The JR Chess Report (September 21): 39th Olympiad Begins

[Jack Rabbit]

39th Chess Olympiad Begins Today in Khanty Mansiysk



The thirty-ninth Chess Olympiad begins today in the Siberian oil town of Khanty Mansiysk, a favorite place for FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov to hold prestigious events.

Kirsan, who recently resigned as President of the Russian Autonomous Region of Kalmykia, is expected to be re-elected President of FIDE at the federation Congress that will be held simultaneously. This, in spite of Kirsan enhancing his reputation as the George W. Bush of Chess by completely mucking up the travel schedule in Khanty Mansiysk, causing several federations to threaten to withdraw.

Kirsan's principal opponent in the election is former world champion Anatoly Karpov, who has mounted a spirited against Kirsan's corrupt and incompetent administration. However, Kirsan is supported by a well-oiled political machine which assures his election by keeping small federations in developing countries happy, allowing Kirsan to make life miserable for the top grandmasters who must put up with midstream rule changes and inept arrangements for travel and accommodations.

Meanwhile, the Olympiad will feature teams from over 150 nations competing in a general and women's group. Top teams come from Russia, China, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Ukraine and the United States, with the team from Georgia a threat to take a medal in the women's competition. Vietnam may be a dark horse in the general competition.

Games will be broadcast live on the official website beginning at 4 pm local time (3 am PDT).


Calendar

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. Some game from the summer

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
!""""""""#
$tMvWlVmT%
$OoOoOoOo%
$ + + + +%
$+ + + + %
$ + + + +%
$+ + + + %
$pPpPpPpP%
$RnBqKbNr%
/(((((((()
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. Carlsen - Wang Yue, King's Tournament,Round 4, Medias, Romania

Magnus Carlsen, still the world's Numero Uno, won the King's Tournament in Transylvania in June by two full points.



Magnus Carlsen
Photo: ChessBase.com


Magnus Carlsen - Wang Yue
King's Tournament, Round 4
Medias, Romania, 17 June 2010

King's Gambit: Falkbeer Defense

1.e4 e5 2.f4 d5

• This is the most dynamic metnod of declining the King's Gambit.

3.exd5 exf4

• In this way, the game transposes from a King's Gambit Declined to what is commonly called the Abbazia Defense of the King's Gambit Accepted (1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 d5), but we shall prefer the name Falkbeer Defense.
• The Falkbeer Counter-Gambit continues 3...e4 4.d3 Nf6 5.dxe4 Nxe4 6.Nf3 with White having a slightly better game in the opening.

4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bc4

• More common is 5.Bb5+ c6 6.dxc6 when:
• If 6...Nxc6 7.d4 Bd6 then:
• If 8.0-0 0-0 9.Nbd2 Bg4 10.Nc4 Bc7 11.Bxc6 bxc6 12.Qd3 then:
• 12...Bxf3 13.Rxf3 Nd5 14.Ne5 Bxe5 15.dxe5 Qb6+ 16.Kh1 Rad8 17.Qe2 Ne3 18.Bxe3 Qxb2 19.Raf1 draw (Arnason-Kristinsson, Op, Reykjavik, 1984).
• 12...Qd5 13.Nfe5 g5 14.h4 h6 15.hxg5 hxg5 16.Bxf4 Qd6 17.Bxg5 Nh7 18.Bf4 Black is two pawns down and resigns (Quaker-Sarosy, Corres, 1983).
• If 8.Qe2+ Be6 9.Ng5 0-0 10.Nxe6 fxe6 11.Bxc6 bxc6 12.0-0 Qc7 then:
• If 13.Qxe6+ 13...Kh8 14.Nd2 Rae8 15.Qh3 then:
• If 15...c5 16.Nc4 f3 17.Nxd6 Qxd6 then:
• 18.Qxf3 draw (Carroll-Cornell, Corres, 1986).
• 18.gxf3?? Qxd4+ 19.Kh1 Re2 20.Qf5 Nd7!! 21.Qd3 Qxd3 22.cxd3 Ne5 23.f4 Nxd3 24.f5 Nf2+ 25.Kg2 Rxf5 26.Rg1 Ne4+ White resigns (Negre-Thimonger, Corres, 1990).
• 15...g5 16.Nc4 g4 17.Qh6 f3 18.Nxd6 Qxd6 is equal (Lodge-Kondali, Corres, 1986).
• 13.Nd2 e5 14.dxe5 Bxe5 15.Nf3 Bd6 16.Bd2 Kh8 is equal (Westerinen-Kulaots, Keres Mem Blitz, Tallinn, 1996).
• If 6...bxc6 7.Bc4 then:
• 7...Bd6 8.Qe2+ Qe7 9.Qxe7+ Kxe7 10.0-0 Be6 11.Re1 h6 12.d4 g5 13.Nc3 Nbd7 14.Bd2 Nb6 15.Ba6 gives White a safer King (Bensiek-Hakola, Corres, 1990).
• 7...Nd5!? 8.Nc3 Be6 9.Qe2 Be7 10.0-0 Nd7 11.d4 g5 12.Nxd5 cxd5 13.Nxg5 Bxg5 14.Bxd5 Rb8 15.Bxe6 fxe6 16.Qh5+ gives White more than sufficient compensation for his material deficit (Kyritz-Ohmacht, Corres, 1986).
• If 5.c4 c6 6.d4 then:
• If 6...Bb4+ 7.Nc3 cxd5 8.Bxf4 0-0 9.Bd3 Re8+ 10.Be5 Nc6 11.0-0 Nxe5 12.Nxe5 dxc4 13.Bxc4 Be6 then:
• 14.Qd3 Rc8 15.Bxe6 Rxe6 16.Rad1 Qa5 is equal (Arzberger-Bilo, Corres, 1977).
• 14.Bb5 Rf8 15.Qd3 Qd6 16.Rf4 Rfd8 is equal (Csaszar-Langland, Corres, 1961).
• 6...cxd5 7.Bxf4 Bb4+ 8.Nc3 0-0 9.Be2 dxc4 10.Bxc4 Nd5 11.Bd2 Re8+ 12.Kf2 Bxc3 13.bxc3 Nf6 14.Re1 Bg4 15.Bxf7+!! Kxf7 16.Qb3+ Qd5 17.Ng5+ Kf8 18.Nxh7+ Kf7 19.Ng5+ Kf8 20.Nh7+ Kf7 21.Rxe8 Qxb3 22.Rf8+ and White went on to win (Larsen-Laursen, Op, Holstebro, 1950).

5...Nxd5

• If 5...Bd6 6.0-0 0-0 7.d4 Bg4 8.Nc3 Nbd7 9.Bb3 then:
• 9...c6 10.dxc6 bxc6 11.Ne2 Qc7 12.c4 Rad8 13.Qc2 c5 14.d5 Rfe8 is equal (Prisi-B. Lengyel, Hungarian Ch, Budapest, 1980).
• If 9...Nb6!? 10.Qd3 a5 11.a3 a4 12.Ba2 then:
• 12...Bxf3 13.Qxf3 Qd7 14.Ne2 Qb5 15.Nxf4 Bxf4 16.Bxf4 gives White an extra pawn and the advantage of the two Bishops over two Knights (Spielmann-Fahrni, IT, Baden Baden, 1914).
• 12...Bh5 13.Ne5 Bg6 14.Nxg6 hxg6 15.Bxf4 Bxf4 16.Rxf4 Nbxd5 17.Rf3 gives White stronger pawns (Sulc-Sevecek, Corres, 1968).

6.0-0 Be7

• 6...Be6 7.Bb3 Be7 8.c4 Nb6 9.d4 Nxc4 10.Nc3 Nb6 gives Black an extra pawn; White has some compensation in development.

7.Bxd5 Qxd5 8.Nc3

• If 8.d4 0-0 9.Bxf4 then:
• 9...c6 10.Nc3 Qd8 11.Qd3 Be6 12.Ne4 is equal (I. Smirin-B. Lalic, Op, New York, 2000).
• 9...c5!? 10.Nc3 Qc4 11.Qe1 Bf6 12.Bd6 Bxd4+ 13.Kh1 Rd8 14.Ne4 Nc6 15.c3 leaves White with an extra pawn (Wells-Ibragimov, Op, Odorheiu Secuiesc, 1993).

8...Qd8 9.d4 0-0 10.Bxf4 Bf5

• 10...Bg4 11.Qd2 c6 12.Rae1 gives White the advantage in space (Gasanov-Safarli, President's Cup Op, Baku, 2008).

11.Qe2 Bd6!?(N)

• If 11...Nc6 12.Rad1 Re8 13.Qb5 Qd7 14.d5 Nb4 15.d6 Qxb5 16.Nxb5 then:
• 16...Bxc2? 17.Nxc7!! Bxd1 18.Rxd1 Bf6 19.d7 Red8 20.Nxa8 Rxa8 21.Re1 Black resigns (R. Jones-al Rakib, Ol, Calvia, 2004).
• 16...Bxd6 17.Bxd6 cxd6 18.Nxd6 Bxc2 is equal.

12.Bxd6 Qxd6

• 12...cxd6 13.Qb5 Qc8 14.d5 Nd7 15.Nd4 gives White a more aggressive position.

13.Nb5

• White has a more active game.
• 13.Rad1 Bg4 14.Qe4 Bxf3 15.Qxf3 Nc6 16.Nd5 is also more active for White.

13...Qd8 14.c4!?

• Better is to overprotect the d-pawn.
• After 14.Rad1 c6 15.Nc3 Re8 16.Qf2 White's center is solid.

14...a6

• 14...c6, protecting both the b-pawn and against the advance of White's d-pawn, is a better way to repel the Knight.

15.Nc3 Nd7 16.Rad1 Bg6 17.Qf2 Re8 18.h3 Rc8 19.Rfe1 Rxe1+ 20.Rxe1 c6 21.d5!?

• White misses 21.c5, which restains Black's queenside.
• 21.c5! b6 22.Nh4 bxc5 23.Nxg6 fxg6 24.dxc5 clearly gives White stronger pawns.

21...Nf6!?

• Black fails to capitalize on White's inaccuracy.
• 21...cxd5 22.cxd5 Bd3 23.Rd1 Bg6 24.Qe3 Bh5 equalizes.

22.Qd4!?

• White again misses the best move.
• 22.dxc6 Rxc6 23.Ne5 Rc8 leaves White with a better center.

BLACK: Wang Yue
""""""""#
$ +tW +l+%
$+o+ +oOo%
$o+o+ Mv+%
$+ +p+ + %
$ +pQ + +%
$+ N +n+p%
$pP + +p+%
$+ + R K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 22.Qf2d4

22...cxd5!

• Black has equalized.

23.Nxd5 Nxd5 24.cxd5 Qd6 25.Ne5 Re8 26.Re3 Rd8!?

• Better is to pin the Knight.
• 26...Qf6 27.d6 Rd8 28.d7 Bf5 remains equal.

27.Nc4

• White has the better center after 27.Nxg6 fxg6 28.b4 b6 29.Re4 h6.

27...Qf6?!

• Black leaves his Queen in a vulnerable position.
• 27...Qf8 28.a3 f5 29.Ne5 Bh5 remains equal.

;

BLACK: Wang Yue
""""""""#
$ + T +l+%
$+o+ +oOo%
$o+ + Wv+%
$+ +p+ + %
$ +nQ + +%
$+ + R +p%
$pP + +p+%
$+ + + K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 27...Qd6f6

28.Re5!?

• White misses his opportunity to capitalize on Black's faulty play.
• If 28.Qxf6 gxf6 then:
• 29.Re7! Bb1 30.a3 Ba2 31.Nb6 sets up the exchange of minor pieces, leaving White with better pawns.
• If 29.Nb6!? Rd6 30.Nc8 Rd8 then:
• 31.Rc3 Kf8 32.Nb6 Rd6 33.Rb3 Be4 gives White only a small advantage.
• 31.d6?! Kf8! 32.Rc3 Bf5 is euqal.

28...h6!

• Black restores the balance.

29.d6 Bf5

• Also playable is 29...Bb1 30.d7 Kh7 31.a4 Bf5.

30.Nb6 Be6 31.d7!

• This is the safest place for the pawn and the one that does most to immobilize Black's pieces.
• 31.Nd5!? Bxd5! 32.Rxd5 Qxd4+! 33.Rxd4 gives Black stronger pawns.

31...Kh8 32.a4 g6 33.Qc3

• 33.a5 Kg7 34.b4 Kg8 35.h4 Kg7 36.Kh1 is a playable alternative.

33...Kg7 34.a5 h5?

• This move allows White to greatly restrict Black's options.
• Little better is 34...g5 35.Qd4 Kh7 36.b4, but here, too, White's command of the center is palpable.

BLACK: Wang Yue
""""""""#
$ + T + +%
$+o+p+oL %
$oN +vWo+%
$P + R +o%
$ + + + +%
$+ Q + +p%
$ P + +p+%
$+ + + K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 34...h6h5

35.h4!

• Black's kingside pawns are paralyzed.

35...Rxd7

• Black has no good moves.
• 35...Kg8 36.g3 Kg7 37.Rc5 then:
• 37...Qxc3 38.Rxc3 Bf5 39.Rc7! wins at least a pawn.
• 37...Bg4 38.Rc7 Qxc3 39.bxc3! also wins material.

36.Nxd7 Bxd7 37.Qd4 Bc6

• Black can do nothing except leave his Bishop on the e8/a4 diagonal in order to prevent the White Rook from playing to a8. Meanwhile, White builds his attack at leisure.

38.b4 Bb5 39.Kh2 Ba4

BLACK: Wang Yue
""""""""#
$ + T + +%
$+o+p+oL %
$o+ + Wo+%
$P + R +o%
$vP Q + P%
$+ + + + %
$ + + +pK%
$+ + + + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 39...Bb5a4

40.Rd5!

• The Bishop is out of place and White moves the Rook behind the pawn.
• Also good is 40.Qe4! Qd6 41.Kg1 b6 42.Rd5 Qf6 43.Qd4.

40...Bc6 41.Qxf6+!

• The exchange of Queens forces the Black King into the open.
• Also good is 41.Rd8! Qxd4 42.Rxd4.

41...Kxf6 42.Rc5 Ke6 43.Kg3 f6

• Black may hold out longer after 43...Kd6 44.Kf2 f6 45.g3 Bd5 46.Ke3 Bc6 47.Kd4.

44.Kf2 Bd5 45.g3 g5

• A fundamental error that allows White to create a passed pawn.
• 45...Kd6 46.Ke3 Bc6 47.Kd4 Ke6 48.Kc3.

BLACK: Wang Yue
""""""""#
$ + + + +%
$+o+ + + %
$o+ +lO +%
$P Rv+ Oo%
$ P + + P%
$+ + + P %
$ + + K +%
$+ + + + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 45...g6g5

46.g4!

• White forces the passer.

46...hxg4

• 46...gxh4 47.gxh5 Be4 48.h6 h3 49.Kg3 loses even quicker.

47.h5 Be4 48.Rc7 f5 49.h6

• The pawn cannot be stopped without dropping the Bishop.

49...f4 50.h7 g3+

• If 50...Bxh7 51.Rxh7 g3+ then:
• 52.Kg2 Kf5 53.Rxb7 Kg4 54.Rf7 leaves White with a Rook for two pawns.
• 52.Kf3 g4+ 53.Kg2 Kd5 54.Rd7+ Kc6 55.Rf7 wins for White.

51.Ke1 f3 52.h8Q f2+ 53.Ke2 Bd3+ 54.Ke3 1-0

• If 54.Ke3 f1Q 55.Qe8+ then:
• If 55...Kf5 then:
• 56.Qd7+ Ke5 57.Qe7+ Kf5 58.Rc5+ Kg4 59.Rxg5+ Kh4 60.Rg6+ Kh3 61.Rh6+ Kg2 62.Qxb7+ Kg1 63.Rh1#.
• 56.Rf7+ simply wins the Queen.
• 55...Kd5 56.Rc5+ Kd6 57.Qe5+ Kd7 58.Rc7+ Kd8 59.Qe7#.
• Wang Yue resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Hou Yifan - Sebag, Women's Grand Prix (5th Leg), Round 5, Ulaanbaatar

Sixteen-year-old Hou Yifan won the fifth leg of the Women's Grand Prix, held in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, in August.



Hou Yifan
Photo: ChessBase.com


Hou Yifan - Marie Sebag
FIDE Women's Grand Prix, 5th Leg, Round 5
Ulaanbaatar, 4 August 2010

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

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.Qd2 Nbd7 9.f4

• For 9.f3 see Dzhumaev-Ghaem Maghami, Op, New Delhi, 2010.

9...b5 10.0-0-0

• If 10.f5 Bc4 11.0-0-0 Be7 then:
• If 12.g4?! Nxg4 13.Rg1 Ndf6 14.Kb1 Bxf1 15.Rgxf1 b4 leaves Black a pawn to the good with the initiative (Shyam-R. Ibrahim, Op, Dubai, 2010).
• 12.Kb1 0-0 13.g4 Nxg4 transposes into Salgado López-Zakhartsov, below.

10...Be7 11.Kb1 0-0

• 11...Qc7 12.h3 0-0 13.g4 Rfc8 14.Bg2 Bc4 15.g5 is equal (Feygin-Feller, Belgian ChT, Belgium, 2007).

12.f5 Bc4 13.Rg1

• 13.g4 Nxg4 14.Rg1 Nxe3 15.Qxe3 Bxb3 16.Qh6 Bxc2+ 17.Kxc2 Bf6 18.Rxd6 Kh8 19.Qh5 Qe7 20.Qd1 Rfd8 gives Black an extra pawn and a safer King (Salgado López-Zakhartsov, Op, Cappelle la Grande, 2009).

13...Qc7(N)

• 13...Ng4!? 14.h3 Nxe3 15.Qxe3 Bxf1 16.Rgxf1 gives White the advantage in space (Gaponenko-Kadziolka, Euro ChW, Rijeka, 2010).

14.g4

• The game is equal.

14...b4

• 14...Bxf1 15.Rgxf1 b4 16.Nd5 Nxd5 17.exd5 a5 remains equal.

15.Bxc4 bxc3?!

• Black's problems in this game have their root in this pawn sacrifice.
• 15...Qxc4 16.Nd5 Nxd5 17.Qxd5 Qxd5 18.exd5 remains equal.

16.Qxc3!

• White gladly accepts the sacrifice.

16...Rfc8 17.Nd2 d5!

• This sacrifice of a second pawn is Black's best try.
• White also retains the pawn after 17...Nxe4 18.Nxe4 Qxc4 19.Qxc4 Rxc4 20.Nxd6.

18.exd5

• 18.Bxd5 Qxc3 19.bxc3 Nxd5 20.exd5 Rxc3 leaves Black down a pawn, but she has more activity than she would have otherwise.

18...Rab8 19.Qd3!

• White avoids the pitfalls of Black's play.
• If 19.Bb3!? Qxc3 20.bxc3 Nxd5 21.Ne4 then:
• 21...N7f6! 22.Nxf6+ Nxf6 23.Bg5 h6 leaves White with a neglagible advantage, if any.
• 21...Nxe3!? 22.Rxd7 Kf8 23.Rg3 Nc4 24.Rgd3 Rb6 25.g5 gives White the advantage in space and considerably more freedom.

19...e4 20.d6?!

• 20.Qe2! Nxd5 21.Bd4 then:
• If 21...e3 22.Bxd5 Qxc2+ 23.Ka1 exd2 24.Qxd2 leaving White a pawn to the good.
• 21...Bf6 22.Qxe4! Nc3+ 23.Bxc3 Bxc3 24.Bb3 leaves White two pawns to the good.

20...Qc6?

• Black misses an opportunity to turn the tables.
• If 20...Bxd6! 21.Nxe4 Nxe4 22.Qxe4 Bxh2 23.Bxa6 then:
• 23...Nf6 24.Qd3 Rd8 25.Qe2 Bxg1 26.Bxg1 Rxd1+ 27.Qxd1 Rd8 gives Black the initiative and better piece coordination.
• 23...Re8 24.Qc4 Qxc4 25.Bxc4 Rxe3 gives Black two pawns for a piece.

BLACK: Marie Sebag
""""""""#
$ Tt+ +l+%
$+ +mVoOo%
$o+wP M +%
$+ + +p+ %
$ +b+o+p+%
$+ +qB + %
$pPpN + P%
$+k+r+ R %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Hou Yifan
Position after 20...Qc7c6

21.Qe2!

• White brings her Queen to safety and protects her kingside pawns.
• Also good is 21.Qa3 Bxd6 22.Qxa6 Nb6 23.Bb3 Bxh2 24.Rh1 , leaving White with an extra pawn.

21...Bxd6 22.Bb3

• Even better is 22.g5! Nd5 23.Nxe4 Nxe3 24.Nxd6 Nxd1 25.Rxd1 Rc7 26.Bxf7+ , giving White a material advantage and good piece coordination.

22...Be5

• No better is 22...Bc5 23.g5 Nd5 24.Bxd5 Qxd5 when:
• 25.g6 Bxe3 26.Qxe3 Qxf5 27.Rdf1 Qe5 28.gxf7+ Kf8 29.Qa3+ gives White a tremendous attack.
• 25.f6? Rxb2+! 26.Kxb2 Ba3+ 27.Kb1 Qxd2 28.Rxd2 Rb8+ 29.Ka1 Bb2+ 30.Kb1 Ba3+ etc. draws.

23.Nc4

• Also good is 23.c3 Rc7 24.h4 Nd5 25.Nxe4 Nxe3 26.Qxe3 , leaving White two pawns to the good.

23...Bc7

• Losing quicker is 23...Rd8 24.g5 Nd5 25.g6 Nxe3 26.Qxe3.

24.g5 Nd5 25.g6 Nxe3 26.Nxe3 Nc5

• If 26...Kh8 27.gxh7 Nc5 28.Bxf7 Na4 29.Bb3 leaves White three pawns up.

27.Qh5

• The pawns, without piece support, will crumble and leave the King defenseless.

27...Nxb3

• White now has a forced mate, but Black was toast in any case.
• 27...h6 28.gxf7+ Kf8 29.f6 leads to White getting a prohibitive material advantage.

BLACK: Marie Sebag
""""""""#
$ Tt+ +l+%
$+ +mVoOo%
$o+wP +p+%
$+ + +p+q%
$ + +o+ +%
$+m+ N + %
$pPp+ + P%
$+k+r+ R %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Hou Yifan
Position after 27...Nc5b3:B

28.Qxh7+!!

• White would only be wasting time if she recaptures at b3.

28...Kf8 29.Qh8+ Ke7 30.Qxg7 Rf8

• If 30...Bd6 then after 31.Qxf7+ Kd8 32.g7 Nd2+ 33.Rxd2 Rxb2+ 34.Kc1 Rxc2+ 35.Nxc2 Qe8 36.Rxd6+ White mates on the next move.

31.Nd5+ Ke8

• If 31...Kd7 32.Nb4+ Bd6 33.Nxc6 Kxc6 then:
• 34.Rxd6+! Kxd6 35.Rd1+ Kc6 36.Qf6+ Kb5 37.Rd5+ Nc5 38.c4+ Ka5 39.Rxc5+ Rb5 40.cxb5 axb5 41.b4+ Kxb4 42.Qc3+ Ka4 43.Qb3+ Ka5 44.Qxb5#.
• If 34.cxb3 then Black escapes the forced mate by 34...Rbc8 35.Qd4 Rcd8 36.Qxe4+ Kb6 , but White still wins easily.

32.gxf7+ Rxf7

• If 32...Kd7 then after 33.Nb6+ Ke7 34.Qg5+ Kxf7 35.Rd7+ Qxd7 36.Qg7+ Ke8 White mates on the next move.

33.Qg8+ Rf8

• 33...Kd7 34.Nb4+ Nd4 35.Rxd4+ Qd6 36.Qxf7+ Kc8 37.Rxd6 Rb6 38.Rg8+ Kb7 39.Qd5+ Rc6 40.Qxc6+ Ka7 41.Qxc7#.

34.Nxc7+ Qxc7

• If 34...Ke7 then after 35.Rg7+ Kf6 36.Nd5+ Qxd5 37.Rg6+ Ke7 38.Re6+ Kd7 39.Rxd5+ Kc8 40.Qxf8+ Kc7 41.Qe7+ White mates on the next move.

35.Qe6+ Qe7 1-0

• White mates in two starting with 36.Qc6+.
• Mlle. Sebag resigns without waiting for Ms. Hou to reply.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Andreikin - Salem, World Jr Ch (General Group), Round 6, Chotowa

Dmitry Andeikin won the World Junior Championship in August. The Girls' Group was won by Anna Muzychuk.



Dmitry Andreikin
Photo: ChessBase.com


Dmitry Andreikin - Saleh Salem
World Junior Championship (General Group), Round 6
Chotowa, Poland, 9 August 2010

Caro-Kann Game: Accelerated Panov Opening

1.e4 c6 2.c4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.cxd5

• The Accelerated Panov Opening has become in recent years recognized as a debut independent of and distinct from the Panov Opening (1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4). White gets rapid development and more space; the bad news is that he is saddled with an isolated d-pawn.
• If 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Qb3 Bg7 7.cxd5 0-0 then:
• If 8.Be2 Nbd7 9.Bf3 Nb6 then:
• If 10.Nge2 Bg4 11.Bxg4 Nxg4 12.a4 a5 13.0-0 Nf6 14.Nf4 Qd6 then:
• 15.Rd1 Rfd8 16.Nb5 Qd7 17.d6 exd6 18.Nc3 Ra6 19.Be3 Rc8 20.h3 Rc4 21.Nd3 Qd8 22.Ne5 dxe5 23.dxe5 Qe8 24.exf6 Rb4 is equal (Sax-Gipslis, IT, Valby, 1994).
• 15.Nb5 Qd7 16.d6 exd6 17.d5 Rfc8 18.Qd3 Ne8 19.Ra2 Nc4 20.b3 Ne5 21.Qd1 Nc7 is equal (Su. Polgar-Gipslis, Op, Brno, 1991).
• 10.Bg5 Bf5 11.Rd1 Qd7 12.Nge2 Bg4 13.Bxg4 Qxg4 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.0-0 Rfd8 16.Rfe1 Qd7 17.Nf4 gives White the advantage ins space (Hall-I. D. Wells, British Ch, Morecambe, 1981).
• 8.Nge2 Re8 9.Nf4 Nbd7 10.Be2 gives White an extra pawn, more space and better development (Naiditsch-Bhat, Empresa IT, Montreal, 2009).

4...Nf6 5.Nc3 Nxd5 6.Nf3 Nc6

• If 6...e6 7.d4 Bb4 then:
• If 8.Bd2 Nc6 9.Bd3 0-0 10.0-0 Be7 then:
• If 11.a3 Bf6 12.Qc2 then:
• 12...g6 13.Bh6 Re8 14.Rad1 Nxc3 15.bxc3 Bd7 16.Qd2 e5 17.dxe5 Nxe5 18.Nxe5 Bxe5 19.Bxg6 hxg6 20.Qxd7 Qxd7 21.Rxd7 b5 22.Be3 a6 23.Bd4 Rac8 24.g3 Bxd4 25.Rxd4 Rxc3 26.a4 Rc4 27.Rxc4 bxc4 28.Rc1 Rc8 29.Kf1 c3 30.Ke2 Rc4 31.Kd3 Rxa4 32.Rxc3 Ra2 33.Ke3 Rb2 draw (Riazantsev-Bologan, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).
• If 12...h6 13.Be3 then:
• 13...Nce7 14.Ne4 b6 15.Rad1 Bb7 16.Qd2 Nf5 17.Bb1 Ba6 18.Rfe1 Rc8 19.Bf4 Nxf4 draw (Cobb-Wells, IT, Hereford, 2006).
• 13...Nxc3 14.bxc3 e5 15.Bh7+ Kh8 16.Be4 exd4 17.cxd4 Bg4 18.Bxc6 Rc8 19.Qe4 Bxf3 20.Qxf3 bxc6 21.Rac1 Bxd4 draw (Diani-Linna, Corres, 1999).
• 11.Qe2 Nf6 12.Ne4 Qb6 13.a3 Bd7 14.Rfd1 Rad8 15.b4 a6 16.Rac1 Bc8 17.Nxf6+ Bxf6 18.Be3 Qc7 19.Be4 gives White the advantage in space (Baron-Svetushkin, Op, La Roda, 2005).
• If 8.Qc2 Nc6 then:
• If 9.Be2 0-0 10.0-0 then:
• 10...Be7 11.Rd1 Bf6 12.Ne4 Nce7 13.Nxf6+ Nxf6 14.Bg5 Ned5 15.Ne5 b6 16.Bf3 Bb7 17.Qa4 Qe8 18.Qa3 Qb5 19.Rac1 a5 20.Bxf6 gxf6 21.Ng4 Kg7 22.Bxd5 Qxd5 23.Qh3 gives White the better game for now (Christiansen-Sadykov, Ol, Bled, 2002).
• 10...Re8 11.Rd1 Bf8 12.Qe4 Bd7 13.Bd3 f5 14.Qe2 Bd6 15.Bc4 Nxc3 16.bxc3 Na5 17.Bd3 Bc6 18.Rb1 Qc7 19.c4 Bxf3 20.Qxf3 Nc6 21.Be3 is equal (Adams-Asrian, FIDE Knock Out, Tripoli, 2004).
• If 9.Bd3 Ba5 10.a3 then:
• 10...Nxc3 11.bxc3 Nxd4 12.Nxd4 Qxd4 13.Bb5+ Bd7 14.0-0 Qd5 15.c4 Qf5 16.Bxd7+ Kxd7 17.Qb3 b6 18.Rd1+ Ke7 19.a4 Rhd8 20.Ba3+ Kf6 21.Bd6 g5 22.Qb2+ Kg6 23.Ra3 e5 24.Qe2 f6 25.h4 g4 26.Rg3 h5 27.f3 Qf4 28.Kh2 Rac8 29.fxg4 Rxc4 30.Bxe5!! Qxe5 31.gxh5+ Black resigns (Nepomniachtchi-Sulashvili, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).
• 10...h6 11.0-0 0-0 12.Rd1 Nce7 13.Ne5 Bd7 14.Ne4 Bc7 15.Qe2 Nf5 16.Nc5 Bc6 17.Nxc6 bxc6 18.Nxe6 fxe6 19.Qxe6+ with an excellent game for White (Nepomniachtchi-Kharitonov, Euro Ch, Plotdiv, 2008).

7.Bb5 Nc7

• If 7...e6 8.0-0 Be7 9.d4 0-0 10.Re1 then:
• If 10...Bd7 11.Bd3 then:
• If 11...Rc8 12.Nxd5 then:
• If 12...exd5 13.Ne5 then:
• 13...Bf6 14.Bf4 g6 15.Qb3 Na5 16.Qb4 Be6 17.Bh6 allows White to use the holes in Black's position to disrupt Black's setup and gain time (Carlsen-Smeets, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2009).
• If 13...Nxe5 14.Rxe5 then:
• 14...Be6 15.Qh5 g6 16.Qh6 Bg4 17.h3 f6 18.Bxg6 hxg6 19.Qxg6+ Kh8 20.Re3 Black resigns (Vaganian-Serper, PCA Qual, Groningen, 1993).
• White stands better after 14...Bc6 15.Qg4 Bf6 16.Bg5 Bxg5 17.Rxg5 Qf6 18.Re5, but no disaster follows for Black.
• 12.a3 a6 13.Bb1 Re8 14.h4 Na5 15.Ne5 g6 16.h5 Nc4! 17.hxg6 hxg6 18.Nxg6 fxg6 19.Qg4 Bf6 20.Bh6 Re7 21.Qxg6+ gives White a tremendous game (Izoria-Dive, Ol, Dresden, 2008).
• If 11...Nf6 12.a3 Rc8 13.Bb1 Re8 14.Qd3 g6 15.Ba2 a6 16.Bh6 gives White more freedom (Gligoric-Pomar, Ol, Nice, 1974).
• If 10...Qd6 11.Bc4 a6 12.Bb3 Nf6 13.Bg5 Rd8 14.Rc1 Na5 15.Bc2 b5 16.Qd3 g6 17.d5 then:
• 17...Bb7?! 18.Qd4 Nxd5 19.Qh4 Bxg5 20.Nxg5 gives White an excellent game (Kiik-Frenklakh, IM Trmt, Helsinki, 2001).
• 17...Nxd5 18.Ne4 Qc7 19.Bb3 Qb6 20.Bxe7 Nxe7 is equal.
• 7...Nxc3 is a drawish continuation: 8.bxc3 Qd5 9.Qe2 Bg4 10.Bc4 Bxf3 11.Bxd5 Bxe2 12.Kxe2 Rc8 13.Rb1 draw (Gashimov-Asrian, Euro Ch, Antalya, 2004).

8.Bxc6+ bxc6 9.d4(N)

• 9.Qa4 Bd7 10.0-0 e6 11.Ne5 Nd5 12.d4 Be7 is equal (Delchev-Shirazi, Op, Nice, 2001).

9...g6!?

• Black wants to put pressure on White's isolated d-pawn, but this move does little toward giving Black a foothold in the center.
• 9...Bg4 10.Qd3 Bxf3 11.Qxf3 Nd5 12.0-0 e6 is equal (Fritz).

10.Qa4!

• White's Queen pressures the c-pawn and defneds the d-pawn from this post.
• If 10.Ne5 Bg7 11.Qf3 0-0 then:
• 12.Nxc6 Bb7 13.0-0 Bxc6 14.Qxc6 Bxd4 15.Rd1 gives White more freedom.
• 12.Be3!? proves passive after 12...Bb7 13.Nxc6 Rb8 14.0-0 Bxc6 15.Qxc6 Rxb2 with equality.

10...Qd6?

• If 10...Bb7 11.Ne5 then:
• 11...Nd5 12.Qb3 Rb8 13.Qa4 Bg7 gives White the edge in space and freedom.
• 11...Bg7 12.Qb3 Bxe5 13.dxe5 Qb8 14.Be3 gives White more space and repairs the isolated pawn.

11.0-0 Bg7
BLACK: Saleh Salem
""""""""#
$t+v+l+ T%
$O M OoBo%
$ +oW +o+%
$+ + + + %
$q+ P + +%
$+ N +n+ %
$pP + pPp%
$R B +rK %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Dmitry Andreikin
Position after 11...Bf8g7

12.b3!

• White will develop his Bishop on the flank, thus taking advantage of the Black Queen's vulnerability.

12...Ne6

• 12...Nd5 13.Nxd5 Qxd5 14.Re1 Bb7 15.Bf4 Qb5 16.Qa3 makes it difficult for Black to castle.

13.Ba3!

• See previous note.

13...Qd7 14.Ne5 Bxe5

• If 14...Qb7 15.Rfe1 then:
• 15...Bd7 16.Rad1 Rd8 17.Ne4 gives White complete command of the center in spite of the isolated d-pawn.
• 15...Qa6 drops two pawns to 16.Qxc6+ Qxc6 17.Nxc6 Bb7 18.Nxe7.

15.dxe5 Qb7 16.Rfd1 Bd7 17.Qe4!

• White keeps Black's c-pawn immobile.

17...Rc8

• This doesn't help at all, but no better is 17...Rb8 18.Rac1 Qa6 19.Na4.

18.Na4 Qb5 19.Rac1 Rc7 20.Nc5

• Also good is 20.Rd2 a6 21.Rcd1 Qa5 22.Qe3.

20...Bc8

• 20...Nxc5 loses quickly after 21.Bxc5 Be6 22.Qe3 Qa5 23.Qh6.

21.Qh4?!

• 21.Qe3 overprotects the Knight at c5 while preparing to occupy h6.

21...h5?

• Completely insufficient.
• 21...Qe2! 22.Nxe6 Bxe6 23.Qb4 0-0 gives Black faint hopes of fighting back.

BLACK: Saleh Salem
""""""""#
$ +v+l+ T%
$+ T Oo+ %
$ +o+ +o+%
$+wN P +o%
$ + + + Q%
$Bp+ + + %
$p+ + PpP%
$+ Rr+ K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Dmitry Andreikin
Position after 21...h7h5

22.Ne4!

• Although Black does not take the pawn for four moves, this sacrifice decides all.

22...c5

• If 22...Qa6 then White still dominates after 23.Bc5 g5 24.Nxg5 Qxa2 25.Nxe6 Bxe6 26.Qg5.

23.Nxc5 Nxc5 24.Bxc5 Bg4 25.Ba3

• If 25.Bd6 Rb7 26.h3 Be6 27.Bc7 Bd5 28.Bb6 then:
• 28...0-0 29.Bc5 Qd7 30.Bxe7 Qxe7 31.Qxe7 Rxe7 32.Rxd5 leaves White two pawns to the good.
• 28...Rxb6 loses immediately to 29.Rc8+ Kd7 30.Rxh8.

25...Qxe5 26.f3!

• White renders Black's Bishop ineffective.

26...Be6

• 26...Rxc1 27.Rxc1 Qe3+ fails against 28.Kh1 g5 29.Qg3 e5 30.Re1.

27.Qa4+ Kf8 28.Rxc7 Qxc7 29.Rc1 Qb7

• 29...Qd7 at least ties White's Rook to the back rank.

30.Qf4 Qa6 31.Bb2 f6

• 31...Qd6 loses straightaway to 32.Qxd6 exd6 33.Bxh8.

BLACK: Saleh Salem
""""""""#
$ + + L T%
$O + O + %
$w+ + Oo+%
$+ + + +o%
$ + + Q +%
$+p+ +p+ %
$pB + +pP%
$+ R + K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Dmitry Andreikin
Position after 31...f7f6

32.Bxf6!!

• A flashy piece sacrifice winds up the game for White.
• Also good is 32.Rc7 Bf7 33.h4 Rh7 34.Qd4.

32...exf6 33.Qxf6+ Kg8 34.Qxg6+ Kf8 35.Qf6+ Kg8 36.Rd1

• If 36.Qd8+?! Kg7 then:
• 37.Qd4+ Kg8 38.Rc7 Qb6 39.Qxb6 axb6 40.Rb7 is more difficult, but it still wins for White.
• 37.Rc7+ Kg6 38.Qe7 Qb6+! lets Black escape.

36...Qb6+ 37.Kh1 1-0

• If 37...Kh7 38.Qe7+ Kh6 39.Rd6 then:
• 39...Re8 40.Qf6+ wins the Black Queen.
• 39...Qe3 40.Rxe6+ also wins the Queen.
• Saleh Salem resigns.

[happyiowan]

5. Hello Rabbit

Your chess reports make me smile. I hope you're doing well out there!

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Hello, Iowan

I hope it improves your game.

[madinmaryland]

6. "This, in spite of Kirsan enhancing his reputation as the George W. Bush of Chess"

:rofl:

[Jack Rabbit]

8. People who know chess will understand the humor

Kirsan is a piece of work.