Chess News for week ending May 28 (four annotated games included)

[Jack Rabbit]

Armenia leads the general division of the 37th Chess Olympiad in the Italian Alpine city of Torino after seven rounds with 21 points, a full point ahead of second-place Russia with 20 points.

Cuba is in third place with 19½ points. Tied for fourth place with 19 points each are Ukraine, Georgia, the Czech Republic and Uzbekistan. The United states is one of several teams with 18½ points.

In the women's division, Russia and Ukraine are tied for the lead after seven rounds with 16½ points each. The United States is third with 15½ points, while Georgia and Hungary are tied for fourth with 15 points apiece.

In the general division (a more correct term for what is usually called the men's division), each team plays four games in a round; in the women's division, three games are played in each round.

Three players in the general division have perfect records in the first seven rounds.

Those with a perfect score are the Czech grandmaster Viktor Laznicka, newly created grandmaster Andrey Zhigalko of Belarus and national master Christo Cave of Trinidad and Tobago. Laznicka has played six games in seven rounds while Zhigalko and Cave have played five each.

Laznicka, an 18-year-old grandmaster, has been playing on the third and fourth boards. He kept his win streak alive today by beating Victor Mikhalevski of Israel in 48 moves.

Zhigalko 20, has been playing on the third and fourth boards For Belarus. He is actually the fifth-ranked player out of six on the Belarus team. A search of databases suggests that he is a very skillful endgame player, although the game selected below shows an astute tactical alertness. Zhigalko did not play today in the Belarus' match against Russia, which Russia won 3-1.

A database search for Cave shows little other than games played in previous olympiads. He has played for the Trinidad team several times starting in 1990. His most recently published rating is 2254. He has been playing on the second and third boards in Torino. Playing on board 2 in Trinidad's first round match against Sweden, Cave took the scalp of grandmaster Tiger Hillarp-Persson. Cave was also given a rest today while Trinidad and Tobago defeated Uruguay 3-1.

In the women's division, 16-year-old Katya Lahno of Ukraine had a perfect score through six rounds, but drew her game today against Adina Bogza of Romania. Ms. Lahno is considered one of the strongest rising stars among women players and states that her ambition is to someday be the overall world chess champion. She plays on the second board most days behind Ukraine's leading woman player, Natalia Zhukova. In the third round, Ms. Zhukova was rested and Ms. Lahno turned in her best game of the Olympics on the top board against Mongolia's Bathuyag Mongontuul.

The games conclude after 13 rounds on June 4.

Also starting yesterday in Torino is the meeting of FIDE delegates that will choose a president and other officers for four year terms on June 2. In what is probably the most hotly contested race in the history of the governing body of world chess, the incumbent slate of officers lead by FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov of Russia is being challenged by a slate of candidates led by Belgian businessman Bessel Kok. Issues in the campaign have centered around accusations of corruption against some members of FIDE's present governing board and corporate sponsorship.

Annotated Games from the Torino Olympics



Viktor Laznicka

Victor Mikalevski (Israel) vs. Viktor Laznicka (Czech Republic)
Chess Olympiad, Round 7/Board 4
Torino, May 2006

Bogo-Indian Defense

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Bb4+

The Bogo-Indian Defense is named for the Russo-German grandmaster Efim Boboloyuov (1889-1952), who was a prominent attacking player in the period between the two world wars. It looks like Black has a dogged determination to play the Nimzo-Indian in spite of the fact that White did not play 3. Nc3.

4. Bd2 a5

More common is 4. -- Be7 or 4. -- Bxd2+. The text is perfectly good.

5. Bg2 d6 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7. 0-0 e5 8. Be3 0-0 9. Qc2 exd4 10. Bxd4 b6 11. Nh4 Ra7

This move is an awkward way of defending the Rook, but it works. Black's next move will provoke the advance of the e-Pawn.

12. Nc3 Bb7 13. e4 Bc5!

Black wishes to put pressure on the e-Pawn now that he has provoked its advance.

14. Rfd1 Bxd4 15. Rxd4 Re8 16. Rad1 Nc5 17. Nf5 g6 18. Ne3 Ra8

The Rook is once again safe on the home rank, where it now has more room to maneuver.

19. b3 Ne6 20. R4d2 Nc5 21. Rd4 Ne6 22. R4d2 Nc5 23. f3?

White decides against taking a draw by repetition. However, this move weakens the dark squares badly.

23. -- h5!

This begins a very subtle plan take control of the center. This moves breaks the circuit needed the Knight at e3 to come to f2 and defend the e-Pawn.

24. a3 Qe7 25. b4 axb4 26. axb4 Ncd7 27. Ncd5 Bxd5 28. cxd5

White now thinks he has a frontal attack on a weak Pawn on an open file. Actually, he's got big problems.

28. -- Ra7 29. Bf1 Ne5!

The Knight is wonderfully posted here. It cannot be easily dislodged. Meanwhile, White has no good way to protect his weak Pawns.

30. Bg2 h4 31. Nf1 h3 32. Bh1

Not 32. Bxh3?, which loses the exchanges to 32. -- Nxf3+.

32. -- b5 33. Re2 Rea8 34. Ne3 Ra3 35. f4 Neg4 36. Nxg4 Nxg4 37. Qd2 Qf6 38. e5 dxe5 39. d6

If 39. fxe5, then Black holds the position with 39. -- Nxe5 40. Rf2 Qg7.

39. -- cxd6 40. Bxa8 Rxa8

The exchange sacrifice keeps the attack going. White cannot take the Pawn at d6: 41. Qxd6 Qxd6 42. Rxd6 Ra1+ forces mate.

41. Qd3 exf4 42. Qf3 Ra1 43. Ree1 Rxd1 44. Rxd1 Qb2 45. gxf4

Of course, 45. Qxg4 allows checkmate at g2.

43. -- Qxh2+ 46. Kf1 Ne3+ 47. Qxe3 Qg2+ 48. Ke1 h2 49. 0-1

The h-Pawn must coronate.



Christo Cave

Christo Cave (Trinidad and Tobago) vs. Tiger Hillarp-Persson (Sweden)
Chess Olympiad, Round 1/Board 2
Torino, May 2006

Robatsch Defense

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. h3 a6 5. Nf3 b5 6. a4 b4 7. Ne2 Bb7 8. Ng3 Nd7 9. Bd3 c5 10. c3 Ngf6 11. Qe2 0-0 12. 0-0 bxc3 13. bxc3 Qc7

A lazy opening in which neither side seeks any immediate advantage. Black has permitted White to build a strong Pawn center and will attempt to undermine it later.

14. Re1 Rfe8 15. Bd3 e6 16. Rab1

The struggle for the open b-file begins.

16. -- Bc6 17. Ra1 Reb8 18. Reb1 Rxb1+ 19. Bxb1 Qb7 20. Bf4!

This move does more than just attack a weak Pawn; it has consequences in the struggle for the b-file.

20. -- Ne8 21. Bd3 d5

Black must deal with threat of 22. Bc4 followed by the advance of the d-Pawn.

22. Rb1 Qc8

For the time being, White has the b-file thanks to his 20th and 21st moves.

23. exd5 Bxd5 24. Ne5 cxd4 25. cxd4 Nxe5 26. Bxe5 Qc6 27. a5 Qc3 28. Bxa6 Qxa5

The Queen's wing is cleared of Pawns. Action will shift to the center and Kingside.

29. Bb7 Rd8 30. Bxd5 Qxd5 31. Rb5 Qc6 32. Rc5 Qd7 33. Nf1 f6 34. Bg3 Kf7?

Black should have played the more active defense 34. -- Qxd4 35. Qxe6+ Kf8.

35. Rc4 Qb5 36. Qc2 f5 37. Qc3 g5

This seems to be an attack on the Bishop, but there is no time for it.

38. Rb4 Qd7 39. Be5!

White know puts Blacks position in a vise.

39. -- Nf6 40. Qb3 Kg6 41. Rb7 Qe8 42. Ne3 Rd7 43. Rb6 Re7

Black's major pieces are reduced to passivity.

44. g4 f4 45. Nc4 Qa8 46. Nd6 Qa1+ 47. Kg2 Qa8+ 48. Kh2 h5

There is no time for a Kingside attack. Black is lost.

49. Qd3+ Kh6 50. Bxf6 Bxf6 51. Nf5+ exf5 52. Rxf6+ Kg7 53. Qxf5 1-0

It's lights out after 53 -- Kh8 54. Rf8+.



Andrey Zhigalko relaxing at billiards during downtime at a 2005 tournament

Andrey Zhigalko (Belarus) vs. Viesturs Meijers (Latvia)
Chess Olympiad, Round 4/Board 3
Torino, May 2006

Open Sicilian Game: Kan Defense

1. e4 c4 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6

This is the Kan Defense, by which Black seeks little from the opening and keeps his options open. It takes its name from Soviet-era master Ilya Kan (1909-1978), who analyzed the opening and introduced it to master play in the fifties.

5. Nc3 b5

Also playable here is 5 -- Qc7. The text move is seen in many defenses to 1 e4 in order to give Black counterchances on the Queen's wing.

6. Bd3 Bb7 7. 0-0 d6 8. Re1 Nf6?!

The usual line here is 8. -- Nc6 9. Nxc6 Bxc6.

9. a4!?

White strikes at Black's space on the Queenside. The move allows Black's next and takes away a flight square for the Knight.

9. -- b4 10. Nd5!

Up until now, the usual move is 10. Na2, but White hasn't gotten very much from it. The Knight is safer at d5 that it looks. Black would have trouble developing normally after 10. -- exd5 11. exd5+ and 10. -- Nxd5 11. exd5 Bxd5 12. Be4 Bxe4 13. Rxe4 gives White good compensation for the Pawn.

10. -- Nbd7 11. Nxb4 Nc5 12. Bg5 Qb6 13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. exd5 Bxd5 15. c4 Bb7 16. b4!

This Pawn sacrifice puts Black's Queen out of play.

16. -- Qxb4 17. Rb1 Qa5 18. Qh5 g6 19. Qg4 e5

If Black attacks the hanging Knight with 19. -- Bg7, then 20. Nxe6 fxe6 21. Rxe6+ Nxe6 22. Qxe6+ Kf8 23. Be7+ Ke8 24. Bxd6+ Kd8 25. Be7+ Ke8 26. Bb4+ wins the Black Queen.

20. Bf6 Nxd3 21. Bxh8 Be7 22. Re3 Nc5 23. Bxe5!!

Another sacrifice begins a mating attack that will cost Black dearly.

23. -- dxe5 24. Rxe5 f6 25. Rxb7 1-0

White threatens mate with the Rooks and Queen. If 25. -- fxe5, then 26. Rxe7 Kxe7 27. Nc6+ wins Black's Queen, and if 25. -- Nxb7, White still wins the Queen by taking the Bishop with the other Rook 26. Rxe7 Kxe7 27. Nc6+.



Katya Lahno


Kateryna Lahno (Ukraine) vs. Bathuyag Mongontuul (Mongolia)
Chess Olympiad, Round 3/Board 1
Torino, May 2006

Open Sicilian Game: Taimanov Defense

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6

The Taimanov Defense is named for Mark Taimanov (1926- ), a Soviet-era Ukrainian grandmaster active since just after World War II who also had a successful international career as a concert pianist. It is sharper and more theoretical than the Kan Defense, but, like the Kan, provides some flexibility for Black's plans.

6. Be2 Qc7 7. 0-0 Nf6 8. Be3 Bb4 9. Na4 Be7 10. Nxc6

Although this move is frequently played, it usually isn't considered a good idea to give te center back to Black by exchanging at c6 in the Open Sicilian. Also playable here is 10. c4.

10. -- bxc6 11. Nb6 Rb8 12. Nxc8 Qxc8 13. Bd4 c5 14. Be5 Rb6

Not 14. -- d6?, which loses a Pawn to 15. Bxd6 Bxd6 Qxd6.

15. Qd3 0-0 16. b3!

This way of protecting the b-Pawn gives the Bishop a flight square and allows him to gracefully change diagonals later.

16. -- d6 17. Bb2 Nd7?

A better try might be 17. -- Rd8 with the idea playing for an advance of the d-Pawn.

18. Rad1 Bf6 19. Bc1 Ne5 20. Qg3 Qb8 21. f4 Nc6 22. c3!

First things first. This prophylactic move is better than commencing the attack with the immediate 22. f5. Now, the Black Knight has no way to invade White's position.

22. -- Rc8 23. f5 exf5 24. Rxf5 Be5 25. Qf3 Nd8 26. Bc4 g6 27. Bxf7+ Kg7

White wins quickly after 27. -- Nxf7 28. Rxf7 followed by 29. Rf1.

28. Rxe5!!

A fine exchange sacrifice maintains the initiative for the the final attack.

28. -- dxe5 29. Bc4

Not 29. Rd7, which can be answered with 29. -- Rc7.

29. -- Rc7 30. Rf1 Nb7

Otherwise, 31. Qf8 is checkmate.

31. Bg5 h6 32. Bf6+ Kh7 33. Bxe5 Nd6 34. Qf8 Qxf8 35. Rxf8 Rg7 36. Bd5 Nxe4 37. Bxg7 1-0

After 37. -- Kxg7 38. Rf7+, White wins a piece with either 38. -- Kg8 39. Rb7+ or 38. -- Kh8 39. Bxe4.

Photo credits:

Viktor Laznicka from 2005 European Youth Championship
Christo Cave from ChessDrum.net
Andrey Zhigalko from ChessBase.com
Katya Lahno from ChessBase.com

[Jack Rabbit]

1. I must be the biggest jinx since Sports Illustrated

Katya Lahno lost today.

Christo Cave also lost today.

Viktor Luznicka and Andrey Zhigalko also had their perfect scores spoiled today as each played to a draw.

[Jack Rabbit]

2. . . . and a correction . . .

Yesterday, the Russian women's team defeated Slovakia, 3-0, giving them sole possion of first place with 17½ points, a full point ahead of Ukraine.

Today, the Russians and the Americans played a match and scored 1½ points each while the Ukrainian women defeated Hungary 2-1.

Right now (after eight rounds), the women's standings are:

1. Russia - 19
2. Ukraine - 18½
3-4. United States, China - 17
5. Georgia - 16½
6-8. Hungary, Bulgaria, Vietnam - 16

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Update: Leaders after 10 rounds (Thursday is a rest day):

(The first score is individual points; the second is match points).

General Division

1. Armenia - 29/19
2. China - 27/13
3. Czech Republic 26½/16
4. Russia - 26½/14
5. France - 26/16
6. United States - 25½/17
7. Cuba - 25/14
8. Uzbekistan - 25/14

(Eight tied at 24½)

Friday's matches (team playing White on top board listed first):

Armenia vs. Czech Republic
China vs. France
United States vs. Russia
Uzbekistan vs. Cuba

Leading Scorers:

Gabriel Sargissian, Armenia - 8½/10
Wang Yue, China - 8/10
Vladimir Akopian, Armenia - 7½/10
Robert Zelcic, Croatia - 7½/10
Axel Bachmann, Paraguay - 7½/10
Dusan Popovic, Serbia-Montenegro - 7½/10


Women's Division

1. Ukraine - 23/20
2. Russia - 22½/16
3. China - 20½/14
4. Georgia - 20/15
5. Greece - 19½/16
6. Bulgaria - 19½/15
7. India - 19½/14
8. United States - 19/15
9. Armenia - 19/14
10. Romania - 19/14
11. France - 19/12
12. Slovenia - 19/12

Friday's matches (team playing White on top board listed first):

Bulgaria vs. Ukraine
Georgia vs. Russia
China vs. Greece
India vs. Romania
United States vs. Slovenia
France vs. Armenia

Leading Scorers:

Lubov Zsiltzova-Lisenko, Internl Blind Chess Assn - 9/10
Tatiana Kostinseva, Russia - 8/9
Sarai Sanchez, Venezuela - 8/10
Fiona Steil-Antoni, Luxumbourg - 8/10
Hou Yifan, China - 8/10

Individual points - Each player get a full point for each victory and a half point for each draw.
Match points - Each team gets 2 points for each match won and 1 point for each even match.