The Jack Rabbit Chess Report for April 29

[Jack Rabbit]

The Jack Rabbit Chess Report
for the week ending April 29



Image: Wee Forest Folk

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 April 29

Cheparinov in runaway win in Malmø



Bulgarian grandmaster Ivan Cheparinov won the 15th annual Sigeman & Co. chess tournament in Malmø, Skåne (Sweden) by a point and a half over his nearest rivals.

Cheparinov socred 7 points (five wins and four draws) out of nine games. Swedes Emanuel Berg and Tiger Hillarp-Persson and Dutch grandmaster Jan Timman, the defending tournament champion, finished tied for second with 5½ points each.

Unofficial Cross Table
Sigeman & Co. Tournament
Malmø, Skåne (Sweden)

-------------------------- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 T- (W)
.1 Ivan Cheparinov. . . . .- ½ 1 ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 1 1 7. (5)
.2 Jan Timman . . . . . . .½ - 1 1 1 ½ 0 ½ 0 1 5½ (4)
.3 Emanuel Berg . . . . . .0 0 - ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 1 1 5½ (4)
.4 Tiger Hillarp-Persson. .½ 0 ½ - 1 ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 5½ (3)
.5 Pontus Carlsson. . . . .½ 0 ½ 0 - 1 1 ½ 1 ½ 5. (2)
.6 Vasilios Kotronias . . .0 ½ 0 ½ 0 - ½ 1 1 1 4½ (3)
.7 Parimarjan Negi. . . . .0 1 0 ½ 0 ½ - 0 1 1 4. (3)
.8 Erwin L'Ami. . . . . . .½ ½ ½ 0 ½ 0 1 - 1 0 3. (2)
.9 Jonny Hector . . . . . .0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 1 2. (2)
10 Emil Hermansson. . . . .0 0 0 ½ ½ 0 0 1 0 - 2. (1)

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

Cheparinov was assured of a clear first place finish going into the last round Thursday.

Cheparinov often serves as the second to his fellow Bulgarian grandmaster, former FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov. Many observers believe Cheparinov has the potential to rank among the world's elite grandmasters in his own right.


Magnus wins Gausdal Tournament



Sixteen-year-old grandmaster Magnus Carlsen of Norway won the Chess Classic in the mountain resort of Gausdal, Oppland (Norway) by defeating his nearest rival, Polish grandmaster Michal Krasenkow, in the final round Thursday.

Magnus scored 7 points (5 wins and four draws) in nine games.

Krasenkow was the only player with a chance to catch or surpass Magnus, who needed only to avoid loss in order to take a clear first prize. A victory by Krasenkow would have given him a clear first instead. The loss dropped Krasenkow into a three-way for second with Lithuanian GM Eduardas Rozenthalis and Hungarian chess legend Lajos Portisch with 5½ points each.

Unofficial Cross Table
Chess Classic
Gausdal, Oppland (Norway)

-------------------------- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 T- (W)
.1 Magnus Carlsen . . . . .- 1 1 ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 1 1 7. (5)
.2 Michal Krasenkow . . . .0 - 0 ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 1 1 5½ (4)
.3 Lajos Portisch . . . . .0 1 - ½ ½ ½ ½ 1 ½ 1 5½ (3)
.4 Eduardas Rozentalis. . .½ ½ ½ - ½ ½ ½ 1 1 ½ 5½ (2)
.5 Kaido Kulaots. . . . . .½ ½ ½ ½ - 1 0 ½ ½ 1 5. (2)
.6 Irina Krush. . . . . . .½ 0 ½ ½ 0 - 1 0 1 1 4½ (3)
.7 Alexey Dreev . . . . . .½ ½ ½ ½ 1 0 - 0 ½ 1 4½ (2)
.8 Kjetil Lie . . . . . . .0 0 0 0 ½ 1 1 - ½ 1 4. (3)
.9 Gawain Jones . . . . . .0 0 ½ 0 ½ 0 ½ ½ - ½ 2½ (0)
10 Eric Moskow. . . . . . .0 0 0 ½ 0 0 0 0 ½ - 1. (0)

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

For Carlsen, soon to join the ranks of the world's elite grandmasters, it's the first first prize of the year. He finished tied for second behind Vishy Anand in the Morelia-Linares tournament in March.

One of the interesting stories in Gausdal was the success of the 70-year-old Portisch, who played in the candidates' matches of the world championship cycle six times between 1965 and 1983.


Kramnik defeats Leko in Rapid Match



World champion Vladimir Kramnik won an eight-game match of rapid chess over Hungarian grandmaster Peter Leko by a score of 4½-3½ in Miskolc, Hungary.

The final two games were played earlier today and both ended in draws. Kramnik won games 3 and 5, while Leko scored a full point in game 6.

The city of Miskolc hosts an annual rapid match between Leko and another opponent. In 2005, Leko and British grandmaster Mickey Adams fought to a 4-4 drawn match. Last year, Leko defeated former world champion Anatoly Karpov 4½-3½ by winning the only decisive game.

Kramnik and Leko met in a 14-game classical match for the world title in Brissago, Ticino Canton (Switzerland) in 2004. That match ended in a 7-7 deadlock and the title reverted to Kramnik.

[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

Jonny Hector - Ivan Cheparinov, Sigeman & Co Tournament, Round 3, Malmø
Magnus Carlsen - Lajos Portisch, Chess Classic, Round 7, Gaudsal
Lajos Portisch - Michal Krasenkow, Chess Classic, Round 5, Gaudsal
Alexey Dreev - Irina Krush, Chess Classic, Round 3, Gaudsal

Award-Winning Games from Dresden, Part 1 of 2

Jessica Nill - Maia Lomineishvili, European Individual Championships, Round 6, Dresden
Sang Cao - Viorel Bologan, European Individual Championships, Round 9, Dresden

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Hector - Cheparinov, Round 5, Malmø

Ivan Cheparinov
Photo: ChessBase.com

Jonny Hector vs. Ivan Cheparinov
Sigeman & Co Tournament, Round 5
Malmø, Skåne (Sweden), April 2007

Open Sicilian Game: Najdorf-Dragon Defense

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Qe2 g6!?

• One of the advantages of my little opening convention is that it is very easy to make up a name for a position that don't arise too often. This is the Najdorf-Dragon Defense. Look at it and tell me that's not what it is.
• This move has been met with only twice before, and one of those in an open tournament for junior under 12. Cheparinov's use of it in this game and his success means that we'll probably see it more often from now on.

7. Bg5

• 7. e5?! dxe5 8. Qxe5 Bg7 9. Be3 0-0 10. Rd1 Ng4 gives Black a tremendous game out of the box.

7. -- Bg7 8. 0-0-0 0-0

• 8. -- Nbd7 9. f4 Qc7 10. Bxf6 Nxf6 11. e5 dxe5 12. fxe5 Bg4 13. Nf3 Nd7 14. Nd5 Qc5 15. Qe4 Rc8 gives Black an early initiative (Sommerbauer-Czebe, Op, Oberwart 2005).

9. f4!?

• With this move, we leave the realm of theory.
• 9. Qe3 Qc7 10. f3 Nc6 11. a3 Nxd4 12. Rxd4 Be6 13. Bh6 b5 14. Bxg7 Kxg7 15. h4 Qc5 16. b4 Qc6 leaves White somewhat vulnerable in the c-file (Huzen-Kleijn, Op U12, Hengelo 2003).

Black: Ivan Cheparinov
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White: Jonny Hector
Position after 9. f2f4


9. -- Bg4

• Black must develop aggressively.
• 9. -- Nc6 10. e5 Nxd4 11. Rxd4 Bg4 12. Qf2 Nd7 13. Qh4 wins material for White.

10. Nf3 Qa5 11. h3 Bxf3

• The position is unclear.
• 11. -- Be6!? 12. e5 dxe5 13. fxe5 Nd5 14. Nxd5 Bxd5 15. Qd2 Qxd2+ 16. Rxd2 e6 Black has an almost meaningless edge in pawn structure. The position is best judged unclear.

12. Qxf3 Rc8 13. Bxf6?!

• It is not considered a good idea in the Dragon Defense for either side to part voluntarily with his dark bound Bishop at this stage of the game. However, White has found a combination by which the dark bound Bishops are exchanged, but Blalck wins a pawn.
• After 13. g4 Nc6 14. Kb1 Nd8 15. Bg2 Qc5 16. Rd2 White's kingside space give him an overall edge.

13. -- Bxf6 14. Nd5 Qxa2 15. Qa3 Qxa3 16. Nxf6+ exf6 17. bxa3 Rc6

• With the combination complete, White has nothing to show for the pawn.

18. Rd4?

• After this, White's position slowly deteriorates.
• Better is 18. g4 Nd7 19. Rh2 Rac8 20. Rhd2 Nc5 21. Rxd6 (forced; White cannot allow Black to play 21. -- Nb6+ with the Rook at d2) 21. -- Rxd6 22. Rxd6 Nxe4 Black remains a pawn to the good, but still has no forced win.

18. -- Nd7 19. Bc4 Rac8 20. Bb3

Black: Ivan Cheparinov
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White: Jonny Hector
Position after 20. Bc4b3

20. -- Kf8!

• Black brings his King to the center for active endgame play.
• After 20. -- b5?! 21. a4 Nc5 22. Bd5 Ne6 23. Rd2 Rc5 24. axb5 Rxb5 White gets his pawn back after the exchange of minor pieces.

21. Rhd1 Ke7 22. R1d2

• 22. Kd2 h5 23. g4 hxg4 24. hxg4 g5 25. fxg5 fxg5 leves White with a scattering weak pawns.

22. -- Nc5 23. Bd5 R6c7 24. Kd1

• 24. g3 b5 25. Kd1 Na4 26. Kc1 a5 27. Bb3 Nc3 28. Kb2 h5 gives Black a firm advantage. White cannot make any progess with his kingside pawns and his pawns are on the queenside. Note the usefulness of Black's king in the center.

24. -- b5 25. Ke1

• If 25. Bb3 a5 26. g3 h5
• 27. Ba2 Na4 28. Bb3 Nb2+ 29. Kc1 Nc4 30. Bxc4 Rxc4 Black exchanges down to a Rook and pawn ending two pawns to the good.
• After 27. Ke2 f5 28. exf5 gxf5 29. Bd5 Ne6 30. Bxe6 fxe6 White's queenside pawns will fall.

25. -- Na4 26. Bb3 Nc3 27. R2d3 a5 28. Kf1

• After 28. g4 a4 29. Bd5 g5 30. f5 Rc5 31. Rb4 Nxd5 32. Rxd5 Rxd5 33. exd5 Rxc2 Black remains a pawn up and will win another after 34. -- Rc3

28. -- a4 29. Bd5 Rc5 30. Rb4 f5

• After 30. -- Nxd5 31. exd5 Rc4 32. Re3+ Kf8 33. Rxb5 Rxf4+ Black is two pawns up with superior Rook activity.

31. Re3 Kf8 32. Rd3

Black: Ivan Cheparinov
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White: Jonny Hector
Position after 32. Re3d3

32. -- Re8!

• Black wins another pawn.

33. Bb7 Nxe4 34. Bxe4 Rxe4 35. c3 Ke7 36. g3 Rec4 37. Rxc4 bxc4 38. Rd1 Rb5 39. 0-1

• 38. -- Rb5 39. Re1+ Kd7 40. Ke2 Rb3 threatens a third pawn.
• Jonny resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Carlsen - Portisch, Round 7, Gausdal

Magnus Carlsen
Photo: ChessBase.com

Magnus Carlsen vs.Lajos Portisch
Chess Classic, Round 7
Gausdal, Oppland (Norway), April 2007

Open Queen's Gambit: Catalan Opening

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 Nbd7

• If 5. -- Nc6 then:
• 6. Qa4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2
• 7. -- Nd5 8. Bxb4 Ndxb4
• 9. 0-0 Rb8
• 10. Nc3 a6 11. Ne5 0-0 12. Nxc6 Nxc6 13. Bxc6 bxc6 14. Qxc4 Rxb2 15. Rab1 Rb6 16. Qc5 Re8 17. a4 e5 18. dxe5 Bh3 19. Rfd1 Rxb1 20. Rxb1 is approximately equal.
(Pitl-Luther, Eur Ind Ch, Dresden 2007).
• 10. Na3 0-0 11. Qb5 b6 12. Qxc4 Ba6 13. Nb5 Qd5 14. Qxd5 exd5 15. Nc3 Ne7 16. Rfd1 c5 17. Rac1 is unclear (Wojtkiewicz-S. Ivanov, Polish TCh, Lubniewice 1995).
• 9. a3 b5 10. Qxb5 Nc2+ 11. Kd2 Nxa1 12. Qxc6+ Bd7 13. Qxc4 c5 14. Qa2 Qa5+ 15. Nc3 cxd4 16. Nxd4 Rd8 17. Rxa1 e5 18. b4 Qb6 19. Nc2 Qxf2 20. Bd5 0-0 21. Qc4 Be6 22. Ne3 Qxh2 23. Qh4 Qxh4 24. gxh4 f5 25. Kc2 Kf7 26. Rd1 f4 27. Nc4 draw agreed (Kasparov-Adams, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee 2001).
• 7. -- Bd6 8. Qxc4 0-0 9. 0-0 e5 10. dxe5 Nxe5 11. Nxe5 Bxe5 12. Bc3 Qe7 13. Bxe5 Qxe5 14. Nc3 c6 15. Rfd1 Be6 16. Qb4 Rab8 17. Rd2 a5 18. Qd4 Qxd4 19. Rxd4 Rfd8 20. Rad1 Rxd4 21. Rxd4 Kf8 22. Kf1 Ra8 23. a3 Ke7 24. Ke1 Bd7 25. Kd1 draw agreed (Haba-Kulaots, Op, Chemnitz 1998).
• 6. 0-0 Rb8 7. Nc3 a6 8. e4 Be7 9. d5 exd5 10. exd5 Nb4 11. Ne5 Bf5 12. a3 Nd3 13. Nxc4 Nxc1 14. Rxc1 0-0 15. b4 Ne8 16. Qf3 g6 17. Ne4 Bxe4 18. Qxe4 Nd6 19. Qc2 Nxc4 20. Qxc4 Bd6 21. Rfe1 Qf6 22. Qc3 Qxc3 23. Rxc3 Rfe8 24. Rxe8+ Rxe8 25. Kf1 Kg7 draw agreed (Bareev-Adams, Sparkassen, Dortmund 2002).

6. 0-0

• If 6. Qa4 a6 7. Qxc4 b5 8. Qc6 then:
• 8. -- Ra7 9. 0-0 Bb7 10. Qc2 c5
• 11. Nbd2 cxd4 12. Nxd4 Bxg2 13. Kxg2 Rc7 14. Qd1 Be7 15. N2f3 Qa8 16. Kg1 Qe4 17. Bd2 0-0 gives Black command of the c-file and more queenside space (Toran-Petrosian, IT, Palma de Mallorca 1969).
• 11. dxc5 Bxc5 12. Bg5 Qb6 13. Bxf6 Nxf6 14. Nc3 0-0 15. e3 Rc8 16. a3 h6 17. Qe2 Be7 18. Rfc1 Ba8 is unclear (Wojtkiewicz-Rodgers, IT, Wilk aan Zee 1993).
• 8. -- Rb8 9. Bf4 Nd5 10. Bg5 Be7 11. Bxe7 Qxe7 12. 0-0 Bb7 13. Qc2 c5 14. dxc5 Nxc5 15. Nc3 0-0 16. Nxd5 Bxd5 17. Rfc1 Na4 18. Ne5 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 Qb7+ 20. Kg1 Rbc8 is equal (Portisch-Hübner, Torino 1982).

6. -- Rb8 7. Qc2

• An interesting feature in Gausdal has been how White allowed Black to keep the gambit pawn in Open Queen's Gambit systems (see also the game Dreev-Krush, below).

7. -- b5 8. b3!?

• White blazes a new trail. Breaking up Black's queenside pawns is a worth objective.
• Atriking in the center works well to the same in in this witty variation: 8. Ne5 Nxe5 9. dxe5 Nd7 10. Bc6 Bb7 11. Bxb5 c6 12. Bxc4 Nxe5 13. Bf4 Bd6 14. Rd1 Qe7 15. Bb3 0-0 16. Nc3 weakens Black's queenisde pawns and give White greater piece mobility (Rodgers-Peters, Los Angeles 1982).

8. -- cxb3 9. axb3 a6 10. Ne5

• White thinks the time is ripe to open the d-file.
• If 10. Rd1 Bb7 then:
• 11. Ne5 Bxg2 12. Kxg2 Rb6 13. Bg5 h6 14. Nxd7 Qxd7 15. Bxf6 gxf6 Black still holds the extra pawn.
11. Bb2 Bb4 12. Nc3 c5 13. Na2 Be4 gives Black the initiative.

10. -- Nxe5 11. dxe5 Nd5

• The Queen has few good square if attacked frontally by the White Rook.
• 11. -- Nd7 12. Bc6 Bb7 13. Be3 Bxc6 14. Qxc6 give White a tremendous initiative.

12. Rd1 Qe7

• Black still has an extra pawn and White's pawn structure is not ideal.
• If 12. -- Bd7 13. Bxd5 exd5 14. Rxa6 then:
• 14. -- c6 15. Rxc6 Bxc6 16. Qxc6+ Qd7 17. Qxd7+ Kxd7 is unclear, although White has an extra pawn.
• After 14. -- Qc8 15. Ra7 c6 16. e4 Bg4 17. Rd4 dxe4 18. Bg5 Black still has an extra pawn.

13. Nc3 Qc5 14. Rxd5?!

• A pawn dawn, White sacrifices the exchange.
• Better is 14. Bxd5 exd5 15. Rxd5 Qc6 16. Bg5 Be6 17. Rd4 h6 18. Bd2 Be7 give Black a slight edge in mobility.

14. -- exd5 15. b4 Qxb4 16. Ba3?

• This inaccuracy puts Black firmly in command.
• Correct is 16. Nxd5 then:
• 16. -- Qc4 17. Nxc7+ Kd7
• 18. Qd1+ Kxc7 19. Bg5 Bb7 20. Rc1 give White the advatage after Black exchanges the Queen for a Rook and a minor piece.
• Black wins after 18. Qxc4? bxc4 19. Nxa6 Bxa6 20. Rxa6 Rb1.
• 16. -- Qc5 17. Nxc7+ Kd8 18. Qd1+ Kxc7 19. Be3 Qc4 20. Bd5 Qc3 21. Rc1 pins and wins the Queen.

16. -- Qg4?!

• This move doesn't threaten anything nor protect anything and it isn't a better post for the Queen.
• Better is 16. -- Qd4! with a double attack on the Knight and Rook; then after 17. Bb2 Qc5 18. Bxd5 c6 19. Bb3 Be7 Black's three queenside pawns and active Queen assure him victory.

17. Bxf8 Kxf8 18. Nxd5 Qc4 19. Qd2 Be6

• Black's attack is starting to lose its wind.
• If 19. -- Qc5 20. Nb4 Qxe5 21. Qd8+ Qe8 then:
• 22. Qxc7! Be6 23. Nc6 Ra8 24. Qd6+ Kg8 25. Ne7+ Kf8 26. Nf5+ Kg8 27. Ne7+ draws by repetition.
• After 22. Qxe8+? Kxe8 23. Nxa6 Bxa6 24. Rxa6 b4 it will cost White a piece to stop the pawn.

20. Rc1 Qb3 21. Nxc7 Kg8

• On paper, White is an exchange down, but Black's last move accentuates his problem getting his King's Rook into play.
• If 21. -- Qa3? 22. Nxe6+ then:
• 22. -- fxe6 23. Rc7 Qa1+ 24. Bf1 Qxe5 25. Qd7 Qf6 26. Rc8+ White wins a Rook.
• 22. -- Kg8 23. Ng5 h6 24. Nxf7 Rf8 25. Bd5 Kh7 26. Rc6 Rxf7 27. Qc2+ White soon forces mate.

22. Qd6 Rc8?

• Black's first priority is to protect his back rank; the threat against the Knight is hollow.
• 22. -- Rf8 23. Bd5 Qb2 24. Rc6 Bh3 (threatening mate) 25. Bxf7+ Rxf7 26. Qd8+ Rf8 27. Qd5+ forces a draw by repetition.

;

Black: Lajos Portisch
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White: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 22. -- Rb8c8

23. Bb7!

• This gives White a lasting initiative.
• If 23. Rd1 Rf8 24. Nxa6 Bc4 then:
• After 25. Nc5! Qc2 26. e6 fxe6 27. Nxe6 Re8 28. Nc7 Rxe2 29. Bd5+ the ballgame is over.
• 25. Nb4? g6 26. Nc6 h6 27. Na5 Qa2 28. Nxc4 Qxc4 29. Bd5 Qc2 is level.

23. -- h6 24. Bxc8 Bxc8 25. Nxb5

• White still has the upper hand after 25. Nxa6 Bxa6 26. Qxa6 Kh7 27. Qb7 Rd8 28. Qe4+ Kg8 29. Rc6 but the text wins faster.

25. -- axb5 26. Rxc8+ Kh7 27. Rc1 Re8 28. Kg2 Kg8

• 28. -- b4 29. Rc7 Qa2 30. Qxb4 Rxe5 31. Qg4 Qxe2 32. Qxe2 Rxe2 33. Rxf7 is a won ending for White.

29. Rc5 Qa2 30. Qc6 1-0

• Black's b-pawn falls and Black's hope of salvaging a half point fall with it.
• Portisch resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Krush-Dreev, Round 3, Gausdal

Irina Krush
Photo: ChessBase.com

Alexey Dreev vs. Irina Krush
Chess Classic, Round 2
Gausdal, Oppland (Norway), April 2007

Open Queen's Gambit: Mannheim Opening

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 dxc4 4. Qa4+ Nc6

• 4. -- Nbd7 5. Nc3 e6 6. e4 a6 7. Bxc4 Rb8 8. Qc2 b5 9. Bd3 Bb7 10. Bf4 Rc8 11. d5 exd5 12. 0-0-0 Nc5 13. Nxd5 Nxd5 14. exd5 Nxd3+ 15. Rxd3 Be7 16. h4 0-0 17. Ng5 g6 18. Qd2 Bd6 19. Kb1 Bxf4 20. Qxf4 Bxd5 21. Nxh7 Kxh7 22. h5 Kg7 23. Qd4+ f6 24. Qxd5 Qxd5 draw agreed (Tregubov-van Wely, Eur Ind Ch, Warsaw 2005).
• 4. -- c6 5. Qxc4 Bf5 6. g3 e6 7. Bg2 tranposes into a Catalan Opening.

5. Nc3

• 5. Qxc4 e6 6. Nc3 Nb4 7. Qb3 c5 8. Be3 Nfd5 9. Bg5 Be7 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. e4 Nc7 12. Be2 0-0 13. 0-0 cxd4 14. Nxd4 e5 15. Nf5 Bxf5 16. exf5 White is better with the more active Queen (Krasenkow-Izoria, Eur Ind Ch, Antalya (Turkey) 2004).

5. -- Nd5 6. e4 Nb6 7. Qd1

• White has sacrificed a pawn for space in the center. Statisicially, this position favors Black.

7. -- Bg4 8. d5 Ne5 9. Bf4 Ng6

• If 9. -- Bxf3 10. gxf3 Ng6 11. Bg3?! then:
• 11. -- c6! 12. a4 a5 13. f4 e5 14. dxe6 Qxd1+ 15. Rxd1 fxe6 16. Bh3 Bb4 17. 0-0 Rf8 18. f5 Ne7 19. fxe6 Bxc3 20. bxc3 Nxa4 gives Black an extra pawn (Shipman-Bonin, New York 1990).
• 11. -- e5?! 12. dxe6 fxe6 13. Qxd8+ Rxd8 14. Bxc7 Rc8 15. Bg3 Bb4 16. 0-0-0 Bxc3 17. bxc3 Rf8 is equal (Gruenenwald-Raetsky, Swiss Ch, Scoul 2001).

10. Bg3

• 10. Be3 e6 11. Bxb6 axb6 12. Bxc4 Bd6 13. dxe6 fxe6 14. h3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Ne5 16. Qh5+ g6 17. Qe2 Nxc4 18. Qxc4 Qf6 19. Nb5 0-0 20. 0-0 Rac8 21. Nxd6 cxd6 draw agreed (Stepa-Drozdovskij, Chernobyl Mem, Slavutich 2005).

10. -- e5 11. dxe6

• Believing he is better, White opens the Queen's file.
• 11. Bxc4 Bxf3 12. gxf3 Nxc4 13. Qa4+ Qd7 14. Qxc4 h5 15. h4 0-0-0 gives Black a solid defensive position.

Black: Irina Krush
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White: Alexey Dreev
Position after 11. de6:p (ep)

11. -- Qxd1+!?

• Black intoduces a novelty. It this position is ever seen again, then this is the move that will be played again.
• If 11. -- Bxe6 12. Qxd8+ Rxd8 13. Bxc7 Rc8 14. Bg3 then:
• 14. -- h6 15. Nd4 Bc5 16. 0-0-0 0-0 17. Be2 White's centralized Knight and active Bishops give him the better game (Alburt-Dlugy, US Ch, Berkeley 1984).
• 14. -- Bb4 15. 0-0-0 Bxc3 16. bxc3 Na4 17. Kc2 White is better because of his mobile Bishops and command of the d-file.

12. Rxd1 fxe6!?

• Willfully isolating the pawn may not be the best approach.
• If 12. -- Bxe6 13. Bxc7 Bb4 then:
• After 14. Rd2 0-0 15. Nd4 Rac8 16. Nxe6 fxe6 17. Bxb6 axb6 18. Be2 is unclear.
• After 14. Nd4 Na4 15. Nxe6 fxe6 16. Bxc4 Nxb2 17. Bb5+ Kf7 Black's minor pieces are more active.

13. Be2

• White makes a reasonably good reply.
• 13. Bxc7 Bxf3 14. gxf3 Rc8 15. Nb5 a6 16. Bxb6 axb5 17. Be3 is equal.

13. -- Bd6 14. Nb5 Bxg3 15. hxg3 Ke7!?

• Black stakes a pawn that White will not accurately the ensuing complications.
• 15. -- Rc8 16. Ng5 Bxe2 17. Kxe2 Nf8 18. f4 Ke7 19. Na3 h6 is balanced.

16. Nxc7 Rac8 17. Nb5 Bxf3?

• This exchange is by no means forced and could have waited. It leads to the easing of White's position.
• Correct is 17. -- a6 18. Nd6 Rc7 19. Rd2 when:
• 19. -- h5 20. Ng5 Bxe2 21. Kxe2 Na4 22. f4 c3 23. bxc3 Nxc3+ is unclear.
• After 19. -- h6!? 20. Nh4 Nxh4 21. Bxg4 Rd8 22. e5 Ng6 23. f4 White has a vise that has Black running out of satisfactory moves.

18. gxf3 Ne5 19. Rh5?

• White misses a chance to capitalize on Black's inaccuracey.
• 19. f4 Nf7 20. e5 Na4 21. b3 Nb2 22. Rd2 Nd3+ 23. Bxd3 cxd3 24. Rxd3 give White an extra pawn and superior piece activity.

19. -- Rc5!

• Black covers the Knight and sets up a discovered attack on the Rook.
• 19. -- Nbd7 20. f4 Rc5 21. fxe5 g6 22. Rh6 Rxb5 23. f4 Rxb2 24. Bxc4 Nc5 is level.

20. f4 Nd3+ 21. Kd2?

• Having tossed away the win, White now loses the game altogether.
• Correct is 21. Kf1 Rxh5 22. Bxh5 Nxb2 23. Rd2 Nd3 24. e5 g5 whrn White is back in the game.

Black: Irina Krush
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White: Alexey Dreev
Position after 21. Ke1d2


21. -- Nxf2!!

• This sham sacrifce of the Rook at c5 nets Black a pawn.

22. Rxc5 Nxe4+ 23. Kc2 Nxc5 24. Bf3

• White is down two pawns mometarily and should be able to easily recover one. He's trying hard for the other.
• 24. Rd4 h5 25. Nxa7 h4 26. gxh4 Rxh4 only gets one pawn back and leaves Black in the driver's seat.

24. -- a6 25. Nc3 Rd8 26. Rg1

• The move is pointless, but the game is lost in any case.
• 26. Rxd8 Kxd8 27. Ne4 Nbd7 28. b3 cxb3+ 29. axb3 Kc7 is cleary won for Black.

26. -- Rd3 27. Be2 Rd4 28. Re1 Kf6 29. Bf3 h6 30. Nd1 Nd3 31. Re2

• 31. Re4 Rxe4 32. Bxe4 Nc5 33. Bf3 Nd5 34. Kd2 b5 is also hopeless for White.

31. -- Na4 32. a3 b5 33. Ne3

• If 33. Nc3 Naxb2 then:
• 34. Ne4+ Kf5 35. Kc3 Rd5 36. Rxb2 Nxb2 37. Kxb2 Rd3 Black's queenside pawns come slitering forward.
• After 34. Nd5+ Rxd5 35. Bxd5 exd5 36. Kc3 Na4+ 37. Kd4 b4 38. axb4 Nxb4 it will cost White the Rook to stop the c-pawn.

33. -- Nac5 34. Bg2 h5 35. Kc3 Rd6 36. Nxc4 Na4+ 37. Kb3 0-1

• 37. Kb3 Nac5+ 38. Kc2 bxc4 gives White an extra piece.
• Dreev resigns without waiting for Ms. Krush to reply.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Nill - Lomineishvili, Round 6, Dresden

Georgian master Maia Lomineishvili is one of many fine women players from the Caucasus mountain republics with an aggressive temperment.



Maia Lomineishvili
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)

Jessica Nill vs. Maia Lomineishvili
European Individual Championships, Round 6
Dresden, April 2007

Best Game of Round 6, Ladies' Competition

West India Game: King's Indian Defense (Aronin Opening)

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 0-0 6. Be2 e5 7. 0-0 Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 9. Ne1 Nd7 10. Nd3

• If 10. f3 f5 11. Be3 f4 12. Bf2 g5 13. a4 then:
• 13. -- Ng6 14. a5 h5 15. Nb5 Nf6 16. Nxa7 Bd7 17. c5 g4 18. c6 g3 19. hxg3 fxg3 20. Bxg3 Rxa7 21. cxd7 h4 22. Bf2 gives White two extra pawns (Korchnoi-Xie Jun, Team Match, Prague 1995).
• 13. -- a5 14. Nd3 b6 15. b4 axb4 16. Nxb4 Nf6 17. Ra3 Bd7 18. Nb5 Kh8 19. Be1 Rg8 is balanced (Jussuupow-Kasparov, Ol, Yerevan 1996).

10. -- f5 11. f3 f4 12. Bd2 g5

• If 12. -- Nf6 13. c5 g5 then:
• 14. Rc1 Ng6 15. cxd6 cxd6 16. Nb5 Rf7 17. Qc2 g4 18. Nc7 gxf3 19. gxf3 Bh3 20. Ne6
• 20. -- Qb6+ 21. Rf2 Bh6 22. Qa4 Nf8 23. Nxf8 Raxf8 is equal and the players soon agreed to a draw (Sonsonko-Keene, Barcelona 1975).
• 20. -- Qe7 21. Rf2 Bh6 22. Kh1 Kh8 23. Qb3 Bxe6 24. dxe6 Rg7 is level.
• After 14. cxd6 cxd6 15. Nf2 Ng6 16. Qc2 Rf7 17. Rfc1 Bf8 18. Nb5 Ne8 19. a4 Bd7 20. Qd1 h5 21. Rc3 Qb8 22. Rac1 White's queenside space and command of the c-file have him in the driver's seat, but Black is better on the kingside (Kacheishvili-Fedorowicz, IT, New York 1999).

13. Rc1 Ng6 14. Nf2!?

• White breaks new ground with a move that appears designed to restrain Black's desired kingside expansion.
• 14. c5 Nf6 15. cxd6 cxd6 16. Nb5 Rf7 17. Qc2 Ne8 18. a4 h5 19. Nf2 Bd7 20. Qb3 Bf8 21. Rc4 a6 22. Na3 Rg7 23. a5 Nf6 gives Black an advantage in space, but White's pieces have more freedom (Kozul-Radjabov, Sarajevo 2003)..
• The present game has reached a typical King's Indian position which is equal but dynamic. Both sides measure their advantage in space, White's on the queenside and Black's on the opposite wing.

Black: Maia Lomineishvili
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White: Jessica Nill
Position after 14. Nd3f2

14. -- h5

• White Black cannot play 14. -- g4, she can play this.
• 14. -- c6 15. b4 Nf6 16. Qb3 Ne7 17. Bd3 h6 18. Rfe1 Qc7 19. a4 gives White a small advantage in space.

15. Nb5 a6 16. Nc3 Rf7 17. b4 Bf8!

• Black initiates a plan to open the kingside for her heavy pieces.
• Also good is 17. -- Nf6 18. c5 Qe7 19. Bc4 dxc5 20. d6 cxd6 21. Bxf7+ Qxf7gives Black a healthy advatange in space; two pawns for the exchange works well for Black.

18. g3 Rg7!?

• This is more likely a calculated risk than an inaccuracy.
• If 18. -- a5 19. b5 Nc5 then:
• 20. Na4 Nxa4 21. Qxa4 b6 22. Nd3 fxg3 23. hxg3 h4 24. gxh4 Nxh4 has Black focusing on White's kingside.
• 20. Qc2 fxg3 21. hxg3 h4 22. Nh1 hxg3 23. Nxg3 Nf4 24. Be3 Qf6 Black has advantages in space and mobility.

19. g4?!

• White plays to keep the g-file blocked.
• If 19. Nd3 a5 20. b5 then:
• 20. -- Nc5 21. Nxc5 dxc5 22. Qc2 Rf7 gives Black a slight edge in space.
• 20. -- Rf7 21. Qc2 Qf6 22. Rf2 b6 is equal.

Black: Maia Lomineishvili
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White: Jessica Nill
Position after 19. g3g4

19. -- Rh7!

• Black will open the h-file and post her heavy pieces thete.

20. a4

• White seeks counterplay on the Queen's wing, but this move is too slow.
• A better way to go about this is 20. Na4 Bg7 21. c5 Nf6 22. cxd6 cxd6 23. b5 axb5 24. Bxb5 when White has opend up the queenside for her pieces very nicely.

20. -- Nf6 21. a5 Qe7?!

• This move is designed to discourage White from advancing her c-pawn. While it accomplishes that, it allows White to defend against Black's coming kingside attack.
• Much better is 21. -- Bd7 22. Bd3 Qe7 23. c5 dxc5 24. bxc5 hxg4 25. fxg4 Qxc5 Black has White tied in knots.

22. gxh5!

• While this appears to be playing into Black's hands, it gives White the freedom to neutralize Black's attack.
• If 22. c5 dxc5 23. bxc5 then:
• 23. -- Rh8 24. Nd3 hxg4 25. fxg4 Qh7 Black's attack in the h-file is underway and strong.
• After 23. -- Bg7 24. Qb3 Kh8 25. Na4 Qd8 26. c6 bxc6 27. Rxc6 White eaualizes.

22. -- Rxh5 23. Ng4 Rh3 24. Nxf6+ Qxf6 25. Rf2?!

• This move is way too passive.
• Better is the active 25. Qa4 Rh8 26. Rf2 when:
• 26. -- Bg7 27. Kh1 Bh3 28. Rg1 Rd8 29. c5 sets up the queenside counterplay for which White has been looking.
• 26. -- g4? 27. fxg4 Qh4 28. Rg2 Qh3 29. Rf2 gives White a lead in space and the resources to rebuff Black's attack.

25. -- Qh8!

• White doubles the heavy pieces on the h-file. Now she must disrupt White's defense.

26. Na4 Be7 27. c5?

• White meekly lauches something on the queenside, but now she is ignoring the threat Black has built up on the King's wing.
• If 27. Bf1 Rh5 28. Bc3 Qf6 29. Bb2 Bd7 then:
• After 30. c5! Kg7 31. cxd6 Bxd6 32. Nc5 Bxc5 33. Rxc5 c6 White has equalized.
• 30. Nc3?! Kh7 31. Qd3 Bf8 32. Re2 Bg7 33. Rg2 Nh4 gives Black the edge on the kingside.

Black: Maia Lomineishvili
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White: Jessica Nill
Position after 27. c4c5

27. -- g4!

• The pawn sacrifice decides.

28. fxg4 Bh4 29. Qf1 Bg3 30. Qg2 Bd7 31. Nb2 Qh4 32. cxd6 cxd6 33. Be1 Rf8

• 33. -- Bxg4 34. Nd3 Rf8 35. Rc7 Qh5 36. Bxg4 Qxg4 37. hxg3 Rxg3 wins faster.

34. Bf3

• 34. Nc4 Rc8 35. hxg3 Rxg3 36. Bd2 Bb5 is no better.

34. -- Rf7 35. Re2 Bxg4 36. Rc3 Rxh2 37. 0-1

• After 37. Bxg4 Qxg4 38. Bxg3 Rxg2+ 39. Rxg2 f3 40. Rf2 Qxg3+ White is soon mated.
• Frln. Nill resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Sang Cao - Bologan, Round 9, Dresden

Viorel Bologan
Photo: ChessBase.com

Sang Cao vs. Viorel Bologan
European Individual Championships, Round 9
Dresden, April 2007

Best Game of Round 9, Open Competition

Open German Game: Seirawan Opening (Caro-Kann Defense)

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. Nf3 Nd7 7. h4 h6 8. h5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bf4 Qa5+

• If 11. -- Ngf6 12. 0-0-0 Be7 13. Kb1 0-0 14. Ne4 then:
• After 14. -- Qa5 15. g4 Nxg4 16. Ne5 Ndxe5 17. dxe5 f5 18. exf6 Nxf6 Black has the more active Queen (Haba-Gyimesi, Bundesliga, Germany 2004).
• 14. -- Nxe4 15. Qxe4 Nf6 16. Qe2 Qd5 17. Ne5 Qe4 the Queen exchange will leave Black with a centralized Knight and the more active Bishop.

12. Bd2 Qc7 13. 0-0-0 Ngf6 14. Ne4 0-0-0 15. g3 Nxe4 16. Qxe4 Bd6 17. Kb1

• Up to here, the players have followed the main line.
• The main line continues 17. c4 c5 18. Bc3 Nf6 19. Qe2 cxd4 20. Nxd4 a6 21. Kb1 Rd7 22. Nb3 Qc6 reaching an unclear position.

17. -- Rhe8 18. Qh7!?

• The willful offsiding of the Queen is balanced by the resulting offsiding of Black's Rook, which must abandon the center in order to protect the g-pawn.
• 18. Qe2 Nf6 19. c4 c5 20. Bc3 cxd4 21. Nxd4 Qc5 22. g4 Qe5 23. f3 is equal (Ivanchuk-Bareev, Amber Rapid, Monaco 2005).

18. -- Rg8 19. c4 c5 20. Bc3!?

• White introuces a new move in an effort to do better than previous examples.
• After 20. d5 Nf6 21. Qc2 exd5 22. cxd5 Qd7 23. Bc3 Rde8 24. Bxf6 gxf6 and ten additional moves, the players agreed to a draw (Kramnik-Leko, World Ch, Brissago (Switzerland) 2004).

20. -- cxd4

• The innovation is fundamentally harmless.
• 20. -- Nf6 21. Qc2 Rge8 22. Qe2 Qc6 23. Rhe1 Re7 then:
• 24. Nd2 Red7 25. Nb3 cxd4 26. Rxd4 Bc7 gives both sides a satisfactory game.
• 24. dxc5?! Bxc5 25. Ne5 Rxd1+ 26. Rxd1 Qe4+ forces the Queen to abandon the pawn at f2.

21. Nxd4 Nf6

• White expels the Queen form h7, allowing the Rook to redeploy to a more useful post.
• 21. -- Be5 22. f4 Nf6 23. Qc2 Bxd4 24. Bxd4 Qa5 is an uneasy balance.

22. Qd3 a6

• Black rolls the ball back to White. In billiards, this is called a safety shot.
• 22. -- Qb6 23. Qf3 Be5 24. Nb5 Bxc3 25. Nxc3 Qc5 26. b3 Rge8 is unclear.

23. Qe2 Rd7 24. Nc2?

• This leaves the important c5 square available for Black's use.
• Correct is 24. Nb3 Qc6 25. Bxf6 gxf6 26. c5 Bc7 27. Rxd7 Qxd7 28. Rd1 Qc6 29. Qe3 giving c5 to White and with it a good grip on the dark squares.

Black: Viorel Bologan
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White: Sang Cao
Position after 24. Nd4c2

24. -- Rgd8!

• With the g-pawn no longer threatened, the Rook returns to the cemter to fight for the open file.

24. -- Rgd8 25. Ne3

• If 25. Rhe1 Bc5 26. Rxd7 Rxd7 then:
• 27. f4
• 27. -- Rd8 28. f5 exf5 29. Qf3 Qd7 30. Bxf6 gxf6 gives Black full command of the d-file and restricts the movement of the Knight.
27. -- Bd6? 28. Rf1 Rd8 29. b4 gets White back in the game.
• After 27. b3 Qb6 28. Qf3 Qc6 29. Qxc6+ bxc6 30. Bxf6 gxf6Black has full command of the open file and an attck on the hanging f-pane.

25. -- Qc6 26. Bxf6 gxf6 27. Ng4

• 27. Rhe1 f5 28. Rd3 Bc7 29. Rxd7 Rxd7 30. Ka1 Qe4 Black has command of the d-file and a pin in the e-file that threatens to expose White's back rank (for example, 31. Nc2?? Qxe2 32. Rxe2 Rd8#).

27. -- Bb4

• Stronger is 27. -- f5 28. Nxh6 Bf8 29. Nxf7 Rxf7 30. Rxd8+ Kxd8 31. Re1 Bb4 giving Black a piece for two pawns.

28. Nxf6

• After 28. f3 Rd2 29. Rxd2 Rxd2 30. Qe3 Qd6 31. Qb3 Rd3 White loses the f-pawn.

28. -- Rd2!

• 28. -- Rxd1+? 29. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 30. Qxd1 Qxc4 31. f3 gets Black out of the worst hot water.

29. Qg4 Bc3

• The Bishop is perfectly safe.
• 30. bxc3 loses at lightening speed to 30. -- Qb6+ 31. Ka1 Qb2#.

30. Nd5

• 30. Rxd2 Qxh1+ 31. Qd1 Qxd1+ 32. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 33. Kc2 Bxf6 is just as hopeless.

Black: Viorel Bologan
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White: Sang Cao
Position after 30. Nf5d5

30. -- R8xd5!!

• The exchange sacrifice is the most efficient route to victory.
• Also winning is 30. -- Rxb2+ 31. Kc1 Qa4 32. Nb6+ Rxb6 33. Rxd8+ Kxd8 .

31. cxd5

• If 31. Rxd2 Rxd2 then:
• 32. Rd1 Rxb2+
• 33. Kc1 Qe8 34. Qf3 Qh8 35. Rd3 Bf6 White is toast.
• 33. Ka1 Rb3# obviously won't do.
• 32. Qg8+ Rd8 loses immediately.

31. -- Rxb2+ 32. Kc1 Qc5 33. Qg8+ Kc7 34. d6+ Kb6 35. Qd8+ Ka7 36. Qc7 Qa3

• 36. -- Qf5 37. Rd3 Rb1+ 38. Kxb1 Qxd3+ 39. Kc1 Qd2+ 40. Kb1 Qb2#.
• After 36. -- Qb4 37. Rde1 Bd2+ 38. Kd1 Qg4+ 39. Re2 Qa4+ Black mates on the next move.

37. Rd3 Rd2+ 38. 0-1

• Black mates on the next move.
• Sang Cao resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Portisch - Krasenkow, Round 5, Gausdal

Seventy-year-old chess legend Lajos Portisch of Hungary finished tied for second at Gausdal with 5½ points out of nine.

In the sixties, seventies and early eighties, Portisch was among the world's elite grandmasters. He qualified for the world championship candidates' matches in 1965, 1968, 1974, 1977, 1980 and 1983.

In his palmy days, Portisch was known as one with a prophylactic positional style similar to former world champion Tigran Petrosian. That style is on display in the following game, where Portisch takes advantage of an early mistake and makes his opponent strangle on it.



Lajos Portisch
Photo: CHessBase.com

Michal Krasenkow vs. Lajos Portisch
Chess Classic, Round 5
Gausdal, Oppland (Norway), April 2007

Open Queen's Gambit: Mannheim Opening

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 e6 3. c4 dxc4 4. Qa4+ Nd7 5. e4

• White sacrifices a pawn for which he is never compensated.

5. -- c5 6. Be3 cxd4!?

• This is the game's novelty; it is almost dubious. Black opens the center, yet he has no advatage anywhere to justify this.
• 6. -- b5?! 7. Qxb5 Rb8 8. Qxc4 Rxb2 9. dxc5 then:
• 9. -- Qa5+ 10. Nbd2 Ngf6 11. Rc1 Rxa2 12. Bd3
• 12. -- Ra4 13. Qc2 Ra2 14. Qb1 Ng4 15. Bd4
• 15. -- Bxc5 16. Bxc5 Nxc5 17. 0-0 Rxd2 18. Qb5+ Qxb5 19. Bxb5+ Bd7 20. Nxd2 Bxb5 21. Rxc5 Bxf1 22. Rc8+ Ke7 23. Rxh8 gives White an exchange for a pawn (Krasenkow-Nogueiras, Torre Mem, Merida 1995)
• 15. -- Nge5 16. Bxe5 Nxe5 17. Bb5+ is promising to send Black home early.
• 12. -- Ng4 13. Bd4 Nge5 14. Bxe5! Nxe5 15. Qb5+ gives White a clear advantage is piece mobility.
• 9. -- Nxc5 10. Bxc5 Qa5+ 11. Nbd2 Bxc5 12. Rc1 gives White a firm edge in his ability to withstand Black's present initiative.

7. Bxd4

• To the novelty, White makes a good response, giving him an advantage in space. He should now get a good game
• If 7. Nxd4 Ngf6 8. Qxc4 Nb6 9. Qd3 Ng4 then:
• 10. Nb5 Nxe3 11. Qxe3 a6 12. N5c3 Qc7 13. Nd2 Bc5 14. Qf3 0-0 gives Black small advantages like two Bishops, a good Bishop and better mobility.
• 10. Nc3 Nxe3 11. Qxe3 Bc5 12. Bb5+ Bd7 13. Qd3 a6 gives Black a strong initiative.

7. -- Ne7 8. Nc3

• White lets pass an opportunity to get his pawn back.
• 8. Qxc4 Nc6 9. Nc3 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 f6 11. Rd1 Bc5 12. Qa4 0-0 is equal.

8. -- Nc6 9. Rd1 Nxd4 10. Rxd4

• This is the better way to retake the Knight.
• If 10. Nxd4 Qb6 11. Qxc4 Be7 12. Qb5 0-0 13. Be2 Bf6 then:
• 14. Qxb6 Nxb6 15. f4 Rd8 16. e5 Be7 is level.
• 14. Na4?! Qd6 15. Nf5 Qc7 16. Nd6 a6 gives Black a strong initiative.

10. -- Qb6 11. Bxc4?

• White misses his last chance to take the pawn and equalize.
• 11. Rxc4 Bc5 12. Qc2 0-0 13. Bd3 Bd6 14. 0-0 Ne5 15. Nxe5 Bxe5 is equal.

Black: Lajos Portisch
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White:
Position after 11. Bf1c4:p

11. -- Qxb2!

• Black assures himself of remaining a pawn to the good.
• 11. -- Bc5?! 12. Rd2 0-0 13. 0-0 Qc7 14. Be2 Be7 15. Rfd1 turns the tables in White's favor.
• From here out, Black's strategy will be threefold:
  1. Exchage pieces when possible in order to magnify the value of his extra pawn; and
  2. put White under restraint to eliminate the possibility of counterplay.
  3. In the absence of 1 and 2, play actively to maintain the initiative.

12. 0-0 Bc5 13. Rd3 0-0 14. Bb3 Nb6 15. Qb5 Qa3 16. Rd2 Bb4 17. Qd3!?

• White may be seeking to provoke by playing the second-best move. Better is to break the pin with 17. Rd3.
• If 17. Rd3 Nd7 then:
• 18. Qc4 Qa5
• After 19. Rc1 b6 20. Rd4 Ba3 21. Rc2 Nc5 22. Qb5 Qxb5 23. Nxb5 Nxb3 24. axb3 Bc5 25. Rd1 Bb7 Black still has an extra pawn in addition to the initiative and superior mobility.
• After 18. Nb1 Qa6 19. Qxa6 bxa6 20. Rc1 Nc5 21. Rd4 Nxb3 22. axb3 Ba5 23. Nbd2 Bb6 Black has an extra pawn and the initiative.
• After 19. Ne2 b5 20. Qc1 Nc5 21. Rd4 Bb7 22. Bc2 f5 23. Qb1 Ba3 Black has an extra pawn an better pawn structure.

Black: Lajos Portisch
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White:
Position after 17. Qb5d3

17. -- Qa5!

• Black pins the Knight to the Rook and forces Black's reply. Notice the restraining effect of the pin.
• Also good is 17. -- Bd7 18. Rc2 Rac8 19. Rd1 Qa5 20. Rdc1 Rfd8 when Black threatenst to discover an attack on the Queen.

18. Rc1 Bd7 19. e5 Rac8 20. Rdc2 Bxc3

• Being a pawn up, Black cheerfully exchanges pieces.
• If 20. -- Be7 21. Ne4 Bb5 then:
• 22. Qe3 Nd5 23. Qd4 Rxc2 24. Rxc2 Bc6 25. Rc1 Nb4 26. Nfd2 Rd8 gives Black the initiative to go with the extra pawn.
• 22. Qd4 Rxc2 23. Rxc2 Rd8 24. Nd6 Qa3 25. Rc7 Bxd6 26. exd6 Rxd6 gives Black more freedom in addition to his extra pawn.

21. Rxc3 Rxc3 22. Rxc3

• The just-completed series of exchanges were devastating to White, but because of the restraining effect of 17. -- Qa5, he could not avoid them.

22. -- Bb5 23. Qd4 Bc6 24. h3

• White has nothing better to do than form a luft to alleviate the threat of a snap mate on the back rank.
• After 24. Rc5 Qa6 25. Ne1 Qe2 26. Rc1 Qe4 27. Nf3 Rc8 Black still has an extra pawn and is ready to exchange heavy pieces.

24. -- Nd5 25. Rc5 Qd8

• The Knight is sufficiently protected. White must vacate the Queen fron the d-file lest she fall under attack.
• After 25. -- Qa3 26. Rc4 Nb6 27. Rc3 Qb2 28. Rd3 Qxd4 29. Nxd4 Rd8 Black has considerably more freedom for his pieces and an extra pawn.

26. Qg4 Ne7!

• The Knight is headed for f5 where he will discourage White from attempting to build an attack on Black's King.
• 26. -- Qb6 27. Rc4 Bb5 28. Rc2 Rd8 29. Qh4 Bd3 30. Rd2 Bg6 gives Black advantages in space and material.

27. Ng5 h6 28. Ne4 Nf5!

• Black dominates the kingside dark squres. White's Knight has no usesful moves.
• Less effective is 28. -- Bxe4 29. Qxe4 Qb6 30. Bc2 g6 31. Rc3 Nd5 32. Rc4 Qb2 White threatens another pawn.

29. Rc4

• Being a pawn down, White is not too anxious to exchange pieces. He decides, rightl;y under the bleak circumstances, to preseve his pieces.
• If 29. Ng3 Nxg3 30. Qxg3 Qd2 31. Rc4 then:
• 31. -- Rd8! 32. Rg4 g5 33. Qe3 Qxe3 34. fxe3 Rd2 gives Black an extra pawn, better pawn structure and better piece coordination.
• 31. -- Bd5? only force the Rook to a better square: after 32. Rg4 g6 33. Bxd5 exd5 34. Kh2 Kh7 35. e6 Qxa2 White has equalized.

Black: Lajos Portisch
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White:
Position after 29. Rc5c4

29. -- Qa5!!

• The Queen now threatens to win another pawn and at the same time break into White's back rank.
• If 29. -- Qd3 30. Bc2 Qd8 then:
• After 31. Nf6+ Kh8 32. Nh5 Qa5 33. Bxf5 Qe1+ 34. Kh2 Qxe5+ 35. Qg3 Qxg3+ 36. Nxg3 exf5 Black's extra pawn is still significant.
• After 31. Ba4 Qa5 32. Bxc6 bxc6 33. Rxc6 Qxe5 Black continues to enjoy an extra pawn, which looms larger and lager with reduced material.

30. Qf4 Qe1+ 31. Kh2 Bd5

• Black forces yet more exchanges that White finds unwelcome.

32. g4

• White tries to grab some space on the kingside, but it's way too late for that to help his cause.
• If 32. Nc5 Bxc4 33. Bxc4 Rc8 34. Nxe6 then:
• 34. -- g6 35. Nc7 Rxc7 36. e6 Rxc4 gives Black an extra piece.
• After 34. -- fxe6?? 35. Bxe6+ Kh8 36. Bxc8 Ne7 37. Qf8+ Ng8 38. f4 White wins.

32. -- Nh4 33. Rd4 Ng6 34. Qd2 Qxd2 35. Nxd2 Bxb3 36. Nxb3

• As more material is exchanges, Black's extra pawn looms larger.
• 36. axb3 Nxe5 37. f4 Nc6 38. Rd6 Rd8 39. Rxd8+ Nxd8 is easily won for White with pawn majorities on each wing.

36. -- Nxe5

• Black is now two pawns up.

37. Kg3 Rc8 38. f4 Rc3+ 39. Kf2 Nc6 40. Rd7 Rc2+ 41. Kg3 Rxa2 42. Nc5

• Black has three extra pawns.
• 42. Rxb7 Rb2 43. h4 g6 44. Nc5 Rxb7 45. Nxb7 h5 is hopeless for White.

42. -- b6 43. Nb7 Rc2 44. h4 g6 45. Rc7 Nb4 46. Rd7 Rc3+ 47. 0-1

• 46. -- Rc3+ 47. Kf2 Nd3+ 48. Ke3 Ne5+ forces the indirect echange of Rooks. White will not be able to stop Black's pawn on both wings in a Knight ending.
• Krasenkow resigns.