The Jack Rabbit Chess Report (February 10): Timofeev, Anna Muzychuk win Moscow Open

[Jack Rabbit]

Timofeev, Anna Muzychuk win Moscow Open

Timofeev defeats Inarkiev to take first prize in Group A

Artyom Timofeev defeated fellow Russian grandmaster Ernesto Inarkiev in a 117-move marathon to take first prize in the Moscow Open earlier today.

Timofeev finished alone in first place with 7½ points out of nine rounds. Inarkiev, with 7 points, finishes in a tie for second with Russian GMs Alexander Lastin, Alexander Riazantsev, Sergei Volkov and Igor Kurnosov, Georgia's Baadur Jobava, Ukrainian GMs Zahar Efimenko and Alexander Moiseenko, and Murtas Kazhgaleyev of Kazakhstan.

Inarkiev entered the ninth and final round leading with 7 points out of eight and needed only to avoid loss to claim first place clear. Inarkiev was stunned in the first round by losing to Russian FM Andrey Okara, a player rated nearly 280 Elo points beneath Inarkiev. Inarkiev then won his next seven games, most of it against stronger competition, before falling to Timofeev today.

Anna Muzychuk wins Ladies' Competition

Anna Muzychuk, a native of Ukraine who plays under the Slovenian flag, won the Ladies' Competition at the Moscow Open that was completed today with 8 points in nine rounds.

Ms. Muzychuk, who turns 18 on February 28, was assured of first prize on tie-break points even before today's play started. She drew her last round game with India's Dronavalli Harika, who finishes with 7 points in a tie for third place with two Ukrainians, GM Katya Lahno and WGM Natalia Zhukova. Anna Ushenina of Ukraine, who won her game today against Irina Krush, the reigning American women's champion, finishes in a clear second place with 7½ points.

Ms. Muzychuk has a younger sister, Mariya, who is a leading international star among girls 16 and under.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. The ladies of Gibraltar

The following four games were played by women who scored 6½ points in the Gibraltar Open, completed January 31.

Diagrams on the Jack Rabbit Chess Report are made with Chess Mérida, a true type font that can be downlaoded free here.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Quillan - Dronavalli, Gibraltar, Round 6

Dronavalli Harika
Photo: Guwahati Chess Association (India)


Gary Quillan - Dronavalli Harika
Gibraltar Masters, Round 6
Gibraltar, 27 January 2008

Spanish Sicilian Game: Canal Opening

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5

• The Spanish Sicilian is a popular alternative to the Open Sicilian.

3...d6 4.0-0 Bd7 5.c3 Nf6 6.Re1 a6 7.Ba4

• 7.Bf1 Bg4 8.d3 e6 9.Nbd2 Be7 10.h3 Bh5 11.g4 Bg6 is equal.

7...b5 8.Bc2 Bg4 9.d3 e6

• In a game played a year ago by Mr. Quillan, Black played 9...e5 10.a4 Be7 11.Na3 Rb8 12.h3 Bh5 13.axb5 axb5 14.Bb3 0-0 15.Bg5 Bxf3 16.gxf3 Nh5 with spatial dominance for Black (Quillan-Dzagnidze, Gibraltar, 2007).

10.Nbd2 Be7 11.h3 Bh5 12.Nf1 0-0

• 12...Nd7 13.Ng3 Bg6 14.d4 0-0 gives White the advantage in space (Xu Yuhua-Korbut, Eur Club Cup, Kemer (Turkey), 2007).

13.Ng3 Bg6 14.Nh4 Nd7

• 14...d5 15.Nxg6 hxg6 16.e5 Nd7 17.d4 b4 18.Ne2 Qc7 19.a3 bxc3 20.bxc3 is equal (Alobian-Tregubov, Eur Club Cup, Kemer (Turkey), 2007).

15.Nxg6 hxg6 16.d4!?

• After the ensuing exchange, White will have a small edge in space.
• 16.f4 Bf6 17.Rf1 Rc8 18.Kh1 b4 19.Bd2 Qa5 gives Black a small spatial advantage (Das-Satyapragyan, World Jr Ch, Goa (India), 2002).

16...cxd4 17.cxd4 e5

• White continues to enjoy a spatial edge after 17...Rc8 18.d5 exd5 19.exd5 Nb4 20.Be4.

18.d5

• 18.Ne2 Rc8 19.d5 Ncb8 20.b4 Bg5 21.Bb2 f5 22.exf5 gxf5 gives Black an esge in space, but White's Bishops have more potential in this position than any of Black's minor pieces.

18...Nd4!

• Black has equalized.

19.Bb1

• 19.Be3 Nxc2 20.Qxc2 Rc8 21.Qd3 Nc5 22.Qd2 f5 23.Bxc5 Rxc5 is equal.

19...Rc8 20.Be3 Qa5 21.a3
BLACK: Dronavalli Harika
!""""""""#
$ +t+ Tl+%
$+ +mVoO %
$o+ O +o+%
$Wo+pO + %
$ + Mp+ +%
$P + B Np%
$ P + Pp+%
$Rb+qR K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Gary Quillan
Position after 21.a2a3

21...Qa4!

• Black assumes a significant advantage in space.
• If 21...Nb6 22.Bxd4 exd4 23.b4 Qa4 then:
• After 24.Qxd4 Bf6 25.e5 Bxe5 26.Rxe5 dxe5 27.Qxb6 Rc1+ Black's small edge in space compensates for her slight material deficit.
• 24.Qd3 a5 25.Ba2 axb4 26.axb4 Bf6 27.Ne2 Qc2 gives Black the edge in space.

22.Bxd4?!

• White should fight back against Black's spatial dominance.
• 22.Qxa4 bxa4 23.Bxd4 exd4 24.Rd1 Bf6 25.Ne2 Nc5 26.Ra2 Rc7 Black has the spatial advantage.

22...exd4 23.b3

• After 23.Qxa4 bxa4 24.Rd1 Bf6 25.Ne2 Rc7 26.Bd3 Rb8. Black retains the lead in space.

23...Qa5 24.Ne2 Bf6 25.Ra2!

• White finally does something to cut into White advantage in space.
• 25.b4 Qb6 26.Ra2 Rfe8 27.Bc2 Rc7 28.Bd3 Ne5 29.Rc2 Rec8 30.Rxc7 Rxc7 continues to give Black a huge advantage in space.
• White knew better than to play 25.Nxd4?? Bxd4 26.Qxd4 Qxe1+.

25...Qb6 26.b4 a5 27.Rc2?!

• 27.a4 axb4 28.a5 Qa7 29.Bd3 Nc5 30.Qb1 Nxd3 31.Qxd3 is unclear with Black's small saptial plus pitted against White's superior pawns.

27...axb4 28.axb4 Rc4 29.Ba2?

• White should have protected the b-pawn.
• 29.Qd2 d3 30.Qxd3 Ne5 31.Qa3 Rxe4 is equal.

BLACK: Dronavalli Harika
!""""""""#
$ + + Tl+%
$+ + +oO %
$ W O Vo+%
$+o+p+ + %
$ PtOp+ +%
$+ + + +p%
$b+r+nPp+%
$+ +qR K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Gary Quillan
Position after 29.Bb1a2

29...Rxb4!

• Black finds the strongest move and permanently turns the game in her favor.
• 29...Rxc2 30.Qxc2 Ne5 31.Nc1 Qa6 32.f4 Nc4 33.Nd3 gives Black a spatial plus.

30.Rc6 Qa7

• Even more effective is 30...Qa5! then:
• 31.Bb1 Bf6 25.e5 Bxe5 26.Rxe5 dxe5 27.Qxb6 Rc1+ Black's small edge in space compensates for her slight material deficit.
• No better is 31.Nc1 Ne5 32.Rc2 d3 33.Nxd3 Nxd3 34.Qxd3 Rb2 35.Rb1 Rxa2.

31.Nc1 Ne5 32.Rxd6

• Better, but still losing, is 32.Rc2 d3 33.Nxd3 Rd4 34.Re3 Bg5 35.Rg3 Bf4 36.Rf3 Bh6.

32...Be7!

• Black now wins the exchange.

33.Rc6 Nxc6 34.dxc6 Ra4 35.Re2

• A more stubborn defense is 35.Bd5 Ra1 36.Qe2 Qa3 37.Nd3 Bd6 38.g3 Rxe1+ 39.Nxe1 Qc3.

35...Bg5 36.Rc2

• White allows the win of the Jnight at c1, putting him a whole Rook down,
• Black wins "merely" a pawn with 36.Bb1 Bxc1 37.Qxc1 Rc4 38.Qb2 Rxc6.

36...Bxc1 37.c7 Rc8 38.Qxc1 Rxa2 39.Qg5 Ra1+ 40.Kh2 Qa8 41.Rc6 0-1

• Better is 41.Rc5 Qxe4 42.Rxb5 Ra7 43.Re5 Qa8 when Black wins anyway.
• Mr. Quillan resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Cmilyte - Akobian, Gibraltar, Round 8

Viktorija Cmilyte
Photo: ChessBase.com


Viktorija Cmilyte - Var Akobian
Gibraltar Mastersm Round 8
Gibraltar, 29 January 2008

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

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 0-0 5.Nc3 d6 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.0-0 a6 8.h3

• 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.
• 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).
• If 8.b3 Rb8 9.Nd5 then:
• e6 10.Nxf6+ Qxf6 then:
• 11.Bg5 Qf5 12.Qd2 Nxd4 13.Nxd4 Bxd4 14.Qxd4 Qxg5 15.Qa7 Bd7 16.Bxb7 a5 17.Rfd1 Rfd8 18.Bf3 gives White a significant advatange in space (Bu Xiangzhi-Bologan, Rd 8, Gibraltar, 2008).
• 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).
• 9...Nh5 10.Bb2 e6 11.Nc3 b5 12.d5 Ne7 13.dxe6 fxe6 14.c5 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).

8...Bf5


• The position is equal.
• 8...Rb8 9.e4 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).

9.d5!?

• White gets her opponent out of the book.
• 9.b3 Ne4 10.Bb2 Nxc3 11.Bxc3 Be4 12.Qd2 d5 13.Rad1 e6 is equal (Grabarczyk-B. Socko, Polish Ch, Krakow, 2006).

9...Na5

• After 9...Ne5 10.Nxe5 dxe5 11.e4 Bd7 12.Qb3 White has considerably more space.

10.Nd4

• If 10.g4 Bd7 11.Qd3 c5 12.dxc6 Bxc6 (
  
• After 12...Nxc6 13.g5 Nh5 14.Rd1 Qc8 15.Kh2 Nb4 White has an advantage in space.

16.Qe4 ) 13.Bd2 b5 14.cxb5 axb5 15.Nxb5 gives White an extra pawn and an edge in space.
10...Bd7 11.b3!

• White has a small edge in space.
• If 11.Qd3 c5 12.dxc6 Nxc6 13.Nxc6 Bxc6 14.Nd5 then:
• 14...Rc8 15.Bg5 e6 16.Nxf6+ Bxf6 17.Bxf6 Qxf6 gives Black an edge in space.
• 14...Nxd5 15.cxd5 Bb5 16.Qe3 is equal.

11...c5 12.dxc6 bxc6 13.e4 Qc8

• If 13...Rb8 14.Nde2 Qc8 15.g4 c5 16.Qd3 then:
• After 16...Nc6 17.f4 h6 18.Qd2 White retains his small edge in space.
• 16...Ne8 17.f4 Nc6 18.Bb2 White has a small spatial edge.

14.Kh2 Ne8

• 14...c5 15.Nde2 Rb8 16.Rb1 Ne8 17.Bb2 f5 18.Nf4 is equal.

15.Be3 f5?!

• 15...c5 16.Nde2 Nc6 17.Qd2 f5 18.Rad1 Nf6 19.Nd5 is equal.

16.exf5 gxf5?

• 16...Bxf5 17.Nxc6 Nxc6 18.Qd5+ Kh8 19.Qxc6 Qxc6 20.Bxc6 White has a spatial edge.

17.b4 Nb7

• 17...Nxc4 18.Qb3 Be6 19.Nxe6 Qxe6 20.Bg5 Bxc3 21.Qxc3 Nf6 22.Bxc6 White is threatening to win the exchange on a8 and she has the advantage of two Bishops against two Knights in an open position.

18.b5!

• White is poised to take advantage of weaknesses in Black's after the pawn sacrifice is accepted.

18...axb5 19.cxb5 cxb5

BLACK: Var Akobian
!""""""""#
$t+w+mTl+%
$+m+vO Vo%
$ + O + +%
$+o+ +o+ %
$ + N + +%
$+ N B Pp%
$p+ + PbK%
$R +q+r+ %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Viktorija Cmilyte
Position after 19...cb5:p

20.Nd5!!

• See the previous note. The Knight radiates power from d5, threatening a fork at either b6 or e7.

20.Nd5 ]
20...Qd8

• This is the only move that satisfies both forking threats, but there's more to come.

21.Bg5!

• White puts more pressure on e7 and at the same time pins the pawn to the Queen.

21...Nf6 22.Nxf6+ exf6

• 22...Bxf6 23.Bxf6 Rxf6 24.Bxb7 Rb8 25.Nc6 Bxc6 26.Bxc6 yields an extra Bishop for White.

23.Bf4!

• Once more, White presents a threat with which Black must deal.

23...Ra7

• A more stubborn defense is 24.Rb1 Kh8 25.Qd2 Ra6 26.Nxb5 Bxb5 27.Rxb5, but Black's pawns would be hopelessly weak.

BLACK: Var Akobian
!""""""""#
$ + W Rl+%
$Tm+v+ Vo%
$ + O O +%
$+o+ +o+ %
$ + N B +%
$+ + + Pp%
$p+ + PbK%
$R +q+r+ %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Viktorija Cmilyte
Position after 23...Ra8a7

24.Nxb5!!

• White takes back the pawn poffered on move 18 and attaks the Rook at a7.

24...Bxb5 25.Qd5+ Kh8 26.Qxb5 Nc5

• 26...Rf7 27.Rfe1 Rd7 28.Qxf5 Ra5 29.Bd5 Nc5 30.Bc6! wins the exchange at d7, for 30...Rda7 31.Re8+ wins the Queen.

27.Rfd1 Ra6 28.a4 Qc7 29.Rd5 Ra5 30.Bxd6! 1-0


• After 30...Rxb5 the best for which Black can hope is 31.Bxc7 Ne6 32.axb5 Nxc7 33.Rxf5 Rb8 34.Rb1.
• Mr. Akobian resigns.
• This is a fine tactical game by Ms. Cmilyte.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Arakhamia-Grant - Agdestein, Gibraltar, Round 9

Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant
Photo: BCF Services (UK)


Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant - Simen Agdestein
Gibraltar Masters, Round 9
Gibraltar, 30 January 2008

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Norwegian Defense

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 b5 5.Bb3 Na5 6.0-0 d6 7.d4 f6

• 7...Nxb3 8.axb3 f6 9.Nc3 Bb7 10.Nh4 Qd7 11.Nd5 Ne7 12.Qh5+ Kd8 13.c4 Nxd5 14.cxd5 g6 15.Qf3 Be7 16.Qg3 gives White the advantage in space, but Black has opportunities to turn that around (Short-Sulskis. Ol. Bled, 2002).
• 7...exd4 8.Nxd4 Bb7 9.Bd2 Nxb3 10.Nxb3 Nf6 11.Re1 Be7 12.Na5 Rb8 13.Nxb7 Rxb7 14.Qf3 Qc8 15.Nc3 c6 16.Ne2 0-0 17.Nd4 gives White the edgte in space (Smagin-Kupreichik, Sovet Ch Semif, Minsk, 1985).

8.dxe5!?

• 8.Nc3 Ne7 9.dxe5 fxe5 10.Nh4 Nxb3 11.axb3 Ng6 12.Nf5 Bb7 13.f4 exf4 14.Bxf4 Nxf4 15.Rxf4 Qd7 16.Nd5 0-0-0 17.c4 g6gives White a spatial edge (Arizmendi-Liiva. Ol, Torino, 2006).

8...Nxb3

• 8...dxe5? 9.Bf7+ Ke7 10.Qxd8+ Kxd8 11.a4 is definately good for White.

9.axb3 dxe5 10.Qe2

• 10.Qxd8+ Kxd8 11.Rd1+ Bd6 12.c4 bxc4 13.bxc4 gives White a slight edge in space.

10...Ne7

• 10...Bd6 11.Rd1 Ne7 12.c4 Bd7 13.Be3 Nc6 14.Nc3 b4 15.Nd5 White leads in space.

1.Rd1 Bd7 12.Nc3 Ng6 13.Be3 c6 14.Ne1 Be7

• The position is equal.

15.Nd3 0-0 16.Bc5!?

• White offrs to trade her good Bishop for Black's bad one.
• Better is 16.Nc5 Bxc5 17.Bxc5 Rf7 18.b4 Qe8 19.Rd6 when White's spatial edge continues.

6...Rf7!?

• Black doesn't jump at the chance to trade Bishops, as one might expect.
• 16...Bxc5 17.Nxc5 Nf4 18.Qe3 Rf7 19.b4 White has an edge in space.

7.Qe3 Qc7 18.Bxe7

• After 18.b4 Bd8 19.Qf3 Qc8 20.Rd2 f5 21.Qe2 Bg5 22.Rdd1 Nf4 23.Nxf4 Bxf4 White has a slight edge in space.

18...Rxe7 19.Qc5 Be8?

• If 19...Ree8 20.Nb4 Qb7 21.Rd6 then:
• 21...Rec8 22.Rxa6 Rxa6 23.Nxa6 Qxa6 24.Rxd7 Qa1+ 25.Rd1 Qa6 26.Qd6 White has an edge in space and more active pieces.
• 21...Nf8 22.Nxc6 Rec8 23.Ne7+ Kf7 24.Nxc8 Rxc8 25.Qb6 Qxb6 26.Rxb6 White has a lead in space and a material advantage.

BLACK: Simen Agdestein
!""""""""#
$t+ +v+l+%
$+ W T Oo%
$o+o+ Om+%
$+o+ O + %
$ + +p+ +%
$+pNn+ + %
$ Pp+ PpP%
$R +r+ K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant
Position after 19...Bd7e8

20.Nd5!!

• The sham sacrifice wins the exchange.

20...cxd5 21.Qxd5+ Kf8 22.Qxa8

• Mission accomplished (this time for real).

22...Qxc2 23.Qxa6 Kf7 24.b4 Nf4 25.Nxf4 exf4 26.f3 Kg6

• 26...Qxb2 27.Qd6 Rd7 28.Qc5 Kg8 then:
• 29.Kh1 29...g6 30.Rac1 Rxd1+ 31.Rxd1 Qe2 32.Ra1 White has both a material and spatial advantage.
• 29.Rac1 Rxd1+ 30.Rxd1 Qe2 31.Rb1 h6 32.Qc8White's material advantage decides.

27.Qa3 Rc7

• White's material advantage holds through 27...Qe2 28.Qc3 Ra7 29.h3 Rxa1 30.Rxa1 Bd7 31.Ra6 Kf7 32.Ra7.

28.Qd3!

• Being down in material, Black will avoid exchanging pieces like the plague.

28...Qxb2 29.Rab1 Qe5 30.Qd5

• The text is better than 30.Qd8 Bf7 31.Rd4 Rc3 32.Re1 Re3 33.Rc1.

30...Bf7

• A better try, although probably doomed just as well, is 30...Rc4 31.Qd2 h6 32.Qd8 Bf7 33.Rd2 Qc7 34.Qd3 Kh7 35.Rdd1.

31.Qxe5 fxe5 32.Rbc1 Bc4 33.Rd5 Re7

• Black's position is the portrait of passivity.

34.Rd6+ Kf7 35.Rcd1 Be6 36.Rb6 Bc4 37.Ra6 g5 38.Rda1 h5

BLACK: Simen Agdestein
!""""""""#
$ + + + +%
$+ + Tl+ %
$r+ + + +%
$+o+ O Oo%
$ Pv+pO +%
$+ + +p+ %
$ + + +pP%
$R + + K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant
Position after 38...h7h5

39.Ra7!

• The exchange of Rooks brings victory closer for White.

39...h4

• 39...Be6 fails to 40.Kf2 g4 41.g3 Bb3 42.Rxe7+ Kxe7 43.Ra7+.

40.Rxe7+ Kxe7 41.Ra7+ Kf6 42.Ra6+ Kf7 43.Kf2 Be6 44.Ra7+ Kf6 45.Rb7

• White wins after 45.Rc7 Bc4 46.Ke1 Bd3 47.Rc3 Bc4 48.Rxc4 bxc4 49.h3 Ke6 50.Kd2 c3+ 51.Kxc3 Kd6 52.Kc4 Kc6 53.b5+ qhwn Black must either save his pawns and allow the b-pawn to queen or capture the b-pawn and allow the White King to dine on Black's kingside pawns.

45...Bc4 46.Rb6+ Kg7 47.Rc6 Kf7 48.h3

• 48.g3 hxg3+ 49.hxg3 Bd3 50.Rc8 Bc4 51.g4 Ke7 52.Ke1 Kf6 53.Kd2 Be6 54.Rc6 Ke7 55.Rc5! wins a pawn.

48...Bd3 49.Ke1 Bc4 1-0

• By returning the exchange, White gets a won King and pawn ending.
• For example, 50.Rxc4 bxc4 51.Kd2 Ke6 52.Kc3 Kd6 53.Kxc4 Kc6 54.b5+ then:
• After 54...Kd6 55.Kb4 Kc7 56.Kc5 Kb7 57.Kd6 the White King gets fat on Black's kingside pawns, which the lone Black King could not stop.
• After 54...Kb6 55.Kd5 Kxb5 56.Kxe5 Kc5 57.Kf5 the White King feasts on Black pawn and advances his own pawns to the goal.
• Simen resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Houska - Stefanova, Round 10

Antoaneta Stefanova
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Jovanka Houska - Antoaneta Stefanova
Gibraltar Masters, Round 10
Gibraltar, 31 January 2008

Slav Queen's Gambit: Tikhi Defense

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 g6 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.cxd5

• 6.Be2 0-0 7.0-0 then:
• 7...Bg4 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.Qb3 b6 10.h3 Bxf3 11.Bxf3 gives White a budding edge in space.
• 7...dxc4 8.Bxc4 Bg4 9.h3 Bxf3 10.Qxf3 Nbd7 11.Rd1 gives White a significant spatial advantage.
• 6.Bd3 0-0 7.0-0 Bg4 8.h3 Bxf3 9.Qxf3 e6 10.Rd1 Nbd7gives White a healthy lead in space.

6...Nxd5

• 6...cxd5 7.Bb5+ Bd7 8.Qb3 Bxb5 9.Qxb5+ Qd7 10.Ne5 Qxb5 11.Nxb5 Na6 12.b3 Nd7 13.Nd3 Ndb8 14.Nf4 Nc6 15.Nxd5 0-0-0 16.Ndc3 Nab4 17.Ke2 is equal (Kurajica-Bronstein, Ubeda, 1996).

7.Be2!?

• White leaves the book early.
• If 7.Bc4 0-0 8.0-0 Nb6 9.Bb3 then:
• 9...Bg4 10.h3 Bxf3 11.Qxf3 N8d7 12.Rd1 Qb8 13.Bd2 a5 14.a4 e5 15.dxe5 Nc5 16.Bc2 Qxe5 17.e4 Ne6 18.Bd3 Rfd8 19.Be3 Nd4 20.Qf4 Qxf4 21.Bxf4 Ne6 22.Be3 Bd4 draw agreed (Langeweg-Lutikov, Hoogovens Trmt, Beverwijk, 1967).
• 9...Na6 10.h3 c5 11.Qe2 Bd7 12.Rd1 Rc8 13.a4 c4 14.Bc2 Nb4 15.e4 Nxc2 16.Qxc2 f5 is equal (Kozul-Boric, Eur Club Cup, Neum (Bosnia), 2000).

7...0-0

• 7...f5 8.Nxd5 cxd5 9.Bd2 0-0 10.Rc1 Nc6 11.0-0 Qd6 12.Qb3 is equal.

8.0-0 c5 9.Qb3 Nxc3

• 9...e6?! 10.Nxd5 Qxd5 11.Qxd5 exd5 12.dxc5 Be6 13.Nd4 gives White the better game owing to her queenside majority and Black's isolated d-pawn.

10.bxc3 Qc7 11.Ba3 Nd7

• White currently enjoys an advantage in space.
• After 11...Be6 12.Qc2 cxd4 13.exd4 Nc6 14.Qe4 Rfd8 15.Rfd1 Bd5 16.Qh4 is equal.

12.Ng5

• 12.Rfd1?! b6 13.Qd5 Bb7 14.Qg5 Nf6 15.Qh4 Rfd8 is equal.

12...e6 13.Bf3 Rb8 14.Rab1?!

• The position has become unclear.
• If 14.Ne4 b6 15.Rad1 Bb7 16.Rd2 then:
• 16...Rfd8 17.Rfd1 c4 18.Bd6 Qxd6 19.Nxd6 cxb3 20.Nxb7 Rdc8 21.Nd6 Rxc3 22.Nb5 Rc2 23.axb3 White is better after the exchange of Rooks.
• After 16...a6 17.Rfd1 Rfd8 18.c4 Bxe4 19.Bxe4 cxd4 20.exd4 Nf6 21.Bf3 b5 22.c5
White is slighty better in space.

14...b6 15.Qa4

• 15.Rfd1 a6 16.c4 Rd8 17.Ne4 Bb7 18.d5 Ne5 then:
• 19.Be2 19...b5 20.cxb5 Bxd5 21.Qc2 axb5gives Black the edge in space.
• 19.Qxb6 Qxb6 20.Rxb6 Nxc4 21.Rb3 Bxd5 22.Rxb8 Rxb8 gives Black a huge edge in space.

15...a6

• if 15...h6!? 16.Ne4 Rd8 17.Rfd1 Bb7 18.dxc5 Bd5 then:
• 19.c4 19...Bxe4 20.Bxe4 Nxc5 21.Bxc5 bxc5 22.Rxd8+ Rxd8 23.g3 gives White a small edge in space..
• font color="darkred"]19.cxb6 Nxb6 20.Qc2 Nc4 21.Rxb8 Rxb8 22.Bc1 Qa5 gives Black a nice edge in space.

16.Qc6?

• After this move, Black gains the overall advantage and White never comes close to reclaiming it.
• if 16.dxc5 Nxc5 17.Qc6 Qxc6 18.Bxc6 Be5 19.f4 Bc7 20.Bxc5 bxc5 21.Ne4 e5 22.Rxb8 Bxb8 23.fxe5 Bxe5 gives White the edge in space.
• 17...Qd8? 18.Bxc5 Bd7 19.Bxb6 Bxc6 20.Bxd8 Rxb1 21.Rxb1 White wins.

16...Qd8!

• If 16...Qxc6? 17.Bxc6 Rd8 18.Rfd1 h6 then:
• 19.dxc5!! hxg5 20.cxb6 gives White a huge advantage in space which more than compensates for a slight material deficit.
• 19.Ne4 cxd4 20.Be7 dxc3 21.Nxc3 Re8 22.Bd6! then:
• 22...Rb7 23.Bxb7 Bxb7 24.Bc7 Bxc3 25.Rxd7 b5 yields small advantages in space and material to White.
• 22...Bxc3 23.Bxb8 e5 24.Bc7 Re7 25.Bd8 White wins.

17.Ne4 Bb7 18.Qd6 Bd5

• 18...Bxe4 19.Bxe4 Nf6 20.Qxd8 Rfxd8 21.Bd3 e5 22.Bxa6 cxd4 23.cxd4 exd4 24.exd4 Rxd4 is equal.

19.Rb2 Qc8!

• If 19...Rc8?! 20.Rd1 then:
• 20...g5 21.h3 h5 22.Ng3 Bxf3 23.gxf3 cxd4 24.cxd4 h4 gives White a significant edge in space..
• After 20...Qc7 21.h3 Rfd8 22.Qxc7 Rxc7 23.dxc5 bxc5 24.Rbd2 Bxe4 25.Bxe4 Bxc3 26.Rd6 White has a spatial advantage.

20.Qg3

• If 20.Rfb1!? Rd8 21.Qg3 then:
• 21...Bf8 22.Re2 Qc6 23.Ng5 h6 24.Bxd5 Qxd5 25.Nf3 cxd4 26.Bxf8 d3 27.Rd2 Rxf8 is even in space while Black has an extra pawn.
• 21...Qc6 22.Nxc5 Bxf3 23.Nxd7 Qxd7 24.Qxf3 Qc7 25.e4 b5 26.Bc5 gives White a comfortable edge in space..
• 20.dxc5 Bxe4 21.Bxe4 Nxc5 22.Bf3 Rd8 23.Qg3 Na4 24.Rb3 Nxc3 gives Black an extra pawn.

20...Qc6 21.Qh4

• 21.Nd2 Qa4 22.Nb1 Bxf3 23.Qxf3 Rfd8 24.Re1 b5 25.Bxc5 Nxc5 26.dxc5 Rbc8 gives Black an edge in space..

BLACK: Antoaneta Stefanova
!""""""""#
$ T + Tl+%
$+ +M+oVo%
$oOw+o+o+%
$+ Ov+ + %
$ + Pn+ Q%
$B P Pb+ %
$pR + PpP%
$+ + +rK %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Jovanka Houska
Position after 21.Qg6h4

21...Qa4!

• Black takes advantage of the clumsy placement of White's queenside pieces.

22.Ng5

• 22.Bxc5 bxc5 23.Rd2 h6 24.Qf4 Qa3 25.dxc5 g5 White has a huge lead in space, more than compensating for a slight material minus.

22...h6 23.Nxf7

• If 23.Bxd5 hxg5 24.Qh3 Qxa3 25.Rb3 Qxa2 then:
• 26.Rfb1! exd5 27.Qxd7 c4 28.R3b2 Qa5 29.Rc2 Rfe8 will leave Black better afteer White's Queen is forced to retreat.
• Black wins after 26.Bc4 b5 27.Bxe6 fxe6 28.Qxe6+ Rf7 29.f3 Rb6

23...Rxf7 24.e4

• After 24.Bxd5 exd5 25.Bxc5 bxc5 26.Rxb8+ Nxb8 27.Qd8+ Rf8 28.Qxd5+ Kh7 29.Qxc5 Qxa2 Black has a sizable material plus.

24...Qxa3 25.exd5 Qxb2 26.dxe6 Rxf3 27.gxf3 Nf6 28.Qg3 Re8 29.d5

• White's fading hopes rest on the two passers in the center.

29...Qxc3

• 29...Qxa2 30.Qxg6 Qxd5 31.Qf7+ Kh8 32.Re1 Rg8 33.c4 Qxc4 also wins.

30.Qxg6 Qxf3 31.Qf7+ Kh7 32.d6 Qg4+ 0-1

• White's advanced pawns are stopped and will be taken, leaving Black two pieces to the good.
• Ms. Houska resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Games from the Moscow Open

Diagrams on the Jack Rabbit Chess Report are made with Chess Mérida, a true type font that can be downlaoded free here.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Timofeev - Iordanescu, Round 4

Artyom Timofeev
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Artyom Timofeev - Viorel Iordachescu
Moscow Open, Group A, Round 4
Moscow, 5 February 2008

East India Game: Nimzo-Indian Defense

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 d5 5.a3 Be7

• If 5...Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 c5 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.dxc5 Qa5 9.e4 then:
• 9...Nf6 10.Be3 0-0 11.Qb3 Nfd7 is equal.
• 9...Ne7 10.Be3 0-0 11.Qb3 Qc7 12.Nh3 e5 13.Nf2 Nec6 gives White the edge in space..

6.e4 0-0!?

• The novelty is good for equality.
• 6...dxe4 7.fxe4 e5 8.d5 Bc5 9.Nf3 Ng4 10.Na4 Bf2+ 11.Ke2 b5 12.h3 bxa4 13.hxg4 Bg3 14.Rh3 Bf4 15.Bxf4 exf4 16.Qd4 0-0 is unclear: Whte leads in space and development but his pawn structure is ugly and his King safety leaves something to be desired (Casademont-Fluvia, Op, Banyoles, 2005).

7.e5 Nfd7

• If 7...Ne8 8.Be3 dxc4 9.Bxc4 Nc6 10.f4 Bh4+ 11.g3 gives White a lead in space.

8.cxd5 Nb6 9.Bd3

• If 9.dxe6 Bxe6 then:
• White is better after 10.Bd3 c5 11.dxc5 Bxc5 12.Be4 N8d7 13.f4 Qc8 14.Qc2 when White is attacking although space is even.
• After 10.f4 Nc6 11.Nf3 Qd7 12.Bd3 Rad8 13.Qc2 White has the advantage in space and an extra pawn.

9...Nxd5 10.Qc2 h6

• This is clearly Black's best way to deal with the threat to the h-pawn.
• 10...f5 11.exf6 Nxf6 12.Nge2 then:
• 12...Nbd7 13.0-0 c5 14.Be3 then:
• 14...e5 15.d5 Nb6 16.Rad1 c4 17.Be4 gives White a slight advantage in space.
• 14...cxd4? 15.Nxd4 Nd5 16.Nxd5 exd5 17.Ne6 wins for White.
• 12...Nc6 13.Be3 Bd6 14.0-0 Ne7 15.Rae1 Nf5 16.Bg5 is equal.
• 10...g6 11.Nge2 then:
• 11...c5 12.Bh6 Re8 13.dxc5 Nc6 14.Nxd5 exd5 15.f4 Qa5+ 16.Qc3 Qxc5 17.Qxc5 Bxc5 is unclear.
• 11...Bh4+?! 12.g3 Be7 13.Nxd5 exd5 14.h4 c5 15.h5 c4 16.hxg6 cxd3 17.gxh7+ Kh8 18.Qxd3 gives White a significant advantage in space.

11.Nxd5!

• If 11.Nce2 c5 12.dxc5 Nd7 13.f4 Nxc5 then:
• 14.Bh7+ Kh8 15.b4 Nd7 16.Be4 a5 17.b5 Qb6 18.Qb2 Nc5 is level.
• 14.Nf3?! Bd7 15.b3 Nxd3+ 16.Qxd3 Qb6 17.Nfd4 f6 gives Black better minor pieces.

11...exd5

• 11...Qxd5 12.Ne2 Bh4+ 13.g3 Be7 14.Bh7+ Kh8 15.Qxc7 Kxh7 16.Qxe7 Kg8 17.Kf2 gives White a comfortable advantage in space and development to go with his extra pawn.

12.f4 c5 13.f5 Bg5 14.Nf3?

• White ignores the c-pawn at his paril.
• Better is 14.Qxc5 Bxc1 15.Rxc1 Qg5 16.Ne2 Bxf5 17.Bxf5 Qxf5 18.Qxd5 Nc6 19.Qf3, which guarantees a space advantage for White in addition to an extra pawn.

14...c4!

• Black gains time on the Bishop and cuts off the c-file from the enemy Queen.

15.Be2
BLACK: Viorel Iordachescu
!""""""""#
$tMvW Tl+%
$Oo+ +oO %
$ + + + O%
$+ +oPpV %
$ +oP + +%
$P + +n+ %
$ Pq+b+pP%
$R B K +r%
/(((((((()
WHITE: Artyom Timofeev
Position after 15.Bd3e2

15...Bxc1?

• Black overlooks 15...Qa5+! 16.Kf2 Bxc1 17.Rhxc1 Nc6 18.b3 Qb6 19.bxc4 Nxd4 20.Qb1 Nb3+, which gives him a splendid position.

16.Rxc1 Nc6 17.0-0

• The position is equal.

17...b5

• Russian grandmaster Vladimir Dobrov, writing on the official tournament website, says
• If 17...f6 is necessary, but if 18.e6 then:
• After 18...Ne7 19.Rce1 b5 20.Nh4 Qb6 21.Qd2 Bb7 22.Bh5 White has a comfortable edge in space
• After 18...Qb6 19.Qd2 Ne7 20.Nh4 g5 21.fxg6 f5 22.Kh1 White is a pawn up and ready to pound Black's King position.

18.f6!

• White sacrifices a pawn to open Black's King position..

18...gxf6 19.Qd2 Kg7 20.exf6+

• The text is better than 20.Qf4 fxe5 21.Nxe5 Nxe5 22.Qxe5+ f6 23.Qg3+ Kh7 24.Rce1 Rg8.

20...Qxf6 21.Ne5 Qe6?

• If 21...Qd6 22.Nxc6 Qxc6 23.Rc3 Kh7 then:
• 24.Bh5 f5 25.Qf4 a5 26.Re3 Ra7 is unclear, pitting Black's extra pawn against White's spatial superiority.
• Black holds on after 24.Rg3 f5 25.Qf4 a5 26.Bh5 Ra6 27.Qe5 Qd7.

BLACK: Viorel Iordachescu
!""""""""#
$t+v+ T +%
$O + +oL %
$ +m+w+ O%
$+o+oN + %
$ +o+ + +%
$P + + + %
$ P Qb+pP%
$+ R +rK %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Artyom Timofeev
Position after 21...Qf6e6

22.Rc3!!

• White sacrifices a second pawn in order to mobilize the Rook.

22...Nxe5

• White still has a winning position after 22...a5 23.Re3 Nxe5 24.dxe5 Qb6 25.Rf6 Be6 26.Kh1 Rh8 27.Rg3+.

23.dxe5 Qxe5 24.Re3

• If 24.Rg3+ Kh7! 25.Re3 Qd6 26.Bh5 d4 then:
• 27.Rg3 d3 28.Qc3 f6 29.Bg6+ Kh8 30.Qd2 White wins.
• Black has a fighting chance to save the game after 27.Bxf7? d3 28.Ref3 Bb7 29.Rf4 Qc6 30.Bg6+ Qxg6 31.Rxf8 Rxf8 32.Rxf8 Bd5 33.Rf2.

24...Qd6 25.Qd4+ f6

• If 25...Kh7 26.Rf6 then:
• 26...Qxf6 27.Qxf6 Be6 28.Bd1 d4 29.Re5 Rg8 30.Bf3 Rg6 31.Be4. it's lights out for Black.
• After 26...Qc7 27.Qh4 Qd6 28.Qxh6+ Black is soon checkmated.

26.Bh5 Kh8 27.Bg6 Qb6 28.Qf4 Kg7 29.Bh5

• Also good is 29.Qg3 Bg4 30.Rf2 Rf7 31.Bxf7 Kxf7 32.Qf4 Rh8 33.h3 Bc8 34.Qe5.

29...Be6 30.Kh1 Bf7

• 30...Kh7 31.Rfe1 Rae8 32.Bxe8 Rxe8 33.Rxe6 Rxe6 34.Qf5+ wins the Rook.

31.Rg3+ Kh7 32.Qg4 1-0

• Mate or loss of material is ivevitable for Black.
• Mr. Iordachescu resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Inarkiev - Kazhgaleyev, Round 6, Moscow

Ernesto Inarkiev
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Ernesto Inarkiev - Murtas Kazhgaleyev
Moscow Open, Group A, Round 6
Moscow, 7 February 2008

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Rat Defense (Neo-Steinitz Defense)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6 5.0-0 Bd7 6.c3 g6

• 6...Nge7 7.d4 Ng6 8.Re1 Be7 9.Nbd2 0-0 10.Nf1 Nh4 11.Nxh4 Bxh4 12.Ne3 Bg5 13.Nd5 Bxc1 14.Rxc1 b5 is equal (Meier-Muranyi, German Ch, Osterburg, 2006).

7.d4 Bg7 8.Re1

• 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.Be3 Nf6 10.Nbd2 0-0 11.Bc5 Re8 12.Re1 b6 13.Ba3 Qc8 14.Bc2 Qb7 15.Qe2 gives White the early edge in space (DeFirmian-Su. Polgar, IT, New York, 1986).

8...b5

• If 8...Nge7 then:
• 9.Be3 0-0 10.Nbd2 b6 11.Bb3 Na5 12.Bc2 Nac6 13.dxe5 dxe5 14.b4 h6 15.Nc4 Qc8 16.a4 Be6 17.Nfd2 a5 18.bxa5 Nxa5 19.Nxa5 Rxa5 is equal (Matanovic-Mititelu, Zonzl, Sofia, 1957).
• 9.d5 Nb8 10.c4 0-0 11.Nc3 h6 12.b4 a5 13.a3 f5 14.Bxd7 Nxd7 15.Bb2 Nf6 16.exf5 gxf5 17.Qb3 b6 18.Rad1 Ng6 19.Bc1 Qd7 is equal (Elson-Filip, Eur ChT, Stockholm, 1975).

9.Bb3 Nf6 10.Nbd2

• If 10.dxe5 Nxe5 11.Nxe5 dxe5 12.Bg5 0-0 13.Nd2 h6 14.Bh4 Qe7 15.Nf1 then:
• 15...Rad8 16.Qe2 c5 17.Bxf6 Qxf6 18.Bd5 h5 19.c4 Bh6 gives Black the edge in space (Kamsky-Mamedyarov, Blitz Cup, Moscow, 2007).
• 15...g5 16.Bg3 c5 17.Ne3 Rad8 18.Qe2 c4 19.Bc2 h5 gives Black the edge in space, but White's Knight can establish himself at an effective outpost.

10...0-0 11.h3 Re8 12.a3!?

• White seeks to improve on 12.Nf1 exd4 13.cxd4 Nxe4 14.Bxf7+ Kxf7 15.Rxe4 Rxe4 16.Ng5+ Kg8 17.Qb3+ Be6 18.Nxe6 Rxe6 19.Qxe6+ Kh8 20.d5 Ne5 with an unclear position in which White the edge in space, but the White Queen's retreat is blocked and Black eventually won (Fogarasi-Davies, Budapest, 1993).

12...h6

• 12...exd4 13.cxd4 a5 14.a4 Nb4 15.axb5 Bxb5 16.Ba4 c6 gives Black an edge in space.

13.Bc2 Nh5 14.Nf1

• White increases his spatial advatage after 14.d5 Ne7 15.a4 when:
• 15...f5 16.exf5 Bxf5 17.Ne4 Nf4 18.Bxf4 exf4 19.Qd2 White's well-protected d-pawn reduces Black's mobility.
• After 15...Nf4 16.Nf1 f5 17.Bxf4 exf4 18.e5 White's central pawns momentarily keep Black's pieces out of the game.

14...Nf4?!

• This amounts to a surrender of the center.
• If 14...Qf6 15.d5 Ne7 then:
• After 16.Ne3 Nf4 17.Ng4 Bxg4 18.hxg4 g5 19.g3 Nfg6 20.Be3 White enjoys more space.
• 16.N1h2 Nf4 17.Ng4 Bxg4 18.hxg4 g5 is a transposition into the red line.

15.Bxf4 exf4 16.Qd2

• White would do better to open the queenside.
• If 16.a4 Qf6 17.Qd2 b4 then:
• 18.Rad1 bxc3 19.bxc3 Bc8 20.Rb1 a5 21.Rb3 Re7 22.Reb1 White's Rooks on the b-file could launch an expedition on the fifth rank.
• After 18.e5 dxe5 19.dxe5 Qe6 20.Qxf4 bxc3 21.bxc3 Nxe5 22.Rad1 Whites continues to enjoy the advantage in space.

16...g5!

• 16...Qf6 17.e5 dxe5 18.dxe5 Qe6 19.Qxf4 g5 20.Qe4 Kf8 21.Rad1 gives White a small edge in space and a firmer hold on the center.

17.Rad1

• After 17.Qd3 Qe7 18.b4 Rab8 19.a4 Bc8 20.N1d2 Qf6 21.axb5 axb5 22.Qe2 is equal.

17...Qe7 18.Qd3 Kf8

• After 18...a5 19.N1d2 Rad8 20.b4 Ra8 21.Nb3 axb4 22.axb4 h5 23.e5 White's center is still cramping Black's game.

19.Bb3 Rad8 20.Ba2 Qf6 21.N3h2?!

• The Knight has no future at h2, as Black's reply demonstrates.
• 21.N1d2 h5 22.h4 gxh4 23.Kh2 Re7 24.Bd5 Ke8 25.b4 Rb8 is equal.

21...h5!

• Black at once expands on the kingside and entombs the Knight at h2.

22.Qf3 Qh6 23.g4 hxg4 24.Nxg4 Qg6

• The position is equal.

25.Nfh2 Ne7 26.Qg2

• 26.Re2 a5 27.b4 axb4 28.axb4 Ra8 then:
• 29.Bb1 Ra1 30.Ree1 Bc6 31.Bd3 Rxd1 32.Qxd1 Qh7 is even.
• If 29.e5 Bc6 30.d5 Bb7 31.Bb1 Bxd5 then:
• 32.Bxg6 Bxf3 33.Nxf3 Nxg6 34.Nxg5 Nxe5 Black is up by a pawn.
• 32.Rxd5 Qxb1+ 33.Nf1 Ra1 34.Ngh2 Nxd5 35.Qxd5 f3 36.Qxf3 Bxe5 is a won game for Black.

26...Bc6 27.d5 Bd7!

• 27...Bb7 28.Nf3 f5 29.Ngh2 Bf6 30.exf5 Nxf5 31.Bb1 Rxe1+ 32.Rxe1 is tipped in White's favor owing to the pin at f5, which immobilizes the Knight.

28.Nf3 Qh5 29.e5?

• This allows Black to win a pawn.
• 29.Ngh2 f6 30.Ng4 Kf7 31.Nd4 Rh8 32.Ne6 Bxe6 33.dxe6+ Ke8 is equal.

29...dxe5 30.Ngxe5 Bxe5 31.Nxe5
BLACK: Murtas Kazhgaleyev
!""""""""#
$ + TtL +%
$+ OvNo+ %
$O+ + + +%
$+o+pN Ow%
$ + + O +%
$P P + +p%
$bP + Pq+%
$+ +rR K %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Ernesto Inarkiev
Position after 31.Nfxe5:B

Bxh3!

• The win of the pawn (see previous note) is now realized. Black has a won position.

32.Qh1

• 32.Qf3 Qxf3 33.Nxf3 Bg4 34.Kg2 Ng6 35.Rxe8+ Rxe8 36.Rb1 Bf5 37.Re1 Be4 immobilizes White.

32...Nf5 33.Rd3 g4 34.Qe4 f6 35.d6 Rxe5 36.dxc7 Rde8!

• Black must keep in mind that his path to a win is a narrow one.
• White wins after 36...Rc8? 37.Qb4+ Kg7 38.Rxe5 fxe5 39.Rd8 Rxc7 40.Rg8+.

37.Qb4+ Ne7 38.Red1

• No good is 38.Rxe5 Qxe5 39.Qd4 Qe1+ 40.Kh2 Kg7 41.Qxf4 Rh8.

38...Bg2 39.Kxg2 f3+ 40.Kg3 Rf5?

• Black snatches defeat from the jaws of victory (see note to Black's 36th move).
• 40...Qh3+ forces checkmate: 41.Kf4 Qh2+ 42.Kxg4 Qg2+ 43.Kf4 Rf5+ 44.Ke4 Qg4+ 45.Ke3 Qg5+ 46.Ke4 Qf4#.

BLACK: Murtas Kazhgaleyev
!""""""""#
$ + +tL +%
$+ P M + %
$o+ + O +%
$+o+ +t+w%
$ Q + +o+%
$P Pr+oK %
$bP + P +%
$+ +r+ + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Ernesto Inarkiev
Position after 40...Re5f5

41.Qxe7+!!

• The Queen sacrifice forces a win. The sacrifice is all the more remarkable in that White remains in a material deficit for the remainder of the game.
• Black wins after 41.Qxg4 Rg5.

41...Kxe7 42.Rd7+ Kf8 43.Rh1!!

• This sacrifice of the Rook, made in order to gain a tempo on the Queen, is necessary for the success of the rest of the winning procedure.
• After 43.Rf7+ Kg8 44.Re7+ Kf8 the best White can do is force a draw by repetition, since otherwise Black mates in one.

43...Qxh1 44.Rf7+ Kg8 45.Re7+ Kh8

• 45...Kf8 46.Rxe8+ Kxe8 47.c8Q+ Ke7 48.Qe6+ wins the Rook, ending the mating threat and leaving White a Bishop to the good.

46.Rxe8+ Kg7

• 46...Kh7 47.Rh8+! Kxh8 48.c8Q+ reaches the same outcome.

47.Rg8+ Kh7 48.Rh8+!

• That White should sacrifice the Rook is obvious.

48...Kxh8 49.c8Q+ Kg7 50.Qg8+ 1-0

• White wins the Queen on the next move.
• Mr. Kazhgaleyev resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Naiditsch - Lastin, Round 8, Moscow

Alexander Lastin
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)

Arkadij Naiditsch - Alexander Lastin
Moscow Open, Group A, Round 8
Moscow, 9 February 2008

Closed German Game: van der Wiel Opening (Caro-Kann Defense)

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5

• British IM Jovanka Houska, in her excellent book on this opening (Play the Caro-Kann, London: Everyman Chess, 2007), recommends 3...c5 and now:
• 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.dxc5 e6 with equality in space and a lead in development for Black.
• 4.Nf3 Nc6 then:
• 5.dxc5 Bg4 6.Bb5 Qa5+ 7.Nc3 e6 8.Be3 Nge7 with equality.
• 5.c4! cxd4 6.Nxd4 e6 7.Nc3 Bb4 8.Nxc6 bxc6 9.Qa4 Rb8 10.Qxa7 is White's best bet at giving Black problems in this line, according to Ms. Houska.

4.Nc3

• If 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 then:
• 5...Nd7 6.0-0 Ne7 7.Nh4 Bg6 8.Nd2 c5 9.c3 Nc6 10.Nxg6 hxg6 11.Nf3 Be7 12.Be3 a6 13.g3 g5 14.Kg2 cxd4 15.cxd4 Nf8 16.a3 f6 17.h3 Qd7 18.b4 Bd8 19.Rc1 Ng6 is equal (Smirin-Li Wenliang, Lee Cup, Beijing, 1996).
• 5...c5 6.Be3 cxd4 7.Nxd4 Ne7 8.c4 Nbc6 9.Qa4 a6 10.Na3 Qa5+ 11.Qxa5 Nxa5 12.0-0 dxc4 13.Nxc4 Nxc4 14.Bxc4 Be4 15.Rac1 Bd5 16.Be2 Rc8 17.Rxc8+ Nxc8 draw agreed (Svidler-Anand, IT, Tilburg, 1998).

4...e6 5.g4 Bg6 6.Nge2 c5 7.Be3

• If 7.h4 h5 8.Nf4 Bh7 9.Nxh5 cxd4 10.Nb5 Nc6 11.Nxd4 Nge7 12.c3 a6 then:
• 13.Bf4 Qb6 14.Qb3 Qxb3 15.axb3 Nxd4 16.cxd4 Nc6 17.Bb5 Rc8 18.Bxc6+ Rxc6 19.Rc1 Bg6 20.Rxc6 bxc6 gives White an extra pawn the edge in space and development (Najer-Dreev, Karpov Trmt, Poikovsky, 2006).
• 13.Qa4 b5 14.Qd1 Nxd4 15.cxd4 Nc6 16.Bd3 Rc8 17.Kf1 Bxd3+ 18.Qxd3 Nb4 19.Qd1 Qc7 20.Rh3 Qc2 21.Bd2 Qc4+ 22.Kg2 Qxd4 23.Rc3 Rc5 24.Be3 draw agreed (Grischuk-Arisian, Ol, Torino, 2006).

7...Nc6!?

• This pawn sacrifice is the most common continuation from this position. Black seeks compensation in space in return for the pawn.
• 7...cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bb4 9.h4 h5 10.Be2 Nc6 11.gxh5 Be4 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.Rg1 Nh6 is equal (Sutovsky-Bologan, Karpov Trmt, Poikovsky, 2007).

8.dxc5 h5!?

• 8...Nxe5 9.Nd4 Nd7 10.b4 Be7 11.Bb5 h5 12.gxh5 Bg5 13.c6 bxc6 14.Nxc6 Qf6 15.Bd4 Qf4 16.Ne5 Ngf6 17.Rg1 Bh6 18.Ne2 Qxh2 19.Nxg6 fxg6 20.Qd3 0-0 21.Qxg6 Ne5 22.Rg3 Nfg4 23.Ng1 Rf4 24.c3 Nf6 25.Be2 Rf5 26.b5 Ne4 27.Rh3 Nd7 28.a4 draw agreed (Sutovsky-Ruck, Eur Ind Ch, Dresden, 2007).

9.Nf4 Bh7

• 9...d4 10.Nxg6 fxg6 11.Qd3 Kf7 12.0-0-0 dxc3 13.Qxc3 Qc7 14.Bc4 Qxe5 15.Bd4 Qf4+ 16.Kb1 Re8 17.g5 Qxg5 18.Rhg1 Qh4 19.Rge1 Nf6 is equal (Shirov-Topalov, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2003).

10.Nb5

• 10.Bb5 hxg4 11.Qxg4 Bxc2 12.Qe2 Bf5 13.0-0-0 Qc7 14.Bd4 a6 is equal.

10...hxg4 11.Qxg4 Nh6

• White has an overwhelming position after 11...Nxe5? 12.Qh5 Qb8 13.Nxe6! Nf3+ 14.Qxf3 fxe6 15.Bf4 Be4 16.Qg3.
• Even worse is 13...Nf6 14.Nec7+ when White wins material.

12.Qh5 Bf5 13.Rg1 g6

• If 13...Rh7 14.Be2 then:
• 14...Qd7 15.Nd6+ Bxd6 16.exd6 Nb4 17.Bd1 Ng4 18.Qxh7 Bxh7 19.Rxg4 Nxc2+ 20.Bxc2 Bxc2 21.Rxg7 is equal.
• 14...g6 15.Nxg6 fxg6 16.Rxg6 Kd7 17.0-0-0 Bxg6 18.Qxg6 Qe7 19.c4 Nxe5 20.Qe4 Nxc4 21.Bxc4 gives White enough extra space to compensate for his material deficit.

14.Qe2 a6

• If 14...Qa5+ 15.c3 0-0-0 16.b4 Qa4 17.Nd6+ Bxd6 18.exd6 then:
• 18...d4 19.Bd2 Bc2 20.Rc1 Nf5 gives Black a spatial edge.
• 18...Ng8 19.h3 Qa3 20.Bd2 Qb2 is equal.

15.Nd6+ Bxd6 16.exd6

• If 16.cxd6 Nxe5 17.Bd4 f6 18.Bxe5 fxe5 19.Nxg6 then:
• After 19...Rg8 20.Qh5 Kd7 21.Nxe5+ Kxd6 22.Rxg8 Qa5+ 23.c3 Rxg8 24.Nf3 Black's extra space compensates for the pawn.
• 19...Rh7 20.Nxe5 Qxd6 21.0-0-0 0-0-0 22.Kb1 Nf7 23.Nxf7 Rxf7 24.Rg3 Rc7 is unclear: Black has a small spatial edge in return for his pawn.

16...Qa5+ 17.c3

• 17.Qd2 Qxd2+ 18.Bxd2 Bxc2 19.Rg3 Nf5 20.Rh3 Kd7 gives Black a slight edge in space.

17...d4 18.b4?

• White is in a difficult situation and will have to fight hard for a draw, but this move allows Black to gain time to increase his control of the board.
• If 18.Bd2 Qxc5 19.Bg2 Ng4 then:
• After 20.h3 Nge5 21.d7+ Nxd7 22.Bxc6 Qxc6 23.cxd4 Qd6 24.Qe3 Nf6 Black has a significant spatial edge.
• 20.d7+ Kxd7 21.h3 Nge5 22.b4 Qb5 23.Bxc6+ Nxc6 gives Black a comfortable edge in space..

18...Qa3 19.Bd2

• The immediate 19.Bc1? drops a Rook to 19...Qxc3+.

19...dxc3 20.Bc1 Qa4 21.Bg2

• After 21.Rg3 Black wins the exchange by 21...Nd4 22.Qe5 Nc2+ 23.Ke2 0-0-0 24.Qxc3 Nxa1 25.Qxa1 Ng4.

BLACK: Alexander Lastin
!""""""""#
$t+ +l+ T%
$+o+ +o+ %
$o+mPo+oM%
$+ P +v+ %
$wP + N +%
$+ O + + %
$p+ +qPbP%
$R B K R %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Arkadij Naiditsch
Position after 21.Bf1g2

21...Nxb4!

• Black wins a pawn and threatens to win the exchange with 22...Nc2+.
• Also good is 21...Nd4! 22.Qe5 Nc2+ 23.Ke2 0-0-0 24.Qxc3 Nxa1 25.Qxa1 g5.

22.Nd5

• Better is 22.Bxb7 Ra7 23.c6 Nxc6 24.Bxc6+ Qxc6. but Black still has an extra pawn.

22...Nc2+ 23.Kf1 Ng4 24.Rh1 Nxa1 25.Nc7+ Kd7 26.Bxb7

• If 26.Nxa8 Rxa8 27.Bxb7 Ra7 28.c6+ Kxd6 29.Kg2 then:
• 29...Nc2 30.Rd1+ Nd4 31.h3 c2 wins the Queen.
• 29...Qe4+ 30.Qxe4 Bxe4+ 31.f3 Bxc6 32.Bxc6 Kxc6 33.fxg4 Rb7 leaves Black two pawns up.

26...Rab8 27.c6+

• No better is 27.Bxa6 Be4 28.f3 Bc6 29.fxg4 Rb1 30.Kf2 Rxc1 31.Rxc1 Qf4+.

27...Kxd6 28.Nxa6

• 28.f3 Ne5 29.Bxa6 Bh3+ 30.Kg1 Qd4+ 31.Be3 Rb1+ 32.Kf2 Qh4#.

28...Ne5 29.Nc5 Qc2

• A quicker win is 29...Bh3+ 30.Kg1 Qc2 when:
• After 31.Qxe5+ Kxe5 32.f4+ Kf5 33.c7 Rxb7.White cannot avoid mate on g2.
• 31.Qxc2 Nf3#.

30.Bf4

• Exchanging Queens won't help Black:30.Qxc2 Nxc2 31.Bf4 f6 32.Na4 Bd3+ 33.Kg2 Be4+.

30...f6 31.Qe1 Bh3+ 32.Kg1 Kxc5 33.Bxe5 Qd2

• 34.Qxd2 cxd2 35.f4 d1Q+ 36.Kf2 Qd2+ 37.Kf3 Bg2+ 38.Kg3 Rh3+ 39.Kg4 Qe2#
• Herr Naiditsch resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

11. Muzychuk - Ushenina, Round 7, Moscow

Anna Muzychuk
Photo: ChessBase.com


Anna Muzychuk - Anna Ushenina
Moscow Open, Ladies' Competition, Round 7
Moscow, 8 February 2008

German Clam Game: Grand Prix Opening (Caro-Kann Defense)

1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d3

• White eschews the usual (and better) 3.d4 in favor of a kingside set up.

3...g6

• 3...dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6+ exf6 6.Nf3 Bd6 7.Be3 0-0 8.Be2 Qc7 9.0-0 c5 10.h3 Nc6 11.c3 Rd8 12.Qc2 h6 13.Rad1 Bf5 gives Black the edge in space and development while White has better pawn structure (Hatem-Ezat, Op, Cairo, 2001).

4.f4!?

• So who needs theory today? Just like that, the ladies get out of the book.
• 4.g3 Bg7 5.Bg2 dxe4 6.Nxe4 Nf6 7.Nxf6+ Bxf6 8.Nf3 0-0 9.0-0 c5 10.Re1 Nc6 gives Black an early lead in development (Jovanovic-Zelcic, Croation Ch, Split, 2008).

4...Bg7 5.Nf3

• 5.e5 then:
• 5...e6 6.d4 Qb6 7.Nf3 Ne7 then:
• 8.Na4 Qc7 9.Bd3 0-0 10.h4 h5 11.Rg1 b6 12.g4White has an undisputed spatial advantage.
• 8.Bd3 0-0 9.a4 a5 10.0-0 c5 11.dxc5 Qxc5+ 12.Kh1 is equal.
• 5...d4 6.Ne4 Nh6 7.Nf3 0-0 8.Be2 Nf5 9.c3 b6 10.g4 Ne3 11.Bxe3 dxe3 12.Nh4 gives White a huge advantage in space.

5...Nh6 6.g3 0-0 7.Bg2 dxe4

• 7...Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 dxe4 9.dxe4 Qxd1+ 10.Kxd1 Ng4 11.Ke2 Rd8 is equal.

8.Nxe4 Qb6
BLACK: Anna Ushenina
!""""""""#
$tMv+ Tl+%
$Oo+ OoVo%
$ Wo+ +oM%
$+ + + + %
$ + +nP +%
$+ +p+nP %
$pPp+ +bP%
$R BqK +r%
/(((((((()
WHITE: Anna Muzychuk
Position after 8...Qd8b6

• Black has an advantage in space.
• 8...Bf5 9.Qd2 Nd7 10.0-0 Ng4 11.Re1 Qb6+ 12.d4 c5 is equal.

9.c3 Nf5 10.Qe2 Be6?!

• As will be demonstrated in the course of the game, Black's advantage in space is an illusion. The "advantage" consists entirely of space held with pieces rather than pawns, and some of those pieces are near the frontier line (such as the Knight at f5), where they can be easily scattered.
• Black last move is dubious simply because it continues the policy of holding space with pieces and, furthermore, blocks a center pawn from advancing.
• Better is 10...Nd7 11.g4 Nd6 12.Be3 Qc7 13.0-0-0 Nxe4 14.dxe4 when:
• 14...Nf6 15.Nd4 Bxg4 16.Bf3 Bxf3 17.Qxf3 c5 leaving Black a pawn to the good..
• 14...e5? 15.f5 Rd8 16.h4 gxf5 17.gxf5 Nf6 18.Bf2 leaves White in command.

11.g4!

• White begins to fight back. This move chips away at Black's spatial edge.

11...Nd6 12.Be3!

• White forces the Black Queen to a post where it control less space.

12...Qa5 13.Nd4!

• This does more than uncover a defense for the g-pawn. If one had done a space count after Black's eighth move, one would know that it was 13-8 in Black's favor. It is now 12-12. In other words, the position is equal.

13...Bd5

• 13...Bxd4 14.Bxd4 Nd7 15.0-0 Nxe4 16.dxe4 c5 17.Bf2 remains equal.

14.0-0 Qa6?

• This pulls Black's finger out of the dyke.
• 14...f5 15.gxf5 Nxf5 16.Nxf5 Rxf5 17.Bh3 Rf8 18.Ng5 gives Black a small edge in space.

15.Nc5 Qa5

• After 15...Qb6 16.Ndb3 Bxg2 17.Kxg2 Qc7 18.Bd4 Bxd4 19.Nxd4 White is dominant in space.

16.b4 Qc7

• Black is in full retreat.
• If 16...Qa3 17.Bxd5 cxd5 18.Rab1 Qxc3 19.Qf2 then:
• 19...Nc6 20.Nxc6 bxc6 21.Rfc1 Qf6 22.Nd7 wins the exchange.
• 19...Rc8 20.Rfc1 Qa3 21.Rb3 traps the Queen.

BLACK: Anna Ushenina
!""""""""#
$tM + Tl+%
$OoW OoVo%
$ +oM +o+%
$+ Nv+ + %
$ P N Pp+%
$+ PpB + %
$o+ +q+bP%
$R + +rK %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Anna Muzychuk
Position after 16...Qa5c7

17.f5!!

• Black's Bishop, which accounts for most of Black's space count, must be exchanged as it has no moves.
• If 17.Ncb3 Bxg2 18.Kxg2 e6 19.Rae1 Nd7 then:
• 20.Qf3 Rfe8 21.g5 Rad8 22.Bf2 Nb6 23.c4 Nf5 24.Nxf5 exf5 gives White the advantage in space.
• 20.Qf2 c5 21.Nxc5 Nxc5 22.bxc5 Qxc5 23.c4 Rfd8 24.Nf3 Qc6 is equal.
• After 17.Bxd5 cxd5 18.Rac1 b6 19.Ncb3 Nd7 20.f5 gxf5 21.gxf5 Kh8 22.Bf4 White retains the advantage in space.

17...Bxg2 18.Qxg2

• White now leads in the space count 19-3.

18...Nd7 19.Bf4 Qd8

• After 19...a5 20.fxg6 hxg6 21.Rae1 Rae8 22.Be3 axb4 23.cxb4 Nf6 24.a3 White has a tremendous edge in space.

20.Rae1 Nxc5 21.bxc5 Nc8 22.Be5 Qa5

• White is so dominant in space that Black has little opportunity to make exchanges that would relieve the pressure.
• 22...Bxe5 looks like a good idea for Black, but after 23.Rxe5 Qa5 24.fxg6 hxg6 25.Qb2 Qc7 26.Re3 Qd7 27.Qf2 all that Black accomplished is to remove her own defenders.

23.fxg6 hxg6 24.Bxg7 Kxg7 25.Qf2 Qd8

• After 25...f5 26.Ne6+ Kg8 27.Nxf8 Kxf8 28.gxf5 g5 29.Qd4 White wins easily.

26.Re3

• After 26.Qxf7+ Rxf7 27.Ne6+ Kg8 28.Nxd8 Rxf1+ 29.Rxf1 White is up by a pawn.

26...Kg8

• 26...e5 White suffocates Black on 27.Rxe5 Kg8 28.Qe3 Qd7 29.g5 Kg7 30.Qf4,

27.Rf3 Qd7 28.Rxf7 Qxg4+ 29.Kh1 1-0

• Black cannot avoid severe material loss.
• Ms. Ushenina resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Ask me anything this week, I'll do my best to reply