Reply #6: Tikkanen - Pia Cramling, Rilton Cup, Stockholm

[Jack Rabbit]

Pia Cramling
Photo: Evry Grand Roque (France)

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Hans Tikkanen vs. Pia Cramling
Rilton Cup, Round 4
Stockholm, December 2006

Slav Queen's Gambit: Czech Opening

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 Nbd7

• One of the other main lines of the Slav runs 6. -- e6 7. f3 Bb4 8. e4 Bxe4 9. fxe4 Nxe4 10. Bd2 Qxd4 11. Nxe4 Qxe4+ 12. Qe2 Bxd2+ 13. Kxd2 Qd5+ 14. Kc2 Na6 15. Nxc4 with an equal game.

7. Nxc4 Qc7 8. g3 e5 9. dxe5 Nxe5 10. Bf4 Nfd7

• 10. -- Rd8 11. Qc1 Bd6 12. Nxd6+ Qxd6 13. Bg2 Qe7 14. 0-0 a5 15. Nd1 0-0 16. Qc3 Ng6 17. Bg5 Qe5 18. Qxe5 Nxe5 19. e4 Bc8 20. f4 Ng6 21. e5 h6 22. Bxf6 gxf6 23. exf6 Rfe8 24. Rb1 draw agreed (Anikaev-Bagirov, Minsk 1983).

11. Bg2 Be7

• 11. -- g5 12. Ne3 gxf4 13. Nxf5 0-0-0 14. Qc2 Nc5 15. 0-0 Ne6 16. Rad1 Bc5 17. Ne4 Bb4 18. Qc1 fxg3 19. hxg3 Rxd1 20. Rxd1 Rd8 21. Bh3 Kb8 22. Kg2 a5 23. b3 draw agreed (Kramnik-Morozevich, IT, Astana (Kazakhstan) 2001).

12. Ne4!?

• White introduces a new move. With some work, it might be worthwhile.
• 12. Qc1 0-0 13. 0-0 Be6 14. Nxe5 Nxe5 15. Nb5 Qb8 16. Nd4 Bd7 17. Rd1 Bf6 18. b4 draw agreed (D. Morovic-Spassky, Dortmund 1973).

12. -- 0-0

• 12. -- Bxc4 13. Bxe4 Bb4+ 14. Kf1 0-0-0 15. Kf2 f6 16. Qb3 appears to slightly favor White

13. Ned6?!

• The exchanges consequent to this move relaxes White's central presence.
• Better is either 13. 0-0 Be6 14. Nxe5 Nxe5 15. Qd4 f6 16. Ng5 fxg5 17. Bxe5 Rad8 18. Qc3 Bd6 with equality; or
• 13. Qd4 Bxe4 14. Bxe4 Bf6 15. 0-0 g5 16. Bxe5 Nxe5 17. Nxe5 Qxe5 18. Qxe5 Bxe5 19. Rad1 which contains the embryo of a drawn game.

13. -- Be6

• Balck gets the upper hand as a rsult of White's inaccuracy.
• Also good for Black is 13. -- Nxc4 14. Nxc4 Bb4+ 15. Kf1 Qd8 16. Bd6 Bxd6 17. Nxd6 Qf6 18. Nxb7 Rab8.

14. Nxe5 Nxe5 15. Bxe5 Rfd8 16. Qc2

• White tries to find some activity for his pieces. Black has an advantage in activity and mobility, although exchanges at d6 may be necessary to maintain it.
• 16. 0-0 Bxd6 17. Bxd6 Rxd6 18. Qc2 Qb6 19. Be4 h6 20. a5 Qb3 gives Black a small edge with control of the d-file.

16. -- Bxd6 17. Bc3

• After 17. Bxd6 Qxd6 18. 0-0 Qd2 19. Rfc1 Rd7 20. e3 Qxc2 21. Rxc2 Rad8 Black has firm command of the d-file.

17. -- a5

• Black does not want White to expand on the queenside, where she has a pawn majority of which she would like to take advantage.
• If 17. -- Bd5 then:
• 18. Bxd5 cxd5 then:
• 19. Qd3 Be5 20. 0-0 Bxc3 21. Rfc1 Qe5 22. Rxc3 give White an edge with his command of the c-file.
• 19. Rc1? Rac8 20. Qd2 Bxg3! 21. hxg3 d4! 22. Qg5 dxc3 gives Black command of impratant files and a greater ability to exploit them.
• 18. e4 18. -- Be6 19. 0-0 Qb6 20. a5 Qb5 21. f4 Rd7 22. Kh1 Rad8 give Black better command of open lines.

18. Be4 h6 19. 0-0 Bb4?!

• This inaccuracy allows White to equalize.
• Better is 19. -- Rd7 20. Rae1 Rad8 21. Rfd1 b6 22. Bh7+ Kh8 23. Be4 c5 24. b3 Be5 when Black emerges from the ensuing exchanges with command of open lines.

20. Rfd1 Bxc3 21. Qxc3 Qb6 22. Bc2

• The position is equal.
• White protects the a-pawn.
• If 22. e3 then:
• 22. -- Rxd1+ 23. Rxd1 Bb3 24. Rd4 is equal.
• after 22. -- Qb4 23. Qxb4 axb4 24. Bc2 both sides hold their ground.

22. -- Qb4 23. Qe5

• White tries to centralize his Queen.
• If 23.Qxb4 axb4 24.Rxd8+ Rxd8 25.Bd3 c5 then:
• 26.Rc1 b6 27.Kg2 Ra8 28.Bb5 Rd8 is level.
• after 26.Rd1 Kf8 27.Bc2 Rxd1+ 28.Bxd1 c4 29.Bc2 b6 Black's advanced pawns give her a small plus.
• else if 23. Rac1 Qxc3 24. Vxc3 b5 25. h4 Rxd1+ 26. Rxd1 Kf8 27. Rd6 Rc8 leaves Black with better pawn structure, but White has the more active Rook.

23. -- Re8 24. Qd4 Bc4

• Black is not ready to exchange Queens. If she can win a pawn, then it will be a different matter.
• 24. -- Qxd4 25. Rxd4 Rad8 26. Rad1 Rxd4 27. Rxd4 Bh3 28. f3 Kf8 is balanced.

25. e3 c5 26. Qh4 Be6

• Black makes his Queen mobile while attacking holes in White's position. White's response is almost forced.
• 26. -- Be2 27. Qxb4 axb4 28. Rd7 b6 29. Rb7 Reb8 gives Black a slight edge in piece activity.

27. Qxb4 axb4 28. a5 Ra7 29. Rd6

• White prepares to attack a pawn with 30. Rb6 and 31. Be4.
• If 29. f4 b3 30. Bd3 Bg4 31. Rdc1 Rxe3 32. Bf1 Ra8 33. Rxc5 then:
• 33. -- Rd8 34. Rc7 Rd2 35. Rd7 Rxb2 36. Rxb7 Ra2 is equal.
• 33. -- b6 34. Rb5 bxa5 35. Raxa5 Rxa5 36. Rxa5 allows White to amneuver more gracefully.

29. -- Kf8 30. Be4

• More accurate is 30. Rb6 Rd8 31. Be4 Rd7 32. Rb5 when:
• 32. -- b3 33. Rxc5 b6 34. Rc8+ Ke7 35. a6 Rxa6 36. Rxa6 Rd1+ 37. Kg2 Bxc8 38. Rxb6 Be6 is equal.
• 32. -- Ke7? 33. h4 f5 34. Bh1 Bd5 35. Rc1 give White a significant advantage in piece activity.

30. -- Rea8 31. Rc1?

• This is a waste of time since Black will capture on a5, protecting the pawn at c5.
• The Rook is put to better use by 31. Rad1 and then 31. -- Rxa5 32. Bxb7 R8a7 33. Bd5 Bxd5 34. R6xd5 c4 35. Rxa5 Rxa5 gives Black only the slightest edge in a Rook and pawn ending with her King closer to the center and her pawn duo more advnaced, but it's not enough to win.

31. -- Rxa5 32. Bxb7 Ra1 33. Rdd1

• Black is getting the upper hand. White must regroup his forces for defense.
• 33. Rxa1 Rxa1+ 34. Kg2 Ra2 35. Bd5 Rxb2 36. Bxe6 fxe6 37. Rc6 Rc2 gives Black an extra pawn and a strong, advancing duo.

33. -- Rxc1 34. Rxc1 Ra7?

• Black lets an opportunity slip.
• Correct is 34. -- Ra2 35. Rxc5 b3 36. Rc7 Rxb2 37. Be4 Bh3 38. Rb7 f5 and Black has a mating threat and a passed pawn.

35. Bf3 c4!

• Black sets up a breathtaking pawn sacrifice.
• Also good for Black is 35. -- Ra2 36. Rxc5 Rxb2 37. Kg2 Ke7 38. Rc7+ when:
• 38. -- Kd6?! 39. Rc6+ Ke7 40. Rb6 b3 41. Bd1
• 41. -- Rd2 42. Bxb3 Rb2 43. Bxe6 Rxb6 gives Black the material advantage, but with all the pawns on one side it will be difficult to exploit.
• 41. -- Rb1 42. Bf3 Rb2 43. Bd1 Rb1 give Black the initiative built around her c-pawn.
• after 38. -- Kf6 39. h4 b3 40. Rb7 Rd2 Black has the edge as her pawn become more dangerous.

36. Be2 c3 37. bxc3

Black: Pia Cramling
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White: Hans Tikkanen
Position after 37. b2xc3

37. -- b3!!

• This is the point of Black's 35th move. Taking the c-pawn simply won't work as it would leave Black a pawn down without compensation after 38. Rxc3. With the test move, she is down a pawn, but has one very lethel advanced passer as a result.
• After 37. -- bxc3? 38. Rxc3 Ra2 39. Kf1 Ke7 40. Bd3 g5 41. Rc2 Bh3+ 42. Ke2 Black has an extra pawn and Black's attack is kaput.
• Black has created a sharp position in which, if both sides play accurately, assures her of at least a draw.

38. Bd3?

• White does not play as accurately as he ought. This is too slow and clumsy a way to stop the b-pawn.
• Correct is 38. Rb1! Ra2 39. Kf1 Rc2 40. Bd3 Rd2 41. Be4 Bc4+ 42. Kg2 b2 with equality.
• Black will quietly drive her advantage home for the rest of the game.

38. -- Rd7 39. Bb1

• After 39. Be4 b2 40. Rb1 Rd2 41. Kf1 Ba2 42. Re1 Ke7 Black will activate her King by playing it to d6-c5-c4xd3.

39. -- Rd2 40. Kf1

• If 40. Re1 b2 41. Kg2 Ke7 then:
• 42. Kf3 Bc4 43. g4 then:
• after 43. -- Kd6 44. h4 Kc5 45. e4 Rd3+! 46. Bxd3 Bxd3 47. Ke3 b1Q 48. Rxb1 Bxb1 Black will be able to pick off White's pawns and advance her own.
• after 43. -- Ke6 44. h4 Kd6 45. Kg3 Bb3 46. f3 Kd5 47. g5 hxg5 48. hxg5 Kc4 the c-pawn falls and the b-pawn promotes.
• 42. e4 Bc4 43. Kf3 Rd3+ 44. Bxd3 Bxd3 45. Ke3 b1Q 46. Rxb1 Bxb1 Black's King moves up, the Bishop and King pick off pawns and Black will begin to advance her kingside.

40. -- Bc4+ 41. Kg2

• 41. Kg1 b2 42. Re1 Rd3! 43. Bxd3 Bxd3 44. f3 Ke7 then:
45. h4 45. -- Kd6 46. Kf2 Kc5 47. g4 Kc4 48. Kg3 b1Q 49. Rxb1 Bxb1 leaves the White King further from the center, making his position more dire than in any of the similar positions analyzed in the previous note.
• after 45. Kf2 Kd6 46. e4 b1Q 47. Rxb1 Bxb1 48. Ke3 Kc5 the c-pawn is doomed and Bishop should carry the day over White's extra pawn.

41. -- Be2!

• Black makes the best move. Her plan is to tie down White's piece to the b-pawn and bring the King into the attack in White's queenside quadrant.
• Other moves are less effecitve:
• 41. -- Bd3?! 42. Bxd3 Rxd3 43. c4 allows White to develop some counterplay while Black takes time to stop the c-pawn.
• 41. -- b2 42. Re1 Bd5+ 43. e4 Bc4 44. g4 Ke7 45. h4 g6 leads to an advantageous position for Black with a Rook against two pawns, but White will have time to bring his King to the center giving him drawing chances; for example: 46. Kf3 Rd3+ 47. Bxd3 Bxd3 48. Ke3 b1Q 49. Rxb1 Bxb1.

42. Re1

• If 42. Rg1 Ke7 43. h4 b2 then:
• after 44. Kh3 Kd6 45. Re1 Kc5 46. Kg2 Kc4 47. Ba2+ Kxc3 Black wins by queening the pawn either by 48. Bxf7 Bd3 49. g4 b1Q 50. Rxb1 Bxb1 or 48. e4 Rc2 threatening 49. -- Rc1.
• after 45. Ba2 Bf3 46. g4 Bd5 47. c4 Be6 48. Kg3 Kc5 49. f3 Black wins by 49. -- Rc2! 50. Rg2 Rxg2 51. Kxg2 Bxc4!
• after 44. Ba2 f6 45. Re1 Kd6 46. Rg1 Kc5 47. Re1 Rc2! Black wins by 48. Bb1 Rc1 49. Rxe2 Rxb1.

42. -- Ke7 43. g4

• If 43. Be4 then:
• 43. -- b2 44. h3 Kd6 45. Bb1 Kc5 46. h4 Kc4 47. Ba2+ Kxc3 is the same position as the red variation in the note to White's 42nd move.
• ]font color="darkred"44. h4 Kd6 45. Rb1 Ke5 46. Bh7 g6 47. Bg8 Kf6 imprisons White's Bishop, allowing Black to drive the Rook out of the queening square.
• 43. -- Bd1 44. h4 Kd6 45. g4 Kc5 46. Kg3 Kc4 allows Black to bring her King in to escort the pawn.

43. -- Bxg4 44. Be4

• After 44. Rg1 b2 45. Kg3 Be2 46. h4 g6 47. Kf4 Kd6 48. f3 Kc5 49. Ba2 Rc2 Black wins.

44. -- Bd1 45. Kg3 Kd6 46. f3

• After 46. h4 Bc2 47. Bxc2 Rxc2 48. Rb1 b2 49. f4 Kd5 50. f5 Kc4 Black wins.

46. -- Kc5 47. Kf4 Bc2 48. 0-1

• After 48. Bxc2 Rxc2 49. Rb1 Kc4 50. Ke5 Kxc3 followed by 51. -- b2 is lights out.
• Hans Tikkanen resigns.
• Pia has given us in the game a first rate object lesson in exploiting a pawn majority.