Sat Nov 3, 2012, 05:12 PM

Chess (October/November): Magnus wins Grand Slam Final in São Paulo and Bilbao

Last edited Tue Nov 6, 2012, 08:58 PM USA/ET - Edit history (2)

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).

Magnus wins Grand Slam Final

Left: Independence Plaza, São Paulo, Brazil, photo by Rodrigo Seldon (http://www.flickr.com/people/soldon/) in Wikimedia Commons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Monumento_%C3%A0_Independ%C3%AAncia.jpg)
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Right: Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain, photo by Fernando Pascullo (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Fernandopascullo) in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bilbao_montes_nevados.jpg)
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en|Creative Commons License] Attribution/Share Alike)]

Magnus Carlsen, the top rated chess player in the world, defeated Fabiano Caruana, the 20-year-old American who is the reigning Italian national champion, in a two game blitz playoff on October 13.

Magnus won both blitz games.

The playoff was set up when Magnus and il sengore Caruana tied for first place after the scheduled ten round event that started September 24 in São Paulo, Brazil concluded in Bilbao, Spain. Both players scored four wins, one loss and five draws. Armenian GM Levon Aronian, rated second in the world, finished third with one win, one loss and eight draws.

The World-Akobian underway on ChessGames.com

Left: photo of The World by NASA from Wikimedia Commons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Earth_seen_from_Apollo_17.jpg)
(Public Domain)
Right: photo of Varuzhan Akobian by Stefan64 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64) from Wikipedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:VAkobian10.jpg)
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The rematch of the online game between Aremian-American grandmaster Varuzhan Akobian and "The World", a team of about 300 actively participating members of the website ChessGames.com, started on August 1 and is currently underway.

The is the second game of a series. Last year, with Mr. Akobian playing White, the game ended in a draw. This year, The World is playing White and at this writing is awaiting Mr. Akobian's 21st move.

For my fiends here at Democratic Underground who have been wondering where I have been, I am a member of the World team and have been contributing analysis for the game. This has kept me busy as since we have a number of critical moves from late September through October.

Also, as a member of the World team, I will have nothing more to say about the game until its completion.

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10 replies	Author	Time	Post
Chess (October/November): Magnus wins Grand Slam Final in São Paulo and Bilbao (Original post)	Jack Rabbit	Nov 2012	OP
Games	Jack Rabbit	Nov 2012	#1
Grand Slam Final, São Paulo and Bilbao	Jack Rabbit	Nov 2012	#2
Carlsen - Anand, Round 9, Bilbao (Spanish Sicilian Rat Opening Theory)	Jack Rabbit	Nov 2012	#3
Caruana - Aronian, Round 9, Bilbao	Jack Rabbit	Nov 2012	#4
Chess Olympics, Istanbul	Jack Rabbit	Nov 2012	#5
Ivanchuk - Wang Hao, Round 11	Jack Rabbit	Nov 2012	#6
Giri - Aronian, Round 10	Jack Rabbit	Nov 2012	#7
Hou Yifan - T. Kosintseva, Round 6	Jack Rabbit	Nov 2012	#8
2011/12 Women's Grand Prix, Sixth and Final Leg, Ankara	Jack Rabbit	Nov 2012	#9
Koneru - M. Socko, Round 11	Jack Rabbit	Nov 2012	#10

Response to Jack Rabbit (Original post)

Sat Nov 3, 2012, 05:24 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,706 posts)

1. Games

Last edited Sat Nov 3, 2012, 05:28 PM USA/ET - Edit history (1)

Your humble hare acknowledges the assistance of Houdini 1.5a, 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 imgur.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.

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Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #1)

Sat Nov 3, 2012, 05:34 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,706 posts)

2. Grand Slam Final, São Paulo and Bilbao

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Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #2)

Sat Nov 3, 2012, 05:35 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,706 posts)

3. Carlsen - Anand, Round 9, Bilbao (Spanish Sicilian Rat Opening Theory)

Last edited Sat Nov 3, 2012, 05:47 PM USA/ET - Edit history (4)

This is Magnus' first victory over Sri Anand in a game played under standard time control. It set up a tie for the tournament championship between Magnus and reigning Italian champion Fabiano Caruana. That was resolved in a two-game blitz playoff in which Magnus won both games.

Magnus Carlsen
Photo by Stefan64 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64) from Wikipedia
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Magnus Carlsen - Vishy Anand
Grand Slam Masters, Round 9
Bilbao, 12 October 2012

Spanish Sicilian Rat Game: Main Line (Canal Attack)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+

It is more usual to play the Spanish Bishop sortie after 2...Nc6 than after 2...d6.
For the Spanish Sicilian Royal Game, see Najer-Mosieenko, Russian ChT, Olginka, 2011.

BLACK

WHITESpanish Sicilian Rat GamePosition after 3.Bf1b5+

3...Bd7

This is the most common move, although Black ends up surrendering his good Bishop. Variations rooted in 3...Nc6, the Moscow Gambit, can transpose from Spanish Sicilians Royal or even Open Sicilians that feature ...Nc6. 3...Nd7, the Venice Defense, is a more straightforward attempt by Black to preserve his light-bound Bishop.
(Moscow Gambit) If 3...Nc6

BLACK

WHITESpanish Sicilian Royal Game: Moscow GambitPosition after 3...Nb8c6

If 4.0-0 Bd7 5.Re1 then:

If 5...Nf6 6.c3 a6 then:

If 7.Bf1 Bg4 then:

If 8.d3 e6 9.Nbd2 then:

If 9...Be7 10.h3 Bh5 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 14...h6 15.Nf3 Bh7 then:

If 16.f5 Nde5 then:

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

19.Bg2 Qe7 20.Nh5 exf5 21.Bxg5 Qxg5 22.exf5 g6 23.Ng3 gxf5 24.gxf5 is equal (Spassov-Halikas, Euro ChT, Plovdiv, 2003).
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 slight advantage in space (Vescovi-Szmetan, Pan-Am Ch, Cali, 2001).

16.Qe2 Qc7 17.Qf2 Rae8 18.f5 Nde5 is equal (D. Popovic-B. Vuckovic, TT, Herceg Novi, 2005).

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

If 13.Nxg6 hxg6 then:

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

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 20.d4 is equal (Xu Yuhua-Wang Lei, Chiese ChTW, Suzhou, 2001).

If 14.f4 Bh4 15.Re2 g5 then:

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

18.Bg2 d5 19.exd5 exd5 20.Nf3 Nxf3+ 21.Qxf3 d4 gives Black a slight advantage (Rublevsky-Timoshenko, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2004).
18.Nf3 Nxf3+ 19.Qxf3 b5 20.Bg2 Rb8 21.Qd1 b4 gives Black the advantage in space because his minor pieces are better (Perunovic-Vuckovic, Serbian ChT, Zlatibor, 2006).

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 24.Kh1 gives Black the advantage in space, but White's pawns are still moble on the kingside (Sadvakasov-Grischuk, IT, Poikovsky, 2005).
20...a5 21.b4 axb4 22.axb4 Rxa1 23.Qxa1 cxb4 24.Qa8+ is equal (Mahjoob-Sufian, Asian Ch, Subic Bay, 2009).

18...0-0-0!? 19.Bh2 g6 20.Rf2 f5 21.d4 fxg4 22.Qxg4 is equal.

If 9...Nd7 then:

If 10.h3 Bh5 then:

If 11.g4 Bg6 12.d4 cxd4 13.cxd4 then:

If 13...Be7 14.d5 Nce5 then:

If 15.Nxe5 dxe5 16.Nf3 Rc8 then:

17.b3 exd5 18.Qxd5 f6 19.Nh4 Nc5 20.Qxd8+ Rxd8 is equal (Zhong Zhang-Topalov, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2004).
17.Bg2 exd5 18.exd5 Bd6 19.Bf4 f6 20.Be3 is equal (Bologan-Movsesian, IT, Sarajevo, 2004).

If 15.dxe6 fxe6 then:

16.Nxe5 dxe5 17.Bc4 Nc5 18.Nb3 Qxd1 19.Rxd1 Nxe4 is equal (Deszczynski-Moranda, Euro Rpd Ch, Warsaw, 2010).
16.Nd4 Bh4 17.N2f3 0-0 18.Bg2 Nc5 19.Nxh4 Qxh4 gives Black a slight advantage with pressure on f2 (Lahno-Sebag, Rpd IT, Cap d'Agde, 2008).

If 13...e5 14.d5 Ncb8 then:

15.b4 Be7 16.Nc4 h5 17.g5 a5 18.bxa5 gives White a healthy advantage in space; Black's game is cramped but defensable (Anand-Topalov, IT, Dortmund, 2001).
15.h4 h6 16.Bh3 Be7 17.h5 Bh7 18.Nf1 a5 is equal (Smeets-Cheparinov, IT B, Wijk aan Zee, 2008).

If 11.Be2 Be7 12.Nf1 0-0 then:

13.Ng3 Bg6 14.a3 d5 15.exd5 exd5 16.Bf4 Re8 is equal (Vachier Lagrave-Tregubov, Paris Ch, 2004).
13.N3d2 Bxe2 14.Qxe2 d5 15.exd5 exd5 16.Nf3 Re8 is equal; the players soon agreed to a draw (Gelashvili-Banikas, Op, Corinth, 1999).

If 10.Be2 Be7 then:

If 11.Nf1 0-0 12.Ng3 Rc8 13.h3 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 Bg5 draw (Spasov-Krivoshey, Op, Salou, Spain, 2005).
If 11.d4 cxd4 12.cxd4 then:

12...d5 13.h3 dxe4 14.hxg4 exf3 15.Nxf3 Nf6 16.g5 is equal.
12...0-0 13.h3 Bh5 14.d5 exd5 15.exd5 Nb4 16.a3 is equal.

If 8.h3 Bxf3 9.Qxf3 g6 then:

If 10.d3 Bg7 11.Be3 Nd7 then:

If 12.Nd2 0-0 13.Qd1 b5 then:

14.Nf3 Nb6 15.d4 Na4!? 16.Re2 Qa5 17.Rc1 gives White a small advantage in space (Ponomariov-Caruana, IT, Dortmund, 2012).
14.a3 Nb6 15.Nf3 Na4 16.Qd2 d5 17.Bh6 d4 is equal (Karttunen-Laznicka, Euro Club Cup, Rogaska Slatina, 2011).

12.Qd1 0-0 13.Nd2 Rc8 14.f4 e5 15.f5 gives White a slight advantage in space (Kasparov-Vachier Lagrave, Blitz M, Clichy, 2011).

If 10.Qd1 Bh6 11.Na3 0-0 12.Nc2 then:

If 12...e5 13.d4 Bxc1 14.Rxc1 cxd4 15.cxd4 then:

15...Rc8 16.dxe5 dxe5 17.Qf3 Kg7 18.Bc4 Nd4 gives Black a slight initiative (Glek-Vachier Lagrave, Bundesliga 0708, Katernberg, 2007).
15...Qb6 16.d5 Ne7 17.Na3 Ne8 18.Nc4 Qa7 19.a4 gives White a small advantage in space (Brodsky-Dobrov, Op, St. Petersburg, 2003).

If 12...Rc8 then:

If 13.Rb1 d5 14.e5 Nd7 15.b4 then:

15...Qc7!? 16.bxc5! Nxc5 17.d4 Bxc1 18.Rxc1 Nd7 19.Ne3 gives White a small advantage in space (Iordachescu-Movsesian, FIDE Knock Out, New Delhi, 2000).
15...Qb6 16.Ne3 Bxe3 17.dxe3 Rfd8 18.Qxd5 Ncxe5 19.e4 is equal.

13.a3 e6 14.b4 Qb6 15.e5 dxe5 16.d4 is equal (Skripchenko-E. Pähtz. ITW, Biel, 2005).

If 7.Ba4 b5 8.Bc2 then:

If 8...e5 9.h3 Be7 10.d4 0-0 11.d5 Na5 then:

If 12.b3 Qc7 then:

13.Be3 13...g6 14.Nbd2 Nh5 15.Nf1 Kh8 16.Bh6 Ng7 17.g4 Nb7 18.Ng3 Nd8 19.a4 draw (Meier-Inarkiev, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).
13.Nbd2 c4 14.b4 Nb7 15.Nf1 a5 16.a3 Ra6 is equal (Lahno-S. Ernst, IT B, Wijk aan Zee, 2012).

12.Nbd2 Qc7 13.Nf1 is a position that can also arise out of the Chigorin Defense in the Grand Spanish Royal Game; the game may continue, for example, 13...Rac8 14.g4 h5 15.N3h2 hxg4 16.hxg4 Nh7 with Black slightly better (Lindberg-Hammer, Rilton Cup 0910, Stockholm, 2010).

If 8...Bg4 then:

If 9.h3 Bxf3 10.Qxf3 g6 then:

If 11.d3 Bg7 then:

12.Be3 Nd7 13.Nd2 0-0 14.Rac1 Rb8 15.Qe2 a5 16.Nf3 gives White the advantage in the center; Black has potential counterplay on the queenside (Van Kampen-S. Kuipers, IT C, Wijk aan Zee, 2010).
If 12.Nd2 0-0 then:

13.Qe2 Nd7 14.Nf3 b4 15.Ba4 Qc7 16.Bd2 is equal (Ponomariov-Topalov, FIDE Knock Out, Las Vegas, 1999).
13.Nf1 b4 14.g4 bxc3 15.bxc3 Nd7 16.Bd2 Qa5 gives Black a small advantage with pressure on c3 (Van Kemenade-Hodgson, British Ch, Great Yarmouth, 2007).

If 11.a4 Rb8 12.axb5 axb5 then:

13.Na3 Nd7 14.Qe2 Qb6 15.Bd3 c4 16.Bc2 Nc5 is equal (Reshevsky-Christiansen, US Ch, South Bend, Indiana, 1981).
13.d3 Bg7 14.Nd2 0-0 15.Nf1 b4 16.Ba4 Nd7 is equal; if 17.Bxc6!? then 17...Ne5! wins back the piece without taking any damage (Burns Mannion-Moiseenko, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).

If 9.a4 Rb8 10.axb5 axb5 then:

If 11.d4 cxd4 12.cxd4 e5 13.d5 Nd4 14.Nbd2 then:

If 14...Be7 15.Bd3 0-0 16.h3 then:

16...Bh5 17.g4 Nxg4 18.Nxd4 Nxf2 19.Qxh5 Nxd3 20.Nc6 is equal (Ni Hua-Aveskulov, Mindsports Rpd, Beijing, 2008).
16...Nxf3+ 17.Nxf3 Bh5 18.Bd2 Nd7 19.b4 Nb6 20.Qe2 gives White a small advantage in space (Bojkov-Nyzhnyk, Op, Groningen, 2010).

14...Nxc2 15.Qxc2 Be7 16.h3 Bd7 17.Nb3 0-0 18.Na5 gives White a slight edge (Malakhov-Saposhnikov, Russian Ch HL, Novokuznetsk, 2008).

11.h3 Bxf3 12.Qxf3 e6 13.d3 Be7 14.Be3 gives White a slight advantage in space (A. Kovacevic-Bogosavljevic, Kostic Mem, Vrsac, Serbia, 2008).

If 5...a6 6.Bxc6 Bxc6 then:

If 7.d4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 then:

If 8...Nf6 9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.Qf3 then:

If 10...e5 11.Bg5 Be7 12.Nd2 0-0 13.Nc4 then:

If 13...Qc7 14.Rad1 then:

14...Rad8 15.Rd3 h6 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.Ne3 Qa5 18.Red1 gives White better contol of the center (Rublevsky-Agopov, Euro Club Cup, Saint Vincent, 2005).
14...Rfd8 15.Rd3 d5 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.Ne3 d4 18.Nc4 gives White a slight advantage in space (Ramesh-Chowdhury, Indian Ch, Mumbai, 2003).

13...Qb8 14.Rad1 Rd8 15.b3 h6 16.Bh4 Ra7 17.Ne3 gives White a fair advantage in space (Xu Yuhua-Ghaderpour, Mindsports Rpd, Beijing, 2008).

10...Qc7 11.b3 e5 12.Nd2 Be7 13.Nc4 0-0 14.Bg5 gives White more piece activity, but Black's center makes it difficult to exploit the advantage (Grischuk-Miton, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2002).

If 8...Rc8 then:

9.c4 Nf6 10.Nc3 Bd7 11.Qd3 Qc7 12.b3 e6 gives White a small advantage in space; the bind makes it difficult for Black to play ...d5 and Black's center makes it hard to White to move forward (De Castro-Quinteros, IT, Manila, 1973).
9.Nc3 e6 10.Nxc6 Rxc6 11.Qg4 Nf6 12.Qg3 Nh5 gives White more space, but Black's center again impedes White's chances to make progress (Degraeve-Kharlov, Op, Metz, 1999).

If 7.c3 Nf6 8.d4 then:

If 8...Bxe4 9.Bg5 Bd5 then:

If 10.Nbd2 e6 11.c4 Bxf3 12.Qxf3 cxd4 then:

If 13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.Qxb7 then:

If 14...Bg7 15.Qc6+ Ke7 then:

16.Nf3 f5 17.Rad1 Qc8 18.Qd5 Kd7 19.Qa5 Qc5 is equal (Romanishin-Sosonko, IT Reggio Emilia, 1986).
16.Qb7+ Kf8 17.Nb3 Rb8 18.Qxa6 Qb6 19.Qa3 Qb4 is equal (Böcher-Umansky, Corres, 2004).

14...Be7 15.Nf3 Qc8 16.Qe4 f5 17.Qxd4 Rg8 18.b3 is equal (Odeev-Nyzhnyk, Turkish League, Konya, 2012).

13.Qxb7 Be7 14.Qc6+ Nd7 15.Bxe7 Kxe7 16.Nf3 Qb6 is equal (Svidler-Topalov, IT, Prague, 2002).

If 10.c4 then:

If 10...Bxc4 11.Nc3 e6 12.Bxf6 then:

12...gxf6 13.d5 e5 14.Nh4 Bb5 15.Ne4 Bd7 16.Qh5 is equal (Martinovic-Anand, IT, Gronigen, 1989).
12...Qxf6!? 13.dxc5 0-0-0 14.Qa4 d5 15.Rac1 e5 16.Rxe5 gives White more activity and a safer King (Taulbut-Kupreichik, IT 8182, Hastings, 1981).

If 10...Bxf3 11.Qxf3 cxd4 12.Qxb7 Qc8 13.Qf3 then:

13...e6 14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.Qxf6 Rg8 16.Nd2 then:

16...Bg7 17.Qh4 h6 18.Ne4 Qc7 19.Rad1 Qe7 20.Qg3 gives White better pawns, a safer King and the initiative; Black has a passed pawn (Felgaer-Aronian, World Youth BU20, Yerevan, 2000).
16...Rg6 17.Qxd4 Rb8 18.Ne4 Qc6 19.Rad1 f5 20.Ng3 gives White an extra pawn and stronger pawns (Felgaer-Paschall, 1st Saturday December, Budapest, 2001).

13...e5 14.Nd2 Nd7 15.Nb3 f6 16.Bd2 Be7 is equal (Ivanchuk-Topalov, Amber Blind, Monte Carlo, 2003).

If 8...cxd4 9.cxd4 Bxe4 10.Nc3 then:

If 10...Bxf3 11.Qxf3 e6 12.Qxb7 Qc8 13.Qf3 Be7 then:

If 14.Bg5 0-0 15.Rac1 Qd7 then:

16.Rc2 Rac8 17.Qd3 Qb7 18.Re3 Nd5 19.Rh3 g6 is equal (Isakov-Abilmazhinov, Asian Ch, Tehran, 2002).
16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.d5 e5 18.Ne4 Be7 19.Rc6 gives White a slight edge (M. Socko-Harika, Mindsports Rpd, Beijing, 2008).

If 14.d5 e5 15.Bg5 then:

If 15...0-0 16.Ne4 Nxd5 17.Nxd6 Qe6 then:

18.Rad1 Qxd6 19.Bxe7 Qxe7 20.Rxd5 f6 21.Red1 gives White a slight advantage from his command of the d-file (Smirin-Alterman, ZT, Struga, 1995).
If 18.Bxe7 Nxe7 19.Ne4 Rac8 then:

20.h3!? Ng6 21.Ng5 Qb6 gives Black the advantage in space (A. Muzychuk-Sebag, ITW, Krasnoturinsk, 2008).

20.Rad1 Qxa2 21.Nd6 Rc2 22.Rxe5 Ng6 23.Ree1 Qxb2 is equal.

15...Qd7 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.Ne4 Be7 18.Rac1 0-0 19.Rc6 gives White a slight advantage in space (Hou Yifan-Dembo, World ChTW, Mardin, Turkey, 2007).

If 10...d5 11.Bg5 e6 then:

If 12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.Nxe4 dxe4 14.Rxe4 Qd5 then:

15.Re3 Bd6 16.Qd3 then:

16...Rc8 17.a3 Kf8 18.Rd1 Qc4 19.Qe4 Qc2 20.Qxc2 Rxc2 is equal (Xu Yuhua-Kovalevskaya, Rpd TMW, Batumi, 2001).
If 16...0-0-0 17.b4 Kb8 then:

18.Rb1!? Qxa2 19.Re2 Qd5 20.Reb2 Rc8 gives Black an extra pawn and more space (Pietrasanta-Sebag, IT, Bois Colombes, France, 2004).
18.a3 Rc8 19.g3 h5 20.Rae1 b5 is equal.

If 15.Qa4+ b5 16.Qc2 Bd6 then:

17.a4 Ke7 18.axb5 Rhc8 19.Qb1 axb5 20.Rxa8 Rxa8 is equal (Odeev-Atakisi, Turkish ChT, Konya, 2011).
17.Re3 Kf8 18.Rc3 Kg7 19.Rc6 Rhd8 is equal.

If 12.Nxe4 dxe4 13.Rxe4 Be7 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.d5 gives White a lead in development (Wang Hao-Dreev, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2006).

If 4.d4 cxd4 5.Qxd4 Bd7 6.Bxc6 Bxc6 then:

If 7.Nc3 Nf6 8.Bg5 e6 9.0-0-0 Be7 then:

If 10.Rhe1 0-0 then:

If 11.Qd2 Qc7 12.Nd4 Rfd8 13.Kb1 then:

If 13...Rab8 (14.f3 b5 15.g4 b4 16.Nce2 a5 then:

If 17.Ng3 then:

If 17...Ba8 18.Nh5 Ne8 then:

19.Bxe7 Qxe7 20.g5 a4 21.f4 g6 22.Ng3 e5 (Rasulov-Nyzhnyk, World Jr Ch, Chatowa, Poland, 2010).
19.h4 a4 20.Bxe7 Qxe7 21.g5 g6 22.Ng3 e5 gives Black a slight initiative and the advantage in space on the queenside (Spanton-Donovan, Op 0809, Hastings, 2009).

If 17...Rdc8 then:

18.Rg1 Bd7 19.Nh5 Qd8 20.Bxf6 Bxf6 21.f4 Be7 is equal (So. Polgar-Bakhtadze, World Youth BU20, Matinhos, Brazil, 1994).
If 18.Nh5 Ne8 19.Bxe7 Qxe7 then:

20.g5!? g6 21.Ng3 e5 22.Nde2 a4 23.h4 Rb5 leaves Black's queenside slightly better than White's kingside (Alekseev-Khismatullin, Russian Ch, Moscow, 2009).
20.Nf4! Ba8 21.Nd3 g6 22.g5 e5 23.Ne2 Rb6 is equal.

17.h4 a4 18.h5 Rdc8 19.Bxf6 gxf6 20.Rh1 Bd7 is equal (Movsesian-Jirovsky, Czech ChT, 1996).

If 13...a6 14.f3 b5 15.g4 Rac8 then:

If 16.Nce2!? then:

16...Ba8 17.Ng3 b4 18.Rg1 h6 19.Be3 e5?! 20.Ndf5 gives White potent threats on the kingside, not least of which is the sacrifice 21.Nxh6+, exposing Black's King to direct attack (S. Zhigalko-Durabayli, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
If 16...Bd7 17.Ng3 then:

17...g6!? 18.Rg1 e5 19.Ndf5 Bxf5 20.exf5 gives White an advantage concentrated on the kingside; Black has potential counterplay on the opposite wing (Vasiukov-Browne, Op, Reykjavik, 1980).
17...h6 18.Be3 Nh7 19.Rc1 a5 20.Red1 Rb8 gives Black a slight advantage concentrated on the queenside.

16.a3 h6 17.Be3 d5 18.e5 Nh7 19.f4 Bd7 is equal (Houdini 1.5a x64).

If 11.Kb1 then:

If 11...Qa5 12.Qd2 Qa6 13.Nd4 Rfc8 then:

If 14.f3 Be8 15.g4 b5 then:

16.h4 b4 17.Nce2 Qb7 18.Ng3 a5 19.Rg1 a4 is equal (Lallemand-Lomineishvili, Euro ChTW, Goteborg, 2005).
16.Nce2 b4 17.Ng3 h6 18.Be3 Nd7 19.Bxh6 is equal (Epishin-Dvoirys, Soviet Ch, Leningrad, 1990).

If 14.f4 h6 then:

If 15.h4!? then:

If 15...Qc4 16.g4 Kf8 17.f5 then:

If 17...hxg5? then after 18.hxg5 Nd7 19.fxe6 Ne5 20.Rh1 fxe6 21.b3 White soon wins (Vasiukov-Van Wely, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2002).
17...Kg8 18.Bxh6 gxh6 19.fxe6 Kh7 20.Nf5 Bf8 21.e7 gives White a powerful attack.

If 15...hxg5?! 16.hxg5 then:

16...Qb6 17.gxf6 Bxf6 18.e5 dxe5 19.fxe5 Be7 20.Rh1 gives White a powerful attack that Black has no way to prevent.
If 16...Nd7? then White wins after 17.Rh1 Nc5 18.Qe1 f5 19.Qh4.

15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.e5 Be7 17.exd6 Bxd6 18.f5 is equal.

If a) 11...h6 12.Bh4 Re8 then:

13.Bg3 d5 14.e5 Ne4 15.Nxe4 dxe4 16.Qxd8 Rexd8 is equal (Svidler-Kasparov, IT, Linares, 1999).
13.h3 Qa5 14.Qd2 Qb6 15.Nd4 Rac8 16.g4 a5 is equal (Andres-Hoffman, Op, Vincente López, Argentina, 2001).

b) 11...Qc7 12.Qd2 Rfd8 transposes to the parent line.

If 10.Qd3 Qa5 11.h4 h6 then:

If 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.Nd4 then:

If 13...Qb6 14.f4 then:

If 14...0-0-0 15.Nxc6 Qxc6 then:

16.Nb5 Qb6 17.c3 Be7 18.Nd4 d5 19.e5 Bc5 is equal (Zelcic-Fargere, Op, Geneva, 2010).
16.Rh3 a6 17.g4 g5 18.fxg5 hxg5 19.Qf1 Be5 is equal (Belkhodja-Movsesian, Op, Cappelle-la-Grande, 2002).

14...Bxd4 15.Qxd4 Qxd4 16.Rxd4 Ke7 17.Re1 g5 18.Nd5+ is equal (Ruan Lufei-Ju Wenjun, Grand Prix W, Shenzhen, 2011).

13...0-0 14.f4 e5 15.Nxc6 bxc6 16.f5 d5 17.exd5 Rab8 is equal (Levacic-Hauchard, French ChT, Le Port Marly, 2009).

If 12.Bd2 Qa6 13.Qxa6 bxa6 then:

14.Rde1 Ng4 15.Nd4 Bd7 16.f3 Ne5 17.b3 0-0 18.g4 Rfc8 is equal (Haznedaroglu-Houriez, Euro Ch, Aix-les-Bains, 2011).
If 14.Rhe1 Ng4 15.Re2 then:

15...0-0 16.Nd4 Bd7 17.g3 Rfc8 18.Nb3 Be8 19.f4 gives Black the little center to blunt the progress of White's pawns; White has a slight edge in space (Mamadova-Alsina Leal, Op, Barbera del Valles, 2012).
15...Bb7 16.Kb1 0-0 17.Bf4 Rfd8 18.Bg3 Nf6 19.Nd4 is equal (Galazewski-Aliavdin, Lasker Mem, Barlinek, 2007).

If 7.c4 Nf6 8.Nc3 then:

If 8...g6 9.0-0 Bg7 10.Qd3 0-0 11.Nd4 then:

If 11...Qb6 12.Rd1 then:

If 12...Ng4 13.Qd2 Qc5 14.h3 Nf6 then:

15.Qe2 Rfc8 16.b3 Qe5 17.f3 Nh5 18.Be3 gives White a small advantage in space (Ni Hua-Zhou Jianchou, Chinese Ch, Xinghua, 2009).
15.Qd3 Nd7 16.b3 Qe5 17.Qe3 f5 18.f4 gives White a small advantage in space (El Taher-Bengafer, Op, Dubai, 2001).

12...Nd7 13.b3 Nc5 14.Qe3 Ne6 15.Nde2 Qxe3 16.Bxe3 is equal (Wen Yang-Le Quang Liem, Lishiu, China, 2009).

If 11...Rc8 12.b3 then:

If 12...a6 13.Bb2 Qa5 14.Rfd1 then:

14...Rfd8 15.Rab1 Qh5 16.h3 Nd7 17.Re1 Qc5 18.Nxc6 is equal (Predojevic-Timofeev, IT, Sarajevo, 2007).
14...e6 15.Rac1 Rfd8 16.a3 Bh6 17.Rc2 Bg7 18.b4 Qh5 is equal (B. Socko-Sutovsky, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).

12...Nd7 13.Be3 Nc5 14.Qc2 Bd7 15.Rfd1 f5 16.f3 is equal (Wang Yu-N. Kosintseva, TMW, Ningbo, 2010).

If 8...e6 9.0-0 Be7 then:

10.b3 0-0 11.Bb2 a6 12.Qd3 Qa5 13.Nd4 Bd7 is equal (Chandler-W. Watson, Bundesliga 9394, Germany, 1994).
10.Re1 0-0 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bh4 a6 13.Rad1 Qa5 is equal (Schweber-Najdorf, IT, Buenos Aires, 1970).

(Venice Defense) If 3...Nd7 (Najdorf was the first to win with this move, against Canal in Venice, 1948) then:

BLACK

WHITESpanish Sicilian Rat Game: Venice DefensePosition after 3...Nb8d7

If 4.d4 Ngf6 5.Nc3 cxd4 6.Qxd4 then:

If 6...e5 7.Qd3 h6 8.Be3 Be7 9.0-0 0-0 10.Bc4 then:

If 10...a6 11.a4 Qc7 then:

If 12.Nh4 Nc5 13.Bxc5 then:

13...Qxc5 14.Ng6 Re8 15.Nxe7+ Rxe7 16.Rfd1 Rc7 17.Bb3 is equal (Saldano Dayer-Milos, Op, Buenos Aires, 2010).
13...dxc5 14.Qf3 Bg4 15.Qe3 Kh7 draw (Bojkov-Kuloats, Greek ChT, Ermioni, 2006).

If 12.Nd2 Rb8 then:

13.a5 Nc5 14.Qe2 Be6 15.Bxe6 Nxe6 16.Ra4 Qc6 17.Rc4 gives White a slight edge with greater activity, the initiative and more space, but Black's defense is solid (Adams-Svidler, FIDE Knock Out, New Delhi, 2000).
13.Ba7 Ra8 14.Be3 Rb8 draw (Yandemirov-Kurnosov, Russian Cup, Togliatty, 2001).

If 10...Nb6 11.Bb3 Be6 12.Nh4 then:

If 12...Rc8 13.Ng6 Re8 then:

If 14.Rfd1 then:

If 14...Nc4 15.Bxc4 Rxc4 then:

16.Nxe7+ Rxe7 17.Qxd6 Qxd6 18.Rxd6 Nxe4 19.Nxe4 Rxe4 20.b3 gives White a Rook on a navigable file and a remote pawn majority; Black's defense is solid (Chandler-Mestel, ZT, Brighton, 1984).
16.b3 Rc8 17.Nxe7+ Rxe7 18.Nb5 a6 is equal.

14...Rfd8 (providing more backing for the d-pawn) 15.Rad1 Qe8 16.Nxe7+ Qxe7 17.Bxb6 axb6 18.Qc4 gives White a slight advantage with stronger pawns.

14.Nxe7+ Rxe7 15.Rfd1 Rd7 16.Nd5 Nbxd5 17.exd5 Bg4 is equal (Shaked-Ashley, Op, Bermuda, 1997).

If 12...Qd7 13.Bxe6 fxe6 then:

14.Ng6 then:

14...Rfe8!? 15.Rad1 Rad8 16.Nb5 Nc8 17.Nxa7 Nxa7 18.Bxa7 gives White an extra pawn and better pawns (Raschewski-Mukherjee, Corres, 1997).
If 14.Nb5 Nc8 15.Ng6 then:

15...Rd8 16.c4 a6 17.Nc3 Qe8 18.Nxe7+ Nxe7 19.Rad1 is equal (Kupreichik-Polugaevsky, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1976).
If 15...Rf7 16.Rad1 Qc6 17.f3 Kh7 18.Nxe7 Rxe7 19.c4 gives White a small advantage as Black's central pawn mass is restrained.

If 6...a6 7.Bxd7+ Bxd7 then:

If 8.Bg5 then:

If 8...e6 9.0-0-0 then:

If 9...Bc6 10.e5 then:

If 10...dxe5 11.Qxe5 then:

11...Nd7? 12.Bxd8 Nxe5 13.Nxe5 Rxd8 14.Rxd8+ Kxd8 15.Nxf7+ wins the exchange and gives White a healthy material advantage; Black resigns after a few more moves (Ricardi-Pérez Nivar, Thessoloniki, 1984).
11...Qe7 12.Nd4 Nd7 13.Qf4 f6 14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.Qc7 still leaves Black in danger, but he could fight his way out of it.

Black should lose before his chair is warm after 10...Bxf3? 11.gxf3! when:

If 11...Qa5 12.Bxf6 gxf6 13.exd6 then:

If 13...Qe5 14.Qa4+ b5 then:

Black lets White off the hook with 15.d7+? Kd8 16.Qb3 Qf4+ 17.Kb1 Qb4 18.Ne4 Qxb3 when Black equalizes (Quillan-Sherzer, IT, Prestwich, England, 1990).
White wins after 15.Qa3! Bh6+ 16.Kb1 0-0 17.Rhg1+ Kh8 18.d7.

If 13...0-0-0 then White wins after 14.Qxf6 Rg8 15.Qxf7 Kb8 16.f4 Rg4 17.h3.

If 11...Be7 then White wins after 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.exf6 Qxf6 14.Qxd6 Qe7 15.Rhg1.

If 9...h6 10.Bh4 Be7 then:

11.e5 dxe5 12.Nxe5 Bc6 13.Nxc6 bxc6 14.Qa4 draw (Lettieri-Krivokapic, World Jr Ch, Istanbul, 2005).
If 11.Rhe1 then:

11...Qc7 12.e5 dxe5 13.Nxe5 Rd8 14.Bg3 Qc8 is equal (Rublevsky-Ruban, Trmt, Novosibirsk. 1995).
If 11...e5 12.Qd3 g5 13.Bg3 Rc8 14.Kb1 b5 15.a3 is equal.

If 8...Bc6 9.0-0-0 Qa5 then:

10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.Kb1 Rg8 12.Nh4 e6 13.Rhe1 0-0-0 is equal (Pfretzschner-Grafl, Bundesliga 0001, Tegernsee, 2001).
If 10.Rhe1 then:

If 10...h6?! 11.e5! then:

11...0-0-0? 12.exf6! Bxf3 13.gxf3 Qxg5+ 14.Re3 gxf6 15.Ne4 Qf4 16.Qa7 f5 17.Nc5 Qb4 18.Rb3! leaves Black in a mating net; he resigns (Chekhov-Mikhalchishin, Soviet ChU18, Lvov, 1974).
11...hxg5 12.exf6 gxf6 13.Qxf6 Rh6 14.Rxe7+ Bxe7 15.Qxh6 leaves White a pawn to the good with Black's King exposed.

10...Nd7 11.Nd5 Bxd5 12.exd5 Qxa2 13.Bf4 Qa1+ 14.Kd2 gives White more space and better development; Black has an active Queen.

If 8.0-0 then:

8...e5 9.Qd3 h6 10.a4 Rc8 11.Be3 Be7 12.a5 Qc7 13.Nd2 then:

If 13...Be6 14.Rfc1 Qc6 then:

If 15.f3 0-0 then:

16.Bb6 Rfe8 17.Kh1 d5 18.exd5 Nxd5 19.Nxd5 Qxd5 20.Qxd5 Bxd5 gives Black a clear advantage in space (Sikora-Litinskaya, Polish ChT, Lubniewice, 1995).
16.Nf1 d5 17.exd5 Nxd5 18.Nxd5 Bxd5 19.Qf5 Be6 gives Black a fair advantage in space (Vokac-Stocek, Czech Ch, Lazne Bohdanec, 1999).

If 15.Na4 d5 16.exd5 Nxd5 17.Nb6 then:

17...Nxe3 18.Qxe3 Rd8 19.Nf3 f6 20.c4 Bc5 gives Black a comfortable advantage in space (Sarbok-Barnidze, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2012).
17...Rd8 18.Nxd5 Bxd5 19.Qf1 0-0 20.c4 Be6 gives Black a comfortable game (Kulovana-Khukhashvili, Euro ChTW, Novi Sad, 2009).

If 13...0-0 then:

If 14.Rfc1 Be6 15.Nd5 Nxd5 16.exd5 Bd7 then:

17.Bb6 Qb8 18.c4 f5 19.b4 e4 20.Qb3 Bg5 is equal (Dembo-Ziaziulkina, OlW, Istanbul, 2012).
17.c4 f5 18.b4 Qd8 19.f4 Bf6 20.Rab1 Re8 is equal (D. Popovic-Gopal, Ol, Istanbul, 2012).

If 14.Rfd1 Be6 then:

If 15.Bb6 Qc6 16.Nf1 Nd7 then:

If 17.Ne3 Nxb6 18.axb6 Qxb6 19.Ncd5 then:

19...Bxd5 20.Nxd5 Qd8 21.c4 Rc6 22.b4 Bg5 23.g3 Qc8 is equal (Hernández Estevez-Papp, OlW, Istanbul, 2012).
19...Qd8 20.Nxe7+ Qxe7 21.Qxd6 Qxd6 22.Rxd6 Rfd8 23.Rad1 is equal (Holzhaeuer-Bischoff, German Ch, Gladenbach, 1997).

17.Ba7 Nc5 18.Qe2 Bg5 19.Bb6 g6 20.Nd2 Be7 is equal.

15.Nf1 Qc4 draw (Adams-Radjabov, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2009).

If 8...e6 9.Bg5 Be7 10.Rad1 then:

If 10...Bc6 11.Rfe1 then:

11...Rc8 12.Nd5 Nxd5 13.exd5 Bxg5 14.dxc6 Rxc6 15.Qxg7 is equal (Kobalia-Kovchan, IT, Kharkov, 2002).
11...0-0 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.Qxd6 Bxc3 14.Qxd8 Rfxd8 15.Rxd8+ Rxd8 16.bxc3 Ba4 17.Nd4 e5 18.Nb3 Kf8 19.f3 draw (Lechtynsky-Mukhin, Czechoslavakian Ch, Luhacovice, 1973).

If 10...Qc7 11.Rfe1 then:

11...Rd8 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.Qxd6 Qxd6 14.Rxd6 Bxc3 15.bxc3 leaves White slightly better (Haddouche-Amanov, Ol, Dresden, 2008).
11...Bc6 12.Bh4 0-0 13.h3 Rfd8 14.g4 d5 gives Black a slight edge in the center (Rizzi-James, EU Ch, Liverpool, 2008).

If a) 4.0-0 Ngf6 5.Re1 a6 then:

If 6.Bf1 b6 7.d4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bb7 then:

If 9.f3 then:

If 9...e6 10.c4 Be7 11.Nc3 0-0 12.Be3 Rc8 13.Rc1 Qc7 14.Qd2 Qb8 15.Qf2 Rfe8 then:

If 16.Red1 Bd8 17.b3 Bc7 18.g3 Ne5 then:

19.h3 Ba8 20.a4 Ned7 21.g4 Nc5 22.Rb1 d5 gives White a slight advantage in space (Fejzullahu-Feller, Euro Ch, Aix-les-Bains, 2011).
19.Be2 Qa8 20.h3 Ng6 21.Nc2 d5 22.Bxb6 Bxb6 23.Qxb6 dxe4 is equal(Vidarsson-Arlandi, Ol, Bled, 2002).

If 16.Kh1 Bd8 17.b4 then:

17...Ne5 18.Na4 Ned7 19.Red1 Bc7 20.Nb3 Bc6 21.b5 is equal (Malakhov-Csom, 1st Saturday July, Budapest, 1995).
17...Bc7 18.Qg1 Kh8 19.Nb3 Rg8 20.Bd4 Rcd8 21.Red1 gives White the advantage in space, but it will be difficult to exploit (Anh Dung Nguyen-Kunte, Asian ChT, Esfahan, Iran, 2005).

If 9...g6 10.c4 Bg7 then:

11.Be3 0-0 12.Nc3 e6 13.Qd2 Qc7 14.Rac1 Rfd8 15.Red1 gives White a slight advantage in space; Black will have difficulty enforcing ...d5 but his hedgehog is solid (Erturan-Kempinski, Euro Club Cup, Kemer, Turkey, 2007).
11.Nc3 Rc8 12.a4 Ne5 13.b3 0-0 14.Be3 e6 is equal (Bologan-Rowson, IT, Selfoss, Iceland, 2003).

If a1) 9.Nc3 e6 then:

If 10.g3 Be7 11.Bg2 Qc7 12.a4 then:

If 12...0-0 then:

13.f4 g6 14.Be3 Rfe8 15.Nb3 Bf8 16.Qe2 e5 is equal (Djuric-A. Kovacevic, Serbian ChT, Zlatibor, 2006).
13.h3 Rfe8 14.g4 h6 15.Qd3 Ne5 16.Qg3 Nh7 gives White a slight edge in space if that element is examined statically, but a dynamic view shows that Black has resources to fight back and take the advantage himself (Hector-Nielsen, Jonsson Mem, Reykjavik, 2001).

12...Rd8 13.Qe2 Qb8 14.b3 Qa8 15.Bb2 0-0 16.Rad1 is equal (Bologan-Fedorov, IT, Belfort, France, 1999).

10.f4 Qc7 11.Kh1 Nc5 12.Bd3 g6 13.f5 gxf5 gives Black better pawns and the open g-file (Curdo-Schoer, US Op, Alexandria, Virginia, 1996).

If a2) 9.c4 then:

9...e6 10.Nc3 Be7 11.f3 transposes into the text.
9...g6 10.f3 Bg7 transposes into Erturan-Kempinski and Bologan-Rowson, above.

If 6.Bxd7+ then:

If 6...Nxd7 then:

If 7.d4 e6 then:

If 8.d5 e5 9.a4 b6 10.c4 a5 11.Ng5 is equal (Lendwai-Pavasovic, Wagner Mem, Graz, 1998).
12.b4 Na4 13.Nd4 0-0 14.Qd3 gives White a slim edge.

If 8.a4 Be7 9.Na3 then:

If 9...b5!? 10.dxc5! Nxc5 11.axb5 axb5 then:

12.Bf4!? b4 13.Nc4 Rxa1 14.Qxa1 0-0 15.Qd1 e5 is equal (Arribas Robaina-Mascaro March, Capablanca Mem, Havana, 2004).
If 9...cxd4 10.Qxd4 e5 then:

If 11.Qd2 Nc5 12.a5 f5 13.exf5 Bxf5 14.b4 Ne6 is equal.
11.Qe3 Nc5 12.Nc4 Be6 13.Qe2 0-0 14.a5 Rb8 is equal.

If 7.c3 e6 8.d4 Be7 9.a4 b6 then:

10.Bf4 Bb7 11.d5 e5 12.Bg3 h5 13.h3 is equal (Hodak-Ftacnik, Vinkovci, 1995).
10.Na3 Bb7 11.b3 0-0 12.Bb2 Nf6 13.Nd2 cxd4 prepares 11...Rc8 for Black (Hamelink-Lallemand, Euro ChTW, Goteborg, 2005).

If 6...Bxd7 7.c3 Bc6 8.d4 Bxe4 9.Bg5 transposes into Romanishin-Sosonko (subordinate to Rublevsky-Agopov) in the red notes to this text move.

If b) 4.c3 then:

If 4...Ngf6 5.Qe2 a6 then:

If 6.Ba4 b5 7.Bc2 then:

If 7...e5 8.0-0 Be7 9.d4 0-0 10.a4 Bb7 then:

If 11.Rd1 Qc7 12.dxe5 dxe5 then:

If 13.axb5 axb5 14.Rxa8 Rxa8 15.Na3 b4 16.Nc4 h6 then:

17.Bd2 Bf8 18.h3 Bc6 19.Rc1 Qb8 20.Bd3 Bb7 is equal (Delchev-Svidler, Palma de Mallorca, 2004).
17.Bd3 Ra2 18.Nfd2 Bf8 19.h3 Bc6 20.Bb1 Ra8 gives White a better center; Black could gain counterplay on the queenside (Bellini-Shytaj, Ol, Torino, 2006).

13.Nh4 g6 14.Bg5 Rfe8 15.axb5 axb5 is equal (Liiva-Gopal, Mindsports Rpd, Beijing, 2008).

If 11.d5 c4 then:

12.b3 cxb3 13.Bxb3 Nc5 14.Bc2 bxa4 15.Ba3 Nfd7 is equal (Benjamin-Krush, US Ch, St. Louis, 2009).
12.Na3 Nc5 13.h3 Bc8 14.Nh2 Rb8 15.f4 Ne8 is equal (Sandipan-A. Tate, Op, Gibraltar, 2008).

If 7...Bb7 8.0-0 e6 9.d4 Be7 then:

If 10.Re1 cxd4 11.cxd4 Rc8 then:

12.Bd3 0-0 13.Nbd2 e5 14.d5 Nc5 15.Bc2 Nfd7 is equal (Lorenzini-Mareco, Argentine Ch, La Plata, 2012).
12.a3 0-0 13.Nc3 Rc7 14.Bf4 Qa8 15.Rac1 Rfc8 is equal (M. Turov-Anastasian, Op, Ubeda, 2000).

10.Nbd2 Qc7 11.Bd3 0-0 12.Re1 e5 13.dxe5 dxe5 is equal (Wang Chen-Ding Liren, Chinese Ch, Xinghua, 2012).

If 4...a6 5.Ba4 Ngf6 then:

If 6.Qe2 then:

If 6...e5 then:

If 7.0-0 Be7 8.d4 b5 9.Bc2 0-0 10.a4 then:

10...Rb8 11.axb5 axb5 12.Rd1 Qc7 13.h3 Re8 is equal (Galego-Spraggett, Op, Andorra, 2006).
10...Bb7 11.d5 c4 transposes into Benjamin-Krush, above.
6...b5 7.Bc2 e5 8.0-0 Be7 9.d4 transposes into Delchev-Svidler and related lines, above.

If 6.Bc2 then:

If 6...e6 7.0-0 b5 then:

8.a4 Bb7 9.Qe2 Be7 10.d4 0-0 is equal (Karayev-Bregadze, World Youth BU16, Vung Tau, Vietnam, 2008).
8.d4 Bb7 9.Qe2 Be7 10.Re1 cxd4 11.cxd4 transposes into Lorenzini-Mareco, above.

6...e5 7.d4 Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.Nbd2 Qc7 10.Re1 is equal (Canal-Najdorf, IT, Venice, 1948).

BLACK

WHITESpanish Sicilian Rat Game: Main LinePosition after 3.Bc8d7

4.Bxd7+

If 4.a4 then:

If 4...Nc6 5.0-0 Nf6 6.Re1 e6 then:

If 7.c3 a6 8.Bf1 Be7 9.d4 then:

9...cxd4 10.cxd4 d5 11.exd5 Nxd5 12.Nc3 0-0 13.Bd3 is equal (Bronstein-Teischer, IT, Monte Carlo, 1969).
9...e5 10.d5 Nb8 11.Na3 0-0 12.Nc4 Bg4 13.b4 gives White a small advantage in space (Gurganidze-Tringov, World ChTU26, Leningrad, 1960).

If 7.Nc3 Be7 8.d3 0-0 then:

If 9.Bxc6 Bxc6 then:

10.e5!? Nd7! 11.Bf4 dxe5 12.Nxe5 Nxe5 13.Bxe5 f6 gives Black a slight advantage (Wade-P. Lee, British Ch, Oxford, 1967).
10.Bf4 Qd7 11.Qe2 e5 12.Bg5 h6 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 remains equal.

9.e5 Nxe5 10.Nxe5 dxe5 11.Rxe5 Bd6 12.Re1 Qc7 is equal (Marinovic-Lapcevic, TT, Belgrade, 2008).

If 4...Nf6 5.d3 Nc6 6.0-0 e6 then:

If 7.Nbd2 Be7 8.Nc4 0-0 9.Bg5 then:

9...d5 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Bxe7 Qxe7 12.Re1 Rfd8 13.Bxc6 Bxc6 is equal (Wade-A. Williams, British Ch, Coventry, 1970).
9...Qc7 10.Re1 Rad8 11.e5 dxe5 12.Nfxe5 Nxe5 13.Bf4 is equal (Lein-Tal, Soviet Ch, Kharkov, 1967).

7.Re1 Be7 8.Nbd2 0-0 9.c3 a6 10.Bc4 Qc7 is equal (García Martínez-Portisch, IT, Palma de Mallorca, 1971).

4...Qxd7

If 4...Nxd7 5.0-0 Ngf6 then:

If 6.Qe2 e6 then:

If 7.b3 Be7 8.Bb2 0-0 9.c4 then:

If 9...a6 10.d4 cxd4 11.Nxd4 then:

If 11...Qb6 12.Rd1 Rfe8 13.Nc3 then:

If 13...Rad8 14.Kh1 Bf8 then:

15.Rd2 Qc7 16.f4 e5 17.fxe5 Rxe5 18.Rf1 gives White a small advantage in space (Novikov-Dabetic, Euro Club Cup, Ohrid, 2009).
15.Rab1 g6 16.f3 Bg7 17.Nc2 Qc7 18.Ne3 Nh5 gives White a slight advantage in space (Vasiukov-Ristic, IT, Cacak, 1994).

If 13...Rac8 14.Rac1 then:

14...Bf8 15.Kh1 Qa5 16.Rc2 Qh5 17.Qxh5 Nxh5 18.g3 gives White the advantage in space and Black a poorly placed Knight (Frois-Maki Uuro, Euro ChT, León, Spain, 2001).
a) 14...Qc7 15.h3 b6 16.Re1 g6 17.Rcd1 Qb7 18.Rd2 gives White a slight edge (Jussupow-Van Wely, Rpd IT, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, 1994).
b) 14...Ne5 15.Rd2 Nc6 16.Nxc6 Qxc6 17.Rcd1 Red8 18.f4 gives White more space, especially in the center.

If 11...Re8 12.Nc3 Rc8 13.Rad1 then:

If 13...Qa5 then:

If 14.Kh1 Bf8 15.f4 Qh5 16.Nf3 then:

If 16...Rc7 17.e5 dxe5 18.fxe5 Ng4 then:

If 19.Ne4 then:

19...f6!? 20.exf6 Ndxf6 21.Nxf6+!? Nxf6 22.g4 is equal (Ovetchkin-Lerner, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2002).
If 19...Bc5 20.h3 Ne3 21.Nxc5 then:

If 23.Nb6! Rc6 24.c5 Qg6 25.Qxb2 Rxc5 26.Nc4 gives White the advantage in space.
23.Qxb2? Rxd7! 24.Qc2 h6 25.Qe4 Red8 26.Qe1 Qf5 leaves White with no compensation whatsoever for the exchange; Black should win.

21...Nxf1?! 22.Ne4! Nc5 23.Rxf1 Nxe4 24.Qxe4 Rd7 25.Ba3 gives White two minor pieces and a significant advantage in space for a Rook; Black has stronger pawns.

19.h3 Nh6 20.Ne4 b5 21.cxb5 axb5 22.Qxb5 gives White a small advantage in space and the initiative.

16...Qh6 17.Bc1 Nh5 18.Qe1 f5 19.e5 d5 20.Ne2 gives White a small advantage in space (Rosito-Ricardi, Argentine Ch, Buenos Aires, 1995).

If 14.f4 b5 15.e5 then:

15...b4 16.exf6 bxc3 17.Bxc3 Qxc3 18.fxe7 gives White more freedom and a small advantage in space (Ivanchuk-Miton, Capablanca Mem, Havana, 2006).
If 15...dxe5! 16.fxe5 then:

16...bxc4?! 17.exf6 Nxf6 18.Kh1 cxb3 19.Nxb3 gives Black only two pawns for the piece.
16...b4 17.exf6 bxc3 transposes into Ivanchuk-Miton, above.

If 13...Qc7 14.Kh1 Bf8 15.f4 Qa5 then:

If 16.Nf3 Red8 17.e5 dxe5 18.fxe5 then:

If 18...Ng4 19.Ng5 Ndxe5 20.Nd5 then:

If 20...exd5!? 21.Bxe5 Nxe5 22.Qxe5 Rc7 then:

23.cxd5?! Re7! 24.Qf5 g6 25.Qh3 f5 26.d6 Red7 is equal (Fressinet-J. Polgar, IT, Enghien-les-Bains, 2003).
23.Qf4 Rdd7 24.Rxd5 Rxd5 25.cxd5 Qb6 26.Nxf7 gives White a weak extra pawn.

20...Qxa2 21.Qc2 Ng6 22.Ra1 Qxa1 23.Bxa1 Rxd5 24.Nxe6 gives White a Queen for a Rook and a minor piece.

18...Bb4?! 19.Na4! Ng4 20.Qe4 h5 21.h3 Nh6 22.Ng5 gives White potent threats on the kingside.

16.Ba1 Rcd8 17.Nf3 Nh5 18.g3 Nhf6 19.e5 dxe5 20.fxe5 gives White a small advantage in space (Tkachiev-Serper, IT, Djakarta, 1994).

If 9...e5 10.Nc3 then:

If 10...Ne8 11.Ne1 Nc7 12.Nc2 then:

12...Bg5 13.Ne3 Nf6 14.g3 Ne6 15.Qd3 Qd7 16.Ncd5 gives White a small advantage in space (Yasudin-Shirov, Euro Club Cup, Ljubljana, 1995).
12...Bf6 13.Ne3 Ne6 14.g3 g6 15.Qd3 Nd4 16.Ncd5 Bg7 17.f3 draw (Hernández Guerrero-Mecking, Ol, Palma de Mallorca, 2004).

If 10...Nh5 then:

11.g3 g6 12.Ne1 Qe8 13.Ng2 a6 14.Rae1 allows White to put a piece in Black's weakness at d5 (Reinderman-Van der Wiel, IT B, Wijk aan Zee, 2000).
11.Nd5 Ndf6 12.Nxe7+ Qxe7 13.g3 Qd7 14.Nh4 gives White a slight advantage in space (Antipov-Simonian, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2009).

If 7.c3 Be7 8.d4 then:

If 8...0-0 then:

If 9.e5 Ne8 then:

If 10.exd6 10...Nxd6 11.Rd1 cxd4 12.Nxd4 then:

12...Re8 13.Na3 a6 14.Nc4 Qc7 15.Bf4 e5 16.Nxd6 Bxd6 is equal (Lechtynsky-Geller, Euro ChT, Moscow, 1977).
12...Qc8 13.Bf4 Re8 14.Bxd6 Bxd6 15.Nd2 a6 16.Ne4 Be7 17.Nf3 Qc7 draw (Lechtynsky-Csom, Ol, Malta, 1980).

10.Bf4 Rc8 11.Re1 Nb6 12.Nbd2 cxd4 13.cxd4 d5 is equal (V. Papin-A. Zhigalko, Rpd Op, Warsaw, 2005).

If 9.Rd1 cxd4 10.cxd4 then:

If 10...d5 11.e5 Ne4 12.Ne1 then:

12...h6 13.Nd3 Nb8 14.Qg4 Kh8 15.Nf4 Nc6 16.Nc3 gives White a slight initiative (Arkhipov-Leko, IT, Lippstadt, 1993).
12...f6 13.f3 Ng5 14.exf6 Bxf6 15.Bxg5 Bxg5 16.Qxe6+ gives White the initiative (Kovalev-Gallagher, Euro ChT, Plovdiv, 2003).

If 10...Nb6 11.Nc3 then:

11...Rc8 12.Rd3 Qc7 13.Bg5 h6 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 is equal. (Chekhov-Panchenko, Russian ChT, Podolsk, 1992).
11...Qc7 12.Bg5 h6 13.Bh4 Rfc8 14.Rac1 Qd8 15.Rc2 is equal (E. Torre-Polugaevsky, Op, Biel, 1989).

If 8...cxd4 9.cxd4 d5 10.e5 Ne4 then:

If 11.Ne1 Qb6 then:

If 12.Be3 f6 13.f3 Ng5 14.Nd3 0-0 15.Nc3 then:

If 15...Rac8 16.Bf2 Qa6 17.Rfe1 fxe5 18.Nxe5 Nxe5 19.Qxe5 is equal (Lechtynsky-Donchev. IT. Brataslava, 1983).
15...Qa6 16.Rae1 Rae8 17.Bf2 fxe5 18.dxe5 Nf7 19.f4 is equal (Shaked-de Firmian, IT, Bermuda, 1997).

12.f3?! Qxd4+! 13.Be3 Qxe3+ 14.Qxe3 Bc5 15.Qxc5 Nexc5 gives Black a fierce attack in the center (Chekhov-Khasin, Zaitsev Mem, Vladivostok, 1978).

If 11.Nbd2 Nxd2 12.Bxd2 0-0 then:

13.Qb5 Nb6 14.Ba5 Qd7 15.Qxd7 Nxd7 16.Rfc1 Rfc8 is equal (Varga-Tolnai, Hungarian Ch, Lillafured, 1999).
13.Rac1 Qb6 14.Rc2 Rac8 15.Rfc1 Rxc2 16.Rxc2 Nb8 is equal (Mhamal-West, Commonwealth Ch, Nagpur, India, 2008).

If 6.Re1 e6 7.c3 Be7 8.d4 then:

If 8...cxd4 9.cxd4 d5 10.e5 Ne4 then:

If 11.Nbd2 Nxd2 12.Bxd2 0-0 13.Rc1 then:

If 13...Nb8 14.Qb3 Qd7 then:

15.Qd3 Nc6 16.Ng5 Bxg5 17.Bxg5 Kh8 18.Re3 gives White more freedom and the advantage in space (I. D. Wells-Ligternink, Op, London, 1980).
15.Bb4 Bxb4 16.Qxb4 Nc6 17.Qa3 Rac8 18.Rc3 h6 19.Rec1 a6 20.h3 draw (Leko-Yusadin, IT, León, 1993).

13...Nb6 14.b3 Rc8 15.Re3 Rxc1 16.Qxc1 Qd7 17.Rc3 is equal (Perelshteyn-Fedorowicz, US Ch, Tulsa, 2008).

11.Re2 Qb6 12.Ne1 f6 13.f3 Ng5 14.Be3 is equal (Arapovic-Komljenovic, IT, Augsburg, 1991).

If 8...0-0 then:

If 9.e5 Ne8 then:

10.Qe2 Rc8 11.exd6 Bxd6 12.Bg5 Qc7 13.Na3 a6 14.Nc4is equal (Szmetan-Tal, Termas de Rio Hondo, Argentina, 1987).
If 10.exd6 Nxd6 then:

If 11.d5 exd5 12.Qxd5 Rc8 13.Bf4 then:

13...Nf6 14.Qd3 Nde4 15.Qc4 Bd6 16.Nbd2 Nxd2 17.Bxd2 is equal (Fishbein-Novikov, US Ch, San Diego, 2004).
13...Nb6 14.Qd1 Re8 15.Na3 Bf8 16.Qc2 Qf6 17.Bg3 is equal (Short-Tiviakov, IT, Linares, 1995).

11.Bf4 cxd4 12.Nxd4 Qb6 13.Nd2 h6 14.a4 Rad8 is equal.

If 9.Bg5 then:

9...h6 10.Bh4 cxd4 11.cxd4 Nh5 12.Bxe7 Qxe7 13.Nc3 gives White a slight advantage in space (Organdziev-Urosevic, Valjevo, Serbia, 2010)
9...d5 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Bxe7 Nxe7 12.c4 cxd4 13.Qxd4 is equal (Hammoudi-Seegolam, Ol, Istanbul, 2012).

5.c4

If 5.0-0 Nc6 then:

If 6.c3 Nf6 then:

If 7.Re1 e6 then:

If 8.d4 cxd4 9.cxd4 d5 10.e5 then:

If 10...Ne4 11.Nbd2 Nxd2 12.Bxd2 Be7 then:

If 13.Rc1 0-0 14.Rc3 then:

If 14...Rac8 15.a3 then:

15...Nb8 16.Rd3 then:

If 16...Qc6 17.Bc3 Nd7 18.h4 Nb6 19.Ng5 then:

19...g6 20.Qg4 h5 21.Qf4 Na4 22.Rf3 Nxc3 23.bxc3 is equal (Sedina-Becuwe, Op, Cappelle-la-Grande, 2011).
19...Na4 20.Qg4 h6 21.Nh3 Kh8 22.Rg3 Rg8 23.Ng5 gives White a small advantage in space (De la Riva Aguado-Leitão. Ibero-American Ch, Quito, 2012).

16...Qb5 17.Rb3 Qc6 18.Ng5 Bxg5 19.Bxg5 Nd7 20.Qg4 gives White a small advantage in space (Degraeve-Areshchenko, Bundesliga 0607, Germany, 2007).

If 15...b5 16.Rd3 b4 17.h4 then:

If 17...bxa3 18.bxa3 f6 19.exf6 Bxf6 20.Bg5 Qf7 21.Qe2 gives White a slight edge (Tairova-Hou Yifan, TMW, Ergun, 2006).
17...Qd8 18.h5 Qb6 19.Nh2 Kh8 20.Qg4 Rg8 21.Nf3 is equal (Penne-Hitter, EU ChWU16, Herceg Novi, 2008).

If 14...Rfc8 15.a3 then:

If 15...b5 16.Rd3 then:

If 16...Qd8 17.h4 h6 18.Nh2 then:

18...Bxh4 19.Qh5 Bg5 20.f4 g6 21.Qh3 Bh4 22.g3 is equal (Kovalevskaya-Cmilyte, Grand Prix W, Nalchik, 2011).
18...b4 19.Qh5 Qf8 20.Ng4 Kh7 21.Rf3 gives White the advantage with the threat to Black's f-pawn (Arakhamia-Cernousek, 4NCL, Hinkley, England, 2012).

16...a5 17.h4 a4 18.h5 Na5 19.Nh2 Nc4 is equal (Boskovic-Sahovic, IT, Belgrade, 2001).

If 15...Bd8 then:

16.Qb1 Ne7 17.Rec1 Rxc3 18.Rxc3 Rc8 19.Qc2 h6 is equal (Kuzubov-Areshchenko, Ukrainian Ch, Kiev, 2012).
16.Rd3 h6 17.h4 Ne7 18.h5 a5 19.Nh4 is equal (I. Zaitsev-Vasiukov, Furman Mem, St. Petersburg, 1995).

If 13.Bg5 0-0 then:

If 14.Bxe7 Qxe7 15.Re3 then:

If 15...Rac8 16.Rc1 Qb4 then:

17.Rec3 Ne7 18.Rb3 Qa4 19.Rxb7 Rxc1 20.Qxc1 Rc8 21.Qe1 Nc6 is equal (Hecht-Smejkal, IT, Amsterdam, 1971).
17.Rb3 Qa4 18.Ra3 Qxd1+ 19.Rxd1 f6 20.exf6 gxf6 is equal (Gufeld-Geller, Soviet Ch, Leningrad, 1963).

15...Rfc8 16.Rc1 a6 17.Rec3 Na7 18.Rxc8+ Rxc8 19.Rxc8+ Nxc8 draw (Kruppa-Gavrikov, Soviet Ch ½-final, Sverdlovsk, 1984).

14.Rc1 Bxg5 15.Nxg5 h6 16.Nf3 Rac8 17.Qd2 Ne7 is equal (Khachiyan-Yegiazarian, Gufeld Mem, Burbank, 2003).

If 10...Ng8 11.Nc3 Nge7 then:

12.Ne2 Nf5 13.Nf4 h5 14.h4 Be7 15.g3 0-0-0 is equal (Sebag-Radjabov, Rpd IT, Cap d'Agde, 2006).
12.Bg5 h6 13.Bf4 h5 14.a3 Nf5 15.Rc1 is equal (D. Hall-I. Stokes, British Ch, Great Yarmouth, 2007).

If 8.d3 Be7 then:

If 9.Nbd2 0-0 10.Nf1 then:

If 10...b5 11.Ng3 b4 12.c4 Ng4 then:

13.d4 cxd4 14.Nxd4 Nxd4 15.Qxg4 Nc2 16.Bh6 g6 is equal (Bu Xiangzhi-Markus, Op, Reykjavik, 2004).
If 13.h3 Nge5 14.Be3 Nxf3+ 15.Qxf3 Bf6 16.Rab1 Nd4 is equal (Meister-Acs, Bundesliga 0708, Zehlendorf, 2008).

If 10...Ne5 11.Ng3 Qb5 12.d4 then:

12...Nxf3+ 13.Qxf3 cxd4 14.cxd4 Rac8 15.Qe2 Qxe2 16.Rxe2 d5 17.e5 draw (Karpov-Morovic Fernández, Rpd IT, São Paulo, 2004).
12...cxd4 13.cxd4 Nd3 14.Qe2 a6 15.a4 Nxc1 16.Qxb5 axb5 17.Rexc1 is equal (Tyomkin-Ivanchuk, Canadian Op, Edmonton, 2005).

If 9.Bg5 then:

If 9...0-0 10.Nbd2 h6 11.Bh4 Rac8 12.Nf1 then:

12...b5 13.Ne3 Qb7 14.h3 Rfe8 15.Nh2 Ne5 is equal (Delgado Ramírez-Martín del Campo, Torre Mem, Yucatán, 2004).
12...Rfd8 13.Qe2 b5 14.Rad1 a6 15.h3 Nh5 is equal (Guerrero Hernández-A. Chow, IT, Shaumburg, Illinois, 2006).

9...h6 10.Bh4 0-0 transposes.

If a) 7.Qe2 e6 8.d4 cxd4 then:

If 9.cxd4 d5 10.e5 Ne4 then:

If 11.Be3 Be7 12.Ne1 then:

If 12...f6 13.f3 Ng5 14.Nd3 then:

If 14...0-0 15.Nd2 then:

If 15...Rac8 16.Rac1 b6 17.Bf2 Nf7 then:

18.f4 f5 19.Nf3 Rc7 20.Rc2 Rfc8 21.Rfc1 Nb8 is equal (Kobalia-Robson, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2012).
18.a3 f5 19.h4 Rc7 20.Rc3 Rfc8 21.Rfc1 Na5 is equal (Alekseev-Gashimov, Grand Priox, Elista, 2008).

If 15...Nf7 16.f4 f5 17.Nf3 b6 18.Rac1 Rac8 then:

If 19.h3 Na5 20.g4 Nh6 then:

21.Qg2!? Nc4! 22.Rce1 Nxe3 23.Rxe3 fxg4 24.hxg4 Qe8 gives White a slight advantage in space; Black has command of an open file (Rublevsky-Ulibin, Russian Ch Qual, Tomsk, 2004).
21.g5 Nf7 22.Bf2 Nc4 23.Bh4 g6 24.Bf2 Rc6 is equal.

19.Rc2 Rc7 20.Rfc1 Rfc8 21.Bd2 Nb8 22.Bb4 Bd8 is equal (Kornev-Belov, Russian Ch, Tomsk, 2006).

If 14...fxe5 15.dxe5 then:

15...0-0 16.Nd2 Nf7 17.f4 Nh6 18.Nf3 Qe8 19.Rac1 is equal (Smeets-Vachier Lagrave, Bundesliga 0910, Mülheim, 2009).
15...Nf7 16.Bf2 0-0 17.Nd2 Rac8 18.f4 Nb4 is equal (Ulibin-Dragun, Op, Cappelle-la-Grande, 2009).

If 12...f5 13.f3 Ng5 then:

14.Nd3 Nf7 15.f4 Rc8 16.Nd2 Nb4 17.Nxb4 draw (Vescovi-Guseinov, FIDE Knock Out, Tripoli, 2004).
14.Nc3 0-0 15.Nd3 Rac8 16.Rad1 b6 17.Nf4 is equal (Ambroz-Gross, Czechoslovakian Ch, Trnava, 2004).

If 11.Nbd2 Nxd2 12.Bxd2 Be7 then:

If 13.Rac1 0-0 14.Rc3 Rfc8 then:

15.Rfc1 a6 16.h4 Na7 17.h5 Rxc3 18.Rxc3 Rc8 is equal (Durarbayli-Aldy, Op, Dubai, 2008).
If 15.h4 then:

15...Bb4!? 16.Rxc6! Qxc6 17.Bxb4 Qc4 18.Qxc4 Rxc4 19.Bc3 gives White two minor pieces for a Rook (Arribas Robaina-Dewi, OlW, Istanbul, 2012).
15...Nb4 16.Rxc8+ Rxc8 17.a3 Nc6 18.Qd3 a6 19.h5 is equal.

If 13.Qd3 h6 then:

14.a3 0-0 15.b4 a6 16.Rfb1 Rfc8 17.a4 a5 is equal (S. Petronic-Ding Linlin, IT, Tianjin, China, 2001).
14.Ne1 0-0 15.f4 f6 16.exf6 Rxf6 17.Nf3 Bd6 is equal (Radulov-Velimirovic, IT, Smederevska Palanka, 1979).

If 9.Bg5 d3 10.Qxd3 Be7 then:

11.Rd1 Rd8 12.Na3 0-0 13.Nb5 a6 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 is equal (Pavasovic-A. Schneider, 1st Saturday November, Budapest, 1993).
11.Bxf6 Bxf6 12.Rd1 Rd8 13.Qe2 0-0 14.Na3 Qc7 is equal.

If b) 7.d4 Nxe4 8.d5 Ne5 9.Re1 then:

If 9...Nxf3+ 10.Qxf3 Nf6 11.c4 then:

If 11...e5 12.dxe6 fxe6 13.Bg5 Be7 14.Nc3 then:

If 14...h6 15.Bh4 0-0 16.Qh3 then:

If 16...Kf7 17.f4 Rad8 18.Rad1 Rg8 then:

19.Qf3 Qc6 20.Qe2 Qd7 21.Rd3 gives Black more activity and space in compensation for the pawn (Ulibin-Martic, Int Ch Central Serbia, Paracin, 2012).
b1) 19.Re2 g5 20.Rde1 e5 21.Qxd7 Rxd7 22.fxe5 dxe5 is equal (Dannevig-Bjerke, Norwegian Ch, Sandnes, 2005).
b2) 19.Bf2 b6 20.Re2 d5 21.f5 exf5 22.Nxd5 Rge8 is equal (Ripari-Domínguez Pérez, Pan-American Ch, Buenos Aires, 2003).

16.Bh4 Kf7 17.f4 transposes into Ulibin-Martic, above.

If 14...0-0 15.Qh3 h6 then:

16.Qxe6+ Qxe6 17.Rxe6 Kf7 18.Rae1 Rfe8 19.Bh4 is equal (Balkan-Vouldis, Euro ChT, Plovdiv, 2003).
16...Rae8 17.Rxe6 g5 18.Bg3 g4 19.Qxh6 Qxe6 20.Qg6+ draw (Organdziev-Duncan, Euro Club Cup, Plovdiv, 2010).

11...0-0-0 12.Nc3 g6 13.Rb1 Qf5 14.Qxf5+ gxf5 15.Bg5 is equal (Gallagher-Gashimov, Ol, Palma de Mallorca, 2004).

If 9...Nf6 10.Nxe5 dxe5 then:

If 11.Rxe5 e6 12.c4 0-0-0 13.Nc3 Bd6 14.Re1 exd5 then:

If 15.Nxd5 Qf5 16.Be3 Rhe8 then:

17.h3 Nxd5 18.cxd5 Kb8 19.b4 Bc7 20.Qa4 Qxd5 is equal (Hokkanen-A. Schneider, Euro Club Cup, Halkidiki, 2002).
If 17.b4!? then:

If 17...Ng4 then:

If 18.g3?? then after 18...Rxe3! Black has won a piece as either 19.Nxe3 or 19.fxe3 is met by 19...Qxf2, forcing mate; White resigns (Zarnicki-Ramírez Alverez, Pan-Am Ch, Buenos Aires, 2003)
18.h3 Nxe3 19.Rxe3 Rxe3 20.fxe3 Qe5 gives Black a small advantage in space.

If 15.cxd5 Qf5 16.h3 then:

16...Bb8 17.g4 Qd7 18.Bg5 h5 19.Bxf6 gxf6 gives Black a small advantage in space (Rozentalis-Rogule, Op, Cappelle-la-Grande, 2006).
16...h5 17.Qf3 Qxf3 18.gxf3 Rhe8 19.Bg5 Rxe1+ 20.Rxe1 Re8 gives Black stronger pawns for a minor piece ending (Eid-Haznedaroglu, Ol, Khanty-Mansiysk, 2010).

If 11.c4 then:

If 11...e6 12.Bg5 then:

12...0-0-0 13.Nc3 Be7 14.Rxe5 Bd6 15.Re1 h6 16.Bxf6 inflicts structural damage on Black, giving White a small advantage (Reipsch-Gunnarsson, Op, Reykjavik, 2011).
12...Be7 13.Nc3 Nxd5 14.cxd5 Bxg5 15.Ne4 Bf6 16.dxe6 is equal (Rooze-Szeberenyi, 1st Saturday October, Budapest, 2008).

If 11...g6 12.Rxe5 Bg7 13.Nc3 then:

13...0-0 14.Re1 Ng4 15.Bf4 Bd4 16.Bg3 a6 17.Rb1 is equal (Halldorsson-Carlsen, Op, Reykjavik, 2004).
If 13...h6 14.d6 Rd8 15.Bf4 then:

15...Qxd6 16.Rd5 Nxd5 17.Bxd6 Nxc3 18.bxc3 0-0 19.Qf3 gives White a Queen for a Rook and a minor piece (Fontaine-Zhou Jianchao, TM, Shenzheng, 2005).
15...Nh5 16.Nd5 e6 17.Rxh5 gxh5 18.Qxh5 0-0 19.Ne7+ gives White a slight advantage with more activity, more space and a pawn in compensation for the exchange.

If 6.c4 Nf6 7.Nc3 then:

If 7...e6 8.d4 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Be7 then:

If 10.Be3 0-0 11.Qe2 then:

If 11...a6 12.Rfd1 then:

12...Rfd8 13.f3 Rab8 14.Rac1 Nxd4 15.Bxd4 Qc6 draw (Sax-Spassky, IT, Niksic, 1983).
If 12...Qc7 13.Rac1 Rfc8 14.b3 Qa5 15.a4 Nd7 16.Qd2 is equal (Kostur-Voitsekhovsky, Op, Novgorod, 1999).

If 11...Rfd8 12.Rfd1 b6 13.Rac1 then:

13...a6 14.f3 Qb7 15.b3 Rac8 16.Kh1 Rc7 17.Qc2 is equal (Peters-Browne, Op, Lone Pine, California, 1978).
13...Qb7 draw (Fressinet-Sosonko, TM, Cannes, 1996).

If 10.b3 0-0 11.Bb2 Rfd8 12.Re1 then:

If 12...a6 13.Nxc6 bxc6 then:

14.Qf3 Qb7 15.Rad1 Rac8 16.Re2 d5 gives White a slight advantage (Oral-Sasikiran, World Youth BU18, Guarapuava, 1995).
If 14.Qe2 Qb7 15.Rad1 Nd7 16.Na4 Qc7 17.Qg4 Bf6 is equal (Kuczynski-W. Schmidt, Polish Ch, Warsaw, 1995).

If 12...Rac8 13.Rc1 b6 14.Nxc6 Qxc6 then:

15.Qe2 Qb7 16.Rcd1 a6 17.h3 h6 18.Qd3 is equal; both sides will have difficulty making progress (Yermilinsky-D. Gurevich, Foxwoods Op, Mashantucket, Connecticut, 2003).
If 15.Qf3 a6 16.Qg3 Qb7 17.a4 Nh5 18.Qf3 Nf6 is equal (I. Smirin-Wojtkiewicz, Op, Antwerp, 1994).

7...g6 8.d4 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Bg7 transposes into the main line of the notes to White's ninth move.

5...Nf6 6.Nc3 g6 7.d4

7.0-0 Bg7 8.d4 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Nc6 transposes into the notes to White's ninth move.

7...cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bg7 9.f3

If 9.0-0 Nc6 then:

If 10.Nde2 0-0 11.f3 then:

If 11...a6 12.a4 then:

If 12...e6 13.Bg5 then:

If 13...Qc7 14.Kh1 then:

If 14...Nd7 15.b3 Nc5 16.Rb1 then:

If 16...Rac8 17.Bh4 then:

17...Rfe8 18.h3 Qa5 19.Qc2 Bxc3 20.Qxc3 Qxc3 21.Nxc3 Nd4 gies Black a better center (Greet-Edouard, Op 0910, Hastings, 2009).
17...Na5 18.b4 Nxc4 19.bxc5 Ne3 20.Qd3 Nxf1 21.cxd6 gives White a small advantage (Ponomariov-Sutovsky, Euro Ch Blitz Playoff, Ohrid, 2001).

If 16...Rfe8 then:

17.Bh4 Nb4 18.Qd2 Ncd3 19.Na2 Nxa2 20.Qxd3 gives White a small advantage in space (Rublevsky-Leitão, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).
17.Qc2 Nb4 18.Qd2 Ncd3 19.Na2 Qb6 20.Be3 gives White the tactical ability to gain the advantage in space (Meier-Suttor, World Youth BU18, Belfort, 2005).

If 14...Qa5 15.Bh4 Rfd8 then:

If 16.Rc1 Qh5 17.Bf2 Qa5 18.Bh4 Qh5 19.Bf2 Qa5 then:

20.Qb3 Nd7 21.Qc2 Nc5 22.Rb1 Nb4 23.Qd2 Nb3 gives Black a slight advantage in space (Oral-Kasparov, IT, Prague, 2002).
20.Bh4 Qh5 draws by repetition (Rudolf-Maidl, IT, Paks, Hungary, 2011).

16.Rb1 g5 17.Be1 Qc5 18.Rc1 h6 19.b3 Qb6 is equal (Vescovi-Domínguez Pérez, Pan-American Ch, Buenos Aires, 2003).

If 13...h6 14.Bh4 Rfd8 then:

If 15.f4 Qc7 16.Kh1 Qa5 then:

17.b3 Rac8 18.Qe1 Re8 19.Rb1 Nd7 20.Qg3 Nd4 is equal (Topalov-Van Wely, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 2002).
17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.f5 Be5 19.Qd2 Kg7 20.Rf3 g5 is equal.

15.Rb1 Qc7 16.Kh1 Rd7 17.Rc1 Re8 18.Nd5 is equal (Caruana-Anand, GS Maters Rd 3, São Paulo, 2012).

If 12...Qd8 then:

If 13.Be3 Qa5 14.Kh1 Nd7 then:

15.Rb1 Nde5 16.b3 Nxc4 17.bxc4 Bxc3 18.Bb6 Qe5 is equal (Oral-Dworakowska, Op, Koszalin, Poland, 1999).
15.Bd2 Rfc8 16.Rb1 Qd8 17.Bg5 Qf8 18.b3 Rab8 is equal (Hartanbaatar-Sammalvuo, Ol, Palma de Mallorca, 2004).

13.Kh1 Nd7 14.Rb1 Qa5 15.Bd2 Qh5 16.b3 is equal (Meier-Schütze, German Ch, Osterburg, 2006).

If 11...Rfc8 12.Be3 then:

If 12...Qd8 13.b3 a6 14.a4 Nd7 then:

15.Rb1 Nc5 16.Qd2 Rab8 17.Rfd1 Qf8 18.Nf4 is equal (Ansdersson-Donner, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1973).
15.Kh1 Rab8 16.Rb1 Qa5 17.Qd2 Nf6 18.Rfd1 is equal (Ni Hua-Rodshtein, Op, Cappelle-la-Grande, 2007).

12...Ne8 13.Qd2 Ne5 14.b3 Nc7 15.Rac1 Na6 16.Rfd1 gives White a small advantage in space (Vasiukov-Cardoso, IT, Manila, 1974).

If 10.Nc2 0-0 11.Qe2 a6 12.Rd1 then:

12...Qc7 13.Bg5 e6 14.Rac1 Rfd8 15.Qd2 Rd7 16.f3 is equal (Turov-Belov, Op, Minsk, 2000).
12...Qe6 13.f3 Rab8 14.Be3 Nd7 15.Nd4 draw (Radulov-Smejkal, Vidmir Mem, Ljubljana/Portoroz, 1973).

9...Qc7 (N)

The wily world champion takes his young but formidable opponent out of the book early.
If 9...0-0 10.Be3 Nc6 11.0-0 then:

If 11...Rfc8 12.b3 Qd8 13.Qd2 Qa5 then:

If 14.Rac1 a6 15.Rfd1 then:

If 15...Nxd4 16.Bxd4 b5 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.Nd5 Qxd2 then:

If 19.Nxf6+ Kg7 20.Rxd2 Kxf6 21.Rdc2 then:

If 21...b4 22.c5 Rc6 23.cxd6 Rxd6 24.Rc6 then:

If 24...Ke5!? 25.Kf2 a5 26.Ke3 a4 then:

27.R1c5+!? Ke6 28.Rxd6+ draw (Hosticka-Haba, Czechoslovakian Ch, Krvina, 1985).
If 27.R6c5+! Ke6 28.Rb5 axb3 29.axb3 then:

29...f6 30.Rc7 Kf7 31.Rbb7 Re6 32.Rc2 gives White a small advantage with one of his Rooks behind Black's b-pawn.
If 29...Ra2 then:

If 30.Rc7! Rad2 31.Rbb7 then:

31...R2d3+ 32.Kf2 Rd7 33.Rxd7 Rxd7 34.Rxd7 Kxd7 35.Ke3 when Black can reach his pawn but lacks the reserve pawn tempi to prevent White from being able to force the King away.
If 31...R6d3+? then White wins after 32.Kf4 Rd7 33.Rxd7 Rxd7 34.Rxd7 Kxd7 35.Ke3 transposes.

30.Rb7!? Kf6! 31.Rcc7 Re6 32.g4 Rxh2 33.Rxb4 is equal.

24...Ke6 25.Kf2 a5 26.f4 Rxc6 27.Rxc6+ Kd7 28.Rc4 remains equal.

21...Ra7 22.cxb5 Rxc2 23.Rxc2 axb5 24.Kf2 Ke5 25.Ke3 is equal (Bosch-Sosonko, Dutch Ch, Amsterdam, 1994).

19.Rxd2 Kg7 20.Rcc2 Rc5 21.cxb5 axb5 22.Nc7 Rb8 is equal.

If 15...b5 16.Nxc6 Rxc6 17.Nd5 Qxd2 then:

If 18.Bxd2 then:

18...Nxd5 19.cxd5 Rcc8 20.Ba5 f5 21.exf5 gxf5 22.Rc6 gives White a small advantage in space (Hecht-Sosonko, IT, Amsterdam, 1973).
18...Kf8 19.Nb4 Rcc8 20.cxb5 axb5 21.Rxc8+ Rxc8 22.Rc1 gives White a small advantage in space (Akopina-Korchnoi, IT, Barcelona, 1992).
18.Rxd2 Nxd5 19.exd5 Rc7 20.Rdc2 Rac8 21.c5 is equal and soon drawn (Kasparov-Kengis, Soviet ChU18, Baku, 1975).

14.Rfd1 a6 15.a4 Nd7 16.Nde2 Rd8 17.Rab1 Rac8 draw (Sadvakasov-Gelfand, IT, Astana, Kazakhstan, 2001).

If a) 11...a6 then:

If 12.Rc1 Rac8 13.b3 then:

If 13...Nxd4 14.Bxd4 e6 15.Qd3 then:

15...Rc6 16.Rcd1 Qc7 17.f4 Rc8 18.a4 gives White a slight advantage in space (Kaplan-Velimirovic, IT, Amsterdam, 1974).
15...Qc6 16.Rfd1 Rfd8 draw (Donaldson-Reshevsky, Op, New York, 1982).

13...e6 14.Nde2 Qe7 15.Qd2 Ne8 16.Rfe1 Ne5 17.Rcd1 gives White a small advantage with a considerable advantage in space against Black's solid Sicilian defense that gives him little to do with it (Haba-Mohr, Austrian ChT, 2002).

If 12.a4 e6 then:

If 13.Rc1 Ne5 then:

If 14.b3 d5 15.cxd5 exd5 16.Nxd5 Nxd5 17.exd5 Rfe8 then:

If 18.Bf2 Qxd5 19.Qc2 then:

19...Qd7 20.Rcd1 Rac8 21.Qb1 Qc7 22.Rfe1 Nd7 is equal (Adams-Domínguez Pérez, Grand Prix, London, 2012).
19...Ng4 20.fxg4 Bxd4 21.Qc4 Bxf2+ 22.Rxf2 Qxc4 23.Rxc4 Re7 24.h4 draw (Akopian-Kasparov, Ol, Bled, 2002).

18.Nc2 Rac8 19.Bf2 Rc3 20.Ne3 Rxc1 21.Qxc1 Nd3 is equal (Bologan-Wojtaszek, IT, Paks, Hungary, 2011).

14.Qe2 Rfc8 15.b3 d5 16.cxd5 exd5 17.f4 is equal (Lupulescu-Sedlak, Euro Boys ChTU18, Balatonlelle, Hungary, 2001).

If 13.Nde2!? Qc7 then:

14.b3 Nd7 15.Qd2 Nc5 16.Rfc1 Nb4 17.h3 Rfd8 gives Black a slight initiative (Stepovaia-Pogonina, Russian ChW, Moscow, 2007).
If 14.Rb1 Nd7 15.b3 then:

15...Nc5 16.Kh1 Rac8 17.Bf4 Be5 18.Bh6 Rfe8 19.f4 is equal (Oratovsky-Givon, IT, Tel Aviv, 2012).

15...Rfe8 16.Qd2 Rad8 17.Rfd1 Qa5 18.Bg5 Bf6 19.Be3 is equal.

If b) 11...Rac8 12.b3 then:

If 12...Rfd8 13.Qd2 e6 then:

If 14.Rac1 d5 then:

If 15.exd5 exd5 then:

16.Nxc6 draw (Van Dop-Sosonko, Dutch Ch, Leeuwarden, 1974 and Van der Sterren-N. Weinstein, Op, Lone Pine, California, 1979).
If 16.c5 Nxd4 17.Bxd4 Ne4 18.Qe3 then:

18...Bxd4 19.Qxd4 Nxc5 20.Rfd1 Ne6 21.Qxa7 Qc7 gives Black a small advantage in space (Bednarski-Pokojowczyk, IT, Slupsk, Poland, 1978).
If 18...Nxc5 then:

If 19.Rcd1!? Bxd4! 20.Rxd4 Qc6 21.Ne2 Ne6 then:

If 22.Rd2?! d4! (the passed pawn in more deadly with the Rook misplaced) then:

23.Nxd4? Qb6! 24.Rfd1 Rd5 White resigns (Ivanchuk-Shirov, IT, Sofia, 2009).
23.Qe4 Qb6 24.Kh1 Nc5 continues to give Black a deadly passer.

22.Rd3 (leaving the Queen an escape route) 22...d4 23.Qd2 Qb6

19.Rfe1 Qd6 20.Nb5 Bxd4 21.Nxd4 Qb6 continues to give White a small advantage.

If 15.Nxc6 bxc6 16.cxd5 cxd5 17.exd5 then:

17...Nxd5 18.Nxd5 exd5 19.Bd4 Bxd4+ 20.Qxd4 Rxc1 21.Rxc1 is equal (Karatetin-Kaminski, USA-chT Amateur East, Parsipanny, New Jersey, 2002).
17...exd5 18.Bd4 Ne4 19.Qe3 Bxd4 20.Qxd4 Nxc3 21.Rxc3 is equal (Baek Wongi-Jayasundara, Ol, Istanbul, 2012).

If 14.Rad1 d5 then:

If 15.cxd5 exd5 16.Nxc6 then:

If 16...bxc6 17.exd5 Nxd5 18.Nxd5 cxd5 then:

19.Bd4 Bxd4+ 20.Qxd4 Rc2 21.Rf2 Qc7 22.Rxc2 Qxc2 is equal (Mustafaev-Le Quang Liem, World Youth BU18, Vung Tau, Vietnam, 2008).
19.Bg5 Bc3 20.Qd3 f6 21.Bd2 Be5 22.f4 Bc7 is equal (Webb-P. Littlewood, British Ch, Torquay, 2002).

17.Bg5 Qd6 18.exd5 Rd7 19.Bf4 Qb4 20.d6 Nh5 is equal (Houdini 1.5ax64)

15.exd5 exd5 16.c5 Ne8 17.Nde2 d4 18.Nb5 d3 is equal (E. Torre-Micheli, IT, Madonna di Compiglio, Italy, 1973).

If 12...a6 13.a4 then:

If 13...e6 14.Rc1 then:

14...Na5 15.Qc2 Rfd8 16.Rfd1 Qc7 17.Qa2 h6 18.Qd2 gives White the advantage in space while Black's position is solid, as is typical of a Sicilian Maroczy formation; neither side is likely to move forward easily (Amin-Grigoryan, IT, Lake Sevan, Armenia, 2008).
14...Qc7 15.Qd2 Nd7 16.Nde2 Nc5 17.Rb1 Na5 gives Black a small initiative; White must respond to the threat to the pawn at b3 (Yildiz-Kovalenskaya, Grand Prix W, Shenzhen, 2011).

13...Qd8 14.Qd2 Nd7 15.Rab1 Qa5 16.Rfd1 Rfe8 is equal (J. P. Gomez-Li Chao, Ol, Dresden, 2008).

BLACK: Vishy Anand

WHITE: Magnus CarlsenPosition after 9...Qd7c7

10.b3

The game is equal.

10...Qa5 11.Bb2 Nc6

11...0-0 12.0-0 Qc5 13.Kh1 Nc6 14.Na4 Qg5 15.Qe1 remains equal.

12.0-0 0-0 13.Nce2

13.Nd5 Qc5 14.b4 Qxc4 15.Nxc6 Nxd5 16.Rc1 remains equal.

13...Rfd8 14.Bc3 Qb6 15.Kh1 d5

15...Nd7 16.Qd2 Re8 17.Rad1 Nxd4 18.Bxd4 Bxd4 19.Nxd4 remains equal.

16.Nxc6 bxc6 17.Qe1

BLACK: Vishy Anand

WHITE: Magnus CarlsenPosition after 17.Qd1e1

17...Rdc8!?

Black apparently fears 18.Ba4, but it would be better to prevent the move altogether than to take out the sting by moving the Rook that would be skewered if no action were taken from it useful post on the d-file.
17...a5! (rendering 18.Ba4 impossible) 18.cxd5 cxd5 19.e5 Nd7 20.Bd4 Qa6 21.f4 gives Black a passed pawn which must be placed "under lock and key." White's f-pawn has a potential energy.

18.e5!

White stands slightly better. He has a slight initiative against the Knight, which has no good square to which to move and the threat of a pawn sacrifice at e6 that deals structural damage to Black's central pawns.
If 18.cxd5!? cxd5 19.e5 then:

19...Nd7 20.Bd4 Qb7 21.e6 fxe6 22.Bxg7 Kxg7 23.Qh4 Nf8 is equal.
19...Ne8 20.Qd2 Qb7 21.Rac1 e6 22.Rc2 Nc7 23.Rfc1 is equal.

18...Ne8

This is best place for the Knight, although it's not a very good place. It is even difficult to conceive of a plan utilizing the Knight from e8.
If 18...Nd7 19.e6 fxe6 (giving Black an extra pawn, but also a troublesome doubled pawn on an open file) 20.Bxg7 Kxg7 21.Nf4 e5 22.cxd5 cxd5 23.Nxd5 Qe6 24.Rd1 Rc5 25.Nf4 gives White stronger pawns, a queenside majority and a slight initiative; Black has potential counterply with his active heavy pieces.

If 19...Bxc3 20.Nxc3 then:

If 20...Nf6 21.Na4 Qc7 22.Rf2 Qd6 23.Re2 then:

23...Nh5 24.exf7+ Kxf7 25.Rd1 e6 26.Nb2 Nf4 27.Re5 gives White stronger pawns, power in the center and a clear advantage in space; White will have to do something about Black's potential counterplay on the kingside before undertaking any more aggressive action.

23...fxe6?! 24.Rxe6! Qf4 25.Rc1 Re8 26.Nc5 Rac8 27.Re5 gives White a strong center and better pawns.

20...fxe6?? loses immediately to 21.Qxe6+!.

21...Nc5 22.Rd1 Qc7 23.Nxe6+ Nxe6 24.Qxe6 Qd6 25.Qxd6 wins back the pawn and continues to give Black a weak doubled pawn on an open file.
19.e6!?

The pawn sacrifice is slightly dubious.
If 19.f4 Nc7 20.Rc1 a5 then:

21.c5 Qa6 22.Nd4 a4 23.e6 Rf8 24.b4 gives White a slight advantage with more space, but Black' command of critical diagonals provide sufficient counterplay.
21.f5!? e6! 22.cxd5 Nxd5 23.fxe6 fxe6 24.Ng3 Nxc3 is equal.

BLACK: Vishy Anand

WHITE: Magnus CarlsenPosition after 19.e5e6

19...fxe6!

The game is equal.
If 19...f5 20.Rd1 dxc4 then:

21.Bxg7 Nxg7 22.Qh4 Qc5 23.Rc1 Nxe6 24.Rxc4 Qd6 is equal also.
If 21.Rd7 Qe3 22.Rxe7 cxb3 23.axb3 then:

23...Rc7 24.Rd7 Qxe6 25.Rxc7 Nxc7 26.Bxg7 Kxg7 27.Qc3+ is equal.
23...Bxc3 24.Nxc3 Qxe1 25.Rxe1 Rc7 26.Rd7 Rxd7 27.exd7 is equal.

20.Nf4

20.Bxg7 Nxg7 21.Nf4 Qc5 22.Nxe6 Qd6 23.Ng5 Qf4 remains equal.

20...Bxc3 21.Qxc3 d4

21...Ng7 22.Qe1 Qc7 23.Nxe6 Qd6 24.Ng5 Qf4 25.Nh3 remains equal.

22.Qd2 c5 23.Rae1

23.Rfe1 Ng7 24.Re5 a5 25.Rae1 Rc6 26.g4 Rf8 remains equal.

23...Ng7 24.g4 Rc6!?

Black weakens his back rank while adding nothing necessary to to the defense of the pawn at e6.
If 24...Qd6 25.Nh3 e5 26.Qg5 Rc6 27.Qxe5 Ra6 28.Rf2 gives White a small advantage with more activity in the center; Black passed pawn at d4 could become dangerous as pieces fly off the board.

25.Nh3!

White prepares to regroup his pieces in of Black's last move. Pressure will be applied to e6 while White has calculated that he can allow Black's d-pawn to advance.
25.Re5!? a5! 26.Nh3 Qb8 27.Rfe1 Qf8 28.Kg2 leaves White with slightly better control of the center, but Black has counterplay on either wing.
25.Nd3!? a5 26.Re4 Rf8 27.Ne5 Rd6 28.Qg5 Qc7 remains equal.

25...Ne8?!

Black squanders his last chance to advance the e-pawn.
If 25...e5 then:

If 26.Qh6 g5 27.Qxg5 then:

27...Re6 28.Rxe5 h6 29.Qf4 Rf8 30.Qe4 Rxe5 31.Qxe5 gives White an extra pawn; Black's passer should be a source of counterplay.
27...Rg6 28.Qxe5 Re6 29.Qd5 Rd8 30.Rxe6 Nxe6 31.Qe4 gives White an extra pawn and more freedom.

26.Qg5!? Rf6 27.Qxe5 Re6 28.Qg5 Rf8 29.Nf4 Rxe1 is equal.

26.Qh6!

White has a potent threat of mate in two.

26...Nf6 27.Ng5 d3?

Apparently, Black thinks he has time to push the pawn. He doesn't.
If 27...Qa6 28.Re5 then:

28...Qc8 29.Rfe1 Qf8 30.Qh3 d3 31.Nxe6 Qf7 32.Ng5 gives White a strong kingside attack.
If 28...Kh8? then White wins after 29.Rfe1! Qb7 30.Kg1 Ra6 31.Rxe6 Rxe6 32.Nxe6.

BLACK: Vishy Anand

WHITE: Magnus CarlsenPosition after 27...d4d3

28.Re5!

White wins quickly. After this flexible prophylaxis that save a valuable tempo after ...d2.

28...Kh8

If 28...d2 (thanks to his last move, White does not lose control of the e-file) 29.Rd1 Kh8 then White wins after 30.Rxd2 Qb8 31.Nxe6 Qg8 32.Nxc5.
If 29...Rd6 then White wins after 30.Nxh7 Nxh7 31.Qxg6+ Kf8 32.Qxh7.

29.Rd1 Qa6 30.a4 1-0

If 30...Qc8 then White wins after 31.Rxd3 Qg8 32.a5 Rac8 33.Rde3 Rd6 34.Nxe6.
Sri Anand, the reigning world champion, resigns.

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #2)

Sat Nov 3, 2012, 05:41 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,706 posts)

4. Caruana - Aronian, Round 9, Bilbao

Last edited Sun Nov 4, 2012, 01:35 AM USA/ET - Edit history (1)

Fabiano Caruana
Photo by Stefan64 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64) in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:FabianoCaruana10.jpg)
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Fabiano Caruana - Levon Aronian
Grand Slam Masters Round 9
Bilbao, 12 October 2012

Grand Spanish Royal Game: Marshall Gambit

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.d3 d6 9.a4 Bd7 10.c3 Na5 11.Bc2 c5 12.Nbd2 Re8 13.d4 (N)

For moves up to here, see Hou Yifan-A. Muzychuk, Grand Prix W, Rostov-on-Don, 2011.
If 13.Nf1 then:

If 13...Bxc4 14.dxc4 then:

14...Qe6 15.Ne3 Bd8 16.Nd5 Nd7 17.Be3 Ne7 18.Qd2 c5 19.Qd3 gives White a small advantage in space (Fuchs-Spassky, IT, Sochi, 1966).
14...h6 15.Ne3 Qe6 16.Nd5 Bd8 17.Qd3 Ne7 18.Bd2 gives White a small advantage in space (Z. Almasi-Peng Xiaomin, FIDE Knock Out, Groningen, 1997).

If 13...h6 14.Ne3 Re8 then:

If 15.h3 Bf8 16.Bd2 Bxc4 17.Nxc4 Qe6 is equal (Leko-Grischuk, Grand Prix, Dubai, 2002).
15.Nd5 Bd8 16.Bd2 Bxd5 17.Bxd5 Nxd5 18.exd5 Ne7 is equal (Leko-Svidler, TM, Moscow, 2002).

13...exd4!?

In an attempt to catch his opponent off-balance, P-n Aronian violates opening principle and recaptures with his e-pawn. It is a good idea to keep one's center pawns in tact.
13...cxd4 14.cxd4 Nc6 15.Nf1 Bg4 16.d5 Nd4 gives Black a slight advantage in space.

14.cxd4

The game is equal.

14...Bg4

If 14...cxd4 15.Nxd4 Qc7 16.axb5 axb5 17.Bd3 d5 18.exd5 remains equal.

15.h3 Bh5 16.d5!?

White releases the tension in the center and allows Black to bid for control of the e5 square.
If 16.dxc5 dxc5 17.e5 Nd5 then:

18.axb5 axb5 19.Be4 Bg6 20.Bxg6 hxg6 21.Ne4 gives White a small advantage in space.
18.Be4 Bg6 19.Bxg6 hxg6 20.Ne4 c4 21.Bg5 gives White a small advantage in space.

16...Qc8!?

Black doesn't go for e5.
If 16...Nd7! 17.Nf1 b4 18.Ng3 then:

18...Bg6 19.Nf5 Bxf5 20.exf5 Bf6 21.Rxe8+ Qxe8 gives Black a small advantage in space.
18...Bxf3 19.Qxf3 g6 20.Nf1 c4 21.Ne3 Ne5 gives Black a small advantage in space.

BLACK: Levon Aronian

WHITE: Fabiano CaruanaPosition after 16...Qd8c8

17.Nf1!

White has a slight advantage in space.

17...Bd8!?

The Bishop should remain at e7, where it protects the pawn at d6.
If 17...Nd7 18.Ng3 then:

18...Bg6 19.h4 h6 20.h5 Bh7 21.axb5 axb5 22.Qe2 continues to give White a slight advantage.
If 18...Bxf3!? 19.Qxf3 g6 then:

If 20.axb5 axb5 21.Nf5 gxf5 22.Rxa5 Rxa5 23.Qg3+ gives White a small advantage in space.
If 20.Nf5 gxf5 then:

If 21.axb5 Nc4 22.Qxf5 then:

22...Ndb6 23.Qxc8 Raxc8 24.b3 axb5 25.bxc4 Nxc4 26.Bd3 gives White stronger pawns and a slight advantage in space; Black has connected passed pawns.
22...Nde5!? 23.Qxc8 Rexc8 24.bxa6 Bf6 25.Ra2 Ra7 26.b3 gives White a passed pawn, the initiative and more space.

21.Qg3+!? Kh8 22.axb5 Nc4! 23.Qc3+ Nce5 24.f4 axb5 is equal.

18.g4!?

Loosening the kingside with this advance is not usually a good idea.
Better is 18.Ng3! Bg6 19.axb5 axb5 20.Nh4 when:

20...Nc4 21.Rxa8 Qxa8 22.b3 Na3 23.Bd3 c4 24.bxc4 gives White no serious problems.
20...Qd7!? 21.Nhf5 Rc8 22.Bd2 Bxf5 23.Nxf5 g6 24.Ne3 gives White a strong initiative.

18...Bg6

White continues to enjoy a slight edge in space.

19.Ng3 b4 20.Nh4!?

Having advanced the g-pawn, White could make better us of it by attacking the Knight at f6 to spearhead a general kingside attack.
If 20.g5 b3 21.Bb1 then:

If 21...Nh5 22.Nf5 Qd7 23.N3h4 then:

23...f6 24.Nxg6 hxg6 25.Nh4 fxg5 26.Nxg6 Nf6 27.Bxg5 gives White an extra pawn, but his kingside pieces are loose.
23...Ra7 24.Ra3 f6 25.Nxg6 hxg6 26.Nh4 fxg5 27.Nxg6 also presents White with the benefit of two extra pawns and the disadvantages of loose pieces on the kingside.

21...Nd7?! 22.h4 h6 23.h5 Bh7 24.gxh6 gxh6 25.Bxh6 leaves White with an extra pawn.

20...b3!?

The pawn sacrifice is dubious.
20...Nd7! 21.Nhf5 Qb8 22.Nh5 Bxf5 23.gxf5 g6 gives Black the initiative to rebuff White's kingside demonstration of power and more space on the queenside.

21.Bb1!?

The can and should be taken.
If 21.Bxb3 Nxb3 22.Qxb3 then:

22...Rb8 23.Qf3 Rb4 24.Nxg6 hxg6 25.Bf4 Qb8 26.g5 gives White a slight advantage in space.
22...Bxe4 23.Nxe4 Rxe4 24.Rxe4 Nxe4 25.Nf5 g6 26.Nh6+ gives White a slight advantage in space.

21...Nxg4?!

Black has a spatial advantage on the queenside that should be exploited.
If 21...c4! 22.Bd2 Nd7 23.Ngf5 then:

If 23...Qc5 24.Bc3 then:

If 24...Bg5 25.Qf3 then:

25...Nb7 26.Kg2 Qc7 27.Nxg6 hxg6 28.Nxg7 Re7 29.Nf5 gives White a small advantage.
If 25...Bf6!? 26.Bxf6 Nxf6 27.Qc3 then:

27...Kf8 28.Re3 Bxf5 29.Nxf5 Re5 30.Rf3 Rae8 31.Qd2 gives White a clear advantage on the kingside; Black has counterplay on the opposite wing.
27...Rab8?! 28.Kf1! Qb6 29.Re3 Qd8 30.g5 Bxf5 31.Nxf5 gives White a strong kingside initiative.

24...Bf6 25.Qd2 Bxf5 26.Nxf5 Bxc3 27.Qxc3 Ne5 28.Kg2 gives White a small advantage in space.

If 23...Nb7 24.Bc3 then:

24...Bf6 25.Bxf6 Nxf6 26.Re3 Qc5 27.Qd2 Re5 28.g5 gives White a small initiative on the kingside; Black has some counterplay on the queenside.
24...Bxh4 25.Nxh4 Qd8 26.Nf3 Ne5 27.Nxe5 dxe5 28.Qe2 gives White a passed pawn, a mild initiative against Black's pawn at c4 and more space on the kingside; Black has more space on the queenside..

BLACK: Levon Aronian

WHITE: Fabiano CaruanaPosition after 21...Nf6g4:p

22.Nxg6!

White inflicts damage on Black's kingside.

22...Nxf2

If 22...hxg6? 23.hxg4 Bf6 24.Qd2! then:

If 24...c4 25.Qxa5 c3 26.e5 then:

26...Bxe5 27.Rxe5!! Rxe5 28.Bd3 Qxg4 29.Qxc3 Rc8 30.Qd2 gives White three minor pieces for a Rook and two pawns.
If26...Rxe5 then White wins after 27.Be4 cxb2 28.Bxb2 Rxe4 29.Nxe4 Bxb2 30.Rab1.

24...Nc4 25.Qe2 Na5 26.Be3 g5 27.Kg2 g6 28.Rh1 gives White an extra piece.

23.Ne7+

If 23.Kxf2! hxg6 then:

24.Kg2 Bf6 25.Rf1 Be5 26.Qd2 Qd8 27.Rf3 gives White three pawns for a piece, the Bishop pair and a slight advantage in space.
a) 24.e5 Rxe5 25.Rxe5 dxe5 26.Kg2 Rb8 27.Qg4 gives White a piece for three pawns and the Bishop pair, but the position of the White King is fragile.
b) 24.Bd2! Nc4 25.Bc3 Bh4 26.Kg2 Qd8 27.Bd3 gives White the two Bishops and the initiative.

23...Rxe7?

Black gets more freedom by taking with the Bishop.
If 23...Bxe7 24.Kxf2 Bf6 then:

25.Nf5! c4 26.Rg1 Kh8 27.Be3!! Bxb2 28.Be4 gives White a strong attack focused on g7 in compensation for the exchange.
25.Kg2 g6 26.Qf3 Bg7 27.Rg1 Ra7 28.Bd3 gives White a better center, better piece coordination and slightly more space; Black still has potential counterplay on the queenside.

24.Kxf2

This is an obvious recapture.

24...Re5

This is White's best try, and it doesn't do any good.
No better is 24...Re8 25.e5 Rxe5 26.Rxe5 dxe5 27.Kg2 g6 28.d6 when White has a piece for two pawns.
If 24...Qxh3 then White wins quickly after 25.Rh1 Qc8 26.Qh5 Kf8 27.Qxh7 Re5 28.Qh8+.

BLACK: Levon Aronian

WHITE: Fabiano CaruanaPosition after 24...Re7e5

25.Kg2!

The White King returns to safety and defends the h-pawn.

25...c4

If 25...g6 (to keep the Knight out of f5) 26.Qf3 then:

26...Qc7 27.Bd3 h5 28.Be2 c4 29.Bd2 Bg5 30.Bc3 gives White a piece for three pawns and command of attacking lanes.
26...Bg5 27.Rf1 Qf8 28.Bxg5 Rxg5 29.Bd3 Re5 30.Rac1 gives White three pawns for a Bishop and more activity.

If 25...Qc7 26.Bd2 then:

26...Bf6 27.Bc3 Rg5 28.Bxf6 gxf6 29.Qd3 c4 30.Qc3 leaves Black's kingside pawns weak and ready to fall like autumn leaves.
If 26...Nc4 then White wins after 27.Bf4 Bg5 28.Bxg5 Rxg5 29.Qc1 Rxg3+ 30.Kxg3.

26.Nf5!?

White opens the door wide enough to let Black get his foot inside.
White wins after 26.Bd2! Nb7 27.Rf1 then:

If 27...Bg5 28.Bc3 g6 29.a5 then:

If 29...Qe8 30.Qg4 h5 31.Qf3 then:

31...f6 32.Ne2 Nc5 33.Bxe5 Qxe5 34.Qc3 Rb8 35.Rf3 gives White a Rook for only two pawns.
If 31...h4 then White wins after 32.Ne2 Nc5 33.Bxe5 Qxe5 34.Qxf7+ Kh8 35.Nf4.

29...Re8 30.Qd4 Re5 31.Ra4 Qd7 32.Rb4 Rc8 33.Rxc4 leaves White with an extra piece.

27...Qd7 28.Bc3 Rg5 29.e5 dxe5 30.h4 Rxg3+ 31.Kxg3 gives White a Rook for three pawns.

26...Bf6 27.Qf3?!

White opens the door even wider.
27.Qe2 c3 28.Bd3 c2 29.Rf1 Qd8 30.Qf3 gives White a piece for two pawns and excellent winning chances.

27...c3?

Black doesn't go inside.
If 27...Rxf5! 28.Qxf5 c3 29.e5 Qxf5 30.Bxf5 Bxe5 31.Re2 still gives White a comfortable game, but Black has chances to hold on where he didn't before.

BLACK: Levon Aronian

WHITE: Fabiano CaruanaPosition after 27...c4c3

28.Nh6+!

This time White finds the optimum move.

28...Kh8

If 28...gxh6 loses quickly to 29.Qxf6 Qd8 30.Qxd8+ Rxd8 31.bxc3 f5 32.Bxh6.

29.Bd3

White gets a quicker win from 29.bxc3 Qb7 30.Re2 Ree8 31.Bg5 Bxg5 32.Nxf7+.

29...Re7

If 29...Qf8 then White wins after 30.bxc3 Nb7 31.Ng4 Nc5 32.Bc4 Rc8 33.Rb1.

30.e5 Bxe5

If 30...dxe5 then White wins after 31.Qe4 g6 32.Rf1 Bg7 33.Nxf7+.

31.Qe4 g6 32.Qh4 f6

BLACK: Levon Aronian

WHITE: Fabiano CaruanaPosition after 32...f7f6

33.Rxe5!!

The exchange sacrifice clears the way for the final attack.

33...dxe5 34.Qxf6+ Rg7 35.Qxe5 Qe8

If 35...Qc7 then White wins after 36.Qxc7 Rxc7 37.Bf4 Re7 38.Bg5.

36.Qxc3 Rc8

White cannot protect the Knight at a5.
If 36...Nb7 then White wins after 37.Bg5 Qd7 38.Bf6 Nd6 39.Rf1 Qb7 40.Be5.

37.Qxa5

White has three minor pieces for a Rook.

37...Re7 38.Bg5 Re2+ 39.Kg1 1-0

P-n Aronian resigns.

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #1)

Sat Nov 3, 2012, 05:55 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,706 posts)

5. Chess Olympics, Istanbul

Last edited Sat Nov 3, 2012, 05:56 PM USA/ET - Edit history (1)

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul
Photo by Robster1983 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Robster1983) in Wikimedia Commons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:%C4%B0stanbul-Ayasofya.JPG)
(Public Domain)

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Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #5)

Sat Nov 3, 2012, 06:00 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,706 posts)

6. Ivanchuk - Wang Hao, Round 11

This game, played in the last round, not only knocked China out of first place, but knocked it completely out out medal contention.

Vassily Ivanchuk
Photo by Stefan64 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64) in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Vassily_Ivanchuk) (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en|Creative Commons License] Attribution/Share Alike)]

Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukraine) - Wang Hao (China)
40th Chess Olympiad, General Group, Round 11/Board 1
Istanbul, 9 September 2012

East India Game: Nimzo-Indian Defense (Rubinstein Opening)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0-0 5.Bd3 d5 6.Nf3 b6

For a more thurough examination of the Nimzo-Indian Defense, see Bacrot-David, French ChT, Mulhouse, 2011.
If 6...c5 7.0-0 dxc4 8.Bxc4 then:

If 8...Nbd7 then:

If 9.Qe2 then:

If 9...a6 then:

If 10.a4 then:

If 10...cxd4 11.exd4 Nb6 then:

If 12.Bd3 Nbd5 then:

If 13.Nxd5 then:

13...Nxd5 14.Qe4 g6 15.Bh6 Re8 16.Ne5 wih a small advantage in space for White (Grischuk-Gelfand, IT, Linares, 2010).
13...exd5 14.Bg5 Qd6 15.Ne5 Ne4 16.Bf4 is equal (Ivanchuk-Speelman, World Cup, Reykjavik, 1991).

13.Bg5 Be7 14.Rfe1 Nb4 15.Bc4 Nfd5 16.Bxe7 Nxe7 17.Ne5 Nf5 18.Rad1 gives White the advantage in space (Korchnoi-Shamkovich, IT, Leningrad, 1967).

12.Bb3 Nbd5 13.Bd2 Re8 14.Qd3 Be7 15.Nxd5 exd5 16.Ne5 g6 17.Qf3 Be6 draw (O'Kelly-Smyslov, Argentine Ch, Buenos Aires, 1970).

10...Qc7 11.Na2 b5 12.Bd3 Ba5 13.axb5 axb5 14.Bxb5 Bb7 15.Rd1 Rab8 16.dxc5 Bxf3 17.gxf3 Nxc5 18.b4 Nb3 19.Rb1 gives White an extra pawn (Portisch-Balashov, ITZ, Rio de Janeiro, 1979).

If 10.a3 Ba5 11.Bd3 b5 then:

If 12.b4 cxb4 13.axb4 Bxb4 14.Nxb5 Bb7 15.Rb1 Be7 16.Nc3 Bxf3 17.Qxf3 gives White the advantage in space (Schreen-Korchnoi, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1983).
If 12.Rd1 Bb7 13.e4 cxd4 14.Nxd4 Qc7 15.Bg5 Bb6 16.Bc2 Rac8 is equal (A. Rodríguez-Polugaevsky, Capablanca Mem, Havana, 1967).

If 9...b6 then:

If 10.d5 Bxc3 11.dxe6 Ne5 12.exf7+ Kh8 13.bxc3 Bg4 14.e4 Qe7 15.Re1 b5 16.Bxb5 Nh5 17.Bg5 Qe6 18.Qe3 Bxf3 19.gxf3 Qxf7 20.Be2 h6 21.f4 Nxf4 22.Bxf4 Qxf4 23.Rad1 Rae8 24.Rd5 c4 25.Rf1 Nf3+ 26.Bxf3 Qxf3 27.Rd4 Qg4+ 28.Qg3 gives White an extra pawn, but Black's pieces are more active in compensation (Gligoric-Jelen, IT, Bled, 1979).
If 10.Rd1 cxd4 11.exd4 Bb7 12.d5 Bxc3 13.dxe6 Bxf3 14.gxf3 fxe6 15.bxc3 Qc7 16.Bxe6+ Kh8 17.Be3 Nc5 18.Bd5 Nxd5 19.Rxd5 Ne6 20.Qd3 Rad8 is equal (Gligoric-Unzicker, Ol, Leipzig, 1960).

If 9.a3 cxd4 then:

If 10.axb4 dxc3 11.bxc3 Qc7 12.Qb3 Nb6 13.Be2 e5 14.Ra5 Be6 15.Qc2 Nbd7 16.c4 b6 17.Ra6 Rfc8 18.Nd2 Qb7 19.b5 Nc5 20.Ra1 a6 21.bxa6 Rxa6 22.Bb2 Rxa1 draw (Johannesson-Chandler, Jonsson Mem, Reykjavik, 2001).
If 10.exd4 Bxc3 11.bxc3 Qc7 12.Qe2 b6 13.Bd2 Bb7 14.Bd3 Rfe8 15.Rfe1 Rac8 16.Rac1 Qd6 is equal (Kottahachchy -Nguyen Van Thanh, World Youth, Vang Tau, 2008).

If 8...Nc6 9.a3 Ba5 then:

If 10.Qd3 a6 11.Rd1 b5 12.Ba2 Bb6 13.h3 c4 14.Qe2 Qc7 15.e4 e5 16.Be3 exd4 17.Nxd4 Nxd4 18.Bxd4 Bxd4 19.Rxd4 Be6 20.Rad1 Rad8 21.Qd2 is equal (Portisch-Smyslov, IT, Amsterdam, 1971).
If 10.Bd3 cxd4 11.exd4 Bb6 12.Be3 Nd5 13.Nxd5 exd5 14.h3 Qd6 15.Re1 Bc7 16.Rc1 Be6 17.Bb1 Rac8 18.Rc3 Bd7 19.Bd3 draw (Gligoric-Polugaevsky, ITZ, Palma de Mallorca, 1970).

7.a3

If 7.0-0 Bb7 then:

If 8.cxd5 exd5 then:

If 9.Ne5 Bd6 10.f4 c5 11.Qf3 Nc6 then:

If 12.Qh3 g6 13.Kh1 then:

If 13...a6 14.Bd2 cxd4 15.Nxc6 Bxc6 16.exd4 then:

16...Ne4 17.Bxe4 dxe4 18.f5 Re8 19.fxg6 hxg6 20.Rxf7 Kxf7 is equal (Peralta-González García, IT, Sabadell, Spain, 2010).
16...b5 17.f5 b4 18.Bg5 bxc3 19.Rae1 Bb5 20.Qh4 Be7 is equal (Estremera Panos-Roamnov, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).

If 13...Re8 then:

14.Bd2 Bf8 15.Bb5 Qc8 16.Bxc6 Bxc6 17.f5 gives White a small advantage in space (Sadler-Ehlvest, FIDE Knock Out, Groningen, 1997).
14.Nxd5 Nxd5 15.Nxf7 Qc7 16.f5 Bc8 17.Ng5 gives White a small advantage in space.

If 12.Bd2 cxd4 13.Nxc6 Bxc6 14.exd4 then:

14...Qd7 15.f5 Rfe8 16.Bf4 Ne4 17.Bxd6 Qxd6 18.Bxe4 dxe4 is equal (García Palermo-Karpov, IT, Mar del Plata, 1982).
14...Re8 15.Rae1 Qd7 16.f5 Bb4 17.Qg3 Kh8 is equal (Colin-Berczes, TT, Brno, 2006).

If 9.a3 Bd6 10.b4 a6 11.Qb3 Qe7 then:

If 12.b5 axb5 13.Nxb5 Nbd7 then:

If 14.a4 c5 then:

If 15.Ba3 Ba6 16.Bf5 Bxb5 17.Qxb5 then:

17...g6 18.Bc2 Rfc8 19.Qe2 Ne4 20.Bb2 c4 21.Rab1 Bb4 gives Black a tremendous advantage in space (Vitiugov-Wang Hao, TM, St. Petersburg, 2012).
18.Bh3 Ra5 19.Qc6 Rfa8 20.Bb2 c4 21.Bc3 R5a7 gives Black a small advantage with his protected passed pawn at c4; White has a slight advantage in space, but that will last only as long as White he Queen safe (Korobov-Yuferov, Moscow Op, 2007).

15.Nxd6 Qxd6 16.Bf5 c4 17.Qc2 Rfe8 18.Bb2 Bc8 draw (Gligoric-Stean, IT, Vienna, 1980).

If 14.Bb2 c5 then:

If 15.Nxd6 Qxd6 16.Bf5 c4 then:

If 17.Qb4 Qxb4 18.axb4 then:

18...g6 19.Bc2 b5 20.Ne5 Rxa1 21.Rxa1 Ra8 22.Rxa8+ Bxa8 23.Nxd7 draw (John-Kahn, Corres, 1999).
18...b5 19.Ne5 Nb6 20.Ra5 Na4 21.Ba3 Nc3 22.Ra1 is equal (Nguyen Chi Minh-Chuchelov, French ChT, Noyon, 2005).

17.Qc2 g6 18.Bh3 Ne4 19.a4 Rfe8 20.Ba3 Qc7 gives Black a protected passed pawn and a small advantage in space (Gligoric-H. Olafsson, Op, Reykjavik, 1995).

15.dxc5?! bxc5 16.Nxd6 Qxd6 17.Qc3 Ba6 18.Rfd1 Bxd3 gives Black a passed pawn and a slight advantage in space (Jussupow-Dautov, IT, Nussloch, 1996).

If 12.Rb1 Nbd7 13.a4 Ne4 then:

If 14.Bb2 Ndf6 15.b5 a5 then:

16.Rbd1 Nxc3 17.Bxc3 Ne4 18.Bb2 Rad8 19.Ne5 gives White a small advantage in space (Petrosian-Browne, IT, Tilnurg, 1982).
16.Ra1 Nxc3 17.Qxc3 Ne4 18.Qb3 Rfe8 19.Ba3 is equal (Wiring-Chuchelov, French ChT, Mulhouse, 2009).

If 14.Nxd5 Bxd5 15.Qxd5 Nc3 then:

If 16.Qb3 Nxb1 17.Qxb1 then:

If 17...g6 18.b5 axb5 19.axb5 Qe6 then:

If 20.e4 then:

20...Be7!? 21.Qc2! Nf6 22.Ne5 Ra2 23.Qb1 gives White the threat of 24...Bc4 with a comfortable game (Onischuk-Yermolinsky, Op, Las Vegas, 2001).
20...Qa2 21.Qxa2 Rxa2 22.e5 Be7 23.Bh6 gives White a small advantage in space.

If 20.Qc2!? Qa2! 21.Qc6 then:

21...Rad8? 22.e4! Qb3 23.Bc2 Qb4 24.Bd2 Qb2 25.Qc4 gives White an extra pawn, a cental pawn duo and a mammoth advantage in space (Gligoric-Drasko, Yugoslav Ch, Belgrade, 1999).
21...Nb8 22.Qc3 Ra4 23.Rd1 Rc8 24.Bb2 Rb4 25.Ba1 is equal

17...Kh8!? 18.b5 axb5 19.axb5 Rfe8 20.e4 f6 21.Re1 gives White an extra pawn and a small advatage in space; Black should play 21...Bb4 to disrupt White's center.

16.Qc6!? Nxb1 17.Bxb1 g6 18.b5 axb5 19.axb5 is equal.

If 8.a3 then:

If 8...Bxc3 9.bxc3 then:

If 9...dxc4 10.Bxc4 c5 11.Re1 Nbd7 12.Bd3 Be4 then:

If 13.Bf1 Qc7 14.Nd2 Bb7 15.Bb2 then:

If 15...Rad8 16.e4 then:

16...e5?! 17.d5! Ne8 then:

If 18.c4 Nd6 19.a4 Rfe8 20.Bd3 a6 21.Rc1 gives White more freedom, a potential kingside attack and a small advantage in space; Black must regroup his pieces (Gligoric-Van Sheltinga, ZT, Enschade, 1963).
18.a4 Rb8 19.c4 transposes into Ivkov-Kuijpers, below.

If 16...Nb8!? then:

17.a4?! Nc6 18.Nf3 Nd7 19.Bd3 Nde5 20.Nxe5 Nxe5 is equal (Giddins-Barsov, Op, Antwerp, 1998).
17.e5! Nd5 18.Ne4 Ne7 19.Nd6 Nc8 20.Nxb7 Qxb7 21.Qg4 gives White a fair advantage in space.

15...e5!? 16.e4! Rad8 17.d5 Ne8 18.a4 Rb8 19.c4 (Ivkov-Kuijpers, IT, Beverwijk, 1966).

13.Bxe4 Nxe4 14.Qd3 then:

If 14...Ndf6!? then:

If 15.Bb2!? Qc7 16.c4 Rfd8 17.Rac1 Rac8 then:

18.h3 h6 is equal (Kamsky-Ehlvest, PCA Qual, New York, 1994).
18.Red1 Qb7 19.Ne5 Ne8 20.d5 exd5 21.cxd5 N8f6 gives Black a small advantage in space (Gligoric-Ljubojevic, Match, Belgrade, 1979).

15.Ne5! Rc8 16.a4 cxd4 17.cxd4 Rc3 18.Qb1 gives White a small advantage in space.

14...f5 15.c4 Qc7 16.Bb2 Rac8 17.Rac1 Rfd8 18.Qe2 is equal.

If 9...Nbd7 10.cxd5 exd5 then:

11.Nd2 Re8 12.Re1 c5 13.f3 Qc7 14.Bb2 gives White a slight advantage in space (Kacheishvili-Streich, Op, Senden, Germany, 2001).
11.c4 c5 12.Bb2 Rc8 13.Rc1 a6 14.Ne5 gives White a small advantage in space (Horowitz-Kevitz, IT, New York, 1931).

If 8...Be7 then:

If 9.cxd5 exd5 10.b4 Nbd7 11.Qb3 then:

If 11...a6 12.a4 Bd6 13.Bb2 then:

If 13...Qe7 14.b5 c5 15.bxc6 Bxc6 then:

If 16.Rfc1 Rfc8 17.Bf5 Rc7 18.Rc2 Rb8 19.Rac1 gives White a small advantage in space (Tukmakov-Röder, Op, Geneva, 1995).
16.Ba3 Rfc8 17.Bxd6 Qxd6 18.Rfc1 Bb7 19.Rc2 gives White a small advantage in space (Geller-Lisitsin, Soviet Ch, Kiev, 1954).

13...Re8 14.b5 a5 15.Ba3 Bxa3 16.Qxa3 gives White a small advantage in space (Ruban-Podgaets, Soviet ChU26, Rostov-on-Don, 1967).

If 11...c6 12.Bd2 then:

12...a5 13.bxa5 Rxa5 14.e4 dxe4 15.Nxe4 Ra7 gives White a slight advantage with more space while Black has better pawns (Korchnoi-Karpov, Najdorf Mem, Buenos Aires, 2001).
12...Bd6 13.Rfe1 a5 14.Rac1 axb4 15.axb4 Qb8 16.Rb1 gives White a small advantage in space and Black slightly stronger pawns (Geller-Bobotsov, Op, Reykjavik, 1965).

If 9.b4 Nbd7 10.Bb2 c5 11.cxd5 then:

11...exd5 12.bxc5 bxc5 13.dxc5 Nxc5 14.Nd4 Qb6 15.Rb1 gives White stronger pawns and a slight edge in space (Ornstein-Spassky, Op, Vienna, 1986).
11...cxd4!? 12.Nxd4 Nxd5 13.Nxd5 Bxd5 14.Rc1 Rc8 15.Qe2 gives White a fair advantage in space (Peng-Li Ruofan, Mindsports Rpd, Beijing, 2008).

7...Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 c6

If 8...Ba6 9.cxd5 then:

If 9...Bxd3 10.Qxd3 then:

If 10...Qxd5 11.0-0 then:

11...Nbd7 12.c4 Qe4 13.Rd1 Qxd3 14.Rxd3 c5 is equal (Weber-Quattrocchi, Corres, 1997).
11...c5 12.Re1 Qe4 13.Qe2 Rc8 14.Bb2 Nbd7 15.Rac1 is equal (Speelman-Ehlvest, IT, Linares, 1991).

10...exd5 11.c4 Nc6 12.Bb2 Na5 13.Nd2 c5 14.dxc5 dxc4 is equal (Chandler-Littlewood, British Ch, Morecambe, 1981).

If 9...exd5 10.0-0 c5 then:

If 11.Bxa6 Nxa6 12.Qd3 then:

If 12...c4 13.Qc2 then:

13...Re8 14.Nd2 Nb8 15.Re1 Nc6 16.f3 b5 is equal (Raisa-Kozma, ZT, Budapest, 1960).
13...Nb8 14.a4 Nc6 15.Ba3 Re8 16.Rae1 Ne4 gives Black a small advantage in space (Schulien-M. Petursson, Op, Philadelphia, 1989).

12...Nc7 13.c4 Ne6 14.Bb2 dxc4 15.Qxc4 Rc8 16.Rfd1 gives White a a skight tactical edge (Szabo-Keres, Candidates' Trmt, Amsterdam, 1956).

If 11.dxc5 bxc5 12.Bxa6 Nxa6 13.c4 then:

If 13...dxc4 14.Qa4 Nc7 then:

If 15.Bb2 c3 16.Bxc3 then:

If 16...Ncd5 17.Be5 Nd7 18.Bg3 Qe7 19.Rac1 N5b6 20.Qc2 gives White a small advantage in space (Danielian-Koneru, Grand Prix W, Kazan, 2012).
If 16...Nfd5 17.Be5! then:

17...Qe7!? 18.Qc6! Rfc8 19.Rac1 Nb6 20.Qxc5 Qxc5 21.Rxc5 gives White more freedom and the initiative (Kalashian-V. Gaprindashvili, Op, Istanbul, 2008).
17...Nb6 18.Qa5 Ne6 19.Rfd1 Qe8 20.a4 Qc6 21.Qa6 gives White a small advantage in space.

15.Qxc4!? Qd5 16.Qc2 Ne6 17.Bb2 Qe4 18.Rfc1 Qxc2 is equal (Geller-Keres, Match, Moscow, 1962).

13...Rb8 14.Qc2 Qe7 15.Bb2 Qe4 16.Rfc1 Qxc2 17.Rxc2 gives White a fair advantage with stronger pawns.

9.cxd5

If 9.0-0 Ba6 then:

10.Ne5 Nfd7 11.cxd5 Nxe5 12.Bxa6 Nxa6 13.dxe5 cxd5 gives Black stronger pawns (Larsen-Leuenberger, SX, Zürich, 1988).
If 10.cxd5 then:

10...Bxd3 11.Qxd3 cxd5 12.c4 Nc6 13.cxd5 Qxd5 14.Bb2 is equal (Smyslov-G. Serper, IT, Tilburg, 1992).
10...cxd5 11.Bxa6 Nxa6 12.Qd3 Nc7 13.c4 Rc8 14.Bd2 is equal (Welten-Schuurman, Op, Vlissingen, 2007).

9...cxd5 10.Qe2 Nc6 (N)

If 10...Bb7 then:

If 11.0-0 Qc8 then:

If 12.c4 dxc4 13.Bxc4 Ba6 then:

14.Ne5 Bxc4 15.Nxc4 Qa6 16.Bd2 Nbd7 17.Rfc1 gives White a small advantage in space (I. Ibragimov-Rausis, Op, Cappelle-la-Grande, 1998).
14.Bxa6!? Qxa6 15.Qxa6 Nxa6 16.Bb2 Rac8 17.Rfc1 gives White a slight advantage in space (Bluvshtein-Rozentalis, Op, Toronto, 2011).

12.a4 Ba6 13.Ba3 Bxd3 14.Qxd3 Re8 15.Rfc1 gives White a slight advantage in space (I. Sokolov-Movsesian, IT, Sarajevo, 2007).

If 11.Bb2 then:

11...Nc6 12.0-0 Na5 13.Nd2 Rc8 14.f3 Re8 15.e4 e5 is equal (Kramnik-Movsesian, Amber Blind, Nice, 2008).
11...Qc8 12.Rc1 Ba6 13.c4 dxc4 14.Bxc4 Bxc4 15.Rxc4 gives White a small advantage in space (I. Sokolov-Hou Yifan, IT, Zafra, Spain, 2007).

11.0-0

White has a slight advantage in space.

11...Na5?!

This is somewhat risky. Black offsides his Knight with an eye to planting it on the excellent outpost c4.
If 11...Ne4 12.a4 Bb7 13.Ba3 Re8 14.c4 Ba6 15.Rac1 continues to give White a slight advantage.

12.a4!

White has a small advantage in space.

12...Re8?!

While this move is in the cards, Black should play the more dynamic 12...Ne4 while the Knight cannot just be driven away.
12...Ne4 13.Ba3 Re8 14.Qc2 f6 15.Bb4 Nc6 16.Rfb1 continues to give White a small advantage in space.

13.Ne5!

White has a comfortable game.

13...Ne4?!

This move now come too late. The Knight can be simply driven off with f2f3.
If 13...Bb7 14.Ba3 Rc8 then:

If 15.Bb4 Nc4 16.Nxc4 dxc4 17.Bxc4 then:

17...a5 18.Ba3 Ne4 19.Rfc1 Qg5 20.f4 Qg6 21.Bb2 gives White a comfortable game.
17...Nd5 18.a5 Nxb4 19.cxb4 g6 20.Ba6 Re7 21.g3 gives White a substantial advantage in space.

15.Bb5 Nc6 16.c4 Ne4 17.Rac1 Nxe5 18.dxe5 gives White a comfortable game.

14.f3!?

Now it's White's turn to put more punch into the line.
If 14.Qc2! (threatening to exchange on e4 , winning a pawn) then:

If 14...g6 then:

If 15.f3 then:

15...Nd6 16.e4 Ndc4 17.Bxc4 Nxc4 18.Nxc4 dxc4 19.Bf4 give White an impressive advantage in space.
If 15...Nf6 16.e4 Nd7 17.Ng4 then:

17...h5 18.Ne3 Nf8 19.e5 Bb7 20.f4 Qd7 21.Rf3 gives White pressure on Black's kingside and a huge advantage in space.
If 17...Bb7? 18.e5 then:

18...Nc4 19.Qf2 Rc8 20.h4 then:

20...Qc7 21.h5 Na5 22.Nh6+ Kg7 23.Ra3 Qd8 24.Qg3 White wins after stripping the King of its pawn protection.
If 20...Qe7 then White wins after 21.Bg5 Qf8 22.Nh6+ Kg7 23.Qg3 Na5 24.Rac1.

18...Rc8 19.Re1 Qc7 20.Ra3 Qd8 21.Nh6+ Kf8 22.Bf4 gives White the makings of a kingside attack and a large advantage in space.

If 15.Bxe4?! dxe4 16.Qxe4 Ba6 then:

17.Rd1 f6 18.Nf3 e5 19.Qc2 e4 20.Nd2 gives White an extra pawn and Black a fair advantage in space.
If 17.Re1 f6 then:

18.Nf3 Bb7 19.Qg4 Rc8 20.Bb2 f5 21/ Qf4 Nc4 is equal; Black will be able to recover the pawn at c3.
18.Ng4 Nb3 19.Rb1 Nxc1 20.Rbxc1 f5 gives Black more than enough compensation for the pawn.

If 14...f5 15.f3 Nd6 16.e4 g6 17.Bf4 then:

If 17...Bb7 18.exf5 exf5 19.g4 then:

19...Qh4 20.Nxg6!! hxg6 21.Bxd6 Nc4 22.Bf4 Kf7 23.Qf2 gives White a healthy advantage in space.
19...Qf6? then White wins after 20.gxf5! Nxf5 21.Bxf5 Qxf5 22.Qxf5 gxf5 23.Kf2.

17...Nac4 18.Bxc4 Nxc4 19.Nxc4 dxc4 20.Qe2 gives White a substantial advantage in space.

14...Nd6!

White continues to enjoy a comfortable game.

15.Ba3?!

This move is not a disaster, but 15.Qc2 is a more serious threat.
If 15.Qc2 Qh4 16.Ba3 Ndc4 17.Bxc4 Nxc4 18.Nxc4 dxc4 19.Qe2 continues to enjoy a comfortable game.

15...Bb7!?

A weak maneuver on the flank is best met be a demonstration of strength in the center.
Correct is 15...f6! 16.Ng4 Ndc4 17.e4 Nxa3 18.Rxa3 Bb7 19.Ne3 with equality.

16.Bxd6!?

Once again, the more aggressive move is 16.Qc2.
If 16.Qc2! then:

16...f5 17.Bb4 Ndc4 18.Nxc4 Nxc4 19.Bxc4 dxc4 20.e4 gives White a small advantage in space.
16...g6?! 17.e4 Nac4 18.Nxc4 Nxc4 19.Bxc4 dxc4 20.Qe2 gives White a comfortable game with a superior center and more freedom.

16...Qxd6!

White has now only a small advantage.

17.f4!?

There is still time for 17.Qc2.
17.Qc2 h6 18.Bh7+ Kf8 19.f4 Ba6 20.Rf3 gives White a small advantage in space.

17...g6!

The game is equal.
If 17...Qe7 18.Rf3 then:

18...h6 19.Qc2 Qc7 20.Rc1 f6 then:

If 21.Ng6 Nc4 22.Rg3 Nd6 23.Qd1 Ne4 24.Bxe4 dxe4 25.Qh5 is equal.
If 21.Ng4 then:

21...f5 22.Ne5 Nc6 23.Ng6 Ne7 24.Nh4 Qd6 25.Qb2 gives White a very slight advantage.
21...Rf8!? 22.Rg3! Kh8 23.Qe2 f5 24.Ne5 Rf6 25.Bb5 gives White a small advantage in space.

If a) 18...f6!? then:

19.Qc2! g6 20.Bxg6 fxe5 21.Bxe8 Rxe8 22.fxe5 Ba6 23.e4 gives White a material advantage and a better center.
If 19.Rh3!? h6 20.Ng4 Kf8 21.Nxh6 then:

21...f5! 22.Nxf5 exf5 23.Bxf5 Qf6 24.Bd3 Rac8 25.Qg4 is equal.
If a1) 21...Qc7? 22.Ng4! then:

22...Qxc3 23.Rb1 Nc4 24.Rh8+ Ke7 25.Rh7 then:

If 25...Rg8 26.f5 Ba6 then:

If 27.Rf1 then White wins after 27...Kd6 28.fxe6 Qd2 29.Qxd2 Nxd2 30.Bxa6 Nxf1 31.Kxf1.
If 27.Rd1!? then:

27...Nb2! 28.Bxa6 Nxd1 29.Qxd1 exf5 30.Nh6 Qxe3+ 31.Kh1 still gives White a strong advantage, but he must win the game over again.
If 27...exf5? then White wins after 28.Nh6 Nb2 29.Nxf5+.

If 25...Kd8 then White wins after 26.Rxg7 Re7 27.Rg8+ Kc7 28.Rxa8 Bxa8 29.Nxf6

22...Rac8 23.Rc1 Qf7 24.Qc2 Nc4 25.Bg6! wins at least the exchange.

If a2) 21...gxh6? then White wins easily after 22.Rxh6 Qd6 23.Bg6 Rec8 24.Rh7 Rc7 25.Qh5.

b) 18...g6 19.Rg3 Kh8 20.e4 dxe4 21.Bxe4 Bxe4 22.Qxe4 gives White a small advantage in space.

18.Qg4 Nc4 19.Qg3 Qc7?

Black leaves his Queen in the line of fire of its opposite number, but now hanging.
If 19...Rac8 20.Bxc4 dxc4 21.Qg5 Qd8 then:

22.Ng4 Rf8 23.Qxd8 Rcxd8 24.Rfb1 Kg7 25.a5 gives White a small advantage in space.
22.Qxd8 Rexd8 23.Rfb1 f6 24.Ng4 h5 25.Nf2 gives White a small advantage in space.

19...Qe7 20.Nxc4 dxc4 21.Bc2 Qd7 22.e4 f5 23.Rfe1 gives White a small advantage in space.

19...Nxe5 20.fxe5 Qc7 21.Qf2 Rad8 22.Rac1 Rc8 23.Qb2

BLACK: Wang Hao

WHITE: Vassily IvanchukPosition after 19...Qd6c7

20.Bxc4 dxc4

If 20...f6 21.Ng4 then:

21...Qxc4 then White wins after 22.Nxf6+ Kh8 23.Nxe8 Rxe8 24.Qg5 Kg8 25.a5.
If 21...dxc4 then White wins after 22.Nxf6+ Kg7 23.Nxe8+ Rxe8 24.Qg5 Rf8 25.Qe5+.

21.f5 f6

If 21...exf5 22.Rxf5 Re7 23.Rf6 Rf8 24.Qf4 Qd8 25.e4 White grinds out a win. The move gives White to opportunity to put on a splend pyrotechnic display.

BLACK: Wang Hao

WHITE: Vassily IvanchukPosition after 21...f7f6

22.fxg6!!

White sacrifices the Knight. With the Queen hanging, he Black pawn is pinned at e5. White therefore has time to carry on his kingside attack.

22...fxe5 23.Rf7 Qc6

If 23...Re7 then White wins after 24.Raf1 h6 25.Qf2 Rxf7 26.gxf7+! Kf8 27.Qf6.

BLACK: Wang Hao

WHITE: Vassily IvanchukPosition after 23...Qc7c6

24.gxh7+!!

White sacrifices a Rook to send the Black King on a forced death march.

24...Kxf7 25.Rf1+ Ke7 26.h8Q

26.Qg7+ Kd8 27.h8Q Rxh8 28.Qxh8+ Qe8 29.Rf8 wins the Queen.

26...Rxh8 27.Qg7+ Kd6

Black plays a harikari move.
27...Kd8 28.Qxh8+ transposes into the previous note.

28.dxe5+ Kd5 1-0

29.Rd1+ Ke4 30.Qg5 Qxa4 31.Rd4#.
Wang Xiansheng resigns.

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #5)

Sat Nov 3, 2012, 06:04 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,706 posts)

7. Giri - Aronian, Round 10

The Armenian team took the Gold medal behind stellar play by Levon Aronian.

Levon Aronian
Photo by Frank Hoppe in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Levon_Aronian)
(Public Doamin)

Anish Giri (Holland) - Levon Aronian (Armenia)
40th Chess Olympiad, General Group, Round 10/Board 1
Istanbul, 7 September 2012

Slav Queen's Gambit: Catalan Opening (Korchnoi Variation)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Qb3

4.Nc3 is the most common move here, and then develops into an open Catalan. See Nakamura-Carlsen, IT, Nanjing, 2009.

4...e6 5.g3 Be7 6.Bg2 0-0 7.0-0 Nbd7 8.Bf4 a5

If 8...b6 9.Nc3 then:

If 9...Bb7 10.cxd5 exd5 then:

If 11.Rad1 Re8 12.Rfe1 then:

12...Nf8 13.Bg5 Ne6 14.Bc1 Qc7 15.Ng5 Nxg5 16.Bxg5 is equal (Korchnoi-Kan, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1952).
12...a5 13.a3 Bf8 14.Ne5 Nxe5 15.Bxe5 b5 16.Bxf6 Qxf6 17.e4 gives White a small advantage in space (Korchnoi-Levenfish, Soviet ChT, Leningrad, 1953).

If 11.Rfd1 Re8 12.Rac1 Nf8 13.Ne5 then:

13...Ne6 14.Be3 Bd6 15.f4 Rc8 16.Bf2 Qe7 17.e4 is equal (Ogloblin-Klimov, Russian ChT, Tomsk, 2001).
13...Bd6?! 14.Nd3 Ng6 15.Bxd6 Qxd6 16.e3 h5 17.Ne2 is equal (Brigden-Knox, British Ch, Bristol, 1968).

If 9...Ba6 10.cxd5 then:

If 10...Nxd5 11.Qa4 Nxf4 then:

12.gxf4!? Bb7 13.Rfd1 Qc7 14.e3 Rac8 15.Rac1 is equal (Khalifman-Alekseev, Russian Ch Qual, St. Petersburg, 2004).
12.Qxa6! Nxg2 13.Kxg2 Qc8 14.Qc4 gives White a small advantage in space.

If a) 10...cxd5 then:

If 11.Nb5 Bxb5 12.Qxb5 a6 then:

If 13.Qd3!? b5! (White has a small advantage in space) 14.Rfc1 Qb6 15.Rc2 then:

15...Rfc8 16.Rac1 then:

16...Rc4 17.b3 draw (Lahno-A. Muzychuk, World Rpd ChW, Batumi, Georgia, 2012).
16...Qd8 17.Bc7 Qf8 18.Qe3 h6 19.Ne5 Qe8 20.Nc6 gives White a comfortable advantage in space (Nielsen-Chuchelov, Bundesliga, Germany, 2003).

If 15...Rac8 16.Rac1 then:

If 16...Qb7?! 17.Rc7! (White has a substantial advantage) 17...Qa8 18.Ne5 then:

If 18...Rxc7? 19.Rxc7! Qe8 then:

20.Nc6 Nh5 21.Rc8 Black resigns (Fedorowicz-Pieterse, Op, Ostend, 1987).
Stronger is 20.Nxd7! Nxd7 21.Qc2 Nb6 22.b3.

18...Rfe8 19.Qc2 Rxc7 20.Qxc7 Bd8 21.Qc6 Qxc6 22.Nxc6 continues to give White a strong advantage.

16...Rc4 17.b3 Rxc2 18.Rxc2 Ne4 19.Nd2 gives White a small advantage in space.

13.Qc6 Ne4 14.Rfc1 Bf6 15.Bc7 Qc8 16.h4 continues to give White a comfortable advantage in space.

If 11.Rfc1 Nh5 then:

12.Bd2 Bb7 13.Rc2 Rc8 14.Rac1 Rc4 15.Nb5 gives White a small advantage in space (Markus-Vang Glud, Politiken Cup, Helsignør, 2012).
12.Nb5 Nxf4 13.gxf4 Bxb5 14.Qxb5 a6 15.Qd3 gives White a slight advantage in splace (Sharevich-Ovetchkin, Op, St. Petersburg, 2003).

If b) 10...exd5 11.Rfd1 then:

11...Re8?! 12.Ne5 Bb7 13.e4 Nf8 14.Nxc6 Bxc6 15.exd5 leaves White with a healthy advantage in space against Black' stronger pawns; correct play ( 15...Bb7 16.d6 Bxd6! 17.Bxb7 Bxf4 18.Bxa8 Qxa8 19.gxf4 ) will also give Black two minor pieces for a Rook and a pawn (Nielsen-Harikrishna, IT 0203, Hastings, 2003).
b1) 11...b5?! 12.a3! Qb6 13.Rac1 Bb7 14.Bh3 Qd8 15.Ne5 gives White a comfortable game (Mkrtchian-Bojkovic, Euro ChTW, Plovdiv, 2003).
b2) 11...Nh5 12.Bc1 Nhf6 13.Qa4 Bb7 14.Bf4 gives White a small advantage in space.

9.Rc1

If 9.a4 Nh5 then:

If 10.Bc1 Nb6 11.Nbd2 Nf6 12.Qc2 then:

12...Bd7?! 13.c5 Nc8 14.Ne5 Be8 15.Nb3 Nd7 16.Nd3 gives White a comfortable game (Seel-Kunte, Op, Gibraltar, 2004).
12...Nbd7 13.e4 b6 14.b3 Bb7 15.Re1 Rc8 16.Bb2 gives White a small advantage in space.

If 10.Be3 Bd6 11.Nc3 Kh8 12.Ne1 f5 then:

13.Nd3 Qe7 14.f4 Nhf6 15.Ne5 Ne4 16.Nxe4 draw (Gustafsson-Lautier, Euro ChT, Goteborg, 2005).
13.Nf3 Nhf6 14.Rac1 Qe7 15.Bg5 gives White a small advantage in space.

9...h6

9...a4 10.Qc2 Nh5 11.Bd2 Nhf6 12.Be1 b5 is equal (Aronian-Eljanov, Tal Mem Blitz, Moscow, 2010).

10.a4!?

White has a slim advantage in space.
Better is to cramp Black's queenside: 10.c5 g5 11.Be3 then:

11...Rb8 12.Nc3 b5 13.cxb6 Qxb6 14.Qxb6 Nxb6 15.Ne5 gives White a comfortable game.
11...b6 12.cxb6 Rb8 13.Nc3 Qxb6 transposes.

10...Ne4!?

The more thematic 10...Nh5 doe more to disrupt White's set up.
If 10...Nh5! then:

If 11.Bd2 Nhf6 then:

12.Qc2 Re8 13.b3 b6 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.Nc3 gives White a small advantage in space.
12.Qd3!? b6 13.Nc3 Ba6 14.b3 Rc8 15.Rd1 c5 is equal.

If 11.Be3 Nhf6 then:

12.Qc2 Bd6 13.b3 e5 14.Nc3 dxc4 15.bxc4 Ng4 is equal.
If 12.Nc3!? Nb6 then:

13.Ne5 dxc4 14.Nxc4 Nxc4 15.Qxc4 Qb6 16.Ne4 Ng4 is equal.
If 13.Nd2 Ng4 14.Bf4 g5 then:

15.Bf3 h5 16.Bxg4 hxg4 gives Black the initiative and a small advantage in space.
15.Be3?! f5 16.c5 Nd7 17.Qc2 Nxe3 18.fxe3 b6 gives Black more freedom, stronger pawns and a clear advantage in space.

11.Nfd2!?

White plays to the right square, but with the wrong Knight.
11.Nbd2 Nxd2 12.Nxd2 Nf6 13.Nf3 dxc4 14.Qxc4 gives White a small advantage in space.

11...Nd6!

The game is level.

12.Bxd6 Bxd6 13.e4!?

White weakens his center in the hope Black will weaken his more.
If 13.Nc3 Bc7 14.Re1 then:

14...Nf6 15.Rad1 Qe7 16.cxd5 exd5 17.e4 Re8 18.Bf3 gives White a small advantage in space.
14...Ra6 15.Qc2 f5 16.e3 Nf6 17.Nf3 Ne4 18.Ne5 is equal.

13...dxe4!

Black has a slim advantage in space.

14.Nxe4 Bb4!?

The Bishop move is intended to put a wrench in White's queenside machinery, but it's the wrench that gets caught.
If 14...Be7 15.c5 then:

15...b6 16.cxb6 Rb8 17.Rxc6 Nxb6 continues to give Black a slim edge.
15...Rb8!? 16.Na3! b6 17.cxb6 Rxb6 18.Qc3 is equal.

BLACK: Levon Aronian

WHITE: Anish GiriPosition after 14...Bd6b4

15.c5!

White plays the obvious rejoinder and equalizes. The Bishop can stay at b4 for a while, but it must be very still.

15...Nf6 16.Qc4!?

The Queen has no prospects on the light squares in Black's territory.
If 16.Nd6 Ne8 17.Nxc8 Rxc8 18.Rd1 Rc7 19.Nc3 Rd7 is equal.

16...Nxe4!

Black has a small advantage in space.

17.Bxe4 Kh8!?

Black does nothing in the hope of provoking White into showing his hand.
If 17...e5 then:

18.dxe5 Be6 19.Qe2 f6 20.Bg2 Re8 21.exf6 Qxf6 continues to give Black a small advantage in space.
18.d5!? cxd5! 19.Bxd5 Qe7 20.Na3 Bf5 21.Nb5 Rac8 gives Black a comfortable game.

18.Bg2!?

In return, White does nothing.
Better is18.Nc3 e5 19.dxe5 Qc7 20.f4 Be6 21.Qe2 Rad8 with equality.

18...e5!

Black still has a small advantage in space.

19.d5 f5?!

White weakens his control over e5 and misses an opportuity to disrupt White' center and queenside.
If 19...cxd5 20.Qxd5 Qxd5 21.Bxd5 then:

If 21...g5 22.Na3 then:

22...Kg7 23.Nb5 Rb8 24.Nd6 Rd8 25.Be4 Kf6 continues to give Black a small advantage in space.
22...Kg8!? 23.Nc4! Bxc5 24.Nxe5 Bd6 25.Re1 gives White a slight advantage in space.

21...Kg8!? 22.Na3! Rd8 23.Nb5 Kf8 24.Nd6 Rd7 gives Black a slight advantage in space.

BLACK: Levon Aronian

WHITE: Anish GiriPosition after 19...f7f5

20.dxc6!

White has a small advantage in space concentrated on the queenside; Black has a moble pawn majority on the kingside.

20...e4 21.cxb7 Bxb7 22.c6 Ba6

22...Rc8!? 23.c7! Qd7 24.Na3 f4 25.Bxe4 Bxe4 26.Qxe4 continues to give White a slight advantage in space.

23.Qb3 Rc8 24.Nc3!?

The Knight unnecessaily interrupts the lin line of communication beteen the c-pawn and its guardian Rook.
Correct is 24.Na3 Rf6 25.Nb5 Rfxc6 26.Rxc6 Rxc6 27.Rd1 Qg8 when Black continues to enjoy a small advantage in space.

24...Rxc6!

Black has a comfortable game with a moble pawn majority on the kingside, pressure on the queenside and command of the d-file..

25.Nd5 Bc5 26.Bf1 f4

26...Bxf1 27.Kxf1 Qd6 28.Nf4 Rb8 29.Qc3 Rcc8 continues to give Black a small advantage in game.

27.Nxf4?!

White is concerned about Black's focus on f2, but this method of shielding it proves unsatisfactory.
If 27.Rxc5 Rxc5 28.Nxf4 Rc6 then:

29.Bxa6 Rxa6 30.Qc4 Qa8 31.Re1 Re8 32.Re3 Kh7 leaves Black the exchange better; White has some activity in compensation.
29.Ne6 Qb8 30.Bb5 Rf6 31.Nd4 Rcd6 32.Bxa6 Qa7 recovers a minor piece, leaving Black up by the exchanfde.

BLACK: Levon Aronian

WHITE: Anish GiriPosition after 27.Nd5f4:p

27...Bxf2+!! 28.Kh1!?

White should go to the other square to remove the King from check, thereby maintaining some initiative.
If 28.Kg2 Bxf1+ then:

29.Rxf1 e3 30.Qb7 Qe8 31.Rfc1 Rff6 32.Rxc6 Rxc6 gives Black a deadly passed pawn.
29.Kxf1? Rb6! 30.Qd1 Bd4 then:

If 31.Rc4 then Black wins after 31...Rd6 32.Qh5 Rd5 33.Qg4 g5 34.Rc8 Qf6.
If 31.Rc8 then Black wins after 31...Qxc8 32.Qxd4 Rxf4+ 33.gxf4 Rg6 34.Kf2 Qh3.

28...Rb6! 29.Qc2

If 29.Qd5!? Bxf1! 30.Rxf1 e3 31.Kg2 Rd6 32.Qe4 Re8 gives Black a strong initiative.

29...e3 30.Bg2 Qe8!?

Black has a dangerous passer, but misses an opportunity to bring it closer to home.
If 30...Qg5 31.b3 Qf5 then:

32.Qxf5 Rxf5 33.Bf1 Bxf1 34.Rxf1 Rd6 35.Ra2 g5 gives Black a dangerous passed pawn and the initiative.
If 32.Be4? Qe5! 33.Bc6 Rf6 then:

If 34.Rd1 then Black wins after Qb8 35.Be4 Rxf4!! 36.gxf4 e2! 37.Rd7 Rd6.
If 34.Qe4 then Black wins after 34...Qxe4+ 35.Bxe4 Rb4 36.Bg2 Rd4 37.Nh3 Rd2.

31.Qc5 Rff6 32.Rc2?

In order to ree tha Queen's Rook, White must play b2b3. He'll have more flexibility if he just does that right away.
If 32.b3 Rxb3 33.Nd5 Rf7 then:

34.Nf4 Bb7 35.Bxb7 Rbxb7 36.Qc8 Rb8 37.Qxe8+ Rxe8 gives Black a clear advantage; White cannot afford a single misstep.
If 34.Nc7? then Black wins after 34...Rxc7 35.Qxc7 e2 36.Qxa5 Bb7 37.Bxb7 Rxb7.

BLACK: Levon Aronian

WHITE: Anish GiriPosition after 32.Rc1c2

32...g5!

Black forces the Knight to abandon the defense of e2.

33.Nd5

White must loose material.
If 33.Ne2 Bd3 then:

If 34.Rd1 Bxc2 35.Qxc2 Rbd6 36.Rxd6 Rxd6 then:

37.Qc3+ Kg8 38.Bf3 Qxa4 39.Qe5 Rd1+ 40.Kg2 Qd7 gives Black an extra pawn and more activity.
If 37.Bf3 Kg7 then:

38.Qc7+ Qf7 39.Qc3+ Qf6 40.Qc7+ Kf8 41.Qc8+ Rd8 White is toast.
38.Qc5 Rf6 39.Kg2 Be1 40.g4 Kh8 41.Qd5 Qe7 leaves Black up by the exchange with more activity.

If 34.Rac1 Bxc2 35.Rxc2 Rbd6 then:

36.Bd5 Qd8 37.Be4 Rd2 38.Qa7 Rd7 39.Qc5 Qe7 Black has the exchange for a pawn.
36.Rc1 Rd2 37.Qc4 Qd7 38.Bf1 Qb7+ 39.Bg2 Qa6 gives Black the exchange for a pawn; White is being crushed in a vise.

33...e2! 34.Qxa5 e1Q+

If 34...Rbd6 35.Rxe2 Qxe2 then:

36.Qb4 Rfe6 37.Qb8+ Kh7 38.Qc7+ Kg6 39.h3 Bb6 gives Black an extra Rook.
36.Qc3 Bb7 37.g4 Qxg4 38.h3 Qe2 gives Black an extra Rook and he is poised to win more material.

35.Rxe1 Qxe1+ 36.Qxe1 Bxe1 37.Nxb6 Rxb6

Black has a Bishop against two pawns.

38.Rc6 Rxc6 39.Bxc6 Kg7 40.Kg2 Kf6 41.Bf3

41.Kf3 Ke5 42.Ke3 Bb4 43.Kf3 Bc4 44.Bb5 Be6 gives Black a Bishop for two pawns.

41...Ke5 42.h4

If 42.Kh3 Bd2 then:

43.Kg4 Bd3 44.Kh5 Bc2 45.Bg4 Kf6 46.Bd7 Bc1 gives Black a Bishop for two pawns.
43.Kg2 Kd4 44.Kh3 Ke3 45.Bd5 Be2 46.Kg2 Bd1 gives Black a Bishop for two pawns; White should avoid putting his queenside pawns on dark squares for now.

42...Bc8

If 42...gxh4 43.gxh4 then:

43...Bxh4 44.Kh3 Bg5 45.Kg4 Bc4 46.b4 Be6+ 47.Kg3 continues to give Black a Bishop for a pawns; White chances of queening with either of his connected passers are not very good.
If 43...Bc4 44.h5 Kd4 then:

45.Bg4 Ke3 46.Bf5 Bd5+ 47.Kf1 Ba5 48.Bd7 Bf7 still gives Black a Bishop for a pawn; at the moment White's connected passers are frozen in their tracks.
45.Kh3 Bf7 46.Be2 Be8 47.Bd1 Ke4 48.Bb3 Bd7+ gives White a Bishop for a pawn and more freedom; the White King is unable to approach the Black pawn.

43.hxg5 hxg5 44.Kf1

44.Bd1 then Black wins after 44...Kd4 45.Kh2 Ke3 46.Kg2 Bb7+ 47.Kh2 Kf2!.

44...Bxg3

Black has a passed pawn.

45.b4 Kd4 46.a5 Kc4 47.a6

BLACK: Levon Aronian

WHITE: Anish GiriPosition after 47.a6

47...Bb8!

The a-pawn can go no further.
If 47...Kxb4?? then White wins after 48.a7!.

48.Bb7 0-1

If 48...Bxb7 49.axb7 Kd3! (obviously, Black has no time to take White's pawns) then:

If 50.Kf2 Ke4 51.Kg2 Ke3 then:

If 52.Kf1 Kf4 53.Ke2 g4 54.Kf1 Kf3 then:

If 55.Ke1 55...g3 56.Kf1 g2+ then:

57.Kg1 Kg3 58.b5 (this is Black's only legal move) 58...Ba7+ 59.b6 Bxb6#.
57.Ke1 allows the pawn to queen.

55.Kg1 g3 56.Kf1 g2+ 57.Kg1 Kg3 wins as in the main line.

If 52.b5 g4 53.b6 then:

53...g3 54.Kh3 Kf3 forces the Black King to h4.
53...Ke2 54.Kg1 g3 55.Kg2 Ke3 56.Kh3 Kf3 reaches the same position as the parent line.

If 50.Ke1 Ke3 51.Kd1 g4 then:

52.Ke1 g3 53.Kf1 Kf3 54.Ke1 g2
If 52.Kc2 then the pawn cannot be blockaded after 52...g3.

If instead of the text 48.Be2+ then White will last longer, but the situation is still hopeless. If 48...Kxb4 49.Kf2 g4 50.Bd3 Ka5 51.Ke2 g3 52.Kf3 then:

52...Bd7 53.a7 Bc6+ 54.Kg4 Be5 55.Bf1 g2 56.Bxg2 Bxg2 Black takes the pawn and the procedes to mate the lone King with the Bishop pair.
If 52...Bxa6 then:

53.Bxa6 Kxa6 is time turn out the lights.
53.Be4 Kb6 54.Kg4 Bc8+ 55.Kf3 Bb7.

Mh. Giri resigns without waiting for Paron Aronian to reply.

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #5)

Sat Nov 3, 2012, 06:07 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,706 posts)

8. Hou Yifan - T. Kosintseva, Round 6

Reigning world women's champion Hou Yifan won a gold medal for her performance on board 1.

Hou YifanPhoto by Federació d'Escacs Valls d'Andorra (http://www.flickr.com/people/9472417@N03) on Wikimedia Commons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hou_Yifan_4_September_2012.jpg) via (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

40th Chess Olympiad, Women's Group, Round 6/Board 1
Istanbul, 3 September 2012

Grand Spanish Royal Game: Marshall Gambit

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Rxe5 c6 12.d4 Bd6 13.Re1 Qh4 14.g3 Qh3 15.Bxd5!?

Hou Nushi varies from her game against Anna Muzychuk at the Rostov-on-Don Grand Prix in 2011 where she played 15.Qe2. For that an other alternatives to the text, see , Grand Prix W, Rostov-on-Don, 2011.

15...cxd5

White's remaining Bishop is bad, but on the plus side she has exchanged pieces to relieve the discomfort she was getting from her spatial deficit.

16.Qf3

If 16.Be3 Bg4 17.Qd3 then:

If 17...f5 18.f4 Rae8 19.Nd2 g5 20.Qf1 then:

20...Bxf4! 21.Bxf4 Qxf1+ 22.Kxf1 gxf4 23.gxf4 Kf7 24.Kf2 gives White an extra pawn (Matulovic-Durão, IT, Netanya, Israel, 1961).
20...Qh5 21.fxg5 Rxe3 22.Rxe3 f4 23.Rf3 Bxf3 24.Qxf3 is equal (Xu Jun-Zhang Ying, Chinese ChTW, Suzhou, 2001).

17...Rae8? 18.Nd2 Re6 19.Qf1 Qh5 20.f3 Rf6 21.Qe2 gives White a slight adavantage in space (Milos-Slipak, IT, Villa Gesell, Argentina, 1996).

16...Bf5?!

If 16...Be6 17.Be3 Rae8 18.Nd2 h6 then:

19.Qg2?! Qh5! 20.f4 b4 21.cxb4 Bxb4 22.a3 gives White an extra pawn against Black's small advantage in space (Pulkis-Olofsson, Corres, 2002).
19.Nb3 b4 20.Bd2 bxc3 21.Bxc3 f5 22.Qg2 gives White a comfortable game with an extra pawn.

BLACK: Tatiana Kosintseva

WHITE: Hou YifanPosition after 16...Bc8f5

17.Qxd5!

17.Qg2 Qh5 18.Qxd5 Rfe8 19.Bd2 Rxe1+ 20.Bxe1 gives White the initiative (Donchev-Topalov, Bulgarian Ch, 1992).

17...Rad8 (N)

If 17...Rae8 18.Bd2 Qg4 then:

If 19.Qxd6? then after Rxe1+! 20.Bxe1 Qd1! (Black now wins quickly) 21.Qe7 Be6 then:

22.Na3 Qxa1 23.Kf1 Bh3+ 24.Ke2 Qxb2+ White resigns (Szekely-Adorjan, Hungarian Ch, Budapest, 1968).
22.Nd2 Qxa1 23.Nf3 Qxb2 24.a3 Qb1 25.h4 Qe4 is giving White an awful pounding.

19.Na3 Bxa3 20.Rxe8 Rxe8 21.f3 Qh3 22.bxa3 gives White a small advantage in space.

18.Qg2

White has two extra pawns and Black has more space and superior development.

18...Qh5 19.f3 Bh3

19...Rfe8!? 20.Be3! Qg5 21.Qf2 Qh5 22.Nd2 Bd3 23.Qg2 continues to give White two extra pawns and her pieces are developed; Black still has more space.

20.Qf2 f5 21.Nd2

21.a4 Rfe8 22.Rxe8+ Rxe8 23.Nd2 Re6 24.Nf1 gives Black two extra pawns and Black more than enough space in compensation.

21...g5?

Black wants to get in ...f5f4 while she can.
If 21...Rfe8 22.Rxe8+ Rxe8 23.Nf1 then:

23...Qf7 24.Bd2 f4 25.Bxf4 Bxf4 26.gxf4 Qxf4 27.Qg3 still gives White two extra pawns; Black should not exchange Queens as that would diminish the value of her extra space.
23...Re6 24.Bd2 Qf7 25.f4 Qb7 26.b3 Qc6 27.Rd1 continues to give White two extra pawns and Black a substantial advantage in space.

If 21...f4? 22.g4! then:

22...Qh6 23.Ne4 Be7 24.Qc2 Bh4 25.Re2 Qb6 26.Bd2 leaves Black's light-bound Bishop entombed.
22...Qg6 is just a waste of time and White wins quickly after 23.Qh4 Qh6 24.Qxh6 gxh6 25.Ne4.

22.a4!?

White prepares to sweep away Black's queenside pawns.
Stronger is 22.b3! Qg6 23.a4 Rfe8 24.Bb2 when:

24...bxa4 25.bxa4 Rb8 26.Nc4 Bc7 27.Ba3 f4 28.Bb4 turns White's two extra pawns into connected passers.
24...Ra8 25.c4 bxc4 26.Nxc4 f4 27.d5 Bb4 28.Rec1 gives White a passed pawn and domination of the board.

22...f4?

This only makes things worse.
If 22...Rfe8! then:

If 23.axb5 Rxe1+ 24.Qxe1 then:

24...Re8 25.Qd1 axb5 26.Ra6 Qg6 27.Rb6 g4 28.f4 leaves White with two extra pawn and Black is virtually without her light-bound Bishop.
24...Qf7 then White wins after 25.Bxa6! Bb8 26.Nc4 Re8 27.Ne5.

If 23.Rxe8+ Rxe8 then:

If 24.axb5 axb5 25.b3 then:

If 25...Qg6 then:

26.Ba3
If a) 26.c4 Bb4! then:

If 27.Bb2 bxc4 28.bxc4 Qe6 29.d5 gives White a small advantage with two extra pawn against Black's immoble Bishop.
27.cxb5!? Bc3! 28.Ra6 Qg7 29.Ra4 Qc7 30.Ba3 is equal.

If b) 26.Bb2 then:

If 26...Qe6 27.c4 bxc4 then:

If 28.Nxc4 Bb4 29.Qc2 Qd5 30.Qd3 g4 31.Kf2 leaves White with only a slight advantage in space.

; 26...Ra8 27.Bb2 Rxa1+ 28.Bxa1 f4 29.Ne4

28.bxc4 Bb4 29.d5 Qe3 30.Qxe3 Rxe3 31.Nf1 is equal.

26...g4 27.c4 gxf3 28.Nxf3 bxc4 29.bxc4 f4 30.Ne5 gives White two extra pawns, but Black's Bishop is free.

25...Qf7 26.c4 Bb4 27.Bb2 bxc4 28.bxc4 Qe6 29.Rc1 leaves White two pawns up and Black's Bishop immoble.

24.Nf1 Qg6 25.axb5 axb5 26.Ra5 b4 27.c4 gives White two extra pawns and Black a problem Bishop.

22...g4? proves no better than the text after 23.f4 Rfe8 24.Nf1 Bxf1 25.Qxf1 Rxe1 26.Qxe1.

BLACK: Tatiana Kosintseva

WHITE: Hou YifanPosition after 22...f5f4

23.g4!

The light-bound Bishop is effectively out of the game.

23...Qg6 24.axb5!

Black sweeps away White's queenside pawns.
If 24.Ne4 b4 25.Qe2 then:

If 25...h5 then:

If 26.Nf2! hxg4 27.fxg4 Rfe8 then:

28.Qc4+ Kg7 29.Rxe8 Rxe8 30.Nxh3 Re1+ 31.Kf2 gives White a significant material advantage.
28.Qd1?! Rxe1+! 29.Qxe1 Re8 30.Qd1 f3 31.Nxh3 is equal.

If 26.gxh5 Qxh5 27.Qxa6 then:

27...Qxf3 28.Qe2 Qxe2 29.Rxe2 g4 30.Re1 bxc3 31.bxc3 gives White an extra pawn and the initiative; Black's light-bound Bishop is still immoble.
27...bxc3 28.bxc3 Qxf3 29.Qe2 Qxe2 30.Rxe2 f3 31.Re1 gives White an extra pawn.

25...bxc3 26.bxc3 Rfe8 27.Rb1 Re6 28.Rb6 gives White two extra pawn; Black's Bishop is in a terrible position.

24...axb5 25.Ne4

Better is 25.Ra5! when:

25...h5 26.gxh5 Qxh5 27.Rxb5 Rf5 28.Rxf5 Bxf5 29.Ne4 gives Black three connected passers.
25...Rb8 26.Ra6 Ra8 27.Rxa8 Rxa8 28.Qe2 Kf8 29.Qe4 dares Black to exchange Quens and give White two connected passers.

25...h5 26.b3?!

Instead of exchanging on h5, White uses her time to advance on the queenside. Black's light-bound Bishop is still entombed.
26.Qe2 hxg4 27.Qxb5 then:

If 27...gxf3 28.Qxg5 Qxg5+ 29.Nxg5 then:

29...Bf5 30.Kf2 Rd7 31.Kxf3 Rg7 32.h4 gives White three extra pawns, all connected passers.
If 29...Bc8 then White wins after 30.Kf2 Bb7 31.Re6 Rd7 32.Rg6+.

If 27...Rf5 then White wins after 28.Qc4+ Qf7 29.Qxf7+ Kxf7 30.Ra7+ Kf8 31.Nf2.

26...Bc7?

Black should now lose.
If 26...hxg4! 27.fxg4 then:

27...Rde8 28.Qf3 Bxg4 29.Qxg4 Rxe4 30.Rxe4 Qxe4 31.Qxg5+ gives White only a small advantage; she will be able to run the Black King out to e6, after which Black has counterplay.
If 27...Bxg4? 28.Nxd6 then:

28...Qxd6 29.Ba3 Qg6 30.Bxf8 Rxf8 31.Re5 f3 32.Qg3 leaves White two pawns to the good and Black with hardly a hint of potential counterplay.
28...Rxd6 29.Ba3 f3 30.Bxd6 Qxd6 31.Re5 Qg6 32.Qg3 leaves White with two extra pawns and the initiative.

BLACK: Tatiana Kosintseva

WHITE: Hou YifanPosition after 26...Bd6e7

27.Ba3!

White nearly lets Black off the hook.
If 27.gxh5! then:

27...Qh6 28.Kh1 Kh8 29.Rg1 Rf5 30.c4 bxc4 31.bxc4 gives White three extra pawns and a better center; she should win easily.
If 27...Qxh5 then White wins after 28.Ba3 Rf5 29.Be7 Rc8 30.Ra6 b4 31.c4.

27...Rf7

If 27...hxg4 28.Bxf8 Rxf8 29.Qe2 gxf3 then:

White wins after 30.Qxb5! Bd8 31.Nf2 Be6 32.Qa6 Bf7 33.Qxg6+ Bxg6 34.Ng4.
30.Qxf3? g4! 31.Qf2 g3 32.hxg3 fxg3 33.Qe3 still gives White an extra pawn, but Black has a healthy kingside attack in compensation.

28.gxh5 Qf5

28...Qh6 29.Kh1 Rg7 30.c4 bxc4 31.bxc4 Rb8 32.Bb2 gives White three extra pawns (the pawn at h6 is safe for the moment thanks to the threat of 33.Nf6+), two of which are connected passers.

29.Bc5

If 29.Bb4 g4 30.Qh4 gxf3 31.Kf2 then:

If 31...Rc8 32.Qg5+ Kh8 33.Be7 Bb6 34.Ra2 Qxg5 35.Nxg5 gives White two extra pawns, more freedom and the initiative.
If 31...Rg7 32.h6 Rg2+ 33.Kxf3 then:

If 33...Rxh2 34.Rg1+ Bg2+ 35.Rxg2+ Rxg2 36.Nf6+ then:

36...Kf7 37.Kxg2 Qxf6 38.Qxf6+ Kxf6 39.Kf3 Kg6 40.Ra6+ gives White two extra pawns, those being passers separated by three files.
If 36...Kh8 then White wins after 37.Kxg2 f3+ 38.Kf2 Qc2+ 39.Kxf3 Qf5+ 40.Ke3.

33...Rc8 34.h7+ Kh8 35.Be7 Qxh7 36.Qxh7+ Kxh7 37.Ng5+ leaves White two extra pawns as it is and she wil win even more material.

29...Kh7 30.Ra6 Rg8 31.Be7 g4

If 31...Rxe7 then White wins after 32.Nf6+ Kh8 33.Nxg8 Kxg8 34.Ra8+.

32.Qh4 gxf3+

BLACK: Tatiana Kosintseva

WHITE: Hou YifanPosition after 32...gf3:p+

33.Rg6

White wins quicker after 33.Bg5 when:

33...Re8 34.Rf6 Rxe4 35.Rxf5 Bxf5 36.Rxe4 Bxe4 37.Qe1 gives White a Queen against an uncordinated Rook and Bishop,
If 33...Rgg7 34.Kf2 Qd7 35.Rg6 Qf5 36.Rf6 then:

If 36...Qg4 then White wins after 37.Rh6+ Kg8 38.Qxg4 Bxg4 39.Nf6+.
If 36...Qd7 then White wins after 37.Rxf7 Rxf7 38.Nf6+ Rxf6 39.Bxf6.

33...Rxg6+

If 33...Kh8 then White wins after 34.Bf6+ Rgg7 35.Bxg7+ Rxg7 36.Nf6 Be5 37.Rxe5.

34.hxg6+ Kxg6

If 34...Kg8 35.Nf6+ then:

35...Qxf6 36.Bxf6 f2+ 37.Kxf2 Rxf6 38.Re8+ Kg7 39.Qh7#.
If 35...Rxf6 then 36.Qh7#.

35.Qg5+ Qxg5+ 36.Nxg5 Rxe7

If 36...f2+ then White wins after 37.Kxf2 Ba5 38.Nxf7 Kxf7 39.b4 Bc7 40.Bg5.

37.Rxe7 Bd8 38.Nxh3

White also wins after 38.Rg7+! Kxg7 39.Nxh3 Bh4 40.Kf1 Kg6 41.Ng1.
White still wins after 38.Rh7, but after 38...Bf5 39.Nf7 Bf6 40.Nd6 b4 41.Rc7 it's more difficult than it needs to be.

38...Bxe7 39.Kf2 Kf5 40.Kxf3 Bd6

If 40...Bd8 then White wins after 41.Nxf4 Ba5 42.c4 bxc4 43.bxc4 Bc3 44.Ne2.
If 40...Bf6 then White wins after 41.Nxf4 b4 42.cxb4 Bxd4 43.h4 Be5 44.Nd5.

41.Nf2 Be7 42.Nd3 Bg5 43.c4 1-0

43...bxc4 44.bxc4 Bf6 45.d5 gives White three pawns agains Black one, which is blockaded whil all three of White's pawn are moble.
Tatiana Anatolyevna resigns.

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Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #1)

Tue Nov 6, 2012, 03:23 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,706 posts)

9. 2011/12 Women's Grand Prix, Sixth and Final Leg, Ankara

Monumentum Ancyranum, Ankara, TurkeyPhoto by Photo by Atilim Gunes Baydin (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:AtilimGunesBaydin) in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MonumentumAncyranum28Nov2004.jpg)
(Public Domain)

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Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #9)

Tue Nov 6, 2012, 03:36 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,706 posts)

10. Koneru - M. Socko, Round 11

Koneru Humpy won the final leg of the 2011/12 Woemn's Grand Prix, making her the overall runner-up for the entire cycle to reigning world women's champio Hou Yifan,

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 - Monika Socko
Women Grand Prix, Sixth Leg, Round 11
Ankara, 28 September 2012

East India Game: Queen's Indian Defense (Catalan Opening)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 c5

For other lines of the Queen's Indian, see Grischuk-Topalov, IT, Linares, 2010.

\
6.d5 exd5 7.Ng5

If 7.Nh4 then:

If 7...g6 8.Nc3 Bg7 9.0-0 0-0 10.Bg5 then:

If 10...h6 11.Bxf6 Qxf6 12.Nxd5 Bxd5 then:

If 13.Qxd5 Nc6 14.Qxd7 Ne5 15.Qa4 Rae8 16.Bd5 then:

16...Re7 17.Qc2 Kh7 18.Rad1 Rfe8 19.e3 h5 20.Ng2 (Novotelnov-Reshko, Leningrad Ch, 1963).
16...g5 17.Ng2 Ng6 18.e3 Re7 19.Qc2 Rd7 20.b3 (Capablanca-Marshall, IT, Karlsbad, 1929).

13.Bxd5 Nc6 14.Rb1 Rad8 15.a3 Rfe8 16.Ng2 Nd4 (Savon-Rakitskaja, Petrov Mem, St. Petersburg, 1998).

10...Qe8 11.Bf4 Qe7 12.Nb5 Ne8 13.Bxd5 Bxd5 gives Black a small advantage in space (Ponomariov-Andreikin, IT, Saratov, 2011).

If a) 7...b5?! 8.cxd5 d6 then:

If 9.0-0 then:

If 9...g6 then:

If 10.e4 Bg7 then:

11.f4 0-0 12.Re1 Na6 13.a4 Nb4 14.axb5 is equal (Dorfanis-Moor, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).
11.a4 b4 12.Nd2 0-0 13.Re1 Nbd7 14.Nc4 gives White a fair advantage in space (Glig-Maximovic, Kautsky Mem, Prague, 1938).

10.a4 b4 11.Nd2 Bg7 12.Nc4 Ba6 13.Qc2 0-0 is equal (Braga-Gawrikow, Rpd IT, Gijon, 1988).

9...Nbd7 10.a4 a6 11.e4 g6 12.Qe2 bxa4 13.Re1 gives White a small advantage in space (Karpov-Ljubojevic, IT, Amsterdam, 1981).

If 9.a4 then:

If 9...b4 10.Nf5 g6 11.Ne3 Bg7 then:

12.Nc4 Ba6 13.Nbd2 0-0 14.0-0 Re8 15.Re1 Qe7 is equal (M. Petursson-M. Gurevich, IT, Marseille, 1988).
12.Nd2 0-0 13.Ndc4 Ba6 14.0-0 is equal.

9...g6?! 10.axb5! Bg7 11.0-0 0-0 12.Nc3 a6 13.Qd3 gives White an extra pawn and a substantial advantage in space (Kempinski-Lobejko, Polish ChT, Zakopane, 2000).

If b) 7...d6 then:

8.0-0 Qd7 9.cxd5 g6 10.e4 Bg7 11.f4 0-0 12.Nc3 gives White a small advantage in space (Kozma-Brat, Czechoslavkia Ch, Prague, 1954).
8.Nc3 Nbd7?! 9.cxd5 g6 10.0-0 Bg7 11.f4 0-0 gives Black a small advantage after ...Rf8e8 with pressure on the e-file (Almgren-Spitzer, Op, Pittsburgh, 1946).

7...h6

If 7...Be7 8.Nc3 0-0 9.0-0 Na6 then:

10.cxd5 Nd7 12.Nf3 Bf6 13.Bf4 Qe7 14.Re1 gives White a comfortable game (Romanishin-Velikov, IT, Kiev, 1978).
10.Nh3 Qc8 11.cxd5 d6 12.e4 Re8 13.f3 Nc7) 10...d6 11.e4 (11.f4 h6 12.Nh3 c4 13.e4 Nc5 14.Nf2 gives White a comfortable game (Kholmov-Ragozin, Soviet Ch ½-final, Leningrad, 1978).

8.Nh3 Qc7 (N)

If 8...g6 9.Nc3 Bg7 10.0-0 0-0 11.Nf4 then:

11...Na6 12.Ncxd5 Nxd5 13.Bxd5 Bxd5 14.Qxd5 Re8 15.Rd1 is equal (Das-Kourousis, Op, Kavala, Greece, 2012).
11...Nc6 12.Ncxd5 Rb8 13.Rb1 Nxd5 14.Nxd5 d6 15.b3 gives White a small advantage in space (Topalov- Wojtaszek, Euro ChT, Porto Carras, 2011).

9.cxd5

The game is equal.

9...d6 10.0-0 g6?!

It's little problematic to develop the King's Bishop on the flank this far into the game, although with a pawn at d6 it's certainly something to be considered.
Quicker development comes from 10...Be7 11.b3 Nbd7 12.Nc3 0-0 13.Bb2 a6 14.Nf4 with equality.

BLACK: Monika Socko

WHITE: Koneru HumpyPosition after 10...g7g6

11.e4!

White has a small advantage in space.
If 11.Nc3! Nbd7 then:

12.Re1 Be7 13.Nb5 Qb8 14.e4 a6 15.Nc3 gives White a small advantage in space.
12.e4 Bg7 13.Nb5 Qb8 14.Bf4 Ne5 15.Qd2 gives White a small advantage in space.

11...Nbd7 12.Nc3 a6 13.f4 Bg7 14.Re1 0-0?!

If 14...h5! 15.e5 dxe5 then:

If 16.Nf2 Qb8 17.Na4 e4 18.Nxe4 then:

18...Nxe4 19.Bxe4 0-0 20.f5 Qe5 21.Bf4 Qd4+ gives Black a slight advantage in space.
18...0-0 19.Nxf6+ Bxf6 20.Be3 Qd6 21.Nc3 Rfe8 22.Qd3 gives White a slight advantage with more space; Black has fewer pawn weaknesses.

16.d6 Qb8 17.Nf2 Ng4 18.Nd5 Qxd6 19.Ne4 Qc6 is equal.

BLACK: Monika Socko

WHITE: Koneru HumpyPosition after 14...0-0

15.e5!

White has the initiative and a comfortable game.

15...Nh7 16.e6 Ndf6 17.g4?!

White this tightens White grip on the kingside, it allows counterplay on the queenside for Black.
If 17.a4 then:

17...Rae8 18.a5 b5 19.Nf2 fxe6 20.dxe6 Bxg2 21.Kxg2 Qc6+ gives Black a comfortable game; the e-pawn will soon be blockaded.
If 17...Rfe8 18.g4 then:

18...fxe6 19.dxe6 Bxg2 20.Kxg2 Qb7+ 21.Qf3 Qxf3+ 22.Kxf3 gives Black an extra pawn.
18...Nf8 19.f5 fxe6 20.dxe6 Bxg2 21.Kxg2 Qc6+ 22.Qf3 Qxf3+ gives Black an extra pawn.

17...fxe6!?

Black ignores his queenside opportunities.
If 17...b5! then:

18.a3 fxe6 19.Rxe6 Rf7 20.f5 g5 remains equal.
If 18.exf7+!? Qxf7! 19.Re6 Rad8 then:

20.f5 gxf5 21.gxf5 Qh5 22.Qxh5 Nxh5 23.Bxh6 Bd4+ gives White an additional pawn and Black better ones.
20.a3?! Bc8 21.f5 gxf5 22.gxf5 Qh5 23.Qxh5 Nxh5 gives Black a comfortable game.

18.Rxe6!

White has a small advantage in space.
If 18.dxe6 Rae8 then:

19.Bf3 Nxg4 20.Bxb7 Bd4+ 21.Kf1 Nxh2+ 22.Kg2 Qxb7+ 23.Kxh2 gives White a small advantage in space.
19.f5 Bxg2 20.Kxg2 Qc6+ 21.Qf3 gives White a slight advantage in space.

18...Rae8

If 18...Rf7 then:

19.g5 hxg5 20.fxg5 Nd7 21.Rxg6 Ne5 22.Re6 continues to give White a small advantage in space.
19.f5!? g5 20.a4 Nf8 21.Nf2 Nxe6 22.dxe6 Rff8 gives Black a small advantage in space.

19.f5 g5 20.Nf2!?

White wants to maneuver the Knight back to the center.
20.Be3 Rd8 21.Bf2 Rfe8 22.Bg3 b5 23.Nf2 continues to give White a small advantage in space.

20...b5!?

Black misses the equalizing maneuver.
20...Rd8 21.h4! gxh4 22.Bf4 Bc8 23.Re1 Ng5 24.Qd2 Nf7 is equal.

21.Be3!

White has a small advantage in space.
If 21.h3 Rd8 22.Re2 b4 23.Nce4 Rfe8 24.a3 a5 is equal.

21...b4!?

Black drives away the Knight, but makes c4 available for White's use.
If 21...Rd8 22.Qd2 b4 23.Ne2 then:

23...Rfe8 24.h4 Rxe6 25.fxe6 gxh4 26.a3 bxa3 27.Rxa3 gives White a fair advantage in space.
23...Rf7 24.h4 gxh4 25.Bxh6 h3 26.Bxh3 Bxd5 27.g5 gives White a comfortable game.

22.Ne2?!

White brings the Knight to a square where it has no further place to go.
If 22.Na4! Rb8 then:

23.a3 bxa3 24.Rxa3 Rfd8 25.b4 cxb4 26.Bb6 gives White a fair advantage in space.
If 23.Rc1 Rfd8 then:

24.Bd4 Qf7 25.Bxf6 Nxf6 26.Nb6 Qc7 27.Nc4 gives White a small advantage in space.
If 24.Nxc5!? dxc5! then:

25.d6 Qd7 26.Qb3 Qf7 27.Rxc5 Bxg2 28.Kxg2 is equal.
25.Bxc5 Rbc8 26.d6 Qb8 27.Nd3 Bxg2 28.Kxg2 Qb7+ gives Black a small advantage with the initiative and minor pieces poised to come into the center..

BLACK: Monika Socko

WHITE: Koneru HumpyPosition after 22.Nc3e2

22...Nd7!

The game is equal.

23.Ne4 Ne5

If 23...Nhf6!? 24.N2g3 Nxe4 25.Nxe4 then:

25...Nf6 26.Nf2 Bc8 27.Rc1 Bxe6 28.dxe6 c4 29.Qd2 gives White a small advantage in space.
If 25...Rxe6?! 26.dxe6! then:

26...d5 27.exd7 dxe4 28.Qb3+ c4 29.Qxb4 Qxd7 30.Qxc4+ gives Whit an extra pawn, an unhindered passed pawn and a strong initiative.
26...Bxb2? 27.exd7 Bxa1 28.Qxd6 Qxd6 29.Nxd6 Rd8 30.Nxb7 gives White two minor pieces for a Rook and better piece coordination.

24.N2g3 Nc4 25.Bf2 Nxb2 26.Qc2 Nd3

26...Rxe6 27.dxe6 Nd3 28.Qxd3 Bxa1 29.Qxd6 transposes to the not to Black's 27th move.

27.Qxd3

White proffers the exchange.
If 27.Rd1 Nxf2 28.Qxf2 Rxe6 29.dxe6 Be5 30.Nh5 Bxe4 31.Bxe4 remains equal

BLACK: Monika Socko

WHITE: Koneru HumpyPosition after 27.Qc2d3:N

27...Bxa1?

Before making any aggressive move, it is necessary for Black to eliminate White's aggressively posted Rook at e6.
27...Rxe6 28.dxe6 Bxa1 29.Qxd6 Qxd6 30.Nxd6 Bxg2 31.Kxg2 remains equal.

28.Rg6+!

As we were saying . . .

28...Kh8 29.Nxd6 Re5

29...Rd8 30.Nxb7 Qxb7 31.Bxc5 leaves White a pawn up.

30.Nxb7 Qxb7

BLACK: Monika Socko

WHITE: Koneru HumpyPosition after 30...Qc7b7:N

31.Bxc5

If 31.Rxh6 Qb5 32.Qc2 then:

If 32...Kg7 33.Rg6+ then:

33...Kh8 34.Bf3 Rf6 35.Qc1 Bc3 36.Rxf6 Nxf6 37.Qxg5 gives White an extra pawn, two minor pieces for a Rook, a passed pawn and the initiative.
If 33...Kf7 34.Bf1 then:

34...Qb8 35.Qc4 Qa8 36.d6+ Qd5 37.Qxd5+ Rxd5 38.Bc4 gives White a pin that assures she will recover the Rook, an extra pawn and a passed pawn
If 34...b3 then White wins after 35.axb3 Qb4 36.Bc4 Ke8 37.Qa2 Re1+.

If 32...Rf6 33.Rh3 Bc3 34.Ne4 then:

If 34...Rf7 then White wins in a cakewalk after 35.Nd6 Qd7 36.Nxf7+ Qxf7 37.d6 Kg8 38.Qd1.
If 34...Kg8 35.Nxf6+ Nxf6 36.Qc1 then:

If 36...Nh7 then White wins after 37.d6 Qc4 38.d7 Rd5 39.Bxd5+ Qxd5 40.Qe3.
If 36...Qb6 then White soon gives mate after 37.Qxg5+ Kf8 38.Rh8+ Kf7 39.Qg6+ Ke7 40.Qg7+.

31...Rf6 32.d6 Qd7 33.Ne4 Rxg6 34.fxg6 Nf8

If 34...Rxc5 then White wins after 35.Nxc5 Qc8 36.Qd5 Nf6 37.d7.

35.Qf1 Nxg6

If 35...Qg7 then White wins after 36.Qxa1 Rd5 37.Qc1 Nxg6.

36.Qxa1 Qg7 37.Bd4 Kh7 38.d7 Qe7

38...Qxd7 39.Nf6+ Kg7 40.Nxd7 Nf4 41.Bxe5+ is crushing, to put it mildly.

39.Bxe5 Nxe5 40.Qxe5 1-0

If 40...Qxe5 41.d8Q Kg7 42.Qd7+ leaves White two pieces to the good.
If 40...Qd8 41.Nf6+ Kg6 then:

42.Qe8+ Qxe8 43.Nxe8 hurts to watch.
If 42.Qf5+ then after 42...Kf7 43.Bd5+ Kg7 44.Ne8+ White soon gives mate.

Pani Socko resigns.

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