Thu Aug 2, 2012, 04:01 PM

Chess (August): Wang Hao sqeeks by Magnus to win Biel

The JR Chess Report and Gloat Free Scores theme music: Merrick, The Look Sharp, Be Sharp March (From a broadcast of The Gillette Cavalcade of Spots).

Wang Hao sqeeks by Magnus to win Biel

Photo by Datti 4 in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wang_Hao_%28chess%29.JPG)
(Public Domain)

Chinese grandmaster Wang Hao survived three losses in ten rounds -- two of them to his nearest rival, world número uno Magnus Carlsen -- to win the Grandmaster tournament at the 49th annual Biel Chess Festival, completed just minutes ago in Bern Canton, Switzerland.

Magnus started the day in first place with Wang Xiansheng in striking distance in second place. However, while Wang won his game from Viorel Bologan, who entered the event in the third round when Alexander Morozevich withdrew over health concerns, Magnus could only draw against French GM Etienne Bacrot in spite of his heroic effort to conjur a win out of a drawn ending as he has done so often before.

Wang Xiansheng benefitted from his six victories and only one draw and the fútbol place ranking system that rewards those who win more and penalizes those who draw too often. Under this method (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw), Wang Xiansheng scored 19 points. Magnus scored four wins, no losses and six draws for 18 points. Under the traditional chess tournament ranking system (a full point for a win and a half point for a draw), Magnus would have finished first with 7 points, just ahead of Wang Xiansheng with 6½. Under the trraditional system, the day would have started with Magnus in first place by a full point, needing only to avoid loss to finish a clear first.

American national champion Hikaru Nakamura and Dutch national champion Anish Giri finished tie for third at 16 points each (both had four wins, two losses and four draws).

Other Events Underway

Dutch Open, Dieren This just in: Jan Smeets has won the Dutch Open. The final round was plaeyd today.

Politiken Cup, Helsignør, Denmark Ends Sunday. Helsignør is also to us bardophiles as Elsinore, the scene of the Bard's Hamlet. Leading with six points each after seven rounds: Ivan Cheparinov (Bulgaria), Stelios Halkias (Greece), Jonny Hector (Sweden) and Robert Markus (Serbia).

81st Ukrainian Championships, Kiev Ends Tuesday. Andrei Volokitin leads with 5 points out of six.

World Junior Championships, Athens Twelve rounds beginning today thru 14 August (9 August is a rest day). Reigning Chinese national champion Ding Liren is the top seed in the general group; in the girls' group the top seeds are Anastasia Bodnaruk (Russia) and defending champion Deysi Cori Tello (Peru).

Upcoming in August

Russian National Championships, Moscow 3-13 August. Peter Svidler is the defending champion in the general competition; Valentina Gunina is the women's champion.

Chess Olympics, Istanbul 27 August-10 September. The Tea Partiers are going to have a hissy. Of the ten players making up the US general and women's squads, there are only two natural born citizens (Hikaru Nakamura and Ray Robson) and neither of them was born on American soil.

39 replies, 2822 views

Reply to this thread

Always highlight: 10 newest replies | Replies posted after I mark a forum

Replies to this discussion thread

39 replies	Author	Time	Post
Chess (August): Wang Hao sqeeks by Magnus to win Biel (Original post)	Jack Rabbit	Aug 2012	OP
Games from July	Jack Rabbit	Aug 2012	#1
Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Dortmund	Jack Rabbit	Aug 2012	#2
Caruana - Kramnik, Round 8	Jack Rabbit	Aug 2012	#3
Karjakin - Fridman, Round 5	Jack Rabbit	Aug 2012	#4
Ponomariov - Caruana, Round 2 (Full Opening Theory: Spanish Royal Sicilian Game)	Jack Rabbit	Aug 2012	#25
Gustafsson - Kramnik, Round 2	Jack Rabbit	Aug 2012	#27
Women's Grand Prix, 5th Leg, Jermuk, Armenia	Jack Rabbit	Aug 2012	#5
Hou Yifan - Ruan Lufei, Round 8	Jack Rabbit	Aug 2012	#6
Koneru - Mkrtchian, Round 10	Jack Rabbit	Aug 2012	#28
N. Kosintseva - Danileian, Round 9 (Closed Caro-Kann Opening Theory)	Jack Rabbit	Aug 2012	#29
Dutch National Championships, Amsterdam	Jack Rabbit	Aug 2012	#7
Giri - Van Kempen, Round 6	Jack Rabbit	Aug 2012	#8
Lanchava - Peng, Women's Group, Round 2	Jack Rabbit	Aug 2012	#9
Russia - China Team Match, St. Petersburg	Jack Rabbit	Aug 2012	#10
Jakovenko - Li Chao, General Group/Standard Time Control, Round 4	Jack Rabbit	Aug 2012	#11
Ding Liren - Vitiugov, General Group/Standard Time Control, Round 1	Jack Rabbit	Aug 2012	#20
Yu Yangyi - Vitiugov, General Group/Standard Time Control, Round 5	Jack Rabbit	Aug 2012	#21
Pogonina - Zhao Xue, Women's Group/Standard Time Control, Round 3	Jack Rabbit	Aug 2012	#22
Ding Yixin - Baira Kovanova, Women's Group/Standard Time Control, Round 1	Jack Rabbit	Aug 2012	#23
Zhao Xue - Kosteniuk, Women's Group/Standard Time Control, Round 2	Jack Rabbit	Aug 2012	#24
World Rapid & Blitz Championships, Astana, Kazakhstan	Jack Rabbit	Aug 2012	#12
Karjakin - Grischuk, Rapid Championship, Round 4	Jack Rabbit	Aug 2012	#13
Mamedyarov - Grischuk, Blitz Championship, Round 25	Jack Rabbit	Aug 2012	#14
Sixth International Open, Leiden	Jack Rabbit	Aug 2012	#15
Howell - Negi, Round 8	Jack Rabbit	Aug 2012	#16
B. Socko - Negi, Round 6	Jack Rabbit	Aug 2012	#17
49th Canadian Open, Victoria	Jack Rabbit	Aug 2012	#18
Hansen - Mikhalevski, Round 7	Jack Rabbit	Aug 2012	#19
Updates (Sunday, August 5)	Jack Rabbit	Aug 2012	#26
Updates (August 12): Six-Way Playoff in Russian Championship; Pogonina wins Russ Women's Title	Jack Rabbit	Aug 2012	#30
Update (Monday, August 13): Dmitry Andeikin is new Russian Champion	Jack Rabbit	Aug 2012	#31
Update (Tuesday, August 14): Svetozar Gligoric dies	Jack Rabbit	Aug 2012	#32
Updates (August 15): World Jr Championships Conclude	Jack Rabbit	Aug 2012	#33
Update (Saturday, August 18): French Championships after Round 6	Jack Rabbit	Aug 2012	#34
Update (Wedneday, August 22): Vachier Lagrave, Skripchenko lead French Championships	Jack Rabbit	Aug 2012	#35
Updates (Thursday, August 23): Four tied for lead in French General Championship	Jack Rabbit	Aug 2012	#36
Update (Friday, August 24): Tragedy cancels final round of General French Championship	Jack Rabbit	Aug 2012	#37
Update to the latest Update: Communique from the French Chess Federation says playoff canceled	Jack Rabbit	Aug 2012	#38
Update (Tuesday, August 28): 40th Chess Olympiad begins in Istanbul	Jack Rabbit	Aug 2012	#39

Response to Jack Rabbit (Original post)

Thu Aug 2, 2012, 04:05 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,709 posts)

1. Games from July

Your humble hare acknowledges the assistance of Rybka 4 and Fritz 13 on analysis.

Diagrams on the Jack Rabbit Chess Report are made with Aquarium, a commercially available interface for Rybka.

Diagrams and other images are hosted on .com.

BLACK

WHITE
White to move
(This position is a theoretical draw)

I would like to thank my impressive and loyal staff: Buccaneer, Spitfire, Desperado, Swashbuckler, Pancho and Robin Hood.

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #1)

Thu Aug 2, 2012, 04:07 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,709 posts)

2. Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Dortmund

DortmundPhoto by Mathias Bigge in Wikipedia
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #2)

Thu Aug 2, 2012, 04:12 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,709 posts)

3. Caruana - Kramnik, Round 8

Fabiano Caruana, who has been red hot all year, won the grandmaster tournament at the Spakassen Chess Meeting in Dortmund.

His eighth round victory over former world champion Vladimir Kramnik was crucial to his tournament championship.

Fabiano Caruana
Photo by Ted Cross( http://www.flickr.com/people/39649493@N00) from flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/39649493@N00/2307926939)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Fabiano Caruana - Vladimir Kramnik
Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Round 8
Dortmund, 21 July 2012

Petit Spanish Royal Game: Neo-Classical Defense

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.0-0 d6 6.c3 0-0 7.Nbd2 Ne7

For a discussion of this opening up to here, see McShane-Kramnik, IT, London, 2011.

8.d4

8.h3 Ng6 9.Re1 c6 10.Ba4 Re8 11.d4 Bb6 is equal (Aronian-Kramnik, Match, Zürich, 2012).

8...exd4 9.cxd4 Bb6 10.b3 (N)

10.Bd3 Bg4 11.Qa4 Ng6 12.e5 dxe5 13.Bxg6 fxg6 14.dxe5 Qd7 gives Black a slight advantange (Zhang Xiaowen-Shen Yang, Chinese League, Beijing, 2012).

10...d5!?

White has a small advantage in space.
10...Ng6 11.h3 c6 12.Bd3 Re8 13.Re1 is equal.

BLACK: Vladimir Kramnik

WHITE: Fabiano CaruanaPosition after 10...d6d5

11.e5!

The pawn at e5 will prove an irritant to Black.

11...Ne4 12.Bd3 Bf5 13.Qe2 Nc6

If 13...Nxd2 14.Bxd2 then:

If 14...Qd7 15.Rfe1 then:

15...h5 16.h3 Rfe8 17.Rac1 a5 18.Be3 Bxd3 19.Qxd3 continues to give White a small advantage in space.
15...Bxd3 16.Qxd3 Qf5 17.Re3 Qxd3 18.Rxd3 Rfe8 19.Re1 continues to give White a small advantage in space.

If 14...Bxd3 15.Qxd3 then:

15...Qd7 16.Rae1 Qf5 17.Re3 Qxd3 18.Rxd3 continues to gives White a small advantage in space.
15...Ng6?! 16.Rfe1 h6 17.Rac1 a5 18.Re2 Nh4 19.Re3 gives White a fair advantage in space.

14.Bb2 Nxd2 15.Qxd2 Be4 16.Be2!?

Black gives his opponent time to counterattack in the center.
If 16.Qe3 then:

16...f5 17.Be2 f4 18.Qd2 h6 19.h3 continues to give White a small advantage in space.
16...f6? 17.Bxe4! dxe4 18.Qxe4 a5 19.Rfd1! gives White a winning position.

16...f6!

This move, which is a loser in the previous note, works like a charm here. The game is again equal.

17.b4 fxe5 18.dxe5 Kh8!?

Black's King is perfectly safe at g8; the move could have been used for something more active.
18...Qe7 19.b5 Na5 20.Rae1 Rad8 21.Qg5 Rfe8 22.Qg4 continues to give White a slight edge.

19.b5!

White seizes the initiative and drives the Knight back.

19...Ne7

19...Na5 20.Ng5! Rf5 21.Nxe4 dxe4 22.Qxd8+ Rxd8 23.e6 gives White a comfortable game with an advancing passer.

20.Ng5

If 20.Nd4 Nf5 21.a4 Qh4 22.Nf3 then:

If 22...Qg4 23.a5 Bc5 then:

If 24.Rac1 b6 25.Qg5! then:

25...Bxf3 26.Qxg4 Bxg4 27.Bxg4 Rae8 28.Rcd1 d4 29.axb6 axb6 30.Rfe1 gives White a small advantage in space.
25...Qxg5!? 26.Nxg5 Rae8 27.Rfd1 h6 28.Nxe4 dxe4 29.Rc4 gives White a comfortable game.

If 24.Qg5 then:

24...Qxg5 25.Nxg5 Nd4 26.Bc4 dxc4 27.Nxe4 Ne2+ 28.Kh1 gives White a small advantage.
24...Bxf3!? 25.Qxg4! Bxg4 26.Bxg4 Rae8 27.Rad1 d4 28.Rfe1

If 22...Bxf3 23.Bxf3 then:

23...Nd4 24.Bxd4 Qxd4 25.Qxd4 Bxd4 26.Rad1 Bxe5 27.Rxd5
If 23...c6 24.a5 Bd4 25.a6 then:

25...Rab8 26.axb7 Rxb7 27.Bxd4 Qxd4 28.Qxd4 Nxd4 29.bxc6 gives White two advanced passers and the initiative.
If 25...Bxb2? 26.Qxb2 Qe7 27.Qa3 then:

27...b6 28.bxc6 Rac8 29.Rfd1 Rfd8 30.g4 leaves White with an extra pawn and the initiative.
27...bxa6 28.bxc6 Qxe5 29.Rae1 Qd4 30.c7 gives White a winning position.

20...Ng6?!

Here is another move that fails to satisfy the demands of the position.
If 20...Nf5! then:

21.e6 Qe7 22.a4 Be3 23.fxe3 Qxg5 24.Bd3 gives White a small advantage
21.Bf3!? Ne3! 22.Ne6 Nxf1 23.Rxf1 Qe7 24.Nxf8 Rxf8 is equal.

21.g3!

White prevents the Knight at g6 from moving forward. White has a passed pawn and, if he advances the passed e-pawn, command of the long dark diagonal leading to the Black King

21...Qe7?!

This is not the best way to block the pawn. It doesn'
21...Rf5 22.Nxe4 dxe4 23.Qb4 Nxe5 24.Qxe4 succeeds in removing many of White's threats, leaving White with a fair advantage.
Less good is 21...h6 22.Nxe4 dxe4 when:

If 23.Qc2! Qg5 then:

24.Kh1 Nxe5 25.Qxe4 Rfe8 26.Rad1 Nf7 27.Qxb7 gives White an extra pawn, the Bishop pair sweep over an open center and a gigantic advantage in space.
If 24.Qxe4?! Rf4! 25.Qxb7 Raf8 26.Bc1 Rxf2 27.Bxg5 gives White a small advantage.

If 23.Qxd8 Raxd8 24.Rad1 Rxd1 then:

If 25.Bxd1 Rf5 26.Kg2 then:

If 26...Nxe5 27.g4 then:

27...Nxg4 28.Bxg4 Rxb5 29.Bc1 gives Black three pawns for a Bishop; White's Bishop pair give him greater activity.
27...Rg5?? drops a piece to 28.h4 Rxg4+ 29.Bxg4.

26...Rg5?? 27.Bc2! Nxe5 28.h4 wins a piece.

25.Rxd1?? drops a piece to 25...Rxf2! 26.Bd4 Rxe2.

BLACK: Vladimitr Kramnik

WHITE: Fabiano CarauanaPosition after 21...Qd8e7

22.e6!

White's advanced passer gives him a strong game.

22...Rf5 23.Nxe4!?

White misses an opportunity to convert his passed pawn into a material advantage.
If 23.Nf7+! Rxf7 24.exf7 Qxf7 25.Bd3 Ba5 26.Qc2 gives White the exchange and a comfortable game.

23...dxe4 24.Qd7 Raf8!?

Black attack when defense against the passer is the the order of the moment.
24...Qxd7! 25.exd7 Rd8 26.Rad1 h5 27.Bc4 Ne5 28.Bxe5 gives White nothing more than a slight advantage with his precious pawn blockaded.

25.Qxe7

This is good, but the pawn sacrifice is even better.
If 25.Rad1!! Rxf2 26.Rxf2 then:

If 26...Bxf2+ 27.Kg2 Bc5 then:

If 28.Qxe7 Nxe7 29.Bd4 Bd6 30.Bxa7 then:

30...Nf5 31.g4 Nh4+ 32.Kh1 Re8 33.b6 completely undermines White's position.
30...b6? 31.Bxb6 cxb6 32.Rxd6 gives White an extra pawn and an active Rook.

28.Rf1 Rxf1 29.Bxf1 Nf8 30.Qxe7 Bxe7 31.Bc4 gives White greater activity and space for the pawn.

If 26...Rxf2?! then:

27.Bd4! Rf8 28.Qxe7 Nxe7 29.Bxb6 cxb6 30.Rd7 wins material.
27.Kh1!? Bc5! 28.Qc8+ Rf8 29.Qxb7 Qxe6 30.Qxc7 gives White a comfortable good.

25...Nxe7 26.Ba3 Re8

If 26...Rxf2? 27.Kh1! then White wins after 27...Rxf1+ 28.Rxf1 Rxf1+ 29.Bxf1 c5 30.bxc6.

27.Rad1 h5 28.Rd7 Nd5 29.Rf7!?

The text move merely leaves White with a superior game; a better move would have put him on the brink of winning.
If 29.Bc4! c6 30.e7 Rf3 31.Bd6 Rf6 32.Be2 h4 33.gxh4 leaves Black with a difficult but possible defense.

29...Nf6?

The failure of Black's x-ray vision costs his the game.
29...Re5! (setting up the "x-ray" motif on the e-file) 30.e7 Nxe7 31.Bb2 Nf5 32.Bxe5 Rxe5 33.Bxh5 leaves Black with a defensible game.

BLACK: Vladimitr Kramnik

WHITE: Fabiano CarauanaPosition after 29...Nd5f6

30.Bc4!

White should win.
After 30.Be7? Bc5! 31.Bxf6 gxf6 32.Rxc7 Rxe6 33.Rxb7 Black has realistic drawing chances.

30...Bc5 31.Bb2 Re7

If 31...Bd6? then White wins after 32.Re1 Re7 33.h3 Kg8 34.Rd1 Re8 35.Bd4.

32.Bd4 Bd6 33.Re1!?

White loses some ground with this, although it is difficult to tell if it lets Black back into the game.
Much stronger is 33.Rd1 b6 34.Kg2 Re8 35.h3 h4 36.g4 when Black has trouble finding a move that doesn't lose material.

33...b6?

Regardless, this won't get Black back into the game.
If 33...Kh7 then:

34.h3 Kg6 35.Kg2 b6 36.Bxf6 gxf6 37.Rxe4 still leaves White with an extra pawn.
If 34.Rd1!? then 34...b6! 35.h3 Kg6 36.Kg2 Re8 37.Rd2 Rc8 might be good enough to give Black a reprieve.

34.Rf8+! Kh7 35.Rxe4 Rxf2

Black's best try is 35...Nxe4 36.Rxf5 Kg6 37.Rf3 Nc5 38.Bc3 Kh6 39.Bd2+ but it won't save the game.

36.Kxf2?!

White had a winning move, but this give away a great deal of the advantage.
If 36.Re1 Rf3 37.Kg2 Ra3 38.Bb3 limits the Rook's mobility and leaves White with victory in sight.

36...Nxe4+!

This is good enought to at least raise some doubts about White's victory.

37.Kg2

Stronger, but not enough to make any pratical difference, is 37.Ke3 Nc5 38.Rf7 Kg6 39.h4 Rxf7 40.exf7 Bf8.

37...Nc5 38.Ra8 Nxe6?

Black takes the guard off d3, which gives White time to regroup his piece for an attack on the Black King.
If 38...Kg6 39.Bxc5 Bxc5 40.Rxa7 Kf5 41.Kf3 g6 42.Ra8 still keeps White's passed pawn blocked; if Rooks are exchanged, the opposite-colored Bishops give Black good drawing chances.

BLACK: Vladimir Kramnik

WHITE: Fabiano CaruanaPosition after 38...Nc5e6:p

39.Bd3+!

White needed to win the game over again, and does. The first step is to drive the enemy King away from the edge of the board.
39.Bxe6?! Rxe6 40.Kf3 Re1 41.Rxa7 Rf1+ 42.Kg2 Rd1 gives Black a small advantage with the more active Rook.

39...Kh6 40.h4

White threatens mate at h8.

40...g6 41.Rh8+ Rh7 42.Rg8 Rg7

If 42...Rd7 then White wins after 43.Rxg6+ Kh7 44.Rxe6+.

BLACK: Vladimir Kramnik

WHITE: Fabiano CaruanaPosition after 42...Rh7g7

43.Bxg7+!

White wins the exchange.

43...Kh7 44.Re8 Nxg7

If 44...Nf4+ then White wins easily after 45.gxf4 Kxg7 46.Kf3 Kf7 47.Rd8 Be7 48.Rd7.

45.Re3 Kh6

If 45...Nf5 46.Bxf5 gxf5 47.Kf3 then:

If 47...f4 then White wins after 48.gxf4 Kg6 49.Re8 Kh7 50.Ra8 Kg6 51.Rxa7.
If 47...Kg6 48.Re6+ then:

If 48...Kg7 then White wins after 49.a4 Kh7 50.Rf6 Kg7 51.Rxf5 Kh6 52.Rg5.
If 48...Kf7 then White wins after 49.Rh6 Be5 50.Rxh5 Ke6 51.Rg5.

46.a4 Kh7 47.Kh3 Kh6 48.Bc2 Kh7

If 48...Nf5 then White wins after 49.Bxf5 gxf5 50.Kg2 f4 51.gxf4 Bxf4 52.Re8.

49.g4 hxg4+ 50.Kxg4 Kh6 51.Re2 Bb4 52.Re5 Nh5

This looks like a hari-kari move.
Black won't suffer much longer after 52...Ba3 53.Rg5 Nf5 54.Bxf5 gxf5+ 55.Kxf5.

53.Re6 1-0

If 53...Ng7 then White wins after 54.Rxg6+ Kh7 55.Rxb6+ Kg8 56.Bb3+ Kf8 57.Rf6+.
Vladimir Borisovich resigns.

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #2)

Thu Aug 2, 2012, 04:15 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,709 posts)

4. Karjakin - Fridman, Round 5

Sergey Karjakin
Photo by Stefan64 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64) from Wikipedia
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Sergey Karjakin - Daniel Fridman
Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Round 5
Dortmund, 17 July 2012

Closed Caro-Kann Game: Short Opening

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 c5 6.Be3 Qb6

For moves up to here, see Ganguly-Antonio, Asian Ch, Subic Bay, 2009.

7.Nc3 Nc6

If 7...Qxb2 then:

If 8.Qb1 Qxb1+ 9.Rxb1 then:

If 9...c4 10.Rxb7 Nc6 11.Nb5 then:

11...Nd8 12.Rc7 Rb8 13.Nd6+ Bxd6 14.exd6 Rb1+ 15.Bd1 is equal(Karjakin-Eljanov, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).
11...Rb8 12.Rxb8+ Nxb8 13.Kd2 a6 14.Na7 Kd7 15.Rb1 gives White an excellent game(Bologan-Palo, Samba Cup, Skanderborg, 2003).

9...b6 10.dxc5 bxc5 11.Rb7 d4 12.Bxd4 cxd4 13.Nxd4 is equal(Baklan-K. Rasmussen, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).

If 8.Nb5 c4 then:

9.Rb1 Qxc2 10.Qxc2 Bxc2 11.Rb2 Ba4 12.Nc7+ gives White the early advantage(Qin Kanying-Karpov, SX, Beijing, 1998).9.Nc7+ Kd8 10.Nxa8 Bxc2 11.Qc1 Bb4+ 12.Bd2 gives White the exchange(Wang Hao-F. Rouhani, IT, Täby, 2007).

8.0-0 Qxb2 9.Qe1

If 9.Nb5 c4 10.Nc7+ Kd7 11.Nxa8 Bxc2 then:

12.Qd2 Bb4 13.Rab1 Qxb1 14.Rxb1 Bxd2 15.Rxb7+ gives White a small advantage in space(Ni Hua-S. Ivanov, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2010).
If 12.Qc1 Ba3 then:

13.Rb1 Bxb1 14.Qxb2 Bxb2 15.Rxb1 c3 16.Bc1 gives White a small advantage in space(Toamzini-Petrisor, World Jr Ch, Chennai, 2011).
13.Bg5 h6 14.Qf4 Bf5 15.Rab1 Bxb1 16.Qxf7+ Nge7 Black wins(Shadrina-Gunina, Russian ChW, Moscow, 2011).

9...cxd4

If 9...c4 10.Rb1 Qxc2 11.Rxb7 then:

If 11...Bb4 12.Rxb4 Nxb4 then:

If 13.Bd1 Qd3 14.Ba4+ Kf8 15.Qa1 Bg4 16.Qb2 Rb8 17.Rb1 then:

17...Bxf3 18.Bc2 Be2 19.Bxd3 Bxd3 20.a3 Bxb1 21.axb4 Bg6 22.Qa3 gives White only a Queen for two Rooks and a pawn, but Black's kingside isn't likely to be active any time soon(Karjakin-Laznicka, IT, Poikovsky, 2011),
17...g5? then after 18.Ne1! Qg6 19.Qa3 a5 20.Bc2 f5 21.Qxa5 White wins(Sebag-Romanko, Euro ChW, Ganziantep, 2012).

13.Qa1 Nxa2 14.Nxa2 Qa4 15.Nc3!? Qxa1 16.Rxa1 Ne7 is equal(Motylev-Alsina Leal, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2011).

If 11...Rb8 12.Rxb8+ Nxb8 then:

13.Qa1 Bb4 14.Rb1 Bxc3 15.Rxb8+ Kd7 16.Qc1 Kc7 is equal(C. Balogh-Michalik, Euro Ch, Aix-les-Bains, 2011).
13.Bd1 Qb2 14.Ba4+ Nd7 15.Nb5 Qb4 16.Qd1 c3 is equal(D. Klein-Michalik, Op, Groningen, 2011).

10.Bxd4

10.Nxd4 Bb4 11.Ndb5 Bxc3 12.Nxc3 Nge7 13.Rb1 Qxc2 14.Rxb7 is equal(Kryvoruchko-Lintchevski, Euro Rpd Ch, Warsaw, 2011).

10...Nxd4 11.Nxd4 Bb4 12.Ndb5!?

If 12.Rb1 Bxc3 13.Rxb2 Bxe1 14.Rxe1 b6 then:

15.Bb5+ Kf8 16.Nxf5 exf5 17.Rb3 Ne7 18.Rc3 gives White a slight advantage(Gashimov-Ivanchuk, IT 1011, Reggio Emilia, 2011).
If 15.h4 then:

15...h5 16.a4! Ne7 17.a5 Bg6 18.Bb5+ Kf8 continues to give White a slight advantage(Motylev-Belov, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2010).
15...h6!? 16.Bb5+! Kf8 17.Nxf5 exf5 18.c4 gives White more piece activity, a safer King and more space; Black has an extra pawn.

BLACK: Daniel Fridman

WHITE: Sergey KarjakinPosition after 12.Nd4b5

12...Ba5! (N)

This freezes White's queenside.
12...Bxc3 13.Nxc3 then:

13...a6?! 14.Rb1 Qa3 15.Rxb7 Ne7 16.Bb5+ gives White a very comfortable game(Karjakin-Tukhaev, Euro Club Cup, Plovdiv, 2010).
13...Qxc2 14.Rc1 Qb2 15.Nb5 Kf8 16.Rc7 leaves White slightly better with activity and space in compensation for two pawns.

13.Rb1

Herr Fridman's novelty is a good one. This is the only move to free White's queenside. The game is equal.

13...Qxc2 14.Rb3

If 14.Rc1 then:

If 14...Qb2 15.Nd6+ Kf8 16.Nxf5 exf5 17.Na4 then:

If 17...Qb4 18.Qxb4+ Bxb4 19.a3 Bxa3 then:

20.Ra1 b5 21.Bxb5 Rb8 22.Rfb1 Be7 23.Bc6 remains equal.
20.Rc7!? Re8 21.f4 a5 22.Rb1 Bb4 gives Black two extra pawns, of which White will get at least one back; White also has more freedom.

17...Bxe1 18.Nxb2 Bd2 19.Rc7 Re8 20.Nd3 Re7 21.Rc2 remains equal.

14...Bxc3!? 15.Qxc3! Qxc3 16.Rxc3 Ne7 17.Nd6+ Kf8 18.Rc7 gives White a small advantage in space.

14...Ne7 15.Nd6+ Kf8 16.Nxb7

White gets a pawn back.

16...Bb6 17.Nd6 Ba5 18.Bf3

18.Qc1 Qxc1 19.Rxc1 Bb6 20.Na4 g5 21.Nxb6 axb6 22.Rxb6 remains equal.

18...Bd3

18...h6 19.Qc1 Qxc1 20.Rxc1 g5 21.Rb7 Bg6 22.Ncb5 remains equal.

19.Qc1 Qxc1 20.Rxc1 Ng6?!

Black attacks White's e-pawn when he should defend his own f-pawn.
20...Bg6 21.Rb7 h5 22.Ne2 Rh6 23.Nf4 h4 24.g4 remains equal.

21.Nxd5!

White has a fair advantage in space; Black continues to have an extra pawn after his reply.

21...Nxe5!?

The result of this move is a wasted tempo that allows White to bring his Rook to b7.
21...exd5 22.Rxd3 Nxe5 23.Rxd5 Nxf3+ 24.gxf3 Bb6 25.a4 continues to give Black a fair advantage in space

BLACK: Daniel Fridman

WHITE: Sergey KarjakinPosition after 21...Ng6e5:p

22.Nf4!

White has an attack against Black's Rook and a substantial advantage in space.

22...Nxf3+ 23.gxf3 Bg6

In the variation following Black's 21st move, the Rook was already safe and Black had time to bring his Bishop to b6.

24.Rb7!

In the variation following Black's 21st move, White could not make this move because the Black Bishop was at b6.

24...Bb6

If 24...a6? then White wins after 25.Rc8+! Rxc8 26.Nxc8 Bd2 27.Rd7 Ba5 28.Nd6.

25.Rc8+ Rxc8 26.Nxc8 Bd4 27.Rb8 Be5?

Sergey Alexandrovich is apparently still in his home prepartion. What leads us to suspect that without asking either player? Well, we think we're looking at his analysis right now, or something very much like it. The game has has followed Fritz 13's analysis for some time and continues to do so for some time to come. In fact, both players seem to quite familiar with Fritz' analysis. On the other hand, it may not be Fritz, as other engines give something similar. We aren't accusing anybody of anything. Chess players have notoriously good memories. Sergey Alaxandrovich is no doubt capable of memorizing a complecated heep of computer analysis, and that is what we believe he did. There's nothing any more wrong with that than with the quarterback memorizing his playbook.
If 27...a5 28.Nxg6+ hxg6 29.Nd6+ Ke7 30.Rxh8 Kxd6 31.Rd8+ leaves White with the exchange for a pawn and he will soon win Black's a-pawn.
We have decided to award this move the dubious? since Fritz analyzes all line from here to a win for White.

BLACK: Daniel Fridman

WHITE: Sergey KarjakinPosition after 27...Bd4e5

28.Ra8!

White will now win the exchange.

28...Bxf4

Another possibility here, according to Fritz 13, is 28...Bf5 29.Nxe6+ Bxe6 30.Nxa7+ Ke7 31.Rxh8. Fritz evaluates that as "+- (2.28)." We are apt to translate that from computerese into English as "White wins."

29.Nxa7+ Ke7 30.Rxh8 Kd7

If 30...Kd6 31.Rc8 Kd7 32.Rc4 then:

If 32...e5 33.Nb5 Bg5 34.a4 then:

34...Bd8 35.Rc5 Ke6 36.f4 f6 37.fxe5 fxe5 38.Rc6+ wins at least a pawn.
34...Bd2 then White wins easily after 35.Rc5 Ke6 36.Rc6+ Ke7 37.Nc3 f6 38.a5.

If 32...Bc7 then White wins after 33.a4 Bb1 34.Rd4+ Ke8 35.Rb4 Bg6 36.Rb7.

31.Nb5

Fritz doesn't give this move, but Rybka does and evaluates it as a win for White..

31...Be5 32.a4 Kc6 33.Nc3 Bc2

If 33...h6 34.Ne4 Bd4 35.Rc8+ then:

If 35...Kd7 then White wins after 36.Rc4 Bb6 37.Kg2 e5 38.Rc1 f6 39.Nc5+.
If 35...Kb6 then White wins after 36.Kg2 Bf5 37.Rb8+ Kc7 38.Rf8.

If 33...Kb6 34.Ne4 then:

If 34...Bc7 35.h4 then:

If 35...h6 then White wins after 36.Rc8 Kb7 37.Rg8 Be5 38.Kf1 Kb6 39.Ke2.
If 35...Ka5 then White wins after 36.Ra8+ Kb4 37.Ng5 Bb6 38.Kg2 h6 39.Rb8.

If 34...h6 then White wins after 35.Kg2 Bf5 36.h4 Ka5 37.Ra8+ Kb6 38.Kf1.

BLACK: Daniel Fridman

WHITE: Sergey KarjakinPosition after 33...Bg6c2

34.a5 Bg6

If 34...Bd3 then White wins after 35.Ne4 Kb5 36.Rf8 Kxa5 37.Rxf7 Kb6 38.Ng5.

35.Ne4 Kb5

If 35...Bf4 then White wins after 36.Rc8+ Kb5 37.Ra8 Kc6 38.a6 Kb6 39.Nc3.

36.Ra8 h6 37.Kg2 f5 38.Nd2 Bd6

If 38...h5 then White wins after 39.Nb3 h4 40.Rc8 Bf6 41.Rb8+ Ka6 42.Rb6+.

39.a6 Bf4 40.Nc4

40.a7 Kb6 41.Nc4+ Kb7 42.Rg8 Kxa7 43.Rxg7+ wins a piece.
The rest needs no comment.

40...Bh5 41.a7 Ka6 42.Na5 Bc7 43.Rc8 Kxa7 44.Rxc7+ Kb6 45.Rxg7 Kxa5 46.Rh7 1-0

Herr Fridman resigns.

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #2)

Sat Aug 4, 2012, 11:56 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,709 posts)

25. Ponomariov - Caruana, Round 2 (Full Opening Theory: Spanish Royal Sicilian Game)

Ruslan Ponomariov
Photo by karpidis modified from flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/8022405@N02/2961348805/)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Ruslan Ponomariov - Fabiano Caruana
Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Round 2
Dortmund, 14 July 2012

Spanish Royal Sicilian Game: Rat Defense (Rossolimo Variation)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5

BLACK

WHITESpanish Royal Sicilian GamePosition after 3.Bf1b5

Nowadays, this is played as a way for White to dodge the Sveshnikov Defense (3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5).

3...d6

The text is the Rat Defense, which is most effective in stopping an early e4e5.
(Dragon Defense) If 3...g6 (like Dragon Defense in an Open Sicilian, Black will put pressure on the center with his minor pieces at a distance) 4.0-0 Bg7 then:

If 5.c3 Nf6 6.Re1 0-0 then:

If 7.d4 cxd4 then:

If 8.cxd4 d5 9.e5 Ne4 then:

If 10.Nc3 Nxc3 11.bxc3 then:

If 11...Na5 then:

If 12.Bg5 a6 13.Bd3 then:

13...Bd7 14.Qd2 Rc8 15.Rab1 b5 16.h4 Nc4 17.Qc1 is equal (J. Polgar-Muir, Euro ChT, Haifa, 1989).
13...Qc7 14.Rc1 b5 15.Nd2 f6 16.exf6 exf6 17.Bh4 is equal (Moshina-Rybenko, World University ChW, Ulaan Baatar, 2002).

If 12.Ba3 then:

If 12...Bd7 13.Qa4 Bxb5 14.Qxb5 then:

If 14...a6 then:

15.Qc5!? e6 16.Bb4 Nc4 17.Qe7 Qxe7 18.Bxe7 Rfc8 gives Black a fair advantage with a Rook trained on a backward pawn (Vujadinovic-Jelic, TT, Belgrade, 2009).
15.Qb4 e6 16.Qb1 Re8 17.Bc5 Qd7 remains equal.

14...Nc4 draw (Matanovic-Janosevic, IT, Skopje/Ohrid, 1968).

If 12...Bg4 13.h3 then:

13...Bxf3 14.Qxf3 a6 15.Bf1 Rc8 16.Rab1 gives White a fair advantage, but Black can get counterplay against the backward c-pawn (Asmundsson-Kristensen, TT, Glücksburg, 1977).
13...Bd7 14.Bd3 Rc8 15.Qc1 Nc4 16.Bb4 Re8 remains equal.

If 11...Qa5 12.a4 Bg4 then:

If 13.Re3 Rac8 14.h3 then:

14...Bf5 15.Nh4 Bd7 16.f4 a6 17.Be2 Nd8 18.Bd2 is equal (Bormida-Dr. Smith, Corres, 1997).
If 14...Bxf3?! 15.Rxf3! a6 16.Bf1 then:

16...b5?! 17.Ba3! Ra8 18.e6 b4 19.exf7+ Kh8 20.cxb4 gives White an extra pawn, the initiative and a huge advantage in space (Adorjan-Sax, Hungarian Ch, Budapest, 1973).
16...Qd8 17.h4 h5 18.Qb3 Na5 19.Qb4 gives White a fair advantage,

If 13.Ba3 Qxc3 14.Re3 then:

14...Qa5!? 15.Bxc6! bxc6 16.Bxe7 Rfe8 17.Bd6 gives White a comfortable game (Lacourrelle-Visier Segovia, IT, Las Palmas, 1972).
14...Bxf3! 15.Rxc3 Bxd1 16.Bxc6 Rfc8 17.Rxd1 Rxc6 18.Rxc6 bxc6 19.Bxe7 gives White a small advantage with stronger pawns.

If 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.Nbd2 then:

If 11...c5 12.dxc5 then:

If 12...Nxc5 13.Nb3 Nxb3 14.Qxb3 then:

If 14...d4 15.Bg5 h6 16.Bh4 g5 17.Bg3 then:

If 17...Bf5 18.Rad1 d3 19.e6 f6 20.Rd2 h5 gives Black a fair advantage; White must find an escape route for his kingside pieces (Dveinys-Degraeve, Ol, Bled, 2002).
17...Bg4 18.Qd3 Qd5 19.Re4 Bxf3 20.Rxd4 Qb7 21.Qxf3 gives White a slight advantage (Gaponenko-Skripchenko, ITW, Biel, 2005).

If 14...Bg4 15.Nd4 Rb8 16.Qg3 Bd7 17.b3 Qa5 is equal (Brodsky-Alekseev, Op, Hoogeveen, 2002).

12...Bg4 13.Nb3 Rc8 14.Qd4 f6 15.exf6 Bxf6 16.Ne5 gives White an extra pawn; Black has more than sufficient activity to seek counterplay (Rozentalis-A. Muir, Euro ChT, Batumi, 1999).

If 11...Bf5 12.Nh4 Be6 13.Nb3 then:

13...a5 14.a4 c5 15.Nxc5 Nxc5 16.dxc5 Qc7 gives Black the advantage in space after he recovers his pawn (Oral-Lanka, Czech ChT, 2000).
13...g5!? 14.f3! gxh4 15.fxe4 h3 16.Nc5 hxg2 is equal (Alekseev-Jakovenko, Russian Ch, Krasnoyarsk, 2003).

If 8.e5 Nd5 9.cxd4 then:

If 9...d6 10.Nc3 Nxc3 11.bxc3 then:

If 11...Bg4 12.exd6 Qxd6 13.h3 then:

If 13...Bxf3 14.Qxf3 e6 15.Bf4 then:

15...Qd7 16.Bxc6 bxc6 17.Rab1 Rfc8 18.Rb3 gives White a fair advantage in space (Glek-Lependin, Russian Ch, Krasnoyarsk, 2003).
15...Qa3 16.Bxc6 bxc6 17.Qxc6 Rac8 18.Bd6 Rxc6 19.Bxa3 gives White a weak extra pawn and more space (Sandipan-Jirovsky, Bundesliga 0607, Germany, 2006).

If 13...Bf5 14.a4 then:

If 14...Rfd8 15.Ba3 then:

15...Qc7 16.Qb3 a6 17.Bxc6 Qxc6 18.Ne5 forces the exchange on e5, giving White a clear advantage (Rosito-Bonatti, IT, Buenos Aires, 1991).
14...Bf6 15.Ba3 Qc7 16.Bxc6 bxc6 17.Ne5 Rfd8 18.Qf3 gives White a small advantage in space (Brynell-Heinola, IT, Täby, 2007).

11...a6 12.Bxc6 bxc6 13.h3 Be6 14.Bf4 d5 15.Nd2 gives White a small advantage in space (Sonjaya-Siregar, Op, Bali, 2000).

If 9...Nc7 10.Nc3 then:

If 10...Nxb5 11.Nxb5 a6 12.Nc3 d6 13.exd6 then:

If 13...Qxd6 14.d5 Ne5 15.Bf4 then:

15...Nxf3+ 16.Qxf3 Qb4 17.d6 Be6 18.dxe7 Qxe7 19.Ne4 remains equal (Bryn-Johnsen, Op, Tromsø, 2006).
15...Bg4? 16.Bxe5! Bxe5 17.Rxe5 Qxe5 18.Nxe5 Bxd1 19.Rxd1 gives White a material edge of two Knights, both active, against an inactive Rook (Salimaki-Akcan, Euro Club Cup, Kemer, Turkey, 2007).

If 13...exd6 then:

If 14.Bg5 then:

If 14...Qa5?! 15.d5 Ne5 16.Nxe5 dxe5 17.Be7 Re8 18.d6 then:

If 18...Be6 19.Qf3 Rab8 20.Rad1 f5 then:

21.Nd5?! e4! 22.Qb3 Kf7 23.Re2 Be5 24.Qb6 is equal (Fressinet-Wippermann, Rpd Op, Mainz, 2008).
21.Qg3! Qc5 22.h4 e4 23.h5 Qe5 24.Qh4 possibly gives White enough to win.

If 18...Bd7 19.a3 then:

19...Bc6? 20.b4! Qb6 21.Nd5 Bxd5 22.Qxd5 White wins (Kivijarvi-Meins, Euro Club Cup, Ohrid, 2009).
19...e4 20.Nxe4 Rac8 21.b4 Qf5 22.Rc1 Rxc1 23.Qxc1 a5 24.Qc5 leaves Black enough to fight on, but his chances are dwindling.

14...Qb6 15.Nd5 Qa5 16.Ne7+ Nxe7 17.Bxe7 Re8 18.Bxd6 is equal.

14.h3 h6 15.Be3 Bf5 16.a3 g5 17.d5 gives White a slight edge (Dembo-T. Kosintseva, Euro ChW, Chisinau, Moldova, 2005).

If 10...d6 11.exd6 Qxd6 then:

12.Bxc6 bxc6 13.Bg5 Re8 14.Qd2 Nd5 15.Bh6 is equal (Belkhodja-Shirov, Ol, Palma de Mallorca, 2004).
12.Ne4 Qd5 13.Nc3 Qd6 14.Ne4 Qd7 15.Nc5 Qd5 is equal (Ferguson-Kotronias, Op, Isle of Man, 2007).

If 7.h3 then:

If 7...e5 then:

If 8.d4 cxd4 9.cxd4 Nxd4 10.Nxd4 exd4 11.Qxd4 then:

If 11...d5 12.e5 Ne4 then:

13.Nc3 Nxc3 14.bxc3 Qa5 15.a4 Be6 16.Ba3 gives White a fair advantage in space (Kobalia-P. Smirnov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2004).
13.Nd2?! Ng5 14.Nb3 Ne6 15.Qb4 f6 16.exf6 Qxf6 is equal (Novikov-Iskusnyh, Russian Ch Qual, Tomsk, 2004).

If 11...a6 12.Ba4 then:

12...Re8 13.e5 b5 14.Bb3 d6 15.Rd1 Nh5 16.Qxd6 gives White an extra pawn and more space (Kazhgaleyev-Z. Kozul, World ChT, Lucerne, 1997).
12...d5 13.e5 Ne4 14.Nd2 Qa5 15.Nf3 Be6 16.Bb3 gives White stronger pawns (Stellwagen-Baramidze, Match, Maastricht, 2004).

If 8.d3 d6 9.Nbd2 Bd7 10.Nf1 then:

10...a6 11.Ba4 b5 12.Bc2 Na5 13.Be3 Rc8 14.Rc1 is equal (Brodsky-R. Popov, IT, Krasnodar, 1995).
10...Ne8 11.Bg5 f6 12.Bd2 Kh8 13.b4 cxb4 14.cxb4 gives White a small advantahe in space and freedom (Kholmov-Vasiukov, IT, Moscow, 1998).

If 7...Qb6 8.Na3 d5 then:

If 9.e5 Ne8 then:

If 10.d4 cxd4 11.cxd4 Nc7 12.Bxc6 Qxc6 then:

13.Qb3 Ne6 14.Be3 f6 15.Rac1 Qd7 16.Nc2 b6 is equal (Ponomariov-Van Wely, Euro ChT, Plovdiv, 2003).
13.Be3 Bd7 14.Qd2 Rfc8 15.Rec1 Qb6 16.Rc3 Ne6 is equal (Chiburdanidze-Simic, Op, Baden-Baden, 1987).

If 10.d3 Nc7 11.Ba4 Ne6 12.Nc2 then:

12...d4?! 13.cxd4 Ncxd4 14.Ncxd4 cxd4 is equal (Smyslov-Su. Polgar, Match, Prague, 1995).
12...Rd8! 13.Ne3 Nxe5 14.Nxe5 Bxe5 15.c4 Qd6 allows White to recover his pawn, but Black has the advantage in space.

If 9.d3 then:

9...a6 10.Ba4 Qc7 11.e5 Nd7 12.d4 b5 gives Black a small advantage in space (Blau-Kuijpers, Ol, Lugano, 1968).
9...Rd8 10.Qe2 d4 11.Bxc6 bxc6 12.cxd4 cxd4 13.Nc4 gives White a fair advantage in space (Karpov-Lisenko, TT, Riga, 1968).

If 5.Nc3 then:

If 5...Nf6 then:

If 6.Re1 0-0 7.e5 Ne8 then:

If 8.Bxc6 dxc6 then:

If 9.h3 Nc7 10.d3 then:

If 10...Ne6 11.Ne4 b6 then:

If 12.Neg5 then:

If 12...h6 13.Nxe6 Bxe6 then:

14.b3 Qd7 15.Qe2 Bd5 16.Bb2 Qf5 17.Nh4 gives White a small advantage with the initiative (Adorjan-T. Horvath, Hungarian Ch, Budapest, 1976).
14.Qe2 Qd7 15.Bf4 Rfe8 16.Rad1 Rad8 17.b3 is equal (Mainka-Frübing, Bundesliga 1112, Mülheim, 2011).

12...Nd4 13.Nxd4 cxd4 14.e6 f6 15.Nf7 Qd5 gives Black a slight advantage; White cannot maintain the Knight at f7 (Adorjan-Sveshnikov, Chigorin Mem, Sochi, 1976).

If 12.a4 a5 13.Bd2 Nd4 14.Bf4 then:

If 14...Be6 15.Nxd4 Qxd4 16.Qd2 Bxe5 17.Bxe5 Qxe5 18.Ng5 reamins equal (Schleber-Breder, Bundesliga 0910, Mülheim, 2010).
14...Nxf3+ 15.Qxf3 Be6 16.Qg3 h6 17.h4 Qd7 18.b3 remains equal (Tseshkovsky-Kiss, Op, Eger, 1989).

If 10...b6 11.Be3 Ne6 then:

If 12.Ne2 a5 13.Qd2 Re8 14.Bh6 Bh8 15.Nf4 (Simacek-Calzetta Ruíz, Op, Olmouc, Czechia, 2001).
12.Qd2 Nd4 13.Qd1 h6 14.Bf4 Be6 remains equal (Timman-Van der Wiel, Blitz, Brussels, 1987).

If 9.d3 then:

If 9...Bg4 10.h3 Bxf3 11.Qxf3 Nc7 then:

If 12.Re4 Ne6 then:

13.Ne2!? Qd5 14.Qg3 f5 15.exf6 exf6 16.Nf4 gives White a small advantage in space (Galego-Sutovsky, Op, Benasque, 1996).
13.Bd2 Qb6 14.b3 Nd4 15.Qf4 Qc7 remains equal.

12.Qg3 Ne6 13.f4 Nd4 14.Qf2 f6 remains equal (Arapovic-Matulovic, Yugoslav Ch, Bjelovar, 1979).

9...Nc7 10.Ne4 b6 11.Bd2 Ne6 12.Be3 Nd4 13.Nxd4 cxd4 gives Black a slight advantage in space (Carlsen-Khalifman, Op 0405, Drammen, Norway, 2005).

If 8.d3 Nc7 9.Bc4 Ne6 then:

If 10.Nd5 d6 11.exd6 Qxd6 12.a4 b6 then:

If 13.c3?! Bb7 then:

14.Ng5 Ne5 15.Nxe6 Qxe6 16.Nf4 Qd6 17.Bb3 Rad8 gives Black a comfortable game (Dedes-Kotronias, Op, Ano Liosia, Greece, 1995).
14.Bg5 Nxg5 15.Nxg5 Ne5 16.Qb3 e6 17.Ne4 Qd8 gives Black a comfortable advantage in space (Cafferty-Matulovic, IT, Birmingham, 1975).

13.Nc3 Bb7 14.Ne4 Qd7 15.h4 Na5 16.Bxe6 Qxe6 remains equal.

If 10.Bxe6!? then:

10...fxe6 11.Ne4 Nxe5 12.Nxe5 Bxe5 13.Bh6 Rf7!? 14.Ng5 is equal (Spangenberg-Kharlov, Op, São Paulo, 1991).
If 10...dxe6 11.Bf4 b6 then:

12.Qd2!? Bb7! 13.Bh6 Nd4 14.Nxd4 cxd4 15.Ne4 Qd5 gives Black a small advantage in space (Markidis-Zakarian, Greek ChT, Ermioni, 2006).
12.h4 h5 13.Qd2 Bb7 14.Bh6 Nd4 remains equal.

If 6.d3 0-0 7.h3 d6 then:

If 8.Bxc6 bxc6 9.e5 Nd5 10.Re1 then:

10...Nxc3 11.bxc3 Be6 12.Bf4 Qd7 13.Qd2 f6 14.exd6 exd6 is equal (Morozevich-Kramnik, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 2005).
10...h6 11.Ne4 f5 12.Ng3 f4 13.Nf1 g5 14.c4 Nc7 is equal (Morozevich-Van Wely, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 2004).

If 8.Be3 Bd7 9.Qd2 then:

If 9...a6 10.Bxc6 Bxc6 11.Bh6 e5 then:

12.Bxg7 Kxg7 13.Ne2 Nh5 14.g4 Nf6 15.Ng3 Nd7 is equal (Andreisian-T. L. Petrosian, Armenian Ch, Yerevan, 2008).
12.Nh2 Bxh6 13.Qxh6 Kh8 14.Rae1 Qe7 15.Qh4 Nd5 is equal (Handke-Arnaudov, Op, Bad Wiessee, 2008).

9...Re8 10.Bh6 Bh8 11.Rae1 a6 12.Bxc6 Bxc6 is equal (Caoili-Yee, Op, Honolulu, 1997).

If 5...d6 6.e5 then:

If 6...dxe5 7.Bxc6+ bxc6 8.Re1 f6 then:

If 9.d3 Nh6 10.Be3 then:

10...Nf5 11.Bxc5 0-0 12.d4 exd4 13.Nxd4 Nxd4 14.Qxd4 Qxd4 15.Bxd4 is equal (Cosulich-Damjanovich, TT, Milan, 1972).
10...Qa5 11.Ne4 c4 12.dxc4 0-0 13.Qd2 Qxd2 14.Nexd2 Nf7 is equal (Hölzl-Gligoric, IT, Vienna, 1980).

9.b3 Nh6 10.Ba3 Qa5 11.Na4 c4 12.d4 cxd3 gives Black a small advantage with an isolated pawn on an open file to target after 13.cxd3 (Lastin-Volzhin, Op, Novgorod, 1999).

6...d5?! 7.d4! Bg4 8.dxc5 e6 9.Re1 Nge7 10.Bg5 gives White a comfortable game (Philipowski-Lenic, Op, Bled, 2001).

BLACK

WHITESpanish Royal Sicilian Game: Norman DefensePosition after 3...e7e6

(Norman Defense) If 3...e6 (Black will directly defend d5) then:

If 4.0-0 Nge7 then:

If 5.c3 then:

If 5...a6 6.Ba4 b5 7.Bc2 Bb7 then:

If 8.Qe2 then:

If 8...d5 9.e5 then:

If 9...d4 10.Be4 then:

If 10...Nd5 11.d3 then:

If 11...dxc3 12.Nxc3 then:

If 12...Be7 13.Rd1 0-0 14.d4 then:

If 14...cxd4 then:

15.Bxd5!? exd5 16.Nxd4 Nxd4 17.Rxd4 Bc5 gives Whitethe initiative and a small advantage in space (Anisimov-Shariyazdanov, Op, St. Petersburg, 2003).
15.Nxd5 exd5 16.Bc2 Qb6 17.Bf4 Rfe8 18.Rac1 Rad8 reamins equal.

14...Nxc3 15.bxc3 cxd4 16.cxd4 Na5 17.Bxb7 Nxb7 18.h4 is equal (Rublevsky-Eljanov, Euro Club Cup, Saint Vincent, Italy, 2005).

12...Nxc3 13.bxc3 Be7 14.d4 cxd4 15.cxd4 Qd7 16.a4 is equal (Morozevich-Van Wely, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 2002).

11...Be7 12.c4 bxc4 13.dxc4 Nb6 14.Ne1 Qc7 gives Black a slight advantage in space (Gu Xiaobing-Yu Lie, Zhejiang, 2009).

If 10...Ng6 11.cxd4 cxd4 12.d3 then:

If 12...Be7 13.Nbd2 0-0 14.Nb3 then:

14...Qb6?! 15.h4 Rfd8 16.h5 Nf8 17.h6 gives White stronger pawns and more space (Pavasovic-Oral, TT, Baden-Baden, 1999).
14...a5 15.Bd2 a4 16.Bxc6 Bxc6 17.Nbxd4 Bb7 18.Rfc1 is equal; White has an extra pawn that he should advance but cannot (Fritz 13).

12...Qd7 13.h4 Bc5 14.h5 Nge7 15.h6 gxh6 16.Bxh6 gives White greater activity and better pawns (Kanmazalp-Nuri, World Youth BU18, Porto Carras, 2010).

If 9...Qb6 10.Re1 d4 then:

If 11.Be4 then:

11...Ng6 12.d3 Be7 13.cxd4 Nxd4 14.Nxd4 cxd4 15.Nd2 is equal (Shikalov-Aleshnya, Corres, 2003).
11...Rd8 12.d3 Ng6 13.h4 Be7 14.h5 Nf8 15.Bf4 gives White a fair advantage in space (Sebag-M. Socko, Euro ChW, Rijeka, 2010).

If 11.cxd4 Nxd4 12.Nxd4 cxd4 then:

If 13.Be4 d3 14.Bxd3 then:

14...Nc6 15.Be4 Rd8 16.d3 Nd4 17.Qe3 Bc5 gives Black a slight edge owing to his command of the dark squares in the center (Arizmendi Martínez- San Segundo Carillo, Spanish Ch, Cala Mendia, 2001).
If 14...Qc6?! 15.f3 Qc5+ 16.Kh1 Ng6 17.Be4 Bxe4 18.Qxe4 is equal (Rublevsky-Minasian, IT, Montecatini Terme, 2000).

If 13.Na3?! Rc8 14.Be4 Bxe4 15.Qxe4 Qc6 gives Black a comfortable game; it will cost White more to initiate a Queen exchange than Black.

If 8...Ng6 9.d4 cxd4 10.cxd4 then:

If 10...Be7 11.Nc3 0-0 then:

if 12.Be3 then:

12...f5?! 13.Rad1 fxe4 14.Bxe4 b4 15.d5 gives White early domination of the board (Sanduleac-Bressac, Op, Cappelle-la-Grande, 2011).
12...Rc8 13.Rac1 Na5 14.Bd3 Nc4 remains equal

If 12.a3 Rc8 13.Be3 Na5 then:

If 14.Rad1?! Nc4! 15.Bc1 Nxa3 then:

If 16.bxa3? then after 16...Rxc3 17.Bb2 Nf4 Black wins (Berke-Toma, Euro ChW, Rijeka, 2010).
16.Bd3 Nc4 17.g3 Bb4 18.Na2 Bd6 gives White a substantial advantage with his active minor pieces, but White's game is still playable.

14.Nd2 f5 15.f4 fxe4 16.Bxe4 Bxe4 17.Ndxe4 Qc7 gives Black just a slight advantage.

If 10...Nh4 then:

If 11.Nbd2 Rc8 12.d5 Ne5 then:

13.Bb3 13...Nexf3+ 14.Nxf3 Nxf3+ 15.Qxf3 Bd6 16.Bf4 gives White a small advantage in space (Degraeve-Nataf, GMT, Clichy, 2002).
13.Nd4 Bd6 14.N2b3 Nc4 draw (Degraeve-Bacrot, Frech Ch Qual, Marsailles, 2002).

11.Rd1 Rc8 12.Nxh4 Qxh4 13.Nc3 Be7 14.Be3 0-0 is equal (Adams-Lautier, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2002).

If 8.Re1 Rc8 9.a4 b4 then:

If 10.d4 bxc3 11.d5 then:

If 11...Nb4?! then:

If 12.Nxc3?! Ng6 13.Bb1 Be7 14.g3 0-0 15.h4 d6 then:

16.h5 Ne5 17.Nxe5 dxe5 18.dxe6 fxe6 19.Qg4 gives White a small advantage in space (Smyslov-Ivanchuk, Blitz, Tilburg, 1994).
16.Ng5 h6 17.Nh3 Bf6 18.h5 Ne5 19.Nf4 Re8 gives Black a better center and the advantage in space (Nedev-S. Zhigalko, Euro Club Cup, Fügen, 2006).

12.bxc3! Nxc2 13.Qxc2 Ng6 14.Na3 Be7 15.Rb1 continues to give White a comfortable game (I. Smirin-Efimov, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).

11...cxb2 12.Bxb2 Nb4 13.Nc3 Ng6 14.Na2 c4 gives Black a passed pawn and general queenside aggression that is of immediate concern to White; White otherwise has a better center (F. Olafsson-Galliamova, TT, Vienna, 1993).

If 10.d3 Ng6 then:

11.Nbd2 Be7 12.d4 bxc3 13.bxc3 cxd4 14.cxd4 Nb4 gives Black the initiative and active minor pieces; White has a good center (Slododjan-Glek, IT, Bonn, 1995).
11.Be3 Be7 12.Nbd2 0-0 13.d4 bxc3 14.bxc3 cxd4 15.cxd4 Nb4 gives Black the initiative and better minor pieces; White has a center pawn duo (Miroshnichenko-Kransenkow, Euro Ch, Ohrid, 2001).

If 5...d5 6.exd5 Qxd5 then:

If 7.Re1 Bd7 8.Na3 Ng6 then:

If 9.Bf1 Be7 10.d4 cxd4 11.Nb5 then:

If 11...Rc8 12.Nfxd4 Nxd4 13.Nxd4 then:

If 13...Qa5 14.g3 0-0 15.Bg2 e5 then:

If 16.Nb3 16...Qc7 17.h4 then:

17...Rfe8 18.h5 Nf8 19.h6 g6 20.Qd3 a6 21.Bd2 gives White a small advantage in space (Schoonhoven-Percze, Corres, 2002).
17...Rfd8 18.h5 Nf8 19.Qd5 Bc6 20.Qxe5 Rd1 21.Bf4 gives White an extra pawn with exchanges that cannot be avoided on tap (Malakhov-Agopov, Euro ChU20, Tallinn, 1997).

16.Nc2 Bc6 17.Bxc6 bxc6 18.h4 Rfe8 19.Qg4 gives White stronger pawns and control of the half-open e-file; Black has slightly more space (Gelfand-Sveshnikov, Euro Club Cup, Ljubljana, 1995).

13...a6 14.g3 Qc5 15.Bg2 b5 16.h4 Bf6 17.Be3 gives White a comfortable game (Morozevich-Fominyh, Russian Ch, Elista, 1995).

11...0-0-0 12.cxd4 e5 13.dxe5 Qxd1 14.Rxd1 Bg4 15.Rxd8+ Rxd8 is equal (Chekhov-Sveshnikov, Russian ChT, Podolsk, 1992).

If 9.Bc4 Qh5 10.d4 cxd4 then:

If 11.Nb5! Rc8 12.Be2 then:

12...dxc3 13.Ng5 cxb2 14.Bxh5 bxa1Q 15.Nxf7 Qf6 is equal (Fercec-Sveshnikov, Op, Nova Gorica, 1999).
If 12...Qd5 13.Nfxd4 then:

13...a6?! 14.Bf3 Qc5 15.Be3 Nce5 16.Bxb7 leaves White close to winning with an extra pawn and greater activity (Rublevsky-Shabalov, Ol, Elista, 1998).
13...Be7 14.Bf3 Qc5 15.a4 Nxd4 16.Nxd4 gives White a safer King, more activity, more space and the initiative.

11.cxd4!? Bxa3 12.bxa3 0-0 13.d5 exd5 14.Qxd5 Qxd5 15.Bxd5 is equal (Vachier Lagrave-Spiridonov, IT, Clichy, 2001).

If 7.d4 cxd4 then:

8.c4 Qd6 then:

If 9.Qxd4 Qxd4 10.Nxd4 d7 then:

If 11.Nxc6 Bxc6 12.Nc3 Rc8 then:

13.b3 Nf5 14.Bb2 Bxb5 15.Nxb5 Bc5 16.Rfd1 h5 is equal (Erturan-Salem, Op, Albena, Bulgaria, 2012).
13.Rd1 a6 14.Bxc6+ Rxc6 15.b3 Ng6 16.Bb2 draw (Collinson-Ansell, 4NCL 0607, Coventry, 2007).

11.Rd1 0-0-0 12.Nc3 Nxd4 13.Rxd4 Nf5 14.Rxd7 Rxd7 is equal (Wang Hao-Khairullin, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2005).

If 9.Nxd4 Bd7 then:

10.Nxc6 Nxc6 11.Nc3 a6 12.Ba4 Qxd1 13.Rxd1 gives White a small advantage in space (Timman-Sveshnikov, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1981).
10.Nb3 Nf5 11.c5 Qc7 12.Nc3 0-0-0 13.Qg4 Nfd4 draw (Mikhalchishin-Kramnik, IT, Dortmund, 1992).

If 8.Nxd4 Bd7 9.Be2 Nxd4 10.cxd4 then:

10...Nf5 11.Be3 Nh4 12.f3 Nf5 13.Bf2 Bc6 14.Nc3 gives White a safer King and a slight initiative; Black has more space (Almer-Rosenkilde, Politiken Cup, Copenhagen, 2006).
10...Nc6 11.Be3 Be7 12.Nc3 Qa5 13.a3 0-0 14.b4 gives White the initiativwe and a comfortable advantage in space; Black has stronger pawns (Vachier Lagrave-Frade Marques, French ChTU20, Pau, 2000).

If 5.Re1 a6 then:

If 6.Bf1 d5 then:

If 7.exd5 then:

If 7...Nxd5 8.d4 then:

If 8...Nf6 9.Be3 then:

If 9...Be7 then:

If 10.c4 0-0 11.Nc3 cxd4 12.Nxd4 Bd7 13.Nb3 then:

13...Ne5 14.Bg5 Ng6 15.Qd4 Qc7 16.Rad1 Rad8 17.Be3 is equal (Fressinet-Nataf, Op, Reykjavik, 2006).
13...Na5 14.Nc5 Qc7 15.N5a4!? Bb4! 16.Rc1 Bxa4 17.Qxa4 is equal (Totsky-Golod, Op, Cappelle-la-Grande, 2007).

If 10.Nc3 cxd4 11.Nxd4 then:

11...Bd7 12.Nb3 Qc7 13.Bg5 0-0 14.Qf3 Rac8 15.Rad1 Rfd8 is equal (Mosionzhik-Suetin, Soviet ChT, Moscow, 1966).
11...Nxd4 12.Bxd4 Bd7 13.Ne4 Bc6 14.Nxf6+ Bxf6 15.Bxf6 Qxf6 gives Black a slight advantage (Stean-Taimanov, IT 7576, Hastings, 1975).

9...cxd4 10.Nxd4 Nxd4 11.Qxd4 Qxd4 12.Bxd4 Bd7 13.c4 is equal (Mastrokoukos-Rogers, Op, Chania, Greece, 1991).

If 8...cxd4 9.Nxd4 then:

If 9...Ndb4 10.Nxc6 Qxd1 11.Rxd1 Nxc6 12.c4 then:

12...Bc5 13.Nc3 0-0 14.Na4 Ba7 15.Be3 Bxe3 16.fxe3 gives White more space and a remote pawn majority; Black has better pawns (Kuba-Gärtner, Austrian ChT 0102, Graz, 2002).
12...Be7 13.Nc3 Bf6 14.Na4 Rb8 15.Nb6 0-0 16.Rb1 gives White a small advantage in space (Kuba-Weissenbeck, Austrian ChT 0102, Graz, 2002).

If 9...Be7 10.Nxc6 bxc6 then:

If 11.Nd2 0-0 then:

12.Nc4 Qc7 13.c3 a5 14.Qh5 Bf6 15.Bd2 a4 remains equal (Werner-Prescha, Bundesliga West, Germany, 1996).
12.c3 Qc7 13.Nf3 Rb8 14.Qc2 c5 15.Bd3 h6 remains equal (So. Polgar-Larsen, Op, North Bay, Ontario, 1995).

11.c4 Nf6 12.Qf3 Bb7 13.b3 0-0 14.Bb2 remains equal (Ruíz-Zepeda, Pan-Am Ch, Cali, 2001).

If 7...Qxd5 8.Nc3 Qd8 then:

If 9.d3 Nf5 10.g3 Be7 then:

If 11.Bg2 0-0 12.Ne4 b6 13.Bf4 Bb7 14.c3 remains equal (Biyiasis-Browne, Pan-Am Ch, Winnieg, 1974).
If 11.Ne4 0-0 12.Bf4 f6 then:

If 13.g4!? Nfd4! (Black has a small advantage) 14.Nfd2? then after 14...f5! 15.gxf5 exf5 16.Ng3 Ne6 17.Be5 f4 Black wins (Kornin-Milos, IT, Curitiba, Brazil, 1983).
14.c3 f5 15.gxf5 Rxf5 16.cxd4 Rxf4 continues to give Black a small advantage.

13.c3 e5 14.Qb3+ Kh8 15.Bd2 Na5 16.Qc2 Be6 remains equal.

9.b3 Nf5 10.Bb2 Be7 11.Ne4 0-0 12.Ne5 Nxe5 13.Bxe5 Nd4 is equal (Rotta-Kramnik, Op, São Paulo, 1991).

If 7.d3 h6 8.Nbd2 b6 then:

9.h4 Bb7 10.h5 Qc7 11.c3 0-0-0 12.b4 remains equal (Sutovsky-Vorobiov, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2011).
If 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Ne4 Bb7 then:

11.d4?! cxd4! 12.Nxd4 Nxd4 13.Qxd4 Nb4 gives Black a comfortable game (Toth-Kramnik, TT, Rio de Janeiro, 1991).
11.c4 Nf6 12.Nxf6+ Qxf6 13.Qb3 Qd8 14.Bd2 Bd6 remains equal.

6.Bxc6 Nxc6 7.d4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 d6 9.Nc3 transposes into Khamatgaleev-Alekseev, above.

If a) 4.Bxc6 bxc6 then:

If 5.d3 Ne7 6.Qe2 then:

If 6...Qc7 7.Ng5 then:

If 7...Ng6 8.f4 c4 then:

If 9.dxc4 Ba6 10.b3 then:

10...Nxf4 11.Qf3 Qa5+ 12.Bd2 Qxg5 13.Bxf4 Qa5+ is equal (Bauer-Nataf, French Ch, Besançon, 2006).
10...Bc5 11.e5 d5 12.exd6 Bxd6 13.0-0 0-0-0 14.Nc3 gives White a considerable advantage in space (Anand-Radjabov, World Rpd Ch M, Mainz, 2006).

9.0-0 cxd3 10.cxd3 Bc5+ 11.Kh1 f6 12.Nh3 0-0 gives Black a small advantage in space (Bologan-Rafjabov, Ol, Torino, 2006).

If 7...e5 8.f4 exf4 9.0-0 Ng6 10.Qh5 then:

If 10...d6 11.Bxf4 then:

If 11...h6 12.Nxf7 Qxf7 13.Bxd6 Qe6 14.Bxf8 Rxf8 15.Nd2 gives White only two pawns for a Bishop, but he has stronger pawns , the initiative and the advantage in space in compensation (Grischuk-Shirov, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2006).
11...Nxf4 12.Rxf4 g6 13.Qf3 Bg7 14.Rxf7 Bd4+ is equal (Karjakin-Carlsen, Blindfold Trmt, Bilbao, 2007).

10...Bd6 11.g3 fxg3 12.Rxf7 gxh2+ 13.Kh1 Ba6 leaves Black forcing White to disassemble his premature attack in order to take Black's h-pawn (Cornette-Palac, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).

If 6...Ng6 7.h4 h5 8.e5 then:

If 8...f6 9.Qe4 Kf7 10.Nbd2 then:

10...Ba6 11.b3 d5 12.exd6 Qxd6 13.Bb2 gives White a radiant Queen in the center and stronger pawns; Black has a slight edge in space (Yudasin-Fedorowicz, Marshall CC Ch, New York, 2003).
If 8...Be7 then:

If 9.Qe4 c4 10.dxc4 then:

If 10...Rb8 11.Nbd2 c5 then:

12.Qe3 Qc7?! 13.b3 f5 14.Bb2 Bb7 15.0-0-0 gives White an extra pawn and a better center (Hamdouchi-Doghri, Sekkat Mem, Casablanca, Morocco, 2005).
12.b3 Bb7 13.Qe3 f5 14.Bb2 Bc6 15.g3 gives White a comfortable game with an extra pawn.(Palac-Nijboer, Op, Metz, 2001).

10...Qc7 11.Nc4 Ba6 12.Bf4 Bxc4 13.dxc4 gives White a healthy advantage in space (Speck-Kayumov, Ol, Torino, 2006).

9...d5 10.exd6 Qxd6 11.Bg5 Bxg5 12.hxg5 gives White a very comfortable game (Kayumov-Sharbaf, Op, Bubai, 2006).

If 5.0-0 Ne7 then:

If 6.d3 Ng6 7.Ng5 then:

If 7...e5 8.Qh5 Qe7 then:

If 9.Nc3 d6 then:

10.a3 h6 11.Nh3 Nh4 12.f4 g6 gives Black the initiative and a small advantage in space, but also a poorly placed Knight; White has stronger pawns ().
10.Ne2 h6 11.Nh3 Nh4 12.Ng5 Ng6 13.Nh3 Qh4 is equal (Sofronie-Jankovic, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).

If 9.Na3 d6 10.Nc4 h6 11.Nh3 then:

11...Be6 12.f4 exf4 13.Nxf4 Bxc4 14.dxc4 Ne5 15.b3 is equal (Kolovana-Lujan, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).
11...Bxh3 12.Qxh3 Qe6 13.Qxe6+ fxe6 14.Bd2 Be7 15.g3 gives White more freedom stronger pawns and a slight advantage in space (Lutz-Nedev, World ChT, Yerevan, 2001).

If 7...f6 8.Nh3 then:

If 8...d5 9.Qh5 Bd6 10.f4 0-0 11.c4 then:

11...Bc7 12.Qe2 Re8 13.Kh1 Qe7 14.Nc3 Rd8 15.b3 (Brodsky-Krasenkow, Op, Koszalin, 1998).
11...Be7 12.Qe2 d4 13.Nd2 Qc7 14.Nf3 Bd7 Is equal (Psakhis-Portisch, Op, Biel, 1995).

8...Be7 9.f4 0-0 10.Nd2 d5 11.Qh5 Qe8 gives Black a small advantage; White's kingside aggression is premature (Zamina-Jurkiewicz, World JrCh Girls, Athens, 2001).

If 6.b3 Ng6 7.Bb2 f6 8.e5 Be7 then:

If 9.d3 0-0 10.Nbd2 then:

If 10...fxe5 11.Nxe5 Nxe5 12.Bxe5 d6 13.Bg3 e5 then:

If 14.f4 exf4 15.Bxf4 then:

15...Bf6 16.Rb1 Bf5 17.Kh1 Qd7 18.Qf3 d5 is equal and shortly drawn (Matulovic- Vojinovic, TT, Herceg Novi, 1999).
If 15...Bf5 16.Qf3 Qd7 17.Qg3 Bf6 18.Rab1 Bd4+ 19.Kh1 gives White stronger pawns and a small advantage in space (Matulovic-Perunovic, TT, Vrnjacka Banja, 1998).

If 14.Qe2 Bg5 15.Ne4 Bh6 16.f3 a5 17.a4 Ra7 is equal (Spassky-Gulko, IT, Linares, 1990).

If 10...Qc7 11.Nc4 then:

11...Ba6 12.Re1 Rf7 13.Qd2 Raf8 14.Qa5 Qxa5 give Black a comfortable game (Matsuura-Milos, Brazilian Ch, 1995).
11...Nh8?! 12.Nfd2 fxe5 13.Qg4 Ng6 14.Rae1 d6 is equal (Zhu Chen-Gulbas, Ol, Torino, 2006).

If 9.Na3 fxe5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Bxe5 0-0 then:

12.f4 d6 13.Bc3 d5 14.Be5 Bf6 15.Qe2 Qa5 gives Black a small advantage in space (Matulovic-Adorjan, Euro ChT, Bath, 1973).
If 12.Nc4 d6 13.Bg3 e5 draw (Kholmov-Shcherbakov, Chigorin Mem, St. Petersburg, 1999).

If b) 4.Nc3 Nge7 5.0-0 then:

If 5...a6 6.Bxc6 Nxc6 7.d4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 then:

If 8...d6 then:

If 9.Re1 then:

If 9...Be7 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Qg4 Kf8 then:

If 12.b3 e5 13.Qe2 Be6 14.f4 f6 15.Na4 gives White a small advantage in space (Glek-Ciemniak, Op, Groningen, 1992).
If 12.e5 d5 13.Ne2 then:

If 13...h5 14.Qg3 h4 15.Qg4 then:

15...h3 16.g3 c5 17.c4 Bb7 18.Nc3 Qb6 is equal (Khamatgaleev-Alekseev, Russian Cup, Togliatty, 2001).
15...g6 16.Nf4 c5 17.c4 Bb7 18.cxd5 Bxd5 19.Bd2 gives White fewer pawn weaknesses and more spaace (Gispslis-Ennsberger, Op, Passau, 1998).

If 13...c5 14.Ng3 h6 then:

15.Re3 g6 16.Rf3 Ke8 17.c4 Qc7 18.cxd5 exd5 remains equal (Kristol-Anton, Corres, 1994).
15.c4 g6 16.Rd1 Qc7 17.Bf4 d4 remains equal (Movsesian-A. Kogan, Op, Zlin, 1995).

If 9...Bd7 10.Nxc6 then:

If 10...Bxc6 11.Nd5 Be7 12.Nxe7 Qxe7 then:

If 13.b3 0-0 14.Ba3 Rfd8 15.Qd2 then:

15...e5 16.Rad1 Rd7 17.c4 Qe6 18.Qd3 Rad8 19.Rd2 is equal (Yandemirov-Galliamova, IT, Lvov, 1995).
15...Qf6 16.Rad1 Qg6 17.f3 d5 18.Qd3 b5 19.e5 gives White a s slight advantage in space (Chiburdanidze-Sveshnikov, Soviet Ch 1st L, Tashkent, 1980).

13.Qd3 d5 14.e5 0-0 15.Be3 Rfc8 16.c3 gives Black a small advantage in space.

If 10...bxc6 11.e5 then:

If 11...dxe5 12.Rxe5 Be7 13.Bf4 0-0 14.Re3 then:

14...Bc8 15.Qh5 g6 16.Qh6 f6 gives White greater activity and more space (Gipslis-Golod, IT, Minsk, 1993).
14...Ra7 15.Rd3 c5 16.Qh5 gives White a comfortable game (Gipslis-Soronkin, IT, Ostrava, 1992).

If 11...d5 12.Qg4 h5 then:

13.Qg3!? h4! 14.Qg4 h3 gives Black a small advantage in space (Yudasin-Salov, KO, Tilburg, 1993).
13.Qf3 Qh4 14.Ne2 Qb4 remains equal.

If 9.Nxc6 bxc6 then:

If 10.Qg4 Qf6 11.Qg3 Be7 then:

12.e5 dxe5 13.Ne4 Qg6 14.Qxe5 gives White a small advantage in space (Glek-Korchnoi, Swiss ChT, 2007).
12.f4 0-0 13.e5 Qf5 14.exd6 Bxd6 remains equal (Gdanski-Vandevoort, Euro ChT, Debrecen, 1992).

10.e5 d5 11.Qg4 Qc7 12.Re1 c5 13.b3 Bb7 gives White a small advantage in space (Chiburdanidze-Galliamova, ITZW, Djakarta, 1993).

If 8...Qc7 9.Re1 Bd6 then:

If 10.Nxc6 dxc6 11.Qh5 e5 then:

If 12.Be3 b5 13.a4 Rb8 then:

14.axb5 axb5 15.Ra7 Rb7 16.Rxb7 Bxb7 remains equal (Ekström-Nataf, Euro Ch, Ohrid, 2001).
14.a5 0-0 15.Red1 Be6 16.Bb6 Qe7 gives Black a slim advantage with better minor pieces (Belkhodja-Degraeve, French Ch, Marseilles, 2001).

If 12.f4 then:

12...g6 13.Qf3 b5 14.f5 Qe7 15.Qg3 Bb7 16.fxg6 hxg6 is equal (Sadvakasov-Sorokin, Russian Cup, Perm, 1997).
12...0-0 13.f5 f6 14.Kh1 Rd8 15.Re3 Qf7 is equal (Boidman-Oral, IT, Prievidza, 1997).

If 10.Nd5 exd5 11.exd5+ Ne5 then:

If 12.f4 0-0 13.fxe5 Bxe5 14.Nf3 Bf6 then:

15.Qd3 h6 16.Be3 b5 17.Bd4 Bxd4+ 18.Qxd4 gives White a slight advantage (Tomic-Popov, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2012).
15.Bg5 Bxb2 16.Rb1 Ba3 17.Qd3 Bc5+ 18.Kh1 f6 gives Black a small advantage in space (Korneev-Khairullin, Russian Ch, Tomsk, 2004).

If 12.Nf5?! 0-0! then:

13.Bh6? gxh6! 14.Qh5 Ng6 15.Qxh6 Be5 Black wins (Timman-Lautier, IT, Horgen, 1995).
13.Bf4 f6 14.Re3 Qc4 15.Bh6 gxh6 still gives Black a powerful advantage, but hard work and patience may pay off for White.

If b1) 5...Nd4 6.Nxd4 cxd4 7.Ne2 a6 then:

If 8.Bd3 then:

If 8...Nc6 9.c3 Bc5 10.b4 Ba7 then:

If 11.cxd4 d5 then:

12.e5 Nxb4 13.Qa4+ Nc6 14.Bb2 0-0 15.a3 Bd7 is equal (Reichmann-Barbre, Corres, 1991).
If 12.b5!? axb5 13.Bxb5 then:

13...0-0!? 14.Bxc6 bxc6 15.e5 Qa5 16.a4 c5 17.Ba3 remains equal (Hakki-Tissir, Mediterranean Ch, Beirut, 2003).
If 13...dxe4 14.d3 0-0 15.Ba3 Qa5 16.Bxc6 Qxa3 17.Bxe4 remains equal

If 11.a4 then:

11...d5?! 12.exd5 Qxd5 13.c4 Qg5 14.Ba3 (Movsesian-Krsek, Op, Moravka, 1994).
If 11...d6 12.cxd4 0-0 13.b5 Nxd4 14.Nxd4 Bxd4 remains equal.

If 8...d5 9.exd5 then:

If 9...Nxd5 10.c3 dxc3 11.dxc3 Bd6 12.Nd4 Qc7 then:

If 13.h3 Bd7 then:

14.Re1 0-0-0 15.Qf3 Kb8 16.Qxf7 Bh2+ 17.Kh1 Rhf8 gives White an extra pawnwhile Black has opportunities for attack on the kingside
If 14.Qf3 Nf4 15.Be4 Ng6 16.Be3 Ne5 17.Qe2 gives White a small advantage in space (Svidler-Krasenkow, Euro Club Cup, Belgrade, 1999).

If 13.Qh5 Nf4 14.Bxf4 Bxf4 15.Rfe1 g6 16.Qh4 gives White a slight advantage (Nikolenko-Filippov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2006).

If 9...Qxd5 10.c3 Nc6 11.Qc2 Bd6 then:

12.Be4 Qh5 13.Ng3 Qh4 14.Bxc6+ bxc6 15.cxd4 gives White a small advantage in space (Hebden-Reefat, British Ch, Scarborough, 1999).
If 12.f4 Bd7 then:

13.b4?! dxc3 14.dxc3 Bxb4 15.Rb1 Bc5+ is equal (I. Zaitsev-Chekhov, Russian ChT, Podolsk, 1992).
If 13.Be4 Qc5 14.Rf2 e5 15.g3 exf4 16.b4 Qb6 remans equal.

If 8.Ba4 Nc6 9.d3 Bc5 then:

If 10.c4 0-0 11.a3 a5 then:

12.Bd2 b6 13.b4 Be7 14.Qb3 axb4 15.axb4 gives White a small advantage in space and superior development (Chandler-Rogers, Op, Queenstown, New Zealand, 2006).
If 12.Ng3 Ne7 13.Bd2 f5 14.b4 Bb6 15.f4 axb4 is equal (Krivec-Voicu, Euro ChTW, Novi Sad, 2009).

If 10.f4 d5 11.Ng3 dxe4 12.Nxe4 draw (Glek-Larsen, Bundesliga 9596, Germany, 1995).

If b2) 5...Qb6 6.Re1 Nd4 then:

If 7.Bf1 Ng6 8.d3 then:

8...Be7 9.Nd2 0-0 10.a4 Qc7 11.Nc4 b6 is equal (Ivkov-Montecatine Rios, IT, Seville, 1989).
8...Nxf3+ 9.Qxf3 Be7 10.Qh5 d6 11.g3 Bd7 is equal (Auchenberg-Larsen, IT, Copenhagen, 1979).

If 7.Bc4 Nec6 8.d3 Be7 9.Nxd4 cxd4 10.Ne2 0-0 11.c3 is equal (Bohm-Miles, IT, Amsterdam, 1977).

(Gothic Defense) If 3...Nf6 (this is a flexible move that may transpose into one of the others listed above) 4.Nc3 then:

If 4...Qc7 then:

If Nb4 5.0-0 Nd4 6.Re1 a6 7.Bf1 then:

If 7...e5 then:

If 8.Bc4 d6 9.h3 then:

If 9...Be6 Bf6 10.d3 b5 11.Bxe6 fxe6 12.Nxd4 then:

If 12...cxd4 13.Ne2 Be7 14.c3 dxc3 15.Nxc3 0-0 16.Qb3 then:

16...Qd7 17.Be3 Rab8 18.Rac1 Kh8 19.a3 Bd8 20.d4 exd4 21.Bxd4 e5 is equal (Naiditsch-Banikas, Mindsports Rpd, Beijing, 2008).
16...Kf7 17.Bg5 Rab8 18.Rac1 Qd7 19.Ne2 Rbc8 20.d4 Rxc1 21.Rxc1 exd4 22.Nxd4 Rc8 is equal (Manik-Parligras, Ol, Calvia, 2004).

12...exd4 13.Ne2 Qf7 14.f4 Be7 15.f5 exf5 16.exf5 Nd5 is equal (Movsesian-And. Volokitin, IT, Sarajevo, 2005).

9...Be7 10.d3 h6 11.a4 0-0 12.Nh2 Be6 13.Ng4 Nxg4 14.hxg4 Qd7 Is equal (Kamsky-Wang Yue, Grand Prix, Baku, 2008).

If 8.Nd5 Nxd5 9.exd5 d6 10.c3 Nxf3+ 11.Qxf3 Be7 12.d4 0-0 then:

13.Qg3 Bf6 14.dxc5 Qxc5 15.c4 Bf5 16.a3 Qc7 17.Be3 gives White a slight advantage (Di Paolo-Salvador, Op, Genova, 2005).
13.dxe5 dxe5 14.Qg3 Bd6 15.c4 f5 16.Bd2 Rf6 17.Qa3 is equal (A. Sokolov-Lautier, French Ch, Aix-les-Bains, 2003).

If 7...Ng4 8.g3 Nxf3+ 9.Qxf3 Ne5 then:

If 10.Qe2 then:

If 10...e6 11.d3 d6 12.Bg2 Be7 13.f4 Nc6 then:

14.Be3 0-0 15.Nd1 Bd7 16.c3 Rfc8 17.Nf2 b5 18.Kh1 is equal (Kanerek-Lyaskovsky, Euro ChU16, Herceg Novi, 2008).
14.Nd1 0-0 15.c3 b5 16.Be3 b4 17.d4 bxc3 18.bxc3 Na5 is equal (Kovacevic-Avrukh, Ol, Calvia, 2004).

10...d6 11.Nd5 Qd8 12.Bg2 g6 13.c3 Bg7 14.d3 e6 15.Ne3 Nc6 16.Nc2 is equal (Laznicka-Morozevich, IT, Pamplona, 2006).

10.Qd1 e6 11.b3 Be7 12.Bb2 0-0 13.f4 Nc6 14.Nd5 exd5 15.exd5 Qd8 16.dxc6 dxc6 17.Qh5 give White a comfortable game (Zdebskaya-A. Muzychuk, Euro ChW, Kusasasi, 2006).

If 4...Nd4 5.e5 Nxb5 6.Nxb5 Nd5 7.Ng5 f5 then:

If 8.0-0 a6 then:

If 9.c4 Nb4 10.Nc3 e6 11.d3 Be7 12.Nf3 Nc6 13.Re1 d6 14.Bf4 0-0 is equal (Djerkovic- Tessier-Desrosiers, Canadian Ch, Toronto, 2004).
If 9.Nc3 Nxc3 10.bxc3 e6 11.d4 then:

11...g6 12.Nf3 h6 13.Be3 b5 14.dxc5 Bb7 is equal (T. Kosintseva-Romanko, FRussian ChW, Moscow, 2008).
11...Be7 12.d5 0-0 13.Qh5 h6 14.Nh3 d6 is equal (Landa-Hanel, Op, Velden, 1996).

If 8...e6 9.d4 cxd4 10.Qxd4 Be7 11.c4 Nb4 12.Qh4 a6 13.Nd6+ Bxd6 14.exd6 gives White a strong advantage by cramping Black's center and retarding his development (Yee-Peters, SCCF Ch, Los Angeles, 2001).

If 8.exf6 Nxf6 9.0-0 e6 10.d4 a6 11.Nc3 cxd4 12.Qxd4 Be7 then:

13.Be3 0-0 14.Rad1 b5 15.Nge4 Nxe4 16.Nxe4 d5 is equal (Gaenta-Eljanov, Euro ChU18, Balatonlelle, 2000).
13.a4 0-0 14.Be3 Qe8 15.a5 Qg6 16.Qd3 Qxd3 17.cxd3 d6 18.h3 h6 is equal (Movsesian-Nun, Czech ChT, Czechia, 1995).

BLACK

WHITESpanish Royal Sicilian Game: Rat DefensePosition after 3...d7d6

4.0-0 Bd7 5.Re1 Nf6 6.c3 a6 7.Bf1

If 7.Ba4 b5 8.Bc2 then:

If 8...Bg4 9.d3 then:

If 9...e6 10.Nbd2 Be7 11.h3 Bh5 12.Nf1 then:

If 12...0-0 13.Ng3 Bg6 14.Nh4 d5 then:

If 15.exd5 then:

If 15...Nxd5 16.Nxg6 hxg6 17.Ne4 then:

17...Nf6 18.Qf3 Qd7 19.Be3 leaves White up by the exchange (Pavasovic-Movsesian, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
17...Qd7 18.h4 Nf6 19.Qe3 Nd5 20.Bd2 gives White a slight edge.

15...Qxd5 16.Nxg6 hxg6 17.Bf4 Rfd8 18.Qe2 Nh5 19.Nxh5 gives White a slight advantage (I. Smirin-Tiviakov, Euro ChT, Goteborg, 2005).

If 15.Nxg6 hxg6 then:

If 16.e5!? Nd7 17.d4 cxd4 18.cxd4 then:

18...Rc8 19.Be3 Nb4 20.Bb1 Nb6 21.a3 Nc6 22.b3 is equal (Beltrami-Arkhangelsky, World Sr Ch, Lugano, 2005).
18...Qb6 19.Be3 Rfc8 20.Rc1 Na5 21.Qg4 Nc4 gives Black a slight advantage owing to the Knight stationed on the fine outpost at c4 (Aveskulov-Atakisi, Mindsports Rpd, Beijing, 2008).

16.exd5 Nxd5 17.Ne4 Qd7 18.h4 Nf6 draw (Modiahki-Moiseenko, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2006).

If 12...d5 13.Ng3 Bg6 14.Nh4 then:

14...Qc7 15.exd5 Nxd5 16.Nxg6 hxg6 17.Ne4 Rd8 18.Bd2 is equal (Svetushkin-Dreev, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2010).
14...0-0 15.Nxg6 transposes into Beltrami-Arkhangelsky and suborinate lines, above.

9...e5 10.a4 Be7 11.Na3 Rb8 12.h3 Bh5 13.axb5 axb5 is equal (Quillan-Dzagnidze, Op, Gibraltar, 2007).

If 8...e5 9.h3 then:

If 9...Be7 10.d4 0-0 11.d5 Na5 then:

If 12.Nbd2 Qc7 13.b3 then:

13...c4 then:

If 14.b4 Nb7 15.Nf1 a5 16.a3 then:

16...Ra6 17.N3h2 Rfa8 18.g4 Ne8 is equal (Lahno-Ernst, IT B, Wijk aan Zee, 2012).
16...Ne8 17.Ne3 g6 18.Ng4 a4 19.Bh6 Ng7 20.Qd2 gives White more freedom and a small advantage in space (Motylev-J. Markos, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).

14.Nf1 cxb3 15.axb3 Nb7 16.Bd2 a5 17.Qe2 is equal (Cornette-Tanrikulu, World Jr Ch, Istanbul, 2008).

If 13...g6 14.Nf1 then:

If 14...Nh5 15.Bh6 Rfb8 then:

16.g4 Ng7 17.Ng3 c4 draw (Elliot-Filippov, Ol, Turino, 2006).
16.Qd2 Nb7 17.g4 Ng7 18.Ne3 f6 19.Kh2 Nd8 20.Rg1 draw (Gonzalez-A. Stein, IT, Las Vegas, 2006).

If 14...Nb7!? then:

15.Be3 Rfc8 16.Ng3 a5 17.a4 c4 18.b4 gives White a small advantage in space (Efimenko-Timofeev, Russian ChT, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2010).
15.Bh6 Rfc8 16.N3d2 Nh5 17.Bd3 Qd8 18.Be2 is equal (de Goni-Radulski, IT, Brno, 2005).

If 12.Nxe5 dxe5 13.d6 then:

If 13...Be6 14.dxe7 Qxe7 15.Nd2 Rfd8 16.Qf3 then:

If 16...c4 17.Nf1 Nb7 18.Bg5 h6 19.Bh4 then:

19...Rd6?! 20.Qg3! Bd7 21.f4 Re6 22.f5 Qc5+ 23.Ne3 gives White more freedom and space; the threat of 24.Rad1! is powerful (A. Muzychuk-Sasikiran, Op, Gibraltar, 2012).
19...Nc5 20.Red1 Rab8 21.b4 cxb3 22.Rxd8+ Qxd8 23.axb3 gives White a small advantage owing to the threat of 24.Rad1!.

16...Nd7 17.Nf1 Qf6 18.Qg3 Qg6 19.Qh4 gives White a small advantage in space (Safarli-J. Markos, Euro Ch, Aix-les-Bains, 2011).

If 13...Nc4 14.dxe7 Qxe7 15.b3 then:

15...Nd6 16.Bg5 Bc6 17.Nd2 h6 18.Bh4 is equal; White has more freedom and Black has more space (M. Turov-Gallego Jiménez, Op, Ubeda, 2001).
15...Nb6 16.Be3 Bc6 17.Nd2 Nbd7 18.Qf3 Ne8 19.Qe2 (Safarli-Agaragimov, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2012).

If 9...g6 then:

If 10.d4 Bg7 11.dxc5 dxc5 12.a4 then:

If 12...0-0 13.axb5 axb5 14.Rxa8 Qxa8 15.Qd6 then:

15...Rc8 16.Nxe5 Nxe5 17.Qxe5 Bc6 18.Qf4 Re8 19.Nd2 gives White a slight edge in space (Chebotarev-Najer, Russian Ch, Tomsk, 2006).
15...c4 16.Bg5 Be6 17.Nxe5 Nxe5 18.Qxe5 Nd7 19.Qg3 gives White control of centeral dark squares in Black's territory (Ni Hua-Svidler, TM, Ningbo, 2008).

If 12...Rb8?! then:

13.Be3! Qe7 14.Nbd2 0-0 15.Nb3 c4 16.Nc5 gives White a fair advantage in space (Caruana-Tiviakjov, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2009).
Also good is 13.axb5! axb5 14.Be3 Qe7 15.Nbd2 0-0 16.Nb3 when White has command of open files and threatens 17.Bxc5!, winning material (Savic-Fercec, Bosnian ChT, Vogosca, 2007).

If 10.a4 Bg7 11.d4 cxd4 then:

12.axb5 axb5 13.Rxa8 Qxa8 14.cxd4 0-0 15.Nc3 b4 is equal (Sax-Olafsson, IT, Amsterdam, 1976).
12.cxd4 0-0 13.Bg5 h6 14.Be3 exd4 15.Nxd4 is equal (Xu Yuhua-Romanko, TMW, Sochi, 2009).

7...Bg4 8.h3 Bxf3

If 8...Bh5 then:

If 9.d3 then:

If 9...e6 then:

If 10.Nbd2 Be7 11.g4 Bg6 12.Nh4 Nd7 then:

If 13.Ng2 then:

If 13...e5 14.Nf3 then:

If 14...h5 15.g5 Nf8 16.d4 then:

16...cxd4 17.cxd4 exd4 18.Nxd4 Nxd4 19.Qxd4 Bxg5 20.Bxg5 Qxg5 21.Qxd6 gives White a safer King and a slight edge in space (Zhong Zhang-Atakisi, Ol, Bled, 2002).

16...Qd7 17.Ngh4 f6 18.Kh2 cxd4 19.cxd4 exd4 20.Nxd4 Nxd4 21.Qxd4 gives White a small advantage in space (Menzi-Nikolova, Euro ChTW, Porto Carras, 2011).

14...Rc8 15.a3 Nf8 16.d4 cxd4 17.cxd4 h5 18.d5 remains equal (Zavgorodniy-Galliamova, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2002).

If 13...0-0 then:

If 14.f4!? h6! (Black has a fair advantage in space) 15.Nf3 Bh7 then:

If 16.f5 Nde5 then:

If 17.Nf4 Nxf3+ 18.Qxf3 Bg5 then:

If 19.Bg2 Qe7 20.Nh5 then:

20...exf5?! 21.Bxg5! Qxg5 22.exf5 g6 23.Ng3 gxf5 24.gxf5 gives White a slight advantage in space (Spassov-Halikas, Euro ChT, Plovdiv, 2003).
20...Ne5 21.Qe2 Rae8 22.Rf1 Nd7 continues to give Black a slight advantage.

19.Qd1 Re8 20.Bg2 g6 21.Rf1 exf5 22.exf5 gxf5 is equal (Reinderman-Tiviakov, IT B, Wijk aan Zee, 2000).

17.Be3 Rc8 18.Rc1 d5 19.Nxe5 Nxe5 20.Bf4 Nc6 gives Black a small advantage in space (Vescovi-Szmetan, Pan-Am Ch, Cali, 2001).

16.Qe2 Qc7 17.Qf2 Rae8 18.f5 Nde5 continues to give Black a fair advantage (D. Popovic-B. Vuckovic, TT, Herceg Novi, 2005).

14.Nf4! Bf6 15.Nf3 Nde5 16.Be3 Nxf3+ 17.Qxf3 h6 gives White a slim advantage in space.

If 13.Nxg6 hxg6 then:

If 14.Nf3 Nde5 15.Be3 Nxf3+ 16.Qxf3 then:

If 16...Bg5 17.d4 cxd4 18.cxd4 Bxe3 19.Qxe3 is equal (Urquhart-Noritsyn, Candian Closed Ch, Toronto, 2006).
16...e5 17.Qd1 Bg5 18.Bg2 Bxe3 19.fxe3 Qd7 gives Black an insignifant edge in space (Xu Yuhua-Wang Lei, Chinese ChTW, Suzhou, 2001).

If 14.f4 Bh4 15.Re2 g5 then:

If 16.f5 Nde5 17.Re3 0-0 then:

18.Nf3 Nxf3+ 19.Qxf3 b5 20.Bg2 Rb8 21.Qd1 b4 gives White a fair advantage in space (Perunovic-Vuckovic, Serbian ChT, Zlatibor, 2006).
18.Bg2 d5 19.exd5 exd5 20.Nf3 Nxf3+ 21.Qxf3 d4 gives Black a fair advantage in space (Rublevsky-Timoshenko, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2004).

If 16.Nf3 gxf4 17.Nxh4 Qxh4 18.Bxf4 then:

If 18...e5 19.Bh2 Nf8 20.a3 then:

20...Ne6 21.b4 0-0-0 22.Rb1 Nf4 23.Re3 Qe7 gives Black a fair advantage in space (Sadvakasov-Grischuk, IT, Poikovsky, 2005).
20...a5!? 21.b4!? axb4!? 22.axb4! Rxa1 23.Qxa1 cxb4 24.Qa8+ gives White a slight advantage in space (Mahjoob-Sufian, Asian Ch, Subic Bay, 2009).

18...0-0-0!? 19.Qd2! Nde5 20.Bg2 Qe7 21.d4 is equal.

10.g4 Bg6 11.Nh4 Nd7 then:

12.Ng2 e5 13.f4 exf4 14.Nxf4 Qh4 15.Ng2 Qd8 is equal (Fedorchuk-Kononenko, Ukrainian Ch, Rivne, 2005).
If 12.g5 e5 13.Qg4 Be7 14.Nf5 then:

14...Bxf5 15.exf5 h6 16.h4 hxg5 17.hxg5 f6 gives Black a small advantage owing to the open h-file (Rublevsky-Ivanchuk, Wold Blitz Ch, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 2008).
14...0-0 15.h4 f6 16.Nxd6 fxg5 17.hxg5 Bxd6 is equal (Venkatesh-Sriram, Indian Ch, Mumbai, 2003).

9...e5 10.a4 Be7 11.Na3 Rb8 12.h3 Bh5 13.axb5 axb5 is equal (Quillan-Dzagnidze, Op, Gibraltar, 2007).

9.d4 cxd4 10.cxd4 then:

If 10...e5 11.g4 Bg6 12.d5 Nb8 then:

If 13.g5 Nfd7 14.Nh4 Be7 15.Qg4 0-0 16.Nc3 gives White a comfortable game (Ahu Chen-Dzagnidze, Euro Club Cup W, Antalya, 2007).
If 13.Nc3?! Be7 then:

14.Qb3 Nbd7 15.Qxb7!? Nc5 16.Qb4 h5 17.g5 gives White a small advantage in space (Hracek-Eames, Op 0910, Hastings, 2009).
14.a4 0-0 15.a5 Nbd7 16.Nd2 Rc8 17.Nc4 gives White a small advantage in space (Lauterbach-Gu Xiaobing, Op, Queenstown, 2012).

If 10...d5 11.e5 then:

If 11...Ne4 12.g4 Bg6 then:

If 13.e6 fxe6 14.Nc3 e5 15.Nxe4 Bxe4 16.Ng5 e6 then:

17.dxe5 Bc5 18.Nxe4 dxe4 19.Qc2 gives White a slight advantage in space (Vachier Lagrave-Wang Yue, YM, Lausanne, 2006).
17.f3 Bg6 18.Nxe6 Qd7 19.Nxf8 Rxf8 20.dxe5 gives White an extra pawn, stronger pawn and the Bishop pair in an open center; Black has a slender edge in space (Kharlov-Malakhatko, Rpd IT, Cap d'Agde, 2002).

13.Be3 e6 14.Nbd2 Nxd2 15.Bxd2 Be7 16.Bc3 0-0 gives White a slim advantage in space(Op, Swidnica, 2000).

11...Ng8 12.Nc3 e6 13.g4 Bg6 14.Qb3 Rb8 gives White a small advantage in space (Drabke-Movsesian, German I-net Ch, Cyberspace, 2005).

9.Qxf3 g6!?

The Scheveningen set up does more to restrain White's center.
9...e6 10.d3 Be7 11.Nd2 0-0 12.Qd1 d5 13.e5 remains equal (Campora-Marín Alejandro, Spanish ChT, Cala Galdana, 2001).

BLACK: Fabiano Carauana

WHITE: Ruslan PonomariovPosition after 9...g7g6

10.d3!

White has a small advantage with more freedom.

10...Bg7 11.Be3

If 11.Bg5 0-0 12.Nd2 b5 13.Qe3 then:

If 13...Re8 14.Nf3 b4 then:

If 15.d4!? (this advance is slightly premature) then:

15...Qb6?! 16.d5 Nd8 17.Qd2 Nb7 18.Rad1 gives White a comfortable game with a better center and more space (Kuehnel-Hjort, Corres, 1999).
15...d5! 16.e5 Ne4 17.Bf4 bxc3 18.bxc3 is equal

15.Rac1 bxc3 16.bxc3 Qd7 17.Qd2 continues to give White a small advantage with a more powerful 18.d4! threatened.

If 13...b4!? then:

14.Bh6!? Bxh6 15.Qxh6 bxc3 16.bxc3 Qa5 gives Black a slight edge (Fakhiridou-Hegarty, Euro ChTW, Porto Carras, 2011).
14.d4! bxc3 15.bxc3 cxd4 16.cxd4 h6 17.Bxf6 gives White a fair advantage in space.

11...0-0 12.Nd2 Nd7 13.Qd1

If 13.Nb3 Rc8 then:

14.Rac1!? c4! 15.dxc4 Nce5 16.Qd1 Nxc4 is equal (C. Braun-Sprenger, Op, Cappelle-la-Grande, 2012).
14.Qd1! Re8 15.Rc1 e6 16.d4 cxd4 17.cxd4 continues to give White a small advantage in space.

13...b5 14.Nf3 (N)

14.a3!? Nb6! 15.Nf3 Na4 16.Qd2 d5 17.Bh6 d4 is equal (Karttunen -Laznicka, Euro Club Cup, Rogaska Slatina, 2011).

14...Nb6

White has a small advantage in space.

15.d4 Na4?!

Black tries to provoke a weakness on White's queenside.
If 15...cxd4 then:

If 16.cxd4 then:

16...d5 17.e5 Nc4 18.Bc1 Qa5 19.a4 Qb6 20.b3 gives White a fair advantage in space.
If 16...Rc8?! 17.b3! f5 18.Ng5 then:

If 18...f4 19.Bxf4 Bxd4 20.Ne6 then:

20...Qd7 21.Nxf8 Rxf8 22.Be3 Bxa1 23.Qxa1 Qb7 24.Qd1 gives White stronger pawns and the Bishop pair.
20...Qe8 21.Nxd4 Rxf4 22.a4 e5 23.Nxc6 Qxc6 24.a5 gives White stronger pawns and better piece coordination; he is on the brink of winning.

18...Qd7 19.d5 Nd5 20.Rc1 Rxc1 21.Qxc1 Qc8 22.Qb1 gives White an attack on the Knight hanging at b6, contol of an outpost at e6, and Black's Knight unable to retreat; Black has command of the ope c-file and the long diagonal.

If 16.Nxd4?! Nxd4 17.cxd4 then:

17...Nc4! 18.Bxc4 bxc4 19.Rc1 d5 20.Bf4 e6 is equal.
17...d5 18.e5 Nc4 19.Bc1 Qb6 20.b3 gives White a fair advantage in space and the initiative; Black must retreat his KInight to a5.

BLACK: Fabiano Carauana

WHITE: Ruslan PonomariovPosition after 15...Nb6a4

16.Re2!

White is not forced to advance his b-pawn and now has a fair advantage.

16...Qa5!?

The Queen joins Black's queenside initiative, but it's hard to see what another piece can do.
16...Qc7 17.Rc2 Nb6 18.Qd2 Rfd8 19.Rac1 Qb7 20.d5 continues to give White more space.

17.Rc1!

White has a comfortable game. Black's pieces are too crowded on the queenside.

17...Rad8 18.Rec2 Qc7 19.b3 Nb6 20.a4!?

White would get more out of his position by playing on the kingside.
If 20.h4! h5 21.Ng5 Nd7 22.a4 then:

22...bxa4 23.bxa4 Nf6 24.Bxa6 d5 25.e5 Ng4 26.Bb5 gives White an extra pawn that is passed and more space.
22...Rb8 23.axb5 axb5 24.b4 c4 25.Be2 Ra8 26.d5 gives White a substantial advantage in space.

20...bxa4!?

While it is true that a pawn chain does not not need to be attack at its base, that's still usually the best place to do it.
Better is 20...c4! 21.axb5 axb5 22.Rb2 d5 23.e5 Rb8 24.Ra1 leaves Black's position more defensible, for example: 24...cxb3 25.Rxb3 Nc4 26.Qb1 Nxe3 27.fxe3 still gives White a fair advantage in space, but Black can maneuver his queenside pieces more easily and can bring the Knight to c4 via a5.

21.bxa4!

White still has a comfortable advantage in space.

21...c4 22.a5?!

White throws away a pawn and most of his advantage.
22.Rb2! Na5 23.Rcb1 Rb8 24.Qc2 e6 25.g3 continues to give White a comfortable advantage.

22...Nxa5!

Black is a pawn to the good.

23.Ra1 Nb3 24.Rxa6 d5!?

This will not protect the c-pawn. In fact, it only makes the c-pawn more vulnerable.
24...Ra8 25.Rxa8 Rxa8 26.Rb2 d5 27.Nd2 Ra1 28.Rb1 remains equal.

BLACK: Fabiano Carauana

WHITE: Ruslan PonomariovPosition after 24...d6d5

25.exd5!

White has a threat against Black's c-pawn and small advantage in space.
25.e5!? Qb7! 26.Rca2 Ra8 27.Rxa8 Rxa8 28.Rxa8+ Qxa8 remains equal.

25...Nxd5

Black's c-pawn is now inadequately protected.
25...Ra8!? 26.Bf4! Qb7 27.Rxa8 then:

27...Rxa8 28.d6 Nd5 29.Bxc4 Nxf4 30.Rb2 exd6 31.Rxb3 gives White an extra pawn; Black has a slender edge in space.
27...Qxa8 28.d6 exd6 29.Bxd6 Rc8 30.Be5 Qa5 31.Bg3 gives White and extra pawn and Black more space; Black's Bishop has no prospects on the long diagonal.

26.Qe2

The pawn count is even, White has pressure on the weak c-pawn and Black has a slim edge in space.
If 26.Ra4!? Nb6 27.Rb4 Ra8 28.Qe2 Na5 29.Nd2 leaves White with only a advantage; he could take the c-pawn if the Queen were behind the Bishop on the diagonal.

26...Na5 27.Bd2

27.Nd2 e6 28.Nxc4 Nxc4 29.Qxc4 Rc8 30.Qxc7 Rxc7 31.Ra3 gives White an extra pawn and a small advantage in space.

27...Ra8 28.Rxa8 Rxa8 29.Ra2 Rc8?!

This won't save the c-pawn.
If 29...Rb8 30.Ne5 Bxe5 31.Qxe5 Qxe5 32.dxe5 Rb5 33.f4 continues to give White a small advantage in space.

30.Ng5?!

And this won't capture the c-pawn.
30.Ra4! Ra8 31.Be1 Nb6 32.Ra3 e6 33.Qa2 gives White a comfortable game.

30...Nb3!

The game is again equal.

31.Qxc4 Nxd2?

Black may think he's being clever by forking the Queen, but he misses the obvious retort and its consequences.
31...Qb7! 32.Qa6 Qxa6 33.Bxa6 Ra8 34.Be3 e5 35.dxe5 remains equal.

BLACK: Fabiano Carauana

WHITE: Ruslan PonomariovPosition after 31...Nb3e2:B

32.Qxd5!

White threatens the pawn at f7.

32...Nxf1

If 32...e6 then White wins after 33.Nxe6 fxe6 34.Qxe6+ Kh8 35.Rxd2.
If 32...Rf8 then White wins after 33.Rxd2 Bh6 34.Ra2 Qxc3 35.Ra7 Bxg5 36.Qxg5.

33.Nxf7 e6

More stubborn is 33...Qc4 34.Nh6+ when:

If 34...Kh8 35.Qxc4 Rxc4 36.Ra8+ Bf8 37.Rxf8+ Kg7 38.Rf7+ then:

38...Kxh6 39.Kxf1 Rxc3 40.Rxe7 leaves White with two extra pawns.
38...Kh8 39.Kxf1gives White a piece for two pawns.

34...Kf8 loses almost immediately to 35.Qxc4!! Bxh6 36.Qxc8+.

34.Qxe6 Rf8 35.Ne5+ Kh8 36.Kxf1 1-0

White is a piece to the good.
Il sengore Caruana resigns.

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #2)

Mon Aug 6, 2012, 01:48 AM

Jack Rabbit (40,709 posts)

27. Gustafsson - Kramnik, Round 2

Vladimir KramnikPhoto by steenslag http://www.flickr.com/photos/steenslag/ from flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/steenslag/3398819/in/photostream/ as resized in Wikimedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Kramnik (Creative Commons License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en , Attribution/Share Alike)

Jan Gustafsson - Vladimir Kramnik
Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Round 2
Dortmund, 14 July 2012

West India Game: King's Indian Defense (Main Line/Gligoric Opening)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6

As Black, Vladimir Borisovich is hardly a devotee of the West India Game, preferring to meet 1.d4 head on with a Semi-Slav formation.

3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.Be3 c6 8.0-0 exd4 9.Nxd4 Re8 10.f3 d5 11.cxd5 Nxd5 12.Nxd5 cxd5 13.Rc1 a5 (N)

For a detailed look at this opening, including moves and variation up to here, see Wang Yue-A. Vovk, Op 1112, Hastings, 2012.
13...Nc6 14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.Rxc6 Bb7 16.Rc1 dxe4 17.Qxd8 Raxd8 is equal (Gustafsson-Maze, Euro Ch, Aix-les-Bains, 2011).

14.Qb3

The game is equal.

14...a4 15.Qxd5

If 15.Qa3 dxe4 16.Rcd1 then:

16...exf3 17.Ne6 Qh4 18.Nxg7 fxe2 19.Nxe8 Bd7 20.g3 remains equal.
16...Bf8 17.Qc3 Qa5 18.Bc4 Qxc3 19.bxc3 Bc5 20.Bd5 remains equal.

15...Qxd5 16.exd5 a3!?

This move was probably part of Vladimir Borisovich's opening preparation. It isn't objectively best, but we should assume Vladimir Borisovich knows that.
If 16...Nc6 then:

If 17.Nc2! Ne7 18.Bb5 Rd8 then:

19.Nb4 Nxd5 20.Nxd5 Rxd5 21.Bxa4 Bxb2 remains equal.
19.Bb6?! Rxd5! 20.Bc4 Rd6 21.Bf2 Bxb2 gives Black a comfortable game with an extra pawn.

If a) 17.Nb5? Rxe3! 18.Kf2 Re7 then:

19.Rfd1 Na5 20.d6 Rd7 21.Nc7 Rb8 22.Bb5 Nc6gives Black a latent advantage in space after attacking the pawn with 23...Be5. White has an extra pawn that cannot be held and the Knight cannot remain at c7.
If 19.dxc6 then Black wins after 19...bxc6 20.Rfd1! Rxe2+ 21.Kxe2 Ba6 22.Rc2 Bxb5+.

If b) 17.dxc6? then Black wins after 17...Rxe3 18.cxb7 Bxb7 19.Rcd1 Bxd4 20.Rxd4 Rxe2.

BLACK: Vladimir Kramnik

WHITE: Jan GustafssonPosition after 16...a4a3

17.b3!

White has a small advantage in space and a clear lead in development.

17...Nc6

17...Na6 18.Nc2 Rxe3 19.Nxe3 Nb4 20.Kf2 Nxa2 21.Rc7 remains equal.

18.Nc2

If 18.dxc6? then Black wins after 18...Rxe3! 19.cxb7 Bxb7 20.Rfd1 Bxd4 21.Rxd4 Rxe2.

BLACK: Vladimir Kramnik

WHITE: Jan GustafssonPosition after 18.Nd4c2

18...Rxe3!!

Assuming that 16...a3 was part of Kramnik's opening prepartion, then this exchange sacrifice was probably also worked out at home.

19.Nxe3 Nb4 20.Rc4!?

There's no point in arracking the Knight. White should defend his own weaknesses.
If 20.Kf2 Nxa2 21.Rc7 Nc3 22.d6 Nxe2 23.Kxe2 Be6 is still balanced.

20...Nxa2!

Black has a dangerous advanced passer.

21.Ra4?

This will not stop the pawn.
If 21.Nc2 Nc3! then:

22.Bd3 a2 23.Ra1 Kf8 24.g4 b5 25.Rc7 Be5 gives Black a fair advantage. Note that in this variation White's pawn is at g4, whereas in the subvariation the pawn is still at home. That is the only diffeerece; it is the effect of White's pointless move 22.Re1 in the subvariation instead of going straight to a1.
22.Re1!? drops a tempo and after 22...a2! 23.Bd3 Kf8 24.Ra1 b5 25.Rc7 Be5 Black has a strong game.

BLACK: Vladimir Kramnik

WHITE: Jan GustafssonPosition after 21.Rc4a4

21...Rxa4! 22.bxa4 Bd4

Black should clear the path for the pawn first.
If 22...Nb4! 23.Bc4 Bd4 then:

If 24.Kh1 then Black wins after 24...Bxe3 25.Ra1 Bc5 26.Rxa3 Nxd5 27.Rd3 Ne7 when the sting is taken out of 28.Rd8+.
If 24.Kf2 then Black wins after 24...Nc2 25.Rd1 Bxe3+ 26.Ke2 Bc5 27.Bb3 Nd4+.

23.Kf2

If 23.Kh1 then White still wins after 23...Nb4 24.Bc4 Bxe3 25.Ra1 Bc5 26.Rxa3 Nxd5.

23...Nb4 24.Rc1

If 24.Rd1 then:

If 24...Nc2! 25.Rxd4 Nxd4 26.Bc4 Bd7 then:

27.d6 Bxa4 28.Nd5 Kf8 29.Ba2 Nc2 30.Ke2 Bc6 gives Black an extra pawn and connected passers.
27.Nd1 Bxa4 28.Nc3 b5 29.Ba2 Bb3 30.Bxb3 Nxb3 gives Black an extra pawn and connected passers on the queenside; he should win by activating his King.

If a) 24...Ba7! then:

25.Bc4 Nc2 26.Rd3 Bf5 27.Rc3 Nxe3 28.Rxe3 Bb1 wins back the exchange.
If 25.Rc1 then Black wins after 25...a2 26.Rxc8+ Kg7 27.Rc1 Nc2 28.Kg3 Bxe3.

b) 24...Bg7? 25.d6! a2 26.Bb5 a1Q 27.Rxa1 Bxa1 28.d7 is equal.

BLACK: Vladimir Kramnik

WHITE: Jan GustafssonPosition after 24.Rf1c1

24...a2!!

It will cost WShie a piece to stop the pawn.

25.Rxc8+

25.Bc4 a1Q 26.Rxa1 Bxa1 gives Black an extra piece.

25...Kg7 26.Rc1 Nxd5 27.Rd1 Nxe3 1-0

If 28.Rxd4 a1Q 29.Kxe3 then:

If 29...Qg1+ 30.Kd3 Qxh2 then:

If 31.g4 then Black wins after 31...h5 32.gxh5 gxh5 33.Re4 Qf2 34.f4 h4.
If 31.Rd7 then Black wins after 31...h5 32.Bf1 Qg1 33.Ke2 Qb6 34.Rd1 Qa6+.

Also good is 29...Qe1 30.Rd1 Qb4 31.Bd3 Qxa4 32.Rb1 Qh4.

Herr Gustafsson resigns.

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #1)

Thu Aug 2, 2012, 04:16 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,709 posts)

5. Women's Grand Prix, 5th Leg, Jermuk, Armenia

Arpa River, JermukPhoto by Katy Pearce (http://www.flickr.com/photos/49503165234@N01) from flikr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/49503165234@N01/2996517055)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #5)

Thu Aug 2, 2012, 04:24 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,709 posts)

6. Hou Yifan - Ruan Lufei, Round 8

Reigning world women's champion Hou Yifan won the Jermuk leg of the 2011/12 Women's Grand Prix and clinched the overall championship of the Grand Prix. She will not compete in the sixth round, scheduled for November.

Hou YifanPhoto by karpidis (http://www.flickr.com/photos/karpidis/) modified from flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/8022405@N02/2750069891/) in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Hou_Yifan) (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Hou Yifan - Ruan Lufei
Women's Grand Prix 5th Leg, Round 8
Jermuk, 25 July 2012

Grand Spanish Royal Game: Neo-Classical Defense

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.d3 b5 6.Bb3 Bc5 7.c3 d6 8.0-0

For moves and variations up to here, see the maroon notes to Black's fifth move (beginning with 6...Bc5) in Van den Doel-Nikolic, Op, Leiden, 2011.

8...h6

If 8...0-0 then:

If 9.Nbd2 then:

If 9...h6 10.Re1 then:

If 10...Re8 11.h3 Bb7 12.Nf1 then:

12...d5 13.exd5 Nxd5 14.Ng3 Nf6 15.Be3 Bf8 16.Rc1 Na5 gives Black a slight advantage in space (Mudongo-Mira, OlW, Torino, 2006).
12...Bb6 13.Be3 Bxe3 14.Nxe3 Na5 15.Bc2 d5 16.exd5 Nxd5 is equal (Otorbaeva-Al Ali, OlW, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).

a) 10...Ne7 11.Nf1 Ng6 12.Ng3 Re8 13.h3 Bb7 14.Nh2 is equal (McShane-Tkachiev, IT B, Wijk aan Zee, 2011).
If b) 10...Bb6 11.Nf1 Ne7 then:

If 12.Ng3 Ng6 13.h3 Re8 then:

If 14.a4 Rb8 15.d4 then:

15...Bb7 16.Bc2 d5 17.Nxe5 Nxe5 18.dxe5 Nxe4 19.Nxe4 dxe4 is equal (Leko-Topalov, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 2004).
15...c5 16.Bc2 exd4 17.cxd4 Bb7 18.d5 Bc8 19.axb5 axb5 20.b4 is equal (I. Agrest-Michelle Catherina, World Jr Ch Girls, 2011).

If 14.d4 then:

If 14...Bb7 15.Bc2 d5 16.Nxe5 Nxe5 17.dxe5 Nxe4 18.Nxe4 dxe4 then:

If 19.Qh5 g6 20.Qxh6 Rxe5 21.Be3 c5 22.Rad1 gives White the initiative and a small advantage in space (Shadrina-T. Kosintseva, Russian ChW, Moscow, 2010).
19.Qg4 Rxe5 20.Bxh6 then:

20...g5? 21.Bxe4! Qf6 22.Bxb7 Bxf2+ 23.Kh2 leaves White in line to gain two minor pieces for a Rook (Saric-Fressinet, Ol, Torino, 2006).
20...Qf6! 21.Be3 Bxe3 22.fxe3 Rd8 23.Rad1 Bd5 is equal.

14...c5 15.Bc2 cxd4 16.cxd4 exd4 17.b4 Ne5 gives Black an extra pawn (Akopian-Kasimdzhanov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2007).

12.Be3 c5 13.h3 Ng6 14.Ng3 d5 15.exd5 Nxd5 is equal (Adams-Naiditsch, Euro ChT, Crete, 2007).

10.h3 Bb6 11.Re1 Re8 12.Nf1 Be6 13.Bc2 d5 14.exd5 Qxd5 15.a4 Rad8 draw (Dr. Nunn-Turner, IT, Oxford, 1998).

9.Bg5 h6 10.Bh4 g5 11.Bg3 Bg4 12.Nbd2 Rb8 13.Re1 Nh5 14.h3 Bxf3 15.Qxf3 Nxg3 16.Qxg3 gives White more freedom (Akopian-I. Sololov, Masters', Gibraltar, 2007).

9.Be3

If 9.a4 Rb8 10.axb5 axb5 then:

If 11.Na3!? 0-0 12.Nc2 then:

If 12...Bb6 13.Be3 then:

13...d5 14.Bxb6 Rxb6 15.Re1 Re8 16.exd5 Nxd5 17.d4 gives White more activity and specifically better minor pieces; Black would pay a high price for taking White's d-pawn (David-Colovic, French ChT, Le Port Marly, 2009).
13...Bxe3 14.Nxe3 b4 15.Qc2 bxc3 16.bxc3 gives White a small advantage in space (Akopian-Cheparinov, Grand Prix, Jermuk, 2009).

12...b4 13.Ne3 bxc3 14.bxc3 Re8 15.Ba4 Bd7 16.Nc4 remains equal (Hracek-Kurnosov, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).

11.d4 Bb6 12.Na3 exd4 13.cxd4 Ra8 14.Be3 gives White a small advantage in space.

If 9.h3 0-0 10.Re1 Bb7 11.Nbd2 Re8 transposes into the notes to Black's eighth move.

9...0-0 10.Nbd2 Re8

If 10...Bxe3 11.fxe3 then:

If 11...Na5 12.Bc2 c5 13.Qe1 Nc6 14.Nh4 then:

14...Be6 15.Nf5 Bxf5 16.Rxf5 Ne7 17.Rf3 is equal (N. Kosintseva-Ruan Lufei, TM, Ningbo, 2008).
14...g6 15.Qg3 Nh5 16.Qf2 Kg7 17.Bb3 Qf6 18.Bd5 gives White a small advantage in space (Bojkov-Predojevic, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).

If 11...d5 12.exd5 Nxd5 13.Qe2 Be6 then:

14.Bc2 Qe7 15.d4 Rad8 16.Qf2 f5 17.Rfe1 e4 gives Black a clear advantage in space (Van Kemenade-Coimbra, OlW, Dresden, 2008).
14.Bxd5 Qxd5 15.Ne4 f5 16.Nf2 Qd8 17.b3 g5 is equal (Sirce-Morphy, Match, Havana, 1862).

11.h3 Rb8 (N)

11...Bb6 12.d4 Bb7 13.d5 Ne7 14.Bxb6 cxb6 15.Bc2 is equal (Hou Yifan-Ruan Lufei, Chinese ChTW, Wen Zhou, 2008).

12.d4

The game is equal.

12...Bb6 13.Bc2

It is slightly risky to pull the Bishop back to protect the e-pawn.
13.Re1 Qe7 14.d5 Bxe3 15.Rxe3 Na5 16.Bc2 c6 remains equal.

13...Bd7

13...exd4 14.cxd4 Nb4 15.Bb1 c5 16.a3 remains equal.

14.Re1 Qc8 15.a3 Na5!?

This may be a provocation. Objectively, the Knight is better c6.
15...Qb7 16.Qe2 Qa7 17.Qd3 a5 18.b3 Ra8 19.Reb1 remains equal.

16.b4!

White has a slim edge in space. This may be exactly what Black expected.

16...exd4?!

This really is provocative. Neither side is ready to open the center.
If 16...Nc6 then:

17.dxe5 dxe5 18.a4 Bxe3 19.Rxe3 Rd8 20.Ne1 gives White a small advantage in space.
17.d5!? Ne7! 18.c4 Bxe3 19.Rxe3 Ng6 20.Nb3 Nf4 is equal.

BLACK: Ruan Lufei

WHITE: Hou YifanPosition after 16...ed4:p

17.Bxd4!

White has a better center an more space.

17...Bxd4

Black has two reasons for exchanging Bishops. First, it's a wee bit crowded on the queenside; second, White is threatening to disfigure Black's kingside.
Things don't get any better for Black after 17...Nc6?! 18.Bxf6! gxf6 19.Nf1 Ne5 20.Ng3 Kh7 21.Nh5.

18.cxd4

White has a fair advantage in space.

18...Nc4

Black seeks more exchanges to gain space on the queenside.

19.Nxc4 bxc4

BLACK: Ruan Lufei

WHITE: Hou YifanPosition after 19...bc4:N

20.Nd2

White goes to work on Black's weak pawn like a boxer goes to work on a cut over her opponent's eye.

20...Bb5

This is the best way to cover the foremost c-pawn. Black should not try to advance her d-pawn until the White pawn is removed from e4 one way or another.
If 20...d5!? (weakening the passed c-pawn) 21.exd5! then:

21...Rxe1+ 22.Qxe1 Bb5 23.a4 Bd7 24.Nxc4 Nxd5 25.Qe4 gives White a comfortable game.
21...Bb5?! 22.Qf3 Qb7 23.Ne4 Nxe4 24.Bxe4 Qb6 25.Qc3 blockades the passer and gives White greater freedom.

21.Qf3

If 21.a4!? Bd7 then:

22.Qf3 Qb7 23.Rab1 d5 24.e5 Nh7 25.Qc3 gives White a fair advantage in space, for which Black is compensated by the protected passed c-pawn that sucks away White's pieces from more active posts to the defense.
If 22.Nxc4 Rxb4 then:

23.Qd3 d5 24.exd5 Bxa4 25.Bxa4 Rxa4 26.d6 is equal.
23.Ne3?! c5 24.dxc5 dxc5 25.Nd5 Nxd5 26.exd5 Rd4 gives Black the initiative and a slight advantage in space.

21...Qe6

21...Qb7 22.d5! (preventing ...d6d5 once and for all) 22...Qa7 23.Qc3 c5 24.bxc5 Qxc5 25.a4 gives White a fair advantage in space.

22.Rab1

If 22.d5?! Qe5! then:

23.Qd1 Qc3 24.Re3 Qd4 25.Nf3 Qb6 26.Qe1 leaves White only slightly better.
23.Rad1?! Qb2! 24.Rc1 Nxd5 25.exd5 Rxe1+ 26.Rxe1 Qxc2 gives Black an active Queen and a passed pawn.

22...d5 23.e5 Nh7

Black doesn't want a traffic jam on the queenside; the Knight is headed for either g5 and e4 or to f8 and (after the Queen moves) e6.
If 23...Nd7?! 24.a4 Bc6 25.Bf5 Qe7 26.Nxc4! (a sham sacrifice) 26...Rxb4 27.Rbc1 Nf8 28.Ne3 Ba8 29.Nxd5 Bxd5 30.Qxd5 gives White a comfortable game.
If 26...dxc4? then White wins after 27.Qxc6.

24.Nf1 Ng5

Protecting the d-pawn while the Knight maneuvers to e6 involves too much work.
If 24...Nf8?! 25.Ne3! then:

If 25...Rbd8 26.a4 then:

26...Bc6 27.Bf5 Qe7 28.Nxc4 Ne6 29.Bxe6 fxe6 30.b5 gives White an extra pawn and more acivity and space.
26...Bd7 27.Red1 Bc6 28.Bf5 Qe7 29.b5 axb5 30.axb5 gives White the initiaative with more activity; Black still has a passed pawn.

25...Qd7 26.Nf5 Qd8 27.Rbd1 Ne6 28.Re3 Rb6 29.h4 hems in the Knight.

25.Qc3 f5!?

Black risks allowing White a central passer in order to mobilizes her kingside.
25...Qb6 26.Ng3 Ne6 27.Rbd1 Ra8 28.a4 Bc6 29.Nf5 continues to give White a fair advantage in space.

26.h4!?

White has the right idea, but uses the wrong pawn.
If 26.f4! Ne4 27.Bxe4 fxe4 28.Ne3 Rf8 29.f5 gives White a more significant advantage in space.

BLACK: Ruan Lufei

WHITE: Hou YifanPosition after 26.h3h4

26...Ne4!

Black has no other move.
If 26...Nf7? then White wins after 27.Qf3 Bd7 28.Ne3 c6 29.Bxf5.

27.Qh3

White has only a slight edge in space, if that.
27.Qe3 Rf8 28.Red1 Rbe8 29.Qe1 Qf7 30.Ne3 Bd7 is equal.

27...Bd7 28.Rbc1

28.Qe3!? Rf8 29.Qf4 Qb6 30.Ne3 c6 31.f3 is equal.

28...Qf7 29.Qe3 Nf6!?

The Knight serves Black well at e4 where it makes launching an attck difficult for White.
If 29...a5 30.bxa5 Ra8 31.Red1 Rxa5 32.f3 Nd6 33.Qc3 continues to give White nothing more than a slim advantage.

30.Qf3!

White has an initiative where she would not have had one otherwise.

30...Ng4?

Black misses a chance jam the center.
If 30...Ne4 31.Qf4 g5 then:

If 32.Qh2 then:

32...g4 33.Qf4 Qg6 34.Re3 Kg7 35.Ng3 Rf8 36.Ne2 gives White more freedom; Black's Knight looks imposing on e4, but it has no retreat.
32...Rb6 33.f3 Nc3 34.hxg5 hxg5 35.Bxf5!! Bxf5 36.Rxc3 leaves White with an extra pawn and Black's King with no pawn protection.

32.hxg5!? hxg5 33.Qf3 Rb6 34.g4 f4 is equal.

BLACK: Ruan Lufei

WHITE: Hou YifanPosition after 30...Nf6g4

31.Qf4!

White is blockading Black's most vital pawns.

31...h5 32.Ng3

White threatens to win the f-pawn,

32...Rf8 33.f3!

The Knight has no good square to retreat.

33...Nh6 34.Qg5 Be8

34...Rb6drops a pawn to 35.Nxh5 Rfb8 36.Nf4 Re8 37.Re3 Be6 38.Ba4.

35.e6 Qg6 36.Re5 c6 37.Ne2 Kh7

If 37...Rf6 then White wins after 38.Nf4 Qh7 39.Nxh5 Bxh5 40.Qxh5 g6 41.Qg5.

38.Nf4 Qxg5

It doesn't matter a jot whether Queens are exchanged or not.
If 38...Qf6 then White wins after 39.e7 Rf7 40.Rce1 c3 41.Ne6 Qxg5 42.Nxg5+.

39.hxg5 Ng8 40.e7 1-0

White must win a piece.

BLACK: Ruan Lufei

WHITE: Hou YifanFinal Position after 40.e6e7

Ruan Nushi resigns.

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #5)

Sun Aug 12, 2012, 10:58 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,709 posts)

28. Koneru - Mkrtchian, Round 10

Koneru Humpy won more games than any other player in Jermuk.

Koneru Humpy
Photo by Stefan64 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64) in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Humpy_Koneru)
(, Attribution/Share Alike)

Koneru Humpy - Lilit Mkrtchian
Women's Grand Prix, 5th Leg, Round 10
Jermuk, 27 July 2012

Open Queen's Gambit: Miscellaneous Lines

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.Qc2

This is where the game takes a turn to obscure opening lines. The more expected move is 4.Nf3 and if Black replies 4...Nf6 then 5.Bg5 0-0 6.e3 brings us to a good, old-fashion Orthodox Queen's Gambit.

4...dxc4 5.e3 Nf6 (N)

Nowadays, it is unusual to see a novel position by the fifth move in a game between a grandmaster and an international master. It is not that unusual for for White to play the Queen's Knight to c3 in an Open Queen's Gambit, but in conjunction with the Queen at c2 it is something entirely new.
If 5...c5 6.dxc5 Na6 7.Bxc4 Nxc5 8.Nf3 a6 9.0-0 gives White a small advantage in space (Rindlisbacher-Baramidze, Op 1011, Zürich, 2010).

BLACK: Lilit Mkrtchian

WHITE: Koneru HumpyPosition after 5...Ng8f6

6.Bxc4

White has a small advantage in space.

6...a6

6...c5 7.dxc5 Qa5 8.Nf3 Nc6 9.0-0 Qxc5 10.Qe2 also gives White a small advantage.

7.Nf3 Nbd7 8.e4 b5

8...c5 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.0-0 b5 11.Bd3 Qc7 continues to give White a small advantage.

9.Bd3 Bb7 10.0-0 c5 11.e5 Nd5 12.Be4!?

This move is of minimum risk, perhaps made to get Black out of her comfort zone.
If 12.Nxd5 Bxd5 13.Be4 Bxe4 14.Qxe4 c4 15.a4 0-0 continues to give White a small advantage.

BLACK: Lilit Mkrtchian

WHITE: Koneru HumpyPosition after 12...Bd3e4

12...Nb4!?

If Black want to extablish an octopus on d3, she should first play 12...c4.
12...c4! 13.Bd2 Nb4 14.Qb1 Bxe4 15.Nxe4 Nd3 16.Ne1 is equal.

13.Qe2

White still has a slight advantage.

13...Bxe4 14.Qxe4 cxd4

If 14...c4 then:

15.Qg4! Kf8 16.a4 Rb8 17.axb5 axb5 18.Qe4 gives White a comfortable game.
15.a4 0-0 16.Qg4 Kh8 17.axb5 axb5 18.Bg5 continues to give White a small advantage in space.

15.Nxd4 Nc5?

This aggressive move is in fact a bad mistake. Black will not be able to castle.
If 15...0-0 then:

16.Rd1 Qc7! 17.a3 Nd5 18.Nxd5 exd5 19.Qxd5 Nxe5 is equal.
If 16.Be3 then:

16...Rc8! 17.Rad1 Qc7 18.a3 Nc5 19.Nxe6 fxe6 20.Qxb4 is equal.
16...Nc5?! 17.Qg4! Re8 18.Rad1 Nbd3 19.Nc6 Qc7 20.Nxe7+ leaves Black's King scantly defended.

BLACK: Lilit Mkrtchian

WHITE: Koneru HumpyPosition after 15...Nd7c5

16.Qg4! g6

While not good, Black would find it easier to abandon the g-pawn.
If 16...Qc7 17.Qxg7 0-0-0 18.Be3 Ncd3 19.Qxf7 Qd7 20.Nxe6 gives White two extra pawns and a Black King with no pawn protection to target.

17.Bh6! Qb6 18.Ndxb5 Nb7

18...Nbd3 19.Nd6+ Bxd6 20.exd6 f5 21.Qd4 e5 22.Qd5 gives an extra pawn.

19.Na3 Qc7 20.Rac1

White wins after 20.Rad1 Qxe5 21.Nc4 f5 22.Qf3 Qc7 23.Qe2.

20...Qxe5 21.Qf3 Qb8

If 21...Ra7 22.Be3 then:

22...Qb8 23.Rfd1 Nd8 24.Bxa7 Qxa7 25.Nc4 Qc7 26.Ne4 threatens to win the Queen with 27.Ncd6+!.
If 22...Nc5 then White wins after 23.Bxc5 Bxc5 24.Ne4 Bd4 25.Nc4 Qh5 26.Qb3.

22.Nc4 Nd8 23.Na5 Ra7 24.a3 Nd5

If 24...Qa8 then White wins after 25.Qg4 Nbc6 26.Qa4 Rd7 27.Rfd1 f5 28.Rxd7.

25.Nxd5 exd5

BLACK: Lilit Mkrtchian

WHITE: Koneru HumpyPosition after 25...ed5:N

26.Qc3

White is just closing in on Black. Her position is so strong that she no longer needs to find the very best move.
White has a quicker win after 26.Rfe1 when:

If 26...Qd6 then after 27.Qd1 Rd7 28.Qa4 Qb6 29.Rc8 Black is aphyxiating.
26...Qxb2 loses quickly to 27.Qxd5 Qb8 28.Nc6.

26...Rg8

If 26...f6 (giving the Black King a short lifeline) then White wins after 27.Nc6 d4 28.Qxd4 Nxc6 29.Rxc6.

27.Nc6 d4 28.Qxd4 Nxc6

If 28...Ne6 then White wins after 29.Qd3 Rd7 30.Qxa6 Qb7 31.Qa4.

29.Rxc6 Rd7 30.Qc3 Qb7 31.Rc8+ Rd8 32.Rc7 1-0

If 32...Qd5 then White wins after 33.Re1 Rd7 34.Rc8+ Rd8 35.Qf6.
Oriord Mkrtchian resigns.

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #5)

Sun Aug 12, 2012, 11:02 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,709 posts)

29. N. Kosintseva - Danileian, Round 9 (Closed Caro-Kann Opening Theory)

Last edited Sun Aug 12, 2012, 11:04 PM USA/ET - Edit history (1)

Nadezhda Anatolyevna finished second.

Nadezhda KosintsevaPhoto by Frank Hoppe in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Nadezhda_Kosintseva)
(Public Doamin)

Nadezhda Kosintseva - Elina Danielian
Women's Grand Prix 5th Leg, Round 9
Jermuk, 26 July 2012

Closed Caro-Kann Game: Short Opening

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5

BLACK

WHITEClosed Caro-Kann GamePosition after 3.e4e5

Long ago, this was seen as an inferior way to meet the Caro-Kann, but Tal's use of it from the sixties on caused a re-evaution. White comes out of the opening with an early advantage in space while Black typically has a playable game. The advance to e5 in and of itself cramps Black's kingside pieces.

3...Bf5 4.Nf3

The text is the Short Opening. It is the most direct way to protect White's center.
(Van der Weil Opening) If 4.Nc3 then:

If 4...e6 5.g4 Bg6 6.Nge2 then:

If 6...c5 then:

If 7.h4 then:

If 7...h5 8.Nf4 Bh7 then:

If 9.Nxh5 then:

If 9...cxd4 then:

If 10.Nb5 Nc6 11.Nxd4 Nge7 12.c3 then:

If 12...a6 then:

If 13.Rh3 Nxe5 14.Bg5 Qc7 then:

15.f4 N5c6 16.Qa4 Bg6 17.f5 exf5 18.Nf4 f6 is equal (Nimtz-Wunderlich, Corres, 2009).
15.Re3 N5c6 16.Nxc6 Qxc6 17.Qd4 Rg8 18.Bf6 gives White a clear early advantage (Jessel-Barnaure, World Jr Ch, Istanbul, 2005).

13.Bf4 Qb6 14.Qb3 Qxb3 15.axb3 Nxd4 16.cxd4 Nc6 is equal (Najer-Dreev, IT, Poikovsky, 2006).

If 12...Nxe5 13.Bb5+ then:

13...N5c6 14.Bg5 Qc8 15.0-0 a6 16.Ba4 b5 17.Bb3 is equal (Grischuk-Seirawan, Grand Prix, Moscow, 2002).
13...Nd7 14.Bg5 a6 15.Bxd7+ Qxd7 16.Qe2 0-0-0 is equal (Bareev-Carlsen, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2005).

If 10.Qxd4 Nc6 11.Bb5 Nge7 then:

If 12.Bg5 a6 13.Bxc6+ Nxc6 14.Qa4 b5 15.Qf4 Qc7 then:

16.0-0 Bg6 17.Ng3 Qxe5 18.Qd2 Bc5 19.Kg2 Qd4 gives Black a fair advantage in space (Orso-Kallai, Hungarian Ch, Budapest, 2000).
16.0-0-0 b4 17.Nxd5 exd5 gives Black a comfortable game (Ehlvest-Bareev, FIDE Knock Out, Moscow, 2001).

12.Bh6!? Rg8! (Black has a small advantage) 13.0-0-0 a6 14.Bxc6+ Nxc6 15.Qf4 Qa5 gives Black a small advantage (Chapman-Rogers, Op, Suncoast, Australia, 1999).

If 9...Nc6 10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.Bb5 then:

If 11...Qc7 12.Bxc6+ Qxc6 13.Qf3 then:

13...0-0-0 14.Nxg7 d4 15.Qxc6+ bxc6 16.Na4 Bf8 17.Nh5 gives White a small advantage in space (Topalov-Gelfand, IT, Dortmund, 2002).
13...Kf8 14.Bg5 Rc8 15.0-0 d4 16.Qxc6 Rxc6 17.Rad1 remains equal (Naiditsch-Galkin, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2006).

11...d4?! 12.Bxc6+ bxc6 13.Qf3 Qd7 14.Ne4 Bb4+ 15.Bd2 gives White powerful game with excellent winnig prospects (Nakamura-Bareev, Rpd IT, Corsica, 2007).

If 9.g5 cxd4 10.Nb5 Be4 11.f3 Bf5 then:

12.Nxd4 Ne7 13.Bb5+ Nbc6 14.g6 Qc7 gives Black a comfortable game (Kotronias-Arlandi, Ol, Yerevan, 1996).
12.g6 Nc6 13.Nxd4 Nxd4 14.Qxd4 Ne7 15.Bd3 Qc7 gives Black a small advantage in space (Zhang Pengxiang-Bologan, IT, Poikovsky, 2007).

If 7...h6 8.Be3 Qb6 then:

If 9.f4 Nc6 10.f5 Bh7 11.Qd2 then:

If 11...0-0-0 12.0-0-0 c4 13.Nf4 then:

If 13...Qa6? 13.Nf4 Nge7 14.fxe6 then:

14...Nb4 15.exf7 Ne7 16.g5 Bxc2 17.Bh3+ White wins (Hawlick-Ali Dikmen, Corres, 1998).
If 14...b5 15.exf7 Nge7 16.Ne6 b4 17.Nxd8 then:

17...Kxd8 18.a3 bxc3 19.Qxc3 Nc8 20.g5 White wins (Timman-Seirawan, IT, Hilversum, 1990).
17...bxc3 then White wins after 18.Qxc3 Nxd8 19.Rh2 Qxa2 20.Rf2.

13...Bb4 14.fxe6 f6 15.Nfxd5 Rxd5 16.Bxc4 gives White two extra pawns.

11...c4 12.Bg2 0-0-0 13.0-0 f6 14.Nf4 gives White greater activity and superior development (Salmensuu-Shevelev, Euro Ch, Saint Vincent, Italy, 2000).
11...exf5 12.gxf5 Bxf5 13.0-0-0 Qb4 14.Bh3 Nge7 15.a3 continues to give White a comfortable game.

9.Qd2 Nc6 10.0-0-0 h5 11.dxc5 Bxc5 12.Bxc5 Qxc5 gives Black a slight but clear advantage (A. Sokolov-Karpov, Candidates Trmt, Linares, 1987).

If 7.Be3 Nc6 8.dxc5 Nxe5 then:

If 9.Nd4 Nd7 10.b4 then:

If 10...Be7 11.Bb5 then:

11...h5 12.g5 Bxg5 13.c6 bxc6 14.Nxc6 Qf6 is equal (Sutovsky-Ruck, Euro CH, Dresden, 2007).
11...a6 12.Ba4 Ngf6 13.g5 Ne4 14.Nxe4 Bxe4 15.f3 gives White a slight advantage in space (Moreno Carretero-Sykora, Corres, 2004).

10...Ngf6 11.g5 Ne4 12.Nxe4 Bxe4 13.f3 Bg6 14.c4 is equal (Nataf-T. Ernst, IT, Hasselbacken, Sweden, 2001).

If 9.Nf4 Ne7 10.Qe2 then:

10...N7c6 11.0-0-0 Be7 12.Nfxd5 exd5 gives Black a small advantage in space (Shirov-Anand, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2003).
10...Qa5 11.0-0-0 0-0-0 12.Rd4 Nc4 13.Rxc4 dxc4 leaves Black up by the exchange (Khalifman-Dreev, IT, Dos Hermanas, 2003).

If 6...Nd7 7.h4 h6 then:

If 8.Be3 Ne7 9.f4 then:

9...Qc7 10.Qd2 0-0-0 11.0-0-0 a6 12.f5 exf5 13.g5 is equal (Andreev-Lahno, Regional Ch, Dontesk, 2003).
9...f5 10.h5 Bh7 11.Ng3 Qb6 12.Bd3 Qxb2 gives Black an extra pawn at the cost of having his Queen kicked up the board (Rodin-Podlipalin, Saratov, 2010).

If 8.Nf4 Ne7 then:

9.Nxg6 Nxg6 10.h5 Ne7 11.Ne2 c5 12.c3 Nc6 13.Bg2 cxd4 gives Black a slight advantage in space (Chen Fan-Li Bo, Chinese ChT, Suzhou, 2001).
If 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 then:

If 10...a6!? 11.Be3! c5 12.0-0-0 then:

12...Nc6 13.Ncxd5 exd5 14.e6 gives White more space and freedom (Flitney-Chek, Op, Canberra, Australia, 1999).
12...cxd4 13.Bxd4 Nc6 14.Ncxd5 Nxd4 15.Qxd4 gives White an extra pawn.

10...c5 11.Be3 cxd4 12.Bxd4 Nc6 13.0-0-0 Bc5 is equal.

If 4...Qb6 then:

If 5.Nf3 e6 6.Be2 Nd7 7.0-0 Ne7 8.b3 then:

If 8...Bg4 9.Na4 Qc7 10.c4 Nb6 then:

If 11.Nxb6 axb6 then:

12.h3 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 Rd8 14.Bb2 g6 15.Qe2 gives White a fair advantage in space (Urquhart-Feoktistov, Canadian Ch, Toronto, 2004).
12.Ng5 Bf5 13.f4 h6 14.Nf3 Be4 15.cxd5 Bxd5 is equal (Radic-Dizdarevic, IT, Zenica, Bosnia, 2005).

11.Nb2!? dxc4 12.Nxc4 Ned5 13.Bd2 Be7 14.Ng5 Bxe2 gives White a fair advantage in space (Kobalia-Kharitonov, Op, Novgorod, 1999).

If 8...h6 9.Na4 Qc7 10.Ba3 Ng6 11.Bxf8 Rxf8 then:

12.Bd3 Bxd3 13.Qxd3 0-0-0 14.Rfe1 Nf4 15.Qe3 g5 is equal (Kukk-Napalkov, Corres, 2002).
12.Ne1 draw (Volkmann-Weiss, Austrian Ch, Mureck, 2001).

If 5.Bd3 Bxd3 6.Qxd3 e6 then:

If 7.Nge2 Ne7 8.0-0 then:

If 8...Nd7 9.a4 c5 10.a5 Qa6 then:

11.b4 c4 12.Qh3 b5 13.Nd1 0-0-0 14.c3 h5 15.Bg5 give White an early advantage in space (Ranola-Adianto, ZT, Manila, 2001).
11.Qh3!? Nc6 12.Be3 cxd4 13.Nxd4 Nxd4 14.Bxd4 gives White a small advantage in space (Berg-Sargissian, World Jr Ch, Athens, 2001).

If 8...Qa6 9.Qh3 Nd7 10.a4 Qb6 then:

11.a5 Qa6 12.Be3 Rc8 13.Nf4 g6 14.Nce2 gives White more space, but Black has few weaknesses (Kotronias-Dreev, FIDE Knock Out, Las Vegas, 1999).
If 11.b3 Nf5 12.a5 Qd8 then:

If 13.Nd1!? 13...c5! then:

14.c4?! cxd4! 15.cxd5 Nxe5 16.dxe6 fxe6 gives Black a fair advantage in space (Kotronias-Khalifman, IT, Moscow, 1987).
14.c3 Be7 15.Be3 Qc7 16.Ng3 Nxe3 17.Nxe3 still gives White a narrow advantage.

13.Qd3 Be7 14.Ng3 Nh4 15.f4 g6 16.Bb2 continues to give White a small advantage.

7.Nf3 Qa6 8.Qd1 Nd7 9.a4 Ne7 10.h4 Rc8 is equal (D. Petrosian-Shtyrenkov, IT, Alushta, 2008).

BLACK

WHITEClosed Caro-Kann Game: Tal OpeningPosition after 4.h2h4

(Tal Opening) If 4.h4 h5 5.c4 then:

If 5...e6 6.Nc3 then:

If 6...Ne7 then:

If 7.Bg5 dxc4 8.Bxc4 Nd7 9.Nge2 then:

If 9...f6 Nb6 10.exf6 gxf6 then:

If 11.Be3 then:

If 12.Bb3 Ned5 13.Ng3 then:

13...Nxe3 14.fxe3 Bg4 15.Qd3 Qe7 16.Qg6+ Qf7 17.Qxf7+ Kxf7 gives Black a small advantagge in space (Mokry-K. Berg, Op, Copenhagen, 1985).
13...Bg6 14.Qf3 Be7 15.Nge4 Bf5 16.Qg3 Kf7 gives Black a slight advantage in space (Luukkonen-Akesson, Op, Jyvaskyla, Finland, 2006).

If 12.Bd3 Qd7 then:

If 13.Nf4?! 0-0-0! (Black has a fair advantage in space) then:

14.Be2!? Ned5! (Black has a comfortable game) then:

15.Nfxd5 Nxd5 16.0-0 Bd6 17.Nxd5 exd5 18.Qd2 Rde8 gives Black a substantial advantage in space (Dr. Nunn-Karpov, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 1995).
If 15.Nxh5 Qc7 16.g4 Nxe3 17.fxe3 Rxh5 then:

18.gxf5 Rxf5 19.Qd3 Qg3+ 20.Kd2 c5 gives Black a small advantage in space.
If 18.gxh5?? then Black wins after 18...Qg3+! 19.Kf1 Bh6.

14.Qb3 Bxd3 15.Nxd3 Nf5 16.0-0-0 Nd5 continues to give Black a fair advantage in space

13.Ng3 0-0-0 14.0-0 e5 15.Nce4 Bxe4 16.Nxe4 Ned5 remains equal.

11.Bf4 Nb6 12.Bb3 Ned5 13.0-0 Qd7 14.Bg3 gives White a slight advantage in space (Akopian-Spiridinov, IT, Varna, 2012).

If 9...Qb6 then:

If 10.Bd3!? then:

If 10...Bxd3!? 11.Qxd3 (White has a slight advantage) 11...Qa6 12.Qf3 then:

12...Ng6?! 13.0-0-0 Nb6 14.Kb1 Nc4 15.Ng3 five White a very impressive advantage in space (Oll-Adianto, IT, Adelaide, Australia, 1990).
12...Nf5 13.0-0-0 Bb4 14.Kb1 Bxc3 15.Nxc3 continues to give White a small advantage in space.

10...f6! 11.Na4 Qa5+ 12.Bd2 Qd5 13.Bxf5 Nxf5 gives Black a small advantage in space.

10.Qd2 0-0-0 11.Qe3 Qxb2 12.0-0 Qa3 13.Nb5 gives White a fair advantagein space (Gelashvili-S. Nikolic, Op, Chania, 1999).
10.0.0-0! 0-0-0 11.Qb3 Qxb3 12.axb3 b5 13.Bxb5 cxb5 14.Rxa7 gives White an active Rook, two pawns and the advantage in space for a Bishop.

7.Nge2 then:

If 7...Nd7 8.Ng3 Bg6 then:

If 9.Bg5 f6 10.exf6 gxf6 11.Be3 then:

11...Nb6 12.b3 dxc4 13.bxc4 Qc7 14.a4 0-0-0 15.a5 gives White the initiative and a small advantage in space (Benjamin-Seirawan, US Ch, Key West, Florida, 1994).
11...Qb6 12.Qd2 0-0-0 13.Rc1 Qb4 14.a3 Qb3 15.Be2 is equal.

If 9.cxd5 Nxd5 then:

If 10.Nxd5 cxd5 11.Bd2 Be7 then:

12.Be2 Bxh4 13.Nxh5 Bxh5 14.Bxh5 gives White a slight advantage in space (Zherebukh-Eljanov, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2011).
12.Rc1 Bxh4 13.Be2 Bxg3 14.fxg3 Rc8 15.Bb4 gives White a small advantage in space.

10.Be2 Bb4 11.Bd2 Qb6 12.Nxd5 cxd5 13.Bxb4 Qxb4+ 14.Qd2 gives White a small advantage in space (Vachier Lagrave-Laznicka, IT, San Sebastián, 2012).

If 7...dxc4 8.Ng3 Bg6 9.Bg5 Qb6 10.Bxc4 then:

10...Nd7 11.0-0 0-0-0 12.Qe2 Qxd4 13.Rfd1 Qg4 gives Black a tactical edge by which he can win the e-pawn; White has more space (Azarov-Raznikov, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2012).
10...Nf5 11.Nxf5 Bxf5 12.Qd2 Nd7 13.a3 f6 14.exf6 gives White more activite minor pieces and Black more space (Marjanovic-Schachinger, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2012).

a) 6...Nd7 7.cxd5 cxd5 then:

If 8.Bd3 Bxd3 9.Qxd3 Ne7 10.Nf3 then:

If 10...Nc6 11.0-0 then:

11...Be7 12.Bg5 a6 13.Rac1 Nb6 14.Ne2 Qd7 15.Nf4 gives White a considerable advantage in space and pressure on all sectors of the board (Short-Johannessen, Ol, Torino, 2006).
11...Qb6 12.Bg5 a6 13.Nxd5 exd5 14.e6 Nf6 is equal (Reefschläger-C. Graf, Op, Bad Wiessee, 2008).

10...Nb8 11.Bg5 Qd7 12.0-0 Nbc6 13.Rfc1 Nf5 14.Na4 is equal (Alekseev- Iturrizaga Bonelli, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).

If 8.Bg5 Be7 9.Qd2 f6 10.exf6 Ngxf6 then:

11.Bd3 0-0 12.Nge2 Bxd3 13.Qxd3 e5 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 is equal (Matikozian-M. Turov, Russia Cup, Kasnodar, 1997).
If 11.Nge2 Rc8 12.Ng3 then:

12...Nb6?! 13.Bb5+ Kf7 14.0-0 gives White a small tactical edge (Mokry-Szilagyi, Op, Olomouc, 1982).
12...Bg6 13.Bb5 0-0 14.0-0 a6 15.Be2 Nb6 16.Bf3 is equal.

b) 6...Be7 7.cxd5 cxd5 then:

If 8.Bd3 Bxd3 9.Qxd3 Nc6 10.Nf3 then:

If 10...Rc8 11.g3 then:

11...Nh6 12.Bxh6 Rxh6 13.a3 Kf8 14.0-0 Rh8 15.Rac1 gives White a small advantage in space, but his kingside is a little loose (Rensch-Ippolito, SPICE Cup, Texas Tech U, 2010).
11...Bb4 12.Bd2 Nge7 13.a3 Bxc3 14.Bxc3 Nf5 15.0-0 is equal (Short-Anand, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2005).

If 10...a6 11.g3 Bb4 then:

12.0-0 Nge7 13.Ne2 Nf5 14.a3 Be7 is equal (Shtyrenkov-Alexandrova, Op, Alushta, 2001).
12.Bd2 Nge7 13.0-0 Nf5 14.Kg2 g6 15.a3 Be7 is equal (Short- Morchiashvili, Op, Baku, 2008).

If 8.Bg5!? then:

8...Nc6! 9.Nf3 Bg4 10.Be2 Nh6 11.Bxh6 Rxh6 12.Qd2 Bxf3 gives Black a comfortable game (Vallejo Pons-García Polermo, Cat 4, Madrid, 1994).
8...f6!? 9.exf6 gxf6 10.Bf4! Nc6 11.Bd3 Bxd3 12.Qxd3 gives White a fair advantage in space (Matikozian-Tanaka, Los Angeles, 2006).

If 5...dxc4 6.Bxc4 e6 7.Nc3 Nd7 then:

If 8.Nge2 8...Nb6 then:

If 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 Qd7 11.0-0 then:

If 11...Nh6 12.Bxh6 Rxh6 13.Rac1 Nd5 14.Nxd5 Qxd5 15.Nf4 Qd8 16.Qg3 then:

16...Rh7?? (this move snatches defeat from the jaws of victory) 17.Nxe6! (White wins in a spiffy jiffy) 17...Qd7 18.Ng5 Rh6 19.Qb3 b6 20.d5 Black resigns (Vasiukov-Moutousis, Op, Athens, 1987).
16...Qxd4! 17.Qf3 Rd8 18.Rfe1 Bb4 19.Red1 Bd2 continues to give Black a fine game.

11...0-0-0!? 12.Ne4 Nd5 13.Qf3 Qe8 14.Bg5 gives White a clear early advantage (Malaniuk-Vasiukov, IT, Moscow, 1987).

If 9.Bb3 Be7 then:

If 10.Ng3 Bg6 11.Nce4 then:

11...Bxe4 12.Nxe4 Nh6 13.Bxh6 Rxh6 14.Rh3 Nd5 is equal (Lintchevski-Konyshev, Russian ChT, Olginka, 2011).
11...Nh6 12.Bg5 Bxe4 13.Nxe4 Nf5 14.Bxe7 Kxe7 gives White the edge with pressure on the backward d-pawn (Carlier-Gelpke, Op, Dieren, 1984).

10.Nf4 g6 11.g3 Nd5 12.Be3 Bb4 13.Qd2 Nge7 is equal (Lysova-Hajek, Op, Padubice, 2001).

If 8.Bg5 Be7 then:

If 9.Qd2 Nb6 10.Bb3 then:

If 10...Qd7 11.Nge2 0-0-0 12.a4 f6 then:

13.Bf4 Bb4 14.0-0 Ne7 15.Qc1 Ng6 16.a5 gives White a small advantage in space (Gong Qianyun-Xu Yuanyuan, ZT, Hei Bei, China, 2001).
13.a5 Nd5 14.Nxd5 exd5 15.Bf4 fxe5 16.Bxe5 gives White a small advantage in space (Belov-Gavrilov, Moscow Ch, 2007).

10...a5 11.a3 a4 12.Ba2 Bxg5 13.hxg5 Ne7 14.Nge2 gives White a slender advantage in space; Black is targetin a backwward pawn at d4 (Shirov-Lobron, IT, Munich, 1993).

9.Nf3 Nb6 10.Bb3 Qd7 11.Qe2 0-0-0 12.0-0-0 Kb8 is equal (Suetin-Niebling, World Sr Ch, Bad Liebenzell, Germany, 1996).

(Yugoslav Opening) If 4.Be3 e6 5.Nd2 Nd7 then:

If 6.c3 then:

If 6...Ne7 7.f4 then:

If 7...Bg6 8.Ngf3 Nf5 9.Bf2 h5 then:

If 10.Be2 10...Be7 11.g3 Qb6 12.Qb3 then:

12...Rc8 13.h3 a6 14.Qxb6 Nxb6 is equal (Lahno-Ushenina, EU Blitz ChW, Antalya, 2002).
10.g3!? Qb6 11.Qb3 a5 12.Qxb6 Nxb6 is equal (Sudakova-Franciskovic, ITW, Rijeka, 2006).

12...a5!? 13.Qxb6 Nxb6 14.a4 Nd7 15.Kf1 f6 16.h3 is equal (Smeets-A. Tate, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2012).

If 7...Qc7 8.Ngf3 c5 9.dxc5 Nxc5 then:

If 10.Nb3 then:

10...Nd7!? 11.Be2 Nc6 12.0-0 Be7 13.Nfd4 Be4 14.f5 gives White an fine game; Black's central pawns must be disfigured (Michielsen-Dizdarevic, Op, Pula, 2005).
10...Ne4 11.Nh4 a6 12.Nd4 Bg6 13.Qf3 gives White a small advantage in space.

If 10.Bb5+ Nc6 11.Nb3 Ne4 12.Nbd4 Bg4 13.Qa4 Bc5 gives White a slight advantage; although he has much more space, Black's pieces are better coordinated (Gómez-Peixoto, Op, Lisbon, 2001).

If 6...Qb6 7.Qb3 f6 8.f4 g5 then:

If 9.Ngf3 gxf4 10.Bxf4 Bh6 then:

If 11.Bxh6 Nxh6 12.exf6 Nxf6 then:

If 13.Be2 Ne4 14.Nxe4 Bxe4 15.0-0 Rg8 then:

16.g3 Nf7 17.Nd2 Bf5 18.Qxb6 axb6 19.Bh5 gives White a safer King and more freedom; Black has more space (Alekseev-Dreev, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2004).
16.Qxb6 axb6 17.g3 Ke7 18.Ne5 c5 draw (Alekseev-Palo, IT, Skanderborg, Denmark, 2003).

If 13.Qxb6 axb6 14.h3 then:

14...Nf7 15.Be2 Rg8 16.g4 Be4 17.Nxe4 Nxe4 18.Bd3 is equal (Naroditsky-Shankland, IT, Berkeley, California, 2011).
14...Ne4 15.Nxe4 Bxe4 16.Ng5 Bf5 17.g4 Rg8 18.gxf5 Rxg5 19.fxe6 gives White a slight advantage in space (Jenni-Fridman, Bundesliga 0506, Cologne, 2006).

If 11.Bg3 fxe5 12.Nxe5 Ngf6 13.Ndf3 Nxe5 then:

14.Bxe5 0-0 15.h3 Nd7 16.Bd6 Rf7 17.Qxb6 axb6 is equal (Sedlak-Ostojic, Zanic Mem, Stara Pazova, 2001).
14.Nxe5 0-0 15.Bd3 Bxd3 draw (Rytshagov-Stohl, Pl, Istanbul, 2000).

If 9.exf6 g4 10.f7+ Kxf7 11.Ne2 then:

11...Ngf6 12.Ng3 Qxb3 13.axb3 Bd6 14.Nxf5 exf5 gives Black a slight advantage with better pawns and more space (Haba-Dautov, Bundesliga 0203, Germany, 2002).
11...Bd6 12.Nc1 Ne7 13.Nd3 Kg7 14.Ne5 Nf6 15.Be2 is equal (Komliakov-Sarno, Ol, Palma de Mallorca, 2004).

If 6.Be2 Ne7 7.Ngf3 then:

If 7...Bg6 8.Nh4 then:

If 8...Nf5 9.Nxf5 Bxf5 10.0-0 Be7 then:

If 11.f4 Bg6 12.c3 0-0 13.Bh5 Bd3 14.Be2 Bg6 is equal (Fedorov-Parligras, Romanian ChT, Brasov, 2011).
11.c3 0-0 12.f4 c5 13.g4 Bg6 is equal (Pokorna-Franciskovic, Euro ChW, Dresden, 2007).

8...c5 9.c3 Nc6 transposes into Carlsen-Wang Hao in the notes to Black's fifth move.

If 7...h6 8.0-0 Bh7 9.Nb3 Nf5 then:

10.Bd2 Be7 11.g4 Nh4 12.Nxh4 Bxh4 13.f4 f5 is equal (Krylov-Rasmussen, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).
10.Bd3 Be7 11.Qe2 0-0 12.c4 dxc4 13.Bxc4 Nxe3 14.fxe3 Nb6 gives Black a small advantage with command of the h7/b1 diagonal (Bergland-Nickel, Corres, 1996).

BLACK

WHITEClosed Caro-Kann Game: Short OpeningPosition after 4.Ng1f3

4...e6 5.Be2 c5

If 5...Nd7 6.0-0 then:

If 6...Bg6 7.Nbd2 Nh6 8.Nb3 then:

If 8...Be7 9.Ne1 then:

9...0-0 10.Nd3 Rc8 11.c3 b6 12.Nf4 c5 is equal (Ganguly-Antonio, Asian Ch, Subic Bay, 2009).
9...Nf5 10.Nd3 0-0 11.c3 Qb6 12.Bf4 Rac8 13.g4 Nh4 14.Bg3 Bxd3 15.Bxd3 c5 16.dxc5 Nxc5 17.Nxc5 Rxc5 draw (S. Zhigalko-Galkin, Euro ChT, Rethymnon, 2003).

If 8...Nf5 then:

If 9.Bd2 then:

If 9...Rc8 10.Rc1 then:

If 10...Bh5 11.h3 Bxf3 12.Bxf3 c5 13.dxc5 Nxe5 14.Re1 Nxf3+ 15.Qxf3 Be7 is equal (And. Volokitin-Jobava, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).
10...Be7 11.g4 Nh6 12.h3 0-0 13.Bd3 Kh8 14.Qe2 Ng8 15.Kg2 c5 16.Bxg6 fxg6 17.c3 c4 gives Black a slight advantage in space and the initiative (Rublevsky-Asrian, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2008).
10...a6 11.c4 dxc4 12.Rxc4 Be7 13.Na5 Rc7 14.Qb3 Qa8 15.g4 Nh6 16.Bb4 Nb6 17.Bxe7 Nxc4 18.Nxc4 Rxe7 gives Black the advantage of the exchange (And. Volokitin-Anastasian, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).

If 9...Be7 10.g4 then:

If 10...Nh4 11.Nxh4 Bxh4 12.f4 then:

12...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).
12...f6 13.f5 Bf7 14.g5 exf5 15.Bd3 Bxg5 16.Bxg5 fxg5 17.Bxf5 gives White a an advanced passer, more activity and more space (Rublevsky-Jobava, World Cup, Khanty-Mansyisk, 2005).

If 10...Nh6 11.h3 0-0 then:

12.Be3 Kh8 13.Ne1 f6 14.exf6 Bxf6 15.f4 is equal (Berkes-Lauber, Bundesliga 0910, Trier, 2010).
12.c3 Kh8 13.Nc1 Ng8 14.Nd3 f6 15.Nf4 gives White a comfortable game (Freidel-Gerzhoy, Canadian Op, Toronto, 2010).

9.a4 Be7 10.g4 Nh6 11.h3 0-0 12.Be3 Kh8 13.Qd2 Ng8 14.Ne1 f6 15.f4 fxe5 16.dxe5 c5 17.c4 d4 18.Bf2 Bh4 19.Bxh4 Qxh4 gives Black a slight advantage in space (Li Chao-Rodshtein, World Jr Ch, Gaziantep, 2008).

If 6...Ne7 then:

If 7.Nh4 Bg6 8.Nd2 c5 9.c3 then:

If 9...Nc6 10.Nxg6 hxg6 11.Nf3 Be7 12.Be3 then:

If 12...a6 13.g3 then:

If 13...g5 14.Kg2 cxd4 15.cxd4 Nf8 then:

16.a3 f6 17.h3 Qd7 18.b4 Bd8 19.Rc1 gives White the advantage in space (I. Smirin-Li Wenliang, IT, Beijing, 1996).
16.Rc1 f6 17.h3 Qd7 18.Rc3 Bd8 19.a3 gives White stronger pawns and more freedom (Khalifman-Lobron, IT, Munich, 1992).

13...b5 14.h4 Nb6 15.b3 c4 16.Kg2 a5 17.Nd2 gives White a better center and a little bit better pawn structure (Efimenko-E. L'Ami, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).

If 12...Rc8 13.g3 a6 14.h4 then:

14...b5!? 15.a4 Qb6 16.axb5 axb5 17.Kg2 c4 18.Ng5 gives White more active pieces and a better center (Carlsen-Wang Hao, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2011).
14...cxd4 15.cxd4 0-0 16.Rc1 Qb6 17.Rc3 gives White a small advantage in space.

If 9...cxd4 10.cxd4 then:

If 10...Nc6 11.Nxg6 hxg6 12.Nf3 Be7 13.Be3 Qb6 14.Rb1 then:

14...Rc8 15.b4 0-0 16.a3 a6 17.Qd3 Qa7 18.h4 gives White a small advantage in space (Lutz-Grabarczyk, Euro ChT, Pula, 1997).
14...a6 15.g3 0-0 16.h4 Qa5 17.Bd2 Qb6 18.Bc3 gives White the better center and more freedom; the Bishop pair is of scant advantage in this position (Rosito-Martínez, Op, Buenos Aires, 1995).

If 10...Nf5 11.Nxg6 hxg6 12.Nf3 Be7 then:

13.Bd3 Nb8 14.Bd2 Nc6 15.Bc3 a6 16.b3 is equal (Anand-Karpov, IT, Brussels, 1991).
13.g3 Qb6 14.h4 Nb8 15.b3 Nc6 16.Bb2 0-0-0 is equal (Anagnostopoulos-Yevseev, Op, Parubice, 1997).

If 7.Nbd2 h6 8.Nb3 Bh7 then:

If 9.Bd2 Ng6 10.Rc1 Be7 11.c4 dxc4 12.Bxc4 then:

If 12...0-0 13.g3 then:

13...Re8 14.Re1 Bf8 15.Na5 Rb8 16.b4 Ne7 17.Bf1 Nd5 18.a3 N7b6 is equal (Malakhov-Jobava, Euro ChT, Kallithea, 2008).
13...Nh4 14.Nxh4 Bxh4 15.g3 Bg5 16.Nxg6 hxg6 17.f4 gives White a small advantage in space (Leko-Akopian, Asrian Mem Rapid, Yerevan, 2008).

12...Bh5 13.Nf4 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 14.g3 Qb6 15.Kg2 Nb8 16.Nxg6 fxg6 17.Qb3 Bd8 gives Black a slight advantage in space (Ni Hua-Tologontegin, Asian Games TT, Guangzhou, 2010).

If 10...Be7 11.Nd3 then:

11...Bh5 12.Nf4 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 gives White a small advantage in space (N. Kosintseva-Schuurman, Euro ChTW, Crete, 2007).
11...cxd4 12.cxd4 transposes into Ni Hua-Tologontegin, above.

If 9.Re1 Be7 10.Nf1 0-0 then:

11.Ne3 Qb6 12.Bd3 Nxe3 13.Rxe3 c5 14.Bxg6 hxg6 is equal (Heinemann-Dautov, Bundesliga 1112, Berlin, 2012).
11.Ng3 c5 12.Bd3 Nxg3 13.hxg3 cxd4 14.Bxg6 fxg6 15.Nxd4 is equal (Ni Hua-Jaracz, Dos Hermanas I-net, 2006).

6.Be3 cxd4

If 6...Nd7 then:

If 7.0-0 8.c4 dxc4 9.Na3 then:

If 9...c3 10.Nb5 Nd5 11.Nxc3 Nxe3 12.fxe3 then:

12...Be7 13.Qb3 0-0 14.Qxb7 Rb8 15.Qxa7 cxd4 16.exd4 Ra8 gives Black counterplay (Morozevich-Kamsky, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2008).
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).

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).

If 7.Nbd2 then:

If 7...c4 then:

If 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 Qe7 also presents Black with some difficulty bringing the King to safety (Rublevsky-Dreev, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2005).

If 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.Nxd4 Ne7 8.Nd2

If 8.c4 Nbc6 then:

If 9.Qa4 a6 10.Nc3 dxc4 11.0-0-0 then:

If 11...Bd3 12.Bxd3 cxd3 13.Rxd3 Qa5 then:

If 14.Qxa5 Nxa5 15.f4 Rd8 16.Rhd1 h5 then:

17.h4 Nec6 18.Nxc6 Rxd3 19.Rxd3 Nxc6 20.a3 Rh6 draw (Inarkiev-Ivanchuk, Euro Ch, Kusadasi, 2006).
17.Bf2 Nac6 18.Nxc6 Rxd3 19.Rxd3 Nxc6 20.a3 gives White a small advantage in space (Lastin-Zontakh, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2009).

14.Qb3 Nb4 15.Rdd1 Ned5 16.Kb1 Nxe3 17.fxe3 gives Whitea strong game (Efimenko-Macieja, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2009).

If 11...Qa5 12.Qxa5 Nxa5 then:

If 13.Nxf5 Nxf5 14.Bb6 Nc6 15.f4 Rc8 then:

If 16.g4 Nh4 17.Bxc4 g5 18.f5 Nxe5 19.Bb3 Bc5 then:

20.Bxc5 Rxc5 21.fxe6 fxe6 22.Bxe6 Ke7 23.Bb3 Rd8 24.h3 draw (Bologan-Le Quang Liem, Moscow Op, 2010).
20.Ba4+ Ke7 21.f6+ Kxf6 22.Ne4+ Kg7 gives Black a small advantage in space (Caruana-Arutinian, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).

16.Bxc4 g5 17.fxg5 Nxe5 18.Bb3 Be7 19.h4 h6 gives Black a small advantage in space (Ganguly-Le Quang Liem, Op, Kolkata, 2009).

If 13.Rd2!? Bg6! 14.h4 then:

14...Rc8 15.h5 Bd3 16.Bxd3 cxd3 17.Rxd3 Nac6 gives Black a fair advantage in space.
14...Rd8!? 15.Rhd1! h6 16.h5 Bh7 17.f4 Rg8 18.Bf3 is equal.

If 9.Nc3 Nxd4 10.Bxd4 dxc4 then:

If 11.Qa4+ Nc6 then:

12.0-0-0 Bd3 13.Bxd3 Qxd4 14.Be4 Qb6 15.Bxc6+ bxc6 16.Qxc4 Be7 17.Ne4 Rb8 draw (Adhiban-Iapatov, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2012).
If 12.Rd1?! Bd3 13.Bxd3 cxd3 then:

14.Rxd3 Bc5 15.Ne4 Bxd4 16.Nd6+ Kf8 17.Rxd4 Nxd4 18.Qxd4 Qa5+ 19.Ke2 Ke7 is equal (Topalov-Anand, Amber Blind, Nice, 2009).
14.Be3 Bb4 15.0-0 Bxc3 16.bxc3 Qd5 17.Bd4 0-0 gives Black an advanced passed pawn and a better center (Xie Jun-Chibudanidze, CandidatesW Match, Groningen, 1997).

If 11.Bxc4 then:

If 11...Nc6 12.Bb5 Be7 13.0-0 0-0 14.Bxc6 bxc6 15.Ne2 then:

15...c5 16.Bc3 Qxd1 17.Rfxd1 Rfd8 18.Kf1 Kf8 is equal (Macieja-Gelashvili, Greek ChT, Ermioni, 2006).
15...Qd5 16.Ng3 Bg6 17.Bc3 Qc4 gives Black a small advantage in space (Smeets-Li Wenliang, IT, Gronigen, 2002).
11...a6 12.Be3 Nc6 13.f4 Qxd1+ 14.Rxd1 gives White a slight edge in space (Okhotnik-Kholmov, Soviet Ch ½-final, Dnepropetrovsk, 1980).

If 8.Bg5 Qa5+ 9.Nc3 Bg6 then:

If 10.Nb3 Qb6 then:

If 11.Nb5 Nec6 12.Be3 Qd8 13.f4 a6 14.Nc3 then:

14...Bb4 15.Qd2 0-0 16.a3 Be7 17.0-0 Nd7 18.Rad1 is equal (Staudler-Lauritsen, Corres, 1999).
If 14...Be7 15.0-0 0-0 then:

16.g4?! f6?! 17.f5 Bf7 18.fxe6 Bxe6 19.Nc5 Bxc5 20.Bxc5 is again equal (Kurnosov-Li Wenliang, IT, Groningen, 2003).
16.Rc1 Nd7 17.Qe1 b5 18.Qf2 Bh4 19.g3 Be7 remains equal.

If 11.h4 h5 12.Be3 Qd8 13.Nb5 then:

13...Nc8?! 14.c4! Bb4+ 15.Kf1 a6 16.cxd5!! axb5 17.Bxb5+ gives White a comfortable game with active minor pieces and an advance center duo for the Knight (Zhang Pengxiang-Chong Liang, Chinese Ch, Wuxi, 2006).
13...Nf5 14.Bg5 f6 15.Bf4 fxe5 16.Bxe5 Nc6 remains equal.

If 10.b4! Qb6 11.Ndb5 Nc8 then:

12.a3 a6 13.Be3 Qd8 14.Nd4 Be7 15.f4 gives White a fair advantage in space (M. Socko-Als. Maric, Euro ChTW, Novi Sad, 2009).
12.0-0 a6 13.Na4?! Qc6 14.c4 axb5 gives Black a small advantage in space (Zhong Zhang-Chong Liang, Chinese Ch, Wuxi, 2006).

8...Nbc6 9.N2f3 Bg4

9...Be4 10.0-0 Bxf3 11.Nxf3 transposes into the text.

10.0-0 Bxf3 11.Nxf3 g6

If 11...Ng6 then:

If 12.c4 dxc4 13.Bxc4 Qc7 then:

If 14.Bb5 Be7 then:

15.Qc2 0-0 16.Bxc6 bxc6 17.Qc3 Rfd8 18.Rfd1 a5

(Motylev-Drozdovskij, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2011).

15.Qa4!? 0-0 16.Bxc6 bxc6 17.Qe4 Rab8 18.Bd4 gives White a slight edge (Navara-Lazicka, Match, Novy Bor, 2011).

If 14.Qb3 then:

If 14...Be7!? 15.Rac1 0-0 16.Bd3 Qb8 17.g3 a5 18.Qb5 (And. Volokitin-Laznicka, IT San Sebastián, 2012).
14...Ngxe5 15.Nxe5 Nxe5 16.Rac1 Nc6 17.Bf4 continues to give White a small advantage in space.

If 12.Bb5 Be7 13.c4 0-0 14.cxd5 exd5 then:

If 15.Qb3 Qd7 16.Rfd1 Rfd8 17.Rac1 gives White a fair advantage in space (S. Zhigalko-Ipatov, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2012).
If 15.Bxc6 bxc6 16.Rc1 Rc8 then:

17.Bc5?! Bxc5! 18.Rxc5 Qe7 is equal (Halsinger-I. Schneider, Bundesliga 1112, Berlin, 2012).
17.Qa4 Qc7 18.Rfe1 c5 19.h4 gives White a small advantage in space.

12.Bf4

If 12.c4 Bg7 then:

If 13.cxd5 Nxd5 14.Bc5 Bf8 then:

15.Qc1!? Rc8! 16.Bxf8 Nd4 17.Qd1 Nxe2+ 18.Qxe2 Kxf8 is equal (Kamsky-Topalov, Candidates' Match, Sofia, 2009).
15.Rc1 Bxc5 16.Rxc5 Qe7 17.Qc2 0-0 18.Rc1 gives White a slight advantage.

If 13.Bc5 then:

If 13...dxc4?! 14.Qa4! (White has a small advantage in space)14...Rc8 15.Bxc4! a6 then:

16.Bb3?! Qa5! 17.Qxa5 Nxa5 gives Black the initiative (Heimann-Lenic, Euro Club Cup, Rogaska Slatina, 2011).
16.Qa3 Nxe5 17.Nxe5 Bxe5 18.Rac1 Nc6 19.Rfd1 gives White a small advantage in space.

13...0-0 14.Bd6 f6 15.Bxe7 Nxe7 16.Qb3 Qb6 is equal and lifeless.

12...Bg7 13.Bd3 0-0 14.c3 Rc8 (N)

If 14...f6 15.exf6 Rxf6 then:

16.Bg5?! Rf7! 17.Re1 Qd7 18.Bb5 is equal (Gashimov-Mchedlishvili, Euro ChT, Novi Sad, 2009).
16.Qd2 Qf8 17.g3 Nf5 18.Rae1 continues to give White a fair advantage in space.

If 14...a6 15.Qe2 Qc7 16.h4 then:

16...Nc8?! 17.h5 Nb6 18.Rfe1 gives White an impressive advantage in space (Jakovenko-Magem Badals, French ChT, Clichy, 2009).
16...Rad8 17.Rac1 h5 18.Rfe1 Rfe8 19.Qd2 continues to give White a fair advantage in space.

14...d4! 15.c4 Qb6 16.Qe2 Nf5 17.Rfe1 Rfe8 18.Qd2 gives White a slight advantage, but nothing else.

15.Qe2!?

15.Rc1! Nf5 16.Qd2 Nh4 17.Nxh4 Qxh4 18.Rfe1 continues to give White a fair advantage in space.

BLACK: Elina Danielian

WHITE: Nadezhda KosintsevaPosition after 15.Qd1e2

15...h6!

White will have to be content with a slight advantage.
15...d4 16.c4 Nf5 17.Qd2 f6 18.exf6 Qxf6 19.Bg5 gives White the initiative.

16.h3 d4 17.c4 Nb4

17...Nf5 18.a3 a5 19.b3 Nh4 20.Nxh4 Qxh4 21.Bg3 drives away the Black Queen, leaving White with a small advantage in space.
If 17...Qb6 then:

18.a3 a5 19.Rfe1 a4 20.Qc2 Ra8 21.c5 gives White a small advantage in space.
18.Rac1 Qc5 19.Rfe1 Rfd8 20.a3 a5 21.Qc2 gives White a slight edge in space.

18.a3!?

White sould counter in the center.
If 18.Rad1 then:

18...Nxd3 19.Qxd3 Nc6 20.b3 gives White a small advantage in space.
18...Nxa2?! 19.Be4!! Qc7 20.Rxd4 Rcd8 21.Rfd1 Rxd4 22.Rxd4 gives White an overwhelming advantage.

BLACK: Elina Danielian

WHITE: Nadezhda KosintsevaPosition after 18.a2a3

18...Nxd3!

White has a small advantage in space.

19.Qxd3 Qc7 20.Rac1 Rfd8

If 20...Nc6!? 21.Qe4 Qd8 then:

22.Bd2 Qc7 23.Bb4 Nxe5 24.Bxf8 Nxf3+ 25.Qxf3 gives White the exchange for two pawns and a slight advantage in space.
22.b4 f5 23.exf6 Qxf6 24.Bd2 Qf5 25.Rfe1 gives White stronger pawns and a small advantage in space.

21.Rfd1

21.Rfe1!? a5! 22.Re4 Nc6 23.Qd2 g5 24.Bg3 a4 is equal.

21...g5

If 21...Nf5!? 22.Qe4! Qb6 23.b4 g5 24.g4 then:

24...Ne7 25.Bg3 Qa6 26.Qd3 Rd7 27.h4 gxh4 28.Bxh4 gives White a fair advantage.
If 24...gxf4 25.gxf5 exf5 26.Qxf4 Qa6 then:

27.c5! Qxa3 28.Kh2 d3 29.Rg1 Rc6 30.Nh4 gives White more freedom and stronger pawns; Black cannot hold her extra pawn and the advanced passer is easily blockaded and eliminated.
27.b5 Qxa3 28.Nxd4 Qxh3 29.Nxf5 Qh5 30.Re1 gives White a clear advantage in space.

22.Bh2 a5 23.Qe4 Qb6 24.Rd2 a4 25.Nxd4

Black's pawn currently serves a function to White fo shielding the Rook maneuvers on White's back rank. White should have been in no hurry to take it until she had doubled her Rooks.
If 25.h4 gxh4 26.Qxh4 Nf5 27.Qe4 h5 is equal.

25...Rd7?!

This maintains pressure on White's center, but does add any.
If 25...Nf5 26.Nxf5 exf5 27.Rxd8+ Rxd8 28.Qxf5 Qxb2 29.Rb1 Qxa3 is equal.

BLACK: Elina Danielian

WHITE: Nadezhda KosintsevaPosition after 25...Rd8d7

26.Nc6!

White discovers attack an undefended Rook, which is in turn protecting an otherwise undefended Knight that is under attack from the Knight just moved to c6.
If 26.Bg3?! Rcd8 27.c5 Qa5 28.Rcd1 Rd5 gives Black a small advantage in space.

26...Qxc6?

Out of desperation, Black proposes an exchange of Queens.
If 26...Rcc7 27.Nxe7+ Rxe7 28.Rd8+ Bf8 29.Rcd1 Qxb2 30.Qg4 leaves White in postion to makes serios threats against Black's kingside, although it appears for the moment that Black has a defense.
If 26...Rxd2? then White wins after 27.Nxe7+! Kh8 28.Nxc8 Qxf2+ 29.Kh1 Rxb2 30.Nd6.

27.Qxc6!

White gets a Queen and a pawn for a Rook and a minor piece.

27...Rxd2

27...Rxc6 28.Rxd7 Nf5 29.Rxb7 gives White the exchange plus two pawns.

28.Qxa4

Also good is 28.Qb5 Rcd8 29.g4 Nc6 30.Kf1 R2d7 31.Kg2.

28...Rxb2 29.Rd1 Nc6 30.Bg3

White wins after 30.f4 gxf4 31.Bxf4 Nxe5 32.c5 Rxc5 33.Qe8+.

30...h5 31.h4!?

White wins after 31.f4 gxf4 32.Bxf4 Bxe5 33.Bxe5 Nxe5 34.Qa5.

BLACK: Elina Danielian

WHITE: Nadezhda KosintsevaPosition after 31.h3h4

31...gxh4!

White's e-pawn must fall. Black has faint hopes of survival.

32.Bxh4 Nxe5 33.Bg3 Ng4

33...Nxc4 34.Qd7 Rf8 35.Qd3 Rc8 36.Qf3 still gives White a powerful advantage.

34.c5 Bf6 35.Qd7?!

White throws away her advantage.
If 35.Rf1! then:

35...e5 then White wins after 36.Qe4 Rxc5 37.f3 Nh6 38.Rb1 Rxb1+ 39.Qxb1.
If 35...Ne5 then White should win after 36.Bh4 Bg7 37.Be7 Nc6 38.Qh4 Nxe7 39.Qxe7.

35...Rd8!

The game is again equal.

BLACK: Elina Danielian

WHITE: Nadezhda KosintsevaPosition after 35...Rc8d8

36.Qxd8+!!

White returns the Queen. Anything else loses.

36...Bxd8 37.Rxd8+ Kh7

37...Kg7 38.Kf1 Rb5 39.Rb8 Rxc5 40.Rxb7 Rc1+ remains equal.

38.Kf1 Kg6 39.Ke1

39.Rg8+ Kf6 40.Rb8 Rb5 41.a4 Rxc5 42.Rxb7 remains equal.

39...e5 40.Rg8+ Kf5 41.Rb8

BLACK: Elina Danielian

WHITE: Nadezhda KosintsevaPosition after 41.Rg9b8

41...Rb5

If Black were inclined, she could end the game now.
If 41...Rb1+ then 42.Kd2 Rb2+ 43.Ke1 Rb1+ etc. draws.

42.a4 Rxc5 43.Rxb7

White has a remote passed pawn.

43...Kg6

43...Rc1+ 44.Ke2 Ra1 45.Rxf7+ Ke6 46.Rh7 remains equal.

44.Kd2 Rc4

44...Ra5 45.Rb4 Nf6 46.Ke1 Ng4 47.Ke2 gives White a slight advantage,

45.a5 Ra4 46.Rb5 Ra2+

46...f6 47.Kc3 Kf7 48.Kb3 Ra1 49.Kb2 Ra4 gives White a technical and insignificant advantage in that she can move her Rook more, but can make no progess with the pawn.

47.Kc3 f6 48.Kb3 Ra1 49.Bh4

A better plan is to push the pawn up with each step it takes preceded by the King moving right behind the pawn in the b-file and then a Rook move up one rank.
If 49.Rc5 e4 50.Kb4 e3 51.fxe3 Nxe3 52.Rc6 continues to give White a small advantage with the remote passed pawn and superior piece coordination.

49...e4?!

The mini-pawn chain at e5/f6 protects the Black King and restricts the White Rook's navigation of the fifth rank. It should not be disturbed.
49...Nh6 50.f3 Rb1+ 51.Kc4 Rc1+ 52.Kd3 limits White to a small advantage.

50.Rc5?!

The position suggests that White overprotect his passer.
If 50.Kb4! then:

50...Ne5 51.Rb6 Rh1 52.g3 Ng4 53.a6 gives White some good winning chances.
50...e3?! 51.fxe3 Nxe3 52.g3! Nc2+ 53.Kc5 Ne3 54.Kb6! allows White to comfortably push his pawn.

50...e3!?

The aim of this move seems reasonable enough: eliminte White's kingside pawns.
If 50...Ne5! 51.Rd5 Nd3 52.Kc3 Rc1+ 53.Kd2 Ra1 54.Rb5 is equal.

BLACK: Elina Danielian

WHITE: Nadezhda KosintsevaPosition after 50...e4e3

51.fxe3!

White jumps into the trap with both feet.

51...Nxe3 52.Bf2!

White "falls" deeper into Black's "trap."
52.g3!? Nf5 53.Kb4 Rb1+ 54.Ka4 Ra1+ 55.Kb5 allows White to make some progress.

52...Nxg2 53.Bd4 Rd1?!

Black has succeeded in eliminating White's kigside pawns, but now neglects the dangerous remote passer.
If 53...Rb1+! 54.Kc4 Rb8 55.a6 Ra8 56.Rc6 leaves White with scant winning chances.

54.Kc4?!

The King should stay close to the a-pawn.
If 54.Rc4! Rb1+ 55.Ka4 then:

55...Nh4 56.Rc6 Rd1 57.Bxf6 Nf3 58.a6 Kf5 59.Kb5 gives White excellent winning chances.
If 55...Ne1 56.Rc6 Rd1 57.Bc3 then:

57...Nc2 58.Rxf6+ Kg5 59.a6 Rd7 60.Rb6 leaves Black's Knight uable to assist in stopping the pawn.
If 57...Rc1?? then White wins after 58.a6! Rc2 59.Kb5 Ra2 60.Bxe1.

54...Rc1+?

Black misses an easy draw and "plays for the loss."
If 54...Nf4 55.a6 Ne6 56.Rd5 Rc1+ 57.Kb3 Rc8 is balanced and likely drawn.

55.Kd5?!

The King runs the wrong way, away from the pawn.
White wins after 55.Kb5! Rd1 56.Rc4 Re1 57.a6.

55...Rb1?

In a situation such as this, one of the moves that one should seriously consider is that move which most restrict one's opponent's freedom.
55...Rd1! 56.Rc6 Nf4+ 57.Ke4 Kg5 58.Bxf6+ Kg4 59.Bc3 is equal.

BLACK: Elina Danielian

WHITE: Nadezhda KosintsevaPosition after 55...Rc1b1

56.a6!

White's plan is simple: push the pawn.

56...Nf4+ 57.Kd6?!

If 57.Kc4! Rc1+ 58.Kb5 Rb1+ 59.Ka5 Ne2 60.Bf2 keeps White on a winning path.

57...Rb6+?

This otherwise obvious blunder is made in severe time pressure.
If 57...Rb4! 58.Be3 Ra4 59.Rc6 then:

59...h4 60.a7 h3 61.Rc2 Nd3 62.Rc4 gives White fair chances, but that's not winning.
59...Ng2?! 60.Bf2! h4 61.a7 h3 62.Rc3 Nf4 63.Bb6 gives White a comfortable game, but that not winning, either.

58.Rc6!

This is the obvious rejoinder to the obvious blunder.

58...Rb5 59.a7 Ra5 60.Rc8 Ra6+ 61.Kd7 Ne6 62.Bf2

If 62.Rc6 then:

62...Rxa7+ then White wins after 63.Bxa7.
If 62...Nf8+ then White wins after 63.Ke7 Rxa7+ 64.Bxa7.

62...h4

No matter what Black plays, it will be followed by the same continuation.

63.a8Q Rxa8 64.Rxa8 1-0

Oriord Danielian resigns.

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #1)

Thu Aug 2, 2012, 04:44 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,709 posts)

7. Dutch National Championships, Amsterdam

Rembrandt, The Night Watch (1642) from Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Nightwatch_by_Rembrandt.jpg)
(Public Domain)

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #7)

Thu Aug 2, 2012, 04:45 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,709 posts)

8. Giri - Van Kempen, Round 6

Eighteen-year-old Anish Giri began 2012 with a come=from-behind victory at the international tournamenty in Reggio Emilia, and then suffered a string of bad outings. With his victory in the general group in Dutch national championship and his thrid-place finish in the grandmaster tournament at Biel, that rough spot seems to be behind him.

Anish Giri
Photo by Stefan64 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64) from Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Anish_Giri)
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Anish Giri - Robin Van Kampen
Dutch National Championships, General Goup, Round 6
Amsterdam, 20 July 2012

Open Queen Gambit: Catalan Opening

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 c5

For moves and variations up to here, see Anand-Topalov, World Ch M, Sofia, 2010.

7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.Na3 (N)

If 8.Qa4+ Bd7 9.Qxc4 Qb6 10.0-0 then:

If 10...Bb5 11.Qc2 then:

11...Nbd7 12.Nc3 Rc8 13.Qb3 Ba6 14.Qxb6 Nxb6 is equal (Afshari-S. Grover, Op, Dubai, 2010).
If 11...Ng4!? 12.Be1! then:

If 12...Nd7?! 13.Nc3 0-0 then:

14.h3!? Ngf6 15.Nxb5 Qxb5 16.a4 gives White a small advantage in space (Agaragimov-Goumas, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2012).
14.Nxb5 Qxb5 15.Rd1 Rac8 16.Bc3 Rfd8 17.Nd4 gives White a better center and slightly more space.

12...0-0 13.Nc3 Nc6 14.Nxb5 Qxb5 15.a4 Qb6 16.Qc4 gives White a fair advantage with the initiative and more space.

10...0-0 11.Nc3 Rc8 12.Qb3 Qxb3 13.axb3 Nc6 14.Bg5 wil gives White an easier time maneuvering, but otherwise the psition is equal (I. Schneider-Werle, Bundesliga 0910, Tegel, 2010).

If 8.0-0 0-0 9.Qc2 then:

If 9...Nbd7 10.Qxc4 b5 11.Qxb5 Rb8 12.Qc4 then:

12...Rxb2 13.Bc3 Qc7 14.Qd3 Rb8 15.Nbd2 Bb7 is equal (Cheng-Mikhalevski, Canadian Op, Toronto, 2011).
If 12...Bb7 13.Qc1 Qb6 14.Nc3 Rfc8 15.Qe1 Qxb2 is equal (Hammer-Gharamian, Rpd IT, Cap d'Agde, 2010).

If 9...Nc6 10.Qxc4 Be7 11.Rd1 e5 12.Nc3 Be6 13.Qa4 is equal (Aronian-Adams, European Club Cup, Plovdiv, 2010).

8...Ne4

White has a slight advantage in space.

9.0-0 Nxd2!?

This is an example of when "to take is a mistake;" White recaptures with his long diagonal open to his nested Bishop.
If 9...c3 10.Qa4+ Nd7 11.Qxe4 cxb2! 12.Rab1 Bxa3 13.Rfd1 continues to give White a slight advantage in space.

BLACK: Robin Van Kampen

WHITE: Anish GiriPosition after 9...Ne4d2:B

10.Nxd2!

White has a small advantage.
10.Qxd2 Qxd2 11.Nxd2 Bxa3 12.bxa3 c3 13.Rac1 is also good, but at this stage of the game there is more potential for dynamic play with the Queens on board.

10...c3

Even a pawn can be a desperado. White must return the extra pawn, but instead of waiting for White to take it, he uses it to weaken White's kingside.

11.Ne4

Also playable is 11.bxc3 0-0 12.Nac4 Qc7 13.Qb3 Be7 14.Rfd1 when both sides preseve Queens. White's queenside pawn structure will be disfigured in any case.

11...Qxd1

Black must decide what to do with his hanging Bishop.
If 11...Be7 12.Qxd8+ then:

If 12...Kxd8 13.Rfd1+ then:

13...Nd7 14.Nxc3 Bxa3 15.bxa3 Ke7 16.Rac1 leaves White completely developed and readiy to attack Black's unprepared position.
13...Kc7 14.Nb5+ Kb6 15.Nexc3 Nc6 16.Rac1 looks like the makings of a catastrophe.

12...Bxd8?? 13.Nd6+ Kd7 14.Rfd1 Bf6 15.Nxf7+ wins a Rook.

If 11...Bxa3? 12.Qa4+! Nc6 13.Qxa3 then:

If 13...Qe7 14.Nd6+ Kf8 15.Rad1 then:

15...c2 16.Rd2 Bd7 17.Qc3 Rb8 18.Qxc2 e5 19.Qc5 White wins material.
15...e5 then White wins after 16.Qc5 Bg4 17.bxc3 g6 18.h3 Bf5 19.Nxb7.

Even worse is 13...Qc7 when White wins after 14.Nd6+ Kf8 15.Nxc8+.

12.Raxd1 Bxa3 13.bxa3 Ke7

This appears to be Black best move.
If 13...0-0 14.Nxc3 then:

14...Nc6 15.f4 e5 16.Bxc6 bxc6 17.fxe5 Re8 18.Rd6 gives White a small advantage; until the Black Bishop moves off the back rank, the foremost e-pawn is safe.
14...e5!? 15.Rb1! Nc6 16.Rfd1 a6 17.Bxc6 bxc6 18.Rb6 gives White a comfortable game.

If 13...c2!? 14.Rc1! Ke7 15.Nc5 a6 16.Rxc2 Nc6 17.Rb2 gives White a fair advantage; his pieces are ganged up against the vulnerable b7 point give Black problems with his freedom.

14.Nxc3 Nc6 15.Rb1

This gives Black problems with mobility. His pieces are bound to the b-pawn.

15...Rd8 16.Rfc1 Rd2!?

Black acts agressively, too much so for his own good. The Rook cannot navigate the seventh rank.
16...a6 17.f4 Rd4 18.Kf2 Rc4 19.Be4 f5 20.Bg2 continues to give White a small advantage. Black has just about caught up with White's development, but the need to defend the b-pawn is slowing him down a bit.

BLACK: Robin Van Kampen

WHITE: Anish GiriPosition after 16...Rd8d2

17.Kf1!

White brings the King over to defend the e-pawn, freeing the Knight for more active tasks.

17...Nd8 18.Ke1 Rd7 19.Nb5 a6?!

If 19...Nc6 20.Rb3 then:

20...a6 21.Rxc6 bxc6 22.Bxc6 Bb7 23.Bxd7 Kxd7 24.Nc3 gives White the initiative and a crippled extra pawn.
20...f5 21.Rxc6 bxc6 22.Bxc6 Bb7 23.Bxd7 Kxd7 24.Rd3+ gives White the initiative and a weak extra pawn.

BLACK: Robin Van Kampen

WHITE: Anish GiriPosition after 19...a7a6

20.Nc7! Rb8 21.Rb6

White wins a pawn after 21.Nxa6! Ra8 22.Nb4 Rd6 23.Nd3 Nc6 24.Rc3.

21...Rd6 22.Rxd6

Better is 22.Nxa6 Ra8 23.Nc7 Ra5 24.Rxd6 Kxd6 25.Ne8+, winning a pawn.

22...Kxd6 23.Ne8+ Ke7 24.Nxg7 Bd7 25.Nh5 e5

25...Bc6 26.Bxc6 Nxc6 27.f3 Rg8 28.Nf4 Kd6 29.Rd1+ is still a comfortable game for White.

26.f4 f6 27.fxe5 fxe5 28.Rc5!?

More aggresive is 28.Rc7.
28.Rc7 Kd6 29.Rc3 Ke7 30.Bf3 Nc6 31.Re3 continues to give White a comfortable advantage.

28...Nf7?!

Black could improve his chances greatly by playing on the queenside. That is still where the action is.
If 28...Bc6! 29.Bf3 then:

29...Bxf3 30.exf3 Nc6 31.Rc3 Ke6 32.g4 gives White only a fair advantage.
29...Kd6 30.Rc3 Ne6 31.Bxc6 bxc6 32.Rb3 continues to give White a comfortable game regardless of whether Black exchanges or preserves Rooks.

BLACK: Robin Van Kampen

WHITE: Anish GiriPosition after 28...Nd8f7

29.Rc7!

Now White's position is better than ever. Black cannot move his Rook, cannot move his Rook and has no good square for the Knight.

29...Nd8?

White brings his Knight to d8 in an attempt to protect his pawn, but only attracts an attack on the Bishop.
If 29...Kd8 30.Rxb7 Rxb7 31.Bxb7 Ke7 then:

32.Be4 Bg4 33.Bf3 Be6 34.g4 continues to gives White two extra pawn and more mobility, but it's still quite a ways home.
32.Bxa6!? Bg4! 33.Ng7 Kf8 34.h3 Bxh3 35.Nh5 leaves Black up by two pawns, but every pawn on the board is weak and White's Bishop is offsided.

30.Nf6! 1-0

White must now win material.
30...Kxf6 31.Rxd7 h5 32.Rd6+ Kg7 33.Bf3 soon leaves White two pawns to the good with active pieces. With an active Rook, snapping up pawns will be no problem.
Mh. Van Kampen resigns.

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #7)

Thu Aug 2, 2012, 04:47 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,709 posts)

9. Lanchava - Peng, Women's Group, Round 2

Only four women took part in the 2012 Dutch women's championship, which neccessatated it being a double round robin of only six games.

Tea Lanchava basically nailed down the title by defeating Peng Zhaoqin in the second round. Although Mw. Peng defeated Mw. Lanchava in the final round, Mw. Lanchava still succeeded in ending Mw. Peng's magnificent twelve-year long reign as Dutch women's champion.

Tea LanchavaPhoto by Fred Lucas from Wikipedia
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Tea Lanchava - Peng Zhaoqin
Dutch National Championships, Women's Group, Round 2
Amsterdam, 16 July 2012

King's English Game: Catalan Four Knights' Opening

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 Bc5 5.d3 d6 6.Bg2 0-0 7.0-0 h6 8.e3

For moves up to here, see Zhao Xue-Yildiz, Grand Prix W, Nanjing, 2009.
For what follows 8.a3 see the blue notes to Black's fourth move in that link.

8...a6

If 8...a5 9.a3 then:

If 9...Bb6 10.b3 then:

If 10...Re8 11.Bb2 Bg4 12.h3 Bh5 13.Qc2 then:

13...Bg6 14.Nd2 Nd7 15.Nd5 Nc5 16.Ne4 Nxe4 17.dxe4 Bc5 is equal (Leotard-Muller, Corres, 1997).
13...Qd7 14.Nd2 Ba7 15.Nd5 Nxd5 16.cxd5 Ne7 17.Rac1 gives White a slight edge with command of the c-file; Black has slightly better pawns.

If 10...Bf5 11.Bb2 Re8 then:

12.h3 Qd7 13.Kh2 Ne7 14.d4 e4 15.Nd2 d5 is equal (Delchev-Savchenko, Euro Ch, Ohrid, 2001).
12.Rc1 Qd7 13.Re1 Bh3 14.Bh1 Bg4 15.Qc2 is equal (Hjartarson-Lobron, ITZ, Biel, 1993).

If 9...Re8 10.b3 Bf5 11.h3 then:

11...Bh7 12.Bb2 Qd7 13.Kh2 Ba7 14.Ng1 Nd8 is equal (Nogueiras-Tchernyi, Op, Cappelle la Grande, 2004).
11...Bb6 12.Bb2 Qd7 13.Kh2 Ne7 transposes into Delchev-Savchenko, above.

9.h3

If 9.a3 Ba7 then:

If 10.b4 Be6 11.Bb2 Qd7 12.Rc1 then:

12...Bh3 13.d4 exd4 14.Nd5 Nxd5 15.cxd5 Bxg2 16.Kxg2 gives White a small advantage in space (Marin-Navara, IT 0708, Reggio Emilia, 2007).
12...Ne7 13.Qe2 Bh3 14.Rfd1 Rfe8 15.Qf1 Bxg2 16.Qxg2 is equal (Zhao Jun-Le Quang Liem, Asian Ch, Cebu, 2007).

10.b3 Bf5 11.Bb2 Re8 12.h3 Rb8 13.Rc1 Bh7 14.Kh2 Ne7 15.d4 e4 16.Nd2 d5 draw (Adorjan-Spraggett, IT, Dortmund, 1984).

9...Ba7 10.b3

10.Kh2 Be6 11.b3 d5 12.Ba3 Re8 13.cxd5 Nxd5 gives Black a small advantage in space (Karpov-Illescas Córdoba, IT, Dos Hermanas, Spain, 1996).

10...Bf5 11.d4 (N)

If 11.Kh2 then:

11...Bh7 12.Bb2 Rb8 13.Qd2 b5 14.Nh4 Nb4 is equal (Davies-Cobb, 4NCL, Coventry, 2007).
11...Qd7 12.Bb2 Rae8 13.Qd2 Bh7 14.Rae1 Qf5 15.e4 is equal (Davies-J. M. Hodgson, KO, Southend, 2001).

11...exd4

The game is equal.

12.Nxd4 Nxd4 13.exd4 c6!?

Black shields her b-pawn, but weakens control of b6.
13...Rb8 14.Re1 Qd7 15.g4 Bg6 16.b4 c6 remains equal.

BLACK: Peng Zhaoqin

WHITE: Tea LanchavaPosition after 13...c7c6

14.g4!?

The game remains equal after White misses a chance to improve her center.
14.d5! Rc8 15.Bf4 cxd5 16.Nxd5 b5 17.Re1 Nxd5 18.Qxd5 gives White a small advantage in space.

14...Bh7!?

Black wants to keep the Bishop on an open diagonal through the center.
Better is 14...Bg6 15.d5 when:

15...c5 16.Qf3 Bb6 17.Re1 Ba5 18.Bf4 remains equal.
15...cxd5!? 16.Nxd5! Nxd5 17.Bxd5 gives White a small advantage in space.

14...Be6 15.Qd3 d5 16.c5 b6 17.cxb6 Qxb6 18.Be3 remains equal.

15.d5!

White takes advantage of her second chance to get a more permanent advantage in the center.

15...cxd5 16.Nxd5 Rb8!?

Black should have more than a weak pawn in the center.
If 16...Ne4! 17.Be3 Bxe3 18.fxe3 Qg5 19.b4 remains equal.
16...Nxd5?! 17.Bxd5 Qf6 18.Ba3 Bd4 19.Rc1 gives White better pawns and the initiative; Black has a presence in the center and , for the moment, more space.

17.Bb2!

White has a fair advantage in space.

17...Nxd5 18.Qxd5

White gets a more comfortable game sticking to the conventional order of battle, minor pieces before heavy ones.
18.Bxd5! Qg5 19.Qf3 Kh8 20.Rae1 b5 21.Kg2 gives White a comfortable game.

18...Bc5?!

Black needs to expand on the queenside before White becomes too dominant.
18...b5 19.Rac1 Re8 20.Rce1 Bc5 21.a3 continues to gives White a fair advantage in space.

BLACK: Peng Zhaoqin

WHITE: Tea LanchavaPosition after 18...Bc5

19.a3!

White has a comfortable game with a centralized Queen, Bishop on the open long diagonals and stronger pawns; the open center also gives scope to Black's Bishops.

19...a5 20.Bc3 Re8?!

Black needs to contront White's queenside strength.
If 20...Rc8 21.Rae1 then:

21...Bc2 22.b4 axb4 23.axb4 Bb6 24.Rc1 Bh7 25.Rfe1 gives White giant advantage in space.
21...Bxa3 22.Ra1 Bb4 23.Bxb4 axb4 24.Qxb7 gives White a marauding Queen.

21.b4!

White has a centralized Quuen, Bishops on open long diagonals, a space advantage on the queenside and stronger pawns. Black has a Rook on the open e-file and Bishops trained on an open center.

21...axb4?!

White will only be able to take advantage of an open a-file.
21...Bb6 22.bxa5 Bc5 23.Rfe1 drops a pawn, but keeps the file closed.

22.axb4!

White starts pushing Black off the board.

22...Bb6 23.Rad1 Re6 24.c5!?

The pawn break is premature. White should first expel the Black Rook from e6.
If 24.Rfe1! Rxe1+ 25.Rxe1 Bc2 26.Qd2 Bg6 27.Bd5 continues to give White a strong game with firm control of attacking lanes.

24...Bc7!

Black plays her best hope for survival.
If 24...dxc5 25.bxc5! Bc7 then:

26.Qc4 Qe8 27.Bd5 Re7 28.Rfe1 Kh8 29.Qb4 gives White a strong game.
If 26.Qxd8+ then:

26...Bxd8 27.Rfe1 Rxe1+ 28.Bxe1 Bf6 29.Bb4 h5 30.Rd7 gives White a significant advantage in space.
If 26...Rxd8? then White wins after 27.Rxd8+ Bxd8 28.Ra1!.

25.Qc4 Qh4?

Black takes her goalie out for more offensive punch. As in fútbol or ice hockey, it's an act of desperation that usually loses quickly.
25...Qf8 doesn't lose right away, but after 26.Bd5 Re7 27.Rfe1 b5 28.cxb6 Bxb6 29.b5 gives White a more active Queen and a large advantage in space.

BLACK: Peng Zhaoqin

WHITE: Tea LanchavaPosition after 25...Qd8h4

26.Qd4!

White wins quicker after 26.Rfe1! Rxe1+ 27.Rxe1 dxc5 28.bxc5 Rc8 29.Qd4.

26...Rf6

No better is 26...Qf6 27.Qxf6 gxf6 28.Rfe1 dxc5 29.Rxe6 fxe6 30.Bxf6 when White threatens to win a piece after 31.Rd7!.

27.f4!

Black's Queen has no retreat.

27...dxc5

If 27...Re8 then White wins after 28.cxd6 Bxd6 29.Be1 Rxe1 30.Rdxe1.

28.bxc5 Rg6 29.f5 Rd8

29...Rg5 drops a Rook to30.Be1 Rxg4 31.Bxh4 Rxd4 32.Rxd4.

BLACK: Peng Zhaoqin

WHITE: Tea LanchavaPosition after 29...Rb8d8

30.fxg6!!

White threatens mate on g7 and completely opens the kingside. All it costs her is her Queen, but she get enough material for that, too.

30...Rxd4 31.gxh7+ Kxh7 32.Bxd4

For the Queen, White has two Rooks and a Bishop.
The rest requires no comment.

32...Qg3 33.Rf3 Qh2+ 34.Kf2 Be5 35.Be3 Bb8 36.Rd7 f6 37.Rxb7 Qe5 38.Rxb8 Qxb8 39.c6 Kg6 40.Bf4 Qb6+ 41.Re3 1-0

If 41...Qb2+ 42.Kg3 f5 43.gxf5+ then:

If 43...Kf6 then after 44.Be5+!! Qxe5+ 45.Rxe5 Kxe5 46.c7 the pawn must queen.
43...Kxf5 drops the Queen to 44.c7 Qc2 45.Be4+.

Mw. Peng resigns.

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #1)

Thu Aug 2, 2012, 06:41 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,709 posts)

10. Russia - China Team Match, St. Petersburg

St. PetersburgPhoto by Walter Smith (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wsmith/with/1475976/) in flicker (http://www.flickr.com/photos/61563509@N00/1475976)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #10)

Thu Aug 2, 2012, 06:46 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,709 posts)

11. Jakovenko - Li Chao, General Group/Standard Time Control, Round 4

Dmitry JakovenkoPhoto by karpidis (http://www.flickr.com/photos/karpidis/) modified from flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/8022405@N02/1795364276/) in Wikimedia Commons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Jakovenko_Dmitry.jpg)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Dmitry Jakovenko - Li Chao
Team Match, Standard Time Control/Men's Group, Round 4
St Petersburg, 5 July 2012

West India Game: Indian Queen's Gambit (Russian Opening) (Grünfeld Defense)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 0-0 7.e4 b6

Black picks an unusual move. For 7...a6, 7...Bg4, 7...Na6 and 7...Nc6 see Pashikian-Kurnosov, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2009.

8.e5

8.Bf4 c5 9.dxc5 Ba6 10.Qb3 Bxf1 11.Rd1 Qc8 gives White a fair advantage in space (Stahlberg-Najdorf, IT, Mar del Plata, 1943).

8...Be6

BLACK: Li Chao

WHITE: Dmitry JakovenkoPosition after 8...Bc8e6

9.exf6

This Queen sacrifice appears to originate with the Szabo-Barcza game, quoted below.
If 9.Qa4 Nd5 10.Be2 f6 11.0-0 a6 12.Re1 gkives White a fair advantage in space (Gilg-Pelikan, IT, Prague, 1937).

9...Bxc4 10.fxg7 Kxg7 11.Bxc4

White has three minor pieces for the Queen.

11...c6

11...Nc6 12.Be3 Nb4 13.0-0 Nc2 14.Rad1 Nxe3 15.fxe3 is equal (Kmoch-Prins, Amsterdam, 1940).

12.0-0 Nd7 (N)

12...a5 13.Re1 then:

13...h6 14.Bf4 b5 15.Bf1 Nd7 16.d5 gives White a fair advantage in space (Szabo-Barcza, Makovetz Mem, Budapest, 1939).
13...b5 14.Bb3 a4 15.Bc2 gives White a small advantage in space.

13.Bf4

White has a small advantage in space. Obviously, he must keep his pieces coordinated.

13...Nf6 14.Rad1!?

Perhaps a calculated risk rather than a mistake, White eschews pinning Black's Knight at f6.
14.Be5 Kg8 15.Rfe1 a5 16.h3 continues to give White a small advantage in space.

14...Qc8?!

Black misses a chance to equalize with aggressive queenside play.
14...b5 15.Bb3 Nd5 16.Bxd5 cxd5 17.Nxb5 is equal.

15.Rfe1!

White has a comfortable game.

15...Qb7

If 15...b5?! 16.Bb3 Qf5 17.Be5 then:

17...Rad8 18.Ne4 a5 19.Bc2 h5 20.h3 Qe6 21.b3 leaves White's minor pieces more active minor pieces than Black's Queen.
If 17...a5? 18.d5! then:

18...b4 19.Na4 cxd5 20.Nd4 Qg5 21.Nb6 Ra7 22.Nxd5 gives White three minor pieces and more freedom for the Queen.
If 18...a4 then White wins after 19.Nd4 Qg5 20.Bc2 b4 21.Nxa4 cxd5 22.Nb6.

16.d5 cxd5 17.Nxd5 Rad8

17...Rfd8 18.Be5 Kf8 19.Nxf6 exf6 20.Bxf6 continues to give White more activity for his pieces.

18.Be5 Rd7?

Black prepared to double his Rooks. This move is fatal.
If 18...h6 19.Bb3 Kh7 20.Bxf6 exf6 21.Re7 Qc8 22.Rxa7 leaves White with all his pieces active.

BLACK: Li Chao

WHITE: Dmitry JakovenkoPosition after 18...Rd8d7

19.Bc3!

After this, Black can take none of White's pieces without losing material.

19...Rfd8

Black may as well play whate he intended anyway. 19...Rxd5 drops the exchange; 19...Nxd5 looks good after 20.Bxd5 Rxd5, except that 19...Nxd5 is illegal.
If 19...Rb8 then White wins after 20.Bb3 Kf8 21.Nxf6 exf6 22.Bxf6 Rc8 23.Ne5.

20.Rxe7 Rxe7 21.Bxf6+ Kf8

BLACK: Li Chao

WHITE: Dmitry JakovenkoPosition after 21...Kg7f8

22.Ng5!

This move is simply brilliant.
If 22.Bxe7+? Qxe7!! 23.Nxe7 Rxd1+ 24.Bf1 Kxe7 is equal.

22...Rd6

22...Rxd5 23.Bxd5 then:

23...Qd7 24.g3 h5 25.Bxe7+ Qxe7 26.h4 Qe2 27.Bb3 leaves White the equivalent of an exchange to the good with active pieces.
23...Rd7 24.Nxh7+ Kg8 25.Be5 Qc6 26.Nf6+ Kf8 27.h3 is an easy win for White.

23.Nxh7+! Ke8 24.h4

24.Bh4 Kd8 25.Bb3 f6 26.Bxf6 Rxd5 27.Rxd5+ gives White two extra pawns.

24...b5 25.Bxe7 Qxe7

BLACK: Li Chao

WHITE: Dmitry JakovenkoPosition after 25...Qb7e7:B

26.Bxb5+

White has two extra pawns.

26...Kd8 27.Ng5 Qb7

27...f6 28.Nxe7 Rxd1+ 29.Bf1 Kxe7 30.Nh3 Kd6 31.g3 gives White two extra pawns.

28.Bc4 f5

28...Ke8 29.b4 Kf8 30.Rd4 Kg7 31.b5 Qc8 32.Ne4 gives White the initiative and two extra pawns.

29.b3

If 29.Rd3 Qxb2 30.Nf7+ Kd7 31.Nf6+ then:

31...Ke7 32.Re3+ Kxf6 33.Nxd6 confines the Black King to a small corner of the board.
If 31...Qxf6 then White wins after 32.Rxd6+ Qxd6 33.Nxd6.

29...Kc8 30.Nh3 Qg7

If 30...Qd7 31.Nhf4 then:

31...Qe8 32.g3 a6 33.Rd3 Qe1+ 34.Kg2 Qe4+ 35.f3 gives White four actives pieces and two extra pawns.
31...Kb8 32.Re1 a5 33.a4 Qd8 34.g3 Qg8 35.Re5 threatens to crush Black on the back rank.

31.a4 f4

BLACK: Li Chao

WHITE: Dmitry JakovenkoPosition after 31...f5f4

32.Nhxf4

White has a material advantage equivalent to three pawns.

32...g5 33.hxg5

If 33.Rc1 then White wins after 33...Kd8 34.hxg5 Qxg5 35.Re1 Qg4 36.g3.

33...Qxg5 34.Rd3

If 34.Re1 then White wins after 34...Kb8 35.b4 Qg8 36.g3 Qc8 37.Bb3.

34...Qe5 35.Re3 Qd4

If 35...Qa1+ 36.Kh2 a5 37.Kg3 then:

If 37...Qh8 38.Re7 Kb8 39.Ne3 then:

If 39...Qh6 40.Re5 Rd4 41.Rb5+ then:

41...Ka7 42.Rxa5+ Kb8 43.Rb5+ Ka7 44.Rf5 gives White four extra pawns.

41...Kc8 42.Be6+ Kc7 43.Ned5+ Kd6 44.Bg4 leaves White three pawns to the good, active pieces and a percfectly safe King.

39...Qf6 then after 40.Re8+ Rd8 41.Rxd8+ Qxd8 42.Ne6 White's position is a picture of harmony.

If 37...Qg7+ 38.Kf3 Qa1 39.Re8+ then:

If 39...Kb7 40.Ne3 Rd2 41.Bd5+ then:

41...Kc7 42.Ra8 Qe1 43.Ne6+ Kd7 44.Nc5+ Kc7 45.Ne4 covers the f-pawn.

If 41...Kb6 then White wins the exchange after 42.Nc4+ Kc7 43.Nxd2.

39...Rd8 then White wins the exchange after 40.Ba6+ Kd7 41.Bb5+ Kc8 42.Ne7+ Kc7 43.Ne6+.

BLACK: Li Chao

WHITE: Dmitry JakovenkoPosition after 35...Qe5d4

36.Re8+ Kb7 37.Re7+ Kb8 38.Rh7 a5

38...Rd8 39.g3 Qe5 40.Kf1 Re8 41.Ne3 continues to give White three extra pawns and a brigade of active pieces.

39.g3 Qb2 40.Kg2 Qd4

If 40...Qc2 then White wins after 41.Re7 Rh6 42.Ne3 Qb1 43.Kf3 Rh2 44.Re8+.

41.Re7 Rh6

If 41...Rd8 then White wins after 42.Nc7 Rd7 43.Nb5 Qd2 44.Re8+ Rd8 45.Re6.

42.Nc7 Qc5 43.Re6 1-0

43...Rxe6 44.Ncxe6 Qf5 45.Bd3 continues to give White a material advantage.
Li Xiansheng resigns.

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #10)

Thu Aug 2, 2012, 09:18 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,709 posts)

20. Ding Liren - Vitiugov, General Group/Standard Time Control, Round 1

There is no photo of Nikita Vitugov available with an internet-friendly copyright
Photo by Jon Sullivan from public-domain-photos.com (Public Domain)

Nikita Vitiugov - Ding Liren
Team MatchTeam Match, Standard Time Control/Men's Group, Round 1
St Petersburg, 2 July 2012

West India Game: Tal-Indian Defense (Sämisch Opening) (King's Indian Defense with ...c5)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0-0 6.Be3 c5

BLACK

WHITEWest India Game: Tal-Indian Defense (Sämisch Opening)Position after 6...c7c5

The most common move here is 6...e5, the King's Indian Defense.
The text set up often -- usually, in fact -- called a King's Indian, but my staff and I believe that it makes a big difference whether Black advances his c-pawn or his e-pawn, enough so that one merits independence from the other.
Therefore, Tal-Indian Defense shall not merely be a new name for the Modern Benoni, but any West India Game where Black's pawn pressure in the center is derived from the move ...c7c5 without playng ...e7e5.

7.Nge2

If 7.dxc5 dxc5 8.Qxd8 Rxd8 9.Bxc5 Nc6 then:

If 10.Ba3 a5 11.Rd1 then:

If 11...Be6 12.Nd5 then:

If 12...Nb4 then:

If 13.Nxe7+ Kh8 then:

If 14.Rxd8+ Rxd8 15.Nd5 Nc2+ then:

16.Kf2 Nxa3 17.bxa3 b5 18.Nh3 bxc4 19.Bxc4 gives White two extra pawns; Balck has a more active active (Lahlum-Hermansson, IT, Gausdal, Norway, 2001).
16.Kd2 Nxa3 17.bxa3 b5 18.Nh3 bxc4 19.Bxc4 Nxd5 20.exd5 is equal (Gaul Pascual-Timoshchenko, Op, London, 1993).

14.Nd5 Nc2+ 15.Kf2 Nxa3 16.bxa3 b5 17.a4 gives White two extra pawns against Black's superior development (Rowson-Kotronias, Op 0304, Hastings, 2004).

If 13.Bd3 then:

If 13...Bxd5 14.cxd5 Nxd3+ 15.Rxd3 e6 then:

If 16.Be7 Rd7 17.d6 Ra6 then:

18.Rc3 Rc6 19.Ne2 Ne8 20.Rxc6 bxc6 21.Nc3 gives White the advantage (Wang Yue-Dyachkov, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2007).
18.Re3 Nh5 19.e5 Nf4 20.Rc3 Ra8 21.Ne2 Bxe5 gives Black he initiative and a fair advantage (Pukropski-Dzwikowski, Corres, 1997).

16.Ne2 exd5 17.e5 Ne8 18.f4 f6 19.Be7 Rd7 is equal (Dragomarezkij-Glek, Moscow Ch, 1989).

13...Nd7 14.Bb1 Bxd5 15.cxd5 Nb6 16.Ne2 gives White an extra pawn and Black more space (Wang Yue-Acs, G. Marx Mem, Paks, Hungary, 2006).

If 12...Bxd5 13.cxd5 Nb4 then:

If 14.Bb5 Nc2+ then:

If 15.Kf2 Nxa3 16.bxa3 then:

If 16...e6 17.d6 e5 18.Ne2 Bf8 19.d7 Bxa3 then:

20.g4 h6 21.h4 a4 22.Rd3 Bb2 23.g5 gives White a clear advantage (Kramnik-Dr. Nunn, Ol, Manila, 1992).
20.Rd3?! Bc5+ 21.Kg3 Kf8 22.Rc1 b6 23.a4 is equal (van der Sterren-Shirov, IT, Kerteminde, Denmark, 1991).

16...Rac8 17.Ne2 Rc2 18.Rd3 Rxa2 19.Rb1 Nh5 20.g3 gives White a small advantage in space (Rogozenko-Urban, Euro ChT, 1992).

15.Ke2 Nxa3 16.bxa3 Rac8 17.Nh3 Bh6 18.g4 Rc2+ gives Black a small advantage in space (Knaak-Piket, Ol, Novi Sad, 1990).

14.Bd3 Nxd3+ 15.Rxd3 e6 16.Ne2 transposes into Dragomarezkij-Glek, above.

If 11...Rxd1+ 12.Kxd1 Nb4 13.Nge2 then:

13...Be6 14.Nf4 Rd8+ 15.Ncd5 Bxd5 16.cxd5 e6 gives White a fair advantage in space (Manigandan-Navalgund, World Jr Ch, Chennai, 2011).
13...b6 14.Nc1 e6 15.Na4 Nd7 16.b3 Ba6 17.Bb2 is equal (Graf-Dr. Nunn, Ol, Manila, 1992).

If 10.Nd5 Nd7 then:

If 11.Bxe7 Nxe7 12.Nxe7+ Kf8 13.Nd5 Bxb2 then:

If 14.Rb1 Bg7 15.Nh3 then:

If 15...Nc5 16.Nf2 Be6 then:

If 17.Be2 Rac8 18.0-0 Rd6 19.Rfd1 Ra6 20.Rd2 then:

20...Ra3 21.Kf1 b6 22.f4 Bc3 23.Nxc3 Rxc3 is equal (Korchnoi-J. Polgar, IT, Roqueburne, 1992).
20...Bh6 21.Rc2 Ra3 22.Nd1 Bg7 23.N1c3 a6 is equal (Inigo-Bojkov, Canadian Op, Toronto, 2011).

If 17.Nd3 Rac8 then:

18.Be2 Na4 19.N3f4 g5 20.Nh5 Bc3+ 21.Kf1 gives White a slight advantage in space (Gheorghiu-Gelfand, World Cup, Palma de Mallorca, 1989).
18.Kf2 b6 19.Be2 Bd4+ 20.Kg3 Na4 21.N3b4 Bg7 is equal (Abolianin-Kasimdzhanov,Belgian ChT, Antwerp, 1999).

If 15...b6 then:

If 16.Be2 Bb7 17.0-0 Rac8 then:

18.f4 18...Nc5 19.Ng5 Bxd5 20.exd5 h6 is equal (Sammalvuo-Shirov, Ol, Elista, 1998).
18.Rfc1 Nc5 19.Nf2 Ne6 20.Nd1 Be5 21.Bf1 is equal (Savic-Sergel, Corres, 2001).

16.Nf2 Bb7 17.f4 Rac8 18.Be2 Ba6 19.Rb4 Bd4 is equal (Joles-Miles, Op, Katerini, Greece, 1992).

14.Rd1 Nc5 15.Ne2 Bd7 16.Nec3 Be6 17.Be2 gives White a small advantage in space (Timman-J. Polgar, IT, Paris, 1992).

If 11.Nxe7+ Nxe7 12.Bxe7 Bxb2 then:

If 13.Rb1 Bc3+ then:

If 14.Kd1 Re8 15.Ne2 then:

15...Be5 16.Bb4 Nb6 17.Nc3 a5 18.Ba3 gives White a small advantage in space ( ().
15...Bg7 16.Bh4 f5 17.exf5 Nc5 18.Ng3 is equal (E. L'Ami-Stellwagen, Dutch Ch, Leeuwarden, 2005).

14.Kf2 Bd4+ 15.Kg3 Re8 16.Bg5 Nf6 17.Nh3 Nh5+ draw (Timman-Sax IT, Zegreb/Rijeka, 1985).

13.Bxd8 Bxa1 14.Ne2 Ne5 15.Nf4 Be6 16.Nxe6 fxe6 17.Bg5 gives White an extra pawn (Njobvu-Ziska, Ol, Torino, 2006).

7...b6

If 7...Nc6 8.d5 Ne5 9.Ng3 then:

If 9...e6 10.Be2 exd5 11.cxd5 a6 12.a4 then:

If 12...h5 13.0-0 then:

If 13...Nh7 14.Qd2 h4 15.Nh1 f5 16.Nf2 Bd7 then:

If 17.Kh1 Re8 18.Rg1 then:

18...g5 19.exf5 Bxf5 20.Rae1 Rc8 21.Nce4 Nf7 22.Bd3 gives Black a fair advantage in space (Tomashevsky-Shomoev, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).
If 18...Kh8 19.g4 then:

19...fxg4?! 20.f4! g3 21.hxg3 Nf7 22.Rg2 gives White a better center and a small advantage in space (Banikas-Machin Rivera, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).
19...hxg3 20.hxg3 b5 21.axb5 axb5 22.Rxa8 Qxa8 is equal.

If 17.exf5 gxf5 18.Nh3 Ng6 then:

19.Nf4 Nxf4 20.Bxf4 Qf6 21.Kh1 Rae8 22.a5 gives White a small advantage by attacking vulnerable pawns (Tomashevsky-Khairullin, Aeroflot Op, 2009).
19.f4 Re8 20.Bf2 Nf6 21.Ng5 Bh6 22.h3 is equal (Lautier-Kazhgaleyev, IT, Aix-en-Provence, 2004).

If 13...Re8 14.Qd2 Rb8 15.Bg5 then:

15...Qa5 16.f4 Ned7 17.f5 Qb4 18.fxg6 fxg6 19.e5 is equal (Barreto-Fier, Brazilian Ch, Americana, 2009).
15...Qc7 16.f4 Ned7 17.Kh1 Nh7 18.Bh4 gives White a comfortable advantage in space; the contestants agree here to a draw (Van den Bersselaar-Obers, Op, Gibraltar, 2005).

If 12...Bd7 13.0-0 b5 then:

If 14.h3 Rb8 15.axb5 axb5 16.b3 then:

16...Ne8 17.Rc1 b4 18.Nb1 Qh4 19.Bf2 draw (Khairullin-Fedoseev, Chigorin Mem Op, St. Petersburg, 2010).
If 16...b4 then:

If 17.Nb1!? then:

If 17...Bb5!? 18.Bxb5! Rxb5 19.Nd2 Ne8 20.Ra2 gives White a small advantage in space (Braun-Reinderman, IT C, Wijk aan Zee, 2008).
17...Nxd5 18.exd5 Nxf3+ 19.Rxf3 Bxa1 20.Nd2 Ra8 21.Nc4 Bb5 gives Black a small advantage in space.

17.Na4 Re8 18.Nb2 Bb5 19.Ra7 gives White a slight advantage in space.

If 14.axb5 axb5 then:

If 15.Rxa8 Qxa8 16.Bxb5 then:

If 16...Bxb5 17.Nxb5 Qa6 18.Nc3 Rb8 19.Qc2 Qd3 then:

20.Qxd3 Nxd3 21.Nge2 Ne8 22.Rb1 Rxb2 23.Rxb2 Nxb2 is equal (Vitugov-Nedev, Euro Ch, Plodiv, 2012).
20.Qf2? then after 20...Nc4! 21.Nd1 Nxd5 22.exd5 Nxe3 Black wins (Nikolaev-Belov, IT, Podolsk, 1991).

16...Rb8 17.Bxd7 Nfxd7 18.Qc2 Qa6 draw (Spraggett-Hazai, IT, Szernik, 1986).

If 15.Bxb5 Bxb5 16.Nxb5 then:

16...Qb6 17.Qe2 Rab8 18.Na7 Qxb2 19.Qxb2 Rxb2 20.Rfb1 is equal (Seirawan-Ivanchuk, Blitz IT, Paris, 1992).
16...Rxa1 17.Qxa1 Nc4 18.Bc1 Qb6 19.Qa4 Ne5 20.Be3 is equal(Gangult-A. Brown, Op, Queenstown, New Zealand, 2012).

If 9...h5 10.Be2 h4 11.Nf1 e6 then:

If 12.Nd2 exd5 13.cxd5 a6 14.a4 Bd7 15.0-0 then:

If 15...b5 16.axb5 axb5 17.Rxa8 Qxa8 then:

18.Bxb5 Bxb5 19.Nxb5 Qa6 20.Nc3 Rb8 21.Qa4 is equal (Erofeev-Gilbert, Corres, 1998).
18.h3 c4 19.Qe1 b4 20.Nd1 Qa2 21.Qxh4 is equal (Vyzmanavin-J. Polgar, PCA Qual, Gronigen, 1993).

If 15...Rc8?! then:

16.Qc2?! Nh5! 17.Rfe1 f5 18.exf5 Bxf5 is equal (Peregudov-Shulman, Op, St. Petersburg, 1994).
16.h3! c4 17.Qc2 b5 18.f4 gives White a fair advantage in space.

If 12.f4 Neg4 then:

If 13.Bxg4 Nxg4 14.Qxg4 exd5 15.f5 d4 16.Nd5 then:

16...dxe3 17.Nfxe3 Bxb2 18.0-0 Bxa1 19.Rxa1 Kg7 20.Rf1 gives White a slight advantage in space (Tomashevsky-Ponomariov, Euro Club Cup, Rogaska Slatina, 2011).
16...gxf5?! 17.exf5! Re8 18.0-0-0 dxe3 19.Nfxe3 Kf8 20.Qf4 gives White a sauropod sized advantage in space (C. Ward-Ye Jiangchuan, Match, London, 1997).

13.Bg1?! exd5! 14.cxd5 b5 15.h3 b4 16.Na4 Nh6 leaves Black targeting White's weak pawns (Gunina-Girya, Russian Ch GU20, St. Petersburg, 2008).

8.d5

If 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.d5 Ne5 then:

If 10.Ng3 e6 then:

If 11.Be2 exd5 12.cxd5 a6 13.a4 then:

If 13...Bd7 14.0-0 then:

14...b5 15.axb5 axb5 16.Nxb5 Bxb5 17.Bxb5 Qb6 18.Be2 gives White a slight advantage in space (Gurgenidze-Gufeld, Karseladze Mem, Gori, 1968).
14...Qc7 15.Rfc1 Qb7 16.Rab1 b5 17.b4 cxb4 18.Rxb4 gives White a comfortable game (Bischoff-Reis, Op, Fürth, 2001).

13...Re8 14.0-0 Qc7 15.Rfc1 Qb8 16.Rab1 h5 17.b4 gives White a small advantage in space (Haba-Kaminski, IT, Tuzla, 1990).

If 11.Bg5 exd5 then:

If 12.Nxd5 Be6 13.Be2 Bxd5 14.cxd5 a6 15.h4 then:

15...b5?! 16.h5 Re8 17.Kf1 Qb6 18.Rc1 Nfd7 19.b3 gives White a substantial advantage in space; Black should seek exchanges to relieve pressure (Petrosian-Vukic, IT, Sarajevo, 1972).
15...h5! 16.f4 Ned7 17.0-0 b5 18.f5 is equal.

12.cxd5 a6 13.a4 Re8 14.Be2 Qe7 15.0-0 gives White a fair advantage in space (Razuvaev-Vukic, Op, Oberwart, 1991).

If 10.Nc1 e6 11.Be2 then:

11...exd5 12.cxd5 a6 13.a4 Ne8 then:

14.0-0 f5 15.Bh6 Bxh6 16.Qxh6 f4 17.Nd3 Qf6 is equal (Ramezan-Kayumov, Op, Dubai, 2001).
14.f4 Ng4 15.Bxg4 Bxg4 16.0-0 Bd7 is equal (Peng-Sziva, Dutch ChW, Leeuwarden, 2001).

If 11...Ba6 12.b3 exd5 13.exd5 then:

13...Nfd7!? 14.0-0 f5 15.Bg5 Qc7 16.Bh6 Bxh6 17.Qxh6 gives White a slight advantage (Evans-Petrosian, IT, San Antonio, 1972).
13...Re8 14.0-0 Nh5 15.Bg5 Qd7 is equal.

8...e6 9.Nf4 (N)

If 9.Ng3 exd5 10.cxd5 (this is now a Modern Benoni) then:

If 10...Ba6?! then:

If 11.Be2 then:

11...h5 12.0-0 h4 13.Bxa6 Nxa6 14.Nge2 Qd7 15.h3 gives White a fair advantage in space (Pushin-Kryakvin, Russian ChT HL, Dagomys, 2010).
11...c4?! 12.Qa4! Nfd7 13.Bxc4 Bxc4 14.Qxc4 Ne5 15.Qe2 gives White stronger pawns and a great big advantage in space.

If 11.Bxa6 Nxa6 12.0-0 then:

12...Nc7 13.a4 Re8 14.f4 Nxe4 15.Ncxe4 f5 gives Black a small advantage in space (Janosevic-Tringov, IT, Amsterdam, 1970).
12...Qd7 13.Qd2 b5 14.Bh6 Ne8 15.Bxg7 Nxg7 16.f4 gives White a fair advantage in space (Bu Xiangzhi-Areshchenko, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2008).

10...Nbd7 11.Be2 a6 12.Rc1 b5 13.0-0 remains equal.

9...exd5 10.Nfxd5

White has a small advantage in space.
10.cxd5 gives White a slight advantage in space in a well-known Modern Benoni formation.

10...Nc6 11.Qd2 Nxd5 12.Nxd5 Be6

12...Qh4+ 13.Bf2 Qd8 14.h4 h5 15.Be3 continues to give White a small advantage in space.

13.Bd3!?

White's central pawns are not in any immediate danger. A better is to lay claim to squares that may be used for outposts.
13.h4 h5 14.Bg5 f6 15.Be3 Nd4 16.Bd3 continues to give White a small advantage in space.

BLACK: Ding Liren

WHITE: Nikita VitiugovPosition after 13.Bf1d3

13...Bxd5!

Black equalizes.
Also good is 13...Bd4! 14.f4 Qh4+ 15.Bf2 Qxf2+ 16.Qxf2 Bxf2+ 17.Kxf2 also with equality.

14.cxd5 Nd4 15.0-0 b5 16.Kh1

If 16.Rac1 Rc8 then:

If 17.b3 b4 then:

18.Rfe1 a5 19.f4 Re8 20.Bf2 Qb6 21.Rc4 Qa7 remains equal.
If 18.Bf4 Re8 then:

19.Rfe1 19...Ra8 20.Bg5 Bf6 21.Bxf6 Qxf6 gives Black a slight advantage in space.
19.Bc4 Rb8 20.Rfe1 Bf6 21.Bh6 a5 22.Qf2 Ra8 gives Black a small advantage in space.

17.b4!? c4! 18.Bb1 c3 19.Qf2 Rc4 20.Rfd1 Qf6 gives Black a small advantage in space.

16...Qd7 17.Rae1

If 17.f4 f5 then:

18.Bxd4 Bxd4 19.exf5 gxf5 20.Rae1 Rf6 21.Rf3 remains equal.
18.e5? drops a pawn to 18...dxe5 19.fxe5 Bxe5.

17...b4!?

Black seems to want to gain space on the queenside.
17...Rac8 18.Rc1 Qb7 19.Kg1 Rfd8 20.Rfe1 Qb6 21.b3 remains equal.

BLACK: Ding Liren

WHITE: Nikita VitiugovPosition after 17...b5b4

18.f4!

White has a small advantage in space after push on the kingside with slightly greater effect.

18...h5?!

Black's strength is on the queenside. He should prepare aggressive displays there.
If 18...Rab8 19.f5 Be5 20.f6 Qd8 21.Bg5 Qd7 22.h3 continues to give White a small advantage in space.

19.f5!

Hold out baits to entice the enemy. -- Sun Tzu, The Art of War
White takes a stranglehold on the light squares in the center, but leaves a hole at e5.

19...Be5

Hole shold be occupied by pieces, so that is what Black does.

20.Bxd4 Bxd4?

Now the hole is no longer occupied by Black's Bishop.
Correct is 20...cxd4 21.Qh6 Bg7 22.Qg5 then:

22...Rae8 (Black would like to re-occupy e5) 23.Kg1 a5 24.f6 Bh8 25.Qg3 Qd8 26.Qf4 gives White stronger pawns, active pieces and more freedom; Black's Bishop in entombed.
If 22...Qd8? 23.f6 then:

23...Re8 24.e5 Rxe5 25.Rxe5 dxe5 26.Bxg6 fxg6 27.Qxg6 leaves Black nothing to do but resign.
If 23...b3 then White wins after 24.e5 bxa2 25.exd6 Re8 26.Rxe8+ Qxe8 27.fxg7.

21.e5!

The Bishop will not be allowed to resturn so easily.
Also good is 21.f6 Kh7 22.e5 Rh8 23.e6 Qc7 24.Rf5 then:

If 24...Kg8 then White wins after 25.Rf3 c4 26.exf7+ Qxf7 27.Re7 Qxf6 28.Rxf6.
24...gxf5 loses to 25.Bxf5+ Kg8 26.Qg5+ Kf8 27.Qg7+ Ke8 28.Qxh8#.

21...Bxe5

BLACK: Ding Liren

WHITE: Nikita VitiugovPosition after 21...Bd4e5:p

22.Rxe5!!

White chooses to sacrifice the exchange and win in style.

22...dxe5 23.f6 Kh7 24.Rf5! 1-0

If 24...e4 then 25.Rxh5+!! gxh5 26.Bxe4+ leads to mate.
Ding Xiansheng resigns.

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #10)

Thu Aug 2, 2012, 10:19 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,709 posts)

21. Yu Yangyi - Vitiugov, General Group/Standard Time Control, Round 5

Yu YangyiPhoto by Kgolp76 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:Search/Kgolp76)Kgolp76] in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Chess_players_from_China) (Public Domain)

Yu Yangyi - Nikita Vitiugov
Team Match, Standard Time Control/Men's Group, Round 5
St Petersburg, 6 July 2012

Open French Game: Nimzo-Winawer Defense (Winckelmann-Riemer Gambit)

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3

The Winckelmann-Riemer Gambit is very rarely seen and not terribly theoretical.
For a survey of the Winawer Defense, see Pogrebyssky-Botvinnik, Soviet Ch, Leningrad, 1939.

4...Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 dxe4 6.Qg4

If 6.f3 then:

If 6...b6 then:

If 7.Nh3 Bb7 8.fxe4 Bxe4 9.Ng5 Bg6 10.Bc4 then:

10...Nf6 11.Qf3 c6 12.0-0 0-0 13.Bf4 h6 gives Black stronger pawns and White more space (Wellingh-Bosman, TT, 1994).
10...h6 11.Qf3 c6 12.Nh3 Nf6 13.0-0 Nbd7 gives Black a small advantage in space (Hamer-Byron, Op, Gibraltar, 2012).

7.Be3?! Bb7! 8.Be2 Nf6 9.Nh3 Nbd7 10.0-0 h6 gives Black a fair advantage in space (Hekhuis-Kodentsov, Op, Vlissingen, 2001).

If 6...exf3 7.Nxf3 then:

If 7...Nc6 8.Bd3 Nge7 9.0-0 then:

If 9...0-0? 10.Bxh7+!! then:

10...Kh8 11.Ng5 Black resigns (Winckelmann-Klatt, Corres, 1989)
If 10...Kxh7 then White wins after

11.Ng5+ 11.Ng5 Black resigns (Winckelmann-Klatt, Corres, 1989).
11...Kg6 12.Nxf7 Qd5 13.Qg4+ Kh7 14.Qh4+.

9...f6 10.Rb1 0-0 11.a4 Re8 12.Qe2 a5 is equal.

7...Nd7!? 8.Bd3! Ngf6 9.0-0 0-0 10.Bg5 c6 11.Ne5 gives White a fair advantage in space (D. Gustafson-Penner, Yanofsky Mem, Winnipeg, 2003).

6...Nf6 7.Qxg7 Rg8 8.Qh6 Nbd7

If 8...Rg6 9.Qd2 b6 then:

If 10.Bb2 Bb7 11.0-0-0 then:

If 11...Qe7 then:

12.c4 Nbd7 13.Ne2 0-0-0 14.Nc3 c5 15.d5 is equal (R. Byrne-Sherzer, Op, New York, 1988).
12.Qf4 Rg4 13.Qe3 Nbd7 14.c4 0-0-0 15.Ne2 c5 is equal (Neumann-Thompson, Corres, 1989).

If 11...Nbd7 12.Ne2 then:

12...Qe7 13.Nf4 Rg8 then:

If 14.c4?! 0-0-0! then:

If 15.Be2 then:

15...Ng4!? 16.Bxg4 Rxg4 17.h3 Rgg8 gives Black a fair advantage (Morky-Matlak, Czech ChT, 1998).
If 15...c5! then:

16.d5 e5 17.Nh3 Rxg2 18.Qe3 h5 gives Black an extra pawn; White has a protected passer in the center.
16.dxc5?! Qxc5! 17.Qe3 e5 18.Qxc5+ Nxc5 gives Black a better center and more space.

15.Qe1 Kb8 16.g3 e5 17.Ng2 exd4 18.Rxd4 Nc5 puts Black firmly in the driver's seat (Rellstab-Niephaus, West German Ch, Essen, 1948).

14.Be2 Ng4 15.Bxg4 Rxg4 16.Qe3 0-0-0 continues to give Black a small advantage.

12...c5 13.Nf4 Rg8 14.Bb5 a6 15.Bxd7+ Qxd7 16.c4 is equal (Oettinger-Bluemisch, Krakow, 1938).

If 10.Ne2 Bb7 11.Nf4 Rg8 then:

12.Bb5+ c6 13.Be2 Nbd7 14.a4 Qc7 15.0-0 gives White a small advantage in space (Chiburdanidze-Voiska, OlW, Thessaloniki, 1984).
If 12.a4!? Nc6! then:

13.a5?! Nxa5! 14.c4 Qd7 15.Bb2 e5 gives Black a fair advantage in space (Valsecchi-Gireman, World Jr Ch, Chennai, 2011).
13.Bb5 Qd7 14.0-0 a6 15.Bxc6 Qxc6 gives Black a small advantage in space.

9.Nh3

9.Ne2 c5 10.Ng3 Qc7 11.Qe3 Qc6 12.a4 is equal (Fischer-R. Byrne, US Ch, New York, 1966).

9...c5

9...b6 10.Bg5 Rg6 11.Qh4 h6 12.Be3 Qe7 13.Nf4 is equal (Roose-Ambroz, Corres, 1987).

10.a4 (N)

10.Be2 Qa5 11.Bd2 Rxg2 12.Ng5 cxd4 13.Qg7 is equal (Ljubojevic-Korchnoi, IT, Tilburg, 1986).

10...cxd4 11.cxd4 Qc7

The game is equal.

12.Qd2 b6!?

Black weakens this grip on the long light diagonal.
12...Nf8 13.Ra3 Bd7 14.a5 Ng6 15.Rg3 Rd8 16.c4 remains equal.

BLACK: Nikita Vitiugov

WHITE: Yu YangyiPosition after 12...b7b6

13.Ra3!

White has a slight advantage in space.

13...Nd5!?

Of course, the Knight can be driven awy from d5 with a timely c2c4.
If 13...e5?! then:

14.Bb5! Bb7 15.Rc3 Qd6 16.dxe5 Qxe5 17.Bb2 gives White a fair advantage in space.
14.Bb2!? exd4 15.Qxd4 Ke7 16.Bb5 Qc5 17.Nf4 continues to give White a slight advantage in space.

13...Bb7!? 14.Rc3! Qb8 15.Nf4 e5 16.dxe5 Qxe5 17.Bb2 gives White a small advantage in space.

14.Rg3!

White has a small advantage in space.

14...Rxg3 15.hxg3 N7f6?!

since there is nothing Black to do to prevent the advance of the c-pawn, he should counter with pressure on the central light squares.
If 15...Bb7 then:

16.Nf4 0-0-0 17.Rxh7 e5 18.Nxd5 Bxd5 19.Bb2 gives White a small advantage in space.
16.c4!? e3! 17.Qb2 Rc8 18.Nf4 exf2+ 19.Kxf2 is equal.

16.c4!

White has a comfortable advantage in space.

16...e3?

This simply loses material.
If 16...Ba6 17.cxd5 Bxf1 18.Rxf1 Rc8 then:

19.Ba3 Nxd5 20.Nf4 Qc4 21.Nxd5 exd5 22.Qb4 gives White a Bishop for a pawn.
19.Bb2 Nxd5 20.Nf4 Nxf4 21.gxf4 Qc4 22.f5 gives White a Bishop for a pawn.

BLACK: Nikita Vitiugov

WHITE: Yu YangyiPosition after 16...e4e3

17.Qb2!

White can't just take the pawn as long as the Black Queen is aimed at a hanging Bishop throuvh the pin at c4.
If 17.fxe3?! Ne4! 18.Qc2 Nxg3 19.Qxh7 Nxh1 20.Qg8+ is equal.

17...Ne7

If 17...exf2+ 18.Nxf2 Ne7 19.Bf4 Qd7 20.Be2 Neg8 may be more stubborn, but Black is still lost.

18.Bxe3

White wins the pawn.

18...Ba6

Better is 18...Bb7 (keeping the White Bishop at c1) 19.Bf4 Qd7 20.Ng5 Rd8 21.d5, but the result is no longer in doubt.

19.Bf4 Qd7 20.d5?!

White's best move here is 20.Ng5, attacking the h-pawn twice.
If 20.Ng5 then:

If 20...Qxa4 then White wins after 21.d5 Nfg8 22.dxe6 fxe6 23.Ne4 Rd8 24.Nd6+.
If 20...h5 then White wins after 21.Be5 Nfg8 22.Ne4 Qxa4 23.Nd6+ Kd7 24.Bd3.

20...Nfg8?

Black fails to get back in the game.
If 20...Neg8! then:

21.Bg5 Qe7 22.dxe6 Qxe6+ 23.Be2 Bxc4 24.Nf4 presents White some problems.
21.Be5 Ng4 22.Nf4 exd5 23.f3 Nxe5 24.Qxe5+ gives White a less lethal advantage over Black.

BLACK: Nikita Vitiugov

WHITE: Yu YangyiPosition after 20...Nf6g8

21.Ng5!

White has no problems.

21...exd5 22.Rxh7 Bxc4

If 22...Qxa4 then White wins after 23.Nxf7 dxc4 24.Nd6+ Kd8 25.Nxc4 Bxc4 26.Qd4+.

23.Nxf7 Qe6+ 24.Be5 Nf6

Black shortens his agony.
A more stubborn defense is 24...Bxf1 25.Kxf1 Qg6 26.Nd6+ Kd7 27.Rf7.

25.Nd6+

Even more crushing is 25.Ng5 Qc6 26.Bxf6, winning a piece.

25...Kd7 26.Bxc4 Nxh7 27.Bb5+ Nc6

If 27...Kd8 then 28.Nb7+ Kc8 29.Qc3+ Nc6 30.Bxc6 leads to mate in a few moves.

28.Bxc6+ Kxc6 29.Qc2+ 1-0

White wins a piece.
Nikita Kirillovich resigns.

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #10)

Thu Aug 2, 2012, 10:22 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,709 posts)

22. Pogonina - Zhao Xue, Women's Group/Standard Time Control, Round 3

Zhao Xue lost her round 2 game to former world women's champion Alexandra Kosteniuk (see below), then won her next three games in a row.

Zhao Xue
Photo by Leigh Atkins in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zhao_Xue Wikipedia (Public Domain)

Natalia Pogonina - Zhao Xue
Team Match, Standard Time Control/Women's Group, Round 3
St Petersburg, 4 July 2012

Grand Spanish Royal Game: Kasparov Opening

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.d3 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.a4 Bd7

8...Bb7 9.Nc3 b4 10.Ne2 Na5 11.Ba2 0-0 12.Re1 c5 is a position arising in Kissinger-Andresen, Corres, 1998 in the notes to White's eighth move in Hou Yifan-A. Muzychuk, Grand Prix 1112W, Rostov-on-Don, 2011.

9.Bd2 b4 10.a5 (N)

If 10.c3 then:

10...0-0 11.h3 Rb8 12.Bc4 Qc8 13.Re1 Be6 14.Bxe6 Qxe6 gives Black a small advantage in space (Anand-Leko, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2008).
If 10...Rb8 11.Re1 0-0 12.h3 then:

12...Qc8 13.a5 bxc3 14.bxc3 Be6 15.Bxe6 Qxe6 is equal (Kobalia-Harikrishna, Euro Club Cup, Kallithea, Greece, 2008).
12...bxc3 13.Bxc3 Nb4 14.d4 exd4 15.Nxd4 c5 is equal (Kobalia-Inatkiev, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2008).

10...0-0

The game is equal.

11.Be3 Kh8!?

The King gets out of the Bishop's line of fire.
11...Ng4 12.Bc1 Be6 13.Bxe6 fxe6 14.h3 Nf6 remains equal. Black has a solid center and an open f-file for taking on the burden of doubled e-pawns.

12.h3!

White has a small advantage in space.

12...Be8!?

This is a bid timid. Better is to challenge the Bishop on b3/
12...Be6 13.Nbd2 Qc8 14.Qb1 h6 15.Nc4 continues to give White a small advantage in space.

13.Nbd2!

White has a fair advantage in space.

13...h6 14.Nc4 Nh7

Black moves her Knight offside apparently with the idea of focusing on g4. On the downside, this move takes the attack off of e4.
14...Qc8 15.Re1 Qb7 16.Bd2 Bd7 17.Ne3 Be6 18.Nf5 continues to give White a fair advantage in space.

BLACK: Zhao Xue

WHITE: Natalia PogoninaPosition after 14...Nf6h7

15.d4!

Nature abhors a vaccuum and the pawn rushes up to the center. The e-pawn is momentarily hanging.

15...f5!

Black continues her plan of regrouping on the kingside by bringing the pawn up to pressue e4.
If 15...exd4 16.Nxd4 Nxd4 17.Qxd4 then:

17...Bf6 18.e5 dxe5 19.Qxd8 Rxd8 20.Bc5 Rg8 21.Rfe1 leaves White threatening two different pawns.
If 17...Ng5 18.Rfd1 then:

18...Ne6 19.Qd3 Bc6 20.Ba4 Qe8 21.Bxc6 Qxc6 22.Qd5 continues to give White a fair advantage.
18...Bf6?! 19.e5! dxe5 20.Qxd8 Bxd8 21.Nxe5 Bf6 22.Nd3 leaves Black with a loose pawn at b4 that may be more costly to save than to just let go.

16.exf5!?

White blinks and takes with the hanging e-pawn.
Better is 16.dxe5 fxe4 17.Nd4 Nxd4 18.Qxd4 d5 19.Nd2 Bf7 leaving White with a better center and a slight advantage in space.

16...e4!

Black has established herself in the center.

17.Nh2 d5 18.Ne5 Rxf5 19.Qg4?!

White should cover her centralized Knight.
If 19.Nhg4! Qd6 20.f4 Nf8 then:

21.Nxc6 Qxc6 22.Ne5 Qb7 23.Qg4 Rf6 24.f5 gives White a significant advantage in space and more freedom.
If 21.Bc1!? Bh5 then:

If 22.Qd2 then White wins a pawn after 22...Ng6 23.Nxc6 Qxc6 24.Ne5 Nxe5 25.dxe5.
If 22.c4?! dxc4 23.Bc2 then:

23...Rd8! 24.Bxe4 Bxg4 25.hxg4 Nxe5 26.Bxf5 leaves White with only a small advantage in space.
If 23...Qd5? then after 24.Nxc6! Qxc6 25.Qe1 Bxg4 26.Bxe4 White wins the exchange

19...Rf6?!

Black miss a chance to level the game.
If 19...Qc8! 20.Qd1 Qe6 21.f3 Nxe5 22.dxe5 Qxe5 23.Ng4 is equal.

20.f4?!

The game is equal. Black has a passed pawn.
20.Rfd1! h5 21.Qe2 Rf5 22.f4 Nxe5 23.dxe5 also gives White a fair advantage.

20...Rb8?!

Black takes protection off the a-pawn, which is easily attacked.
20...Rf8! 21.Qd1 Qd6 22.Neg4 Nf6 23.Ne5 is equal.

21.Qd1!?

White doesn't attack the a-pawn, giving her time to regroup into a more defensive position.
If 21.Qe2! h5 22.Rfd1 Ra8 23.Nf1 h4 24.Ba4 gives White more freedom and a fair advantage in space.

21...Rf8 22.Nhg4 Qd6 23.Kh1?!

This move is passive.
More active is 23.Ba4 Nxe5 24.Nxe5 Kg8 25.Bxe8 Rbxe8 26.Qe2 gives White a comfortable game with a beautifull, centralized Knight on a splendid outpost and a small advantage in space; Black has a passed pawn that White currently blockades.

BLACK: Zhao Xue

WHITE: Natalia PogoninaPosition after 23.Kg1h1

23...Nf6!

The game is equal.

24.Nxf6 Bxf6 25.g4

If 25.Ba4! Ne7 26.Bxe8 Rbxe8 27.Qg4 Kg8 28.Bd2 Rb8 remains equal.
If 26...Nf5?! then after 27.Qe1! Rbxe8 28.Ng6+ White wins the exchange.

25...Bh4 26.Kg2 Rd8!?

The Rook is more useful where he is than at d8.
If 26...Kh7 27.Qc1 Rb7 28.Ba4 Ne7 29.Bxe8 Rxe8 remains equal.

27.Qd2!?

The game remains equal.
27.Qe2 Ra8 28.Ba4 Kg8 29.c4 bxc3 30.bxc3 gives White a small advantage.

27...Qe7 28.Nxc6!?

The centralized Knight is keeping Black's centralized heavy pieces from coming to life. Even if taken by Black's Knight, it would be replaced by a pawn leaving the center locked.
If 28.c4 then:

If 28...dxc4 29.Bxc4 Nxe5 30.fxe5 then:

30...Rf3 31.Rxf3 exf3+ 32.Kxf3 c5 remains equal.
30...Rxf1 31.Rxf1 c5 32.b3 cxd4 33.Bxd4 Bc6 34.Kg1 remains equal.

If 28...bxc3!? then:

If 29.Qxc3! Nb4 30.Ba4 c6 then:

31.Bd1 Rb8 32.Be2 Bf6 33.Rfc1 Qc7 34.Ra3 gives White a small advantage in space.
31.f5!? Bf6 32.Rad1 Kh7 33.Bd2 Rb8 34.Bf4 Rc8 is equal.

29.bxc3?! Nxe5! 30.dxe5 Bb5 31.Rfb1 c5 32.Rb2 Bd3 gives White a substantial advantage in space.

BLACK: Zhao Xue

WHITE: Natalia PogoninaPosition after 28.Ne5c6:N

28...Bxc6!

Black strengthens her center. She has a small advantage in space.

29.Ba4

29.f5 Bb5 30.Rg1 c6 31.Ba4 Rc8 32.Kh1 Bg5 continuues to give Black a small advantage.

29...Bxa4 30.Rxa4 Rb8 31.Qe2 Qe6 32.Raa1 Bf6 33.f5 Qc6 34.h4?!

White inexplicably drops a pawn and puts herself in a deep hole.
If 34.Qd2 Kg8 then:

35.Rfc1 Qb5 36.Bf4 Rf7 37.c3 Re7 38.Kg3 Ree8 gives Black a protected passed pawn and a small advantage in space.
If 35.Rfd1!? Rf7 then:

36.Rf1 Qb5 37.Kg3 c6 38.Rfe1 Re8 39.c3 Bd8 gives Black a passed pawn and more space.
36.Bf4?! Qb5 37.Qf2 Kh7 38.Qd2 Rc8 39.Be3 c5 gives Black a substantial advantage in space.

BLACK: Zhao Xue

WHITE: Natalia PogoninaPosition after 34.h3h4

34...Bxh4!

Black has a passed pawn and a fair advantage in space.

35.Rh1 Qf6 36.Bf4 Bg5 37.Be5?!

This just "forces" the Black Queen to move to a better square.
37.Bxc7 Rbc8 38.Bb6 Rc4 39.Bc5 Rc8 continues to give Black a passed pawn and a comfortable advantage in space.

37...Qc6 38.Rh5 Kg8 39.Rah1

If 39.Rh3 then after 39...Rb5 40.Rb3 Rfb8 41.Kh3 Bf6 42.Qd2 Rf8 Black wins.

BLACK: Zhao Xue

WHITE: Natalia PogoninaPosition after 39.Ra1h1

39...Rbe8?!

This inaccuracy may owe something to time trouble. Black wins by attacking the hanging a-pawn.
If 39...Qb5! then after 40.Qf1 Qxf1+ 41.Rxf1 Rb5 42.Rh3 Rxa5 Black wins with two extra pawns.

40.Rxg5!

The exchange sacrifice keeps White in the game.

40...hxg5 41.Kg3 Rf6 42.Qd2 e3

Even stronger is 42...b3 then:

If 43.cxb3 Qb5 44.Bxf6 then:

44...gxf6 45.Qe3 Rb8 46.Kg2 Qxa5 47.Qh3 Qd2+ leaves in position to make the passer an effective winning tool.
44...Qxb3+?! 45.Qc3! Qxc3+ 46.bxc3 gxf6 47.Kf2 Rb8 gives White excellent chances to salvage a half point.

43.c3 Qc4 44.Kf2 Qd3 45.Qxg5 Rxe5 46.dxe5 Qf3+ drives White's King back and readies the passed pawn for advance.

43.Qxe3 Qxc2 44.Rh2

White must play carefully as she can still stumble into a lost position very easily.
If 44.Qf3? c6!! then:

If 45.Bxf6 then Black wins after 45...gxf6 46.Rh2 Qc4 47.Rd2 Re4.
If 45.Qf2 then Black wins after 45...Qd3+ 46.Qf3 Qd2 47.Qf2 Qxf2+ 48.Kxf2 Rh6.

44...Qd1 45.Rd2?

Black will still have chances if she chooses to level the material balance.
If 45.Qxg5 Qg1+ then:

46.Kf3 Qf1+ 47.Kg3 Qd3+ 48.Kf2 Ree6 49.Qe3 Qb1 leaves Black with an extra pawn.
If 46.Rg2? Qe1+! 47.Rf2 then:

47...Rf7! 48.Qd2 Qxd2 49.Rxd2 c5 gives White an extra pawn and a moble majority.
47...Rxe5? 48.dxe5! Qxe5+ 49.Qf4 Qe7 50.Qd4 c6 leaves White with only a small advantage.

45...Qf1!

Black is winning again.

46.Qf3

No better is 46.Qf2 Qh1 47.Re2 Rc6 48.Qf3 Qxf3+ 49.Kxf3 Rc4.

46...Qg1+ 47.Rg2

If 47.Qg2 then Black wins after 47...Qe3+ 48.Qf3 Qxd2.

47...Qe1+ 48.Rf2

48.Kh2 loses immediately to 48...Rh6+.

BLACK: Zhao Xue

WHITE: Natalia PogoninaPosition after 48.Rg2f2

48...Rxe5!!

Black gives back the exchange in order to mobilize her pawns.

49.dxe5 Qxe5+ 50.Kg2 Rh6 51.Kg1

51.Kf1 Qd4 52.Qe2 Kf8 53.Ke1 c5 still gives Black two extra pawns and her pieces are becoming more active by the move.

51...Rh4 52.Kf1 Kh7 53.f6 gxf6 54.Qxf6

This is pure desperation, but there's nothing better.
White goes quietly after 54.Qf5+ Qxf5 55.Rxf5 Rxg4.

BLACK: Zhao Xue

WHITE: Natalia PogoninaPosition after 54.Qf3f6:p

54...Rh1+!

Black doesn't fall into the trap.
If 54...Qxf6?! 55.Rxf6 Rxg4 56.Rxa6 Rc4 still givs Black two extra pawns, but her position isn't as overwhelming as it was a second ago.

55.Kg2 Rh2+ 56.Kf1 Rxf2+ 57.Qxf2 Qf4 0-1

Natalia Andreevna resigns.

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #10)

Fri Aug 3, 2012, 12:07 AM

Jack Rabbit (40,709 posts)

23. Ding Yixin - Baira Kovanova, Women's Group/Standard Time Control, Round 1

There is no photo of Ding Yixin available with an internet-friendly copyright
Photo by Jon Sullivan from public-domain-photos.com (Public Domain)

Ding Yixin - Baira Kovanova
Team Match, Standard Time Control/Women's Group, Round 1
St. Petersburg, 2 July 2012

Italian Royal Game: Gothic Defense (Prussian Opening) (Two Knights' Defense)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Na5 6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc6 bxc6 8.Bd3?!

This move is unusual and, quite frankly, not a good one. White has no need to block the advance of the d-pawn here.
The usual move is 8.Be2. See Grigorian-Iordacescu, Op, Dubai, 2012.

8...Bd6

If 8...Nd5 9.Nf3 Bd6 10.0-0 then:

If 10...0-0 11.Re1 then:

11...Re8 12.Nc3 f5 then:

If 13.Nxd5 13...cxd5 14.Bb5 Bd7 15.Bxd7 Qxd7 then:

16.d3 Nc6 17.c4 Kh8 18.cxd5 Nb4 19.a3 gives White an extra pawn (Brandenburg-Lommers, Op, Dieren, 2011).
16.d4 e4 17.Ne5 Bxe5 18.dxe5 Rxe5 19.Bf4 Re6 gives Black a small advantage in space (Brandenburg-Nijboer, Dutch Ch, Boxtel, 2011).

If 13.Bf1 e4 14.Nd4 Nf6 then:

15.g3!? Bc5 16.Nb3 Nxb3 17.axb3 Ng4 gives Black a small advantage (Gopal-Thipsay, Inaian Ch, New Delhi, 2010).
15.h3 Bc7 16.Nde2 Qd6 17.g3 Ba6 18.d4 is equal.

If 11...Bg4 12.h3 then:

12...Bxf3 13.Qxf3 f5 14.Bxf5 Bc5 15.Rf1 Qe7 16.Nc3 gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Negi-J. Cori Tello, World Jr Ch, Chotowa, Poland, 2011).
12...Bh5 13.Bf5 Qf6 14.Bg4 Bxg4 15.hxg4 Qg6 16.Nh4 gives White a strong initiative (Navara-Beliavsky, Euro ChT, Novi Sad, 2009).

If 10...Nf4 11.Re1 Nxd3 12.cxd3 0-0 then:

If 13.Nxe5 Re8 14.d4 then:

14...f6 15.Nf3 Bg4 16.Rf1 Re4 17.h3 Bh5 is equal (McShane-Gupta, Op, Reykjavik, 2011).
14...c5 15.d3 cxd4 16.Nf3 Rxe1+ 17.Qxe1 Bf5 is equal (Negi-Sargissian, Politiken Cup, Helsignør, 2009).

13.Nc3 Re8 14.h3 c5 15.b3 Ba6 16.Ba3 Bxd3 gives Black a small advantage in space (Short-Kasparov, Blitz Match, Leuven, 2011).

If 8...h6 9.Ne4 Nd5 10.0-0 then:

If 10...g6 11.Re1 f5 12.Ng3 Bg7 then:

13.Bf1 0-0 14.c4 Nb6 15.b4 Naxc4 16.Qb3 Be6 gives Black a fair advantage in space (Shcherbakov-Khismatullin, Moscow Op, 2010).
13.c4 Nf4 14.Bf1 0-0 15.d4 Qc7 16.dxe5 Bxe5 17.Nc3 gives White an extra pawn (Blaskowski-Michalczak, Bundesliga West, 0001, Germany, 2000).

If 10...Be7 11.Ng3 then:

11...g6 12.Re1 Qc7 13.b3 0-0 14.Bb2 Bd6 15.c4 gives White more freedom and the initiative (Stellwagen-de Jong, Dutch Ch, Hilversum, 2008).
11...0-0 12.Bf5 c5 13.Nc3 Nf4 14.d3 Nc6 15.Bxc8 gives Black a comfortable advantage in space (S. Nilsson-Kazdagli, Euro Club Cup, Rogaska Slatina, 2011).

9.Nc3 0-0 10.b3 (N)

If 10.0-0 Rb8 then:

11.Re1 Qc7 12.a3 h6 13.Nge4 Nxe4 14.Nxe4 gives White two extra pawns and stronger pawns (Pötsch-Robert, Op, Cappelle-la-Grande, 2011).
If 11.a3 Bc7 then:

12.h3?! Nb3 13.Rb1 Nc5 14.Bc4 h6 (Godena-Todorovic, Wuro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).
12.Nf3 h6 13.Re1 Re8 14.b4 Nb3 15.Rb1 gives White a slight advantage in space.

10...Bg4?!

The attack on the Queen is easily rebuffed.
10...h6 11.Nge4 Nxe4 12.Nxe4 Bc7 13.0-0 f5 14.Nc3 is equal (Fritz).

11.f3!

White has a comfortable advantage in space.
11.Be2 Bxe2 12.Qxe2 e4 13.0-0 Re8 14.d3 gives Black a fair advantage in space.

11...Bh5 12.Bb2 Nd5?

Black is not so short of space that this exchange is necessary. Overprotecting the e-pawn is better.
If 12...Re8 then:

If 13.Nge4 Nxe4 14.Nxe4 then:

14...Bf8 15.Ng3 Bg6 16.Bxg6 hxg6 17.Qe2 Nb7 18.0-0-0 gives White an extra pawn and stronger pawns.
14...f5 15.Nxd6 Qxd6 16.0-0 e4 17.Be2 Qc5+ 18.Kh1 gives White an extra pawn and stronger pawns.

13.0-0!? Bc5+! 14.Kh1 Bd4 15.Qe1 Nb7 16.g4 gives White a fair advantage in space.

BLACK: Baira Kovanova

WHITE: Ding YixinPosition after 12...Nf6d5

13.Bxh7+! Kh8 14.h4 f5

If 14...Qe7 15.Be4 Nf4 16.g3 Ne6 17.g4 Nd4 then White wins after 18.Ne2 Bg6 19.Nxd4 exd4 20.Bxd4 Bxe4 21.Nxe4.
If 17...Bg6 then White wins after 18.Bxg6 fxg6 19.Nxe6 Qxe6 20.Qe2 Be7 21.0-0-0.

15.Nxd5 cxd5 16.Qe2 Rc8

If 16...Qc7? then Black is toast after 17.g4 Qxc2 18.Bc3 Nc6 19.0-0.

17.Ne6?

White moves the Knight from a strong outpost where it covered the Bishop.
If 17.0-0-0 Qc7 then:

18.c3 e4 19.g4 exf3 20.Qxf3 Bxg4 21.Qxd5 gives White two extra pawns and more freedom.
If 18.d3 Nc6 19.c4 Nd4 then:

If 20.Bxd4 exd4 21.g4 fxg4 22.fxg4 then:

22...Rce8 23.Qg2 Bf7 24.Qc2 a5 25.Rdf1 dxc4 26.dxc4 leaves White with two extra pawns.
If 22...Rfe8 then White wins after 23.Qg2 Bf7 24.Qc2 Re3 25.Kb1 Rf8 26.Rhf1.

20.Qe1?! Qb6! 21.Bxd4 exd4 22.Qe2 Bf4+ 23.Kb1 leaves White with a comfortable game, but Black now has practical chances to hold.

BLACK: Baira Kovanova

WHITE: Ding YixinPosition after 17.Ng5e6

17...Qd7!

The game is equal; Black now can do something more than just wait for the coup de gras. Black must lose the exchange, but has good prospect of picking up the Bishop at h7.

18.Nxf8 Rxf8 19.Bc3

19.Bxf5 Qxf5 20.Qa6 Bxf3 21.gxf3 Qxf3 22.Rf1 Qg3+ is equal.

19...Nc6

Black conserves matter. The game is equal.
19...Kxh7?! 20.Bxa5 Re8 21.0-0-0 e4 22.Qf2 d4 23.c3 gives White two extra pawns, but Black has a moble pawn center and more space.

20.Bxf5!

The Bishop had become a desperado, making this sacrifice absolutely necessary.

20...Qxf5?!

If Black recaptures with the Rook, White's reply would not be as effective.
20...Rxf5! 21.g4 e4 22.gxh5 exf3 23.Qf2 d4 24.Bb2 remains equal.

21.g4!

The pawn fork assures White of recovering the Bishop sacrificed on the previous move.

21...Qxc2?

The pawn is unimportant and the Queen is now badly placed.
21...Bxg4! (this Bishop has also become a desperado and should sell himself as dearly as possible) 22.fxg4 Qxc2 (this works better with the f-file open to the Rook) 23.Rf1 Rxf1+ 24.Kxf1 d4 25.Rd1 gives White a narrow edge.

BLACK: Baira Kovanova

WHITE: Ding YixinPosition after 21...Qf5c2:p

22.gxh5!

Of course. White has two extra pawns and Black's pawn center is less imposing than when it was a phalanx of three pawns.

22...d4 23.Qe4!

White finds the only move to maintain her advantage.
If 23.Qd1? Qf5! 24.Qe2 dxc3 25.dxc3 Bb4 26.0-0-0 Bxc3 gives Black more active pieces. White is in serious trouble.

23...Qxe4+ 24.fxe4 dxc3 25.dxc3

White has a Rook and three pawns for two minor pieces.

25...Rf4

No better is 25...Be7 26.0-0-0 Rf2 27.Rd2 Rf4 28.Rd7.

26.0-0-0 Ba3+

If 26...Bf8 27.Rhf1 then:

27...Be7 28.b4 Rxe4 29.Rd7 Rxh4 30.b5 Bg5+ 31.Kd1 gives White an extra pawn, a passed pawn and a Rook on the seventh; Black's only trump is her own passer.
If 27...Ba3+? 28.Kb1 then:

28...Rxe4 29.Rd7! Re3 30.Kc2 Re2+ 31.Kd3 Rh2 32.b4 leaves White with a Rook marauding the seventh rank.
If 28...Rxh4 then White wins after 29.Rf7 Be7 30.Rd7 Rxh5 31.b4.

27.Kc2 a5 28.Kd3 Be7 29.Kc4

White has a quicker win after 29.Rdf1 when:

29...Rg4 30.Rhg1 Rxh4 31.Rh1 Rg4 32.Rfg1 Rf4 33.Rg6 gives White a strong initiative.
If 29...Rxf1 then White wins after 30.Rxf1 Bxh4 31.Kc4 Kh7 32.Kd5.

29...Nd8 30.Kb5 Rxe4

BLACK: Baira Kovanova

WHITE: Ding YixinPosition after 30...Rf4e4:p

31.Kxa5

White's three connected passers will triumph.

31...Re2 32.a4 Nb7+ 33.Kb5 Nc5 34.Rhe1 Rxe1 35.Rxe1 Nxb3 36.a5 1-0

Black must lose a piece to stop the pawn.
Baira Sergeyevna resigns.

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #10)

Fri Aug 3, 2012, 12:09 AM

Jack Rabbit (40,709 posts)

24. Zhao Xue - Kosteniuk, Women's Group/Standard Time Control, Round 2

Alexandra Kosteniuk
Photo by Stefan64 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64) in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Alexandra_Kosteniuk)
(, Attribution/Share Alike)

Zhao,Xue - Alexandra Kosteniuk
Team Match, Standard Time Control/Women's Group, Round 2
St Petersburg, 3 July 2012

English Game: Agincourt Defense

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5

This is the Agincourt Defense. As we've pointed out many times in the past, it is not terribly theoretical.

4.Bg2 dxc4 5.Qa4+ c6

For 5...Nbd7 6.Qxc4 c5 see the notes to White's fifth move in Tomashevsky-Sjugirov , Russian Ch HL, Ulan-Ude, 2009.

6.Qxc4 b5 7.Qc2 Bb7 8.0-0

If 8.d4 Nbd7 then:

If 9.0-0 c5 then:

If 10.a4 then:

If 10...b4 11.Bg5 Rc8 then:

If 12.Nbd2 Be7 13.Qd3 0-0 14.Rfc1 then:

14...h6 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.e3 Rc7 17.Qe2 Qc8 gives Black a fair advantage in space (Bruzón-Anand, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2005).
14...cxd4 15.Qxd4 Qa5 16.Nb3 Rxc1+ 17.Bxc1 Qa6 gives Black a slight initiative on White's e-pawn (Vallejo Pons-Jaracz, Bundesligh 0910, Heidelberg, 2009).

12.Bxf6 Nxf6 13.Nbd2 Be7 14.Rfd1 0-0 15.Qd3 Qc7 gives Black a slight advantage concentrated on the queenside (Grigoryan-Moiseenko, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).

If 10...a6 then:

If 11.axb5 axb5 12.Rxa8 Qxa8 then:

If 13.dxc5 Bxc5 then:

14.Na3 b4 15.Nc4 0-0 16.Ne1 Bxg2 17.Nxg2 Rc8 gives Black a small advantage in space (Ivanov-Szabo, IT, Pecs, 1968).
14.Nc3 b4 15.Na4 Be4 16.Qd1 Be7 17.Bg5 0-0 gives Black a better center and more freedom (Adrian-Marciano, L'Etang Sale, France, 2000).

13.Na3 b4 14.Nc4 Be4 15.Qd1 cxd4 16.Bf4 Qa6 is equal (Koster-Smeets, Op, Hengelo, 2005).

If 11.Bg5 Rc8 12.axb5 axb5 then:

13.Bxf6 Nxf6 14.Qb3 b4 15.Nbd2 Be7 16.Ra7 Bd5 is equal (Kunte-Lahno, Op 0304, Hastings, 2004).
If 13.Qb3 Qb6 14.Na3 then:

If 14...Bc6?! 15.Bxf6 Nxf6 16.Ne5 Bxg2 17.Kxg2 then:

17...Rb8? 18.Qxb5+ Qxb5 19.Nxb5 Rxb5 20.Ra8+ White soon wins (Rhode-Benen, Foxwoods Op, Mashantucket, Connecticut, 2003).
17...cxd4 18.Qxb5+ Qxb5 19.Nxb5 Bc5 20.Rfc1 is good enough to keep Black in the game.

14...cxd4 15.Qxb5 Bxf3 16.Qxb6 Nxb6 17.Bxf3 gives White more freedom; Black has more space.

If 10.Nc3 then:

If 10...a6 11.Bg5 Rc8 12.dxc5 Bxc5 then:

13.a3 h6 14.Bd2 0-0 15.Rfd1 Qe7 16.Ne1 Nb6 gives Black a comfortable advantage in space (Keene-Donner, TM, London, 1971).
13.Rad1 Qb6 14.Qb1 h6 15.Bxf6 Nxf6 16.Nd2 Bxg2 gives Black a fair advantage in space (C. Hansen-Godena, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).

If 10...b4 11.Na4 Rc8 then:

If 12.dxc5 Nxc5 13.Ne5 Bxg2 14.Kxg2 Ncd7 15.Nc4 then:

If 15...Ne5 16.Rd1 Qc7 17.b3 then:

If 17...Nxc4 18.bxc4 Be7 19.Be3 0-0 20.Rac1 h6 gives Black a small advantage in space (Fenollar Jorda-Kulaots, Op, Gibraltar, 2012).
17...Qc6+ 18.f3 Nxc4 19.Qxc4 Qxc4 20.bxc4 Rxc4 is equal (Murdzia-Bartel, Czech ChT, 2010).

15...Qc7?! 16.b3! Ne5 17.Nab2 Be7 18.Bf4 Qb7+ 19.f3 is equal.

If 12.Qd1 c4 then:

13.Bg5?! Qa5! 14.Bxf6 Nxf6 15.b3 c3 16.Ne5 Bxg2 gives White two extra pawns and a small advantage in space (Ghaem Maghami-Zhou Weiqi, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2009).
13.a3 bxa3 14.Bd2 axb2 15.Ra2 Nb6 16.Rxb2 Bxf3 is equal.

If 9.Ne5 then:

If 9...Qb6 10.Nxd7 Nxd7 11.Be3 then:

If 11...c5 12.Bxb7 Qxb7 13.0-0 then:

If 13...Rc8 14.Rc1 then:

If 14...c4?! 15.a4! (White has a small advantage in space) 15...a6?! 16.axb5! (White has a comfortable advantage in space) then:

If 16...axb5 17.Nc3 then:

If 17...Bb4?! 18.d5!! then:

18...Bxc3? 19.Ra7! Qxd5 20.Rd1 Qf5 21.Qxc3 Ne5 22.Qa3 Nc6 23.Ra8 e5 24.Qc5 Black resigns (Yakovich-Brodsky, Op, Noyabrsk, 2003).
18...Nc5 19.dxe6 Nxe6 20.Qf5 0-0 21.Qxb5 Qb8 22.Qxb8 leaves White with his Rooks on open files.

17...b4 18.Qe4 Qxe4 19.Nxe4 continues to give White a comfortable advantage.

15...b4 16.Nd2 c3 17.bxc3 Rxc3 18.Qb2 Rxc1+ 19.Rxc1 continues to give White a small advantage.

14...Be7 15.dxc5 Nxc5 16.b4 Bf6 17.Nc3 Na4 18.Qe4 remains equal.

13...cxd4!? 14.Bxd4 Rc8 15.Nc3 e5 16.Be3 Bb4 17.Qe4 is equal (Filippov-Tregubov, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2004).

11...Bb4+ 12.Nd2 c5 13.Bxb7 Qxb7 14.0-0 cxd4 15.Bxd4 gives White a slight edge (Ivanchuk-Adams, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2008).

If 9...Nxe5 10.dxe5 then:

If 10...Nd5 11.0-0 Be7 then:

12.Nc3 0-0 13.Nxd5 cxd5 14.Be3 Rc8 15.Qd3 Qa5 is equal (Pertlova-Guichard, Euro ChT, Novi Sad, 2007).

10...Nd7 11.0-0 Be7 12.Rd1 Qb6 13.Bf4 c5 14.Bxb7 gives White a small advantage in space (Anand-Grigoryan, Rpd KO, Corsica, 2011).

8...Be7 9.Nc3

If 9.d4 Nbd7 10.Rd1 Rc8 then:

11.Ne5 Qb6 12.Nxd7 Nxd7 13.e4 0-0 14.Be3 c5 is equal (Bich Ngoc Pham-Pokorna, OlW, Torino, 2006).
11.Qb3 0-0 12.Nc3 b4 13.Na4 Qa5 14.a3 c5 is equal (Rysbayeva-Warakomska, World Jr Ch Girls, Chotowa, Poland, 2010).

9...0-0 10.d4 Nbd7 (N)

If 10...Qb6 then:

11.Bg5 Nbd7 12.e4 h6 13.Bxf6 Nxf6 14.Rfd1 Rfd8 is equal (Lukov-Rhode, Op, Hyeres, France, 2001).
11.e4 c5 12.e5 Nd5 13.Bg5 Nb4 14.Qb1 gives White a fair advantage with a better center and more space (Prudnikova-Mendoza, OlW, Palma de Mallorca, 2004).

11.Ne5

White has a slight advantage in space.
11.Bg5 h6 12.Bxf6 Nxf6 13.Rfd1 Qb6 14.a4 gives White a small advantage.

11...Nxe5 12.dxe5 Nd5 13.Rd1

White continues to enjoy a a slight edge in space.
13.Nxd5!? cxd5! 14.Be3 Rc8 15.Qb3 Qa5 is equal.

13...Qb6?!

Black weakens her center.
If 13...Qb8! then:

14.Nxd5 cxd5 15.e4 Rc8 16.Qe2 dxe4 17.Bxe4 gives White a slight advantage.
14.e4 Nxc3 15.Rd7 Bb4 16.bxc3 Qc8 is equal.

BLACK: Alexandra Kosteniuk

WHITE: Zhao XuePosition after 13...Qd8b6

14.Ne4!

White has a fair advantage in space.

14...c5 15.Bg5 Nb4 16.Qc1!?

Overprotecting the Bishop at g5 doesn't add a lot of flexibility to White's game.
Better is to cover the pawn at e5, which is hanging: 16.Qc3 Bxg5 17.Rd6 Qc7 18.Nxg5 h6 19.Bxb7 continues to give White a fair advantage in space.

16...Bxg5!

White has a small advantage in space; Black has the initiative.

17.Qxg5

17.Nxg5!? Bxg2! 18.Qb1 g6 19.Kxg2 Rad8 20.Qe4 h6 gives White a slim advantage in space.

17...Bxe4 18.Bxe4 Rad8

White continue to have a small advantage.
18...h6?! 19.Qe3 Rad8 20.Rac1 Nxa2 21.Rxd8 Rxd8 gives White a fair advantage in space.

19.a3!?

White drives away the Knight, but it only goes to a better square.
If 19.Rxd8 then:

19...Qxd8 20.Qe3! Qc7 21.Rc1 c4 22.a3 gives White a fair advantage in space.
19...Rxd8 20.Qe7 Nd5 21.Bxd5 exd5 22.a4 bxa4 23.Rxa4 gives White a fair advantage in space.

19...Nd5!

The Knight plugs a gap in Black's center.

20.Rd2!?

The Rook blocks the Queen's retreat.
If 20.a4 h6 21.Qc1 a6 22.e3 Rfe8 23.Qc2 c4 remains equal.

20...h6!

Black takes the advantage in space by forcing the Queen onto a bad square.

21.Qh4

The Queen is poorly placed here, but nothing else will do.
If 21.Qg4? then Black wins after 21...Ne3!! when:

22.Qf4 Rxd2 23.Qxe3 Rxb2 gives BLack two extra pawns and the exchange.
22.fxe3 loses to 22...Rxd2 23.Rb1 c4.

BLACK: Alexandra Kosteniuk

WHITE: Zhao XuePosition after 21.Qg5h4

21...Qc7 22.a4?!

In order to maintain what she has, White should open a new gap in the center.
If 22.Bxd5 then:

22...Qxe5! 23.Qe7 Rxd5 24.Rad1 Rxd2 25.Rxd2 Qg5 continues to give Black a small advantage in space.
22...exd5!? 23.Rc1! c4 24.Qd4 Rfe8 25.f4 is equal.

22...Qxe5!

Black takes a comfortable advantage in space.

23.Bf3?!

This adds no pressure to d4.
If 23.Rad1 b4 24.Bc2 Qc7 then:

25.Qc4 Rd7 26.e4 Nb6 27.Rxd7 Nxd7 28.f4 Nb6 continues to give Black an extra pawn against White's extra space.
25.b3 Rc8 26.Qe4 g6 27.Qh4 Kg7 28.Qc4 Qe5 gives Black domination in the center.

23...b4!?

Better is to embarrass the hanging Rook at d2.
23...Nf6! (cutting the diagonal controlled by the White Queen and putting the Queen in a bad position.) 24.Rad1 Rxd2 25.Rxd2 a6 26.Kg2 c4 gives Black a splendid game.

24.Rc1!

White must stop Black from making a steamroller out of his queenside pawns.
If 24.Rad1?! then Black brings the pawns forward: 24...c4! 25.Rd4 c3 26.bxc3 bxc3.

24...Nf6!

This retreat still opens an attack on a hanging Rook and protects the c-pawn.

25.Rdc2?!

White has time to confront the Rook on the d-file.
25.Rcd1 Rxd2 26.Rxd2 Rc8 27.Qc4 Qc7 28.Bg2 Rd8 continues to give Black an extra pawn against White's small advantage in space.

25...b3! 26.Rc3 Rd4 27.Qh3?

The Queen deploys to a post where it has no purpose.
If 27.Rxc5 Qd6 28.e4 then:

28...Rxa4 29.e5 Qxc5 30.Rxc5 Rxh4 31.gxh4 Nd7 Black has the initiative which will be used to activate her Rook, but White has chances for counterplay and it is doubtful that Black can hold the pawn at b3.
28...e5?! 29.Rc6! Qd8 30.R1c3 Rd2 31.Rxb3 Qd4 gives Black only a fair advantage in space.

BLACK: Alexandra Kosteniuk

WHITE: Zhao XuePosition after 27.Qh4h3

27...c4!

Black makes White an offer she cannot accept.

28.Qf1

28.Rxc4 doesn't win a pawn because of 28...Rxc4 29.Rxc4 Qxb2.

28...Rd2 29.Rxc4 Qxb2

Also good is 29...Rfd8 30.Kg2 Qxb2 31.Rb1 Qa3 32.Rc3 Rb8.

30.Kg2

White misses a line of greater resistance.
More stubborn is 30.Rb1! Qa3 31.Qe1 Rfd8 32.Rc3 Rb2 33.Qc1 Rdd2.

30...Qa3 31.R1c3

No better is 31.Qe1 Rfd8 32.Rc8 Qa2 33.Bb7 Rxc8 34.Rxc8+ Kh7.

31...Nd5 32.Bxd5

If 32.Qc1 then:

32...Qxc1! 33.Rxc1 Rb8 34.Kf1 Nb4 35.Be4 f5 36.Bb1 b2 gives Black an extra pawn that in knocking at the palace gate and pressure on the back rank.
It's a little more difficult after 32...Qa2!? 33.Bxd5 when:

33...Rxe2!! 34.Qf4 exd5 35.Rc8 Ree8 appears to still leave Black with enought to win.
33...Rxd5?! 34.Rb4! a5 35.Rbxb3 Qxe2 36.Re3 Qa6 leaves Black with the advantage, but she'll have to win all over again.

32...exd5 33.Rc8

No better is 33.Rg4 d4 34.Rc4 b2 35.Rgxd4 Rb8!! 36.Rxd2 b1Q when Black is a Queen to the good.

33...Qxa4 34.Qc1

Normally, White would resign about now, but in a team match circumstances on other boards may determine whether one plays on for some time even in a hopeless position.
If 34.Rxf8+ Kxf8 35.Qc1 Rc2! then:

36.Rc8+ Ke7 37.Qe3+ Qe4+ leaves Black with an easy win.
Less melodramatic is 36.Rxc2 bxc2 37.e3 Qe4+.

BLACK: Alexandra Kosteniuk

WHITE: Zhao XuePosition after 34.Qf1c1

34...Rxe2

Black has three extra pawns.

35.Rf3

If 35.Rxf8+ then Black wins after 35...Kxf8 36.Rc8+ Re8 37.Qc5+ Kg8 38.Qc3 Qe4+.

35...Rc2

If 35...b2 then Black wins after 36.Rxf8+ Kxf8 37.Qc7 Qe8 38.Qb7 Kg8.

36.Rxc2 bxc2 37.Rc3 Qe4+ 38.Kg1

38.Kh3 Qf5+ 39.g4 Qxf2 40.Qxc2 Qxc2 41.Rxc2 a5 gives Black three extra pawns in a Rook ending.

38...d4

Black wins quicker after 38...Rb8 39.Rxc2 a5 40.Qd1 a4 41.Rc3 Rb1.

39.Rxc2 d3 40.Rc7

If 40.Ra2 then after 40...Rd8 41.Qb1 a5 42.Qc1 a4 43.Rd2 Qb4 Black wins easily.

40...Rd8 41.Qd2

If 41.Qb1 Qd4 then:

42.Rc1 d2 43.Rd1 Re8 44.Kf1 Qd5 45.Kg1 Re2 leaves Black threatening mate in two.
If 42.Qd1 then Black wins after 42...d2 43.Rc2 Qa4.

BLACK: Alexandra Kosteniuk

WHITE: Zhao XuePosition after 41.Qc1d2

41...Qe2!

It will cost White a piece to stop the pawn.

42.Qf4 Qa2 43.Qh4

If 43.Rc1 then Black wins after 43...d2 44.Rd1 Qc2 45.Qg4 a5.

43...Qd5 44.Rc5 d2 0-1

The pawn must queen.
Zhao Nushi resigns.

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #1)

Thu Aug 2, 2012, 07:16 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,709 posts)

12. World Rapid & Blitz Championships, Astana, Kazakhstan

Bayterek, a Monument in Astana Commemorating Turkic Peoplesrepresenting the World Tree in Turkic MythologyPhoto by Amanante in Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bayterek1.jpg)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #12)

Thu Aug 2, 2012, 07:18 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,709 posts)

13. Karjakin - Grischuk, Rapid Championship, Round 4

Sergey Karjakin
Photo by Stefan64 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64) from Wikipedia
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Sergey Karjakin - Alexander Grischuk
World Rapid Championship, Round 4
Astana, 6 June 2012

Closed Caro-Kann Game: Short Opening

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 Ne7 6.0-0 h6 7.Nbd2 Nd7 8.Nb3 Bg6

Most common is See Ganguly-Antonio, Asian Ch, Subic Bay, 2009.

9.a4 (N)

9.c3 Nf5 then:

10.a4 Be7 11.g4 Nh4 12.Nxh4 Bxh4 13.f4 f5 is equal (Pogonina-Ushenina, Rpd ChW, Batumi, 2012).
10.g4!? Nh4! (Black has a small advantage in space) 11.Nxh4 Qxh4! 12.f4 then:

If 12...Be7!? 13.Bd2 Be4 then:

14.Bf3!? f5 15.gxf5 Bxf5! 16.Be1 Qh3 gives Black a small advantage in space (Svidler-Bologan, Euro ChT, Porto Carras, Greece, 2011).
14.Qe1 Qh3 15.Qg3 Qxg3+ 16.hxg3 Nb6 17.Na5 0-0-0 remains equal.

12...h5 13.g5 Be7 14.Qe1 Qxe1 15.Rxe1 0-0-0 continues to give Black a small advantage in space.

9...Nf5!

White has a small advantage in space.

10.a5 Rc8 11.c4

If 11.Bd3 Be7 12.g4 Nh4 then:

13.Nxh4 Bxd3 14.Qxd3 Bxh4 15.f4 continues to give White a slight advantage in space.
13.Bxg6!? Nxg6! 14.Qe2 h5 15.g5 gives Black a slight advantage in space.

11...Be7

The game is equal.

BLACK: Alexander Grischuk

WHITE: Sergey KarjakinPosition after 11...Bffe8

12.cxd5

If 12.c5! 0-0 13.Bd3 then:

If 13...Nb8 14.Qe2 Na6 15.Bd2 then:

15...Nc7 16.g4 Nh4 17.Nxh4 Bxd3 18.Qxd3 Bxh4 19.f4 gives White a narrow advantage at best.
15...Qd7 (16.g4 Nh4 17.Nxh4 Bxd3 18.Qxd3 Bxh4 19.Kg2 remains equal.

13...b6 14.cxb6 axb6 15.a6 c5 16.g4 Nxd4 17.Nbxd4 remains equal.

12...cxd5 13.Bd3 0-0 14.g4

14.Qe2 Nb8 15.g4 Nh4 16.Nxh4 Bxd3 17.Qxd3 Bxh4 remains equal.

14...Nh4 15.Nxh4 Bxd3 16.Qxd3 Bxh4 17.Bd2

17.Be3 f6 18.exf6 Nxf6 19.f3 Nd7 20.Rac1 Rxc1 21.Bxc1 remains equal.

17...f5 18.h3

18.exf6 Rxf6 19.f4 Qe7 20.Rac1 Rff8 21.Qe2 Qf7 remains equal.

18...Qe7

BLACK: Alexander Grischuk

WHITE: Sergey KarjakinPosition after 18...Qd8e7

19.f4

White is slowly building up on the kingside. He has advanced his pawns as far as he can for the moment and will commence to maneuver his pieces behind them. The, at the opportune moment, he will open a file for his Rooks.

19...a6 20.Kh2 Qf7 21.Rf3 Rc4

The game is still equal.

22.Rg1 Rfc8 23.Bc3 Kh8!?

Black should strengthen his defenses in the face of White's buildup.
23...g6 24.gxf5 exf5 25.Nd2 R4c6 26.Nf1 Kh7 27.Ne3 remains equal.

24.Nd2!

White has the initiative and a fair advantage in space.

24...R4c6 25.Nf1?!

The Knight doesn't help White's kingside buildup, and it is difficult to find a move that does. Therefore, White might consider opening the g-file.
If 25.gxf5 exf5 26.Nf1 Qh5 27.Ng3 Bxg3+ 28.Rfxg3 continues to give White a fair advantage in space.

BLACK: Alexander Grischuk

WHITE: Sergey KarjakinPosition after 25.Nd2f1

25...g6!

Black makes his kingside more solid in order to slow down or thwart White's initiative.

26.Ne3 Nf8?!

The has no role in supporting the kingside. Even worse, at this post his blocks the Rook from entering the kingside defense.
If 26...Rg8! 27.Be1 then:

27...Bxe1 28.Rxe1 Rcc8 29.Ref1 Nb8 30.Ra1 equalizes.
27...Bd8 28.gxf5 gxf5 29.Rxg8+ Kxg8 30.Rf2 levels the game.

27.Ng2!

White takes the opportunity to disrupt Black's active defense.

27...Be7 28.Rg3

If 28.gxf5 gxf5 29.Rg3 Ng6 30.h4 then:

30...Rg8 31.h5 Nf8 32.Rxg8+ Kxg8 33.Nh4+ continues to give White a fair advantage in space.
If 30...Kh7 31.h5 Nh8 32.Ne1 then:

32...Qxh5+ 33.Rh3 Qf7 34.Nf3 Ng6 35.Ng5+ Bxg5 36.fxg5 continues to give White a fair advantage in space.
32...Bh4?! 33.Rg6 Bxe1 34.Bxe1 Rc2+ 35.Kh3 Rxb2 36.Bh4 threatens 37.Bf6! amd 38.Rg7.

28...b5

The text is a little bit better than 28...Rd8 29.gxf5 exf5 30.Ne3 b5 31.axb6 Rxb6 32.Qb1 when Black's kingside initiative has completely dissapated.

29.axb6 Rxb6 30.gxf5 exf5 31.Ne3 Rb5?

This Rook is busy covering the a-pawn; to cover the d-pawn, Black should use the other Rook.
If 31...Rd8 then:

32.Qb1 Rd7 33.Kh1 Bh4 34.R3g2 Qe6 35.Qc2 gives White some latent threats on the kingside and in the center, but hardly a decisive advnatage.
32.R3g2 Rdb8 33.Ra1 Qe6 34.Qc2 Rb5 35.Qf2 gives White a passed pawn, a solid center and a small edge in space.

BLACK: Alexander Grischuk

WHITE: Sergey KarjakinPosition after 31...Rb6b5

32.Nxf5!!

White sacrifices a piece to break through on the kingside.

32...gxf5

This loses immediately, but there is no satisfactory defense.
If 32...Rc7 then White wins after 33.Ne3 Qxf4 34.Rf1 Qh4 35.Rf7 Kg8.
If 32...Qxf5 then 33.Qxf5 gxf5 34.Rg8+ Kh7 35.R1g7#.

33.Qxf5!! 1-0

White proffers his Queen and wins right away.
33...Qe6 34.Rg8+ Qxg8 35.Rxg8+ Kxg8 36.Qxc8 leaves Black defenseless.
If 33...Qxf5 then 34.Rg8+ Kh7 35.R1g7#.
Alexander Igorovich resigns.

BLACK: Alexander Grischuk

WHITE: Sergey KarjakinFinal Position after 33.Qd3f5:N

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #12)

Thu Aug 2, 2012, 07:21 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,709 posts)

14. Mamedyarov - Grischuk, Blitz Championship, Round 25

Alexander Grischuk
Photo by Stefan64 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64) in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Alexander_Grischuk)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov - Alexander Grischuk
World Blitz Championship, Round 25
Astana, 10 July 2012

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

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.g3 c5 5.d5 d6 6.Bg2 0-0 7.Nf3 e6 8.0-0 exd5 9.cxd5 Re8 10.Nd2 a6 11.a4 Nbd7 12.h3 Rb8 13.Nc4 Ne5 14.Na3 Nh5 15.e4 Bd7

For moves and variation up to here, see the blue notes to White's seventh move in Meier-Gashimov, Euro ChT, Novi Sad, 2009.

16.Qe2 (N)

If 16.a5 then:

If 16...Qxa5 17.g4 Nf6 then:

If 18.g5 Nh5! 19.f4 Nc4 20.Nxc4 Qxa1 then:

21.Nxd6 Bxc3 22.bxc3 Qxc3 23.Nxe8 Rxe8 24.Rf3 Qd4+ gives Black an extra pawn (Avrukh-Kamsky, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2007).
21.Qc2?! Bxc3 22.bxc3 Qa4 23.Qxa4 Bxa4 gives Black an extra pawn.

If 18.f4 Nexg4 19.hxg4 Nxg4 then:

If 20.f5 h5 then:

21.Bg5 Qb4 22.f6 Bh8 23.Qd2 Qd4+ 24.Qxd4 cxd4 is equal (Sasikiran-Anand, Rpd KO, Corsica, 2011).
21.Qf3 Qd8 22.Nc2 Qh4 23.Bf4 Be5 24.Qh3 is equal (Harikrishna-al Modiaki, Asian Games, Guangzhou, 2010).

If 20.Bf3 h5 then:

21.Bxg4 Bxg4 22.Qd3 b5 23.Nc2 Qd8 24.Rxa6 c4 is equal (Clavijo-Delchev, Ol, Istanbul, 2002).
21.Nc2 Qd8 22.Kg2 b5 23.Ne3 b4 24.Na4 Qh4 gives Black a strong advantage (Vasilevich-Peng, Euro ChW, Plovdov, 2008).

If 16...b5 17.axb6 Bb5 then:

If 18.Naxb5 axb5 19.Nxb5 Qxb6 20.Na3 Qb3 then:

If 21.Qxb3 Rxb3 22.Rd1 then:

22...Reb8 23.Kf1 f5 24.exf5 gxf5 25.Ra2 Rf8 26.Kg1 is equal (Sasikiran-M. Arnold, Rpd KO, Corsica, 2011).
22...Nf6 23.Bd2 Nfd7 24.Bc3 Nb6 25.Rac1 Ned7 is equal (Malikentzos-G. Grigorov, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2012).

If 21.Kh2 Qxd1 22.Rxd1 Rb3 then:

23.g4 Nf6 24.Kg1 Nfd7 25.f4 Nf3+ 26.Kf2 gives White an extra pawn against Black's extra space (Grischuk-Vocoturo, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).
23.Be3 Rxb2 24.Rdb1 Reb8 25.Rxb2 Rxb2 26.Rb1 Rxb1 draw (Smeets-Anisimov, Euro Ch, Aix-les-Bains, 2010).

If 18.Ncxb5 axb5 then:

19.g4 Nf6 20.Nxb5 Qxb6 21.Na3 gives White a small advantage in space ().

19.Nxb5 transposes into Aronian-Grischuk.

16...f5

Black has a fair advantage greater piece activity.

17.Kh2?!

This doesn't do anything to help White
If 17.Be3! fxe4 18.Nxe4 then:

If 18...Bxa4 19.Bg5 Qd7 then:

If 20.Qd2 Nf7 then:

If 21.g4 h6 22.Bh4 g5 23.Bg3 Nf6 then:

24.Rae1 Bb5 25.Nxb5 Nxe4 26.Bxe4 Qxb5 27.Bg6 Qxb2 leaves Black with remote connected passed pawns.
24.Nxf6+?! Bxf6 25.f4 b5! 26.Rab1 Re3! 27.Qxe3 Bd4 gives Black a material advantage.

21.Bh4 h6 22.g4 g5 23.Bg3 Nxg3 24.fxg3 Ne5 gives Black an extra pawn.

If 20.g4 Nf7 21.Qd2 h6 22.Bh4 then:

22...Rxe4 23.Bxe4 g5 24.Bg3 Nxg3 25.fxg3 Qe7 26.Rae1 gives White a small advantage in space.
If 22...g5 23.Bg3 Nf6 then:

24.Nxf6+ Bxf6 25.f4 Bd4+ 26.Kh2 gives Black a fair advantage in space.
If 24.Rae1 then:

24...b5 25.Nxf6+ Bxf6 26.Re6 Kg7 27.Rxf6 Kxf6 28.f4 Kg7 gives Black an extra pawn, stronger pawns, command of an open file and a small advantage in space; White has a safer King.
If 24...Nxe4?! 25.Bxe4! Qc7 26.Bf5 then:

26...Rxe1 27.Rxe1 Ne5 28.Kg2 Rf8 29.Bxe5 Bxe5 30.Nc4 is equal.
26...Bd4 27.Be6 b5 28.b4 Kg7 29.bxc5 Qxc5 30.Rc1 is equal.

18...Qc7?! 19.Ng5! Nf6 20.Rfc1 Bf5 21.g4 h6 gives Black a slight tactical edge.

17.exf5 Bxf5 then:

If 18.Qd1 Nf6 then:

19.Bf4 Nd3 20.Qd2 Nxf4 21.Qxf4 Nd7 gives White a pair oif active Bishops; White's Queen will become trapped if it takes on d6.
If 19.g4 Bd7 then:

20.Re1 b5 21.axb5 axb5 then:

22.Nc2 b4 23.Ne2 b3 24.Ne3 c4 25.Nd4 Qc8 gives Black a clear advantage, but Black is far from out of countermeasures.
If 22.f4? Nexg4 23.Naxb5 Qb6 then:

24.Re6? Bxe6 25.dxe6 Nh6 26.Qxd6 Rxe6 leaves Black the exchange to the good and White with little better to do than exchange queens.
If 24.hxg4 Nxg4 25.Rxe8+ Rxe8 then:

26.Qf3 h5 27.Bd2 Bxb5 28.Nxb5 c4+ 29.Kh1 Qxb5 fives Black at least two extra pawns.
26.Qf1 loses to 26...c4+ 27.Kh1 Qd8 28.Bd2 Qh4+.

If 20.Bg5? then Black wins after 20...Nf7! 21.Be3 b5 22.axb5 axb5 23.Ne2 h5 when he has the deadly threat of ...Ne4!.

If 18.Rd1 Nd3 19.Qf1 Bd4 then:

If 20.Rxd3 then Black wins after 20...Bxd3 21.Qxd3 Re1+ 22.Kh2 Bxf2.
If 20.Kh2? then Black wins after 20...Qf6! 21.Nc2 Bxc3 22.bxc3 Qxc3 23.Rd2 c4.

17.Re1 Nf6 18.Bg5 Nf7 19.Bxf6 Qxf6 20.a5 fxe4 gives Black an extra pawn, stronger pawns and more a small advantage in space.

BLACK: Alexander Grischuk

WHITE: Shakhriyar MamedyarovPosition after 17.Kg1h2

17...fxe4!

18.Nxe4 Bxa4 19.Bg5

If 19.f4?! Nf7! 20.f5 Bd7 then:

21.fxg6 hxg6 22.Rxf7 Kxf7 continues to give Black an extra pawn.
If 21.g4? gxf5! then:

22.gxh5 fxe4 23.Nc4 Ne5 24.h6 Bb5 gives Black two extra pawns and the pin at c4.
If 22.gxf5 then Black wins after 22...Nf6 23.Qc2 Nxe4 24.Bxe4 Be5+.

19...Qd7 20.Qd2 Nf7 21.Be3?!

This puts White in a deep pit.
If 21.Bh4 (keeping watch on the h4/d8 diagonal) 21...Bb3 then:

22.g4 Bxd5 23.Qxd5 Nf4 24.Qc4 Nxg2 25.Kxg2 Qc6 gives Black two pawns for a piece, a pin at d4 and a threat to b2. The Knight at d4 is attacked twice and defended only once. In spite of White hold a small advantage in both material and space, Black has a much better game overall.
22.Rfe1 Qa4 23.Re3 Bd4 24.Re2 Qb4 25.Qxb4 cxb4 gives Black more activity and space.

21...Nf6!

The Knight is attacked a second time. It is only defended once. It must either move or be protected again.

22.Nc3?

White vacates the center and allows Black to move in.
22.Nxf6+ (the only move that doesn't lose outright) 22...Bxf6 23.Nc4 Bb5 24.Rfc1 Ne5 25.Nxe5 Bxe5 gives Black a very impressive advantage in space.
If 22.f3? b5! then:

23.Nxf6+ Bxf6 24.Rfe1 Bb3 25.Rac1 Re7 26.Bf2 Rbe8 wins material.
If 23.Rf2 then Black wins after 23...Nxe4 24.fxe4 Ne5 25.Qe2 Rf8 26.Rxf8+ Rxf8.

If 22.Qd3? then Black wins after 22...Nxe4! 23.Bxe4 Bxb2 24.Ra2 Bxa3 25.Rb1 Bb5.

BLACK: Alexander Grischuk

WHITE: Shakhriyar MamedyarovPosition after 22.Ne4c3

22...Bb3!

Now the threat of ...b7b5 prevents White from getting any counterplay going.
If 22...Ne5?! 23.Bg5! Bb3 24.f4 Nc4 25.Nxc4 Bxc4 gives White time to find an active defense.

23.Ne2

If 23.Nc2 then Black wins after 23...Ne5 24.Bg5 Nc4 25.Qf4 Nh5 26.Qc1 Ne5.
If 23.Rfe1 then Black wins after 23...b5 24.Ne2 Qb7 25.Nf4 a5 26.Rac1 Ne5.

23...Ne5 24.Nf4 b5 25.Ne6

It is not possible for White to deal with all the threats.
If 25.Kg1 then Black wins after 25...b4 26.Nc2 Qf5 27.Ne1 Nc4 28.Qe2 Ne4
If 25.g4 Qf7 26.Kg1 b4 27.Nc2 a5 then:

28.Ne6 Bxd5 29.Bxd5 Nxd5 30.Qxd5 Qxe6 31.Qxe6+ Rxe6 continues to give Black two extra pawns.
If 28.Ne1 Nc4 29.Qe2 Ne4 30.Bxe4 Rxe4 then:

31.Ne6 Bxb2 32.Rb1 Qb7 33.Ng5 Ree8 34.Ng2 a4 gives Black three connected passers.
If 31.Qd3 Bxb2 then:

If 32.Rb1 then Rxf4 33.Bxf4 Qxf4 34.Ng2 Qe5 35.Qxb3 Nd2 wins the house.
If 32.Qxe4 Bxa1 33.Nf3 Bf6 34.g5 Bc3.

25...Bxd5 26.Nxg7

BLACK: Alexander Grischuk

WHITE: Shakhriyar MamedyarovPosition after 26.Ne6g7:B

26...Bxg2!!

There's that lazy fly ball to deep center with one out and with the bases loaded in the last of the tenth inning of the seventh game of the World Series. There is nothing the outfielder can do but catch it and call it a season.

27.Nxe8

White takes the Rook and lets his opponent win in style.
Black still wins after 27.Kxg2 Kxg7 28.f3 Re6 29.b3 Qb7.

27...Qxh3+ 0-1

Black gives mate on the next move.
Mamedyarov resigns.

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #1)

Thu Aug 2, 2012, 07:56 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,709 posts)

15. Sixth International Open, Leiden

LeidenPhoto by Michiel Verbeek (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Michielverbeek) in Wikipedia
(Creative Commons License Attribution/Share Alike)

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #15)

Thu Aug 2, 2012, 07:58 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,709 posts)

16. Howell - Negi, Round 8

David Howell
Photo by Stefan64 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64) in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Categoryavid_Howell)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

David Howell - Parimarjan Negi
Sixth International Open, Round 8
Leiden, 14 July 2012

Grand Spanish Royal Game: Derl Opening

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.d3

For notes on this opening, see the green notes to White's fifth move in van den Doel-Nikolic, Op, Leiden, 2011.

7...Bd6

This variation is quite unusual as it constitutes the loss of a tempo. More common is 7...Nbd7, transposing into the game Kurajica-Gligoric, which is cited in the above link.

8.Nbd2 Be6 9.b3 c5 (N)

9...Nd7 10.Bb2 c5 11.g3 0-0 12.Nh4 Re8 13.Nf5 Bxf5 14.exf5 Qg5 gives Black a fair advantage in space (Kamsky-Aronian, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2006).

10.a4

The game is equal.

10...0-0 11.a5 Nd7 12.Nc4 f6 13.Kh1!?

BLACK: Parimarjan Negi

WHITE: David HowellPosition after 13.Kg1h1

White embarks on a time consuming maeuver to push his f-pawn.
Better is 13.Nh4 Nb8 14.Nf5 Nc6 15.Be3 with equality.

13...Nb8

The closed character of the position gives Black time to redeploy his Knight on c6.

14.Ng1 Nc6 15.Ne2 Qd7 16.Be3 Rad8 17.Qd2 Kh8

If 17...Nd4 18.f3 then:

18...Rf7 19.Kg1 Rc8 20.Rab1 Nc6 21.f4 exf4 22.Nxf4 remains equal.
If 18...Rfe8 19.Kg1 then:

19...Bf7 20.Ng3 Bf8 21.f4 exf4 22.Bxf4 remains equal.
19...Qb5 20.Nxd6 Rxd6 21.f4 exf4 22.Bxf4 remains equal.

18.f3 Be7 19.Rf2

If 19.f4 Bf7 20.fxe5 fxe5 then:

21.Ng3 Bd6 22.Nf5 Be6 23.Bg5 Rde8 remains equal.
21.Rab1!? Kg8 22.Ng1 Bxc4 23.Rxf8+ Rxf8 24.bxc4 remains equal.

19...Bg8 20.Raf1 Nd4 21.Nc3

21.f4 exf4 22.Nxf4 Bf7 23.Kg1 Kg8 24.Re1 Nc6 remains equal.

21...Qc6 22.f4 exf4 23.Bxf4 b5!?

As an inaccuracy, this move isn't serious. As a calculated risk, it's a good one.
23...Be6 24.Kg1 Kg8 25.e5 f5 26.Ne2 h6 27.Be3 remains equal.

24.axb6!

Black's queenside becomes too strong after 24.Ne3!? Bd6! 25.Ne2 Be6 26.Nxd4 cxd4 27.Nf5 remains equal.

24...cxb6 25.Ne3

White has a slight advantage in space.

25...f5?!

The pawn sacrifice looks dubious. How is Black to get enough compensation?
If 25...Bd6 26.Ncd5 Bxf4 27.Rxf4 Bxd5 28.Nxd5 continues to give White a slight advantage in space.

BLACK: Parimarjan Negi

WHITE: David HowellPosition after 25...f6f5

26.Nxf5!!

White turns it into a sham sacrifice of a Knight. When the dust settles, White will have an extra pawn and Black will have no compensation.

26...Nxf5 27.Bg5!

As it stnads, White has only a pawn for the Knight. This is the only move to get the advantage.

27...Bxg5 28.Qxg5 h6

28...Qg6 29.Qxg6 hxg6 30.exf5 Rxf5 31.Rxf5 gxf5 32.Rxf5 leaves White with an extra pawn.

29.Qd2 Ng3+

29...Qf6 30.Rxf5 Qd6 31.Qe3 leaves White with an extra pawn.

30.hxg3 Rxf2 31.Rxf2

BLACK: Parimarjan Negi

WHITE: David HowellPosition after 31.Rf1f2:R

The dust is settled. White has an extra pawn.

31...b5 32.Qe3 a5 33.Rf5 c4?!

This weakens Black's kingside.
font color="red"]33...Rc8 34.Qc1 then:

34...Kh7 35.Qa1! Be6 36.Re5 a4 37.bxa4 bxa4 38.Kh2 still gives White an extra pawn; each side has a passer, with Black's being more advanced but under restraint.
34...a4 35.bxa4 bxa4 36.Qa3 continues to give White an extra pawn and more space; Black's a-pawn is more weak than dangerous.

34.Rc5

If 34.bxc4 bxc4 35.d4 Qb6 36.Rc5 a4 then:

37.Nb5 Ra8 38.Na3 Re8 39.Nxc4 Bxc4 40.Rxc4 is equal; White has two extra pawns, but they're pinned to the Queen.
If 37.Nxa4 Qb1+ 38.Kh2 then:

38...Qd1 39.Qf3 Qxd4 40.c3 Qd7 41.Nb2 Qe7 42.Qf5 is equal; White has an extra pawn, but it's not going anywhere.
38...Qxc2?! 39.Nc3! Rf8 40.Kg1 Ra8 41.d5 Ra1+ 42.Kh2 gives White two extra pawns; Black can find no effective counterplay against White's King.

34...Qf6?!

White attacks the Bishop, but, since the d-file is about to open, it would be better to take control of it.
If 34...Qd7 35.dxc4 bxc4 then:

36.Rxa5 cxb3 37.cxb3 Qd3 38.Qf3 Qc2 39.Ra2 Qxb3 is equal.
36.bxc4 Qd2 37.Qxd2 Rxd2 38.Rxa5 Bxc4 39.Rc5 Bf1 is equal.

BLACK: Parimarjan Negi

WHITE: David HowellPosition after 34...Qc6f6

35.dxc4!

White has two extra pawns, but more pawn weaknesses.

35...bxc4 36.bxc4 a4 37.Ra5 Qf1+

If 37...Bxc4 38.Rxa4 then:

38...Be6 39.Kg1 Rf8 40.Nd5 Qf1+ 41.Kh2 Rf2 42.Nf4 leaves White with two extra pawns but Black has dangerous threats in the vacinity of the White King. Both sides must proceed with caution.
38...Rc8 39.Ra5 Be6 40.e5 Qf8 41.Ne2 Rxc2 42.Nf4 gives White an extra pawn and a strong game.

38.Kh2 Rf8 39.Qd3?!

Even if Black were to reply by exhanging Queens, that would leave a pawn weakness d3 for Black to target.
39.Nd5 Qxc4 40.Nf4 Bf7 41.Qa3 Re8 42.Rxa4 continues to give White at least one extra pawn and an comfortable game overall.

39...Qe1!

Black compels White to abandon the watch on the a-pawn.

40.Rf5

As just noted, this is forced.
40.Rxa4?? Rf1! 41.Qxf1 (otherwise Black plays 41...Rh1#) 41...Qxf1 42.Nd5 Qe2 leaves White with only a Rook and three weak pawns for the Queen, not a good deal at all.

40...Rxf5 41.exf5 a3 42.c5 Qe5 43.c6 Qc5

BLACK: Parimarjan Negi

WHITE: David HowellPosition after 43...Qe5c5

44.c7!

White sacrifices the c-pawn for time to destroy Black's dangerous a-pawn.

44...Qxc7 45.Nb5 Qc6?!

Black's best chance at a win is his a-pawn, which is about to leave the board. He eschews an opportunity to force a draw.
If 45...Bc4 46.Qc3 then:

46...Qf7 47.Nxa3 Qh5+ 48.Kg1 Qd1+ 49.Kh2 Qh5+ etc. draws.
46...Qc8? 47.Nxa3! Ba6 48.Qxc8+ Bxc8 49.g4 g6 50.Nc4 leaves White with two extra pawns in a minor piece ending.

46.Nxa3!

White can stop worrying about Black's passed a-pawn and concetrate on his own c-pawn.

46...Bd5 47.Qe2 Be4 48.f6 gxf6 49.Qd2?!

White keeps the c-pawn covered and attack Black's pawn at h6.
Better is to manifest the passed pawn's lust to expand; 49.c4! f5 50.Nb5 Kg8 51.Nc3 h5 52.Qa2 allows White to make slow progress.

49...Kg7!

White has only a small advantage with his Knight poorly placed.

50.c3

White advances the c-pawn to a square where it cannot be attacked by the Bishop. The Knight is now free to move.

50...Qa4 51.Qb2!?

The Queen defends here, but once Black disengages, White will have to bring his Queen back into the game.
If 51.Qd6 h5 52.Qe7+ Kg6 53.Qe6 Qc6 54.Qxc6 Bxc6 55.Nc2 continues to give White a small advantage.

51...Bd3!?

Not for the first time in the game, Black eschews an elementary draw.
51...Qd1 52.Nb5 Qh5+ 53.Kg1 Qd1+ 54.Kh2 Qh5+ etc. draws by repetition.

52.Qb7+

White continues to enjoy a small advantage owing to the extra pawn.
52.Qb4?! Qxb4 53.cxb4 Kf7! (centralizing the King) 54.g4 Ke6 55.Kh3 is equal.

52...Kf8

52...Kg6 53.Qf3 Qe4 54.Qxe4+ Bxe4 55.Nc4 gives White the advantage with the extra pawn, and more importantly the passed pawn, but given the pawn skeleton of the game, the Bishop is probaly a better piece than the Knight.

53.Qd5 Qa6

53...Qe4 54.Qxe4 Bxe4 55.g4 Bd3 56.Kg3 still gives White a small advantage, mostly derived from the c-pawn.

54.Qc5+ Kg7 55.c4!?

The c-pawn is the key to the game.
55.Qe7+ (giving White more activity on the kingside) 55...Kg6 56.Qe8+ Kg7 57.Qd7+ Kg6 58.g4 continues to gives White a small advantage in space.

BLACK: Parimarjan Negi

WHITE: David HowellPosition after 55.c3c4

55...Qa8!

The game is equal.

56.Qe7+ Kg6 57.Kg1

57.Qc5 Kg7 58.Nb5 Bf1 59.Qf2 Bxc4 leaves little point to playing on further.

57...Qc6 58.Qb4 Be4 59.Qf8 h5

59...Qb6+ 60.c5 Qb4 61.Qe8+ Kg5 62.Qg8+ Kf5 63.Qc8+ remains equal and lifeless.

60.Qg8+ Kh6 61.Qf8+

61.Nb5 Bd3 62.Nd4 Qc5 63.Qh8+ Kg5 64.Qg7+ Bg6 gives White a small advantage, but nothing more.

61...Kg6 62.Qg8+

If 62.c5 Qe6 63.Nb5 Bc6 64.Na7 then:

64...Bxg2 65.Kxg2 Qe2+ 66.Kh3 Qf1+ 67.Kh2 etc. draws.
If 64...h4 65.Nxc6 then:

65...Qe1+ 66.Kh2 Qxg3+ 67.Kg1 Qe1+ etc. draws.
65...hxg3?? 66.Ne7+ Kg5 67.Qg8+ Qxg8 68.Nxg8 leaves Black unable to stop the c-pawn without allowing White to pass the g-pawn and win easily.

62...Kh6 63.Nb5

The Knight was on a3 for 17 moves. It is a testiment to Sri Negi's defense that Mr. Howell felt compelled to leave his Knight so poorly placed for so long.

63...Bxg2 64.Qf8+ Kh7

If 64...Kg6 65.Nd6 f5 66.Qf7+ Kh6 67.Nxf5+ Kg5 68.Nd4 Qb7 69.Ne6+ leaves The Black King in a mating attack.
65...Qd7 66.Qg8+ Qg7 67.Qe8+ Kg5 68.Kxg2 leaves Black up a piece.

65.Qf7+ Kh6

BLACK: Parimarjan Negi

WHITE: David HowellPosition after 65...Kh7h6

66.Qf8+

White misses a quick win.
66.Nd4 Qb7 67.Qxf6+ Kh7 68.Qg5 Bc6 69.Qxh5+ gives White two extra pawns.

66...Kh7 67.Qf7+

If 67.Nd4 Qb7 68.Qxf6 then:

68...Bh3 69.Nf3 Bg4 70.Ng5+ Kg8 71.Qg6+ Qg7 72.Qe8+
68...Bh1 69.Qf5+ Kh6 70.Qf1 Kg6 71.c5 Be4 72.Qf8

67...Kh8

If 67...Kh6 68.Nd4 then:

68...Qb7 69.Qxf6+ Kh7 70.Qg5 Be4 71.Qxh5+ Kg7 72.c5 White makes progress.
68...Qb6 simply drops the Bishop after 69.Qf8+ Kg6 70.Qe8+ Kh6 71.Qe3+ Kg6 72.Kxg2.

68.Nd4 Qe4

If 68...Qb7 69.Qxf6+ Kh7 70.Qg5 Bc6 71.Qxh5+ leaves Black two pawns up.

BLACK: Parimarjan Negi

WHITE: David HowellPosition after 68...Qc6e4

69.Qxf6+?!

White takes the wrong pawn.
69.Qxh5+! Kg8 70.Nf5 Qe6 71.Kxg2 leaves White a piece to the good in addition to the extra pawns. Exchanging Queens would give White an easy win.

69...Kg8!

Black gets a reprieve.
69...Kh7 then White wins after 70.Qf7+ Kh6 71.Nf5+ Kg5 72.Nd6 then:

72...Qe1+ 73.Kxg2 leaves White up by a piece and a passed pawn.
If 72...Qc6?? then 73.Qg7#.

70.Qg5+

If 70.Ne6 Qe1+ 71.Kxg2 Qe2+ then:

If 72.Qf2 Qxe6 then:

If 73.Qf4 Qc6+ 74.Kh2 then:

74...Qe6 75.c5 Kg7 76.Qd4+ Kf7 77.Qd1 Qf5 78.c6 makes stopping the c-pawn very difficult.
If 74...Qc5 then White wins after 75.Kh3 Qe7 76.Qf5 Qe8 77.c5 Kg7 78.Kh4.

If 73.c5 Qe4+ 74.Kg1 then:

If 74...Qe5 75.c6 Qc3 76.Qa2+ Kf8 77.Qg2 continues to give White an extra pawn.
If 74...Kg7 then White makes more progress wih the c-pawn after 75.Qd2 Qf3 76.Kh2 Kg6 77.Qc2+ Kf6 78.Qc4.

72.Kh3 Qg4+ 73.Kg2 Qe2+ invites repetition.

70...Kf8 71.Qf6+

71.Qd8+ Kf7 72.Qd7+ Kg8 73.Qc8+ Kf7 74.Qc7+ continues to make the c-pawn a big advantage for White, but it is not unstoppable.

71...Kg8 72.Ne6 Qe1+ 73.Kxg2 Qe2+ 74.Kh3

74.Qf2 Qxe6 75.c5 Qe4+ 76.Kg1 Qe5 77.c6 keeps the c-pawn moving forward, but it's still not unstoppable.

74...Qg4+

Any other move either loses the Queen orallows mate on g7.

75.Kg2 Qe2+ 76.Qf2 Qxe6

If 76...Qe4+ 77.Qf3 then:

If 77...Qg4 78.Qf8+ Kh7 then:

If 79.Qg7+!! then White wins after 79...Qxg7 80.Nxg7 Kxg7 81.c5 Kf7 82.Kh3.
If 79.Qe7+ then White wins after 79...Kg8 80.Qe8+ Kh7 81.Nf8+ Kh8 82.c5.

If 77...Qc2+ then White wins after 78.Kh3 Qg6 79.Kh4 Qxe6 80.Qd5 Kf7 81.Kxh5.

77.Qd4

If 77.c5 then:

77...Qe4+ 78.Kg1 Kg7 79.Qb2+ Kf7 80.Qc1 Qd4+ 81.Kh2 is not near enough for White to win.
If 77...Qd5+? then:

If 78.Kh2! Qe4 79.Qd2 Kh7 80.Qc3 then:

80...Qf5 81.Qc4 Qf2+ 82.Kh3 Qg1 83.Qe4+! prevents the threatened mate on h1 and allows White to make progress with the c-pawn or the capture the h-pawn in order to amke Black defend against two passers.
80...Qc6 81.Qd3+ Kg7 82.Qf5 Kg8 83.Qxh5 gives White a second passed pawn.

If 78.Kg1! Qe6 79.Qf4 Qd5 80.Qb8+ then:

If 80...Kf7 then White wins after 81.Qd6 Qxd6 82.cxd6 Ke6 83.Kh2 gives Black no time to save the h-pawn, giving White an elementary win.
If 80...Kg7 then White wins after 81.Qc7+ Kh8 82.c6 Qe4 83.Kf2! when both of White's pawns are covered and there is no repetition after 83...Qc2+ 84.Ke3 Qc5+ 85.Ke4 Qc4+ 86.Ke5 Qe2+ 87.Kf6 Qf3+ 88.Ke7 Qe4+ 89.Kd8.

77...Kh7

BLACK: Parimarjan Negi

WHITE: David HowellPosition after 77...Kg8h7

78.c5?

This should cost White a half point.
If 78.Kf3 Qf5+ 79.Ke2 then:

If 79...Qh3 then White wins after 80.Qe4+ Kg7 81.Qe5+ Kf7 82.c5 Qg2+ 83.Kd3.
If 79...Qe6+ then White wins after 80.Kd2 Qh6+ 81.Kc2 Kg8 82.Kb3 Kf8 83.Qd8+.

78...Qe2+!

Black should now draw the game.

79.Qf2

This is the only move that escapes pertetual check.

79...Qe4+

White wins after the exchange of Queens.

80.Kh2 Kg6 81.Qg2 Qe5?

This is a tragic error for Black.
If 81...Qd3! then:

82.Qa2 Qe4 83.Qg8+ Kh6 84.Qf8+ Kg6 85.Qd6+ Kg7 White can make no further progress without allowing Black to give perpetual check starting with ...Qc2+.
82.c6 Qc4 83.Qf3 Qa2+ 84.Kh3 Qe6+ 85.Kg2 Qa2+ etc. draws by repetition.

BLACK: Parimarjan Negi

WHITE: David HowellPosition after 81...Qe4e5

82.Qc2+!

White wins.

81...Kf6 83.Qc4 Qb2+

If 83...Ke7 then White wins after 84.c6 Qb2+ 85.Kh3 Qa1 86.Kh4 Qf6+ 87.Kxh5.

84.Kh3 Qb1

Black threatens mate on h1.

85.Qd4+ Kg5

If 85...Kg6 86.Kg2 Qc2+ 87.Kf3 Qf5+ 88.Ke2 Qe6+ then:

If 89.Kd2 Kf7 90.Qf4+ Kg6 then:

If 91.Kc3! Qe1+ 92.Kc4 then:

If 92...Qe2+ then White wins after 93.Kd5 Qb5 94.Qc7 Kg5 95.Qg7+ Kf5 96.Kd6.
If 92...Qe6+ then White wins after 93.Kd4 Qb3 94.c6 Qa4+ 95.Kd5 Qa8 96.Qe5.

If 91.Qd6? Qxd6+! 92.cxd6 Kf7 93.Ke3 then:

If 93...Ke6 94.Kf4 h4 then:

95.g4 Kxd6 96.g5 is a draw; White loses if he tries to get in front of his pawn, but by taking time to capture the Black pawn, he foregoes ever getting in front of his own pawn.
If 95.gxh4 Kxd6 then:

If 96.h5 then after 96...Ke6 the Black King has just enough time to stop the pawn.
96.Kg5 Ke7 97.h5 Kf8 98.h6 Kf7 99.h7 Kg7 the game ends in a draw.

If 93...Kf6?? then White wins after 94.Kf4 Ke6 95.Kg5!.

89.Qe3?! Qa2+! 90.Kf3 Qf7+ 91.Kg2 Qd5+ 92.Kh2 Qf5 still gives White a much better game, but the win is now in doubt; Black must not exchange Queens.

86.Qg7+ 1-0

If 86...Qg6, then White has an elementary win after the exchange of Queens. Black's only other legal move is 86...Kf5, after which White plays the skewer 87.Qh7+, winning Black's Queen.
Sri Negi resigns.

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #15)

Thu Aug 2, 2012, 08:00 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,709 posts)

17. B. Socko - Negi, Round 6

Parimarjan Negi
Photo by rorkhete from Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Bartosz Socko - Parimarjan Negi
Sixth International Open, Round 6
Leiden, 12 July 2012

West India Game: Indian Queen's Gambit (London Opening/Hungarian Variation) (Grünfeld Defense)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4@@BLACK

WHITEWest India Game: Indian Queen's Gambit (London Opening)Position after 4.Bc1f4

This we shall call the London Opening, although more formally it is called the Brinckmann Opening. Properly speaking, the London Opening is a branch of the Queen's Pawn Game, the characteristic move of which is Bc1f4: 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Bf4.

4...Bg7 5.Nf3@@BLACK

WHITEWest India Game: Indian Queen's Gambit (London Opening/Hungarian Variation)Position after 5.Ng1f3

There are two main branches of the London Opening. The text is the Hungarian Variation.
(Grünfeld Gambit) If 5.e3 c5 6.dxc5 Qa5 7.Rc1 then:

If 7...dxc4 8.Bxc4 0-0 9.Nf3 Qxc5 10.Bb3 Nc6 11.0-0 Qa5 12.h3 then:

If 12...Bf5 13.Qe2 Ne4 then:

If 14.Nxe4 Bxe4 then:

If 15.Rfd1 then:

If Qh5 then:

16.Bc2 Bxc2 17.Qxc2 Qb5 18.a4 Qb4 19.Ne1 e5 is equal (Aronian-Svidler, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2011).
16.Rd7 e6 17.Bc2 Bxf3 18.Qxf3 Qxf3 19.gxf3 is equal (Khenkin-Roiz, Ol, Dresden, 2008).
16.Rd2 Rac8 17.Rcd1 Bxf3 18.Qxf3 Qxf3 19.gxf3 Na5 is equal (Berkes-Tikkanen, Euro Club Cup, Rogaska Slatina, 2011).

If 15...Rad8 then:

If 16.Rxd8 Rxd8 then:

If 17.Bxf7+ Kxf7 18.Ng5+ Kg8 19.Nxe4 Qxa2 then:

If 20.Kh2 then:

20...Qd5 21.Nc5 b6 22.Na6 Ne5 23.Rc7 Rd7 gives Black an extra pawn, but White has better pawns and more space (Prakash-Sasikiran, Indian Ch, Mumbai, 2003).
20...a5 21.Qb5 Qd5 22.Qxb7 Qxe4 23.Rxc6 Bf6 24.f3 gives White an extra pawn (Drozdovskij-Grnadelius, Op, Copenhagen, 2009).

20.Nc5 Qxb2 21.Qc4+ Kh8 22.Nxb7 Qxb7 23.Qxc6 is equal.

If 17.Rd1 Rxd1+ 18.Qxd1 Bxf3 then:

19.Qxf3 Qd2 20.Qg4 Bf6 Black wins a pawn.
19.gxf3 Qd8 20.Qc2 Qd7 21.Kg2 a6 22.a4 Ne5 gives Black a small advantage in space.

16.Ng5 Bd5 17.Bc7 Qxc7 18.Rxd5 Rxd5 19.Bxd5 Qa5 gives Black the initiative and a slight edge in space.

15.Ng5 Bd5 16.Bxd5 Qxd5 17.b3 Rac8 18.Rfd1 Qa5 is equal (Orsag-Oral, Czech ChT, 2001).

If 14.Nd5 e5 then:

If 15.Bh2 Be6 16.Rfd1 then:

If 16...Rad8 17.Qc4 Nf6 18.e4 Nd7 then:

If 19.Qa4 Qxa4 20.Bxa4 Ndb8 then:

21.b4 21...a6 22.Bb3 Kh8 23.a4 f5 24.b5 axb5 25.axb5 Nd4 is equal (Danielian-Cmylte, Euro Club Cup W, Plovdiv, 2010).
21.a3 f6 22.b4 a6 23.b5 draw (Lukacs-W. Schmidt, Makarczyk Mem, Lodz, 1980).

If 19.Qe2 Ndb8 20.Bg3 Kh8 21.Bc4 Nd7 22.Bh4 gives White more active minor pieces and more space (Farago-W. Schmidt, IT, Helsinki, 1981).

If 16...Rfd8 17.Qc4 Nf6 18.e4 Rac8 then:

If 19.Ng5 Nd4 20.Ne7+ Kf8 21.Nxe6+ Kxe7 22.Nxd8 Rxc4 23.Bxc4 then:

23...Ne8 24.Nxf7 b5 25.Bd5 Ne2+ 26.Kh1 Nxc1 27.Rxc1 is equal (Kramnik-Kamsky, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2009).
23...Nxe4 24.Nxf7 Qb6 25.Nxe5 Bxe5 26.Bxe5 Nf3+ 27.gxf3 Qxf2+ 28.Kh1 Qxf3+ 29.Kh2 Qf2+ 30.Kh1 Qf3+ draws by repetition (Timman-Ivanchuk, Match, Hilversum, 1991).

19.Qc5 Qxc5 20.Rxc5 Nxe4 21.Rxc6 Rxc6 22.Ne7+ Kf8 23.Nxc6 Rxd1+ 24.Bxd1 bxc6 is equal and is shortly agreed drawn (Volzhin-Oral, Op, Koszalin, 1999).

If 15.Rxc6 bxc6 16.Ne7+ Kh8 17.Nxc6 then:

If 17...Qb6 18.Ncxe5 Be6 19.Bxe6 Qxe6 20.Qc2 then:

If 20...f5 21.Qa4 then:

21...a6 22.Rd1 Rad8 23.Rxd8 Rxd8 24.Nd4 Qe8 25.Qa5 is equal (S. Brunello-Svidler, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).
21...Qe8 22.Qa5 Rb8 23.Nc4 Rb7 24.Be5 Qd8 is equal (Iljushin-Sasikiran, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2005).
21...g5 22.Bh2 Qe8 23.Qa5 Rb8 24.Nc4 Rb5 is equal (Iljushin-Belov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2006).

If 20...Nf6 21.Qa4 Nd5 22.Bg3 then:

If 22...Nb6 23.Qa6 f6 then:

24.Nd4 Qc8 25.Qxc8 Raxc8 26.Nec6 Rf7 27.b4 f5 28.b5 Bxd4 29.Nxd4 draw (Koneru-Gupta, Indian Ch, Visakhapatnam, 2006).
24.Nd3 Qc4 25.Qxc4 Nxc4 26.Rc1 Rac8 27.Nd4 f5 is equal.

22...Bxe5 23.Bxe5+ Kg8 24.Rd1 Rfd8 25.e4 Ne7 26.Rc1 gives White a small advantage in space.

If 17...Qc5 18.Ncxe5 then:

18...Qe7 19.Rc1 g5 20.Rc7 Qxc7 21.Ng6+ fxg6 22.Bxc7 gives White an extra pawn and stronger pawn structure (Kharlov-San Segundo Carillo, Op, Melaga, 1999).
If 18...Kg8 19.g4 g5 20.Bh2 Be6 21.Bc2 then:

21...f5 22.Nd4 Bxe5 23.Nxe6 Bxh2+ 24.Kxh2 Qd6+ 25.Kg1 gives White an extra pawn
21...Bd5? 22.Nd7 Qa5 23.Nxf8 Rxf8 24.Rd1 gives White two extra pawns.

If 12...Qa6 then:

If 13.e4 Rd8 14.Qe1 Nb4 then:

If 15.Ng5 then:

15...e6 16.Rd1 Rxd1 17.Qxd1! leaves White with serious threats against Black's back rank (P. H. Nielsen-Volokitin, Euro Club Cup, Rogaska Slatina, 2011).
15...Nd3 16.Qd2 Be6 17.Nxe6 fxe6 18.Rcd1 Nc5 19.Qc2 leaves White with a small advantage in pawn structure.

15.Ne5 Be6 16.Na4 Bxb3 17.axb3 Nd3 18.Nxd3 Qxd3

(Kramnik-Ivanchuk, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2008).

If 13.Ne5 Nxe5 14.Bxe5 Be6 15.Bd4 then:

If 15...Rfd8 16.Bxe6 Qxe6 then:

17.Qf3 b6 18.b3 Ne8 19.Rfd1 Rac8 20.Bxg7 Kxg7 is equal and is shortly agreed drawn (H. Danielsen-Fernández García, Euro ChT, Debrecen, 1992).
17.Qa4 a6 18.Rfd1 Rac8 19.Qb4 b5 20.Qa5 Rd6 is equal (Neubauer-Borisek, Ol, Dresden, 2008).

If 15...Rfc8 16.Bxe6 Qxe6 then:

17.Qa4 a6 18.Qb4 b5 19.b3 Rc6 20.a4 bxa4 21.Nxa4 is equal (Thomassen-Borisek, Euro ChT, Novi Sad, 2009).
17.Qf3 Qc6 18.Qxc6 Rxc6 19.Nb5 Rxc1 20.Rxc1 a6 is equal (Levitt-Gulko, Op, St. John, New Brunswick, 1988).

If 7...Ne4 8.cxd5 Nxc3 9.Qd2 Qxa2 then:

If 10.bxc3 then:

If 10...Qa5 11.Bc4 Nd7 then:

If 12.Nf3 Nxc5 then:

If 13.Be5 Bxe5 14.Nxe5 f6 then:

If 15.Nf3 b5 16.Ba2 then:

16...Bf5 17.0-0 Rc8 18.d6 Ne4 19.Qd5 Nxd6 gives Black an extra pawn, remote connected passers and more space; White has a radiant Queen in the center (Pakarek-Stohl, Czechoslovakian Ch, Prague, 1986).
16...0-0 17.0-0 Bd7 18.Nd4 Rac8 19.f3 Kg7 20.Rc2 is equal (Salov-Milos, ITZ, Szirak, Hungary, 1987).

15.Nd3 Bf5 16.Nxc5 Qxc5 17.Ba2 b5 18.0-0 Bd7 19.e4 gives White a small advantage with a better center (Dautov-Krasenkow, TT, Novosibirsk. 1986).

If 13.0-0 0-0 14.Be5 then:

If 14...Bxe5 15.Nxe5 f6 then:

If 16.Ra1 Qb6 17.d6+ Kg7 18.dxe7 Re8 then:

19.Nf3 Rxe7 20.Rfb1 Qc7 21.Nd4 Ne4 is equal (Kramnik-Carlsen, Amber Rapid, Nice, 2009).
19.Qd4 Qc7 20.Nd3 Nxd3 21.Bxd3 b6 is equal (Chekhov-Huzman, Soviet Army Ch, Tashkent, 1987).

16.d6+ Kg7 17.dxe7 Re8 18.Qd5 Be6 19.Qd6 Ne4 is equal (M. Petersson-Thorsteins, Iceland, 1988).

If 14...f6? then White wins after 15.Ra1 Qd8 16.Bc7 Qd7 17.d6+ e6 18.Nd4.

If 12.Ne2 Nxc5 13.0-0 then:

13...e5 14.dxe6 Bxe6 15.Ra1 Qd8 (Gulko-Peshina, Soviet Ch ½-final, Barnaul, 1984).
13...b5?! 14.Ra1! Qb6 15.Rfb1 Bd7 16.Nd4 Ne4 17.Qd3 turns the Black Knight into a desperado.(Dorfman-Gulko, ZT, Lvov, 1978).
13...Qa4 14.Ba2 0-0 15.Ra1 Ne4 16.Qb2 Qa5 17.Rfc1 is equal (Fritz 13).

If 10...Qxd2+ 11.Kxd2 Nd7 12.Bb5 0-0 13.Bxd7 Bxd7 14.e4 f5 then:

15.e5 Rac8 16.c4 Rxc5 17.Be3 Rc7 18.Nf3 b6 19.c5 gives White a clear advantage in space (Seirawan-Adorjan, IT, New York, 1987).
15.c4 Rfc8 16.c6 bxc6 17.d6 g5 18.Bxg5 gives White more space and an acrive Bishop; each side has a passed pawn, but Whites's of of greater concern at the moment (Timman-P. Popovic, IT, Belgrade, 1989).

If 10.Rxc3 0-0 11.Bc4 Qa1+ 12.Rc1 Qxb2 then:

If 13.Nf3 Nd7 then:

14.Be2 Qa3 15.Nd4 Bxd4 16.exd4 Nf6 17.Bf3 gives White greater activity, the Bishop pair and more space (Gulko-Eckert, US Ch, St. Louis, 2009).
14.Ba2 Qa3 15.c6 bxc6 16.dxc6 Nc5 17.0-0 Nd3 is equal (B. Socko-Svidler, Masters, Gibraltar, 2009).

13.e4 a5 14.Ne2 a4 15.Rc2 Qa1+ 16.Rc1 Qb2 17.Rc2 gives White a small advantage (Seirawan-Nakamura, US Ch, Seattle, 2003).

5...0-0 6.Rc1

If 6.e3 c6 7.Rc1 then:

If 7...Bg4 8.Qb3 Bxf3 9.gxf3 Qd7 then:

If 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.Bb5 Nc6 then:

12.Na4 Qh3 13.Ke2 Nd8 14.Nc5 Ne6 15.Bg3 Ng5 is equal with the two side enjoying primacy on opposite ends of the board (Savon-Stein, Soviet Ch, Kiev, 1962).
12.0-0 Qf5 13.Ne2 e5 14.Bg3 e4 15.fxe4 Nxe4 16.Bd3 gives White a small advantage in space (Dr. Saidy-Martinovsky, Op, Lone Pine, 1972).

If 10.h4 e6 then:

11.Be5 Rd8 12.cxd5 exd5 13.Bd3 Qe7 14.Ne2 Nh5 15.f4 gives White a fair advantage in space; Black has healthier pawns (Lukacs-Kolbus, 1st Saturday April, Budapest, 1996).
11.Bd3 Nh5 12.Bh2 Qe7 13.cxd5 exd5 14.Kd2 gives White more space and the initiative; Black's pawns are better (Kakageldyev-Vaganian, Soviet Ch ½-final, Ashkhabad, 1978).

If 7...Be6 8.Ng5 Bf5 then:

If 9.Be2 h6 10.Nf3 Be6 then:

11.Nd2 Nbd7 12.0-0 dxc4 13.Nxc4 Nh5 14.Bxh5 Bxc4 is equal (Taimanov-Bannik, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1957).
11.b3 Nbd7 12.h3 Ne4 13.0-0 Nxc3 14.Rxc3 gives White a small advantage in space while Black has well-placed Bishops (Pinter-Tukmakov, Croatian ChT, Medulin, 1997).

If 9.Qb3 Qb6 then:

If 10.Qxb6 axb6 then:

If 11.cxd5 Nxd5 12.Nxd5 cxd5 13.a3 Nc6 14.Bb5 then:

14...Rfc8 15.0-0 Na5 16.Bc7 Nc4 17.Bxc4 dxc4 18.Bf4 b5 19.e4 draw (Portisch-Haag, Hungary, 1965).
14...Rac8 15.0-0 h6 16.Nf3 g5 17.Bg3 Be4 18.Nd2 gives White better pawns and the initiative (Treppner-Jansa, IT, Berlin, 1984).
14...e5! 15.Bxc6 bxc6 16.dxe5 c5 17.Rd1 h6 gives White a slight advantage in space (Fritz).

11.a3 h6 12.Nf3 Be6 13.cxd5 Nxd5 14.Be5 Nf6 15.h3 is equal (Patos-Tseshkovsky, IT, Bucharest, 1974).

If 10.Qa3 then:

If 10...Nbd7!? 11.cxd5 Nxd5 12.Nxd5 cxd5 13.Bc7 then:

If 13...Qf6 14.Nf3 then:

14...Nb8 15.Be2 Rc8 16.0-0 Nc6 17.Bg3 Qe6 18.Rfd1 gives White a fair advantage in space (Girilov-Tseshkovsky, Soviet Ch, Minsk, 1987).
14...Nb6 15.Be2 Nc4 16.Qb4 Qc6 17.Bg3 Qb6 18.Qxb6 axb6 is equal; White has slightly stronger pawns and Black has the initiative (Hausner-Jansa, IT, Trnava, 1982).

If 13...Rac8? then White gets a winning position with 14.Bxb6! Rxc1+ 15.Kd2 Rfc8 16.Bd3 Rxh1 17.Qxe7.

10...a5 11.cxd5 Nxd5 12.Nxd5 cxd5 13.Bd3 Qb4+ is equal.

6...Be6

If 6...dxc4 then:

If 7.e4 Bg4 8.Bxc4 then:

If 8...Nh5 9.Be3 Bxf3 10.gxf3 then:

If 10...e5 11.dxe5 Bxe5 12.Qxd8 Rxd8 then:

If 13.0-0 then:

If 13...Nd7 14.Ne2 then:

14...Nb6 15.Bb3 c6 16.Rc2 Bc7 17.Kg2 a5 18.a3 gives White a slight advantage in space (Ivanchuk-Domínguez Pérez, Mind Games Rpd, Beijing, 2011).
14...Bxb2 15.Rb1 Ne5 16.Rxb2 Nxc4 17.Rxb7 Nxe3 18.fxe3 gives White a slight advantage with the active Rook (Summerscale-J. H. Hodgson, Op, London, 2010).

If 13...Nc6 then:

14.Nd5 Na5 15.Bg5 Rd7 16.Bb5 c6 17.b4 is equal (Pertlova-Padimi, World Jr Ch Girls, Yerevan, 2007).
14.Bd5 Nf4 15.Rcd1 Nxd5 16.Nxd5 f5 17.b3 gives White a small advantage in space (Ftacnik-E. L'Ami, Op, Amsterdam, 2006).

If 13.Ne2 Nc6 then:

If 14.0-0 Nd4 15.Nxd4 Bxd4 then:

16.Rfd1 Bxb2 17.Rxd8+ Rxd8 18.Rb1 Be5 19.Rxb7 gives White the active Rook (Qi Guo-Harika, Chinese League, Shenzhen, 2011).
16.b4 a6 17.Rfd1 Bxe3 18.fxe3 Kf8 19.Kf2 gives White a slight advantage with the better minor piece (I. Sokolov-Avrukh, Op, Reykjavik, 2012).

If 14.f4 Bxb2 15.Rb1 then:

15...Na5 16.Bd5 c6 17.Bxf7+ Kxf7 18.Rxb2 b5 gives Black stronger pawns and a slight edge in space; each side has a passed pawn (Hopman-Shut, IT C, Wijk aan Zee, 2011).
15...Ba3 16.0-0 Na5 17.Bb3 b6 18.Nc3 Nxb3 leaves Black crushing White with her superiority in space (Pertlova-Harika, World Jr Ch Girls, Yerevan, 2007).

If 10...e6 11.f4 then:

If 11...Qh4 12.Qf3 Nc6 then:

13.Ne2 Rad8 14.Rd1 Na5 15.Bd3 c5 16.dxc5 Bxb2 gives Black greater activity and stronger pawns (van Wely-Lin Weiguo, Ol, Manila, 1992).
13.e5 Rad8 14.Ne2 Bh6 15.0-0 Ne7 16.Kh1 draw (Razuvaev-Rytshagov, Op, Cappelle-la-Grande, 1995).

11...Nc6 12.d5 exd5 13.Nxd5 Nf6 14.e5 Nd7 15.Bb5 gives White an outstanding advantage in space; Black has stronger pawns (Portisch-Ftacnik, ITZ, Biel, 1993).

If 8...Bxf3 then:

if 9.Qxf3 then:

9...Nh5 10.Bg5 Nc6 11.d5 Ne5 12.Qe2 Nxc4 13.Qxc4 then:

13...a6 14.Qb4 Qd6 15.Bxe7 Qxb4 16.Bxb4 Rfe8 17.f3 is equal (Bluvshtein-Nakamura, World Youth BU14, Oropesa del Mar, 2001).
13...Qd7 14.0-0 a6 15.Qe2 Qd6 16.g3 Rae8 17.Be3 gives White a comfortable game (Illescas Córdoba-Fernández García, Spanish Ch, León, 2006).

If 9...Nc6 10.d5 Nd4 11.Qe3 c5 then:

12.dxc6 Nxc6 13.h3 Qa5 14.0-0 Rad8 15.Bg5 gives White a small advantage in space (Zagorovsky-Krzyszton, Corres, 1972).
12.0-0 a6 13.e5 Ng4 14.Qg3 h5 15.Rfe1 gives White a comfortable game; Black's Knight at g4 will have a diffcult time getting back in the game (Marin-M. Turov, EU I-net Ch, Cyberspace, 2004).

9.gxf3 Nh5 10.Be3 transposes into the main line of this note.

If 7.e3 Be6 8.Ng5 Bd5 then:

If 9.e4 h6 10.exd5 hxg5 11.Bxg5 then:

If 11...Nxd5 12.Bxc4 Nb6 13.Bb3 Nc6 then:

If 14.d5 Nd4 15.0-0 Qd7 then:

If 16.Re1 Rfe8 17.h4 Rad8 then:

18.Ba4 Nxa4 19.Qxa4 Qxa4 20.Nxa4 b5 21.Nc5 Rxd5 22.Na6 Re5 23.Nxc7 Rc8 24.Kf1 Rxe1+ draw (Bareev-van Wely, Bundesliga 0001, Hamburg, 2001).
18.Re4 Nxb3 19.Qxb3 Nxd5 20.Qxb7 Nxc3 21.bxc3 gives White a slim advantage in space (Xu Jun-Ghinda, IT, Timoiasoara, Romania, 1987).

If 16.Be3 Nxb3 17.Qxb3 Bxc3 18.Bxb6 axb6 19.Rxc3 then:

19...Rfd8 20.g3 Ra5 draw (Schussler-W. Schmidt, IT, Kiel, 1979).
19...Ra5 draw (Borisenko-Arlauskas, Corre, 1962).

If 14.Ne2 a5 then:

If 15.a3 a4 16.Ba2 then:

16...Nxd4 17.Nxd4 Qxd4 18.Qxd4 Bxd4 19.Rxc7 Rac8 is equal (Dreev-Khalifman, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2002).
16...Rc8 17.d5 Na5 18.Nc3 Nb3 19.Bxb3 axb3 20.Qxb3 is equal (I. Sokolov-Kransenkow, TT, Shanghai, 2001).

15.a4 Rc8 16.Be3 e5 17.d5 Nd4 18.Nc3 Qh4 gives Black a slight advantage in space (Dreev-Ni Hua, TT, Shanghai, 2001).

If 11...b5 12.Qf3 then:

If 12...c6 13.dxc6 Qxd4 14.Be2 a6 then:

If 15.0-0 Qc5 16.Be3 Qxc6 then:

17.a4 e6 18.axb5 axb5 19.Nxb5 Ra2 20.Qxc6 Nxc6 is equal (Babula-Kasparov, SX, Prague, 2001).
A month after the simultaneous display, White tried 17.Rfd1 and after 17...e5?! 18.b3! b4 19.Nd5 Nxd5 20.Rxd5 White had a comfortable game (Babula-Epishin, Bundesliga 0102, Hamburg, 2001).

15.Bxf6?! Qxf6 16.c7 Nd7 17.Rd1 Qe6 gives Black a slight advantage.

If 12...b4?! 13.Ne4! Nxd5 14.Bxc4 then:

If 14...Nb6 then:

15.Bb3!? a5! 16.a4 bxa3 17.bxa3 a4 18.Ba2 gives White a fair advantage in space although he is sacrificing a pawn for space and freedom (Sliwa-Zapletal, Corres, 1978).
15.Be3! a5 16.Ng5 Nxc4 17.Qxa8 wins the exchange.

If 14...c6? 15.h4 f5 16.Nc5 then:

If 16...Qd6 17.Bf4 e5 then:

If 18.Bxd5+!? cxd5? 19.dxe5! Bxe5 then:

If 20.Nd3!? Bxf4 21.Qxf4 still gives White a strong advantage (M. Turov-Eljanov, Rector Cup, Kharkov, 2001).
White wins after 20.Bxe5! Qxe5+ 21.Kf1 Rd8 22.Re1.

White wins after 18.Bxe5! Bxe5 19.Bxd5+ cxd5 20.dxe5 Re8 21.0-0.

If 16...Bxd4?? then White cleans Black's clock after 17.Ne6!.

If 9.Nxd5 Nxd5 then:

If 10.Bxc4 Nxf4 11.Qf3 e6 12.Qxf4 then:

12...Qd6 13.Qxd6 cxd6 14.Bxe6 fxe6 15.Nxe6 gives White the initiative and a small advantage in space (Brodsky-Kolosowski, Op, Cappelle-la-Grande, 2012).
If 12...c5 13.dxc5 Qa5+ 14.Ke2 then:

14...Nd7 15.Rc2 Nxc5 16.Rhc1 Rad8 17.a3 Qb6 18.b4 is equal (Wang Hao-Grischuk, Mind Game Rpd, Beijing, 2011).
If 14...Nc6 15.Rhd1 Ne5 16.Qe4 Rad8 17.Rxd8 Rxd8 18.Rc2 gives White a small advantage in space (Dreev-Safarli, Op, Baku, 2011).

If 10.Bg3 c5 11.Bxc4 cxd4 12.Qb3 dxe3 13.Bxd5 e6 is equal (Furman-Korchnoi, Soviet Ch, Kiev, 1954).

7.Ng5 c5 8.dxc5 d4 9.Nb5 Nc6 (N)

9...Nh5 10.Nxe6 fxe6 11.Bc7 Qc8 12.g4 a6 13.gxh5 axb5 is equal (Borisenko-Estrin, Corres, 1965).

10.Nc7 Bf5 11.Nxa8 e5

11...Qxa8 12.Bd2 h6 13.Nf3 e5 14.g3 e4 15.Nh4 is equal.

12.Bd2 e4 13.Qb3 (N)

If 13.e3 h6 then:

14.Nh3?! Bxh3 15.gxh3 Ne5 16.Bg2 Nd3+ gives Black a comfortable game (Grischuk-Carauana, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2012).
If 14.exd4 hxg5 15.d5 Ne5 then:

16.Be2! Nd3+ 17.Bxd3 exd3 18.0-0 Qxa8 19.Bxg5 is equal as White has three pawns, a Rook, stronger pawns and a slight edge in space for two minor pieces.
16.h3?! Re8! 17.Rc3 Qxa8 gives Black a comfortable game.

13...Qe7

The game is equal.
If 13...Qxa8 14.Qa3 Re8 15.e3 d3 16.Nh3 Qd8 is equal.
If 14.a3?! h6! 15.Nh3 e3 16.fxe3 Ne4 give Black an active piece center and a fair advantag in space; both sides have pawn weaknesses.

14.e3 d3

Black needn't be in any hurry to recapture the Knight. It's dead wood.

15.Nh3 Rxa8

If 15...Bh6 then:

16.g3! (this is now the best way to develop the Bishop) 16...Ne5 17.Bg2 Rxa8 18.Nf4 Bxf4 19.gxf4 Nf3+ is equal.
16.Nf4!? Bxf4! 17.exf4 Rxa8 18.Qa3 Re8 19.h3 Be6 gives Black a slight edge with impressive center pawns and the initiative.

16.Nf4!

The position is sharp. Black has advanced pawns in the center, including a passer. White's doubled pawns in the c-file are quite useful.

16...Rd8!?

If 16...Rb8 17.Qa3 then:

17...Nd7 18.b4 a5 19.Nd5 Qf8 20.b5 Nce5 21.Qxa5 Nxc5 is equal (all three of us).
17...Qd7 18.b4 Ra8 19.Qb3 Rd8 20.Qa4 gives White a slight advantage in a sharp position (Fritz).
17...a5 18.g3 Qd8 19.h4 Bf8 20.Bg2 b6 21.Qb3 is equal (Rybka).

17.h3!

White keeps the Bishop on its side of the board, giving him more activity while Black has a slight edge in space.
17.Nd5 Qd7 18.h3 Be6 19.Nf4 Bh6 20.g3 gives White an active Knight and Queen; Black, for now, has a slight edge in space.

17...Ne5 18.Nd5 Qd7

BLACK: Parimarjan Negi

WHITE: Bartosz SockoPosition after 18...Qe7d7

19.Qb5!

White proffers an exchange of Queens; although White's pieces have been more active, Black pieces are beginning to come to life and Black still enjoys a slight edge in space.

19...Nxd5

19...Qxb5?! is an eample of "to take is a mistake" since it allows White to easily accomplish his goals in space after 20.Nxf6+ Bxf6 21.cxb5 Rc8 22.b3 Bd7 23.c6 when he has an extra pawn and command of the queenside. He must still develop the King's Bishop vai g2.

20.Qxd7 Rxd7 21.cxd5 Rxd5

White has an advantage on the queenside and can play there; Black has a better center but can make no further progress.

22.g4!?

The flaw in White's plan is that it is not properly taking time into account. All Black will need to refute this move is a timely check to gain a tempo.
If 22.Kd1 Be6 23.g4 Nf3 24.Bg2 then:

24...Bxb2 25.Rb1 Bf6 26.Rxb7 Rxc5 27.Bxf3 exf3 gives Black two active Bishops, an active Rook and restaints on White's center; White has a more active Rook.
If 24...Nxd2?! 25.Kxd2 then:

25...f5 26.gxf5 gxf5 27.Rhg1 Rd7 28.b3 Kf7 29.Rcf1 gives White the exchange and a queenside majority; his plan is to push the f-pawn and either blockade or break up White's center pawns. Black has more space and should be able to get some counterplay.
25...Bxb2? 26.Rb1! Ba3 27.Bxe4 Rxc5 28.Rxb7 Rc2+ 29.Kxd3 gives White the initiative; White's idle Rook will soon come into play.

BLACK: Parimarjan Negi

WHITE: Bartosz SockoPosition after 22.g2g4

22...Nf3+!

This is a timely check, gaining an important tempo. The game is equal.

23.Kd1 Bxb2 24.gxf5?!

White decides to take two minor pieces for a Rook, but that costs more time.
If 24.Rc4 Bd7 25.Rxe4 Bc6 26.Bg2 Nxd2 27.Kxd2 Rxc5 remains equal.

24...Nxd2!

Black continues to profit by trafficking in tempi. It's possible that White didn't fully appeciate the impact of this move. Black now gains a tempo by taking the c-pawn with check.
If 24...Bxc1?! 25.Bxc1! Rxc5 26.fxg6 hxg6 27.Bg2 Rc2 28.Bxf3 exf3 remains equal.

25.Kxd2 Bxc1+ 26.Kxc1 Rxc5+ 27.Kb1?!

The King should play to d1, where it will be active in the defense against Black's advanced passer.
Better is 27.Kd1 when:

If 27...Kg7 then after 28.fxg6 Rc2 29.f3 hxg6 30.a3 f5 Black gets a small advantage from his active Rook.
27...gxf5 28.Rg1+ Kf8 29.f3 Rb5 30.Kc1 Ra5 31.Rg2 gives Black a slight advantage.

27...gxf5

It would be better to keep the g-file closed.
Better is 27...Rxf5! 28.Bg2 Rb5+ then:

29.Ka1 f5 30.Rc1 b6 31.Rc7 a6 32.h4 a5 continues to gives Black three pawns for the Bishop, but Black still has counterplay with the Rook.
29.Kc1?! f5 30.Rd1 Rc5+! 31.Kd2 Rc2+ 32.Ke1 Re2+ wins another pawn and renders White's Bishop useless.

28.f3?!

White tries to break up Black's pawn chain, but it isn't very efficient.
If 28.f4 (saving a tempo and blockading the chain) then:

28...Rc3 29.Rg1+ Kf8 30.Rg2 b5 31.Kb2 b4 gives Black a strong and clear advantage.
28...Rc2!? 29.Rg1+ Kf8 30.Rg2! drives the Rook back.

28...f4!

28...d2! 29.Be2 f4 30.exf4 e3 transposes into the text.

29.exf4

No better is 29.fxe4 d2 30.Be2 fxe3.

29...d2 30.Be2 e3 31.Kb2?

White loses a tempo and his position becomes hopeless, but it's probably just a case of losing now or a few moves from now.
31.Rg1+ Kf8 32.Kb2 Ke7 33.Rg5 f5 34.Rg7+ Kf6 allows White to hang on longer.

BLACK: Parimarjan Negi

WHITE: Bartosz SockoPosition after 31.Kb1b2

31...Kg7!

The King springs into action.

32.Rg1+ Kf6 33.h4

If 33.Rg5 then Black wins quickly after 33...Rc1 34.Rg2 when:

34...Kf5 35.Rg5+ Kxf4 36.Rg4+ Kf5 37.Rd4 Re1 the Bishop is forced from the watch over the queening square.
If 34...d1Q 35.Bxd1 Rxd1 then:

36.Kc2 Rd2+ 37.Rxd2 exd2 38.Kxd2 Kf5 39.Ke3 b5 gives Black a won King-and-pawn ending.
If 36.a4 then Black wins after 36...Rd2+ 37.Rxd2 exd2 38.Kc2 Kf5 39.Kxd2 Kxf4.

33...h6 34.Bd3

If 34.a3 then Black wins after 34...b5 35.Bd3 Ke6 36.Ra1 a5 37.Rd1 a4.

34...b5 35.a3 a5 36.Rh1

If 36.Rd1 then Black wins after 36...a4 37.f5 Ke5 38.f6 Kxf6 39.f4 Ke6 40.Be2 Kf5.

36...b4

Black presses his pawn majority.

37.axb4 axb4 38.Ra1

If 38.Be2 Kf5 39.Rg1 Kxf4 then:

If 40.Rg4+ Kf5 41.Bd3+ Ke6 then:

42.Re4+ Re5 43.Rd4 d1N+!! 44.Kc2 Nc3 45.Rxb4 e2 wins a piece.
If 42.Be2 then Black wins after 42...Rc1 43.Re4+ Kf5 44.Rxe3 Re1 45.Rb3 Rxe2.

If 40.Rd1 Kg3 41.f4 Kf2 then:

If 42.Ba6 Rc1 43.Rxc1 dxc1Q+ 44.Kxc1 e2 45.Bxe2 Kxe2 gives Black an easily won King-and-pawn ending.
42.Bg4 Rc1 amounts to the same thing.

If 38.Rd1 then Black wins after 38...Rc3 39.Be2 Kf5 40.Rg1 Kxf4.

BLACK: Parimarjan Negi

WHITE: Bartosz SockoPosition after 38.Ralh1

38...Rc3

The Bishop must vacate and allow the Black King to attack White's pawns.

39.Be2

If 39.Ra6+ (the Rook should not leave the back rank unless White is intent on harikari) then 39...Kg7 40.Be2 Rc1 41.Rd6 Re1 42.Bc4 d1Q is crushing.

39...Kf5 40.h5

If 40.Rg1 then Black wins after 40...Kxf4 41.Rg4+ Kf5 42.Rd4 Rc1.

40...Kxf4 41.Rg1 f5 42.Kb1 Rc1+

Also good is 42...b3 43.Rd1 Rc8 when:

If 44.Rf1 then Black wins after 44...Rc1+ 45.Rxc1 dxc1Q+ 46.Kxc1 Kg3 47.Kd1 f4.
44.Rg1 transposes after 44...Rc1+ 45.Rxc1 dxc1Q+.

43.Rxc1 dxc1Q+ 44.Kxc1 Kg3 45.Kd1 Kf2 46.f4 b3! 0-1

BLACK: Parimarjan Negi

WHITE: Bartosz SockoPosition after 46....b4b3

It is not possible for White to stop all the pawns.
White's best effort is 47.Bd3 when White wins after 47...b2 48.Kc2 e2 49.Bxe2 Kxe2 50.Kxb2 Kf3.
Socko resigns.

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #1)

Thu Aug 2, 2012, 08:07 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,709 posts)

18. 49th Canadian Open, Victoria

Butchart Gardens, Victoria, British ColumbiaPhoto by Warfieldian (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Warfieldian) in Wikipedia Commons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Butchart_Sunken_Gardens.jpg)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #18)

Thu Aug 2, 2012, 08:09 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,709 posts)

19. Hansen - Mikhalevski, Round 7

Eric Hansen, 20, is a promising international master from Calgary. He won the 49th annual Candian Open with a score of 7½ out of 9. In round 7, he defeated veteran Israeli GM Viktor Mikhalevski, who had been leading up to that point.

He is a freshman on a chess scholarship at the University of Texas at Dallas.

There is no photo of Eric Hansen available with an internet-friendly copyright
Photo by Jon Sullivan from public-domain-photos.com (Public Domain)

Eric Hansen - Viktor Mikhalevski
49th Canadian International Open, Round 7
Victoria, British Columbia, 11 July 2012

West India Game: Indian Queen's Gambit (Three Knights' Opening) (Grünfeld Defense)

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Qb3 Nb6 6.d4 Bg7 7.Bg5

If 7.Bf4 Be6 8.Qa3 0-0 9.e3 then:

If 9...N8d7 10.Rd1 a5 then:

11.Ng5 Bd5 12.e4 Bc4 13.h4 Bxf1 14.Kxf1 Nf6 15.Qc5 gives White the advantage in space.(Ivanchuk-Vachier Lagrave, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).
11.d5 Bxc3+ 12.bxc3 Bxd5 13.c4 Bxf3 14.gxf3 e6 15.h4 gives White the early advantage in space (Eljanov-Vachier Lagrave, Bundesliga 0809, Emsdetten, 2008).

If 9...Nc6 then:

If 10.Be2 a5 then:

If 11.0-0 Nb4 12.Rfc1 c6 then:

If 13.Be5 Bh6 then:

14.Ne4 Nd7 15.Nc5 Nxc5 16.Rxc5 Nd5 17.Bc4 Qb6 gives White a comfortable advantage, but Black's Queen makes it difficult for White to get on with any plans that involve the White Queen (Kramnik-Nakamura, Tal Mem, Moscow, 2011).
14.Na4 Nxa4 15.Qxa4 Nd5 16.Qd1 Nb6 17.Bg3 gives White a small advantage in space (Naumann-P. Popovic, Bundesliga 0809, Wattenscheid, 2008).

13.Ne4 Bf5 14.Nc5 Ra7 15.Qb3 Qd5 16.Qd1 gives White an impressive advantage in space (Bu Xiangzhi-Gupta, World Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2011).

11.Qc5 a4 12.Nb5 Ra5 13.Qc1 Nd5 14.Bg3 Bg4 15.Qc4 Be6 is equal (Bu Xiangzhi-Vachier Lagrave, IT B, Wijk aan Zee, 2007).

10.Bb5 Nd5 11.Bg3 Ncb4 12.Rc1 c5 13.Nxd5 Qxd5 14.0-0 gives White the advantage in space (Jakovenko-Vachier Lagrave, Euro ChT, Crete, 2007).

7...Be6

If 7...0-0 8.Rd1 c6 then:

If 9.e3 Be6 10.Qc2 then:

10...a5 11.Be2 Na6 12.0-0 f5 13.Bf4 Nb4 14.Qb1 gives White a slim advantage in space (Avrukh-Mamedyorov, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2002).
10...N8d7 11.Be2 Nd5 12.0-0 h6 13.Bh4 Re8 14.Bg3 gives White a small advantage in space (Furman-Ree, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 1975).

9.e4 Bg4 10.Be2 N8d7 11.0-0 h6 12.Bh4 gives White a comfortable game early (Gausel-Ledger, Op, Bergen, 2000).

8.Qc2 h6 9.Bh4 g5 (N)

If 9...Nc6 10.Rd1 0-0 11.e3 Nb4 12.Qb1 then:

If 12...Bf5 13.e4 Bg4 14.d5 then:

If 14...Bxf3 15.gxf3 Qd7 16.a3 Na6 then:

17.Bg3 c6 18.d6 Rfd8 19.Be2 e5 gives Black stronger pawns; White's passer at d6 will consume much of Black's attention in the middle game (Pelletier-Sutovsky, IT, Pamplona, 2003).
17.Qc2 Rfe8 18.Bg3 c6 19.d6 Nc5 is equal ().

If 14...f5 15.a3 g5 then:

If 16.Bg3 f4 17.axb4 fxg3 18.hxg3 Rxf3 then:

19.gxf3 Bxf3 20.Rh2 Bxd1 21.Qxd1 is equal (Sanikidze-Gopal, World Jr Ch, Istanbul, 2005).
19.Be2 Rxc3 20.Bxg4 Rb3 21.Be6+ Kh8 22.e5 Qe8 is equal (Bauer-Svidler, Bundesliga 0304, Germany, 2004).

16.axb4!? gxh4 17.Be2 Qd6 gives Black a fair advantage in space (Pelletier -Mamedyarov, Euro ChT, Plovdiv, 2003).

If 12...a5!? 13.Be2 c6 14.0-0 then:

14...a4!? 15.Bg3 Qc8 16.Rc1 g5 17.a3 N4d5 18.h4 gives White a comfortable game (Gausel-Rogers, IT, Guasdal, 1996).
14...N4d5 15.h3 a4 16.Bg3 a3 17.e4 Nxc3 18.bxc3 gives White a slight advantage in space.

10.Bg3

White has a small advantage in space.

10...g4

If 10...Nc6 11.Rd1 then:

11...Nb4 12.Qb1 0-0 13.e4 f5 14.d5 Bc8 15.a3 continues to give White a small advantage in space.
11...Qd7!? 12.e4 Nb4 13.Qb1 Bg4 14.d5 gives White a comfortable game.

11.Nd2 Nc6

If 11...Na6 12.e3 Nb4 13.Qc1 c6 14.Be2 h5 15.Bh4 continues to give White a small advantage in space.

12.e3 Nb4 13.Qd1 h5 14.a3

If 14.Bh4 c5 15.dxc5 N6d5 16.Nb5 0-0 17.a3 also continues to give White a small advantage in space.

BLACK: Viktor Mikhalevski

WHITE: Eric HansenPosition after 14.a2a3

14...N4d5!

The game is equal.

15.Nxd5 Nxd5 16.Bh4

16.e4 Nb6 17.d5 Bd7 18.Rc1 c6 19.Rc2 h4 remains equal.

16...c5

16...Bf6 17.Bxf6 Nxf6 18.Qa4+ Qd7 19.Qxd7+ Kxd7 remains equal.

17.e4 Nf4 18.d5

If 18.Bg5 Qc7 19.Rc1 b6 then:

20.Bb5+ Kf8 21.d5 Nxg2+ 22.Kf1 then:

22...Nf4 23.Bxf4 Qxf4 24.dxe6 Bh6 25.Rc2 Rd8 is equal after Black regains his piece.
22...Qe5 23.Bxe7+ Kxe7 24.Kxg2 Qxb2 25.Rb1 Qd4 is equal.

20.d5 Bd7 21.b4 Qe5 22.Bxf4 Qxf4 remains equal.

18...Bd7 19.Qc2

19.d6 f6 20.f3 Be6 21.Qa4+ Bd7 22.Qb3 exd6 remains equal.

19...Rc8 20.Nc4 Ng6 21.Bg5 Qc7 22.a4

22.0-0-0 Bd4 23.a4 Ne5 24.Kb1 Nxc4 25.Bxc4 remains equal.

22...Bd4

BLACK: Viktor Mikhalevski

WHITE: Eric HansenPosition after 22...Bg7d4

23.Qd2!?

Given the choice between protecting a Bishop or a center pawn (which is less moble than a Bishop), it's better to protect the pawn.
If 23.0-0-0 Ne5 24.Kb1 Nxc4 25.Bxc4 Qe5 26.Bd2 Rf8 remains equal.
While White's move was not objectively the best, it's probably exactly what he wanted to do.

23...Ne5!

Black has a slight edge in space.

24.Bf4 h4

Black's plan is take a local advantage in space on the kingside and deprive White from striking in the center.

25.Be2!?

The best way to meet a attack on the flank is a counterstrike in the center.
If 25.Qc1 then:

25...Rg8 26.Ra3 f6 27.Be2 Kd8 28.a5 is equal.
25...f6 26.Ra3 Kf7 27.Be2 b6 28.Kd1 a6 29.h3 is equal.

If 25.Bxe5 Bxe5 then:

26.Be2 f6 27.Qc2 Rg8 28.0-0-0 Bd4 29.Kb1 Kf8 is equal.
If 26.Nxe5!? Qxe5! then:

27.f3 h3 28.Qc3 Qd4 29.Rd1 hxg2 30.Bxg2 Qxc3+ gives Black a small advantage in space.
27.Bd3?! c4 28.Bc2 c3 29.bxc3 h3 30.g3 Rxc3 gives Black a clear advantage.

25...Nxc4!

Black has a fair advantage.

26.Bxc4 Be5?!

This weakens Black's control of the queenside.
If 26...Qb6 27.Bb5 h3 then:

28.Rg1 a6 29.Bxd7+ Kxd7 30.a5 Qf6 31.Kf1 e5 gives Black a comfortable game with an advanced kingside, an active Bishop and the initiative.
If 28.gxh3?! Qf6! then:

29.d6 exd6 30.0-0-0 Bxb5 31.axb5 Rxh3 32.Bg3 Qe6 pushes White against the wall.
If 29.Ra2? Bxb5! 30.axb5 c4 then:

31.Bg3 c3 32.Qc2 Qf3 33.Rf1 f5 threatens to win White's Bishop on g3
If 31.Be3 then Black wins after 31...Bxe3 32.fxe3 Rxh3 33.Rf1 Qh6.

BLACK: Viktor Mikhalevski

WHITE: Eric HansenPosition after 26...Bd4e5

27.g3!

The game is equal.
27.Bxe5 Qxe5 28.Qe2 h3 29.g3 Rc7 30.a5 Rh6 is also equal.

27...Qd6 28.b3?! Qf6?! 29.Bxe5

If 29.0-0-0 hxg3 30.fxg3 Bxf4 then:

31.gxf4 Qd4 32.Qxd4 cxd4 33.Kb2 Bxa4 34.Rxd4 Bd7 gives White the advange with more advanced pawns.
31.Qxf4!? Qxf4+ 32.gxf4 Kd8 33.Rd2 Kc7 34.Rg1 f5 is equal.

29...Qxe5 30.0-0 Kf8

If 30...Qxe4 31.Rae1 then:

31...Qg6! 32.d6 e6 33.Re5 Rh5 34.Rxh5 Qxh5 35.Qf4 is equal.
31...Qf5!? 32.Qa5! Rh6 33.Qxa7 h3 34.d6 Rxd6 35.Qxb7 gives White a small advantage in space.

31.Rad1

31.Bb5 Rd8 32.Rae1 Bxb5 33.axb5 Rd6 is equal.

31...Kg7 32.Qf4 Rh5 33.d6 Qxf4 34.gxf4 Re8!?

This moves isn't dreadful, but it isn't the best. Black should keep the d-file closed.
If 34...exd6 35.Rxd6 then:

35...Bc6 36.h3 gxh3 37.f3 Kf8 38.Kh1 Ke7 39.Rfd1 continues to give White a slender edge.
35...Rc7?! 36.f3! gxf3 37.Kf2 Bc6 38.Rg1+ Kf8 39.Kxf3 gives White a comfortable game with more activity for his Rooks.

BLACK: Viktor Mikhalevski

WHITE: Eric HansenPosition after 34...Rc8e8

35.dxe7!

White opens the d-file for his Rook.
If 35.f3! gxf3 36.Kf2 Bc6 37.e5 Rh6 38.Rg1+ also gives White a small advantage in space.

35...Bc6?!

Simplest and best is to take the pawn at the palace gate.
35...Rxe7 36.f3 gxf3 37.Kf2 Bh3 38.Rfe1 Bg2 39.e5 continues to give White a small advantage with the most active Rook on the board.

36.Bb5!?

White voluntarily disfigures his queenside pawns.
If 36.f3! gxf3 37.Kf2 Rxe7 38.Rg1+ Kf8 39.e5 gives White the better game in spite of being a pawn down/ He has command of the d-file and Black's queenside majority blockaded.

36...Bxb5!

The game is again equal.

37.axb5 Rxe7 38.Rfe1 Rh6 39.Rd5 Rhe6 40.Rg5+ Kf8!?

The King is a strong piece..Use it. -- Steinitz
The King timidly hides on the back rank, but Black's prospects are better if his uses the monarch more aggressively.
If 40...Kh6! then:

41.e5 Rg6 42.Rf5 Rb6 43.Kg2 Rxb5 44.Re3 Rb4 remains equal.
41.Rxc5!? Rxe4! 42.Rxe4 Rxe4 43.Rc7 h3 44.Kf1 Rxf4 gives Black a slight edge.

41.e5!

White has a small advantage with the most active of all the Rooks.

41...f6

41...Rb6 42.Rxg4 Rxb5 43.Re3 c4 44.bxc4 Rc5 45.Rxh4 continues to give White an extra pawn, but Black's active Rooks are up to the defense.

42.Rxg4 fxe5 43.Rxh4 exf4?!

Black's Kingside pawns are weak.
43...e4! 44.Rh8+ Kg7 45.Rh5 Rf7 46.Rg5+ Kh6 47.Rg4 continues to give White an extra pawn, but the pawn is weak and White must use his recources defending it.

BLACK: Viktor Mikhalevski

WHITE: Eric HansenPosition after 43...ef4:p

44.Rxf4+!

White still has an extra pawn and one less weakness to worry about.

44...Kg7 45.Rxe6 Rxe6 46.Rc4 Re1+?!

This is the kind of check that do the position little good. White would not have time to bring his King forward if Black just played, but now the King is forced forward to a more active square.
46...b6! 47.Rg4+ Kf6 48.Kf1 Kf5 49.Rh4 Re8 50.Ra4 gives White not just an extra pawn, but two passers.

47.Kg2!

This is a good move, and not just because it's White's only legal move.

47...b6 48.Ra4 Rb1?

Black is stronger on the queensidde and shoul preserve his pawns. In addition, time is an important dimension in chess, especially in the endgame. The text move allows the a-pawn to be taken with check.
If 48...Re7 49.Kf3 Kg6 50.Rg4+ Kf5 51.Rf4+ Kg6 52.Ra4 leaves White no closer to his goal than before.

BLACK: Viktor Mikhalevski

WHITE: Eric HansenPosition after 48...Re1b1

49.Rxa7+!

We hope no one was expecting anything else.

49...Kf6 50.Rb7 Rxb3 51.Rxb6+

White now has two extra pawns.

51...Kf5 52.Rb8 c4 53.Rc8 c3

If 53...Rb4 54.b6 Kg4 55.Rc6 then:

If 55...Kf5 then White wins after 56.h4 Kg4 57.f3+ Kxh4 58.Kf2 Rb3 59.Rxc4+.
If 55...c3 then White wins after 56.h3+ Kg5 57.Rc5+ Kh4 58.Rxc3 Rxb6 59.Rc4+.

54.b6 Rxb6 55.Rxc3 Rb4

BLACK: Viktor Mikhalevski

WHITE: Eric HansenPosition after 55...Rb6b4

The game is theoretically won for White. It's just a matter of technique from here.

56.h3 Rb1 57.Rg3 Rb4 58.Rg8

White also makes progress after 58.Rf3+ Kg5 59.Kg3 Ra4 60.Rb3 Ra5 61.f4+.

58...Rb3

If 58...Rc4 59.Kg3 then:

59...Rc3+ 60.f3 Rc1 61.Rg4 Rg1+ 62.Kf2 Rh1 63.h4 inches forward.
If 59...Rc1 60.Ra8 Rg1+ 61.Kf3 then:

61...Rd1 62.Ra5+ Kg6 63.Kg3 Rg1+ 64.Kh2 Rc1 65.f4 leaves White with a clear win.
61...Rh1 62.Ra5+ Kg6 63.Kg2 Rc1 64.f4 is no different.

BLACK: Viktor Mikhalevski

WHITE: Eric HansenPosition after 58...Rb4b3

59.h4!

Inch by inch . . .

59...Kf6

If 59...Rb4 60.Kg3 Rb3+ 61.f3 Rb1 then:

If 62.Rg5+ then after 62...Kf6 63.Kh2 Rb2+ 64.Rg2 Rb8 65.Rg5 White wins by moving up the board, one step at a time.
If 62.Rg4 Rg1+ 63.Kh3 Rb1 64.Kg2 then:

If 64...Kf6 then after 65.Rg3 Rb2+ 66.Kh3 Kf5 67.h5 the pawn keeps going.
64...Rb2+ then White wins after 65.Kg3 Rd2 66.h5 Rd6 67.Rh4.

60.f3 Rb4 61.Rg4 Rb2+

Black may as well resign as exchange Rooks.

62.Kg3 Rb1

If 62...Rb5 63.Rf4+ Kg7 64.Kg4 then:

If 64...Rb1 65.h5 then:

If 65...Rg1+ then White wins after 66.Kh4 Rh1+ 67.Kg5 Rh3 68.Kg4 Rh1 69.Rc4.
65...Rh1 66.Rb4 Rg1+ 67.Kh4 Rf1 68.Rb7+ Kh6 69.Rb6+ allows the pawn to make further progress.

64...Kg6 65.Ra4 Kg7 66.Ra7+ Kh6 67.Ra6+ Kg7 68.f4 leaves Black running out of room.

63.h5!

White takes the opportunity to advance the pawn.

63...Rh1 64.Rh4 Rg1+ 65.Kf4 Rg8

It makes no practical difference, of course, but more accurate is 65...Rg7 66.h6 Rh7 67.Kg4 Kf7 68.f4 when Black blockades the pawn on the seventh rank instead of the back rank.

BLACK: Viktor Mikhalevski

WHITE: Eric HansenPosition after 65...Rg8

66.h6!

The White pawn takes another prescious step.

66...Rf8 67.Kg4 Rg8+ 68.Kh3 Rh8

No better is 68...Kf5 69.h7 Rh8 70.Rh5+ Kf4 71.Kg2.

69.h7!

69...Kg5 70.Kg3 Kf5 71.Rh5+

The Rook also moves up the board, pushing the Black King back as it goes.

71...Kf6 72.Kf4 Kg6 73.Kg4 Kf6

If 73...Rxh7 then White wins after 74.Rxh7 Kxh7 75.Kg5 Kg7 76.f4.

74.Rh6+ Kf7 75.Kg5 Kg7

BLACK: Viktor Mikhalevski

WHITE: Eric HansenPosition after 75...Kf7g7

76.Rg6+!

This move has the elegance of a neat twist at the end of a good short story.

76...Kf7 77.Kh6 Ra8 78.Rg7+ 1-0

There is no defense.
Viktor Markovich resigns.

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Original post)

Mon Aug 6, 2012, 01:43 AM

Jack Rabbit (40,709 posts)

26. Updates (Sunday, August 5)

Three-way Tie in Denmark

Bulgarian grandmaster Ivan Cheparinov was award the Politiken Cup on tie breaks today at the conclusion of one of the world's most prestigious open chess tournaments in Helsignør, one of the world literature's most noted dramatic settings.

Cheparinov, GM Ivan Sokolov of Holland by way of Bosnia and Swedish GM Jonny Hector finished with 8 points apiece in ten rounds.

Gawain Jones wins British Championship in playoff

English grandmaster Gawain Jones defeated Englishman Stephen Gordon in a playoff of two rapid games Saturday to win the 99th British Championship in North Shields in Northumberland, England.

Messrs. Jones and Gordon each finished the 11-round tournament with 9 points on Friday.

Volokitin and Korobov lead Ukrainian Championships

Grandmasters Andrey Volokitin and Anton Korobov are leading the Ukrainian national championship through nine rounds with 6½ points each in Kiev.

Grandmaster Alexander Areshchenko i nipping at their heels with 6 points. The 11-round tournament is scheduled to end on Tuesday.

Russian Championships underway

After three rounds at the Russian national champioships in Moscow, or Superfinals as it is known commercially, grandmasters Evgeny Alekseev, a two-time titleholder, and Dmitry Andeikin are tied for first place in the general group with 2 points each.

In the women's group, defending champion Valentina Gunina and dark horse Olga Girya share first place with 2½ points each.

The general group goes 11 rounds while the ladies will play only nine, but both groups will run through August 13.

Athens hosts 2012 World Junior Championships

Athens, the cradle of democracy and capital of Greece, a nation currently living under corporate tyranny, was the scene of the opening of the 2012 World Junior Championships on August 2.

After four rounds in the general group, GMs Yu Yangyi of China and Alexander Ipatov of Russia are leading with perfect scores.

In the girls' group, five young ladies are tied for the top spot with 3½ points out of four: Anastasia Bodnaruk (Russia), Irina Bulmaga (Romania), Aleksandra Goryachkina (Russia), Guo Qi (China) and Nastassia Ziaziulkina (Belarus).

The action runs through August 16.

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Original post)

Sun Aug 12, 2012, 11:40 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,709 posts)

30. Updates (August 12): Six-Way Playoff in Russian Championship; Pogonina wins Russ Women's Title

Six-Way Playoff Tomorrow in Moscow for Russian Natl Championship

Photo by Adam Baker, flickr
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

After nine rounds of regulation play in the Russian National Championships' General Group in Moscow, six players are still in contention for the title and will participate in a rapid playoff beginning at 9 am Moscow Standard Time (10 pm Sunday night PDT).

The six are: former two-time national champion Evgeny Alekseev; Dmitry Andreikin; Dmitry Jakovenko; former champion Sergey Karjakin; former European Champion Vladimir Potkin; and defending champion, Peter Svidler.

All six scored 5 points in nine rounds, a mere +1 score. Three of the six scored only a single win with eight draws, one of those, Svidler, won his only game of the event just today when he took down Alexander Grischuk in 50 moves. Had Grischuk drawn the game, he would have been in the playoff with only one victory; Had he won the game, he would have been crowned the national champion today.

Natalia Pogonina wins Russian Women's Title

Photo by Otdanon in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Natalia_Pogonina)
(Public Domain)

Natalia Pogonina won the Russian women's championship in Moscow today with 6½ points out of nine rounds.

Natalia Andreevna, who needed only to avoid loss to finish a clear first, played a short draw against Baira Kovanova in today's final round to nail down the title.

Defending champion Valentina Gunina finished second with 5½ points.

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Original post)

Mon Aug 13, 2012, 11:38 AM

Jack Rabbit (40,709 posts)

31. Update (Monday, August 13): Dmitry Andeikin is new Russian Champion

Dmitry Vladimirovich Andreikin, 22, won the six-way rapid playoff for the Russian National Championship today in Moscow.

The playoff was a five-round rapid affair with a time control of 15 minutes plus 30 seconds per move. Dmitry Vladimirovich scored four points out of five, winning three games and drawing two. His key victory came in the fourth round when he defeated defending champion Peter Svidler with Black in 43 moves.

Sergey Karjakin scored 3½ points in the playoffs to take second place.

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Original post)

Wed Aug 15, 2012, 01:05 AM

Jack Rabbit (40,709 posts)

32. Update (Tuesday, August 14): Svetozar Gligoric dies

Svetozar Gligoric in 1961Photo by Gerhard Hund (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:GFHund) in Wikimedia Commons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gligoric_1961_Oberhausen.jpg)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Serbian/Yugoslav grandmaster Svetozar Gligoric died of a stroke today in Belgrade at the age of 89.

Gliroric was the leader of the Yugoslav chess movement that rivaled even the Soviets in the years following World War II. He played in several world championship cycles, but never with outstanding success. He was the Yugoslav champion twelve times and represented Yugoslavia in the chess olympics fifteen tiem, thirteen of those playing the top board.

Gligoric was an noted opening theorist whose favorite openings as a player were the Spanish Opening and the King's Indian Defense. He was considered in this greatest years to have been the second best King's Indian player in the world behind only Bobby Fischer.

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Original post)

Wed Aug 15, 2012, 03:53 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,709 posts)

33. Updates (August 15): World Jr Championships Conclude

Photo by Steve Swayne (http://www.flickr.com/photos/68686051@N00) in Wikimedia Commons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Parthenon_in_Athens.jpg) and Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/68686051@N00/2416778389)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution)

The 2012 World Junior Championships concluded today after 13 rounds in Athens.

In the boys group, grandmasters Richard Rapport of Hungary and Alexander Ipatov of Turkey scored 10 points each to top all competitors. Ipatov was awarded the gold medal based on a superior tie-break score.

In the girls' group, Russian international master Anatasia Bodnaruk, WGMs Guo Qi of China and Natassia Ziaziulkina of Belarus and WFM Warda Aulia Medina of Indonesia each took 9½ points finish equal first. Guo Qi got the gold medal based on tie breaks.

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Original post)

Sat Aug 18, 2012, 02:29 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,709 posts)

34. Update (Saturday, August 18): French Championships after Round 6

Grandmasters Etienne Bacrot and Maxime Vachier Lagrave lead the French National Championship after 6 rounds with 4½ points each in Pau in the Pyrenees Mountains.

Tied for third place a 4 points each are grandmasters Laurent Fressinet, Romain Edouard and Vlad Tkachiev.

In the women's group, WGM Anda Safranska leads after five rounds with 3½ points, a half point ahead of Almira Skripchenko, who has won the French women's championship many times in the past.

The general group is a single round robin of eleven rounds while the ladies are playing a double round robin among six players (ten rounds). The action for both groups ends Friday.

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Original post)

Thu Aug 23, 2012, 03:31 AM

Jack Rabbit (40,709 posts)

35. Update (Wedneday, August 22): Vachier Lagrave, Skripchenko lead French Championships

Photo of M. Vachier Lagrave by Brittle Heaven (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Brittle_heaven) in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Maxime_Vachier-Lagrave) (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
Photo of Mlle. Skripchenko by Velho in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Almira_Skripchenko)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Maxime Vachier Lagrave leads the general group of the French Championship after nine rounds and four-time French women's champion Almira Skripchenko leads the women's group after eight rounds after play was completed today in the Pyrenees city of Pau.

M. Vachier Lagrave drew his game today against dark horse Christian Bauer, who shares second place with Romain Edouard and Etienne Bacrot. M. Vachier Lagrave has 6½ points, a half point ahead of the second-place trio.

M. Edouard climbed into second today by taking down Vlad Tkachiev, who had shared first place at the half way point in the tournamet. M. Tkachiev is currently tied for fifth place with Laurent Fressinet, who was also sharing first place at the half way point.

Mlle. Skripchenko widened her lead in the women's group today when she defeated Andreea Bollengier in 39 moves while second place Sophie Millet dropped her game to Sylvia Collas in 53 moves. Mlle. Skripchenko had 6 points and now leads Mlle. Millet by a point and a half with only two rounds left to play. Mlle. Skripchenko has a even chance of wrapping up her fifth French women's title tomorrow when she plays White agaisnt Georgia native Nino Maisuradze.

The tournament ends Friday.

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Original post)

Thu Aug 23, 2012, 03:22 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,709 posts)

36. Updates (Thursday, August 23): Four tied for lead in French General Championship

Four tied for lead in French General Championship; Skripchenko wins ladies' title

Photo by Velho in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Almira_Skripchenko)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

The final rounds of the French Championships will begin tomorrow in Pau with four players in first place in the general group and the women's title already decided for Almira Skripchenko.

Etienne Bacrot, dark horse Christian Bauer, Romain Edoaurd and former world junior champion Maxime Vachier Lagrave are tied for first place in the general group with 7 points each. M. Vachier Lagrave, who entered today alone in first place, drew his game with GM Andrei Istratescu in 29 moves. Mm. Bacrot, Bauer and Edouard began the day just half a point behind and each won their games today: M. Bacrot, playing Black, took down Maxime Lagarde in 47 moves; M. Bauer, also playing Black, defeated Jean-Baptiste Mullon in just 23 moves; and M. Edouard, playing White, ground out a win from veteran GM Anatoly Vaisser in 58 moves.

In tommorow's eleventh and final round, Bacrot will play White against Laurent Fressinet, one of the pre-tournament favorites who is only a half point behind the leaders and thus still entertains a slim hope of finishing in a tie for first place. In other games, M. Bauer will have White against M. Edouard and M. Vachier Lagrave will play Black against Sebastién Maze.

In the women's group, Almira Skripchenko, who is the wife of M. Fressinet, won her fifth women's title when she drew her game game Nino Maisuradze to remain a point and a half ahead of Sophie Milliet, who drew her game today against Andreea Bollengier. In an anti-climatic final round tomorrow, Mlle. Skripchenko will play Black against Mlle. Milliet.

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Original post)

Fri Aug 24, 2012, 06:25 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,709 posts)

37. Update (Friday, August 24): Tragedy cancels final round of General French Championship

Tragedy Cancels Final Round of French General Championship

Photo of Christian Bauer by Stefan64 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64) in Wikimedia Commons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Christian_Bauer.jpg)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

The players in the general group of the French National Championships in Pau voted today to cancel the eleventh and final round on learning of the sudden death of the four-month-old son of tournament co-leader Christian Bauer.

No details about the death of the infant are forthcoming.

M. Bauer was tied for first place with three other French grandmasters after play ended yesterday. The remaining three, Etienne Bacrot, Romain Edouard and Maxime Vachier Lagrave will play a six-round rapid playoff tomorrow.

The final round was held in the women's group, with all games drawn. Almira Skripchenko clinched her fifth French women's title yesterday.

Kasparov Cleared of Illegal Protest Charges in St. Petersburg

Posted on YouTube by Gary Kasparov

Former world champion Garry Kasparov, the most prominent opponent of Russian president Vladimir Putin, spent nine and a half hours in a St. Petersburg court today and was cleared of charges of participating in an "illegal protest."

The protest came August 17 when another St. Petersburg court sentenced three members of the Russian punk group Pussy Riot to two years hard labor for staging a protest against Putin in a St. Petersburg cathedral in February.

Garry Kimovich also faces more serious charges of biting a police officer during the incident. However, photos on ChessBase.com originating with the Russian publication AN-Online show the officer involved had a scratch on his left hand prior to contact with Kasparov.

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #37)

Fri Aug 24, 2012, 08:13 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,709 posts)

38. Update to the latest Update: Communique from the French Chess Federation says playoff canceled

Communique FFE

Etienne Bacrot, Romain Edouard et Maxime Vachier Lagrave, tous 3 qualifiés pour les matchs de départage du championnat de France, ont finalement indiqué à la Fédération Française des Echecs, qu'ils ne se sentaient pas, compte tenu des circonstances exceptionnelles, en mesure d'y participer. Sensible à ces arguments et partageant l'émotion des joueurs, la Fédération a donc décidé d'attribuer collectivement le titre de champion de France 2012 aux 4 joueurs arrivés en tête à l'issue de la 10e ronde du National.

Etienne Bacrot, Romain Edouard and Maxime Vachier Lagrave, the three who qualified for the championship game tiebreaker France, finally told the French Chess Federation, they did not feel, given the exceptional circumstances, be able to participate. Sensitive to these arguments and sharing the excitement of players, Federation has decided to grant collective title of champion of France 2012 to 4 players tied for first at the end of the tenth round of the national championship.

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Original post)

Tue Aug 28, 2012, 09:02 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,709 posts)

39. Update (Tuesday, August 28): 40th Chess Olympiad begins in Istanbul

Last edited Tue Aug 28, 2012, 09:04 PM USA/ET - Edit history (1)

Leo Arnaud, Buglar's Dream, uploaded to YouTube by Yoshikarter1

The fortieth Chess Olympiad began today in the fabled city of Istanbul with 156 nations competing in general group and 125 in the women's group.

Eleven rounds will be played in both groups, with each match played on four boards.

Today's first round, like all Swiss system first rounds, featured the strongest teams playing the weakest and resulted predictably in many matches won by 4-0 scores. There were no surprises at the team level today, but at the individual level Osvaldo Zambrana of Bolivia defeated Segei Movsesian of Armenia, Malaysia's Mok Tze-meng took down former long-time Dutch champion Loek Van Wely and Daria Pustovoitova of the International Blind Chess Association scored a win from Elisabeth Pähtz of Germany.

The players have free days on September 2 and 8 with the final round scheduled for September 9. The official website will broadcast games beginning at 3 pm Istanbul time (5 am PDT) except for the final round which begins four hours earlier.

Reply to this post

Sports (Group)