The JR Chess Report (September 18): Coming Attractions

[Jack Rabbit]

Since it was a dead week in chess, my impressive staff and I have decided to do an abbreviated JRCR this week.

Beginning during the second half of September:

SPICE Cup, Texas Tech University 19-29 September. Cat 16, 10 rounds. Andreitkin, So, Akobian, Kazubov, Mamedov, Hammer.

Karpov - Kasparov Match, Valencia 22-24 September. 4 Rapid/8 blitz Match celebrating the 25th anniversary of their first of five matches for the world title.

Second Pearl Spring Tournament, Nanjing 28 September-9 October. 10 rounds. Topalov, Carlsen, Leko, Radjabov, Jakovenko, Wang Yue.

Women's FIDE Grand Prix, Nanjing 28 September-9 October. 11 Rounds. Zhao Xue, Ju Wengen, Dzagnidze, Sebag, Xu Yuhua, Zhu Chen, Mkrtchian, Shen Yang, Batkuyag, Kovanova, Fierro, Yildiz.


Calendar

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

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

Tal Memorial Tournament, Moscow 5-14 November. Anand, Aronian, Carlsen, Gelfand, Ivanchuk, Kramnik, Leko, Morozevich, Ponomariov and Svidler.

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.

[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)


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

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Leftovers from recently completed events

Photo by Rick Audet, Flickr by way of Wikipedia.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Timofeev - Zvjaginsev, Russian Ch HL, Ulan-Ude

Artyom Timofeev is the fifth qualifier from the Higher League Tournament for a spot in the Russian National Championship in December.



Artyom Timofeev
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Artyom Timofeev - Vadim Zvjaginsev
Russian Championship Higher League, Round 10
Ulan-Ude, 12 September 2009

Open Sicilian Game: Royal Dragon Defense

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Be2 g6 7.Nb3 Bg7 8.0-0 0-0 9.Be3

• For a more usual move order getting to this position, see Linares-Partac, OlW, Dresden, 2008.
• If 9.Re1 Be6 10.Bf1 then:
• 10...Re8 11.Nd5 Bxd5 12.exd5 Nb4 13.c4 Qd7 14.a3 Na6 15.Be3 Nc7 16.Rc1 gives White a slight edge; her plan is to open the c-file and use it as an avenue to invade Black's camp. (Linares-Partac, OlW, Dresden, 2008).
• 10...d5 11.Nc5 Bg4 12.f3 d4 13.Ne2 Bc8 14.Nb3 Qb6 15.Nf4 e5 16.Nd3 Ne8 17.c3 Nd6 18.cxd4 Nb5 19.Be3 Nbxd4 20.Nxd4 Nxd4 21.f4 exf4 22.Nxf4 Qd6 is equal

9...b6

• If 9...Be6 10.f4 Qc8 11.Kh1 then:
• If 11...Rd8 then:
• If 12.Bg1 d5 13.e5 Ne4 then:
• 14.Nb5 f6 15.exf6 exf6 16.c3 f5 17.a4 Kh8 18.a5 d4 19.N3xd4 a6 20.Na3 Nxa5 21.Qa4 Nc6 22.Nxe6 Qxe6 23.Bf3 Rd2 24.Qc4 Qe8 25.Qb3 b5 26.Rfe1 Na5 27.Qb4 Nc6 28.Qb3 Na5 draw (Negi-G. Jones, World Jr Ch, Yerevan, 2007).
• 14.Bd3 f6 15.exf6 exf6 16.Nb5 f5 17.c3 Bf7 18.a4 b6 19.Qc2 Qb7 20.Rad1 a6 21.N5d4 Na5 22.Nxa5 bxa5 23.Nf3 Rdb8 24.Rb1 Qb3 25.Qxb3 Rxb3 26.Rfe1 Rab8 gives Black a more active game (Sammalvuo-Karlsson, Rilton Cup, Stockholm, 2006-07).
• 12.Bf3 Bc4 13.Rf2 e5 14.Qd2 Qc7 15.Rd1 Rac8 16.Qc1 b5 17.f5 b4 18.Nd5 Bxd5 19.exd5 Ne7 20.fxg6 hxg6 21.Bg5 Nh7 is equal (Rogozin-Aronin, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1948).
• 11...Bg4 12.Bg1 Rb8 13.Nd4 Bxe2 14.Qxe2 b5 15.e5 dxe5 16.fxe5 Nd7 17.Nxc6 Qxc6 18.Bxa7 Rb7 19.Bd4 b4 20.Ne4 Nxe5 is equal (Glek-Khalifman, PCA Qual, Moscow, 1995).

10.f4 Nd7!?

• If 10...Bb7 11.Bf3 then:
• 11...Rc8 12.Qe2 Qc7 13.Qf2 Qd7 14.h3 e5 15.Rad1 Qe7 16.f5 gxf5 17.exf5 e4 18.Be2 Nb4 19.Qg3 gives White the advantage in space (Vepkhvishvili-Khantadze, Georgian ChT, Tbilisi, 1980).
• 11...Nd7 12.Qd2 Rc8 13.Rad1 Nc5 14.Qf2 Ba6 15.Rfe1 Bxc3 16.bxc3 Na4 17.Bd2 Nb8 18.Bg4 Nxc3 19.Bxc3 Rxc3 gives Black an extra pawn and more space (Khukhashvili-Pogonina, OlW, Dresden, 2008).
• 11...Qc7 12.Nd5 Nxd5 13.exd5 Na5 14.Nxa5 bxa5 15.c3 Ba6 16.Rf2 Rfc8 17.h4 Bb5 18.h5 a4 19.a3 Rab8 20.f5 gxf5 21.h6 is equal (Vukcevich-Kagan, Op, Hastings, 1976-77).

11.Qe1

• The game is equal.

11...Bb7 12.Rd1 Rc8 13.Rf2

• 13.Nd4 Nxd4 14.Bxd4 Qc7 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.Qh4 remains equal.

13...Qe8 14.h3!?

• White plays a waiting move to see if Black will tip his hand.
• 14.Qd2 Nc5 15.Nxc5 dxc5 16.Qe1 remains equal.

14...Nc5 15.Nxc5 bxc5!?

• With White's Bishop blocking the Rook's access from f2 to d2, this is an ideal time for Black to open the center.
• 15...dxc5 16.Bd3 Rd8 17.e5 Nb4 remains equal.

16.Bb5!?

• White can get a small advantage by striking in the center, but maneuver is delicate.
• If 16.e5 dxe5 then:
• 17.Bxc5! Nd4 18.Bxa7 Ra8 19.Bc5 gives White a small advantage in space.
• 17.fxe5?! Nxe5 18.Bb5 Bc6 gives Black an extra pawn.

16...f5?!

• Black weakens his grip on e5.
• 16...Qd8 17.Bc4 Qa5 18.a3 Rb8 19.Bd2 Bd4! gives Black a tactical edge.

BLACK: Vadim Zvjaginsev
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WHITE: Artyom Timofeev
Position after 16...f7f5

17.e5!

• White forces the weakening of Black's pawns.

17...Kh8

• Black allows White to take the pawn rather than break up his pawn chain.
• Better is 17...dxe5 18.Bxc5 a6 19.Ba4 exf4 20.Nd5 Rf7 21.Qe6, but White still has good winning chances.

18.exd6 exd6 19.Re2 a6?

• It is a waste of time to try to break the pin this way.
• Correct is 19...Qf7! 20.Rxd6 Qc7 21.Bxc5 Nd4 22.Bxd4 when:
• 22...Qxd6 23.Bxg7+ Kxg7 24.Re7+ Rf7 25.Qe5+ gives White the active game, but no clear path to a win.
• 22...Bxd4+? 23.Rxd4 Qb6 24.Red2 Be4 25.Qe3 wins for White.

20.Ba4!

• Black has no good moves.

20...g5

• After this, Black's game deterriorate quickly.
• Black could hold out longer after 20...Qf7 21.Rxd6 Rfe8 22.Qd2 when:
• 22...Qc4 23.Bf2 Rxe2 24.Qxe2 Qxf4 25.Bxc6 Qxd6 26.Bxb7 White has a slight material advantage.
• 22...Re7? 23.Bxc5! Rxe2 24.Qxe2 Bf8 25.Bxc6 Bxc6 26.Bd4+! wins for White.

21.Rxd6 gxf4 22.Bxc5 Qf7 23.Ree6!

• Also good is 23.Bb3 Qc7 24.Nd5 Qa5 25.Qf2 Rfd8 26.Bb6 when White wins a heavy piece.

23...Nd8 24.Re7 Rxc5

• 24...Qc4 25.Bf2 Rc7 26.Bb6 Rxe7 27.Qxe7 Qg8 28.Rxd8 leaves White a piece to the good.

25.Rxd8 Qg6
BLACK: Vadim Zvjaginsev
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WHITE: Artyom Timofeev
Position after 25...Qf7g6

• Black sets up a mating threat in desperation. He simply drop a piece and could have resigned instead.
• No better is 25...Qg8 26.Rxf8 Bxf8 27.Rxb7.

26.Rxf8+ Bxf8 27.Rxb7

• So much for Black's mating threat.

27...f3 28.g3 Qd6 29.Rd7 Qb8

• It seems all Black is playing for is to win back a lost piece.

30.Rf7 Qd6 31.Bb3 Rc8

• White wins another pawn.
• 31...Qb8 drops a pawn after 32.Na4 Rc6 33.Rxf5.

32.Rxf5 Re8 33.Qf2 Bg7 34.Rd5

• 34.Qxf3 Qd2 35.Qg2 Bd4+ 36.Kh2 Bxc3 37.Rf2 leaves White with three extra pawns.

34...Qh6 35.Qxf3 Qxh3 36.Ne2

• 36.Qd3 Qh6 37.Kg2 Qb6 38.Rd6 Qb7+ 39.Kh2 is curtains for Black.

36...Qe6 37.Rd3 1-0

• If 37.Rd3 then after 37...Qb6+ 38.Qf2 Qc6 39.c4 Bxb2 40.Nd4 White remains up by a piece.
• Grandmaster Zvjaginsev resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Mamedyarov - Laznicka, Op, Kolkata

Shakh Mamedyarov, the top seed in Kolkata, began slowly and finished strong to tie for second behind tournament champion Le Quang Liem.



Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
Photo: ChessBase.com


Shakhriyar Mamedyarov - Viktor Laznicka
4th Open International Tournament, Round 10
Kolkata, 10 September 2009

Orthodox Queen's Gambit: Blackburne Opening

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.Bf4

• White throws this game into uncahrtered waters early simply be refraining from playing Nf3.

4...Nf6 5.e3 0-0 6.Rc1 Nbd7 7.cxd5!?

• Without either side completing his development, White introduces a novelty.
• 7.Nf3 then:
• 7...c5 8.dxc5 Nxc5 9.cxd5 Nxd5 10.Nxd5 exd5 11.a3 Be6 12.Be2 Rc8 13.Be5 Bf6 14.Bxf6 Qxf6 15.Nd4 Bd7 16.0-0 Ne6 is equal (Xu Jun-Bruzón, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).
• If 7...c6 8.Bd3 dxc4 9.Bxc4 Nd5 10.Bg3 Nxc3 11.bxc3 Qa5 then:
• 12.Qc2 b6 13.Bd3 Ba6 14.Bxh7+ Kh8 15.Bd3 Bxd3 16.Qxd3 Qxa2 17.0-0 b5 18.Ra1 (Ruck-Maksimovic, IT, Kladovo, 2001).
• 12.0-0 b6 13.Qe2 Bb7 14.Nd2 Rfd8 15.a4 Rac8 16.Bd3 Nf6 17.Bh4 Qd5 18.Ne4 Nxe4 19.Bxe7 Re8 20.Bh4 c5 is equal (Ivkov-Pfleger, IT, Palma de Mallorca, 1966).

7...exd5

• Black has a lead in development.

8.Bd3

• 8.Nf3 c6 9.Bd3 Nh5 10.Be5 Nxe5 11.Nxe5 Nf6 gives White the advantage in space, although it may be somewhat transient in that it is based on the Knight at e5.

8...c6 9.Nge2 Nh5 10.Bg3 g6

• 10...Nxg3 11.Nxg3 Bd6 12.Qf3 Nf6 13.Nf5 Bc7 continues to give White the advantage in space.

11.Nf4

• 11.0-0 Nxg3 12.Nxg3 Bd6 13.Re1 Qf6 is equal.

11...Ndf6 12.Nxh5 Nxh5 13.Be5 Bd6

• 13...f6 14.Bg3 Nxg3 15.hxg3 Re8 16.Qc2 Bf8 gives White the advantage in space, but Black has more freen than before.

14.Bxd6 Qxd6 15.0-0 Ng7

• 15...Re8 16.Qc2 Ng7 17.Qb3 Re7 is equal.

16.Qb3 Rb8 17.Qa4 a6 18.Qa5 Bf5 19.Be2

• Now that both sides have competed development, the game is equal.

19...h5 20.b4 Rfe8

• If 20...h4 21.Qb6 Rfe8 22.Bf3 Qd8 then:
• 23.Qxd8 Rbxd8 24.a4 is equal.
• 23.Qa7!? Ne6 24.Na4 Bd3 gives Black the advantage based on the awkward placement of the Queen.

BLACK: Viktor Laznicka
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WHITE: Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
Position after 20...Rf8e8

21.Qb6!

• The Queen will be difficult to dislodge from the hole at b6. White has the advantage in space.

21...Bg4!

• When behind in space, one should seek exchanges.

22.a4 Bxe2 23.Nxe2 Ne6 24.Rb1 Qd8!

• Trading Queens is the best way for Black to equalize.

25.Qxd8

• If 25.Qa7!? Qc7 26.Nf4 Nxf4 27.exf4 Ra8 28.Qc5 Qxf4 gives Black an extra pawn.

BLACK: Viktor Laznicka
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WHITE: Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
Position after 25.Qb6d8:Q

25...Rexd8

• The game is equal.

26.Nc1 Kf8 27.Nd3 Ke7 28.Rfc1 Rdc8

• 28...g5 29.b5 cxb5 30.axb5 Kf6 31.Kf1 remains equal.

29.h4 Rc7 30.g3 Kd6 31.Kf1 Rbc8 32.Ke2 Ra8

• It would appear that White has a good outpost for the Knight at c5, but Black has resources to deal with it.
• If 32...Re8 33.Kd2 f6 34.Nc5 then:
• If 34...Ra8 35.Kd3 b6 36.Nxe6 Kxe6 37.a5 Rb8 remains equal.
• 34...b6?! 35.Nxa6 Ra7 36.b5 Rc8 37.Rc2 gives White a clear advantage.
• 34...g5 35.Kd3 g4 36.Rc2 gives White the active game.

BLACK: Viktor Laznicka
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WHITE: Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
Position after 32...Rc8a8

33.Kd2

• 33.Nc5 b6 34.Nxe6 fxe6 35.f4 Rac8 gives White just a little bit more pawn mobility.

33...Rac8 34.Rc3

• 34.Nc5 Ra8 35.Kd3 b6 36.Nxe6 Kxe6 37.a5 Rb8 remains equal.

34...Ra8 35.Rb2 Rac8 36.Nc1

• If 36.Nc5 Ra8 37.Nxe6 Kxe6 38.Kd3 Re7 then:
• 39.b5 cxb5 40.axb5 axb5 41.Rxb5 remains equal.
• 39.a5 Rae8 40.Rc5 Kd6 remains equal.

36...Ra8 37.Nb3 Rac8 38.Rbc2 Ra8

• If 38...g5 39.hxg5 Nxg5 40.Nc5 b6 then:
• 41.f4 bxc5 42.dxc5+ Ke7 43.fxg5 Rg8 remains equal.
• 41.Nxa6 Ra7 42.b5 Ne4+ wins the exchange for Black,

39.Rc1 Rac8 40.f3 Rd8 41.Kd3

• 41.Nc5 Rg8 42.Nxe6 fxe6 43.e4 dxe4 44.fxe4 gives White the active game.

41...Ke7 42.b5 axb5 43.axb5 Rdc8

• 43...Kd6 44.e4 cxb5 45.e5+ Kd7 46.Rxc7+ Nxc7 47.Nc5+ is equal.

44.b6 Rd7 45.Ra1 Kd6!?

• Black's best paln is to mobilize his kingside.
• 45...Rg8 46.Ke2 g5 47.hxg5 Rxg5 48.Kf2 gives White the edge, but it's not enough to win.

BLACK: Viktor Laznicka
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WHITE: Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
Position after 45...Ke7d6

46.e4!?

• White does not take full advantage of the inaccuracy.
• 46.Nc5 Nxc5+ 47.dxc5+ Ke5 48.Rca3 gives White command of the a-file which can be used to penetrate into Black's camp.

46...dxe4+ 47.fxe4 Rcd8

• If 47...Ke7!? 48.Ke3 Rcd8 49.Ra7 then:
• If 49...f5?! 50.Na5! Nxd4 51.Rxb7 Rxb7 52.Nxb7 then:
• 52...Rd7 53.Na5 fxe4 54.b7 Rd8 55.Kxe4 Kf7 56.Rc4 gives White a winning game.
• 52...Rb8 53.Kxd4 Rxb7 54.Rxc6 Rd7+ 55.Ke5 gives White a winning position.
• If 49...Rb8 then maneuvering againt Black's b-pawn with 50.Rc4 f5 51.e5 g5 52.hxg5 Rg8 53.Na5! gives White excellent winning chances.

48.Ra7

• 48.Ke3 f6 49.Ra7 Rb8 50.Rc4 Re8 51.Na5 gives Whit the initiative on the b-pawn.

48...Ke7 49.Ke3 Rb8 50.Rc4 f5 51.e5 Ke8?

• Black's best move here would have saved a half point.
• If 51...g5! 52.hxg5 then:
• If 52...Rg8 53.Na5 Rxg5 54.Nxb7 Rxg3+ then:
• 55.Kd2 Nxd4 56.Na5 Nb3+ 57.Ke2 Nxa5 58.Rxa5 Rg6 is equal.
• 55.Kf2 Rb3 56.Nc5 Nxc5 57.dxc5 Rxa7 58.bxa7 Ra3 gives Black the edge with pawns that can advance.
• If 52...Rh8? 53.Na5 Nd8 54.Nxb7 then:
• 54...Nxb7 55.Rxc6 h4 56.Rc7 wins for White.
• 54...Rxb7 55.Rxb7+ Nxb7 56.Rxc6 Rb8 57.d5 Kf8 58.Rf6+ White's three mobile pawns are better than Black's Knight.

52.Na5!

• White takes aim at the weak pawn.

52...Rf7

• 52...g5 would give Black the opportunity to confuse the issue with complications.
• If 52...g5!? 53.hxg5 Nxg5 54.Kf4 Ne4 then:
• 55.e6! Re7 56.Rxc6 bxc6 57.Rxe7+ Kxe7 58.Nxc6+ wins for White.
• If 55.Nb3?! Rg7 56.Nc5 Nxg3 then:
• If 57.Kf3 Ne4 58.Nxe4 fxe4+ 59.Kxe4 then:
• 59...Rg4+ 60.Ke3 Rg3+ is equal.
• 59...h4? 60.Rxc6! Rg4+ 61.Kf5 bxc6 62.Kxg4 wins for White.
• 57.Rca4 Ne2+ 58.Kxf5 h4! 59.Kf6 Rf7+ 60.Kg5 h3 61.e6 is equal.

BLACK: Viktor Laznicka
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WHITE: Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
Position after 52...Rd7f7

53.Nxc6!!

• The sacrifice puts the game on ice.

53...bxc6 54.Rxc6 Nd8

• 54...Re7 55.d5 Nd8 56.Rxe7+ Kxe7 57.Rxg6 wins for White.

55.Rd6 Rxa7 56.bxa7 Rb3+

If 56...Ra8 57.Ra6 Kd7 58.d5 then:

• 58...Kc8 59.e6 Kb7 60.e7 Nf7 61.Rf6 is an easy win for White.
• If 58...Nb7 then after 59.Kd4 Kd8 60.Kc4 Kc7 61.Kb5 White wins.

57.Kf4 Ra3 58.Rxg6 Rxa7 59.Kxf5

• White's three pawns trump the Knight.

59...Ra3 60.d5 Nf7 61.Rg8+ Ke7 62.d6+! 1-0

• 62.d6+ Nxd6+ 63.exd6+ Kxd6 64.Rg5 wins easily for White.
• If 62...Kd7 then after 63.e6+ Kxd6 64.exf7 the pawn cannot be stopped.
• Grandmaster Laznicka resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Zhao Xue - N. Kosintseva, World ChTW, Ningbo

Nadya Kosintseva, playing second board for Russia, had the best performance rating of any player in Ningbo.



Nadezhda Kosintseva
Photo: ChessBase.com


Zhao Xue (China) - Nadezhda Kosintseva (Russia)
2nd Women's World Team Championship, Round 5
Ningbo, 6 September 2009

Petit Orthodox Queen's Gambit: Ragozin Defense

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.cxd5

• If 5.Bg5 then:
• If 5...h6 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.e3 0-0 8.Rc1 dxc4 9.Bxc4 c5 10.0-0 cxd4 11.exd4 then:
• If 11...Nc6 12.Ne4 then:
• If 12...Qf4 13.Qe2 Rd8 14.g3 Qg4 15.Rfd1 Bd7 16.a3 then:
• 16...Be7 17.Qe3 Be8 18.b4 a6 19.Be2 Qh3 20.Nc5 Bxc5 21.dxc5 gives White the advantage in space (Gelfand-Piket, FIDE Knock Out, New Dehli, 2000).
• 16...Bf8 17.Qe3 Be8 18.b4 Qh5 19.Be2 Qf5 20.Nh4 Qh7 21.Nc5 g5 22.Nf3 Rab8 23.Bc4 Qg7 24.d5 exd5 25.Bxd5 Ne7 gives White excellent winning chances (Magai-Mitkov, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).
• 12...Qd8 13.a3 Ba5 14.Qd3 Bb6 15.Rfd1 Qe7 16.Bb5 Bd7 17.Nc5 Be8 18.Qc3 gives White the advantage in space (Topalov-J. Polgar, IT, Madrid, 1997).
• 11...Rd8 12.Ne4 Qe7 13.Qe2 Nc6 14.Rfd1 Ba5 15.Bb5 Bd7 16.Ne5 Rac8 17.Bxc6 Bxc6 18.Nxc6 Rxc6 19.Rxc6 bxc6 is equal (Cebalo-Dizdar, Croatian Ch, Vukovar, 2005).
• 5...dxc4 6.e4 c5 then:
• If 7.Bxc4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 Qa5 10.Bb5+ then:
• If 10...Nbd7 11.Bxf6 Qxc3+ 12.Kf1 gxf6 13.h4 a6 14.Rh3 then:
• If 14...Qa5 15.Be2 then:
• If 15...Nc5 16.Nb3 Nxb3 17.Qxb3 b6 then:
• 18.Rb1 Bb7 19.Re3 Rc8 20.Kg1 b5 21.a4 Bc6 22.Rc3 0-0 23.Qb2 Bxe4 24.Rg3+ Bg6 25.h5 wins the Bishop (Nielsen-Sargissian, Euro Ch, Istanbul, 2003).
• 18.Rd1 Bb7 19.Qb2 Qe5 20.Qxb6 Bxe4 21.Rg3 f5 22.Kg1 h6 23.Qb4 f4 24.Rg4 Rb8 is equal (Topalov-van Wely, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2001).
• 15...Ne5 16.Qb3 b5 17.Rd1 Bd7 18.f4 Nc4 19.Bxc4 bxc4 20.Qb7 Rd8 21.Nc6 Bxc6 22.Qxc6+ Ke7 23.Qb7+ Ke8 24.Qc6+ Ke7 25.Qb7+ Ke8 26.Rxd8+ Qxd8 27.Qc6+ Ke7 28.Qc5+ draw (Greenfeld-Gyimesi, IT, Tel Aviv, 2001).
• 14...Qb4 15.Be2 Ne5 16.h5 Qd6 17.Kg1 Bd7 18.Rb1 Rd8 19.Rc3 b5 20.Rbc1 b4 21.Rg3 Ke7 22.f4 Be8 23.fxe5 fxe5 24.Qe1 exd4 25.Bd3 gives Black excellent winning chances (Shulman-Naiditsch, IT, Montreal, 2009).
• If 10...Bd7 11.Bxf6 gxf6 then:
• 12.Bxd7+ Nxd7 13.0-0 a6 14.Rb1 Qc7 15.Qh5 Nc5 16.Rb4 Qe5 17.Qh4 Qg5 18.Qh3 Qe5 19.Qh4 Qg5 20.Qh3 Qe5 21.Re1 Rd8 22.Qe3 Rg8 is equal (Gelfand-Jakovenko, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2007).
• 12.Qb3 a6 13.Be2 Nc6 14.0-0 Qc7 15.Qa3 Rc8 16.Rad1 Na5 17.Qc1 Ke7 18.Qh6 Bc6 19.Nxe6!! Qe5 20.Nd4 Rcg8 21.f4 Qc5 22.Kh1 Rg6 23.Qh3 Bxe4 24.Bf3 Bxf3 25.Rxf3 Qc7 26.Nf5+ Kf8 27.Rfd3 Nc6 28.Rd7 Black resigns (Piket-Topalov, FIDE Knock Out, Groningen, 1997).
• If 7.e5 cxd4 then:
• If 8.Nxd4 Qa5 9.exf6 Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 Qxg5 11.fxg7 then:
• If 11...Qxg7 12.Qd2 0-0 13.Bxc4 Rd8 then:
• 14.Qe3 Bd7 15.0-0 Nc6 16.Nf3 Ne7 17.Ne5 Ng6 18.f4 Nxe5 19.fxe5 Bc6 20.g3 Rd7 21.Rf6 Rad8 22.Be2 Rd2 23.Rf4 Kh8 24.Rd4 is equal (Onischuk-Jakovenko, IT, Foros, 2007).
• 14.Qb2 Qe5+ 15.Be2 Nc6 16.Nc2 Rd3 17.Na3 Qxc3+ 18.Qxc3 Rxc3 19.Nb5 Rc2 20.Rd1 Rxa2 21.Bf3 Ra5 22.Nc7 Re5+ 23.Kf1 Rb8 24.h4 Kf8 gives Black two extra pawns (Halkias-Gyimesi, Rueo ChT, Crete, 2008).
• 11...Rg8 12.g3 Qd5 13.Rg1 Rxg7 14.Qe2 Nd7 15.Qxc4 Qxc4 16.Bxc4 Nb6 17.Bb5+ Bd7 18.Bxd7+ Kxd7 19.0-0-0 Ke7 20.f4 Rc8 is equal (Browne-Su. Polgar, Op, Reykjavik, 1988).
• 8.Qa4+ Nc6 9.0-0-0 Bd7 10.Ne4 Be7 11.exf6 gxf6 12.Bh4 Rc8 13.Kb1 Na5 14.Qc2 e5 15.Nxd4 exd4 16.Rxd4 Qb6 17.Rxd7 Kxd7 18.Be2 Ke8 19.Qc3 Rc6 20.Rd1 Rg8 21.Bf3 Re6 gives Black the initiative (Kamsky-van Wely, Euro ChT, Antalya, 2007).
• 5.e3 establishes the Nimzo-Indian Defense.

5...exd5 6.Bg5 Nbd7 7.Rc1

• If 7.e3 c5 8.Bd3 Qa5 9.Qc2 c4 10.Bf5 0-0 11.0-0 Re8 12.Nd2 g6 then:
• If 13.Bxd7 Nxd7 then:
• 14.Rae1 Nb6 15.f3 Bxc3 16.bxc3 Na4 17.Rc1 f6 18.Bh6 b5 is equal (Romanko-Zdebskaja, World ChTW Rd 1, Ningbo, 2009).
• 14.h4 f6 15.Bf4 Bxc3 16.bxc3 Nb6 17.f3 Qa4 18.Qb2 Bf5 19.Rfe1 Qc6 20.Qa3 Bd3 21.Qxa7 draw (Aleksandrov-Malakhatko, Op, Kolkata, 2009).
• If 13.Bh3 then:
• If 13...Bxc3 then:
• 14.Qxc3 Qxc3 15.bxc3 Ne4 16.Nxe4 dxe4 17.Rfb1 Nb6 18.Bxc8 Raxc8 19.a4 Nd5 20.Rxb7 Nxc3 21.a5 a6 22.Kf1 Nd5 23.Ke1 c3 24.Kd1 c2+ 25.Kd2 Rc3 is equal (Seirawan-Sosonko, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1986).
• If 14.bxc3 Ne4 15.Nxe4 dxe4 16.Bxd7 Bxd7 17.Bf4 Re6 then:
• 18.d5 Ba4 19.Qd2 Rd8 20.d6 Qc5 is equal (Grivas-Hector, EU CHT, Haifa, 1989).
• 18.Rfb1 Qd5 19.a4 a5 20.Qb2 Bc6 is equal (Pinter-Sosonko, IT, Heninge, 1988).
• 13...Kg7 14.Rae1 Ne4 15.Ndxe4 dxe4 16.Bf4 f5 17.f3 Nf6 18.a3 Bxc3 19.bxc3 h5 20.Qf2 Bd7 21.Qg3 is equal (Grischuk-Morozevich, FIDE World Ch Trmt, San Luis, 2007).

7...c6 8.a3 Bxc3+

• If 8...Bd6 9.e3 0-0 10.Bd3 Re8 11.0-0 Nf8 12.Re1 Bg4 then:
• 13.h3 Bh5 14.Bh4 Bg6 15.b4 a5 16.Rb1 axb4 17.axb4 Ra3 18.Bxg6 Nxg6 19.Bxf6 Qxf6 20.Qc1 Rea8 is equal (V. Popov-S. Atalik, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).
• 13.Bh4 Ng6 14.Bg3 Ne4 15.Bxd6 Nxd6 16.h3 Bxf3 17.Qxf3 is equal (Evdokimov-Aleksandrov, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2008).

9.Rxc3 0-0 10.e3 h6

• 10...Qe8 11.Bf4 Ne4 12.Rc1 Nb6 13.Be2 f6 14.0-0 Bg4 15.h3 Bh5 16.Ne1 Bxe2 17.Qxe2 Qe7 18.Nd3 Rae8 19.Nc5 draw (Gormally-Conquest, British Ch, Liverpool, 2008).

11.Bh4 g5 12.Bg3 Ne4 13.Rc2!?

• 13.Rc1 Ndf6 14.Bd3 Bf5 15.0-0 Qe7 16.Be5 Nd7 17.Bg3 f6 18.Bb1 Nb6 19.Nd2 is equal (Huang Qian-N. Kosintseva, TMatch (Blitz Game), Sochi, 2009).

13...Ndf6

• The game is equal.

14.Bd3 Bf5

• 14...Bg4 15.b4 Qe7 16.Qc1 a5 17.b5 cxb5 18.Bxb5 remains equal.

15.Ne5 Kg7!?

• Black wants White to commit himself first.
• If 15...Qe7 16.Rc1 Rfe8 17.Qe2 then:
• 17...Kg7 18.Qf3 Nxg3 19.hxg3 Bxd3 20.Nxd3 remains equal.
• 17...c5 18.Qd1 Nxg3 19.hxg3 Bxd3 20.Qxd3 remains equal.

16.f3!

• White goes after Black's strongest piece.

16...Nxg3 17.hxg3 Bxd3 18.Qxd3!?

• The game remains equal.
• 18.Nxd3 Re8 19.Ne5 Nd7 20.Ng4 gives White a small edge in space.

18...Qe7 19.Kf2 Nd7 20.Ng4 Rh8 21.e4!?

• The coming pawn exchange invited by this move creates several pawn weaknesses for White.
• 21.b4 Rae8 22.Rc3 h5 23.Nh2 then:
• 23...Nb6 24.Nf1 Nc4 25.Nd2 Nxd2 26.Qxd2 remains equal.
• 23...a6 24.Nf1 Qe6 25.Nd2 Qg6 26.Qxg6+ Kxg6 remains equal.

21...dxe4 22.fxe4 Nf6 23.Nxf6 Qxf6+ 24.Ke3

• As a result of the pawn exchange on move 21, White has hanging pawns in the center and isolated doubled pawns on the kingside.

BLACK: Nadezhda Kosintseva
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Zhao Xue
Position after 24.Kf2e3

24...Rhe8!

• Hanging pawns can have advantages, too. Black does well to attak immediately.

25.Rf2

• White alleviates the threat to her e-pawn by threatening Black's f-pawn.

25...Qe6 26.Rhf1 Re7 27.Kd2

• White cannot keep pressure on the f-file and protect her e-pawn at the ame time.
• 27.b3 Rae8 28.Kd2 then:
• 28...Qd6 29.b4 Rd8 30.Ke3 Qxg3+ wins a pawn.
• 28...Qxe4!? 29.Qxe4 Rxe4 30.Rxf7+ is equal.

BLACK: Nadezhda Kosintseva
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Zhao Xue
Position after 27.Ke3d2

27...Rf8!

• By fortifying the f-pawn, Black renews her threat against White'e e-pawn.
• 27...Qxe4!? 28.Qxe4 Rxe4 29.Rxf7+! Kg6 30.R1f6+ Kh5 31.Kd3 is equal.

28.Re2 Rd8 29.Rf5?

• White would get more milage out of rewing the threat to the f-pawn.
• 29.Ref2 Kg8 30.Kc3 Rdd7 31.Re1 c5 32.d5 Rxd5 is no worse than before.

29...Red7!

• Black shifts her sites to the d-pawn.

30.Kc3

BLACK: Nadezhda Kosintseva
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Zhao Xue
Position after 30.Kd2c3

30...Rxd4!

• Black picks up the Queen and a pawn for her Rooks, leaving White's King in no-man's land.

31.Qxd4+ Rxd4 32.Kxd4 Qd6+!

• Black take another pawn in the bargain.

33.Kc3 Qxg3+ 34.Kc2 Qg4 35.Kd2 f6 36.Rf3 Qe6 37.Ke1 h5

• In addition to Black's overall material advantage, she also has a 3:1 pawn majority on the kingside.

38.Rf5 h4 39.Kf1 Kg6 40.Rf3 Qc4 41.Rfe3

• 41.Rc3 Qd4 42.Rcc2 Qe5 43.Rcd2 a5 44.Rd8 a4

41...Qc1+ 42.Kf2 g4 43.Rc3

• If 43.b4! (advancing the queenside majority) then after Kg5 44.Re1 Qd2+ 45.Kg1 Qd4 46.Kh1 Kf4 Black can choose to liquidate the remaining pieces and win.

43...g3+ 44.Kf3 Qf1+ 45.Ke3 h3 46.Kd2 h2 0-1

• Ms. Zhao resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Wang Xiaohui - Gunina, World ChTW, Ningbo

Russian WFM Valentina Gunina, 20 years old, scored 6½ points in eight games for the best score by percentage in Ningbo.

She would have done better had she not shown up one minute late for her second round game and had to forfeit under FIDE's draconian new zero-tolerance rule for tardiness.



Valentina Gunina
Photo: ChessBase.com


Wang Xiaohui (China B) - Valentina Gunina (Russia)
2nd Women's World Team Championship, Round 9
Ningbo, 11 September 2009

Open Queen's Gambit

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 e6 6.e3 c5 7.Bxc4

• By transposition, the players have arrived at an Open Queen's Gambit.

7...Nc6 8.0-0 Be7

• If 8...cxd4 9.exd4 Be7 then:
• 10.Bg5 0-0 11.Re1 Bd7 12.Qe2 Nb4 13.Ne5 Kh8 14.Rad1 Bc6 15.Bb3 Nfd5 16.Bd2 Bg5 17.Qh5 Bxd2 18.Rxd2 Kg8 is equal (Rodshtein-Postny, Israeli Ch, Haifa, 2008).
• 10.Qe2 0-0 11.Rd1 Nb4 transposes to the note after White's 12th move.

9.Qe2 cxd4 10.exd4 0-0 11.Rd1 Nb4 12.Bg5

• If 12.Ne5 Bd7 then:
• 13.d5 exd5 14.Nxd5 Nfxd5 15.Bxd5 Nxd5 16.Rxd5 Bg4 17.Qc4 Qxd5 18.Qxd5 Rad8 19.Qb3 Rd1+ 20.Qxd1 Bxd1 21.Be3 Rd8 22.Bxa7 draw (Braun-Ruck, Bundesliga 0708, Zehlendorf, 2008).
• 13.a5 Rc8 14.Bb3 Bc6 15.Nxc6 bxc6 16.Bg5 h6 17.Bh4 Nfd5 18.Bxe7 Qxe7 19.Ne4 gives White a small advantage in space (Huang Qian-Gunina, TMatch, Sochi, 2009).

12...h6

• 12...Bd7 13.d5 exd5 14.Nxd5 Nbxd5 15.Bxd5 Nxd5 16.Rxd5 Bxg5 17.Nxg5 gives White the advantage in space (Gozzoli-Malakhatko, Op, Cappelle la Grande, 2007).

13.Bh4!?

• 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.Ne5 Qc7 15.Ng4 Be7 16.Ne3 Bg5 17.Bb3 Bd7 18.d5 Bxe3 19.Qxe3 exd5 20.Nxd5 Nxd5 21.Bxd5 Bc6 22.Rac1 Rfe8 23.Qc3 draw (Bindrich-Malakhatko, Bundesliga 0708, Erfurt, 2008).

13...Bd7

• White has the advantage in space.

14.Ne5 Bc6 15.Nxc6 bxc6

• 15...Nxc6!? 16.d5 Nxd5 17.Bxd5 exd5 18.Rxd5 gives White the initiative.

16.Rac1 Nfd5 17.Bxe7 Qxe7 18.Ne4!

• White assumes the advantage in space.

18...Rab8 19.g3 Rfd8 20.Nc5 Nb6 21.Bb3 Nd7 22.Rc3!?

• White has the advantage in space. Better is to preserve the Knight and leave the Rooks on the back rank in communcation with each other.
• 22.Nd3 Nxd3 23.Rxd3 Qd6 24.Rcc3 Rb4 remains equal.

BLACK: Valentina Gunina
!""""""""#
$ T T +l+%
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WHITE: Wang Xiaohui
Position after 22.Rc1c3

22...Nxc5!

• When one is behind in space, it is a good idea to exchange, since fewer pieces maneuver better in limited space.

23.dxc5 Rxd1+ 24.Qxd1 Rd8!

• White now has the advantage in space and still has the initiative.

25.Qe2

• 25.Qg4 a5 26.Qf4 Qd7 27.h3 Qd2 28.Qc7 Rf8 wins the b-pawn.

25...a5 26.Bc2

• If 26.Bc4 Qg5 27.b3 Rd2 then:
• 28.Qe3 Rd1+ 29.Kg2 Qf5 30.Qf3 Qb1 gives Black the initiative.
• 28.Qe1 Nc2 29.Qc1 Qd8 30.Be2 Nd4 31.Bf1 Qd5 protects the Rook tactically.

26...Rd4 27.Qe5 Rd5

• If 27...Nxc2 28.Rxc2 then:
• 28...Qd7 29.Kg2 Rxa4 30.b3 Ra3 31.Qd6 Qc8 32.Rb2 Qb7 gives Black an extra pawn.
• 28...Rxa4!? 29.Qb8+ Kh7 30.Qc8 Qf6 leaves Black a pawn to the good.

28.Qb8+ Qd8 29.Qxd8+?

• The struggle to keep up is over. White falls off the log.
• By keeping the Queens on the board, Black has excellent chances of salvaging a half point.
• If 29.Qb6! Rd4 30.Be4 Qa8 31.Bf3! then:
• 31...Nd5 32.Bxd5 exd5 is equal.
• 31...Rd2 32.b3 Rd7 33.Kg2 e5 34.Re3 Re7 35.Re2 is equal.

29...Rxd8 30.Be4

BLACK: Valentina Gunina
!""""""""#
$ + T +l+%
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WHITE: Wang Xiaohui
Position after 30.Bc2e4

30...Rd2!

• To invoke the memory of Bobby Fischer, Black makes White's pawn squirm.

31.b3 f5 32.Bf3 Kf7

• The King is a strong piece; use it. (Steinitz)
• 32...e5 33.Re3 e4 34.Bh5 Rc2 wins the c-pawn.

33.Kf1 e5 34.Be2 Kf6 35.f3

• 35.Bc4 e4 36.Re3 Nc2 37.Rc3 Ke5 38.Be2 Nd4 drives the Bishop away from the defense.

35...e4 36.fxe4 fxe4 37.h4

• No better is 37.Re3 Kf5 38.h3 Nd5 39.Bg4+ Ke5.

BLACK: Valentina Gunina
!""""""""#
$ + + + +%
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WHITE: Wang Xiaohui
Position after 37.h2h4

37...Ke5!

• The King comes to life.

38.Ke1 Rb2 39.Kf2 Nc2 40.Bd1

• 40.Kf1 Kd4 41.Rc4+ Ke3 42.Bd1 Nd4 43.Rc1 Kd2 wins for Black.

40...Nd4+ 41.Ke1 g6 42.Kf1 Rb1

• 42...Nf5 43.g4 Nxh4 44.Rh3 g5 45.Re3 Kf4 wins for Black.

43.Ke1 Nf3+ 44.Ke2

• The exchange sacrifice 44.Rxf3 fails to 44...exf3 45.Kd2 f2.

44...Rb2+ 45.Ke3 Ne1

• Also good is 45...Nd4 46.g4 h5 47.Rc4 Rh2.

46.Be2 Nc2+ 47.Kf2 Nd4 48.Re3

• If 48.Ke1 Nxe2 49.Re3 then:
• 49...Nd4 50.Kd1 Nxb3 is lights out.
• Black also wins by 49...Kd4 50.Rxe2 Rxe2+ 51.Kxe2 Kxc5.

BLACK: Valentina Gunina
!""""""""#
$ + + + +%
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WHITE: Wang Xiaohui
Position after 48.Rc3e3

48...Nxe2!

• Also good is 48...Nxb3! 49.Rc3 Kd4 50.Rxb3 Rxb3 51.Bd1 Rb2+.

49.Rxe2 Rxe2+ 50.Kxe2 Kd4 0-1

• Depending on how White replies, Black wins either by escorting the e-pawn to its coronation or by eliminating White's queenside pawns and scoring with the a-pawn.
• Ms. Wang resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Wang Yu - Gaponenko, World ChTW, Ningbo

WGM Inna Gaponenko won several clutch games in close contests to help Ukraine to a third place finish in Ningbo.



Inna Gaponenko
Photo: ChessBase.com


Wang Yu (China B) - Inna Gaponenko (Ukraine)
2nd Women's World Team Championship, Round 6
Ningbo, 8 September 2009

Open Sicilian Game: Scheveningen Defense (Italian Opening) (Sozin Opening)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bc4

• The Italian (or Sozin) Opening was Bobby Fischer's pet line in the Open Sicilian.

6...e6 7.Be3

• If 7.Bb3 (Fischer liked to play this retreat immedely following the deployment to c4) 7...a6 8.0-0 Be7 9.Be3 0-0 10.f4 then:
• If 10...Nxd4 11.Bxd4 b5 12.e5 dxe5 13.fxe5 Nd7 14.Ne4 Bb7 15.Nd6 Bxd6 16.exd6 Qg5 then:
• If 17.Qe2 e5 18.Bc3 Qg6 19.Rad1 Kh8 20.Bd5 Bxd5 21.Rxd5 Qe6 22.Rfd1 then:
• 22...f5 23.a4 bxa4 24.Bxe5 Rae8 25.c4 Nxe5 26.d7 Nxd7 27.Qxe6 Rxe6 28.Rxd7 Rc6 29.R1d4 draw (Christiansen-Spassov, IT, Surakarta, 1982).
• 22...Rfc8 23.Ba5 Rc6 24.b3 Rac8 25.Bc7 Re8 26.c4 bxc4 27.bxc4 f5 is equal (Short-Kasparov, World Ch Match, London, 1993).
• If 17.Rf2 a5 18.Qe2 Ra6 19.Bc3 b4 20.Bd2 Qc5 21.Bf4 Raa8 22.Rd1 Ba6 then:
• 23.Qe1 Bb5 24.c3 bxc3 25.Rc1 a4 26.Rxc3 axb3 27.Rxc5 Nxc5 28.a3 gives White the material edge (van der Wiel-Leitão, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1999).
• 23.Qg4 Bb5 24.a4 bxa3 25.Bh6 gives White the advantage in space (Bennedik-Alvarez, Corres, 2000).
• If 10...Qc7 then:
• If 11.Qf3 then:
• If 11...Na5 12.g4 Nxb3 13.axb3 e5 14.Nf5 then:
• 14...Bxf5 15.exf5 Qc6 16.g5 Qxf3 17.Rxf3 Ng4 18.Nd5 Rae8 19.Bd2 exf4 20.Bxf4 Ne5 21.Rg3 f6 22.g6 hxg6 23.fxg6 f5 is equal (Vasiukov-Buslaev, Soviet ChT, Moscow, 1959).
• 14...exf4 15.Qxf4 Bxf5 16.gxf5 b5 17.b4!? Qc4 18.Rad1 Qxb4 gives Black an extra pawn (Radojevic-Lechtynsky, Op, Decin, 1973).
• 11...Bd7 12.f5 Nxd4 13.Bxd4 b5 14.a3 Rab8 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.Qh3 Qc8 17.Qg3 Kh8 18.e5 dxe5 19.Qxe5 gives White teh advantage in space (Ramezov-Kramnik, Krasnodar, 1985).
• 11.f5 Nxd4 12.Bxd4 b5 13.a3 Rb8 14.Qd3 b4 15.axb4 Rxb4 16.fxe6 fxe6 17.Kh1 Kh8 18.Rae1 a5 19.Na2 Ba6 20.Qxa6 Rxd4 21.Nc3 Rd2 22.Nb1 Rd4 is equal (Kogorov-Chiburdanidze, Russian ChT, Perm, 1997).

7...Be7 8.Qe2 a6 9.0-0-0 Nxd4

• If 9...Qc7 10.Bb3 then:
• If 10...0-0 11.g4 then:
• If 11...Nxd4 12.Rxd4 Nd7 13.g5 b5 then:
• If 14.f4 Nc5 then:
• If 15.f5 Nxb3+ 16.axb3 exf5 17.Nd5 Qd8 18.Rg1 Re8 19.Qf2 then:
• 19...g6 20.Qh4 Bb7 21.exf5 Bxd5 22.Rxd5 Bf8 23.Bd4 Qe7 24.Kb1 Qe4 25.Qxe4 Rxe4 26.f6 is equal (Frolov-Zakharstov, Russian Ch, Elista, 2001).
• 19...fxe4 20.Rxe4 Bb7 21.Bb6 Bxd5 22.Bxd8 Bxe4 23.Bxe7 Rxe7 draw (Dr. Nunn-van der Wiel, IT, Brussels, 1985).
• 15.Qf2 f5 16.Rg1 Bb7 17.exf5 draw (Ljubojevic-van der Wiel, ITZ, Biel, 1985).
• 14.Rg1 Nc5 15.e5?! d5 16.Rh4 Qxe5 17.Rg3 Nxb3+ 18.axb3 Qf5 19.f4 b4 20.Nd1 e5 21.Bd2 a5 22.Ne3 Qe4 gives Black an excellent game (Smith-Kogler, Corres, 2000).
• If 11...Nd7 12.Rhg1 Nc5 13.g5 then:
• If 13...b5 14.Kb1 Bd7 15.Rg3 g6 16.h4 Nxb3 17.cxb3 b4 18.Na4 Nxd4 19.Bxd4 e5 20.Be3 Qb7 21.Nb6 Qxe4+ 22.Ka1 Be6 23.f3 Qb7 is equal (Ashley-Solomons, IT, New York, 1994).
• If 13...Bd7 14.Qh5 Rfc8 15.Rg3 g6 16.Qh6 Bf8 17.Qh4 Nxd4 18.Bxd4 Nxb3+ 19.axb3 e5 20.Bb6 Qc6 is equal (Eames-D'Costa, British Ch, Scarborough, 2001).
• If 10...Na5 11.g4 b5 12.g5 Nxb3+ 13.axb3 Nd7 then:
• 14.Nf5 exf5 15.Nd5 Qd8 16.exf5 Bb7 17.f6 gxf6 18.Rhe1 Bxd5 19.Rxd5 Rg8 20.gxf6 Nxf6 21.Rf5 then:
• 21...Ng4 22.Rg5 Rxg5 23.Bxg5 Ne5 24.Bxe7 Qxe7 25.f4 Nd3+ 26.cxd3 Qxe2 draw (Thorfinnsson-Kristjansson, MT, Selfoss (Iceland), 2003).
• 21...Rg6 22.Bb6 Qd7 23.Qf3 Rc8 24.Rxf6 d5 25.Rxg6 hxg6 26.Qf6 Qb7 27.b4 Rc4 28.f3 Black resigns in the face of material loss (Azarov-Jobava, Euro ChT, Kemer, 2007).
• If 14.h4 b4 15.Na4 Nc5 16.h5 Bd7 then:
• If 17.Kb1 Bxa4 18.bxa4 Qb7 19.g6 Bf6 20.f3 Nxa4 21.Qc4 0-0 22.gxf7+ Qxf7 23.Qxe6 Qxe6 24.Nxe6 Nxb2 25.Nxf8 Nxd1 26.Rxd1 Rxf8 27.Rxd6 is equal (deFirmian-D. Gurevich, Op, Philadelphia, 1995).
• 17.g6 Nxb3+ 18.Nxb3 Bxa4 19.h6 fxg6 20.Nd4 e5 21.Ne6 Qc6 22.hxg7 Rg8 23.Rxh7 Bb3 24.Nc5 Bf7 25.Nd3 Qxe4 26.Rg1 b3 27.Rg4 Qc6 28.c3 a5 29.Bg5 Bxg5+ 30.Rxg5 0-0-0 31.Qe3 Rd7 draw (Brunner-van der Wiel, Lucerne, 1989).
• 6...a6 7.f3 b5 8.Qd2 Nbd7 9.g4 h6 10.0-0-0 Bb7 11.h4 b4 12.Na4 Qa5 13.b3 Nc5 14.a3 Nxa4 15.axb4 Qc7 is equal.

10.Bxd4 b5 11.Bb3 Bb7 12.e5!?

• 12.f4 0-0 13.f5 b4 14.Na4 e5 15.Bxe5 Nxe4 16.Bd4 Bf6 17.Bxf6 Qxf6 18.Bd5 Bxd5 19.Rxd5 Qh6+ gives Black excellent winning chances (Marholev-A. Zhigalko, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).

12...dxe5

• The game is equal.

13.Bxe5 Qb6 14.f4!?

• This is a passive way to protect the Bishop.
• More aggressive is 14.Bd4 Qc7 15.Be5 Qc6 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.Rhg1 Rc8 with equality.

14...0-0!

• Black moves the King into safety in preparation for central operations.
• 14...Rc8 15.Bd4 Qc6 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.Bd5 Qc7 remains equal.

15.Rhe1 Rad8 16.g4 Nd7

• If 16...b4 17.Na4 Qc6 then:
• If 18.h3 Rxd1+ 19.Rxd1 Rd8 then:
• 20.Rxd8+ Bxd8 21.Qd1 Be7 22.Qe1 Nd7 23.c3 Nxe5 gives Black excellent winning chances.
• 20.Rg1 Ne4 21.Rd1 Rxd1+ 22.Qxd1 Nf2 23.Qf1 Qf3 wins the h-pawn for Black.
• 18.f5 Ne4 19.fxe6 fxe6 20.Bd4 Bh4 gives Black the initiateve.

17.Bd4 Bc5 18.Qe3 Bxd4 19.Rxd4 Nf6!?

• Black lets her entire advantage slip away.
• If 19...Nc5! 20.Rxd8 Rxd8 then:
• If 21.f5 b4 then:
• 22.Nd1 Nxb3+ 23.axb3 Qa5 24.Kb1 Bc8 leaves Black with a healthy kingside pawn majority.
• 22.Na4 Nxb3+ 23.axb3 Qxe3+ 24.Rxe3 exf5 25.gxf5 Kf8 gives Black stronger pawns.
• 21.h4?! a5 22.a3 b4 23.Na4 Nxb3+ 24.cxb3 Qd6 gives Black excellent winning chances.

BLACK: Inna Gaponenko
!""""""""#
$ + T Tl+%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Wang Yu
Position after 19...Nd7f6

20.Rxd8!

• The game is again level.

20...Qxe3+ 21.Rxe3 Rxd8 22.h3 Kf8 23.a3 g6

• 23...Bg2 24.Rg3 Bc6 25.Re3 Rd6 26.g5 Nd7 27.h4 remains equal.

24.Ne2 h5 25.g5 Ne4 26.c3

• The text is better than 26.a4 Nd2 27.axb5 axb5 28.Ba2 b4 when Black's lone queenside pawn holds White's queenside at bay.

26...h4 27.Bc2 Nd6 28.Nd4 Nc4 29.Re2

• 29.Rd3 Ke8 30.Bb3 Bd5 31.Bxc4 bxc4 32.Rd2 also remains equal.

29...Re8 30.Be4 Bxe4 31.Rxe4 e5 32.fxe5 Rxe5 33.Rxe5

• If 33.Rxh4 Rxg5 then:
• 34.Rh8+ Kg7 35.Ra8 Rg1+ 36.Kc2 Rg2+ 37.Kc1 remains equal.
• 34.b3 Rg1+ 35.Kc2 Nxa3+ 36.Kb2 b4 37.cxb4 Nb5 Blocks White's doubled pawns while Black has moble pawns on the kingside.

33...Nxe5 34.Kd2

BLACK: Inna Gaponenko
!""""""""#
$ + + L +%
$+ + +o+ %
$o+ + +o+%
$+o+ M P %
$ + N + O%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Wang Yu
Position after 34.Kc1d2

34...f6!?

• Black bids for a more remote pawn majority, but the plan has drawbacks.

35.gxf6 Kf7 36.b3 g5 37.Ke3!

• Black's Knight has no good squares.

37...Kxf6 38.Nf3 Nd7

• The Knight must retreat into a passive position before rejoining the fray.

39.c4!?

• White creates a passed pawn, albeit a weak one. This also allows the Black Knight back into the game via c5.

39...bxc4 40.bxc4 Nc5!

• The Knight makes use of itself by blocking the pawn and can one again fove forward as well as backward.

41.Kd4 Ne6+ 42.Kd5!?

• This is a very risky move. Black will have two connected passers on the kingside.
• 42.Ke4 Nc5+ 43.Ke3 Ne6 44.Nh2 Nf4 45.Ng4+ Ke6 remains equal.

BLACK: Inna Gaponenko
!""""""""#
$ + + + +%
$+ + + + %
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$+ +k+ O %
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$ + + + +%
$+ + + + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Wang Yu
Position after 42.Kd4d5

42...Nf4+!

• Of course, Black takes the bait.

43.Kd6 Nxh3 44.c5

• White's compensation for the pawn sacrifice is the advancing protected passer.

44...Nf2 45.c6 Ne4+ 46.Kd5!

• 46.Kd7!? Nc5+ 47.Kd6 Na4! 48.c7 Nb6 49.Kc6 Nc8 is equal.

46...Nc3+ 47.Kc5 Nb5 48.a4 Na7 49.Kb6?

• White commits the fatal error, although her position was hardly enviable at this point.
• 49.c7 Nc8 50.Kc6 h3 51.Kb7 Nd6+ 52.Kc6 Ke7 53.Nh2 gives Black the advantage, but it's still a struggle.

BLACK: Inna Gaponenko
!""""""""#
$ + + + +%
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$+ + + O %
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WHITE: Wang Yu
Position after 49.Kc5b6

49...Nxc6!!

• Black Sacrifices her Knight to eliminate White's last threat.

50.Kxc6 h3 51.Kd5

• 51.Kb6 g4 52.Nd2 h2 wins for White.

51...g4 52.Ne5 Kf5 0-1

• The h-pawn must queen.
• Ms. Wang resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Bonus Game: Tal - Miller, SX, Chicago, 1988

Mikhail Tal
Photo: ChessGraphics


Mikhail Tal - Mr. Miller
Simultaneous Exhibition
Chicago, 1988

Open Italian Royal Game: Gothic Defense (Two Knights Defense/Scotch Gambit)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d4

• For 4.Ng5, see Zherebukh-Onischuk, City Op, Moscow, 2009.

4...d6!?

• The Max Lange Attack: If 4...exd4 then:
• If 5.0-0 then:
• If 5...Bc5 then:
• If 6.e5 then:
• If 6...d5 7.exf6 dxc4 then:
• If 8.Re1+ Be6 9.Ng5 Qd5 10.Nc3 Qf5 then:
• 11.Nce4 0-0-0 12.g4 Qe5 13.Nxe6 fxe6 14.fxg7 Rhg8 15.Bh6 d3 16.c3 d2 17.Re2 Rd3 18.Qf1 Qd5 19.Rd1 Ne5 20.Qg2 Nf3+ gives Black a strong initiative (McAuliffe-Shipman, Corres, 1992).
• If 11.g4 Qg6 12.Nce4 Bb6 then:
• 13.Nxe6 fxe6 14.Bg5 0-0 15.fxg7 Rf7 gives Black excellent winning chances (Juarez-García, Granma, 1987).
• 13.f4 0-0-0 14.f5 Bxf5 15.gxf5 Qxf5 is equal (Blackburne-Teichmann, IT, Nuremberg, 1896).
• 8.fxg7 Rg8 9.Bg5 Be7 10.Bxe7 Kxe7 11.Re1+ Be6 12.Re4 Rxg7 13.Nxd4 Nxd4 14.Rxd4 Qg8 15.g3 Rg4 16.Nc3 c6 17.Ne2 gives White points for development, King safety and pawn structure (Kosmo-Nyland, Rilton Cup, Stockholm, 2007)
• 6...Ng4 7.Bf4 d6 8.exd6 Bxd6 9.Re1+ Kf8 10.Bxd6+ Qxd6 11.c3 Qc5 12.Nbd2 d3 13.Nd4 Nxd4 14.cxd4 Qxd4 15.Qf3 Qf6 16.Qxd3 Qxf2+ 17.Kh1 Qxe1+ 18.Rxe1 Nf2+ 19.Kg1 Nxd3 White resigns (Khristov-Popov, Corres, 1960).
• If 5...Nxe4 6.Re1 d5 7.Bxd5 Qxd5 8.Nc3 Qa5 9.Nxe4 Be6 then:
• If 10.Bd2 Bb4 11.Nxd4 Nxd4 12.c3 Be7 13.cxd4 Qd5 then:
• If 14.Bb4 Bxb4 15.Qa4+ Qc6 16.Qxb4 0-0-0 then:
• 17.Rac1 17.Nc3 Qb6 18.Qxb6 axb6 19.Rad1 c6 20.h3 Rd7 is equal (Sefc-Jezuk, Czechoslovakian Ch, Prague, 1955).
• 14.Bf4 c6 15.Nc3 Qd7 16.Qa4 b5 17.Qc2 0-0 18.Rad1 b4 19.Ne4 Bd5 is equal (G. Popov-Angelov, Corres, 1960).
• If 10.Neg5 0-0-0 11.Nxe6 fxe6 12.Rxe6 Bd6 13.Bg5 then:
• 13...Rde8 14.Qe2 Kd7 15.Rxe8 Rxe8 16.Qd3 h6 17.Bd2 Qb6 18.b4 Ne5 19.Nxe5+ Bxe5 20.Re1 Kd8 21.a4 g5 22.b5 Qd6 is equal (Aldrete-Sarink, Corres, 2002).
• If 13...Rdf8 14.Qe2 Kd7 15.Re1 Qxa2 16.Qe4 Qa5 17.Be7 Nxe7 18.Rxd6+ then:
• 18...Kc8 19.Rxd4 gives White the initiative (Heutgens-Andresen, Corres, 1995).
• If 18...cxd6? then after 19.Qxb7+ Qc7 20.Rxe7+ White wins the Queen.
• If 5.Ng5 then:
• If 5...d5 6.exd5 Qe7+ 7.Kf1 Ne5 8.Qxd4 Nxc4 9.Qxc4 Qc5 then:
• 10.Qxc5 Bxc5 11.Nc3 Bf5 12.Bf4 0-0 13.Bxc7 Bxc2 14.Rc1 Bd3+ 15.Kg1 Rfe8 16.h3 Re7 17.d6 Rd7 18.Nce4 Bxe4 19.Rxc5 h6 20.Nf3 Bxf3 21.gxf3 Ne8 22.Kg2 draw (Pfleger-Lengyel, Euro ChT, Hamburg, 1965).
• 10.Qe2+ Be7 11.c4 Nxd5 12.Nxf7 0-0 13.Ng5 Rxf2+ 14.Qxf2 Qxc4+ 15.Qe2 Qxc1+ 16.Qe1 Qxg5 17.h3 Ne3+ White resigns (Persson-Bergljuna, Corres, 1978).
• 5...Ne5 6.Bb3 h6 7.f4 hxg5 8.fxe5 Nxe4 9.Qxd4 Nc5 10.Nc3 d6 11.Be3 Nxb3 12.axb3 dxe5 13.Qxe5+ Qe7 14.Qxg5 Qxg5 15.Bxg5 Bg4 16.Nb5 Bd6 is equal (Eisinger-Rellstab, IT, Bad Neuenahr, 1957).
• Your humble hare would like to interject a word to the wise and say that the Max Lange Attack is a good opening for club players to know, although one is unlikely to see it in master play.

5.dxe5 Nxe4

• If 5...dxe5 6.Qxd8+ Nxd8 then:
• 7.Nxe5 Nxe4 8.0-0 Bc5 9.Nd3 0-0 10.Re1 Bf5 11.Nxc5 Nxc5 12.Re5 Nce6 13.Rxf5 Nd4 14.Rc5 White went on to win (Kiltti-Hintikka, Finnish ChT, Finland, 1995).
• 7.0-0 Bd6 8.Re1 0-0 9.Bg5 Nd7 10.Nbd2 h6 11.Bh4 a6 12.Rad1 b5 13.Bd5 c6 14.Bxd8 cxd5 is equal (Janoskova-Croisee, World Ch GirlsU12, Bratislava, 1993).

6.Bxf7+!?

• 6.Qd5 Be6 7.Qxe4 d5 8.Bxd5 Bxd5 9.Qe2 is equal (Tabakovic-Ek, Op, Stockholm, 1994).

6...Kxf7 7.Qd5+ Be6 8.Qxe4

• White has an extra pawn.

8...Be7 9.0-0 d5 10.Qd3 Qd7 11.Re1 Raf8

• If 11...Nb4 then after 12.Qc3 Qc6 13.Re2 Qa6 14.Nd4 Rhf8 15.Qd2 White still enjoys an extra pawn.

12.Nc3 Ke8

• If 12...d4 then after 13.Ne4 Nb4 14.Qd2 Nc6 15.Neg5+ Bxg5 16.Qxg5 the value of White's extra pawn in magnified by the exchanges.

13.Ng5 Bc5 14.Nxe6!?

• Since he is leading in space, White should avoid exchanges.
• After 14.Nd1 Rf5 15.Qg3 g6 16.c3 Rhf8 17.Be3 Bxe3 18.Rxe3 White remains a pawn to the good.

14...Bxf2+ 15.Kh1 Bxe1 16.Nxf8

• If 16.Nxd5 Ba5 17.Nxf8 Rxf8 then:
• After 18.Be3 Nxe5 19.Qd4 Rf5 20.Qe4 Kf7 21.Bxa7 White again has an extra pawn.
• 18.Bf4!? Ne7 19.Nxe7 Qxd3 20.cxd3 is equal.

16...Rxf8 17.Bg5!?

• White makes an aggressive move to leave Black to figure out what to do.
• 17.Bd2 Bxd2 18.Qxd2 d4 19.Nb5 a6 20.e6 is equal.

17...Nb4!?

• White is behind on space and should trade.
• 17...Bxc3! 18.Qxc3 Rf5 19.Bh4 Rxe5 20.Qb3 b6 gives Black an extra pawn.

18.Qe2 Nxc2 19.e6?!

• Mikhail Nekhemievich would not have made this move against one of his peers.
• 19.Rxe1 Nxe1 20.Qxe1 d4 21.Ne4 Qb5 22.Ng3 Qxb2 gives Black an extra pawn.

19...Qd6!?

• Black loses his advantage.
• 19...Qc6! 20.Rxe1 Nxe1 21.Qxe1 d4 22.Qd1 Rf2 gives Black excellent winning chances.

20.Nb5!

• White gains time on the Queen while also attacking two pawns.
• If 20.Rd1?! d4 then:
• 21.Nb5 Qc5 22.Nxd4 Nxd4 23.Qxe1 Qxg5 24.Rxd4 Qe5.gives Black a clear tactical advantage.
• If 21.Kg1 Bf2+ 22.Kh1! then:
• 22...Be1 23.Kg1 d3 24.Qxd3 is equal.
• If 22...Ne1? 23.Qc4 Bg3 24.e7 Rf2 25.Qg8+ then:
• 25...Rf8 26.Qxf8+ Kd7 27.e8Q#.
• 25...Kd7 26.e8Q#.

20...Qe5?

• This bold-looking move loses outright.
• 20...Qc5 (moving the Queen from harm's way and guarding both attacked pawns) 21.b4 Qb6 22.Rd1 d4 23.e7 gives White a more modest advantage.

21.h4!

• The King opens the escape hatch. The tables are turned.

21...Qg3

• If 21...Qxe2 then 22.Nxc7#!.

22.Rd1 Rf2

BLACK: Mr. Miller
!""""""""#
$ + +l+ +%
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$ + +p+ +%
$+n+o+ B %
$ + + + P%
$+ + + W %
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Mikhail Tal
Position after 22...Rf8f2

23.Qxf2!!

• The Queen sacrifice is the key to the victory.

23...Bxf2

• If 23...Qxf2 then White wins after 24.Nxc7+ Kf8 25.e7+.

24.Rxd5 Qxh4+

• White gains a full Rook.
• 24...Qxg5 25.Nxc7+ Ke7 26.hxg5 Bc5 27.Rd7+ Kf8 28.Nd5 is an easy win for White.

25.Bxh4 Bxh4 26.Nxc7+ Kf8 27.Rf5+

• Also good is 27.Rd7 Nb4 28.Rf7+ Kg8 29.g3 Bg5 30.e7!.

27...Bf6 28.Rd5 a5

• 28...Bh4 29.Rd7 transposes into the previous note.

29.Rd7 Nb4 30.Rf7+ Kg8

BLACK: Mr. Miller
!""""""""#
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Mikhail Tal
Position after 30...Kf8g8

31.Rxf6!!

• Another sacrifice seals the deal.

31...Nc6

• If 31...gxf6 then after 32.e7 the pawn queens.

32.Rf7 g6 33.e7 1-0

• The pawn must queen.
• Mr. Miller resigns.

[two gun sid]

9. JR Chess Report Staff is amazing....

keep up the good work, Jack Rabbit!!!!

[Jack Rabbit]

10. More coming attractions . . .

My wholly remarkable and loyal staff have uncovered two more international events starting this week:

Inventi International Tournament, Antwerp. 18-26 September. Nine Rounds. Bacrot, Howell, Michiels, Anna Muzychuk, Sargissian, Sasikiran, Socko, Stefanova, Sutovsky, Timman.

Baku Open Tournament 20-30 September. Mamedyarov is the top seed of 156 resgistered as of Friday.

[Jack Rabbit]

11. Meow!! My staff found yet one more item for the week . . .

British grandmaster Nigel Short and Zahar Efimenko are playing a short six gmae match in Mukachevo, a town in westrn Ukraine, starting today (Sunday).

Efimenko, playing Black, won the first game.

[Jack Rabbit]

12. Update (Sunday): Anish Giri, 15, wins Dutch National Championship

Fifteen-year-old Anish Giri, the son of a Russian mother and Nepalese father who was born in Russia but lives in Holland and plays under the auspices of the Dutch Chess Federation, won the 2009 Dutch national champion in the turnament completed today in the town of Haaksbergen.

The young man scored 6½ points out of a possible eight and joins the contingent of youngsters who hold or have held recently national titles.

The women's title was again decided today in Haaksbergen, with another foreign-born Dutch player, Peng Zhaoqin, winning her tenth consecutive Dutch women's title and eleventh since immigrating to Holland from China.

[madinmaryland]

19. Crap. I thought you said an Amish Girl won the Dutch National Championship

:wtf:

My glasses are for long distance, not close up!

[Jack Rabbit]

20. No, Anish Giri

Anish Giri
Photo: Dr.John Nunn in ChessBase.com

[madinmaryland]

21. Do the Amish play chess?

I would imagine so. They play football. There is a team called the Notre Dame Fighting Amish!!

:D

[Jack Rabbit]

13. Update (Tuesday): K-K Rapid Match begins

To follow the action in game one (right now), please click here.

[Jack Rabbit]

14. Kasparov wins first game of match

Karpov resigned immediately after making a blunder that would cost him the exchange.

Game Two will begin between 11:30 and noon PDT.

[Jack Rabbit]

15. Kasparov wins game two

. . . in 28 moves.

He's still got it.

[Jack Rabbit]

16. Update (Thursday): Kasparov Crushes Karpov in Valencia

Photo: ChessBase.com

In a nostalgic battle of Titans, Garry Kasparov crushed Anatoly Karpov in a three-day rapid/blitz match in Valencia, Spain by a score of 8-4 in action completed today.

Kasparov dominated the four-game rapid phase of the event, winning three and losing only the third game yesterday.

In today's eight-game blitz phase, Karpov won the first game and the second game ended in a draw, but then Kasparov the next five games in a row to clinch the series. The final game was drawn.

[Jack Rabbit]

17. Special Announcement

Robin Hood, a member of my impressive and loyal staff, is one year today.

If any one wants to adopt, please let me know.

He's cute, charming and playful.

[Captain Hilts]

18. The Karpov-Kasparov rematch is one of THE most exciting events in a while...