The Jack Rabbit Chess Report (November 21): Armenia, China Lead Chess Olympics

[Jack Rabbit]

Armenian Men, Chinese Women Lead Chess Olympics



Defending champion Armenia leads the general competition in the 38th Chess Olympiad in Dresden with 15 match points in eight rounds, while a strong and vibrant team of mostly teenagers from China leads the women's competition, also with 15 match points after eight rounds.

In the general competition, Armenia, which smoked France today 3½-½, is followed by Israel in a clear second with 14 match points, and then Russia and Ukraine tied for third with 13. Russia led the event yesterday when the Armenians defeated 2½-1½ with a victory by Gabriel Sargissian over Alexander Grischuk on board 3, the only decisive game of the match, providing the difference.

In the women's competition, China's dreams of a perfect match point score were dashed when the team had to settle for a draw against the United States when Armenian native Kat Rohanian handed Tan Zhongyi a defeat on board 4. It was the first loss in an individual game suffered by the Chinese ladies in the tournament. Mlle. Tan, 17, had five victories in as many games prior to the setback. The Chinese team, led by 14-year-old Hou Yifan, defeated Ukraine today 2½-1½, with the margin of victory provided by Zhao Xue, at 23 the senior member of the team, who defeated Natalia Zhukova on board 2.

The United States, Poland and Serbia are tied for second in the women's event with 13 match points each. China plays Serbia tomorrow.

A team scores two points for each match won and one point for each tied match.

The 11-round event runs through Tuesday, November 25.


Topalov-Kamsky Match Re-scheduled for February in Sofia



The match between former FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria and American grandmaster Gata Kamsky, orignally scheduled to begin next week in the Ukrainian city of Lvov, will begin February 16 in the Bugarian capital of Sofia.

The eight game match will last until February 28.

A fiasco arose concerning the Lvov site when Alexander Chernenko, Kamsky's manager, claimed to have deposited a sufficient sum of money in a bank specified by FIDE, but the funds never materialized. In recent days, Kamsky's interests in negotiations were represented by Israeli grandmaster Emil Sutovsky as the new agreement was reached for a new time and venue for the match.

Rumor has it that Kamsky in no longer represented by Chernenko.


Calendar

FIDE Grand Prix, Doha 13-29 December.

Asian Club Cup, Al Ain (UAE) 24-31 December.

Hastings Chess Tournament 28 December 2008-5 January 2009.

Rilton Cup, Stockholm 28 December 2008-5 January 2009.

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

Gibraltar Chess Festival 27 January-5 February.

FIDE Grand Prix, Moscow 30 January-8 February.

Aeroflot Open, Moscow 16-27 February.

Topalov-Kamsky World Championship Semifinal Match, Sofia 16-28 February. Eight Rounds. Winner will challenge Anand for the world championship.

Linares Grandmaaster Tournament 18 February-8 March.

European Individual Championships, Budva (Montenegro) 5-19 March.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. Games from the 38th Chess Olympiad, Dresden, Rounds 1 thru 5

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. Buhmann - Shirov, General Competition, Round 1

Alexei Shirov
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Rainer Buhmann (Germany 3) - Alexei Shirov (Spain)
38th Olympiad (General Competition), Round 1/Board 1
Dresden, 13 November 2008

Slav Queen's Gambit: Tikhi Defense

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.e3

• This is the Tikhi Opening. Tikhi is the Russian word for quiet.

4...Bf5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nh4 Bg6

• If 6...Be4 7.f3 Bg6 8.Qb3 then:
• If 8...Qc7 9.Bd2 then:
• 9...Be7 10.Nxg6 hxg6 11.0-0-0 Nbd7 12.cxd5 Nxd5 13.Nxd5 exd5 14.Kb1 0-0-0 15.Rc1 Kb8 16.h3 Qd6 17.Ba6 Nb6 18.Bd3 Nd7 19.Ba6 Nb6 20.Bd3 Nd7 21.Ba5 Rc8 22.Ba6 gives White pressure on the Black King position (Vitiugov-Smirnov, Russian Ch HL, Novokuznetsk, 2008).
• 9...Nbd7 10.cxd5 exd5 11.0-0-0 0-0-0 12.e4 dxe4 13.Nxg6 hxg6 14.fxe4 Nb6 15.Bg5 Re8 16.Bd3 gives White an advantage in space (Tregubov-Peng, Corus B, Wijk aan Zee, 2002).
• If 8...Qb6 9.Nxg6 hxg6 10.Bd2 Nbd7 11.0-0-0 then:
• If 11...Qxb3 12.axb3 Bd6 13.h3 Nh5 14.Bd3 Ng3 15.Rhe1 then:
• 15...0-0-0 16.cxd5 exd5 17.e4 dxe4 18.fxe4 f6 19.Re3 Nh5 20.Rf3 g5 21.e5 fxe5 22.Bxg5 Nhf6 is equal (Kramnik-Shirov, IT, Astana, 2001).
• 15...0-0 16.Ne2 Nxe2+ 17.Rxe2 a5 18.cxd5 cxd5 19.Kb1 Rfc8 20.Rc1 Rxc1+ 21.Bxc1 Nb8 22.Rc2 draw (Tregubov-Malakhov, Russian Ch HL, Krasnoyarsk, 2007).
• 11...Be7 12.Kb1 0-0-0 13.Qc2 Kb8 14.g4 dxc4 15.Bxc4 Rh3 16.g5 Nd5 17.e4 Nxc3+ 18.Qxc3 Qc7 19.Bc1 Nb6 20.Bb3 Rxh2 21.Rxh2 Qxh2 is equal (Tkachiev-Shirov, Op, Corsica, 2003).

7.Nxg6 hxg6 8.g3

• If 8.Bd2 Nbd7 then:
• 9.Rc1 Bd6 10.g3 Qe7 11.c5 Bc7 12.f4 g5 13.Bg2 gxf4 14.exf4 g6 15.b4 a6 16.Qf3 Nh5 17.g4 Qh4+ 18.Kd1 Nhf6 19.h3 is equal (Campos-M.Gurevich, Op, Andorra, 2005).
• 9.g3 Bb4 10.Qb3 Bxc3 11.Bxc3 Ne4 12.Bg2 Nxc3 13.Qxc3 f5 14.0-0 Qe7 15.cxd5 exd5 16.b4 Nf6 17.Rfc1 Ne4 18.Qb2 0-0 19.b5 White undermines Black queenside pawn chain (Kramnik-Topalov, World Ch, Elista, 2006).

8...Nbd7 9.a3

• If 9.Bg2 dxc4 10.Qe2 then:
• If 10...Be7 11.Qxc4 e5 12.0-0 Nb6 13.Qe2 exd4 14.Rd1 0-0 15.Rxd4 Qc7 then:
• 16.e4 Qe5 17.Rd3 Rad8 18.Bf4 Qe6 19.Rad1 Rxd3 20.Rxd3 Re8 21.Kh1 Bb4 is equal (Tregubov-Carlsen, Op, Reyjavik, 2006).
• 16.b4 Rad8 17.Rxd8 Rxd8 18.b5 Nfd5 19.Nxd5 Nxd5 20.Bb2 c5 21.Qc4 gives White more activity (Inarkiev-Zakhartsov, Russian Ch, Tomsk, 2006).
• If 10...Nb6 11.0-0 then:
• If 11...Bb4 12.a3 Ba5 then:
• 13.Bd2 0-0 14.Ne4 Bxd2 15.Nxd2 Qe7 16.Nxc4 Nxc4 17.Qxc4 e5 18.dxe5 Qxe5 19.b4 Rfd8 20.Rad1 g5 21.h3 gives White more freedom (Hillarp Persson-Cheparinov, IT, Malmø, 2007).
• 13.Rd1 Qe7 14.e4 e5 15.Be3 draw (Ponomariov-Shirov, IT, Foros, 2006).
• 11...Be7 12.Rd1 0-0 13.e4 Nfd7 14.Be3 Qc7 15.f4 Rad8 16.h4 c5 17.d5 exd5 18.Nxd5 Nxd5 19.Rxd5 Nb6 20.Rdd1 Rxd1+ 21.Rxd1 Rd8 is equal (Nyback-Ragger, Bundesliga 0809, Wattenscheid, 2008).

9...Be7 10.cxd5!?

• The text move is equal.
• 10.b3 e5 11.cxd5 Nxd5 12.Nxd5 Qa5+ 13.Nc3 Qxc3+ 14.Bd2 Qb2 15.Bg2 exd4 16.exd4 Qxd4 17.0-0 0-0 18.Bb4 Qxd1 19.Rfxd1 Bxb4 20.Rxd7 Bc3 21.Rc1 Bb2 22.Rc2 Bxa3 23.Rxb7 gives Black an extra pawn, but White has more activity and will soon make it up.

10...exd5 11.Bg2 Nb6

• 11...Bd6 12.h3 Qe7 13.Qc2 Nf8 reamins equal.

12.0-0 Qd7 13.Re1 0-0-0 14.b4 Kb8

• 14...Qf5 15.Qe2 Qh5 16.Qxh5 Rxh5 17.Ra2 Nc4 18.Rc2 reamins equal.

15.Qb3 Rh5

• Black's plan is to attack the White King in the h-file.

16.e4 g5 17.b5 Rdh8

• After 17...c5 18.Nxd5 Nbxd5 19.exd5 cxd4 20.Qc4 Black wins a pawn.

18.bxc6 bxc6 19.Na4 Rxh2!

• If 19...dxe4 then 20.Nxb6 axb6 21.Qxb6+ Qb7 22.Qxb7+ Kxb7 23.h3 gives White more freedom and activity with excellent winning chances.

20.Nxb6

• If 20.exd5 Nfxd5 21.Nxb6 Rxg2+ 22.Kxg2 Qh3+ 23.Kf3 then:
• If 23...Qh5+ 24.Ke4 axb6 25.Kd3 Qg6+ then:
• 26.Ke2 Qe6+ 27.Kd2 Qf5 is equal.
• 26.Kd2 Qf6 27.Ke2 Qxd4 28.Bb2 Qg4+ 29.Kd2 Rd8 gives Black a more active position.
• 23...axb6 24.Bd2 Qh5+ 25.Kg2 Qh2+ 26.Kf3 draws by reprtition.

BLACK: Alexei Shirov
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WHITE: Rainer Buhmann
Position after 20.Na4b6:N

20...Rxg2+!!

• White sacrifices a Rook for a fierce attack.

21.Kxg2 Qh3+ 22.Kf3 Qg4+ 23.Ke3??

• 23.Kg2 Qh3+ 24.Kf3 draws.

23...Qxe4+ 24.Kd2 Qxd4+ 25.Kc2 Qxf2+ 26.Kd1 Qd4+ 27.Bd2

• 27.Kc2 axb6 28.Be3 Rh2+ 29.Kb1 Qe4+ 30.Kc1 Bc5 31.Bd2 Rh1 gives Black a material advantage equivelant to two pawns.

27...axb6 28.Rxe7

BLACK: Alexei Shirov
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WHITE: Rainer Buhmann
Position after 28.Re1e7:B

28...Rh1+!

• Black regains the Rook.

29.Kc2 Rxa1 30.Qc3 Ra2+ 31.Kc1 Rxd2 0-1

• 32.Qxd2 Qc5+ 33.Kb2 Qxe7 gives Black a prohibitive material adsvantage.
• Herr Buhmann resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. So - Ni Hua, General Competion, Round 1

The biggest upset of the first round came when Filipino teenager Wesley So defeated reigning Chinese national champion Ni Hua.



Wesley So
Photo: ChessBase.com


Wesley So (The Philippines) - Ni Hua (China)
38th Olympiad (General Competition), Round 1/Board 2
Dresden, 13 November 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 b6

• 10...Ne7 then:
• If 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).
• 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).
• If 11.Re1 then:
• If 11...Nh4 12.Nd4 Nf5 13.Nce2 a6 14.Nf3 is equal (Timofeev-Landa, Russian Ch HL, Novokuznetsk, 2008).
• 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.g4 Nh4 12.Nxh4 Bxh4 13.Rd1 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.Ne4!?

• If 11.Bf4 then:
• If 11...Bb4 12.Ne4 Ba6 13.Rfc1 Be2 14.Nh2 Rd8 then:
• 15.c3 Be7 16.Re1 Bc4 17.g4 Nh4 18.Bg3 Ng6 19.f4 Rd3 20.f5 Bd5 is unclear: White has more activity and Black has more space (Karjakin-Kramnik, World Blitz Cup, Moscow, 2008).
• 15.g4?! Rd4 16.Ng3 Nxg3 17.Bxg3 Bd2! badly disrupts White's development (Shirov-Kramnik, World Blitz Cup, Moscow, 2007).
• 11...h5 12.Rfd1 Be7 13.Rd2 Be6 14.Rad1 Rd8 15.Rxd8+ Bxd8 16.Ng5 c5 17.Nxe6 fxe6 18.Ne4 Nd4 19.Rd2 Rf8 20.Bh2 Nc6 21.Kf1 gives White a small advantage in pawn structure (Shirov-Predojevic, Ol Rd.2, Dresden, 2008).
• 11.Rd1 Be7 12.Bg5 Bb7 13.Bxe7 Kxe7 14.g4 Nh6 15.Nd4 Rhd8 16.f4 c5 17.Ndb5 Rdc8 18.Kf2 Bc6 19.a4 a6 20.Na3 Rd8 21.b3 gives White the advantage in space (Ivanchuk-Kramnik, World Blitz Cup, Moscow, 2008).

11...Be6

• The noivelty yields an equal position.
• 11...c5 12.c3 Bb7 13.Re1 Rd8 14.Bd2 is equal.

12.g4

• White's shows some aggressive intentions on the kingside.
• 12.b3 Bd5 13.Nfd2 Nd4 14.c4 then:
• 14...Be6 15.Bb2 c5 16.Rad1 Rd8 remains equal.
• 14...Bxe4?! 15.Nxe4 Rd8 16.Bb2 c5 17.Rad1 gives White more pressure in the center.

12...Ne7

• The Knight should not remain here long as it is blocking the development of the Bishop.

13.Re1 h6?!

• Black wants to deprive Knight of the g5 square, but of more immediate concern is to breakup the kingside advance.
• 13...h5 14.Nd4 Bc8 15.f3 hxg4 16.hxg4 Ng6 remains equal.

14.Nd4
BLACK: Ni Hua
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WHITE: Wesley So
Position after 14.Nf3d4

14...Bd5?!

• A better defensive technique is to fall back in order to slow the e-pawn's progress.
• 14...Bd7 15.Nf6+ gxf6 16.exf6 c5 17.Nf3 Be6 18.fxe7 Bxe7 remains equal; Black's King's Bishop is free to develop.

15.Bf4 Kd7 16.Rad1 Kc8

• If 16...Bxa2 17.b3 Nd5 18.Bg3 then:
• If 18...a5 19.Ra1 then:
• If 19...c5 20.Nf3 Nb4 21.Nc3 then:
• After 21...a4 22.Re2 Bxb3 23.cxb3 a3 24.e6+ fxe6 25.Ne5+ White's active Knights trump Black's extra pawns.
• After 21...c4 22.Red1+ Ke8 23.Nd2 Rd8 24.Nxc4 Rxd1+ 25.Rxd1 Black's Bishop is still in danger.
• 19...Bb4 20.Red1 Bxb3 21.cxb3 gives White a piece for two pawns.
• 18...c5 19.Nb5 c6 20.Nbc3 Bxb3 21.cxb3 gives White a piece for two pawns.

17.Bg3

• 17.Nc3 g5 18.Bc1 Bc4 19.f4 gxf4 20.Bxf4 gives White an advantage in space.

17...Kb7

• If 17...c5 18.Nb3 Bb7 19.Nc3 then:
• If 19...h5 20.g5 Nf5 21.g6 fxg6 22.e6 then:
• If 22...Nxg3! 23.fxg3 Bd6 24.Re3 Re8 is equal.
• 22...Bd6?! 23.Bxd6 cxd6 24.Nd5 ties the Black Knight to the defense of the dark squares and against the advance ot the e-pawn.


• 19...Bf3 20.Rd3 Bc6 21.Red1 Kb7 22.Nd2 Re8 23.f4 gives White more play in the center.

18.e6 Rd8?

• Again, Black should play against White's kingside.
• If 18...h5 then 19.exf7 hxg4 20.hxg4 Bxf7 21.a3 Rd8 22.Ng5 gives White more activity.

19.Nc3 f6

• This pawn advance will slow White's kingside progress until the later stages of the game. Now, instead of the kingside, White's center pawns are dangerous.
• 19...Bxe6 20.Nxe6 Rxd1 21.Nxd1 fxe6 22.Rxe6 shows the value of White's more harmounious development.

20.Nxd5 cxd5 21.Nb5 Rc8 22.c4 a6

• Black is kaput after 22...dxc4 (opening the d-file for the Rook) 23.Rd7 Nc6 24.Nxc7.

BLACK: Ni Hua
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Wesley So
Position after 22...a7a6

23.Nxc7!!

• The sacrifice assures White of possessing powerful connected passed pawns in the center.

23...Rxc7 24.cxd5!

• The obvious threat is 25.d6, winning immediately.

24...Nc8 25.Bxc7 Kxc7 26.Rc1+!

• White forces the Black King to expose himself in the center, since his presence is demanded to defend againt the advance of the passed pawns.

26...Kd8 27.Rxc8+!!

• The exchange sacrifice allows White to push the pawns further.

27...Kxc8 28.e7

• White wins the Bishop and remains a pawn to the good.

28...Bxe7 29.Rxe7 Rd8 30.Rxg7!

• This simplifies White's winning task positionally in that he now has the active Rook eating Black's weak kingside pawns.
• The game is now effectively over; it is now a matter of closing down all Black's remaining opportunities for counterplay.

30...Rxd5 31.Rg6 Rd2 32.Rxh6

• After 32.a4 Rxb2 33.Rxh6 Rb4 34.Rxf6 Rxa4 35.g5 White wins.

32...Rxb2 33.Rxf6 Kd7

• If 33...Rxa2 then after 34.Rxb6 Kc7 35.Rg6 a5 36.g5 a4 37.Ra6 White wins easily.

34.a4 Ke7 35.g5 Rb4

• No better is 35...Rb1+ 36.Kg2 Rb4 37.Kg3.

36.Kg2 a5 37.Kg3 Rxa4

• If 37...b5 then 38.axb5 Rxb5 39.f4 a4 40.Ra6 wins for White.

38.Rxb6 Ra1

• Also hopeless is 38...Ra3+ 39.Kg4 a4 40.Rb7+ Ke6 41.f4 Ra1 42.f5+ Kd6 43.Kh5.

39.Ra6 a4 40.Kg4 a3 41.f4 a2

• If 41...Rg1+ 42.Kf5 Rg3 43.h4 Rh3 44.Ra7+ Kf8 45.g6 is clearly won for White.

42.Kf5 1-0

• After 42...Rb1 43.Rxa2 Kf8 44.g6 Rb5+ 45.Kf6 Rb8 46.Ra7 White's three pawns triumph.
• Grandmaster Ni resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Lie - Bu Xiangzhi, General Competition, Round 3

Norway handed China a major setback for the general team's medal hopes with a 2½-1½ victory over China in the third round. As is often the case, the margin of victory was provided by the sole decisive game in the match, an upset win by Kjetil Lie over Bu Xiangzhi.



Kjetil Lie
Photo: Wikipedia


Kjetil Lie (Norway) - Bu Xiangzhi (China)
38th Olympiad (General Competition), Round 3/Board 2
Dresden, 15 November 2008

Closed German Game: Accelerated Panov Opening (Caro-Kann Defense)

1.c4 c6 2.e4 d5 3.cxd5 cxd5 4.e5

• If 4.exd5 Nf6 then:
• if 5.Nc3 Nxd5 6.Nf3 then:
• If 6...Nc6 7.d4 Bg4 8.Qb3 Bxf3 9.gxf3 then:
• If 9...e6 10.Qxb7 Nxd4 11.Bb5+ Nxb5 12.Qc6+ Ke7 13.Qxb5 Qd7 14.Nxd5+ Qxd5 15.Qxd5 exd5 then:
• 16.Be3 Ke6 17.0-0-0 Bb4 18.Kb1 Rhd8 19.Rd3 Rd7 20.Rc1 Rb8 21.Rc6+ Kf5 22.Ra6 Rbb7 23.a3 Be7 24.Ka2 Bf6 gives Black more activity (Brunner-Adorjan, Op, Bled/Rogaska, 1990).
• If 16.0-0 Ke6 17.Re1+ Kf5 18.Rd1 Rd8 19.Be3 Rd7 20.Rac1 Be7 21.Rd4 g5 then:
• 22.Rc6 Rhd8 23.Kf1 Bf6 24.Rb4 d4 gives Black the initiative (Brunner-Adorjan, World ChT, Lucerne, 1989).
• If 22.Ra4 Bf6 23.b4 d4 24.Ra5+ Kg6 25.Bd2 Re8 gives Black more freedom (Adams-Dreev, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2002).
• 9...Nb6 10.Be3 e6 11.0-0-0 Be7 12.d5 exd5 13.Bxb6 axb6 14.Nxd5 0-0 15.Rg1 Bf6 16.Rg4 Qd6 is equal (Hebden-Nunn, Zonal, Marbella, 1982).
• If 6...e6 7.d4 Bb4 then:
• If 8.Bd2 Nc6 9.Bd3 0-0 10.0-0 Be7 11.a3 then:
• 11...Bf6 12.Qc2 then:
• 12...g6 13.Bh6 Re8 14.Rad1 Nxc3 15.bxc3 Bd7 16.Qd2 e5 17.dxe5 Nxe5 18.Nxe5 Bxe5 19.Bxg6 hxg6 20.Qxd7 Qxd7 21.Rxd7 b5 is equal (Rianzantsev-Bologan, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).
• If 12...h6 13.Be3 Nce7 14.Ne4 b6 15.Rad1 Bb7 16.Qd2 Nf5 17.Bb1 Ba6 18.Rfe1 Rc8 19.Bf4 Nxf4 draw (Cobb-Wells, IT, Hereford, 2006).
• If 8.Qc2 Nc6 9.Be2 0-0 10.0-0 Be7 11.Rd1 then:
• 11...Bf6 12.Ne4 Nce7 13.Nxf6+ Nxf6 14.Bg5 Ned5 15.Ne5 b6 16.Bf3 Bb7 17.Qa4 Qe8 18.Qa3 Qb5 19.Rac1 gives White the advantage in space (Christiansen-Sadykov, Ol, Bled, 2002).
• 11...Nf6 12.a3 Bd7 13.Bc4 Rc8 14.Ba2 Qc7 15.Qe2 Rfe8 16.Ne5 a6 17.Bg5 Bd6 18.Bxf6 gxf6 19.Qg4+ Kf8 20.Nxd7+ Qxd7 21.d5 gives White threats in the center (Beim-Wallace, First Saturday, Budapest, 1995.05).
• 5.Bb5+ Nbd7 6.Nc3 a6 7.Qa4 Rb8 8.Bxd7+ Qxd7 9.Qxd7+ Bxd7 10.d4 Rd8 11.Bg5 Bf5 12.Bxf6 exf6 13.Nge2 Bd3 14.0-0-0 Bc4 15.Rhe1 Bb4 16.b3 Bxe2 17.Rxe2+ Kd7 18.Kb2 Rhe8 19.Re3 Rxe3 20.fxe3 gives White an extra pawn (Holmsten-Solozhenkin, Finnish ChT, Finland, 2005).

4...Nc6 5.d4 Bf5

• If 5...g6 6.Nc3 Bg7 then:
• If 7.Nf3 Bg4 8.Be2 then:
• 8...Bxf3 9.Bxf3 e6 10.Be3 Nge7 11.0-0 0-0 12.Qd2 Nf5 13.Ne2 Qb6 14.Rfd1 Rac8 15.Ng3 Nxe3 16.fxe3 Bh6 17.Nf1 Nb4 18.Rdc1 Rxc1 19.Qxc1 Nd3 is equal (Sergo-Djuric, Op, Täby, 2007).
• If 8...Nh6 9.h3 Bxf3 10.Bxf3 e6 then:
• 11.g4 0-0 12.0-0 f6 13.Re1 fxe5 14.dxe5 Qh4 15.Bg2 Qxf2+ 16.Kh1 Nxg4 17.hxg4 Qh4+ 18.Kg1 Nxe5 19.Re3 Nxg4 20.Rh3 Bd4+ White resigns (Agnelio-al Sayed, Ol, Bled, 2002).
• 11.Bxh6 Bxh6 12.Qd3 0-0 13.0-0 f6 14.Bg4 Qe7 is equal.
• 7.h3 f6 8.f4 Nh6 9.Nf3 Nf5 10.Bb5 Ng3 11.Rg1 0-0 12.Qb3 Be6 13.Bxc6 bxc6 14.Kf2 Rb8 15.Qc2 Bf5 16.Qd2 Ne4+ 17.Nxe4 dxe4 18.Nh4 fxe5 19.dxe5 Qxd2+ 20.Bxd2 Rxb2 gives Black an extra pawn and more activity (Siempos-Potopov, Op, Korinthos, 2001).

6.Bd3

• 6.Nc3 e6 7.Nf3 Qb6 8.Bb5 Bb4 9.Bxc6+ Qxc6 10.Bd2 Ne7 11.0-0 0-0 12.Rc1 Qa6 13.a3 Bxc3 14.Bxc3 Nc6 15.Qd2 draw (Predovic-Solic, Coatian ChTW, Pula, 2001).

6...Bxd3 7.Qxd3 e6

• 7...Qb6 8.Nf3 e6 9.0-0 Qa6 10.Qd1 Nge7 11.Nc3 Nf5 12.Ne2 h5 13.h4 Rc8 14.Bg5 Be7 15.Bxe7 Kxe7 16.Qd2 Qa5 is equal (Reizniece-Zimina, IT, Athens, 2001).

8.Nf3 Nge7 9.h4!?

• White introduces a new move that leaves Black slightly better.
• 9.0-0 Nf5 10.Nc3 Be7 11.a3 0-0 12.Bd2 Nh4 13.Nxh4 Bxh4 14.Na4 Be7 15.Rac1 Qd7 16.Nc5 Bxc5 17.Rxc5 Rfc8 18.Rfc1 Ne7 19.b3 is equal (Agdestein-Wang Yue, TMatch, Amsterdam, 2008).

9...Qb6

• Black finds the best reply to maintain a narrow advatage.
• 9...Rc8 10.Nc3 Nb4 11.Qe2 Qb6 12.a3 Nbc6 13.Qb5 is equal.

10.Nc3 Nf5 11.Be3

• 11.Qb5 Qc7 12.g4 Nfe7 13.Be3 a6 14.Qe2 h5 is equal.

11...Rd8?!

• Black gets passive.
• The aggressive 11...Nxe3 12.Qxe3 Qxb2 13.Rb1 Qc2 14.Rxb7 Bb4 gives Black the more active game.

12.g4?!

• White misses the moment and again Black has a superior game.
• 12.Qb5 Qxb5 13.Nxb5 Nb4 14.Kd2 a6 15.Nc3 is equal.

12...Nxe3!

• As he might have played on the 11th move.

13.fxe3

• 13.Qxe3 Qxb2 14.Rb1 Qa3 15.h5 Rc8 16.Rb3 Qa6 gives Black dominance of the queenside.

13...Be7 14.0-0 0-0 15.Rf2

• White protects the b-pawn laterally.
• If 15.Rac1 then after 15...a6 16.Rf2 Rd7 17.h5 h6 18.Na4 Qa7 Black is still better.

15...Nb4?!

• Black continues to hold a narrow edge with more queenside space after 15...a6 16.Raf1 Rd7 17.g5 Qd8 18.a3 Rc7.

16.Qd2

• The game is again equal.
• 16.Qb5 Qc7 17.Raf1 Nc6 18.g5 Rc8 19.a4 a6 is equal.

16...Qa6 17.Rd1

• 17.Qe2 Qa5 18.g5 Rc8 19.h5 Nc6 remains equal.

17...f6

• 17...Nc6 18.Qd3 Qa5 19.h5 a6 20.a3 h6 remains equal.

18.a3 Nc6 19.exf6 Rxf6 20.Ne2?!

• 20.g5 Rf7 21.Qd3 Qb6 22.g6 hxg6 23.Qxg6 Rf6 remains equal.

20...Bd6

• Black again has a slight advantage.
• 20...Rdf8 21.Rdf1 Na5 22.g5 R6f7 23.Nf4 Nc4 also gives Black the edge.

21.Rdf1 Na5 22.Ng5 Rxf2

• 22...Nc4? 23.Qd3! Rg6 24.Nf4 Bxf4 25.Rxf4 Qb6 26.Nxh7 gives White an extra pawn and a fierce initiative.

23.Rxf2 Be7

• The text is better than 23...h6 24.Nf7 Rd7 25.Nxd6 Rxd6 with equality.

24.e4

• 24.Nf4 Bxg5! (otherwise 25.Nfxe6 is playable) 25.hxg5 Rc8 26.Qe1 Nc4 is equal.

24...h6?!

• Black maintains the initiative after 24...Nc4 25.Qd3 Bxg5 26.hxg5 dxe4 27.Qxe4 Qc6.

25.Qf4!

• White has equalized.

25...Rf8 26.Qc7 Rxf2 27.Kxf2 Bxg5?

• If 27...Nc6 28.Nxe6 dxe4 29.d5 Qd3 30.dxc6 then:
• 30...Qf3+! 31.Ke1 Bxh4+ 32.Kd2 Qd3+ 33.Kc1 Qe3+ 34.Kb1 Qd3+ 35.Ka1 Qd1+ 36.Ka2 Qd5+ 37.Kb1 Qd3+ 38.Ka1 Qd1+ 39.Ka2 Qd5+ draws by perpetual check!
• If 30...Bxh4+? 31.Ng3 Qf3+ then:
• 32.Kg1 Qxg3+ 33.Qxg3 Bxg3 34.Kg2 Bb8 35.cxb7 White forces the Bishop to give way and wins.
• After 32.Ke1?? Bxg3+ 33.Kd2 e3+ Black wins.

28.hxg5 Qb6

• 28...hxg5 29.exd5 exd5 30.Qc8+ Kh7 31.Qf5+ gives White the more active game.

BLACK: Bu Xiangzhi
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WHITE: Kjetil Lie
Position after 28...Qa6b6

29.Qc8+!

• The text is stronger than 29.Qd7 hxg5 30.exd5 exd5 31.Qxd5+ Kf8 32.Qd7.

29...Kh7 30.g6+ Kxg6 31.exd5

• White wins after 31.b4 Nb3 32.Nf4+ Kf6 33.Kg3 Nxd4 34.Qf8+.

31...Qd6 32.Qxe6+

• White wins after 32.Qc3 Qh2+ 33.Ke1 Qh4+ 34.Kd2 b6 35.b4.

32...Qxe6 33.dxe6 Kf6 34.d5 Nc4
BLACK: Bu Xiangzhi
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WHITE: Kjetil Lie
Position after 34...Na5c4

35.Nd4!

• White wins easily from here.
• Also good is 35.b3 Nxa3 36.Nd4 Nb1 37.d6 Nd2 38.d7 when a pawn scores.

35...g6

• This keeps the Knight out of f5, but there's no saving the game.

36.b3 Nd6

• If 36...Nxa3 then 37.d6 a6 38.e7 Kf7 39.Ne6 Nb5 40.d7 wins.

37.Nf3 Nb5 38.Ke3 Nxa3 39.Nd4 Ke7

• If 39...a6 then after 40.d6 Nc2+ 41.Kd3 Nxd4 42.e7 Kf7 43.Kxd4 White wins.

40.Kf4 Kd6 41.g5 h5

• If 41...hxg5+ then after 42.Kxg5 a5 43.Kxg6 Kxd5 44.e7! White wins.

42.Nf5+ Kc7 43.Ke4 1-0

• If 43...Nb5 then after 44.d6+ Nxd6 45.Nxd6 Kd8 46.Kf6 h4 47.e7+ the e-pawn queens.
• After 43...gxf5 44.g6 the g-pawn cannot be stopped.
• Grandmaster Bu resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Hou Yifan - Elena Danielian, Women's Competition, Round 4

Hou Yifan
Photo: ChessBase.com


Hou Yifan (China) - Elena Danielian (Armenia)
38th Olympiad (Women's Competition), Round 4/Board 1
Dresden, 16 November 2008

Closed French Game: Orthodox Defense (Alekhine-Chatard Opening)

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7

• This is the Orthodox Defense. 4...exd4 is the Burn Defense; 4...Bb4 is the MacCutcheon Defense.

5.e5 Nfd7 6.h4

• This is the Alekhine-Chatard Opening. The more common alternative is 6.Bxe7 Qxe7 which spawns many lines.

6...c5

• If 6...Bxg5 7.hxg5 Qxg5 8.Nh3 Qe7 9.Nf4 Nc6 10.Qg4 then:
• 10...g6 11.0-0-0 Nb6 12.Rh6 Bd7 13.Bb5 0-0-0 14.Bxc6 Bxc6 15.Rdh1 Nc4 16.a3 b6 17.Rxh7 Rxh7 18.Rxh7 Kb7 19.Nxg6 Rg8 20.Nxe7 Rxg4 21.Nxc6 Kxc6 22.g3 Rxd4 23.Rxf7 Rg4 24.Re7 d4 25.Nd1 Rg6 26.b3 Nxe5 27.Kd2 a5 28.Nb2 Kd6 29.Rh7 b5 30.a4 draw (Sax-Kovacevic, IT, Vinkovci, 1993).
• 10...Nxd4 11.0-0-0 Nf5 12.Nfxd5 exd5 13.Nxd5 Qxe5 14.Bb5 0-0 15.Bxd7 Bxd7 16.Qh5 h6 17.Rhe1 Qd6 18.Ne7+ Nxe7 19.Rxd6 cxd6 20.Rxe7 Bc6 21.f3 Rae8 22.Qh4 d5 23.Kd2 gives White the advantage in space (Aronian-Luther, Budesliga 0102, Castrop Rauxel, 2001).

7.Bxe7 Kxe7 8.f4 Nc6

• If 8...Qb6 9.Na4 then:
• 9...Qa5+ 10.c3 b6 11.a3 c4 12.b4 cxb3 13.Qxb3 Nc6 14.Qb5 Bb7 15.Nf3 Qxb5 16.Bxb5 h5 is equal (Balzar-Schaefer, Bundesliga 0001, Baiertal, 2001).
• 9...Qc6 10.Nxc5 Nxc5 11.dxc5 Qxc5 12.Qd2 Nc6 13.Nf3 Bd7 14.h5 h6 15.0-0-0 Rac8 16.Kb1 Qa5 17.Qxa5 Nxa5 18.Bd3 Nc6 19.c3 b5 20.Nd4 Nxd4 21.cxd4 gives White more activity (Velimirovic-Miljanic, Yugoslav ChT, etinje, 1992).

9.dxc5 Nxc5 10.Qd2!?

• The new move is good for equality.
• 10.Qg4 Kf8 11.0-0-0 Bd7 12.Nf3 h5 13.Qg5 Qa5 14.Kb1 Rc8 15.a3 Ne7 16.Bd3 b5 17.Na2 Qa4 is equal (Antal-Hanley, Young Masters, Witley, 2001).

10...d4 11.Nd1

• 11.Nb5 Ne4 12.Qd3 Qa5+ 13.c3 dxc3 14.bxc3 a6 15.Qxe4 axb5 remains equal.

11...Qd5

• If 11...Ne4 12.Qd3 Qa5+ 13.c3 then:
• 13...dxc3 14.Nxc3 Nxc3 15.Qxc3 Qxc3+ 16.bxc3 remains equal.
• 13...Qd5 14.Nf3 Rd8 15.cxd4 Nxd4 16.Nxd4 Qxd4 17.Qxd4 Rxd4 remains equal.

12.Nf2 Rd8 13.Nf3 b6

• The game remains equal.
• 13...Kf8 14.c4 dxc3 15.Qxc3 Nd7 16.Bc4 Qc5 17.Ne4 gives White an advantage in space.

14.Bd3

• 14.c4 dxc3 15.Qxc3 Ba6 16.Bxa6 Nxa6 17.h5 remains equal.

14...f5 15.exf6+ gxf6 16.Qe2

• 16.Bxh7 e5 17.fxe5 Nxe5 18.Qe2 Rh8 19.Bd3 gives White more freedom.

16...Nxd3+ 17.Qxd3 f5 18.0-0

• The game remains equal.
• 18.Qe2 Rg8 19.Rg1 Rg3 20.a3 Qa5+ 21.Kd1 Ba6 remains equal.

18...Rg8 19.c4 Qd6?!

• The move appears to make sense, since the Queen now threatens the pawn at f4. However, White has defensive resources to easily counter the threat.
• 19...dxc3 20.Qxd5 exd5 21.Rfe1+ Kd6 22.bxc3 Rg7 remains equal.

BLACK: Elena Danielian
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WHITE: Hou Yifan
Position after 19...Qd5d6

20.Nh3!

• White defends the pawn at f4.

20...Bd7

• 20...Qc5 21.b3 Bb7 22.Rae1 Rad8 23.Nhg5 Rd6 24.Nxh7 remains equal.

21.Rae1!

• White seizes the initiative.

21...Raf8?!

• 21...Kf6! 22.Ne5 h6 23.Rf3 Nb4 24.Qd1 Bc6 25.Rf2 minimizes White's advantage.

22.a3

• 22.Rf2! Bc8 23.Rd2 Rf6 24.Nxd4 Nxd4 25.Qxd4 Qxd4+ 26.Rxd4 gives White an advantage in space.

22...h6

• This move keeps a White Knight out of g5, but Black has better resources to meet White'd intermediate kingside threats.
• If 22...Rg3 23.Rf2 Rxh3 24.gxh3 Qxf4 25.b4 then:
• If 25...Rg8+ 26.Kf1 Rg3 27.b5 then:
• 27...Ne5 28.Rxe5 Rxf3 29.Qxf3 Qxe5 30.Rg2 is equal.
• 27...Rxh3 28.bxc6 Bxc6 29.Rxe6+ Kxe6 30.Nxd4+ Kd7 31.Qxh3 is equal.
• 25...Qg3+ 26.Rg2 Qxh3 27.Kf2 f4 28.Rg7+ gives White a winning attack.

23.b4 Rg3 24.Rf2 Rfg8 25.Kf1

• If 25.Kh1 Bc8 26.Qxf5 e5 27.Qh7+ then:
• 27...R8g7 28.fxe5 Rxh7 29.exd6+ Kxd6 30.Nf4 gives White an extra pawn.
• 27...R3g7 28.Qe4 Bxh3 29.gxh3 Rg3 30.b5 gives White an extra pawn and a nasty attack.

25...a6 26.Nhg1 b5?

• For a minority attack to workm the pawn needs to be supported by a piece. This one isn't.
• 26...Qxf4 27.Ne2 Qe3 28.Qxe3 dxe3 29.Nxg3 exf2 30.Kxf2 remains equal.

BLACK: Elena Danielian
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WHITE: Hou Yifan
Position after 26...b6b5

27.Ne2!

• White attacks Black's lead pawn and the Rook at g3.
• 27.c5?! Qxf4 28.Ne2 Qe3 29.Qxe3 dxe3 30.Nxg3 exf2 31.Kxf2 gives White more freedom.

27...bxc4

• Black gives up the exchange to find a way out of the jam, hoping perhaps to pick up a couple of pawns in compensation.
• 27...R3g4 28.Nexd4 Nxd4 29.Nxd4 Kf7 30.c5 gives White an extra pawn and more space.

28.Nxg3 Rxg3 29.Qxc4 Qxf4 30.Ne5

• After 30.Qxa6 Qb8 31.Kg1 Qd6 32.b5 Nd8 33.Qxd6+ White wins.

30...Qxh4

• Black has picked up the second pawn she wanted, but her game is completely lost.
• If 30...Qxe5 then after 31.Rxe5 Nxe5 32.Qc5+ Kf6 33.Re2 Nf7 34.Qxd4+ White wins.

31.Nxc6+ Bxc6 32.Qxe6+ Kd8

• If 32...Kf8 then after 33.Qxf5+ Kg7 34.Qf8+ Kh7 35.Rf7+ Kg6 36.Rg7+ Kh5 37.Qf7+ White delivers mate on the next move.

33.Qd6+ Bd7 34.Qb8+

• White wins even faster after 34.Kg1 Rxa3 35.Rfe2 when:
• I35...Re3 36.Rxe3 dxe3 37.Rxe3 Qc4 38.Qf6+ Kc7 39.Rc3 wins the Queen.
• After 35...Qxe1+ 36.Rxe1 Re3 37.Rd1 Black is in the hole by the equivelent of about a piece.

34...Bc8 35.Qb6+

• After 35.Kg1 Re3 36.Rxe3 dxe3 37.Qb6+ Ke8 38.Qxe3+ White remains an exchange to the good,

35...Kd7 36.Qe6+ Kd8

• If 36...Kc7 37.Rc2+ Rc3 38.Qe5+ then:
• 38...Kb7 39.Rxc3 dxc3 40.Qg7+ White wins the pawn at c3 and the game.
• 38...Kd7 39.Rxc3 dxc3 40.Qxf5+ Kc7 41.Qc5+ White wins the pawn at c3 and the game.

37.Qe8+ Kc7 38.Rc2+

• If 38.Qe5+ Kb7 39.Qd5+ Kb8 40.Qd6+ then:
• 40...Ka8 41.Qc6+ Kb8 42.Re8 Qh1+ 43.Ke2 Re3+ 44.Rxe3 dxe3 45.Qd6+ leaves White with the exchange.
• 40...Ka7 41.Re7+ Bb7 42.Qc5+ Ka8 43.Re8+ mate soon follows.

38...Rc3 39.Rxc3+ dxc3 40.Qe7+

• If 40.Qe5+ Kb7 41.Qg7+ Kb8 42.Qxc3 then:
• 42...Bd7 43.g3 Qh1+ 44.Kf2 Qh2+ 45.Kf3 Qh5+ 46.Kg2+- White continues to roll a full exchange to the good.
• 42...Qd8 43.Qg3+ Ka8 44.Qf3+ Kb8 45.Qf4+ Ka7 46.Qxh6 White has a material advantage equivelent to three pawns..

40...Qxe7 41.Rxe7+ Kb6

• 41...Kc6 42.Re3 c2 43.Rc3+ Kb7 44.Rxc2 leaves White a whole exchange up.

42.Re3 a5 43.bxa5+

• 43.Rxc3 Bd7 44.Rc5 axb4 45.axb4 Be6 46.g3 Bd7 47.Kf2 leaving White a whole exchange up.

43...Kxa5 44.Rxc3 Bd7

• If 44...Ba6+ then after 45.Kf2 Ka4 46.Rc7 Kb3 47.Rc6 White wins another pawn.

45.Kf2 Ka4 46.Ke3 Be6 47.Kf4 h5 48.g3 1-0

• 48...Bd7 49.Rc7 Be6 50.Rh7 Kxa3 51.Rxh5 gives White an easy win.
• Mme. Danielian resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Galojan - Tan Zhongyi, Women's Competition, Round 4

Team tournaments are often won on the lower boards, while elite grandmasters on the upper boards battle to draws. Seventeen-year-old Tan Zhongyi has played in six of China's eight games in the women's division thus far, all on board 4, with five wins and one loss. Two of her victories made the difference in the match as all other games were drawn.

If they awarded MVP honors, she would be my pick.



Tan Zhongyi
Photo: ChessBase.com


Lilit Galojan (Armenia) - Tan Zhongyi (China)
Olympiad (Women's Competition), Round 4/Board 4
Dresden, 16 November 2008

West India Game: King's Indian Defense (Catalan Opening)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 0-0 5.Nf3 d6 6.0-0 Nc6 7.Nc3 a6 8.h3 Bd7

• If 8...Rb8 9.e4 b5 10.e5 then:
• 10...dxe5 11.dxe5 Qxd1 12.Rxd1 Nd7 13.e6 fxe6 14.cxb5 axb5 15.Bf4 b4 16.Na4 Nb6 17.Nxb6 Rxb6 18.Rac1 Bxb2 19.Bxc7 Ra6 20.Rc4 e5 21.Ng5 Nd4 22.Rxb4 Ne2+ is equal (van der Sterren-Nijboer, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1998).
• 10...Nd7 11.cxb5 axb5 12.Ng5 dxe5 13.Bxc6 exd4 14.Nxb5 Rb6 15.Na7 Ra6 16.Nxc8 Rxc6 17.Na7 Rb6 18.Qa4 Nb8 is equal (Nikolic-McShane, Bundesliga 0405, Soligen, 2005).

9.e4 e5 10.Be3

• 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.Be3 Be6 12.Qa4 Qc8 13.Kh2 Rd8 14.Rfd1 Rxd1 15.Rxd1 h6 16.c5 Qf8 17.Nd5 Ne8 18.b4 Rd8 is equal (Borochov-Bologan, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2004).

10...exd4 11.Nxd4 Re8 12.Re1 Rb8

• 12...Qc8 13.Kh2 Ne5 14.b3 c5 15.Nde2 b5 16.Bg5 bxc4 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.Nd5 Qd8 19.bxc4 Nxc4 20.Rc1 Nb2 21.Nxf6+ Qxf6 22.Qd2 Rab8 23.Nf4 Qd4 24.Re2 Ba4 25.Qxd4 cxd4 26.Rd2 d3 27.Nxd3 Nxd3 28.Rxd3 Rb2 29.Ra3 Bc2 30.Kg1 Bxe4 31.Re1 Rb1 draw (Greenfeld-Gdanski, Euro ChT, Belgrade, 1999).

13.Rc1 Ne5 14.b3 c5!?

• This novelty leaves White with a slight advantage.
• 14...Nc6 15.a3 Nxd4 16.Bxd4 c5 17.Be3 Bc6 18.Bf4 Re6 19.Nd5 Nd7 20.Qd2 b5 21.Bg5 Qf8 22.Nc7 Re5 23.Nxa6 Rb6 24.cxb5 Rxb5 leaves White a pawn to the good, but the Knight is out of play (Vasilev-Passoni, Op, Kavala. 2001).

15.Nde2!?

• Better is 15.Nf3 Nxf3+ 16.Qxf3 Bc6 17.Bg5 h6 18.Bf4 when White will concentrate her forces on the backward d-pawn.

15...b5?!

• 15...Bxh3 16.Bxh3 Nf3+ 17.Kg2 Nxe1+ 18.Qxe1 Nxe4 19.Nxe4 Rxe4 is equal.

16.f4!

• White grabs some space on the kingside/center, seizing the initiative in the process.

16...Nc6

• If 16...Bh6 17.cxb5 Bxh3 18.Bxh3 Nf3+ then:
• 19.Kf2! Nxe1 20.bxa6 Nxe4+ 21.Nxe4 Rxe4 22.Qd2 Bg7 23.Rxe1 gives White a theoretical material advantage and an advanced passed pawn.
• 19.Kh1?! Nxe1 20.Qxe1 axb5 21.e5 dxe5 22.Bxc5 exf4 23.Rd1 Qa5 give Black a theoretical extra pawn and the active position.

17.cxb5

• If 17.Qxd6 Bf8 then:
• If 18.Qd3 Nb4 19.Qd2 bxc4 20.e5 then:
• 20...Nd3 21.exf6 Nxe1 22.Rxe1 cxb3 23.axb3 Rxb3 24.Bf2 gives White more freedom.
• 20...Nh5 21.bxc4 Be6 22.Nd5 g5 23.a3 gives White an extra pawn.
• If 18.Qd2 b4 19.e5 bxc3 20.Rxc3 then:
• 20...Nh5 21.Rd1 Nd4 22.g4 Ng7 23.Nxd4 cxd4 24.Qxd4 gives White a more aggressive position.
• 20...Nd4 21.g4 Nxe2+ 22.Qxe2 Bc8 23.exf6 leaves White a pawn to the good.

17...axb5 18.Qxd6 b4 19.Na4

• If 19.e5 bxc3 then:
• 20.Bxc6 Re6 21.Qd3 Rxc6 22.exf6 Bxf6 23.Nxc3 gives White fewer weaknesses to protect,
• 20.exf6? Bf8 21.Qd3 Nb4 22.Qxc3 Nxa2 gives Black a stron initiative for the sacrificed pawn.

19...Nxe4 20.Qd3!?

• White misses more than an opportunity to gain a pawn with good winning prospects. She actually loses the game on this one move.
• 20.Bxe4 Rxe4 21.Nxc5 Rxe3 22.Qxd7 Qe8 23.Kf2 wins a pawn for White.

BLACK: Tan Zhongyi
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Lilit Galojan
Position after 20.Qd6d3

20...Nd4!!

• Black sacrifices a Knight to cut the White Queen out of the game.
• 20...Bf5 21.Qxd8 Rbxd8 22.g4 Bc8 23.Nxc5 wins a pawn for White.

21.Bxd4

• If 21.Bxe4? then after 21...Bb5 22.Qd2 Nxe2+! 23.Rxe2 Bxe2 24.Qxd8 Rbxd8 Black wins.

21...Bb5 22.Rc4?

• White misses her last chance to draw.
• 22.Qc2 Bxd4+ 23.Nxd4 Qxd4+ 24.Kh2 Bd3 25.Qb2 f5 is equal.

22...Bxc4!

• All moves from here to the end are forced.

23.bxc4 Nc3 24.Naxc3 Bxd4+ 25.Nxd4 Rxe1+ 26.Kf2 Qxd4+ 27.Qxd4 cxd4 28.Nb5 Ra1 0-1

• Black has a substantial material advantage.
• Mlle. Galojan resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Sargissian - Stellwagen, General Competion, Round 5

Gabriel Sargissian is making a strong running for my mythical MVP award in the general competition. Playing in all of Armenia's game so far, mostly on board 3, Sargissian has chalked up six wins and two draws. His most important win came against Russian's Alexander Grischuk in Round 7 and catapulted Armenia ahead of Russia into first place.

That game will be reviewed next week.



Gabriel Sargissian
Photo ChessBase.de (Germany)


Gabriel Sargissian (Armenia) - Daniel Stellwagen (Holland)
Olympiad (General Competition), Round 5/Board 3
Dresden, 17 November 2008

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

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 0-0 5.Bg2 c5 6.d5 e6 7.Nc3 exd5 8.cxd5 d6 9.0-0 Re8 10.Bf4

• If 10.Nd2 a6 11.a4 Nbd7 12.h3 Rb8 13.Nc4 then:
• If 13...Nb6 14.Na3 Bd7 15.e4 then:
• 15...Qc7 16.Be3 Nxa4 17.Nxa4 Nxe4 18.Nc2 b5 19.Nc3 Nxc3 20.bxc3 a5 21.Bd2 b4 22.Qf3 Bf5 23.Ne3 Be4 24.Qxe4 Rxe4 25.Bxe4 c4 is equal (Pantsulaia-Bagaturov, Op, Batumi, 2001).
• 15...Nc8 16.Qd3 Qc7 17.Be3 Na7 18.Rfc1 b5 19.b4 c4 20.Qf1 bxa4 21.Nxc4 Rxb4 22.Nxd6 Qxd6 23.Bxa7 Nxe4 24.Nxe4 Rbxe4 gives Black an extra pawn (Quinteros-K. Georgiev, Ol, Thessaloniki, 1984).
• If 13...Ne5 14.Na3 Nh5 15.e4 then:
• 15...Bd7 16.a5 Qxa5 17.g4 Nf6 18.f4 Nexg4 19.hxg4 Nxg4 20.Bf3 h5 21.Nc2 Qd8 22.Kg2 b5 23.Ne3 b4 24.Na4 Qh4 25.Bxg4 hxg4 26.Rh1 Qf6 27.Nxg4 Bxg4 28.Qxg4 Rxe4 gives Black three pawns for a piece with the advantage as White's pawns are weak (T. Vasilevich-Peng, Euro ChW, Plovdiv, 2008).
• 15...Rf8 16.Kh2 f5 17.f4 b5 18.axb5 axb5 19.Naxb5 fxe4 20.Bxe4 Bd7 21.Qe2 Qb6 22.Na3 Rbe8 23.Bd2 Qxb2!! 24.fxe5 Bxe5 25.Nc4 Nxg3 26.Rxf8+ Rxf8 27.Qe1 Nxe4+ leaves Black with two extra pawns (Korchnoi-Kasparov, Ol, Lucerne, 1982).

10...Na6 11.Re1

• If 11.h3 Nc7 12.a4 Ne4 13.Nxe4 Rxe4 14.Nd2 Rb4 15.b3 then:
• 15...Rxf4!? 16.gxf4 Bxa1 17.Qxa1 Qh4 18.Qc3 Qxf4 gives Black an extra pawn (Savchenko-Roanishin, Soviet Ch FL, Simferopol, 1988).
• 15...b5 16.Ra2 a5 17.Qc1 Ba6 18.Ne4 Ne8 19.axb5 Bxb5 is equal (Razuvaev-Romanishin, Op, Palma de Mallorca, 1989).

11...Bg4 12.h3 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 Qd7 14.Kg2!?

• 14.e4 Rad8 15.Kg2 c4 16.Be3 Nb4 17.Bxa7 Nd3 draw (Kachiani-I. Radziewicz Rajlich, Euro ChW, Warsaw, 2001).

14...c4

• If 14...Nc7 15.a4 b6 16.e4 then:
• If 16...a6 17.Qc2 b5 18.axb5 axb5 then:
• After 19.Rxa8 Rxa8 20.Bxd6! Qxd6 21.e5 White recovers his sacrificed minor piece and goes a pawn to the good.
• 19.Kg1 Na6 20.Bg2 c4 21.Bf1 is equal.
• 16...Re7 17.Qb3 Rae8 18.Rad1 Qd8 19.Re2 Na6 20.Rde1 gives White more activity.

15.Qa4?!

• White would like to stir things up, but exchanging Queens more often than not has a calming effect on the game.
• More active is 15.Rc1! Nc5 16.b3 b5 17.bxc4 bxc4 18.Nb1 Na4 when White is attacking two weak pawns.

15...Qxa4 16.Nxa4 Ne4 17.Bxe4

• The position is equal.
• 17.Rac1 b5 18.Bxe4 Rxe4 19.Nc3 Bxc3 20.bxc3 f5 21.f3 gives White more activity.

17...Rxe4 18.Nc3 Ree8?!

• If 18...Bxc3 19.bxc3 then:
• 19...Nc7! 20.Rad1 Nb5 21.Rc1 Nc7 22.Kf3 f5 23.Red1 Rd8 is equal.
• 19...f5?! 20.Rab1 b6 21.f3 gives White more activity.

19.Rac1 Be5

• If 19...Bxc3 20.Rxc3 b5 21.a4 then:
• 21...Nb4 22.axb5 Nxd5 23.Rxc4 Nxf4+ 24.Rxf4 Re5 25.Rb4 Rb8 26.Ra1 gives Whit an extra pawn.
• If 21...Re4 22.f3 Rd4 23.e4 bxa4 24.Bxd6 f5 25.Re2 gives White more freedom.

20.Nb5 Bxb2
BLACK: Daniel Stellwagen
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WHITE: Gabriel Sargissian
Position after 20...Be5b2:p

21.Rxc4!

• White has the advantage in space with an active position.

21...Be5 22.Bg5?!

• If 22.Bxe5 dxe5 23.e4 Red8 24.Kf3 h6 25.Rec1 then:
• 25...Kf8 26.Nc7 Nxc7 27.Rxc7 White has more activity.
• 25...Rd7 26.Rc8+ Rxc8 27.Rxc8+ Kg7 28.Nxa7 gives White an extra pawn.

22...Rac8 23.Rec1!

• 23.Rxc8 cedes control of the c-file to Black; if now 23...Rxc8 then 24.Nxa7 Rc2 25.a3 f6 26.Bh6 gives White a smaller advantage than he gets in the text.

23...Nc5 24.f4 a6 25.fxe5

• 25.Na7 Ra8 26.fxe5 Rxe5 27.Bf4 Rxd5 28.e4 Rd3 is equal.

25...axb5
BLACK: Daniel Stellwagen
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WHITE: Gabriel Sargissian
Position after 25...ab5:N

26.Rxc5!!

• The exchange sacrifice is the only move that comes with the advantage.
• 26.Rd4 Rxe5 27.Bf4 Rxe2+ 28.Kf3 Rxa2 29.Bxd6 b6 gives Black two extra pawns.
• 26.Rb4 Rxe5 27.Bf4 Rxe2+ 28.Kf3 Rce8 29.Rd1 f5 also gives Black two extra pawns.

26...dxc5 27.d6 Rf8?

• After this, it's all downhill for Black.
• If 27...Rxe5! 28.d7! then:
• If 28...Ra8 29.d8Q+! Rxd8 30.Bxd8 Rxe2+ 31.Kf3 Rd2 then:
• 32.Bf6 b6 33.Re1 Kf8 34.a3 Rd3+ 35.Re3 puts and end to Black's activity.
• 32.Bb6?! c4 33.Ra1 f5 34.Be3 Rb2 is equal.
• 28...Rb8? 29.Bf4 Rxe2+ 30.Kf3 Rxa2 31.Bxb8 Rd2 32.Rxc5 gives White a material advantage and a more active position.

28.Kf3

• White could win back the exchange and go up a pawn after 28.d7 Rcd8 29.Bxd8 Rxd8 30.Rxc5 Rxd7 31.Rxb5.

28...f6

• If 28...c4 then 29.Be7 wins back the exchange.

29.Bxf6 Kf7 30.d7 Rcd8 31.Bxd8

• White wins back the exchange with interest compounded to two pawns.

31...Rxd8 32.Rxc5 Rxd7 33.Rxb5 Ke6

• If 33...Rc7 34.a4 Ke6 35.a5 Kf5 36.g4+ then:
• After 36...Kg5 37.Rd5 Rc1 38.e6+ Kf6 39.Rd7 White remains two pawns to the good.
• 36...Ke6 37.Kf4 Rf7+ 38.Ke4 Rc7 39.Rb6+ is very similar to the text.

34.Kf4 Rd4+ 35.e4 Rd7 36.Rb6+ Ke7 37.h4 1-0

• After 37...Kf8 38.a4 Ke8 39.g4 Rc7 40.e6 Ke7 41.g5 Black can only move his King while White begins picking off material.
• Mh. Stellwagen resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Update and Correction (Saturday)

Errata

An error on the official website gave yesterday's game between Inna Gaponenko and Ju Wenjun on the fourth board of the Ukraine-China match as a draw, giving China a 2½-1½ victory over Ukraine. However, this did not square with the standings on the same website, which gave China 14 match points and Ukraine in a four-way tie for second with 13 points. If the result of the Gaponenko-Ju game were correct, Ukraine would have been in a tie for fifth with 12 points and China would have had 15 points, leading three other teams by two points.

In fact, Mme. Gaponenko won the game on board 4 and the result of the Ukraine-China match was a 2-2 tie, making the standings correct.

Israel defeats Armenia, takes lead; China falters, falls to fourth place.

The Israeli team defeated the team from Armenia, 2½-1½, in general competition of the 38th Chess Olympiad in Dresden today to wrest first place away from the Armenians, while in the women's competition the Chinese team suffered its first match loss at the hands of Serbia, 2½-1½, to fall to fourth place as Serbia, Poland and Ukraine moved into a three-way tie for first.

The hero for Israel today was 19-year-old Max Rodshtein on board 4, who defeated T. L. Petrosian in 29 moves following a pawn sacrifice on move 22 that netted him a extra Knight and a vicious attack in the center. Mr. Rodshtein returned the Knight on move 26, resulting in a mating attack the soon forced Petrosian's resignation. In other games in the Armenia-Israel match, Boris Gelfand of Israel defeated Levon Aronian on board 1, while on board 3 Armenia got its lone victory today as Gabriel Sargissian defeated Boris Avrukh.

Armenia falls into a tie for second with Ukraine, which defeated Russia today behind an upset win on board 4 by Zahar Effimenko over Alexander Morozevich in just 31 moves.

In the women's competition, Serbia upset China in spite of a fine victory by Hou Yifan over Alisa Maric on board 1. Natasa Bojkovic upset Zhao Xue on board 2 in 51 moves and Irina Chelushkina defeated Tan Zhongyi on board 4.

The match victory cantipulted Serbia over China into first place, where the Serbs are joined by Ukraine and Poland. Ukraine defeated Romania today, 3-1, while Poland bested the United States, also by a 3-1 score.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Update (Tuesday): Armenian men, Georgian women win gold in Dresden; US wins double bronze

Details this weekend.