7 20.0-0[/font] then:

[font color="red"]20...h5 21.Rac1 Rd7 22.a4 Rhd8 23.Qc5 Nb6 24.Be3[/font] gives White the active game (Baklan-Piket, Bundesliga 0001, Solingen, 2000).
[font color="burgundy"]20...Rd7 21.Qc5 Nb6 22.Be3 Rd5 23.Qc3 Rg8 24.f4[/font] gives White more space and activity (Pavasovic-Dervishi, Austrian ChT, Austria, 2003).

[font color="darkpink"]19.0-0 Nf4 20.Qxe6+ Nxe6 21.Rac1 Rd3 22.Rfd1 Rd5 23.Kf1 Rhd8 24.Re1 h5[/font] gives Black an advantage in space (Mamedov-Karjakin, Ol, Mallorca, 2004).

If [font color="darkred"]15.Rc1 0-0 16.Be2 Nd5 17.Ba1 Nb4 18.bxc4 Rad8 19.0-0 Nd3 20.Rc3[/font] is equal (Radjabov-Karjakin, IT, Dos Hermanas, 2005).
If [font color="magenta"]16...f6 17.0-0 fxe5 18.Qg5 Qf5 19.Qg3 Nd5?! 20.Bxe5! Nf6 21.Bxc4+ Bxc4 22.Rxc4[/font] leaves Black unable to prevent White from winning a pawn and gives White an active Rook and stronger pawns (Tomczak-O'Toole, Op, Cappelle-la-Grande, 2012).
[font color="darkorange"]19...Rae8 20.f4 Qe4 21.Bxe5 Rxe5 22.fxe5 Qxe2 23.Rxf8+[/font] remains equal.

14...dxc4 15.Rc1!? (N)

White sees tripled pawns and decides he'd like them for a snack.
If [font color="red"]15.Be2 0-0 16.0-0 Rfe8 17.Rfe1 Rad8 18.Bf1 c5[/font] is equal (Ponomariov-Spassky, TM, Cannes, 1998).

15...0-0-0!

Black rolls the dice. The King would be safer on the opposite wing, but castling long provides some dynamic oppotunities that he would not get otherwise. The text move immediately takes command of the open file while the King is ready to defend the weak queenside pawns. In spite of an ugly tripled pawn, White cannot exploit Black's weaknesses.
If [font color="red"]15...0-0 16.Be2[/font] then:

[font color="red"]16...c5 17.0-0 Rad8 18.Rfd1 Rfe8 19.Ba1 h6 20.Qe4 Bb5[/font] is equal.
If [font color="darkred"]16...Bb7 17.bxc4 Nxc4 18.Qg3![/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]18...Nb6 19.0-0 Nd5 20.Ba1 Rfe8 21.Rfd1 Rad8 22.h3 Qh6[/font] is equal.
[font color="magenta"]18...c5 19.0-0 Bd5 20.Ba1 c6 21.Rfe1 Nb6 22.Bg4 Qe7[/font] is equal.

Black has a slight advantage.

[center]BLACK: Rustam Kasimdzhanov[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Wang Hao[/center][center]Position after 15...0-0-0[/center]

16.Be2 Kb7 17.0-0

[font color="red"]17.Qg3!? cxb3 18.Bxa6+ Kxa6 19.axb3 h5 20.h3 Qxb3[/font] passes all of Black's queenside pawns.

17...cxb3 18.Bxa6+ Kxa6 19.axb3 Kb7

[font color="red"]19...Rd5 20.Ra1+ Kb7 21.Rfc1 Rb5 22.Qg3 g6[/font] continues to give Black a small advantage.

20.Ra1

From White's 16th move up to here, the players have followed the recommendation of Houdini 3 x64.

20...Rd5!?

Black clearly thinks he's holding good cards.
If [font color="red"]20...Qxb3 21.Qg3 a6 22.Rfc1[/font] (If (22.Rfb1 then 22...Qd5 prevents23.Qxg7 with the threat of 23...Rg8, winning the Queen) [font color="red"]Rhg8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]23.Qg4 Qd5 24.h3 h6 25.Ra5 Qc4 26.Qxc4 Nxc4[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Houdini).
[font color="darkred"]23.Qe3?![/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]23...Rd5 24.e6 fxe6 25.Rab1 Qa4 26.Qxe6 Rgd8[/font] gives Black a comtortable game.
[font color="magenta"]23...Qe6?! 24.Qe2! Ra8 25.Rd1 Qc4 26.Qxc4 Nxc4[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space.

21.Qe2!?

The Queen threatens to invade on a6, but the threat is easily parried and the Queen has nothing else to do at e2.
If [font color="red"]21.Rfc1! Rhd8 22.Qe2 Rb5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]23.Ra3 Kb8 24.Rca1 Rxb3 25.Rxa7 Rb1+ 26.Rxb1 Kxa7[/font] is equal.
[font color="darkred"]23.b4!? a6 24.h3 Nd5 25.Bd2 h6 26.Re1 Nb6[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space.

21...Rb5!

Once again, the threat is easily parried.

22.b4 Ra8 23.Rfc1

[font color="red"]23.Rfd1!? Nd5! 24.Bd2 a6 25.f4 h6 26.Qe1 Qg4[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space.

23...a6 24.h3 Nd5 25.Bd2

[center]BLACK: Rustam Kasimdzhanov[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Wang Hao[/center][center]Position after 25.Bc3d2[/center]

25...Nxb4!

Black has three passed pawns.

26.Rc4?!

White should play against the pawns, which are much more dangerous than the Knight.
After [font color="red"]26.Bxb4 Rxb4 27.Rc5 h6 28.Qd3 Rb6 29.Qd4 g5[/font] White can still restrain and blockade Black's queenside.

26...a5!

Black takes the opportunity to advance his pawn. That is more important about the text move than overportecting the Knight.

27.f4?!

Again, White neglects Black's passers.
If [font color="red"]27.Rac1 Qxe5 28.Qxe5 Rxe5 29.Bxb4 axb4 30.Rxb4+ Rb5[/font] gives Black command of the queenside.

27...Qd5!

Black brings more pressure to bear on White's Bishop.
[font color="red"]27...Nd5 28.Rac1 g6 29.Qd3 a4 30.Qc2 Qf5[/font] invites pieces exchanges that magnify the value of Black's queenside pawns.

28.Rac1 Rd8 29.Be3 Nd3 30.R1c2?

This move is too passive. More aggressive is to attack the Knight.
[font color="red"]30.R1c3 Nb2 31.Rd4 Qxd4 32.Bxd4 Rxd4 33.Qc2 Rd7[/font] is good enough to Whate to fingt on with narrow hopes of drawing.

[center]BLACK: Rustam Kasimdzhanov[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Wang Hao[/center][center]Position after 30.Rc1c2[/center]

30...c5!?

Black misses a straightfoward win.
[font color="red"]30...g5! 31.Rd4 Nxf4 32.Qd1 Qxe5 33.Rxd8 Qxe3+[/font] leaves Black with four extra pawns and three passers. The poistion calls for White to throw in the towel.

31.Ra4?

White's position is still poor, but he had an opportunity to make life more difficult for Black by taking one of the passers
[font color="red"]31.Rxc5 Rxc5 32.Bxc5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]32...Nxf4 33.Rb2+ Kc8 34.Qa6+ Kd7 35.Qxa5 Ra8[/font] gives White some chances to survive, but not good ones.
If [font color="darkred"]32...Nxc5?! 33.Qb5+! Kc8[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]34.Rxc5 Qd4+ 35.Kh1[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]35...Qxf4 36.Qa6+ Kd7 37.Qxa5 Ke8 38.Qa1 Qd4[/font] is equal.
[font color="darkorange"]35...Qb4 36.Qa6+ Kd7 37.Qxa5 Qxa5 38.Rxa5 Ke6[/font] is equal.

[font color="magenta"]34.Qxc5?! Qd4+! 35.Qxd4 Rxd4 36.Ra2 a4 37.f5 g6[/font] restores Black's heavy advantage, but White still has some fight left.

[font color="blue"]31.Bxc5?[/font] drops a piece to [font color="blue"]31...Nxc5! 32.Rxc5 Rxc5 33.Rb2+ Ka7.[/font]

31...Kb6!

Black covers his queenside, depriving White of effective counterplay.
Also good is [font color="red"]31...g5![/font] when:

If [font color="red"]32.Qf1 gxf4 33.Rxf4 Qxe5 34.Rf3 a4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]35.Ra2 Qe4 36.Kh1 f5 37.Bg5 Rd4 38.Bf6 Rd5[/font] gives White no counterplay. Exchanging pieces will only make it easier for Black to advance his passers.
[font color="burgundy"]35.Bd2 Qd4+ 36.Kh2 Rb3 37.Be3 Qd5 38.Rd2 c4[/font] allows Black to continue to advance his pawns.

[font color="darkred"]32.fxg5?[/font] loses to [font color="darkred"]32...Rb1+ 33.Kh2 Qxe5+ 34.g3 Rd5[/font] when:

[font color="darkred"]35.Bg1 Qxe2+ 36.Rxe2 Kb6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]37.Ra3 Nb4 38.Rf2 Rdd1 39.Rg2 Kb5 40.h4 Rd3[/font] forces more piece exchanges and makes Black's queenside pawns that much more powerful.
[font color="burgundy"]37.Rh4 Rxg5 38.Rxh7 a4 39.Rh8 Kb7![/font] leaves White no counterplay.

If [font color="magenta"]35.Bf2 Qxe2 36.Rxe2 Kb6[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]37.g4[/font] then Black wins after [font color="magenta"]37...Rb4 38.Ra3 Nxf2 39.Rxf2 c4[/font] when:

[font color="magenta"]40.Kg2 a4 41.Raf3 Rxg5 42.Rxf7 c3 43.Rf8 Kb7[/font] leave Black pawns at play in the fields of the queenside.
If [font color="purple"]40.Rc3[/font] then Black wins after [font color="purple"]Rd3 41.Rc1 a4.[/font]

If [font color="darkorange"]37.Ra3[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkorange"]37...Nxf2 38.Rxf2 Rxg5 39.h4 Rd5 40.Kg2 f5.[/font]

32.Rca2 Nb2 33.Qxb2

If [font color="red"]33.R4a3 Qd1+[/font] then:

[font color="red"]34.Kf2 Qxe2+ 35.Kxe2 Nc4 36.Rd3 Rxd3 37.Kxd3 Rb4[/font] continues to gives Black two extra pawns and three passers.
If [font color="darkred"]34.Qxd1[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkred"]34...Rxd1+ 35.Kf2 g6 36.g4 Nc4 37.Rc3 Rb4.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Rustam Kasimdzhanov[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Wang Hao[/center][center]Position after 33.Qe2b2:N[/center]

33...Qd1+!

Now White must stop what he's doing. Black will use the tempo gained to increase the effectiveness of the Rook at d8.
[font color="red"]33...Rxb2 34.Rxb2+ Ka6 35.Kh2 Qd7 36.Ra3 c4[/font] gives Black three two exta pawns, three passed pawns and the Queen for a Rook and a minor piece.

34.Kh2 Qxa4

Black's Rook is now in complete command of the d-file. Black is up by the exchange and two pawns, plus the use of three passed pawns.

35.Bxc5+

White is toast after [font color="red"]35.Rxa4 Rxb2 36.f5 Re8 37.e6 fxe6 38.Re4 Kb5.[/font]

35...Kb7

Also good is [font color="red"]35...Ka6 36.Qf2 Qd1 37.Qe3 Kb7 38.Be7 Rd4.[/font]

36.Qf2

[font color="red"]36.Qe2 Qb3 37.Ra3 Qb1 38.Qf3+ c6 39.Bd6 g6[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and still two passers.

36...Qb3!

Black threatens to bring the Rook to d1.

37.Ra3 Qc4 38.Be3

If [font color="red"]38.Qf3+ Qd5 39.Qxd5+ Rxd5 40.Bf2 c5 41.Be1 c4.[/font]

38...g6

If [font color="red"]38...a4 39.Ra2 Rd3 40.Rc2 Qd5 41.Qe2 a3 42.Bg1.[/font]

39.Qe1 Rd3 40.Qe2 Rbd5 0-1

If [font color="red"]41.Ra2[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]41...c6 42.Ra1 Qe4 43.Re1 a4[/font]
Wang Xiansheng resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

7. Update (Saturday, December 5): Krasenkow wins Rilton Cup

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Original post)

Sat Jan 5, 2013, 02:31 PM

Jan 2013

Polish grandmaster Michal Krasenkow won the 42nd Rilton Cup today when he defeated Italian international master Axel Rombaldini in the ninth and final round in Stockholm.

Meanwhile, grandmaster Ilya Smirin of Israel, who entered the final round tied with Krasenkow for first place, lost his game to Dutch GM Erwin L'Ami to give Krasenkow first place clear.

Krasenkow won six games with three draws for a totla of 7½ points. L'Ami and Russian grandmaster Aleksandr Shimanov tied for second with 7 points each.

Seventy-nine players participated in Stockholm this year.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

8. Update (Sunday, January 6): Gawain Jones takes Hastings

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Original post)

Sun Jan 6, 2013, 07:03 PM

Jan 2013

English GM Gawain Jones won the 88th Hasting Masters open tournament today in Hastings. with a score of 7½ points out of ten rounds.

Mr. Jones begin the day alone in first place and assured himself of at least a share of first place when he drew his game with Black against Ukrainian GM Andrey Sumets. At the end of the day, all of the other players on the top boards drew there games, and Jones was left with a clear first place finish.

Eight player tied for secon at 7 points each.

The Hastings Chess Congress is the oldest ongoing tournament in chess. The first Hasting Tournament was held in 1895 and was won by American Harry Nelson Pillsbury. The participants included both the reigning champion, Emanuel Lasker, and the only other man to officially hold the title of world chess champion up to that time, Wilhelm Steinitz.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

13. Update (January 26): Is Magnus Mortal? He Wins in Wijk with a Round to Spare.

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Original post)

Sat Jan 26, 2013, 08:24 PM

Jan 2013

Norwegian grandmaster Magnus Carlsen, already the highest rated player of all time, continues to set new records as he cinched first prize earlier today with a round still to play in Group A at the 75th Tata Steel Chess Tournament in the Dutch fishing village of Wijk aan Zee.

Magnus won his game in today's 12th round against reigning American champion Hikaru Nakamura in 31 moves. This game him 9½ points (+7 -0 =5), leaving a point and a half ahead his nearest rivals, reigning world champion Vishy Anand and world number three Levon Aronian.

Magnus will play Black tomorrow agains Dutch national champion Anish Giri. If he wins that game, he will break Viktor Korchnoi's all time record for best win percentage in a single tournament at Wijk aan Zee. Viktor Lvovovich scored 12 out of a possible 15 (80%) in 1968. Since the format changed to 13 games, the record is held by Garry Kasparov, who scored ten out of 13 (+8 -1 =4) in his only appearance in Wijk aan Zee in 1999. Magnus has a chance to tie or break Kasparov's record tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Magnus' unofficial rating, reported up to the minute on 2700chess.com, is 2874. Magnus began the month at 2861, ten points higher than Kasparov's high water mark set in 1999 and 2000.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

14. Update (January 27): Wijk completed, Gibraltar underway

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Original post)

Mon Jan 28, 2013, 02:38 AM

Jan 2013

[font size="4"]Magnus wins in Wijk, Elo at 2872[/font]

[font size="1"]Photo by Arch (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Arch) in Wikimedia Commons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wijk_aan_zee_044.JPG)
(Public Domain)
[/font]
Magnus Carlsen drew his final game today against Dutch grandmaster Anish Giri to finish in first place in Group A in the 75th Tata Steel Chess Tournament in the Dutch fishing village of Wijk aan Zee on the North Sea.

Magnus finished with 10 points in 13 rounds, tying the best record at Wijk in a 13-round format set in 1999 by Magnus' mentor, former world champion Garry Kasparov. Magnus also finished unoficially with an Elo rating of 2872, the highest ever recorded.

Armenian GM Levon Aronian took second with 8½ points while Russian GM Sergey Karjakin and reigning wold champion Vishy Anand of India tied for third at 8 points each.

In Group B, 17-year-old Hungarian grandmaster Richard Rapport and German GM Arkadij Naiditsch tied for first with 9 points each out of 13. Sergei Movsesian of Armenia and Jan Smeets of Holland tied for third at 8½ points apiece.

Group C was a two-man race all the way and in the end Italy's Sabino Brunello with 11 points edged out Fernando Peralta of Argentina with 10½ points. Holland's Robin Swinkles took thrid place with 8½ points.

[font size="4"]Three-way tie in Gibraltar Masters' Open after Six Rounds[/font]

[font size="1"]Photo of the Rock of Gibraltar by Hans Lohninger in Wikimedi Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Rock_of_Gibraltar)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]
Young grandmasters Le Quang Liem of Vietnam and Nakita Vitiugov of Russian and veteran Bulgarian GM Kiril Georgiev lead the Tradewise Gibraltar Masters' Open Tournament on the Rock after six rounds with 5½ points apiece.

Le and Vitiugov, the only players who still had perfect scores after five rounds, met and fought 86 moves to a draw in today's action. Georgiev took down Chinese GM Yu Yangyi to keep pace with the young leaders.

Ten players are ties for fourth place with 5 points each, including top seed Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine and defending tournament champion Nigel Short of Britain.

Gibraltar has lucrative prizes for the top women players. After six rounds, the top women are Antoaneta Stefanova (Bulgaria), Valentina Gunina (Russia), Anna Muzychuk (Slovenia), Elisabeth Pähtz (Germany), Viktorija Cmilyte (Lithuania), Ju Wenjun (China) and Zhao Xue (China) at 4½ points each.

The action is broadcast live on the official tournament website at 3 pm daily local time (6 am PST); the tenth and final round Thursday will begin four hours earlier.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

15. Update (january 28): Vitugov takes sole lead in Gibraltar

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Mon Jan 28, 2013, 07:46 PM

Jan 2013

[font size="1"]Photo of the Rock of Gibraltar by Hans Lohninger in Wikimedi Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Rock_of_Gibraltar)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]
Russian grandmaster Nikita Vitiugov defeated veteran Bulgarian GM Kiril Georgiev to take sole possession of first place in the 2013 Masters' Open of the Tradwise Gibraltar Chess Festival with 6½ points out of 7 rounds on the Rock today.

Meanwhile, Le Quang Liem of Vietnam, who started the day tied for first with Vitiugov and Georgiev, drew his game with tournament top seed Ukrainian GM Vassily Ivanchuk and is a half point behind Vitiugov.

Of those who started the day with 5 points, the only winners were American GM Gata Kamsky and defending tournament champion Nigel Short of Britain, who move into a three-way tie with Le for second place with 6 points.

Zhao Xue of China was the only woman in the group of ladies who began the day ar 4½ points to win today. Now with 5½ points, she in in sole possession of the lead for the lucrative women's prize.

In tomorrow's eighth round, Vitiugov will have Black against Kamsky, Le will have White against Short and Zhao will have White against German GM Daniel Fridman, who is married to another strong woman master, former four-time American women's champion Anna Zatonskih.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

16. Update (January 30): Gibraltar goes to final round with three-way tie

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Original post)

Wed Jan 30, 2013, 09:03 PM

Jan 2013

Last edited Wed Jan 30, 2013, 10:04 PM - Edit history (1)

[center][/center]

[center]Barbary Macaques on Gibraltar[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Olaf Tausch] (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Oltau) in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Gibraltar_Barbary_Macaques)
([link:creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en|Creative Commons License], Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]
Defending tournament champion Nigel Short of Britain, Russian GM Nikita Vitiugov and French GM Maxime Vachier Lagrave are tied for first place at 7½ points each going into tomorrow's tenth and final round in the Masters' Open of the 2013 Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival taking place at the Caleta Hotel at the foot of the Rock.

Seven players are tied for fourth place with 7 points each and each has a theoretical chance to catch the leaders and force a playoff. They are: Mickey Adams (Britain), Kiril Georgiev (Bulgaria), top seed Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukraine), Le Quang Liem (Vietnam), David Navara (Czechia), Chandra Sandipan (India) and Zhao Xue (China).

Zhao Xue, the only woman in the group of seven, took sole possession of the lead for the £12,000 prize for top performance by a woman when she defeated Eduardo Iturrizaga Bonelli of Venzuela today in 59 moves. The legendary Pia Cramling of Sweden is in sole possession of second place among the women with 6½ points, making her the only woman with a chance of overtaking Zhao tomorrow. Eight women are tied with 6 points each.

In today's action, Vitiugov and Short played 39 moves to a draw and Vachier Lagrave took down former American champion Gata Kamsky in 50 moves.

[center]Tomorrow's Games Tables 1 thru 5[/center]
[center][font face="courier new"]
White - Black
Vitiugov - Vachier Lagrave
Navara - Short
Zhao Xue - Ivanchuk
Georgiev - Adams
Le Quag Liem - Sandipan
[/font][/center]
In addition, Pia Cramling will have White against Yu Yangyi on table 8.

Tomorrow's action begins four hours ealier than the first nine rounds, at 11 am local time (2 am PST). The game will be broadcast on the official tournament website.

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