The Jack Rabbit Chess Report for November 19

[Jack Rabbit]

The Jack Rabbit Chess Report
for the week ending November 19


Image: from Mouser's Strategic Stockpile of Bad Photography

Contents

Post 1: News for the week
Post 2: Diagrams and other features
Post 3: Games from Current and Recent Events
Post 4: Bonus Game: Vitaly Tseshkovsky - Mikhail Tal, Soviet Championship, Leningrad, 1974

[Jack Rabbit]

1. News for the week ending November 19

Three tie for first in Tal Memorial



Levon Aronian of Armenia, Peter Leko of Hungary and Ruslan Ponomariov of Ukraine tied for first place with 5½ points each out of a possible 9 in the Tal Memorial Tournament in Moscow, which concluded Thursday with a round of short draws.

It is unclear which of the three will be awarded first prize. Leko had the highest Sonnenborg-Berger score, which is the most common tiebreak used in chess tournaments; however, Aronian won three games while Leko and Ponomariov won only two.

Israeli grandmaster Boris Gelfand finished fourth with 5 points.

The tournament was a Category 20 event in which seven of the eight participants were rated over 2700. The eighth, 15-year-old Norwegian grandmaster Magnus Carlsen, is rated at 2698.

Unofficial Cross Table
Tal Memorial Tournament
Moscow

-------------------------- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 T- (W) (-SB)
.1 Levon Aronian. . . . . .- ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ 1 1 1 5½ (3) (22½)
.2 Peter Leko . . . . . . .½ - ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 5½ (2) (23¾)
.3 Ruslan Ponomariov. . . .½ ½ - ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ ½ 1 5½ (2) (23½)
.4 Boris Gelfand. . . . . .½ 0 ½ - ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 5. (2) . . .
.5 Alexander Grischuk . . .½ ½ 0 ½ - 1 ½ 1 ½ 0 4½ (2) (20.)
.6 Peter Svidler. . . . . .1 ½ ½ 0 0 - ½ ½ ½ 1 4½ (1) (19¾)
.7 Shakhyar Mamedyarov. . .½ ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ - ½ ½ ½ 4½ (0) (20¼)
.8 Alexei Shirov. . . . . .0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ - ½ ½ 3½ (0) (15¾)
.9 Magnus Carlsen . . . . .0 ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ - ½ 3½ (0) (15½)
10 Alexander Morozevich . .0 0 0 ½ 1 0 ½ ½ ½ - 3. (1) . . .

The Jack Rabbit Unofficial Cross Table uses games won as first tie break

The tournament is named in honor of Mikhail Tal, the great and colorful Soviet-Latvian player who was briefly world champion (1960-61).


Capablanca Memorial Tournament begins in Havana



The Capablanca Memorial Tournament begins today (Sunday) in Havana, on the 118th anniversary of Capablanca's birth.

The main tournament is a double round robin event among six grandmasters: Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukraine), Evgeny Bareev (Russia), Kamil Miton (Poland), Rubén Felgaer (Argentina) and Cubans Lenier Domínguez and Lazaro Bruzón.

The Capablanca Memorial concludes on November 30.

José Capablanca (1888-1942), world champion from 1921 until 1927, was the greatest chess player produced by Cuba. Like the poet José Martí, he is a national hero to all Cubans and even a regional hero in Latin America. He is given passing mention as a mythic figure in García Marquez' novel, Love in the Time of Cholera.

Capablanca was a child prodigy who "learned" to play chess by simply watching his father play. According to legend, when he was four years old, he chided his father for winning a game after making an illegal move. The elder Capablanca told the child that he didn't know how to play chess, upon which little José set up the board and proceeded to defeat his father several times.

At the age of 11, Capablanca became the Cuban national champion. In 1909, at the age of 20, he was a student in New York City where he defeated the perennial American champion, Frank Marshall, in a match. Marshall was so impressed with Capablanca that he accepted an invitation to participate in the San Sebastian International Tournament in Portugal in 1911 only on the condition that the young and unknown Cuban would also be invited. The Tournament organizers agreed and Capablanca emerged as the tournament champion, finishing ahead of Marshall and Akiba Rubinstein.

Capablanca was soon mentioned as a possible challenger to the reigning world champion, Dr. Emanuel Lasker. Capablanca finished second to Dr. Lasker in the great St. Petersburg Tournament of 1914, losing an individual encounter with Lasker. Nevertheless, negotiations for a match were in progress when World War I intervened.

The match was finally held in 1921, with Capablanca winning the match without losing a single game. Capablanca held the title under Alexander Alekhine defeated him in Buenos Aires in 1927. In the meantime, Capablanca continued his winning ways winning major tournaments in London (1922) and New York (1927) and finishing second to Lasker in New York (1924). Between a loss to Oscar Chajes in 1916 and a loss to Richard Reti in 1924, Capablanca did not lose a single tournament or match game.

After losing the title to Alekhine, Capablanca continued to play solid chess with outstanding results, but was frustrated in his efforts to get a rematch with Alekhine. The two did not meet again over the board until the great Nottingham Tournament in 1936, where Capablanca won his game against Alekhine and scored his last tournament championship, sharing first prize with the young Soviet master and future world champion, Mikhail Botvinnik.

Capablanca retired from chess after the aborted Buenos Aires Olympiad in 1939. He died suffering a heart attack while walking home from the Manhattan Chess Club in March 1942.

Capablanca is known for his clean, classical style. His games, said Sir Harry Golombek, "almost seem to play themselves." During his life he was often called a "chess machine" and is often called the Mozart of Chess in that he could make good chess look simple and easy.

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Diagrams and other features of the JR Chess Report

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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.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Games from current and recent events

Chess Games
Analysis by JR and Fritz

Alexei Shirov - Levon Aronian , Tal Memorial, Round 4, Moscow
Peter Leko - Alexander Morozevich, Tal Memorial, Round 6, Moscow
Boris Gelfand - Peter Svidler, Tal Memorial, Round 7, Moscow
Anastasia Bodnaruk - Petr Tishin, Chigorin Memorial, Round 5, St. Petersburg
Magnus Carlsen - Laurent Fressinet, Masters' Quarter-Finals, Round 1, Cap d'Agde

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Shirov - Aronian, Tal Memorial, Moscow

Levon Aronian
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)

Alexei Shirov vs. Levon Aronian
Tal Memorial Tournament, Round 4
Moscow, November 2006

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Marshall Gambit

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 0-0 8. c3 d5

• Black initiates the famous Marshall Gambit. Black gives up a pawn and get a vicious kingside attack in return. It has a sterling reputation and, it should be noted, that White can avoid this line by playing either 8. a4 or 8. h3; Garry Kasparov, among others, never allowed a opponent to play the Marshall against him.

9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. d4

• Another line is 12. d3 Bd6 13. Re1 Qh4 14. g3 Qh3 15. Re4 Qf5

12. -- Bd6 13. Re1 Qh4 14. g3 Qh3 15. Re4

• After 15. Be3 Bg4 16. Qd3 Rae8 17. Nd2 Re6 18. a4 White tries to rustle up some counterplay on the queenside; the chances are about equal.

15. -- g5 16. Qf1 Qh5 17. Nd2 Bf5 18. f3

• If 18. Bxd5 cxd5 then:
• 19. Re3 Rae8
• 20. Nf3 Bf4
• 21. gxf4? Bh3 0-1 Korchnoi-Silver (Sx Santa Monica 1977).
• 21. Rxe8 Rxe8 is equal.
• 20. Qe1 Bd7 21. f3 gives Whites a slight edge as Black's attack begins to subside.
• 19. Qe2 Qxe2 20. Rxe2 Rae8 21. Re3 gives White good chances of hanging on to his extra pawn.

18. -- Nf6

• 18. -- Bxe4? 19. fxe4 Ne3 20. Qf3 Ng4 21. Nf1 Qh3 22. Qf5 gives White a clear edge with his active pieces.

19. a4

• If 19. Re1 Rae8 20. Rxe8 Rxe8 21. a4 Qg6 then:
• 22. Ne4 Nxe4 fxe4 gives White an edge in space.
• Kramnik-Leko (World Championship Match, Brissago 2004) continued 22. axb5? Bd3 23. Qf2 Re2 24. Qxe2 Bxe2 25. bxa6 Qd3 and Black soon won.

19. -- Nxe4 20. Nxe4 Qg6 21. Nxd6 Qxd6 22. Bxg5 Qg6

• After the smoke clears, Black has a Rook for a minor piece and two pawns.
• In Shirov-Leko played in Round 3 of the Tal Memorial, play continued22. -- Rfe8 23. Re1 Qg6 24. Be7 Ra7 25. Bc5 Raa8 26. Be7 Ra7 27. Bc5 and the players agreed to a draw.

23. Qc1 Bd3 24. axb5

• 24. Bf4 Rfe8 25. Be5 Rad8 26. axb5 cxb5 27. Qd2 gives White a better center.

24. -- axb5 25. Rxa8 Rxa8 26. Kf2 Bc4

• If 26. -- Bf5 27. Qd2 then:
• 27. -- Be6 28. Bc2 Bf5 29. Bxf5 Qxf5 30. g4 gives White a more solid position.
• 27. -- Ra1? 28. Bh6 Ra8 29. g4 Be6 30. Bc2 gives White a strong initiative against Black's King.

27. Bxc4 bxc4 28. g4 Re8

Black: Levon Aronian
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White: Alexei Shirov
Position after 28. -- Ra8e8

29. Bf4

• The position is unclear and the game can take any direction.
• If 29. Be3 then:
• 29. --Kg7 30. h4 h5 31. gxh5 Qxh5 32. Qg1+ Qg6 33. Qh4 Kh7 34. Bf4 Qc2+ 35. Kg3 Rg8 equalizes for Black.
• 32. Qh1 Qg6 33. Bd2 Qd3 gives Black an advantage in terms of piece mobiltiy.
• 29. -- f5 30. gxf5 Qxf5 31. Qd2 h5 32. Bh6 Kf7 33. h4 c5 34. Bg5 gives White better chances, but nowhere near a decisive advantage.
• 29. h4 f6 30. Be3 h5 31. Qf1 hxg4 32. Qxc4+ does not win a pawn:
• 32. -- Kh8 33. fxg4 Qxg4 34. Qxc6 Qxh4+ 35. Ke2 Qh2+ 36. Kd3 Qh7 37. Ke2 Qh2+ is a draw by repetition; and
• 32. -- Kf8
• 33. fxg4 Qxg4 34. Qxc6 Qxh4+ 35. Ke2 Qh2+ is leads to the same draw as in the main variation, but with the Black King on f8; and
• 33. Qxc6? g3+! wins for Black.

29. -- Qd3 30. Kg3

• 30. Qf1 Re6 31. Bc1 Qc2+ 32. Kg3 Qd3 33. Qg1 Re2is balanced.

30. -- Qe2 31. Qb1

• Black's position is too solid for White to attack. He punts.
• 31. h4 f6 32. Qb1 Re7 33. h5 Rb7 34. Bc1 Qe1+ is even.

31. -- Qe1+ 32. Qxe1 Rxe1 33. Bd6

• Black's paln is to activate his King. With the Bishop at a3/f8 diagonal, that must come either by way of g7 or by f7 after advancing the f-pawn.
• 33. h4 Rg1+ 34. Kf2 Rb1 35. Bd6 Rxb2+ 36. Ke3 f6 activates Black's King via f7.

33. -- Rg1+ 34. Kf2 Rb1 35. Ba3 Kg7 36. Kg3

• Black has succeeded in activating his King.
• Both sides have solid positions. It will be difficult to convert any advantage to a full point.
• 36. h4 h5 37. Kg3 Rg1+ 38. Kh2 Re1 39. Kg3 Kg6 is level and possibly headed for a draw.

36. -- Kg6 37. h3 h5 38. Kh4

• The intent of the move is on getting the White King out of the range of checks by the Rook.
• The positions remain solid the game still looks drawish after 38. f4 hxg4 39. hxg4 Rg1+ 40. Kf3 Kf6 41. Bd6 Ke6 42. Bf8.

38. -- Rg1 39. Bc5

• This is a waiting move. The Bishop may return to a3 if Black threatens the base of the pawn chain.
• After 39. gxh5+ Kf5 40. Bf8 Rg2 41. Ba3 Rg8 42. f4 Kxf4 43. h6 White cannot get his King off the h-file and Black cannot get his Rook off the back rank. In fact, White cannot would hace difficulties if he tried to advance his passed pawn: after 43. -- f6 44. h7!? Rh8 (threatening to take the pawn with mate) 45. Kh5 Rxh7+ 46. Kg6 Rxh3 47. Kxf6 the game would problably end in a draw, but only after some intense play.

39. -- Rg2 40. Ba3 f6 41. gxh5+ Kf5 42. f4 Rg8 43. Bd6 Ke6 44. h6?

• White obviously miscalculates; he mistakenly believes that by sacrificing the Bishop he will be able to Queen the h-pawn.
• Correct is 44. Bc5 Kf5 45. Be7 Rg2 46. Ba3 Kxf4 47. h6 Rg8 maintaining the equalibrium.

44. -- Kxd6 45. Kh5 f5 46. h7 Rh8 47. Kg6

Black: Levon Aronian
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White: Alexei Shirov
Position after 47. Kh5g6

47. -- Ke7!

• This quiet move is the one that White must have underestimated. It begins to turn the screw of the vise in which White is caught. The White King is tied to the defense of the pawn at h6 and has little room to maneuver.
• Wrong would be47. -- Kd5? when after 48. Kg7 Rb8 49. h8Q Rxh8 50. Kxh8 White's extra pawns carry the day.

48. Kg7 Ke8 49. Kg6

• After 49. h4 Ke7 50. Kg6 Kf8 51. h5 Ke7 52. Kg7 Ke8 53. Kg6 Kf8!White is in a Zugzwang: On 54. Kf6 Black takes on h7 and after 54. Kh6 Kf7! 55. Kg5 White agains takes on h7.
• After 49. Kxh8 Kf8 50. h4 Kf7 51. h5 Kf8 52. h6 Kf7 White has run out of safe pawn moves and must make a losing move: 53. d5 cxd5 54. b3 cxb3 55. c4 b2 56. cxd5 b1Q 57. d6 Qa1#

49. -- Kf8 50. h4 Ke7 51. Kg7 Ke8 52. Kg6 Kf8 53. h5

• 53. Kf6 Rxh7 54. Kg5 Kf7 55. h5 Kg7 56. Kxf5 Rxh5+ 57. Ke6 Rb5 is curtains for White.

53. -- Ke7 54. Kg7 Ke8 55. Kg6 Kf8 56. h6 Ke8 57. Kf6

• If 57. Kg7 Ke7 58. Kg6 Kf8 59. Kxf5 Rxh7 60. Kg6 Kg8 61. f5 Rb7 62. f6 Rh7 then:
• 63. Kf5 Kf7
• 64. Kg5 Rh8 is the end of the line for White's advanced pawns.
• 64. Ke5 Rxh6 is an easy win for Black.
• 63. Kh5 Kf7 64. Kg5 Rh8 is the main vaiation by transposition.
• 63. Kg5 Kf7 64. Kf5 Rxh6 is lights out.

57. -- Rxh7 58. Kg6 Rf7 59. 0-1

• If 59. h7 Rf8
• A) 60. Kg7 Rh8 then:
• 61. Kg6 Ke7 62. Kg7 Ke6 63. d5+ cxd5 and Black wins.
• 61. Kxh8 Kf7 62. d5 cxd5 63. b4 cxb3 followed by the mate on a1 (see note to White's 496h move).
• B) 60. Kg5 60. -- Kf7 61. Kxf5 Re8 then:
• after 62. Kg5 Kg7 63. h8Q+ Kxh8 64. Kg6 Re7 65. Kf6 Re2 White's pawns are toast.
• 62. h8Q Rxh8 63. Ke5 Rd8 64. Kf5 Rd5+ 65. Ke4 Ke6 leaves White in a Zungswang in which he is forced advance the b-pawn to its doom.
• 59. d5 cxd5 60. h7 Rf8 61. Kg7 Rh8 62. Kxh8 Kf7! followed by the mate on a1.
• Shirov resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Leko - Morozevich, Tal Memorial, Moscow

Peter Leko
Photo: the website of Peter Leko

Peter Leko vs. Alexander Morozevich
Tal Memorial Tournament, Round 6
Moscow, November 2006

Open Sicilian Game: Najdorf Defense

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

• Two alternatives here are:
• 6. -- e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3 Nbd7 9. g4 giving White an advantage in space; and
• 6. -- e6 7. Qd2 b5 8. f3 Nbd7 9. g4 also giving White a spatial edge.

7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Bg3 Bg7 10. h3

• 10. Be2 h5 11. Bxg4 Bxg4 12. f3 Bd7 13. 0-0 Nc6 (Shirov-Kasparov, Linares 1997)

10. -- Ne5 11. f3 Nbc6 12. Bf2

• Characteristic of Leko, White is not looking for any more out of the opening than a solid position.
• 12. Nb3 b5 13. a4 b4 14. Nd5 e6 15. Ne3 Qc7 is level.

12. -- Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Be6 14. Qd2

• The game is level in a very Leko-like position. White's position is solid with minor pieces filling in for absent pawns where needed. It's very sound chess, if not very exciting.
• 14. h4 Rc8 15. Qd2 Bc4 16. Bxe5 Bxe5 17. Bxc4 Rxc4 is even.

14. -- Bf6 15. 0-0-0 Rc8 16. Kb1

• The move is prophylactic. White removes his King from the diagonal he shares with Queen so as not to be caught in a disastrous pin and adds more protection to the a-pawn.
• If 16. h4 gxh4 17. f4 Bg4 then:
• after 18. fxe5 dxe5 19. Be3 Bxd1 20. Qxd1 Bg5 21. Qxd8+ White has two pawns for a minor piece.
• after 18. Re1 Nd7 19. Bxf6 Nxf6 20. Rxh4 h5 21. g3 White is slightly better in piece activity.

16. -- Rg8 17. Be2 Nd7?!

• Black would do better to keep a minor piece at e4.
• If 17. -- Bg7 18. g3 then:
• 18. -- Qa5 19. Nd5 Qxd2 20. Rxd2 Bxd5 21. exd5 is equal.
• 18. -- Nc4?! 19. Bxc4 Bxc4 20. Bxg7 Rxg7 21. g4 gives White the edge in space.

18. Bxf6 Nxf6 19. h4!?

• White has a spatial advantage on the kingside and decides to open up that wing.
• 19. g4 Rc5 20. h4 Qa5 21. hxg5 hxg5 22. a3 continues to give White the edge in space.

19. -- Qb6 20. hxg5 hxg5 21. a3!

• White takes a prophylactic measure againt a queenside advance by Black, although one is not yet being threatended.
• 21. g4 Bd7 22. Rh6 Bc6 23. Bc4 Qb4 24. Bd5 gives White a strong game with greater space and piece activity.

21. -- Kf8 22. Bd3

• White prefers to load his position with tension rather than release his energy so soon,
• If 22. Rh6 g4 23. fxg4 then:
• after 23. -- Bxg4 24. Bxg4 Nxg4 25. Rh7 Qc5 26. Nd5 White has an edge in space.
• after 23. -- Bc4? 24. Bxc4 Rxc4 25. Rxf6! exf6 26. Nd5 Qc5 White begins a vicious attack with 27. Qh6+.

22. -- Qc5 23. g3 b5

• Black finally makes the typical Sicilain advance, only now the pawn can make no further progress. White's 21st move now look like a good one.
• 23. -- Bd7 24. Rh2 Bc6 25. Rdh1 e6 26. g4 gives White the edge in space.

24. f4 Ng4 25. Rde1 b4 26. Na4 Qc6?!

• Black loses a pawn and starts down the road to ruin.
• Better is 26. -- Qd4! 27. Qxb4 Qxb4 28. axb428 when:
• 28. -- f2
• 29. Bxa6 Ra8 30. b5= Nxh1 31. Rxh1 gxf4 32. gxf4 with eauql chances, although White has only two pawns for a minor piece.
• 29. Rh7 Nxd3 30. cxd3 gxf4 31. gxf4 Rb8 is the same position by transposition as the dark red line.
• 28. -- gxf4 29. gxf4 Nf2 30. Rh7 Nxd3 31. cxd3 Rb8 yields a level game.

Black: Alexander Morozevich
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White: Peter Leko
Position after 26. -- Qc5c6

27. Qxb4

• Black left a pawn en prise. White does the most sensible thing and takes it.

27. -- Nf2 28. Rh2 Nxd3 29. cxd3 gxf4

• 29. -- a5 30. Qd4 Bb3 31. Nc3 Qc5 32. Qxc5 dxc5 33. f5 gives White an extra pawn, more space and superior pawn structure.

30. gxf4 f6

• Black slows down White's pawn mass by makeing e4e5 difficult.
• Black may have slightly better pieces; White, on the other hand, has an extra pawn, more space and superior pawn structure.
• After30. -- Qb5 31. Qxb5 axb5 32. Nc3 Bd7 33. Rh7 the Rook on the seventh rank will tzx Black's defenses

31. Nc3 Rg3

• This permits White to advance the e-pawn after all.
• After 31. -- Rg4 32. Rc1 Qa8 33. f5 Bf7 34. Rch1 White has set up a fierce attack.

32. e5 dxe5 33. fxe5 f5 34. Rh8+ Bg8 35. Rf1 Qe6?

• Black's position was extremely difficult, but this inaccuracy ends any reamining chances of saving the game.
• Better is 35. -- Qd7 36. d4 Kg7 37. Rh4 Qc7 38. Rhh1 when:
• after after 38. -- a5! 39. Qa4 Rxc3 40. Rhg1+ Kh8 41. Rh1+ White, piece down, forces a draw by repetition.
• after 38. -- Bc4!? 39. Rhg1 Rxg1 40. Rxg1+ White remains a pawn up.

Black: Alexander Morozevich
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White: Peter Leko
Position after 35. -- Qc6e6

36. Rh5!

• White wins a second pawn. Leko, being the kind of player he is, will now slowly squeeze the life out of Black's position.

36. -- Kg7 37. Rhxf5 Rg2 38. Qb7 Rg3 39. R5f3

• If 39. Nd5 then:
• after 39. -- Rd8 40. Qxe7+ Qxe7 41. Nxe7 Rdxd3 42. Rf6 Bh7 43. Rf7+ White is well on his way to a win.
• 39. -- Rg2 40. Qxe7+ Qxe7 41. Nxe7 Rd8 42. Nxg8 leaves White three pawns up.

39. -- Rg5 40. d4 Rd8 41. Qe4

• After 41. Rf4 Bh7+ 42. Ka1 Bg8 43. d5 Qd7 44. Qb6 White has a number of deadly threats; for example, if , then 45. Rg1 Bh7 46. e6.

41. -- Qg4 42. Rf4 Qg2 43. Ka1 Bc4 44. Rc1

• 44. Rh1?! would diminish White's advantage after 44. -- Qxe4 45. Rxe4 a5 46. Reh4 Kg6 but White should still win.

44. -- Qxe4 45. Rxe4 Kg6 46. Rf4 Bb3 47. Ne2 Ba4

• After 47. -- Rg2 48. Rf3 Kg5 49. Rxb3 Rxe2 50. Rc4 Kf4 51. Rb6White threatens to eat another pawn.

48. Rf2 Rg4 49. d5 Rh8

• This would be the losing move if Black's game weren't already lost.
• Black would only prolong his agony with 49. -- Kg5 50. Nc3 Bb3 51. Rf7 Rd4 52. Rg1+ Kh6 53. Rxe7 Bxd5.

Black: Alexander Morozevich
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White: Peter Leko
Position after 26. -- R8h8

50. Nf4+!

• White wins another pawn by force.

50. -- Kf5

• If 50. -- Kg5 51. Ne6+ Kg6 52. Nc5 Rh5 53. Nxa4 Rax4 54. Rc6+ then:
• 54. -- Kg5 Rf7 wins the e-pawn.
54. -- Kg7 Re6 also wins the e-pawn.

51. Nd3+ Kg6 52. Nc5 Bb5 53. Nxa6 Rh5

• After 53. -- Bxa6 54. Rc6+ Kg5 55. Rxa6 Rf4 56. Re2 Kf5 57. Ka2 White wins by pushing the d-pawn.

54. Nc7 Ba4 55. e6 Bb3

• If 55. -- Rf5 56. Rxf5 Kxf5 57. Rc3 then:
• 57. -- Rg8 58. b3
• after 58. -- Be8 59. Kb2 Ke5 60. Nxe8 Rxe8 61. Rd3 Black will not be able to stop all of White's pawns.
• 58. -- Bxb3 59. Rxb3 Ke5 60. Kb2 Rg2+ 61. Kb1 gives White a prohibitive material edge.
• 57. -- Rg1+ 58. Ka2 Rg8 59. b3 is an easy win for White.

56. Rf3

• If 56. d6 Rc5 57. Rcf1 exd6 58. e7 Ba4 then:
• after 59. Ne6 Re5 60. Rf6+ White has a mating attack.
• after 59. Rf6+ Kh5 60. e8Q+ Bxe8 61. Nxe8 White has won a piece.

56. -- Bxd5 57. Nxd5 Rxd5 58. Rc7 Rb5 59. Rf2 1-0

• If 59. Rf2 Rf5 60. Re2 Rg1+ 61. Ka2 then:
• after 61. -- Rg3 62. Rxe7 White is three pawns up.
• 61. -- Kf6 62. Rc6 Rd1 63. a4 White's queenside pawns keep moving.
• 59. Rf2 Re4 60. Rxe7 White is three pawns up.
• Morozevich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Gelfand - Svidler, Tal Memorial, Moscow

Boris Gelfand
Photo: the Internet Chess Club

Boris Gelfand vs. Peter Svidler
Tal Memorial Tournament, Round 7
Moscow, November 2006

English Queen's Gambit: Anglo-Grünfeld Defense

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Qa4+

• More common is 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Qa4+ Bd7 6. Qh4 Nxc3 dxc3/

4. -- Bd7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 a6

• It might be wise to follow through with the development of the Bishop.
• 6. -- Bg7 7. Qb3 Nc6 8. d4 Na5 9. Qb4 c6 is equal.

7. d4 b5 8. Qb3 c5

• Black sacrifices a pawn for some initiative.
• If 8. -- Be6 then:
• 9. Qa3
• 9. -- Nbd7 10. e4 Bg4 11. e5
• 11. -- Bxf3 12. gxf3 Nh5 is even.
• 11. -- e6 12. Qb3 =
• 9. -- Bc4 10. b3 e5 11. Qb2 exd4 is balanced.
• after 9. Qd1 Bg7 10. e4 c5 11. d5 Bc8 12. e5 Whie's space in the center is offset by Black's on the queenside.

9. dxc5 Bg7 10. e4 0-0

• If 10. -- Nc6 11. Bg5 then:
• after 11. -- Qa5 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. 0-0-0 Bxc3 14. Qxc3 Qxc3+ 15. bxc3 Rc8 Black soon recovers the pawn with equality.
• after 11. -- Be6?! 12. Qc2 Nb4 13. Qb1 Nd7 14. a3 Nc6 15. Be3 Black will have more difficulty recoving the pawn.

11. Be2 Bc6 12. e5!

• White grabs some space as he prepares to take the initiative from Black.
• The game is balanced after 12. 0-0 Nbd7 13. Rd1 Qa5 14. Be3 b4 15. Nd4 Nxc5,

12. -- Nfd7 13. Be3 Nxe5

• Black chooses to recover the pawn straight away.
• 13. -- e6 14. Bd4 Qc7 15. 0-0 Bxf3 16. Bxf3 Nc6 assures Black of recovering the pawn in a balanced position.

14. Nxe5 Bxe5 15. 0-0 e6

• Black's modest-looking move opens lines for his pieces.
• 15. -- Qc7 16. f4 Bg7 17. Rad1 e6 18. Rd2 Nd7 Black enoys better piece activity.

16. a4!?

• White challenges Black's queenside strength.
• If 16. Rad1 Nd7 then:
• 17. Rd3 Rc8 18. Rfd1 Qe7 19. Qb4 f5 is level.
• 17. f4 Bg7 18. Rd6 Qc7 19. Rfd1 Rfd8 20. Bg4 is unclear.

16. -- bxa4 17. Nxa4 Qc7

• In a level position, Black activates his Queen with the threat of Bxh2.
• If 17. -- Qf6 18. f4 then:
• after 18. -- Bd4 19. Rfd1 Bxa4 20. Rxa4 Bxe3+ 21. Qxe3 Qxb2 Black is a pawn up.
• 18. -- Bc7 19. Qc3 Qxc3 20. Nxc3 h5 is level.

18. f4 Bg7 19. Nb6 Ra7 20. Rfd1 Re8

• If 20. -- e5 21. Rd6 Rb7 then:
• 22. Qd1 exf4 23. Bxf4 Re8 24. Bg3 Qe7 promises some interesting fireworks,
• 22. Rad1 exf4 23. Bxf4 Ba4 24. Qxa4 Qxc5+ 25. Kh1 Rxb6 gives Black an extra pawn.

21. Bc4 Bh6 22. Rf1?!

• 22. Rd6 Bf8 23. Rd2 Bg7 24. Qd3 e5 25. Nd5 is balanced.

22. -- Qb7 23. Rf2

• 23. Qc2 Bg7 24. Rfd1 e5 25. Qd2 Be4 26. Ra4 Bc6 is level.

23. -- Nd7?!

• After 23. -- Qc7 24. Rd1 Be4 25. Re2 Bg7 26. Rd6 Rb7 27. Bf2 Bc6 White will be able to make no progress with the c-pawn. Note that Black has marshalled most of his pieces to stop it.

Black: Peter Svidler
!""""""""#
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White: Boris Gelfand
Position after 23. -- Nb8d7

24. Nxd7!

• White wins a pawn.

24. -- Qxd7 25. Rxa6 Rxa6 26. Bxa6 Bg7 27. Rd2!

• Attacking the Queen is White's strongest move here.
• 27. Qb6? Qd5 28. b4 Qe4 29. Re2 Bd5 30. Bd2 Qb1+ gives Black a strogn position after he play -- Ra8.

27. -- Qa7 28. Qb6 Qa8

• 28. -- Qxb? loses quickly to 29. cxb6 h5 30. Rc2 Be4 31. Rc7.

29. Bb5!

• White's plan is to advance the c-pawn. It behooves him to remove defenders to that end.
• The position is a bit murkey at the moment.

29. -- Bxb5 30. Qxb5 Rb8 31. Qc4 Qa1+

• After 31. -- Rxb2? 32. Rxb2 Bxb2 33. c6 Bf6 34. c7 Black will not be able to stop the pawn. Black will post his Queen on blockade duty on c8; White will defend the pawn with the Bishop and maneuver his Queen to b8 or d8.

32. Kf2 Rxb2?

• Black need to keep the Rook on the back rank to guard against the advance of White's c-pawn. His game is now lost.
• If 32...Bxb2 33.c6 Rc8 then:
after
• 34.c7 Bf6 35.Qc6 Qa5 36.Rd7 Black has successfully stopped the pawn.
• Black also holds the position after 34.Rd7 Bf6 35.c7 Qb2+ 36.Kg1.

33. c6 Rxd2+ 34. Bxd2 Qa7+ 35. Ke2

• 35. Kf1 Qc7 36. g3 h6 37. Ke2 Bf8 38. Bc3 gives White a strong game with a great likelihood of carrying out the plan laid out in the previous note.

35. -- Qc7

Black: Peter Svidler
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White: Boris Gelfand
Position after 35. -- Qa7c7

36. Ba5!

• Obviously, the Bishop cannot be taken.
• Also good is 36. g3 h5 37. Ba5 Qc8 38. c7 Kh7 when:
• after 39. Ke3 39. -- f5 40. Qc5 White's winning plan is to maneuver the Queen to b8 or d8.
• 39. Qb5 Qa8 40. Ke3 Bf8 41. Qc4 with the same idea as the other line.

36. -- Qc8 37. c7 Bf8 38. Qc6 f5 39. Bc3

• An easier win is 39. Qb6 Kf7 40. Kf2 (prophylactic against -- Qa6+) 40. -- Qd7 41. g3 Bd6 42. c8Q Qxc8 43. Qxd6.

39. -- Kf7 40. Be5 Be7 41. Kd3

• After 41. Qb5 Bf8 42. Ke3 Ke7 43. Qd3 Ke8 44. Bd6 White either wins the Bishop or promotes the pawn.

41. -- g5 42. g3

• After 42. fxg5 Bxg5 43. g3 Be7 44. Ke3 h5 45. h4 White will maneuver his Queen to b8, winning.

42. -- gxf4 43. gxf4 1-0

• If 43. -- Ba3 44. h4 h6 45. h5 then:
• 45. -- Be7 46. Ke3 Bf8 47. Qb5 Ke7 48. Kf2 Bg7 49. Qc5+
• after 40. -- Ke8 50. Bxg7 White is a piece up.
• 49. -- Kf7 50. Bxg7 Kxg7 51. Qe7+ Kg8 52. Qd8+ is lights out.
• after 45. -- Bf8 46. Kc4 Ba3 47. Bd6 Bxd6 48. Qxd6 Ke8 49. Kd5 Black is in a Zungswang.
• Svidler resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Bodnaruk-Tishin, Chigorin Memorial, St. Petersburg

Fourteen-year-old Russian talent Anastasia Bodnaruk took the scalp of grandmaster Petr Tushin in the fifth round of the Chigorin Memoial in St. Petersburg in late Octiber. The young lady earned a WIM norm for her performance in St. Petersburg.



Anastasia Bodnaruk
Photo: ChessBase.com


To view this game, the user needs to unzip a file and to have a PGN viewer. Please click here, go to the bottom of the page and click on all available games (just underneath the portait of Chigorin). This is game #237 out of 388.

That will take care of the file. If you don't have a PGN-viewer, I recommend Crafty or GNU Chess.

Anastasia Bodnaruk vs. Petr Tishin
Chigoin Memorial, Round 5
St. Petersburg, October 2006

Italian Royal Game: Clam Opening/Neo-Classical Defense (Giucco Pianissimo)

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 a6

• While not new, this move is unusual. It is possible, even likely, that the grandmaster wanted to get the young lady away from any prepared lines. Nevertheless, this game follows previous games for several moves.
• More common is 5. -- d6 6. 0-0 0-0 7. b4 Bb6 8. a4 a6 yielding an equal position.

6. Bb3 Ba7

• If 6. -- 0-0 7. 0-0 Re8 8. d4 then:
• 8. -- Ba7 9. d5 Na5 10. Bc2 b5 is level.
• 8. -- exd4? 9. cxd4 Nxd4 10. Nxd4 give White a significant advantage in space and development.

7. 0-0 d6 8. h3

• 8. Ba4 Bd7 9. Nbd2 0-0 10. b4 b5 11. Bc2 is equal.

8. -- 0-0

• After 8. -- h6 9. Re1 Qe7 10. Ba4 Bd7 11. Nbd2 0-0 the position is balanced.

9. Re1 Ne7

• If 9. -- b5 10. d4 then:
• after 10. -- Bb7 11. Bg5 exd4 12. cxd4 Na5 13. Bc2 the game is level
• 10. -- exd4 11. cxd4 Na5 12. Bc2 c5 13. dxc5 dxc5 the d-file may be used to exxchange heavy pieces.

10. Nbd2 Ng6 11. Nf1

• 11. d4 b5 12. Bc2 13. Nc4 c5 14. dxc5 dxc5 is equal (Svidler-Mannion, London 1991).

11. -- Nh5 12. d4 Nhf4 13. Ng3

• After 13. Bxf4 Nxf4 14. dxe5 Bxh3 15. gxh3 Nxh3+ 16. Kg2 Nxf2 17. Qf5 the game is even (Waitzkin-Acs Budapest 1997).

13. -- h6?!

• Alekseev-Mikhalevski (Tel Aviv, 2001) continued 13. -- Qf6 14. Nh5 Qe7 15. Bxf4 Nxf4 16. Nxf4 exf4 17. e5 give White a strong advantage in space; that game won by White.
• At Biel (Women) 2005 against Elena Sedina, Subbaraman Vijayalakshmi played 13. -- Qe7 14. Be3 Qf6 15. Nh5 Qe7 16. Bxf4 Nxf4 17. Nxf4 exf4 18. e5 with White enjoying much the same advantages as in the previous variation; nevertheless, White later blundered and Black won the game.

14. Bxf4 Nxf4 15. dxe5 Bxh3?!

• This sacrifice is unsound.
• Better is 15. -- dxe5 16. Qxd8 Rxd8 17. Nxe5 when:
• after 17. -- Rd2 18. Bxf7+ Kf8 19. Nh1 White is up by two pawns, but Black has compensation in piece activity.
• 17. -- Be6 18. Bxe6 Nxe6 19. Rad1 gives White command of the center.

16. gxh3 Nxh3+ 17. Kg2

• This move shows good judgment. The King protects both the Knights and the f-pawn.
17. Kh2 Nxf2 18. Qd5! then:
• 18. -- Ng4+ 19. Kh3 Nxe5 20. Nxe5 dxe5 21. Qxb7 leaves Black with only two pawns for the Bishop.
• 18. -- dxe5 19. Qxb7 Ng4+ 20. Kh3 Qf6 21. Nf5 gives White a material advantage with all her important points protected.

17. -- Nxf2?

• This is too much after the Bishop sacrifice. Black can no longer save the game.
• Correct is 17. -- Nf4+ when:
• 18. Kh2 18. -- dxe5 19. Qc2 g6 20. Rg1 Kh7 21. Nf1 leaves White with a material plus, but Black's pieces are active.
• 18. Kf1 Qd7 19. Nf5 Qb5+ 20. c4 Qc5 21. Qd4 give White firm control of d4.

18. Qd5!

• White wastes no time putting her Queen in a radiant position in the center.

18. -- dxe5 19. Nxe5

• The text wins more quickly than 19. Qxd8 Raxd8 20. Nxe5 when:
• 20. -- Rd2 21. Nf1 Rdd8 22. Re2 Nd3 23. Nxd3 Rxd3 24. Rd2 leaves White with a more magnified advantage after the Rooks are exchanged.
• 20. -- Nd3 21. Nxd3 Rxd3 22. Rad1 Rfd8 23. Bd5 forces Black to exchanges Rooks leaving White with a strong game.

19. -- Qh4

• If 19. -- c6 20. Qxd8 then:
• 20. -- Raxd8 21. Rf1 Rd2 22. Nc4 Nxe4+ 23. Nxd2 Nxd2 24. Rfd1 leaves White with a Rook for three pawns.
• after 20. -- Rfxd8 21. Re2 Kh7 22. Bxf7 Nd3 23. Bg6+ Kg8 24. Nxd3 Rxd3 25. e5 the advance of the e-pawn is a serious threat.
• else if 19. -- Qf6 20. Nd7 Qh4 21. Qf5 then:
• 21. -- Ng4 22. Nxf8 Rxf8 23. Qh5 leaves White up with a Rook against three pawns with pieces flying off the board.
• after 21. -- Kh8 22. Nxf8 Rxf8 23. e5 White has an advantage in material and space.

20. Qd7 Kh7

• After 20. -- Qf6 21. Qxc7 Bb8 22. Nd7 Qe7 23. Qxb7 White is clearly winning.

Black: Petr Tushin
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White: Anastasia Bodnaruk
Position after 20. -- Kg8h7

21. Bxf7!

• White wins a Rook.

21. -- Rxf7

• If 21. -- Qf4 22. Qe6 then:
• 22. -- Rxf7 23. Nxf7 Ng4 24. Re2 give White a Rook to four pawns.
• 22. -- Qf6 23. Bg6+ Kh8 24. Nf7+ Rxf7 25. Qxf7! Rf8 26. Qxf6 Rxf6 27. Bf5 is hopeless for Black.
• Tishin could have resigned here. The rest is virtually forced.

22. Qxf7 Rd8 23. Qg6+ Kg8 24. Qe6+ Kh7 25. Qf5+ Kg8 26. Ng6 1-0

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Carlsen - Fressinet, Quarter-Finals, Cap d'Agde

Magnus Carlsen
Photo: Website of the 2006 Cap d'Agde Chess Destival

Magnus Carlsen vs. Laurent Fressinet
Quarter-Final Match, Round 1
Cap d'Agde, Languedoc Province (France), October 2006

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Gothic Raider Defense (Open Defense)

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. Nbd2 Bc5

• An alternative is 9. -- Nc5 10. c3 d4 11. Bxe6 Nxe6 12. Nb3

10. c3 0-0

• An old continuation, 10. -- Nxd2 11. Qxd2 0-0 12. Bc2 f6 13. exf6 Rxf6 has long been judged in White's favor after either 14. Nd5 Nxd4 15. cxd4 (Lakser-Rubinstein, St. Petersburg 1914) or 14. Ng5 Bf4 15. b4 Bb6 16. Bb3 Ne7 17. a4 (Tal-Antonshin, Kharlov 1967).

11. Bc2 Bf5 12. Nb3 Bg6

• If 12. -- Bg4 13. Nxc5 Nxc5 then:
• 14. Be3 Ne4 15. Qb1 Bxf3 16. gxf3 Qh4 17. Bxe4 dxe4 give Black better pawn structure, but White has the more active Bishop.
• 14. h3 Bh5 15. g4 Bg6 16. Bxg6 hxg6 gives White better pawn structure, but tangible edge.

13. Nfd4

• 13. Nxc5 Nxc5 14. Bxg6 hxg6 15. Re1 Re8 16. Bg5 Ne7 17. Be3 give White the initiative.

13. -- Bxd4

• 13. -- Nxd4 14. cxd4 Be7 15. f3 Ng5 16. Bxg6 fxg6 17. Qc2 leaves White focusing on the d5 square.

14. cxd4 a5 15. Be3!?

• If 15. a4 then:
• 15. -- Nb4 16. Bxe4 Bxe4 17. axb5 Bd3 18. Rxa5 Rxa5 19. Nxa5 Bxf1 20. Qxf1 is even.
• 15. -- bxa4?! 16. Rxa4 Nb4 17. Bxe4 dxe4 18. Nxa5 Nd5 19. Nb7 Qh4 20. Re1 give White a strong edge with better space and mobility.

15. -- a4 16. Nd2 f6

• 16. -- Qd7 17. f3 Nxd2 18. Qxd2 Bxc2 19. Qxc2 Na5 20. b3 leaves neither side with great prospects.

17. exf6 Qxf6 18. Rc1 Rae8?

• 18. -- Rad8 19. f3 Nxd2 20. Qxd2 Rde8 21. Bxg6 Qxg6 22. Rc5 give White the edge in space and piece activity.

19. Nxe4 Bxe4 20. Bxe4 Rxe4 21. Qd3 Kh8

• If 21. -- Qd6 then:
• 22. f3 Nb4 23. Qa3 Re6 24. Bf2 Na6 25. Qxd6 cxd6 26. a3 gives White the edge with better piece mobility and pawn structure.
• 22. Rc5?! Na7 23. f3 Rh4 24. g3 Rh5 25. b3 gives White an inpentrable position with an active Queen.

22. f3 Re6 23. Bf2 Qf4

• After 23. -- b4?! 24. Rfe1 Qf4 25. Rcd1 Rg6 26. Re3 Na5 27. Bg3 White's active pieces give him a strong edge.

24. Rfd1 Rb8 25. Rc5!

• 25. Bg3? would be a mistake: after 25. -- Qf6 26. Bxc7 Rbe8 27. Kf1 Qe7 28. Bg3 Qb4 29. Rd2 White has only a slight edge and Black has regroups his Rooks for active counterplay.

25. -- Nb4

• If 25. -- b4 26. Rxd5 b3 27. Rh5 then:
• after 27. -- g6 28. d5 Qd6 29. dxe6 Qxd3 30. Rxd3 bxa2 31. Ra3 White has stoppend the pawn and still has ad advanced passer of his own.
• after 27. -- h6 28. d5 Nb4 29. Qd4 Qxd4 30. Bxd4 Rd6 31. axb3 White breaks up Black's pawn and wins.

26. Rxb5 c6

Black: Laurent Fressinet
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White: Magnus Carlsen
Position after c7c6

27. Qf5! 1-0

• After 27. Rxb8+ Qxb8 28. Qa3 Qb5 29. b3 Re2 30. bxa4 Qc4 31. Rc1 White's extra pawn and active heavy pieces carry the day.
• M. Fressinet resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Bonus Game: Tseshkovsky - Tal, Leningrad, 1974

Mikhail Tal
Photo: ChessGraphics

Vitaly Tseshkovsky vs. Mikhail Tal
Soviet Championship (Final), Round 2
Leningrad, November 1974

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Gothic Raider Defense (Open Defense)

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. c3

• More common nowadays is 9. Nbd2 Nc5 10. c3 Be7

9. -- Bc5 10. Nbd2 0-0 11. Bc2 f5?!

• Tal looks early to take his opponent out of familiar lines. This move will require him to play very precisely over the next few moves.
• A safer alternative and more common is 11. -- Bf5 12. Nb3 Bg4 13. Nxc5 Nxc5 14. Be3 Ne6

12. Nb3 Bb6 13. Nbd4 Nxd4 14. Nxd4 Bxd4

• After 14. -- Re8 15. Bb3 Bf7 16. Be3 Qd7 17. e6 White has an advantage in space and piece activity.

15. cxd4 f4 16. f3?!

• After 16. Qf3 c5 17. dxc5 Nxc5 18. b4 Ne4 19. Rd1 White has active pieces, but Black's center is solid.

Black: Mikhail Tal
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White: Vitaly Tseshkovsky
Position after 16. f2f3

16. -- Ng3!!

• This is one of Tal's intiuitive sacrifices. An advantage that Black gets is the pawn at g3 that spearheads an attack on White's King.
• After 16. -- Ng5 17. b4 Qe7 18. a4 Bd7 19. Re1 White continues to enjoy a spatial edge.

17. hxg3 fxg3 18. Qd3

• 18. Bxh7+? fails to 18. -- Kxh7 19. Be3 Qh4 20. Re1 Bg4 21. Qd3+ Kh8 when white cannot keep the Black Queen from raiding the King's castle.

18. -- Bf5!

• Black wins the Queen for a Rook and a minor piece.
• 18. -- Qh4? would be bad because of 19. Qxh7+ Qxh7 20. Bxh7+ Kxh7 21. Bd2 when Black's attack is spent and White's pawns are ready to roll.

19. Qxf5 Rxf5 20. Bxf5 Qh4 21. Bh3

• Black has a Queen against a Rook and a Bishop; White has a Bishop for two pawns. It is almost impossible to to assess the position.
• 21. Be6+!? Kh8 22. Bh3 Qxd4+ 23. Kh1 Qxe5 24. Rb1 c5 is unclear.

21. -- Qxd4+ 22. Kh1 Qxe5 23. Bd2 Qxb2 24. Bf4 d4

• Black is pushing his central passed pawn.
• 24. -- c6 25. Rac1 Re8 26. Bxg3 Qxa2 27. Rxc6 Kf7 leave the position unclear.

25. Bxc7 d3

• Theoretically, the material is even. That is very theoretical here.
• If 25. -- Re8 26. Bxg3 d3 then:
• 27. Rfb1 27. -- Qd4 28. Re1 Kf7 29. Rad1 Rxe1+ 30. Bxe1 Qb2 Black is threatening to crush White in a vise in which the e-pawn is the screw.
• 27. Rad1 d2 28. Ra1 Re2 gives Balck a clear advantage.

26. Be6+

• The advancing d-pawn gives Black a slight edge.
• Another reasonable line for White is 26. Bxg3 d2 27. a4 b4 28. Rab1 Qc3 29. Be6+ Kh8 =+

26. -- Kh8 27. Rad1 Re8 28. Bd7?!

• Better is 28. Bb3 d2 29. Bxg3 Qf6 30. f4 Re2 31. Bd5 Qd6, although leaves Black calling the tune with his d-pawn dancing in the square.

28. -- Re2 29. Bxg3 d2 30. f4

• White must restrict the advance of Black's pawns.
• 30. a4 Qd4 31. axb5 Qxd7 32. bxa6 Qa7 gives Black a better game as the smoke clears.

30. -- h5 31. Bc6 Qxa2 32. Bf3 Re3 33. Kh2 Qc2

• Black has the initiative. His plan is to protect his d-pawn and advance his queenside pawns. White should adopt a defensive mood for now.
• 33. -- b4?! 34. Bxh5 Re6 35. Bg4 Rh6+ 36. Bh3 b3 =+

34. Rf2 Rd3 35. Re2?!

• White makes a sharp move; after this, he walks a tightrope.
• 35. Bxh5! Rd6 36. Bf3 a5 37. f5 Rd3 38. Bg4 b4 gives equal chances.

35. -- Rd8 36. Re5

• White finds the only good move in a razor sharp position.
• After 36. Rdxd2 Rxd2 37. Rxd2 Qxd2 38. Bxh5 b4 39. Bg6 a5 Black's queenside pawns decide the game.

36. -- b4 37. Bh4

• Again, White finds the only good move.
• 37. Rxh5+ Kg8 38. Bh4 Rd4 39. Bg4 g6 40. Re5 Rxf4 goes into the black variation in the next note.

37. -- Rd4 38. Bxh5!?

This, too, is probably White's best move here.
• If 38. Rxh5+? Kg8 then after:
• 39. Bg4 g6 White wins after either:
• 40. Rh8+ Kxh8 41. Bf6+ Kh7 42. Bxd4 b3 when Black's advanced passed pawns carry the day; or
• 40. Re5 Rxf4 41. Re8+ Kg7 42. Bg5 Rxg4 43. Re7+ Kf8 44. Rf1+ Qf5 45. Rxf5 gxf5 46. Rd7 Rxg5 leaves a Rook and pawn ending easily won for Black.
• after 39. g3 b3 40. Bg4 Re4 41. Rd5 b2 a Black pawn scores a goal.

38. -- b3

• If 38. -- Rxf4?! 39. Bg3 then:
• after 39. -- Rd4 40. Re8+ Kh7 41. Re6 b3 42. Rxa6 b2 43. Bg6+ exchanges on g6 greatly dissapates Black's advantage.
• 39. -- Rf6? 40. Be2 Rh6+ 41. Kg1 Qc3 42. Re8+ reestablish equality.

39. Bf2?

• Finally, the acrobat falls from the tightrope.
• If 39. Bg4 then:
• 39. -- g6 40. Bf6+ Kg8 41. Re7 Re4 42. Rd7 b2 43. Rb7 Re1 44. Bxb2 is again unclear.
• 39. -- Qg6 40. Bh5 Qh6 41. g3 b2 42. Bf3 Rxf4 43. Re8+ Kh7 44. gxf4 Qxf4+ leaves Black's edge diminished and the position unclear.

Black: Mikhail Tal
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White: Vitaly Tseshkovsky
Position after 39. Bh4f2

39. -- Rxf4!

• The text is better than29. -- b2 30. Re8+ Kh7 41. Bxd4 Qxd1 42. Bxd1 b1Q.
• Tseshkovsky could have resinged here, but slugs it out for a few more moves.

40. Bg3 Rf6 41. Be2 b2 42. Re8+ Kh7 43. Rb8 Qe4 44. 0-1


Photo: Mikhail Tal at age 50 (1987) from ChessBase.com