The Jack Rabbit Chess Report for December 24: Merry Christmas

[Jack Rabbit]

The Jack Rabbit Chess Report
for the week ending December 24



Image: from a webstie no longer available

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 24

Topalov faces possible 3-year suspension after blasting Krmanik


ChessBase.com

Carsten Hansel, manager for world champion Vladimir Kramnik, has written a formal complaint to FIDE, the world governing body of chess, concerning remarks made by former FIDE champion Veselin Topalov in an interview with the Spanish daily newspaper ABC.

In the interview, Topalov stated that Kramnik received help from the KGB to illegally check computer analysis between moves in his rest room.

Herr Hansel's complaint is based on the FIDE code of ethics, which prohibit a player from making unfounded accusations against another player. If Hansel's complaint is upheld, Topalov could be suspended for up to three years.


Kirsan and Kok establish company to organize major events



FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and Dutch entrepreneur and chess organizer Bessel Kok, who opposed Kirsan in the recent FIDE elections, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to form a company that will be responsible for the organization of major FIDE events and projects.

The company, to be call Global Chess, will be headquartered in Amsterdam.

The organizers also approved a five-year business plan. The initial start up capital for Global Chess is €4.5 million.


Ivanchuk, Milov triumph in Torre Memorial



Grandmaster Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine and Russo-Swiss grandmaster Vadim Milov won the two major events at the Torre Memorial Tournament in Mérida, Yucatán, Mexico.

The tournament format interwove the two events. A Swiss system open "Magistral" began Thursday December 14, with at least one round a day being played through Sunday the 17th; two rounds each were played on Friday and Sunday. After Sunday's sixth round, the thirteen top players went to a four-round knock-out tournament called the "Wimbeldon" with three seeded players: Ivanchuk, Cuban grandmaster Lázaro Bruzón and Dutch national champion Sergey Tiviakov. The Wimbeldon tournament began Monday, which was a rest day for the Magistral. The players from the Magistral who were eliminated in the first round of the Wimbeldon rejoined the Magistral Tuesday.

In the final round of the Wimbeldon on Thursday, Ivanchuk had to go to a rapid set playoff in order to defeat Bruzón, the other player still standing, in order to win that event.

Milov was leading the Magistral after six rounds with 5 points. He then rejoined the Magistral on Tuesday, winning his next two games before drawing in the final round to win the Magistral with 7½ points. Cuban grandmasters Yuniesky Quezada and Jesús Nogueiras finished second and third with 7 and 6½ points respectively.

The tournament in named for Mexico's greatest chess player, Carlos Torre (1904-1978).


Katya leads Pari in Amity Challenge Match


Photo: ChessBase.com

Ukrainian master Katya Lahno, who celebrates her 17th birthday Wednesday, and Indian grandmaster Parimarjan Negi, who is the world's youngest grandmaster at 13, began a match in New Delhi last Sunday.

The match is divided into three parts: a six-game set with normal time controls; a six-game rapid set; and a six-game blitz set. The winner of the match will be the player who scores at least 9½ points altogether.

At the end of the blitz phase, Ms. Lahno leads 7½-4½.

In the normal phase, Ms. Lahno won the second game while all others were drawn. She then jumped to a huge lead yesterday afternoon by winning all three rapid games played that day.

Ms. Lahno continued her winning ways this afternoon by defeating Negi in the fourth rapid game before Negi finally drew blood by winning the remaining two games.

The match concludes tomorrow with six blitz games. The first game will begin at 2:30 pm New Delhi time (1 am PST).


Pamplona Tournament begins



The annual Pamplona Tournament began Friday in Spain among eight leading grandmasters in a single round robin.

The competitors are Dmitry Jakovenko of Russia, Miguel Illescas of Spain, Russian Oleg Korneev, Polish grandmaster Radoslaw Wojtaszek, Alexander Morozevich of Russia, French grandmaster Christian Bauer, the Latvian-Spanish grandmaster Alexei Shirov and Viktor Laznicka of the Czech Republic.

In the first round, Shirov won the only decisive game over Korneev, but was defeated yesterday by Wojtaszek in a day of decisive games. In other games yesterday, Morozevich defeated Laznicka, Bauer won over Korneev and Jakovenko bested Illescas.

The tournament concludes Friday.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Breaking News: Indian player banned 10 years for electronic cheating

From Reuters
Dated Wednesday December 27

Check-mate for Indian chess player after phone ploy

New Delhi -- An Indian chess player has been banned for 10 years for cheating after he was caught using his mobile phone's wireless device to win games, chess officials said on Wednesday.

The player, Umakant Sharma, had logged rating points at a rapid pace in the last 18 months and also qualified for the national championship, arousing the suspicion of officials and bemusing rivals.

Sharma was finally caught at a recent tournament when officials discovered that he had stitched a Bluetooth device in a cloth cap which he always pulled over his ears.

He communicated to his accomplices outside the hall, who then used a computer to relay moves to him, Indian chess federation secretary D.V. Sundar said on Wednesday.

"Rating points at a rapid pace" doesn't cover it. Sharma had gained 500 ratings points in that time, which is unheard of.

Electronic cheating is becoming a pervasive problem in chess.

[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

Parimarjan Negi - Katya Lahno, Amity Challenge Match, New Dehli, Round 2
Svetlana Matveeva - Elena Tairova, Russian National Championships, Ladies' Superfinal, Gorodets, Round 6
Anatasia Bodnaruk - Valentina Gunina, Russian National Championships, Ladies' Superfinal, Gorodets, Round 1
Sergei Rublevsky - Evgeny Alekseev, Russian National Championships, General Superfinal, Moscow, Round 3
Vladimir Georgiev - Vassily Ivanchuk, Torre Memorial Tournament (Wimbeldon Event), Mérida, Yucatán (Mexico), Quarter Final Round

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Negi - Lahno, Match, New Dehli

Katya Lahno
Photo: ChessBase.com (Spanish Language)

Parimarjan Negi vs. Katya Lahno
Amity Challenge Match, Round 2
New Delhi, December 2006

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

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 b5 6. Bb3 Bc5

• The Neo-Classical or Neo-Arkhangelsk Defense is an active alternative to Hermit or Closed Defense (6. -- Be7 7. Re1 d6).

7. a4

• If 7. c3 then:
• 7. -- Nxe4 8. d4 exd4 9. cxd4 Be7 10. d5 Na5 11. Bc2 Nf6 12. Bg5 d6 offers equal chances (Keres-Candlin, Helsinki 1935).
• 7. -- d6 8. d4 Bb6 9. a4 Bg4 10. Bg5 Rb8 11. axb5 axb5 12. Bd5 Ne7 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. h3 gives White more space (Korbut-T. Kosintseva, Russian ChW, Gorodents 2006).

7. -- Rb8 8. c3

• 8. axb5 axb5 9. Nxe5 Nxe5 10. d4 Bxd4 11. Qxd4 d6 12. f4 Nc6 13. Qc3 Ne7 14. e5 Ne4 15. Qe1 Nc5 16. Ba2 0-0 17. b4 Na4 18. Nc3 Nxc3 19. Qxc3 Nf5 gives White an edge in space and piece activity (Kassis-Fontaine, Olympiad, Calvia 2004).

8. -- d6 9. d4 Bb6 10. axb5

• 10. Na3 0-0 11. axb5 axb5 12. Nxb5 Bg4 13. Bc2 d5 14. h3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 exd4 16. exd5 Qxd5 17. Qxd5 Nxd5 18. Be4 gives White piece activity and initiative (Domínguez-Rodríguez, American Continental Ch, Buenos Aires 2005).

10. -- axb5 11. Qd3

• 11. dxe5 Nxe5 12. Nxe5 dxe5 13. Qxd8+ Kxd8 14. Bg5 Ke7 15. Na3 Bc5 the players agreed to a draw (Galkin-Sasikiran, Aeroflot Open, Moscow 2005).

11. -- Bd7

• If 11. -- 0-0 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bxf6 Qxf6 14. Qxb5 Na5 15. Bd5 Bg4 16. dxe5 dxe5 17. Nxe5 Be6 then:
• after 18. Nd7 Bxd7? 19. Qxd7 White won quickly (Shabalov-Ganguly, Canadian Open, Edmonton 2005).
• 18. -- Qxf2+! 19. Rxf2 Bxf2+ 20. Kxf2 Rxb5 is level.

12. Na3 0-0 13. Bg5

• If 13. Nxb5 Qe8 14. Bc2 Nb4 then:
• 15. Nxc7 Bxc7 16. cxb4 Bb5 17. Qc3 Bxf1 18. dxe5 dxe5 19. Kxf1 gives Black an exchange for two pawns and a focus on the foreward b-pawn.
15. Nxd6 cxd6 16. cxb4 Bb5 17. Qb3 Bxf1 18. dxe5 dxe5 19. Kxf1 Ng4 gives Black an exchange for two pawns and a focus on the f-pawn.

13. -- h6 14. Bh4

• 14. Bxf6 Qxf6 15. Nxb5 exd4 16. Nbxd4 Ne5 17. Nxe5 dxe5 18. Nf3 gives White a slight edge in piece activity.

14. -- Qe7?

• White introduces an "improvement" over previous games for which she should have been punished.
• If 14. -- g5 15. Nxg5 hxg5 16. Bxg5 exd4 17. Rae1 Kg7 18. f4 Be6 19. Kh1 Rh8 gives Black a strong edge in piece activity (Shabalov-Friedel, Global Challenge, Minneapolis 2005). However, White successfully created complications and survived to a draw.
• Correct is 14. -- exd4 15. cxd4 when:
• Bg4 16. Rfc1 b4 17. Rxc6 bxa3 18. Rxa3 Qe8 19. Rxb6 Rxb6 20. Bxf6 gxf6 21. Nd2 gives White the initiative.
• after 15. -- Nb4? 16. Qd2 c5 17. e5 dxe5 18. dxe5 Ne4 19. Qf4 Ng5 20. Nxg5 White is a pawn up with a vicious attack.

15. Rfe1

• The text is better than 15. Nxb5 exd4 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. Nbxd4 Ne5 18. Nxe5 dxe5 19. Nf3 Bg4 20. Bd1 which still gives White an edge with command of open files.

15. -- Bg4 16. Qxb5

Black: Katya Lahno
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White: Parimarjan Negi
Position after 15. -- Bd7g4

16. Qxb5?!

• White gains a pawn, but the wrong way.
• White could have broken the game open with 16. Nxb5! exd4 17. Nbxd4 Bxd4 18. Nxd4 Ne5 19. Qc2 c5 20. Nf5 giving White a strong initiative and advantages in space and piece activity.

16. -- Bxf3?!

• Black misses her best opportunity for now to get out of trouble.
• 16. -- Bd7! 17. Bxf6 Qxf6 18. Bd5 Bxd4 19. Qe2 Ba7 yields an equal game.

17. Qxc6 g5 18. Bg3 Bg4 19. Qc4!

• By striking at f7, White retains a slightly better game.
• If 19. dxe5 dxe5 20. Bd1 Bd7 21. Qc4 then:
• after 21. -- Ra8 22. b4 c5 23. b5 Rfd8 24. Bc2 White has a slight edge in piece activity.
• after 21. -- Rfd8 22. Qe2 Ra8 23. Bb3 Bg4 24. Qc2 White has superior mobility, which will give him the initiative.

19. -- Be6 20. d5 Bd7 21. Ba4

• White invites the exchange of one of Black's active Bishops.
• If 21. Bd1 Nxe4 22. Qxe4 f5 23. Qf3 f4 24. Bh4 gxh4 then:
• 25. h3 Qg5 26. Kh1 Be8 27. Nc4 gives White superior piece activity and pawn structure.
• 25. Nc4 Qg5 26. Nxb6 Rxb6 27. b4 gives White superior piece activity and pawn structure.

21. -- Bxa4 22. Qxa4

Black: Katya Lahno
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White: Parimarjan Negi
Position after 22. Qc4xa4

22. -- h5!

• Black counterattacks threatening to trap the Bishop. White must move fast to avoid it. White has a much superior postion and creating complications is Black's best hope.
• If 22. -- Nh5 23. Nc4 f5 24. exf5 Nxg3 25. hxg3 then:
• 25. -- Qf7 26. Nxb6 Rxb6 27. b4 Qxf5 28. Qa2 give White more space and better mobility.
• 25. -- Rxf5 26. Re2 Qf7 27. Nxb6 Rxb6 28. c4 gives White an overwhelming position; his plan will be to advance the b-pawn, triple his heavy piece on the a-file and invade the seventh and eighth ranks.

23. h3 h4 24. Bh2 g4 25. Kh1?

• White throws away his superior position.
• Correct is 25. Kf1! Ra8 then:
• 26. Qc2 gxh3 27. gxh3 Qd7 28. Qd3 Rfb8 29. Nc4 Qb5 30. b4 Rxa1 31. Rxa1 leaves White with the extra pawn and control of the a-file.
• 26. Qd1 gxh3 then:
• 27. gxh3! Ra6 28. Qd2 Nd7 29. Nc4 Rxa1 30. Rxa1 f5 31. Nxb6 Nxb6 32. Re1 White retains his extra pawn.
• 27. Qf3 hxg2+ 28. Qxg2+ Kh7 29. Qg5 Ng8 30. Qf5+ Kg7 31. Qg4+ Kh7 32. Qf5+ draws by repetition.
• If 25. hxg4 Nxg4 26. Re2 f5 then:
• 27. Nc4 Bxf2+ 28. Rxf2 Nxf2 29. Kxf2 fxe4+ 30. Kg1 give White better mobility.
• 27. exf5 Bxf2+ 28. Rxf2 Nxf2 29. Kxf2 Rxf5+ 30. Kg1 Rxb2 give equal chances.
27. Rf1? allows the tables to turn: 27. -- f4! 28. Qc2 f3 29. gxf3 Rxf3 30. Kh1 Qg7 focuses Black on f2 with a superior position.

25. -- Bxf2 26. Re2 g3 27. Qd1 Bb6 28. Bg1!

• White's Bishop will not again in the game be terribly effective; he therefore liquidates it.
• If 28. Qd2 then:
• 28. -- Nh5 29. Bg1 Bxg1 30. Kxg1 f5 gives chances to both sides.
• 28. -- gxh2 29. Qg5+ Kh7 30. Qxh4+ Kg6 31. Qg3+ draws by repetition
• 28. Nc4? hands the game to Black after 28. -- gxh2 29. Kxh2 Ra8 30. Rxa8 Rxa8 31. Nb6 cxb6 32. Re1 Qf8 33. Qf3 Qg7 34. c4 Nh5 and Black wins material by either
• 35. Kh1 Qg3 36. Qg4+ Qxg4 37. hxg4 Nf4 38, Kh2 Ra2 39. Rb1 Nd3; or
• 35. Qxh5 Qg3+ 36. Kh1 Qxe1+.

28. -- Bxg1 29. Kxg1 Nh5 30. Nc4

• White's last move yields a balanced position.
• 30. Qd2? f5 31. exf5 Qf6 32. b4 Qxf5 33. b5 Ra8 34. Qe1 Nf4 gives Black an overwhelming initiative against the White King position.

30. -- Ra8 31. Re1

• The position offers no immeidate opportnities for wither side, but it is not with perils.
• If 31. Ne3 Qg5 then:
• 32. Re1 Rxa1 33. Qxa1 Qf4 then:
• 34. Ng4 f5 35. exf5 Rxf5 36. b4 Nf6 37. Nxf6+ Rxf6 is balanced.
• after 34. Nf5? Qf2+ 35. Kh1 Nf4 36. Rg1 Nxh3 Black is tightening a noose around the White King.
• 32. Rxa8 32. -- Rxa8 33. Nf5 Qf4 34. Re1 Ng7 35. Nxg7 Kxg7 is equal.

31. -- Qg5 32. Qf3 Rxa1 33. Rxa1 f5 34. exf5?!

• White should not be so anxious to exchange pawns.
• if 34. Ne3 then:
• 34. -- fxe4 35. Qxe4 Nf4 36. Ra7 Qh5 37. Ng4 Kh8 38. Ra1 Qe8 gives Black the better Knight outpost.
• 34. -- Ng7 35. Rf1 f4 36. Nc2 Ra8 37. Nb4 Qh5 38. Qd3 is equal.

34. -- Qxf5 35. Qxf5 Rxf5 36. Ne3?

• White's position was difficult, but now he finally loses.
• Correct is to protect the pawn by 36. Rd1 when after 36. -- Rf4 37. b3 Rf2 38. Rd2 Rf4 39. Na5 Re4 40. Kf1 Nf4 Black has more active pieces, but not a winning edge.
• after 36. Rf1 Nf4 37. Kh1 Rf8 38. Ne3 Rb8 39. b4 Ne2 40. Nf5 Nxc3 Black has won another pawn and maitains a strong position.

Black: Katya Lahno
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White: Parimarjan Negi
Position after 36. Nc4e3

36. -- Rf2!

• It's all over now, Baby Blue. The Rook simply looks menacing at its outpost on the seventh.

37. Ra8+ Kg7 38. Ra7 Re2

• 38. -- Rxb2 39. Ra1 Nf4 40. Re1 Ne2+ 41. Kf1 Nxc3 Black threatens 42. -- Rf2+ and then to exchange Rooks, putting her two pawns up with an active King in a minor piece ending.

39. Rxc7+ Kg6 40. Nf1 Nf4 41. Rc8 Rxb2

• If 41. -- Kf7 (Susan Polgar) then 42. Rc7+ Kf6 43. Rc8 Rxg2+ 44. Kh1 Rxb2 45. Rf8+ Ke7 White must give up the exchange by either 46. Rxf4 exf4 or 46. Rg8 g2+ Rxg2 Nxg2.

42. Kh1 Rf2 43. Nxg3

• 43. Rg8+ Kf7 44. Rxg3 hxg3 45. Nxg3 Rxg2 rakes in one White pawn and another will soon follow.

43. -- hxg3 44. Rg8+ Kf5 45. Rxg3 Rb2 0-1

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Matveeva - Tairova, Russian Superfinals, Gorodents

Elena Tairova
Photo: 64 (Russia)

• To view this game with a PGN viewer:
• please click here
Click on Games in pgn format
Select game 32 in the pgn file.

Svetlana Matveeva vs. Elena Tairova
Russian National Championships, Ladies' Superfinal, Round 6
Gorodents, December 2006

West India Game: Tal-Indian Defense (Modern Benoni)

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 c5

• Some may have noticed that I use my own classification of openings. The difference between the King's Indian and the Tal-Indian (or Modern Benoni, as it is otherwise called) is that in the latter Black plays -- c5 while in the former Black play -- e5. Otherwise, both feature the fianchetto development of the Black's King's Bishop, both allow White a broad pawn center and both feature the move -- d6 to slow the advance White's center.

5. Bg2 Qa5+

• If 5. -- 0-0 6. 0-0 d6 7. Nc3 Nc6 then:
• 8. d5 Na5 9. Nd2 a6 10. Qc2 Rb8 11. b3 b5 12. Bb2 is equal.
• 8. dxc5 dxc5 9. Bf4 Be6 10. Ne5 Na5 11. Qa4 Nd7 12. Nxd7 Bxd7 13. Qc2 Bf5 14. Qc1 Qc8 15. Nd5 Nc6 16. Bh6 Bh3 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. Qc3+ Kg8 is level (Filippov-Smirnin, Corsica Rapid Open, 1997).

6. Nbd2

• 6. Nc3 Ne4 7. Qd3 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Nc5 9. Qd1 Nc6 10. e3 Ne6 11. 0-0 0-0 12. Nxe6 dxe6 13. Bd2 Qc5 is equal (Dizdar-Vaganian, Sarajevo 1987).

6. -- cxd4 7. Nxd4 Nc6 8. Nc2!?

• White embarks on a new plan in this position. She will attempt to go for queenside space.
• 8. N4b3 Qc7 9. c5 d6 10. 0-0 0-0 11. cxd6 Qxd6 12. Nc4 Qb4 13. Ne3 Rd8 14. Bd2 Qa4 is level, but Black has the better chances of gaining some kind of advatage here as her pieces are focused on d4 (Vaganian-Szekely, Moscow 1982).

8. -- 0-0 9. 0-0 d6 10. Rb1

• White threatens 11. b4, gaining space with tempo.
• 10. b3 Qh5 11. f3 d5 12. e3 Bh3 13. Bxh3 Qxh3 14. Bb2 dxc4 15. Nxc4 b5 gives Black a comfortable edge in queenside space.

10. -- Qh5 11. e4?!

• This move is inconsistant. It begins a series of forced moves after which Black is a little better.
• Better for White is 11. b4 continuing with her plan to grab space on the queenside, then:
• 11. -- Bh6 12. e4 Bg4 13. f3 Be6 14. f4 Bg4 15. Qe1 Rac8 16. Bb2 giving White the edge in space and command of the long dark diagonal.
• 11. -- a5 12. bxa5 Rxa5 13. a3 Ng4 14. h3 Nf6 15. g4 Qe5 16. f4 with an edge for White in kingside space.

11. -- Bg4 12. f3 Be6 13. b4 Ne5 14. Ne3 Rac8 15. Qe2?!

• White move her Queen to a place where the f-pawn is pinned to it. White's position is becoming difficult as it is.
• Better is 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. exd5 Bd7 17. g4 when:
• 17. -- Bxg4!! 18. fxg4 Nxg4 19. Nf3 Rxc4 gives Black three pawns and an aggressive position for the piece.
• 17. -- Qh4 18. Ne4 Bh6 19. Bxh6 Qxh6 20. c5 f5 21. gxf5 Bxf5 =

15. -- Rc7 16. Nd5?

• White fails to move her Bishop to the long diagonal where it will influence action in the center.
• If 16. Bb2 Rfc8 17. Rfc1 Bd7 18. a3 b6 19. Bd4 Bc6 then:
• 20. Re1 e6 21. f4 Qxe2 22. Rxe2 is balancesd.
• 20. c5?! bxc5 21. bxc5 Nxe4 22. Nxe4 Bxe4 23. g4 Bd3 24. Qd2 Qh4 gives Black only a slight edge.

16. -- Nxd5 17. cxd5 Bd7 18. b5

• This is a weak display of what's left of White's queenside initiative.
• White needed to create complications from which she might emerge with a salvagable position.
Better is 18.Qf2 Bb5 19.g4 Qh6 20.Nb3 when:
• if 20...g5 then:
• after 21.Qxa7 Bxf1 22.Kxf1 Rfc8 23.h3 Qf6 24.Bb2 Qf4 25.Bxe5 Bxe5 Black's pieces are far more active and this will decide the game in her favor; White's extra piece is meaningless since it is the imprisoned Bishop.
• after 21.Rd1 Bd3 22.Rb2 Rfc8 23.Qxa7 b5 24.Qe3 Bc2 25.Rxc2 Rxc2 White is an exchange up.
• else if 20...Rxc1 21.Rfxc1 Bd3 22.Ra1 Nc4 23.Rd1 Bxa1 24.Nxa1 Ne5 25.f4 then:
• after 25. --Nxg4 26. Qg3 Bxe4 27. Bxe4 Nf6 28. Bg2 Black has only two pawns for a minor piece.
• 25. -- Qxh2+ 26. Kxh2 Nxg4+ 27. Kg3 Nxf2 28. Kxf2 gives White an extra piece.

Black: Elena Tairova
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White: Svetlana Matveeva
Position after 18. b4b5

18. -- Rc2!

• The Rook, soon to be supported by its brother now at f8, will be bone in White's throat, causing White's position to crumble rapidly.
• Also good is 18. -- f5 19. exf5 Qxf5 when:
• after 20. b6 axb6 21. f4 Qd3 22. Re1 Bf5 23. Be4 Qxe2 24. Rxe2 Nd3 Black wins at least the exchange.
• 20. a4 Qc2 21. f4 Bg4 22. Qe1 Nd3 23. Qe3 Rc3 24. Qxe7 Nxc1 25. Rbxc1 Qxd2 26. Rxc3 Qxc3 gives Black an extra piece.

19. Rb2

• White's game is suddenly hopeless.
• If 19. a4 Rfc8 20. a5 Bh6 21. a6 bxa6 22. bxa6 Ra2 then:
• 23. Rd1 Ba4 24. Re1 then:
• after 24. -- Rxc1! 25. Rbxc1 Rxd2 26. Qf1 Bb5 27. Qxb5 Nxf3+ Black soon delivers mate.
• 24. -- Rcc2 25. g4 Qh4 26. Rd1 Nc4 27. Qd3 Nxd2 28. Bxd2 Bxd2 give Black an extra piece.
• 23. g4 Qh4 24. f4 Bxg4 25. Qe3 Rxa6 26. Rb7 Ra2 27. Bb2 Rc2 Black has two extra pawns and has more in her sights.

19. -- Rfc8 20. Rxc2 Rxc2 21. a3

• 21. a4 Ra2 22. Qf2 Rxa4 23. g4 Qh6 24. Nb3 g5 25. b6 a6 gives Black much more room to maneuver. Even if White were able to activate her Bishop, it has no good squares to which it can move.

21. -- Nc4 22. a4 b6 23. Qxc4

• White has nothing better than to trade her Queen for a Rook and a minor piece.
• If 23. Qd3 then:
• 23. -- Rc3 24. Qe2 Ne3 25. Re1 then:
• after 25. -- Bh6 26. Bb2 Rc2 27. Bc1 Nxd5 28. exd5 Qxd5 Black, a pawn up, is in a position to engineer piece exchanges and thus magnify her advantage.
• 25. -- Bh3? 26. Bxh3 Qxh3 27. Bb2 Qg2+ 28. Qxg2 Nxg2 29. Kxg2 Rc2 give White only a small edge in a Rook and pawn ending, that of an active Rook.
• 23. -- Nxd2 24. Bxd2 Ra2 25. Rc1 Rxa4 then:
• after 26. Rc7 Bd4+ 27. Kh1 Ra1+ 28. Bf1 Be5 29. Kg1 Bxb5 the Black Queen is diverted from the defense and White's pieces will soon be mugging the Black King.
• Black keeps the edge after 26. Be3 Ra5 27. Bd2 Ra1 28. Rxa1 Bxa1 but it is not decisive.

23. -- Rxc4 24. Nxc4 f5 25. g4

• 25. Bf4 fxe4 26. fxe4 Qe2 27. Rc1 Bc3 28. Bf1 Bd4+ 29. Kh1 Qxe4+ -+

25. -- fxg4 26. f4 g3 27. hxg3 Qe2 28. Ne3 Bd4 29. 0-1

• After 29. Kh2 Bh3 30. Rg1 Bxe3 31. Bxe3 Bxg2 32. Rxg2 Qxe3 White is up by a Queen to a Rook.
• Ms. Mattveeva resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Bodnaruk - Gunina, Russian Superfinals, Gorodents

Anastasia Bodnaruk
Photo: ChessBase.com

• To view this game with a PGN viewer:
• please click here
Click on Games in pgn format
Select game 6 in the pgn file.

Anastaia Bodnaruk vs. Valentina Gunina
Russian National Championships (Ladies' Superfinal), Round 1
Gorodets, December 2006

Closed Sicilian Game: Grand Prix Opening

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. f4 Nc6 4. Bb5

• This is the Sicilian Grand Prix with a Spanish accent.

4. -- Bd7 5. Nf3 e6 6. 0-0 Nge7

• If 6. -- a6 7. Bxc6 Bxc6 8. d3 Be7 9. Qe1 Nf6 10. e5 Nd5 11. Ne4 then:
• 11. -- Nb4 12. exd6 Bxd6 13. Rf2 0-0 14. a3 Nd5 is balanced (Turov-Akhmadeev, St. Petersburg Open 2003).
• After 11. -- Qc7 12. a3 dxe5 13. fxe5 0-0-0 14. Nfg5 Bxg5 15. Nxg5 Rd7 16. Qf2 f6 17. Nxe6 Qxe5 18. Nxc5 White wins a pawn (Miton-Benderac, European Club Cup, Rethymnon 2003).

7. a4!?

• White is either making plans to operate on the queenside or is simply attempting to slow any plans Black has.
• If 7. d3 a6 8. Bxc6 Nxc6 9. Qe1 Qc7 10. Be3 0-0-0 11. a3 Kb8 12. Rb1 Rc8 gives White the edge in piece activity (Kinderman-A. Petrosoan, Dortmund Open 1993).
• If 7. Re1 g6 8. b3 Bg7 9. Bb2 0-0 then:
• 10. Bxc6?! Nxc6 11. d3 b5 12. Rb1 Qb6 gives Black a small edge in piece activity (Ferro-Rodrigues, Circuito Pares Open, Faro 2001).
• 10. e5 d5 11. Bf1 Nf5 12. Bd3 Nce7 is equal; Black's next move is likely to be 13. -- Qb6, setting up an x-rayed attack on the Bishop.

7. -- g6 8.d4 cxd4 9. Nxd4 Bg7 10. Be3 0-0 11. Qd2?!

• This should lead to an equal game.
• Better is 11. Bc4 Qb6 12. Ncb5 d5 13. exd5 when:
• 13. -- Nxd4 14. Bxd4 Bxd4+ 15. Qxd4 Nxd5 16. Bxd5 exd5 17. Qxb6 axb6 18. Nc7 gives White the advantage with an active Knight and a strong initiative.
• 13. -- Nxd5 14. Bxd5 Nxd4 15. Be4 Bxb5 16. axb5 Qd6 17. c3 gives White the advantage with more active pieces.

11. -- Qc7

• White's last move removed coverage from the f5 square; Black could have taken advantage of that.
• If 11. -- f5 then:
• 12. Rad1 fxe4 13. Bxc6 bxc6 14. Nxe4 is equal.
• 12. exf5?! Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Bxd4+ 14. Qxd4 Nxf5 is level.

12. Rad1 Rfd8 13. Qf2

• This is a better square for the Queen than d2. Here, the Queen can threaten White's either of Black's flanks.
• If 13. Bxc6 then:
• 13. -- Bxc6 14. Ncb5 Bxb5 15. Nxb5 Qc6 16. e5 d5
• 17. Nxa7 Qxa4 18. Ra1 Qc4 19. b3 Qc7 keeps the position balanced.
• 17. b3 a6 18. Nd6 b5 19. axb5 axb5 gives Black an advatages with the active Rook on a8, the Queen at c6 and Bishop at g7.
• 13. -- bxc6 14. b3 Bc8 15. Rf2 Rb8 16. Nf3 Bh6 17. Bc5 Bg7 gives White the edge with her pressure on d6.

13. -- b6 14. Bxc6 Bxc6 15. Qh4

• White makes an aggressive move on the kingside. Further possibilities are a Rook lift (Rf1-f3-h3) or opening the c1/h6 diagonal for an attack on the fianchettoed Bishop (16. f5).
• 15. Nxc6 Qxc6 16. Bd4 Bxd4 17. Rxd4 Rac8 18. Rfd1 d5 is even.
• 15. Ncb5 Bxb5 16. Nxb5 Qc6 17. Nxa7 Rxa7 18. Bxb6 Raa8 19. Bxd8 Rxd8 yields a small advantage for Black in piece activity, which will quickly level the material imbalance that now favors White.

15. -- Qd7 16. f5

• The pawn advance and attack on the finachettoed Bishop it is.

16. -- exf5 17. Nxc6 Nxc6 18. exf5 Re8 19. Bh6 Be5?

• This move blocks the open e-file for Black's Rook and does nothing to alleviate White's threats.
• If 19. -- Bxc3 then:
• 20. fxg6 fxg6 21. Qc4+ Re6 22. Qxc3 Ne5 23. Qd4 threatens to tie Black in knots. The Queen radiates power from d4.
• 20. bxc3 Qe7 21. Bg5 Qe5 22. Qb6 gxf5 is equal.

20. Nd5 Qd8

• Black is hoping for an exchange of Queens to take the wind out of White's attack.

Black: Valentina Gunina
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White: Ananstasia Bodnaruk
Position after 20. -- Qd7d8

21. Bg5!

• No such luck. This move is crushing.
• 21. Qf2? g5 22. b3 f6 23. Rfe1 Kh8 24. h4 g4 25. Bf4 gives White an edge, but not a winning advantage.

21. -- Qc8 22. Qh6

• Also good is 22. Bf6 h5 23. Qg5 Kh7 24. Bxe5 Nxe5 25. fxg6+ fxg6 26. Nf6+ after which White wins material.

22. -- Bg7

• After 22. -- f6 23. Bxf6 Qb7 24. fxg6 Bxh2+ 25. Qxh2 Ne5 26. Bxe5 dxe5 27. Nf6+ Black is soon mated.

23. Nf6+ Kf8

• After 23. -- Bxf6 24. Bxf6 White mates on the next move.

24. Qxh7 Ne7

Black: Valentina Gunina
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White: Ananstasia Bodnaruk
Position after 24. -- Nc6e7

25. Qg8+!! 1-0

• All that remains is 25. -- Nxg8 26. Nh7#
• Ms. Gunina resigns

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Rublevsky - Alekseev, Russian Superfinals, Moscow

Sergei Rublevsky
Photo: ChessBase.com

Sergei Rublevsky vs. Evgeny Alekseev
Russian National Championships, General Superfinal, Round 3
Moscow, December 2006

Spanish Sicilian Game: Four Knights' Opening

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Qc7 5. 0-0 Nd4 6. d3

• White chooses the Clam Method of defending the King's pawn.
• If 6. Re1 a6 7. Bf1 e5 8. Bc4 d6 9. h3 Be6 10. d3 b5 11. Nxd4 cxd4 12. Bxe6 fxe6 13. Ne2 Be7 14. c3 dxc3 15. Nxc3 0-0 16. Qb3 give White the initiative against 36 (Manik-Parligras, Olympiad, Calvia 2004).
• If 6. Nxd4 cxd4 7. Nd5 Nxd5 8. exd5 Qc5 9. c4 a6 10. b4 Qxb4 11. Ba4 b5 12. cxb5 g6 13. d6 Qxd6 14. Qf3 Rb8 15. Ba3 Qb6 is level with neither sode enjoying any effective piece activity (Rossi-Balough, EU Ch, Cork 1996).

6. -- a6 7. Ba4 b5

• Black grabs at some space and attacks the Bishop.
• 7. -- Ng4 8. g3 Nxf3+ 9. Qxf3 Ne5 10. Qg2 e6 11. f4 Nc6 12. Bxc6 Qxc6 13. f5 Be7 14. Bf4 0-0 15. g4 b5 gives White more space in the center, but this is balanced by Black on the queenside.(Stellwagen-Wang Yue, World Jr Ch, Yerevan 2006).

8. Bb3 Nxb3 9. axb3 Bb7 10. Bg5

• White develops his Bishop and threatens to spoil Black's pawn structure on the kingside.
• If 10. Re1 d6 then:
• 11. e5 dxe5 12. Nxe5 Rd8 13. Ng4 Nd5 14. Nxd5 Rxd5 15. Bd2 gives White control of two open files; Black has some compensation in queenside space, but his King's Bishop needs to be activated.
• 11. Bg5 e6 12. Qd2 h6 13. Be3 Be7 14. h3 0-0 is equal; Black will seek ways to capitalize on his queenside space while White tries to build an attack on the kingside.

10. -- e6 11. Re1 d6 12. Bxf6

• White executes the threat identified in the previous note.
• If 12. Bf4 Be7 13. Qd2 0-0 then:
• after 14. Bg5 b4 15. Na4 Rab8 16. e5 dxe5 17. Nxe5 the game is equal. White will try to maintain his Knight at e5 as long as possible.
• 14. e5 Ne8 15. d4!? then:
• after 15. Bxf3 16. gxf3 b4 17. Nb5 Qc6 18. exd6 Nxd6 the Bishops will soon be exchanged and Black will have an easier time attacking White's weak pawns than White will have protecting them.
• 25. Qe3 Rd8 16. d4 Bxf3 17. exd6 Nxd6 18. dxc5 Bb7 19. Rxd6 Bxd6 20. csd6 Rxd6 gives Black comfortably more piece activity.

12. -- gxf6 13. d4 cxd4 14. Nxd4

• White chooses the better way to rescapture.
• If 14. Qxd4 Bg7 15. Red1 Rd8 16. Rd3 Rg8 then:
• 17. Rad1 f5 18. Qb4 fxe4 19. Nxe4 Bxe4 20. Qxe4 Bxb2 give Black an extra pawn.
• 17. Qb4 Qc5 18. Qxc5 dxc5 19. Ne1 f5 give Black the advantage of two Bishops against two Knights.

14. -- Qc5 15. Qd3 Be7 16. b4?!

• White fails to place a Rook on the open d-file.
• Better is 16. Red1 Rg8 17. Qh3 h5 18. Rd2 Rc8 19. Rad1 b4 20. Na4 Qe5 21. f3 with equality.

16. -- Qg5?!

• Black misses an opportunity to punish White for his inaccuracy.
• If 16. -- Qxb4 17. Na2 Qc5 18. Nb3 then:
• 18. -- Qg5 19. Na5 Rg8
• 20. Qf3 Bc8 21. Nc6 Bf8 give Black an initiative and an active Queen.
• 20. Qh3 Bc8 21. Nc3 Bd8 22. Re3 e5 23. Qf3 Bg4 24. Qg3 Rc8 give Black an active Rook and better command of open lines with his Queen and Bishop.
• 18. -- Qb6 19. Qg3 Bf8 20. Nc3 Rc8 gives Black an active Rook on the c-file and a well-placed Bishop.

17. Re3 Kf8?

• Now it's Black's turn to fail to move a Rook to an open file.
• Correct is 17. -- Rc8 18. Rg3 Qh5 when:
• 19. f3 Rc4 20. b3 Rc7 21. Rh3 Qe5 is level.
• 19. Rh3 Qg6 20. Re3 Rc4 21. b3 Rc7 22. Rg3 Qh5 is equal.

18. Rg3 Qh6 19. Nb3 Rd8

• If 19. -- Rc8 then:
• after 20. Qd4 Qf4 21. Qb6 Bxe4 22. Qxa6 Black must move his Rook away from the open file.
• 20. Na5? lets Black off the hook: 20. -- Ba8 21. Rg4 Qh5 22. Qe2 Qe5 23. Nb3 is level.

Black: Evgeny Alekseev
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White: Sergei Rublevsky
Position after 19. -- Ra8d8

20. Qd4!

• Black's Queen is radiant with activity while Black's Bishop is imprisoned on e7.
• If 20. Nd4? Rg8 21. Rh3 Qg5 22. Rg3 Qh5 23. Rh3 could be a draw by repetition.
• If 20. Rd1? Rc8 21. f3 Rg8 then:
• after 22. Rxg8+ Kxg8 23. Qd4 Qf8 24. Qb6 Rb8 25. Qa7 White is better, but far from winning.
• 22. Qd4 Rxg3 23. hxg3 Re8 24. Na5 Ba8 25. Qa7 is level.

20. -- d5

• If Black is to have any chance at salvaging the game, then he must free his Bishop thus.
• An attempt to free the Bishop to the kingside will lose material: 20. -- Qf4 21. Rd1 Re8 22. Qb6 Bxe4 23. Rd4 f5 24. Qxa6.

21. Qa7 Ba8

• This allows White to take a pawn.
• Black might have lasted longer after 21. -- Bc8 22. exd5 Bd6 23. Rh3 Qg6 24. Qb6 Kg7 25. Rd3 Be5 26. d6 when Black easily stops the d-pawn, but White should still win.

22. Qxa6 Rg8 23. exd5 Bxd5 24. Nxd5!

• The text is stronger than 24. Rxg8+ Kxg8 25. Qxb5 Bxb3 26. cxb3 Bd6 27. g3 Qf8 28. Ne4.
• Further resistance is futile.

24. -- Rxg3

• Black's other alternatives lose just as quickly.
• If Taking the Knight with the Rook 24. -- Rxd5 25. Qc8+ Rd8 26. Rxg8+ Kxg8 27. Qc7 Qh5 28. f3 Kf8 29. c3 leaves White a pawn up with an overwhelming initiative.
• after taking with the pawn 24. -- exd5 25. Qxb5 Rxg3 26. hxg3 Qg5 27. Nd4 Re8 28. c3 Qd2 29. Rb1 White is two pawns up.

25. Nxe7

• As it works out, Black has two minor pieces for the Rook.

25. -- Rg5 26. Qb7 Qh3 27. Nc5 Kg7

• After 27. -- Qg4 28. g3 Rd1+ 29. Rxd1 Qxd1+ 30. Kg2 Qxc2 31. h4 Rxc5 32. bxc5 Qxc5 33. Nc8 White is up by a piece.

28. g3 Rh5 29. Qg2 Qg4 30. Nd3 Qc4 31. Qf3 1-0

• After 31. Qf3 Rg5 32. Ra8 Qc7 33. Rxd8 Qxd8 34. h4 White wins the exchange, putting him a whole Knight and more to the good.
• Alekseev resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Georgiev - Ivanchuk, Torre Memorial, Mérida, Yucatán

Vassily Ivanchuk
Photo: ChessBase.com

To view this game: Please click here and select the second game.

Vladimir Georgiev vs. Vassily Ivanchuk
Torre Memorial Tournament (Wimbeldon Event), Quarter-Final Round/Game 1
Mérida, Yucatán (Mexico), December 2006

Indian Game: Spielmann Opening

1. d4 e6 2. Nf3 c5 3. c3 Nf6 4. Bf4 Be7 5. Nbd2 cxd4!?

• 5. -- Nh5 6. Bg3 f5 7. e3 0-0 8. dxc5 Bxc5 9. Nb3 Nxg3 10. hxg3 Be7 11. Qc2 g6 12. Bd3 Nc6 13. g4 d6 14. gxf5 exf5 15. 0-0-0 gives White firm contorl of the central dark squares (Vehre-Blumenfeld, corr 1987).
• 5. -- 0-0 6. h3 b6 7. e3 d6 8. Bd3 Ba6 9. Bxa6 Nxa6 10. Qe2 Nc7 11. 0-0 Qc8 12. e4 Rd8 13. Bg5 cxd4 14. cxd4 Qb7 15. Rac1 Rac8 16. Rc2 Nce8 17. Rfc1 Rxc2 18. Rxc2 Rc8 19. Qd3 = (Ragni-Lieder, Baden Ch, Hockenheim 1994).
• 5. -- b6 6. e3 Bb7 7. Bd3 0-0 8. 0-0 Nh5 9. Bg3 Nxg3 10. hxg3 d5 11. Qe2 Nd7 12. e4 Nf6 13. e5 Nd7 14. Kh2 f6 15. Rh1 fxe5 16. dxe5 d4 17. cxd4 cxd4 18. Nxd4 Nc5 = (da Silva-Anderson, Pan Am Ch, Mérida 1997).

6. cxd4 Nc6 7. e3

• White chooses a less aggressive route to equality.
• If 7. e4 Qa5 8. Bd3 d5 9. e5 Nb4 10. Be2 then:
• 10. -- Ne4 11. 0-0 Nc6 12. Bd3 Nxd2 13. Bxd2 gives White the advantage in space with the central French attack formation.
• 10. -- Nd7 11. 0-0 0-0 12. Re1 Qb6 13. Qb3 also gives White a spatial edge, this one even better fortified.

7. -- Nh5 8. Bg3

• If Black is to take the Bishop, White would prefer to recapture in a way to open a file for the King's Rook.
• If 8. d5 Nxf4 9. dxc6 Nh5 10. cxb7 Bxb7 11. Bd3 then:
• 11. -- Qb6
• 12. Rb1 Qa5 13. 0-0
• 13. -- d5 14. Qb3 Ba6 15. Bxa6 Qxa6 offers equal chances.
• 13. -- Qxa2?! 14. Nd4 Nf6 15. Nc4 gives White a huge edge in queenside space; Black's Queen is in a very awkward situation.
• 12. 0-0 12. -- Qxb2 13. Rb1 Qc3 14. Rxb7 Qxd3 yields a tense but equal position.
• after 11. -- d5 12. Qa4+ Kf8 13. Rc1 Qb6 14. Rc2 White has his points covered, better piece mobility and an active Rook; on the other hand, Black should be about to create an imposing pawn center.

8. -- b6 9. a3

• White contests control over the diagonal with Black's King's Bishop.
• 9. Rc1 Bb7 10. Qa4 Rc8 11. Be2 0-0 12. 0-0 Nxg3 13. fxg3 a6 gives Black the edge; Black will attempt to advance his pawns to d5 and b5 and post his King's Bishop to a more active spot. White will have to react to this momentarily.

9. -- Bb7 10. Bd3 0-0 11. Ne5

• White tries shaking up White's defenses with a piece demonstration in the center.
• If 11. 0-0 Nxg3 12. fxg3 Rc8 then:
• 13. Rc1 d5 14. Qe2 a5 15. Nb1 Bf6 16. Nc3 Ne7 gives Black a slight edge in piece mobility.
• after 13. b4 d5 14. Rc1 Qd6 15. Qe2 a5 16. b5 Na7 17. a4 f5 stops White's ideas of playing e3e4.

11. -- g6

• Black calmly defends his Knight, rather than fall into the Greek gift.
• If 11. -- Nxe5 12. Bxh7+ Kxh7 13. Qxh5+ Kg8 14. Bxe5 then:
• 14. -- Rc8 15. Qg4 f6 16. Bf4 f5 17. Qg6 Rc2 18. Rb1 is level; Black's Rook has little scope on White's pawn rank.
• after 14. -- d6? 15. Bf4 Bxg2 16. Rg1 Bb7 17. Bh6 White should win.
• 11. -- Nf6 12. Rc1 Rc8 13. 0-0 d6 14. Nxc6 Bxc6 15. e4 gives White the slightest edge in central space.

12. Nxc6 dxc6

• Black elects to open the d-file and stage a frontal assault on White's center.
• If 12. -- Bxc6 13. 0-0 f5 14. Rc1 Nxg3 then:
• 15. fxg3 then:
• 15. -- Rc8 16. b4 d5 17. Nf3 Qd6 18. Ba6 Rc7 is equal.
• 15. -- Bb7 16. e4 Bg5 17. Re1 fxe4 18. Bxe4 Bxe4 19. Rxe4 Bf6 gives Black a strong edge ans White's defenses are tied to his isolated pawn.
• 15. hxg3 Rc8 16. b4 d6 17. Qb3 Bd5 18. Qa4 Bf6 gives Black a slight edge in mobility.

13. Be4?!

• White aimes at pinning the c-pawn so as to prevent its advance, but this move simply allows Black to take the initiative.
• 13. Qf3 Qd7 14. Rd1 Nxg3 15. hxg3 f5 16. Qf4 g5 17. Qf3 g4 18. Qf4 c5 is balanced.

13. -- f5 14. Bf3

• White is contemplating the piece sacrifice.
• 14. Bc2 f4 15. Qg4 fxg3 16. hxg3 Rf5 17. Bxf5 exf5 18. Qe2 Qd5 give Black a powerful grip on the center and better command of open lines.

14. -- f4 15. Bxh5?

• White sacrifices a piece for two pawns, but does enough positional compensation to justify it.
• After 15. exf4 Nxf4 16. Ne4 c5 17. Qd2 e5 18. Bxf4 Rxf4 19. d5 Qd7 20. 0-0 Rd8 Black has only a small edge in central space.

15. -- fxg3 16. hxg3

• Having gone this far in the sacrifice, the best thing to do is finish it.
• After 16. Bf3 gxf2+ 17. Kxf2 c5 18. Qb3 Bd5 19. Qd3 cxd4 20. exd4 Rf4 Black will focus on the weak d-pawn.

16. -- gxh5 17. Qxh5

Black: Vassily Ivanchuk
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White: Vladimir Georgiev
Position after 17. Qd1Xh5

17. -- Rf7!

• A subtle maneuver that makes Black's heavy pieces easy to regroup.

18. Qg4+ Kh8 19. Nf3

• 19. Nc4 Rf6 20. Ne5 Qg8 21. Qe4 Bd6 22. Rc1 Bxe5 23. Qxe5 Raf8 leaves Black poised to maneuver his heavy pieces on the kingside.

19. -- Qg8 20. Qxe6 Re8 21. 0-0-0 Bxa3!

• Black has the oppotunity to snatch a pawn and takes it.

22. Qa2 Bd6

• If 22. -- Bb4 23. Qa4 a5 24. Qc2 c5 25. d5 then:
• after 25. -- a4 26. Rh6 a3 27. bxa3 Bxa3+ 29. Kb1 Bc8 Black is threaten to win the Queen with 30. -- Bf5.
• after 25. -- Rfe7 26. Rh5 Rg7 27. Qd3 a4 28. e4 Ra8 the a-pawn advances and White's King position becomes untenable.

23. Qxa7 Rc7

• 23. -- Rd7 24. d5 Bc5 25. Qa1 Ra8 26. Qb1 cxd5 27. Ne5 d4 28. Rxd4 Rc7 29. Rc4 Bxe3+ gives Black a huge material advantage and the initiative to widen it.

24. Qxb6 Qc4+ 25. Kb1 Ra8 26. d5

• This loses at once, but Black was lost in any case.
• 26. Rh6 Ra6 27. Qxa6 Bxa6 28. Rxd6 Rb7 29. Rd2 Qf1+ 30. Kc2 Qa1 is an easy wins for Black.
• 26. Ng5 Qg8 27. Qxc7 Qa2+ 28. Kc2 Qa4+ 29. Kc1 Bxc7 30. Rxh7+ Kg8 gives Black a prohibitive material edge.

26. -- Qe4+ 27. 0-1

• After 27. Kc1 Ra1+ 28. Kd2 Bb4+ 29. Ke2 Ba6+ 30. Rd3 Black mates in two at most.
• Georgiev resigns.