The JR Chess Report (December 13): World Cup Final Goes to Tie Break; Magnus Leads in London

[Jack Rabbit]

World Cup to be Determined by Tie Breaks



Boris Gelfand and Ruslan Ponomariov drew their final game under standard time control of the final match in 35 moves and will play a series of rapid and blitz games tomorrow to determine the winner of the third bi-annual World Chess Cup in Khanty Mansiysk in central Russia.

All four standard games ended in draws.

Tomorrow, the players will begin with four rapid games to determine the World Cup winner. If no winner is determined, they will as many as three two-game blitz sets. If no winner is determined after three sets, then an Armageddon game will determine the winner.


Magnus Leads London Chess Classic after Five Rounds, Kramnik Second



Magnus Carlsen, who turned 19 on November 30, leads the first ever London Chess Classic after five rounds after defeating Chinese grandmaster Ni Hua earlier today.

Using the 3-1-0 scoring system in London, Magnus has 11 points in five games. Former world champion Vladimir Kramnik is in second place with 8 points, after drawing against young British master David Howell in today's round.

In other games in London today, Luke McShane with Black defeated US champion Hikaru Nakamura in 55 moves and Mickey Adams battled Nigel Short 43 moves to a draw.

Magnus defeated Kramnik in the first round of the event in a game that may have determined first prize early. Kramnik is the last player to take a full point from Magnus in a game played under standard time control. He defeated Magnus in Dortmund on July 10.

The seven round tournament ends Tuesday.


Calendar

This week:

Russian National and Women's Championships, Moscow 16-30 December.

Other future events:

Hastings Chess Congress 26 December 2009-5 January 2010.

Rilton Cup, Stockholm 27 December 2009-5 January 2010.

Reggio Emilia Tournament 27 December 2009-4 January 2010.

Corus Chess Tournament, Wijk aan Zee 15-31 January 2010. Group A: Anand, Carlsen, Caruana, Dominguez, Ivanchuk, Karjakin, Kramnik, Leko, Nakamura, Shirov, Short, Smmets, Tiviakov and van Wely.

Gibraltar Chess Festival 26 January-4 February.

Moscow Open 29 January-8 February.

Aeroflot Open, Moscow 9-17 February.

European Individual Championships, Rijeka (Croatia) 5-19 March.

Anand-Topalov Match for the World Title, Sofia 23 April-10 May.

[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. World Cup, Semifinal Round, Khanty Manisysk

Church of the Resurrection of Christ, Khanty Mansiysk
Photo by vow for Wikipedia (Public Domain)

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Gelfand - Karjakin, Semifinal Round/Game 2

Boris Gelfand
Photo: Galina Popova for FIDE via ChessBase.com


Boris Gelfand - Sergey Karjakin
Third World Cup, Semifinal Round, Game 2
Khanty Mansiysk, 7 December 2009

Semi-Salv Queen's Gambit: Stoltz Opening

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Qc2

• 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 is the Meran Defense, the touchstone of the Semi-Slav family. See Dzagnidze-Zhu Chen, Grand Prix W Rd 3, Nanjing, 2009.

6...Bd6 7.Bd3

• (Stoltz-Shabalov Opening) If 7.g4 then:
• If 7...dxc4 8.Bxc4 then:
• If 8...e5 9.g5 Nd5 10.Bd2 exd4 then:
• If 11.Nxd4 11...0-0 then:
• 12.Nxd5 cxd5 13.Bd3 g6 14.h4 Nc5 15.f4 Bg4 16.Bc3 Re8 17.Kf2 Qd7 18.h5 Nxd3+ 19.Qxd3 Re4 20.hxg6 fxg6 is equal (Radjobov-Shirov, Rapid m, León, 2004).
• 12.0-0-0 Ne5 13.Nxd5 cxd5 14.Bxd5 Bg4 15.Bc3 Bb4 16.Ne2 Bxc3 17.Nxc3 Bxd1 18.Rxd1 Qe7 19.Qe4 Rad8 20.h4 Ng6 21.Qa4 gives White a huge advantage in space, but Black has a Rook for a pawn and a minor piece (Adly-Pantela, Op, Reykjavik, 2006).
• 11.Qe4+ Qe7 12.Qxd4 Ne5 13.Nxe5 Bxe5 14.Nxd5 cxd5 15.Bb5+ Kf8 16.Qxd5 Bxb2 then:
• If 17.Qb3 Ba3 18.Bc4Bc5 19.Bd5 Be6 20.Bxe6 fxe6 21.Rc1 b6 22.Rg1 Rd8 23.Rg4 Qd6 24.Bc3 gives White a slight advantage in space (Perelshteyn-Lugo, US Ch, San Diego, 2006).
• 17.Rb1 Be6 18.Qe4 Ba3 19.Bc4 Bxc4 20.Qxc4 b6 21.Rg1 gives White the advantage in space (Vallejo-Bareev, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 2005).
• 8...b6 9.e4 Bb7 10.e5 c5 11.exf6 Bxf3 12.fxg7 Rg8 13.Qxh7 Nf6 14.Bb5+ Ke7 15.Bg5 Bf4 16.Qh3 Bxh1 17.Bxf4 Qxd4 18.Qg3 Ne4 19.Qh4+ Qf6 20.g5 Qxg7 21.0-0-0 Rad8 22.g6+ f6 23.Rxh1 Rh8 24.Qg4 Nxf2 25.Qf3 Nxh1 26.Bd6+ Kxd6 27.Qc6+ Ke5 28.Qe4+ draws by perpetual check (Onischuk-Becerra, US Ch, San Diego, 2004).
• If 8...b5 then:
• If 9.Be2 Bb7 10.g5 Nd5 11.Ne4 Be7 12.Bd2 Rc8 13.Nc5 Nxc5 14.dxc5 Bxg5 15.0-0-0 Bh6 16.Ne5 Qe7 17.Ng4 Bg5 18.f4 Bh4 19.e4 Nf6 20.Nxf6+ Bxf6 21.Ba5 gives White a huge lead in space (Nestorovic-Milenkovic, Yugoslav ChT, Cetinje, 1993).
• 9.Bd3 Bb7 10.g5 Nd5 11.Ne4 Be7 12.Bd2 Qb6 13.Rc1 Nb4 14.Bxb4 Bxb4+ 15.Ke2 c5 16.a3 c4 17.axb4 Bd5 18.Nfd2 0-0 19.Rhg1 e5 20.dxe5 Rad8 21.Nf6+ Nxf6 22.Bf5 Nh5 is equal (Shirov-Akopian, IT, Biel, 1993).
• 8...Nd5 then:
• If 9.Ne4 Be7 10.Bd2 b6 11.0-0-0 Bb7 12.Ne5 a5 13.h4 f6 14.Nd3 b5 15.Bb3 a4 16.Bxd5 cxd5 17.Nec5 Nxc5 18.Nxc5 Bxc5 19.dxc5 d4 20.e4 draw (Sargissian-Korneev, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).
• 9.Bd2 b5 10.Be2 Bb7 11.Ne4 Be7 12.Nc5 Nxc5 13.dxc5 Qc7 14.a4 0-0 15.h4 a5 16.Rc1 bxa4 17.Bd3 h6 18.Qxa4 Ba6 19.Bxa6 Rxa6 20.b4 gives White a small advantage in space (Nakamura-Beliavsky, Op, Minneapolis, 2005).
• 7...Bb4 8.Bd2 Qe7 then:
• If 9.Rg1 Bxc3 10.Bxc3 Ne4 11.0-0-0 Nxc3 12.Qxc3 0-0 then:
• 13.Bd3 dxc4 14.Bxc4 c5 15.Kb1 a6 16.Bd3 b5 17.Qc2 g6 18.Be4 Ra7 19.g5 Rc7 20.h4 Nb6 21.dxc5 Rxc5 22.Qd3 Bb7 23.Nh2 Bxe4 24.Qxe4 Rc4 25.Rd4 gives White a small advantage in space (Milanovic-Lazic, Bosnian ChT, Jahorina, 2001).
• 13.g5 dxc4 14.Bxc4 b5 15.Bd3 Bb7 16.Qc2 g6 17.Be4 Rab8 18.Kb1 c5 19.Bxb7 Rxb7 20.dxc5 Nxc5 21.Ne5 Rc7 22.h4 Rfc8 23.Ng4 Na4 24.Qe4 Rc2 25.Qe5 Qc7 26.Nf6+ Kf8 27.Nxh7+ Ke7 28.Qf6+ Ke8 29.Qh8+ Ke7 30.Qf6+ Ke8 31.Qh8+ draws by repetition (Sargissian-Sveshnikov, Petrosian Mem, Stepanakert, 2004).
• If 9.Bd3 then:
• 9...e5 10.cxd5 Bxc3 11.Bxc3 e4 12.dxc6 exd3 13.cxd7+ Qxd7 14.Qb3 Qxg4 15.Qd1 0-0 16.Rg1 Qe4 17.Nd2 Qd5 18.Qf3 Bf5 19.Qxd5 Nxd5 20.Nc4 Rfd8 is equal (Vorobiov-P. Smirnov, Russian Ch semif, Krasnoyarsk, 2003).
• 9...Bxc3 10.Bxc3 dxc4 11.Bxc4 b5 12.Bd3 Bb7 13.e4 Nxe4 14.Bxe4 f5 15.Bd3 c5 16.Rg1 Bxf3 17.dxc5 fxg4 is equal (Moranda-Vitiugov, Belfort, 2005).
• 7...h6 then:
• If 8.Rg1 e5 9.cxd5 cxd5 then:
• If 10.Bd2 e4 11.Nb5 Bb8 then:
• If 12.Nh4 a6 13.Nf5 0-0 14.Nbd6 Bxd6 15.Nxd6 Nb8 is equal (Aronian-Topalov, Amber Rapid, Nice, 2008).
• 12.Rc1 0-0 13.g5 exf3 14.gxf6 Nxf6 15.Bb4 Re8 16.Nc7 Bxc7 17.Qxc7 Ne4 Black has an extra pawn, but White has more than enough space in compensation (Janssen-Smeets, Dutch Ch, Leeuwarden, 2005).
• 10.g5 hxg5 11.Nxg5 e4 12.Nb5 Nb6 13.Bd2 Bf5 14.h3 Bh2 15.Rg2 Rc8 16.Qb3 Bb8 17.Bb4 Nh7 18.Nxh7 Rxh7 19.Rg1 Rc6 gives Black a subtansial advantage in space (Zappa-Junior, World Computer Ch, Reykjavik, 2005).
• If 8.Bd2 then:
• If 8...dxc4 9.Bxc4 b5 10.Be2 Bb7 then:
• If 11.e4 Be7 then:
• If 12.g5 hxg5 13.Nxg5 Rc8 14.Rg1 Nf8 15.e5 b4 16.Na4 N6d7 17.Ne4 c5 18.Nexc5 Bxc5 19.Nxc5 Nxc5 20.dxc5 Qd4 21.Be3 Qxe5 22.Bb5+ Ke7 23.0-0-0 Bd5 24.Qe2 Ng6 25.Rg5 Qe4 26.f3 Black resigns in the face of material loss (Dronavalli-van der Bersselaar, Op, Gibraltar, 2008).
• If 12.e5 b4 13.exf6 bxc3 14.fxe7 cxd2+ 15.Nxd2 Qxe7 16.Bf3 Rb8 17.Nb3 0-0 18.0-0-0 c5 19.Bxb7 Rxb7 20.dxc5 Rc7 21.Kb1 Nxc5 22.Rc1 Rfc8 23.Nxc5 Rxc5 24.Qd2 Qf6 25.Rxc5 Rxc5 26.Rg1 Rd5 27.Qe2 Qf4 gives Black a small advantage in space (Dronavalli-Nakamura, Op, Gibraltar, 2008).
• If 11.g5 hxg5 12.Nxg5 Qe7 13.Nce4 Nxe4 14.Nxe4 0-0 15.Nxd6 Qxd6 16.Bf3 Rab8 17.0-0-0 Rfc8 18.Rhg1 gives White the advantage in space (Sargissian-Hillarp Person, Op. Reykjavik, 2006).
• If 11.Rg1 Rc8 12.g5 hxg5 13.Rxg5 Kf8 14.Ne5 Qe7 15.Bf3 Bxe5 16.dxe5 Nd5 17.Rh5 Rxh5 18.Bxh5 Kg8 19.0-0-0 Qh4 20.Be2 Qxf2 21.Rf1 Qg2 22.Qe4 Qxe4 23.Nxe4 Nxe5 24.Nc5 leaves Black up by two pawns (Radjobov-Anand, Rapid Ch, Mainz, 2006).
• 8...Qe7 9.Rg1 e5 10.cxd5 Nxd5 11.Ne4 Bb4 12.0-0-0 exd4 13.Nxd4 Bxd2+ 14.Rxd2 g6 15.Bc4 Nb4 16.Qb3 0-0 17.Nf5 gxf5 18.gxf5+ Kh7 19.Nd6 Nd5 20.Bxd5 cxd5 21.Qxd5 Nf6 gives Black a Bishop for two pawns (Kasimdzhanov-Bareev, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2002).
• If 7.b3 0-0 8.Be2 b6 9.0-0 Bb7 10.Bb2 then:
• If 10...Rc8 then:
• If 11.Rac1 then:
• If 11...c5 then:
• 12.dxc5 bxc5 13.Rfd1 Qe7 14.g3 Rfd8 15.cxd5 exd5 16.Nh4 Bb8 is so equal that it demonstrates the second law of thermodynamics (Ivanchuk-Aronian, IT, Linares, 2009).
• 12.cxd5 Nxd5 13.Nxd5 Bxd5 14.Qb1 cxd4 15.Nxd4 Bb7 16.Rfd1 Qe7 17.Bf3 Bxf3 18.Nxf3 Nc5 19.Qc2 a5 is equal (Ivanchuk-Anand, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2007).
• 11...Qe7 12.Rfd1 Rfd8 13.Qb1 h6 14.cxd5 Nxd5 15.Ne4 Bb8 16.Rd2 a5 17.Nc3 Nxc3 18.Bxc3 c5 19.dxc5 Nxc5 20.Rxd8+ Rxd8 21.Bd4 draw (Riazantsev-Galkin, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2002).
• 11.Rad1 Qe7 12.e4 dxe4 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Qxe4 Nf6 15.Qh4 Rfd8 16.Bd3 h6 17.Rfe1 Nd7 18.Qh3 a5 19.Nh4 is equal (Suvrajit-Arun Prasad, Commonwealth Ch, Nagpur, 2008).
• If 10...Qe7 then:
• If 11.Rad1 Rfe8 then:
• If 12.e4 Nxe4 13.Nxe4 dxe4 14.Qxe4 Rad8 15.Rfe1 Bb4 16.Rf1 Bd6 17.Rfe1 Bb4 18.Rf1 Bd6 19.Rfe1 Bb4 20.Rf1 Bd6 draw (Carlsen-Leko, IT, Morelia-Linares, 2007).
• If 12.Rfe1 Rad8 13.Bd3 then:
• 13...c5 14.cxd5 exd5 15.Bf5 Nf8 16.Bh3 Ng6 17.Nb5 Bb8 18.dxc5 bxc5 19.Bxf6 gxf6 20.b4 a6 21.Nc3 Qc7 22.Na4 d4 23.Qxc5 Bxf3 24.Qxc7 Bxc7 25.gxf3 dxe3 26.fxe3 Rxd1 27.Rxd1 Rxe3 28.Bf1 Ra3 29.Nc5 is equal (Gelfand-Kasidzhanov, Candidates' m, Elista, 2007).
• 13...e5 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.e4 dxe4 16.Nxe4 Nxe4 17.Bxe4 Bxe4 18.Qxe4 Nf6 19.Qf5 e4 20.d5 Bb4 21.Re2 Nxd5 leaves Black a pawn to the good (K. Georgiev-Kasimdzhanov, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2007).
• 11.Rfd1 Rfe8 12.e4 Nxe4 13.Nxe4 dxe4 14.Qxe4 Rad8 15.h3 Nf6 16.Qe3 c5 17.Ne5 Qc7 18.Bd3 h6 19.Bc2 b5 20.Qe2 bxc4 21.Nxc4 Bh2+ 22.Kh1 Qc6 23.f3 Bc7 24.dxc5 Rc8 25.Ne5 Bb8 is equal (M. Gurevich-Kaidanov, Chicago, 1995).

7...0-0 8.0-0 dxc4 9.Bxc4 b5

• If 9...a6 10.Rd1 b5 11.Be2 Qc7 then:
• 12.Ne4 Nxe4 13.Qxe4 e5 14.Qh4 Re8 15.Bd3 h6 16.Bd2 Be7 17.Qg3 Bd6 18.Qh4 Be7 draw (Burmakin-Dreev, Op, Novgorod, 1999; several games since have ended here or after one or two more moves in an agreed draw).
• 12.e4 e5 13.g3 Re8 14.a3 exd4 15.Nxd4 Be5 16.Bf3 c5 17.Nde2 c4 18.Nd5 Nxd5 19.exd5 Bd6 20.Bf4 Ne5 21.Bxe5 Rxe5 22.Nd4 g6 is equal (Bologan-Karjakin, IT, Dortmund, 2001).

10.Be2 Bb7 11.Rd1 Qc7

• If 11...Qb8 12.e4 e5 then:
• If 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Nd4 then:
• 14...Neg4 15.g3 g6 16.Bf3 is equal (Koneru-Pérez, IT Merida, 2008).
• If 14...Ng6 15.g3 Re8 16.Nf5 then:
• 16...Bf8 17.Bf3 b4 18.Nb1 c5 favors Black since White's queenside is cramped.(Evdokimov-Asrian, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• 16...Bc5 17.a3 a5 18.Bg5 Qe5 19.Bf3 Rac8 20.Bxf6 Qxf6 21.Na4 Bf8 22.Nc5 Ne5 23.Be2 Rc7 24.Nxb7 Rxb7 is equal (Alverez-Scheffner, cyberspace, 2000).
• 13.g3 Re8 14.dxe5 Nxe5 15.Bg5 Nxf3+ 16.Bxf3 Be5 17.Rd2 h6 draw (Morovic-Fridman, Ol, Calvia, 2004).

12.Bd2

• If 12.e4 e5 then:
• If 13.g3 Rfe8 14.dxe5 Nxe5 15.Bg5 then:
• 15...b4 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.Nxe5 Rxe5 18.Nb1 c5 19.Nd2 Bf8 20.Bg4 Rae8 21.f3 Rg5 22.Bf5 Bd6 23.Nf1 c4 gives Black the advantage in space (Szeberenyi-Pavasovic, Hungarian ChT, Hungary, 2003).
• 15...Nxf3+ 16.Bxf3 Qe7 17.Bg2 Be5 18.Ne2 Qb4 19.Rd2 Rad8 20.Rad1 Rxd2 21.Rxd2 Qa5 22.b3 c5 23.Rd1 h6 24.Bd2 Qa6 25.Bc3 Bxc3 26.Nxc3 b4 27.Nd5 Nxd5 28.exd5 Qd6 is equal (Ibragimov-Asrian, Op, Dubai, 2000).
• 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Nd4 Bc5 15.h3 Qb6 16.Be3 Rad8 17.Nf5 Bxe3 18.Nxe3 Ng6 19.Rxd8 Rxd8 draw (Parker-Thorhallsson, Euro ChT, Saint Vincent, 2005).

12...e5 13.Rac1 a6 14.b4 Rfe8 15.Bd3

• 15.h3 h6 16.a3 exd4 17.exd4 Nb6 18.Re1 Nbd5 19.Nxd5 Nxd5 20.Bd3 a5 21.Bh7+ Kh8 22.Be4 gives White the advantage in space (Beliavsky-Pavasovic, Vidmar mem, Terme Zrece, 2003).
• 15.a3 h6 16.Bd3 exd4 17.exd4 Nb6 18.Re1 Rad8 19.Ne2 Nbd5 20.Ng3 Rxe1+ 21.Rxe1 Ng4 22.Bh7+ Kh8 23.Bf5 gives White the advantage in space (Soltau-Benejam, cyberspace, 2003).

15...Bxb4 16.Ng5 h6?

• 16...Nf8 17.Nxb5 axb5 18.Bxb4 exd4 19.exd4 Qf4 20.Nf3 Ne6 is equal (Soltau-van Kempen, Corres, 2003).

BLACK: Sergey Karjakin
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WHITE: Boris Gelfand
Position after 16...h7h6

• Your humble hare and his impressive staff are of the opinion that the novelty just played is a bust.

17.Nxb5!!

• What a cool tactical shot! White gets the advantage in space.

17...axb5

• The second=best move is 17...Qa5, which drops the exchange to 18.Bxb4! Qxb4 19.Nc7.

18.Bh7+!

• Any other move loses to 18...hxg5.

18...Kf8

• 18...Nxh7? 19.Qxh7+ Kf8 20.Bxb4+ c5 21.Rxc5!! Nxc5 22.Bxc5+ forces White to depart with his Queen in order to prevent mate.

19.Bxb4+

• White has the advantage in space.

19...c5 20.dxc5 Bc6

• 20...Nxh7? 21.c6+ Nc5 22.Bxc5+ sends Black to an early shower.
• If 20...Qc6 then 21.Nf3 Ra4 22.a3 Re7 23.Bf5 Nb8 24.Qb2 wins for White.

21.Be4 Nb8

• 21...hxg5? 22.Bxc6! Qxc6 23.Rd6 Qc7 24.c6 wins back the piece with interest.

22.Nh7+ Nxh7 23.Bxh7 g6

• Has White fallen to a childish trap?

24.Rd6!

• No, because if now 24...Kg7 then 25.Bxg6 fxg6 26.Qxg6+ wins.

24...Re7 25.h4 h5

• 25...Qc8 26.f3 then:
• 26...Rea7 27.a3 Na6 28.h5 Nxb4 29.axb4 gxh5 30.Be4 leaves no defenders on White's kingside.
• If 26...Ra4 27.a3 then:
• 27...Na6 28.h5 Nxb4 29.axb4 gxh5 30.Qd3 Be8 31.Rxh6 White starts winning material.
• 27...h5 28.Rf6 Ke8 29.Qb3 Ra6 30.Rd6 leaves White a pawn to the good.

BLACK: Sergey Karjakin
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WHITE: Boris Gelfand
Position after 25...h6h5

26.Bxg6!!

• The piece sacrifice wins, too.

26...fxg6 27.Qxg6 Rxa2

• White is down with two two pawns for a piece, but the Black King is open and undefended.

28.Rcd1 Rf7 29.Qh6+ Rg7 30.Qf6+ Kg8

• If 30...Rf7 then Black is mated after 31.Rd8+ when:
• 31...Be8 32.Qh8+ Ke7 33.Rxe8#.
• 31...Qxd8 32.Qh8+ Ke7 33.Qxe5+ Kf8 34.Rxd8+ Be8 35.Rxe8#.

31.Rd8+ Kh7 32.Qf5+ Rg6 33.Qxh5+ Rh6 34.Qf5+ 1-0

• If 34...Rg6 then 35.h5 wins the Rook.
• If 34...Kg7 then after 35.Qf8+ Kg6 36.R1d6+ White soon delivers mate.
• Sergey Alexandrovich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Malakhov - Ponomariov, Semifinal Round Tie Break, Rapid Game 4

Ruslan Ponomariov
Photo: ChessBase.com


Vladimir Malakhov - Ruslan Ponomariov
Third World Cup, Semifinal Round Tie Break, Rapid Game 4
Khanty Mansiysk, 8 December 2009

East Inia Game: Nimzo-Indian Defense (Capablanca Opening/Noa Variation)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5

• The text is the Noa Variation.
• Keres Variation If 4...0-0 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 then:
• If 6...d5 then:
• If 7.Nf3 then:
• If 7...dxc4 8.Qxc4 b6 then:
• If 9.Bf4 Ba6 then:
• If 10.Qc2 Nbd7 11.e4 Bxf1 then:
• 12.Kxf1 c5 13.Bd6 Re8 14.e5 Nd5 is equal (Morozevich-Kramnik, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2009).
• 12.Rxf1 c5 13.Bd6 draw (Drozdovskij-R. Pert, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• 10.Qxc7 Qd5 11.Qd6 Qe4 12.Rc1 Nbd7 13.Nd2 Qg6 14.f3 Rac8 15.Rxc8 Rxc8 16.Kf2 gives White the advantage in space and an extra pawn (Krush-Gulko, US Ch, St. Louis, 2009).
• If 9.Bg5 Ba6 then:
• If 10.Qc2 Nbd7 11.e4 Bxf1 12.Rxf1 then:
• 12...h6 13.Bxf6 Nxf6 14.0-0-0 Rc8 15.Kb1 Qe7 16.Rfe1 Rfd8 is equal (Kramnik-Kasparov, Blitz Trmt, Moscow, 1998).
• 12...Qc8 13.0-0-0 c5 14.dxc5 Nxc5 15.Bxf6 gxf6 16.Kb1 Qb7 is equal (Bu Xiangzhi-Mahjoob, Mindsports Rpd, Beijing, 2008).
• If 10.Qa4 c5 11.dxc5 bxc5 then:
• 12.Rd1 Qb6 13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.Rd2 Nc6 15.Qg4+ Kh8 16.Qh4 Kg7 17.Qg3+ Kh8 18.Qh4 Kg7 19.Qg3+ Kh8 draw (Riazantsev-Vitiugov, Russian Ch HL, Ulan Ude, 2009).
• 12.h4 Qb6 13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.Rb1 Rd8 15.Rh3 c4 16.Nd2 gives White more freedom and activity (I. Rajlich-T. Kosintseva, Euro Club Cup, Ohrid, 2009).
• If 7.cxd5 then:
• If 7...Ne4 8.Qc2 exd5 then:
• 9.Bf4 then:
• 9...Nc6 10.e3 g5 11.Bg3 f5 12.0-0-0 f4 is equal (Karpov-Anand, Rapid M, Corsica, 2009).
• 9...Bf5 10.Qxc7 Qxc7 11.Bxc7 Rc8 12.Bf4 Nc6 gives White an extra pawn (Zhu Chen-Xu Yuhua, Grand Prix W, Nanjing, 2009).
• 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).
• 7...exd5 8.Bg5 Qd6 9.f3 Bf5 10.e3 Nbd7 11.Ne2 Rac8 12.b4 Rfe8 is equal (Gelfand-Caruana, IT, Biel, 2009).
• If 6...b6 7.Bg5 Bb7 8.e3 d6 then:
• If 9.Ne2 Nbd7 10.Qc2 c5 11.Rd1 then:
• If 11...cxd4 then:
• If 12.Rxd4 Qc7 13.Nc3 then:
• If 13...d5 then:
• 14.cxd5 Bxd5 15.Bd3 Rfc8 16.0-0 h6 17.Bh4 is equal (Beliavsky-Dzagnidze, Op, Gibraltar, 2009).
• If 13...Qc5 then:
• 14.Bh4 d5 15.cxd5 Nxd5 16.Bd3 f5 17.Bg3 Rac8 18.0-0 Qe7 19.Bc4 N7f6 20.Qb3 Kh8 21.Nxd5 Bxd5 22.Bxd5 Nxd5 23.e4 is equal (Navara-Efimenko, Corus B, Wijk aan Zee, 2009).
• 14.Be2 d5 15.cxd5 Nxd5 16.Bd3 N5f6 17.0-0 h6 18.Bh4 Rad8 19.Rd1 Ne5 20.Bxf6 gxf6 21.Be4 Rxd4 22.Rxd4 gives White a formidable center and better kingside pawns (L'Ami-Short, Staunton Mem, London, 2008).
• If 12.Bh4 Qc7 13.Nc3 d5 14.Bg3 e5 15.cxd5 Bxd5 16.Be2 then:
• 16...Rac8 17.e4 Bc6 is equal (Carlsen-Leko, IT, Morelia/Linares, 2008).
• 16...Qb8 17.0-0 a6 18.Nxd5 Nxd5 19.Bf3 Rd8 20.Rxd4 Qc8 21.Qa4 gives Black no compensation for the pawn (Bareev-Grischuk, World Cup, Khanty Mansiysk, 2007).
• 11...Rc8 12.Nc3 cxd4 13.Rxd4 Rc5 14.Bh4 Qa8 15.Be2 d5 16.b4 Rcc8 17.0-0 dxc4 18.f3 Ne5 19.Bxf6 gxf6 20.Nb5 Qb8 21.Nd6 gives White the advantage in space (Kasimdzhanov-Grischuk, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2007).
• If 9.f3 Nbd7 then:
• If 10.Bd3 c5 11.Ne2 Rc8 then:
• If 12.0-0 h6 13.Bh4 then:
• 13...cxd4 14.Qxd4 Ne5 15.b4 Qc7 16.Rac1 Nfd7 17.Be7 Nc6 18.Qxd6 Nxe7 19.Qxe7 Ne5 20.Qxc7 Rxc7 21.Rfd1 Rfc8 is equal (Krush-Chandran, USCL, Cyberspace, 2005).
• 13...d5 14.cxd5 Nxd5 15.Qe1 Qe8 16.Qd2 f5 17.Bg3 Qe7 18.Nf4 Nxf4 19.Bxf4 Rfd8 is equal (Moradiabadi-Sadvakasov, City Ch, Paris, 2005).
• 12.Qd2 h6 13.Bh4 cxd4 14.exd4 Ba6 15.Rc1 d5 16.cxd5 Bxd3 17.Rxc8 Qxc8 18.Qxd3 Nxd5 19.0-0 Qb7 20.Rc1 Rc8 21.Rxc8+ Qxc8 is equal (Kelly-Ong, Euro ChT, Saint Vincent, 2005).
• 12.Qb3 h6 13.Bh4 d5 14.cxd5 Bxd5 15.Qd1 cxd4 16.Nxd4 Ne5 17.Ba6 Rc5 draw (Kholmov-Chepukaitis, Botvinnik Mem, Tula, 2003).
• 10.Qd3 Ba6 11.d5 Bxc4 12.Qxc4 Nc5 13.Bxf6 Qxf6 14.Ke2 Rfc8 15.Rd1 Nb3 gives White the active game (Vigorito-Browne, US Ch, San Diego, 2006).
• Steiner Variation If 4...c5 5.dxc5 Bxc5 6.Nf3 then:
• If 6...Qb6 7.e3 Qc7 then:
• If 8.b3 a6 9.Bb2 then:
• If 9...Be7 10.g4 h6 then:
• 11.0-0-0 b5 12.Nd4 Bb7 13.Rg1 bxc4 14.Bxc4 Nc6 15.Nxc6 Qxc6 16.Kb1 Rc8 17.Qe2 d5 18.Bd3 Bb4 19.Na4 Qd6 20.h4 Kf8 21.g5 gives White a slight initiative (Akobian-Kuzubov, SPICE Cup A, Texas Tech U, 2009).
• If 11.Rg1 Nc6 12.h4 h5 13.gxh5 Nxh5 then:
• 14.Be2 d5 15.cxd5 exd5 16.Nxd5 gives White the initiative (Nogueiras-Korchnoi, ITZ, Zagreb, 1987).
• 14.0-0-0 Nb4 15.Qd2 b5 16.a3 remains equal.
• If 9...b6 then:
• 10.Bd3 Bb7 11.Ne4 Be7 12.0-0 d6 13.Nxf6+ gxf6 14.Be4 Nd7 15.Rac1 h5 16.Rfd1 Rc8 17.Nd2 gives White the advantage in space (Gupta-Kotsur, Op, Dubai, 2005).
• 10.Be2 Bb7 11.0-0 Be7 12.Rad1 d6 13.Bd3 Nbd7 14.Qe2 0-0 15.e4 Rfe8 16.Rfe1 Bf8 17.Bb1 gives White a small advantage in space (Gunawan-Razuvaev, Op, Biel, 1994).
• 8.Be2 a6 9.0-0 Be7 10.e4 d6 11.Rd1 0-0 12.Nd4 b6 is equal (Berry-Waters, British Ch, Scarborough, 2001).
• If 6...Nc6 7.Bg5 then:
• If 7...h6 8.Bh4 then:
• 8...Be7 9.Rd1 0-0 10.e4 Nh5 11.Bxe7 Qxe7 12.Be2 d6 13.0-0 Rd8 14.Rd2 Nf4 15.Rfd1 e5 16.Nd5 Nxd5 17.cxd5 Nb8 18.Rc1 gives White better development and the advantage in space; on the bight side for Black, he has a good Bishop (Gagunashvili-Ibragimov, Op, Las Vegas, 2006).
• 8...Qa5 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.e3 Bb4 11.Be2 Bxc3+ 12.bxc3 b6 13.0-0 Bb7 14.Nd4 Qg5 15.g3 Qc5 16.Nb3 Qe5 is equal (Stahlberg-Grünfeld, IT, Ujpest, 1934).
• If 7...0-0 8.a3 then:
• If 8...Nd4 9.Nxd4 Bxd4 10.e3 Qa5 11.exd4 Qxg5 12.Qd2 Qxd2+ 13.Kxd2 b6 14.b4 then:
• 14...Bb7 15.f3 d6 16.Bd3 Rfc8 17.Rhc1 Kf8 18.Ne4 Nxe4+ 19.Bxe4 d5 20.cxd5 Bxd5 21.Bxd5 draw (Cramling-Akesson, Rilton Cup, Stockholm, 1999).
• 14...d6 15.Bd3 Rd8 16.f3 h5 17.h4 Kf8 18.Rhe1 Bd7 19.Rab1 Rac8 20.Rec1 e5 is equal (Kasparov-Kramnik, IT, Tilburg, 1997).
• 8...b6 9.e3 Be7 10.Be2 Bb7 11.0-0 Rc8 12.Rfd1 h6 13.Bh4 Na5 14.b3 d5 15.Qb2 Qe8 16.cxd5 Nxd5 17.Bb5 Qd8 18.Nxd5 Bxh4 19.Nxh4 Bxd5 20.e4 Qxh4 21.exd5 is equal (M. Gurevich-Sulskis, Op, Isle of Man, 2007).
• Zurich Variation If 4...Nc6 5.Nf3 d6 then:
• If 6.Bd2 0-0 7.a3 Bxc3 8.Bxc3 Re8 then:
• If 9.e3 e5 10.d5 Ne7 11.e4 Nh5 12.g3 f5 13.Nd2 then:
• If 13...Rf8 14.exf5 Bxf5 15.Ne4 Nf6 16.Bg2 Qe8 17.0-0 Qh5 18.Rae1 Nxe4 19.Bxe4 Bh3 20.Bg2 Bxg2 21.Kxg2 then:
• 21...Rf3!? 22.Qe4 Raf8 23.Re3 Rxe3 24.Qxe3 is equal (Johannessen-De Vreugt, Bundesliga 0809, Germany, 2008).
• 21...Qf3+! 22.Kg1 b5 gives Black more space.
• 13...fxe4 14.Nxe4 Bf5 15.Bg2 Qd7 16.Qe2 Bg6 17.0-0 Bxe4 18.Bxe4 Nf6 19.Bg2 gives White the advantage in space and two Bishops against two Knights (Malakhatko-Herberla, Euro Ch, Kusadasi, 2006).
• If 9.Rd1 Qe7 10.e3 e5 11.d5 Nb8 12.Be2 Bg4 13.e4 a5 14.b4 axb4 15.axb4 Nh5 16.Ng1 Qg5 17.Bxg4 Qxg4 18.f3 Qg5 19.Qd2 Qh4+ 20.Qf2 Qxf2+ 21.Kxf2 gives White more freedom (Kharitonov-Henrichs, Op, Pardubice, 2005).
• If 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.Qxc3 then:
• If 7...0-0 8.b4 e5 9.dxe5 then:
• 9...Ne4 10.Qe3 f5 11.Bb2 Nxe5 12.Nxe5 dxe5 13.Rd1 Qe7 14.g3 Be6 15.Bg2 Nd6 16.Bxe5 Nxc4 is equal (Milner-Barry- Menchik, IT, Cambridge, 1932).
• If 9...Nxe5 10.Nxe5 dxe5 11.Qxe5 Re8 12.Qb2 Ne4 13.Bf4 then:
• 13...Bf5 14.f3 g5 15.Bc1 Nd6 16.Qc3 f6 17.Bb2 Kg7 18.0-0-0 Qe7 19.e4 White soon won (Flohr- Milner-Barry, IT, London, 1932).
• 13...a5 14.f3 Ng5 15.Rd1 Qe7 16.e3 axb4 17.axb4 Ne6 18.Bg3 gives White the advantage in space (D. Collas-van Hoolandt, Mediterranean Ch, Beirut, 2003).
• 7...a5 8.b3 0-0 9.Bb2 then:
• 9...Re8 10.e3 e5 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.Rd1 Qe7 13.Be2 Bg4 14.0-0 Bh5 15.Rfe1 Ne4 16.Qc2 gives White a slight initiative (Johannessen-Taimanov, Op, Reykjavik, 1968).
• 9...Qe7 10.e3 Re8 11.Be2 e5 12.d5 Nb8 13.Nd2 b5 14.e4 bxc4 15.bxc4 Nbd7 16.0-0 Nc5 is equal (Drozdovskij-Stavroyany, Ukrainian ChU16, Kiev, 2000).

5.cxd5 exd5

• If 5...Qxd5 then:
• If 6.e3 c5 then:
• If 7.a3 Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 0-0 9.Nf3 b6 10.c4 then:
• 10...Qc6 11.Bd3 Bb7 12.Bb2 cxd4 13.exd4 Nbd7 14.0-0 Rac8 15.Rfe1 h6 16.a4 Rfd8 17.Qe2 Qd6 18.Nd2 a5 19.Nf1 Re8 20.Ne3 Be4 21.Bxe4 Nxe4 22.Qd3 Qf4 is equal (van Wely-Jakovenko, Spanish ChT, San Sebastián, 2006).
• 10...Qh5 11.Be2 Bb7 12.0-0 Nbd7 is equal (van Wely-Short, Staunton Mem TM, London, 2009).
• 7.Bd2 Bxc3 8.Bxc3 cxd4 9.Bxd4 Nc6 10.Bc3 0-0 11.Nf3 Rd8 12.Be2 Qe4 13.Qb3 Nd5 14.Bd2 Qg6 15.0-0 e5 16.Rfd1 e4 gives Black the initiative (Kasparov-Kramnik, Rpd M, Moscow, 2001).
• If 6.Nf3 Qf5 then:
• If 7.Qb3 then:
• If 7...Nc6 then:
• If 8.Bd2 0-0 9.e3 Rd8 10.Be2 then:
• 10...e5 11.Nxe5 Be6 12.g4 Qxe5 13.dxe5 Bxb3 14.exf6 Be6 15.f4 gxf6 16.0-0-0 Kg7 17.Rhg1 Na5 18.b3 Nxb3+ 19.axb3 Bxb3 20.Nb5 Bxd1 21.Rxd1 Bxd2+ 22.Rxd2 Rxd2 23.Kxd2 is equal (Ivanchuk-Anand, IT, Monte Carlo, 1996).
• 10...a6 11.Rd1 e5 12.Bc4 is equal (Gagunashvili-Turova, Op, Dubai, 2009).
• 8.a3 Ba5 9.e3 0-0 10.Qb5 e5 11.Bd3 Qg4 12.0-0 a6 13.Qb3 Bxc3 14.Qxc3 e4 gives Black the initiative (Beliavsky-Short, FIDE Knock Out, Las Vegas, 1999).
• 7...c5 8.a3 Ba5 9.Qc4 Bxc3+ 10.Qxc3 Nbd7 11.g4 Qe4 12.dxc5 0-0 13.g5 Nd5 14.Qd4 Qxd4 15.Nxd4 Nxc5 16.Bg2 Rd8 17.b4 e5 18.bxc5 exd4 19.Rb1 b6 20.cxb6 axb6 21.Bxd5 Rxd5 22.Rxb6 gives White an extra pawn (Vitugiov-Tiviakov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2009).
• If 7.Qxf5 exf5 8.a3 then:
• If 8...Be7 9.Bf4 c6 10.e3 then:
• 10...Nbd7 11.Nd2 Nb6 12.Nc4 Nxc4 13.Bxc4 Be6 14.Bxe6 fxe6 15.Ke2 Kd7 16.Rac1 Rhg8 17.h3 Rac8 18.Nb1 Nd5 19.Be5 Bf6 draw (Timoshchenko-Wojtaszek, Czech ChT, Czechia, 2005).
• 10...Be6 11.Nd2 0-0 12.Nc4 Nd5 13.Bd6 draw (Psakhis-Suba, Op, Benasque, 2005).
• 8...Bd6 9.Nb5 Be6 10.e3 Nc6 11.Bd2 a6 12.Nxd6+ cxd6 13.Bd3 Ne7 14.Ng5 Bd5 15.f3 h6 16.Nh3 Rc8 17.Ke2 Bc4 18.Rac1 Bxd3+ 19.Kxd3 Kd7 is equal (Timman-Jussupow, IT, Frankfurt, 1998).

6.Bg5

• This move is a nexus between the Nimzo-Indian and the Ragozin Defense to the Queen's Gambit.

6...c5

• If 6...h6 7.Bxf6 Qxf6 8.a3 Bxc3+ 9.Qxc3 0-0 10.e3 c6 11.Nf3 then:
• If 11...Bf5 12.Be2 Nd7 13.0-0 Rfe8 14.b4 Rac8 15.Rfc1 Qd6 16.Qb2 Bg4 then:
• If 17.Bd3 then:
• 17...Qf6 18.Nd2 h5 19.h3 Bf5 20.Bxf5 Qxf5 21.Qc2 is equal (Dreev-Kulaots, Greek ChT, Ermioni, 2006).
• 17...Bxf3 18.gxf3 Qf6 19.f4 Re7 20.Qe2 Rce8 21.Qg4 is equal.
• 17.a4 f5 18.Qd2 f4 19.exf4 Re4 is equal.
• 11...Re8 12.Bd3 Bf5 13.Bxf5 Qxf5 14.0-0 Nd7 15.Rac1 Nf6 16.Qc2 Qxc2 17.Rxc2 Ne4 18.Nd2 Nd6 19.g3 a5 20.a4 Ra6 21.b3 f5 draw (Petrosian-Averbakh, IT, Saltjobaden, 1952).

7.Nf3

• If 7.dxc5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Bg3 Ne4 10.e3 then:
• If 10...Qa5 11.Nge2 Bf5 12.Be5 0-0 13.Nd4 then:
• 13...Re8 14.Bxb8 Nxc3 15.Nxf5 Ne4+ 16.Kd1 Raxb8 17.f3 Nf6 18.Bd3 Bxc5 draw (Sundararajan-Villavicencio, Op, Andorra, 2006).
• If 13...Nxc3 then after 14.Nxf5 Ne4+ 15.Kd1 Nc6 16.Bd4 White has an extra pawn (Shabalov-Stefansson, Mindsports Rpd, Beijing, 2008).
• 10...Nc6 11.Nf3 Qa5 12.Nd2 Nxc3 13.bxc3 Bxc3 14.Rb1 Qxc5 15.Rb5 Qa3 16.Rb3 Bxd2+ 17.Qxd2 Qa5 18.Qxa5 Nxa5 19.Rb5 Nc6 20.h4 g4 is equal (Eljanov-Farago, Rpd Op, Mainz, 2008).

7...h6

• If 7...Nbd7 then:
• If 8.e3 Qa5 9.Bd3 c4 10.Bf5 0-0 11.0-0 Re8 12.Nd2 g6 then:
• If 13.Bxd7 Nxd7 then:
• If 14.h4 Nb6 15.f3 Bf8 16.e4 Bg7 17.Be3 Be6 18.a4 Bd7 is equal (Cheparinov-Mamedyarov, World Cup, Khanty Mansiysk, 2007).
• If 14.a3 Bxc3 15.bxc3 Nb6 16.f3 Bd7 then:
• 17.h4 Ba4 18.Qc1 Bc6 19.Rb1 Re6 20.Re1 Rae8 21.Nf1 Na4 22.Rb4 Qc7 23.Re2 b5 gives Black the advantage in space (Valerga-Peralta, Argentine Ch, La Plata, 2009).
• 17.Rfe1 Ba4 18.Qc1 Bc6 19.Ra2 Re6 gives Black a small edge in space (Kasparov-Tatai, Ol, Dubai, 1986).
• If 14.Rae1 Nb6 15.f3 then:
• 15...Bxc3 16.bxc3 Na4 17.Rc1 f6 18.Bh6 b5 19.h4 Qc7 20.Bf4 Qf7 is equal (Romanko-Zdebskaja, TTW, Ningbo, 2009).
• 15...Bd7 16.h4 Na4 17.Ndb1 Bf8 18.e4 Nb6 is equal (Zhu Chen-Dreev, Grand Prix, Dubai, 2002).
• 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).
• If 8.dxc5 h6 9.Bd2 Bxc5 10.e3 0-0 then:
• 11.Bd3 a6 12.0-0 Bd6 13.e4 dxe4 14.Nxe4 Nxe4 15.Bxe4 Nf6 16.Bf5 Bxf5 17.Qxf5 Qc8 18.Qd3 draw (Dreev-Zvjaginsev, IT, Poikovsky, 2006).
• 11.Be2 a6 12.0-0 b5 13.a4 b4 14.Na2 a5 15.Nc1 Bd6 16.Nb3 Ne5 is equal (Cifuentes-Jobava, Ol, Calvia, 2004).

8.Bh4!?

• If 8.Bxf6 Qxf6 9.a3 Ba5 10.e3 0-0 then:
• 11.dxc5 Bxc3+ 12.Qxc3 Qxc3+ 13.bxc3 Be6 14.Rb1 Nd7 15.Rxb7 Nxc5 16.Rb5 Rfc8 17.Nd4 Ne4 18.Rb3 a5 19.f3 Nxc3 20.Kd2 gives White the initiative (Botsari-Gaponenko, Euro ChW, Kusadasi, 2006).
• 11.Be2 Bf5 12.Qd2 c4 13.0-0 Qd6 14.Nh4 Bh7 15.Bd1 Nd7 16.Bc2 Bxc2 17.Qxc2 Rfe8 18.Nf5 Qe6 is equal (R. Kaufman-Berg, Op, Hastings, 2008-09).

8...g5

• The game is equal

9.Bg3 Ne4 10.e3

• 10.dxc5 Nc6 11.e3 Qa5 12.Nd2 Nxc3 13.bxc3 Bxc3 remains equal.

10...Bf5 11.Bd3 c4 12.Bxe4

• It would be a mistake for White to exchange his Bishop commanding the open diagonal for Black's undeveloped Knight.
• If 12.Bxb8? then:
• 12...Bxc3+! 13.bxc3 cxd3 14.Qxd3 Rxb8 gives Black an extra piece.
• 12...Rxb8!? then after 13.Qa4+! b5 14.Qxb4 a5 15.Qa3 b4 16.Bxe4 White survives by getting three minor pieces for the Queen.

12...Bxe4 13.Qa4+ Nc6 14.Ne5?!

• White drops a pawn.
• If 14.0-0 Bxf3 15.gxf3 f5 then:
• 16.Qb5 Bxc3 17.Qxb7 0-0 18.bxc3 Qc8 19.Qb5 gives White an extra pawn.
• 16.Be5!? Rh7 17.Rfc1 Bxc3 18.Rxc3 Qd7!threatens to win the Queen with 19...Nxe5.

BLACK: Ruslan Ponomariov
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Vladimir Malakhov
Position after 14.Nf3e5

14...Bxg2!

• Black grabs the pawn.
• 14...Bxc3+!? 15.bxc3 Qa5 16.Qxa5 Nxa5 17.Ng4 f5 18.Be5 remains equal.

15.Nxc6 Bxc3+ 16.bxc3 Qd7 17.Rg1

• 17.Be5 Rg8 18.Rg1 Be4 19.h4 g4 20.0-0-0 Qxc6 maintains Black's extra pawn.

17...Be4 18.Be5 Rg8 19.f3 Bd3 20.e4?

• Black now crushes White's kingside.
• If 20.h4 bxc6 21.Qa6 f5 then:
• If 22.Bf4 then after 22...g4 23.fxg4 fxg4 24.Bxh6 Rb8 25.Bg5 Rb2 Black wins.
• 22.hxg5 hxg5 23.Rh1 Qc8 24.Qxc8+ Rxc8 maintains Black's extra pawn.

BLACK: Ruslan Ponomariov
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Vladimir Malakhov
Position after 20.e3e4

20...Qxc6!

• It's all over now, Baby Blue.

21.Qa5 dxe4 22.Kf2

• 22.d5 Qb6 23.Qxb6 axb6 24.fxe4 Bxe4 25.d6 Kd7 wins for Black.

22...f6 23.Bg3 b6

• If 23...e3+ then:
• If 24.Kg2 then after 24...b6 25.d5 Qd7 26.Qa3 f5 27.Bd6 Rd8 White is toast.
• If 24.Kxe3 then 24...Qe6+ 25.Kf2 Qe2#.

24.Qb4 e3+ 25.Ke1 Qxf3 0-1

• White must submit to mate or lose lots of material.
• Grandmaster Malakhov resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Karjakin - Gelfand, Semifinal Round/Game 1

Boris Gelfand
Photo by Galina Popova for FIDE via ChessBase.com


Sergey Karjakin - Boris Gelfand
Third World Cup, Semifinal Round, Game 1
Khanty Mansiysk, 6 December 2009

Italian Royal Game: Clam Opening/Gothic Defense (Two Knights' Defense)

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d3 Nc6 4.Nf3 Be7 5.0-0 0-0 6.Bb3

• If 6.Re1 d6 then:
• If 7.a4 then:
• If 7...Be6 8.Nbd2 Qd7 9.c3 Rfe8 10.a5 a6 11.Qb3 Rab8 12.Bxe6 fxe6 gives White the advantage in space (Kaps-Hodova, Euro Jr Ch Girls, Patras, 2001).
• If 7...h6 8.a5 a6 9.c3 Nh7 then:
• If 10.Be3 Ng5 11.Nbd2 Bg4 12.h3 then:
• 12...Bh5 13.Kh2 Kh8 14.g4 Nxf3+ 15.Qxf3 Bg6 16.Nf1 Bg5 is equal (Kobalia-Karjakin, FIDE Knockout, Tripoli, 2004).
• 12...Nxf3+ 13.Nxf3 Bxf3 14.Qxf3 Bg5 15.b4 g6 16.Bd5 gives White the advantage in space and a more active game (Brodsky-Yandemirov, Op, Veronezh, 2005).
• 10.Qb3 Ng5 11.Nbd2 Rb8 12.d4 Bd7 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Nxe5 dxe5 15.Nf1 Bc5 16.Qc2 is equal (Speelman-Malaniuk, Op, Kropotkin, 1995).
• 7.c3 transposes into the notes after Black's sixth move.

6...d5

• If 6...d6 7.c3 then:
• If 7...Na5 8.Bc2 c5 9.Nbd2 Nc6 10.Re1 then:
• If 10...Re8 11.Nf1 h6 12.h3 Bf8 13.Ng3 then:
• If 13...Be6 14.d4 cxd4 15.cxd4 exd4 16.Nxd4 Nxd4 17.Qxd4 Rc8 18.Qd1 g6 19.Be3 Bg7 20.Re2 d5 is equal (Atlas-O. Sepp, Euro ChT, Crete, 2007).
• 13...g6 14.d4 cxd4 15.cxd4 exd4 16.Nxd4 Nxd4 17.Qxd4 Bg7 is equal (Nevednichy-B. Ivanovic, Serbia/Montenegro ChT, Petrovac, 2004).
• If 10...Qc7 11.Nf1 then:
• 11...Re8 12.Ng3 h6 13.h3 Be6 14.Qe2 Rad8 draw (Barbero-Zsinka, IT, Frankfurt, 1990).
• 11...Rb8 12.Nf1 b5 13.Bc2 d5 14.exd5 Bxd5 15.Ne3 Be6 16.Nh2 Nd7 17.Qf3 Ne7 18.Bd2 c5 is equal (Bologan-Geller, Op, Cappelle la Grande, 1992).
• 11...Be6 12.Ng3 Rad8 13.h3 d5 14.Qe2 d4 15.c4 g6 16.Bh6 Rfe8 is equal (Dolmatov-Timman, IT, Amsterdam, 1980).
• 10...Ne7 11.d4 Ng6 12.Bc2 c6 13.Nf1 Qc7 14.Ng3 Be6 15.Be3 Rad8 16.Qc1 a6 17.a4 a5 18.b3 Rb8 19.Rd1 b5 20.axb5 cxb5 21.d5 Bd7 22.Bd3 is equal (Haik-Scheeren, Op, Budel, 1987).
• If 7...h6 8.Nbd2 then:
• If 8...Nh7 then:
• 9.Nc4 Ng5 10.Nxg5 Bxg5 11.f4 exf4 12.Bxf4 Bxf4 13.Rxf4 Ne5 14.d4 Nxc4 15.Bxc4 Be6 16.Bxe6 fxe6 17.Rxf8+ Qxf8 18.Qb3 Qc8 19.Rf1 gives White the active game (A. Sokolov-Yandemirov, Op, Linares, 1999).
• 9.Re1 Ng5 10.Nxg5 Bxg5 11.Nf1 Bxc1 12.Rxc1 Kh8 13.Ne3 f5 14.exf5 Bxf5 15.Nxf5 Rxf5 is equal (Getz-Kulago, Op, Gibraltar, 2008).
• If 8...Re8 9.Re1 Bf8 then:
• If 10.h3 then:
• If 10...Be6 11.Ba4 then:
• 11...Bd7 12.Nf1 Rb8 13.Ng3 b5 14.Bb3 Na5 15.Bc2 c5 16.d4 is equal (Vasiukov-Geller, IT, Coimbatore, 1987).
• If 10.Nf1 Be6 11.Ng3 d5 12.Ba4 dxe4 13.dxe4 Qxd1 14.Rxd1 then:
• 14...Bd6 15.h3 Rab8 16.Be3 b5 is equal (Dr. Nunn-Geller, IT, Sochi, 1989).
• 14...Bc5 15.h3 Rad8 16.Bd2 Bd7 is equal (Psakhis-Geller, IT, Dortmund, 1989).

7.exd5

• If 7.Nbd2 then:
• 7...dxe4 8.dxe4 Bc5 9.c3 Qe7 10.Bc2 a5 11.Nh4 g6 12.Nb3 Bb6 13.Qf3 Bg4 14.Qg3 Qe6 15.Nf5 Kh8 16.Nh6 Be2 17.Re1 Nh5 18.Qh4 gives White a small advantage in space (Gaprindashvili-Chiburdanidze, World ChW Match, Pitsunda, 1978).
• 7...Bg4 8.c3 Qd7 9.h3 Bxf3 10.Nxf3 Rad8 11.exd5 Nxd5 12.Re1 Bf6 gives Black the advantage in space (Bronstein-Dvoretsky, Soviet Ch 1st League, Tbilisi, 1973).

7...Nxd5 8.h3

• If 8.Re1 Bg4 9.h3 then:
• If 9...Bxf3 10.Qxf3 Nd4 11.Qxd5 Qxd5 12.Bxd5 Nxc2 13.Bd2 Nxa1 14.Rc1 Rad8 then:
• 15.Nc3 c6 16.Bf3 Rxd3 17.Be3 Bb4 18.Be2 Rd7 19.Rxa1 Ba5 20.Na4 b6 gives Black a small material advantage (Fossan-Emms, IT, Gausdal, 1992).
• 15.Be4 f5 16.Bxb7 Rxd3 17.Ba6 Rxd2 18.Nxd2 Bg5 19.Rxa1 Bxd2 20.Bc4+ Kh8 gives Black an extra pawn, but the Bishops-of-opposit=colors give White excellent drawing chances (Kudrin-de la Villa, IT Salamanca, 1989).
• If 9...Bh5 10.g4 Bg6 11.Nxe5 Nxe5 12.Rxe5 then:
• 12...c6 13.Qf3 Bd6 14.Re2 Kh8 15.Bxd5 cxd5 16.Nc3 d4 17.Nb5 Bc5 18.Bf4 Qd7 19.a4 f5 20.g5 Bf7 21.b4 Bxb4 22.Rb1 Bd5 23.Qh5 Bf7 24.Qf3 Bd5 draw (Melz-Franzew, Corres, 1986).
• If 12...Nb6 13.Nc3 Kh8 then:
• 14.Qf3 f5 15.Be3 Bd6 16.Rxf5 Bxf5 17.gxf5 Qd7 is equal (Gallagher-Halkias, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).
• 14.Bd2 Bd6 15.Re2 f5 16.Qf1 fxg4 17.hxg4 Qh4 18.Qg2 Nd7 19.Rae1 gives White an extra pawn (Leonhardt-Marshall, IT, Barmen, 1905).

8...a5 9.a4

• 9.a3 a4 10.Ba2 Kh8 11.Re1 f6 12.d4 exd4 13.Nxd4 Ndb4 14.axb4 Qxd4 15.c3 Qxd1 16.Rxd1 Bf5 is equal (Kramnik-Kasparov, Rpd, New York, 1995).

9...Nd4

• 9...Be6 10.Re1 Bf6 11.Nbd2 Nf4 12.Bxe6 Nxe6 13.Nc4 Re8 14.Bd2 Nc5 15.Bc3 e4 16.Bxf6 draw (Tiviakov-Onischuk, Russoan ChT, Sochi, 2007).

10.Nxd4!?

• 10.Bc4 Nb6 11.Nxd4 exd4 12.Bb3 Bd7 13.Nd2 Bc6 14.Nf3 draw (Sturua-Yandemirov, IT, Peristeri, 1993).

10...exd4

• Bkack has a slightly more active game.

11.Re1 Ra6!?

• Black misses an opportunity to get the best of it early.
• If 11...Be6! 12.Qf3 Nb4 then:
• 13.Na3 Bxb3 14.cxb3 Re8 15.Bd2 Qd5 16.Qxd5 Nxd5 gives Black the more active game.
• 13.Bxe6? Nxc2! 14.Bf5 Nxe1 15.Qxb7 Nc2 16.Ra2 Bg5 leaves Black an exchange to the good.

12.Qh5!?

• White doesn't find the correct reply to Black's inaccuracy.
• 12.Bxd5 Qxd5 13.Rxe7 Bxh3 14.Qf3 Bxg2 15.Qxd5 gives White a Knight for two pawns.

12...Nb4!?

• Black misses another opportunity.
• 12...Bb4 13.Re2 Nf6 14.Qh4 Be6 15.Nd2 Re8 16.Bxe6 Raxe6 gives Black the more active game.

13.Na3!

• White finally meets the threat of 13...Nxc2. The game is level.

13...Rg6

• 13...Be6 14.Nc4 c6 15.Bd2 Nd5 16.Re5 remains equal.

14.Bf4 b6 15.Qf3 Be6 16.Bxe6!?

• 16.Bc4 Bg5 17.Be5 Re8 18.Re2 c6 19.Rae1 remains equal.

16...fxe6 17.Qe4

• 17.Re4? Bd6 18.Rxd4 e5 19.Rc4 c6 gives White no time to save the Bishop.

17...Bd6

• 17...Nd5 18.Be5 Bd6 19.Nc4 Nf4 then:
• 20.Bxf4 Rxf4 21.Qc6 Qh4 22.Nxd6 Qxf2+ gives Black an extra pawn.
• 20.Kf1 Bxe5 21.Nxe5 Rxg2 22.Nf3 c5 gives Black an extra pawn and excellent winning chances.

18.Bxd6?

• Black gives White time to launch a devastating kingside attack.
• White still has some chances for counterplay after 18.Bd2 Nd5 when:
• 19.Nc4 Nf4 20.Bxf4 Rxf4 21.Qc6 Qh4 22.Nxd6 Qxf2+ gives Black an extra pawn.
• 19.Re2? Nf4 20.Bxf4 Rxf4 21.Qc6 Qh4 22.Kf1 Qg3 23.Qa8+ Kf7 gives Black the tematic kingside attack which he uses to win the actual game.

BLACK: Boris Gelfand
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WHITE: Sergey Karjakin
Position after 18.Bf4d6:B

18...cxd6!!

• Black sacrifices a pawn for initiative.
• 18...Qxd6 19.Nb5 Qf4 20.Qxf4 Rxf4 21.Re2 Nd5 22.Rae1 is equal.

19.Qxd4 Qg5!

• 19...e5 20.Qe4 Rf4 21.Qe2 Qh4 22.Qf1 Qxh3 wins back the pawn with greater activity.

20.g3 Qf5 21.g4

• Of course, Black was threating 21...Qxh3.
• 21.Kh2? Nxc2!! 22.Nxc2 Qxf2+ 23.Qxf2 Rxf2+ 24.Kg1 Rxc2 wins a pawn for Black/
• If 21.Kg2? Qf3+! then:
• If 22.Kg1 Rxg3+!! 23.fxg3 Qxg3+ 24.Kh1 Qxh3+ 25.Kg1 Qg3+ White is toast.
• 22.Kh2 Nxc2 23.Nxc2 Qxf2+ transposes into the red line.

21...h5 22.Re4

• 22.Qxb6? loses to 22...hxg4 23.h4 Qf6 24.h5 Rh6 25.Qe3 Qxb2.

22...d5 23.Kh2

• After 23.Re2 Qf3 then 24.Qe3 loses to 24...hxg4 25.h4 d4 26.Qe4 Rf4.

23...Qf3 24.Ree1

• If 24.Re5 then Black wins after 24...Nc6 25.Qe3 Nxe5 26.Qxe5 Qxf2+ .

BLACK: Boris Gelfand
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WHITE: Sergey Karjakin
Position after 24.Re4e1

24...hxg4 25.Qe3

• Black is threatening 25...g3+ 26.Kg1 gxf2+ 27.Kf1 Rg1#;
• 25...Rh6 26.Kg1 Rxh3 followed by mate on hl; or
• 25...gxh3 26.Qg4 Rxg4 with mate to follow.
• If instead of the text 25.Re3 then White loses quickly to 25...Qxf2+ 26.Kh1 gxh3 27.Rg3 Qxg3 with mate to follow soon.

25...gxh3!

• If 25...Qxf2+ 26.Qxf2 Rxf2+ 27.Kg3 Rxc2 28.Nxc2 gxh3+ then:
• If 29.Kh2 Nxc2 30.Rh1 Nxa1 31.Rxa1 Rg2+ leaves Black with two extra pawns and White's King in the open.
• 29.Kxh3 Nxc2 30.d4 Rh6+ 31.Kg3 Nxa1 leaves Black with two extra pawns and White's King in the open.

26.Qxf3 Rxf3 27.Rg1

• 27.Kh1 Rxf2 28.Rf1 Rgg2 29.Rxf2 Rxf2 leaves Black up by two pawns and the White King barely defended.

27...Rxf2+ 28.Kxh3 Rxg1 29.Rxg1 Nxc2 30.Nb5

• 30.Nxc2 Rxc2 31.Re1 Kf7 32.Rf1+ Kg6 33.Rg1+ Kf6 etc. just postpones the inevitable.

30...Rf3+ 31.Kg4 Rxd3

• Black is three pawns up.

32.Nd6 Ne3+ 33.Kf4 Nc4 0-1

• Sergey Alexandrovich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. London Chess Classic

Piccadilly Circus, London
Photo by Josep Renalias for Wikipedia (Public Domain)

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Carlsen - Kramnik, Round 1

Magnus Carlsen
Photo: ChessBase.com


Magnus Carlsen - Vladimir Kramnik
Chess Classic, Round 1
London, 8 December 2009

King's Englsih Game: Four Knights' Opening (Catalan Variation)

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Bg2 Nb6 7.0-0 Be7 8.a3 0-0

• For moves up to here, see Zhao Xue-Yildiz, Grand Prix W, Nanjing, 2009).
• If 8...a5 9.d3 0-0 10.Be3 Be6 then:
• If 11.Bxb6 cxb6 then:
• 12.Rc1 f6 13.Nd2 Rc8 14.Nc4 Rf7 15.Re1 Bf8 16.Qb3 Bc5 is equal (Zhao Xue-Yildiz, Grand Prix W, Nanjing, 2009).
• 12.Nd2 f5 13.Nc4 e4 14.Ne3 exd3 15.Ned5 dxe2 16.Qxe2 Bxd5 17.Nxd5 Bf6 draw (Opocensky-Flohr, IT, Podebrady, 1936).
• If 11.Rc1 f5 12.Na4 then:
• 12...Nxa4 13.Qxa4 Bd5 14.Bc5 Kh8 15.Bxe7 Qxe7 16.Qb5 Rad8 is equal (Mueller-Dew, Ol, Torino, 2006).
• 12...Nd5 13.Bc5 Bd6 14.e4 Nb6 15.exf5 Bd5 16.Re1 Nxa4 17.Qxa4 Qf6 (Bischoff-Czeremin, Op, Hamburg, 2001).
• If 11.Na4 Nd5 12.Bc5 Bd6 13.Rc1 h6 then:
• If 14.d4 e4 15.Ne5 f5 16.Nxc6 bxc6 then:
• If 17.Bxd6 Qxd6 18.Qc2 Nf6 19.e3 Bd5 20.Qd2 gives White better mobility (Quinteros-Dzindzichashvili, Op, New York, 1983).
• 17.e3 Qd7 18.Qc2 Rab8 19.Ba7 Rb7 20.Nc5 Bxc5 21.Bxc5 Rfb8 22.Rb1 a4 23.Rfc1 Rb3 24.Bf1 Nf6 25.Bb4 Bd5 26.Bc4 draw (Rogoff-Panno, IT, Amsterdam, 1980).
• 14.Nd2 Rc8 15.Ne4 b6 16.Nxd6 cxd6 17.Bxb6 Nxb6 18.Rxc6 Rb8 19.Nxb6 Rxb6 20.Qc2 gives Whie an extra pawn (Kasparov-K. Georgiev, World Blitz Ch, Saint John, 1988).

9.b4 Be6 10.Rb1 f6 11.d3 a5

• If 11...Nd4 12.Nd2 c6 13.Nde4 Rf7 then:
• 14.e3 Nb5 15.Nxb5 cxb5 16.Bb2 Na4 17.Ba1 Rc8 18.d4 f5 19.Nc5 Nxc5 20.bxc5 Bc4 21.Bxb7 Rb8 22.Bg2 Bxf1 23.Bxf1 exd4 24.exd4 Kh8 25.Rc1 Rc8 26.Bxb5 gives White a Bishop and two mobile pawns for a Rook (Ponomariov-Bareev, Team M, Moscow, 2002).
• If 14.Bd2 then:
• 14...Rb8 15.a4 Nd5 16.e3 Nf5 17.Nc5 Bxc5 18.bxc5 Nxc3 19.Bxc3 Rd7 20.Qc2 Qe7 21.Ba1 Rbd8 22.Rfd1 h5 gives White's Bishops have more potential than Black's minor pieces (Ljubojevic-Ivanchuk, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 2002).
• 14...Nd5 15.e3 Nxc3 16.Nxc3 Nf5 17.Qc2 Bf8 18.Rfd1 a5 19.Na4 axb4 20.Bxb4 Kh8 21.Bxf8 Qxf8 22.Nc5 Bc8 23.a4 Nd6 gives White the advantage in space (Aronian-Karjakin, Amber Rapid, Nice, 2008).

12.b5 Nd4 13.Nd2 Qc8

• If 13...Bd5 14.Nxd5 Nxd5 then:
• If 15.Bb2 a4 16.Bxd4 exd4 17.Qc2 Kh8 18.Nc4 Re8 then:
• 19.Rbc1 Bf8 20.Qb2 Nc3 21.e3 gives White the more active game (Ostenstad-Johanessen, Norwegian Ch, Moss, 2006).
• 19.Rfe1 Bc5 20.Na5 Rxa5 21.Qxc5 Nc3 22.Bxb7 Re5 gives Black the initiative in compensation for his pawn (marin-Lima, Ol, Calvia, 2004).
• 15.Ne4 a4 16.e3 Nb3 17.Rxb3 axb3 18.Qxb3 Kh8 19.Ng5 fxg5 20.Bxd5 Rb8 is equal (Petursson-Stefansson, Icelandic Ch, Gardabaer, 1996).

14.e3 Nf5 15.Qc2 Rd8 16.Bb2 a4

• 16...Nh6 17.Rfd1 Nf7 18.Rbc1 Bf8 19.h4 Bh3 20.Bh1 Bg4 21.Re1 Bf5 is equal (van Wely-Tiviakov, Dutch Ch, Hilversum, 2006).
• 16...Rb8 17.Rfd1 Kh8 18.Ne2 Qd7 19.e4 Nd6 20.a4 c6 is equal (Katchiani-Shen Yang, FIDE Knock Out W, Nalchik, 2008).

17.Rfc1!?

• 17.Rfd1 Nd6 18.Ba1 Kh8 19.Qc1 Nf7 20.Bf1 Ng5 is equal (Leer-Salvesen- Adnoy, IT, Gausdal, 2001).

BLACK: Vladimir Kramnik
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WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 17.Rf1c1

17...Nd6

• The game is equal.
• 17...Ra5 18.Bh1 Nd6 19.Ba1 Qd7 20.Rd1 Bf5 21.Be4 is also equal.

18.Nde4 Ne8 19.Qe2 Bf8

• 19...Qd7 20.d4 exd4 21.exd4 Bg4 22.f3 Bh5 remains equal.

20.f4

• If 20.Rd1 Qd7 21.d4 then:
• If 21...exd4 22.Rxd4 Qf7 23.Rbd1 Rd7 24.Rxd7 Bxd7 then:
• 25.Rd4 c5 26.bxc6 Bxc6 remains equal.
• If 25.h3 Be6 26.Rd4 Nc4 27.Bf1 then:
• 27...Nxa3 28.Nxa4 Ra5 29.Qd2 b6 30.Nac3 remains equal.
• 27...Bxa3!? 28.Bxa3 Nxa3 29.Nc5! Nd6 30.Qb2 Nac4 31.Qa2 gives White the more active game.
• 21...Bc4!? 22.Qf3 Qe7 23.Nc5 gives White the more active game.

20...exf4 21.gxf4 Qd7

• 21...Be7 22.Nf2 Nd6 23.e4 Ra5 24.Qe1 remains equal.

22.d4 c6!?

• Black weakens his queenside and gets nothing for it.
• If Black plays the more aggressive 22...Bc4 then the game remains equal after 23.Qh5 g6 24.Qh3 Qxh3 25.Bxh3 Bd3.

BLACK: Vladimir Kramnik
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WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 22...c7c6

23.Nc5!

• White seizes the initiative.

23...Bxc5 24.dxc5 Nc4

• If 24...Bc4 then:
• 25.bxc6 bxc6 26.Qf2 Nd5 27.e4 Nxc3 28.Bxc3 gives White more space.
• If 25.Qf3 Nd5 then:
• If 26.Nxd5! cxd5 27.Rxc4 dxc4 28.Qxb7 Qf5 29.Qe4 Qxc5 leaves Black an exchange up, but after 30.Bd4! White is compensated with a passed pawn and superior activity.
• 26.f5!? Bd3! 27.Ra1 Qxf5 28.Qxf5 Bxf5 29.Nxd5 cxd5 is equal.

25.Rd1

• Not only must Black lose a pawn, but White has several way to win it.
• If 25.bxc6 bxc6 26.Rd1 then:
• 26...Qc7 27.Rxd8 Rxd8 28.Bc1 Qa7 29.Rb4 Na5 30.Nxa4 White has an extra pawn.
• 26...Qa7 27.Bxc6 Rxd1+ 28.Qxd1 Nxb2 29.Rxb2 Qxc5 30.Bxa8 leaves White up by an exchange.

25...Qc7

• 25...Qe7 26.bxc6 Rxd1+ 27.Rxd1 bxc6 28.Bxc6 Rc8 29.Nd5

26.Bc1

• If 26.bxc6 Rxd1+ 27.Rxd1 bxc6 28.Rd4 then:
• 28...Nxb2 29.Qxb2 Rb8 30.Rb4 Rc8 31.Rxa4 gives White an extra pawn.
• 28...Rb8 29.Rxc4 Rxb2 30.Qxb2 Bxc4 31.Nxa4 gives White an extra pawn.

26...Na5

• 26...Rxd1+ 27.Qxd1 Qa5 28.Rb4 Qc7 29.bxc6 bxc6 30.Nxa4 wins a pawn.

27.bxc6 bxc6 28.Nxa4 Rxd1+ 29.Qxd1

• White has an extra pawn.

29...Rd8 30.Qc2 Qf7

• Better for Black seems to be 30...Qe7 31.e4 Nc7 32.Rb4 f5 33.e5 Qh4 34.Bf1. but White still stands better.

31.Nc3!?

• The idea is to move the Knight to the center, but this should be done without blocking the line of communication between the Queen and the pawn at c5.
• Better is 31.Nb2! Ba2 32.Ra1 f5 33.Nd3 when:
• 33...Bd5 34.Ne5 Qh5 35.Bxd5+ cxd5 all of White's critical points are protected.
• If 33...Bb3!? 34.Qc3! then:
• 34...Qc4 35.Qxc4+ Bxc4 36.Nf2 Bd5 37.Rb1 White still stands better, but Black has Some opportunities for counterplay on the queenside.
• 34...Be6? 35.Ne5! Rd1+ 36.Kf2 Qc7 37.Rb1 maintains White's extra pawn with excellent winning chances.

31...Qh5!

• Black gets some counterplay.

32.Ne2 Bf5?

• Black's rally falls short.
• Black can keep it going with 32...Nc7! then:
• After 33.Be4! f5 34.Bd3 Qf3 35.Nd4 Qg4+ 36.Qg2 Qd1+ White remains better, but Black can still mount counterplay.
• If 33.Ng3!? Qd1+! 34.Qxd1 Rxd1+ then:
• 35.Kf2 Nb3! 36.Ne2 Na6 equalizes.
• 35.Nf1? Nb3!! turns the game around in Black's favor.

BLACK: Vladimir Kramnik
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WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 32...Be6f5

33.e4!

• If 33.Qa2+!? Kf8 then:
• If 34.Nd4 Bxb1 35.Qxb1 Nc7 then:
• 36.Qc2 Rb8 37.f5 Ra8 38.Bf3 Qe8 is equal.
• If 36.Qb6? then after 36...Qd1+! 37.Kf2 Qxc1 38.Qxc7 Re8! 39.Qd6+ Kg8 White cannot prevent the devastating 39...Qxe3+!.
• If 34.Ra1? then 34...Rd1+ 35.Bf1 Bd3 36.Ng3 Qh3 37.Qg2 Qxg2+ followed by 28...Nb3! wins material.

33...Bg4 34.Ng3 Qf7 35.Bf1

• 35.Nf1 Bd1 36.Qc3 Nc4 37.Nd2 Nxd2 38.Bxd2 White has the initiative and still has an extra pawn.

35...Be6 36.Qc3 Ra8

• 36...Qa7 37.Rb4 Qd7 38.Bb2 Qd1 39.Rd4 forces exchanges on e4, taking the wind out of the sails of Black's counterattack.

37.Rb4 Qd7

• If 37...Qe7 38.Ra4 Qd8 39.Bd2 then:
• If 39...Nb7 40.Rxa8 Qxa8 41.Qb4 Qd8 42.Qxb7 Qxd2 43.Qxc6 then:
• 43...Bf7 44.f5 Qe3+ 45.Kg2 White still has an extra pawn and Black's counterplay is spent.
• 43...Qd4+ 44.Kg2 Qd2+ 45.Be2 Bf7 46.f5 leaves White with two extra pawns.
• If 39...Nb3 then 40.Rxa8 Qxa8 41.Bc4! wins a piece for White.

38.f5 Bf7 39.Bf4 Qd1 40.Kf2 Nb3

• This is a terrible place for the Knight.
• 40...Ra7 41.Rb8 Qg4 42.Ne2 Qh4+ 43.Qg3 Qxg3+ 44.Nxg3 leaves White with far better placed pieces.
• Also good is 41.Be2 Qd7 42.Rb6 Nb7 43.Qb4 Nd8 44.a4 leaving nothing to stop the pawn from advancing to a6, giving White a new outpost at b7.

41.Be2 Qb1

• 41...Qd7 42.Rxb3 Bxb3 43.Qxb3+ leaves White two theoretical pawns to the good.

BLACK: Vladimir Kramnik
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WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 41...Qd1b1

42.Bc4!

• Black may resign at his convenience.

42...Rxa3 43.Ne2 1-0

• 43...Qh1 44.Bxf7+ Kxf7 45.Rxb3 Rxb3 46.Qxb3+ wins a piece for White.
• Vladimir Borisovich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. McShane - Kramnik, Round 3

Vladimir Kramnik
Photo: from the website of Vladimir Kramnik


Luke McShane - Vladimir Kramnik
Chess Classic, Round 3
London, 10 December 2009

Italian Horseman Game: Clam Opening

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4

• It is the opinion of your humble hare and his staff that there is no such thing as the Bishop's Opening. What is often called the Bishop's Opening is merely a move that trasposes into a Vienna Game, a Gothic Defense to the Italian Royal Game (Two Knights' Defense) or a Rat Defense (Philidor's Defense).

2...Nf6 3.d3 Bc5

• For 3...Nc6 4.Nf3 Be7 see Karjakin-Gelfand, elsewhere on this thread.

4.Nf3 0-0

• 4...Nc6 transposes into the Neo-Classical Defense/Clam Opening to the Italian Royal Game, commonly called the Giucco Pianisimo.

5.Nc3!?

• We've hit a novelty just like that.
• 5.Nxe5 d5 6.exd5 Re8 7.f4 Ng4 8.d4 Bb6 9.0-0 Nxe5 10.fxe5 Rxe5 11.c3 Rf5 12.Bf4 Qf6 13.Be5 Qxe5 14.Re1 Nd7 15.Rxe5 Nxe5 Black resigns without waiting for White to reply (Davidson-Barbour, US Chess Congress, Philadelphia, 1876).

5...d6

• With each side only half-developed, it would make no sense to make a judgement as to who is better until a few more moves have passed.

6.Na4 Bb6 7.c3 Be6 8.Bb3 Bxb3 9.axb3 Nbd7 10.b4!?

• White may have underestimated Black's reply.
• 10.Bg5 c6 11.Nxb6 Qxb6 12.0-0 Qb5 13.b4 a5 is equal.
• 10.Nxb6 Nxb6 11.Bg5 Qe7 12.0-0 Qe6 13.Be3 Ng4 is equal.
• As an attempt to deal with Black's next move, 10.d4!? fails against 10...Qe7 11.0-0 Nxe4 12.Re1 f5 13.Nxb6 Nxb6, giving Black an extra pawn and the advantage in space.

10...Bxf2+!

• The sacrifice is a sham.
• If 10...d5 11.0-0 dxe4 12.dxe4 then:
• 12...Qe7 13.Qe2 Rfd8 14.Nxb6 Nxb6 15.Bg5 is equal.
• 12...Nxe4 13.Nxb6 Nxb6 14.Qxd8 Rfxd8 15.Re1 Nd6 is equal.

11.Kxf2 b5

• The Knight has nowhere to go.

12.Bd2 bxa4 13.Qxa4

• Black has a slight strategical advantage in that White's King sits on the nexus of an open file and an open diagonal. Nevertheless, careful play by White is not yield any better advantage for Black.

13...c5

• White wishes to prevent the advance of White's d-pawn as a way of dominating the center.

14.b5 d5 15.exd5 Nb6 16.Qc2 c4

• 16...Qxd5 17.c4 Ng4+ 18.Kg3 Qe6 19.Ng5 Qc8 is equal.

17.Nxe5!

• This is the way to slow down Black's campaign in the center.
• If 17.dxc4? e4! 18.c5 Nbxd5 19.c4 then:
• If 19...Ng4+! then:
• 20.Kg3 Ndf6 21.Ne1 Qc7+ 22.Bf4 Nh5+ 23.Kxg4 Qxf4+ wins for Black.
• If 20.Kg1 then 20...exf3 21.cxd5 Qxd5 22.Be1 fxg2 23.Qxg2 Qxc5+ gives Black a won game.
• If 19...exf3 then White is off the hook after 20.cxd5 fxg2 21.Rhc1 Qxd5 22.Kg1 Rfb8 23.Ra5 when his queenside pawns are safe.

17...Qxd5 18.d4!?

• White tries to secure the outpost for the Knight, but leaves the e4 square open.
• If 18.Rhe1 then:
• 18...Qxb5 19.dxc4 Nxc4 20.Nxc4 Qxc4 21.Qa4 Qc7 22.Bg5 remains equal.
• If 18...cxd3? 19.Qxd3! Qc5+ 20.Qd4 then:
• 20...Qxb5 21.c4 Rad8 22.cxb5 Rxd4 23.Bc3 gives White the initiative.
• If 20...Qc7 then 21.Bf4 Nh5 22.Kf3 Nxf4 23.Qxf4 gives White an extra pawn.

BLACK: Vladimir Kramnik
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WHITE: Luke McShane
Position after 18.d3d4

18...Ne4+!

• Black immediately exploits the e4 square. The Knight will turn out to be very difficult to dislodge.
• 18...Qxb5 19.Rhe1 Nfd5 20.Kg1 Rfe8 21.Nf3 a6 22.Ng5 remains equal.

19.Kg1 Rfe8 20.Nf3

• 20.Be3!? f6 21.Ng4 Qxb5! 22.Re1 Nd5 gives Black a chike hold on the center.

20...Qxb5 21.h4 Qb3!?

• Black gives White a golden opportunity.
• Correct is 21...Nd5 22.Ra3 Nxd2 when:
• 23.Qxd2 Reb8 24.Ra2 Qb3 25.Ra5 Rb5 gives Black more freedom.
• If 23.Nxd2?? Re1+! then:
• 24.Kh2 Qb8+ 25.g3 Re2+ Black soon gives mate.
• 24.Kf2 Rxh1 gives White no chance to recover the Rook.

22.Qb1!?

• White is being crowded on the queenside.
• Better is 22.Qxb3! when after 22...cxb3 23.Bc1 Nc4 24.Ra4 Rac8 25.Kh2 a5 Black may not even have an advantage; White's drawing chances are excellent

22...Nd5!

• Also good is 22...Na4! 23.Ng5 Nf6 24.Rh3 Qxb2 25.Qd1 Nb6.

23.Rh3 h6 24.Qc1 Qb6 25.Ra4?

• White misses his best chance at survival.
• If 25.Qc2 then Black stands better after 25...Re7 26.Bc1 Rae8 27.Qa4 Nd6 28.Qa5 Qb7, but White's counterplay in the a-file keeps Black from flooding White's position as he does in the text.

BLACK: Vladimir Kramnik
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WHITE: Luke McShane
Position after 25.Ra1a4

25...Rab8!

• Black also stands better after 25...Qb5 26.Qa1 Qb3 27.Ra5 Ndf6 but the text move threatens to put a Rook firmly on the seventh rank.

26.Ra2

• This is the best way to deal with Black's threat, but it only postpones disaster.
• If 26.Rxc4 then Black is clearly winning after 26...Qxb2 27.Qxb2 Rxb2 28.Be1 Rb1 29.Rh1 Nd2!.

26...Qb3

• White has no pawn moves left on the queenside. If White moves the Rook from a2, the b-pawn falls.

27.Qa1

• White tries to set up counterplay in the a-file.
• If 27.Ra5 then after 27...Qxb2 28.Qxb2 Rxb2 29.Rxd5 Nxd2 30.Nxd2 Rxd2 Black has an extra pawn in a double Rook ending.

27...Rb6 28.Kh2

• This is prophylactic against Black putting his heavy pieces on the back rank.
• White might hold out longer after 28.Rxa7 Qxb2 29.Qa4 Qb1+ 30.Kh2 Rbe6 31.Ra8 Rb8, but the counter play in the a-file is not as effective now as it might have been earlier.

28...Ndf6 29.Be1

• If 29.Kg1 Ng4 30.Be1 Ne3 then:
• If 31.Qb1 Re7 32.Ng5 Nxg5 33.hxg5 then:
• 33...Nxg2! 34.Kxg2 Rxe1 35.Qxe1 Qxa2 wins the b-pawn.
• 33...Nc2!? 34.Bf2 hxg5 35.d5 Rbb7 36.Ra6 Qxb2 37.Qxb2 leaves White with some counterplay after the exchange of Queens is completed.
• If 31.Nd2 then White wins after 31...Nxd2 32.Bxd2 Nc2 33.Qb1 Re2.

29...Ng4+ 30.Kg1 Nef6

• Black wins faster after 30...Ne3! 31.Qb1 Rg6 32.Rh2 Qb7 33.h5 Rg4.

31.d5

• No better is 31.Rxa7 Qxb2 32.Ra2 Qb1 33.Ra8 Rxa8 34.Qxa8+ Rb8.

31...Nxd5 32.Rg3 Ndf6 33.Bd2

• White is toast.
• If 33.Rxa7 then Black spreads butter and jam with 33...Qxb2 34.Ra8 Rxa8 35.Qxa8+ Rb8 36.Qa7 Re8.

33...Rd6 34.Ra3 Qb6+ 35.Kh1 Nf2+ 36.Kh2 N6g4+ 0-1

• If 37.Rxg4 37...Nxg4+ 38.Kh3 Nf2+ 39.Kh2 Rxd2 40.Nxd2 Qd6+ is quite convincing.
• Mr. McShane resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Bonus Game: Korchnoi - Karpov, Baguio City, 1978

Viktor Korchnoi
shortly after defecting to the West, Summer 1976
Photo: ChessBase.com


Viktor Korchnoi - Anatoly Karpov
Match for the World Title, Round 31
Baguio City, The Philippines, 12 October 1978

Orthodox Queen's Gambit: Exchange Opening

1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4 Nf6

• If 3...Be7 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bf4 then:
• If 5...c6 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.Bxd6 Qxd6 8.e3 Ne7 9.Bd3 then:
• If 9...b6 10.Nf3 Ba6 11.0-0 Bxd3 12.Qxd3 then:
• 12...Nd7 13.e4 0-0 14.e5 Qe6 15.Rae1 Rfe8 16.Nh4 is equal (Carlsen-Jakovenko, Grand Prix, Nanjing, 2009).
• 12...0-0 13.Rac1 Nd7 14.Rc2 Qg6 15.Qxg6 hxg6 16.Ne2 f6 17.h4 Kf7 18.Nf4 Rfd8 19.Rfc1 Nf8 20.Ne1 draw (Pentala-Kasimdzhanov, Commonwealth Ch, Mumbai, 2003).
• 9...Nd7 10.Nge2 h6 11.0-0 0-0 12.a3 a5 13.Rad1 is equal (Kasparov-Karpov, Rpd Match, Valencia, 2009).
• If 9...g6 10.Nge2 Bf5 11.0-0 0-0 then:
• 12.f3 Bxd3 13.Qxd3 Nd7 14.e4 gives White the advantage in space (Timoshchenko-Fokin, TT, Novosibirsk, 1986).
• 12.Nf4 Nd7 13.Rfd1 a5 14.Rac1 Qf6 15.Na4 Qg5 16.Nc5 Nxc5 17.Qxc5 Bxd3 18.Rxd3 Nf5 19.Rb3 gives Black a more active game (Tandivar-Kayumov, Op, Dubai, 2004).
• If 5...Nf6 6.e3 0-0 7.Bd3 c5 then:
• If 8.Nf3 Nc6 9.0-0 then:
• 9...c4 10.Bc2 Bg4 11.h3 Bh5 12.g4 Bg6 13.Ne5 Bb4 14.Bg5 Bxc2 15.Qxc2 Bxc3 16.bxc3 Re8 is equal (Vyzmanavin-Timoshchenko, Soviet Ch 1st League, Irtusk, 1986).
• 9...Bg4 10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.h3 Bxf3 12.Qxf3 d4 13.Ne4 Be7 14.Nxf6+ Bxf6 15.e4 Ne5 16.Bxe5 Bxe5 is equal (Yakovich-Timoshchenko, Soviet Ch prelim, Barnaul, 1988).
• 8.Nge2 Nc6 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.0-0 Be6 11.Rc1 Bd6 12.Qa4 Ne5 13.Rfd1 Qb6 14.Qb5 Nxd3 15.Qxb6 axb6 16.Rxd3 Be7 17.a3 Rac8 18.f3 Rfd8 19.Kf2 h6 20.Rdd1 gives White the advantage in space (Braun-Porat, World Youth, Belfort, 2005).

4.cxd5

• The mainline Orthodox Queen's Gambit, 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 0-0 6.Nf3 Nbd7, is currently out of fashion.

4...exd5 5.Bg5

• If 5.Bf4 Be7 6.e3 then:
• If 6...Bf5 then:
• If 7.Nge2 then:
• 7...0-0 8.Ng3 Be6 9.Bd3 c5 10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.0-0 Nc6 12.Rc1 d4 13.Nce4 Be7 14.Nf5 Bxf5 15.Nxf6+ Bxf6 16.Bxf5 Qa5 17.Bb1 Rad8 18.Qb3 is equal (Gulko-Shabalov, US Ch, Seattle, 2000).
• 7...c6 8.Ng3 Bg6 9.h4 h5 10.Bd3 Bxd3 11.Qxd3 g6 12.0-0-0 Na6 is equal (Portisch-Pietzsch, IT, Kecskemet, 1966).
• If 7.Qb3 Nc6 then:
• If 8.a3 Na5 9.Qa2 0-0 10.Nf3 c5 11.dxc5 Bxc5 then:
• 12.Be2 Be6 13.Rd1 Qe7 14.Qb1 Nc6 15.0-0 a6 16.Ne5 Rfd8 is equal (Chekhov-Kotronias, IT, Moscow, 1989).
• 12.Rd1 Bc2 13.Rd2 Bb3 14.Qb1 Rc8 15.Be5 Bd6 16.Bxd6 Qxd6 17.Be2 Bc4 18.0-0 Nb3 19.Rdd1 Qa6 20.Rfe1 Nc5 21.Nd4 is equal (Sasikiran-Ponomariov, World Cup, Khanty Mansiysk, 2007).
• If 8.Qxb7 Nb4 9.Bb5+ Kf8 10.Kd2 then:
• 10...Ne4+ 11.Nxe4 Bxe4 12.Bxc7 Qc8 13.Qxc8+ Rxc8 14.f3 Rxc7 15.fxe4 Rc2+ 16.Kd1 Rxb2 17.a3 Na2 18.Ne2 Rxb5 19.Kc2 dxe4 is equal (Baumgartner-Barlow, Corres, 2000).
• 10...a6 11.Ba4 Nd3 12.Bxc7 Qc8 13.Qxc8+ Rxc8 14.Ba5 Nxf2 15.Rf1 N6e4+ 16.Nxe4 Nxe4+ 17.Ke2 gives White an extra pawn (Salov-Timoshchenko, Soviet Ch 1League, Irkutsh, 1986).
• If 6...0-0 7.Bd3 c5 then:
• 8.Nge2 Nc6 9.dxc5 Bxc5 transposes into Braun-Porat in the notes to Bkack's third move.
• 8.Nf3 Nc6 transposes into Yakovich-Timoshchenko in the notes to Black's third move.

5...Be7

• If 5...c6 6.e3 Nbd7 7.Nf3 Be7 8.Bd3 Ne4 then:
• If 9.Bxe4 Bxg5 10.Bd3 Be7 11.Qc2 then:
• If 11...Nf6 12.0-0 0-0 13.Ne5 c5 14.dxc5 Bxc5 15.Rfd1 Qe7 16.Nf3 Bg4 then:
• If 17.Be2 Rac8 18.Nd4 Bb4 19.Bxg4 then:
• If 19...Nxg4 20.h3 Bxc3 then:
• If 21.bxc3 Nf6 22.Qb3 Ne4 then:
• 23.Nf5? Qf6! 24.g4 g6 White resigns on account of 25.f3 Nxc3 26.Nd4 Nxd1 27.Rxd1 Qe7 losing the exchange and a pawn without compensation (Enevoldsen-Dr. Euwe, Ol, Stockholm, 1937).
• 23.Rac1 Rfe8 24.Nf5 Qf6 25.Rxd5 Nxc3 26.Ne7+ Qxe7 27.Rxc3 is equal still.
• 21.Nf5 Qf6 22.bxc3 Rxc3 23.Qd2 Qxf5 24.hxg4 Qc8 25.Qxd5 remains equal.
• Black intends to weaken White's pawn structure with 19...Bxc3 20.bxc3.
• 17.Nxd5 Nxd5 18.Bxh7+ Kh8 19.Rxd5 gives White an extra pawn.
• 11...h6 12.0-0-0 Nf6 13.Ne5 Ng4 14.Kb1 Bb4 15.h3 Nxe5 16.dxe5 Qe7(Wang Yue-Aldy, Op, Reykjavik, 2008).
• 9.Bxe7 Qxe7 10.Qc2 Ndf6 11.0-0 0-0 12.Ne5 Bf5 13.Na4 g6 14.Qd1 Nd6 15.Be2 Nd7 16.Nxd7 Bxd7 17.Nc5 Rae8 18.Re1 Bc8 19.Rc1 h5 gives White more freedom (Beliavsky-Rogozenko, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).

6.e3 0-0

• If 6...c6 7.Qc2 Nbd7 8.Bd3 0-0 then:
• If 9.Nge2 Re8 10.0-0 Nf8 11.f3 Be6 then:
• If 12.Rad1 Rc8 13.Kh1 Ng6 then:
• 14.a3 Nd7 15.Bf4 a6 16.Bg3 c5 17.e4 Nf6 18.e5 Nd7 19.f4 c4 20.Bf5 is equal (Ivanchuk-Bruzón, Torre Mem, Mérida, 2006).
• 14.Ng3 Nh5 15.Bxe7 Nxg3+ 16.hxg3 Qxe7 17.Kg1 c5 18.Bxg6 hxg6 is equal (Tukmakov-Miladinovic, IT, Elenite, 1995).
• 12.Rae1 Rc8 13.Kh1 N6d7 14.Bxe7 Qxe7 15.Nf4 Qd6 16.Qf2 f6 17.Nxe6 Nxe6 is equal (Carlsen-Ivanchuk, Rpd, León, 2009).
• 9.Nf3 Re8 10.0-0 transposes into the text.

7.Bd3 Nbd7 8.Nf3 Re8 9.Qc2 c6 10.0-0 Nf8 11.Bxf6

• If 11.h3 then:
• If 11...g6 12.Rab1 Ne6 then:
• If 13.Bh4 Ng7 14.b4 then:
• If 14...a6 15.a4 Bf5 16.b5 axb5 17.axb5 Bxd3 18.Qxd3 Nf5 19.Bxf6 Bxf6 then:
• 20.bxc6 bxc6 21.Ne2 Nd6 is equal (Müller-Lachmann, Bad Oyennhausen, 1941).
• 20.Ra1 is equal (Vera-Almeida, Cuban Ch, Las Tunas, 2001).
• 14...Bd6 15.b5 Nf5 16.Bg5 h6 17.Bf4 Bxf4 18.exf4 cxb5 19.Nxb5 gives White a slight advantage in space (Zilberman-Johannessen, Ol, Bled, 2002).
• 13.Bh6 Ng7 14.b4 a6 15.a4 Bf5 16.Bxg7 Bxd3 17.Qxd3 Kxg7 18.b5 axb5 19.axb5 Ra3 is equal (Horvath-Stern, Euro Club Cup, Ohrid, 2009).
• If 11...Be6 then:
• If 12.Rab1 N6d7 13.Bf4 Nb6 then:
• 14.Rfc1 Bd6 15.Ne2 Ng6 16.Bxd6 Qxd6 17.a4 Rac8 18.Qc5 gives White the advantage in space (Karpov-Kharitonov, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1988).
• 14.b4 Bd6 15.Bxd6 Qxd6 16.b5 c5 17.dxc5 Qxc5 18.Nd4 Rac8 19.Rbc1 White stands slightly better (Kasidzhanov-Kulhanek, Euro Club Cup, Antalya, 2007).
• If 12.Bf4 then:
• If 12...Bd6 13.Bxd6 Qxd6 14.Rab1 a5 15.a3 then:
• 15...N6d7 16.Rfc1 Rec8 17.Ne2 b6 18.b4 axb4 19.axb4 b5 20.Nf4 gives White the advantage in space (Meletin-Malakhov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2008).
• 15...N8d7 16.Rfc1 g6 17.Nd2 Nb6 18.b4 axb4 19.Rxb4 gives White a more active game (Khalifman-Filippov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2004).
• 12...N6d7 13.Rab1 Nb6 transposes into Karpov-Kharitonov and Kasidzhanov-Kulhanek above.
• If 12.Ne5 N6d7 13.Bxe7 then:
• If 13...Qxe7 14.f4 f6 15.Nf3 Bxh3 16.gxh3 Qxe3+ 17.Kh1 Qxf4 18.Bf5 Nb6 is equal (Handke-Thorsteinsson, Op, Reykjavik, 2004).
• 13...Rxe7 14.f4 f6 15.Nf3 Nb6 16.Rae1 Qc7 17.f5 Bf7 18.Qf2 Rae8 is equal (Jobava-Rowson, Pl, Dresden, 2007).
• If 11.Rae1 then:
• If 11...Ne4 12.Bxe7 Qxe7 13.Bxe4 dxe4 14.Nd2 f5 15.f3 exf3 16.Nxf3 Be6 17.e4 fxe4 18.Rxe4 h6 19.Rfe1 Rad8 20.Re5 Qf7 then:
• 21.b4 Nd7 22.Ra5 Bg4 23.Ne5 Nxe5 24.dxe5 b6 25.Ra4 Rd4 26.Qf2 Rf4 27.Qg3 Rxe5 28.h3 Rxe1+ 29.Qxe1 Be6 30.Qe5 Bxh3 31.Ne4 Rf1+ 32.Kh2 Rh1+ White resigns (Hjartarson-Short, Ol. Dubai, 1986).
• 21.Qe4 Rd6 22.Qe3 Nd7 23.Ra5 Nf6 24.Qf4 Red8 25.Rxa7 Qd7 26.Na4 Nd5 27.Qg3 Qc7 28.Nc5 Bc8 29.Ne5 Rf6 30.Ne4 Rf4 31.Ng6 Qb6 32.Nxf4 Qxa7 33.Nxd5 Qxd4+ 34.Qe3 (Tal-Vaganian, IT, Riga, 1975).
• If 11...Be6 12.Ne5 N6d7 13.Bxe7 Rxe7 14.f4 f6 15.Nf3 Nb6 16.f5 Bf7 17.g4 then:
• 17...h6 18.h4 Qd6 19.Qg2 Rae8 20.e4 dxe4 21.Nxe4 Qd8 22.g5 fxg5 23.hxg5 hxg5 24.Qxg5 Nh7 is equal (Mamedyarov-M. Gurevich, Euro ChT, Crete, 2007).
• 17...Qd6 18.e4 dxe4 19.Nxe4 Qc7 20.g5 Nd5 is equal (Jussupow-Spassky, Candidates' Trmt, Monpelle, 1985).
• If 11.Rab1 Be6 12.b4 Rc8 then:
• 13.Na4 Ne4 14.Bxe7 Qxe7 15.Nc5 Nd6 16.a4 g6 17.Rfc1 Bf5 18.Bxf5 Nxf5 19.Qb3 gives White the advantage in space (Jobava-M. Gurevich, Ol, Torino, 2006).
• 13.Rfc1 N6d7 14.Bf4 Bg4 15.Nd2 Nb6 16.h3 Bh5 is equal (Greenfeld-Schlosser, EU ChT, Haifa, 1989).

11...Bxf6 12.b4 Bg4

• If 12...a6 13.a4 Bg4 14.Nd2 then:
• 14...Rc8 15.Nb3 Be7 16.Nc5 Rc7 17.Bf5 Bxf5 18.Qxf5 Bd6 19.Rfd1 g6 20.Qf3 f5 21.Rab1 Rf7 22.b5 axb5 23.axb5 Bxc5 24.dxc5 Qe7 25.bxc6 bxc6 26.Rbc1 draw (Uhlmann-Kelecevic, IT, Sarajevo, 1983).
• 14...Qd6 15.Rab1 Bg5 16.Rfc1 Rec8 17.Ne2 Bxe2 18.Bxe2 Ne6 19.Nb3 Be7 20.Nc5 Nxc5 21.bxc5 gives White the initiative (Slipak-Mieles Palau, GMT, Vicente López (Argentina), 2005).

13.Nd2 Rc8 14.Bf5

• 14.Rfc1 Qd6 15.Rab1 g6 16.Nb3 Nd7 17.a4 Kg7 18.Qa2 h5 19.b5 c5 20.Qa3 is equal (Gabriel-Jussupow, Op, Bad Homberg, 1998).

14...Bxf5 15.Qxf5 Qd7!?

• 15...Be7 16.Rab1 a6 17.a4 Bd6 18.Rb3 Re6 19.Rfb1 Rf6 20.Qd3 is equal (Dr. Euwe-Guimard, IT, New York, 1951).

16.Qxd7 Nxd7

BLACK: Anatoly Karpov
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WHITE: Viktor Korchnoi
Position after 16...Nf8d7:Q

• The game is equal.

17.a4 Be7 18.Rfb1

• 18.Rab1 a6 19.a5 f5 20.Nf3 g5 21.Na4 remains equal.

18...Nf6 19.a5 a6

• 19...Bd6 20.Na4 Re7 21.Nc5 Kf8 22.h3 h6 23.Kf1 remains equal.

20.Na4 Bf8 21.Nc5 Re7 22.Kf1

• 22.Re1 g6 23.Rac1 Bg7 24.h4 Rce8 25.Kf1 remains equal.

22...Ne8 23.Ke2 Nd6 24.Kd3 Rce8 25.Re1

• White plans to bouble his Rooks on the e-file and push the pawn.

25...g6

• If 25...f5 26.h4 f4 27.e4 dxe4+ then:
• If 28.Ncxe4 f3 29.g3 Nxe4 30.Nxe4 Rd8 31.Nc5 then:
• 31...Rde8 32.Re3 Rxe3+ 33.fxe3 Bd6 34.Rf1 is equal.
• 31...Rf7!? 32.Re4 h6 33.Rae1 g6 34.Kc4 Bxc5 35.bxc5 gives White command of the e-file.
• 28.Ndxe4!? Nf5! 29.h5 Rd8 30.Kc3 Rxd4 gives Black an extra pawn.

26.Re2 f6!?

• A better way to restrain White is 26...f5.
• 26...f5 27.Rc1 Bg7 28.Rce1 Kf7 29.f3 remains equal.

27.Rae1 Bh6

• Black puts a hold on White's plans.
• 28.e4 Bxd2 29.Rxd2 Nxe4 30.Nxe4 Rxe4 31.Rxe4 Rxe4 gives Black an extra pawn and a clear advantage in the center.

28.Ndb3!

• The play is psychological. White moves to the queenside.

28...Bf8

• White withdraws pressure on Black's center.
• 28...f5 29.f3 Kf8 30.e4 fxe4+ 31.fxe4 dxe4+ 32.Nxe4 gives White the better center.
• 28...Kf7 29.f3 f5 30.e4 fxe4+ 31.fxe4 Nxe4 32.Nxe4 gives White the better center.

BLACK: Anatoly Karpov
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WHITE: Viktor Korchnoi
Position after 28...Bh6f8

29.Nd2!?

• White fails to help his own cause.
• 29.g4 Bg7 30.e4 dxe4+ 31.Nxe4 Nb5 32.Re3 gives White the better center.

29...Bh6 30.h3 Kf7 31.g4 Bf8

• 31...f5 32.Nf3 Nc4 33.gxf5 gxf5 34.Nd2 remains equal.

32.f3 Rd8 33.Ndb3

• 33.e4 Nb5 34.Ndb3 Rde8 35.h4 Kg8 36.h5 gives White more pawn mobility.

33...Nb5 34.Rf1 Bh6

BLACK: Anatoly Karpov
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WHITE: Viktor Korchnoi
Position after 35...Bf8h6

35.f4!?

• White plays to the wrong side.
• If 35.h4! Bg7 36.e4 dxe4+ 37.fxe4 then:
• 37...f5 38.exf5 Rxe2 39.Kxe2 Nxd4+ 40.Nxd4 Rxd4 41.fxg6+ gives White the initiative and an extra pawn.
• 37...Ke8 38.Re3 Rd6 39.Ree1 Kd8 40.h5 Kc7 41.Rh1 leaves White's position like a stone wall.

35...Bf8 36.Nd2 Nd6

• The game is equal.

37.Rfe1 h6

• If 37...Bh6 then after 38.h4 f5 39.Nf3 fxg4 40.Ne5+ White regains the pawn and the game remains equal.

38.Rf1 Rb8 39.Ra1 Rbe8 40.Rae1 Rb8!?

• Black permits White to open the center to his advantage.
• If 40...Rd8 41.Rf1 Rde8 42.e4 then:
• If 42...dxe4+ 43.Ndxe4 Nxe4 then:
• 44.Rxe4 Rxe4 45.Nxe4 Bxb4 46.Rb1 f5 47.gxf5 gxf5 is equal.
• If 44.Nxe4!? then after 44...Rd7! Black is poined to win a pawn.
• 42...Nxe4 43.Ndxe4 dxe4+ 44.Rxe4 Rxe4 45.Nxe4 Bxb4 46.f5 is equal.

BLACK: Anatoly Karpov
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WHITE: Viktor Korchnoi
Position after 40...Re8b8

41.e4

• Open, seseme!

41...dxe4+ 42.Ndxe4 Nb5

• Exchanging pieces at the moment would be to Black's benefit.
• 42...Nxe4 43.Rxe4 Rxe4 44.Rxe4 Bxc5 45.bxc5 would make it harder for White to break through.

43.Nc3

• The exchanges cannot be avoided. White must allow it and fight for the advantage anew.
• If 43.f5 gxf5 44.gxf5 then:
• 44...Ree8 45.Ne6 Bxb4 46.Rg1 Rg8 47.Reg2 Rxg2 48.Rxg2 is equal.
• 44...Rbe8 45.Re3 Rd8 46.Ne6 Red7 47.Nxd8+ Rxd8 is equal.

43...Rxe2 44.Rxe2 Bxc5 45.bxc5 Rd8 46.Nxb5 axb5 47.f5

• Black has a passed pawn, although not a very mobile one. White's advantage has evaporated.

47...gxf5

• 47...h5?! 48.fxg6+ Kxg6 49.Re7! Ra8 50.Rxb7 hxg4 51.hxg4 passes the advantage back to White.

48.gxf5 Rg8 49.Kc3!?

• White misses the opportunity to force a pawn breakthrough.
• If 49.d5! Rg5 50.Ke4 then:
• If 50...cxd5+ 51.Kxd5 then:
• 51...Rxf5+ 52.Kd6 Kf8 53.Rb2 gives White good winning chances.
• 51...Rg3? 52.Rb2 Rxh3 53.Kd6 wins for White.
• If 50...Rh5 51.d6 Ke8 52.Re3 Kd7 53.Rg3 then:
• If 53...Rh4+ 54.Rg4 Rxh3 55.Rg7+ Kc8 56.Rg8+ Kd7 57.Rb8 gives White good winning chances.
• 53...b4 54.Rg7+ Kc8 55.Rg8+ Kd7 56.Rb8 wins for White.

49...Re8 50.Rd2!?

• It would be a mistake to exchange Rooks.
• 50.Rxe8 Kxe8 51.d5! Kd7 52.d6 h5 53.h4 Kc8 leaves no way for the White King to penetrate.

BLACK: Anatoly Karpov
!""""""""#
$ + +t+ +%
$+o+ +l+ %
$ +o+ O O%
$PoP +p+ %
$ + P + +%
$+ K + +p%
$ + R + +%
$+ + + + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Viktor Korchnoi
Position after 50.Re2d2

50...Re4!

• Black's Rook assumes a pivotal position. Black takes a slight advatage.

51.Kb4!? Ke8 52.a6!

• Sacrificing the a-pawn allows the King to penetrate.

52...bxa6 53.Ka5 Kd7 54.Kb6 b4 55.d5

• 55.Rd3 Re1 56.Kb7 Rc1 57.Rg3 Rd1 58.Kxa6 is equal.

55...cxd5 56.Rxd5+ Kc8 57.Rd3 a5

• After the text, the game is again equal.
• If 57...Re5 58.Rb3 Rxf5 59.Rxb4 then:
• 59...h5 60.Ra4 Rf3 61.h4! gives White a small edge
• 59...a5?! 60.Rg4! Rg5 61.Rf4 f5 62.Kxa5 Kc7 63.Kb5 gives White the advanced passer with an escort.

58.Rg3!

• The Rook takes command of a navigatible file distant from the Black King.
• White's must eliminate Black queenside pawns and advance his c-pawn to win.

58...b3

• 58...Rc4? 59.c6! Kd8 60.Rg8+ Ke7 61.c7 Black must surrender the Rook.
• 58...Rd4 59.Kxa5 Rd5 60.Kb6 b3 61.Rxb3 Rxf5 62.Ra3 gives White the advantage of the advanced passer under escort.

59.Kc6

• The move is prophylactic.
• Tragic would be 59.Rxb3?? Rb4+! 60.Rxb4 axb4 and Black wins.

59...Kb8?

• At the moment, Black has the more advanced pawn. The worst threat is 60.Rg8#, so Black should use his Rook to prevent mate.
• 59...Rd4 60.Rxb3! a4 61.Rg3 then:
• If 61...Kb8 62.Rg8+ Ka7 63.Kb5 then:
• 63...h5 64.Rf8 a3 65.Rf7+ Kb8 66.Rxf6 Ra4 67.Rb6+ is equal.
• 63...Rf4!? 64.Rg2! a3 65.Rg3 Kb7 66.Rxa3 eliminates the a-pawn and leaves White with the advanced passer.
• 61...Kd8 62.Rg6 Rh4 63.Rg8+ Ke7 64.Rg7+ Ke8 65.Ra7 gives White a clear advantage.
• If 59...Kd8? 60.Rxb3! a4 61.Rb8+ Ke7 62.Rb7+ then:
• 62...Ke8 63.Ra7 Rd4 64.Kb5 Rd5 65.Kb6 a3 66.Rxa3 wins for White (see not to White's 59th move).
• If 62...Kd8 63.Rd7+ Ke8 64.Ra7 then:
• 64...Rd4 65.Kb5 Rd5 66.Kb6 Rd3 67.Rxa4 Rxh3 68.c6 is headed to the Lucena position, where White wins.
• 64...Re5 65.Rxa4 Rxf5 66.Kd6 Rf3 67.Rh4 wins for White.

BLACK: Anatoly Karpov
!""""""""#
$ L + + +%
$+ + + + %
$ +k+ O O%
$O P +p+ %
$ + +t+ +%
$+o+ + Rp%
$ + + + +%
$+ + + + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Viktor Korchnoi
Position after 59...Kc8b8

60.Rxb3+!

• Now this works since it is give with check. White has a won position.

60...Ka7

• If 60...Rb4 then after 61.Rxb4+ axb4 62.Kd7 b3 63.c6 b2 64.c7+ White queens first and wins.

61.Rb7+ Ka6 62.Rb6+ Ka7 63.Kb5!

• 63.Rb5 a4 64.Ra5+ Kb8 65.Kb5 Re5 66.Rxa4 Rxf5 67.Kb6 wins for White.

63...a4 64.Rxf6 Rf4 65.Rxh6 a3

• If 65...Rxf5 then after 66.Ra6+ Kb7 67.Rxa4 Rh5 68.h4 White wins.

66.Ra6+ Kb8 67.Rxa3 Rxf5

• With two White pawns running up the boards, Black cannot be saved even by Karpov's endgame skills.

68.Rg3 Rf6 69.Rg8+ Kc7 70.Rg7+ Kc8 71.Rh7 1-0

• Anatoly Evgenyevich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Update (Monday morning PST): Gelfand Wins World Cup

Israeli grandmaster Boris Gelfand won the world Chess Cup today in the central Russian oil boom town of Khanty Mansiysk when he defeated GM Ruslan Ponomariov of Ukraine in the fourth of a possible six blitz games in the final round tie break.

In contrast to the standard time control games of the previous four days, where all games ended in draws, today's playoff rounds were marked by a series of decisive games. Each player won one and drew two of the rapid games, sending the final match to a series of two-game blitz sets. Gelfand and Ponomariov exchanged victories in the first set, but then Gelfand won both games in the second set to end the third bi-annual World Cup.



From today's action in Khanty Mansiysk
with the World Cup in the foreground
Photo by Galina Popova for FIDE from the official site of the 2009 World Chess Cup


Magnus Holds Lead in London Classic, Kramnik in Striking Distance



Nineteen-year-old Norwegian grandmaster Magnus Carlsen drew his sixth round game with British GM Mickey Adams in the London Chess Classic today to hold on to sole possession of first place while former world champion Vladimir Kramnik of Russia defeated former championship challenger Nigel Short of Britain to move within striking distance of Magnus with one round remaining to play.

Using the football-style 3-1-0 scoring system, Magnus leads Kramnik in the tournament standings, 12-11. Kramnik will need a win tomorrow when he plays Black against reigning US champion Hikaru Nakamura tomorrow and hope that Magnus comes up short in his final game against Short.

[Jack Rabbit]

11. Update (Tuesday Noon PST): Magnus Takes London Classic

Norwegian grandmaster Magnus Carlsen, at 19 currently the world's strongest player, won the first London Chess Classic today when he drew his game in the seventh and final round with British GM and former world championship challenger Nigel Short in 71 moves while former world champion Vladimir Kramnik of Russia drew his last game with reigning American national champion Hikaru Nakamura.

Vladimir Borisovich was the only other player with a chance to overtake Magnus. However, he needed a win to do so.

Magnus has been taking training from former world champion Garry Kasparov, consider by many, including by your humble hare, to be the greatest player of all time. This Autumn, since the announcement about the collaboration with Kasparov was made, Magnus has not lost a single standard time control game. Magnus finished first in the Nanjing Grand Prix in October and second in the Tal Memorial Tournament in Moscow in November, where he suffered from a fever as the event began. Magnus also won the the World Blitz Championship that followed the Tal Memorial in Moscow and finished second in another strong blitz tournament in Oslo in early December.

When FIDE releases its official ratings next month, Magnus will top the list with an Elo score in excess of 2810.

Many chess observers picked Magnus as a future world champion when he became a grandmaster at the age of 13. It now looks like the question is not whether Magnus will be world champion in the future, but whether or not he will become the dominant player of his generation, as Kasparov was to his.