JR Chess Report for September 17: Clash of Champion begins Saturday

[Jack Rabbit]

The Jack Rabbit Chess Report
for the week ending September 17



Chess pieces on a board by Andrew Shouldice from godice.com


Contents

Post 1: News for the week
Post 2: Diagrams and other features
Post 3: Games from Current and Recent Events
Post 4: Two Bonus Games: Topalov vs. Kramnik

[Jack Rabbit]

1. News for the week ending September 17

Kramnik and Topalov face off for world title starting Saturday



In an event that seems hard to believe, the world championship reunification match between Vladimir Kramnik of Russia and Bulgaria's Veselin Topalov will take place in Elista, Kalmykia. beginning later this week.

The opening ceremonies are scheduled for Thursday and the first move is to be played at 15:00 Kalmykia time (4 am PDT) on Saturday.

Kalmykia is an autonomous republic in Russia. The president of Kalmykia (equivalent of the governor of a US state) is Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, who is also the president of FIDE.

Both players have a claim on the world title. FIDE, the world chess governing body, recognizes Topalov as world champion after he won a tournament featuring eight of the world's strongest grandmasters in San Luis, Argentina, a year ago. Kramnik's claim is from his defeat of former world champion Garry Kasparov in a match held in London in October 2000. Kasparov had been stripped of the world title in 1993 when he and his official challenger, British grandmaster Nigel Short, became impatient with FIDE arrogance and incompetence in organizing the title match and formed their own organization, the Professional Chess Association. Kasparov and Short held a title match in London that FIDE did not recognize. Instead, the governing body eventually recognized former world champion Anatoly Karpov as the titleholder. However, Kasparov, who crushed Short in the London match, was still the strongest player of the time, if not all time. While FIDE did not acknowledge the Kasparov-Short match, few observers acknowledge FIDE's act of striping him of his title.

In 2002, an agreement was brokered in Prague between Kasparov and Kramnik on the one hand and FIDE on the other. FIDE recognized Kramnik as the "classical" world champion and set up a match between him and the winner of the next Dortmund Sparkassen for the classical championship. Peter Leko eventually emerged as Kramnik's challenger. The winner of the Kramnik-Leko match was under the plan to then play a match against the winner of a a match between Kasparov and the FIDE champion, at the time Ruslan Ponomariov of Ukraine. In October 2004, Kramnik retained his title by barely drawing a 14-game match against Leko in Brissago, Ticino Canton, Switzerland. The match between Ponomariov and Kasparov was never held.

FIDE by this time had liquidated the world championship cycle of tournaments and matches and replaced it with a knock-out tournament to determine the world champion. This turned out to be an abysmal way to choose a world champion. Of the so-called FIDE champions who claimed their title in a knock out tournament, only Vishy Anand of India clearly and Ponomariov arguably were credible world champions. The other two FIDE champions as a result of the knock out event were Alexander Khalifman of Russia and Rustam Kasimdzhanov of Uzbekistan, both superior players in their own right but neither of the caliber of Lasker, Alekhine or Kasparov.

The tournament in San Luis was almost guaranteed to have a winner of world championship caliber. Kasimdzhanov, ranked thirtieth in the world, participated, but the other players were all from the top ten: Michael Adams of Britain, Anand, Leko, Alexander Morozevich of Russia, Jud it Polgar of Hungary, Peter Svidler of Russia and Topalov. Topalov not only won the tournament, he won convincingly. After just six rounds of the 14-round event, Topalov had built up a two-point lead and was able to draw the rest of his games and win the tournament comfortably.

Kramnik's health became a problem after the Brissago match. He played badly in 2005 and then announced he was absenting himself from chess for several month in order to be treated for spinal arthritis. He returned to competitive chess in May by playing the top board at the Torino Olympiad. There he won a gold medal for the best performance rating of the entire event. In July, Kramnik won the prestigious Sparkassen Chess Meeting in Dortmund. There is no doubt that Kramnik is back.

The world has reason to expect that this clash of champions will produce some very interesting chess.

The match is scheduled for twelve rounds, with the final round scheduled for October 10. Should the match be even after the twelfth round, tiebreakers will be played on October 12. The tiebreaker rounds will consist of a series of four rapid games, and if no winner is determined, there will then by two blitz games. If there is still no winner, a final Blitz game will be held with Black having the odds of draw.



Nigel Short wins EU Championship

English grandmaster Nigel Short, once the third-ranked grandmaster in the world who played a world championship match against Garry Kasparov in 1993, won the European Union Championship which concluded Friday in Liverpool, Lancastershire, England.




Nigel Short
Photo: Official website of the Four Nations Chess League


Short scored 7½ points in 10 rounds. He won five games without a loss.

Seven players, including Short, shared first place with 6½ points each in the Swiss system event as the final round began. It seemed very unlikely that one player would emerge as a clear winner. However, Short won his game against English grandmaster Mark Hebden while two other games featuring two co-leaders, Sarunas Sulskis against Gawain Jones and Luke McShane against Stephen Gorden, ended in draws while the seventh co-leader, Simon Williams, lost to Danny Gormally in just 19 moves.

There was an eight-way tie for second place among Sulskis of Lithuania, McShane, Gordon, Jones, Gormally (all of England), Luis Galego of Portugal, Klaus Bischoff of Germany and Karel van der Weide of Holland.


Anna Muzychuk, Nino Khurtsidze share lead in Szeged (Hungary)



Anna Muzychuk, a 16-year-old international master from Slovenia by way of Ukraine, and Georgian IM Nino Khurtsidze share the lead in the 3rd Szeged Cup, a women's event in Szeged, Hungary.

The two leaders faced off yesterday (Saturday) in round 8, but the game ended after 41 hard fought moves in a draw.

Ms. Muzychuk and Ms. Khurtsidze have 6½ points each after eight rounds. Ms. Muzychuk has won 5 games with 3 draws while Ms. Khurtsidze, who played in the semi-finals of the women's world championship in Ekaterinaberg earlier this year, has won 6, lost one and drawn one.

The final round is scheduled for today.

Szeged has a claim to fame in chess annals for being the birthplace of the great Hungarian master Geza Maroczy, who was at his zenith about a hundred years ago. The city has also made Peter Leko, Hungary's strongest player of the present day, an honorary citizen.



Korchnoi leads Senior World Championship

Viktor Korchnoi, originally of the Soviet Union but who has played under the Swiss flag for the last quarter century, has the lead in the Senior World Championship tournament in Valle d’Aosta, Italy after six rounds with 5½ points.



Viktor Korchnoi
A recent photo and in 1976, shortly after defecting from the Soviet Union
Photos: Four Nations' Chess League (UK), ChessBase.com

Korchnoi has won all his games except for a fifth-round draw against Lithuanian master Janis Klovans, who shared the lead with Korchnoi until losing in the sixth round. Klovans lost to Evgeni Vasiukov, another product of Soviet chess hegemony, like Korchnoi and Klovans. Vasiukov now shares second place with several other players, a half point behind Korchnoi.

Korchnoi, at 75 still a strong and active player, is considered by many to be the greatest player in chess history never to be world champion. He lost two world title matches to Anatoly Karpov in 1978 and 1981. The 1978 match, held in Baguio City, the Philippines, is still considered among the best of all world title matches ever played. Korchnoi lost the match by one point.

Korchnoi recently won a strong open tournament in Banyoles, Catalonia, in the Spanish Basque region. There, he played and defeated strong masters and grandmasters young enough to be his grandchildren, including Dutch national champion Sergei Tiviakov.


Young Masters' Tournament underway in Lausanne



The annual Young Masters' Tournament in Laussanne, Vaud Canton, Switzerland.

The participants are (from oldest to youngest) Tatiana Kosintseva of Russia, 20, Ukrainian Alexander Areshchenko, 20, Azerbaijan's Vugar Gashimov, 20, Poland's Radislaw Wojtaszek, 19, Wang Yue of China, 19, Koneru Humpy of India, 19, Borki Predojevic of Bosnia, 19, and France's Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, 16.

The tournament is organized like a knockout event, except that matches are held in a losers' bracket. If after the allotted number of games there is no winner, rapid game tiebreakers are played. There are three rounds of mini-matches.

In the first round, Gashimov defeated Ms. Kosintseva, Areshchenko went to the tiebreaker before defeating Ms. Koneru, Wang defeated Predojevic in the tiebreaker and Vachier-Lagrave defeated Wojtaszek. In the semi-final round winners' bracket, Vachier-Lagrave won over Gashimov and Wang had to go to the tiebreaker to defeat Areshchenko; in the losers' bracket Wojtaszek defeated Ms. Kosintseva and Ms. Koneru defeated Predojevic.

The final round begins today (Sunday) and concludes tomorrow. Wang and Vachier-Lagrave play for the tournament championship, while the other matches pit Gashimov against Areshchenko, Wojtaszek against Ms. Koneru and Predojevic against Ms. Kosintseva.

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Diagrams and feature of the JR Chess Report

!""""""""#
$tMvWlVmT%
$OoOoOoOo%
$ + + + +%
$+ + + + %
$ + + + +%
$+ + + + %
$pPpPpPpP%
$RnBqKbNr%
/(((((((()
White to move
This position is a theoretical draw

Does this picture make sense to you? If not, or if it looks like a bunch of Wingdings, please click here.

Diagrams used in the Jack Rabbit Chess Report are made with Chess Merida, a true type font that is available as freeware at the above link.


Also, the JR chess report makes the main variation in annotations more distinct and readable by putting it in red. A secondary variation, is in blue and other colors are used if needed.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Games from Current and Recent Events

Chess Games
Analysis by JR and Fritz

Peter Svidler - Magnus Carlsen, Longyearben Chess Festival, Spitsbergen Island (Norway)
Hou Yifan - Mathilde Choisy, China-France Team Matches, Paris
Christian Bauer - Zhao Jun, China-France Team Matches, Paris
Anna Muzychuk - Gabriella Olarasu, 3rd Szeged Cup, Szeged (Hungary)
Luke McShane - Nigel Short, European Union Championship, Liverpool (Endgame)

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Svidler - Carlsen, Longyearben Chess Festival, Spitsbergen Island

Peter Svidler
Photo: Meko (Germany)

Peter Svidler vs. Magnus Carlsen
Rapid Chess Match, Round 2
Spitsbergen Island (Norway), September 2006

Spanish Sicilian Game: Royal Defense (Rossolimo Variation)

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Qc7!?

Black takes an unusual approach. One of these lines might be considered:

• 4. -- Nd4 5. Ba4 Qa5 6. e5 Ne4 7. Bb3
4. -- d6 5. 0-0 Bd7 6. Re1 a6 7. Be2

5. 0-0 Nd4 6. Nxd4!?

It's White's turn to try something interesting. The move allows Black to put a pawn in the center across the frontier line, but White will have better piece activity.

The tamer 6. Bc4 e6 7. h3 a6 8. d3 b5 9. Bb3 Nxb3 10. axb3 would give White a small advatage.

6. -- cxd4 7. Nd5 Nxd5 8. exd5 a6?!

The move is to drive away the Bishop, but this can be better done by 8. -- Qc5 9. a4 a6 10. Bd3 Qxd5 11. Re1 Qg5 12. Be4 d5 with equality.

9. Ba4 g6

If 9. -- b6 10. d3 Qc5 11. Bb3 then:

• 11. -- Bb7
• 12. Qf3 e6 13. Re1 Be7
• 14. Qg3 Bf6 15. d6 and White has an advantage in space.
• 14. Bf4 0-0 15. Re2 Rac8 16. Rae1 and Black's control of the c-file balances White's command of the e-file.
• 12. Re1 d6 13. Ba4+ b5 14. Bb3 Bxd5 15. Bxd5 Qxd5 and Black's centralized Queen is balanced by White's command of the e-file.
• 11. -- a5 12. a3 Bb7 13. Re1 a4 14. Bc4 b5 15. Rc8 and White has an insgingnificant plus in space.

10. d3 h6 11. Qf3 Bg7 12. Bf4 Qa5?

• If 12. -- Qc5 13. Rae1 0-0 14. Bb3 then:
• 14. -- a5 15. a3
• 15. -- a4 16. Bc4 Ra7 17. Bb8 White has a very small advantage in space.
• 15. -- Ra6 16. Re2 a4 17. Ba2 Rf6 18. Qg3 b5 19. Rfe1 and White's advantage in space is augmented by his command of the e-file and the h2b8 diagonal.
• 14. -- Kh7?! 15. Re2 f6 16. Rc1 e5 17. dxe6 dxe6 18. Bxe6 and White's more active pieces give him a significant plus.
• else if 12. -- Qb6?! 13. Rae1 0-0 14. Bb3 a5 15. Rxe7 a4 16. Bc4 and White has a small saptial plus.

13. Rfe1!

By sacrificing the Bishop, White gains time to attack the King in the center.

If Black replies 13. -- 0-0 14. Bb3 then:

• 14. -- Qc5 15. Qg3 a5 16. a4 b6 17. Re2 Bb7 18. Rae1 g5 and White has a significant plus in caommand of open lines.
• 14. -- e6 15. Re2 Ra7 16. Bb8 and White has much better piece activity.

13. -- Qxa4

Black: Magnus Carlsen
!""""""""#
$t+v+l+ T%
$+o+oOoV %
$o+ + +oO%
$+ +p+ + %
$w+ O B +%
$+ +p+q+ %
$pPp+ PpP%
$R + R K %
/(((((((()
White: Peter Svidler
Position after Black's 13th move
(13. -- Qa5xa4)

14. Rxe7+!!

White has now sacrificed a Bishop and a Rook. He is at a trendous material disadvatage. And he has won the game.

14. -- Kxe7 15. Re1+ Kd8

If 15. -- Kf8 16. Bd6+ Kg8 17. Re7 then:

• 17. -- Kh7 18. Qxf7 Rg8 19. Be5 Qxa2 20. g3 and White's attack on the King will net him material, for example: 20. -- d6 21. Bxg7 Qxd5 22. Bxd4+ Qxf7 23. Rxf7+ Rg7 24. Rxg7+ Kh8 25. Rxb8.
• 17. -- f5 18. Qe2 g5 19. Qh5 Rh7 20. Qf7+ Kh8 21. Re8+ Bf8 22. Rxf8#

16. Bd6 Qa5

If 16. -- Qxc2? 17. Qxf7 (threatening mate on e7) 17. -- Qxf2+ 18. Kxf2 Rf8 19. Re8+ Rxe8 20. Qxg7 then:

• 20. -- Re6 21. dxe6 dxe6 22. Qe7#
• 20. -- b6 21. Qf6+ Re7 22. Qxe7#

17. b4 Qb6 18. Qf4 g5

18. -- a5 19. Be7+ Ke8 20. Bc5+ and Black must either surrender his Queen or submit to a quick mate.

19. Be7+ Ke8 20. Bc5+ Qe6 21. Qd2 d6

21. -- Qe5 22. Rxe5+ Bxe5 23. Qe2 f6 24. Qh5+ Kd8 25. d6 and Black must either surrender his Bishop or submot to mate.

22. Bxd6 Kd7 23. dxe6+ Kxd6 24. exf7 Rf8 25. Qe2 Bf6 26. Kf1

If 26. c4 then:

• 26. -- Kc7 27. Qh5 Bd7 28. Qg6 Bh8 29. Re7
• 29. -- Rad8 30. b5 axb5 31. cxb5 Be5 32. b6+ Kb8 33. Rxe5 and White will soon deliver mate.
• 29. -- Rxf7 30. Qxf7 Rd8 31. Qd5 and White's attack will prove vitorious.
• 26. -- dxc3 27. Qe3 Bg4 28. Qb6+ and Black must either submit to immediate mate or give up material.

26. -- Kc7 27. Qh5 Bf5

27. -- Bd7 28. Qg6 Bh8 29. Re7 and White wins more material.

28. Qf3 Rxf7 29. Qxf5 Raf8 30. f3 Bg7 31. Qc5+ 1-0

If 31. Qc5+ then 35. -- Kb8 32. Re7 Rxe7 33. Qxe7 Rg8 34. Qf7 and White wins a piece. Carlsen resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Hou - Choisy, China-France Team Matches, Paris

This game demonstrates how to execute a kingside attack. Hou Yifan makes it look so simple that one would think even a 12-year-old could do it.



Hou Yifan
Photo: ChessBase.com

Hou Yifan (China) vs. Matitlde Choisy (France)
China-France Team Matches, Round 3
Paris, September 2006

Open Sicilian Game: Najdorf Defense

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f4 e5 7. Nf3 Nbd7 8. a4

White moves to restrain Black's play on the queenside.

More often, White will play to stregthen the center, for example: 8. Qe2 Be7 9. Be3 exf4 10. Bxf4 0-0 11. 0-0-0 Qc7 12. Qc4 with more active pieces.

8. -- Be7 9. Bd3 0-0 10. 0-0 Nc5 11. Kh1 d5!?

Black tries something provocative. The center thrust is premature, but not entirely bad.

11. -- Qc7 12. b4 Nxd3 13. Qxd3 Be6 is even.

12. Nxe5 Ncxe4?!

This way of taking the pawn weakens Black's center. The Knight should remain at c5 in order to overprotect the pawn after 12. -- dxe4. for example: 12. -- dxe4 13. Bc4 Be6 14. Bxe6 Nxe6 15. Qe2 Rc8 16. Rd1 Qc7.

13. Bxe4 dxe4 14. Qe2 Bf5 15. g4!

White drives away the Bishop.

15. -- Be6?!

• If 15. -- Bc8 16. Rd1 Qe8 then:
  • 17. h3
    • 17. -- Nd7 18. Qxe4 Nxe5 19. fxe5 Bd7 20. Nd5 Bd6 and Black must deal with the threat of the Knight fork at c7.
    • 17. -- b6?
    • 18. Be3! Rb8 19. g5 Nd7 20. Nc6 and White wins at least a pawn.
    • 18. a5 b5 19. Qg2 Bb7 20. g5 Nh5 and the position offers chances for both sides.
  • 17. a5 Bb4 18. Nxe4 Nxe4 19. Qxe4 and White's centalized Queen gives her a small edge.

16. f5 Bd5?

The text move is played in order to protect the e-pawn directly, but this should have been done indictly:

• 16. -- Bc8! 17. Bf4 Qb6
• 18. Ra2 Qc5 19. g5 Nd5 20. Nxd5 Qxd5 21. c4 and the centralized Knight give White a small edge.
• 18. Rab1 h6 19. Nxe4 Qb4 20. Nxf6+ Bxf6 21. b3 Re8 and the threat against the centralized Knight is compensation for the pawn.

• 16. -- Bd6? 17. fxe6 Bxe5 18. g5 Bxc3 19. bxc3 and White's focus on the kingside squares gives her a significant advantage.

17. Rd1 Bd6 18. Nxd5 Bxe5 19. Bg5 Qe8 20. Bxf6 gxf6

• 20. -- Bxf6
• 21. Nc7 Qc6 22. Nxa8 Rxa8 23. c4 and White's active pieces give her a clear advantage.
• 21. Nxf6+ gxf6 22. Re1 Rd8 23. Qxe4 Qxe4+ 24. Rxe4 and White is up a pawn with an active Rook at e4, but Black has command of the d-file.

Also good for White is now 21. Qxe4 Bxb2 22. Qxe8 Rfxe8 23. Rab1. However, White instead lifts the Rook to the third rank for a very good reason.

21. Ra3 Rd8

Black: Mathilde Choisy
!""""""""#
$ + TwTl+%
$+o+ +o+o%
$o+ + O +%
$+ +nVp+ %
$p+ +o+p+%
$R + + + %
$ Pp+q+ P%
$+ +r+ +k%
/(((((((()
White: Hou Yifan
Position after Black's 21st move
(21. -- Ra8d8)

22. Rh3!

The Rook shifts to the h-file, signaling the start of the kingside attack. Other moves also win, but this is the most direct path to victory.

22. -- Rxd5

Black must give up the exchange. If 22. -- Qxa4 23. b3 Qa2 24. Qxe4 Rde8 24. g5 and White's attack will soon net material or force mate.

23. Rxd5 Qc6

23. -- Qxa4 24. b3 Qa2 25. Qxe4 and White remains an exchange up with centralized pieces.

24. c4 Qxa4 25. g5 Qa1+ 26. Rd1 Qxb2

26. -- Qa5 27. gxf6 Bxf6 28. Rg1+ Bg7 29. Qh5 and mate is in the offing.

27. Qh5 Re8 28. g6 fxg6 29. Qxh7+ Kf8 30. Qh8+ 1-0

White delivers mate on the next move. Mlle. Choisy resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Bauer - Zhao, China-France Team Matches, Paris

Christian Bauer
Photo: (Website no longer available)

Christian Bauer vs. Zhao Jun
China-France Team Matches, Round 4
Paris, September 2006

Open Sicilian Game: Sveveshnikov Defense

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5

Another plausible line is 7. Nd5 Nxd5 8. exd5 Ne7 9. Be2 Nf5 10. 0-0.

7. -- a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Bxf6

An alternative often played is 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 0-0 12. Nc2 Bg5.

9. -- gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. Bd3

11. c3 Bg7 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Nc2 0-0 14. Nce3 Be6 15. Bd3 f5 is level.

11. -- Be6 12. c3 Bg7

The rationale for this move is to prevent Ne5f6+.

If 12. -- Rc8 then:

• 13. Nc2 Qg5 14. 0-0 Rg8 15. Ne1 and White has a small plus in central space.
• 13. Bc2 Qg5 14. Qf3 Bxd5 15. exd5 Ne7 and Black's active Queen and the Rook on the c-file are balanced by White control of central space.

13. Qh5 0-0

13. -- fxe4 14. Bxe4 Rc8 15. Rd1 h6 offers equal chances.

14. Ne3

If 14. Nc2 fxe4 15. Bxe4 f5 16. Nf4 then:

• 16. -- exf4 17. Bxc6 Rc8 18. Qf3 Qb6
• 19. Nb4
• 19. -- Rf7 20. Bd5 Bxd5 21. Nxd5 Re8+ with equal chances.
• 19. -- a5 20. Nd5 Bxd5 21. Bxd5+ Kh8 22. 0-0-0 and White's control of the long diagonal is balanced by Black's command of the c-file.
• 19. Bd5?! Bxd5 20. Qxd5+ Kh8 and Black is slightly better for his command of the a7g1 diagonal and the c-file; White is compensated with the central Queen.
• 16. -- fxe4? 17. Nxe6 Qe8 18. Qh3 White is threatening to win the exchange of bring the Knight to g5 where mate will be threatened.

14. -- f4 15. Nf5 Bxf5?

If 15. -- b4! then:

• 16. Nxg7 Kxg7 17. Nb1 Rg8
• 18. g3 Qf6
• 19. Rg1 Qg6 20. Qd1 and Black's edge in space and development is balanced by the royal masked pin in the g-file.
• 19. Qd1 f3 20. h3 Rab8 Black is slightly better because of superior development; White should play either 21. Nd2 or 21. c4 Nd4 22. Nd2
• 18. Rg1 Kh8 19. a3 bxc3 20. Nxc3 Nd4 and Black has a clear edge in space and piece activity.
• 16. Nc4 bxc3 17. bxc3 Bxf5 18. Qxf5 Na5 threatening to trade White's active Knight; Black has a small edge.

16. Qxf5 Ne7

16. -- b4 17. cxb4 Qb6 18. b5 axb5 19. 0-0 Nd4 20. Qh5 and White's pieces are more active.

17. Qh5 d5

Black attempts to undermine White's claim on the center.

If 17. -- Qe8 18. c4 then:

• 18. -- f5 19. Qh3 Qc6 20. cxb5 axb5
• 21. 0-0 fxe4 22. Qe6+ Kh8 23. Bxb5 and White has a small edge in piece activity.
• 21. Nxb5 fxe4 22. Qe6+ Kh8 and Black has a small plus in space.
• 18. -- b4 19. Nc2 Rb8 20. b3 f5 21. Qh3 Qc6 22. f3 and White has a small edge in pawn structure.

18. exd5 f5 19. 0-0-0 e4?

This move attacks the Bishop and forces him to bite granite, put it leaves the forward f-pawn loose.

Better is 19. -- Qd6 20. f3 Rac8 21. Bc2 b4 22. Nb1 bxc3 23. Nxc3 e4 and Black has a small advatage in space.

20. Bc2 Ng6 21. g4

After 21. d6 Rf6 22. g4 b4 23. gxf5 Ne5 24. Nb1 Rc8 25. Rhg1 Black has a winning edge.

21. -- b4 22. gxf5 Ne5

If 22. -- bxa3 23. fxg6 axb2+ 24. Kb1 then:

• 24. -- h6 25. d6 Rc8 26. Rhe1 and White threatens take the pawn at e4.
• 24. -- hxg6 25. Qxg6 Qf6 26. Qxe4 giving White powerful threats to advance the d-pawn or attack the King position

23. Bxe4 Qf6 24. Nc2 Nc4

If 24. -- bxc3 25. b3 then:

• 25. -- Rfd8 26. Rhg1
• 26. -- Ra7 27. Nd4 Qd6 28. Kb1 Qa3 29. Qe2 and 30. Ne6 and White has better control of open lines leading to the enemy King, although Black has some threats of his own.
• 26. -- Kh8 27. h4 Rab8 28. Rde1 Qf7 29. Qg5 and White has a potent kingside attack.
• 25. -- Rad8 26. Rhg1 Rf7 27. h4 Rfd7 28. Qg5 Kh8 29. Kb1 and White's kingside attack is strong and his pawn on d5 holds.

25. Rd4 Rac8 26. Qe2?

White nearly throws away a won game.

If 26. Nxb4 Nd6 27. Bc2 then:

• 27. -- Nb5 28. Rd3 Qxf5 29. Qxf5 Rxf5 30. Rh3 and White wins a pawn.
• 27. -- Nxf5 28. d6 Qg6 29. Qxg6 hxg6 30. Rd5 and White's d-pawn combine with the threat to Black's a-pawn present Black with serious problems.

26. -- Nxb2?

Black returns the favor by handing White a piece on a silver platter.

If 26. -- f3! then an equal game results from:

• 27. Bxf3 Qg5+ 28. Kb1 Bxd4
• 29. h4 Nd2+
• 29. Nxd4 bxc3 30. bxc3 Qd2 31. Rg1+ Kh8
• 27. Qxc4 Rxc4 28. Rxc4 bxc3 29. Rxc3 Qh4 30. Rc4

27. Kxb2 Rxc3 28. Rhd1 Qb6

28. -- Rfc8 29. d6 Qxd6 30. Rxd6 Rxc2+ 31. Kb1 Rxe2 32. Bd5+ and White has an overwhelming attack.

29. d6 Rc5 30. f6 Bxf6

If 30. -- Rxf6 31. Kc1 f3 32. Qe1 Bh6+ 33. Kb2 then:

• 33. -- Bg7 34. Rxb4 Rxd6+ 35. Kb1 Qd8 36. Rxd6 and White's pieces are more active.
• 33. -- b3 34. axb3 Bg7 35. Ka2 and White has a lethal passed pawn.

31. Qg4+ Kh8

Black: Zhao Jun
!""""""""#
$ + + T L%
$+ + + +o%
$oQ P V +%
$+ T + + %
$ O RbO +%
$+ + + +q%
$pKn+ P P%
$+ + +r+ %
/(((((((()
White: Christian Bauer
Position after Black's 31st move

32. Qh3!

White nails home the win in the most direct way imaginable: he threatens mate on the next move.

32. -- h5

No way of protecting the h7 point is satisfactory:

• 32. -- Bxd4+ 33. Nxd4 Rf7 34. d7 Qd6 35. Nc6 and the pawn will promote.
• 32. -- Rf7 33. Qe6 Rf8 34. Kb1 b3 35. axb3 Bxd4 36. Nxd4 and after 37. Qh6 White is threatening to deliver mate.
• 32. -- Qa7 33. d7 h5 34. Qe6 Qb8 35. Qxf6+ Rxf6 36. d8Q+ Qxd8 37. Rxd8+ and White is two pieces up.

33. Kb1 b3 34. axb3 Bxd4

34. -- Rg5 35. Rd5 Rfg8 36. Rxg5 Rxg5 37. Qe6 Kg7 38. Qd7+ and White has an easy win.

35. Rxd4 Rb5 36. b4 Qd8

36. -- Re5 37. Rd5 Rxd5 38. Qc3+ Kg8 39. Bxd5+ Kh7 40. Qe5 and White closes in for the kill.

37. Qe6 Qg5 38. d7 1-0

White remains two pieces to the good. Zhao resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Muzychuk - Olarasu, 3rd Szeged Cup, Szeged (Hungary)

Anna Muzychuk
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)

Anna Muzychuk vs. Gabriella Olarasu
3rd Szeged Cup, Round 3
Szeged, Hungary, September 2006

King's Gambit: Fischer Defense

1. e4 d6 2. Nc3 e5 3. f4!?

Ms. Olarasu (Black) appeared to be intent on playing the Sardinian Rat (Philidor) Defense, a solid if somewhat passive positional game. Ms. Muzychuk simply pops that bubble by transforming the opening into a King's Gambit.

3. -- exf4 4. Bc4 Qh4+

This move has certain advatages and disadvantages, both on display in this game. Black succeeds in depriving White of her castling priviledge, but at the same time the Queen often becomes the target of attack, forcing her to take refuge through a cumbersome escape route.

Other lines of development include:

• 4. -- Nf6 5. Nf3 c6 6. d4 Qe7 7. 0-0
• 4. -- g5 5. d4 Bg7 6. Qh5 Qe7 7. Nd5 Qd7
• 4. -- Nc6 5. d4 Be6 6. Ne2 d5 7. exd5 Bxd5 8. Nxd5 Qxd5 9. Bf3

5. Kf1 Be6 6. Bb3 a6 7. d4 Nf6 8. Nf3 Qh6

Fritz says the present position is a slightly advantagous for Black; I say it's equal. To me, White is compensated for the pawn with space in the center. I asked Fritz to elaborate on his view, but all he dpes is blink his cursor.

9. Qd2 Nh5!?

Black can get a more than satisfactory game from 9. -- g5 10. Nd5 Bxd5 11. exd5 Ne4, when she has considerably more mobility owing to White;s doubled pawns in the center.

10. Kf2 Be7

10. -- Nd7 11. Nd5 0-0-0 12. Nxf4 Nxf4 13. Qxf4 Nf6 and Black still has the gambit pawn and a solid position.

11. Ne2 g5 12. d5 Nf6 13. Qd3 Bd7 14. h4!

White moves to challenge Black's space on the kingside.

If 14. Qc4 Bd8 15. Re1 then:

• 15. -- b5 16. Qd3 c5 17. c4 0-0 and Black has a clear advantage in space and piece activity, as well as retaining an extra pawn.
• 15. -- Bb5 16. Ba4 c6 17. Bxb5 axb5 18. Qd3 and Black clearly has better command of open lines ans still has the gambit pawn.

After the text, White recovers the gambit pawn.

14. -- Ng4+ 15. Kg1 Ne5

If 15. -- c5 then:

• 16. dxc6 Nxc6 17. Bd5 Rc8 18. Qb3 and White has slightly better placed pieces.
• 16. Qd2 gxh4 17. Qxf4 Qg6 18. Nxh4 Bxh4 and Black's pieces are better placed.

16. Qc3 Nxf3+ 17. Qxf3 Qg7?!

Black is right to get the Queen away from the masked attack by White's Rook, but this is a dubious way of going about it.

Better is 17. -- gxh4! 18. Qc3 Qf6 19. Bd2:

• 19. -- Rg8 20. Nxf4 Qxc3 21. Bxc3 Bg5 22. Nh3 Be3+ and Black has better command of open lines, but White has some compensation in her central space.
• 19. -- f3 20. gxf3 Rg8+ 21. Kf2 Qxc3 22. Bxc3 with a balanced position.

18. hxg5 Bxg5 19. Nxf4 Qd4+?

We have just seen that one feature that must exist in all decisive chess game, the blunder, otherwise known as the losing move. From here on, Black will need White's cooperation to get back in the game, and there is nothing in any moral code that says White has to be at all cooperative in that respect.

It is true that some blunders are more subtle than others. This one is subtle. Normally, a centralized Queen is a wonderful thing to have, but, as in all things chess, there are some big ifs that go with that. Is the Queen going to be able to spearhead an attack? Is she going to maintain her ground in the center?

All the Queen is accomplishing here is giving a useless check. She will be immediately driven from the center.

Correct is 19. -- Bxf4 20. Qxf4 Rg8 21. Qf2 Bg4 22. Be3 Nd7 with an equal game.

Black: Gabriella Olarasu
!""""""""#
$tM +l+ T%
$+oO +o+o%
$o+ O + +%
$+ +p+ V %
$ + WpN +%
$+b+ +q+ %
$pPp+ +p+%
$R B + Kr%
/(((((((()
White: Anna Muzychuk
Position after Black's 19th move
(19. -- Qf7d4+)

20. Be3!

The Bishop bounces the party-crashing Queen from the premises. White, by activating her Bishop, has a better position as a result of Black's last move than she would have had otherwise.

Other moves are less effective:

• If 20. Kh2 Rg8 21. c3 Qf6 22. Nh5 Qe5+ 23. g3 Bh4 24. Bf4 and White has only a small edge with more active pieces; or
• 20. Qf2 Qxf2+ 21. Kxf2 a5 22. a3 h6 23. Be3 Rg8 and Black has equalized.

20. -- Qf6 21. Rf1 a5

If after the text move Black plays 20. -- Qxb2 then 21. Rf1 Bxf4 22. Qxf4 Qg7 23. Qf2 f6 24. Bh6 and White has a significant edge in piece activity.

21. -- Qxb2 22. Qf2 Qa3 23. Bd4 f6 24. Ng6 and White has more active pieces while Black's queenside is difficult to disentangle.

22. Qd1

Also good is 22. Ne6 and:

• 22. -- Qxf3 23. Nxc7+ Kf8 24. Rxf3 Bxe3+ 25. Rxe3 Ra7 26. a4 and White is a pawn to the good.
• 22. -- Bxe6 23. Qxf6 Bxf6 24. dxe6 Bxb2 25. Rxf7 a4 26. Bc4 and Black will not be able to hold out much longer.

22. -- c5 23. dxc6 Nxc6 24. Nd5

If 24. Bd5 Qe7 25. Bd4 Ne5 26. Bb3 then:

• 26. -- Bg4 27. Ba4+ and White is attacking with more active pieces.
• 26. -- Bxf4 27. Rxf4 a4 28. Bd5 and White's active, centralized peices give her a winning edge.

24. -- Bxe3+ 25. Nxe3 Qe5 26. Rh5

Even better is 26. Bxf7+! Kd8 27. Nc4 Qxe4 28. Nxd6 Qe3+ 29. Rf2:

• 29. -- Qe7 30. Re2 Qf6 31. c3 and White has a powerful attack.
• 29. -- Kc7 30. Nb5+ Kd8 31. Rh5 and White's attack will soon converge her pieces on Black's King.

26. -- Qxe4 27. Nc4 Qd4+ 28. Qxd4 Nxd4 29. Nxd6+ Ke7

• If 29. -- Kd8 30. Nxf7+ winning at least the exchange.
• 29. -- Kf8 30. Rxf7+ Kg8 31. Rg5#

30. Nxf7 Rhf8 31. Rxh7 Bf5 32. Rh5 Be6

If 32. -- Bxc2 33. Re5+ Kd7 34. Bxc2 Nxc2 35. Rd1+ Kc7 then:

• 36. Re7+ 36. -- Kb6 37. Rd6+ Ka7 38. Rdd7 and Black's game is in its last throes.
• 36. Rc5+ Kb6 37. Rxc2 Rxf7 38. Rd6+ and White is approaching a won Rook and pawn ending.

33. Bxe6 Nxe6 34. Rh7 Nd4 35. c3 Ne2+ 36. Kh2 Kd7 37. Rd1+

37. Nd8+ Ke8 38. Rxf8+ Kxf8 39. Nxb7 and White's extra pawns assure her of victory.

37. -- Kc7 38. Ne5+ Kc8

38. -- Kb6 39. Nd7+ Kc6 40. Nxf8 Rxf8 41. g4 White, with pawns majorities on both flanks and an exchange up, has an easy win.

39. Rdd7 Ra6 40. Rc7+ Kb8

40. -- Kd841. Rhd7+ Ke8 42. Rc8#.

41. Rxb7+ Ka8 42. Rbc7 1-0

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Endgame: McShane-Short, EU Championship, Liverpool

Luke McShane and Nigel Short
Photos: ChessBase.de (Germany), ChessBase.de (Germany)


Luke McShane vs. Nigel Short
European Union Championship, Round 8
Liverpool, September 2006

Black: Nigel Short
!""""""""#
$ + + +l+%
$+ + +o+o%
$ +o+ +o+%
$+o+ + + %
$o+o+t+ +%
$P + B + %
$ K + P +%
$+ +r+ + %
/(((((((()
White: Luke McShane
Position after 33. -- Re8xe4

According my silicon sidekick, Fritz 4.01, this position is "-/+" (a clear advantage for Black). On material ground, he's right; Black has five pawns for a Bishop. Were Black to increase his material advantage, White could resign.

For the moment, all of Black's pawns are on light squares, while White's Bishop is dark-square bound.

34. Bh6

White threatens 35. Rd8+ Re8 36. Rxe8#

34. -- f6

This is one of three moves to avoid the above fate; the others are 34. -- f5 and 34. -- Re8.

35. Rd7

After 35. Rd6 Re2+ 36. Kc3 Rxf2 37. Rxc6 g5 the g-pawn becomes dangerous; with the present position of the White Rook, it will be hard to stop.

35. -- Re2+ 36. Kc3 Rxf2 37. Rg7+ Kf8 38. Rxh7+ Ke8!

Black knows the White Rook has to move off the seventh rank in order to attack pawns. He opts to move his King to the queenside in order to keep the Rook away from the greater pawn mass for the time being.

• If 38. -- Kg8 39. Rg7+ Kf8 40. Kd4 then:
  • 40. -- Rh2 41. Rxg6+ Kf7 42. Rg7+ Ke6 43. Be3 Rh4+ and Black's chances are a little better, but not really good enough.
  • 40. -- Rf5 41. Rc7+ Ke8 42. Rxc6 g5 43. Rb6 Kf7 and White's position looks just good enough to hold the draw.

39. Be3 Rf3

• If 39. -- Re2 40. Bd4 f5 then:
  • 41. Rc7 Re6 42. Kb4 g5 43. Kc5 g4 44. Rxc6 Kd7 and White exchanges Rooks and holds.
  • 41. Rg7 Rg2 42. Bc5 f4 43. Bd6 f3 44. Re7+ Kf8 and the f-pawn gives Black a big edge.

40. Kd2 g5 41. Rc7 g4?!

The pawn advance is premature.

• Better is 41. -- f5 and now:
  • 42. Ke2 Rg3 43. Rxc6 f4 44. Bc5 g4 then Black should be able to push a pawn over.
  • 43. Bxg5 Rxa3 43. Rxc6 Rb3 44. Rc5 a3 and the a-pawn cannot be stopped.

42. Rxc6 f5 43. Bc5?!

The Bishop should either remain in the center or move to the kingside. Black for the moment is neglecting the f- and g-pawns.

• Better is 43. Ke2 f4:
  • 44. Bc1! (still watching the kingside pawns) 44. Rh3 45. Bxf4 Rxa3 46. Rc5 g3 47. Rxb5 Ra2+ 48. Kf3 and White has fully equalized; if this were the actual position, it would be a good place for the opponents to agree to a draw.
  • 44. Bc5 Kf7 45. Rc8 Ke6 46. Rf8 Kd5 47. Ba7 Ke6 48. Re8+ Kf5 and Black's winning chances are excellent.

Black: Nigel Short
!""""""""#
$ + +l+ +%
$+ + + + %
$ +t+ + +%
$+oB +o+ %
$o+o+ +o+%
$P + +t+ %
$ + K + +%
$+ + + + %
/(((((((()
White: Luke McShane
Position after 43. Be3c5

43. -- Kd7?

Black throws it away. Better is 43. -- Rd3+, cutting the board in two. White must choose which side to play his King, knowing that it won't be able to go to the other without Black's permission.

• If 44. -- Rd3+! then:
  • 44. Ke2! (it is better to play the King to the opposite side of the Bishop) 44. -- f4 45. Rc7 g3
  • 46. Re7+! kd8 47. Rf7 g2 and Black will take the a-pawn and begin pushing his queenside pawns forward; he has excellent prospects of getting one over.
  • 46. Rc8+? Kd7 47. Rf8 Kc6 and Black wins.
  • 44. Kc2 Rd5 45. Bb4 Kf7 46. Bd6 Rd3 and White's chances of stopping the kingside pawns aren't very good.

44. Rd6+!

With this move, White prevents Black from cutting the board in half and stranding the White King on one side or the other.

46. -- Kc7 45. Rg6

After 45. Ke2 f4 46. Rg6 c3 47. Kd1 g3 48. Kc2 White should be able to stop the pawns.

45. -- Rd3+ 46. Kc2 Kd7

46. -- g3 47. Rf6 Rd5 48. Be3 Kd7 49. Bd2 Ke7 gives Black has a slight edge with the g-pawn creeping forward.

47. Rf6 Rd5 48. Bf2 Rd3

After 48. -- Ke8 49. Bh4 Kd7 50. Kc1 Rc5 51. Kd2 Re5 52. Kc3 White's pieces will stop the advance of Black's pawns.

49. Bc5 ½-½

If 49. Bc5 Rd5 50. Bf2 Ke7 51. Bh4 Ke8 52. Kc1 Ke7 53. Rxf5+ then after the exchange of Rooks, White's Bishop will be able to hold the remaining Black pawns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Bonus Games: Topalov vs. Kramnik

Bonus Games:
Veselin Topalov and Vladimir Kramnik

Veselin Topalov - Vladimir Kramnik, International Gramdmaster Tournament, Linares (Andalusía, Spain), 1998
Veselin Topalov - Vladimir Kramnik, Melody Amber Tournament (Blindfold), Monte Carlo, 2001

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Topalov-Kramnik, Linares, 1998 (0-1)

Classical World Champion Vladimir Kramnik
Photo: World Chess Trophy (Czech)

Veselin Topalov vs. Vladimir Kramnik
International Tournamnet, Round 2
Linares, March 1998

Queen's Gambit: Orthodox Defense

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 0-0 7. e3 b6 8. Be2 Bb7 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. cxd5 exd5 11. b4 c6

11. -- c5 12. bxc5 bxc5 13. Rb1 Bc6 14. 0-0 Nd7 gives White has an insignificant edge with his Rook commanding the open b-file.

12. 0-0 a5 13. b5 c5 14. Re1 Re8

14. -- Nd7 15. Qb3 c4 16. Qc2 Re8 17. Rac1 is level.

15. Rc1 Nd7 16. g3!?

The text move is to keep the Bishop out of h4 in order for the Knight at f3 to protect the pawn at d4.

If 16. Qd2 then:

• 16. -- cxd4 17. Nxd4 Ne5 18. Red1 Rc8 19. Nc6 Nxc6 with an equal game.
16. -- Bh4 17. dxc5 Nxc5 18. Red1 Rc8 19. Nxh4 Qxh4 20. Bf3 and White threatens to win a pawn.

16. -- Nf8 17. Na4

White thrreatens to win a pawn at c5.

Had White played instead 17. dxc5 bxc5 then:

• 18. Na4 18. -- c4
• 19. Nc5 Bc8 20. Qd2
• 20. -- Rb8 21. a4 Be7 22. Qd4 Qd6 =+
• 20. -- Be7 21. Na4 Ba3 22. Rcd1 =
• 19. Nd4 Rc8 20. Bg4 Ne6 21. b6 Qe7 22. h3 =
• 18. Qc2 Rc8 19. Na4 Ne6 20. Nd2 d4 21. Bg4 =

17. -- c4!

This is the only good way of protecting the pawn. In fact, the alternatives don't protect the pawn at all:

• 17. -- cxd4 18. Nxd4 Rc8 19. Rxc8 Bxc8 20. Nc6 Qc7 21. Qxd5
• 17. -- Ne6 18. dxc5 bxc5 19. Nxc5 Nxc5 20. Rxc5 Qb6 Rc2
• 17. -- Rc8 18. dxc5 bxc5 19. Nxc5 Ba8 20. Qd2 Be7 21. Nd3
• 17. -- Be7 18. dxc5 bxc5 19. Nxc5 Bxc5 20, Rxc5 Ne6 21. Rc2 Qb6 22. a4

18. Bf1

The Bishop is in route to Bg2 in order to threaten the base of Black's pawn chain at d5.

18. -- Qd6 19. Bg2 Rad8 20. h4 Ne6 21. Nc3 g6!?

This move was made out of concern for the expansion of the h-pawn, although there was little for Black to fear from it (as shown in the blue variation).

If 21. -- Re7 then:

• 22. Re2 Nf8
• 23. Nh2 23. -- Qe6 24. Rec2 Ree8 25. Ng4 Be7 26. Ne5 with equal chances.
• 23. Rec2 Rde8 24. Nh2 g6 25. Qf3 Bg7 26. a4 +=
• 22. h5 Nc7 23. Nh2 Rde8
• 24. a4 Qe6 25. Qf3 Bg5 26. Re2 Qd6 with equal chances.
• 24. Ng4 Bg5 25.Qf3 a4 26. Re2 with equal chances.

22. Nd2 Ba8 23. h5

23. Qf3 Bh8 24. a4 Bg7 25. Nf1 Re7 =

23. -- g5

The text is played with the intent of gaining space on the kingside.

• 23. -- Ng7! 24. hxg6 fxg6 25. Qg4 Kh7 26. Rc2 Nf5 and Black has an advatage in space.
• 23. -- gxh5 24. Qxh5 Bg7 25. Nf3
• 25. -- Qe7 26. Re2 Ng5 27. Nxf3+ 28. Qxf3 and White's pieces are better placed for a stike on Black's d-pawn.
• 25. -- Nc7 26. Nh4 Bb7 27. Re2 Bc8 28. Rec2 and White's piece placement give him a small edge.

24. Nf1 Be7

If 24. -- Nc7 25. Qf3 Bg7 then:

• 26. Nh2 26. -- a4
• 27. Re2 27. -- a3 28. Ng4 Qd7 29. Nf6+ =
• 27. Nxa4 Nxb5 =+
• 26. g4 Bb7 27. Re2 Qf6 28. Qxf6 Bxf6 =

25. g4 Qd7 26. Ng3 Ng7!?

This move provides better coverage of the f5 square. Black may want to play -- f5 in the not too distant future or be ready for a series of exchanges should White take further aim at f5 with either Qc2 or Qf3.

If 26. -- Ba3 27. Rc2 Bb7 28. Nf5 Ng7 then:

• 29. Nxh6+ Kh7 30. Nf5 Nxf5 31. gxf5 Qxf5 and chances are even.
• 29. Nxg7 29. -- Kxg7 30. Qe2 Bb4 31. a4 f5 and Black has a small edge in space.

27. a4 Bb4 28. Bh3

White, too, recognizes a battle for f5 is coming and make preparations.

If 28. Qf3 Rf8 29. Bh3 Rde8 then:

• 30. Rc2 30. -- f5
• 31. Nxf5 Nxf5 32. gxf5 Qf7 with a balanced position; White has won control of f5 for the moment, but Black will attempt the manuever -- Ba8b7-c8, again challenging f5.
• 31. gxf5 Bd6 32. Nce2 Qf7 and here, too, White has temporarily won f5, but Black will challenge with the Bishop maneuver.
• 30. Rf1 f5 31. Nxf5 Rf6 32. Rc2 Qf7 and the battle for f5 is as yet unresolved, but it will this position will probably soon look like the other two lines in this note.

28. -- Bb7 29. Qc2?!

This is a dubious mave to attempt to hang on to f5.

• 29. Bg2 Re7 30. Qf3
• 30. -- Bc8 31. Nxd5 Qxd5 32. Qxd5 Rxd5 33. Bxd5 Bxe1 34. Rxe1 Bxg4 35. Rc1 and when the dust settles, white will have command of the c-file.
• 30. -- Qe6 31. Red1 Kh8 32. Rc2 Rde8 33. Nxd5 Bxd5 34. Qxd5 Qxg4 and White command of the long diagonal gives him a slight edge.
• 29. Qf3 Qe7 30. Nf5 Qf6
• 31. Rf1 Nxf5 32. Qxf5 Qxf5 33. gxf5 Bc8 and Black will win the battle for f5 by manuevering his King to f6.
• 31. Re2 Nxf5 32. gxf5 Ba3 33. Rb1 Bd6 and Black holds his central space.

29. -- Bd6

• 29. -- Bxc3 30. Qxc3
• 30. -- Bc8 31. Rc2 Qd6 32. Rec1 Be6 33. Kg2 Qd7 and Black has a clear advantage is space and piece placement.
• 30. -- Re7 31. Qb2 Rde8 32. Rc3 Qe6 33. Qe2 33. Qe2 34. Qf3 Bb7 with equal chances.
• 29. -- Bc8 30. e4 dxe4 31. Ncxe4
• 31. -- Qe7 32. blue1 Be6 33. Qe2 Bd5 34. Bg2 Bd6 and Black has firmer control of open lines.
• 31. -- Qxd4 32. blue1 Qe5 33. Qxc4 Rxd1+ and Black's pieces have greater mobility.

30. Nf5 Nxf5 31. gxf5?

The capture has to be made, but White should opt to exchange Queens so has to take much of the fire out of Black's attack.

If 31. Qxf5 Qxf5 32. gxf5 Kg7 33. Rc2 Kf6 and Black has only a small advantage in piece activity.

Black now has an advantage that is close to decisive.

31. -- Bb4 32. Kg2 32. -- Qd6 33. f3 Re7 34. Re2

White intends to double the Rooks and push the e-pawn.

If 34. Qf2 then 34. -- Qf6 35. Rc2 Bc8 36. e4 Bxc3 37. Rxc3 dxe4 38. f4 Bb7 and White's d-pawn is doomed while Black's e-pawn is ready to roll forward.

34. -- Rde8 35. Rce1 Qf6 36. Bg4

White intends to protect his kingside pawns. The text move prevents Black from playing

If 36. e4 then:

• 36. -- Qxd4 37. Nxd5 Bxd5 38. Rd1 Qe5 39. f6
• 39. -- Bd6 40. fxe7 Qg3 and Black has two Bishops for a Rook and will soon have an estra pawn.
• 39. -- Bxe4 40. Rxe4 Qxf6 and Black has pawn majorities on both wings.
• 36. -- dxe4 37. Rxe4 Bxe4 38. Nxe4 Qxd4 39, Rd1 Rxe4 40. fxe4 Qxe4 and Black has pawn majorities on both wings.

36. -- Bd6 37. Qd1 Bb4 38. Qc2

White covers his Knight.

If 38. Qd2 Rd8 then:

• 39. Rd1 39. -- Bc8 40. e4 dxe4 41. Rxe4 Bxf5 42. Bxf5 Qxf5 and Black has an extra pawn and better piece activity.
• 39. Rc1 Bc8 40. e4 dxe4 41. Rxe4 Rxe4 42. Nxe4 Qxd4 43. Qxd4 Rxd4 and White has superior piece activity, better pawn structure and an extra pawn.

38. -- Rd8 39. Rd1 Bc8 40. e4 Bxc3

Black could let White back in the game with 40. -- dxe4? 41. Nxe4 Qh8 42. Qxc4 and a level position.

41. e5

If 41. Qxc3 then 42. Rxe4 Rxe4 43. fxe4 Bb7 and Black has much better piece mobility.

Black: Vladimir Kramnik
!""""""""#
$ +vT +l+%
$+ + To+ %
$ O + W O%
$Op+oPpOp%
$p+oP +b+%
$+ V +p+ %
$ +q+r+k+%
$+ +r+ + %
/(((((((()
White: Veselin Topalov
Position after White 41st move

41. -- Rxe5!!

The sacrifice of the Rook allows Black to break through in the center.

Much weaker is 41. -- Qh8? 42. Qxc3 Qh7 43. Qc2 Rde8 and White can entertain thoughts of a draw.

42. dxe5 Bxe5

Black has a Bishop and two pawns for the Rook.

43. Rde1 Bc7 44. Re8+

44. Re7 Bd7 45. Qe2 Kh7 46. Qc2 Bd6 47. R7e2 Bc8 leaves Black with initiative and mibile pieces.

44. -- Kg7 45. Rxd8 Bxd8 46. Rd1

46. Re8 Bb7 47. Qe2 c3 48. Qd3 d4 49. Re1 Qd6 leave Black with mobile pieces and advancing pawns.

46. -- Bb7 47. f4

After 47. Bh3 Bc7 48. Kg1 Bd6 49. Kf1 Qe5 Black has initiative and stronger pieces.

47. -- d4+ 48. Bf3 d3 49. 0-1

After 49. Qc1 Bxf3+ 50. Kxf3 Qd4 the pawns roll over White's position. Topalov resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

11. Topalov-Kramnik, Monte Carlo, 2001 (1-0)

FIDE World Champion Veselin Topalov
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)

Veselin Topalov vs. Vladimir Kramnik
Melody Amber Tournament (Blindfold), Round 3
Monte Carlo, March 2001

Queen's Gambit: Harrwitz Opening (Semi-Normal Defense)

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 0-0 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3 Nc6 9. Qc2 Qa5 10. Nd2

Also playable and satisfacry is 10. Rd1 Ne4 11. cxd5 Nxc3 12. bxc3 exd5 13. a4.

10. -- Bb4 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Bd3 d4 13. 0-0 Bxc3 14. Nc4

White drives awy the Queen before retaking the Bishop.

If the immediate 14.bxc3 Qxc3then:

• 15.Nb3 Qxc2 16.Bxc2 Nd5 17.Rad1 Nxf4 18.exf4 with equality.
• 15.Bg5 Qxc2 16.Bxc2 d3 17.Ba4 Nd5 and Black's d-pawn gives him a slight edge.
• 15.Rfc1 Qxc2 16.Rxc2 Rd8 17.Ne4 Nd5 and Black's pawn plus and better placed pieces give him a slight edge.

14. -- Qh5 15. bxc3 Nd5 16. Bg3

White has plans for the Bishop and removes him to where he will not be exchanged.

If 16. Bd6 then:

• 16.-- b5 17. Bxf8 bxc4 18. Bxc4 Kxf8 19. cxd4 and White has a Rook and two pawns for two Knights.
• 16. -- Re8 17. cxd4 b5 18. Nd2 Bb7 19. Qc5 and White is a pawn to the good.

16. -- dxe3 17. Rae1

A prophylactic move to give Black second thought about playing 17. -- exf2.

If 17. Nxe3 Nxe3 18. fxe3 Rd8 19. Bc4 then:

• 19. -- Rd7 20. Rad1 Rxd1 21. Qxd1 Qxd1 22. Rxd1 and White's piece activity is balanced by Black's pawn structure and the fact that there aren't that many pieces to be active.
• 19. -- Be6 20. Bxe6 fxe6 21. Qb3 Qc5 and the White Queen is going pawn-hunting.
• 19. -- Qc5 20. Bxf7+ Kh8 21. Bf2 Qg5 22. Qe4 and White is a pawn up with active pieces.

17. -- Be6 18. fxe3 Rad8 19. Nd6 Ne5

If 19. -- Rd7 20. Qb2 Ne5 21. Be2 then:

• 21. -- Qg5 22. c4 Nxe3 23. Qxe5 Qxe5 24. Bxe5 and White has the advantage with active, centralized pieces.
• 21. -- Ng4? 22. h3 Ndxe3 23. hxg4 Qc5 24. Ne4 and White is a piece up.

20. Bxh7+ Qxh7 21. Qxh7+ Kxh7 22. Bxe5 f6

Black attempts to drive away the Bishop.

If instead 22. -- Rd7 23. e4 Ne7 24. Rb1 b6 25. Bg3 Kg6 26. Rfd1 then White's Rooks command open lines and Black's don't.

23. e4 Nb6 24. Bg3 Na4 25. e5 f5 26. Bh4

26. Re3 Rd7 27. Bh4 Nb6 28. Bg5 Kg8 29. Rb1 and White has a dintinct advantage in piece placement.

26. -- Rd7 27. Re3 f4 28. Ref3 Bd5 29. Rh3

The text move sets up a potentially deadly discovered check, with which White must deal immediately.

If now 29. -- Kg6 30. c4 Bc6 31. Bf2 Re7 32. Re1 and White enjoys better piece activity.

29. -- Be6

Black: Vladimir Kramnik
!""""""""#
$ + + T +%
$Oo+t+ Ol%
$ + Nv+ +%
$+ + P + %
$m+ + O B%
$P P + +r%
$ + + +pP%
$+ + +rK %
/(((((((()
White: Veselin Topalov
Position after Black's 29th move

30. Be7+!

This is the deadly discovered check of which we spoke in the last note.

The text is better than 30. Rhf3 Kh6 31. Rxf4 Rxf4 32. Rxf4 Nxc3 33. Rf8, and even here, White's piece activity gives him a strong advatantage.

30. -- Bxh3 31. Bxf8 Be6 32. Ne4 Kg8

Better, but still not good enough, is 32. -- Kg6 33. Rxf4 Rd1+ 34. Kf2 Rd5 35. Ng5 and White's piece activity still gives him a strong game.

33. Ng5 Kxf8 34. Nxe6+ Ke7 35. Nxf4

White is now two pawns to the good.

35. -- Rd2 36. Rf3 Nc5 37. h4 Ne6

37. -- Ra2 38. Re3 Rxa3 39. e6 Ra1+ 40. Kf2 Rd1 41. Ng6+ and White's e-pawn gives him a strong game.

38. Kh2 Ra2 39. Nxe6 Kxe6 40. Rg3 Kf7

Black: Vladimir Kramnik
!""""""""#
$ + + + +%
$Oo+ +lO %
$ + + + +%
$+ + P + %
$ + + + P%
$P P + R %
$t+ + +pK%
$+ + + + %
/(((((((()
White: Veselin Topalov
Position after Black's 40th move

41. e6+!

If 41. h5 Rxa3 then:

• 42. e6+ Kxe6 43. Rxg7 Rxc3 44. Rxb7 a5 45. h6 Kf5 46. Rg7 and the pawn will coronate.
• 42. Rg6? throws it away: 42. -- Rxc3 43. e6+ Kg8 and Black has everything covered; the game should end in a draw.

After the text move, Black has no choice but to take the pawn.

If 41. -- Kf6 then:

• 42. h5! Rxa3 43. Rg6+ Je7 44. Rxg7+ Kxe6 45. h6 and the h-pawn queens.
• 42. -- Kxe6 43. Rxg7 Rxa3 44. h6 arrives at the same positiion.

41. -- Kxe6 42. Rxg7 Rxa3 43. Rxb7 Kf5 44. Rb5+ Kg4 45. Rb4+ Kh5

45. -- Kf5 46. Rc4 a5 47. g4+ Ke5 48. h5 a4 49. h6 Ra2+ 50. Kg3 and the h-pawn goes in for a touchdown.

46. g3 Ra1

If 46. -- Rxc3 47. Ra4 Rc7 48. Kh3 then:

• 48. -- Kg6 49. g4 Kf6 50. Kg3 Ke5 51. Ra5+ and White has an easy win.
• 48. -- Rc6 49. Rxa7 Rc3 50. Ra5+ Kh6 51. h5 and White has a book win.

47. Kh3 a5 48. g4+ Kh6 49. Rb6+ Kg7 50. h5 a4 51. Ra6

51. h6+ Kh7 52. g5 Rh1+ 53. Kg4 Rg1+ 54. Kf5 Rf1+ 55. Ke4 Re1+ 56. Kd4 a3 57. Ra6 and White's win is simple.

51. -- a3 52. Kh4 a2 53. Kg5 Kh7 54. Ra7+ Kg8 55. Kg6 Kf8 56. g5 1-0

White will keep the Rook at a7; in order to advance his pawn, Black must move the Rook, but then the pawn is taken. Therefore, Black loses. Kramnik resigns.