The Jack Rabbit Chess Report (June 27): Two tie for tops in Marshall CC Open; Dortmund begins Sat

[Jack Rabbit]

Paragua, Ramírez win Marshall CC Open


Wikipedia

Mark Paragua of the Philippines and Alejandro Ramírez of Costa Rica tied for first place in the nine regulations rounds of the first annual Marshall Chess Club International Open played at the historic chess gathering place on 10th Street near Grenwich Village in New York City on Wednesday.

Both players scored 6½ points out of nine with identical records of four victories, five draws and no losses.

Paragua took the formal championship by winning a blitz game from Ramírez Wednesday afternoon.

Tied for third with 6 points each were Israeli IM Eli Vovsha, Latvian American GM Jaan Ehlvest, Cuban American GM Julio Becerra and teenager Eliott Liu of San Diego, who earned an IM norm in the process.

Paragua, 24. became a grandmaster at the age of 20 and was the youngest Filipino to achieve the title until Wesley So earned the title late last year at the age of 14.

Ramírez, 20, became the first grandmaster from any Central American nation at the age of 15. He is a foreign student at the University of Texas at Dallas, majoring in art.

The Marshall Chess Club was founded in 1915 by Frank Marshall, who was the US champion for most of the first third of the twentieth century and one of the great swashbuckling players of all time.


Dortmund starts tomorrow



The Sparkassen Chess Meeting gets underway tomorrow in Dortmund, Germany and concludes July 6.

The event features two open tournaments, but all eyes will be on the pretigious grandmasters' tournament, a single round robin among eight players. This year's competitors are former world champion Vladimir Kramnik of Russia; his 17-year-old compatriot Ian Nepomniachtchi, who earned entry into Dortmund by winning the Areoflot Open in Moscow in February; Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan; Hungarian Peter Leko; Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine; Dutch GM Loek van Wely; and two German GMs, Arkadij Naiditsch and Jan Gustafsson. The average rating of the eight is 2695, making the tournament a category 18.

The format of the tournament favors a conservative, cautious player. This makes the bookmakers' favorite Kramnik, who won last year's edition.

Tomorrow's first round pairings are Gustafsson-Kramnik, Naiditsch-Nepomniachtchi, Mamedyarov-Leko and Ivanchuk-van Wely. Games will be broadcast on a fifteen-minute delay on the official tournament website starting at 3 pm German time (6 am PDT).


Calendar

World Open, Philadelphia June 30-July 6.

Biel Chess Festival 19 July-1 August. This year's GM tournament features Magnus Carlsen, Evgeny Alekseev, Lenier Domínguez, Etienne Bacrot, Alex Onischuk and Yannick Pelletier.

Canadian Open, Montreal 19-28 July.

Politiken Cup, Copenhagen 19-27 July.

British Championship, Liverpool 27 July-9 August.

Mainz Chess Festival 28 July-3 August.

FIDE Grand Prix, Sochi 30 July-15 August.

Howard Staunton Memorial Tournament, London at the historic Simpson's Divan, 7-18 August. Competitors: Mickey Adams (defending champion), Nigel Short, Jon Speelman, Peter Wells, Robert Wade, Jan Timman, Loek van Wely, Jan Smeets, Erwin L'Ami, Jan Werle and Alexander Cherniaev

FIDE Women's Knock Out (World Women's Chess Championship), Nalchik, Kabardino-Balkaria (Russia) 28 August-18 September.

Anand-Kramnik World Championship Semifinal Match, Bonn October 14-November 2. Twelve rounds.

European Club Cup, Kallithea (Greece) 16-24 October.

Asian Championships, Tehran 21-30 October.

Chess Olympiad, Dresden 12-25 November.

Topalov-Kamsky World Championship Semifinal Match, Lvov 26 November-15 December. Twelve Rounds.

FIDE Grand Prix, Doha 13-29 December.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. Grams From the Marshall CC International Open

Your humble hare acknowledges the assistance of Fritz 6.0 on analysis.

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]

2. Burnett - Ramírez, Round 4

At the age of 15, Alejandro Ramírez of Costa Rica become the first grandmaster from Central America. Now 20, he is a student at the University of Texas at Dallas majoring in art.



Alejandro Ramírez
Photo: United States Chess League


Ronald Burnett - Alejandro Ramírez
Marshall Chess Club International Open, Round 4
New York, 22 June 2008

French Exchange Game: Winawer Defense

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.exd5

• The main line is 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.Nf3 Nbc6.

4...exd5 5.Bd3 Nc6

• 5...Nf6 6.Nf3 0-0 7.0-0 Bg4 8.Bg5 c6 9.h3 Bh5 10.g4 Bg6 11.Ne5 Be7 12.f4 Bxd3 13.Qxd3 Nbd7 14.Rae1 Re8 15.Re2 Nxe5 16.fxe5 Nd7 17.Bc1 Nf8 18.Nd1 c5 19.c3 Rc8 20.Be3 cxd4 21.Bxd4 Bc5 22.Ne3 Ng6 23.Qf5 gives White a healthy advantage in space (Maroczy-Rubinstein, IT, Prague, 1908).
• 5...c5 6.dxc5 d4 7.a3 Ba5 8.b4 dxc3 9.bxa5 Qxa5 10.Be3 Nf6 11.Ne2 Nc6 12.0-0 Nd5 13.Bd4 Be6 14.Qe1 0-0-0 15.Bxc3 Qxc5 16.Bd2 Rhe8 17.Qb1 Bg4 18.Re1 Ne5 19.Nf4 Nxd3 20.cxd3 Kb8 21.Qb3 Be6 22.Nxe6 fxe6 23.Re4 gives White better mobility (Maroczy-Sultan Khan, IT, Scarborough, 1930).

6.Nge2 Be6

• If 6...Nge7 7.0-0 then:
• If 7...Bg4 8.f3 then:
• If 8...Bf5 9.Bf4 then:
• 9...0-0 10.Bxf5 Nxf5 11.Qd3 Bxc3 12.Nxc3 Nfxd4 13.Be3 Nb4 14.Qd2 Ndxc2 15.Bc5 Re8 16.Rad1 Na6 17.Bf2 Ncb4 18.a3 Nc6 19.Nxd5 Ne7 20.Nxe7+ Qxe7 21.Rfe1 Qd8 is equal (Zinn-Uhlmann, East German Ch, Potsdam, 1974).
• 9...Bxc3 10.bxc3 0-0 11.Ng3 Bxd3 12.cxd3 Re8 13.Qb3 draw (Szabo-Geller, Interz, Goteborg, 1955).
• 8...Be6 9.Be3 Nf5 10.Bf2 Qd7 11.Na4 b6 12.a3 Be7 13.Nac3 Bf6 14.Ba6 0-0 15.Na2 Qd6 16.Qd2 h6 17.Rad1 Rad8 18.g4 Nh4 19.Bg3 Qe7 20.Bb5 Na5 21.Qb4 c6 22.Qxe7 Bxe7 23.Bd3 Bf6 24.c3 Ng6 is equal (Rabinovich-Botvinnik, City Ch, Leningrad, 1932).
• If 7...Bf5 8.Ng3 Bxd3 9.Qxd3 Qd7 10.Nce2 then:
• 10...0-0 11.c3 Bd6 12.Bf4 a6 13.Rfe1 Rae8 14.Qf3 Nd8 15.Bxd6 Qxd6 16.Nf4 Ne6 is equal (Spielmann-Dr. Euwe, IT, Zandvoort, 1936).
• 10...0-0-0 11.c3 Bd6 12.Bf4 h5 13.Rfe1 h4 14.Bxd6 Qxd6 15.Nf5 Qg6 16.Nxe7+ Nxe7 17.Qh3+ Qf5 18.Nf4 Qxh3 19.Nxh3 Rd7 20.Ng5 f6 21.Ne6 Nf5 is equal (Riumin-Yudovich, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1931).

7.Be3 Nge7!?

• 7...Qd7 8.a3 Bxc3+ 9.Nxc3 Bf5 10.Be2 Nge7 11.Qd2 0-0 12.h3 Rfe8 13.g4 Be6 14.Bf4 a6 15.Nd1 draw (Riff-Masserey, Swiss ChT, Switzerland, 2004).
• 7...Nf6 8.a3 Be7 9.h3 a6 10.Qd2 Bd6 11.g4 Ne7 12.Nf4 h6 13.Nxe6 fxe6 14.Ne2 Qd7 15.0-0-0 0-0-0 16.Rhe1 Rde8 17.Bf4 Kb8 18.Qe3 Nc6 19.Be5 Bxe5 20.dxe5 Ng8 21.f4 gives White the advantage in space (Zelter-Tawakol, Regionalliga NordN, Germany, 1990).

8.Ng3

• The game is equal.
• If 8.Nf4 Nf5 9.0-0 then:
• 9...Nfxd4 10.Re1 0-0 11.Bxd4 Nxd4 12.Bxh7+ Kxh7 13.Qxd4 Bxc3 14.Qxc3 gives White a healthy advantage in space.
• 9...Nxe3 10.fxe3 Qd7 11.Nxe6 Qxe6 12.Qf3 Bxc3 13.bxc3 0-0 14.e4 gives White a small advantage in space.

8...Qd7

• 8...Qd6?! 9.0-0 Bxc3 10.bxc3 0-0 11.Qh5 f5 12.Rab1 provokes pawn weaknesses in Black's position.

9.0-0 0-0-0 10.Na4

• If 10.a3 Bd6 11.Qf3 h5 12.Nb5 then:
• 12...Bxg3 13.fxg3 a6 14.Nc3 h4 is equal.
• 12...h4 13.Nxd6+ Qxd6 14.Nh5 gives White a small advantage in space.

10...h5 11.c3

• If 11.Nxh5 Bg4 12.Be2 Bxe2 13.Qxe2 Nxd4 14.Bxd4 Qxa4 15.Bxg7 Rh7 16.Be5 is equal.
• 12...Bxh5 13.Bxh5 g6 14.Bg4 f5 15.Bh3 Bd6 gives Black more space.

11...Bd6 12.b4 h4 13.Ne2 h3

• 13...Bf5 14.Nc5 Bxc5 15.bxc5 Bxd3 16.Qxd3 h3 17.g3 Qf5 gives Black a small advantage in space after the exchange of Queens.

14.g3 Bf5 15.Bf4?

• White drops a pawn.
• Correct is 15.Nc1 Qe6 16.Re1 Bxd3 17.Nxd3 Qf5 18.Nac5 Rhe8 with equality.

BLACK: Alejandro Ramírez
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WHITE: Ronald Burnett
Position after 15.Be3f4

15...Bxd3 16.Qxd3 Nxb4 17.cxb4 Qxa4 18.Bxd6 Rxd6 19.a3

• After 19.b5 Black retains his extra pawn with 19...Re8 20.Rfc1 Re6 21.Qc3 c6 22.Nf4 Re4 23.bxc6 Nxc6.

19...Qd7

• Both players will struggle for command of the e-file and to establish a Knight on a choice outpost. The best outpost on the board is at c4, if Black can get it. That and an extra pawn gives Black the advantage in this position.
• 19...Re6 20.Nf4 Reh6 21.Rae1 Qd7 22.Re5 Ng6 23.Nxg6 Rxg6 is unclear: Black ahs an extra pawn and White has a little more space in compensation, as well as command of the e-file.

20.f3

• White's plan is to secure a pawn on g4 to restrict the mobility of Black's pieces.
• 20.b5 Re8 21.Rac1 g5 22.a4 Qf5 23.Qc3 Rd7 gives Black a healthy advantage in space in addition to his extra pawn.

20...Qf5 21.Qxf5+ Nxf5 22.Kf2

• The immediate 22.g4 Black to disrupt the the coordination of White's pieces with 22...Ne3 23.Rf2 Nc2 24.Ra2 Rc6.

22...Re8 23.Rfd1

• If White plays 23.Rfe1 then 23...Rc6 24.Rac1 Rxc1 25.Rxc1 c6 26.g4 Nd6 27.Nf4 Nc4 achieves Black's goals.

23...g5 24.Rd3 Rde6!

• Black has achieved command of the e-file.

25.Ra2 Nd6 26.Ng1 f5!

• Black temporarily stops White from establishing a pawn at g4.

27.Re2

• After 27.Nxh3 Black retains his extra pawn with 27...Rh6 28.Kg2 Reh8 29.Nf2 Rxh2+.
• 27.g4 loses to 27...fxg4 28.fxg4 Ne4+ 29.Kf1 Rf8+ 30.Nf3 Rf4 31.Rc2 Ref6.

27...g4!

• Black permanently prevents White from establishing a pawn at g4.
• 27...Nc4!? 28.Rxe6 Rxe6 29.Nxh3 Rh6 30.Kg2 Rg6 31.b5 presents White with possibilities of counterplay.

28.Rxe6

• If 28.fxg4 then Black retains his extra pawn by 28...Rxe2+ 29.Nxe2 fxg4 30.Re3 Rf8+.
• If 28.Rde3 Rxe3 29.Rxe3 Rf8 30.Re7 Nc4 31.a4 Nb2 then:
• If 32.Rg7 Nxa4 33.Ke3 Re8+ 34.Kf2 Nb2 then:
• 35.fxg4 fxg4 36.Rxg4 Nd3+ 37.Kf3 Nxb4 yields a second pawn to Black.
• 35.Nxh3 Nd3+ 36.Kg2 Re2+ 37.Nf2 Rxf2+ 38.Kg1 gxf3 gives Black an extra pieces to go with two extra pawns.
• 32.b5 Nxa4 33.Ne2 Rf6 34.Rg7 gxf3 gives Black two extra pawns.

28...Rxe6 29.Ne2 c6

• Also good is 29...Nc4 30.Nf4 Rd6 31.a4 c6 32.Rd1 Kd8.

30.a4 Nc4 31.Nf4 Re8

• If 31...Rd6 32.Rd1 Kd8 33.a5 then:
• 33...Rf6 34.Nd3 Re6 35.a6 bxa6 36.fxg4 fxg4 gives Black two extra pawns.
• If 33...Rd7? then 34.Ng6! Ke8 35.Re1+ equalizes.

32.a5 Kc7 33.Ng6

• If 33.Rc3 Kd6 34.Rc2 Re3 then:
• If 35.fxg4 fxg4 36.Nxh3 then:
• 36...Re4 37.Ng5 Rxd4 38.Ke2 Ke7 39.a6 b6 40.Ke1 Ne5 wins for Black.
• 36...gxh3? 37.Rxc4 dxc4 38.Kxe3 is equal and likely drawn.
• If 35.Rxc4 leads to a pretty finish: 35...Rxf3+! 36.Ke2 dxc4 then:
• 37.Kd2 Rxf4 38.gxf4 g3 39.hxg3 h2.
• 37.Nxh3 Rxg3 38.hxg3 gxh3.

33...b6 34.axb6+ Kxb6 35.Nh4 Kb5

• 35...Rf8 36.Ng6 Rf6 37.Ne5 Kb5 38.Rb3 gxf3 leaves Black a pawn to the good.

36.Nxf5 Kxb4 37.fxg4

• The center of Black's winning plan is to push the heretofore dormant a-pawn.
• 37.Rd1 gxf3 38.Kxf3 a5! 39.Kg4 a4 40.Kxh3 a3 wins easily for Black.

BLACK: Alejandro Ramírez
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WHITE: Ronald Burnett
Position after 37.fg4:p

37...a5!

• The sleeper awakes and roars.

38.g5

• On the other hand, White's plan focuses on the advance of the g-pawn.

38...a4

• If 38...Rg8 39.Ne7 Rxg5 then:
• 40.Kf3 a4 41.Kf4 Rg7 42.Nxc6+ Kb5 43.Ne5 Ra7 makes the a-pawn dangerous.
• 40.Nxc6+ Kb5 41.Nd8 a4 42.Ne6 Rf5+ puts a heavy burden on White to stop Black's a-pawn.

39.g6 a3 40.g7 a2 41.Rd1

• This move had to be made and was the reason why White was never actually winning any pawn race.

41...Nd2!

• White's response is forced.

42.Ra1

• If 42.Nh6 then Black wins with 42...Nb1 43.g8Q Rxg8 44.Nxg8 a1Q.

42...Ka3 43.Nh6

• White's plan is to promote the pawn, forcing Black to give up a piece.

43...Ne4+ 44.Kf3 Nf6

• Black has met White's threat; White's position is hopeless.

45.g4 Kb2 46.Rxa2+

• After 46.g5 Ng8 47.Rd1 a1Q 48.Rxa1 Kxa1 Black can resign.

46...Kxa2 47.Kf4 c5 0-1

• Mr. Burnett resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Almeida - Becerra, Round 2

Cuban-American grandmaster Julio Becerra was the early leader in the New York International Open.



Julio Becerra
Photo: Brooklyn College Chess Club


Alfonso Almeida - Julio Becerra
Marshall Chess Club International Open, Round 2
New York, 21 June 2008

Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit: Stoltz-Shabalov Opening

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.g4

• For notes on the theory behind this opening, see Aronian-Topalov, Amber Rapid, Nice, 2008.

7...h6 8.Rg1 e5 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.Nb5 Bb8 11.Bd2 e4!?

• 11...0-0 12.Bb4 Re8 13.g5 hxg5 14.Nxg5 Nf8 15.dxe5 Bxe5 16.Nf3 Ng6 17.Bd3 Bg4 18.Nbd4 Rc8 is equal (Gelfand-Leko, Rapid, Odessa, 2007).

12.Rc1

• White's command of the c-file gives him the advantage.
• If 12.g5 hxg5 13.Rc1 Nb6 14.Nxg5 Rxh2 then:
• If 15.Nc7+ Bxc7 16.Qxc7 Qxc7 17.Rxc7 Nfd7 is equal.
• 15.Ba5 Bd7 16.Nc7+ Bxc7 17.Qxc7 Qxc7 18.Rxc7 Rc8 gives the advantage to Black.

12...0-0

• 12...exf3 13.Qxc8 Bxh2 14.Nc7+ Bxc7 15.Qxc7 is equal.
• The pawn chains indicate that Black should play on the kingside and Black on the opposite wing. Both side have Bishops poised for this purpose.
• White's advantage in the c-file gives him the initiative.

13.Bb4

• 13.g5 exf3 14.gxf6 Qxf6 15.Nc7 Bxc7 16.Qxc7 Nb6 17.Bb4 Re8 is equal.

BLACK: Julio Becerra
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WHITE: Alfonso Almeida
Position after 13.Bd2b4

13...exf3!

• Black sacrifices the exchange in order to gain some counterplay.
• 13...Re8 14.Nd2 Bxh2 15.Rg2 Bb8 16.g5 hxg5 17.Rxg5 Nf8 18.Rg1 Ne6 is less clear: White has the advantage in space while Black has an extra pawn.

14.Bxf8 Bxh2

• 14...Qxf8?! 15.Qxc8 Bxh2 16.Qxf8+ Kxf8 17.Rh1 Nxg4 18.Nc7 Bxc7 19.Rxc7 gives White greater activity and mobility.

15.Rh1 Nxf8

• 15...Bb8? allows White to build on his material advantage after 16.Qxc8 Qxc8 17.Rxc8 Nxf8 when:
• 18.Rh3 Nxg4 19.Rxf3 a6 20.Nc7 Bxc7 21.Rxa8 puts White up by two exchanges.
• 18.Nc7 Bxc7 19.Rxa8 Ba5+ 20.Kd1 White is up by two theoretical pawns.

16.Rxh2 Nxg4

• The smoke clears. Materially, the two sides are asymmetical but theoretically balanced; positionally, White's command of the c-file is less important since Qxc8 is no longer a threat. Black is ready to take a kingside initiative.

17.Rh1 Qg5

• It is necessary for Black to maintan his pawn at d5 in order to keep White from breaking through to center to Black's King position.
• 17...Ne6 18.Nc7 Rb8 19.Bd3 Qg5 20.Nxe6 Bxe6 21.Kd1 give White a slight spatial advantage.

18.Qb3 Bd7

• 18...Be6 19.Rc7 a6 20.Nd6 b5 21.Qa3 gives White a tremoendous advantage in space, but Black has some defensive resources..

19.Nc7?!

• The Mexican grandmaster makes a surprising error. This allows a pin in the c-file.
• 19.Rc3 Bxb5 20.Qxb5 Qf5 21.Qd3 Qxd3 22.Bxd3 gives White more mobility.

19...Rc8!

• Black wastes no time establishing the pin.
20.Rc5


• If 20.Qxb7? Nxe3 21.fxe3 Qxe3+ 22.Kd1 then Black wins:
• Either 22...Qxd4+ 23.Kc2 Ne6 24.Kb1 Rxc7 25.Rxc7 Nxc7 26.Qb3 Bf5+ 27.Ka1 Qd2.
• Or 22...Bg4 23.Bb5 f2+ 24.Kc2 Bf5+ 25.Kd1 Bd3 26.Rc2 Qf3+ 27.Kd2 Qe2+.

20...Bc6 21.Nb5


• If 21.Nxd5? Ne6 then:
• If 22.Ra5 Qd8 23.Qc3 b6 24.Rxa7 Bxd5 gives Black two Knights for a Rook.
• If 22.Rc3 Re8 23.Nb4 Nxd4 24.Qc4 Nxf2 25.Kxf2 Ne2 26.Bxe2 Qg2+ 27.Ke1 Qxh1+ 28.Kd2 fxe2 leaves Black up by two pawns.
• If 25.Nxc6 then 25...Qg3 26.Nxd4 Nd3+ 27.Kd1 Nxb2+ wins the Queen.

21...Ne6 22.Rc3

• 22.Rc2 Qd8 23.Nc3 Nf6 24.Bh3 Qe7 25.Kd1 a6 is equal.

22...Re8 23.Qd1?

• No better is 23.Nxa7? Nxd4! when:
• If 24.Qb6 Nf5 25.Nxc6 Nxf2!! 26.Rh2 Ng4 then:
• 27.Ne7+ Rxe7 28.Rh3 Nfxe3 29.Qd8+ Kh7 leaves Black with a material advantage and White's counterattack with no further wind.
• 27.Qxb7 Nxh2 28.Ne7+ Nxe7 29.Qd7 Rb8 gives Black a probitive material advantage.
• 24.Qd1 Nxe3 25.fxe3 Rxe3+ 26.Kf2 Nf5 White must surrender the Queen or submit to mate.
• Correct is the waiting move 23.a3! disallowing the tactics of the previous variation: the game could continue 23...Nf6 24.Nd6 Nxd4 25.Qb4 Re6 26.Nxf7 Kxf7 27.Qxd4 with equality.

BLACK: Julio Becerra
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WHITE: Alfonso Almeida
Position after 23.Qb3d1

23...Nxf2!!

• Also good is 23...Bxb5! 24.Bxb5 Nxf2 25.Qxf3 Nxd4 26.Qxf2 Nxb5 when Black has a minor piece and three pawns for a Rook.

24.Kxf2 Bxb5 25.Qxf3 Bxf1 26.Kxf1 Qg6!

• The Black Queen touches the magic square at the meeting point of two open lines.

27.Rc1

• If 27.Rb3 then 27...Rc8 28.Rxb7 Ng5 29.Qxd5 Rc1+ 30.Kf2 Rc2+ 31.Ke1 Qd3 is lights out.

27...Qd3+ 28.Qe2

• More stubborn is 28.Kf2 Ng5 29.Rhd1 Qa6 30.Qf5 Qxa2 but Black still wins.

28...Qe4 29.Rh2 Nxd4 0-1

• After 30.Qf2 Qd3+ 31.Kg2 Rxe3 32.Rc8+ Kh7 33.Rxh6+ Kxh6 White does not have a perpetual check: 34.Qh4+ Kg6 35.Qg4+ Kf6 36.Qh4+ g5 37.Qh8+ Kf5 38.Qh7+ Kf4 39.Qxf7+ Kg4 40.Qd7+ Ne6 41.Rc4+ Qxc4 leaves White out of checks and out of luck.
• El señor Almeida resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Games from the Chinese National Championships, Beijing

Since it was a light week in chess, I looked back for important events that got little or no coverage in recent weeks. What I discovered was the Chinese National Championships were held May 29-June 8 in Beijing.

The general competition was won by grandmaster Ni Hua with 7½ points in eleven rounds, with a tie-way tie for second among grandmasters Wang Hao, Zhou Jianchao and Wang Yue.

Fourteen-year-old Hou Yifan took the women's championship in a runaway with 9 out of eleven, followed by Zhao Xue with 7½ points and former world junior girls' champion Shen Yang with 7.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Ni Hua - Zhang Pengxiang, Round 9

Chinese National Champion Ni Hua
Photo: ChessBase.com


Ni Hua - Zhang Pengxiang
Chinese Championships, General Competition, Round 9
Beijing, 6 June 2008

Epine Dorsal: Rat Defense (Hanham Variation) (Philidor Defense)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nd7 4.Bc4 c6

• This set up is attributed to the 19th century American master, James Hanham. It was a favorite of Nimzovich's.

5.0-0 Be7 6.dxe5

• If 6.Nc3 Ngf6 7.a4 0-0 8.Re1 then:
• If 8...b6 then:
• If 9.d5 cxd5 10.Nxd5 then:
• If 10...Bb7 11.b3 Rc8 12.Re2 then:
• 12...Nc5 (
• 12...Nxd5 13.Bxd5 Bxd5 14.Qxd5 Nf6 15.Qd1 d5 16.exd5 Qxd5 17.Qxd5 Nxd5 18.Nxe5 gives White an extra pawn (Kasparov-Azmaiparashvili, Rapid Match, Crete, 2003).
13.Nxf6+ Bxf6 14.Bd5 Qd7 15.Ba3 Bxd5 16.Qxd5 Rfd8 17.Rd1 Ne6 18.Qb5 Nf4 19.Red2 Qg4 20.Qf1 d5 gives Black the advantage in space (Naiditsch-Eljanov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2006).
• If 10...Nxd5 11.Bxd5 Rb8 12.Qd3 Nc5 13.Qe3 Be6 14.Rd1 Bxd5 15.Rxd5 Qc7 16.b3 Nd7 17.c4 Nf6 18.Rd3 a6 19.Ba3 b5 20.cxb5 axb5 21.Rc1 gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Lahno-Collas, Ol, Calvia, 2004).
• 12...Nf6 13.Bb3 h6 14.Bd2 Bb7 15.Rad1 Rc8 16.Bb4 Qc7 17.Nh4 Nd5 18.Bxd5 Bxh4 19.Bxb7 Qxb7 20.Bxd6 Rfd8 21.Qe2 yields an extra pawn to White (Reiss-Rebers, First Saturday, Budapest, 2001.10).
• 9.b3 Bb7 10.Bd3 Re8 11.Bb2 a6 12.Ne2 Bf8 13.Ng3 Qc7 14.c4 a5 15.Qd2 Rad8 16.Rac1 g6 17.c5 bxc5 18.dxe5 Nxe5 19.Nxe5 dxe5 20.Qe2 Bc8 is equal (Ganguly-Cifuentes, Ol, Calvia, 2004).
• If 8...a5 9.h3 then:
• If 9...exd4 10.Nxd4 Nc5 11.Bf4 Qb6 12.b3 Re8 13.Qf3 Nfd7 14.Nf5 Ne5 15.Bxe5 dxe5 16.Nxe7+ Rxe7 17.Rad1 Be6 18.Bxe6 Rxe6 19.Rd2 Rd8 is equal (Hracek-Piket, Ol, Moscow, 1994).
• 11.Ba2 Qb6 12.Nb3 Nxb3 13.Bxb3 Be6 14.Be3 Qc7 15.Bxe6 fxe6 16.Qe2 d5 is equal (Ye Juangchuan-Hamdouchi, World Rapid Cup, Cannes, 2001).
• If 9...h6 10.Ba2 Re8 11.Be3 then:
• 11...Qc7 12.Nh4 Nf8 13.Qf3 Be6 14.Nf5 Bxa2 15.Rxa2 Ng6 16.Raa1 Nh7 17.Qg3 Bg5 18.Bxg5 Nxg5 19.dxe5 dxe5 20.h4 Ne6 21.h5 Ngf4 22.Nxh6+ gives White an extra pawn (Haugstad-Kandic, Op, Gibraltar, 2008).
• 11...Bf8 12.Qd2 Rb8 13.Rad1 b5 14.axb5 cxb5 15.Qd3 b4 16.Nd5 Nxd5 17.Bxd5 Qc7 18.Bb3 exd4 19.Bxd4 Bb7 20.e5 Nxe5 21.Bxe5 dxe5 22.Qd7 Re7 23.Qxc7 Rxc7 24.Nxe5 Re8 25.Ra1 g5 26.Rxa5 Bg7 27.Re3 Rce7 28.Nxf7 Rxe3 29.fxe3 Black resigns (Tiviakov-Belkhodja, World Cup, Khanty Mansyisk, 2005).

6...dxe5 7.Ng5

• If 7.Qe2 then:
• 7...Ngf6 8.Rd1 Qc7 9.Ng5 0-0 10.Bxf7+ Rxf7 11.Qc4 wins the exchange (Hakimifard-Ghazaryan, World Jr Ch, Yerevan, 2007).
• 7...h6 8.Rd1 Qc7 9.a4 Ngf6 10.Nbd2 Nc5 11.b3 Bg4 12.Bb2 0-0 13.h3 Bxf3 14.Nxf3 Bd6 15.Rxd6 Qxd6 16.Rd1 Qe7 17.Nxe5 is unclear: Black has the advantage in material and White has the advantage in space.(Ricardi-Paglilla, Argentine Ch, Buenos Aires, 1985).

7...Bxg5 8.Qh5 Qe7 9.Qxg5

• 9.Bxg5 Ngf6 10.Qh4 Nf8 11.Bxf6 gxf6 12.Qh6 Rg8 13.Nc3 Bg4 14.Qe3 Ng6 15.f3 Be6 16.Bxe6 fxe6 gives White the advantage in space (Gashimov-Managadze, IT, Athens, 2005).

9...Qxg5 10.Bxg5 Nc5

• If 10...Ngf6 11.f3 then:
• If 11...b5 12.Be2 Nb6 13.Nd2 Be6 14.Rfc1 Nfd7 15.c4 b4 16.a3 bxa3 17.Rxa3 f6 18.Be3 gives White more mobility (Tiviakov-Murshed, Op, Dhaka, 2003).
• 11...Nb6 12.Be2 Be6 13.Nd2 h6 14.Be3 0-0-0 15.a4 Kb8 16.a5 Nc8 17.Nc4 Bxc4 18.Bxc4 Rd7 19.Kf2 Rhd8 20.Ke2 Nd6 21.Bb3 Nb5 is equal (Ye Juangchuan-Hon Kah Seong, Asian ChT, 1987).

11.f3 Be6 12.Nd2!?

• With this new move, White will try to maintain a piece at c4.
• 12.Be2 Nf6 13.Nd2 Nfd7 14.Nc4 f6 15.Be3 Bxc4 16.Bxc4 Ke7 17.Rfd1 Rhd8 18.a4 a5 19.b3 b6 20.Kf2 gives White the advantage in space and better minor pieces (Anand-Ivanchuk, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 1996).

12...b5?!

• Black puts his own foot in c4.
• A better way to accomplish this is 12...Nf6 13.b4 b5 14.Bxe6 Nxe6 15.Bxf6 gxf6 16.Nb3 Ke7 with equality.
• If 12...b6 13.Rfd1 Bxc4 14.Nxc4 f6 then:
• 15.Be3 Nb7 16.Nd6+ Nxd6 17.Rxd6 leaves Black undeveloped.
• White is clearly better after 15.Nd6+ Kf8 16.Be3 Na4 17.Rab1.

13.Be3!

• However, White is not forced to move the Bishop.
• 13.Be2 Nf6 14.c4 b4 15.b3 is equal.

13...bxc4

• 13...Nxe4 14.Bxe6 Nxd2 15.Bxd2 fxe6 16.Rfe1 Nf6 17.Rxe5 Kf7 18.Rae1 Rhe8 gives White more activity.

14.Bxc5 Nf6 15.b3!?

• 15.Nb1 Rb8 16.Nc3 Rxb2 17.Rfb1 Rxb1+ 18.Rxb1 forces Black to play 18...Kd7, after which 19.Rb7+ wins a pawn.

15...Nd7

• Black has no satisfactory moves.
• If 15...c3? 16.Nb1 then:
• 16...Nd7 17.Bd6 f6 18.Rd1 0-0-0 19.Nxc3 yields an extra pawn to White.
• 16...0-0-0 17.Bxa7 Kb7 18.Be3 Rd6 19.Nxc3 gives White two extra pawns.
• 15...0-0-0 16.Nxc4 Bxc4 17.bxc4 Rd7 18.Rab1 Rhd8 19.Rb3 sets up White to penetrate on Black's weak queenside.

16.Bd6 0-0-0?

• Black drops material by this move.
• The King is no safer than it looks, but it is difficult to find a satisfactory continuation for Black.
• 16...a5 17.Rfd1 then:
• If 17...f6 18.Nxc4 Bxc4 19.bxc4 Nb6 20.Rab1 Nxc4 21.Rb7 then:
• If 21...Rd8 White wins a pawn by 22.Re7+ Kf8 23.Rd7+ Ke8 24.Rxd8+ Kxd8 25.Bxe5+.
• After 23...Nxd6 24.R1xd6 Rxd7 25.Rxd7 White wins a queenside pawn.
• If 21...Nxd6 White wins a pawn by 22.Rxd6 Rg8 23.Rxc6.
• 17...h6 18.bxc4 f5 19.exf5 Bxf5 20.Re1 Kf7 21.Bxe5 puts White up by two pawns.

BLACK: Ni Hua
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WHITE: Zhang Pengxiang
Position after 16...0-0-0

17.Nxc4!

• Also good is 17.Rfd1 cxb3 18.axb3 Kb7 19.Be7 when:
• 19...Rde8 20.Bh4 Nf8 21.Bf2 forces Black into a passive defense.
• 19...Ra8 20.Nc4 Kc8 21.Nd6+ gives White a much more active game.

17...Bxc4 18.bxc4 Nb6 19.Bxe5 Rd2

• White is two pawns to the good.
• 19...Nxc4 20.Bxg7 Rhg8 21.Bh6 Nd2 22.Rf2 Nc4 23.Rb1 Na3 24.Rb3 Rd1+ 25.Rf1.
• After 21...Rg6 22.Bf4 Na3 23.Rac1 Rgg8 24.Rfe1 White remains up by two pawns.

BLACK: Ni Hua
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WHITE: Zhang Pengxiang
Position after 19...Rd8d2

20.c5!!

• White nails down the victory by returning one of his extra pawns.

20...Nd7 21.Bd6 Rxc2 22.Rf2 Rc4

• White is clearly winning after 22...Rxf2 23.Kxf2 h5 24.Ke3 h4 25.Kd4 g5 26.Rb1.

23.Rb1 Rd8 24.Rd2 f6 25.Rdb2 Nxc5

• No better is 25...Re8 26.Rb7 Rc1+ 27.Kf2 Rxb1 28.Rxb1 h6 29.Ke3.

26.Bxc5 Rxc5 27.Rb8+ Kd7 28.Rd1+ 1-0

• White wins the Rook at d8.
• Grandmaster Zhang resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Zhang Jilin - Hou Yifan, Round 8

Chinese Women's Champion Hou Yifan
Photo: ChessBase.com


Zhang Jilin - Hou Yifan
Chinese Championships, Women's Competition, Round 8
Beijing, 5 June 2008

Open Sicilian Game: Anderssen Defense

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6

• While the Sicilian Game wasn't a great favorite among chess master until after World War II, it's been around for centuries and this move, called the Anderssen Defense, was indded the brainchild of the strongest mid-19th century player after Morphy, Professor Adolf Anderssen. See note to White's sixth move.

5.Bd3

• If 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.e5 Nd5 7.Bd2 Nxc3 8.bxc3 Be7 9.Qg4 then:
• 9...0-0?! 10.Bh6! g6 11.Bxf8 Bxf8 12.Qg3 Qa5 13.Bc4 Nc6 14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.0-0 Bg7 gives White the exchange (Z. Almasi-Fedorov, Rubinstein Mem, Polanica Zdroj, 2000).
• 9...Kf8 10.Nb5 Nc6 11.Qg3 h5 12.Qf4 h4 13.Be2 is equal.

5...Nc6 6.Nxc6

• If 6.Be3 d5 7.exd5 exd5 8.0-0 Bd6 9.h3 h6 then:
• 10.Qf3 0-0 11.Nc3 Ne5 12.Qe2 a6 13.Rad1 Re8 14.Bf5 Bd7 15.Bxd7 Qxd7 16.Nf3 Rad8 17.Kh1 Bb8 18.Nxe5 Rxe5 19.f4 Ree8 20.Qd3 Qd6 21.Bd4 Ne4 22.Nxe4 dxe4 23.Qg3 Qf8 24.Qe3 f5 is equal (Kolisch-Anderssen, Match Rd 1, London, 1861).
• 10.Nc3 0-0 11.Qd2 Re8 12.Rad1 Bc7 13.Rfe1 Qd6 14.Nf3 a6 15.Bxh6 Rxe1+ 16.Rxe1 gxh6 17.Qxh6 Ne4 18.Qh5 f5 19.Nxd5 Qxd5 20.Bxe4 Qd7 21.Bd5+ Kg7 22.Qg5+ Black resigns (Kolisch-Anderssen, Match Rd 3, London, 1861).
• 10.c4 0-0 11.Nc3 Be5 12.Nf3 Bxc3 13.bxc3 Be6 14.cxd5 Nxd5 15.Qd2 Qf6 16.Nd4 Ne5 17.Bc2 Rfd8 18.Nxe6 fxe6 19.Bd4 Nxc3 20.Qxc3 Rxd4 21.Rae1 Rc4 22.Qxe5 Qxe5 23.Rxe5 Rxc2 24.Rxe6 Rxa2 25.Re7 b5 26.Rc1 Rf8 27.Rcc7 Rfxf2 28.Rxg7+ Kf8 29.Rxa7 Rxg2+ 30.Rxg2 Rxa7 31.Rg6 Rg7 White resigns (Kolisch-Anderssen, Match Rd 7, London, 1861).

6...bxc6 7.c4

• If 7.0-0 d5 8.Nd2 Be7 then:
• 9.Qe2 0-0 10.c4 a5 11.b3 a4 12.Bb2 Bb7 13.e5 Nd7 14.Nf3 Ba6 15.Qc2 h6 16.Rfd1 Qb6 17.Rab1 axb3 18.axb3 Rab8 19.Bd4 Bc5 20.Bc3 Bb4 21.Bd4 Bc5 22.Bc3 Bb4 23.Bd4 Bc5 draw (Lakos-Navara, Op, Oberwart, 2003).
• 9.b3 0-0 10.Bb2 a5 11.Qe2 a4 12.f4 Ba6 13.e5 Nd7 14.Kh1 Qb6 15.Nf3 Bxd3 16.Qxd3 Qa6 17.Qe3 c5 18.g4 a3 19.Bc3 d4 White resigns (Mesias-Leitão, Amer Contntl Ch, Buenos Aires, 2005).
• If 7.Nc3 d5 8.0-0 Be7 then:
• 9.Qe2 0-0 10.b3 Nd7 11.Bb2 Nc5 12.Rfd1 Nxd3 13.cxd3 d4 14.Nb1 e5 15.Nd2 Bd6 16.Rac1 Bb7 gives Black a slight advantage in space (Roselli-Mieses, IT, Baden-Baden, 1925).
• 9.Re1 0-0 10.Bf4 d4 11.Nb1 Nd7 12.Nd2 e5 13.Bg3 Bd6 14.Nc4 Bc7 15.Qd2 Re8 16.Rf1 c5 is equal (Horner-Pavlovic, Op, Isle of Man, 2007).
• 9.Qf3 e5 10.h3 d4 11.Ne2 Nd7 12.Ng3 Bg5 13.Nf5 Bxc1 14.Raxc1 Nc5 15.Bc4 Bxf5 16.exf5 Qf6 17.Qa3 Nb7 gives White the advantage in space (Najdorf-Stahlberg, Buenos Aires, 1947).

7...e5 8.0-0 Bc5 9.Nc3 d6 10.b3!?

• If 10.h3 then:
• If 10...g5?! 11.Kh1 Rg8 12.g4 then:
• 12...Nh5!? 13.Ne2 Nf4 14.Ng3 Nxh3 15.Be3 Nf4 16.Bxc5 dxc5 leaves Black up by a pawn (Megaranto-Li Shilong, Asian Ch, Hyderabad, 2005).
• If 12...h5 13.f3 Rb8 14.Rb1 Rh8 then:
• 15.Kg2 Nh7 16.Ne2 Nf8 gives Black a healthy advantage in space.
• 15.Bxg5 hxg4 16.h4 Qd7 Black is poised to riot on White's kingside.
• 10...0-0 11.Bg5 Rb8 12.b3 h6 13.Bh4 is equal.

10...0-0

• The game is equal.
• 10...Bg4 11.Qd2 0-0 12.Bb2 Bd4 is also equal.
• Black's plan in the center is to enforce the pawn break at d5 at the appropriate moment and to preserve her good (light bound) Bishop. White will attempt to develop her light bound Bishop on the kingside outside the pawn chain.

11.Bb2 Bd4

• 11...Bg4!? does not provoke 12.f3: instead White continues 12.Be2 Be6 13.Qd3 Bd4 with equality.

12.Na4?!

• White makes a major mistake with the minor pieces. The dark bound Bishop should be preserved.
Better is 12.Bc2 Rb8 13.Qd3 Nh5 14.Rae1 Qh4 15.g3 Qf6 16.Kg2 Qh6 although it cedes to Black the advantage in space.

12...Bxb2!

• Black takes the opportunity to trade her bad Bishop for White's good one.

13.Nxb2 Be6 14.Bc2 Qe7

• 14...Rb8 15.Re1 Ng4 16.Qd2 Qc7 is equal.

15.Qe2

• 15.Qf3 Rfd8 16.Qe3 Ng4 17.Qg3 Rab8 18.Nd3 Nf6 remains equal.

15...Nd7!?

• The text move does not seem to fit into any plan, altough it discourages the pawn break at c5.
• Black should keep the d7 square vacant so that the Rook can support the break on d5, something the Knight also does better at f6 than d7.
• Better is 15...Rfd8 16.Qe3 Rab8 17.Nd3 a5 18.c5 d5 with equality.
• 15...d5 is premature; after 16.cxd5 cxd5 17.exd5 Bxd5 18.Rfe1 Qb7 19.Qf1 the game remains equal.

16.Rad1

• 16.Qe3 Rfd8 17.Rad1 Rab8 18.Nd3 Rb6 remains equal.

16...Rfd8 17.Qe3

• 17.Qd2 Nf6 18.Qe3 Qc7 19.Nd3 Rab8 is equal.

17...f6 18.Rd2 Bf7 19.f4

• 19.Nd3 a5 20.Rfd1 Bh5 21.Rc1 Bf7 22.a3 d5 is equal.

19...exf4

• 19...Nc5?! 20.Nd3 exf4 21.Rxf4 Nxd3 22.Qxd3 Bg6 23.Qd4 gives White the advantage in space.

20.Qxf4 Ne5!

• The Knight has an ideal outpost in front of White's isolated center pawn.

21.Na4

• If 21.Qh4 Qc7 22.Nd3 Qa5 23.Rfd1 Rd7 then:
• 24.Nxe5 fxe5 25.Qh3 Rad8 26.Bb1 White has more space, but Black's position does not allow penetration.
• 24.Qh3 Rad8 25.Bb1 a6 26.Qe3 Bh5 is equal.
• 21.Qf2 Bg6 22.Qg3 Rab8 23.Rf4 Re8 24.Nd3 Nd7 25.Nf2 remains equal.

21...Re8 22.h3

• 22.Qe3 Rad8 23.c5 dxc5 24.Rxd8 Rxd8 25.Qxc5 Qxc5+ 26.Nxc5 is equal.

22...Rad8 23.Nc3 Qb7 24.Kh2

• 24.a3 Bg6 25.Rfd1 Qe7 26.Qf2 Rd7 27.Qe2 Bf7 gives White the advantage in space, but Black's position presents no targets and Black has much better mobility;White's Knight has no good squares to which to move

24...Qb4!

• The Black Queen has landed in a cluster of unprotected pieces.
• The Knight is little better off in the text than at the end of the variation in previous note. Attacking it has a disruptive effect.

25.Qg3

• If 25.Ne2 a5 26.Nd4 then:
• 26...Bg6 27.Nf3 Qa3 28.Bd1 Nxf3+ 29.gxf3 Re5 gives Black a small advantage in space.
• 26...a4 27.Nf5 Be6 28.Rfd1 Bxf5 29.exf5 d5 is equal.

25...Bg6 26.Rdf2 Kh8 27.Nd1

• 27.Ne2 d5 28.cxd5 cxd5 29.Rd1 dxe4 30.Rxd8 Rxd8 leaves Black a pawn up.

27...Nf7 28.Rf4 Qb8 29.R1f2 Ng5!?

• 29...Ne5 30.Ne3 Qb4 31.Nf5 Bxf5 32.exf5 Qa5 gives Black a small advantage in space.

30.Nc3 Re5 31.Rd2

• If 31.a3 Ra5 32.Nb1 Re8 then:
• 33.Re2 Ne6 34.Rh4 Rg5 35.Qf2 d5+ gives Black better mobility.
• 33.b4 Rae5 34.Nc3 Nxe4 35.Nxe4 Bxe4 36.Bxe4 Rxe4 37.Rxe4 Rxe4 gives Black an extra pawn.

31...Ne6 32.Rf1 Rg5 33.Qf2

• 33.Qe1 d5+ 34.g3 d4 35.Ne2 c5 36.Nf4 Nxf4 37.gxf4 gives Black a small advantage in space.

BLACK: Hou Yifan
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WHITE: Zhang Jilin
Position after 33.Qg3f2

33...d5+!

• Having held back the move for so long, the pawn advances discovering check. Black will seize the advantage in space.

34.Kh1?

• 34.g3 d4 35.Ne2 c5 36.Nf4 Nxf4 37.gxf4 Rh5 38.Qg3 Qb7 is equal.

34...d4 35.Ne2 c5 36.Nf4

• If 36.Ng1 then 36...Rg3 37.Nf3 Ng5 38.Nxg5 Rxg5 39.Qh4 Re5 40.Bd3 Rde8 lays siege to White's e-pawn.

36...Nxf4 37.Qxf4 Re5!

• Black begins a struggle for e4.

38.g4

• If 38.Bd3 Rde8 39.Re2 Qb7 40.Rfe1 Kg8 41.Qh4 Qe7 maximizes the pressure on the e-pawn, leaving Black with more freedom.

38...Qb7 39.Re1 h6 40.Kg1

• Also of crucial moment is 40.Qf3 Rde8 41.Rde2 Kg8 42.Kg1.

40...Rde8 41.Rde2

• This brings about the moment of crisis.

BLACK: Hou Yifan
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WHITE: Zhang Jilin
Position after 41.Rd2e2

41...f5!!

• Black throws her last missile at the e-pawn.
• The text is better than prolonging the tension with 41...Qd7 42.Qg3 Qe6 43.Kg2 when:
• After 43...Bh7 44.Kf1 a5 45.Bd3 Ra8 46.Qf2 Black will have a harder time playing the f-pawn.
• 43...Qa6 44.Bb1 f5 45.gxf5 Bxf5 46.Kh2 Bh7 47.Rg2 Qb7 when White has some counterplay.

42.gxf5

• 42.exf5 loses immediately to 42...Rxe2 43.Rxe2 Rxe2 when:
• 44.fxg6 Qg2#.
• 44.Qf1 Rxc2 45.fxg6 Qb8 leaves Black up by a Rook.

42...Bxf5!

• The Bishop is perfectly safe. It cannot be taken by the pawn.

43.Qxf5

• 43.exf5 still loses immediately to 43...Rxe2 44.Rxe2 Rxe2 etc. (see note to White's 42nd move).

43...Rxf5 44.exf5 Rxe2 45.Rxe2

• The smoke clears. Black has a Queen for a Rook and a minor piece.

45...Kg8 46.Be4 Qc7

• 46...Qb4 47.Bd5+ Kf8 48.Bc6 d3 49.Re8+ Kf7 50.Re6 d2 is an easy win for Black.

47.Kg2 Qf4 48.Bd3

• If 48.Bd5+ Kf8 49.Be4 h5 then:
• If 50.Bf3 then after 50...h4 51.Bg4 d3 52.Rf2 Qe4+ 53.Bf3 Qe1 it will cost White a piece to stop the d-pawn.
• 50.Bc6 h4 51.Re8+ Kf7 52.Re2 d3 53.Rf2 Qg3+ wins a pawn.

48...Kf7 49.Be4 Qg5+ 50.Kf3

• If 50.Kh2 Black wins simply with 50...h5 51.Rf2 h4 52.Bg2 d3.

50...Qh5+ 51.Kf2 Qxh3 52.Bd5+ Kf6 53.Be6 Qc3 0-1

• 54.Bd5 d3 55.Re3 Qc2+ 56.Kg3 d2 57.Bf3 Qb1turns the lights out.
• WIM Zhang resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Wang Hao - Yu Shaoteng, Round 9

Wang Hao
Photo: ChessBase.com


Wang Hao - Yu Shaoteng
Chinese Championships, General Competition, Round 9
Beijing, 6 June 2008

Closed German Game: Houska Defense (Caro-Kann Defense)

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5

• This is the move recommended by British IM Jovanka Houska (Play the Caro-Kann, London: Everyman Chess, 2007).

4.Nf3

• 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.dxc5 e6 with equality in space and a lead in development for Black (Houska).

4...Bg4

• 4...Nc6 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.

5.dxc5 Nc6 6.Bb5 Qa5+ 7.Nc3 e6 8.Be3 Nge7

• This is the continuation suggested by Ms. Houska, who evaluates the position as equal. The present game appears to be the first time the variation has been played since the publication of Ms. Houska's book.
• If 8...a6 9.Bxc6+ bxc6 then:
• 10.Qd4 Bxf3 11.gxf3 Ne7 12.b4 Qc7 13.Ne2 Nf5 14.Qc3 Be7 15.Ng3 Nh4 16.f4 a5 17.a3 axb4 18.axb4 Rxa1+ 19.Qxa1 Qb7 20.0-0 0-0 21.Qc3 Ra8 draw (Bonafede-Sfarlog, Euro ChU16, Herceg Novi, 2006).
• 10.a3 Bxf3 11.Qxf3 Bxc5 12.0-0 Bxe3 13.Qxe3 Ne7 14.b4 Qc7 15.Na4 0-0 16.Nc5 a5 17.Nb3 axb4 18.axb4 Rfb8 19.c3 Nc8 20.Nc5(Zagrebelny-Svetushkin, Op, Agios Kirykos, 2004).
• 10.0-0 Ne7 11.a3 Ng6 12.h3 Bxf3 13.Qxf3 Nxe5 14.Qg3 Nc4 15.Bd4 f6 16.b3 e5 17.bxc4 exd4 18.Rab1 Kf7 19.Rb7+ Kg8 20.Qg4 h6 21.Ne2 Qxc5 22.Qg6 dxc4 23.Nf4 Black resigns (Stefaniak-Caressa, Cyberspace, 2002).

9.a3

• 9.Bd2 Qc7 10.Be2 a6 11.0-0 Ng6 12.Na4 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 Ncxe5 14.Nb6 Rd8 15.b4 Nxf3+ 16.Qxf3 Bd6 17.g3 0-0 18.Rad1 Qc6 19.c4 Bc7 gives White the advantage in space, but Black's defense is solid (Spassky-Kotov, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1955)

9...0-0-0

• 9...a6 10.Bxc6+ Nxc6 11.b4 Qc7 12.Bd4 Be7 13.h3 Bxf3 14.gxf3 0-0 15.Rg1 f6 16.f4 fxe5 17.Qg4 Bf6 18.Qxe6+ Qf7 19.Qxf7+ Rxf7 20.fxe5 Nxd4 21.exf6 Nxc2+ 22.Kd2 Nxa1 23.Rxa1 Rxf6 leaves Black up by an exchange (Fusi-Sandhu, Austrian ChT, Austria, 2002).


• 9...Ng6 10.0-0 a6 11.Ba4 Nh4 12.Qd4 Nxf3+ 13.gxf3 Bxf3 14.Qh4 Be7 15.Qh3 Be4 16.Bxc6+ bxc6 17.Nxe4 dxe4 18.Qg2 g6 19.Qxe4 Qc7 20.Rfd1 0-0 21.c4 Rfd8 22.Rd6 f5 23.Qd4 Bxd6 24.cxd6 Qb7 25.b4 a5 is equal (Kalygin-Turov, Suetin Mem, 2002).

10.b4 Bxf3!?

• If 10...Qc7 then:
• 11.Bxc6 Nxc6 12.Nb5 Bxf3 13.Qxf3 Qxe5 14.0-0 a6 15.Qxf7 Be7 16.Bf4 Qf6 17.Qxf6 gxf6 18.Nd6+ Bxd6 19.Bxd6 Kd7 20.Rad1 b5 21.f4 f5 22.Rd3 h5 23.Re1 h4 24.c3 Ra8 25.Rde3 Rh6 26.Rh3 Ke8 draw (Vallelis-Cela, Op, Ikaria, 1994).
• 11.Bf4 Bxf3 12.Qxf3 Nxe5 13.Qe2 N7g6 14.Bg3 h5 15.h3 a6 16.Bd3 h4 17.Bh2 Nxd3+ 18.cxd3 Nf4 19.Qf3 Qe5+ 20.Kd2 g5 21.Rhc1 Bg7 22.Rab1 Qf5 23.b5 Bxc3+ 24.Rxc3 axb5 25.Rxb5 is equal (Galdunt-Zelcic, Op, Graz, 2001).

11.gxf3

• White is a pawn to the good.

11...Qc7 12.Bxc6 Nxc6 13.Bd4 a6?!

• 13...Nxe5 14.Bxe5 Qxe5+ 15.Ne2 h5 16.Qd4 Qc7 17.Rd1 is equal.

14.f4 f6?

• Black is already in trouble. After this, he's sunk.
• 14...Be7 15.Rg1 Rhg8 16.Qd3 g5 17.0-0-0 Nxd4 18.Qxd4 gives White a healthy advantage in space.

BLACK: Yu Shaoteng
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Wang Hao
Position after 14...f7f6

15.exf6!

• White takes advantage of Black's miscalculation and sets off a series of exchanges that highlight his material advantage.

15...Qxf4 16.fxg7 Bxg7 17.Bxg7 Rhg8 18.Qd2?

• The text is passive.
• Better is the aggressive 18.Ne2 Qe4 19.Rg1 Rd7 20.Qd3 Qxd3 21.cxd3 Rdxg7 22.Rg3 retaining the pawn.

18...Qf3 19.Rg1

• The game is equal. White is up by a piece, but the pin on the g-file is annoying and he can't castle long at the moment.

19...Rd7

• Black attacks the Bishop a second time.
• Black now has the upper hand in the g-file, since exchanges at g7 would leave Black in command of the file and White's backrank on the kingside unguarded.

20.Qe2

• This move solves some of White's problems.
• 20.Qe3 Qxe3+ 21.fxe3 Rdxg7 22.Kf2 Ne5 is equal.

20...Qf5

• Black could have done worse.20...Qxe2+ 21.Kxe2 Rdxg7 22.Rg3 Rg6 23.Na4 Rg4 24.Rag1 turns the tables in the g-file.

21.0-0-0 Rgxg7

• Black wins back the minor piece.
• If 21...Rdxg7 22.Rg3 Qf6 23.Qe3 then:
• If 23...h6 then after 24.Ne2 Rg5 25.f4 Rg4 26.Rdg1 White still has an extra pawn.
• If 23...Rg4 24.f4 h5 25.Ne2 then:
• 25...h4 26.Rxg4 Rxg4 27.h3 Rg2 28.Nd4 White retains the extra pawn in an active position.
• 25...Kb8 26.Kb1 h4 27.Rxg4 Rxg4 28.Rg1 Rxg1+ 29.Nxg1 White retab gvvins an extra pawn.

BLACK: Yu Shaoteng
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Wang Hao
Position after 21...Rg8g7:B

22.Rg3!?

• The restricted advance of the Rook is an effort to gain control of the g-file.
• 22.Rxg7? Rxg7 simply cedes the open file to Black without compensation.

22...Rdf7?

• If 22...Rxg3 23.fxg3 Qf6 24.Qe3 Ne5 then:
• After 25.Qd4 Qh6+ 26.Kb1 Nc4 Black wins a pawn, equalizing.
• If 25.Na4 Nc4 26.Nb6+ Kc7 27.Qf4+ Qxf4+ 28.gxf4 then:
• 28...Nxb6 29.cxb6+ Kxb6 30.Re1 is equal.
• If 28...Rg7? then 29.Nxc4! dxc4 30.Rd6 wins another pawn.

23.Na4

• White is not looking to end the game with a bang. It will content him to exchange down to an ending with an extra pawn.
• If 23.b5 Qf4+ 24.Kb1 then:
• After 24...Nd4 White wins easily with the excahnge sacrifice 25.Rxd4!! Qxd4 26.Qxe6+ Kd8 27.Qd6+ Rd7 28.Qf8+.
• 24...Nd8 25.bxa6 bxa6 26.Qxa6+ yields a second pawn to White.

23...Rg6

• After 23...Kb8 24.Nb6 Qf6 25.Kb1 Nd4 the excahnge sacrifice still works: 26.Rxd4 Qxd4 27.Qxe6 and White wins.

24.Nb6+ Kc7 25.Rd2 Ne5

• If 25...Qf6 26.Kb1 Kb8 27.Rxg6 hxg6 28.c4 then:
• If 28...d4 29.Qg4 Qf5+ 30.Qxf5 Rxf5 31.b5 White retains the extra pawn.
• 28...Qf5+ 29.Kb2 Qf6+ 30.Ka2 d4 31.b5 White still has the extra pawn.

26.Kb1 Ng4 27.h3 Ne5

• If Black takes the pawn with 27...Nxf2 then 28.Rxg6 hxg6 29.Rxd5 Qe4 30.Qxe4 Nxe4 31.Re5 not only wins back the pawn but wins a second pawn as well.

28.Rxg6 hxg6 29.Qe3 Nd7

• More stubborn is 29...Qe4 30.Qxe4 dxe4 31.Rd6 Re7 32.Kb2 Nf3 33.Na8+, but White still wins.

BLACK: Yu Shaoteng
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Wang Hao
Position after 29...Ne5d7

30.Qg3+!

• Now White needn't drag out the game much longer.

30...Qf4

• If 30...Kd8 31.Nxd7 Rxd7 32.Rd4 e5 33.Rg4 then:
• If 33...Re7 then White wins with 34.Rxg6 Qf7 35.h4 Kc8 36.Qg4+ Kc7 37.Rg8.
• After 33...d4 White wins by 34.Rg5 Qf4 35.Rxe5 Qxg3 36.fxg3.

31.Qxg6 Rf6 32.Qg7 Rf7 33.Qc3 Nxb6

• 33...Nf6 34.Re2 Re7 35.Qe5+ Qxe5 36.Rxe5 White remains up by two pawns.

34.cxb6+ Kd7 35.a4 Qd6 36.a5 Rf4 37.Rd4 Qe5 38.Rxd5+ 1-0

• 38...Qxd5 39.Qc7+ Ke8 40.Qxf4 leaves White three pawns up.
• Grandmaster Yu resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Zhao Xue - Gu Xiaobing, Round 11

WGM Zhao Xue had to win her last round game to jump ahead of Shen Yang for second place.



Zhao Xue
Photo: ChessBase.com


Zhao Xue - Gu Xiaobing
Chinese Championships, Women's Competition, Round 11
Beijing, 8 June 2008

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

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 0-0 5.Nc3 d6 6.Nf3 c5 7.d5 e6 8.0-0 exd5 9.cxd5 Re8

• 9...Na6 10.Nd2 Nc7 11.Nc4 Nfe8 12.a4 b6 13.Qc2 f5 14.b3 Qd7 15.Bf4 h6 16.h4 Ba6 17.Rad1 b5 18.axb5 Nxb5 19.Nxb5 Bxb5 20.e4 Bxc4 21.Qxc4 Rb8 22.Bh3 Rb4 23.Qc2 Nc7 24.Bd2 Rd4 25.h5 Qe8 26.b4 fxe4 27.bxc5 Nxd5 28.cxd6 Kh8 29.Bxh6 Rxd1 30.Bxg7+ Kxg7 31.Rxd1 Qe5 32.Qc5 e3 33.Qxd5 exf2+ 34.Kf1 Qxg3 35.Qg2 Black resigns (Gleizerov-B. Smith, Op, Bad Wiessee, 2001).
• 9...a6 10.a4 Nbd7 11.Nd2 Re8 transposes into the notes for the next move.

10.Bf4

• If 10.Nd2 a6 11.a4 Nbd7 then:
• If 12.h3 Rb8 13.Nc4 then:
• If 13...Nb6 14.Na3 Bd7 15.e4 then:
• If 15...Nc8 16.Qd3 Qc7 17.Be3 then:
• 17...Na7 18.Rfc1 b5 19.b4 c4 20.Qe2 bxa4 21.Nxc4 Nb5 22.Nxb5 Bxb5 23.e5 dxe5 24.Qa2 Bf8 25.Bc5 Bxc5 26.bxc5 Qxc5 27.Nxe5 Qd4 gives Black an extra pawn and an advantage in space (Korchnoi-Franco, Ol, Lucerne, 1982).
• 17...b5 18.axb5 c4 19.Qxc4 Qxc4 20.Nxc4 axb5 21.Nd2 b4 22.Ne2 Bb5 23.Rfe1 Bd3 24.Nd4 leaves White with an extra pawn (Mikhalevski-Palkovi, Euro ChT, Panormo, 2001).
• 15...Qc7 16.Be3 Nxa4 17.Nxa4 Nxe4 18.Nc2 b5 19.Nc3 Nxc3 20.bxc3 a5 21.Bd2 b4 22.Qf3 Bf5 is equal (Pantsulaia-Bagaturov, Op, Batumi, 2001).
• If 13...Ne5 14.Na3 Nh5 then:
• 15.e4 Rf8 16.Kh2 f5 17.f4 b5 18.axb5 axb5 19.Naxb5 fxe4 20.Na7 Nf3+ 21.Bxf3 exf3 22.Nxc8 Qxc8 23.Rxf3 Bd4 24.Qf1 Qb7 25.Ra6 Rbe8 26.Rxd6 Qb3 27.Re6 Rxe6 28.dxe6 Qxe6 29.Qe2 Qf7 30.Rf1 Re8 31.Qf3 Qb3 32.g4 Nxf4 33.Kh1 g5 34.Bxf4 gxf4 35.Qxf4 draw (Brunner-Marzolo, Op, Nancy, 2007).
• 15...Bd7 16.a5 Qxa5 17.g4 Nf6 18.g5 Nh5 19.f4 Nc4 20.Nxc4 Qxa1 21.Nxd6 Bxc3 22.bxc3 Qxc3 23.Nxe8 Rxe8 24.Rf3 Qd4+ 25.Qxd4 cxd4 26.Rd3 Rc8 27.Bd2 a5 28.Bf3 a4 29.Bg4 f5 30.gxf6 Nxf6 is equal (Avrukh-Kamsky, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2007).
• If 12.Nc4 Ne5 13.Nxe5 Rxe5 then:
• 14.Bf4 Re8 15.Qc2 Nh5 16.Bd2 Bd7 17.a5 b5 18.axb6 Qxb6 19.Ra2 Bb5 20.Bf3 Nf6 21.Rfa1 Bc4 is equal (Golichenko-Edouard, Euro Youth Ch, Herceg Novi, 2006).
• 14.e4 Re8 15.h3 Rb8 16.Qd3 Nd7 17.Be3 f5 18.Qc2 Nf6 19.exf5 Bxf5 20.Qd2 Ne4 21.Nxe4 Bxe4 22.Rfe1 draw (Kempinski-Istratescu, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).

10...b6

• 10...a6 11.a4 Ne4 12.Nxe4 Rxe4 13.Nd2 Rb4 14.Ne4 h6 15.Bd2 Rxb2 16.Qc1 Rxd2 17.Qxd2 f5 18.Nc3 Qa5 19.Rac1 b5 20.Qf4 b4 21.Qxd6 bxc3 22.Qxg6 Bd7 23.e4 Qxa4 24.e5 Qg4 25.Qb6 Bb5 26.Qd8+ Kh7 27.Rfe1 Qg5 28.Qc8 Nc6 29.Qxa8 Nxe5 30.f4 Nd3 31.fxg5 draw (Savon-Tal, Dniepropetrovsk, 1970).

11.Re1!?

• 11.Ng5 Na6 12.Nge4 Nxe4 13.Nxe4 Bf8 14.Qd2 Nc7 15.Bg5 Be7 16.Bxe7 draw (Sosonko-Andersson, IT, Tilburg, 1977).

11...a6

• Black prepares a queenside advance. . .

12.a4

• . . . and White parries.
• The game is equal.

12...Nh5!?

• There is no refutation to this move, but it seems to unnecessarily remove the Knight from the struggle for the center.
• 12...Bf5 13.Nh4 Bg4 14.h3 Bc8 15.e4 Ra7 16.Nf3 Rae7 is equal
• 12...Ne4 13.Nxe4 Rxe4 14.Qd2 Bg4 15.Ng5 Rb4 16.Ra2 is equal

13.Bg5 Qc7 14.h3

• 14.e4 Bb7 15.a5 b5 16.Qc2 Nf6 17.Bf4 is equal

14...Nd7 15.Rc1

• If 15.e4 c4 16.a5 Rb8 17.axb6 Qxb6 then:
• 18.Na4 Qb3 19.Qxb3 Rxb3 20.Nd2 Rb4 is equal
• If 18.Qa4 then:
• 18...Qb3 19.Nd2 Qxa4 20.Rxa4 Rxb2 21.Rxc4 Ne5 22.Nd1 is equal
• If 18...Nxg3? 19.Nd2! Qxb2 20.Rab1 then:
• 20...Bxc3 21.Rxb2 Rxb2 22.fxg3 Bxd2 23.Bxd2 Rxd2 24.Qxc4 gives White more mobility.
• 20...Qxc3 21.Rxb8 h6 22.Rxc8 Rxc8 23.Qxd7 Rb8 24.Be3 gives White a Bishop for two pawns.

15...b5 16.b3 Rb8 17.e4

• The position is equal.
• 17.axb5 axb5 18.e4 b4 19.Na4 Nhf6 20.Nd2 h6 21.Be3 is equal

17...h6 18.Bd2 Qb6

• If 18...b4 19.Na2 Qd8 20.Qc2 then:
• 20...Bb7 21.g4 Nhf6 22.g5 hxg5 23.Bxg5 Qe7 24.Nd2 is equal.
• 20...Qe7 21.Be3 Nhf6 22.Nd2 Ne5 23.f4 Ned7 24.Nc4 gives White the advantage in space.

19.Bf1

• 19.Qc2 Nhf6 20.Bf4 b4 21.Na2 g5 22.Bd2 Qd8 is equal.

19...c4?!

• If 19...b4 then:
• 20.Nb1 Qd8 21.Qc2 Qe7 22.Be3 Nhf6 23.Nbd2 is equal.
• If 20.Na2?! Bb7 then:
• 21.Qc2 Re7 22.Bd3 Rbe8 23.g4 Nhf6 24.Bf4 is slightly better for Black.
• 21.Bd3 Nhf6 22.Rc4 Re7 23.Qb1 Rbe8 is better for Black.

20.b4 Ne5

• After 20...Nhf6 21.Be3 Qb7 22.axb5 axb5 23.Qc2 Nf8 24.Ra1 White has more mobility.

21.Nxe5

• 21.a5 Qd8 22.Nxe5 Rxe5 23.Be3 Nf6 24.Bg2 keeps White's center defended and place the dark bound Bishop at a flexible post.

21...Rxe5 22.Be3 Qd8 23.Qd2 bxa4

• 23...Nf6 24.Bf4 Re7 25.Bxh6 Bxh6 26.Qxh6 gives White an extra pawn.

BLACK: Gu Xiaobing
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Zhao Xue
Position after 23...ba4:p

24.Bd4! Re7 25.Bxg7 Kxg7?

• The King will be much happier off the long diagonal.
• 25...Nxg7 26.Qxh6 Rxb4 27.Na2 Rb2 28.Bxc4 Re5 29.Nc3 gives White only a slight advantage.

26.Nxa4 Qe8

• This allows the Knight to penetrate on b6.
• Little better is 26...f5 27.exf5 Bxf5 28.g4 Bd7 29.gxh5 Bxa4 30.Bxc4 breaks down to a won game for White.

27.Nb6!

• White finds the most energetic move.
• Much inferior is 27.Qc3+ Nf6 28.Nb2 Rxe4 29.Nxc4 Rxe1 30.Rxe1 Qd7 31.Na5 when has the better of it, but is still a ways to winning.

27...Nf6

• Black is lost. This shortens the agony.
• 27...Qd8 28.Nxc4 Nf6 29.Bg2 Bb7 30.Qf4 reduces Black to passivity.
• 27...Rxb6 loses the exchange to 28.Qd4+! (see note to Black's 25th move).

28.Nxc4 Nxe4

• 28...Qd7 29.Bg2 Bb7 30.Qf4 Rd8 31.Kh2 Ree8 provides more stubborn resistance.

BLACK: Gu Xiaobing
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Zhao Xue
Position after 28...Nf6e4:p

29.Rxe4!!

• The exchange sacrifice is the fastest way home.

29...Rxe4 30.Nxd6

• Winning back the exchange with a pawn.

30...Qe5 31.Nxe4 Qxe4 32.Qc3+ Kg8 33.Re1 1-0

• Black must surrender the Queen, since 33...Qxd5 34.Re8+ Kh7 35.Qh8# definitely doesn't work.
• WGM Gu resigns.