The JR Chess Report (March 28): Aronian wins Amber; Euro Championship in Aix-les-Bains

[Jack Rabbit]

Music for reading the JR Chess Report.

Aronian wins Amber; Magnus takes Rpaid competition


Frank Hoppe, Wikimedia Commons (Public Doamin)

The twentieth and final edition of the Melody Amber Rapid/Blindfold tournament ended last week in the traditional home of the event, Monte Carlo, with Armenia grandmaster Levon Aronian defending his 2010 title for the overall event by winning the blindfold competition and finishing second to Magnus Carlsen in the rapid games.

Aronian scored 8½ points in 11 rounds to win the blindfold division, while Magnus scored 9½ in the rapid. Aronian scored 7 point in the rapid to bring his overall total to 15½ points, while Magnus finish well down in the blindfold with 5 points to finish a point behind Aronian overall.

Vishy Anand, the reigning world champion, took third in the 12-player event.

Vassily Ivanchuk won three Game-of-the-Day prizes in a row, all in rapid games and each worth €1000.

The tournament was named for Melody Amber von Oosterom, the then-newborn daughter of tournament organizer Joop von Oosterom and his wife, Muriel.


Potkin leads European Championship in Aix-les-Bains


Xtrasystole, Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Russian grandmaster Vladimir Potkin leads the 12th European Championship general competition in Aix-les-Bains in Savoy, southeastern France with 6 points in seven rounds.

In spite of the fact that more 2700+ grandmasters started this years' tournament than ever before, none have enjoyed outstanding success in Aix-les-Bains. By the end of the third round, no 2700+ grandmaster had a perfect score and now, after today's seventh round, only one, Russia's Nikita Vitiugov is tied for second with 5½ points. Defending champion Ian Nepomniachtchi is on 5 points.

Another grandmaster on 5 points is the legendary Judit Polgar of Hungary, by all accounts the strong woman player ever. More women are participating in this year's event due to the postponement of the women's championship until later this year.

The European Championship will take a break tomorrow with the event resuming with the eight round Tuesday. The 11-round Swiss system tournament concludes Friday. Games are broadcast live on the official tournament website beginning at 3 pm in Aix-les-Bains (6 am PDT).

COMING ATTRACTIONS

Dubai Open 9-19 April.
Asian Championships, Mashad, Iran 1-11 May.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. This week's game

First of all, we are sorry for the delay this week. I was a bit under it.

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. 20th Melody Amber Rapid/Blindfold Tournament, Monte Carlo

Monte Carlo
Photo by Hampus Cullin (link:commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Katonams|Katonams) in Wkipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Topalov - Aronian, Round 10

Levon Aronian
Photo by Frank Hoppe in Wikimedia Commons (Public Doamin)


Veselin Topalov - Levon Aronian
20th Melody Amber Rapid/Blind Tournament (Blindfold Competition), Round 10
Monte Carlo, 23 March 2011

Orthodox Queen's Gambit: Nimzo-Ragozin Defense (Exchange Opening)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5

• For moves and variation up to here, see Zhao Xue-N. Kosintseva, World ChTW, Ningbo, 2009.

6...h6

• 6...Nbd7 7.Rc1 c6 8.a3 Bxc3+ 9.Rxc3 0-0 10.e3 h6 11.Bh4 g5 12.Bg3 Ne4 13.Rc2 Ndf6 is equal (Zhao Xue-N. Kosintseva, World ChTW, Ningbo, 2009).

7.Bh4 c5 8.e3 g5

• 8...Nc6 9.dxc5 g5 10.Bg3 Ne4 11.Bb5 Nxc3 12.Bxc6+ bxc6 13.Qd4 Nxa2+ 14.Nd2 0-0 15.Rxa2 a5 16.h4 f6 17.0-0 Re8 draw (Smejkal-Tal, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1976).

9.Bg3 c4 (N)

• If 9...Ne4 10.Bb5+ Bd7 11.Bxd7+ Nxd7 then:
• 12.dxc5 Nxc3 13.Qd4 Nxa2+ 14.Ke2 Qf6 15.Rxa2 Qxd4 16.exd4 gives White a clear advantage in space(Sargissian-Dizdar, Masters, Abu Dhabi, 2003).
• 12.0-0 Bxc3 13.bxc3 c4 14.Qc2 Qe7 15.Rab1 b6 16.Nd2 is equal (E. Agrest-Zifroni, Euro Club Cup, Kemeri, 2007).

10.Be2 Ne4

• The game is equal.

11.Rc1

• 11.Qa4+!? Nc6 12.Rc1 h5 13.h3 Bxc3+ 14.bxc3 Nxg3 gives Black the edge in space.

11...Qa5 12.Ne5

• 12.0-0 then:
• 12...Bxc3 13.bxc3 Nxc3 14.Qc2 Nxe2+ 15.Qxe2 0-0 remains equal.
• 12...Nxg3?! 13.fxg3 Nc6 14.Nxd5! Qxd5 15.Bxc4 gives White a fierce initiative.

12...Nc6

• 12...0-0 13.0-0 Bxc3 14.bxc3 Nxc3 15.Qe1 Nxe2+ 16.Qxe2 remains equal.

13.0-0

• 13.Nxc6 bxc6 14.0-0 Bxc3 15.bxc3 Nxc3 16.Qc2 remains equal.

13...Bxc3 14.bxc3 Nxc3

• 14...Nxe5 15.Bxe5 0-0 16.Bh5 Qa3 17.Qe1 Qe7 remains equal.

15.Rxc3

• 15.Nxc6 bxc6 16.Qe1 Nxe2+ 17.Qxe2 Qd8 remains equal.
• 15.Qc2 Nxe2+ 16.Qxe2 Nxe5 17.Bxe5 Rg8 remains equal.

15...Qxc3 16.Bh5 0-0!?

• The King may not be as safe on the flank as in the center. White's King, on the other hand, sits in a model of King safety.
• If 16...Rf8 17.Qf3 Nxe5 then:
• If 18.Bxe5 Be6 19.Qf6 then:
• 19...Kd7 20.e4 Qb4 21.exd5 Bxd5 22.Bg4+ remains equal.
• 19...Qb4?? 20.Qxe6+!! Qe7 21.Qxd5 wins for White.
• 18.Qxd5 Ng6 19.Bc7 Be6 20.Qxb7 Rd8 21.Bxd8 Kxd8 remains equal.

BLACK: Levon Aronian



WHITE: Veselin Topalov
Position after 16...0-0

17.Qf3!

• White goes for the f7 square and the pawn sitting on it.

17...Nd8

• 17...Qc2 18.Bxf7+ Kh7 19.Ng6 Rd8 20.Bxd5 then:
• 20...Bf5 21.Bxc6 bxc6 22.Ne7 Rf8 23.Qxc6 gives White more activity and more space.
• If 20...Rxd5?? then 21.Qf7#.

18.Qf6 Qc2 19.Ng4 Bxg4 20.Be5 Qh7 21.Bxg4 Ne6 22.f4?!

• 22.Bf5! Qg7 23.Qe7 Rfe8 24.Qxb7 maintains White's material advantage and threatens to win the pawn at d5

22...Qg7 23.Qe7 Rae8

• 23...Qh7 24.Qxb7 Rae8 25.Qxd5 Qd3 26.Qf3 gxf4 27.d5 remains equal.

BLACK:Sergey Karjakin



WHITE: Veselin Topalov
Position after 24.Qe7d7

24.Qd7?!

• Topalov is an excellent blindfold player, but here he might play better if he could see the board. He simply wastes a tempo that he won't get back.
• If 24.Qxb7 f6 25.Qxd5 fxe5 26.Bxe6+ Kh8 then:
• 27.f5 exd4 28.exd4 Rd8 29.f6 Qc7 remains equal.
• 27.fxe5 Rxf1+ 28.Kxf1 c3 29.Bf5 Rf8 30.g4 remains equal.

24...Qh7!

• Black has the advantage in space.

25.fxg5 f5 26.Qxh7+ Kxh7 27.Bxf5+ Rxf5

• Black continues to enjoy a slight advantage in space.
• If 27...Kg8!? then:
• If 28.gxh6! Rxf5 29.Rxf5 then:
• If 29...c3 30.Rf2 then:
• 30...b5 31.e4 Nc5 32.exd5 Nd3 33.Rc2 b4 34.d6 remains equal.
• If 30...Rc8 31.Rc2 b5 then:
• If 32.g4 Kh7 33.h4 then:
• 33...b4 34.g5 a5 35.Bg3 a4 36.Be1 is equal.
• 33...Kxh6 34.Kf2 b4 35.e4 dxe4 36.Ke3 Kg6 37.d5 gives White altogether three passed pawns, a very sturdy endgame advantage.
• If 32.e4 dxe4 33.d5 Rc5 34.Rxc3 then:
• 34...Rxd5 35.Bg3 Kh7 36.Ra3 Nd4 37.Rxa7+ Kxh6 38.Kf2 gives White an extra pawn; Black's passer is effectively halted.
• 34...Rxc3? 35.Bxc3! Nc5 36.Bd4 wins easily for White.
• 29...Rc8? 30.h7+!! Kxh7 31.Rf7+ Kg8 32.Rxb7 leaves White two connected passers to the good.
• 28.Bxe6+?? Rxe6! 29.Rc1 hxg5 leaves Black up by the exchange.

28.Rxf5 c3?!

• 28...Kg6! 29.g4 h5 30.Rf6+ Kxg5 31.gxh5 Kxh5 continues to give Black a small advantage in space.

29.gxh6!

• The game is equal.

29...b5!?

• Black slips and White should get and slim edge out of it.
• 29...Rc8 30.Rf1 Kxh6 31.Rc1 Ng5 32.Kf2 Ne4+ remains equal.

30.Bd6!?

• White slips and the game remains equal.
• Better is 30.Rf1! b4 31.Rc1 Nc5 32.dxc5 Rxe5 33.Kf2.

30...a5 31.Ba3

• 31.Kf1 b4 32.Rf2 Kxh6 33.Rc2 Ng5 34.Bc7 Ra8 gives Black more space, a pssed pawn on the c-file and a threat to create a second passed pawn on the b-file.

31...b4 32.Bc1 a4 33.Rf7+

• 33.Rxd5?! Nf4! 34.Rd7+ Kxh6 35.e4 Rxe4 36.Kf2 b3! will give Black two connected passers, each just two steps away from promotion.

33...Kxh6

• The game remains equal.

34.Rb7 Nf4!

• It's a sham sacrifice. The Bishop on the back rank has nowhere to run.

35.exf4 Re1+ 36.Kf2 Rxc1

BLACK:Sergey Karjakin



WHITE: Veselin Topalov
Position after 36...Re1c1:B

37.Rxb4

• The position is now unclear. White has two extra pawns, and three connected passers. On the other hand, Black has a more advaned passed pawn that will be hard to stop.

37...Ra1!

• This move is very well-timed.

38.Rb6+!

• If the King were somewhere he could not be checked, this move would lose to 38...c2!.

38...Kg7 39.Rc6 Rxa2+ 40.Ke3

• 40.Kg3 c2 41.Rc7+ Kf8 42.Kf3 Rb2 is an easy win for Black.

40...Rxg2

• This is the only move that works.
• If 40...c2?! then after 41.Kd3! Black's pawn is deadwood.

41.Rxc3 Rxh2 42.Rc6!?

• This inaccuracy costs White a tempo.
• 42.Rc5 Rh3+ 43.Kd2 Kf7 44.Rxd5 a3 45.Ra5 remains equal.

42...a3

• Black take a slight advantage with the advancing passer that Black must destroy.
• If 42...Rh3+ 43.Kd2 a3 44.Kc2 then:
• If 44...Rh2+ 45.Kb3 a2 46.Ra6 Kf7 then:
• 47.Kb4 Rc2 48.Kb3 Rd2 49.Kc3 Rf2 50.Kb4 Rc2 remains equal.
• 47.f5 Rf2 48.Kb4 Rc2 49.Kb5 Rc4 50.Rxa2 Rxd4 remains equal.
• 44...a2 45.Kb2 a1Q+ 46.Kxa1 Rd3 47.f5 Rxd4 48.Kb2 remains equal.

43.f5?

• This is the wrong time for this move. Black has a wonderful outpost for his Rook at h6, leaving Black wondering about the best way to avoid exchanging Rooks. Of course, Black wins without Rooks on the board.
• 43.Kf3 Kg8 44.Ra6 a2 45.Ra7 Kf8 is equal.

BLACK: Levon Aronian



WHITE: Veselin Topalov
Position after 43.f4f5

43...Rh6!

• Wanna trade? Yours for mine? Straight up?

44.Rc1

• If 44.f6+ then Black wins after 44...Rxf6 45.Rc2 Ra6 46.Rh2 a2.

44...Ra6 45.Kd3 a2 46.Ra1 Kf6 47.Kc3 Kxf5 48.Kb2

• If 48.Rf1+ then Black wins after 48...Ke4 49.Ra1 Ra3+ 50.Kb4 Ra8.

48...Ke4 49.Re1+

• This move comes with a white flag.
• If 49.Kc3 then the game at least doesn't get any worse for White after 49...Kf4 50.Kc2 Kf3 51.Kb2 Ra7 52.Kc2 Ra8.

BLACK:Sergey Karjakin



WHITE: Veselin Topalov
Position after 49.Ra1e1

49...Kxd4

• White is now struggling against two passers.

50.Ka1 Kc3 51.Rc1+ Kd2 52.Rc2+

• 52.Rh1 d4 53.Rh2+ Kc3 54.Rb2 d3 is an easy win for Black.

52...Kd3 53.Rc3+ Ke4 54.Rh3

• 54.Rc7 d4 55.Re7+ Kf3 56.Rd7 Ke3 57.Re7+ Kd2 is a book win for Black.

54...d4 55.Rh4+ Kd3 56.Rh3+ Kc4 57.Rc3+ Kd5 58.Rh3 Rb6

• 58...Ra7 then Black wins after 59.Rf3 Ke4 60.Rh3 d3 61.Rh2 Kf3.

59.Kxa2 Kc4 60.Rh1 Kc3 0-1

• If 61.Rc1+ Kd2 62.Rc5 d3 63.Rc7 Re6 then:
• 64.Rh7 then after 64...Ke2 65.Rh2+ Kd1 66.Kb2 Re2+ Black wins.
• 64.Kb3 then Black wins after 64...Ke2 65.Rd7 d2.
• Topalov resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Carlsen - Grischuk, Round 10

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


Magnus Carlsen - Alexander Grischuk
20th Melody Amber Rapid/Blind Tournament (Rapid Competition), Round 10
Monte Carlo, 23 March 2011

Open Sicilian Game: Najdorf Defense

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.Nf3 a6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nf6 6.Be3 Ng4

• This brings the game into the category of "Unusual Sixth Moves for Black." For the more usual 6...e5 and 6...e6, see Dzhumaev-Ghaem Maghami, Op, New Delhi, 2010.

7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Bg3 Bg7 10.Qd2

• For variations up to here and those associated with 10.h3 Nf6 11.Qf3 Qb6 12.0-0-0 Nc6 13.Nxc6 Qxc6 14.Be2 Nd7 15.Nd5 Ne5 16.Qa3 b5?! 17.h4?!, see Akopian-Karjakin, Grand Prix, Nalchik, 2009.

10...Nc6 11.Nb3 Be6

• 11...b5 12.f3 Nge5 13.Bf2 Rb8 14.Nd4 b4 15.Nd1 Nxd4 16.Bxd4 d5 is equal (Ivanchuk-Kasparov, IT, Linares, 1999).

12.h4

• If 12.f3 Nge5 13.Nd5 b5 14.Bf2 Rb8 15.Nd4 Nxd4 16.Bxd4 Bxd5 17.exd5 Qc7 18.h4 then:
• 18...Qb7 19.hxg5 Qxd5 20.gxh6 gives White an extra pawn and Black a small advantage in space. Both sides have chances (Ye Jiangchuan-Xu Jun, Lee Cup, Beijing, 1993).
• 18...Rg8?! 19.hxg5 hxg5 20.a4 Qb7 21.axb5 axb5 22.Bc3 gives White a small advantage in space and a Bishop pair that may be useful later (Botvinkov-Pavlov, Op, Novosibirsk, 2001).

12...gxh4 13.Bxh4 Qb6

• If 13...Rc8 then:
• 14.0-0-0 Nb4 15.Kb1 Qb6 16.f3 a5 transposes into Shirov-Oll, below.
• If 14.f3 Nge5 15.Bf2 Bc4 then:
• 16.Be2 b5 17.Nd5 Bxe2 18.Qxe2 Nc4 19.c3 N6e5 20.f4 gives White a small advantage in space (Hall-Hase, Corres, 1997).
• 16.Nd5 Bxf1 17.Kxf1 b5 18.c3 is equal (Buraschi-Druon, Cyberspace, 1998).

14.0-0-0 Rc8 15.Kb1!?

• 15.f3 Bxc3 16.Qxc3 Nce5 17.Qd4 Qxd4 18.Nxd4 Ne3 19.Re1 Nxf1 20.Rexf1 is equal (Leko-Topalov, Rpd, Cap d'Adge, 1994).

15...h5?! (N)

• This move can wait until White plays Be2. The Knight is in no immediate danger.
• 15...Nb4! then:
• If 16.f3 then:
• 16...a5? 17.fxg4 Rxc3 18.bxc3 Nxa2 19.Bf2 Qc6 20.Kxa2 gives White an overwhelming material advantage (Shirov-Oll, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1993).
• 16...Ne3 17.Bf2 Rxc3 18.bxc3 Nxd1 19.Bxb6 Nxc3+ 20.Kc1 gives Black a small advantage in space (Fritz).
• 16.Be2 Bxc3 17.bxc3 Nc6 gives Black control of the f2 square and a slight initiative.

16.Nd5!

• White takes a fair advantage in space.

16...Bxd5 17.exd5 Nce5 18.Re1

• If 18.Be2 Kd8 19.Rdf1 then:
• 19...Kc7 20.Bxe7 Nxf2 21.Rh4 Nfg4 22.Bg5 gives White a safer King.
• If 19...Bf6 20.Bxg4 hxg4 21.Bxf6 Rxh1 22.Rxh1 exf6 gives White activity and fewer pawn weaknesses.

18...Ng6!?

• Black doesn't have many good options, but this isn't one of the better ones.
• If 18...Bf6! 19.f3 Bxh4! (Disrupting White's command of the e-file) 20.Rxh4 Ng6 21.Rh3 N4e5 22.c3 gives White the advantage in space.

BLACK:Alexander Grischuk



WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 18...Ne5g6

19.f3!

• This is a fine defensive move. White both shortens the long diagonal and the c-file.

19...Bh6

• 19...N4e5 20.Bf2 Qc7 21.c3 Nc4 22.Bxc4 Qxc4 23.Re4 gives White greater activity and more space.

20.Qe2 N4e5

• 20...Ne3 21.Bf2 Rxc2 22.Qxc2 Nxc2 23.Bxb6 Nxe1 24.Bf2 gives Black an extra pawn, but White has the Bishops and more freedom in compensation.

21.Bf2! Qc7

• If 21...Qb4 22.c3 then:
• 22...Qa4 23.Rxh5 Nf4 24.Rh4 gives White an extra pawn.
• If 22...Qc4 then:
• 23.Qd1 Qf4 24.Rxh5 Qf6 25.Qd4 Nf4 26.Rh1 gives White an extra pawn and more space.
• If 23.Qxc4 Nxc4 24.Rxh5 then:
• 24...Bg7 25.Rxh8+ Bxh8 26.Bxc4 Rxc4 27.Rh1 gives White an extra pawn plus the initiative.
• If 24...Nce5 then:
• 25.Bd4 f6 26.Na5 Nf4 27.Rh4 Kd7 28.Be3 gives White an extra pawn.
• 25.Na5 b5 26.Re4 Nd7 27.Rd4 Nf6 28.Rh1 gives White an extra pawn.

22.Qe4

• While this is a strong move, White has even better ones.
• If 22.c3! Bg7 23.g3 then:
• If 23...h4 24.Bh3! hxg3 25.Bxg3 then:
• 25...Qc4 26.Bxc8 Rxh1 27.Qxc4 Rxe1+ 28.Bxe1 Nxc4 29.Bxb7 gives White an extra pawn and the Bishop pair.
• 25...Rb8 26.f4 Nd7 27.Bf5 Rxh1 28.Rxh1 Nf6 29.Qd3 gives White more space, command of the h-file, better king safety and the Bishop pair.
• 23...Nc4 24.Bh3 Nxb2 25.Kxb2 then:
• If 25...Bxc3+ 26.Kb1 Bxe1 27.Rxe1 Rb8 28.Ba7 Ra8 29.Bd4 gives Black the material advantage, but White has enough extra space alone to compenate, in addition to having the more active game and better King safety.
• 25...Qxc3+ 26.Kb1 Rd8 27.Bf then:
• If 27...Qe5 28.Be4 0-0 29.f4 Qc3 30.Rxh5 gives White an extra piece.
• 27...Qf6 then:
• 28.Qc2 Qc3 29.Bxg6 h4 30.Bf5 hxg3 31.Qxc3 Bxc3 32.Rxh8+ Bxh8 33.Bxg3 gives White an overwhelming material advantage.
• 29...fxg6 30.Qxg6+ Kf8 31.Bd4 Bxd4 32.Nxd4 Qxd4 33.Rh4 gives White an extra pawn and more active pieces.
• 28.Be4 Kf8 29.Bd4 e5 30.dxe6 Qxe6 31.Qb2 gives White a winning position after wresdting the long diagonal from Black.

22...Bg7

BLACK:Alexander Grischuk



WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 22...Bh6g7

23.Bd4

• It's not the men in your life that matters; it's the life in your men. --Mae West
• If 23.Nd4 Nc4 24.Bxc4 Qxc4 25.f4 gives Black a slight advantage in space, but White can do more with the space he has and holds an overall advantage as a result.

23...Bf6 24.Be2 Nd7 25.Bd3!?

• White misses a more powerful move that in all likelihood would have shortened the game.
• If 25.f4! then:
• 25...Bxd4 26.Nxd4 Kd8 27.c4 locks up the center, putting White well on his way to a win.
• If 25...Nc5? then White crushes Black after 26.Qf5! Qd7 27.Bb5!! axb5 28.Qxf6.

25...Be5 26.Qf5!?

• This again isn't the fastest route to a win, but it is part of a consistent plan in which White attacks on the Kingside, where Black's pawns are weak and Black position is cramped by the immobility of the e-pawn.
• The more robust move is 26.g3! (depriving Black's Knight of f4) then:
• 26...Nf6 27.Qe2 Rg8 28.f4 Bxd4 29.Nxd4 Nxd5 30.Qxh5 opens the kingside; White threatens to play 31.Qf5, giving the Queen a dominating post.
• 26...Bxd4 27.Qxd4 Rg8 28.Bf5 Kd8 29.Rxh5 gives White an extra pawn, a solid center and an open kingside.

26...Nf4!

• Black has worked his way out of a jam.

27.Bxe5 dxe5 28.g3 Nxd3

• 28...Nxd5 29.Rxh5 Rxh5 30.Qxh5 e6 31.Rh1 Nb4 32.Qh8+ shows how White can exploit Black's weaknesses to get a strangle hold on the kingside.

29.Qxd3 Qc4!?

• This is more agressive than the position justifies. Black should adopt a more defensive mood.
• If 29...Qd6 (blockading the pawn) 30.f4 exf4 31.gxf4 then:
• 31...Nb6 32.Na5 Qxd5 33.Qe3 Qc5 34.Qe4 Qc7 35.a3
• If 31...Nf6 32.Re5 then:
• 32...Ng4 33.Re2 Rc7 34.Rd1 Rg8 35.c4 gives White the advantage in space
• 32...Rg8 33.Rhe1 Kf8 34.Nd4 Qc5 35.c3! gives White more space and more freedom.

BLACK:Alexander Grischuk



WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 29...Qc7c4

30.Qd2 b6?!

• Black weakens his queenside light squares, allowing White outflank Black on both wings.
• If 30...Qc7 then:
• If 31.f4 Qd6 32.a3 then:
• If 32...Rc7 33.Rh4 exf4 34.Rxf4 then:
• 34...Ne5 35.Qe2 Ng6 36.Rf5! Qxg3 37.Nd2 Nh4 38.Rff1 gives White more activity and better piece coordination.
• If 34...Rg8 35.Qd4 then:
• If 35...Nc5 36.Na5 Rd7 37.Re5 then:
• If 37...f6 38.Nc4 fxe5 39.Nxd6+ then:
• If 39...exd6 40.Qe3 Kd8 41.Rc4 then:
• 41...Rdg7 42.Qh6 Rg6 43.Qxh5 Nd7 44.Qh4+ wins fo White.
• 41...Rg4 42.Rxg4 hxg4 43.Qg5+ Re7 44.b4 Nd7 45.c4 wins.
• 39...Rxd6 40.Qxe5 Nd7 41.Qxh5+ wins.
• 37...b6 38.Rg5 Rf8 39.Qg7 wins.
• If 35...Rg4 36.Qh8+ Nf8 37.Rxf7 Kxf7 38.Rf1+ then:
• 38...Qf6 39.Rxf6+ exf6 40.Qxh5+ Rg6 41.d6 Rd7 42.Qd5+ wins.
• 38...Kg6 39.Qg8+ Kh6 40.Qxf8+ Rg7 41.Nd4 Qg6 42.Nf5+ is an easy win for White.
• 32...exf4 33.gxf4 Rc7 34.Qd4 Nf6 35.Re4 gives White only a small advantage in space.
• 31.Na5 Nf6 32.Re2 Qd6 33.Nxb7 Qd7 34.Na5 leaves White with an extra pawn.

31.Rh4!

• White, needing the fourth rank for his plans, drives back the Queen in order to advance on the kingside.

31...Qc7 32.f4 f6 33.g4

• If 33.Qe2 Qd6 then:
• 34.Qxa6 34...Kf7 35.Qd3 Rcg8 36.Nd2 Nc5 37.Qf3 leaves White a pawn to the good.
• 34.Rd1 a5 35.fxe5 fxe5 36.Nd2 Qxd5 37.Nc4 White wins a pawn.

33...a5

• 33...Qc4 34.gxh5 a5 35.a3 a4 36.Nc1 e4 37.Rh3 leaves White with an extra pawn and greater King safety.

34.Rxh5 Rg8?

• Black is now down for the count. He was staggering about the ring in any case.
• If 34...Rxh5 35.gxh5 a4 36.Nc1 then:
• 36...Qc4 37.Ne2 Nc5 38.Ng3 Rd8 39.fxe5 Rxd5 40.Qh6 leaves White a pawn up.
• If 36...Kf7? then 37.Qd3! Rg8 38.h6 b5 39.Qf5 Qd6 40.Qh5+ wins for White.

BLACK:Alexander Grischuk



WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 34... Rh8g8

35.g5!

• White closes off the g-file to Black's Rook.

35...a4

• If 35...fxg5 then after 36.fxe5! (threatening 37.e6, which in turn sets up a backrank mate) 36...Qc4 37.d6 Qf7 38.Rh6 White wins easily.

36.Nc1 a3

• If 36...fxg5 then White wins after 37.Rxg5 Rxg5 38.fxg5 Qc4 39.g6 e4 40.Rh1..

37.gxf6 exf6 38.fxe5 fxe5 39.Nd3 axb2

• If 39...Kd8 then White wins easily after 40.Nxe5 Nxe5 41.Rhxe5 Qd7 42.Qh6.

40.Nxe5 Nxe5 41.d6

• 41.Rhxe5+ Kd8 42.Qh2 Qc5 43.Re6 wins quicker.

41...Qd7 42.Qd5 Kf8 43.Qxe5 Rc5

• If 43...Rg5 then 44.Rf1+ Rf5 45.Rfxf5+ Kg8 46.Qh8#.

44.Rf1+ 1-0

• 44...Qf7 45.Qe8+ Kg7 46.Qxf7#.
• Alexander Igorovich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Grischuk - Ivanchuk, Round 7

This is the last of three consecutive rapid game for which Ivanchuk was awarded the game-of-the-day award.



Vassily Ivanchuk
Photo by Stefan64 in Wikimedia (Creative Commons License Attribution/Share Alike)]


Alexander Grischuk - Vassily Ivanchuk
20th Melody Amber Rapid/Blind Tournament (Rapid Competition), Round 7
Monte Carlo, 19 March 2011

East India Game: Bogo_indian Defense

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Qe7 5.g3 Nc6 6.Nc3 Bxc3 7.Bxc3 Ne4 8.Rc1 0-0 9.Bg2 d6 10.d5 Nd8

• For a survey of the Bogo-Indian Defesne, see Araz-Ghaderpour, Asain Cities TT, Beirut, 2009.

11.Nd2

• If 11.0-0 e5 12.Nd2 Nxc3 13.Rxc3 f5 14.c5 Nf7 15.Qb3 b6 16.cxd6 cxd6 then:
• 17.Qa3 a5 18.Rfc1 Ba6 19.Rc7 Qf6 20.e3 e4 21.Nb3 Qe5 22.Nd4 Qxd5 23.Nc6 is equal (Vyzmanavin-Lugovoi, Russian Ch, Elista, 1995).
• 17.Rfc1 Bd7 18.Rc7 Rfc8 19.Qa3 Qd8 gives Black an extra pawn and White the advantage in space (Tkachiev-Korchnoi, IT, Biel, 2002).
• If 11.dxe6 Nxe6 12.0-0 Bd7 then:
• 13.Nd2 Nxc3 14.Rxc3 Bc6 15.Bd5 a5 16.Re1 Nc5 is equal (Kosiorek-Macieja, Polish ChT, Zakopane, 2000).
• 13.b3 Bc6 14.Bb2 f5 15.e3 N4g5 draw (Doric-Cvitan, Op, Pula, 2010).

11...Nxc3 12.Rxc3 e5 13.c5 dxc5

• If 13...f5 14.0-0 Nf7 15.Qb3 b6 16.cxd6 cxd6 17.Rfc1 then:
• 17...Bd7 then:
• 18.Rc7 Rfc8 19.Qa3 Qd8 20.Rxc8 Bxc8 is equal (Vyzmanavin-Lugovoi, Russian Ch, Elista, 1995).
• 18.Qa3 Rfc8 19.Nc4 h6 20.Qa6 Qd8 21.Na3 Rc5 is equal (Moiseenko-Maherramzade, Ol, Bled, 2002).
• 17.Qa3 a5 18.Rfc1 Ba6 19.Rc7 Qf6 20.e3 gives White a small advantage in space (Tkachiev-Korchnoi, IT, Biel, 2002).

14.Qc2 c6 (N)

• 14...Bd7 15.Rxc5 c6 16.e4 b6 17.Rc3 c5 18.0-0 Nb7(Damljanovic-Oms Pallise, Op, Andorra, 2005).

15.Rxc5 Bf5 16.e4 Bg6

• The game is equal.

17.Qc3 b6 18.Rc4 c5 19.b4

• 19.0-0 Nb7 20.Qa3 Nd6 21.Rcc1 Nb5 22.Qa6 Nd4 remains equal.

19...a5 20.b5!?

• White closes the queenside. Better would be to support the b-pawn and maintain tension.
• If 20.a3 Nb7 21.bxc5 b5 then:
• 22.c6 bxc4 23.cxb7 Qxb7 24.0-0 Rac8 gives Black the exchange and the advantage in space. Each side has a passed pawn.
• 22.d6?! Qe6 23.c6 bxc4 24.cxb7 Rab8 25.Nxc4 Rxb7 gives Black the exchange for a pawn and a little moe space.

20...Nb7 21.0-0 Nd6 22.a4

• 22.Ra4 Nxb5 23.Qb2 Qe8 24.Nc4 Nd6 25.Qa3 Qd8 remains equal.

22...Rae8 23.Qb3

• If 23.Qb2 Nxc4 24.Nxc4 then:
• 24...Qc7 25.Rd1 f6 26.d6 Qb7 27.d7 Rd8 remains equal.
• 24...Rb8!? 25.Nxe5! Qf6 26.Qc3 Rfe8 27.f4 gives White the advantage in spaceand he'll have a fine game once he breaks the pin.

BLACK: Vassily Ivanchuk



WHITE: Alexander Grischuk
Position after 23. Qc3b3

23...f5!?

• The Rook is not poisoned and should be taken.
• If 23...Nxc4! 24.Nxc4 Rb8 then:
• 25.Qd3 f5 26.exf5 Bxf5 27.Qe3 Qf6 28.Nxe5 Rbe8 gives Black more freedom mainly owing to the pin at e5.
• If 25.Rd1 Rfd8 then:
• If 26.Bf3 f6 27.Bg4 h5 28.Bh3 then:
• 28...Bf7 29.Qe3 Kh7 30.Rf1 Be8 gives White a considerable advantage in space if the game is analyzed statically, but dynamically analyzed Black can easily exchange Bishops and gain more freedom.
• If 28...Bxe4!? 29.Nxa5 then:
• 29...Qd6 30.Be6+ Kf8 is equal.
• If 29...bxa5?? then White wins after 30.d6+.
• 26.Qd3 Bh5 27.Rf1 f6 28.Bh3 Kh8 29.Kg2 Be8 gives White an impressive advantage in space for the moment, but Black has more freedom.

24.Rc3!

• The game is equal.

24...f4 25.Nc4 Nxc4

• 25...Qd8 26.Nxd6 Qxd6 27.Qc4 Rf6 28.Bh3 Ref8 29.Rd3 remains equal.

26.Qxc4 Qd7 27.Qe2 Rf6 28.g4

• 28.Bf3 Qd6 29.Kg2 Ref8 30.Bg4 Be8 31.Be6+ Bf7 remains equal.

28...Bf7 29.f3!?

• White's bad Bishop just got worse. The pawn should stay out of hi way.
• 29.Bf3! (putting the Bishop on blockade duty allows White to regroup his pieces; then, after the Bishop moves in the direction of the queenside, the f-pawn can advance) 29...Rh6 30.Qd1 Qd6 31.Kg2 Rh4 32.Rh1 remains equal.

29...g5

• Black's plan is to expand on the kingside.
• Nevertheless, objectively best is 29...Rd8! 30.Rd1 Qe7 31.Rc2 when:
• 31...Rh6 32.Bf1 Rdd6 33.Qe1 Qg5 gives Black a slight advantage on the kingside. Other than the h-pawn, no White pawn can move.
• 31...Rfd6 32.Qd3 h5 33.gxh5 Qg5 34.Kh1 Qxh5 gives White a slight advantage mostly on the kingside.

30.h4!?

• The pawn sacrifice is unsound.
• 30.Qd1! then:
• 30...Kh8 31.Rf2 Rh6 32.Qe1 Rh4 33.Rcc2 h5 gives Black a slim advantage on the kingside.
• If 30...Rh6 31.Rf2 then:
• 31...Rh4 32.Bf1 h5 33.gxh5 Kh7 gives Black a slim advantage on the kingside.
• 31...Kh8!? 32.Bf1 Rg8 33.Rg2 Rh4 34.Bc4 is equal.

BLACK: Vassily Ivanchuk



WHITE: Alexander Grischuk
Position after 30.h2h4

30...gxh4!

• Black has a small advantage in space and an extra pawn.

31.Bh3 Rg6! 32.Kf2 h5 33.Rh1 Qe7 34.Rcc1 Kh7

• 34...Kg7 35.Rh2 Rg5 36.Rch1 Rh8 37.Qd3 Rh6 gives Black more freedom in the form of a Rook on a navigable file and the better Bishop.

35.Rcg1

• 35.Rh2!? hxg4! 36.Bxg4 Kg7 37.Rch1 Rh8 gives Black more freedom; the Bishop is almost a liability to White.

35...Reg8

• If 35...Rh8 36.Ke1 then:
• 36...Kg8 37.Kd2 hxg4 38.Bxg4 Kf8 continues to give Black the advantage in space.
• 36...Kg7 37.Rg2 Kf8 38.Kd2 Ke8 39.Kc3 Kd8 also gives Black the advantage in space.

36.Kf1!?

• This move does nothing except obstruct the Queen's mobility.
• 36.Rg2 Kg7 37.Rgh2 hxg4 38.Bxg4 Rh6 39.Qe1 Rgh8 gives Black a small advantage in freedom and activity. White's pieces are boxed in behind the pawn chain.

36...Kh6!?

• This looks like a move made in time trouble.
• 36...hxg4 37.Bxg4 Kg7 38.Qf2 Rh8 39.Qe1 Kf8 gives White an extra pawn and a pssed pawn on the h-file.

37.Rg2?!

• White's last best opportunity may have left the station.
• If 37.Qf2! Be8 38.Bg2 then:
• 38...hxg4 39.Qxh4+ Qxh4 40.Rxh4+ Kg5 is equal.
• 38...Kg7 39.Qxh4 Qxh4 40.Rxh4 hxg4 41.fxg4 is equal.

BLACK: Vassily Ivanchuk



WHITE: Alexander Grischuk
Position after 37. Rg1g2

37...c4!!

• White sacrifices a pawn and breakthrough with the Queen.

38.Qxc4 Qa3 39.Rf2?

• White just removed a guard from the key square in this position, g4. White should keep it well guarded.
• If 39.Qe2! then:
• If 39...Qxa4! 40.Kg1 Be8 41.Qf2 then:
• 41...Qxb5 42.Kh2 Qb3 43.Rhg1 Rg5 44.Rc1 Qe3 Black is much better, but White still has hopes of counterplay.
• If 41...Qd4!? 42.Qxd4 exd4 43.Rd2 Bd7 then:
• 44.Kf2 hxg4 45.Bxg4 Bxg4 46.fxg4 Rxg4 47.Rxd4 Kg5 leaves Black only a small advantage; the d-pawn can be stopped without it costing Black a Rook.
• 44.Rxd4?! Rc8! 45.Rd2 hxg4 46.Bxg4 Bxg4 47.fxg4 Rxg4+ leaves Black's Rooks significantly more active.
• If 39...Qa1+!? 40.Qe1 Qxa4 41.Kg1 then:
• 41...Be8 42.Qxh4 Rg5 43.Kh2 Qb3 44.Qf2 Qxb5 gives Black nothing more than a small advantage.
• 41...Kh7!? 42.Kh2! Qa3 43.Qf2 a4 44.Rhg1 Qe3 is equal.

39...hxg4!!

• Black takes advantage of White's last move and strikes at g4. Although White wins the exchange, Black is compensated with a mating net ensnaring White's King and now wins easily.

40.Bxg4 Rxg4 41.fxg4 Rxg4 42.Qe2

• White's position is hopeless.
• If 42.Rfh2 Kg5 43.Ke1 f3 44.Kd1 Bg6 then:
• If 45.Qc1+ Qxc1+ 46.Kxc1 Bxe4 then:
• If 47.d6 Bf5 48.Rd1 Rg2 49.d7 Bxd7 then:
• 50.Rhh1 Bf5 51.Rhf1 Kf4 52.Rd6 h3 is time to say good night.
• 50.Rxd7?? loses immediately to 50...Rxh2!.
• If 47.Re1 then Black wins easily after 47...Rg2 48.d6 Bf5 49.Rhh1 Kg4 50.Rxe5 f2 .
• 45.Qa2 Qxa2 46.Rxa2 Bxe4 47.d6 Bf5 stops the d-pawn cold in its tracks while White's passers on the kingside remain mobile.

BLACK: Vassily Ivanchuk



WHITE: Alexander Grischuk
Position after 42.Qc4e2

42...Bh5 43.Rf3 Qc1+ 44.Qe1 Qc4+ 45.Kf2 Qc2+ 0-1

• If 46.Qe2 then 46...Rg2+ wins the Queen and leads to mate.
• Alexander Igorovich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. 12th European Championship, Aix-les-Bains

Lac du Bourget and Aix-les-Bains
Photo by Xtrasystole, in Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Potkin - Savchenko, Round 5

This was the last battle of the unvanquished in Aix-les-Bains.



Vladimir Potkin
Photo by Stefan64 from Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Vladimir Potkin - Boris Savchenko
12th European Championship, Round 5
Aix-les-Bains, 26 March 2011

East India Game: Indian Gambit (Budapest Defense)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5

• This opening, traditionally called the Budapest Defense (or Gambit or Countergambit) was hot stuff in the 1920s when it was actually feared and given the kind of respect the King's Indian is nowadays. Black gives up a center pawn and seeks quick development. The shortest tournament game in history was a the Indian Gambit in which White withheld an early c2c4 that ran: 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nd2 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.h3??? Ne3!! White resigns as he must either lose his Queen or play 5.fxe3 Qh4# and have a nice rest of the day (Gibaud-Lazard, Paris, 1924).

3.dxe5 Ng4

• If 3...Ne4(Less usual, but not better than 3...Ng5. -- Dr. Alekhine) then:
• 4.a3 Nc6 5.Nf3 d6 6.Qc2 then:
• If 6...Bf5 then:
• 7.Nc3 8.Qxf5 Nxh1 9.e6 fxe6 10.Qxe6+ Qe7 11.Qd5 h6 12.g3 gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Reshevsky-Bisguer, New York, 1955).
• 7...Nxc3 8.Qxf5 Na4 9.g3 Be7 10.Qc2 Nc5 11.b4 Ne6 12.exd6 cxd6 13.Bg2 0-0 14.0-0 Rc8 15.Bb2 Qb6 16.Rfd1 Rfd8 17.Qe4 a5 18.Bh3 draw (Smejkal-P. Popovich, Novi Sad, 1976).
• 6...Nc5 7.b4 Ne6 8.Bb2 dxe5 9.e3 f6 10.Bd3 g6 11.h4 Bg7 12.Nc3 f5 13.0-0-0 Qe7 14.Nd5 gives White a powerful advantage in space (García-Rogers, IT, Las Palmas, 1995).
• If 4.Nd2 Nc5 5.Ngf3 Nc6 6.g3 then:
• 6...Qe7 7.Bg2 g6 8.Nb1 Nxe5 9.0-0 Nxf3+ 10.exf3 Bg7 11.Re1 Ne6 12.Nc3 0-0 13.Nd5 Qd8 14.f4 c6 15.Nc3 d6 is equal (Dr. Alekhine-Dr. Tartakover, IT, London, 1932).
• 6...d6 7.exd6 Qxd6 8.Bg2 Bf5 9.0-0 0-0-0 10.a3 Qf6 11.Qe1 Re8 12.e4 Nxe4 13.Nxe4 Rxe4 14.Be3 Re8 is equal (Gupta-Thejkumar, Indian Ch, Mumbai, 2009).

4.Bf4

• If 4.Nf3 then:
• If 4...Bc5 5.e3 Nc6 6.Be2 0-0 7.0-0 Re8 8.Nc3 Ncxe5 9.Nxe5 Nxe5 then:
• If 10.b3 a5 11.Bb2 Ra6 12.Qd5 Ba7 13.Ne4 Rae6 then:
• If 14.Qxa5!? Bb6 15.Qc3 Qh4 16.f4 Rh6 17.h3 d5 then:
• If 18.Ng5?! Qg3 19.c5 Bxh3 20.Nxh3? Rxh3 21.Qe1 Qh2+ 22.Kf2 Bxc5 White resigns in the face of further material loss (Whiteley-Anagnostopoulos, Op, London, 1994).
• If a) 18.cxd5?! Bxh3 19.gxh3 Qxh3 20.Kf2 Qh4+ 21.Ng3 then:
• If 21...Qh2+ 22.Ke1 Qxg3+ 23.Kd1 Nd7 then:
• If 24.Rf3 Qg2 25.Rf2 Qxd5+ 26.Kc2 Rc6 27.Bc4 Qe4+ then:
• 28.Kd1? Nf6 29.Re2 Rd6+ 30.Rd2 Red8 White resigns (Oll-Romero Holmes, EU ChU20, Groningen, 1984).
• 28.Qd3 Qxd3+ 29.Kxd3 Rxe3+ 30.Kc2.
li]24.e4? Qxc3! 25.Bxc3 Rxe4 26.Rc1 Rd6 wins for Black.
• 21...Rg6! 22.Ke1 Rxg3 23.Kd1 Rxe3 24.Qd2 Ng4 wins for Black
• If b) 18.fxe5! then:
• If 18...Bxh3 19.e6 f6 20.Nxf6+ gxf6 21.Bf3 is equal.
• If 18...dxe4 19.e6 f6 20.c5 Ba7 21.e7 then:
• If 21...Rxe7! then:
• 22.Qa5! Qg3 23.Qxa7 Rxh3 24.Bc4+ is equal.
• 22.Qc4+? Be6 23.Qb4 Qg5 24.Bd4Bxh3 gives Black an extra pawn and a fierce attack on the King.
• 21...Rg6? 22.Qc4+ Kh8 23.Bg4 f5 24.Bxf5 Bxf5 25.Rxf5 gives White a winning position.
• If 14.c5 c6 15.Qd2 d5 16.cxd6 Qh4 17.Bxe5 Rxe5 18.d7 Bxd7 19.Qxd7 R5e7 20.Qd2 Rxe4 21.Qxa5 Bb8 22.g3 then:
• 22...Qh3 23.Qh5 Qe6 24.Bd3 gives White an extra pawn and the initiative (M. Gurevich-Korchnoi, IT, Madrid, 1988).
• If 22...Qf6 23.Rad1 b5 24.Qd2 g6 25.Qd7 gives White an extra pawn and a fierce initiative (Mensch-Kahn, 1st Saturday November, Budapest, 2001).
• 10.Kh1 d6 11.Na4 Qh4 12.Nxc5 dxc5 is equal (Vaisser-Epishin, Soviet Ch sewmif, Sevastopol, 1986).
• If 4...Nc6 5.Bg5 Be7 6.Bxe7 Qxe7 7.Nc3 then:
]If 7...Ngxe5 8.Nxe5 then:
• If 8...Qxe5 9.e3 0-0 10.Be2 d6 11.0-0 then:
• 11...Bf5 12.Qd2 Rad8 13.Nd5 Rd7 14.g4 Be4 15.f4 Qe6 16.Nc3 f6 17.Nxe4 Qxe4 18.Bf3 Qe7 gives White a slight advantage in space (Grisha-M. Muzychuk, Ukrainian Ch GirlsU10, Nikolaev, 2001).
• 11.0-0-0 c6 12.Nc3 0-0 13.f4 Nf7 14.e3 d6 15.Bd3 give White a small advantage in space (Devos-Mlacnik, Blind Ol, Zakopane, 2000).
• If 11...Be6 12.Qd2 f5 13.Nd5 Bxd5 then:
• 14.cxd5 14...Ne7 15.Bf3 c5 16.dxc6 bxc6 17.Rfd1 d5 18.Rac1 gives White a slight advantage in space (Grigore-Biro, Romanian ChT, Elforie Nord, 1997).
• 14.Qxd5+ Kh8 15.Qxe5 Nxe5 16.f3 Rae8 17.Rac1 b6 18.Rfd1 a5 is equal (Sucic-Poleshchuk, EU ChU16, Sibinik, 2007).
• If 8...Nxe5 9.Nd5 Qd8 10.Qd4 f6 then:
• If 11.f4 Nc6 12.Qe4+ Kf7 13.e3 d6 14.Be2 f5 15.Qd3 Ne7 16.Bh5+ gives Black a clear advantage (Z. Mamedyarova-Alekserov, Azerbaijani Ch, Baku, 1999).
• 7...Ncxe5 8.Nd5 Qc5 9.e3 Nxf3+ 10.gxf3 Nf6 11.Nxf6+ gxf6 12.Bd3 gives White better development (Benko-Ault, Op, Boston, 1964).
• If 4.e4 Nxe5 5.f4 Nec6 6.Be3 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 then:
• If 7...Qh4+ 8.g3 Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 Qe7 then:
• 10.Bd3 Na6 11.Bc2 b6 12.Nf3 Nc5 13.0-0 Bb7 14.e5 0-0-0 15.Nd4 f6 16.Nf5 Qf8 is equal (Keres-Gilg, IT, Prague, 1937).
• 10.Bg2 d6 11.Qd3 0-0 12.Nf3 Re8 13.0-0 Qxe4 14.Qxe4 Rxe4 15.Bd4 Nxd4 16.Nxd4 Re7 17.Rae1 Kf8 18.Rxe7 Kxe7 19.Re1+ Kf8 20.Nb5 Na6 draw (Balanel-Heidenfeld, IT, Prague, 1951).
• If 7...Qe7 8.Bd3 then:
• 8...f5 9.Qh5+ g6 10.Qf3 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 fxe4 12.Bxe4 0-0 13.Bd5+ Kh8 14.Nh3 d6 15.0-0 Bxh3 16.Qxh3 Qd7 17.f5 gxf5 18.Rab1 f4 19.Bxf4 Qxh3 20.Be5+ Black resigns (Dr.Alekhine-Dr. Seitz, IT 2526, Hastings, 1925).
• 8...Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 Na6 10.Ne2 Nc5 11.Ng3 d6 12.0-0 Bd7 is equal (Kmoch-Montecelli, IT, Budapest, 1926).

4...Nc6 5.Nf3 Bb4+ 6.Nbd2

• White already has a slight advantage in space.
• If 6.Nc3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 Qe7 8.Qd5 then:
• If 8...f6 9.exf6 Nxf6 10.Qd3 d6 then:
• If 11.g3 0-0 12.Bg2 then:
• If 12...Bg4 13.0-0 Rae8 14.Rfe1 then:
• 14...Nd7 15.Nd4 Nce5 16.Qe3 Qf6 17.Qc1 c6 18.f3 Bh5 19.Rb1 draw (Reinderman-L'Ami, IT B, Wijk aan Zee, 2010).
• If 14...Kh8 15.Rab1 Ne4 16.Nd4 givesm White a small advantage in space (Rosenburg-Fister, Corres, 2002).
• If 12...Ne4 13.0-0 Nc5 14.Qe3 then:
• 14...Be6 15.Nd4 Bxc4 16.Nxc6 Qxe3 17.Bxe3 bxc6 18.Bxc6 gives White an extra pawn and the initiative (Seirawan-C. Schulien, Op, Columbus, 1987).
• 14...Bg4 15.Qxe7 Nxe7 16.Nd4 Rae8 17.Rfb1 Ng6 18.Be3 gives White an extra pawn (Korchnoi-Faure, Op, Zürich, 1988).
• 11.e3 0-0 12.Be2 Ne4 13.0-0 Bf5 14.Qd5+ Kh8 15.Rac1 Nc5 16.Nd4 Be4 17.Nxc6 bxc6 18.Qd2 gives White an extra pawn (Pogorlov-A. González, Op, Mondariz, 2000).
• 8...Qa3 9.Rc1 f6 10.exf6 Nxf6 11.Qd2 d6 12.Nd4 0-0 13.f3 Ne5 14.e4 gives White a small advantage in space (O'Kelly-Heidenfeld, IT, Dublin, 1956).

6...Qe7 7.e3

• If 7.a3 Ngxe5 8.Nxe5 Nxe5 then:
• If 9.e3 Bxd2+ 10.Qxd2 d6 then:
• If 11.Be2 0-0 12.0-0 b6 13.b4 then:
• If 13...Bb7 then:
• 14.Rac1 Rad8 15.Bg3 Rfe8 16.Rfe1 Ng6 17.e4 gives White a small advantage in space (Belozarov-Bjornsson, Euro Club Cup, Halidiki, 2002).
• 14.Rfd1 Rae8 15.Bg3 f5 16.f3 Ng6 is equal (T. Schmidt-Koch, Corres, 1990).
• 13...a5 14.f3 transposes into Gonçalves-Johansson, below.
• 11.Qc3 f6 12.Be2 0-0 13.0-0 Kh8 14.Rfd1 b6 15.b4 Bb7 16.c5 gives White the advantage in space (Szabo-Ban, Hungarian Ch, Budapest, 1947).
• 9.Bxe5 Bxd2+ 10.Qxd2 Qxe5 11.e3 d6 12.Be2 a5 13.0-0 a4 14.Rfd1 0-0 is equal (Meins-Gutman, German Ch, Hochendorf, 2004).

7...Ngxe5 8.Nxe5 Nxe5 9.Be2 b6

• In the years between the World Wars, this defense was thought to be an aggressive gambit for Black. However, even in 2011, this gambit is played with the slower development of the pieces characteristic of the hypermoderns of that era. In the opinion of my staff and I, this is the wrong approach. Black has given up a pawn for quick development. Therefore, Black should not develop his Bishops on the flanks, but engage them in combat quickly by delpoying to the fourth or fifth ranks in classical style.
• If 9...0-0 10.0-0 then:
• If 10...Bxd2 11.Qxd2 d6 12.b4 then:
• 12...Re8 13.Rfd1 Ng6 14.Bg3 a5 15.c5 dxc5 16.bxc5 gives White more space, the Bishop pair in an open game and command of the d-file (Stohl-Manolov, IT, Burgas, 1992).
• 12...Rd8 13.Qc3 f6 14.Rfd1 Bf5 15.Rd2 Bg6 16.Rad1 gives White the advantage in space and the Bishop pair (Bluvshtein-Miezis, Ol, Calvia, 2004).
• If 10...a5 11.a3 then:
• If 11...Bxd2 12.Qxd2 d6 13.b4 then:
• 13...b6 14.f3 Bb7 15.Rfb1 Ng6 16.Bg3 Rfe8 17.e4 gives White a slight advantage in space (Gonçalves-Johansson, Corres, 1999).
• 13...Rd8 14.Qc3 f6 15.Rfd1 Bf5 16.f3 axb4 17.axb4 gives White a small advantage in space (Smyslov-Blackstock, IT, London, 1988).
• 11...Bc5 12.b4 axb4 13.axb4 Rxa1 14.Qxa1 gives White a small advantage in space (Bormida-Jensen, Corres, 1999).

10.0-0 Bb7

• If 10...Bxd2 11.Qxd2 Bb7 then:
• If 12.Qc3 d6 13.c5 bxc5 14.Bxe5 Qxe5 15.Qxe5+ dxe5 then:
• 16.Rfc1 0-0-0 17.Rxc5 Rhe8 18.Rac1 Re7 is equal (Malaniuk-Blatny, IT, Kecskemet, 1991).
• 16.Rfd1 Rd8 17.Rac1 Rxd1+ 18.Bxd1 is equal (L. B. Hansen-Blatny, IT. Amsterdam, 1989).
• 12.b4 d6 13.Rac1 Ng6 14.Bg3 h5 15.c5 dxc5 16.bxc5 h4 is equal (Kosyrev-Oleinikov, Moscow Ch, 1999).

11.Nf3 Bxf3 12.Bxf3 Rd8 13.Be2 (N)

• If 13.Qe2 a5 14.Be4 Bd6 15.Rad1 0-0 then:
• 16.Bb1?! f5 17.Rd2 Rde8 18.Re1 is equal (Babula-García Palermo, Euro Club Cup, Kallithea, 2008).
• 16.Qh5 g6 17.Qe2 f5 18.Bb7 g5 19.Bxe5 Bxe5 20.Bd5+ is equal.

13...Bd6 14.Qc2

• White has a comfortable advantage in space.

14...h5

• 14...g5 15.Bg3 0-0 16.Qb3 Qe6 17.Rad1 f5 18.Rfe1 continues to give White more space. Whites Bishop pair may also be adventageous with few pawns in the center.

15.Rad1 c6?!

• Black is afraid of ghosts. He takes a prophylactic measure to retreat his Bishop rather than simply exchange it in order to save time.
• Better is 15...g5 16.Bxe5 Qxe5 17.g3 h4 18.Rd5 , but even that continues to give White a comfortable advantage.

16.Rd4!

• White brings his Rook to the center where it can quickly move to wherever it can do the most damage.

16...Bc7

• 16...Bb8 17.h3 g6 18.Rfd1 Kf8 19.Bh2 c5 20.Rd5 gives White more space and the Bishop pair.

17.h4 g6?

• Black weakens his kingside dark squares.
• As grim as it is, Black can still put up a defense after 17...d6 18.Rfd1 0-0 19.Bg5 f6 20.Bf4.

18.Bg5 f6

• Black further weakens his kingside. Nevertheless, the game is lost and even a less weakening move is of no avail.
• 18...Qe6 19.Bxd8 Kxd8 20.Rfd1 Kc8 21.c5 Rd8 22.b4 allows White to bust through Black's defense like Superman breaking through plywood.

BLACK: Boris Savchenko



WHITE: Vladimir Potkin
Position after 18...f7f6

19.f4!!

• White sweeps away the pawns, opening the f-file for his Rook.

19...fxg5 20.fxe5 Qg7

• Black's King is exposed and his center is gone. There is no longer an adequate defense.

21.Rf6!

• The Black Queen is shut out of the game.

21...Bxe5 22.Rxg6 Qe7

BLACK: Boris Savchenko



WHITE: Vladimir Potkin
Position after 22...Qg7e7

23.Bxh5!!

• White proffers the Bishop.

23...Bh2+

• 23...Rxh5 24.Rg8+ Qf8 25.Rxf8+ Kxf8 26.Qf5+ wins the Bishop and gives White an overwhelming material advantage.

24.Kh1 1-0

• 24...Rxh5 25.Rg8+ Qf8 26.Qg6+ Ke7 27.Re4+ Be5 28.Rxe5#.
• Grandmaster Savchenko resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. J. Polgar - Edouard, Round 4

Judit Polgar, the only woman to play in a candidates' match for the overall world championship, will begin Round 8 in Aix-les-Bains Tuesday only a point behind the leader.



Judit Polgar
Photo by Ygrek in Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Judit Polgar - Romain Edouard
12th European Championship, Round 4
Aix-les-Bains, 25 March 2011

Open Sicilian Game: Sveshnikov Defense

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5 9.Nd5

• If 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.Nd5 then:
• 10...f5 is the Chelyabinsk Variation.
• 10...Bg7 is the Novosibirsk Variation.

9...Be7 10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.c3 0-0 12.Nc2 Bg5

• For variations up to here, see Hou Yifan-Krush, ITW, Istanbul, 2008.

13.Be2

• If 13.a4 bxa4 14.Rxa4 a5 15.Bc4 Rb8 16.b3 then:
• If 16...Kh8 then after 17.Nce3 g6 18.Qe2 f5 19.h4 Bxe3 20.Qxe3 fxe4 21.h5 g5 22.Qxe4 Bb7 23.Qe3 gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Anand-Shirov, IT, Morelia-Linares, 2008).
• 17.0-0 f5 18.exf5 Bxf5 19.Nce3 Bg6 20.Bd3 Bxd3 21.Qxd3 Bxe3 22.fxe3 Rxf1+ 23.Qxf1 Rxb3 24.Rc4 Rb5 25.Nc7 Rb6 26.Nd5 Rb5 27.Nc7 draw (Bologan-Timofeev, IT, Sarajevo, 2005).

13...Be6

• If 13...Rb8 14.0-0 a5 then:
• If 15.Qd3 then:
• If 15...Be6 then:
• If 16.Rfd1 Kh8 then:
• 17.Nde3 Qb6 18.Bg4 Rfd8 19.Qe2 is equal (Strautins-Sakai, Corres, 2001).
• 17.Bf3 Qd7 18.Nce3 g6 19.Qe2 Rfd8 20.g3 f5 21.exf5 gxf5 is equal (Santo Roman-Chandler, TM, Cannes, 1992).
• 16...Qd7 17.Qg3 h6 18.h4 Bd8 19.Nce3 Kh8 20.a4 bxa4 21.Nc4 is equal (Lau-Jussupow, IT, Munich, 1988).
• 15...Ne7 16.Nce3 Be6 17.Nxe7+ Qxe7 18.Nd5 Qa7 19.a3 Kh8 20.Rad1 f5 is equal (Coenen-Gustafsson, Euro Club Cup, Ponormo, 2001).
• 15.b4 axb4 16.Ncxb4 Nxb4 17.Nxb4 Qc7 18.Qd3 Bb7 19.a4 bxa4 20.Rxa4 Ra8 is equal (Gorin-Malakhatko, Op, Bydgoszcz, 2000).

14.0-0 Ne7 15.a4

• 15.Ncb4 a5 16.Nxe7+ Qxe7 17.Nd5 Qb7 18.Qd3 Bxd5 19.Qxd5 Qxd5 20.exd5 Rab8 is equal (Dervishi-Krasenkow, Euro Ch, Ohrid, 2001).

15...Bxd5 16.exd5 bxa4 17.Rxa4 a5 18.Qd3 (N)

• White has a slight advantage in space.
• 18.Na3 f5 19.Nc4 e4 20.Qa1 Nxd5 21.Rd1 Nf4 is equal (Serper-Chekhov, Soviet Army Ch, Frunze, 1988).

18...Qb6 19.Rb1 Qb7

BLACK: Judit Polgar



WHITE: Romain Edouard
Position after 19...Qb6b7

20.Na3!

• The sham sacrifice of the pawn is the best way to maintain a narrow advantage.
• 20.Bf3!? f5 21.Qd1 e4 22.Be2 Rfc8 23.c4 is equal.

20...Qxd5 21.Qxd5 Nxd5 22.Nc4!?

• White eschews the recapture of the sacrificed pawn.
• If 22.Bf3 Nb6 23.Rg4 e4 24.Bxe4 gets the pawn back, but Black equalizes with 24...f5 when:
• 25.Bxa8 fxg4 26.Bc6 Rc8 27.Bb5 d5 28.Nc2 may gives White slightly stronger pawns, but not much else.
22...Rab8 23.Raa1 a4?! <23...Bd8! 24.Nxd6 Bc7 25.Nc4[/i> then:
If
• 25...g6 26.g3 f5 27.Nxe5 Nxc3! then:
• 28.Bc4+! Kh8 29.Nxg6+ hxg6 30.bxc3 Rxb1+ 31.Rxb1 Be5 is equal.
• 28.bxc3!? Rxb1+ 29.Rxb1 Bxe5 30.Rb3 Rb8 31.Bb5 gives Black a slight initiative.
• 25...Rfd8 then:
• 26.Rd1 g6 27.g3 Nf6 28.Rxd8+ Bxd8 29.Bd1 gives White a passed pawn, but it's not going anywhere for a while.
• Far from winning a pawn, 26.Nxa5?? drops a piece to 26...Bxa5 27.Rxa5 Nxc3! .
• 25.Rxg5 fxe4 26.Rb5 Rfb8 27.b3 Nd7 28.Kf1 Ne5 also gives White slightly stronger pawns, but not enough to call a real advantage ove Black's centralized Knight.

24.Bf3!

• Now White is ready to recapture the pawn.

24...Nb6 25.Nxb6 Rxb6 26.Rxa4

• White gets her pawn back with a slight advantage.

26...Rc8!?

• This is neither the best nor worst move for Black. In a critical position, another choice could have made a great deal of difference.
• If 26...g6 then:
• 27.c4 Rb3 28.Bd1 Rd3 29.b4 Rb8 30.Be2 Rd2 31.Kf1 gives White nothing more than a slight advantage
• (27.b3!? then:
• 27...Rc8 28.c4 Bd2 29.Bd5 Bb4 30.g4 g5 31.Kg2 White's passer counts for little as her queenside is restrained and blockaded.
• (27...Rfb8?! 28.b4! Bd2 29.Ra3 Rc8 30.Rbb3 threatens 31.Bd5, putting White in charge of the a2/g8 diagonal; Black's best course is probably the pawn sacrifice 30...d5!?.
• Less successful for Black is 26...Rfb8?! 27.b4 Bd2 28.Rb3 h6 29.Kf1 Rc8 30.Raa3 gives White more space, activity and freedom.

27.Bd5!

• White has a fair advantage in space.
• If 27.c4! Rb3 28.Bd5 then:
• 28...Kf8 29.Ra7 Be7 30.c5 Rb5 31.Bb7 Rb8 32.c6 gives White a comfortable advantage in space.
• If 28...Rcb8 then:
• 29.Ra7! Rf8 30.Rd7 g6 31.g3 gives Black's Bishop few options.
• 29.Ra8?! Rxa8 30.Bxa8 g6 is equal.
• 27.b4 Kf8 28.Ra3 Bd2 29.Rbb3 leaves White with a small advantage in space.

27...Bd2 28.c4 Rcb8 29.Ra7 g6!?

• This pawn sacrifice is bordering on desparate. The f7 square, pawn and all, is in danger of being occupied by White and that would inicate that the move for Black is 29...Rf8, but Black may just want to throw his opponent a curve in order to get her swing and miss.
• 29...Rf8 30.b3 g5 31.Rd7 h5 32.h3 continues to give White a fair advantage.

BLACK: Judit Polgar



WHITE: Romain Edouard
Position after 29...g7g6

30.Rxf7!

• The best way to refute a sacrifice is to accept it. --Steinitz. This sacrifice cries out to be refuted.

30...Kh8

• This isn't prophylactic. It is forced.

31.h4 Rxb2

• The text is better than 31...Ra6? when White wins after 32.g4! (cramping Black's kingside) 32...Bc3 33.g5 Bd4 34.Kg2 Ra4 35.b3.

32.Rxb2 Rxb2 33.g4!

• White cramps Black's kingside.

33...Rb8 34.g5 Rd8?!

• Black just made his chances of holding the game a whole lot more difficult.
• 34...Re8 35.Rf6 Bb4 36.Kg2 Bc5 37.Kg3 leaves Black fighting to restrain and blockade White's pawns with reasonable drawing chances.

BLACK: Judit Polgar



WHITE: Romain Edouard
Position after 34... Rb8d8

35.Kg2!

• White wil try to advance the hindmost g-pawn and run her King up the board as an escort.
• 35.Kh2 Re8 36.Rf6 Be1 37.Kg3 is a variation of the same theme.

35...h6?

• Black shortens his agony.
• 35...Be1 36.Kg3! (still with the idea of using the King to escort the pawn up the board) 36...Rc8 37.h5 Bb4 38.f3 Bc5 39.Kg4 leaves Black holding to a thread.

36.h5!

• White has mate on g8 in mind.

36...Rg8

• There is no hope.
• 36...gxh5 37.g6 Kg8 38.Ra7+ Kf8 39.g7+ Ke8 40.g8Q#.

37.Rd7!

• White attacks the d-pawn and discovers an attack on the Rook.

37...Rg7 38.Bf7! 1-0

• If 38...Rxf7 then White wins the exchange after 39.Rxf7 gxh5 40.gxh6 Bxh6 41.Rf6 Kg7 42.Rxd6 leaving nothing to stop the c-pawn.
• M. Romain resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Update (Thursday): Twelve tied for first in Aix-les-Bains after nine rounds

Xtrasystole, Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Twelve players are tied for first place with 7 points apiece in the European Championship in Aix-les-Bains after the completion of today's ninth round.

Six players started the day tied for first place with 6½ points each: Viorel Iordachescu (Maldavia), Rauf Mamedov (Azerbaijan), Mircea Parligras (Romania), Vladimir Potkin (Russia), Markus Ragger (Austria) and Nikita Vitiugov (Russia). In the three games on the three top boards today, each player played one other and all three ended in draws, leaving all six with 7 points each.

Eighteen players began the day with 6 points and played each other on the next nine boards. Six of those nine games ended decisively, moving the six winners into a tie for first with the aforementioned six.

They are: Baadur Jobava (Georgia); Ildar Khairullin (Russia); Judit Polgar (Hungary), the world's highest ranking woman chessplayer; Paco Vallejo (Spain); Radoslaw Wojtaszek (Poland); and Sergei Zhigalko (Belarus).

EDIT

Update to the update.

Here are tomorrow's pairings.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Update (Friday): and now there are three

Ygrek, Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Judit Polgar (Hungary), Vladimir Potkin (Russia) and Radoslaw Wojtaszek (Poland) will go to the last round of the 12th European Championships in Aix-les-Bains tomorrow tied for first place with 8 points out of a possible 10.

The day began with twelve chessmasters tied for first with 7/9 and each facing one of the others on the top six boards. Ms. Polgar defeated Viorel Iordachescu (Maldavia) in 54 moves (although Iordachescu could have resigned much sooner); Wojtaszek took down Ildar Khairullin (Russia) in 43 moves; and Potkin, playing Black and who has at least a share of the lead since he started the tournament with five straight victories, vanquished Baadur Jobava (Georgia) in 26 moves. The other three games involving the dynamic dozen ended in draws.

In tomorrow's final round, Potkin will have White against Ms. Polgar and Wojtaszek will have White against Russian GM Peter Svidler. The games will be broadcast live on the official tounament website beginning at 3 pm in France (6 am PDT).