The JR Chess Report (April 24): Russian Team Ch ends; US Championship semi-finals begin

[Jack Rabbit]

Moscow 64 edges Tomsk-400 in Russian Team Championships; Moscow ShS takes women's title in four-team logjam

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

The Russian Team Championships finished yesterday in the Black Sea resort Olginka, Krasnodar Krai, with the team from the chess club Moscow 64 edging out Tomsk-400 for the general championship and the team from the Moscow Chess Club capturing the women's title over Giprorechrans, AVS and Ladya.

Moscow 64, led by Boris Gelfand, Fabiano Caruana and Anish Giri and Tomsk-400, featuring Ruslan Ponomariov and Alexander Motylev, each scored 20 match points out of a possible 22, but Moscow 64 won the tournament on tie break with 47 individual points against 46½ for Tomsk. Both teams got outstanding performances on the last board from Evgeniy Najer (+8 -1 =1) for Moscow and Igor Kurnosov (+8 -0 =1) for Tomsk.

The St. Petersburg Chess Federation with Vassily Ivanchuk on the top board edged Yugra on tie break for third place.

In the women's group, Moscow, Giprorechtrans, AVS and Ladya all scored 10 match points out of a possible 14. Moscow and Giprorechtrans each scored 18 individual points, so it came down to the fifth round match between the two teams which Moscow won by a score of 2½-1½. Moscow got an outstanding top board performance from former world women's champion Alexandra Kosteniuk (+6 -1 =0). Giprorechtrans got great performances from Batkhuyag Munguntuul (+5 -0 =2) on board 2, Elena Zaiatz (+3 -0 =4) on board 3 and Irina Vasilevich (+3 -1 =1) on board 4. AVS edged Ladya for third place on individual points.


Semi-Finals Begin in US Championships

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

The semi-final rounds US Championships began yesterday in St. Louis, Missouri with four matches: two for the overall title and two for the women's title.

The top two finishers in each of two general groups in the preliminary rounds make up the overall matchings. The matches are between defending champion Gata Kamsky Of Brooklyn and 19-year-old Sam Shankland of Berkeley, California and between former champion Yuri Shulman of Chicago and another 19-year-old, Robert Hess of New York City. Both of yesterday's games ended in draws.

The top four finishers of the women's preliminary group face off in the two women's semi-final: one match feature Irina Krush of Brooklyn and Anna Zatonskih, between them the winners of the last five US women's championships. The other match sets 23-year-old Tatev Abrahamyan of Glendale, California against veteran Camilla Baginskaite of Souix Falls, South Dakota. In yesterday's action, Ms. Zatonskih defeated Ms. Krush and Ms. Baginskaite beat Ms. Abrahamyan.

The surprise player of the championships thus far has been Hess, the former high school football star who will begin classes at Yale University in September. Hess won Group B in the preliminaries with 5½ points out of a possible 7 (+4 -0 =3). Shankland took second place after defeating the out-of-form three-time former champion Alex Onischuk in a two-game rapid playoff on Friday.

The semi-finals continue today with any necessary rapid playoffs scheduled for tomorrow. The final rounds begin Tuesday.

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.
World Championship Candidates' Matches, Kazan, Russia 3-27 May. Levon Aronian, Boris Gelfand, Alexander Grischuk, Gata Kamsky, Vladimir Kramnik, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Teimour Radjabov, Veselin Topalov.
European Women's Championship, Tblisi 7-18 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. Russian Team Champioships, Olginka

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

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Cheremnova - Najer, General Group, Round 8

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


Tamara Cheremnova (OSDYuSShOR) - Evgeniy Najer (Moscow 64)
18th Russian Team Championships, General Group, Round 8
Olginka, 20 April 2011

Slav Queen's Gambit: Tikhi Opening (Quiet Opening)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 dxc4 4.e3 b5

• For the more usual lines of the Tikhi Opening, see Jakovenko-Vitiugov, Russian Ch, Moscow, 2009.

5.Nxb5 cxb5 6.Qf3 Qc7

• If 6...Nc6 7.Qxc6+ Bd7 then:
• If 8.Qf3!? e5! then:
• If 9.dxe5?! Bb4+ 10.Ke2 Nh6 11.h3?? Bg4! then:
• 12.Qxg4 Nxg4 13.hxg4 Qd3+ 14.Kf3 Qxf1 White resigns (Kaplan-Soultanbeieff, IT, Leige, 1930).
• If 12.hxg4 then 12...Qd3# .
• 9.Qe4 Bd6 10.dxe5 Bb4+ 11.Ke2 Ne7 12.Qc2 Nc6 gives Black a fair advantage in space.
• 8.Qa6! e5 9.dxe5 Bb4+ 10.Bd2 Bxd2+ 11.Kxd2 Bc8+ is equal.

7.Qxa8 Bb7 8.Qxa7 e5

• If 8...e6 then:
• If 9.d5 then:
• If 9...exd5?! 10.Qd4 Nf6 11.Nf3 Bb4+ 12.Bd2 Nc6 then:
• If 13.Bxb4?! then:
• If 13...Nxb4?! 14.Qc3 Qa5 then:
• 15.Nd2? d4 16.exd4 Nfd5 17.Qg3 0-0 18.Kd1 Qa4+ quickly wins for Black (Szekely-Canal, IT, Budapest, 1933).
• 15.Qe5+ Kd7 16.Ke2 Nd3 17.Qd4 Re8 18.Nd2 gives White a slight edge in King safety, but Black has more activity.
• 13...Nxd4! 14.Nxd4 Ne4 15.Be2 Qb6 16.0-0 Nc5 gives Black a material advantage, but White has two Bishops and Black's only Bishop is bad.
• 13.Qh4! Ne4 14.Bxb4 Nxb4 15.Rd1 Qa5 is equal.
• 9...Bc5 10.d6 Qxd6 11.Qxb7 Bb4+ 12.Ke2 Qd3+ 13.Kf3 Qf5+ 14.Ke2 Qd3+ etc. draws.
• 9.e4?? Nc6! 10.Bf4 Bb4+ 11.Ke2 Qxf4 White resigns as he must either submit to mate or lose his Queen (Bintafrit-Ben Yahya, Moroccan Ch, Rabat, 2001).

9.Bxc4 Bb4+

• If 9...bxc4 10.Nf3 then:
• If 10...exd4?! 11.Qxd4! Nf6 12.Bd2 then:
• 12...Bd5 13.Bc3 Nc6 14.Qd2 Be4 15.Rc1 Bd3 16.Bxf6 gxf6 is equal (Bazant-Haba, Czech ch, Turnov, 1996).
• 12...Bd6 13.Bc3 Nbd7 14.Rd1 Bd5 15.Qh4 Bxf3 16.gxf3 Be5 gives White a slight material edge and a passed pawn that has not moved and is not ready to move, while Black has healthier pawns and greater activity for his pieces.
• 10...Na6! 11.Nxe5 Bb4+ 12.Bd2 Ne7!! 13.Bxb4 Nc8! 14.Qxa6 Bxa6 gives Black a Queen against a Rook and three pawns.

10.Bd2

BLACK: Evgeniy Najer



WHITE: Tamara Cheremnova
Position after 10.Bc1d2

• White has a material advantage, but Black's pieces will be moble if he can castle.

10...Bxd2+ 11.Kxd2 bxc4 12.Nf3 Nf6 13.Rhc1 exd4

• 13...0-0 14.Nxe5 c3+ 15.Rxc3 Ne4+ 16.Ke1 Nxc3 17.Rc1 is equal.

14.Qxd4 Qa5+ 15.Ke2 0-0

• Having castled, Black's pieces are free. Black now has a slight advantage.

16.Kf1 Nbd7 17.Kg1?!

• White wastes time with this move. She needs either to activate her piece or exchange them for White's more active ones.
• If 17.Nd2 Qg5 18.e4 Re8 then:
• If 19.f3 Ne5 20.Rc3 then:
• 20...Nfg4!! 21.fxg4 Rd8 22.Qe3 Qxe3 23.Rxe3 Rxd2 continues to give Black a slight advantage owing to greater activity.
• 20...Ba6 21.Kg1 Nh5 22.Qe3 Qf6 is equal.
• 19.Qe3 Qh5 20.Qh3 Qb5 21.Nxc4 Rxe4 gives Black a small advantage.

BLACK: Evgeniy Najer



WHITE: Tamara Cheremnova
Position after 17.Kf1g1

17...Bxf3!

• Black takes out White's second most active piece.

18.gxf3 Ne5 19.Kg2 Re8

• Also good is 19...Rd8 20.Qf4 Qc5 21.b3 Nd3 22.Qxc4 Qg5+ when Black takes back White's extra material and continues to enjoy a comfortable game

20.Rc3 Qa8 21.e4 h6 22.Rg1?

• This move is entirely inexplixible. ThRook moves from a post where it is protecting a pawn under direct attack to a square where it is just waiting to do something.
• If 22.b3 then:
• 22...cxb3 23.Rxb3 Nh5 24.Qe3 g5 25.a4 Nf4+ puts Black on the cusp of winning.
• Another good line is 22...Nh5 23.Kh1 Nf4 24.Qd2 Nfd3 25.bxc4 Rd8 threatening to pin the Rook at c3 with 26...Qa5!.
• If 22.Qe3? Nd3! 23.Rxc4 Nd5!! 24.Qd4 (taking either Knight will cost White the Queen.) 24...N5f4+ 25.Kh1 then:
• 25...Ne5 26.Rc7 Nxf3 27.Qd7 Ne5 28.Qf5 Nfd3 with the threat of 29...g6 wins for Black.
• 25...Rd8 26.Qe3 Nxb2 27.Rd4 Rxd4 28.Qxd4 Qa3 wins.

BLACK: Evgeniy Najer



WHITE: Tamara Cheremnova
Position after 22.Ra1g1

22...Kh7!

• Black begins shutting down White's potential counterplay. The Black King is on the safest square on the board.

23.Ra3 Qb8 24.f4

• If 24.Rb1 Nh5 25.Kh1 Nf4 then:
• 26.Qd2 Nfd3 27.f4 Ng6 28.f5 Nh4 Black wins.
• If 26.Qe3 then Black wins after 26...Ned3 27.Ra7 Nh3.

24...Ng6 25.e5 Nh5 26.f5

• No better is 26.Kh1 Nhxf4 27.Re3 Rd8 28.Qxc4 Qxb2.

26...Ngf4+ 27.Kh1 Rxe5 28.f6

• If 28.Qxc4 Qb7+ 29.f3 Re2 then:
• 30.Qd4 Nh3 31.Re3 Rxb2 32.Rge1 N5f4 White must either submit to mate or lose a significant amount of material.
• If 30.b4 then 30...Qe7 31.Qxf7 Rxh2+ 32.Kxh2 Qh4#.

28...Ne2!

• Black wins a piece.

29.Qxc4

• If 29.Qa7 then 29...Qxa7 30.Rxa7 Nxg1 31.Kxg1 Re2 leaves Black up by a piece.

29...Qb7+ 30.f3

• If 30.Rg2 Nef4!! then:
• 31.Qc2+ g6 32.f3 Nxg2 leaves Black up by a piece.
• If (31.f3 Qxb2 then:
• 32.Qd3+ Nxd3 33.Rxb2 Re1+! leads to mate.
• If 32.Rxg7+ Nxg7 33.Qf1 Re1 34.Qxe1 Qg2#.

30...Nxg1 31.Kxg1 Qxb2 0-1

• Ms. Cheremnova resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Kurnosov - Najer, General Group, Round 10

Igor Kurnosov continued his winning ways on board 6, defeating Najer in their showdown in the tenth round.



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


Igor Kurnosov (Tomsk-400) - Evgeniy Najer (Moscow 64)
Russian Team Championships, General Group, Round 10
Olginka, 22 April 2011

Closed French Game: Steinitz Opening

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 Be7 8.Qd2 0-0 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.0-0-0 Qa5 11.Bxc5 Nxc5 12.h4 Bd7 13.h5

• For a more thorough examination of this Opening, see Karjakin-Carlsen, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2010).

13...b5 (N)

• 13...h6 14.Rh3 Rab8 15.Rg3 Kh8 16.Qe3 Na4 17.Nxa4 Qxa4 18.Kb1 Rfc8 19.Rd2 b5 20.Nd4 Nxd4 21.Qxd4 Qxd4 22.Rxd4 b4 draw (Potkin-Lysyj, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2008).
• 13...Rac8 14.a3 h6 15.Rh3 Rfd8 16.Nd4 Nxd4 17.Qxd4 Be8 18.Be2 Ne4 19.g4 draw (Bobras-Bartel, Polish Ch, Lublin, 2008).
• 13...Rab8 14.h6 g6 15.Qe3 Na4 16.Nxa4 Qxa4 17.Kb1 Rfc8 18.Rd2 gives White the advantage in space (Svidler-Riazantsev, Russian Ch, Moscow, 2008).

BLACK: Evgeniy Najer



WHITE: Igor Kurnosov
Position after 13...h4h5

14.Kb1

• The game is equal.

14...b4 15.Ne2 Ne4 16.Qe1

• 16.Qe3 h6 17.Nd2 Qc5 18.Qxc5 Nxc5 19.g4 f6 remains equal.

16...Rab8 17.Nd2 Nxd2+ 18.Qxd2 Qc5 19.Nc1

• 19.h6 g6 20.Nc1 a5 21.Nd3 Qe7 remains equal.

19...a5 20.Nd3 Qe7 21.g4 a4 22.Bh3

• 22.h6 g6 23.Rh3 Na5 24.b3 axb3 25.cxb3 remains equal.

22...Rfc8 23.f5 Nd4 24.f6 Qd8

• 24...Qf8 25.fxg7 Qxg7 26.Rhf1 Rxc2 27.Qe3 Rc4 28.h6 remains equal.

25.Qg5 Qf8 26.Ne1 Nb5

• 26...Nc6 27.Nf3 b3 28.cxb3 axb3 29.a3 remains equal.

27.Bf1 h6 28.fxg7 Qxg7 29.Qf4 Rf8?!

• White brings his Rook to f8 to assist in the defense of the kingside, but his best cours of action is to simply press his advantage on the queenside.
• If 29...b3 30.cxb3 axb3 31.axb3 Nc3+ 32.bxc3 Rxc3 33.b4 remains equal.

BLACK: Evgeniy Najer



WHITE: Igor Kurnosov
Position after 29...Rc8f8

30.Nf3!

• White has more piece activity, especially a more active Queen.

30...f6 31.exf6 Qxf6 32.Qxf6 Rxf6 33.Ne5

• White has secured a comfortable advantage with stronger pawns, a superior center and more activity. Black's hanging pawns in the center present the usual array of advantages and liabilities that hanging pawns present to their owner.

33...Be8 34.Rg1 Rb7?!

• The text is played with the idea of bringing the Rook to the kingside.
• If 34...Nd6! 35.g5 Rf5 36.Ng4 then:
• If 36...Kh8! 37.Nxh6 Re5 then:
• 38.g6 Kg7 39.Nf7 Bxf7 40.gxf7+ Kxf7 41.Bd3 gives White only a slight advantage.
• 38.Bd3!? Bxh5 39.Rde1 Rxe1+ 40.Rxe1 is equal.
• 36...hxg5?! 37.Nh6+! Kg7 38.Nxf5+ Nxf5 39.Rxg5+ gives White the exchange and a clearly powerful position.

BLACK: Evgeniy Najer



WHITE: Igor Kurnosov
Position after 34...Rb8b7

35.g5!

• White secures a fair advantage. The pawn will be recaptured with check.

35...hxg5 36.Bd3!

• There is no hurry to recapture. White grabs as much space in Black's kingside as he can first.
• 36.Rxg5+?! Rg7!! 37.Rxg7+ Kxg7 38.Bd3 Rf4 is equal.

36...Rg7?!

• Black tries to protect the g-pawn, but that only costs him more dearly.
• 36...Nd6! 37.Rde1 Ne4 38.Bxe4 dxe4 39.Rxe4 Bxh5 40.Rxg5+ maintains White's comfortable advantage.

37.Ng4!

• White seizes a strong initiative.
• Also good is 37.Rdf1! Rxf1+ 38.Rxf1 Nd4 39.h6 Rb7 40.h7+ then:
• 40...Rxh7 (forced) 41.Bxh7+ Kxh7 42.Rg1 wins the g-pawn.
• If 40...Kh8 then 41.Rf8+ Kg7 42.h8Q# .

37...Rf4 38.h6 Rh7

• This exchange sacrifice is very dubious, but dubious moves are all Black has.
• Not much better is 38...Re7 39.Ne5 Nd6 40.Rxg5+ Kh8 41.Rdg1 when White has a strong attack on the kingside.

39.Bxh7+ Kxh7 40.Rdf1 Bg6?

• Black either underestimated White's reply or thought that White couldn't play it at all.
• If 40...Rxf1+! 41.Rxf1 Bg6 then:
• If 42.Kc1 then:
• 42...Nd6 43.Rf8 Bf5 44.Rd8 Bxg4 45.Rxd6 Bf5 46.Rb6 Black can still get counterplay by pushing the g-pawn.
• If 42...Bf5? 43.Nf6+! Kxh6 44.Nxd5 then:
• 44...Bh3 45.Rh1 exd5 46.Rxh3+ Kg6 47.Rh8 wins for White.
• 44...b3 45.cxb3 Nd4 46.Ne3 axb3 47.a4 White's remote passer carries the day.
• 42.Rf6 Nd4 43.Kc1 Bh5 44.Ne3 Ne2+ 45.Kd2 gives White a commanding advantage.

BLACK: Evgeniy Najer



WHITE: Igor Kurnosov
Position after 40...Be8g6

41.Rxf4!!

• The positional sacrifice allows Black to gain a passed pawn, but White gains a won position.

41...gxf4 42.Rh1!

• In spite of Black having connected pasers, they mean nothing given the span advantage of White's single passed pawn.

42...f3

• Black is completely busted.
• No better is 42...Kh8 43.Rf1 f3 44.Rxf3 Bxc2+ 45.Ka1! Bf5 46.Rf4.

43.Kc1 Nd6

• If 43...Nd4 44.Nf6+ Kh8 45.Kd2 Nf5 46.Rh3 d4 47.Ng4 stops the f-pawn and wins.


• If 43...Kh8 then White wins after 44.Nf6 Nd6 45.Rf1 Nf7 46.Rxf3 Nxh6 47.Nd7 .

44.Nf6+ Kh8 45.Rg1

• If 45.Rf1 then:
• If 45...Nf5 46.Rxf3 Nxh6 47.a3 then:
• 47...bxa3 48.Rxa3 Kg7 49.Nd7 Be8 50.Rxa4 is an easy win for White.
• If 47...Nf5 then White wins after 48.axb4 Kg7 49.b5 Nd4 50.b6.
• If 45...Be4 46.Rg1! Bh7 47.Rg7 White mates on the next move.

45...f2 46.Rf1 Nf7

• If 46...Nf5 then 47.Ng4 Bh5 48.Nxf2 Kh7 49.Re1 wins.

47.Ng4 Kh7

• If 47...d4 then 48.Rxf2 Kh7 49.Re2! Bf5 50.Ne5 Nxe5 51.Rxe5 wins.

48.Rxf2 Bf5 49.Nf6+

• As long as the King is in the h-file, the quickest win is 49.Rf4! b3 50.cxb3 axb3 51.a4! and the game continues 51...Nd8 52.a5 Nc6 53.a6 Na7 54.Rb4! and White wins.

49...Kg6

• If 49...Kxh6 50.Nxd5! then:
• If 50...b3 51.cxb3 axb3 52.a4! then White continues this time
• 52...Ne5 53.Kd2 Nd7 54.a5 Nc5 55.Rh2+ Kg5 56.Nc7 and White wins.
• If 52...Kg5 53.a5 then:
• If 53...Nd6 54.Rg2+ Kh4 55.Nc7 then:
• 55...e5 56.Rg8 Nc8 57.a6 Na7 58.Ra8 Nc6 59.a7 wins for Black.
• 55...Nc8 56.Re2 Na7 57.a6 Nc6 58.Re3 wins.
• 53...exd5 54.Rxf5+ Kxf5 55.a6 Ne5 56.a7 wins.
• 50...exd5 51.Rxf5 Kg6 52.Rxd5 is an easy win for White.

50.Ng8 Nxh6 51.Nxh6 Kxh6

BLACK: Evgeniy Najer



WHITE: Igor Kurnosov
Position after 51...Kg6h6:p

52.Rf4!

• White finds the winning line when it is most effective.

52...b3 53.cxb3 axb3 54.a4! 1-0

• Black cannot stop the pawn.
• Evgeniy Yuryevich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Kosteniuk - Iljushina, Women's Group, Round 4

Alexandra Kosteniuk
Photo by Stefan64 in Wikimedia Commons (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)


Alexandra Kosteniuk (Moscow ShS) - Olga Iljushina (Yugra)
18th Russian Team Championships (Women's Group), Round 4
Olginka, 19 April 2011

Slav Queen's Gambit: Tikhi Opening (Quiet Opening)

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 c6 3.c4 Nf6 4.e3 Bf5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nh4 Be4 7.f3 Bg6 8.Qb3 Qc7 9.Bd2

• For a survey of the Tikhi Opening through this move, see Jakovenko-Vitiugov, Russian Ch, Moscow, 2009.

9...Bd6

• 9...Be7 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.Rc1 Nc6 12.Nxg6 hxg6 is equal (Jakovenko-Vitiugov, Russian Ch, Moscow, 2009).

10.0-0-0 dxc4!?

• Statistics show this to be dubious.
• The alternative is 10...Nbd7 then:
• 11.cxd5 exd5 12.e4 dxe4 13.Nxg6 hxg6 14.fxe4 Bf4 15.e5 gives White a strong initiative (Crouch-Marusenko, IT, Caerleon, 2006).
• 11.Be2 a5 12.cxd5 exd5 13.Nxg6 hxg6 14.e4 Bb4 15.e5 Ng8 16.h4 gives White a better center, more space and a healthier pawn structure (Litavsky-Haznedaroglu, Euro Ch, Ohrid, 2001).

11.Bxc4 b5 12.Be2 a5 13.e4 (N)

• 13.Nxg6 hxg6 14.Kb1 Be7 15.Qc2 Qb6 16.Rc1 Nbd7 17.g4 g5 18.Ne4 Nxe4 19.Qxe4 gives White a small advantage in space (García Palermo-Múñoz, Ol, Torino, 2006).

13...a4!?

• 13...e5! 14.Nxg6 hxg6 15.dxe5 Bxe5 16.g3 limits White to a small advantage in space.

14.Qc2!

• White has a comfortable advantage in space.

14...a3

• 14...e5 15.Nxg6 hxg6 16.dxe5 Bxe5 17.g3 continues to give White a comfortable advantage in space.

15.b3 e5 16.d5

• If 16.Nxg6!? hxg6 17.dxe5 Bxe5 18.h3 then:
• If 18...0-0! 19.Kb1 then:
• 19...Na6 20.Be3 Nh5 21.Bg5 Qa7 is equal.
• 19...Nbd7!? 20.Be3 Rfd8 21.b4 Bf4 22.Bxf4 Qxf4 23.Qd2 is equal.
• 18...Nbd7 19.b4 Nb8 20.Bd3 Na6 21.Ne2 0-0 is equal.

16...b4 17.Na4 0-0

• If 17...Qb7!? 18.Nxg6 hxg6 then:
• If 19.Bg5! Qc7 20.h4 Ke7 21.Kb1 then:
• 21...Ra7 22.Be3 Rb7 23.Nc5 Ra7 24.dxc6 Qxc6 25.Bc4 gives Black a powerful advantage with greater activity, the Bishop pair, more space and more freedom.
• 21...cxd5? 22.Qxc7+! Bxc7 23.Rxd5! Ra5 24.Rd2 Nbd7 25.Rc1 leaves White threatening to pull the loose string on Black's lace.
• If 19.Be3 cxd5 20.Nb6 then:
• If 20...Ra5! 21.Nxd5 Nxd5 22.exd5 then:
• 22...0-0 23.Kb1 Rc8 24.Bc4 gives White a slim advantage.
• 22...Nd7 23.Qc6 Qb8 24.Kb1 Ke7 25.Rc1 gives White a slim advantage.
• If 20...0-0?! 21.Nxa8! Qxa8 22.Kb1 then:
• 22...Nbd7 23.Qd2 d4 24.Rc1 Nc5 25.Bf2 gives White a slight material advantage, the two Bishops and more freedom, but Black has more space. With both of Black's Knights on dark square, White's pawns give the Knights no readily available outposts.
• 22...Nc6 23.Qd2 d4 24.Bg5 Nh7 25.Bh4 Rc8 26.Rc1 gives White more activity, a slight material advantage and the Bishop pair; Black's Bishop is bad.
• 19...c5 20.Nxc5 Qc7 21.Bb5+ Ke7 22.Nd3 Qb7 23.Bc4 gives White an outstanding position from which she can set her plans in serene safety.

18.Kb1

• If 18.Nxg6 hxg6 19.Be3 then:
• 19...cxd5! 20.Qxc7 Bxc7 21.exd5 Rd8 22.Bc4 Ra5 23.Bc5 gives White a small advantage.
• If 19...Nfd7?! 20.Kb1 Rc8 21.dxc6 Nxc6 22.Rd2 then:
• 22...Nd4 23.Qxc7 Rxc7 24.Bxd4 exd4 25.Rxd4 gives White an extra pawn.
• 22...Qb8 23.Qd1 Nd4 24.Bxd4 exd4 25.Rxd4 Rc6 26.e5 gives White an extra pawn and the initiative.

18...Rc8

• 18...Qb7!? 19.Nxg6! hxg6 20.dxc6 Qxc6 21.Be3 Qxc2+ 22.Kxc2 gives White a strong advantage.

19.Nxg6

• White continues to hold a comfortable advantage.

19...hxg6 20.Be3

• If 20.dxc6 Nxc6 21.Be3 Nd4 then:
• 22.Qxc7 Rxc7 23.Bxd4 exd4 24.Rxd4 Be7 25.e5 gives White an extra pawn and the initiative.
• If 22.Qd3?! Nd7 23.Rc1 Nc5 24.Nxc5 Bxc5 then:
• 25.Bxd4 exd4 26.Rc2 Qd8 27.Rhc1 Ba7 28.Qb5 gives White only a slight advantage.
• 25.f4 Rd8 26.Bxd4 Rxd4 27.Qb5 Ra5 28.Qe8+ Kh7 is equal.

20...c5?!

• Black gives White a protected passed pawn on a silver platter.
• 20...cxd5 21.Qxc7 Rxc7 22.Nb6 Ra5 23.exd5 Bc5 24.d6 gives White a passed pawn and greater activity.

BLACK: Olga Iljushina



WHITE: Alexandra Kosteniuk
Position after 20...c6c5

21.Rc1!

• The tension is so great on the c-pawn that he can be heard to grown.

21...Nbd7 22.g4 Be7

• Black's chances of survival are quickly fading.
• If 22...Ra5?! 23.h4 then:
• If 23...Be7 24.h5 gxh5 then:
• If 25.gxh5 then after 25...Kh7 26.Bc4 Ne8 27.f4 Bd6 28.Rcg1 Be7 29.f5 White wins.
• If 25.g5?! then after 25...Nh7 26.Rxh5 g6 27.Rh6 Bxg5 28.Bxg5 Nxg5 Black survives with slim chances for counterplay.
• If 23...Rd8 24.h5 gxh5 then:
• If 25.g5! Nh7 26.Rxh5 f6 27.g6 then:
• If 27...Ng5 then after 28.Qd2 Kf8 29.Bxg5 fxg5 30.Rh8+ Ke7 31.Qxg5+ White wins.
• If 27...Nhf8 then White wins after 28.Rg1 f5 29.exf5 Nf6 30.Rh4 N8d7 31.Rgh1.
• If 25.gxh5!? Kh7 26.Bc4 Ng8 27.Qg2 then:
• 27...Ndf6 28.Rcg1 Bf8 29.h6 g6 30.Qg5 Be7 31.Qg3 Bf8 32.Rg2 allows Black to play on.
• If 27...Nf8? 28.Rcg1 then:
• 28...f6 then White wins after 29.Rh3 Ra7 30.Rg3 Kh8 31.Qf2 Qb8 32.Nxc5 Re7 33.Qg2.
• If 28...g6 then 29.hxg6+ Kg7 30.Rh7+ Nxh7 31.gxh7+ Kf8 32.hxg8Q+ Ke7 33.Q2g5+ Kd7 34.Qf5+ Ke7 35.Qfxf7#.

23.h4 Ne8 24.Bb5 Ndf6?

• Black plays to the wrong side.
• If 24...Rab8 25.Bxd7 Qxd7 26.h5 then:
• If 26...c4 27.hxg6 cxb3 28.gxf7+ Kxf7 then:
• If 29.Qxb3 30.Rxc1 Bd6 31.Rc6 then:
• 31...Kg8 32.Nc5 Qf7 33.Bf2 Qe7 34.Ne6 g6 35.Be3 allows Black to live a little bit longer.
• Black earns a short reprieve after 31...Qb7 32.Nb6 Kg8 33.Bd2 Qa7 34.Nc4 Qf2 35.Kc2.
• If 29...Rxc1+ Bd6? then:
• 30.Rxc8! Qxc8 31.Nb6 Qa6 32.Nc4 Qb5 33.Bd2 White wins.
• 30.Rc6!? allows Black to escape to the next hiding place after 30...Rxc6 31.dxc6+ Qe6 32.Qxe6+ Kxe6 33.Rh8 Bc7.
• 26...Qb5 27.hxg6! fxg6 28.Nxc5 Bxc5 29.Bxc5 then:
• 29...Nd6 30.Qf2 Nb7 31.Ba7 Qd3+ 32.Ka1 Rxc1+ 33.Rxc1 doesn't quite put the fox in a box.
• 29...Nf6 30.Qc4 Rxc5 31.Qxc5 Qxc5 32.Rxc5 wins for White.

BLACK: Olga Iljushina



WHITE: Alexandra Kosteniuk
Position after 24...Nd7f6

25.Bc6!

• More elegant is to tie up Black's on the queenside and then shift the attack to the kingside.
• If 25.h5! then:
• If 25...gxh5 then 26.gxh5 Ra5 27.Bc6 Qb8 28.Qh2 wins.
• If 25...Rcb8 then after 26.Bc6 Ra5 27.hxg6 fxg6 28.Qh2 White wins easily.

25...Ra5 26.Nxc5 Nd6

• If 26...Qb8 then 27.Qd2 Kh7 28.h5 g5 29.h6 g6 30.Nd3 wins the pawn at g5.

27.Qe2 Qd8 28.h5 gxh5

• If 28...g5 then 29.Qh2 Bf8 30.Qxe5 Nh7 31.Bd4 wins.

29.g5 Nfe8 30.Rxh5 g6

• 30...Nf6 31.gxf6 Bxf6 32.Rch1 g6 33.Rh7 is an easy win for White.

BLACK: Olga Iljushina



WHITE: Alexandra Kosteniuk
Position after 30...g7g6

31.Rh8+!

• the sacrifice is the beginning of a forced mate.

31...Kxh8 32.Qh2+ Kg8 33.Rh1 Bf6 34.Nd7 Qxd7 35.gxf6 1-0

• Black cannot prevent mate on h8.
• Ms. Iljushina resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Vasilevich - Gileva, Women's Group, Round 4

There is no photo of &imgrefurl=http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp%3Fnewsid%3D3856&usg=__8Q6Da-D5ZhxZLYl-LXFjrCqmQxE=&h=380&w=350&sz=37&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=LUNYcTnz3YaQRM:&tbnh=129&tbnw=114&ei=i--zTdqoLY_2tgOrw9jsCw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dirina%2Bvasilevich%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26biw%3D1600%26bih%3D700%26tbm%3Disch%26prmd%3Divnso0%2C114&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=1052&vpy=359&dur=10108&hovh=234&hovw=215&tx=109&ty=184&page=1&ndsp=35&ved=1t:429,r:32,s:0&biw=1600&bih=700">Irina Vasilevich available with an internet-friendly copyright
Photo by Jon Sullivan from public-domain-photos.com (Public Domain)


Irina Vasilevich - Irina Gileva
18th Russian Team Championships (Women's Group), Round 4
Olginka, 19 April 2011

King's Gambit (Accepted): Philidor Opening

1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.Bc4 Bg7 5.h4

• The text is the Philidor Opening.
• If 5.0-0 is the Hanstein Opening.

5...h6 6.d4 d6 7.Nc3

• If 7.c3 Nc6 8.0-0 then:
• If 8...Qe7 9.Qb3 Nf6 10.hxg5 hxg5 11.Nxg5 Nxd4 then:
• If 12.Bxf7+ Kd8 then:
• If 13.cxd4 Nxe4 then:
• If 14.Bxf4 Bxd4+ 15.Be3 Bxe3+ 16.Qxe3 Nxg5 then:
• 17.Qc3 Nh3+ 18.gxh3 Qg5+ 19.Kf2 Rxh3 20.Qd4 Rh2+ 21.Ke1 Qc1+ White resigns (Korhonen-Beckman, Corres, 1988).
• 17.Qxe7+ Kxe7 18.Bb3 Be6 19.Re1 Rh6 20.Nc3 c6 21.Rad1 Rah8 still leaves Black with an extra pawn and it looms larger (Groeneveld-Beckman, Corres, 1988).
• If 14.Ne6+ Bxe6 then:
• If 15.Bxe6 Bxd4+ 16.Rf2 Nxf2 17.g4 Nxg4+ then:
• If 18.Kg2 Rh2+ 19.Kf1 Rh1+ then:
• If 20.Kg2 Rg1+ 21.Kf3 Rg3+ then:
• 22.Kxf4 Be5+ 23.Kf5 Qh7+ 24.Kg5 Ne3+ 25.Bg4 Rxg4#.(Sekala-Korhonen, Corres, 1988).
• If 22.Ke2 then Black soon delivers mate after 22...Rxb3 23.Nc3 Qxe6+ 24.Kd3 Qg6+ 25.Ke2 f3+.
• If 20.Ke2 then Black soon delivers mate after 20...f3+ 21.Kd3 Nf2+ 22.Kxd4 Qg7+ 23.Ke3 Qe5+.
• 18.Kf1 Qh4 19.Qf3 Nh2+wins for Black.
• 15.Qd3 Bxf7 16.Rxf4 Bg6 17.Nc3 Rh1+ 18.Kxh1 Nf2+ 19.Rxf2 Bxd3 20.Rf3 Bxd4 wins for Black.
• 13.Qd1 Nxe4 14.Nxe4 Qxe4 15.Re1 Qf5 16.Bc4 Qc5 17.Be3 fxe3 White resigns (Kase-Lehikoinen, Corres, 1982).
• 12.cxd4 Nxe4 13.Nxe4 Bxd4+ 14.Nf2 Qh4 White resigns (Ballan-Millican, Corres, 1988).
• If 8...g4 9.Ne1 f3 10.gxf3 Qxh4 11.f4 then:
• 11...Qg3+ 12.Ng2 Qh3 gives Black much greater piece activity (Grillon-Niemand, Corres, 1988).
• 11...Nf6 12.Qe2 0-0 13.e5 Nh5 14.Qh2 Qxh2+ 15.Kxh2 dxe5 16.fxe5 Be6 gives Black a clear lead in developemtnt (Ploder-Matthai, Corres, 1986).

7...Nc6 8.Ne2 Bg4

• If 8...Qe7 9.Qd3 Bd7 10.Bd2 0-0-0 then:
• If 11.Bc3 then:
• 11...Nf6 12.d5 Ne5 13.Nxe5 dxe5 14.a3 Ng4 15.Bb4 Qf6 16.Bc5 b6 17.Ba6+ Kb8 18.Qb3 Bf8 gives Black an extra pawn and the initiative (Anderssen-Neumann, Match, Berlin, 1866).
• 11...Re8 12.d5 Ne5 13.Nxe5 dxe5 14.0-0-0 Nf6 15.a3 Ng4 16.Bb4 Qf6 gives Black an extra pawn and White more spaces and piece activity (Anderssen-Neumann, Match, Berlin, 1866).
• 11.hxg5 hxg5 12.Rxh8 Bxh8 13.0-0-0 Re8 14.Bc3 Nh6 15.Rh1 Ng4 Black retains the gambit pawn with more freedom and the intiative (Devocelle-Skov, Corres, 1988).

9.Qd3 (N)

• 9.d5 Ne5 10.Nxe5 Bxe5 11.hxg5 hxg5 12.Rxh8 Bxh8 gives Black an extra pawn and more freedom (Sekala-Sery, Corres, 1988).
• 9.c3 Qe7 10.hxg5 hxg5 11.Rxh8 Bxh8 12.Qb3 0-0-0 gives Black an extra pawn and pressure in the center; White is in no way compesated for the gambit.

9...Bxf3

• The game is equal.

10.gxf3 Qf6 11.Bb5 a6

• White commits to castling short.
• If 11...0-0-0 12.Bxc6 bxc6 13.Rg1 Ne7 14.Bd2 remains equal.

12.Bxc6+

• White exchanges, of course.

12...bxc6 13.Bd2 Ne7!?

• Black complete her development, but neglects White's imposing pawn center.
• If 13...Qe6 14.Bc3 d5 15.e5 Ne7 16.0-0-0 f6 remains equal.

14.0-0-0!

• White castles long and supports his center from the rear, giving her a comfortable game.

14...Ng6

• If 14...Qg6 then:
• 15.Kb1 f6 16.Ba5 Kd7 17.Nc3 h5 18.Rhg1 continues to give White a comfortable game.
• 15.Rdg1!? f6! 16.Ba5 Qf7 17.Kb1 Kd7 18.b3 gives White just a small advantage.

15.Qc4 Ne7 16.Ba5?!

• White attacks a loose pawn, but it is easily defended.
• Better is 16.Qa4 0-0-0 17.Rhg1 Kb7 18.Kb1 Ng6 19.h5 when White continues to enjoy a comfortable game.

16...d5!


• Black has equalized.

17.Qa4?!


• White seems to have lost the thread.
• If 17.exd5 Nxd5 then:
• 18.Rdg1 Ne3 19.Qd3 Kd7 20.Bc3 Nd5 21.Bd2 Qg6 remains equal.
• 18.Bd2 Kd7 19.Kb1 Kc8 20.Rdg1 Kb7 21.Rg2 Rae8 remains equal.


BLACK: Irina Gileva



WHITE: Irina Vasilevich
Position after 17. Qc4a4

17...dxe4!


• Now it is Black who has a comfortable advantage in space.

18.Bxc7 exf3 19.Nxf4 0-0?!


• The Rook should remain at h8 since to move it permits exactly what follows.
• If 19...Kf8 20.Nh5 Qg6 21.Nxg7 Kxg7 continues to give Black a comfortable game.

20.hxg5 hxg5 21.Nh5!


• The game is again equal.

21...Qg6 22.Be5 Nf5?!


• The pupose of this move is to protect the Bishop.
• Better is to exchage the Bishop: 22...Bxe5 23.dxe5 Nd5 24.Rxd5 cxd5 25.Nf6+ Kg7 26.Nh5+ Kg8 etc. draws.

23.Qb3!


• White takes aim at the Black King and threatens to win a piece.

23...g4?


• Black drops a piece.
• If 23...Rae8 24.Nxg7 Nxg7 then:
• If 25.Rh2! Rxe5 26.dxe5 Qe4 27.Rdh1 then:
• 27...Ne6 28.Rh8+ Kg7 29.R8h7+ Kg8 30.Qd3 Qxd3 31.cxd3 leaves Black with an uphill battle to salvage a draw.
• If 27...Nf5 then White wins after 28.Rh8+ Kg7 29.Rxf8 Kxf8 30.Qb8+.


• 25.Bxg7? Kxg7! 26.Qxf3 Qe4 27.Qf1 g4 is equal.


BLACK: Irina Gileva



WHITE: Irina Vasilevich
Position after 23...g5g4

24.Nf4


• This is good enough, but even better is 24.Nxg7! Nh4 25.Kb1 when:
• If 25...Qg5 26.Nf5 Rfb8 27.Qc4 Rb7 28.Rxh4! then:
• 28...Qxh4 29.Nxh4 Black is kaput.
• If 28...Qxf5 then 29.Rh8#.
• 25...Rab8? 26.Bxb8! Rxb8 27.Qxb8+ Kxg7 28.Rxh4 leads to mate.

24...Bh6


• If 24...Qg5 then after 25.Rh525...Nxd4 26.Rxd4 Qxe5 27.Rxe5 it would be pointless for Black to continue.

25.Kb1! Qh7 26.Nh5


• If 26.Rdg1 f2 27.Rxg4+ Bg7 28.Nh3 then:
• 28...Rab8 29.Qf3 f6 30.Bxb8 leaves White up by a whole Rook.
• 28...f1Q+ 29.Rxf1 Qxh3 30.Qxh3 is curtains for Black.().

26...Qg6 27.Nf6+ Kh8 28.Rdg1 1-0


• If 28...g3 29.Ng4+ then:
• 29...f6 30.Nxh6 Qxh6 31.Bxg3 f2 32.Bxf2 Ra7 33.Qe6 is an easy win for White.
• 29...Kh7 30.Qxf3 f6 31.Nxh6 Nxh6 32.Bf4 wins the Knight.
• Ms. Gileva resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. US Championships, Preliminary Rounds, St. Louis

Gateway Arch at Night, St. Louis
Photo by Daniel Schwen in Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Shabalov - Hess, Group B, Round 4

Robert Hess (foreground, playing White)
Photo taken with a cell phone by Willkie1940 for Wikipedia (Public Domain)


Alex Shabalov - Robert Hess
US Championship (Preliminaries, Group B), Round 4
St. Louis, 18 April 2011

Open Royal Game: Mieses Opening

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.e5 Qe7 7.Qe2 Nd5 8.c4 Ba6 9.b3 g6 10.f4 Nb6 (N)

• 10...Qb4+ 11.Bd2 Qb6 12.Nc3 Bb4 13.Qf3 Nxc3 14.Bxc3 Bb7 15.0-0-0 c5 16.Qe3 Bxc3 17.Qxc3 0-0-0 18.h4 Rhe8 19.Rh3 gives White an advantage in space (Barlow-Faisst, Corres, 2000).
• 10...Bg7 11.Qf2 Nf6 12.Be2 Ne4 13.Qe3 f5 14.Ba3 Qe6 15.Nd2 Nxd2 16.Qxd2 0-0-0 17.Qa5 Bb7 18.0-0 d6 19.Qxa7 gives White an extra pawn (Rosito-Sorin, Najdorf Mem Op, Buenos Aires, 1999).

11.g3

• White has a small advantage derived from better pawn structure and a wee bit more space.

11...0-0-0

• 11...d5 12.Bg2 0-0-0 13.Ba3 Qe8 14.0-0 gives White a fair advantage in space.

12.Bb2 Bg7 13.Nc3!?

• The Knight interferes with the Bishop's defense of e5.
• Better is 13.Nd2! (staying out of the Bishop's way and overprotecting the pawn at c4) when:
• 13...Rhe8 14.0-0-0 d6 15.Nf3 c5 16.Qf2 gives White a fair advantage
• If 13...d5?! 14.Qe3! then:
• If 14...c5 15.cxd5 Bxf1 16.Rxf1 Nxd5 then:
• 17.Qf3 Rd7 18.0-0-0 then:
• If 18...Rhd8 19.Ne4 Nb4 then:
• 20.Kb1 Rxd1+ 21.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 22.Qxd1 leaves White with stronger pawns and command of the e-file; Black's Bishop is sidelined at g7.
• If 20.Rxd7 then:
• 20...Qxd7 21.Nxc5 Qd5 22.Qxd5 Rxd5 23.Ne4 Nxa2+ 24.Kb1 gives White a comfortable game.
• If 20...Rxd7? 21.Nf6!! then:
• 21...c6 22.Nxd7 Qxd7 23.a3 leaves up by an exchange and winning.
• If 21...Bxf6 then 22.Qa8#.
• 18...f5 19.exf6 Bxf6 20.Nc4 Rhd8 21.Rfe1 gives White a powerful advantage with greater piece activity and a healthy pawn chain
• 17.Qe4 Qe6 18.0-0-0 Rhe8 19.Rfe1 gives White a comfortable advantage.
• If 14...dxc4 then:
• 15.bxc4 c5 16.Bh3+ Kb8 17.0-0 gives White a comfotable advantage with stronger pawns.
• 15.Nxc4?! Bxc4! 16.Bxc4 Nxc4 17.bxc4 Qb4+ 18.Qc3 is unclear: White has stronger pawns and Black has command of an open file.

BLACK: Robert Hess



WHITE: Alex Shabalov
Position after 13.Nb1c3

13...d5!

• Black encrouches on White's space.

14.Bg2 Rhe8 15.0-0!?

• White's King will be less safe here than on the opposite wing. Black's pawns point toward the kingside. The is where Black can be expected to attack.
• 15.0-0-0 f6 16.exf6 Qxf6 17.Qf2 dxc4 18.Rxd8+ Rxd8 remains equal.

15...f6!

• The game is equal.

16.a4?!

• If 16.exf6 then:
• If 16...Bxf6 17.Qxe7 then:
• 17...Bd4+ 18.Kh1 Rxe7 19.Nxd5 Rxd5 20.Ba3 remains equal.
• 17...Bxe7 18.Rfd1 Bc5+ 19.Kh1 dxc4 20.Bxc6 remains equal.
• 16...Qxe2? 17.Nxe2 Rxe2 18.fxg7! Rxb2 19.Bh3+ wins for White.

16...fxe5!

• It is now Black who has a fair advantage with a firm central duo.

17.f5?!

• White concedes a passed center pawn to Black, which strengthens Black's center duo.
• If 17.a5 then:
• 17...Nd7 18.Na4 exf4 19.Qxe7 Rxe7 20.Bxg7 Rxg7 21.Rxf4 leaves Black a pawn up, but White has a more active Rook.
• 17...Qc5+ 18.Kh1 Nd7 19.Qc2 exf4 20.Rxf4 Re3 is equal.

17...gxf5 18.Rxf5 Kb8

• 18...e4 19.Kh1 Rf8 20.Rh5 Rf7 21.Rxh7 Kb8 gives Black with his moble center the advantage.

19.Qf2 e4 20.a5 e3 21.Qe1 Nc8 22.cxd5?

• White assists Black in opening the center for the Rook at d8.
• Better is 22.Rf4 Rf8 23.Rxf8 Rxf8 24.Na4 Bxb2 25.Nxb2 e2, but even that leaves White barely holding on.

BLACK: Robert Hess



WHITE: Alex Shabalov
Position after 22. cd5:p

22...e2!

• The passed pawn takes White's Queen out of the game.

23.Kh1 Rf8

• Also good is 23...cxd5 24.Ra4 Rf8 25.Rf3 Rxf3 26.Bxf3 Rf8, winning.

24.g4 Nd6 25.Qf2 0-1

• If 25...Nxf5 26.gxf5 Rxf5 then:
• If 27.Qg1 Bxc3 28.Bxc3 Rg8 29.Bd4 Rxg2 30.Bxa7+ then:
• 30...Kc8 31.Qxg2 Rf1+ 32.Bg1 Rxa1 leaves Black up by a whole Rook.
• 30...Ka8 31.Qxg2 Rf1+ 32.Bg1 Rxa1 33.Qg8+ Kb7 leaves Black a whole Rook to the good.
• 27.Qe1 Rf1+ 28.Bxf1 exf1Q+ 29.Qxf1 Bxf1 wins the Queen.
• Mr. Shabalov resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Krush - Zenyuk, Women's Group, Round 6

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Krush - Zenyuk, Women's Group, Round 6

Irina Krush
Photo by Frank Hoppe in Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain)


Irina Krush - Iryna Zenyuk
US Championship (Women's Group), Round 6
St. Louis, 20 April 2011

West India Game: King's Indian Defense (Main Line)

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.Nc3 0-0 5.e4 d6 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.Ne1 Nd7 10.Be3 f5 11.f3 f4 12.Bf2 g5

• For a detailed survey of the Main Line to the King's Indian, see Grischuk-Ivanchuk, Grand Prix, Nalchik, 2009.

13.Rc1

• If 13.a4 Ng6 14.a5 then:
• If 14...h5 15.Nb5 Nf6 16.Nxa7 Bd7 17.c5 g4 18.c6 g3 19.hxg3 fxg3 20.Bxg3 Rxa7 21.cxd7 h4 22.Bf2 Ra8 23.Nc2 Bh6 24.Ne3 Bf4 25.Nf5 Nh5 26.Bb5 gives White two extra pawns and more space (Korchnoi-Xie Jun, TM, Prague, 1995).
• 14...Rf7 15.c5 Nxc5 16.Bxc5 dxc5 17.Bc4 Kh8 18.a6 Rf6 19.axb7 Bxb7 20.Nd3 Bf8 21.Rf2 Bd6 22.Na4 Qe7 23.Rc2 Rg8 24.Nf2 h5 25.Be2 Bc8 26.h3 gives White more freedom (Vigorito-Fedorowicz, US Ch, San Diego, 2006).

13...a6

• If 13...Ng6 14.c5 Nxc5 15.b4 Na6 then:
• If 16.Nb5 Bd7 17.Nxa7 h5 then:
• If 18...Rf7 19.Nb5 Bh6 20.Rc4 Rg7 21.Kh1 Nf8 22.g3 fxg3 23.Bxg3 Ng6 24.Nd3 Nf4 25.Bxf4 gxf4 26.Rg1 then:
• If 26...Bg5 27.Bf1 is equal (S. Atalik-Timoshchenko, Romanian ChT, Timis de Sus, 1998).
• 26...Rxg1+ 27.Qxg1+ Kh7 28.Qc1 Qg5 29.Qf1 draw (Krivoshey-Golubev, Cyberspace, 1999).
• 18.a4 (18.Bxa6 bxa6 19.Qc2 Rf7 20.Qxc7 Qf8 21.Qb7 Bb5 22.Qxa8 Qxa8 23.Rc8+ Qxc8 24.Nxc8 Bf8 gives Black a slight edge as he is about to go up an exchange (Kesten-Jorczik, 2008).
• If 16.Nd3 Rf7 17.Nb5 Bd7 18.a4 h5 19.Nxa7 Bf8 20.Nb5 Rg7 then:
• 21.Be1 c6 22.Nc3 Nc7 23.Nf2 Kh8 24.a5 gives White more freedom (Peralta-Inarkiev, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2007).
• 21.Rc4 Nh8 22.g4 hxg4 23.fxg4 Rh7 24.Qc2 Qf6 25.Kh1 Be7 26.Bg1 Bd8 27.Nc3 draw (Zugrav-Rohde, Corres, 2002).

14.Nd3 b6

• If 14...Rf6 15.c5 Rh6 then:
• If 16.c6 bxc6 17.dxc6 then:
• If 17...Nf8 18.Nb4 Qe8 19.Kh1 Ne6 20.Ncd5 then:
• 20...Ng6 21.Rc3 Nh4 22.Nc2 Kh8 23.b4 Bf8 24.Qe1 gives White a strong advaantage in space with good diagonals for the Bishops (Grabliauskas-Zickus, Euro Club Cup, Fügen, 2006).
• 20...Nxd5 21.Nxd5 Kh8 22.b4 Qf7 23.Qd3 Nd4 24.Bd1 Be6 25.Re1 is equal (Rogovski-Radjabov, IT, Alushta, 2001).
• 17...Nxc6 18.Nxf4 Nd4 19.Nfd5 Nf8 20.Bc4 Kh8 21.Ne2 gives White a better center, but Black maintains his share of it (Bluvshtein-Inarkiev, Aewroflot Op, Moscow, 2004).
• 16.cxd6 cxd6 17.a4 Qe8 18.Be1 Nf6 19.Nf2 Rg6 20.a5 gives White more freedom (Dambacher-Ponomariov, Euro Club Cup, Kallithea, 2008).

15.b4 Rf6 16.c5 Rh6 17.cxd6 cxd6 18.b5

• 18.g4 fxg3 19.hxg3 Ng6 20.Kg2 Nf6 21.Rh1 Rxh1 22.Qxh1 gives White the advantage in space (Khalifman-Inarkiev, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2005).

18...Qe8 19.Kh1 a5?! (N)

• 19...Nf6 20.bxa6 Qh5 21.Bg1 Qg6 22.Nf2 Nh5 23.Nh3 is equal (Berkvens-Inarkiev, Ruro Club Cup. Antalya, 2007).

20.Na4!

• White sets her sights on Black's weak b-pawn.

20...Rb8 21.Ndb2 Nf6 22.Nc4

• White again hits at the b-pawn.

22...Nh5

• Ther b-pawn is attacked three times and defended only only once, and that by a Rook. Direct defense of the pawn is out of the question. Black must counterattack, whether she's ready or not.
• A more aggressive counter attack is 22...Qh5 23.Bg1 then:
• If 23...Qg6 24.Qe1 Nh5 then:
• 25.Bf2 g4 26.fxg4 Bxg4 27.Bxg4 Qxg4 28.Rc3 gives White a strong game.
• White mustn't fall into the pit of 25.Bxb6?! when after 25...Ng3+!! 26.Kg1 Qh5 27.hxg3 Qh2+ 28.Kf2 Qxg3+! Black draws by perpetual check.
• If 23...Nfxd5!? then:
• 24.Qb3! Be6 25.Qa3 Nb4 26.Nxd6 Bf8 27.Qb2 Nxa2 gives White an overwhelming position.
• If 24.exd5? then Black wins after 24...Nf5! 25.g4 fxg3 26.Rc2 e4 27.fxe4 Qxh2+!!.

BLACK: Iryna Zenyuk



WHITE: Irina Krush
Position after 22...Nf6h5

23.Qe1!

• White's plan is to win both of Black's queenside pawns.

23...Nxd5?

• This sacrifice is pure desperation.
• 23...Qxb5 24.Ncxb6 Qe8 25.Kg1 Nf6 26.Qxa5 g4 27.Nxc8 gives White an extra pawn, but Black has better (although still not at all good) chances to hang on.

24.exd5!

• Black gains nothing for the Knight. The rest needs no comment.

24...e4 25.fxe4 g4 26.Naxb6 g3 27.Bxh5 Qxh5 28.Bxg3 fxg3 29.Qxg3 Bg4 30.Ne3 Be2 31.Nf5 Rg6 32.Ne7+ Kh8 33.Nxg6+ hxg6

• Black might last a little bit longer after 33...Qxg6 34.Qxg6 hxg6 35.Rf2 Rxb6 36.Rxe2 Rxb5 37.g4, but White still has an easy win.

34.Nd7 Bxf1 35.Nxb8 Bxb5 36.Nc6 1-0

• If 36...Qh6 then after 37.Rg1 g5 38.Qf3 Qg6 39.Ne7 Qf6 40.Qh5+ White wins even more material.
• Ms. Zenyuk resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

11. Update (Monday): US Championships Finals Set

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

The final rounds of the US Championships will begin tomorrow in St. Louis, Missouri.

In the overall final, defending champion Gata Kamsky will face former champion Yuri Shulman. Kamsky defeated 19-year-old Brandeis University sophomore Sam Shankland, 1½-½, to become the only semi-finalist to beat his opponent outright in the semifinal matches over the weekend. Shulman took down another 19-year-old challenger, Robert Hess, by defeating him today in the rapid palyoffs, 1½-½.

In the women's final, Ukrainian native Anna Zatonskih, who has won three of the last four US women's championships, will face Tatev Abrahamyan, a 23-year-old Armenian immigrant who has never reached this level before. The match will pit Ms. Zatonskih's quiet, positional style against Ms. Abrahamyan's aggressive, tactical finesse. In the semi-final playoffs today, Ms. Abrahamyan defeated Camilla Baginskaite, 2-0, while defending champion Irina Krush took Ms. Zatonskih to a rapid armageddon game before falling.

[Jack Rabbit]

12. Update (Thursday): Kamsky, Zatonskih win US Championships

Watch for details this weekend.