The Jack Rabbit Chess Report for December 17

[Jack Rabbit]

The Jack Rabbit Chess Report
for the week ending December 17



Image: from Chess Graphics

Contents

Post 1: News for the week
Post 2: Diagrams and other features
Post 3: Games from Current and Recent Events

[Jack Rabbit]

1. News for the week ending December 17

Superfinals: Alekseev, Korbut win Russian Championships

Evgeny Alekseev is crowned Russian Champion



Evgeny Alekseev, a 21-year-old grandmaster from St. Petersburg, is the new Russian National Champion.

Alekseev defeated Dmitry Jakovenko, 23, in a playoff of two rapid games hours after the completion of the eleventh round Friday in Moscow. Alekseev and Jakovenko tied for first place with 7½ points out of a possible 11. The playoff was only to determine which of the two would hold the title for the next year; they will divide first and second place prize money between them.

Ernesto Inarkiev, another young Russian grandmaster who finished first in the semi-final event in September, finished third with 7 points. Peter Svidler led the old-timers by finishing fourth with 6½ points. The defending champion, Sergei Rublevsky, tied for fifth with 5½ points.

Unofficial Cross Table
Russian National Championship General Superfinal
Moscow

-------------------------- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 T- (W)
.1 Evgeny Alekseev. . . . .- ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 0 ½ 1 1 1 1 7½ (5)
.2 Dmitry Jakovenko . . . .½ - 1 ½ 0 1 ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 1 7½ (5)
.3 Ernesto Inarkiev . . . .½ 0 - ½ 1 0 ½ 1 1 ½ 1 1 7. (5)
.4 Peter Svidler. . . . . .½ ½ ½ - ½ ½ ½ 1 1 ½ ½ ½ 6½ (2)
.5 Ildar Khairullin . . . .½ 1 0 ½ - ½ ½ 1 0 ½ ½ ½ 5½ (2)
.6 Evgeny Tomashevsky . . .0 0 1 ½ ½ - ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ ½ 5½ (2)
.7 Sergei Rublevsky . . . .1 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ - 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 5½ (1)
.8 Ian Nepomniachtchi . . .½ 0 0 0 0 ½ 1 - 1 ½ ½ 1 5. (3)
.9 Denis Khismatullin . . .0 ½ 0 0 1 ½ ½ 0 - ½ 1 1 5. (3)
10 Sergey Grigoriants . . .0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ ½ ½ - ½ 1 5. (1)
11 Nikita Vitiugov. . . . .0 0 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 ½ - ½ 3½ (0)
12 Evgeny Najer . . . . . .0 0 0 ½ ½ ½ ½ 0 0 0 ½ - 2½ (0)

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

Jakovenko led the tournament most of the way. He was caught by Alekseev in the ninth round on Wednesday. Both players won Thursday and drew Friday. Jakovenko drew in all-too-typical last round style against Sergey Grigoriants, but Alekseev had to earn his right to face Jakovenko for the title by drawing the youngest player in the event, 16-year-old Ian Nepomniachtchi, in 109 moves.

The event was held about six months after world champion Vladimir Kramnik, who was originally scheduled to compete as a seeded player, said that the future of Russian chess looked bleak. As if simply to prove Kramnik wrong, the general Superfinal turned into a convincing showcase of young Russian talent.


Ekaterina Korbut reigns as Russian Ladies' Champion



Ekaterina Korbut won the ladies' Superfinal with 8 points out of a possible 11 in Gorodents, a medieval Russian town near Novgorod, in the tournament which finished on Tuesday.

In a three-way tie for second, the Kosintseva sisters, Nadezhda and Tatiana, and 15-year-old Elena Tairova scored 7½ points each.

Unofficial Cross Table
Russian National Championship Ladies' Superfinal
Gorodents

-------------------------- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 T- (W)
.1 Ekaterina Korbut . . . .- 1 1 0 1 ½ ½ 0 1 1 1 1 8. (7)
.2 Tatiana Kosintseva . . .0 - ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 0 1 7½ (6)
.3 Nadezhda Kosintseva. . .0 ½ - ½ 1 1 0 1 1 ½ 1 1 7½ (6)
.4 Elena Tairova. . . . . .1 ½ ½ - ½ ½ 0 1 1 1 1 ½ 7½ (5)
.5 Alisa Galliamova . . . .0 0 0 ½ - 1 ½ 1 1 ½ 1 1 6½ (5)
.6 Ekaterina Kovalevskaya .½ ½ 1 ½ 0 - ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 1 6½ (4)
.7 Tatiana Shadrina . . . .½ 0 ½ 1 ½ ½ - 0 1 ½ ½ 1 5½ (3)
.8 Elena Zayatz . . . . . .1 0 0 0 0 0 1 - 0 1 1 ½ 4½ (4)
.9 Anatasia Bodnaruk. . . .0 0 0 0 0 ½ 0 1 - 0 1 1 3½ (3)
10 Svetlana Matveeva. . . .0 ½ 0 0 ½ ½ ½ 0 1 - 0 ½ 3½ (1)
11 Valentina Gunina . . . .0 1 0 0 0 0 ½ 0 0 1 - 0 2½ (2)
12 Maria Koniagina. . . . .0 0 0 ½ 0 0 0 ½ 0 ½ 1 - 2. (1)

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

Tatiana Kosintseva led for much of the event until she was defeated by Ms. Korbut in the eighth round. Ms. Korbut had also defeated Nadezhda Kosintseva in the first round. Against each other in the second round, the Kosintseva sisters played seven moves into an Italian Game and agreed to a draw, almost exactly as they did in the fifth round of the North Urals Cup in Krasnoturinsk in July.

Young Ms. Tairova, who drew both her games against the Kosintseva sisters and won her game against Ms. Korbut, was recognized as the official second place finisher based on her better Sonnigen-Berger score; however, the Kosintsevas won six games each while Ms. Tairova won five.

The youngest competitor in the Superfinals, 14-year-old Anatasia Bodnaruk, finished tied for ninth with 3½ points (3 wins, 7 losses and a draw).


India wins Olympic Gold in Asian Games

India won the gold medal in the mixed team competition in the 15th Asian Games, an official Olympic Games event, in Doha, Qatar, last week.

The Indian team of Krishnan Sasikiran, Pentala Harikrishna and Koneru Humpy were assured of the gold medal even before the final round began Wednesday.

China took the silver medal and Iran, thanks to a 3-0 shut out of the strong host team, Qatar, in the last round, took the bronze.

India took two out of three gold medals in chess. Earlier, Ms. Koneru won the ladies' rapid chess competition. The other gold medal, for the men's rapid competition, was won by Murtas Kazhgaleyev of Kazakhstan.

The Asian Game marked the debut of chess as an Olympic sport.


Topalov issues challenge to Kramnik for title rematch

Bulgarian grandmaster Veselin Topalov has issued a challenge to World Champion Vladimir Kramnik for a rematch.


Photo: ChessBase.com

Topalov, who held the FIDE version of the split world title until Kramnik defeated him in October's reunification match, issued the challenged to FIDE through his manager, Silvio Danailov.

The challenge is being issued under the the FIDE rule that states any player with a current rating of over 2700 who can raise US$1 million can challenge the reigning world champion to a title match; under this rule, Kramnik is obliged to accept.

In his letter to FIDE, Danailov said that Topalov would prefer the match be held starting April 12 in Sofia, Bulgaria. However, that would be less than six months prior to the Mexico City world championship tournament, which is scheduled for late September and early October. Danailov said that the match could be held in March, if that was more consistent with FIDE rules.

Kramnik is scheduled to participate in the annual tournament in Wijk aan Zee, Holland in January while Topalov is to compete in the Morelia/Linares event in Mexico and Spain in late February and early March. Danailov did not say whether Topalov would withdraw from the Linares/Morelia tournament in order to have time to prepare for a title match in mid-March.

[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.

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

Sergey Grigoriants - Evgeny Alekseev, Russian National Championships, General Superfinal, Moscow, Round 10
Evgeny Najer - Dmitry Jakovenko, Russian National Championships, General Superfinal, Moscow, Round 8
Ekaterina Korbut - Tatiana Kosintseva, Russian National Championships, Ladies' Superfinal, Gorodets, Round 8
Elena Zayatz - Nadezhda Kosintseva, Russian National Championships, Ladies' Superfinal, Gorodets, Round 8

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Grigoriants - Alekseev, Russian Superfinals, Moscow

Evgeny Alekseev
Photo: ChessBase.com

Sergey Grigoriants vs. Evgeny Alekseev
Russian Championships, Round 10
Moscow. December 2006

East India Game: Nimzo-Indian Defense

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 0-0 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 d6

• If 6. -- b6 7. Bg5 Bb7 8. f3 then most lines are drawish (all of the cited games ended in draws):
• 8. -- h6 9. Bh4 d5 10. e3 Nbd7 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Bxd8 Nxc3 13. Bh4 Nd5 14. Bf2 c5 15. e4 Ne7
• 16. Bb5 Bc6 17. Bxc6 Nxc6 18. Ne2
• 18. -- cxd4 19. Nxd4 Nxd4 20. Bxd4 Rac8 21. Kd2 Nc5 22. Bxc5 Rxc5 23. Rac1 Rd8+ 24. Ke3 Rdc8 25. Rxc5 Rxc5 26. Rd1 Kf8 draw agreed (Topalov-Leko, Cannes 2002).
• 18. -- Rfd8 19. 0-0-0 cxd4 20. Nxd4 Nde5 21. Kb1 Nxd4 22. Rxd4 Kf8 is even (Gelfand-Leko, Wijk aan Zee 2002).
• 16. Ne2 Rac8 17. Nc3 cxd4 18. Bxd4 Nc5 19. Rd1 Rfd8 20. Bb5 Nb3 21. Be3 Rxd1+ 22. Kxd1 Nc6 is equal (van Wely-Leko, Wijk aan Zee 2005).
• 8. -- d5 9. e3 Re8 10. Bd3 Nbd7 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Ne2 c5 13. 0-0 h6 14. Bh4 Qe7 15. Bf2 Rac8 16. Qd2 Nf8 17. Ng3 g6 at least has a hint of a promise to both sides (Wang Lei-Maric, SUFE Cup Rapid, Shanghai 2001).

7. f3

• 7. Bg5 b6 8. e3 Ba6 9. Bd3 Nbd7 10. Ne2 c5 11. Qc2 h6 12. Bh4 Rc8 13. Qa4 Bb7 14. 0-0 Qc7 15. Nc3 a6 16. Rac1 is equal (Piket-Stohl, European TCh, León 2001). Black appears to be better prepared to open the position with -- cxd4, for example: 16. -- cxd4 17. exd4 e5 18. Bxf6 Nxf6 19. dxe5 dxe5 is a plausible line that is level.

7. -- c5 8. dxc5 dxc5 9. Nh3 Nc6 10. Nf2 e5

• 10. -- h6 11. e3 a5 12. Bd2 e5 13. Bd3 Qe7 14. Qc2 Be6 15. 0-0 a4 16. Rfe1 give White a small edge is space (Sasikiran-C. Hansen, North Sea Cup, Esbjerg (Denmark) 2003).

11. e3 Bf5

• 11. -- e4 12. f4 Ng4 13. h3 Nh6 14. g4 Qh4 15. Rg1 Rd8 16. b4 give White a significant edge is space (Harikrishna-Nisipeanu, Pune 2003). The key moves for White are Bb2, b5 and g5. Black needs to regroup his kingside.

12. Be2 a5 13. b3 Qe7 14. Bd1 Rfd8 15. Bd2?!

• This move doesn't do very much for White. Black's a-pawn is no trouble where it is and this move isn't going to cause Black to do anything about it.
• 15. e4 Bd7 16. Bg5 Nd4 17. Nd3 b6 18. 0-0 Bc6 is balanced.
• 15. 0-0 Rd7 16. e4 Bg6 17. Be3 Rad8 18. Bc2 Nd4 slightly favors White in that Black's queenside pawns are weak at least for the moment.

15. -- Nd7 16. 0-0 a4 17. b4 Nb6

• White strikes at White's weakest pawn, but there is little that can be done to White's queenside yet.
• 17. -- f6 (simply supporting the e-pawn) 18. Bc2 cxb4 19. axb4 Bxc2 20. Qxc2 a3 21. Rfb1 Qf7 gives Black an edge owing to his advancing a-pawn and active Queen.
• If 17. -- Be6 (another way of striking at White's c-pawn) 18. Be2 b6 19. Rfd1 then:
• after 19. -- Bf5 20. b5 Na5 21. e4 Be6 22. Ra2 White is ready for anything Black has in mind, for example: 22. -- Nb3 23. Be3 f6 24. Rb2 Rac8 25. Bd3 Nd4 26. Bf1 and White has suffered no damage.
• 19. -- Rac8 20. Rac1 Qh4 21. Be1 cxb4 22. axb4 gives White an advantage in piece activity; the threat to unmask a discovered attack on Black's Queen with a timely Ne4 is important.

18. Be1 Be6

• Again Balck goes after the c-pawn. Again White easily defends it. A better plan for Black might be to pass the a-pawn.
• If 18. -- cxb4 19. axb4 a3 then:
• after 20. e4 Be6 21. c5 Nd7 22. Rxa3 Rxa3 23. Qxa3 Bc4 Black wins the exchange.
• after 20. Bb3 Na4 21. Bxa4 Rxa4 22. Rxa3 Rxb4 23. Rb3 Ra4 24. Qb2 Bc8 Black takes the c-pawn.

19. Be2 Rdc8 20. Ne4 cxb4 21. axb4 f5 22. Ng3

• White prepares for action on the kingside, but the prospects are not promising. Black has the better center; White pieces annot pass through to get to the kingside.
• 22. Nc5 Bf7 23. Qc2 a3 24. Qxf5 Nxc4 25. Bd3 g6 26. Qe4 keeps the balance.

22. -- f4 23. exf4

Black: Evgeny Alekseev
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White: Sergey Grigoriants
Position after 23. e3xf4

23. -- Nd4!

• Black sacrifices a pawn in order to give life to his pieces.
• 23. -- exf4 24. Ne4 Nd8 25. c5 Nd5 26. Qb2 Ne3 27. Rf2 Bb3 28. Bc3 is level.

24. fxe5

• White decides that a pawn is worth a little trouble (as Steinitz would say).
• Declining the poffered pawn by 24. c5 Nd5 25. Qb2 Nxf4 26. Bd1 Bc4 27. Rf2 Nd3 28. Qc3 only get White an equal game.

24. -- Nxe2+ 25. Nxe2 Bxc4 26. Qe3 Nd5

• If 26. -- a3 27. f4 Nd5 28. Qd2 a2 29. Rf2 then:
• 29. -- Ra3 30. Qc1 Raa8 31. Qb2 b5 32. g3 gives White a solid pawn at e5, but the Black pawn at a2 is menacing.
• after 29. -- Rd8 30. Ng3 Rf8 31. Ne4 Nxf4 32. Nf6+ gxf6 33. Qxf4 Black must first save his Bishop and then worry about White's kingside initiative.

27. Qe4 Nxb4 28. Kh1

• Black has his pawn back with the advantage of two connected passers on the queenside.
• If 28. Bxb4 Qxb4 29. Rfd1 Qc5+ then:
• 30. Kh1 Re8 31. f4 Rad8 32. Rxd8 Rxd8 Ng2 b5 is equal.
• 30. Nd4?! Re8 31. Rac1 b5 allows White's queenside pawns to advance.

28. -- Nd3 29. Bc3 b5 30. Ng3?

• In hopes of a kingside attack, White rteliquishes his control of the center.
• Correct is 30. Bd4 a3 31. Rfd1 Nc5 32. Bxc5 Qxc5 33. e6 and it's a fight.

Black: Evgeny Alekseev
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White: Sergey Grigoriants
Position after 30. Ne2g3

30. -- Nc5!

• This is the move that playing 30. Bd4 would have immediately prevented. It gains time on the Queen which Black can use for whatever purpose he desires.
• If 30. -- Rf8 31. Bd4 Rad8 32. f4 Nc5 33. Bxc5 Qxc5 would give Black only a small edge owing to his advanced queenside pawns.

31. Qg4 Qe6?

• Black throws away the win.
• Correct is 31. -- Bxf1! 32. Rxf1 Qe6 33. Nf5 when:
• after 33. -- g6 34. Ne3 a3 35. Qxe6+ Nxe6 36. Nd5 Rd8 White must invest all his energy into stopping the advance of the queenside pawns.
• after 33. -- Rc7 34. Bd4 Rf8 35. Bxc5 Rxf5 Black is an exchange up.

32. Nf5

• When in doubt, threaten mate. Obviously, White doesn't want to exchange Queens,
• After 32. Qxe6+? Bxe6 33. Bb4 Nd3 34. Bd6 b4 35. Ne4 a3 36 Rfd1 Bc4 although Black is not as dominant as before, he is strong enough that he ought to win.

32. -- g6 33. Nh6+

• 33. Nd6? Bxf1 34. Nxc8 Bxg2+ 35. Nd6 a2 36. Rd2 Ra3 37. Bb2 Ra4 gets Black back on track to win.

33. -- Kg7 34. Qh4?

• White slips up and for the second time loses the game.
• Correct is 34. Rfd1! when:
• 34. -- b4 35. Qg5 Nd3 36. Rxd3 Bxd3 37. Bxb4 Rc2 38. Ng4 Rac8 39. Be7
• 39. -- h5
• after 40. Bf6+ Kf7 41. Nh6+ Ke8 42. h3 Qc4 43. e6 Rc5 44. Qg3 Qxe6 45. Re1 Rc1 it's still a fight.
• after 40. Qh6+? Kf7 41. Qh7+ Ke8 42. Rd1 hxg4 43. Bb4 Rb2 44. Be1 Qf7 Black should win.
• 39. -- Kg8 40. Nh6+ Kg7 41. Ng4 Kg8 42. Nh6+ draws by repetition.
• after 34. -- Kxh6? 35. Qh4+ Kg7 36. Rd6 Qf5 37. e6+ Kf8 38. e7+ Ke8 39. Qxh7 Qh5 40. Qg7 Ne6 41. Rxe6 Bxe6 42. Qf8+ Kd7 43. Rd1+ Bd5 44. e8Q+ Rxe8 45. Qc5 White wins.

34. -- Bxf1 35. Rxf1 Nb3 36. Be1

• After 36. Ba1 Qc4 37. Qxc4 bxc4 38. Ng4 c3 39. Ne3 c2 40. Nxc2 Rxc2 Black is up by a Rook.

36. -- a3 37. f4 a2 38. f5 gxf5 39. Nxf5+ Kh8 40. 0-1

• If 40. Qg3 Rg8 then White cannot save his Queen and at the same time prevent White from gaining another:
• 41. Qf3 a1Q.
• 41. Qc3 a1Q.
• 41. Bc3 Rxg3.
• Grigoriants resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Najer - Jakovenko, Russian Superfinals, Moscow

Dmitry Jakovenko
Photo: ChessBase.com

Evgeny Najer vs. Dmitry Jakovenko
Russian National Championships, General Superfinal, Round 8
Moscow, December 2006

East India Game: Nimzo-Indian Defense

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. g3

• The fianchetto is not as common as other forms of development against the Nimzo-Indian.

4. -- c5 5. Nf3 cxd4 6. Nxd4 0-0 7. Bg2 d5 8. cxd5

• 8. Qb3 Bxc3+ 9. Qxc3 e5 10. Nb3 d4 11. Qa5 Qe8 12. Bg5 Nc6 13. Qc7 Qe6 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Rc1 Nb4 16. Qa5 Na6 17. c5 Nb8 18. 0-0 Nc6 19. Qc7 a5 is balanced (Wells-Suba, Hastings 1991). If White should need to retreat the Queen, he will have to invest some time to do it.

8. -- Nxd5 9. Qb3 Qa5

• 9. -- Qb6 10. Bxd5 exd5 11. Be3 Bh3 12. g4 Na6 13. a3 Qa5 14. Rc1 Bxc3+ 15. Rxc3 Nc5 16. Qb4 Qxb4 17. axb4 is level (Aronian-Naiditsch, Dortmund 2006). White may benefit from his active Rook and Black's Bishop is in danger of being trapped after the Knight at c5 retreats; on the other side of the ledger, White's King is stuck in the center and Black has a good move at the moment in 17. -- Ne4.

10. Bd2 Nc6 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. 0-0 Bxc3 13. bxc3

• 13. Bxc3 Nxc3 14. bxc3 Ba6 15. Qb4 Qxb4 16. cxb4 Rab8 17. a3 Bxe2 18. Rfc1 Bb5 19. Bxc6 Bxc6 20. Rxc6 Rfc8 21. Rac1 Rxc6 22. Rxc6 g5 gives White the mobile apwn majority and the active Rook (Ribli-Wahls, Bundesliga, Porz 1998).

13. -- Ba6 14. Rfd1 Qc5

• 14. -- Bxe2 15. c4 Qa6 16. cxd5 Bxd1 17. Qxd1 cxd5 18. Qg4 is equal.

15. e4 Bc4 16. Qa4 Nb6 17. Qb4 Qh5?!

• Black is not ready to exchange Queens so early. The Queen and the Bishop are focesed on e2.
• After 17. Qb4 Qxb4 18. cxb4 Rfd8 19. Be3 e5 20. f4 f6 21. Rxd8+ Rxd8 22. a4White has a comfortable game with the two Bishops and superior pawn structure (Ostojic-Gligoric, Yugoslav Ch, Herceg Novi 2001).

18. Bf4 e5!

• As the present game works out, this is an important move. White is never able to activate the King's Bishop, which is hemmed in by the pawn at e4.
• 18. -- c5 19. Qb2 Be2 20. Re1 Bf3 21. Bxf3 Qxf3 22. Re3 Qh5 yields an even position with symmetrical pawn formations. White's immediate problem is to open an escape route for the Bishop.

19. Be3 Be2 20. Re1 Nc4 21. Qc5 Rfd8

• Black seizes the open file. It will be a while before White can challenge him for it.
• 21. -- Rfc8 22. Rab1 Nxe3 23. Qxe3 Bc4 24. Rb4 Be6 25. Qc5 h6 26. Rd4 Rdb8 is unclear (Kazhgaleyev-Neelotpal, Asian Ch, Hyderabad (India) 2005). Fritz indicate the position is a slight to medium edge for White, but Black's Rook is active and ready to invade White's position. However, White can take the c-pawn at will.

22. Rab1 h6 23. h3 Nxe3 24. Qxe3 Bc4 25. a4 a5

• Black wants to stop the pawn cold.
• If 25. -- Be6 26. Kh2 Qg6 27. Qc5 Qf6 28. Red1 then:
• 38. -- a6 29. a5 then:
• 29. -- Rxd1 30. Rxd1 Rb8 31. Rd2 Rb5 32. Qxc6 Rxa5 is equal.
• 29. -- Rac8 30. f3 h5 31. h4 g5 32. Rxd8+ Rxd8 33. hxg5 Qxg5 give White better piece mobility and Black's c-pawn is still vulnerable.
• after 28. -- a5 29. f3 Ba2 30. Rxd8+ Rxd8 31. Rb2 Be6 32. Qxa5 White has won a pawn.

26. Qc5 Be6 27. h4

• After 27. Kh2 Rd2 28. Qxc6 Rc8 29. Qb6 Rxc3 30. Rb5 Rcc2 Black's two Rooks on White's pawn rank give him a distinct advantage.

27. -- Rd2 28. Qxc6 Rc8 29. Qb5 Rxc3 30. Qxa5

• White has finally won the pawn, but with Black's Rook marauding into White's camp it doesn't seem that he'll kepp his material advantage long.
• The game position is level.
• If 30. Rec1 Ra3 31. Rc5 Qg4 32. Rc7? Raa2 then:
• 33. Qb6 Rd1+ 34. Bf1 Qf3 give Black a huge edge.
• 33. Qe8+ Kh7 34. Rxf7 Bxf7 35. Qxf7 Rxf2 36. Qxf2 Rxf2 37. Kxf2 gives Black a huge edge.

30. -- Rcc2 31. Qa7 Ra2

• As Dr. Tarrasch said a hundred years ago, Rooks belong behind a passed pawn, whether it is a friend or foe.
• If 31. -- Kh7 32. a5 Ra2 33. Ra1 Qe2 then:
• 34. Rf1 Rac2 35. a6 Qd3! yields an even game. Black will have time to defend against the advance of the a-pawn and prevent its promotion.
• 34. Rxe2 Rxa1+ 35. Kh2 Rxe2 gives Black a slight edge altogether with actice Rooks and a "good" Bishop.

32. Ra1

• White plays this move perhaps hoping for 32. -- Rxa1 33. Rxal, relieving White's defensive burdens.
• If 32. a5 Kh7 33. Ra1 then:
• 33. -- Qe2 then:
• 34. Rf1 Rac2 then:
• after 35. Qb6! Bc4 36. Qc5 Bd5 37. Qxc2 Rxc2 38. exd5 Ra2 39. d6 the two passed pawns should decide for White.
• 35. a6 Qd3 36. Kh1 Ra2 37. Rxa2 Rxa2 38. Qc5 Qxa6 has a very drawish look about it.
• 34. Reb1 Qxf2+ 35. Qxf2 Rxf2 36. Bf1 Rfb2 37. a6 Rxb1 38. Rxb1 Kg6 makes it clear that the pawn will not promote.
• after 33. -- Rdb2 34. Rxa2 Rxa2 35. Qc5 Ra4 36. Qc3 Rc4 37. Qb2 Black will have difficulty stopping the pawn.

Black: Dmitry Jakovenko
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White: Evgeny Najer
Position after 32. Rb1a1

32. -- Qe2!!

• The Queen sacrifice will net Black two Rooks which will get behind White's pawn.
• Of course, Black does not play 32. -- Rxa1? when 33. Rxa1 Rd1+ 34. Rxd1 Qxd1+ 35. Kh2 g5 36. Qb8+ Kh7 37. a5 gives White a strong position.

33. Rxe2

• In spite of his fine 32nd move, Bkack has not yet won the game. However, it is now unlikely that he will loose it.
• 33. Rf1 Rab2 34. Rab1 Ra2 35. a5 Kh7 36. Qc5 f6 37. Rb7 Qg4 is equal.
• As long as Black can get a Rook behind the a-pawn, he will be OK.

33. -- Rxa1+ 34. Kh2 Rxe2 35. a5!

• White cannot ensnare the Black King and wisely stakes his hopes in the a-pawn. However, White must also remain alert to to possibilities on the kingside should opportunities arise.
• 35. h5 Bg4 36. Bh3 Bxh5 37. Bf5 g6 38. Bh3 Bf3 39. Bg2 Bg4 40. Bh3 h5 gives Black a significant edge. White can be cheerful that he can liquidate the Bishop he was never able to free.

35. -- Kh7 36. Bh3 Raa2 37. Bxe6 Rxf2+ 38. Kh3 fxe6 39. Kg4?!

• White misses an opportunity to slavage a half point.
• if 39. h5 Rh2+ 40. Kg4 Ra4 41. Qf7 then:
• 41. -- Rxa5 42. Qg6+ Kh8 43. Qe8+ Kh7 44. Qg6+ draws by perpetual check.
• 41. -- Rxe4+ 42. Kf3 Rd4 43. Qg6+ Kg8 44. Qxe6+ Kh7 45. Qf5+ Kg8 46. Qxe5 Rd3+ 47. Kg4 Ra3 48. Qe8+ Kh7 49. Qe4+ Kg8 50. Qe8+ also draws by perpetual check.

39. -- Rae2 40. a6

• White continues to push the a-pawn.
• If 40. Qb7 Re3 then:
• 41. Kh3 Rff3 42. Qb6 Rxg3+ 43. Kh2 Ra3 44. Qxe6 Rgc3 45. Qf5+ then:
• after 45. -- Kg8 46. Qf2 Rxa5 Black will double the Rooks on the third rank.
• 45. -- g6? 46. Qf7+ Kh8 47. Qf6+ Kh7 48. Qf7+ draws by perpetual check
• 41. h5? Rg2 42. Kh3 Rgxg3+ 43. Kh2 Ra3 44. Qf7 Rg5 45. a6 Rxa6 immobilizes White's position.

40. -- Rxe4+ 41. Kh3 Ree2 42. h5?

• White's position was becoming increasingly difficult since his inaccuracy on the 39th move, but after this there is no further opportunity to sace the game.
• White's last chance is 42. Kg4 when:
• 42. -- Ra2 43. Qb6 Ra4+ 44. Kh3 Rfa2 45. Qxe6
• 45. -- Rxa6 46. Qf5+ Kg8 47. Qc8+ Kf7 48. Qf5+ Ke7 49. Qxe5+ Kf8 50. Qc5+ Kg8 51. Qd5+ Kh8 52. h5 Ra1 can be given up as drawn.
• 45. -- Ra5 46. Qf5+ Kg8 47. Qe6+ Kf8 48. Qf5+ Ke7 49. Qg6 Kf8 50. Qd6+ is drawish.
• 42. -- Rf5 43. Kh3 h5 44. Qg1 e4 45. a7 Ra5 46. Qf1 Rea2 47. Qf4 Rxa7 48. Qxe4+ give Black the material edge, but a win is problematic.

Black: Dmitry Jakovenko
!""""""""#
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/(((((((()
White: Evgeny Najer
Position after 42. h4h5

42. -- Rf5!

• Another White pawn falls and Black will soon mobilize his kingside pawns.
• Without the pawn at h5, White has no chance to slavage the game by perpetual check.

43. Qb8

• 43. Qd7 Rxh5+ 44. Kg4 Rg5+ 45. Kf3 Ra2 46. Qd3+ Rf5+ is an easy win for Black.

43. -- Rxh5+ 44. Kg4 Re4+ 45. Kf3 Ra4 46. Qb6 e4+

• After 46. -- Rf5+ 47. Ke3 e4 48. Qd6 Rf3+ 49. Ke2 Ra2+ 50. Ke1 Re3+ 51. Kf1 Rd3 Black wins the Queen by 52. Qb4 (otherwise, 52. -- Rd1+ is mate) 52. -- Rd1+ 53. Qe1 Rxe1+.

47. Ke3 Rha5 48. Qxe6 Rxa6 49. Qf5+ Rg6 50. g4 Ra3+ 51. 0-1

• After 50. -- Ra3+ 51. Kxe4 Ra4+ 52. Ke3 Raxg4 53. Kf3 R4g5 54. Qb1 Black will shuffle his whole position up the board 54. -- h5 55. Qe4 Kh6 56. Ke3 Rf6 57. Qe8 Rgf5 58. Qh8+ Kg6 59. Qd8 h4 60. Ke4 Kg5 61. Qe7 g6 -+ and so forth. Najer resigns

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Korbut - T. Kosintseva, Russian Superfinals, Gorodents

Ekaterina Korbut
Photo: form the website of the 2006 Women's World Chess Championship

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Select game 43 in the pgn file.

Ekaterina Korbut vs. Tatiana Kosintseva
Russian National Championships (Ladies' Superfinal), Round 8
Gorodets, Dedember 2006

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Neo-Classical Defense (Møller Defense)

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Bc5

• If 5. -- b5 6. Bb3 Bb7 (the Arkhangelsk Defense, named for the hometown of the Kosintseva sisters) yields an equal game:
• 7. Re1 Bc5 8. c3 d6 9. d4 Bb6 10. Be3 0-0 11. Nbd2 h6
• 7. c3 Nxe4 8. d4 Na5 9. Bc2 exd4 10. Nxd4

6. c3 b5 7. Bb3 d6?!

• This is a risky move that may be somewhat dubious in light of this game.
• Safer is 7. -- Nxe4 8. d4 exd4 9. cxd4 Be7 10. d5 Na5 11. Bc2 Nf6 12. Bg5 d6 yields a level game (Keres-Candlin, Helsinki 1935).

8. d4

• If 8. a4 Bg4 9. h3 Bxf3 10. Qxf3 0-0 then:
• 11. a5 Rb8 12. d3 Nd7
• 13. Nd2 Kh8 14. Kh1 Ne7 15. Qe2 h6 16. f4 Ng6 17. f5 Nf4 is balanced (Ponomariov-Morozevich, FIDE WCh KO, Moscow 2001).
• 13. Be3 Kh8 14. Nd2 Ne7 15. Bc2 Bxe3 16. fxe3 c5 17. Bb3 c4 is level (Kasparov-Anand, Wijk aan Zee 2001).
• 11. d3 11. -- Na5 12. Bc2 b4 13. Nd2 Rb8 14. Qe2 Re8 15. Nf3 bxc3 16. bxc3 Nb3 is equal (David-Glavina, French TCh, Montpellier 2001).

8. -- Bb6 9. a4 Bg4 10. Bg5!?

• White is the first to deviate from known previous games. The pin protects her e-pawn.
• If 10. axb5 axb5 11. Rxa8 Qxa8 12. h3 Bh5 13. Qd3 exd4 14. Bg5 Bxf3 15. Bxf6 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 gxf6 17. Qxb5 is unclear; Black has an extra pawn, but White can put more pressure on c6 (Pavlovic-Carlsen, Reykjavic Open 2006). For the record, Black won the game.
• 14. Nxd4 0-0 15. Nxc6 Qxc6 16. Bd5 Nxd5 17. exd5 Qe8 18. Be3 Bg6 give Black command of open lines (Hou Yifan-Yang Shen, World Jr Ch, Yerevan 2006).

10. -- Rb8 11. axb5 axb5 12. Bd5

• The text move assures that Black's kingside pawns will be broken up.
• 12. -- Bd7 13. Na3 0-0 14. Bxc6 Bxc6 15. dxe5 dxe5 16. Nxe5 Bxe4 17. Re1 gives White a better center.

12. -- Ne7 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. h3

• It is a good idea to deny Black the use of g4.
• If 14. dxe5 then:
• 14. -- fxe5 15. Bxf7+ Kxf7 16. Ng5+ Kf6 17. Qxg4 Qg8 18. h4 h6 19. Qf3+ Kg7 20. Nh3 gives White advantages in piece activitye and King safety.
• 14. -- dxe5 15. Qe2 c6 16. Bb3 Ng6 17. Rd1 Qe7 18. g3 Rg8 is level.

14. -- Bh5 15. Nbd2 f5

• Black attempts to counter White's pawn center.
• If 15. -- exd4 16. cxd4 c6 17. Bb3 Bxd4 18. Bxf7+ then:
• after 18. -- Bxf7 19. Nxd4 Rg8 20. Qf3 White has an edge in pawn structure and piece activity.
• 18. -- Kxf7 19. Qb3+ d5 20. Nxd4 also gives White an edge in oawn structure and piece acitvity, but not as great as the red line.

16. Qe2! c6 17. Bb3 f4

• Instead of liquidating the pawn center, Black chooses to advance the f-pawn in hopes of staging some kingside operations of her own.
• 17. -- fxe4 18. Qxe4 Bg6 19. Qh4 exd4 20. Nxd4 0-0 21. Rfe1 gives White a slight edge in piece activity.

18. Rfd1 Ng6 19. Qd3

• White likes her pawns where they are and would like to keep them there as long as possible.
• If 19. d5 Rg8 20. Kh1 cxd5 21. Bxd5 Nh4 22. Rg1 then:
• 22. -- Kf8 23. Bb3 Qc7 24. Bd1 Rd8 25. Qe1 leaves Black with more pawn weaknesses.
• 22. -- Ke7 23. Raf1 Qd7 24. Qd3 Nxf3 25. Nxf3 gives White better piece activity.

19. -- Rg8 20. Kh2 Kf8 21. g4 fxg3+ 22. fxg3 c5?

• Black surrenders her claim to d5.
• Correct is 22. -- exd4 23. cxd4 Ne7 24. Rf1 Rg7 when:
• after 25. Nh4 c5 26. Qe3 Kg8 27. Qh6 White's pieces are more active.
• after 25. d5 cxd5 26. exd5 Bg6 17. Qc3 the position is balanced.

23. dxc5

• White must not allow the pawn the remain where it is else it should avance and makes White's plan to seize d5 more diffcult.
• If 23. Qf1 c4 24. Bc2 exd4 25. cxd4 Bxf3 26. Nxf3 then:
• 26. -- d5 27. e5 Qe7 28. b3 threatens 29. bxc3 completely and permanently weakening Black's queenside pawns.
• 26. -- Qf6 27. b3 c3 28. b4 also weakens Black's pawns.

23. -- Bxc5 24. Rf1 Kg7 25. Ne1

• The Knight is to be redeloyed.
• If 25. Qd5 then:
• 25. -- Qe8 26. Ng5 Nh8 27. Ra6 then:
• 17. -- b4 28. Rxd6 Bxd6 29. Qxd6 Rf8 30. cxb4 gives White a strong edge with her pieces poised to attack points near the enemy King.
• 27. -- h6 28. Ngf3 b4 29. c4 Ng6 30. Rfa1 gives White a strong edge in the center.
• 25. -- Rf8 26. Bc2 b4 27. c4 Rg8 28. b3 Ne7 29. Qd3 Qc7 30. g4 Bg6 31. Nh4 gives White strong possibilities of assualting the kingside.

25. -- Ne7 26. Ng2 Rf8 27. Nh4

• The Knight will go from here to f5 as part of a kingside attack.
• Also good is 27. Ne3 b4 28. c4 Rg8 when:
• after 29. Bd1 Bxd1 30. Nxd1 Nc6 31. b3 Qc7 32. Ne3 White dominates the center.
• after 29. Nd5 Nxd5 30. cxd5 Rc8 31. Nf3 White is still better, but not as much so as in the red line; Black still controls d4.

27. -- b4 28. Bd5?

• White throws away her superior position with a too hasty occupation of d5.
• If 28. c4 then:
• 28. -- Bd4 29. Ra2 29. -- Qc7 30. Rfa1 Rbc8 31. Ndf3 Bb6 32. Bd1 Bxf3 33. Bxf3 gives White firm control of open lines
• after 28. -- Ra8 29. Rxa8 Qxa8 30. Bd1 Bxd1 31. Rxd1 Rg8 32. Rf1 Qc8 33. b3 White still has control of d5.

28. -- bxc3!

• Black makes her bid to get back in the game. The queenside pawns are now liquidated, which is a very neat way for Black to get ride of her pawn weaknesses.

29. bxc3 Nxd5 30. Qxd5 f6 31. Rab1 Bf7

• Black again asserts a claim on d5, but this isn't her best move.
• 31. -- Rxb1! 32. Nf5+ Kh8 33. Rxb1 Bf7 34. Qd3 Be6 =

32. Qd3 Rxb1 33. Rxb1 Qd7

• Black would like to activate her Rook.
• If 33. -- Be6 34. Nf5+ Bxf5 35. exf5 then:
• 35. -- Qc7 36. Ne4 Rb8 37. c4 Rxb1 38. Qxb1 h5 re-establishes equality.
• 35. -- Qa8 36. Ne4 Rb8 37. Rxb8 Qxb8 38. g4 =

34. Ndf3

• The game is now even.
• After 34. Nf5+ Kh8 35. Nb3 Be6 36. Nxc5 dxc5 37. Qxd7 Bxd7 38. Rb6 White does not have enough to win.
• 34. Qa6 Qc8 35. Nf5+ Kh8 36. Qxc8 Rxc8 37. Rb7 Bg6 38. Rd7 Be8 is level.

34. -- Ra8 35. Nf5+ Kh8 36. Qd2 Be6 37. Qh6 Qf7?

• After her last move, White was threatening 38. Qxf6+ Qg7 39. Qxg7#.
• If 37. -- Bxf5! then White's threats vanish: 38. Qxf6+ Qg7 39. Qxg7+ Kxg7 40. exf5 Kf6 after which the game is a likely draw.

Black: Tatiana Kosintseva
!""""""""#
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White: Ekaterina Korbut
Position after 37. -- Qd7f7

38. Rb7!

• If Black takes the Rook, then White mates in two moves.
• 38. g4?! Qg6! 39. Qh4 d5 40. Rb7 Bf7 only yields an equal game.

38. -- Ra2+

• If 38. -- Bd7 39. Nd2 then:
• 39. -- Rd8
• 40. c4 Ba3 41. Nb3 Bc5 42. Na5 Qg6 43. Rxd7 then:
• after 43. -- Rxd7 44. Qf8+ Qg8 45. Qxf6+ Rg7 46. Nb7 Qf7 47. Qxg7+ Qxg7 48. Nxg7 Kxg7 49. Nxc5 dxc5 50. g4 White has an elementary win.
• otherwise, 43. -- Qxh6 44. Rxd8+ Qf8 45. Rxf8# is as final as it gets.
• 40. Nc4 40. -- d5 41. exd5 Qg6 42. Qxg6 hxg6 43. Ncd6 then:
• after 43. -- Be8 44. Nxe8 Rxe8 45. Nh4 White continues to tighten the noose.
• 43. -- gxf5 44. Nf7+ wins the Rook, leave Black an exchange down.
• else if 39. -- Qg6 40. Rxd7 Qxh6 41. Nxh6 Ra2 42. Rd8+ Kg7 43. Nf5+ Kg6 44. Rd7 threatens mate; White should win quickly.

39. Kh1 Ra1+ 40. Kg2 Ra2+ 41. Kh1 Ra1+ 42. Ng1 Rxg1+ 43. Kh2 Qg6

• Other moves simply give away material before submitting to mate.

44. Rxh7+ Qxh7 45. Qf8+ 1-0

• White delivers mate in two moves.
• Ms. Kosintseva resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Zayatz - N. Kosintseva, Russian Superfinals, Gorodents

Nadezhda Kositntseva
Photo: Scacchierando (Italy)

• To view this game with a PGN viewer:
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Select game 47 in the pgn file.

Elena Zayatz vs. Nadezhda Kosintseva
Russian National Championships (Ladies' Superfinal), Round 8
Gorodets, December 2006

King's English Game: Four Knights' Opening

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d4 exd4

• Ms. Zayatz varies from her fourth round game against Ms. Kosintseva's sister.
• 4. -- e4 5. Ng5 Bb4 6. d5 Na5 7. Qc2? Nxc4 8. Ngxe4 Nxd5! gives Black a considerable advantage (Zayatz-T. Kosintseva, Russian WCh, Gorodents 2006).
• Ms. Zayatz had no desire to repeat that line so soon.

5. Nxd4 Bb4 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3

• This is a risk White takes when playing 1. c4. White's weakened pawns will color much of the rest of the game.

8. -- Ne5 9. f4

• White drives the Knight from the center.
• If Black takes the pawn at c4, then White replies 10. Nf5 attacking the pawn at g7, forcing Black to make a decision that may result in a loss of her castling privilege.
• If 9. e3 d6 10. Be2 Ng6 then:
• 11. Bg3 Ne4 12. Qc2 Qe7 13. Bd3 Nxg3 14. hxg3 Ne5 15. Be2 Bd7 16. Rb1 Rb8 gives Black a very slight edge with superior pawn structure (Dr. Lasker-Lisitsin, Moscow 1935).
• 11. Bxf6 Qxf6 12. 0-0 0-0 13. Qc2 Re8 14. Rfd1 Nf8 15. Bd3 Ne6 gives Black better pawn structure and poece mobility (Chessmaster 9000-Christiansen, Internet 2002).

9. -- Ng6 10. Bxf6 Qxf6 11. g3 Nf8

• Black decides to redeploy her Knight to e6. This is part of a plan to fix White's center that includes playing -- d6 and, to make sure the King in not caught in the fray, castling.
• 11. -- 0-0 12. Bg2 d6 13. 0-0 c6 14. Rb1 Qe7 15. e4 Black again has better pawn structure, but Black's Knight is not well placed at g6 (Shapi-Arlamowski, Szczawno Zdroj 1950).

12. Bg2 Ne6 13. 0-0 0-0 14. e4 d6 15. Rb1

• White moves her Rook to an open file. She would like to weaken Black's pawn on the queenside in order to balance her own weak pawns.
• Obviously, Black can't respond with 15. -- b6? 16. e5! winning a Rook.
• If 15. Qd2 Nc5 16. Rae1 then:
• 16. -- Rb8 17. Re3 Bd7 18. Nb3 Nxb3 19. axb3 Bc6 20. Qd4 a6 21. Qxf6 draw agreed (Kramnik-Karpov, Las Palmas 1996).
• 16. -- Re8 17. Nb3 Na4 18. Qd4 Be6 19. c5 Nxc5 20. Nxc5 Qxd4+ 21. cxd4 dxc5 22. d5 offers chances to both sides (Schumann-Makropoulou, European TchW, León 2001). Black will try to advnce her queenside pawn, while White will dominate the center.

15. -- Nc5

• Black protects the pawn and prepares for her own queenside operations.
• If 15. -- Re8 16. Nxe6 Qxe6 17. Qd5 c6 then:
• 18. Qxe6 Rxe6 19. Rfd1 Kf8 20. e5 dxe5 21. Bh3 offers equal chances and could turn out to be very interesting.
• 18. Qd3 Qe7 19. h3 Qc7 20. Rfd1 Qa5 21. Qxd6 Qxa2 is level, but dynamic.

16. Qh5 c6

• Again, Black makes rumblings on the queenside. This move could support a future thrust -- b5, prevents White from playing Nb5 and stakes a claim on d5.
• 16. -- Re8 17. Rfe1 c6 18. h3 Bd7 19. Re3 Rad8 20. Nb3 is equal.

17. Rbd1?!

• White should have been punished for this inaccuracy more severely. She has removed her Rook from the b-file and moved to protect the Knight which, should it come under attack by -- c5 will have to move anyway.
• If 18. -- Bd7 19. a3 Rac8 20. Rbd1 b6 21. Re3 Na4 22. Rd2 Qe7 is level as the palyers will begin manuevering for control of e4.
• 18. -- Be6 19. e5 Qe7 20. exd6 Qxd6 21. Nxe6 Rxe6 22. Rxe6 fxe6 23. Rd1 gives White an edge in that her weak pawns are not under attack and weaknesses have been created in Black's pawn structure.

17. -- Be6

• Black is now taking aim at White's weak pawns.
• If 17. -- Na4 18. Rd2 then:
• 18. -- Re8 19. Re1 Bd7 20. Qd1 Nb6 21. Qb3 is an even game. Black will put pressure on White's e-pawn while White may attempt some queenside initiative.
• 18. -- Nxc3? 19. Qa5 Nxe4 20. Bxe4 Re8 21. Bf3 does not give White enough compensation for his sacrificed Knight.
• If 17. -- Bd7 18. Nb3 Nxb3 19. axb3 Qxc3 then:
• 20. Rxd6 Qe3+ 21. Kh1 Be6 22. f5 Bc8 23. Qf3 solves White's queenside problems.
• 20. Rf3 Qb4 21. e5 d5 22. cxd5 cxd5 23. Rfd3 leaves Black a pawn up, but it will be difficult to maintain any advantage.

18. Rfe1

• After 18. e5 dxe5 19. Nxe6 Qxe6 20. Qxe5 Qxe5 21. fxe5 Rfe8 Black will continue to pressure White's weak e-pawn.

18. -- Rad8?!

• Stronger is 18. -- Bxc4! 19. e5 dxe5 20. Rxe5 Nxd7 21. Re3 Rfd8 giving Black a extra pawn.

19. e5 dxe5 20. Rxe5 b6

• Black defends the Knight and prepares for the upcoming pyrotechnic display by both players.
• If 20. -- Na4 21. Nxe6 fxe6 22. Rb1 b6 23. Bxc6 Nxc3 then:
• 24. Rb2 24. -- Rd6 25. Bf3 is equal. Black should target the c-pawn.
• 24. Rbe1 Nxa2 25. Bg2 Nb4 gives Black an extra pawn; Black's plans will revolve around a queenside advance.

21. Nxc6 Rxd1+ 22. Qxd1 Bxc4 23. Qd2!?

• White comes out with an advantage, but the text move doesn't take advantage.
• 23. a3 a6 24.Qd4! gives White the initiative to make Black dance: Bb5 25. Ne7+ Kh8 26. Nd5 Qg6 27. f5 Qg5 28. c4.
• 23. Nxa7 Nd3 24. Re3 Qxc3 25. Nc6 Ba6 is only good for an equal game.

23. -- a6 24. g4?!

• White is not going to win the game on the kingside. On the other hand, Black's queenside still has a pawn duo opposed by two weaklings that need protection if White hopes to salvage anything.
• Better is 24. Re3 when:
• 24. -- Kh8 25. a3 b5 26. Qd4 Qg6 27. Re1 is equal; although White's pawns are weak, they are preventing Black's pawns from making progress.
• after 24. -- Ne6 25. a3 b5 26. Qd7 g5 27. f5 Ng7 28. g4 h5 29. h3 White is closing in on Black's King position.

24. -- Nd3 25. Ne7+ Kh8 26. Re4 b5 27. g5?

• White follows through with her faulty plan. It was not too late to abandon it.
• If 27. Nf5 Rd8 28. h3 a5 then:
• 29. Bf1 Qc6 30. Bg2 Qb6+ 31. Rd4 Rxd4 32. Nxd4 Qd6 gives White a slight edge in piece activity. White must decide whether to protect her f-pawn by playing 33. Ne2 or 33. f5.
• 29. a3 Kh7 30. Nd4 Qd6 31. Bf1 Nc5 32. Re5 Bxf1 33. Kxf1 f6 gives Black a significant edge in pawn structure and piece activity.

27. -- Qb6+ 28. Rd4 Rd8?

• If Black were playing with an extra pawn, this would look much better. As it is, it throws away a promising advantage.
• Correct is 28. -- Qc5! when:
• 29. Bf1 hxg5 30. Bxd3 Bxd3 31. fxg5 Re8 32. Qe3 Qxe7 33. Qxe7 Rxe7 34. Rxd3 gives Black, with two pawn duos, an advatage over White and her scattered pawns in the Rook ending.
• 29. gxh6 Qxe7 30. hxg7+ Kxg7 31. Be4 Rg8 32 Kh1 Nc5 33. Qg2+ Kf8 gives Black the resources to put the game away; Black will be a pawn up as soon as she can play -- Bxa2.

29. gxh6 gxh6 30. Nc6 Rxd4

• White has equalized.
• 30. -- Re8 31. h3 Ne1 32. Ne5 Nxg2 33. Nxc4 bxc4 34. Kxg2 Qc6+ 35. Kh2 Qf3 36. Rd8 Rxd8 37. Qxd8+ Kh7 38. Qf6 is a position where either side could force a draw by repetition, and neither has anything better.

31. cxd4 Qc7 32. Ne5 Qb6 33. Qe3

• White is still able to keep her important point covered.
• 33. Nc6 Qc7 34. Ne5 Qb6 35. Nc6 Qc7 36. Ne5 Qb6 37. Nc6 draws by repetition

33. -- Nb4 34. Be4

• Whte may be plying to exchange more pieces in hopes of advancing her d-pawn.
• 34. Qc3 Nxa2 35. Nxc4 bxc4 36. Qxc4 Nb4 37. Kf1 a5 is balanced.

34. -- Qf6 35. f5?

• White neglects her a-pawn.
• Correct is 35. Qd2 when:
• 35. -- bd5 36. a3 Bxe4 37. Qxb4 Qg7+ 38. Kf1 f6 39. Nd3 Qg4 gives Black an initiative based on her pieces converging on squares areound White's King.
• 35. -- Nxa2 26. Nxc4 bxc4 27. Bf3 Qg6+ 38. Kf2 Qb1 39. Bd5 gives White an edge in that her Bishop is taking aim at Black's pawns.
• 35. -- a5 36. a3 Na6 37. Nxc4 bxc4 38. Bd5 c3 39. Qxc3 Nc7 40. Bc4 Qxf4 gives White an advantage in that she has the most advanced passed pawn on the board, her Bishop is taking direct aim at on of Black's pawns and her Queen at another.
• 35. Nxc4 bxc4 36. a3 Nc6 37. d5 Nd4 38. Kd2 Kg8 39. h3 looks drawish.

Black: Nadezhda Kosintseva
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White: Elena Zayatz
Position after 35. f4f5

35. -- Nxa2!

• The path is clear for Black's queenside pawns to march trimumphantly.
• Even stronger is 35. -- Bxa2! 36. h3 Qg5+ 37. Qxg5 hxg5 38. f6 a5 39. Bf3 Bc4 yielding Black an easily won minor piece ending.

36. Nf3

• Black might have held out longer after 36. Nxc4 bxc4 37. Bd5 Qxf5 38. Bxc4 Qg6+ 39. Kf2 Nb4

36. -- Nb4 37. Qa3

• After 37. Ne5 Kg8 38. Kf2 Qh4+ 39. Qg3+ Qxg3+ 40. hxg3 there is little White can do to stop Black's pawns.

37. -- Qe7 38. Qe3

• After 38. Ne5 Qg5+ 39. Kh1 Qd2 40. Qa1 f6 41. Ng6+ Kg7 42. Qg1 Kf7 the pawns are still unopposed.

38. -- Qd6 39. Ne5 a5 40. Kf2

• 40. Nxc4 bxc4 41. d5 Kg8 42. Qd4 a4 43. Qxc4 a3 44. Qc8+ Kg7 45. Bb1 Qb6+ 46. Kf1 Qd4 it will cost White the Bishop to stop the pawn.

40. -- Qf6 41. Nf3 Nd5 42. Qc1

• After 42. Qa3 a4 43. Qf8+ Kh7 44. Qc5 Nc3 45. Bc2 Kg8 46. h4 h5 47. Ke1 Nd5 Black's Queen will go to a6 and support the pawn's coronation march.

42. -- a4 43. h4 Ne7 44. Qa3 Kg7 45. Qc5 a3!

• Black sacrifices one pawn to gain two, creating pawn majorities on both wings.

46. Qxa3 Nxf5 47. Qc1 Nxh4 48. 0-1

• White is two pawns up and ready to exchange pieces, making the win that much easier.
• Ms. Zayatz resigns.