The JR Chess Report (August 9): Arctic Open ends in four-way tie, Mrs. Socko with best tiebreaks

[Jack Rabbit]

Monika Socko, Young Yank Robson, Petrov & Berg Share First in Arctic



Polish grandmaster Monika Socko, 14-year-old American international master Ray Robson, IM Marijan Petrov of Bulgaria and reigning Swedish national champion Emanuel Berg tied for first place in the fourth annual Arctic Chess Challange that finshed a few minutes ago in Tromsø, a town on the Arctic coast of Norway.

Mrs. Socko (pronounced ZOTCH koh) becomes the second woman this year to share first place in a major mixed-gender Swiss system tournament. In May, Indian GM Koneru Humpy shared first in the Mayor's Cup in Mumbai. It appears at this writing that Mrs. Socko will take home the trophy with the superior tiebreak score.

Each member of the foursome finished with 7 points in nine rounds. The tournament's top seed, Polish GM Bertosz Socko, finished with 6 points, a full point behind his wife.

One other member of the Socko family competed in Tromsø. Seven-year-old Szymon Socko scored two points with two victories.



The Chess-Playing Socko Family of Poland
Photo: ChessBase.com


Grand Prix Tournament Begins in Armenia



The FIDE Grand Prix started its most recent leg in the Armenian town of Jermuk today.

Fourteen of the world's leading grandmasters are participating: Vladimir Akipian, Evgeny Alekseev, Levon Aronian, Etienne Bacrot, Ivan Cheparinov, Pavel Eljanov, Boris Gelfand, Ernesto Inarkiev, Vassily Ivanchuk, Dmitry Jakovenko, Gata Kamsky, Sergey Karjakin, Rustam Kasimdzhanov and Peter Leko.

The tournament in a thirteen game single round robin and runs through August 24.


Simpson's Divan Hosts Staunton Memorial



The seventh annual Howard Staunton Memorial Tournament got underway yesterday at Simpson's Divan in London.

This year's edition of the Stuanton is divided into two groups: a Scheveningen team tournament between Britain and Holland and the traditional round robin among ten players.

The event lasts through August 17.



Calendar

International Festival d'échecs, Montreal 27 August-7 September. Grandmaster Tournament will include Bacrot, Onischuk, Shulman, Naiditsch and Maze; more to be added.

Grand Slam Final, Bilbao 2-15 September. Topalov, Karjakin, Grischuk and Shirov qualify. Topalov dropped and will be replaced by Aronian.

Second Pearl Spring Tournament, Nanjing 27 September-9 October. Topalov, Anand, Carlsen, Radjabov, Jakovenko and Wang Yue.

World Junior Championship, Mar del Plata (Argentina) 16-29 October.

European Club Cup (Team Championship), Novi Sad (Serbia) 21-31 October.

World Cup, Khanty Mansiysk 28 November-15 December.

London Chess Classic 7-16 December.

Corus Chess Tournament, Wijk aan Zee 15-31 January 2010. Nakamura has been invited to play in group A.

Anand-Topalov Match for the World Title, Site TBA c. April 2010.

[Jack Rabbit]

1. This week's games

Your humble hare acknowledges the assistance of Fritz 6.0 on analysis.

Diagrams on the Jack Rabbit Chess Report are made with Chess Mérida, a true type font that can be downlaoded free here.

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

[Jack Rabbit]

2. Arctic Chess Challenge, Tromsø

Tromsø
Photo by Susan Polgar, Picasa

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Turner - M. Socko, Round 5

Monika Socko
Photo: ChessBase.com

To view this game:

• Please click here;
• Then click on Res2 (between PGN and Games;
• Find Monika Socko in the name column and click on her 5th round result;
• Wait for the new page to load and enjoy!

Matthew Turner - Monika Socko
Arctic Chess Challenge, Round 5
Tromsø, 5 August 2009

Closed Sicilian Game: Saragossa Opening (Alapin Opening)

1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Be3

• 5.Nf3 e6 6.Be3 cxd4 7.cxd4 Nc6 transposes into the next note.

5...cxd4 6.cxd4 Bg4

• If 6...e6 7.Nf3 Nc6 8.Nc3 Qd6 9.a3 Be7 10.Bd3 0-0 then:
• If 11.0-0 b6 12.Qe2 Bb7 13.Rad1 then:
• If 13...Rad8 14.Bb1 Rfe8 15.Rfe1 Qb8 16.Bg5 g6 17.Ba2 Nh5 18.d5 exd5 19.Rxd5 Bf8 20.Qd2 Rxd5 21.Nxd5 Rxe1+ 22.Qxe1 h6 23.Bd2 Qd8 24.Bc3 Bg7 25.Bxg7 Kxg7 26.Qc3+ Nf6 27.h3 Qd6 28.Ne3 draw (Lim Yee Weng-Li Ruofan, Op, Kuala Lampur, 2008).
• 13...Rfd8 14.Rfe1 Rac8 15.Bb1 Qb8 16.Bg5 Rd7 17.d5 Nxd5 18.Nxd5 exd5 19.Bf5 Rcd8 20.Bxd7 Rxd7 21.Bxe7 Nxe7 22.Ne5 gives White the material advantage and the initiative (Pavasovic-Podkriznik, Slovenian Ch, Kran, 1999).
• 11.Qc2 Bd7 12.0-0 Rac8 13.Rad1 Rfd8 14.Rfe1 Be8 15.Bg5 h6 16.Bc1 Kh8 is equal (Rozenthalis-Shneider, Soviet Ch, Leningrad, 1990).

7.Ne2

• 7.f3 Bd7 8.Nc3 Qa5 9.Bc4 e6 10.Nge2 Bc6 11.a3 Bd6 12.Rc1 0-0 13.0-0 Nbd7 14.Qe1 Qd8 15.Bd3 Re8 16.Ne4 Be7 is equal (Antonio-Motylev, Op, Minneapolis, 2005).

7...Nc6!?

• 7...e6 8.h3 Bxe2 9.Bxe2 Nc6 10.0-0 Be7 11.Nc3 Qd7 12.Bf3 Nb4 13.Qb3 0-0 14.Rac1 is equal (Charbonneau-Teplitsky, IT, Bermuda, 2001).

8.Nbc3

• The game is equal.

8...Qa5 9.h3 Bf5

• 9...Bh5 10.Qb3 Qb4 11.Nf4 Qxb3 12.axb3 e6 13.g4 remains equal.
• 9...Bd7 10.Rc1 e5 11.dxe5 Nxe5 12.Nf4 Bb4 13.a3 remains equal.

10.a3 e6 11.g4 Bg6

• 11...Be4!? 12.b4 Qc7 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Bg2 Nf6 15.Qa4 gives White the advantage in space.

12.Bg2 Bd6!?

• Black has a plan of concentrating of the kingside, but that leaves her queenside vulnerable.
• If 12...Rc8 13.Nf4 Be7 14.Rc1 Be4 15.b4 Nxb4 then:
• 16.Nxe4 Nd3+ 17.Kf1 Nxc1 18.Bxc1 Nxe4 19.Bxe4 Bxa3 gives Black a material advantage.
• 16.Bxe4 Na2 17.Bxb7 Rxc3 18.Rxc3 Qxc3+ 19.Kf1 Qxa3 gives Black an extra pawn.

13.0-0

• 13.b4 Qd8 14.b5 Na5 15.Nf4 Qc7 16.Nxg6 hxg6 remains equal.
• 13.Qb3 Rb8 14.g5 Ne4 15.Rd1 Nxc3 16.Qxc3 Qa4 remains equal.

13...0-0

• 13...Rc8 14.b4 Qd8 15.g5 Nd7 16.d5 exd5 17.Qxd5 gives White the advantage in space

14.Qb3!?

• The game remains equal.
• 14.b4 Qc7 15.Nb5 Qd7 16.Nxd6 Qxd6 17.d5 gives White the advantage in space

14...Qa6 15.Nb5 Rfd8 16.Nec3 Rac8 17.Rac1

• 17.Nxd6!? Rxd6 18.Rfd1 Bd3 19.g5 Nd7 20.d5 exd5 gives Black a small advantage in space.

17...Na5

• If 17...Be7 18.g5 Nd7 19.d5 then:
• If 19...Na5 20.Qa2 Nc4 21.dxe6 then:
• 21...Qxe6 22.Nxa7 Ra8 23.Bxb7 Qxh3 24.Qxc4 Bd6 25.Rfd1 is equal.
• 21...Nxe3 22.fxe3 Qxe6 23.Qxe6 fxe6 24.h4 is equal.
• If 19...Nce5 20.Nxa7 then:
• 20...Nc5 21.Nxc8 Nxb3 22.Nxe7+ Kh8 23.Nxg6+ Nxg6 is equal.
• If 20...Rc4? 21.Qb5 exd5 22.Nxd5 then:
• 22...Bd6 23.Nf4 Be4 24.Qxa6 bxa6 25.Rxc4 Nxc4 26.Bxe4 wins a piece for White.
• 22...Bc5 23.Rxc4 Bxa7 24.Ne7+ Kf8 25.Nxg6+ hxg6 wins the exchange for White.

18.Qa4 Bb8 19.b3

• If 19.g5 then 19...Nd7 20.Rfe1 Nb6 21.Qd1 Nbc4 22.b4 Nb2 gives Black the advantage in space and the more active game.

19...Nc6 20.Rfd1 Ne7 21.Bg5 Qb6 22.d5 Nexd5

• 22...exd5 23.Be3 Qe6 24.Nxa7 Bxa7 25.Qxa7 Rd7 26.Nb5 is equal.

23.Nxd5 exd5 24.Be3

BLACK: Monika Socko
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WHITE: Matthew Turner
Position after 24.Bg5e3

24...Rxc1!?

• Black sets a trap, which also involves the consequential sacrifice of a pawn..

25.Rxc1!

• White doesn't fall in it.
• 25.Bxb6?? Rxd1+!! 26.Bf1 axb6 27.Nc3 Re1 28.Qd4 Be5 gives Black more than enough material for the Queen.

25...Qe6

• As a consequence, White wins the a- and b-pawns.

26.Bxa7 Bxa7 27.Qxa7 Ne4 28.Qxb7 Qf6 29.Rf1

• After 29.Bxe4 Bxe4 30.Qc7 h5 31.Nd4 hxg4 32.hxg4 White remains up a pawn.

29...Nd2 30.Rd1?

• White lets the equalibrium slip.
• After 30.Re1 Be4 31.Qc7 h6 32.Re3 Qa1+ 33.Kh2 Nf1+ White remains up a pawn.

BLACK: Monika Socko
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WHITE: Matthew Turner
Position after 30.Rf1d1

30...Nf3+!

• Black seizes the initiative that lasts to the end of the game.

31.Kh1

• 31.Bxf3?? Qxf3! 32.Rxd5 Qxd5 33.Qxd5 Rxd5 gives Black an extra piece.

31...Bc2 32.Rf1 Bd3

• 32...Bxb3 33.g5 Nxg5 34.Nc7 Bc4 35.Nxd5 Bxd5 36.Bxd5 Nxh3 gives Black an extra pawn.

33.Rc1 Bxb5 34.Qxb5 Qf4 35.Bxf3

• This is obviously forced.

35...Qxc1+!

• Black should guard against overconfidence.
• If 35...Qxf3+? 36.Kg1 Rf8 37.Qd7 Qxb3 then:
• 38.Rc8 Qb1+ 39.Kh2 Qb6 40.Kg3 d4 41.Kf4 h6 42.Rxf8+ is equal.
• If 38.a4 Qxh3 39.Rc8 g6 40.Rxf8+ Kxf8 41.Qd6+ then:
• If 41...Ke8 then:
• 42.Qe5+ Kf8 43.Qd6+ Ke8 draws by repetition.
• 42.Qg3 Qxg3+ 43.fxg3 Kd7 44.g5 Kc6 45.Kf2 Kc5 46.Ke3 Kc4 47.Kd2 Kb4 48.Kd3 Kxa4 49.Kd4 draws.
• 41...Kg7 42.Qg3 Qh6 43.Qe5+ Kf8 44.Qxd5 gives White a small advantage, but it prbably isn't enough.

36.Kg2 d4 37.Qb6

• If 37.a4 d3 38.Qb6 Qg5 then:
• 39.b4 39...d2 40.a5 d1Q 41.Bxd1 Rxd1 42.Qb7 h5 Black's extra piece wins.
• If 39.Bd1 d2 40.b4 Qd5+ 41.f3 Re8 then:
• 42.a5 Qe5 43.Qc6 g5 44.Qe4 Qb5 45.Qd4 Re1 wins for Black.
• If 42.Qa6 h6 43.Qb6 Re1 then:
• 44.Qb8+ Kh7 45.Qb5 Qxb5 46.Bc2+ Kg8 47.axb5 Rc1 48.Ba4 d1Q is an easy win for Black.
• If 44.Qc7 then Black wins after 44...g6 45.Qc8+ Kg7 46.Qc2 Qd4.

BLACK: Monika Socko
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WHITE: Matthew Turner
Position after 37.Qb5b6

37...Qg5!

• The Queen covers the Rook which supports the passed pawn.

38.a4 d3 39.a5 d2 40.Bd1

• If 40.a6 then after 40...d1Q 41.Bxd1 Rxd1 42.Qb7 Qd5+ 43.Qxd5 Rxd5 44.b4 Rd2 the Rook snaps up the queenside pawns and Black wins.

40...Qd5+ 41.Kg3 g6

• If 41...Qe5+ then Black wins a pawn after 42.Kg2 Rb8 43.Qa7 Qd5+ 44.f3 Ra8.

42.b4 Re8 43.a6 Qh1 44.Ba4 Qa1!!

• Also winning is 44...d1Q! 45.Bxd1 Qxd1 46.a7 Qg1+ 47.Kf3.

45.Bxe8 Qe5+ 46.Kg2 Qe4+ 47.Kg3 d1Q 0-1

• Mr. Turner resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. Robson - Urkedal, Round 4

Ray Rabson, 14, is a bright rising star in American chess. His father is an American professor and his mother is a nurse from Guam. The family lives in Florida.



Ray Robson
Photo: ChessBase.com
To view this game:

• Please click here;
• Then click on Res2 (between PGN and Games);
• Find Ray Robson in the name column and click on his 4th round result;
• Wait for the new page to load and enjoy!

Ray Robson - Frode Olav Olsen Urkedal
Arctic Chess Challenge, Round 4
Tromsø, 4 August 2009

Open Sicilian Game: Najdorf-Scheveningen Defense (Chandler-Nunn Opening)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e6

• For 6...e5 and 6...Ng4 see Domínguez-Wojtaszek, Capablanca Mem, Havana, 2008.

7.g4

• If 7.f3 then:
• If 7...b5 8.g4 h6 9.Qd2 Nbd7 10.0-0-0 Bb7 then:
• If 11.h4 b4 12.Na4 Qa5 13.b3 Nc5 14.a3 then:
• 14...Nxa4 15.axb4 Qc7 16.bxa4 d5 17.b5 dxe4 18.bxa6 Bxa6 19.Bxa6 Rxa6 20.Nb5 Qc8 21.Bf4 Nd5 22.fxe4 Nxf4 23.Qxf4 gives White a great deal more space (Ivanchuk-van Wely, Amber Rapid, Monte Carlo, 2004).
• 14...Rc8 15.Qxb4 Qc7 16.Kb1 d5 17.Nxc5 Bxc5 18.Qa4+ Kf8 19.Bd3 dxe4 20.Bxa6 Bxa6 21.Qxa6 Nd5 22.Nb5 gives White more space and the initiative (Lafarga-Schoonhoven, cyberspace, 2003).
• 11.Bd3 Ne5 12.Rhe1 Rc8 13.Kb1 Nfd7 14.f4 Nc4 15.Qe2 Nxe3 16.Qxe3 b4 17.Nd5 g5 18.Nf5 Rg8 gives White the advantage in space; Black should seek exchanges (Morozevich-Topalov, IT, Frankfurt, 1999).
• 7...Nc6 8.Qd2 Be7 9.0-0-0 0-0 10.g4 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 b5 12.g5 Nd7 13.h4 Qc7 14.Kb1 b4 15.Na4 Bb7 16.b3 Bc6 17.Nb2 a5 18.h5 Ne5 19.Be2 f5 is even (Leko-Svidler, IT, Morelia-Linares, 2006).

7...h6

• 7...d5 8.exd5 Nxd5 9.Bd2 Bc5 10.Nb3 Bb6 11.Bg2 0-0 12.Qf3 a5 13.a4 Nc6 14.0-0 Ndb4 15.Rad1 Qe7 16.Qe4 e5 17.Nd5 Nxd5 18.Qxd5 Nb4 19.Qb5 Ra6 gives White the advantage in space (Drasic-Yilmaz, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).

8.Bg2 Nc6 9.h3 Be7

• If 9...Ne5 10.Qe2 g5 11.0-0-0 then:
• 11...Qc7 12.Nf3 Ng6 13.h4 Nxg4 14.hxg5 Bd7 15.Bd2 Rc8 16.Nd4 Qc4 17.Qxg4 Qxd4 18.Be3 gives White a stron initiative (T. Kosintseva-Vachier Lagrave, Corus B, Wijk aan Zee, 2007).
• 11...Bd7 12.f4 gxf4 13.Bxf4 Qc7 14.Nf3 Be7 15.Qf2 0-0-0 16.Nxe5 dxe5 17.Be3 Be8 18.Bb6 Black resigns in the face of devastating material loss (Movsesian-Mirumian, World Youth, Zagan, 1997).

10.f4

• 10.Qe2 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 e5 12.Be3 Be6 13.0-0-0 Rc8 14.Nd5 Bxd5 15.exd5 Nd7 16.Kb1 0-0 is equal (Ragger-Vallejo, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).

10...Qc7 11.Qe2 Nxd4

• If 11...Bd7 12.0-0-0 Rc8 13.Qf2 b5 then:
• 14.Nb3 g5 15.e5 dxe5 16.fxg5 hxg5 17.Rhf1 Nd8 18.Bb6 gives Black an extra pawn and White more space (Cardelli-Glaser, Corres, 2001).
• 14.g5 hxg5 15.fxg5 Nh7 16.Nxc6 Bxc6 17.h4 b4 18.Ne2 Ba4 19.Nd4 e5 20.Nb3 is equal (Rosen-Hort, Bundesliga 8081, Germany, 1981).

12.Bxd4 e5 13.Be3 exf4 14.Bxf4 0-0

• 14...Be6 15.0-0-0 Nd7 16.Nd5 Bxd5 17.exd5 Ne5 18.Bxe5 dxe5 19.h4 Bd6 20.Be4 gives White the advantage in space (Nepomniachtchi-Zabotin, City Op, Moscow, 2006).

15.0-0-0 Be6 16.e5!?

• 16.Qd3 Rad8 17.Kb1 b5 18.Nd5 Bxd5 19.exd5 Rfe8 gives White the advantage in space (Tukhaev-Mihok, Euro Ch, Plovdiv, 2008).

16...dxe5

• White has the advantage in space.

17.Bxe5

• White eschews risking an exchange of Queens, allowing Black better chances to equalize.
• If 17.Qxe5! then:
• 17...Qb6 18.Be3 Qb4 19.a3 Qc4 20.Bxb7 gives White an extra pawn.
• 17...Qxe5?! 18.Bxe5 Ra7 19.Bd4 b6 20.Bxb6 wins a pawn.

17...Qb6 18.Bd4

• 18.Rhe1!? Rfd8 19.Qf3 Rxd1+ 20.Rxd1 Rd8 21.Kb1 is equal.

18...Qc7 19.Qf2 Rac8

• 19...Rfd8 20.Bb6 Rxd1+ 21.Rxd1 Qc8 22.Kb1 Rb8 23.Qg3 gives White a more active game.

20.Bb6 Qb8

• 20...Qe5 21.Rhe1 Qb8 22.Kb1 Rfe8 gives White more space.

21.Rhe1!?

• The game is equal.21.Kb1! Rc4 22.Rd3 Rfc8 23.Rhd1 Qa8 24.Qg3 gives White the advantage in space.

21...Rc4 22.Bf1 Rc6 23.Bd4 Qc8

• 23...Rd8 24.Bg2 Rcd6 25.Bb6 Rxd1+ 26.Nxd1 Rd7 27.Nc3 remains equal.

24.Bd3 Bc5 25.Rf1 Bxd4

• 26.Bxc5 Rxc5 27.Qd4 Nd7 28.Qe4 Nf8 29.Rfe1 remains equal.

26.Qxd4 Bc4?

• Black allows White to take the initiative by weakening Black's kingside pawns.
• 26...Re8 27.Kb1 Qd7 28.Qxd7 Nxd7 29.Rfe1 Nc5 30.Bf1 remains equal.

BLACK: Frode Olav Olsen Urkedal
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WHITE: Ray Robson
Position after 26...Be6c4

27.Rxf6!!

• The exchange sacrfice signals the beginning of the end.

27...gxf6

• If 27...Rxf6 then White wins after 28.Bxc4 b5 29.Bd3 Re8 30.Ne4 Rfe6 31.Nd6.

28.Be4! Rc7

• Black gets a more stubborn defense from 28...Re6! 29.Bf5 when:
• If 29...Kg7 30.b3 Bb5 31.Bxe6 then:
• If 31...fxe6 32.Nxb5 axb5 33.Qb6 then:
• 33...Rf7 34.Qxb5 Rc7 35.c4 Rc6 36.a3 Qc7 37.Rd2 White has an extra pawn.
• 33...Qc6 34.Rd6 Qh1+ 35.Kb2 Rf7 36.Rxe6 Qxh3 37.Qd4 White is clearly better.
• 31...Qxe6 32.Ne4 Qe5 33.Nd6 Qxd4 34.Rxd4 Bc6 35.c4 gives White a winning edge.
• If 29...Qc6 30.b3 Bb5 31.Qd2 Kg7 32.Bxe6 then:
• 32...Qxe6 33.a4 Bc6 34.Ne2 Kh7 35.Nd4 Qe5 36.c3 gives White a strong game, but he still hasn't shut down Black's counterplay.
• 32...fxe6 33.a4 wins the Bishop

29.Bf5 Be6 30.Nd5 Bxf5 31.gxf5

• 31.Nxf6+!? Kh8 32.Ne8+ f6 33.Nxc7 Bxc2 34.Kxc2 Qxc7+ 35.Kb1 invites Black to counter on the kingside.

31...Rxc2+ 32.Kb1 Qc5

• 32...Qc4 33.Rg1+ Kh7 34.Nxf6+ Kh8 35.Qe3 Qh4 36.Nd7 wins for White.

33.Rg1+ Kh7 34.Qg4! 1-0

BLACK: Frode Olav Olsen Urkedal
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WHITE: Ray Robson
Final Position after 34.Qd4g4

• Black is soon mated.
• Frode resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Pan-American Championship, São Paulo

São Paulo
Photo: Brazilian Tourist Ministry via Theodora.com

[Jack Rabbit]

7. Shabolov - Vescovi, Round 8

Alex Shabalov
Photo: ChessBase.com

To view this game:

• Please click here and select the game Shabalov,A - Vescovi,G
• Enjoy!

Alex Shabalov - Giovanni Vescovi
Pan-American Championship, Round 8
São Paulo, 31 July 2009

Spanish Grand Royal Game: Marshall Gambit

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3

• The Marshall Gambit is easily evaded. Common moves to veto the Marshall Gambit are 8...a4, 8...d4 and 8...h3.
Former world champion Garry Kasparov paid the Marshall his greatest compliment by never allowing it to be played against him.

8...d5

BLACK: Giovanni Vescovi
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WHITE: Alex Shabalov
Position after 8...d7d5

• Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the Marshall Gambit.

9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Rxe5 c6

• 11...Nf6 12.Re1 Bd6 13.h3 Ng4 14.Qf3 Qh4 15.d4 Nxf2 16.Re2 Bg4 17.hxg4 Bh2+ 18.Kf1 leaves White up by a Bishop, but his King is badly exposed and under attack Capablanca-Marshall, Manhattan CC Ch, New York, 1918).

12.d4

• If 12.d3 Bd6 13.Re1 then:
• If 13...Qh4 14.g3 Qh3 15.Re4 then:
• If 15...Qf5 16.Nd2 Qg6 17.Re1 f5 then:
• 18.Qf3 Kh8 19.Bd1 f4 20.g4 h5 21.h3 Nf6 22.Qg2 hxg4 23.hxg4 White maintains the extra pawn (J. Polgar-Adams, IT, Dos Hermanas, 1999).
• 18.a4 Rb8 19.axb5 axb5 20.Ne4 fxe4 21.dxe4 Bg4 22.Qd4 Bf3 23.exd5 c5 24.Qh4 Rbe8 25.Be3 Qf5 26.Rac1 Be4 27.Bd1 Bxd5 28.Bc2 White retains the extra pawn (Anand-Adams, IT, Dortmund, 2000).
• 15...Qd7 16.Nd2 Bb7 17.Re1 c5 18.Ne4 Be7 19.a4 b4 20.Bg5 Bxg5 21.Nxg5 bxc3 22.bxc3 Rad8 23.Ne4 Qc6 24.Qh5 gives White the extra pawn and the advantage in space (J. Polgar-Adams, IT, Tilburg, 1997).
• If 13...Bf5 14.Qf3 then:
• If 14...Qh4 15.g3 Qh3 16.Bxd5 cxd5 17.Qxd5 Rad8 18.Qg2 Qxg2+ 19.Kxg2 Bxd3 20.Be3 then:
• 20...Rfe8 21.Nd2 b4 22.Bb6 Rxe1 23.Rxe1 Rb8 24.Ba5 White retains the pawn (Shirov-Leko, IT. Morelia/Linares, 2008).
• 20...Be4+ 21.f3 Bc6 22.Nd2 Rfe8 23.Bd4 Rxe1 24.Rxe1 White retains the pawn (Leko-Naiditsch, IT, Dortmund, 2008).
• 14...Re8 15.Rxe8+ Qxe8 16.Nd2 Qe1+ 17.Nf1 Bg6 18.g3 Re8 19.Bd1 Qe6 20.Bd2 Qh3 21.a4 b4 22.Rc1 h6 23.c4 Ne7 24.d4 Qd7 25.Be3 c5 26.dxc5 Be5 27.Qe2 Nc6 28.a5 Nxa5 is equal (Dolmatov-Kamsky, IT, Dortmund, 1993).
• If the move order introduced by Anand 12.Re1 Bd6 13.g3 then:
• 13...Bf5 14.d4 Qd7 15.Be3 Rae8 is stereotypically unclear for the Marshall: White has the pawn and Black has better development, more space and the initiative (Anand-Svidler, World Ch Trmt, Mexico City, 2007).
• 13...Re8 14.d4 Rxe1+ 15.Qxe1 Ra7 16.Be3 Re7 17.Nd2 Qe8 18.Nf1 is also unclear (Anand-Aronian, IT, Morelia-Linares, 2008).

12...Bd6 13.Re1 Qh4 14.g3 Qh3 15.Re4

• If 15.Qe2 Bg4 16.Qf1 then:
• If 16...Qh5 17.Nd2 Rae8 then:
• If 18.f3 Rxe1 19.Qxe1 Bxf3 20.Nxf3 Qxf3 21.Bd2 then:
• 21...Qg4 22.Qd1 Qd7 23.Qf3 Nb6 24.Rf1 Nc4 25.Bc1 c5 26.Bxc4 bxc4 is equal (Volokitin-Kurnosov, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2008).
• 21...h5 22.Qd1 Qf5 23.Bc2 Qh3 24.Qf3 g6 25.Bh6 Re8 26.Rf1 is equal (Caruana-Negi, Corus C, Wijk aan Zee, 2008).
• 18.Rxe8 Rxe8 19.f3 Bf5 20.Ne4 Bc7 21.Bd2 Qg6 22.Re1 Bxe4 23.Rxe4 Rxe4 24.Bc2 f5 25.fxe4 fxe4 26.Qg2 Nf6 is equal (Svidler-Leko, World Ch Trmt, Mexico City, 2007).
• 16...Rae8 17.Rxe8 Qxf1+ 18.Kxf1 Rxe8 gives White an extra pawn, but Black bewtter development and the more active game (Volokitin-Inarkiev, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).
• 15.Be3 Bg4 16.Qd3 Rae8 17.Nd2 Re6 18.a4 Qh5 19.axb5 axb5 20.Qf1 Bh3 21.Qe2 Bg4 22.Qf1 Bh3 23.Qe2 Bg4 draw (J. Polgar-Dr. Nunn, Munich, 1991).

15...g5 16.Qf1 Qh5 17.Nd2 f5

• 17...Bf5 18.f3 Nf6 19.Qg2 Qg6 20.Re3 Nd5 21.Re1 Rae8 22.Qf2 Nf4!! 23.gxf4 gxf4+ 24.Kh1 Rxe1+ 25.Qxe1 Kh8 26.Qg1 Qh5 27.Qf2 Rg8 28.Bd1 Bh3 29.Be2 Be7 30.Bd3 Bh4 31.Qe2 Qg5 32.Qe5+ Qxe5 33.dxe5 Bf2 White resigns (Shomoev-Grischuk, Russian ChT, Sochi, 2008).

18.Bd1

• Move order can be important here.
• 18.Re1 f4 19.Bd1? f3! 20.Ne4 Bh3 21.Qd3 Rae8 22.Bd2 Rxe4!! 23.Qxe4 Bxg3 24.Bxf3 Bxh2+ 25.Kxh2 Bg4+ 26.Kg1 Bxf3 27.Qe6+ Kg7 28.Qe5+ Rf6 29.Qh2 Rh6 White resigns (Vachier Lagrave-Svidler, IT, San Sebastián, 2009).[/li>

18...Qh6 19.Re1 f4 20.Ne4 Bh3!?

• 20...Bc7 then:
• 21.Bf3 Bh3 22.Qd3 Rf7 23.Bd2 Raf8 24.Bh1 Rg7 25.Bf3 Rgf7 26.Bh1 Rg7 27.Bf3 Rgf7 draw (Svidler-Leko, IT, Morelia-Linares, 2007).
• 21.Bd2 Bf5 22.Nc5 Bd6 23.Bf3 Kh8 24.Nb7 Bb8 25.a4 WHite retains the extra pawn (Galkin-Nielsen, Euro Ch, Dresden, 2007).
• 21.f3 Bh3 22.Qf2 g4 23.fxg4 Qg6 24.Qc2 Rae8 White has two extra pawns but Black has the active game (Negi-Kosteniuk, Rpd, Cap d'Agde, 2006).

21.Qe2

• The game has developed into the usual unclear battle between White's extra pawn and Black's initiative.

21...Rae8 22.Qh5

• 22.Qd2 Re7 23.Nxd6 Qxd6 24.Re2 Rfe8 25.Qd3 remains unclear.

22...Qxh5 23.Bxh5 Re6

• 23...Rxe4!? 24.Rxe4 Nf6 25.Bf3 Nxe4 26.Bxe4 c5 27.Bd2 solves White's development problems without giving up the pawn.

24.Bd2 Be7?

• Black slips trying to avoid exchanges in order to keep the game complicated.
• If 24...Rxe4 then after 25.Rxe4 Nf6 26.Bf3 Bg4 27.Bh1 White's pawn grows in importance as piece go back in the box.

BLACK: Giovanni Vescovi
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Alex Shabalov
Position after 24...Bd6e7

25.g4!

• Black's Bishop has no escape from behind enemy lines.

25...f3!

• Black has little hope of salvaging the game, but it helps to confine the White King to the back rank.
• 25...Kg7 26.f3! Rh6 (Black sacrifices the exchange to free the Bishop) 27.a4 b4 28.Nf2! (White gives Black only enough time to free the Bishop) 28...Rxh5 29.gxh5 Bf5 30.c4! wins easily for White.

26.Nxg5 Rxe1+ 27.Rxe1 Bxg5 28.Bxg5 b4

• 28...Kg7 29.Re6 Nf4 30.Re7+ Kh8 31.Bxf4 Rxf4 32.Re8+ leaves White two pawns to the good and Black's Bishop still can't move.

29.cxb4

• Conceding to the breakup of the queenside pawns is the simplest route to a win.
• If 29.Bh6!? bxc3 then:
• 30.bxc3 Rb8 31.g5 Bg2 32.Bg4 Nxc3 33.Be6+ Kh8 gets Black off the hook.
• 30.Bxf8? Nf4! 31.Bb4 cxb2! 32.Re8+ Kg7 33.Bf8+ Kf6! forces White to draw by repetition.

29...Nf4

• The text is better than 29...Nxb4 30.Bh6 Rd8 31.Re7 Nd5 32.Rb7 when:
• 32...Nf6 33.Bf7+ Kh8 34.Be6 Nh5 35.Re7 leaves Black no choice but to fall on his sword.
• If 32...Kh8 then after 33.Bg7+ Kg8 34.Be5 Bg2 35.Rg7+ Kf8 36.Rxh7 Black is battered.

30.Bxf4 Rxf4 31.g5 Bg4

• 31...Rxd4 32.Bxf3 Rxb4 33.Bxc6 Rxb2 34.a3 still leaves White two pawns up.

32.Bxg4 Rxg4+ 33.Kf1 Rxd4 34.a3 Kf7

• If 34...Rd5 35.Rc1 then:
• 35...Rd2 36.h4 Rxb2 37.Ke1 Re2+ 38.Kd1 Rxf2 39.Rc3 Black's f-pawn is doomed.
• 35...Rxg5 36.Rxc6 Rd5 37.Ke1 Re5+ 38.Kd1 wins for White.

35.Rc1 Rd2 36.Kg1 Kg6

• What is keeping Black in the game is that the White Rook cannot leave the back rank because of the mating threat.
• 36...Rxb2 37.h4! (removing the threat of a backrank mate) 37...Rb3 38.Rxc6 Rxa3 39.Kh2 leaves White with an easy win.

BLACK: Giovanni Vescovi
!""""""""#
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Alex Shabalov
Position after 36...Kf7g6

37.Rxc6+!!

• White sacrifices a pawn to activate the Rook. If this move did not check the Black King, it would be disastrous for White.

37...Kxg5 38.h3!

• White uses the tempo gained to remove Black's mating threat for good.

38...Rxb2 39.Rxa6 h5 40.Rc6 Rb3 41.Rc5+ Kg6

• A more stubborn defense is 41...Kh4 42.Kh2 Rxa3 43.b5 Rb3 44.Rc4+ Kg5 45.h4+.

BLACK: Giovanni Vescovi
!""""""""#
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$ P + + +%
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WHITE: Alex Shabalov
Position after 41...Kg5g6

42.h4!

• White deprives Black of his last reserve pawn tempo.

42...Rxa3 43.Kh2 Rb3

• 43...Ra4 44.Rb5 Ra3 45.Rg5+ Kh6 46.b5 Rb3 47.Kg3 is Zugzwang and White wins a pawn.

44.Rg5+ Kh6 45.b5 Rd3

• Black must labor to free a pawn, even if he must sacrifice the other.
• 45...Rb1 46.Kg3 Rb4 47.Rc5 Kg6 48.Kxf3 Rxh4 49.Rc6+The h-pawn is free, but the c-pawn continues to advance.

46.Rg8 Rd4 47.Kh3 Ra4 48.b6 Rb4 49.Kg3

• Also good is 49.Rb8 Rb3 50.b7 Kg7 51.Kg3 Kh7 52.Kf4 Kg7 53.Ke5, etc.

49...Kh7 50.Rb8 Kg7 51.Kxf3 Rxh4 52.b7 1-0

• If 52...Rg4 then White is a piece to the good after 53.Rd8 Rb4 54.b8Q.
• 52...Rb4 53.Kg3 Rg4+ 54.Kh3 Rb4 55.f4 wins.
• O senhor Vescovi resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

8. Corrales - Milos, Round 10

Fidel Corrales
Photo: ChessBase.com (Spanish language)

To view this game:

• Please click here and select the game Corrales Jiménez,F - Milos,G
• Enjoy!

Fidel Corrales - Gilberto Milos
Pan-American Championship, Round 10
São Paulo, 1 August 2009

Open German Game: Seirawan Opening (Caro-Kann Defense)

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5

• For 8.Bd3 see Pogonina-Solovjova, City OpW, Moscow, 2009.[/li>

8...Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 e6 11.Bf4 Qa5+

• 11...Ngf6 12.0-0-0 Be7 13.Kb1 0-0 14.Ne4 Nxe4 15.Qxe4 Nf6 16.Qe2 Qd5 17.Ne5 Qe4 18.Qxe4 Nxe4 19.Rhe1 Nf6 20.g4 a5 21.c3 Rfc8 22.f3 b5 23.Nd3 Nd5 24.Bg3 a4 25.a3 c5 gives White a slight advantage in space (Bologan-Dreev, IT, Poikovsky, 2005).

12.Bd2 Qc7

• 12...Bb4 13.c3 Be7 14.c4 then:
• If 14...Qc7 15.0-0-0 Ngf6 16.Kb1 0-0 17.Rhe1 then:
• 17...a5 18.Bc1 Rfd8 19.Qc2 a4 20.Ne5 Nxe5 21.dxe5 Rxd1 22.Qxd1 Nd7 23.f4 Nc5 24.Ne4 Rd8 is equal (Leko-Ivanchuk, IT, Morelia-Linares, 2008).
• If 17...Rfd8 18.Qc2 a5 19.a3 gives White the advantage in space (Hou Yifan-Iordachescu, Aeroflot Op, Moscow, 2008).
• If 14...Bb4 then:
• 15.Ne4 Bxd2+ 16.Nfxd2 Ngf6 17.Nd6+ Ke7 18.Nxb7 Qb4 19.Qa3 Qxa3 20.bxa3 c5 21.dxc5 Rhc8 22.Rb1 Nxc5 23.Ke2 gives White an extra pawn (Brandenburg-Pantsulaia, World Jr Ch, Yerevan, 2006).
• 15.a3 Bxd2+ 16.Qxd2 Qxd2+ 17.Kxd2 Ngf6 18.Kc3 c5 19.dxc5 Nxc5 20.Rhe1 0-0 21.Ne5 Rfc8 22.b4 Ncd7 23.Nxd7 Nxd7 24.Ne4 gives White more space, but with so few pieces on the board the queenside majority may be more important (Mulyar-Figler, Op, Foxwoods, 2007).

13.0-0-0 Ngf6 14.Ne4

• 14.Qe2 0-0-0 15.Ne5 Nb6 16.Ba5 Rd5 17.Bxb6 axb6 18.c4 then:
• 18...Ra5 19.Kb1 Bd6 20.f4 Kb8 21.Ne4 Nxe4 22.Qxe4 b5 23.c5 Bxe5 24.Qxe5 Rd8 25.g3 Qxe5 26.dxe5 Rxd1+ 27.Rxd1 Kc7 28.Rd4 Ra7 29.a3 Ra6 draw (Popova-Danielian, OlW, Torino, 2006).
• 18...Rd8 19.Ne4 Nxe4 20.Qxe4 Bd6 21.Nf3 Rhe8 22.Kb1 Qe7 23.Rhe1 Qf6 24.g3 Bc7 25.a3 gives White the advantage in space (Spassky-Pomar, IT, Maliorka, 1968).

14...0-0-0 15.g3 Be7

• 15...Nxe4 16.Qxe4 Bd6 17.c4 c5 then:
• If 18.Bc3 Nf6 19.Qe2 cxd4 20.Nxd4 a6 21.Kb1 Rd7 then:
• 22.Nb3 Qc6 23.Rh4 Rhd8 24.Rc1 Kb8 25.a3 Bc7 26.Ka2 Ka8 27.Rc2 Qd6 28.Nd4 Qb6 29.b4 Qa7 30.c5 Rd5 31.Bb2 is equal (Kotronias-Nanu, Euro Ch, Budva, 2009).
• If 22.Rc1 Kb8 then:
• 23.Rh4 Rhd8 24.Qe1 Rc8 25.Nb3 Qc6 26.c5 Bc7 27.Rc4 b5 28.cxb6 Qxc4 29.bxc7+ Rdxc7 30.Be5 Qe4+ 31.Qxe4 Nxe4 32.Rc6 is equal (Negi-Postny, Politiken Cup, Helsignør, 2009).
• 23.f4 Rhd8 24.Nf3 Qc5 25.Ne5 Bxe5 26.fxe5 Nh7 27.b3 Ng5 28.Kb2 Qc6 29.Rhd1 Ne4 30.Rxd7 Rxd7 31.Qf3 Nc5 32.Qxc6 bxc6 is equal (Berescu-Pantsulaia, Euro ChT, Crete, 2007).
• If 18.d5 Nf6 19.Qc2 exd5 20.cxd5 Rhe8 21.Bc3 then:
• 21...Qd7 22.Bxf6 gxf6 23.Nh4 Re5 24.f4 Rxh5 25.Qe2 Rxd5 26.Rxd5 Bxf4+ 27.gxf4 Qxd5 28.Rd1 Qxa2 29.Rxd8+ Kxd8 30.Nf5 Qe6 31.Qd3+ White's Knight should be able to clean up Black's kingside pawns, bit that might not be enough to win (Hammer-Simutowe, Op, Reykjavik, 2008).
• 21...Ng4 22.Nh4 Be5 23.Nf5 Bxc3 24.Qxc3 Qe5 25.Qc2 Kb8 26.f4 Qe4 27.Qxe4 Rxe4 28.Rhe1 Rxe1 29.Rxe1 Rxd5 30.Nxg7 Kc7 31.Re7+ Rd7 32.Rxd7+ Kxd7 33.Kd2 draw (Kritz-Perelshteyn, IT, Lubbock, 2008).

16.Kb1 c5

• 16...Nxe4 17.Qxe4 Rhe8 18.Qe2 Bf8 19.Bc1 Bd6 20.Rhe1 Qa5 21.Nd2 Nf6 22.g4 Bc7 is equal (Timman-Portisch, IT, Antwerpen, 1989).

17.Bf4 Qc6 18.Nxf6 Bxf6 19.d5

• 19.Rhe1 c4 20.Qa3 a6 21.Qa5 Nb6 22.Ne5 Bxe5 23.Qxe5 Rhg8 24.g4 Nd5 25.Bg3 Qc7 26.Qe2 Qc6 27.Qe5 Qc7 28.Qe2 Qc6 29.Qe5 Qc7 draw (C. Balogh-Ruck, Hungarian Ch, Szekesfehervar, 2006).

19...exd5 20.Qxd5 Ne5

• 20...Qxd5 21.Rxd5 Rhe8 22.Rhd1 b6 23.c3 Nf8 24.Rxd8+ Rxd8 is equal (Areshchenko-B. Itkis, IT, Nikolaev, 2001).

21.Qxc6+ Nxc6 22.c3 Rxd1+ 23.Rxd1 Rd8

• 23...Re8 24.Kc2 Re2+ 25.Rd2 Rxd2+ draw (Karjakin-Anastasian, World ChT, Beer Shiva, 2005).

24.Rxd8+ Kxd8 25.Kc2 Kd7 26.Kd3 b5 27.Be3!?

• 27.Ke4 Ke6 28.g4 b4 29.g5 hxg5 30.Bxg5 Be5 is equal (Rojas-Leitão, IT, Santiago, 2004).

BLACK: Gilberto Milos
!""""""""#
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WHITE: Fidel Corrales
Position after 27.Bf4e3

27...Kd6

• The game is equal.

28.b3

• 28.Ke4 a5 29.c4 bxc4 30.Nd2 c3 31.Nc4+ Ke6 remains equal.

28...a6 29.Nd2 Ne5+ 30.Ke2 Kd5 31.f4 Ng4 32.c4+ bxc4

• 32...Kc6 33.Kf3 Nxe3 34.Kxe3 g6 35.hxg6 fxg6 remains equal.

33.bxc4+ Kc6 34.Kf3 Nh2+

• 34...Nxe3 35.Kxe3 a5 36.Ke4 Kd6 37.Nf3 a4 38.g4 gives White a local advantage on the kingside.

35.Ke4 Ng4 36.Bg1

• 36.Nf3 Kd6 37.Bg1 g6 38.hxg6 fxg6 39.f5 g5 remains equal.

36...Bc3 37.Nb3 Bb4 38.Kf5 Nf6 39.g4 Ne8

BLACK: Gilberto Milos
!""""""""#
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$+ + +oO %
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$+ O +k+p%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Fidel Corrales
Position after 39...Nf6e8

40.Ke4!

• A small inaccuracy may have large consequenxes.
• 40.Ke5? Nd6 41.f5 Nxc4+ 42.Ke4 Nd6+ 43.Ke5 a5 gives Black an extra pawn that will probably be enough to convert to a win.

40...Nd6+ 41.Kd3 f5 42.gxf5 Nxf5

• 42...Ne8 43.Kc2 Ba3 44.Na1 Nf6 45.Kb3 Bc1 46.Ka4 remains equal.

43.Bf2 Ba3 44.Be1 Bb2 45.Na5+

• 45.a4 Ba3 46.a5 Bb2 47.Nd2 Bc1 48.Bf2 Nd6 remains equal.

45...Kb6 46.Nb3 Kc6 47.Nd2 Bf6 48.Ne4 Bd4 49.Bd2

• The game is equal.
• 49.a4 Kd7 50.Nc3 Kd6 51.Nd5 Kd7 remains equal.

49...Kd7 50.Ke2 Ne7 51.Kf3

• 51.Bc1 Kc6 52.a4 Nf5 53.Kd3 Kb6 remains equal.

51...Nc6?

• Black drops a pawn.
• 51...Nf5 52.Ke2 Kc7 53.a4 Kc6 54.Kd3 Kd7 remains equal.

BLACK: Gilberto Milos
!""""""""#
$ + + + +%
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$+ O + +p%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Fidel Corrales
Position after 51...Ne7c6

52.Be3!

• White sees it. . .

52...Ke6 53.Nxc5+

• . . . and takes it.

53...Bxc5 54.Bxc5 Kf5 55.Bf8!

• White has a won position.

55...g6

• Black exchanges a pawn in order to assure another pawn will have mobility.

56.hxg6 Kxg6 57.Ke4 h5 58.Kd5 Nb8

• 58...Nd8 59.Be7 Nb7 60.Ke6 h4 61.f5+ is an easy win for White.
• If 58...Kf7 59.Kxc6 Kxf8 60.Kd5 then:
• If 60...h4 then after 62.Kf3 h3 63.Kg3 wins for White.
• If 60...Ke7 61.Ke4 then:
• 61...h4 61.Ke4 h3 62.Kf3 h2 63.Kg2 Black will be unable to stop both the c- and f-pawns.
• 61...Kd6 62.Kf5 h4 63.Kg4 Ke7 64.Kxh4 Kf6 65.Kg4 wins for White.

BLACK: Gilberto Milos
!""""""""#
$ M + B +%
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WHITE: Fidel Corrales
Position after 58...Nc6b8

59.Ke6

• Also good is 59.Bd6 Kf5 60.Bxb8 h4 61.Ba7 h3 62.Bg1.

59...h4 60.f5+ Kh5 61.Bd6 Nc6 62.Kd5 Nd8

• If 62...Na7 then after 63.Bf4 h3 64.c5 White will have to give up the Knight to stop the c-pawn.

63.c5 Kg4 64.c6 Nxc6

• If any other move, then the pawn goes on to queen.

65.Kxc6 Kxf5 66.Kb6 Ke6 67.Bh2 1-0

• 67...Kf5 68.Kxa6 Kg4 69.a4 Kh3 70.Be5 wins for White.
• O senhor Milos resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

9. Milos - Barrientos, Round 11

Gilberto Milos
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)

To view this game:

• Please click here and select the game Milos,G - Barrientos,S
• Enjoy!

Gilberto Milos - Sergio Barrientos
Pan-American Championship, Round 11
São Paulo, 2 August 2009

West India Game: Indian Queen's Gambit (Grünfeld Defense)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Bg2 0Bg5-0 7.0-0 Nb6 8.Nc3 Na6

• If 8...Nc6 then:
• If 9.e3 then:
• If 9...Re8 10.d5 Na5 11.Nd4 Bd7 12.e4 c6 13.Re1 cxd5 14.exd5 Rc8 then:
• 15.Bf4 Nac4 16.b3 Nd6 17.Qd2 Nf5 18.Nde2 Na8 19.Rac1 Qa5 20.Ne4 Qxd2 21.Bxd2 Bb2 22.Rxc8 Rxc8 23.Bc3 Bxc3 24.N4xc3 Nc7 25.Rc1 doesn't offer either side a lot (Martic-Lahno, OlW, Dresden, 2008).
• 15.Rb1 Nac4 16.b3 Nd6 17.Bb2 Na8 18.Nce2 Qa5 19.a4 Nc7 20.Bc3 Qb6 is equal (Aronian-Miroshnichenko, Euro Ch, Antalya. 2004).
• If 9...e5 10.d5 then:
• If 10...Na5 11.e4 c6 12.Bg5 f6 13.Be3 cxd5 14.Bxb6 then:
• If 14...Qxb6 15.Nxd5 Qd8 16.Rc1 Nc6 17.Qb3 Rf7 18.Rfd1 Be6 19.h4 Kh8 20.Kh2 Rd7 21.Qa4 Bh6 22.Ra1 Qf8 23.Nc3 Rf7 24.Bh3 f5 25.Ng5 Bxg5 26.hxg5 f4 27.Bxe6 fxg3+ 28.Kg1 Rxf2 29.Rd3 Rh2 White resigns (Stefansson-Salem, Ol, Dresden, 2008).
• 14...axb6 15.Qxd5+ Kh8 16.Rfd1 Qe7 17.Qb5 Qc5 18.Rd5 assures White of gaining an extra pawn (Smejkal-Lombardy, Ol, Siegen, 1970).
• If 10...Ne7 11.e4 Bg4 then:
• 12.a4 c6 13.a5 Nc4 14.Qb3 Nxa5 15.Qa2 b6 16.b4 Nb7 17.Bg5 c5 18.d6 Nxd6 19.bxc5 Ndc8 20.Qa3 Rb8 21.Rab1 Qc7 22.Rfc1 bxc5 23.Rxb8 Qxb8 24.Qxc5 f6 leaves Black a pawn to the good (Spraggett-Ftacnik, Op, New York, 1983).
• 12.h3 Bxf3 13.Qxf3 c6 14.Rd1 cxd5 15.Nxd5 Nbxd5 16.exd5 Qd6 17.Bd2 Nf5 18.Qb3 Rfc8 19.Rac1 Qd7 is equal (Cvitan-Navara, IT, Pula, 2003).
• If 9.d5 Na5 10.e4 c6 then:
• If 11.Bf4 cxd5 12.exd5 Nac4 13.Qe2 then:
• 13...Nxb2 14.Qxb2 Na4 15.Nxa4 Bxb2 16.Nxb2 Qxd5 17.Rfe1 Qb5 18.Nd1 Re8 19.Nc3 Qa5 20.Rac1 f6 21.Nd2 g5 is equal (Urban-Staniszewski, Polish Ch, Polanica Zdroj, 1999).
• 13...Bf5 14.Rac1 Rc8 15.b3 Nd6 16.Be5 Bh6 17.Rcd1 Nd7 18.Bd4 Bg7 19.Bxg7 Kxg7 20.Rc1 Nf6 21.Ne5 Qa5 22.Nc4 Nxc4 23.bxc4 Qc5 24.h3 gives White the edge in space (Urban-Kempinski, Polish Ch, Poznan, 2005).
• If 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bf4 cxd5 then:
• 13.exd5 Nac4 14.Qe2 g5 15.Bc1 Bg4 16.h3 Bh5 17.g4 Bg6 18.h4 Qd7 19.hxg5 Qxg4 20.gxh6 Bf6 21.Re1 Rac8 22.Ne4 Qxe4 23.Qxe4 Bxe4 24.Rxe4 Nxd5 25.Nd2 draw (Krogius-Hort, IT, Varna, 1969).
• If 13.Nxd5 Nac4 then:
• 14.Nc7 Rb8 15.Qxd8 Rxd8 16.Rad1 Bg4 17.b3 Rxd1 18.Rxd1 Ne5 is equal (Romanishin-Ftacnik, Euro Ch, Istanbul, 2003).
• 14.Qe2 g5 15.Nc7 Rb8 16.Rad1 Bd7 17.Ne6 fxe6 18.Bxb8 Qxb8 19.Rxd7 Nxd7 20.Qxc4 Qd6 21.Qa4 gives White the initiative (Romanishin-van Mil, IT, Gyor, 1990).

9.Qc2

• 9.e4 Bg4 10.d5 Qd7 11.a4 Bh3 12.a5 Bxg2 13.Kxg2 Nc4 14.Qe2 Ne5 15.Nxe5 Bxe5 16.Rd1 gives White the advantage in space (Najdorf-Kashdan, IT, New Orleans, 1948).
• 9.Bf4 c5 10.dxc5 Nxc5 11.Qc1 Nba4 12.Be5 Bxe5 13.Nxe5 Qd4 14.Nxa4 Nxa4 15.Qf4 Qxf4 16.gxf4 f6 is equal (Ju. Bolbochan-Malich, Ol, Varna, 1962).

9...Nb4

• The game is equal.

10.Qb3 Nc6 11.Rd1 Bg4 12.Be3 Qc8!?

• This move is too passive.
• Better is the more active 12...Na5! 13.Qb5 Nac4 14.Bg5 h6 15.Bf4 with equality.

13.Rac1

• Good, but even better is 13.Qb5! Rd8 14.d5 Bxf3 15.Bxf3 Ne5 16.Bg2 giving White the advantage in space.

13...Na5

• This is less effective now than it would have bee on the previous move.

14.Qb4!

• White take the initiative by attacking a loose pawn.
• 14.Qb5!? Nac4 15.Bg5 c6 16.Qb4 f6 is equal.

14...Nac4

• 14...Nc6 15.Qc5 e6 16.Nd2 Rd8 17.Bxc6 bxc6 18.Qxc6 wins a pawn for White.

15.Bf4 Re8?!

• The e-pawn needs protected, but better is to shield it from the Queen with 15...Nd6 16.Ne5 Bh5 17.a4 a5 18.Qc5 Re8 19.Rd2 initiaties a plan to dislodge the c-pawn, depriving the Knight at b6 of its guard.

BLACK: Sergio Barrientos
!""""""""#
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Gilberto Milos
Position after 15...Rf8e8

16.Nb5!

• White threatens 17.Rxc4 Nxc4 18.Qxc4 winnnig two minor pieces for a Rook.

16...e5?

• The final nail is in the coffin; the rest is the burial procession.
• Black can put up more resistance with 16...Bxf3 17.Bxf3 e5 18.Bxe5 when:
• 18...a5 19.Qc5 Bxe5 20.Rxc4 Nxc4 21.Qxc4 leaves White a pawn to the good and all but assures him of going up by one more.
• 18...Bxe5 19.dxe5 a6 20.Nxc7 Qxc7 21.b3 gives White an extra pawn.

17.Nxe5!

• White wins a pawn.
• The text is stronger than 17.dxe5 Bxf3 18.Bxf3 a6 19.Na3 Nxe5 20.Bg2.

17...Nxe5 18.dxe5 Bxe2 19.Nxc7 Bxd1 20.Nxe8 Qxe8 21.Rxd1 Rd8

• Black might last longer with 21...Bxe5 22.Bxe5 Qxe5 23.Bxb7 Re8 24.Bg2.

22.Rxd8 Qxd8 23.h4 Qd1+ 24.Kh2 Qe2 25.Qd4 Qe1

• If 25...Qb5 then after 26.b3 Qe2 27.a4 Qa2 28.Qd8+ wins for White.

26.Qd8+ Bf8 27.b3 Qc3 28.Qd2 Qc7 1-0

• 28...Bb4 29.Qxc3 Bxc3 30.Bxb7 Bd4 31.Kg2 Nd7 32.Kf3 Bxe5 33.Be3 wins for White.
• After the text, 29.Qa5 Qb8 30.e6 Qe8 31.exf7+ Qxf7 32.Be3 wins a pawn.
• El señor Barrientos resigns without waiting for o senhor Milos to reply..

[Jack Rabbit]

4. Mainz Chess Classic

Mainz, Rhineland-Palatinate (Germany)
Photo: European Conference on Quality and Methodology in Official Statistics

[Jack Rabbit]

10. Nepomniachtchi - Aronian, World Rapid Final

Levon Aronian
Photo: ChessBase.com

To View this game:

• Please click here;
• Scroll toward the botton; Under the next-to-last group of links on the page (GrenkeLeasing Rapid World Championship), select the FONLINE link for FINAL 2;
• A child window will pop up; from the list under the board display, select the first game, Nepomniachtchi - Aronian;
• Enjoy!

Ian Nepomniachtchi - Levon Aronian
14th World RapidChampionship. Final Round, Game 2
Mainz, 2 August 2009

Spanish Petit Royal Game: Neo-Classical Defense

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.Qe2!?

• The usual move is 4.0-0 to which Black replies 4...Nxd4 (the Gothic Defense) or 4...Bc5 (the Neo-Classical Defense). White indicates that he doesn't want a theoretical discussion.

4...Bc5 5.d3

• 5.c3 0-0 6.0-0 Re8 7.d3 h6 8.h3 d6 9.Be3 Bd7 10.Bxc5 dxc5 11.Bc4 Nh5 12.Qe3 b6 13.Nbd2 Qf6 14.Kh2 Nf4 15.Ng1 Na5 16.g3 Nxc4 17.Nxc4 Ng6 gives Black the advantage in space (Luther-Portisch, FIDE Knock Out, Gronigen, 1997).

5...d6 6.c3 Bb6!?

• If 6...0-0 then:
• 7.h3 Bb6 8.Nbd2 Ne7 9.Nc4 Bc5 10.Ba4 a6 11.Bb3 Ng6 12.Be3 Ba7 draw (Boros-Roiz, Euro ChT, Fügen, 2006).
• 7.Bg5 Bb6 8.Nbd2 Ne7 9.Nc4 draw (Tiviakov-Khalifman, IT, Elista, 1998).

7.h3

• The game is equal.

7...Bd7 8.Nbd2

• If 8.Na3 0-0 9.0-0 a6 10.Ba4 then:
• 10...Qe7 11.Nc4 Ba7 12.Bxc6 bxc6 remains equal.
• 10...Re8 11.Nc4 Ba7 12.Bxc6 Bxc6 remains equal.

8...Ne7 9.Bxd7+ Qxd7 10.Nc4 Ng6

• If 10...0-0 11.0-0 Ng6 12.a4 c6 then:
• 13.Bg5 Qe6 14.Nxb6 axb6 15.Qe3 remains equal.
• 13.b3 Bc7 14.Bg5 d5 15.Ncd2 Qe6 remains equal.

11.h4 h6 12.g3 Qe6

• 12...0-0 13.Bd2 Qa4 14.b3 Qc6 15.0-0-0 Rfe8 16.Kb1 Rad8 remains equal.

13.a4 c6 14.a5!?

• Black picks up the edge in space.
• 14.Nxb6 axb6 15.b4 0-0 16.c4 b5 17.a5 bxc4 18.dxc4 Ra6 remains equal.

14...Bc7 15.Ne3 Ne7 16.h5 d5!

• Black clearly has the better center

17.Ra4!

• White avoids surrendering the center with lateral protection to the e-pawn from the Rook.
• If 17.exd5 cxd5 18.Rh4 Nc6 19.a6 bxa6 20.Rxa6 0-0 gives Black a small advantage in space.

17...0-0-0!?

• The Black King would be less exposed on the opposite wing.
• 17...0-0 18.exd5 Nexd5 19.a6 b5 20.Ra1 Rfd8 gives White the advantage in space.

18.Nh4

• If 18.Nd2 Rhe8 19.b3 a6 then:
• 20.Ba3 Bd6 21.Bxd6 Rxd6 22.0-0 Rd7 leaves Black with a small advantage in space.
• If 20.Bb2!? then after 20...Rd7! 21.c4 dxe4 22.Nxe4 Nxe4 23.dxe4 Red8 Black has the better center and more coordinated pieces.

18...Qd7

• If 18...dxe4 19.dxe4 Rhg8 20.Nhf5 Rd7 then:
• 21.Nxe7+ Qxe7 22.Nf5 Qe6 23.0-0 g6 24.Nxh6 Rh8 gives Black a small advantage in space.
• 21.Qc2 Nxf5 22.Nxf5 Rgd8 23.Ke2 a6 24.b3 White holds his share of the center.

19.Kf1?

• White ignore the masked threat to his Rook.
• 19.g4 Rhe8 20.Nhf5 Nxf5 21.Nxf5 Rg8 is equal.
• 19.0-0 dxe4 20.dxe4 Qd3 21.Qf3 Qb5 22.Ra3 Kb8 gives Black the advantage in space.

BLACK: Levon Aronian
!""""""""#
$ +lT + T%
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WHITE: Ian Nepomniachtchi
Position after 19.Ke1f1

19...c5!

• Black seizes a fierce initiative by attacking the undefended Rook.

20.b3 c4!

• Black undermines the Rook.
• 20...Qb5 21.exd5 then:
• 21...Nexd5! 22.Rc4 Qxb3 wins a pawn.
• 21...Qxb3?! 22.Ra3 Qb5 23.c4 Qd7 24.Bb2 is equal.

21.dxc4 Nxe4 22.Qc2 Nc5 23.Ra2

BLACK: Levon Aronian
!""""""""#
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Ian Nepomniachtchi
Position after 23.Ra4a2

23...d4!

• Black creates a powerful passed pawn.

24.cxd4 exd4 25.Neg2

• If 25.Nd1 then 25...d3 26.Qc3 Qg4 27.Kg2 Qxh5 wins a pawn.

25...d3 26.Qd1 Ne4 27.a6

• If 27.Bd2 then 27...Bxg3 28.fxg3 Nxg3+ 29.Kg1 Nxh1 30.Kxh1 wins a theoretical pawn.

27...d2 28.axb7+ Kb8

• Black wins faster after 28...Kxb7 29.Bxd2 Nxd2+ 30.Kg1 Qd3 31.Ne3 Rhe8.

29.Bb2 Nf5 30.Kg1 Nxf2 31.Kxf2 Bb6+ 32.Ne3

• 32.Kf3 Qd3+ 33.Kg4 Qxg3+ 34.Kxf5 Qg5+ 35.Ke4 Rhe8+ leads to mate.

32...Nxe3 33.Be5+

• 33.Qa1 d1N+ 34.Rxd1 Nxd1+ wins a Rook..

33...Kxb7 34.Qf3+ Qc6 0-1

• 35.Ke2 d1Q+ 36.Rxd1 Nxd1 wins a Rook..
• Grandmaster Nepomniachtchi resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

11. Nakamura - Mamedyarov, Ordix Open, Round 10

Shakhriyar Mamdemyarov
Photo: Satranc (Turkey)

To View this game:

• Please click here;
• Scroll to the very botton; Under the last group of links on the page, select the ONLINE link for round 10 (the next-to-last round);
• A child window will pop up; from the list under the board display, select the first game, Nakamura,H. - Mamedyarov,S;
• Enjoy!

Hikaru Nakamura - Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
16th Ordix Rapid Open, Round 10
Mainz, 2 August 2009

English Game: Golombek Defense

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.cxd5 Nxd5 4.g3 g6 5.Bg2 Nb6 6.d3 Bg7 7.Be3 Nc6 8.Bxc6+

• If 8.Nf3 0-0 9.0-0 then:
• If 9...e5 10.Qd2 Re8 then:
• 11.Bh6 Bh8 12.Rac1 Nd4 13.Nxd4 exd4 14.Ne4 Nd5 15.Bg5 f6 16.Bh6 c6 is equal (Arkhipov-Leko, IT, Nettetal, 1992).
• 11.Bg5 f6 12.Bh6 Be6 13.Ne4 Qe7 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.Rfc1 Bf7 16.b4 Nd4 17.Nxd4 exd4 18.Qb2 Rad8 is equal (Braun-Li Chao, World Jr Ch, Gaziantep, 2008).
• 9...h6 10.Qc1 Kh7 11.Rd1 e5 12.Bc5 Re8 13.e3 Nd7 14.Ba3 a5 15.Nb5 Nf6 16.d4 e4 17.Ne5 gives White the initiative (Tal-Jansa, IT, Suhumi, 1972).

8...bxc6 9.Rc1

If 9.Qc1 then:

• 9...h5 10.Nf3 Bg4 11.Ng5 Nd5 12.Nxd5 Qxd5 13.f3 Rb8 14.Rb1 Bd7 15.b3 f6 16.Ne4 g5 17.Kf2 a5 18.Nc5 Bc8 19.h4 g4 20.Qc4 e5 21.Rhc1 f5 22.Na4 gxf3 23.exf3 f4 24.gxf4 exf4 25.Qxf4 gives White an extra pawn (Smyslov-Robatsch, IT, Sochi, 1974).
• 9...h6 10.Nf3 Bg4 11.Ne4 Qd5 12.0-0 g5 13.Rb1 0-0 14.Qc5 Nd7 15.Qxd5 cxd5 16.Nc5 Nxc5 17.Bxc5 Rfb8 gives Black a more active game (Smejkal-Popovic, IT, Novi Sad, 1982).

9...Bg4!?

• 9...Nd5 10.Qd2 h5 11.Nxd5 Qxd5 12.Nf3 Bg4 13.Rc5 Qxa2 14.b4 Qxd2+ 15.Nxd2 Kd7 16.f3 Be6 17.Kf2 Rhb8 leaves Black a pawn to the good (Ree-van Dop, Dutch Ch, Leeuwarden, 1975).

10.Qd2

• White has more freedom.

10...h5 11.h3 Bf5 12.Nf3 Qd7 13.h4

• 13.Ng5 Nd5 14.Nce4 Nxe3 15.fxe3 Qd5 16.b3 is equal.

13...Bg4 14.Ng5 Nd5 15.Na4

• 15.Nge4 f5 16.Nc5 Qd6 17.Nd1 Rb8 18.Nb3 gives White more activity.

15...Nxe3 16.Qxe3 0-0

• 16...Qd5 17.Qe4 Rc8 18.Nc3 Bxc3+ 19.bxc3 f6 20.Qxg6+ is equal.

17.Qe4

• 17.b3 Qd5 18.Nf3 Rfd8 19.Rc5 Qd6 20.Ne5 gives White the advantage in space.

17...Qd5 18.b3 Qa5+ 19.Kf1!?

• The game is equal.
• If 19.Kd1 e5 20.Qxc6 Rae8 21.a3 then:
• 21...Be6 22.Nxe6 Rxe6 23.Qc5 Qxc5 24.Nxc5 White has the initiative.
• If 21...Rd8 22.f3 Bd7 23.Qxc7 Qxc7 24.Rxc7 gives White two extra pawns and a strong initiative.

19...Qd2 20.Rxc6 Qxa2 21.Nc5 Rac8

• 21...e5 22.e3 Rab8 23.Kg2 Qa5 24.Qa4 Qxa4 25.bxa4 remains equal.

22.Nf3 Rfd8 23.Nb7 Re8 24.Qc4

• 24.Nc5 Bxf3 25.Qxf3 Red8 26.Kg2 remains equal.

24...Rb8 25.Nc5 Rb6 26.Rxc7 Rf6

• 26...Bxf3 27.exf3 Be5 28.Rd7 a5 29.d4 Bd6 30.Kg2 gives White the advantage in space.

BLACK: Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
!""""""""#
$ + +t+l+%
$O R OoV %
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Hikaru Nakamura
Position after 26...Rb6f6

27.Ng1?!

• White unnecessarily entombs his King's Rook. It remains buried until the very end of the game.
• Better is 27.Qa4 Qxa4 28.bxa4 Bxf3 29.exf3 Rxf3 30.Ke2 Rf5 with equality.

27...a5 28.Qa4 Qxa4 29.bxa4 Rb6 30.Ra7 Bd4

• 30...Bc3 31.Ne4 Rb1+ 32.Kg2 Bb4 33.d4 Rc8 34.Nf3! solves the problem of the Rook.

31.Rxa5 Rc8 32.Ne4 Rc1+ 33.Kg2 Rbb1!

• With both Black Rooks on the back rank, it become very difficult for White to free his entombed Rook.
• If 33...Rb2 34.Ra8+ Kg7 35.a5 then:
• 35...Ra2 36.Nf3 Rxh1 37.Kxh1 Bxf3+ 38.exf3 f5 39.Rd8 e5 is equal.
• If 35...Ra1 36.Nf3 then:
• 36...Rxh1 37.Kxh1 Bxf2 38.Nxf2 Bxf3+ 39.exf3 Rxf2 40.a6 White's a-pawn is dangerous.
• 36...Bxf3+ 37.exf3 Raa2 38.Kh3 Rb5 39.Rd8 Bb2 40.Rd7 gives White an extra pawn.

34.Rd5 Ba7

• If 34...Bb6? 35.Nd2 Bd4 36.Nxb1 Bxf2 37.Kxf2 Rxb1 38.Rb5 gives White an extra piece and a way out for the Rook at h1.

BLACK: Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
!""""""""#
$ + + +l+%
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$ + + +o+%
$+ +r+ +o%
$p+ +n+vP%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Hikaru Nakamura
Position after 34...Bd4a7

35.Ra5!

• White finds the most active move, even if it puts the Rook in front of the remote passer.

35...Bd4 36.Rb5!?

• If 36.Ra8+ Kg7 then:
• If 37.e3! 37...Bb6 38.Nd2 then:
• If 38...Bd7 39.Nxb1 Bc6+ 40.Nf3 Rxh1 then:
• 41.Rb8! Bc7 42.Rc8 gives White a strong position.
• 41.Kxh1?? Bxf3+ wins for Black.
• 38...Rb4 39.Ngf3 Bxf3+ 40.Nxf3 Rc2 41.d4 Ra2 42.Re8 White trades his remote passer and get a protected passer.
• If 37.a5? Ra1! 38.e3 then:
• 38...Be5 39.a6 Bc7 40.d4 Bb6 41.d5 Bf5 42.Ng5 is equal.
• 38...Bb6 39.Re8 Bc7 40.Nd2 Ra2 41.Nc4 e6 42.Ra8 is equal.

36...Ra1?!

• Black puts up a better defense with 36...Rxb5! 37.axb5 Rb1 38.e3 Bg7 39.Nd2 Rxb5 40.Ngf3, but White still has an extra pawn and his once entombed Rook is free.

37.Rb4 Be5

• Better is 37...Bg7 38.Rb7 Bxe2 39.Nxe2 Rxh1 40.Rxe7 when material is theoretically balanced.

38.Nd2 Bxe2?

• After the text move, Black should lose.
• 38...Bd6 39.Rd4 Rd1 40.f3 Bh3+ 41.Kxh3 Rxd2 42.Rc4 White still has two extra pawns, but Black has couterplay opportunities in the back ranks.

39.Re4 Bxd3

• If 39...Bf6 40.Rxe2 Rxa4 41.Ngf3! (finally freeing the King's Rook) then:
• If 41...Rc7 42.Ne4 Kg7 43.Nxf6 Kxf6 44.Rb1 gives White an extra piece and both Rooks active.
• 41...Rc2 42.Re3 Raa2 43.Ne4 Bb2 44.Rd1 gives White an extra piece with the King's Rook free.

40.Rxe5 Rd1 41.Ndf3!?

• White slips.
• 41.Nb3 Rxa4 42.Nf3! (White rids himself of the problem Rook) 42...Rxh1 43.Kxh1 e6 44.Nc5 Ra1+ 45.Re1 Rxe1+ 46.Nxe1 leaves White a piece to the good.

41...e6

• White remains better, but is no longer winning the game.
• If 41...Kf8 then:
• If 42.Re3 Bf1+ 43.Kh2 Ba6 44.Rb3 then:
• 44...Bc4 45.Rb8+ Kg7 46.Rc8 Bd5 47.Rc3 e5 48.Re3 leaves White technically a piece to the good but practically an exchange down.
• If 44...Bd3 45.Ne5 Bc2 46.Rb4 f6 47.Nc4 Rf1 48.f3 White may be better, but he should look for ways to sacrifice a piece in order to free the Rook.
• If 42.a5 Bc4 43.Rc5 Bd5 44.Rb5 Kg7 45.Rb2 Ra3 46.Rc2 is equal.

42.g4?

• White slips badly.
• If 42.Re3! then:
• If 42...Kg7 then:
• If 43.Nh3 Rxh1 44.Rxd3 Rhd1 45.Rxd1 Rxd1 then:
• 46.Nhg5 Rd5 47.Ne4 Ra5 48.Nc3 secures White's remote passer.
• 46.Ne5!? f6 47.Nc6 Rd6 48.Nb8 Kf7 49.a5 is equal.
• 43.Ng5? Bf1+ 44.Kh2 Rxa4 45.N1f3 Ra2 46.Ne5 wins for Black.
• 42...Bf1+ 43.Kh2 Rxa4 44.Nh3 Ra2 45.Rg1 wins for White.

42...hxg4 43.Nh2

• If 43.Ng5 f6 44.Rxe6 fxg5 45.hxg5 then:
• If 45...Kg7 46.a5 Bc4 then:
• 47.Re7+ Kf8 48.Re4 Bd5 49.Rh8+ Kg7 50.Rhe8 Bxe4+ 51.Rxe4 Rxg1+ gives Black an extra Rook.
• 47.Re5 Bd5+ 48.Rxd5 Rxd5 49.Rh4 Rxg5 wins for Black.
• 45...Bc4 46.Rxg6+ Kf7 47.Rf6+ Kg7 48.Rf5 Ba6 gives Black a winning position in spite of being two pawns down.

43...g3 44.fxg3 Ra2+ 45.Kh3

• If 45.Kf3 Ba6 46.Rb5 Bxb5 47.axb5 Rdd2 then:
• 48.b6 Rxh2 49.Rxh2 Rxh2 50.Ne2 Rh1 51.Nc3 Rc1 wins for Black.
• 48.Ke3 Rxh2 49.Rxh2 Rxh2 50.Ne2 Rh1 51.Nc3 Rc1 wins for Black.

BLACK: Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
!""""""""#
$ + + +l+%
$+ + +o+ %
$ + +o+o+%
$+ + R + %
$p+ + + P%
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/(((((((()
WHITE: Hikaru Nakamura
Position after 45.Kg2h3

45...Rxa4!

• Suddenly, Black is winning.

46.Nhf3 Bf1+ 47.Kh2 Ra2+ 48.Ne2 Bxe2 0-1

• 48...Bxe2 49.Rxd1 Bxd1+ wins a piece for Black.
• Mr. Nakamura resigns.

[Jack Rabbit]

12. Bacrot - Naidisch, Ordix Open, Round 11

Arkadij Naiditsch
Photo: ChessBase.de (Germany)

To View this game:

• Please click here;
• Scroll to the very botton; Under the last group of links on the page, select the ONLINE link for round 11 (the last round);
• A child window will pop up; from the list under the board display, select the third game, Bacrot,E. - Naidisch,A;
• Enjoy!

Etienne Bacrot - Arkadij Naiditsch
16th Ordix Rapid Open, Round 11
Mainz, 2 August 2009

Queen's Pawn Game: Torre Opening

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5 c5 4.e3 Qb6 5.Bxf6

• 5.Qc1 Nc6 6.c3 d5 7.Nbd2 Bd7 8.Bd3 Rc8 9.0-0 Be7 10.Qb1 h6 11.Bh4 cxd4 12.exd4 g5 13.Bg3 Nh5 14.Be5 Rg8 15.Bh7 Rf8 16.h3 Nxe5 17.Nxe5 Bb5 is equal (Botterill-Plaskett, Op, London, 1980).

5...gxf6 6.Qc1

• 6.Nbd2 Qxb2 7.Bd3 d5 8.c4 Qc3 9.Be2 dxc4 10.0-0 Qa5 11.Nxc4 Qc7 12.Rc1 Nc6 13.Ncd2 Be7 14.Ne4 cxd4 15.Nxd4 0-0 16.Bb5 gives White the advantage in space (Vaganian-Razuvaev, Soviet Ch, Moscow, 1983).

6...Nc6 7.c3 d5 8.Nbd2 e5!?

• 8...Bd7 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.Nb3 Be7 11.Qd2 Rg8 12.g3 Ne5 13.Nxe5 fxe5 14.Be2 0-0-0 15.Qc2 f5 gives Black the advantage in space (Jaffe-Dr. Lasker, SX, USA, 1926).

9.dxc5

• The game is equal.

9...Bxc5 10.Be2!?

• 10.Nb3 Bd6 11.Qd2 Be6 12.Rd1 a5 gives Black the advantage in space.

10...Rg8 11.0-0 Bg4 12.Re1!?

• 12.Kh1 e4 13.Ng1 Bd6 14.Bxg4 Rxg4 remains equal.

12...f5

• Black has the advantage in space.

13.Nb3 Be7 14.Nfd2 0-0-0 15.Bf1 e4 16.a4 Ne5 17.a5

• If 17.Nd4 then after 17...Qg6 18.g3 Bf6 19.Qc2 Kb8 20.a5 Bg7 Black continues to enjoy the advantage in space.

17...Qh6 18.a6

• 18.g3 Bf6 19.Qc2 Kb8 20.Nd4 Bg7 21.Qb3 a6 gives Black a small edge in space.

18...Bf3

• If 18...b6 19.Nd4 then:
• 19...Bd6 20.Nb5 Bb8 21.Qc2 Rg6 Black still has more space.
• 19...Kb8!? 20.Qc2 f4 21.exf4 Qxf4 is equal.

19.axb7+ Kb8

• If 19...Kxb7!? then:
• 20.g3! Rg6 21.Qb1 Rdg8 22.Bg2 Bxg2 23.Kxg2 is equal.
• 20.Nc5+? Bxc5 21.Nb3 Rxg2+ 22.Bxg2 Qg6! leads to mate.

20.g3 Bh4 21.Bg2 Bxg2

• 21...Nd3 22.Qb1 Nxe1 23.Qxe1 Bxg2 24.Kxg2 Kxb7 gives Black the exchange.

22.Kxg2 Nd3 23.Qc2 Nxf2

• 23...Nxe1+ 24.Rxe1 Kxb7 25.Nd4 is equal.

24.Rf1?

• There is more than one losing move among one that draws.
• 24.Kxf2? Bxg3+ 25.Ke2 Qh5+ wins for Black.
• 24.Nf1 Nd3 25.Red1 f4 26.exf4 Qb6 27.Na5 Nxf4+ is equal.

BLACK: Arkadij Naiditsch
!""""""""#
$ L T +t+%
$Op+ +o+o%
$ + + + W%
$+ +o+o+ %
$ + +o+ V%
$+nP P P %
$ PqN MkP%
$R + +r+ %
/(((((((()
WHITE: Etienne Bacrot
Position after 24.Re1f1

24...Ng4!

• Good enough, but even better is 24...Bxg3!! 25.hxg3 Rxg3+ 26.Kxg3 Qxe3+ when Black mates in two.

25.Rae1

• If 25.Kh1 then after 25...Nxe3 26.Qc1 Bxg3 the lights go out.

25...Bxg3 0-1

• White must submit to a quick mate or surrender material before being mated.
• M. Bacrot resigns.

[Onceuponalife]

13. I think threads like these are called

electronic masturbation. Playing all by yourself.

[Jack Rabbit]

14. Hey, Getalife . . .

[Onceuponalife]

15. Do I have to?