The JR Chess Report (April 16): Dubai Open, Russian ChT and US Championships

[Jack Rabbit]

Negi, Jon Ludwig lead Dubai Open

Robert Luxemborg, Wikipedia (Public Domain)

Grandmasters Parimarjan Negi of India and Jon Ludwig Hammer of Norway lead the 13th annual Dubai Open in the United Arab Emirates after seven rounds with 6 points each.

Today's double round action began with Negi, grandmasters Krishnan Sasikiran of India and Mikhel Mchedlishvili of Georgia with 4½ each out of five rounds. In Round 6, which started at 10 am on the Persian Gulf, Negi defeated Sasikiran and Mchedlishvili lost to Belarusian GM Aleksej Aleksandrov. This left Negi alone in first place with 5½ points, followed by eight players at 5 points each. In the evening round, which begna at 6 pm, Negi drew with Kazakh GM Murtas Kazhgaleyev to assure himself of at least a share of first place at the end of the day. The only player in the second-place log jam to win his game w2as Jon Ludwig, who thus moved into a two-way tie with Negi.

Negi will have White against Jon Ludwig tomorrow in Round 8. Games are broadcast live on the official tournament website at 5:30 pm local time (6:30 am PDT).


Russian Team Championships begin in Olginka

Black Sea Cossacks, 19th Century in Wikipedia (Public Domain)

The Russian Team Championships began in the Black Sea resort Olginka, Krasnodar Krai, on Tuesday with the women's group beginning today.

In the "men's" group (which includes at least two women), Tomsk-400, led by Ukrainian GM Ruslan Ponomariov, took the tournament lead in today's fifth round by defeating Economist SGSEU by a score of 4-2 when Alexander Motylev defeated Pavel Eljanov on board 2 in the only decisive game of the match. Meanwhile, the 64 Chess Club of Moscow, which stated the day tied for first and is led by veteran Boris Gelfand and backed by youngsters Fabiano Caruana and Anish Giri, drew a match with the St. Petersburg Chess Federation, led by Vassily Ivanchuk and Peter Svidler, when all games were drawn.

Winners today in the woman's first round were Ladya, the Moscow Chess Club, AVS and Giprorechtais. Leading players include reigning Russian women's champion Alisa Galliamova (Ladya), former world women's champion Alexandria Kosteniuk (Moscow Chess Club), Katya Lahno (AVS), Natalia Zhukova (Giprorechtais) and Viktorija Cmilyte (St. Petersburg Chess Federation).

Games begin at 2:30 pm local time (3:30 am PDT). Live broadcasts can be found on the website of the Russian Chess Feberation.



24 players meet in St. Louis for US Championships

Daniel Schwen in Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

The US Championships began yesterday in St. Louis, Missouri, with 24 players, 16 men and eight women, in a new competitive format.

The men are divided into two groups of eight players each competing in a single round robin, then the top two in each group will compete in a knock out.

The women compete in a single round robin of seven games to determine the US Women's champion.

In yesterday's first round, Sabina Foisor scored a major upset by defeating Irina Krush, the defending women's champion. Larry Christiansen, a former three-time champion, took down four-time champion Alex Shabalov in a battle of old-time tactical affectionados.

Games begin at 2 pm CDT (noon PDT) and are broadcast live on the with live commentary by grandmaster Maurice Ashley and WGM Jennifer Shahade, editor of Chess Life Online.


COMING ATTRACTIONS

Asian Championships, Mashad, Iran 1-11 May.
Biel Chess Festival 18-29 July.
Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Dortmund 21-31 July.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. This week's games

The JR Chess Report theme music: Merrick, The Look Sharp, Be Sharp March (Arthur Fiedler, Boston Pops Orchestra)

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. Chinese National Championships, Xinghua

The Great Wall of China
Photo by Nicolas Perrault in Wikipedia (Public Domain)

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Zhao Jun - Xiu Deshun, General Group, Round 9

This game is not only the best played in Xinghua last week, but it has been praised as the best game played thus far in 2011.



Zhao Jun
Photo by Leigh Atkins in Wikipedia (Public Domain)


Zhao Jun - Xiu Deshun
Chinese National Championship, General Group, Round 9
Xinghua, 8 April 2011

East India Game: Nimzo-Indian Defense (Sämisch Opening)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3

• This approach was a favorite of the first Soviet world champion, Mikhail Botvinnik.

4...Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 c5

• If 5...d5 then:
• If 6.f3 c5 7.cxd5 then:
• If 7...Nxd5 8.dxc5 Qa5 9.e4 then:
• If 9...Ne7 10.Be3 0-0 11.Qb3 Qc7 then:
• 12.a4 Nec6 13.f4 Na5 14.Qa3 Nd7 15.Nf3 b6 16.cxb6 axb6 17.Nd2 Ba6 18.Bxa6 Rxa6 19.0-0 Rfa8 20.Qb4 Nb7 21.Ra2 Qc6 is equal (Khalifman-van der Wiel, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1991).
• 12.Nh3 e5 13.Nf2 Nec6 14.Rb1 Na5 15.Qa4 Be6 16.Be2 Nd7 17.Rb5 b6 18.0-0 Rfb8 19.Rfb1 h6 20.g3 bxc5 21.Rxb8+ Rxb8 22.Rxb8+ Nxb8 23.Qe8+ gives White a clear advantage (Arencibia-Lobron, IZ, Manila, 1990).
• 12.Bb5 Nec6 13.Rd1 e5 14.Qa2 Na5 15.Qd5 Bd7 16.Bxd7 Rd8 17.Qd6 Qxd6 18.Rxd6 Nxd7 19.Kf2 Nc4 20.Rd5 Nf6 21.Rxd8+ Rxd8 22.Ne2 Rc8 23.Rb1 gives White an extra pawn and a small advantage in space (Timman-Karpov, IT, Linares, 1990).
• 9...Nf6 10.Be3 0-0 11.Qb3 Nfd7 12.a4 Qc7 13.Qa3 b6 14.a5 bxc5 15.Nh3 Ba6 16.Bxa6 Nxa6 17.Qa4 Ne5 is equal (Milov-Razuvaev, Op, Biel, 1994).
• If 7...exd5 8.e3 then:
• If 8...0-0 9.Bd3 b6 10.Ne2 Ba6 then:
• If 11.0-0 Re8 12.Ng3 Bxd3 13.Qxd3 Nc6 then:
• If 14.Ra2 Qd7 15.Re2 Rad8 16.Bb2 Re6 17.Rd1 g6 18.e4 dxe4 19.fxe4 h5 20.Ree1 Qe7 then:
• 21.Qf3 h4 22.Nf1 Nxe4 gives Black an extra pawn (Borg-Kunte, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).
• 21.Qf1 Nxe4 22.Rxe4 Rxe4 23.Nxe4 Qxe4 is equal (Serper-Onischuk, US Ch, San Diego, 2006).
• If 14.Bb2 Rc8 15.Rae1 then:
• 15...Na5 16.e4 Nc4 17.Bc1 b5 18.Bg5 Qb6 19.Bxf6 Qxf6 20.exd5 cxd4 21.cxd4 a6 is equal (Miedema-Hort, Op, Hoogeveen, 2008).
• 15...cxd4 16.cxd4 Qc7 17.e4 Ne7 18.e5 gives White more freedom (Gligoric-Damljanovic, IT, Sarajevo, 1969).
• If 11.Bxa6 Nxa6 12.0-0 then:
• If 12...Nc7 13.Ng3 Re8 14.Qd3 Ne6 15.Bb2 then:
• 15...Qd7 16.e4 cxd4 17.cxd4 dxe4 18.Nxe4 Nxe4 19.Qxe4 Nc7 20.Qd3 Nd5 21.Rae1 Rxe1 22.Rxe1 Re8 23.Re5 f6 24.Rxe8+ Qxe8 is equal is equal (Tomic-Szabo, IT, Vinkovci, 1970).
• 15...Rc8 16.Rad1 Qc7 17.Rc1 g6 18.e4 c4 is equal (Radjabov-Mateo, Op, Biel, 2000).
• 12...Re8 13.Ng3 Qd7 14.Ra2 Rac8 15.Re2 cxd4 16.cxd4 Rc4 is equal (Hensbergen-Teplyi, Politiken Cup, Helsingør, 2007).
• If 8...Qc7 9.Ra2 Bf5 then:
• 10.Ne2 cxd4 11.cxd4 Nbd7 12.g4 Bg6 13.Bg2 Rc8 14.0-0 Nb6 15.Nf4 Bc2 16.Qe1 0-0 is equal (Harika-Spraggett, Masters, Gibraltar, 2007).
• If 10.g4 then:
• 10...Be6 11.Ne2 Nc6 12.Nf4 0-0-0 13.g5 Nd7 14.Bd3 Kb8 15.0-0 Nb6 16.a4 is equal (Shirov-Lerner, ZT, Lvov, 1990).
• 10...Bd7 11.Bd3 Nc6 draw (Bauer-Graf, Op, Bad Zwesten, 2006).
• If 6.e3 c5 7.cxd5 exd5 8.Bd3 0-0 9.Ne2 then:
• If 9...b6 10.0-0 Ba6 11.Bxa6 Nxa6 then:
• 12.Bb2 Qd7 13.a4 Rfe8 14.Qd3 c4 gives Black a fair advantage in space (Botvinnik-Capablanca, AVRO, Holland, 1938).
• If 12.Qd3 then:
• 12...Nc7 13.dxc5 bxc5 14.c4 Rb8 15.Qc2 dxc4 16.Rd1 Qe7 is equal (Kotov-Benko, IT, Budapest, 1949).
• 12...Qc8 13.f3 Re8 14.Ng3 Qb7 15.Ra2 Re6 16.Re2 Rae8 17.Rfe1 h5 18.Qf5 gives White a small advantage in space (Beliavsky-Short, IT, Linares, 1990).
• If 9...Nc6 10.0-0 Re8 11.f3 then:
• 11...b6 12.Ng3 Bb7 13.Ra2 Rc8 14.Re2 cxd4 15.cxd4 Na5 16.Kh1 is equal (Kanko-Minev, ZT, Halle, 1963).
• 11...Bd7 12.Ng3 Qc7 13.Ra2 h6 14.Re2 Re7 15.Ree1 Rae8 16.Qd2 Qa5 is equal (Rubinetti-Najdorf, IT, Mar del Plata, 1971).
• If 5...0-0 6.f3 then:
• If 6...Ne8 7.e4 b6 8.Bd3 Ba6 9.Nh3 Nc6 10.0-0 Na5 11.Qe2 c5 12.e5 f6 then:
• 13.Bf4 cxd4 14.cxd4 Rc8 15.Rac1 Qe7 16.Rc3 d5 17.exd6 Nxd6 18.c5 Bxd3 19.Qxd3 bxc5 20.dxc5 Nf7 21.Qa6 gives White a fair advantage with a passed pawn (S. Volkov-Pashikian, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2008).
• 13.Be3 Rc8 14.Rac1 d5 15.Nf4 Nc7 16.exf6 Qxf6 17.cxd5 Bxd3 18.Qxd3 cxd4 19.cxd4 Nxd5 20.Nxd5 exd5 21.Bf2 Nc4 is equal (Topalov-Leko, Candidates' M Final, Dortmund, 2002).
• If 6...Nh5 7.Nh3 f5 then:
• If 8.e4 then:
• 8...c5 9.e5 Nc6 10.f4 g6 11.Be2 b6 12.0-0 Ng7 13.Be3 gives White the advantage in space (Bronstein-Szabo, IZ, Budapest, 1950).
• 8...fxe4 9.Be2 e5 10.0-0 d6 11.fxe4 Bxh3 12.Bxh5 Be6 13.Rxf8+ Qxf8 14.Ra2 Nd7 15.Rf2 gives White the advantage in space (Berkes-Dzagnidze, Op, Gibraltar, 2009).
• If 8.e3 d6 then:
• 9.Nf2 e5 10.f4 Nf6 11.fxe5 dxe5 12.c5 Nc6 is equal; White is already paying a price in lagging development for not being able to develop his Knight to f3 (Volkov-Izoria, Euro ChT, Saint Vincent, 2005).
• If 9.Bd3 e5 10.0-0 Nc6 11.f4 Qe8 12.fxe5 dxe5 13.Ra2 e4 14.Be2 Nf6 15.a4 is equal (Geller-Pogats, IT, Schiavno Zdroj, 1950).
• If 5...b6 6.f3 d5 7.Bg5 then:
• If 7...h6 8.Bh4 Ba6 9.e4 Bxc4 10.Bxc4 dxc4 11.Qa4+ Qd7 12.Qxc4 then:
• 12...Qc6 13.Qd3 Nbd7 14.Ne2 Rd8 15.0-0 a5 16.Qc2 Qc4 gives White the advantage in space and the superior center(Lilienthal-Capablanca, IT 3435, Hastings, 1935).
• 12...Nc6 13.Ne2 Na5 14.Qd3 Qc6 15.0-0 0-0-0 16.Rab1 g5 17.Bg3 Nh5 18.f4 gives White the advantage in space (Dr. Alekhine-Eliskases, IT 3334, Hastings, 1934).
• 7...Ba6 8.e4 Bxc4 9.Bxc4 dxc4 10.Qa4+ Qd7 11.Qxc4 gives White the advantage in space (Veresov-Yudovich, Soviet Ch, Leningrad, 1934).

6.e3 b6 7.Bd3 Nc6

• If 7...Bb7 8.f3 Nc6 9.Ne2 0-0 10.e4 Ne8 then:
• If 11.Be3 d6 12.0-0 Na5 13.Ng3 Qd7 then:
• If 14.f4 f5 then:
• 15.Qe2 g6 16.Rad1 gives White a small advantage in space (Gligoric-Beni, IT, Dubrovnik, 1950).
• 15.d5 g6 16.Qc2 fxe4 17.Nxe4 exd5 18.cxd5 Bxd5 gives Black a small advantage in space and more freedom; White has the Bishop in a position where it may be useful (Cherepkov-Kholmov, Soviet Ch semif, Leningrad, 1955).
• 14.a4 Ba6 15.Qe2 cxd4 16.cxd4 Rc8 17.Rac1 Qxa4 18.c5 Bxd3 19.Qxd3 dxc5 is equal(Szabo-German, Ol, Helsinki, 1952).
• If 11.0-0 (White has a small advantage in space) 11...Na5 then:
• If 12.Ng3 cxd4 13.cxd4 Rc8 then:
• If 14.f4!? Nxc4! (Black has the advantage in space) 15.f5 f6 16.Rf4?! b5! 17.Rh4 Qb6 18.e5?! Nxe5!! 19.fxe6 Nxd3 20.Qxd3 Qxe6 leaves Black up by two pawns and he soon won (Geller-Dr. Euwe, Candidates' Trmt, Zürich, 1953).
• 14.c5 bxc5 15.dxc5 d6 16.cxd6 Qxd6 17.Rb1 maintains a slight advantage for White.
• 12.Qa4!? Rc8 13.Bf4 Ba6 14.d5 f6 15.Bg3 Qe7 is equal.

8.Ne2 Ba6

• If 8...0-0 9.e4 Ne8 10.0-0 Ba6 11.f4 f5 then:
• If 12.exf5 exf5 13.dxc5 bxc5 14.Be3 d6 15.Ng3 g6 then:
• If 16.Bxf5 gxf5 17.Qd5+ Rf7 18.Qxc6 Bb7 19.Qa4 Qf6 then:
• 20.Rab1!? Ng7 21.Qd1 Re8 22.Re1 Qg6 23.Bf2 gives White more space and a slight initiative (Nakamura-And. Volokitin, YM, Cuernavaca, 2006).
• 20.Rfe1! Ng7 21.Qc2 Re7 22.Qd2 Rae8 23.Bf2! gives White a slight advantage in space; the most serious pawn weakness on the board is Black d-pawn.
• 16.Re1 Na5 17.Nf1 Nf6 18.Bf2 Qd7 19.Ne3 gives White a slight advantage in space (I. Sokolov-Grischuk, Rpd Op, Calatrava, 2007).
• If 12.Ng3 g6 13.Be3 then:
• If 13...cxd4 14.cxd4 d5 15.cxd5 Bxd3 16.Qxd3 fxe4 17.Qxe4 Qxd5 18.Qxd5 exd5 19.Rac1 then:
• If 19...Na5 20.f5 then:
• If 20...Nc4 21.Bg5 Ned6 22.Be7 gives White a slight advantage in space (Jussupow-Cvitan, ZT, Dresden, 1998).
• 20...Nd6 21.Bg5 Rf7 22.Rce1 Nac4 is equal (Aleksandrov-Yegiazarian, Russia Cup, Minsk, 2000).
• 19...Ne7 20.Bd2 Rf7 21.Be3 Nc6 22.Bd2 Ne7 draw (Bluvshtein-Mareco, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2011).
• 13...Nd6 14.exf5 Nxc4 15.Bxc4 Bxc4 16.fxg6 Bxf1 17.Qh5 Qe7 18.Rxf1 hxg6 19.Qxg6+ gives White a comfortable advantage (Jussupow-Karpov, CandM Semif, London, 1989).

9.e4 0-0

• If 9...cxd4 10.cxd4 e5 then:
• 11.f4 exd4 12.e5 Ng4 13.Nxd4 Ngxe5 14.0-0 gives White more space and better development (Eazt-Sipila, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).
• 11.Bb2 Qc7 12.Qa4 Bb7 13.d5 Ne7 14.Qb4 gives White a fair advantage in space.

10.Bg5 h6 11.Bh4 g5!? (N)

• 11...e5 12.0-0 g5 13.Bg3 d6 14.f4 Ng4 15.fxe5 dxe5 16.Qa4 Na5 is equal (A. Schmidt-Hartl, Youth Trmt, Baviera, 2000/01).

12.Bg3

• White has a small advantage in space.

12...d6 13.f4!?

• White flanks to the wrong side. Better is to advance the h-pawn, then if Black replies by advancing the g-pawn White has f4 for his minor pieces.
• If 13.h4 then:
• If 13...Nh5 14.Bh2 then:
• 14...e5 15.hxg5 Qxg5 16.Qc1 gives White a slight advantage in space.
• 14...g4!? 15.Qd2! Kg7 16.Nf4 Nxf4 17.Qxf4 gives White a small advantage in space.
• 13...g4?! 14.Bf4! Re8 15.Bxh6 cxd4 16.cxd4 e5 17.d5 leaves White with an extra pawn.

13...Na5!?

• Instead of taking advantage of White's mistake, Black procedes with action on the queendise.
• If 13...Nh5 14.Qa4 then:
• 14...Na5 15.0-0 Rc8 16.fxg5 hxg5 17.d5 Qe7 gives Black the initiative.
• 14...Qc8 15.fxg5 Nxg3 16.hxg3 cxd4 17.cxd4 hxg5 18.Rh5 gives White the center and the initiative.

14.fxg5 hxg5 15.0-0 Nh5!?

• Black goes after the Knight at g3, but he should be more concerned about how e5 figures in White's plans.
• If 15...Ng4! then:
• 16.Nc1 Ne3 17.Qh5 Nxf1 18.e5 f5 19.Qg6+ is equal.
• 16.Rf3 Bxc4 17.Qc2 cxd4 18.cxd4 Rc8 19.Raf1 is equal.
• The piece sacrifice 16.Bb6? now fails against the countersacrifice 16...Qxd6 17.e5 Nxe5!! 18.dxe5 Qxe5, giving Black an extra pawn and a huge advantage in space.

BLACK: Xiu Deshun



WHITE: Zhao Jun
Position after 15...Nf6h5

16.Bxd6!!

• White opens the middle game with a piece sacrifice.

16...Qxd6 17.e5!

• White gains a tempo by attacking the Black Queen.

17...Qe7?!

• Black might do better to keep the Queen traned on the center.
• If 17...Qd8 18.Be4 Bxc4 19.Nf4 then:
• If 19...Nxf4 20.Rxf4 Bd5 21.Bxd5 then:
• Ifont color="red"]21...Qxd5 22.Qg4 f6 23.exf6 Rf7 24.h4 gives White slightly more space.
• If 21...gxf4? 22.Qg4+ then:
• If 22...Kh8 23.Rf1 f5 24.exf6 Rxf6 25.Rf3 then:
• 25...Rh6 26.Bxa8 Qh4 27.Qxf4 Qxf4 28.Rxf4 cxd4 29.Rxd4 leaves White a pawn to the good.
• 25...Qf8 26.Bxa8 Qg7 27.Qh4+ Kg8 28.dxc5 Rf8 29.c6 is an easy win for White.
• 22...Kh7 23.Be4+ Kh6 24.Qh3+ leads to mate.
• If 19...Nf6 20.exf6 then:
• 20...Qxf6 21.Nd3 Qg7 22.Bxa8 Rxa8 23.Re1 gives Black the exchange for a pawn and a small amount of space.
• If 20...gxf4?? then 21.Qg4+ Kh8 22.Qg7#.

18.Ng3!

• And now White sweeps away anything that can defend the kingside.

18...Nxg3

BLACK: Xiu Deshun



WHITE: Zhao Jun
Position after 18... Nh5g3:N

19.Rf6!!

• The sacrifice (omitting the immediate recapture of the Knight at g3) is the only move with a chance to win.
• If 19.hxg3? f5 20.exf6 Rxf6 21.Rxf6 Qxf6 22.Qh5 then:
• 22...Qh8 23.Qg6+ Qg7 24.Qxe6+ Qf7 25.Qh6 Qg7 etc. draws.
• If 22...Qg7?? then White wins quickly after 23.Re1! Bc8 24.Qe8+ Qf8 25.Bh7+.

19...Kg7?

• Black's defense now collapses rapidly.
• If 19...Bxc4! 20.Qg4! (sacrificing the Bishop for a kingside attack) then:
• 20...Bxd3 21.Qxg5+ Bg6 22.Rxg6+ fxg6 23.Qxe7 Rae8 24.Qxa7 is equal.
• 20...Rfb8?! 21.Qxg5+! Kf8 22.Bxc4 Nxc4 23.Qxg3 cxd4 24.cxd4 leaves Black hanging by his nails.
• If 19...Nf5? then White mates soon after 20.Qh5! Rfd8 21.Bxf5 exf5 22.Rh6 .

20.Qg4!

• White has his heavy pieces on the kingside and his Bishope trained of the complex of light squres around the enemy King.

20...Rg8

• If 20...Rh8 then after 21.Qxg3 Nc6 22.Raf1 Nd8 23.Qxg5+ Kf8 24.d5 Black is toast.

21.hxg3

• In spite of Black's material advantage, White has a crushing kingside attack.

21...Nb7

• If 21...Kf8 22.Raf1 then:
• 22...Rg7 23.Bg6 Bxc4 24.Rxf7+ Rxf7 25.Rxf7+ Qxf7 26.Bxf7 then:
• 26...Ke7 27.dxc5 bxc5 28.Bh5 Kd7 29.Qxg5 wins easily.
• 26...Kxf7 27.Qf3+ wins the Rook.
• 22...Nc6 23.Rxf7+ wins the Queen.

22.Raf1 Nd8 23.Qe4 Qb7

• If 23...Rh8 then:
• If 24.Rg6+ Kf8 25.Qxa8 Bb7 26.Qb8 then:
• If 26...Qd7 27.d5 Bc8 28.Bc2 then:
• 28...Qb7 29.Qxb7 Bxb7 30.dxe6 Ba6 31.exf7 Bxc4 32.Rd1 White wins easily.
• If 28...Ba6 then White mates soon after 29.Rxf7+ Kxf7 30.dxe6+ Qxe6 31.Qc7+ Qe7 32.Rf6+.
• 26...Rg8 27.Rxe6!! Qxe6 28.Qxd8+ Kg7 29.Qxg5+ Kf8 30.Qd8+ gives White three extra pawns and an easy win.
• If 24.Qxa8 Qb7 25.Qxb7 Bxb7 26.d5 then:
• 26...Bc8 27.dxe6 Bxe6 28.Be4 Re8 29.Bd5 gives White a Rook and a pawn against a minor piece.
• 26...Re8 27.dxe6 Rxe6 28.Rxe6 Nxe6 29.Rf6 Nf8 30.Bf5 Black is toast.

BLACK: Xiu Deshun



WHITE: Zhao Jun
Position after 23...Qe7b7

24.d5!

• Black's King is forced into a mating net.

24...Rh8

• If 24...Kf8 25.Qh7 Rc8 26.dxe6 then:
• If 26...Rg7 27.Qh8+ Rg8 28.Qh6+ then:
• 28...Ke8 29.Be4 Qxe4 30.exf7+ Nxf7 31.Re6+ is followed by 32.Rxf7, forcing mate.
• If 28...Rg7 then Black is soon mated after 29.exf7 Nxf7 30.e6 Ke7 31.exf7 Rf8 32.Re6+.
• 26...Rc7 27.exf7 then:
• If 27...Rxf7 28.e6 Rgg7 29.Qh8+ Rg8 30.Qh6+ then:
• 30...Rgg7 31.exf7 Nxf7 32.Rxf7+ Qxf7 33.Qd6+ Ke8 34.Re1+ Qe7 35.Bg6+ Black is soon mated.
• 30...Ke8 31.Bg6 Bxc4 32.Rxf7 Nxf7 33.Rxf7 Black must submit to mate of lose what material he has left.
• 27...Nxf7 28.e6 Rg7 29.Qh8+ Rg8 30.Qh6+ leaves Black in the untennible position of submitting to mate or losing a piece or two.

25.Qg6+

• The rest needs no comment.

25...fxg6 26.Rxg6+ Kh7 27.Rxg5+ Kh6 28.Rg6+ Kh7 29.Rg4+ Kh6 30.Rf6+ Kh5 31.Rh4+ 1-0

• White mates on the next move.
• Xiu resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. 13th Dubai Open

Dubai
Robert Luxemborg, Wikipedia (Public Domain)

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Negi - Lalith, Round 4

Parimarjan Negi
Photo by rorkhete from Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Parimarjan Negi - Babu Lalith
13th International Open, Round 4
Dubai, 13 April 2011

Caro-Kann Game: Flohr Opening

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 e6 11.Bf4 Qa5+ 12.Bd2 Qc7 13.0-0-0 Ngf6 14.Ne4

• For moves and variations up to here, see Radjabov-Kamsky, IT, Banza, 2009.

14...Be7

• If 14...0-0-0 15.g3 Nxe4 16.Qxe4 Bd6 17.c4 c5 then:
• If 18.Bc3 Nf6 19.Qe2 cxd4 20.Nxd4 a6 then:
• If 21.Kb1 Rd7 22.Rc1 Kb8 then:
• If 23.Nb3 Qc6 24.Rh4 Rhd8 25.c5 Bc7 26.Rc4 then:
• If 26...Qb5 27.g4 then:
• 27...Rd5!? 28.c6! gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Ragger-Margvelashvili, World Youth, Yerevan, 2007).
• 27...Rd1! 28.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 29.Qxd1 Qxc4 is equal.
• 26...Ka8 27.Ka1 e5 28.Bxe5 Bxe5 29.Qxe5 gives White an extra pawn (Kotronias-Jobava, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2007).
• 23.Nf3 Qc5 24.Ne5 Bxe5 25.Bxe5+ Kc8 26.Rcd1 Rhd8 27.Rxd7 Rxd7 28.f4 is equal (G. Lane-Jobava, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2005).
• If 21.Nf3 Qc6 then:
• 22.Ne5 Bxe5 23.Bxe5 Rxd1+ 24.Rxd1 Rd8 25.Re1 Qa4 26.b3 Qa3+ gives Black a slight advantage (Fressinet-Erenburg, EU ChT, Gothenburg, 2005).
• 22.Rh4 Bc7 23.Rxd8+ Rxd8 24.Ne5 Bxe5 25.Qxe5 Rd3 is equal (Kuczynski-Piket, Euro Ch, Ohrid, 2001).
• If 18.d5 Nf6 19.Qc2 exd5 20.cxd5 then:
• If 20...Rhe8 21.Bc3 Qd7 22.Bxf6 gxf6 then:
• If 23.Nh4 Re5 24.f4 then:
• If 24...Rxh5 25.Qe2 Rxd5 26.Rxd5 Bxf4+ 27.gxf4 Qxd5 28.Rd1 Qxa2 nine master games have reached this position; all ended in draws, two going as far as 43 moves.
• 24.Ng2 Rde8 25.Ne3 Re4 26.Kb1 b5 27.g4 Kb7 28.Rhg1 gives White a better game, but it seems he's just less likely to lose than because he's more likely to win (Black won in 50 moves) (P. Carlsson-Fridman, Op, Santa Cruz de la Palma, 2005).
• 23.Kb1 Kb8 24.Qd3 Be5 25.Rhe1 Bd4 26.Rxe8 Qxe8 27.Nxd4 Rxd5 28.Nc6+ is equal (Ganguly-Fontaine, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2005).
• 20...Qd7 21.Bc3 Rhe8 22.Bxf6 gxf6 23.Nh4 Re5 24.f4 Rxh5 transposes into the nine drawn games.

15.Nxf6+

• If 15.Kb1 then:
• If 15...0-0-0 16.g3 then:
• If 16...c5 17.Bf4 Qc6 18.Nxf6 Bxf6 then:
• If 19.d5 exd5 20.Qxd5 Ne5 21.Qxc6+ Nxc6 22.c3 then:
• 22...Rxd1+ 23.Rxd1 Re8 24.Kc2 Re2+ 25.Rd2 Rxd2+ 26.Nxd2 is equal (Karjakin-Anastasian, World ChT, Beer Shiva, 2005).
• 22...Rhe8 23.Rxd8+ Bxd8 24.Be3 b6 is equal (Lintchevski-Deviatkin, Moscow Op, 2010).
• 19.Rhe1 c4!? 20.Qa3! a6 21.Qa5!? Nb6! 22.Ne5 is equal (C. Balogh-Ruck, Hungarian Ch, Szekesfehervar, 2006).
• 16...Nxe4 17.Qxe4 Rhe8 18.Qe2 Bf8 19.c4 c5 20.Rhe1 is equal (Balashov-Dr. Hübner, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1983).
• 15...Rd8 16.Nxf6+ Nxf6 17.Qe2 c5 18.dxc5 Qxc5 19.Ne5 Rd4 20.Nd3 Qb5 21.Bc3 Ra4 22.b3 0-0 23.Qe5 Qa5 draw (Hou Yifan-Kachiani, World ChTW, Ekaterinburg, 2007).

15...Bxf6 16.g3

• 16.Qe4 0-0-0 17.Bf4 Qa5 18.Kb1 Rhe8 19.Bg3 Qf5 20.Qe2 gives White a slight advantage (Karpov-Seirawan, IT, Linares, 1983).

16...Qb6 17.Kb1 (N)

• 17.c3 Qb5 18.c4 Qa6 19.Kb1 0-0-0 20.Qe2 Kb8 21.Bf4+ gives White a small advantage in space (Cheparinov-E. Agrest, Ol, Dresden, 2008).

17...Rd8

• White has a slight advantage in space.

18.Rhe1 Be7!?

• White's e-pawn is immoble; Black takes pressure off when he should pile on.
• If 18...c5 19.Qa3 then:
• 19...Qb5 20.Bf4 0-0 21.Bd6 Rfe8 22.dxc5 gives White an extra pawn that is more trouble to maintain than it is worth.
• 19...cxd4?! 20.Ba5! Qa6 21.Bxd8 Qxa3 22.bxa3 Bxd8 23.Nxd4gives White the exchange.

19.c4

• White has a small advantage.
• If 19.g4! c5 20.Be3 then:
• 20...0-0 21.g5 cxd4 22.Bxd4 Nc5 23.Qe3 gives White the advantage in space and a better center.
• 20...a5 21.Rg1 a4 22.g5 hxg5 23.Nxg5 gives White the advantage in space.

19...Nf6 20.Qe2 Bb4?!

• Black's Bishop could end up being better than White's. This is not a favorable exchange.
• If 20...a5 21.c5 Qa7 22.g4 Nd5 23.Rg1 maintains White's small advantage.

BLACK: Babu Lalith



WHITE: Parimarjan Negi
Position after 20... Be7b4

21.Bxb4!

• White seems to agree with us.

21...Qxb4 22.g4 Qe7?!

• This gives White too free a hand in the center.
• Better is 22...Qd6! 23.Ne5 Nd7 24.f4 Nxe5 25.dxe5 Qe7 26.Rg1 with equality.

23.Ne5!

• This move has a profound cramping effect.

23...0-0?!

• Black castles into it. Being cramped, he should exchange his way out.
• 23...Nd7 24.f4 Nxe5 25.Qxe5 Qf6 26.f5 Qxe5 27.Rxe5 gives White the more active game, but after 27...0-0 Black has a playable game.

BLACK: Babu Lalith



WHITE: Parimarjan Negi
Position after 23...0-0

24.f4!

• White secures the center and will launch a kingside attack with a pawn storm. Black is left badly cramped.
• Also good is 24.Rg1! (White will push the flank pawns supported by his Rooks) 24...Nd7 25.Nf3 when:
• 25...Qf6 26.g5 Qf5+ 27.Ka1 Qf4 28.Rg3 hxg5 29.Rxg5 allows White to continue his kingside attack.
• 25...Qd6 26.g5 Qf4 27.Rg3 Kh8 28.Rdg1 hxg5 29.Rxg5 gives White a powerful attack.

24...Nd7 25.Nf3 Qd6 26.Qe3 Nf6 27.Ne5 Nd7!?

• the usual recipe for a flank attack is to counter thrust in the center, but Black knows he's in big trouble and plays off-the -wall in an attempt to trip up his opponent.
• A central thrust proves ineffective: If 27...c5 then:
• If 28.Qg1! (White ignores the thrust and sacrifices his d-pawn in order to continue the attack) then:
• 28...cxd4 29.g5 hxg5 30.Qxg5 Nh7 31.Qg2 Qc7 32.h6! gives White command of the dark square complex around Black's King.
• 28...Nd7?! 29.dxc5! Qe7 30.Nd3 Rc8 31.g5 hxg5 32.fxg5 gives White an extra pawn and his kingside initiative is still unabated.
• 28.dxc5!? Qxd1+! 29.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 30.Kc2 Rfd8 gives Black some counterplay.

28.Nd3!?

• Better is to continue the kingside initiative.
• If 28.g5 hxg5 29.fxg5 Nxe5 then:
• 30.Qxe5 Rfe8 31.g6 Qxe5 32.dxe5 Rxd1+ 33.Rxd1 gives White a strong advantage.
• 30.dxe5?! Qxd1+ 31.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 32.Kc2 Rfd8 33.g6 gives Black sufficient counterplay.

28...Nf6!

• Black has time to move his Knight back to a more effective post.

29.g5 Ng4?

• 29...hxg5 30.fxg5 Nxh5 31.Ne5 g6 32.Rf1 dissipates White's kingside attack, moving the struggle to the center where Black is better prepared to defend.

BLACK: Babu Lalith



WHITE: Parimarjan Negi
Position after 29...Nf6g4

30.Qh3!

• White attacks the hanging Knight.

30...f5 31.gxf6 Nxf6 32.Nc5 Rf7 33.Nxe6 Re8

BLACK: Babu Lalith



WHITE: Parimarjan Negi
Position after 33... Rd8e8

34.f5!

• White establishes his Knight permanently at e6.

34...b5 35.cxb5 cxb5 36.Re5 a6

• Black might last longer after 36...b4 37.Qg3 Kh8 38.Rg1 Rg8 39.Qg6.

37.Rg1 Ree7

• If 37...Kh8 then White wins after 38.Qg2 Ra7 39.Rc1 Qd7 40.Rc6 Qf7 41.Qg6.

38.Qg2 Ra7 39.Ka1

• White wins quicker after 39.Rc5 Qb8 40.Rgc1 Ra8 41.Rc7.

39...Kh8 40.Rc5 Qd7 41.Qg6 Ng8

• This should shorten Black's agony.
• If 41...Ne8 then White wins after after 42.Kb1 b4 43.Re5 Rf6 44.Qg3 Ra8 45.Rc5.

42.a3 Rf6 43.Qg4 b4 44.axb4 Rb7 45.Kb1 Rf7 46.d5 Nf6

• No better is 46...Qd6 47.Rgc1 Qe5 48.Nd8 Rbe7 49.Nxf7+ Rxf7 50.Rc8.

47.Qg6 Ng8 48.Qg4 Nf6 49.Qd4 Ne8 50.Rc6

• Also good is 50.f6 Kg8 51.fxg7 Rf5 52.Qd2.

50...Rf6 51.Nxg7 1-0

• Master Lalith resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Gupta - Negi, Round 9

Abhijeet Gupta
Photo by Stefan64 from Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Abhijeet Gupta - Parimarjan Negi
13th International Open, Round 9
Dubai, 18 April 2011

Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit: Grand Anti-Meran Gambit

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dxc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5 9.Be2 Bb7 10.0-0 Nbd7 11.Ne5 Bg7 12.Nxd7 Nxd7 13.Bd6 a6 14.a4

• For moves and variations up to here, see Anand-Leko, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2009.

14...b4

• If 14...e5 15.Bg4 exd4 16.e5 c5 then:
• 17.Bf3 Bxf3 18.Qxf3 Nxe5 19.Qd5 dxc3 20.Rfe1 cxb2 is equal (Kuljasevic-Zhao Jun, IT, Dallas, 2007).
• If 17.Re1 Nxe5 18.Bxe5 0-0 19.Bxg7 then:
• If 19...Kxg7 20.Ne2 f5 21.Bh5 f4 22.b4 cxb3 23.Qxb3 Qd5 24.Qh3 Bc8 then:
• 25.Qd3 Bf5 26.Qd2 Qd7 27.Rac1 Rac8 28.h4 Kh8 is equal (Radjabov-Anand, Rpd, Mainz, 2006).
• 25.Nc3 dxc3 26.Qxc3+ Qd4 27.Qf3 Ra7 28.axb5 is equal (Kramnik-Aronian, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2008).
• 19...f5 20.Ne2 Kxg7 21.Bh5 f4 is equal (Hoffmann-Sandipan, Masters, Gibraltar, 2010).

15.Bxb4 Qb6 16.Ba3 Qxd4 17.Qc2 c5 18.Rfd1 (N)

• 18.Rad1 Qe5 19.Bxc4 Qc7 20.Nb1 0-0 21.Nd2 Ne5 22.Be2 gives White a slight advantage in space (Anand-Gelfand, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 2011).

18...Qe5 19.Bxc4

• White benefits from a slight advantage in space, stronger pawns and better development.

19...Qc7

BLACK: Parimarjan Negi



WHITE:Abhijeet Gupta
Position after 19... Qe5c7

20.Nb1!?

• The retreat is unnecessary and wastes time.
• 20.Rac1 Be5 21.h3 Rg8 22.Be2 Bf4 23.Rb1 gives White a slight edge with fewer pawn weaknesses.

20...0-0

• 20...Qf4 21.Nc3 Qc7 22.Rac1 transposes into the previous note.

21.Nd2 Rfd8 22.Be2 Rac8 23.Rac1 Bd4 24.g3

• 24.Nf3 Qf4 25.g3 Qf6 26.Qb1 Ne5 27.Nxd4 cxd4 remains equal.

24...Qe5 25.Bf3!?

• Gupta needs a win in this, the final round, in over to overtake his opponent and win the tournament. As far as the game goes, this isn't a huge risk, but under the circumstances any move that gives Black a safe and easy game without exerting any effort to find it is unsatisfactory.
• If 25.Nc4 Qb8 26.Kg2 Nf6 27.f3 g4 28.Rf1 remains equal.

25...Bc6!?

• The game remians equal.
• 25...Nf6 26.Re1 g4 27.Bg2 Bc6 28.Nc4 Qg5 29.b3 gives Black a slight advantage in space.

26.Bg2 Nf6

• 26...Qf6 27.Nc4 Ne5 28.Nxe5 Qxe5 29.a5 Kg7 gives Black, who needs only a draw to claim the tournament championship, a slight advantage.

27.Nf3 Bxe4?

• Negi will see this move in his nightmares for yeas to come.
• If 27...Qb8! 28.Nxd4 Rxd4 29.Rxd4 cxd4 30.b3 then:
• 30...Bb7 31.Qd3 e5 32.f4 Rxc1+ 33.Bxc1 gxf4 is equal.
• 30...e5 31.Qd3 Bb7 32.f3 Rxc1+ 33.Bxc1 Qc7 is equal.

BLACK: Parimarjan Negi



WHITE: Abhijeet Gupta
Position after 27...Bc6e4:p

28.Rxd4!!

• White proffers the Queen and wins a piece.
• If 28.Qe2? Bxf3 29.Bxf3 Qxe2 30.Bxe2 then:
• 30...a5 31.Bxc5 Bxb2 32.Rxd8+ Rxd8 33.Bb6 Rb8 leaves Black with a small advantage as he attacks two of White's pieces; 34.Rc6 is White's only move.
• 30...Ne4!? 31.Bxa6 Rc7 32.Kg2 Nxf2 33.Rxd4 Rxd4 34.Kxf2 is equal.

28...cxd4

• 28...Bxc2 29.Rxd8+ Rxd8 30.Nxe5 leaves Black a piece to the good.

29.Qxc8 Qd5 30.Qc7 Rd7 31.Qe5 1-0

• 31...Kg7 32.Bf8+ Kg6 33.Rc5 Bxf3 34.Rxd5 Rxd5 35.Qc7 gives White a significant material advantage.
• 31...Qxe5 32.Nxe5 Rb7 33.f3 Bd5 34.Rc8+ gives White an extra Bishop.
• Grandmaster Negi resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. 18th Russian Team Championships, Olginka

Black Sea Cossacks, 19th Century
Photo from Wikipedia (Public Domain)

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Najer - Moiseenko, General Group, Round 2

Evgeniy Najer, playing thus far in all rounds on the the sixth board, won his first four games for Moscow 64.



Evgeniy Najer
Photo by Stefan64 from Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Evgeniy Najer (Moscow 64) - Alexander Moiseenko (Economist SGSEU)
Russian Team Championship, General Group, Round 2
Olginka, 13 April 2011

Spanish Sicilian Game: Royal Defense

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e6

• If 3...Nf6 4.Nc3 then:
• If 4...Qc7 then:
• If Nb4 5.0-0 Nd4 6.Re1 a6 7.Bf1 then:
• If 7...e5 then:
• If 8.Bc4 d6 9.h3 then:
• If 9...Be6 Bf6 10.d3 b5 11.Bxe6 fxe6 12.Nxd4 then:
• If 12...cxd4 13.Ne2 Be7 14.c3 dxc3 15.Nxc3 0-0 16.Qb3 then:
• 16...Qd7 17.Be3 Rab8 18.Rac1 Kh8 19.a3 Bd8 20.d4 exd4 21.Bxd4 e5 is equal (Naiditsch-Banikas, Mindsports Rpd, Beijing, 2008).
• 16...Kf7 17.Bg5 Rab8 18.Rac1 Qd7 19.Ne2 Rbc8 20.d4 Rxc1 21.Rxc1 exd4 22.Nxd4 Rc8 is equal (Manik-Parligras, Ol, Calvia, 2004).
• 12...exd4 13.Ne2 Qf7 14.f4 Be7 15.f5 exf5 16.exf5 Nd5 is equal (Movsesian-And. Volokitin, IT, Sarajevo, 2005).
• 9...Be7 10.d3 h6 11.a4 0-0 12.Nh2 Be6 13.Ng4 Nxg4 14.hxg4 Qd7 Is equal (Kamsky-Wang Yue, Grand Prix, Baku, 2008).
• If 8.Nd5 Nxd5 9.exd5 d6 10.c3 Nxf3+ 11.Qxf3 Be7 12.d4 0-0 then:
• 13.Qg3 Bf6 14.dxc5 Qxc5 15.c4 Bf5 16.a3 Qc7 17.Be3 gives White a slight advantage (Di Paolo-Salvador, Op, Genova, 2005).
• 13.dxe5 dxe5 14.Qg3 Bd6 15.c4 f5 16.Bd2 Rf6 17.Qa3 is equal (A. Sokolov-Lautier, French Ch, Aix-les-Bains, 2003).
• If 7...Ng4 8.g3 Nxf3+ 9.Qxf3 Ne5 then:
• If 10.Qe2 then:
• If 10...e6 11.d3 d6 12.Bg2 Be7 13.f4 Nc6 then:
• 14.Be3 0-0 15.Nd1 Bd7 16.c3 Rfc8 17.Nf2 b5 18.Kh1 is equal (Kanerek-Lyaskovsky, Euro ChU16, Herceg Novi, 2008).
• 14.Nd1 0-0 15.c3 b5 16.Be3 b4 17.d4 bxc3 18.bxc3 Na5 is equal (Kovacevic-Avrukh, Ol, Calvia, 2004).
• 10...d6 11.Nd5 Qd8 12.Bg2 g6 13.c3 Bg7 14.d3 e6 15.Ne3 Nc6 16.Nc2 is equal (Laznicka-Morozevich, IT, Pamplona, 2006).
• 10.Qd1 e6 11.b3 Be7 12.Bb2 0-0 13.f4 Nc6 14.Nd5 exd5 15.exd5 Qd8 16.dxc6 dxc6 17.Qh5 give White a comfortable game (Zdebskaya-A. Muzychuk, Euro ChW, Kusasasi, 2006).
• If 4...Nd4 5.e5 Nxb5 6.Nxb5 Nd5 7.Ng5 f5 then:
• If 8.0-0 a6 then:
• If 9.c4 Nb4 10.Nc3 e6 11.d3 Be7 12.Nf3 Nc6 13.Re1 d6 14.Bf4 0-0 is equal (Djerkovic- Tessier-Desrosiers, Canadian Ch, Toronto, 2004).
• If 9.Nc3 Nxc3 10.bxc3 e6 11.d4 then:
• 11...g6 12.Nf3 h6 13.Be3 b5 14.dxc5 Bb7 is equal (T. Kosintseva-Romanko, FRussian ChW, Moscow, 2008).
• 11...Be7 12.d5 0-0 13.Qh5 h6 14.Nh3 d6 is equal (Landa-Hanel, Op, Velden, 1996).
• If 8...e6 9.d4 cxd4 10.Qxd4 Be7 11.c4 Nb4 12.Qh4 a6 13.Nd6+ Bxd6 14.exd6 gives White a strong advantage by cramping Black's center and retarding his development (Yee-Peters, SCCF Ch, Los Angeles, 2001).
• If 8.exf6 Nxf6 9.0-0 e6 10.d4 a6 11.Nc3 cxd4 12.Qxd4 Be7 then:
• 13.Be3 0-0 14.Rad1 b5 15.Nge4 Nxe4 16.Nxe4 d5 is equal (Gaenta-Eljanov, Euro ChU18, Balatonlelle, 2000).
• 13.a4 0-0 14.Be3 Qe8 15.a5 Qg6 16.Qd3 Qxd3 17.cxd3 d6 18.h3 h6 is equal (Movsesian-Nun, Czech ChT, Czechia, 1995).

4.0-0 Nge7 5.d4 Nxd4!? (N)

• 5...cxd4 6.Nxd4 Qb6 7.Bxc6 Nxc6 8.Nb3 Be7 9.Nc3 d6 10.a4 0-0 11.a5 Qa6 12.f4 b6 13.axb6 Qxb6+ 14.Kh1 Nb4 is equal (Abromov-Arkhipov, Russian ChT, Novokuznetsk, 1999).

6.Nxd4 cxd4 7.Qxd4

• White has a small advantage in space.

7...a6

• This move is justified in that it relieves the pin on d7,thus allowing Black to develop freely.

8.Be2 Nc6 9.Qc3 b5

• 9...Qc7 10.Be3 Bd6 11.f4 0-0 12.Nd2 continues to give White a small advantage in space; Black is still nowhere near developing his Queen's Bishop, but needs only play ...b7b5 to be able to do so.

10.Bf4 Bb7

• 10...Be7 11.Nd2 0-0 12.Rad1 Bb7 13.Qg3 continues to give White the advantage in space.

11.Rd1 Rc8 12.Qg3!

• 12.Qd2 h6 then:
• 13.c4 b4! 14.a3 a5 15.axb4 axb4 gives White a slight advantage, but he has no way at present to develop the Queen's Knight.
• 13.Nc3 Bc5 14.Bd6 Bxd6 15.Qxd6 Qe7 gives White a slight advantage in space.

12...Be7

• If 12...b4?! then:
• If 13.a3! Qf6 14.c3 then:
• 14...bxc3 15.Nxc3 Bc5 16.Bh5 gives White a strong game.
• 14...b3?! 15.Nd2! Qg6 16.Qxg6 hxg6 17.Nxb3 leaves White a pawn to the good.
• Also good is 13.c3! h5 14.cxb4 h4 15.Qb3 h3 16.g3 gives White a huge advantage in space.

13.a4 b4 14.Nd2

• With the d2 square clear, White has no trouble completing his development; compare with the main line of the note to White's 12th move

14...e5

• Black is expecting White to play 15.Be3!?
• 14...Nd4 15.Bd3 0-0 16.Bh6 g6 17.Bxf8 Bxf8 18.Nb3 gives White the exchange.

BLACK: Alexander Moiseenko



WHITE: Evgeniy Najer
Position after 14...e6e5

15.Nc4!!

• Black either did not see this sacrifice or underestimated its power. White thinks he can get more from sacrificing a Bishop than accepting a proffered pawn.
• If 15.Be3!? 0-0 16.Nc4 Nd4 17.Bxd4 exd4 18.Rxd4 leaves White with an extra pawn.

15...exf4 16.Qxg7!

• White takes another pawn and traps the Black King in the center.

16...Rf8 17.e5 Nxe5?

• Black sees things are getting much worse quickly and gives back the sacrificed material in hopes of salvaging the game.
• Better is 17...Qc7 18.Bg4 Nb8 19.Nd6+! Kd8 20.c3 bxc3 21.Rac1 wjen Black is still fighting.

18.Qxe5!

• Black has no center whatsoever.

18...d5

• This is merely token resistance. Black is now fight to just not lose a miniature.

19.Qxf4!

• The Knight is safe at e4.

19...Rc6

• 19...Qc7 20.Ne5 Qd6 21.Re1 f6 22.Bh5+ Kd8 23.Nf7+! wins the exchange.

20.Ne3 Rg6 21.Bf3 Bd6

• If 21...Rfg8 22.Nxd5 Bd6 23.Qc4 then:
• 23...Rh6 24.g3 Kf8 25.Rd4 a5 26.Rad1 wins for White.
• 23...Qc8 24.Qh4 Kf8 25.g3 Bxd5 26.Rxd5 wins.

22.Qd4!

• White wins another pawn.

22...Rfg8 23.Bxd5 Bc8

• If 23...Bxd5 then White wins after 24.Qxd5 Kf8 25.Rd4 Re6 26.Rad1.

BLACK: Alexander Moiseenko



WHITE: Evgeniy Najer
Position after 23...Bb7c8

24.Qc4!

• Black is up two pawns and threatens to win then house after withdrawing the Bishop from d5.

24...R8g7 25.Rd4 Kf8 26.Rad1 Rh6 27.g3

• This prophylactic move is good enough
• Perhaps stronger is 27.Be4! Ke7 28.Rxd6 Rxd6 29.Rxd6 Qxd6 30.Qxc8.

27...Bd7 28.Be4!

• White withdraws the Bishop and will win material.

28...Rxh2

• 28...Qe7 29.Qd3 Bg4 30.f3 Rgg6 31.Bxg6 gives White a prohibitive material advantage.

BLACK: Alexander Moiseenko



WHITE: Evgeniy Najer
Position after 28...Rh6h2:p

29.Rxd6!

• White has the finish worked out to the last detail.
• Also good is 29.Kxh2! Qh4+ 30.Kg1 Rxg3+ 31.fxg3 Qxg3+ 32.Ng2!.

29...Qh4 30.Rxd7 Rxg3+ 31.fxg3 Qxg3+ 32.Ng2! 1-0

• The White King is safe.
• Alexander Alexandrovich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

11. Kurnosov - Vokarev, Round 4

Igor Kurnosov plays on board 6 for current leader Tomsk-400 and is also turning in an outstanding performance.



Igor Kurnosov
Photo by Michal Miroslaw in Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Igor Kurnosov (Tomsk-400) - Sergey Vokarev (OSDYUSShR)
18th Russian Team Championships, General Group, Round 4
Olginka, 15 April 2011

West India Game: King's Indian Defense (Two Knights' Tango Variation)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3

• If 3.Nc3 is usually played in order to continue with and early e2e4.

3...Nc6!?

• This is dubbed the Two Knights' Tango. Developing the Knights before advancing a center pawn cannot be recommended.
• If 3...d6 4.Nc3 Bg7 5.e4 0-0 is the MainLine (so far) King's Indian.
• 3...d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nb6 is the Indian Queen's Gambit (Grünfeld Defense) without 3.Nb1c3.

4.d5!

• This is definately the way to fly. For views on how a "pawnless advance" is to be punished, see Nimzovich, My System, Part I, Chapter 1, sec. 2. (Note bene: If you are serious and do not own a copy of My System. buy one.)

4...Ne5 5.e4 d6 6.Nc3

• If 6.Ne2 Bg7 7.Nec3 0-0 8.Be2 e6 then:
• 9.0-0 exd5 10.cxd5 c6 11.dxc6 bxc6 12.Be3 Re8 13.Nd2 d5 14.Nb3 dxe4 15.Qxd8 Rxd8 16.fxe4 Bg4 is equal (Mamedyarov-Carlsen, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2009).
• 9.f4 Ned7 10.0-0 exd5 11.cxd5 Re8 12.Bf3 Nc5 13.Re1 h5 14.h3 b5 15.e5 dxe5 16.fxe5 gives White dynamic hanging pawns that may become weak later but are quite menacing at the moment (Nakamura-Svidler, TM, Amsterdam, 2009).

6...Bg7 7.f4 Ned7 8.Nh3

• If 8.Nf3 0-0 9.Bd3 then:
• 9...e6 10.0-0 exd5 11.exd5 c6 12.dxc6 bxc6 13.Kh1 Nc5 14.Be3 Ng4 is equal (M. Nikolov-Wang Yue, World Univ Ch. Zürich, 2010).
• If 9...c6 10.0-0 then:
• if 10...Nc5 11.Bc2 Qb6 12.Kh1 Bg4 13.Rb1 then:
• 13...a5 14.Be3 Nfd7 15.Qe2 Qc7 draw (Vitugov-Tomashevsky, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2011).
• 13...cxd5 14.cxd5 Rac8 15.Be3 Qb4 16.h3 Ncxe4 17.Bxe4 Rxc3 18.bxc3 draw (Jussupow-Spassky, IT, Linares, 1983).
• 10...Qb6+ 11.Kh1 Nc5 12.h3 Qa6 13.g4 cxd5 14.exd5 Nxd3 15.Qxd3 e6 16.Rd1 b6 gives Black a slight tactical advantage (Ward-Conquest, British Ch, Scarborough, 1999).

8...0-0 9.Be2 c6

• If 9...Nc5 10.Nf2 then:
• 10...Re8 11.0-0 e5 12.dxe6 Bxe6 13.Qc2 Bd7 14.Bf3 Bc6 15.Bd2 a5 16.Rfe1 is equal (Grischuk-Kurnosov, Russian Ch, Moscow, 2010).
• 10...e6 11.0-0 exd5 12.cxd5 c6 13.dxc6 bxc6 14.Bf3 Qe7 15.Be3 d5 16.e5 gives White the initiative (Grischuk-Giri, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2011).

10.Nf2

• White has a slight advantage in space.

10...cxd5

• If 10...Qb6 11.Qc2 then:
• 11...Qc5 12.Rb1 cxd5 13.cxd5 a6 14.0-0 continues to give White a slight advantage.
• 11...Nb8 12.0-0 Na6 13.Re1 cxd5 14.cxd5 gives White a better center.

11.cxd5 Nb6 12.a4 Bd7?!

• Black neglects to stop White's a-pawn from further camping his position.
• If 12...a5 13.Be3 Nfd7 14.Rc1 Nc5 15.b3 then:
• If 15...h6 16.Qc2 Nbd7 17.f5 then:
• 17...Ne5 18.0-0 Bd7 19.Nd3 Ncxd3 20.Bxd3 Ng4 21.Qd2 continues to give White a slight advantage.
• 17...b6 18.0-0 Ne5 19.Nd3 g5 20.Nxe5 Bxe5 21.Nb5 gives White a small advantage.
• If 15...Nbd7 16.0-0 b6 17.f5 then:
• 17...Ne5 18.Nd3 Bd7 19.Nxe5 Bxe5 20.Qc2 gives White a small advantage.
• 17...Nf6 18.Qc2 Bd7 19.Bc4 Rc8 20.Ne2 gives White a fair advantage in space.

BLACK: Sergey Vokarev



WHITE: Igor Kurnosov
Position after 12...Bc8d7

13.a5!

• White pushes Black back and gets a much freer game.

13...Nc8 14.0-0 e6!?

• The weakens Black's pawns.
• If 14...b6 15.a6 b5 16.Be3 Rb8 17.Na2 b4 18.Qd2 still leaves Black cramped.

15.dxe6 fxe6

• Black settles on suffering hanging pawns.
• Better is 15...Bxe6 but after 16.g4 Ne8 17.f5 Bd7 18.Be3 Qh4 19.Nd3 although Black has a little more freedom than before, White still has healthier pawns and more activity.

16.Qb3

• If 16.e5 Ne8 17.Bf3 then:
• 17...Bc6 18.Nfe4 Ne7 19.Qb3 Qd7 20.Rd1 Nf5 21.a6 gives White a huge advantage in space; Black would be screaming if he were claustrophobic.
• 17...Qc7 18.Ng4 Bc6 19.Qb3 Bxf3 20.Rxf3 Qe7 21.Ne4 leaves Black's game nearly shut down. The Knight at c8 has no squares to move at all and the Knight at e8 can move only to f7.

16...b6

• This moves does little for Black, but the alternative 16...Ne7 17.Be3 Nc6 18.Rfd1 Ne8 19.Bg4 isn't much better.

17.Bf3 Rb8 18.Be3 Kh8?!

• Black's position is deterriorated quickly and he can't seem to find the moves that would buy him the most time.
• Better is 18...Qc7 19.a6 Ne7 20.Rac1 Rbc8 21.Rfd1 Qb8 22.Qa3, but this puts pressure on Black's center pawns and forces Black to tie up two heavy pieces to cover the pawn at d6.

19.Rfd1 Ne8 20.a6 b5?

• After this, Black has no more time to buy. He was running short on it in any case.
• If 20...Ne7 21.Rac1 Rc8 22.Ng4 then:
• If 22...Nc6 23.Nb5 Na5 24.Qb4 then:
• 24...Rxc1 25.Rxc1 Nc6 26.Qd2 Qb8 27.Rd1 e5 28.f5 White's e-pawn falls.
• 24...Bxb5 25.Qxb5 Rxc1 26.Rxc1 h5 27.Nf2 Nc7 28.Qd3 Black still has counterplay.
• 22...h5? 23.Nf2 e5 24.fxe5 dxe5 25.Nb5 leaves Black with a hollow position and weak pawns at a6, e5 and g6, but the game isn't lost.

BLACK: Sergey Vokarev



WHITE: Igor Kurnosov
Position after 20...b6b5

21.e5!

• White turns the wheel to tighten the vise.

21...dxe5

• If 21...d5 22.Nxd5 exd5 23.Qxd5 23...Nb6 then:
• 24.Qd3 Qc7 25.Rac1 Nc4 26.b3 gives Black a Knight againt two pawns, but White has a passed pawn and a tremendous advantage in space.
• 23...Ned6 24.exd6 Nb6 25.Qb3 Re8 26.Rac1 Be6 27.Qd3 gives White two extra pawn, including a passer/

22.fxe5 Bxe5

• If 22...Nc7 then after 23.Bc6 Rf7 24.Nfe4 White threatens Black's Bishop at d7. Black's pieces are open to attack and any shift will cause the position to collapse like a house of cards.

23.Nd3 Bg7 24.Nc5 Ned6 25.N3e4 Be5 26.Bd4?!

• White had Black up against ropes, but steps back lets Black swing.
• 26.Qb4 Kg8 27.Nxd7 Qxd7 28.Bd4 then:
• If 28...Bxd4+ 29.Qxd4 then:
• 29...Rb6 30.Nf6+ Rxf6 31.Qxf6 Qe7 32.Qc3 b4 33.Qd3 gives White a material advatage and more activity, even with one Rook waiting in reserve.
• If 29...Rf4? then 30.Nf6+! Rxf6 31.Qxf6 Nb6 32.b3 Rf8 33.Qe5! wins a piece.
• 28...Qg7? drops a piece to 29.Nxd6!! Rf4 30.Bxe5 Rxb4 31.Bxg7 Kxg7 32.Nxc8 .

26...Bxd4+!

• This exchange relieves much of the cause of Black's claustrophobia.

27.Rxd4 Qb6?

• This feeble attempt at couterplay costs Black the game.
• If 27...e5 28.Rxd6 Nxd6 29.Nxd6 Bc6 30.Rd1 still gives Black opportunities for counterplay.

28.Qc3!

• White easily refutes Black's last move.

28...e5

• Black is lost.
• If 28...Nxe4 then after 29.Bxe4 e5 30.Rxd7 Qf6 31.Qf3 Rb6 32.Rf1 White simply remains a piece to the good.

BLACK: Sergey Vokarev



WHITE: Igor Kurnosov
Position after 28...e6e5

29.Rxd6!!

• The exchange sacrifice wraps it up.

29...Nxd6 30.Qxe5+ Kg8 31.Nxd6 Bc6

• Sacrificing the exchange (31... Rxf3) just leaves Black a piece down.

32.Bd1 1-0

• Vokarev resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. OK, Chess Fans, ask me anything . . .

[JonLP24]

12. Is there a Super Bowl of Chess?

I mean just one tournament where the best players show up and the winner of that tournament is champion of chess?

[Jack Rabbit]

13. That would be the match for the world title

That would be more like a 15 round boxing match for the heavyweight title than like the world series. The world champion and a challenger, who is selected in a series of tournaments and matches, square off in a match in which the winner is either still champion or the new champion. The first world championship chess match was held in 1886 and was won by Wilhelm Steinitz, a native of Prague who also had resided in Vienna and London before settling in New York a few years before the match.

After World War II, FIDE, the intenational Chess Federation, got the world championship under control and established a three-year world championship cycle. Since the previous champion, Dr. Alexander Alekhine, died suddenly in 1945, a tournament among the five strongest players in the world was held and was won by Mikhail Botvinnik of the Soviet Union.

During the current reign of error of FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhimnov, several new formats were tried, most notoriously a knock out tournament in which the last man standing was crowned champion and held the title for two years. The knock out method produced two or three improbable champions and was abandoned for an eight player tournament. This produced Veselin Topalov as champion in 2005, but due to a schism between FIDE, which had grown corrupt and inefficient under the presidency of Florencio Campomanes, and reigning champion Garry Kasparov, there had been two champions since 1993 and due to continued corruption and inefficiency and even ridiculousness under Kirsan, the FIDE champions had little credibility. As far as the public was concerned, there was a world champion and his name was Garry Kasparov until he was beaten by Vladimir Kramnik in a match held in London in the Autumn of 2000.

Kirsan has apparently never herd the phrase If it ain't broke, don't fix it. There was nothing wrong with the championship cycle established after WW II and we could do worse than just restore it.

[JonLP24]

14. Thanks

That is all very interesting and I mean that sincerely. :)

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Update (Monday): Gupta takes down Negi in Final Round, wins Dubai Open

Indian grandmaster and former world junior champion Abhijeet Gupta defeated tournament leader Parimarjan Negi to overtake Nagi in the standings and take home first prize for himself in the final round of 13th annual Dubai Open.

Negi, who is now and will remain for the next two years a leading contender to become world junior champion in his own right, held or shared the lead for the entire tournament after winning his first four games in a row. During the course of the later rounds of the nine-round Swiss system event, Negi rebuffed challenged from such strong players as his compatriot, Krishnan Sasikiran, and the young Norwegian grandmaster, Jon Ludwig Hammer.

Negi entered the final round today alone in first place with 7 points with Gupta in a clear second just a half-point back. Negi needed only to avoid loss today to claim the tournament championship and was clearly playing for a draw with Black. Gupta, playing White, needed to win in order to overtake his compatriot and began the game with an Anti-Meran Gambit, an especially sharp opening, demonstrating his determination to play risky chess if that is what it took to win against a talented defensive player like Negi. In spite of the sharpness of the opening, Negi kept the game under control and was actually slightly better when he blundered by taking a pawn on the 27th move and quickly found himself a piece down with no realistic hope of recovering the lost material. Negi resigned the game on his 31st move.

Congratulations to Abhijeet Gupta.