The JR Chess Report: Ukrainian Men, Russian Women Bring Home Olympic Gold

[Jack Rabbit]

Ukraine Wins 39th Chess Olympics General Group; Russian Women Perfect



The Ukrainian men, led by 41-year-old Vassily Ivanchuk, won the gold medal in the general group of the 39th Chess Olympiad which concluded earlier today in the Siberian oil town of Khanty-Mansiysk.

Ivanchuk took home a gold medal for his outstanding performance on board one.

The silver medal in the general group was won by Russia 1 (there were five Russian teams in the general group and two more in the women's group), which was led by Alexander Grischuk on board one and powered by Sergey Karjakin, playing in his fist olympics as a Russian. Sergey Alexandrovich took home a gold medal for his performance on board four. When a team has a player as strong as Sergey Karjakin on the last board, it's certain to win some matches.

Isreal, led by Boris Gelfand on board one, took home the bronze medal after narrowly beating out Hungary.

In the women's group, Russia 1 with the Kosinseva sisters and reigning women's world champion Alexandra Kosteniuk scored a perfect 11 match victory in 11 rounds, far ahead of silver medalist China. led by sixteen-year-old Hou Yifan. Georgia took home the bronze medal.

Individual gold medals in the women's group included Tatiana Kosintseva on board and Nadezhda Kosintseva on board two.

The only bad news out of the festivities was the re-election of Kirsan Illyumzhinov, the George W. Bush of Chess, as President of FIDE, the world governing body of the game. FIDE and most of the world's leading grandmasters will be forced to suffer four more years of corruption and incompetence from a man who is proud of being an "Asian autocrat" (Kirsan was until recently also president of the Russian Autonomous Republic of Kalmykia) who has expressed admiration for the governing style of America's former usurper president. In typical Bush style, Kirsan stole the vote of the Russian federation from his rival, former world champion Anatoly Karpov.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. This Week's Games: Now using Rybka 4 for analysis

Your humble hare acknowledges the assistance of Rybka 4 and 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. Ivanchuk - Beliavsky, 39th Olympiad, Khanty-Mansiysk, Round 4

Vassily Ivanchuk
Photo: Scacchierando (Italian)


Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukraine) - Alexander Beliavsky (Slovenia)
39th Chess Olympiad (General Group), Round 4
Khanty-Mansiysk, 24 September 2010

Caro-Kann Game: Panov Opening

1.c4 c6 2.e4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.d4

• With this, the game turns into a normal Panov Opening.
• The Accelerated Panov Opening is 4.cxd5 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nxd5 6.Nf3. See Andreikin-Salem, World Jr Ch, Chotowa, 2010.

4...Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5

• If 6.Nf3 Bg4 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Qb3 Bxf3 9.gxf3 then:
• If 9...e6 10.Qxb7 Nxd4 11.Bb5+ Nxb5 12.Qc6+ Ke7 13.Qxb5 Qd7 14.Nxd5+ Qxd5 then:
• 15.Bg5+ f6 16.Qxd5 exd5 17.Be3 Ke6 18.0-0-0 Bb4 19.a3 Rhc8+ 20.Kb1 Bc5 21.Rhe1 Bxe3 22.Rxe3+ Kd6 23.Rde1 Rd8 24.Re6+ gives White more active Rooks (Nepomniachitchi-Hrzica, World Youth, Oropesa del Mar, 2001).
• If 15.Qxd5 exd5 then:
• 16.0-0 Ke6 17.Re1+ Kf5 18.Rd1 Rd8 19.Be3 Rd7 20.Rac1 Be7 21.Rd4 g5 22.Ra4 Bf6 gives Black better pawn structure (Adams-Dreev, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2002).
• If 16.Be3 Ke6 17.0-0-0 Bb4 18.a3 Rhc8+ 19.Kb1 Bc5 20.Rhe1 Bxe3 21.Rxe3+ Kd6 22.b4 Re8 23.Kc2 Re5 24.Rd4 Rc8+ gives Black better pawn structure (Ashwin-Pejic, Op, Pula, 2010).
• If 9...Nb6 then:
• 10.d5 Nd4 11.Bb5+ Nd7 12.Qa4 Nxb5 13.Qxb5 g6 14.0-0 Bg7 15.Re1 0-0 16.Bg5 f6 17.Bf4 Ne5 18.Re3 Qc8 19.Bg3 Re8 20.Rae1 Kf8 21.Bxe5 fxe5 22.Ne4 Qf5 23.Nc5 Kg8 24.Qb3 gives White an outpost for her Knight and more active Rooks (Gaponenko-Chevannes, Euro ChTW, Crete, 2007).
• If 10.Be3 e6 11.0-0-0 Be7 12.d5 exd5 13.Nxd5 Nxd5 14.Rxd5 Qc7 15.Kb1 0-0 16.f4 Nb4 17.Rd4 gives White the active game (Anand-Karolyi, IT, Frunze, 1987).

6...dxc4 7.Bxc4 Nxd4?

• The text is rarely played, perhaps for a good reason.
• Black does better after 7...h6 8.Be3 e6 9.Nf3 Bd6 10.0-0 0-0 11.Re1 b6 12.Qe2 Bb7 13.Rad1 Ne7 14.Ne5 Rc8 15.Bb3 Ned5 16.Qd3 Qe7 17.Bd2 Rfd8 18.Qh3 Bb8 19.Bc1 Nxc3 20.bxc3 Bxe5 21.Rxe5 Ne4 22.Bb2 Qf6 23.Qe3 Nd6 24.Qe2 b5 25.Re1 a6 26.a4 bxa4 27.Ba2 a3 28.Bxa3 Rxc3 draw (T. L. Petrosian-Prohaszka, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).

8.Nf3 Nxf3+ 9.Qxf3 Qc7 10.Bb5+ Bd7 11.0-0 Bc6(N)

• 11...Bxb5 12.Nxb5 Qb6 13.a4 e6 14.Be3 Qd8 15.Qxb7 Rb8 16.Qxa7 leaves White with a commanding position (Brustkern-Duong, 1st Saturday, Budapest, 2006).
• If 11...e6 12.Rac1 Bc6 13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.Ne4 then:
• If 14...Be7 then soon after 15.Rxc6 bxc6 16.Bxc6+ Kf8 17.Bxa8 f5 18.Qc3 White won (Harikrishna-Murariu, World Jr Ch, Nakhchivan, 2003).
• 14...0-0-0 15.Bxc6 bxc6 16.Nxf6 c5 17.b4 Qb7 18.Qh5 also leaves Black in a difficult spot.

BLACK: Alexander Beliavsky
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WHITE: Vassily Ivanchuk
Position after 11...Bd7c6

12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.Rad1!?

• White hits a speed bump on his way to a route.
• 13.Nd5 Qd6 14.Rac1 Rc8 15.Rfe1 f5 16.Rcd1 results in an easy win for White.

13...e6 14.Nd5 0-0-0

• 14...exd5 15.Rfe1+ Be7 16.Qxf6 0-0-0 17.Rxe7 leads to a crushing victory for White.

15.Bxc6 exd5 16.Bxd5 Kb8 17.Rc1 Qd7 18.Rcd1 Be7

• Black interrupts the line of communication from the Queen to the f7 pawn, making loss of a pawn inevitable.
• Better is 18...Qc7 19.Rc1 Qd7 20.Rfd1 Bd6 21.Qb3 Rhf8 22.g3bwhen White has a chance to hang onto a pawn.

BLACK: Alexander Beliavsky
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WHITE: Vassily Ivanchuk
Position after 18...Bf8e7

19.g3!

• This quiet move marks time.
• Not as decisive is 19.Bxf7!? Bd6 20.Qb3 Qc7 21.Rc1 Qe7 22.Rfd1.

19...Qc7 20.Rc1 Qd7 21.Rfd1 Rc8

• Black might hold on longer after 21...h5 22.Qb3 Bd6 23.Bg2 Qe7 24.Rd5 f5 25.Rcd1.

BLACK: Alexander Beliavsky
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WHITE: Vassily Ivanchuk
Position after 21...Rd8c8

22.Bxb7!!

• White plays the decisive stroke.
• Not as effective is 22.Bc6 Qc7 23.Bxb7 Qxc1 24.Rxc1 Rxc1+ 25.Kg2.

22...Rxc1

• No better is 22...Qxb7 23.Qxb7+ Kxb7 24.Rd7+.

23.Rxc1 Qxb7 24.Qf4+ Ka8 25.Rc7 1-0

• Black must lose his Bishop, leaving White's pieces to acitively pursue Black's scantly protected King.
• Grandmaster Beliavsky resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Karjakin - Tomashevsky, 39th Olympiad, Khanty-Mansiysk, Round 7

Sergey Karjakin
Photo by Stefan64 for Wikipedia(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Sergey Karjakin (Russia 1) - Evgeny Tomashevsky (Russia 2)
39th Chess Olympiad (General Group), Round 7
Khanty-Mansiysk, 28 September 2010

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Main Line (Breyer Defense)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Nb8

• This opening is called the Breyer Defense after Gyulia Breyer (1894-1921), a promising master from Hungary whose life and career were cut short by heart disease. No one knows why it is named for him; Breyer never played this opening nor is he known to have written about it.
• For a survey of this opening, see Kosteniuk-Lahno, Euro ChT, Novi Sad, 2009.[/li>

10.d4 Nbd7 11.Nbd2 Bb7 12.Bc2 Re8 13.a4 Bf8 14.Bd3 c6 15.b3

• If 15.Nf1 then:
• If 15...d5 then:
• If 16.Ng3 dxe4 17.Nxe4 exd4 then:
• 18.cxd4 c5 19.Bg5 c4! 20.Bc2 Be7 21.Nxf6+ Bxf6 gives Black a better center (Pogonina-T. Kosintseva, Russian ChW, Moscow, 2009).
• 18.Nxf6+ Nxf6 19.Rxe8 Qxe8 20.cxd4 c5 21.axb5 axb5 22.Rxa8 Bxa8 23.dxc5 Bxc5 draw (Spraggett-Smejkal, IT, Szirak, 1986).
• If 16.Bg5 dxe4 17.Rxe4 then:
• 17...Be7 18.Re2 exd4 19.Nxd4 Bf8 20.Rd2 Qc7 21.Bf5 c5 22.Nf3 Ne5 23.Nxe5 Rxe5 24.Ne3 is equal (Anand-Beliavsky, IT, Linares, 1992).
• 17...h6 18.Bxf6 Qxf6 19.N1h2 Qd6 is equal (Lobron-Smejkal, IT, Ter Apel, 1987).
• If 15...g6 16.Ng3 Bg7 17.Bg5 then:
• 17...Nf8 18.Qd2 Ne6 19.Be3 Nd7 20.Bf1 Qc7 21.b4 Nb6 22.a5 exd4 23.cxd4 Nc4 24.Bxc4 bxc4 25.Bh6 Bh8 26.d5 Nf8 is equal (Bologan-Pentala, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2006).
• 17...h6 18.Bd2 Qc7 19.Qc1 h5 20.Bh6 Nh7 21.Bxg7 Kxg7 22.Qd2 Ndf8 23.Bc2 Rad8 24.b4 Ne6 gives White the advantage in space (Cheparinov-B. Socko, Anabal Op, Linares, 2003).

15...Qc7

• If 15...g6 16.Qc2 Rc8 17.Ba3 Qb6 18.Bf1 is equal (Svidler-Harikrishna, Op, Gibraltar, 2009).

16.Bb2 Rac8(N)

• If 16...g6 17.Qc2 Bg7 18.Bf1 Rac8 19.Rad1 then:
• If 19...Qb8 20.g3 Nf8 21.Bg2 Ne6 22.b4 Nd7 23.axb5 axb5 24.dxe5 Nxe5 is equal (Ponomariov-Ivanchuk, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2008).
• 19...bxa4 20.bxa4 d5 21.dxe5 Nxe4 22.Nxe4 dxe4 23.Ng5 Rxe5 is equal (Carlsen-Ragger, Ol, Dresden, 2008).

17.axb5

• The game is equal.

BLACK: Evgeny Tomashevsky
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WHITE: Sergey Karjakin
Position after 17.axb5:p

17...cxb5

• This is the point of Black's novelty. His plan is to attack along the c-file, as in many lines of the Open Sicilian.
• If 17...axb5 18.Qc2 Ra8 then:
• 19.Rxa8 Bxa8 20.Rd1 g6 21.dxe5 dxe5 is equal.
• If 19.Red1 then:
• 19...Nh5 20.c4 b4 is equal.
• 19...h6 20.b4 Rxa1 21.Rxa1 is equal.

18.c4

• Whiote shortens the c-file, making it less useful to Black.

18...exd4!?

• Black misses an opportunity to encroach on White's queenside.
• 18...b4 19.Qe2 Nh5 20.g3 exd4 21.Nxd4 remanis equal.
• If 18...bxc4 19.Bxc4 exd4 20.Bxd4 a5 21.Ng5 Re7 22.Bc3 leaves White with the advantage in space.

19.cxb5!

• This looks like an error in that it gives Black's heavy pieces command of the3 open c-file; however, it is quite strong.
• If 19.Bxd4!? Nc5 20.Bxc5 Qxc5 21.b4 Qxb4 22.Rb1 Qa3 remains equal.

19...Nc5?!

• Black releases the tension in the center further.
• 19...axb5 then:
• If 20.Bxb5 Nxe4 21.Nxd4 Nxd2 22.Rxe8 then:
• 22...Rxe8 23.Qxd2 Re7 24.Nf5 gives White a clear initiative.
• 22...Nf3+ 23.Nxf3 Rxe8 24.Rc1 Qd8 25.b4 gives White more freedom.
• If 20.Bxd4 b4 21.Ra7 Ra8 then:
• 22.Ra4 Ne5 23.Bb5 Rec8 remains equal.
• 22.Rxa8 Rxa8 23.Qb1 Ne5 remains equal.

20.Bf1 axb5

• If 20...a5 � then White encroaches White's queenside after 21.Bxd4 Nfxe4 22.Nc4 Ra8 23.b6.

21.Bxb5!

• If 21.Bxd4!? then:
• 21...Nfxe4! 22.Bxb5 Re7 is equal.
• 21...Ncxe4 22.Nxe4 Rxe4 23.Bxb5 Rxe1+ 24.Nxe1 is equal.

21...Re7 22.Nxd4 Nfxe4?!

• White uses the wrong Knight.
• If 22...Ncxe4! (freeing the heavy pieces on the c-file) 23.Nxe4 Rxe4 24.Bd3 Rxe1+ 25.Qxe1 d5 26.Nf5 leaves White only a small advantage.

23.Nxe4 Rxe4 24.b4 Qb6?

• This piece of chess blindness proves costly for Black.
• The only move that keeps Black in the game is 24...Ne6when after 25.Rxe4 Bxe4 26.Nxe6 fxe6 27.Rc1 Qb7 28.Rxc8 Qxc8 White is only slightly better.

BLACK: Evgeny Tomashevsky
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WHITE: Sergey Karjakin
Position after 24...Qc7b6

25.bxc5!

• White wins a piece by force.

25...dxc5

• If 25...Rxe1+ 26.Qxe1 dxc5 27.Nf5 c4 28.Ra5 Qg6 29.Ng3 leaves White with an extra piece.
• If 25...Qxc5 then after 26.Rxe4 Bxe4 27.Qg4 White still has an extra piece.

26.Rxe4 Bxe4 27.Qg4 Qb7

• White plays to protect his Rook, but it's too late to save the game.

BLACK: Evgeny Tomashevsky
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WHITE: Sergey Karjakin
Position after 27...Qb6b7

28.Nf5!!

• White gives back the piece in order to launch a making attack.

28...Bxf5 29.Qxf5 Qxb5 30.Bxg7!

• The text wins faster than 30.Qxc8 Qxb2 31.Re1 Qd2 32.Rb1 g6 33.Qe8.

30...Rb8

• If 30...Re8 then White wins after 31.Bxf8 Kxf8 32.Qxh7 Qb2 33.Qh6+ Kg8 34.Ra4.

31.Bc3 Qb6 32.Qg5+ Qg6 33.Qe5 1-0

• Black must lose the Rook or submit to mate.
• Evgeny Yuryevich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. T. Kosintseva - Stefanova, 39th Olympiad, Khanty-Mansiysk, Round 10

Tatiana Kosintseva
Photo: ChessBase.de (German)


Tatiana Kosintseva - Antoaneta Stefanova
39th Chess Olympiad (Women's Group), Round 10
Khanty-Mansiysk, 1 October 2010

Spanish Petit Royal Game: Neo-Classical Defense (Clam Opening)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3

• The usual move here is 4.0-0 to which Black replies either 4...Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Rd1+ with a slight edge for White, or 4...Bc5 5.c3 0-0 6.d4 Bb6 7.Bg5 again with a small advantage for White.

4...Bc5 5.c3 0-0 6.Bxc6

• If 6.0-0 d6 7.Nbd2 then:
• If 7...a6 8.Ba4 Ba7 9.h3 Ne7 10.Re1 Ng6 then:
• If 11.Nf1 b5 12.Bb3 Re8 then:
• 13.Ng3 Bb7 14.Be3 Bxe3 15.fxe3 d5 16.exd5 Bxd5 17.e4 draw (Anand-Kramnik, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2007).
• 13.a4 Bb7 14.Be3 Bxe3 15.Nxe3 h6 16.Nh2 d5 is equal (Leko-Kramnik, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2007).
• 11.d4 b5 12.Bc2 Re8 13.Nf1 h6 14.Ng3 Bd7 15.Be3 c5 16.Qd2 is equal (Kobalia-Malakhov, Russiabn ChT, Dagomys, 2010).
• If 7...Bb6 8.Nc4 Ne7 9.Ba4 Ng6 10.Bc2 Re8 11.h3 then:
• 11...Be6 12.Nxb6 axb6 13.a3 d5 14.Ng5 Bd7 15.Re1 h6 16.Nf3 Bc6 is equal (Tiviakov-Wang Yue, World Cup, Khanty Mansiysk, 2007).
• 11...c6 12.Nxb6 axb6 13.Re1 h6 14.d4 gives White a better center (J. Polgar-Avrukh, Op, Biel, 2007).

6...bxc6 7.Nxe5 d5 8.d4 Bb6 9.0-0 Nxe4

• If 9...dxe4 then:
• If 10.Nxc6 Qd6 11.Ne5 Ba6 12.Re1 c5 13.Na3 cxd4 14.Nac4 Qe6 15.Nxb6 axb6 16.cxd4 Nd5 17.f3 exf3 18.Nxf3 draw (Anand-Topalov, Amber Raspid, Monte Carlo, 2006).
]
• If 10.f4?! c5! then:
• If 11.dxc5? Bxc5+ 12.Kh1 Bb7 13.c4 Re8 14.a3 then:
• If 14...e3? 15.Qe2 Qd4 16.Nc3 Rad8 17.Nb5 Qe4 then:
• 18.b4? Nh5! 19.bxc5 Nxf4 20.Rxf4 Rd1+ 21.Rf1 Qxg2+ 22.Qxg2 Rxf1# 0-1 (Mayet-Anderssen, Berlin, 1862). 18.Nc3! Qf5 19.Bxe3 Bxe3 20.Qxe3 Nh5 21.Nd5 is equal.
• Black does better after 14...Qxd1! 15.Rxd1 Nh5 16.Nc3 e3 when his attack gains ground even after the exchange of Queens.
• 11.d5 Qxd5 12.Qe2 c4+ 13.Kh1 Re8 14.Na3 Ba6 gives Black an extra pawn.

10.f3 Qf6 11.Be3 Nd6 12.Re1 Nb7(N)

• 12...Re8 13.Nd2 c5 14.dxc5 Rxe5 15.Bd4 Bxc5 16.Bxc5 is equal (Smagin-Fleck, Bundesliga 0001, Germany, 2000).

13.b4

• The game is equal.
• 13.c4 Na5 14.b3 dxc4 15.b4 Nb7 16.Nd2 is also equal.

13...a5 14.Nd2 axb4!?

• This risky move conceds a passed pawn to White.
• 14...Qd6 15.Qa4 Bd7 16.Nb3 Rfd8 17.Bf2 remains equal.

15.cxb4!

• White accepts the challenge.

15...Nd6 16.Bf2 Nb5 17.Nb3 Ra4?

• Black is obviously pawn hunting.
• If 17...Na3! 18.Qd2 then:
• 18...Re8 19.Rac1 Ba6 20.Na5 Bb5 gives White only a small edge, if any.
• 18...Ba6? 19.Nd7! Qd6 20.Nxf8 Qxf8 21.Qc3 leaves Black an exchange to the good with an aggressive position.

BLACK: Anoaneta Stefanova
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WHITE: Tatiana Kosintseva
Position after 17...Ra8a4

18.Nc5!

• White sacrifices a pawn and will win the exchange.

18...Rxb4 19.Ned7 Bxd7 20.Nxd7 Qg5 21.Nxf8 Kxf8

• White has won the exchnage.

22.a4?!

• White sacrifices a second pawn in order to get her passer rolling.
• Better is 22.Re5 Qd8 23.Qc2 when:
• 23...g6 24.Qxc6 Nxd4 25.Qxd5 gives White a strong position with no risk.
• 23...Bxd4? 24.Bxd4 Nxd4 25.Qxh7 Ne6 26.Qh8+! Ke7 27.Qxg7 wins for White.

22...Nxd4 23.a5 Ba7 24.Kh1?!

• This prophylactic move does not seem necessary at this time.
• White does more to maintain her advantage by 24.Qd3 g6 25.Rab1 Rxb1 26.Rxb1 Qe5 27.Kh1.

24...Rb2 25.Rf1 Rd2?

• Black apparently overlooks White's reply.
• If 25...Ne6 26.Bg3 g6 27.a6 then:
• 27...d4 28.Qd3 Qb5 29.Qxb5 cxb5 30.Rfb1 is equal.
• If 27...c5? then after 28.Qa4! d4 29.Qc6 Kg7 30.Rfb1 Rxb1+ 31.Rxb1 White wins.
• If 25...Ne2? 26.Qa4 Bxf2 then:
• White wins after 27.Rxf2! Qe3 28.Rff1 Qd2 29.Qg4 g5 30.a6.
• If 27.Qa3+!? then:
• 27...Ke8 28.Rxf2 Qd2 29.Raf1 Ra2 30.Qb3 makes winning more problematic for White.
• 27...Kg8? then after 28.Rxf2! Ng3+ 29.Kg1 Rxf2 30.Kxf2 Nf5 31.Qc3 it will be almost impossible to stop White's a-pawn.

BLACK: Anoaneta Stefanova
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WHITE: Tatiana Kosintseva
Position after 25...Rb2d2

26.Qc1!

• White paralyzes Black's pieces.

26...Nb3

• Black drops a piece and loses quickly.
• If 26...f6 27.h4 Qh6 28.Be1 Rc2 29.Qxh6 gxh6 leaves Black in a hole, but the exchanges of Queens improves her chances of survival.

27.Qa3+!

• White takes command of the queenside, licking her chops at the sight o0f tastey pawns.

27...Ke8 28.Qxb3 Bxf2 29.f4 Qf6

• The pawn is taboo.
• If 29...Qxf4 then Black will not be able to support the Bishop in the defense against the advancing a-pawn, giving White an easy win after 30.a6 Qe4 31.Qb8+ Kd7 32.Qf8.

30.a6 Ba7

• 30...Rb2 31.Qa3 Ba7 32.Rfe1+ Kd7 33.Re5 Rb8 34.Rae1 leaves White focusing on the critical e7 square and winning.

BLACK: Anoaneta Stefanova
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WHITE: Tatiana Kosintseva
Position after 30...Bf2a7

31.Qb7!

• Black must either lose a piece or submit to mate.

31...Qd4

• No better is 31...Kd7 32.Qxa7 Rb2 33.Qa8 Rxg2 34.Rae1 Ra2 35.Qe8+.

32.Qc8+ Ke7 33.Rae1+ Kd6 34.Qf8+ 1-0

• 34...Kd7 35.Qxf7+ Kd6 36.Qe7#.
• Ms. Stefanova resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Eric - Gunina, 39th Chess Olympiad, KIhanty Mansiysk, Round 9

Valentina Gunina saved Russia 1's perfect recond today by winning the only decisive game of the match against Russia 2.



Valentina Gunina
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Jovana Eric - Valentina Gunina
39th Chess Olympiad (Women's Group), Round 9
Khanty-Mansiysk, 30 September 2010

Open Caro-Kann Game: Flohr Opening

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.N1e2

• The main line is 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 e6 .

6...e6 7.h4

• If 7.Nf4 Bd6 8.Bc4 Nf6 then:
• If 9.Bb3 Qc7 10.Qf3 then:
• 10...Nbd7 11.0-0 0-0-0 12.c3 Nd5 13.Nxg6 fxg6 14.Re1 gives White the advantage in space and pawn structure (Rublevsky-Ahn, FIDE Knock Out, Moscow, 2001).
• If 10...a5 then:
• 11.c3 a4 12.Nxg6 hxg6 13.Bc2 a3 14.b3 Nbd7 15.0-0 0-0 16.Re1 e5 gives White the edge in space and the Bishop pair while Black is somewhat better developed (Tiviakov-Iturrizaga, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2009).
• 11.Nxg6 hxg6 12.c3 Nbd7 13.0-0 draw (Tiviakov-Granda, IT, Neiva, 2005).
• If 9.c3 Nbd7 10.Qf3 Nb6 11.Bb3 Nbd5 12.Nxg6 hxg6 13.Bg5 Be7 then:
• 14.0-0 Nd7 15.Bxe7 Qxe7 16.Rfe1 N5f6 17.a4 Qd6 is equal (Pedzich-Dreev, Anibal Op, Linares, 1999).
• 14.0-0-0 b5 15.h4 Nd7 16.Ne4 gives White a great deal more freedom (Rublevsky-Dreev, President's Cup, Elista, 1998).

7...h6 8.Nf4 Bh7 9.Bc4 Nf6 10.c3

• If 10.0-0 Bd6 11.Re1 0-0 12.c3 then:
• 12...Nd5 13.Qg4 Nxf4 14.Bxf4 Bxf4 15.Qxf4 Nd7 16.Ne4 is equal (Raeber-Katchiani, Op, Lenk, 2001).
• 12...Nbd7?! 13.Nxe6!! fxe6 14.Rxe6 Kh8 15.Rxd6 nets White two extra pawns (Lagarde-Handler, EU ChU14, Herceg Novi, 2008).

10...Bd6 11.Qe2

• 11.Nfh5 0-0 12.Qf3 Nbd7 13.Be3 b5 14.Bb3 Bxg3 15.Nxf6+ Qxf6 draw (Borgo-Khenkin, Op, Bratto, 2001).

11...0-0 (N)

• 11...Nbd7 12.Bxe6 fxe6 13.Nxe6 Qe7 14.Nf5 Bxf5 15.Nxg7+ Kf7 16.Nxf5 Qxe2+ 17.Kxe2 is equal (Keres-Olafsson, IT, Bled, 1961).

12.0-0

• 12.Bd3 Bxd3 13.Nxd3 Nbd7 14.Be3 leads to equality.

12...Re8 13.Qf3 Nbd7 14.Nfh5?!

BLACK: Valentiona Gunina
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WHITE: Jovana Eric
Position after 14.Nf6h5

• White attempts to disrupt Black's kingside befre completing her development or securing a better foothold in the center.
• If 14.Re1 e5 15.Nfh5 then:
• 15...e4 16.Qe2 Nb6 17.Bb3 Nbd5 18.Nxf6+ Nxf6 gives Black a slight advantage in space.
• 15...exd4 16.Rxe8+ Qxe8 17.Bxh6 dxc3 18.bxc3 Nxh5 19.Nxh5 Bg6 is equal.

14...Nxh5!

• Black, who is better developed but a bit cramped, welcomes White's initiative and exchanges Kinghts.
• If 14...Nd5 then:
• If 15.Qg4 15...g6 16.Nf4 f5 then:
• If 17.Qf3 Qxh4 then:
• If 18.Bxd5 exd5 19.Nxd5 then:
• If 19...Rad8! 20.Bf4 Bxf4 21.Nxf4 g5 gives Black a power position.
• If 19...cxd5? then after 20.Qxd5+! Kh8 21.Qxd6 Rad8 22.Qc7 White has equalized and may even have a slightly better game.
• If 18.Nxd5? exd5 then:
• 19.Bb3 Nf6! 20.Rd1 Ng4 wins for Black.
• 19.Bxd5+ Kg7 20.Bxc6 bxc6 21.Qxc6 Qe7 gives Black more freedom and space and a Bishop for two pawns.
• 17.Nxe6 Qf6 18.Nxf5 Qxf5 19.Qxf5 gxf5 20.Bxd5 cxd5 21.Nf4 Nb6 gives Black two pawns for a Bishop and better development.
• If 15.Bxd5?! then:
• 15...cxd5! 16.Qg4 Bg6 17.Re1 Rc8 gives Black prospects of a queenside attack.
• 15...exd5?! 16.Bxh6 Qxh4 17.Nxg7 Re7 18.Qh5 is equal.

15.Qxh5 Nf6

• Black has a very flexible game.
• Also good is 15...b5 16.Bb3 c5 17.dxc5 Nxc5 18.Bd1 Qc7 .

16.Qf3 Nd5 17.Bxd5 exd5 18.Bf4 Be4!?

• Better is 18...Bf8 19.h5 Qa5 20.a3 Qb5 21.b4 Qa4 when White has command of the White squares.

19.Nxe4!?

• White misses an opportunity to pressure Black's kingside.
• 19.Qg4! Bxf4 20.Qxf4 Qb6 21.Qd2 Re6 22.Rfe1! is equal.

BLACK: Valentina Gunina
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WHITE: Nezhmetdinov
Position after 19.Ng3e4:B

19...Rxe4!

• Black capitalizes on White.s inaccuracy.
• The text is better than 19...Bxf4 when:
• 20.Nc5! Bc7 21.g3 b6 22.Nd3 a6 23.Rfe1 Qd7 Black has only a slight advantage.
• 20.Qxf4?! drops a pawn to 20...Rxe4 21.Qg3 Qxh4 22.Qxh4 Rxh4 .

20.Bg3?!

• This move is a complete waste of time. Better is to take the B ishop immediately.
• If 20.Bxd6! Qxd6 21.Rfe1 Rae8 22.Rxe4 Rxe4 23.h5 Qe7 leaves Black a little better, but that's all.

20...Qe7?!

• Black also wastes time.
• If 20...Bxg3! 21.fxg3 Qd7 22.Rfe1 Rae8 23.Rxe4 Rxe4 gives Black a better center and stronger pawns for a heavy-piece ending,

21.Bxd6 Qxd6 22.g3!?

• White needs to challenge Black's center and misses a chance to do something aboiut it.
• If 22.Rfe1 then:
• 22...Rxh4 23.g3 Qg6 24.Re7 f5 25.Kf1 Re4 gives White a Rook on the seventh.
• 22...Rae8!? 23.Rxe4! Rxe4 24.h5 Rh4 25.Re1 Qh2+ 26.Kf1 is equal.

22...Rae8!

• Black augments her command of the e-file.
• Also gopod ios 22...Qe6 23.a4 Re8 24.a5 Qh3 25.h5 Re2 .

23.a4 Qg6 24.Kh2

• 24.h5 Qg5 25.a5 Re2 26.b3 Rd2 27.Rfe1 Qd8 leaves Black better with a Rook on the seventh.

24...R8e6 25.Rad1

• Black can't do anything now to improve his position.
• If 25.b4 then after 25...Re2 26.Kg1 R6e4 27.b5 Rd2 28.bxc6 Qxc6 Black target White's pawn weaknesses.

25...Rf6 26.Qg2?

• White game can no longer be saved.
• If 26.Qd3 Qh5 27.Kg2 Rxh4!! 28.gxh4 Rg6+ then:
• 29.Qg3 Rxg3+ 30.fxg3 Qe2+ Black's Queen snacks on White's queenside pawns.
• If 29.Kh3 then 29...Qg4+ 30.Kh2 Qg2# .

BLACK: Valentina Gunina
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WHITE: Nezhmetdinov
Position after 26.Qf3g2

26...Re2!

• Black's heavy pieces raid the seventh rank.

27.Rde1

• 27.Rb1 Qc2 28.Kg1 a5 29.h5 Qxa4 30.Rbe1 Qc2 leaves Black a pawn to the good.

27...Rxb2 28.Kg1 Qd3 29.Qh3 Kh7 30.Rd1 Qxc3 0-1

• If 31.Qg4 Qc2 32.Rc1 Qxa4 leaves Black three pawns up.
• Ms. Eric resigns

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Svidler - Salgado López, 39th Olympiad, Khanty-Mansiysk, Round 11

Iván Salgado López upset Peter Svidler in the last round of the KIhanty-Mansiysk Olympiad.

Had Svilder won this game instead of lost, Russia 1's match score would have equaled that of the Gold Medalists from Ukraine.



Iván Salgado López
Photo: ChessBase.de (German)


Peter Svidler (Russia 1) - Iván Salgado López (Spain)
39th Chess Olympiad (General Group), Round 11
Khanty-Mansiysk, 3 October 2010

Vienna Game: Rat Defense

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Nge2

• White goes off the beaten track with an apparent intent to establish a broad kingside center with the advance f2f4.
• If 4.Nf3 Nbd7 5.Bc4 Be7 6.0-0 0-0is the Rat Defense of the Epine Dorsal, commonlt called the Philidor Defense.

4...Nbd7 5.g3 Be7 6.Bg2 c6 7.a4 b6

• 7...0-0 8.0-0 a5 9.h3 Re8 10.Be3 Bf8 11.g4 exd4 12.Bxd4 Nc5 13.Ng3 Nfd7 14.Qd2is equal (Bhat-Akobian, San Marino Op, Sochi, 2006).

8.0-0 a6

• 8...0-0 9.h3 Qc7 10.f4 Bb7 11.Be3 a6 12.g4 exd4 13.Nxd4 d5 14.e5 Ne8is equal (Galliamova-Skripchenko, FIDE Knock Out W, New Delhi, 2000).

9.h3 h5

• If 9...0-0 10.g4 Bb7 11.Be3 b5then:
• 12.Ng3 b4 13.Nce2 d5 14.dxe5 Nxe5 15.Bd4 Ng6 16.e5 Nd7 17.f4gives White the advantage in space (Grischuk-Kharlov, Russian Ch, Moscow, 1999).
• 12.axb5 axb5 13.Rxa8 Qxa8 14.Ng3 g6 15.g5 Ne8 16.dxe5 Nxe5is equal (Avdeenko-Kirillova, Euro ChW, St. Petersburg, 2009).

10.Be3 (N)

• 10.Bg5 Bb7 11.Qd2 0-0 12.f4 Re8 13.Bf3 b5 14.Rae1is equal (Li Chao-Pelletier, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2009).

10...Bb7

• White has the advantage in space is is slightly better developed.

11.Nc1

• If 11.Qd2 Qc7 12.Rfe1 0-0 13.d5then:
• 13...c5 14.Qd3 h4 15.Bg5gives White the advantage in space.
• 13...cxd5 14.Nxd5 Nxd5 15.exd5 Rac8is equal.
• If 11.f4 Qc7 12.a5 bxa5 13.b3 Rb8 14.Qd2gives White a small edge in space and healthier pawns.

11...0-0 12.Nd3 Qc7

• 12...Rc8 13.Qd2 Re8 14.Rfd1 Qc7 15.dxe5 dxe5is equal.

13.f4 b5 14.Nf2!?

• If 14.axb5 axb5 15.Qf3then:
• If 15...Rfe8 16.b4then:
• 16...Rxa1 17.Rxa1 exd4 18.Bxd4 c5is equal.
• 16...h4!? 17.dxe5 dxe5 18.g4 Rxa1 19.Rxa1 exf4 20.Bxf4gives White the advantage in space and a slight initiative.
• If 15...Rxa1 16.Rxa1 Re8then:
• 17.Kh2 h4 18.gxh4 exd4 19.Bxd4 c5is equal.
• 17.Qf2 exd4 18.Bxd4 c5 19.Bxf6 Bxf6gives Black a small advantage with two Bishops and more mobile pawns.


BLACK: Iván Salgado López
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WHITE: Peter Svidler
Position after 14.Nd3f2

14...Rfe8!


• The game is equal.
• Also good is 14...b4 15.Ne2when:
• 15...Rfe8 16.a5 exd4 17.Qxd4 c5is equal.
• 15...c5 16.fxe5 dxe5 17.d5 c4is equal.

15.g4 hxg4 16.hxg4 b4 17.Ne2 exd4


• If 17...c5then:
• 18.d5 exf4 19.Nxf4 Ne5 20.g5 Nfd7 21.N4d3 a5remains equal.
• 18.c3 bxc3 19.bxc3 Rab8 20.Ng3 Nb6 21.Qe2 exd4 22.cxd4is equal, but tilting toward Black.

18.Qxd4!?


• The Queen is just asking to get knocked around.
• 18.Nxd4 Bf8 19.Nf5 c5 20.Qd3 g6 21.Ng3 a5is equal.


• 18.Bxd4!? c5! 19.Be3 Bf8 20.Ng3 Nxe4 21.Bxe4 d5gives Black the initiative with a mobile queenside pawn majoprity.

18...c5 19.Qd3 d5?!


• Stronger is 19...c4when:
• 20.Qd2 Nc5 21.Ng3 Bf8 22.Rfe1 Nfxe4 23.Ngxe4 Nxe4Black has more space.
• If 20.Qd1?! Bf8!then:
• If 21.Qd4 Rad8then:
• 22.c3 bxc3 23.Rac1 cxb2 24.Rxc4 Nc5gives Black an extra pawn.
• 22.a5 Nxe4 23.Nxe4 d5 24.g5 dxe4gives Black an extra pawn, which is a strong passed pawn.
• 21.Ng3 Nxe4 22.Bxe4 d5 23.Bxd5 Rxe3 24.Nf5 Ree8gives Black command of the open file and White with too many loose units.
• If 20.Qd4? Nxe4 21.Nxe4 d5 22.N4c3then:
• 22...Bc5 23.Nxd5 Qd8 24.Qxc4 Rxe3 25.Nxe3 Bxe3+ 26.Rf2 Qh4wins for Black.
• 22...bxc3!? 23.Qxc3 Nf6 24.Bf3 Bd6just makes Black's task a wee bit harder, but there is little doubt.

20.e5 Ne4 21.Nxe4!?

• 21.g5! c4 22.Qd1 Rad8 23.Qe1 Bc5 24.Bxc5 Qxc5gives Black only a small advantage; White will have the opportunity to make key exchanges and relieve the pressure on his position.

21...dxe4 22.Qd1!?

• White misses what might be his last best shot at saving the game.
• 22.Qd2 Red8 23.Qc1 c4 24.Ng3 Nc5 25.Kh2 Rab8 gives Black a small advantge in space; both sides have loose pawns.

22...Rad8 23.Qc1 f6 24.e6 Nb6 25.f5?

• If 25.Re1!? Bd6 26.f5 Nc4 27.Rf1 Ne5 28.Bf4 Nxg4gives Black an extra pawn, but it's better than the text.

BLACK: Iván Salgado López
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WHITE: Peter Svidler
Position after 25.f4f5

25...Nd5?!

• Black misses the winning line.
• If 25...Nc4! 26.Bf4 Bd6then:
• If 27.Rd1then after Be5 28.Rf1 e3 29.Bxe5 fxe5 30.Qe1 Rd2the Black Rook cannot be easily disloded from the seventh rank.
• 27.Re1? e3 28.Bxe3 Bxg2 29.Kxg2 Qc6+wins for Black as his pieces will attack the King behind White's advanced kingside pawns.

26.Nf4!

• White makes the most of his narrow escape.
• If 26.Bf2!? Bd6 27.Rd1then:
• 27...Bh2+! 28.Kf1 a5 29.c4 Nf4 30.Nxf4 Bxf4 31.Qc2 e3gives Black a strong initiative; White's dark-bound Bishop is virtually shut out of the game.
• 27...Be5!? 28.c3! bxc3 29.bxc3 Bf4 30.Nxf4 Nxf4gives Black only a slight edge; exchanges relieve the pressure on White.

26...c4 27.Nxd5 Rxd5 28.Bf4?

• The wheeles fall off of White's come back wagon.
• 28.Qe1 Rdd8 29.Rd1 Rxd1 30.Qxd1gives Black at best a narrow advantage.

28...Qb6+!

• Black is again in the dreiver's seat.
• If 28...Bc5+!? 29.Kh1 Qe7 30.Be3 Red8 31.Re1is equal.

29.Kh2 g5 30.fxg6 Qxe6 31.Kg3

• No better is 31.Bh3 Bc5 32.Kg3 Kg7 33.Qe1 e3.

BLACK: Iván Salgado López
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WHITE: Peter Svidler
Position after 31.Kh2g3

31...Rg5!!

• The exchange sacrifice settles matters quickly.

32.Bxg5 fxg5 33.Rf5 Bd6+ 34.Kf2

• If 34.Kh3then after 34...Kg7 35.Qxg5 Rh8+Black nets the Queen.

34...e3+ 35.Kg1 Bxg2 36.Kxg2 Qe4+ 0-1

• If 37.Kf1then 37...Qh1+ 38.Ke2 Qg2+ 39.Kd1 e2+ 40.Ke1 Bg3+ etc.
• Peter Veniaminovich resigns.