The Jack Rabbit Chess Report (February 14): Happy Valentine's Day

[Jack Rabbit]

Happy Valentine's Day, Chess Lovers Everywhere!!


Image: John Singer Sargent, The Chess Game,
from Colours Art Publishers



Aeroflot Open Begins in Moscow Tuesday



The seventh annual Aeroflot Open Chess Tournament, the most prestigeous open event in chess, begins in Moscow Tuesday after opening ceremonies Monday.

The nine round event runs through February 25 with closing ceremonies and prize giving the following day.

This year's confirmed partcipants as of Friday afternoon include: the defending tournament champion, 18-year-old Ian Napomniachtchi (Russia); Etienne Bacrot (France), this year's top seed so far; former US champion Alex Onischuk, who won the Moscow Open last week; Wesley So, the 15-year-old prodigy from the Philippines; and the Kosintseva sisters, Tatiana and reigning Russian women's champion, Nadezhda.

As always, the winner of the Aeroflot Open will be given a birth in the grandmaster tournament at the Sparkassen Chess Meeting in Dortmund this July.



Opening Game of Topalov-Kamsky Match Tuesday



The opening game of the final challenge match between former FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria and Russo-American grandmaster Gata Kamsky will be palyed Tuesday in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia.

Open ceremonies, including the drawing for colors, will take place Monday evening.

The match will consist of eight eight games with the first player to accumulate 4½ points declared the winner. The winner will challenge reigning world champion Vishy Anand to a title match later this year.

Odds makers have established Topalov as a heavy favorite to win. Your humble hare prognosticates Topalov to win in six games.



26th Linares Tournament Starts Wednesday



The 26th Linares Tournament begins Wednesday in the Andalucian town of Linares.

Sometimes called the "Wimbeldon of Chess", Linares is a double round robin among eight grandasters. This year's participants are:

• World Champion Vishy Anand (India);
• Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukraine);
• Magnus Carlsen (Norway);
• Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan);
• Levon Aronian (Armenia);
• Wang Yue (China);
• Alexander Grischuk (Russia);
• Lenier Domínguez (Cuba).

The 14-round event concludes March 8.

World champion Anand won last year's Linares and the year before that as well.

Noramlly, Veselin Topalov would have a place, but he's busy in what appears for the moment to be part of the current championship cycle and will remain so unless FIDE president Kirsan Illyumzhinov gets another big idea.

Linares is a mining town. It is the birthplace of the famous classical guitarist, Andreas Segovia.



Calendar


Cappelle la Grande Open 28 February-7 March.

Reykjavik Open 4-13 March.

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

Foxwoods Open, Mashantucket, Connecticut 8-12 April.

MTel Masters, Sofia 9-19 May.

Aerosvit International Tournament, Foros (Ukraine) 9-20 June.

World Open, Philadelphia 29 June-5 July.

Czech Open, Pardubice 16 July-2 August

[Jack Rabbit]

1. Games from Recent Events

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
!""""""""#
$tMvWlVmT%
$OoOoOoOo%
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$ + + + +%
$+ + + + %
$pPpPpPpP%
$RnBqKbNr%
/(((((((()
WHITE
White to move
(This position is a theoretical draw)

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Hou Yifan - Sasikiran, Corus B, Wijk aan Zee

Everyone knows that two Bishops and a pawn are together more powerful than a Rook. But how many people could actually win against a Rook with two Bishops and a pawn? Look here and learn from everybody's favorite 14-year-old Chinese grandmaster.

http://www.chessbase.de/2008/yifany/Hou%20Yifan,%20China.jpg

Hou Yifan
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)


Hou Yifan - Krishnan Sasikiran
Corus Chess Tournament (Group B), Round 2
Wijk aan Zee, 18 January 2009

Open German Game: Karpov Defense (Caro-Kann Defense)

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7

• This move is decades old, but Karpov used it as a pet line in the eighties.

5.Ng5 Ngf6 6.Bd3

• If 6.Bc4 e6 7.Qe2 Nb6 then:
• If 8.Bd3 h6 9.N5f3 c5 10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.Ne5 Nbd7 12.Ngf3 then:
• If 12...Qc7 then:
• If 13.0-0 0-0 14.Bf4 Bd6 15.Rfe1 Nc5 16.Rad1 b6 17.c3 Bb7 18.Bc2 Rfd8 19.Rd4 a5 20.b4 Ba6 21.Qe3 Nb7 is equal (Godina-Malakhov, Op, Montecatini Terme, 1997).
• 13.Bf4 Bb4+ 14.Nd2 Bxd2+ 15.Kxd2 0-0 16.Rhd1 Nc5 17.Ke1 Nd5 18.Bg3 Nxd3+ 19.Rxd3 b5 20.c3 Qb7 21.Rad1 draw (Timman-Karpov, FIDE World Ch, Amsterdam, 1993).
• if 12...Nxe5 13.Nxe5 0-0 then:
• If 14.0-0 then:
• 14...b6 15.b4 Bd6 16.Bb2 Bb7 17.a3 Qe7 18.f4 a5 19.b5 Rac8 20.Kh1 Rfd8 is equal (Bellon-Christiansen, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1977).
• If 14.Bd2 Qd5 then:
• 15.0-0-0 Qxa2 16.c3 b5 17.Bxh6 Bb7 18.Nd7 Nxd7 19.Qg4 Qa1+ 20.Bb1 g6 21.Rxd7 Ba3 22.bxa3 Qxc3+ 23.Kd1 Rfd8 24.Rd2 Qa1 25.Ke2 Qe5+ 26.Kd1 Qa1 27.Ke2 Qe5+ 28.Kd1 draw (Chandler-Speelman, ZT, Brighton, 1984).
• 15.0-0 Bd4 16.Nf3 Bxb2 17.Rab1 Ba3 18.Bc3 Be7 19.Rfd1 Qc6 20.Rb3 Rd8 21.Ne5 Qa4 22.h3 Nd5gives Black and extra pawn (Martin-Andrew, Cup Doeberl, Canberra, 1999).
• if 8.Bb3 h6 9.N5f3 then:
• If 9...c5 then:
• If 10.Bf4 Nbd5 11.Be5 Qa5+ 12.Nd2 b5 13.dxc5 Bxc5 then:
• 14.Ngf3 0-0 15.0-0 Ba6 16.Bxd5 Nxd5 17.Nb3 Qb6 18.Nxc5 Qxc5 19.Bd4 draw (Dr. Nunn-Spielman, Op, Reykjavik, 1988).
• If 14.c3 Qb6 15.a4 bxa4 16.Bxa4+ Bd7 17.Nc4 Qd8 18.Nf3 0-0 19.0-0 Qc8 20.Nd6 Bxd6 21.Bxd6 Rd8 22.Be5 a5 23.Bc2 Bc6 24.Nd4 gives White the advantage in space (Ivanchuk-Gulko, IT, Riga, 1995).
• If 10.Be3 Qc7 11.Ne5 then:
• 11...a6 12.Ngf3 Nbd5 13.0-0 Bd6 14.Rad1 0-0 15.Bc1 b5 16.dxc5 Bxc5 17.c3 Bb7 18.Rfe1 Rad8 19.Bc2 Rfe8 20.a4 draw (Jansa-Meduna, IT, Namestovo, 1987).
• 11...Bd6 12.Ngf3 0-0 13.0-0 Nbd5 14.c3 b6 15.Rad1 Bb7 16.Bc1 Rad8 17.Rfe1 Rfe8 18.a3 Qc8 19.Ba4 Rf8 20.dxc5 bxc5 21.Bb5 Nb6 22.Bd3 Qc7 23.h3 is equal (Spassky-Benko, ITZ, Amsterdam, 1964).
• 9...a5 10.a4 c5 11.Bf4 Bd6 12.Ne5 0-0 13.Ngf3 Qc7 14.Bg3 Nbd5 15.dxc5 Qxc5 16.0-0 b6 17.Rfd1 Ba6 18.c4 Rad8 19.Nd3 Bxc4 gives Black the initiative (Anand-Karpov, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 1994).

6...e6 7.N1f3 Bd6 8.Qe2 h6 9.Ne4 Nxe4 10.Qxe4 Qc7

• If 10...Nf6 11.Qe2 Qc7 12.Bd2 b6 13.0-0-0 Bb7 then:
• If 14.Ne5 then:
• 14...0-0-0 15.f4 Kb8 16.Kb1 Rhe8 17.Rhf1 Nd5 18.c4 Nb4 19.Be4 f6 20.a3 Na6 21.c5 Bxe5 22.cxb6 is equal (Carlsen-Agdestein, Norwegian Ch, Oslo, 2005).
• 14...c5 15.Bb5+ Ke7 16.dxc5 Qxc5 17.a3 Qc7 18.Bf4 Nd5 19.Bg3 Rhd8 20.Rd4 Kf8 21.Kb1 a6 22.Rc4 Qe7 23.Nc6 Bxc6 24.Bxc6 Ra7 25.Rd4 b5 26.Qd3 Kg8 is equal (Kamsky-Karpov, FIDE World Ch, Elista, 1996).
• If 14.Kb1 0-0-0 then:
• 15.Ba6 Bxa6 16.Qxa6+ Kb8 17.Qe2 Qb7 18.Rhe1 Rc8 19.c4 Rhd8 20.Bc3 c5 21.d5 Re8 22.Bxf6 gxf6 23.Qd2 gives White a target on Black's kingside (Bittencourt-Molina, Op, Vitoria (Brazil), 2007).
• 15.c4 c5 16.Bc3 Kb8 17.dxc5 Bxc5 18.Bc2 Rxd1+ 19.Rxd1 Rd8 20.Rxd8+ Qxd8 21.Ne5 Qc7 22.f4 Bd6 23.a3 Kc8 24.g4 Bxe5 25.Bxe5 gives White the initiative (Adams-Seirawan, IT, Bermuda, 1992).

11.0-0 b6

• If 11...c5 then:
• 12.Re1 Nf6 13.Qh4 Bd7 14.dxc5 Qxc5 15.Be3 Qc7 16.Bd4 Be7 17.Ne5 0-0 18.Ng4 Nxg4 19.Qxg4 gives White a pronounced advantage in space (Negi-Lalith, Op. Dubai, 2006).
• If 12.Qg4 Kf8 then:
• If 13.c3 b6 14.Re1 Bb7 then:
• 15.Qh3 c4 16.Be4 Bxe4 17.Rxe4 Qc6 18.Re1 Re8 19.b3 Nf6 20.Nd2 b5 21.a4 cxb3 22.axb5 Qxb5 23.Ba3 Bxa3 24.Rxa3 g6 25.Rxb3 gives White the initiative (Asrian-Sasikiran, World Jr Ch, Yerevan, 2000).
• 15.h4 Rd8 16.Bd2 Nf6 17.Qh3 Bxf3 18.Qxf3 cxd4 19.cxd4 Qd7 20.a4 Be7 21.Bc3 Qd5 22.Qh3 Bd6 23.Re3 h5 24.Rae1 a5 25.Rf3 Rc8 is equal (Shirov-Karpov, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 1998).
• 13.b3 e5 14.dxc5 Nxc5 15.Bf5 h5 16.Qh3 Ne6 17.Rd1 Be7 18.Qg3 Nf4 19.Bxf4 exf4 20.Qh3 gives White the advantage in space (Topalov-Karpov, IT, Cannes, 2002).

12.Qg4 Kf8 13.b3 Bb7 14.Bb2 Nf6 15.Qh4 Nd5

• If 15...c5 16.dxc5 Qxc5 then:
• 17.Bd4 Qa5 18.Bxf6 gxf6 19.Be4 Bxe4 20.Qxe4 Kg7 21.Rfd1 Rad8 22.Rd3 Bc7 23.Qg4+ Kh7 24.Qe4+ Kg7 25.Qg4+ Kh7 26.Qe4+ Kg7 draw (Hou Yifan-Berkes, IT, Paks, 2007).
• 17.Bxf6 gxf6 18.Qxf6 Qh5 19.Be2 Rg8 20.g3 Rg6 21.Nh4 Rxf6 22.Bxh5 Rc8 23.Rad1 Ke7 24.c4 Rc5 25.Be2 Ra5 26.a4 Re5 27.Bd3 draw Vukovic-Berkes, Bosnian ChT, Vogosca, 2007).

16.Ne5

• 16.Rfe1 Nf4 17.Ne5 g5 18.Qg4 Rg8 19.Qf3 transposes into the text.

16...g5 17.Qg4 Nf4 18.Rfe1

• 18.Qf3 Rg8 19.Be4 Rc8 is equal (Hammer-Rodshtein, Euro ChT, Crete, 2007).

18...Rg8

• 18...Nxd3 19.cxd3 Rh7 20.Rac1 Rd8 21.d5 gives White the advantage in space and command of the light squares on Black's kingside.

19.Qf3

• 19.Bf1 protects the g-pawn without exposing the Queen to a masked attack from the Bishop at b7, as the text move does. If now 19...c5 20.dxc5 bxc5 21.Kh1 h5 22.Qd1 the game is equal.

19...Rd8 20.Be4!?

• If 20.Rad1 then:
• 20...c5 21.Be4 Bxe4 22.Qxe4 f5 23.Qf3 Bxe5 24.dxe5 gives White the advantage in space (Gopal-Rodshtein, World Jr Ch, Yerevan, 2007).
• If 20...Bxe5 then after 21.dxe5 Nxd3 22.Rxd3 Rxd3 23.Qxd3 White continues to enjoy the advantage in space.

20...f5 21.Bxc6 Bxe5

• The game is equal.
• 21...Bxc6 22.Qxc6 Qxc6 23.Nxc6 Rc8 24.Nxa7 Rxc2 25.Nb5 is equal.

22.Bxb7

• White is a pawn to the good, but Black has more space, particularly on the King's wing. White can compensate for the spatial deficit on the opposite wing by advancing c2c4. Black's most immediate problem is where to move the Bishop under attack at e5. The best answer is to take the pawn. That t would leave the Queen is unprotected, that doesn't look like something White can exploit immediately.

22...g4?

• White can now exchange material, starting with the Queens, while a pawn to the good.
• 22...Bxd4 23.Bxd4 Rxd4 24.Ba6 Kg7 remains equal.

23.Qc6!

• By offering an exchange of Queens, White puts pressure on Black's central Bishop.
• 23.Ba3+? Kg7 24.Qc6 Qxc6 25.Bxc6 Bxd4! 26.Rad1 Bc3 gives Black a strong initiative.

23...Qxc6

• The text move is practically forced since the Bishop at e5 is under attack and would be taken if Black simply moved the Queen to a safer square..
• If 23...Bd6? 24.Qxc7 Bxc7 25.Rad1 b5 26.Ba3+ then:
• If 26...Bd6 then after 27.Bc1 b4 28.Bxf4 Bxf4 29.Rxe6 wins a second pawn.
• If 26...Kf7 then after 27.Bc6 a6 28.c4 Ba5 29.b4 Black is almost busted.

24.Bxc6 Bxd4

• After 24...Bg7 25.Bb5 Kf7 26.c3 h5 27.a4 a5 28.Rad1 White retains the extra pawn.

BLACK: Krishnan Sasikiran
!""""""""#
$ + T Lt+%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Hou Yifan
Position after 24...Be5d4:p

25.Rad1!

• White's most energetic available move pins the Bishop in the center of the board.
• 25.c3?! Bg7 26.Bb5 Ke7 27.Rad1 a6 28.Bf1 b5 is slightly advantageous to Black; White's c-pawn is pinned to the unprtected Bishop.

25...Ne2+

• If 25...Bxb2 26.Rxd8+ Kf7 then:
• 27.Rd7+ Kf6 28.c4 Rg7 29.Rd8 Rc7 30.Bb5 White is an exchange to the good and has the active game.
• After 27.Rxg8 Kxg8 28.g3 Nh3+ 29.Kg2 Ng5 30.Rd1 White is an exchange up.

26.Rxe2 Bxf2+

• If 26...Bxb2 then White wins after 27.Rxd8+ Kf7 28.Rxg8 Kxg8 29.Rxe6.

27.Kxf2 Rxd1 28.Rxe6

28...Rd2+ 29.Re2 Rxe2+

• If 29...g3+ then White is still much better after 30.hxg3 Rxe2+ 31.Kxe2 Rxg3 32.Bf3.

30.Kxe2 Ke7 31.c4!

• White mobilizes her pawn majority.
• Somewhat better is 31.Ba3+ Ke6 32.c4! Rc8 33.Bd5+ Kf6 34.Bb2+ driving the King back to the kingside.

31...Kd6 32.Bd5 Re8+ 33.Kf2

• 33.Kd2 Kc7 34.a4 a6 35.b4 White sets herself up to establish a passed pawn on the queenside.

33...f4 34.Bg7 h5 35.Bf7 Rd8

BLACK: Krishnan Sasikiran
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WHITE: Hou Yifan
Position after 35...Re8d8

36.Bxh5!

• The win of this pawn is big. Not only does White now have an extra pawn, but she threatens to liquidate Black's kingside.

36...Ke7 37.Bc3 Rg8 38.h3 gxh3 39.gxh3 Rg3 40.Bb4+

• White could liquidate the kingside immediately with 40.Bd2 Rxh3 41.Be2 Rh4 42.Kf3 Rh3+ 43.Kxf4.

40...Kf6 41.Bg4 Ke5 42.Bc8 a5

• If 42...Ke4 43.Bb7+ then:
• 43...Ke5 44.Bg2 Kf5 45.Be1 Kg5 46.h4+! Black cannot take the pawn because of 47.Ke2! winning the exchange.
• If 43...Kd3 44.Bg2 Re3 45.Bf3 then:
• If 45...Re5 then after 46.Bg4 Ke4 47.Bd6 then:
• 47...Re8 then after 48.b4 Rh8 49.c5 the c-pawn becomes a deadly threat.
• 47...Ra5 48.a4 Rg5 49.b4 Rg6 50.Bf3+ Kf5 51.c5 White obtains a passed pawn.
• 45...Re6 46.Bg4 Rf6 47.Kf3 Kc2 48.Be7 Rf7 49.Bg5 White has a healthy pawn majority on one side of the board and a passer on the other.

43.Ba3 a4 44.Bb2+ Ke4

• If 44...Kd6 then Whitew easily maintains the advantage after 45.bxa4 Rd3 46.Bc1 Rd4 47.Ba6.

45.Bb7+ Kd3

• 45...Kf5 then after 46.bxa4 Re3 47.a5 bxa5 48.c5 a4 49.c6 White wins.

BLACK: Krishnan Sasikiran
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Hou Yifan
Position after 45...Ke4d3

46.Be5!

• White provokes a series of exhanges in which she emerges as the clear winner in a simplified position.

46...axb3 47.axb3 Rxh3 48.Bxf4

• White is now a pawn exchange away from bagging this game.

48...Kd4 49.Bf3 Kc3 50.Bd5 Kd4 51.Bg3 b5

• If 51...Rh8 52.Kf3 Rf8+ 53.Kg4 then:
• If 53...b5 then White gains the passed pawn after 54.Kg5 bxc4 55.Bxc4.
• If 53...Rf1 54.Bh4 Kc5 55.Be7+ assures that White will pass the pawn.

52.Kf3 bxc4 53.bxc4
BLACK: Krishnan Sasikiran
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Hou Yifan
Position after 53.bc4:p

• Success!

53...Kc5

• If 53...Kd3 then after 54.Kg4 Rh8 55.Bf2 Rf8 56.Bb6 Rb8 57.c5 White makes progress.

54.Kf4 Kb4

• If 54...Rh7 then after 55.Bf2+ Kb4 56.Ke5 Rh2 57.Be3 Rh3 58.Ke4 the pawn will begin to advance.

55.Be1+ Kc5 56.Bf2+ Kb4 57.Ke5 Rh5+

• If 57...Rh2 58.Bg3 Rc2 59.Kd4 Rd2+ 60.Ke3 Rd1 then:
• 61.Ke4 Kc5 62.Bf2+ forces the Black King to give way to the pawn.
• 61.Bf2 Rc1 62.Kd3 Rd1+ 63.Kc2 Rf1 64.Be3 Rf5 65.Kd3 wins for White.

58.Kd4 Ka5 59.Kc5

• White restrains the Black King from aiding in the defense.
• Fritz likes 59.c5 Rh2 60.Bg3 Rh7 61.Bf4 Re7 62.Bc4, but I like the young lady's idea better.

59...Rh6 60.Bg3 Ka6 61.Bd6

• White's every move confines the Black King to the a-file.

61...Rh8

BLACK: Krishnan Sasikiran
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Hou Yifan
Position after 61...Rh6h8

62.Kc6!

• White's basic winning plan is simple. It consists of a repetition of a four move maneuver:
1. Move the Bishop behind the King to the e-file forward;
2. Move the same Bishop to the d-file, still going forward;
3. Advance the King one square on the c-file;
4. Advance the pawn;
5. Repeat steps 1 through 4.
• It's an elegant victory dance.

62...Rh7

• If 62...Rc8+ then after 63.Bc7 Rh8 64.c5 Rh6+ 65.Bd6 Rh8 66.Be6 White returns to the winning maneuver.

63.c5 Ka7 64.Be6 Rg7 65.Bd7 Rg6 66.Kc7 Rh6 67.Kd8

• 67.c6 Rh8 68.Be7 Ka6 69.Bd8 Ka7 70.Kc8 Rh7 71.c7 completes White's victory dance; if now 71...Rg7 72.Be6 Kb6 73.Kb8 Rxc7 74.Bxc7+ then White mates with two Bishops.

67...Ka6

• If 67...Rh8+ then White at worst will mate with two Bishops after 68.Be8 Rh6 69.Bf8! when:
• If 69...Rh7 70.c6 then:
• 70...Kb6 71.Be7! Rh2 72.c7 Rd2+ 73.Bd7.
• 70...Kb8 71.Bd7 Rh8 72.c7+ Ka7 73.Ke8.
• 69...Rh2 70.c6 Rc2 71.c7 Kb7 72.Bd6 Rc1 73.Bd7.

68.c6! 1-0

• The Bishops throw flowers in the path of the pawn on its way to promotion.
• Sasikiran-ji resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Nakamura - Golod, Op, Gibraltar

Here is a sacrificial orgy from the defending champion at Gibraltar. Nakamura came up a half-point short this year.



Hikaru Nakamura
Photo: http://www.chesstigers.de/ccm8_index_news.php?id=1462&rubrik=6〈=1&kat=2">ChessTigers (Germany)


Hikaru Nakamura - Vitali Golod
Gibtelecom Masters, Round 8
Gibraltar, 3 February 2009

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Breyer Defense

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Nb8 10.d4 Nbd7 11.Nbd2 Bb7 12.Bc2 Re8 13.Nf1 Bf8 14.Ng3 g6

• Up to here the game is the same as Svidler-Pentala, Op Rd 10, Gibraltar, 2009, from last week's JRCR.

15.b3 Bg7

• If 15...c6 16.Bg5 Bg7 17.Qd2 Qe7 18.a4 Qf8 then:
• If 19.Rad1 then:
• 19...Rac8 20.Bd3 h6 21.Be3 Rcd8 22.Qa2 Ra8 23.Bc1 Re6 24.Qd2 Qb8 25.c4 bxa4 26.bxa4 Re8 27.Bb2 draw (Motylev-Grigoriants, Russian Ch semif, Tomsk, 2006).
• 19...Rad8 20.Be3 h6 21.Qc1 Kh7 22.b4 Re6 23.Qb1 d5 24.dxe5 Nxe4 25.Bxe4 dxe4 26.Nxe4 Nxe5 27.Nfg5+ hxg5 28.Nxg5+ Kg8 29.Nxe6 Rxd1 30.Qxd1 fxe6 31.Bd4 gives Whitee a slight advantage in space; the material is balanced but asymmetrical (Carlsen-Pruijssers, Euro ChT, Antalya, 2007).
• 19.Bd3 d5 20.Nxe5 Nxe5 21.dxe5 Rxe5 22.f4 Ree8 is equal (Domínguez-Bruzón, Capablanca Mem, Havana, 2006).
• 15...d5 16.Bg5 h6 17.Bh4 g5 18.Nxg5 hxg5 19.Bxg5 exd4 20.e5 Rxe5 21.Rxe5 Nxe5 22.cxd4 Nc6 23.Nh5 Be7 24.Bxf6 Bxf6 25.Qd3 Kf8 26.Qh7 Bxd4 27.Qh6+ Ke8 28.Re1+ Ne5 29.Bf5 Qd6 30.Qg5 c5 31.Nf6+ Kd8 32.Nxd5+ Ke8 33.Nf6+ Kd8 34.Nd5+ draws by repetition (Shirov-Mamedyarov, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2006).

16.d5 Rc8

• 16...Nb6 17.Rb1 c6 18.c4 Qc7 19.Bd3 Nfd7 20.Be3 Nc5 21.Bf1 bxc4 22.bxc4 Nbd7 23.Qd2 Rab8 24.Bh6 Bxh6 25.Qxh6 is equal (Leko-Beliavsky, Ol, Bled, 2002).

17.Be3 c6 18.c4 Nb6 19.Qe2

• If 19.Rb1 Qc7 20.dxc6 Bxc6 then:
• 21.Bxb6 Qxb6 22.Qxd6 Rcd8 23.Qb4 Bf8 24.Qc3 Bc5 25.Re2 b4 26.Qe1 Kg7 27.Rd1 Rxd1 28.Qxd1 gives White an extra pawn (Hou Yifan-Koneru, FIDE Knock Out W, Nalchik, 2008).
• 21.Bd3 bxc4 22.bxc4 Na4 23.Qc2 Nc5 24.Nd2 Nfd7 25.Bf1 Ne6 26.Ne2 Ndc5 27.Nc3 Nd4 28.Qc1 Qd8 (Kamsky-Pantela, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2008).

19...cxd5 20.cxd5 Nbxd5!?

• The sacrifice is routine here and has been played at least three time before this game, sarting with former world champion Boris Spassky against Judit Polgar (Match, Budapest, 1993).
• 20...Rc3?! 21.Rac1 Rc8 22.Bb1 Re7 23.Rxc8 Nxc8 24.Rc1 gives White the advantage in space.

21.exd5 Nxd5
BLACK: Vitali Golod
!""""""""#
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Hikaru Nakamura
Position after 21...Nf6d5:p

22.Rac1!?

• White hasn't been too successful from this position, so Nakamura introduces something new.
• If 22.Bg5 then:
• If 22...Qc7!? then:
• 23.Bd3? Nc3! 24.Qe3 e4 25.Rac1 Qd7 26.Bxe4 Bxe4 27.Nxe4 Rxe4 28.Qb6 d5 gives Black a winning position (Tseitlin-Avrukh, Israeli Ch, Haifa, 2008).
• 23.Be4 Nc3 24.Qd2 d5 25.Bc2 d4 26.Be4 is equal.
• 22...f6 23.Be3 Nf4 24.Qd2 Bxf3 25.gxf3 Nxh3+ is equal.

22...Nc3

• The game is equal.
• 22...Nxe3 23.fxe3 e4 24.Nd4 Qg5 25.Nf1 is unclear: White has a slight material advantage, but Black has more space.

23.Qd2 Nxa2 24.Ra1 Nc3 25.b4 d5

• If 25...Qc7 26.Bh6 Red8 27.Bxg7 Kxg7 then:
• 28.Bb3 Bxf3 29.gxf3 Qc6 30.Rac1 gives White's pieces more freedom.
• If 28.Bd3 Bxf3 29.gxf3 Qb6 30.Bf5!? then:
• If 30...Rc6! 31.Rec1 then:
• 31...Qc7 32.Ra3 Ne2+ 33.Nxe2 Rxc1+ 34.Nxc1 gxf5 35.Qg5+ White has the initiative that will yield a material advantage.
• 31...Kh8 32.Rxc3 Rxc3 33.Qxc3 gxf5 34.Nxf5 gives White a piece for two pawns.
• If 30...gxf5?? 31.Qg5+! Kf8 32.Nxf5 Qc7 33.Qg7+ then:
• 33...Ke8 34.Rxe5+ then:
• If 34...dxe5 35.Qg8+ Kd7 36.Qxf7+ Kc6 37.Qe6+ Rd6 38.Nxd6 White wins.
• If 34...Kd7 then after 35.Rxa6 Ne2+ 36.Kh2 Rb8 37.Qxf7+ White wins.

26.Bb3

• 26.Bc5 d4 27.Ne4 Bxe4 28.Bxe4 Nxe4 29.Rxe4 Qd5 gives Black the advantage in the center.

26...Qe7

• The game is equal.
• 26...d4 27.Bh6 Bxf3 28.gxf3 Qd6 29.Bxg7 Kxg7 is equal.

27.Bh6?!

• White misses his best move.
• 27.Bc5! Rxc5 28.bxc5 Qxc5 29.Rac1 b4 30.Ne2 e4 31.Nfd4 is equal.

27...Bh8?

• Black throws away his chance to gain the advantage. White is weakest on the kingside and Black should attack there.
• If 27...f6! (securing the e-pawn before taking further action on the queenside) 28.Ne4 Qxb4! then:
• If 29.Qb2 Bxh6 30.Nxf6+ Kf8 31.Nxe8 Rxe8 32.Nxe5 then:
• 32...Bg7 33.Nd3 Rxe1+ 34.Rxe1 Qd6 35.Qd2 a5 gives Black three passers.
• 32...a5 33.Nd7+ Kf7 34.Ne5+ Rxe5 35.Rxe5 Bf4 is unclear: White has the material advantage, Black the spatial advantage.
• 29.Nxc3 Qxb3 30.Bxg7 Kxg7 31.Nb1 d4 gives Black four pawns to a Knight, including three passed pawns.

28.Nxe5 Bxe5 29.f4 Ne4?

• Now Black loses the game altogether./li]
• 29...Qxb4 30.Rxe5 Rxe5 31.fxe5 Qh4 32.Kh2 Qxg3+ 33.Kxg3 Ne4+ is equal.

30.Rxe4!

• The sacrifice begins a series of exchanges in which White emerges on top.

30...dxe4 31.fxe5 Qxe5
BLACK: Vitali Golod
!""""""""#
$ +t+t+l+%
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$o+ + +oB%
$+o+ W + %
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Hikaru Nakamura
Position after 31...Qe7e5:p

32.Rf1!!

• Although White is at a material disadvantage, he prepares to sacrifice a Rook at f7. Black's King is subjected to a mating attack.

32...Re7 33.Rxf7 Rxf7 34.Qd7!

• White has gained the upper hand; Black cannot save the Bishop at b7.

34...Qe8 35.Qxb7!

• The Rook is pinned and cannot move.

35...Rc4 36.Bxc4 bxc4 37.Qxa6
BLACK: Vitali Golod
!""""""""#
$ + +w+l+%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Hikaru Nakamura
Position after 37...Qb7a6:p

• White has re-established material parity with an overwhelming position.

37...Rc7 38.Qd6

• 38.Qf6 e3 39.Ne2 Re7 40.b5 Qf7 41.Qd4 makes progress with the passed pawn.

38...Rd7 39.Qc5 c3 40.Qc4+ Rf7

• 40...Kh8 41.Qxc3+ Kg8 42.Nxe4 Qd8 43.Nf6+ wins for White.

41.Nxe4 Qd8 42.Qxc3

• The text is better than 42.Nxc3 Qc7 43.Qd4 Qa7 44.Nb5 Qxd4+ 45.Nxd4 Rd7 46.Be3.

42...Qb6+ 43.Qc5 Qxc5+ 44.bxc5 Re7 45.Nd6

• Also good is 45.Nf6+ Kh8 46.Bd2 Kg7 47.Bc3 Re6 48.Nd7+ Kf7 49.Ne5+.

45...Re5 46.c6 Rc5 47.Nc8 Kf7 48.Na7 1-0

• 48...Rc4 49.Be3 Ke6 50.Bb6 Kd6 then:
• 51.c7 Kd7 52.c8Q+ Rxc8 53.Nxc8 Kxc8 even if Black does not move his pawns off of light squares, the Bishop still provides White with infinate reserve tempi to win.
• Also good is 51.Kf2 Rxc6 52.Nxc6 Kxc6 53.Be3.
• Mr. Golod resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Topalov-Kamsky Preview

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]

5. Topalov - Kramnik, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2008

Veselin Topalov
Photo: ChessBase.com (Spanish Language)


Veselin Topalov - Vladimir Kramnik
Corus Chess Tournament (Group A), Round 9
Wijk aan Zee, 22 January 2008

Semi-Slav Queen's Gambit: Anti-Meran Gambit (Moscow Defense)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6

• This is the starting point of the Moscow Defense.
• 5...dxc4 is the Botvinnik Defense.

6.Bh4

• Alternatives stem from 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.e3 Nd7 8.Bd3 dxc4 9.Bxc4.

6...dxc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5

• 8...Bb4 has been tried here, for example, 9.Qc2 b5 10.0-0-0 Qa5 11.h4 g4 12.Ne5 Bb7 13.h5 Nbd7 14.Be2 Nb6 15.Bh4 Be7 16.a3 Nfd7 17.Bxe7 Kxe7 18.Nxg4 c5 19.Qd2 b4 is equal (Matveeva-Chiburdanidze, ITW, Belgrade, 1996).

9.Be2 Bb7 10.0-0

• If 10.h4 then:
• If 10...g4 11.Ne5 then:
• If 11...h5 12.0-0 Nbd7 13.Qc2 Nxe5 14.Bxe5 Bg7 15.Rad1 0-0 then:
• 16.Bg3 Nd7 17.f3 Qb6 18.Kh1 c5 19.d5 Ne5 20.fxg4 hxg4 21.Qc1 Nd3 22.Bxd3 cxd3 23.Rxd3 b4 24.Ne2 exd5 25.exd5 Rae8 26.Rd2 Bh6 27.Bf4 is equal (van Wely-Kobalia, Ol, Calvia, 2004).
• If 11...Nbd7 then:
• If 12.Nxd7 Qxd7 13.Be5 Qe7 14.Bxg4 Rg8 15.Bf3 Nd7 16.Bg3 0-0-0 then:
• If 17.Qc2 Nb6 18.a4 b4 19.a5 bxc3 then:
• 20.bxc3!? Nd7 21.e5 Ba6 22.0-0 Bb5 23.Rfb1 Nb8 24.a6 Nd7 gives Black an extra piece, but White could stir up counterplay on the queenside (Werle-Fridman, EU Ch, Liverpool, 2008).
• If 20.axb6 cxb2 then:
• 21.Ra4 axb6 22.Rxc4 Rxg3 23.fxg3 b5 is equal.
• 21.Qxb2 Qb4+ 22.Qxb4 Bxb4+ 23.Ke2 axb6 gives Black an extra pawn.
• 17.Qe2 e5 18.d5 Nc5 19.0-0-0 Nd3+ 20.Kb1 Kb8 21.dxc6 Bxc6 is equal (Georgescu-M. Gurevich, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).
• If 12.Nxg4 then:
• If 12...Rg8 then:
• If 13.0-0 b4 14.Na4 Nxe4 15.Bxc4 then:
• 15...Qa5 16.Rc1 0-0-0 17.Bh2 Bd6 18.Bd3 Bxh2+ 19.Nxh2 Ndf6 20.Bxe4 Nxe4 gives Black a slight advantage in space (Nakamura-Dreev, IT, Stepanakert, 2005).
• 12...b4 13.Nxf6+ Nxf6 14.Na4 Nxe4 15.Be5 Rg8 16.Bxc4 Bd6 17.Qe2 Bxe5 18.dxe5 c5 is equal (Timoshchenko-Pasasovic, Ol, Torino, 2006).
• 13.Nxf6+ Qxf6 14.e5 Qf5 15.Bf3 0-0-0 16.Qe2 Nb6 17.Rd1 Nd5 18.Ne4 Bb4+ (Onischuk-Dreev, IT, Poikovsky, 2007).
• If 15...h5 16.Ne3 Qf6 17.Be2 0-0-0 18.Bh2 Qxh4 19.Rc1 Bd6 20.Bxd6 Nxd6 21.Bf3 Ne4 gives Black the advantage in space (Avrukh-Akopian, Euro ChT, Crete, 2007).
• 16...Qa5 17.Bh2 Ndf6 18.Bb3 Rd8 19.Qc2 Rxd4 20.Rfd1 Rxd1+ 21.Rxd1 Bh6 is unclear: Black has an extra pawn and White has extra space (Borochov-Lastin, Russian Ch Qual, Tomsk, 2004).
• If 16.f3 Nh7 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.fxg4 Qxh4 19.gxh5 Ng5 20.Qd2 then:
• 20...Nh3+ 21.gxh3 Qg3+ 22.Kh1 Qxh3+ 23.Kg1 Qg3+ 24.Kh1 Qh3+ draw (van Wely-Dreev, Corus A, Wijk aan Zee, 2002).
• 20...Qg3!? 21.Bf3 Rad8 22.Ne2 Qh4 23.Qc3 f6 24.g3 Qh3 25.Qe3 puts Black's Queen in an awkward spot (Werle-Smeets, Dutch Ch, Leeuwarden, 2005).
• If 10...b4 11.hxg5 bxc3 12.bxc3 Nxe4 13.Be5 Nxc3 14.Qc2 Nxe2 then:
• If 15.Kxe2 then:
• 15...Rg8 16.gxh6 Bxh6 17.Rxh6 Nd7 18.Qh7 Rxg2 19.Kf1 Nxe5 20.Qh8+ Ke7 21.Qxe5 is equal (Atakasi-Gysi, Corres, 2002).
• 15...Nd7 16.Bxh8 hxg5 17.Rh7 g4 is equal (Beliavsky-Sveshnikov, IT, Ljubjana, 2002).
• 15.Bxh8 Nf4 16.gxh6 Nxg2+ 17.Kf1 c5 18.h7 Qd5 19.Qd1 Qf5 20.d5 Bxd5 21.Bf6 Nd7 22.h8Q Ne3+ 23.fxe3 Bxf3 24.Qd6 Bxh1+ Black interrupts White's initiative with a series of checks from the Queen (Pelletier-Rodríguez, IT, La Roche-sur-Yon, 2006).

10...Nbd7 11.Ne5 Bg7

• 11...h5 12.Nxd7 Qxd7 13.Be5 Rh6 14.Qc1 Rg6 15.Rd1 Ng4 16.Bg3 f5 17.f3 Ne3 18.Qxe3 f4 19.Bxf4 gxf4 20.Qxf4 0-0-0 21.Qh4 gives White more space and an extra pawn (Iljin-Potkin, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).

12.Nxf7?!

• The sacrifice is dubious in the extreme.
• If 12.Nxd7 Nxd7 13.Bd6 a6 then:
• If 14.a4 e5 then:
• If 15.Bg4 exd4 16.e5 c5 17.Bf3 then:
• 17...Nxe5 18.Bxb7 Qxd6 19.Bxa8 0-0 20.Ne4 Qc7 21.axb5 Rxa8 22.f4 gxf4 23.Qh5 Ra7 24.Rxa6 Rxa6 25.bxa6 Qc6 gives Black the initiative (Deep Junior-Deep Fritz, Computer Match, Elista, 2007).
• 17...Ra7 18.Bxb7 Rxb7 19.Ne4 Nxe5 leaves Black three pawns to the good, but White was able to conjur up some fine counterplay and won the game (Iljin-Nepomniachtchi, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• 15.d5 c5 16.b4 Qb6 17.bxc5 Nxc5 18.Bxc5 Qxc5 19.axb5 axb5 20.Rxa8+ Bxa8 21.Qa1 0-0 22.Qa5 Rb8 23.Rb1 Bf8 24.Nxb5 f5 25.Qa6 Kh8 26.Nc3 Rxb1+ 27.Nxb1 Qb4 28.Qxa8 Qxb1+ 29.Bf1 Qb4 30.exf5 c3 31.Qc6 e4 32.h4 g4 33.g3 Qc5 34.Qf6+ Bg7 35.Qd8+ Bf8 36.Qf6+ Bg7 37.Qd8+ Qf8 38.Qc7 Qxf5 39.d6 Bd4 40.Qd8+ Kg7 draw (Alekseev-Bareev, World Cup, Khanty Mansiysk, 2007).
• If 14.Re1 Bf8 15.Bg3 Bg7 then:
• 16.e5 0-0 17.Bf3 Qe7 18.Ne4 Nb6 19.Qe2 Rad8 20.Rad1 Nd5 is equal (Inakiev-Cheparinov, IT, Baku, 2008).
• 16.Bd6 Bf8 17.Bg3 Bg7 18.Bd6 Bf8 drawn by repetition (Potkin-Motylev, City Op, Moscow, 2008).

12...Kxf7 13.e5 Nd5!

• 13...Rf8?! 14.exf6! Nxf6 15.Bf3 Qd7 16.Qe2 Kg8 17.Rad1 a6 18.Rfe1 Rfe8 19.h4 Rad8 20.hxg5 hxg5 21.Be5 Qf7 is equal (Siram-Meher, Commonwealth Ch, Nigpur, 2008).

14.Ne4 Ke7 15.Nd6 Qb6

• 15...Rb8 16.Bg4 c5 17.f4 Ne3 18.fxg5 Nxf1 19.Qxf1 Qf8 20.Qe2 Bd5 gives Black an extra Rook and an easy win (Beckhuis-Steingrimsson, Euro Ch, Plovdiv. 2008).

16.Bg4 Raf8

• 16...h5 17.Bxh5 Raf8 18.Qg4 Bh6 19.h4 Rhg8 20.hxg5 Bxg5 21.Ne4 Ne3 22.Qxg5+ Rxg5 23.Bh4 Kd8 24.fxe3 Rh8 25.Bxg5+ gives White full material compensation for the Queen and a more active game (Shirov-Karjakin, IT, Foros, 2008).

17.Qc2 Qxd4?

• The novelty ruins Black's chances.
• 17...Rhg8! 18.a4 Ba8 19.Rfe1 Nc7 20.d5 cxd5 21.axb5 a5 Black went on to win (Timman-Ljubojevic, Corus Honoary, Wijk aan Zee, 2008).

BLACK: Vladimir Kramnik
!""""""""#
$ + + T T%
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$+ + + B %
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Veselin Topalov
Position after 17...Qb6d4:p

18.Qg6!

• The game is equal.
• If 18.Bxe6? Bxe5! 19.Nf5+ Rxf5 then:
• 20.Qxf5 Rf8 21.Qh3 Bxg3 22.hxg3 Ne5 wins for Black.
• 20.Bxf5 Qxb2 21.Qe4 Qd4 22.Qe2 Nf4 23.Qf3 Rf8 wins for Black.

18...Qxg4

• If 18...Bf6 19.exf6+ Qxf6 20.Qc2 Nc5 21.Rae1 Nf4 22.Bxf4 then:
• If 22...gxf4 then after 23.Nxb7 Nxb7 24.Rxe6+ Qxe6 25.Bxe6 Kxe6 26.Rd1 White's Queen overmatches Black's uncoordinated pieces.
• If 22...Qxf4? then after 23.Nxb7! Nxb7 24.Rxe6+ Kd8 25.Bf3 White has a material advantage and open lines to the enemy King.

19.Qxg7+!

• White quickly cuts away Black's material advantage.

19...Kd8 20.Nxb7+ Kc8 21.a4?

• White allows the position to level.
• 21.Nd6+! Kc7 22.a4 b4 23.Rfc1 Qh5 24.Rxc4 gives White a substantial advantage in space and more mobility.

21...b4!

• The game is equal.

22.Rac1

• If 22.Nd6+ Kc7 23.Rfc1 Qh5 24.Rxc4 then:
• If 24...Rfg8 25.Rxc6+ Kxc6 26.Rc1+ Nc3 27.Qe7 Qe2 gives Black counterplay.
• If 24...Rhg8? then the Queens slips away after 25.Qh7 Rh8 26.Qc2 c5 27.Rc1 Kb8 28.Nb5 gives White the initiative.

22...c3 23.bxc3 b3?

• The pawn is better protected at b4.
• 23...Nxc3! 24.Kh1 Qd4 25.Nd6+ Kc7 26.Qe7 b3 remains equal.

24.c4!

• Also good is 24.Nd6+! Kc7 25.c4 Nf4 26.h3 Ne2+ 27.Kh2 giving White the initiative.

24...Rfg8 25.Nd6+ Kc7 26.Qf7 Rf8

• If 26...Nf4 27.Rcd1 Ne2+ 28.Kh1 then:
• If 28...Rd8 29.h3 Nxg3+ 30.fxg3 Qxg3 31.Ne4 then:
• 31...Qxe5 32.Nf6 Qe2 33.Nxd7 White wins.
• 31...Rhf8 32.Rxd7+ Rxd7 33.Qxf8 leaves White a piece to the good.
• If 28...Nxg3+ 29.fxg3 Rd8 30.Qe7 then:
• 30...Rhf8 31.Rfe1 Qh5 32.Rd3 b2 33.Rd2 wins for White.
• If 30...Qe2 then after 31.Rfe1 Qf2 32.Nf7 Rhf8 33.Nxd8 Rxd8 34.Rf1 White wins.

BLACK: Vladimir Kramnik
!""""""""#
$ + + T T%
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$+ +m+ O %
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Veselin Topalov
Position after 26...Rg8f8

27.cxd5!

• White will be fully compensated in material for the Queen.

27...Rxf7 28.Rxc6+ Kb8 29.Nxf7

• White has a Rook, a Bishop and a pawn for the Queen (see previous note).

29...Re8 30.Nd6

• Black pieces are in disarray. White has a completely won game.

30...Rh8 31.Rc4 Qe2 32.dxe6 Nb6
BLACK: Vladimir Kramnik
!""""""""#
$ L + + T%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Veselin Topalov
Position after 32...Nd7b6

33.Rb4!

• The passed pawn is placed under lock and key.

33...Ka8 34.e7 Nd5 35.Rxb3 Nxe7 36.Rfb1 Nd5

• White threatened 27.Rb7.

37.h3 h5 38.Nf7 Rc8 39.e6 a6 40.Nxg5

• White not only takes Black's pawn but protects his own passer.

40...h4 41.Bd6 Rg8

• 41...Re8 42.a5 Ne7 43.R3b2 Qc4 44.Rb4 Qe2 45.Bxe7 wins for White.

42.R3b2 Qd3 43.e7 Nf6 44.Be5 Nd7 45.Ne6 1-0

• If 45...Qc4 then after 46.Nf8! Qc8 47.Rb8+ Nxb8 48.Rxb8+ Qxb8 49.Bxb8 the pawn queens.
• Former world champion Kramnik resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Morozevich - Kamsky, Tal Memorial, Moscow, 2008

7This is a very instructive King-and-pawn endgame.



Gata Kamsky
Photo: ChessBase.com (Spanish Language)


Alexander Morozevich - Gata Kamsky
Tal Memorial Tournament, Round 8
Moscow, 26 August 2008

Closed German Game: Short Opening (Caro-Kann Defense)

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 c5

• If 5...Nd7 6.0-0 then:
• If 6...Ne7 then:
• If 7.Nh4 Bg6 8.Nd2 c5 9.c3 Nc6 10.Nxg6 hxg6 11.Nf3 Be7 12.Be3 a6 13.g3 then:
• 13...g5 14.Kg2 cxd4 15.cxd4 Nf8 16.a3 f6 17.h3 Qd7 18.b4 Bd8 19.Rc1 gives White the advantage in space (I. Smirin-Li Wenliang, IT, Beijing, 1996).
• 13...b5 14.h4 Nb6 15.b3 c4 16.Kg2 a5 17.Nd2 Rc8 18.Rc1 a4 19.bxc4 bxc4 is equal (Effimenko-L'Ami, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).
• If 7.Nbd2 h6 8.Nb3 Bh7 then:
• 9.Bd2 Ng6 10.Rc1 Be7 11.c4 dxc4 12.Bxc4 0-0 13.g3 Re8 14.Re1 Bf8 15.Na5 Rb8 16.b4 Ne7 17.Bf1 Nd5 18.a3 N7b6 is equal (Malakhov-Jobava, Euro ChT, Kallithea, 2008).
• 9.c3 Rc8 10.Bd2 Nf5 11.a4 Be7 12.g4 Nh4 13.Nxh4 Bxh4 14.f4 f5 15.Bd3 0-0 16.h3 Qe7 17.Be3 Rf7 18.Kg2 Rcf8 19.Qc2 Kh8 is equal (Pavasovic-Maceija, Cyberspace, 2006).
• If 6...Bg6 7.Nbd2 Nh6 then:
• 8.c3 Nf5 9.Ne1 c5 10.Ndf3 Be7 11.Nd3 cxd4 12.cxd4 0-0 13.Nf4 Nh4 14.Nxh4 Bxh4 15.g3 Bg5 16.Nxg6 hxg6 17.f4 Be7 18.Be3 Qb6 19.Qd2 Qb4 20.Qxb4 Bxb4 21.Rfc1 Rac8 22.Kf1 Nb6 23.Rxc8 Rxc8 24.Rc1 draw (Leko-Akopian, Asrian Mem Rapid, Yerevan, 2008).
• 8.Nb3 Nf5 9.Bd2 Be7 10.g4 Nh4 11.Nxh4 Bxh4 12.f4 f5 13.Bd3 Be7 14.Nc1 Qb6 15.Nb3 Qc7 16.c4 fxg4 17.Bxg6+ hxg6 18.Qc2 Nf8 19.cxd5 exd5 20.f5 0-0-0 21.Bf4 gxf5 22.e6 Bd6 23.Qxf5 Re8 24.Nc5 Bxf4 25.Rxf4 b6 26.e7+ draw (Radjabov-I. Popov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2008).

6.Be3 Nd7

• If 6...cxd4 7.Nxd4 Ne7 then:
• If 8.Bg5 Qa5+ 9.Nc3 Bg6 10.Nb3 Qb6 11.Nb5 Nec6 12.Be3 Qd8 13.f4 a6 14.Nc3 Bb4 15.Qd2 0-0 16.a3 Be7 17.0-0 Nd7 18.Rad1 h6 19.Rfe1 Nb6 is equal (Staudler-Lauritsen, Corres, 1999).
• 8.c4 Nbc6 9.Qa4 a6 10.Nc3 dxc4 11.0-0-0 Bd3 12.Bxd3 cxd3 13.Rxd3 Qa5 14.Qxa5 Nxa5 15.f4 Rd8 16.Rhd1 h5 17.h4 Nec6 18.Nxc6 Rxd3 19.Rxd3 Nxc6 20.a3 Rh6 draw (Inarkiev-Ivanchuk, Euro Ch, Kusadasi, 2006).

7.0-0

• If 7.Nbd2 then:
• If 7...c4 then:
• 8.a4 h6 9.b3 cxb3 10.Nxb3 Rc8 11.Ra2 Qc7 12.Bd3 Bxd3 13.Qxd3 Ne7 14.0-0 Qc4 15.Rb1 b6 16.Qf1 Nc6 is equal (Svidler-Topalov, IT, Nanjing, 2008).
• 8.c3 b5 9.0-0 Nh6 10.Ne1 Bg6 11.g4 f6 12.exf6 gxf6 13.Ng2 Nb6 14.b3 Nf7 15.a4 Nd6 16.axb5 Nxb5 17.Qc1 Qc7 18.bxc4 dxc4 19.Qb2 makes Black's King safety a major concern (Alekseev-David, Euro ChT, Kallithea, 2008).
• 8.0-0 b5 9.Ne1 Bg6 10.g4 Bb4 11.c3 Ba5 12.Ng2 Ne7 13.Nf4 b4 14.Rc1 bxc3 15.bxc3 Nb6 16.h4 h5 17.Nxg6 Nxg6 18.gxh5 Nxh4 19.Bg4 also presents Black with some difficulty bringing the King to safety (Rublevsky-Dreev, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2005).
• 7...Ne7 8.dxc5 Nc6 9.Nb3 Bg4 10.Nfd4 Bxe2 11.Qxe2 Ndxe5 12.f4 Nc4 13.Nxc6 bxc6 14.Bd4 Qh4+ 15.g3 Qe7 is equal (Short-Adianto, IT, Djakarta, 1996).

7...Ne7 8.c4 dxc4 9.Na3 c3

• 9...Nd5 10.Nxc4 b5 11.Bg5 Qb8 12.Ne3 h6 13.Bh4 Nxe3 14.fxe3 a6 15.a4 b4 16.Nd2 g5 17.Bg3 Qa7 18.Nc4 gives White a tactical edge in the center (Halsinger-Stratling, Op, Hoogeveen, 2008).

10.Nb5 Nd5 11.Nxc3 Nxe3 12.fxe3 Be7!?

• 12...cxd4 13.exd4 Be7 14.Qb3 Rb8 15.a4 0-0 16.a5 b5 17.axb6 Rxb6 18.Qa2 is equal (Knebel-Johansson, Corres, 1994).

13.Qb3

• White emerges from the theoretical phase of the game with the advantage in space.
• 13.Rc1 0-0 14.Bb5 Nb6 15.Qe2 Rc8 16.Rfd1 is equal.

BLACK: Gata Kamsky
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Alexander Morozevich
Position after 13.Qd1b3

13...0-0!?

• Black sacrifices a pawn for counterplay.
• If 13...Qa5 14.e4 Bg4 15.Bb5 then:
• 15...Qb4 16.Qxb4 cxb4 17.Ne2 a6 18.Bxd7+ Kxd7 gives White a slight advantage in space.
• If 15...Rd8 16.d5 then:
• 16...Qb4 17.d6 Bf8 18.Qxb4 cxb4 White's center has a paralyzing effect on Black.
• 16...exd5 17.exd5 a6 18.Bxd7+ Rxd7 19.Rad1 b5 20.Qc2 gives White the advantage in space, especially in the center.

14.Qxb7 Rb8 15.Qxa7 cxd4

• The immediate 15...Rxb2 is premature: if 16.Bb5 Nb6 17.a4 then:
• 17...c4 18.Rfc1 Bc2 19.a5 Nd5 20.Nxd5 exd5 21.Qd7! puts an end to Black's counterpaly.
• 17...cxd4 18.exd4 Bg4 19.Rad1 Bb4 20.Ne4 gives White the advantage in space.

16.exd4 Ra8!

• Black strikes back.

17.Qb7 Rb8 18.Qa7?!

• 18.Qa6! puts the Queen on a better diagonal than the text move; if now 18...Rxb2 19.Rac1 f6 20.exf6 Bxf6 21.Nd1 Rb6 22.Qc4 White remains a pawn to the good.

18...Rxb2 19.Bb5 Nb6 20.a4 Bg4 21.Kh1 Bb4 22.Na2

• 22.Ne2 Nd5 23.h3 Bxf3 24.Rxf3 Qg5 25.Bd3 gives Black a tougher time taking advantage of his counterplay opportunities.

22...Be7 23.Nc1 Nd5

• 23...Bxf3! 24.gxf3 Bb4 25.Ne2 Nd5 equalizes.

24.Nd3 Rc2 25.Rac1!

• 25.a5?! Ne3 26.Rf2 Bxf3 27.gxf3 Bh4 28.Rxc2 Nxc2

25...Rxc1 26.Nxc1

• 26.Rxc1?! allows 26...Bxf3 27.gxf3 Bg5 when Black has more counterplay.

26...Ne3 27.Re1

• 27.Rf2 Nd1 28.Rc2 Bxf3 29.gxf3 Bb4 30.Nd3 Bc3

27...Nf5 28.Bc6 Bb4

• 28...Bxf3 29.Bxf3 Qxd4 30.Qxd4 Nxd4

29.Rd1 Bxf3 30.Bxf3 Qh4 31.a5 Be1 32.Ne2

• The text move is practically forced.
• 32.h3? Ne3 33.Rd3 Bd2 34.Ne2 Qe1+ turns the game in Black's favor.

32...g5
BLACK: Gata Kamsky
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WHITE: Alexander Morozevich
Position after 32...g7g5

33.Qb7!

• White sacrifices the passed pawn to stop Black's counterplay.
• 33.Ra1 Bf2 34.a6 g4 35.Bc6 g3 36.h3 Nxd4 37.Nxd4 Bxd4 is equal.

33...Bxa5 34.g3 Qh6 35.Qe4

• If 35.Ra1 Bd8 36.Qc6 Ne3 then:
• After 37.Qc3 g4 38.Nf4 gxf3 39.Qxe3 White will win the f-pawn.
• 37.Qe4 Nd5 38.Qc2 Ne3 39.Qc3 transposes to the main variation.

35...Ne7 36.Ra1 Bd8 37.Qd3 Ng6 38.Nc3!?

• The Knight has no good squares and probably would do better to not move until forced to move.
• 38.Qe3 Be7 39.Kg2 f6 40.exf6 Rxf6 41.Ra5 maintains White's advantage.

38...Be7!?

• White is still better after 38...f6 39.exf6 Bxf6 40.Bg4 e5 41.d5.

39.Ne4 Rd8 40.Qe3 Qf8 41.Kg2

• 41.Rf1 Rd7 42.Qf2 Rd8 43.Bg2 g4 44.Rb1 gives White more freedom.

41...Rb8 42.Bh5!?

• 42.Nxg5! Qh6 43.h4 Bxg5 44.Qxg5 Qxg5 45.hxg5 gives White an extra pawn for the endgame.

42...Qc8?!

• 42...Rb2+! 43.Kg1 Qd8 44.Rc1 Rb4 45.Rd1 Qb6 46.Qf2 White remains better, but Black's position is much improved.

43.Rc1 Rb2+ 44.Kh3?!

• As if this flesh which walls about our life,
  Were brass impregnable, and humour'd thus
  Comes at the last and with a little pin
  Bores through his castle wall, and farewell king! (Richard II, 3.2.167-70)
• This is an inperceptable mistake, but the beginning of White's downfall.
• After 44.Kg1 Qd7 45.Bf3 Qa7 46.Nf2 Qa5 47.Rd1 White has more freedom

BLACK: Gata Kamsky
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Alexander Morozevich
Position after 44.Kg2h3

44...Qb7!

• Black equalizes.
• The text is better than 44...Qd8 45.Rf1 Qd5 46.Qf3 when:
• 46...Nf4+ 47.gxf4 Rb3 48.Nc3 Qxd4 49.Rc1 gxf4 considerably improves Black's chances of holding the game.
• 46...Kh8 47.Qc3 Rb3 48.Qc8+ Kg7 49.Nf6 Qd8 takes the wind out of White's attack.

45.Bxg6

• 45.Bf3 Qb5 46.Bg4 Kg7 47.Bh5 Rb3 remains equal.

45...fxg6 46.g4 h5

• If 46...Bd8 47.Rd1 Be7 48.Rd2 then:
• 48...Rb3 49.Rd3 Rb4 50.Nxg5 Bxg5 51.Qxg5 remains equal.
• 48...Rb4 49.Kg3 Qd5 50.Nc3 Qc6 51.Rd3 Qc4 remains equal.

47.Rc3 Qa6 48.Rd3?!

• After White misses an opportunity to force a draw.
• 48.Qf3 hxg4+ 49.Kxg4 Qa1 50.Nf6+ Kg7 51.Ne8+ Kg8 52.Nf6+ draws.

48...Qa1 49.Nd2

• If 49.Ng3 then after 49...hxg4+ 50.Kxg4 Rxh2 51.Rd2 Qc1 Black wins.
• If 49.Qf3 then Black wins after 49...hxg4+ 50.Kxg4 Qg1+ 51.Qg3 Rg2.

49...Qd1 50.Qf3 Qe1 51.gxh5

• 51.Qe4 hxg4+ 52.Kxg4 Qh4+ 53.Kf3 Qh3+ 54.Ke2 Qxh2+ gives Black a strong game.

51...Rxd2 52.Rxd2 Qxd2 53.hxg6 Qf4 54.Qh5?

• White misses yet another draw, this time the game is lost.
• 54.Qxf4 gxf4 55.Kg4 Bg5 56.h4 draws.

BLACK: Gata Kamsky
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Alexander Morozevich
Position after 54.Qf3h5

54...Qh4+!

• Exchanging Queens here gives Black the opportunity to pick off White's pawns while keeping his own.

55.Qxh4 gxh4 56.Kg4 Kg7

• This is clearly the best move. The game comes down to a minor piece against two extra pawns, but one of those pawns is doomed.

57.h3 Bd8

• Also good is 57...Kxg6 58.Kf4 Ba3 59.Ke4 Kf7 60.d5 Ke7 61.Kd4 exd5 62.Kxd5 Bb2 63.e6 Bc3 the Bishop will save Black's last pawn, winning.
• If 59.Kg4 Bb2 60.Kxh4 Kf5 then:
• If 61.Kg3 Bxd4 62.Kf3 Bxe5 63.Ke3 Bf4+ 64.Kf3 e5 Black wins easily.
• 61.d5 exd5 62.e6 Kf4 63.e7 Bf6+ wins for Black.

58.Kf4 Bb6 59.Ke4

• 59.Kg4 loses to 59...Kxg6 60.Kxh4 Bxd4.

BLACK: Gata Kamsky
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WHITE: Alexander Morozevich
Position after 59.Kf4e4

59...Bxd4!

• Black finds an elegant finish.
• Also good is 59...Kxg6 60.d5 exd5+ 61.Kxd5 Kf7 62.Kd6 Bd8 when White e-pawn is stopped and the Black King is closer to the h-file.

60.Kxd4

• The reader, especially if the reader is a beginner, would be well advised to set up the diagrammed position and play the rest of the game out.
• It will take White's King three moves to take the pawn, another move to get the King out of the way and three more to promote the pawn (total: seven).

60...Kxg6

• It will take Black's King four moves to capture the pawn, one to clear the road and three more to promote (total: eight). Is Black lost?

61.Ke4

• No, Black is not lost. The fact is that White cannot maintain the opposition and keep the pawn at e5. The key is knowing the basic maneuver of King triangulation.
• 61.Ke3 Kf5 62.Kf3 Kxe5 63.Ke3 Kf5 64.Kf3 e5! (Black takes the opposition) 65.Ke3 e4! 66.Ke2 Kf4 67.Kf2 e3+! (Black again takes the opposition) 68.Ke1 Kg3! wins for Black, for White cannot stop both pawns.
• If 61.Kc5 Kg5! (triangulating) then:
• If 62.Kc4 then after 62...Kf4 63.Kd4 Kf5 White is in Zunzwang.
• If 62.Kd6 then after 62...Kf5! 63.Kc5 Kxe5 Black wins.

61...Kg5!

• Black triangulates.

62.Ke3

• 62.Kd4 loses to 62...Kf4! putting White in Zugzwang.

62...Kf5 63.Kf3 Kxe5 64.Kg4 Ke4!

• Black take the opposition.

65.Kxh4 Kf4

• Black maintains the opposition, forcing White to make two moves to clear the way for his pawn, which is five more moves away from promotion. Black wins by two moves.

66.Kh5 e5!

• Black wins the pawn race by a country mile.

67.h4

• If 67.Kg6 then:
• 67...Kf3?? loses a critical tempo and now 68.h4 e4 69.h5 draws.
• 67...e4! 68.h4 transposes to the text.

67...e4 68.Kg6 e3 69.h5 e2 0-1

• Alexander Sergeyevich resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Update (Thursday)

Topa leads match by 1

Former FIDE world champion Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria won the second game of the candidates' match in Sofia yesterday to take a one point lead over Russo-American grandmaster Gata Kamsky.

Topalov, playing Black, defended against Kamsky's Spanish Game with a petit neo-classical defense (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Bc5). Kamsky went in for a risky pawn sacrifice which has been played before, but followed it up passively. Topalov took advantage of White's passivity and his extra pawn to gain the initiative. Kamsky committed a positional error on the 22nd move and never recovered. He resigned after 32 moves when Topalov forced him into a position where loss of a piece could not be prevented.

The first game, played Tuesday, ended in a draw.

The players were off today. The match resumes tomorrow with Topalov playing White.

The winner of the match will challenge world champion Vishy Anand to a match for the world title to be held later this year.


Kurnosov leads Aeroflot Open after 3 rounds

Russian grandmaster Igor Kurnosov, winner of last month's Hastings Chess Congress, continues his torrid ways in Moscow by leading the prestigious Aeroflot Open with a perfect score after three rounds.

Kurnosov defeated Russian IM Pavel Ponkratov today while the tournament's top seed, Shakhiyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan, defeated Russian GM Pavel Smirnov. Along with Kurnosov, Ponkaratov and Smirnov also entered today's play two for two. Mamedyarov, who confirmed his participation in the event only two days befor it began Tuesday, moves into a four-way tie for second with Ukrainian GM Alexander Moiseenko and Russian GMs Boris Grachov and Evgeny Tomashevsky at 2½ points each.

Kurnosov will play Black again Moiseenko in tomorrow's fourth round while Mamedyarov will have White against Tomasheveky.



Linares begins; Vishy wins in first round

The first round of the annual international tournament in Linares, Andalucía (Spain) began today with reigning world champion Vishy Anand of India playing White and defeating Azerbaijani GM Teimour Radjabov in 61 moves.

The three other games scheduled today ended in draws.

Anand is gunning for his third consectutive Linares championship.


Fourteen players tied for first in Pfalz Open after six rounds

Fourteen players including reigning European champion and former two-time Dutch national champion Sergei Tiviakov, defending tournament champion Tomasz Markowski of Poland and 19-year-old Slovenian IM Anna Muzychuk are tied for first palce with 5 points each after six rounds at the second annual Pfalz Open in Neustadt in the German state of Pfalz.

The Pfalz Open started only last year but promises to grow into a second tournament to be played in mid-February with the Aeroflot Open in Moscow.

The nine-round Pfalz Open began Sunday and will run through this Sunday. Two rounds were played Monday.