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Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts) Fri Mar 1, 2013, 02:44 PM Mar 2013

Chess (March): Candidates' Tournament begins in London on March 15

Last edited Fri Mar 1, 2013, 04:19 PM - Edit history (1)

[font size="4"]Candidates' Tournament begins in London on March 15[/font]

[center][/center][font size="1"]Photo by Diliff (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User iliff) in [link:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Ben|Wikipedia]
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]
The first round of the 2013 Candidates' Tournament begins in London on Friday, March 15.

The winner of the event earns the right to challenge reigning world champion Vishy Anand for the title in a match tentatively scheduled for October or November.

The tournament is a double round robin among eight players: Levon Aronian (Armenia); the world's highest rated player, Magnus Carlsen (Norway); Boris Gelfand (Israel), Alexander Grischuk (Russia); Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukraine); former world champion Vladimir Kramnik (Russia); Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan); and Peter Svidler (Russia).

The schedule calls for rounds to be played on three consectutive days with a rest day on the fourth until 14 rounds are completed. The 14th round will be played Monday, April 1 with any necessary tie-breaks to be played the following day.

Magnus will be a heavy favorite in Las Vegas and Monte Carlo as he currently outrates world number two, Kramnik, by 62 points.

[font size="4"]Fabulous Fabiano wins Zürich Chess Challenge[/font]

Italian national champion Fabiano Caruana won the Zurich Chess Challenge today in Zürich when he won his final game against Israeli GM Boris Gelfand in 58 moves.

In the only other game today in the six-round double round robin quadrangular event, reigning world champion Vishy Anand defeated former world champion Vladimir Kramnik in 27 moves. That assured il signore Caruana first place if he merely avoided loss against Boris Abramovich, but also meant that Boris Abramovich would take first place himself if he had won the game.

The entire first half of the tournament saw no decisvie game. In Round 4, il signore Caruana defeated Sri Anand to take over first place in what proved to be the event's only decisive game until today.

[font size="4"]Cappelle-la-Grande Open enters final round with five-way tie[/font]

The 30th International Open in Cappelle-la-Grande, France is knotted in a five-way tie for first place after eight rounds with only one left to play at the end of today's action.

Grandmasters Sanan Sjugirov of Russia, Sergey Fedochuk of Ukraine and Alexei Fedorov of Belarus began the day tied for first place with 6 points each. Sjugirov and Fedorchuk played each other to a 25-move draw while Fedorov drew with Armenian GM Tigran Gharamian, one of seven players tied with 5½ points each, in 26 moves.

In the group with 5½ points, Indian GM Parimarjan Negi defeated GM Nikola Djukic of Montenegro in 30 moves and Israeli GM Maxim Rodshtein took down Armenian IM Karen Grigoryan in 26 moves.

Thus, Sjugirov, Fedorchuk, Fedorov, Negi and Rodshtein will go to tomorrow's final round tied for first place at 6½ points each. Tomorrow's pairings have not yet been announced.

Tomorrow's action will be broadcast live on the official tournament website.

[font color="red" size="1"]UPDATE:[/font]

Tomorrow's pairing on the first three boards:

Fedorov-Sjugirov
Fedorchuk-Negi
Rodshtein-Gharamian

22 replies

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Highlight:

Chess (March): Candidates' Tournament begins in London on March 15 (Original Post) Jack Rabbit Mar 2013 OP

Games from February Jack Rabbit Mar 2013 #1

GRENKE Chess Classic, Baden-Baden Jack Rabbit Mar 2013 #2

Naiditsch - Anand, Round 10 Jack Rabbit Mar 2013 #4

Fridman - Naiditsch, Round 6 Jack Rabbit Mar 2013 #8

28th International Open, Reykjavik Jack Rabbit Mar 2013 #3

So - Dziuba, Round 9 Jack Rabbit Mar 2013 #5

Ding Liren - Eljanov, Round 9 Jack Rabbit Mar 2013 #6

Amin - Li Wenliang, Round 6 Jack Rabbit Mar 2013 #7

Hi, guys (including guys of the female persuasion) SwissTony Mar 2013 #9

That depends on what you're looking for in coverage Jack Rabbit Mar 2013 #10

Brilliant, mate. SwissTony Mar 2013 #11

Updates (The Ides of March) Jack Rabbit Mar 2013 #12

Update from London (March 16): Aronian, Raja Draw First Blood Jack Rabbit Mar 2013 #13

Update (March 17) from London Jack Rabbit Mar 2013 #14

Update from London (Monday, March 19): Magnus, Aronian tied for first Jack Rabbit Mar 2013 #15

Update (Thursday, March 21): Magnus and Aronian remain tied in London after six rounds Jack Rabbit Mar 2013 #16

Update from London (Saturday, March 23): All games drawn as Candidates' Tounament reaches halftime Jack Rabbit Mar 2013 #17

Update (Sunday, March 24): Magnus and Aronian draw, Kramnik wins Jack Rabbit Mar 2013 #18

Update (March 25): Magnus and Kramink draw, Aronian loses Jack Rabbit Mar 2013 #19

Update from London (Thursday, March 28): Aronian loses, Magnus draws, Kramnik trails by ½ point Jack Rabbit Mar 2013 #20

Update (Friday, March 29): Kramnik leapfrogs over Magnus in London Jack Rabbit Mar 2013 #21

Update from London (Sunday, March 31): Magnus, Kramnik go to last round tied Jack Rabbit Mar 2013 #22

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

1. Games from February

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Original post)

Fri Mar 1, 2013, 03:16 PM

Mar 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. GRENKE Chess Classic, Baden-Baden

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Reply #1)

Fri Mar 1, 2013, 03:18 PM

Mar 2013

[center][/center]

[center]Baden-Baden[/center]Photo by Ramessos in Wikimedia Commons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:BadenBaden.jpg)
(Public DomaIn)
[/font]

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

4. Naiditsch - Anand, Round 10

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Reply #2)

Fri Mar 1, 2013, 03:23 PM

Mar 2013

[center][/center]

[center]Vishy Anand[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Ygrek (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Ygrek) in Wikipedia
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Arkadij Naiditsch - Vishy Anand
GRENKE Chess Classic, Round 10
Baden-Baden, 17 February 2013

Spanish Sicilian Rat Game: Canal Opening/Roodzant Defense

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Qxd7 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 g6 7.d4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bg7 9.0-0 Nc6 10.Nde2 Qe6

For a survey of the Spanish Sicilian Rat Game, see Carlsen-Anand, IT, Bilbao, 2012.
If [font color="red"]10...0-0 11.f3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]11...a6 12.a4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]12...e6 13.Bg5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]13...Qc7 14.Kh1[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]14...Nd7 15.b3 Nc5 16.Rb1[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]16...Rac8 17.Bh4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]17...Rfe8 18.h3 Qa5 19.Qc2 Bxc3 20.Qxc3 Qxc3 21.Nxc3 Nd4[/font] gies Black a better center (Greet-Edouard, Op 0910, Hastings, 2009).
[font color="burgundy"]17...Na5 18.b4 Nxc4 19.bxc5 Ne3 20.Qd3 Nxf1 21.cxd6[/font] gives White a small advantage (Ponomariov-Sutovsky, Euro Ch Blitz Playoff, Ohrid, 2001).

If [font color="darkred"]16...Rfe8[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]17.Bh4 Nb4 18.Qd2 Ncd3 19.Na2 Nxa2 20.Qxd3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Rublevsky-Leitão, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).
[font color="magenta"]17.Qc2 Nb4 18.Qd2 Ncd3 19.Na2 Qb6 20.Be3[/font] gives White the tactical ability to gain the advantage in space (Meier-Suttor, World Youth BU18, Belfort, 2005).

If [font color="darkred"]14...Qa5 15.Bh4 Rfd8[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]16.Rc1 Qh5 17.Bf2 Qa5 18.Bh4 Qh5 19.Bf2 Qa5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]20.Qb3 Nd7 21.Qc2 Nc5 22.Rb1 Nb4 23.Qd2 Nb3[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space (Oral-Kasparov, IT, Prague, 2002).
[font color="darkorange"]20.Bh4 Qh5[/font] draws by repetition (Rudolf-Maidl, IT, Paks, Hungary, 2011).

[font color="magenta"]16.Rb1 g5 17.Be1 Qc5 18.Rc1 h6 19.b3 Qb6[/font] is equal (Vescovi-Domínguez Pérez, Pan-American Ch, Buenos Aires, 2003).

If [font color="darkred"]13...h6 14.Bh4 Rfd8[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]15.f4 Qc7 16.Kh1 Qa5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]17.b3 Rac8 18.Qe1 Re8 19.Rb1 Nd7 20.Qg3 Nd4[/font] is equal (Topalov-Van Wely, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 2002).
[font color="darkorange"]17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.f5 Be5 19.Qd2 Kg7 20.Rf3 g5[/font] is equal.

[font color="magenta"]15.Rb1 Qc7 16.Kh1 Rd7 17.Rc1 Re8 18.Nd5[/font] is equal (Caruana-Anand, GS Maters Rd 3, São Paulo, 2012).

If [font color="darkred"]12...Qd8[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]13.Be3 Qa5 14.Kh1 Nd7[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]15.Rb1 Nde5 16.b3 Nxc4 17.bxc4 Bxc3 18.Bb6 Qe5[/font] is equal (Oral-Dworakowska, Op, Koszalin, Poland, 1999).
[font color="darkorange"]15.Bd2 Rfc8 16.Rb1 Qd8 17.Bg5 Qf8 18.b3 Rab8[/font] is equal (Hartanbaatar-Sammalvuo, Ol, Palma de Mallorca, 2004).

[font color="magenta"]13.Kh1 Nd7 14.Rb1 Qa5 15.Bd2 Qh5 16.b3[/font] is equal (Meier-Schütze, German Ch, Osterburg, 2006).

If [font color="darkred"]11...Rfc8 12.Be3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]12...Qd8 13.b3 a6 14.a4 Nd7[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]15.Rb1 Nc5 16.Qd2 Rab8 17.Rfd1 Qf8 18.Nf4[/font] is equal (Ansdersson-Donner, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1973).
[font color="darkorange"]15.Kh1 Rab8 16.Rb1 Qa5 17.Qd2 Nf6 18.Rfd1[/font] is equal (Ni Hua-Rodshtein, Op, Cappelle-la-Grande, 2007).

[font color="magenta"]12...Ne8 13.Qd2 Ne5 14.b3 Nc7 15.Rac1 Na6 16.Rfd1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Vasiukov-Cardoso, IT, Manila, 1974).

11.Nd5

[font color="red"]11.Qb3 0-0 12.Nf4 Qc8 13.Nfd5 e6 14.Nxf6+ Bxf6[/font] is equal (Damljanovic-Stohl, Euro ChT, Batumi, 1999).

11...Qxe4!?

Black sees that he can get two pawns for the exchange.
A better try is [font color="red"]11...Rc8 12.f3 Qd7 13.Rb1 Qd8 14.Kh1 Qa5 15.a4[/font] is equal.

[center]BLACK: Vishy Anand[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Arkadij Naiditsch[/center][center]Position after 11...Qe6e4:p[/center]

12.Nc7+!

White goes for the exchange.

12...Kd7 13.Nxa8 Qxc4 14.Nc3

If [font color="red"]14.Nb6+ axb6 15.Nc3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]15...b5 16.Be3 Ra8 17.Rc1 Ke8[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]18.a3 b4 19.b3 Qh4 20.Nb5 Kd7 21.Bc5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space; Black's best solution is to exchange Queens (Rublevsky-Van Wely, Rpd IT, Frankfurt, 2000).
[font color="magenta"]18.Bg5 Kf8 19.a3 b4 20.Bxf6 Bxf6 21.Nd5[/font] is equal (Leitão-K. Georgiev, IT, Poikovsky, 2001).

[font color="darkred"]15...Ra8 16.a4 Ne4 17.Nxe4 Qxe4 18.Qb3 f5 19.Bg5[/font] gives White a slim advantage; Black's Queen will be forced to vacate (Kasparov-The World, Cyberspace, 1999).

14...Rxa8 15.Bg5 (N)

[font color="red"]15.Re1 Rc8 16.h3 h6 17.Be3 Ke8 18.Rc1[/font] gives White a small advantage: he has the exchange for two pawns while Black cannot maintain the Queen at c4. (Antonio-Rytshagov, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).

15...e6 16.Re1

White has a small advantage.

16...Nd5

[center]BLACK: Vishy Anand[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Arkadij Naiditsch[/center][center]Position after 16.Nf6d5[/center]

17.Nxd5

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

If [font color="red"]17...Rf8 18.Nxd5 Qxd5 19.Qxd5 exd5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]20.Bh4 Rc8 21.Re2 Be5 22.Rd1 f5 23.f3[/font] gives White a slight advantage with his Rooks attacking Black's weak passers in the d-file.
[font color="burgundy"]20.Rad1 h6 21.Bf4 d4 22.h4 Rc8 23.Rd3[/font] leaves White standing slight better.

If [font color="darkred"]17...Ne5 18.Rxe5 Bxe5 19.b3 Qd4 20.Rd1 Bxh2+ 21.Kh1[/font] continues to give White a small advantage.
[font color="magenta"]19...Qxc3?! 20.Qxf7+! Kc6 21.Rc1 Qxc1+ 22.Bxc1 Rd8 23.Qxe6[/font] gives White a small material advantage and an active Queen.

17...Qxd5 18.Qxd5 exd5 19.Rad1 h6 20.Bc1

[font color="red"]20.Bh4 g5 21.Bg3 d4 22.f4 Rf8 23.Rf1[/font] continues to give White a small advantage; Black cannot advance his passers.

20...d4 21.Rd3

If [font color="red"]21.b3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]21...Nb4 22.Bb2 Rc8 23.Rd2 Nxa2 24.Bxd4 Bxd4 25.Rxd4[/font] continues to give White a small advantage.
[font color="darkred"]21...a5 22.Rd3 b5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]23.Rf3 Ne5 24.Rh3 Rc8 25.Bb2 Nc6 26.Rc1[/font] gives White a slight advantage.
[font color="magenta"]23.Kf1 a4 24.bxa4 Rxa4 25.a3 b4 26.axb4 Rxb4[/font] gives White a slight advantage.

21...Rc8

[center]BLACK: Vishy Anand[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Arkadij Naiditsch[/center][center]Position after 21...Ra8c8[/center]

22.Rb3

If [font color="red"]22.Red1 Ne5 23.Ra3 Rc2[/font] then:

[font color="red"]24.h3 a6 25.Rb3 Kc7 26.Bf4 b5 27.h4 Kb6[/font] is equal.
If [font color="darkred"]a) 24.Rxa7!?[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]24...Nd3! 25.Rxb7+ Kc6 26.Rxf7 Rxc1 27.Rxc1+ Nxc1 28.Kf1[/font] gives Black the advantage with his passed d-pawns.
[font color="magenta"]24...Kc7?! 25.Ra3! Nc4 26.Rb3 Kc6 27.a3 b5 28.Rf3[/font] gives White the exchange for only a pawn.

If [font color="darkred"]b) 24.h4 a6 25.Rb3 Kc6 26.Bf4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]26...b5 27.Kf1 h5 28.Bxe5 Bxe5 29.Ke1 d3 30.Rbxd3[/font] is equal.
[font color="magenta"]26...h5 27.Rc1 Rc5 28.Re1 b5 29.Bxe5 Bxe5 30.Kf1[/font] is equal.

22...b6 23.Kf1

[font color="red"]23.h3 Rc7 24.Kf1 Ne5 25.Ra3 Nc4 26.Rg3[/font] continues to give White a small advantage.

23...Ne5 24.Ra3 a5 25.b4

[font color="red"]25.f4!? Nc4! 26.Rd3 b5 27.Rf3 d5 28.b3 Nd6[/font] is equal.

25...Rc2 26.bxa5 bxa5 27.Rxa5!?

White goes for a passed pawn, but it is one that has not yet moved. Meanwhile, Black's advanced passer at d4 has nothing opposing it.
If [font color="red"]27.Rd1 Nc4 28.Rf3 f5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]29.g4 Rxa2 30.gxf5 gxf5 31.Rxf5 Be5 32.Bxh6 a4[/font] remains equal.
[font color="darkred"]29.a3 Ke6 30.Rfd3 g5 31.Ke1 f4 32.Kf1 a4[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space; Black fight for the d2 square is critical.

[center]BLACK: Vishy Anand[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Arkadij Naiditsch[/center][center]Position after 27.Ra4a5:p[/center]

27...Nd3!

White seizes the advantage and threatens 28...Nxc1.
The next few moves are foced.

28.Ra7+ Kc6 29.Rxf7 Nxe1 30.Kxe1 Rxc1+ 31.Kd2 Rg1

The text, aimed at dispersing White's kingside pawns, is strong than immediately putting the Rook behind White's passer.
[font color="red"]31...Ra1 32.Rxg7 Rxa2+ 33.Kd3 g5 34.Rf7 Kc5[/font] gives Black an advanced passer, good for a small advantage.

32.Rxg7 Rxg2 33.Ke1?

However it's sliced or diced, Black now loses pawns.
If [font color="red"]33.Ke2 d3+ 34.Kxd3 Rxf2[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]35.h4 Rf3+ 36.Kd2 Rh3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]37.Rxg6 Rxh4 38.a4 Kc5 39.a5 h5 40.a6 Ra4[/font] continues to give Black a small advantage with two passed pawns while White's a-pawn is deadwood.
[font color="burgundy"]37.a4 Rxh4 38.a5 Rg4 39.a6 g5 40.Rh7 Ra4[/font] gives Black two passers againt White's one.

If [font color="darkred"]35.Rxg6 Rxh2 36.a4 Kc5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]37.Rg1 Ra2 38.Rc1+ Kd5 39.Rh1 Rxa4 40.Rh5+ Kc6[/font] gives Black only a small advantage as it comes down to a Rook vs. Rook and one pawn ending.
[font color="magenta"]37.Rg8 Rh3+ 38.Ke2 h5 39.a5 Ra3 40.Rg5+ d5[/font] comes down to R vs. R+P.

[center]BLACK: Vishy Anand[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Arkadij Naiditsch[/center][center]Position after 33.Kd2e1[/center]

33...Rxh2!

Black is a pawn to the good.

34.Rxg6

If [font color="red"]34.a4 g5 35.Ke2 Rh1[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]36.Rh7 Kc5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]37.Kd3 h5 38.a5 h4 39.a6 Rd1+ 40.Ke2 Ra1 41.a7 h3 42.Rxh3 Rxa7[/font] leaves Black with two extra passed pawns.
If [font color="darkorange"]39.Rg7?[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkorange"]39...Kb5 40.Ke2 h3 41.Rxg5+ Kc4 42.Rg8 h2.[/font]

[font color="magenta"]37.a5 Ra1 38.Rxh6 Rxa5 39.Rh1 Ra2+ 40.Kd3 Ra3+[/font] leaves Black with two extra pawns.

[font color="darkred"]36.a5 Ra1 37.Kd3 Rxa5 38.Kxd4 h5[/font] gives Black two extra pawns.

34...Rh1+ 35.Kd2

[font color="red"]35.Ke2[/font] loses to [font color="red"]35...h5 36.Rh6 h4 37.a3 h3 38.Rh4 Kc5.[/font]

35...h5 36.Rh6 h4 37.a4

If [font color="red"]37.Rh5 h3 38.a3 h2[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]39.Rh6 Kc5 40.Rh8 Kb5 41.Rh5+ Kc4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]42.Rh4 Ra1 43.Rxh2 Ra2+[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]44.Ke1 Kc3 45.Rh6 Ra1+ 46.Ke2 d3+ 47.Kf3 d2[/font] White cannot stop the pawn from queening.
If [font color="darkred"]44.Kc1[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]44...Kc3 45.Kb1 Rb2+ 46.Ka1 d3 47.Rh7 Re2.[/font]
If [font color="magenta"]44...Rxa3 45.Rh7 Ra1+[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]46.Kd2[/font] then Black wins after [font color="magenta"]Ra2+ 47.Ke1 Kd3 48.f4 Ke3 49.Rh3+ Kxf4.[/font]/li]
If [font color="darkorange"]46.Kb2[/font] then after [font color="darkorange"]46...Re1 47.Rf7 Re2+ 48.Kc1 Kc3[/font] the presence of the pawn at d6 prevents White from constructing a third-rank defense.

If [font color="burgundy"]42.Rh3[/font] then White wins after [font color="burgundy"]Ra1 43.Rxh2 Ra2+ 44.Ke1 Kc3[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]39.a4 Kb6[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]40.Ke2[/font] then after [font color="darkred"]d3+ 41.Kd2 Ka6 42.Rh4 Ka5[/font] Black's threat to the a-pawn is decisive.
If [font color="magenta"]40.Kd3[/font] loses immediately to [font color="magenta"]40...Rd1+ 41.Ke2 h1Q.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Vishy Anand[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Arkadij Naiditsch[/center][center]Position after 37.a2a4[/center]

37...h3 38.a5 h2 39.a6 Kc7 40.Rh7+

If [font color="red"]40.Rh8[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]40...Kb6 41.Rh6 Kxa6 42.Rxd6+ Kb5 43.Rxd4.[/font]/li]

40...Kb8 41.Ke2 d3+ 42.Kd2 Ka8 43.Rh5

[font color="red"]43.Kxd3[/font] loses immediately to [font color="red"]43...Rd1+ 44.Ke4 h1Q+.[/font]

43...Ka7 44.Rh6 d5 45.Rh8 Kxa6 46.Rh6+ Kb5 47.Rh8 Kc4 48.Rc8+ Kd4 49.Rh8 Ke4 0-1

Herr Naiditsch resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

8. Fridman - Naiditsch, Round 6

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Reply #2)

Tue Mar 5, 2013, 06:10 PM

Mar 2013

Although he lost his last three games to finish with a -2 score, Herr Niaditsch was acclaimed by many observers as the player of the tournament for playing decisive games in eight out of ten rounds in what was otherwise a drawfest.

Herr Naiditsch also turned in the best game of the tournament in the sixth round when he defeated his compatriot, Herr Fridman.

[center][/center]

[center]Arkadij Naiditsch[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Pawel Suwarski in Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Naiditsch_Arkadij.jpg)
(Public Domain)[/font]

Daniel Fridman - Arkadij Naiditsch
GRENKE Chess Classic, Round 6
Baden-Baden, 13 February 2013

West India Game: King's Indian Defense (Main Line/Aronin Variation)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.Be3

For [font color="red"]8.d5[/font] and more on this opening, see Wang Yue-A. Vovk, Op 1112, Hastings, 2012.

8...Ng4

If [font color="red"]8...Re8[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]9.dxe5 dxe5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]10.Qxd8[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]10...Nxd8 11.Nb5 Ne6 12.Ng5 Re7 13.Rfd1[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]13...b6 14.a4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]14...c6 15.Nxe6 Bxe6 16.Nc3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]16...Rb7 17.b4 Bf8 18.Rab1 Nd7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]19.b5 Rc8 20.Nd5 Nc5 21.bxc6 Rxc6 22.a5 bxa5[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and White more space (Portisch-Dr. Nunn, IT, Amsterdam, 1990).
[font color="burgundy"]19.h3 a5 20.bxa5 Rxa5 21.Bg4 Bxg4 22.hxg4 Bc5[/font] gives Black a stronger pawns on the queenside (Chekhov-Longinov, Soviet Armed Forces Ch, Sverdlovsk, 1987).

[font color="#C08000"]16...Rb8 17.b4 Rd7 18.f3 Bf8 19.Rxd7 Nxd7 20.Rb1 [/font] is equal (Hjartarsson-Dr. Nunn, ITZ, Szirak, 1987).

[font color="darkpink"]14...a6 15.Nc3 Nd4 16.Bxd4 exd4 17.Rxd4 a5 18.Rad1[/font] is equal (Movsesian-Babula, IT (Blitz playoff), Prague, 1999).

If [font color="darkred"]13...c6 14.Nxe6 Bxe6 15.Nc3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]15...b6 16.f3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]16...Rd7 17.b4 Bf8 18.a3 Rc8 19.g4 Rxd1+ 20.Rxd1[/font] is equal (Pomar Salamanca-Dr. Penrose, IT, Palma de Mallorca, 1969).
[font color="darkorange"]16...Rb7 17.b3 Bf8 18.Rac1 Nd7 19.Na4 f5[/font] is equal (Haugli-Wahls, Euro ChT, Haifa, 1989).

[font color="magenta"]15...Rd7 16.Rxd7 Bxd7 17.Rb1 Ng4 18.Bd2 Be6 19.f3[/font] is equal (Reshevsky-Fischer, Match, Los Angeles, 1961).

If [font color="darkred"]10...Rxd8 11.Bg5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]11...Rd7 12.Bd1[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]12...Ne8 13.Ba4 f6 14.Be3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]14...Bf8 15.Nd2 Rd8 16.Bxc6 bxc6 17.Nb3 a5 18.Nc5[/font] is equal (Hermlin-Vepkhvishvili, Op, Saaremaa, 1983).
[font color="burgundy"]14...Rd6 15.h3 Be6 16.Nd5 Kf7 17.b4 Rdd8 18.Rac1[/font] is equal (Chekhov-Ehlvest, Soviet Ch ½-final, Tallinn, 1980).

[font color="#C08000"]12...h6 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.Ba4 Rd6 15.c5 Re6 16.Nd5[/font] gives White a fine game (Chekhov-Bukic, IT, Banja Luka, 1983).

If [font color="magenta"]11...Rf8 12.Rfd1 Bg4[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]13.h3 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 Nd4 15.Nd5 Nxd5 16.cxd5[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]16...f5 17.Kf1 Rf7 18.Rac1[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]18...fxe4 19.Bxe4 Bf8 20.Rd3 Bd6 21.Be3 Nf5 22.Bd2[/font] is equal (Ponomariov-Nakamura, IT, Dortmund, 2011).
[font color="burgundy"]18...f4 19.Bg4 Re8 20.Rxd4 exd4 21.Be6[/font] assures White of winning the exchange (Zielinska-Dembo, Euro ChW, Kusadasi, Turkey, 2006).

[font color="#C08000"]16...f6 17.Bd2 Rfd8 18.Rac1 Rd7 19.Ba5 b6[/font is equal (Mitenkov-Vepkhvishvili, Op, Katowice, 1991).

[font color="darkorange"]13.Rd3 h6 14.Be3 Rfd8 15.Rad1 Rxd3 16.Rxd3 Rc8[/font] is equal (Chekhov-W. Schmidt, IT, Dresden, 1985).

If [font color="darkred"]10.h3 Be6 11.c5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]11...Qe7 12.Qc2[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]12...Rad8!? 13.Rad1 Rxd1 14.Rxd1 Rd8 15.Bb5 Rxd1+ 16.Qxd1[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Speelman-Dr. Nunn, IT 8788, Hastings, 1988).
[font color="burgundy"]12...a6 13.Rad1 Rad8 14.Qa4 Rd7 15.Rxd7 Nxd7 16.b4[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space.

[font color="darkorange"]15...bxc6 16.Qa4 Qe8 17.Rad1 f5 18.exf5 gxf5 19.f3[/font] gives White a slight advantage (Van der Sterren-Gelfand, IZT, Biel, 1993).

If [font color="darkred"]9.d5 Nd4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]10.Nxd4 exd4 11.Bxd4 Nxe4 12.Bxg7 Kxg7 13.Nxe4 Rxe4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]14.Bd3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]14...Rd4 15.Qc2 Qf6 16.Rae1 Bd7 17.Re3 Re8[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]18.Qb3 b6 19.Rxe8 Bxe8 20.Re1 Bd7 21.Qc3 h5[/font] is equal (Martín-Geller, IT, Buenos Aires, 1954).
If [font color="magenta"]11...Nh5 12.Ng5 Nf4 13.Nxe6 Nxe6 14.Bb5 Rf8 15.Bxc6[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]15...Qxd1 16.Rfxd1 bxc6 17.Rd2 Rfd8 18.Rad1 Rxd2 19.Rxd2[/font] leaves White slightly better (DeMauro-Cutillas Ripoll, Corres, 2000).
[font color="burgundy"]18.Rxe8 Bxe8 19.Re1 Bd7 20.Qc3 c6 21.dxc6 Bxc6[/font] is equal (Bronstein-Geller, Soviet Ch, Riga, 1958).

If [font color="magenta"]14...Re8 15.Re1[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]15...Rxe1+ 16.Qxe1 Bd7 17.c5 dxc5 18.Qc3+ Qf6 19.Qxc5 Qxb2[/font] gives Black the initiative and an extra pawn (Muse-N. Davies, Bundesliga 8586, Germany, 1985).
[font color="darkorange"]15...Bd7 16.Rxe8 Bxe8 17.Qb3 b6 18.Qc3+ Qf6 19.Qxf6+ Kxf6[/font] is equal (Pytel-Gligoric, IT 7273, Hastings, 1973).

[font color="burgundy"]14.Qc2 Re8 15.Rfe1 Qf6 16.Bf1 Bf5 17.Qd2 a5[/font] is equal (Incutto-Olafsson, IT, Mar del Plata, 1960).

If [font color="magenta"]10.Re1 Nxe2+[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]11.Qxe2 Ng4 12.Bg5 f6 13.Bh4 h5 14.h3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Kholmov-Nicevski, Godlidze Mem, Tbilisi, 1974).
[font color="darkorange"]11.Rxe2 Ng4 12.Bg5 f6 13.Bd2 f5 14.Bg5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Rossetto-Bobekov, Ol, Amsterdam, 1954).

9.Bg5 f6 10.Bh4

If [font color="red"]10.Bc1 f5 11.Bg5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]11...Qe8 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.Nd5 Qf7 14.Bd2[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]14...Nf6!? 15.Ng5! Qd7 16.exf5 gxf5 17.f4 e4 18.Bc3 h6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]19.Nxf6+!? Bxf6! 20.Qxd7 Bxd7 21.Bxf6 Rxf6 22.Rad1 Rd8[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space; White's Knight must retreat to h3 (Vera-Van Wely, Capablanca Mem, Havana, 1994).
[font color="burgundy"]19.Ne6 Qxe6 20.Nxc7 Qe7 21.Nxa8 Be6 22.Qc2 Rxa8[/font] remains equal.

If [font color="darkred"]a) 14...h6!? 15.Bd3! Re8 16.Qc2 f4 17.c5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]17...Be6? 18.Bb5![/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]18...g5 19.h3 Nf6 20.Bxc6 bxc6 21.Nxe5 Qh5 22.Nxc7[/font] gives White the exchange plus a pawn; Black capitulation soon after (Adamski-Hillarp Persson, Politiken Cup, Copenhagen, 2000).
If [font color="magenta"]18...a6 19.Ba4 Kh7 20.h3[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]20...Bxd5 21.exd5 Qxd5 22.hxg4[/font] leaves White a piece to the good.
[font color="darkorange"]20...Nf6 21.Bxc6 bxc6 22.Nxe5[/font] is only insignificantly different from [font color="darkred"]the quoted game.[/font]

[font color="darkorchid"]17...Nf6 18.Nb4 Nxb4 19.Bxb4 Qd7 20.Rfd1 Kh7 21.Bc3[/font] gives White a target on e5, but the Black's position is good enough to keep him in the game.

[font color="#C08000"]b) 14...Nxf2 15.Rxf2 fxe4 16.Be3 exf3 17.Rxf3[/font] remains equal.

If [font color="darkred"]a) 11...Bf6 12.Bxf6 Nxf6[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]13.exf5 Bxf5 14.d5 Ne7[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]15.Ng5 Qc8 16.Bd3 Bxd3 17.Qxd3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]17...Nh5 18.Ne2 Ng7 19.f4 Qf5 20.Qe3 Qc2 21.Nc3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Movsesian-B. Socko, Op, Cappelle-la-Grande, 1998).
If [font color="magenta"]17...Qf5 18.Qd2 c6 19.f4[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]19...e4!? 20.dxc6 Nxc6 21.Qxd6[/font] gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Movsesian-Kasimdzhanov, Op, Dordrecht, 1999).
[font color="darkorange"]19...cxd5 20.cxd5 exf4 21.Ne6[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

If [font color="burgundy"]15.Qd2 Kg7 16.Nh4 Bd7 17.f4 exf4 18.Qxf4 Nf5[/font] gives White a clear advantage in space (Kasparov-Anand, Rpd KO, Geneva, 1996)

If [font color="magenta"]13.dxe5 dxe5[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]14.Qxd8 Rxd8 15.Nd5 Nxe4 16.Nxc7 Rb8 17.Rfd1 Bd7[/font] is equal (Portisch-Kasparov, IT, Linares. 1990).
[font color="darkorange"]14.c5!? Nxe4! 15.Qxd8 Rxd8 16.Nxe4 fxe4 17.Ng5 Rd2[/font] gives Black a clear advantage (Le Quang Liem-Sandipan, Asian ChT, Esfahan, Iran, 2005).

If [font color="darkred"]b) 11...Qd7[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]12.dxe5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]12...Ngxe5 13.exf5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]13...Qxf5 14.Qd2 Nxf3+ 15.Bxf3 Bxc3 16.Bd5+ Be6[/font] is equal (Kiriakov-Pokazanjev, Russian Ch HL, Novkuznetsk, 2008).
[font color="purple"]13...gxf5?! 14.Nd5! Qf7 15.Nxe5 dxe5 16.Bh5 Qd7 17.b4[/font] gives White a strong advantage (Portisch-Stellwagen, IT, Malmö, 2008).

[font color="darkorange"]12...fxe4 13.Nxe4 Ngxe5 14.Nxe5 Nxe5 15.Qc1 Qf7[/font] is equal (Portisch-Hereise, ZCC Bicentennial, Zürich, 2009).

[font color="magenta"]12.exf5 exd4 13.Nb5 Rxf5 14.Bc1 Rf8 15.Nbxd4 Nge5[/font] is equal (Saric-B. G. Smith, Op, Zagreb, 2012).

10...g5 11.Bg3 Nh6 12.dxe5

If [font color="red"]12.d5 Ne7 13.Nd2[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]13...Ng6 14.b4 Nf4 15.c5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]15...f5 16.exf5 Nxf5 17.Nde4 Nd4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]18.Bg4!?[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]18...Bxg4!?[/font] (Black is overanxious to trade his good Bishop; he should postpone and see if White will take on c8 instead) [font color="red"]19.Qxg4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]19...h5 20.Qd1 g4 21.Bxf4 exf4[/font] gives Black a clear kingside edge while White has the advantage on the opposite wing (Le Quang Liem-Nguyen Ngoc Phung, Vietnamese Ch Prelim, Hue, 2005).
[font color="burgundy"]19...Nf3+ 20.Kh1 Nd4 21.cxd6 cxd6 22.h4 gxh4 23.Bxh4[/font] offers equal chances (R. Rodriguez-Ye Juangchuan, Op, Manila, 1989).

If [font color="darkred"]18...dxc5![/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]19.bxc5 Nxd5 20.Nxd5 Qxd5 21.Nxg5 e4[/font] leaves Black slightly better.
[font color="magenta"]19.Bxc8 Rxc8 20.Nxc5 Nxd5[/font] leaves Black slightly better.

[font color="burgundy"]18.Bc4 a5 19.bxa5 Rxa5 20.cxd6 cxd6 21.Rb1[/font] continues to give Black a slight edge.

[font color="#C08000"]15...a5[/font] (Black attempts to counter White's queenside advance, dropping his own kingside incusion to do so) [font color="#C08000"]16.cxd6 cxd6 17.b5 f5 18.f3 Bd7 19.Rc1[/font] gives White a better center; Black has considerable more space on the kingside (Hessler-Nemet, Op, Biel, 2005).

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

[font color="darkred"]14...Nhxf5 15.Bh5 Nd4 16.Nde4 Nef5 17.c5 dxc5 18.Nxc5[/font] is equal (Kadimova-Topel, Euro ChTW, Crete, 2007).
[font color="magenta"]14...Bxf5 15.c5 Ng6 16.cxd6 cxd6 17.Nc4 Nf4 18.Re1[/font] leaves White slightly better (Hracek-J. Polgar, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).

12...fxe5

If [font color="red"]12...dxe5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]13.c5 g4 14.Nh4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]14...Be6 15.Qa4 Qd4 16.Qb5 Qb4 17.f4 gxf3 18.Nxf3[/font] is equal (Ivanchuk-Radjabov, Rpd Op, Odessa, 2007).
[font color="magenta"]14...Nd4 15.Bc4+ Kh8 16.Re1 c6 17.Ne2 Ne6 18.b4[/font] is equal (Kadimova-Ohme, Euro ChW, Dresden, 2007).

[font color="darkred"]13.h3 Qxd1 14.Rfxd1 g4 15.hxg4 Bxg4 16.Rd2 Rad8 17.Nd5[/font] is equal (Javakhishvili-Zawadzka, OlW, Dresden, 2008).

13.h3 Kh8 (N)

If [font color="red"]13...Nf7 14.Nh2[/font] then:

[font color="red"]14...Nh8 15.Qd5+ Rf7!? 16.c5!? Nd4 17.Bg4 Ng6 18.cxd6[/font] is equal (Krysa-Michailov, Pan Am Jr Ch, 2009).
[font color="darkred"]14...Nd4 15.Bg4 Nh8 16.Nb5 Ng6 17.Bxc8 Qxc8 18.Nxd4 exd4 19.Nf3[/font] is equal (Golod-Xu Haizhou, Op, Toronto, 2011).

14.c5

White stands slightly better.

14...g4!?

Of course, this advance is somewhat risky. Black has King safety issues, but he is attempting to put a few chinks in White's castle wall.
[font color="red"]14...dxc5 15.Qxd8 Rxd8 16.Nxg5 Nd4 17.Rad1 Bd7 18.Bh4[/font] continues to give White a slight edge.

[center]BLACK: Arkadij Naiditsch[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Daniel Fridman[/center][center]Position after 14...g5g4[/center]

15.hxg4!

White takes a small advantage in space.
[font color="red"]15.Bh4!? Bf6! 16.Bxf6+ Rxf6 17.hxg4 Bxg4[/font] is equal.

15...Bxg4 16.cxd6 cxd6

White has a small advantage in space and fewer pawn weaknesses.

17.Nd2 Bc8

[font color="red"]17...Qd7 18.Nb5 Rad8 19.Nc3 Rc8 20.Bxg4 Nxg4 21.Nf3[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.

18.Nc4 Nd4 19.Ne3 Nf7

[font color="red"]19...Be6 20.b3 Rc8 21.Bc4 Qe8 22.Rc1 Bxc4 23.bxc4[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.

20.Nc2!? Ng5 21.Bd3!?

The Bishop interferes with the Queen's pressure on the backward pawn at d6.
Better is [font color="red"]21.Qd3 Nxc2 22.Qxc2 Ne6 23.Qd3 a6 24.Qd2[/font] when White continues to enjoy a small advantage in space.

[center]BLACK: Arkadij Naiditsch[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Daniel Fridman[/center][center]Position after 21.Be2d3[/center]

21...Ndf3+!!

The sacrifice levels game.
If [font color="red"]21...Nge6!?[/font] then:

[font color="red"]22.Nxd4! Nxd4 23.Nb5 Nxb5 24.Bxb5 Be6 25.Ba4[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.
[font color="darkred"]22.Bc4!? Qg5! 23.Qc1 Qg6 24.Qd1 Nc5 25.Be2 b6[/font] is equal.

22.gxf3 Qd7

If [font color="red"]22...Nxf3+ 23.Kg2 Nh4+[/font] then:

[font color="red"]24.Kg1 Nf3+ 25.Kg2 etc.[/font] draws.
[font color="darkred"]24.Kh1 Qd7 25.Ne1 Qh3+ 26.Kg1 Rf6! 27.Be2 Be6[/font] is equal

23.Be2

[font color="red"]23.Ne1 Rf6 24.Qc1 Nh3+ 25.Kh2 Rh6 26.Rh1 Nxf2+[/font] is equal.

23...Rf6 24.Nd5 Rh6 25.f4 Nh3+

[font color="red"]25...Nxe4!? 26.Bf3! Nxg3 27.fxg3 Qh3 28.Kf2 Qh2+ 29.Bg2[/font] leaves Black with only a pawn for a minor piece while his attack has lost its strength.

26.Kg2 exf4 27.Bh2?!

White needs to bring his pieces from the center to shield the King from Black's coming onslaught.
If [font color="red"]27.Nd4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]27...Qe8 28.Qd3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]28...Be5 29.Rac1 Bd7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]30.Nc7 Qg8 31.Nxa8 fxg3 32.fxg3 Rg6 33.Rc3 Nf4+[/font] remains equal.
[font color="burgundy"]30.Rc7 fxg3 31.fxg3 Bxg3 32.Rxd7 Be5 33.Bg4 Qg6[/font] gives White a slight advantage.

[font color="#C08000"]28...Qe5 29.Nf3 Qh5 30.Nh4 Qe5 31.Nf3 Qh5[/font] invites a draw by repetition.

If [font color="darkred"]27...Qf7[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]28.Rc1 fxg3 29.fxg3 Nf2 30.Rxf2 Rh2+ 31.Kxh2 Qxf2+[/font] is equal.
[font color="magenta"]28.Qd3 Bd7 29.Rac1 fxg3 30.fxg3 Nf2[/font] is equal.

[center]BLACK: Arkadij Naiditsch[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Daniel Fridman[/center][center]Position after 27.Bg3h2[/center]

27...f3+!!

The pawn sacrifice gives Black a strong initiative.
If [font color="red"]27...Qd8![/font] then:

[font color="red"]28.Ne1 Qg5+ 29.Kh1 Qh4 30.Nf3 Nxf2+ 31.Rxf2 Qxf2[/font] gives Black a ston attack with mating threats.
If [font color="darkred"]28.Nd4 Qg5+ 29.Kh1 Qh4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]30.Nf3 Nxf2+ 31.Rxf2 Qxf2 32.Qf1 Qg3 33.Qg2 Be6[/font] gives Black a strong game with threats to win material.
[font color="magenta"]30.Nf5?[/font] proves disastrous after [font color="magenta"]30...Bxf5 31.exf5 Ng5![/font when White must surrender a truckload of material in order to avert immediate mate.

28.Bxf3 Ng5 29.Nf4 Rxh2+ 30.Kxh2 Be5

If [font color="red"]30...Qf7 31.Ng6+ Qxg6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]32.Bh5 Qe6 33.Bg4 Qxg4 34.Qxg4 Bxg4 35.f4 Nxe4[/font] gives Black two minor pieces and a pawn for a Rook; White's King is out in the open.
If [font color="darkred"]32.Bg4? Nf3+! 33.Qxf3 Be5+[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]34.Qg3[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkred"]34...Bxg3+ 35.fxg3 Bxg4.[/font]
If [font color="magenta"]34.Kg1 Bxg4 35.Qg2 Bh2+[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]36.Kh1 Qh5 37.f4 Rg8 38.Rf2 Bg3+ 39.Kg1 Bh3[/font] leads to mate.
[font color="darkorange"]36.Qxh2 Bf3+[/font] leads to mate.

31.Kg2 Bxf4?!

Black stumbles on his way to the finish line.
[font color="red"]31...Qf7! 32.Rh1 Qxf4 33.Qd3 Bd7 34.Qe3 Qf6 35.Be2[/font] gives Black two pieces for a Rook and menacing activity in the neighborhood of the enemy King.

32.Rh1!

Black's strong advantage has vanished. He is down by the exchange but still has an overall small advantage thanks to his activity in the vacinity of the White King and a passed pawn that is more mobile than White's passer in the f-file.

32...Qg7 33.Kf1 Be6!?

Black misses the opportunity to throw a net around White's King and force White to return the exchange.
If [font color="red"]33...Bh3+ 34.Rxh3 Nxh3 35.Bg2 Ng5 36.Nd4 Rg8[/font] continues to give Black a small advantage with a passed pawn and more actvity.
Not sacrificing the exchange with [font color="darkred"]34.Ke1?[/font] proves penny wise and pound foolish after [font color="darkred"]34...Re8! 35.a4 Nxe4[/font] when:

If [font color="darkred"]36.Qe2 d5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]37.Rd1 Bg2 38.Rg1 Bxf3 39.Rxg7 Bxe2 40.Kxe2 Kxg7[/font] leaves Black with an extra piece.
[font color="darkorange"]37.Bh5[/font] loses quickly after [font color="darkorange"]37...Re5 38.Rd1 Nxf2.[/font]

No better is [font color="magenta"]36.Ne3 Nxf2 37.Rxh3 Nxd1 38.Rxd1 Bxe3 39.Rd3 Qg1+.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Arkadij Naiditsch[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Daniel Fridman[/center][center]Position after 33...Bc8e6[/center]

34.Nd4!?

White fails to capitalize on Black's inaccuracy and drops a pawn.
If [font color="red"]34.Bg4! Bc4+ 35.Be2 Nxe4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]
[center]Analysis Diagram[/center]
[center]BLACK: Arkadij Naiditsch[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Daniel Fridman[/center][center]Position after 35...Ng5e4:p (Analysis)[/center]
[/font]

[font color="red"]36.Qd4![/font] (White's ability to play this move is the critical difference between this variation and the text position) [font color="red"]36...Nd2+ 37.Ke1 Qxd4 38.Nxd4 Re8[/font] is equal.
If [font color="darkred"]36.Bxc4??[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkred"]36...Nd2+! 37.Ke1 Re8+ 38.Ne3 Nxc4.[/font]

34...Bc4+ 35.Be2 Nxe4 36.Bxc4?

This seems like a reflexive move to restore material balance, but a Zwischenzug is needed to make the move work.
If [font color="red"]36.Rg1 Qf6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]37.Nf3! Qxb2 38.Qd4+[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]38...Be5 39.Qxb2 Bxb2[/font] then:

[font color="red"]40.Rb1 Bxe2+ 41.Kxe2 Nc3+ 42.Kd3 Nxb1 43.Rxb1 Rf8[/font] gives Black a clear advantage with two extra pawns, but White has counterplay.
[font color="burgundy"]40.Re1 Bxa2 41.Rg4 Bd5 42.Rd1 Bc6[/font] gives Black a material advantage, but for the moment White's King is safe.

If [font color="darkred"]38...Qxd4 39.Nxd4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]39...Bd5 40.Rd1 Rf8 41.Rd3 Bxa2 42.Rg4 Bg8[/font] gives Black a material advantage; every pawn in the position is a passed pawn.
[font color="magenta"]39...Be5?! 40.Bxc4! Nd2+ 41.Ke2 Nxc4 42.Rac1 d5 43.Nf3[/font] gives White a slight advantage.

[font color="darkorchid"]37.Bxc4?[/font] still proves to be a dud after [font color="darkorchid"]37...Nd2+ 38.Ke1 Qxd4 39.Qe2 Qxc4 40.Qxc4 Nxc4[/font] when Black has two active minor pieces and a pawn for a Rook.

Better than the text, but hadly satisfactory, is [font color="blue"]36.Nf3?! Nxf2![/font] when:

[font color="blue"]37.Qd4 Nxh1 38.Qxg7+ Kxg7 39.Bxc4 Ng3+ 40.Kg2 Nf5[/font] leaves White's propects for survival grim.
If [font color="darkblue"]37.Kxf2? Qg3+ 38.Kf1 Qxf3+[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]39.Ke1[/font] then [font color="darkrblue"]39...Qxh1+ 40.Kf2 Qh2+ 41.Kf3 Qg3+ 42.Ke4 Qe3+ 43.Kf5 Be6+ 44.Kf6 Bg5#.[/font]
If [font color="dodgerblue"]39.Kg1[/font] then [font color="dodgerblue"]39...Rg8#.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Arkadij Naiditsch[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Daniel Fridman[/center][center]Position after 36.Be2c4:N[/center]

36...Nd2+!

Suddenly, White is toast.

37.Ke2

White would provide a more stubborn defense after [font color="red"]37.Ke1 Qxd4 38.Qh5 h6 39.Qe2 Qxc4 40.Qxc4 Nxc4.[/font]

37...d5 38.Qc2 Re8+ 39.Kd1 Nxc4 40.Qc3

If [font color="red"]40.Ne2[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]40...Nxb2+ 41.Ke1 Nd3+ 42.Qxd3 Qxa1+.[/font]

40...Re4 41.Nf5

If [font color="red"]41.Ne6 Qxc3 42.bxc3 Nb2+ 43.Kc2 Re2+ 44.Kb3 Nc4[/font] (all forced) then:

If [font color="red"]45.Rab1[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]45...Rxe6 46.Rh4 Rb6+ 47.Kc2 Na3+.[/font]
If [font color="darkred"]45.Nxf4[/font] then [font color="darkred"]45...Rb2+ 46.Ka4 b5#.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Arkadij Naiditsch[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Daniel Fridman[/center][center]Position after 41.Nd4f5[/center]

41...Nxb2+!

Black's mastery of the dark squares allows him to dictate a series of forced moves. The end is in sight.

42.Kc2 Re2+ 43.Kb3 Qxc3+ 44.Kxc3 Be5+ 45.Nd4

[font color="red"]45.Kb4 Nd3+ 46.Kb3 Nc5+ 47.Kb4 Na6+ 48.Kb3 Bxa1[/font] leaves Black three pawns to the good

45...Re4 0-1

[font color="red"]46.Kxb2 Bxd4+ 47.Kc2 Bxa1 48.Rxa1 Re2+ 49.Kd3 Rxf2[/font] leaves Black three pawns up.
Herr Fridman resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

3. 28th International Open, Reykjavik

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Reply #1)

Fri Mar 1, 2013, 03:19 PM

Mar 2013

[center][/center]

[center]Reykjavik[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Arndís Þórarinsdóttir in Wikipedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_pond.jpg)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

5. So - Dziuba, Round 9

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Reply #3)

Fri Mar 1, 2013, 04:08 PM

Mar 2013

Last edited Fri Mar 1, 2013, 08:25 PM - Edit history (1)

[center][/center]

[center]Wesley So[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Stefan64 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64) from Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:WesleySo0810.jpg)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Wesley So - Marcin Dziuba
28th International Open, Round 9
Reykjavik, 26 February 2013

Caro-Kann Game: Short Opening

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 Ne7 6.0-0 c5

For a more complete survey of the Short Opening, see N. Kosintseva-Danielian, Grand Prix W 2011/12, Jermuk, 2012.
If [font color="red"]6...Nd7[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]7.Nh4 Bg6 8.Nd2 c5 9.c3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]9...Nc6 10.Nxg6 hxg6 11.Nf3 Be7 12.Be3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]12...a6 13.g3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]13...g5 14.Kg2 cxd4 15.cxd4 Nf8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]16.a3 f6 17.h3 Qd7 18.b4 Bd8 19.Rc1[/font] gives White the advantage in space (I. Smirin-Li Wenliang, IT, Beijing, 1996).
[font color="burgundy"]16.Rc1 f6 17.h3 Qd7 18.Rc3 Bd8 19.a3[/font] gives White stronger pawns and more freedom (Khalifman-Lobron, IT, Munich, 1992).

[font color="#C08000"]13...b5 14.h4 Nb6 15.b3 c4 16.Kg2 a5 17.Nd2[/font] gives White a better center and a little bit better pawn structure (Efimenko-E. L'Ami, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).

If [font color="darkred"]12...Rc8 13.g3 a6 14.h4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]14...b5!? 15.a4 Qb6 16.axb5 axb5 17.Kg2 c4 18.Ng5[/font] gives White more active pieces and a better center (Carlsen-Wang Hao, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2011).
[font color="darkred"]14...cxd4 15.cxd4 0-0 16.Rc1 Qb6 17.Rc3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

If [font color="darkred"]9...cxd4 10.cxd4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]10...Nc6 11.Nxg6 hxg6 12.Nf3 Be7 13.Be3 Qb6 14.Rb1[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]14...Rc8 15.b4 0-0 16.a3 a6 17.Qd3 Qa7 18.h4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Lutz-Grabarczyk, Euro ChT, Pula, 1997).
[font color="magenta"]14...a6 15.g3 0-0 16.h4 Qa5 17.Bd2 Qb6 18.Bc3[/font] gives White the better center and more freedom; the Bishop pair is of scant advantage in this position (Rosito-Martínez, Op, Buenos Aires, 1995).

If [font color="darkred"]10...Nf5 11.Nxg6 hxg6 12.Nf3 Be7[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]13.Bd3 Nb8 14.Bd2 Nc6 15.Bc3 a6 16.b3[/font] is equal (Anand-Karpov, IT, Brussels, 1991).
[font color="magenta"]13.g3 Qb6 14.h4 Nb8 15.b3 Nc6 16.Bb2 0-0-0[/font] is equal (Anagnostopoulos-Yevseev, Op, Parubice, 1997).

If [font color="darkred"]7.Nbd2 h6 8.Nb3 Bh7[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]9.Bd2 Ng6 10.Rc1[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]10...Be7 11.c4 dxc4 12.Bxc4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]12...0-0 13.g3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]13...Re8 14.Re1 Bf8 15.Na5 Rb8 16.b4 Ne7 17.Bf1 Nd5 18.a3 N7b6[/font] is equal (Malakhov-Jobava, Euro ChT, Kallithea, 2008).
[font color="burgundy"]13...Nh4 14.Nxh4 Bxh4 15.g3 Bg5 16.Nxg6 hxg6 17.f4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Leko-Akopian, Asrian Mem Rapid, Yerevan, 2008).

[font color="darkred"]12...Bh5 13.Nf4 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 14.g3 Qb6 15.Kg2 Nb8 16.Nxg6 fxg6 17.Qb3 Bd8[/font] gives Black a slight advantage in space (Ni Hua-Tologontegin, Asian Games TT, Guangzhou, 2010).

If [font color="magenta"]10...Be7 11.Nd3[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]11...Bh5 12.Nf4 Bxf3 13.Bxf3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (N. Kosintseva-Schuurman, Euro ChTW, Crete, 2007).
[font color="darkorange"]11...cxd4 12.cxd4[/font] transposes into [font color="darkred"]Ni Hua-Tologontegin,[/font] above.

If [font color="magenta"]9.Re1 Be7 10.Nf1 0-0[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]11.Ne3 Qb6 12.Bd3 Nxe3 13.Rxe3 c5 14.Bxg6 hxg6[/font] is equal (Heinemann-Dautov, Bundesliga 1112, Berlin, 2012).
[font color="darkorange"]11.Ng3 c5 12.Bd3 Nxg3 13.hxg3 cxd4 14.Bxg6 fxg6 15.Nxd4[/font] is equal (Ni Hua-Jaracz, Dos Hermanas I-net, 2006).

7.c4 Nbc6 8.Na3 dxc4

If [font color="red"]8...a6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]9.dxc5 d4 10.Qa4 Ng6 11.Rd1[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]11...d3 12.Be3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]12...Be7 13.Nc2 0-0 14.Bxd3 Bxd3 15.Nce1[/font] then:

[font color="red"]15...Ncxe5!? 16.Nxe5 Nxe5 17.Nxd3 Nxd3 18.Qa3[/font] gives White a weak extra pawn (Molner-Valgmae, Op, Gibraltar, 2012).
[font color="burgundy"]15...Qe8 16.Nxd3 Ncxe5 17.Qxe8 Nxf3+ 18.gxf3 Rfxe8 19.f4[/font] gives White an extra pawn, but Black has better pawns.

If [font color="darkred"]12...Qd7 13.b4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]13...Be7 14.Ne1 Ngxe5 15.b5 Nd4 16.Bxd4 Qxd4 17.bxa6+[/font] is equal (Edouard-Rianzantsev, Frencgh ChT, Mulhouse, 2011).
[font color="magenta"]13...Rd8 14.Ne1 Ncxe5 15.Qb3 Be7 16.Nac2 0-0 17.Bf1[/font] is equal.

[font color="#C08000"]11...Bxc5 12.b4 Ba7 13.c5 0-0 14.Nc4 Be4 15.Be3[/font] is equal (Leko-Roiz, World ChT, Ningbo, 2011).

[font color="darkorchid"]9.cxd5 Nxd5 10.Bg5 Qd7 11.dxc5 h6 12.Bh4 Nf4[/font] gives Black better minor pieces (Almasi-Ponomariov, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).

9.Nxc4 Nd5 10.Bg5 Qd7

If [font color="red"]10...Qc7 11.Ne3 Be4 12.Rc1 h6 13.Bh4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]13...cxd4?! 14.Nxd4![/font] then:

[font color="red"]14...Qxe5 15.Nxc6 bxc6 16.Nc4 Qc7 17.Qd4[/font] gives White a healthy advantage in space (And. Volokitin-Karpov, Rpd IT, Cap d'Agde, 2006).
[font color="magenta"]14...Nb6 15.Nb5 Qb8 16.Nc4 Nxc4 17.Bxc4 a6 18.Nd6+[/font] forces the King to remain in the center where it is being hit from all directions.

[font color="darkred"]13...Nf4 14.Nc4 cxd4 15.Bg3 Nxe2+ 16.Qxe2 Bxf3 17.Qxf3 Rc8[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and White the advantage in space; Black's d-pawn is loose.

11.Rc1 h6 12.Be3 b5

Black commits to a pawn sacrifice.
If [font color="red"]12...cxd4 13.Nxd4 Nxd4 14.Bxd4 Be7 15.Bf3[/font] gives White a slight edge with better development (Bologan-Erenburg, Euro Ch, Istanbul, 2003).

13.Na3

[font color="red"]13.Nd6+ Bxd6 14.exd6 c4 15.a4 a6 16.axb5 axb5[/font] gives Black a slight advantage from his queenside majority (Cheparinov-Bologan, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2009).

13...a6 14.dxc5

In return for the pawn, Black has better minor pieces and space on the queenside; White's Knight at a3 will take at least two moves to recover and again become something resembling an effective piece.

14...Be4

[font color="red"]14...Be7 15.Nc2 Nxe3!? 16.Nxe3 Be4 17.a4[/font] transposes into the text.

15.Nc2 Nxe3!?

This may be a mistake. White is better developed, yet Black voluntarily opens the center.
If [font color="red"]15...Rc8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]16.Ncd4 Ncb4 17.a3 Nxe3 18.fxe3 Nd5 19.c6[/font] gives White a small advantage as the c-pawn will be a bone in Black's throat for a while, but White's center pawns are weak (Houdini).
[font color="darkred"]16.Nce1 Qb7 17.Bd2[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]17...g5 18.h3 Bg7 19.Bd3 Bxf3 20.Nxf3 Nxe5 21.Be4[/font] leaves White, with his passed pawn, calling the tune.
[font color="magenta"]17...Qa7 18.a4 Rb8 19.axb5 axb5 20.Bd3[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]20...Bxf3 21.Nxf3 Bxc5 22.Qe2 Qb6 23.h3[/font] is equal.
[font color="darkorange"]20...Bxd3?! 21.Nxd3 Ra8 22.Ra1 Qxa1 23.Qxa1 Rxa1 24.Rxa1[/font] gives White an extra pawn, that being the passer at c5.

If [font color="blue"]15...Be7[/font] then:

IIf [font color="blue"]16.Ncd4 Bxf3 17.Nxf3[/font] then:

[font color="blue"]17...Qc7 18.Qd3 Nxe5 19.Nxe5 Qxe5 20.Bd4 Qg5 21.c6[/font] gives White a clear advantage.
[font color="#0080C0"]17...0-0 18.Qd3 Qa7 19.Qe4 Nxe3 20.Qxe3 Rac8 21.a3[/font] gives White an extra pawn, a passed pawn under blockade.

If [font color="darkblue"]16.a4[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]16...bxa4 17.Ncd4 0-0 18.Qxa4 Nxe5 19.Qxd7 Nxd7 20.c6 N7b6 21.Nd2[/font] leaves White standing slightly better (Houdini).
[font color="dodgerblue"]16...Nxe3!? 17.Nxe3[/font] transposes into the text.

[center]BLACK: Marcin Dziuba[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Wesley So[/center][center]Position after 15...Nd5e3:B[/center]

16.Nxe3! Be7!?

[font color="red"]16...Rd8 17.Qb3 Bxf3 18.Bxf3 Nxe5 19.Bh5 Be7 20.Rfd1[/font] gives White only a small advantage.

17.a4

If [font color="red"]17.Qxd7+! Kxd7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]18.Nd2 Bg6 19.Bf3 Rad8 20.Bxc6+ Kxc6 21.Nb3[/font] gives White an extra pawn, the passer at c5.[/li[
[font color="darkred"]18.Rfd1+!? Kc7 19.Nd2 Bg6 20.Bf3 Nd4! 21.Kf1 Nxf3 22.gxf3[/font] is equal; White has an extra pawn, but Black's superior pawn structure levels the situation as the endgame approaches,

17...Qb7 18.Nd2 (N)

If [font color="red"]18.axb5 axb5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]19.Nd2 Bg6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]20.Nb3!? Rd8 21.Qe1 Nxe5[/font] is equal (Bologan-Antoniewski, Bundesliga 1112, Meißen, 2012).
If [font color="darkred"]20.Bf3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]20...0-0 21.Ne4 Bxe4 22.Bxe4 Qc7 23.Bxc6 Qxc6 24.Qe1[/font] is a small advantage for White; Black recovers the pawn with 24...Bxc5, but self-pins the Bishop.
[font color="magenta"]20...Rd8 21.Re1 Qc7 22.Bxc6+ Qxc6 23.Qe2 0-0 24.Red1[/font] gives White a small advantage.

[font color="darkorchid"]19.Qb3 Rb8 20.Qc3 Qc7 21.Nd4 b4 22.Qc4[/font] draw. (Motylev-Riazantsev, IT, Poikovsky, 2010).

18...Rd8

If [font color="red"]18...Bg6 19.axb5 axb5 20.Bf3 0-0[/font] then:

[font color="red"]21.Ne4 Bxe4 22.Bxe4 Qc7 23.Qe1[/font] gives White an extra pawn that Black has handily blockaded.
If [font color="darkred"]21.Be4 Bxe4 22.Nxe4 Nxe5 23.Nd6 Qc6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]24.Qd4 Bf6 25.Qd2 Ra4 26.b4 Be7 27.Rfd1 Ng6[/font] is equal, but tense.
[font color="magenta"]24.b4?![/font] drops a pawn to [font color="magenta"]24...Rfd8! 25.Qd4 Bxd6 26.cxd6 Qxd6 27.Qxd6 Rxd6.[/font]

19.axb5 axb5

[center]BLACK: Marcin Dziuba[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Wesley So[/center][center]Position after 19...ab5:p[/center]

20.Nxe4!!

White uncorks a stunning Queen sacrifice.

20...Rxd1 21.Rfxd1 Nxe5 22.c6

For the Queen, White has a Rook, a Knight and an advanced passed pawn.

22...Qc7 23.Bxb5!?

White is being too anxious to take the pawn.
Better is [font color="red"]23.Nc3![/font] (with the idea of taking with the Knight in order to force the Black Queen to give way) [font color="red"]23...0-0 24.Nxb5[/font] when:

[font color="red"]24...Qb6 25.c7 Rc8 26.Rc2 Kf8 27.Rcd2[/font] leaves Black defending against the queening of the pawn.
If [font color="darkred"]24...Qb8?[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]25.c7 Qb7 26.Nd6.[/font]

23...0-0 24.Nc4 Bd8 25.Nc5

[font color="red"]25.g3 Qb8 26.Ba4 Nxc4 27.Rxc4 Bb6 28.Nc3[/font] gives White the advanced passer along with more space and freedom; Black's Bishop cannot move forward along the a7/g1 diagonal.

25...Nxc4 26.Rxc4 Qe5 27.Rc2 Bc7?!

This move isn't all that bad as it threatens to win a pawn at h2, but Black needs threats that can generate more threats.
[font color="red"]27...Bb6 28.b4 Rc8 29.g3 Qg5 30.Ra1 Qe5 31.Rd1[/font] leaves White slightly better.

28.g3!

White defends against snap mates and other threats.

28...Rb8?

Black attacks a loose piece, but it's just going to move anyway.
If [font color="red"]28...h5 29.Bf1 Ra8 30.b4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]30...h4 31.Na6 Bb6 32.c7 hxg3 33.hxg3 Qxg3+ 34.Bg2[/font] gives White a small advantage; Black's Bishop cannot move.
[font color="darkred"]30...Bb6? 31.Nd7 Qe4 32.Nxb6 Qxc2 33.Nxa8 Qxc6 34.Rd8+[/font] gives White a decisive material advantage.

[center]BLACK: Marcin Dziuba[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Wesley So[/center][center]Position after 28...Rf8b8[/center]

29.Ba4?

White misses the move that would put the game away.
If [font color="red"]29.Bf1![/font] then:

If [font color="red"]29...Qf5 30.Rdd2[/font] then:

[font color="red"]30...Ba5 31.c7 Ra8 32.Nb3 Rc8 33.Nxa5 Qxa5 34.b4[/font] gives White excellent winning opportunities.
If [font color="burgundy"]30...Rc8?[/font] then White wins after [font color="burgundy"]31.b4 h5 32.Na6 Bb6 33.c7 Qe4 34.b5.[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]29...Rc8 30.b4 h5 31.b5 Qf5 32.Rdc1[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]32...Qf3 33.Ra1 g6 34.Nd7 Kg7 35.Rb1[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]35...h4[/font] then after [font color="darkred"]36.Bg2 Qf5 37.Rcb2 hxg3 38.hxg3 e5 39.b6[/font] White wins.
If [font color="darkorange"]35...e5[/font] then after [font color="darkorange"]36.b6 Bxb6 37.Rxb6 Qd1 38.Rcb2 Qd6 39.R2b5[/font] White gets a decisive material advantage from exchanges on c6.

If [font color="magenta"]32...Qd5[/font] then White queens after [font color="magenta"]33.Rb1 Bb6 34.Na4 Ba5 35.b6 Rxc6 36.b7.[/font]

29...Ra8!?

Black gets a huge reprive, but he fails to equalize.
If [font color="red"]29...Rb4! 30.Bb3 g5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]31.Ra1 Rb5 32.Rac1 Kg7 33.Nd7 Qe4 34.Rc3 Qd4[/font] is equal.
[font color="darkred"]31.Nd3 Qd6 32.Rc3 Rd4 33.Bc2 e5 34.Ra1 Kg7[/font] is equal.

30.b4!

White has a small advantage, and he's lucky to have it.

30...Qf5 31.Rdc1 h5 32.Bb5 Bb6

If [font color="red"]32...h4 33.Bd3 Qg4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]34.Bf1 Qxb4 35.Na6 Qb6 36.Nxc7 Qxc7 37.Rd2 Rc8[/font] is equal.
[font color="darkred"]34.Rc4 Qg5 35.Ne4 Qh6 36.Kg2 f5 37.Nc5 f4[/font] is equal.

33.Bf1

If [font color="red"]33.Bd3 Qd5 34.Ba6 Bc7 35.Bf1[/font] then:

[font color="red"]35...h4 36.Bg2 Qd4 37.b5 Qe5 38.Bf1 hxg3 39.hxg3[/font] leaves White a pawn to the good.
[font color="darkred"]35...Qg5?! 36.Na6 Bb6 37.c7 Rc8 38.Rc6 Qd2 39.Rxb6[/font] leaves White a pawn to the good.

33...h4 34.Nd7

[center]BLACK: Marcin Dziuba[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Wesley So[/center][center]Position after 34.Nc5d7[/center]

34...Bd4

If [font color="red"]34...Bc7[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]35.b5 hxg3 36.hxg3 Qg5 37.b6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]37...Bxg3!![/font] then after [font color="red"]38.fxg3 Qxg3+ 39.Bg2 Qe3+ 40.Kh1 Qh6+[/font] the White King never escapes check.
[font color="magenta"]37...Qd8? 38.Rb2 Rc8 39.bxc7 Qxc7 40.Rb8 Rxb8 41.Nxb8[/font] gives White a decisive material advantage.

[font color="darkred"]35.Nc5 Qg5 36.Bg2 Ra3 37.Rb1 Qg6 38.Rcc1 Bb6[/font] is equal.

35.c7 Rc8 36.Rd2 hxg3

If [font color="red"]36...Ba7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]37.Rcc2! Qg6 38.Rd3 Qf5 39.Rdd2 Qg6 40.Ne5 Qg5 41.Kg2[/font] leaves White with a small advantage after Black plays 41...Bb6.
[font color="darkred"]37.Rc4?! hxg3! 38.hxg3 Qf3 39.Nc5 Bb6 40.Bg2 Qf6 41.Nd7 Qa1+ 42.Kh2 Bxc7 43.Rdc2[/font] is equal.
If [font color="magenta"]39...Qf6?[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]40.Rd7! Bb6 41.Rd6 Bxc7 42.Rc6.[/font]

37.hxg3 Qg5?

Black attacks the Rooks, thinking that if White takes on d4 then he skewers one.
If [font color="red"]37...Ba7 38.Rcc2 Qg5 39.Kg2[/font] then:

[font color="red"]39...Bxf2 40.Kxf2 Rxc7 41.Nc5 Ra7 42.Kg2 Ra1 43.Ne4[/font] leaves White with an assortment of pieces that outweigh Black's Queen; White's passed pawn has nothing in its way.
[font color="darkred"]39...Rxc7?! 40.Rxc7! Qxd2 41.Rxa7 Qxb4 42.Rc7 Qe7 43.Rc8+[/font] gives White a material advantage.

[center]BLACK: Marcin Dziuba[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Wesley So[/center][center]Position after 37...Qf5g5[/center]

38.Rxd4!

White's connected queenside passers assure victory.

38...Qxc1 39.Nf6+ Kf8

This may have been a mistake made in time trouble, or it may have been a harikari move.
Black lasts longer after [font color="red"]39...gxf6 40.Rd8+ Kh7 41.Rxc8 Kg7 42.b5 Qc5 43.b6.[/font]

40.Rd8+ Ke7 41.Ng8# 1-0

Buenos noches.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

6. Ding Liren - Eljanov, Round 9

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Reply #3)

Sun Mar 3, 2013, 04:02 PM

Mar 2013

[center][/center]

[center]Pavel Eljanov[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Stefan64 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64) from Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File awel_Eljanow.jpg)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Ding Liren - Pavel Eljanov
28th International Open, Round 9
Reykjavik, 26 February 2013

Slav Queen's Gambit: Chameleon Defense (Tikhi Opening)

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

For a more thorough survey of the Chameleon Defense, see Kramnik-McShane, IT, London, 2012.

5...Bf5 6.Qb3

If [font color="red"]6.Bd3 Bxd3 7.Qxd3 e6 8.0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]8...Be7 9.e4 0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]10.Rd1[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]10...dxe4 11.Nxe4 Nbd7 12.Bf4 Nxe4 13.Qxe4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]13...Re8 14.Rd3 Rc8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]15.Qe2 Qa5 16.Bd2 Qf5 17.h3 h6 18.Rd1 Red8[/font] is equal (Sakaev-Bryzgalin, Russian Ch HL, Tagnarog, 2011).
[font color="burgundy"]15.Rc1 Qa5 16.a3 b5 17.Rdc3 Nf6 18.Qe2[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Bacrot-Erdos, Rpd Op, Mainz, 2006).

[font color="#C08000"]13...Nf6 14.Qc2 Qa5 15.Ne5 Rac8 16.Rd3 b5 17.c5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Dreev-Starostits, Politiken Cup, Helsignør, 2012).

If [font color="darkred"]10...b5 11.c5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]11...dxe4 12.Nxe4 Nxe4 13.Qxe4 Qd5 14.Qxd5 cxd5 15.Bf4[/font] (Kramnik-Morozevich, IT, Dortmund, 2001).
[font color="magenta"]11...a5 12.Bf4 Re8 13.exd5 exd5 14.h3 Nbd7 15.Re1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

If [font color="darkred"]10.Bf4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]10...dxe4 11.Nxe4 Nxe4 12.Qxe4 Nd7 13.Rfe1 Re8 14.Rad1[/font] gives White a clear advantage in space (Dreev-Ramiriz, IT, Univ of Texas at Dallas, 2010).
[font color="magenta"]10...Nbd7 11.cxd5 exd5 12.e5 Ne8 13.Nd2 Nc7 14.Be3[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (I. Sokolov-Vallejo Pons, IT, Pamplona, 2002).

If [font color="darkred"]8...Bb4 9.Bd2 0-0[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]10.Nxd5 Nxd5 11.cxd5 Bxd2 12.Nxd2 exd5 13.b4 Qe7[/font] is equal (O'Connell-Baubarin, Irish Ch, Dublin, 2008).
[font color="magenta"]10.Rfd1 a5 11.a3 Be7 12.e4 dxe4 13.Nxe4 Nbd7 14.Nc3[/font] gives White a clear advantage in space (Bacrot-Rausis, EU Ch, Liverpool, 2008).

6...b5

If [font color="red"]6...Ra7[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]7.a4 e6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]8.a5 Nbd7 9.Be2 Bd6 10.0-0 h6 11.Bd2[/font] then:

[font color="red"]11...Ne4 12.Nxe4 Bxe4 13.Bb4 Bxb4 14.Qxb4[/font] leaves White standing slightly better (Gustafsson-Sebenik, Op, Sarajevo, 2010).
[font color="burgundy"]11...0-0 12.Rfd1 Qe7 13.Be1[/font] is equal (Oms Pallisse-Alonso Rosell, Op, Barcelona, 2012).

If [font color="darkred"]8.Nh4 Be4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]9.a5 Nbd7 10.cxd5 Bxd5 11.Nxd5 cxd5 12.Nf3 Bd6[/font] is equal (Shabalov-Zhang Pengxiang, TM, Shanghai, 2002).
[font color="magenta"]9.cxd5 cxd5 10.f3 Bg6 11.Nxg6 hxg6 12.e4 dxe4[/font] gives Black stronger pawns (Bercys-D. Fernandez, US ChU18, Lindsborg, 2004).

If [font color="darkred"]7.Bd2 e6 8.Nh4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]8...Bg6 9.Nxg6 hxg6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]10.c5 Nbd7 11.Be2 g5 12.0-0-0 Qc7 13.h3[/font] is equal (Kraai-Kamsky, Op, Minneapolis, 2005).
[font color="burgundy"]10.a4 Nbd7 11.g3 Bd6 12.Bg2 g5 13.0-0[/font] is equal (Berczes-A. Smith, Rilton Cup 0607, Stockholm, 2006).

If [font color="magenta"]8...Bg4 9.h3 Bh5 10.g4 Nfd7 11.Ng2 Bg6 12.Nf4[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]12...Bd6 13.Nxg6 hxg6 14.Bg2 Be7 15.Ne2 b5[/font] is equal (Salgado López-Movsesian, Ol, Istanbul, 2012 ).
[font color="burgundy"]12...Be7 13.0-0-0 dxc4 14.Bxc4 b5 15.Bxe6 fxe6 16.Nxe6[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Ponomariov-Riazantsev, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2008).

If [font color="darkorange"]10.cxd5 cxd5 11.Be2 Ne4[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]12.Nxe4 Bxe2 13.Nf6+ Qxf6 14.Kxe2 Nc6[/font] is equal (Houdini).
[font color="purple"]12.Bxh5 Nxd2 13.Kxd2 Qxh4 14.Be2 Nc6[/font] is equal (Houdini).

7.c5

If [font color="red"]7.cxd5 cxd5 8.a4 b4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]9.Qxb4 Nc6 10.Qc5 Na5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]11.Qa3 e6 12.Qa2 Nc6 13.a5 Nb4 14.Qa4+ Nd7[/font] is equal (Barmidze-Simon, Op, Zürich, 2012).
[font color="magenta"]11.Bxa6?! Rxa6 12.Qb5+ Rc6 13.Ne5 Bd7 14.Nxd7 Nxd7 15.Bd2[/font] gives White only two pawns for a Knight, but she has more activity and superior development in compensation (Radziewicz Rajlich-Konoenko, FIDE Knock OutW, Ekaterinburg, 2006).

[font color="darkred"]9.Ne2 e6 10.Ng3 Bg6 11.Bd2 Nc6 12.a5 Bd6[/font] is equal (Landa-I. Popov, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2009).

7...a5

If [font color="red"]7...Nbd7 8.a4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]8...g6 9.Qa3 b4 10.Qxb4 Rb8 11.Qa3 a5 12.Bd2 Bg7 13.Rc1[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Van Wely-Svidler, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 2006).
If [font color="darkred"]8...e5 9.Qa3 Rc8[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]10.b4 g6 11.axb5 axb5 12.Nxb5 cxb5 13.Bxb5[/font] gives White two extra pawns and a pin at d7 (Vallejo Pons-Svidler, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 2006).
[font color="magenta"]10.Na2 exd4 11.exd4 Be7 12.Be2 0-0 13.0-0[/font] gives White the advantage in space on the queenside, but he'll make little progress there for a while (Tikkanen-Krantz, Swedish ChT, 2010).

8.Ne5 a4 9.Qd1 g6 10.Bd2 (N)

[font color="red"]10.g4 Be6 11.Bg2 Bg7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]12.f4 Qc8 13.h3 h5 14.g5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]14...Nfd7 15.Nf3 Na6 16.a3 0-0 17.Ne2 Re8[/font] is equal (Lupulescu-Bologan, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2012).
[font color="magenta"]14...Ne4 15.Nxe4 dxe4 16.Qc2 Bxe5 17.fxe5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (David-Bologan, Op, Gibraltar, 2012).

[font color="darkred"]12.0-0!? Qc8 13.g5 Nfd7 14.e4 Nxe5 15.exd5 Bg4[/font] leaves Black slightly better (Kopylov-Sviridova, Polugaevsky Mem, Samara, 2012).

10...Bg7

White has a small advantage in space and should play on the queenside.

[center]BLACK: Pavel Eljanov[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Ding Liren[/center][center]Position after 10...Bf8g7[/center]

11.g4!?

After saying that White whould play on the queenside, this move seems counterintuitive.
White should play on the queenside because:
1. That is the direction his center pawns are pointing;
2. He is already eying Black's weak pawn at c6; and
3. White can sacrifice the Knight for two pawns and then advance his queenside pawns backed by his heavy pieces.
If [font color="red"]11.Nxc6 Nxc6 12.Bxb5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]12...Bd7 13.Nxa4 Na7 14.Be2 Bxa4 15.Qxa4+ Qd7 16.Qc2[/font] gives White a small advantge in space and two passed pawn for the Knight; White should castle and bring his Rooks to the queendise and advance his three connected passers; Black must labor to keep the pawns under restraint.

[font color="darkred"]12...Qc8 13.a3 Qe6 14.0-0 Nd7 15.Bxa4 0-0 16.b4[/font] gives White ab excellent game.

11...Be6!

The game is equal.
More precise than the text is [font color="red"]11...Bd7![/font] (covering the base of the pawn chain) [font color="red"]12.Qf3 Be6 13.Nxc6 Nxc6 14.Bxb5 Rc8 15.h3[/font] with equality.

12.Bg2

[font color="red"]12.Nxc6 Nxc6 13.Bxb5 Qc7 14.f3 h5 15.g5 Nh7[/font] is equal.

12...h5! 13.h3 Qc7 14.f4!?

White sticks to his plan of playing on the kingside, leaving Black to frolich on the opposite wing.
If [font color="red"]14.Qe2[/font] then:

[font color="red"]14...b4 15.Nd1 hxg4 16.hxg4 Rxh1+ 17.Bxh1 Nh7[/font] continues to give Black fair prospects for play on the queenside.
If [font color="darkred"]14...Na6 15.g5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]15...Ne4 16.Nxe4 dxe4 17.f4 Bf5 18.Bc3 Qc8[/font] gives Black the advantage in space; White has fewer pawn weaknesses.
[font color="magenta"]15...Nh7!? 16.e4! Bxe5 17.exd5 Bxd5 18.Nxd5 cxd5 19.Bxd5[/font] is equal.

[center]BLACK: Pavel Eljanov[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Ding Liren[/center][center]Position after 14.f2f4[/center]

14...hxg4

Black has a slight edge.

15.hxg4 Rxh1+ 16.Bxh1 Nbd7 17.g5!?

White weakens f5, making it available to Black's Bishop.
Better is [/font color="red"]17.Bf3 Nxe5 18.fxe5 Nh7 19.Qe2[/font] when:

[font color="red"]19...Ng5 20.Qg2 Nxf3+ 21.Qxf3 Qd7[/font] when Black continues to stand slightly better.
[font color="darkred"]19...a3 20.b3 Ng5 21.Qg2 0-0-0 22.0-0-0 Rh8[/font] still gives White a slight advantage as he shifts his point of entry to the kingside.

17...Nxe5

Black has a clear advantage. He can continue advancing on the queenside and now opens the center for his minor pieces.
[font color="red"]17...Ne4 18.Nxe4 Bxe5 19.fxe5 dxe4 20.Bxe4 a3[/font] leaves Black with a freer game.

18.fxe5 Ng4!?

Black plays aggressively when the position insists on caution. Although he has built an impressive positional advantage, there is as of yet no justification to commence with attack.
Pavel Volodimirovich may have had the same concerns about the text move that we express here. As the daredevil Tal said, "If you wait for Lady Luck to turn up, life becomes very boring.
If [font color="red"]18...Nd7 19.Qe2 a3 20.b3 Bxe5 21.dxe5 Qxe5[/font] continues to give Black more space and freedom; Black threatens 22...b4, winning material.

19.Qf3?

White is almost out of reserve pawn tempi, but he still has better moves than this.
If [font color="red"]19.Qe2 a3 20.b3 Bxe5![/font] then:

[font color="red"]21.0-0-0 Bg7 22.Rf1 b4 23.Nd1 Qb8 24.Rf4 f5[/font] still gives Black a small advantage, but White has halted the advance of Black's queenside and can now think about exchanging Knights and bringing the game to a peaceful conclusion.
[font color="darkred"]21.dxe5?[/font] open the floodgates for Black center and now [font color="darkred"]21...Qxe5! 22.b4 Qg3+ 23.Kd1 Bf5 24.Kc1 Qg1+[/font] wins at least the e-pawn, giving Black connected passers in the center.

[font color="blue"]19.a3[/font] (the only pawn move available to Black in the position) [font color="blue"]19...Bxe5 20.dxe5 Nxe5 21.Qc2 Bg4 22.Bg2 Rd8[/font] still gives White a little wiggle room, but it's going to be difficult to hang on for a draw.
If [font color="#008000"]19.Bf3 Nxe5 20.dxe5 Qxe5[/font] then:

If [font color="#008000"]21.Qe2 a3 22.b4 Qxc3 23.Bxc3 Bxc3+[/font] then:

[font color="#008000"]24.Kd1 Bxa1 25.Bg4 Bxg4 26.Qxg4 Be5 27.Kc2 e6[/font] gives Black a Rook, Bishop and two pawns for the Queen; as long as White can keep his Queen active, he has drawing chances.
[font color="#808000"]24.Kf2 Bxa1 25.Bg4 Bxg4 26.Qxg4 Be5 27.Ke2 e6[/font] is not appreciably different from the [font color="#008000"]main line.[/font]

[font color="#40C040"]21.a3?[/font] then Black wins after [font color="#40C040"]21...Qg3+! 22.Kf1 Bh3+ 23.Ke2 Qh2+.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Pavel Eljanov[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Ding Liren[/center][center]Position after 19.Qd1f3[/center]

19...Nxe5!!

The Knight sacrifice seals the deal.
[font color="red"]19...Bxe5?! 20.dxe5! Nxe5 21.Qf1 b4 22.Nd1 Bf5 23.Nf2[/font] still leaves Black dominating the game, but his queenside looks less formidable than it did earlier; White has fait hopes of survival.

20.dxe5 Qxe5 21.Qf4

No better is [font color="red"]21.e4 a3 22.b4 dxe4 23.Qe3 Bg4 24.Rd1 Qh2[/font] when Black wins more material.

21...Qxf4! 22.exf4 b4 23.Ne2

If [font color="red"]23.Rb1 Bf5 24.Rc1 Bxc3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]25.bxc3 b3![/font] then:

[font color="red"]26.c4 b2 27.cxd5 cxd5 28.Bxd5 Rc8 29.c6 bxc1Q+[/font] gives Black a permanent waterial advantage.
If [font color="burgundy"]26.axb3[/font] then Black wins after [font color="burgundy"]26...axb3 27.Kf2 b2 28.Re1 Ra1.[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]25.Bxc3 bxc3 26.Rxc3 Rb8[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]27.Bf3 Rxb2 28.Ra3 Bc2 29.Be2 e6 30.Ba6 Kd8[/font] gives Black two extra pawns.
[font color="magenta"]27.b3 Rb4 28.Bf3 Rxf4 29.Bd1 axb3 30.axb3 Rb4[/font] leaves Black two pawns to the good.

23...a3

After [font color="red"]24.Bxb4 axb2 25.Rd1 Bf5[/font] the b-pawn triumphs.
Ding Xiangsian resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

7. Amin - Li Wenliang, Round 6

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Reply #3)

Sun Mar 3, 2013, 04:03 PM

Mar 2013

Egyptian grandmaster Bassem Amin was the world junior champion in 2008.
[center][/center]

[center]Bassem Amin[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Andreas Kontokanis in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bassem_Amin.jpg) modified from flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/8022405@N02/2741862393)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Bassem Amin - Li Wenliang
28th International Open, Round 6
Reykjavik, 23 February 2013

Moorish Game: Horseman Defense (Center Opening/Balogh Variation) (Alekhine Defense)

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Bc4

This move, the Balogh Variation, is not often seen.
For the more common lines of this defense, see Hou Yifan-Dimakiling, Op, Kuala Lampur, 2010.

4...c6 5.Nf3 dxe5 (N)

The players throw away the book, although this line is only found in footnotes.
If [font color="red"]5...Bg4 6.0-0 e6 7.h3 Bxf3 8.Qxf3 dxe5 9.dxe5 Qh4[/font] is equal (Bujnoch-Freisler, Op, Pilsen, 2001).

6.dxe5

[font color="red"]6.Nxe5 Nd7 7.Bxd5 cxd5 8.Qe2 e6 9.0-0 Bd6[/font] is probably better.

6...Bg4

Black has a lead in development.

7.h3 Bxf3 8.Qxf3 e6 9.0-0 Nd7

[font color="red"]9...Qc7 10.Re1 h6 11.Bf4 Qb6 12.Bb3 Nd7 13.Bh2[/font] is equal.

10.Re1 Qc7 11.Qe2 g6

If [font color="red"]11...Bc5 12.c3 0-0 13.Kh1[/font] then:

[font color="red"]13...Rfd8 14.Bxd5 cxd5 15.Nd2 a5 16.Nf3 b5[/font] leaves Black standing slightly better; he'll play on the kingside and try to keep White at bay on the opposite wing.
[font color="darkred"]13...Ne7 14.Bd3 a5 15.Qh5 Ng6 16.f4 Rfd8[/font] is equal.

12.Nd2

The game is equal.

12...Bg7 13.Nf3 0-0 14.a3

If [font color="red"]14.Bd2 a5 15.Bb3 b5 16.a4 b4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]17.Bc4 Nc5 18.b3 Rfd8 19.Bg5 Rd7 20.Qd2[/font] remains equal.
If [font color="darkred"]17.Bxd5!? cxd5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]18.Bf4 Nc5 19.Qe3 Rfc8 20.Bh6 Bh8 21.Nd4 Qd7[/font] gives Black a small advantage.
[font color="magenta"]18.c3!? bxc3 19.Bxc3 Qb7 20.Qe3 Rfc8 21.Reb1 Bf8[/font] gives Black a small advantage.

14...b5 15.Ba2 a5 16.h4

If [font color="red"]16.Bg5 h6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]17.Bh4 Rfb8 18.Bxd5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]18...cxd5 19.Be7 Nxe5 20.Nxe5 Bxe5 21.Qxe5 Qxe7 22.Qxd5[/font] is equal.
[font color="burgundy"]18...exd5!? 19.e6 Re8 20.exf7+ Kxf7 21.Qd2 Kg8 22.Bg3[/font] leaves White slightly better.

If [font color="darkred"]17.Bd2 Rfb8 18.Kh1 Ne7[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]19.Rad1 b4 20.Bc4 bxa3 21.bxa3 Nd5 22.Qd3 Rb7[/font] is equal.
[font color="magenta"]19.c4 b4 20.Bf4 g5 21.Bg3 bxa3 22.bxa3 a4[/font] is equal.

16...b4 17.Bd2

[font color="red"]17.Bc4 Rfb8 18.Qe4 bxa3 19.Rxa3 Bf8 20.Ra1 Bb4[/font] remains equal.

17...bxa3

[font color="red"]17...Rfb8 18.Bxd5 cxd5 19.axb4 Qxc2 20.Rxa5 Qxb2 21.Qe3[/font] remains equal.

18.bxa3 h5

The downside of this move is that is weakens the dark squares around Black's King at a moment when White's minor pieces are trained on g5.
If [font color="red"]18...Rfb8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]19.Rab1 Ne7 20.Rbd1 Nd5 21.c4 N5b6 22.Bb1[/font] remains equal.
[font color="darkred"]19.c4 Ne7 20.Bg5 Nf5 21.h5 a4 22.Bb1[/font] remains equal.

[center]BLACK: Li Wenliang[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Bassem Amin[/center][center]Position after 18...h7h5[/center]

19.Rad1

[font color="red"]19.c4 Ne7 20.Bc1 Nf5 21.Bg5 Rfe8 22.Rad1 Rab8[/font] remains equal.

19...Ne7 20.Bg5 Nd5 21.Bd2

[font color="red"]21.Rd2 Nc5 22.Qc4 Nd7 23.Qd4 N5b6 24.c4 Rfb8[/font] remains equal.
[font color="blue"]21.Rd3 Nc5 22.Rd4 Rab8 23.Bxd5 cxd5 24.c4 Nb3[/font] remains equal.

21...Ne7 22.c4

[font color="red"]22.Bg5 Nf5 23.c3 Rfe8 24.Bb1 Rab8 25.Bf4 Ne7[/font] remains equal.

22...Nf5 23.Bb1

[font color="red"]23.Bf4 Rfb8 24.Bb1 Nc5 25.Ng5 Bf8 26.Bxf5 exf5 27.Nxf7[/font] gives White an extra pawn (if 27...Qxf7?? then White wins after 28.e6! Qe7 29.Bd6 Qe8 30.Bxb8).

23...Nh6!?

Black is rightly concerned about the possibility of structural damage to his kingside, but, as we will see in the notes to White's 24th move, this mave fails to address the problem.
If [font color="red"]23...Nc5 24.Bf4 Rfe8 25.g3 Qb7 26.Ng5 Rad8[/font] remains equal.

[center]BLACK: Li Wenliang[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Bassem Amin[/center][center]Position after 23...Nf5h6[/center]

24.Bf4!?

White fails to find the best continuation.
If [font color="red"]24.Bxh6! Bxh6 25.Rd6[/font] when:

If [font color="red"]25...Rfc8 26.Red1 Nc5 27.Be4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]27...Ra6 28.Nd4 Bf8 29.Bxg6!![/font] (the sacrifice rips apart Black's King position) [font color="red"]29...fxg6 30.Nxe6 Nxe6 31.Rxe6[/font] gives White two pawns and a fierce kingside initiative for the sacrificed piece.
If [font color="darkred"]27...Rab8 28.Bxc6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]28...Nb7 29.Bb5 Nxd6 30.exd6 Qc5 31.Ne5 Bg7 32.Nd7[/font] gives White an extra pawn.
If [font color="magenta"]28...Bf8?! 29.Bb5![/font] then [font color="magenta"]29...Rd8 30.R6d4 Rxd4 31.Rxd4 Rd8 32.Qd1 Rxd4 33.Qxd4[/font] gives White an extra pawn.
[font color="darkorange"]29...Bxd6 30.exd6 Qb6 31.Ne5 Rf8 32.Nc6 Rb7 33.Qe3[/font] leaves White threatening Qe3h6 followed by the advance of White's kingside pawns, putting stress on Black's defense.

If [font color="darkred"]25...Nc5 26.Be4 Ra6 27.Nd4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]27...Rb8 28.Rd1 Bg7 29.Bf3 Bf8 30.Rxc6 Rxc6 31.Nxc6[/font] gives White an extra pawn.
If [font color="magenta"]27...Rc8?![/font] then [font color="magenta"]28.Bxg6!! fxg6 29.Nxe6 Nxe6 30.Rxe6 Qf7 31.Rf6[/font] gives White two extra pawns and a strong attack for the sacrificed piece.

24...Ng4

The game remains equal.

25.Nh2 Nxh2 26.Bxh2

If [font color="red"]26.Kxh2 Rab8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]27.Rd6 Rb3 28.Red1 Nc5 29.Be4 Rc8 30.Rxc6 Qb8[/font] gives White an extra pawn, but it's not going anywhere.
[font color="darkred"]27.Qe3 Nb6 28.Rc1 Nd7 29.Qc3 Rb7 30.Rcd1 Rfb8[/font] is equal.

26...Rfd8 27.Bc2

If [font color="red"]27.g4 hxg4 28.Qxg4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]28...Nf8 29.Rd6 a4 30.Red1 Rxd6 31.exd6 Qb6[/font] is equal.
If [font color="darkred"]28...Nc5 29.h5 gxh5 30.Qg5 Rxd1 31.Rxd1[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]31...Kf8 32.Kh1 Qe7 33.Qxh5 Ke8 34.Bf4 Bf8 35.Bg5[/font] gives White a strong game.
[font color="magenta"]31...Nd7 32.Qxh5 Kf8 33.Rd6 Nc5 34.Qf3 Qb7 35.Bc2[/font] gives White more activity; the Rook at d6 is a bone in Black's throat.

27...Nc5 28.Qe3 Nb7

[font color="red"]28...Bf8 29.Bf4 Rxd1 30.Rxd1 Rd8 31.Re1 Rb8 32.Bh6[/font] is equal.

29.Bf4 Rxd1 30.Rxd1 Bf8!?

Black takes the pressure off e5, allowing White to redirect his resources toward to the Black King.
If [font color="red"]30...a4 31.Rb1 Nd8 32.Qc3 Nb7 33.Qe3 Bf8 34.Bh6[/font] leaves White in control of the dark squares around the enemy King.

31.g4!

White has a more aggressive posture on the kingside; opening the position will be to his advantage.
Also good is [font color="red"]31.Bg5! Nc5 32.Bf6 Nd7 33.Qg5 Nxf6 34.exf6,[/font] giving White the advantage for his activity in the neighborhood of the enemy King.

31...Rd8?!

An exchange of Rooks is not going to stop White's kingside progress.
Better is [font color="red"]31...hxg4 32.h5 Rd8 33.Rb1[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]33...Nc5 34.hxg6 fxg6 35.Bxg6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]35...Qg7 36.Bc2 Qh8 37.Bg5 Rc8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]38.Kg2 Qh3+ 39.Qxh3 gxh3+ 40.Kxh3 Rc7 41.Be3 Rb7 42.Rg1+[/font] gives White an extra pawn, but it is neither passed nor remote and getting it up the board is problematic.
[font color="burgundy"]38.Bf6?! Qh6! 39.Bg5 Qh3 40.Qxh3 gxh3 41.Kh2[/font] will soon give White an extra pawn, but exploiting the advantage will not be easy.

[font color="#C08000"]35...Rd7 36.Bg5 Rg7 37.Bc2 Nd7 38.Bh6 Bc5 39.Qg3[/font] gives White greater activity in an attack on the Black King.

If [font color="darkred"]a) 33...Bc5? 34.Qg3! Rd4[/font] when:

If [font color="darkred"]35.hxg6 Nd8[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]36.Qh4 fxg6 37.Be3 Qh7 38.Qg5 Be7 39.Bxg6.[/font]
If [font color="magenta"]35...fxg6[/font] then Black wins after [font color="magenta"]36.Qxg4 Nd8 37.Bxg6 Bf8 38.Rb3 Bh6 39.Bf7+.[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]b) 33...Rd7?[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]34.Bg5![/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]34...g3 35.Qxg3 Bg7 36.Re1 Nd8 37.hxg6.[/font]
If [font color="magenta"]34.hxg6?![/font] then Black wins after [font color="magenta"]34...fxg6 35.Bxg6 Nc5 36.Kf1 Qa7 37.Bg5.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Li Wenliang[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Bassem Amin[/center][center]Position after 31...Ra8d8[/center]

32.gxh5! Rxd1+ 33.Bxd1 Qd8

If [font color="red"]33...gxh5? 34.Bg5! Bg7 35.Bf6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]35...Nd6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]36.Qg5 Ne8 37.Bxh5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]37...Qd7 38.Bd8 Qa7 39.a4 Qc5 40.Qf4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]40...Nd6 41.exd6 Qxh5 42.Qg3 Qd1+ 43.Kg2 Kh7 44.Bxa5[/font] White's passed pawn triumphs.
[font color="burgundy"]40...Qf8 41.Bxa5 Bh6 42.Qf3 Ng7 43.Bc7 Nxh5 44.Qxh5[/font] gives White passers on both sides of the board.

If [font color="darkred"]37...Nxf6 38.exf6 Kf8 39.fxg7+[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]39...Ke8 40.g8Q+ Kd7 41.Qd2+ Qd6 42.Qxf7+[/font] leads to mate.
If [font color="magenta"]39...Kg8[/font] then [font color="magenta"]40.Qh6 f5 41.Qh8#.[/font]

[font color="#C08000"]36.exd6? Qxd6! 37.Bxh5 Bxf6[/font] is equal.

Black has no time for [font color="darkorchid"]35...Nc5??[/font] (with the intention of 36...Nd7) when [font color="darkorchid"]36.Qg5![/font] wins immediately.

34.Be2 gxh5?

Black voluntarily opens the g-file for White's Queen.
If [font color="red"]34...Nc5 35.hxg6 Qxh4 36.gxf7+ Kxf7[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]37.Bg3 Qh6 38.Qf3+ Kg8 39.Qxc6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]39...Qg6 40.Qf3 Qf5 41.Qe3 Be7 42.Bf3 Qc2 43.Qf4[/font] gives White two extra pawns and the Bishop pair; Black's active Queen may be able to put up some resistance for a while.
If [font color="darkred"]39...Qc1+ 40.Kg2[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]40...Qc2 41.Bh5 Qd3 42.Qa8 Qe4+ 43.Qxe4 Nxe4 44.a4[/font] gives White two extra pawns and the Bishop pair.
If [font color="magenta"]40...Qg5 41.Qe8[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]41...Qe7 42.Qa8 a4 43.Bd1 Qb7+ 44.Qxb7 Nxb7 45.Bxa4[/font] gives White two extra pawns and the Bishop pair.
[font color="darkorange"]41...Qg7 (42.Bd1 Qb7+ 43.Bf3 Qd7 44.Qxd7 Nxd7 45.a4[/font] gives White two extra pawns and the Bishop pair.

If [font color="darkred"]37.Bf3!? a4![/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]38.Bxc6 Qg4+ 39.Bg3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]39...Kg8 40.Qc3 Ne4 41.Qd3 Nc5 42.Qc2 Bg7 43.Qc3[/font] gives White two extra pawns and the Bishop pair; Black's active Queen may be able to put up some resistance for a while.
[font color="darkorange"]39...Qxc4? 40.Qf3+! Kg8 41.Be8 Qc1+ 42.Kg2 Qh6 43.Qg4+[/font] gives White an extra pawn and the Bishop pair; Black's Queen may be able to put up some resistance, but with Black's King in a corner with White pieces flying about, it is a question of how much longer.

[font color="magenta"]38.Bg5 Qh3 39.Bxc6 Qg4+ 40.Kh2[/font] gives White an extra pawn, but Black is still able to play an active defense.

[center]BLACK: Li Wenliang[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Bassem Amin[/center][center]Position after 34...gh5:p[/center]

35.Qg3+!

White rushes into the breach.

35...Kh8

No better is [font color="red"]35...Bg7 36.Bg5 Qb6 37.Bxh5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]37...Qb1+ 38.Kh2[/font] then:

[font color="red"]38...Kf8 39.Qf4 Qf5 40.Qxf5 exf5 41.f4 a4 42.Bd1[/font] gives White an extra pawn, apassed pawn and stronger pawns.
[font color="magenta"]38...Nc5 39.Bf6 Qh7 40.Bf3 Qg6 41.Bxg7 Kxg7 42.Bxc6[/font] gives White an extra pawn and the pin at g6.

[font color="darkred"]37...Kf8 38.Qd3 Bxe5 39.Bxf7 Qd4 40.Qf3 Qc3 41.Qxc6[/font] gives White an extra pawn.

36.Bxh5 Qc7

If [font color="red"]36...Qd7 37.Bg5 Nc5 38.Qf4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]38...Kg8 39.Kg2 a4 40.Bf6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]40...Kh7 41.Be2 Bh6 42.Qg4 Qd2 43.Be7 Nd7 44.Qe4+[/font] leaves the Black King in a mating net.
If [font color="burgundy"]40...Nd3[/font] then White wins after [font color="burgundy"]41.Qg4+ Kh7 42.Qe4+ Kg8 43.Be2 Nxf2 44.Qe3.[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]38...Bg7 39.Bf6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]39...Kh7 40.Qe3 Bf8 41.Bf3 Qd3 42.Qxd3+ Nxd3 43.Be4+[/font] wins the Knight.
If [font color="magenta"]39...Bxf6 40.Qh6+ Kg8 41.exf6[/font] Black cannot prevent mate on g7.

37.Bd1 Nc5

This hastens the end.
If [font color="red"]37...Qb6 38.Bc2[/font] then:

[font color="red"]38...Qd4 39.Qg5 Bg7 40.h5 f5 41.Bxf5 exf5 42.Qxf5[/font] gives White three pawns for a piece and White threatens 43.h6!.
If [font color="darkred"]38...Qc7 39.Qd3 f5 40.exf6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]40...Qf7 41.h5 Nd6 42.Bxd6 Bxd6 43.Qxd6[/font] gives White an extra piece.
If [font color="magenta"]40...Nc5[/font] then after [font color="magenta"]41.Qg6 Nd3 42.Bxc7 e5 43.Bxd3[/font] Black cannot escape mate.

38.Bc2 Qd8

If [font color="red"]38...Bg7[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]39.h5 Nd7 40.Qd3 Nf8 41.h6 Ng6 42.Qd6.[/font]

39.Qg4 Bg7 40.Bg5 Qb8 41.Qh5+ Kg8 42.Bf6 1-0

The alternative to the text is [font color="red"]42.Be7,[/font] after which White cannot escape mate on h7.[/font]
Following the text, if [font color="blue"]42...Kf8[/font] then White wins after [font color="blue"]43.Bxg7+ Ke7 44.Bf6+ Kd7 45.Qxf7+ Kc8 46.Qf8+ Kc7 47.Qxc5.[/font]
Li Xiangsian resigns.

SwissTony

(2,560 posts)

9. Hi, guys (including guys of the female persuasion)

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Original post)

Sun Mar 10, 2013, 03:06 PM

Mar 2013

What's the best site to follow this tournament (London 15/3)?

Looking forward to this.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

10. That depends on what you're looking for in coverage

Reply to SwissTony (Reply #9)

Sun Mar 10, 2013, 05:00 PM

Mar 2013

The official site is here. The website is still under construction and I don't know exactly what will be featured.

FIDE's website will broadcast live games and video coverage. I don't know if the video coverage will include live commentary (which is usually worth the time) or if it will just be a camera trained on a game (which isn't worth the time; sorry, but watching Magnus Carlsen play chess in a silent room isn't really any more exciting than watching me play chess in a silent room, but I can guarantee that Magnus will play better chess than I do). There will also be computer analysis of the game posted, the engine will probably be a version of Houdini.

For a good idea of what FIDE will present, here is the FIDE coverage of the World Women's Team Championship, currently being held in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. I haven't been watching the games in Astana live because they start around 3 am Pacific time.

If one wants to watch computer analysis and chat with other players while some expert commentary is blogged, the best site is the ChessBomb Arena.

Finally, for a good time watching the game with comments by people who play the game at various levels, from beginner to grandmaster, the best site is ChessGames.

SwissTony

(2,560 posts)

11. Brilliant, mate.

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Reply #10)

Sun Mar 10, 2013, 05:15 PM

Mar 2013

I live in Holland so there's no (effective) time difference between Holland and the UK (Holland is one hour ahead of the UK). Yay for me!!!

ChessGames seems the most immediately attractive site. I was a pretty sorta-half-decent-but maybe-not-that-good-a-player in my prime but that's long gone. But I love the game.

But I will check put all the sites you've provided (I did have the official site but it was clearly under construction).

Thank you very much.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

12. Updates (The Ides of March)

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Original post)

Fri Mar 15, 2013, 02:21 PM

Mar 2013

[font size="4"]Candidates' Tournament Begins[/font]

[font size="1"]Photo by Diliff (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User iliff) in
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]
The Candidates' Tournament to determine the official challenger to Vishy Anand's title of world champion began today in London among eight of the world's strongest player, including the four highest rated players as of now, Magnus Carlsen, Vladimir Kramnik, Levon Aronian and Teimour Radjabov.

Today's first round action concluded just minutes ago with all games ending in draws.

The event may be followed on the official website featuring live commentary from London-based international masters Lawrence Trent and Malcolm Pein. The games begin at 2 pm London time (7 am PDT).

[font size="4"]Ukraine Wins World Women's Team Championship[/font]

[font size="1"]Photo by Amanante in Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bayterek1.jpg)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]
Ukraine won the gold medal at the World Women's Team Championship held from March 4 thru 12 in Astana, the capital of the central Asian republic of Kazakhstan.

The Ukrainian team consisted of Katya Lahno, reigning world women's champion Anna Ushenina, Mariya Muzychuk, Natalia Zhukova and Inna Gaponenko. A team would in each round play on four boards against another team. Each team carried five players, resting one every round.

China won the silver medal and Russia took the bronze. Other teams represented Georgia, India, the United States, Romania, France, Turkey and the host country, Kazakhstan.

Individual gold medals went to Ju Wenjun (China) on board 1, Irina Krush (USA) on board 2, Tan Zhongyi (China) on board 3, Natalia Zhukova (Ukraine) on board 4 and Olga Girya (Russia) for the reservists.

[font size="4"]Eight Players Tie for First in Cappelle-la-Grande[/font]

[font size="1"]Photo by B. Navez (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:B.navez) in [link:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunkerque|Wikipedia]
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]
Russian grandmaster Sanan Sjugirov finished first among equals out of the eight players who tied for first place with 7 points in nine rounds in the 29th International Open in Cappelle-la-Grande, near Dunkirque in France, held from February 23 thru March 2.

The other first place finishers, all grandmasters, were Parimarjan Negi (India), Max Rodshtein (Israel), Sergey Fedorchuk (Ukraine), Eric Hansen (Canada), Vlad-Cristian Jianu (Romania), Alexey Feforov (Belarus) and Yuri Vovk (Ukraine), who won the 25th Cappelle-la-Grande outright in 2009.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

13. Update from London (March 16): Aronian, Raja Draw First Blood

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Original post)

Sat Mar 16, 2013, 03:03 PM

Mar 2013

[font size="1"]Photo by Diliff (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User iliff) in Wikipedia
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]
After yesterday's first round in which all games ended drawn, Levon Aronian and Teimour Radjabov scored the first victories today in second round of the Candidates' Tournament in London.

Aronian took down Boris Gelfand, last year's official challenger to Vishy Anand's world title, in a 35-move battle that began as a Symmetrical English Four Knights' Game and ended with White (Aronian) a pawn to the good in a Bishop ending and about to win a second pawn. Meanwhile, Radjabov, playing White, defeated Vassily Ivanchuk in a game that began as a Leningrad Dutch that saw "Chuckie" spinning his wheels from the opening. The game ended when the flag on Ivanchuk's clock fell as he made his 34th move in a hopeless position.

Today's other two games, Carlsen-Kramnik and Svidler-Grischuk, ended in draws.

The winner of the tournament will challenge reigning world champion Vishy Anand for his title in a match to be played in the Autumn.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

14. Update (March 17) from London

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Original post)

Sun Mar 17, 2013, 04:10 PM

Mar 2013

[font color="008000"]
Happy St. Patrick's Day from me (I am, as some of you know, part Leprechaun) and my distant cousin and full-blooded Leprechaun, Aaron Gobraugh.

Armenian GM Levon Aronian jumped out to the lead in the third round Candidates' Tournament in London today when he defeated GM Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine when Vassily Mikhailovich's flag fell before he could make his 35th move.

It was P-n Aronian's second consecutive victory. He is now alone in first place.

It was the second day in a row that Vassily Mikhailovich lost on time. Yesterday, he was completely beaten, but today he had bounced back from a very inferior position to level the game.

In today's other action, Peter Svidler took down yesterday's other winner, Teimour Radjabov; Magnus Carlsen scored a win in his first decisive game over Boris Gelfand; and Alexander Grischuk fought former world champion Vladimir Kramnik to a draw.

The standings after three rounds find Aronian in first (+2 =1); Magnus and Svidler tied for second (+1 =2); and a three-way tie for fourth among Radjabov (+1 -1 =1), Grischuk qnd Kramnik (both =3). The winner of the tournament will challenge reigning world champion Vishy Anand for the title in October or November (we hope; one never knows with reigning FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov in charge of these things).

Tomorrow is a rest day. The action resumes Tuesday at 2 pm London Time (7 am PDT) and will be covered on the official tournament website with live commentary by British international masters Lawrence Trent and Malcolm Pein.
[/font]

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

15. Update from London (Monday, March 19): Magnus, Aronian tied for first

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Original post)

Tue Mar 19, 2013, 07:37 PM

Mar 2013

[font size="1]Photo by Diliff (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User iliff) in Wikipedia
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]
Norwegian grandmaster Magnus Carlsen, the world's highest rated chess player, won his game today against former Russian national champion Alexander Grischuk in 37 moves to tie Armenian GM Levon Aronian for first place after four rounds of the Candidates' Tournament in London.

Aronian, who began the day alone in fist place, drew an uneventful game of 31 moves against the 2011 World Cup champion, Peter Svidler of Russia.

In other fourth round action today, Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan) and former world champion Vladimir Kramnik (Russia) drew in 50 moves while Boris Gelfand (Israel) and Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukraine) drew in 35 moves.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

16. Update (Thursday, March 21): Magnus and Aronian remain tied in London after six rounds

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Original post)

Thu Mar 21, 2013, 05:52 PM

Mar 2013

Last edited Fri Mar 22, 2013, 12:21 PM - Edit history (1)

[font size="1"]Photos:
Left : Stefan64 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64) from Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
Right: Frank Hoppe in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Levon_Aronian) (Public Doamin)
[/font]
Magnus Carlsen and Levon Aronian, two of the three top rated players in the world, each won his respective game in today's sixth round of the Candidates' Tournament in London to remain tied for first place and pulling away from the field.

Magnus, playing Black, defeated reigning World Cup champion Peter Svidler in 36 move of a Clam Opening of the Grand Spanish Royal Game (Ruy Lopez). Magnus won by steadily building up his advantage until Svidler was overwhelmed.

Aronian also played Black today and defeated Teimour Radjabov, ranked number four in the world, in a Clam Opening to the Petit Spanish Royal Game. The game ended after White blundered in a drawn position on his 53rd move. Aronian pounced on the opportunity to win a piece. Radjabov resigned before his 55th move.

In other action today, former world champion Vladimir Kramnik against Vassily Ivanchuk and drew his sixth straight game, while former Russian national champion Alexander Grischuk drew with the winner of the last candidates' event in 2010, Boris Gelfand. Kramnik and Svidler are now tied for third place a point and a half behind the leaders.

It is significant to note that two of Magnus' three victories in the first six rounds have been earned the hard way, with Black. Magnus has had Black four times thus far, meaning he will have five Whites and the slight advantage that it provides in the remaining eight rounds. P-n Aronian has also earned two of his three wins as Black, but he has had three Whites and three Blacks thus far.

Tomorrow is a rest day. Both Magnus and Aronian will have White Saturday when the tournament reaches its midpoint. Magnus will play Radjabov while Aronian crosses swords with Grischuk.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

17. Update from London (Saturday, March 23): All games drawn as Candidates' Tounament reaches halftime

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Original post)

Sat Mar 23, 2013, 03:34 PM

Mar 2013

[font size="1"]Photos:
Left : Stefan64 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64) from Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
Right: Frank Hoppe in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Levon_Aronian) (Public Domain)
[/font]
Magnus Carlsen, the highest rated chess player of all time, escaped from a seriously inferior position today to draw his game against Teimour Radjabov and remain tied for first place after the seven rounds of the scheduled 14-round Candidates' Tournament in London.

All other game were also drawn, including the one between tournament co-leader Levon Aronian, the world's third-ranked player, and former Russian national champion Alexander Grischuk. Magnus and P-n Aronian remain tied for first lace with 5 points each, a point and a half ahead of their nearest competitors.
[center]
STANDINGS
Candidates' Tournament after Seven Rounds
London, March 15 - April 2, 2013
[font face="courier new"]
Rank . .Name . . . . . . . . . 1 . . . 2 . . . 3 . . . 4 . . . 5 . . . 6 . . . 7 . . . 8 . . . Pts
1. . . .Magnus Carlsen . . . . * . . . ½ . . . 1 . . . ½ . . . ½ . . . 1 . . . ½ . . . 1 . . . 5 .
2. . . .Levon Aronian. . . . . ½ . . . * . . . ½ . . . ½ . . . 1 . . . ½ . . . 1 . . . 1 . . . 5 .
3. . . .Peter Svidler. . . . . 0 . . . ½ . . . * . . . ½ . . . 1 . . . ½ . . . ½ . . . ½ . . . 3½.
4. . . .Vladimir Kramnik . . . ½ . . . ½ . . . ½ . . . * . . . ½ . . . ½ . . . ½ . . . ½ . . . 3½.
5. . . .Teimour Radjabov . . . ½ . . . 0 . . . 0 . . . ½ . . . * . . . ½ . . . 1 . . . ½ . . . 3 .
6. . . .Alexander Grischuk . . 0 . . . ½ . . . ½ . . . ½ . . . ½ . . . * . . . * . . . ½ . . . 3 .
7. . . .Vassily Ivanchuk . . . ½ . . . 0 . . . ½ . . . ½ . . . 0 . . . ½ . . . * . . . ½ . . . 2½.
8. . . .Boris Gelfand . . . . 0 . . . 0 . . . ½ . . . ½ . . . ½ . . . ½ . . . ½ . . . * . . . 2½.
[/font][/center]
Tomorrow, Magnus will play White against P-n Aronian in what may be the decisive game of the tournament. The two drew their other individual game, played in the first round on March 15 with Aronian playing White. Tomorrow's action will be broadcast live at the official tournament webite beginning at 2 pm London time (7 am PDT).

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

18. Update (Sunday, March 24): Magnus and Aronian draw, Kramnik wins

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Original post)

Sun Mar 24, 2013, 03:56 PM

Mar 2013

[font size="1"]Photo by steenslag from flickr as resized in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vladimir_Kramnik_2005.jpg)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]
Tournament co-leaders Magnus Carlsen and Levon Aronian fought each other to a 41-move draw while former world champion Vladimir Kramnik moved into sole possession of thrid place when he defeated reigning World Cup champion Peter Svidler in 40 moves today in the eighth round of the Candidates' Tournament in London.

Vladimir Borisovich's win was his first of the tournament, coming after seven consecutive draws. He trails the two co-leaders by one point.

In the other games today, Alexander Grischuk one his first game in London when Vassily Ivanchuk's flag fell on the 39th move. It was the third game Vassily Mikhailovich has lost on time, accounting for all three of his losses. Aleaxander Igorovich noted in the press conference following the game that it was his victory in a candidates' event in six years. Boris Gelfand, the winner of the last candidates' event in 2011, won his first game against three losses when he took down Teimour Radjabov in 32 moves.

Tomorrow, Magnus will play Black against Vladimir Borisovich, P-n Aronian will have Black against Boris Abramovich, Vassily Mikhailovich has White against Cenab Radjabov and Peter Veniaminovich will pay White against Alexander Igorovich. The action will be broadcast live on the official tournament website beginnng at 2 pm London time (7 am PDT).

The tournament is scheduled to conclude after fourteen rounds on Monday, April 1, but the following day is set aside for any necessary rapid and blitz playoffs. The winner of the tournament will challenge reigning world champion Viswanathan Anand for the title in a match tentatively scheduled for November.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

19. Update (March 25): Magnus and Kramink draw, Aronian loses

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Original post)

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 07:10 PM

Mar 2013

[font size="1"]Photos:
Left : Stefan64 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64) from Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
Center: Frank Hoppe in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Levon_Aronian) (Public Domain)
Right: steenslag from flickr as resized in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vladimir_Kramnik_2005.jpg)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]
Magnus Carlsen and former world champion champion Vladimir Kramnik, the two highest rated players in the world, fought 41 moves to a draw today while Levon Aronian, the number three rated player in the world, lost his game to Boris Gelfand in 60 moves in the ninth round of the Candidates' Tournament in London.

Magnus, who started the day tied with P-n Aronian for first palce, is now alone at the head of the tournament table with 6 points. P-n Aronian is in second place with 5½ and Vladimir Borisovich is in third with 5 points.

For Gelfand, it was his second victory in a row and brings him to an even score with 4½ points out of nine. Boris Abramovich, who was at the foot of the table just two days when the tournament reached its midpoint, is now tied for fourth place with former Russian national champion Alexander Grischuk.

in other games today, Vassily Ivanchuk scored his win in the tournament with a victory over Teimour Radjabov and Peter Svidler fought Alexander Grischuk to a draw.

Tomorrow is a rest day. The tournament resumes Wednesday with Magnus having White against Gelfand, P-n Aronian playing White agaisnt Ivanchuk, Kramnik playing Black agaisnt Grischuk and Radjabove having White against Svidler. The games will be broadcast live on official tournament website.

The winner of the tournament, which is scheduled to end Monday, April 1, after 14 rounds, will challenge reigning world champion Vishy Anand for a title match tentatively scheduled for November.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

20. Update from London (Thursday, March 28): Aronian loses, Magnus draws, Kramnik trails by ½ point

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Original post)

Thu Mar 28, 2013, 04:01 PM

Mar 2013

[font size="1"]Photos:
Left : Stefan64 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64) from Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
Center: Frank Hoppe in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Levon_Aronian) (Public Domain)
Right: steenslag from flickr as resized in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vladimir_Kramnik_2005.jpg)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]
Former world champion Vladimir Kramnik climbed to only a half point behind tournament leader Magnus Carlsen when he defeated Teimour Radjabov in 37 moves while Levon Aronian, who started the day in second place, dropped his second game in three rounds in today's eleventh round of the Candidates' Tournament in London.

Magnus, playing Black, drew his game against former Russian national champion Alexander Grischuk in 23 moves when the players repeated moves in a colorless and dead equal position.

Aronian, playing Black, lost his game to another former Russian national champion and the reigning World Cup champion, Peter Svidler, in 41 moves. Peter Veniaminovich was holding a slightly better position when P-n Aronian played a dubious queenside pawn advance on his 23rd move. Peter Veniaminovich regrouped his pieces to strike at the squares weakended by P-n Aronian's inaccurate play to take a commanding advantage that he converted to victory.

Vladimir Borisovich, playing White, had a small advantage after 28 moves over Cenab Radjabov when Black misplayed an opportunity to equalize and grabbed an unimportant pawn on the queenside. Vladimir Borisovich capialtized on the error and strengthened his center, quickly obtaining a winning position.

As result of today's decisive games, Vladimir Borisovich moves into second place with 7 points (+3 -0 =8), while P-n Aronian drops to third place with 6½ points (+4 -2 =5). Magnus remains in first place with 7½ points (+4 -0 =7).

In today's only other game, Vassily Ivanchuk and Boris Gelfand, both of whom are out of contention for all intents and purposes, played 17 moves to a draw by repetition.

Tomorrow's action, which will be broadcast live on the official tournment webite, features Vladimir Borisovich playing White against P-n Aronian in what will undoubtedly be the last direct clash of contenders for the right to challenge reigning world champion Vishy Anand for the title. Magnus will have White against Ivanchuk in the twelfth round's other important game, while Gelfand will play White against Peter Veniaminovich and Cenab Radjabov has White against Grischuk.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

21. Update (Friday, March 29): Kramnik leapfrogs over Magnus in London

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Original post)

Fri Mar 29, 2013, 05:23 PM

Mar 2013

[font size="1"]Photo by steenslag from flickr as resized in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vladimir_Kramnik_2005.jpg)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]
Former world champion Vladimir Kramnik, playing Black, defeated Levon Aronian in 62 moves while history's highest rated chess master, Magnus Carlsen, lost with White to the unpredictable Vassily Ivanchuk today in the twelfth round of the Candidates' Tournament in London to give Kramnik a ½-point lead over Magnus with only two rounds remaining.

The winner of the tournament will challenge reigning world champion Vishy Anand for the title in a match tentatively scheduled for November at a site yet to be chosen.

Tomorrow is a rest day. The tournament resumes Sunday with Kramnik playing White against Boris Gelfand, the winner of the last candidates' event and Magnus playng Black against Teimour Radjabov. In Monday's final round, Kramnik will have Black against Ivanchuk while Magnus will play White against reigning World Cup champion Peter Svidler.

If no winner emerges from the final two rounds, a rapid/blitz series of playoff will be held Tuesday.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

22. Update from London (Sunday, March 31): Magnus, Kramnik go to last round tied

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Original post)

Sun Mar 31, 2013, 05:18 PM

Mar 2013

[font size="1"]Photos:
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Magnus Calsen, the highest rated chess master in history, pulled out a miracle victory over Teimour Radjabov in an 89 move, seven hour marathon today in the 13th round of the Candidates tournament in London to tie former world champion Vladimir Kramnik for first place with 8½ points each.

Vladimir Borisovich, who took over first place from Magnus in Friday's 12th round, fought 59 moves to a draw with Israeli GM Boris Gelfand, the winner of the last candidates' event played in 2010.

In today's other games, Levon Aronian, playing Black, drew against former Russian national champion Alexander Grischuk and reigning World Cup champion Peter Svidler defeated Vassily Ivanchuk, who defeated Magnus Friday.

In the final round, Magnus will have White against Svidler and Kramnik will play the unpredictable Ivanchuk.

The tournament winner will challenge reigning world champion Viswanathan Anand to a title match presently scheduled to take place in November at a site yet to be chosen.

The tiebreak system of the Candidates' Tournament as of now excludes the possibility of a playoff on Tuesday. The tiebreak is games won, and in that category Magnus has won five games while Vladimir Borisovich has won four. This means that if Magnus wins his game against Svidler tomorrow, he wins the tournament regardless of what Vladimir Borisovich does. In order for Vladimir Borisovich to win the right to challenge Anand, he must score a better result than Magnus tomorrow, thus winning the tournament outright.

Tomorrow's action will be broadcast live on the official tournament website. Please note that Europe went to summer time this weekend and the game begins at 2 pm London time which is now 6 am PDT.

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