The JR Chess Report (July 26): Chuckie leads Biel; Last-round dramatics in Denmark

[Jack Rabbit]

Ivanchuk Leads in Biel after Six Rounds



Ukrainian grandmaster Vassily Ivanchuk leads the category 19 Grandmaster Tournament of the 42nd Biel Internaltional Chess Festival in Switzerland after six round with 3½ points.

Ivanchuk, one of the most popular figures in the sport, has only a single victory and five draws. One point seperates the head from the foot of the six-player table.

Three-time tournament champion Alexander Morozevich of Russia took the early lead with victories in each of the first two rounds, but fell behind Ivanchuk with losses in rounds four and six.

In addition to Morozevich in second place at 50 precent, three other players are tied with him: the defending tournament champion, Russian GM Evgeny Alekseev; Maxime Vachier Lagrave of France; and GM Fabiano Caruana, the Brooklyn teenager who is the reigning Italian national champion.

Today is an off-day for the players. The tournament resumes tomorrow with round seven when Ivanchuk plays White against Alekseev, while Morozevich will hope to start a comeback playing Black against Israel's Boris Gelfand, the event's top seed.

The tenth and final round of the tournament will be played Thursday.

Live games are boadcast on the Official Website of the Chess Fesival beginning at 2 pm Swiss time (5 am PDT).


Negi and Avrukh take Politiken Cup with Dramatic Last-Round Wins



Sixteen-year-old Indian grandmaster Parimarjan Negi and former two-time Israeli national champion Boris Avrukh won dramatic victories in today's tenth and final round of the Politiken Cup open tournament in Helsignør, Denmark to share first prize with 8½ points each.

Avrukh, playing White, defeated Russian GM and tournament top seed Vladimir Malakhov, who entered the final round alone in first, needing only a draw to assure himself a share of first prize. The game lasted 36 moves. Meanwhile, Negi, also playing White, disposed of Swedish national champion Emanuel Berg in just 28 moves.

Malakhov finished in a five-way tie for third place with grandmasters Gabriel Sargissian (Armenia), Peter Heine Nielsen (Denmark), Evgeny Postny (Israel) and former two-time Dutch national champion Sergei Tiviakov.

Over two hundred players competed in this year's Politiken Cup.

The event was part of the Copenhagen Chess Festival. Helsingør, the old royal capital, is about 25 miles from Copenhagen. It is better known to us Shakespeare buffs as Elsinore, the setting for Hamlet.



Calendar

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

Mainz Chess Classic 27 July-2 August.

US Open, Indianapolis 1-9 August.

FIDE Grand Prix, Yerevan 8-24 August.

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

International Festival d'échecs, Montreal 27 August-7 September. Grandmaster Tournament will include Bacrot, Onischuk, Shulman, Naiditsch and Maze; more to be added.

Grand Slam Final, Bilbao 2-15 September. Topalov, Karjakin, Grischuk and Shirov qualify.

Second Pearl Spring Tournament, Nanjing 27 September-9 October. Topalov, Anand, Carlsen, Radjabov, Jakovenko and Wang Yue.

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

European Club Cup (Team Championship), Novi Sad (Serbia) 21-31 October.

World Cup, Khanty Mansiysk 28 November-15 December.

London Chess Classic 7-16 December.

Corus Chess Tournament, Wijk aan Zee 15-31 January 2010. Nakamura has been invited to play in group A.

Anand-Topalov Match for the World Title, Site TBA c. April 2010.


This Week's Games will be posted later today.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. This week's games

Your humble hare acknowledges the assistance of Fritz 6.0 on analysis.

Diagrams on the Jack Rabbit Chess Report are made with Chess Mérida, a true type font that can be downlaoded free here.

BLACK
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WHITE
White to move
(This position is a theoretical draw)

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Grandmaster Tournament, 42nd Biel Chess Festival

Old Town, Biel/Bienne, Berne Canton, Switzerland
Wikipedia

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Ivanchuk - Caruana, Round 3

Vassily Ivanchuk
Photo: ChessBase.com


Vassily Ivanchuk - Fabiano Caruana
42nd International Chess Festival, Round 3
Biel, 21 July 2009

Spanish Petit Royal Game: Four Knights' Opening (Bedspring Defense) (Rubinstein Defense)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Nd4

• This move was made popular by Akiba Rubinstein, who played it in 1912, although it was not unknown before his time. Rubinstein won many brilliant victories with it as Black, but easy ways for White to draw were discovered by World War I.

5.Ba4

• 5.Nxd4 exd4 6.e5 dxc3 7.exf6 Qxf6 8.dxc3 Qe5+ 9.Qe2 Qxe2+ 10.Bxe2 leads to a dead draw.

5...c6

• If 5...Bc5 6.Nxe5 0-0 7.Nd3 Bb6 then:
• If 8.e5 Ne8 9.Nd5 d6 10.Ne3 dxe5 11.Nxe5 Qg5 12.N5c4 f5 13.f4 Qxf4 14.c3 then:
• If 14...Qh4+ 15.g3 Qh3 16.cxd4 f4 17.Rf1 fxe3 18.Rxf8+ Kxf8 then:
• If 19.Qf3+ Nf6 20.dxe3 Qxh2 then:
• 21.Qf2 Qh1+ 22.Qf1 is equal (Movsesian-Illescas, Ol, Elista, 1998).
• 21.Ne5 Be6 22.Bb3 Re8 23.Kd1 c6 24.Bd2 Kg8 is equal (Smagin-Perovic, Yugoslav ChT, Yugoslavia, 1994).
• 19.dxe3 Qxh2 20.Qf3+ Nf6 is equal (Smagin-Perovic, Yugoslav ChT, Yugoslavia, 1994).
• 14...Ne6 15.d4 Qh4+ 16.g3 Qd8 17.0-0 f4 18.gxf4 Nxf4 19.Ne5 Nd6 20.Bb3+ Kh8 21.N5g4 Nh3+ 22.Kg2 Rxf1 23.Qxf1 Bxg4 24.Nxg4 Qh4 25.Qf3 Ng5 26.Qg3 gives White the advantage in space (Shirov-Short, IT, Novgorod, 1994).
• 8.Nf4 c6 9.d3 d5 10.0-0 Bg4 11.Qd2 dxe4 12.Nxe4 Nxe4 13.dxe4 Re8 14.c3 Ne2+ 15.Nxe2 Qxd2 16.Bxd2 Bxe2 17.Rfe1 Rxe4 18.Bc2 Ree8 is equal (Vallejo-Z. Almasi, FIDE Knock Out, Tripoli, 2004).

6.Nxe5 d5

• If 6...d6 7.Nf3 Bg4 8.d3 d5 9.0-0 b5 10.Bb3 b4 11.Nb1 dxe4 12.dxe4 Nxf3+ 13.gxf3 Qxd1 14.Rxd1 Bxf3 15.Re1 Nd7 is equal (Kozlov-M. Turov, City Op, Moscow, 2007).

7.d3 Bd6 8.Nf3

• If 8.f4 0-0 9.0-0 b5 10.Bb3 b4 11.Ne2 Nxb3 12.axb3 Qb6+ 13.Kh1 dxe4 14.d4 Nd5 15.c4 bxc3 16.bxc3 Bxe5 17.fxe5 Bg4 gives Black a more active game for the sacrificed pawn (Dr. Nunn-Su. Polgar, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 1994).

8...Bg4 9.Be3 Nxf3+

• If 9...Bc5 10.Bxd4 Bxd4 11.Qd2 Bxf3 12.gxf3 b5 13.Nxb5 cxb5 14.Bxb5+ Nd7 15.c3 Bb6 16.d4 dxe4 17.fxe4 0-0 18.0-0-0 Rb8 19.Rdg1 Nf6 20.e5 Bxd4 21.exf6 Qxf6 22.Qxd4 Qxd4 23.cxd4 Rxb5 24.Rd1 gives White an extra pawn (Shirov-I. Sokolov, IT, Linares, 1995).

10.gxf3 Bh5 11.exd5 0-0 12.dxc6 bxc6 13.Rg1 Nd5?

• Black introduces a novelty that will perhaps never be seen again.
• If 13...g6 14.Bb3 Bxh2 15.Rh1 Be5 16.d4 Bc7 17.Qe2 Qd7 18.0-0-0 Qf5 19.Qd3 then:
• 19...Qxd3!? 20.Rxd3 Bxf3 21.Rh4 gives White a small advantage in space (Spraggett-David, Op, Casablanca, 1994).
• 19...Qxf3! 20.Rhg1 Rfe8 21.Rde1 Ng4 is equal.

BLACK:Fabiano Caruana
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WHITE: Vassily Ivanchuk
Position after 13...Nf6d5

14.Nxd5!

• White has two extra pawns and the advantage in space. Black is already beaten.

14...cxd5 15.Rg5 d4 16.Rxh5 dxe3 17.fxe3 g6

• If 17...Qb6! 18.Kf2 Qxb2 19.d4 Rfc8 20.Qb1 Qc3 21.Qe1 Qa3 22.Bb3 White retains his two pawns.
• 19...g6 20.Rb5 Qc3 21.Rab1 a6 22.Rb7 gives White two extra pawns and a Rook on the seventh rank.

18.Rh3 Qb6 19.Kf2 Qxb2 20.d4 Rac8

• If 20...Rab8 21.Bb3 Rfc8 then:
• 22.Kg1 Re8 23.f4 Qc3 24.Qe1 Rbc8 25.Rf3 maintains White's two pawns and rebuffs Black's initiative.
• 22.Rb1? Rxb3 23.Rxb2 Rxb2 24.Ke2 Rbxc2+ 25.Kd3 Rxa2 is equal.

21.Bb3 Rxc2+

• It is not wise to sacrifice the exchange when already a pawn down. Black is simply lost.

22.Qxc2

• 22.Bxc2 Rc8 23.Rc1 Ba3 24.Rb1 Rxc2+ 25.Kg1 gives White the exchange.

22...Qxa1 23.f4 Qh1 24.Qc4 a5 25.Qf1

• The text is simpler and better than
• 25.Qd5 Qxd5 26.Bxd5 Kg7 27.f5 gxf5 28.Rf3 Bxh2 29.Rxf5.

25...Qxf1+ 26.Kxf1 Kg7 27.f5

• Black sacrifices his extra pawn, as it were, just to win it back.
• Also good is 27.Ke2 f5 28.Kd3 Rc8 29.Rf3 Kf6 30.Rf2.

27...gxf5 28.Bc2 Rc8

• Black cannot save the pawn.

29.Bxf5 Rc1+ 30.Ke2 h6 31.Be4 a4 32.Rh4 a3

• Black has little better than to advance the pawn as far as he can. He cannot drive the White Bishop from e4, so he cannot check on c2.

33.Rg4+ Kf6 34.h3 Bc7 35.Bd5

• Perhaps slightly better is 35.Rg8 Bd6 36.Bd5 Rc3 37.Rd8.

35...Rc2+ 36.Kd3 Rf2 37.Rg8 Bd6

• If 37...Rf5 then 38.e4! Rf3+ 39.Kc4 Rxh3 40.e5+ Kf5 41.Rg7! wins a pawn.

38.Ra8 Kg7 39.Ra6 Bb4 40.Ra7 Bf8 41.e4 h5

• 41...Kg6 42.Ke3 Rf6 43.e5 Rf1 44.Bc4 Rc1 45.Bxf7+ wins for White.

42.Ke3 Rf6 43.e5 Rf5 44.Ke4 Rf2 45.Ke3 Rf5 46.Ke4 Rf2
BLACK:Fabiano Caruana
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WHITE: Vassily Ivanchuk
Position after 46...Rf5f2

47.e6!!

• This is well timed, even if it could have been played on the 45th move. Black has no way to safely stop the pawn.

47...Kg6 48.Ke3 Rf1 49.Ke2 1-0

• After 49...Rf4 50.e7 Black must either give up the Bishop or allow White to queen.
• 49...fxe6 50.Kxf1 wins the exchange.
• Fabiano resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Morozevich - Alekseev, Round 1

Alexander Morozevich
Photo: ChessBase.com


Alexander Morozevich - Evgeny Alekseev
42nd International Chess Festival, Round 1
Biel, 19 July 2009

East India Game: Nimzo-Indian Defense (Keres Variation)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0-0 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 d5

• For lines following 6...b6, see Beliavsky-Dazagnidze, Op, Gibraltar, 2009.

7.cxd5

• If 7.Bg5 then:
• 7...Nbd7 8.e3 c6 9.Nf3 Ne4 10.Bxd8 Nxc3 11.Bh4 Ne4 12.Bd3 f6 13.Ke2 e5 14.dxe5 Nxe5 15.Nxe5 fxe5 16.cxd5 cxd5 17.f3 Nf6 18.Rac1 gives White advantages in space and pawn structure (Chekhov-Fegebank, Op, Dresden, 1996).
• 7...h6 8.Bxf6 Qxf6 9.e3 dxc4 10.Qxc4 e5 11.Nf3 exd4 12.Nxd4 Na6 13.Qc3 is equal (Figura-Naiditsch, Bundesliga 0809, Eppingen, 2008).
• 7.Nf3 dxc4 8.Qxc4 b6 9.Bg5 Ba6 10.Qc2 Nbd7 11.e4 Bxf1 12.Rxf1 Qc8 13.0-0-0 c5 14.dxc5 Nxc5 15.Bxf6 gxf6 16.Kb1 Qb7 17.e5 fxe5 18.Nxe5 is equal (Bu Xiangzhi-Mahjoob, Mindsports Rpd, Beijing, 2008).

7...Ne4 8.Qc2 exd5 9.Bf4!?

• 9.e3 Bf5 10.Bd3 c5 11.dxc5 Nd7 12.Ne2 Ndxc5 13.Bxe4 Nxe4 14.Nd4 Bg6 15.Qd1 draw (Kramnik-Anand, Amber Rapid, Nice, 2009).

BLACK: Evgeny Alekseev
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WHITE: Alexander Morozevich
Position after 9.Bc1f4

9...Bf5!?

• White ignores the threat to the c-pawn in what must be a speculative mood.
• 9...Nc6 10.e3 Re8 11.Nf3 Bg4 12.Bb5 is equal.

10.Qxc7 Qxc7 11.Bxc7 Rc8

• All this seems the obvious rejoinder to the pawn sacrifice.

12.Bf4 Rc2 13.f3 Nf6 14.g4 Bg6 15.h4 Rxb2

• White keeps his nerve. He gets his pawn back with better development, although what to do with the Bishop may be a bit of a problem.
• 15...h6 16.Rc1 Rxc1+ 17.Bxc1 Nc6 18.h5 Bc2 19.e3 gives White an extra pawn and more freedom.

16.h5 Bc2 17.e3 Ba4

• 17...h6!? 18.Rc1! Rb1 19.Rxb1 Bxb1 20.g5 hxg5 21.Bxg5 gains time for White to develop his kingside.

18.Rh2 Rb3

• If 18...Rxh2 then White's dormant pieces come to life after 19.Bxh2 Nc6 20.Rb1 Re8 21.Kf2 b6 22.Bd3.

19.Ne2!

• The Knight maneuvers to the queenside where he will assist in beating back Black's aggression there.

19...Nbd7 20.g5 Ne8 21.Nc1 Rb6 22.Na2 Nf8 23.Nb4 Rd8

• If 23...Bc6 24.Bh3 Ne6 25.Bxe6 fxe6 26.Rc1 Rc8 27.Rhc2 leads to a minor piece ending where White has better pawns.

24.h6!?

• White should continue with his development before attacking.
• If 24.Bh3! Ne6 25.Bxe6 Rxe6 26.Rc1 then:
• 26...b6 27.Rb2 Kf8 28.Nd3 Ke7 29.Kf2 Rc6 30.Rxc6 Bxc6 31.Rc2 gives White the initiative.
• If 26...Kf8 27.Nd3 b6 28.Ne5 f6 then:
• 29.g6! hxg6 30.Nxg6+ Kf7 31.Rb2 gives White the more active game.
• 29.gxf6!? gxf6 30.Ng4 Nd6 31.Rc7 Re7 32.Bxd6 Rxd6 33.Rc3 gives Black chances for counterplay.

24...Ne6 25.hxg7

• If 25.Nd3 Rb3 26.Be2 then:
• 26...Nxf4 27.exf4 b6 28.Ne5 Rb2 29.Rc1 g6 30.Rc3 Ra2 is equal.
• 26...Rc8 27.Nc5 Nxc5 28.dxc5 Rc3 29.Rb1 R8xc5 30.Rxb7 is equal.

BLACK: Evgeny Alekseev
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WHITE: Alexander Morozevich
Position after 25.hg7:p

25...Nxf4!

• Black has equalized.

26.exf4 Nxg7 27.Bd3

• 27.Bh3 a5 28.Nd3 Re8+ 29.Kd2 h5 30.gxh6 Rxh6 remains equal.

27...Ne6 28.f5 Nf4!?

• 28...Nxd4 29.Kf2 Bd7 30.Rah1 Bxf5 31.Bxf5 Nxf5 32.Rxh7 remains equal.

29.f6!

• The Black King is confined to the back rank.

29...h5?

• Black allows White's Rooks to open the h-file.
• 29...Nxd3+ 30.Nxd3 Rb3 31.Rd2 b6 32.Ne5 Rc8 33.Rda2 leaves White better, but Black haas opportunities for counterplay.

30.Kf2 a5

• 30...Bb5 31.Kg3! Bxd3 32.Nxd3 Nxd3 33.Rxh5 Rb2 34.Rah1 leads to mate or gain of material for White.

31.Kg3 Ng6

• Black attempts to stop the advance of White's pawns, but the pawns no longer pose the main threat.
• No better is 31...axb4 when after 32.Kxf4 bxa3 33.Rxh5 Rdd6 34.Rah1 Black is soon mated.

BLACK: Evgeny Alekseev
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WHITE: Alexander Morozevich
Position after 31...Nf4g6

32.Rxh5!!

• This sacrifice is stronger than 32.Bxg6 fxg6 33.Nd3 Bd7 when White can put up a better defense.

32...axb4 33.Rah1 bxa3 34.Rh7 1-0

• 34...Rdd6 35.Bxg6 fxg6 36.Rg7+ Kf8 37.Rh8#.
• Evgeny Vladimirovich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Caruana - Morozevich, Round 4

Fabiano Caruana
Photo: ChessBase.com


Fabiano Caruana - Alexander Morozevich
42nd International Chess Festival, Round 4
Biel, 23 July 2009

West India Game: Indian Queen's Gambit (Exchange Opening) (Grünfeld Defense)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4

• If 7.Nf3 c5 then:
• If 8.Be3 Qa5 then:
• If 9.Bd2 0-0 10.Be2 then:
• If 10...cxd4 11.cxd4 Qd8 12.Rc1 gives White the advantage in space (Cramling-Dronavalli, IT, Istanbul, 2008).
• 10...Bg4 11.0-0 Rd8 12.Ng5 Bxe2 13.Qxe2 Qa6 14.Qxa6 Nxa6 15.d5 c4 16.Be3 Rac8 gives White the advantage in space (Korchnoi-I. Smirin, IT, Biel, 2002).
• If 9.Qd2 Nc6 10.Rc1 cxd4 11.cxd4 Qxd2+ 12.Kxd2 0-0 then:
• 13.d5 Rd8 14.Ke1 then:
• If 14...Na5 15.Bg5 Bd7 16.Bd3 Rdc8 17.Ke2 e6 18.Be3 exd5 19.exd5 b5 20.Nd2 a6 21.Ne4 Bf5 22.f3 Be5 23.g4 Bxe4 24.Bxe4 Rxc1 25.Bxc1 Nc4 26.h4 a5 27.Bg5 Re8 28.Kd3 Nb2+ draw (van Wely-Ftacnik, Bundesliga, Bonn, 2001).
• 14...Nb4 15.Bd2 Na6 then:
• 16.Bg5 Kf8 17.Bxa6 bxa6 18.Ke2 h6 19.Bf4 f5 20.exf5 g5 21.Be3 Rxd5 22.g4 e6 23.f6 Bxf6 24.h4 Bd7 25.Kf1 Kg7 26.hxg5 hxg5 27.Rc7 Rc8 28.Rxa7 Kg6 29.Rh5 Rh8 draw (Nielsen-Hracek. Euro ChT, Panormo (Greece), 2001).
• 16.Bb5 e6 17.Bxa6 bxa6 18.Ba5 Rd6 19.Bc7 Rd7 20.dxe6 fxe6 21.Bf4 a5 22.Ne5 Rd4 give White the advantage in space (Keene-Jansa, Esbjerb, 1981).
• 13.Bb5 f5 14.exf5 Bxf5 15.Bxc6 bxc6 16.Rxc6 Rab8 17.Kc3 Be4 18.Rc7 Rf6 19.Ra1 Ra6 20.a4 Bf6 21.Ne5 Rab6 22.Nd7 Rb3+ 23.Kd2 Rb2+ 24.Ke1 Rb1+ 25.Rxb1 Rxb1+ 26.Kd2 Rb2+ 27.Kc1 Rb1+ 28.Kd2 draw (Browne-Vaganian, Ol, Thessaloniki, 1984).
• If 8.Rb1 0-0 9.Be2 then:
• 9...cxd4 10.cxd4 Qa5+ 11.Bd2 Qxa2 12.0-0 Bg4 13.Bg5 h6 14.Be3 Nc6 15.d5 then:
• 15...Bxf3 16.gxf3 Nd4 17.Bd3 Qa3 18.f4 Qd6 19.Rxb7 Rfb8 20.Qb1 Nf3+ 21.Kg2 Nh4+ 22.Kh1 g5 23.Rg1 gxf4 24.Bc5 Qe5 25.Bd4 Rxb7 26.Qxb7 Qxd4 27.Qxa8+ Kh7 28.Bb1 is equal (Krasenkow-Svidler, Rubinstein Mem, Polanica Zdroj, 2000).
• 15...Na5 16.Bc5 Bf6 17.e5 Bxe5 18.Rb4 Bxf3 19.Bxf3 Rae8 20.Be3 Nc4 21.Bxh6 Nd6 22.Bxf8 Rxf8 23.h4 Rc8 24.Be4 Qa5 25.Ra4 Qb5 26.Bb1 Rc5 is unclear: White has the equivalent of an extra pawn, but Black has more than enough space to compensate (Kramnik-Anand, IT, Dos Hermanas, 1996).
• If 9...Nc6 10.d5 Ne5 11.Nxe5 Bxe5 then:
• 12.Qd2 e6 13.f4 Bc7 14.0-0 exd5 then:
• 15.exd5 Ba5 16.d6 b6 17.Bf3 Rb8 18.Ba3 Qf6 19.Bb4 Bf5 20.Rbc1 c4 21.Bxa5 bxa5 gives Black the advantage in space (Marzolo-Brkic, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• 15.dxe6 fxe6 16.Qe3 Bb7 17.Bc4 Kh8 18.Bxe6 Qf6 19.Bb3 g5 20.Qe2 gxf4 21.Bxf4 Qxc3 22.Kh1 Qd4 23.Bc2 Rae8 24.Rbd1 Qb2 gives Black a spatial edge and an attack on a loose pawn (Vokac-Stohl, Zlin, 1995).
• If 12...b6 13.f4 Bg7 14.0-0 e6 15.d6 Bb7 16.Bf3 e5 17.c4 Qe8 18.Bb2 Rd8 19.Rbd1 Bc6 20.Qc1 exf4 21.Bxg7 Kxg7 22.Qxf4 gives White a comfortable lead in space (Kamsky-Razuvaev. Op. Paris, 1990).
• 9...b6 10.0-0 Bb7 11.Qd3 Ba6 12.Qe3 Qd7 then:
• 13.dxc5 Bxe2 14.Qxe2 bxc5 15.Qc4 Qc6 16.e5 Nd7 17.Re1 e6 18.Bg5 Rfb8 19.Rbd1 Nb6 20.Qe2 Qa4 21.Rd6 Nd5 22.c4 Nc3 23.Qd3 Nxa2 24.Rd1 Nb4 25.Qe4 Nd5 is unclear: Black has an extra pawn and White has a narrow lead in the space count (Markos-Greenfeld, Euro ChT, León, 2001).
• 13.Bxa6 Nxa6 14.Qe2 Nc7 15.Rd1 Qa4 16.Rb3 cxd4 17.cxd4 Ne6 18.e5 gives White a small advantage in space (Zaja-I. Smirin, Croatian ChT, Pula, 2001).
• 8.Bb5+ then:
• 8...Nc6 9.0-0 cxd4 10.cxd4 0-0 11.Be3 Bg4 12.Bxc6 bxc6 13.Rc1 Qa5 then:
• 14.Qd2 Qxd2 15.Nxd2 Rfd8 16.Nb3 a5 17.f3 Be6 18.Nc5 Bxd4 19.Bxd4 Rxd4 20.Nxe6 fxe6 21.Rxc6 Rd2 22.Rf2 Rd1+ 23.Rf1 Rd2 24.Rf2 draw (Ftacnik-Krasenkow, IT, Djakarta, 1996).
• 14.Rxc6 Qxa2 15.Rc7 Qe6 16.h3 Qd6 17.Rc5 Bxf3 18.Qxf3 e6 19.e5 Qd7 20.Ra1 Rfb8 21.g4 Bf8 22.Rca5 Qb7 23.Kg2 Be7 24.d5 gives White the advatage in space (Anand-Shirov, Amber, Monte Carlo, 1999).
• 8...Bd7 9.Bxd7+ Qxd7 10.0-0 0-0 11.Be3 cxd4 12.cxd4 Nc6 13.d5 Ne5 14.Nxe5 Bxe5 15.Rc1 Rfc8 16.Qb3 b5 17.f4 Bg7 18.e5 a5 19.Bc5 b4 20.Rfd1 Rc7 21.Be3 Rxc1 22.Rxc1 give White a subtantial advantage in space (Kholmov-Timoshchenko, Soviet Ch cycle, Rostov-on-Don, 1976).

7...c5 8.Ne2 0-0 9.0-0 Nc6 10.Be3 Qc7

• If 10...Na5 then:
• 11.Bb5 Bd7 12.Bd3 b6 13.Rb1 e5 14.dxc5 Ba4 15.Qd2 Qd7 16.cxb6 axb6 17.Nc1 Rfc8 18.Rxb6 gives White two extra pawns (Ivanchuk-Morozevich, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2008).
• If 11.Bd3 b6 12.Rc1 cxd4 13.cxd4 e6 14.Qd2 Bb7 then:
• If 15.Bh6 Qe7 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 then:
• 17.Rc3 Rac8 18.Rfc1 Qd7 19.f3 Rxc3 20.Qxc3 Rc8 21.Qb2 f6 22.Rxc8 Qxc8 23.Kf2 Kf7 is equal (Saric-Sebenik, IT, Brno, 2006).
• 17.Rc2 Qd7 18.Qb4 Rac8 19.Rxc8 Qxc8 20.f3 Ba6 21.Bxa6 Qxa6 22.Kf2 Qd3 23.Qc3 Qxc3 draw (Minescu-Giemsa, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• 15.h4 Qd7 16.Bh6 Bxh6 17.Qxh6 Nc6 18.Bb5 a6 19.Bxc6 Bxc6 is equal (Cramling-Andersson, IT Heninge, 1989).
• If 10...Bg4 11.f3 Na5 then:
• If 12.Bd3 cxd4 13.cxd4 Be6 14.d5 Bxa1 15.Qxa1 f6 then:
• 16.Qd4 Bf7 17.Bh6 Re8 18.Bb5 e5 19.Qf2 Re7 20.Bd3 Rc8 21.f4 Nc4 is equal (Topalov-Shirov, IT, Morelia-Linares, 2008).
• If 16.Bh6 then:
• If 16...Qb6+ 17.Nd4 Bd7 18.Rb1 Qc5 19.Rc1 Qb6 20.Bxf8 Rxf8 21.h4 gives the advantage in space to White (Bronstein-Boleslavsky, Candidates' Trmt, Budapest, 1950).
• 16...Re8 17.Kh1 Rc8 18.Nf4 Bd7 19.e5 Nc4 20.e6 Ba4 21.Nxg6 hxg6 22.Bxg6 Ne5 23.Be4 Bc2 24.Bxc2 Rxc2 25.Qd1 Kh7 26.f4 Kxh6 27.fxe5 Qc8 28.exf6 Rg8 29.f7 is balanced and, after some more moves, the players agreed to a draw (Korotylev-Timofeev, Russian Ch Qual, Tomsk, 2004).
• 16.Rb1 Bd7 17.Bh6 Rf7 18.e5 fxe5 19.Qxe5 b5 20.Be3 Qb8 21.Qc3 Qd8 22.Qe5 Qb8 23.Qc3 Qd8 draws by repetition (Kavalek-Timman, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1978).
• If 12.Bxf7+ Rxf7 13.fxg4 Rxf1+ 14.Kxf1 cxd4 15.cxd4 e5 16.Kg1 Rc8 17.d5 Nc4 18.Bf2 Nd6 19.Ng3 Bh6 20.h4 Bf4 21.g5 Qd7 22.Qf3 White still has the extra pawn.(Jussupow-Sutovsky, IT, Essen, 2001).
• 16.d5 Nc4 17.Bf2 Qf6 18.Kg1 Rf8 19.Qe1 Bh6 20.Ng3 Qa6 21.Kh1 Qa4 22.Qe2 b6 23.h4 Bf4 24.Nf1 Nd6 25.Re1 Rc8 26.g3 Rc2 27.Qf3 Qxa2 gives Black a huge advatage in space (K.Georgiev-Ivanchuk, IT, Reggio Emilia, 1989).

11.Rc1 Rd8 12.Bf4

• If 12.Qd2 Qa5 13.Rfd1 then:
• 13...Bd7 14.Bh6 cxd4 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.Qf4 Be8 17.cxd4 e5 18.dxe5 Rxd1+ 19.Rxd1 Qxe5 20.Qxe5+ draw (Polugaevsky-Vaganian, IT, Linares, 1985).
• 13...Bg4 14.f3 Ne5 15.Bd5 Rxd5 16.exd5 Nc4 17.Qd3 Nb2 18.Qb1 Nxd1 19.Qxb7 Rd8 20.Rxd1 Bc8 21.Qxe7 Bf8 22.Qf6 gives White the advantage in space (Ftacnik-Stohl, IT, Trnava, 1984).

12...Be5

• If 12...Qd7 13.d5 Na5 14.Bd3 e5 then:
• 15.Bg5 Re8 16.c4 b6 17.Qd2 Nb7 18.Bh6 f6 19.Bxg7 Qxg7 20.f4 Nd6 21.Kh1 Bd7 22.Ng1 Qh6 23.Rce1 f5 24.Qc3 fxe4 25.fxe5 exd3 26.exd6 Rxe1 27.Rxe1 d2 28.Rd1 Qf4 29.Rxd2 draw (Balashov-Ftacnik, Trnava, 1988).
• 15.Be3 Qe7 16.Qd2 b6 17.f4 c4 18.Bc2 exf4 19.Bxf4 Nc6 20.Nd4 Nxd4 21.cxd4 Ba6 22.Rf3 gives White the advantage in space (Jussupow-Kamsky, Tilburg, 1992).

13.Bg3 Bxg3 14.fxg3 Rf8!?

• 14...e6 15.Qd2 Rb8 16.Bb5 cxd4 17.cxd4 Qe5 18.Bxc6 bxc6 19.Qe3 Qc7 20.Nf4 Qd6 21.Nh5 Qxd4 22.Nf6+ Kg7 23.Qxd4 Rxd4 24.e5 Ba6 gives Black an extra pawn and the initiative (Gozzoli-Kransenkow, IT, Nancy, 2009).

15.h3

• White has the advantage in space.

15...Na5

BLACK: Alexander Morozevich
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Fabiano Caruana
Position after 15...Nc6a5

16.Bd3!?

• White plays passively and nearly loses his edge.
• 16.Bd5! c4 17.e5 Qd8 18.Be4 White continues to enjoy the advantage in space.

16...e5 17.Qd2 Qe7!?

• Black fails to find the line to take advatage of White's inaccuracy.
• 17...Qd6 18.Rcd1 exd4 19.cxd4 Nc6 20.d5 Ne5 is equal.

18.g4!

• White maintains his advantage, for now.
• 18.Rf2!? b6 19.Qe3 Bb7 20.d5 Rad8 21.Rcf1 is equal.

18...Bd7 19.d5!?

• Again, White can't find the move to give him a clear edge.
• 19.g5 Rfd8 20.Rf6 b6 21.d5 then:
• 21...c4 22.Bc2 Qa3 23.Bb1 Nb7 24.Rcf1 White maintains his advantage in space and begins attacking weaknesses near Black's King.
• If the time-wasting 21...Nb7?! then after 22.Qe3 Nd6 23.Rcf1 c4 24.Bc2 White has a strong position with pressure on the f-file.

19...c4

• The game is equal.
• 19...f6 20.Qe3 Qd6 21.Rb1 Rad8 22.Ng3 b6 also remains equal.

20.Bc2 f6 21.Ng3 b6 22.Bd1 Nb7 23.Be2

• 23.Qe3 b5 24.a4 bxa4 25.Rb1 Qc5 26.Qxc5 Nxc5 leaves Black a pawn up.

23...Nd6 24.Rf2 Rac8 25.Rcf1 Kg7

• Black overprotects his weak pawn.

26.Qe3 h6

BLACK: Alexander Morozevich
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Fabiano Caruana
Position after 26...h7h6

27.Rb1!?

• Here Fritz starts suggesting the the advance of the h-pawn in order to draw Black's g-pawn forward, further weakening the f-pawn.
27.h4 Kh7 28.h5 g5 29.Bd1 then:
• 29...Rcd8 30.Rd2 Kg8 31.Nf5 remains equal.
• 29...Rb8 30.Rd2 a6 31.a4 Kg8 32.Rb2 gives White the advantage in space.

27...Rc5

• The game now remains equal for some time.

28.Bd1

• 28.Rb4 Rb5 29.a3 Rc8 30.Rxb5 Nxb5 31.a4 Nd6 remains equal.

28...Ra5 29.Qd2 Be8 30.Be2 Qc7 31.Rbf1 Rf7

• If 31...Qc5! 32.Rb1 Bd7 then:
• 33.Rb4 f5 34.gxf5 gxf5 35.exf5 Bxf5 36.Bxc4 Be4 remains equal.
• 33.Bd1 Ra3 34.Rb2 Nb5 35.Ne2 a6 36.Bc2 Nd6 gives Black the advantage in space.

32.h4 Qe7 33.Qc2

• 33.Bd1 b5 34.h5 Rf8 35.Qe3 Kh7 36.hxg6+ Bxg6 remains equal.

33...b5 34.Qb1 Qd8 35.Bd1

• If 35.h5 then:
• 35...Rf8 36.hxg6 Bxg6 37.Bd1 Qb6 38.Kh2 remains equal.
• 35...g5 36.Qb4 Kg8 37.Rxf6 Rxf6 38.Rxf6 Qxf6 39.Qxa5 remains equal.

35...Qb6 36.Kh2 Qc5 37.Qc1

• If 37.h5 Rf8 38.Bc2 then:
• 38...g5 39.Bd1 Ra3 40.Qc2 Bd7 remains equal.
• 38...Qe3 39.Qb4 Ra6 40.hxg6 Bxg6 remains equal.

37...Ra6 38.Qd2 Rb6 39.Bc2 Rbb7 40.Qc1 a5 41.a3!?

• 41.h5 g5 42.Rd2 Bd7 43.Nf5+ Nxf5 44.gxf5 remains equal.

41...Rb8!?

• 41...Bd7! 42.Bd1 Qc8 43.g5 hxg5 44.h5 Qh8 gives Black more activity.

42.Bd1 Bd7 43.Be2 Rh8 44.Qa1

• 44.h5 f5 45.gxf5 gxf5 46.exf5 Re8 remains equal.

BLACK: Alexander Morozevich
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Fabiano Caruana
Position after 44.Qc1a1

44...h5!?

• This is made as part of a plan to advance the f-pawn, but the move at this time is premature.
• 44...Rhf8 45.Qb2 Kh7 46.h5 gxh5 47.gxh5 f5! gives Black the advantage in space.

45.gxh5 f5 46.exf5 gxf5 47.Qb1?

• Now Black should win.
If
• 47.Bf3? then White still loses after 47...f4 48.Nh1 Nf5 49.a4 Nxh4 when:
• 50.Be2 Qxd5 51.axb5 Qxb5 52.Qa2 Qc5 gives Black an extra pawn and the a-pawn is ready to roll.
• 50.Qd1 Nxf3+ 51.Qxf3 b4 52.cxb4 axb4 gives Black two connected passed pawns.

47...Qe3?

• Black throws away the win and allows White to equalize.
• 47...Qxa3! 48.Qe1 f4 49.Nh1 Re8 50.Rf3 Qc5 gives Black a winning position.

48.Bg4!

• The game is equal.

48...Qd3?!

• Another bad move allows White to take the advantage.
• 48...Qxc3 49.Bxf5 Be8 50.Ne4 Nxe4 51.Qxe4 Qd4 remains equal.

49.Qe1!

• White attacks an unguarded pawn and seizes the initiative.
• 49.Qxd3 cxd3 50.Nxf5+ Bxf5 51.Bxf5 e4 52.Bg6 Rxf2 remains equal.

49...Re8

• 49...Qxd5? 50.Bxf5 Rxf5 51.Rxf5 Nxf5 52.Nxf5+ Bxf5 53.Rxf5 gives White a winning game.

50.Rf3 Qxd5 51.Bxf5 e4?

• Black loses all chances for counterplay.
• 51...Bxf5 52.Nxf5+ Rxf5 53.Rxf5 Nxf5 54.Rxf5 Kh7 is a more stubborn defense.

BLACK: Alexander Morozevich
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Fabiano Caruana
Position after 51...e5e4

52.Bxe4!

• White seizes the initiative and doesn't let go until Black resigns.

52...Qe5 53.h6+ Kf8

• 53...Kxh6 drops a piece to 54.Rxf7 Nxf7 55.Rxf7.

54.Rxf7+ Nxf7 55.Qf2 Re7 56.Bg6 Be8 57.Qf6 Qxf6 58.Rxf6 Kg8 59.Nf5 1-0

• 59...Rd7 60.h7+ Kh8 61.Nh6 wins a piece.
• Alexander Sergeyevich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Politiken Cup, Helsigøor

Kronberg Castle, Helsingør (Elsinore)
Wikipedia

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Negi - Nielsen, Round 7

Parimarjan Negi
Photo: ChessBase.com


Parimarjan Negi - Peter Heine Nielsen
Politiken Cup, Round 7
Helsingør, 23 July 2009

Open German Game: Spassky Opening

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5

• 8.Bd3 Bxd3 9.Qxd3 then:
• If 9...Qc7 10.Bd2 Ngf6 11.0-0-0 e6 then:
• If 12.Ne4 0-0-0 then:
• If 13.g3 Nxe4 14.Qxe4 then:
• If 14...Nf6 15.Qe2 Bd6 16.c4 then:
• 16...c5 17.Bc3 cxd4 18.Nxd4 is equal (Pogonina-Solovjova, City OpW, Moscow, 2009).
• 16...Qe7 17.Kb1 Bc7 18.Bc3 draw (Palac-Zelcic, Premier League, Neum, 2005).
• 14...Bd6 15.Rhe1 Nf6 16.Qe2 c5 17.c4 cxd4 18.Nxd4 a6 19.Nb3 Qc6 is equal (Skripchenko-Solovjova, Russian ChTW, Sochi, 2005).
• 13.Kb1 Nc5 14.Nxc5 Bxc5 15.Rhe1 Rhe8 16.c4 Kb8 17.Bc3 Bd6 18.Qe2 is equal (Spoelman-Doettling, GM Trmt, Hockenheim/Willingen, 2006).
• If 12.Kb1 0-0-0 13.c4 c5 then:
• If 14.Bc3 cxd4 15.Nxd4 a6 16.Nf3 then:
• 16...Be7 17.Qe2 Rhe8 18.Rhe1 Qb6 19.Ne5 Nxe5 20.Bxe5 Rxd1+ 21.Rxd1 Rd8 22.Rxd8+ Kxd8 draw (Kavalek-Filip, IT, Marianske Lazne, 1965).
• If 16...Bc5 17.Qe2 Bd6 18.Ne4 Be7 then:
• 19.Rhe1 Nxe4 20.Qxe4 Bf6 21.Qe3 Bxc3 22.Qxc3 Nf6 is equal (Spassky-Matulovic, IT, Belgrade, 1964).
• 19.Nxf6 Bxf6 20.Bxf6 Nxf6 21.Ne5 Rxd1+ 22.Rxd1 Rd8 23.Rxd8+ Kxd8 24.Qd3+ Ke7 is equal (Spassky-Petrosian, World Ch, Moscow, 1966).
• 14.Qe2 Bd6 15.Ne4 Nxe4 16.Qxe4 Nf6 17.Qe2 cxd4 18.Nxd4 a6 19.Bc3 Rd7 20.Rc1 Qc5 21.Nb3 Qf5+ 22.Rc2 Bc7 is equal (Smyslov-Botvinnik, World Ch, Moscow, 1958).
• If 9...Ngf6 10.Bf4 e6 11.0-0-0 Be7 12.Kb1 0-0 13.Ng5 then:
• 13...Re8 14.Nh5 Nf8 15.Nxf6+ Bxf6 16.Ne4 Ng6 17.Bg3 Bxh4 18.Bxh4 Nxh4 19.Qh3 Ng6 20.g4 Qd5 is equal (Matu-Bets. Local Trmt, Kishnev (Macedonia), 2001).
• With 13...hxg5?? Black falls into a well-known opening trap; White wins after 14.hxg5 g6 (14...Ne8 15.Qh7#) 15.gxf6
• If 13...Qa5 14.Bd2 Qd5 15.c4 Ne5 16.Qc2 Nxc4 gives Black an extra pawn and a strong initiative (J. Polgar-Vallejo, IT, Benidorm, 2003),
• 14.N5e4 Rad8 15.Qf3 Nd5 is equal.

8...Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 e6 11.Bd2

• If 11.Bf4 Qa5+ 12.Bd2 Bb4 13.c3 Be7 14.c4 Qc7 15.0-0-0 Ngf6 16.Kb1 0-0 17.Rhe1 then:
• 17...Rfd8 18.Qc2 a5 19.a3 a4 20.Ne2 Ng4 21.Nf4 Ndf6 22.Bc1 Ra5 23.Qe2 Bf8 24.Nh4 e5 25.dxe5 Rxe5 26.Qc2 Rxe1 27.Rxe1 Qa5 28.Re2 Nxh5 29.Nd3 Rd4 30.Nf3 Rd8 31.Nfe1 b5 32.c5 Ngf6 33.Ne5 is unclear: Black has an extra pawn and White has more space and activity (Hou Yifan-Iordachescu, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2008).
• 18.Qc2 Ng4 19.Bc3 Rfe8 20.Qe2 a5 21.Ne5 draw (Motylev-Dreev, Russian Ch, Moscow, 2005).
• 17...Rfe8 18.Ne5 Bd6 19.f4 Rad8 20.Qf3 c5 21.Nxd7 Rxd7 22.d5 exd5 23.Rxe8+ Nxe8 24.cxd5 gives White more space in an otherwise passive position (Karjakin-Mchedlishvili, Beer Sheva, 2005).
• If 17...Rad8 18.Nf5 exf5 19.Rxe7 Ne4 20.Nh4 Nxf2 21.Qf3 Nxd1 22.Nxf5 Qb6 23.Qxd1 Nf6 24.Bxh6 gxh6 25.Qd2 gives White a fierce initiative which will cause Black to return material (Amonatov-Akesson, Op, Vlissingen, 2008).

11...Ngf6 12.0-0-0

• 12.c4 b5 13.cxb5 cxb5 14.Qxb5 Bd6 15.Ne5 Qb8 16.Qxb8+ Rxb8 17.Bc3 gives White the advantage of the gambit pawn (Petrenko-Chiburdanidze, OlW, Dresden, 2008).

12...Be7

• If 12...Qc7 13.Ne4 0-0-0 14.g3 Nxe4 15.Qxe4 Bd6 16.c4 c5 then:
• 17.d5 Nf6 18.Qc2 exd5 19.cxd5 Rhe8 20.Bc3 Qd7 21.Bxf6 gxf6 22.Nh4 Re5 23.f4 Rxh5 24.Qe2 Rxd5 25.Rxd5 Bxf4+ 26.gxf4 Qxd5 is equal (Hammer-Simutowe, Op. Reykjavik, 2008).
• 17.Bc3 Nf6 18.Qe2 cxd4 19.Nxd4 a6 20.Kb1 Rd7 21.Nf3 Rhd8 22.Rc1 Qc5 23.Rh4 Nxh5 24.Ne5 Bxe5 25.Rxh5 f6 26.Bxe5 fxe5 27.Rxe5 is equal (Kaidanov-Feingold, US Ch, Tulsa, 2008).

13.Rhe1

• 13.Ne4 Nxe4 14.Qxe4 Nf6 15.Qe2 Qd5 16.c4 Qe4 17.Qxe4 Nxe4 18.Be3 Nd6 19.b3 Bf6 20.g4 b5 21.Nd2 Kd7 22.Kc2 is equal (Kramnik-Bareev, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2003).

13...0-0 14.Qe2 a5 15.Ne5 a4!?

• 15...Bb4 16.c3 Bd6 17.f4 Re8 18.Qf3 Qc7 19.Ne2 c5 20.g4 cxd4 21.Nxd7 Nxd7 22.Nxd4 gives White the advantage in space (Movsesian-Morozevich, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2009).

16.a3

• White has the advantage in space.

16...c5 17.Ng6

• If 17.dxc5 Bxc5 18.Bc3 then:
• 18...Nd5! 19.Nxd7 Qxd7 20.Qg4 f5 is equal.
• 18...Rc8?! 19.Nxd7 Nxd7 20.Qg4 Nf6 21.Bxf6 Qxf6 22.Ne4 gives White the initiative.

17...Re8 18.Nxe7+ Qxe7 19.d5 Qd6

• If 19...Qd8 then after 20.dxe6 Rxe6 21.Qc4 Rxe1 22.Rxe1 White contues to enjoy the advantage in space.

20.dxe6 Rxe6 21.Qf3 Ne5?

• Black sacrifices the pawn in hopes of getting some initiative.
• 21...Rxe1 22.Rxe1 Qd5 23.Qxd5 Nxd5 24.Nf5 b5 25.Ne7+ leaves White more active.

22.Qxb7 Rb8

• Perhaps Black expected 23.Ne4?! Nd3+ 24.cxd3 Nxe4 25.Qxb8+ Qxb8 26.Rxe4 Rxe4 when the Queen trumps White's Rook and Bishop combination.

BLACK: Peter Heine Nielsen
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Parimarjan Negi
Position after 22...Ra8b8

23.Qa7!

• White simply wins another pawn.

23...Nc6 24.Qxa4 Nd4 25.Qc4 Nd5

• If 25...Rxe1 26.Rxe1 Qc6 27.Bf4 then:
• 27...Ra8 28.Be5 Qxg2 29.Bxd4 cxd4 30.Qxd4 White has a positionally won game.
• If 27...Rd8 28.f3 Qd7 29.Kb1 then:
• 29...Qc6 30.Be5 Re8 31.Re3 Nd5 32.Re4 White retains his two-pawn advantage.
• 29...Qa7 30.c3 Nd5 31.Bxh6 Nxc3+ 32.Qxc3 gxh6 33.Ne4 leaves White two pawns up.

26.Rxe6 Qxe6 27.Ba5 Qe5

• If 27...Qd6 28.b4 Qf4+ 29.Rd2 Re8 30.bxc5 then:
• 30...Ne2+ 31.Qxe2 Rxe2 32.Nxe2 Qxf2 33.Rxd5 Qxe2 34.c6 saddles Black with having to defend against the advancing passed pawn.
• 30...Nc6 31.Qxf4 Nxf4 32.Bc3 wins for White.

BLACK: Peter Heine Nielsen
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Parimarjan Negi
Position after 27...Qe6e5

28.Re1!

• White wins more material.

28...Ne2+

• 28...Qg5+ 29.Bd2 Qd8 30.Qxc5 Ne6 31.Qc4 Rc8 32.Qe4 gives White yet another extra pawn.
• 28...Qd6 29.Ne4 Qc6 30.Qxc5 Qa8 31.Nc3 also wins a pawn.

29.Rxe2 Qxb2+ 30.Kd2 Qxa3 31.Qxd5 Qxa5+ 32.Ke3

• White emerges a piece to the good.

32...Rd8 33.Qe5 Qa3+ 34.c3 Qc1+

• 34...Qa8 35.Nf5 Qxg2 36.Ne7+ Kf8 37.Qxc5. is no better.

35.Kf3 Rd3+ 36.Re3 Qd1+ 37.Kf4 Rd6 38.Nf5 Rf6 39.Kg3 1-0

• Black has no way to make up the material deficit.
• Peter Heine resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Malakhov - Hector, Round 7

Vladimir Malakhov
Photo: ChessBase.com


Vladimir Malakhov - Jonny Hector
Politiken Cup, Round 7
Helsingør, 23 July 2009

Slav Queen's Gambit: Tikhi Opening

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.e3 Bf5

• 4...e6 5.Nc3 is the Meran Defense to the Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit.

5.Nc3 e6 6.Nh4 Be4

• If 6...Bg6 then:
• If 7.Be2 Nbd7 then:
• If 8.g3 Bd6 9.0-0 then:
• If 9...Qe7 then:
• 10.a3 dxc4 11.Nxg6 hxg6 12.Bxc4 e5 13.Re1 0-0-0 is equal (E. Atalik-Zhu Chen, IT, Istanbul, 2008).
• 10.Qb3 Rb8 11.Bd2 Ne4 12.Nxe4 Bxe4 13.f3 Bg6 14.Rae1 dxc4 15.Qxc4 c5 16.dxc5 Bxc5 17.b4 Bb6 18.a4 0-0 19.a5 gives White a small advantage in space (Vladimirov-Nei, Soviet Ch semif, Moscow, 1963).
• 9...0-0 10.Nxg6 hxg6 11.Qc2 dxc4 12.Bxc4 c5 13.dxc5 Bxc5 14.Rd1 Rc8 15.Bf1 Bb4 16.Bd2 Nd5 17.Bg2 Bxc3 18.bxc3 Qc7 19.Be1 N7b6 20.Rd4 Nxc3 21.Qxc3 Qxc3 22.Bxc3 Rxc3 draw (Ivanchuk-Gelfand, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 2007).
• If 8.Bd2 then:
• If 8...Be7 9.Nxg6 hxg6 10.Qc2 Qc7 11.h3 a6 12.Rc1 Rc8 13.0-0 dxc4 14.Bxc4 g5 15.e4 g4 16.e5 gxh3 17.g3 Nd5 18.Qe4 Nxc3 19.Bxc3 Nb6 20.Ba5 Bd8 21.Qg4 Kf8 22.Bxb6 Qxb6 23.Rc3 Rh6 24.Bb3 Bc7 is unclear: Black has an extra pawn and White barely enough space to compensate for it (Malakhov-M. Gurevich, World Cup. Rd 4.2, Khanty Mansyisk, 2005).
• 8...Bd6 9.Nxg6 hxg6 10.Qc2 dxc4 11.Bxc4 Qe7 12.0-0-0 Nb6 13.Be2 e5 14.Kb1 0-0-0 15.Nb5 exd4 16.Ba5 Bb8 17.Nxd4 Bc7 18.Bxb6 Bxb6 19.Nxc6 bxc6 20.Qxc6+ Qc7 21.Qa8+ Qb8 22.Qc6+ Qc7 23.Qa8+ Qb8 24.Qc6+ draw (Malakhov-Domínguez, FIDE Knock Out, Tripoli, 2004).
• 7.Nxg6 hxg6 8.Bd2 Nbd7 9.Rc1 Bd6 10.g3 Qe7 11.c5 Bc7 12.f4 Ba5 13.Nb1 Bxd2+ 14.Nxd2 Ne4 15.Nxe4 dxe4 16.h4 f5 17.Kf2 Nf6 18.Be2 Kf7 19.a3 a5 20.Qd2 Rhb8 21.Rc2 b5 draw (Bareev-Dreev, Russian Ch, Moscow, 2004).
• If 7.Qb3 then:
• If 7...Qc7 8.Nxg6 hxg6 9.g3 Nbd7 10.Bd2 Be7 11.Rc1 Nb6 12.cxd5 exd5 then:
• If 13.a4 Qd7 14.h4 g5 15.a5 Nc8 16.Bg2 g4 17.e4 dxe4 18.Nxe4 0-0 19.a6 Nb6 20.axb7 Qxb7 21.0-0 Nfd5 22.Nc5 Qc8 23.Nd3 Rb8 24.Qc2 Bf6 25.Ne5 Bxe5 26.dxe5 Qe6 27.Rfe1 Rfc8 28.Re4 Nd7 29.Rce1 Rb6 draw (Hort-Zhu Chen, Op, Amsterdam, 2001).
• 13.Be2 Qd7 14.a4 Nc8 15.f3 Nd6 16.0-0 0-0 17.Nd1 Rae8 18.Nf2 Nf5 19.Rfe1 Bd6 20.Bf1 Qc7 21.Bg2 g5 22.Qd3 Nh6 23.e4 dxe4 24.fxe4 Nfg4 25.Nxg4 Nxg4 26.h3 Bxg3 27.hxg4 Bxe1 28.Rxe1 gives White much the better ending (Bercys-Bierkens, Op, Foxwoods, 2005).
• 7...Qb6 8.Nxg6 hxg6 9.Bd2 Nbd7 10.Bd3 Be7 11.h3 Rc8 12.Qxb6 axb6 13.Ke2 0-0 14.Rac1 Rfd8 15.Rhd1 dxc4 16.Bxc4 b5 17.Bb3 e5 18.Be1 exd4 19.Rxd4 Nc5 20.Rxd8+ Rxd8 gives Black a considerable advantage in space (Dreev-Gelfand, FIDE Knock Out, Groningen, 1997).

7.f3 Bg6 8.Qb3 b5

• If 8...Qc7 9.Bd2 Be7 then:
• 10.Nxg6 hxg6 11.0-0-0 Nbd7 12.cxd5 Nxd5 13.Nxd5 exd5 14.Kb1 0-0-0 15.Rc1 Kb8 16.h3 Qd6 17.Ba6 Nb6 is equal (Vitiugov-P. Smirnov, Russian Ch HL, Novokuznetsk, 2008).
• 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.Nxg6 hxg6 12.0-0-0 Nc6 13.Kb1 a6 14.Rc1 Nd7 15.Bd3 Rc8 16.Ne2 Qb6 is equal (Tregubov-Bareev, Euro ChT, Fügen, 2006).

9.c5!?

• 9.cxd5 exd5 10.Nxg6 hxg6 11.Bd2 a5 12.0-0-0 Be7 13.g4 Na6 14.Qc2 a4 15.h4 Nb4 16.Qb1 a3 17.b3 is equal (Giri-Hillarp Persson, Corus C, Wijk aan Zee, 2009).

9...Nbd7!?

• Black neglects White's weaknesses and continues with normal development.
• 9...Bh5! 10.g3 Be7 11.Bg2 Nbd7 12.a4 g5! is equal.

10.a4 a6 11.Nxg6

• The exchange at g6 gives White more freedom.

11...hxg6 12.Qa3!

• If White plays 13.axb5, then Black cannot reply 13...axb5? on account of losing a Rook. The Rook is inadequately protected and thus this move has the effect of pinning the a-pawn after White play 13.axb5.

12...Qb8?

• Black takes aim at h2, but now the Rook at a8 becomes a target.
12...Rb8 13.axb5 axb5 14.b4 Nh5 15.Ne2 Be7 16.Qa5 gives White the advantage in space.

BLACK: Jonny Hector
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Vladimir Malakhov
Position after 12...Qb8

13.axb5!

• It should be no surprise to those reading the notes that White opens the a-file.

13...cxb5

• Black now finds himself in a peck of trouble.
• If 13...Rxh2 14.Rxh2 Qxh2 15.bxc6 then:
• 15...Qg3+ 16.Kd1 Nb8 17.Qb4 Qc7 18.Qb7 wins for White.
• 15...Nb8 16.Qa4 Qc7 17.Nb5 Qc8 18.Nd6+ Bxd6 19.c7+ wins for White.

14.Nxb5!

• Once again, the Rook is inadequately protected and thus the a-pawn is effectively pinned.

14...Rxh2 15.Rxh2 Qxh2 16.Qa5 Qh4+

• If 16...Rb8 17.Nc7+ Ke7 18.Nxa6 then:
• 18...Rc8 19.Qd2 Nh5 20.g4 Qh4+ 21.Qf2 Ng3 22.b4 Black does not have the resources on the queenside to deal with White's advancing passer.
• If 18...Ra8 19.c6! Qg3+ 20.Ke2 then:
• 20...Rc8 21.Qb4+ Qd6 22.Qxd6+ Kxd6 23.cxd7 White has an extra piece.
• 20...Nb8 21.Qb4+ Ke8 22.Qb7 wins for White.

17.Ke2 Ke7

• 17...Rc8 18.Qxa6 Rb8 19.c6 wins the Knight.

18.c6!

• The attacked Knight has nowhere to go.

18...Nh5

• This move will restore the material balance after White takes the Knight at d7.

19.cxd7 Ng3+ 20.Kd3 Nxf1

• The material balance is restored, but only for a moment.

BLACK: Jonny Hector
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Vladimir Malakhov
Position after 20...Ng3f1:B

21.Qc7!!

• Black cannot take the Knight.
• 21...axb5 22.d8Q#!.

21...Kf6

• 21...Rd8 22.Na7 Rxd7 23.Nc6+ Ke8 24.Qc8+ wins the Rook.

22.d8Q+ Rxd8 23.Qxd8+ Be7 24.Qc7 g5 25.Nc3 1-0

• 25...Qe1 26.Nxd5+ Kg6 27.Qxe7 Qd1+ 28.Kc3 exd5 29.Qd6+ leaves White a whole Rook to the good.
• Jonny resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Berg - Nielsen, Round 5

Peter Heine Nielsen
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Emanuel Berg - Peter Heine Nielsen
Politiken Cup, Round 5
Helsingør, 21 July 2009

Epine Dorsal: Horseman Defense (Petroff Defesne)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6

• For a more complete survey of theory around this opening, see Motylev-Gashimov, IT, Poikovsky, 2009.[/li>

3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nc4

• This move, still unusual, was first played by the eccentric English master Henry Bird in 1885. The Soviet master Smagin developed a taste for it in the 1980s.

4...Nxe4 5.Qe2

• If 5.d4 d5 6.Ne3 then:
• 6...c6 7.Nd2 Nxd2 8.Bxd2 Bd6 9.Bd3 0-0 10.c3 f5 11.0-0 f4 12.Ng4 f3 13.Ne5 Bxe5 14.dxe5 Nd7 15.Re1 is equal (Savchenko-Frolyanov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2006).
• If 6...Qf6 7.Qe2 Be6 8.c3 Nc6 9.Nd2 0-0-0 then:
• 10.g3 Nxd2 11.Bxd2 h5 12.h4 g6 13.Bg2 Bh6 14.0-0-0 Rhe8 is equal (Kholmov-Nikolenko, City Ch, Moscow, 1987).
• 10.Nxd5 Bxd5 11.Nxe4 Qg6 12.Ng3 Bd6 13.Qh5 Rhe8+ 14.Kd1 gives White an extra pawn and Black more space (Smagin-Makarichev, Op, Murcia, 1990).

5...Qe7 6.Ne3 Nf6

• If 6...c6 then:
• 7.c4 g6 8.d3 Nc5 9.Bd2 Bg7 10.Bc3 Bxc3+ 11.Nxc3 Nbd7 12.0-0-0 Nf6 13.d4 Na6 14.Qf3 Nc7 15.Bd3 0-0 16.h4 d5 17.cxd5 Ncxd5 18.Ncxd5 cxd5 19.Kb1 gives White a small edge in space (T. Kosintseva-Akimov, Op, St. Petersburg, 2003).
• If 7.g3 then:
• 7...g6 8.Bg2 Nf6 9.b3 Bg7 10.Bb2 0-0 11.0-0 Re8 12.c4 Na6 13.Nc3 Be6 14.d3 Rad8 15.Rfe1 Nc7 is equal (Berg-Rosenthalis, Najdorf Mem, Warsaw, 2008).
• 7...Nf6 8.Bg2 Be6 9.b3 g6 10.Bb2 Bg7 11.0-0 0-0 12.d3 Qd7 13.Nd2 Re8 14.Rae1 Na6 15.f4 Bh3 16.Qf3 Bxg2 17.Kxg2 Nb4 18.Bxf6 Bxf6 19.Ne4 Bg7 is equal (Maroroa-Pérez, OlW, Dresden, 2008).

7.b3!?

• 7.g3 Bd7 8.Bg2 Bc6 9.f3 g6 10.Nc3 Bg7 11.d4 0-0 12.d5 Bd7 13.0-0 Nh5 14.Bd2 f5 15.f4 Re8 16.Rae1 gives White a slight advantage in space (Planinc-Jones, Ol, Nice, 1974).
• 7.c4 Nc6 8.Nc3 Nd4 9.Qd1 Bg4 10.Be2 Bxe2 11.Nxe2 Nxe2 12.Qxe2 0-0-0 13.d4 Qe4 14.d5 Re8 15.0-0 g6 16.Bd2 Bg7 is equal (Gopal-Carlos, Mindsprings Rdp, Beijing, 2008).

7...Nc6

• The game is equal.

8.Bb2 Be6 9.g3

• White could try to develop his Bishop "normally": 9.Qd1 Ne4 10.Bb5 Qg5 11.Bxc6+ bxc6 12.0-0.

9...d5 10.Bg2 0-0-0 11.d4 h5

• Black may be anticipating that White will castle short.

12.Nd2 g6 13.0-0-0 Bh6 14.Rhe1 Qb4

• 14...Rhe8 15.f4 h4 16.Qf3 Qd7 remains equal.

15.a3 Qb6 16.Kb1 Rhe8 17.Qd3?!

• This should have cost White a pawn.
• If 17.Qf3! Ne4 18.Nxe4 dxe4 then:
• 19.Qf6! Bxb3 20.cxb3 Qxb3 21.Nc2 Rd6 22.Qh4 White has pieces positioned for counterplay against Black's aggression.
• If 19.Qxe4!? Bxb3 20.Qd3 Bxe3 21.cxb3 then:
• 21...Bxf2 22.Rxe8 Rxe8 23.Qf3 Bxd4 24.Qxf7 gives Black an extra pawn.
• If 21...Bh6 then after 22.Rxe8 Rxe8 23.d5! Nd8 24.Qc2 White d-pawn immobilizes Black in the center.

17...Ng4!?

• White misses the better line.
• 17...Bxe3 18.Rxe3 Ng4 19.Rf3 Nxh2 wins a pawn.

18.Nxg4 hxg4 19.b4 a5!?

• 19...Bg7! 20.Nb3 Bf5 21.Qf1 Rh8! forces White to defend the h-pawn with the Queen.

20.bxa5 Nxa5 21.Qc3 Bxd2

• Slightly more aggressive is 21...Rh8 22.Rh1 Bg7 23.Rde1 Rh6 24.Qb4 Qa7.

22.Rxd2 Nc4 23.Rdd1 Rd6!?

• After this move, Black is only slightly better. Better is to keep both Rooks on the back rank in order to pentrate with both along the h-file.
• 23...Rh8 24.Rh1 Rh5 25.f3 Rdh8 26.fxg4 Rxh2 gives Black better pawn structure.

24.Bf1?

• This move drops the pawn at h2.
• White can save the h-pawn by 24.h4 gxh3 25.Bxh3 Nxb2 26.Qxb2 Qa5 when:
• If 27.Kc1 Kd8 28.Bxe6 Rb6 29.Qa2 Rexe6 30.Rxe6 Rxe6 White is more active, but Black is at no greater disadvantage.
• If 27.Ka2?! then after 27...Rb6 28.Qc1 Qa4 29.Bf1 Kd7 30.Re3 Bg4 Black cointinues with the initiative.

BLACK: Peter Heine Nielsen
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WHITE: Emanuel Berg
Position after 24.Bg2f1

24...Nxb2!

• White has no good place to put the Knight, so he treats it as a desperado and takes the Bishop.

25.Qxb2 Rh8!

• Black is assured of winning the pawn.

26.Re3

• 26.Qxb6 Rxb6+ 27.Ka2 Rxh2 28.Rd2 Bd7 gives Black an extra pawn and more mobility.
• If 26.h4 gxh3 27.Be2 Kd7 then:
• 28.Rh1 g5 29.Rde1 Qxb2+ 30.Kxb2 Rb6+ White has an extra pawn.
• 28.Qxb6 Rxb6+ 29.Kc1 g5 30.Rh1 g4 31.f3 f5 White keeps the extra pawn.

26...Qxb2+ 27.Kxb2 Rxh2

• Black takes the pawn.

28.Rd2 Bf5

• 28...Rb6+ 29.Kc3 Rb1 30.Bd3 Ra1 31.Kb4 Bf5 retains the pawn.

29.c4

• 29.Rde2 Rb6+ 30.Kc1 Re6 31.Rxe6 Bxe6 32.Kd2 g5 gives Black more freedom with his extra pawn.

29...Be4 30.Be2 f5 31.c5 Rd8 32.Bd1

• The is necessary to protect the f-pawn.

BLACK: Peter Heine Nielsen
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WHITE: Emanuel Berg
Position after 32.Be2d1

32...Rdh8!

• Black at last doubles the Rooks on the h-file and will maraud the back rank.

33.Kc3

• White's game is deterriorating.
• No better is 33.Re1 b6 34.Kc3 g5 35.Kb4 Kd8 36.cxb6 cxb6.

33...Rh1 34.Bc2 Rc1 35.Kb2 Rhh1 36.Bxe4 fxe4 37.Kb3

• If 37.Rc3 then after 37...Rb1+ 38.Ka2 Kd7 39.Rb3 Ra1+ 40.Kb2 Kc6 White is out of pawn moves.

BLACK: Peter Heine Nielsen
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Emanuel Berg
Position after 37.Kb2b3

37...Rb1+!

• Black turns his attention to winning the important d-pawn, which will allow him to mobilize connected center passers.

38.Rb2

• If 38.Ka4 then White wins the d-pawn after 38...Rbd1 39.Ree2 Rhe1 40.Rxe1 Rxd2.

38...Rxb2+ 39.Kxb2 Rd1 40.Kc3 Kb8 41.a4 0-1

• 41...Rc1+ 42.Kb3 Rf1 43.Re2 Rd1 44.Kc3 Rd3+ wins the d-pawn.
• Emanuel resigns without waiting for Peter Heine to reply.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Winner's Circle: Canadian Open, Edmonton

Edmonton, Alberta
Photo: International Metabolomics Society

[Jack Rabbit]

11. Hommeles - Bluvshtein, Round 9

Mark Bluvshtein
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Theo Hommeles - Mark Bluvshtein
Canadian Open, Round 9
Edmonton, 19 July 2009

Open Sicilian Game: Najdorf-Scheveningen Defense (Rauzer Opening)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 Be7 8.0-0-0 a6 9.f4

• If 9.Nb3 Qb6 10.f3 Rd8 then:
• If 11.Nb5 Rd7 12.Qe1 a6 13.N5d4 Rd8 14.Be3 Qc7 15.Nxc6 Qxc6 16.g4 e5 17.Na5 Qa4 18.Kb1 Be6 19.b3 Qd7 20.g5 gives White the initiative (Efimenko-Wells, Op, Isle of Man, 2007).
• If 11.Kb1 a6 12.Be3 Qc7 13.Qf2 Nd7 14.h4 b5 15.g4 Nce5 16.g5 then:
• 16...Rb8 17.h5 b4 18.Ne2 a5 19.g6 a4 20.Nbd4 Nc4 21.gxf7+ Kxf7 is equal (Ivanchuk-Kramnik, Amber Rpd, Monte Carlo, 1994).
• 16...b4 17.Ne2 Nc4 18.Bc1 a5 19.h5 Bb7 20.g6 Bf6 21.gxf7+ Kxf7 is equal (Ghate-A. Stojanovic, OlW, Dresden, 2008).
• If 11.Be3 Qc7 12.Qf2 d5 13.exd5 Nxd5 14.Nxd5 Rxd5 15.Rxd5 exd5 then:
• 16.Bb5 Na5 17.Bd3 Nxb3+ 18.axb3 a5 19.Bd4 Bd6 is equal (Rachels-D. Gurevich, US Ch, Long Beach, 1993).
• 16.g4 Bf6 17.Kb1 Be6 18.Nd4 Nxd4 19.Bxd4 Qf4 20.Bxf6 Qxf6 is equal (Mnatsakanian-Yegiazarian, Armenian Ch, Yerevan, 1994).

9...Nxd4 10.Qxd4 b5

• If 10...Qa5 11.Bc4 Bd7 12.e5 dxe5 13.fxe5 Bc6 14.Bd2 Nd7 15.Nd5 Qd8 16.Nxe7+ Qxe7 17.Rhe1 then:
• If 17...Rfd8 then:
• If 18.Qg4 Nf8 then:
• If 19.Bd3 Rxd3 20.cxd3 then:
• If 20...Qd7 then:
• 21.Bb4 then:
• 21...Ng6 22.Bd6 f5 23.Qg5 Bd5 24.b3 Qc6+ 25.Kb2 Qb6 26.g3 Qd4+ 27.Kb1 Rc8 28.Qe3 gives White the advantage of the exchange (Svidler-Anand, IT. Linares, 1998).
• 21...Qd5 22.Bxf8 Rxf8 23.Kb1 Qxg2 24.Qxg2 Bxg2 25.Rc1 Bc6 26.Kc2 f5 27.exf6 Rxf6 28.Kc3 h6 29.Kd4 Kh7 30.b3 g5 Black does not yet have enough for the exchange (Adams-Kramnik, IT, Moscow, 1994).
• 21.Kb1 Qxd3+ 22.Ka1 h5 23.Qxh5 Ba4 24.Bc3 Bxd1 25.Rxd1 Qe4 26.Qg5 a5 27.Qd2 Ng6 is equal (Oll-Hodgson, PCA Quals, Groningen, 1993).
• 20...Qc5+ 21.Kb1 Qd5 22.Qe4 Qd7 23.Qe2 Ng6 24.g3 Ne7 25.Bb4 Nf5 26.Bc3 a5 27.Qd2 draw (Short-Pritchett, British Ch, Swansea, 1987).
• If 19...Rd5 20.Bb4 Qd8 21.Bd6 Ng6 then:
• 22.g3 Qa5 23.Bxg6 hxg6 24.a3 Rc8 25.Qb4 Ba4 26.Rxd5 Qxb4 27.axb4 exd5 28.c3 Bd7 favors the cat (Herrera-Kharlov, Op, Ubeda, 1999).
• 22.c4 f5 23.Qg3 Rd4 24.Bc5 Rg4 25.Qe3 Qa5 gives Black the advantage in space (Kosteniuk-Galliamova, FIDE Knock Out W, Moscow, 2001).
• 18.Bf1 Nf8 19.Qg4 Ng6 20.Bb4 Rxd1+ 21.Rxd1 Nxe5 22.Qxg7+ Kxg7 23.Bxe7 Ng4 24.Be2 Ne3 25.Rg1 Be4 26.c3 Rc8 27.Bg5 Nd5 28.a3 f6 is equal (Carlsen-Alekseev, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2008).
• If 17...Nb6 18.Bf1 Rfd8 19.Qg4 Qc5 then:
• 20.Qb4 Qf2 21.Qf4 Qxf4 22.Bxf4 Rxd1+ 23.Rxd1 Rc8 24.Rd4 Nd7 25.g4 gives White the more active game (V. Rajlich-Pataki, 1st Saturday, Budapest, 2001.10).
• 20.Bh6 Rxd1+ 21.Kxd1 Qf8 22.Bg5 Nd7 23.Kc1 Rc8 24.Qd4 Bd5 25.Kb1 Qc5 26.Qxc5 Nxc5 27.Be3 f6 is equal (Timman-Sosonko, Dutch chT, 1985).

11.Bxf6 gxf6 12.Bd3

• If 12.e5 d5 13.Kb1 Bb7 then:
• If 14.f5 fxe5 15.Qxe5 Bf6 16.Qg3 Qe7 17.fxe6 fxe6 18.Be2 h5 then:
• If 19.a4 h4 20.Qg6+ Qf7 then:
• 21.Qg4 Rg8 22.Qh3 Rg5 23.Bg4 Ke7 24.Rhe1 Be5 25.Qe3 Rag8 26.Qa7 Black resigns in the face of material loss (Akopian-Mamedyarov, Ol, Dresden, 2008).
• 21.Qxf7+ Kxf7 22.Rhf1 bxa4 23.Ne4 dxe4 24.Rd7+ Kg6 gives Black an extra pawn (Zhu Chen-Gelashvili, Op, Athens, 2006).
• 19.Bf3 0-0-0 20.h4 b4 21.Ne2 e5 22.Nc1 Kb8 23.Nb3 Qc7 24.Bxh5 Rxh5 25.Qg6 Rxh4 26.Qxf6 Rf4 gives Black the initiative (Anand-Kramnik, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2000).
• 14.Qe3 Qc7 15.Ne2 0-0-0 16.Nd4 Rhg8 17.exf6 Bxf6 18.g3 Kb8 19.a4 bxa4 20.Qa3 Rd6 21.Qxa4 Rb6 draw (Fiorito-Braga, GMT, Villa Gesell, 1997).
• 12.f5 Qa5 13.Kb1 Bb7 14.a3 0-0-0 15.Be2 Kb8 16.Bh5 Rhf8 17.Bg4 Rg8 18.h3 Bc8 19.Rhe1 gives White the advantage in space (Wunnick-Al Sayed, IT, Amsterdam, 2005).
• If 12.Be2 Qc7 13.f5 Qc5 14.Qxc5 dxc5 then:
• If 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.Bh5+ Kf8 17.e5 f5 18.g4 Ra7 19.gxf5 exf5 20.Nd5 then:
• 20...Kg7 21.Rhg1+ Kh6 22.Kb1 c4 23.Bf3 Rd8 24.Rde1 Bc5 is equal (Acx-Kutuzovic, OP, Padubice, 2001).
• 20...Bg5+ 21.Kb1 Be6 22.Rhg1 Rd7 23.Rxg5 Rxd5 24.Rxf5+ gives White a tactical edge (Grischuk-Grosar, Euro ChT, Batumi, 1999).
• 15.Rhf1 Ra7 16.a4 b4 17.Nb1 Rd7 18.Rxd7 Kxd7 is equal (Topalov-Kramnik, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 2000).

12...Qc7 13.Qe3 Bb7!?

• 13...Qc5 14.Qg3 b4 15.Ne2 Kf8 16.Kb1 a5 17.Qh3 h5 18.Rc1 d5 19.exd5 Qxd5 20.f5 a4 21.Rhe1 Rb8 22.Nf4 Qd6 23.Qf3 gives White the advantage in space (Kasparov-Kramnik, IT, Amsterdam, 1996).

14.f5

• The game is equal.

14...b4 15.Ne2 e5

• 15...d5!? 16.Ng3 Rd8 17.Qh6 Qa5 18.Kb1 dxe4 19.Nxe4 gives White more activity.

16.Kb1 Qc5 17.Qxc5

• 17.Qh6 d5 18.Ng3 Rc8 19.Qg7 Rf8 20.Qxh7 gives White an extra pawn.

17...dxc5 18.c4?!

• This weakens d3, the point at which White blocks the d-file.
• 18.Ng3 0-0-0 19.Be2 Rxd1+ 20.Rxd1 h5 21.Nxh5 Bxe4 remains equal.

18...0-0-0 19.Bc2

• 19.Kc2 Rhg8 20.Rhg1 Rg4 21.Ng3 h5 22.Be2 Bxe4+ 23.Kc1 Rh4 wins a pawn for Black.

19...Rhg8 20.Ng3

• 20.Rxd8+ Bxd8 21.Rg1 Rg4 22.Ng3 h5 23.Bd1 Bxe4+ wins a pawn for Black.

BLACK: Mark Bluvshtein
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WHITE: Theo Hommeles
Position after 20.Ne2g3

20...Rd4!

• The restricted advance of the Rook is a Nimzovichian strategem. Black will get a passed pawn if WHite takes on d4, but in the meatime the Rook is key to Black's center.

21.b3

• White protects his c-pawn.
• 21.Rxd4 exd4 22.Rd1 Bd6 23.Rd3 Be5 24.a3 h5 gives Black a more active game.

21...h5 22.Rxd4?

• Black wins a pawn.
• 22.Rde1 h4 23.Ne2 Rxe4!! 24.Bxe4 Bxe4+ then:
• If 25.Ka1 h3! then:
• 26.Ng3 Bxg2 27.Rhg1 Rg4 28.Nf1 Rg5 gives Black more freedom
• 26.gxh3 Bxh1 27.Rxh1 Rh8 wins a pawn for Black.
• 25.Kc1 Rxg2 26.Kd1 Bxf5 27.Reg1 Rg6 gives Black a material plus and more freedom.

22...exd4 23.Nxh5 Rxg2 24.Rf1

• 24.Nf4 then Black wins quickly after 24...Rxc2 25.Nd5 Bxd5 26.exd5 Rf2 when he has an extra piece.

BLACK: Mark Bluvshtein
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WHITE: Theo Hommeles
Position after 24.Rh1f1

24...Rxh2

• Black takes the extra pawn.

25.Nf4 Bd6 26.Nd5 Be5 27.Bd3

• If 27.Kc1 Kd7 28.Rd1 Kd6 then:
• 29.Rd2 Rh1+ 30.Rd1 Rh4 31.Kd2 Bf4+ Black retains the extra pawn.
• 29.Rg1 Rf2 30.Rg4 Bxd5 31.exd5 Bf4+ givess Black two extra pawns.

27...Kd7 28.Rf3 a5 29.Rf1 Bc6 30.Rf3 Kd6 31.Rf1 a4 32.Rd1

• If 32.Bc2 a3 33.Rd1 Rf2 34.Kc1 Bf4+ then:
• If 35.Kb1 35...Bg5 36.Bd3 Rb2+ 37.Ka1 Ke5 then:
• 38.Nb6 38...Bd2! 39.Rb1 Bc3 40.Rxb2 axb2+ 41.Kb1 Bxe4 wins for Black.
• 38.Rf1 Rd2 39.Bb1 d3 wins for Black
• 35.Nxf4 Rxf4 36.Rh1 Ke5 37.Re1 Bxe4! wins for Black.

BLACK: Mark Bluvshtein
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WHITE: Theo Hommeles
Position after 32.Rf1d1

32...a3!

• Black has the more active Rook, a good Bishop and the pawns are locked. White has no good moves.

33.Bc2 Re2 34.Kc1 Rg2 35.Rd2 Rg4 36.Kb1

• 36.Kd1 Bf4 37.Rf2 Bxd5 38.exd5 Rg1+ 39.Ke2 Be3 leaves White's queenside vulnerable to Black's Rook.

36...Kd7 37.Rd1 Ke8 38.Rh1

• The threat of checking on h8 is idle because Black threatens mate on g1; the fact is that White has nothing better than to mark time while waiting for execution.

38...Kf8 39.Rd1 Kg7 40.Rh1 Rg2 41.Rd1 Kh6

• Black will bring his King forward,
• Also good is 41...Bg3 42.Rd3 Be5 43.Rd1 Kh6 44.Kc1 Kg5, etc.

42.Ne7 Bb7 43.Nd5 Kg5 44.Bd3

• 44.Kc1 Bf4+ 45.Kb1 Bc6 46.Rh1 d3 47.Nxf4 dxc2+ wins a piece for Black.

44...Rb2+ 45.Ka1 Kh4 46.Rh1+ Kg3 47.Rg1+ Kf3 48.Rf1+ Kg2 49.Rd1 Kh2

• If White now plays 50.Rc1 then Black wins a piece after 50...Rd2 51.Rc2! Rxc2 52.Bxc2 d3+!.

50.Ne7 0-1

• 50...Bxe4! wins after 51.Bxe4 d3 52.Rb1 Re2+.
• Mh. Hommeles resigns without waiting for Mr. Bluvshtein to reply.

[Jack Rabbit]

12. Proper - Ganguly, Round 9

Eduard Porper
Photo: ChessBase.com


Eduard Porper - Surya Sekhar Ganguly [br />Canadian Open, Round 9
Edmonton, 19 July 2009

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

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.Nc3 0-0 5.e4 d6 6.Be2 e5 7.d5

• For 7.0-0 see Ivanchuk-Grischuk, Grand Prix, Nalchik, 2009.

7...a5

• If 7...Nbd7 8.0-0 Nc5 9.Qc2 a5 10.Bg5 h6 11.Be3 b6 12.Nd2 then:
• If 12...Bg4 13.h3 Bd7 14.b3 Nh7 15.a3 f5 16.exf5 then:
• 16...gxf5 17.f4 exf4 18.Bxf4 Qh4 19.Rae1 Ng5 20.Kh2 Rae8 21.Qc1 Be5 22.Bxe5 Rxe5 23.b4 axb4 24.axb4 f4 25.Nf3 Nxf3+ 26.Rxf3 Nb3 27.Qd1 Nd4 28.Rd3 Nxe2 29.Rxe2 Bg4 30.Qc2 Bxe2 31.Nxe2 Re3 White resigns (Zilberman-I. Smirin, Euro ChT, Panormo, 2001).
• 16...Bxf5 17.Nce4 Qh4 18.Bxc5 bxc5 19.Bd3 Rf7 is equal (Zilberman-I. Smirin, Israeli ChT, Israel, 1996).
• 12...Ng4 13.Bxg4 Bxg4 14.a3 Na6 15.Rab1 f5 16.exf5 gxf5 17.f4 e4 18.Nb3 Nc5 19.Nd4 Bxd4 20.Bxd4 Kh7 21.Nd1 is equal (Danner-Devereaux, Euro ChT, Saint Vincent, 2005).

8.Bg5 h6 9.Be3

• If 9.Bh4 Na6 10.Nd2 Qe8 11.0-0 Nh7 12.a3 Bd7 13.Kh1 h5 14.f3 Bh6 15.b3 Be3 16.Rb1 Bc5 17.Qc1 c6 then:
• 18.Na4 Bd4 19.Bf2 Bxf2 20.Rxf2 Qd8 21.dxc6 Bxc6 22.Nc3 is equal (Jussupow-Damljanovic, Op, St. John, 1988).
• 18.Bf2 Bxf2 19.Rxf2 Qe7 20.b4 axb4 21.axb4 c5 22.bxc5 Nxc5 23.Nb3 gives White a tactical edge (Leyva-Kotronias, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).

9...Ng4 10.Bc1 Na6 11.0-0

• If 11.h3 Nf6 12.Be3 Nc5 13.Nd2 Bd7 then:
• 14.g4 c6 15.h4 a4 16.g5 hxg5 17.hxg5 Nh7 18.Nf3 cxd5 19.Nxd5 Rc8 20.Qc2 f5 21.gxf6 Bxf6 22.0-0-0 gives White the advantage in space (Markos-Hebden, EU Ch, Liverpool, 2005).
• 14.0-0 Nh7 15.Nb3 b6 16.Qd2 Qh4 17.f4 exf4 18.Rxf4 Qe7 19.Bd4 Bxd4+ 20.Qxd4 Qg5 21.Rf3 is equal (Zvjaginsev -Illescas, IT, Pamplona, 1996).

11...Nc5 12.g3 Nf6!?

• 12...h5 13.Nh4 Bh6 14.Bxh6 Nxh6 15.Qd2 Kg7 16.f3 Bh3 17.Rf2 g5 is equal (Zvjaginsev-Bologan, IT, Belfort, 1999).

13.Qc2

• The game is equal.

13...Qe8!?

• More accurate is 13...Qe7 as it keeps in communication with the c7 pawn.

14.Nh4 Bh3 15.Re1 Nfd7 16.Nb5

• 16.Bf3 Nb6 17.Nb5 Qe7 18.Be3 c6 remains equal.

16...Na6

• Black moves an already developed Knight to the rim in order to protect the c-pawn.
• Better is 16...Qb8 17.Be3 c6 18.Nc3 a4 with equality.

17.Bd2 c6 18.Nxd6 Qb8 19.c5 Naxc5

• Despite the awkwardness of his maneuvering, Black has maintained equality.

20.Nc4 cxd5 21.exd5 b6 22.Bc3!?

• White applies pressure to Black's central pawn, but this will not make it buckle.
• Fortifying his own central pawn with 22.Rad1 Qd8 23.Bc3 Rc8 24.Nd6 Rc7 25.Nb5 Rb7 gives White the advantage in space.

BLACK: Surya Sekhar Ganguly
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WHITE: Eduard Porper
Position after 22.Bd2c3

22...Nb7!

• The Knight is headed for blockade duty on d6.
• 22...a4 23.Rad1 Re8 24.f4 exf4 25.Bxg7 Kxg7 26.Qc3+ Nf6 27.gxf4 remains equal.

23.b4 Rc8 24.Qb2 Nd6!

• See previous note.

25.Nxd6 Qxd6 26.Rad1 axb4 27.Bxb4 Nc5 28.Ng2

• 28.Bxc5?! Rxc5 29.Qb3 e4 30.Bb5 Rc3 gives White the initiative.

28...Bd7

• The game is equal.
• 28...f5 29.Ne3 e4 30.Qc2 Kh7 31.Qd2 Rd8 32.f3 is equal.

29.Ne3 b5 30.Rc1 f5 31.Red1 f4 32.Bg4 Bxg4?!

• Black needn't have been in any hurry to take the Bishop.
• If 32...fxe3 33.Bxd7 Qxd7 then:
• If 34.Rxc5 Rxc5 35.Bxc5 Qg4 36.Rc1 exf2+ 37.Qxf2 e4 is equal.
• 34.Bxc5 e4 35.Qe2 exf2+ 36.Qxf2 b4 37.d6 is equal.

33.Nxg4 Na4

• 33...h5 34.Qc2 hxg4 35.Bxc5 Qd7 36.gxf4 exf4 37.Qxg6 gives White an attack on the enemy King.

34.Qb3!?

• White has a slight edge and should renew the attack on g6.
• 34.Qb1! Rxc1 35.Rxc1 Qb6 36.gxf4 exf4 37.Rc6 wins a pawn for White.

BLACK: Surya Sekhar Ganguly
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WHITE: Eduard Porper
Position after 34.Qb2b3

34...Qd7!

• The game is again equal.

35.d6+ Kh7 36.f3 Nb6 37.gxf4 exf4 38.Rxc8

• 38.Bc3 h5 39.Bxg7 hxg4 40.Rxc8 Rxc8 41.Be5 Rc4 remains equal.

38...Rxc8 39.Re1 Re8?

• Black looks to exchange Rooks.
• 39...Qf5 40.Qe6 Nd5 41.Ba5 Bd4+ 42.Kh1 remains equal.

BLACK: Surya Sekhar Ganguly
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WHITE: Eduard Porper
Position after 39...Rc8e8

40.Re7!!

• But he must do it White's terms.

40...Rxe7 41.dxe7

• Black's Queen must keep vigil over White's pawn, which is covered by White's Bishop. She is almost immoble for if she loses contact with e8, the pawn promotes.

41...Nc4 42.a4!

• White undermines the Knight.

42...h5 43.Nf2 Bd4

• If 43...Ne5 44.axb5 Qxb5 45.Ne4 Qb6+ 46.Kg2 Qb5 47.Nc3 Qe8 48.Nd5 Qb5 49.Nxf4 gives White an extra pawn.
• 45...Kh6 46.Qd1 Nf7 47.Nd6 Qb6+ 48.Kg2 Nxd6 49.Qxd6 Black must either allow the pawn to queen or lose material.

44.axb5 Ne5

• 44...Qxb5 drops a piece to 45.e8Q Qxe8 46.Qxc4 Qe3 47.Qc2 Qxf2+ 48.Qxf2 Bxf2+ 49.Kxf2.

BLACK: Surya Sekhar Ganguly
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WHITE: Eduard Porper
Position after 44...Nc4e5

45.Bd6!

• Of course, the Bishop cannot be taken. Meanwhile, the b-pawn is free to march forward.

45...Qh3 46.Bxe5!

• White threatens the devastating 47.Qf7+.
• Also winning is 46.e8Q Nxf3+ 47.Qxf3 Qxf3 48.Qd7+ Kg8 49.Qd8+ Kh7 50.Qc7+ Kh8 51.Be5+.

46...Bxf2+ 47.Kxf2 Qxh2+

• If 47...Qh4+ then after 48.Ke2 Qxe7 49.Qd5 Kh6 50.b6 White wins.

48.Ke1 Qg1+

• Now that he has committed his Queen to chasing the White King in the open, Black will not be able to take the e-pawn.

49.Kd2 Qf2+ 50.Kd1 Qf1+ 51.Kc2 Qe2+ 52.Kb1 Qe1+ 53.Ka2 Qe2+ 54.Ka3

• There is no perpetual check.

54...Qxe5

• Black cannot prevent the pawn from queening.

BLACK: Surya Sekhar Ganguly
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WHITE: Eduard Porper
Position after 54...Qe2e5:B

55.Qf7+!

• White queens and then as soon as Black runs out of checks, White wins.

55...Kh6 56.e8Q Qa1+ 57.Kb4 Qb2+ 58.Ka5 1-0

• 58...Qa1+ 59.Kb6 Qd4+ 60.Kb7 leaves Black out of checks.
• Ganguly Sahib resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

13. Update (Thursday): Vachier Lagrave wins Biel

Eighteen-year-old French GM Maxime Vachier Lagrave won the Grandmaster Tournament at the 2009 Biel Chess Festival earlier today in Switzerland.

All games in today's tenth and final round were drawn.

M. Vachier Lagrave drew each of his first six games and then won in rounds seven and eight while early leader Alexander Morozevich lost then won then lost again through the second half of the tournament and Vassily Ivanchuk, who entered the ninth round tied for the lead with Vachier Lagrave for the top spot, lost to Morozevich to allow the Frenchman to take the sole lead.

M. Vachier Lagrave won 2 games with eight draws and no losses for six points. Ivanchuk and Morozevich finished tied for second with 5½ points each.

Milos and Felgaer share lead in Pan-Am Championship aft 6 rounds

Brazilian GM Gilberto Milos and Ruben Felgaer of Argentina are tied for first place with 5½ points each after 6 rounds in the Pan-American Championship in São Paulo.

Fifteen players, including American grandmasters Jaan Ehlvest and Alex Shabalov, are tied for third with 5 points each.

The seventh round will start today at 19:00 Atlantic Daylight Time (3 pm PDT). In today's action, Felgaer will play White against Milos.

The eleventh and final round is scheduled for Sunday.

Official website (only in Portuguese and not well organized).

[Jack Rabbit]

14. Update (Thursday afternoon PDT): Naka new chess960 champ

US national champion Hikaru Nakamura put another feather in his cap for 2009 today by winning the world chess960 championship at the Mainz Chess Festival in Germany,

Nakamura defeated 2008 chess960 champion Levon Aronian 3½-½ in four games today to take the title after two days of preliminary rounds. Also competing in the chess960 competition were grandmasters Viorel Bologan and Sergei Movsesian.

Chess960, also called FischeRandom ehess, is a chess variant developed by the late former world champion Bobby Fischer in which the pieces are placed in a random order at the beginning of the game rather than the traditional chess starting position.

The rapid world championship begins in Mainz tomorrow.