The Jack Rabbit Chess Report: Chess Is Cool -- Alexandra Kosteniuk Wins Women's Title

[Jack Rabbit]

Alexandra Kostantinovna Kosteniuk
Women's World Champion, 2008
ChessBase.com

Chess Is Cool: Alexandra Kosteniuk Wins Women's World Championship



Grandmaster Alexandra Kosteniuk of Russia is the new women's world chess champion.

Alexandra Kostantinovna defeated fourteen-year-old prodigy Hou Yifan of China in the final match of the knock out tournament in Nalchik, Russia on Wednesday, 2½-1½. The new champion won the first game of the match and drew the remaining three. She could have won the final game as well, but pounced on an opportunity to force a draw by pertetual check when it arose since she only need to avoid loss to take the title.

Alexandra Kostantinovna, 24. played once before in the final match for the women's title. When she was a teen-age prodigy in 2001, she lost to Zhu Chen, then of China and now of Qatar.

In addition to being the new women's champion, Alexandra Konstantinovna also won the Chess960 (FischerRandom) women's title in 2006 in Mainz and defended her title earlier this year. In 2005 she won the Russian women's championship.

Alexandra Kostantinovna is among the most popular chess players on the international circuit. Her podcasts, titled Chess Is Cool, have a loyal following. In addition to being a full chess grandmaster, the photogenic champion populaizes the game by fashion modeling.

In private life, she is married to American IM and Swiss native Diego Garces, who is of Colombian descent. The couple live in Florida and have a 16-month-old daughter.


from the website of


Timofeev Takes Russian Higher League



Grandmaster grandmaster Artyom Timofeev won the Russian Higher League Tournament in Novokuznetsk in central Siberia with 8 points out of a possible 11.

The Higher League is a qualifying event for the Russian National Championship to be held this year in October.

Grandmasters Nakita Vitiugov and Ernesto Inarkiev finished second with 7½ points each.

It is the second major achievement this year for Timofeev, who won the Moscow Open in February.

Jan Werle Comes From Behind to Win in Liverpool


My Space Graphics

Dutch grandmaster Jan Werle (pronounced VERL) took a clear lead with a Black victory over Czech GM Viktor Laznicka in the penultimate round and hung on to win the ten-round European Union Open in Liverpool which concluded Thursday.

Mh. Werle scored 8 points in ten rounds.

Laznicka tied for second place with English grandmasters Mickey Adams and Nigel Short with 7½ points each. Adams and Laznicka were trading the lead for most of the tournament, with Werle catching them after seven rounds when the three were tied for the lead.

Mr. Short's chances were hurt in the second round when his cell beeped warning of a low battery, causing him to forfeit his game to Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant of Scotland. Short had remembered to turn the sound of his phone off, but the rules are designed to discourage cell phones from being on the floor and punish a player whose cell phone makes any noise whatsoever.


China Leads Russia in Annual Team Match



China leads the annual team match with Russia by a combined score of 23-17 after four rounds in Ningpo, China.

In today's fourth round, which started with the overall score knotted at 15-15, the Chinese men scored 4½ points in five games while the Chines women scored 3½.

Former girls' junior champion Shen Yang has scored 3½ points in four rounds for the Cinese women to all players in individual point scoring.


SPICE Cup begins in Lubbock



The second annual SPICE Cup Tournament began Friday on the campus of the Texas Institute of Technology in Lubbock, Texas.

The tournament is a round robin among ten players. The participants, all grandmasters, are: Alex Onischuk, Julio Bacerra, Greg Kaidanov, Var Akobian and Eugene Perelshteyn, all of the United States; Pentala Harikrishna (India); Hannes Stefansson (Iceland); Leonid Kritz (Germany); Kemil Miton (Poland); and Victor Mikhalevski (Israel).

After two rounds, Akobian, Kritz and Mikhalevski are tied for first with 1½ points each.

The third round begins today at 2 pm CDT and will be braodcast on the Monroi webstite. Registration is required but free.

The event is sponsored by the Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence (SPICE).



Calendar

Commonwealth Chess Championship, Nagpur, Maharashtra (India) 27 Septemper-6 October.

Anand-Kramnik World Championship Match, Bonn 14 October-2 November. 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. Eight Rounds.

FIDE Grand Prix, Doha 13-29 December.

Corus Chess Tournament, Wijk aan Zee 16 January-1 February 2009.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. This week's games

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 to move
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[Jack Rabbit]

2. Hou - Kosteniuk, Final Match, Nalchik

World Women's Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk
Photo: Website of the 2008 Women's World Chess Championship


Hou Yifan - Alexandra Kosteniuk
FIDE Knock Out Women's Championship, Final Match/Game 1
Nalchik, 14 September 2008

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Anti-Marshall Line

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.a3

• This is an unusual anti-Marshall line. More common are 8.a4, 8.h3 or8.d4. If White shows no fear of the Marshall Gambit, he can accept it with 8.c3.

8...d6 9.c3 Bg4

• If 9...Be6 10.d4 Bxb3 11.Qxb3 Qb8 then:
• 12.h3 Na5 13.Qc2 Nd7 14.Nbd2 c5 15.b4 Nb7 16.Bb2 Bf6 17.Nf1 Nd8 18.Ne3 Ne6 19.Nd5 gives White more freedom (Minic-Matanovic, IT, Sjopje, 1968).
• 12.Nbd2 Qb6 13.d5 Na5 14.Qd1 c5 15.b4 Nb7 16.Rb1 Rfc8 17.Nf1 a5 18.Qe2 axb4 19.axb4 is equal (Suetin-Keres, Soviet Ch, Tallinn, 1965).
• 9...Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 Qc7 12.b4 cxb4 13.cxb4 Nc4 14.Nbd2 Bg4 15.Nxc4 bxc4 16.Re3 Nd7 17.Rb1 exd4 18.Qxd4 Ne5 19.Nxe5 dxe5 20.Qc3 Bg5 21.Rg3 Bxc1 22.Rxc1 is equal (Minic-Gligoric, Yugoslav Ch, Titograd, 1965).

10.d3!?

• 10.h3 Bh5 11.d3 Na5 12.Bc2 c5 13.Nbd2 Qc7 14.Nf1 Rad8 15.Ng3 Bg6 16.Nh4 d5 17.Qe2 dxe4 18.dxe4 c4 19.Nhf5 Bc5 20.Bg5 Qb6 is equal (Suetin-Stoinev, Novi Sad, 1989).

10...Na5

• The game is equal.
• 10...Qd7 11.Nbd2 Na5 12.Ba2 c5 13.h3 is equal.

11.Bc2 c5 12.h3 Bd7

• 12...Bh5 13.g4 Bg6 14.Nh4 Nc6 15.Nxg6 fxg6 16.Bb3+ remains equal.

13.d4 Qc7

• 13...cxd4 14.cxd4 Qc7 15.Bd2 Rac8 16.Bxa5 Qxa5 remains equal.

14.d5

• 14.b4 Nc6 15.d5 Na7 16.Bb2 a5 17.Nbd2 a4 remains equal.

14...c4 15.Nbd2

• 15.Bg5 Nb7 16.Nbd2 Nc5 17.Qe2 Bc8 remains equal.

15...Nb7 16.Nf1 Nc5

• 16...Rab8 17.Be3 Nc5 18.Ng3 Bc8 19.Qe2 remains equal.

17.g4!?

• If 17.Ng3 Bc8 18.Be3 Bd8 19.Nd2 then:
• 19...Rb8 20.Qf3 Re8 21.Nf5 remains equal.
• 19...Bb7 20.Qf3 Nfd7 21.Nf5 gives White a small advantage in space.

17...h5

• 17...Bd8 18.Ng3 Bc8 19.Be3 Bb7 is equal.

18.N3h2

• 18.Ng3 hxg4 19.hxg4 Bxg4 20.Kg2 Nh7 21.Rh1 Ng5 gives Black an extra pawn.

18...hxg4

• If 18...Nh7 19.gxh5 f5 then:
• 20.exf5 Bxf5 21.Bxf5 Rxf5 22.h6 Nd3 gives Black a more active game.
• 20.h6 Nxe4 21.Bxe4 fxe4 22.Rxe4 Bxh3 gives Black more freedom.

19.hxg4 Qc8 20.f3?!

• If 20.g5 Nh7 21.Qh5 Be8 22.Qh4 f6 then:
• 23.gxf6 Nxf6 24.Bg5 Bg6 25.Nd2 Qd8 26.Bxf6 Rxf6 gives Black the advantage in space.
• 23.Nf3 fxg5 24.Qg3 g4 25.Nh4 Bxh4 26.Qxh4 Bg6 gives Black an extra pawn.

20...Nh7 21.Ng3
BLACK: Alexandra Kostenouk
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WHITE: Hou Yifan
Position after 21...Nf1g3

21...Bg5!

• White trades her bad Bishop for White's good one.

22.Nf5

• If 22.Bxg5 Nxg5 23.Kg2 Qd8 24.Rh1 Rb8 is equal.

22...Qd8 23.Kg2

• If 23.Bxg5 then:
• If 23...Nxg5 24.Kg2 Qf6 25.f4 exf4 26.Qd4 then:
• 26...Bxf5 27.Qxf6 Bxe4+ 28.Rxe4 gxf6 29.Rxf4 Rae8 allows Black to penetrate on the e-file.
• 26...Qxd4 27.Ne7+ Kh8 28.cxd4 Rfe8 29.dxc5 Rxe7 30.cxd6 gives White more freedom.
• 23...Qxg5 24.Qc1 Bxf5 25.Qxg5 Nxg5 26.gxf5 Nh3+ gives Black more freedom.

23...g6 24.Ng3

• 24.Ne3 Bf4 25.Rh1 Qf6 26.Nef1 Bxc1 27.Qxc1 Ng5 Black has more freedom

24...Kg7 25.Rh1 Rh8

• 25...Qf6 26.Kf2 Rh8 27.Ke2 Bxc1 28.Qxc1 Ng5 Black has more freedom

26.Nhf1 Qf6

• 26...Bxc1 27.Qxc1 Qf6 28.Qh6+ Kg8 29.Nd2 is equal.

27.Be3

• If 27.Ne3 Rab8 28.Qe1 a5 then:
• 29.Kf1 Qxf3+ 30.Qf2 Qxf2+ 31.Kxf2 Nf6 gives Black an extra pawn and a strong position.
• 29.Qf2 Bf4 30.Ne2 Ng5 31.Nxf4 Rxh1 32.Kxh1 Rh8+ 33.Kg2 exf4 leaves Black with a much more active game.

27...Bxe3 28.Nxe3 Ng5 29.Qe2

• 29.Nef1 Rxh1 30.Nxh1 Rh8 31.Nf2 Kf8 Black is more active.

29...Rag8 30.Raf1 Qf4 31.Rxh8?!

• 31.Qf2 Kf8 32.a4 Ke8 33.axb5 Rxh1 34.Rxh1 axb5 leaves Black more active.

31...Rxh8 32.Rh1

• If 32.Nd1 Qc1 33.Rf2 Nh3 34.Qd2 then:
• After 34...Qa1 35.Rf1 Nf4+ 36.Kg1 Ncd3 Black has more mobility.
• After 34...Qxd2 35.Rxd2 Nf4+ 36.Kf2 Rh2+ Black remains more active.

32...Rxh1 33.Nxh1 Nd3

• Black remains more active after 33...Bc8 34.Ng3 Kf8 35.a4 Ke8.

34.Bxd3 cxd3 35.Qf2

• If 35.Qxd3 Qxf3+ 36.Kg1 Bxg4 then:
• 37.Nf2 Bh3 38.Nf5+ gxf5 39.Qxf3 Nxf3+ leaves Black a piece to the good.
• 37.c4 Nh3+ 38.Kh2 Nf4 39.Nf5+ gxf5 leaves Black a piece up.

35...d2!

• This move nails down the game.

36.Ng3

• If 36.Qxd2 Qxf3+ 37.Kg1 Bxg4 38.Qe1 Nxe4 then:
• 39.a4 bxa4 40.c4 f5 41.c5 Bh3 42.Kh2 f4 gives Balck three extra pawns.
• 39.c4 bxc4 40.Nxc4 Qd3 41.Ne3 Ng5 42.Nf2 Nf3+ gives Black two extra pawns.

BLACK: Alexandra Kostenouk
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WHITE: Hou Yifan
Position after 36.Nh1g3

36...Nxf3!!

• The Knight sacrifice allows the pawn to Queen, completely disrupting White's defense.

37.Qxf3 Bxg4 38.Qf2

• If 38.Qxf4 then after 38...exf4 39.Ngf1 fxe3 40.Nxe3 f5 41.exf5 gxf5 White must either surrender the Knight or allow the pawn to queen.

38...d1Q 39.Nxd1 Bxd1 40.Qe1

• No better is 40.Qxf4 exf4 41.Nh1 g5 42.Nf2 Bc2 43.e5 dxe5 44.d6 Bf5.

40...Bf3+ 41.Kg1

• If 41.Kf1 Bxe4+ 42.Kg1 Bxd5 then:
• If 43.Kh2 then 43...f5 44.Kg1 Qg4 45.Qf2 f4 wins the Knight.
• If 43.Qf2 Qc1+ 44.Kh2 f5 then:
• After 45.Qa7+ Kf6 46.Qf2 Qh6+ 47.Kg1 Qg5 48.b4 f4 Black wins the Knight.
• If 45.Qe2 then 45...Qh6+ 46.Kg1 Qg5 47.Qf2 f4 wins a piece.

41...f5 42.exf5 gxf5 43.Qf2 Kg6 44.b3

• 44.Nf1 Qg5+ 45.Qg3 Qxg3+ 46.Nxg3 f4 47.Kf2 Bxd5 leaves Black two pawns to the good.

44...e4 45.c4 bxc4 46.bxc4 Qg5 47.c5 f4 48.cxd6 fxg3 0-1

• White cannot recover the piece.
• WGM Hou resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Topalov - Carlsen, Grand Prix Final, Bilbao

Veselin Topalov
Photo: ChessBase.com (Spanish Language)


Veselin Topalov - Magnus Carlsen
Grand Slam Chess Final, Round 8
Bilbao, 10 September 2008

Open Sicilian Game: Rat Dragon Defense (Yugoslav Opening)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 Nc6

• If 7...0-0 8.Qd2 Bd7 9.0-0-0 Nc6 10.Bc4 then:
• If 10...Rc8 11.Bb3 Ne5 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 gives White a theoretical extra pawn in an asymmetical material balance (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:
• 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).
• 12...Re8 13.h4 h5 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 10...Qa5 11.Bb3 Rfc8 12.h4 Ne5 13.Kb1 then:
• 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).
• 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).

8.Qd2 0-0 9.Bc4 Bd7

• If 9...Nxd4 10.Bxd4 Be6 11.Bb3 Qa5 12.0-0-0 then:
• If 12...b5 13.Kb1 b4 14.Nd5 Bxd5 15.Bxd5 then:
• 15...Rac8 16.Bb3 Rc7 17.h4 Qb5 18.h5 Rfc8 19.hxg6 hxg6 20.g4 a5 21.g5 gives White the advantage in space (Fischer-Larsen, Interz, Portoroz, 1958).
• 15...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).
• If 9...Nd7 10.0-0-0 Nb6 11.Bb3 Na5 12.Qd3 then:
• 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 Bxc3 27.Qxc3 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).

10.0-0-0

• 10.Bb3 then:
• If 10...Rc8 11.h4 h5 12.0-0-0 Ne5 then:
• 13.Bg5 Rc5 14.Kb1 Re8 15.g4 hxg4 16.h5 Nxh5 17.Rxh5 gxh5 gives Black a winning position (Radjabov-Carlsen, Grand Prix, Baku, 2008).
• If 13.Bh6 Bxh6 14.Qxh6 Rxc3 15.bxc3 then:
• 15...Qc7 16.Kb1 Rc8 17.g4 a5 18.gxh5 a4 19.Bd5 Nxd5 20.exd5 Qxc3 21.hxg6 fxg6 22.Rhg1 Bf5 23.Nxf5 Qxc2+ draw (Khalifman-Savchenko, Soviet Ch HL, Simferopol, 1988).
• 15...Qa5 16.Kb1 Rc8 17.g4 Nc4 18.gxh5 Qxc3 19.Bxc4 Rxc4 20.Rd3 Qb4+ 21.Nb3 Nxh5 22.Qg5 Nf6 23.Rhd1 Rc5 24.Qe3 a5 25.Qe1 Qb6 26.Kc1 Re5 is unclear: White has the exchange, but Black has a pawn and extra space in return (Schiller-Herbst, IT, Providence, 1986).
• If 10...Nxd4 11.Bxd4 b5 then:
• 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 Rd8 23.Ba3 e4 24.0-0 draw (Liberzon-Adorjan, Team Match, Moscow, 1971).
• 12.a4 b4 13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.exd5 Qb6 16.0-0-0 Qa5 17.h4 Bxa4 18.Kb1 Bd7 19.h5 Rh8 20.Rde1 Rae8 21.Rh4 Bf5 22.h6+ Kf8 23.Rxb4 f6 24.Ba4 Kf7 25.Bxe8+ Kxe8 26.g4 gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Tairova-Malgina, Op, Moscow, 2008).
• 12.0-0 a5 13.a4 b4 14.Nd5 Nxd5 15.exd5 Bxd4+ 16.Qxd4 Rc8 17.Rfe1 Re8 18.Re2 e5 19.dxe6 Bxe6 20.Rae1 Qd7 21.Qe3 Bxb3 22.Qxe8+ Rxe8 23.Rxe8+ Kg7 24.cxb3 Qc6 25.R8e3 Qc5 gives Black's Queen more maneuverability than than White's Rooks (Rogulj-Velimirovic, Borovo, 1980).

10...Rc8 11.Bb3 Ne5

• If 11...Nxd4 12.Bxd4 b5 13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 then:
• 15.exd5 a5 16.a3 b4 17.axb4 axb4 18.Qxb4 Kg8 19.Rhe1 Re8 20.Rd4 Rc5 21.Kd1 Qa8 22.Qd2 Qa1+ 23.Qc1 Qa6 24.Qh6 Qa1+ 25.Qc1 Qa6 26.Qh6 Qa1+ draw (Zivkovic-T. L. Petrosian, Euro ChT, Fügen, 2006).
• 15.Bxd5 Qb6 16.h4 h6 17.h5 g5 18.f4 f6 is equal (Shirov-Topalov, Op, Corsica, 2003).

12.Kb1 a6

• If 12...Nc4 13.Bxc4 Rxc4 then:
• If 14.g4 b5 15.b3 Rc8 16.Ndxb5 Qa5 17.a4 a6 then:
• If 18.Nd5 Qxd2 19.Nxe7+ Kh8 20.Rxd2 Rce8 21.Nxg6+ fxg6 22.Nxd6 then:
• 22...Re6 23.Nb7 Bc8 24.Nc5 Rc6 25.h3 g5 26.Rhd1 Ng8 27.Rf2 Rh6 28.Rh1 Rhf6 29.Rhf1 Rh6 30.Rh1 Rhf6 31.Rhf1 draw (Topalov-Tiviakov, Rubinstein Mem, Polanica Zdroj, 1995).
• 23.Bc5 Bc6 24.Nc4 Rb8 25.Rd6 Rxd6 26.Bxd6 Rd8 27.Be7 Rb8 28.Rd1 Bxa4 29.Bd6 gives White three pawns for a Bishop and a more active position (Bologan-Fedorov, IT, Calcutta, 1999).
• 18...Nxd5 19.Qxa5 Nxe3 20.Nc7 Rb8 21.Nd5 Nc4 22.Qc7 Na3+ 23.Ka2 Black resigns (Motylev-Solovjov, Geller Mem, Moscow, 1999).
• If 14...Qb8 15.h4 b5 16.h5 Rfc8 17.hxg6 fxg6 18.Nd5 Nxd5 19.exd5 Qb7 20.Qh2 h6 21.Bxh6 Rxd4 22.Rde1 Bf5 23.Bxg7 Kxg7 24.Qh7+ Kf6 25.gxf5 gxf5 26.Re6+ Black resigns as White mates on the next move (Al Sayed-Somev, Op, Dubai, 2001).

13.h4

• 13.Rhe1 b5 14.Bh6 Bxh6 15.Qxh6 Rxc3 16.bxc3 a5 17.f4 Neg4 18.Qh4 a4 19.Bxf7+ Rxf7 20.e5 Nd5 21.e6 Nxc3+ 22.Kc1 Bxe6 23.Nxe6 Qa5 24.Qxg4 Nxa2+ 25.Kb2 Qc3+ 26.Kxa2 Qxc2+ 27.Ka1 Qc3+ 28.Kb1 Qb3+ 29.Ka1 Qc3+ draw (Ivanchuk-Carlsen, Grand Prix Rd 2, Bilbao, 2008).

13...h5 14.g4 hxg4 15.h5 Nxh5 16.Rdg1

• 16.Bh6 e6 17.Rdg1 Qf6 18.fxg4 Bxh6 19.Qxh6 Qg7 20.Qe3 Nf6 21.g5 Nh5 is equal (Domínguez-Carlsen, IT, Biel, 2008).

16...Rc5!?

• 16...Qa5 17.Bh6 Bf6 18.fxg4 Bxg4 19.Bxf8 Kxf8 20.Qe3 Rxc3 21.Qxc3 Qxc3 22.bxc3 e6 23.Bc4 Nxc4 24.Rxg4 Be5 25.Rg2 b5 gives Black the advantage in space (Karjakin-Radjabov, Grand Prix, Sochi, 2008).

17.Bh6 Kh7 18.Bxg7 Kxg7

• Black has two extra pawns, but White has more space.

19.f4

• 19.Qe3 Nxf3 20.Nxf3 gxf3 21.Nd5 Rh8 22.Qxf3 Nf6 is equal.

19...Nc4 20.Bxc4 Rxc4 21.f5 e5!

• In spite of being two pawns to the good, Black does not wish to open the center.
• The game is equal.

22.Nde2

• If 22.fxe6 fxe6 23.Nb3 Rc6 then:
• 24.Ne2 Nf6 25.Ng3 Kf7 26.Na5 Rc7 is equal.
• After 24.Rxg4? Nf6 25.Rhg1! Nxg4 26.Rxg4 Rf1+ Black wins.

22...Rh8 23.b3

• 23.Qd3? Qc7 24.Nd5 Qc6 25.Rh4 Rxe4 26.f6+ Nxf6 27.Nxf6 Rxe2 gives Black four extra pawns.

23...Rc6 24.Rxg4 Nf6 25.Rgg1

• If 25.Rxh8?! Qxh8 26.Rg1 Qh6 27.Qd1 Qe3 28.fxg6 then:
• After 28...fxg6 29.Rg3 Qf2 30.Qd3 Bg4 Black is much more active.
• After 28...Rxc3 29.Nxc3 Qxc3 30.Qxd6 Qd4 31.Qxd4 exd4 32.gxf7+ Kxf7 Black has a small advantage.

25...Rxh1?!

• Black does better to keep the tension on the kingsiude and play on the opposite wing.
• 25...b5 26.a3 a5 27.Ng3 b4 28.axb4 axb4 29.Na2 remains equal.

26.Rxh1 Ng4 27.Ng3 Kg8

• If 27...d5? then after 28.Nxd5 Rd6 29.Qg2 Qg5 30.Qh3 gives White a dangerous kingside attack.

BLACK: Magnus Carlsen
!""""""""#
$ + W +l+%
$+o+v+o+ %
$o+tO +o+%
$+ + Op+ %
$ + +p+m+%
$+pN + N %
$p+pQ + +%
$+k+ + +r%
/(((((((()
WHITE: Veselin Topalov
Position after 27...Kg7g8

28.Nd5!

• The text puts Black's center under restraint.

28...Rc5 29.Ne3

• 29.Qg2 Rxd5 30.exd5 gxf5 31.Qg1 Qc8 32.Rh5 has White targeting Black's weak central pawns.

29...Nxe3

• Black is behind in space, therefore the exchange is well advised.
• If 29...Qg5? then after 30.Qxd6 Nf2 31.Rh8+ Kxh8 32.Qf8+ White wins.

30.Qxe3 Qf6 31.Qh6?!

• 31.Rh6 Qg7 32.Qg5 f6 33.Qxg6 Qxg6 34.Rxg6+ Kf7 35.Nh5 gives White a strong attack.

31...Qg7!

• Any other move loses quickly.

32.Qg5 f6

BLACK: Magnus Carlsen
!""""""""#
$ + + +k+%
$+o+v+ W %
$o+ O Oo+%
$+ T OpQ %
$ + +p+ +%
$+p+ + N %
$p+p+ + +%
$+k+ + +r%
/(((((((()
WHITE: Veselin Topalov
Position after 32...f7f6

33.Qd2!?

• White sacrifices a second pawn,
• If 33.Qxg6? then 33...Qxg6 34.fxg6 Rc3 35.Rg1 Rf3 equalizes.

33...Rc6 34.Kb2?!

• White's King is no safer here than at b1.
• Better is the immediate 34.Qa5 when 34...b6 35.Qxa6 Qf7 36.fxg6 Qxg6 37.Qb7 leaves White with the more active position.

34...gxf5 35.Qa5 Qe7

• 35...b6 then 36.Qd5+ Kf8 37.Nxf5 Qg8 38.Qxg8+ Kxg8 39.Ne7+ wins the exchange.
• 35...Qxg3 loses to 36.Qd8+ Kf7 37.Rh7+ Ke6 38.Qxd7#.

36.Qd5+ Be6

• If 36...Qe6 then White wins after 37.Qd2 Qf7 38.Qh2 Kf8 39.Qh8+ Ke7 40.Rh7.

37.Qd1 Qg7?!

• 37...fxe4 38.Nxe4 Bf5 39.Qf3 Qe6 40.Qg2+ Kf7 41.c4 Bg6 keeps Black up by two pawns.

38.exf5 Bf7

• If 38...Bd7 39.Rg1 Qh8 40.Ne4+ then:
• If 40...Kf8 41.Rh1 Qg7 42.Nxd6 b5 43.Qd2 Ke7 44.Rd1 leaves White strong up the middle and threatens 45.Nxb5 followed by 46.Qxd7.
• 40...Kf7 41.Rh1 Qg7 42.Nxd6+ Ke7 43.Nxb7 leaves White a pawn to the good.

39.Ne4 Kf8 40.Nxd6 Ke7

• The game is now beyond hope.
• Black gets more stubborn resistance from 40...Bg8 41.Qd2 Qd7 42.Qh6+ Qg7 43.Qxg7+ Kxg7 44.Nxb7.

41.Nxb7!

• 41.Nxf7! Qxf7 42.Rh8 Rd6 43.Qh1 Qd5 44.Qh7+.

41...Qg8

• White was threatening 42.Qd8#. Black has no way to get the pawn back.

42.Qd2 Rb6 43.Rd1 Qc8

• If 43...Rxb7 then 44.Qd6+ Ke8 45.Qd8#.

44.Nd6 Qd7 45.Nxf7 Qxd2 46.Rxd2 Kxf7 47.c4 Ke7 48.Kc3 1-0

• After 48...Rb8 49.c5 Rg8 50.Kb4 Rb8+ 51.Ka4 Rc8 52.b4 White wins.
• Magnus resigns.

[nickgutierrez]

6. What do you think of how the scoring system played itself out?

Anand finishing last was a shock, but that's not really related to the system.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Neither was anything else

I don't think there was a single game where one of the players went for a win (and the extra point} rather than settle for a draw.

The standings would have been exactly the same in the usual system as the were in this.

An elite tournament like Bilbao is probably not a good one to experiment with this kind of scoring system. Players at this level are very happy to draw (perhaps better read not to lose). Maybe in a strong Swiss system tournament it would work better.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Timofeev - Landa, Russian Higher League, Novokuznetsk

Artyom Timofeev
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Artyom Timofeev - Konstantin Landa
Russian Championship Higher League, Round 6
Novokuznetsk, 8 September 2008

Spanish Petit Royal Game: Gothic Defense (Berlin Defense)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Nc3

• If 9.Rd1+ Ke8 10.Nc3 h6 11.h3 then:
• If 11...Ne7 12.Ne2 Ng6 13.b3 then:
• 13...a5 14.a4 Bf5 15.Nfd4 Bd7 16.Ng3 h5 17.Ne4 Be7 18.Re1 Kf8 19.Ng5 Kg8 20.Ndf3 Nf8 21.Be3 gives White Better development and more space (Wang Zili-Wu Wenjin, Zonal Trmt, HeiBei, 2001).
• 13...Bf5 14.Ned4 Bd7 15.Re1 Bb4 16.Bd2 Bxd2 17.Nxd2 c5 18.Ne2 b6 is equal (Velimirovic-Hracek, Yugoslav ChT, Herceg Novi, 2001).
• 11...a5 12.Ne2 c5 13.Nc3 Be6 14.Nd5 Rc8 15.c4 Be7 16.b3 c6 17.Nb6 Rd8 18.Bd2 Nd4 19.Nxd4 Rxd4 20.Be3 is equal (Boudre-Timoshchenko, Op, Metz, 2002).

9...Ke8

• If 9...Ne7 10.h3 then:
• If 10...Ng6 then:
• If 11.Ne4 h6 then:
• If 12.b3 then:
• If c5 13.Bb2 Be6 then:
• 14.Nfd2 h5 15.Ng5 Be7 16.Nxe6+ fxe6 17.g3 gives White more freedom and better pawn structure (Jakovenko-Cheparinov, Grand Prix, Sochi, 2008).
• 14.c4 Be7 15.Rad1+ Kc8 16.Ne1 Nf4 17.Nd3 Nxd3 18.Rxd3 g5 19.Nf6 Bxf6 20.exf6 a5 21.a4 Ra6 22.Bc3 Rd8 23.Rfd1 Rad6 24.Rxd6 Rxd6 25.Rxd6 cxd6 26.Bxa5 Bf5 27.g4 Bc2 is equal (Wagener-O. Sepps, Euro ChT, Saint Vincent, 2005).
• 12...a5 13.a4 c5 14.Bb2 Be6 15.Nfd2 Nf4 16.Kh2 g6 17.Nc4 Kd7 18.g3 Nd5 19.f4 gives White more freedom (A. Volokitin-Eljanov, IT, Foros, 2006).
• 12.Re1 Ke8 13.Bd2 c5 14.Rad1 Be6 15.a3 Rd8 16.Ng3 Bd5 17.Nh2 Nh4 18.f3 Be6 19.Ng4 Nf5 20.Nxf5 Bxf5 21.Ne3 gives White more activity (A. Volokitin-Alekseev, IT, Foros, 2008).
• 11.Bg5+ Ke8 12.Rad1 Bd7 13.Rd2 Be7 14.Bxe7 Kxe7 15.Nd4 Rhd8 16.f4 c5 17.Nb3 Bc6 18.Re2 b6 19.f5 Nh4 20.Rf4 gives White more activity (Ivanchuk-Z. Almasi, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 2002).
• 10...h6 11.Be3 Ng6 12.Rad1+ Ke8 13.a3 Be7 14.Rfe1 Nh4 15.Nxh4 Bxh4 16.Ne2 h5 17.Nd4 a6 18.e6 Bf6 19.Bf4 c5 20.Nb3 c4 21.Nc5 fxe6 22.Bxc7 Kf7 23.b3 cxb3 24.cxb3 Bb2 25.Na4 Black resigns (Cheparinov-Hermansson, IT, Malmø, 2007).

10.h3 Be7

• 10...Ne7 11.Rd1 Ng6 12.b3 a5 13.Bb2 Nf4 14.Rd4 Ne6 15.Rd2 Bb4 16.a3 Bxc3 17.Bxc3 c5 18.Rad1 Ke7 19.Nh2 Rd8 20.Rxd8 Nxd8 21.Nf1 Be6 22.Ne3 Nc6 23.f4 Rd8 24.Rxd8 draw (Mannion-Yemelin, Op, Cappelle la Grande, 2006).

11.Re1!?

• The novelty is good for equality.
• If 11.Bg5 Bxg5 12.Nxg5 h6 then:
• If 13.Nge4 b6 14.Rfd1 Ke7 15.Kh2 h5 then:
• 16.Ne2 Re8 17.Nf4 Kf8 18.Nxh5 Rxe5 19.Nhg3 Be6 20.Rd2 draw (Anand-Kramnik, Rapid Trmt, León, 2002).
• 16.Rd2 Be6 17.Ng5 Rad8 18.Rad1 Rxd2 19.Rxd2 h4 draw (Fressinet-Lauier, French Ch, Val d'Isere, 2002).
• 13.Nf3 h5 14.Rad1 Ke7 15.Ng5 a5 16.Rd2 g6 17.Nce4 a4 18.g4 hxg4 19.hxg4 Ng7 20.Nf6 Ne6 21.Nxe6 Bxe6 22.a3 Ra5 is equal (Shirov-Wang Hao, IT, Poikovsky, 2008).
• 11.Rd1 Nh4 12.Nxh4 Bxh4 13.g4 Be7 14.Kg2 Be6 15.Be3 a5 16.Ne2 h5 17.f3 a4 18.Nf4 g6 19.Rd2 Rd8 20.Rxd8+ Kxd8 21.Rd1+ Ke8 22.Nxe6 fxe6 23.Rd4 b5 24.Rd3 gives White more freedom (Karjakin-Wang Yue, Grand Prix, Sochi, 2008).

11...Nh4

• Black invites an exchange that is not forced.
• 11...Be6 12.b3 Rd8 13.Bb2 Kd7 14.Rad1+ remains equal.

12.Nd4

• The text is best, but taking the Knight does little to upset the equalibrium.
• 12.Nxh4 Bxh4 13.Be3 Bf5 14.Re2 a6 15.Rd1 Rd8 16.Red2 remains equal.

12...Nf5 13.Nce2

• 13.Be3 Nxd4 14.Bxd4 a6 15.Ne4 Be6 remains equal.

13...a6 14.Nf3 Nh4?!

• White again offers the exchange of Knights, but the result will give White more freedom.
• 14...Be6 15.Rd1 Rd8 16.Rxd8+ Kxd8 17.Bf4 remains equal.

15.Nxh4!

• This time White accepts the exchange, since delining it appears to be a road to a fast draw.
• 15.Nd2 Ng6 16.Nd4 c5 17.N4f3 remains equal.

15...Bxh4 16.Be3!

• This is really the only satisfactory move, but it assures White a small advantage.

16...Be7

• 16...Bf5 17.c3 Rd8 18.Rad1 Bd7 19.Rd2 Bf5 20.Red1 gives White more freedom.

17.g4

• The position remains equal.
• 17.Rad1 Bd7 18.Rd2 Rd8 19.Red1 Bf5 20.Rxd8+ Bxd8 gives White a better center.

17...h5 18.f3 hxg4 19.hxg4 Be6 20.Kg2

• 20.Nf4 Bd5 21.Kg2 Rd8 22.g5 Rh4 remains equal.

20...Rd8 21.Nf4 Bc8 22.Rh1 Rg8

• If 22...Rxh1 23.Rxh1 b6 24.Rh7 g6 then:
• 25.a4 Kf8 26.Rh8+ Kg7 27.Rxd8 Bxd8 28.b4 White has more freedom; Black's position in in danger of being put under restraint.
• 25.c4 Kf8 26.Rh8+ Kg7 27.Rxd8 Bxd8 28.c5 White's pieces are more active.

23.Rh7 b6

• If 23...g5 24.Nd3 Be6 25.b3 c5 then:
• 26.Rah1 c4 27.Rh8 Rxh8 28.Rxh8+ Kd7 29.Rxd8+ Kxd8 30.Nf2 cxb3 31.cxb3 gives White the more active game.
• 26.Rb1 b5 27.Nxc5 Bxc5 28.Bxc5 Rd2+ 29.Bf2 is equal.

24.Nh5 Bf8 25.Bh6!?

• After 25.c4! c5 26.Rh1 Rd7 27.Ng3 c6 28.Ne4 White is more active.

25...Bf5 26.Nxg7+

• If 26.Rxg7 Rxg7 27.Bxg7 then:
• After 27...Bxc2 28.Nf6+ Ke7 29.Bxf8+ Kxf8 30.Rc1 Rd2+ 31.Kg3 White brings the Rook to h1 and then penetrates Black's camp.
• 27...Rd2+ 28.Kg3 Bxc2 29.Nf6+ Ke7 30.Bxf8+ Kxf8 31.Rh1 gives White the better of it; Black will have a difficult time saving his f-pawn.

26...Bxg7 27.Rxg7 Rxg7 28.Bxg7 Bxc2 29.Rh1

• White will penetrate on h8.

29...Rd3

• If 29...Rd2+ 30.Kg3 then:
• 30...Kd7! 31.Bf6 c5 32.Rh8 Kc6 33.Rd8 Rxd8 34.Bxd8 is even.
• If 30...c5 then 31.Rh8+ Ke7 32.Bf6+ Kd7 33.Rd8+ wins the Rook.

30.Bf6

• 30.Rh8+ Kd7 31.Bf6 c5 32.Rf8 Ke6 33.Re8+ Kd5 34.Re7 wins the f-pawn.

30...Kd7 31.Rh8 c5 32.f4 Bb1
BLACK: Konstantin Landa
!""""""""#
$ + + + R%
$+ O +o+ %
$oO + B +%
$+ O P + %
$ + + Pp+%
$+ +t+ + %
$pPv+ +k+%
$+v+ + + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Artyom Timofeev
Position after 32...Bc2b1

33.Rf8!

• The f-pawn must fall.
• Also good is 33.f5 Rd2+ 34.Kg3 Re2 35.Rh7.

33...Kc6 34.Rxf7 Bxa2 35.Rg7 Bd5+

• After 35...Rd2+ 36.Kf3 Bd5+ 37.Ke3 Rxb2 38.f5 White's three pawns are a little better than Black's four.

36.Kh2 Rd2+ 37.Kg3 Rxb2 38.f5?!

• After 38.Bd8! Rg2+ 39.Kh4 Bf3 40.f5 c4 41.e6 c3 42.Rxc7+ White is winning.

38...a5?!

• 38...Re2 39.Kf4 c4 40.e6 b5 41.Bc3 Re4+ is equal.

39.e6!?

• 39.Bd8! a4 40.Rxc7+ Kb5 41.e6 Re2 42.e7 a3 43.Ra7 sets White back on the road to victory.

39...Re2

• If 39...Rg2+ 40.Kf4 Re2 41.Bd8 then:
• After 41...Re4+ 42.Kg5 Bxe6 43.Rxc7+ Kb5 44.Rb7 Bc4 45.Rxb6+ White's pawns are stronger.
• 41...Bxe6 42.Rxc7+ Kb5 43.fxe6 Rxe6 44.g5 gives White a piece for two pawns.

40.g5 c4?

• 40...a4 41.Bd8 Bxe6 42.Rxc7+ Kb5 43.fxe6 Rxe6 gives Black chances.

41.Bd8!

• White wins material by force.

41...c3

• 41...Kb5 42.Rxc7 Bxe6 43.fxe6 Rxe6 gives White a Bishop for two pawns.

42.Rxc7+ Kd6 43.Rxc3

• White has gone from a pawn down to a pawn to the good.

43...Ke5
BLACK: Konstantin Landa
!""""""""#
$ + B + +%
$+ + + + %
$ O +p+ +%
$O +vLpP %
$ + + + +%
$+ R + K %
$ + +t+ +%
$+ + + + %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Artyom Timofeev
Position after 43...Kd6e5

44.Rf3!!

• The exchange sacrifice wraps it up.
• 44.Rd3 Ba8 45.e7 Kxf5 46.Rd6 Re3+ 47.Kf2 is also good.

44...Bxf3

• If 44...Bxe6 then after 45.fxe6 Kxe6 46.g6 Re1 47.Bxb6 Re5 48.Kg4 White wins.

45.Kxf3 Re1 46.g6 Kd6

• If 46...Kxf5 47.g7 then:
• 47...Rf1+ 48.Kg2 White wins.
• 47...Rg1 48.e7 White wins.

47.Bxb6 Rc1 48.g7 Rc8 49.Bxa5 Ke5 50.Kg4 1-0

• If 50...Kf6 then White wins after51.Bc3+ Ke7 52.Kg5! Rxc3 53.f6+ Kd6 54.f7.
• Grandmaster Landa resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Laznicka - Werle, EU Open, Liverpool

Dutch grandmaster Jan Werle gained possession of first place in Liverpool with this win and won the tournament clear of the field the following day.



Jan Werle
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Viktor Laznicka - Jan Werle
European Union Open, Round 9
Liverpool, 17 September 2008

Queen's Gambit: Catalan Opening

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Nf3 dxc4 5.Bg2 c5 6.0-0 Nc6 7.Ne5

• 7.Qa4 Bd7 8.Qxc4 b5 9.Qd3 Rc8 10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.Nc3 b4 12.Ne4 Nxe4 13.Qxe4 Ne7 14.Ne5 Bb5 15.Be3 0-0 16.Rfd1 Qb6 17.Bxc5 Qxc5 18.Nd7 Bxd7 19.Rxd7 Rfd8 20.Qd3 Rxd7 21.Qxd7 g6 22.Rd1 a5 23.Bf3 Qc7 24.Kg2 Qxd7 25.Rxd7 Nc6 26.Bxc6 draw (Haba-Volodin, Op, Pardubice, 1994).

7...Bd7 8.Na3 cxd4 9.Naxc4 Bc5

• 9...Rc8 10.Qb3 Nxe5 11.Nxe5 Bc6 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.Rd1 c5 14.e3 Bd6 15.exd4 c4 16.Qc2 0-0 17.Bg5 h6 18.Bxf6 Qxf6 is equal (V. Georgiev-Ivanchuk, Euro ChT, Crete, 2007).

10.Qb3 0-0 11.Qxb7

• If 11.Bf4 Qc8 then:
• If 12.Rac1 Nd5 13.Nxd7 Qxd7 14.Ne5 Nxe5 then:
• If 15.Bxe5 Bb6 then:
• 16.Rcd1 Ne7 17.Bxd4 Bxd4 18.e3 e5 19.exd4 exd4 20.Rd2 Nc6 21.Qa4 Rad8 22.Rfd1 Qe6 23.b3 Rfe8 24.Bxc6 Qxc6 25.Qxc6 bxc6 26.Rxd4 Rxd4 27.Rxd4 Re1+ 28.Kg2 g6 29.Kf3 gives Black the more active Rook (Deep Fritz-Nimzo B, Computer Ch, Cadaques, 2001).
• 16.Rfd1 Rac8 17.Rxc8 Rxc8 18.Bxd5 Qxd5 19.Qxd5 exd5 20.Bxd4 Bxd4 21.Rxd4 Rd8 22.e4 Kf8 23.exd5 Ke7 24.Kg2 Kd6 25.Kf3 Rc8 26.Rd2 Re8 27.Kf4 Re5 28.h4 h5 29.f3 f6 30.g4 g5+ 31.Kg3 hxg4 32.Kxg4 gxh4 33.Kxh4 draw (Kharlov-A. Sokolov, Zonal, St. Petersburg, 1993).
• 15.Bxd5 exd5 16.Rxc5 Nc6 17.Rxd5 Qe6 18.Rb5 b6 19.Rc1 Rac8 is equal (Tregubov-Morozevich, Russian Ch, Orel, 1992).
• If 12.Rfd1 Rd8 13.Rac1 Nd5 then:
• If 14.Nxf7!? 14...Kxf7 15.Ne5+ Nxe5 16.Bxe5 b6 17.Qf3+ Kg8 18.Qg4 g6 19.Be4 then:
• 19...Be8? 20.b4!! Nxb4 21.Bxa8 Qxa8 22.Qxe6+ White has turned the tables (Tal-A. Sokolov, World Cup, Brussels, 1988).
• 19...Bc6! 20.Bxd4 Bxd4 21.Rxd4.
• 14.Nd3 Bf8 15.Nce5 Nxf4 16.Nxf4 Qc7 17.Nfd3 Rac8 18.Nxd7 Rxd7 19.Qa4 Rdd8 20.Rc4 Qb6 21.Rdc1 Ne7 22.Rb4 Rxc1+ 23.Nxc1 Qc7 24.Rc4 Qb8 25.Rxd4 b5 26.Qd1 draw (Korchnoi-A. Sokolov, World Cup, Brussels, 1988).

11...Nxe5

• The game is equal.
• If 11...Rb8?! 12.Nxc6! Rxb7 13.Nxd8 then:
• 13...Rb4 14.Nb7 Rxc4 15.b3 Black's Rook is embarrassed.
• After 13...Rb8? 14.Nb7! Bb5 15.b3 White remains a piece to the good.

12.Nxe5 Rb8 13.Qf3 Bd6

• 13...Bc8 14.Nc6 Bb7 15.Bg5 Bxc6 16.Qxc6 remains equal.

14.Nc6 Bxc6 15.Qxc6 Qe7 16.Qa4!?

• 16.Rb1 h6 17.e3 Bc5 18.exd4 Bxd4 19.Qc4 Rfd8 20.b3 draw (Eljanov-Adams, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2008).

16...e5 17.Rb1!?

• White picks the fastest, but not necessarily the best, way to free his Bishop.
• 17.a3 Rfc8 18.b4 Rc7 19.Bd2 Rbc8 20.Rac1 remains equal.

17...h6

• If 17...Rfc8! 18.Bd2 Qd7 then:
• 19.Qxd7 Nxd7 20.Rbc1 Rxc1 21.Bxc1 Rc8 gives Black more strength in the center.
• 19.Qd1 Qg4 20.b4 Qg6 21.a3 Ne4 gives Black more strength in the center.

18.Bd2 Bb4 19.Bxb4!?

• 19.Rbd1 Rfc8 20.Bc1 Bd6 21.a3 Qd7 22.Qxd7 Nxd7 allows White to restrain Black's center.

19...Rxb4 20.Qa3
BLACK: Jan Werle
!""""""""#
$ + + Tl+%
$O + WoO %
$ + + M O%
$+ + O + %
$ T O + +%
$Q + + P %
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Viktor Laznicka
Position after 20.Qa4a3

20...e4!

• Black puts White on notice that his pawn center is mobile and dangerous.

21.Rfc1 Rd8 22.Rc2 Ng4

• 22...Rb7 23.Qa5 Rbd7 24.Rbc1 e3 25.f4 is equal.

23.Rbc1?!

• 23.h3 d3 24.exd3 exd3 25.Rd2 Ne5 the advanced d-pawn gives Black the advantage.

23...d3 24.exd3 e3

• 24...exd3 25.Rd2 Ne5 26.b3 Re8 27.Rcd1 Qc5 28.Kh1 Ng4 the advanced d-pawn gives Black the advantage.

25.Rc8?

• 25.Bf1 exf2+ 26.Kh1 Re8 27.Qc3 Qd6 is strong for Black, but White still has some fight left.

BLACK: Jan Werle
!""""""""#
$ +rT +l+%
$O + WoO %
$ + + + O%
$+ + + + %
$ T + +m+%
$Q +pO P %
$pP + pbP%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Viktor Laznicka
Position after 25.Rc2c8

25...Rxc8!

• If 25...exf2+!! 26.Kf1 Qe3 27.Be4 Nxh2+ 28.Kg2 f1Q+ then:
• 29.Rxf1 Rxc8 30.Rxf7 Rxe4 31.dxe4 Qxe4+ 32.Kxh2 Rc2+ 33.Kh3 Kxf7 leaves Black up by a Rook.
• 29.Kxh2 Qeg1#.

26.Rxc8+ Kh7 27.Re8

• The text loses faster than 27.Rc2 exf2+ 28.Rxf2 Nxf2 29.Kxf2 Qc5+, leaving Black up by an exchange.

27...exf2+ 28.Kf1 Qc5 0=1

• If 29.Qc3 Qxc3 30.bxc3 Rb2 31.Be4+ g6 32.Kg2 Ne3+ then:
• 33.Kh3 f1Q+ 34.Bg2 Qxg2+ 35.Kh4 Qxh2#.
• 33.Kf3 f1Q+ 34.Kxe3 Qf2#.
• 29.Qxb4 Nxh2+ 30.Ke2 Qxb4 31.Be4+ g6 32.Kxf2 Qd2+ is lights out.
• Grnadmaster Laznicka resigns.

[autorank]

8. Wow - Alexandra Kosteniuk wins and looks like a sophisticate

at the same time. She's dispelling the myth of male superiority in things math like, e.g., chess.

She's what, 19-20? She'll mature to the point of becoming combined World Champion. Now that would
get chess some much deserved attention.

If we want to promote math and logic, essential skills, we should figure out a way to make chess
as popular as, oh, World of Warcraft;)

How a about those Chinese beating the Russians in team play. Has this happened before?

Thanks for the update!!!

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Alexandra Kosteniuk was born in Perm in the Ural Mountains

April 23, 1984.

She became an international grandmaster (that's what used to be called the men's title) in 2004.