Jack Rabbit Chess Report (April 14): Ekaterininburg take Russian Team Championship

[Jack Rabbit]

Ekaterininburg victorious in Russian Team Championships



Northern Ural of Ekaterinaburg, led by Azerbaijani star Teimour Radjabov and Latvian/Spanish grandmaster Alexei Shirov, won the Russian team championships in Sochi on Sunday.

Ekaterininburg led the tournament wire to wire, finishing with 17 points, 2 points ahead of Economist-1 of Saratov and three ahead of TPS-Saransk.

The defending champions, Tomsk 400, got off to a slow start and never recovered. Tomsk finished with 10 points out of a possible 22, good for ninth place out of twelve teams.


Smeets, Peng win Dutch National Championships



Jan Smeets defeated Daniel Stellwagen in a dramatic last round showdown to win the overall Dutch national title in Hilversum Sunday.

Stellwagen had led the event most of the way and entered the final round with 7 points out of ten, a half point ahead of Smeets. Stellwagen, who was also the runner-up last year, needed only a draw to secure the title.

Smeets, playing White, opened with his King's pawn which Stellwagen met with a variation of the Open Sicilian known as the Taimanov Defense. The game was equal through 30 moves when Smeets sacrificed a pawn, which he soon recovered giving him two connected passed pawns on the queenside. Stellwagen maneuvered to gain a connected pair of passers on the opposite wing, but Smeets' a-pawn was further advanced than either of Stellwagen's. On the 45th move when Black had no way to prevent White from getting his Rook behind the passed a-pawn, by then on the sixth rank, Stellwagen resigned.

Granmaster Dimitri Reinderman won his last round game and tied Stellwagen for second place.

In the ladies' championship, grandmaster and Chinese native Peng Zhaoqin won her ninth consecutive national title and tenth overall since settling in Holland in 1996. Mw. Peng scored 8 points in nine rounds to finish a point and a half ahead her nearest rival, Petra Schuurman. Tea Lanchava, another immigrant who originally hails from Georgia, finished third with 5½ points.


14-year-old GM takes Dubai Open



Wesley So of the Philippines, who is currently the world's youngest grandmaster at the age of 14, won the Dubai Open, the most presigious chess evnet held annually in Arab nation, with 7 points out of nine rounds Monday.

Young Mr. So was awarded the tournament championship based on his superior tie-break score over Georgia's Merab Gagunashvili, Ghaem Maghami of Iran and Chinese grandmaster Li Chao, all of whom also scored 7 points.

Wesley was awarded the grandmasters title by FIDE in December. He took over the distinction of being the world's youngest GM from Parimarjan Negi of India, who became a grandmaster at 13 and is now 15.



Adams places first in Mérdia



British grandmaster Mickey Adams won the second annual Ruy Lopez Chess Festival in Mérdia, Spain, an imperial Roman city that was the birthplace of the sixteenth-century friar and chess master.

Adams scored 5½ points in seven rounds, winning four game without a loss. Grandmaster Zhang Pengxiang pf China finished second with 5 points and the defending champion, Armenia's Gabriel Sargissian, tied for third with Koneru Humpy of India, who is the world's second-ranked woman player.


Gausdal Classic concludes Wednesday



The annual international tournament in Gausdal, Norway, began last Tuesday and will conclude after nine rounds this coming Wednesday.

American grandmaster Gregory Kaidanov is leading with 5½ points after seven rounds, a full point over Norwegian GM Kjetil Lie and two Indian grandmasters, Chandra Sandeepan and Geetha Naraynan Gopal.

Another American, reigning US women's champion Irina Krush, was attempting to score a grandmaster norm in the event, but currently has only 2½ points and will fall short.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. Games From the Russian Team Championships, Sochi

Diagrams on the Jack Rabbit Chess Report are made with Chess Mérida, a true type font that can be downlaoded free here.
BLACK
!""""""""#
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$+ + + + %
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$RnBqKbNr%
/(((((((()
WHITE
White to move
(This position is a theoretical draw)

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Rublevsky - Zwjaginsev, Moscow-64 vs. St. Petersburg FINEK, Round 5

Sergei Rublevsky
Photo: ChessBase.com


Sergei Rublevsky (Moscow-64) - Vadim Zvjaginsev (St. Petersburg)
Russian Team Championship. Round 5
Sochi, 6 April 2008

Open Sicilian Game: Dragon Defense

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be2

• (Yugoslav Opening)
If 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 0-0 8.Qd2 Bd7 9.0-0-0 Nc6 10.Bc4 then:
• If 10...Rc8 11.Bb3 Ne5 then:
• If 12.Kb1 then:
• If 12...Nc4 13.Bxc4 Rxc4 14.g4 then:
• If 14...b5 15.b3 Rc8 16.Ndxb5 Qa5 17.a4 a6 18.Nd5 Qxd2 19.Nxe7+ Kh8 20.Rxd2 Rce8 then:
• 21.Nxg6+ fxg6 22.Nxd6 Re6 23.Bc5 Bc6 24.Nc4 Rb8 25.Rd6 Rxd6 26.Bxd6 gives White four pawns for a minor piece (Bologan-Fedorov, IT, Calcutta, 1999).
• 21.Nf5 gxf5 22.Nxd6 fxg4 23.Nxe8 Rxe8 24.Bd4 Bc6(Timoshenko-Rogozenko, Op, Cappelle la Grand, 1998).
• If 14...Qa5 15.g5 Nh5 16.Nd5 Qd8 17.Ne2 Be6 18.Bxa7 Bxd5 19.Qxd5 Qc7 20.c3 then:
• If 20...Ra4 21.Bd4 Ra5 22.Qb3 Rxg5 23.h4 Rg2 24.Bxg7 Kxg7 25.Nd4 Ra8 is equal (Negi-Hakki, Op, Dubai, 2004).
• 20...Rc8 21.Qb5 Rc6 22.Be3 Ra6 23.Nc1 Ra5 24.Qb4 leaves White a pawn to the good (Kovacevic-Torres, Op, Mallorca, 2000).
• If 12...Re8 13.h4 h5 then:
• If 14.Bh6 Nc4 15.Bxc4 Rxc4 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.Nd5 e5 18.Nxf6 Qxf6 19.Nb3 Rec8 20.Qxd6 Be6 21.c3 R4c6 22.Qb4 gives White the advantage in space (Leconte-de Blasio, cyberspace, 2002).
• If 14.Bg5 Rc5 15.Rhe1 Qa5 16.a3 Qa6 17.f4 Nc4 18.Bxc4 Rxc4 19.e5 Nh7 20.e6 Bxe6 21.Nxe6 Bxc3 22.bxc3 Qxa3 23.Nd4 Nxg5 24.hxg5 Ra4 draw (I. Smirin-Ju. Hodgson, Ischia, 1996).
• If 12.h4 h5 13.Bg5 Rc5 14.Kb1 then:
• If 14...b5 15.g4 a5 16.gxh5 a4 then:
• If 17.h6 17...Bh8 18.h7+ Nxh7 19.Bd5 b4 20.Nce2 Nxg5 21.hxg5 e6 then:
• If 22.Nf4 Bg7 23.Ndxe6 Bxe6 24.Nxe6 fxe6 25.Bxe6+ Nf7 26.Qh2 Re8 27.Rxd6 Qe7 28.Bd5 Kf8 29.Re6 Qc7 30.Rxe8+ Kxe8 31.Qd2 a3 32.Qxb4 Bxb2 33.Rh7 gives White a considerable advantage in space and the initiative (Amanatov-Le Quang Liem, Areoflot Op, Moscow, 2008).
• If 22.Rxh8+ Kxh8 23.Nf4 Kg7 24.Bxe6 Nxf3 25.Nxf3 fxe6 26.Qxd6 Qc7 27.Qd4+ e5 28.Nxe5 Rxe5 29.Nd3 Rfe8 30.Nxe5 Rxe5 31.Qxd7+ Qxd7 32.Rxd7+ Kf8 33.b3 Rxe4 34.bxa4 gives White two extra pawns (Efimenko-Bromberger, Euro ChTU18, Balatonlelle (Hungary), 2000).
• If 17.Bxf7+ Rxf7 18.hxg6 Nxg6 19.h5 Nxh5 20.Rxh5 Nf4 21.Rh4 Rxg5 22.Rxf4 Rxf4 23.Qxf4 e5 24.Qh4 exd4 gives Black an extra piece (V. Balogh-Dearing, First Saturday, Budapest, 8.2001).
• 14...Re8 15.Rhe1 b5 16.f4 Nc4 17.Bxc4 Rxc4 18.e5 b4 19.Ncb5 Nd5 20.Qd3 Qc8 21.e6 then:
• 21...Bxe6 22.Nxe6 fxe6 23.Qxg6 Nxf4 24.Bxf4 Rxf4 25.Nc7 Ref8 26.Nxe6 Rg4 27.Qxh5 Rf2 28.Rc1 Rfxg2 29.Qd5 gives White a winning attack (Barlow-Schutt, Corres, 1997).
• 21...fxe6 22.Qxg6 Rf8 23.Nxa7 Qe8 24.Qxe8 Rxe8 25.Nxe6 Bxe6 26.Rxe6 Nxf4 27.Rxe7 Rxe7 28.Bxe7 Nxg2 gives White an extra pawn (Barlow-Prizant, Corres, 1996).
• If 10...Qa5 11.Bb3 Rfc8 12.h4 Ne5 13.Kb1 then:
• If 13...Nc4 14.Bxc4 Rxc4 15.Nb3 Qc7 16.Bd4 Be6 17.h5 a5 18.hxg6 hxg6 19.a4 b5 20.Nxb5 Qb8 21.Nc3 Rb4 22.Rh4 Qb7 23.Rdh1 Rb8 24.Nd5 Bxd5 25.exd5 Rxa4 26.g4 Rxd4 27.Qxd4 Qxd5 28.g5 Qxg5 is equal, but the material balance is asymmetrical (Gara-Gaponenko, Ol, Bled, 2002).
• If 13...b5 14.Ncxb5 Qxd2 15.Rxd2 Rab8 16.Nc3 a5 17.a4 Nc4 18.Bxc4 Rxc4 19.Rd3 Rcb4 20.Ndb5 Bxb5 21.Nxb5 Rxa4 22.Rb3 Nd7 23.Rd1 Rc4 24.Nd4 Rxb3 25.cxb3 Rc8 26.Rc1 Nc5 is equal (Hossain-Rahman, Op, Calcutta, 1999).
• If 8...Nc6 9.Bc4 then:
• If 9...Nxd4 10.Bxd4 Be6 11.Bb3 Qa5 12.0-0-0 b5 13.Kb1 b4 14.Nd5 Bxd5 then:
• If 15.Bxd5 Rac8 16.Bb3 Rc7 17.h4 Qb5 18.h5 Rfc8 19.hxg6 hxg6 20.g4 a5 21.g5 gives White the advante in space (Fischer-Larsen, Interz, Portoroz, 1958).
• 15.exd5 Qb5 16.Rhe1 a5 17.Qe2 Qxe2 18.Rxe2 a4 19.Bc4 Rfc8 20.Bb5 Ra5 21.Bxf6 Bxf6 22.Bc6 gives White a small advantage in space (Tal-Larsen, IT, Zurich, 1959).
• 12...Rfc8 13.Kb1 b5 14.Rhe1 Bxb3 15.cxb3 b4 16.Bxf6 bxc3 17.Bxc3 Rxc3 draw (Matanovic-Ivkov, Bled, 1961).
• 9...Bd7 10.0-0-0 transposes into the main line.
• 9...Nd7 10.0-0-0 Nb6 11.Bb3 Na5 12.Qd3 then:
• If 12...Bd7 13.h4 Rc8 14.h5 Nbc4 15.hxg6 hxg6 16.Bg5 Nxb3+ 17.cxb3 Qa5 18.Bxe7 Ne5 19.Qc2 Rxc3 20.bxc3 Rc8 21.Kb2 Qb6 22.Bg5 Nc4+ 23.Ka1 Na3 24.Qb2 Nb5 25.Nxb5 Qxb5 26.Be3!! (White commits to a Queen sacrifice) 26...Bxc3 27.Qxc3 (forced at this point, but White haas already worked it out) 27...Rxc3 28.Bd4 gives White a threat of immediate checkmate allowing him time to gain a second Rook for the Queen (Wedberg-Sosonko, Haninge. 1988).
• 12...Nxb3+ 13.Nxb3 Be6 14.Bd4 Bh6+ 15.Be3 Bg7 16.Bd4 Bh6+ 17.Be3 Bxe3+ 18.Qxe3 a5 19.Nd4 Nc4 20.Qe2 Rc8 21.a4 Qb6 gives Black a small advantage in space (Kovacevic-Markovic, Yugoslav ChT, Cetinje, 1992).
• (Levenfish Opening)
If 6.f4 Nc6 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.e5 Nd7 9.exd6 exd6 then:
• If 10.Be3 Be7 11.Qd2 then:
• If 11...0-0 12.0-0-0 Nf6 13.h3 Be6 then:
• If 14.Kb1 d5 15.g4 Bb4 16.Bg2 Qa5 17.a3 Ne4 18.Bxe4 Bxc3 19.Qxc3 Qxc3 20.bxc3 dxe4 21.Rd6 gives White advantage in space with indications that he will soon initiate a kingside attack (N. Weinstein-Robatsch, Op, Lone Pine, 1975).
• If 14.g4 Qa5 then:
• If 15.Bg2! Rab8 16.b3 d5 17.f5 Bd7 18.Kb1 Bb4 19.Bd4 Ne8 20.fxg6 fxg6 21.Rhf1 gives White only a little more space, but he has the initiative (Fuderer-Trifunovic, Yugoslav Ch, Belgrade, 1952).
• 15.Kb1 Ne4 16.Qd4 Nxc3+ 17.Qxc3 Qxa2+ 18.Kc1 Rab8 gives White the advantage in space, but Black has an extra pawn and pressure on the b2 square (Hayrapetian-Bagaturov, Ebralidze Mem, Tbilisi, 2007).
• 11...Nf6 12.0-0-0 Be6 13.Bd3 Qa5 14.Bd4 Rb8 15.Ne4 Qxa2 16.Qc3 Nxe4 17.Qxc6+ Kf8 18.Bxe4 Rg8 19.Kd2 gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Ulker-Calzolari, Corres, 2002).
• If 10.Qd4 Nf6 11.Be3 Be7 12.Be2 0-0 13.Bf3 d5 14.Qd2 then:
• If 14...Bg4 15.0-0-0 Re8 16.h3 Bxf3 17.gxf3 Qd7 18.Qd3 Nh5 19.Rhg1 Bd6 20.Kb1 Bxf4 21.Bxf4 Nxf4 22.Qd2 Qf5 gives Black an extra pawn and a huge advantage in space (Klinger-Tukmakov, Szirak, 1985).
• 14...Qa5 15.0-0 Bc5 16.Kh1 draw (Kasparov-Balashov, Moscow, 1981).
• (Zagreb Opening)
If 6.g3!? Nc6 then:
• If 7.Bg2 Nxd4 8.Qxd4 Bg7 9.0-0 0-0 then:
• If 10.Qb4 Qc7 11.a4 Be6 12.a5 Nd7 13.Be3 Ne5 14.Nd5 Bxd5 15.exd5 Nc4 16.Bc1 Rab8 17.Re1 b6 18.a6 Rfe8 19.Ra2 Ne5 gives White a considerable advantage in space (Kotronias-Rosselli, Op, Dubai, 1986).
• If 10.Qd3 Be6 11.Nd5 then:
• If 11...Rc8 12.c3 Re8 13.Be3 Qa5 14.h3 Qa4 15.Rfe1 b5 16.Bg5 Nxd5 17.exd5 Bf5 18.Qd2 b4 19.c4 Qc2 20.Qxc2 Bxc2 21.Rac1 Bd3 is equal (Teschner-Tal, Vienna, 1957).
• 11...Nxd5 12.exd5 Bf5 13.Qe2 b5 14.c3 Rb8 15.Be3 Qc7 16.Qd2 Rfc8 17.Rfe1 b4 18.cxb4 Qc2 19.Rac1 Qxd2 20.Bxd2 Bxb2 21.Rc6 Kf8 22.a4 gives White a small advantage in space (Benjamin-Kaliksteyn, Op, New York, 1993).
• 7.Nde2 Bg7 8.Bg2 0-0 9.0-0 then:
• If 9...Bd7 10.h3 Rc8 11.a4 then:
• 11...Nb4 12.Be3 a5 13.Qd2 Be6 14.Rfd1 Nd7 15.Rac1 Ne5 16.b3 Bxh3 17.Nd5 Bxg2 18.Kxg2 Nxd5 19.exd5 Ng4 gives Black an extra pawn and White a little extra space (Matic-Texeira, cyberspace, 1999).
• 11...a6 12.Be3 Qc7 13.Kh1 Ne5 14.b3 Bc6 15.Ra2 e6 16.a5 Rfe8 17.Qd2 Ned7 18.Rd1 Bf8 19.g4 d5 20.exd5 Nxd5 21.Nxd5 exd5 22.Nf4 Nf6 23.Bb6 Qd6 24.c4 gives White a slight advantage in space, but the position is dynamic (Asrian-Mamedov, Op, Dubai, 2004).
• 9...Rb8 10.a4 a6 11.h3 then:
• If 11...b5 12.axb5 axb5 13.Be3 b4 14.Nd5 Nd7 15.Ra2 e6 16.Ndf4 b3 17.cxb3 Nb4 18.Ra1 Bxb2 19.Rb1 Be5 is equal (Marinkovic-Kovacevic, Yugoslav Cup, Ulcinj, 1997).
• 11...Bd7 12.Nd5 b5 13.axb5 axb5 14.Be3 b4 15.Ra2 Ne8 16.Bg5 h6 17.Bd2 e6 18.Ne3 Nc7 19.c4 bxc3 20.Bxc3 Nb5 21.Bxg7 Kxg7 22.Qd2 e5 draw (I. Smirin-Pigusov, Soviet ChT, 1990).

6...Bg7 7.0-0 0-0 8.Re1

• If 8.Be3 Nc6 then:
• If 9.Nb3 Be6 10.f4 Qc8 11.Kh1 Rd8 then:
• 12.Bg1 d5 13.e5 Ne4 14.Nb5 f6 15.exf6 exf6 16.c3 f5 17.a4 Kh8 18.a5 d4 19.N3xd4 a6 20.Na3 Nxa5 21.Qa4 Nc6 22.Nxe6 Qxe6 23.Bf3 Rd2 24.Qc4 Qe8 25.Qb3 b5 26.Rfe1 Na5 27.Qb4 Nc6 28.Qb3 Na5 29.Qb4 draw (Negi-G. Jones, World Jr Ch, Yerevan, 2007).
• 12.Bf3 Bc4 13.Rf2 e5 14.Rd2 exf4 15.Bxf4 Ne5 16.Rxd6 Rxd6 17.Qxd6 Nxf3 18.gxf3 Qh3! 19.Nd2 Nh5 20.Be5 f6 21.Qd4 Rc8 is even (Hoyos-Benjamin, Op, Philadelphia, 1992).
• If 9.Qd2 Ng4 10.Bxg4 Bxg4 11.f4 Bd7 12.Rad1 Rc8 13.Rf2 b6 14.h3 Qe8 15.b3 Nxd4 16.Bxd4 e5 17.fxe5 dxe5 18.Be3 Bc6 19.Nd5 Qe6 20.c4 f5 21.Bg5 Rf7 22.Bh6 f4 23.Bxg7 Kxg7 24.Nc3 Qe7 is equal (Paoli-Mariotti, Op, Lucca, 1974).
• 9...Bd7 10.h3 Rc8 11.Rad1 a6 12.f4 b5 13.a3 Qc7 14.Bf3 Na5 15.Qf2 Nc4 16.Bc1 Nxa3 17.e5 dxe5 18.fxe5 Qxe5 19.Bb7 Rc4 20.Bxa6 Qb8 puts White's Bishop in the penalty box for two minutes (Wobbe-Korchnoi, Hamburg, 1995).

8...Nc6 9.Nb3 Nd7!?

• If 9...Be6 10.Bf1 then:
• If 10...a5 11.a4 then:
• If 11...Rc8 then:
• 12.Nd5 Bxd5 13.exd5 Nb4 14.c4 Nd7 15.Nd4 Bxd4 16.Qxd4 Nc2 17.Qc3 Nxe1 18.Bh6 Nf3+ 19.gxf3 Nf6 20.Bh3 Rc5 21.Re1 Qc7 22.Re4 Rb8 gives White enough extra space to compensate for the exchange (Damljanovic-Velimirovic, Yugoslav Cup, Herceg Nov1, 1999).
• 12.Bg5 h6 13.Bh4 Nb4 14.Nd4 Bc4 15.Bxc4 Rxc4 16.Ndb5 Qc8 17.Qe2 Qe6 18.Na3 Rc5 19.Ncb5 d5 20.c3(Sasikiran-P. Littlewood, British Ch, Torquay, 2002).
• 11...Bxb3 12.cxb3 e6 13.Bg5 h6 14.Be3 Nb4 15.Rc1 Rc8 16.Qd2 Kh7 17.Red1 d5 18.exd5 Nfxd5 19.Nxd5 Qxd5 20.Rxc8 Rxc8 21.Bc4 Qe5 is equal (Arutinian-Malakhov, World ChU20, Yerevan, 2000).
• 10...d5 11.Nc5 Bg4 12.f3 d4 13.Nb5 Bc8 14.c3 dxc3 15.Nxc3 Nd7 16.Nb3 b6 17.Be3 Nde5 18.Qe2 Nb4 19.Red1 Qe8 20.Nb5 gives White the advantage in space ()Skurski-G. Jones, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005.
• 10...Rc8 11.Nd5 Ne5 12.Bg5 Bxd5 13.exd5 Qd7 14.h3 h6 15.Be3 a6 16.a4 Qc7 gives White a small advantage in space (Moreno-Daskevics, World Youth, Oropesa del Mar, 2001).
• If 9...a6 10.Bf1 b5 then:
• 11.Bg5h6 12.Bh4 Nd7 13.Rb1 Nb6 14.Nd5 g5 15.Bg3 Nc4 16.c3 e6 17.Ne3 N4e5 18.f3 Bb7 19.Qd2 Qc7 20.Rbd1 Rad8 21.Nd4 Ne7 22.a4 bxa4 23.Ra1 Qd7 24.Qd1 N5c6 25.Rxa4 gives White a small advantage in space (Schmaltz-Kotronias, Op, Athens, 2003).
• If 11.Nd5 Nd7 12.c3 e6 13.Ne3 Nb6 14.g3 Bb7 then:
• 15.f4 15...Qc7 16.Bg2 Rad8 17.Nd4 Rfe8 18.h4 e5 19.Nxc6 Bxc6 20.Nd5 Bxd5 21.exd5 Nc4 is slightly adventageous to Black, who would benefit from opening the position (Lenic-Kovacevic, Op, Bled, 2002).
• 15.Bg2 Qc7 16.h4 Rad8 17.h5 d5 18.hxg6 dxe4 19.gxf7+ Qxf7 20.Qe2 Ne5 gives Black a huge advantage in space (Koch-Fontaine, French Ch, Marsailles, 2001).

10.Bg5

• If 10.Nd5 Nc5 11.Nxc5 dxc5 12.Bb5 then:
• If 12...Nd4 13.Bd3 e6 14.Ne3 Nc6 15.c3 is equal.
• 12...Ne5 13.Bg5 f6 14.Be3 b6 15.f4 gives White the advantage in space.

10...Nc5

• If 10...Bxc3 11.bxc3 Qc7 12.Nd4 Nc5 13.Nxc6 bxc6 then:
• 14.Bd3 14...Re8 15.Qf3 Rb8 16.Bf4 e5 17.Bh6 is equal.
• 14.Bc4 Rd8 15.Qf3 Be6 16.Bd3 Rab8 is equal.

11.Nxc5 dxc5 12.Nd5!?

• White sacrifices a pawn in order to build an attack on Black's weak points, starting with the pawn at e7.
• 12.Qc1 Be6 13.Bh6 Bxh6 14.Qxh6 Nd4 15.Qc1 is equal.

12...Bxb2 13.Rb1 Bg7

• 13...Be5 14.Nxe7+ Nxe7 15.Qxd8 Rxd8 16.Bxe7 is equal.

14.Bc4 a6?!

• Black is contemplating chasing the Bishop away with 15...b5 but this move creates a hole on his queenside.
• If 14...h6 15.Nxe7+ Nxe7 16.Qxd8 Rxd8 17.Bxe7 then:
• 17...Rd7 18.Bh4 Rd2 19.Rbd1 Rd4 is equal.
• 17...Rd4?! 18.Bd5 Bf8 19.Bxf8 Kxf8 20.Rb5 gives White better mobility.

15.Rb6!

• White wastes no time exploiting the weakness created by Black's last move.
• ...b5 is now impossible.

15...Kh8

• If 15...Ra7 16.Nxe7+ Nxe7 17.Qxd8 Rxd8 18.Bxe7 then:
• 18...Rd2 19.Bxc5 Bf8 20.Rxg6+ gives White two extra pawns.


• 18...Rd7 19.Bd6 Bc3 20.Rd1

BLACK: Vadim Zvjaginsev
!""""""""#
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Sergei Rublevsky
Position after 15...Kg8h8

16.Rxc6!!

• This is the possibility Black missed, or he would have played to prevent it on either of his last two moves.

16...bxc6 17.Bxe7!

• White wins back all sacrificed material.

17...Qa5 18.Bxf8 Bxf8 19.Ne3

• 19.Nf4?! Rb8 20.Qc1 Kg8 21.c3 Bh6 22.Qd2 Rb7 23.g3 Bg4 is equal.

19...Ra7 20.Qe2 Re7 21.Rb1 Bg7

• White has the advantage, but the game is not yet won.
• A more stubborn defense is 21...Rxe4 22.Bxf7 Qc7 23.Bc4 Bd6 24.g3 a5 25.Qf3 .

22.Qd3 Rd7??

• Black misses his chance for counterplay and loses immediately.
• Correct is 22...Be5 23.h3 Kg7 24.Bb3 Rd7 25.Qe2 Qc3! 26.Qg4 h6 with equality.

BLACK: Vadim Zvjaginsev
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WHITE: Sergei Rublevsky
Position after 22...Re7d7

23.Qxd7!! 1-0

• After 23...Bxd7 24.Rb8+ Bf8 25.Rxf8+ Kg7 26.Rxf7+ Kh8 27.Rxd7 White has a material and positional advantage.
• Grandmaster Zvjaginsev resigns.

[Herman74]

10. What's up with the a-pawn & Grandmaster Rublevsky?

It appears as though Grandmaster Rublevsky is reaching for the a-pawn for the first move of the game!:o

(I suppose that someone will reply that Grandmaster Rublevsky had just finished placing the pawn on a2 for the game's commencement, but I like my initial speculation).

[Jack Rabbit]

11. Rublevsky is known to be a speculative player

His motto is I just sit down a play chess.

Searching databases, I am unable to find any instance of Rublevsky playing Anderssen's Opening (1.a3) as White. He has added quite a bit of useful theory to the Scotch Opening and the Spanish Sicilian (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 (or 2...d6) 3.Bb4).

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Morozevich - Ivanchuk, Tomsk-400 vs. TPS-Saransk, Round 7

Vassily Ivanchuk
Photo: ChessBase.com


Alexander Morozevich (Tomsk) - Vassily Ivanchuk (Saransk)
Russian Team Championships, Round 7
Sochi, 9 April 2008

Open Sicilian Game: Dragon Defense

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.Be2

• (Maroczy Opening) If 5.c4 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Nc3 then:
• If 7...Ng4 8.Qxg4 Nxd4 9.Qd1 then:
• If 9...Ne6 10.Rc1 then:
• If 10...Qa5 11.Qd2 b6 then:
• 12.Be2 Bb7 13.f3 g5 14.0-0 h5 15.Rfd1 d6 16.Nd5 Qxd2 17.Rxd2 h4 18.b4 Be5 19.a4 f6 20.Ra2 Kf7 21.Rd1 Nf4 22.Bf1 Bxd5 23.cxd5 Rac8 24.a5 Rc3 gives Black a comfortable advantage in space (W. Schmidt-Kuczynski, Polish Ch, Siupsk. 1988).
• 12.Bd3 Bb7 13.0-0 g5 14.Rfd1 d6 15.Nd5 Qxd2 16.Rxd2 Rc8 17.Rcd1 Bd4 18.Bxd4 Nxd4 19.Ne3 Nc6 20.b3 Ne5 21.Nf5 h5 22.Bb1 h4 is equal (Henriksson-Molander, Op, Jyvaskyla (Finland), 2000).
• 10...d6 11.Bd3 0-0 then:
• 12.0-0 Bd7 13.Qd2 a5 14.Bb1 Bc6 15.Rfe1 Re8 16.b3 Nc5 17.Bg5 Qd7 18.Nd5 Bxd5 19.exd5 e5 20.dxe6 Nxe6 21.Be3 Qc6 22.Red1 Bf8 23.Qd5 Nc7 24.Qd4 Re6 25.Bd3 Bg7 26.Qb6 d5 27.Qxc6 Rxc6 28.Bf4 is equal (Borsavolgyi-Gal, Hajduboszormeny, 1999).
• 12...Nc5 13.Bb1 a5 14.f4 b6 15.f5 Bb7 16.Qd2 Nd7 17.Nd5 Bxd5 18.exd5 Ne5 19.a4 Qc7 20.h3 Rac8 21.b3 gives White a considerable adsvantage in space (Sabinin-Tamarkin, Corres, 1974).
• 9...e5 10.Bd3 0-0 11.0-0 d6 12.Qd2 Be6 13.Rac1 a6 14.b3 Rc8 15.f3 Qa5 16.Rfd1 f5 17.exf5 Nxf5 18.Be4 Rf7 19.Qe2 gives White a small advantage in space (Tal-Partos, Ol, Nice, 1974).
• If 7...0-0 8.Be2 then:
• 8...d6 9.0-0 Bd7 10.Qd2 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 Bc6 12.f3 a5 13.b3 Nd7 14.Be3 Nc5 15.Rab1 Qb6 16.Rfc1 Rfc8 17.Rc2 Qd8 18.Bf1 h5 19.a3 Kh7 20.b4 axb4 21.axb4 Ne6 22.Nd5 Ra3 23.Kh1 Rca8 24.f4 Ra1 25.Rxa1 Rxa1 26.Rc1 gives White a slight adantage in space (Zawadzka-Sikorova, World ChTW, Ekaterininburg, 2007).
• 8...b6 9.0-0 Bb7 10.f3 e6 11.Nxc6 Bxc6 12.Qd6 Ne8 13.Qd2 Qe7 14.Rfd1 f5 15.exf5 gxf5 16.Rac1 Qh4 17.b4 Rf7 18.Nb5 Be5 19.f4 Rg7 20.Bf1 Bb8 21.Nd4 Bb7 22.g3 Qh5 23.Bg2 Be4 24.c5 Nf6 25.c6 Bc7 26.Qe2 Qxe2 27.Nxe2 Bxg2 28.Kxg2 Nd5 draw (W. Schmidt-Jacek, Poznan, 1987).
• 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 then:
• If 7...0-0 8.Bb3 then:
• 8...d6 9.f3 Bd7 10.Qd2 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 b5 12.h4 a5 13.a4 bxa4 14.Nxa4 e5 15.Be3 Be6 16.Nb6 Rb8 17.Qxa5 Bxb3 18.cxb3 d5 19.Nxd5 Nxd5 20.Qxd5 Qxd5 21.exd5 Rxb3 22.Bc5 Rc8 23.Ba3 e4 24.0-0 draw (Liberzon-Adorjan. Team M, Moscow, 1971).
• 8...a5 9.f3 d5 10.Bxd5 Nxd5 11.Nxd5 f5 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.Nb6 Rb8 14.Qxd8 Rxd8 15.Rd1 Rxd1+ 16.Kxd1 fxe4 17.Nxc8 Rxc8 18.b3 exf3 19.gxf3 Kf7 20.Rg1 Be5 is equal (Mitkov-Perelshteyn, Chicago, 2006).
• 7...Qa5 8.0-0 0-0 9.Bb3 d6 10.h3 Bd7 11.f4 Nxd4 12.Bxd4 Bc6 13.Qd3 Rad8 14.Rad1 Nd7 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.Qd4+ Nf6 17.Kh2 e5 18.fxe5 Qxe5+ 19.Kg1 a6 20.Rd3 Rd7 21.Rfd1 Rfd8 22.a3 h5 23.R3d2 gives White a small advantage in space (I. Smirin-Lutz, Zonal, Dresden, 1998).

5...Bg7 6.Nb3 d6 7.0-0 Nf6 8.Nc3 0-0 9.Bg5

• 9.Re1 then:
• If 9...Be6 10.Bf1 then:
• 10...a5 11.a4 then:
• If 11...Rc8 then:
• 12.Nd5 Bxd5 13.exd5 Nb4 14.c4 Nd7 15.Nd4 Bxd4 16.Qxd4 Nc2 17.Qc3 Nxe1 18.Bh6 Nf3+ 19.gxf3 Nf6 20.Bh3 Rc5 21.Re1 Qc7 22.Re4 Rb8 gives White enough extra space to compensate for the exchange (Damljanovic-Velimirovic, Yugoslav Cup, Herceg Nov1, 1999).
• 12.Bg5 h6 13.Bh4 Nb4 14.Nd4 Bc4 15.Bxc4 Rxc4 16.Ndb5 Qc8 17.Qe2 Qe6 18.Na3 Rc5 19.Ncb5 d5 20.c3(Sasikiran-P. Littlewood, British Ch, Torquay, 2002).
• 11...Bxb3 12.cxb3 e6 13.Bg5 h6 14.Be3 Nb4 15.Rc1 Rc8 16.Qd2 Kh7 17.Red1 d5 18.exd5 Nfxd5 19.Nxd5 Qxd5 20.Rxc8 Rxc8 21.Bc4 Qe5 is equal (Arutinian-Malakhov, World ChU20, Yerevan, 2000).
• 10...d5 11.Nxd5 Ne5 12.Bg5 Bxd5 13.exd5 Qd7 14.h3 h6 15.Be3 a6 16.a4 Qc7 17.Be3 Nde5 18.Qe2 Nb4 19.Red1 Qe8 20.Nb5 gives White the advantage in space (Skurski-G. Jones, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005.)
• 10...Rc8 11.Nd5 Ne5 12.Bg5 Bxd5 13.exd5 Qd7 14.h3 h6 15.Be3 a6 16.a4 Qc7 gives White a small advantage in space (Moreno-Daskevics, World Youth, Oropesa del Mar, 2001).
• 9...a6 10.Bf1 b5 then:
• 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bh4 Nd7 13.Rb1 Nb6 14.Nd5 g5 15.Bg3 Nc4 16.c3 e6 17.Ne3 N4e5 18.f3 Bb7 19.Qd2 Qc7 20.Rbd1 Rad8 21.Nd4 Ne7 22.a4 bxa4 23.Ra1 Qd7 24.Qd1 N5c6 25.Rxa4 gives White a small advantage in space (Schmaltz-Kotronias, Op, Athens, 2003).
• 11.Nd5 Nd7 12.c3 e6 13.Ne3 Nb6 14.g3 Bb7 then:
• 15.f4 Qc7 16.Bg2 Rad8 17.Nd4 Rfe8 18.h4 e5 19.Nxc6 Bxc6 20.Nd5 Bxd5 21.exd5 Nc4 is slightly adventageous to Black, who would benefit from opening the position (Lenic-Kovacevic, Op, Bled, 2002).
• 15.Bg2 Qc7 16.h4 Rad8 17.h5 d5 18.hxg6 dxe4 19.gxf7+ Qxf7 20.Qe2 Ne5 gives Black a huge advantage in space (Koch-Fontaine, French Ch, Marsailles, 2001).
• 9...Nd7 10.Bg5 Nc5 11.Nxc5 dxc5 12.Nd5 Bxb2 13.Rb1 Bg7 14.Bc4 a6 15.Rb6 gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Rublevsky-Zvjanginsev, Russian ChT (Rd 5), Sochi, 2008).
• 9.Be3 Be6 10.f4 Qc8 then:
• If 11.Kh1 then:
• 11...Rd8 12.Bg1 d5 13.e5 Ne4 14.Nb5 f6 15.exf6 exf6 16.c3 f5 17.a4 Kh8 18.a5 d4 19.N3xd4 a6 20.Na3 Nxa5 21.Qa4 Nc6 22.Nxe6 Qxe6 23.Bf3 Rd2 24.Qc4 Qe8 25.Qb3 b5 26.Rfe1 Na5 27.Qb4 Nc6 28.Qb3 Na5 29.Qb4 draw (Negi-G. Jones, World Jr Ch, Yerevan, 2007).
• 11...Bg4 12.Bg1 Rb8 13.Nd4 Bxe2 14.Qxe2 b5 15.e5 dxe5 16.fxe5 Nd7 17.Nxc6 Qxc6 18.Bxa7 Rb7 19.Bd4 b4 20.Ne4 Nxe5 21.a3 bxa3 22.Rxa3 Qc4 23.Qxc4 Nxc4 24.Bxg7 Kxg7 25.Rb3 Rxb3 26.cxb3 Ne5 27.Rc1 Rd8 28.Kg1 Rd4 gives Black the active Rook for the endgame (Glek-Khalifman, PCA Qual, Moscow, 1995).
• 11.h3 Rd8 12.Bf3 Bc4 13.Rf2 e5 14.Rd2 exf4 15.Bxf4 Ne5 16.Kh2 Ba6 17.Bxe5 dxe5 18.Rxd8+ Qxd8 19.Nc5 Qb6 20.Nxa6 Qxa6 21.Qd3 Qb6 (Matanovic-Geller, Belgrade, 1956).

9...Be6

• 9...a6 then:
• If 10.f4 b5 11.Bf3 then:
• If 11...Bb7 12.Kh1 Nd7 then:
• 13.Qe1 a5 14.Nxb5 a4 15.Nd2 Qb8 16.c4 a3 17.b3 h6 18.Bh4 Bxa1 19.Qxa1 e5 20.f5 Nc5 gives White an advantage in space in compenation for a small material deficit (Zagrebelny-Kostur, Asian Ch, Calcutta, 2001).
• 13.Rb1 Re8 14.Nd5 f6 15.Bh4 e6 16.Ne3 g5 17.Bg3 gxf4 18.Bxf4 Nde5 19.Bh5 Rf8 20.Qe1 Kh8 21.Rd1 Qe7 22.c3 Rad8 23.Rf2 Nb8 24.Nc2 f5 25.exf5 Rxf5 26.Be2 Rdf8 gives Black a small advantage in space (Zigangirova-N. Kosintseva, Ol, Calvia, 2004).
• If 11...b4 12.Na4 then:
• If 12...Qc7 13.c4 then:
• 13...Nd7 14.Kh1 a5 15.Qd2 Nb6 16.Nxb6 Qxb6 17.Bh4 a4 18.Bf2 Qa6 19.Nd4 Bxd4 20.Bxd4 Qxc4 gives Black an extra pawn (Gipslis-Shirov, Daugavpils (Latvia), 1990).
• 13...Rb8 14.Rc1 Nd7 15.Bh4 Bh6 16.Qd2 Nc5 17.Naxc5 dxc5 18.Bg3 Rd8 19.Qf2 Bxf4 20.Bxf4 Qxf4 21.Qxc5 Qd6 22.Rfd1 Qxc5+ 23.Nxc5 Be6 24.Nxe6 fxe6 25.Bg4 Kg7 26.Bxe6 gives White an extra pawn (Kotronias-Su. Polgar, Corfu, 1990).
• 12...Bd7 13.c4 Na5 14.e5 Bxa4 15.Bxa8 Qxa8 16.exf6 exf6 17.Bh4 Nxc4 18.Qd4 Bb5 19.f5 Re8 20.Rfe1 Re5 21.a4 bxa3 22.bxa3 Rd5 23.Qc3 Ne5 24.Red1 gives Black the advantage in space (Tischbierek-Tseshkovsky, Op, Biel, 2004).
• If 10.a4 then:
• If 10...Be6 11.Kh1 Rc8 12.f4 Na5 13.Nxa5 Qxa5 14.Bd3 then:
• 14...Rfe8 15.f5 Bd7 16.Qf3 Qe5 17.Rae1 Bc6 18.Qf2 Qa5 19.Bd2 Qd8 20.h3 Rf8 21.Qh4 b5 22.axb5 axb5 23.Bg5 Qb6 24.Be3 draw (Thorhallsson-Petursson, Icelandic Ch, Reykjavik, 1994).
• 14...Bc4 15.Qf3 Qb4 16.Rab1 b5 17.axb5 axb5 18.Bxc4 Qxc4 19.Bxf6 Bxf6 20.Nd5 Qxc2 21.e5 dxe5 22.fxe5 Bg5(Thorhallsson-Petursson, Op, Reykjavik, 1994).
• 10...b6 11.f4 Bb7 12.Bf3 Nd7 13.Kh1 Nc5 14.Nxc5 bxc5 15.e5 h6 16.Bh4 dxe5 17.Qxd8 Raxd8 18.fxe5 Bxe5 19.Rae1 Bxc3 20.bxc3 Rd7 21.Bf2 Na5 22.Bxc5 Bxf3 23.Rxf3 Nc6 24.Rd3 Rb7 25.h3 gives White the advantage in space, but his weak pawns are a problem (Fishbein-Christiansen, US Ch, Seattle, 2002).

10.f4

• If 10.Kh1 then:
• If 10...Na5 11.f4 then:
• 11...Rc8 12.f5 Bc4 13.Bd3 b5 14.Qe2 b4 15.Nd1 Re8 16.Ne3 Bxd3 17.cxd3 gives White a small advantage in space (Fishbein-Aramal, Op, Chicago, 2002).
• 11...Nc4 12.f5 Nxb2 13.Qc1 Bc4 14.Qxb2 Bxe2 15.Nxe2 Nxe4 16.f6 Nxf6 17.Nbd4 Qd7 18.c4 Ne4 19.Be3 d5 20.cxd5 Qxd5 21.Rab1 Nd6 is equal (Gipslis-Nadyrhanov, IT, Alushta, 1994).
• 10...h6 11.Bh4 g5 12.Bg3 d5 13.Nc5 dxe4 14.Nxe6 fxe6 15.Bc4 Qc8 16.Bb3 Rd8 17.Qe1 Nd4 18.Nxe4 Qc6 19.Nd2 Nxb3 20.axb3 a6 21.c3 Rd3 gives Black a considerable advantage in space (Nikolov-Kovacevic, Op, Bled, 2002)
• If 10.Re1 then:
• 10...Rc8 11.Bf1 Ne5 12.Nd5 Nxd5 13.exd5 Bd7 14.c3 Re8 15.Re4 b5 16.Nd4 Qb6 17.Qb3 Rc5 18.Rae1 h6 19.Be3 Qb7 gives White a small advantage in space (Gluckman-Abdelnabbi, Ol. Bled, 2002).
• 10...h6 11.Bh4 g5 12.Bg3 d5 13.Nc5 d4 14.Nb5 Bc8 15.e5 Nd7 16.Nxd7 Bxd7 17.Bc4 Qb6 18.e6 Bxe6 19.Rxe6 fxe6 gives Black a material advantage (Aronian-Milu, Ciocaltea mem, Bucharest, 1998).

10...b5 11.a3!?

• If 11.Bf3 then:
• 11...Bc4 12.Re1 e5 13.f5 b4 14.Nd5 Bxd5 15.exd5 Ne7 16.fxg6 hxg6 17.a3 a5 18.axb4 a4 19.Nd2 Qb6+ 20.Kh1 Qxb4 21.Ne4 Nxe4 22.Rxe4 Qb7 23.Rexa4 Rxa4 24.Rxa4 f6 25.Bc1leaves White a pawn to the good (Klicnar-Neumann, First Saturday, Budapest, 1999).
• 11...b4 12.Nd5 Bxd5 13.exd5 Na5 14.Qe2 Rc8 15.Kh1 Qb6 16.Nxa5 Qxa5 17.a3 h6 18.Bh4 bxa3 19.Rxa3 Qb4 20.c3 Qxf4 21.Bg3 Qc4 22.Qxc4 Rxc4 23.Rxa7 gives White the advantage in space (A. Sokolov-Khalifman, IT, Minsk, 1986).

11...a5

• The position is equal.
• 11...Bxb3 12.cxb3 b4 13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.exd5 Nd4 15.Bd3 Qb6 16.Kh1 gives White the advantage i space.

12.Bf3 a4 13.Nc1 Nd7 14.Nd3

• 14.N1e2 Bc4 15.Qd2 Qb6+ 16.Kh1 Nc5 17.Nd5 Qd8 is equal.

14...Nc5 15.Kh1?!

• 15.Nb4 Nxb4 16.axb4 Nd7 17.Qd2 Rc8 is equal.

15...Nxd3

• If 15...Bc4 16.e5 Rc8 17.Nxc5 dxc5 18.Qxd8 Rfxd8 19.Rfd1 f6 20.Bxc6 fxg5 21.Bb7 Rb8 22.Bd5+ Bxd5 23.Nxd5 Kf7 gives White advantages in space an pawn structure.
• 19.Bxc6 Rxc6 20.Rfd1 Re8 21.Re1 Kf8 is equal.

16.cxd3 Rb8

• 16...Nd4 17.f5 Bb3 18.Qd2 Rc8 19.Bg4 Rc5 20.Rac1 d5 gives Black a small advantage in space.

17.f5

• 17.Qe1 h6 18.f5 Bb3 19.Bf4 Nd4 20.Qd2 g5 21.Bg3 Be5 gives Black a considerable advantage in space.

17...Bb3 18.Qd2 b4

• If 18...Nd4 19.Bg4 Rb7 20.Rac1 then:
• 20...gxf5?! 21.Bxf5 Nxf5 22.Rxf5 gives White more space.
• 20...d5 21.Bh6 dxe4 22.Bxg7 Kxg7 23.dxe4 is equal.

19.axb4 Rxb4 20.Bh6 Qb6 21.Bxg7?

• If 21.Bd1 Bxh6 22.Qxh6 Qd4 23.Bxb3 Rxb3 24.f6 exf6 25.Nd5 f5 26.Rac1 then:
• If Rxd3 27.Rxc6 Qe5 28.Rc7 Re8 gives White a piesce for two pawns.
• 26...Qg7 27.Qxg7+ Kxg7 28.Rxc6 Rxd3 gives White a piesce for two pawns.
• 21...Nd4 22.Bxg7 Kxg7 23.Qf2 gxf5 24.exf5 then:
• If Kh8 25.Bxb3 Nxb3 26.Qxb6 Rxb6 27.Nxa4 gives White an extra pawn.
• 24...Qd8 25.Bxb3 Nxb3 26.f6+ exf6 27.Rxa4 gives White an extra pawn.

21...Kxg7 22.Bd1 Bxd1 23.Qxd1

BLACK: Vassily Ivanchuk
!""""""""#
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$ P + +pP%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Alexander Morozevich
Position after 23.Qd2d1:B

23...Qd4!

• 23...Qb7 24.Nxa4 Ra8 25.Ra2 is unclear: White has a pawn and Black has more space.

24.Nd5

• Black continues to have an advantage in space after 24.Rxa4 Rfb8 25.Rxb4 Rxb4 26.fxg6 hxg6 27.Qd2 Ne5.

24...Rb3 25.Qc1

• After 25.Nf4 Ra8 26.Qc2 Ra6 27.Rab1 gxf5 28.exf5 Black still enjoys a considerable advantage in space.

25...Ne5 26.Qc7

• If 26.Nxe7 Nxd3 27.f6+ Qxf6 28.Rxf6 Nxc1 then:
• 29.Rxd6 Nd3 30.Rxa4 Re8 31.Nd5 Nxb2 32.Ra1 Rxe4 gives Black an extra pawn.
• 29.Nd5 Nd3 30.Rxa4 Nc5 31.Rd4 Rxb2 32.h3 Re8 33.Rxd6 Nxe4 leaves Black a pawn up for the endgame.

26...Nxd3 27.Qxe7 Nf2+ 28.Rxf2

• White decides not to go gently into the good night with 28.Kg1 Nh3+ 29.Kh1 Qg1+ 30.Rxg1 Nf2#,

28...Qxf2 29.Qxd6

• If 29.Rg1 Qxb2 30.Qxd6 Rbb8 31.Rf1 Qd4 then:
• 32.h3 Rbe8 33.f6+ Kh8 34.Re1 Ra8The pawn takes a protected path to Scone.
• After 32.f6+ Kh8 33.Re1 Ra8 the a-pawn sees nothing by daylight in front of him.

BLACK: Vassily Ivanchuk
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WHITE: Alexander Morozevich
Position after 29.Qe7d6:p

29...Rc8!

• 29...Rfb8? 30.Rg1 Rxb2 31.Qe5+! Kh6 32.Nf6 then:
• If 32...Kg5 33.Nxh7+ Kh6 34.Nf6 R2b5 is equal.
• 32...Qe2 33.Ne8 R2b6 34.fxg6 hxg6 35.Qg7+ is equal.

30.f6+ Kh6 31.Qd7 Rxb2!

• Black threatens mate on g2, leaving White no time to take the Rook on c8.

32.Qg4 Rcc2 33.Nf4

• After 33.Ne3 Qxf6 34.Nxc2 Rxc2 35.Rg1 Qd4 36.Rf1 Qf2 Black's a-pawn decides.

33...a3 34.h4 Rb5

• 34...Qc5 35.Rxa3 Rc1+ 36.Kh2 Qg1+ also wins.

35.Rxa3 Qd4 36.Nd5 Rb1+ 37.Kh2 Qg1+ 0-1

• After 37...Qg1+ 38.Kg3 Rxg2+ White must lose the Queen or submit to mate.
• Alexander Sergeyevich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Games from the Dutch National Championships, Hilversum

Diagrams on the Jack Rabbit Chess Report are made with Chess Mérida, a true type font that can be downlaoded free here.
BLACK
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WHITE
White to move
(This position is a theoretical draw)

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Stellwagen - Janssen, Round 6

Daniel Stellwagen
Photo: .com


Daniel Stellwagen - Ruud Janssen
Dutch National Championships, Round 6
Hilversum, 7 April 2008

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Chigorin Defense

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 Qc7

• If 11...Nd7 then:
• If 12.Nbd2 exd4 13.cxd4 then:
• If 13...Nc6 14.d5 Nce5 then:
• If 15.a4 then:
• If 15...Rb8 16.axb5 axb5 then:
• If 17.Nxe5 Nxe5 18.f4 Ng6 19.Nf3 f5 20.exf5 Bxf5 21.Bxf5 Rxf5 is equal (Friedel-Becerra, Foxwoods Op, Mashantucket, Connecticut, 2008).
• If 19...Bh4 then:
• If 20.Nxh4 Qxh4 21.f5 Ne5 22.Rf1 Bd7 23.Bf4 Ra8 24.Qd2 Qe7 is equal (Anand-Ponomariov, World Rapid Ch, Mainz, 2002).
• 20.Rf1 Bg3 21.f5 Ne5 22.Ng5 Bh4 23.Qh5 Bxg5 24.Bxg5 f6 25.Bf4 is equal (Anand-Bruzón, Rapid Trmt, León, 2006).
• If 17.Nh2 Bg5 18.g3 Bf6 19.Ra2 g5 20.Qh5 Bg7 21.Ndf3 h6 22.Nxe5 dxe5 23.Ng4 Rb6 24.Be3 Rg6 gives White a considerable advantage in space (Palac-Nikolic, Roatian Cup, Sibenik, 2005).
• 15...b4 16.Nxe5 Nxe5 17.f4 Ng6 18.Nc4 a5 19.e5 Bb7 20.Qd3 dxe5 21.f5 b3 22.Bb1 Bh4 23.fxg6 fxg6 24.Rd1 gives White a piece for two pawns (Shchekachev-Graf, Masters, Corsica, 2005).
• 15.Nxe5 Nxe5 16.f4 Ng6 17.Nf3 Bh4 18.Nxh4 Qxh4 19.f5 Ne5 20.Rf1 Bd7 21.Bf4 Qe7 22.Qe1 f6 23.Qg3 Rfe8 24.b3 a5 is equal (Damljanovic-Ponomariov, Euro ChT, Plovdiv, 2003).
• If 13...cxd4 14.Nxd4 Bf6 15.Nf1 Nc4 16.Rb1 Nc5 17.b3 Ne5 18.Bb2 Qb6 19.Qd2 Bb7 20.Nf5 Rad8 21.Bd4 Qc7 22.N1g3 g6 23.Nh6+ Kh8 24.Bc3 is equal (Ivanchuk-Piket, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 1993).
• If 12.dxc5 dxc5 13.Nbd2 then:
• 13...Qc7 14.Nf1 Nf6 15.Ne3 Rd8 16.Qe2 Be6 17.Nd5 Nxd5 18.exd5 Bxd5 19.Nxe5 Ra7 20.Bf4 Qb6 21.Rad1 g6 22.Ng4 Nc4 23.Bh6 Be6 24.Bb3 Qb8 25.Rxd8+ Bxd8 26.Bxc4 bxc4 27.Qxc4 gives White the advantage in space and deadly threats against the Black King (Fischer-Keres, Candidates' Trmt, Curaçao, 1962).
• If 13...f6 14.Nh4 Nb6 15.Nf5 Rf7 16.Nxe7+ Rxe7 17.Qf3 Be6 18.Nf1 Rd7 19.Ne3 c4 20.Nf5 Na4 21.Bxa4 bxa4 22.Be3 Rd3 is equal (Fischer-Ivkov, Capablanca Mem, Havana, 1965).

12.Nbd2

• If 12.d5 Bd7 then:
• If 13.Nbd2 c4 14.Nf1 Nb7 then:
• 15.Ng3 Nc5 16.Be3 a5 17.a3 Rfb8 18.Nd2 Ne8 19.f4 Bd8 20.Kh2 Qc8 21.Qe2 Bb6 22.Rf1 f6 23.Nh5 Qd8 24.Rf3 Bc8 gives Black the advantage in space (P. Smirnov-Romanov. Areoflot Op, Moscow, 2008).
• If 15.g4 h5 16.N3h2 hxg4 17.hxg4 Qd8 18.Ne3 g6 19.Kg2 Kg7 20.f3 Rh8 is equal (Keres-Friedmann, Estonian Ch, Tallinn, 1935).
• If 13.b3 Nb7 14.Nbd2 g6 15.Nf1 Nh5 16.Bh6 Ng7 17.Qd2 then:
• 17...f6 18.g4 Nd8 19.Ng3 Nf7 20.Be3 a5 21.a4 bxa4 22.bxa4 Rab8 23.Reb1 Rxb1+ 24.Rxb1 Rb8 25.Qd1 gives White the advantage in space (Karjakin-Pentala, IT, Dos Hermanas, 2005).
• If 17...a5 18.g4 c4 19.b4 axb4 20.cxb4 Ra3 21.Re3 Rfa8 22.Rxa3 Rxa3 23.Qe2 Qc8 24.Ng3 Qa8 is equal (Bologan-Krnan, Canadian Op, Edmonton, 2005).

12...Bd7

• If 12...cxd4 13.cxd4 then:
• If 13...Rd8 then:
• If 14.b3 Nc6 15.Bb2 then:
• If 15...Bb7 16.Rc1 Qb6 then:
• If 17.d5 Nb4 18.Bb1 a5 19.Qe2 Rdc8 20.a3 Na6 21.Bd3 Nc5 22.Qe3 Nfd7 23.Bf1 f5 draw (Volokitin-Bruzón, IT, Biel, 2006).
• 17.Nf1 d5 18.exd5 Nxd5 19.Nxe5 Nxe5 20.dxe5 Bg5 21.Qh5 Bh6 then:
• If 22.Be4 Nb4 23.e6 fxe6 24.Bxg7 Bxg7 25.Qxh7+ Kf8 26.Bxb7 Qxb7 27.Rxe6 is unclear: White has three pawns for a piece and more space, but Black's defense looks solid (Correles-Hungaski, World Jr Ch, Yerevan, 2007).
• 22.Ne3 Nxe3 23.Rxe3 Rd2 24.Qh4 Rxf2 25.Bd4 Rxg2+ 26.Kf1 Qa5 27.Be4 Qd2 28.Bxb7 Bxe3 White resigns in a mating attack (Grischuk-I. Smirin, Rapid, Odessa, 2007).
• 15...exd4 16.Nxd4 Nxd4 17.Bxd4 Be6 18.Rc1 Qa5 then:
• 19.Bb1 d5 20.e5 Ne4 21.Nxe4 dxe4 22.Rxe4 Ba3 23.Rc2 Rd7 gives Black the advantage in space (Z. Almasi-Piket, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 2002).
• 19.Nf1 d5 20.e5 Ne4 21.f3 Ba3 22.fxe4 Bxc1 23.Qxc1 Rac8 24.Re2 draw (Mason-Taylor, British Ch, Swansea, 2006).
• If 14.Nf1 exd4 15.Nxd4 d5 16.e5 Ne4 17.f3 then:
• 17...Bc5 18.fxe4 dxe4 19.Be3 Bb7 20.e6 Nc4 21.Bb3 Nxe3 22.exf7+ Kh8 23.Nxe3 Rxd4 24.Qc2 Rd3 gives Black the advantage in space (Rimawi-Ismagambetov, Team Trmt, Macau, 2007).
• 17...Ng5 18.Ng3 g6 19.Kh2 Ne6 20.Nxe6 fxe6 21.Bh6 Bf8 22.Bg5 Be7 23.Qc1 is equal (Sax-E. Torre, Adelaide, 1986).
• If 13...Bb7 14.Nf1 Rac8 then:
• 15.Bd3 d5 16.dxe5 Nxe4 17.Ng3 f5 18.exf6 Bxf6 19.Nxe4 dxe4 20.Bxe4 Rfd8 21.Qe2 Re8 22.Nd2 Qd7 23.Qf1 Nc6 24.Nb3 Nd4 25.Bxb7 Qxb7 26.Nxd4 Bxd4 draw (Geller-Keres, IT, Amsterdam, 1956).
• 15.Re2 d5 16.dxe5 Nxe4 17.Ng3 f5 18.exf6 Bxf6 19.Nxe4 dxe4 20.Bxe4 Rcd8 21.Qe1 Nc4 22.Ng5 Bxg5 23.Bxg5 Rd7 24.Bxb7 Qxb7 25.b3 Nb6 gives Black a small advantage in space (Beliavsky-Diesen, Op, Hastings, 1974).
• If 13...Nc6 then:
• 14.Nb3 a5 15.Be3 a4 16.Nbd2 Bd7 17.Rc1 Qb7 then:
• 18.Qe2 Rfe8 19.Bd3 Rab8 then:
• 20.dxe5 Nxe5 21.Nxe5 dxe5 22.Bc5 Bc6 23.Bxe7 Rxe7 24.Nf3 h6 25.Rc5 Nd7 26.Rc3 Re6 is equal (Kramnik-Adams, MTel, Sofia, 2005).
• If 20.a3 exd4 21.Nxd4 Ne5 22.Bb1 b4 23.axb4 Qxb4 24.Rc2 d5 25.f4 Ng6 26.e5 Nxf4 gives Black an extra pawn (Goloshchapov-Shirov, Euro ChT, Rethymnon, 2003).
• If 18.Nf1 Rfe8 19.Ng3 Bd8 20.Qe2 then:
• 21...h6 21.Red1 Rb8 22.Bb1 Bb6 23.dxe5 dxe5 24.Rd6 Re6 25.Nf5 Bxe3 26.Qxe3 Rxd6 27.Nxd6 Qb6 28.Qc5 gives White a comfortable lead in space (A. Volokitin-Perez, Ol. Calvia, 2004).
• 21...Bb6 22.dxe5 dxe5 23.Nf5 Bxf5 24.Qxb5 Be6 25.Qxb6 Qxb6 26.Bxb6 Bxa2 27.Bxa4 Rxa4 28.Rxc6 Rxe4 is equal (Zhu Chen-Timoshchenko, Ol, Torino, 2006).
• 14.Nf1 exd4 15.Bf4 Qb6 16.Rc1 Be6 17.Ng3 Rac8 18.Bb1 g6 19.Ne2 d5 20.e5 Nd7 21.Nexd4 Nxd4 22.Qxd4 Bc5 23.Qd2 a5 is equal (Stoltz-Bogolyubov, IT, Munich, 1942).
• If 12...Nc6 13.d5 Nd8 then:
• If 14.a4 Rb8 15.axb5 axb5 then:
• 16.b4 c4 17.Nf1 Ne8 18.N3h2 f6 19.f4 Nf7 20.Nf3 g6 21.f5 Ng7 22.g4 Bd7 23.Be3 Ra8 24.Qd2 gives White the advantage in space (Karpov-Spassky, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1973).
• 16.Nf1 Ne8 17.g4 g6 18.Ng3 Ng7 19.Kh1 f6 20.Rg1 Nf7 21.Be3 Bd7 22.Qe2 Ra8 23.Nd2 Kh8 24.b3 Qb7 25.Bd3 Ra6 26.Rgb1 Rfa8 draw (Dr. Bernstein-Rubinstein, Group B, Ostend, 1907).
• If 14.Nf1 Ne8 15.g4 g6 16.Ng3 Ng7 17.Bh6 f6 18.Kh2 Nf7 19.Be3 Bd7 20.Rg1 Kh8 then:
• If 21.a4 Qb7 22.b3 Qc8 23.Qf1 Ng5 24.Nh4 Nf7 25.Nf3 Ng5 26.Nh4 Nf7 27.Nf3 draw (Fejzullahu-Tisdall, Euro ChT, Fügen, 2006).
• 21.Qe2 Qc8 22.Rg2 Qb7 23.Rag1 c4 24.a3 Rfc8 25.Nd2 Qc7 gives White a slight advantage in space (Chajes-Grünfeld, IT, Carlsbad, 1923).
• If 12...Re8 13.Nf1 Bd7 14.Ne3 g6 then:
• 15.dxe5 dxe5 16.Nh2 Rad8 17.Qf3 Be6 18.Nhg4 Nxg4 19.hxg4 Nc4 20.Nd5 Bxd5 21.exd5 Nb6 22.Rd1 Rd6 23.a4 e4 24.c4 e3 25.g3 Rd7 26.Kg2 Bf8 27.Ra2 Qb7 gives White the advantage in space, but Black has his bases coved (Keres-Matanovic, Bled, 1961).
• 15.Bd2 Bf8 16.Rc1 Nc6 17.Bb1 Bg7 18.d5 Nd8 19.c4 Nb7 20.g4 Reb8 21.Bd3 Qd8 22.b3 b4 draw (Stein-Ivkov, Team M, Lvov, 1962).
• If 12...Rd8 then:
• If 13.d5 c4 14.Nf1 Nb7 15.Ng3 a5 16.Nh2 Nc5 then:
• 17.f4 b4 18.Nf3 Rb8 19.cxb4 axb4 20.b3 c3 21.f5 Ba6 gives Black a comfortable advantage in space (Kindermann-Jussupow, Hamburg, 1991).
• 17.a3 Rb8 18.f4 Bd7 19.Qf3 Nb3 20.Bxb3 cxb3 21.Kh1 Bc8 22.fxe5 dxe5 23.Nf5 Bxf5 24.Qxf5 is equal (Leko-Zayac, Rapid, Oviedo, 1993).
• 13.b3 Bd7 14.d5 c4 15.b4 Nb7 16.a4 a5 17.Ba3 axb4 18.Bxb4 Nc5 19.axb5 Bxb5 20.Bxc5 Qxc5 21.Ba4 Nd7 22.Bxb5 Qxb5 23.Rb1 Qc5 24.Rb4 Nb6 25.Qe2 Ra6 26.Reb1 Rda8 gives Black the advantage in space, but White can play 27.Nxc4 and cloud the position some (Adams-E. Torre, Ol, Bled, 2002).

13.dxe5 dxe5 14.Nf1 Rad8

• 14...Rfe8 15.N3h2 Rad8 16.Qf3 Be6 17.Ne3 g6 transposes to Keres-Matanovic see the green variations of the previous note).

15.Qe2 c4!

• This novelty is not a bad move at all. White will now have a difficult time making use of his Bishops, especially the light-bound one. Black lost this game for not taking advantage of opportunities later in the game, not because his new move leads to defeat. In fact, it would be fair to say that Black stands slightly better at this point.
• 15...Be6 16.Ne3 Rfe8 17.Ng5 Bc8 18.Nf5 Bf8 19.Ng3 c4 20.Nf3 gives Black a small advantage in space (Beliavsky-Piket, PCA Quals, Groningen, 1993).

16.Ne3

• This is the kind of position where Knights have more future than Bishops.
• Perhaps a better response is 16.Bg5 h6 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 when:
• 18.Ne3 Bc6 19.Red1 Rfe8 20.Ng4 Rd1+ 21.Rxd1 Re6 is equal.
• 18.Red1?! Be6 19.Ne3 Qc5 20.a4!? Rxd1+ 21.Rxd1 Rd8 22.Rd8+ Bxd8 gives Black the advantage in space.

16...g6 17.b4!?

• 17.Nd5 Nxd5 18.exd5 f6 19.Bh6 Rf7 20.Rad1 Nb7 gives White a small advantage in space.

17...Nb7!?

• Better is 17...cxb3 when:
• 18.axb3 Be6 19.b4 Nb3 20.Bxb3 Bxb3 21.Rxa6 Nxe4 is equal.
• 18.Bxb3?! Nxb3 19.axb3 Qxc3 20.Bd2 Qxb3 21.Ba5 Rc8 yields an extra pawn for Black.

18.a4

• 18.Nd5 Nxd5 19.exd5 f6 20.a4 bxa4 21.Rd1 a5 22.Bh6 Rf7 23.bxa5 Qxa5 24.Qxc4 gives White a condiderable advatange ins space.

18...Bc6?!

• Black takes aim at White's e-pawn. However, with White's bad Bishop locked in by the pawn ram in the center, one might question whether this is really a good plan.
• 18...Be6 19.Bb2 Rfe8 20.Red1 then:
• 20...Rxd1+ 21.Rxd1 Rd8 22.Rxd8+ Nxd8 23.Bc1 Qd6 gives Black the advantage ins space.
• 20...Nd6 21.axb5 axb5 22.Nf1 is equal.

BLACK: Ruud Janssen
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WHITE: Daniel Stellwagen
Position after 18...Bd7c6

19.Ng4!

• 19.axb5 axb5 20.Bb2 Kg7 21.Nd5 Bxd5 22.exd5 Rxd5 yields an extra pawn to Black.

19...Nxg4

• After 19...Nd7 20.Rd1 Bd6 21.Be3 Be7 22.Ng5 gives White a huge advantage in space.

20.hxg4 Rd7 21.axb5!

• White tries to open the a-file and bring his Rooks into play, since he's not likely to makes much use of his Bishops.

21...Bxb5

• Better is 21...axb5 22.Be3 f6 23.Ra7 Qc8 24.g5 although White has a comfortable advantage in space.

22.Be3 Nd8?

• Black misses his last good opportunity.
• If 22...Bxb4 then:
• 23.Nxe5 Bxc3 24.Nxd7 Bxd7 25.Rxa6 Bxg4 26.Qxg4 Bxe1 nets Black an extra pawn.
• 23.cxb4 c3 24.Bb6 Qxb6 25.Qe3 Qxe3 26.Rxe3 Rc8 leaves Black a pawn up.

23.Red1 Rxd1+ 24.Rxd1 Ne6 25.Rd5 f6
BLACK: Ruud Janssen
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WHITE: Daniel Stellwagen
Position after 25...f7f6

26.g5!!

• White chooses to temporarily sacrifice a pawn.
• Also good is 26.Qd1 Qb7 27.g5 fxg5 28.Rxe5 Rd8 29.Qc1 Qd7 30.Nxg5, winning a pawn.

26...Nxg5 27.Nxg5 fxg5 28.Qg4!

• In return for the pawn, White is assured of getting his pawn back with a attack on the Black forthcoming.
• After
28.Qd1?! Bc6 29.Ra5 Bb5 30.Qg4 h6 31.Qh3 Kg7 White's space advantage is just enough to compensate for the lost pawn.

28...Bc6

• After 28...Qc8 29.Qg3 Bc6 30.Ra5 Bf6 31.Bxg5 Bg7 32.Qh4 Bb5 White still has the advantage in space, but it's still a fight.

29.Qe6+ Rf7 30.Qxe5 Qb7 31.Bd4 Rf6 32.Rd6 1-0

• 32...Bxd6 33.Qxf6 Qc7 34.Qh8+ Kf7 35.Qxh7+ Kf8 36.Qxg6 leaves White two pawns to the good.
• After 32...Qb5 White wins a piece with 33.Rxf6 Qxe5 34.Bxe5 Bxf6 35.Bxf6.
• Mh. Janssen resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Peng - M. Bensdorp, Round 1

Peng Zhaoqin
Photo: ChessBase.com

{i]
Peng Zhaoqin - Marlies Bensdorp
Dutch National Championships, Round 1
Hilversum, 4 April 2008

Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit: Stonewall Defense

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 e6 4.e3 Bd6

• 4...Nf6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Bd3 Bb7 9.0-0 a6 is the Meran Defense.

5.a3!?

• A quiet move shuts the book.
• A more typical line runs 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.Bd3 Nbd7 7.Qc2 0-0 8.0-0 with equality.

5...f5

• Black sets up a stonewall formation.
• 5...Nf6 6.Nf3 0-0 7.c5 Be7 8.Bd3 gives White the advantage in space.

6.g4!?

• White immediately sets to tearing down the wall.
• 6.Qh5+ g6 7.Qd1 Nf6 8.Nf3 Nbd7 9.Be2 dxc4 10.Bxc4 White is hitting on a weak pawn.

6...fxg4 7.Qxg4 Qd7

• Better is 8.Qg2 Nf6 9.Nf3 Rf8 10.b3 Nbd7 11.Bb2 Qe7 12.Qg5 when Black should start seeking exchanges to relieve her space deficit.

8.Nf3 Nf6 9.Qg2 Qe7 10.Ne5 Nbd7

• Up to now, Black has been developing in a somewhat haphazard way. She must now put some thought into the purpose of her moves.
• The text move seeks to exchange White's splendid Knight at e5.

11.f4 0-0 12.Bd2 dxc4 13.Bxc4 c5?!

• Black's space deficit is already critical.
• Better is 13...Nd5 14.Rg1 Qh4+ 15.Qg3 Nxe5 (to meet 16.Qxh4? with 16...Nf3+!) 16.dxe5 Qxg3+ 17.Rxg3 Be7, but White still has a small advantage in space.

14.Nb5 Bb8 15.Rg1!

• White's space advantage, couple with this new mating threat on g7, limit Black's mobility.

BLACK: Marlies Bensdorp
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WHITE: Peng Zhaoqin
Position after 15.Rh1g1

15...Nb6?

• Since the Black Queen must remain in conact with the g7 square, this move loses a pawn.
• White has the advantage in space, so Black ought to seek exchanges. Why not exchange White central Knight?
• 15...Nxe5! 16.dxe5 Ne8 17.0-0-0 a6 18.Nc3 Ra7 19.Qh3 b5 succeeds in pushing back at White, but Black is still behind in space.

16.dxc5!

• White wastes no time.

16...Nxc4 17.Nxc4 g6

• 17...e5 18.fxe5 Ng4 19.Nbd6 Be6 20.Bc3 Nf2 21.Ke2 Bxd6 22.Nxd6 White is two pawns up with a huge advantage in space.
• After 18...Nd7 19.Qd5+ Kh8 20.Nbd6 Qh4+ 21.Kd1 White is two pawns up with a huge advantage in space.

18.Nbd6 Nd5

• After 18...Ne4 19.Qxe4 Qh4+ 20.Rg3 Bxd6 21.Nxd6 Rf6 22.0-0-0 White wins easily.

19.Qg3

• White continues to enjoy the advantage in space after 19.Qg5 Qxg5 20.fxg5 Rd8 21.Rf1 b6 22.Nf7 Rf8 23.Nh6+ Kg7 24.0-0-0,

19...b6 20.e4 Nf6 21.0-0-0 b5

• If 21...bxc5 22.e5 Bxd6 23.Nxd6 Ne8 then:
• After 24.Nxe8 Rxe8 25.h4 Ba6 26.Qh2 Bd3 27.h5 White's kingside superiority tilts the balnce in her favor.
• After 24.Be3 Nxd6 25.exd6 Qf7 26.h4 White's passed pawn decides.

22.Ne5 Nh5

• After 22...Qg7 23.Qe3 Bxd6 24.cxd6 Qb7 25.Rde1 Qg7 26.Bc3 Bd7 27.Qh3 White, from an overwhelming position, beins to attack the enemy King.

BLACK: Marlies Bensdorp
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WHITE: Peng Zhaoqin
Position after 22...Nf6h5

23.Nxg6!!

• It's all over now, Baby Blue.

23...hxg6 24.Qxg6+ Ng7 25.Bc3 Bxd6 26.cxd6 1-0

• 26...Qf7 27.Qxg7+ Qxg7 28.Rxg7+ Kh8 29.Rdg1 Rxf4 30.Rg8+ Kh7 31.Rh8#
• Mw. Bensdorp resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Games from other events

Diagrams on the Jack Rabbit Chess Report are made with Chess Mérida, a true type font that can be downlaoded free here.
BLACK
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White to move
(This position is a theoretical draw)

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Zhang Pengxizng - Sargissian, Merida, Round 3

Gabriel Sargissian
Photo ChessBase.de (Germany)


Zhang Pengxiang - Gabriel Sargissian
Ruy Lopez Masters Tournament, Round 3
Merida, 7 April 2008

Open Royal Game: Malaniuk Opening (Scotch Opening)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bb4+

• If 4...Nf6 then:
• (Mieses Opening) If 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.e5 Qe7 7.Qe2 Nd5 8.c4 then:
• If 8...Nb6 then:
• If 9.Nc3 Qe6 10.Qe4 then:
• If 10...Ba6 11.b3 Bb4 12.Bd2 Bxc3 13.Bxc3 d5 14.Qh4 dxc4 15.Be2 Nd5 16.Bxc4 g5 17.Qd4 Bxc4 18.Qxc4 0-0-0 19.0-0 Nf4 20.Qxe6+ Nxe6 21.Rac1 Rd3 22.Rfd1 Rd5 23.Kf1 Rhd8 24.Re1 h5 gives Black the advantage in space (Mamedov-Karjakon, Ol, Calvia, 2004).
• 10...g6 11.f4 d5 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.Qc2 a6 14.Be2 Be7 15.0-0 0-0 16.a4 Rb8 17.a5 Nd7 18.Qd1 d4 19.Bg4 Qc4 gives Black the advantage in space (Zelcic-Stevic, Croatian Ch, Split, 2008).
• If 9.Nd2 then:
• If 9...Qe6 10.b3 then:
• 10...a5 11.Bb2 a4 12.Qe3 Bb4 13.Be2 0-0 14.0-0 d5 15.Nf3 Re8 16.Bd3 h6 17.Nd4 Qg4 18.h3 Qh4 19.Nxc6 a3 20.Bd4 dxc4 21.bxc4 Bf8 22.g3 Qxh3 23.Bxb6 cxb6 24.Qe4 f5 25.Qd5+ Be6 26.Qf3 Bc5 gives Black the advantage in space (Hendricks-Markus, Dutch Op, Dierden, 2001).
• 10...Be7 11.Bb2 0-0 12.0-0-0 d5 13.exd6 cxd6 14.Qf3 d5 15.Bd3 Qh6 16.cxd5 cxd5 17.Kb1 Be6 18.h4 Bd6 19.g4 gives White a small advantage in space (Ivanchuk-Z. Almasi, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 2001).
• 9...Bb7 10.b3 0-0-0 11.Bb2 c5 12.0-0-0 d6 13.exd6 Qxd6 14.Qg4+ Kb8 15.Be2 h5 16.Qg3 Qh6 17.Bf3 h4 18.Qg4 Bc8 19.Qe4 Bd6 20.Bc3 Rhe8 21.Qc2 Qg5 gives Black a small advantage in space (Shaked-Morovic, FIDE Knock Out, Groningen, 1997).
• 8...Ba6 9.b3 then:
• If 9...g6 10.f4 then:
• If 10...Qb4+ 11.Bd2 Qb6 12.Nc3 Bb4 13.Qf3 Nxc3 14.Bxc3 Bb7 15.0-0-0 c5 16.Qe3 Bxc3 17.Qxc3 0-0-0 18.h4 Rhe8 19.Rh3 d6 20.Rhd3 dxe5 21.Rxd8+ Rxd8 22.Rxd8+ Kxd8 23.Qxe5 Qc6 24.g3 Qh1 25.Qe2 Qg1 26.Qd3+ Kc8 27.Kd2 Bc6 28.f5 Bd7 29.fxg6 fxg6 30.Be2 draw (Barlow-Faisst, Corres, 2000).
• If 10...f6 11.exf6 Qxe2+ 12.Bxe2 Bb4+ 13.Bd2 Bxd2+ 14.Nxd2 Nxf4 15.Rf1 then:
• 15...Nxe2 16.Kxe2 Kf7 17.Kd3 Rae8 18.Rae1 Rxe1 19.Rxe1 Kxf6 20.Ne4+ Kg7 21.Nc3 Kf7 22.Rf1+ Ke7 23.Re1+ Kf7 24.Rf1+ Ke7 25.Re1+ Kd8 26.Rf1 Bb7 27.Ne4 gives White enough space to compensate for his pawn minus (Radjobov-Kasparov, IT, Linares, 2004).
• 15...Nxg2+ 16.Kf2 Nf4 17.Bg4 0-0-0 18.Kg3 Nd3 19.Nf3 Rhe8 20.Rad1 Re3 21.Kh4 Rf8 22.Kg5 c5 23.Bxd7+ Kb8 24.Rxd3 Rxd3 25.Ne5 Rd8 26.f7 Black resigns (Rublevsky-Tseshkovsky, Russian Ch, Krasnoyarsk, 2003).
• If 9...0-0-0 10.g3 g5 11.Bb2 Bg7 then:
• If 12.Bg2 Rde8 13.0-0 Bxe5 14.Qxe5 Qxe5 15.Bxe5 Rxe5 16.cxd5 Bxf1 17.Kxf1 cxd5 18.Nc3 c6 19.Rc1 Kd8 20.Bf3 h5 21.Be2 Ke7 22.Bd3 f5 23.Ne2 h4 24.Rc5 hxg3 25.hxg3 Kf6 26.Ra5 Ra8 27.b4 is equal (Ruan Lufei-N. Kosintseva, Team M, Nizhniy Novgorog, 2007).
• If 12.Nd2 Nb4 13.Nf3 Rhe8 then:
• 14.Bh3 c5 15.Bg4 f6 16.Bh5 fxe5 17.Bxe8 Rxe8 18.0-0 Bb7 19.Rad1 Nxa2 20.Ra1 Nb4 21.Rxa7 Qf6 22.Nd2 Qc6 23.Rxb7 Kxb7 24.Ne4 is slightly advantaeous to White: Black cannot hold his extra pawn without giving White the time to gain considerable space (Shredder-Crafty, World Computer Ch, Reykjavik, 2005).
• 14.a3 g4 15.axb4 gxf3 16.Qe3 Qxb4+ 17.Bc3 Rxe5 18.Bxb4 Rxe3+ 19.fxe3 Bxa1 20.Bh3 Be5 21.0-0 Bb7 22.Rd1 c5 23.Bxc5 Bc6 24.Kf2 h5 25.Bxa7 h4 26.Bd4 hxg3+ 27.hxg3 Rh8 28.Bxd7+ Bxd7 29.Bxe5 Rh5 30.Bf6 Bg4 31.Bh4 Ra5 is balanced and the players soon agreed to a draw (Rublevsky-Onischuk, IT, Foros, 2007).
• If 12.Qe4 f5 13.Qf3 Nb4 14.Kd1 Bb7 15.Nc3 c5 16.Nd5 Bg7 17.Bxb4 cxb4 18.Kc2 Bxd5 19.cxd5 d6 20.Bc4 0-0-0 21.Rae1 dxe5 22.fxe5 Rhe8 23.e6 Qd4 is equal (Nataf-Bacrot, IT, Cannes, 2002).
• (Four Knights' Opening) If 5.Nc3 then:
• If 5...Bb4 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.Bd3 d5 8.exd5 cxd5 9.0-0 0-0 10.Bg5 c6 then:
• If 11.Qf3 Be7 12.h3 h6 13.Bf4 Bd6 then:
• If 14.Ne2 Rb8 15.b3 c5 16.Ng3 then:
• If 16...Bxf4 17.Qxf4 Rb4 18.Qd2 Qc7 19.c3 Rb6 20.Rfe1 Rd8 21.Rad1 Rbd6 gives Black a small and transient advantage in space (Pogonina-Lahno, Euro ChT, Saint Vincent, 2005).
• 16...Rb4 17.Bxd6 Qxd6 18.c4 d4 is equal (Starr-Pokorna, Ol, Torino, 2006).
• If 14.Rfe1 Rb8 15.Rab1 Rb4 16.Ne2 Re8 17.a3 Rb8 18.Nd4 Rxe1+ 19.Rxe1 Qc7 20.Bxh6!! then:
• 20...c5 21.Bg5 cxd4 22.Bxf6 gxf6 23.Re8+ Kg7 24.Qh5 f5 25.Qh8+ Kg6 26.Rg8# White wins (Kelleher-Cates, Op, King's Island, 2001).
• White still wins after 20...gxh6 21.Qxf6 Bf8 22.Re8.


• 11...Bd6 12.Rae1 Rb8 13.Nd1 h6 14.Bxf6 Qxf6 15.Qxf6 gxf6 16.b3 Be6 17.Ne3 Bb4 18.Re2 Rfe8 19.Nf5 Bxf5 20.Rxe8+ Rxe8 21.Bxf5 Re2 22.Bd3 Rd2 23.g3 Bc5 24.Kg2 Kf8 doesn't present anything promising for either side (Roschina-Jenni, Op, Zurich, 2005).
• 5...Bc5 6.Be3 Bb6 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.e5 Bxe3 9.fxe3 Nd5 10.Nxd5 cxd5 11.Qxd5 Qh4+ 12.Kd1 Rb8 13.Qd4 Rb4 14.Qc5 Rxb2 is equal (Smeardon-Mastrovasilis, World Jr Ch, Goa (India), 2002).
• (Italo-Scotch Gambit) If 5.Bc4 then:
• If 5...Nxe4 then:
• If 6.0-0 then:
• If 6...d5 7.Bb5 then:
• 7...Bd7 8.Re1 Bd6 9.Be3 0-0 10.Nc3 Nxc3 11.bxc3 Nxd4 12.Bxd7 Nxc2 13.Qxc2 Qxd7 gives Black an extra pawn and superior pawn structure (Pallag-Harti, Slovakian ChT, Brno, 2000).
• If 8.Bxc6 bxc6 then:
• If 9.c4 Be7 10.Nc3 Nf6 11.Bg5 c5 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.Re1+ Kf8 14.Nf3 d4 15.Nd5 Bc6 16.Nxf6 Qxf6 17.Ne5 Qd6 18.Qh5 g6 19.Qh6+ Kg8 20.Nxc6 Qxc6 21.Re7 Re8 22.Rae1 Rxe7 23.Rxe7 Qf6 24.Re8# White wins (Koltanowski-Zeitlin, SBX, New York, 1934).
• 9.f3 Nf6 10.Re1+ Be7 11.Qe2 c5 12.Nb3 Be6 13.f4 c4 14.f5 Bxf5 15.Nd4 Be4 16.b3 cxb3 17.axb3 0-0 gives Black a two pawn advantage (Pollack-Showalter, ACC, New York, 1889).
• 7.Re1 Be7 8.Bf4 0-0 9.c3 Nxd4 10.cxd4 Bb4 11.Re3 Nxf2 12.Kxf2 dxc4 13.Nc3 Bf5 14.Qf3 Qxd4 15.Rd1 Bd3 16.Qg3 Rfe8 17.Be5 Rxe5 18.Qxe5 Bc5 19.Qxd4 Bxd4 20.Nb5 Bxe3+ 21.Kxe3 Re8+ 22.Kd4 Re2 White resigns (Ruen-Dr. Euwe, 1923).
• If 6.Bxf7+ Kxf7 7.Qh5+ g6 8.Qd5+ Kg7 9.Nxc6 Nf6 then:
• If 10.Nxd8 Nxd5 11.Bh6+ Kg8 12.Bg5 Be7 13.Bxe7 Nxe7 14.0-0 Kf8 White must lose the Knight and resigns (Punt-Beuman, Op, Vlissingen, 2007).
• 10.Bh6+ Kxh6 11.Qd2+ Black must lose the Queen and resigns (Dokshytsky-Sherbakov, Moscow, 1945).
• If 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.0-0 d5 8.Bd3 then:
• If 8...Nc5 9.Re1+ Be7 10.Bg5 Be6 11.Bxe7 Qxe7 12.f4 Nxd3 13.Qxd3 Qc5+ 14.Kh1 0-0 15.f5 Bd7 16.Nd2 Rfe8 17.Nf3 Qd6 18.Rf1 Qf6 19.Nd4 Re4 gives Black a small lead in space and the gambit pawn (Jensen-Kier, Gothengorg, 1920).
• 8...Nf6 9.Bg5 Be7 10.Nd2 0-0 11.c3 h6 12.Bh4 Nd7 13.Bxe7 Qxe7 14.Re1 Qd6 15.Nf3 Nf6 16.Qc2 Be6 17.h3 Rfe8 18.Re3 c5 gives Black a moderate advantage in space in addition to the gambit pawn (Hoehn-Anderson, Canadian Ch, Arvida, 1949).
• If 5...d6 6.0-0 Be7 7.Nc3 0-0 then:
• If 8.h3 then:
• If 8...Ne5 9.Bb3 c6 then:
• If 10.Be3 Qc7 11.f4 Ng6 12.Qe2 b5 13.a3 a5 14.f5 Ne5 15.Rf4 Ba6 16.Qd1 b4 17.Nce2 c5 18.Nf3 Nh5 19.Bd5 Bxe2 20.Qxe2 Nxf4 21.Bxf4 Rac8 gives Black a Rook to a Bishop (Grynfeld-Smyslov, IT, Warsaw, 1947).
• 10.Bf4 Qc7 11.Re1 b5 12.a3 a5 13.Qe2 Bd7 14.a4 b4 15.Nb1 Rfe8 16.Nd2 Rac8 17.Rad1 h6 18.Bg3 c5 19.Bxe5 dxe5 20.N4f3 Bc6 21.Qc4 Rf8 22.Nh2 Rcd8 gives Black the advantage in space (Todorov-Grozev, Bulgarian ChT, Pamporovo, 2001).
• 8...Nxd4 9.Qxd4 Be6 10.Bxe6 fxe6 11.e5 Nd7 12.exd6 cxd6 13.Be3 d5 14.Rfe1 Rf5 15.Ne2 Bd6 16.Qd2 Ne5 17.Nd4 Nc4 18.Qd3 Re5 19.Nf3 Rh5 20.b3 Ne5 21.Nxe5 Bxe5 22.Bd4 Bxd4 23.Qxd4 gives White a small advantage in space and better pawn structure (Tarrasch-Taubenhaus, IT, Ostend, 1905).
• If 8.Re1 then:
• If 8...Ne5 9.Bf1 c6 10.a4 Re8 11.h3 Bf8 12.Bg5 a5 13.Nf3 h6 14.Bh4 Ng6 15.Bg3 Nh5 16.Bh2 Qf6 17.e5 dxe5 18.Ne4 Qd8 19.Qxd8 Rxd8 20.Nxe5 Bf5 21.Nxg6 Bxg6 22.Bd3 Nf6 23.Nxf6+ gxf6 24.Bxg6 fxg6 offers little to either side (Luther-Knezevic, Czech Ch, Namestovo, 1987).
• 8...Nxd4 9.Qxd4 Ng4 10.Nd5 Bh4 11.g3 c6 12.gxh4 Qxh4 13.Bf4 cxd5 14.exd5 Nxh2 15.Be2 g5 16.Be3 Qxd4 17.Bxd4 Ng4 18.Bd3 gives White better chances as his Bishops are superior to Black's Bishop and Knight (Friedel-Bennet, Foxwoods Op, Mashantucket, 2001).

5.c3 Bc5 6.Be3 Bb6 7.Nxc6

• If 7.Nf5 Bxe3 8.Nxe3 then:
• If 8...Nf6 9.Nd2 0-0 then:
• 10.Bd3 Ne5 11.Bc2 d5 12.exd5 Neg4 13.Ne4 Nxe4 14.Nxg4 Bxg4 15.Qxg4 Nf6 16.Qf3 Qe8+ 17.Kd2 Qb5 18.a4 Qc4 19.Rad1 Rad8 20.Kc1 Qa2 21.Rd4 c5 draw (Berelovich-Miles, Op, Cappelle la Grand, 1999).
• 10.f4 Re8 11.Qf3 d5 12.e5 d4 13.Nc2 Nxe5 14.fxe5 Rxe5+ 15.Kf2 Rf5 16.cxd4 Rxf3+ 17.Nxf3 Bf5 gives Black a material advantage which is soon converted to a win (Dunn-Chapman, Oceana, Gold Coast (Australia), 2001).
• If 9.f3 0-0 10.c4 then:
• 10...d6 11.Nc3 Nd7 12.Qd2 Nc5 13.Ncd5 a5 14.Be2 Ne7 15.0-0-0 Nxd5 16.Qxd5 a4 17.g3 Qf6 18.Qd4 Qxd4 19.Rxd4 Be6 is equal (G. Jones-Kaplan, World Jr Ch, Yerevan, 2007).
• 10...Ne5 11.Nc3 d6 12.Be2 a6 13.Qd2 Bd7 14.0-0 Rb8 15.a4 a5 16.Rad1 b6 17.Ned5 Bc6 18.f4 Ng6 19.Bd3 Nd7 20.Bc2 Re8 21.Qf2 Bxd5 22.cxd5 Nc5 is equal (Tseshkovsky-Golod, Op, Biel, 2005).
• If 7.Bc4 then:
• 7...Nge7 8.Nc2 0-0 9.0-0 d6 10.Nd2 Be6 11.Bb3 Bxb3 12.axb3 Bxe3 13.Nxe3 f5 14.exf5 Nxf5 15.Nxf5 Rxf5 16.b4 a6 17.Qc2 draw (Doukhine-Yandemirov, Op, St. Petersburg, 2003).
• 7...Ne5 8.Be2 Nf6 9.f4 Nc6 10.Bf3 d6 11.0-0 0-0 12.Re1 Re8 13.Nxc6 bxc6 14.Bxb6 axb6 15.e5 Nd5 16.exd6 cxd6 17.Bxd5 cxd5 18.Nd2 Bf5 19.Nf1 Rxe1 20.Qxe1 h5 21.Ng3 Bg6 22.f5 Bh7 is equal (Ravi-al Rakib, IT, New Delhi, 2006).
• 7.Qg4 Qf6 8.Qg3 then:
• 8...Qg6 then:
• 9.Qf4 Qf6 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Nd2 d6 12.Bd3 Qxf4 13.Bxf4 Ne7 14.a4 a5 15.Nc4 Rb8 16.e5 d5 17.Nxb6 cxb6 18.e6 Rb7 19.exf7+ Kxf7 20.0-0-0 Bf5 21.Rhe1 Bxd3 22.Rxd3 gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Wang Hao-E. Torre, IT, Kuala Lampur, 2005).
• 9.Nb5 Qxg3 10.hxg3 Kd8 11.Bxb6 axb6 12.f3 d6 13.g4 Be6 14.c4 Nb4 15.N1a3 Ne7 16.Kd2 Kd7 17.Kc3 Nec6 18.Be2 f6 19.Nc2 Nxc2 20.Kxc2 h6 21.Kc3 Bf7 22.a3 Rhe8 gives White a small advantage in space (Nataf-Fressinet, French Ch, Aix-les-Bains, 2007).
• 8...Nxd4 9.cxd4 Bxd4 10.Bxd4 Qxd4 11.Nc3 Ne7 12.Qxc7 0-0 13.Rd1 Qb4 14.Rd2 Ng6 15.Be2 f5 16.Bc4+ Kh8 17.Nd5 Qa4 18.exf5 Rxf5 19.0-0 Qc6 20.Bb3 Qxc7 21.Nxc7 Rb8 22.Re1 b6 23.Nb5 Bb7 24.Nd6 Rff8 25.Nf7+ Kg8 26.Rxd7 Black resigns (Kasparov-Unzicker, Korchnoi Bd, Zurich, 2001).

7...bxc6 8.Bd4 Nf6 9.e5

• If 9.Bd3 0-0 10.0-0 d5 11.exd5 cxd5 12.Nd2 Ng4 13.h3 c5 14.Bxc5 Bxc5 15.hxg4 then:
• 15...f5 16.gxf5 Bxf5 17.Bxf5 Rxf5 18.Qg4 gives White an extra pawn (Dimitar-Vouldis, Kavala, 2001).
• 15...Qg5 16.Nf3 Qxg4 17.Re1 Be6 is equal.

9...Nd5!?

• 9...Qe7 10.Be2 Nd5 11.Bf3 0-0 12.0-0 Ba6 13.Re1 Nf4 14.Be4 Rab8 15.Bxb6 Rxb6 16.Qd2 f5 17.exf6 Qxf6 18.b3 Rb5 19.Na3 Rg5 20.Kh1 Rh5 21.Re3 Qh4 gives Black the advantage in space (Ni Hua-Tkachiev, IT, Shanghai, 2001).

10.Bc4

• Space is about even, so White seeks to exchange Black's most effective piece.

10...0-0 11.Bxd5 cxd5 12.Bxb6 axb6 13.0-0

• White gained no no advantage from the exchange from the exchange on d5.

13...Re8

• After 13...Bb7 14.Nd2 d6 15.Re1 Re8 16.exd6 Qxd6 17.Qf3 c5 Black has the advantage in space.

14.Re1 Qg5!?

• 14...Bb7 15.Na3 d6 16.exd6 Qxd6 17.Qg4 c5

15.Qd4

• 15.Qxd5 Ra5 16.Qd2 Raxe5 17.Rxe5 Qxe5 18.Na3 Qe4 gives Black a huge advantage in space.

15...d6

• 15...Bb7 16.Na3 c5 17.Qe3 Qxe3 18.Rxe3 is equal.

16.Qxd5?!

• 16.f4 Qh4 then:
• If 17.Na3 dxe5 18.Qxd5 Ra5 19.Qc6 Re6 20.Qxc7 Rc5 21.Qb8 Qxf4 is equal.
• 17.Qf2 Qxf2+ 18.Kxf2 Ra5 19.exd6 Rxe1 20.Kxe1 cxd6 21.Nd2 gives White better pawn structure for the endgame.

16...Rb8 17.Qd2

• Black continues to enjoy an advantage in space after 17.f3 dxe5 18.Qd2 Qf6 19.Na3 Bb7 20.Qe3 Qe6 21.c4 Rbd8.

17...Rxe5 18.Rxe5 Qxe5 19.Qe3

• 19.Na3 Be6 20.Nc2 Qb5 21.b3 Ra8 22.Nd4 Qe5 is equal.

19...Be6

• 19...Bb7 20.Qxe5 dxe5 21.a4 Rd8 22.Na3 Rd3 23.Nc4 f6 gives Black a clear advantage.

BLACK: Gabriel Sargissian
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WHITE: Zhang Pengxiang
Position after 19...Bc8e6

20.Qxe5?!

• 20.Nd2 Qxe3 21.fxe3 Re8 22.a4 Bc8 23.Kf2 Ba6 24.b4 f5 25.c4 is equal.

20...dxe5

• This routine recapture will have a profound effect on the rest of the game, one that Black will find beneficial.

21.Kf1 Ra8 22.a3

• The text is simpler and better than 22.Na3 Rd8 when:
• If 23.Ke2 f5 then:
• 24.c4 Kf7 25.Rd1 Rxd1 26.Kxd1 g5 27.Kd2 c6 28.b3 h5 29.Nc2 gives the Knight no good squares.
• 24.Nc2 c5 25.b3 f4 26.f3 b5 27.b4 cxb4 28.Nxb4 Bc4+ 29.Ke1 Ra8< allows the Knight to get around, but White still has more freedom./li>
• 23.b3 f6 24.Ke1 Kf7 25.Nb5 c6 26.Nc7 Bf5 gives Black more freedom.

22...f5

• Already Black is making use of the pawn majority posited by the Queen exchange.

23.Nd2 Kf7 24.Rc1

• White also has a pawn majority and would do well to use it.
• Better is 24.a4! Bd7 25.b3 Bc6 26.f3 Ke6 27.Re1 when White is doing something to hold Black's pawns back.

24...Kf6 25.c4 e4!

• Black's plan is to make use of his pawn majority, create a passed pawn (probably on the e-file) and push it home.
• Also good is 25...g5 26.Ke2 h5 27.c5 b5 28.Rd1 Ra4 29.Kd3 Rg4 30.g3 Rd4+ cramping White's game with the idea of making use of the weakened kingside light squares.

26.Ke2

• If 26.c5 Rd8 27.Ke2 b5 28.c6 Ke5 29.f3 then:
• After 29...g5 30.g4 exf3+ 31.Nxf3+ Kf4 Black's King is far more active than White's.
• After 29...Rd4 30.g4 g6 31.b3 Kd6 Black's advanced pawn majority gives him the advantage.

26...Rd8 27.a4 c5 28.Rc3 Rd4 29.b3

• If 29.Nb3? loses to 29...Rxc4! when:
• After 30.Nd2 Rxa4 Black is two pawns to the good.
• 30.Rxc4?? Bxc4+! loses the Knight without compensation.

29...f4 30.Rc1?

• If 30.h4 Bg4+ 31.Ke1 Bh5 then:
• If 32.b4! cxb4 33.Rb3 Ke5 34.Rxb4 e3 35.Nf3+ Bxf3 36.gxf3 exf2+ 37.Kxf2 Rd2+ 38.Ke1 Rd6 Black's centralized King gives him only a modest advantage.
• 33...Ke7 34.Rxb4 e3 35.Nf3 Bxf3 36.gxf3 exf2+ 37.Kxf2 Rd2+ 38.Ke1 Rd6 is equal.
• 32.g3? g5 33.f3 exf3 34.Nxf3 Bxf3 35.Rxf3 g4 36.Rf2 f3 Black has created a passed pawn according to plan.

30...Ke5 31.a5

• White seeks counterplay by weakening Black's queenside pawns, creating a passed pawn for himself.

31...bxa5 32.Ra1

• Black's pawns are weakened and White is ready to establish a queenside majority.

BLACK: Gabriel Sargissian
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WHITE: Zhang Pengxiang
Position after 32.Rc1a1

32...Bg4+!

• However, Black, because of his advantage in space, has the time to get his maneuver in first.

33.Ke1

• 33.f3 e3 34.Ne4 Rxe4 35.fxg4 Rd4 36.Ra2 Ke4 37.g5 Rd3 gives Black a winning position.

33...e3!

• Black creates the passed pawn on the e-file, according to plan.

34.fxe3 fxe3 35.Nf3+ Bxf3 36.gxf3

• The centralized, more active King is the greatest single element in Black's favor. Both sides have an active Rook, which is the only element giving White fading hopes of hanging on for a half point.

BLACK: Gabriel Sargissian
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WHITE: Zhang Pengxiang
Position after 36.gf3:B

36...Rd2!

• 36...Rd3 allows White to put up a more stubborn resistence after 37.Rxa5 Rxb3 38.Rxc5+ Kd4 39.Rd5+ Kxc4 40.Rd7.

37.Rxa5 Kd4 38.Ra7 Rxh2

• The struggle is almost over.

39.Rxg7 h5 40.Rg5 h4 41.Rd5+

• After 41.Rh5 h3 42.Rd5+ Kc3 43.Rxc5 Rc2 44.Rh5 h2 Black wins.

41...Kc3 42.Rxc5

• White's best shot is to create passed pawns and push them. However, where in the middle game the greatest single element to watch is space, in this type of ending time is often the deciding factor, and Black's advanced pawns give him the advantage in time.

42...h3 43.Rh5

• After 43.Re5 Rb2 44.Rxe3+ Kb4 45.f4 h2 46.Rh3 Rb1+ 47.Ke2 h1Q White must surrender his Rook.

43...Ra2 44.c5 h2 45.c6 h1Q+ 46.Rxh1 Kd3 0-1

• After 47.Kf1 Ra1+ 48.Kg2 Rxh1 49.Kxh1 e2 Black queens first and with check, so that White will not queen at all.
• Grandmaster Zhang resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. So - Saleh, Dubai, Round 5

Wesley So
Photo: ChessBase.com


Wesley So - Salem Saleh
10th Open Tournament, Round 5
Dubai, 10 April 2008

Open Sicialian Game: Sveshnifov Defense (Chelyabinsk Variation)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5

• For a survey of theory regarding the Sveshnikov Defense, see Hou Yifan-Krush, IT, Istanbul, 2008

7...a6 8.Na3 b5 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.Nd5 f5 11.Bd3 Be6 12.0-0

• If 12.c4 then:
• 12...fxe4 13.Bxe4 then:
• 13...Rc8 14.0-0 Bg7 15.f4 Nd4 16.Qh5 paralyzes Black's kingside (Hou Yifan-Krush, IT, Istanbul, 2008).
• If 13...Qa5+ 14.Kf1 then:
• 14...Bg7 15.cxb5 axb5 16.Rc1 Ra6 17.g4 Bxd5 18.Qxd5 Ne7 19.Qb7 Qb6 20.Rc7 Qxb7 21.Rxb7 Ng6 22.Rb8+ Ke7 23.Rb7+ Ke6 24.Nxb5 Rxa2 25.Nc3 Ra1+ 26.Kg2 Nf4+ 27.Kg3 Rxh1 28.Bf5+Black resigns as he is mated on the mext move (Kupreichik-Mochalov, Soviet Union, 1979).
• 14...Rc8 15.cxb5 axb5 16.Rc1 Nd4 17.Rxc8+ Bxc8 gives Black a considerable advantage in space.
• 12...Qa5+ 13.Kf1 Bxd5 14.exd5 Nd4 15.cxb5 axb5 16.Nc2 Nxc2 17.Qxc2 e4 18.Qc6+ Ke7 19.Bxb5 Ra7 20.a4 Bg7 21.Qc1 Rb8 22.Rb1 Rxb5 23.axb5 Qxb5+ 24.Kg1 Qxd5 25.h4 Qc5 26.Qxc5 dxc5 27.Rh3 Rb7 28.Kf1 Ke6 29.Ra3 f4 30.Ra4 f5 31.b4 Bc3 32.Ra6+ draw (van der Wiel-Dolmatov, Goningen, 1979).
• If 12.Qh5 then:
• 12...Rg8 13.g3 Rg5 then:
• 14.Qd1 bxc4 15.Bxc4 0-0 16.Rac1 Rb8 17.b3 Qd7 18.Rfd1 Kh8 19.Qh4 Bxd5 20.Bxd5 Nb4 21.Nc4 Nxa2 22.Rc2 Nb4 23.Rcd2 gives White a comfortable advatage in space (Grischuk-Ivanchuk, Grand Prix, Moscow, 2002).
• 14.Qxh7 Bxd5 15.exd5 Ne7 16.0-0-0 Qb6 17.Rhf1 Rg6 18.Qh3 e4 19.Be2 Bg7 20.Bh5 Rh6 21.g4 Qc5 22.gxf5 Qb4 23.c3 Bxc3 24.bxc3 draw (Mrugala-Brueckner, cyberspace, 1998).
• 12...Bg7 13.0-0 f4 then:
• 14.c4 Bxd5 15.exd5 Ne7 16.c3 Bh6 17.Be2 Qb6 18.Nc2 Kf8 19.a4 bxa4 20.Nb4 f4 21.Qxa4 gives White the advantage in space (Leko-Acs, IT, Budapest, 2003).
• 14.c3 0-0 15.Rfd1 Rb8 16.Nc2 Qd7 17.h3 a5 18.Na3 b4 19.Nb5 bxc3 20.bxc3 Ne7 21.Ndc7 Rbc8 22.Nxe6 fxe6 23.a4 gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Anand-Kramnik, Rapid, Cap d'Agde, 2003).

12...Bxd5 13.exd5 Ne7 14.c3

• 14.c4 Bg7 15.Rb1 e4 16.Be2 0-0 17.cxb5 axb5 18.Bxb5 Bxb2 19.Nc4 Bg7 20.a4 Ng6 21.Qh5 Qf6 22.Ne3 f4 23.Nf5 Ne7 24.Bd7 Ra7 25.Nxe7+ Qxe7 26.Bf5 h6 27.Rb4 gives White the advantage in space with an attack concentrated on Black's weakened kingside (Areshchenko-Shirov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2006).

14...e4 15.Bc2 Bg7 16.Qh5 0-0 17.Rae1 Qc8 18.Kh1 Rb8!?

• 18...Ng6 19.Bb1 Re8 20.f3 b4 21.cxb4 Bxb2 22.Nc2 Bc3 23.Re2 Qc4 24.fxe4 Rxe4 25.Ref2 Re5 26.Qh3 f4 27.Na3 Qxb4 28.Bxg6 fxg6 29.Nc2 Qb2 30.Qd3 Ba5 31.Nd4 Qc3 32.Qxc3 Bxc3 33.Ne6 h5 34.Rxf4 Rb8 offers few chances to either side (Bologan-Filippov, Russian ChT, Tomsk, 2001).

19.g4

• If 19.f3 b4 20.Nb1 bxc3 21.bxc3 Nxd5 22.fxe4 Nxc3 23.Nxc3 Qxc3 24.Bb3 fxe4 25.Bxf7+ Kh8 26.Bg6 h6 27.Bxe4 Rxf1+ 28.Rxf1 gives both sides secure positions for the moment.
• 24...Rb5 25.Bd5 fxe4 26.Rxf7 Kh8 27.Rxf8+ Bxf8 28.Rf1 gives White a considerable advantage in space.

19...b4 20.cxb4 Bxb2?

• 20...Nxd5 21.gxf5 Nf6 22.Qg5 Kh8 23.Bb3 Rxb4 24.Rg1 Ne8 is equal.

21.Qg5+!?

• White misses a much stronger move.
• 21.gxf5 Bxa3 22.Rg1+ then:
• 22...Ng6 23.Bxe4 Rb7 24.fxg6 hxg6 25.Bxg6 fxg6 26.Rxg6+ gives White a winning attack.
• If 22...Kh8 23.Rxe4 Qxf5 24.Rg5 then:
• 24...Qxe4+ 25.Bxe4 Ng6 26.Qh3 gives White a material and spatial advantage.
• After 24...Qxg5 25.Qxg5 Ng6 26.Qf6+ Kg8 27.h4 Rxb4 28.h5 Bb2 29.Qxd6 White retains the material advantage.

21...Ng6

• This is the only move Black could make without losing material. Black now has a slight advantage in space.

22.gxf5!

• In spite of his minor inaccuracy on the 21st move, White has restored his superiority.
• White buys a peck of trouble with 22.Re2? when 22...fxg4 23.Nb1 f5 24.Bxe4 Rxb4 25.Rc2 Qb7 26.Bg2 gives Black a comfortable advantage in space.

22...Bxa3 23.fxg6

• If 23.Bxe4 Rb7 24.Qh6 Bb2 25.fxg6 hxg6 26.Bxg6 fxg6 27.Qxg6+ Rg7 then:
• 28.Qe6+ Qxe6 29.dxe6 Bc3 30.Re2 Bxb4 gives Black more activity.
• If 28.Qxd6 Rf6 29.Re6 Qc4 30.Rg1 Rxf2 31.Ree1 Qd3 32.Qe6+ then:
• 32...Kh7 33.Qe4+ Qxe4+ 34.Rxe4 Rd2 yields no clear advantage.
• 32...Rff7 33.Rgf1 Bc3 34.Re2 Bd4 neither side has a clear advantage.

23...fxg6

• 23...hxg6 24.Bxe4 Qh3 25.Rg1 Qh7 26.Bd3 Rxb4 27.Qf6 Bb2 28.Qxd6

24.Bxe4 Qd8

• If 24...Qh3 25.Bxg6 hxg6 26.Qxg6+ Kh8 27.Rg1 Qf3+ 28.Rg2 when:
• 28...Rb7 29.Re3 Qd1+ 30.Rg1 Qxd5+ 31.f3 then:
• If 31...Rxf3 32.Qg2 Rf5 33.Qxd5 Rxd5 34.Rh3+ Rh7 35.Rxa3 leaves White a pawn to the good.
• 31...Qf5 32.Qxf5 Rxf5 33.Rxa3 leaves White two pawns to the good.
• 28...Rf7 29.Qg5 Bb2 30.Re3 Qd1+ 31.Rg1 Qc2 32.Qh6+ Qh7 33.Qxd6gives White four pawns for a piece.

25.Qg3!

• This is not a routine threat. This is the beginning of a splendid combination.

25...Bxb4

• ]If 25...Bb2 then:
• 26.a3 a5 27.bxa5 Ra8 28.Re2 Qf6 29.f4 Rxa5 30.Rf3 White retains his extra pawn.
• 26.Bxg6 hxg6 27.Qxg6+ Bg7 28.Rg1 Qd7 gives White a huge advantage in space and three pawns for a Bishop.

BLACK: Salem Saleh
!""""""""#
$ T W Tl+%
$+ + + +o%
$o+ O +o+%
$+ +p+ + %
$ V +b+ +%
$+ + + Q %
$p+ + P P%
$+ + Rr+k%
/(((((((()
WHITE: Wesley So
Position after 25...Ba3b4:p


26.Bxg6!!

• 26.Re2? is too slow: after 26...Kh8 27.f4 Qa5 28.Qh3 Rf6 the position is equal.

26...Bxe1

• 26...Kh8 27.Qh3 Rb7 28.Re4 Qc8 29.Qh5 Bc5 30.Re2 Bd4 gives White an extra pawn and a comfortable advantage in space.

27.Bxh7+ Kh8 28.Rxe1 Rf6

• Black loses quickly after the text move.
• A more stubborn defense is 28...Qf6 29.Be4 Rg8 30.Qh3+ Kg7 31.Bd3 when:
• After 31...Kf8 32.Bxa6 Ra8 33.Re3 Qg6 34.Qf3+ Qf7 35.Qe4 Rg6 36.Bc4 White theatens 27.Rh3.
• 31...Rh8 32.Qg3+ Kf7 33.Re6 Qa1+ 34.Kg2 White wins easily.

29.Qh3 Rf4 30.Bf5+ Qh4 31.Qc3+ Rd4

• 31...Kg8 32.Rg1+ Kf8 33.Qg7+ Ke8 34.Qg8+ Ke7 35.Qe6+ Kd8 36.Qd7#.

32.Rd1 Rbb4

• 32...Qxf2 33.Qxd4+ Qxd4 34.Rxd4 leaves White a piece to the good.
• White now forces the end.

BLACK: Salem Saleh
!""""""""#
$ + + + L%
$+ + + + %
$o+ O + +%
$+ +p+b+ %
$ T T + W%
$+ Q + + %
$p+ + P P%
$+ +r+ +k%
/(((((((()
WHITE: Wesley So
Position after 32...Rb8b4

33.Qc8+! Kg7 34.Rg1+ 1-0

• Black must submit to either mate in two or a ruinous loss of material.
• Salem resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

12. Update (Wednesday): Yank Kaidanov wins Gaudsal Classic

Gregory Kaidanov
ChessBase.com

Gregory Kaidanov, a native of Soviet Ukraine who has lived in Kentucky since 1991, won the annual Guasdal Chess Classic in Norway today by a full point over his nearest rival, Geetha Naraynan Gopal of India.

Mr. Kaidanov scored 7 points in nine rounds. winning four games without a loss.

Greek grandmaster Vasilios Kotronias finished third with 5½ points.

Kaidanov, 48, has been a grandmaster since 1988. He has played on several US olympic teams. His greatest achievement came in 2002 when he won the Areoflot Open in Moscow.