The JR Chess Report (January 30): Naka wins in Wijk

[Jack Rabbit]

Nakamura wins Wijk aan Zee A

American grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura won the A Group competition in the 73rd Tata Steel Chess Tournament in the Dutch fishing village of Wijk aan Zee today after accumulating nine points in 13 rounds to finish a half point ahead of world champion Vishy Anand,

Nakamura, 22, won six, lost one and drew six over the course of the two week-long event. Anand won four and drew nine without a loss. Nakamura's lone loss came at the hands of Magnus Carlse, who started the tournament number one in the world and got off to a terrible start before chargeing in the middle and late rounds to finish tied for third with 8 points (+5 -2 =6). The other third place finisher was Armenian GM Levon Aronian (+3 -0 =10).

This is Nakamura's first title in an elite tournament. Known for his brash personality and exciting, aggressive play, Nakamura has proved that he can play chess at this lofty level. He began the tournament as the world's tenth-ranked GM and leaves it unofficially ranked seventh.

Group B, which was a tight race in the last rounds, ended in a first-place tie between British GM Luke McShane and David Navara of Czechia with 8½ points each. Ukrainian GM Zahar Efimenko finished third a half point back and 17-year-old Wesley So of the Philippines finished with 7½ points in a tie for fourth place. All four grandmasters were tied for first after Round 11.

Group C was won by Italian grandmaster Daniele Vocaturo, 21, who scored nine points with eight victories, three losses and only two draws. Fourteen-year-old Ukrainian GM Illya Nyzhnyk took second with 8½ points (+6 -2 =5). Katya Lahno, also a Ukrainian GM, was nipping ast ther heels of the leaders for most of the tournament, won her final game to finish third with 8 points (+5 -2 =6).


Chucky leads Gibraltar after Six Rounds

Venerable Ukrainian grandmaster Vassily Ivanchuk checkmated British GM and former world championship challenger Nigel Short moments ago to take over first place in the Tradewise Chess Festival on the fabled Rock of Gibraltar.

Mr. Short entered today's sixth round with a perfect score of five points in five games, while Vassily Mikhailovich had accumulated 4½ points in the first five rounds.

The Ten Round Swiss system event has attracted 150 players this year, its first under the sponsorship of the Tradewise Insurance Company. The action begins at 3 pm local time (7 am PST) and runs through Thursday. Thursday's final round will begin four hours earlier. Live game can been seen at the official websitte.


COMING ATTRACTIONS

Moscow Open 28 January-7 February. This year the Moscow Open features a new format.
Aeroflot Open, Moscow 8-17 February.
27th International Open, Cappelle-la-Grande 26 February-5 March.
Reykjavik Open 9-16 March.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. This week's games

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 Aquarium, a commercially available interface for Rybka.

Diagrams and other images are hosted on imgur.com.

BLACK



WHITE
White to move
(This position is a theoretical draw)


I would like to thank my impressive and loyal staff: Buccaneer, Spitfire, Desperado, Swashbuckler, Pancho and Robin Hood.

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Tata Steel Tournament, Wijk aan Zee

Dutch Windmill
Massimo Catarinella from Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution)

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Nkamura - Vachier Lagrave, Round 10

Hikaru Nakamura
Photo by James F. Perry in Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Hikaru Nakamura - Maxime Vachier Lagrave
Tata Steel Chess Tournament, Group A, Round 10
Wijk aan Zee, 26 January 2011

West India Game: Indian Queen's Gambit (Exchange Opening) (Grünfeld Defense)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 c5 8.Ne2 Nc6 9.Be3 0-0 10.0-0 Na5 11.Bd3 b6

• For moves up to here, see Caruana-Morozevich, IT, Biel, 2009.

12.Qd2

• If 12.Rc1 cxd4 13.cxd4 e6 14.Qd2 Bb7 then:
• If 15.Bh6 Qe7 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 then:
• 17.Rc3 Rac8 18.Rfc1 Qd7 19.f3 Rxc3 20.Qxc3 Rc8 21.Qb2 f6 22.Rxc8 Qxc8 23.Kf2 Kf7 is equal (Saric-Sebenik, IT, Brno, 2006).
• 17.Rc2 Qd7 18.Qb4 Rac8 19.Rxc8 Qxc8 20.f3 Ba6 21.Bxa6 Qxa6 22.Kf2 Qd3 23.Qc3 Qxc3 draw (Minescu-Giemsa, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• 15.h4 Qd7 16.Bh6 Bxh6 17.Qxh6 Nc6 18.Bb5 a6 19.Bxc6 Bxc6 is equal (Cramling-Andersson, IT Heninge, 1989).

12...e5 13.Bg5

• If 13.Bh6 cxd4 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.cxd4 exd4 then:
• If 16.f4 f6 then:
• 17.f5 Nc6 18.Bb5 Ne5 19.Nxd4 gxf5 20.exf5 gives White the advantage in space (Rodshtein-So, IT, Biel, 2010).
• 17.Rac1 Bg4 18.Ng3 Bd7 19.h4 Rc8 20.Rxc8 Bxc8 gives Black an extra pawn (Cheparinov-Kamsky, Grand Prix, Sochi, 2008).
• 16.Rac1 Bb7 17.f4 Rc8 18.Rxc8 Qxc8 19.f5 Nc6 is equal (Karjakin-Carlsen, IT, Foros, 2008).

13...Qd7 14.Bh6 Bb7

• 14...Bxh6 15.Qxh6 f6 16.f4 Qg7 17.Qh4 exf4 18.Qxf4 Be6 gives White a respectable advantage in space (Gelfand-Kamsky, IT, Banza, 2009).

15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.d5 (N)

• If 16.f4 then:
• 16...f5 17.d5 fxe4 18.Bxe4 Nc4 gives Black more piece activity (Leitão-Sutosky, World ChT, Bursa, 2010).
• 16...cxd4 17.Rad1 dxc3 18.Qxc3 Rae8 19.fxe5 Qe6 20.Bb5 Rc8 gives Black stronger pawns and more piece activity.

16...f5

• White has a slight advantage in space.

17.f3 Rf7 18.exf5 c4!?

• The pawn is more difficult to protect at c4 than it is at c5. Rather than capture the pawn after whatever maneuvers are necessary, White will leave the pawn right where it is (it remains there for the rest of the game) where it must be portected by an off sided Knight (which also remains where it is for the rest of the game).
• If 18...Qxd5 19.Qe3 gxf5 20.Qg5+ Kh8 21.Bxf5 Rg8 22.Qh5 with equality.

BLACK: Maxime Vachier Lagrave



WHITE: Hikaru Nakamura
Position after 18...c5c4

19.Bc2!

• White now has a fair advantage in space.
• If 19.f6+!? Rxf6 20.Be4 Qe7 then:
• 21.f4 exf4! 22.Rxf4 Rxf4 is equal.
• If 21.Rad1 Rd8 22.Qe3 then:
• 22...Rfd6 23.f4 Bxd5 24.Rxd5 Rxd5 25.Bxd5 Rxd5 gives White a slight advantage in space.
• 22...Re8?! 23.Qg5! Qc5+ 24.Kh1 h6 25.Qg3 gives White a slight advantage in space.
• 19.Be4?! gxf5! 20.Bc2 Qxd5 21.Qg5+ Kh8 22.Ng3 f4 gives Black a small advantage in space.

19...gxf5

• 19...Qxd5 20.Qg5 Qc5+ 21.Kh1 Qe7 22.Qg3 Qf6 23.Rad1 gives White the advantage in space and more freedom.
• 19...B5?! 20.fxg6! hxg6 21.Rad1 Qd6 22.Ng3 23.Qe3 gives White an extra pawn and a well defended position..

20.Rad1 f4!?

• 20...Kh8 21.Ng3 f4 22.Ne4 Rd8 23.Ng5 gives White a small advantage in space and the initiative.

21.g3!

• White has a fair advantage in space, more active pieces and well protected pawns.

21...Qd6?

• Another way of putting the last note is that Black's position is suddenly not looking very well. Please note that Blasck Knight is still at the edge of the board protecting the pawn at c4.
• If 21...Qh3 22.gxf4 then:
• If 22...Kh8 23.Kh1 then:
• If 23...Rg8 24.Ng1 Qh5 25.fxe5 Qxe5 26.Nh3 then:
• If 26...Rfg7 then after 27.Qd4 Qxd4 28.Rxd4 Black still has an upill battle for a draw.
• 26...Qh5? then White wins after 27.Qd4+ Rfg7 28.Nf4 Qf7 29.Ne6 when he wins the exchange.
• font color="darkorange"]23...Rg7 24.Ng1 Qh5 25.Be4 Re8 26.Ne2 Qh6 27.Rg1
• If 22...Rg8? 23.f5! Rd7 24.Be4 then:
• If 24...Qh4 25.Ng3 Qf4 26.Rf2 then:
• If 26...Rd6 27.Rg2 Qxd2 28.Rdxd2 Kf7 29.f6 then:
• 29...Rxf6 30.Bxh7 Rd8 31.Be4 Kf8 32.Nf5 Bc8 33.Nh4 leaves Black with no useful moves at all.
• If 29...Rgd8 30.Nf5 R6d7 31.Nh6+ then:
• If 31...Kxf6 32.Ng4+ Ke7 33.Nxe5 Rxd5 34.Bxd5 then:
• If 34...Bxd5 then White wins the exchange after 35.Rg7+ Ke6 36.Nf7 Rf8 37.Ng5+.
• 34...Rxd5 35.Rxd5 Bxd5 36.Kf2 leaves White an exchange to the good.
• If 31...Kf8 then 32.Rg8#.
• If 26...Qxd2 then after 27.Rfxd2 Kf7 28.Kf2 h5 29.h4 Rdd8 30.Rg1 White wins another pawn.
• If 24...Kh8+? then after 25.Ng3! Qh4 26.f4 Rgg7 27.Bg2 Black is in Zugzwang as he cannot take any of White's pawns nor move one of his own without one.
• If 22...exf4? 23.Qd4+ then:
• If 23...Rf6 24.Nxf4 Qh6 25.Ne6+ then:
• 25...Kf7 26.Qe5 Re8 27.Rd4 a6 28.Ng5+ wins the exchange with with Queens and a pair of Rooks also coming off the board.
• 25...Kh8 26.Kh1 Re8 27.Rde1
• 23...Kf8 24.Nxf4 Rg7+ 25.Kh1 Qh6 26.Ne6+ gives Black an uphill battle for a draw.

BLACK: Maxime Vachier Lagrave



WHITE: Hikaru Nakamura
Position after 21...Qd8d6

22.gxf4 exf4 23.Kh1

• This move is purely prophylactic.

23...Re8

• 23...Rg8 loses quickly after 24.Rg1+ Kf8 when:
• If 25.Rxg8+! Kxg8 26.Qd4 Rf6 27.Qe4! then:
• 27...Kf8 28.Qxh7 Rh6 29.Qf5+ Rf6 30.Qg5 wins for White.
• If 27...Rf7 then 28.Qe8+ Kg7 29.Rg1+ Kf6 30.Nxf4 is crushing.
• If 25.Be4 then Wite wins after 25...Rxg1+ 26.Rxg1 Bc8 27.Qd4 Rf6 28.Bxh7!.

24.Rg1+ Kf8 25.Be4!

• White overprotects the d-pawn.

25...Bc8 26.Nd4 Qf6

• If 26...Bh3 27.Qc2 Qd7 28.Bxh7 Rxh7 then:
• White wins after 29.Ne6+!! Bxe6 30.dxe6 Rxe6 31.Rxd7 Rxd7 32.Qf5+ when he has a material advantage and active pieces.
• 32.Qxf7+ Kxf7 33.Rde1 Rxe1 34.Rxe1 Rh5 wins for Black after 35.d6 Kf6 36.Re7 Re5.
• If 29.Qg6? Qg7 then:
• If 30.Qd6+ Qe7 31.Qxf4+ Qf7 then:
• 32.Qd6+ Qe7 etc. draws by repitition.
• If 30.Qxg7+ Rxg7 31.Rxg7 Kxg7 then:
• 32.Kg1 then Black wins after 32...Re5 33.Nc6 Nxc6 34.dxc6 Re2.
• If 32.Rg1+ then 32...Kf6 33.Rc1 Nb7 34.Ra1 Nc5 35.d6 wins.

BLACK: Maxime Vachier Lagrave



WHITE: Hikaru Nakamura
Position after 26...Qf6d6

27.Ne6+!

• Also good is 27.Qc2! Qh6 28.d6 Re5 29.Qg2 then:
• 29...Rg7 30.Qxg7+ Qxg7 31.Rxg7 Kxg7 32.Ne2 Bd7 33.Nxf4 leaves White a pawn up with open lines to a completely undefended enemy King.
• If 29...Ke8 then White wins after 30.Qg8+ Qf8 31.Bxh7 Kd7 32.Qxf8 Rxf8 33.Rg7+.

27...Bxe6 28.dxe6 Qxe6

• If 28...Rxe6 29.Bd5 Rd6 30.Rg8+ then:
• If 30...Kxg8 then White wins after 31.Bxf7+ Kxf7 32.Qxd6 Qxd6 33.Rxd6.
• 30...Ke7 loses immediately to 31.Qe1+ Re6 32.Bxe6 Qxe6 33.Re8+.
• The rest needs no comment.

29.Bd5 Qh3 30.Bxf7 Qxf3+ 31.Rg2 Kxf7 32.Qd7+ Kf6 33.Qg7+ 1-0

• If 33...Ke6 then 34.Re1+ wins the Rook.
• M. Vachier Lagrave resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Anand - Shirov, Round 10

Vishy Anand
Photo by Ygrek in Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Vishy Anand - Alexei Shirov
Tata Steel Chess Tournament, Group A, Round 10
Wijk aan Zee, 26 January 2011

Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit: Cambridge Springs Defense

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 Nbd7 6.e3 Qa5 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Qd2 Bb4 9.Rc1 h6 10.Bh4 c5

• For a brief overview of this opening, see San Segundo-Nakamura, IT, San Sebastián, 2009.

11.Bc4

• If 11.a3 Bxc3 12.bxc3 b6 then:
• 13.Bd3 Ba6 14.0-0 cxd4 15.Bxa6 Qxa6 16.Qxd4 0-0 17.e4 Nf4 18.Qxd7 Ne2+ 19.Kh1 Nxc1 20.Rxc1 Qxa3 21.Qd2 Rac8 22.Nd4 a6 23.f3 draw (Khalifman-Dreev, Russian Ch Qual, St. Petersburg, 2004).
• 13.c4 Qxd2+ 14.Nxd2 Ne7 15.f3 Nf5 16.Bf2 Ba6 17.Bd3 Ke7 18.0-0 Rhd8 19.Rfd1 Rac8 20.a4 Nd6 is equal (Carlsen-Ivanchuk, Rpd Trmt, León, 2009).

11...Nxc3 (N)

• 11...N7b6 12.Bxd5 Nxd5 13.a3 Bxc3 14.bxc3 Ne7 15.Bxe7 Kxe7 16.0-0 gives White a small advantage in space (Solak-Blagojevich, Serbia-Montenegro ChT, Herceg Novi, 2005).

12.bxc3

• White has a slight advantage in space.

12...Ba3 13.Rb1 a6 14.Be2!?

• White could have gotten more of an advantage here.
• If 14.0-0 b5 15.Bd3 0-0 16.c4 Bb4 17.Qe2 gives White a small advantage in space and a little more freedom.

14...0-0 15.0-0 b5 16.c4

• White has a slight advantage in space.

16...Bb4 17.Qc2 Bb7 18.Rfd1 bxc4

• 18...Rac8 19.Be7 Rfe8 20.Bd6 Ba3 21.Rb3 b4 22.Qb1 is equal.
• If 18...Rfe8!? 19.cxb5! then:
• 19...Rec8 20.bxa6 Bxa6 21.Bxa6 Rxa6 22.dxc5 Nxc5 23.Qc4 gives White an extra pawn and more space.
• 19...axb5? 20.a3 Bxa3 21.Bxb5 Bxf3 22.gxf3 Qc7 23.dxc5 leaves White up by a pawn with full dominance of the board.

19.dxc5 Nxc5!?

• Black may have underestimated the strength of White's reply.
• If 19...Bc6 20.Rd6 Bb5 21.Bxc4 Nxc5 22.Bxb5 axb5 23.Rc6 gives White a slim advantage in space.

BLACK: Alexei Shirov



WHITE: Vishy Anand
Position after 19...Nd7c5:p

20.Rd4!

• White has the initiative with pressure against Black's c-pawn.

20...Rab8

• 20...Bd5 21.e4 Nxe4 22.Rxe4 Bxe4 23.Qxe4 leaves White with more active pieces.

21.Ne5!?

• 21.Rxc4 Bxf3 22.Bxf3 Ba3 23.Be2 Rxb1+ 24.Qxb1 gives White a small advantage in space.
• 21.Bg3 Rbd8 22.Qxc4 Bxf3 23.Bxf3 Bc3 24.Bc7 gives White a fair advantage in space.

21...Bd5!

• The game is equal.

22.Be7 Rfe8?!

• The annoying Bishop would be nice to remove, but Black's c-pawn is in danger.
• If 22...Rfc8 23.Nxc4 Bxc4 24.Rxc4 then:
• If 24...Ba3 25.Rxb8 Rxb8 26.Rxc5 Bxc5 27.Qxc5 then:
• 27...Qxa2 28.Bf1 Rb1 29.Qc6 Qa1 30.Qa8+ Kh7 31.Qe4+ is equal.
• 27...Rb1+ 28.Bf1 Qxa2 29.Qc6 Rd1 30.Qa8+ Kh7 31.Qe4+ is equal.
• 24...Rb5?! 25.a4! Rb6 26.Bf1 f5 27.Rd4 Kf7 28.Bd8 White must win the exchange.

23.Bd6!

• White takes a strong initiative.
• If 23.Nxc4?! Bxc4 24.Rxc4 then:
• If 24...Ba3 25.Rxb8 Rxb8 26.Rxc5 Bxc5 27.Qxc5 then:
• 27...Rb1+ 28.Bf1 Qxa2 29.Qc6 gives White a small advantage in space.
• If 27...Qe1+ 28.Bf1 then:
• 28...Rb2 29.Bh4 Rxa2 30.Qc8+ Kh7 31.Bg3 Ra1 32.Qc4 gives White a small advantage in space.
• If 28...Rb1?! 29.Qc8+ Kh7 30.Qxa6 then:
• 30...e5 31.Qd3+ Kg8 32.a4 e4 33.Qa6 Kh7 34.Qc4 gives White a strong initiative; Black may have to abandon his back rank threats to meet it.
• If 30...Qd1? then White wins after 31.Bd6! Qd5 32.Bf8 e5 33.a3 e4 34.Bb4.
• 24...Rxe7 25.Rxc5 Qxc5 26.Qxc5 Bxc5 27.Rxb8+ gives Whitem the more active Rooki.

23...Rbd8?

• If 23...Rb7 24.Nxc4 Bxc4 then:
• If 25.Qxc4 Ba3 26.Rxb7 then:
• 26...Nxb7 27.Bxa3 Qxa3 28.Qxa6 Qc1+ 29.Bf1 Qc7 30.Qb5 gives White a strong initiative.
• If 26...Qe1+? then White wins after 27.Bf1 Nxb7 28.Bxa3 Qa5 29.Qc6.
• If 25.Rxc4 Ba3 26.Rxb7 Nxb7 then:
• 27.Bxa3 Qxa3 28.Rc8 Nd6 29.Rxe8+ Nxe8 30.Qc8 White wins a pawn with the exchange of Queens.
• If 27.Bc7 Qe1+ 28.Bf1 Nd6 then:
• 29.Qc3! Qxc3 30.Rxc3 Bb4 31.Rc6 White wins at least a pawn.
• 29.Bxd6? Bxd6! 30.g3 is equal.

BLACK: Alexei Shirov



WHITE: Vishy Anand
Position after 23...Rb8d8

24.Bh5!!

• White strikes at a weak point near the Black King. Black is toast.

24...Rxd6 25.Bxf7+ Kf8 26.Bxe8

• This isn't White's best move, but it's good enough.
• 26.Qh7 Ke7 27.Bxe8 Kd8 28.Qg8 Kc7 29.Qxg7+ White wins easily.
• After the text, 26.Bxe8 Nd3 27.Nxc4 Bxc4 28.Qxc4 Rxd4 29.Qxd4 leaves White with a material advantage equivalent to a minor piece.
• El señor Shirov resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Carlsen - Nakamura, Round 8

Magnus Carlsen
Photo by Stefan64 from Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Magnus Carlsen - Hikaru Nakamura
Tata Steel Chess Tournament, Group A, Round 8
Wijk aan Zee, 23 January 2011

Open Sicilian Game: Najdorf-Boleslavsky Defense (Opocensky Opening)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.Be3

• 8.0-0 0-0 9.Kh1 b6 10.f4 Bb7 11.Bf3 Nbd7 12.Qe1 Rc8 13.f5 b5 14.a3 Nb6 is equal (Rapina-Bodnaruk, Russian ChTW, Dagomys, 2010).

8...0-0 9.g4 Be6 10.g5 Nfd7 11.h4 Nb6 12.Qd2 N8d7 13.f4 (N)

• If 13.0-0-0 Rc8 then:
• If 14.Kb1 Nc4 15.Bxc4 Rxc4 then:
• 16.f3 h5 17.g6 is equal (Rogers-Dr. Hübner, Candidates' Match, Willington, 1988).
• 16.f4 exf4 17.Bxf4 Ne5 18.Nd4 Qc8 19.h5 gives White more space on the Kingside (Stellwagen-Vachier Lagrave, IT B, Wijk aan Zee, 2007).
• 14.h5 f5 15.exf5 Bxf5 16.g6 h6 is equal (Milos-di Baradino, Brazilian Ch, Guarulhos, 2005).

13...exf4

• The game is equal.

14.Bxf4 Ne5 15.0-0-0 Rc8

• 15...Qc7!? 16.Nd4 Nbc4 17.Bxc4 Nxc4 18.Qd3 gies White a small advantage in space.

16.Kb1

• The game remains equal.
• If 16.Na5 Rc5 17.Nxb7 Qb8 then:
• 18.Nxc5 Nbc4 19.Bxc4 Nxc4 20.Nb3 Nxd2 21.Rxd2 is equal.
• If 18.Bxa6 then:
• If 18...Rc7 19.Nxd6 Bxd6 20.Qxd6 then:
• 20...Nbc4! 21.Bxc4 Nxc4 22.Qxf8+ Kxf8 23.b3 Qb4 gives Black a much more aggressive position and a material advantage.
• 20...Nbd7? 21.Bxe5! Nxe5 22.Qxe5 wins for White.
• 18...Nbc4 19.Bxe5 Nxd2 20.Nxc5 Qb6 is equal.

16...Qc7

• 16...Nbc4 17.Bxc4 Nxc4 18.Qd3 Re8 19.Qg3 Qd7 20.Nd5 gives White a small advantage in space.

17.h5 Rfe8!?

BLACK: Hikaru Nakamura



WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 17...Rf8e8

• Everything is covered in the e-file. It would the best thing to do is either regroup his pieces or overprotect the d-pawn. Unfortunately, there are no good moves to accomplish either of those goals.
• If 17...Nec4!? (overprotection) 18.Bxc4 Nxc4 19.Qe1 then:
• 19...f6 20.g6 Na3+ 21.bxa3 Qxc3 22.Qxc3 Rxc3 23.Bxd6 Bxd6 24.Rxd6 gives White an extra pawn.
• If 19...Ne5 20.Qf2 Bg4 then:
• 21.Rd4 Be6 22.Nd5 Bxd5 23.exd5 b5 24.h6 gives White the advantage in space.
• 21.Nd5 Qd8 22.Bxe5 Bxd1 23.Rxd1 dxe5 24.Nf6+!! gives White a small material advantage and breaches Black's castle.
• If 17...Rfd8? (overprotection) 18.Qc1 then:
• If 18...Bf8 then:
• If 19.Nd4! Nbc4 then:
• If 20.g6! then:
• If 20...hxg6 21.Bxe5 Nxe5 22.hxg6 then:
• 22...Be7 23.gxf7+ Bxf7 24.Nd5 Bxd5 25.exd5 Qb6 26.Ne6 wins for White.
• 22...Nxg6 23.Nxe6 fxe6 24.Qg5 Qf7 25.Rdf1 Be7 26.Qg1 Black is toast.
• 20...h6 21.Rhg1 Kh8 22.Nd5 Qa5 23.Nf5 b5 24.Bxh6!! wins for White.
• 20.Nd5 Bxd5 21.exd5 then:
• If 21...Qc5 22.Nb3 Qb5 23.Rhe1 then:
• 23...Re8 24.Rd4 Re7 25.c3 Qd7 26.Re4 b5 27.Qd1 gives White a fair advantage in space.
• 23...Qa4?! 24.Rd4 Re8 25.Ka1 Qd7 26.Re4 Re7 27.Nd4 gives White the better center.
• If 21...Nb6 22.Nf3 Re8 23.Rhe1 then:
• If 23...Nbd7 24.Qd2 b5 25.c3 Nc4 26.Qd4 Nde5 27.h6 gives White more space and a better center.
• 23...Be7 24.c3 f6 25.Nxe5 dxe5 26.gxf6 Bxf6 27.Be3 gives White more activity.
• 19.Nd5!? Nxd5 20.exd5 Bf5! 21.Na1 Re8 22.Rhf1 is equal
• 18...Bxb3 19.axb3 Qc6 20.Qd2 Qc7 21.Be3 gives White a firm advantage on the kingside and in the center.
• If 17...Qb8 (regrouping) 18.Nd5 Nxd5 19.exd5 Bf5 then:
• If 20.Nd4 Be4 21.Bxe5 dxe5 22.Rh4 then:
• 22...h6 23.Rxe4 Bxg5 24.Qb4 exd4 25.Qxd4 Qc7 26.c3 gives White a comfortable advantage in space.
• 22...f5!? 23.gxf6 Bxf6 24.Rxe4 exd4 25.Bg4 Rce8 26.Be6+ gives White a clear advantage with more piece activity.
• 20.Rc1!? Be4 21.Rhg1 f5 22.g6 hxg6 23.Bxe5 dxe5 is equal.

18.Ka1 Bf8

• If 18...Nec4 19.Bxc4 Nxc4 20.Qd3 then:
• 20...b5 21.Nd5 Bxd5 22.exd5 Qd7 23.h6 g6 24.Rhe1 gives White a fair advantage in space.
• If 20...Ne5 21.Qg3 then:
• If 21...f6 22.Nd4 Qc4 then:
• If 23.Bxe5 fxe5 24.Nxe6 Qxe6 25.Rhf1 then:
• 25...Rc6 26.Nd5 Rxc2 27.Qb3 Rcc8 28.Qxb7 Kh8 29.g6 leaves White only needing a little more to do in order to win.
• 25...b5 26.Kb1 Qc4 27.Qg2 Kh8 28.Nd5 puts White on the cusp of winning as he threatens 28.g6 followed by 29.Rf7.
• 23.h6 g6 24.Nf5 fxg5 25.Nxe7+ Rxe7 26.Qxg5 gives White a strong initiative.
• 21...Bc4 22.Nd4 Bf8 23.Nf5 b5 24.h6 g6 25.Ne3 gives White the advantage in space.

19.Nd4

• 19.h6 g6 20.Rhf1 Be7 21.Rf2 Nbc4 22.Qd4 gives White a small advantage in space.

19...Qc5!?

• 19...Nce4 is stronger, a better try for more advantage, and just more interesting.
• If 19...Nec4 20.Qc1 Qc5 21.Rhg1 then:
• 21...Nxb2! 22.Qxb2 Qxc3 23.Qxc3 Rxc3 24.Rb1 Na4 25.Rxb7 Bxa2 26.Kxa2 Rxe4 27.Rb4 Rxf4 is equal.
• 24.Rd3!? Rc7!! 25.Rb1 Na4 26.Bf3 b5 27.Nxe6 Rxe6 gives Black an extra pawn.
• 21...Bd7 22.Rg3! Ne5 23.h6 g6 24.Qe3 Nbc4 25.Qg1 guives White the advantage in space.

20.g6

• If 20.Nxe6 fxe6 21.Qd4 then:
• If 21...Be7 then:
• 22.Bxe5 dxe5 23.Qxc5 Bxc5 24.Bd3 Rf8 25.Rh2 is equal.
• 22.Qxc5 Rxc5 23.Rhf1 Rec8 24.Rf2 Nbc4 25.Na4 Ra5 gives White a small advantage in space.
• 21...Nbc4 22.Qxc5 Rxc5 23.Na4 Ra5 24.b3 Be7 gives White a respectable advantage in space.

20...Nec4 21.Bxc4 Nxc4 22.Qd3?!

• White misses a chance to breach Black's castle wall.
• 22.gxh7+ Kxh7 23.Qd3 Ne5 24.Qg3 b5 25.h6 threatens 26gxh7+ Kg8 27.Rh8#.

22...fxg6!?

• Black missess the best move to limit the damage.
• 22...h6! 23.Qg3 f6 24.Nxe6 Rxe6 25.Qh3 Rce8 26.Rd5 gives White a fair advantage in space, but instead he could be close to winning.

BLACK: Hikaru Nakamura



WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 22...fg6:p

23.hxg6!

• White emerges from this little comedy of errors with more space and the initiative.
• If 23.Nxe6!? Rxe6 24.Qh3 Rce8! 25.h6 then:
• 25...gxh6 26.Bxh6 Bxh6 27.Qxh6 Qc7 is equal.
• 25...Qh5 26.Qg3 Qa5 is equal.

23...h6 24.Qg3 Qb6 25.Bc1

• 25.b3?! Ne5! 26.Nxe6 Rxe6 27.Bxe5 dxe5 is equal.

25...Qa5?

• Black takes his Queen away from the focus point.
• Better is 25...Qc5 26.Rh2 (covering the pawn at c2) 26...b5 then:
• 27.Bf4 b4 28.Nxe6 Rxe6 29.Nd5 Rce8 30.Bc1 gives White the advantage owing to the pressure he is putting on Black's kingside.
• 27.Nxe6 Rxe6 28.Rf1 Ne5 29.Nd5 Rxg6 30.Qh3 gives White more freedom.

26.Rdf1!

• White brings pressure to bear on Black's kingside and obtains a winning advantage.
• Also good is 26.Nxe6 Rxe6 27.Qg4 Rce8 28.Nd5 Ne5 29.Qh5.

26...Ne5

• The position cries out for 26...Qe5. White's Knight at e4 is hanging and an exchange of Queens would benefit Black greatly.
• If 26...Qe5 then:
• 27.Qf2! then Qc5 28.Na4 Qc7 29.Nxe6 Rxe6 30.Qf5 finds White putting about as much pressure on Black as he can, but Black's defense is holding.
• 27.Qxe5?! dxe5! 28.Nf5 Red8! 29.Rd1 Rxd1 30.Rxd1 Na3 gives Black the Bishop pair and brings his position to life.

27.Nd5!

• This wins more slowly than at least one othe move, but it's good enough.
• If 27.Nxe6! Rxe6 28.Rxh6!! gxh6 29.Qh3 then:
• If 29...Rce8 30.Rxf8+ Kxf8 31.Qxh6+ then:
• If 31...Ke7 32.b4 Qc7 33.Nd5+ then:
• If 33...Kd7 34.Nxc7 Rxg6 then:
• 35.Qxg6 Nxg6 36.Nxe8 Kxe8 37.Kb2 b5 38.a4 White will soon generate a passed pawn on the queenside.
• 35.Qh7+? Re7 36.Qh5 Kxc7 is equal.
• If 34.Nxc7 Kxc7 35.Qh7+!.
• If 31...Kg8? then 32.Qh7+! Kf8 33.Bh6#.
• If 29...Ng4? then White wins after 30.Qxg4! Qe5 31.Rf5 Qg7 32.Rxf8+

27...Bxd5

• White holds the advantage in space.

28.exd5 Qxd5

• No better is 28...Rc4 29.Ne6 Rg4 30.Qf2 Rxg6 31.Rhg1 Rxg1 32.Qxg1 when White wins.

BLACK: Hikaru Nakamura



WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 28...Qa5d5:p

29.Bxh6!!

• The sacrificed Bishop brings certain victory.

29...gxh6 30.g7 Be7

• Black is toast.
• If 30...Bxg7 31.Nf5! Ng4 32.Qxg4 then:
• 32...Qxf5 then after 33.Qxf5 Rc7 34.Rxh6 Bxh6 35.Qg6+ Rg7 36.Qxe8+ let's turn out the lights.
• If 32...Rc7 33.Nxh6+ Kh7 34.Rfg1 then:
• 34...Re1+ 35.Rxe1 Bxb2+ 36.Kb1 Bg7 37.Nf5+ Black must surrender his queen just to postpone mate.
• If 34...Qe5 then 35.Qg6+ Kh8 36.Nf7+ Kg8 37.Rh8#.

31.Rxh6!

• The text wins faster than 31.Nf5 Nf7 32.Qg6 Bg5 33.Rxh6 Bxh6 34.Nxh6+.
• Black is staggering in his death throes. The rest requires no comment.

31...Nf7 32.Qg6 Nxh6 33.Qxh6 Bf6 34.Qh8+ Kf7 35.g8Q+ Rxg8 36.Qxf6+ Ke8 37.Re1+ 1-0

• Black must lose the Queen or immediately submit to mate.
• Mr. Nakamura resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Vocaturo - Siebrecht, Round 9

Il singiore Vocaturo, 21, scored 9 points with 8 victories, more than any other player in any group in Wijk aan Zee, 3 losses and only two draws. I think I like this guy.



Daniele Vocaturo
Photo by Stefan64 from Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Daniele Vocaturo - Sebastian Siebrecht
Tata Steel Chess Tournament, Group C, Round 9
Wijk aan Zee, 25 January 2011

Open Sicilian Game: Kan Defesne (Polugaevsky Opening)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Nc3

• For a survey of the main lines of the Kan Defense, seeMunguntuul-Koneru, Grand Prix W, Nalchik, 2010]

Qc7 6.Bd3 Nf6 7.0-0 d6 8.f4 g6!?

• Your most humble hare and his staff admit to being suspicious of a King's fianchetto where a path to development through e7/e2 is already available.
• Better is normal development. form instance 8...Be7 9.Be3 then:
• If 9...b5 10.Qf3 then:
• 10...Bb7 Nbd7 11.a3 Nbd7 12.Rae1 0-0 13.Qh3 Nc5 is equal (Tal-Najdorf, Ol, Leipzig, 1960).
• 11.a3 0-0 12.Nb3 with a slim advantage for White.
• If 9...Nc6 10.Kh1 0-0 11.Qf3 Bd7 then:
• 12.Qg3 Nb4 13.Be2 Rac8 14.a3 gives White the advantage in space (Golubev-A. Alexeev, Autumn IT, Alushta, 2005).
• If 12.Rae1 b5 13.a3 then:
• If 13...Nxd4!? 14.Bxd4 Bc6 15.Qh3 then:
• If 15...g6?! 16.f5 e5 17.Be3 Nh5 18.Rf3 then:
• 18...Nf4? 19.Bxf4! exf4 20.Qh6 Black is caught in a mating attack and resigns (Kotroias-Torrado, Op, Lisbon, 2001).
• 18...Bf6 19.Nd5 Bxd5 20.exd5 e4 21.Bxe4 Bxb2 22.Ref1 puts Black in a hole, but he can still fight.
• 15...h6 16.Qg3 Nh5 17.Qg4 Nf6 18.Qf3 gives White a slim advantage in space.
• 13...Rac8 14.Nxc6 Bxc6 15.Bd4 Rfd8 16.Qh3 e5 is equal.

BLACK: Sebastian Siebrecht



WHITE: Daniele Vocaturo
Position after 8...g7g6

9.e5 (N)

• If 9.Kh1 Be7 then:
• 10.e5 dxe5 11.Ndb5 axb5 12.Nxb5 Qc5 13.fxe5 Ne4 14.Qe2 Bd7 15.Be3 Qc6 16.Qf3 f5 17.exf6 draw (Glek-Lau, Op, Ostend, 1993).
• 10.Be3 0-0 11.a4 b6 12.Qe1 Bb7 13.Qh4 Nbd7 14.Rae1 Nc5 gives White a slim advantage in space (Frhat-Bouah, African Ch, Lusaka, 2005).

9...dxe5

• White has a slim advantage in space.
• If 9...Nfd7?! 10.exd6 Bxd6 11.Ne4 Be7 12.Be3 b6 13.Qe2 gives White a comfortable advantage in space with an impressive piece center.

10.fxe5 Qxe5 11.Nb3 Nbd7 12.Bf4 Qh5 13.Be2

• 13.Qd2 Bg7 14.Be2 Qh4 15.Rae1 h6 16.Qd6! gives White the advantage in space.

13...Qh4 14.g3!?

• 14.Qd2 h6 15.Rae1 Bg7 16.Bd6 Bf8 17.Bf3 gives White the advantage in space.

14...Qh3!

• The game is equal.

15.Qd4

• 15.Ne4 Qf5 16.Nd6+ Bxd6 17.Bxd6 Qd5 18.Bf3 Ne4 19.Bf4 f5 20.Bxe4 Qxe4 21.Re1 gives White a slim advantage in space.
• If 18...Qxd1!? 19.Raxd1! Ra7 20.Bg2 Rg8 21.Rf2 g5 22.Rdf1 gives White a slim advantage in space.

15...Bg7 16.Bg5 e5!? 17.Qd6 Qe6

• 17...Bf8?! 18.Qc7 Be7 19.Rad1 0-0 20.Rxd7 Bxd7 21.Bxf6 gives White a good advantage in space and multiple threats.

18.Rad1 Qxd6 19.Rxd6 0-0!?

• Castling is a sensible thing to do, but Black has a weakness on his queenside that should be repaired first.
• 19...b6 (repairing the weakness) 20.Bd3 b5 21.Bxf6 Nxf6 22.Rfxf6 Bxf6 23.Rxf6 gives White more space and more activity for his pieces.

BLACK: Sebastian Siebrecht



WHITE: Daniele Vocaturo
Position after 19...0-0

20.Bxf6!

• Black forces exchanges on f6 that will leave Black badly cramped.

20...Nxf6 21.Rdxf6 Bxf6 22.Rxf6 Bf5

• 22...Kg7 23.Rb6! (see note to Black's 19th move) 23...f5 24.Nd5 Ra7 25.Nc5 Rf7 26.Rd6 White has penetrated deep into Black's position and threatens to win material.

23.g4 Bc8

• Black's position is completely passive and will remain so for the rest of thegame.
• If 23...Be6? 24.Nc5 Rfe8 then:
• If 25.Bf3! Ra7 26.Kf2 then:
• If 26...Kg7 27.g5 b6 28.Nxe6+ then:
• 28...fxe6 29.Ne4 Rae7 30.h4 Rh8 31.c3 a5 32.Ke3 wns for White.
• 28...Rxe6 29.Rxe6 fxe6 30.Ne4 gives White active minor pieces and wins.
• 26...b6 27.Nxe6 Rxe6 28.Rxe6 fxe6 29.Ne4 gives White more piece activity and stronger pawns; he should win.
• If 25.N3e4 Bxa2 26.Rb6 Rec8 27.Rxb7 Rcb8 28.Bxa6 then:
• If 28...Rxb7 29.Bxb7! Rd8 30.Nc3 Be6 31.Nxe6 fxe6 32.Be4 wins for White.
• 28...Bb1! 29.Nd7 Rxb7 30.Bxb7 Ra2 then:
• 31.b4! Rb2 32.c3 Kg7 33.Nd6 Ba2 34.g5 the e-pawn falls and White wins.
• 31.Ndf6+? Kg7 32.g5 Rxb2! gives Black the initiative.

24.Rb6 Rd8 25.Nc5!

• White goes after the weak b-pawn, the same pawn that Black did not repair on his 19th move.
• If 25.Ne4?! then Black gets out of jail free after 25...f5 26.Nd6 fxg4 27.Nxb7 when:
• If 27...Rb8! then:
• 28.Bxa6 Rd1+ 29.Kf2 Bf5 30.Rb4 h5 31.Bc4+ Kg7 32.Be2 Rh1 is equal.
• 28.Rxg6+ hxg6 29.Nxd8 Rb6 30.Bc4+ Kg7 31.Nf7 Kf6 32.Kf2 Bf5 is equal.
• If 27...Rf8?! then after 28.Nd6! Bf5 29.Rb7 Rab8 30.Bc4+ Kh8 31.Ra7 White wins a pawn.

25...f5

• If 25...Kg7 then 26.N3e4 Rd5 27.Kf2 f5 28.c4 Rd4 29.Nd6 wins the b-pawn.

26.gxf5 gxf5 27.Bc4+ Kh8?

• This move is just a little too loose and brings about Black's downfall. Black need to find a place for the King that will spport a Rook behind the pawn duo that is his only hope of a draw,
• 27...Kg7 is the move that satisfies those conditions, but after 28.Bd5 Re8 29.Ne6+ Bxe6 30.Bxe6 Rf8 Black is barely holding on to life.

BLACK: Sebastian Siebrecht



WHITE: Daniele Vocaturo
Position after 27...Kg8h8

28.Nd5!

• It is now White's game.
• Not quite strong enough is 28.Nxb7 Bxb7 29.Rxb7 Rd2 30.Bb3 then:
• 30...Rf8 31.Re7 e4 32.h4 Rd6 33.Ne2 Rh6 34.c4 still give Black faint chances of counterplay on the kingside.
• 30...e4 31.Rf7 Rg8+ 32.Kf1 Rg5 33.h4 Rh5 34.Ke1 wins.

28...Rg8+

• If 28...Ra7 29.Kf2 Kg7 30.a4! (in anticipation of reposting the Rook for more active duty, White restrains Black's queenside) then:
• If 30...Kh8 31.Ne7 Re8 32.Nxc8 Rxc8 33.b4 then:
• If 33...a5 34.c3 axb4 35.cxb4 then:
• 35...Rc6 36.Rxc6 bxc6 37.a5 Kg7 38.Be6 White wins.
• 35...Rd8 36.Ke2 Rd4 37.Be6 White wins.
• 33...Rd8 34.Nxb7 Rd2+ 35.Ke3 Rxc2 36.Nd6 wins.
• 30...Re8 31.Rd6 e4 32.a5 Kh8 33.Nb6 Kg7 34.b4 wins.

29.Kf2 Rg4

• If 29...Rg6 30.Nd3 Re6 31.Ke3 Rb8 32.Rxe6 Bxe6 then:
• 33.Nxe5 34.h4 Rd8 35.Kd4 b5 36.Bb3 Bxd5 37.Bxd5 White's active pieces and material edge carry the day.
• If 33...Kg7 (33...Rd8 34.Kd4 Kg7 35.a4 then:
• 35...b5 36.axb5 axb5 37.Bb3 Bxd5 38.Bxd5 Kf6 39.c3 Black's passed pawn can go nowhere whereas White's queenside majority looks promising.
• 35...a5 36.c3 Bg8 37.Nf3 Bf7 38.b3 Re8 39.Ne5 Black cannot penetrate through White's solid piece center.

30.Bb3 Rh4

• If 30...a5 31.Rd6! then:
• 31...Rb8 32.Nb6 (the weakness at b6 has been so inviting for White) 32...Rd4 33.Rf6 Rd8 34.Nxc8 Rbxc8 35.Nxb7 White wins.
• 31...Rd4 32.c3 Rd2+ 33.Ke3 Rxb2 34.Nb6 f4+ 35.Kf3 White wins.

31.Nc7 Ra7

• 31...Rb8 32.N5xa6 Rf4+ 33.Kg2 Rg4+ 34.Kf1 Rf4+ 35.Ke2 White wins.

32.Ne8! Rxh2+ 33.Kg1 Rh4 34.Rf6 h6

• 34...Rg4+ 35.Kf1 Rg8 36.Bxg8 Kxg8 37.Nd6 b6 38.Nxc8 should be enough to entice Black to resign.

35.Rf8+ Kh7 36.Rf7+ Kh8 37.Nf6 1-0

• 37...Rg4+ 38.Kf2 b6 39.Rxa7 Rg7 40.Ra8 Rc7 41.Ne6 is lights out.

Herr Siebrecht resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Navara - Ganguly, Round 6

Reigning Czech national champion David Navara came from behind to tie British GM Luke McShane for first place in Group B.



David Navara
Photo by karpidis in flickr (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


David Navara - Surya Sekhar Ganguly
Tata Steel Chess Tournament, Group B, Round 6
Wijk aan Zee, 21 January 2011

Grand Spanish RoyaL Game: Neo-Classical Defense

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 b5 6.Bb3 Bc5 7.a4 Rb8 8.c3 d6 9.d4 Bb6

• Up to here, except for transpositions between moves 7 and 9, the game is identical to Nakamura-Shirov, played a few days earlier in Group A.

10.a5

• Here Nakamura exchanged pawns with Shirov 10.axb5 axb5, and after 11.Na3 0-0 12.Nxb5 Bg4 13.d5 Ne7 14.Bc2 Qd7 15.Na3 Nexd5 16.h3 White had a tactical edge in what developed into a remarkable game. For variations, see the link to that game in the previous note.

10...Ba7 11.h3 Bb7

• If 11...0-0 12.Be3 exd4 13.cxd4 Nxe4 then:
• If 14.Qc2 Qe8 15.Nc3 then:
• 15...Nf6 16.Rfe1 Qd7 17.Ne4 Nxe4 18.Qxe4 Ne7 is equal (Timofeev-Halikas, Euro Ch, Dresaden, 2007).
• 15...Nxc3 16.Qxc3 Ne7 17.Rac1 c6 18.Rfe1 Be6 19.Bg5 d5 20.Bxe7 Qxe7 gives White a small advantage in space and an attack on a backwards pawn (Nijboer-Bok, Dutch Ch, Eindhoven. 2010).
• 14.Bd5 Qe8 15.Re1 Nf6 16.Nc3?! Nb4 gives Black a small advantage in space (Christiansen-Zilberstein, US Ch, San Diego, 2004).

12.Be3 (N)

• If 12.Re1 0-0 13.Be3 then:
• If 13...Ra8 14.Nbd2 then:
• 14...exd4 15.cxd4 Nb4 16.Bg5 h6 17.Bh4 Nd3 18.Re3 Nf4 19.Rc1 is equal (Navara-Ragger, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).
• 14...h6 15.Bc2 Re8 16.d5 Ne7 17.Nf1 Ng6 18.N3h2 c6 19.dxc6 Bxc6 is equal (T. Kosintseva-Munguntuul, Grand Prix W, Ulan Batar, 2010).
• 13...exd4 14.cxd4 Nb4 15.d5 Bxe3 16.Rxe3 c5 17.Nc3 Nd7 18.Qd2 Re8 is equal (Svidler-Pavasovic, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2007).

12...Nxe4

• The game is equal.
• 12...exd4 13.cxd4 Nxe4 14.Re1 Ne7 15.Nbd2 is also equal.

13.d5!?

• White sets a little trap (a "cheapo" as some call them), but in so doing he opens his center for Black's Bishops.
• If 13.Re1 then:
• If 13...f5 then:
• 14.Bd5 Qd7 15.Qb3 exd4 16.cxd4 Ne7 17.Bf7+ Kf8 is equal.
• 14.dxe5 Bxe3 15.Rxe3 Nxe5 16.Nxe5 dxe5 17.Qe2 Qd6 is equal.
• If 13...exd4?! 14.Nxd4! then:
• If 14...Nxd4 15.Bxd4 Bxd4 16.Qxd4 0-0 17.Rxe4 then:
• 17...c5 18.Qe3 Bxe4 19.Qxe4 Re8 is equal.
• 17...Bxe4 18.Qxe4 Re8 19.Qf5 Re1+ is equal.
• 14...Ne7 15.Qg4 Rg8 16.Ne6 Nxf2 17.Nxd8 Nxg4 18.Bxa7 leaves White with a minor piece for two pawns.

13...Bxe3! 14.dxc6 Nxf2 15.Qd5?!

• The mating threat is easily parrier (for example, 15...0-0), but the Queen seems to be in a nice, aggressive position at d5. While it is certainly true that White makes good use of his Queen later on from this post, for the momenty ity would be better if it were held back to help deal the the gathering storm over White's castled King.
• If 15.Qe1 Ba7 16.Rxf2 Ba8 then:
• 17.Qe4! 0-0 18.Na3 Kh8 19.Nc2 f5 is equal.
• 17.Bd5?! 0-0 18.b4 Bxf2+ 19.Qxf2 Qe8 gives Black the advantage with his attack on the c-pawn and better development.

BLACK: Surya Sekhar Ganguly



WHITE: David Navara
Position after 15.Qd1d5

15...Nxh3+!

• Double check puts White in a bad way.

16.Kh1 Qf6!?

• Black does not follow up as well as he could.
• If 16...0-0 17.gxh3 Bc8 then:
• 18.Kg2 Be6 19.Qe4 Bxb3 20.Qxe3 f5 gives Black a clear advantage in the center.
• 18.Nxe5? dxe5! 19.Qxd8 Rxd8 20.Rxf7 Kh8 21.Rxc7 Bf5 gives Black full dominance over the board.

17.cxb7!?

• White gives Black a second shot at it.
• If 17.gxh3 Bc8 then:
• 18.Nbd2! Bxh3 19.Ne4 Qg6 20.Qxf7+ Kd8 21.Qxg6 hxg6 gives Black a strong initiative against White's denuded King.
• If 18.Nh2?! Bf4! then:
• 19.Qf3 Qh4 20.Ng4 Bxg4 21.Qxg4 Qxg4 22.hxg4 h5 Black has connected passed pawns and a dangerous attack.
• 19.Qg2?! Qh4! 20.Qxg7 Rf8 21.Nd2 Qxh3 22.Ndf3 b4 gives Black three connected passed pawns and White's King is stripped of his pawn cover.

17...Nf4?!

• Again, Black fails to find the most robust move. The position calls for a direct attack on White's King.
• 17...Nf2+ 18.Rxf2 Bxf2 19.Nbd2 Qh6+ 20.Nh2 0-0 continues to give Black a small advantage with pressure on White's kingside.
• On the upside for White, both in this variation and the text, his Queen is well placed at d5 where it cannot be assailed.

18.Qc6+!

• White keeps the damage to a minimum.
• If 18.Qe4?! Qg6 then:
• 19.Qc6+ Kd8 20.Nh2 Black has a huge advantage.
• If 19.Qxg6? then after 19...hxg6+! 20.Nh2 Ne2! 21.g4 (forced) 21...Ng3+ 22.Kg2 Nxf1 Black wins.

18...Kd8 19.Nh2 Qg5!?

• To make the attack work, Black must either bring more force into the fray or get around the g-pawn, which is protected by the Queen at c6 and can be reinforced by moving the Bishop to d5.
• If 19...Ne2!! then:
• 20.Qf3! Qxf3 21.Rxf3 Bc1 22.Nf1 f6 maintains Black's advantage in space.
• If 20.Rxf6?? then 20...Ng3#.

20.Na3!?

• White mises the equalizing line.
• If 20.Rd1! then:
• 20...Bc5 21.Nd2 Qg6 22.Bd5 f5 23.b4 equalizes.
• After 20...e4, if White doesn't like his winning chances, he can play 21.Rxd6+! cxd6 22.Qxd6+ Ke8 23.Qc6+ Kd8 24.Qd6+ etc. and draw.

20...Ne2 21.Rf3 Ng3+?!

• Black should try harder to win. This is a good drawing line.
• If 21...Bf4 22.Nc2 then:
• 22...e4 23.Rxf4 Nxf4 24.Qxe4 Re8 25.Qf3 is equal.
• If 22...d5 23.Rxf4 Ng3+ 24.Kg1 Ne2+ then:
• 25.Kf1 Ng3+ 26.Kf2 Qxf4+ 27.Nf3 Ne4+ 28.Kf1 is equal.
• 25.Kh1 Ng3+ 26.Kg1 Ne2+ 27.Kh1 etc draws.

BLACK: Surya Sekhar Ganguly



WHITE: David Navara
Position after 21.Ne2g3+

22.Rxg3!

• The game is equal.

22...Qxg3 23.Bxf7 Bf4 24.Nf3 Qg4 25.Nxb5 Qd7?

• This move is desperate, but the alternative is not much better.
• 25...axb5 26.a6 Be3 27.a7 Bxa7 28.Rxa7 Qd7 29.Bd5 leaves Black with a material advantage equivalent to a pawn, but one substandard move and he is routed.

26.Bd5!

• White doesn't go in for the pawn exchange.

26...g5

• 26...axb5 27.a6 Be3 28.Nd4! Bxd4 29.cxd4 Qg4 30.a7 leaves perpetual check as Black's last hope of saving the game, but that fails: If 30...Qh4+ then after 31.Kg1 Qxd4+ 32.Kf1 Qd3+ 33.Ke1 Qe3+ 34.Kd1 Qd4+ 35.Kc2 Qf2+ 36.Kb3 Qe3+ then White plays 37.Qc3! and Black is out of checks.

27.Rf1 Rf8 28.Nxg5 Ke7

• If 28...Qxc6 then:
• If 29.Bxc6! Rf6 30.Nd4 Ke7 then:
• If 31.Nc2 Bxg5 32.Rxf6! Kxf6 then:
• 33.b4 Bh4 34.Kg1 e4 35.b5 Ke7 36.bxa6 is crushing.
• 33.Nb4 e4 34.Nxa6 e3 35.Kg1 e2 36.Kf2 wins for White.
• If 31.Nh3 then White wins after 31...d5 32.Nxf4 Kd6 33.Bxd5 exd4 34.g3.
• If 29.Ne6+? resurrects Blacks hopes of drawing or even winning after 29...Kd7! 30.Nxf8+ Rxf8 31.Bxc6+ Kxc6 32.g3 Kxb7.

BLACK: Surya Sekhar Ganguly



WHITE: David Navara
Position after 28...Kd8e7

29.Ne6!!

• White commits to a piece sacrifice.

29...Qxc6 30.Bxc6 Kxe6

• Black is temporarily an exchange to the good, but . ..

31.Nxc7+!

• White sets up the mop up maneuvers.

31...Ke7

• If 31...Kf5 then White wins after 32.Nxa6 Kg4 33.Nxb8 Rxb8 34.Rxf4+ Kxf4 35.a6.

32.Nxa6 Rbd8 33.b8Q!

• This sacrifice is the fastest route to victory.
• Also good is 33.g3 Bxg3 34.Rxf8 Rxf8 35.b8Q Rxb8 36.Nxb8 when White is a piece up. But don't you just love sacrificial orgies?

33...Rxb8 34.Nxb8 Rxb8 35.Rxf4! 1-0

• The exchange sacrifice puts an elegant cap of the attack.
35.Rxf4
• If 35...exf4 then White has an extra piece after 36.a6 Rxb2 37.a7 Ra2 38.a8Q Rxa8 39.Bxa8.
• Ganguly resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Gibraltar Chess Festival

Barbary Macaques on the Rock of Gibraltar
Photo by Olaf Tausch (Oltau) in Wikimedia Commonms (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Caruana - Korchnoi, Round 2

The wiley Grand Old Man of Chess, who turns 80 on March 23, teaches one of the new kids on the block why we should respect our elders.



Viktor Korchnoi
at a Simultaneous Exhibition, London, December 2010
Photo by Pawel Grochowalski in Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Fabiano Caruana - Viktor Korchnoi
Tradewise Chess Festival, Round 2
Gibraltar, 26 January 2011

Grand Spanish Royal Game: Clam Opening

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.d3

• The Main Line is 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3.

5...d6 6.c3 Be7

• Another perfectly good approach is to develop the King's Bishop on the flank.
• If 6...g6 7.Nbd2 Bg7 then:
• 8.Nf1 0-0 9.Ng3 b5 10.Bc2 d5 11.0-0 h6 12.h3 Re8 is equal (Khairullin-Landa, Russian Ch HL, Krasnoyarsk, 2007).
• If 8.0-0 0-0 9.Re1 then:
• If 9...b5 10.Bc2 then:
• 10...Bb7 11.Nf1 Re8 12.Ng3 Nb8 13.h3 Nbd7 14.Nh2 d5 15.Ng4 Nxg4 16.hxg4 c5 17.Qf3 d4 draw (Nestorovic-Arngrimsson, 21st Tropht, Belgrade, 2008).
• 10...Re8 11.a4 Bb7 12.b4 Qd7 13.Nb3 Bf8 14.Bg5 Nh5 15.d4 exd4 16.Nfxd4 gives White the advantage in space (Nepomniachtchi-Kamsky, Euro Club Cip, Plovdiv. 2010).
• If 9...Nd7 10.Nf1 Nc5 11.Bc2 Ne6 12.Ng3 then:
• 12...d5 13.Bb3 d4 14.Bxe6 Bxe6 15.c4 h6 16.Bd2 a5 gives Black the advantage in space (Melamed-Zaiatz, Euro ChW, Warsaw, 2001).
• 12...Qf6 13.Ne2 g5 14.Ng3 Nf4 15.Nd2 Ne7 16.Ndf1 Neg6 17.Ne3 gives Black a small advantage in space (Melia-Daulyte, Euro ChW, Dresden, 2007).

7.0-0 0-0 8.Re1 Nd7

• If 8...Bg4 9.Nbd2 Nd7 10.h3 Bh5 11.Nf1 Nc5 12.Bc2 Ne6 13.Ng3 Bxf3 14.Qxf3 g6 15.Bb3 Kg7 16.Ne2 gives White the advantage in space (Nepomniachtchi-Mamedyarov, IT, Dortmund, 2008).
• 12.Bxc6 bxc6 13.Ng3 then:
• If 13...Bg6 14.d4 exd4 15.Nxd4 Qd7 then:
• 16.b4 Ne6 17.Qa4 Nxd4 18.cxd4 Rfd8 is equal (Bartel-Maiorov, Euro Rpd Ch, Warsaw, 2010).
• 16.Ndf5 Rfe8 17.Qg4 Rad8 18.Bg5 Bxg5 19.Qxg5 f6 20.Qg4 Re5 is equal (Livshin-Borisenko, Soviet Ch, Kiev, 1954).
• 13...Bxf3 14.Qxf3 Ne6 15.Be3 c5 16.Rad1 Rb8 17.Re2 Bf6 18.Rc2 gives White a small advantage in mobility (Renet-Hort, TMatch, Uzes, 1990).

9.Be3

• 9.d4 exd4 10.cxd4 Nb6 11.Bc2 Bg4 12.d5 Bxf3 13.Qxf3 Nd4 14.Qd1 Nxc2 15.Qxc2 gives a clear advantage in space (Papadopoulos-Mastrovasilis, Greek Ch, Rhodes, 2008).

9...Nb6

• 9...Bf6 10.Nbd2 Ne7 11.d4 Ng6 12.Nf1 Nf4 13.Ng3 g5 14.Nf5 gives White the advantage in space (Duras-Maroczy, IT, San Sebastién, 1911).

10.Bb3 Kh8 11.Nbd2 (N)

• 11.d4 Bg4 12.h3 Bh5 13.Nbd2 exd4 14.cxd4 d5 is equal (Dagkakis-Kapnisis, Greek Ch, Rhodes, 2008).

11...f5

• White has a small advantage in space.

12.Bxb6 cxb6 13.Bd5 g5

• An alternative for Black is to play on the queenside.
• 13...b5 14.Rc1 Qc7 15.d4 Bd7 16.exf5 gives White a fair advantage in space.

14.h3

• Since Black has made a move on the kingside, a better plan for White is too look for advantage on the opposite wing.
• If 14.Nc4 b5 15.Ne3 f4 16.Nf5 b4 17.Nxe7 Nxe7 is equal.

14...g4

• White continues to enjoy a slight spatial advantage

15.hxg4 fxg4 16.Nh2 Bg5 <16...Bh4 17.Rf1 Ne7 18.Bb3 Ng6 19.Nc4 b5 20.Ne3> 17.Nc4

• 17.Ndf1 h5 18.Qe2 Qf6 19.Ne3 b5 20.Nhf1 continues to give White a slight edge in space.

17...b5 18.Ne3 Bxe3

• 18...h5 19.Qe2 b4 20.Bxc6 bxc6 21.cxb4 Qb6 is equal.

BLACK: Viktor Korchnoi



WHITE: Fabiano Caruana
Position after 18...Bg5e3:N

19.Rxe3

• White still has a slim advantage in space.

19...Qf6 20.Qe1

• If 20.Qd2 Ne7 21.Bb3 then:
• 21...Ng6 22.Rg3 Qf4 23.Qe2 Qg5 24.d4 is equal.
• If 21...Nc6!? 22.f3! b4 23.fxg4 then:
• 23...bxc3 24.bxc3 Qg5 gives White an extra pawn.
• 23...Qg5 24.Rf1 Bd7 25.cxb4 Rxf1+ 26.Nxf1 Nd4 27.Bd5 leaves White two pawns to the good.

20...Ne7 21.f3!?

• White should instead regroup his pieces.
• 21.Bb3 a5 22.Bd1 Qf4 23.d4 Nc6 24.d5 gives White the advantage in space and a slight initiative.

21...Nxd5!

• The game is equal.

22.exd5 Rg8 23.Qg3!?

• White ignores his weak pawn.
• If 23.Rd1! Qf7 24.c4 Bf5 25.fxg4 Bxg4 26.Rd2 Raf8 gives White a small advantage in space.
• If 23.fxg4!? Bxg4 then:
• 24.Qd2 Qf7 25.Qf2 Qxf2+ 26.Kxf2 Bh5 gives Black a slight advantage.
• If 24.Nxg4!? then after 24...Rxg4! 25.Qe2 Rag8 26.Rf1 Qh6 27.Rff3 Rh4 Black's heavy pieces on the h-file give him a very comfortable game.

23...gxf3!

• Black assumes a slight advatage in space and a slight initiative.

24.Qxf3

• 24.Rxf3? Rxg3! 25.Rxf6 Bh3 26.Rh6 Rxg2+ 27.Kh1 Rg3 gives Black an extra pawn and a more aggressive position.

24...Bf5 25.Rf1!?

• White exposes his Queen to a discovered attack and ignores fortifying the hindmost d-pawn.
• 25.Qe2 Raf8 26.Rf3 Qg6 27.Raf1 Rf6 28.Qf2 continues to give Black a slight advantage in space.

BLACK: Viktor Korchnoi



WHITE: Fabiano Caruana
Position after 25.Ra1f1

25...Rg5!

• Black's position is flexible. He can shift the attack from the g-file to the h-file in an instant.

26.Kh1

• It doesn't matter whether White moves his King out of the line of fre, as in the text, or shores up the defense of the g-pawn, Black can quickly shift his attack.
• If 26.Qe2 Rag8! 27.Rf2 Qh6! then:
• 28.Qd2 Rh5 29.Ref3 Qxd2 30.Rxd2 e4 31.Rf4 e3 gives Black a comfortable with a passed pawn and the initiative.
• If 28.Qe1 Rh5 29.g3 Rh3 then:
• If 30.Rg2 Rg5 31.Qd2 Bg6 32.Qf2 Rf5 33.Qe2 Rfh5 gives Black a rerspectable advantage in space.
• If 30.Kh1!? Rg5! (White cannot penetrate into Black's position) 31.Ref3 e4 then:
• If 32.Rf4 e3 33.Qxe3 Rgxg3 then:
• If 34.Qe8+ Rg8 then:
• 35.Qxg8+ Kxg8 36.Rxf5 Rxd3 37.Rg2+ Kh8 38.Kg1 b4 gives Black a material advantage equivalent to two pawns.
• If 35.Qe1? then Black wins after 35...Bxd3! 36.Rd4 Qh5! 37.Rxd3 Rxd3 38.Rg2 Qxd5.
• If 34.Qe2? then Black wins after 34...Rxh2+! 35.Rxh2 Qxf4 36.Qe8+ Rg8.
• If 32.Rxf5? Rxf5 33.dxe4 Rf3!! then:
• 34.Rc2 Rhxg3 35.Rg2 Rxg2 36.Kxg2 Re3 Black is an exchange to the good with the initiative.
• If 34.Qg1 then Black wins when 34...Qe3 35.Rxf3 Qxf3+ 36.Qg2 Qd1+ 37.Qg1 Qe2 forces the fall of yet another White pawn after 38.Qg2 Qe1+ 39.Qg1 Qxe4.
• If 28.Qf3 Rh5! 29.g3 Qg6 30.Qe2 e4 then:
• 31.Kf1 exd3 32.Qf3 Bh3+ 33.Ke1 Rf5 then:
• If 34.Qe4 Re5 then:
• 35.Qxg6 Rxe3+ 36.Kd2 Rxg6 37.Kxe3 Rxg3+ 38.Kd4 Rg2 leaves Black with two extra pawns, one of them passed.
• 35.Qd4 Qxg3 36.Qxe5+ dxe5 37.Rxg3 Rxg3 38.Kd2 e4 gives Black two dangerous passed pawns in the center.
• 34.Re6 Qf7 35.Qxd3 Rxf2 36.Qd4+ Rg7 37.Qxf2 Bxe6 leaves Black up by an exchange.
• If 31.Qd2!? exd3 32.Rf4 Qg5! then:
• 33.Kf1 Bh3+ 34.Kf2 Qg6 35.Ke1 Re5 36.Rff3 Rge8 leaves Black a pawn to the good.
• 33.c4 bxc4 34.Rxf5 Qxg3+!! 35.Rxg3 Rxg3+ 36.Kh1 Rxf5 gives Black a small material advantage and two passed pawns.

26...Qh6! 27.Rf2 Rag8!

• Black is threatening 28...Rxg2 29.Rxg2 Qxg3 30.Qxe3 Nf1 31.Qxd3, winning a pawn.

28.Re1?

• This manner of meetig the threat is inadequate. Removing the Rook from protecting the hindmost d-pawn simply allows Black to apply direct pressure to it.
• If 28.Kg1 b6 29.c4 bxc4 30.dxc4 e4 then:
• 31.Qe2 Bh3 32.Rxh3 Qxh3leaves Black up by the exchange.
• 31.Rxe4?! still gives up the exchange to 31...Bxe4 32.Qxe4 Qg7!.

28...Qg6!

• This tactical shot gives White twofold attack on the g- and the hindmost d-pawn.

29.Re3

• 29.Rd1 would be the better move, but 29...e4 30.Qe3 Rxg2 31.Qd4+ Rg7 still wins for Black.

29...Bxd3 30.Kg1 e4 31.Qh3

BLACK: Viktor Korchnoi



WHITE: Fabiano Caruana
Position after 31.Qf3h3

31...Rxd5

• Black is two pawns to the good.
• Also good is 31...Bc4 when after 32.b3 Bxd5 33.g4 Be6 Black wins easily.

32.Qd7

• White would last longer after 32.g4 Rg5 33.a3 a5 34.Re1 d5 35.Rc1 Qg7.

32...Rg5 33.g4

• Even worse is 33.Qh3 Rh5 34.Rxd3 then:
• 34...exd3 35.Qf3 d5 36.Nf1 Re8 37.Qf4 Qb6 gives Black a material advantage equivalent to four pawns.
• 34...Rxh3 35.Rxh3 Qe6 36.Re3 Qxa2 also leaves Black an equivalent of four pawns to the good.

33...Qh6 34.Rf7

• 34.Rg3 e3 35.Rxe3 Rxg4+ 36.Nxg4 Qxe3 37.Kh2 Qg5 leaves Black two pawns to the good.

34...R5g7 35.Rxg7 Rxg7 36.Qd8+ Rg8 37.Qb6

BLACK: Viktor Korchnoi



WHITE: Fabiano Caruana
Position after 37.Qd4b6

37...Qf6

• Also good is 37...Rf8 38.Kg2 Qf4 39.Qd4+ Kg8 when:
• 40.Qd5+ Rf7 41.Rg3 Bc4 42.Qd1 e3 Black is toast.
• If 40.Kh1 Rf7 41.Qb6 h5 then:
• 42.Re1 hxg4 43.Qe3 Kh7 leaves Black up three pawns.
• If 42.gxh5 Rg7 43.h6 Qxh6 44.Qd8+ Kh7 then:
• If 45.Qf8 then 45...Qxe3 is crushing.
• If 45.Re1 then after 45...Be2 46.Rxe2 Qc1+ Black mates in three.

38.Qxb7 Rf8 39.Qa7

• If 39.Qb6 then Black picks up another pawn with 39...Qf2+ 40.Kh1 Qxb2 41.Qd4+ Kg8.

39...b4 40.Rh3 Qg7 41.Qe3

• If 41.Qxg7+ then Black wins after 41...Kxg7 42.cxb4 d5 43.Kg2 d4.

41...bxc3 42.bxc3 Qxc3 43.Rh5

• 43.Rh6 Qa1+ 44.Kg2 Bf1+ 45.Kh1 Rb8 wins for Black.

43...d5 44.g5 Qa1+ 45.Kg2 Bf1+ 46.Kg3 Qe5+! 0-1

BLACK: Viktor Korchnoi



WHITE: Fabiano Caruana
Final Position after 46...Qa1e5+

• If 47.Kg4 then:
• After 47...d4 48.Qg3 Be2+ 49.Kh3 Qxg3+ 50.Kxg3 Bxh5 at least one of the pawns must queen.
• If 47...Rf4+ then:
• 48.Qxf4 Be2+ 49.Kg3 Qxf4+ 50.Kxf4 Bxh5 51.Nf1 Bg6 wins for Black.
• If 48.Kg3 then after 48...Rf3+ Black mates on the next move.
• Il signore Caruana resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Update (Thursday): Chuckie wins in Gibraltar

Ukrainian grandmaster Vassily Ivanchuk, a colorful legend in his own time, won the 2011 Tradewise Chess Festival earlier today when he defeated former German national champion Daniel Fridman in Gibraltar in the tenth and final round.

Chuckie, as he is affectionately known to his many fans, scored nine points with eight victories and two draws without a loss to completely dominate the event. He took the lead with a sixth round victory over British GM Nigel Short, who finished a clear second with 8½ points.

The prize for best score by a woman was claimed by Georgian grandmaster Nana Dzagnidze for the second time in three years with seven points out of ten. Ms. Dzagnidze won her final game against GM Krishnan Sasikiran of India to edge out her compatriot, international master Salome Melia, on tie break points.