The JR Chess Report (March 5): Koneru wins Doha, will face Hou for women's title

[Jack Rabbit]

Koneru comes from behind to win in Doha



Hou Yifan
World Women's Champion awaits Challenger
Photo by karpidis modified from flickr in Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Indian grandmaster Koneru Humpy, the world's second-ranked woman and one of only three women to break the 2600 rating barrier, came from behind to win the sixth and final leg of the 2009/10 FIDE Women's Grand Prix in Doha, the capital city of the Gulf state of Qatar.

By winning he game against former wold women's champion Zhu Chen today, Ms. Koneru tied grandmaster Elina Danielian, who had been leading since the third round. Both ladies scored 8 points in 11 rounds. However, Ms. Koneru had the superior tie break score and takes first place honors.

Ms. Koneru not only won the tournament in Doha, but won the right to face world women's champion Hou Yifan of China in a title match later this year. Ms. Koneru finishes second in the overall Grand Prix (Ms. Hou finished first, but her performance was made moot when she won the championship in December) and surpassed Georgian grandmaster Nana Dzagnidze, who began the Doha leg in second place but suffered from an inconsistant performance in Doha and finished at 50 with 5½ points. out of 11 rounds

Ms. Koneru has played two mini-matches against Ms. Hou, both in the semi-final round of the FIDE Knock-Out tournament that was used to name the world women's champion every other year. Ms. Koneru lost to Ms. Hou in Nalchik, Russia, in 2008 and again last December in Antakya, Turkey. Ms. Hou won both matches.


Polish GM comes from behind to win in Cappelle-la-Grande

Polish granmaster Grzegorz Gajewski won the 27th International Open in Cappelle-la-Grande, France, today with 7½ points out of a possible nine when he defeated grandmaster Alojzije Jankovic of Croatia in the ninth and final round.

Gajewski, Jankovic and Alexander Ipatov, a strong international master from Spain, began the day tied for first with 6½ point each. Ipatov drew against Indian grandmaster Sasikiran Krishnan, the top seed in Cappelle-la-Grande to secure a second place tie with Ukrainian GM Yuriy Vovk, who finished first at Cappelle-la-Grande in 2009.

Jankovic had the lead most of the way in the Cappelle-la-Grande after winning his first five games in a row. He then lost first place to Mexican GM Manuel León Hoyos in Round 6. El señor León lost in the seventh Round to Ipatov.

Over 500 players participated in Cappelle-la-Grande this year.


THIS WEEK

Reykjavik Open 9-16 March.


COMING ATTRACTIONS

European Championships, general group, Aix-les-Bains, France 21 March-3 April. The women's event will be played later this year
Dubai Open 9-19 April.
Asian Championships, Mashad, Iran 1-11 May.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. This week's games

Some games will be posted tonight, others tomorrow . . .

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. Women's Grand Prix, Sixth and Final Leg, Doha

Doha, the capial city of Qatar
Photo by Kamgxi_emperor6868 in Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Koneru - Danielian, Round 8

Koneru Humpy defeated tournament leader Elina Danielian in Round 8 of 11



Koneru Humpy
Photo by Stefan64 in Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Koneru Humpy - Elina Danielian
Women's Grand Prix, Sixth Leg, Round8
Doha, 2 March 2011

Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit: Miscellaneous Variations

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 Nf6 4.Nf3

• Instead of the text move, Black usually plays the Bishop to either g4 or f5. See Jakovenko-Vitiugov, Russian Ch, Moscow, 2009.

4...e6 5.Nbd2

• 5.Nc3 is a standard Semi-Slav Queen's Gmabit and can now transpose into any of the species associated with that genus.

5...c5 6.b3 Nc6 7.Bb2 a6 (N)

• If 7...cxd4 8.exd4 Be7 9.Bd3 then:
• If 9...0-0 10.0-0 b6 11.Rc1 Bb7 then:
• If 12.Qe2 Rc8 13.Rfd1 Re8 then:
• 14.Nf1 Bf8 15.Ne5 g6 16.Ne3 Bg7 17.cxd5 Nxd5 18.Bb5 gives White a small advantage in space (Chekhov-Beshukov, Russian ChT, Orel, 1997).
• 14.Ne5 dxc4 15.Ndxc4 Nb4 16.Bb1 Nbd5 17.Qf3 Rf8 is equal (Kempinski-Korobov, Euro Ch Rpd, Warsaw, 2010).
• 12.Ne5 dxc4 13.Nxc6 Bxc6 14.bxc4 Rc8 draw (Bellon-Vera, Op, Melaga, 2001).
• 12.Re1 Rc8 13.a3 Re8 14.Ne5 dxc4 15.Nxc6 Bxc6 16.bxc4 Qd7 is equal (San Segundo-Lim Yee Weng, Ol, Torino, 2006).
• 9...dxc4 10.bxc4 Nxd4 11.Nxd4 e5 12.Qa4+ Bd7 13.Nb5 a6 14.Qb3 is equal (Pachman-Botvinnik, Ol, Munich, 1958).

8.a3

• The game is equal.

8...dxc4 9.bxc4

• White takes a slight advantage in space, but she is saddled with hanging pawns.
• 9.dxc5 cxb3 10.Nxb3 Bd7 11.Rb1 Na5! remains equal.

9...Be7 10.Bd3

• White maintains a slight advantage.
• 10.Rb1 Qc7 11.Qc2 0-0 12.Bd3 also maintains White's slim edge.

10...0-0 11.0-0 b6 12.Qe2 Bb7 13.Rfd1 cxd4

• 13...Qc7!? 14.dxc5! bxc5 15.h3 Rfd8 is equal.

14.exd4 Re8

• 14...Rc8 15.Rac1 g6 16.d5 exd5 17.cxd5 Nxd5 18.Bxa6 maintains White's slim advantage.

15.Nf1

• With both armies for the most part developed, White has more space and more pawn weaknesses.
• If 15.Ne4 then:
• If 15...Na5 16.Nxf6+ Bxf6 17.Ne5 Qc7 then:
• If 18.Bc3 Bxe5 19.Qxe5 Qxe5 20.dxe5 Nxc4 21.Bxc4 Rac8 then:
• 22.Bxa6 Bxa6 23.Bb4 is equal.
• 22.Rd4 b5 23.Rb1 Ba8 24.Bxb5 axb5 25.Bb4 is equal.
• 18.Ng4 Bg5 19.Qe5 Qxe5 20.Nxe5 Nb3 21.Rab1 Nd2 is equal.
• 15...h6 16.Nxf6+ Bxf6 17.Qe4 g6 18.Qf4 Bg7 19.Rab1 gives White a fair advantage in space.

15...Bf8 16.Ne3 Na5!?

• Black can neither maintain her Knight at this position nor move it forward.
• Better is 16...Rc8 17.Rac1 h6 18.h3 Na5 19.a4 Nh5 20.g3 with equality.

BLACK: Elina Danielian



WHITE: Koneru Humpy
Position after 16... Nc6a5

17.Ne5!?

• White fails to exploit Black's inaccuracy.
• If 17.Bc3! (attacking the misplaced Knight) 17...b5 18.c5 Nc6 19.Rab1 Rb8 20.a4 gives White a solid advantage in space.

17...g6!?

• Black weakens the dark squares around her King.
• If 17...Qc7 18.Rab1 then:
• 18...Rac8 19.Bc3 Nc6 20.Nxc6 Bxc6 21.Qc2 maintains White's small advantage.
• If 18...Nc6 19.Qc2 then:
• 19...g6 20.N5g4 Nxg4 21.Nxg4 Bg7 22.d5 gives White more space and a powerful initiative.
• If 19...h6 20.Nxf7 Qxf7 21.d5 then:
• 21...Qc7 22.dxc6 Bxc6 23.Bxf6 gxf6 24.Ng4 gives White the advantage in space.
• If 21...exd5 then:
• 22.Bg6 Qd7 23.Bxe8 Nxe8 24.Nxd5 Rd8 25.Nf6+ gives White a strong initiative.
• 22.cxd5? Ne5! 23.Bxe5 Rxe5 24.Bg6 Qd7 25.Nc4 Rg5 gives Black an extra piece.

18.Rab1!?

• White fails to improve her position after Black's inaccuracy.
• If 18.Bc3! Nc6 19.Qb2 Nxe5 20.dxe5 Nd7 21.Ng4 gives White the advantage in space.

18...Bg7?!

• Black's Bishop should wait while the Knight at a5 remains poorly placed.
• Better is 18...Nc6 19.Nf3 Rc8 20.d5 exd5 21.Bxf6 Qxf6 22.Rxb6.

19.Bc3!

• White reminds Black that she needs to redeply the Bishop. White now has a fair advantage in space.

19...Nc6 20.f4

• White maintains her advantage in space.
• Also good is 20.Nf3 Rc8 21.Qb2 Nd7 22.h3 Ncb8 23.Nd2.

20...Nh5 21.Qf2 Qc7 22.Be2?!

• White should press her advantage on the queenside.
• If 22.c5 b5 23.a4 f6 then:
• 24.Nxc6! Bxc6 25.axb5 axb5 26.Bxb5 Bxb5 27.Rxb5 gives White more space and a passed pawn.
• If 24.Nxg6?! hxg6 25.Bxg6 then:
• If 25...Nxf4!! 26.Bxe8 Rxe8 then:
• 27.axb5 axb5 28.Rf1 Nxd4 29.Bxd4 e5 is equal.
• If 27.Rf1 then:
• 27...Nxd4 28.Bxd4 e5 is equal.
• 27...e5 28.dxe5 fxe5 29.axb5 axb5 30.Qa2+ is equal.
• If 25...Red8? then White wins after 26.Bxh5! f5 27.Qa2 Kh8 28.Qxe6 b4 29.Bb2.

BLACK: Elina Danielian



WHITE: Koneru Humpy
Position after 22. Bd3e2

22...Nf6!

• The game is equal.

23.Bf3 Nxe5 24.fxe5

• If 24.Bxb7!? Qxb7! 25.fxe5 Ne4 gives Black a slight advantage in space.

24...Ne4

• The game remains equal.
• If 24...Bxf3?! 25.Qxf3 Nd7 then:
• 26.Rf1 f5 27.exf6 Nxf6 28.c5 gives White a considerable advantage in space and assures her of a passed pawn since after 28...bxc5? 29.Rb7 Qd8 30.dxc5 she wins.
• If 26.a4 Rac8 27.a5 b5 28.Rb3 then:
• 28...Nb8 29.cxb5 axb5 30.Be1 Qd7 31.Qe4 Na6 32.Qd3 gives White the initiative and a firm advantage in space.
• 28...bxc4?! 29.Rb7! Qd8 30.Rf1 Rf8 31.Bb4 f5 32.Bxf8 wins gthe exchange.

25.Bxe4 Bxe4 26.Rbc1 h5

• If 26...Rac8 27.c5 bxc5 28.Bb4 Qb7 29.Bxc5 remains equal.

27.Bb4

• If 27.Qh4 then:
• 27...Bb7 28.Bb4 Qc6 29.d5 exd5 30.cxd5 remains equal.
• If 27...Qb7 28.d5 then:
• 28...Bf5?! 29.d6 Qd7 30.Bd4 Rab8 31.Rc3 gives White a comfortable advantage in space.
• If 28...exd5 then White wins after 29.cxd5 Bxd5 30.Nxd5 Rac8 31.Qe4.

27...Bh6 28.Rc3

• If 28.Bd6 Qd7 29.Re1 Qa4 30.c5 bxc5 31.dxc5 Bc6 remains equal.

28...Qd8!?

• Black brings in a jack hammer to remove a nail. It is more flexible to defend the d6 square with a Rook.
• 28...Rad8! 29.Rf1 Kh8 30.Rb3 Rd7 remains equal.

29.Nf1!?

• Black last mistake cries out for punishment. White should make the move that Black thought she had prevented.
• 29.Bd6! Qd7 30.Nf1 Qa4 31.Re1 Bf5 32.Ng3 gives White a small advantage owing greatly to the Bishop at the d6 outpost.

29...b5?!

• Black further weakens her hold on the queenside dark squares.
• If 29...Rc8 30.Ng3 Bb7 31.Nxh5 gxh5 then:
• 32.Rg3+ Kh8 33.Bd2 h4 34.Rg4 Rg8 is equal.
• If 32.Rh3? then after 32...Rxc4! gives Black a piece against two pawns.

BLACK: Elina Danielian



WHITE: Koneru Humpy
Position after 29...b6b5

30.Ng3!

• White has the advantage in space and the initiative.

30...Bf5 31.cxb5 axb5 32.d5 h4 33.Nxf5 exf5 34.Qd4 Bg7

• If 34...Bf8 35.Bxf8 then:
• 35...Rxf8 36.d6 Qg5 37.h3 Rac8 38.Rdd3 Ra8 39.d7 gives White a huge advantage, but pushing the pawn that last step will be difficult.
• 35...Kxf8? 36.e6! f6 37.Qxh4 Kg7 38.d6 Ra4 39.Qh3 gives White an extra pawn and more active pieces.

35.Re3?!

• White misses an opportunity to put Black up against the ropes.
• 35.Re1! Rc8 36.d6 Rxc3 37.Bxc3 h3 38.d7 puts White on the brink of winning.

35...Rc8!

• Black has several moves available to cut White's advantage to a moe manageable level.

36.d6!

• White has only a small advantage in space, but pushing a passed pawn usually increases its value.

36...Rc4?!

• Black needed to go with her best move here.
• If 36...Qd7! (necessary to block the pawn from advancing any further and to cover Black's second rank) then 37.Rde1 Rc4 38.Qd5 Kh7 39.Rc3 gives White a good advantage, but a win is still some ways off.

37.Qa7!

• Black fails to protect her second rank, and White wastes no time invading.

37...Qg5 38.Re2!

• White covers her own second rank.
• 38.d7?! Rd8! 39.Ree1 Rc2 (attacking the critical g2 pawn, threatening mate; this is why covering the second rank is important) 40.Qb7 is a level game.

38...Bxe5?

• In time trouble, Black may have thought she could win material.
• If 38...Qg4! 39.Red2 Bxe5 40.d7 Rd8 41.Qe3 Re4 42.Qb6 gives White a strong position, but Black is far from lost.

BLACK: Elina Danielian



WHITE: Koneru Humpy
Position after 38...Bg7e5:p

39.Rxe5!!

• White sacrifices the exchange to get a won game.

39...Rxe5 40.d7!

• It's all over now, Baby Blue.

40...Rd5 41.Qa8+ Kh7 42.Qxd5! 1-0

• White remains a piece to the good.
• Ms. Danielian resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Danielian - Fierro Baquero, Round 9

Elina Danielian
Photo by Frank Hoppe in Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)


Elina Danielian - Martha Fierro Baquero
Women's Grand Prix, Sixth Leg, Round 9
Doha, 3 March 2011

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

1.Nf3 g6 2.g3 Bg7 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.0-0 0-0 5.d4 d6 6.c4 c6 7.Nc3 Qa5

• For a survey of this opening, see Maiorov=B. Socko, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010.

8.h3 e5 9.e4 Nbd7

• If 9...exd4 10.Nxd4 Nbd7 then:
• If 11.Nde2 then:
• If 11...Qc7 12.Be3 Re8 13.Qc2 b6 14.Rad1 Ba6 15.b3 gives White a small advantage in space (Stohl-Banikas, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).
• 11...Re8 12.Rb1 Qc7 13.Bf4 Ne5 14.b3 Nh5 15.Be3 f5 16.Nd4 fxe4 17.Nxe4 is equal (Akopian-Bosboom, IT, Tilburg, 1992).
• 11.Re1 Ne5 12.Bf1 Re8 transposes into the notes for Black's 12th move.

10.Re1

• If 10.Be3 then:
• If 10...exd4 then:
• If 11.Nxd4 Ne5 12.Nb3 then:
• 12...Qc7 13.Nd2 Be6 14.Qe2 c5 15.f4 Nc6 16.f5 Bd7 17.g4 h6 18.Nb5 gives White a small advantage in space (Vaganian-V. Georgiev, Bundesliga 9900, Germany, 2000).
• 12...Qa6 13.c5 dxc5 14.f4 Nd3 15.Nxc5 Nxc5 16.Bxc5 gives Black a small advantage in space and the initiative (Horvath-Tartar Kis, Op, Harkany, 2000).
• 11.Bxd4 Re8 12.Nd2 Nc5 13.Rb1 Ne6 14.Be3 Nd7 is equal (Grachev-Jovanovic, Croatian Cup, Sibenik, 2009).
• If 10...Nb6 then:
• If 11.Qd3 exd4 12.Nxd4 Qa6 13.b3 d5 14.exd5 Nbxd5 15.Bd2 then:
• 15...Nxc3 16.Bxc3 Nd5 17.Bb2 draw (Skatchkov-Vorobiov, Op, Cappelle-la-Grande, 2006).
• 15...Rd8 16.Qf3 Ne7 17.Bg5 Nf5 18.Nde2 Qa5 19.Ne4 Nxe4 20.Bxd8 Qxd8 21.Qxe4 Bxa1 22.Rxa1 gives White a small advantage in space (Gómez Esteban-Paunovic, Op, Elgoibar, 2002).
• 11.Nd2 exd4 12.Bxd4 Be6 13.Qf3 Nbd7 14.Qe2 Rfe8 15.Rfd1 a6 16.a4 c5 is equal (Stohl-Vokac, Op, Prague, 1992).

10...exd4 11.Nxd4 Ne5

• 11...Re8 12.Rb1 Qc7 13.Bf4 Ne5 14.b3 Nh5 15.Be3 f5 16.Rf1 transposes into Akopian-Bosboom in the notes to Black's ninth move.

12.Bf1 Be6

• If 12...Re8 then:
• If 13.Be3 Be6 14.Nxe6 Rxe6 15.Kg2 Rae8 then:
• 16.Rb1 a6 17.b4 Qc7 18.Rc1 Qb8 19.c5 Rd8 20.cxd6 Rexd6 (Ivanchuk-Radjabov, Amber Rapid, Nice, 2009).
• 16.Qd2 Ned7 17.f3 Nc5 18.Rab1 Qb4 19.Ne2 a5 20.Nf4 gives Whit the initiative (Maherramzade-Magerramov, Op, Abu Dhabi, 2001).
• If 13.Rb1 Be6 14.b4 Qc7 15.f4 Ned7 16.Be3 a5 then:
• 17.a3 axb4 18.axb4 h5 19.Qc2 h4 20.gxh4 gives White an extra pawn, but not a very healthy one (Gavrikov-Cramling, Keres Mem Rpd, Tallinn, 1997).
• 17.b5 Nc5 18.Nxe6 Nxe6 19.Qf3 Nd7 20.Bf2 Nec5 draw (Smyslov-Stein, IT, Moscow, 1967).

13.Nxe6 fxe6 14.Kg2 Rad8 15.Be3

• If 15.Qa4 Qb6 16.f4 Nf7 17.Qb3 Qc7 then:
• 18.Be2 e5 19.Bf3 Kh8 20.Be3 is equal (Fridman-Hernandez, Ol, Calvia, 2004).
• 18.Be3 b6 19.Rad1 Kh8 20.g4 h6 21.c5 bxc5 gives Black a small advantage in space(Drasko-Paunovic, Yugoslav ChT, Budva, 2002).

15...c5 16.Qb3

• 16.f4 Nc6 17.Bd3 Kh8 18.Qa4 Qb6 19.Qb3 is equal (Damljanovic-V. Georgiev, Op, Skopje, 2002).

16...Rd7 (N)

• Black's novelty seems to be an improvement over the previous game from this position.
• 16...Qc7 17.Rad1 a6 18.Qc2 Nc6 19.Ne2 Rf7 20.Kg1 Rdf8 21.Bg2 Ne8 22.Rf1 Qb6 23.b3 is equal (Tarakcija-Ljubicic, Op, Bosnjaci, 2004).

17.Rad1

• White has a small advantage in space.

17...a6 18.Be2 Qb4?!

• Exchanging Queens is not a good idea for Black, whose Queen is doing more work than White's
• If 18...Nc6 19.f4 e5 20.fxe5 Nxe5 21.Rf1 Qc7 continues to give White a slight advantage.

19.f4!

• White seizes the initiaitve.

19...Nc6?!

• Black apparently underestimated the strength of White's reply.
• If 19...Qxb3 20.axb3 Nc6 21.e5 dxe5 22.fxe5 Nxe5 23.Na4 gives Black an extra pawn, but White's fewer "pawn islands" (which make for weak pawns) give her a fine advantage.

BLACK: Martha Fierro Baquero



WHITE: Elina Danielian
Position after 19...Ne5c6

20.Qxb4!!

• White commits to a pawn sacrifice.
• 20.e5 dxe5 21.fxe5 Nxe5 22.Na4 then:
• 22...Rxd1 23.Rxd1 Qxb3 24.axb3 gives White a noticeable advantage in space.
• 22...Qxb3 23.axb3 Ne4 24.Rxd7 Nxd7 25.Bd3 gives White the initiative.

20...cxb4 21.Na4 Nxe4 22.Bg4!

• Black has an extra pawn; however, White has stronger pawns and more space.

22...Re8

• Black cannot advance her e-pawn and she cannot put her Rooks on dark squares.

23.Bb6 h5 24.Rxe4!

• White has a significant advantage in space, healthier pawns and more activity for his pieces.
• Also good is 24.Bxh5 gxh5 25.Rxe4 Ree7 26.Re2 Bf8 27.Red2.

24...hxg4

BLACK: Martha Fierro Baquero



WHITE: Elina Danielian
Position after 24...hg4:B

25.hxg4

• The reflixive recapture costs White part of her advantage.
• Much better is 25.Nc5! when:
• If 25...Rde7 26.Rxd6 then:
• If 26...e5 27.hxg4 exf4 28.Rxe7 Rxe7 29.gxf4 then:
• 29...Kf7 30.Nxb7 Rxb7 31.Rxc6 Bxb2 32.Ba5 leaves White a pawn to the good.
• 29...Re2+ 30.Kf3 Rxb2 31.Nxb7 Rxa2 32.Rxc6 leaves White a piece to the good.
• 26...gxh3+ 27.Kxh3 Bxb2 28.Nxb7 Rxb7 29.Rxc6 continues to give White an excellent game.
• If 25...gxh3+ 26.Kxh3 then:
• 26...Rde7 27.Rxd6 Bxb2 28.Nxb7 Rxb7 29.Rxc6 maintains White's strong advantage.
• 26...Rdd8? 27.Rxe6! Rxe6 28.Nxe6 Re8 29.Rxd6 Bxb2 30.Nc5 makes easy prey of Black's pawns.

25...Kf7!?

• This isn't the best move top take advantage of White's inaccuracy.
• If 25...Ree7 26.Re2 d5 27.Red2 then:
• If 27...Re8 28.f5 gxf5 29.gxf5 exf5 30.cxd5 gives White a passed pawn, but one with a tenuous existence.
• 27...d4!? 28.Nc5! Rd6 29.Nd3 Re8 30.Re1 Bh8 31.Bc5! wins a pawn for White.

26.b3

• If 26.Nc5 d5 27.Nxd7 dxe4 28.Nc5 then:
• 28...Kg8 29.Nxb7 Rb8 30.Rd7 Bxb2 31.Be3 clearly gives Black greater piece activity.
• 28...Bxb2 29.Nxe4 Kg7 30.Bc5 Rd8 31.Rxd8 Nxd8 32.Bxb4 wins a pawn for White.

26...Ree7

• If 26...Ke7 then:
• 27.Re2 g5 28.f5 Be5 29.Be3 Rg8 30.Nb6 gives White the advantage in space and the initiative.
• If 27.g5!? Rh8 28.g4 then:
• 28...e5 29.f5 Bf8 30.Bg1 Ke8 31.Nb6 gives White the advantage in space.
• If 28...Rh4!? then:
• 29.Bf2 Rh8 30.c5 d5 31.Nb6 gives WHite the advantage in space and a slight initiative.
• 29.Kg3 Rh8 30.Bf2 Rdd8 31.Rde1 gives White the advantage in space and the initiative against Black's e-pawn.

27.Re2 e5 28.Red2 Nd4?!

• Shielding the d-pawn from the Rooks has little effect.
• If 28...exf4 29.gxf4 then:
• If 29...Bc3 30.Rxd6 Rxd6 31.Rxd6 then:
• 31...Re4 32.Nc5 Rxf4 33.Nxb7 Rxg4+ 34.Kh3 Ne5 35.Nd8+ gives White more piece activity and, because her passed pawn is stronger, more freedom.
• 31...g5 32.fxg5 Be5 33.Rd5 Kg6 34.Be3 gives White two extra pawns.
• 29...Re8 30.Rxd6 Rxd6 31.Rxd6 Re2+ 32.Kf3 Rxa2 33.Rd7+ should result in White winning a pawn.

29.fxe5!?

• Whit the pawns shielded, there are two ways for White to proceed: either move the Rooks to a more accessible target or exchange the Knight, creating irreparable weaknesses in Black's center.
• White wins quickly after 29.Rf2! when:
• If 29...Ke8 then after 30.Bxd4 exd4 31.Nb6 Rd8 32.Nd5 Red7 33.Re2+ Black's pawns fall like autumn leaves.
• If 29...Kg8? then White wins after 30.Bxd4 exd4 31.Rxd4 Bxd4 32.Rd2.
• 29.Bxd4 exd4 30.Nb6 Re8 31.Nxd7 a5 32.Kf2 leaves White a whole Rook to the good.

29...dxe5

• Black will be able to fight on a little bit longer.

30.Bc5 Re8 31.Bxb4 b5 32.Nc5 Ra7

• Black is one false move from losing.
• If 32...Rc7? then White wins after 33.Nxa6 Rc6 34.cxb5.

33.Ne4 Kg8 34.Bd6 bxc4 35.bxc4 Rb7

• 35...Rc8 36.c5 Rb7 37.Re1 Rb4 38.Rf2 gives White more space and an extra pawn.

BLACK: Martha Fierro Baquero



WHITE: Elina Danielian
Position after 35...Ra7b7

36.Rf1

• Also good is 36.Rf2 Rc8 37.c5 Nc6 38.Re1 Re8 39.g5.

36...Rc8?

• If 36...Nc6 then 37.g5 Na5 38.c5 Nc4 39.Re2 continues to give White excellent (indeed, almost certain) winning chances as Black will have great difficulty doubling her Rooks on the b-file.

37.c5

• White is now winning, she just has to find the winning move. The playe are approaching the time check, which explains the slightly underpar play.
• If 37.Nf6+! Bxf6 38.Rxf6 Nc6 39.Rxg6+ Kh7 40.Re6 wins.

37...Rf7

• If 37...Nc6 then White wins after 38.Rdf2 Kh8 39.g5 Kg8 40.Nf6+ .

38.Rxf7

• White wins after 38.Rb2! Rxf1 39.Kxf1 Nc6 40.Ke2 Nd8 41.Kd3 .

38...Kxf7 39.Rb2 Ke6 40.Rb7 Bf6

• If 40...Bh8 41.Re7+ Kd5 42.Nc3+ Kc4 43.Na4 then:
• If 43...Rg8 44.Nb6+ Kd3 (44...Kb5 45.a4+ Ka5) 45.Bxe5 Bxe5 46.Rxe5 then:
• 46...g5 47.Nd7 Rg7 48.Rd5 Kc4 49.Rd6 Nb5 50.Ne5+ White wins.
• 46...Rg7 47.g5 Rb7 48.Nd5 Rb2+ 49.Kh3 Kc4 50.Nf4 White wins.
• 43...Kd3 44.Nb6 Rd8 45.Bc7 Rg8 46.Bxe5 is an elaborate transposition.

41.g5?!

• Black now has extremely remote drawing chnaces.
• Better is 41.Ra7 Bh8 42.Rxa6 Kd5 43.Nc3+ Kc4 44.Nd1 gives White more space and two extra pawns.

41...Bd8 42.g4 Kd5 43.Nf6+ Ke6?

• The King goes the wrong direction and loses the game.
• 43...Kc6 44.Ra7 Ne6 45.Rxa6+ Kb5 46.Ra7 leaves White with two extra pawns, both passed, but Black can still blockade and eliminate them.

BLACK: Martha Fierro Baquero



WHITE: Elina Danielian
Position after 43... Kd5e6

44.Rg7!

• White wins a second pawn.

44...Nb5

• 44...Bxf6 45.Rxg6 e4 46.Rxf6+ Kd5 47.g6 Rg8 48.Kf2 is an easy win for White.

45.Rxg6 Nxd6 46.Nh7+ Kd5

• If 46...Ke7 then after 47.Rxd6 Rxc5 48.g6 Rc4 49.g5 Rc8 50.Rf6 the foremost g-pawn cannot be stopped.

47.Rxd6+ Kxc5 48.Rd1 Rb8 49.g6!

• It will cost Black material to stop the pawn.

49...Kc6 50.g7 Be7 51.Nf8!! 1-0

• If 51...Bxf8 then 52.g8Q is simple enough.
• If 51...Rxf8 then White wins the exchange with 52.gxf8Q Bxf8 53.Kg3.
• La señorita Fierro resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Tefanova -Dzagnidze, Round 7

Nana Dzagnidze
Photo by Frank Hoppe in Wikimedia Commons (Public Doamin)


Antoaneta Stefanova - Nana Dzagnidze
Women's Grand Prix, Sixth Leg, Round 7
Doha, 1 March 2011

English Game: Agincourt Defense

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.b3!?

• Best is 4.d4, transposing into an Orthodox QG Catatan.

4...d4 5.e3

• This is the Agincourt Defense. It is not terribly theoretical. See Ivanchuk-Alekseev, Grand Prix, Jermuk, 2009.

5...Nc6 6.Bg2 (N)

• 6.exd4 Nxd4 7.Bb2 Bc5 8.Bg2 Nxf3+ 9.Qxf3 Bd4 10.Bxd4 Qxd4 11.Qc3 Qxc3 12.Nxc3 gives White a small advantage in space (I. Rabinovich-Teybal, IT, Baden-Baden, 1925).

6...e5

• Black has the advantage in space.

7.0-0 Bg4!?

• Black disdains the opportunity to press her opponent with an advanced pawn duo.
• If 7...e4 8.Ng5 Bg4 9.f3 then:
• If 9...Bh5! then:
• 10.Qc2 Nb4 11.Qb2 Bc5 12.Nxe4 Nxe4 13.fxe4 Nd3! gives Black a commanding advantage while White is still struggling to just begin developing her queenside.
• 10.Bb2 Bc5 11.Qc1 Nb4 12.Nxe4 Nxe4 13.fxe4 Nd3! gives Black a commanding advantage in space, but her minor pieces are vulnerable to elementary tactics.
• 9...exf3!? 10.Bxf3 Bxf3 11.Qxf3 Qd7 12.Ne4 Be7 gives Black more freedom; White's queenside will not be easy to develop effectively.

8.h3

• The game is equal.

8...Bh5 9.g4 Bg6 10.exd4 e4 11.Nh4!?

• White should use tactical threats to hold Black's pawn in place.
• If 11.Re1! Be7 12.g5 exf3 13.gxf6 fxg2 14.d5 gives White a small advantage in space.

11...Qxd4!

• Black has a slight advantage in space.

12.Nc3 0-0-0 13.Nxg6?!

• White helps Black develop her pieces.
• If 13.g5 Nh5 14.Rb1 Kb8 15.Bb2 Qd3 16.Re1 Nf4 continues to gives Black a small advantage in space.

13...hxg6 14.g5 Nh5!

• Black takes a fair advantage in space.
• Also good is 14...Nh7! 15.Qg4+ Kb8 16.Bxe4 Ne5 17.Qg3 Be7.

15.Rb1 Kb8 16.Bb2 Nf4 17.Nd5?!

• This has disastrous consequences. White thought she could play on the unprotected Queen thus, but Black is the one playing White.
• If 17.Qg4 Nxg2 then:
• 18.Kxg2 Ne5 19.Qxe4 Qd7 20.Rh1 Nd3 gives White chances to fight on, but Black for the moment enjoys a strong initiative.
• If 18.Nxe4?! then after 18...Rh4! 19.Bxd4 Rxg4!! 20.Bxa7+ Kxa7 21.hxg4 Nf4 White cannot prevent the fall of the d-pawn to the Black Rook.

BLACK: Nana Dzagnidze



WHITE: Antoaneta Stefanova
Position after

17...Rxd5!!

• Most commentators declare the game won here, although I disagree based on the analysis of my two silicon sidekicks. While the commewntators are right for all intents and purposes, we are adopting a definition of winning this week where one's opponent (the loser) faces either inevitable mate or a serious material disadvantage.

18.Bxd4?

• White would have lasted longer if she had destained the Queen.
• If 18.cxd5 then after 18...Qxd5 19.Qg4 Nxg2 20.Kxg2 e3+ 21.Qf3 Qxg5+ White's position, while not at all good, is still not lost.

18...Rxg5! 0-1

• If 19.Re1 then after 19...Rxg2+ 20.Kf1 Rxh3 Black soon delivers mate.
• Former world women's champion Stefanova resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. 27th International Open, Cappelle-la-Grande

Dunkerque, about 30 km from Cappelle-la-Grande
Photo by B. Navez in Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Calistri - Gajewski, Round 4

Grzegorz Gajewski
Photo by Tomasz Tokarski in Wikipedia (Public Domain)


Tristan Calistri - Grzegorz Gajewski
27th International Open, Round 4
Cappelle-la-Grande, 28 February 2011

Open Sicilian Game: Kan Defense (Polugaevsky Opening)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Bd3

• This is the Polugaevsky Opening. For this and other variations of the Kan Defense, see Munguntuul-Koneru, Grand Prix W, Rd 2, Nalchik, 2010.

5...Bc5 6.Nb3 Be7 7.Qg4 g6 8.Qe2 d6 9.0-0

• For more on the Polugaevsky Opening to the Kan Defense, see the green notes to White's fifth move in Mungunthuul-Koneru, cited and linked above.

9...Nc6

• 9...Nd7 10.Nc3 Qc7 11.Bd2 b6 12.Rae1 Bb7 13.Kh1 h5 14.Nd4 Ngf6 15.h3 h4 16.Nf3 gives White a fair advantage in space (Korneev-Epishin, Op, Reyjavik, 2004).

10.a4 Ne5 11.Na3

• If 11.a5 Nf6 12.Be3 0-0 13.Nc3 Nxd3 14.cxd3 e5 15.Bb6 Qe8 16.d4 gives White an impressive advantage in space (Golubev-Epishin, Op, Leuven, 2003).

11...Nf6 12.Bh6 Nfg4 13.Bd2

• If 13.Bg7 Rg8 14.Bxe5 Nxe5 15.f4 Nxd3 16.Qxd3 Bd7 17.Nc4 gives White a slight advantage in space (Hou Yifan-Javakhisvili, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2010).

13...0-0

• The game is equal.

14.a5 d5!?

• White weakens his control of the dark squares.
• 14...Bd7 15.Bc3 Rb8 16.Rfd1 Qc7 17.f3 Nf6 remains equal.

15.f4!?

• This move has the right idea behind it, but it isn't quite good enough.
• Better is 15.Bc3! (after one's opponent has weakened himself on the dark squares, one should activate one's dark-bound Bishop) 15...Nxd3 16.cxd3 b5 17.Nc2 Nf6 18.Rac1 when White gets a small advantage in space.

15...Nxd3 16.cxd3 e5

• The game remains equal.
• If 16...f5?! 17.e5! Bd7 18.Nc2 Bb5 19.Nbd4 then:
• 19...Bd7 20.Rfc1 Rc8 21.Nf3 Rc7 22.Qe1 gives White a fair advantage in space.
• 19...Qd7 20.Bb4 Bxb4 21.Nxb4 Rfc8 22.h3 gives White the advantage in space.

17.h3 Nf6?!

• 17...dxe4 18.hxg4 exd3 19.Qe3 exf4 20.Qxf4 Qd5 remains equal.

18.fxe5! Nh5 19.exd5 Qxd5 20.Nc4 Be6?!

• 20...Rd8! 21.Qf2 Be6 22.Nc1 Qb5 23.g4 Ng7 remains equal.

21.Qf3 Rad8 22.Nc1??

• White throws away more than his advantage.
• 22.Qxd5 Bxd5 23.Bh6 Ng7 24.Rae1 f6 25.exf6 Bxf6 gives White an extra pawn and more space.

@BLACK: Grzegorz Gajewski



WHITE: Tristan Calistri
Position after 22.Nb3c1

22...Qxf3!! 0-1

• Black seizes his chance after working out the winning line sufficiently.
• If 23.gxf3 Bxc4 then:
• If 24.Bh6 then:
• If 24...Bxd3 25.Bxf8 Kxf8 26.Nxd3 Rxd3 27.Rac1 Bg5 then:
• If 28.Rc8+ Ke7 29.Kg2 Rd2+ then:
• 30.Rf2 Nf4+ 31.Kg3 Bh4+ 32.Kxh4 Rxf2 leaves Black up by a piece.
• If 30.Kg1 Be3+ then:
• 31.Rf2 Bxf2+ leaves White the equivalent of two minor pieces to the good.
• 31.Kh1 then 31...Ng3#.
• 28.Rc2 Bf4 29.Re1 Rxf3 30.h4 Rh3 Black will soon be the equivalent of a minor piece to the good.
• If 24...Bb5 25.Bxf8 Kxf8 26.Re1 Bc6 then:
• 27.Kg2 Nf4+ 28.Kh2 Nxd3 29.Nxd3 Rxd3 30.Rac1 Rxf3 leaves Black the equivalent of two pawns to the good.
• If 27.Rd1 Bxf3 28.Re1 Bb4 then:
• 29.Rf1 Bc6 30.Rd1 Bc5+ 31.Kf1 Ng3+ 32.Ke1 Rd5 wins the e-pawn.
• 29.Re3 wins the exchange after 29...Bc5! 30.Kf2 Bd1 31.d4 Bxd4 32.Nd3 Bc2.
• If 24.Rd1 Bd5 25.Bh6 Rfe8 then:
• 26.f4 f6 27.Ne2 Bb3 28.Rdc1 Rxd3 leaves Black up by a piece.
• 26.Be3 Bxf3 27.Rd2 f6 28.Bb6 Rd7 29.e6 Rd5 leaves Black up by a piece.
• If 23.Rxf3 Bxc4 then:
• If 24.Bh6 Bc5+ 25.Kh2 Bd5 then:
• If 26.Bxf8 Kxf8 27.Rf1 Bd4 then:
• If 28.Ra4 Bxe5+ 29.Kg1 then:
• If 29...Ng3 30.Rf2 Bc6 then:
• 31.Rc4 h5 32.Rfc2 Bd4+ 33.Kh2 Nf1+ 34.Kh1 Ne3 wins the exchange and leaves Black a whole piece to the good.
• 31.Rg4 f5 32.Rc4 Bd4 wins the exchange and leaves Black a whole piece to the good.
• If 29...Bxb2 then:
• 30.Ne2 Re8 31.Kf2 Bxg2 32.Kxg2 Rxe2+ 33.Rf2 Rxf2+ leaves Black the equivalent of a piece to he good.
• 30.Re1 Bc3 31.Rd1 Re8 32.g4 Ng3 33.d4 Re3 leaves Black up by the equivalent of two pawns.
• 28.e6 Bxe6 29.Rb1 Be5+ 30.Kg1 Nf4 31.Re1 f6 wins a pawn, leaving Black the equivalent of two pawns up with active pieces.
• 26.Be3 Be7 27.Rf1 f6 28.g4 Ng7 29.d4 Ne6 leaves Black up by a Bishop.
• 24.dxc4 Rxd2 25.Nb3 Rxb2 leaves Black a piece to the good with superior piece activity.
• M. Calistri resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. León Hoyos - Jankovic, Round 5

Manuel León Hoyos
Photo by Stefan64 from Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Manuel León Hoyos - Alojzije Jankovic
27th International Open, Round 5
Cappelle-la-Grande, 1 March 2011

Queen's Gambit: Baltic Defense

1.c4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 c6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bf4

• 5.Nf3 Nf6 is the Slav Exchange QG. See , Grand Prix W, Doha, 2011 from last week.

5...Bd6

• 5...Bf5 6.e3 is the Tikhi Opening or the Quiet Slav. See Khurtsidze-Cramling, Euro ChW, Rijeka, 2010.

6.Bg3

• If 6.Bxd6 Qxd6 7.e3 Bf5 then:
• If 8.Nf3 Nf6 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 Nbd7 11.0-0 0-0 12.Rab1 then:
• 12...Rfe8 13.b4 a6 14.Nd2 Ng4 15.Nf3 Ngf6 16.Nd2 draw (Agamaliev-E. Vasiukov, Op, Fajr, 1993).
• 12...a5 13.Qc2 Rfe8 14.Nd2 Ng4 15.Nf3 Ngf6 16.Nd2 Ng4 draw (Kholmov-Tal, IT, Sochi, 1972)
• 8.Bd3 is equal (Serper-Shulman, US Ch, San Diego, 2004)

6...Ne7

• 6...Nf6 7.e3 Bf5 8.Nf3 0-0 9.Nh4 Be4 10.Bd3 Re8 11.0-0 Bxg3 12.hxg3 Nbd7 Red (Yu Lie-Ashwin, Asian Ch, Subic Bay, 2009).

7.e3 Bxg3 (N)

• If 7...Nf5 then:
• If 8.Bd3 Nxg3 9.hxg3 Nd7 10.Nf3 Nf6 11.Qc2 then:
• 11...Qe7 12.0-0-0 g6 13.Rde1 Be6 14.e4 dxe4 15.Bxe4 Nxe4 16.Rxe4 Qd8 gives White a small advantage in space and more frredom at least until Black breaks the pin in the e-file (Veingold-Kruppa, Soviet Ch Semif, Sverdlovsk, 1984).
• If 11...h6 12.0-0-0 then:
• 12...Qa5 13.Kb1 Bd7 14.Ne5 Bxe5 15.dxe5 Ng4 16.Bf5 is equal (Book-Halfdanarson, Op, Reykjavik, 1966).
• 12...Be6 13.Ng5 Bg4 14.Rde1 0-0 15.Bh7+ Kh8 16.Bf5 Bxf5 17.Qxf5 Kg8 gives Black a small advantage as White must disengage his Queen and Knight from the Kingside (Ftacnik-Sakaev, Op, Brno, 1992)
• 8.Bxd6 Nxd6 9.Bd3 Be6 10.Qc2 Qg5 11.Kf1 Nd7 12.h4 Qf6 is equal (Srebrnic-Pavasovic, Slovenian Ch, Dobrna, 2002)

8.hxg3

• The game is equal.

8...Bf5

• This move is aggressive, but not very well considered.
• 8...0-0 9.Bd3 h6 10.Nf3 Bg4 11.Qb3 b6 12.0-0 remains equal.
• 8...Nd7 9.Bd3 Nf6 10.Qc2 h6 11.Nf3 Be6 remains equal.

9.g4

• This boyonet attack demonstrates why Black's Bishop sortie was ill-considered. White has the edge in space.

9...Bg6 10.Nh3

• 10.f4 f6 11.Qf3 Qd6 12.0-0-0 Nd7 13.f5 maintains White's slight advantage in space.

10...h6 11.Nf4 Bh7

• 11...0-0 12.g5 hxg5 13.Nxg6 fxg6 14.Qg4 gives Black an extra pawn that counts for nothing as White's extra space and stronger pawns tilt the game his way.

12.Bd3

• 12.Nh5!? Rg8 13.a4 a5 14.Qd2 f6 15.f3 Nd7 16.Kf2 is equal.

12...Bxd3 13.Qxd3

• 13.Nxd3 Qd6 14.b4 Nd7 15.a4 Nb6 16.g5 is equal.

13...Qd6 14.b4 b5?!

• First restrain, then blockade, finally destroy. --Nimzovich
• Black skips the restraint and goes right for the blockade. The pawn advance is premature, mainly becuse Black can't get a heavy piece behind the pawn at b5 and, after 15.a4, White will be attacking the pawn three times.
• Better is 14...a6 then:
• If 15.Nh5 g6 16.Nf4 Nd7 17.a4 then:
• 17...Nb6 18.Rb1 when White has nothing more than a slim edge in space.
• 17...Qxb4?! fails to win a pawn after 18.Rb1! Qd6 19.Rxb7 inviting White's heavy pieces to penetrate into Black's camp.
• If 15.a4 then 15...b5?! is still premature as shown by 16.axb5 transposing into the variation after Black's fifteenth move.

BLACK: Alojzije Jankovic



WHITE: Manuel León Hoyos
Position after 14...b7b5

15.a4!

• See previous note.

15...Na6

• If 15...a6?! then after 16.axb5! cxb5 17.Nxb5 White's Knight cannot be taken and Black's Queen must flee.

16.axb5 Nxb4 17.Qb1 0-0

• 17...a5 18.bxa6 Rxa6 19.Rxa6 Nxa6 20.g5 Qa3 21.Nce2 gives White a low-level but lasting initiative and an impressive advantage in space.

18.g5 Rfb8 19.gxh6 g6?!

• White's h-pawn, while no serious threat to promote, should have been taken. Black will now have to his pieces to the kingside to do the job.
• If 19...gxh6 20.Ra4 a5 21.bxa6 Nxa6 22.Qd1 Nc7 23.0-0 gives White more space and healthier pawns.

20.bxc6 Qxc6

BLACK: Alojzije Jankovic



WHITE: Manuel León Hoyos
Position after 20...Qd6c6:p

21.Nfe2!

• White has stronger pawns and the initiative.
• If 21.Ra3 a5 22.Kf1 Qd6 then:
• 23.Ra1 Qc7 24.Qb2 gives White a small advantage in space.
• If 23.Rb3?! then Black turns the tables with 23...a4! 24.Rb2 a3 25.Rd2 a2 when Black has a passer at the palace gates and White's forces are tied up defending it.

21...Kh7 22.Qd1 Qc4 23.0-0!?

• White removes the protection from his advanced passer.
• If 23.Kf1 a5 24.e4 f6 25.f3 f5 26.Kg1 then:
• 26...dxe4 27.fxe4 fxe4 28.Nxe4 Rf8 29.Qd2 gives White two passed pawns to Black's one.
• 26...Nec6 27.Nxd5 Nxd5 28.Rc1 Qb5 29.exd5 Qxd5 30.Nf4! gives White an extra pawn and a slight initiative.

23...a5 24.Qa4 Ra7 25.Rfc1 g5?!

• The attack on Black's a-pawn should get immediate attention.
• If 25...Qa6 26.Qd1 then:
• 26...g5 27.e4 Qd3 28.Qb3 Kxh6 29.Ra3 Raa8 30.exd5 leaves White with a small advantage in space.
• If 26...Qd3?! 27.Ra3 Qxd1+ then:
• 28.Nxd1! Nbc6 29.Rc5 Rb1 30.Nec3 gives White an extra pawn for the moment.
• 28.Rxd1!? Kxh6 29.Rc1 g5 30.f3 Kg6 31.e4 is equal.

26.Rab1!?

• White attack a piece that is too well defended, which is genrally as much an exercise in fulity as it sounds.
• Better is 26.Ra3 when:
• 26...Qd3! 27.Ng3 Qg6 28.e4 Kxh6 29.Qb3 dxe4 30.Ncxe4 gives White a small advantage in space.
• If 26...Qa6 27.Qd1 then:
• 27...Qxh6 28.Rca1 Rba8 29.e4 Qg6 30.f3 f5 31.e5 gives White a protected passed pawn.
• If 27...Qg6 28.Rb1 then:
• If 28...Kxh6 29.Ng3 f5 30.Na2 then:
• 30...Nbc6 31.Rxb8 Nxb8 32.Nc1 Nbc6 33.Nd3 Rb7 34.Ra1 gives White fewer pawn weaknesses.
• 30...Rab7 31.Rxa5 Nxa2 32.Rxb7 Rxb7 33.Rxa2 f4 34.Nf1 gives White an extra pawn.
• 28...Qxh6 29.Nxd5 Nexd5 30.e4 Qg6 31.exd5 gives White an extra pawn, a passed pawn beyond the frontier line at that.

26...Kxh6?!

• Taking the pawn can wait. It won't run away. Black should work on restraining White's pawn chain.
• If 26...f5! 27.Ng3 Qa6 28.Na2 Rbb7 then:
• 29.Rb3 Nxa2 30.Qxa2 Rxb3 31.Qxb3 a4 is equal.
• 29.Rc5 Nxa2 30.Qxa2 a4 31.Ra1 Qd3 is equal.

27.Qd1! Nf5 28.Qd2 Qa6?

• After this, White game deterriorates at a geometric rate.
• If 28...f6 then:
• 29.e4 dxe4 30.Nxe4 Qe6 31.N2g3 Nxg3 32.Nxg3 leaves White with better coordinated pieces for defense.
• 29.Na4 Qb5 30.Nc5 Nd6 31.Ra1 Rh8 32.Ng3 gives White a small advantage in space and with more cooperation among his pieces.

BLACK: Alojzije Jankovic



WHITE: Manuel León Hoyos
Position after 28...Qc4a6

29.Nxd5!

• White has an extra pawn.

29...Rab7

• If 29...Qe6 30.Rc5! then:
• If 30...Nd6 then:
• If 31.f3 f5 32.Kf2 Kg7 33.Nxb4 then:
• 33...Rxb4 34.Rxb4 axb4 35.Qxb4 g4 36.Ra5 wins for White.
• 33...axb4 34.d5 Qe7 35.Nd4 b3 36.Qc3 paralyzes the pawn and wins.
• 31.Ng3 Ne4 32.Nxe4 Qxe4 33.Nc3 leaves Black no practacal hope.
• If 30...f6 31.Qd1 Ng7 32.Ng3 then:
• If 32...Rbb7 33.Nc3 Rc7 34.Nce4 then:
• If 34...Rxc5 35.Nxc5 Qb6 36.Qg4 prepares White's central pawns to advance.
• If 34...f5 35.d5 then after 35...Qg6 36.Rxc7 Rxc7 37.d6 if Black takes the time to block the d-pawn (37...Qa4) then White attacks the a-pawn and remains a pawn to the good.
• 32...Kg6 33.Rb3 Qf7 34.Qb1+ Kh6 35.f4 Qg6 36.e4 leaves White a pawn up with Black having little mobility.

30.Nxb4 Rxb4

• 30...axb4 31.e4 Ne7 32.d5 b3 33.Rc3 Qa2 34.Rb2 stops the Black pawn, leaving Black with no resources to save the game.

31.Rxb4 axb4 32.d5!

• The passed pawn manifests its lust to expand.

32...Rb6

• After 32...f6 33.e4 Nh4 34.Nd4 b3 35.Qb2 Qa2 36.Rb1 Black has just enough life in him to fog a mirror.
• 32...Kg7 33.e4 then:
• 33...Nh6 34.Qxg5+ Kh7 35.Rc6 Qa1+ 36.Nc1 Qg7 37.Qf4 wins for White.
• 33...Ne7 34.d6 Ng6 35.Qd4+ Kh7 36.Ng3 Qa5 37.d7it will cost Black a piece to stop the pawn.

BLACK: Alojzije Jankovic



WHITE: Manuel León Hoyos
Position after 32...Rb8b6

33.e4!

• The protection of the White's passed pawn leaves Black without a prayer. White simply wins in all variations.

33...Nh4

• If 33...Ne7 34.Rd1 Kg6 35.Ng3 Qa5 36.d6 Nc6 37.Qe2 is an easy win for White.

34.Nd4 f6

• If 34...Qa3 35.Rc6+ Rxc6 36.dxc6 then:
• 36...Qa1+ 37.Kh2 b3 38.c7 Qa6 39.Qc3 Qc8 40.Nxb3 wins easily for White.
• If 36...Qa5 37.g3 f6 38.gxh4 then:
• 38...Kh5 39.hxg5 Qxg5+ 40.Qxg5+ Kxg5 41.c7 is an elementary win for White.
• If 38...Kg6 then White wins after 39.hxg5 fxg5 40.Qc1 Qa3 41.Qxa3 bxa3 42.c7.

35.g3 b3

• If 35...Ng6 then White wins after 36.Nf5+ Kh7 37.Qd1 Nf4 38.Rc7+ Kg8 39.gxf4.
• The rest requires no comment.

36.gxh4 b2 37.hxg5+ Kg6 38.Rb1 Qa4 39.gxf6 Rb4 40.Nf3 Qa1 41.Qg5+ 1-0

• White mates in two moves or less.
• Gandmaster Jankovic resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Update (Wednesday): Reykjavik Open begins

The 2011 Reykjavik Open began today in Iceland.

This year's top seed is British grandmaster Luke McShane, followed by Evgenij Miroshnichenko (Ukraine), Jan Gustafsson (Germany), Ivan Sokolov (Holland) and Ahmed Adly (Egypt). Hannes Stefansson, as usual, is the leading Icelanic master.

The tournament had hardly started when the first victory was posted by Hannes over untitled Spanish player Jordi Agullo Herms.

For those with a PGN viewer, you may save the following into a text file with a .pgn extension and view it. Please replace the braces with square brackets in the heading and only in the heading or it won't work.

{Event "International Open"}
{Site "Reykjavik"}
{Date "2011.03.09"}
{Round "1"}
{White "Stefansson, Hannes"}
{Black "Agullo Herms, Jordi"}
{Result "1-0"}
{ECO "B01"}
{PlyCount "19"}
{EventDate "2011.03.09"}

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 {The usual line is} (2... Qxd5 3. Nc3 {followed by either
3...Qa5 or 3...Qd6 with a small advantage for White. The text move is a good
alternative that lets the pawn go and saves the tempi lost by Black with the
Queen sortie.}) 3. Nf3 {This is rarely played, but good. More common is 3.d4,
3.Bb5+ or 3.c4.} Bg4 $5 {3...Bg4!? -- Black should just get his pawn back with}
(3... Nxd5 4. d4 Bg4 (4... g6 5. c4 Nb6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. h3 {gives White a slight
advantage in space.}) 5. Be2 e6 6. O-O Be7 7. h3 Bh5 {with equality.}) 4. Bb5+
Nbd7 5. h3 Bh5 {If} (5... Bf5 {then White still has an extra pawn after} 6. c4
a6 7. Ba4 b5 8. cxb5 Nxd5 9. d4 {(Day-Kegel, Op, Toronto, 1995}) 6. c4 e6 $6 {
6...e6?! -- This novelty creates big problems for Black.} (6... a6 7. Ba4 b5 8.
cxb5 Nxd5 9. Nc3 Nf4 10. O-O Nd3 11. Qe2 N7c5 12. b3 e6 {is equal
(Pinto-Schiller, San Francisco, 2003).}) 7. g4 $1 {White begins pushing Black
off the board.} Bg6 8. Qe2 $1 {8.Qe2! -- White pins the e-pawn} a6 9. dxe6 $1 {
9.dxe6! -- Black is in terrible shape.} axb5 $4 {9...axb5?? -- Oh, well.
Better is} (9... fxe6 10. Qxe6+ Be7 11. Bxd7+ Nxd7 12. d4 {when White only has
a strong advantage.}) 10. exf7+ $3 {10.exf7+!! -- El señor Agullo resigns in
the face of} (10... Kxf7 11. Ng5+ Kg8 12.Qe6+! Bf7 13.Qxf7#) 1-0