Jack Rabbit Chess Report: Nakamura comes from behind to win Gibralter

[Jack Rabbit]

Nakamura wins Gibraltar Open


Photo: British Airways

American grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura, 20, won the Gibtelecom Masters Tournament in Gibraltar by defeating grandmaster Bu Xiangzhi of China in a two-game rapid playoff, 2-0, on Thursday.

Nakamura, who is a native of Japan, won his game in the tenth and final round earlier on Thursday to surpass then-co-leader Zahar Efimenko of Ukraine to catch Bu in the standing at 8 point a piece. Nakamura began slowly, with only three points in the first half of the tournament, a point and a half behind the leaders. However, he won his remaining five games to force the playoff

Bu had either been alone in the lead or tied for it since the fifth round Sunday. He entered the ninth round Wednesday leading by a full point over his nearest rivals, but was defeated by Efimenko. Had Bu won the game, he would have clinced first prize. Bu drew his tenth-round game Thursday against his fellow countryman, Ni Hua.

Bu’s last victory came in the eighth round against Moldova’s Viorel Bologan, who was making a late bid to join the leaders. Bologan, Efimenko, Ni and four others ended tied for third with 7½ points each.

After winning the first playoff game against Bu, Nakamura needed only a draw in the second to claim the tournament title. When Bu, for whom a draw was no better than a loss, saw that he could not win the second game, he allowed himself to be checkmated.

Four women shared the prize for best female player with 6½ points each. They were: former women’s world champion Antoaneta Stefanova of Bulgaria, who was alone in the lead after four rounds; Lithuanian master Viktorija Cmilyte; India’s Harika Dronavalli; and Georgia native Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant, who was making her first appearance under the flag of Scotland, where she has lived for ten years.

A total of 203 players participated in this year’s event.


Calendar

The Moscow Open begins tomorrow, February 2. Participants number 291 as of today. The top seeds are Vladimir Akopian of Armenia and Russian grandmasters Vladimir Malakhov, Ernesto Inarkiev and Vadim Zviaginnsev. The Swiss system tournament is nine rounds and ends February 10.

The Aeroflot Open, another prestigious nine-round Swiss system event, begins Thursday, February 14, in Moscow. Last year’s event was won by the 2007 Russian national champion, Evgeny Alekseev. The list of players is not yet complete but as of now includes the fifteen-year-old Italian national champion, Fabianao Caruana, who took first prize in the Corus C group in Wijk aan Zee in January.

Finally, the Morelia-Linares Tournament of elite grandmasters starts in Morelia, Michoacán (Mexico) on February 15. The first half of the double round robin event concludes February 23. The second robin begins February 28 in Linares, Andalucia (Spain) and finishes March 7. This year’s participants are: world champion and defending tournament champion Vishy Anand of India; this year’s Corus A co-champions Levon Aronian of Armenia and Magnus Carlsen of Norway; Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine; Hungarian grandmaster Peter Leko; Azerbaijan’s Teimour Radjabov; Latvian-Spanish grandmaster Alexei Shirov; and former FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. Games from Corus A:

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Aronian - van Wely, Round 11, Wijk aan Zee

Levon Aronian
Photo: ChessBase.com


Levon Aronian - Loek van Wely
Corus Chess Tournament, Group A, Round 11
Wijk aan Zee, 25 January 2008

Slav Queen's Gambit: Tikhi Opening

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 a6 5.Nc3 b5 6.c5 Nbd7

• 6...g6 7.Bd3 Bg7 8.0-0 0-0 9.h3 a5 10.a3 Nbd7 11.Rb1 b4 12.axb4 axb4 13.Ne2 e5 14.dxe5 Ne4 15.Ned4 Qc7 is level (Zhao Xue-Wang Hao, Sanjin Hotel Cup, Taiyuan, 2005).

7.Bd3

• 7.b4 a5 8.bxa5 Qxa5 9.Bd2 b4 then:
• 10.Nb1 Ne4 11.a3 Rb8 12.Ra2 Nxd2 13.Qxd2 Ra8 14.Be2 e5 15.0-0 Be7 16.Rb2 bxa3 17.Qxa5 Rxa5 18.Ra2 Ba6 19.Bxa6 Rxa6 20.Rxa3 draw agreed (Aronian-I. Sokolov, Eur ChT, Gothenborg, 2005).
• 10.Ne2 Ne4 11.Nc1 Nxd2 12.Qxd2 e5 13.Nb3 Qa4 14.Nxe5 Nxe5 15.dxe5 Qxb3 16.axb3 Rxa1+ 17.Ke2 Bxc5 gives White a Queen for a Rook and a Bishop, but Black is compenated in space (Wang Yue-Jakovenko, Team Match, Taiyuan, 2006).

7...e5 8.Nxe5 Nxe5 9.dxe5 Ng4 10.f4 Bxc5 11.Qf3 Qb6 12.Ke2

• The position is equal neither side able to do much.
• The text move was a novelty when Gelfand played it against Aronian in Round 2.
• 12.Nd1 Nh6 13.f5 Qc7 14.Bd2 0-0 15.Rc1 Bb6 16.f6 Re8 is equal (Bacrot-Karjakin, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2007).

12...Nh6

• 12...0-0 13.h3 Nh6 14.e4 dxe4 15.Nxe4 Nf5 gives Black a small edge in space.

13.h3 Nf5 14.g4 Ne7

• 14...Nh4 15.Qg3 Be7 16.a3 a5 17.Kd1 a4 18.f5 g5 is equal.

15.Rb1!?

• White varies from the aforementioned game played earlier in the tournament, with Aronian on the opposite side of the board.
• 15.Bd2!? 0-0 16.Rac1 f6 17.exf6 Rxf6 18.e4 Bd4 is equal (Gelfand-Aronian, Corus A, Rd 2, Wijk aan Zee, 2008).

15...a5 16.e4 Bb7 17.f5

• 17.exd5 Nxd5 18.Rd1 Rd8 19.Kf1 Nb4 is equal.

17...Bd4?

• Black opens the door wide for White.17...d4 18.Nd1 Rd8 19.Nf2 Nc8 20.f6 Bf8 is equal.

18.exd5?

• But White doesn't come inside.
• After 18.f6! Ng6 19.fxg7 Rg8 20.exd5 Nxe5 21.Qe4 f5 22.gxf5 0-0-0 23.f6 White wins.

18...Bxe5

• 18...Nxd5 19.Nxd5 cxd5 20.Kd1 Bxe5 21.Qe2 f6 22.Bxb5+ Kf7 is equal.

19.Be3 Qc7 20.Rbc1

• 20.dxc6 Bxc6 21.Be4 Qb7 22.Bc5 Rc8 then:
• 23.Bxc6+ 23...Rxc6 24.Bxe7 Kxe7 25.Nd5+ is equal.
• 23.Bxe7 Bxe4 24.Qxe4 Qxe4+ 25.Nxe4 Kxe7 is level.

20...b4?

• Correct is 20...cxd5 21.f6 gxf6 22.Nxb5 Qd7 23.Nd4 Nc6 24.Nxc6 Bxc6 25.Bf4 Qe6 with equality.

21.dxc6 Bxc6

• 21...Qxc6 22.Ne4 Qd7 23.f6 Rd8 24.Rhd1 Nd5 25.fxg7 Bxg7 26.Bc5 Be5 27.Bc4 gives White a slight edge.

22.Ne4 Rd8

• If 22...Bxb2?! 23.Bf4 Qb6 24.Be3 then:
• White dominates the board after 24...Bxe4 25.Qxe4 Qd8 26.Bb6 Qb8 27.Rc5.
• After 24...Qd8 White wins with 25.f6 Bxc1 26.Rxc1 Bxe4 27.Bxe4 Rb8 28.Bc5.

23.f6 Nd5

• If 23...Rxd3 24.Kxd3 gxf6 25.Nxf6+ Bxf6 26.Qxf6 then:
• 26...Rg8 27.Rhe1 Rg6 28.Qf4 Bb5+ 29.Kd2 Qd6+ 30.Qxd6 Rxd6+ 31.Kc2 Nd5 32.Bc5+ leaves White up by an exchange.
• 26...0-0 27.Kd2 Qg3 28.Qxe7 Qg2+ 29.Kd3 Qd5+ 30.Kc2 Qg2+ 31.Kb1 Qe4+ 32.Qxe4 Bxe4+ 33.Ka1 leaves White a piece to the good.

BLACK: Loek van Wely
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WHITE: Levon Aronian
Position after 23...Ne7d5

24.Rxc6!!

• The exchange sacrifice blows the game open.
• If 24.fxg7? Bxg7 25.Bg5 Rd7 26.Rc2 f6 27.Bd2 Ne7 is equal.

24...Qxc6 25.Rc1 Qd7

• 25...Qb7 26.fxg7 Bxg7 27.Bg5 f6 28.Nxf6+ Bxf6 29.Bxf6 0-0! leaves White dominant in space.

26.Nd6+

• If 26.Nc5 then:
• 26...Qc6! 27.Ne4 Qb7 28.fxg7 Bxg7 29.Bg5 f6 30.Nxf6+ Bxf6 31.Bxf6 0-0 reaches the same position as the previous note.
• If 26...Qd6? then:
• 27.Bb5+! Kf8 28.Nb7 Qb8 29.Nxd8 Qxb5+ 30.Kf2 Qd7 31.Rc8 Nxf6 32.Ne6+ gives White an extra pawn and a vicious attack.
• 27.fxg7?! Bxg7 28.Bb5+ Ke7 29.Qe4+ Kf8 30.Nb7 Qh2+ 31.Ke1 Nf6 is equal.

26...Qxd6 27.Bb5+!

• White finds the best move in a complicated situation.
• If 27.fxg7? Bxg7 then:
• If 28.Bb5+ then:
• If 28...Rd7 then:
• If 29.Bc5 Qe6+ 30.Kf1 Kd8 31.Rd1 Qf6 32.Qxf6+ then:
• 32...Nxf6 33.Bb6+ Kc8 34.Bxd7+ Nxd7 35.Bxa5 Bxb2 36.Rb1 Bf6 37.Bxb4 Re8 leaves Black a piece up.
• After 32...Bxf6? 33.Bxd7 Kxd7 34.Rxd5+ Kc6 35.Rd6+ Kxc5 36.Rxf6 White has the active Rook in a Rook-and-pawn ending.
• 29.Bxd7+ Qxd7 30.Rc5 Nxe3 31.Qxe3+ Qe6 wins for Black.
• White wins after 28...Ke7? 29.Bc5 Nc3+ 30.Rxc3 Bxc3 31.Bxd6+.
• After 28.Qe4+ Qe6 29.Bg5 Qxe4+ 30.Bxe4 Bxb2 31.Bxd8 Bxc1 32.Bxd5 Black wins.

27...Kf8 28.Bc5 Nf4+

• The game is now completely won for White.
• No better for Black is 28...Nxf6 29.Qe3 Qxc5 30.Qxc5+ Bd6 31.Qb6 Be7 32.Rf1 Rd6 33.Qxa5.

29.Ke1 gxf6 30.Bxd6+ Rxd6

• Losing quicker is 30...Bxd6 31.Rd1 Ne6 32.Qxf6.

31.Rc8+ Kg7 32.Rxh8 Kxh8 33.Qb7

• Also good is 33.Qa8+ Kg7 34.Qxa5 Rd4 35.Bf1 Re4+ 36.Kd2 Bxb2 37.Qf5.

33...Kg7

• Black could put up more resistance after 33...Rd8 34.Qb6 Rc8 35.Kd1 Nxh3 36.Qxa5 b3 37.axb3 Nf2+ 38.Ke2 Nxg4.

34.Be8 Kh6 35.Qxf7 Ng6 36.Qb3 Nf4

• 36...Rd4 37.Bb5 Nf4 38.Bf1 Re4+ 39.Kd1 Nd5 40.Bb5 Kg5 41.Kc2 keeps White comfortable.

37.Qg8 Rd4?

• After 37...Rd8 38.Qf8+ Kg5 39.Qg7+ Kh4 40.Qxh7+ Kg3 41.Bd7 White has won a pawn.

38.h4!

• White finds the strongest move.
If
• 38.a3?! then:
• 38...Ng6 39.axb4 axb4 40.Ke2 Rd8 41.b3 gives Black some wiggle room, although White should still win.
• After 38...Re4+ 39.Kd1 Bd6 40.h4 Re5 41.Bc6 bxa3 42.bxa3 puts the Black King in a vise.

38...Ng2+

• After 38...Nd3+ 39.Ke2 Nf4+ 40.Kf3 Rd3+ 41.Ke4 Rd4+ 42.Kf5 Ne6 43.g5+ fxg5 44.hxg5+ White delivers mate on the next move.

39.Ke2 Nxh4 40.g5+ fxg5 41.Qe6+ 1-0

• Black loses the Bishop.
• Mh. van Wely resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Carlsen - Anand, Round 11, Wijk aan Zee

Vishy Anand
Photo: ChessBase.com


Magnus Carlsen - Vishy Anand
Corus Chess Tournament, Group A, Round 11
Wijk aan Zee, 25 January 2008

Open Sicilian Game: Najdorf-Scheveningen Defense

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e6 7.a4 Nc6 8.0-0 Be7 9.Be3 0-0 10.f4 Qc7 11.Kh1 Re8 12.Bf3

• The position is quite common in master play and may result from several variations in the move order.
• In this position, White has the edge in space and Black has the "little center" and prepares for possible opertion on the open c-file.
• After 12.Bd3 Nb4 13.a5 Bd7 14.Qe1 Rac8 if the players want to call it a day early, then 15.Qg3 Nh5 16.Qf3 Nf6 17.Qg3 invites a repetition of moves.

12...Rb8

• 12...Bf8 13.Nb3 13...b6 14.a5 Nd7 15.axb6 Nxb6 16.Nb5 axb5 17.Bxb6 Qb8 18.Rxa8 Qxa8 19.Qd3 gives White the edge in space and development.
• 13.Qd2 Na5 14.Qf2 Nc4 15.Bc1 e5 16.Nde2 d5 17.b3 dxe4 18.Nxe4 Nxe4 19.Bxe4 Nd6 20.Bd5 Qxc2 21.fxe5 Rxe5 22.Bxf7+ Kh8 23.Bh5 Be6 draw agreed (Timoshenko-Maksimenko, Ukrainian ChT, Alushta, 2002).

13.Qd2

• If 13.g4 then:
• 13...Nxd4 14.Bxd4 e5 15.fxe5 dxe5 16.Ba7 Ra8 17.g5 Rd8 18.Qe2 is equal.
• 13...Nd7 14.g5 Bf8 15.Bg2 g6 16.Qe1 b6 17.Nxc6 Qxc6 18.Qh4 Bb7 19.Rad1 b5 20.Rd2 b4 21.Nd1 Qxa4 leaves White with more space in compensation for the pawn (Z. Almasi-al Modiaki, FIDE Knock-out Ch, Tripoli, 2004).

13...Bf8 14.Qf2 Bd7

• 14...Nd7 15.Rad1 Nb4 16.Bg4 b6 17.f5 e5 18.Nb3(Mkrtchian-Javankashvili, Eur Club Cub, Saint Vincent (Italy), 2005).

15.g4!?

• White's novelty is an attempt to take advantage of his lead in space by expanding on the kingside, a frequent White plan in the Open Sicilian. After the game, Anand spoke favorably of the move.
• If 15.Rad1 e5 then:
• 16.Nf5 16...Bxf5 17.exf5 e4 18.Be2 Nb4 19.Rd2 d5 20.g4 is equal (Geller-Wojkiewicz, Manhattan, 1990).
• 16.fxe5 Nxe5 17.Bg5 Nxf3 18.gxf3 Be7 19.Rg1 Be6 20.Bh6 g6 is also equal (Ivanchuk-Olafsson, Ol, Thessaloniki, 1988).

15...e5

• This move, which is virtually forced, relinquishes control of d5, vital for both side in the Open Sicilian.
• If 15...Nxd4 16.Bxd4 Bc6 then:
• 17.Bb6! Qe7 18.Rae1 Rbc8 19.a5 Nd7 20.Nd5 gives White a considerable edge in space.
• 17.b4?! b6 18.b5 Bb7 19.bxa6 Bxa6 20.Nb5 Qc4 is even.
• After 15...Bc8 16.g5 Nd7 17.Rad1 Nxd4 18.Bxd4 b5 19.axb5 axb5 20.f5 Ne5 White has a spatial advantage.

16.Nf5 exf4!?

• If 16...Bxf5!? then:
• 17.gxf5! exf4 18.Bxf4 Ne5 19.Rad1 Nxf3 20.Qxf3 Qc4 is unclear.
• 17.exf5?! e4 18.Be2 Nb4 is good for Black, since unlike the Geller-Wojkiewica game cited above, White's Rook cannot protect the pawn by moving to d2.

17.Bxf4 Be6

• After 17...Ne5 18.Bxe5 dxe5 19.g5 Bxf5 20.exf5 Nd7 21.Qh4 White still has an edge in space.

18.Rad1?!

• This allows Black to equalize.
• After 18.g5 Nd7 19.Nd5 Bxd5 20.exd5 Nce5 21.Bg2 maintains White's spatial edge.

18...Ne5!

• Black immediately unmasks his hold of the c-file and centralizes his Knight.
• 18...Bxf5 19.exf5 Ne5 20.g5 Nfg4 21.Qh4 Nxf3 22.Rxf3 leaves White with an edge in space and better minor pieces.

19.Bxe5 dxe5 20.g5 Nd7

• If 20...Bc5 21.Qg3 Nd7 22.Nd5 then:
• 22...Qc6 23.Nf6+ Nxf6 24.gxf6 g6 25.Ng7 Red8 26.Qxe5 Bh3 27.Rfe1 Bf2 White escapes the loss of the exchange by trading all Rooks on the d-file, leaving the game even.
• 22...Bxd5 23.exd5 Bf8 24.Be4 Nc5 25.d6 Nxe4 26.dxc7 Nxg3+ 27.hxg3 Rbc8 is equal.

21.Nd5 Qc6 22.Bg2?!

• 22.a5 b6 23.axb6 Bxf5 24.exf5 e4 25.Nc7 Bc5 26.Qg3 maintains the balance.
• 22.b3 Rbc8 23.Nfe3 Bc5 24.c3 b6 25.Bg2 Bxe3 26.Qxe3 Bxd5 27.Rxd5 remains level.

22...Qc5 23.Qh4?!

• This inaccuracy costs White at least a pawn.
• Correct is ]23.Qxc5 Nxc5 24.a5 Na4 25.Nc7 Rec8 26.Nxe6 fxe6 27.Ne3 Nxb2 28.Bh3 with equality.

23...Qxc2 24.Rc1?

• This costs White a second pawn, from which he does not recover.
• 24.g6 hxg6 25.Nfe7+ Bxe7 26.Nxe7+ Rxe7 27.Qxe7 Qxa4 keeps the damage to a minimum.

24...Qxa4 25.b3 Qa5 26.Rc3 g6

• 26...Qd8 27.Rh3 h6 28.gxh6 g6 29.h7+ Kh8 30.Qg3 Bc5 31.b4 Bb6 32.Nd6 Rf8 keeps Black's defense solid.

27.Rh3 h5 28.Bf3

• After this, Black has no fight left.
• Better is 28.gxh6 Qd8 29.h7+ Kh8 30.Qg3 Bc5, transposing into the previous note.

28...Bxd5 29.exd5 Bg7

• Stronger is 29...gxf5 30.Qxh5 Bg7 31.Qh7+ Kf8 32.Qxf5 Qb5.

30.Bxh5

• Better is 30.Nxg7 Kxg7 31.Be4 Rf8 32.Rhf3 Qc5 33.Qg3 Rbd8, but it still looks hopeless.

BLACK: Vishy Anand
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WHITE: Magnus Carlsen
Position after 30.Bf3h6:p

30...gxf5!!

• If 30...gxh5? 31.Qxh5 Qxd5+ 32.Kg1 then:
• 32...Qc5+ 33.Rf2 Qc1+ 34.Rf1 Qc4 Black must settle for a draw by repetition.
• After 32...Nf8? 33.Nxg7 Qc5+ 34.Kg2 Qc2+ 35.Rf2 Qc6+ 36.Rff3 White wins.

31.Bxf7+

• If 31.Rxf5 Qxd5+ 32.Rhf3 Re7 33.Bxf7+ Rxf7 34.Rxf7 then:
• Black wins after 34...Nf8! 35.Kg1 Qc5+ 36.Kh1 Qc1+ 37.Rf1 Qc6+.
• If 34...Qxf7? 35.Rxf7 Kxf7 36.g6+ then:
• 36...Ke8 37.Qc4 Bf8 38.Qf7+ Kd8 39.g7 equalizes.
• 36...Kxg6?! 37.Qg4+ Kf6 38.Qxd7 is strong for White.

31...Kxf7 32.g6+ Kg8 33.Qh7+

• If 33.Rxf5 Qxd5+ 34.Rhf3 Qd1+ 35.Rf1 then:
• Black wins by 35...Qxf1+ 36.Rxf1 Nf8 37.Qc4+ Ne6 38.Rf7 Rbc8.
• The red line is better than 35...Qd5+ 36.R1f3 Qxf3+ 37.Rxf3 Nf8 38.Qc4+ Ne6, but Black still wins.

33...Kf8 34.Rxf5+ Ke7 35.Qxg7+ Kd6 36.Rf7 Qxd5+

• Also good is 36...Rbd8 37.Rg3 Qxd5+ 38.Kg1 Rg8 39.Qh6 Qd1+.

37.Kg1 Rbd8

• Black also wins by 37...Qd1+ 38.Kg2 Qd2+ 39.Kg1 Rbd8 40.Qh6 Qd1+ 41.Rf1 Qd4+ then:
• 42.Kg2 42...Rh8 43.Qe3 Qxe3 44.Rxe3 Black retains an extra Knight.
• After 42.Qe3 Rg8 43.Qxd4+ exd4 44.Rg3 Ne5 Black is a piece to the good.

38.Rh7 Qd4+ 39.Kg2 Qg4+ 40.Kh1

• No better is 40.Kf2 Rg8 41.Qh6 Rxg6 42.Qd2+ Qd4+.

40...Rg8 41.Rf6+

• 41.Rxd7+ drops a Rook to 41...Qxd7 42.Qf6+ Qe6 43.Rf7 Rc8 44.g7 Qxf6 45.Rxf6+ Ke7.

41...Kc7 42.Qe7 Qe4+ 0-1

• After 43.Kg1 Rxg6+ 44.Rxg6 Qxg6+ 45.Kf2 Rf8+ 46.Qxf8 Qxh7 Black enters the final phase a piece to the good.
• Magnus resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Kramnik - Carlsen, Round 12, Wijk aan Zee

Magnus Carlsen
Photo: ChessBase.com


Vladimir Kramnik - Magnus Carlsen
Corus Chess Tournament, Group A, Round 12
Wijk aan Zee, 26 January 2008

English Game: Symmetrical Defense

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.g3 b6 5.Bg2 Bb7 6.0-0 Be7 7.d4

• 7.Re1 d6 8.e4 a6 9.d4 cxd4 10.Nxd4 Qc7 11.Be3 is equal.

7...cxd4 8.Qxd4

• 8.Nxd4 Bxg2 9.Kxg2 Qc8 10.Qd3 Nc6 11.Nxc6 Qxc6+ 12.e4 0-0 is equal.

8...d6 9.Rd1 a6 10.Ng5

• If 10.b3 Nbd7 11.e4 Qb8 12.Ba3 Nc5 13.e5 dxe5 14.Qxe5 Qa7 then:
• 15.Bb2 Rc8 16.Qe2 Qa8 17.Ne1 Bxg2 18.Nxg2 0-0 19.Ne1 Rfd8 20.Rxd8+ Rxd8 21.Rd1 h6 22.Nd3 Nce4 23.Nxe4 draw agreed (Smejkal-Portisch, Op. Dubai, 1986).
• 15.Na4 Ncd7 16.Qb2 Bxa3 17.Qxa3 b5 18.Nb2 Ne4 is equal (Naumann-Ftacnik, Op. Hamburg, 1997).
• 10.Bg5 Nbd7 11.Qd2 0-0 12.Bf4 Ne8 13.e4 Qc7 14.Rac1 Rc8 15.b3 Qb8 16.Qe2 Qa8 17.b4 Ndf6 18.Nd4 Rc7 19.Nb3 Nd7 20.a3 gives the advantage in space to White (Wojkiewicz-Goletiani, Op, Philadelphia, 2000).

10...Bxg2 11.Kxg2 Nc6 12.Qf4 0-0 13.Nce4

• 13.b3 Ra7 14.Bb2 Rd7 15.Nce4 Ne8 16.Nf3 b5 17.Kg1 is equal (Flumbort-Womacka. First Saturday, Budapest, 09.2006).
15.Nce4 Ne8 16.Nf3 b5 17.Kg1 is equal (Flumbort-Womacka. First Saturday, Budapest, 09.2006).
• 14...h6 15.Nf3 Qb8 16.Ne4 Nxe4 17.Qxe4 Rc8 18.Rac1 draw agreed (Adorjan-Ftacnik, Esbjerg, 1985).

13...Ne8 14.b3 Ra7 15.Bb2 Rd7!?

• 15...b5 16.Nf3 Qa8 17.Rac1 h6 18.Ned2 Rd7 19.Kg1 Qb7 20.Qe4 bxc4 21.Qxc4 Rc7 is equal (Wojkiewicz-Ftacnik, Zonal Play Off, Budapest, 1993).

16.Rac1

• If 16.Nf3 then:
• 16...d5 17.cxd5 Nb4 then:
• 18.Ne5 Rxd5 19.Nc3 Rxd1 20.Rxd1 Qa8+ 21.Qf3 Nf6 is equal.
• 18.d6 Nxd6 19.Nxd6 Rxd6 20.Rdc1 Nd5 21.Qg4 Bf6 is equal.
• 16...b5 17.Kg1 bxc4 18.bxc4 Na5 19.Rac1 Qc8 20.c5 dxc5 21.Rxd7 Qxd7 22.Nxc5 Qb5

16...Nc7

• 16...d5 17.cxd5 Rxd5 18.Rxd5 Qxd5 19.Nf3 b5 is also good for equality.

17.Nf3 f5 18.Nc3 g5!?

• 18...Bf6 19.Qe3 b5 20.cxb5 axb5 21.a4 bxa4 22.Nxa4 is equal, but the b-pawn is a potential advantage in the endgame..

19.Qd2

• If 19.Qe3 g4 20.Nd2 Bf6 21.Na4 Bxb2 22.Nxb2 e5!? then:
• White does best to decline the pawn: 23.Na4! Na8 24.Nc3 Ne7 25.a3 gives White a slight edge in space; White's plan should be to blast away Black's kingside pawns.
• Accepting the pawn lands White in trouble: 23.Qxb6? Nd4! 24.Re1 Qa8+ 25.Kg1 a5 with the treat of 26...Rb8.

19...g4 20.Ne1

• 20.Nd4 Bg5 21.e3 Ne5 22.Na4 Qa8+ 23.Kg1 Rb8 24.Nc3 remains even.

20...Bg5 21.e3 Rff7

• 21...Bf6 22.f4 Qa8 23.Kg1 b5 24.cxb5 axb5 25.a3 Rc8 is equal.

22.Kg1 Ne8 23.Ne2

• 23.f4 Bf6 24.Nd3 Bg7 25.Qg2 Rc7 26.Na4 Bxb2 27.Naxb2 remains equal.

23...Nf6 24.Nf4

• 24.Nd4 Nxd4 25.Bxd4 Ne4 26.Qb4 Nc5 27.Nd3 Qc7 is level.

24...Qe8 25.Qc3 Rg7 26.b4 Ne4 27.Qb3

• If 27.Qa3 Rge7 then:
• 28.f3 gxf3 29.Nxf3 Bh6 30.Nd2 Nxd2 31.Rxd2 remains equal.
• 28.Qxa6 Ra7 29.Qb5 Rxa2 30.Nfd3 Qc8 31.Ra1 Rea7 is still level.

27...Rge7 28.Qa4

• Better is 28.f3!? gxf3 29.Nxf3 when:
• 29...Bh6! 30.Nd2 Nxd2 31.Rxd2 Ne5 32.Qd1 Bg7 33.Ba1 Qd8 is equal.
• White is solid after 29...Bxf4? 30.exf4 Qh5 31.Nd2 Qe2 32.Nxe4 fxe4 33.a3.

28...Ne5 29.Qxa6?

• 29.Qa3 Bf6 30.Bxe5 Bxe5 31.f3 gxf3 32.Nxf3 Bg7 is even.

BLACK: Magnus Carlsen
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Vladimir Kramnik
Position after 29.Qa4a6:p

29...Ra7!

• This skewer is the obvious retort.

30.Qb5

• If 30.Qxb6 Reb7 31.Qd4 Bf6 32.Nxe6 then:
• After 32...Qxe6 33.Qd5 Qxd5 34.cxd5 Rxa2 35.Bxe5 dxe5 Black has a piece for two pawns and a huge advantage in space.
• After 32...Nf3+ 33.Nxf3 Bxd4 34.Nfxd4 Rxb4 35.Ba1 Rxa2 Black has a Queen for two minor pieces and a pawn.

30...Qxb5 31.cxb5 Rxa2 32.Rc8+

• 32.Bxe5 dxe5 33.Nfd3 then:
• Black is still better after 33...Kg7 34.Rc8 Rd7 35.Rdc1 Bh6 36.Nxe5 Rdd2 37.R8c7+ Kf6 38.Nd7+ Kg6 39.Ne5+ Kh5.
• Less accurate is 33...Rd7?! 34.Rc8+ Kg7 35.Rdc1 Rd5 36.R1c7+ Kf6 37.Rf8+ Kg6 38.Rg8+ Kh6 whne White has chances to hang on.

32...Kf7 33.Nfd3

• 33.Bxe5 dxe5 34.Nfd3 Kf6 35.Rdc1 Rd7 36.Rf8+ Kg7 37.Nxe5 Rxf2!!gives Black a tactical initiative by which he maintains his advantage.

33...Bf6 34.Nxe5+

• If 34.Bxe5 dxe5 35.Rc6 Rb7 36.Rdc1 then:
• If 36...Ng5 then:
• After 37.Kf1 e4 38.Nf4 h6 39.Nc2 Rd7 Black maintains his spatial advantage.
• After 37.Rc7+ Rxc7 38.Rxc7+ Ke8 39.Kf1 e4 40.Nc1 Ra1 White's position is paralyzed,
• 36...Nd2 37.R1c2 Rxc2 38.Rxc2 Nb1 39.Rc6 Na3 leaves White with few good moves.

34...dxe5

34...Bxe5 35.Bxe5 dxe5 36.Nc2 Raa7 37.Kg2 Rad7 38.Rxd7 Rxd7 39. Na3 Rd2 doesn't change the balance.

35.Rc2 Rea7 36.Kg2

• If 36.f3 gxf3 37.Nxf then:
• After h6 38.Rdc1 Ng5 39.Nd2 e4 40.Bxf6 Rxc2 41.Rxc2 Kxf6 White's doubled pawns are very weak and good targets for Black's Rook.
• After 37...f4 38.Rf1 h5 39.gxf4 exf4 40.Rc4 Rxb2 41.Rxe4 Raa2 Black has used his spatial advantage to place two hogs on the seventh.

36...Ng5 37.Rd6

• 37.Rcd2 f4 then:
• 38.Kf1 f3 39.Nd3 e4 40.Ne5+ Bxe5 41.Bxe5 R7a3 Black's spatial edge is still significant.
• 38.gxf4 exf4 39.Rd7+ Rxd7 40.Rxd7+ Kg6 then:
• After 41.exf4 Nh3 42.Bxf6 Nxf4+ 43.Kg3 Nh5+ 44.Kg2 Nxf6 Black's Rook is more active than White's.
• 41.Bxf6 f3+ 42.Kf1 Kxf6 43.Rd4 e5 44.Rxg4 Nh3 45.Nd3 Rd2 wins the Knight.

37...e4 38.Bxf6 Kxf6 39.Kf1

• After 39.Rxb6 Ra1 40.Re2 Nf3 Black wins a piece.

39...Ra1 40.Ke2 Rb1 41.Rd1

• After 41.Kd2 Raa1 42.Rxb6 Rxe1 43.Ra6 Nf3+ Black has an extra piece.

41...Rxb4 42.Ng2 Rxb5 43.Nf4

• After 43.Ne1 Rb3 44.Ng2 b5 45.Nf4 b4 46.h4 gxh3 Black is three pawns to the good.

43...Rc5 44.Rb2 b5 45.Kf1 Rac7 46.Rbb1 Rb7 47.Rb4

• After 47.Kg2 b4 48.Rb3 Nf3 49.h3 e5 50.Rd6+ Kf7 51.Rh6 Kg8 Black has a huge lead in space and two extra pawns.

47...Rc4 48.Rb2

• After 48.Rdb1 Rxb4 49.Rxb4 Nf3 50.Kg2 Ke5 51.h4 gxh3+ 52.Nxh3 Kd6 53.Ng1 Ne1+ Black will crush White with space.

48...b4 49.Rdb1 Nf3 50.Kg2 Rd7 51.h3 e5

• If After 51...gxh3+ 52.Kxh3 e5 53.Ng2 Rb7 then:
• After 54.Ne1 Nxe1 55.Rxe1 b3 56.Kg2 Kg5 57.Reb1 Rc3 58.Kf1 Kg4 White must feel like he is in a vise.
• After 54.Nh4 Ng5+ 55.Kg2 Ne6 56.f3 exf3+ 57.Nxf3 Nc5 58.Rd1 b3 59.Rd6+ Ne6 Black is pushing Black off the board.

52.Ne2 Rd2 53.hxg4

• 53.Rxd2 Nxd2 54.Rb2 gxh3+ 55.Kxh3 Nf3 56.g4 Ne1 57.Ra2 Nd3 Black continues to whittle away at White.

53...fxg4 54.Rxd2 Nxd2 55.Rb2

• After 55.Rd1 Rc2 56.Nc1 Kf5 57.Kg1 Rxc1 58.Rxc1 b3 59.Rc8 b2 60.Rf8+ Ke6 61.Re8+ Kd6 62.Rd8+ Kc7 the pawn queens.

55...Nf3 56.Kf1 b3 57.Kg2 Rc2 0-1

• White must lose a piece.
• Kramnik resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Games from Gibraltar:

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Bologan - Stefanova, Round 7, Gibraltar

Viorel Bologan
Photo: ChessBase.com


Viorel Bologan - Antoaneta Stefanova
Gibtelecom Masters, Round 7
Gibralter, 28 January 2008

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Neo-Classical Defense

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Bc5 6.c3 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.d4 Ba7

• If 8...Bb6 9.a4 Rb8 10.Na3 0-0 11.axb5 axb5 12.Nxb5 Bg4 13.Bc2 Bxf3 then:
• 14.Qxf3 exd4 15.Bg5 h6 16.Bh4 dxc3 17.bxc3 Ne5 18.Qe2 Ng6 19.Bg3 Re8 20.Rad1 Qd7 21.Nd4 Qg4 22.f3 Qg5 23.f4 Qh5 24.Rf3 Nh4 25.Bxh4 draw agreed (J. Polgar-Shirov, IT, Linares, 1997).
• 14.gxf3 Nh5 15.f4 Qh4 16.Qf3 Nxf4 17.Bxf4 exf4 18.Kh1 Ne7 19.Na3 c5 20.d5 Ng6 21.Nc4 Qf6 gives White a slight edge in space (Kasimdzhanov-Anand, World Blitz Cup, Moscow, 2007).

9.h3 0-0!?

• 9...Bb7 10.Re1 0-0 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bh4 Re8 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Nxe5 Rxe5 15.Nd2 Re8 is equal (Hou Yifan-Stefanova, Ruy López Fesitval, Zafra, 2007).

10.Bg5

• 10.d5 Ne7 11.Bc2 Ne8 12.a4 f5 13.exf5 Bxf5 14.Bxf5 Rxf5 is equal.

10...Bb7

• 10...h6 11.Bd5 Bd7 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.Bh4 Qe7 remains equal.

11.Qd3?!

• This error will cost White material.
• 11.d5 Nb8 12.Nbd2 Nbd7 13.Qe2 Qc8 14.Nh4 c5 15.c4 gives White a small edge in space.

11...h6 12.Bh4 exd4 13.cxd4 g5 14.Nxg5?

• White compounds the error with an unsound sacrifice.
• After 14.e5 gxh4 15.exf6 Qxf6 16.d5 Ne5 17.Nxe5 dxe5 Black has an extra pawn.

14...hxg5 15.Bxg5 Nxd4!

• Black emerges from the exchanges a piece to the good.

16.Nc3 Kg7 17.Rae1 Ne6 18.Bh4 Nf4 19.Qg3+

• After 19.Qf3 Ng6 20.e5 Bxf3 21.Bxf6+ Kh6 22.Bxd8 Raxd8 23.gxf3 Nxe5 White has evened the material, but Black has an edge in space.

19...Ng6 20.Nd5

• After 20.Bg5 Qe7 21.Kh1 Rae8 22.Nd5 Bxd5 23.Bxd5 Qe5 Black remains a piece up.

20...Bxd5 21.exd5

• No better is 21.Bxd5 Rc8 22.Bb7 Rb8 23.Bc6 Qe7 24.Bxf6+ Qxf6.

21...Bd4 22.Bg5 b4

• Black is a full piece up after 22...Bxb2 23.Re2 Be5 24.Qf3 Rh8.

23.h4 Rh8 24.Bc2 Qd7 25.Re6

• Black is still a piece up after 25.Qf3 Rae8 26.Bf5 Qa4 27.Bxf6+ Bxf6 28.Rxe8 Qxe8.

25...Nxd5 26.Rxg6+ fxg6

• Black is now an exchange to the good.

27.Qd3 Bxb2 28.Qxd5 Qf7 29.Qe4 Bf6 30.Bb3

• Black remains an exchange up after 30.Qxb4 Rab8 31.Qa4 Bxg5 32.hxg5 Rb5 33.Qd4+ Kg8.

30...Qf8?

• It's Black turn to error. This allows White to equalize.
• After 30...Rae8 31.Qxb4 Qe7 32.Bxf6+ Qxf6 Black remains strong.

31.Rc1 Rc8 32.Be6 Qe7 33.Bxf6+ Qxf6?

• This allows White to take command.
• 33...Kxf6! 34.Re1 Kg7 35.Bxc8 Qxe4 36.Rxe4 Rxc8 37.Rxb4 is level.

34.Bxc8 Rxc8 35.Qxb4 Kh8
BLACK: Antoaneta Stefanova
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Viorel Bologan
Position after 35...Kg7h8

36.Rxc7!!

• The sham sacrifice of the Rook give White full command of the endgame.
• 36.Rc6? Qa1+ 37.Kh2 Qxa2 is equal.

36...Qa1+ 37.Kh2 Rxc7 38.Qb8+ Kg7 39.Qxc7+ Kh6 40.Qf7!

• White prefers to protect the a-pawn rathr than take the d-pawn and allow Black a passer on the a-file.

40...Qe5+ 41.Kh3 Qe1

• 41...Qc3+ 42.f3 Qd3 43.Qb3 Qd4 44.Qg8 Qf6 45.Qd5 Qa1 46.Qg5+ leaves White in full command.

42.Qg8

• 42.Qf8+ Kh7 43.Qxd6 Qxf2 44.Qxa6 Qf5+ 45.Kh2 Qf4+ 46.g3 Qf2+ 47.Kh3 Qf5+ 48.Kg2 is also good.

42...Qh1+ 43.Kg3 Qa1 44.Qc4 Kh7 45.Qf7+

• After 45.Qxa6 Qc3+ 46.Kg4 Qd4+ 47.f4 Qd2 48.Qb7+ White is two pawns up and the a-pawn is ready to go.

45...Kh6 46.Qf8+ Kh7 47.Qe7+ Kh6 48.Qg5+ Kh7 49.h5!

• The text is stronger than 49.Qa5 Kh6 50.f4 Qd4 51.Qxa6 Qe3+ 52.Kg4 Qe4 53.g3 Qf5+ 54.Kf3.

49...gxh5

• After 49...Qc3+ 50.Kh2 gxh5 51.Qxh5+ Kg7 52.Qg5+ Kf8 53.Qd8+ the d-pawn falls.

50.Qxh5+ Kg7 51.Qd5 Qc3+ 52.f3 Qe1+ 53.Kg4 Qb4+ 54.f4 a5

• If 54...Kf6 55.g3 Qa3 56.Kh4 Qb4 57.Kh5 Qa3 58.Kh6 then:
• After 58...Ke7 59.g4 Qh3+ 60.Kg5 White's kingside pawn are menacing.
• After 58...Qxg3 59.Qg5+ Qxg5+ 60.fxg5+ Kf7 61.Kh7 the g-pawn marches in.

55.Kf5 a4 56.Kg5 Qb2 57.g3 Qb6

• If 57...Qc3 58.Kh4 Qb4 59.Qe6 then:
• 59...Qd4 60.Kg5 Qc5+ 61.Qf5 d5 62.Qd7+ wins a pawn.
• 59...Qc5 60.g4 Qf2+ 61.Kg5 Qc5+ 62.Qf5 reaches the same position.

58.Qe6 Qd8+

• After 58...Qa5+ 59.Kg4 Qc7 60.Kh5 Kf8 61.f5 White brings his pawn forward, threatening mate once it is on the sixth rank.

59.Kh5 d5 60.Qg6+ Kf8 61.Qf5+ Ke8

• After 61...Kg8 62.Qg5+ Qxg5+ 63.Kxg5 d4 64.Kg4 the White King is in time to stop the d-pawn.

62.Qe6+ Kf8 63.Kg6 Qc7 64.Qf5+ Ke8 65.Qxd5 Qc2+

• After 65...Kf8 66.Qa8+ Ke7 67.Qxa4 Qd6+ 68.Kh5 Qd5+ 69.Kh4 Black ius out of checks.

66.Kg5

• After 66.f5 Ke7 67.g4 Ke8 68.g5 the kingside pawns advance.

66...Qf2 67.g4 Ke7 68.Qe5+

• After 68.f5 a3 69.Kg6 Qc2 70.g5 Ke8 71.Kg7 the pawns cannot be stopped.

68...Kf7 69.Qc7+ Ke8 70.Kf6 Qh4+ 71.g5 Qh8+ 72.Qg7 1-0

• After the Queens are traded, White marches his kingside pawns forward.
• Ms. Stefanova resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Bu - Bologan, Round 8, Gibraltar

Bu Xiangzhi
Photo: ChessBase.com


Bu Xiangzhi - Viorel Bologan
Gibtelecom Masters, Round 8
Gibraltar, 29 January 2008

West India Game: King's Indian Defense (Panno Variation)

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 0-0 5.0-0 d6 6.d4 Nc6 7.Nc3 a6 8.b3

• If 8.h3 Rb8 9.e4 then:
• 9...b5 10.e5 dxe5 11.dxe5 Qxd1 12.Rxd1 Nd7 13.e6 fxe6 14.cxb5 axb5 15.Bf4 b4 16.Na4 e5 17.Be3 Nd8 18.Rac1 Ne6 White's extra space more than compensates for the pawn (Vaganian-Mestel, MCL, London, 1984).
• 9...Nd7 10.Be3 b5 11.cxb5 axb5 12.Qc1 Na5 13.Bh6 b4 gives White the edge in space (W. Schmidt-Sznapik, IT, Vrnjacka Banja, 1981).
• If 8.d5 Na5 9.Nd2 c5 10.Qc2 Rb8 11.b3 b5 12.Bb2 then:
• 12...e5 13.Rae1 Nh5 14.e4 Bh6 15.Nd1 f5 16.exf5 Bxf5 17.Ne4 bxc4 18.bxc4 Rf7 gives Black the edge in space (Browne-Gunawan, IT, Denpasar, 1982).
• If 12...bxc4 13.bxc4 Bh6 then:
• 14.f4 e5 15.dxe6 Bxe6 16.Nd5 Rxb2 17.Qxb2 Bg7 18.Qc1 Black's slight edge in space does not compensate for the exchange.
• If 14.Ncb1 Bd7 15.Bc3 Qc7 16.h3 Bg7 17.e4 e5 18.Qd3 Nh5 19.Na3 f5 20.Rab1 f4 21.Rxb8 Rxb8 22.g4 Nf6 23.Rb1 draw agreed (Csom-Suetin, Ljubljana, 1973).

8...Rb8 9.Nd5 e6

If
• 9...Nh5 10.Bb2 e6 11.Nc3 b5 12.d5 Ne7 13.dxe6 fxe6 14.c5 then:
• 14...dxc5 15.Qc2 Nc6 16.Rad1 Nd4 17.Nxd4 cxd4 18.Ne4 e5 19.e3 Bf5 20.Qc5 Rf7 21.exd4 exd4 22.Rxd4 Qe7 23.Ba1 Qxc5 24.Nxc5 Bxd4 25.Bxd4 Rd8 Gives Black the edge in space to go with being an exchange to the good (Sargissian-Nijboer, Ol, Bled, 2002).
• 14...Bb7 15.cxd6 cxd6 is equal (Grabarczyk-B. Socko, Polish Ch, Polanica Zdroj, 1999).

10.Nxf6+ Qxf6 11.Bg5

• 11.Bb2 e5 12.dxe5 d5 13.c5 Qe7 14.Rc1 f5 15.Qc2 Rd8 gives White the edge in space, but Black's center is well defended (Adorjan-Bouaziz, Szirak, 1987).

11...Qf5 12.Qd2 Nxd4 13.Nxd4 Bxd4 14.Qxd4 Qxg5 15.Qa7 Bd7 16.Bxb7 a5 17.Rfd1

• 17.Rad1 Rfd8 18.Rd3 Kf8 19.Rfd1 Ke7 20.Bc6 Rb6 21.Bb5 Qc5 gives White the advantage in apce on the queenside (Ruck-Fedorov. Eur Club Cup, Fügen (Austria), 2006).

17...Rfd8 18.Bf3!?

• 18.Bg2 Qc5 19.Qxc5 dxc5 20.Rd3 Kf8 21.Re3 f6 22.f4 yields the edge in space to White (Mamedyarov-McShane, Young Masters, Lausanne, 2003).

18...Qc5?
BLACK: Viorel Bologan
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WHITE: Bu Xiangzhi
Position after 18...Qg5c5

• This cedes to White an advantage in pawn structure.
• After 18...Rbc8 19.Rac1 a4 20.b4 e5 21.b5 Bg4 22.Rc3 White holds his position and his edge in space.

19.Qxc5 dxc5 20.Rd3 Kf8

• After 20...Be8 21.Re3 a4 22.h3 Kf8 23.Re5 axb3 24.axb3 Rxb3 25.Rxc5 White retainss his edge in space and threatens a pawn.

21.Rad1 Ke7 22.Re3

• Better is 22.e4 f6 23.e5 fxe5 24.Re1 Kf6 25.Bg2 a4 26.Rf3+ Ke7 27.Rxe5 when White has an edge in space and an active Rook.

22...a4

• If 22...Be8 23.Rd5 Rxd5 24.cxd5 a4 25.dxe6 then:
• 25...f6 26.Bd5 Rd8 27.Bc4 Rd1+ 28.Kg2 is equal as Black is assured of winning back the pawn.
• After 25...fxe6 26.Bd5 Rb6 27.f4 Rd6 28.Bc4 a3 29.Bd3 White has advantages in space and pawn structure.

23.Rd5 axb3 24.axb3 Ra8

• If 24...Bc8 25.Rxc5 Rd1+ 26.Kg2 then:
• After 26...Kd7 27.Ra5 Bb7 28.Ra4 Bxf3+ 29.Kxf3 Rd4 30.Ra3 Black's extra space does not compenate for White's extra pawn.
• After 26...Kd6?! 27.Ra5 f6 28.c5+ Ke7 29.Ra7 Kd7 30.h4 White has a huge edge in space.

BLACK: Viorel Bologan
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WHITE: Bu Xiangzhi
Position after 24...Rb8a8

25.Rxc5

• The advantage in pawn structure (see note to Black's 18th move) has been converted to an advantage in material.

25...Ra7

• If 25...c6 26.Kg2 Ra6 27.Rd3 then:
• 27...h5 28.h4 f6 29.Be4 Be8 30.Rxd8 Kxd8 31.b4 White has a modest edge in space and an extra pawn.
• 27...f6 28.g4 h6 29.h4 g5 30.Kg3 Rb8 31.e3 White has a comfortable spatial advantage.

26.Rd3 Rb8

• After 26...f6 27.Kg2 e5 28.b4 Rb8 29.Ra5 Rxa5 30.bxa5 White has exchanged some of his spatial plus in order to gain a passed pawn.

27.e4 f6 28.e5 f5

• After 28...fxe5 29.Rxe5 Kf6 30.Rc5 Bc8 31.h4 White still has a healthy edge in space.

29.g4

• If 29.h4 h6 30.Bg2 g5 31.f4 g4 32.Bc6 Rd8 then:
• 33.Bb5 Bxb5 34.Rxd8 Ra1+ 35.Kf2 Ra2+ 36.Ke1 Kxd8 37.cxb5Black has more space for the moment, and it may compensate for his pawn minus.
• 33.b4? Bxc6 34.Rxd8 Ra1+ 35.Kf2 Ra2+ 36.Ke1 Kxd8 37.Rxc6 is equal.

29...fxg4 30.Bxg4 Rf8

• After 30...h6 31.Kf1 Be8 32.h4 g5 33.hxg5 hxg5 34.Rh3 Bg6 35.Rc6 White leads in both space and material.

31.b4 c6

• After 31...Rf4 32.Be2 Be8 33.Re3 Rd4 34.Ra5 Rxa5 35.bxa5 Rd2 36.a6 Ra2 37.c5 White remains a pawn to the good and his position is solid.

32.Bf3 Rb8 33.Bxc6?!

• After 33.Rb3! Rb6 34.b5 cxb5 35.cxb5 Ra5 36.Be2 g5 37.Kg2 White's advantages are indicative of winning.

33...Rxb4 34.Rh3 h5 35.Be4

• 35.Bxd7 Rxd7 36.Rg3 Rd4 37.Rxg6 Rbxc4 38.Rxc4 Rxc4 39.Rh6 Rg4+ 40.Kf1 h4 41.Rh7+ continues to be good for White.

35...Be8 36.Kg2 g5 37.Rg3 g4 38.h3 Rd7

• After 38...Raa4 39.Rc3 gxh3+ 40.Kxh3 Ra7 41.Rg3 Raa4 42.Rg7+ Kf8 43.Rgc7 White's position is better than ever.

39.hxg4 Rd4

• No better is 39...hxg4 40.Rxg4 Rd4 41.Bf3 Rxg4+ 42.Bxg4.

40.Bf3 h4 41.Rh3 Rbxc4 42.Rxc4 Rxc4 43.Rxh4

• White is two pwns up in a commanding position.. It doesn't get better than this.

43...Rc5 44.Rh7+ Kf8 45.Rh8+ Ke7 46.Rh7+ Kf8 47.Kg3 Rxe5 48.Kf4

• White should win easily after 48.Bg2 Rc5 49.f4 Bf7 50.g5 Bg6 51.Rh8+ Kg7 52.Re8.

48...Ra5 49.Rh8+ Ke7 50.Be4 Ra4

• White still wins after 50...e5+ 51.Kg5 Bd7 52.Rh7+ Kd6 53.Rh6+ Kc5 54.Bf5.

51.Rh7+

• No better is 51.g5 Bg6 52.f3 Rb4 53.Rh4 when:
• 53...Kf7 54.Rh6 Bxe4 55.fxe4 Rb5 56.Rf6+ Ke7 57.e5 White's extra pawn should carry the day.
• 53...Kd6 54.Kg3 Bxe4 55.Rxe4 Rb1 56.f4 Ra1 57.Kg4 is a comfortable wion for White.

51...Kf8

• 51...Kd6 52.f3 Bg6 53.Rh6 Bxe4 54.fxe4 would have presented White with more difficulties in winning than he actually had in the game.

52.f3 Bg6 53.Rb7 Bxe4 54.fxe4 Ra5

• White is two pawns up after 54...Ra1 55.Ke5 Rg1 56.Kf6 Rf1+ 57.Kxe6.

55.g5 Rc5 56.g6 Rh5

• After 56...Ra5 57.e5 Kg8 58.Kg5 Ra1 59.Rf7 Black is doomed.

57.Rh7

• 57.Rf7+ Kg8 58.Re7 Rh4+ 59.Ke5 Kf8 60.Rxe6 kills the last Black pawn.

57...Ra5 58.e5 Kg8

• No better is 58...Rc5 59.Rb7 Rc1 60.Rf7+ Kg8 61.Kg5 Re1 62.Kf6.

59.Rd7 Rb5 60.Ra7 Rb1 61.Kg5 Rf1
BLACK: Viorel Bologan
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WHITE: Bu Xiangzhi
Position after 61...Rb1f1

• If 61...Rg1+ 62.Kf6 Rf1+ 63.Kxe6 Rg1 64.g7 Rf1 65.Ra2 Kxg7 66.Ke7 then:
• 66...Re1 **67.Rg2+ Kh6 68.e6 Rb1 69.Ke8 Rd1 70.e7 Kh7 71.Rg4 is the Lucena position.
• 66...Rf7+ 67.Kd6 Rf1 68.e6 Rd1+ 69.Ke7 Re1 70.Rg2+ Kh7 71.Kd7 Rd1+ 72.Ke8 Kh6 73.e7 Re1 74.Rg4 Kh5 75.Rg8 Kh6 76.Kd7 Rd1+. The pawn will queen as soon as it is White's move and the White King is not in check. The winning procedure is to force such a position by bringing the King forward, like a vise until the Rook is out of space, thus: after 77.Kc6 Rc1+ 78.Kd5 Rd1+ 79.Kc4 Rc1+ 80.Kd3 Rd1+ 81.Ke2 Black is out of checks and the pawn will queen on the next move.

62.Rf7 Rg1+ 63.Kf6 Rf1+ 64.Kxe6 Rg1

• 64...Ra1 65.Ke7 Rg1 66.e6 Rxg6 67.Kd7 Rg1 68.e7 Rd1+ 69.Ke8 Rd2 70.Rf5 Kg7 71.Rg5+ Kh6 72.Rg4 Kh5 73.Re4 is the Lucena position.

65.Kf6 Rf1+ 66.Ke7 Rg1 67.e6!

• The text is simpler than 67.g7 Ra1 68.e6 Rd1 69.Ke8 Rd6 70.e7.

67...Rxg6 68.Rf1 Kg7 69.Kd7 Rg2 70.e7 Rd2+ 71.Ke8 Ra2 72.Rg1+ Kh7 73.Re1

• The pawn can only be stopped by surrendering the Rook.
• Mr. Bologan resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Efimenko - Bu, Round 9, Gibraltar

Zahar Efimenko
Photo: ChessBase.com


Zahar Efimenko - Bu Xiangzhi
Gibtelecom Masters, Round 9
Gibraltar, 30 January 2008

Open Sicilian Game: Najdorf-Boleslavsky Defense

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.Re1

• 9.Be3 Be6 10.Qd2 Nbd7 11.a4 Rc8 12.a5 Qc7 then:
• 13.Rfc1 (
  
• If 13.Rfd1 Rfd8 14.Qe1 Qc6 15.Bf3 h6 16.Nc1 Qc7 17.Nd3 d5 18.exd5 Bf5 then:
• 19.Bb6?! Nxb6 20.axb6 Qxb6 is equal (Zaw Win Lay- J. Polgar, Japfa Classic, Bali, 2000).
) 13...Qc6 14.Bf3 Bc4 15.Ra4 Rfe8 16.Rb4 Qc7 17.Nd5 Nxd5 18.exd5 f5 19.Qc3 gives White a small edge in space (Balashov-Ubilava, Soviet Ch Semif, Tallinn, 1983).
• 19.Ra4 Bd6 20.h3 Re8 21.Be2 Qd8 22.Qd2 Bc7 23.Rda1 gives White an extra pawn and quite a bit more space.
• 9.Kh1 b6 10.Be3 Bb7 11.f3 b5 then:
• 12.a4 b4 13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.exd5 Nd7 then:
• 15.c4 bxc3 16.bxc3 Bg5 17.Bf2 Qc7 18.c4 Rab8 19.a5 Ba8 20.Ra4 Qb7 21.Nc1 Nc5 gives Black an edge in space (Nijboer-Vachier Lagrave, Corus B, Wijk aan Zee, 2007).
• 15.c3 bxc3 16.bxc3 Bg5 17.Bf2 f5 18.Rb1 Rf7 19.c4 Nf6 is equal (Jakovenko-Alekseev, Karpov Trmt, Poikovsky, 2007).
• 12.Qd2 Nbd7 13.Rfd1 b4 14.Nd5 Nxd5 15.exd5 Nf6 16.Bc4 a5 17.a3 Qc7 18.Qd3 a4 19.Nd2 bxa3 20.Rxa3 Ra5 21.Ne4 Nxd5 22.Bd2 Nf4 23.Bxa5 Qxa5 24.Qc3 is equal (Ganguly-Gallagher, Ol, Bled, 2002).

9...Be6 10.Bf3

• 10.Bf1 Nbd7 11.Nd5 Nxd5 12.exd5 Bf5 13.a4 Rc8 14.c3 Bg5 15.Bxg5 Qxg5 16.a5 Bg6 17.Ra4 f5 18.Rb4 Rc7 19.f4 exf4 20.Qd2 White has the edge in space (Spraggett-Fresinet, French ChT, Bordeax, 2001).
• 11...Bxd5 12.exd5 a5 13.a4 Re8 14.Bb5 Rf8 15.Be3 Ne8 16.Bxd7 Qxd7 17.Nd2 Nf6 18.Nc4 Ra6 19.Qd3 Qc7 20.Na3 gives White a modest edge in space (Osolin-Schumi, Op, Bled, 2001).

10...Nbd7 11.a4 Rc8

• 11...h6 12.Nd2 Rc8 13.Nf1 Rc4 14.Be3 Qc7 15.a5 Rb4 16.Qc1 Rc8 gives Black the advantage in space (Arzumanian-Onischuk, IT, Kharkiv, 2007).

12.a5 Qc7 13.Be3 Rfd8 14.Nd2 h6 15.Nf1 Bf8!?

• 15...Nc5 16.Ng3 Bf8 17.Qd2 Qb8 18.Nd5 Bxd5 19.exd5 yields a small edge in space to White (Alekseev-Magashvili, World Jr Ch, Istanbul, 2005).

16.h3

• After 16.Ng3 Qc4 17.Re2 Re8 18.Ra4 Qc6 19.Rb4 Be7 20.Rd2 White retains a spactial advantage.

16...g6

• 16...Qc4 17.Bc1 then:
• After 17...Qc7 18.Ne3 g6 19.Ncd5 Bxd5 20.exd5 e4 21.Be2 White still has a modest advantage in space.
• After 17...g6 18.Ne3 Qc7 19.Ned5 Bxd5 20.exd5 Bg7 21.Be3 Nc5 22.Qc1 White contiues to lead in space.

17.Nh2 h5 18.Nf1 Bg7 19.Bg5

• If 19.Ng3 Qc4 20.Bg5 Qc5 21.Qc1 b5 then:
• 22.axb6 Qxb6 23.Nd5 Bxd5 24.exd5 Re8 25.Ra2 is comfortable for White.
• 22.Qd2? Qb4 23.Reb1 Nb8 24.Qe3 Qc5 is equal.

19...Rb8

• White still has the better center after 19...b5 20.axb6 Qxb6 21.Bc1 Nc5 22.Ne3 Qb7 23.Ned5 Nxd5 24.Nxd5 Bxd5 25.exd5.

20.Ne3 Rdc8 21.Be2 Qc6

• White remains comfortable, but not much more than that, after 21...Qc5 22.Ned5 Bxd5 23.exd5 Qb4 24.Ra2.

22.Bd3 Re8 23.Bh4 Nh7?

• From h7, the Knight will have no better place to go but right back to f6.
• 23...b5 24.Qf3 Qc5 25.Rec1 b4 26.Ne2 d5 27.exd5 Nxd5 is equal.

24.Ncd5!

• For either side in the Open Sicilian, it is desirable to occupy d5 with a piece.

24...Bxd5 25.Nxd5 Nhf6 26.c4

• 26.Nb4 Qc5 27.c3 Rbc8 28.Qf3 Re6 29.Red1 Qc7 30.Bc2

26...Nxd5 27.cxd5 Qc7 28.Bg5

• 28.Qd2 Bf6 29.Bg3 Rec8 30.Rac1 Qd8 31.Rxc8 Rxc8 32.b4

28...Bf6 29.Be3 Rec8 30.Qd2 Qd8

• Acter 30...Nc5 White strengthens his position with 31.Rec1 Qd8 32.Bc2 b5 33.b4 Nb7 34.Bd3 when White has almost deprived Black of good moves.

31.b4 Kh7 32.Rac1 Bg7 33.Rxc8 Rxc8 34.Rc1 Rc7

• After 34...Rxc1+ 35.Qxc1 Bh8 36.Qc2 Bg7 37.Qd2 Qc7 38.Kh1 White has a significant lead in space and has deprived the Black Knight of any forward outposts.

35.g3 Nf6 36.Kg2 Rxc1 37.Qxc1 Qd7

• If 37...Nd7 38.Qd2 Kh8 39.Qd1 Kg8 40.Qa4 then:
• After 40...Qc7 41.b5 axb5 42.Qxb5 h4 43.a6 bxa6 44.Qc6 Qd8 45.Qxd6 the a-pawn falls.
• After 40...Kh7 41.Bc2 Qc7 42.Bd1 f5 43.exf5 gxf5 44.Bxh5 Nf6 45.Qd1White is a pawn to the good.

38.Qc2?!

• White throws away most of his advantage.
• If 38.Bg5 Ng8 39.b5 axb5 40.Qb2 Bh6! 41.Bxb5 Qc7 42.Bd2 Bxd2 43.Qxd2 h4 44.Bd3 hxg3 45.fxg3 White still has the advantage in space.
• After 40...f5? 41.Bxb5 Qf7 42.f3 Qc7 43.exf5 gxf5 44.Qb1 Kg6 45.g4 White retains the spacial edge.

38...Bh6 39.Bb6?

• This allows Black to equalize.
• After 39.Ba7! h4 40.Bb6 Kg8 41.Qc3 hxg3 42.fxg3 Qa4 43.Bd8 Ne8 44.Qc4 White still has a significant edge in space.

39...h4

• 39...Kg7 40.b5 axb5 41.Qb1 h4 42.Bxb5 Qc8 43.g4 Nxg4 44.Qb4 is equal.

40.g4

• 40.Qc4 Kg7 41.Qc3 hxg3 42.fxg3 Qa4 43.Bc7 Qd7 44.Bb8 is equal.
40.Qc3 hxg3 41.fxg3 Qa4 42.Bc7 Qd7 43.Bb8 Ne8 44.b5 axb5 45.Qb4 Nc7 46.Ba7 Kg7 is equal.

40...Nxg4?

• If 40...Kg7 then:
• 41.b5 axb5 then:
• 42.Qb3 then:
• 42...Qc8 43.Qa3 Bf4 44.f3 Bg3 45.Qb2 b4 46.Qxb4 Qc1 is equal.
• 42...Nxg4? 43.Qxb5! Qc8 44.a6 Nf6 45.a7 Nh5 46.Bf1 White is a pawn up and threatening to promote the a-pawn.
• 42.Qb1 Qc8 43.Bxb5 Nxg4 44.Qb4 Qc2 45.Qc4 is equal.
• 41.Bf1 Qe8 42.Be2 Qd7 43.Kg1 Bf4 44.b5 axb5 45.Qb1 Qc8 White is a pawn up and threatening to promote the a-pawn.

41.Qc7!

• 41.Bc4 Nf6 42.Be2 Qe7 43.Kh2 Bf4+ 44.Kg1 Qd7 is equal.
• After 41.hxg4? Qxg4+! 42.Kh1 h3 43.Bf1 Qf3+ 44.Kg1 Bf4 White must either surrender the Bishop or submit to immediate checkmate..

41...Nf6

• If 41...Qxc7 42.Bxc7 Nf6 then:
• 43.Bxa6!! then:
• 43...Ne8 44.Bb8 bxa6 45.b5 axb5 46.a6 Nf6
• 43...bxa6 44.b5 axb5 45.a6
• 43.Bxd6 Bf4 44.Be7 Nd7 45.b5 Bd2 46.bxa6 bxa6 47.Bxa6 Bxa5 48.Bb5

42.Qxd7 Nxd7 43.Bc7 Kg8

• After 43...Bf8 44.Bd8 Bh6 45.Be7 Kg8 46.Kf3 f6 47.Bxd6 White has more space and a passed pawn.

BLACK: Bu Xiangzhi
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WHITE: Zahar Efimenko
Position after 43...Kh7g8

44.Bxa6!!

• This is a stunning sacrifice. The path is cleared for the a-pawn to queen.

44...Bd2

• If 44...bxa6 45.b5 Nc5 46.Bb6 then:
• 46...axb5 47.Bxc5 dxc5 48.a6 c4 49.a7 the pawn queens.
• After 46...Nd7 47.bxa6 Bf8 48.a7
the pawn queens.

45.Bxb7 Bxb4 46.a6 Bc5 47.Bc6 1-0

• If 47...Nf6 48.Bxd6 then:
• After 48...Ba7 49.Bxe5 Nxe4 50.d6 it will cost Black a Knight to stop the pawn.
• After 48...Bxd6 49.a7 the a-pawn queens.
• Bu resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Nakamura - Efimenko, Round 10, Gibraltar

Hikaru Nakamura
Photo: ChessBase.com


Hikaru Nakamura - Zahar Efimenko
Gibtelecom Masters, Round 10
Gibraltar, 31 January 2008

King's English Game: Fianchetto Opening

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e5 3.g3 Bb4 4.Bg2 Bxc3

• If 4...0-0 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.0-0 e4 then:
• 7.Ne1 Bxc3 8.dxc3 h6 9.Nc2 Re8 is equal.
• 7.Ng5 Bxc3 8.bxc3 Re8 9.f3 e3 10.d3 d5 11.Qb3 is equal.

5.bxc3

• If 5.dxc3 d6 6.e4 0-0 7.Qe2 then:
• 7...Nbd7 8.Nf3 a6 9.0-0 b5 10.Rd1 Qe8 11.Nd2 Nb6 12.cxb5 axb5 13.b3 Bb7 14.Bb2 Kh8 15.Nf1 Ng8 16.Ne3 Ne7 17.Qc2 f5 18.c4 bxc4 19.Nxc4 Qc6 20.Rdc1 fxe4 21.Nd2 Qxc2 22.Rxc2 c5 23.Nxe4 draw agreed (Panno-García, Argentine Masters, Pinamar, 2001).
• 7...a6 8.Nf3 b5 9.0-0 bxc4 10.Rd1 Nbd7 11.Qxc4 a5 12.Qe2 Ba6 13.c4 a4 14.Qc2 Bb7 15.Nh4 Ra6 16.Nf5 Nc5 17.Be3 gives White the edge in space (Miezis-Krasenkow, OIBM, Bad Wiessee, 2001).

5...0-0 6.d3 d6 7.e4 Nc6!?

• The novelty is good for equality.
• 7...c6 8.Ne2 d5 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Qb3 Nb6 12.c4 Nc6 13.Be3 Bg4 14.f3 Bf5 15.Rd1 Nd4 16.Bxd4 exd4 17.0-0 Re8 18.Rf2 Qd7 gives Black an edge in space (Vakhidov-Anastasian, Op, Dubai, 2001).

8.Ne2 Bd7

• 8...Bg4 9.0-0 Qc8 10.Bg5 Nd7 11.Rb1 Nb6 is equal.

9.h3!?

• White avoids the pin at g4 which is featured in several variations.
• 9.f4 Re8 10.0-0 Bg4 11.Rb1 Rb8 12.a3 Qd7 is equal.

9...Ne8 10.0-0

• 10.f4 exf4 11.Bxf4 f5 12.exf5 Bxf5 13.0-0 Qd7 14.g4 Bg6 gives White the edge in space; also, for the moment, his Bishops are better than Black's Knights..

10...a6

• White has the edge in space after 10...Qc8 11.Kh2 f5 12.exf5 Bxf5 13.f4 Nf6 14.Rb1 Nd7 15.Ba3 .

11.a4 b6 12.f4

• The obserbvant reader has perhaps noticed by following the last three notes that the break in the f-file is important to both sides.

12...exf4?

• Black abandons the center in the way about which Dr. Tarrasch warned budding chess players a century ago.
• If 12...Be6 13.Ba3 Rb8 14.fxe5 Nxe5 15.Nf4 Qd7 then:
• After 16.d4! Nxc4 17.d5 Ne3 18.dxe6 fxe6 19.Qb3 Nxf1 20.Bxf1 White extra space compensates for a slight material deficit
• 16.a5 bxa5 17.Bc1 c5 18.Rf2 Nf6 19.Rxa5 Rb6 20.Rfa2 White takes over the initiative.

13.Bxf4

• If 13.Nxf4 Nf6 14.Nd5 Nxd5 15.cxd5 then:
• 15...Ne5 16.Qe2 b5 17.axb5 axb5 18.Rxa8 Qxa8 19.Bg5 White has a modest lead in space.
• 15...Na5 16.Ra2 f5 17.Raf2 Qe8 18.exf5 Bxa4 19.Qg4 White has a lead in space and a menacing attack.

13...Ne5 14.Nd4 g6

• After 14...c5 15.Nf3 Qc7 16.Qc2 Rb8 17.Rab1 Nxf3+ 18.Rxf3 f5 19.exf5 White has a significant edge in space.

15.Nc2

• If 15.a5 c5 16.Nf3 f6 17.Bh6 Ng7 18.Nxe5 dxe5 19.d4 then:
• 19...cxd4 20.cxd4 Qc7 21.axb6 Qxb6 22.Be3 gives White a comfortable spatial advantage.
• 19...exd4 20.cxd4 cxd4 21.Qxd4 White's advantage in space is huge.

15...Ng7 16.Ne3 f6

• 16...Be6 17.Bh6 Qd7 18.a5 then:
• 18...f6 19.Nd5 Bxd5 20.cxd5 b5 21.d4 Nc4 22.Qb1 f5 23.exf5 Rxf5 24.Qb4 Rxf1+ 25.Rxf1 White retains his edge in space.
• After 18...Bxh3 19.Nd5 Kh8 20.axb6 cxb6 21.Nxb6 Qa7 22.Be3 Bxg2 23.Kxg2 White has a huge spatial plus.

BLACK: Zahar Efimenko
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WHITE: Hikaru Nakamura
Position after 16...f7f6

17.d4!

• White now takes full control of the center. See note to Black's 12th move.
• Black's pieces are almost completely ineffective.
• White's plan will be to break open the center with a pawn advance and to attack another weak pawn on either wing, while Black must regroup his pieces in a way to either prevent or soften the effects of White's planned advance.

17...Nf7 18.g4 c6

• If 18...Re8 19.Qd3 c6 20.Bg3 then:
• After 20...Qe7 21.a5 bxa5 22.Nd1 Ng5 23.Nf2 a4 24.h4Black has still not found effective posts for his pieces.
• 20...Rf8 21.Rf2 Be6 22.Raf1 Ne8 23.Bh4 Qe7 24.Qe2White threatens to win the f-pawn, in addition to breaking through in the center.

19.Ra2 Ne6

• No better is 19...Be6 20.Raf2 Ne8 21.Qe2 Qc7 22.Bg3 Kg7 23.Bh4 Nh6 24.g5 .

20.Bg3 Neg5

• If 20...Kg7 21.Raf2 Qe7 22.Rxf6 Rae8 23.d5 then:
• After 23...Neg5 24.Qd4 Ne5 25.Rxf8 Rxf8 26.Bxe5+ Qce5 27.Qxe6 White is up by two pawns.
• If 23...Nc5 24.Qd4 then:
• After 24...Kg8 25.a5 bxa5 26.Bxd6 Nxd6 27.Rxf8+ Rxf8 28.Rxf8+ Qxf8 29.Qxc5 White has won a pawn.
24.Qd4 Ne5 25.Rxf8 Rxf8 26.Bxe5+ Qxe5 27.Qxb6 White is up by two pawns.
• After 24...Ne5 25.Bh4 Qxf6 26.Bxf6+ Rxf6 27.Rxf6 Kxf6 28.dxc6 Bxc6 29.Qxd6+ White wins.

21.Qd3 Qe7 22.h4 Ne6 23.Rb2

• 23.Raf2 Kg7 24.Rxf6 Qxf6 25.Rxf6 Kxf6 26.c5 bxc5 27.Bxd6 Nxd6 28.e5+ also wins.

23...Rab8 24.Rbf2 Nh6

• White breaks through in the center by 24...Kg7 25.Rxf6 Qxf6 26.Rxf6 Kxf6 27.e5+!! (see the last bullet in the note to White's 17th) 27...Kg7 28.exd6 Kg8 29.d5 .

BLACK: Zahar Efimenko
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WHITE: Hikaru Nakamura
Position after 24...Nf7h6

25.c5!!

• White plays the break anticipated in the note to his 17th move. The game is won.

25...bxc5 26.dxc5 Nxc5 27.Qxd6 Qxd6 28.Bxd6

• With the center blown away, White's active Bishop comes through to win either the exchange or a whole piece.

28...Nxa4 29.Bxf8 Rxf8 30.g5 Ng4 31.Nxg4 Bxg4 32.Rxf6 Rc8

• 32...Rxf6 33.Rxf6 Bd7 34.e5 Nxc3 35.e6 Be8 36.e7 Nd5 37.Rf8+ wins more material.

33.R1f4 Bd7 34.Bf1 1-0

• White is threatening 35.Bc3+ Kg7 36.Rf7+, winning the Bishop.
• After 34...Nb6 35.c4 Be8 36.c5 Nd7 37.Bc4+ Kg7 38.Re6 Kh8 39.Re7 White wins the Knight by advancing the e-pawn, for if the Knight moves, White delivers mate on f8.
• Mr. Efimenko resigns.