The JR Chess Report (April 18): Anand stranded in route to Sofia match

[Jack Rabbit]

Anand-Topalov Title Match begins in Sofia Friday (maybe); Anand stranded by Eyjafjallajökul



The 12-round match for the world title between reigning champion Vishy Anand of India and Bulgarian GM Veselin Topalov, who was the last of the FIDE champions that began in the schism that pitted Garry Kasparov against FIDE, begins Friday, April 23 in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia.

The match will last until Monday, May 10, when the final round is played, with any necessary tiebreaks sceduled for May 12.

Anand and his wife, Aruna, are currently stranded in Frankfurt, Germany, by volcanic ash from the eruption of Eyjafjallajökul in Iceland. The All-India Chess has requested a three-day delay in the start of the match to give the Anands time to make alternate travel arangemnts.

Games will be broadcast live on the Official match website. All games begin at 3 pm Eastern European Standard Time (5 am PST).


Other tournments starting this week:

Asian Championships, Subic Bay (The Philippines) April 20-30.

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


Calendar

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.

Kings Tournament, Banza 14-24 June. Carlsen, Gelfand, Nisipeanu, Ponomariov, Radjabov and Wang Yue.

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.

Mainz Chess Classic 6-8 August. The world economic crisis reduces the festival to three days in 2010, with the rapid open and simultaneous exhibitions by Vishy Anand and Alexandra Kosteniuk being the only featured events.

Chess Olympiad, Khanty Mansiysk 19 September-4 October.

Pan-American Women's Championship, São Paulo 10-21 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. Bundesliga 0910, Final Weekend

Baden Baden
Photo by Ramessos in Wikipedia (Public Domain)

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Seel - Bacrot, Baden Baden, Round 15

Baden Baden cinched its fifth straight Bundesliga title at home in the fifteenth and final round with a 7-1 thrashing of Katernberg.



Etienne Bacrot
Photo: ChessBase.com


Christian Seel (Katernberg) - Etienne Bacrot (Baden Baden)
Bundesliga 0910, Round 15/Board 2
Baden Baden, 11 April 2010

Open Queen's Gambit: Catalan Opening

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.d4 dxc4 5.Bg2

• 5.Qa4+ Nc6 6.Qxc4 Nd7 7.Bg2 transposes into the text.

5...Nc6 6.Qa4

• This is the old main line of the Catalan Opening. By developing the Bishop on the flank, White forgoes retaking the "gambit" pawn by the conventional e3/Bxc4 and thus this is the alternative that was used most often prior to and just after World War II.

6...Nd7

• If 6...Bb4+ 7.Bd2 then:
• If 7...Nd5 8.Bxb4 Ndxb4 then:
• If 9.0-0 Rb8 then:
• If 10.Nc3 a6 11.Ne5 0-0 12.Nxc6 Nxc6 13.Bxc6 bxc6 14.Qxc4 then:
• 14...Rxb2 15.Rab1 Rb6 16.Qc5 h6 17.Rfd1 Rxb1 18.Rxb1 Qd6 19.Ne4 Qd5 20.Qxd5 cxd5 21.Nc5 Re8 is equal (Khalifman-S. Ivanov, City Ch, St. Petersburg, 1996).


• 14...Qd6 15.Ne4 Qd5 16.Qc2 Qxd4 17.b3 Rb5 18.Rfd1 Qb4 is equal (Hefka-van Kempen, Corres, 2003).


• If 10.Na3 then:
• If 10...0-0 11.Qb5 b6 12.Qxc4 Ba6 13.Nb5 Qd5 14.Qxd5 then:
• If 14...Nxd5 15.a4 Na5 16.Ne5 Rbd8 17.Bxd5 Bxb5 18.Bxe6 then:
• 18...Be8 19.b4 fxe6 20.bxa5 Rxd4 is equal (Grischuk-Gelfand, Grand Prix, Sochi, 2008).


• 18...fxe6 19.axb5 Rxd4 20.Nd3 Ra8 21.Rad1 Nb3 22.e3 is equal.


• 14...exd5 15.Nc3 Rfe8 16.Rfd1 Ne7 17.Rac1 Rbd8 18.a3 Nbc6 19.e3 Nb8 20.b4 gives White the advantage in space (Miton-Nakamura, Worldf Op, Philadelphia, 2005).


• If 10...a6 11.Ne5 0-0 12.Nxc6 Nxc6 13.Qxc4 Qxd4 14.Bxc6 Qxc4 15.Nxc4 bxc6 16.b3 Rb5 17.Rfc1 then:
• 17...f6 18.Nb2 Bd7 19.Na4 Kf7 20.Rc2 Ke7 21.Nc5 Bc8 is equal (Kachianai-Collas, Euro ChTW, Crete, 2007).


• 17...Rd8 18.Rc2 e5 19.f3 f6 20.Rac1 Kf7 21.Kf2 Bb7 is equal (Delchev-S. Atalik, Ol. Bled, 2002).


• If 9.a3 b5 10.Qxb5 Nc2+ 11.Kd2 then:
• If 11...Nxa1 12.Qxc6+ Bd7 13.Qxc4 c5 14.Qa2 Qa5+ then:
• If 15.Nc3 cxd4 16.Nxd4 Rd8 17.Rxa1 then:
• 17...e5 18.b4 Qb6 19.Nc2 Qxf2 20.Bd5 0-0 21.Qc4 Be6 22.Ne3 Qxh2 23.Qh4 Qxh4 24.gxh4 f5 25.Kc2 Kf7 26.Rd1 f4 27.Nc4 draw (Kasparov-Admas, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2001).


• If 17...Qc5 18.e3 e5 19.Qd5 Qxd5 20.Bxd5 exd4 21.exd4 gives White the advantage in space (Kasimdzhanov-Aleksandrov, Bosnian ChT, Jahorina, 2003).


• If 15.b4 cxb4!! 16.Qxa1 Rc8 17.Ne5 Bb5 18.Ke3 Rc2 19.Bf3 0-0 20.a4 f6 21.Nd3 Bc4 22.Nd2 Qg5+ 23.Nf4 e5 24.Nxc4 exf4+ 25.gxf4 Qf5 26.Nd6 Qe6+ White resigns in the face of further material loss (Ivanchuk-Korchnoi, IT, Tilburg, 1989).


• If 11...Bd7 12.Kxc2 Nxd4+ 13.Nxd4 Bxb5 14.Nxb5 Rb8 15.N1c3 0-0 16.Rad1 Qg5 17.Nd4 Qc5 18.e3 Qb6 19.Na4 Qa5 20.Nc3 Qb6 21.Na4 Qa5 22.Nc3 draw (P. H. Nielsen-Pelletier, Euro ChT, Crete, 2007).


• If 7...Bd6 then:
• 8.Ne5 Bxe5 9.Bxc6+ bxc6 10.dxe5 Qd4 11.f3 Nd7 12.Nc3 Qc5 13.f4 0-0 14.0-0-0 a5 15.Qc2 Re8 16.h4 a4 is equal (P. H. Nielsen-Barsov, EU Blitz Ch, Panormo, 2002).


• If 8.0-0 0-0 9.Qxc4 e5 then:
• 10.d5 Ne7 11.Nc3 h6 12.Rfd1 a6 13.a4 Bd7 14.h3 Rb8 15.a5 Ne8 16.Be3 Qc8 17.Ba7 Ra8 18.Bc5 is equal (Sambuev-Tregubov, Russian Ch, Krasnoyarsk, 2003).


• 10.dxe5 Nxe5 11.Nxe5 Bxe5 12.Bc3 Qe7 13.Bxe5 Qxe5 14.Nc3 c6 15.Rfd1 Be6 16.Qb4 Rab8 17.Rd2 a5 18.Qd4 Qxd4 19.Rxd4 c5 20.Rd6 b5 is equal (Haba-Tukmakov, Cafe Cup, Koszalin, 1998).

7.Qxc4 Nb6 8.Qd3

• If 8.Qb5 then:
• If 8...a6 9.Qd3 e5 10.Nxe5 Nb4 then:
• 11.Qd1 Qxd4 12.Qxd4 Nc2+ 13.Kd1 Nxd4 14.Be3 Nf5 15.Bxb6 cxb6 16.Nd2 Bd6 draw (Gyimesi-Naiditsch, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).


• If 11.Qc3 Qxd4 12.0-0 Qxc3 13.Nxc3 Bd6 14.Nf3 0-0 15.Rd1 is equal (Khalifman-Landa, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2007).


• If 8...Bd7 9.Qb3 Na5 10.Qd3 c5!? 11.dxc5 then:
• If 11...Bxc5? 12.Qc3 Rc8 13.Qxg7 Bf8 then:
• If 14.Qg5?! Qxg5 15.Bxg5 Bg7 16.Nbd2 h6 17.Be3 Bxb2 18.Rb1 Nd5 gives White the initiative (Kramnik-Naiditsch, IT, Dortmund, 2006).


• 14.Qxh8 Rxc1+ 15.Kd2 Rxh1 16.Bxh1 Ba4+ 17.Qd4 leaves White up by the equaivalent of a minor piece.


• 11...Nd5 12.a3 Nc6 13.e4 Nc7 14.Bg5 Qc8 15.Qc4 gives White a healthy advantage in space.

8...e5 9.Nxe5 Nb4 10.Qd1

• If 10.Qc3 Qxd4 11.0-0 Qxc3 12.Nxc3 then:
• If 12...Bd6 13.Nf3 c6 14.Rd1 Be7 then:
• If 15.a3 N4d5 16.Nxd5 Nxd5 17.Nd4 0-0 then:
• 18.Bxd5 cxd5 19.Be3 Bd7 is equal (Yuseev-Galliamova, Russian Cup, Kazan, 1986).


• 18.e4 Nb6 19.b3 draw (Khalifman-Adams. Bundesliga 0001, Hamburg, 2001).


• 15.Nd4 0-0 16.a3 N4d5 17.Nxd5 Nxd5 18.Bd2 is equal (Beliavsky-Adams, IT, Madrid, 1998).


• 12...f6 13.Nf3 c6 14.a3 N4d5 15.Nxd5 Nxd5 16.Nd4 Bc5 17.Rd1 0-0 18.Bxd5+ cxd5 19.Be3 Bxd4 20.Bxd4 draw (Dokhoian-Gelfand, Klaipeda, 1988).

10...Qxd4 11.Qxd4 Nc2+ 12.Kf1

• 12.Kd1 Nxd4 13.e3 Ne6 14.Nc3 f6 15.Nd3 Nc5 16.Nxc5 Bxc5 is equal (Gelfand-Ivanchuk, Soviet Union, 1986).

12...Nxd4 13.Nc3 g6!?

• 13...f6 14.Nd3 c6 15.h4 Be6 16.b3 0-0-0 17.Bb2 Bf5 18.Rd1 Be7 is equal (Lahno-Matnadze, EU Blitz ChW, Antalya, 2002).

14.Nf3

• The game is equal.

14...Ne6 15.Ng5 c6 16.Nce4 Be7 17.Nxe6

• 17.b3 f5 18.Bb2 0-0 19.Nxe6 Bxe6 20.Nd2 Rad8 remains equal.

17...Bxe6 18.Bg5 Bxg5 19.Nxg5 Rd8 20.Nxe6 fxe6 21.b3!?

• This does nothing for White at the moment. White must regroup his pieces to connect his Rooks and protect his pawns.
• 21.Ke1 Rf8 22.Rc1 Rf7 23.Rc2 Rfd7 24.e4 Rd4 remains equal.

21...Rd2! 22.Bf3

• 22.Ke1 Rb2 23.f4 Nd5 24.Bxd5 exd5 25.Kf2 Kd7 gives Black a clear edge with his Rook on the seventh.

BLACK: Etienne Bacrot
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WHITE: Christian Seel
Position after 22.Bg3f3

22...Ke7!

• Black frees his game.

23.Kg2 Rhd8 24.a4 R8d4 25.a5

• 25.Rac1 Rb4 26.Rb1 Ra2 27.Rhd1 e5 28.Kf1 Ra3 wins a pawn.

25...Nd5 26.Rhc1 Kd6 27.Kf1

• 27.h3 e5 28.Rc4 Rxc4 29.bxc4 Nf6 30.e3 e4 gives Black few options concerning the Bishop.

27...Rb2

• 27...e5 28.Ke1 Rb2 29.Rab1 Rdd2 30.a6 b5 wins a pawn.

28.Rc4?!

• This leaves the b-pawn loose.
• If 28.Rab1 Ra2 then:
• 29.Ra1 Rxa1 30.Rxa1 e5 31.Ke1 Rb4 32.Bxd5 cxd5 gives Black the active Rook.
• 29.Rd1 Rxd1+ 30.Rxd1 Ke7 31.Bxd5 exd5 32.b4 Ke6 gives Black the active Rook.

BLACK: Etienne Bacrot
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WHITE: Christian Seel
Position after 28.Rc1c4

28...e5!

• White grabs more space in the center and guards his Rook.
• 28...Rdd2 29.Rac1 Rxb3 30.a6 Ne7 31.axb7 Rxb7 leaves Black better owing to the passed a-pawn.

29.Rac1

• White no longer has a direct defense for the b-pawn.

29...Rxb3 30.Bxd5 Kxd5!

• 30...cxd5 31.Rxd4 exd4 32.Rc8 Rb5 33.Re8 Rxa5 leaves Black with two extra pawns, but White's Rook is in position to win them back.

31.Rc5+ Kd6 32.a6 Rd1+ 33.Rxd1+ Kxc5 34.axb7?

• White still had some counterplay.
• 34.Rd7! bxa6 35.Rxh7 Rb1+ 36.Kg2 a5 37.Re7 leaves White with his Rook active behind Black's pawns, giving him much better chances than in the text.

BLACK: Etienne Bacrot
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WHITE: Christian Seel
Position after 34.ab7:p

34...Rxb7!

• Now Black will have an extra pawn and his Rooks behind them.

35.Ra1

If 35.Rc1+ Kd5 36.Rd1+ Ke6 then:

• 37.Rc1 Rb6 38.f4 exf4 39.gxf4 Kd5 40.Kf2 Rb4 forces White to defend his own pawns rather than against the advance of Black's passers.
• 37.e4 g5 38.Rc1 Kd6 39.Rd1+ Kc5 40.Ra1 Kd4 forces White to use his Rook in a lateral defense of his lead pawn.

35...Rd7 36.Ke1 e4 37.h4 Kb4 38.Rb1+ Kc4 39.Rc1+ Kb5 40.Rb1+ Kc5 41.Rc1+

• 41.Ra1 Rb7 42.g4 Kd4 43.g5 c5 allows Black to make further progess with his passers.

41...Kd5 42.Rd1+ Ke6 43.Rc1 Rc7 44.Ra1

• If 44.Kd2 then 44...Kd5 45.Ke3 Rb7 46.Rd1+ Ke5 47.Rc1 Rb3+ forces White's King back.

44...c5 45.Kd2 Kd5 46.Kc3

• A more stubborn defense is 46.Ke3 Rb7 47.Ra4 Re7 48.g4 Rb7.

46...Rf7!

• Black moves to shut down all of White's potential counterplay.
• If 46...Rb7!? then after 47.f4! exf3 48.exf3 Re7 49.Rd1+ Kc6 White is clawing his way back into the game.

47.Rf1

• A better defense involves sacrificing a pawn and keeping the Rook active.
• 47.Kd2 Rxf2 48.Rxa7 Rg2 49.Rxh7 Rxg3 50.Rd7+ Kc4 leaves White clearly better with an extra pawn, but every pawn on the board is weak and White's Rook is behind Black's pawn, while Black's Rook is in front of them. This gives White an excellent defensive posture.

BLACK: Etienne Bacrot
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WHITE: Christian Seel
Position after 47.Ra1f1

47...a5!

• As a result of attacking White's kingside, Black is able to advance his a-pawn.

48.f3 exf3 49.exf3 a4 50.Rd1+ Kc6 51.Rd3

• If 51.f4 Rb7 52.Rd8 then:
• 52...Rb3+ 53.Kc4 Rxg3 54.Rc8+ Kb7 55.Rf8 Rg4 wins for Black.
• If 52...Rb4 53.Kc2 Rb3 54.Rc8+ Kb5 then:
• 55.Rb8+ Kc4 56.Ra8 Kb4 57.Rb8+ Ka3 wins.
• 55.g4 Rh3 56.Rb8+ Kc4 57.Ra8 Rh2+ 58.Kd1 Kb3 wins.

51...Ra7 52.Kb2

• If 52.Rd2 then Black wins after 52...Rb7 53.Ra2 Rb3+ 54.Kc4 Rb4+ 55.Kd3 Kb5.

52...c4 53.Rd8 a3+ 54.Ka2 Kc5 55.g4

• If 55.Rc8+ then Black wins after 55...Kb4 56.g4 Kc3 57.f4 Rf7 58.Rh8 Rxf4.

55...c3 56.f4 Kc4 57.f5

• If 57.Rc8+ then 57...Kd3 58.f5 Ra6 59.Rd8+ Ke3 60.Rc8 Kd2 wins.

57...gxf5 58.Rc8+ Kd3 59.gxf5

• This is the position for which White was aiming, but it is futile.

BLACK: Etienne Bacrot
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WHITE: Christian Seel
Position after 59.gf5:p

59...Rd7!

• White cannot gain time by checking Black's King. It will cost a Rook to stop both of Black's pawns.

60.Kxa3

• If 60.Kb3 Kd2 then:
• 61.Rg8 61...Rc7 62.Rd8+ Ke3 63.Kc2 Ra7 64.Rd1 a2 wins for Black.
• 61.f6 a2 62.Kxa2 c2 63.Kb2 c1Q+ 64.Rxc1 Rb7+ wins.

60...c2 61.f6 Kd2 62.f7 Rxf7 63.Rd8+ Kc1 0-1

• It is simplay a matter of technique for Black to queen the pawn.
• Herr Seel resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Edouard - Eljanov, Bremen, Round 14

Both teams needed to win this match played in the penultimate round in Bremen in order to have a chance to catching Baden Baden in the last round. Bremen won.



Pavel Eljanov
Photo: ChessBase.com


Romain Edouard (Solingen) - Pavel Eljanov (Bremen)
Bundesliga 0910, Round 14/Board 3
Bremen, 10 April 2010

East India Game: Nimzo-Indian Defense (Capablanca Opening)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0-0 5.Bg5 h6

• If 5...c5 then:
• If 6.dxc5 then:
• If 6...Na6 7.a3 Bxc3+ 8.Qxc3 Nxc5 then:
• If 9.Bxf6 Qxf6 10.Qxf6 gxf6 11.b4 Na4 12.e3 b6 13.Nf3 Ba6 then:
• 14.Kd2 Rfc8 15.Rc1 Nb2 16.c5 Bxf1 17.Rhxf1 bxc5 is equal (Igla-T. Kosintseva, Euro ChTW, Crete, 2007).
• 14.Rd1 Rfd8 15.Rd6 Rac8 16.Nd2 Kf8 is equal (F. Bruno-Nyback, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).
• 9.f3 Nfe4 10.Bxd8 Nxc3 11.Be7 Nb3 12.Bxf8 Kxf8 13.Rd1 Nxd1 14.Kxd1 a5 15.e3 d6 is equal (Almond-Andersson, Op, Gibraltar, 2009).
• If 6...Bxc5 7.Nf3 Nc6 then:
• If 8.a3 Nd4 9.Nxd4 Bxd4 10.e3 Qa5 11.exd4 Qxg5 12.Qd2 Qxd2+ 13.Kxd2 b6 14.b4 then:
• If 14...Bb7 15.f3 d6 16.Bd3 then:
• 16...Rfc8 17.Nb5 Ne8 18.Rhc1 Kf8 19.Nc3 gives White the advantage in space (Karpov-Unzicker, Unzicker 80th Birthday Celebration, Mainz, 2005).
• 16...Rfd8 17.a4 e5 18.d5 a5 19.Rhb1 gives White the advantage in space (I. Sokolov-deFirmian, IT, Biel, 1989).
• 14...d6 15.Bd3 Rd8 16.f3 h5 17.h4 Kh8 18.Rhe1 gives White the advantage in space (Kasparov-Kramnik, IT, Tilburg, 1997).
• 8.e3 Be7 9.Be2 b6 10.0-0 Bb7 11.Rfd1 Rc8 12.Rac1 Ne8 13.Bf4 Na5 14.b3 Ba3 15.Rb1 Qe7 16.Nb5 Bxf3 17.gxf3 d5 is equal (Dunkelblum-Lilienthal, Ol, Stockholm, 1937).
• If 6.e3 h6 7.Bh4 cxd4 8.exd4 then:
• 8...Nc6 9.Nf3 d5 transposes into the notes to Black's eighth move.
• 8...b6 9.Bd3 Bb7 10.f3 transposes into the notes to White's tenth move.

6.Bh4 c5 7.e3 cxd4 8.exd4 b6

• If 8...Nc6 9.Nf3 d5 10.Rd1 Be7 11.a3 b6 then:
• 12.Be2 Bb7 13.0-0 dxc4 14.Bxc4 Na5 15.Ba2 Bxf3 16.gxf3 Nd5 17.Bxd5 exd5 18.Bxe7 Qxe7 is equal (Feingold-Ashley, IT, Groningen, 1990).
• 12.Bd3 dxc4 13.Bxc4 Na5 14.Ba2 Ba6 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.b4 gives White the advantage in space (Kotov-Tolush, IT, Parnu, 1947).

9.Bd3 Bb7 10.Nge2!?

• If 10.f3 then:
• If 10...Nc6 11.Nge2 Be7 12.a3 d5 then:
• 13.cxd5 Nxd5 14.Bf2 Rc8 15.0-0 Na5 16.Rfe1 Bg5 gives Black the advantage in space (Nadera-Adianto, Zonal, Yangon, 1998).
• 13.Bf2 b5 14.0-0 b4 15.axb4 Nxb4 16.Qb3 Ba6 is equal (Khairullin-Sorokin, Russian Ch, Tomsk, 2004).
• 10...d5 11.Nge2 dxc4 12.Bxc4 Nbd7 13.0-0 Rc8 14.Bb3 Be7 15.Rad1 b5 16.Qd3 b4 17.Ne4 Qa5 gives Black a slight edge in space ()Halldorsson-Bormann, Op, Reykjavik, 2004.

10...Nc6!?

• The game is equal.
• 10...Bxg2! 11.Rg1 Bb7 12.Qd2 Kh8 13.0-0-0 Rg8 gives Black an extra pawn.

11.0-0 Be7 12.a3 d5 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.cxd5 exd5 15.Rad1

• 15.Rfd1!? Rc8 16.Rac1 Re8 17.Qa4 a6 18.Bxa6 Ra8 remains equal.

15...g6 16.Bb5 Qd6 17.Qd3

• 17.f4 Ne7 18.Bd3 Rac8 19.f5 g5 remains equal.

17...a6 18.Bxc6!?

• White has already surrendered a Bishop for a Knight and should be reluctant to do so again. However, in this case, it can't be helped.
• 18.Ba4 b5 19.Bc2 b4 20.axb4 Nxb4 forces the exchange.

18...Bxc6 19.Qe3

• 19.f4 Bb7 20.f5 Bg5 21.Rf3 Rae8 22.Rdf1 Kg7 remains equal.

19...h5 20.Qf4 Rfd8 21.Rfe1!?

• White's Queen is usefully attacking the Bishop at f6 and should remain on the f-file; it is a mistake to offer it for exchange.
• 21.Qf3 Rd7 22.Nf4 Re8 23.Rd2 Bg5 24.Re2 Rdd8 remains equal.

21...Rac8!?

• Black misses his chance.
• If 21...Qxf4! 22.Nxf4 Bb7 then:
• 23.Nce2 Re8 24.Kf1 h4 25.Rc1 Rac8 26.Nd3 a5 gives Black the advantage in space.
• 23.h3 Rac8 24.Nfe2 Bg7 25.Kf1 Kf8 26.g4 Rc4 gives Black more activity.

22.Qxd6!?

• White allows Black another shot.
• 22.Qf3 Re8 23.b4 Bg5 24.Qd3 Bb7 25.Ng3 Bf4 remains equal.

BLACK: Pavel Eljanov
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WHITE: Romain Edouard
Position after 22.Qf4d6:Q

22...Rxd6!

• The move is forced, but it gets an exclam because Black brings the balance in his favor.

23.Kf1 Kf8 24.Ng1 Bd7 25.h3 Bg7

• 25...g5 26.Nf3 g4 27.Ne5 Bf5 28.hxg4 hxg4 is equal.

26.Nf3

• If 26.Re3!? Re6! then:
• If 27.Nf3 Rxe3 28.fxe3 Be6 29.e4 dxe4 30.Nxe4 gives Black more space and two Bishop against two Knights.
• If 27.Rxe6 then:
• If 27...Bxe6 28.Nf3 Ke7 29.Re1 Kd6 30.Re3 f6 gives Black more space and two Bishop against two Knights.
• 27...fxe6!? 28.Nf3! Ke7 29.Re1 Kd6 30.Ne5 is equal.

26...f6 27.Nd2

BLACK: Pavel Eljanov
!""""""""#
$ +t+ L +%
$+ +v+ V %
$oO T Oo+%
$+ +o+ +o%
$ + P + +%
$P N + +p%
$ P N Pp+%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Romain Edouard
Position after 27.Nf3d2

27...Bh6

• Instead of this, Black should advance his kingside pawns, discovering the attack on White's d-pawn from the Bishop.
• 27...g5 28.Rc1 g4 29.hxg4 hxg4 30.Nb3 f5 gives Black the active game.

28.Kg1

• 28.Re2 Bf5 29.Nf3 g5 30.Kg1 Re8 31.Rxe8+ Kxe8 gives Black more space; White's Knights are cramped.

28...Bf5 29.Nf1 Bc2 30.Ra1 b5!?

• Black expands his queenside space, but, since he already has a clear advantage, his priority should be on shutting down White's potential counterplay.
• Better is 30...Bb3! (restraining White's queenside) 31.a4 f5 32.Ne3 f4 33.Nf1 f3! threatens to break up White's castle wall.

31.Ne3 Bb3 32.Rac1 Rdc6 33.Ra1 Rd8 34.Rac1!?

• White must confront Black's space before he is cruched.
• 34.g4 h4 35.Kg2 Rdd6 36.Kf3 Kf7 37.Rac1 Bc4 gives White a slight advantage in space.

BLACK: Pavel Eljanov
!""""""""#
$ + T L +%
$+ + + + %
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$+o+o+ +o%
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WHITE: Romain Edouard
Position after 34.Ra1c1

34...Re8!

• Black threatens to double in the e-file. There is nothing White can do to stop it.
• 34...Re6 35.Nb1 Rde8 36.Nd2 Ba2 37.Rc3 f5 Black encrouches more into White's space.

35.Na2 Rce6 36.Nb4 a5 37.Rc3 Bc4 38.Nbc2

• 38.Nd3?! Bxe3! 39.Rxe3 Rxe3!! 40.fxe3 Rxe3 41.Nc5 Re1+ gives Black an extra pawn.

38...a4 39.Rb1

• 39.g4 hxg4 40.hxg4 Re4 41.f3 R4e7 42.Kg2 Bf4 puts White's position under restraint.

39...f5 40.Nxc4 bxc4 41.Kf1?

• This move is inadequate to defend e1.
• 41.Nb4 Rd8 42.Rd1 Kf7 43.Rc2 Bg7 leaves White with a difficult but playable defense.

BLACK: Pavel Eljanov
!""""""""#
$ + +tL +%
$+ + + + %
$ + +t+oV%
$+ +o+o+o%
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WHITE: Romain Edouard
Position after 41.Kg1f1

41...Bd2!

• Also good is 41...Rb6 42.Rf3 Bd2 43.g4 hxg4 44.hxg4 c3.

42.Rf3 Rb6 0-1

• 43.Nb4 Bxb4 44.axb4 Re4 45.Rd1 Rxb4 leaves Black a pawn up and White in a vise.
• M. Edouard resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

16. Dautov - Schebler, Round 14, Baden Baden

Since team chess is often won or lost on the lower boards, it is only fitting that we dedicate our final game of the 2009-10 Bundesliga season to Rustem Dautov, the anchor man for the Baden Baden. Dautov played in nine of Baden Baden's 15 matches, scoring 6 wins and 3 draws.

Way to go, trooper.



Rustem Dautov
Photo by JustABoy on flickr (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Rustem Dautov (Baden Baden) - Gerhard Schebler (Mülheim)
Bundesliga 0910, Round 14/Board 8
Baden Baden, 10 April 2010

West India Game: Tal-Indian Defense (Benko Gambit)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6

• If 2...c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6 g6 6.Nc3 Bxa6 7.e4 Bxf1 8.Kxf1 d6 9.g3 Bg7 10.Kg2 0-0 11.Nf3 Nbd7 then:
• If 12.Re1 Ng4 then:
• If 13.Qe2 Nge5 14.Nd2 Nb6 15.f4 Ned7 then:
• If 16.a4 Ra7 17.a5 Qa8 then:
• 18.a6 Qc8 19.Nb5 Ra8 20.Nf3 c4 21.Nfd4 Rxa6 22.Nc6 Bf6 23.Be3 gives White a narrow lead in space (Vaisser-Degraeve, French Ch, Marbonne, 1997).
• 18.Qb5 Rb8 19.axb6 Rxa1 20.Qxd7 Rxb6 21.Ndb1 Qb8 22.e5 Ra7 23.Qg4 dxe5 24.fxe5 Bxe5 25.Rxe5 Qxe5 26.Qc8+ Kg7 27.Qxc5 Rab7 is unclear: White has more space, but Black has a theoretical equivalent of an extra pawn in material (Lugovoi-Khalifman. Muni Ch, St. Petersburg, 1996).
• 16.Nf3 Na4 17.Nd1 Qc8 18.e5 Qb7 19.Qe4 Kh8 20.b3 Nab6 21.Nc3 f5 22.Qd3 e6 23.exd6 exd5 Black will soon recover the gambit pawn with the better game (Jussupow-Baklan, Bundesliga, Germany, 1997).
• If 13.Re2 Qa5 14.Bg5 Rfe8 15.Rc1 then:
• 15...Nb6 16.h3 Ne5 17.Nxe5 Bxe5 18.Qd3 Qb4 19.a3 Qa5 20.Nd1 c4 21.Qd2 Qa6 22.Ne3 Bg7 23.Ng4 Nd7 24.Bh6 Bh8 25.Be3 gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Spassky-Vaganian, IT, Linares, 1987).
• 15...Qa6 16.b3 Nge5 17.Nxe5 Nxe5 18.Na4 Rab8 19.Bd2 c4 20.Re3 e6 21.f4 cxb3 22.axb3 Nd7 23.dxe6 Rxe6 is equal (Gavrikov-Tseshkovsky, Spartakiad, Moscow, 1979).
• If 12.h3 then:
• If 12...Ra6 13.Re1 Qa8 then:
• 14.Re2 Rb8 15.Qc2 Ne8 16.Be3 Nc7 17.Rd1 Nb5 18.Nxb5 Rxb5 19.b3 Rb4 20.Bf4 c4 21.e5 dxe5 22.Bxe5 Nxe5 23.Nxe5 Bxe5 24.Rxe5 Rxa2 25.Qe4 Qa7 26.Rf1 Rd2 27.bxc4 Qd4 28.Qxd4 Rxd4 29.c5 Rbc4 gives White an extra pawn, but Black has her Rooks behind the two most dangerous ones and should be all right (M. Gurevich-A. Muzychuk, Op, Gibraltar, 2008).
• 14.Bg5 h6 15.Bd2 e6 16.dxe6 fxe6 17.Qc2 g5 18.a4 d5 19.Ra3 Rf7 20.exd5 exd5 21.Nb5 Qb7 22.Bxg5 hxg5 23.Nxg5 (White has a comfortable advantage in space) 23...Nf8 24.Nxf7 Qxf7 25.Rf3 Ne6 26.Qf5?! Qh5! 27.Qxh5 Nxh5 is unclear: White has the material advantage, but Black just took over the spatial advantage (S. Atalik-Khalifman, Op, Hastings, 1996).
• 12...Qa5 13.Re1 Rfb8 14.Re2 Ne8 15.Rc2 Nb6 16.Qe2 Qa6 17.Qxa6 Rxa6 18.b3 f5 19.exf5 gxf5 20.Bb2 Bxc3 21.Bxc3 Nxd5 givews Black a consierable advantage in space (Zlotnik-Carrasco, IT, Lorca (Spain), 2001).
• 7.g3 d6 8.Bg2 Bg7 9.Nf3 0-0 10.0-0 Nbd7 11.Rb1Ne8 transposes into the note after Black's ninth move.

3.g3 c5 4.d5 b5 5.cxb5 d6 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.Bg2 0-0 8.Nf3 a6 9.bxa6 Bf5

• If 9...Nbd7 10.0-0 Bxa6 11.Rb1 Ne8 then:
• If 12.Re1 Nc7 then:
• If 13.e4 then:
• 13...Bc4 14.a3 Rb8 15.Qc2 Bb3 16.Qd2 gives White an extra pawn and the advantage in space (Galliamova-Pogonina, Russian ChW, Moscow, 2009).
• 13...Nb5 14.Ne2 Qb6 15.Be3 Rfb8 16.a4 Nc7 17.b4 gives White an extra pawn and the advantage in space (Avrukh-Hendricks, Corus B, Wijk aan Zee, 2000).
• 13.a4 Bc4 14.e4 Qb8 15.Bf4 Bb3 16.Qd2 gives White an extra pawn and the advantage in space (Babula-Lauk, Euro ChT, Crete, 2007).
• If 12.Qc2 Nc7 13.Rd1 then:
• 13...Bxc3 14.Qxc3 Bxe2 15.Re1 Nb5 16.Qe3 Bxf3 17.Bxf3 Nd4 18.Bd1 Rxa2 gives Black an extra pawn (Zaiatz-Pogonina, Russian ChTW, Sochi, 2006).
• 13...Nb5 14.Nxb5 Bxb5 15.b3 Qb6 16.a4 Ba6 17.e4 Rfb8 18.Be3 Qd8 19.h3 White still has an extra pawn (Shaidullina-Pogonina, Russian ChW, Orel, 2006).

10.Nh4

• 10.0-0 Nxa6 11.Nd2 Nb4 12.Nc4 Bc2 13.Qd2 Ng4 14.Na3 Bf5 15.h3 Nf6 gives White an extra pawn and Black more space (Drasko-I. Smirin, EU Cup, Kraveno, 1996).

10...Bd7 11.0-0 Qc8

• If 11...Nxa6 then:
• 12.Bd2 Qa5 13.Qc1 Rfb8 14.h3 c4 15.Rd1 Qb4 16.Rb1 Nc5 gives White an extra pawn and Black more space (Sargissian-Kurnosov, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).
• If 12.Rb1 Qa5 13.Bd2 Nc7 14.b3 Nb5 15.Nxb5 Qxb5 16.a4 gives White an extra pawn (J. Petrov-I. Smirin, IT, Rabac, 2004).

12.b3

• White has an advantage in space and two extra pawns (one of which may be recaptured at will by Black).

12...Bh3!?

• Black's task is even the pawn count and bring the space count into some kind of parity. White has a clear superiority on the queenside, so it seems reasonable to expect Black to keep his pieces there for defense. The text move, in other words, directs Black's energy in the wrong direction.

13.Bb2!

• White will contest Black's command of the long diagonal should Black try to assert it.
• Also good is 13.a7 Rxa7 14.Bb2 Bxg2 15.Nxg2 Qf5 16.Ne3, which accomplishes much the same thing as the text.

13...Nxa6 14.Qd2 Bxg2 15.Nxg2 Qb7 16.Ne3

• If 16.e4 Nc7 17.Ne3 Nb5 18.f3 then:
• 18...Ra6 19.Nxb5 Qxb5 20.Ng4 Nxg4 21.Bxg7 Kxg7 22.fxg4 gives White more space and freedom.
• If 18...Nd4 then after 19.Nc2 Nxc2 20.Qxc2 Rfb8 21.Qd3 Qb4 22.Nd1 White will force the Queen to retreat.

16...Nc7 17.Rfd1 Rfb8

• 17...Ra6 18.Nc4 Rfa8 19.e4 Nd7 20.Qg5 White remains a pawn to the good with more space.

18.Nc4 Qc8 19.e4 Qh3 20.f3 Nd7 21.Ne2 Bxb2 22.Qxb2 Qh6!?

• This is prophylactic agaisnt 23.Nf4, but Black's kingside dark squares are still weak and White's a pawn is still passed.
• After 22...Nb6 23.Nxb6 Rxb6 24.Nf4 Qh6 25.Qc3 Nb5 26.Qd3 White is better, but his queenside pawns are under restraint for now.
• After 22...Qh5 23.Qc3 Nb5 24.Qd3 Na3 25.Nf4 Qg5 26.Rdc1 White's queenside is under iron restraint.

23.Kg2!?

• The problem with Black's last move is that the Queen is easily dislodged from its new post. White should dislodge it.
• If 23.Qd2 then:
• 23...Qh5 24.Rf1 Ne5 25.Nxe5 Qxe5 26.Nc3 maintains White's extra pawn, but Black has good chances for counterplay.
• if 23...Qxd2 24.Nxd2 h6 25.h3 then:
• 25...e6 26.Nc4 exd5 27.exd5 Ra6 28.Nc3 puts Black under restraint.
• 25...Kf8 26.Nc3 Ke8 27.Kf2 Nb6 28.f4 e6 29.dxe6 leaves White a pawn up and gives Back bleak prospects for counterplay.

23...Qg7?

• Black is now mortally wounded. He can do little until the end except wait as White breaks down his position. It will be slow and torturous.
• 23...Qh5 24.Nf4 Qg5 25.Qc1 Qf6 26.Ne2 Nb6 27.Ne3 at least gets Black's Knights to the queenside, where they can assist in restraining White's pawns.

BLACK: Gerhard Schebler
!""""""""#
$tT + +l+%
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$ + O +o+%
$+ Op+ + %
$ +n+p+ +%
$+p+ +pP %
$p+ +n+kP%
$R +r+ + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Rustem Dautov
Position after 23...Qh6g7

24.Qxg7+!

• White finds the strongest reply and will remain a pawn to the good.

24...Kxg7 25.Nc3 Nb5 26.Nxb5 Rxb5 27.Rdb1 Nb6 28.Ne3

• If 28.a4 Rb4 29.Ne3 then:
• 29...c4 30.a5 cxb3 31.axb6! Rxa1 32.Rxa1 Rxb6 33.Kf2 leaves White a piece to the good.
• 29...Nd7 30.Nc2 Rb6 31.h3 e6 32.Ne3 Rab8 33.Ra3 White remains a pawn to the good and continues to keep Black under restraint.

28...Rba5

BLACK: Gerhard Schebler
!""""""""#
$t+ + + +%
$+ + OoLo%
$ M O +o+%
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$ + +p+ +%
$+p+ NpP %
$p+ + +kP%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Rustem Dautov
Position after 28...Rb5a5

29.a4!

• The passed pawn has a lust to expand. White's general plan is to push his a-pawn when he can, and otherwise keep Black under restraint.

29...R5a6 30.Rc1 R6a7

• If 30...Ra5 31.f4 e6 32.dxe6 fxe6 33.Rd1 then:
• If 33...Rd8 34.Nc4 Nxc4 35.bxc4 Rda8 36.Rxd6 then:
• 36...Rxa4 37.Rxa4 Rxa4 38.Rxe6 Rxc4 39.Kf3 Black maintains the extra pawn and get his Rook behind Black's passer.
• 36...e5 37.Rd5 Rxa4 38.Rxa4 Rxa4 39.Rxc5 Ra2+ 40.Kh3 gives White a winning position.
• If 33...Nc8 then after 34.Nc4 R5a6 35.Kf3 Rb8 36.Ra3 White continues to follow his general plan.

31.Kf2 Rb8 32.Ra3 Na8 33.Ke2 Rab7 34.Rc3

• 34.Rb1 Nc7 35.Kd3 e6 36.Nc4 exd5 37.Nxd6 Ra7 38.Rc1 keeps Black under restraint.

34...Ra7 35.Kd2 Nc7 36.Nc4 f5 37.Re3 Ra6 38.Kc3!?

• Black stumbles and leaves the door ajar for Black.
• 38.h4 Kf6 39.g4 e5 40.dxe6 f4 41.g5+ leaves Black under restraint.

BLACK: Gerhard Schebler
!""""""""#
$ T + + +%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Rustem Dautov
Position after 38.Kd2c3

38...Ra7!?

• Black misses th opportunity to make at least a little bit of a fight of it.
• If 38...h6! 39.Kd3 Rb4 40.Kd2 Kf6 then:
• 41.h3 e5 42.Rc3 g5 43.Kd3 Kg6 44.Rc1 Black can make it difficult for White to make progress with his pawn.
• 41.Rc3?! e6 42.Rd3 exd5 43.exd5 g5 44.Ra1 Black has the ability to blockade White's queenside.

39.Re2 Ra6 40.Raa2 Rf8 41.Rad2

• If 41.b4 cxb4+ 42.Kxb4 then:
• 42...Rb8+ 43.Kc3 Kf7 44.g4 Rb1 45.gxf5 gxf5 46.Rec2 Black is running out of reserve pawn tempi.
• 42...g5 43.a5 Rb8+ 44.Nb6 fxe4 45.fxe4 gives White a winning advantage.

41...fxe4 42.fxe4 Rf3+

• If 42...e6 43.dxe6 Rf3+ 44.Re3 Rxe3+ 45.Nxe3 Nxe6 46.Nd5 then:
• 46...Ng5 47.Re2 h5 48.h4 Nf7 49.Rf2 Ra7 50.Rf6 White prepare to bring his Rook behind the queenside pawns and push.
• 46...Ra7 47.Kc4 Nd4 48.Rf2 Nc6 49.Nf6 Ra8 50.Kd5 White will bring the Rook behind his queenside pawns.

43.Re3 Rxe3+ 44.Nxe3 Ne8

• 44...e5 45.dxe6 Nxe6 46.Nd5 Ng5 47.Re2 leaves White with an extra pawn and Black unable to make progress.

45.Nc4 Nf6 46.Re2 Kf7 47.a5 e6

• 47...Ra8 48.b4 cxb4+ 49.Kxb4 Rb8+ 50.Kc3 Rb1 51.Kc2 wins for White.

48.dxe6+ Kxe6

BLACK: Gerhard Schebler
!""""""""#
$ + + + +%
$+ + + +p%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Rustem Dautov
Position after 48...Kf7e6:p

49.e5!!

• White destroys Black's queenside pawns. This announces the end.

49...dxe5

• This is forced.

50.Rxe5+ Kd7

• 50...Kf7 51.b4 Nd7 52.Re3 Nf6 53.Ne5+ Kf8 54.Rf3 wins for White.

51.b4 cxb4+ 52.Kxb4 Ra7

• 52...Kd8 53.Kb5 Ra7 54.a6 Ra8 55.Nb6 wins for White.

53.Kb5 Kd8 54.Nb6 1-0

• White wins in all variations.
• If 54...Ng4 55.Rd5+ then:
• 55...Kc7 56.Rd7+ Kb8 57.Rd8+ Kc7 58.Rc8+ is an easy win for White.
• If 55...Ke8 56.a6 Nf6 57.Rd4 then:
• 57...h5 58.Rf4 Nd7 59.Nxd7 Rxd7 60.Ra4 the pawn will queen.
• 57...g5 58.Nc4 Re7 59.Nd6+ Kf8 60.Ra4 the pawn queens/
• Herr Schebler resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Kuala Lumpur Open

Center Market, Kuala Lumpur
Photo by Azreey in Wikipedia (Creative Commons License/Attribution/Share Alike)

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Hou Yifan - Dimakiling, Round 7

If my crack staff and I are not mistaken, by winning the Kuala Lumpur Open last week, sixteen-year-old Chinese gran Hou Yifan became the first woman to win a mixed-gender tournament outright since Judit Polgar won the Bali IT in 2000.



Hou Yifan
Photo: ChessBase.com


Hou Yifan - Oliver Dimakiling
3rd Internaltional Open, Round 7
Kuala Lumpur, 11 April 2010

Moorish Game: Horseman Defense (Alekhine's Defense)

1.e4 Nf6

• This is perfectly playable. It is one the the "hypermodern" modern openings that took root between the two world wars, where the idea is to allow White an early dominance of the center with a pawn duo in the general plan of counterattacking the center later.

2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3

• 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6 cxd6 (or 5...exd6) is also palyable.

4...dxe5

• If 4...Bg4 5.Be2 e6 6.0-0 Be7 7.c4 Nb6 8.Nc3 0-0 9.Be3 then:
• If 9...d5 10.c5 Bxf3 11.gxf3 Nc8 12.f4 Nc6 then:
• 13.f5 exf5 14.Bf3 Bg5 15.Nxd5 f4 16.Bxf4 Bxf4 17.Nxf4 Nxd4 18.Bxb7 Rb8 19.Bxc8 Rxc8 20.Qg4 gives White a healthy initiative and an extra pawn (Sypnicki-Krainski, Op, Bydgoszcz, 2001).
• 13.b4 a6 14.Rb1 f6 15.Bd3 Qe8 16.Qg4 f5 17.Qh3 a5 18.b5 gives White the advantage in space and the initiative (Short-Alburt, Match, Foxboro, 1985).
• If 9...Nc6 10.exd6 cxd6 then:
• If 11.b3 d5 12.c5 then:
• If 12...Nc8 13.b4 a6 14.Rb1 Bf6 15.a4 N8e7 16.b5 then:
• 16...Na5 17.h3 Bxf3 18.Bxf3 Nc4 19.bxa6 Nxe3 20.fxe3 bxa6 21.Qd3 Qc7 22.Rb6 Nc6 23.Bxd5 exd5 24.Nxd5 Black resigns (Rodríguez-Sawyer, Corres, 1995).
• 16...axb5 17.axb5 Bxf3 18.bxc6 Bxe2 19.Qxe2 bxc6 gives Black more activity (Hoellrigl-Baburin, Op, Oberwart, 1991).
• 12...Nd7 13.b4 f5 14.b5 Na5 15.Qa4 Bxf3 16.Bxf3 Nf6 17.Be2 b6 18.c6 Qc7 19.Rac1 gives White the advantage in space (Bouwmeester-Sefc, TMatch, Rotterdam, 1955).
• If 11.d5 exd5 12.Nxd5 Nxd5 13.Qxd5 Bf6 then:
• 14.Qd2 Qa5 15.Rfd1 Rfe8 16.Qc2 Bf5 17.Qb3 is equal (Gufeld-Grigorian, Soviet Ch, Baku, 1972).
• 14.Rfd1 Rc8 15.Rd2 Qa5 16.Qxa5 Nxa5 17.Rc1 Be6 18.b3 d5 is equal (Asomaeki-de Carlos, Cyberspace, 2002).

5.Nxe5 c6

• If 5...g6 6.Bc4 Be6 7.0-0 Bg7 then:
• If 8.Re1 0-0 then:
• 9.Nd2 Nd7 10.Nef3 N7f6 11.Rxe6 fxe6 12.Ng5 Qd6 13.Qe1 b5 14.Bb3 White keeps the pressure on the center and his Bishop is specifically aimed at the hapless pawn at e6 (Grischuk-Riazantsev, Russian Ch, Moscow, 2009).
• If 9.Bb3 c6 then:
• 10.Nd2 then:
• 10...Nc7 11.Ndf3 Bxb3 12.axb3 Nd7 13.Ng4 h5 14.Ne3 Nb6 15.Nc4 Ne6 16.c3 Bf6 17.Bh6 Bg7 18.Qd2 gives White the advantage in space (deFirmian-Alburt, Op, Reykjavik, 1984).
• If 10...Nd7 then:
• 11.Nef3 Nc7 12.Ne4 Bxb3 13.axb3 Ne6 14.c3 Nf6 15.Nxf6+ Bxf6 16.b4 Ng7 17.h4 h5 18.g3 Nf5 19.Qe2 a5 20.bxa5 draw (Andreev-Sikula, IT, Alushta, 2001).
• 11.Ndf3 Nxe5 12.Nxe5 a5 13.c3 Qc7 14.Nd3 Bf5 15.Bg5 Rfe8 16.Qd2 a4 17.Bxd5 cxd5 18.Nb4 Rad8 19.Bf4 Qc4 is equal (Adams-Agdestein, Match, Oslo, 1994).
• 10.h3 Nd7 11.Nf3 Nc7 12.c4 Nb6 13.Qe2 a5 14.a4 Ne8 15.Rd1 Nc8 16.Ba2 Ned6 17.Nc3 Nf5 18.Ne4 b6 19.Neg5 Bd7 20.g4 gives White the advantage in space and the initiative (S. B. Hansen-Soppe, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).
• If 8.Qe2 0-0 9.Bb3 c6 then:
• 10.c4 Nc7 11.Rd1 Nd7 12.Nf3 Bg4 13.h3 Bxf3 14.Qxf3 Ne6 15.Qe3 gives White the advantage in space (Mullon-Corvi, Euro Club Cup, Kallithea, 2008).
• 10.Rd1 Nd7 11.c4 N5b6 12.Nf3 a5 13.a4 Bg4 14.h3 gives White the advantage in space (Ioselani-Arakhamia, ITW, Gronigen, 1997).

6.Be2 Nd7

• If 6...Bf5 7.0-0 Nd7 8.Nf3 then:
• If 8...h6 9.a3 Qc7 10.c4 Nf4 11.Bxf4 Qxf4 12.Nc3 g5 13.d5 Bg7 14.g3 Qc7 15.Nd4 Bg6 16.Bf3 Ne5 is equal (Pavlidis-Narciso, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).
• If 8...e6 9.a3 Bd6 10.Re1 0-0 then:
• If 11.c4 N5f6 12.Nh4 Qc7 13.g3 Bh3 14.Nc3 Rfe8 15.Be3 e5 is equal (Wang Hao-J. Gonzales, Ol, Dresden, 2008).
• 11.Nbd2 h6 12.Nc4 Bc7 13.h3 c5 14.Ne3 Nxe3 15.Bxe3 Qe7 16.Bb5 Rfd8 17.Qe2 cxd4 18.Bxd4 a6 is equal (Gaponenko-Mohata, Mindsports Rpd, Beijing, 2008).

7.Nf3 g6 8.0-0 Bg7 9.c4 Nc7 10.Nc3 0-0 11.h3!?

• 11.Be3 b6 12.Rc1 Bb7 13.Qd2 c5 14.d5 e5 15.Ng5 f5 is equal (Weatherly-Benjamin, New York State Ch, Colonie, 2006).
• 11.Re1 c5 12.d5 b5 13.cxb5 Nb6 14.Be3 Nbxd5 15.Nxd5 Nxd5 16.Bxc5 Bxb2 17.Bc4 Bb7 18.Rb1 Bf6 gives White a comfortable adavtage in space and more active pieces (deFirmian-Miles, Op, Chicago, 1994).

11...a6

• The game is equal.

12.Bf4 Ne6 13.Be3 b5 14.Rc1 Bb7 15.a4 b4 16.Ne4 h6!?

• As is the case with this defense, White is building an impressive center; for Black's general plan to work, he must delay no longer in confronting it.
• If 16...Qc7 17.Qb3 a5 18.Rfe1 then:
• 18...Rad8 19.Bf1 Nf6 20.Nxf6+ Bxf6 21.Rcd1 remains equal.
• 18...Nf4 19.Rcd1 Rad8 20.Qc2 Nxe2+ 21.Qxe2 remains equal.

17.Qb3!?

• White's next moves are aggressive and are intended to seize the initiative by force.
• Better is 17.c5! Qa5 18.Qb3 Nc7 19.Bd2 Nd5 20.Rfe1 giving White the advantage in space.

17...Kh7!?

• Black's kingside defense may be stretched a little thin as a result of his 16th move.
• 17...a5! 18.Bd3 Qb6 19.Rfd1 c5 restores the balance.

BLACK: Oliver Dimakiling
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WHITE: Hou Yifan
Position after 17...Kg8h7

18.d5!

• The young lady plays aggressively, as is her style.
• The immediate advance is better than 18.Qxb4 Rb8 19.Qe1 f5 20.Nc3 f4 21.d5 with equality.

18...cxd5 19.cxd5 Nc7 20.Rfd1 a5

• 20...Nxd5 21.Rxd5 Bxd5 22.Qxd5 e6 23.Qb3 a5 24.Bb5 gives White a strong initiative.

21.Bc4!?

• White tries to pack her position with as much latent energy as possible.
• If 21.d6 Ne6 22.dxe7 Qxe7 23.Nd6 then:
• 23...Rab8 24.Nxb7 Rxb7 25.Rd5 Ra8 26.Bb5 maintains White's initiative.
• 23...Ba6? 24.Bxa6 Rxa6 25.Qd3 Rfa8 26.Nc8! wins a piece for White.

21...Rc8?!

• Black trips in a sharp position.
• 21...Nf6 22.Nxf6+ Bxf6 23.Bb6 Qd6 24.Bxc7 Qxc7 25.Ba6 the wind goes out of White's sails.

22.Nd4!

• White centralizes her pieces.
• 22.Bf4!? Na8 23.Nd4 Nab6 24.Nc6 Bxc6 25.dxc6 Rxc6 is equal as Black's f7 pawn is deadwood.

22...Qe8?

• This is prophylactic against 23.Nc6, but in this case Black does better to allow the attack on the Queen.
• 22...Ne8 23.Nc6 Bxc6 24.dxc6 Rxc6 25.Bxf7 Rxc1 26.Rxc1 is equal.

23.Nc6!

• White still has use for the move.

23...f5

• If 23...Bxc6 24.dxc6 then:
• 24...Nb8 25.Bb5 f5 26.Nd2 Rf6 27.Qc2 Rd6 28.Nc4 wins a pawn.
• 24...Ne5 25.Bb5 f5 26.Nc5 f4 27.Bd4 Rf5 28.Nb7.

24.Nc5 Nxc5 25.Bxc5 Nxd5

• White finds a move that seriously restricts White's possibilities.

BLACK: Oliver Dimakiling
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WHITE: Hou Yifan
Position after 25...Nc7d5:p

26.Nxa5!!

• The sham sacrifice is White's only good move, and it's good enough to win.
• 26.Bxd5? Bxc6 27.Be3 f4 28.Bxc6 Rxc6 gives Black serious winning chances.

26...Rxc5

• Black's response is virtually forced.

27.Nxb7 Rxc4 28.Qxc4 e6

• If 28...Nf6 then White wins after 29.Qxb4 e6 30.Nc5 Rf7 31.Qb6 Re7 32.Qd6.

29.Nc5 Bxb2 30.Rc2 Bg7

• A better defense is 30...Bc3 31.Nxe6 Qxe6 when:
• 32.Qxd5 Qxd5 33.Rxd5 Kg7 34.a5 Ra8 35.Kf1 leaves White up by the exchange.
• 32.Rxd5 Rc8 33.Qb3 Rd8 34.Rxc3 Rxd5 35.Qxb4 gives White an extra passed pawn.

BLACK: Oliver Dimakiling
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WHITE: Hou Yifan
Position after 30...Bb2g7

31.Re1!

• White takes aim at Black's weakest pawn. It's only a matter of time before Black throws in the towel.

31...Qa8

• If 31...Nb6 then White wins after 32.Qxb4 Nd5 33.Qd2 Rg8 34.a5 Nc7 35.Qd6 when Black's e-pawn falls.

32.Nxe6 Re8

• If 32...Rf7 33.Nxg7 Kxg7 34.Re5 b3 35.Rce2 then:
• 35...Rd7 36.Qxb3 Qc6 37.Re1 Nf4 38.f3 Qd6 39.Qb5 leaves White up by the equivalent of a minor piece.
• 35...b2 36.Rxb2 Nf6 37.Re6 Qd8 38.Rbb6 wins easily.

33.Rd2 Nf6 34.Qc7

• Equally good is 34.Qxb4 Qa7 35.Rc2 Rb8 36.Qc5 when:
• If 36...Rb7 37.a5 Rd7 38.Qxa7 Rxa7 39.Rc7 then:
• 39...Rxc7 40.Nxc7 Ne4 41.Rd1 is an easy win for White.
• If 39...Rxa5 then 40.Rxg7+ Kh8 41.Rd1 Ra8 42.Rxg6 is crushing.
• 36...Qxc5 37.Rxc5 Rb7 38.Rc6 Nd5 39.a5 Ra7 40.a6wins.

34...Nh5 35.Rd7 Rxe6 36.Rxe6 Qxa4 37.Re1 b3

• 37...f4 38.Rb1 Qb5 39.Qb7 Qxb7 40.Rxb7 wins the passed pawn.

38.Qb7 b2 39.Rb1 Kh8 40.Rd8+ Kh7 41.Rxb2 1-0

• White is up by two exchanges.
• Mr. Dimalking resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

14. Dubai Open

Burj Al Arab (Tower of the Arabs), Dubai
Photo by Imre Solt in Wikipedia (Creative Commons License/Attribution/Share Alike)

[Jack Rabbit]

15. Negi - Iturrizaga, Round 8

Eduardo Iturrizaga of Venezuela had the best tie break score of the seven players who tied for first place in this year's Dubai Open.



Eduardo Iturrizaga
Photo: Ajedrez Vino Tinto (Venezuela)


Parimarjan Negi - Eduardo Iturrizaga
12th International Open, Round 8
Dubai, 12 April 2010

Open Sicilian Game: Taimanov Defense

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3 a6 7.Qd2 Nf6 8.0-0-0

• For a detailed survey of the main lines of the Taimanov Defense up to here, see Ax. Smith-Stellwagan, IT, Malmø, 2008.

8...Be7

• If 8...Bb4 9.f3 then:
• If 9...0-0 10.g4 b5 then:
• 11.h4 Ne5 12.h5 Bb7 13.h6 g6 14.g5 Ne8 15.Be2 Rc8 16.Nb3 f6 (Ax. Smith-Stellwagen, IT, Malmø, 2008).
• If 9...Ne5 10.Nb3 b5 then:
• If 11.Kb1 then:
• If 11...Be7 12.Qf2 d6 then:
• If 13.Bb6 Qb8 14.Bd4 0-0 15.g4 Bb7 16.g5 Nfd7 17.Rg1 b4 18.Ne2 then:
• 18...Rc8 19.Ng3 a5 20.f4 a4 21.Nc1 Nc6 22.Be3 b3 23.cxb3 axb3 24.a3 Na5 25.f5 Qc7 26.Bd3 Ne5 gives Black a narrow edge in space and better minor pieces (Sebag-Sulypa, Bois Colombes, 2004).
• 18...a5 19.f4 a4 20.Nd2 Nc6 21.Be3 b3 22.cxb3 axb3 23.a3 Rc8 24.Nc3 gives White a comfortable advantage in space (K. Georgiev-Z. Almasi, Ol, Torino, 2006).
• If 13.g4 then:
• If 13...Nfd7 14.Rg1 Bb7 15.g5 then:
• If 15...Rc8 16.f4 b4 17.Nd5 exd5 18.fxe5 Nxe5 19.exd5 0-0 20.Bh3 then:
• 20...Ra8 21.Bb6 Qb8 22.Na5 Bc8 23.Bxc8 Rxc8 24.Rdf1 Rf8 25.Nc6 gives White a huge advantage in space (Spraggett-Bellon, Op, Gibraltar, 2006).
• 20...Rce8 21.Bf5 Bd8 22.h4 a5 23.h5 a4 24.Nc1 Qa5 is equal (N. Kosintseva-Javakhishvili, World ChTW, Ekaterinburg, 2007).
• 15...b4 16.Ne2 0-0 17.Ned4 Nc5 18.h4 d5 19.exd5 Bxd5 20.h5 Rac8 21.Bh3 Nxb3 22.axb3 Nxf3 23.Rg3 Nxd4 24.Rxd4 f5 gives Black a huge advantage in space (Lutz-Movsesian, Bundesliga, Germany, 2003).
• 13...Bb7 14.Bb6 Qb8 15.Bd4 0-0 16.g5 Nfd7 17.f4 b4 18.fxe5 bxc3 19.exd6 Qxd6 20.Be2 gives White a comfortable advantage in space (T. Kosintseva-Javakashvili, Euro ChT, Fügen, 2006).
• If 11...Nc4 12.Bxc4 bxc4 then:
• If 13.Nc1 Rb8 14.N1e2 0-0 then:
• 15.Bf4 e5 16.Bg5 Ne8 17.Ka1 d6 18.a3 a5 19.h4 Be6 20.Qc1 f5 21.exf5 Rxf5 22.Na2 d5 23.axb4 axb4 24.Bd2 Qa7 25.b3 is unclear: White has an extra piece and Black has a huge advantage in space.(Erdogdu-Aroshidze, Euro Ch, Kusadasi, 2006).
• 15.g4 d6 16.h4 Bb7 17.h5 Nxe4 18.fxe4 Bxe4 19.Rh3 Qb7 20.Ka1 Bf3 21.Rxf3 Qxf3 22.h6 e5 23.hxg7 Rfd8 24.Bh6 f5 25.Qd5+ Qxd5 26.Nxd5 f4 27.Ng3 Kf7 28.Ne4 gives White the advantage thanks to his centralized Knights (A. Smith-Nestor, Rilton Cup, Stockholm, 2006-07).
• 13.Nd4 Rb8 14.g4 0-0 15.Ka1 d6 16.a3 Ba5 draw (Sax-Goloshchapov. Euro ChT, Rethymnon, 2003).
• If 11.Qe1 Be7 12.f4 Ng6 13.e5 Ng4 then:
• If 14.Bd2 Bb7 15.Bd3 Rc8 16.Qe2 then:
• 16...f5 17.exf6 Nxf6 18.Rhf1 0-0 19.g3 b4 20.Ne4 Nxe4 21.Bxe4 a5 22.Nd4 Bf6 23.Bxb7 Qxb7 24.Be3 Ne7 25.Nb5 Nf5 26.Bf2 Rc6 is equal (Svidler-Vitugov, Russian Ch Final, Moscow, 2005).
• 16...Nh6 17.Ne4 0-0 18.Rhf1 f5 19.exf6 Bxf6 20.Nxf6+ Rxf6 21.g3 Bd5 22.Kb1 Bc4 23.Ba5 Qa7 24.Bc3 Rf7 25.Nd2 Bxd3 26.Qxd3 Nf5 27.Ne4 is equal (Aginian-Velcheva, Euro ChT, Crete, 2007).
• 14.Ne4 0-0 15.Bc5 Bb7 16.Nd6 Bd5 17.Rxd5 exd5 18.Qd1 Nh6 19.g3 Rfc8 20.Bg2 Bxd6 21.Bxd6 Qb6 22.Bxd5 Ra7 is unclear: White has more space, but Black haas a theoretical material advantage (Iberra-Vila, Op, Andorra, 2006).
• If 11.Bd4 Be7 then:
• 12.Kb1 d6 13.Qf2 0-0 14.g4 Nfd7 15.Rg1 Bb7 16.g5 Rfc8 17.a3 Nc4 18.Bxc4 bxc4 19.Nc1 Rab8 20.N1e2 Bc6 21.Ka1 gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Kasparov-Ye Jiangchuan, Ol, Bled, 2002).
• 12.Qg5 Ng6 13.Qg3 Bd6 14.Qf2 Rb8 15.Kb1 0-0 16.Bc5 Bxc5 17.Qxc5 Qxc5 18.Nxc5 Rb6 19.a4 Rc6 20.Nd3 bxa4 21.Nxa4 d5 22.exd5 Nxd5 23.Ndc5 Ne5 24.Rd4 Nd7 25.Nxd7 Bxd7 26.Bc4 is equal (Leko-Vallejo, IT, Linares, 2003).
• If 11.g5 Nh5 12.Kb1 then:
• If 12...Nxd4 then:
• If 13.Qxd4 Bxc3 14.Qxc3 Qxc3 15.bxc3 d5 16.Be2 g6 17.exd5 exd5 18.Rhe1 Re8 19.Bd3 Bd7 is equal (Anand-J. Polgar, Canada de Calatrava. 2007).
• If 13.Bxd4 Ba5 14.e5 Bb7 15.Qe3 Rfc8 gives White a small advantage in space.
• If 12...Ne5 13.Be2 Rb8 14.f4 Nc4 15.Bxc4 bxc4 16.Nde2 Rd8 17.Bd4 Bb7 18.Qe3 gives White the advantage in space (Rogers-Bjelobrk, Australian Ch, Brisbane, 2008).

9.f3 h5

• If 9...d6 10.g4 then:
• If 10...0-0 11.g5 Nd7 12.h4 then:
• If 12...Nxd4 13.Bxd4 b5 14.Kb1 b4 15.Na4 Bb7 16.b3 then:
• If 16...Bc6 17.Nb2 a5 18.h5 Ne5 then:
• 19.Be2 f5 20.gxf6 Bxf6 21.Nc4 d5 22.Nb6 Rad8 23.exd5 Bxd5 24.Qe3 Ng4 25.Nxd5 Nxe3 26.Nxc7 Bxd4 27.Nxe6 Nxd1 28.Rxd1 Bf6 29.Nxd8 Rxd8 30.Rxd8+ draw (Leko-Svidler, IT, Linares, 2006).
• 19.Qe3 a4 20.Nc4 axb3 21.cxb3 f5 22.Bh3 Nxc4 23.bxc4 Ra3 gives Black a strong initiative (Koepke-K. Szabo, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2008).
• 16...d5 17.g6 fxg6 18.Bh3 e5 19.Be3 d4 gives Black the initiative and the edge in space (Bacrot-Papa, YM, Lausanne, 2003).
• 12...b5 13.g6 Nf6 14.gxh7+ Kxh7 15.Nxc6 Qxc6 16.Bd3 Kh8 17.Rdg1 b4 18.Bh6 Rg8 19.e5 g6 20.exf6 bxc3 21.Qg5 Black resigns (Adams-Sheldon, British Ch, Hove, 1997).
• If 10...b5 11.Nxc6 Qxc6 then:
• 12.Ne2 Bb7 13.g5 Nd7 14.h4 Qc7 15.h5 0-0-0 16.Nd4 gives White the advantage in space (Ye Jiangchuan-Sitanggang, IT, Djarkarta, 1994).
• 12.h4 Bb7 13.Kb1 Rc8 14.g5 Nd7 15.Ne2 Ne5 16.Nd4 Qc7 is equal (Soltanici-Nyzhnyk, Nabokov Mem, Kiev, 2008).

10.Kb1

• 10.Qf2 d6 11.h3 b5 12.Nxc6 Qxc6 13.Bd3 h4 14.Kb1 b4 15.Ne2 e5 16.Bg5 Nd7 17.Bxe7 Kxe7 18.Qe3 Qc5 19.Qd2 Nf6 is equal (Nijboer-Giri, Op, Dieren, 2009).

10...Ne5!?

• 10...b5! 11.Nxc6 dxc6 12.e5 Qxe5 13.Bd4 Qc7 14.Qg5 Rg8 15.Be5 Qa7 16.Be2 Nd7 17.Qxh5 is equal (Grandelius-Swinkels, Corus C, Wijk aan Zee, 2010).

11.Qe1!

• White has the advantage in space.

11...b5 12.f4 Nc4 13.Bxc4!?

• White has the advantage in space and consequently he should avoid exchanges.
• Better is 13.e5 Nxe3 14.Qxe3 Ng4 15.Qe2 Bb7 16.h3 with equality.

13...bxc4

• The b-file is open for Black's quite ready heavy pieces.

14.e5

BLACK: Eduardo Iturrizaga
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WHITE: Parimarjan Negi
Position after 14.e4e5

14...Ng4!

• Another reason the exchange on the 13th move was bad for White is that White's remaining Bishop is his bad Bishop. Here, Black takes advantage of this by offering an exchange that White might accept in other circumstances.
• If 14...Ng8 then White continues to enjoy the advantage in space after 15.Qg3 Rh7 16.Rhe1 Rb8 17.h4 Qb6 18.Bc1.

15.Bc1 Bb7 16.h3!

• Black has not been able to take advantage of his two Bishops make any headway against White's spatial plus.

16...Nh6 17.Qe2 Rb8 18.Ka1

• The advantage still belongs to White.
• If 18.Ne4 h4 19.Rhe1 0-0 20.Qf2 then:
• 20...Rfd8 21.g3 Bxe4 22.Rxe4 Bc5 23.g4 White continues to enjoy the advantage in space.
• 20...Qd8!? 21.Ng5! Qb6 22.Qxh4 Bc5 23.c3 Bxg2 24.Rg1 gives White the advantage in space and more activity.

18...h4 19.Ne4!?

• White fails to press his advantage.
• 19.Rhg1 f6 20.exf6 Bxf6 21.Ne4 Bxd4 22.Rxd4 gives White the advantage in space.

19...Bd5

• The game is equal.
• 19...0-0!? 20.Rhg1 Qb6 21.c3 Bxe4 22.Qxe4 Bc5 is also equal.

20.Rhe1 Qb7!?

• Black's failure to take out the Knight at e4 will have near-catastrophic consequences.
• 20...Bxe4 21.Qxe4 0-0 22.f5 Nxf5 23.Nxf5 exf5 24.Qxf5 remains equal.

BLACK: Eduardo Iturrizaga
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WHITE: Parimarjan Negi
Position after 20...Qc7b7

21.Nd6+!

• White forces Black to part with his good Bishop, negating the adverse effects of White's inaccurate 13th move.

21...Bxd6 22.exd6 0-0 23.c3 Rfc8 24.Qf2 Be4!?

• Black drops a pawn.
• If 24...Bxg2! 25.Qxh4 Be4 then:
• 26.Qg5 Bg6 27.Rd2 Nf5 28.Nxf5 Bxf5 29.Rg2 Bg6 reamins equal.
• 26.Rg1 Bg6 27.Rde1 Qd5 28.Qg5 Qxg5 29.fxg5 Nf5 remains equal.

25.Qxh4!

• White's Queen comes to life.

25...Nf5 26.Nxf5 exf5?!

• This is a poor move. Black opens the center for White's pieces.
• Better is 26...Bxf5 27.g4 Bg6 28.Qf2 Bd3 29.f5 , although White still remains a pawn to the good.

27.Qf2 Qc6 28.g4 Rb5 29.gxf5 Ra5

• 29...Bxf5 30.Re5 Bd3 31.Qd4 Qb6 32.Be3 Qxd4 33.Bxd4 leaves White with an extra pawn and more space.

30.a3 Rb8 31.Be3 Rb3?

• Now White should win.
• Better is 31...Rab5 32.Rd2 Bxf5 33.Bd4 Bg6 34.Rde2 Rh5 35.Qe3 when White is still up by a pawn but Black is better able to defend and counterattack.

BLACK: Eduardo Iturrizaga
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WHITE: Parimarjan Negi
Position after 31...Rb8b3]

32.Bc5!

• White finds the right move that protects his queenside pawns on the dark squares.

32...Rab5

• 32...Rxc5 33.Rxe4 Qxe4 34.Qxc5 Rb8 35.f6 g6 36.Qc7 leaves White two pawns up.

33.Bd4?

• The players were apparently in a time scramble in which each overlooks winning moves for losing ones.
• 33.Qd4! Qxc5 34.Qxc5 Rxc5 35.Rxe4 leaves White two pawns up.

33...f6?

• Black misses 33...Rxb2! 34.Qxb2 Rxb2 35.Kxb2 Qa4 36.Rd2 gives Black the initiative with nothing worse in store than a draw.

34.Bxf6?

• White misses a win.
• If 34.Qe2! Qxd6 35.Be5 Qf8 36.Bd6 Bd3 then:
• 37.Qf3! Qd8 38.Qh5 Rxb2 39.Re8+! wins for White.
• 37.Qxd3!? cxd3 38.Bxf8 Kxf8 39.Rxd3 Rxb2 40.c4 leaves White up by a pawn, but Black has counterplay.

34...Ra5?

• Pedestrian.
• If 34...Rxb2! 35.Qxb2 Rxb2 36.Kxb2 Qb7+ then:
• 37.Ka1 gxf6 38.Rd4 Bxf5 39.Rg1+ Kf7 gives Black an easy win.
• If 37.Kc1?? then after 37...Qb1+ Black soon delivers mate.

35.Rd2! Qb7 36.Rc2 gxf6 37.Qg1+?

• White goes pawn hunting.
• If 37.Qe2! Rbxa3+ 38.bxa3 then:
• 38...Qb3 39.Rg1+ Kf8 40.Ra2 Qxc3+ 41.Qb2 gives White a material advantage equivalent to three pawns.
• 38...Rxa3+ 39.Ra2 Qb3 40.Rg1+ Kf8 41.Rc1 Kg7 42.Qb2 White has the material advantage and should win.

37...Kf8

• The position of Black's Bishop vis a vis White's weak pawns tilts the balance in Black's favor.
• 37...Kh8? 38.Ree2 Raxa3+ 39.bxa3 Rxa3+ 40.Ra2 Rb3 41.Re1 leaves White the equivalent of a minor piece to the good.

38.Rxe4?

• The exchange sacrifice proves unsound.
• 38.Ree2 Qd5 39.Rcd2 Qxf5 40.Qd4 Bd5 41.Rd1 Bf3 is musch better for Black, but White's game is still playable.

38...Qxe4!

• Natuarlly, Black takes the Rook.

39.Rg2

• White threatens mate in two: 40.Rg8+ Kf7 41.Qg7#.

BLACK: Eduardo Iturrizaga
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WHITE: Parimarjan Negi
Position after 39.Rc2g2

39...Rbxa3+!!

• Hold everything! There is a way out.
• 39...Raxa3+ is a transposion.

40.bxa3 Rxa3+

• The time scramble is over and Black has an easily won game.

41.Ra2

• If 41.Kb2 then after 41...Qb7+ 42.Kc1 Ra1+ Black soon delivers mate.

41...Rxa2+ 42.Kxa2 Qc2+ 43.Ka1 Qxc3+ 44.Kb1 Qb3+ 45.Kc1 c3!

• Now Black threatens mate in two.

46.Qg2 Qa3+ 47.Kb1 Qxd6 48.Qg6

• If 48.Kc2 then after 48...Qxf4 49.Qa8+ Ke7 50.Kxc3 Qxf5 51.Qxa6 Qxh3+ Black wins with his pawns.

48...Qd1+ 49.Ka2 Qa4+ 0-1

• If 50.Kb1 then 50...Qb3+ 51.Kc1 Qb2+ 52.Kd1 Qd2#.
• Negi Shahib resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. World Championship II: the Era of Soviet Hegemony

Participants in the 1948 World Championship Tournament, The Hague/Moscow
Dr. Max Euwe (Holland), Vasily Smyslov, Paul Keres, Mikhail Botvinnik (all USSR) and Sam Reshevsky (USA)
Photo from Wikipedia

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Botvinnik - Dr. Euwe, Round 12, Moscow, 1948

A tournament was held in 1948 in The Hague and Moscow to determine the new world champion in the wake of the sudden death of Dr. Alexander Alkhine, who died holding the title in March 1946.

The tournament was won easily by Soviet grandmaster Mikhail Botvinnik.



Mikhail Botvinnik
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Mikhail Botvinnik - Dr. Max Euwe
Match-Tournament for the World Title, Round 12
Moscow, 13 April 1948

Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit: Meran Defense

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 c6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Bd3 a6 9.e4 c5 10.e5 cxd4 11.Nxb5 axb5 12.exf6 Qb6 13.fxg7 Bxg7 14.0-0 Nc5

• For analysis up to here, see Grischuk-Shirov, Grand Slam Final, Bilbao, 2009.
• 14...Bb7 15.Re1 0-0 16.Bf4 Bd5 17.Ne5 Nxe5 18.Bxe5 Bxe5 19.Bxh7+ Kxh7 20.Qh5+ Kg7 21.Qg5+ Kh7 draw (Nogueiras-Beliavsky, World Cup, Belfort, 1988).

15.Bf4 Bb7 16.Re1 Rd8

• If 16...Nxd3 17.Qxd3 Bxf3 18.Qxf3 0-0 19.Qg3 Kh8 then:
• 20.Be5 f6 21.Bd6 Rfe8 22.Rac1 Rac8 is equal (Bobolyubov-P. Schmidt, IT, Salzburg, 1943).
• 20.Rac1 Rxa2 21.Re5 Qa5 22.h4 Ra1 23.Rec5 Rxc1+ 24.Rxc1 b4 25.Qb3 Rg8 26.Bd2 White resigns (Sämisch-Wade, IT, Oldenburg, 1949).

17.Rc1 Rd5 18.Be5!

• If 18.Ng5!? h6 then:
• 19.Rxc5?! Rxc5 20.Nxe6 fxe6 21.Qg4 0-0 22.Bxh6 Rf7 gives Black a Rook against three pawns (Ujtelky-E. Richter, IT, Trencianske Teplice, 1949).
• 19.Nf3! Nxd3 20.Qxd3 Qa5 21.Rc7 Qb6 22.Bg3 0-0 is equal.

18...Bxe5?

• White gains an winning edge after a series of exchanges..
• If 18...0-0 19.b4 Nxd3 20.Qxd3 then:
• 20...h6 21.Bxg7 Kxg7 22.Re4 Ra8 23.a3 Qd6 24.Rxd4 wins a pawn, but Black will be able to fight on.
• 20...f6 21.Bxd4 Qa6 22.Rc7 Rfd8 23.Qb3 R8d6 24.Re7 leaves White with an extra pawn.
• 18...Nxd3? 19.Qxd3 Bxe5 20.Rxe5 Rxe5 21.Nxe5 f6 22.Qg3!! transposes into the text.

19.Rxe5 Rxe5 20.Nxe5 Nxd3 21.Qxd3

• White emerges from the series of exchanges with his Knight superior to Black's Bishop and the much more active Rook.

21...f6

• This looks like the ticket, but it loses faster than the alternative.
• If 21...h6 22.f3 Rg8 23.b4 then:
• 23...Rg7 24.Rc5 f6 25.Ng4 e5 26.Qf5 wins the f-pawn.
• If 23...Rf8 24.Rc5 Ke7 25.Rxb5 then:
• 25...Qa6 26.a4 Bc6 27.Nxc6+ Qxc6 28.Qxd4 leaves White two pawns up.
• 25...Ba6 26.Rxb6 Bxd3 27.Nxd3 wins for White.

BLACK: Dr. Max Euwe
!""""""""#
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$ W +oO +%
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$pP + PpP%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Mikhail Botvinnik
Position after 21...f7f6

22.Qg3!!

• This is a major tactical shot. White sacrifices the Knight and nets the Queen.

22...fxe5 23.Qg7! Rf8 24.Rc7!

• White threatens mate on e7; Black must surrender his Queen to prevent it.

24...Qxc7 25.Qxc7 Bd5 26.Qxe5 d3

• If 26...Rg8 27.g3 Kd7 28.Qxd4 Rc8 29.Qd2 gives White a material advantage equivalent to a minor piece.

27.Qe3 Bc4 28.b3 Rf7

• If 28...Bd5 then after 29.Qxd3 b4 30.Qb5+ Black can resign.

29.f3

• 29.bxc4 d2 30.Qxd2 bxc4 31.Qe2 Re7 32.Qxc4 gives White a material advantage equivalent to two minor pieces.

29...Rd7

• Dr. Euwe was way out of form in this tournament, but he could still set amuzing little traps.
• 29...Bd5 30.Qxd3 Rb7 31.a4 bxa4 32.bxa4 Kd8 33.a5 leaves White unable to stop the pawn without losing material.

BLACK: Dr. Max Euwe
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Mikhail Botvinnik
Position after 29...Rf7d7

30.Qd2!

• White avoids a trap.
• 30.bxc4? allows the mother of all swindles: 30...d2! 31.Qxe6+ Kd8! White must keep Black in perpetual check in order to prevent the pawn from queening.

30...e5

• If 30...Bd5 31.Qxd3 Bc4 32.Qe3 then:
• If 32...Bd5 then after 33.Qc3 Re7 34.a4 bxa4 35.bxa4 Kd7 36.a5 it will cost Black to stop the pawn.
• 32...Rd1+ 33.Kf2 Bd5 34.Qe2 Rh1 35.Qxb5+ leaves White up by the equaivalent of four pawns.

31.bxc4 bxc4 32.Kf2 Kf7 33.Ke3

• If 33.Qh6 d2 34.Qxh7+ then:
• If 34...Ke8 35.Qh5+ Kd8 36.Qh8+ then:
• If 36...Kc7 37.Qxe5+ Rd6 38.Qxd6+ Kxd6 39.Ke2 is an easy win for White.
• 36...Ke7 37.Qxe5+ Kd8 38.Qa5+ Kc8 39.Qa8+ Kc7 40.Qa7+ White sacrifices the Queen and wins the King-and-pawn ending.
• If 34...Ke6 35.Qh6+ Ke7 36.Qh4+ then:
• 36...Kd6 37.Qf6+ Kd5 38.Ke2 wins for White.
• If 36...Ke6 37.Qxc4+ Ke7 38.Qh4+ then:
• 38...Ke6 39.Qg4+ Ke7 40.Qxd7+ Kxd7 41.Ke2 White wins the King-and-pawn ending.
• 38...Kd6 39.Ke2 Ke6 40.Qg4+ forces a Kinga-and-pawn ending that is easily won for White.

33...Ke6 34.Qb4 Rc7 35.Kd2 Rc6 36.a4 1-0

• If 36...c3+ then after 37.Kc1 d2+ 38.Kc2 Rc7 39.Qb6+ Kd7 40.a5 Black must either allow the pawn to queen or surrender the Rook in order to stop it.
• Dr. Euwe resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Smyslov - Botvinnik, Round 9, Moscow, 1954

Botvinnik always admitted to being a much better tournament than match player. He held the world championship for most of 15 years after winning it in a tournament in 1948 without ever making a clean defense of his title. He drew his matches against David Bronstein (1951) and Visily Smyslov (1954), then lost to Smyslov in 1957, took advantage of the clause that entitled the defeated champion to a rematch to win in back again the following year, then lost to Mikhail Tal in 1960 and defeated Tal in a rematch in 1961. By 1963, the rematch clause, by that time known as the "Botvinnik rule," was abolished. Botvinnik lost his title once and for all in 1963 to Tigran Petrosian.



Vasily Smyslov
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Vasily Smyslov - Mikhail Botvinnik
Match for the World Title, Round 9
Moscow, 3 April 1954

Closed French Game: Nimzo-Winawer Defense

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Ba5 6.b4 cxd4 7.Qg4 Ne7 8.bxa5 dxc3 9.Qxg7 Rg8 10.Qxh7 Nd7 11.Nf3 Nf8!?

• For notes on this game, see N. Kosintseva-Tairova. Russian ChW, Moscow, 2007.
• 11...Qc7 12.Bb5 a6 13.Bxd7+ Bxd7 14.0-0 Qc4 then:
• 15.Bg5 Bc6 16.Rfd1 Qe4 17.Qh4 Ng6 18.Qh7 Ne7 draw (Luik-Sliwa, Corres, 1963).
• 15.Ng5 0-0-0 16.g3 Nf5 17.Nxf7 Bb5 18.Bg5 Rdf8 19.Be7 Re8 20.Nd6+ Nxd6 21.Bxd6 Bd7 22.Rab1 Black resigns down two pawns (Vukovich-Maric, Yugoslav Ch, Sombor, 1957).

12.Qd3

• White has a clear advantage in space.

12...Qxa5 13.h4

• After 13.Nd4 Nc6 14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.h4 Rb8 16.Rh3 White still has the advantage in space and can reply to any threat Black creates.

13...Bd7!?

• Black is not going to catch up in space for a while, but he should not neglect the center.
• Better is 13...Nc6 14.h5 Nd7 15.Qh7 Rg4 16.Qh8+ Nf8 17.Bh6, although White still gets a strong initiative.

14.Bg5

• A playable alternative is 14.Rb1 Bc6 15.Rb3 when:
• If 15...Nf5 16.Nd4 Qc7 17.Nxf5 Qxe5+ 18.Ne3 then:
• 18...d4 19.Qe2 dxe3 20.Qxe3 Qb8 21.f4 White continues to hold the advantage in space.
• 18...Rd8? 19.Qe2 Nd7 20.Rb4 d4 21.Nc4 Qxe2+ 22.Kxe2 leaves White up a piece.
• 15...d4?! 16.Qxd4 Bxf3 17.gxf3 Nc6 18.Qxc3 gives White two extra pawns and two Bishops against two Knights.

14...Rc8 15.Nd4 Nf5 16.Rb1 Rc4?

• The text move is way too pedestrian. White's centralized Knight is menacing and should be eliminated immediately.
• 16...Nxd4 then White continues to enjoy the advantage in space after 17.Qxd4 Rc7 18.Qb4 Qxb4 19.Rxb4 a6.

17.Nxf5! exf5 18.Rxb7 Re4+

• Black has no adequate moves.
• 18...Qxa3 then:
• 19.Qxd5 Re4+ 20.Be3 Qc1+ 21.Qd1 Qxd1+ 22.Kxd1 gives White an extra pawn and a winning advantage.
• If 19.Rb8+ Rc8 20.Rxc8+ Bxc8 21.Qxd5 then:
• If 21...Qa1+ 22.Ke2 then:
• 22...Qa6+ Re4+ 20.Be3 Qc1+ 21.Qd1 Qxd1+ 22.Kxd1 gives White an extra pawn and a winning advantage.
• 22...Ba6+?? 23.Kf3 Rxg5 wins the Queen.
24.Bb5+! ) 23.Kd1 Qa1+ 24.Bc1 Bd7 25.h5 gives White an extra pawn, which is making its way up the h-file; all of Black's remaining pawns are weak.
• 21...Rxg5 22.hxg5 Qc1+ 23.Qd1 leaves White up by the equivalent of a minor piece.

BLACK: Mikhail Botvinnik
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Vasily Smyslov
Position after 18...Rc4e4+

19.Qxe4!!

• The sacrifice is a sham, but even sham sacrifices of the Queen are beautiful.

19...dxe4

• 19...fxe4 then White wins after 20.Rb8+ Bc8 21.Bb5+ Qxb5 22.Rxb5 Ne6 23.Rxd5.

20.Rb8+ Bc8 21.Bb5+

• White must play according to play least he mar his fortunes.
If
• 21.Rxc8+?! Kd7 22.Rd8+ Kc7! 23.Be7 then:
• 23...Qa4! 24.Rd1 Qxc2 25.h5 Ne6 26.Bb4 Ng5 gives Black a strong position with a passed pawn and a Queen marauding the seventh rank.
• If 23...Qxe5!? 24.Bd6+ Qxd6 levels the game.

21...Qxb5 22.Rxb5 Ne6 23.Bf6 Rxg2 24.h5 Ba6 25.h6 1-0

• It will cost Black a piece to stop the pawn.
• Mikhail Mosievich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Botvinnik - Tal, Round 6, Moscow, 1960

Mikhail Tal, widely regarded as the twentieth century's greatest attacking genius, is one of the most popular chess players of all time. Affable and colorful, Tal lived a life he knew would be shortened by kidney disease to its fullest. When asked whether or not he played postal chess, he said I drink, smoke, gamble and chase girls, but postal chess is one vice I've never acquired. An intuitive player with a practical approach to the game, Tal was often criticized for reckless play (There are two kinds of sacrifices: sound ones and mine). Tal, on the other hand, felt a good move was any move that confounded his opponent.

Never did Tal confound an opponent so masterfully as he did to the usually unflappable world champion Mikhail Botvinnik in the title match of 1960, and in no individual game more than the one presented here. Tal won the match, 12½-8½, but Botvinnik reclaimed the world title in a rematch a year later.

Tal died in 1992 at the age of 55. The official cause of death was kidney failure, but those close to Tal said that, in fact, all of his vital organs failed at once.



Mikhail Tal
(1960)
Photo: ChessBase.com


Mikahil Botvinnik - Mikahil Tal
Match for the World Title, Round 6
Moscow, 26 March 1960

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

Although (winning the first match game) had given me a one-point advantage, the start of the match had not completely sasisfied me. In the last four games my opponent had been able to direct play along his favorite channels and had invariably held the initiative. To expect that I would be able to continue gaining draws after prolonged defense would have been highly fivolous. Therefore we decided at all costs to change the character of the play. -- Tal.
1.c4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.g3

• This was Botvinnik's favorite line to meet the King's Indian.

3...Bg7 4.Bg2 0-0 5.d4 d6 6.Nc3 Nbd7 7.0-0 e5 8.e4 c6

• If 8...exd4 9.Nxd4 Re8 10.h3 then:
• If 10...Nc5 11.Re1 a5 then:
• If 12.Qc2 c6 13.Be3 a4 14.Rab1 Qe7 15.Rbd1 then:
• 15...Nfd7 16.b4 axb3 17.axb3 Na6 18.Na2 Ndc5 19.b4 Nxe4 20.Bxe4 Qxe4 21.Bd2 Qxe1+ 22.Bxe1 Bxd4 23.Rxd4 Rxe1+ is equal (Padevsky-Kasparov, IT, Baku, 1980).
• 15.Qc2 a4 16.Red1 axb3 17.axb3 Qe7 18.f4 Ned7 19.Bf2 Nf8 20.b4 Nce6 21.Na4 Nxd4 22.Bxd4 Be6 23.Bxg7 Kxg7 24.b5 (Smejkal-Hausner, IT, Hradec Kralove, 1981).
• 15...Qc7 16.b4 axb3 17.axb3 Na6 18.Qd2 Nc5 19.Qc2 Na6 20.Na2 Nc5 21.Nc3 draw (Cvitan-Spraggett, It, Cannes, 1990).
• If 12.Rb1 c6 13.b3 Nfd7 14.Be3 Ne5 15.Re2 Qc7 16.Rd2 f6 17.f4 Nf7 18.Bf2 Bd7 19.a3 Ne6 20.Nde2 Nf8 21.Na4 Be6 22.Nd4 Bd7 23.Rc1 c5 24.Nb5 Bxb5 25.cxb5 gives White the advantage in space (Manninen-Saunders, Euro ChT, Pula, 1997).
• 10...a6 11.Re1 Rb8 12.Rb1 Ne5 13.b3 c5 14.Nc2 Nc6 15.a4 Be6 16.Re3 h5 17.Rd3 Qc8 18.Qf1 Nb4 19.Nxb4 cxb4 20.Na2 Bd7 21.Bb2 Nxe4 22.Bxg7 Kxg7 23.Nxb4 Bf5 24.Rbd1 gives White more activity (Nikolic-Nataf, Euro Ch, Ohrid, 2001).

9.h3 Qb6

• 9...Re8 10.Re1 Qb6 11.d5 Nc5 12.Rb1 a5 13.Be3 Qc7 14.Nd2 Bd7 15.Bf1 Reb8 16.dxc6 Bxc6 17.Bg2 b6 18.b3 Qb7 19.Qc2 Rc8 20.a3 Ne6 21.Nd5 Nd4 22.Qd3 Nxd5 draw (Ivkov-Liberzon, IT, Amsterdam, 1969).
• 9...Qa5 10.Re1 exd4 11.Nxd4 Ne5 12.Bf1 Re8 13.Be3 Be6 14.Nxe6 Rxe6 15.Kg2 Rae8 16.Qd2 Ned7 17.f3 Nc5 18.Rab1 Qb4 19.Ne2 a5 20.Nf4 Qxd2+ 21.Bxd2 R6e7 22.Bxa5 Ra8 23.Bc3 Rxa2 24.Ra1 Rxa1 25.Rxa1 Ne8 26.Bxg7 Kxg7 27.b4 Nd7 28.Ne2 draw (Maherramzade-Magerramov, Op, Abu Dhabi, 2001).

10.d5

• If 10.Re1 exd4 11.Nxd4 Ne8 then:
• 12.Nb3 a5 13.Be3 Qb4 14.a3 Qxc4 15.Nd4 f6 16.Nd5 cxd5 17.Rc1 Qa2 18.b3 Nc5 19.e5 fxe5 20.Bxd5+ Kh8 gives Black an extra piece (Greenfeld-Candela, Euro ChT, Izmir, 2004).
• 12.Nf3 Ne5 13.Nxe5 dxe5 14.Qa4 Bf6 15.Be3 Qc7 16.Rac1 Ng7 17.h4 Rd8 18.b4 Ne6 19.Nd5 cxd5 20.cxd5 Qd7 21.Qxd7 Bxd7 22.dxe6 draw (Seres-Gladyszev, First Saturday, Budapest, 2001.03).

10...cxd5!?

• 10...Nc5 11.Re1 Bd7 12.Rb1 a5 13.Bf1 Qc7 14.a4 Na6 15.Be3 c5 16.Kh2 Rae8 17.Rc1 Nb4 18.b3 Kh8 19.Qd2 Ng8 20.Ng1 f5 21.exf5 gxf5 22.f4 e4 is equal (O'Kelly-Kavalek, IT, Caracas, 1970).

11.cxd5 Nc5 12.Ne1

• 12.Qe2 Bd7 13.Be3 Rfc8 14.Rfc1 a5 15.Nd2 Ne8 16.g4 Qd8 17.Nb5 b6 18.Na3 Rab8 19.b4 axb4 20.Nc2 Bf6 21.Nxb4 Bg5 22.Rab1 draw Rustemov-Korotylev, City Ch, Moscow, 1994).

12...Bd7!?

• This move was a novelty at the time the game was played. It's not quite good enough for equality.12...a5 13.Nd3 Nxd3 14.Qxd3 Qd8 15.Bg5 h6 16.Be3 b6 17.Qd2 Kh7 18.Rab1 Nd7 19.f4 f5 gives White the advatage in space (Petrosian-Shiyanovsky, IT, Kiev, 1957).

13.Nd3 Nxd3 14.Qxd3 Rfc8 15.Rb1

• 15.Qe2 a5 16.Be3 Qb4 17.Rfb1 a4 18.Bd2 Rc7 19.Bf1 Rac8 is equal (Ashley-Hoyos, Op, New York, 1989).

15...Nh5 16.Be3 Qb4 17.Qe2!?

• White attempts to improve over 30 years after the present game was played.
• 17.Qd1 Rc4 18.Kh2 Rac8 19.Bf3 Nf6 20.a3 Qa5 is equal (Panczyk-Wojtkiewicz, Czestochowa ch, Poland, 1992).

17...Rc4!?

• 17...f5 18.exf5 Bxf5 19.Rbc1 would be "positionally unjustified" (Tal).
• Nevertheless, better is 17...Rc7 18.Rfc1 b5 19.a3 Qb3 20.Bf3 Nf6 21.g4 when White's advantage is minimal.
• Black decides to advance...f5when it is more effective, and now the Knight sacrifice on f4 becomes more and more a reality. It was the aim of preparing the sacrifice that Black chose (17...Rc4), which seems completely natural -- the doubling of the Rooks on the c-file followed by play on the queenside. (Tal).

18.Rfc1

• If 18.Rbc1 b6 19.Bd2 Rac8 20.Nb1 Qc5 21.Na3 then:
• If 21...Rxc1 22.Rxc1 Qd4 23.Rxc8+ Bxc8 24.Bc3 then:
• 24...Nxg3 25.Qf3 Qxe4 26.Qxe4 Nxe4 27.Bxe4 gives White a material edge.
• 24...Qc5 25.Qc4 Bb7 26.Qxc5 dxc5 27.Nb5 Gives White more active pieces.
• 21...b5 22.Nxc4 bxc4 23.Rc3 Qa5 24.Rxc4 leaves White up by an exchange.

18...Rac8?

• Sixteen minutes were spent considering this obvious move. Black was weighing up whether or not the idea, carried out a little later, would work now. No, it does not work. (Tal).
• If 18...f5 19.Bd2 Nf6 20.b3 then:
• 20...Rc5 21.exf5 Bxf5 22.Ne4 Rxc1+ 23.Rxc1 Qa3 is equal.
• If 20...Rcc8 21.exf5 gxf5 then:
• 22.Rb2 Qd4 23.Rbc2 e4 24.Be3 Qd3 25.Qd2 is equal.
• 22.Ne4 Qa3 23.Nxf6+ Bxf6 24.Be3 b5 is equal.

19.Kh2

• 19.Bxa7 f5 20.a3 Qb3 21.Qd1 Qxd1+ 22.Rxd1 b5 23.Be3 gives White the better Bishop.

19...f5 20.exf5

• 20.Bxa7 fxe4 21.Bxe4 b6 22.Qe3 Rd4 is equal.

20...Bxf5 21.Ra1

BLACK: Mikhail Tal
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Mikhail Botvinnik
Position after 21.Rb1a1

21...Nf4!?

• The controversy provoked by this move was, in my opinion, rather pointless. It is good in that all the other continuations are bad, and if the Knight sacrifice is bad, then a question mark should be attached not to Black's 21st move, but, say, to his 17th. All the same, after the Knight sacrifice Black's pieces (this applies especially to the recently "unemployed" Bishop at g7) become very active over the center over the entire center fo the board and White is obliged to switch to the comcrete analysis of numerous sharp variations. The acceptance of the sacrifice is forced. (Tal).
• 21...Nf6 22.g4 Bd7 23.g5 Nh5 24.a3 is equal.

22.gxf4!

• 22.Bxf4 exf4 23.g4 Bd7 24.Rab1 a5 25.a3 Qb6 is equal.

22...exf4 23.Bd2?

• White had been winning up to this move, but now he'll have to win all over again.
• In an article contemporary to the match, Grigory Goldberg, Botvinnik's second, claims White would have won here with 23.a3 Qb3 24.Bxa7. To this, Tal would have replied 24...Be5 with the threat of 25...f3+. Tal gives three possible White replies:
• If 25.Kg1 b6 26.Qd1 Qxb2 27.Ra2 Rxc3. Tal stops here, but play could continue:
• 28.Rxb2 Rxc1 29.Rd2 Rxd1+ 30.Rxd1 Ra8 31.Bxb6 Rxa3 32.Bd4 Bxd4 33.Rxd4 Bxh3 leaves Black two pawns up.
• 28.Rxc3 Qxc3 29.Bxb6 Rb8 30.Qd2 Qxd2 31.Rxd2 Rxb6 leaves Black a piece to the good.
• 25.Bf3 b6 26.Qd1 Qxb2 27.Ra2 Rxc3 then:
• If 28.Rxb2 Rxc1 then:
• If 29.Qe2 R8c3 Tal stopped and stated that Black had, at least for the moment, Black had enough active play to compensate for the material deficit. However, after 30.Rxb6 Rxa3 31.Rb8+ Kf7 32.Qb5 Kf6 White wins. Nevertheless, Tal was correct in going for the complications, since calculating all of this over the board to find the one narrow path to a win is taxing even to Botvinnik's analytical skills.
• If 29.Qd2? Be4! 30.Kg2 Bxf3+ 31.Kxf3 R8c3+ 32.Ke4 Rc4+ 33.Kf3 R1c3+ 34.Ke2 f3+ 35.Kd1 Bf4! wins the Queen.
• If 28.Rxc3 Qxc3 29.a4 Qc4 30.Qe2 Bd3 wins for Black.
• 25.f3 b6 then:
• If 26.Qd1 Qxb2 27.Ra2 Rxc3 then:
• If 28.Rxb2 Rxc1 29.Qd2 Bxb2 30.Qxb2 R1c2 31.Qd4 Re8 then:
• If 32.Qxf4 Ree2 33.Qg3 is equal.
• If 32.Qxb6 Ree2 33.Qg1 Be4 34.Kh1 Bxd5 35.Qb6 then:
• If 35...Re1+ 36.Kh2 Ree2 37.Qd8+ Kf7 38.Qd7+ then:
• 38...Kg8 39.Qd8+ Kf7 draws by repetition.
• 38...Re7? 39.Qxd6 Ree2 40.Qxd5+ Kg7 41.Qd4+ Kg8 42.Qg1 gives White a decisive material advantage.
• 35...Rxg2 36.Qd8+ Kf7 37.Qd7+ Kg8 38.Qd8+ draws by repetition.
• 28.Rxc3 Qxc3 29.Bxb6 Bc2 30.Qe2 Qb3 31.Qa6 Re8 Black wins the exchange.
• If 26.Qf2 then 26...Bd4 27.Qe2 Be3 with equality.

23...Qxb2!?

• If 23...Be5 24.Bf3 Qxb2 then:
• If 25.Nd1 Qa3 26.Rxc4 Rxc4 27.Qxc4 Qxf3 then:
• 28.Qb3 Qh5 29.Kg2 Bxa1 30.Bxf4 Be4+ leaves Black a pawn to the good with a fierce attack.
• If 28.Qb5 then after 28...Qxh3+ 29.Kg1 Qg4+ 30.Kf1 Bxa1 Black wins.
• 25.Rab1 Bxb1 26.Rxb1 Qa3 27.Rxb7 Rxc3 28.Bxc3 Qxc3 gives Black an extra pawn.

24.Rab1 f3 25.Rxb2?

• White finally throws away the game once and for all.
• If 25.Bxf3 Bxb1 26.Rxb1 Qc2 then:
• If 27.Bg4 Bxc3 28.Be6+ then:
• 28...Kh8 29.Bxc3+ Qxc3 30.Bxc8 Rxc8 31.Rxb7 is equal.
• If 28...Kg7? then 29.Bxc8 Rxc8 30.Rxb7+ gives White a strong initiative.
• 27.Rc1 Qb2 28.Rb1 draws.

25...fxe2 26.Rb3

• 26.Kg1 Bxc3 27.Rxc3 Rxc3 28.Bxc3 Rxc3 29.Rxe2 Bxh3 leaves White two pawns to the good.

26...Rd4 27.Be1

• 27.Bg5 Be5+ 28.f4 Rxf4 29.Kh1 Re4 30.Bd2 Rd4 Black has a very active position.

27...Be5+ 28.Kg1
BLACK: Mikhail Tal
!""""""""#
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Mikhail Botvinnik
Position after 28.Kh2g1

28...Bf4!

• Black wins the exchange.
• If 28...Rxc3 29.Rbxc3 Rd1 30.Rc7 Bf4 31.Re7 Rxc1 then:
• 32.Rxe2 Bd3 33.Re6 Be5 34.f4 Rxe1+ 35.Kf2 Re2+ Black maintains the material advantage.
• 32.Re8+ Kf7 33.Rxe2 Bd3 34.Re6 Be5 35.f4 Rxe1+ Black holds on to the extra pawn and the initiative.

29.Nxe2 Rxc1 30.Nxd4 Rxe1+ 31.Bf1 Be4!

• Black must now win a pawn.

32.Ne2 Be5 33.f4 Bf6 34.Rxb7 Bxd5!

• Black takes the pawn.

35.Rc7

• If 35.Rxa7 then 35...Rxe2 36.Bxe2 Bd4+ wins the Rook.

35...Bxa2 36.Rxa7 Bc4 37.Ra8+ Kf7

• 37...Kg7 38.Re8 d5 39.Kf2 Bh4+ Black can advance the d-pawn.

38.Ra7+ Ke6 39.Ra3 d5 40.Kf2 Bh4+

• If 40...Rb1 41.Ra7 h5 then:
• If 42.Kg2 then after h4 43.Ra8 Bg7 44.Rg8 Kf6 45.Kf2 Rb2 Black will be able to advance the d-pawn.
• 42.Ra3 d4 43.f5+ Ke7 44.Ra4 Bh4+ 45.Kg2 Bd5+ gives Black a fierce initiative.

41.Kg2

• If 41.Kg1 then 41...d4 42.Nxd4+ Kd5 43.Nf3 Rxf1+ wins a piece.

41...Kd6 42.Ng3 Bxg3 43.Bxc4 dxc4

• 43...Bxf4 44.Kf2 Re4 45.Bf1 Ke5 46.Bg2 Rb4 gives Black two extra pawns.

44.Kxg3 Kd5 45.Ra7

• If 45.Ra5+ then after 45...Kd4 46.Ra7 Re3+ 47.Kg2 h5 48.Ra6 Ke4 Black maintains an extra pawn.

45...c3 46.Rc7 Kd4 0-1

• Tal judged that the c-pawn could not be stopped.
• If 47.Rd7+ (which Botvinnik actually sealed) then after 47...Kc4 48.Rc7+ Kd3 49.Rd7+ Kc2 50.Kf2 Re4 the kingside pawns fall and Black reaches the Lucena position.
• Mikhail Mosievich, the world champion, resigns without resuming play.

[Jack Rabbit]

11. Petrosian - Spassky, Round 10, Moscow, 1966

Tigran Petrosian was the greatest defensive player of the twentieth century. He played a prophylactic style he learned from reading the works of Nimzovich, but knew how to play tactically and often rounded off his victories with a tactical twist, as he does here.



Tigran Petrosian
Photo: Wikipedia (Public Domain)

Tigran Petrosian - Boris Spassky
Match for the World Title, Round 5
Moscow, 2 May 1966

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

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.Bg2 0-0 5.0-0 Nc6 6.Nc3 d6 7.d4 a6

• If 7...Bg4 8.d5 Na5 9.Nd2 c5 10.Rb1 then:
• If 10...a6 11.b3 Rb8 12.Bb2 b5 13.Ba1 then:
• 13...e5 14.cxb5 axb5 15.b4 cxb4 16.Rxb4 gives White the advantage in space (Maiorov-B. Socko, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).
• If 13...Bd7 14.Qc2 h5 15.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).
• 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).

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

• If 8.h3 Rb8 9.e4 then:
• If 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.
• If 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).
• If 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).

8...Na5 9.Nd2 c5 10.Qc2 e5

• If 10...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).

11.b3 Ng4 12.e4

• 12.h3 Nh6 13.Bb2 f5 14.f4 Bd7 15.e3 b5 16.Nd1 Nf7 is equal (Vukic-R. Byrne, IT, Sarajevo, 1967).

12...f5 13.exf5 gxf5 14.Nd1!?

• 14.Bb2 Bd7 15.Rae1 b5 16.Nd1 Nb7 17.h3 Nf6 18.f4 e4 19.Ne3 is equal (Donner-Tatai, IT, Venice, 1967).

14...b5

• The game is equal. A good plan for Black is to redeploy his poorly placed Knight at a5 to the kingside.

15.f3 e4 16.Bb2 exf3

• 16...Bxb2 17.Qxb2 exf3 18.Bxf3 Ne5 19.Qc2 bxc4 20.bxc4 remains equal.

17.Bxf3 Bxb2 18.Qxb2 Ne5 19.Be2 f4

• 19...bxc4 20.bxc4 Qg5 21.Kh1 f4 22.gxf4 Rxf4 23.Rg1 gives White the advantage in space and a slight initiative.

20.gxf4!?

• White should exchange Rooks and then develop his Knights.
• If 20.Rxf4 Rxf4 21.gxf4 Ng6 22.Ne4 then:
• 22...Nxf4 23.Ne3 Qe7 24.Bf3 Bh3 25.Kh1 Rf8 remains equal.
• 22...Qe7!? 23.Nf6+ Kf8 24.Nh5 bxc4 25.bxc4 defends White's weak f-pawn and gives White the b-file.

20...Bh3!?

• The plan turns out to be faulty.
• 20...Ng6 21.Qc3 then:
• 21...Qe7 22.Bh5 Nxf4 23.Kh1 Nxh5 24.Rg1+ Ng7 25.Qxa5 remains equal and does something about the Knight on a5.
• 21...bxc4 22.bxc4 Ra7 23.Ne3 Nxf4 24.Kh1 remains equal.

BLACK: Boris Spassky
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WHITE: Tigran Petrosian
Position after 20...Bc8h3

21.Ne3!!

• Spassky was probably expecting this reply, with which White sacrifices the exchange.
• 21.Re1 Qh4 22.Nf2 Rxf4 23.Nxh3 Qxh3 gives Black a vicious attack.

21...Bxf1?

• Black takes the bait.
• 21...Rxf4 22.Rxf4 Qg5+ then:
• 23.Rg4! Nxg4 24.Nxg4 Bxg4 25.Bxg4 h5 26.Rf1! leaves White better because Black's Knight is still misplaced.
• 23.Kh1 Qxf4 24.Rg1+ Ng6 25.Ng2 Bxg2+ 26.Rxg2 gives White a slight advantage owing to better piece placement.

22.Rxf1 Ng6

• It is now difficult to find a good continuation for Black.
• 22...Nd7 23.cxb5 axb5 24.Bxb5 Rf7 25.Kh1 leaves White with a far more active game; Black has two inactive pieces on the queenside.

23.Bg4!

• The Bishop is clearly headed for e6.
• If 23.f5 Qg5+ 24.Ng4 then:
• If 24...Rae8! then after 25.fxg6 Rxe2 26.gxh7+ Kxh7 27.Qb1+ Kg7 Black wins the Knight.
• If 24...Ne5? then White wins after 25.Ne4! Qh4 26.Rf4 Qe1+ 27.Kg2 bxc4 28.Nxe5!! when White either delivers mate or wins signigificant material.

23...Nxf4

• 23...h5 24.Be6+ Kh7 25.Nf5 Rxf5 26.Bxf5 gets White the exchange back with a powerful position.

24.Rxf4

• 24.Ne4 Qh4 25.Rxf4 Rxf4 26.Be6+ Rf7 27.Nxd6 wins for White.

24...Rxf4 25.Be6+! Rf7

• 25...Kf8 26.Qh8+ Ke7 27.Qxh7+ Ke8 28.Qg6+ Ke7 29.Qg5+ wins for White.

26.Ne4 Qh4 27.Nxd6 Qg5+

• Black survives a little longer after 27...Raa7 when:
• If 28.Bxf7+ Rxf7 29.Qg2+ Kf8 30.Nxf7 then:
• If 30...Qe1+ 31.Nf1 Kxf7 32.Qc2 then after after 33.Qxh7+ White has with two passed pawns; Black's Knight is still poorly placed.
• 30...Kxf7 31.cxb5 Qe1+ 32.Nf1 axb5 33.Qc2 c4 34.Qxh7+ is an easy win for White.
• 28.Nxf7 Rxf7 29.Bxf7+ Kxf7 30.Qf2+ Qf6 31.Qe2 leaves White with an extra pawn and Black with an offsided Knight.

28.Kh1 Raa7 29.Bxf7+ Rxf7

BLACK: Boris Spassky
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Tigran Petrosian
Position after 29...Ra7f7:B

30.Qh8+!! 1-0

• White wins a piece.
• If 30...Kxh8 then after 31.Nxf7+ Kg7 32.Nxg5 it's time to turn out the lights.
• Boris Vasilyevich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

12. Spassky - Petrosian, Round 19, Moscow, 1969

Boris Spassky
Photo: by Andrzej Filipowicz in Wikimedia (Public Domain)


Boris Spassky - Tigran Petrosian
Match for the World Title, Round 19
Moscow, 4 June 1969

Open Sicilian Game: Najdorf Defense

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 Nbd7

• For lines following 6...e6, see T. Kosintseva-Zdebskaja, Russian ChTW, Sochi, 2009.

7.Bc4

• 7.f4 e6 8.Qf3 transposes into more conventional Rauzer lines.

7...Qa5 8.Qd2 h6

• 8...e6 9.0-0-0 b5 10.Bb3 Bb7 11.Rhe1 is also more conventional.

9.Bxf6

• If 9.Bh4 e6 10.0-0-0 b5 11.Bb3 Bb7 then:
• 12.Rhe1 Be7 13.f4 Nc5 14.Nf5 exf5 15.exf5 Nxb3+ gives Black a strong game (Szilagyi-Bogdanovich, IT, Pecs, 1964).
• 12.f3 Be7 13.Qe1 Nc5 14.Nce2 Qc7 15.Kb1 Rc8 Black has an attack brewing on the queenside.

9...Nxf6 10.0-0-0 e6 11.Rhe1!?

• If 11.Bb3 then:
• 11...Be7 12.Kb1 Nd7 13.Rhe1 Nc5 14.Nf5 exf5 15.exf5 0-0 16.Rxe7 gives White an extra pawn (Bruzón-Delgado, Capabalnca Mem, Havana, 2005).
• 11...Bd7 12.f4 Be7 13.Kb1 Qc7 14.Rhe1 Rd8 gives White the advantage in space (Kuijpers-Damjanovic, IT, Beverwijk, 1966).

11...Be7

• The game is equal.

12.f4 0-0 13.Bb3 Re8

• 13...Qc7 14.f5 e5 15.Nf3 Bd7 16.g4 Rac8 17.g5! opens the kingside to White's advantage.

14.Kb1 Bf8!?

• The text move is somewhat passive. Black's appears to be waiting for White to move forward, hoping to ensnare him.
• Better is 14...Nd7 15.g4 Nc5 16.Bc4 Bh4 17.Re3 b5 18.Nb3 with equality.

15.g4!?

• In a speculative mood, White proffers a pawn.
• If 15.Nd5! then:
• 15...Qd8 16.Nxf6+ Qxf6 17.g3 Rd8 18.f5 exf5 19.Rf1 gives White the active game.
• 15...Qxd2?! 16.Nxf6+! gxf6 17.Rxd2 e5 18.Nf3 exf4 19.Rde2 gives White compensation for the pawn in activity and pawn structure.

15...Nxg4

• 15...e5 would create too many holes for White to exploit.
• If 15...e5!? then White is clearly better after 16.Nf5 Nxg4 17.Qg2! Bxf5 18.exf5 Nf6 19.Qxb7.

16.Qg2 Nf6 17.Rg1 Bd7

• 17...Kh8 18.f5 Qe5 19.fxe6 Bxe6 20.Bxe6 fxe6 21.Nf3 remains equal.

18.f5 Kh8 19.Rdf1

• Rather than open the center right away, White first maneuvers against Black's kingside weaknesses.
• If 19.fxe6 fxe6 20.Rdf1 Qe5 21.Nf3 then:
• 21...Qf4 22.Nd2 Qg5 23.Qxg5 hxg5 24.Rxg5 remains equal.
• If 21...Qh5 22.e5 Nd5 23.Nxd5 exd5 then:
• 24.Nd4 Qxe5 25.Qxd5 Qxd5 26.Bxd5 g5 27.Bxb7 remains equal.
• 24.e6 Rxe6 25.Nd4 Re7 26.Rf4 g5 27.Qxd5 Bg7 gives Black more activity on the Kingside.

19...Qd8?

• Black is still waiting for White to step into a spider's web that isn't there. He should instead assert himself in the center.
• 19...e5 20.Nde2 Re7 21.Nd5 Nxd5 22.Bxd5 f6 remains equal.

20.fxe6 fxe6 21.e5!

• A crushing sacrifice that must be accepted -- Sir Harry Golombek, Encyclopedia Britannica.

21...dxe5

• If 21...Nh5? 22.Nf3 a5 23.Qg4! then:
• 23...a4 24.Bc4 Rc8 25.Be2 Rxc3 26.Qxh5 Rxf3 27.Bxf3 White wins by overpowering Black's kingside with his heavy pieces.
• If 23...d5 then after 24.Qxh5 a4 25.Ng5! Black must sacrifice the Queen to prevent mate.

22.Ne4 Nh5

• 22...exd4 23.Nxf6 g5 24.Qxb7 Bg7 25.Nxd7 Re7 26.Ba4 leaves White a piece to the good.

BLACK: Tigran Petrosian
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WHITE: Boris Spassky
Position after 22...Nf6h5

23.Qg6!!

• White lets the Knight go and uses the time to put the Black King in a mating net.

23...exd4 24.Ng5! 1-0

• 24...hxg5 25.Qxh5+ Kg8 26.Qf7+ Kh8 27.Rf3 leads to mate.
• Tigran Vartanovich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

13. Fischer - Spassky, Round 6, Reykjavik, 1972

When American grandmaster Bobby Fischer won the title in 1972, many thought that the Soviet hegemony in chess had been broken once and for all. However, the bizarre streak in Fischer's personality took hold and Fischer would play play chess again for twenty years. His reign but was but an enclave in the era.



Bobby Fischer
Photo: ChessBase.com


Bobby Fischer - Boris Spassky
Match for the World Title, Game 6
Reykjavik, 21 July 1972

Grand Orthodox Queen's Gambit: Tartakover Defense

1.c4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.d4!?

• There's obviously nothing wrong with this opening, but Fischer had never played the Queen's Gambit before in his life, even to the point of publicly expressing open contempt for 1.d4 as a first move.

3...Nf6 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 0-0 6.e3 h6 7.Bh4 b6

• Spassky adopts the Tartakover Defense, with which he had never lost until this game.

8.cxd5

• If 8.Bd3 Bb7 9.0-0 Nbd7 then:
• If 10.Qe2 c5 11.Rfd1 Ne4 12.Bg3 Nxg3 13.hxg3 cxd4 14.exd4 dxc4 15.Bxc4 Nf6 16.Ne5 Bb4 17.Rac1 Bxc3 18.bxc3 Re8 19.Bb3 Re7 20.c4 Rc8 then:
• 21.Qe3 Rec7 22.f3 Nd7 23.Nxd7 Qxd7 24.g4 Qd8 25.d5 exd5 26.cxd5 Rxc1 27.Rxc1 Rxc1+ 28.Qxc1 Qd6 is equal (Romanishin-Portisch, IT, Biel, 1996).
• 21.f4!? Rec7 22.Rc2 Qe7 23.Qe3 Nd7 24.Nf3 Nf6 25.Rdc1 Be4 gives Black the more active owing to his more active Bishop (Jobava-Lingnau, Op, Oldenburg, 2001).
• If 10.Bg3 c5 11.Qe2 Ne4 12.cxd5 exd5 13.Rad1 then:
• If 13...Nxg3 14.hxg3 then:
• 14...Qc7 15.Bc2 Rad8 16.dxc5 Nxc5 17.Nd4 Bf6 18.Qg4 Rfe8 19.Rc1 Qe5 is equal (Vyzmanavin-Geller, Sochi, 1989).
• 14...Bf6 15.Bb1 Re8 16.Rd2 a6 17.Rc1 Rc8 18.Qd1 c4 19.Nh2 g6 gives Black a slight advantage in space (Vyzmanavin-Pigusov, IT, Moscow, 1987).
• 13...Qc8 14.Rc1 Ndf6 15.dxc5 Nxg3 16.hxg3 bxc5 17.e4 dxe4 18.Nxe4 Re8 is equal (Beckhuis-Akesson, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• If 8.Rc1 Bb7 then:
• If 9.Bxf6 Bxf6 10.cxd5 exd5 then:
• If 11.Bd3 c5 12.0-0 then:
• 12...Nd7 13.Bf5 g6 14.Bxd7 cxd4 15.Bc6 Bxc6 16.Nxd4 Bb7 17.Qa4 Qe7 draw (Kasimdzhanov-Kramnik, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1989).
• 12...cxd4 13.exd4 Nc6 14.Bb1 Re8 15.Qd3 g6 16.Rfe1 Qd6 17.a3 Rxe1+ 18.Rxe1 is equal (Karpov-Portisch, IT, Skelleftea, 1989).
• 11.b4 c6 then:
• 12.Be2 Qd6 13.Qb3 Nd7 14.0-0 a5 15.a3 Rfe8 16.Rfd1 Be7 17.Rb1 Bf8 is equal (Browne-Hort, Op, Reykjavik, 1978).
• 12.Bd3 Qd6 13.Qb3 Nd7 14.0-0 Be7 15.Rb1 f5 16.Rfd1 Rad8 17.a4 Kh8 18.Bf1 g5 is equal (Cu. Hansen-Short, IT, Skanderborg, 2003).
• 9.cxd5 Nxd5 10.Bxe7 Qxe7 then:
• If 11.Be2 Rc8 12.0-0 c5 then:
• 13.Nxd5 Bxd5 14.dxc5 Rxc5 15.Rxc5 Qxc5 16.Qa4 Bc6 17.Qf4 Nd7 18.b4 Qf8 19.Ba6 Rd8 20.Rc1 Bxf3 21.gxf3 Nf6 is equal (Gligoric-Karajica, IT 7172, Hastings, 1972).
• 13.Qa4 Nd7 14.Rfd1 Nxc3 15.Rxc3 a6 16.Qa3 Kf8 17.dxc5 Nxc5 18.Rdc1 Nd7 19.Qxe7+ Kxe7 draw (Keres-Geller, Moscow, 1955).
• 11.Bd3 Rc8 12.0-0 c5 13.Nxd5 Bxd5 14.dxc5 Rxc5 15.Rxc5 Qxc5 16.Qd2 Nc6 17.Rc1 Qd6 18.Bc4 Rd8 19.Bxd5 Qxd5 20.Qxd5 Rxd5 is equal (Bu Xiangzhi-Li Zunianm Chinese ChT, Suzhou, 2001).
• If 8.Be2 Bb7 9.Bxf6 Bxf6 10.cxd5 exd5 then:
• If 11.b4 c6 12.0-0 a5 then:
• If 13.b5 c5 then:
• If 14.Ne5 then:
• 14...cxd4 15.exd4 Bxe5 16.dxe5 d4 17.Na4 Qg5 18.Bg4 Qxe5 19.Nxb6 Ra7 20.Rb1 Qf6 21.Na4 Be4 22.Rc1 d3 23.Nc5 gives White more activity and more space (L'Ami-Savanovic, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).
• 14...Qc7 15.Ng4 Nd7 16.Bf3 Rad8 17.Nxd5 Bxd5 18.Bxd5 cxd4 19.e4 Bg5 is equal (Z. Rahman-Johannessen, Op, Dhaka, 2002).
• If 14.Rc1 Nd7 15.dxc5 Nxc5 16.Nd4 then:
• 16...Qd6 17.Bg4 Rad8 18.Nce2 g6 19.Qc2 h5 20.Bh3 gives White a very slight advantage in space (Nikolic-Beliavsky, PCA Qual, Gronigen, 1993).
• 16...Rc8 17.Bg4 Rc7 18.Na4 Ne4 19.Qd3 Rc4 20.Nb2 Rc5 is equal (Gertarsson-Jussupow, FIDE Knock Out, Groningen, 1997).
• 13.bxa5 Rxa5 14.a4 Bc8 15.Qc2 Be6 16.Rfd1 Nd7 17.Rab1 Qa8 is equal (Akobian-S. Gordon, Op, Gibraltar, 2009).
• If 11.0-0 then:
• If 11...Nd7 then:
• If 12.b4 c5 13.bxc5 bxc5 14.Rb1 Bc6 15.Bb5 Qc7 16.Qc2 then:
• 16...Rfc8 17.Rfc1 Rab8 18.a4 Qd6 19.dxc5 Nxc5 20.Bxc6 Qxc6 21.Nb5 Be7 22.Qf5 Qe8 23.Ne5 Rb7 24.Nd4 Rbc7 25.Nb5 Rb7 draw (Kasparov-Karpov, World Ch Match, Moscow, 1984).
• 16...Rfd8 17.Rfc1 Rab8 18.a4 Qd6 19.dxc5 Nxc5 20.Bxc6 Qxc6 21.Nb5 Be7 22.Qf5 Qe8 23.Ne5 Rb7 24.Nd4 Rc7 25.Nb5 Rb7 26.h3 Bf8 draw (Kasparov-Karpov, World Ch Match, Moscow, 1985).
• 12.Qb3 c6 13.Rfe1 Re8 14.Rad1 Nf8 15.e4 g6 16.e5 Bg7 17.Qc2 Qe7 18.Rb1 Ne6 19.Bf1 Rad8 20.b4 Ba8 21.Qd2 g5 22.h3 darw (K. Georgiev-Portisch, IT, Sarajevo, 1986).
• 11...Qe7 12.Qb3 Rd8 13.Rad1 c5 14.dxc5 Bxc3 15.Qxc3 bxc5 16.Rd2 Nd7 17.Rc1 a5 18.Qa3 Qe4 19.Bb5 d4 20.exd4 Ne5 21.Ne1 cxd4 is equal (Timman-Ivanchuk, IT, Hilversum, 1991).

8...Nxd5 9.Bxe7 Qxe7 10.Nxd5 exd5 11.Rc1

• If 11.Be2 Be6 12.0-0 c5 then:
• If 13.dxc5 bxc5 14.Rc1 Nd7 15.Qa4 Rfc8 16.Qa3 Qf8 17.Rfd1 a5 18.Nd2 c4 19.Qxf8+ Kxf8 20.e4 Ne5 draw (Szabo-Filip, IT, Beverwijk, 1966).
• 13.Ne5 Nd7 14.Nxd7 Qxd7 15.dxc5 bxc5 16.Rc1 Rac8 17.Qd2 Qb7 18.Bf3 Rfd8 19.Rfd1 Qb6 20.h3 d4 21.b3 dxe3 22.Qxe3 Rxd1+ 23.Bxd1 draw (Kozma-Zita, Czechoslovakian Ch, Brno 1964).

11...Be6 12.Qa4 c5 13.Qa3 Rc8 14.Bb5

• If 14.Be2 a5 15.0-0 Qa7 16.dxc5 bxc5 then:
• If 17.Rfd1 Nd7 18.Ne1 Ne5 19.Nf3 Nd7 draw (Gligoric-Ciric, TMatch, Budva, 1967).
• 17.Ne5 Qb6 18.Rfd1 Na6 19.Bxa6 Rxa6 20.Nd3 c4 is equal (Dunn-Obers, Op, Gibraltar, 2007).

14...a6

• 14...Qb7 15.dxc5 bxc5 16.Rxc5 Rxc5 17.Qxc5 Na6 18.Bxa6 Qxa6 19.Qa3 Qc4 20.Qc3 Qxa2 21.0-0 Rb8 gives Black the more active game (Szabo-Kavalek, IT, Amsterdam, 1973).

15.dxc5 bxc5 16.0-0 Ra7

• 16...Qb7 17.Ba4 Qb6 18.Qb3 Qxb3 19.Bxb3 Nd7 is equal (Ott-Kuijpers, TT, Las Palmas, 1973).

17.Be2 Nd7!?

• If 17...a5 18.Rc3 then:
• If 18...Nd7 19.Rfc1 Re8 20.Bb5 Bg4 21.Nd2 d4 22.exd4 cxd4 23.Qxe7 Rxe7 24.Rc8+ is equal (Furman-Geller, Moscow, 1970).
• 18...c4 19.Qxe7 Rxe7 20.b3 cxb3 21.Rxc8+ Bxc8 22.axb3 is equal (Dzindzichashvili-Kavalek, US Ch,,Berkeley, 1984).

18.Nd4

• White takes advantage of a pin.
• The game is equal.

18...Qf8 19.Nxe6 fxe6 20.e4

• 20.b3 a5 21.Qa4 Nb6 22.Qb5 Qd6 remains equal.

20...d4!?

• Black moves to create a passed pawn.
• Black needn't be in a hurry could wait to advance the pawns; an alternative is 20...Qf4 21.exd5 exd5 22.Rfd1 when:
• If 22...Rf8 23.Bf3 Kh8 24.Qe3 d4 25.Qxf4 Rxf4 26.Bc6 remains equal; Black's hanging pawns are weak.
• 22...Re8!? 23.Bf3 d4 24.b4! cxb4 25.Qxb4 Kh8 26.Bh5 gives White the active game.

BLACK: Boris Spassky
!""""""""#
$ +t+ Wl+%
$T +m+ O %
$o+ +o+ O%
$+ O + + %
$ + Op+ +%
$Q + + + %
$pP +vPpP%
$+ R +rK %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Bobby Fischer
Position after 20...d5d4

21.f4!

• White grabs soace on the kingside.

21...Qe7 22.e5

• 22.Bc4 Nb6 23.Rf2 Nxc4 24.Rxc4 e5 25.f5 is equal.

22...Rb8 23.Bc4 Kh8 24.Qh3?!

• White leave his b-pawn undefended.
• 24.Rf2 a5 25.Qd3 a4 26.Qe4 Rab7 27.Rcc2 leaves White better and Black unable to make progress with his central pawns.

24...Nf8!?

• Black should have jumpe on the opportunity.
• 24...Rxb2 25.Bxe6 Rab7 26.Rfd1 Qe8 27.a4 Qe7 is equal.

25.b3 a5 26.f5 exf5 27.Rxf5!?

• This is a slight inaccuracy, but it could have made a big difference.
• 27.Qxf5! Rd8 28.Bb5 Raa8 29.Rce1 foes more to maintain the pressure on the kingside.

27...Nh7?!

• Black misses his chance.
• If 27...a4! then:
• If 28.Rcf1 then after 28...axb3 29.Bxb3 Nh7 30.Bc4 Ng5 Black is back in the game.
• 28.Rf7?! Qg5! 29.Re1 Rxf7 30.Bxf7 axb3 31.axb3 is equal.

28.Rcf1! Qd8?

• After this, Black's game becomes passive.
• 28...a4 29.Qd3 Rba8 30.Bd5 then:
• If 30...Rd8 31.Rf7 Rxd5 32.Rxe7 Rxe7 33.b4 cxb4 34.Rb1 leaves Black with the ability to create complications with his central passer that might save him in the end.
• If 30...axb3 31.Qxb3 Ra3 32.Qb2 then:
• 32...Ng5 33.Bxa8 Rxa8 34.Qb3 leaves White an exchange up.
• If 32...R8a7?? then White forces mate: 33.Qb8+ Nf8 34.Rxf8+ Kh7 35.Rh8+ Kg6 36.Qb1+ Kh5 37.Qd1+ Kg5 38.h4+ Kxh4 39.Rf4+ Kg5 40.Qg4#.

BLACK: Boris Spassky
!""""""""#
$ T W + K%
$T + + Om%
$ + + + O%
$O O Pr+ %
$ +bO + +%
$+p+ + +q%
$p+ + +pP%
$+ + +r+ %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Bobby Fischer
Position after 28...Qe7d8

29.Qg3!?

• White wins faster after 29.e6! Rc8 30.Rd5 Qb6 31.Qh5 when:
• If 31...Nf8 then after 32.Rdf5 Qd6 33.Rf7 Rxf7 34.Qxf7 White wins.
• If 31...a4 32.Rd7 Qb8 33.Qg6 Rxd7 34.exd7 then:
• If 34...Nf8 then after 35.dxc8Q Qxc8 36.Rxf8+ Qxf8 37.Bd3 Black cannot defend against both the threatened mate at h7 and the advanced of a passed pawn after 38.bxa4.
• If 34...Rd8 then White wins after 35.Re1 Nf8 36.Re8!.

29...Re7

• If 29...a4 30.e6 Rc8 then:
• 31.bxa4 Rxa4 32.Rf7 Qg5 33.Qxg5 hxg5 34.Rc1 the e-pawn decides.
• if 31.Rf7 Rxf7 32.Rxf7 Qg5 33.e7 then:
• 33...Qxg3 34.hxg3 axb3 35.Bxb3 h5 36.Bc4 Re8 37.Bb5 wins.
• if 33...axb3 34.Qxg5 hxg5 35.Bxb3 Rg8 then:
• If 36.Bc4 Ra8 37.Kf1 then:
• If 37...g4 then after 38.Kf2 Rc8 39.a4 Re8 40.Bb5 White wins easily.
• If 37...Rg8 then White wins after 38.Bd3 Re8 39.Bb5.
• 36.Ba4 Nf6 37.Rf8 c4 38.Rd8 d3 39.Bb5 wins easily.

30.h4 Rbb7 31.e6 Rbc7 32.Qe5 Qe8

BLACK: Boris Spassky
!""""""""#
$ + +w+ L%
$+ T T Om%
$ + +p+ O%
$O O Qr+ %
$ +vO + P%
$+p+ + + %
$p+ + +p+%
$+ + +rK %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Bobby Fischer
Position after 32...Qd8e8

33.a4!

• What a remarkable position. Black has no active moves.

33...Qd8

• Black is reduced to passivity. He can only move his Queen back and forth while White builds his attack.
• If Black wants to fall on his sword, then he can try 33...d3 34.Bxd3 Rc8 35.Bb5 Qd8 36.Rf7.

34.R1f2 Qe8 35.R2f3 Qd8 36.Bd3

• White wins easily after 36.Rf7 Rxf7 37.Rxf7 Rxf7 38.exf7 Qf8 39.Qe8.

36...Qe8 37.Qe4 Nf6

• This is the position for which Fischer has been aiming.

BLACK: Boris Spassky
!""""""""#
$ + +w+ L%
$+ T T O %
$ + +pM O%
$O O +r+ %
$p+ Oq+ P%
$+p+b+r+ %
$ + + +p+%
$+ + + K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Bobby Fischer
Position after 37...Nh7f6

38.Rxf6!!

• This obvious sacrifice ends all resistance.

38...gxf6 39.Rxf6 Kg8 40.Bc4 Kh8 41.Qf4 1-0

• White snares Black in a mating net.
• Boris Vasilyevich resigns and joins the spectators in applauding Mr. Fischer's artistry.

[Jack Rabbit]

17. Update (Monday): Anand en route, expected in Sofia tomorrow

World champion Vishy Anand is en route to Sofia, Bulgaria, where his title match with Bulgarian GM Veselin Topalov is scheduled to begin Friday and is expected to arrive tomorrow.

Earlier in the day, the match organizers, the Bulgarian Chess Federation, rejected Anand's appeal for a postponement of the match.

Silvio Danailov, Vice President of the BCF and business manager for Topalov, said, "We want to begin on time. Why did Anand spend the weekend just sitting around doing nothing?"

Thousands of travelers besides Anand have had their travel plans disrupted by volcanic ash from the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull (EY ah FYAT la Yokl) in Iceland, which has closed most of Europe's air space. Rental cars and trains are unavailable, as Mr. Danailov, a notorious gamesman who nearly threw Topalov's 2006 championship match with Vladimir Kraminik in the toilet (literally and figuratively), is no doubt aware.

[Jack Rabbit]

18. Update (Tuesday) Report of Anand in Sofia

Mark Crowther reports in The Week in Chess in a paragraph time-stamped today at 2:30 pm London time that world chess champion Vishy Anand has arrived in Sofia for his title match with Bulgarian GM Veselin Topalov, which is set to begin Friday.

Anand and his wife, Aruna, who serves as her husband's business manager, were stranded in Frankfurt, Germany, Thursday en route to Sofia from Spain by ash from the eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull, which caused the cancellation of thousands of commercial fights all over Europe. The Anands traveled by car for 40 hours to reach Sofia.

Anand is still seeking a three-day delay in the start of the match, but this is seen as unlikely.

[Jack Rabbit]

19. Update (Wednesday): FIDE Postpones Match to Saturday; Topalov draws White for Game 1

Eyjafjallajokul has succeeded in postponing the start of the World Chess Championship Match in Sofia by one day.

FIDE Deputy President Georgios Makropoulos today made the decision today to postpone the match by one day after discussions between representatives of reigning world champion Vishy Anand, who sought a three day postponement, and challenger Veselin Topalov, who wanted to begin the match as scheduled Friday, got nowhere.

Anand requested the postponement while he was stranded in Frankfurt in the wake of the eruption of the volcano Eyjafjallajokul (EY ya Fyat la Yokl) in Iceland which caused thousands of flight cancellations all over Europe and precipitated a continental transportation crisis. Anand finally succeeded in securing transportation from a Dutch VIP transport company. It took forty hours for Anand and his entourage to travel by road from Frankfurt to Sofia.



Anand and his members of his team arrived at the Sofia Hilton
at 5:30 am Tuesday
Photo: ChessBase.com

It is reported that Anand, his wife and business manager, Aruna, and two other members of his team passed the time in a Mercedes Sprinter by watching all three parts of The Lord of the Rings.

In the opening ceremonies held today, Topalov won the draw for colors and will play White when the match begins Saturday. Anand will have White in round 2.