The JR Chess Report (October 10): Magnus in a slump; Bundesliga begins

[Jack Rabbit]

Magnus' woes continue in Bilbao



Magnus Carlsen, currently the world's number one rated player, is mired in a month-long slump that began at the Khanty-Mansiysk Olympiad and has continued into the early rounds of the Masters Final Tournament in Bilbao, Spain.

The 19-year-old Norwegian has dropped first two games in Bilbao, to former world champion Vladimir Kramnik yesterday and to reigning world champion Vishy Anand today. Magnus scored a less-than-impressive (for him) score in Khanty-Mansiysk of 4 wins, 3 losses and a draw.

Kramnik leads the event by scoring his second vicotry in as many games today, this time over the local hero, Alexei Shirov, a naturalized Spaniard transplanted from Latvia.


Bundesliga 1011 kicks off



The 2010-11 Season of the German Bundesliga kicked off this weekend in Baden-Baden, Bremen, Wattenscheid and Aue.

On Friday, three matches were played in the preponed seventh round, while the first and second rounds were played Saturday and Sunday.

Of the teams that played three matches over the weekiend, Bremen had a perfect score while French grandmaster Lauren Fressinet, playing for Bremen, scored victories in all three.

Also off to a perfect start in two matches is Baden-Baden, who this year is seeking an unprecedented sixth straight Bundesliga title.

In team chess, two points are scored for a match victory and one for a tied match. Bundesliga games are played on eight boards.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. This week's game: Some Medalists from the KIhanty-Mansiysk Olympiad

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. Voiska - N. Kosintseva, 39th Olympiad (Women's Group), Round 10

Nadya Kosintseva won the gold medal for individual performance on board two; her kid sister, Tanya, won the gold medal on Board 1.



Nadezhda Kosintseva
Photo website of the 17th European Team Championship


Margarita Voiska (Bulgaria) - Nadezhda Kosintseva (Russia 1)
39th Chess Olympiad (Women's Group), Round 10
Khanty-Mansiysk, 1 October 2010

Slav Queen's Gambit: Catalan Opening

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 Bb4

• For a more detailed look at the main lines of this opening, see Zhao Xue-N.Kosintseva, World ChTW, Ningbo, 2009.

5.cxd5 exd5 6.Qa4+

• For variations off of this move, see Danielian-Hou Yifan, Grand Prix W, Nalchik, 2010.[/li>

6...Nc6 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bxf6 Qxf6 9.e3 0-0 10.Be2 Be6 11.a3

• If 11.0-0 a6 then:
• If 12.Rfc1 Bd6 13.Qd1 then:
• 13...Rad8 14.Rab1 g5 15.a3 Qg7 16.b4 Ne7 17.Na4 f5 18.Nc5 Bc8 19.Nd2 f4 gives Black a slight advantage in space (Danielian-Hou Yifan, Grand Prix W, Nalchik, 2010).
• If 13...Ne7 14.Na4 b6 15.Nc3 then:
• 15...Rfd8 16.Qf1 c6 17.Na4 Rdb8 18.Rc3 a5 gives Black the advantage in space (Taimanov-Kotov, CT, Zürich, 1953).
• If 15...Rfb8 16.a4 Nc6 17.e4 dxe4 18.Nxe4 Qf4 19.d5 Black central Queen will enjoy a brief reign in the center, but once driven away White will have the advantage in space (Olafsson-Petrosian, CT, Bled, 1959).
• If 12.Rac1 Bd6 then:
• If 13.Ne1 Ne7 14.Nd3 then:
• 14...Nf5 15.g3 c6 16.Qb3 Rab8 17.Na4 Rfe8 18.Nb6 gives White the advantage in space (Chiburdanidze-Matveeva, OlW, Moscow, 1994).
• 14...Rad8 15.b4 c6 16.Nc5 Bc8 17.Bd3 Nf5 18.Ne2 Rfe8 is equal (Christiansen-Witt, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1977).
• If 13.Qd1 Ne7 14.Ne1 Rad8 15.Na4 Nf5 16.g3 Rfe8 is equal (C.Hansen-S.B.Hansen, IT, Malmø, 2005).
• 14.Na4 b6 15.b4 Bd7 16.Qb3 a5 17.b5 g5 18.Ne5 Bxe5 19.dxe5 Qxe5(G.Flear-Vallin, French ChT, Montpellier, 2001).

11...Bd6 12.Nb5 Bg4 13.Nxd6 (N)

• 13.0-0 Ne7 14.Rfc1 Bd7 15.Qb3 Bxb5 16.Qxb5 a5 17.Rc2 Qe6 18.Rac1 is equal (Pantsulaia-Aleksandrov, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).
• 13.Rc1 Ne7 14.Nxd6 Qxd6 15.Qb4 Qxb4+ 16.axb4 c6 17.b5 Rfc8 18.Kd2 cxb5 19.Bxb5 f6 20.Rxc8+ draw (Bacrot-Ponomariov, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2009).

13...Qxd6 14.Rc1

• White has a slight edge in space.
• 14.0-0 a6 then:
• 15.Qb3 Na5 16.Qc2 Rfe8 17.Rac1 Nc6 gives White the advantage in space.


• 15.Rfc1 Rfe8 16.Rc5 Ne7 17.Rac1 is equal.

14...Ne7 15.Qb4

• White should bring her King to safety.
• If 15.0-0 then:
• If 15...Rfe8 16.b4 a6 17.Qa5 b6 18.Qa4 is equal.
• 15...c6 16.Qc2 a5 17.h3 Bf5 18.Qb3 b6 is equal

15...Qxb4+ 16.axb4 c6 17.b5 Rfc8 18.bxc6!?

• White misses a chance to take better advantage of Black's soon-to-be-isolated d-pawn.
• 18.Kd2 cxb5 19.Bxb5 then:
• If 19...f6 20.Rxc8+ Rxc8 21.Be2 Bf5 22.Rc1 , then Black's isolated d-pawn could be a problem.
• If 19...Kf8!? 20.bxc6 Rxc6 21.b4 gives White the advantage in space.
• 19...g6!? 20.bxc6 bxc6 21.Rc5 gives White the advantage in space.

BLACK: Nadezhda Kosintseva
$t+t+ +l+%
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WHITE: Margarita Voiska
Position after 18.bc6:p

18...Nxc6!?

• Black boldly accepts the challenge to take on an isolated d-pawn after all.
• If 18...Bxf3!? 19.Bxf3 bxc6 20.Ra1 Rcb8 21.Ra2 Rb6 22.Kd2 gives White the advantage in space.

19.Rc3!

• The text is the most flexible move.
• Black wins at least a pawn after 19.Rc5?! b6! 20.Rxd5 Nb4 21.Rb5 Nd3+ .

19...Na5 20.Nd2 Be6

• 20...Rxc3 21.bxc3 Be6 22.Kd1 Kf8 23.Kc2 Ke7 24.Ra1 gives White a small advantage in space.

21.0-0

• 21.Kd1 then:
• 21...f6 22.Bf3 Kf7 23.Ke2 Ke7 24.Ra1 is equal


• If 21...Rxc3 22.bxc3 Kf8 23.Kc2 Ke7 transposes into the note to Black's 20th move.

21...Rxc3 22.bxc3 Rc8

• If 22...Kf8 23.Ra1 b6 24.Ba6 then:
• If 24...Bc8 then:
• 25.Bb5 Ke7 26.f3 f5 is equal.
• 25.Bd3 Be6 26.Ba6 Bc8 27.Bd3 Be6 etc. draws by repetition.
• If 24...Ke7 25.Kf1 then:
• 25...Bc8 26.Bd3 Be6 27.Ra3 Rc8 is equal.
• If 25...Re8!? then after 26.Ke2 Bc8 27.Bxc8 Rxc8 28.Kd3! Rc7 29.f3 Black cannot prevent White from playing 20.e4! and taking control of the center.

23.Ra1 b6 24.Ra3 Kf8 25.f3

• 25.Bd3 Ke7 26.f3 f5 27.Kf2 Rc7 shows Black laboring to protect her d-pawn.

25...Ke7 26.Kf2 g5 27.e4 f5 28.Ke3

• The game is equal.
• 28.Ba6 then:
• 28...Rc7 29.exd5 Bxd5 30.c4 Be6 31.Ke2 Kd6 32.d5 is equal.
• If 28...Rd8 29.Ke3 h5 30.g3 fxe4 31.fxe4 dxe4 32.Kxe4 gives White the advantage thanks to her centralized King.

28...fxe4

• If 28...f4+ 29.Kf2 Rc7 30.Bb5 then:
• 30...Kd6 31.Ke2 Bc8 32.exd5 Kxd5 33.Kd3 gives White the advantage in space.
• If 30...Bd7 31.Ba6 Be6 32.Ke2 gives White the advantage in space.

29.fxe4 dxe4 30.c4

• 30.Ba6 Rc6 31.Bb5 Rc8 32.Kxe4 Kf6 33.Ke3 Rc7 remains equal.
• If 30.Nxe4 Bb3 31.g3 Rc6 32.h3 Rc7 33.h4 remains equal.

30...Kd7!?

• 30...Bxc4 31.Nxc4 Nxc4+ 32.Bxc4 Rxc4 33.Rxa7+ Kf6 is equal

BLACK: Nadezhda Kosintseva
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WHITE: Margarita Voiska
Position after 30...Ke7d7

31.d5 Bf5 32.Kd4!?

• 32.g4! Bg6 33.Kd4 Kd6 34.Bf1 Kc7 35.Rh3 Re8 36.Ke3 gains back the pawn with an advantage in space.
• If 33...a6 34.Rh3 Rh8 35.c5 bxc5+ 36.Kxc5 Rc8+ 37.Kd4 Rc2 38.Rxh6 gives White the advanttage in space.

If 34...Re8? 35.Rxh6! e3 36.Nf3 wins at least a pawn with more active pieces.

32...Kd6 33.g4 Bg6 34.Rh3

• 34.Bf1 Kc7 35.Rh3 Re8 36.Ke3 gives White the advantage in space.

34...Rh8 35.Nb1?!

• 35.Bf1! Nb7 36.Bg2 Nc5 37.Bxe4 Bxe4 38.Nxe4+ wins back the pawn.

35...e3!

• Black has equalized.

36.Nc3?

• The maxim A Knight on the rim is grim can be overstated.
• 36.Na3 Nb3+ 37.Kc3 Nc1 38.Rxe3 remains equal.

36...Nb3+ 37.Kxe3 Kc5

• Blacks doesn't let things go bad again.
• 37...Nc5? 38.Nb5+! Kd7 39.Nxa7 Bb1 40.Kd2 Be4 41.Nb5 gives White an extra pawn and greater freedom.

38.Rf3?!

• The Rook at h3 keeps Black's Rook tied to the pawn and out of action.
• If 38.Nb5 Na5 then:
• 39.Na3 a6 40.Kf2 Kb4 41.Rf3 Nb3 42.Rf6 Rg8 remains equal.
• 39.Nxa7!? Nxc4+! 40.Bxc4 Kxc4 41.d6 Rd8 42.Rxh6 Rxd6 gives White a small advantage of pawns on opposite wings; if Rooks were exchange, Black's chances would be greater.

BLACK: Nadezhda Kosintseva
$ + + + T%
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WHITE: Margarita Voiska
Position after 38.Rh3f3

38...Re8+!

• Black finds the best move. Now White will have difficulty finding counterplay.
• If 38...Na5 39.Rf6 Nxc4+ 40.Bxc4 Kxc4 41.Rxg6 Kxc3 leaves Black a pawn to the good, but White can make trouble with her advanced passer.

39.Kf2 Nd4 40.Rf6 Nxe2!

• Black will not even allow the opportunity to win a pawn deter her from her mission of shutting down counterplay.
• If 40...Bc2!? then:
• 41.Bf1 Bb3 42.Bd3 Bxc4 43.Ne4+ Kxd5 44.Nxd4+ Kxd4 leaves Black two pawns up, but White is able to activate her pieces.
• 41...Bb3? 42.Bd3! Bxc4 43.Ne4+ Kxd5 44.Nd6!! then:
• 44...Bxd6 45.Nxe8 assures White of winning a pawn with a great endgame advantage.
• 44...Re6 45.Bxc4 Kxd6 46.Bxe6 wins for White

41.Rc6+ Kb4 42.Nxe2 Bd3 43.Nd4 Re4?!

• Black endangers her advantage as it reaches the point of overwhelming Black.
• Much better is 43...Bxc4 44.d6 Bd5 45.d7 Rd8 46.Nc2+ Ka5 when Black's pieces have more freedom.

44.Nf3?!

• The Knight can do nothing here.
• If 44.Nb5 Bxc4 45.Nxa7 Rf4+ 46.Ke3 Bxd5 then:
• 47.Rxb6+ Kc5 48.Rxh6 Re4+ 49.Kd3 Rxg4 gives White better chances of survival.
• 47.Rxh6?! Kc5! 48.h3 Rf7! 49.Nc8 b5 is clearly in Black's favor.

BLACK: Nadezhda Kosintseva
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WHITE: Margarita Voiska
Position after 44.Nd4f3

44...Bxc4!?

• The pawn can wait. It won't run away.
• Better is 44...Re2+! when:
• 45.Kg3 Be4 46.Rf6 Kxc4 leaves Black with an extra pawn and connected passers.
• 45.Kg3? Be4 46.Rf6 Kxc4 wins for Black.

45.d6 Re2+!?

• Black has made a number of inferior moves since White's poor 38th move that have allowed White to cut into Black's advantage.
• Stronger is 45...Be6 46.h3 Rc4 47.Rxc4+.

46.Kg1 Ra2?!

• Black slips again gives White an equalizing possibility.
• If 46...Be6 47.h3 Re3! 48.Nd4 Re4 49.Nsd6 Rxd6 allows the Black Rook to get behind White's passer just in time: 50.d7 Rd1+!! 51.Kf2 Re1.

47.d7 Ra1+ 48.Kf2 Rd1 49.Rc8?

• White completely gives up on her passer and loses the game.
• Better is 49.Ne5! 49...Bb5 50.Rc1 Rd6 51.Rb1+ Kc5 is equal.

BLACK: Nadezhda Kosintseva
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WHITE: Margarita Voiska
Position after 49.Rc6c8

49...Rxd7 50.Rxc4+ Kxc4 51.Ne5+ Kc3 52.Nxd7 b5 53.Nf6

• If 53.Ke2 then Black wins after 53...a5 54.Kd1 Kb2 55.Ne5 a4 56.Kd2 a3.

53...b4

• Black misses 53...a5! 54.Ne4+ Kc2.

54.Ke2

• 54.Ke3 b3 55.Ne4+ Kc2 56.Kd4 b2 57.Nc3 b1Q 58.Nxb1 Kxb1 wins much as in the final note to the game.

54...Kc2 55.Nd5 b3 56.Nb4+

• 56.Ne3+ Kc1 57.Nc4 b2 58.Na3 b1Q 59.Nxb1 Kxb1 is again a position similar to one reached in the note after Black's final move.

56...Kc3 57.Nd5+ Kd4 58.Ne3

• If 58.Nc7 then Black wins after 58...b2 59.Nb5+ Ke4 60.Nc3+ Kf4 .

58...b2 59.Nc2+ Kc3 60.Na3 Kb3 61.Nb1 Kc2 62.Na3+ Kc1 0-1

• 63.Kd3 b1Q+ 64.Nxb1 Kxb1 65.Ke4 a5 gives White no time to capture all of Black's pawns before Black brings a passer home.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Mamedov - Eljanov, 39th Olympiad (General Group), Khanty-Mansiysk, Round 9

Pavel Eljanov won the silver medal for performance of the third board.



Pavel Eljanov
Photo ChessBase.com


Rauf Mamedov (Azerbaijan) - Pavel Eljanov (Ukraine)
39th Chess Olympiad (General Group), Round 9
Khanty-Mansiysk, 30 September 2010

Queen's Pawn Game: Catalan Opening (Slav Defense)

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 d5 3.Bg2 c6 4.0-0 Bg4 5.d4

• If 5.d3 Nbd7 6.Nbd2 then:
• If 6...e5 7.e4 then:
• If 7...dxe4 8.dxe4 Bc5 9.h3 Bh5 10.Qe1 0-0 11.Nc4 Re8 12.a4 Qc7 13.Nh4 then:
• 13...Bf8 14.Bg5 Re6 15.b3 b6 16.Kh1 h6 17.Bd2 is equal (R.Ibrahimov-K.Grigoriev, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).
• If 13...b5 14.Na5 Bb6 15.Nb3 a6 then:
• If 16.Bg5 c5 17.a5 Ba7 18.c4 then:
• 18...h6 19.Be3 Rab8 20.Nd2 Nf8 21.g4 Bg6 22.f4 exf4 23.Bxf4 Qd7 gives White the advantage in space (Aronian-Korobov, Euro Ch, Ohrid, 2001).
• 18...Rab8 19.Nd2 h6 20.Be3 Nf8 21.f4 exf4?! 22.Bxf4! Qd8 23.Nf5 gives White the advantage in space (Aronian-Kramnik, Masters Playoff, Shanghai, 2010).
• 16.a5 Ba7 17.Bg5 h6 18.Be3 c5 19.c4 Rab8 20.Nd2 Nf8 21.f4 gives White the advantage in space (Movsesian-Buhmann, Bundesliga 0910, Baden Baden, 2009).
• If 7...Bd6 8.h3 Bh5 9.Qe1 0-0 10.Nh4 Re8 then:
• If 11.Nf5 Bf8 12.Nb3 a5 13.a4 Bb4 14.Bd2 Bxd2 15.Qxd2 Qc7 16.exd5 Nxd5 is equal (Omearat-Ni Hua, Ol, Torino, 2006).
• 11.Nb3 a5 12.a4 Nc5 13.Nxc5 Bxc5 14.Bg5 dxe4 15.dxe4 Re6 16.Bf3 Bxf3 17.Nxf3 Qc7 gives Black a small advantage in space (Damljanovic-Khalifman, It, Belgrade, 1993).
• If 6...e6 7.h3 Bh5 8.Qe1 Be7 9.e4 0-0 10.Nh2 then:
• If 10...e5 11.f4 exf4 12.gxf4 dxe4 13.dxe4 Nc5 14.Kh1 Re8 15.Nhf3 Bf8 16.Ne5 Nfd7 is equal (N.Ivanov-Geller, TT, Skara, 1980).
• 10...dxe4 11.dxe4 e5 12.Nc4 Re8 13.Nf3 Qc7 14.Nh4 b5 15.Na5 Nc5 16.Bd2 Nfd7 is equal (Smejkal-Pinter, IT, Sk\zirak, 1986).

5...Nbd7 6.Nbd2 e6 7.Re1 Be7 8.e4 0-0

• If 8...dxe4 9.Nxe4 Nxe4 10.Rxe4 then:
• If 10...Nf6 11.Re1 0-0 12.c3 Qb6 13.Qb3 then:
• If 13...Bxf3 14.Bxf3 Rfd8 15.Qc2 h6 16.Rb1 a5 17.a3 Qc7 18.b4 axb4 19.axb4 Nd5 is equal (Jasim-W.Elliot, Ol, Torino, 2006).
• 13...Qxb3 14.axb3 Bxf3 15.Bxf3 Rfd8 16.b4 a6 17.Bd1 Nd5 18.Kg2 g6 19.Be3 Kg7 is equal (Pavlovic-Klein, So.Wales IT, Caerleon, 2006).
• If 10...Bf5 11.Re1 0-0 12.c3 then:
• 12...Qb6 13.Qb3 a5 14.Ne5 a4 15.Nxd7 Qc7 16.Qc4 Qxd7 is equal (Yandemirov-Kolesnikov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2004).
• 12...h6 13.Qb3 Qb6 14.Bf4 a5 15.Ne5 Qxb3 16.axb3 Nxe5 17.Rxe5 Bd8 18.b4 g5 is equal (Danilov-Rogozenko, Romanian ChT, Tusnad, 2005).

9.c3 h6

• If 9...Bh5 10.Qb3 Qb6 11.exd5 cxd5 then:
• 12.Qxb6 Nxb6 13.Ne5 Rfd8 14.h3 Nfd7 15.Nd3 Bd6 is equal (Schebler-van der Stricht, IT, Antwerp, 2008).
• If 12.c4 dxc4 13.Nxc4 Qxb3 14.axb3 Nd5 15.Bd2 then:
• 15...Rfc8!? 16.Nfe5 N7f6 17.h3 Bg6 18.Nxg6 hxg6 is equal (Gasthofer-Kurmann, Euro Ch, Kusadasi, 2007).
• 15...N7f6 16.Nfe5 Rfd8 17.h3 Bg6 gives White more space and freedom.

10.h3 (N)

• If 10.Qb3 Qc7 11.h3 Bh5 12.e5 Ne8 13.c4 dxc4 14.Nxc4 Nb6 gives White the edge in space (Vasovski-Chuchelov, Euro Ch, Ohrid, 2001).

10...Bh5

• The game is equal.

11.e5 Nh7 12.Nf1 c5!?

• Black plays a calCulated risk in order introduce dymanic possibilities.
• 12...a5 13.Qb3 b5 14.h4 a4 15.Qc2 Qb6 remains equal.
• 12...Qb6 13.Qc2 Rfd8 14.Be3 c5 15.N1d2 Bg6 remains equal.

13.g4

• White misses an opportunity.
• 13.c4! dxc4 14.d5 Bg5 15.g4 Bxc1 16.Rxc1 gives White a small advantage in space.

13...Bg6

• The game remains equal.
• 13...cxd4?? 14.gxh5! dxc3 15.bxc3 Qc7 16.Qd4! leaves White with a Bishop for a pawn.

14.Ng3!?

• If 14...c4!? then:
• 15.Nd2! Nb6 16.Ne2 Re8 17.Nf4 Nf8 18.Nxg6 is equal.
• If 15.Be3!? then after 15...Re8 16.Nd2 b5 17.Ne2 Nhf8 Black continues to enjoy the advantage in space.

14...Rc8!

• Black threatens to take command of the c-file.
• If 14...c4!? then:
• 15.Nd2! Nb6 16.Ne2 Re8 17.Nf4 Nf8 18.Nxg6 is equal
• If 15.Be3!? then after 15...Re8 16.Nd2 b5 17.Ne2 Nhf8 Black continues to enjoy the advantage in space.

15.Bf4

• If 15.c4 then:
• If 15...Nb6 16.cxd5 Nxd5 17.dxc5 then:
• After 17...Nb4! 18.Qxd8 Rfxd8 Black still has the advantage in space.
• 17...Bxc5! 18.Ne4 Bxe4 19.Rxe4 Qb6)(17...Rxc5 18.Nd4 Nb4 19.Be3 Rxe5 Black continues to enjoy the advantage in space.
• 15...cxd4?! 16.cxd5! 16...Bb4 17.Rf1 Bc5 18.dxe6 fxe6 Black continues to enjoy the advantage in space.
• 15.Be3 a6 16.Nd2 f6 17.exf6 Nhxf6 18.h4 cxd4 continues to to give Black the advantage in space.

15...b5!?

• Black plays on the wrong wing and gives White a chance to at least level the game.
• 15...Ng5 16.Nxg5 hxg5 17.Be3 cxd4 18.Bxd4 a6 maintains a slight advantage for Black.

16.a3!?

• Black fails to make anything of Black's misstep.
• 16.Be3! 16...c4 17.Ne2 Bd3 18.Nd2 is equal.

16...a5 17.Qd2?!

• White leaves the g5 point open to occupation by a pawn. The result is a severely cramped game for White.
• If 17.dxc5 Bxc5 18.Qe2 b4 19.cxb4 axb4 20.axb4 Bxb4 gives Black a small advantage in space.

17...Ng5

• 17...c4! 18.Be3 Rc6 19.Ne2 Bd3 20.Nf4 Be4 when Black has a healthy advantage in space.

18.Nxg5?!

• White makes the game's first bad mistake.
• If 18.Bxg5 hxg5 19.Bf1 c4 20.Be2 Re8 21.Bd1 leaves Black nothing more than a small advantage in space.

18...hxg5!

• Black has reduced his opponent to passivity. White has no freedom.

BLACK: Pavel Eljanov
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WHITE: Rauf Mamedov
Position after 18...hg5:N

19.Be3

• This is the only move. Only a complemetary pair of Knights have been exchanged, yet White has no room to maneuver.

19...cxd4 20.Bxd4

• White is no better after 20.cxd4 Rc2 21.Qd1 Rxb2 22.Bc1 Rc2.

20...Nc5 21.Qe3?!

• There is no way for White to get out of this jam but to exchange his way out, and even that might not work.
• If 21.Bxc5 Bxc5 22.Ne2 Qb6 23.Rf1 then:
• If 23...Be7 24.Nd4 b4 25.cxb4 axb4 then:
• 26.Rfd1 bxa3 27.bxa3 Rc4 28.Ra2 Ra4 gives Black more freedom; White must lose a pawn.
• 26.axb4 Bxb4 27.Qe3 Bc5 28.Rad1 Qxb2 gives Black an extra pawn and more freedom.
• 23...Rc7? 24.Qxg5! Bd3 is equal.

21...Nb3 22.Bb6 Qe8 23.Rad1?!

• 23.Ra2 Qc6 24.Bf1 Rb8 25.Bd4 a4 still leaves Black with more space and freedom.

23...Bc2!

• Black disrupts White's defense.

24.Nh5?

• There is no way for the Knight to be effective at this post, certainly not in view of White's sacrifice of the exchange.
• If 24.Rd2! Nxd2 25.Qxd2 then:
• 25...Rc6 26.Bxa5 Bg6 27.Ne2 Ra6 28.Bb4 Bxb4 29.cxb4 Qe7 gives Black more space and freedom.
• 25...Bg6!? 26.Bxa5 Kh7 27.Bb4 Bxb4 28.axb4 Qd7 gives Black more space and freedom, plus a material advantage.

BLACK: Pavel Eljanov
$ +t+wTl+%
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WHITE: Rauf Mamedov
Position after 24.Ng3h5/i]

24...Bxd1

• Better is 24...b4 25.cxb4 axb4 26.Bd4 when:
• 26...Qd8! 27.axb4 Bxd1 28.Rxd1 Nxd4 29.Rxd4 Rc2 wins for Black.
• If 26...Bxd1? then after 27.Nf6+! Bxf6 28.exf6 Bc2 29.fxg7 Nxd4 30.Qxd4 White equalizes.

25.Rxd1 Rc4

• Black doesn't even have to make the best moves to win.
Better is 25...Qc6 26.Ng3 Rb8 then:
• After 27.Ba7 Ra8 28.Bd4 Nxd4 29.Qxd4 Qc7 Black threatens the deadly 30...Bc5!.
• After Black is up by an exchange and wins easily.

26.Bf1 Re4 27.Qg3

• No better is 27.Qf3 Qc6 28.Be3 b4 29.axb4 axb4 30.Ng3 bxc3.

27...Qb8 28.Bd4 Nxd4 29.cxd4

BLACK: Pavel Eljanov
$ W + Tl+%
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$P + + Qp%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Rauf Mamedov
Position after 29.cd4:p

29...g6!

• The Knight is trapped.

30.Bg2 gxh5 31.Bxe4 0-1

• Black remains a piece to the good after 31...dxe4 32.gxh5 f5 33.Qb3 Kf7.
• Grandmaster Mamedov resigns.
• Pavel Vladimirovich presents in this game a brilliant example of how to suffocate one's opponent with an obverwhelming space advantage that takes away his ability move ("freedom").

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Efimenko-Stojanovic, 29th Olympiad (General Group), Khanty-Mansiysk, Round 5

Zahar Efimenko won the silver medal on the fourth board for Ukraine.



Zahar Efimenko
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Zahar Efimenko (Ukraine) - Dalibor Stojanovic (Bosnia)
39th Chess Olympiad (General Group), Round 5
Khanty-Mansiysk, 25 September 2010

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Clam Opening (Kasparov Variation)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.d3 b5 6.Bb3 Be7 7.a4 Rb8

• 7...0-0 8.0-0 Bb7 see Hracek-Howell, Op 0910, Hastings, 2010.

8.0-0 d6 9.c3

• If 9.axb5 axb5 10.Nc3 0-0 then:
• If 11.Nd5 Nxd5 12.Bxd5 Bd7 13.c3 Bf6 14.Be3 then:
• 14...b4 15.Ra6 Ne7 16.Bc4 Bc8 is equal (Carlsen-Anand, World Blitz Ch, Riswhon Le Zion, 2006).
• 14...Qe8?! 15.d4!? Ne7?! 16.dxe5! dxe5 17.Bc5 gives White command of an open file and better control of the center (Reti-Asztalos, IT, Budapest, 1913).
• If 11.h3 Be6 12.Nd5 Bxd5 13.exd5 Nb4 14.c4 then:
• 14...Qc8 15.Ra3 Nd7 16.Qd2 bxc4 17.dxc4 Nc5 18.Ba4 e4 19.Nd4 Bf6 20.Nb5 draw (Arakhamia-Fakhiridou, Euro ChT, Gotheborg, 2005).
• 14...bxc4 15.dxc4 Nd7 16.Bc2 Nxc2 17.Qxc2 f5 18.Bd2 gives White the advantage in space (Kostic-Chajes, Manhatten Chess Club, New York, 1918).

9...0-0 10.Nbd2 Na5

• 10...b4 11.Re1 Na5 12.Ba2 c5 13.d4 Qc7 transposes to the notes to Black's twelfth move.

11.Ba2 c5 12.Re1 Qc7 (N)

• If 12...b4 13.d4 Qc7 then:
• If 14.dxe5 dxe5 15.Nc4 Rd8 16.Qe2 b3 17.Nxa5 Qxa5 18.Bb1 then:
• 18...c4 19.Qxc4 Bc5 20.h3 Qb6 is equal (Cheparinov-Aronian, IT, Sofia, 2008).
• 18...Qc7 19.Bd3 a5 20.Bg5 Nh5 21.Be3 Bb7 is equal (Carlsen-Adams, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2007).
• 14.Nf1 exd4 15.cxd4 c4 16.Bg5 d5 17.exd5 Nxd5 18.Bxe7 Nxe7 is equal (Megaranto-Z. Almasi, Ol, Calvia, 2004).

13.Nf1 c4

• The game is equal.
• If 13...b4 14.cxb4 Rxb4 15.Ne3 Rb8 16.Bd2 then:
• 16...Qb6 17.h3 Nc6 18.Rb1 Bd7 19.Bc4 Qa7 20.Bc3 is equal.
16...Nc6 17.Rb1 h6 18.h3 Bd7 19.Bc4 Qc8 is equal.

14.axb5

• 14.Ne3 Bd7 15.axb5 axb5 16.Qe2 Rfc8 17.h3 h6 remains equal.

14...axb5 15.Bg5 Be6!?

• Black temporarily takes a small edge in space, but could have made more of this position.
• If 15...h6 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 then:
• If 17.Ne3 Be6 then:
• 18.Qe2 Be6 then:
• If 18.Qe2 Rfc8 then:
• 19.Red1 b4 20.dxc4 bxc3 21.bxc3 Nxc4 22.Nxc4 Bxc4 23.Bxc4 Qxc4 24.Qxc4 Rxc4 gives Black the most active Rook.
• 19.Nd5 Bxd5 20.exd5 b4 21.cxb4 cxd3 22.Qxd3 Rxb4 is equal
• If 18.h3 Ra8 19.dxc4 Nxc4 then:
• 20.Nd5 Bxd5 21.Qxd5 Nxb2 22.Qxb5 Rab8 23.Qa6 is equal.
• 20.Bxc4 Rxa1 21.Qxa1 bxc4 22.Qa6 Rb8 23.Rb1 leaves the balance tilting slight toward White, who has a little more space.
• 17.Qe2 Be6 18.Ne3 Rfc8 19.Red1 then:
• 19...Ra8 20.Bb1 Rcb8 21.h3 b4 gives Black an advantage in space.
• 19...b4 20.dxc4 bxc3 21.bxc3 Nxc4 22.Nxc4 Bxc4 23.Bxc4 Qxc4 24.Qxc4 Rxc4 25.Rxd6 Rxc3 leaves Blackl better because he doesn't need to worry about a snap mate on the back rank.

16.Ne3 Rfc8 17.d4 Bd8!?

• Black's idea is to overprotect the Knight in order to make the Queen mobile.
• If 17...Ra8 18.Qc2 h6 then:
• 19.Bh4 Nb3 20.Bxb3 cxb3 21.Qe2 Rxa1 22.Rxa1 g5 gives Black the advantage in space.
• 19.Bxf6 Bxf6 20.dxe5 dxe5 21.Red1 Nb7 gives Black the advantage of the two Bishops, augmented by the fact that White's Bishop is immobile and entombed.
• 19.d5 Bd7 20.Nf5 Bxf5 21.Bxf6 Bxe4 22.Qxe4 Bxf6 gives Black an extra pawn.

BLACK: Dalibor Stojanovic
$ TtV +l+%
$+ W +oOo%
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$Mo+ O B %
$ +oPp+ +%
$+ P Nn+ %
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WHITE: Zahar Efimenko
Position after 17...Be7d8

18.Bb1!

• White takes the advantage in space and has now prepared his Bishop for action.
• 18.dxe5!? dxe5 19.Nd5 Qb7 20.Nxf6+ Bxf6 21.Bxf6 gxf6 remains equal.

18...Nb3

• The text is better than 18...h6!? 19.Bh4 when:
• 19...Nb3 20.Ra6 b4 21.dxe5 dxe5 22.Bg3 Nd7 23.cxb4 White is a pawn to the good.
• 19...b4?! 20.dxe5 dxe5 21.Nd5 Qb7 22.Bxf6 gxf6 23.Nxb4 White has an extra pawn.

19.Ra6

• White takes aim at the weak Black d-pawn, but the pawn is sufficiently defended.
• If 19.Ra2 h6 20.Bh4 Ra8 then:
• 21.dxe5 dxe5 22.Bg3 Rxa2 23.Bxa2 Nc5 24.Bxe5 Qb7 remains equal as the Knight at f6 will take the the at e5.
• 21.Rxa8 Rxa8 then:
• 22.Bg3 exd4 23.Nxd4 Nxd4 24.Qxd4 Qb7 remains equal.
• 22.Nd5 Qb8 23.Bxf6 Bxf6 24.Nxf6+ gxf6 25.Qe2 gives White a stronger center.

19...Ra8

• If 19...h6 then:
• If 20.Bh4 Ra8 21.Rxa8 Rxa8 then:
• 22.Nd5 Qb8 23.Bxf6 Bxf6 24.Nxf6+ gxf6 25.Qe2 gives White more power in the center, but Black has more space.
• 22.Bg3 exd4 23.Nxd4 Nxd4 24.Qxd4 Qb7 25.Bf4 Bc7 remains equal.
• If 20.Bxf6 Bxf6 then:
• 21.dxe5 dxe5 22.Nd5 Qb7 23.Rb6 Qa7 remains equal.
• 21.Bc2 exd4 22.cxd4 Re8 23.Bxb3 cxb3 24.h3 Ra8 remains equal.
• 21.Nd5? Bxd5! 22.dxe5 Bb7 23.exd6 Qc5 gives Black a material advantage and a fierce initiative.

20.Rxa8 Rxa8 21.dxe5

• The text is better than 21.Nd5 Nxd5 22.exd5 Bg4 23.Bxd8 Qxd8 24.dxe5 dxe5 when White has chances of attack on the kingside and Bloack will have to play carefully to defend against it.

21...dxe5 22.Nd5 Qb8?

• One square is all it takes.
• If 22...Qb7 then:
• If 23.Nxe5 Nxd5 24.exd5 Bxd5 then:
• 25.Bxd8 Rxd8 26.Qh5 g6 27.Qg5 Re8 28.Re3 gives White the more aggressive position, but Black is capable of holding.
• 25.h4 Bxg5 26.hxg5 Nc5 27.Qd2 Ne6 28.Bf5 Nf8 29.f4 Ng6 30.Rd1 gives White a slight advantage in space.
• 23.Nxf6+ Bxf6 24.Bxf6 gxf6 25.h3 is equal.

BLACK: Dalibor Stojanovic
$tW V +l+%
$+ + +oOo%
$ + +vM +%
$+o+nO B %
$ +o+p+ +%
$+m+P+n+ %
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$+b+qR K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Zahar Efimenko
Position after 22...Qc7b8

23.Nxe5!!

• The poffering of the Knight nails down the game.

23...Bxd5

• No better is accepting the sacrifice with 23...Qxe5 24.Bf4 Bg4 25.Bxe5 Bxd1 26.Rxd1 .

24.exd5 h6

• White now wins quickly.
• Black hangs on longer after 24...Qd6 25.Nc6 h6 26.Bh4 Kf8 27.Bg3 Qc5 28.Be5 .

25.Bxf6 Bxf6 26.Qc2! 1-0

• 26...Bxe5 27.Qh7+ Kf8 28.d6 Qxd6 29.Qh8+ Ke7 30.Qxa8 leaves White a Rook to the good.
• 26...g6 27.Nxg6 Kg7 28.Ne7 Qh8 29.d6
• Grandmaster Stojanovic resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Sutovsky - Kamsky, 39th Olympiad (General Group), Khanty-Mansiysk, Round 10

Former Aeroflot Open champion Emil Sutovsky won the gold medal for board two in the general group. He played for the bronze medal-winning Israeli team.



Emil Sutovsky
Photo ChessBase.com


Emil Sutovsky (Israel) - Gata Kamsky (United States)
39th Chess Olympiad (General Group), Round 10
Khanty-Mansiysk, 1 October 2010

Open Sicilain Game: Kan Defense

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Nc3 a6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 b5 6.Bd3 Qb6 7.Nf3

• For moves and variations up to here, see www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=215&topic_id=146025&mesg_id=146036|Munguntuul-Koneru], Grand Prix W, Rd 2, Nalchik, 2010.

7...Nc6 8.0-0 Nge7

• If 8...Qb8 then:
• If 9.e5 Nge7 10.Be4 Bb7 11.Re1 then:
• 11...Ng6 12.h4 d6 13.exd6 Qxd6 14.h5 Qxd1 15.Rxd1 Nge7 16.Bf4 Na5 17.h6 b4 18.Bxb7 Nxb7 19.Ne4 gives White the advantage in space and development (Efimenko-Mahjoob, Op, Dubai, 2004).
• 11...Qc7 12.Bf4 f5 13.exf6 Qxf4 14.fxe7 Bxe7 15.Qd3 is equal (Carlsen-Kulaots, Byggern Masters, Gausdal, 2005).
• 9.Re1 transposes to the note after White's ninth move.

9.Be3

• 9.Re1 Qb8 10.e5 Ng6 11.Be4 Be7 12.h4 Nf8 13.Bf4 Bb7 14.h5 gives White the advantage in space (Tukhaev -A. Vovk, Ukrainian ChU20, Lvov, 2007).

9...Qc7 (N)

• 9...Qb8 10.Qd2 Ng6 11.Rad1 f6 12.Rfe1 Nce5 13.Nxe5 Nxe5 14.Be2 Qc7 15.Qd4 Nc6 16.Qd2 gives White the advantage in space (Timmerman-Nijboer, Dutch ChT, Enschede, 2004).

10.Bxb5

• White is a pawn down, but already has a tremendous advantage in space.

10...Rb8

• White's Bishop is taboo.
• If 10...axb5? then 11.Nxb5! Qb8 12.Nd6+ Kd8 13.Bf4 Qxb2 14.Nxf7+ wins for White.

11.Bxc6

• If 11.Ba4 f5 12.Bc5 Qa5 13.Ba3 fxe4 14.Nxe4 then:
• 14...Nf5 15.Bxc6 Bxa3 16.Bxd7+ Bxd7 17.bxa3 Qc7 18.Rc1 leaves White dominating the board and two pawns up.
• 14...Qxa4?? 15.Nd6+! Kd8 16.Nf7+ wins for White.

11...Nxc6 12.b3 Bb7

• 12...Ba3 13.Ne2 0-0 14.c4 Bb7 15.Ng3 Be7 16.Qd2 White is still a pawn to the good and still has a tremendous advantage in space.

BLACK: Gata Kamsky
$ T +lV T%
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$p+p+ PpP%
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WHITE: Emil Sutkovsky
Position after 12...Bc8b7

13.Nd5!!

• White sacrifices his Knight and blows the game open.

13...exd5 14.exd5 Nd8 15.Re1 Ne6

• This is the only move to shield the attack on the e-file.
• If 15...Be7? 16.Ba7! then:
• 16...d6 17.Bxb8 Qxb8 18.Qd4 f6 19.Qa4+ wins for White.
• 16...Ra8 17.d6 Qc8 18.Rxe7+ Kf8 19.Bb6 wins for White.

16.Qd2 Bb4 17.Qxb4 Bxd5 18.Qd2 Bxf3 19.Bf4!

• The text does more to shut down Black's counterplay than 19.gxf3 0-0 20.c4 Qc6 21.Qd5 .

19...d6 20.gxf3 Rd8 21.Rad1 0-0 22.Bxd6 Qc8 23.f4?!

• White slips, missing an opportunity to put a boa-like squeeze on his opponent.
• 23.Qe3! Qxc2 24.Qe4 Qxe4 25.fxe4 Rfe8 26.f4 leaves f8 as the Black Knight's only reasonably safe square.

23...Nc5?

• This time, Black loses once and for all.
• If 23...Ng5! (threatening 24...Nf3+, winning the Queen) 24.Re3 Qg4+ 25.Kf1 Nf3 26.Qd5 Nxh2+ 27.Ke1 Qg1+ 28.Ke2 is equal.
• 24.fxg5 Qg4+ 25.Bg3 Rxd2 26.Rxd2 Qxg5 equalizes.

24.Qc3!

• 24.Qe3 Rfe8 25.Qxe8+ Rxe8 26.Rxe8+ Qxe8 27.Bxc5 is equal.

24...Rfe8 25.Rxe8+ Rxe8 26.f3 Rd8 27.Rd5 Qe6

• Black chooses not to prolong the agony.
• Tougher resistance stems from 27...Nb7 28.Qxc8 Rxc8 29.c4! Rd8 30.Be7 , but the outcome is in little doubt.

28.Qxc5 Rc8

• This is simply a stroke of harikari.
• Black lasts longer after 28...h6 29.c4 Qg6+ 30.Kh1 Qc2 , but after 31.Qg1 Qe2 32.Qd1 White remains a piece to the good.


• 28...Qe1+ 29.Kg2 Qe2+ 30.Qf2 Qe6 31.Qd2 leaves White a piece up

BLACK: Gata Kamsky
$ +t+ +l+%
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WHITE: Emil Sutkovsky
Position after 28...Rd8c8

29.Qxc8+!!

• White caps off the game with a cool Queen sacrifice.

29...Qxc8 30.Be7 1-0

• Black's Queen cannot leave the back because of the threat of mate, and thus it is lost after 30...f6 31.Rd8+ .
]Mr. Kamsky resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Solic - M. Muzychuk, 39th Olympiad (Women's Group), Khanty-Mansiysk, Round 9

Mariya Muzychuk, the kid sister of reigning world girls' champion Anna Muzychuk, won the gold medal for performance by a reserve player in the women's group.



Mariya Muzychuk
Photo: ChessBase.com


Kristina Solic (Croatia) - Mariya Muzychuk (Ukraine)
39th Chess Olympiad (Women's Group), Round 9
Khanty-Mansiysk, 30 September 2010

Closed Sicilian Game: Saragossa Opening (Alapin Opening)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c3

• The Sargossa Opening isn't considered very theoretical, yet, paradoxically, it has acquired a wealth of theory since Alapin introduced it over a cenury ago, especially in recent years. That is probably an indication that while it has attracted public attention, the chess elites still don't take it very seriously.

3...Nf6 4.e5

• If 4.d3 then:
• If 4...Nc6 5.g3 d6 6.Bg2 Be7 7.0-0 0-0 8.Re1 Bd7 then:
• If 9.Nbd2 Rc8 10.a3 b5 then:
• If 11.b4 cxb4 12.axb4 a5 13.bxa5 Nxa5 14.Ba3 then:
• If 14...Nc6 15.d4 Rb8 16.e5 dxe5 17.dxe5 Nd5 18.c4 Nc3 19.Qc2 is equal (Voitsekhovsky-Kuporosov, Privolzhsky Ch, Ishevsk, 2005).
• 14...Re8 15.d4 Qc7 16.Qb1 h6 17.h3 Bf8 18.Rc1 Rb8 19.Rc2 Rec8 20.Rca2 Nc6 21.Rc2 is equal (Minasian-L. Filip, Euro Ch, Plodiv, 2008).
• 11.d4 cxd4 12.cxd4 e5 13.Nb3 a5 14.d5 Nb8 15.Bd2 a4 16.Nc1 Na6 17.Nd3 Qb6 is equal (Yurtaev-Timoshchenko, Soviet Ch, 1st Liga, Frunze, 1979).
• 9.d4 cxd4 10.cxd4 d5 11.e5 Ne4 12.Nbd2 Nxd2 13.Bxd2 Rc8 14.a3 Qb6 15.Bc3 Na5 16.Nd2 Rfd8 gives Black a small edge in space (Amin-Margvelashvili, World Jr Ch, Yerevan, 2007).
• If 4...d5 5.Nbd2 Nc6 then:
• If 6.g3 Be7 7.Bg2 0-0 8.0-0 Qc7 9.Re1 then:
• If 9...b6 10.e5 Nd7 11.Qe2 Ba6 12.Nf1 b5 13.Bf4 b4 14.c4 dxc4 15.dxc4 Nb6 16.b3 Nd5 (Gurgenidze-Korchnoi, Soviet Ch, Riga, 1958).
• 9...b5 10.Nf1 dxe4 11.dxe4 Bb7 12.Bf4 e5 13.Bg5 Rad8 14.Qc2 Na5 15.a4 b4 16.cxb4 Nc6 17.bxc5 gives White two extra pawns (Lisitsin-Antoshin, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1955).
• 6.Be2 Be7 7.0-0 0-0 8.Re1 Qc7 9.Bf1 e5 10.h3 b6 11.exd5 Nxd5 12.Nc4 Bf6 (Trevelyan-Meijers, EU Ch, Liverpool, 2006).

4...Nd5 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4

• If 6.Qxd4 Nc6 7.Qe4 then:
• If 7...f5 8.Qe2 Qc7 9.g3 then:
• If 9...b5 10.Bg2 a5 11.0-0 Ba6 12.Rd1 Bc5 13.Nd4 b4 14.Nb5 Qb6 15.c4 then:
• 15...0-0 16.a3 bxa3 17.N1c3 axb2 18.Bxb2 Nxc3 19.Bxc3 Rad8 gives Black an extra pawn but more pawn weaknesses (Deviatkin-Rychagov, Russia Cup, Tula, 2001).
• 15...Bxb5 16.cxb5 Nd4 17.Qd3 0-0 18.Bxd5 exd5 19.Be3 gives White the advantage in space, but he will have trouble developing his queenside (Deviatkin-Dolmatov, Chigorin Mem Open, St. Petersburg, 2000).
• 9...d6 10.exd6 Bxd6 11.Bg2 0-0 12.0-0 Nf6 13.Nbd2 e5 14.Nc4 e4 15.Ng5 h6 16.Nxd6 Qxd6 17.Nh3 Be6 18.Rd1 is equal (Soltau-Elwert, Corres, 2003).
• 7...d6 8.Nbd2 dxe5 9.Nxe5 Nxe5 10.Qxe5 Qd6 11.Qxd6 Bxd6 is equal.

6...d6

• If 6...b6 7.Nc3 Nxc3 8.bxc3 Qc7 9.Bd2 d6 10.Bd3 Bb7 11.0-0 Nd7 then:
• If 12.Ng5 dxe5 13.Qh5 g6 14.Qh3 Be7 then:
• 15.Rfe1 Bxg5 16.Bxg5 f5 17.Qh6 Kf7 18.Bb5 Nf6 19.dxe5 Ng4 20.Qh4 gives White more space and freedom (Pavasovic-Orsag, Mitropa Cup, Montecatini Terme, 1997).
• 15.Rae1 Bd5 16.f4 exd4 17.cxd4 Qd6 18.f5 gxf5 19.Bxf5 Bxg5 20.Bxg5 (Can-Ludwig, World Youth, Vung Tau, 2008).
• If 12.Re1 dxe5 13.Nxe5 Nxe5 14.Rxe5 Bd6 then:
• If 15.Rh5 then:
• If 15...g6 16.Rh3 Qc6 17.Qf1 0-0 18.Bh6 Rfc8 19.Re1 Qa4!? then:
• If 20.Bb1!? then:
• 20...Qc4 gives Black the advantage in space (Afek-van der Weide, Corus C, Wijk aan Zee, 2006).
• 20.Qe2! Bd5 21.Be4 Bxe4 22.Qxe4 Qxa2 23.Qh4 Qa5! gives Black time to rebuff the attack against her King.
• 19...Qxc3! 20.Bxg6 Qxh3 21.gxh3 hxg6 gives Black the advantage in space.
• 15.Bb5+ Bc6 16.Qf3 Rc8 17.Bxc6+ Qxc6 18.d5 Qb7 19.Rh5 e5 20.Re1 f6 21.Qh3 Qd7 22.Qh4 Qf7 23.Qa4+ Qd7 24.Qh4 Qf7 25.Qa4+ Qd7 26.Qh4 darw (Oral-Janssen, ITU20, Hengelo, 1996).

7.Bc4

• If 7.a3 then:
• If 7...Bd7 8.Bd3 Bc6 9.0-0 Nd7 then:
• 10.Re1 Be7 11.Nbd2 dxe5 12.Nxe5 Nxe5 13.dxe5 Nf4 14.Be4 Bxe4 15.Nxe4 Qxd1 16.Rxd1 Nd5 gives White a very small advantage in space (Janev- Nevednichy, Bulgarian ChT, Borovets, 2008).
• 10.b4 a6 11.Re1 Be7 12.Nbd2 dxe5 13.dxe5 Nf4 14.Be4 Rc8 15.Bxc6 Rxc6 16.Nd4 Rc8 gives White an edge in space (M. Petrov-Mastrovasilis, Balkan Ch, Istanbul, 2001).
• If 7...Nc6 8.Bd3 then:
• If 8...Be7 9.0-0 0-0 10.Qe2 Bd7 then:
• 11.Nc3 Nxc3 12.bxc3 dxe5 13.dxe5 Qc7 14.Qe4 g6 gives White the advantage in space (Tomerlin-Rogic, Op, Bosnjaci, 2001).
• 11.Qe4 f5 12.exf6 Nxf6 13.Qh4 h6 14.Nc3 d5 15.Qg3 Kh8 16.Ne5 gives White the advantage in space (J. Shahade-Zawadzka, Mindsports Rpd, Beijing, 2008).
• If 8...dxe5 9.dxe5 then:
• If 9...Be7 10.0-0 then:
• 10...Bd7 11.Qe2 Na5 12.Qd1 Rc8 13.Bd2 Nc4 14.Bc1 0-0 15.Nbd2 Nxd2 16.Bxd2 Nb6 gives White the advantage in space (Grigorian- Rui Wang, Asian Ch, Hyderbad, 2005).
• 10...g5 11.Re1 g4 draw (Alavkin-Kurenkov, Russian Cup, Samara, 2001).
• 9...Qc7 10.0-0 Nxe5 11.Nxe5 Qxe5 12.Bb5+ Bd7 13.Bxd7+ Kxd7 14.Re1 Qd6 15.Qf3 Ke8 is equal (Dvoretsky-W. Schmidt, Hoogeveen's B, Wijk aan Zee, 1975).

7...Nc6

• If 7...Nb6 8.Bd3 then:
• If 8...Nc6 9.0-0 Nb4 then:
• If 10.Bg5 Be7 11.Bxe7 Qxe7 12.Nc3 Nxd3 13.Qxd3 0-0 14.Ne4 dxe5 15.dxe5 Bd7 then:
• If 16.Nd4 Rfd8 17.Rad1 gives White the advantage in space (Howell-Poluljahov, Masters Op, Gibraltar, 2004).
• 16.Nfg5 f5 17.Qd6 Rae8 18.Qxe7 Rxe7 19.Nc5 gives White the advantage in space (Liiva-Quezada, Ol, Dresden, 2008).
• If 10.Be2 dxe5 11.Nxe5 then:
• 11...Bd7 12.Nc3 Be7 13.Bf3 Bc6 14.a3 N4d5 15.Qd3 0-0 16.Be4 gives White the advantage in space (Pavasovic-Horvath, Austrian ChT, Austria, 2001).
• 11...Be7 12.Nc3 0-0 13.a3 N4d5 14.Bd3 Bd7 15.Ne4 Rc8 16.Re1 Ba4 17.b3 gives White the advantage in space (Smerdon-Mastrovasilis, Op, Queensland, 2009).
• If 8...dxe5 9.dxe5 Na6 then:
• If 10.Qe2 Nc5 11.Bc2 Nd5 12.0-0 Bd7 then:
• If 13.Nc3 Nxc3 14.bxc3 Be7 then:
• 15.Rd1 Qc7 16.Bg5 Bc6 17.Bxe7 Qxe7 18.Nd4 Rc8 19.Rab1 g6 20.Qe3 0-0 21.Rb4 gives White the advantage in space (Can-Smeets, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• 15.Nd4 Qc7 16.Re1 Ba4 17.Bxa4+ Nxa4 18.Qg4 gives White the advantage in space (Skripchenko-Guichard, French ChW, Belfort, 2010).
• 13.Rd1 Be7 14.Nbd2 0-0 15.Ne4 Rc8 16.Bg5 Nxe4 17.Qxe4 g6 18.Qh4 Rxc2 19.Rxd5 exd5 20.Bxe7 Qb6 is equal (Zubarev-van Wely, IT, Baku, 2007).
• 10.0-0 Nc5 11.Bc2 Qxd1 12.Rxd1 Bd7 13.Nc3 Rc8 14.Nd4 Be7 15.b3 0-0 16.Bb2 Rfd8 17.g3 is equal (Hracek-So, Ol, Dresden, 2008).

8.0-0 Be7 9.Qe2 0-0 10.Nc3

• If 10.Qe4 then:
• If 10...Qc7 then:
• If 11.Re1 Bd7 12.Bg5 Ncb4 then:
• 13.Nbd2 Bc6 14.a3 Nb6 15.Qh4 N4d5 16.Bd3 gives White the advantage in space (Pavasovic-Cvitan, Croatia Cup, Rabac, 2004).
• 13.Na3 Bc6 14.Bb5 a6 15.Bxc6 Nxc6 16.Nc4 dxe5 17.dxe5 gives White the advantage in space (Potkin-Franco Alonso, World Jr Ch, Athens, 2001).
• 11.Bd3 g6 12.Bh6 Rd8 13.Nbd2 dxe5 14.dxe5 Nb6 15.Rac1 Nd7 16.Bb5 Ndxe5 17.Nxe5 Qxe5 18.Bxc6 Qh5 19.Bxb7 Bxb7 20.Qxb7 Qxh6 21.Ne4 gives White the advantage in space (Sermak-Kozul, Pirc Mem, Mirabor, 1993).
• If 10...Bd7 then:
• 11.Re1 Rc8 12.a3 Na5 13.Ba2 Ba4 14.Qg4 Bc2 15.Bxd5 exd5 16.Nc3 dxe5 17.Rxe5 f5 18.Qh5 gives White the advantage in space (Kristjansson-Jankovic, Euro ChT, Crete, 2007).
• 11.Bd3 f5 12.exf6 Nxf6 13.Qe2 Qa5 14.Bc4 d5 15.Bd3 Bd6 16.Nc3 Rae8 17.Qd1 e5 18.dxe5 Nxe5 19.Nxe5 Bxe5 gives Black the advantaqge in space (Struch-Chandler, Politiken Cup Op, Copenhagen, 2005).

10...dxe5

• 10...Nxc3 11.bxc3 dxe5 12.dxe5 Qa5 transposes into the no9te after Black's twelfth move.

11.dxe5 Nxc3 12.bxc3 b6

• 12...Qa5 13.Qe4 Qa4 14.Bg5 h6 15.Bxe7 Nxe7 16.Rab1 Rb8 17.Rb4 Qc6 18.Qe2 b6 19.Nd4 gives White the advantage in space (Causo-Jia, Op, Kuala Lumpur, 2008).

13.Rd1 (N)

• If 13.Qe4 Qc7 14.Bg5 Bb7 15.Bd3 g6 16.Qh4 Rfe8 17.Bxe7 Nxe7 18.Ng5 h5 19.Be4 Bd5 is equal (Solojova-Gaponenko, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2009).

13...Qc7

• The game is equal with White holding more space and Black better pawn structure.

14.Bd3

• If 14.Qe4 Bb7 15.Bd3 g6 16.Bh6 Rfd8 remains equal.

14...Bb7 15.Qe4 g6 16.Bh6 Rfd8

• 16...Rfc8 17.Qf4 Na5 18.Ng5 f5 19.Qg3 Qc6 20.a4 remains equal with White still having more pawn weaknesses.

17.Qf4 Rd5 18.Be4 Rc5 19.Bxc6?!

• White errs by allowing Black to clear his Knight from the square that is the nexus of the long diagonal and the c-file.
• 19.Rac1 Rd8 20.Rxd8+ Nxd8 21.Bxb7 Qxb7 22.Ng5 b5 remains equal; White has a potential attack brewing on the kingside, but pawn weaknesses on the queenside.

19...Qxc6!

• The Queen, whicgh travels on both the file and the diagonal, is the obvious piece to use for the recapture.
• 19...Bxc6 20.Ng5 Bf8 21.Bxf8 Rxf8 22.Rd6 Rxc3 gives Black an extra pawn and the advantage in space.
• If 19...Bxc6 20.Ng5 Bf8 21.Bxf8 Rxf8 22.Rd6 Rxc3 gives Black an extra pawn and the advantage in space.

20.Bg5

• If 20.Rd4 Rxc3 21.Rad1 Qe8 then:
• 22.Bg5 Bf8 23.Rd8 Rxd8 24.Rxd8 Qb5 leaves Black with an extra pawn and threatening mate on the back rank.
• 22.Ng5 Ra3 23.Rd7 Rb8 24.Ne4 Bxe4 25.Qxe4 Rxa2 gives Black two extra pawns.

20...Bf8!?

• 20...Bxg5 21.Qxg5 Qc7 22.Qf4 Bxf3 23.Qxf3 Rc8 leaves Black targeting two weak pawns which cannot both be saved.

21.Rd4

• If 21.Rac1 Rxc3 22.h3 Rxc1 23.Rxc1 then:
• 23...Qe4 24.Rc7 Qxf4 25.Bxf4 Bxf3 26.gxf3 gives Black an extra pawn and stronger pawns.
• 23...Qd7 24.Nd2 Qd5 25.Nf3 Bc6 26.Bf6 Rc8 leaves Black targeting the weak a-pawn and building an embryonic attack on the back rank.

21...Rd5 22.Rad1 Qxc3 23.Rc1

BLACK: Mariya Muzychuk
$t+ + Vl+%
$Ov+ +o+o%
$ O +o+o+%
$+ +tP B %
$ + R Q +%
$+ W +n+ %
$p+ + PpP%
$+ R + K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Kristina Solic
Position after 23.Rdf1c1

23...Rxd4!

• Black puts the Queen en guarde and threatens a back rank mate.

24.Nxd4

• White obviously cannot take the Queen.
• 24.Qxd4 Qxd4 25.Nxd4 Bd5 would do more to relieve the pressure on White.

24...Qb4 25.h4

• 25.Nb3 Rc8 26.Qxb4 Bxb4 27.Rxc8+ Bxc8 still leaves Black with an extra pawn.

25...Rc8 26.Rxc8 Bxc8 27.Bf6?

• If 27.Nc6 Qxf4 28.Bxf4 a6 29.Bg5 Bb7 30.Ne7+ then:
• 30...Kh8! 31.Bf6+ Bg7 32.f3 Bxf6 33.exf6 comes close to assuring Black of a win without actually doing so.
• 30...Bxe7? 31.Bxe7 gives White a good chance of salvaging the game with opposite-colored Bishops.

BLACK: Mariya Muzychuk
$ +v+ Vl+%
$O + +o+o%
$ O +o+o+%
$+ + P + %
$ W N Q P%
$+ + + + %
$p+ + Pp+%
$+ + + K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Kristina Solic
Position after 27.Bg5f6

27...Bb7!

• After the text move, White is toast.

28.Kh2

• 28.Qe3 Qb1+ 29.Kh2 Qxa2 30.Qf4 Qb1 31.f3 Bd5 allows Black to continue to target the g2 square in a mating attack and to bring connected passed pawns forward on the queenside; White cannot defend both threats.

28...Qb1 29.Qd2 Bd5 30.a4 Qb4 31.Qd1

• 31.Qxb4 Bxb4 32.Bg5 Bc5 33.Be3 f5 34.Kg3 Kf7 .

31...Bc5 32.Nf3

• If 32.Ne2 then after 32...Bxf2 33.Qc1 Bc5 34.Nc3 Bc6 Blackl targets WHite's inadequately defended a-pawn, the inadequately defended h-pawn and threatens ...Qg4-xg2#.

32...Bxf2 33.h5 Qg4 0-1


• 34.Qc2 Qxh5+ 35.Nh4 Bc5 leaves Black three pawns to the good.
• Ms. Solic resigns.

[lazarus]

7. JR, could you help me out?

A long time ago, a friend and I used to play out the games between Karpov and Kasparov. This was around 1985/86.

I seem to remember an opening that involved, in some order, moving the knight's pawn out one, then moving the bishop to knight 2, then moving the knight to bishop 3. Eventually, the king would castle (I think this was all done on the king's side), with the two rooks lined up in one file.

I thought this was the Sicilian defense, or something like that, but I looked that up and it's different. Am I imagining this, or horribly misremembering it, or is this a variation of some valid opening?

Thanks!

I do distinctly remember that the first move was knight's pawn to knight 3, btw.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. There are several openings like that

One of them is an Open Sicilian, known as the Dragon Defense (1.e4 c4 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nf6 6.Nc3 g6 followed by 7...Bg7).

However there are other Sicilians, some of them involving White fianchettoing the King's Bishop. For example, 1.e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.g3 e6 7.Bg2. This is called the Zagreb Vaiation.

Karpov at the beginning of his rivalry with Kasparov almost exclusively opened the game 1.e4, to which Kasparov replied throughout his career 1...c5. It is more likely that Karpov played the fianchetto as White, since Kasparov never played the Dragon.

This game was played January 15, 1985 and ended in a draw. The opening is an Open Sicilian, Taimanov Defense.

<Event "World Championship Match">
<Site "Moscow">
<Date "1985.01.15">
<Round "14">
<Result "1/2-1/2">
<White "Anatoly Karpov">
<Black "Garry Kasparov">
<ECO "B45">
<PlyCount "64">

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 d6 6.g4 h6 7.h4 a6
8.Bg2 Be7 9.Be3 Nxd4 10.Qxd4 e5 11.Qd1 Be6 12.Nd5 Rc8 13.c3
Nf6 14.Nxe7 Qxe7 15.g5 hxg5 16.hxg5 Rxh1+ 17.Bxh1 Ng4 18.Bd2
Qf8 19.Qf3 Qh8 20.Bg2 Qh4 21.b3 d5 22.Qg3 Qxg3 23.fxg3 Rd8
24.Ke2 Ke7 25.Bc1 d4 26.Ba3+ Ke8 27.cxd4 exd4 28.Rh1 Ne5
29.Rh8+ Kd7 30.Rxd8+ Kxd8 31.Bb2 Bg4+ 32.Kd2 Nf3+ 1/2-1/2

There are no other examples of Karpov fianchettoing his Bishop against Kasparov's Sicilian in a championship match. Karpov gave up playing 1.e4 against Kasparov in 1986, simply because he could not beat Kasparov's Sicilian.

Kasparov at this usually opened 1.d4 as White. He switched to 1.e4 sometime later. In addition, he would play the Tarrasch Defense against the Queen's Gambit, which he did in games 7 and 9 of the first match, both won by Karpov:

<Event "World Championship Match">
<Site "Moscow">
<Date "1984-85">
<Round "7">
<Result "1-0">
<White "Anatoly Karpov">
<Black "Garry Kasparov">
<ECO "D34">
<PlyCount "87">

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.g3 Nf6 6.Bg2 Be7 7.O-O
O-O 8.Nc3 Nc6 9.Bg5 cxd4 10.Nxd4 h6 11.Be3 Re8 12.Qb3 Na5
13.Qc2 Bg4 14.Nf5 Rc8 15.Nxe7+ Rxe7 16.Rad1 Qe8 17.h3 Bh5
18.Bxd5 Bg6 19.Qc1 Nxd5 20.Rxd5 Nc4 21.Bd4 Rec7 22.b3 Nb6
23.Re5 Qd7 24.Qe3 f6 25.Rc5 Rxc5 26.Bxc5 Qxh3 27.Rd1 h5 28.Rd4
Nd7 29.Bd6 Bf7 30.Nd5 Bxd5 31.Rxd5 a6 32.Bf4 Nf8 33.Qd3 Qg4
34.f3 Qg6 35.Kf2 Rc2 36.Qe3 Rc8 37.Qe7 b5 38.Rd8 Rxd8 39.Qxd8
Qf7 40.Bd6 g5 41.Qa8 Kg7 42.Qxa6 Qd7 43.Bxf8+ Kxf8 44.Qxf6+
1-0


<Event "World Championship Match">
<Site "Moscow">
<Date "1984-85">
<Round "9">
<Result "1-0">
<White "Anatoly Karpov">
<Black "Garry Kasparov">
<ECO "D34">
<PlyCount "139">

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.g3 Nf6 6.Bg2 Be7 7.O-O
O-O 8.Nc3 Nc6 9.Bg5 cxd4 10.Nxd4 h6 11.Be3 Re8 12.Qb3 Na5
13.Qc2 Bg4 14.Nf5 Rc8 15.Bd4 Bc5 16.Bxc5 Rxc5 17.Ne3 Be6
18.Rad1 Qc8 19.Qa4 Rd8 20.Rd3 a6 21.Rfd1 Nc4 22.Nxc4 Rxc4
23.Qa5 Rc5 24.Qb6 Rd7 25.Rd4 Qc7 26.Qxc7 Rdxc7 27.h3 h5 28.a3
g6 29.e3 Kg7 30.Kh2 Rc4 31.Bf3 b5 32.Kg2 R7c5 33.Rxc4 Rxc4
34.Rd4 Kf8 35.Be2 Rxd4 36.exd4 Ke7 37.Na2 Bc8 38.Nb4 Kd6 39.f3
Ng8 40.h4 Nh6 41.Kf2 Nf5 42.Nc2 f6 43.Bd3 g5 44.Bxf5 Bxf5
45.Ne3 Bb1 46.b4 gxh4 47.Ng2 hxg3 48.Kxg3 Ke6 49.Nf4+ Kf5
50.Nxh5 Ke6 51.Nf4+ Kd6 52.Kg4 Bc2 53.Kh5 Bd1 54.Kg6 Ke7
55.Nxd5+ Ke6 56.Nc7+ Kd7 57.Nxa6 Bxf3 58.Kxf6 Kd6 59.Kf5 Kd5
60.Kf4 Bh1 61.Ke3 Kc4 62.Nc5 Bc6 63.Nd3 Bg2 64.Ne5+ Kc3 65.Ng6
Kc4 66.Ne7 Bb7 67.Nf5 Bg2 68.Nd6+ Kb3 69.Nxb5 Ka4 70.Nd6 1-0

[lazarus]

9. thank you

so it wasn't a dream. I seem to remember black doing the fianchetto, but I could be wrong.

I learned so much chess doing this. It must have been the '85 Worlds. I was in England in the Air Force, and Stars and Stripes would publish the moves for each game. My best friend Wayne would come to the computer center where I worked nights, and we'd play out the games. Kasparov was amazing.

What was most remarkable to us was the way the concessions were always right. We'd take over and play the game out after a concession, and the side that conceded nearly always ended up losing, no matter how many times we replayed it, switching sides, trying variants. Even the very early concessions were right.

I'm trying to learn that algebraic notation (thanks, Wikipedia!), but I think I got the gist of the openings you posted. I still seem to remember an opening play for black of g6, but it doesn't make sense, because black would have the center pretty well dominated, and you need a d or c move to accomplish that.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. There were two King's Indians in the 1986 match

The King's Indian Defense is 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 usually followed by 4...d6 and 5...0-0.

<Event "World Championship">
<Site "London">
<EventDate "1986.07.28">
<Date "1986.08.01">
<Round "3">
<Result "1/2-1/2">
<White "Anatoly Karpov">
<Black "Garry Kasparov">
<ECO "E60">
<PlyCount "69">

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 c6 5.Bg2 d5 6.cxd5 cxd5 7.Nc3
O-O 8.Ne5 e6 9.O-O Nfd7 10.Nf3 Nc6 11.Bf4 Nf6 12.Ne5 Bd7
13.Qd2 Nxe5 14.Bxe5 Bc6 15.Rfd1 Nd7 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.Rac1 Nf6
18.Qf4 Qb8 19.Qxb8 Raxb8 20.f3 Rfd8 21.Kf2 Rbc8 22.e3 Ne8
23.Rd2 Nd6 24.Rdc2 Kf8 25.Bf1 Ke7 26.Bd3 f5 27.h4 h6 28.b3 g5
29.Ne2 Bd7 30.Rc5 b6 31.Rc7 Rxc7 32.Rxc7 Ra8 33.Ng1 Ne8 34.Rc1
Rc8 35.Rxc8 1/2-1/2

<Event "World Championship">
<Site "Leningrad">
<EventDate "1986.07.28">
<Date "1986.09.05">
<Round "13">
<Result "1/2-1/2">
<White "Anatoly Karpov">
<Black "Garry Kasparov">
<ECO "E60">
<PlyCount "69">

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 c6 5.Bg2 d5 6.cxd5 cxd5 7.Nc3
O-O 8.Ne5 e6 9.O-O Nfd7 10.f4 f6 11.Nf3 Nc6 12.Be3 Nb6 13.Bf2
f5 14.Ne5 Bd7 15.Qd2 Nc8 16.Qe3 Kh8 17.Rfd1 Nd6 18.b3 Rc8
19.Rac1 Be8 20.Be1 Bf6 21.Na4 b6 22.Nb2 Ne4 23.Nbd3 g5 24.Nxc6
Bxc6 25.Ne5 gxf4 26.gxf4 Be8 27.Qh3 Rg8 28.Kf1 Rxc1 29.Rxc1 h5
30.Bb4 a5 31.Ba3 Bxe5 32.dxe5 Rg4 33.Bxe4 dxe4 34.Bd6 Rxf4+
35.Ke1 Rg4 36.Qe3 Qg5 37.Qxg5 Rxg5 38.Rc8 Rg8 39.e3 h4 40.h3
a4 1/2-1/2

[lazarus]

11. that's it

perfect, that's exactly what I was remembering.

Thanks a lot!