The JR Chess Report (March 13): Jobava, Efimenko & M. Socko lead in Rijeka; Amber Rapid/Blind begins

[Jack Rabbit]

Jobava, Efimenko and Monika Socko Lead in Rjieka



Ukraian grandmaster Zahar Efimenko and GM Baadur Jobava of Georgia lead the general group of the 11th European Individual Chess Championships with 6 points apiece after seven rounds in the Croatian port of Rijeka, while Polish grandmaster Monika Socko has sole possession of first place in the women's group, also with 6 points out of a possible 7.

Jobava, who won the Aeroflot Open in 2006, and Efimenko, a former Ukrainian national champion, lead nine other participants on 5½ points each. They are Zoltan Almasi (Hungary), Vladimir Akopian (Armenia), Ivan Sokolov (Bosnia), Rauf Mamedov (Azerbaijan), and Ian Nepomniachtchi, Alexander Riazantsev, Ernesto Inarkiev and Denis Khismatullin (all from Russia).

Jobava and Efimenko have held the lead since the end of Round Four and played each other to a draw in Round Five.

Today is a rest day for the players in Rjieka. When action resumes tomorrow, Jobava will play White agains Almasi on board one while Efimenko will also have White against Akopian on board two.

In the women's group, six ladies trail Mrs. Socko with 5½ points each. They are Pia Cramling (Sweden), Yelena Dembo (Greece), Viktorija Cmilyte (Lithuanaia), Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant (Scotland), Anna Muzychuk (Slovenia) and Lilit Galojan (Armenia). Defending champion Tatiana Kosintseva of Russia is one of 13 women on 5 points after losing to Mrs. Socko in Round 6.

Mrs. Socko will play Pia Cramling tomorrow. Pia, who has been one of the outstanding women chess masters for a quarter of a century, would undoubtedly like a European championship to add to her already impressive trophy case.

The tournament concludes after the 11th round Wednesday and any necessary tie breaks Thursday.


Amber Rapid/Blindfold Begins Today



The 19th annual Melody Amber Rpaid/Blindfold Tournament began today in Nice on the Mediterranean coast of France, where it has been held since 2008.

This year's participants are defending champion Levon Aronian (Armenia), world number one Magnus Carlsen (Norway), Leinier Domínguez (Cuba), Boris Gelfand (Israel), Vugar Gashimov (Azerbaijan), Russian national champion Alexander Grischuk (who is a last-minute replacement for Russian GM Alexander Morozevich), Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukraine), Sergey Karjakin (Russia), Vladimir Kramnik (Russia), Ponomariov (Ukraine), Jan Smeets (Holland) and Peter Svidler (Russia).

In today's first rounds, Ponomariov and Ivanchuk were the only players to win in both the blindfold and rapid competitions.

The 11-round event, one of the most unique in chess, runs through Thursday, March 25, with rest days schedule for Wednesday, March 17 and Monday, March 22.



Calendar

Bundesliga 0910, Rounds 12-13, Emsdetten, Katernberg, Munich, König Tegel (Berlin). 21-22 March.

Philadelphia Open 31 March-4 April. This replaces the Foxwoods Open after the Foxwoods Resort announced expected room rate hikes.

Russian Team Championships, Dagomys 1-12 April.

Bundesliga 0910, Rounds 14-15 (season finale), Erfurt, Eppingen, Bremen, Baden Baden. 10-11 April.

Women's Grand Prix, Nalchik 23 April-6 May.

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

Bosna 2010, Sarajevo 5-14 May.

Grand Prix, Astrakhan (Russia) 9-25 May.

US Championship, St. Louis 13-25 May.

Chicago Open 27-31 May.

Women's Grand Prix, Jermuk 23 June-6 July.

World Open, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania 29 June-5 July.

Women's Grand Prix, Ulan Bator (Mongolia) 29 July-12 August.

World Junior Championships, Chotowa Czarna (Poland) 2-17 August.

Chess Olympiad, Khanty Mansiysk 19 September-4 October.

European Club Cup, Plovdiv 16-24 October.

Women's Grand Prix, Vina del Mar (Chile) 27 October-9 November.

World Youth Championships, Halidiki (Greece) 19-31 October.

FIDE Women's Knock Out (Women's World Championship), Turkey 2-25 December.

[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 downloaded 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. European Individual Chess Championships, Rijeka

Rijeka
Photo by László Szalai, Wikipedia (Public Domain)

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Timofeev - Jobava, Round 6

Baadur Jobava
Photo: ChessBase.com


">Artyom Timofeev - Baadur Jobava
11th European Championships (General Group), Round 6
Rijeka, 11 March 2010

Caro-Kann Game: Fantasy Opening

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.f3 Qb6

• The most frequent moves here are 3...dxe4 and 3...e6.

4.Nc3 dxe4 5.Nxe4

• If 5.Bc4 then:
• 5...e5 6.Nxe4 Qb4+ 7.Nd2 b5 8.c3 Qe7 9.Bd3 exd4+ 10.Ne2 dxc3 11.Ne4 Nf6 12.0-0 Nxe4 13.Bxe4 Qb7 14.Qc2 Bc5+ 15.Kh1 Nd7 16.Nxc3 Nf6 17.Bg5 Bd7 18.Bxf6 gxf6 19.Rfd1 0-0-0 20.a4 a6 21.axb5 axb5 22.Nd5 Bb6 23.Ra8+ Black resigns as 23...Qxa8 24.Nxb6+ ins the Queen (Bachmann-Batsiashvili, Op, Cappelle la Grande, 2009).
• 5...Nf6 6.fxe4 Bg4 7.Qd3 e6 8.Nf3 Nbd7 9.Bg5 Be7 10.0-0-0 0-0-0 11.e5 Ng8 12.Qe3 h6 13.Bf4 Bb4 14.h3 Bxf3 15.Qxf3 Bxc3 16.Qxc3 Ne7 17.Rhf1 gives White the advantage in space (Matthias-Kurr, NRW I, Germany, 1993).

5...Bf5!?

• This move gets us out of the book right away.
• 5...Nf6 6.c3 Bf5 7.Bd3 Bg6 8.Qe2 e6 9.Nh3 Nbd7 10.Be3 Nxe4 11.fxe4 e5 12.0-0 Be7 13.Kh1 0-0 14.dxe5 Bc5 15.Bf4 Rfe8 16.e6 fxe6 17.Bc4 Kh8 18.Ng5 e5 19.Bf7 exf4 20.Bxg6 hxg6 21.Rxf4 Ne5 22.Qe1 Bf2 23.Rxf2 Kg8 24.Rf4 Qxb2 25.Rf1 Ng4 26.Qg3 Nh6 27.Qd6 Black resigns in the face of a mating attack in which he will suffer great material loss (Timofeev-Gagunashvili, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).

6.c3

• Fritiz calls the game equal, but most of the pieces are still on their original squares after five moves.

6...Nd7 7.Bd3 e5 8.Ne2 exd4 9.cxd4 Bb4+ 10.Bd2 Ne7 11.0-0

• 11.Bxb4 Qxb4+ 12.Qd2 Qxd2+ 13.Kxd2 0-0 14.Rae1 Nd5 remains equal.

11...0-0 12.Kh1

• 12.Bc4 Bxd2 13.Qxd2 Ne5 14.Bb3 Rad8 15.Qg5 remains equal.

12...Bxd2 13.Qxd2 Rad8 14.Rac1 Bg6 15.Bc4

• 15.Rfe1 Nf5 16.a4 Rfe8 17.a5 Qc7 18.Qb4 b6 remains equal.

15...Qc7 16.b4 Nb6 17.Bb3 Nbd5 18.b5!?

• White may be trying to provoke something, but it's hard to see what it might be.
• 18.Bxd5 Nxd5 19.b5 Rfe8 20.bxc6 bxc6 remains equal.

18...Qb6

• This move is virtually forced. Black cannot recapture without first getting the Queen out of the line of the Rook.

19.bxc6!?

• White makes no attempt to weaken Black's queenside.
• 19.Bxd5 then:
• 19...Rxd5 then:
• 20.bxc6 Nxc6 21.N4c3 Rd6 remains equal.
• If 20.N4c3 Rd6 21.a4 Re8 22.Rfe1 Qd8 23.bxc6 Rxc6 remains equal.
• If 19...Nxd5 20.bxc6 bxc6 21.Nc5 weakens Black's queenside.
• If 19...cxd5 20.N4c3 Rfe8 21.Nf4 f6 remains equal.

BLACK: Baadur Jobava
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WHITE: Artyom Timofeev
Position after 19.bc6:p

19...Nxc6!

• Recapturing with the Knight allows Black to keep his pawns connected and strong. This doesn't seem important now, but it becomes important later.

20.Rc5 Ndb4

• If 20...Bxe4 21.fxe4 Nf6 then:
• 22.Qc2 Nxd4 23.Nxd4 Rxd4 24.e5 Ng4 25.Bxf7+ Kh8 is equal.
• If 22.Rxf6 Qxc5 23.Rxf7 Rxf7 24.Bxf7+ then:
• 24...Kh8! 25.Bd5 Qd6 26.Qe3 Qb4 gives Black the initiative.
• 24...Kxf7?? 25.Qf4+! Ke8 26.dxc5 Rd1+ 27.Ng1 h6 28.h4 wins for White.

21.Qc3 Na6 22.Rd5 Nc7 23.Rxd8 Rxd8 24.Qc5

• The text is better for White than 24.Rb1!? Nb5! when:
• If 25.Qe1 Ncxd4 26.Nxd4 Qxd4 then:
• 27.Bxf7+ Kxf7 28.Rxb5 Bxe4 29.fxe4 Qxe4 gives Black an extra pawn.
• 27.Rd1 Qb6 28.Rxd8+ Qxd8 29.Qg3 b6 30.Qf4 a6 gives Black an extra pawn.
• 25.Qe3 Ncxd4 26.Nxd4 Qxd4 gives Black an extra pawn.

24...Qxc5 25.Nxc5 Na5 26.Kg1

• 26.Rc1 Nb5 27.d5 b6 28.Na6 remains equal.

26...b6 27.Ne4 Nxb3 28.axb3 f6

• If 28...Ne6 29.Rd1 a5 then:
• 30.d5 Bxe4 31.fxe4 Nc5 32.Nc3 h6 33.Na4 remains equal.
• 30.Rd3!? f5! 31.N4g3 f4 gives Black more freedom and a remote pawn majority.

29.Kf2 Kf8 30.Rc1 Nd5 31.g4 Ke7

• 31...a5 32.h4 Ke7 33.N2g3 Nf4 34.Rc7+ Kf8 35.Rc6 remains equal.

32.h4 Bf7 33.g5

• 33.f4 h5 34.gxh5 Bxh5 35.f5 Bg4 36.N2g3 Kf8 gives Black the remote pawn majority.

33...a5!?

• Even if the test isn't entirely accurate, the Black pawn majority now becomes a factor (see note to Black's 19th move).
• 33...a6 34.f4 fxg5 35.Nxg5 Bg6gives Black better minor pieces and fewer pawn weaknesses.

BLACK: Baadur Jobava
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WHITE: Artyom Timofeev
Position after 33...a7a5

34.gxf6+ gxf6 35.Rc6 Be6 36.Nd2

• If 36.f4 then after 36...h6 37.Kf3 f5 38.N4g3 Kd7 39.Rc1 Re8 the best pawn on the board still belong to Black.

36...Rc8 37.Rxc8 Bxc8 38.Nc4 Ba6 39.Nc1 Kd7 40.Ne3?

• White makes the time control, but loses the game. In the present position, Black will win any King-and-pawn ending; therefore, White should avoid exchanges.
• If 40.Nd3 a4 41.Nxb6+ Nxb6 42.Nc5+ Kc6 then:
• 43.bxa4 Bc8 44.Ke3 h5 45.Ne4 Nd5+ Black is better, but for undertaking any winning procedures he must take the time to capture the a-pawn.
• If I43.Nxa6? then after 43...axb3 44.Nb4+ Kd6 45.Nd3 Kd5 Black wins easily.

40...Nxe3

• Making the last move before the time check, Black probably does not realize he has a quicker win after 40...Bb7! 41.Nc4 Kc6 42.Ne2 then:
• I42...Ba6 43.Ne3 Bxe2! 44.Kxe2 Nxe3 45.Kxe3 Kd5 gives Black the better game by virtue of his active King.
• I42...Bc8!? 43.Ng3 b5 44.Nxa5+ Kb6 45.b4 Nxb4 46.Nb3 is equal.

41.Kxe3

BLACK: Baadur Jobava
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WHITE: Artyom Timofeev
Position after 41.Kf2e3:N

41...Bb7!

• With the time check passed, Black now takes advantage of the extra minutes on his clock to consider the best move in this position and makes it.

42.Kf4

• 42.Ke2 Bd5 43.f4 Ke6 44.Kd3 Kf5 White's kingside pawns fall like summer fruit.

42...Ke6 43.Kg4

• If 43.Ke3 then:
• 43...Bd5! 44.Kf2 Kf5 45.Ke3 b5 46.b4 a4 leaves the a-pawn very powerful.
• 43...Kf5 44.Nd3 Bd5 45.Nc1 b5 46.Kf2 a4 assures Black a powerful passed pawn and White is running out of reserve pawn tempi faster than Black.

43...Kd5 44.Kf5

• 44.Ne2 Ba6 45.Nf4+ Kxd4 46.Kf5 Bb7 47.Kxf6 Bxf3 leaves Black with an extra pawn.

44...Kxd4 45.f4 Kc3 46.Kxf6 Kd2 47.Ke5 0-1

• If 47.Ke5
  • 47...Kxc1 48.f5 Bf3! 49.f6 Bh5 50.Kd6 Kc2 is an easy win for Black.
  • Artyom Valeryevich resigns.
  
  

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Naiditsch - Efimenko, Round 4

Zahar Efimenko
Photo: ChessBase.com


Arkadij Naiditsch - Zahar Efimenko
11th European Championships (General Group), Round 4
Rijeka, 9 March 2010

Spanish Petit Royal Game: Gothic Defense (Berlin Defense)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Nc3 Ke8

• For a survey of this opening, see Istratescu-Breder, Op 0910, Hastings, 2009.12)

10.Ne4 Be6 11.Re1 h6!?

• 11...a5 12.h3 Bd5 13.g4 Ne7 14.Kh2 b6 15.Kg3 Kd7 16.Neg5 Ng6 is equal (Naiditsch-Karjakin, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2009).

12.g4

• The game is equal.

12...Ne7 13.h3 Rd8 14.Ng3 c5 15.Nh4 Nc6 16.c3 g6 17.f4 h5

• 17...Rd3 18.Kg2 Kd8 19.Nf3 Bd5 20.Be3 Kc8 remains equal.

18.gxh5!?

• White plays carelessly and opens vital points on his wing to attack.
• 18.f5 gxf5 19.gxf5 Rg8 20.Kh2 Be7 21.f6 Rd3 remains equal.

18...Be7!?

• The game remains equal as Black fails to capitalize on White's inaccuracy.
• 18...Bxh3! 19.f5 gxh5 then:
• 20.Ne4 Be7 21.f6 Bf8 22.Ng5 Bg4 gives Black an extra pawn.


• 20.Bg5 Be7 21.Bxe7 Kxe7 22.e6 Rhg8 gives Black an extra pawn.

19.Nf3 gxh5

• 19...Bxh3!? 20.hxg6 fxg6 21.Kf2! Be6 22.Ne4 gives White the advantage in space.

20.Kh2 Rd3 21.Be3 Bd5

• 21...Na5!? 22.Rad1 Rxd1 23.Rxd1 Nc4 24.Bc1 gives White a small advantage in space.

22.Ng5

• 22.Kg2 Rg8 23.Kf2 a6 24.Rg1 Bxf3 25.Kxf3 remains equal.

22...Bxg5 23.fxg5 h4 24.Nf5 b6 25.Re2!?

• This would protect the second rank nicely, but it isn't under attack.
• Protecting the position better is 25.Bf4! Be6 26.Ng7+ Ke7 27.Nxe6 Kxe6 with equality.

BLACK: Zahar Efimenko
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WHITE: Arkadij Naiditsch
Position after 25.Re1e2

25...Kd7!

• The King is a strong piece; use it! -- Steinitz
• Black activates the King.

26.Bf4 Be6 27.Ne3 Ne7 28.a3!?

• White would like to bring his Queen's Rook into play, but for the moment it is protecting the a-pawn which is under attack from the Bishop at e6.
• 28.Rf2 Ng6 29.Re1 Rg8 30.Ng4 Bxg4 31.hxg4 Ke6 leaves Black better, but still looking for a way to press home his advantage.

28...Ng6 29.Rf1 Kc6

• If 29...c6! 30.c4 a6 31.a4 Rg8 then:
• 32.Ng4 Bxg4 33.hxg4 Re8 34.Kh1 Re6 35.Bh2 Ke8 leaves White almost out of pawn moves.
• If 32.a5? b5 then:
• If 33.Ng4 d8 34.Bc1 Bxg4 35.hxg4 Re8 leaves Black with pressure on the e-pawn.
• If 33.cxb5 cxb5 34.Ng4 Bxg4 35.hxg4 Kc6 36.Bc1 Re8 should win for Black, who has pressure on White's e-pawn and a queenside majority.

30.Ng4 Rhd8!

• Black takes full command of the d-file and threatens to penetrate into White's camp.
• If 30...Bxg4 31.hxg4 then:
• 31...Rg8 32.Kh1 Rg7 33.Bh2 Kd5 34.Rf5 Ne7 Black continues to enjoy the advantage.
• If 31...c4?! 32.Kg1! (the King vacates h2 in order to provide a safe square for the Bishop) then:
• If 32...Re8 33.Bh2 then:
• 33...Rd7 34.Rf6+ Re6 35.Ref2 Rd1+ 36.Kg2 is equal.
• 33...Nh8 34.Rf6+ Kd5 35.g6 fxg6 36.e6 Kc6 is equal.
• 32...Kd5 33.Bh2! Rh7 34.Ref2 is equal.

31.Bc1

• If 31.Rg2 Rg8 32.Bc1 Bxg4 then:
• 33.Rxg4 Nxe5 34.Rgf4 a6 35.Rf6+ Kb5 gives Black an extra pawn.
• 33.hxg4? Nxe5! 34.Kh1 c4 35.Rh2 Rgd8 36.Bf4 Rd1 gives Black an extra pawn and an overwhelming position.

31...Rd1 32.Ree1?

• This is hardly a gross blunder and White is in a small jam anyway, but there is no point keeping a Rook trained on Black's Black's backward f-pawn when White's Kingside pawns prevent it from going aywhere. Better is to use the other Rook on e1.
• If 32.Rfe1 Bxg4 33.hxg4 c4 34.Rxd1 Rxd1 35.e6 then:
• I35...fxe6 36.Rxe6+ Rd6 37.Rf6 Kd5 leaves White's passed pawns under restraint while Black has the active King and minor piece.
• If 35...Rxc1 36.exf7 Kd7 37.Re8 then:
• 37...Rf1 38.Rg8 Rxf7 39.Rxg6 Rf2+ 40.Kh3 gives Black more active pieces.
• 37...Rc2+ 38.Kh3 Rf2 39.Rg8 Rf3+ 40.Kh2 is equal.

BLACK: Zahar Efimenko
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WHITE: Arkadij Naiditsch
Position after 32.Re2e1

32...Rxe1!

• Also good is 32...Bxg4! 33.hxg4 Rxe1 34.Rxe1 c4 when:
• 35.e6 Re8 36.Rf1 fxe6 37.Rf6 Ne5 38.Kh3 Kd5 gives Black the active game.
• 35.Re4 Rd1 36.Be3 Kd5 37.Rd4+ Rxd4 38.cxd4 Ke4 the active King gives Black a winning position.

33.Rxe1 Rd3 34.Nf2

• If 34.Rg1 then 34...Bxg4 35.Rxg4 Nxe5 36.Re4 Kd5 37.Rxh4 Nf3+ wins the exchange.

34...Rf3 35.Ng4

• If 35.Kg1 then 35...Kd5! 36.Re3 Rxe3 37.Bxe3 Kxe5 gives White an extra pawn.

35...Kb5!?

• Black brings his King to safety on b5. Better is to use the King as a fighting piece.
• Black wins quicker with 35...Bxg4! 36.hxg4 Kd5! 37.c4+ Ke6 when White can make no further progress with his pawns.

36.Kg2!

• White earns a reprive from the executioner.
• If 36.Rg1 then:
• If 36...c4 37.Re1 Kc6 38.Rg1 Rd3 39.Nf2 Rd5 40.Ng4 then:
• 40...Nxe5 41.Nxe5+ Rxe5 42.Bf4 Re2+ leaves White a pawn to the good.
• If 40...a6 41.Ne3 Rd3 42.Rf1 Nxe5 43.Rf4 Kb5 gives White an extra pawn.
• If 36...a5 37.Rg2 Bd7 then:
• 38.Rg1 Bxg4 39.Rxg4 Rf2+ 40.Rg2 Rxg2+ 41.Kxg2 Nxe5 leaves White a pawn to the good.
• If 38.Re2 Rf1 then:
• 39.Be3 Bxg4 40.hxg4 Nxe5 41.Bxc5 Nd3 42.Be7 Rb1 gives Black the initiative against White's queenside pawns.
• If 39.Bd2 then after 39...Bxg4 40.hxg4 Rb1 41.Be1 a4 42.Bf2 Kc4 White's queenside pawns fall like autumn leaves.
• If 36.Re2 then:
• If 36...a5 37.Re4 a4 38.Re1 Kc6 39.Re4 (according to Rybka on ChessBomb) 39...b5! wins for Black.
• If 36...Rf1 37.Bd2 Bxg4 38.hxg4 then:
• If 38...Rb1! 39.Be1 then:
• 39...Nf4 40.g6 Nxg6 gives Black an extra pawn.
• If 39...a5 40.e6 fxe6 41.Rxe6 Rxb2+ then:
• If 42.Kh1 Rb1 then:
• then:
• 43.Rxg6! Rxe1+ 44.Kg2 Ra1 45.Rf6 Rd1 46.g6 is equal.
• 43.Kh2? Ra1 then:
• 44.Rxg6 Rxe1 45.Rf6 Ka4 46.g6 Re8 leaves Black a pawn to the good.
• 44.Bf2 Ra2 45.Kg1 Nf4 46.Re3 Ra1+ 47.Kh2 Rxa3 gives Black an extra pawn.
• 42.Kg1 Nf4 43.a4+ Ka6 44.Re3 c6 45.Kh1 Rb1 gives Black an extra pawn and more freedom.
• 38...Kc4!? 39.e6 fxe6 40.Rxe6 Rf2+ 41.Kh3 Rxd2 42.Rxg6 equalizes.

36...Rg3+ 37.Kh2 Bd5 38.Re2?

• The Rook is loose at e2, exposing it to tactical strokes (like Black's reply).
• Better is 38.Rg1 (when the Rook is covered by the King) 38...Rxg1 39.Kxg1 Be6 40.Nf2 c4 41.Kf1 c5 when White is better but White is still fighting with some hope of salvaging a half point.

BLACK: Zahar Efimenko
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WHITE: Arkadij Naiditsch
Position after 38.Re1e2

38...Bf3!

• Black gains a valuable tempo on the unprotected Rook.

39.c4+

• 39.Rf2 Bxg4 40.hxg4 Nxe5 41.Rf1 Nxg4+ wins for White.

39...Kxc4 40.Rc2+ Kb5

• Also good is 40...Kb3 41.Rc3+ Ka2.

41.Nf6 Bb7 42.e6

• The text loses immediately, but after 42.Ng4 Rf3 43.Rg2 Rf5 44.Rf2 Rxf2+ 45.Nxf2 Nxe5 Black is two pawns up and White is without hope.

42...Ne5 0-1

• If 43.Rf2 Nf3+! 44.Rxf3 Bxf3 then:
• 45.e7 Rg2+! 46.Kh1 Rxg5+ 47.Kh2 Rg2+ 48.Kh1 Rc2+ 49.Kg1 Rxc1+ 50.Kf2 Bc6 wins for White.
• If 45.Bf4 then 45...Rg2+ 46.Kh1 fxe6 47.Bxc7 Rxg5+ wins.
• Herr Naiditsch resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. M. Socko - T. Kosintseva, Round 6

Monika Socko
Photo: ChessBase.com


Monika SOcko - Tatiana Kosintseva
11th European Championships (Women's Group), Round 6
Rijeka, 11 March 2010

East Indian Game: Nimzo-Indian Defense (Rubinstein Opening)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0-0 5.Nge2 d5 6.a3 Be7 7.cxd5 exd5

• For moves up to here see Grischuk-Gelfand, IT, Linares, 2010.

8.b4

• If 8.g3 c6 9.Bg2 then:
• If 9...a5 10.0-0 then:
• If 10...Re8 11.f3 c5 then:
• 12.Kh1 Nc6 13.Re1 h6 14.b3 cxd4 15.Nxd4 Bc5 16.Nxc6 bxc6 17.Na4 Ba7 18.Qc2 Qd6 19.Bd2 Ba6 is equal (Zdebskaya-Zatonskih, Ukranian ChW, Kramatorsk, 2001).
• 12.Nf4 cxd4 13.exd4 Nc6 14.Re1 b6 15.Be3 Ba6 16.Qa4 Na7 17.Bf1 Bxf1 18.Kxf1 Bd6 19.Qb3 draw (Golz-Ivkov, IT, Dresden, 1959).
• 10...Na6 11.Bd2 Re8 12.Qc2 Bf8 13.Rad1 b5 14.Bc1 g6 15.Nf4 Bf5 16.Qe2 Qb8 is equal (Narcisco-Z. Almasi, IT, Pamplona, 2001).
• If 9...Na6 10.0-0 Nc7 11.h3 a5 12.g4 then:
• 12...Nce8 13.Ng3 Nd6 14.e4 dxe4 15.Ncxe4 Ndxe4 16.Bxe4 Nd5 17.Re1 Be6 18.b3 Nf6 is equal (Gormally-Pavlovic, Op, Caerleon, 2006).
• 12...Nfe8 13.b3 f5 14.Nf4 Bd6 draw (Beliavsky-Sax, Euro ChT, Plovdiv, 1983).

8...c6 9.Ng3 Re8 10.Bd3 Nbd7 11.0-0 Nb6 12.Rb1

• 12.b5 c5 13.dxc5 Bxc5 14.Na4 Nxa4 15.Qxa4 d4 16.Qc2 Qb6 is equal (A. Smirnov-Tomashevsky, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2009).

12...Bd6 13.Qc2!?

• 13.a4 Bxg3 14.hxg3 Ne4 15.Bxe4 dxe4 16.f3 Nd5 17.Nxe4 Bf5 18.Qb3 Bxe4 19.fxe4 Rxe4 is equal (Zaiatz-N. Kosintseva, Euro ChW, Chisinau, 2005).

13...Be6

• The game is equal.

14.a4 a6 15.a5 Nc8 16.Na4 Na7

• 16...Qe7 17.Nc5 Bxg3 18.hxg3 Nd6 19.Bb2 remains equal.

17.Nc5 Qc7 18.f3 Nb5 19.Qf2 h5

• 19...Bxg3 20.Qxg3 Qxg3 21.hxg3 Re7 22.Bb2 Rae8 23.Rbc1 remains equal.

20.Re1 Rad8 21.Bb2 Bc8!?

• 21...Bxg3 22.hxg3 Re7 23.Rbc1 Nd7 24.Nxe6 Rxe6 remains equal.

22.Rbd1!

• White now has the advantage in space.
• 22.Nf1 Be6 23.Qh4 Re7 24.Rbd1 then:
• If 24...Rde8 25.Rc1 Bc8 26.Bc2 gives White the advantage in space.
• If 24...Ree8 25.Bc2 Bc8 26.e4 Be7 then:
• 27.exd5 Nxd5 28.Qxh5 g6 29.Qh6 gives White the advantage in space.
• 27.Qg3!? Qxg3 28.Nxg3 h4! is equal.

22...Re7 23.Nf1 Ree8

• 23...Rde8 24.Rc1 Qd8 25.Qh4 Bc7 26.Rc2 Nd6 27.Rce2 gives White the advantage in space.

24.h3 Nd7 25.e4 dxe4 26.fxe4 Nf8?!

• The retreat is too passive. Black should strike at the hanging pawns.
• 26...Nxc5 27.dxc5 Be5 28.Bxe5 Qxe5 29.Bxb5 cxb5 is equal.

27.Qf3

• If 27.Be2 Bxc5 28.dxc5 then:
• If 28...Rxd1 29.Bxd1 then:
• If 29...Ng6 30.Bxh5 then:
• 30...Nf4 31.Qf3 g6 32.Bg4 f5 33.Qb3+ gives White an extra pawn and more space.
• 30...Ne5 then White wins after 31.Qg3 Re7 32.Nd2 f6 33.Rf1 Qd8 34.Rxf6!.
• 29...g6?? loses immediately to 30.Qf6! Re5 31.Bxe5.
• 28...Rxe4 29.Rxd8 Qxd8 30.Bxh5 Re7 31.Qg3 Ne6 32.Bf6 wins the exchange for White.

27...Ng6?

• The text permits White to open the center to her advantage.27...h4 then:
• 28.Bc2 Bxc5 29.dxc5 Ne6 30.Bd3 Nbd4 31.Qf2 gives White a slight advantage in space.
• 28.e5 Bxc5 29.dxc5 Be6 30.Bc2 Bd5 31.Qg4 gives White a huge spacial advantage.

BLACK: Tatiana Kosintseva
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Monika Socko
Position after 27...Nf8g6

28.e5!

• This opens forces an exchange of minor pieces, opening the center, where White already has the advantage in space.

28...Bxc5 29.dxc5 h4

• The alternative to making this move is to giftwrap the pawn.

30.Bxg6 fxg6 31.Qe4!

• After exchanges clear the borad, White occupies the center (see not to Black's 27th move).
• 31.Nd2 Be6 32.Ne4 Rf8 33.Qe3 Rd5 34.Qg5 threatens two pawns, strengthening White's initiative.

31...g5 32.Qg6 Qe7 33.e6 Nc7

• 33...Rxd1 34.Rxd1 Nc7 35.Re1 Bxe6 36.Nh2 Rf8 37.Nf3 wins a pawn for White.

34.Rxd8 Rxd8 35.Ne3

• If 35.Nh2 Nxe6 36.Ng4 then:
• 36...Kf8 37.Qh7 Qf7 38.Ne5 Qg8 39.Ng6+ Kf7 40.Rf1+ wins the Queen.
• 36...Rf8 37.Nh6+ Kh8 38.Nf5 Qf7 39.Qxf7 Rxf7 40.Nd6.

35...Bxe6

• If 35...Rf8 36.Nf5! then:
• 36...Rxf5 (forced) 37.Qxf5! Nxe6 38.Rf1wins for White.
• 36...Rf6 then after 37.Nxe7+ Kf8 38.Bxf6 Nxe6 39.Nxc8 things get real ugly for Black.

BLACK: Tatiana Kosintseva
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Monika Socko
Position after 35...Bc8e6:p

36.Ng4 Rf8

• 36...Kf8 37.Rf1+ Kg8 38.Nh6+ Kh8 39.Nf7+ wins the Queen (39...Bxf7 40.Qxg7 is checkmate).

37.Nh6+ Kh8 38.Nf5 Rxf5

• White takes the exchange.38...Bxf5 39.Qh5+! wins the Queen.

39.Qxf5 Kg8

• 39...Bxf5 40.Rxe7 Ne6 41.Rxb7 also leaves White up by an exchange.

40.Qe5 Kh7

• White must now take a piece on top of the exchange.
• If 40...g4 41.hxg4 Kf8 42.g5 then:
• 42...Ke8 43.Re4 Qd7 44.Qxg7 Qxg7 45.Bxg7 wins another pawn.
• 42...Qd7 43.g6 Qe7 44.Qd6 Ke8 45.Re4 Qd7 46.Be5 White wins more material.

41.Qd6 Qf7

• 41...Qxd6 42.cxd6 Nd5 43.Rxe6 wins a piece, leaving White up by a Rook.

42.Rf1 Bf5

• 42...Qd7 43.Qxd7 Bxd7 44.Rf7 Nd5 45.Rxg7+ Kh6 46.Rxd7 wins anothe piece.

43.Qe5 Kg6

• 43...Qf6 44.Rxf5 Qxe5 45.Rxe5 Kg6 46.Re7 leaves White a Rook to the good.

BLACK: Tatiana Kosintseva
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Monika Socko
Position after 43...Kh7g6

44.Rxf5!!

• White sacrifices the exchange and gets a clear, quick win.

44...Qxf5 45.Qxg7+ Kh5 46.Qxc7

• White is now up by a whole piece.

46...g4 47.Qe5 1-0

• White remains a piece to the good.
• Tatiana Anatolyevna resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Nisipeanu - Pelletier, Round 5

Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu
Photo by Stefan64 Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu - Yannick Pelletier
11th European Championships (General Group), Round 5
Rijeka, 10 March 2010

East Indian Game: Queen's Indian Defense (Catalan Opening)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.Qc2

• More common is 5.b3 or 5.Ngd2. See Grischuk-Topalov, IT Linares, 2010.

5...Bb7 6.Bg2 c5 7.d5!?

• This pawn advance entail a pawn sacrifice, and not a particularly sound one.
• If 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.Nc3 Be7 9.0-0 0-0 then:
• 10.Rd1 d6 11.Bf4 a6 12.Rd2 Qc7 13.b3 h6 14.Rad1 e5 15.Be3 Ng4 16.Qd3 Nd7 17.Ne1 Ndf6 18.Bxb7 Qxb7 19.Ng2 gives more space and fewer pawn weaknesses (Lukov-Nisipeanu, IT ,Naujac-sur-Mer, 2001).
• If 10.e4 d6 11.b3 then:
• 11...Nbd7 12.Bb2 a6 13.Rac1 Qc7 14.Rfe1 Rac8 15.Qe2 Rfd8 16.Rcd1 is equal (Dr. Vidmar-Kmoch, IT, San Remo, 1930).
• 11...a6 12.Bb2 Qc7 13.Qe2 Nc6 14.Rfd1 Rfd8 15.Rac1 is equal (Dubinin-Belavenents, Soviet Ch, Leningrad, 1934).

7...exd5! 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.0-0 Be7 10.Rd1 Nc6

• If 10...Qc8 11.a3 Nf6 12.Bg5 then:
• 12...0-0 13.Nc3 Rd8 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.Nd5 Bxd5 16.Rxd5 Nc6 17.Rad1 Qc7 18.Ng5 Bxg5 19.Rxg5 Re8 is equal (Arun Orasad-Adhiban, Indian Ch, Mumbai, 2009).
• 12...d5 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.Nc3 Bxc3 15.bxc3 Na6 16.Nh4 g6 17.Bxd5 Bxd5 18.Rxd5 0-0 19.Rad1 gives White the advantage in space (Bhat-G. Papp, Spice Cup B, Texas Tech U, 2009).

11.Qf5

• If 11.Qa4 Nf6 12.Nh4 then:
• If 12...g6 13.Bh6 Bf8 then:
• If 14.Bxf8 Kxf8 15.Nc3 Kg7 then:
• 16.Qf4 Re8 17.Nb5 d5 18.Nd6 Re5 is equal (Anonian-Karjakin, Grand Prix, Jermuk, 2009).
• If 16.Rd6 Na5 17.Qf4 Bxg2 18.Kxg2 then:
• If 18...h6?! 19.Ne4 Nxe4 20.Qxe4 then:
• 20...Re8? 21.Rxg6+!! fxg6 22.Qxg6+ Kf8 23.Qxh6+ Ke7 24.Nf5+ Kf7 25.Nd6+ Ke7 26.Rd1 Rf8 27.Rd5 Rf6 28.Qh7+ Kf8 29.Rg5 Black resigns as he cannot prevent mate on g8 (Aronian-Leko, Amber Rapid, Nice, 2009).
• 20...Qe8 21.Qg4 h5 22.Qf4 Nb7 is equal.
• If 18...Ne8! gives Black the initiative and after 19.Rd2 Qf6 20.Rxd7 Qc6+ 21.Rd5 Nc7 White is fighting for his life.
• 14.Bg5 Be7 15.Nc3 0-0 16.Rd2 a6 17.Rad1 b5 18.Qf4 Nh5 is equal (Pashikian-Beliavsky, Euro Club Cup, Ohrid, 2009).
• If 12...Qc8 13.Nf5 Nd4 then:
• 14.Bxb7 Qxb7 15.Nxd4 cxd4 16.Rxd4 Bc5 17.Rd3 b5 18.Qf4 0-0 19.b4 Be7 is equal (Nyback-Bacrot, Euro Club Cup, Ohrid, 2009).
• If 14.Nxd4 cxd4 15.Qxd4 0-0 16.Nc3 Re8 17.Qd3 Bxg2 18.Kxg2 Bb4 19.Bd2 Qc6+ is equal (Leko-Barcro, Grand Prix, Jetmuk, 2009).

11...Nf6 12.e4 d6

• If 12...g6 13.Qf4 0-0 then:
• If 14.e5 Nh5 15.Qg4 d5 16.exd6 then:
• If 16...Bxd6 17.Nc3 Qb8 then:
• 18.Qh4 Be7 19.Bg5 f6 20.Bh6 Rf7 21.Nd5 Ng7 is equal (Solomon-Nemeth, Op, Gibraltar, 2009).
• 18.Bh6 Re8 19.Qa4 a6 20.Nd5 b5 21.Qh4 Ne7 22.Ne3 Ra7 gives Black an extra pawn (Wang Yue-Rowson, TMatch, Liverpool, 2007).
• 16...Bf6 17.Nc3 Nd4 18.Nxd4 Bxg2 19.Nf5 Bc6 20.d7 Qc7 is equal (Carlsen-Ivanchuk, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 2007).
• 14.Nc3 d6 15.b3 Qb8 16.Bb2 Ne5 17.Nb5 Nh5 18.Qe3 Bc6 is equal (Yang Shen-T. Kosintseva, TMatch, Moscow, 2007).

13.e5 Qd7 14.Qc2?!

• White introduces an new move, but the old one is better.
• If 14.Qxd7+ Nxd7 15.exd6 Bf6 then:
• If 16.Re1+ Kf8 17.Nc3 then:
• If 17...Nb4 then:
• 18.Bg5 then:
• 18...Bxf3 19.Bxf3 Rd8 20.Bxf6 Nxf6 21.Re7 Nc2 22.Rd1 Nd4 23.Kg2 g6 24.Rxa7 Rxd6 25.Be2 Kg7 is equal (Bareev-J. Polgar, Candidates Matches, Elista, 2007).
• 18...Nc2 19.Re7 Bxf3 20.Bxf3 Bxg5 21.Rxd7 Rd8 22.Rxd8+ Bxd8 23.Rd1 Nd4 24.Bg2 gives White the passed pawn and the more active game (Carlsen-Pelletier, IT, Biel, 2008).
• 18.Ne5 Nxe5 19.Bxb7 Rd8 20.Bg5 Bxg5 21.Rxe5 Bf6 wins a pawn for Black.
• 16.Nc3 0-0-0 17.Ng5 Bxg5 18.Bxg5 f6 19.Be3 Nb4 20.Rac1 Bxg2 21.Kxg2 is equal (Shulman-Bacrot, IT, Montreal, 2009).

14...Nb4 15.Qe2

• 15.Qc4 Ne4 16.Nc3 d5 17.Qb5 Qxb5 18.Nxb5 0-0 gives Black's advantage in space.

15...Ba6 16.Qe1?

• The Queen had to move, of course, but it should have stayed in contact with c2.
• If 16.Qd2 Ne4 17.Qe3 then:
• If 17...d5 18.Ne1 (c2 is covered) 18...Qa4 19.b3 Qa5 then:
• leaves Black with nothing more the extra pawn with which he started, while White seizes the initiative.
• 20.Bxe4 dxe4 21.Qxe4 0-0 22.Nc3 Rad8 23.Rxd8 Rxd8 gives Black the advantage in space and command of the d-file.
• 17...Nc2? then 18.Qxe4! Nxa1 19.Qxa8+ Bc8 leaves White a piece to the good.

16...Nc2!

• Black wins at least the exchange.

17.Qd2 Nxa1

• One may ask here whether Black has won the exchange or given up two Knights for a Rook. Black is putting his money on White letting the Knight out of its prison at a1 in order to activate his pieces.

18.exf6 Bxf6 19.Re1+

• If 19.Ne5 then after 19...Bxe5 20.Bxa8 0-0 21.Bg2 Bb7 Black remains two pawn to the good.

BLACK: Yannick Pelletier
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu
Position after 19.Rf1e1+

19...Be7!?

• Black is not ready to give up on the idea of castling. He really should be. Once Black castles, it will take further moves to free the Queen for active duty.
• More economical is 19...Kd8! 20.Ng5 Rc8 21.Bh3 Bxg5 22.Qxg5+ f6 leaving Black with the material advantage.

20.Nc3 0-0

• If 20...Bb7 21.Qd1! then:
• 21...0-0 22.Bd2 Rfe8 23.Qxa1 Bf6 gives Black an extra pawn and the advantage in space.
• 21...d5?! 22.Ne5! Qd6 23.Qa4+ gives White the initiaitve.

21.Ne5!

• White plays the active defense by attacking the guard of Black's otherwise unguarded Bishop.
• 21.Qd1 Bb7 22.Bd2 Bc6 23.Qxa1 Rfe8 24.Qb1 Rad8 maintains Black's material advantage.

21...Qc8

• A more active reply wouldn't be that much help.
• If 21...Qf5 then:
• If 22.Nc6 Bf6 23.Nd5 Kh8 24.Be4 then:
• If 24...Qh5 25.Nxf6 gxf6 26.Qxd6 Kg7 27.Ne7 then:
• 27...Rad8 28.Nf5+ Qxf5 29.Qxf8+ Rxf8 30.Bxf5 White is more than compensated for the pawn with greater activity and better pawn structure; Black still needs to solve the problem of his Knight at a1.
• 27...Qe5? 28.Bh6+! Kxh6 29.Nf5+ Kg6 30.Qd2! forces Black to give up the Queen or submit to mate.
• 24...Qg4 25.Nxf6 gxf6 26.Qxd6 Qg7 27.Be3 Rfe8 28.Qd5 leaves White with the active game.
• If 22.Be4!? Qh3 then:
• 23.Nxf7 Rae8 24.Bc6 Rb8 25.Nxd6 Bxd6 26.Qxd6 Rbd8 leaves Black up by a clean exchange.
• 23.Bxa8 dxe5 24.Bg2 Qf5 25.Nd5 Bd8 26.Qc3 Qd3 keeps Black at least a pawn to the good.

22.Nc6

• White has equalized.

22...Bd8

• If 22...Bf6 23.Nd5 Re8 24.Rxe8+ Qxe8 25.Nc7 then:
• 25...Qc8 26.Nxa8 Bb7! 27.Nxb6 axb6 28.Qxd6 remains equal.
• If 25...Qd7 26.Nxa8 Bb7 27.Nb8 then:
• 27...Qc8! 28.Bxb7 Qxb7 29.Nxb6 axb6 30.Qxd6 remains equal.
• 27...Qe7?! 28.Qe3 Qxe3 29.fxe3 Bxg2 30.Kxg2 leaves White with a piece for two pawns.

23.Nd5 Qg4 24.b3

• If 24.b4 Bb7 25.Nde7+ then:
• 25...Kh8 26.Bb2 Bxe7 27.Rxe7 Bxc6 28.Bxc6 Rad8 remains equal.
• If 25...Bxe7? 26.Nxe7+ Kh8 27.Bxb7 then:
• 27...Rab8 28.Re4! Qh5 29.Bd5 Rbe8 30.Bb2 wins the Knight.
• 27...Qxb4 28.Bxa8 Rxa8 29.Qxb4 cxb4 30.Re2 gives White a piece for three pawns and Black's Knight is still imprisoned on a1.

24...Bb7 25.h3

• This quiet move is part of White's tactical plan.
• The immediate 25.Nce7+!? proves premature after Black easily escapes with 25...Kh8 26.Ne3 Qd7!.

25...Qh5?

• Black falls into a trap and sets up White's winning tactical coup.
• 25...Nxb3!! is difficult to see, but it is the best saving move; after26.axb3 Qd7 27.Nce7+ Kh8 28.Bb2 is equal.
• Less satisfactory, but still not losing immediately, is 25...Qd7!? when 26.Nce7+ Kh8 27.Bb2! when White ends any hopes Black had about raising the Knight from the dead.

BLACK: Yannick Pelletier
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu
Position after 25...Qg4h5

26.Nce7+!

• Thunder booms across the board.

26...Kh8

• Black loses a piece no matter how he plays.
• 26...Bxe7 27.Nxe7+ Kh8 28.Bxb7 Rab8 29.Bg2 Rbd8 30.Qc3 wins the Knight and the game.

27.Nf4! 1-0

• Lightning strikes. The double attack on two unprotected pieces wins one of them.
• M. Pelletier resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Ushenina - Galojan, Round 6

Lilit Galojan
Photo by Frank Hoppe, Wikipedia (Public Domain)


Annna Ushenina - Lilit Galojan
11th European Championships (Women's Group), Round 6
Rijeka, 11 March 2010

West Indian Game: Tal-Indian Defense (Modern Benoni)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 c5 4.d5 exd5 5.cxd5 b5 6.a4

• 6.Bg2 d6 7.e4 Nbd7 8.f4 g6 9.Qe2 Nb6 10.Qxb5+ Bd7 11.Qd3 Bg7 12.Nc3 0-0 13.Nge2 Re8 14.0-0 Bg4 15.h3 c4 16.Qc2 Bxe2 17.Nxe2 Nfd7 18.Be3 Nxd5 19.Bf2 N5b6 20.Rad1 Qe7 draw (Payen-Korneev, Op, Linares, 2005).

6...b4 7.Bg2

• If 7.b3?! (it is time-consuming to develop the Bishop on the flank when Bg5 puts it on a good square in one move) 7...g6 8.Bg2 d6 9.e4 Bg7 10.Bb2 0-0 11.Ne2 Re8 12.Nd2 Nxe4 13.Bxg7 Nxd2 then:
• 14.Bh6? Bg4! (Black has the Knight at e2 pinned twice) 15.Be3 Nf3+ 16.Bxf3 Bxf3 17.Rg1 Nd7 18.Qd2 Nf6 19.Nf4 g5 20.Ne2 Re5 21.0-0-0 Ne4 22.Qc2 Bxe2 23.Qxe2 Nc3 White resigns (Milkeika-Tal, Soviet Union, 1953).
• 14.Qxd2 Kxg7 15.0-0 Qf6 16.Rfe1 Nd7 gives Black an extra pawn.

7...d6 8.Nd2 Ba6 9.b3

• If 9.Qc2 g6 10.Nc4 Bg7 11.Bf4 0-0 then:
• If 12.Bxd6 b3 13.Qc1 Re8 then:
• 14.Bxc5? Nbd7! 15.Nd6 Qa5+ 16.Kf1? Nxc5 17.Nxe8 Rxe8 18.Bf3 Nfe4 19.Kg2 Qd2 20.Bxe4 Qxc1 21.Rxc1 Nxe4 22.Nh3 Nd2 23.Rhd1 Nc4 24.d6 Bxb2 25.d7 Rd8 26.Rb1 Bb7+ White resigns since 27.Kg1 Bc6 28.a5 Rxd7 29.Rxd7 Bxd7 gives Black a material advantage and the more active game (Kransenkow-J. Howell, Op, Belgorod (Russia), 1990).
• 14.Bc7 Qd7 15.d6 Ne4 16.Nd2 Bb7 17.Nxb3 Nxf2 18.Kxf2 Bxg2 19.Kxg2 Qc6+ gives Black a minor piece and a pawn for a Rook, but White's position is easier to defend than the main line.
• 12.Nh3 Bxc4 13.Qxc4 Nh5 14.0-0-0 a5 is equal (Edvardsson-P. Carlsson, Op, Reyjavik, 2008).

9...g6 10.Bb2 Bg7 11.Rc1

• 11.Nh3 0-0 12.0-0 Nbd7 13.Rc1 Re8 14.Re1 Rb8 15.Ba1 Rb7 is equal (Le Thanh Tu-Hou Yifan, World ChTW, Ekaterinburg, 2007).

11...0-0

• The game is equal.

12.Nc4 Re8 13.e3 Qe7

• If 13...Bxc4 14.Rxc4 Nbd7 15.Ne2 then:
• 15...Nb6 16.Rc1 Ne4 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.Qd3 remains equal.
• 15...Nh5 16.Bxg7 Nxg7 17.0-0 Ne5 18.Rc2 remains equal.

14.Ne2 Nbd7 15.0-0 Bxc4

• If 15...Nb6 16.Nxb6 axb6 17.Qc2 b5 18.axb5 Bxb5 19.Ra1 remains equal.

16.Rxc4 a5 17.Re1 Nb6

• 17...Rac8 18.Rf4 Nb6 19.Qa1 Nh5 20.Re4 Qg5 remains equal.

18.Rc1 Nfd7 19.Bxg7 Kxg7 20.e4

• 20.Nf4!? c4 21.bxc4 Nc5 22.Ra1 Nxc4 23.Nd3 Rac8 gives Black the advantage in space.

20...Qf6 21.f4 Rac8 22.g4!?

• 22.Qd2 c4 23.Nd4 c3 24.Qf2 Rc5 remains equal.

22...h6

• Black restrains White's Kingside.

23.Rf1 c4 24.Nd4?!

• White must now lose a pawn.
• 24.bxc4 Nxc4 25.Qd3 Ndb6 26.h3 Nb2 27.Qa6 N2c4 gives Black the initiative by attacking White's a-pawn, but it isn't won.

BLACK: Lilit Galojan
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Anna Ushenina
Position after 24.Ne2d4

24...Nc5!

• Also good is 24...cxb3! 25.Rxc8 Rxc8 26.Nxb3 Ra8 when:
• If 27.Qa1 then after 27...Qxa1 28.Rxa1 f5 29.gxf5 gxf5 30.exf5 Nc5 White has an extra pawn but Black's pieces are more active.
• If 27.Nd4 Nc5 28.Qa1 Re8 then:
• 29.g5 hxg5 30.fxg5 Qe5 31.Nc6 Qxa1 32.Rxa1 Nbxa4 33.Nxa5 Nc3 wins the e-pawn.
• 29.h4 Kh7 30.g5 Qg7 31.gxh6 Kxh6 32.e5 dxe5 wins a pawn.

25.bxc4 Nxe4 26.Ne6+?

• Whatever White thought she saw, she didn't see.
• 26.Nc6 Nc5 27.g5 hxg5 28.Qg4 Ne4 29.fxg5 Qxg5 gives Black an extra pawn.

26...fxe6! 27.Bxe4 Nxc4

• 27...Rxc4 28.Rxc4 Nxc4 29.Bxg6 Rc8 30.Re1 Qxg6 wins a piece for Black, but this variation still gives White some faint hopes of fighting back.

28.Qd3 exd5 29.Qxd5

• If 29.Bxd5 Re3 then:
• If 30.Qd1 then after 30...Nb2 31.Qd2 Rd3 32.Qf2 Rxc1 33.Rxc1 Qd4 the Bishop must fall.
• If 30.Qxc4 then after 30...Rxc4 31.Rxc4 Rc3 32.Rxc3 Qxc3 33.Kh1 Qd3 Black still wins a piece.

29...Rc5 30.Qb7+

• Now White loses a piece.
• 30.Qd3 Nb2 31.Qe3 Nxa4 32.Rce1 d5 33.g5 Qc3 saves the pawn, but leaves Black to connected remote passers to the good.

BLACK: Lilit Galojan
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WHITE: Anna Ushenina
Position after 30.Qd5b7+

30...Re7!

• If 30...Kf8!? 31.Rce1 Nd2 32.Bc6 Re7 33.Qa8+ Kg7 then 34.Bd5! forces Black to give up the exchange ...
• I... but after 34...Rxd5! 35.Qxd5 Nxf1 36.Rxf1 Qe6 Black is still winning.
• If 34...Qd4+?! then White turns the game around after 35.Kg2 Qxd5+ 36.Qxd5 Rxd5 37.Rxe7+ Kf8 38.Rfe1 when White has the material edge and the potential to put a Rook behind Black's passed pawn.

31.Qa8 Qd4+ 32.Rf2 Qxe4

• White has won a piece. The rest requires little comment.

33.Qd8 Ne3 34.Re1 Rec7 35.Qxd6 Rc1 36.Qd2 Rxe1+ 37.Qxe1 Rc3 38.Rd2 Qc6 39.Qh4 Rc1+ 40.Kf2

BLACK: Lilit Galojan
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WHITE: Anna Ushenina
Position after 40.Kg1f2

40...Rf1+!!

• giving the piece back is an the quickest win.

41.Kxe3 Rf3+ 0-1

• If 42.Ke2 then 42...Qe4+ 43.Kd1 Qb1+ 44.Ke2 Qf1#.
• Ms. Ushenina resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Cheparinov - López, Round 2

For the most part, the second round of a Swiss System tournament feature mismatches between strong grandmasters who defeated players rated two hundred points lower in the first round, and less healded GMs and strong IMs. There is, of course, the occasional upset.

One such upset occured in the second round at Rijeka when Spanish journeyman grandmaster Josep Manuel López took down Bulgaria's second ranked GM, Ivan Cheparinov.



Josep Manuel López
Photo by Federació d'Escacs Valls d'Andorra, flickr (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Ivan Cheparinov - Josep Manuel López
11th European Championships (General Group), Round 2
Rijeka, 7 March 2010

Closed French Game: Nimzovich Defense (Winawer Defense)

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Nc6

• The most common move is 6...Ne7. See Pähtz-Cioara, Bundesliga 0910, Eppingen, 2009.

7.Qg4 g6 8.Bd2

• 8.a4 Bd7 9.Nf3 Qa5 10.Bd2 c4 11.Be2 0-0-0 12.0-0 f6 13.Rfb1 fxe5 14.dxe5 Rf8 15.Rb5 Qc7 16.Be3 draw (Marusenko-Kruppa, GMT, Kiev, 2003).

8...Bd7 9.Nf3

• If 9.h4 h6 10.Bd3 Qe7 11.Nh3 then:
• 11...0-0-0 12.0-0 c4 13.Be2 Be8 14.Nf4 Kb8 15.a4 Ka8 16.Bc1 f5 is equal (Anand-Ponomariov, Rapid, León, 2007).
• 11...c4 12.Be2 0-0-0 13.0-0 Kb8 14.a4 Be8 15.a5 Ka8 16.Nf4 is equal (Kasimdzhanov-Ponomariov, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2007).

9...c4

• White has the advantage in space.
• 9...Qb6 10.Be2 Qb2 11.0-0 Qxc2 12.Qg5 Qe4 13.Be3 is equal.

10.h4 h6

• It is typical of this opening for White to play on the kingside and Black to go for aggression on the opposite wing.
• 10...Qb6 11.Bc1 Qa5 12.Ra2 0-0-0 13.h5 gives White more space.

11.Qf4 Nce7 12.a4!?

• White neglects his own development in an attempt to slow down Black's expansion on the queenside. If the pawn can get to a5, then the space controled by White's Rook prevents Black from using the a-file.
• White continues to enjoy the advantage in space after 12.Be2 Rb8 13.h5 g5 14.Qg3 Ba4 15.Ra2.

12...Qa5

• Black prevents the pawn from going any further.

13.Nh2

• White is probably planning to use the Knight to support a pawn advance.
• Better is 13.Be2 Bxa4 14.Ra2 Qb5 then:
• 15.0-0 Qc6 16.Rfa1 b5 Black continues his queenside attack.
• 15.Bc1 g5 16.Qd2 g4 17.Nh2 h5 cramps White's kingside.

13...Bxa4!

• Black has an extra pawn and the advantage in space.

14.Ng4 Qb5

• Black threatens 15...Qb2.

15.Nf6+!?

• White isn't finished dealing with his problems on the queenside. The Knight should be used for defense.
• If 15.Ne3! then:
• 15...Nf5 16.Nxf5 exf5 17.Kd1 Qd7 18.Qf3 Ne7 White succeeds in creating weaknesses in Black's center and making threats.
• 15...Qd7 16.Be2 Nf5 17.Nxf5 gxf5 18.Ra2 Ne7 is equal.

15...Nxf6!

• The obvious move is the most sensible.

BLACK: Josep Manuel López
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WHITE: Ivan Cheparinov
Position after 15...Ng8f6:N

16.exf6?!

• White's own pawn pours concrete over White's access to the backward f-pawn.
• Correct is 16.Qxf6 Rh7 17.Kd1 h5 18.g3 Qd7 which gives White chances for counterplay when the opportunity arises.

16...Nc6

• On top of everything else wrong with White's last move, Black brings another piece to the queenside and, with White kingside initiative spent, now has time to take the pawn at c2.
• Better for Black is 16...Nc8 17.Kd1 Qc6 18.Be2 b5 19.Bc1 Nd6 20.Ba3 Ne4 when White will be unable to get in Qf4c7, the only attacking move he really has remaining.

17.Kd1

• 17.Rc1 Qb2 18.Kd1 b6 19.Be2 a6 20.Qc7 Ra7! leaves White with no good moves and 20.Qc7 proves ineffective.

17...0-0-0?!

• Black almost loses his advantage.
• If 17...Nb8 then:
• 18.Be2 Qc6 19.Qf3 Nd7 20.Be3 b5 Black retains his extra pawn and his queenside initiative.
• 18.Qc7!? is shown to be a waste of time by 18...Qd7 19.Qg3 b5.

18.g3!?

• White misses an opportunity to start climbing out of his hole and back into the game.
• If 18.Qg3 then:
• 18...Kd7 19.Be2 Ra8 20.h5 Rag8 leaves Black better, but not as good as he was before castling.
• 18...Rd7?! 19.h5! g5 20.Be2 is equal.

18...b6 19.Bh3 Kb7 20.Re1 h5 21.Qf3?

• White doesn't see the power of Black's coming shot.
• 21.Kc1 then:
• 21...Rd7 22.Rb1 Qa5 23.Ra1 a6 24.Kd1 Kc8 leaves Black better, but White still isn't beaten.
• 21...Bxc2?! 22.Kxc2 Qb3+ 23.Kc1 Rhe8 24.Re2! Na5 25.Be1 turns the game around in White's favor.
• Black's best move is 21.Bg2 when:
• 21...Kc8 22.Qf3 Rd7 23.Bf4 Re8 24.Kd2 Kd8 is equal.
• 21...Rhe8 22.Bc1 Kc8 23.Re2 a6 24.Ke1 Rd7 is equal

BLACK: Josep Manuel López
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WHITE: Ivan Cheparinov
Position after 21.Qf4f3

21...Bxc2+!!

• Black wins. There is no escape.

22.Kxc2

• If 22.Kc1 Qb3 23.Re3 b5 then:
• 24.Qe2 Bd3 25.Qd1 Qxd1+ 26.Kxd1 a5 Black brings his Rooks to the queenside and buries White.
• 24.Bg2 b4 25.cxb4 Bd3 is time to turn the lights out.
• 22.Ke2 Nxd4+ 23.cxd4 c3+ 24.Ke3 Qd3+ 25.Kf4 g5+ wins the Queen.

22...Qb3+ 23.Kc1 Nb4!! 0-1

• White must lose material or submit to mate on c2.
• Cheparinov resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Maiorov - B. Socko, Round 3

Nikita Maiorov of Belarus was another who made a surprise strong showing in the early rounds.



Nikita Maiorov
Photo: Scacchierando (Italy)


Nikita Maiorov - Bartosz Socko
11th European Championships (General Group), Round 3
Rijeka, 8 March 2010

West India Game: King's Indian Defense (Catalan Opening)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 0-0 5.Bg2 d6 6.0-0 Nc6

• If 6...Nbd7 7.Nc3 e5 8.e4 c6 then:
• If 9.h3 Qb6 10.Re1 then:
• If 10...exd4 11.Nxd4 then:
• If 11...Ne8 then:
• If 12.Nb3 a5 13.Be3 Qb4 then:
• 14.a3 Qxc4 15.Nd4 f6 16.Bf1 Qf7 17.b3 Nc7 18.Bc4 d5 19.exd5 Ne5 is equal (Kashlinskaya-Kryakvin, Russian ChT HL, Dagomys, 2009).
• If 14.Nd4 a4 15.a3 Qa5 16.f4 Nc5 17.Qc2 Bxd4 18.Bxd4 Nb3 19.Rad1 gives White the advantage in space (Zatonskih-Ambrust, Op, Gibraltar, 2009).
• If 12.Nf3 Ne5 13.Nxe5 dxe5 14.Qa4 Bf6 15.Be3 Qc7 then:
• 16.Rac1 Ng7 17.h4 Rd8 18.b4 Ne6 19.Nd5 cxd5 20.cxd5 Qd7 21.Qxd7 Bxd7 22.dxe6 draw (Seres-Gladyszev, 1st Saturday, Budapest, 2001.03).
• 16.c5 Ng7 17.Rad1 Ne6 18.h4 Be7 19.b4 Bd7 20.Qb3 Ng7 21.b5 Rfd8 22.b6 Qc8 23.Na4 Be6 24.Qb2 f6 25.a3 Rxd1 26.Rxd1 Qf8 27.Qc3 axb6 28.Nxb6 draw (Lahiri-Thispay, Indian Ch, New Delhi, 2001).
• If 11...Re8 then:
• 12.Re2 Ng4 13.Rd2 Nge5 14.b3 Nc5 15.Rc2 a5 16.Be3 a4 17.Rb1 axb3 18.axb3 Qb4 19.Na2 Qa3 is equal (Fridman-Schaefer, IT, Essen, 2001).
• If 12.Nc2 Ne5 13.b3 Nfd7 14.Na4 Qa5 then:
• 15.Bd2 Qc7 16.Re3 Nc5 17.Nxc5 dxc5 18.f4 Nd7 19.Bc3 Bxc3 20.Rxc3 gives White the advantage in space and pawn structure (Damljanovic-Lechtynsky, IT, Vrnjacka Banja, 1984).
• 15.Nb2 Nf6 16.f4 Ned7 17.Qxd6 Qc3 18.Qd3 Qxd3 19.Nxd3 Nh5 20.g4 Bxa1 21.Nxa1 Ng7 gives White more space and Black a material advantage (Pizzi-Najdorf, IT, Mar del Plata, 1947).
• If 10...Re8 11.d5 then:
• If 11...Nc5 12.Rb1 a5 13.Be3 Qc7 14.Nd2 Bd7 then:
• 15.Bf1 Reb8 16.dxc6 bxc6 17.Bxc5 dxc5 18.Nb3 Bf8 19.Na4 Qa7 20.Qf3 gives White more space and better pawn structure (Ribli-H. Olafsson, Ol, Buenos Aires, 1978).
• 15.Qe2 cxd5 16.cxd5 Rec8 17.Rec1 Qd8 18.Nc4 Bf8 draw (Gligoric-Ivkov, ITZ, Sousse, 1967).
• 11...c5 12.a3 a6 13.Rb1 Qc7 14.Be3 b6 15.Bf1 Nf8 16.b4 Bd7 17.Kh2 Reb8 18.Qc2 gives White a small advantage in space (Sherwin-Fischer, US Ch, New York, 1966).
• If 9.b3 Re8 10.h3 exd4 11.Nxd4 Nc5 12.Re1 a5 then:
• If 13.Rb1 Nfd7 14.Be3 Ne5 then:
• If 15.Qc2 a4 16.Red1 axb3 17.axb3 Qe7 18.f4 Ned7 19.Bf2 Nf8 20.b4 Nce6 21.Na4 Nxd4 22.Bxd4 gives White the advantage in space (Smejkal-Hausner, IT, Hradec Kralove, 1981).
• 15.Re2 Qc7 16.f4 Ned7 17.Ncb5 cxb5 18.Nxb5 Qb8 19.Nxd6 Rf8 20.Qd5 Ne6 21.Rd1 compensates White in space for his material deficit (Luna-Movsesian, World Youth, Bratislava, 19993).
• 13.Bf4 Nh5 14.Be3 Qe7 15.Qd2 Nf6 16.Rad1 Qf8 17.Qc2 Bd7 18.f4 gives White the advantage in space (Panno-Mecking, ZT, Brasilia, 1993).

7.Nc3 Bg4

• If 7...a6 then:
• If 8.d5 Na5 9.Nd2 c5 10.Qc2 Rb8 11.b3 b5 12.Bb2 then:
• If 12...e5 then:
• If 13.Rae1 Nh5 14.e4 Bh6 then:
• 15.Ncb1 f5 16.exf5 gxf5 17.Bc3 Bd7 18.Nf3 bxc4 19.bxc4 Nxc4 is equal (Korchnoi-Boleslavsky, GMT, Moscow, 1963).
• 15.Nd1 f5 16.exf5 Bxf5 17.Ne4 bxc4 18.bxc4 Rf7 gives Black the edge in space (Browne-Gunawan, IT, Denpasar, 1982).
• If 13.dxe6 fxe6 14.cxb5 axb5 15.Nce4 then:
• If 15...Nxe4 16.Nxe4 Bxb2 17.Qxb2 Bb7 18.Rad1 Bxe4 19.Bxe4 d5 20.Bg2 Nc6 then:
• 21.e4 d4 22.Qc2 Qb6 23.Rc1 Nb4 24.Qxc5 Nxa2 25.Qxb6 Rxb6 26.Rc7 Rf7 27.Rc8+ Rf8 28.Rc7 Rf7 29.Rc8+ draw (Ftacnik-W. Schmidt, IT, Prague, 1985).
• 21.Rfe1 Rc8 22.e4 d4 23.e5 Nb4 24.Rd2 Nd5 25.Bxd5 Qxd5 26.b4 Rfd8 27.Red1 Qxe5 draw (W. Schmidt-Sax, IT, Budapest, 1977).
• 15...Bb7 16.Rad1 Qe7 17.Nxf6+ Bxf6 18.Bxf6 Qxf6 19.Bxb7 Nxb7 20.Qd3 b4 gives Black the advantage in space (Petrosian-Veingold, IT, Tallinn, 1979).
• If 12...bxc4 13.bxc4 Bh6 14.f4 e5 then:
• If 15.dxe6 Bxe6 16.Nd5 Rxb2 17.Qxb2 Bg7 then:
• If 18.Qc1 Bxd5 19.cxd5 Ng4 20.Rb1 Bd4+ 21.Kh1 then:
• 21...Ne3 22.Qa3 Re8 23.Qd3 Qa8 24.Bf3 Nxf1 25.Nxf1 Qa7 26.Nd2 Re3 is equal (Jussupow-Kindermann, IT, Baden Baden, 1992).
• 21...Nf2+ 22.Rxf2 Bxf2 23.Ne4 Bd4 24.Qa3 (Macek-Grabics, Croatian ChTW, Pula, 2001).
• 18.Qa3 Nxc4 19.Nxc4 Nxd5 20.Rac1 Nb4 21.Kh1 d5 22.Ne5 Qd6 23.Qa5 c4 24.e4 dxe4 25.Nxc4 draw (Szekely-Oll, Keres Mem, Tallinn, 1983).
• 15.Rae1 exf4 16.gxf4 Nh5 17.e3 Bg7 18.Nd1 Bf5 19.Be4 Bxb2 20.Nxb2 Qf6 21.Nd3 Rfe8 22.Bxf5 Qxf5 23.e4 Qg4+ 24.Kh1 Ng3+ 25.hxg3 Qh3+ 26.Kg1 Qxg3+ 27.Kh1 draw (Osnos-Suetin, Soviet Ch, Tbilisi, 1967).
• If 8.h3 Rb8 9.e4 then:
• 9...b5 10.e5 dxe5 11.dxe5 Qxd1 12.Rxd1 Nd7 13.e6 fxe6 14.cxb5 axb5 15.Bf4 b4 16.Na4 e5 17.Be3 Nd8 18.Rac1 Ne6 White's extra space more than compensates for the pawn (Vaganian-Mestel, IT, London, 1984).
• 9...Nd7 10.Be3 b5 11.cxb5 axb5 12.Qc1 Na5 13.Bh6 b4 gives White the edge in space (W. Schmidt-Sznapik, IT, Vrnjacka Banja, 1981).
• If 8.b3 Rb8 9.Nd5 then:
• If 9...e6 10.Nxf6+ Qxf6 then:
• If 11.Bg5 Qf5 12.Qd2 Nxd4 13.Nxd4 Bxd4 14.Qxd4 Qxg5 15.Qa7 Bd7 16.Bxb7 a5 then:
• If 17.Rfd1 Rfd8 then:
• 18.Bg2 Qc5 19.Qxc5 dxc5 20.Rd3 Kf8 21.Re3 f6 22.f4 yields the edge in space to White (Mamedyarov-McShane, Young Masters, Lausanne, 2003).
• If 18.Bf3 then:
• 18...Qc5?! 19.Qxc5 dxc5 20.Rd3 gives White a significant advatange in space (Bu Xiangzhi-Bologan, Op, Gibraltar, 2008).
• 18...Rbc8 19.Rac1 a4 20.b4 e5 21.b5 Bg4 22.Rc3 White holds his position and his edge in space.
• 17.Rad1 Rfd8 18.Rd3 Kf8 19.Rfd1 Ke7 20.Bc6 Rb6 21.Bb5 Qc5 gives White the advantage in apce on the queenside (Ruck-Fedorov. Eur Club Cup, Fügen (Austria), 2006).
• 11.Bb2 e5 12.dxe5 d5 13.c5 Qe7 14.Rc1 f5 15.Qc2 Rd8 gives White the edge in space, but Black's center is well defended (Adorjan-Bouaziz, Szirak, 1987).
• If 9...Nh5 10.Bb2 e6 11.Nc3 b5 12.d5 Ne7 13.dxe6 fxe6 14.c5 then:
• 14...dxc5 15.Qc2 Nc6 16.Rad1 Nd4 17.Nxd4 cxd4 18.Ne4 e5 19.e3 Bf5 20.Qc5 Rf7 21.exd4 exd4 22.Rxd4 Qe7 23.Ba1 Qxc5 24.Nxc5 Bxd4 25.Bxd4 Rd8 gives Black the edge in space to go with being an exchange to the good (Sargissian-Nijboer, Ol, Bled, 2002).
• 14...Bb7 15.cxd6 cxd6 is equal (Grabarczyk-B. Socko, Polish Ch, Polanica Zdroj, 1999).
• If 7...e5 8.d5 Ne7 9.e4 Nd7 10.Ne1 f5 11.Nd3 Nf6 12.Bg5 then:
• 12...h6 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.f4 exf4 15.Nxf4 Be5 16.Qd2 c6 draw (Karpov-Gelfand, Op, Seville, 1994).
• If 12...fxe4 13.Nxe4 Nf5 then:
• 14.g4 Ne7 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.f4 exf4 17.Nxf6+ Rxf6 18.Nxf4 Qf8 19.Qd4 Qg7 20.Rf2 Rf7 21.Qxg7+ Rxg7 22.h3 gives White the advantage inspace and more activity (Akopian-Kostur, World ChT, Lucerne, 1997).
• 14.Re1 h6 15.Nxf6+ Bxf6 16.Bd2 gives White teh advantage in space (Karpov-J. Polgar, IT, Las Palmas, 1994).

8.d5 Na5 9.Nd2 c5 10.Rb1 a6

• 10...Ne8 11.Qc2 Bxc3 12.Qxc3 Bxe2 13.Re1 Bg4 14.a3 b6 15.b4 Nb7 16.Qe3 gives White a strong initiative against the e-pawn (Baburin-Gurieli, IT, Biel, 1995).

11.b3 Rb8 12.Bb2 b5 13.Ba1

• If 13.h3 Bd7 14.Qc2 then:
• 14...h5 15.Ba1 Nh7 16.e4 Qc8 gives White a slight advantage in space (Feller-Sebenik, IT, Szeged, 2007).
• 14...Qc7 15.e4 bxc4 16.bxc4 e5 17.Ne2 gives White a slight advantage in space (K. Georgiev-Milov, FIDE Knock Out, Groningen, 1997).

13...e5

• White has a slight advantage in space.

14.cxb5 axb5 15.b4 cxb4 16.Rxb4

• The book on the King's Indian (all variations) is that White has an advantage on the queen while Black will build space and use his advantage on the kingside. In this game, White has swept away most of the queenside pawns, opening the position for his pieces and forcing Black to retreat his most active piece, the Bishop at g4, to defend the attacked b-pawn.

16...Bd7
BLACK: Bartosz Socko
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WHITE: Nikita Maiorov
Position after 16...Bg4d7

17.Qb1!

• White has no time to lock the center before exploiting his advantage on the queenside.
• If 17.e4!? Ne8! 18.Qe2 Nc7 19.Rfb1 then:
• 19...Rc8 (Black's minor pieces prevent the pawn from being taken) 20.a4 Na6 21.Rxb5 Bxb5 22.axb5 Nc5 is equal.
• If 19...Nb7!? 20.R4b2 Qc8 21.a4! then:
• If 21...bxa4 22.Nc4 Na8 23.Nxd6 Qxc3 24.Nxb7 gives White command of the b-file and the active game.
• 21...f5!? 22.axb5 fxe4 23.b6 Ne8 24.Ndxe4 leaves White with an extra pawn.
• 21...b4? 22.Rxb4 Bg4 23.f3 Bd7 24.a5 gives White an extra pawn.

17...Nc4 18.Nxc4

• 18.Qd3 Qa5 19.Rfb1 Rfc8 20.e4 is equal.

18...bxc4 19.a4 Qc7 20.Rc1!?

• Now is a good time to lock the center.
• 20.e4 Rfc8 21.Nb5 Qc5 22.Rc1 Ng4 23.Rc2 gives White the advantage in space and keeps his kingside defended.

20...e4!?

• Black fails to exploit White's inaccuracy.
• 20...Bh6 21.e3 Bf5 22.Qb2 Bd3 is equal.

21.Nb5!

• White seizes the initiative.

21...Bxb5 22.axb5 Nxd5 23.Rbxc4 Qa5

• Black grabs the bull by the horns and fight White on the queenside.
• 23...Qe7!? 24.Rxe4! Qg5 25.Bxg7 Kxg7 26.Rec4 Nf6 27.b6 gives White an extra pawn.

24.Bxg7 Kxg7 25.Qb2+!?

• This is not bad, but White has a better line that wins a pawn brings him to the brink of victory.
• 25.Qxe4! Rxb5 26.Qd4+ Nf6 27.Qxd6 then:
• 27...Rd8 28.Qf4 Qd2 29.Qc7 Rb2 30.Bf3 leaves White with an extra pawn.
• 27...Rfb8 28.Rc6 Qd8 29.Qf4 Rb1 30.e3 leaves White with an extra pawn.

25...Kg8
BLACK: Bartosz Socko
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WHITE: Nikita Maiorov
Position after 25...Kg7g8

26.Rb1!

• It may be the second best plan, but White executes it consistantly and flawlessly. He sees that he will withstand Black's initiative and prepareds to push the passed pawn when the time is right.
• If 26.Bxe4 Qxb5 27.Qxb5 Rxb5 28.Rd4 then:
• 28...Rb4 29.Rxd5 Rxe4 30.e3 Re6 31.Rc6 Rd8 32.g4 retains the more active game for White.
• 28...Nf6 29.Bc6 Rb2 30.Rxd6 gives White an extra pawn.

26...Rfc8 27.Rxc8+ Rxc8 28.b6!

• Black has no threats to which White must respond, thus it is time to accommodate the passed pawn's lust to expand.

28...Rb8 29.b7 f5 30.Rc1!?

• White misses a winning line.
• If 30.Ra1! Qb6 then:
• 31.Qa2! Qxb7 32.Rd1 wins the Knight.
• 31.Qxb6?! Nxb6 32.Ra7 d5! 33.e3 is equal.

30...Qa6 31.Rb1 Qc6 32.Bf1 Kf7 33.e3

• White freezes the fron end of Black's pawn chain.
• If 33.Qb3 Kf8 then:
• 34.e3 Ke7 35.Bc4 Nf6 White maintains his passed pawn and now has command of the critical a2/g8 diagonal.
• If 34.Qb5!? then:
• 34...Qxb5! 35.Rxb5 Nc7 36.Rb6 Ne6 is equal.
• If 34...Qc5! 35.Qd7 e3 36.Rb5 exf2+ then:
• 37.Kg2 Nf6 38.Rxc5 Nxd7 39.Rc8+ is equal.
• 37.Kh1?! Qc7! 38.Qxc7 Nxc7 gives Black an extra pawn.

33...Nf6 34.Bb5 Qc7 35.Ba6 Qc6?

• Black leaves the Queen exposed on the c-file, where White can take advantage of the situation to gain vaulable tempi.
• If 35...Qa5 then:
• 36.Bc4+ Kg7 37.Qb6 Qxb6 38.Rxb6 Nd7 39.Rb5 leaves White only slightly better.
• 36.Ra1!? Qe5 37.Qxe5 dxe5 38.Bc4+ Ke7 39.Ra6 is equal.
• 36.Qa1!? Qxa1 37.Rxa1 Ke7 38.Rb1 d5 39.Rb6 is equal.

36.Qa1!

• White is now greatly superior and on the brink of winning, but he still has to play the winning move.

36...Nd7

• If 36...d5 then White wins after 37.Rc1 Qd6 38.Qc3 g5 39.Qc8!!.

BLACK: Bartosz Socko
!""""""""#
$ T + + +%
$+p+m+l+o%
$b+wP +o+%
$+ + +o+ %
$ + +o+ +%
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$ + + P P%
$Qr+ + K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Nikita Maiorov
Position after 36...Nf6d7

37.Bb5?!

• What White really needs to win is to exchange Queens, without which Black cannot adequately defend against the b-pawn. Here, he misses the opportunity to do just that.
• If 37.Rc1! Nc5 38.Bc4+ d5 39.Ba2 then:
• 39...Rxb7 40.Qd4! Ne6 41.Rxc6 Nxd4 42.Bxd5+ wins a piece.
• If 39...Ke6 40.Qd4 Kd6 41.f4 then:
• 41...Rxb7 42.Qe5+ Kd7 43.Bxd5 Qd6 44.Qg7+! wins a piece after 44...Qe7 45.Qxe7+ Kxe7 46.Bxb7 Nxb7 47.Rc7+.
• If 41...exf3 then 42.Qf4+ wins the Rook.

37...Qc7 38.Qa2+ Ke7 39.Bxd7

• The exchange of minor pieces makes White's task easier, but it is still necessary to exchange Queens.

39...Qxd7 40.Qa7

• 40.Qd5 Qc7 41.Rb5 Qd7 42.h3 Kd8 43.Kg2 Ke7 it will be difficult for White to make progress.

40...Qc7 41.Kg2 Kf6 42.Rb6

• 42.Qd4+ Ke6 43.Rb5 Qc6 44.Qa7 Qc7 45.Qa2+ White still can't make progress.

42...Kg5!?

• The Black King should remain on the queenside of the pawn chain. Where it is now, Black can hit it with pawn checks and other strategic pawn advances and piece maneuvers that cramp the King and improve White's position.
• Better is 42...Ke6 43.Rb5 Kf7 44.Qa2+ Kg7 45.Qd5 Qd7.

43.Rb5 Kh6 44.h3

• If 44.Rb4 Black's defense still holds after 44...d5 45.Rb5 Kg5 46.Qb6 Qd7 47.h3 Kh5.

44...d5 45.h4 Kh5 46.Qa6 Kh6

• If 46...Qd7? then White sacrifice two pawns with 47.g4+!! and now:
• 47...Kxh4 48.Qf6+ Kxg4 49.Rb1 Qd8 (White is threatening 50.Rh1 g5 51.Qh6, forcing mate) 50.Qxd8 Rxd8 51.b8Q wins for White.
• 47...Kh6 48.Qa7 Qd8 49.gxf5 Qc7 50.f6 breaks Black's defense like a dry stick.

BLACK: Bartosz Socko
!""""""""#
$ T + + +%
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WHITE: Nikita Maiorov
Position after 46...Kh5h6

47.h5!

• Perhaps it isn't necessary to attack a pawn chain at its base, as Nimzovich thought, but it's still an excellent place to strike. In this case, it is the very best.

47...Kg5

• If 47...Qd7 then after 48.Qb6 Kg5 49.hxg6 hxg6 Black's Queen can no longer simultaneously defend the base of the pawn chain and attack the b-pawn from any point kingside of White's pawn on rank 7.
• If 47...Kxh5? then 48.Qf6! (threatening mate on h4) wins after 48...Qd8 49.Qxd8 Rxd8 50.b8Q.

48.hxg6 hxg6 49.Rb6

• Also good is 49.Qa7 Kh6 50.Rb1 Qe5 51.Rc1 Qe8 52.Rc5, winning a pawn.

49...Qh7 50.Qa1!

• If 50.Qa8 Qh8 51.Qa4 Qh7 52.Qd4 Qh5 (Black sets a clever trap) then:
• If 53.Kg1! Qg4 54.Qxd5 Kh6 55.Qd6 is an easy win for White.
• White must not be careless: if 53.Qxd5? Rh8! 54.Rxg6+! (any other move loses) 54...Qxg6 then:
• 55.Qe5 Qe8 56.b8Q Qxb8 57.Qg7+ Kh5 58.Qf7+ Kg5 59.Qg7+ etc. draws.
• If 55.f4+? exf3+ 56.Qxf3 Qb6! wins for Black.

50...Kg4 51.Qd1+ Kg5 52.f4+ exf3+ 53.Qxf3 Qc7

• 53...Qe7 loses the Rook to 54.Qf4+.

BLACK: Bartosz Socko
!""""""""#
$ T + + +%
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$ R + +o+%
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$ + + + +%
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WHITE: Nikita Maiorov
Position after 53...Qh7c7

54.Qf4+!

• White wins by forcing the exchange of Queens and bringing his King to d4.

54...Qxf4 55.gxf4+ Kh6

• The Black King heads for c7 along the seventh rank; the White King goes upboard along the d-file. Black's problem is that he must take one more move to accomplish his task than White.

56.Kf2 Kg7 57.Ke2 Kf7 58.Kd3 Ke8 59.Kd4 Kd8 60.Rxg6 1-0

• If 60...Kc7 then after 61.Rf6 Kxb7 62.Rxf5 Kc6 63.Rxd5 the connected passers triumph.
• Grandmaster Socko resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Zawadzka - Schut, Round 1

Here we have a pretty Queen sacrifice from the opening round.



Jolanta Zawadzka
Photo by karpidis, flickr (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Jolanta Zawadzka - Lisa Schut
11th European Championships (Women's Group), Round 1
Rijeka, 7 March 2010

Open Sicilian Game: Najdorf-Boleslavsky Defense (Chandler-Nunn Opening)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.h3

• This move is rarely played. 8.f3 is the more common move. See |Dzhumaev-Ghaem Maghami, Op, New Delhi, 2010.

8...Be6 9.f4!?

• If 9.Qf3 h5 10.0-0-0 Nbd7 11.Kb1 then:
• 11...Nb6 12.g4 hxg4 13.hxg4 Rxh1 14.Qxh1 Bxg4 15.f3 Bh5 leaves Black a pawn to the good (Bologan-Sakaev, President's Cup, Elista, 1998).
• 11...Qc7 12.Nd5 Bxd5 13.exd5 Rc8 14.c3 Nb6 15.Be2 h4 16.g3 Nbxd5 17.Rxd5 e4 18.Qf5 g6 19.Qg5 Nh5 draw (Wang Yen-Sjugirov, World Jr Ch, Gaziantep, 2008).

9...exf4

• The game is equal.

10.Bxf4 Nc6 11.Qe2

• 11.Bd3 0-0 12.0-0 b5 13.Nd5 Bxd5 14.exd5 Nb4 remains equal.

11...Ne5 12.0-0-0

• White often castles long in Open Sicilians in order to fight on the kingside with his pawns as well as his pieces.

12...Qc7

• 12...Ng6 13.g3 Bxb3 14.cxb3 Qb6 15.Kb1 remains equal.

13.g4 Rc8 14.g5 Nfd7 15.Qg2

• White overprotects her kingside, but playing in the center also works.
• If 15.Nd5 Bxd5 then:
• 16.Rxd5 0-0 17.h4 Nb6 18.Rd1 Nbc4 19.Bh3 gives White the initiative.
• 16.exd5 0-0 17.Bg2 Rfe8 18.Nd4 Ng6 remains equal.

15...b5 16.Kb1 0-0 17.Nd5 Bxd5 18.exd5 Ng6!?

• The Knight should remain at e5, although this inaccuracy is more of a trifle.
• 18...f6 19.Nd4 Nc5 20.gxf6 Bxf6 21.Rg1 Ng6 22.Bg3 remains equal.

19.Bc1 Nh4?!

• Better is to bring the Knight back to e5. This inaccuracy is more serious than the one previous.
• 19...Nge5 20.Nd4 Rfe8 21.Qe4 Nc5 remains equal.

20.Qe4!

• White has the advantage in space.

20...Rfe8

• Black is looking for counterplay in the center.
• 20...f5 21.Qe2 f4 22.Nd4 Nc5 23.Qh5 Ng6 24.Bg2 gives White a solid advantage in space.

21.Bd3

• White's obvious intention with this move is to attack h7, forcing Black to play 21...Ng6 and then advance the pawn.
• 21.Re1 Ng6 22.Rh2 Ndf8 23.Qf5 Nd7 24.h4 has White pushing Black off the kingside.

21...Ng6
BLACK: Lisa Schut
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Jolanta Zawadzka
Position after 21...Nh4g6

22.Qg2

• White is clearly planning an initiative on the kingside.
• 22.Qf5 Nde5 23.Nd4 Nxd3 24.Rxd3 Ne5 25.Rc3 gives White a slight initiative.

22...Nc5!?

• Black moves her Knight away form the defense while White is stronger on the kingside and has the initiative. This is an attempt to defy the law of gravity.
• If 22...Nde5 23.Rhe1 Nxd3 24.Rxd3 Ne5 25.Rc3 gives White the initiative and now:
• If 25...Nc4 26.Nd2 Qa5 27.Nxc4 bxc4 28.Qf3 Qb5 then:
• 29.h4 26.Nd2 Qa5 27.Nxc4 bxc4 28.Qf3 Qb5 then:
• 29.h4 Bf8 30.Rce3 Rxe3 31.Bxe3 Rb8 32.Bd4 Re8 33.Rf1 strengthens White's kingside initiative.
• 29.Rce3 Bf8 30.h4 Rxe3 31.Bxe3 Re8 32.Rf1 forces Black to play defense.
• If 25...Qb8 26.Rce3 Bf8 27.Nd4 Be7 28.Nc6 then:
• If 28...Nxc6 29.dxc6 Qc7 30.Qg4 then:
• If 30...Kf8 31.Qh4 Kg8 32.g6 then:
• I32...fxg6 33.Rxe7 Rxe7 34.Rxe7 Qxc6 35.Qf2 wins for White.
• If 32...hxg6 then White wins even faster after 33.Rxe7 Rxe7 34.Rxe7.
• If 30...Rcd8 31.b3 then:
• 31...a5 32.Bb2 d5 33.Qd4 f6 34.gxf6 Bxf6 35.Rxe8+ wins for White.
• If 31...Kf8 32.Qh4 Kg8 33.g6! wins.
• If 28...Qa8 29.Nxe5 dxe5 30.Rxe5 then:
• 30...Bd6 31.Rxe8+ Rxe8 32.Rxe8+ Qxe8 33.h4 leaves White with an extra pawn and more space on the kingside.
• 30...Bb4 31.Rxe8+ Rxe8 32.Rxe8+ Qxe8 33.h4 Bf8 34.h5 leaves White with an extra pawn and more space on the kingside.

23.Nxc5 Qxc5 24.h4 Bf8

• If 24...Ne5? 25.Bf5! Rc7 26.h5 then:
• 26...Bd8 27.Qe4 Kf8 28.Bxh7 wins for White.
• If 26...Rf8 then 27.Qe4 Qc4 28.Rd4 wins.

25.h5 Ne5 26.Bf5 Rc7 27.g6 Kh8

• If 27...fxg6? then White wins after 28.hxg6 h6 29.Be6+! Kh8 30.Rdg1 Qd4 31.Bf7.

28.Rdf1 Nc4?

• This move does nothing to hinder White's kingside attack.
• After 28...h6 29.gxf7 Rxf7 30.Rhg1 Rf6 31.Rf4 Black is still fighting for a draw, but still fighting.

29.gxf7!

• White opens the way for her heavy pieces.

29...Rxf7
BLACK: Lisa Schut
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Jolanta Zawadzka
Position after 29...Nc7f7:p

30.Qg6!!

• White finds the fastest and most aesthetically pleasing way to a win.
• The far less spectacular 30.Bg6 also wins after 30...Rxf1 31.Qxf1 Rb8 32.h6 Qa7 33.hxg7+ Qxg7 34.Rxh7+.

30...hxg6

• Of course, Black could have resigned instead.
• If 30...Rxf5 then 31.Qxe8 Qxd5 32.Qxf8+ Rxf8 33.Rxf8+ Qg8 34.Rxg8+ Kxg8 leaves Black up by a Rook.

31.hxg6+ Kg8 32.gxf7+ Kxf7 33.Be6+ Kg6 34.Bf7# 1-0

[Jack Rabbit]

11. Updates (Monday)

Nepo and Cmilyte take Leads in Rijeka



Russian grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi, 19, has take the lead in the general group with 7½ points while Lithuanian IM Viktorija Cmilyte, the former wife of Spanish/Latvian GM Alexei Shirov, leads the women's group, also with 7½ points, after nine rounds in the 11th annual European Individual Chess Championships now being held in the Croatian port city of Rijeka.

Ian Alexandrovich defeated Georgian GM Baadur Jobava today in a spiffy 31 moves to move into first place. Jobava drops to a tie for second place on seven points with: Ukrainian GM Zahar Efimenko, who has shared first place with Jobava for much of the tournament up to now; Ivan Sokolov of Bosnia, who drew his game with Efimenko today; Russian GMs Denis Khismatullin and Artyom Timofeev; Azerbaijani GM Rauf Mamedov; and Armenia GM Vladimir Akopian.

Ian Alexandrovich will attempt to hold on to first place tomorrow when he plays Black against Khismatullin.

Ms. Cmilyte today took down Polish grandmaster Monika Socko, who has held or shared the lead since the opening round. Three women are tied for second place on 7 points each: Anna Muzychuk of Slovenia, who will have Black against Ms. Cmilyte in a battle for first place tomorrow; defending champion Tatiana Kosintseva of Russia, who bounced back from her defeat at the hands of Mrs. Socko in round 7 to score a point and a half in her last two games; and former women's world champion Anoaneta Stefanova of Bulgaria.

Ms. Muzychuk will be playing on the top board for the second time in a week. She drew her game against Mrs. Socko in round 5.

Regulation play concludes with the 11th round Wednesday with any necessary tie breaks to be played Thursday.

19th Melody Amber Rapid/Blindfold Tournament, Nice: Standings after Three Rounds



. . . . . . . . . . . .---- Blindfold ---- ---- Rapid ----- .Total
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .+ . - . =. . . . .+ . - . = . . .Points
Vassily Ivanchuk. . . . . .2 . 0 . 1. . . . .1 . 0 . 2 . . . . .4½
Magnus Carlsen. . . . . . .2 . 1 . 0. . . . .2 . 1 . 0 . . . . .4.
Ruslan Ponomariov . . . . .1 . 0 . 2. . . . .1 . 0 . 2 . . . . .4.
Vladimir Kramnik. . . . . .1 . 1 . 1. . . . 2 . 0 . 1 . . . . .4.
Alexander Grischuk. . . . .1 . 0 . 2. . . . .0 . 1 . 2 . . . . .3.
Boris Gelfand . . . . . . .1 . 1 . 1. . . . .1 . 1 . 1 . . . . .3.
Levon Aronian . . . . . . .1 . 2 . 0. . . . .2 . 1 . 0 . . . . .3.
Peter Svidler . . . . . . .1 . 1 . 1. . . . .0 . 1 . 2 . . . . .2½
Sergey Karjakin . . . . . .1 . 1 . 1. . . . .0 . 1 . 2 . . . . .2½
Leinier Domínguez . . . . .0 . 2 . 1. . . . .0 . 0 . 3 . . . . .2.
Vugar Gashimov. . . . . . .1 . 1 . 1. . . . .0 . 2 . 1 . . . . .2.
Jan Smeets. . . . . . . . .0 . 2 . 1. . . . .0 . 1 . 2 . . . . .1½

[Jack Rabbit]

12. Updates (Wednesday)

Nepo, Pia Win Euro Championships in Rjieka



Nineteen-year-old Russian grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi and GM Pia Cramling of Sweden, who was a major force in women's chess before Nepomniachtchi was born, are the winners of the general and women's group respectively, both scoring 9 points out of a possible 11, in the 11th annual European Championships in the Croatian port city of Rijeka.

Ian Alexandrovich, or Nepo, as his fans call him, defeated veteran Armenian GM Vladimir Akopian in today's 11th and final round to cinch the title. Nepo took the lead in the ninth round when he took down Georgian GM Baadur Jobava, who was in sole possession of first place at the time.

Ian Alexandrovich takes home his first European championship.

Pia entered the day a half point behind Lithuanian IM Vikotrija Cmilyte, who had held the lead since the ninth round when she defeated Poland's Monika Socko, who had held the lead since the early rounds. Pia defeated Ms. Cmilyte today in 74 moves in a game puctuated with errors due to mutual time trouble, which was often quite severe for Ms. Cmilyte.

This is Pia's second European women's championship. She also won the 2003 title in Istanbul.


Chuckie, Magnus Lead Amber Rapid/Blind after Four Rounds



Ukrainian GM Vassily Ivanchuk, 41, and the world's top rated chess master, 19-year-old Magnus Carlsen, are tied for first place after four rounds in the 19th annual Melody Amber Rapid/Blindfold Tournament in Nice on the Mediterranean coast of France.

Chuckie, as he is known to his fans, defeated Magnus in both the rapid and blindfold games in Saturday's opening round, but Magnus has bounced back and won all his games since.

The players are taking a rest today and the action resumes tomorrow.

Standings after Four Rounds

. . . . . . . . . . . .---- Blindfold ---- ---- Rapid ----- .Total
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .+ . - . =. . . . .+ . - . = . . .Points
Magnus Carlsen. . . . . . .3 . 1 . 0. . . . .3 . 1 . 0 . . . . .6.
Vassily Ivanchuk. . . . . .2 . 0 . 2. . . . .2 . 0 . 2 . . . . .6.
Boris Gelfand . . . . . . .2 . 1 . 1. . . . .2 . 1 . 1 . . . . .5.
Alexander Grischuk. . . . .2 . 0 . 2. . . . .1 . 1 . 2 . . . . .5.
Ruslan Ponomariov . . . . .1 . 0 . 3. . . . .1 . 1 . 2 . . . . .4½
Vladimir Kramnik. . . . . .1 . 2 . 1. . . . 2 . 1 . 1 . . . . .4.
Levon Aronian . . . . . . .1 . 2 . 1. . . . .2 . 2 . 0 . . . . .3½
Peter Svidler . . . . . . .1 . 2 . 1. . . . .1 . 1 . 2 . . . . .3½
Vugar Gashimov. . . . . . .1 . 1 . 2. . . . .1 . 2 . 1 . . . . .3½
Sergey Karjakin . . . . . .2 . 1 . 1. . . . .0 . 2 . 2 . . . . .3½
Leinier Domínguez . . . . .0 . 3 . 1. . . . .0 . 1 . 3 . . . . .2.
Jan Smeets. . . . . . . . .0 . 3 . 1. . . . .0 . 2 . 2 . . . . .1½