Fri Dec 7, 2012, 01:34 AM

Chess (December): Magnus unofficially surpasses Kasparov, leads in London

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 leads in London, unofficially breaks Kasparov's Elo record

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Magnus Carlsen, the top rated chess player in the world, leads the London Chess Classic after five rounds out of eight.

Currently, Magnus has 13 points in the football-style scoring (three points for a win, one for a draw) with four victories and only one draw. The draw came against former world champion Vladimir Karamnik, who holds second place with 11 points. Reigning American champion Hikaru Nakamura is in third with eight points.

With his win today as Black over British GM Mickey Adams, Magnus has a preformance rating of over 3100 for the tounament thus far. That gives him unofficially an up-to-the minute Elo rating of 2861, surpassing Garry Kasparov's high-water mark of 2851 reached in Jualy 1999 and January 2000.

The tournamet is among nine competitors with each playing eight games in nine rounds with a different player getting a bye in each round. The event concludes Monday.

Three tie for first in Tashkent Grand Prix

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Sergey Karjakin, Wang Hao and Alexander Morozevich each scored 6½ points in eleven rounds in the second leg of the 2012/13 FIDE Grand Prix held in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.

The tournament was took place from November 22 through December 4.

Karjakin and Wang each won three game with one loss and seven draws, while Morozevich, the ealy tounament leader, won four, lost two and drew five.

The first leg of the Grand Prix, held from September 21 through October 3 in London, also ended in a three way tie among Boris Gelfand, Shakhriyar Mamdedyarov and Veselin Topalov.

Anna Ushenina wins FIDE Women's Knock-Out, crowned world women's champion

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Ukrainian international master Anna Yurivna Ushenina won the FIDE Women's Knock Out held in the Siberian oil town of Khanty-Mansiysk between November 11 and December 1 and thus became the new world women's champion.

Anna Yurivna defeated Bulgarian grandmaster Antoaneta Stefanova, who held the world women's title from 2004 to 2006, in the final round of the event.

The first five rounds of the tournament were each held over three days and the sixth and final round over five. The first five rounds consisted of two games under standard time control on the first two days and a day for any necessary rapid and blitz playoffs. The final round consisted of four regulation games and a day of rapid and blitz playoffs. The winner of each round advanced to the next round and the loser was eliminated.

Anna Yurivna wins the event as the Cinderella of the tournament. Along the way she defeated not only Stefanova, but Nadezhda Kosintseva, Ju Wenjun and Anna Muzychuk, all regarded as stronger than she. Anna Yurivna took out Muzychuk in round two, which was a devastating round for the tounament's top seeds; the second round saw the end of the line for not only Muzychuk, but Ukraine's strongest player, Katya Lahno, as well as Koneru Humpy of India and reigning world women's champion Hou Yifan of China.

Anna Yurivna will defend her title against Hou Yifan, the winner of the 2011/12 Women's Grand Prix, some time in 2013. Hou Nushi is expeced to be a heavy favorite to recapture the world women's title.

World Youth Finishes in Maribor; 14-year-old takes first among 18-yo girls

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The World Youth Championships were held this year in Maribor, Slovenia from November 8 though 18.

The big story is that the 18-year-old girls category was won by 14-year-old Aleksandra Goryachkina, a WGM from Russia. The young lady was the second seed among all the women in the tournament, regardless of age. Only Meri Arabidze of Georgia began the event with a higher rating among firls.

Ms. Goyachkina score 9½ points in eleven rounds, a full point ahead of runner-up Lisa Schut of Holland. Russian Maria Severina took third with 8 points.

In the boys 18 and under category, grandmaster Dariusz Sweircz of Poland, the top seed, took first with 9 points, with Armenia GM Hovhannes Gabuzyan second with 8½ points GM Jorge Cori Tello of Peru third with 8 points.

Areshchenko, Socko wins Chigorin Memorial Open

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GM Alexander Areshchenko of Ukraine won the 2012 edition of the Mikhail Chigorin Memorial Open in St Petersburg scoring 7½ points out of a possible 9, edging out Polish GM Bartosz Socko for the top prize on tie-break points.

The event was held between October 27 and November 4.

Russian GM Aleksandr Shimanov took thrid place with 7 points.

The World-Akobian continues on ChessGames.com

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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, continued through the month of November.

The game started on August 1 and is the second game of a series. Last year, with Mr. Akobian playing White, ended in a draw. This year, The World is playing White and at this writing is as of today discussing what to do on it's 30th move.

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

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15 replies	Author	Time	Post
Chess (December): Magnus unofficially surpasses Kasparov, leads in London (Original post)	Jack Rabbit	Dec 2012	OP
November Games	Jack Rabbit	Dec 2012	#1
FIDE Women's Knock Out, Khanty-Mansiysk	Jack Rabbit	Dec 2012	#2
Ushenina - N. Kosintseva, Quarter-Final Round/Game 2	Jack Rabbit	Dec 2012	#5
Stefanova - Harika, Semi-Final Round/Game 1	Jack Rabbit	Dec 2012	#6
Harika - Danielian, Round 2/Game 1	Jack Rabbit	Dec 2012	#11
Ju Wenjun - Natalia Zhukova, Round 3/Game 1 (Opening Theory: QG Normal (Tarrasch) Defense)	Jack Rabbit	Dec 2012	#12
Galliamova - Sebag, Round 3/Game 1 Opening Theory: English Game (Slav & Orthodox) & Kia Game	Jack Rabbit	Dec 2012	#14
World Youth Championships, Maribor	Jack Rabbit	Dec 2012	#3
Sweircz - Nagy, Boys U18, Round 10	Jack Rabbit	Dec 2012	#7
Schut - Goryachkina, Girls U18, Round 6	Jack Rabbit	Dec 2012	#8
Chigorin Memorial Open, St. Petersburg	Jack Rabbit	Dec 2012	#4
Areshchenko - B. Socko, Round 6	Jack Rabbit	Dec 2012	#9
B. Socko - Levin, Round 1	Jack Rabbit	Dec 2012	#10
Update Monday, December 10: Magnus wins London Classic, sets new rating record	Jack Rabbit	Dec 2012	#13
Update (Saturday, December 28): The World defeats GM Akobian in Cyberspace	Jack Rabbit	Dec 2012	#15

Response to Jack Rabbit (Original post)

Fri Dec 7, 2012, 01:35 AM

Jack Rabbit (40,694 posts)

1. November Games

Your humble hare acknowledges the assistance of Houdini 1.5a and 3, 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)

Fri Dec 7, 2012, 01:36 AM

Jack Rabbit (40,694 posts)

2. FIDE Women's Knock Out, Khanty-Mansiysk

Last edited Sat Dec 8, 2012, 03:06 PM USA/ET - Edit history (1)

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Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #2)

Fri Dec 7, 2012, 01:41 AM

Jack Rabbit (40,694 posts)

5. Ushenina - N. Kosintseva, Quarter-Final Round/Game 2

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Anna Ushenina - Nadezhda Kosintseva
FIDE Women's Knock-Out, Quarter-Final Round/Game 2
Khanty-Mansiysk, 21 November 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 c5 7.0-0 Nc6

For moves and variations of the Rubinstein Opening up to here and what follows 7...dxc4, see Bacrot-David, French ChT, Mulhouse, 2011.

8.a3

If 8...Ba5 then:

If 9.cxd5 exd5 10.dxc5 Bxc3 11.bxc3 then:

If 11...Bg4 12.c4 Ne5 then:

If 13.cxd5 Bxf3 14.gxf3 then:

If 14...Qxd5 15.Be2 Qxc5 16.Bb2 then:

If 16...Rad8 17.Bd4 then:

17...Qc8 18.Qa4 Rd5 19.f4 b5 20.Qb3 Qh3 21.Bxe5 is equal and soon agreed drawn (Antoshin-Krogius, Chigorin Mem, Sochi, 1964).
17...Qc6 18.f4 Ng6 19.Bf3 Qe6 20.Qc2 Nh4 gives Black a clear advantage (A. G. Geller-Cherepkov, Soviet Ch ½-final, Leningrad, 1955).

16...Rfd8 17.Bd4 Qe7 18.Qc1 Nc6 19.Bb2 Rac8 gives Black stronger pawns and more space (Hammer-Hess, Op, Reykjavik, 2011).

14...Nxd5 15.f4 Nxf4 16.Bxh7+ Kxh7 17.exf4 Nd3 18.Qf3 gives White a slight advantage; if 18...Nxc5?? then 19.Qh5+! and White wins (Rui Wang-Yu Yangyi, Chinese League, Chengdu, 2011).

If 13.Bb2 Nxf3+ 14.gxf3 Bh3 then:

If 15.cxd5 Qxd5 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.Kh1 then:

If 17...Rfd8 18.Rg1+ Kh8 19.Be2 then:

19...Qxc5 20.Qa4 Bf5 21.Qh4 Qe7 22.e4 Bg6 23.Bc4 is equal (E. Agrest-Milov, Euro Ch, Antalya, 2004).
19...Qxd1 20.Raxd1 Rxd1 21.Bxd1 Rc8 22.Bb3 Rxc5 23.Bxf7 gives White a small advantage in space (Tal-Portisch, IT, Bled, 1965).
19.Be4 Bg2+ 20.Kxg2 Qg5+ 21.Kh1 Rxd1 22.Raxd1 Qxc5 is equal (Beliavsky-Tal, Soviet ChT, Riga, 1975).

17...Kh8 18.Rg1 Rad8 19.Be2 Rg8 20.Qa4 Qe5 21.Rae1 gives White a small advantage with an attack on Black's a-pawn (Zaiatz-Gaponenko, Russian ChTW, Olginka, 2011).

If 15.Re1 Ne4 then:

16.Be5 Qg5+ 17.Bg3 Nxg3 18.hxg3 dxc4 19.Bxc4 Qxc5 gives White a slight advantage in space (Furman-Taimanov, Soviet Ch, Kiev, 1954).
If 16.f4?! Qh4 17.Qf3 Nd2 then:

If 18.Qe2? then Black wins after 18...dxc4! 19.Bc2 Rad8 20.f3 Qh5 21.Kh1 Nxf3(Gligoric-Ivkov, IT, Zagreb, 1965).
18.Qg3!! Qxg3+ 19.fxg3 Nf3+ 20.Kf2 Nxe1 21.Rxe1 dxc4 leaves Black up by an exchange, but White's game is quite playable.

If 11...Qa5 12.Qc2 Qxc5 13.a4 then:

If 13...Re8 14.Ba3 Qa5 then:

15.Rab1 Qc7 16.c4 dxc4 17.Bxc4 Be6 18.Bxe6 Rxe6 19.Rfd1 gives White a clear advantage (Timman-Kaplan, IT, Amsterdam, 1974).
15.Rfb1 Ne5 16.Nxe5 Rxe5 17.Bd6 Re6 18.Rb5 gives White a comfortable advantage in space (J. Balogh-Cuadrado, Corres, 1950).

13...Qa5 14.Rb1 Qc7 15.c4 dxc4 16.Qxc4 Rd8 17.Bb2 gives Black a small advantage in space (Shcherbakov-Petit, Op, Metz, 1994).

If 9.h3 then:

If 9...Qe7 10.Qc2 dxc4 11.Bxc4 then:

If 11...cxd4 12.exd4 Rd8 13.Rd1 then:

If 13...h6 14.Bf4 then:

14...Nd5?! 15.Bg3! Nxc3 16.bxc3 Re8 17.Bd3 Bc7 18.Bh7+ gives White the advantage in space (Wells-S. Gordon, 4NCL, Reading, England, 2011).
14...Bb6 15.Be3 Bd7 16.Qe2 Rac8 17.d5 leaves White with a small advantage in space.

13...Bb6 14.Be3 Nd5 15.Nxd5 exd5 16.Ba2 g6 17.Re1 is equal.

If 11...Rd8 12.Rd1 then:

12...a6 13.Bd3 cxd4 14.exd4 h6 15.Be3 Bd7 16.Rac1 gives White a small advantage in space; Black's game is cramped, but Black's pawns are better and Whitem has no weaknesses to exploit (Djuric-B. Ivanovic, Yugoslav Ch, 1989).
If 12...h6 13.Ba2 b6 14.d5 then:

14...Bxc3?! 15.dxc6! Rxd1+ 16.Qxd1 forces Black's Bishop to retreat to a5 (Sedlak-Hölzl, Op, Zadar, Croatia, 2010).
14...Nxd5 15.Bxd5 exd5 16.Nxd5 Qb7 17.e4 continues to give White a small advantage.

If 9...dxc4 10.Bxc4 h6 11.Qd3 cxd4 12.exd4 then:

12...Bc7 13.Rd1 b6 14.d5 exd5 15.Nxd5 Be6 16.Nxc7 Bxc4 17.Qc2 gives White a slight advantage in space (Potkin-Quesada Pérez, Capablanca Mem, Havana, 2012).
12...Ne7 13.Re1 Bc7 14.Bd2 b6 15.Rad1 Nfd5 16.Ba2 gives White a small advantage in space(Del Rio Angelis-Predke, Chigorin Mem Op, St. Petersburg, 2009).

8...Bxc3 9.bxc3 Qc7 10.cxd5 exd5 11.a4

If 11.Nh4 Ne7 then:

If 12.g3 Rxe4 Bh3 then:

If 13.Re1 Ng6 14.Ng2 Qd7 15.f3 then:

15...cxd4 16.cxd4 Bf5 17.Bf1 Rfc8 18.Ra2 Qc6 19.Bd2 is equal (Gligoric-Averbakh, TM, Rijeka, 1963).

15...Bf5 16.Bf1 h5 is equal (Nowak-Balashov, Op, Berlin, 1988).

13.Ng2 Bf5 14.f3 Bxd3 15.Qxd3 Rac8 16.Bd2 Rfe8 gives Black a slight advantage in space (Gligoric-Larsen, IT, Milan, 1975).

If 12.a4 then:

If 12...Re8 13.Ba3 c4 14.Bc2 Ng6 15.Nf5 Ne4 then:

16.Bxe4 17.Ng3 Re8 18.Qh5 gives White a small advantage in space (Portisch-R. Byrne, IT, Bogojno, 1978).
16.Qh5 Qc6 17.Ng3 Nxc3 18.Bb2 Ne4 19.Nxe4 dxe4 (Knaak-Zilberstein, Keres Mem, Tallinn, 1979).

If 12...c4 13.Bc2 then:

13...Re8 14.Qe1 Kh8 15.Ba3 g6 16.g3 Bh3 gives Black a small advantage with the attack on the Rook (Unzicker-R. Byrne, Ol, Haifa, 1976).
13...Ng6 14.Nf5 Ne4 15.Ng3 f5 16.Ne2 Be6 17.f3 gives White the initiative (Donner-Pachman, Ol, Varna, 1962).

If 11.h3 then:

If 11...c4 12.Bc2 Ne7 then:

13.Nd2 Bf5 14.a4 Rfe8 15.Ba3 Bxc2 16.Qxc2 Nc6 is equal (Azmapairashvili-Schneider, Soviet Jr Ch, Yurmala, Latvia, 1983).
13.a4 Bf5 14.Ba3 Ne4 15.Nh4 Be6 16.f4 f6 is equal (Gligoric-Korchnoi, IT, Palma de Mallorca, 1968).

If 11...Re8 then:

If 12.a4 c4 13.Bc2 Ne4 14.Bxe4 dxe4 15.Nd2 then:

15...Bf5 16.Nxc4 Nxd4 17.cxd4 Qxc4 18.Ba3 Bd7 Is equal (Gligoric-Stojanovic, Yugoslav ChT, Niksic, 1996).
15...Na5 16.Ba3 b6 17.Bb4 Nc6 18.Qc2 Bb7 19.Rfb1 is equal (Forkin-A. Smirnov, Op, St. Petersburg, 2001).

If 12.Bb2 c4 13.Bc2 Ne4 then:

14.Nh2 b5 15.f3 Ng3 16.Re1 Bf5 17.Bxf5 Nxf5 is equal (Gligoric-Abramovic, Yugoslav Ch, Novi Sad, 1995).
14.Bxe4 Rxe4 15.Nd2 Re8 16.Qf3 Be6 17.Rfe1 f5 is equal (Kuzubov-Sachdev, Op, Gibraltar, 2007).

11...Re8 12.Ba3 c4 13.Bc2 Bg4

If 13...Ne4 14.Bxe4 Rxe4 15.Nd2 Re8 16.e4 then:

If 16...Be6 17.Re1 then:

If 17...dxe4 18.Nxe4 Bd5 19.Nd6 then:

19...Re6 20.Rxe6 fxe6 21.Rb1 b6 22.Qh5 is equal (Ugge-García Corada, Corres, 2001).
19...Red8!? 20.Nf5! Be6 21.Ne3 f5 22.Qf3 Qa5 23.Rec1 gives White a passed pawn and a slight advantage in space; Black has stronger pawns (Gligoric-Komarov, Yugoslav ChT, Vrnjacka Banja, 1998).

17...Na5 18.Rb1 Qd7 19.Rb5 b6 20.f3 is equal (Micklethwaite-T. Schmidt, Corres, 2004).

If 16...dxe4 17.Nxc4 Nb4 then:

18.Ne3 Qxc3 19.Qc1 Qxc1 20.Rfxc1 a5 21.Bxb4 gives White a passed pawn and Black stronger pawns (Berkes-Hou Yifan, IT, Paks, Hungary, 2007).
18.Nd6 Qxd6 19.Bxb4 Qd5 20.a5 Bd7 21.Qd2 Rac8 22.Rfe1 Bb5 draw (Alexandrova-Millet, Euro ChTW, Porto Carras, Greece, 2011).

14.Qe1

BLACK: Nadezhda Kosintseva

WHITE: Anna UsheninaPosition after 14.Qd1e1

14...Bh5

14...Bxf3 15.gxf3 Qd7 16.Kh1 Qh3 17.Qd1 Nh5 18.Rg1 is equal (Kasimdzhanov-Ivanchuk, IT, Skanderborg, Denmark, 2003).

15.Nh4 Ng4 16.g3 Bg6 17.Nxg6 hxg6 18.Qd2

If 18.Qe2 Qd7 then:

19.h3 Nf6 20.Kh2 Re6 21.f3 Rae8 22.Bc1 draw (Geller-Matanovic, IT, Bled, 1961).
19.Rfe1 f5 20.Rab1 b6 21.Rb5 Na5 22.Bb4 Nc6 23.Ba3 Na5 24.Bb4 Nc6 25.Ba3 draw (Lund-Drozdovskij, Op, Copenhagen, 2009).

18...Na5

If 18...Nf6 19.f3 Na5 20.Rab1 Re6 21.Rfe1 Rae8 then:

22.g4 Nb3 23.Bxb3 cxb3 24.Rxb3 Nh7 25.Bc1 is equal (Ernazarov-Bokar, Corres, 2006).
22.Qf2 b6 23.Re2 Nb3 24.Rbe1 Qc6 25.Bb2 a5 gives Black the initiative against White's a-pawn (Monacell-Rodríguez López, Corres, 2002).

19.Rae1 Nf6 20.f3 Qc6 (N)

20...Nb3 21.Qd1 Qa5 22.Bb4 Qxa4 23.e4 a5 gives Black a small advantage in space (Gelfand-Eljanov, Grand Prix, Astrakhan, 2010).

BLACK: Nadezhda Kosintseva

WHITE: Anna UsheninaPosition after 20...Qc6

21.Qg2

The game is equal.

21...Nb3 22.e4 Qxa4 23.Bb2 Qb5 24.Bb1

If 24.e5 then:

24...Nxd4! 25.Bb1 Nb3 26.exf6 Rxe1 27.Rxe1 Re8 28.Rd1 remains equal.
24...Nh7!? 25.Ba3 Qa4 26.Bd6 Qa5 27.Re3 Rad8 28.Rfe1 gives White a slight advantage in space.

24...dxe4!?

24...Nd7 25.e5 Nb6 26.Qc2 Na4 27.Ba3 Na1 28.Qd2 remains equal.

25.fxe4!

White has a slight edge with a passed pawn and a better center at the moment. White's e-pawn is overprotected and cannot be assailed.

25...Re6!?

25...Qc6 26.g4 g5 27.h3 Re6 28.Qf2 Qc7 29.e5 continues to give White a slight advantage.

26.Re2!

White takes a small advantage in space with a mobile pawn center.
If 26.e5!? Ng4 27.Re2 Rd8 28.Qf3 Nh6 29.g4 continues to give White a slight advantage in space.

26...Rae8 27.e5 Nd5?!

Black has a spatial defcit and doesn't need to worry about White's pawn advancing to d5. This indicates that Black should strive to exchange material.
If 27...Qc6 then:

If 28.Qh3 then:

If 28...b5 then:

If 29.Ba3 a5 30.exf6 gxf6 31.Rxe6 then:

If 31...Rxe6 32.d5 Qxd5 then:

If 33.Qh6 b4 then:

34.Bxg6! fxg6 35.Qxg6+ Kh8 36.Qh6+ etc. draws by repetition.
If 34.Bb2?? then Black wins after 34...Re2! .

If 33.Bxg6 fxg6 34.Qh6 Nc5 35.Qxg6+ then:

If 35...Kh8 36.Qf7 Nd7 37.Bf8 Nxf8 38.Qxf8+ Kh7 39.Qf7+ then:

39...Kh8 40.Qf8+ Kh7 etc. draws by repetition.
If 39...Kh6?? then White wins after 40.Rxf6+! Rxf6 41.Qxd5 b4 42.cxb4 axb4 43.Qxc4 .

If 35...Kf8 36.Qf5 Qxf5 37.Rxf5 b4 then:

38.cxb4 Nd3! 39.Rxa5 Kf7 40.b5 Re1+ 41.Kg2 gives White a slight edge.
38.Rxc5 bxa3 39.Rxa5 Re1+ 40.Kg2 Re2+ 41.Kf3 Rxh2 42.Rxa3 is equal and lifeless.

If 31...Qxe6? then White wins after 32.Qxe6! Rxe6 33.d5 Rb6 34.d6 b4 35.Rxf6

If 29.exf6 then:

29...Rxe2 30.Bxg6 Qg2+ 31.Qxg2 Rxg2+ 32.Kxg2 Re2+ 33.Rf2 gives WHite a fair advantage. Each side has a passed pawn.
29...gxf6?! 30.Qg2 Qxg2+ 31.Rxg2 a5 32.Bc2 a4 33.Rgf2 gives White a Bishop for two pawns.

28...Nd5 29.Ref2 Nc5 30.g4 Nd3 31.Bxd3 cxd3 32.Qxd3 gives White a slim advantage with better pawn; each side has a passed pawn.

If 28.Qf2 then:

28...a5 29.g4 Qd7 30.g5 Nh7 31.h4 continues to give White a small advantage in space.
28...Qd7 29.Qf3 Qc6 30.Qf4 R8e7 31.Qh4 Nd5 32.Ref2 gives White a small advantage in space.

BLACK: Nadezhda Kosintseva

WHITE: Anna UsheninaPosition after 27...Nf6d5

28.Qf3!

White has the better center, a passed pawn and an attack on f7 to which Black must give attention.

28...f5?!

Black yields a passer to White.
If 28...Qd7 29.Be4 Nc7 30.g4 Rb6 then:

31.Ref2 Ne6 32.h4 Re7 33.Qg2 Ra6 34.d5 gives White the Bishop pair against two Knights, an advanced center duo and pressure on the kingside; Black has a extra pawn.
31.h4 Nxd4 32.cxd4 Rb3 33.Qf2 Qxg4+ 34.Bg2 gives White a Bishop for three pawns and a terrible threat to f7; Black has three connected passers on the queenside.

29.g4 f4

If 29...Ne7 30.Ba3 then:

If 30...Nc6 31.Qf4 then:

If 31...Nxe5 then White wins after 32.dxe5 Rxe5 33.Ref2 Re1 34.gxf5 g5 35.Qxg5.
31...Qb6 32.Kg2 Nbxd4 33.cxd4 Nxd4 34.Rd2 Nb3 35.Rd6 gives White the Bishop pair for three pawns and a Knight. the initiative against Black's Queen and more space; Black's three passed pawns pale by comparison.

If 30...Qc6 then White wins after 31.Qh3 f4 32.Be4 Nd5 33.Qf3 Rd8 34.Bd6

30.Be4 Rd8

If 30...Nc7? then White wins after 31.Qxf4 Qd7 32.Ba3 Ra6 33.Bd6 Ne6 34.Qg3 .

31.Bxd5 Qxd5 32.Qxf4 Qd7?

Black does not want White to invade on f7, but this move has the consequence of making White's pawn center mobile.
If 32...Ree8? 33.Ba3 then:

33...Nxd4 34.Qxd4 Qxd4+ 35.cxd4 Rxd4 36.e6 Rd3 37.Ra1 leaves White with an extra piece
If 33...Kh7 then White wins after 34.Re3 Nxd4 35.cxd4 Qxd4 36.e6 Qxf4 37.Rxf4 .

BLACK: Nadezhda Kosintseva

WHITE: Anna UsheninaPosition after 32...Qd5d7

33.Ba3!

White prepares to advance her center. Her plan is to bring the Bishop to d6, shielding the d-file from the Queen-Rook battery, and then advancing to d5.

33...Ra6

Black will regroup her pieces to better fight the pawn advancce.
If 33...Ree8 then White wins more quickly after 34.Bd6 Qe6 35.Ref2 b5 36.g5 Qd5 37.Rf3.

34.Bb4!?

This is a momentary lapse that allows Black an extra tempo to prepare.
Better is 34.Bd6! (according to plan) 34...Qe6 35.Ref2 when:

If 35...Re8 then after 36.Qg3 Ra1 37.Rxa1 Nxa1 38.Qf3 Nb3 39.Qe4 White's center is ready to roll.
If 35...Ra1 then after 36.Rxa1 Nxa1 37.Qf3 Nb3 38.d5 Qd7 39.Qf4 White's center is rolling.

34...Qe6

Black makes the best move she can, but all it will do is extend her agony.

35.Qe4

If 35.Qf3 then White wins after 35...b6 36.Ref2 Ra1 37.Rxa1 Nxa1 38.Bd6 .

35...b5 36.Ref2 Ra1

The exchange of Rooks is shear disperation.
If 36...Kh7 37.g5 Qh3 38.d5 Re8 39.e6 .

37.Rxa1 Nxa1

BLACK: Nadezhda Kosintseva

WHITE: Anna UsheninaPosition after 37...Nb3a1:R

38.Ra2!

To save her Knight, Black must submit to the loss of a pawn and the presence of White's Rook on the seventh rank.

38...Nb3 39.Rxa7 Nc1

If 39...Nd2 40.Qg2 then:

If 40...Qb6 41.Re7 Rxd4 42.Re8+ Kf7 43.Rf8+ Ke6 44.cxd4 puts Black in a mating net.
If 40...Nb3 then White wins after 41.Re7 Qa6 42.Qf3 Kh8 43.Qf7 Rg8 44.Ra7 .

40.Re7 Qa6 41.Qf3 Kh8

If 41...Kh7 then White wins after 42.Qf7 Rg8 43.Re6 .

42.Qf7 Rg8 43.Ra7 Qc8

If 43...Qb6 44.Bf8 Kh7 45.Re7 then:

If 45...Ne2+ 46.Kf1 Qc6 47.d5 Qa6 48.Bxg7 then:

448...Qa1+ 49.Kf2 Qg1+ 50.Kxe2 Qxg4+ 51.Qf3 leaves Black out of checks.
If 48...Ng3+ then White soon gives mate after 49.Kg2 Nh5 50.gxh5 .

45...Qd8 46.Bxg7 Qxe7 47.Qxe7 Rxg7 48.Qh4+ Kg8 49.Qd8+ Kh7 50.e6 will cost Black the Rook to stop the pawn.

44.Qxg6 Ne2+ 45.Kf1 Nf4 46.Qg5 1-0

White threatens mate starting with 47.Qh4.
Nadezhda Anatolyevna resigns.

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #2)

Fri Dec 7, 2012, 01:42 AM

Jack Rabbit (40,694 posts)

6. Stefanova - Harika, Semi-Final Round/Game 1

Antoaneta Stefanova
Photo by Frank Hoppe (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Samson1964) in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Antoaneta_Stefanova)
(Public Domain)

Antoaneta Stefanova - Dronavalli Harika
FIDE Women's Knock-Out, Semifianl Round, Game 1
Khanty-Mansiysk, 23 November 2012

Orthodox Queen's Gambit: London Opening

1.d4 e6 2.c4 d5 3.Nc3 Be7 4.Bf4 Nf6 5.e3 0-0 6.a3

This is a very rare move. Most common is
6.Nf3. See Vitiugov-Nakamura, IT 1112, Reggio Emilia, 2011.

6...Nbd7 7.Nb5 Ne8 8.Nf3 c6

8...Ndf6 9.Rc1 Nh5 10.Bg3 g6 11.Be2 dxc4 12.Bxc4 is equal (Fressinet-Aleksandrov, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).

9.Nc3 f5

If 9...Nef6 10.h3 b6 11.cxd5 then:

If 11...exd5 12.Bd3 Bb7 13.0-0 c5 then:

14.Qb1 a6 15.dxc5 bxc5 16.Be2 Qb6 17.Rd1 gives White stronger pawns (Fedoseev-Klyuev, Polugaevsky Mem, Samsara, 2012).
14.Ne5 Nxe5 15.Bxe5 Bd6 16.Bxd6 Qxd6 17.Be2 Rac8 is equal (Roos-Goloshchapov, Bundesliga 0809, Dresden, 2008).

If 11...Nxd5 12.Nxd5 exd5 then:

13.Bd3 Bb7 14.Qc2 Nf6 15.Be5 h6 16.g4 Ne4 is equal (Nielsen-Sethuraman, Politiken Cup, Helsignør, 2009).
13.Be2 Bb7 14.Qa4 c5 15.0-0 a6 16.dxc5 Nxc5 is equal (Ivanchuk-And. Volokitin, IT, Foros, Ukraine, 2008).

10.h3 Nd6 11.cxd5 exd5

The game transposes into the exchange opening. For the main lines of this opening, see Korchnoi-Karpov, World Ch Match, Baguio City, 1978.

12.Bd3 Nf6 13.Ne5 Nfe4

Up to here, the players were following a game played just the day before in the FIDE Grand Prix.
13...Be6 14.0-0 Nd7 15.Ne2 a5 16.Qc2 a4 17.Bh2 gives White a small advantage in space (Mamedyarov-Kasimdzhanov, Grand Prix 1213, Tashkent, 2012).

14.Ne2 (N)

14.0-0 Nf7 15.Qc2 Bd6 16.Bh2 then:

16...Nxe5!? 17.Bxe5 Bxe5 18.dxe5 is equal (Gelfand-Aronioan, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2012).
16...Qe7 17.Nxf7 Bxh2+ 18.Kxh2 Rxf7 is equal.

14...Nf7!?

Black suggests an exchange of Knights.
14...Qa5+ 15.b4 Qb6 16.0-0 a5 17.b5 Nxb5 18.f3 is equal.

BLACK: Dronavalli Harika

WHITE: Antoaneta StefanovaPosition after 14...Nd6f7

15.0-0!

White has a slight advantage in space
15.Nxf7! Rxf7 16.Qc2 Be6 17.0-0 Qb6 18.f3 also gives White a slight advantage.

15...Bd6 16.Qc2 Qf6!? 17.f3!

White has a small advantage in space.

17...Neg5 18.h4!?

The pawn becomes a target after Black withdraws the Knight.
18.Bg3 Bb8 19.h4 Ne6 20.f4 Nd6 21.Nc3 continues to give White a slight edge.

BLACK: Dronavalli Harika

WHITE: Antoaneta StefanovaPosition after 18.h3h4

18...Ne6!

The game is equal.

19.Bxf5 Nxe5

If 19...Bxe5!? 20.Bxh7+ Kh8 21.dxe5 then:

21...Nxe5 22.b3 Nxf4 23.exf4 Qxh4 24.fxe5 Qxh7 25.Qc3 gives White a passed pawn that for now is going nowhere.
If 21...Qxh4? 22.Bg6! then:

If 22...Kg8 23.Bg3 then:

23...Qh6 then White wins easily after 24.Kf2 Qh8 25.Rh1 Nh6 26.Bh4 Bd7 27.Be7.
If 23...Qe7 24.f4 then:

If 24...Nc7 then White wins after 25.Nd4 Bg4 26.Nf5 Qd8 27.Bxf7+ Rxf7 28.Nd6.
24...Nc5 25.Nd4 Nh6 26.Be1 a5 27.Rc1 Ne4 28.Bxe4 nets another pawn.

22...Nxf4 23.exf4 Kg8 24.Rf2 Nh6 25.g3 Qd8 26.Rh2 gives White an extra pawn, command of attacking lanes and a huge advantage in space.

20.Bxh7+ Kh8

The King is far safer here that moving toward the center.
20...Kf7?! 21.Bxe5! Bxe5 22.dxe5 Qxe5 23.f4 Qxe3+ 24.Kh1 gives White a safer King and the initiative

21.dxe5 Bxe5 22.Bxe5 Qxe5 23.Kf2 d4?!

The pawn is more useful at d5, where it discourages White to advance her e-pawn and could possible aide a queenside under favorable circumstances.
If 23...c5 24.Bd3 then:

24...Bd7 25.Qd2 Rad8 26.Rae1 Qf6 27.h5 d4 28.Kg1 gives Black an extra pawn and White more space.
24...c4?! 25.Bg6! Bd7 26.Rh1 Rf6 27.h5 Qg5 28.Qc3 gives White an extra pawn and pressure on Black's King; Black holds more space.

24.exd4!

White is accumulating small advantages to the point of being quite comfortable. She has an extra pawn, solid command of of the b1/h7 diagonal and a 3:1 pawn majority on the kingside; After recapturing at d4, Black will have a 3:2 majority on the queenside and more space.

24...Nxd4 25.Qe4 Nxf3

If 25...Qxe4 26.Bxe4 Nxe2 27.Kxe2 Bf5 then:

28.g4 Bh7 29.Bxh7 Kxh7 30.Rad1 Rf7 31.Kf2 Raf8 32.Rd3 gives White an extra pawn.
28.Rad1 Rae8 29.Kd3 Kh7 30.g4 Bg6 31.Rde1 gives White an extra pawn and a centralized King.

26.gxf3 Qh2+!

Black must resist the temptation to grab a pawn.
26...Qxb2? 27.Bg6! Qf6 28.Rad1 Bf5 29.Bxf5 Rae8 30.Qf4 assures White of invading the seventh rank by way of the d-file.

BLACK: Dronavalli Harika

WHITE: Antoaneta StefanovaPosition after 26...Qe5h2+

27.Ke3!

This may seem counterintuitive, but White is correct to bring the King to the center, where it protect more vital points, keeps the Rooks connected on the back rank and readies itself for the endgame.
27.Ke1?! Bh3 28.Bg6 Rf6 29.Rc1 Bxf1 30.Kxf1 Raf8 is a level game.

27...Bd7?

This move threatens nothing and protects nothing that isn't already protected.
Better is 27...Be6 28.Bg6 when:

28...Bd5 29.Qe7 Rf6 30.Be4 Re6 31.Qb4 Rae8 32.Nc3 leaves Black unable to capture the h-pawn because of 33.Rh1! winning the Queen.
28...Rf6? 29.Nf4! Bd5 30.Nxd5 cxd5 31.Qg4 Kg8 32.Rac1 gives White an extra piece.

28.Rad1 Qc7

28...Rae8 29.Rxd7!! Qxh4 30.Rxb7 Qh5 31.Kd2 Rxe4 32.Bxe4 gives White a Rook and two minor pieces for the Queen.

29.Qc2?!

White understandingly doesn't want one of Black's Rooks moving to e8 while the Queen can be pinned, but exposing the King on e3 isn't the solution.
If 29.Kd2! then:

If 29...Rae8 30.Qc2 Qe5 31.Be4 Bh3 then:

White wins after 32.Rf2! Bf5 33.Rg2 Bxe4 34.fxe4 Qxe4 35.Qxe4 Rxe4 36.Kc2 when she has an extra piece.
If 32.Rg1? Rxf3!! then:

If 33.Kc1 Qxe4 34.Nd4 Rf4 35.Qc3 Qe3+ 36.Qxe3 Rxe3 gives Black an extra pawn and excellent winning chances owing to her active Rooks.
If 33.Bxf3? then Black wins after 33...Qe3+! 34.Ke1 Qxg1+ 35.Kd2 Qe3+ 36.Ke1 Qxf3.

If 29...Rad8 then:

White wins after 30.Kc1 Rfe8 31.Qc2 Bh3 32.Rxd8 Rxd8 33.Rg1.
If 30.Ke1? then 30...Rfe8! 31.Qb1 Qg3+ 32.Rf2 Qg1+ 33.Rf1 Qg3+ etc. draws by repetition.

29...Bh3?

Black wastes a critical tempo.
Correct is the forcing variation 29...Qb6+ 30.Kd2 Be6 31.Bd3 then:

If 31...Rad8 then:

32.Qc3 Bh3 33.Kc2 Bxf1 34.Rxf1 Qe3 35.Rg1 Rf7 36.Rg5 allows Black to continue, although her chances of survival are not good.
32.Nc1 Bh3 33.Qc3 Rfe8 34.Kc2 Bxf1 35.Rxf1 doesn't leave Black any room for error, but his game is still playable.

If 31...Bb3? then White wins after 32.Qc3 Bxd1 33.Rg1! Rf7 34.Kxd1 Re8 35.Rg5.

BLACK: Dronavalli Harika

WHITE: Antoaneta StefanovaPosition after 29...Bd7h3

]30.Rg1

White's winning plan is to build direct pressure on the Black King.

30...Qb6+ 31.Kd2 Be6 32.Qc3 Rf7 33.Bg6

White wins quicker after 33.Bc2 Rd8+ 34.Kc1 Rxd1+ 35.Rxd1.

33...Rf6 34.Kc1 Qf2

A more stubborn resistance is 34...Qb3 35.Qxb3 Bxb3 36.Rd7 Bc4 37.Nd4 c5 38.Rc7, but it no longer matters.

BLACK: Dronavalli Harika

WHITE: Antoaneta StefanovaPosition after 34...Qb6f2

35.Qe5!

White sacrifices a pawn.

35...Kg8

If 35...Qxh4 then White wins after 36.Rh1 Bh3 37.Rd4 Qh6+ 38.Nf4.

36.Nd4 Ba2 37.Bb1

Also good is 37.Nf5 Bb1 38.Ne7+ Kf8 39.Bxb1 b6 40.Ng6+, leading to mate.

37...Bd5 38.Rdf1 Qxh4 39.Rxg7+!! 1-0

Black cannot escape mate.
If 39...Kxg7 40.Nf5+ Kg8 41.Rg1+ then:

If 41...Kh8 then 42.Nxh4 Be4 43.Qxf6+ Kh7 44.Qg7#.
If 41...Kf8 then 42.Qe7#.

If 39...Kh8 then 40.Rh7+ Kg8 41.Rg1+ Kf8 42.Qe7#.
Sushri Harika resigns.

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Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #2)

Sat Dec 8, 2012, 03:01 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,694 posts)

11. Harika - Danielian, Round 2/Game 1

Dronavalli Harika, who was awarded the full grandmaster title earlier this year, reached the semi-finals before being knowcked out.

Dronavalli Harika
Photo by karpidis modified from flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/8022405@N02/2737745833) in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Harika_Dronavalli)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Dronavalli Harika - Elina Danielian
FIDE Women's Knock-Out, Round 2/Game 1
Khanty-Mansiysk, 14 November 2012

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

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.Nc3 g6 7.Bf4 Bg7 8.Qa4+

The usual move here is 8.e4.
For an overview of the Tal-Indian, or Modern Benoni, see Meier-Gashimov, Euro ChT, Novi Sad, 2009.

8...Bd7 9.Qb3

White has a slight advantage in space.

9...Qc7 10.e4 0-0 11.Nd2

If 11.Be2 then:

If 11...Nh5 12.Be3 then:

If 12...a6 13.a4 Bg4 14.h3 Bxf3 15.Bxf3 then:

If 15...Nd7 16.0-0 Nhf6 then:

If 17.Bf4 Rfe8 18.Rfe1 Rab8 19.a5 then:

19...Ne5 20.Be2 Nfd7 21.Bf1 c4 22.Qc2 Rbc8 is equal (Thorfinsson-Pantsulaia, Euro ChT, Porto Carras, Greece, 2011).
19...b5 20.axb6 Rxb6 21.Qc2 a5 22.Ra2 Rb4 23.Rea1 gives White a small advantage in space (Edouard-Bernard, Op, Cappelle-la-Grande, 2010).

17.a5 Rfb8 18.Ra2 b5 19.axb6 Rxb6 20.Qc2 gives White a small advantage in space; Black has pressure on White's weakened queenside (Salov-Psakhis, IT, Moscow, 1986).

15...Nf6 16.e5 dxe5 17.0-0 Nbd7 18.Rfd1 Qd6 19.Qxb7 gives White a slim advantage; the White Queen cannot maintain itself at b7 (Saeed-Jussupow, Op, Amsterdam, 1982).

If 12...Bg4 then:

If 13.h3 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 Nd7 then:

If 15.Bxh5 gxh5 16.Qc2 then:

16...Rfe8 17.0-0 Ne5 18.Ne2 h4 19.Nd4 Bf6 20.Nf5 gives White better pawns and more space; Black centralized Knight has nowhere to go (Gaprindashvili-Litinskaya, Soviet ChW, Vilnius, 1983).
16...a6 17.0-0 b5 18.Ne2 Rae8 19.Ng3 Nf6 20.Bg5 gives White better pawns (R. Pert-Pilgaard, 1st Saturday September, Budapest, 2003).

15.0-0 Nhf6 16.Nb5 Qb8 17.Bf4 Ne8 18.a4 gives White a small advantage in space (García Gonzales-Velimirovic, ITZ, Moscow, 1982).

If 13.0-0 a6 then:

If 14.h3 Bxf3 15.Bxf3 Nd7 16.Bxh5 gxh5 then:

17.Qd1 f5 18.f4 Rae8 19.e5 dxe5 20.d6 Qc6 gives Black a slight advantage in space (Tatai-De Castro, IT, Manila, 1973).
17.Ne2 Rae8 18.f3 Qb6 19.Qc2 f5 20.Nf4 is equal (Tarjan-Fischdick, Op, London, 1983).

14.a4 Bxf3 15.Bxf3 Nd7 16.h3 transposes into Thorfinsson-Pantsulaia and associated lines beyond move 16, above.

If 11...b5 then:

If 12.Nxb5 Bxb5 13.Bxb5 Nxe4 14.0-0 Nd7 then:

15.Qa4 Nef6 16.Bxd7 Nxd7 17.Qc6 Qxc6 18.dxc6 Ne5 is equal (Zaitshik-Panczyk, Rubinstein Mem, Polanica Zdroj, 1984).
15.Qc2 Nef6 16.Rad1 Rab8 17.Bc6 Nh5 18.Bc1 Ne5 is equal (Anikaev-García Martínez, IT, Sochi, 1974).

12.Bxb5 Nxe4 13.Nxe4 Qa5+ 14.Bd2 Qxb5 15.Qxb5 Bxb5 is equal (Goh-Hamdouchi, Ol, Palma de Mallorca, 2004 and Abrashkin-Kostenko, Russia Cup, Samara, 2002).

11...Nh5

If 11...Re8 12.Be2 a6 13.a4 then:

13...Bg4 14.f3 Nh5 15.Be3 Bc8 16.Nc4 Nd7 17.g4 gives White a healthy advantage in space (G. Flear-Rudd, British Ch, Great Yarmouth, 2007 and Rychagov-Shkurikhin, Moscow Op, 2007).
If 13...Bc8 14.0-0 Nbd7 then:

If 15.Nc4 Bf8 16.Bf3 then:

16...h6 17.Rfe1 Ne5 18.Bxe5 dxe5 19.Qb6 Qxb6 20.Nxb6 gives White a small advantage in space (Sosonko-Kuijf, IT, Amsterdam, 1982).
16...b6 17.h3 Rb8 18.Rfc1 Rb7 19.Bh2 Rd8 20.Be2 gives White a small advantage in space.

15.h3 Rb8 16.Bh2 b6 17.Rae1 Re7 18.f4 gives White the advantage in space (Steadman-Stojic, Op, Queenstown, 2006).

12.Be3 f5 13.exf5 gxf5!?

This is not an uncommon move, but that does not make it a good one. Black will weakens the pawn structure in front of the King.
Better is 13...Bxf5 14.Be2 Nf6 15.h3 Na6 16.a3 Rae8 17.0-0 when White has a small advantage in space (Debashis-Yilmaz, World Jr Ch, Athens, 2012).

BLACK: Elina Danielian

WHITE: Dronavalli HarikaPosition after 13...gf5:p

14.Be2!

White has a small advantage with stonger pawns and the initiative.

14...f4

If 14...Be8 15.Nf3 f4 16.Bd2 Qe7 17.0-0 then:

17...Nd7 18.Rfe1 Ne5 19.Qd1 Rf5 20.Nxe5 Bxe5 21.Bg4 wins a piece for White (Silman-R. Anderson, US Ch, San Francisco, 1987).
17...Bxc3 18.Bxc3 Qxe2 19.Qxb7 Qa6 20.Qxa8 Bd7 21.Rfe1 gives White the exchange and a pawn in material and command of the e-file; White cannot extricate the Queen from the corner, but he will get a Rook and a minor piece in return (Spraggett-Norwood, Op, Toronto, 1985).

15.Bxc5 Na6?!

This is where matters start going badly for Black.
If 15...f3?! 16.Bxf3! Rxf3? then:

If 17.gxf3! then:

If 17...Qxc5 18.Qxb7 Bxc3 19.bxc3 Nf4 20.Rg1+ Kf7 then:

If 21.Ne4?! Qxd5 22.Qxd5+ Nxd5 23.Rd1 then:

23...Bc6 24.c4 Ne7 25.Nxd6+ Ke6 26.Ne4 gives White three pawns for the exchange (Korchnoi-Dr. Nunn, IT, London, 1984).
If 23...Ne7? then after 24.Rxd6! Ng6 25.h4 Ke7 26.h5 Black must lose a piece and resigns (Naumkin-Savon, Soviet Ch Qual, Pinsk, 1986).

White wins after 21.Rg4 Nd3+ 22.Ke2 Qb5 23.Qxb5 Bxb5 24.c4.

More stubborn resistance come from 17...Na6 18.Ba3 Nc5 19.Bxc5 Qxc5 20.Nde4 Qc7 21.Rg1.

If 17.Bxd6? Qxd6 then:

18.Nxf3 Na6 19.0-0 Nc5 20.Qc4 Nf4 gives White the material advantage, but he is also addled with an isolated d-pawn; Black has the Bishop pair and overall more active pieces (Röttgen-Berelovich, IT, Bad Wiessee, 2003).
18.gxf3 Na6 19.Nce4 Qb4 20.Rg1 Kh8 21.0-0-0 Rc8+ is equal.

A more playable option for Black might be 15...Qxc5 16.Bxh5 a5 17.a3 when:

17...Bxc3 18.bxc3 Bf5 19.0-0 Nd7 20.h3 Rac8 21.Bg4 gives White a small advantage in space (Houdini 1.5a x64).
If 17...a4 18.Qd1 then:

If 18...Qb6 19.Rb1 then:

19...Bf5 20.Nde4 Qb3 21.0-0 Bxc3 22.Nxc3 Bxb1 23.Qg4+ an extra pawn against Black's queenside initiative (Houdini).
19...Qd4!? 20.Nde4 Bf5 21.Qe2 Nd7 22.0-0 Ne5 23.Rbd1 gives White an extra pawn and stronger pawns; Black has a small advantage in space (Houdini).

If 18...Bxc3 19.bxc3 then:

19...Qxd5 20.0-0 Bc6 21.Bf3 Qd3 22.Re1 d5 23.Re7 gives White better pawns and a Rook on the seventh; Black should get some counterplay from his active Queen and Bishop (Fritz).
19...Bf5 20.0-0 Nd7 21.Bg4 Qxd5 22.Bf3 gives White better pawns and the initiative (Fritz).

16.Ba3 Rae8 17.Nce4 Bf5? (N)

Black introduces a new move that we probably won't see too often after this.
If 17...Nf6 18.Bxd6 then:

If 18...Qa5 19.Nc3 then:

19...Rxe2+? 20.Kxe2 Re8+ 21.Kf1 Bf5 22.Kg1 gives White two pawns, stronger pawns and a passed pawn for the exchange (Schussler-Fedorowicz, Op, Reykjavik, 1986).
If 19...Ne4? then after 20.Ndxe4 Rxe4 21.0-0 Bxc3 22.Bxa6 Qxa6 23.Bxf8 White has the exchange and two extra pawns (Malaniuk-Norwood, IT, Lvov, 1986).
19...b5 20.Bxf8 Bxf8 21.0-0 b4 22.d6+ Kg7 23.Nc4 gives White three pawns for the exchange and the initiative; Black is barely holding on.(Houdini)

If 18...Qb6? 19.Bxf8 Kxf8 20.Nc3 then:

20...Qxb3 21.axb3 Nb4 22.0-0 Nfxd5 23.Nxd5 Rxe2 24.Nxb4.
If 20...Nb4 then White wins after 21.0-0 Nbxd5 22.Nxd5 Rxe2 23.Nxb6 axb6 24.Nf3.

BLACK: Elina Danielian

WHITE: Dronavalli HarikaPosition after 17...Bd7f5

18.Bxd6!

White gains a second extra pawn.

18...Qd8 19.Bxf8 Bxe4 20.Be7

If 20.Nxe4 then White wins after 20...Rxe4 21.Bxg7 Nxg7 22.Rc1 Qa5+ 23.Kf1.

20...Nc5 21.Bxd8 Nxb3 22.Nxe4!?

White doesn't need to make the best moves. She'll still win, but now it will take a little bit longer.
If 22.axb3 then White wins quickly after 22...Bd3 23.d6 Rxe2+ 24.Kd1 f3 25.d7.

22...Nxa1

White still has two pawns for the exchange.

23.0-0 Rxd8 24.Bxh5 Nc2

BLACK: Elina Danielian

WHITE: Dronavalli HarikaPosition after 24...Na1c2

25.d6!

The passed pawn becomes dangerous, manifesting its lust to expand.

25...Nd4 26.Rd1 Be5

If 26...b6 (denying the Knight use of c5) then White wins after 27.g3 f3 28.Rd3 Bh8 29.Bg4 Be5 30.b4.

27.Kf1 Kg7 28.b3 Kh6

If 28...b6 29.g3 then:

29...f3 30.Rd3 h6 31.Bg4 Kf7 32.Bxf3 Nxf3 33.Rxf3+ gives White three extra pawns.
If 29...Nc6 then White wins after 30.Rd5 Rg8 31.b4 a6 32.a4 Ba1 33.d7.

BLACK: Elina Danielian

WHITE: Dronavalli HarikaPosition after 28...Kg7h6

29.Bg4!

After this, White can be quick and merciful.

29...Kg6

29...Bxd6 30.Rxd4 Bc7 31.Rxd8 Bxd8 32.Nd6 Kg5 33.Nxb7 leaves White with a prohibitive material advantage.

30.d7

The passer paralyzes Black's entire position.

30...h5 31.Bh3 Kf7

If 31...Nc6 32.Nc5 Rh8 33.Rd5 b6 34.Ne6 Bf6 35.Nxf4+.

32.Nc5 Bf6 33.Nxb7 1-0

If 33...Rb8 34.Rxd4 then:

If34...Bxd4 then White wins a piece after 35.d8Q Rxd8 36.Nxd8+.
If 34...Rxb7 then 35.d8Q Bxd8 36.Rxd8 wins a piece.

Oriord Danielian resigns.

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Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #2)

Sat Dec 8, 2012, 03:05 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,694 posts)

12. Ju Wenjun - Natalia Zhukova, Round 3/Game 1 (Opening Theory: QG Normal (Tarrasch) Defense)

Last edited Sat Dec 8, 2012, 03:10 PM USA/ET - Edit history (1)

The fourth semi-finalist was Ju Wenjun of China.

Ju Wenjun
Photo by Goran Urosevic in Wikimedia Commons (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ju_Wenjun_2008.jpg)
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Ju Wenjun - Natalia Zhukova
FIDE Women's Knock-Out, Round 3/Game 1
Khanty-Mansiysk, 17 November 2012

Orthodox Queen's Gambit: Normal Defense (Catalan Opening/Reti Variation) (Tarrasch Defense)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5

BLACK

WHITEOrthodox Queen's Gambit: Normal Defense (Tarrasch Defense)Position after 3...c5

This is the defense to the Queen's Gambit which has come to be called the Tarrasch Defense but which Dr. Tarrasch himself called the Normal Defense. Dr. Tarrasch used Normal to distinguish his defense from the Orthodox Defense. Dr. Tarrasch would find our labeling of the game as Orthodox/Normal a bit curious. To Dr. Tarrasch, the Orthodox Queen's Gambit is one that featured Black's set up ...d5, ...e6, ...Nf6, ...Be7; for us, it is Black's set up against the Queen's Gambit featuring ...d5 and ...e6 without an early ...c6. The sub-category Normal falls under the category Orthodox, which is opposed to the category Slav or Semi-Slav.
Dr. Tarrasch's idea is to give Black a freer game for his pieces, but this comes at the cost of isolating Black's d-pawn. For this reason, the defense has never been very popular, but it's adherants include Marshall, the young Capablanca, Stoltz, the young Kasparov and Armenian-American GM Var Akobian.
It should be noted that White usually play 3.Nc3 instead of 3.Nf3 as in this game. Other than that, while the first four moves are pretty standard, but after that the move order is not terribly important and many transpositions are possible.

4.cxd5 exd5 5.g3 Nc6 6.Bg2

BLACK

WHITEOrthodox Queen's Gambit: Normal Defense (Catalan Opening)Position after 6.Bg2

The use of the King's fianchetto as a tool against the Normal Defense is an innovation of Akiba Rubinstein, whose most palmy days were about a hundred years ago. The idea is put pressure on Black's isolated d-pawn.

6...Nf6

(Swedish Variation) If 6...c4

BLACK

WHITEOrthodox Queen's Gambit: Normal Defense (Catalan Opening/Swedish Variation)Position after 6...c4

(Black avoids the isolated pawn, but loosens his command of d4) 7.Nc3 Bb4 8.0-0 Nge7 then:

If 9.e4 then:

If 9...dxe4 10.Nxe4 0-0 11.a3 Ba5 12.Qa4 then:

If 12...Bb6 then:

13.Be3 Be6 14.Nc5 Bxc5 15.dxc5 Nd5 16.Bg5 gives White the advantage in space and the initiative; Black has a greater presence in the center (Korchnoi-O. Rodríguez, IT, Salamanca, 1991).
If 13.Qxc4 then:

If 13...Nxd4!? 14.Nxd4 Qxd4 then:

If 15.Qe2 Qd7 16.Rd1 then:

16...Qe6!? 17.Rd6 Qf5 18.Be3 Bxe3 19.Qxe3 Qe5 20.Rd2 gives White a fair advantage in space (Gligoric-Kostic, Yugoslav Ch, Ljubljana, 1947).
16...Qg4 17.Bf3 Qg6 18.Be3 Nf5 19.Bc5 Bxc5 20.Nxc5 gives White a small advantage in space (Houdini 1.5a x64).

If 15.Qxd4!? Bxd4 then:

16.Nd6 Nc6 17.Rd1 Rd8 18.Bxc6 Rxd6 19.Bf3 gives White a slight advantage due to the pin at d4 (Houdini 1.5a x64).
If 16.Rd1 Nc6 17.Nd6 then:

If 17...Bg4 18.Rd3 Bf6 19.h3 then:

19...Be6 20.Nxb7 Nd4 21.Nc5 Rab8 22.Nxe6 fxe6 23.Be3 is equal.
19...Be2 20.Rd5 Rfd8 21.Nxb7 Rxd5 22.Bxd5 Ne7 23.Be4 gives White an extra pawn and a small advantage in space.

17...Rd8 18.Bxc6 Rxd6 19.Bf3 transposes into the rose line, above.

13...Be6 14.Qd3 Nxd4 15.Nxd4 Qxd4 16.Qxd4 Bxd4 17.Nd6 is equal.

If 12...Bg4 then:

If 13.Qxc4 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 Nxd4 15.Bg2 Rc8 then:

16.Qa4 b5 17.Qd1 Bb6 18.b4 Nd5 19.Bb2 gives White the initiative and White more space (Psakhis-Manor, IT, Tel Aviv, 1991).
16.Qd3 Nc2 17.Qxd8 Rfxd8 18.Ra2 Ne1 19.Bg5 f6 is equal (Gligoric-Stahlberg, Match, Belgrade, 1949).

13.Be3 Bb6 14.Rad1 Nf5 15.Bg5 Qc8 16.d5 Ncd4 is equal (Ftacnik-Miralles, IT, Lyon, 1988).

If 9...0-0 10.exd5 Nxd5 then:

If 11.Bg5 Qa5 12.Nxd5 Qxd5 then:

If 13.a3 Ba5 14.Ne5 Qb5 15.a4 Qa6 then:

16.Nxc6 bxc6 17.Qc2 Be6 18.Rfc1 Rab8 19.Bf1 gives White more activity (Timoshchenko-Tseitlin, Op, Palma de Mallorca, 1989).
16.Ng4 Bd8 17.Bf4 Nb4 18.Bd2 Nc6 19.d5 gives White a small advantage in space (Stocek-Bazant, Czech Championship, Olomouc, 1995).

If 13.Ne5 Qb5 14.a4 Qa6 15.Nxc6 bxc6 then:

16.Qf3 Bd7 17.Rfc1 Rfc8 18.Be3 Be6 19.Bf1 gives White pressure on Black's foremost c-pawn; Black is making no effort against White's own pawn weakness (Foldi-Mikenas, TT, Endrunde, 1978).
16.d5 cxd5 17.Qxd5 Rb8 18.Rfc1 Be6 is equal (Tukmakov-Lputian, Rpd, Tilburg, 1994).

If 11.Nxd5 Qxd5 12.a3 Ba5 then:

If 13.Ne5 Qb5 14.a4 Qa6 then:

If 15.Nxc6 bxc6 then:

16.Qf3 Bd7 17.Bf4 Rac8 18.Rfc1 Be6 19.Bf1 gives White a slight advantage in space (Igla-Bertrand, Euro Club Cup, Kallithea, Greece, 2008).
16.Qh5 Be6 17.Ra3 Rad8 18.g4 g6 19.Qe5 gives White a clear advantage in space (Gligoric-Furman, TM, Leningrad, 1957).

If 15.Be3 Be6 16.Qh5 Rad8 17.Rfd1 Bd5 then:

If 18.Nd7 Rxd7 19.Bxd5 then:

19...Rfd8 20.Be4 g6 gives Black a slight advantage in space (Lautier-Conquest, IT, Clichy, 2001).
19...g6 20.Qf3 Nb4 21.Be4 f5 22.Bb1 Re8 gives Black a fair advantage in space.

18.Bxd5 Rxd5 19.Qf3 Rd6 20.Rac1 gives White a small advantage in space.

13.Ng5 Qxd4 14.Qa4 Bd8 15.Rd1 Qe5 16.Bf4 gives White only a slight advantage (Szabo-Bronstein, Candidates' Trmt, Amsterdam, 1956).

If 9.Ne5 0-0 then:

If 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.e4 Be6 then:

12.Bg5 f6 13.Bd2 Rb8 14.Re1 Bf7 15.a3 Ba5 is equal (Grünfeld-Stahlberg, Ol, Folkstone, 1933).
12.e5 Rb8 13.Ne2 Ba5 14.b3 Re8 15.Bd2 Bg4 is equal (Van Scheltinga-Stahlberg, IT, Amsterdam, 1950).

10.e4 Bxc3 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.bxc3 dxe4 13.Be3 Re8 is equal (Bonin-Caldwell, IT, New York, 1987).

7.0-0

It's more usual for White to develop her Queen's Knight beore castling.
If 7.Nc3 then:

If 7...Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.Bg5 then:

If 9...cxd4 10.Nxd4

BLACK

WHITEOrthodox Queen's Gambit: Normal Defense (Catalan Opening/Main Line)Position after 10.Nf3d4:p

10...h6 then:

If 11.Be3 Re8 12.Rc1 then:

If 12...Bf8 13.Nxc6 bxc6 then:

If 14.Na4 Bd7 15.Bc5 Bxc5 16.Nxc5 Bg4 then:

If 17.Re1 Rab8 20.a3 Qa5 then:

If 18.h3 Bf5 then:

If 19.Qd4 (
Qb5 21.b3 then:

21...Ne4 22.b4 a5 23.Nxe4 Bxe4 24.Rc5 Qb6 25.bxa5 Qa6 26.Qc3 gives White the advantage in space (Kasparov-Illescas Córdoba, IT, Linares, 1994).
21...a5 22.e3 Ne4 23.Bxe4 Bxe4 24.Rc3 Bf5 25.Kg2 Be4+ draw (Bonafont-James, British Ch, Great Yarmouth, 2007).

If a) 19.Qa4 Qd2 20.Qf4 Qxf4 21.gxf4 Rab8 22.b3 then:

22...Rb4 23.e3 g5 24.a3 Rb6 25.fxg5 hxg5 26.b4 is equal (Tegshsuren-Akobian, Foxwoods Op, Mashantucket, Connecticut, 2004).
If 22...g5 23.fxg5 hxg5 24.Rc3 Kg7 25.Kf1 then:

25...Rb4 26.Rec1 Rh4 27.Rg3 Kh6 28.Nb7 Bd7 is equal (Gagunashvili-Akobian, World Youth BU20, Yerevan, 2000).
25...Nh5 26.e4 Bg6 27.exd5 Rxe1+ 28.Kxe1 Nf4 is equal (Filippov-Akobian, Op, Las Vegas, 2002).

b) 19.Na4 Rac8 20.Qd4 Be4 21.f3 Bg6 22.Kf2 Nd7 23.b3 gives Black a small advantage in space (Sargissian-Akobian, Amenian Ch, Yerevan, 1999).

18.Qc2 Rab8 19.b3 Re7 20.h3 Bh5 is equal (Ribli-Lobon, Bundesliga 9091, Germany, 1990).

17.f3 Bf5 18.Qd2 Qb6 19.e3 Nd7 20.Qd4 Rab8 is equal (Sosonko-Martens, Op, Eindhoven, 1993).

If 14.Bd4 Bg4 then:

15.Re1 15...Nd7 16.Qa4 Re6 17.Bxg7 Bxg7 18.Qxg4 Qa5 19.e3 Rb8 20.Re2 leaves White with better piece coordination (Bosiocic-Kuzubov, ZCC Bicentennial, Zürich, 2009).
15.Qa4 Bd7 16.Bxf6 Qxf6 17.Bxd5 cxd5 18.Qxd7 Rad8 is equal gives Black a slight initiative (Stein-Damjanovic, Vrnjachka Banja, 1971).

If 12...Bg4 13.h3 Be6 then:

If 14.Nxe6 fxe6 15.f4 then:

If 15...Qd7 16.Bf2 Rad8 17.Qa4 then:

If 17...Bb4 18.e4 Bxc3 19.bxc3 Nxe4 20.Bxe4 dxe4 21.Rcd1 Qf7 22.Qxe4 Qf5 then:

23.Qg2 Qc2 24.Bd4 Qxg2+ 25.Kxg2 is equal (San Segundo-Lautier, IT, Madrid, 1993).
23.Qc4 Qxh3 24.Rfe1 Rxd1 25.Rxd1 Rc8 26.Rd6 is equal (Remille-Velchev, Euro Club Cup, Rogaska Slatina, 2011).

17...Bd6 18.Rfd1 Qf7 19.e4 d4 20.Nb5 e5 is equal (Ilincic-Manca, 1st Saturday July, Budapest, 2005).

If 15...Bb4 then:

16.a3 Ba5 17.Qb3 Qe7 18.Bf2 Kh8 19.Rfd1 gives White a small advantage in space (Papadakis-Todorovic, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).
If 16.Bf2 Rc8 17.a3 Bf8 18.Qa4 then:

18...Nd7!? 19.b4 a5 20.b5 Nc5 21.Qd1 Ne7 22.e4 gives White the initiative in the center (Xu Jun-Hadoko, ZT, Djarkarta, 1987).
18...Qa5 19.Qxa5 Nxa5 20.e4 Nc4 21.exd5 Nxb2 22.Bd4 gives White a small advantage in space;,after the pawn exchange in the center, White's Bishop pair will be more significant.

If 14.Kh2 Qd7 then:

If 15.Qa4 a6 then:

If 16.Nxc6 bxc6 17.Rfd1 then:

If 17...Reb8 18.Bd4 Rb4 19.Qc2 then:

19...Qb7 20.b3 Rc8 21.e4 dxe4 22.Bxf6 gxf6 23.Nxe4 gives White much stronger pawns and command of the open file; White has the Bishop pair that may become more significant in the open center (Sundararajan-Dean, US Op, Orlando, Florida, 2011).
19...Rab8 20.b3 Bf5 21.e4 Bg6 22.Qe2 Bh5 23.g4 gives White a significant initiative (Nickel-Kremer, Corres, 1995).

17...Bf5 18.Bd4 Qb7 19.e3 Rac8 20.a3 Nh7 21.b4 is equal (Maes-Poulson, Corres, 1996).

16.Rfd1 b5 17.Qc2 Rac8 18.Nxe6 fxe6 19.Qb1 Bd6 is equal (Timman-Bosch, Dutch Ch, Hilversum, 2006).

If 15.Nxc6 bxc6 16.Na4 Bf5 17.Bc5 then:

If 17...Bd8 18.Bd4 Ne4 19.e3 then:

19...Be7 20.Nc5 Bxc5 21.Bxc5 Qb7 22.Bd4 a5 23.Qa4 gives White better pawn structure and Black more space (M. Gurevich-Ponomariov, IT, Belfort, 1998).
19...Bc7 20.Nc5 Nxc5 21.Bxc5 Be4 22.Qa4 h5 23.Bd4 is equal (McPhillips-Manca, EU Ch, Cork, Ireland, 2005).

If 17...Rab8 18.b3 Bd6 then:

19.e3 Be4 20.Bxd6 Bxg2 21.Kxg2 Qxd6 22.Qd4 gives White stronger pawns and the initiative; Black has a small advantantage in space (Kasimdzhanov-Berelovich, Bundesliga 1112, Mülheim, 2011).
19.Bxd6 Qxd6 20.e3 Nd7 21.Qd4 Rb7 22.Nc5 Nxc5 23.Qxc5 Qxc5 24.Rxc5 gives White better pawns and Black more space (Greenfeld-Frois, Ol, Novi Sad, 1990).

If 11.Bf4 Bg4 12.h3 then:

If 12...Bh5 13.Nf5 Bg6 14.Nxe7+ then:

If 14...Qxe7 15.Nxd5 Nxd5 16.Qxd5 Rad8 17.Qc4 Nd4 then:

If 18.e4 b5 19.Qd3 f5 then:

If 20.Rae1 Qf7 21.exf5 Bxf5 22.Qc3 then:

22...b4?! 23.Qc5 Ne6 24.Qxb4 Nxf4 25.gxf4 gives White two extra pawns (Gelfand-Illescas Córdoba, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 1993).
22...Ne6! 23.Re5 Nxf4 24.gxf4 Bc8 25.Rc5 gives White only a slight advantage; the pawn at b5 is proteced by 26.Rxb5?! Ba6! winning the exchange.

If 20.Rfe1 Bh5 21.Kh1 Qf7 22.e5 g5 23.e6 then:

23...Qe7 24.Bc7 Qxc7 25.e7 Rfe8 26.exd8Q Rxd8 27.Rac1 Black resigns in another dozen moves (Adly-Akintola, African Ch, Abuja, 2003).
23...Nxe6 24.Bd6 Nc5 25.Qxb5 Rxd6 26.Qxc5 also gives White a strong game.

18.Kh2 b5 19.Qc3 Qxe2 20.Rad1 Qc4 21.Be5 Qxc3 is equal and soon agreed drawn (Neverov-Eljanov, Ukrainian Ch, Ordzhonikidze, 2001).

If 14...Nxe7?! 15.Qb3 then:

If 15...b6 16.Rfd1 Rc8 17.Rd2 Qd7 18.Be5 then:

18...Qe6 19.Bxf6 Qxf6 20.Nxd5 Nxd5 21.Bxd5 gives White an extra pawn (Arlandi-Illescas Córdoba, Spanish Ol, Los Yebenes, 1990).
18...Qc6 19.Rad1 Ne4 20.Nxd5 Nxd5 21.Qxd5 Qxd5 22.Rxd5 wins the pawn.

If 15...Qd7 16.Rad1 then:

16...Rac8 17.e4 Rxc3 18.Qxc3 Bxe4 19.Qc7 Qxc7 20.Bxc7 leaves Black up by the exchange.
16...Rad8 17.e4 d4 18.Be5 Nc6 19.Bxf6 gxf6 20.Nd5 leaves Black with more pawn weaknesses and White with a threat to fork the King and Queen.

If 12...Be6 13.Rc1 then:

If 13...Qd7 14.Nxe6 fxe6 15.e4 d4 16.e5 then:

If 16...dxc3 17.exf6 Qxd1 18.Rfxd1 Bxf6 19.bxc3 Rad8 then:

20.Be3 Rxd1+ 21.Rxd1 Bxc3 22.Bxc6 bxc6 23.Rc1 Ba5 24.Rxc6 Rb8 25.Bxa7 Rb2 26.Ra6 Rxa2 27.Kg2 Ra3 28.Bc5 Black resigns as 28...Ra1 29.Bb4 wins the exchange (Cmilyte-Rohanyan, Euro ChW, Chisinau, 2005).
20.Re1 g5 21.Be3 Ne5 22.Rc2 Nd3 23.Rb1 b6 24.Bf1 Ne5 is equal (Sasikiran-Akobian, World Jr Ch, Yerevan, 2000).

16...Ne8 17.Qd3 Nb4 18.Qg6 dxc3 19.Be4 Rxf4 20.gxf4 cxb2 21.Rcd1 gives White a strong initiative (Tsiganova-Malysheva, Euro ChW, Chisinau, 2005).

13...Re8 14.Ncb5 Rc8 15.Nxc6 Rxc6 16.Rxc6 bxc6 17.Nc7 Rf8 18.Nxe6 fxe6 is equal (Benjamin-Cunningham, Op, New York, 1995).

9...Be6 10.dxc5 Bxc5 transposes into the notes to White's ninth move.

If 7...cxd4 8.Nxd4 then:

If 8...Qb6 9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.0-0 Be7 then:

If 11.Na4 Qb5 12.Be3 then:

If 12...0-0 then:

13.Rc1 Bg4 14.f3 Be6 15.Bc5 Rfe8 16.Rf2 Nd7 is equal (Rubinstein-Salwe, Match, Lodz, 1908).
13.Qc2 Re8 14.Rac1 Bg4 15.Nc3 Qa6 16.Rfd1 Bb4 is equal (Santasiere-Kashdan, AFC, Boston, 1938).

12...Bg4 13.Rc1 0-0 14.f3 Bf5 15.b3 Rad8 16.Bc5 is equal (Edwards-Wade, British Ch, York, 1959).

If 11.e4 dxe4 then:

If 12.Nxe4 0-0 13.Be3 then:

If 13...Qxb2 14.Bd4 then:

If 14...Qb5 15.Nxf6+ Bxf6 16.Bxf6 gxf6 then:

17.Rc1 Rb8 18.Qd4 Qb2 19.Qxa7 Be6 20.Rxc6 gives White a small advantage in space (Gligoric-Keres, IT, Moscow, 1967).
17.Qd6 Be6 18.Bxc6 Qa6 19.Rac1 Rac8 20.a4 Bc4 gives Black a small initiative (Salwe-Rubinstein, All-Russian Trmt, Vilnius, 1909).

14...Qa3 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.Nxf6+ gxf6 17.Qh5 Kg7 18.Rae1 gives White fewer pawn weaknesses and more activity; Black has an extra pawn (Boleslavsky-Stoltz, IT, Bucharest, 1953).

If 13...Qa5 then:

14.Bg5 Rd8 15.Qc2 Nd5 16.Bxe7 Nxe7 17.Rfe1 gives White a slight advantage with stronger pawns (Maksimenko-Slovineanu, IT, Nikoklaev, Ukraine, 2001).
14.b4 Qxb4 15.Rb1 Qc4 16.Rc1 Qxa2 17.Nxf6+ Bxf6 18.Bxc6 is equal; Black cannot hold the extra pawn (Marshall-Schlechter, IT, Budapest, 1912).

12.Be3 Qb4 13.a3 Qc4 14.Rc1 Qe6 15.Qa4 gives White stronger pawns after the e-pawn falls (Ivakhinova-Kovalevskaya, Russian ChW HL, Tyumen, 2012).

If 8...Bc5 9.Nb3 Bb4 10.0-0 then:

If 10...Be6 11.Bg5 0-0 then:

If 12.Rc1 h6 13.Be3 Re8 then:

14.Nb5 Rc8 15.a3 Bf8 16.Bc5 Bg4 17.Re1 a6 is equal (Darga-Eisinger, West German Ch, Bad Neuenahr, 1957).
14.Na4 Ne4 15.Bc5 Qf6 16.Bxb4 Nxb4 17.a3 Nc6 is equal and soon agreed drawn (C. Hansen-Sosonko, IT, Wijk aan Zee, 1988).

12.Nxd5 Bxd5 13.Bxf6 Qxf6 14.Qxd5 Qxb2 15.Qb5 gives White a small initiative (Uhlmann-Parma, IT, Vrsac, 1973).

If 10...Bxc3 11.bxc3 0-0 then:

If 12.Bg5 Be6 then:

13.Nc5 Qe7 14.Nxe6 fxe6 15.c4 dxc4 16.Bxc6 bxc6 17.Qd4 gives White more activity; the pawn at c4 is deadwood (Rubinstein-Marshall, IT, Breslau, 1912).
13.Nd4 h6 14.Bxf6 Qxf6 15.Rb1 Qe7 16.Qb3 Nxd4 17.cxd4 gives White a slight advantage with pressure on the isolated pawn (Schlechter-Teichmann, IT, Breslau, 1912).

12.Nd4 Ne4 13.Nxc6 bxc6 14.c4 Qf6 15.Ba3 is equal (Kostic-Marshall, IT, New York, 1918).

7...Be7 8.dxc5 Bxc5

This is the Reti Variation.

BLACK

WHITEOrthodox Queen's Gambit: Normal Defense (Catalan Opening/Reti Variation)Position after 8...Be7c5:p

9.a3

If 9.Bg5 0-0 10.Nc3 Be6 then:

If 11.Rc1 then:

If 11...Be7 12.Nd4 then:

If 12...h6 then:

If 13.Bf4 Qd7 14.Nxe6 fxe6 15.Bh3 then:

15...Bd6 16.Nxd5 Nxd5 17.Qxd5 exd5 18.Bxd7 Bxf4 19.gxf4 is equal (Adamski-Dr. Nunn, IT, Lublin, 1978).
If 15...g5 16.Bd2 d4!? 17.Na4 Ne4 18.Be1 then:

If 18...Qd5?! 19.Bg2 then:

19...Qe5? 20.Qd3! Nd6 21.Qg6+ Qg7 22.Qxe6+ White soon wins (Capablanca-Olland, IT, Hastings, 1919).
19...Qf5 20.Qb3 Rab8 21.f4 g4 22.Qd3 Nf6 23.Bf2 continues the seige of the pawn.

18...Nf6 19.Qb3 g4 20.Bg2 Kg7 21.Nc5 Bxc5 22.Rxc5 continues to give White a small advantage in space.

If 13.Be3 Qd7 then:

If 14.Qa4 Bh3 15.Rfd1 Bxg2 16.Kxg2 Rfd8 then:

17.f3 a6 18.Qc2 Rac8 19.Qf5 is equal (Avrukh-Barle, Op, London, 2010).
17.h3 a6 18.Qc2 Rac8 19.Nf5 Bf8 20.Qb1 Qe6 is equal (Schiller-Nykopp, Op, Lewisham, England, 1981).

14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.Na4 Bh3 16.Bc5 Bxg2 17.Kxg2 Rfe8 18.Bxe7 Rxe7 is equal (Summerscale-R. Shaw, British Ch, Scarborough, 1999).

If 12...Nxd4 13.Qxd4 h6 then:

If 14.Bf4 Qa5 15.a3 Rac8 then:

16.Qd3 Kh8 17.Qb5 Qxb5 18.Nxb5 Bc5 19.Nd6 Bxd6 20.Bxd6 Rfe8 21.Bc5 b6 22.Bd4 Ne4 draw (Peinfalk-Vidmar, IT, Ljubljana, 1938).
16.Qa4 Qxa4 17.Nxa4 Ne4 18.f3 Nc5 19.Nxc5 Bxc5+ gives Black the advantage in space and the initiative (Lokvenc-Lundin, Op, Bad Gastein, 1948).

If 14.Be3 then:

If 14...Qa5 15.Rfd1 Rfd8 16.Qa4 Qxa4 17.Nxa4 b6 18.Nc3 then:

18...Rac8 19.Nb5 Bc5 20.Bxc5 Rxc5 21.Nd4 Rdc8 22.Rb1 gives White stronger pawns and a splendid Knight against Black's control of the c-file (Rodshtein-Lapshun, 1st Saturday August, Budapest, 2006).
18...Bc5 19.Bd4 Rac8 20.e3 Bxd4 21.Rxd4 Rc4 22.Rcd1 gives White a slight edge with stronger pawns (Spassky-H. Lehmann, Euro ChT, Bienna, 1957).

14...Qd7 15.Rfd1 Rfd8 16.Qd3 Qe8 17.Nb5 Rac8 18.Rxc8 Rxc8 19.Nxa7 gives White an extra pawn and the initiative (Kestler-Stajcic, IT, Baden-Baden, 1981).

If 11...Bb6 12.b3 d4 13.Ne4 Re8 14.Nxf6+ gxf6 15.Bh6 Bg4 16.Qd2 Qd6 17.b4 gives White a small advantage in space (Browne-Strauss, Op, Lone Pine, 1979).

If 11.Bxf6 then:

11...Qxf6 12.Nxd5 Qxb2 13.Nc7 Rad8 14.Qc1 Qxc1 15.Raxc1 then:

If 15...b6 16.Nxe6 fxe6 then:

If 17.e3 h6 18.Rfd1 then:

If 18...Rxd1+ 19.Rxd1 Rd8 20.Rxd8+ Nxd8 then:

21.Ne5 Bb4 22.Kf1 Bc3 23.Nc4 Kf8 24.Ke2 Nf7 draw (Smyslov-Vaganian, IT, Buenos Aires, 1978).
21.Nd4 Kf7 22.Kf1 Ke7 draw (A. Braun-Gasthofer, IT Willingen, 2006).

If 18...Nb4 19.Rxd8 Rxd8 then:

20.a3 Nd3 21.Rd1 Rd6 22.Kf1 Nb2 23.Rxd6 Bxd6 is equal (Umansky-Riediger, Landesliga Süden, Bavaria, 2002).
20.a4 Kf7 21.Bf1 Kf6 22.Kg2 Nc6 23.Rc2 Ke7 gives Black a slight edge in space (Krush-D. Schneider, USCL, Cyberspace, 2008).

If 17.Bh3 then:

If 17...Rf6 then:

18.Kg2 h6 19.Rfd1 Rxd1 20.Rxd1 e5 21.e3 Rd6 draw (Meduna-Lechtynsky, Chechoslovakian Ch, Trnava, 1980).
18.Ng5 Nd4 19.Kg2 Rg6 20.e3 Rxg5 21.exd4 Rxd4 draw (Sosonko-Hort, IT, Waddinxveen, 1979 ).

17...Rfe8 18.Rfd1 Nd4 19.Nxd4 Rxd4 20.Rxd4 Bxd4 21.Rc8 will win a pawn for White, but that may not be enough to win in a BOOC ending (Lechtynsky-Lukov, Rubinstein Mem, Polanica Zdroj, 1983).

If 15...Be7 16.Nxe6 fxe6 17.Rc4 Bf6 then:

If 18.Rb1 Rd6 19.h4 h6 then:

If 20.Re4 b6 21.Bh3 Kf7 then:

22.e3 Rc8 23.g4 g5 24.hxg5 hxg5 25.Bf1 Na5 is equal (Beliavsky-Illescas Córdoba, IT, Linares, 1988).
22.Rc1 Re8 23.e3 Re7 24.Bf1 Na5 25.Bb5 Nb7 is equal (Ornstein-L. Schneider, Op, Eskjo, Sweden, 1981).

20.Rc2 b6 21.e3 Rfd8 22.Bf1 Kf8 23.Kg2 gives White stronger pawns and a small advantage in space (Suba-Crawley, YM, Barnsdale, 1989).

If 18.e3 then:

18...Rd6 19.h4 h6 20.Re4 Rfd8 21.Bh3 Kf7 22.Kg2 remains equal (Jussupow-Spragget, Candidates' M, Quebec, 1989).
If 18...Rf7 19.Bh3 Re7 20.Rb1 then:

20...Na5!? 21.Rc2! b6 22.Nd2 Kf7 23.Ne4 Red7 24.Bg4 gives White a slight advantage with more active Rooks (Valdes-E. Córdoba, Op, Alajuela, Costa Rica, 2006).
20...Kf7 21.Rc2 Red7 22.Bf1 g5 23.h3 Ne7 24.Bb5 remains equal.

11...gxf6!? 12.Rc1 Bb6 13.Na4 d4 14.a3 Re8 15.Nc5 gives White a small advantage in space (Drkulec-Brammall, Ameteur Trmt, Kitchner, Ontario, 2011).

9...Ne4 10.Nfd2

If 10.b4 Be7 11.Bb2 Bf6 then:

If 12.Nd4 Qb6 13.e3 0-0 14.Nxc6 Qxc6 then:

15.Bxf6 Qxf6 16.Nd2 Bf5 17.Nb3 Nc3 18.Qd2 Rac8 gives Black more space and White stronger pawns; the main source of Black's spatial advantage is the Knight at c3, which cannot be maintained (Houska-Jackson, British Ch, North Shields, 2012).
15.Bd4 Bf5 16.f3 Bxd4 17.Qxd4 Nf6 18.Nc3 gives White stronger pawns and Black a small advantage in space; Black's obligation to defend the isolated d-pawn tilts the scales slightly toward White (Rusev-Kacakovski, Macedonian ChT, Struga, 2012).

12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.Ra2 0-0 14.Rc2 Rd8 15.b5 Ne5 is equal (Kruppa-Potkin, Chigorin Mem Op, St Petersburg, 2000).

10...f5 11.Nc3 Be6

In compensaion for the isolated d-pawn, Black has more active pieces.

12.Nb3 Bb6 13.Na4

The attack on the Bishop becomes significant later.

13...d4 14.Nd2 Nxd2 (N)

14...Bd5 15.Nxb6 axb6 16.Nf3 Be6 17.Bf4 0-0 gives Black more space on the one hand and more pawn weaknesses on the other (Hawkins-Holland, British Ch, North Shields, 2012).

15.Bxd2

White has stronger pawns; Black has more space.

15...0-0 16.Rc1 Bd5

BLACK: Natalia Zhukova

WHITE: Ju WenjunPosition after 16...Be6d5

17.Bg5!

White undermines the Queen, which is to be Black's designated piece to recature on b6 in the event of the excahnge of minor pieces.
If 17.Bf4 Bxg2 18.Kxg2 Qd5+ 19.Kg1 Bd8 20.Qd3 Be7 is equal.

17...Qd6!?

Black gives White the opportunity to gain a valuable tempo.
If 17...Qd7 18.Nxb6 axb6 19.Bxd5+ Qxd5 then:

20.Bf4 Nd8 21.e3 Ne6 22.exd4 Nxf4 23.gxf4 Rf6 is equal; White, too, now has weak pawns.
20.Qd3 h6 21.Be3 g5 22.f3 Rad8 23.Rcd1 Qa2 is equal; Black's piece activity compensates for his pawn weaknesses.

18.Bf4!

White wins the tempo and takes a small advantage in space.

18...Qe6 19.Bxd5

This is the time for White to exchange on b6, when Black must recapture with the pawn and weaken her queenside.
19.Nxb6 axb6 20.Bxd5 Qxd5 21.Qd3 h6 22.h4 gives White a slight but clear advantage in pawn structure.

19...Qxd5 20.Qd3!?

White should take the Bishop immediately.
If 20.Nxb6 axb6 tranposes into the note to White's 19th move.

20...Rae8!?

Now Black should pull the Bishop out of harm's way.
20...Bd8 21.Rc5 Qe6 22.Rfc1 g5 23.Bd2 h6 24.f4 continues to give White only an isolated pawn to use as a target to draw Black's into defensive postures.

21.Rfe1!?

Again, White should take the Bishop immediately.
If 21.Nxb6 axb6 22.Rfd1 Re4 23.Rd2 Rfe8 24.b4 gives White a slight edge as she saddles Black with more pawn weaknesses.

21...Re6!?

Since White has failed to take the Bishop, Black should move it away.
If 21...Bd8! 22.Nc3 Qd7 23.h4 h6 24.Nb5 a6 25.Nd6 is equal.

BLACK: Natalia Zhukova

WHITE: Ju WenjunPosition after 21...Re8e6

22.Nxb6!?

White can get more out of the position now by letting the Bishop go.
If 22.Red1! then:

If 22...h6 23.b4 then:

23...Rfe8 24.b5 Na5 25.Nxb6 axb6 26.Rc2 Qb3 27.Rc7 gives White a small advantage in space after the Queens are exchanged.
23...g5 24.Nxb6 axb6 25.Bc7 b5 26.Rc5 Qd7 27.Bb6 gives White stronger pawns and the initiative.

If a) 22...Rd8 then:

23.b4 h6 24.Nxb6 axb6 25.Bc7 Rde8 26.b5 gives White stronger pawns; Black has more space.
If 23.Bg5!? Rde8 24.Bf4 then:

If 24...h6 25.h4 Bd8 26.h5 Bg5 then:

27.Bxg5 hxg5 28.Rc5 Qa2 29.Rxf5 Rxe2 30.Rxg5 R2e7 gives White an extra pawn at least temporaily.
27.Rc5 Qd8 28.Bxg5 Qxg5 29.Rxf5 Qg4 is equal.

24...Bd8 25.Rc2 Bf6 26.Nc5 R6e7 27.b4 is equal.

If b) 22...Bd8 (White is not concerned about the Bishop escaping) 23.Nc5 Re7 then:

24.b4 Bb6 25.Na4 h6 26.b5 Na5 27.Rc2 gives White better pawns and a slight advantage in space.
If 24.Qf3 Qxf3 25.exf3 Rfe8 then:

26.Kf1 Rf7 27.b4 g5 28.Bd6 Bb6 29.f4 gives White a small advantage in space.
26.b4 Bb6 27.Kg2 Bxc5 28.Rxc5 Rd7 29.Rxf5 gives White stronger pawns and more space.

22...axb6!

White continues to enjoy a slight advantage with stronger pawns.

23.Qc4 Qxc4 24.Rxc4 Rfe8 25.Kf1

If 25.e3!? g5 26.Bc7 R6e7 then:

27.Bxb6 Ne5 28.Rec1 Nxc4 29.Rxc4 dxe3 30.Bxe3 gives White only a pawn for the excahnge.
27.Bd6 Rd7 28.Bb4 Ne5 29.exd4 Nf3+ wins the exchange.

BLACK: Natalia Zhukova

WHITE: Ju WenjunPosition after 25.Kg1f1

25...Kf7

Sensing further exchanges, each side begins moving her King toward the center.

26.b4 Kf6 27.b5 Ne5

It makes no sense to sacrifice a pawn just to avoid the exchange of minor pieces.
If 27...Na5!? 28.Rxd4! Nb3 29.Rd5 then:

29...h6 30.Bd6 Rc8 31.f4 Nc5 32.Rc1 g5 33.a4 leaves Black with nothing for the pawn.
If 29...Re4 30.Bc7 R8e6 31.e3 then:

31...Rc4 32.Bd8+ Kg6 33.Red1 Rc2 34.Kg1 Nc5 35.Rd6 leaves White with an extra pawn.
31...Nc5 32.Red1 g6 33.Bd8+ Kf7 34.Bxb6 Rxb6 35.Rxc5 leaves White with two extra pawns and activity for both Rooks.

28.Bxe5+ Rxe5 29.Rxd4 Rxb5 30.Red1

The game now slouches toward equality.
30.Rc1! Re7 31.Rd6+ Re6 32.Rxe6+ Kxe6 33.Rc7 gives White a small advantage.
30.Rd7!? Re7! 31.Red1 Rb3 32.R7d6+ Re6 33.Rd7 Re7 invites a draw by repetition.

30...Rb3 31.Rb4!?

The exchange of Rooks favors Black.
31.R4d3 Rxd3 32.Rxd3 b5 33.h4 Re6 34.Ke1 leaves White slightly better with fewer pawn weaknesses.

BLACK: Natalia Zhukova

WHITE: Ju WenjunPosition after 31.Rd4b4

31...Rxb4!

The pawn is more difficult to defend at b4 than at a3.

32.axb4 Ke6!

The game is equal.
32...Re4 33.Rd6+ Re6 34.Rd7 Re7 35.Rxe7 Kxe7 36.e3 slightly favors White.

33.e3

33.Rc1 Kd6 34.f3 Ra8 35.Rc4 g5 36.h4 h6 remains equal.

33...Rc8!

Black takes command of the c-file.

34.Ke2 Rc4

34...b5 35.Ra1 Kd5 36.h3 Rc4 37.Rd1+ Ke6 38.Rd4 remains equal.

35.Rd4 b5!?

35...Rc2+ 36.Kf3 Rb2 37.e4 fxe4+ 38.Rxe4+ Kd6 39.Rf4 remains equal.
35...Rxd4 36.exd4 Kd5 37.Kd3 b5 is a likely draw.

BLACK: Natalia Zhukova

WHITE: Ju WenjunPosition after 35.b6b5

36.Kd3!

White centralizes her King and gains a slight advantage.

36...Rc1

36...Rc7 37.f3 g6 38.e4 fxe4+ 39.Rxe4+ Kd5 40.Rd4+ gives White a slight advantage.
If 36...Rxd4+? then:

White wins after 37.Kxd4! Kd6 38.f3 h6 39.e4 fxe4 40.fxe4.
37.exd4? Kd5! 38.h3 g6 39.f3 h6 draws.

37.g4!

White gains a passed pawn.

37...fxg4

37...Rd1+ 38.Kc3 Rf1 39.gxf5+ Kxf5 40.f4 Ke6 41.Re4+ gives White a small advantage.

38.Rxg4 Kf6 39.Rf4+ Ke6!?

White should protect her kingside majority, which is her best asset for now.
39...Kg6 40.Rd4 Rb1 41.f4 Kf7 42.Ke4 Ke6 43.f5+ gives White a small advantage with moble pawns.

40.Rh4!

White gains a small advantage by attacking Black's abandoned kingside.

40...Rd1+ 41.Ke2 Rb1 42.Rxh7! g5?

Black's chances grow dimmer by the move, but the pawn cannot be effective at this square.
42...g6 43.Rh4 Ra1 44.Kf3 Rh1 45.Kg2 Rb1 46.h3 continues to gives White a small advantage with an extra pawn, but the weakling at b4 must be defended.
42...Rxb4?! 43.Rxg7! Kd6 44.Rxb7 Kc6 45.Rb8 Rh4 46.f4 gives White three passers.
42...Rg1?! 43.Rh5! g5 then:

44.h4 gxh4 45.Rh6+ Kf7 46.Rxh4 Rb1 47.Re4 gives White a two passers.
44.f4 gxf4 45.exf4 Rg2+ 46.Kf3 Rb2 47.Rxb5 gives White two extra pawns,

BLACK: Natalia Zhukova

WHITE: Ju WenjunPosition after 42...g7g5

43.h4!

The g-pawn's effectiveness is thus diminished. White gains a passed pawn.

43...g4

If 43...gxh4 then White wins after 44.Rxh4 Rb2+ 45.Kf3 Rb1 46.Re4+ Kf7 47.Kg4 when she has two connected passers on the kingside.

44.Rxb7 Rxb4 45.h5 Rb2+ 46.Kf1 g3 47.fxg3!

There is no other move.

47...Kf5 48.h6 Rh2 49.h7

The advance is beautifully timed.
Also good is 49.Rxb5+ when White wins after 49...Kg4 50.Rb6 Kxg3 51.Rf6 Kg4 52.Kg1.

49...Kg4 50.Kg1

50.e4 then White wins after 50...Kg5 51.Kg1 Rh6 52.Rxb5+ Kg4 53.Rb7.

50...Rh3 51.Rg7+ Kf3

If 51...Kf5 52.Kg2 then:

If 52...Rh6 53.e4+ Kf6 54.Rb7 then:

If 54...Kg6 55.e5 Rxh7 56.Rxh7 Kxh7 57.Kf3 Kg7 58.Ke4 leaves Black not enough time to stop both of White's pawns while advancing his own.
If 54...Ke5 55.Rxb5+ then:

If 55...Kxe4 then White wins after 56.Rb4+ Kd3 57.Rh4.
If 55...Kd4 then White wins after 56.Rb4+ Kc5 57.Rb7 Kd4 58.e5 Kd5 59.e6.

If 52...Rh5 53.e4+ Kf6 54.Rb7 Kg6 55.e5.

BLACK: Natalia Zhukova

WHITE: Ju WenjunPosition after 51...Kg4f3

52.g4

If Black tries to stop the g-pawn, she just loses quicker.

52...b4 53.g5 b3

53...Ke4 54.Rf7 Ke5 55.g6 Ke6 56.Rf4 leaves Black no way to stop White's Kingside pawns.

54.g6 b2 55.Rb7 Rh6 56.Rxb2 Rxg6+ 57.Kh1! 1-0

If 57...Rh6+ then 58.Rh2!! wins immediately as Black must either exchange Rooks and allow the pawn to promote, move the Rook off the file and allow the pawn to promote, viz. 58...Rd6 59.Rh3+!! (White cannot simply queen: If (59.h8Q?? then 59...Rd1#!) 59...Ke2 60.h8Q Rd1+ 61.Kh2 or capture the pawn and lose the Rook (58..Rxh7 59.Rxh7).
Natalia Alexandrovna resigns.

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #2)

Tue Dec 11, 2012, 12:22 AM

Jack Rabbit (40,694 posts)

14. Galliamova - Sebag, Round 3/Game 1 Opening Theory: English Game (Slav & Orthodox) & Kia Game

Last edited Mon Mar 11, 2013, 01:05 PM USA/ET - Edit history (2)

The opening notes in this game are to compare and contrast the English Game in which Black adopts a defense similar to those found in Queen's Gambit with the King's Indian Attck, or, as we prefer to call it, the Kia Game.

The reason for this exercise on my part is that I have began playing a series of games with another gentleman on Monday afternoons. In our first game, in which he had White, he opened with a Kia Game. Not really familiar with the Kia, I got a bad position and lost.

Marie Sebag
Photo by Stefan64 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64) from Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Marie_Sebag)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Alisa Galliamova - Marie Sebag
FIDE Women's Knock-Out, Round 3/Game 1
Khanty-Mansiysk, 17 November 2012

English Game: Caro-Slav Defense

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3

2.c4 has been called the Reti Opening for decades, but it is our contention that there is no such thing as a Reti Opening. The famous game Reti-Bogoljubow, It, New York, 1924, which continued 2...e6 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 Bd6 5.0-0, is classified on ChessGames.com as an English Game: Agincourt Defense. We contend that 1.Nf3 ... 2.c4 is simply an English Game by tansposition.

2...Nf6 3.Bg2 c6

If 3...g6 4.0-0 Bg7 then:

If 5.d3 0-0 6.Nbd2 then:

If 6...c5 (Kia Game) If 7.e4

BLACK

WHITEKia GamePosition after 7.e4

7...Nc6 then:

If 8.Re1 then:

(Kia Game: Franco-Orthodox Defense) If 8...e6 9.c3 then:

If 9...b6 then:

If 10.e5 Nd7 11.d4 then:

If 11...f6!? 12.exf6! Qxf6 13.Nb3 then:

13...Bb7 14.Be3 c4 15.Nbd2 Nd8 16.h4 Nf7 17.Ng5 gives White a fair advantage in space (Dünhaupt-Snajdr, Corres, 1968).
If 13...Ba6 14.Be3 then:

If 14...Bc4?! 15.dxc5! then:

If 15...Bxb3? 16.axb3! then:

If 16...Nxc5 17.Ng5 Rfe8 18.b4 then:

If 18...Nb7 then after 19.Bxd5 Rad8 20.Bxc6 Rxd1 21.Rexd1 Rb8 22.Rxa7 White coasts to a win (Stein-Sokolsky, Soviet Ch ½-final, Odessa, 1960).
18...h6 then White wins after 19.bxc5 hxg5 20.cxb6 axb6 21.Rxa8 Rxa8 22.c4.

If 16...bxc5 then White wins after 17.Ra6 Rac8 18.Bh3 Rfe8 19.Ng5 Nf8.

15...Qe7 16.cxb6 axb6 17.Bf4 Qf6 18.Nbd4 Nxd4 19.Nxd4 gives White an extra pawn, a better center and more space; Black's pieces are not well-cordinated.

14...c4 15.Nbd2 h6 16.Bf4 Bb7 17.h4 Qf5 18.Nf1 gives White a small advatage in space.

11...Qc7 12.Nf1 Ba6 13.Bf4 Rac8 14.Ne3 Qb7 15.Qd2 gives White the edge in space (Stein-Zhukhovitsky, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1969).

10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Nc4 Qc7 12.a4 Rd8 13.Qc2 f6 is equal (Paci-Barsov, French ChT, 2002).

If 9...a5 10.a4 b6 then:

If 11.exd5 exd5 12.Nb1 Bf5 then:

13.Na3 Qd7 14.Nb5 Nh5 15.d4 Rae8 16.dxc5 gives White a comfortable game (Bojkov-Li Chao, Op, Queensland, 2012).
13.h3 Re8 14.Rxe8+ Qxe8 15.Na3 Na7 16.Bg5 h6 is equal (D. Popovic-A. Rombaldoni, Op, Cappelle-la-Grande, 2012).

11.Qc2 Ba6 12.Bf1 Qd7 13.Nb1 Ng4 14.Bf4 e5 is equal (McKerracher-Hawkins, Scottish Ch, Glasgow, 2012).

If 8...e5 9.c3 h6 then:

If 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Nc4 Re8 12.a4 then:

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

14.Nf3 Qc7 15.a5 f5 16.Qa4 Bf7 17.Qb5 a6 is equal (Sergeev-Timoshenko, Platonov Mem, Kiev, 1995).
14.a5 Qc7 15.Qb3 Rad8 16.Qb5 Bf8 17.Qa4 Kh7 is equal (Dünhaupt-Arnlind, Corres, 1968).

If 12...b6 13.Nfd2 Be6 14.Qb3 then:

If 14...Rb8 then:

If 15.Qb5? Ncb4! then:

If 16.cxb4 Nxb4 17.Nxe5 a6 then:

If 18.Nc6 axb5 19.Nxd8 then:

If 19...Rexd8?! then:

If 20.Ne4? then after Nxd3! 21.Bf4 Nxf4 22.g4 bxa4 Black wins (Lomakina-Melamed, Euro ChW, Warsaw, 2001).
20.axb5 Nxd3 21.Rxe6 fxe6 22.Nc4 Rd4 leaves Black the exchange to the good with greater activity.

Black wins after 19...Rbxd8! 20.Rf1 Nxd3 21.Bc6 Bd7.

If 18.Qc6 then Black wins after 18...Bg4 19.Qe4 Rxe5 20.Qxe5 Bxe5 21.Rxe5 Be6.

16.Bxd5 a6 17.Qxe8+ Qxe8 18.Nd6 Qe7 19.Bxe6 Qxe6 gives White a Queen and more space for a Rook and a Knight.

15.Ne4 Re7 16.Qc2 Rd7 17.Qe2 Qc7 18.Bf1 Nde7 gives Black a slight advantage in space.

14...Nde7 15.Qc2 Qc7 16.a5 b5 17.Ne3 Rad8 18.Ne4 is equal (Sergeev-Pavlov, Platonov Mem, Kiev, 2007).

If 10.Qc2 Be6 then:

11.exd5 Nxd5 12.Nc4 Qc7 13.a4 Rab8 14.Nfd2 Rfd8 is equal (Borloy-Portisch, Hungarian Ch, Budapest, 1962).
If 11.Nf1 Qc7 12.Nh4 Rad8 then:

13.f4?! c4! 14.f5 cxd3 gives Black an extra pawn (Beckett-Jirovsky, Euro Club Cup, Panormo, Greece, 2001).
13.exd5 Nxd5 14.Nf3 Nde7 15.Ne3 Qd7 16.Bf1 f5 gives Black a small but clear advantage in space.

If 8.c3 then:

If 8...dxe4 9.dxe4 then:

If 9...Qc7 10.Re1 Rd8 11.Qc2 Ng4 12.Nc4 then:

12...Nce5 13.Nfxe5 Nxe5 14.Bf4 b6 15.Bxe5 Bxe5 16.f4 is equal (Quinteros-M. Petursson, Op, Lone Pine, California, 1980).
12...Be6 13.Bf4 Qc8 14.Bf1 b5 15.Ne3 c4 16.Bg2 is equal (Tringov-M. Petursson, Ol, Buenos Aires, 1978).

If 9...h6 10.Qe2 then:

If 10...Be6 11.Ne1 then:

If 11...Qd7 12.Nd3 b6 13.Nf4 then:

13...Rad8 14.Nxe6 Qxe6 15.f4 Rd7 16.e5 Nd5 17.Re1 gives White a small advantage in space (Belezky-Jiménez, Op, Madrid, 2001).
13...Bg4 14.f3 e5 15.fxg4 exf4 16.e5 f3 17.Bxf3 (Böök-Czerniak, Ol, Helsinki, 1952).

11...Qb6 12.h3 Nh7 13.f4 Na5 14.Nef3 Bd7 15.Re1 is equal (Petrosian-Reshevsky, Candidates' Trmt, Zürich. 1953).

10...Qc7 11.Nc4 e5 12.a4 b6 13.Ne3 Be6 is equal (Reichenbacher-Jeric, Op, Feffernitz, Austria, 2001).

If 9.Nxe4 then:

9...Nxe4 10.dxe4 Qxd1 11.Rxd1 Na5 12.Bg5 Re8 13.Bf1 Bg4 14.Kg2 h6 15.Be3 Rec8 draw (Ufimtsev-Lilienthal, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1947).
9...b6 10.Nxf6+ exf6 11.d4 Ba6 12.Re1 cxd4 13.Qa4 gives White a slight advantage for the moment (Brondum-Arvola, Politiken Cup, Helsignør, 2007).

If 6...Nc6 then:

If 7.e4 e5 8.c3 a5 9.a4 h6 then:

If 10.Re1 Re8 then:

If 11.Qc2 Be6 then:

If 12.exd5 Nxd5 13.Nc4 f6 14.Bd2 Qd7 15.Rad1 g5 is equal (Akopian-Lutz, World Youth BU16, Rio Gallegos, 1986).
12.b3 Qd7 13.Bb2 Rad8 14.Rad1 Qe7 15.Qc1 Qd7 is equal (B. Socko-Galkin, Euro ChT, Batumi, 1999).

If 11.exd5 Nxd5 12.Nc4 Bf5 then:

If 13.Nh4 Re8 14.Nf3 then:

14...Bf5 Be6 15.Nh4 Be6 16.Nf3 Bf5 17.Nh4 Be6 draws by repetition (Navrotescu-Fogarasi, IT, Budapest, 2001).
14...f6 15.Nfd2 Qd7 16.Ne4 b6 17.Ne3 f5 gives Black the initiative and a small advantage in space (Haub-Werle, Op, Hoogeveen, 2007).

13.h3 Nb6 14.Nxb6 cxb6 15.Be3 Bxd3 16.Qb3 is equal (Polugaevsky-Thorsteins, IT, Akureyri, Norway, 1988).

10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Nc4 Re8 12.Nh4 Be6 transposes into Navrotescu-Fogarasi, above.

If 7.c4 e5 8.cxd5 Nxd5 then:

If 9.Nc4 h6 10.Bd2 then:

10...Be6 11.Rc1 Nb6 12.b3 Qd7 13.Re1 Rfe8 14.Bc3 is equal (Kirillov-Rozhdestvensky, ZT, Minsk, 1957).
10...Bg4 11.Re1 Qd7 12.Rc1 Rad8 13.Na5 Nxa5 14.Bxa5 b6 leaves Black slightly better ().

9.Ne4 b6 10.Bg5 f6 11.Bd2 Be6 12.Rc1 Qd7 is equal (Vepkhvishvili-Sanikidze, Op, Maisoba, 2004).

If 5.d4 0-0 6.c4 then:

6...dxc4 7.Na3 Nc6 8.Nxc4 Bf5 is the Slav-Grünfeld.
6...c6 7.cxd5 cxd5 is the Slav Exchange.

If 3...e6 4.d3 Be7 5.0-0 0-0 then:

If 6.Nbd2 c5
(Kia Game: Kia Game: Franco-Orthodox Defense) If 7.e4

BLACK

WHITEKia Game: Franco-Orthodox DefensePosition after 7.e4

7...Nc6 8.Re1 then:

If 8...Qc7 then:

If 9.e5 Nd7 10.Qe2 b5 11.Nf1 then:

If 11...a5 12.h4 Ba6 then:

If 13.Bf4 b4 14.Ne3 c4 then:

15.Nxd5 exd5 16.e6 Qd8 17.exd7 cxd3 18.cxd3 Qxd7 is equal (Bezgodova-T. Kosintseva, Euro ChW, Gaziantep, 2012).
15.Rad1!? cxd3 16.cxd3 Qb6 17.h5 b3 18.a3 Rfe8 gives Black a slight edge in space (Arkhipov-Oral, Atom Cup, Paks, Hungary, 1997).

13.N1h2!? b4 14.h5 Rfc8 15.h6 g6 16.Bf4 Qd8 is equal (Bronstein-O'Kelly, IT, Beverwijk, 1963).

If 11...Bb7 12.h4 Rfc8 13.Bf4 then:

13...c4 14.d4 c3 15.b3 a5 16.a3 Ba6 17.Qe3 is equal (Staniszewski-Maslowski, Op, Maslowski, 2001).
13...Nb6 14.N1h2 d4 15.Ng4 Qd8 16.Ng5 Bxg5 17.Bxg5 Qf8 gives Black an impressive moble pawn mass (Hetzer-Zmarzly, Op, Wroclaw, 2010).

If 9.c3 b6 then:

If 10.Qe2 Bb7 11.e5 Nd7 12.Nf1 then:

If 12...Rae8 13.Bf4 then:

13...Qd8 14.h4 f5 15.exf6 Bxf6 16.N1h2 e5 is equal (Davies-Paunovic, IT, Vrnjachka Banja, 1988).
If 13...Bd8 14.h4 Qb8 15.N1h2 Bc7 then:

16.Bh3 f6 17.d4 cxd4 18.cxd4 fxe5 19.dxe5 Nc5 gives Black a slight advantage in space (Davies-Cvetkovic, IT, Vrnjachka Banja, 1991).
16.d4 cxd4 17.cxd4 f6 18.Ng4 h5 is equal.

12...b5 13.Bf4 a5 14.h4 a4 15.N1h2 c4 (Gopal-Hughes, World Jr Ch, Gaziantep, 2008).

If 10.e5 Nd7 11.Qe2 Ba6 12.Nf1 then:

If 12...Rac8 13.Bf4 b5 14.h4 then:

14...b4 15.N1h2 Rb8 16.h5 h6 17.g4 Rb6 gives Black a slight advantage in space (Rybenko-Zaksaite, Euro Ch GU12, Rimavska Sobota, 1996).
14...c4 15.d4 b4 16.h5 Rb8 17.N1h2 Qa5 gives Black a small advantage in space (Pachman-Sterner, IT, Dresden, 1956).

12...b5 13.a3 Rad8 14.Bf4 Qb6 15.h4 Ndb8 16.N1h2 is equal (Ketho-Irwanto, Ol, Dresden, 2008).

If 8...b5 9.e5 Nd7 10.Nf1 a5 11.h4 b4 12.Bf4 then:

If 12...Ba6 13.N1h2 a4 14.a3 then:

If 14...bxa3 15.bxa3 Rb8 then:

If 16.h5 Rb2 17.Qc1 then:

17...Qb6 18.Ng4 Nd4 19.Nxd4 cxd4 20.Bg5 Bxg5 21.Qxg5 gives White a comfortable game (Nikolaidis-Muir, Euro ChT, Pula, 1997).
If 17...Rb7 18.h6 g6 then:

19.Qe3!? Rb2 20.Qc1 Qb6 gives Black a slight advantage in space (Sevian-Puranik, World Youth BU10, Porto Carras, 2010).
19.Ng4 c4 20.d4 c3 21.Qe3 Qa5 is equal.

If 16.Bh3 then:

16...Rb2 17.Bc1 Rb6 18.Bf4 Qb8 19.Ng4 Qa7 gives Black a slight edge in space (Teterev-Bhat, World Youth BU18, Oropesa del Mar, 2001).
16...Nd4 17.Nxd4 cxd4 18.Qg4 Kh8 19.Nf3 Rb2 20.Nxd4 gives White a small advantage in space, but Black has 20...Bc5 with the initiative (Nun-Uhlmann, IT, Hradec, 1979).

If 14...Bb5 15.Ng5 Qe8 then:

16.c4 bxc3 17.bxc3 Na5 18.c4 dxc4 19.dxc4 Bc6 is equal (Koskela-Macsik, Atom Cup IM, Paks, Hungary, 2001).
16.Qh5 Bxg5 17.Qxg5 Kh8 18.Rad1 c4 19.dxc4 Bxc4 is equal (Prescha-Sieglen, BL West, Germany, 1996).

If 12...a4 13.a3 bxa3 14.bxa3 then:

If 14...Ba6 15.Ne3 then:

15...Rb8 16.c4 dxc4 17.Nxc4 Nb6 18.Nxb6 Rxb6 is equal (Amin-Sadek, Egyptian Ch, Cairo, 2009).
If 15...Nd4 16.c4 then:

If 16...Nb3 17.cxd5 Nxa1 18.Qxa1 exd5 19.Nxd5 then:

If 19...Nb6 20.Nxe7+ Qxe7 then:

If 21.e6 f6 then:

22.d4!? Bb7 23.dxc5 Qxc5 24.e7 Rfe8 25.Be3 forces Black to defend against a passed pawn on the seventh rank, which while not difficult in this position may still be a nuisance (Aleshnya-Ernazarov, Corres, 2006).
22.Qb2! Nd5 23.Nd4 Nxf4 24.Nf5 Qc7 25.gxf4 gives White an advanced passer and a small advantage in space.

21.d4 Nd5 22.Bd2 Bb7 23.Ng5 h6 24.Ne4 gives White a small advantage in space.

19...Bxd3? 20.e6! Nf6 21.Nxe7+ Qxe7 22.Ne5 Bg6 23.Nc6 gives White the initiative and the advatage in space; he soon forced Black's capitulation (Gheorghiu-Uhlmann, IT, Sofia, 1967).

16...Nxf3+ 17.Qxf3 Nb6 18.cxd5 Nxd5 19.Nxd5 exd5 20.Qxd5 gives White a small advantage in space after the exchange of Queens (Vogt-Teschke, Bundesliga 0607, Germany, 2007).

14...Na5 15.Ne3 Ba6 16.Bh3 d4 17.Nf1 Nb6 18.Ng5 is equal (Fischer-Myagmarsuren, ITZ, Sousse, 1967).

(English Game: Agincourt Defense) If 6.c4

BLACK

WHITEEnglish Game: Agincourt DefensePosition after 6.c4

6...c5 then:

If 7.Nc3 Nc6 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.Bd2 then:

If 9...b6 10.Rc1 Bb7 11.Qa4 then:

11...Bf6 12.Ne4 Be7 13.Rfd1 Rc8 14.a3 h6 15.Nc3 is equal (Kolbus-Izsak, IT, Budapest, 1993).
11...Rc8 12.a3 a6 13.Nxd5 Qxd5 14.Bc3 Qh5 15.h4 is equal (Durarbayli-Abhiban, World Jr Ch, Chennai, 2011).

9...Nc7 10.a3 b6 11.Rc1 Bd7 12.Na4 Rc8 13.Rb1 is equal (Szily-Barcza, Hungarian Ch, Budapest, 1954).

If 7.b3 Nc6 8.Bb2 d4 then:

If 9.e4 e5 10.Nbd2 then:

10...Bg4 11.h3 Bd7 12.Kh2 Bd6 13.Qe2 a5 gives Black a small but clear advantage in space (Sliwa-Czerniakow, Polish Ch, Sopot, 1946).
If 13.h3 Nd7 14.Nfe1 Nb6 15.f4 Re8 16.a4 Bd6 gives Black the edge with active Bishops and command of the e-file (Chiburdanidze-Gaprindashvili, Candidates' TrmtW, Shanghai, 1992).

10...Ne8 11.a3 a5 12.Ne1 Rb8 13.Qe2 Bd6 gives Black a slight edge (Zhong Zhang-Qin Kanying, Sufe Cup, Shanghai, 2000).

If 9.e3 e5 10.exd4 then:

If 10...exd4 11.Na3 Bf5 12.Nc2 a5 then:

If 13.Re1 Bd6 14.Nh4 Bg4 15.Qd2 h6 16.Na3 Rc8 is equal (Grigorian-Alburt, ZT, Vilnius, 1975).
If 10...cxd4 11.Re1 Bd6 12.a3 a5 13.Nbd2 then:

If 13...Bf5 14.Qe2 h6 15.c5 Bc7 16.Nc4 Re8 is equal (Kopacz-Sroczynski, Polish Ch BU18, Zakopane, 2001).
If 13...Bg4 14.Rc1 Nd7 15.Qc2 f5 16.h3 Bh5 gives Black more pawns in the center (Gomes-Khalid, World Jr ChG, Yerevan, 2006).

4.0-0 Bg4

If 4...Bf5 5.d3 Nbd7
(English Game: Slav Set up) If 6.c4 e6 7.b3 Bd6 8.Bb2 0-0 then:

If 9.Nbd2 then:

If 9...e5 10.cxd5 cxd5 then:

11.e4 dxe4 12.dxe4 Be6 13.Rc1 Rc8 14.Rxc8 Qxc8 is equal (S. N. Bernstein-Fazekas, Corres, 1968).
If 11.Rc1 Qe7 12.Rc2 a5 13.a4 h6 then:

If 14.Qa1!? Rfe8! 15.Rfc1 Bh7 then:

16.Nf1!? Nc5 17.Rxc5 Bxc5 18.Nxe5 Rac8 19.Ne3 Qe6 gives Black the exchange and a small advantage in space for a pawn (Reti-Dr. Lasker, IT, New York, 1924).
16.Bh3 e4 17.Nd4 exd3 18.exd3 Bxd3 19.Nf5 Bxf5 gives Black a weak extra pawn.

14.Nh4 Bg4 15.h3 Be6 16.e4 Rac8 17.Rxc8 Rxc8 is equal.

9...Qe7 10.Re1 then:

If 10...e5 11.cxd5 cxd5 then:

If 12.e4 dxe4 13.dxe4 Be6 14.Qe2 Rac8 then:

15.Nf1 Ba3 16.Nxe5 Bxb2 17.Qxb2 Nxe5 18.Qxe5 gives White an extra pawn and a centralized Queen (Kevitz-Capablanca, IT, New York, 1931).
15.Rac1 Ba3 16.Nf1 Rxc1 17.Rxc1 Nxe4 18.Rc7 Bxb2 19.Qxe4 is equal (Ragozin-Romanovsky, Soviet Ch ½-final, Moscow, 1944).

12.Rc1 Rfd8 13.Rc2 h6 14.Nf1 Bb4 15.Bc3 Rac8 give Black a full pawn center and more space (Capablanca-Horowitz, IT, New York 1931).

10...Ba3 11.Qc1 Bxb2 12.Qxb2 e5 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.e4 gives White a slight edge (Bajarani-E. L'Ami, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).

If 9.Nc3 Qe7 then:

If 10.Nh4 Bg4 11.h3 Bh5 then:

12.d4 Rac8 13.Rc1 Rfd8 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.Nb5 a6 is equal (Lokvenc-Feigin, Ol, Hamburg, 1930).
12.Qc2 Rad8 13.e4 dxe4 14.dxe4 Ne5 15.f4 Bc5+ gives Black a slight edge (Trian Iliesco-Pizzi, IT, Mar del Plata, 1947).

10.Re1 e5 11.e4 dxe4 12.dxe4 Be6 13.Nh4 Ba3 is equal (Reti-Tarrasch, IT, Breslau, 1925).

5.c4
BLACK

WHITEEnglish Game: Caro-Slav DefensePosition after 7.e4

OK, it's an English Game.
If 5.d3 Nbd7 6.Nbd2 e5

(Kia Game) If 7.e4

BLACK

WHITEKia Game: Caro-Slav DefensePosition after 7.e4

7...dxe4 8.dxe4 Bc5 then:

If 9.Qe1 0-0 10.h3 Bh5 then:

If 11.Nc4 Re8 12.a4 then:

If 12...Qc7 13.Nh4 then:

If 13...b5 then:

If 14.Na5 Bb6 15.Nb3 a6 16.Bg5 then:

If 16...c5 17.a5 Ba7 18.c4 then:

If 18...Rab8 19.Nd2 h6 20.Be3 Nf8 then:

21.f4 exf4 22.Bxf4 Qd8 23.Nf5 gives White a small advantage in space (Aronian-Kramnik, IT, Shanghai, 2010).
21.g4 Bg6 22.f4 exf4 23.Bxf4 Qd7 is equal (Aronian-Korobov, Euro Ch, Ohrid, 2001).

18...h6 19.Be3 Rab8 20.Nd2 Nf8 transposes.

16...h6 17.Bd2 c5 18.c4 bxc4 19.Na5 c3 20.Bxc3 c4 gives White stronger pawns and Black a small advantage in space (Aronian-Bu Xiangzhi, World Jr Ch, Athens, 2001).
If 14.Ne3 a6 15.Nef5 then:

15...Bf8 16.Bg5 h6 17.Bd2 Nc5 18.b3 bxa4 19.Ba5 (Kozul-Pavosavic, Croatia Cup, Sibenik, 2007).
If 15...Bg6 16.Bg5 Re6 17.Bf3 then:

17...Bf8!? 18.Qe2! Nc5 19.axb5 cxb5 20.Rfd1 gives White a small advantage in space (Markus-Prohaszka, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).
17...h6 18.Bxf6 Nxf6 19.Nxg6 fxg6 20.Qc3 Bb6 21.Nh4 remains equal.

13...Bf8 14.Bg5 Re6 15.b3 b6 16.Kh1 h6 17.Bd2 gives White the advantage in space (R. Ibrahimov-K. Georgiev, Euro Ch, Warsaw, 2005).

If 12...Nb6 13.Na5 then:

If 13...Qc7 14.Nh4 Nfd7 then:

If 15.b4 Bf8 then:

16.c4 c5 17.b5 a6 18.Bb2 axb5 19.axb5 remains equal (Movsesian-Gyimisi, Euro Ch, Ohrid, 2001).
16.Nf5 f6 17.Ne3 Bf7 18.c3 Nc8 19.Qe2 Nd6 remains equal (Werle-Gyimisi, Bundesliga 1011, Baden-Baden, 2010).

15.Nb3 Bf8 16.Qc3 a5 17.g4 Bg6 18.Nxg6 hxg6 remains equal (Laznicka-Ter Sahakyan, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2012).

If 13...Rb8 14.Nh4 Nc8 then:

15.b4 Bb6 16.Nb3 Nd6 17.a5 Bc7 18.Nc5 Nd7 remains equal (Akopian-Beliavsky, IT, Ubeda, 1997).
15.Bg5 h6 16.Bd2 Nd6 17.Nb3 Bb6 18.Bb4 gives Black more space, but White has the threat of 19.a5 (Movsesian-Mkrtchian, Op, Solin, 2006).

If 11.Nb3 Bb6 12.a4 a5 then:

13.Be3 Bxe3 14.Qxe3 Bxf3 15.Bxf3 Qc7 16.Rfd1 Rfd8 is equal (Smejkal-Kuczynski, Rubinstein Mem, Polanica Zdroj, 1991).
13.Nbd2 Re8 14.Nc4 Bc7 15.Nh4 Nc5 16.Be3 Ne6 is equal (L. Szabo-A. Kovacs Corres, 2008).

If 9.h3 Bh5 10.Qe2 0-0 then:

If 11.Rd1 Qc7 then:

12.a4 a5 13.b3 Rfe8 14.Bb2 Nf8 15.Nc4 is equal (H. Danielsen-de Cresce El Debs, Ol, Dresden, 2008).

12.g4 Bg6 13.Nh4 Rfe8 14.Nf1 Nf8 15.Nf5 Ne6 gives Black a slight advantage in space (C.-A. Foisor-Danielian, FIDE Knock-OutW, Ekaterinburg, 2006).
If a) 11.a4 a5 12.Rd1 Qe7 then:

13.Nc4 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 Rfe8 15.Ne3 g6 16.Ng4 is equal (I. Marin-Zimina, Euro Club CupW, Belgrade, 2001).
13.Nf1 Rfd8 14.g4 Bg6 15.Ng3 Nf8 16.Rxd8 Rxd8 is equal (Venkatesh-Markos, World Jr Ch, Athens, 2001).

b) 11.Re1 Re8 12.Qf1 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 a5 14.Nc4 b5 is equal (Langeweg-Trifunovic, IT, Beverwijk, 1962).

If 7...Bd6 8.h3 Bh5 then:

If 9.Qe1 0-0 10.Nh4 Re8 then:

If 11.Nb3 a5 12.a4 Nc5 13.Nxc5 Bxc5 then:

14.Bg5 dxe4 15.dxe4 Re6 16.Bf3 Bxf3 17.Nxf3 Qc7 is equal (B. Damjlanovic-Khalifman, IT, Belgrade, 1993).
14.Bf3 Bxf3 15.Nxf3 Qb6 16.Kg2 Rad8 17.b3 Bb4 gives Black a slight advantage in space (C.-A. Foisor-Galliamova, OlW, Istanbul, 2000).

If 11.Nf5 Bf8 12.Nb3 a5 13.a4 then:

13...Nc5 14.Nxc5 Bxc5 15.Bg5 Bg6 16.Ne3 dxe4 17.dxe4 is equal (Anic-Marciano, French ChT, Monaco, 2001).
13...Bb4 14.Bd2 Bxd2 15.Qxd2 Qc7 16.exd5 Nxd5 17.Rfe1 is equal (Omearat-Ni Hua, Ol, Torino, 2006).

If 9.exd5 cxd5 10.c4 0-0 11.cxd5 Nxd5 12.Qb3 then:

If 12...N5f6 13.Nc4 Nc5 14.Qa3 then:

If 14...Bxf3 15.Bxf3 Be7 16.Nxe5 Ncd7 17.Qc3 Rc8 18.Qe1 then:

18...Re8 19.d4 Bc5 20.Bxb7 Bxd4 21.Bxc8 Nxe5 gives Black two minor pieces for a Rook and the threat of 22...Nf3+, winning the White Queen (Minasian-Tomashevsky, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).
18...Bc5 19.Nxd7 Qxd7 20.Kg2 b6 21.Bg5 Qf5 22.Qd2 gives White a small advantage (Vaganian-Kaidanov, TM, Glendale, California, 1994).

If 14...Rc8 15.Nxd6 Qxd6 16.Be3 then:

If 16...b6?! 17.Nxe5 then:

17...Nd5? 18.d4! gives White an extra piece (Vaganian-Epishin, IT, Moscow, 1996).
17...Qxe5 18.d4 Qf5 19.g4 Qd3 20.dxc5 Qxa3 21.bxa3 gives White an extra pawn.

16...Bxf3 17.Bxf3 b6 18.Rfd1 Qe6 19.Qxa7 Ncd7 20.Rac1 continues to give White a small advantage in space.

If 12...N5b6 13.Ne4 then:

If 13...Bxf3 14.Bxf3 Nc5 15.Nxc5 Bxc5 then:

If 16.Bxb7 Rb8 17.Bg2 Bd4 18.Rb1 Qd7 19.Be3 then:

19...Na4 20.Qc2 Rfc8 21.Qd2 Bxb2 22.Qa5 Nc3 23.Rbe1 Nb5 24.Rb1 Nc3 25.Rbe1 Nb5 draw (Maiwald-Chiburdanidze, Op, Lippstadt, 2003).
19...Rfd8 20.Bxd4 Qxd4 21.Rfe1 Na4 22.Qc4 Rxb2 23.Qxd4 exd4 24.Rxb2 Nxb2 25.Bf1 is equal and soon agreed drawn (C.-A. Foisor-K. Szabo, Op, Gibraltar, 2008)

16.Kg2 Bd4 17.Re1 Nd7 18.Be3 Nc5 19.Qa3 Rc8 is equal (Azaladze-Sjugirov, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2012).

If 13...Be7 14.a4 Kh8 15.a5 f5 16.Neg5 Nc5 then:

If 17.Qc3 Nd5 18.Qc4 e4 19.dxe4 fxe4 then:

20.Ne5!? Bxg5 21.Bxg5 Qxg5 22.Qxd5 Rf5 23.Qxc5 gives White slightly stronger pawns (I. Ivanisevic-Kacheishvili, Euro ChT, León, 2001).
If a) 20.Nd4!? Rc8 then:

21.h4 h6 22.Bh3 Rc7 23.Nb5 hxg5!! 24.Nxc7 Nxc7 gives Black stronger pawns and a small advantage in space(Vaganian-Khalifman, Rpd IT, Eupen, Belgium, 1994).
21.Nb5?! a6! 22.Na7 Rc7 23.b4 Bxg5 24.bxc5 Bf6 gives Black a significant advantage.

b) 20.Nxe4! b5 21.axb6 Nxb6 22.Qc2 Rc8 23.Ne5 gives White a small advantage in space.

If 17.Qc2 Nbd7 18.b4 Bxf3 19.Nxf3 Na6 20.b5 gives White a slight advantage.

5.d4 Nbd7 6.c4 is the Slav Catalan.

5...e6

Black's best asset is that he is keeping up with Black's development; taking the c-pawn would expend a valuable tempo.
If dxc4 6.Na3 then:

6...Qd5 7.Qc2 Be6 8.h4 Bf5 9.Qxc4 e6 10.Qa4 gives White a small advantage in space (Burmakin-Belov, Geller Mem, Moscow, 1999).
6...Nbd7!? 7.Nxc4! Bxf3 8.Bxf3 e5 9.d4 e4 10.Bg2 gives White the advantage in development (Davies-L. B. Hansen, Op, Copenhagen, 1988).

6.cxd5

If 6.d3 Nbd7 7.cxd5 exd5 8.Nc3 then:

If 8...Bc5 then:

If 9.Qb3 Bb6 10.Na4 0-0 11.Nxb6 axb6 12.Qc2 then:

If 12...Re8 13.b3 Qe7 14.Re1 then:

14...Qb4 15.Bd2 Qc5 16.Qb2 Qa3 17.Bc1 Qxb2 18.Bxb2 is equal(Markowski-Piket, Ol, Istanbul, 2000).
14...Ne5 15.Nxe5 Qxe5 16.Bb2 Qh5 17.Bxf6 gxf6 18.e3 gives White stronger pawns and Black a battery on g4 and h5 with mischief-making potential (Dizdar-P. Lukacs, Euro ChT, Debrecen, 1992).

12...Qe7 13.b3 b5 14.Bb2 b4 15.Nd4 c5 16.h3 is equal (Piket-Kramnik, Korchnoi 70th Bd Bash, Zürich, 2001).

If 9.Qc2 0-0 10.e4 then:

If 10...dxe4 11.dxe4 Re8 12.Bf4 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 then:

If 13...Qe7 14.Bg2 Ne5 15.Rad1 Rad8 16.h3 Ng6 then:

17.Rxd8 Rxd8 18.Bc1 Ne5 is equal (Miroshnichenko-Khenkin, Bundesliga 0405, Germany, 2004).
17.Bc1 Rxd1 18.Rxd1 Rd8 19.Rxd8+ Qxd8 is equal (Schebler-Jahnz, Bundesliga 0910, Berlin, 2009).

13...Ne5 14.Bg2 Qe7 15.Rad1 Rad8 transposes.

10...Re8 11.exd5 cxd5 12.Qb3 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 Ne5 14.Qd1 Nxf3+ gives Black a slight edge (Telljohan-Tukmakov, Op, Biel, 1995).

If 8...Be7 9.h3 then:

If 9...Bh5 10.e4 dxe4 11.dxe4 Nc5 then:

If 12.Qe2 Qd3 then:

13.Re1 0-0-0 14.g4 Bg6 15.Ne5 Qxe2 16.Rxe2 Nfd7 is equal (Sargissian-Smeets, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2012).
13.Qxd3 Nxd3 14.Be3 Nd7 15.Rab1 f6 16.Nd4 N7e5 is equal (Saleh Jasim-Malakhatko, Op, Cairo, 2003).

12.g4 Bg6 13.Ne5 Qxd1 14.Rxd1 Nfxe4 15.Re1 Nxc3 16.bxc3 leaves White slightly better with the centralized Knight; Black has stronger pawns (Efimenko-Inarkiev, Rapid Op, St Petersburg, 2012).

If 9...Bxf3 10.Bxf3 d4 11.Ne4 then:

If 11...0-0 12.Nxf6+ Bxf6 13.b4 then:

13...a5 14.Qb3 axb4 15.Qxb4 Ra7 16.a4 Ne5 17.Bg2 is equal (Shirov-Vyzmanavin, IT, Lvov, 1990).
13...Re8 14.Rb1 a6 15.a4 Nb6 16.b5 axb5 17.axb5 gives White a tiny bit more freedom (Voiska-Mkrtchian, Euro ChTW, Crete, 2007).

If 11...Nxe4 12.Bxe4 a5 13.Bd2 0-0 then:

14.Rb1 Re8 15.Bf3 Bb4 16.a3 is equal (Ragger-Gonda, Bundesliga 1011, Remagen, 2010).
14.Qc2 Qb6 15.Bg2 Rfe8 16.e4 dxe3 17.Bxe3 Bc5 gives Black a small advantage in space (Aluwar-Afshari, Op, Dubai, 2010).

If 6.b3 Nbd7 7.Bb2 then:

If 7...Bd6 then:

If 8.d3 0-0 9.Qc2 Qe7 then:

If 10.e4 dxe4 11.dxe4 then:

11...e5 12.h3 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 a5 14.a3 Rfd8 gives Black a slight advantage in space (Franciskovic-Svaljek, ITW, Rijeka, 2001).
11...Bxf3 12.Bxf3 e5 13.Rd1 Rfd8 14.a3 a5 gives Black a slight advantage in space (Radulov-Hennings, Ol, Lugano, 1968).

If 10.Nbd2 then:

If 10...e5 11.h3 Bh5 12.e4 then:

12...dxe4 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.dxe4 Ba3 15.Bxa3 Qxa3 is equal (Bashkite-Rozic, Euro ChTW, Crete, 2007).
12...d4 13.Nh4 Bg6 14.Rae1 Ba3 15.Ba1 c5 is equal (Andreasen-Roder, Politiken Cup, Helsignør, 2007).

If 10...a5 11.a3 then:

11...Rfe8 12.Rfe1 e5 13.e4 d4 14.Nh4 g6 gives Black a clear advantage in space; White could get some queenside play (Blatny-Lechtynsky, IT, Trnava, 1989).
11...e5 12.h3 Bh5 13.e4 dxe4 14.dxe4 Bxf3 15.Nxf3 Rfd8 16.Rfe1 Ne8 draw (W. Schmidt-Taimanov, IT, Brno, 1975).

If 8.d4 0-0 9.Nbd2 then:

9...Qe7 10.Ne5 then:

10...Bf5 11.a3 then:

11...a5 12.h3 Ne4 13.g4 Nxd2 14.Qxd2 Be4 is equal and soon agreed drawn (Bagirov-Polak, Op, Bern, 1995).
11...Rad8 then:

12.h3 draw (Bilek-Savon, IT, Venice, 1974).

If 10...Bh5 11.Re1 Rfd8 then:

12.Qc2 then:

12...Ba3 13.Ndf3 Bxf3 14.Nxf3 Ne4 15.Qc1 Bb4 16.Rd1 gives White a better center and Black more space (Ricardi-Barbero, IT, Buenos Aires, 1991).
12...Rac8 13.Rac1 c5 14.Nxd7 Qxd7 15.dxc5 Bxc5 gives Black a slight a slight advantage in space owing to his active Bishops (Obers-Thomasson, Op, Gibraltar, 2009).

If 9...Qb8 10.Re1 a5 11.a3 b5 then:

12.c5 Bc7 13.b4 Re8 14.Qc1 h6 15.Bc3 is equal (Karlsson-Stefansson, Euro ChT, Debrecen, 1992).
12.Qc1 Bf5 13.Nh4 Be4 14.Nxe4 Nxe4 15.Bxe4 dxe4 is equal (Frias Pablaza-Shabalov, TT, New York, 1993).

7...Be7 then:

If 8.d3 0-0 9.Nbd2 a5 10.a3 then:

If 10...Re8 11.Qc2 then:

If 11...h6 12.Bc3 then:

12...Bd6 13.b4 e5 14.c5 Bf8 15.Nb3 axb4 16.axb4 is equal (Szabo-Taulbut, IT, Hastings, 1981).
12...Bf8 13.b4 axb4 14.axb4 Rxa1 15.Rxa1 e5 16.e3 Bf5 is equal (Westphal-Gisbrecht, BL Nord, Germany, 2001).

If 11...Bd6 12.h3 Bh5 13.e4 e5 then:

14.Nh4 dxe4 15.dxe4 Qb6 16.Nf5 Bc5 is equal (Rozenberg-Darruda, Corres, 1999).
14.Rfe1 dxe4 15.dxe4 Qb6 16.Nh4 Nc5 17.Bc3 Bf8 is equal (W. Schmidt-Timoshchenko, Rubinstein Mem, Polanica Zdroj, 1976).

If 10...b5 then:

If 11.Rc1 Qb6 12.Rc2 Rfc8 13.Qa1 then:

13...a4 14.b4 c5 15.bxc5 Nxc5 16.cxd5 exd5 17.Bd4 is equal (Jacobsen-Vang Glud, Danish Ch, Aalborg, 2007).
If 13...h6 14.Rfc1 Qb7 15.Nd4 Nc5 then:

16.Nxc6?! Qxc6 17.cxd5 exd5 18.d4 Nxb3 gives Black a imperial-sized advantage in space after exchanging the Queen for two Rooks (Beliavsky-Rublevsky, World Cup, Hyderabad, 2002).
16.cxd5 cxd5 17.h3 Bh5 18.g4 Bg6 19.a4 gives White a slight advantage in space.

If 11.Qc2 Qb6 12.h3 then:

12...Bh5 13.g4 Bg6 14.Nh4 Rab8 15.Rab1 b4 16.a4 leaves White slightly better (Gelfand-Seirawan, IT, Tilburg, 1990).
12...Bxf3 13.Nxf3 Rab8 14.Rab1 bxc4 15.bxc4 Qa6 16.Nd2 is equal (Miles-Neckar, World ChT, Teesdie, 1974).

If 8.d4 0-0 9.Nbd2 then:

9...a5 10.a3 b5 11.c5 then:

If 11...Qc7 12.b4 a4 then:

13.Qe1 Bf5 14.Ne5 Ne4 15.f3 Nxd2 16.Qxd2 is equal (Smyslov-Geller, IT, Moscow, 1967).
13.Qc2 Bf5 14.Qc3 Ne4 15.Nxe4 Bxe4 16.Bh3 Bf5 is equal (Karlsson-Wang Hao, Op, Gibraltar, 2008).

11...Qb8 12.b4 a4 13.Bc3 Bf5 14.Ne5 Qc7 is equal (Ruck-Wang Hao, Mindsports Rpd, Beijing, 2008).

If 9...h6 10.Re1 Bf5 then:

If 11.Ne5 Nxe5 12.dxe5 Nd7 then:

13.cxd5 cxd5 14.e4 dxe4 15.Nxe4 Nc5 16.Qe2 is equal (Bagirov-Onischuk, BL Nord 9495, Germany, 1994).
13.e4 dxe4 14.Bxe4 Nc5 15.Bxf5 exf5 16.Ba3 Nd3 gives Black a small advantage in space (Marek-Nei, Op, Cappelle-la-Grande, 1994).

11.Rc1 Ne4 12.Nxe4 Bxe4 13.Nd2 Bxg2 14.Kxg2 f5 is equal (Stein-Pietzsch, IT, Sarajevo, 1967).

6...exd5 7.h3 Bxf3

If 7...Bh5 then:

8.d3 Be7 9.Nbd2 0-0 10.b3 a5 11.Bb2 Nbd7 is equal (Minasian=Buss, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).
8.Qb3 Qb6 9.Qc2 Nbd7 10.d3 Bd6 11.Nc3 0-0 is equal (Anatasian-R. Pert, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).

8.Bxf3 Nbd7 (N)

8...Bd6 9.d3 0-0 then:

10.Nc3 Qc7 11.Bd2 Na6 12.Rc1 Qd7 13.Kg2 Rfe8 is equal (Sundararajan-Rozman, IT, Rockville, Washington, 2012).
10.Bg2 Re8 11.Nc3 Nbd7 12.a3 a5 13.Qc2 Qb6 is equal (Larsen-M. Damjanovic, IT, Zagreb, 1965).

9.Bg2

The game is equal.

9...Bc5 10.d3 0-0 11.e4!?

This slight inaccuracy may be a deliberate provocation. Black will gain control of the e-file.
If 11.d4 Be7 12.Qd3 Re8 13.a3 Nf8 14.e3 a5 remains equal.

11...dxe4 12.dxe4 Re8!

Black has a slight advantage in space thanks to better development.

13.Qc2 Qe7 14.Nc3

White can equalize by simply developing her pieces.

14...Rad8 15.Bd2

15.Kh2 Bd4 16.Bf4 then:

16...Nf8 17.Bd2 h5 18.f4 h4 19.g4 Qc5 remains equal.
If a) 16...Ne5!? 17.Rad1 h5 18.Bc1 h4 then:

19.g4 Nfxg4+ 20.hxg4 Nxg4+ 21.Kh1 Qc5 22.Rxd4 Qxd4 remains equal.
19.gxh4 Nfg4+ 20.hxg4 Qxh4+ 21.Bh3 Nxg4+ 22.Kg2 Rd6 remains equal.

If b) 16...Nc5 17.Ne2 then:

17...Ncxe4 18.Nxd4 Rxd4 19.Rfe1 remains equal.
If 17...Ne6 then:

18.Bd2 h5 19.f4 h4 20.g4 Qc7 21.Kh1 Qb6 remains equal.
18.Nxd4!? Nxd4 19.Qa4 Nxe4 20.Rfe1 f5 21.Rad1 b5 remains equal.

15...Ne5 16.Rae1 Qd6

16...Nd3!? 17.Re2 h5 18.e5 Nxe5 19.Bg5 Bd4 remains equal.

17.Re2

17.Bf4 Bd4 18.Rd1 Qc5 19.Qb3 Qb6 20.Qxb6 axb6 remains equal.

17...Qd3 18.Qxd3 Nxd3

18...Rxd3 19.Kh2 Bd4 20.Nd1 c5 21.f3 Rd8 22.Bc1 remains equal.

19.b3!?

If 19.Bg5 then:

19...h6 20.Bxf6 gxf6 21.Na4 Bd6 22.f4 Bc7 23.a3 is equal; the octopus cannot retreat.
19...Be7 20.Rd1 Ne5 21.Red2 Rxd2 22.Rxd2 Nc4 23.Rc2 is equal.

BLACK: Marie Sebag

WHITE: Alisa GalliamovaPosition after 19.b2b3

19...Bd4!

Black takes a slight advantage with active minor pieces.
19...h6!? 20.Be3! Bxe3 21.Rxe3 Nb4 22.Re2 a5 remains equal.

20.Kh2 Nc5 21.f3 Be5!?

This may be with the idea of winning two minor pieces for a Rook.
If 21...h5 22.h4 then:

22...Nd3 23.Rd1 Ne5 24.Be1 Kh7 25.Kh3 g6 leaves Black with a slightly better center.
22...a5!? 23.Na4 Nxa4 24.bxa4 Nd5 25.Rb1 b6 is equal.

22.Nd1!

White dodges a bullet (well, more like a BB). The game remains equal.
22.f4? Rxd2! 23.Rxd2 Bxc3 24.Rc2 Nfxe4 25.a3 f5 gives Black two pieces and a pawn for a Rook. Black's active minor piece keep the Rook passive.

22...Bc7 23.Ne3?!

The Knight interrupts communication between the Rook and White's leading pawn.
If 23.Nf2 Ne6 24.Bc3 then:

24...a5 25.Rd1 Nh5 26.e5 Rxd1 27.Nxd1 f5 28.f4 is equal.
24...Bb6 25.f4 h5 26.e5 Nd4 27.Bxd4 Rxd4 28.Bf3 is equal.

BLACK: Marie Sebag

WHITE: Alisa GalliamovaPosition after 23.Nd1e3

23...Nh5!

Black attacks a vulnerable pawn.

24.Be1

The is White's best way to protect the pawn.
If 24.f4?! Nxe4! 25.Bxe4 Rxe4 then:

26.Rfe1 Bxf4 27.gxf4 Nxf4 28.Rf2 Nd3 29.Ree2 Nxf2 30.Rxf2 Rde8 gives Black the material advantage, more activity and the initiative; White is reduced to passivity.
If 26.Bc1 Rde8 27.Rf3 then:

27...Bb6 28.Re1 Nf6 29.Bd2 h5 30.Kg2 R4e6 gives Black an extra pawn and the initiative.
27...f5 28.Rb2 Bb6 29.Ng2 Nf6 30.Rd3 Nd5 gives Black an extra pawn, the initiative and a substantial advantage in space.

24...Nd3 25.f4 Nxe1 26.Rexe1

If 26.Rfxe1 g5 27.Bf3 then:

27...Nxg3!! 28.Kxg3 gxf4+ 29.Kg2 fxe3 30.Rxe3 Bf4 gives White an extra pawn.
27...gxf4 28.Bxh5 fxe3 29.Rxe3 Re5 30.Bf3 Rg5 gives Black a small advantage.

26...g5 27.Bf3

If 27.e5 gxf4 28.gxf4 Kf8 then:

29.Nc4 b5 30.Nd6 Bxd6 31.exd6 Rxe1 32.Rxe1 Rxd6 gives Black an extra pawn and the initiative.
29.Ng4!? Rd2! 30.a4 Red8 31.Nf6 Nxf6 32.exf6 Rb2 gives Black more activity and he is now attack two different loose pawns.

BLACK: Marie Sebag

WHITE: Alisa GalliamovaPosition after 27.Bg2f3

27...Nxg3!!

The sham sacrifice is the best approach.

28.Kxg3 gxf4+

This is the only reply.
Black throws her hard work away with 28...Bxf4+?! when after 29.Kg4! then:

29...Kg7 30.Kh5 Bxe3 31.Rxe3 Re5 32.Ree1 Rd6 33.Rd1 gives White command of the d-file.
If 29...Bxe3? then White wins after 30.Rxe3 f6 31.Kf5! Rd6 32.e5 fxe5 33.Kxg5.

29.Kh4 fxe3 30.Rxe3 Rd4 31.Rfe1!?

The pawn is sufficiently covered. White should try to disrupt Black's aggression in the center.
31.Rd1 c5 32.Rxd4 cxd4 33.Rd3 Be5 gives White an extra pawn; each side has a blockaded passer, but Black's is more advanced.

31...f5!?

This move completely fails to shut down White's potential counterplay.
31...Ba5! 32.Rf1 f5 33.Bh5 Re5 34.Rd1 f4 continues to give Black an extra pawn, but now she has with a good chance to win another.

32.R3e2?

Black needs an active defense. This move is not only passive, but it makes generating any activity difficult if not impossible.
Much better is 32.Rd1! Rxd1 33.Bxd1 Bb6 when:

34.Rg3+ Kh8 35.Rd3 fxe4 36.Rd7 e3 37.Be2 Rg8 gives Black a small advantage with the potential to play 38...Rg2!
If 34.Rd3?! then after 34...fxe4! 35.Rd7 Rf8 36.Bg4 Rf2 37.Rxb7 e3 White has a big advantage with a dangerous passer.

BLACK: Marie Sebag

WHITE: Alisa GalliamovaPosition after 32.Re3e2

32...Kg7!

A simple waiting move is the most approprite.

33.Rg2+

White now loses quickly.
33.Kh5 Re5 34.Rg1+ Kh8 35.Rg5 Bd8 is a more stubborn defense.

33...Kh6 34.Rge2

34.Re3 drops the Bishop to 34...Re6 35.Bg4 Bd8+ 36.Kg3 fxg4.

34...Rg8 35.Bg4 f4 0-1

White cannot prevent Black from giving mate on d8.
Alisa Mikhailovna resigns.

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #1)

Fri Dec 7, 2012, 01:37 AM

Jack Rabbit (40,694 posts)

3. World Youth Championships, Maribor

Last edited Fri Dec 7, 2012, 01:38 AM USA/ET - Edit history (1)

Maribor, SloveniaPhoto by Andrej Jakobcic (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Andrejj) in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Maribor_Lent.jpg)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

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Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #3)

Fri Dec 7, 2012, 01:44 AM

Jack Rabbit (40,694 posts)

7. Sweircz - Nagy, Boys U18, Round 10

Dariusz Swiercz
Photo by Witold Chylewski in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fileariusz_Swiercz_May_2011.jpg)
(link:http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en|Creative Commons License], Attribution/Share Alike)

Dariusz Swiercz - Gabor Nagy
World Youth Championships, Boys Under 18, Round 10
Maribor, 17 November 2012

Open Sicilian Game: Minerva Opening

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Qxd4 a6 5.c4 Nc6 6.Qe3

For what follows 6.Qd2, see the notes to White's fifth move in Zhao Jun-Bu Xiangzhi, Masters' Trmt, Danzhou, 2012.

6...g6 7.h3 Bg7 8.Be2

8.Nc3 Nf6 9.Be2 0-0 10.0-0 transposes into the notes to Black's ninth move.

8...Nf6 9.0-0 Be6 (N)

If 9...0-0 10.Nc3 Nd7 then:

If 11.Rd1 Nc5 then:

If 12.Rb1 a5 13.b3 then:

13...f5 14.Ba3 Nb4 15.e5 f4 16.Qc1 Bf5 17.Rb2 is equal (Leve-D. Ludwig, Op, Philadelphia, 2012).
13...Bd7 14.Bb2 Ne5 15.Nxe5 Bxe5 16.f4 Bg7 17.e5 gives White a small advantage in space (Ni Hua-Tomofeev, TM, Sochi, 2009).

12.Bd2 a5 13.Rac1 a4 14.Be1 Bd7 15.Rd2 b6 is equal (Maiwald-Bogner, Bundesliga 1112, Mülheim, 2011).

If 11.Rb1 b6 12.Rd1 Bb7 then:

13.b3 a5 14.Bb2 Nc5 15.Nb5 Bxb2 16.Rxb2 gives White a small advantage in space (Maceija-Z. Kozul, Ol, Istanbul, 2012).
13.Bd2 Rc8 14.Be1 a5 15.Nd5 Nc5 16.Bc3 e5 is equal (Motylev-Wei Yi, Chinese ChT, Guangzhou, 2010).

10.Nc3

The game is equal.

10...Nd7 11.Nd5

11.Rb1 0-0 12.Rd1 Rc8 13.b4 Bxc4 14.Bxc4 Nce5 is equal.

11...0-0 12.Rd1

12.a3 Rc8 13.Rb1 Nde5 14.Ng5 Bd7 15.Nb6 Rb8 remains equal.

12...Rc8 13.Rb1 a5!?

The pawn should just be a target for White's pieces.
If 13...Nc5 14.Bd2 f5 15.exf5 Bxf5 16.b4 Bxb1 17.Rxb1 remains equal.

BLACK: Gabor Nagy

WHITE: Dariusz SceirczPosition after 13...a6a5

14.b3!

White takes a small advantage in space.

14...f6

If 14...Nde5 15.Nxe5 Bxe5 16.f4 then:

16...Bg7 17.Nb6 Bd4 18.Rxd4 Qxb6 19.Rd1 continues to give White a small advantage in space.
16...Bh8 17.Bb2 Bxd5 18.exd5 Bxb2 19.Rxb2 continues to give White a small advantage in space.

15.Bb2 Bf7 16.Nd4

16.Ba3 Re8 17.Rb2 b6 18.Rbd2 Nc5 19.Bf1 h5 gives White a small advantage in space.

16...Nxd4 17.Qxd4 Nc5 18.Ba1!?

The Bishop is less flexible at a1 than b2. If nothing else, White could have found a more aggressive move.
18.Bg4 Rb8 19.Qe3 h5 20.Bf3 b6 21.Qf4 gives White a small advantage in space.

18...e5!?

The Queen would have gone to e3 in any case; the pawn should have been held back in order to retain the option of driving the Knight from d5.
18...Bh6 19.Bg4 Rb8 20.Bf3 b6 21.Qb2 gives White a slight advantage in space.

BLACK: Gabor Nagy

WHITE: Dariusz SceirczPosition after 18...e7e5

19.Qe3!

White again has a small advantage in space.

19...f5

If 19...h5 20.a3 Bxd5 21.Rxd5 Kh7 then:

22.Bd3 Bh6 23.Qf3 Rc6 24.Bc3 Kg7 25.Bc2 gives White a small advantage in space.
22.b4 Bh6 23.Qc3 axb4 24.axb4 Nxe4 25.Qd3 gives White a small advantage in space.

20.exf5 gxf5 21.Qd2

If 21.Bf3 f4 then:

22.Qe2 Bg6 23.Rbc1 e4 24.Bg4 gives White the initiative and a slight advantage in space.
22.Qc3 Bg6 23.Rbc1 Rc6 24.Be2 Rf7 is equal.

21...Ne4 22.Qe1 Bg6 23.Bc3!?

White has the advantage in space, and the rule of thumb is to avoid exchange when one has the advantage in space. The Bishop attacks the pawn, but isn't doing anything else except waiting to be exchanged.
23.f3 Nc5 24.f4 Re8 25.Bc3 Rc6 26.Bf3 continues to gives White a small advantege in space.

23...Nxc3!

White still has a slight advantage.

24.Qxc3!?

White should reapture with the Knight; Black's d-pawn would still be backward without being blockaded.
24.Nxc3 Be8 25.Qd2 e4 26.Nb5 Bxb5 27.cxb5 gives White a small advantage in space.

BLACK: Gabor Nagy

WHITE: Dariusz SceirczPosition after 24.Qe1c3:N

24...e4!

The game is equal.
24...f4! 25.Qd2 Bxb1 26.Rxb1 Kh8 27.Bg4 Rb8 28.Qe2 is equal.

25.Qe3 f4

25...Be5 26.g3 Bf7 27.f4 exf3 28.Bxf3 Re8 29.Bg2 remains equal.

26.Nxf4 Bh6 27.g3 Bxf4 28.gxf4 Qf6!?

Black threatens White's foremost f-pawn, but leaves his a-pawn vulnerable.
If 28...Rc5 29.Qd4 e3 30.Ra1 Qh4 31.Qxe3 Re8 32.Qf3 remains equal.

29.Rd5!

White has no way to defend the c-pawn, so he attacks the a-pawn in order to maintain his extra pawn.

29...Qxf4 30.Rbd1!?

White shoul just take the a-pawn. Now Black can defend.
If 30.Rxa5! Qxe3 (30...Qf6 31.Rd1 Rc7 32.Rg5 Rg7 33.a4) 31.fxe3 Ra8 32.Rxa8 Rxa8 33.a4 gives White a comfortable game.

BLACK: Gabor Nagy

WHITE: Dariusz ScierczPosition after 30.Rb1d1

30...Rc5!

White still has a small advantage in space.
30...Qxe3!? 31.fxe3! Rc5 32.Kg2 a4 33.b4 Rxd5 34.Rxd5 gives White a comfortable game.

31.Rxc5

31.Rxd6!? Rg5+ 32.Kh1 Qxe3 33.fxe3 Rg3 is equal.

31...Qxe3 32.fxe3 dxc5 33.Rd5!?

The pawn is easily defended.
33.Kg2 Rf7 34.Kg3 Kf8 35.Bg4 h5 36.Rd8+ continues to give White a small advantage.

33...b6!

White has only a slight advange. The most he can do is compel the Black Rook to defend a weak pawn.

34.Rd6 Rb8

The Rook defends a weak pawn (see previous note).

35.Bg4

35.Kh2 Kf8 36.Rd5 Bf7 37.Rd7 Ke8 38.Bg4 is equal.

35...Kf7!?

Black wants to drive away the Rook, but White's queenside pawns have more potential energy they should by restrained.
If 35...a4 36.Kf2 Bf7 37.Be2 then:

37...Kf8 38.h4 Ke7 39.Rh6 Bg8 40.Ke1 Kd8 41.Kd2 continues to give White a slight advantage.
If 37...axb3 38.axb3 Kf8 39.Kg3 then:

If 39...Bg6 40.Bg4 Bf7 41.Kf4 b5 42.Rc6 then:

42...bxc4 43.bxc4 Rb4 44.Rxc5 Rxc4 45.Rxc4 Bxc4 46.Bf5 gives White a small advantage with an extra pawn and because his immoble pawn is on a dark square and can't be attack by Black's Bishop.
If 42...h5?! 43.Be2! then:

43...bxc4 44.Bxc4 Bxc4 45.bxc4 h4 46.Rxc5 Rb1 47.Re5 assures Whitof winning another pawn.
43...b4 44.h4 Rd8 45.Rxc5 Rd2 46.Bxh5 Bxh5 47.Rxh5 gives White two extra pawns, both passed.

If 39...Ke7 40.Rc6 Kd7 41.Rh6 then:

41...Bg8 42.h4 Kc7 43.Kf4 Ra8 44.Kxe4 Ra3 45.Bd1 gives White an extra pawn.
41...Bg6 42.h4 Rg8 43.Kg4 Kc8 44.Kg5 Kd8 45.h5 will net White a pawn.

36.h4!

White, taking advantage of the weakness of Black's last move that makes the Bishop less mobile, grabs more space and threatens to dislodge the Bishop.

36...h5!?

Black is concerned about White's pawn making further progress. A better idea is to give the Bishop an escape route.
If 36...Ke7 37.Re6+ Kf7 38.Rc6 then:

If 38...h5 then:

If 39.Be6+ Kf6 then:

40.Bd5+ Kf5 41.Kf2 Be8 42.Rc7 Kg4 43.Rh7 continues to give White a small advantage with greater activity for his pieces.
40.Bc8+ Ke5 41.Rxg6 Rxc8 42.Rg5+ Kf6 43.Rxh5 gives White an extra pawn, but it is doubtful he can keep it.

39.Bc8 a4 40.Be6+ Kg7 41.Bd5 axb3 42.axb3 continues to give White a small advantage with greater activity for his pieces.

If 38...Kg7!? 39.h5! then:

39...Be8 40.h6+ Kf8 41.Rc7 Bg6 42.Kf2 a4 43.Kg3 gives White a significant advantage in space; he would win any King and pawn ending.
39...Bf7?! 40.h6+ Kf8 41.Bf5 Bg6 42.Bxg6 hxg6 43.Rxg6 gives White a dangerous passer.

BLACK: Gabor Nagy

WHITE: Dariusz SweirczPosition after 36...h7h5

37.Bh3!?

The more aggressive move is to attack the weak h-pawn.
If 37.Be2! Kg7 38.Kh2 then:

38...Be8 39.Kg3 Bg6 40.a4 gives White an active Rook and a Bishop capable of menacing Black's critical pawns; Black has no counterplay on the queenside.
If 38...a4 39.Kg3 axb3 then:

40.axb3 Rb7 41.Re6 Rb8 42.Rc6 Be8 43.Rd6 gives White a small advantage; Black will have to fight for his weak pawns, especially at e4.
If 40.Rd7+!? Kf6 then:

41.axb3 Ke6! 42.Rc7 Ke5 43.Re7+ Kf5 44.Rd7 gives White a slight advantage overall thanks to his more active Rook and the right colored Bishop given the pawn structure; Black has the most advanced pawn on the board, but to take advantage of it he will have to attack White's pawn at e3, something that would be difficult to accomplish.
41.Rd2!? bxa2 42.Rxa2 Ke5 43.Ra7 Rg8 44.Rb7 Bf5+ is equal; Black still has the sam disadvantages as in the pink variation, but is compensated with an active Rook and a queenside majority.

37...Kg7!

White has a slight advantage in space.

38.Bg2 a4 39.bxa4!?

White weakens his queenside.
39.Rc6 Bf7 40.Kf1 Rd8 41.Ke2 axb3 42.axb3 continues to give White a slight advantage in space.

39...Bf7!

Black attacks the freshly weakend c-pawn.

40.Bxe4!?

White ignore the attack on the c-pawn.
If 40.Bf1 (covering the c-pawn) 40...Kf8 41.Rc6 Ke8 42.Be2 Ke7 43.Rc7+ continues to give White a slight advantage in space.

BLACK: Gabor Nagy

WHITE: Dariusz SwierczPosition after 40.Bg2e4:p

40...Bxc4!

The game is equal as White's Bishop is tied to the defense of a weak pawn.

41.Bb1 Ra8 42.Bc2

42.Rxb6 Rxa4 43.Rg6+ Kf8 44.Rc6 Rb4 45.Bg6 Bxa2 remains equal.

42...b5 43.Rg6+

43.axb5 Rxa2 44.Bd3 Bxd3 45.Rxd3 Rb2 46.Rd5 c4 remains equal.

43...Kf7 44.Rc6 bxa4 45.a3

If 45.Rc7+ then:

45...Ke6 46.a3 Kd6 47.Rh7 Be2 48.Kf2 Bg4 49.Bg6 remains equal.
45...Kf6 46.a3 Rg8+ 47.Kh2 Bb3 48.Rc6+ Ke7 49.Rxc5 remains equal.

45...Rg8+!?

Black wilfully drops a tempo by leaving two pawns undefended. He'll have to bring the the Rook back to protect the one of the pawns.
Correct is 45...Ra5 (protecting the a and c-pawns simultaneously) 46.Bd1 when:

46...Ke7 47.Bxh5 Bd5 48.Rb6 Ra8 49.Bg6 Rh8 50.e4 remains equal.
46...Rb5!? 47.Bxa4! Ra5 48.Bd1 Bd5 49.Rc7+ Ke6 50.a4 gives White an extra pawn and a threat to one of Black's remaining pawns.

46.Kf2!

White protects his pawns closer to the center.
46.Kh2!? Bb3! then:

47.Bf5 Rg2+ 48.Kxg2 Bd5+ remains equal.
If 47.Be4 Rd8 48.Rc7+ then:

48...Kf6 (keeping the back rank open for the Rook) 49.Rxc5 Re8 50.Rc6+ Kg7 51.Bf3 Rxe3 52.Bxh5 Be6 53.Ra6 remains equal.
48...Kf8!? (obstructing the Rook on the back rank) 49.Kg3! Rd2 50.Rxc5 Ra2 51.Rxh5 Rxa3 52.Ra5 Bf7 53.Kf4 gives White a small advantage with his Rook behind Black's passed pawn.

46...Bb3 47.Be4 Rg4?

Black misses White's deadly reply and leaves the sixth rank navigable for White's Rook.
47...Be6 (obstructing the rank) 48.Rxc5 Rg4 49.Bf3 Rxh4 50.Bxh5+ Kf6 51.Kg2 gives White an extra pawn and Black the initiative.

BLACK: Gabor Nagy

WHITE: Dariusz SwierczPosition after 47...Rg8g4

48.Bf3!

White skewers the Rook and pawn.

48...Rg8

If 48...Rxh4?? then 49.Kg3! Rc4 50.Bd5+ wins the exchange and all else.

49.Rxc5!?

White is now a pawn to the good, but he misses a win.
Even better is 49.Bxh5+! then:

49...Ke7 50.Rxc5 Kd6 51.Ra5 Bc2 52.Bf3 Rf8 53.Rd5+ gives White two extra pawns, both passed.
If 49...Kg7? then White wins after 50.Rg6+! Kh8 51.Rxg8+ Kxg8 52.e4 Kg7 53.e5

49...Rd8!

Even with White's inaccuracy, Black is still taking a beating.
49...Ke6 50.e4 Rd8 51.Ke3 then:

If 51...Rg8 52.Rxh5 Rg3 53.Rh6+ Ke5 54.Kf2 then:

54...Rg8 55.Ra6 Kf4 56.Rf6+ Ke5 57.Rb6 Kf4 58.h5 gives White two extra pawn, both passed.
54...Rg7 55.h5 Rg8 56.Rc6 Kf4 57.Rf6+ Ke5 58.Rf5+ gives White two extra pawns, both passed, and cuts the Black King off from one of them.

51...Rf8? then White wins after 52.Bxh5 Kd6 53.Ra5 Rf1 54.Bg4 Ke7 55.h5.

50.Bxh5+

50.Rxh5 Rd2+ 51.Kg3 Ra2 52.Ra5 Rxa3 53.Ra7+ still gives White two passed pawns, but now Black has one and with it hopes of counterplay.

50...Kg7

If 50...Kf6? then after 51.Kg3 Bd1 52.Rc6+ Kg7 53.Bxd1 Rxd1 54.Rc4 Black cannot prevent losing his last pawn.
If 50...Kg8 51.Kg3 then:

51...Rd3! 52.Rc8+ Kg7 53.Kf4 Be6 54.Rc7+ Kh8 55.Bg6 allows Black to take the a-pawn, giving him chances for counterplay.
If 51...Rd6? then White wins after 52.Kf4 Bd1 53.Bxd1 Rxd1 54.Ra5 Rh1 55.Kg3 when White will take Black's last pawn.

51.Rc3!?

Attacking the Bishop at this moment is futile.
If 51.Rc7+! Kf6 then:

If 52.Bf3! then:

If 52...Rd2+ 53.Kg3 Rd3 54.Kf4 Bd1 then:

55.Rc6+ 55...Ke7 56.Bxd1 Rxd1 57.Ra6 Rh1 58.Kg4 assures White of capturing Black's last pawn.
55.Bxd1 Rxd1 56.Rc4 Rf1+ 57.Kg3 Re1 58.Kf2 assures that White will take Black's last pawn.

52...Bd1 53.Bxd1 Rxd1 54.Ra7 Rd2+ 55.Kf3 Rh2 56.Rxa4 leaves White with the only three pawn on the board.

52.Ra7!? Rd2+ 53.Kg3 Ra2 54.Bf3 then:

If 54...Ke5 55.h5 then:

55...Rxa3 56.Ra5+ Kf6 57.Be4 Ra1 58.h6 Bg8 59.h7 leaves Black to decide if he should lose a piece or allow the h-pawn to queen.
55...Bc2 then White wins after 56.Rc7 Bb1 57.Rc3 Rb2 58.Rc5+ Kd6 59.Rc1.

54...Rxa3 then White wins after 55.h5 Kg5 56.Ra5+ Kf6 57.Be4 Ra1 58.h6.

51...Rh8

51...Rd2+ 52.Kg3 Ra2 53.Kf4 Rxa3 54.Bd1 Ra2 55.Bxb3 axb3 56.Rxb3 gives White two extra pawns, the only pawns on the board.

52.Rc5!?

If 52.Rc7+! Kf6 53.Rc6+ Kg7 54.Rg6+ then:

If 54...Kf8 55.Rg5 Ke7 56.e4 then:

56...Be6 57.Re5 Kd7 58.Ra5 Kd6 59.Kg3 Rg8+ 60.Kf4
56...Rd8 57.Ke3 Bd1 58.Bg6 Bb3 59.h5 Kf6 60.Kf4

54...Kh7 55.Ra6 Bc2 56.Ra7+ Kh6 57.Bg4 Rf8+ 58.Kg3

52...Rd8?!

If 52...Rf8+! 53.Kg2 then:

If 53...Rd8 54.Rc7+ Kf6 55.Kg3 Bd1 56.Bxd1 Rxd1 57.Rc4 gives White two extra pawns and put him on the brink of winning.
If 53...Rf6 54.Bf3 Rd6 55.Rc7+ then:

55...Kg8 56.h5 Rd3 57.Rc8+ Kg7 58.Kf2 Rd2+ 59.Kg3 gives White two extra pawns, both passed.
If 55...Kh8 56.h5 then:

If 56...Kg857.Kg3 Bd1 58.Rc8+ Kf7 59.h6 Kg6 60.Rc6.
If 56...Rd3? 57.Kf2! then:

If 57...Rd6 then White wins after 58.Rc6 Rd7 59.e4 Rd3 60.Ra6 Rd8 61.Bg4.
If 57...Rd2+ then White wins after 58.Kg3 Bd1 59.Be4.

53.Bf3

Better is 53.Rc7+! Kf6 54.Bg4 Re8 55.Bf3 Rd8 56.h5 leaving White with two extra pawns, both passed.

53...Rd2+ 54.Kg3 Rd3?

This hastens the end.
If 54...Ra2 55.Rc7+ Kh8 56.Rc3 then:

If 56...Kg7 57.Be4 Rxa3 58.Bd5 then:

58...Ra1 59.Bxb3 axb3 60.Rxb3 Ra5 61.Rb7+ Kf6 62.e4 gives White the advantage of two pawn is a Rook ending, but there is some fight left in Black's game.
If 58...Kf6 59.Kf4 then:

59...Ra1 60.Bxb3 axb3 61.Rxb3 Rf1+ 62.Kg3 Rg1+ 63.Kf2 gives White a strong advantage with two extra pawns, buut those pawns have a long way to go.
If 59...Kg7? 60.e4 Kf6 61.h5 Kg7 62.e5 then:

If 62...Ra1 then White wins after 63.Bxb3 axb3 64.Rxb3 Rh1 65.Rg3+ Kf7 66.Kg4.
62...Bxd5 then White wins after 63.Rxa3 Kh6 64.Kf5 Bc4 65.e6.

If 56...Rxa3 57.Bd5! Kg7 58.Kf4 Kf6 then:

If 59.e4 then:

If 59...Kg7 60.Rg3+! Kf6 61.e5+ Ke7 62.h5 continues to give White two passed pawns; it is now too late to play ...Ra1 because White pawns are too far advanced.
59...Ra1 60.Bxb3 axb3 61.Rxb3 Rf1+ 62.Rf3 continues to give White two passed pawns.

If 59.h5 then:

If 59...Ke7 then White wins after 60.h6 Ra2 61.h7 Rh2 62.Be4.
59...Ra1 60.Bxb3 then:

60...axb3 61.Rxb3 Rf1+ 62.Ke4 Kg5 63.Rb5+ Kh6 64.Rf5 gives White a strong advantage, but the game still is not a book win.
If 60...Rh1? then White wins after 61.Rc6+! Ke7 62.Ba2 Rxh5 63.Ra6.

BLACK: Gabor Nagy

WHITE: Dariusz SwierczPosition after 54...Rd2d3

55.Kf4!

Everthing is safe. There is nothing more Black can do.
Also winning easily is 55.Rc7+ Kf8 56.Kf4 Bd1 57.Bxd1 Rxd1 58.Ra7.

55...Bg8

This may be the harikari move.
One more stubborn defense is 55...Rd7 but White still wins after 56.Rh5 Rd2 57.Ra5 Rf2 58.Ra7+.
Another is 55...Rd2 when White wins after 56.Be4 Rd1 57.Rc7+ Kf6 58.Rc6+.

56.Rc7+ Kh8 57.Rc8 Kg7 58.h5 Ba2 59.Rc7+

White also wins after 59.Be4 Rd1 60.Rc7+ Kh8 61.h6 Rf1+ 62.Kg5.

59...Kh8 60.Be4 1-0

Nagy resigns.

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Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #3)

Fri Dec 7, 2012, 01:46 AM

Jack Rabbit (40,694 posts)

8. Schut - Goryachkina, Girls U18, Round 6

Remember the name Aleksandra Goryachkina. She is a 14-year-old Russian who entered the World Youth Championships as the second seed among all the young ladies competing. So, even though the World Youth Championships is divided into age categories, this young lady competed not against 14-year-olds, but against 18-year-olds and took first place with 9½ points out of a possible 11.

In this game she takes down Lisa Schut of Holland, the runner-up in the 18-year-old category.

You go, girl!

Aleksandra Goryachkina
Photo by Andreas Kontokanis in flickr
(Creative Commons License, attribution/share alike)

Lisa Schut - Aleksandra Goryachkina
World Youth Championship Girls Under 18, Round 6
Maribor, 12 November 2012

Open Rat Sicilian Game: Najdorf-Scheveningen Defense (Rauzer Opening)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nbd7 8.Qe2 Qc7 9.0-0-0 Be7 10.g4 b5 11.a3 Rb8 12.Bxf6 (N)

If 12.Bg2 h6 13.Bh4 b4 14.axb4 Rxb4 then:

15.Bf2 g5 16.fxg5 Nxg4 17.Qxg4 Bxg5+ 18.Kb1 is equal (Yu Yangyi-Nagi, Asian Ch, Ho Chi Minh City, 2012
15.Rhe1 g5 16.e5 gxh4 17.exf6 Nxf6 18.g5 hxg5 19.fxg5 is equal (Pavlidis-Galopoulos, Greek ChT, Eritrea, 2011).

12...Nxf6

The game is equal.

13.g5 Nd7 14.Qe1

If 14.h4 Nc5 then:

If 15.Qe1 0-0 16.f5 Qb7 then:

If 17.fxe6 fxe6 18.b4 then:

If 18...Kh8! then:

If 19...e5 20.Nf5 then:

20...Nxe4 21.Qxe4 Qxe4 22.Nxe4 Bxf5 23.Bxf5 Rxf5 24.Nxd6 Rf3 is equal.
20...Bxf5 21.Bxf5 Na4 22.Nd5 Nb6 23.Be6 is clearly better for White.

19.bxc5 dxc5 20.Nb3 c4 21.Nd2 Bxa3+ 22.Kb1 Qc7 gives Black only two pawns for the pieces, but for that he plays the tune for now.

18...Nd7?! 19.Nxe6! Rf7 20.Bh3 Kh8 21.Rf1 Rxf1 22.Qxf1 gives White an extra pawn and an open file.

If 17.b4 then:

If 17...exf5 18.exf5 then:

If 18...Qxh1 19.Qxe7 then:

19...Bb7 20.g6 Qh2 21.bxc5 dxc5 22.Qxc5 Qxh4 23.gxf7+
19...Nd7!? 20.f6! gxf6 21.Bxb5 Qh3 22.Bd3 Qxh4 23.Ne4 gives White a considerable advantage in space.

18...Bxg5+!? 19.hxg5! Qxh1 20.bxc5 dxc5 21.Qg3 cxd4 22.Bg2 gives White a Queen for a Rook, minor piece and pawn.

17...e5!? 18.Nde2! Nd7 19.Nd5 Nb6 20.Nec3 Bd8 21.Qd2

If 15.Bg2 b4 16.axb4 Rxb4 then:

17.f5 Na4 18.Nxa4 Rxa4 gives White more space on the kingside and Black open lines for attack on the queenside.
If 17.Nf5!? then:

17...Qa5 18.e5 d5 19.Nxe7 Kxe7 20.Qe3 Qb6 gives Black a small advantage with command of the queenside against White's kingside space.
17...exf5 18.exf5 0-0 19.Nd5 Qa5 20.Nxb4 Qxb4 21.Qxe7 is equal.

14...Nc5 15.h4 Qb7!?

Black removes pressure from the c-file, giving White more flexibility.
If 15...0-0 then:

16.f5 Re8 17.b4 Bf8 18.Rh3 Nd7 19.Qg3 Nb6 remains equal.
If 16.b4!? Bb7! then:

17.f5 Rfc8 18.bxc5 dxc5 19.Nde2 c4 20.fxe6 Bxa3+ gives Black a small advantage with active pieces, the Bishop pair and three pawns for a piece.
If 17.bxc5?! dxc5! then:

18.Nf3 Qxf4+ 19.Nd2 c4 gives Black the Bishop pair and greater activity in compensation for having two pawns for a piece
18.Nde2 b4 19.Bg2 bxc3 20.Qxc3 Bd6 exposes Black's King to danger.

BLACK: Aleksandra Goryachkina

WHITE: Lisa SchutPosition after 15...Qc7b7

16.b4!

The text move would have been a little dicier with the Queen still at c7, as pointed out in the subvariations to the previous note.
White has more space, especially on the kingside; Black's activity on the queenside keep's White's overall edge minimal.

16...Na4 17.Bd3!?

White anticipates 17...Nxc3 and moves to keep her e-pawn proteced.
If 17.Nxa4 bxa4 then:

If 18.Rh3 0-0 19.Rc3 Bd7 20.f5 then:

If 20...a5 21.b5 Rfc8 then:

22.Rxc8+ Rxc8 23.fxe6 fxe6 24.Bh3 Qb6 25.Qe2 gives White a slight initiative on the e-pawn.
22.fxe6 fxe6 23.Bh3 Kh8 24.Qe3 Rxc3 25.Qxc3 gives White a slight initiative.

20...Rfe8 21.fxe6 fxe6 22.Bh3 Bf8 23.Qf2 gives White stronger, although not necessarily strong, pawns and more space. White's e-pawn is loose, but Black cannot be safely take it.

If 18.Bc4!? a5 19.b5 Bd7 20.Rh3 Rc8 then:

21.Qe2 Rc5 22.f5 e5 23.Nc6 Bxc6 24.bxc6 Qxc6 is equal.
If 21.Rc3 0-0 22.f5 then:

22...d5 23.fxe6 fxe6 24.exd5 Rxc4 25.Rxc4 Bxa3+ 26.Kb1 is equal.
22...Rxc4!? 23.Rxc4 Bxb5 24.Nxb5 Qxb5 25.Rc3 Rb8 26.Qe3 gives White the excahnge and the advantage in space for a pawn.

17...Bd7!

The game is equal.

18.h5 a5 19.g6

The game remains equal.
If 19.h6 then:

19...g6 20.bxa5 d5 21.exd5 Bxa3+ 22.Kb1 Bb4 23.Qe5 Nxc3+ gives White more space, but Black has a small attack on the White King.
If 19...gxh6!? 20.Rxh6! axb4 21.axb4 then:

21...Rc8 22.Ncxb5 Qb8 23.Qe2 Qa8 24.Kb1 Qb7 25.Kc1 gives White an extra pawn and active pieces; Black has the Bishop pair and no glaring weaknesses.
If 21...Qa6 22.Nxa4 Qxa4 23.Qc3 then:

23...e5 24.Nf5 Ra8 25.Be2 Qa1+ 26.Kd2 Qxc3+ 27.Kxc3 gives White the initiative against Black's d-pawn.
23...Rf8?! 24.Qb2! Qa6 25.Rxh7 Rb7 26.Nb3 Ra7 27.Na5 gives White an extra pawn and more active pieces.

19...axb4 20.axb4 fxg6!?

Black should not fear the opening of the h-file.
20...hxg6 21.hxg6 Rxh1 22.Qxh1 Nxc3 23.Qh8+ remains equal.

21.hxg6!

White has a slight advantage in space.

BLACK: Aleksandra Goryachkina

WHITE: Lisa SchutPosition after 21.hg6:p

21...h6 22.f5!?

White makes the advantce ...e5 possible for Black and also makes the g5 square available for Black's Bishop.
If 22.Bxb5 Nxc3 then:

23.Bxd7+ Qxd7 24.Qxc3 0-0 25.Nc6 continues to give White a slight advantage.
23.Qxc3 Bxb5 24.Nxe6 Rg8 25.Nxg7+ Kd8 26.Ne6+ Ke8 is equal.

22...Bg5+!

Black equalizes.
Also good is 22...e5 23.Nf3 Nxc3 24.Qxc3 Bc6 25.Nxe5 dxe5 26.Qxe5 with equality.

23.Kb1 0-0!?

Black must decide whether her King is safer on the flank of if she should use the move to get a toehold in the center.
23...e5 24.Nb3 Qc8 25.Nd5 Bc6 26.Nc3 Nxc3+ 27.Qxc3 is equal.

24.fxe6!

White has an extra pawn and an advanced passer; Black's pieces are somewhat more active.

24...Qa7

If 24...Be8 then:

25.Nd5 Ra8 26.Nb3 Rf6 27.e7 Re6 28.Na5 Qa7 remains equal.
25.Ncxb5 Rf4 26.Rf1 Rxf1 27.Bxf1 Bf6 28.c3 Bxg6 remains equal.

25.Nxa4 Qxa4 26.Qc3 Ra8

If 26...Be8 27.Rdg1 then:

27...Bf4 28.e7 Rf6 29.Ne2 Rc8 30.Qd4 Bd2 31.Rf1 gives White a slights edge.
If 27...Ra8!? 28.Qb2 Bf4 29.c3 then:

29...Qa7 30.Bc2 Kh8 31.Rg2 Qb7 32.Re1 Be3 33.Bd1 gives White a slight edge.
29...Kh8 30.e7 Rf6 31.Rg2 Rc8 32.Qa2 Rxg6 33.Bxb5 gives White a huge advantage in space; Black is forced to exchange Queens.

27.Qb2! Be8 28.Rhg1!?

This move is of no particular value.
Better is 28.Nf5 Rf6 29.Be2 Bxg6 30.Rhf1 Bxf5 31.exf5 , giving White a small advantage with the advanced passer.

BLACK: Aleksandra Goryachkina

WHITE: Lisa SchutPosition after 28.Rh1g1

28...Bf6!

The game is equal.

29.Rdf1 Be5

If 29...Bxd4 30.Qxd4 Rxf1+ then:

31.Rxf1 Bxg6 32.Rf4 Qa2+ 33.Kc1 Qxe6 34.Bxb5 Qe5 remains equal.
If 31.Bxf1? then Black wins after 31...Qa3! 32.Bxb5 Bxb5 33.Qb2 Qe3 34.Rd1 Ra4 .

30.Rxf8+

If 30.e7 Rf6 then:

If 31.Rxf6 Bxf6 32.Rf1 Bxe7 33.Ne6 Bf6 then:

If 34.Rxf6 gxf6 35.Nc7 Kg7 then:

36.Qd4 Qa2+ 37.Kc1 Bxg6 38.Nxa8 Qxa8 39.Qxd6 Qa1+ remains equal.
36.Nxa8!? Qxa8 37.Qd4 Qb8! 38.Kc1 h5 39.Qg1 Qc7 give Black a slightly more active Queen.

34.e5?! dxe5! 35.Be4 Ra7 36.Bd5 Kh8 37.Qc3 Qa3 remains equal.

31.c3 Kh8 32.Rxf6 Bxf6 33.Nf5 Qa7 34.Rg2 Qc7 remains equal.

30...Kxf8 31.c3 Ke7 32.Bc2 Qa3 33.Bb3

33.Qxa3 Rxa3 34.Kb2 Bxd4 35.cxd4 Re3 36.e5 Kxe6 remains equal.

33...Bxd4 34.cxd4 Qxb4 35.d5!?

White loses a pawn and her Bishop goes from bad to worse.
If 35.Bd5 Ra4 36.Rd1 Qa5 37.Bb3 Bxg6 38.Bxa4 Qxa4 remains equal.

BLACK: Aleksandra Goryachkina

WHITE: Lisa SchutPosition after 35.d4d5

35...Qxe4+!

Black is a pawn to the good; White's pawns are blockaded on light squares, making her Bishop bad for the forseeable future.

36.Bc2 Qe5 37.Qxe5!?

White is looking for a way make her pawns mobile, but this helps Black more.
37.Rf1 Qxb2+ 38.Kxb2 Ra5 39.Rc1 b4 40.Be4 Rc5 continues to give Black a slight advantage.

37...dxe5!

Black has three passed pawns.

38.Kb2

38.Re1 Kd6 39.Kb2 h5 40.Rh1 Kxd5 41.Bb3+ Kd6 gives White Two extra pawns; White is in danger of losing her remaining pawns.

38...Kd6 39.Rg4?!

Approaching the time check, White leaves her d-pawn en pris.
If 39.Rd1 h5 40.Rh1 Kxd5 41.Bb3+ Kd6 42.Rxh5 Ra7 gives Black an extra pawn.

39...Rc8!?

Approaching the time check, White fails to punish Black.
If 39...e4 40.Bb3 h5 41.Rxe4 Bxg6 42.Rh4 Rh8 gives Black an extra pawn; all pawns on the board are passed, so Black's King at d6 is of particular importance.

40.Bb3!

White limits Black to a small advantage and an extra pawn.

40...Rc5 41.Rg1!?

White allows a stunning sacrifice.
41.Rh4 Rc8 42.Rh1 Ra8 43.Rh4 Ra7 44.Rg4 Ra5 continues to give Black a small advantage.

BLACK: Lisa Shut

WHITE: Lisa SchutPosition after 41.Rg4g1

41...Rxd5!!

The exchange sacrifice sweeps two passed pawns off the board.

42.Bxd5 Kxd5 43.e7

If 43.Kb3!? Kxe6! then:

44.Kb4 Kf6 45.Rf1+ Kg5 46.Rg1+ Kf5 47.Rf1+ Kxg6 leaves Black with four pawns for the exchange.
44.Kc3!? Kf5 45.Rf1+ Kg5 46.Rg1+ Kf5 47.Rf1+ Kxg6 leaves Black with four pawns for the exchange.

43...Ke6 44.Ra1?

The Rook should get in front of the e-pawn.
If 44.Re1 Kf6 45.Kb3 Bxg6 46.Kb4 Be8 47.Kc5 Ke6 gives Black hopes of hanging on owing to the more active King.
The next best line, also leaving fair drawing chances, is 44.Kb3 Kxe7 45.Kb4 Kf6 46.Rf1+ Kg5 47.Rg1+ Kf6 .

BLACK: Lisa Shut

WHITE: Lisa SchutPosition after 44.Rg1a1

44...Kxe7!

White's e-pawn falls. Winning for Black is now a piece of cake.

45.Ra6

If 45.Kb3 then Black wins after 45...Bxg6 46.Kb4 Bd3 47.Rg1 Kf7 48.Re1 e4 .

45...h5!

The h-pawn, which queens on a square that can be covered by Black's Bishop, advances.

46.Rb6 h4 47.Rb7+ Bd7 0-1

Black has three pawns for the exchange.
Mw. Schut resigns.

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Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #1)

Fri Dec 7, 2012, 01:38 AM

Jack Rabbit (40,694 posts)

4. Chigorin Memorial Open, St. Petersburg

Last edited Sat Dec 8, 2012, 12:39 AM USA/ET - Edit history (1)

Plaza of the Winter Palace, St. PetersburgPhoto by Walter Smith (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wsmith/with/1475976/) in flicker (http://www.flickr.com/photos/61563509@N00/1475976)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

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Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #4)

Fri Dec 7, 2012, 01:50 AM

Jack Rabbit (40,694 posts)

9. Areshchenko - B. Socko, Round 6

For all intents and purposes, this is the deciding game of the 2012 Chigorin Memorial.

Alexander Areshchenko
Photo by karpidis modified from in (, Attribution/Share Alike)

Chigorin Memorial Open, Round 6
St Petersburg, 1 November 2012

Grand Spanish Royal Game: Kasparov Opening

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 b5 6.Bb3 Bb7 7.d3 Be7

For what follows 7...Bc5 see the maroon notes to Black's fifth move in http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=215&topic_id=187636&mesg_id=187644 Van den Doel-Nikolic, Op, Leiden, 2011.

8.Nc3 0-0 9.a4 b4

If 9...d6 10.Bd2 then:

If 10...Na5 11.Ba2 b4 then:

If 12.Nd5 Nxd5 13.exd5 c5 14.c3 then:

If 14...bxc3 15.Bxc3 Bc8 then:

16.Qe1 Nb7 17.a5 Bg4 18.Nd2 Nxa5 19.f4 exf4 20.Rxf4 Bh5 gives Black an extra pawn (Kuzmin-Malaniuk, Ukrainian Ch, Kharkov, 2004).
16.b4 cxb4 17.Bxb4 Bg4 18.h3 Bh5 19.Re1 Rb8 is equal (Watson-Chiburdanidze, IT, Frunze, 1985).

14...b3 15.Bxb3 Nxb3 16.Qxb3 Rb8 17.Rab1 Qd7 18.Rfe1 gives White an extra pawn and more space (A. Zhigalko-van der Wiel, Op, Groningen, 2005).

If 12.Ne2 then:

12...d5 13.exd5 Bxd5 14.Bxd5 Qxd5 15.Ng3 Rfe8 is equal (Tukmakov-Planinc, IT, Madrif, 1973).
12...c5 13.Ng3 Rb8 14.Nf5 Bc8 15.N3h4 Be6 is equal (Topalov-Beliavsky, EU ChT, Batumi, 1999).

If 10...Nd4 11.Nxd4 exd4 then:

If 12.Ne2 c5 13.Ng3 d5 then:

14.e5 Nd7 15.Re1 Re8 16.Qf3 Nf8 17.Nf5 Ne6 18.c3 dxc3 19.bxc3 Bf8 20.Qg4 gives White some initiative (Gallagher-Lenic, Euro Ch, Rijeka, 2010).
14.axb5 axb5 15.Rxa8 Bxa8 16.e5 gives White the initiative and more space (Matulovic-Malich, IT, Sarajevo, 1965).

12.Nd5 Bxd5 13.Bxd5 Nxd5 14.exd5 Qd7 15.Re1 Bf6 is equal (Navara-Mikhalchishin, Euro ChT, León, 2001).

10.Nd5! Nxd5 11.Bxd5 Rb8 12.c3 Bf6 13.a4 Ne7 continues to give White the advantage in space (Khairullin-Khalifman, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2006).

10.Nd5

If 10.Ne2 d6 11.Re1 Na5 12.Ba2 c5 13.Ng3 /i] then:

If 13...Rb8 then:

If 14.Nd2 Bc8 then:

If 15.h3 Be6 16.Nc4 then:

If 16...Nxc4 17.Bxc4 then:

If 17...Bxc4 18.dxc4 Ne8 then:

19.Qg4 Kh8 20.b3 Nc7 21.Be3 Ne6 22.Rad1 Nd4 23.Nf5 Bf6 24.Bxd4 cxd4 is equal (Kissinger-Andresen, Corres, 1998).
If 16...Nc6 then:

If 17.f4 exf4 18.Bxf4 Ne8 19.Nf5 then:

19...Bxf5 Bf6 20.Rf1 Bxf5 21.exf5 d5 22.Bxb8 dxc4 23.Bg3 gives White the exchange, stronger pawns and the Bishop pair; Black is bidding for control of queenside dark squares (Chandler-Herbrechtsmeier, Bundesliga, Germany, 1985).

20.exf5 Bf6 21.Kh1 Qd7 22.Bh2 Nd4

(Kindermann-Dr. Nunn, Bundesliga 8889, Germany, 1989).

19.Nf5 Bf6 20.Be3 g6 21.Nh6+ Kh8 22.b3 Nc7 23.Qd2 Ne6 is equal (Thipsay-Tseshkovsky, Op, Calcutta, 1986).

17...a5 18.Bd2 Ne8 19.Nf1 Nc7 20.Ne3 Bg5 is equal (Adams-Xie Jun, Op, Sydney, 1988).

17.Bd2 Ne8 18.Ne3 Bxa2 19.Rxa2 g6 20.c3 Bg5 is equal (Jansa-Dr. Nunn, Bundesliga 8889, Germany, 1989).

15.Nc4 then:

15...Nxc4 16.Bxc4 Ne8 17.f4 exf4 18.Bxf4 Bf6 19.Nf1 draw (Tal-Kuzmin, IT, Tallinn, 1985).
15...Bg4 16.f3 Be6 17.Nxa5 Qxa5 18.Bc4 Rbd8 19.Bd2 Qb6 is equal (Shevelevich-Tseshkovsky, Op, Rostov-on-Don, 1993).

14.Bd2 Bc8 15.h3 then:

If 15...Be6 16.Bxe6 fxe6 17.Be3 then:

17...Nd7 18.c3 bxc3 19.bxc3 d5 20.Qc2 Qc7 21.exd5 exd5 is equal (Kupreichik-Tseshkovsky, Soviet Ch, 1980).
17...Qe8 18.c3 bxc3 19.bxc3 Nh5 20.Nxh5 Qxh5 21.Rb1 is equal (Kavalek-Balashov, IT, Buenos Aires, 1980).

15...Ne8 16.Nh2 Bg5 17.Nf3 Bf6 18.Nh2 g6 19.Ng4 is equal (Carauana-Adams, Masters, Gibraltar, 2007).

If 13.c3 then:

If 13...bxc3 14.bxc3 c4 15.Ng3 then:

If 15...cxd3 14.bxc3 c4 15.Ng3 then:

If 15...cxd3 16.Qxd3 Bc8 then:

If 17.Bg5 Nb7 then:

18.Nd2 Nc5 19.Qc2 Bd7 20.Bxf6 Bxf6 21.Bd5 is equal (Ljubojevic-Karpov, IT, London, 1982).
18.Be3 Qa5 19.Qc4 Ng4 draw (Dr. Nunn-van der Wiel, IT, Amsterdam, 1990).
If 17.Ba3 then:

17...Qc7 18.Red1 Nb7 19.Qc4 Qxc4 20.Bxc4 Re8 21.Rab1 gives White a clearly more active game (Svidler-Ivanchuk, IT, Linares, 2006).
17...Be6 18.Bxe6 fxe6 19.Rad1 Ne8 20.Bb4 Rf7 21.Bxa5 Qxa5 22.Qc4 gives White more activity and more weaknesses to target, for example, Black's hindmost e-pawn (Adams-Kamsky, IT, Sofia, 2007).

13...Rc8 14.c3 Qd7 15.cxb4 cxb4 16.Nf5 is equal (Fritz).

If 15...Nd7 16.Ba3 g6 17.d4 Qc7 then:

18.Rb1 Rab8 19.Qe2 Rfc8 20.d5 is equal (Pasierb-Weissleder, Corres, 1997).
18.Rc1 Rfe8 19.Bb4 Rac8 20.Nd2 d5 21.exd5 Bxd5 22.dxe5 gives White an extra pawn, but each side has weaknesses the other can exploit (Kupreichik-Rodríguez Cepedes, IT, Minsk, 1982).

If 13...c4 then:

If 14.cxb4 cxd3 15.Nc3 Nc6 16.Bd5 Rb8 17.b5 then:

17...axb5 18.axb5 Nb4 19.Bxb7 Rxb7 20.Ra4 Black's passer is dead wood (Kupreichik-Psakhis, Soviet Ch, Minsk, 1987).

(Kupreichik-Psakhis, Soviet Ch, Minsk, 1987).

After 17...Nb4 18.Bxb7 Rxb7 19.bxa6 Ra7 20.Bg5 White stands slighty better (Nijboer-Dr. Nunn, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 1990).

14.Ng3 cxd3 15.Bg5 h6 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.Re3 bxc3 18.bxc3 leaves White slightly better (Karpov-Geller, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1973).

10...Na5 11.Nxe7+ Qxe7 12.Ba2 d5

12...c5 13.Bg5 h6 14.Bh4 d6 15.Qe2 Rab8 16.Nd2 is equal (Tvarijones-Potapov, Czech Op, Pardubice, 2009).

13.exd5 Bxd5 14.Re1 Bxf3!? (N)

14...Nc6 15.Bg5 Bxa2 16.Rxa2 Qe6 17.Ra1 Nd5 18.Bd2 is equal (Peng Xiaomin-Mari Arul, Asian Cities TT, Genting Highlands, 1998).
If 14...b3 15.Bd2 then:

15...Nc6!? 16.Bxb3! Bxb3 17.cxb3 Nd5 18.Nxe5 Nxe5 19.d4 allows White to recover the piece (Olsarova-Pirklova, Czech ChW playoff, Pardubive, 2011).{/i]
15...bxa2 16.Bxa5 Qc5 17.b4 Qc6 18.Nxe5 Qc3 19.Re2 gives White an extra pawn against Black's impressive advantage in space.

15.Qxf3! Qd6 16.Bg5 Rae8

White has a small advantage in space. Black's e-pawn is currently his best asset.
If 16...Nc6 then:
17.Bxf6 Nd4 18.Qe4 Qxf6 19.Rac1 Rfe8 20.c3 b3 21.Bb1 gives White the intiative and the better position for attack
If 17.c3!? Rab8! 18.Bxf6 Qxf6 then:
19.Bd5 Na5 20.Qe3 gives White more activity and a slim advantage in space.
19.Qxf6 gxf6 20.Bc4 bxc3 21.bxc3 Na5 22.Re4 gives White a slight advantage with a safer King and slightly better pawns.
If 16...Rab8 then:
17.Bxf6 Qxf6 18.Qd5 Nc6 19.Re4 Qd6 20.f4 gives White a small advantage in space.
If 17.Rac1!? Rfe8! 18.Bxf6 Qxf6 19.Qxf6 gxf6 then:
If 20.Re3 b3 21.cxb3 Nxb3 then:
22.Rc3 Nd4 23.Rxc7 Rxb2 24.Bxf7+ Kf8 then:
If 25.g4 Re7 26.Rxe7 Kxe7 27.Bc4 a5 28.g5 Ne2+ is equal.
If 20.f4 exf4 21.Rxe8+ Rxe8 22.Rf1 Re2 23.Rxf4 Rxc2 24.Rxb4
If 22.Rxc7 Rec8 23.Rxc8+ Rxc8 24.Re1 Rb8 25.f4
25.Re1 Re7 26.Rxe7 Kxe7 27.Bg8 h5 28.a5 Nc2 is equal.

BLACK: Bartosz Socko

WHITE: Alexander AreshchenkoPosition after 16...Ra8e8

17.Bxf6 Qxf6 18.Qxf6 gxf6 19.Bd5!?

The Bishop cannot remain here long; Black simply takes command of the d-file.
19.Re4! Rb8 20.Bd5 b3 21.c3 Rfd8 22.Rg4+ gives White a small advantage in space.
19.Rac1 Nc6 20.Re4 Nd4 21.Kf1 Rb8 22.c3 gives White a slight advantage in space.

19...f5!?

Black weakens his control over e5.
19...Rd8! 20.Be4 Rd6 21.Re3 Nc6 22.Rg3+ Kh8 is equal.

20.Re3 Kg7!?

This doesn't make White's King any safer.
If 20...Re7 21.Rae1 Rfe8 22.d4 e4 23.Rg3+ Kf8 24.Rg5 continues to give White a small advantage.

21.Rae1!

White has a fair advantage.

21...f6 22.f4 Rd8!?

Black attacks the loose Bishop. A plan of attacking on the queenside is no better.
If 22...b3 then:
If 23.Bxb3 Nxb3 24.cxb3 then:
24...Rb8 25.Rg3+ Kh6 26.fxe5 Rxb3 27.Rh3+ Kg6 28.e6 continues to give White a fair advantage with an extra pawn and an advanced passer.
24...Kg6 25.a5 Re6 26.Rc1 c6 27.d4 e4 28.Rec3 gives Black a comfortable game with an extra pawn.
If 23.cxb3 Rd8 24.Rg3+ Kh6 25.Rh3+ then:
25...Kg6 26.Bf3 Nxb3 27.Bh5+ Kg7 28.fxe5 fxe5 29.Rxe5 gives White an extra pawn.
If 25...Kg7? then White wins after 26.Be6! Kg6 27.Rg3+ Kh6 28.Rc1 c6 29.b4.

BLACK: Bartosz Socko

WHITE: Alexander AreshchenkoPosition after 22...Re8d8

23.Bf3!

White has a comfortable game If Black takes on f4, he takes on the burden of a tripled pawn while opening the e-file for White's Rooks; advancing to e4 looses a pawn.

23...e4

23...exf4?! 24.Re7+ Rf7 25.b3 Rd6 26.R1e6 Rb6 27.d4 gives White a moble center; Black's pawns are atrocious.

24.dxe4 Nc4 25.Rb3 c5?!

Face with the unpleasant choice of how to lose a second pawn, Black chooses the greater of two evils.
Not as bad is 25...fxe4 26.Rxe4 Nd2 27.Re7+ Kh6 28.Rxb4 Nxf3+ 29.gxf3 gives White has two extra pawns and an active Rook; Black has limited chances for counterplay.

26.exf5!

White has two extra pawns.

26...Rd2 27.Re2?!

This doesn't get rid of the Rook.
27.Bh5! Rxc2 28.Re7+ Kg8 29.Rg3+ Kh8 30.Reg7 continues to give White an extra pawn with an attack on the Black King in progress.

27...Rfd8!

See the previous note.

28.Re7+!?

Realizing that his Rook is useless for defense at e2, White activates the piece.
Better is 28.h4 R8d4 29.Re7+ when:
29...Kf8 30.Rxh7 Rxf4 31.Rc7 Rxh4 32.a5 Ne5 33.Rxc5 continues to give White two extra pawns.
If 29...Kh6 30.Be2 Rxf4 31.g3 then:
31...Rfd4 32.g4 Rxe2 33.g5+ fxg5 34.hxg5+ Kxg5 35.Rxe2 leaves White the exchange to the good.
If 31...Rxf5? then White wins after 32.Bxc4! Rff2 33.Bxa6 Rg2+ 34.Kf1 Rxc2 35.Rf3.

BLACK: Bartosz Socko

WHITE: Alexander AreshchenkoPosition after 28.Re2e7

28...Kf8!?

Black drops a pawn.
If 28...Kg8 then:
29.Rc7 Rxc2 30.Rxc5 Rxb2 31.Rxb2 Nxb2 32.Ra5 gives Black counter play with his passed b-pawn.
29.Be2 Kf8 30.Re6 Rxc2 31.Bxc4 Rxc4 32.Rxf6+ Ke7 33.Rxa6 gives White two extra pawns and passers on both wings; White wins easily if the Rooks are removed.

29.Rc7!

Well, of course.

29...Rxc2 30.Rxc5 Rdd2

If 30...a5 31.h4 Rdd2 32.Be4 then:
32...Rd1+ 33.Kh2 Rcc1 34.Bf3 Nd2 35.Bxd1 Rxc5 36.Rd3 continues to give White an extra pawn.
If 32...Rxb2? then White wins after 33.Rc8+! Kf7 34.Rg3 Nd6 35.Rcg8 Rd1+ 36.Kh2.

31.h4 a5 32.Rc8+ Ke7 33.Rc7+ Kd6?

The King will have no chance of reaching a safe harbor in the center of the board.
If 33...Kf8 34.Rc6 Rd6 35.Rc8+ then:
35...Ke7 36.Rh8 Rxb2 37.Rxb2 Nxb2 38.Rxh7+ Kf8 39.Ra7 gives White two extra pawns and better active Rook. White has some serious pawn weaknesses; Black has a passed pawn on the b-file; White has a passed pawn on the h-file.
35...Kg7 36.Rc7+ Kh8 37.Bb7 Rd1+ 38.Kh2 Rd8 39.Rg3 gives White better Rooks and two extra pawns.

BLACK: Bartosz Socko

WHITE: Alexander AreshchenkoPosition after 33...Ke7d6

34.Rc6+!

White will force the Black King where he pleases and then feast on pawns.

34...Ke7 35.Re6+ Kd7

If 35...Kf7 then White wins after 36.Bh5+ Kf8 37.Re8+ Kg7 38.Rg3+ Kh6 39.Bf3.

36.Rxf6 Rxb2

If 36...Rd4 37.Rc6 Rcd2 38.Rh6 Rxf4 39.Rxh7+ gives White two extra pawns and an active Rook in pursuit of Black's King in the open.

37.Rxb2 Rxb2

If 37...Nxb2 then White wins after 38.Rh6 Kc8 39.f6 Rd8 40.Rxh7.

38.Rf7+ Kd6 39.Rxh7 b3

39...Rb1+ then White wins after 40.Kh2 Nd2 41.h5 Nxf3+ 42.gxf3 Rb2+ 43.Kh3.

40.Rb7 Nd2 41.f6

White has a quicker win after 41.Kf2 Ra2 42.f6 Ne4+ 43.Ke3 Nxf6 44.Rb6+.

41...Rc2

Black has no patience for a longer struggle that ends in defeat anyway.
A more stubborn defense is 41...Nxf3+ 42.gxf3 Rc2 43.Rxb3 Ke6 44.Rb5, but Black is just as lost.

42.f7

A quicker win is

42...Rc8

Again, Black would last longer after 42...Nxf3+ 43.gxf3 Rc8 44.h5 Ke6 45.Kf2.

BLACK: Bartosz Socko

WHITE: Alexander AreshchenkoPosition after 42...Rc2c8

43.Bg4!

This time White finds the move that wins quickly.

43...Rc1+

This looks like a harikari move.
43...Rf8 44.Rd7+ Kc5 45.Rxd2 leaves White a piece to the good.

44.Kf2 Rf1+ 45.Ke2 1-0

45...Rxf4 46.Kxd2 wins a piece.
Socko resigns.

Reply to this post

Response to Jack Rabbit (Reply #4)

Fri Dec 7, 2012, 01:53 AM

Jack Rabbit (40,694 posts)

10. B. Socko - Levin, Round 1

Last edited Fri Dec 7, 2012, 01:14 PM USA/ET - Edit history (3)

Bartosz SockoPhoto by Photo by Stefan64 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64) from Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bartosz_Socko.jpg)
(Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)

Bartosz Socko - Evgeny Levin
Chigorin Memorial Open, Round 1
St Petersburg, 27 October 2012

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

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.Be3 Na6

For 7...Nbd7 8.0-0 c6 and other variations of the Gligoric Opening, see Wang Yue-A. Vovk, Op 1112, Hastings, 2012.

8.0-0 Ng4

If 8...c6 9.d5 Ng4 10.Bg5 f6 then:

If 11.Bh4 c5 12.Ne1 h5 then:

If 13.a3 Qe7 then:

If 14.Nd3 Bd7 15.b4 b6 then:

16.Rb1 g5 17.Bg3 f5 18.h3 Nf6 19.Bxh5 Nxh5 20.Qxh5 is equal (Mista-Pavlidis, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2012).
16.h3 Nh6 17.f4 g5 18.fxg5 fxg5 19.Be1 gives White a slight advantage in space (Wang Yue-Zhao Jun, Chinese Ch, Xinghua, 2012).

If 14.Nc2 Nh6 then:

If 15.f3 Nf7 16.b4 Bh6 then:

17.Rb1 b6 18.Kh1 Bd7 19.Bf2 f5 20.a4 is equal (Fressinet-Kotronias, Euro Ch, Aix-les-Bains, 2011).
17.bxc5 Nxc5 18.Kh1 Bd7 19.Nb4 Be3 20.Nc2 Bh6 21.Nb4 Be3 22.Nc2 draw (S. Pedersen-S. B. Jensen, Danish Ch, Aalborg, 2006).

15.h3 b6 16.Ne3 Bd7 17.Rb1 Nf7 18.Bd3 gives White a small advantage in space (Zhao Xue-Wang Doudou, Chinese League, Chengdu, 2011).

If 13.h3 Nh6 14.Nd3 then:

14...Nf7 15.a3 Bh6 16.b4 b6 17.Re1 Bd7 18.Bf1 gives White a small advantage in space (Sharavdorj-Ehlvest, Op, Philadelphia, 2006).
14...Nb4 15.Nxb4 cxb4 16.Na4 g5 17.Bg3 h4 18.Bh2 gives White a slight advantage in space (Lenic-Seeman, Ol, Torino, 2006).

If 11.Bd2 f5 then:

If 12.Ng5 Nf6 13.exf5 gxf5 14.f4 e4 15.Be3 then:

15...c5 16.Nh3 Ng4 17.Bxg4 fxg4 18.Nf2 Bxc3 19.bxc3 gives White a small initiative against Black's g-pawn (Gelfand-Topalov, IT, Novgorod, 1996).
15...h6 16.Nh3 c5 17.Nf2 Nc7 18.Kh1 is equal (Murshed-Xu Jun, Asian ChT, Penang, Malasia, 1991).

If 12.Ne1 Nf6 13.f3 then:

If 13...fxe4 14.fxe4 Qb6+ 15.Kh1 Qd4!? 16.Nc2 then:

If 16...Nxe4? then White wins after 17.Nxd4 Rxf1+ 18.Qxf1 Nxd2 19.Qe1(S. Pedersen-Bekker Jensen, Politiken Cup, Copenhagen, 2001).
15...cxd5 16.cxd5 Nc5 17.Qb1 Bd7 18.Be3 Ng4 19.Bg1 is equal.

16...Qb6 17.b4 Qd8 18.Bg5 c5 19.a3 h6 20.Bh4 gives White a better center and more space.

13...f4 14.Nd3 c5 15.a3 g5 16.b4 Nd7 17.Rb1 gives White a small advantage in space; Black may develop counterplay on the kingside (Gligoric-Dimitrov, Yugoslav ChT, Niksic, 1997).

9.Bg5 Qe8 10.h3

10.dxe5 dxe5 11.h3 f6 12.Bc1 Nh6 13.c5 transposes into the text.

10...f6!?

The idea of this move appears to be to re-enforce the e-pawn, but it weaken the h2/g8 diagonal for Black.
If 10...h6 then:

If 11.Bc1 Nf6 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.Be3 Qe7 then:

If 14.Nd5 Qd8 then:

If 15.Nxf6+ Qxf6 16.c5 Nb8 then:

If 17.b4 Nc6 then:

If 18.b5 Rd8 then:

19.Qc1 Nd4 20.Bxd4 exd4 gives Black a slight advantage with a passed pawn (Gustafsson-Polzen, Austrian ChT 0102, Graz, 2002).
19.Bd2 Nd4 20.Nxd4 exd4 21.Bd3 a6 22.a4 is equal.

If 18.a3 Rd8 then:

19.Qc2 a5 20.b5 Nd4 21.Bxd4 exd4 22.Rad1 a4 23.Rfe1 Qe7 24.Bc4 draw (Golod-I. Smirin, Op 9798, Rishon Le Ziyyon, 1998).
19.Qc1 Kh7 20.Bc4 Qe7 21.Rd1 Be6 22.Bd5 Qe8 is equal (Taboada-Sirota, Corres, 2002).

If 17.Qc1 Kh7 18.b4 then:

If 18...a6 19.Rd1 Nc6 then:

20.Rb1 Qe7 21.a4 f5 22.b5 axb5 23.axb5 gives White a small advantage in space (Burmakin-Tkachiev, Euro Ch, Istanbul, 2003).
20.Qb2 Qe7 21.a4 a5 22.b5 Nb4 23.Bd2 f5 is equal and shortly agreed drawn (Palo-Shchekachev, Op, Schwarzach, Austria, 2002).

18...Nc6 19.Qb2 Nd4 20.Bxd4 exd4 21.e5 Qf4 22.Rad1 is equal (Lomineishvili-Hayrapetian, Aleksandria Cup, Poti, Georgia, 2012).

If 15.Qc2 c6 16.Nxf6+ Qxf6 then:

If 17.c5 Nc7 18.Rfd1 Be6 19.Rd6 then:

19...Rfd8 20.Rad1 Ne8 21.R6d2 Qe7 22.Qa4 Rxd2 23.Nxd2 gives White a small advantage in space (J. Gonzales-Perelshteyn, Trmt, Cyberspace, 2001).
19...Rfe8 20.Qd2 Kh7 21.Rd1 Qe7 22.Qb4 Rab8 23.Bc4 gives Black a clear advantage (Mohota-Hickman, Op, Gibraltar, 2006).

17.Rfd117.Rfd1 Qe7 18.Qd2 Kh7 19.c5 Nxc5 20.Qb4 gives White a small advantage in space (Tikkanen-Bekker Jensen, Op, Copenhagen, 2009).

If 14.a3 c6 15.b4 Nh5 then:

If 16.Re1 Nf4 then:

If 17.Bf1 Qf6 18.Ra2 then:

If 18...Rd8 19.Rd2 Rxd2 20.Qxd2 then:

20...g5 21.Rd1 Be6 22.Nh2 Nc7 23.Na4 gives White a small advantage in space (Sharavdorj-Matamoros Franco, Ol, Palma de Mallorca, 2004).
20...Be6 21.b5 Nc7 22.bxc6 bxc6 23.Qd6 assures White of winning the pawn at c6 (Volzhin-Kempinski, Polish ChT, Zakopane, 2000).

18...Re8 19.Rd2 Nc7 20.Kh2 g5 21.g3 Ng6 22.c5 gives White a slight advantage in space (Topalov-Movsesian, IT, Sarajevo, 2000).

If 17.Bxf4 exf4 18.e5 Bf5 then:

19.c5 Nc7 20.Bc4 Rad8 21.Qc1 Ne6 is equal (Van Wely-Gallagher, IT, Biel, 2000).
19.Qc1 g5 20.c5 Qe6 21.Ra2 Rad8 22.Rd2 is equal (Lehner-Hossain, Ol, Palma de Mallorca, 2004).

If 16.c5 Rd8 17.Qc1 then:

If 17...Nf4 18.Bxa6 bxa6 then:

19.Bxf4!? exf4 20.e5 Rd3 gives Black a clear advantage (Pogorelov-Tisser, Anibal Op, Linares, 2003).
19.Rd1 Be6 20.Qc2 Qc7 21.Rab1 gives White a slight edge.

17...Kh7 18.Rd1 Be6 19.Qc2 Nc7 draw (Svidler-Shipov, Russian Ch, St Petersburg, 1998).

If 11.Bh4 then:

If 11...Nf6 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.c5 exd4 14.Nd5 Bd8 then:

15.Bxa6 bxa6 16.cxd6 c6 17.Nc7 Bxc7 18.dxc7 gives White stronger pawns and the initiative (Shulman-Perelshteyn, Foxwoods Op, Mashantucket, Connecticut, 2003).
15.cxd6 cxd6 16.Bxa6 bxa6 17.Qxd4 Bb7 18.Rad1 gives White a clear advantage in space (Greenfeld-Najer, IT, Jerusalem, 2005).

If 11...exd4 12.Nxd4 Nf6 then:

If 13.Bf3 Nh7 14.g4 then:

If 14...Ng5 15.Bg2 Nc5 16.f4 Ngxe4 then:

If 17.Nd5 g5 18.Be1 gxf4 then:

19.Rb1 Ng5 20.Rxf4 c6 21.Nf6+ Bxf6 22.Rxf6 is equal (S. Ernst-Naroditsky, Op, Groningen, 2011).
19.Nxc7!? Qe5! 20.Ne2 Rb8 21.Rb1 f5 gives Black the advantage in space (S. Ernst-Brandenburg, Dutch Ch, Bextel, 2011).

17.Nxe4 Nxe4 18.Re1 f5 19.Qd3 Qf7 20.Bxe4 fxe4 is equal.

14...h5 15.Qd2 c6 16.Rae1 Nc5 17.Bd1 a6 18.Nf5 gives White a substantial advantage in space (Zhao Xue-Ju Wenjun, Grand Prix W, Ankara, 2012).

If 13.Bd3 then:

13...Nd7 14.Ndb5 g5 15.Bg3 Be5 16.f4 gives White a substantial advantage in space (Kovalyov-Geneen, Op, Cappelle-la-Grande, 2011).
If 13...c6 14.Re1 then:

If 14...Nh5!? 15.Nf5 then:

15...Qe5? 16.Be7 gxf5 17.exf5 (Zilberstein-Bojkov, IT, Berkeley, California, 2011).
15...Qe6 16.Re3 Nc5 17.Nxg7 Kxg7 18.Be2 Nf4 19.Bg3 Black must accept structural damage or lose a piece.

14...Qd7 15.Qf3 Ng4 16.hxg4 Bxd4 17.Be2 gives White with an impressive advantage in space; Black has better pawns.

BLACK: Evgeny Levin

WHITE: Bartosz SockoPosition after 10...f7f6

11.Bd2

White has a small advantage in space.
If 11.Bc1 Nh6 then:

12.Rb1 Nf7 13.b4 exd4 14.Nxd4 c5 15.bxc5 Nxc5 16.Ba3 gives White a small advantage in space (Ding Liren-Zhao Jun, Chinese Ch, Xinghua, 2012).
If 12.Be3 Nf7 13.dxe5 dxe5 14.c5 c6 then:

15.Bxa6 bxa6 16.Qa4 Rb8 transposes into the main line of the notes to White's 14th move and associated variations beyond move 16, below.
15.Bc4 Nc7 16.Qb3 transposes into Karpov-Radjabov in the notes to White's 14th move, below.

11...Nh6 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.c5 c6

If 13...Nxc5 14.Qc1 Nf7 15.Nd5 Ne6 then:

If 16.Nxc7 Nxc7 17.Qxc7 Nd8 18.Rfc1 Be6 then:

If 19.b4 Rf7 20.Qc3 Bf8 then:

21.Be3 Qa4 22.a3 Rc8 23.Qb2 Rxc1+ 24.Rxc1 is equal (Rapport-Miton, IT, Hevitz, Hungary, 2010).
21.b5 b6 22.Qb2 Nb7 23.Bb4 Rd8 24.Rc2 Rfd7 gives Black a small asdvantage in space (Biriukov-Mihajlovskij, Rektor Cup, St Petersburg, 2006).

19.Be3 Rf7 20.Qc3 Nc6 21.b4 Rd7 22.b5 Nd8 is equal (S. Volkov-Nakamura, FIDE Knock Out, Tripoli, Libya, 2004).

If 16.Bb4 c6 17.Bxf8 Qxf8 then:

18.Ne3 Nd6 19.Qc2 f5 20.exf5 gxf5 21.Bc4 give White a slight edge in space (Shabalov-Movsesian, IT, Bermuda, 2004).
18.Nc3 Nf4 19.Bc4 b5 20.Bxf7+ Kxf7 21.Qc2 Qc5 is equal (Umansky-Utesch, Corres, 2004).

14.Bxa6

If 14.Be3 Nf7 then:

If 15.Bxa6 bxa6 16.Qa4 Rb8 then:

If 17.b3 f5 18.exf5 gxf5 19.Rfe1 Rb7 20.Rad1 then:

If 20...Re7 21.Qh4 Re6 then:

If 22.Ng5 Nxg5 23.Bxg5 h6 24.Bc1 then:

24...Kh7 25.Rd6 draw (Savchenko-B. Damljanovic, Euro Club Cup, Halkidiki, 2002).
24...Qg6 25.Ba3 e4 26.Ne2 Bf6 27.Qg3 Be5 28.Nf4 gives White a small advantage in space (Medvegy-Brandenburg, EU Ch, Liverpool, 2006).

If 22.Qb4 Re7 then:

23.Qc4 Rd7 24.Ng5 h6 25.Rxd7 Bxd7 26.Nxf7 Qxf7 27.Qxa6 gives White an extra pawn, stronger pawns and more space; Black has a moble off-center duo.
23.Re2 Rd7 24.Ree1 Rxd1 25.Rxd1 Qe7 26.Bc1 Rd8 is equal.

20...Rd7 21.Rxd7 Qxd7 22.Rd1 Qe8 23.Qc4 Kh8 24.Ng5 gives White a small advantage in space (Paschall-Wittman, 1st Saturday November, Budapest, 2004).

17.Nd2 f5 18.exf5 gxf5 19.Rfe1 Be6 20.f4 Rxb2 gives Black a small advantage in space (S. Volkov-And. Volokitin, Euro Club Cup, Halkidiki, 2002).

If 15.Bc4 Nc7 16.Qb3 Ne6 then:

17.Bxe6!? Qxe6 18.Qxe6 Bxe6 19.Rfd1 Rfd8 20.b3 Bf8 gives Black a slight edge with a better center (Karpov-Radjabov, IT A, Wijk aan Zee, 2003).
17.Ne2 Qe7 18.Rfd1 Nxc5 19.Qa3 b6 20.Nc3 gives White more space and Black an extra pawn.

14...bxa6 15.Qa4

If 15.Bxh6 Bxh6 16.Qa4 then:

If 16...Rb8 17.b3 then:

If 17...Rf7 18.Rfd1 Bf8 19.Qa5 Be6 20.Rd3 Rd7 then:

21.Rxd7 Qxd7 22.Qxa6 Bxc5 23.Rd1 Qc8 24.Qxc8+ Rxc8 is equal (Harikrishna-Moradiabadi, Op, Dubai, 2004).
21.Rad1 Rxd3 22.Rxd3 Qc8 23.Na4 Be7 24.Nd2 Qb7 is equal (Gleizerov-Hakki, Op, Dubai, 2004).

17...f5?! 18.Rad1 Bf4 19.Rd6 Kh8 20.Re1 g5 21.exf5 give White a winning advantage (Shulman-Battsetseg, US Ch, San Diego, 2004).

16...Rf7 17.Rfd1 Bf8 18.b4 Rb8 19.a3 Rbb7 gives White stronger pawns and more space (David-B. Damljanovic, Euro ChT, Plovidv, 2003).

15...Nf7 16.Rad1 Rb8 17.b3

17.Bc1 f5 18.exf5 gxf5 19.Rfe1 Rb7 20.Nd4 gives White stronger pawns and more space (Evdokimov-Areshchenko, Russian ChT, Dagomys, 2008).

17...Kh8!? (N)

17...Rb7 18.Nb1 f5 19.Na3 f4 20.Nc4 gives White stronger pawns and a fair advantage in space (Dizdarevic-Movsesian, IT, Sarajevo, 2003).

BLACK: Evgeny Levin

WHITE: Bartosz SockoPosition after 17...Kg8h8

18.Be3!

White has stronger pawns and more space.

18...f5 19.exf5

If 19.Bc1 f4 then:

20.Nb1 g5 21.Ne1 Rg8 22.Bb2 continuses to give White a small advantage in space.
If 20.Bb2!? then:

20...g5! 21.Ne1 h5 22.Ne2 Rb7 23.Nc1 Qe6 24.Rd2 gives White a slight advantage in space.
20...Rg8?! 21.Nd2 Ng5 22.f3 Qe7 23.Qxc6 Rd8 24.Nc4 gives White a considerable advantage in space.

19...gxf5 20.Rfe1 Rb7

20...Rg8 21.Bd4 e4 22.Bxg7+ Rxg7 23.Qa5 Qe7 24.Kh1 continues to give White a small advantage in space.

21.Qh4

21.Ng5! e4 22.Nxf7+ Rbxf7 23.Bd4 then:

23...Qe6 24.Bxg7+ Rxg7 25.Rd6 Qe5 26.Qd4 Qxd4 27.Rxd4 gives White stronger pawn and better piece coordination.
23...Rd7 24.Bxg7+ Rxg7 25.g3 Qe5 transposes.

21...a5!?

Black ignores the danger to his kingside.
If 21...Qe7 22.Qxe7 Rxe7 23.Ne2 Rg8 24.Ng3 Rge8 25.Nh5 gives White stronger pawns and a small advantage in space.

22.Ng5!

White threatens mate and now has a comfortable game.

22...Nxg5 23.Bxg5 Rb4

If 23...Qf7 24.Rd6 then:

If 24...Rb4 25.Qg3 Rd4 26.Rxc6 then:

26...f4 27.Qh4 Bb7 28.Rh6!! Bxh6 29.Qxh6 Qg7 30.Nb5 gives White stronger pawns and a small advantage in space.
If 26...Qb7 27.Rd6 f4 then:

28.Qf3 Qxf3 29.gxf3 Bxh3 30.Nd5 Kg8 31.c6 gives White better pawns and a dangerous passer; the activity of Black's centralized Rook and light bound Bishop give him chances for counterplay.
If 28.Qh4 then:

28...Rxd6 29.cxd6 Qb4 30.Rd1 Qxc3 31.d7 Bxd7 32.Rxd7 gives White stonger pawns and more activity; Black's active Queen and off-center pawn duo could provide counterplay if he weathers the present storm.
If 28...Qb4? then White wins after 29.Rxd4 Qxd4 30.Ne4 Bf5 31.Be7 Rg8 32.Nf6.

If 24...e4 25.Ne2 then:

25...Rd7 26.Red1 Re8 27.Nf4 Be5 28.Rxd7 Bxd7 29.Nh5 gives White stronger pawns and more activity.
If 25...a4? 26.Nf4 then:

If 26...Re8 27.Nh5 then:

27...Be5 28.Bf6+ Bxf6 29.Nxf6 Rf8 30.Nxh7 Qxh7 31.Rh6 wins the Queen.
If 27...axb3 then White wins after 28.Nxg7 Rf8 29.Nh5 b2 30.Bf6+.

26...Be5 27.Ng6+ Kg8 28.Nxe5 leaves White a piece to the good.

BLACK: Evgeny Levin

WHITE: Bartosz SockoPosition after 23...Rb7b4

24.f4!?

This weak reply gives Black the opportunity to come roaring back.
If 24.Qg3 Bd7 25.Rd6 Rg8 then:

If 26.Na4 e4 27.Red1 then:

27...Rb7 28.Nc3 Be5 29.Qxe5+ Qxe5 30.Bf6+ Qxf6 31.Rxf6
If 27...e3? then White wins after 28.Qxe3 Re4 29.Qd3! Qh5 30.Be3 Be5 31.Bd4.

If 26.f3 then:

26...Rb8 27.Kh1 Rb7 28.Na4 e4 29.fxe4 gives White more activity and stronger pawns; Black has a passed pawn after recapturing on e4.
If 26...Rb7? then:

27.Kh1 Rb8 28.Na4 Rb7 29.Nb2 e4 30.Nc4 gives White much greater activity and healthier pawns.
27.Qf2?! e4! 28.Ne2 a4 29.fxe4 fxe4 30.Ng3 gives White more activity and stronger pawn; Black has a chance for counterplay on the Queenside.

24...Qf7!

Black simply removes his Queen from harm's way. White has only a small advantage in space.

25.Rd6 Rd4!?

Neither side will want to exchange Rooks as it it would yield a passed pawn for the opponent.
25...e4 26.Red1 Rb7 27.Qe1 Bd7 28.Qd2 Be8 29.Kh2 gives White as much command of the d-file as he could ask.

26.Ne2!?

White misses an elegant way out of the complications Black created on his last move.

26.Rxc6! e4 27.Bh6 Rg8 28.Bxg7+ Qxg7 29.Qg5

26...Re4

26...Rxd6 27.cxd6 e4 28.Rd1 Bd7 29.Be7 Rg8 30.Ng3 gives each side a passed pawn; White's is more advanced.

27.Nc1!?

Black is not forced to exchange on e1.
27.Nc3 Rxe1+ 28.Qxe1 Re8 29.Qd2 e4 30.Rxc6 gives White an extra pawn; each side has a passed pawn.

27...exf4!

White still has a small advantage in space, but taking on e4 would give Black a dangerous passer.

28.Bxf4 Bc3?

Black misses an opportunity to exchange away a weak pawn.
If 28...a4 then:

29.Nd3 axb3 30.axb3 Qe8 31.Qg3 Rxe1+ 32.Nxe1 gives White stronger pawns and a more active Rook; Black has an active Queen.
If 29.b4!? Qc4! 30.Rxe4 Qxe4 31.Rd8 Rg8 32.Rxg8+ Kxg8 is equal.

BLACK: Evgeny Levin

WHITE: Bartosz SockoPosition after 28...Bg7c3

29.Re3?

White does not want to concede a passed pawn to Black, but doing so wins quickly.
If 29.Rxe4! fxe4 30.Ne2 Bf6 31.Qg3 then:

If 31...Rg8 32.Qe3 then:

32...Bd7 33.Qxe4 Re8 34.Qd3 Re7 35.Ng3 Bg7 36.Be3 gives White an extra pawn and more freedom.
If 32...Qg7 33.Qxe4 Bf5 34.Qxc6 Be5 35.Qd5 then:

If 35...Bxf4 then White wins after 36.Nxf4 Qc3 37.Qd4+.
If 35...Bxd6 then White wins after 36.cxd6 Be6 37.Qd4.

If 31...Bg7 then White wins after 32.Rxc6! Rg8 33.Rc7 Qd5 34.Kh2 Bf6 35.Qe3.

29...Bg7!

White still has a comfortable game.

30.Nd3 Rfe8 31.Rd8!?

White should look after the Rook at e3; this gives Black a way out of his difficulty.
IBetter is 31.Qf2 Qe7 32.Qd2 Be6 33.Ne5 Rxf4 34.Nxc6, giving White the initiative and command of the d-file.

31...Qg8?

The Rook should be taken immediately.
If 31...Rxd8 32.Qxd8+ Qf8! then:

If 33.Qh4 Bf6 34.Qg3 then:

34...Be6 35.Kh2 Qg7 36.Rxe4 fxe4 37.Nf2 gives White a slight advantage in space.
If 34...Bd4 35.Kh2 Qg7 then:

36.Rxe4 Qxg3+ 37.Kxg3 fxe4 38.Nf2 Bxf2+ 39.Kxf2 Be6 is equal.
36.Re1 Qxg3+ 37.Bxg3 Kg7 38.Bd6 Kf6 39.Rc1 is equal.

33.Qxf8+ Bxf8 34.Be5+ Kg8 35.Kf2 Be6 36.Bd6 is equal.

If 31...Qf8?! 32.Rxe4 Rxd8 33.Re7 Qf6 34.Qe1 then:

34...Kg8 35.Rc7 Qa1 36.Qxa1 Bxa1 37.Ne5 Bxe5 38.Bxe5 gives White stronger pawns and a more active Rook.
If 34...Qa1 35.Qxa1 Bxa1 36.Kh2 then:

36...Kg8 37.Ne5 Bxe5 38.Bxe5 Rd5 39.Bf4 Ba6 40.Bh6 gives White stronger pawns and more activity.
If 36...Rxd3 37.Re8+ Kg7 38.Rxc8 then:

38...Rd5 39.Rxc6 Be5 40.Bxe5+ Rxe5 41.Kg3 Re2 42.a4 gives White a passed pawn that must be watched while all of Black's pawns are weak.
38...Bd4 39.Rc7+ Kg8 40.Rxc6 Rd1 41.Rc8+ Kf7 42.c6 leaves White with a passed pawn than cannot be stopped.

BLACK: Evgeny Levin

WHITE: Bartosz SockoPosition after 31...Qf7g8

32.Ne5!

White threatens the crushing

32...Qe6

If 32...Rxd8 then 33.Ng6#.

33.Rd6

White has a quicker win after 33.Rxe4 fxe4 34.Rd6 Bxe5 35.Rxe6 when:

35...Bd4+ 36.Kh2 Bxe6 37.Qh5 Re7 38.Be5+ Bxe5+ 39.Qxe5+ wins the passed pawn.
If 35...Rxe6 then White wins after 36.Bxe5+ Rxe5 37.Qf6+.

33...Rxe3 34.Rxe6 Bxe6 35.Bxe3

Stronger is 35.Ng6+ Kg8 36.Ne7+ Kf8 37.Bd6 Bf7 38.Nxf5+.

35...Bxe5 36.Bd4 Bxd4+

36...Bg7 37.Bxg7+ Kxg7 38.Qg5+ then:

38...Kh8 then White wins after 39.Qe3 Kg7 40.Qe5+ Kg8 41.Kf2 a6 42.Qg3+.
If 38...Kf8 39.Qf6+ Kg8 40.h4 then:

40...Bd5 41.Qg5+ Kf8 42.Qxf5+ Kg8 43.Qd7 Re4 44.h5 threatens mate in two.
If 40...h5 then White wins after 41.Qg6+ Kf8 42.Qxh5 Ke7 43.Qg5+ Kf7 44.h5.

BLACK: Evgeny Levin

WHITE: Bartosz SockoPosition after 36...Be5d4+:B

37.Qxd4+ Kg8 38.Qe5 Bf7

38...a6 then White wins after 39.Kf2 a4 40.bxa4 Bf7 41.Qxf5 Bd5 42.Qd3.

39.Qxf5 Bd5 40.Qg5+ Kf8

Better is 40...Kh8 41.Qd2 Rg8 42.Qd4+ Rg7 43.g4 h6 44.Kh2, but it really doesn't matter.

41.Qf6+ Kg8 42.g4 a4

42...Re2 then White wins after 43.Qd8+ Kg7 44.Qxa5 Re3 45.Qxa7+ Kg6 46.Qc7.

43.bxa4 Rf8

If 43...Re1+ 44.Kf2 then:

44...Re4 then White wins after 45.a5 Re6 46.Qd8+ Kf7 47.g5 Re8 48.Qd6.
If 44...Re8 then White wins after 45.Kg3 Re3+ 46.Kh4 Re6 47.Qg5+ Kf7 48.Qf4+.

44.Qg5+ Kf7 45.h4 Bf3

45...a5 then White wins after 46.h5 Rg8 47.Qf5+ Ke7 48.Qxh7+.

46.Kf2 Ke6

If 46...Bd5 47.Kg1 then:

47...Bxa2 48.a5 Rg8 49.Qf5+ then:

If 49...Ke8 then White wins after 50.g5 Rf8 51.Qxh7 Kd8 52.h5.
If 49...Kg7 then White wins after 50.h5 Bc4 51.Qe5+ Kf8 52.Qd6+.

47...a6 48.Qh6 Rd8 49.h5 Rd1+ 50.Kf2 gives White two extra pawns and connected passers.

47.Qh6+ Rf6

BLACK: Evgeny Levin

WHITE: Bartosz SockoPosition after 47...Rf8f6

48.Qxf6+!!

White sacrifices his Queen for a won King-and-pawn ending.

48...Kxf6 49.Kxf3 Ke5 50.g5 Kf5 51.a5 1-0

If 51...h5 52.gxh6 Kf6 53.Kf4 then:

If 53...Kf7 then:

White wins after 54.Ke5 Kg6 55.Kd6 Kxh6 56.Kxc6.
54.Kf5 a6 55.Ke5 Kg6 56.Kd6 transposes into the main lne.

53...Kg6 54.Ke5 Kxh6 55.Kd6 transposes into the main lne.

Levin resigns.

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Response to Jack Rabbit (Original post)

Mon Dec 10, 2012, 04:49 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,694 posts)

13. Update Monday, December 10: Magnus wins London Classic, sets new rating record

Last edited Tue Dec 11, 2012, 12:25 AM USA/ET - Edit history (1)

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

Magnus Carlsen, the Norwegian grandmaster who celebrated his 22nd birthday less than two weeks ago, won the London Chess Classic today with 18 points out of a possible 24 and will officially become the highest-rated player of all time when FIDE releases its January ratings in three weeks.

Magnus won five games and drew three without a loss in the event for a tournament performace rating just under the rarely achieved 3000 and a career rating now unofficially standing at 2861, surpassing Garry Kasparov's all time record of 2851 achieved in 1999 and 2000. Since the rating is based on a mathematical formula, there is no way that Magnus' rating of 2861 will not be recognized as official in January.

Magnus achieved a tournament performance rating over 3000 once, in 2009 at a tournament in Nanjing, China.

Magnus drew his game today with the reigning world champion, Vishy Anand. Former world champion Vladimir Kramnik, the only player who entered the last round with a chamce to catch Magnus, also drew his game against British Adams to finish second with 16 points in the football style scoring (three points for a win, one for a draw) used in London. Reigning American champion Hikaru Nakamura took advantage of a terrible blunder by British GM Luke McShane to gain victory in the only decisive game in the last round, finished tied for third with Mr. Adams at 13 points.

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Response to Jack Rabbit (Original post)

Fri Dec 28, 2012, 02:28 PM

Jack Rabbit (40,694 posts)

15. Update (Saturday, December 28): The World defeats GM Akobian in Cyberspace

The Blue Marble taken by the crew of Apollo 17 from
(Public Domain)

American grandmaster Varuzhan Akobian yesterday resigned on the 35th move his game against The World, a team made up of members of ChessGames.com, including your most humble hare.

I will present my own analysis of the game in the February edition of the JRCR, but for now, here is the first published analysis of the game by kingscrusher (Tryfon Gavril) on YouTube:

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