Sports

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts) Tue May 7, 2013, 01:46 PM May 2013

Chess (May): Baden-Baden wins 8th straight Bundeslinga Title; Anand-Carlsen Match Set for Chennai

[font size="4"]Eat your hearts out, Yankees . . . Baden-Baden wins eighth consecutive Bundesliga title with perfect season[/font]

[font size="1"]Photo by Thomas Wolf (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User er_Wolf_im_Wald) in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brandenburger_Tor_abends.jpg)
(link:http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en|Creative Commons License], Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]
The team from Ooser Schachgesellschaft Baden-Baden won its eighth consecutive title in the German Bundesliga, this time with 15 match victories in 15 rounds, as the 2012/13 season concluded on April 7 with all matches played at Schwetzingen Castle near Baden-Baden.

Mülheim finished a distant second with 12 matches won, 2 lost and one drawn.

Baden-Baden's team roster features many star players, including grandmasters Etienne Bacrot, who played in all 15 rounds this season and scored 11½ points, and Germany's top-rated player, Arkadij Naiditsch, who also played in all 15 rounds and scored 11 points. Other players who contributed considerably to Baden-Baden's success were Rustam Kasimdzhanov (8 points in 11 rounds), Liviu-Dieter Nispianu (8/10), Jan Gustafsson (7½/10), Paco Vallejo (7½/10), Peter-Heine Nielsen (7/9) and Mickey Adams (6/9).

Special recognition for Baden-Baden's legendary success this year goes to Philipp Schlosser, who played the last board, where team matches are often won or lost, in 12 of the team's matches and scored and impressive 10 points.

[font size="3"]Other results in April:[/font]

Russian Team Championship, Sochi: The general group was won by the St. Petersburg Chess Federation by tie break points over the Malakhit Chess Club; women's group won by Yugra by tie break over Moskow.

Chinese Championships, Xinghua: Wang Yue won the general group, leaving the field in the dust; Ding Yixin is the women's champion.

FIDE Grand Prix, third leg, Zug, Switzerland: Won by former FIDE champion Veselin Topalov.

[font size="4"]World Championship Match Set for Chennai in November; Controversy Ensues[/font]

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

The following are from ChessBase.com

Chennai confirmed as World Championship venue
(Dated Sunday, 5 May)

The FIDE Presidential Board meeting which is in progress at Baku, Azerbaijan, today confirmed Chennai as the venue for the World Chess Championship match between defending champion Viswanathan Anand and World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen, from 06-26 November 2013. The agreement was signed today at Baku by Bharat Singh, Hony Secretary All India Chess Federation and FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov.

http://www.chessbase.com/Home/TabId/211/PostId/4009738/im-deeply-disappointed-by-the-fide-decision-070513.aspx
I’m deeply disappointed by the FIDE decision
Statement by Magnus Carlsen
Dated Tuesday, 7 May

As you know the International Chess Association has awarded the 2013 World Championship to the south Indian city of Chennai – in spite of a protest by the Norwegian Chess Federation. There was speculation that challenger Magnus Carlsen might pull out, but he has now confirmed that he will play – under protest. Meanwhile the news channel VG-Nett tells us what awaits him in Chennai.

10 replies

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Highlight:

Chess (May): Baden-Baden wins 8th straight Bundeslinga Title; Anand-Carlsen Match Set for Chennai (Original Post) Jack Rabbit May 2013 OP

Games From April Jack Rabbit May 2013 #1

Bundesliga 2012/2013 Season Jack Rabbit May 2013 #2

Schlosser (Baden-Baden) - Yankelevich (Trier), Round 13 Jack Rabbit May 2013 #6

Russian Team Championship, Sochi Jack Rabbit May 2013 #3

Caruana (Moskow) - Svidler (St. Petersburg), Round 6 Jack Rabbit May 2013 #7

Chinese Championships, Xinghua Jack Rabbit May 2013 #4

Wang Yue - Xiu Deshun, Round 5 Jack Rabbit May 2013 #8

FIDE Grand Prix, Third Leg, Zug Jack Rabbit May 2013 #5

Topalov -Karjakin, Round 11 Jack Rabbit May 2013 #9

Bonus Game: The Mark of Zorro (Hockey - Rabbit, Cyberspace, 2013) Jack Rabbit May 2013 #10

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

1. Games From April

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Original post)

Tue May 7, 2013, 01:47 PM

May 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. Bundesliga 2012/2013 Season

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Reply #1)

Tue May 7, 2013, 01:49 PM

May 2013

[center][/center]

[center]Baden-Baden at the edge of the Fabled Black Forest
Home of One of the World's Most Successful Sports Clubs[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Ramessos in Wikimedia Commons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:BadenBaden.jpg)
(Public Domain)
[/font]

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

6. Schlosser (Baden-Baden) - Yankelevich (Trier), Round 13

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Reply #2)

Tue May 7, 2013, 01:55 PM

May 2013

In keeping with the JRCR tradition of highlighting the downtable heroes of team tounaments, we lead off this month with a game by Philipp Schlosser, a veteran German grandmaster who played on board 8 for most of Baden-Baden's matches in the team's perfect 2012/2013 season.

Lev Yankelevich, 15, is an international master who was born in Kazan, Russia and lives with his family in Saxony.

[center][/center]

[center]Philipp Schlosser[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Stefan64 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64) in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category Schlosser)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Philipp Schlosser (Baden-Baden) - Lev Yankelevich (Trier)
Bundesliga 2012/13 Season, Round 13
Schwetzingen, 5 April 2013

Orthodox Excghange Gambit: Exchange Opening

1.c4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 Be7 6.e3 c6 7.Qc2 Nbd7 8.Bd3

For a survey of this opening up to here, see Korchnoi-Karpov, World Ch Match, Baguio City, The Philippines, 1978.

8...Nh5

If [font color="red"]8...0-0 9.Nge2 Re8 10.0-0 Nf8 11.f3 Be6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]12.Rad1 Rc8 13.Kh1 Ng6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]14.a3 Nd7 15.Bf4 a6 16.Bg3 c5 17.e4 Nf6 18.e5 Nd7 19.f4 c4 20.Bf5[/font] is equal (Ivanchuk-Bruzón, Torre Mem, Mérida, 2006).
[font color="magenta"]14.Ng3 Nh5 15.Bxe7 Nxg3+ 16.hxg3 Qxe7 17.Kg1 c5 18.Bxg6 hxg6[/font] is equal (Tukmakov-Miladinovic, IT, Elenite, 1995).

[font color="darkred"]12.Rae1 Rc8 13.Kh1 N6d7 14.Bxe7 Qxe7 15.Nf4 Qd6 16.Qf2 f6 17.Nxe6 Nxe6[/font] is equal (Carlsen-Ivanchuk, Rpd, León, 2009).

9.Bxe7 Qxe7 10.Nge2

[font color="red"]10.Nf3 Nf4 11.Bf1 Nb6 12.0-0-0 Ng6 13.Re1 Be6[/font is equal (Rowson-J. Parker, 4NCL, Staverton, 2012).

10...g6 11.0-0

If [font color="red"]11.0-0-0 Nb6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]12.h3 Ng7 13.g4 Bd7[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]14.Nf4 g5 15.Nfe2 h5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]16.Ng3 0-0-0 17.Nf5 Bxf5 18.gxf5 Ne8 19.Rhe1 g4[/font] gives Black a small advantage with more kingside space (E. L'Ami-I. Sokolov, Dutch Ch, Boxtel, 2011).
[font color="darkorange"]16.e4 Be6 17.exd5 Nxd5 18.Be4 Nb4 19.Qa4 a5[/font] is equal (Malaniuk-Vaganian, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1988).

[font color="magenta"]14.Kb1 0-0-0 15.Nf4 Kb8 16.Be2 Ne6 17.Nd3 Rc8[/font] is equal (Granda Zuñiga-Nogueiras, Najdorf Mem, Buenos Aires, 1991).

[font color="darkred"]12.Kb1 Ng7 13.Ng3 Bd7 14.Rc1 0-0-0 15.Na4 Nxa4[/font] leaves White slightly better (4 games, 1988-2001, three 1-0, the other ½-½)

11...0-0 12.Rab1

If [font color="red"]12.Rae1[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]12...Ndf6 13.Nc1 Be6 14.f3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]14...Rfd8 15.a3 b6 16.Qf2 c5 17.Bb1 Rab8 18.g4[/font] is equal (Drasko-Legky, Op, Metz, 2001).
[font color="magenta"]14...Rad8 15.Qa4 a6 16.Qc2 Qd6 17.Na4 Ng7 18.Nc5[/font] is equal (Krzyzanowski-Ahvenjarvi, World You, Mirabor, 2012).

[font color="darkred"]12...Nb6 13.Nc1 Be6 14.Nb3 Nd7 15.Na4 Rac8 16.Qd2[/font] is equal (Beliavsky-Bönsch, Bundesliga 0405, Germany, 2004).

12...Nb6

[font color="red"]12...Ng7 13.b4 a6 14.a4 Nf6 15.b5 axb5 16.axb5[/font] is equal (Bubarin-King, Op, Dublin, 1995).

13.b4 a6 14.a4 Be6 15.Nc1 (N)

[font color="red"]15.a5 Nc8 16.Na4 Nd6 17.Nc5 Nf6 18.Rbe1 Bf5[/font] is equal (Gutman-Berni,Op, Parubice, 2005).

[center]BLACK: Lev Yankelevich[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Philipp Schlosser[/center][center]Position after 15.Ne2c1[/center]

15...Ng7

The game is equal.

16.b5 axb5 17.axb5 c5 18.dxc5 Qxc5 19.Nb3

The exchanges have activated Black's Queen; now, White pushes back.
Also playable is [font color="red"]19.Qb2 Rfd8 20.N1e2 Bg4 21.Ra1 Bxe2 22.Bxe2 Ne6[/font] with equality.

19...Qd6

The game remains equal.
If [font color="red"]19...Qb4 20.Ra1[/font] then:

[font color="red"]20...Rfc8 21.Rxa8 Rxa8 22.Nd4 Ne8 23.h3 Nc8 24.Rb1[/font] remains equal.
[font color="darkred"]20...Nc4 21.Bxc4 dxc4 22.Nd4 f5 23.Rfb1 Rxa1 24.Rxa1[/font] remains equal.

[center]BLACK: Lev Yankelevich[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Philipp Schlosser[/center][center]Position after 19...Qc5d6[/center]

20.Nd4 Rfc8 21.Rfc1 Nc4

[font color="red"]21...Bd7 22.Qb2 Qa3 23.Nde2 Bf5 24.Bxf5 Nxf5 25.Qd2[/font] remains equal.

22.Qd1

[font color="red"]22.Bxc4 Rxc4 23.Qd2 Rac8 24.h3 Qd8 25.Nce2[/font] remains equal.

22...Qa3!?

This move seems a waste of time. Black doesn't gain a tempo, doesn' attack anything that isn't sufficiently covered and can't move his queen to anywhere more useful.
If [font color="red"]22...Ne8 23.Bxc4 Rxc4 24.h3 Bd7[/font] remains equal.

23.Rb3!?

If [font color="red"]23.Ra1! Qb4 24.Rxa8 Rxa8 25.Bxc4 dxc4 26.h3[/font] gives White a slight advantage; Black's passed pawn inspire little hope.

23...Qa5

The game remains equal.

24.h3 Ne5!?

he Knight would be safer further behind the lines.
If [font color="red"]24...Nd6 25.Nb1[/font] then:

[font color="red"]25...Nge8 26.Rcc3 Bd7 27.Ra3 Qb4 28.Rxa8 Rxa8[/font] remains equal.
[font color="darkred"]25...Rxc1 26.Qxc1 Qb6 27.Ra3 Rc8 28.Qb2 Ngf5[/font] remains equal.

[center]BLACK: Lev Yankelevich[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Philipp Schlosser[/center][center]Position after 24...Nc5e5[/center]

25.Bf1!

White has a slight edge with stronger pawns and a little more space.
If [font color="red"]25.b6 Nxd3 26.Qxd3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]26...Rc4 27.Rd1 Rac8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]28.Nde2 R4c5 29.Rb5 Rxb5 30.Qxb5 Qxb5 31.Nxb5 Rc6[/font] remains equal.
[font color="magenta"]28.Nce2 Bd7 29.Qd2 Ra8 30.Nf3 Qxd2 31.Rxd2 Be6[/font] remains equal.

[font color="darkred"]26...Ne8!? 27.Nxe6! fxe6 28.e4 Nf6 29.Rd1 Rc5 30.Qd4[/font] gives White stronger pawns and a slight initiative.

25...Rc5 26.Nce2 Rxc1 27.Qxc1 Rc8

[font color="red"]27...Qd8 28.Nf4 Nd7 29.Be2 Nb6 30.Ra3 Rc8 31.Qa1[/font] continues to give White a slight advantage, altough he cannot invade Black's back rank.

28.Rc3 Rxc3 29.Nxc3 Qc7 30.Qa1 h5!?

Black further weakens the dark squares on his kingside and gives White a free hand in the center.
[font color="red"]30...Nd7 31.Qa8+ Qb8 32.Qa3 Qc8 33.Qe7[/font] continues to give White a slight advantage with stronger pawns.

31.g3!?

This somewhat overloads the Knight at d4, which in addition to blockading the d-pawn must now guard the weak square at f3.
If [font color="red"]31.e4![/font] then:

[font color="red"]31...dxe4 32.Nxe6 fxe6 33.Qa8+ Kf7 34.Nxe4 Ne8 35.Ng5+[/font] gives White more activity and stronger pawns.
If [font color="darkred"]31...Qd8 32.Nxe6 Nxe6 33.Nxd5 Nd7[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]34.Bc4 Qe8 35.Qa7 Nec5 36.Nf6+ Nxf6 37.Qxc5[/font] gives White more activity.
[font color="magenta"]34.Qc1 Kh7 35.Qc3 Qh8 36.Qf3 Qf8 37.Nf6+[/font] gives White an extra pawn.

31...Qd7!?

Black misses an opportunity to make up some lost ground.
If [font color="red"]31...Ne8 32.Nce2 Nf6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]33.h4 Bc8 34.Nf4 Qc5 35.Nb3 Qd6 36.Qa8[/font] gives White greater activity and stronger pawns.
If [font color="darkred"]33.Nf4 Bc8 34.h4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]34...Qc5 35.Nde6 Nf3+ 36.Kg2 Bxe6 37.Nxe6 Qe7 38.Nd4[/font] is equal after the exchange on d4.
If [font color="magenta"]34...Ned7 35.Nde2 Ne5 36.Bg2 Qe7[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]37.Nc3 Be6 38.Ncxd5 Bxd5 39.Nxd5 Nxd5 40.Bxd5[/font] gives White an extra pawn.
[font color="darkorange"]37.Nxd5 Nxd5 38.Bxd5 Bd7 39.Qa8+ Qe8 40.Qxe8+ Bxe8 41.Nc3[/font] gives White an extra pawn.

[center]BLACK: Lev Yankelevich[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Philipp Schlosser[/center][center]Position after 31...Qc7d7[/center]

32.Bg2!

White has stronger pawns and more activity for his pieces.

32...Nc4 33.h4!?

White misses the opportunity to win a pawn.
[font color="red"]33.e4 dxe4 34.Nxe4 Qd8 35.Nxe6 Nxe6 36.Nf6+[/font] assures White of winning the b-pawn and thus gaining an advanced passer.

33...Ne8! 34.Nce2 Nc7

[font color="red"]34...Bh3 35.Bh1 Bg4 36.Nf4 Nc7 37.Qa7 Nxb5 38.Qc5[/font] Black's extra pawn is deadwood and the ensuing exchanges on d5 will clearly give White greater activity.

35.Nf4 Bf5?!

Black unnecessaily gives White too much freedom
Correct is [font color="red"]35...Bg4[/font] (blockading the g-pawn) when:

If [font color="red"]36.Qa7 Nxb5 37.Qc5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]37...Nxd4 38.Qxd4 Nd6 39.Bxd5 Bf5 40.Qb4 Kh7 41.e4[/font] gives White a clear advantage in the center and better piece coordination, but Black has a passed pawn with which to make mischief.
[font color="burgundy"]37...Nc7?! 38.Bxd5! Nxd5 39.Nxd5 Qa4 40.Kg2 Qa2 41.Qc7[/font] leaves White using the center as a base for an attack on Black's King position.

If [font color="darkred"]36.Qa2!? Qd6 37.Qa7[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]37...Bc8 38.Kh2 Kh7 39.Qb8 Qd8 40.Kg1 Kg8 41.Qa7[/font] gives White more activity, but Black's pieces are well-coordinated for defense.
[font color="magenta"]37...Qb6 38.Qb8+ Kg7 39.Kh2 Nxb5 40.Nxd5 Qd6 41.Qxb7[/font] leaves White clearly better, but Black's position is very defensible.

36.Kh2!

In preparation for coming operations, White moves his King to a square where it cannot be checked by Black's Bishop.
Also good is [font color="red"]36.Qa7! Nxb5 37.Qa8+ Kh7 38.Nxd5[/font] when:

[font color="red"]38...Nc7 39.Nf6+ Kg7 40.Nxd7 Nxa8 41.Nxf5+ gxf5 42.Bxb7[/font] leaves White with an extra pawn and stronger pawns.
[font color="darkred"]38...Qc8?[/font] drops a piece to [font color="darkred"]39.Qxc8! Bxc8 40.Nxb5.[/font]

36...Be4 37.Bh3 Qe7?

The worst ting about this move is that it allows White's reply. Otherwise, it removes some protection from the d-pawn, making it and the b-pawn vulnerable even if they don't look it from the diagram.
If [font color="red"]37...Qd6 38.f3 Bxf3 39.Nxf3 Nxe3 40.Qd4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]40...Nc4 41.Qa7 Qb6 42.Qb8+ Kg7 43.Bg2[/font] then:

[font color="red"]43...Ne3 44.Ne5 Nxg2 45.Kxg2 Nxb5 46.Nd7 Qd6 47.Qxb7[/font] gives White more activity, the initiative and a Knight for two pawns; a win for White, while very likely, is still problematic.
If [font color="magenta"]43...Nd6?[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]44.Qd8 Ne4 45.Nxg6 Kxg6 46.Ne5+ Kh7 47.Nd7,[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]40...Qe7?[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]41.b6! Nb5 42.Nxd5 Ng4+ 43.Kh1 Qd6 44.Qc4.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Lev Yankelevich[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Philipp Schlosser[/center][center]Position after 37...Qd7e7[/center]

38.f3!

The Bishop is trapped.

38...g5

Black is lost in all variations.
[font color="red"]38...Bxf3 39.b6 Nxb6 40.Nxf3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]40...Nc4 41.Qa7 b5 42.Ng5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]42...Nd6 43.Bg2[/font] then:

[font color="red"]43...Nde8 44.Qa2 Nf6 45.Bxd5 Nfxd5 46.Nxd5 Nxd5 47.Qa8+[/font] wins a piece.
[font color="darkorange"]43...Nf5 44.Qb8+ Kg7 45.Nxg6 fxg6 46.Qxc7 Qxc7 47.Ne6+[/font] leaves White a piece to the good.

[font color="magenta"]42...Ne6 43.Qxe7 Nxg5 44.hxg5[/font] when Black cannot escape mate.

[font color="darkred"]40...Qxe3 41.Qf6 Ne8 42.Qd8 Nc4 43.Ng5 Ncd6 44.Qd7[/font] gives White more active pieces; he has a Bishop for three pawns.

39.Nxh5

White wins a pawn and Black's Bishop is still trapped.

39...Qe5 40.hxg5

Also good is [font color="red"]40.fxe4 gxh4 41.Qa7 Ne8 42.Nf5 dxe4 43.Qxb7[/font] when White has an advanced passer.

40...Bxf3 41.Nf6+ Kh8 42.b6

[font color="red"]42.Qa7 Ne8 43.Nxf3 Qb2+ 44.Bg2 Nxf6 45.gxf6 Qxf6 46.Qxb7[/font] give White a prohibitive material advantage.

42...Na6 43.Nd7!

From d7, the Knight gains a tempo on the Queen and covers b8. We will momentarily see what is so important about b8.

43...Qg7

The retreat of the Queen is forced.
[font color="red"]43...Qxe3[/font] drops the Queen to [font color="red"]44.Nf5+,[/font]

[center]BLACK: Lev Yankelevich[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Philipp Schlosser[/center][center]Position after 43...Qe5g7[/center]

44.Qxa6!!

Of course Black must capture on a6, leaving him unable to stop White's b-pawn.

44...bxa6 45.b7 1-0

If [font color="red"]45...Qg8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]46.Nxf3 48.Nxa6 Nxe3 49.Bg2 Kg7 50.Nc7 Nxg2 51.Kxg2[/font] leaves White a piece to the good.
Slightly less precise, but still good enough, is [font color="darkred"]46.b8Q Qxb8 47.Nxb8 Bd1 Bh5 48.g4 Bg6 49.Nxa6,[/font] leaving White a piece to the good.

Herr Yankelvich resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

3. Russian Team Championship, Sochi

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Reply #1)

Tue May 7, 2013, 01:50 PM

May 2013

[center][/center]

[center]Black Sea Cossacks[/center]
[font size="1"]Kuban Cossacks, 19th Century in Wikipedia
(Public Domain)
[/font]

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

7. Caruana (Moskow) - Svidler (St. Petersburg), Round 6

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Reply #3)

Tue May 7, 2013, 01:58 PM

May 2013

[center][/center]

[center]Peter Svidler[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Stefan64 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64) in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category eter_Svidler)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
[/font]

Fabiano Caruana (Moskow) - Peter Svidler (St Petersburg)
Russian Team Championships, Round 6
Sochi, 12 April 2013

West India Game: Sämisch Opening (Uncommon Defense)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3

Il signore Caruana plays to discourage Peter Veniaminovich from playing the Indian Queen's Gambit (Grünfeld Defense), of which he is at present the world's greatest exponent.

3...Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nc3 0-0 6.Nge2

The game has reached a standard Sämisch Opening.

6...a6

Black does not yet commit himself in the center.
[font color="red"](King's Indian Defense)[/font]

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

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]West India Game: King's Indian Defense (Sämisch Opening)[/center][center]Position after 6...e5[/center]
[/font]

If [font color="red"]6...e5 7.Be3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]7...c6 8.Qd2 Nbd7 9.0-0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]9...a6 10.Kb1 b5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]11.Nc1[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]11...exd4 12.Bxd4 Re8 13.Nb3 Bf8[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]14.c5 dxc5 15.Bxc5 Bg7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]16.Bd6 Nb6 17.Qf4 Nh5 18.Qc1[/font] gives White more space and a better center (Rhode-Kurtz, Corres, 1999).
[font color="burgundy"]16.g4 a5 17.g5 a4 18.Nc1 Nd5 19.Bd4 Bxd4 20.Qxd4[/font] is equal (Sun Ainan-Qiao Lang. Chinese ChT, Suzhou, 2001).

[font color="#D0A020"]14.h4 h5 15.Qf4 b4 16.Na4 c5 17.Bxf6 Qxf6 18.Qxf6 Nxf6 19.Nb6[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Alterman-Cvitan, ZT, Zagreb, 1993).

If [font color="darkred"]11...Re8 12.d5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]12...b4 13.N3e2 cxd5 14.cxd5 Nb6 15.Qxb4 Rb8 16.Nb3[/font] is equal (Khasin-Boleslavsky, Soviet Ch ½-Final, Gorky, 1954).
[font color="magenta"]12...cxd5?! 13.Nxd5! Rb8 14.cxb5 axb5 15.Nxf6+ Bxf6 16.Qxd6[/font] gives White a powerful game (K. Grigorian-Tal, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1987).

If [font color="darkred"]11.c5 b4 12.Na4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]12...d5 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Nb6 Rb8 15.Ng3 Be6 16.Bd4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Istratescu-Akopian, Euro Ch, Ohrid, 2001).
If [font color="magenta"]12...Qa5 13.Qc2 d5 14.dxe5 Nxe5 15.Nb6[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]15...dxe4 16.Nc1 Be6[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]17.Nb3!? Bxb3! 18.Qxb3 Rad8[/font] gives Black a small advantage in space (Wang Doudou-Wang Jue, Chinese League, Beijing, 2012).
[font color="purple"]17.Nxa8 Rxa8 18.Nb3 Qc7 19.fxe4[/font] continues to gives White a small advantage in space.

[font color="darkorange"]15...Rb8? 16.Nd4! Rxb6 17.cxb6 dxe4 18.Nxc6 Nxc6 19.Qxc6[/font] gives White a powerful game with a strong passed pawn (Gasanov-Agasiyev, Op, Baku, 2007).

If [font color="darkred"]9...Qa5 10.Kb1[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]10...a6 11.Nc1 Re8 12.dxe5 dxe5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]13.g4 b5 14.Nb3 Qb4 15.Qd6 Qxd6 16.Rxd6[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space (Madsen-Doren, Corres, 1991).
[font color="darkorange"]13.Nb3 Qc7 14.c5 Bf8 15.Na4[/font] gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Savon-Brond, IT, Mar del Plata, 1971).

[font color="magenta"]10...b5 11.cxb5 cxb5 12.Nd5 Qxd2 13.Nxf6+ Nxf6 14.Rxd2 Be6 15.d5 Bd7 16.g4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space, but his Bishop is bad (L. B. Hansen-Barbaro, Op, Aalberg, 1991).

If [font color="darkred"]7...Nc6 8.Qd2 Nd7[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]9.d5 Ne7 10.g3 a5 11.Bg2 b6 12.0-0 Nc5 13.b3 Bd7 14.Nc1 f5 15.Bh6[/font] is equal (Sämisch-Yates, IT, Marienbad, 1925).
If [font color="magenta"]9.0-0-0 Nb6 10.b3 a5 11.dxe5 a4 12.Bxb6[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]12...axb3 13.Be3 bxa2 14.Nxa2 Bxe5 15.Nec3 Be6 16.f4 Na5 17.Qc2 Bg7 18.Nd5[/font] gives White an extra piece for a pawn (Dr. Euwe-Yates, IT 3132, Hastings, 1932.).
[font color="darkorange"]12...cxb6 13.Nxa4 Nxe5 14.Nac3 Nc6 15.Qxd6 Qg5+ 16.f4 Qa5 17.Rd5[/font] puts Black on the brink of elimination.

[font color="blue"](Tal-Indian Defense)[/font] For [font color="blue"]6...c5[/font] see Vitiugov-Ding Liren, TM/Stnadard TC, St Petersburg, 2012).

7.Bg5

If [font color="red"]7.Be3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]7...Nc6 8.Qd2 Rb8[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]9.h4 h5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]10.0-0-0 b5 11.Bh6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]11...e5 12.Bxg7 Kxg7[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.cxb5 axb5 15.Nf4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]15...b4 16.Ncd5 Nxd5 17.Nxd5 c5 18.f4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]18...Nc6!? 19.f5![/font] then:

If [font color="red"]19...Ne5!? 20.g4 Nxg4 21.Be2[/font] then:

[font color="red"]21...Nf6 22.Rhg1 Nxe4 23.Qf4 b3 24.a3 Nf6 25.fxg6[/font] gives White a strong advnatage with more space and the initiave for a pawn (Stieger-Versili, Corres, 1999).
If [font color="darkred"]21...Nf2 22.f6+!? Kh7! 23.Bxh5 Nxh1 24.Rxh1[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]24...Re8?? 25.Qg5! Re5 26.Ne7 Qg8 27.Bd1 Kh8 28.Qh6+[/font] Black cannot escape mate and resigns (Rivas Pastor-Mestel, ZT, Marbella, 1982).
[font color="magenta"]24...b3! 25.a3 Qe8 26.Bf3 Qe5[/font] leaves Black with a small advantage.

[font color="burgundy"]19...Ra8 20.Kb1 Ne5 21.b3 Bb7 22.Be2 Qa5[/font] is equal.

[font color="#D0A020"]18...Ng4 19.Bd3 f5 20.exf5 Bxf5 21.Bxf5 Rxf5 22.Rhe1[/font] is equal (deCrut-Butze, Corres, 1999).
[font color="darkpink"]15...Bd7 16.Ncd5 Nxd5 17.Nxd5 Be6 18.f4 Bxd5 19.Qxd5[/font] is equal (Deze-Quinteros, IT, Novi Sad, 1982).

If [font color="darkred"]13.d5 Na5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]14.cxb5 axb5 15.Ng3 b4 16.Nb5 c5 17.dxc6 Nxc6 18.Qg5[/font] gives White a small advantage in space with more activity (Ig. Ivanov-C. Blocker, USA, 1985).
[font color="magenta"]14.Ng3 b4 15.Nb1 c6 16.Qg5 cxd5 17.exd5 Nb7[/font] is equal (Gaul Pascual-Illescas Córdoba, Spanish Ch, Ayamonte, 2002).

If [font color="darkred"]11...bxc4[/font] then:

font color="darkred"]12.Bxg7 Kxg7 13.g4 hxg4 14.h5 Rh8 15.Ng3 e5[/font] gives Black command of the b-file, more space ad more freedom (Fernández-Chumpiatz, OlW, Istanbul, 2012).
If [font color="magenta"]12.g4 Nb4 13.Ng3[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]13...c5 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.d5[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]15...Rh8?![/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]16.Bxc4?![/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]16...Bd7? 17.g5! Nh7 18.a3 Qc7 19.f4 Rhc8 20.f5[/font] gives White a powerful advantage in the center and on the kingside Salov-Khalifman, Soviet Ch, Leningrad, 1987)

If [font color="darkorange"]16...hxg4 17.a3[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]17...gxf3 18.h5 Bd7 19.hxg6 fxg6 20.Rxh8 Qxh8 21.Rh1[/font] is equal.
[font color="purple"]17...Kf8 18.fxg4 Bxg4 19.Rdf1 Rh7[/font is equal.

[font color="#D0A020"]16.gxh5! Nxh5 17.Nxh5+ Rxh5 18.Bxc4 a5 19.a4 Qh8[/font] gives Black a stong game; he shoulsd win the h-pawn.

[font color="darkorange"]13...hxg4 14.h5 Bxh6 15.Qxh6 g5 16.Bxc4 gxf3 17.e5[/font] give White a slight advantage with a better center, more active pieces and a menacing attack on the kingside in compenastion for two pawns.

[font color="purple"]15...hxg4 16.Bxc4 gxf3 17.h5 Ng4 18.a3 Rg8[/font] gives Black a slight advantage.

If [font color="darkred"]10.Nc1[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]10...e5 11.d5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]11...Nd4 12.Nb3 Nxb3 13.axb3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]13...c5 14.Be2[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]14...Bd7 15.Nd1[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]15...Qb6 16.Nf2 Qxb3 17.Nd3 Rfc8 18.0-0 Be8 19.Ra3[/font] is equal (Christiansen-Dr. Nunn, Bundesliga 8889, Germany, 1988).
[font color="burgundy"]15...Ra8 16.b4 b6 17.bxc5 bxc5 18.b4 cxb4 19.Qxb4[/font] gives White more space, more freedom and activity and the initiative; Black has a weak passed pawn and a lead in development (Davies-Corkett, Op, London, 1991).

[font color="#D0A020"]14...Re8 15.g4 hxg4 16.fxg4 b5 17.h5 gxh5 18.g5[/font] gives White more activity for his pieces and more space on the kingside; Black can create counterplay on the queenside (Levit-Hebden, IT, London, 1990).

If [font color="magenta"]13...c6 14.Be2 cxd5 15.cxd5[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]15...Bd7 16.b4 Rc8 17.b5 axb5 18.Nxb5 Ne8 19.Ra7[/font] gives White a slight advantage with more activity, but he has some pitfalls to avoid (Christiansen-Djuric, IT, San Francisco, 1987).
[font color="darkorange"]15...Nd7 16.g4 Nf6 17.Rg1 Bd7 18.g5 Ne8 19.0-0-0[/font] is equal; White has a little more activity and more space; Black has fewer pawn weaknesses (Overeem-Obiamiwe. Op, Gibraltar, 2010).

[font color="burgundy"]11...Ne7 12.Be2 Bd7 13.Nd3 b6 14.0-0-0[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Van der Plas-Erofeev, Corres, 1991).

If [font color="magenta"]10...Ne8 11.Nb3 f5 12.0-0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]12...Nf6 13.exf5!? Bxf5[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]14.Be2 b5 15.Bh6 bxc4 16.Bxc4+ d5 17.Bd3[/font] gives White a small advantage as Black's dark-bound Bishop must come off (Novikov, Soviet Ch, Leningrad, 1990).
[font color="purple"]14.Bh6 e5 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.dxe5 dxe5 17.Qe3 Qe7[/font] is equal (Bykhovsky-Smirin, Op, Beijing, 1991).

[font color="darkorange"]12...e5 13.d5 Ne7 14.Kb1 f4 15.Bf2[/font] gives White a small but clear advantage.

If [font color="darkred"]9.Nc1 e5 10.d5 Nd4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]11.Nb3 Nxb3 12.axb3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]12...c5 13.b4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]13...cxb4 14.Na4 b5 15.cxb5 axb5 16.Qxb4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]16...Ne8 17.Nb6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]17...f5 18.Nxc8 Qxc8 19.Be2 fxe4 20.fxe4 Qc2 21.Bf3[/font] is equal (Polak-Olano Aizpurua, Corres, 1998).
[font color="burgundy"]17...Bh6 18.Bf2 Rxb6 19.Qa5 Ra6 20.Qxd8 Rxa1+ 21.Ke2[/font] gives each side a heavy piece in his opponent's back rank, making things very uncomfortable; Houdini calls it equal, but my staff and I like Black a little better (Santo Ristoro-Blanco Gramajo, Corres, 2000).

[font color="#D0A020"]16...Bd7 17.Nc3 Ne8 18.Be2 f5 19.0-0[/font] leaves White putting pressure on Black's weakling at d6 (Mirzoev-Safranska, Op, Lisbon, 2001).

If [font color="magenta"]13...b6 14.b5 a5 15.g4[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]15...h6 16.0-0-0 Kh7 17.g5 Ng8 18.gxh6 Bxh6 19.h4[/font]is equal (Taha-Smith, Ol, Moscow, 1994).
[font color="darkorange"]15...Ne8 16.0-0-0 f5 17.gxf5 gxf5 18.exf5 Bxf5 19.h4[/font] gives White more activity and space(Mirzoev-Zozulia, Op, Salou, Spain, 2005).

If [font color="magenta"]12...Nh5 13.b4 f5 14.0-0-0[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]14...f4 15.Bf2 Bf6 16.Kb1[/font] is equal (Jobava-Mgeladze, Georgian Ch, Tbilisi, 2002).

[font color="darkorange"]14...Qe8 15.Kb1 Nf4 16.Re1 fxe4 17.Nxe4 Qa4 18.g3[/font] is equal (Nisipeanu-Haub, Op, Vlissingen, 2003).

If [font color="magenta"]11.N1e2 c5 12.dxc6[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]12...Nxc6 13.Rd1 Be6[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]14.Nc1 Qc8 15.Nb3[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]15...Rd8 16.Be2 Ne8 17.0-0 b5 18.Nd5 Bxd5 19.cxd5[/font] gives White more freedom and space (Haubold-Dahlheimer, Bavaria, 2000).
[font color="burgundy"]15...b5 16.cxb5 axb5 17.Nxb5 d5 18.Rc1 d4 19.Bg5[/font] gives White an extra pawn, but Black has an advanced passer in the center and will inflict structual damage on White's queenside with 19...Bxb3 (Zamikovsky-Tukmakov, Ukrainian Ch, Kiev, 1963).

If [font color="darkorange"]14.Nd5!?[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]14...b5!? 15.cxb5! axb5 16.Nxf6+ Bxf6 17.g3 Bxa2 18.Qxd6[/font] is equal (Su. Polgar-Gufeld, IT, Wellington, New Zealand, 1988).
[font color="purple"]14...Bxd5! 15.cxd5 Ne7 16.h4 b5 17.g4[/font] gives White a slight advantage in space; Black has waited too long to press on the kingside.

If [font color="darkorange"]12...bxc6!? 13.Nxd4! exd4 14.Bxd4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkorange"]14...Re8 15.Be2 d5 16.cxd5[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]16...cxd5 17.e5 Nd7 18.f4 f6 19.exf6[/font] gives White a strong game (Omearat-Ezat, Op, Cairo, 2001).
[font color="purple"]16...Rb4 17.Bc5 Nxe4 18.fxe4 Bxc3 19.Qxc3[/font] gives White the initiative (Ehlvest-Smirin, Op, Foxwoods, 2003andFuchs-Hausman, Op, Görlitz, 1999).

[font color="#D0A020"]14...Qa5 15.Rc1 Re8 16.Be2 d5 17.cxd5 cxd5 18.e5[/font] gives White the initiative; he lags in development, otherwise it would be stronger (Zoja-Sarno, IT, Montecatini, 2002).

If [font color="darkred"]7...Nbd7 8.Qd2[/font]

[center]BLACK[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE[/center][center]West India Game: Tal-Indian Defense (Sämisch Opening)[/center][center]Position after 8...c5[/center]

If [font color="darkred"]8...c5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]9.Rd1 Qa5 10.Nc1 cxd4 11.Bxd4 Ne5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]12.Nb3 Qc7 13.Rc1[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]13...Qb8 14.Be2 Bd7 15.f4 Bh6 16.Nd5 Nxd5 17.exd5[/font] leaves White slightly better with the superior center, but still with lagging development (Lahno-Dembo, Euro Club Cup W, Rogaska Slatina, 2011).
[font color="burgundy"]13...e6 14.Be2 b6 15.0-0 Bb7 16.Rfd1 Rfd8 17.Be3[/font] leaves White slightly better in space.(Christiansen-Dr. Nunn, Op, Cologne, 1989).

[font color="#D0A020"]12.Be2 Be6 13.Nb3 Qb4 14.Nd5 Qxd2+ 15.Rxd2 Bxd5[/font] is equal (Westerinen-Gat, Student Ol, Orebro, Sweden, 1966).

If [font color="magenta"]9.dxc5[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]9...Nxc5 10.Nd4 Ne6[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]11.Be2 Nxd4 12.Bxd4 Be6 13.0-0 Qa5 14.Rfd1 Rfc8[/font] is equal (Darga-Toran Alberto, Ol, Munich, 1958).
[font color="burgundy"]11.Nc2 Bd7 12.Be2 Rb8 13.a4 Nc5 14.Ra3 a5[/font] is equal (Svetushkin-Tsarouhas, Greek ChT, Ermioni, 2005).

If [font color="darkorange"]9...dxc5 10.0-0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="darjorange"]10...Qc7 11.Nf4 e6 12.h4 Ne5 13.Qd6 Qxd6 14.Rxd6[/font] leaves White slightly better (Vakhidov-Z. Lanka, World ChT, Lucerne, 1993).
If [font color="purple"]10...Qa5 11.Kb1 b5 12.Nd5[/font] then:

If [font color="purple"]12...Nxd5!? 13.Qxa5 Nxe3 14.Rc1[/font] then:

If [font color="purple"]14...Nxc4 15.Rxc4 bxc4 16.Nc3 Rb8 17.f4 Bd4 18.Bxc4 Rb4[/font] is equal (Hempel-Eger, 1985).
If [font color="darkpink"]14...Ne5!? 15.Nf4![/font] then:

[font color="darkpink"]15...N5xc4?! 16.Bxc4! Nxc4 17.Rxc4 bxc4 18.Qc7 a5 19.Rd1[/font] gives White greater activty; Black has an inactive Rook, a Bishop and a pawn for the Queen (Babev-Düball, World ChTU26, Ybba, 1968).
[font color="#D020A0"]15...Nxf1 16.cxb5 Ne3 17.b6 Bh6 18.g3 [/font] give White an active Queen for three not-terribly-well coordinated minor pieces.

[font color="#D0A020"]12...Qd8 13.Nxf6+ Bxf6 14.Bxc5 Qc7 15.Be3 bxc4 16.Nc3[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

Transposing to a King's Indian, [font color="darkorchid"]8...e5,[/font] is playable; [font color="darkorchid"]9.d5 Nh5 10.Nd1 f5 11.exf5 gxf5 12.Bf2[/font] gives White a slight advantage (Houdini); Black should play on the kingside.

7...c6

If [font color="red"]7...Nbd7 8.Qd2 c5[/font] then:

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

If [font color="red"]9...b5 10.cxb5 Qa5 11.Nc1[/font] then:

[font color="red"]11...axb5 12.Nxb5 Nb6 13.Qxa5 Rxa5 14.Bd2[/font] gives White an extra pawn and the initiative; Black has better pawns and a lead in development (Ignatiadis-Inarkiev, Op, Athens, 2005).
If [font color="darkred"]11...Nb6 12.a3 axb5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]13.Nxb5!? Bd7! 14.Qxa5 Rxa5 15.Nc3 Rb8 16.Bd2[/font] gives White a slight edge with more spacwe, but his development is lagging (Iljushin-Inarkiev, Russian Ch, Krasnodar, 2002).
[font color="magenta"]13.Bxb5 Bd7 14.Bf1 Rfb8 15.Nd1 Qxd2+ 16.Kxd2 Ba4[/font] gives Black a slight edge with more activity.

If [font color="darkred"]9...Ne5 10.Ng3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]10...b5?! 11.cxb5 Qb6 12.a4 axb5 13.Bxb5 Ba6 14.0-0[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Novikov-Topalov, IT, Antwerp, 1997).
[font color="magenta"]10...Ned7 11.Be2 Re8 12.Bh6 Qa5 13.Bxg7 Kxg7 14.f4[/font] fives White a small advantage in space

If [font color="darkred"]9.dxc5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]9...dxc5!? 10.Rd1 Qa5 11.Nc1 e6 12.Be2 Ne5 13.f4[/font] gives White a fairly strong advantage (Sadler-Asanov, Op, London, 1993).
[font color="magenta"]9...Nxc5 10.Be3 Nfd7 11.Rd1 Qa5 12.Rb1[/font] gives White a slight advantage with more space; Black has a lead in development.

8.Qd2 b5 9.h4

9.Ng3 Nbd7 10.Be2 Nb6 11.cxb5 axb5 12.0-0

(Kantsler-Felgaer, IT, Jerusalem, 2005).

9...h5 10.0-0-0 (N)

10.Ng3 Nbd7 11.0-0-0 c5

[font color="red"]12.Bh6 Bxh6 13.Qxh6 cxd4 14.Rxd4 Ne5 15.c5[/font] gives Black more activity and space (Benjamin-Grefe, IT, San Francisco, 1991).
If [font color="darkred"]12.dxc5 Nxc5 13.e5 Nh7[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]14.Bh6 b4 15.Nd5 Bxe5 16.Bxf8 Qa5 17.Kb1[/font] is equal.
[font color="magenta"]14.Bf4!? Ne6 15.Bh6 dxe5 16.Bxg7 Qxd2+ 17.Rxd2 Kxg7[/font] is equal.

10...Nbd7

The game is equal.

11.g4?!

Black has yet to establish a presence in the center after 11 moves. Disclaimer: Don't try this at home.
In stead of opening the flank and attacking there, White might do better to resolve the center first. Black has thus far violated chess SOP by not establishing a presence in the center, so why should White not punish Black by filling the void?
If [font color="red"]11.e5 Ne8 12.g4 hxg4 13.fxg4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]13...Nb6 14.exd6 Nxd6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]15.c5 b4 16.cxb6 bxc3 17.Nxc3 Bxg4 18.Re1 Re8[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and White more freedom.
[font color="burgundy"]15.h5!? Nbxc4 16.Qe1 Bxg4 17.hxg6 fxg6 18.Qh4 Bh5[/font] gives Black two extra pawns, but White's attack on the kingside is adequate compensation.

If [font color="darkred"]13...dxe5 14.h5 Nb6 15.Qe1 Bxg4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]16.hxg6 fxg6 17.Qh4 Qc8 18.dxe5 Nxc4 19.Bxe7[/font] gives White a small advantage, but he must play vigorously to exploit it.
If [font color="magenta"]16.h6 Bf6 17.Bxf6 exf6[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]18.dxe5 Qe7 19.Qh4 Bxe2 20.Bxe2 b4 21.Nb1 Qxe5[/font] gives Black two extra pawns.
If [font color="darkorange"]18.h7+? Kh8[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]19.dxe5 Qe7 20.Qh4 Bxe2 21.Bxe2 Qxe5 22.Rhe1 bxc4[/font] gives Black three extra pawns.
If [font color="purple"]19.Bg2?[/font] then Black wins after [font color="purple"]19...Nxc4 20.dxe5 Qb6 21.e6 Qe3+ 22.Kb1 Qxe6.[/font]

11...b4?!

Black gains an unimportant tempo on the Knight and advances a pawn he may later have trouble defending.

11...hxg4! 12.h5 gxf3 13.h6 Bh8 14.Ng1 Nh7

12.Na4!

The game is again equal.

12...hxg4 13.Ng3

If [font color="red"]13.Bg2[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]13...Rb8 14.h5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]14...Nh7 15.hxg6 fxg6 16.Bh6 Rf7 17.Bxg7 Rxg7 18.e5[/font] is equal.
If [font color="darkred"]14...Nxh5!? 15.fxg4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]15...Nhf6 16.Bf3 Qa5 17.Bh6 Bh8 18.Bxf8 Nxf8 19.b3[/font] gives White open attacking lanes leading to the Black King in compensation for the sacrificed pawn.
If [font color="magenta"]15...b3?! 16.axb3 Nhf6 17.Bf3![/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]17...Nh7 18.Bh6 Bf6 19.g5 Bh8 20.e5 dxe5 21.dxe5[/font] gives White a clear advantage in activity; Black technically has better pawns, but his position is badly cramped.
If [font color="darkorange"]17...Rxb3? 18.Nec3[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]18...Re8 19.Bh6 Bh8 20.Qh2 Rb4 21.e5 Rxc4 22.Bg5[/font] leaves White with a Rook for two pawns.
If [font color="purple"]18...Qc7 19.Bh6[/font] then:

[font color="purple"]19...Bh8 20.Qh2 Re8 21.Bf8 Nh5 22.gxh5 g5 23.Bh6[/font] leaves White with a Rook for a pawn.
If [font color="#D0A020"]19...Bxh6[/font] then White wins after [font color="#D0A020"]20.Qxh6 Rxc3+ 21.bxc3 Nh5 22.Rxh5 gxh5 23.Qg5+.[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]13...Qa5 14.b3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]14...Re8 15.h5 Nxh5 16.fxg4 Nhf6 17.Bh6 Bh8 18.e5[/font] is equal.
If [font color="magenta"]14...Bb7!? 15.h5 Rae8[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]16.hxg6! fxg6 17.Bh6 Rf7 18.Bxg7 Rxg7 19.fxg4[/font] will soon White a fierce attack on Black's King in compensation for the pawn.
[font color="darkorange"]16.h6!? Bh8 17.fxg4 Nh7 18.Bf4 c5 19.d5 Bc8[/font] is equal.

13...Nh7

The engines say that Black has a slight advantage, but we find that judgment hard to accept when White has a pawn trio on the fourth rank and White's pieces are more active.; Black has an extra pawn, but he is unlikely to hold foremost g-pawn. We jusdge this poasition equal.

14.Bh6 gxf3 15.Bxg7!?

This is where White starts to lose the thread of the game. He should maintain the Bishop and let Black take it, recapture with the while pushing the h-pawn in the boilerplate attack on a fiancheyyoed position.

15.h5 Bxh6 16.Qxh6 e6

[font color="red"]17.e5 Qg5+ 18.Qxg5 Nxg5 19.exd6 e5 20.dxe5 Re8[/font] remains equal.
[font color="darkred"]17.hxg6 Qg5+ 18.Rd2 Qxh6 19.Rxh6 Nhf6 20.gxf7+ Kxf7[/font] remains equal.

15...Kxg7 16.h5?!

Without the Bishop to command the dark squares around Black's King, White kingside inicursion is at least temporaily infeasible.
Much better is [font color="red"]16.Qxb4 Ndf6[/font] when:

[font color="red"]17.h5 Ng5 18.e5 Nxh5 19.Nxh5+ gxh5 20.Rxh5 f6[/font] is equal.
If [font color="darkred"]17.Qc3[/font] (it cost White two tempi, but now the Queen is poised to command the dark squre in lieu of the departed Bishop) [font color="darkred"]17...Qc7 18.h5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]18...Rd8[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]19.hxg6 fxg6 20.Rd3 Bg4 21.e5 dxe5 22.dxe5[/font] is equal.
[font color="darkorange"]19.Re1 e5 20.hxg6 fxg6 21.dxe5 dxe5 22.Qxf3 Qa5[/font] is equal.

[font color="magenta"]18...Ng5!? 19.Qe3! Nfh7 20.e5 dxe5 21.dxe5 Bf5 22.Nxf5+[/font] gives White a clear advantage; Black has an extra pawn, but his pawn structure is atrocious.

[center]BLACK: Peter Svidler[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Fabiano Caruana[/center][center]Position after 16.h4h5[/center]

16...g5!

Now it's Black who holds a superior game on the kingside. His two connected passers color the rest of the game.

17.Qxb4 Ndf6!?

Black misses an opportunity to develop a piece with tempo.
If [font color="red"]17...Rb8 18.h6+ Kh8 19.Qd2 Nb6 20.Nc3 g4[/font] gives Black enough strenth on the flanks to balance White's strength in the center.

18.Rd3! g4 19.Rg1?!

The Knight is in no danger right now and doesn't need the Rook to cover it as badly as the pawn.
If [font color="red"]19.e5 Ng8 20.h6+ Kh8[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]21.c5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]21...Be6 22.Nb6 Rb8 23.Ra3 f6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]24.Bd3 Qc7 25.Bxh7 Kxh7 26.Re3 dxe5 27.dxe5 Rbd8[/font] gives Black a slight advantage with command of the d-file and passed pawns on the kingside; White can shift his attack to the kingside.
If [font color="darkred"]24.Rxa6?![/font] (White grabs an unimportant pawn and limits the scope of the Rook) [/font color="darkred"]24...dxe5![/font] (Black breaks open the center and destroys White's strength there) [font color="darkred"]25.dxe5 Qc7[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]26.Rh5 Rbd8 27.Bc4 Bxc4 28.Qxc4 f5 29.Qc3 f2[/font]gives great strength to Black's kingside pawns.
[font color="magenta"]26.Bd3 Qxe5 27.Qe4 Ng5 28.Qxe5 fxe5 29.Rh5 Rbd8[/font] gives Black three connected passers on the kingside and command of the d-file.

[font color="#D0A020"]21...d5!? 22.Nb6 Ra7 23.Qa4 Qc7 24.Ra3 e6[/font] will keep Black's Bishop inactive for some time.

[font color="darkorchid"]21.Qc3 Qc7 22.Re3 Rb8 23.b3 dxe5 24.dxe5 e6[/font] weakens White's control of the center and gives Black connected advanced passers to menace White on the kingside.

[center]BLACK: Peter Svidler[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Fabiano Caruana[/center][center]Position after 19.Rh1g1[/center]

19...Qc7!

Black has an impressive advantage with an extra pawn, connected passers on the kingside and the ability to wrest command of the open b-file from White.

20.Qd2

White has no room for error.
If [font color="red"]20.h6+? Kh8 21.Qc3 Ng5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]22.Qe1 Rb8 23.Qc3 Rg8 24.Re3 d5 25.exd5 cxd5[/font] gives White an extra pawn, an advanced passer and command of the b-file.
If [font color="darkred"]22.Re3 d5 23.exd5 cxd5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]24.Rd3 Nge4 25.Nxe4 Nxe4 26.Qa3 Qf4+ 27.Re3 Qxh6[/font] wins material for Black.
If [font color="magenta"]24.Qd3 Nge4 25.Nxe4 Nxe4[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]26.Nc5[/font] then Black wins after [font color="magenta"]26...Qh2 27.Nxe4 dxc4 28.Qd2 Qxg1 29.Re1 Qh1.[/font]
[font color="darkorange"]26.Rxe4 dxe4 27.Qxe4 Qh2 28.Qe5+ Qxe5 29.dxe5 Rb8[/font] gives Black dangerous passed pawns and more freedom.

20...Kh8 21.c5 Rb8 22.b3

White is running out of playable moves.
If [font color="red"]22.h6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]22...Rd8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]23.b3 dxc5 24.Nxc5 a5 25.e5 Nd5 26.Qb2 Ng5[/font] leaves Black with an extra pawn and connected passers; White's center pawns are restrained.
If [font color="burgundy"]23.cxd6[/font] then Black wins after [font color="burgundy"]23...exd6 24.b3 Re8 25.Re3 Ng5 26.Bd3 Qe7.[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]22...Rg8 23.Rc3 Rb4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]24.Rc4 dxc5 25.e5 Nd7 26.Rxb4 cxb4 27.Qxb4 c5[/font] gives Black anattack on the queenside, whenere White's King is.
[font color="magenta"]24.b3 Ng5 25.Rc2 a5 26.Qe3 Nfxe4 27.Nxe4 Nxe4 28.Qxe4 d5[/font] gives Black a clear advantage as White's Queen is forced to retreat.

22...Rg8 23.Rc3

[font color="red"]23.Qe3 dxc5 24.Nxc5 Rg5 25.h6 e5 26.dxe5 Qxe5[/font] continues to give White an extra pawn.

23...e5 24.dxe5 dxe5 25.Qe3?

The straw breaks the camel's back.
[font color="red"]25.Bc4 Rd8 26.Rd3 Rxd3 27.Bxd3 Qe7 28.Kb1 Ne8[/font] leaves Black's win problematic, but extremely likely.

[center]BLACK: Peter Svidler[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Fabiano Caruana[/center][center]Position after 25.Qd2e3[/center]

25...a5!

White has a choice of several winning plans.
The best appears to be [font color="red"]25...Rd8 26.Bc4 Rd4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]27.h6 Be6 28.Nb2 a5 29.Rc2 Qe7[/font] when:

If [font color="red"]30.Bxe6 fxe6 31.Rc4 Rbd8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]32.Kb1 Qf8 33.Rc2 a4 34.bxa4 Rb8 35.Ka1 Qd8[/font] gives Black control of the center and command of two open files.
If [font color="darkred"]32.Rc2 Qf8[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]33.Kb1 Ng8 34.Nf1 Nhf6 35.h7 Ne7 36.Ng3 Qg7[/font] gives Black an extra pawn, an advance protected passer and command of the open file; White has no effective counterplay.
[font color="magenta"]33.Rc3 Qg8 34.Nd3 Qg5 35.Qxg5 Nxg5 36.Nxe5 f2[/font] gives Black two passed pawns, one storming the citidel wall that can be protected as soon as it is blocked 37.Rf1 Nxe4, and doubled Rooks on the open d-file.

If [font color="darkred"]30.Bd3 Nd7[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]31.Rd1 Nxc5 32.Bc4 Qf6 33.Rcd2 Bxc4 34.Nxc4 a4[/font] gives Black two extra pawns and control of the center; Black has no counterplay at all.
If [font color="magenta"]31.Nf5 Bxf5 32.exf5 Nxc5[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]33.Re1 Rbd8 34.Bf1 Ne4 35.Nd3 Qa3+ 36.Kb1 a4[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and two connected passers; White's is suffocating to death.
If [font color="darkorange"]33.Bc4[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkorange"]33...Ng5 34.Rd1 Rbd8 35.Rxd4 Rxd4 36.Bd3 Nxd3+.[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]27.Nb6 a5 28.Kb2 Be6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]29.Rgc1 Nd7 30.Qh6 Ndf8 31.Kb1 Qd8 32.Bxe6 Nxe6[/font] gives Black an extra pawn, connected advanced passers and command of an open file; White's Queen cannot create anything more than an idle threat by itself.
[font color="magenta"]29.Bxe6 fxe6 30.Ka1 Rg8 31.Kb2 Ng5 32.Rc4 Qd8[/font] gives Black an extra pawn, connected advanced passers and command of an open file; White has no way to enter Black's position

Also good is [font color="blue"]25...Ng5! 26.Bc4 Be6[/font] when:

[font color="blue"]27.Rd1 Bxc4 28.Rxc4 Rbd8 29.Rxd8 Qxd8 30.Qc3 Re8[/font] gives Black an extra pawn, a protected passer and command of the d-file.
If [font color="darkblue"]27.Kb1 Nh3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]28.Rh1 Nf4 29.Nb6 a5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkblue"]30.h6 Rgd8[/font] then:

[font color="darkblue"]31.Bxe6 fxe6 32.Rc4 Rd3 33.Qe1 Qh7 34.Kb2 Nh3[/font] leaves Black with an extra pawn, an advanced protected passer and almost as much space on White's side of the board than White has.
If [font color="slateblue"]31.Rcc1[/font] then Black wins after [font color="slateblue"]31...Bxc4 32.Rxc4 Rd3 33.Qe1 Qd8 34.Rc1 Rd2.[/font]

[font color="darkcyan"]30.Bxe6 fxe6 31.Qe1 Rgd8 32.Rc4 Rd4 33.Qc3 Rbd8[/font] White cannot prevent the Rooks from penetrating deeper into his territory and assisting the f-pawn forward.

[font color="dodgerblue"]28.Rgc1 Nf4 29.Nb6 a5 30.R3c2 Rgd8 31.Rf1 Rd4[/font] gives Black the center, which he will use as a pivot point to set up a direct attack on White's King.

26.Nb6

[font color="red"]26.h6 Be6 27.Nb6 Ng5 28.Kb2 Qd8 29.Rd3 Qf8[/font] leaves Black with an extra pawn and a protected passer at f3.

26...Be6 27.Nc4

If [font color="red"]27.Bc4 Rbd8[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]28.Bxe6 fxe6 29.Nc4 Ng5 30.Rd3 Rxd3 31.Qxd3 a4[/font] continues to give Black an extra pawn and advanced connected passers.
If [font color="darkred"]28.Rc2 Ng5 29.Rd1 Nfh7 30.Rcd2 Rxd2 31.Rxd2 Qe7[/font] continues to give Black an extra pawn and advanced connected passers.

27...a4 28.bxa4 Rb4

If [font color="red"]28...Qa7[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]29.Nxe5 Qxa4 30.Bc4 Bxc4 31.Nxc4 Rb4.[/font]

29.Nb6 Qa7

If [font color="red"]29...Bxa2 30.Bc4 Rb1+[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]31.Kc2 Rxg1 32.Qxg1 Bxc4 33.Rxc4 Rd8[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]34.Qe3 Qe7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]35.Rc3 Nxh5 36.Nxh5 Qh4 37.Qh6 Rg8 38.Nc4 Rg6[/font] leaves Black two pawns to the good with advanced connected passers.
[font color="burgundy"]35.Kb2 Ne8 36.a5 Qf6 37.Rc2 Qf4 38.Qe1 Nc7[/font] gives Black an extra pawn, connected passers and command of the d-file.

[font color="#D0A020"]34.Nf5 Ng5 35.Qe1 Kh7 36.Qe3 Rg8 37.a5 Nxh5[/font] leaves White with two extra pawns.

If [font color="darkred"]31.Kd2 Rxg1 32.Qxg1 Bxc4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]33.Nxc4 Qb8[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]34.Nb6 Qf8 35.Qe3 Ng5 36.Kc2 Nxh5 37.Nxh5 Qh6[/font] gives White two extra pawns (the Knight at h5 is deadwood) and command of avenues of attack.
[font color="darkorange"]34.Qe3 Qb4 35.a5 Ng5 36.a6 Qa4 37.Rc1 Qxa6[/font] leaves Black two pawns up with the White King exposed in the center.

[font color="magenta"]33.Rxc4 Nf8 34.Kc1 Kh7 35.Qe1 Ne6 36.Qf2 Nf4[/font] gives Black an extra pawn, connected passers and more active pieces.

30.a5

[center]BLACK: Peter Svidler[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Fabiano Caruana[/center][center]Position after 30.a4a5[/center]

30...Rd8

Black hits a speed bump on his way to victory.
If [font color="red"]30...Qxa5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]31.a3 f2 32.Rg2 Rxe4 33.Nxe4 Nxe4 34.Rxf2 Nxc3[/font] leaves White a pawn down while another is deadwood; Black should win easily.
If [font color="darkred"]31.Ra3 Rb3 32.Rxb3 Bxb3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]33.axb3 f2! 34.Qxf2 Qa1+ 35.Kd2 Qb2+ 36.Ke3 Qc1+[/font] wins a pawn after 37.Qd2 or just about everything available after 37.Ke2 Rd8 38.Nd5 Nxd5.
[font color="magenta"]33.Qxb3 Qxc5+ 34.Nc4 Qxg1 35.Nxe5 Qxg3 36.Nxf7+ Kg7[/font] Black will win either the Knight or the Bishop at f1.

31.a6 Bxa2 32.Bd3 Bb3 33.Nf5

If [font color="red"]33.Rh1 Be6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]34.Rd1 Rbd4 35.Rd2 Kg7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]36.Rcc2 Nd7 37.h6+ Kh8 38.Nxd7 Qxd7 39.Bf1 Kg8[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and more power up the middle; each side has an adcanced passer.
If [font color="darkred"]36.h6+ Kh8 37.Rb2 Kg8[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]38.Ra3 Qe7 39.Rc3 Kf8 40.Kb1 Ne8 41.Bc4 Qa7[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and command of the d-file.
[font color="magenta"]38.Qd2 Nxe4 39.Nxe4 Rxe4 40.Bxe4 Rxd2 41.Kxd2 Ng5[/font] gives Black better piece coordination and an extra pawn and a Queen for two Rook.

[font color="darkorchid"]34.Rh2 Rdd4 35.Rb2 Rxb2 36.Kxb2 Nd7 37.Nxd7 Rxd7[/font] continues to give Black an extra pawn

33...Be6 34.Kc2

A more stubborn defense is [font color="red"]34.Ra3 Bxf5 35.exf5 Rf4 36.Rf1 g3[/font] but it won't change the result.

34...Bxf5 35.exf5 e4 36.Bc4

If [font color="red"]36.Bf1[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]36...Qb8 37.Qe1 Qh2+ 38.Bg2 e3 39.Qxe3 Re8.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Peter Svidler[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Fabiano Caruana[/center][center]Position after 36.Bd3c4[/center]

36...Rxc4!!

The exchange sacrifice deflects the Rook from the third rank and wins quickly.

37.Rxc4

If [font color="red"]37.Nxc4 Qxa6 38.Rb1 Qa2+[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]39.Rb2 Qa4+ 40.Kb1 Rd1+ 41.Rc1 Nd5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]42.Rb8+ Kg7 43.f6+ Nhxf6 44.Qg5+ Kh7[/font] leaves White out of checks.
If [font color="magenta"]42.Qb3[/font] then after [font color="magenta"]42...Rxc1+ 43.Kxc1 Qxb3 44.Rxb3 g3[/font] at least one of Black's pawns will queen.

If [font color="darkred"]39.Nb2[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkred"]39...Nd5 40.Qd4+ Nhf6 41.Rb3 g3 42.Qd2 e3.[/font]

37...Qxa6 38.Qb3

If [font color="red"]38.Ra4[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]38...Qd3+ 39.Qxd3 exd3+ 40.Kd2 f2 41.Rf1 g3.[/font]

38...Qa5 39.Rc3 f2 40.Rb1 e3 41.Nc4

If [font color="red"]41.Rd3 Qxc5+ 42.Nc4 Nd5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]43.Kb2[/font] then Black wins after [font color="red"]43...e2 44.Rdd1 e1Q 45.Rxe1 fxe1Q 46.Rxe1 Qf2+.[/font]
If [font color="darkred"]43.Qa4[/font] then Black wins after [font color="darkred"]43...e2 44.Kd2 Re8 45.Qa1+ f6 46.Rg3 Qxc4.[/font]

41...e2 0-1

White cannot stop one of Black's pawns from queening.
Il signore Caruana resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

4. Chinese Championships, Xinghua

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Reply #1)

Tue May 7, 2013, 01:51 PM

May 2013

[center][/center][font size="1"]]Photo by Nicolas Perrault (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Nicolas_M._Perrault) in Wikipedia
(Public Domain) [/font]

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

8. Wang Yue - Xiu Deshun, Round 5

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Reply #4)

Tue May 7, 2013, 01:59 PM

May 2013

Wang Yue won the Chinese national championship by a point and a half over his nearest rival.

[center][/center]

[center]Wang Yue[/center]
[font size="1"]Photo by Frank Hoppe (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Samson1964) in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wang_yue_20081119_olympiade_dresden.jpg)
(Public Domian)
[/font]

Wang Yue - Xiu Deshun
Chinese Championships (General Group), Round 5
Xinghua, 20 April 2013

English Game: Catalan Opening/Slav Defense

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 d5 3.Bg2 c6 4.c4 Bg4 5.Ne5

For notes on this and related openings and for the continuation [font color="red"]5.0-0 e6 6.cxd5 exd57.h3 Bxf3 8.Bxf3 Nbd7,[/font] see Galliamova-Sebag, FIDE Knock OutW, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2011.

5...Be6

If [font color="red"]5...Bf5 6.cxd5 cxd5 7.Nc3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]7...e6 8.Qa4+ Nbd7 9.g4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]9...Bg6 10.h4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]10...h6 11.Nxg6 fxg6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]12.g5 hxg5 13.hxg5 Rxh1+ 14.Bxh1 Nh5 15.d3[/font] gives White more freedom and space (G. Hanssen-E. Thingstad, Op, Tromsø, 2009).
If [font color="darkred"]12.Qc2 Kf7 [/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"] 13.d4 Bb4 14.g5 [/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"] 14...hxg5 15.Bxg5 Rc8 16.Rh3 Qa5 [/font] then:

[font color="darkred"] 17.Bd2 Rc4 18.a3 Bxc3 19.Bxc3 [/font] is equal (Gareev-Skurikhin, Moscow Op, 2007)
[font color="purple"]17.Kf1 b5 18.Bd2 Bd6 19.Qd3 b4 [/font] is equal (Goletiani-Krush, US ChW, St Louis, 2009).

[font color="darkorange"]14...Bxc3+!? 15.bxc3 hxg5 16.Bxg5 Rc8 17.Rh3 Qa5 18.Rg3 [/font] is equal.

[font color="magenta"]13.g5 hxg5 14.hxg5 Rxh1+ 15.Bxh1 Qc7 16.Bg2 [/font] is equal (Khoenashvili-Solomons, World ChTW, Mardin, Turkey, 2011).

If [font color="darkred"]10...Bd6 11.d4 [/font] then:

[font color="darkred"] 11...h5 12.Nxg6 fxg6 13.g5 Ng4 14.Qc2 0-0 15.Qxg6 [/font] leaves White clearly dominant (Niemi-Kulakov, World Jr Ch, Gaziantep, Turkey, 2008).
If [font color="magenta"]11...h6 12.Nxg6 fxg6 [/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"] 13.Qc2 [/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]13...Nf8 14.e4 dxe4 15.g5 hxg5 16.hxg5 Rxh1+ 17.Bxh1 [/font] gives White a small initiative; Black cannot hold the extra pawn (Iljin-Khudiakov, IT, Alushta, 2008).
[font color="purple"]13...Kf7!? 14.g5 hxg5 15.hxg5 Rxh1+ 16.Bxh1 Ng4 17.Qb3 [/font] gives White stronger pawns, the initiative and more space; the retreat route for Black's Knight is mined with White pawns.

[font color="darkorange"]13.g5! hxg5 14.hxg5 Rxh1+ 15.Bxh1 Ng4 16.Bg2 [/font] gives White a greatly superior position: Black's Knight at d7 is pinned and Black's other Knight has only one flight square, and that a poor one (h2).

If [font color="darkred"]9...Bc2 10.Qxc2 Nxe5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]11.g5 Nfd7 12.d4 Nc6 13.Be3 Rc8 14.h4 Nb6[/font] gives Black better minor pieces (P. Littlewood-V. Kovacevic, IT 8283, Hastings, 1983).
[font color="magenta"]11.h3 Be7 12.Qa4+ Nc6 13.d3 Nd7 14.Bf4 a6[/font] gives Black better minor pieces and more space (Rougle-Muminova, OlW, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).

If [font color="darkred"]7...Nc6[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]8.Nxc6 bxc6 9.d3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]9...e5 10.0-0 Be6 11.e4 h6 12.Qe2 d4 13.Na4[/font] is equal (Gonda-Bulski, Bundesliga 1011, Griesheim, 2010).
[font color="burgundy"]9...e6 10.e4 Bg6 11.Qa4 Qd7 12.0-0 Be7 13.b3[/font] is equal (Bruzón Bautista-Caruana, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2009).

If [font color="magenta"]8.Qa4 Bd7 9.Nxd7 Qxd7 10.d3 e6[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]11.0-0 Be7[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]12.e4 0-0 13.Bg5[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]13...dxe4 14.dxe4 Rad8 15.Rac1 Ng4 16.Rfd1 Qe8[/font] is equal after exchanges on d8 and e7 (Sundararajan-Rijnaarts, Op, Leiden, 2012).

[font color="purple"]12.Bd2 0-0 13.Rfc1 Rfc8 14.a3 a6 15.Qd1 b5[/font] is equal (Vega Holm-García Ilundain, Spanish ChT, Cala Galdina, 2001).

[font color="darkorange"]11.Bg5 Be7 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.e3 a6 14.d4 Rc8[/font] is equal (Houdini).

6.cxd5 Bxd5 7.Nf3 c5 8.0-0 e6

[font color="red"]8...Nbd7 9.d3 Bc6 10.e4 e5 11.a4 b6 12.Na3[/font] is equal (Fierro Baquero-Corke, OlW, Istanbul, 2012).

9.Nc3 Bc6 10.d3

[font color="red"]10.d4[/font] transposes into the Slav Catalan.

10...Nbd7

If [font color="red"]10...Be7 11.e4 0-0 12.Qe2[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]12...b5 13.a4 b4 14.Nb1 Bb7 15.Nbd2[/font] then:

[font color="red"]15...Ba6 16.Nc4 Nc6 17.e5 Nd5 18.Qe4 b3 19.Qg4[/font] is equal (Vishnu-Ghaem Meghami, Op, Dubai, 2012).
[font color="burgundy"]15...Nc6 16.Nc4 Nd7 17.Bf4 Nb6 18.Rfd1 Nxc4 19.dxc4[/font] is equal (Z. Rahman-Amanov, Ol, Istanbul, 2012).

If [font color="darkred"]12...b6 13.Rd1[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]13...Nbd7 14.d4 Bb7 15.d5 exd5 16.exd5 Re8 17.Qc2[/font] is equal (Hausrath-Ris, Bundesliga 0910, Mülheim, 2010).
If [font color="magenta"]13...Qc8!? 14.d4[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]14...cxd4 15.Nxd4[/font] (White has a small advantage in space) then:

If [font color="magenta"]15...e5? 16.Nf5![/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]16...Re8 17.Bg5 Nbd7 18.Rac1 Bf8 19.Nd5 Re6 20.Bh3[/font] White soon wins (González García-Mastre Bellido, Op, Sabadell, Spain, 2010).
[font color="#D0A020"]16...Bc5 17.Be3 Qb7 18.Bxc5 bxc5 19.Rd2 g6 20.Qe3[/font] doesn't give Black any rich prospects, either.

[font color="purple"]15...Bb7 16.Bg5 Nc6 17.Ncb5 Nxd4 18.Rxd4[/font] continues to give White a small advantage in space.

[font color="darkorange"]14...Re8 15.Bg5 Nbd7 16.dxc5 Bxc5 17.Nd4 Bxd4 18.Rxd4[/font] gives White just a slight edge in space.

11.e4 Be7

If [font color="red"]11...e5 12.Nh4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]12...g6!? 13.f4 Bg7 14.Be3 0-0 15.f5 Qe7 16.g4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Dr. Hübner-Kulovana, TM, Marianske Lázne, 2011).
[font color="darkred"]12...h6 13.Bh3 Qc7 14.f4 Rd8[/font] with equality.

12.Qe2 e5 13.a4 (N)

If [font color="red"]13.Nh4 Nf8 14.Nf5 Ne6 15.b3 Nd4 16.Nxd4 cxd4[/font] is equal (Vojinovich-Alexandrova, Euro ChTW, Halkidiki, 2011).

13...0-0

Although White has an obvious pawn weakness at d3, Black cannot reach it in the present position; the game is equal.

[center]BLACK: Xiu Deshun[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Wang Yue[/center][center]Position after 13...0-0[/center]

14.Nd2 Ne8 15.Nc4

[font color="red"]15.b3 Nb8 16.Bb2 f6 17.Rac1 Na6 18.Nc4 Nec7[/font] remains equal.

15...Nc7 16.Bh3 Bf6 17.Be3

If [font color="red"]17.Nd1 Na6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]18.Nde3 Nb6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]19.Na5 Nb4 20.Nxc6 Nxc6 21.a5 Nd7 22.Bxd7 Qxd7[/font] remains equal.
[font color="magenta"]19.Ng4 Nxc4 20.dxc4 Qe7 21.Bg2 Nc7 22.Ne3 Ne6[/font] remains equal.

[font color="darkred"]18.Be3 Qe7 19.Bd2 Nb6 20.Nxb6 axb6 21.Ne3 Qd8[/font] remains equal.

17...b6!?

A more active defense of the pawn is the counterintuitive 17...Na6, attacking the weak square b4.
If [font color="red"]17...Na6 18.Rfc1[/font] then:

[font color="red"]18...Ndb8 19.Nd5 g6 20.Nxf6+ Qxf6 21.Qd2 Qe7 22.f4[/font]
If [font color="darkred"]18...b6 19.Nd5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]19...Bxd5 20.exd5 Nb4 21.a5 Nxd5 22.axb6[/font] gives White an extra pawn.
If [font color="magenta"]19...Nc7 20.a5[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]20...Bxd5 21.exd5 Nxd5 22.axb6 Nxe3 23.Nxe3 Nxb6 24.Rxc5[/font] gives White a weak extra pawn.
If [font color="darkorange"]20...Nxd5 21.exd5 Bxd5 22.axb6[/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]22...Nxb6 23.Bxc5 Re8 24.Nd6 Rf8 25.b4 Nd7 26.Bxa7[/font] gives White a weak extra pawn.
[font color="purple"]22...axb6 23.Rxa8 Bxa8 24.Bxd7 Qxd7 25.Nxb6 Qb7 26.Nxa8 Qxa8 27.Bxc5[/font] leaves White with a weak extra pawn.

[center]BLACK: Xiu Deshun[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Wang Yue[/center][center]Position after 17...b7b6[/center]

18.Rfc1!

White's plan is to break up Black's queenside pawn chain, opening files for his Rooks.

18...Nb8

[font color="red"]18...Na6 19.Nd5 Ndb8 20.a5 b5 21.Nd2 Be7 22.Nb3[/font] gives White a clear advantage in space.

19.a5 b5

This move is practically forced, although it weakens the c-pawn.

20.Nd2 Nba6!?

Black needs to protect his c-pawn, but this proves inadequate for that purpose.
If [font color="red"]20...Be7 21.Nb3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]21...Bd7 22.Bg2[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]22...Ne6 23.Nd5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]23...Na6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]24.Bh3 24...Bd6 25.Bf5 Nd4 26.Bxd4 cxd4 27.Qg4[/font] leaves White slightly better with more activity for his pieces while Black has more space.
[font color="burgundy"]24.f4 Nd4 25.Bxd4 exd4 26.e5 Rb8 27.Be4 Re8[/font] is equal.

[font color="#D0A020"]23...Nc6!? 24.Nxc5! Ncd4 25.Bxd4 Nxd4 26.Qd1 Bxc5 27.Rxc5[/font] gives White a clear advantage in space and activity, but Black's centralized Knight won't allow White to turn it into a route anytime soon.

[font color="darkpink"]22...Nba6 23.Nd5 Ne6 24.f4 Nd4 25.Bxd4 exd4 26.e5[/font] balances White's activity in the center with Black's space on the queenside.

If [font color="darkred"]21...Nca6?! 22.Nd5 Bxd5 23.exd5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]23...Nd7 24.Bxd7 Qxd7 25.Nxc5 Bxc5 26.Bxc5 Rfc8 27.Qe3[/font] gives White an extra pawn and threatens to win another at a7.
[font color="magenta"]23...Qxd5??[/font] loses to [font color="magenta"]24.Bg2! .[/font]

21.Na2 Be7 22.b4 Bd7

Black acquiesces to the loss of a pawn.
If [font color="red"]22...c4?! 23.dxc4! Nxb4 24.Nxb4 Bxb4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]25.cxb5 Bxb5 26.Nc4 Qe7 27.Qb2 Bxc4 28.Rxc4[/font] forces Black to withdraw the Bishop to a passive square.
[font color="darkred"]25.Nf3 Bxe4 26.Nxe5 Re8 27.cxb5 Rxe5 28.Bf4 Re8 29.Rxc7[/font] wins a pawn for White.

[center]BLACK: Xiu Deshun[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Wang Yue[/center][center]Position after 22...Bc6d7[/center]

23.Bxd7 Qxd7 24.bxc5

White has an extra pawn and an advanced passer on the queenside. Black also has a passed pawn. White's backward pawn at d3 remains a problem.

24...Rfd8

When Black conceded the pawn, he may have thought that he could make it up by breaking White's backward d-pawn. Of course, the observant reader has perhaps noticed that the centeral pawn structure is the Sicilian Boleslavsky hole with the colors reversed. Black is right to pressure the pawn on the d-file, but White, too, has his resources.
If [font color="red"]24...Rad8 25.Nf3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]25...Qxd3 26.Qxd3 Rxd3 27.Nxe5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]27...Ra3 28.Nc6 Re8 29.Nab4 Rxa1 30.Rxa1 Bxc5 31.Nxa6 Nxa6 32.Bxc5 Nxc5 33.Nxa7[/font] gives White an extra pawn; each side has a passer.
[font color="burgundy"]27...Rxe3 28.fxe3 Re8 29.Nc6 Bxc5 30.Rd1 Bxe3+ 31.Kg2[/font] gives White the exchange for only a pawn.

If [font color="darkred"]25...f6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]26.Nh4 g6[/font] (keeping the Knight out of f5) [font color="darkred"]27.Rc3 b4 28.Rc4[/font] gives White the advantage; Black must defend to pawn at b4.
If [font color="magenta"]26...Ne6?[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]27.c6! Qe8 28.Qb2[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]28...Nec7[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]29.Bxa7 Rxd3 30.Nf5 g6 31.Nxe7+ Qxe7 32.Rab1 .[/font]
[font color="purple"]28...Nac7 29.Bxa7 Rxd3 30.Bb6 Ba3 31.Qb1 Rd2 32.Rc2[/font] puts an end to Black's try for counterplay, leaving White with an extra pawn that is an advanced passer.

[font color="darkorange"]27.Nf5? Bxc5! 28.Rd1 g6 29.Nh6+ Kg7 30.Ng4 Nd4![/font] gives Black a powerful game with the occupation of the d4 square.

25.Rc3

White will defend d3. This is also part of the boilerplate plan for playing the Boleslavsky Hole formation.

25...b4

[font color="red"]25...Ne6 26.c6 Qc7 27.Rc2 Rac8 28.Rac1 Bf8 29.Nf3[/font] is equal.

26.Rc4 Ne6 27.Nb3 Rac8?!

Black removes pressure from the d-file in order to attack White's well-protected passed pawn. He should give priority to protecvted his own passer.
If [font color="red"]27...Rab8 28.Rd1 Qc6 29.Rb1[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]29...Rb5 30.Qd2 Rdb8 31.Qb2[/font] then:

[font color="red"]31...Bf6 32.Qc2 Bg5 33.d4 exd4 34.Bxd4 Be7 35.Rd1[/font] continues to leave White with an extra pawn.
[font color="burgundy"]31...f6 32.Rbc1 Rd8 33.Qd2 Rdb8 34.f4 exf4 35.Bxf4[/font] gives White an extra pawn and a strong initiative.

[font color="darkred"]29...h6 30.Qd2 Bf8 31.h3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]31...Rb5 32.Nxb4 Nxb4 33.Rxb4 Rxd3 34.Rxb5 Qxb5 35.Qc2[/font] gives White an extra pawn, but Black has some opportunities for counterplay as his pieces are active.
[font color="magenta"]31...Rb7 32.Nxb4 Rxb4 33.Rxb4 Nxb4 34.Qxb4 Rxd3 35.Qc4[/font] gives White an extra pawn, but Black has some opportunities for counterplay as his pieces are active.

[center]BLACK: Xiu Deshun[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Wang Yue[/center][center]Position after 27...Ra8c8[/center]

28.Nxb4!

White begins a series of forced moves that result in a favorable Rook-and-Queen ending.

28...Nxb4 29.Rxb4 Nxc5 30.Nxc5 Bxc5 31.Bxc5

A slightly better alternative is [font color="red"]31.Rb3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]31...Bxe3 32.Qxe3 Rb8 33.Rab1 Rxb3 34.Rxb3 Rc8 35.Kg2[/font] gives White an extra pawn as the endgame commences.
If [font color="darkred"]31...h6 32.Rab1[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]32...Qa4 33.Rb7 Bxe3 34.Qxe3 Qxa5 35.Rxa7 Qc3 36.Qf3[/font] forces Black to abandon plans to take the d-pawn in order to thwart the threat of mate in two.
[font color="magenta"]32...Bxe3 33.Qxe3 Rc7 34.Rb5 Qxd3 35.Qxd3 Rxd3 36.Rxe5[/font] continues to give White an extra pawn.

31...Rxc5 32.a6

[font color="red"]32.Qe3!? Rc3![/font] then:

If [font color="red"]33.Rd1 h6 34.Qe2 Ra3 35.d4![/font] then:

[font color="red"]35...exd4 36.Qb2 Qg4 37.Rdxd4 Rxd4 38.Qxd4 Qf3 39.Rb1[/font] leaves White with an extra pawn, but he must defend his back rank.
[font color="burgundy"]35...Rxa5!? 36.d5 Rc5 37.Qa6 Rdc8 38.Rb7 Qg4 39.Re1[/font] gives White a small advantage, but the lone Rook at e1 may need help protecting the back rank.

If [font color="darkred"]33.Rab1 Rxd3 34.Qc5 h5 35.Qxe5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]35...h4 36.Qh5 h3 37.Rb8 Rc8 38.Rxc8+ Qxc8 39.Qe2[/font] is equal.
[font color="magenta"]35...Qg4!? 36.Rb8 Rxb8 37.Qxb8+ Kh7 38.Qxa7 Qxe4 39.Qxf7[/font] gives White two extra pawns, but Black is able to keep up with White's activity.

32...Rb5 33.Rc4 Rb6 34.Ra5 Rb5

[font color="red"]34...g6 35.Rxe5 Qxd3 36.Qxd3 Rxd3 37.Re7 Rxa6 38.Rec7[/font] is equal.

35.Rxb5

If [font color="red"]35.Rc5 Rxa5 36.Rxa5 Qc8 37.Kg2[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]37...Qc3 38.Rb5 Qa1 39.Qc2 Qxa6 40.Qc7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]40...Qc8 41.Qxe5 g6 42.Rb3 Qd7 43.Ra3 Rc8 44.Qa5[/font] gives White an extra pawn and a threat to take another.
If [font color="darkred"]40...Rf8[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]41.Qxe5 h6 42.Qd5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]42...Qf6 43.Rb7 Rd8 44.Qc4 Qe6 45.Rxa7 Qxc4 46.dxc4[/font] gives White two extra pawns and an active Rook.
If [font color="darkorange"]42...Qe6 43.d4 Re8 44.e5 Rc8 45.Qe4 Re8 46.Rc5[/font] continues to give White an extra pawn with a threat to take Black's a-pawn.

[font color="magenta"]41.Rb8? Qxd3! 42.Rxf8+ Kxf8 43.Qb8+ Ke7[/font] levels the games.

If [font color="darkred"]37...h6 38.Qe3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]38...Qc7 39.Rc5 Qb6 40.Rd5 Ra8 41.Qxb6 axb6 42.Rxe5[/font] gives Black an extra pawn and the more active Rook.
If [font color="magenta"]38...Qc3[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]39.Rd5 Rxd5 40.exd5 Qd4 41.Qxd4 exd4 42.Kf3 .[/font]

35...Qxb5 36.Qa2 Qb6

The sloppy play beginning here and extending over the next few moves suggests the players were in mutual time trouble.
This is a good time for Black to make a luft for the King, as it also creates an attack on White's d-pawn.
[font color="red"]36...h6 37.Kg2 Kh7 38.Qa3 Rd7 39.Rc3 Qb1 40.Qc5[/font] continues to leave White with a weak extra pawn.
[font color="blue"]36...h5 37.h4 Qb6 38.Rc3 Qf6 39.Kg2 g6 40.Qa5[/font] also continues to leave White with a weak extra pawn.

37.Qa3!?

White does not need to overprotect the weakling. The Black Rook cannot leave the backrank and is therefore not attacking the pawn in the first place.
If [font color="red"]37.Qa1[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]37...h5 38.Qxe5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]38...h4 39.Qg5 h3 40.Rc1 Rf8 41.Kf1 Qxa6 42.Ke2 [/font] leaves White with an extra pawn.
[font color="magenta"]38...Qxa6 39.Kg2 Qe6 40.Qxe6 fxe6 41.d4 Ra8 42.Ra4[/font] leaves White with an extra pawn.

[font color="darkred"]37...f6 38.Qa4 h6 39.Rb4 Qd6 40.Qa2+ Kh7 41.Rb7[/font] will soon give White an advanced passer.

37...g6?!

In spite of White's inaccuracy, Black is serious trouble and needs to seek counterplay.
If [font color="red"]37...h5 38.Kg2 Re8 39.h4 g6 40.Rc3[/font] then:

[font color="red"]40...Kg7 41.Rb3 Qd4 42.Rb5 Re6 43.Rd5 Qb6 44.Qc3[/font] leaves White with a comfortable game.
If [font color="darkred"]40...Qd8? 41.Rc6![/font] (Black is out of counterplay opportunities) [font color="darkred"]41...Kg7 42.Qc3 Re7 43.Qc5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]43...Qxd3 44.Rxg6+!! Kxg6 45.Qxe7[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]45...Qxa6 46.Qg5+ Kh7 47.Qxh5+ Kg7 48.Qxe5+ Kh7 49.Qd4gives White two extra pawns, good for an easy win.[/font]
If [font color="darkorange"]45...Qxe4+[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkorange"]46.Kh2 Qd4 47.Qg5+ Kh7 48.Qxh5+ Kg7 49.Qg5+ .[/font]

If [font color="magenta"]43...Qd7[/font] then White wins after [font color="magenta"]44.Kg1 f6 45.Rc8 Qe6 46.Ra8 .[/font]

If [font color="blue"]37...h6 38.Qc5[/font] then:

If [font color="blue"]38...Qxa6 39.Qxe5 Qa3 40.Rc3 Qa6 41.Rc4[/font] then:

[font color="blue"]41...Qb7 42.Rc7 Qb1+ 43.Kg2 Qxd3 44.Qf5 Qb3 45.Rxa7[/font] continues to give White an extra pawn, but Black position is defensible as they are all on the same side of the board.
[font color="dodgerblue"]41...Rxd3 42.Qe8+ Kh7 43.Qxf7 Qa1+ 44.Kg2 Qe5 45.f3[/font] leaves White clearly better.

[font color="darkblue"]38...Qxc5? 39.Rxc5 Rxd3 40.Rc7! Ra3 41.Rxa7 Kf8 42.Ra8+[/font] leads to a win for White.

[center]BLACK: Xiu Deshun[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Wang Yue[/center][center]Position after 37...g7g6[/center]

38.Kg2 Rd6 39.Qc3 Re6 40.f4?!

White throws away a huge advantage as he reaches the time check.
If [font color="red"]40.Rc8+ Kg7 41.Rc5 Qd6 42.g4 h6 43.h3[/font] continues to gives White an extra pawn and more activity.

40...Qxa6!?

Black's best chance is to throw a monkey wrench into White's position.
If [font color="red"]40...Qe3 41.Rc8+ Kg7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]42.Kf1 Qf3+ 43.Kg1 Qd1+ 44.Kf2 Qh1 45.h4 Qh2+[/font] forces a draw by repetition with checks on h1 and h2; if 46.Kf3 Qh1+ 47.Kg4?? then 47...h5+! 48.Kg5 f6#.
[font color="darkred"]42.Kh3 Qe2 43.Rb8 Qf1+ 44.Kh4 Qf3 45.Kh3 Qf1+ etc.[/font] draws.

41.Rc8+ Kg7 42.Qc5 Qd6?!

Black proposes exchanging Queens. Although Black cannot allow White to play 43,Qf8+!, the only good way to accompish this is 21...Re7.
If [font color="red"]42...Re7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]43.Rd8 Qe6 44.f5 gxf5 45.exf5 Qf6 46.Rb8 h5[/font] is equal.
[font color="darkred"]43.Qxe7 Qxc8 44.Qxe5+ Kg8 45.Qd4 a5 46.Qa4 Qc3[/font] is equal and a likely draw.

[font color="blue"]42...Qxd3??[/font] then White wins after [font color="blue"]43.Qf8+ Kf6 44.Qh8+ Ke7 45.Re8+ Kd6 46.Rd8+ .[/font]

43.fxe5!

With this, Black cannot just wait for White to initiatiate the Queen exchange.

43...Qe7?

Here Black should just go ahead and exchange Queens.
If [font color="red"]43...Qxc5 44.Rxc5 Ra6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]45.Rc7! Kf8 46.d4 Ra4 47.d5 Rxe4 48.d6[/font] gives White a stong passed pawn, but Black can still stop it.
[font color="darkred"]45.d4!? Ra4 46.d5 Rxe4 47.d6 Rd4 48.Rc8[/font] leaves White with a tremendous advantage, but the d-pawn is not a cinch to queen.

[center]BLACK: Xiu Deshun[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Wang Yue[/center][center]Position after 43.Qc5e7[/center]

44.d4!

Also good is [font color="red"]44.Qxe7! Rxe7 45.d4 g5 46.d5 Kg6 47.d6[/font] when Black cannot take on e5 because White wins immediately after 48.d7!.

44...a5

If [font color="red"]44...Qxc5 45.Rxc5 g5 46.Kf3[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]46...a6 47.d5 Rxe5 48.d6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]48...Re8 49.e5 Rd8 50.Ke4 f6 51.Rc7+ Kg6 52.Re7[/font] assures that White's d-pawn will advance with crushing effect.
If [font color="magenta"]48...Rxc5[/font] then after [font color="magenta"]49.d7 Rc3+ 50.Ke2 Rc2+ 51.Ke3[/font] the pawn queens.

[font color="darkred"]46...Rh6 47.Rc2 Re6 48.Rc7 Kg6 49.Rxa7 Rb6 50.d5[/font] assures White the win thanks to his mobile central pawn mass.

45.Qxe7!

Black's game has completely collapsed.

45...Rxe7 46.Ra8 Rd7 47.d5 Re7 48.d6 1-0

If [font color="red"]48...Rb7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]49.Kf3 a4 50.Kf4 Rd7 51.Rxa4 Rd8 52.h4[/font] White will bring the Rook to c7, winning.
If [font color="darkred"]49.Rc8 Rb2+ 50.Kf3 Rd2 51.Ke3 Rd1 52.Rc4[/font] is an elementary win.

Xiu Xiansheng resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

5. FIDE Grand Prix, Third Leg, Zug

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Reply #1)

Tue May 7, 2013, 01:53 PM

May 2013

[center][/center]

[center]Zug, Zug Canton, Switzerland[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Schulerst (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Schulerst) in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zug_Zytturm_1.jpg)
(link:http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en|Creative Commons License], Attribution/Share Alike)

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

9. Topalov -Karjakin, Round 11

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Reply #5)

Tue May 7, 2013, 02:01 PM

May 2013

[center][/center]

[center]Veselin Topalov[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Plamen Bonchev in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Veselin_Topalov_Sofia_Airport_24.10.2005.pic-01.jpg)
(Public Domain)
[/font]

Veselin Topalov - Sergey Karjakin
FIDE Grand Prix 2012/13, Third Leg, Round 11
Zug, 30 April 2013

East India Game: Tal-Indian Defense/Catalan Opening

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 c5

The Tal-Indian (Modern Benoni) is out of fashion nowadays, but Black gets a more favorable variation of it be playing in response to White's fianchetto of the King's Bishop. First of all, the Bishop at g2 is by definition "bad" in the sense that is it bound to the same shade of square as White's center pawn, which comes to occupy d5. Second, White's "good" Bishop, which often comes to occupy f4 where it pressures Black's weak pawn at d6, has its retreat to g3 blocked.

4.d5 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.Nc3 g6 7.Bg2 Bg7 8.Nf3 0-0 9.0-0 Re8 10.Nd2 Nbd7 11.a4 a6

For an overview of the Tal-Indian, or Modern Benoni, see Meier-Gashimov, Euro ChT, Novi Sad, 2009.

12.a5

If [/font] color="red"]12.h3 Rb8 13.Nc4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]13...Ne5 14.Na3 Nh5 15.e4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]15...Bd7 16.a5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]16...Qxa5 17.g4 Nf6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]18.f4 Nexg4 19.hxg4 Nxg4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]20.f5[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]20...Ne5 21.Bg5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]21...h6!? 22.Nc4! Qb4 23.Nxe5 Bxe5 24.fxg6 fxg6[/font] is equal (Avrukh-Bar, Israeli ChT, 2008).
Better is [font color="burgundy"]21...Qc7 22.Nc2 a5 23.Rf2 b5 24.Ne3 c4[/font] when Black exploits his queenside pawn majority.

If [font color="darkred"]20...h5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]21.Qf3 Qd8[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]22.Bh3 gxf5 23.Nc4 Qh4 24.Nxd6 fxe4 25.Ncxe4[/font] is equal; Black has three pawns for a piece while White is more active(D.Wagner-Zharebukh, Op, Hoogeveen, 2012).
[font color="darkorange"]22.Nc2 b5 23.Bh3 Qe7 24.Bxg4 hxg4 25.Qxg4 b4[/font] gives Black a small advantage owing to his mobile queenside pawn majority (Rubio Mejía-Alonso Rosell, TT, Don Benito, Spain, 2012).

[font color="magenta"]21.Bg5 Qb4 22.f6 Bh8 23.Qd2 Qd4+ 24.Qxd4 cxd4[/font] is equal (Sasikiran-Anand, Rpd, Corsica, 2011).

If [font color="darkred"]20.Bf3 h5 21.Nc2 Qd8[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]22.Kg2 b5 23.Ne3 b4 24.Na4 Qh4 25.Bxg4 hxg4 26.Rh1 Qf6[/font] gives Black a healthy queenside majority and the initiative (Vasilevich-Peng, Euro ChW, Plovdiv, 2008).
[font color="magenta"]22.Bxg4 Bxg4 23.Qd3 f5 24.Re1 Qh4 25.Kg2 fxe4 26.Nxe4 Bf5 27.Qf3 Qxe1[/font] White resigns (Dogan-Kanmazalp, Turkish ChT, Konya, 2011).

If [font color="darkred"]18.g5? Nh5! 19.f4[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]19...Nc4 20.Nxc4 Qxa1 21.Nxd6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]21...Bxc3 22.bxc3 Qxc3 23.Nxe8 Rxe8 24.Rf3 Qd4+[/font] gives White three connected passers on the queenside (Avrukh-Kamskly, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2007).
[font color="darkorange"]21...Bd4+ 22.Kh2 Re7 23.Qf3 b5 24.e5 b4[/font] gives Black three pawns for a piece and a powerful queenside majority, for which White has partial compensation with a clear advantage in space in the center (Hulak-Dr. Nunn, IZT, Toluca, 1982).

[font color="magenta"]19...b5? 20.fxe5! Bxe5 21.Qf3 Rf8 22.Nc2 Qb6 23.Ne2[/font] is equal (Valsecchi-Saric, Op, Zagreb, 2012).

If [font color="darkred"]16...b5 17.axb6 Bb5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]18.Naxb5 axb5 19.Nxb5 Qxb6[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]20.Na3 Qb3[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]21.g4 Nf6 22.Rb1 Qxd1 23.Rxd1 Rb3 24.Kf1 Nfd7[/font] gives White an extra pawn and Black more activity (Sasikiran-Sasikiran-Bettaglini, Rpd, Corsica, 2011).
[font color="burgundy"]21.Qxb3 Rxb3 22.Rd1 Reb8 23.Kf1 f5 24.exf5 gxf5[/font] is equal (Sasikiran-Arnold, Rpd, Corsica, 2011).

If [font color="magenta"]20.Nc3 c4[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]21.g4 Nf6 22.Be3 Qxb2 23.Bd4 Nfd7 24.Rb1 Qa3[/font] is equal (Le Quang Liem-Sjugirov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2013).
[font color="darkorange"]21.Na4 Qb3 22.g4 Nf6 23.Bf4 Nfd7 24.Qe2 Ra8[/font] gives Black a passed pawn and an active Queen against White's more stable center (Genutis-L. Delorme, Euro Club Cup, Rogaska Slatina, 2011).

If [font color="magenta"]18.Ncxb5 axb5[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]19.g4 Nf6 20.Nxb5 Qxb6 21.Na3 Qb3 22.Rb1 Qxd1 23.Rxd1[/font] is equal (Grischuk-Aronian, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 2011).
[font color="darkorange"]19.Nxb5 Qxb6[/font] transposes to the [font color="darkred"]parent line.[/font]

If [font color="darkred"]15...Rf8[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]16.Kh2 f5 17.f4 b5 18.axb5 axb5[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]19.Naxb5 fxe4 20.Na7[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]20...e3 21.Qe2 Nxg3 22.Kxg3 g5 23.f5 Bxf5 24.Qxe3[/font] leaves Black's g-pawn for deadwood and the game is equal (Alburt-H. Olafsson, IT, Reykjavik, 1982).
[font color="burgundy"]20...Nf3+ 21.Bxf3 exf3 22.Nxc8 Qxc8 23.Rxf3 Bd4 24.Qf1[/font] gives White an extra pawn (Brunner-Marzolo, Op, Nancy, 2007).

If [font color="magenta"]19.fxe5 Nxg3[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]20.Rf3? Bxe5 21.Naxb5 Qh4 22.exf5 Bxf5[/font] gives Black a winning position (Van Wely-Timman, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2002).
[font color="darkorange"]20.Kxg3 Bxe5+ 21.Kf2 b4 22.Nc4 bxc3 23.bxc3 Bxc3[/font] is equal; Black has only two pawns for a Knight, but an active Bishop and a safer King in compensation.

If [font color="magenta"]16.g4 Qh4 17.gxh5 Bxh3 18.h6 Bh8[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]19.Qe2 f5 20.Nc2[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]20...Bxg2!? 21.Kxg2! f4 22.f3 Qxh6 23.Rh1 Qg7 24.Ne1[/font] gives White a Knight for two pawns, although Black may be slightly more active (Jirka-Simacek, Czech Ch, Prague, 2007).
[font color="burgundy"]20...fxe4 21.Nxe4 Bxg2 22.Kxg2 Nf3 23.Rh1 Qg4+ 24.Ng3[/font] remains equal.

If [font color="darkorange"]19.Ne2?! f5![/font] then:

[font color="darkorange"]20.exf5? Rxf5! 21.Ng3 Rbf8 22.Nxf5 Rxf5[/font] Black wins (Sheeren-Timman, Dutch Ch, Leeuwarden, 1980).
[font color="purple"]20.Bf4 Bxg2 21.Kxg2 fxe4 22.Bg3 Qxh6[/font] gives Black a strong advantage.

If [font color="darkred"]13...Nb6 14.Na3 Bd7 15.e4 Qc7[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]16.Be3 Nxa4 17.Nxa4 Nxe4 18.Nc2[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]18...b5 19.Nc3 Nxc3 20.bxc3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]20...Bxc3 21.Rxa6 b4 22.Bf4[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]22...Rb6!? 23.Rxb6! Qxb6 24.Bd2 Be5 25.Ne3 Bd4[/font] gives Black only two pawns for the Knight, but they are stong pawns and give Black full compensation (Mikhalevski-Cebalo, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).
[font color="burgundy"]22...Be5 23.Bxe5 Rxe5 24.Ne3 Bb5 25.Rc6 Qd7[/font] assures Black of winning the exchange and the material advantage that goes with it.

[font color="#D0A020"]20...a5 21.Bd2 b4 22.Qf3 Bf5 23.Ne3 Be4[/font] gives Black a passed pawn and the initiative in compensation for the material deficit (Pantsulaia-Bagirov, Op, Batumi 2001).

[font color="darkpink"]18...a5!? 19.Re1 b5 20.Bxe4 Rxe4 21.Nc3 Ree8 22.Bf4[/font] is equal (Morrison-I. Ivanisevic, Euro ChT, Novi Sad, 2009).

If [font color="magenta"]16.Re1[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]16...Nxa4 17.Nxa4 b5 18.Nxc5 Qxc5 19.Be3 Qc8 20.Rc1 Qb7[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]21.Bf4 Qb6 22.Be3 Qd8[/font] is equal. (Olsson-Brynell, Nordic Ch, Bergen, 2001).
[font color="burgundy"]21.Bd4 Rbc8 22.Nc2 b4 23.Qd2 a5 24.f3 Bb5[/font] is equal (Bogner-Y. Gruenfeld, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).

If [font color="darkorange"]16...Nc8 17.Qd3 Na7 18.Nc4[/font] then:

[font color="darkrorange"]18...Nc8 19.a5 Bb5 20.b3 Nd7 21.f4 b6 22.axb6 Ncxb6[/font] is equal (C. Hansen-S. B. Hansen, Danish Ch, Køge, 2005).
If [font color="purple"]18...b5 19.axb5 Nxb5[/font] then:

[font color="purple"]20.Bd2 Nxc3 21.Bxc3 Bb5 22.b3 Nd7 23.Bxg7 Kxg7 24.Qc3+[/font] is equal (González de la Torre-Forcen Estaban, IT, Elgoibar, Spain, 2011).
[font color="#D0A020"]20...Qc8?! 21.Bf4 Bf8 22.g4 h5 23.g5 Nh7[/font] gives White fewer pawn islands, more easily repaired pawn weaknesses and the advantage in space; Black has a passed pawn (Laznicka-D. Smerdon, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).

12...b5 13.axb6 Nxb6 14.Nb3 Bf5

[font color="red"]14...Nc4 15.Ra4 Nb6 16.Ra1 Nc4 17.Ra4 etc.[/font] draws (10 games, 1973-2005)

15.Na5 (N)

White intoduces a new move aimed at bringing the Knight to the outpost at c6.
[font color="red"]15.f3 Nc4 16.e4 Bd7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]17.Qe2!? Bb5![/font] gives Black an advantage on the queenside; White has more space in the center (Brunello-Naiditsch, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2012).
[font color="darkred"]17.Rf2 Qb6 18.Bf1 Ne5 19.Na5 Bb5[/font] is equal.

[center]BLACK: Sergey Karjakin[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Veselin Topalov[/center][center]Position after 15.Nb3a5[/center]

15...Ne4

The game is equal. Topalov's novelty is very interesting and we believe we'll see it again soon.

16.Bd2 Nxd2 17.Qxd2 h5

[font color="red"]17...Qd7 18.e3 Bg4 19.f3 Bh3 20.e4 Bxg2 21.Kxg2[/font] remains equal.

18.e3

[font color="red"]18.Rfe1 Qc8 19.e3 h4 20.e4 Bh3 21.Qf4 hxg3 22.hxg3[/font] remains equal.

18...h4 19.Rfe1

[font color="red"]19.Ra3 Qg5 20.Rb3 Rab8 21.Qe2 h3 22.Bh1 c4[/font] remains equal.

19...Qg5

[center]BLACK: Sergey Karjakin[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Veselin Topalov[/center][center]Position after 19...Qd8g5[/center]

Black's plan is to force White to postpone advancing the e-pawn.

20.Na4

White responds with a moves against a loose piece on the opposite wing.
[font color="red"]20.Qd1 c4 21.Nc6 Bd3 22.Nb4 Bxc3 23.bxc3 Be4[/font] remains equal.

20...Reb8 21.Nc3 Qh5 22.f3 Qh8

[font color="red"]22...h3 23.Bh1 Re8 24.Ra3 Bd7 25.f4 Bf5 26.Rb3 Rab8[/font] remains equal.

23.g4 Bd7 24.h3 f5 25.g5 f4?!

Black plays a dubious pawn sacrifice and falls apart quickly.
If [font color="red"]25...Bb5 26.e4 Nc4 Re8 28.Re6 Bd4+ 29.Kh1 Rxe6 30.dxe6[/font] gives White an advanced passed pawn.

If [font color="darkred"]26...fxe4!?[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]27.Rxe4! 27.Nxc4 Bxc4 28.exf5 Rxb2 29.Qxb2[/font] is equal.

[font color="magenta"]27.Nc6 Bd4+ 28.Kh1 Bxc3 29.bxc3 Re8 30.Qf4 Nc4[/font] is equal.

26.exf4!

White has a good game with an extra pawn, a 4:2 pawn majority on the kingside and command of the e-file; Black cannot make of his Rooks on the queenside.
[font color="red"]26.e4 Bd4+ 27.Kh1 Qe5 28.Nc6 Bxc6 29.dxc6 Rc8[/font] gives Black power in the center and some weak White kingside pawns to target.

26...Bd4+?

Black gives a desperate check.
If [font color="red"]26...Re8 27.Nc6[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]27...a5 28.Nb5[/font] then:

[font color="red"]28...Bxb2 29.Rab1 Rxe1+ 30.Rxe1 Rf8 31.Bf1 Nc8 32.Qxa5[/font] gives White more activity; Black might be able to get more counterplay on the long diagonal.
[font color="burgundy"]28...a4 29.Rab1 Bf8 30.Nc7 Rxe1+ 31.Rxe1 Rc8 32.Ne6[/font] gives White an extra pawn and a pair of splendid Knights.

If [font color="darkred"]27...Bd4+ 28.Kh2 Qg7 29.Bf1 a5 30.Rxe8+ Rxe8 31.Nxd4 Qxd4 32.Qxd4 cxd4 33.Ne4[/font] gives White two extra pawns and the threat of 34.Nf6+.
If [font color="magenta"]29...Bxc3 30.bxc3 Qf7[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]31.Red1 31...Bf5 32.c4 a5 33.Rxa5 Rxa5 34.Nxa5 Qe7 35.Ra1[/font] gives White two extra pawns; Black has command of the e-file.
[font color="darkorange"]31...Qf5 32.Kg1 Nc8 33.Re1 Rxe1 34.Rxe1 a5 35.Re4[/font] gives White an extra pawn and an active Rook.

[center]BLACK: Sergey Karjakin[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Veselin Topalov[/center][center]Position after 26...Bg7d4+[/center]

27.Kh1 Qg7 28.Bf1 Re8

If [font color="red"]28...Qf7? 29.Nc6 Bxc6[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]30.dxc6 Rc8 31.Bxa6 Rxc6 32.Ne2 Rf8 33.Rec1.[/font]
If [font color="darkred"]29...Bxc3[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]30.bxc3 Re8 31.c4 Rxe1 32.Rxe1 Re8 33.Rb1.[/font]

29.Ne4 Kh8

If [font color="red"]29...Rf8[/font] then:

[font color="red"]30.Nc6 Bxc6 31.dxc6 Qc7 32.Rac1 Kh7 33.b4[/font] threatens to remove the guard from the Bishop.
If [font color="darkred"]30.Nb7[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]30...Rab8 31.Nbxd6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]31...Nxd5 32.Nxc5 Rxb2 33.Qd3[/font] 33...Rb6 34.Nxd7 Qxd7 35.Nc4[/font] wis a piece after 35...Nxf4 36.Nxb6 Nxd3 37.Nxd7 Nxe1 38.Nxf8 Kxf8 39.Rxe1.
If [font color="burgundy"]31...Nc8[/font] then White wins after [font color="burgundy"]32.Rxa6! Nxd6 33.Rxd6 Bf5 34.Qa5 Ra8 35.Qb5.[/font]

If [font color="magenta"]30...Qf7 31.Nf6+[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]31...Bxf6 32.Nxd6 Qg7 33.gxf6 Qxf6 34.Qg2[/font] then:

[font color="magenta"]34...Kg7 35.Ne4 Qxf4 36.Nxc5 Be8 37.Ne6+.[/font]
[font color="purple"]34...Nxd5 35.Bc4 Bc6 36.f5 Qxd6 37.Re6 Qxe6 38.fxe6[/font] leaves Black hopeless.

If [font color="darkorange"]31...Kh8?[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkorange"]32.Nxd6! Qg7 33.Re5 Rxf6 34.gxf6.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Sergey Karjakin[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Veselin Topalov[/center][center]Position after 29...Kg8h8[/center]

30.Nxd6

White is now in firm control of the game and wins easily from here.

30...Rxe1 31.Rxe1 Rf8

If [font color="red"]31...Qf8 32.Ne4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]32...Nxd5 [/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]33.Nb3 Qxf4 34.Qxf4 Nxf4 35.Nxd4 Bxh3 36.Nf6.[/font]
If [font color="darkred"]32...Qg7[/font] then White wins after [font color="darkred"]33.Nb3 Rd8 34.d6 Bf5 35.Nexc5 Bxb2 36.Re7.[/font]

32.Re4 Nxd5 33.Nb3 Bc6 34.f5 gxf5

If [font color="red"]34...Be3[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]35.Rxe3 Nxe3 36.Qxe3 gxf5 37.Qf4.[/font]

35.Rxh4+ Kg8 36.Nxd4 cxd4 37.Bc4 Qe5

If [font color="red"]37...d3[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]38.Qe3 Rf7 39.Qe6 d2 40.Bb3.[/font]

38.Qxd4 Qxd6 39.Rh6 Qe7

If [font color="red"]39...Qxh6[/font] then White wins after [font color="red"]40.gxh6 Rf7 41.Bxd5.[/font]

[center]BLACK: Sergey Karjakin[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Veselin Topalov[/center][center]Position after 39...Qd6e7[/center]

40.Bxd5+

Also good is [font color="red"]40.Rxc6[/font] when after [font color="red"]40...Qxg5 41.Bxd5+ Kh7 42.Rc7+ Kg6 43.Qg7+[/font] White soon gives mate.

40...Bxd5 41.Rh8+ 1-0

White wins the Queen after 41...Kf7 42.Rh7+.
Sergey Alaxandrovich resigns.

Jack Rabbit

(45,984 posts)

10. Bonus Game: The Mark of Zorro (Hockey - Rabbit, Cyberspace, 2013)

Reply to Jack Rabbit (Original post)

Mon May 27, 2013, 03:19 AM

May 2013

Jack Rabbit recently joined Chess.com where he plays under the nom de guerre ZorroOfCalifornia. The following game is from a team match between the Blue Marble, for which your most humble hare plays, and Tamil Nadu, a team from the state of that name in southeast India.

[center][/center]

[center]Jack Rabbit[/center][font size="1"]Photo by Jon Sullivan from public-domain-photos.com
(Public Domain)
[/font]

Hockey07 (Tamil Nadu) - Jack Rabbit (The Blue Marble)
Online Team Match, Round 1
Cyberspace (Chess.com), 13-25 May 2013

Miscellaneous Flank Game: Sleipner Opening

1.Nc3

This move doesn't stop Black from making any move he wants; 1.Nf3 at least prevents the reply 1...e5. For this reason the text move is seldom seen and usually transposes quickly into something a little bit better known.
The sortie is most often called the Dunst Opening, but being the romantic that I am, I prefer to call it by one of its alternate names, the Sleipner Opening. For the uninitiated, Sleipner is the name of Odin horse in Norse mythology. According to the myth, Sleipner had eight legs and therefore ran faster than his four-legged brethren. I think an eight-legged horse, rather than being more likely to win the Kentucky Derby, would have trouble not tripping over himself. But who am I to argue with a pagan Nordic priest?

1...e5

[font color="red"]1...d5[/font] is best: [font color="red"]2.d4 Nf6[/font] tranposes into [font color="red"]3.Bg5,[/font] the Veresov Opening or [font color="red"]5.e4,[/font] the Englund Gambit.

2.d4

[font color="red"]2.e4 Nf6[/font] transposes into the Vienna Game.

2...Nc6!?

If [font color="red"]2...exd4 3.Qxd4[/font] then:

If [font color="red"]3...Nc6 4.Qe3+[/font] then:

[font color="red"]4...Be7 5.Nd5 d6 6.Bd2 Be6 7.Bc3 Nf6 8.Nxe7 Qxe7[/font] is equal (Preuschoff-Essing, NRW Liga 9900, Germany, 2000).
If [font color="darkred"]4...Nge7[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]5.Nf3 Nb4 6.Qd2 g6 7.e3[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]7...Bh6!?[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]8.a3!? Nbc6 9.Qd3 0-0 10.Be2 d6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]11.Qd4?? 11...Nxd4! 12.exd4! Nf5 13.0-0[/font] White resigns without waiting for Black to reply (Lim-Tisik, IT, Eskisehir, 2004).
[font color="#D0A020"]11.e4 Bxc1 12.Rxc1 Bg4 13.Rd1 Qd7 14.h4[/font] remains equal.

[font color="purple"]8.Ne4! Nbc6 9.Nf6+ Kf8 10.c4 Bg7 11.Nd5[/font] gives White a small advantage in activity and space.

[font color="darkorange"]7...Bg7 8.a3 Nbc6 9.b3 d6 10.h3 Bd7 11.Bb2[/font] remains equal.

[font color="magenta"]5.Nd5 d6 6.Nf3 Ne5 7.Nxe7 Qxe7 8.Bd2 Bf5 9.Nd4 Bd7 10.Bc3 0-0-0 11.0-0-0 Re8 12.Kb1[/font] is equal (analysis by Chess.com)

If [font color="darkred"]3...Nf6 4.e4 Nc6[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]5.Qa4 Bc5 6.Nf3 0-0 7.Bg5 d6 8.0-0-0 Bd7[/font] is equal (Dodds-Moore, New Zealand Ch, Auckland, 1914).
[font color="magenta"]5.Qe3 Bb4 6.Bd2 0-0 7.0-0-0 Re8 8.f3 d5[/font] gives Blacka slight advantage.

3.dxe5!?

If [font color="red"]3.d5![/font] then:

If [font color="red"]3...Nd4!? 4.e3![/font] then:

[font color="red"]4...Qe7?? 5.exd4! exd4+ 6.Nce2 Nf6 7.Qxd4 c5 8.Qd1[/font] leaves White a piece to the good (Tkachiev-Yvonnet, BX, Cannes, 2004).
[font color="burgundy"]4...Nf5 5.Qf3 Nfe7 6.e4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space.

If [font color="darkred"]3...Nce7 4.e4 Ng6[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]5.h4 Nxh4 6.g3 Ng6 7.f4 Bd6 8.f5[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]8...N6e7 9.Qg4 g6[/font] gives White a small advantage (analysis by Chess.com).
[font color="darkorange"]8...Nf8 9.Qg4 g6 10.Bg5 Be7 11.d6 cxd6 12.Bxe7 Qxe7 13.Qf3[/font] gives White the advantage in space (Houdini).

[font color="magenta"]5.Nge2 d6 6.h3 Bd7 7.Ng3 a6 8.a4[/font]

3...Nxe5! The game is equal. 4.Nf3 (N)

So much for theory, such as it is.
If [font color="red"]4.e4 Bc5 5.Bf4 d6 6.Qd2[/font] then:

[font color="red"]6...Nf6 7.0-0-0 Be6 8.Na4 Bb6 9.f3 0-0 10.a3[/font] remians equal (J. Howell-Miles, Op, Isle of Man, 1995).
If [font color="darkred"]6...Be6 7.0-0-0[/font] then:

If [font color="darkred"]7...Ne7?![/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]8.Be3!? Bb4 9.f4 Nc4 10.Bxc4 Bxc4 11.Qd4[/font] gives White a small advantage in space (Iermito-Liascovich, Liga Nacional Argentina, Villa Martelli, 2008).
[font color="darkorange"]8.Bxe5 dxe5 9.Qg5 Bd6 10.f4 0-0 11.fxe5[/font] gives White a strong advantage.

[font color="magenta"]7...Ng4 8.Bg3 Qf6 9.Nf3 Qh6 10.Kb1 Qxd2 11.Rxd2[/font] gives WHite a slight edge.

4...Nxf3+

Black forces the exchange of Knights, allowing him to catch up in development.
If [font color="red"]4...Nc6 5.a3 Nf6 6.e4 d6 7.Bd3 Be7[/font] then:

[font color="red"]8.0-0 0-0 9.Bf4 Be6 10.Re1 Nh5 11.Bd2²[/font] gives White a slight edge in space (analysis by Chess.com).
[font color="darkred"]8.Bb5 Bd7 9.Qe2 h6 10.0-0 0-0 11.Rd1 Re8[/font] is equal (Houdini)

5.exf3 Nf6

The game is equal.

6.Be3!?

This careless move exposes White to tactical threats.
If [font color="red"]6.Bg5 Be7 7.Bd3 0-0 8.Qe2[/font] then:

[font color="red"]8...h6 9.Bh4 d5 10.0-0 Re8 11.Rfe1 Bd7[/font is equal.
If [font color="darkred"]8...Re8 9.0-0 d5 10.Rfe1[/font] then:

[font color="darkred"]10...Bd7 11.Qd2 c6 12.Ne2 h6 13.Bf4 Bf8 14.Ng3[/font is equal.
[font color="magenta"]10...Be6 11.Nb5 Bd7 12.Qd2 h6 13.Bh4 c5[/font] is equal.

[center]BLACK: Jack Rabbit[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Hockey07[/center][center]Position after 6.Bc1e3[/center]

6...d5!

Black threatens to fork the Knight and Bishop.
While the text move strongly suggested itself, it was at this point that I developed the remaining parts of my opening plan. For White I had forseen castling, probably short after moving the King's Bishop and bringing the Rook to e1. Since I was certain that White would move one of his two threatened pieces, I would leave the pawn at d5, where it would be reinforced by the pawn at c6, a Bishop at e6, which is also shielding the e-file from White's Rook that will come to e1, and the Queen on the d-file; Black would also bring his other Bishop to e7, where it would break the pin should White play the Bishop to g5, castle and bring and bring his Rook to e8 to reinforce the Bishops in the e-file. Also at this point I could see the possibility of using the Queen as a an gerneral protector of the other pieces by putting it on d6. I was confident that this would be equal, if not leaving Black slightly better.

7.Bg5

White has lost a tempo by taking two moves to get to the Bishop where he could have played it in just one move (see the notes to White's sixth move).
If [font color="red"]7.Bd4 c6[/font] then:

[font color="red"]8.Bd3 Be7 9.0-0 0-0 10.Re1 Be6 11.f4 Re8[/font] is equal.
[font color="darkred"]8.Qe2+ Be6 9.f4 Be7 10.0-0-0 0-0 11.Kb1 Re8[/font] is equal or perhaps even tilting slightly Black's way.

7...Be7 8.Bd3 c6 9.0-0 Be6 10.Re1 0-0!

This is all according to plan. The game is equal.

11.f4 h6

I will admit that I didn't expect White's last move, but as a consequence of it I decided this would be the time to put the question to the Bishop.
Chess.com's computer calls this move inaccurate and recommends [font color="red"]11...Re8 12.Qf3 Qc7 13.a3 h6 14.f5 Bd7 15.Bf4 Bd6 16.Bxd6 Qxd6 17.Rac1 d4 18.Ne4 Nxe4[/font] with a small advantage for Black.
I had considered 11...Re8, but decided that the text move was more aggressive and there would still be time for 11...Re8 afterwards. Although Houdini also gives this variation a small advantage for Black, I'll stand by the text move.

12.Bh4 Re8 13.Qf3 Qd6!

Moves like this have served me well in the past. Black develops his Queen in a way to cover a cluster of minor pieces and key pawns that are under some pressure.

14.Rad1?

This happened in the morning (my time; my opponent and I are 11½ hours apart). After I adjusted my eyes to the computer monitor, I could see the reply in my mind. I decided to take a break and come back to it after my coffee.
[font color="red"]14.a3 Qc7 15.h3 Qb6 16.Rab1 Rad8 17.f5 Bd7 18.Bg3 d4 19.Ne4[/font] is equal (analysis from Chess.com).

[center]BLACK: Jack Rabbit[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Hockey07[/center][center]Position after 14.Ra1d1[/center]

14...Bg4!

After my coffee kicked in, I looked again and the position hadn't changed, so I played the move I intended.
Black skewers the Queen and Rook. This wins the exchange and gives Black a winning game.

15.Qg3 Bxd1 16.Rxd1 Nh5

Black maintains the initiative by forking the Queen and a pawn.

17.Bxe7

Black cannot the additional loss of a pawn.
[font color="red"]17.Qg4 Qxf4 18.Qxf4 Nxf4 19.Bg3 Nxd3 20.cxd3 Bb4[/font] also gives Black an extra pawn on top of the exchange.

17...Rxe7 18.Qh4 Nxf4

Black has a material advantage equivalent to about three pawns.

19.g3 Nxd3 20.Rxd3

White lifts his Rook out for action, but leaves his back rank undefended.

20...Re1+

White will double his Rooks on the e-file.
21.Kg2 Rae8 22.Rf3

[font color="red"]22.Qd4[/font] then:

[font color="red"]22...a5 23.a3 Qg6 24.Rd2 b5 25.h4 Rc1[/font] continues to gives Black a significant material advantage and still allows Black to bring a second Rook to the back rank (analysis from Chess.com)
If [font color="darkred"]a) 22...Ra1[/font] (recommended by Houdini and more what I had in mind as it fascilitates the doubling the Rooks on the back rank) 23.Qxa7 Ree1 24.Qd4 Qg6 25.h4 Rg1+ 26.Kh2 Qe6,[/font]
If [font color="magenta"]23.Nd1 Re1[/font] then:

If [font color="magenta"]24.Ne3[/font] then Black wins after [font color="magenta"]24...Qe6 25.c4 dxc4 26.Rd2 b5[/font]
[font color="darkorange"]24.b4 Rxa2 25.Re3 Rxe3 26.Nxe3 Qe6[/font] continues to give Black a significant material advantage.

[font color="darkred"]b) 22...c5!?,[/font] a move that I rejected, allows [font color="darkred"]23.Qxd5! Qxd5+ 24.Rxd5 b6[/font] when White still wins, but with more difficulty as the Queen exchange reduces his capacity to attack the King (analysis by Houdini).

[center]BLACK: Jack Rabbit[/center]

[center][/center]

[center]WHITE: Hockey07[/center][center]Position after 22.Rd3f3[/center]

22...d4!

Black simply maintains the initiative. There's no good square for the Knight.

23.Rd3

White pins the pawn to the Queen, making it impossible for Black to take the Knight.

23...c5!

This move I thought about for a little while, but finally saw the benefits of both bolstering the d-pawn and clearing c6 for the Queen.

24.Nb5

White drops a piece.
Better is [font color="red"]24.Qg4 Qc6+ 25.Qf3 Qxf3+ 26.Kxf3 dxc3 27.Rxc3 R8e5[/font] (analysis from Chess.com)

24...Qc6+

I had intended this in any case.

25.Rf3

Black plays on, although he has no hope of survival.
[font color="red"]25.Kh3 Qxb5 26.Qf4 Qxb2 27.Rf3 Qxa2 28.Qf5 b6[/font] also gives Black a prohibitive material atvantage (analysis from Chess.com).

25...Qxb5

Chess.com's computer recommends [font color="red"]25...Rg1+ 26.Kxg1 Qxf3 27.Qh3 Re1+ 28.Qf1 Rxf1+ 29.Kxf1 d3[/font] when White either plays [font color="red"]30.cxd3 Qxd3+[/font] and loses the Knight or allows a quick mate.

26.Qh5

I expected, if not resignation, then [font color="red"]I expected, if not resignation, 26.Rd3[/font] to which I would have palyed [font color="red"]26...Qxb2[/font] without giving any further thought to what would come next, for which Houdini suggests [font color="red"]27.Qf4 g5 28.Qf5 Qxc2[/font] leaving Black with an extra Rook and three pawns.
On the other hand, Houdini recommends [font color="darkred"]26...Qc6+ 27.Kh3 Qh1 28.g4 Qf1+ 29.Kg3 R1e2[/font] with mate to follow.

26...Qf1# 0-1

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